words: katie lee SINGLE-USE PHONE CHARGER? PLEXIGLASS KEYBOARD? YOU SAW IT HERE FIRST Mobcharger Coming soon to a vending machine near you, the Mobcharger is an emergency, single-use charger that will provide a convenient 60-minute boost to your flagging mobile phone battery. £5; www..mobcharger.com ID Vault We’re always having to log in to somewhere or other, and keeping [...]

Happy Hogmanay BRING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH A BANG IN SCOTLAND’S PARTY CAPITAL CELEBRATE NEW YEAR in style with the Scots’ famous Hogmanay festivities in Edinburgh, when the capital city comes alive with processions, street theatre, live pop and classical concerts. Events kick off on 29 December with a torchlight procession, followed by street theatre throughout [...]

Words: james bartlett SHE HAS SOLD over five million albums, picked up numerous awards and travelled the world over as a burgeoning international star. Yet when fans of the 22-year-old jazz-pop sensation Katie Melua heard her song Belfast, few realised how close her ties were to the Northern Ireland city. Indeed, she has in the past [...]

A CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE PROMISES TO BE A FAR MORE INTERESTING PROPOSITION THAN STOCKS AND SHARES WHEN THE WEEKEND ROLLS ROUND FOR SOME INVESTORS, a classic motorcycle has the edge over more traditional funds. If you sink your savings into a machine from the Golden Age of the British motorcycle industry then you don’t just receive a share [...]

ENTREPRENEUR VINCE POWER RECENTLY COLLABORATED WITH GALLERY OWNER ALEX PROUD TO OPEN “AT PROUD”, AN ART AND MUSIC VENUE IN CAMDEN words: bethan ryder Irish entrepreneur Vince Power is best known as founder of the Mean Fiddler group, an organisation of music venues that also runs music festivals. In 2005 he sold his stake in the Mean [...]

IF YOUR HEART sinks at the thought of Christmas shopping, get yourself into the festive spirit by visiting the special displays at various department stores. The Royal Copenhagen Complex (www.royalcopenhagen.com) will be holding its traditional Christmas tables display. These popular and beautiful decorations will focus on the theme “Christmas in the Metropolis World” this year. [...]

words: beverley d’silva Groningen in the Netherlands is home to one of the world’s most famous seal sanctuaries. We spoke to its founder, Lenie ’t Hart, about her lifelong passion for these heavenly sea creatures, the threats they face and how some really are as smart as humans THERE IS FAR more to a destination like Groningen [...]

Zara Phillips, the Queen’s 25-year-old granddaughter, is a hot favourite to walk away with the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year title this month words:robert philip “AND THE WINNER of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year is…” The announcement has become one of the annual rites of December’s television. The gala celebration is held during the [...]

THE LONG-TERM DEPLOYMENT OF DOMESTIC TALENT INTERNATIONALLY IS NOT AS VIABLE AS IT ONCE WAS words: hugh karseras FOR A LONG time now, the expatriate has been a pillar of many operations among the world’s major multi-national companies. But that is set to change. Although you might think the march of globalisation would spur growth in professional [...]

words: emma juhasz photography: adrian rogers/BBC ACTOR DAN STEVENS REVEALS HOW HE TREAD THE BOARDS AS MRS MOP BEFORE SINKING HIS TEETH INTO DRACULA When did you start acting? Playing Mrs Mop in a primary school play.I remember that it was a great buzz being on stage and I really enjoyed making everyone laugh. It made me wonder [...]

Happy Hogmanay BRING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH A BANG IN SCOTLAND’S PARTY CAPITAL CELEBRATE NEW YEAR in style with the Scots’ famous Hogmanay festivities in Edinburgh, when the capital city comes alive with processions, street theatre, live pop and classical concerts. Events kick off on 29 December with a torchlight procession, followed by street theatre throughout [...]

CONTENTS EXPLORE Out and about The latest news, views and events from bmi destinations including Amsterdam, Naples, Leeds and Las Vegas. Plus, the coolest ski gear and the best places to go for a bracing swim this Christmas Day [...]