LET YOUR GARDEN GROW POCKET PLANTS You don’t even need a garden to satisfy greenfingered fantasies as everything comes in a packet these days. Grow your own organic herbs ­ from basil to lemongrass ­ in a Pocket Garden. Just cut open the packet, add seeds to water and watch them grow. They taste [...]

Trend Watch Picnic Baskets DO YOU DREAM OF PICNICKING in style ­ perhaps nibbling on perfectly cut sandwiches while sipping a glass of fine wine? So why is it that as soon as the summer sun beckons us to the Great Outdoors, we head straight to the supermarket and stock up on dips, pre-packed sandwiches and [...]

bmi regional connects key cities with improved schedules From September bmi regional will operate more fl ights than any other airline between Manchester and Scotland. Our services will be further enhanced with schedules even better suited to meet the needs of our customers. Changes to fl ight departure times between Manchester to Edinburgh and Glasgow will [...]

Words: Virginia Blackburn Whether it’s an 18th-century representation of Surrey or an Elizabethan passage through to the Americas, old maps have strong currency SEVEN YEARS AGO, Jeffrey Sharpe was fl icking through a collection of old maps in an antique shop when one item in particular caught his eye. It was a very simple drawing of an [...]

Northern delights LEEDS IS NOW one of the top five cities for eating out in the UK, and chef James Martin (above) reveals why it’s an inspired choice for foodies: "It’s leading the way in terms of inspiration, food and restaurants that utilise the best local produce." Martin, along with other high-profile chefs such [...]

Fishy Tales Copenhagen HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN wrote a fairy tale about her, Disney produced a film and has a statue in her honour. The Little Mermaid who rescued a shipwrecked prince has captured many hearts, and fi rst appeared on the Danish shores in 1913. Sculptor Edward Eriksen designed the bronze statue and she sits on [...]

GET READY TO MAKE SOME WAVES WITH OUR ROUND-UP OF THE BEST BEACH GEAR WHETHER YOU’RE HEADING to Blackpool or Barbados, make the most of having fun in the sun. We’ve trawled the shores to fi nd the must-haves that will help even the most stressed executive relax this summer. All you have to do is [...]

Words: Edward Chamberlin As tourists gingerly discover the unspoilt wonders of Murcia, Polaris World is ready to accommodate them ANCIENT AND MYSTERIOUS, the history of Murcia in Spain tells a story of Carthaginiantrading posts, Moorish caliphates and waxing and waning empires. However, this dramatic history is not readily apparent in the lush hills, colourful fruits and glistening [...]

THIS MONTH’S MUST-HAVE ROUND-UP OF ALL THE SHINIEST AND PRETTIEST NEW GADGETS AROUND E-410 Olympus SLR camera Boasting a Live Preview mode on its 2.5-inch HyperCrystal LCD and a Supersonic Wave Filter to shake dust off the sensor, the E-410 is also part of the FourThirds family ­ [...]

Roll out the barrel Looking for a good wine? Most people would immediately start thinking about French, Italian, Spanish or New World ­ anything, in fact, other than English. But, surprisingly, the best bottles could be made right under your nose ENGLISH WINE WAS once regarded as an unfortunate joke but stuffy connoisseurs who still claim it’s [...]

HE MAY BE RETIRED, BUT RUGBY COMMENTATOR BILL MCLAREN WILL STILL BE WATCHING THE WORLD CUP WITH A KEEN EYE ­ HIS GRANDSON RORY LAWSON IS PLAYING FOR SCOTLAND THE GRANDFATHER: Bill McLaren has a voice as warm and satisfying as a Thermos fl ask of Scotch broth on a raw January afternoon at Murrayfi eld. [...]

Interview: Jeremy Taylor Supermodel Carla Bruni has swapped the catwalk for the album chart ­ and success as a singer-songwriter CARLA BRUNI HAS APPEARED in the pages of the world’s most famous fashion magazines, yet the Italian supermodel and heiress says she would much rather be remembered for her music. The 39-year-old brunette has posed for designers [...]