AboutMyGeneration - Information, Inspiration, Motivation

Welcome to our new look.
If you want the Site Map click here...
or the Competitions Page click here...

The Editor's Diary updated 4th September 2008 Our Editor, Chris Hurley continues her occasional diary about her working days (and nights) covering stories for the web site. In this edition, she finds out why the Nintendo Wii is not just for kids and after 20 years of waiting her children finally get something baked by Mum. Another revelation is the sunny disposition of the Irish even when it's raining. On the domestic front her new found family of builders is behaving just like a real one. And why the guests at her daughter's forthcoming wedding may just have to pretend to be business people. To read click here... Notting Grill Bar and Restaurant - Review Peter Morrell, AMG's Food and Drink Editor goes on a birthday treat It was Peter's birthday and, after a long succession of going out to restaurants serving very sophisticated and complex dishes, he craved something more basic with food that spoke for itself. The solution was Antony Worrall Thomson’s restaurant, Notting Grill with a menu that promised traditional, well sourced food with no fuss. Did the Grill fit the bill? Click here... to find out The New Self–Sufficient Gardener 20% discount for AMG Members Make your dream of a self-sufficient life a practical reality with John Seymour’s The New Self Sufficient Gardener. A guaranteed way to control the origins and treatment of our food is to grow it ourselves and, by following John Seymour’s tried and trusted advice, The New Self-Sufficient Gardener gives today’s gardeners all the guidance they need to produce home grown food throughout the year, whatever the size of garden or plot. Click here... for more information and how to order your copy with a 20% discount End the misery of broken sleep   20% off a new range of nightwear and bedlinen from Coolsleepwear.co.uk Help is at hand for women who suffer disturbed nights because of night sweats or hot flushes. Coolsleepwear.co.uk is a new website selling a specialist range of nightwear and bed linen technically proven to keep you cool and comfortable and promotes restful sleep.  You certainly don’t have to be menopausal to enjoy the benefits of this cool range of sleepwear and it is very popular with all age groups during the summer months and when travelling to hotter climates.  For a limited period only AMG members are being offered the opportunity to purchase Coolsleepwear nightwear and bed linen at the generous discount of 20% off normal retail prices. For more information on how to claim your discount, click here... Ambassade de l’Ile A corner of Lyon in South Kensington Peter Morrell, AMG’s Food and Drink Editor reports on a new landmark restaurant that has recently opened to great acclaim in London Ambassade de l’Ile is the London debut of Jean-Christophe Ansanay-Alex, a former chef to Christine Onassis who, as yet, is relatively unknown outside the gastronomic city of Lyon.  Jean-Christophe’s two Michelin starred Lyonnais restaurant - l’Auberge de l’Ile – is situated on Ile Barbe, a tiny islet in the middle of the Saône River. To read the review of the opening of Ambassade de l’Ile click here... Autumn Savings from Haunting Breaks Special offer for AMG members If you fancy an autumn getaway with a difference then why not enjoy an unforgettable short break in a stunning, but haunted, location with Haunting Breaks www.hauntingbreaks.co.uk  (01686 668649). The company is offering AMG members a discount of ten per cent on three truly memorable breaks, with prices starting from just £170 per person. Each break includes an overnight stay in a beautiful, haunted location.  As well as dinner with wine and breakfast the following morning, it features a unique, professionally run paranormal experience with ghost hunting, dowsing, séances, table tipping and glass divination. To find out more click here... Save money on gifts for Gardeners, BBQ enthusiasts, Anglers and Golfers Special 10 per cent discount for AMG members at www.downthegarden.com If you are looking for a slightly different or special gift for a gardener or bbq enthusiast then Down the Garden is the place to go. There you will find gifts galore for the gardener and reluctant gardener, the BBQ enthusiast and cook, the angler and the golfer. AMG members can take advantage of a ten per cent discount at www.downthegarden.com for a limited period.  For more details click here... Take a Memory Walk with the Stars And raise money for dementia sufferers and their families Time Team’s Tony Robinson, actress Sally Lindsay, Kevin Whately from Lewis - along with Tania Bryer, and Britt Ekland are all backing this year’s Alzheimer’s Society Memory Walk. “The walks are a marvellous opportunity to have a great day out with family, friends and work colleagues while also raising money for a seriously good cause! Take a picnic and enjoy the post walk time with family, or exchange experiences with other walkers!” To find out more about these walks that will be taking place across the UK on or near the 21st September 2008, click here...

