RENT January 19, 2012 HEAD OF RENTALS AYLESFORD INTERNATIONAL Q. I’m looking to invest in a buy-to-let property and wonder whether one with off street parking and/or a garage might be a good bet in terms of increased rental return. Could I also benefit from renting the garage under a separate agreement? A. There is currently a shortage of [...]
Lightweight Assange play misses mark January 19, 2012 Theatre MAN IN THE MIDDLE Theatre 503, Battersea ** Is Wikileaks a bastion of truth or a threat to national security? Is Julian Assange the new face of journalism or a trumped-up sex offender? Is he the hero or the villain of his own story? The life of the founder of the whistle-blowing website has [...]
Travelling Light shines brilliantly January 19, 2012 Theatre TRAVELLING LIGHT The National Theatre **** Nicholas Wright’s play sees an ageing Hollywood director, Jewish immigrant Maurice Montgomery, looking back over his formative years as an earnest young filmmaker in an East European shtetl. The whole village becomes involved in creating his movies, which are projected onto the wall of a local house, the [...]
The humourless Hoover January 19, 2012 Film J EDGAR Cert: 15 *** J Edgar must have been a tough one for its producers to sell; Americans may place a premium on patriotism but this bitter biopic of the former head of the FBI offers few reasons for fist pumping. It’s a humourless, two and a quarter hour-long love-triangle between the Oedipal [...]
Madonna’s take on Wallis Simpson is a mixed bag January 19, 2012 Film W.E. Cert: 15 *** Madonna’s second bash at directing has taken a lot of flak. Surprisingly, though, it isn’t as bad as you might think. W.E. follows the love affair between King Edward VIII (James D’Arcy) and American divorcee Wallis Simpson (Andrea Riseborough). Seen through the eyes of Wally Winthrop (Abbie Cornish) as she [...]
When Hofesh Shechter met Antony Gormley January 19, 2012 Performance SURVIVOR The Barbican **** It’s rather tricky to describe the latest smash success and brainchild of Hofesh Shechter, the astonishingly talented Israeli choreographer. It had a bit of dance in it, a lot of collective shuffling, and the involvement of artist Antony Gormley. More importantly, it was loud (ear plugs were doled out to [...]
The nails slithering into style January 18, 2012 SNAKESKIN is in – it’s all over bags, shoes, wallets, belts. But nails? Yes, that too now, if you want the very latest look to slither off the boat from New York. Spotting an opportunity, Donna Haar-Jorgensen, the statuesque founder of the extremely chichi Hand & Foot Spa chain, has introduced snakeskin manis and pedis [...]
3 ways to ditch detox January 18, 2012 FITNESS & DIET EXPERT A leading British liver charity dismissed frenzied January detoxing as “futile” earlier in the month, so what’s the best, safest bet for giving your body a much-needed recharge this January? Watch your weight Research has found that if you’re overweight and you drink, your risk of liver disease increases three times. [...]
EPISODE 42 – WE ENJOY TEA FOR TWO BEFORE BEDTIME January 18, 2012 I place two mugs of camomile tea on the kitchen table and sit, opposite Emma. “What will we be doing in twenty years’ time?” asks Emma. “Twenty years? All I know is that in twenty minutes I’d like to be in bed.” Emma raises her eyebrows and smiles. “Saucy.” “Don’t get your hopes up,” I [...]