A Gastronomic tour of Cork Peter Morrell goes on a culinary adventure to Cork Cork, in the South West of Ireland, has emerged as one of the foremost cities to enjoy the very best of Irish Food. In this series of three articles Peter explores the sheer quality and diversity of food available in Cork’s famous English Market and meets some of the driving forces behind its success. He also gets time to visit the sites that the city has to offer and eats in three distinctly different restaurants that all have a common theme. That is to offer the freshest, local, seasonal ingredients as the basis of their varied and inventive menus. To read about the English Market, click here... For a review of the restaurants, click here... And to explore the sites of Cork, click here... Answers to you Computing Problems Launching the AboutMyGeneration / PlusNet IT Clinic AboutMyGeneration has teamed up with internet and phone providers, PlusNet, to help you overcome all your IT and broadband issues. Whether you’re having problems setting up wireless, emailing friends and family or uploading photographs, PlusNet is on hand to answer all your queries. Founded in 1997, PlusNet has grown to one of the UK’s best-value internet and home phone providers. It has built its business on innovative products, excellent customer service and low-priced broadband services. The company now offers broadband and voice services to over 300,000 customers across the UK. Just email your question to our PlusNet expert on ITAnswers@aboutmygeneration.com For more information on PlusNet visit www.plus.net Calling all Grandparents Appear in a documentary about being a grandparent Jo Abel at Blast! Films is a documentary director working on a series for BBC 4 exploring the relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren – what it means, how it is different to the relationship with your own children and how it impacts on the family as a whole. Jo knows from personal experience that the arrival of grandchildren creates a massive shift in family dynamics both exhilarating and challenging and she is keen to learn from grandparents about this relationship and how it impacts on life. Blast! Films have been given this unique opportunity to make this series, and to give it the thought and understanding it needs Jo needs to talk to grandparents, parents and grandchildren about their experiences and relationships with one another. Jo is keen to talk to as many people as possible, in total confidence, so please contact Dee or Carla at dkahlon@blastfilms.co.uk or 0207 267 4260, or Jo at jabel@blastfilms.co.uk or 07979 247890. For more information on Blast! Films and this interesting and important project click here… Zorro the Musical Peter Morrell reviews this new West End production As a 10 year old, Peter's favourite serialised films at the Saturday morning matinee were Zorro the Avenger and the Sign of Zorro starring Guy Williams. Twenty years later, his favourite group was the Gypsy Kings. So, Zorro the Musical, that opened at the Garrick Theatre on 15th July, with music by the Gypsy Kings, was a happy collision of two entertainment icons from his past.  But would it live up to his memories? Click here... to find out. Skylon Restaurant Sunday lunch overlooking the Thames? Peter Morrell finds the ideal location Finding somewhere for Sunday lunch, with a view of the Thames, for a party of four, was proving difficult. Having ‘done’ both the restaurant and brasserie at the Oxo Tower, where else on the South Bank offers a good vantage point to watch the world go by while enjoying good food? Find out the ideal solution by clicking here... How to cook without recipes by Glynn Christian Peter Morrell, AMG Food and Drink Editor reviews this amazing insight into cooking As a keen cook for over thirty years I was always puzzled about why, when I added certain extra ingredients to recipes, it made them taste so much better. Or how seemingly odd combinations are a taste sensation. For example, one of my most enduring food memories was arriving home from school and making a cheddar cheese and strawberry jam sandwich. Why? Well after decades of wondering, all these questions have been answered by Glynn Christian’s latest book ‘How to cook without recipes’. I just wish it had been published twenty years ago. Read the review by clicking here... Run The Challenge     The British Red Cross has places available for the London Marathon The general ballot for the 2009 Flora London Marathon has now closed, however the British Red Cross still has charity places available. The charity is looking for runners from the Greater Manchester area to join the Red Cross team and take on the 2009 London Marathon Challenge, on Sunday 26 April. For more information click here...

Remembered - The best-loved advert of all time

Sharon Maughan speaks out about her sizzling affair with Anthony Stewart Head
 
Out of the thousands of adverts we've seen over the years only a few stand out in our memory. Who could forget the Milkybar Kid?  Or the girl enjoying a flake in an overflowing bath tub? If you're looking for the best-loved advert of all time, however, you would be hard pushed to top the Gold Blend campaign that scorched our television screens across the 80s and 90s.  To read more and watch the video interview click here...

Find a Travel Mate

Do you want to travel but don’t fancy going alone?  Why not check out our Travel Mates Group to find like-minded individuals to share the experience and reduce the cost.  You might want someone to join you on a World Cruise or just want to get together with a group for a day out in the UK. Whatever you would like to do, just post a few details on the Message Board or look for someone who has already posted. Even if you prefer to do your own thing, you can ask other solo travellers about the best places to visit and learn from their experiences.  Take the first step to planning that trip now and click here... You must be registered to use this facility, if you are not registered click here...

A Sea Change

Like many fifty-somethings, Chris Hurley’s children have flown the nest and taken their buckets and spades with them.  Thinking it was time for something other than theme parks and beach holidays she enthusiastically boarded Fred. Olsen's ship, Boudicca, for six days on the Med. To find out how she fared as a first time cruise passenger click here...

Do something unusual with your money

 ...Enjoy it! And benefit from privileged access to over 1,000 exquisite properties throughout the UK and Europe, for your lifetime and your children’s lifetimes. Click here... to find out more

If you think it’s too late then ‘Think Again’

Have you always wanted to do something and never managed to get around to it?  Do you think it’s too late to take up a brand new challenge like learning another language, climbing a mountain or riding a horse?  Well think again!   That’s the message from Stannah Stairlifts which started its ‘Think Again Fund’ at the beginning of the year as part of an exciting campaign to give anyone over the age of fifty the opportunity to fulfil a life-long ambition.  It urges you to ‘think again’ about your dream and not to assume that getting older means you can’t do something that you have always wanted to.

Every month until the end of the year Stannah will be choosing one person to receive a portion of the fund to make their dream come true. So, if you have always wanted to achieve something but just didn’t know how, click here...

Get free advice from our online legal clinic
 
If there’s a matter on which you would like some expert legal advice then look no further.

In association with Thackray Williams Solicitors, AMG have set up an online clinic to deal with general questions you may have relating to probate, inheritance tax planning, powers of attorney, preparation of wills and trusts.

Send your questions to us at law@aboutmygeneration.com and Thackray Williams will  publish the answers on their dedicated legal page that you can view by clicking here…

Thackray Williams is a ‘Legal500’ firm and is one of the foremost legal practices in the South East providing a full range of legal services to commercial and private clients from offices located in Bromley, Beckenham, Chislehurst and West Wickham. www.thackraywilliams.com T: 020 8290 0440.

Current Competitions

See the current competitions and prize draws on AMG by clicking here...