THEGAYUK

Category: Lifestyle

  • Premier League And Paddy Power Go Gay With Rainbow Football Laces

    Rainbow Laces campaign asks players to lace up for weekend of 13/14 September.

    Stonewall, joining forces with the Gay Football Supporters’ Network (GFSN) and Paddy Power, has sent rainbow laces to every professional club and footballer in Britain to show support for gay players and fans.

    The campaign has official backing from the Premier League and high-profile support from Thomas Hitzlsperger, FA Cup winners Arsenal and champions Man City and aims to tackle one of the most persistent challenges in sport: homophobia in football.

    Thomas Hitziperger made headlines in January when he announced he was gay.

    Building on the success of last year’s inaugural campaign in which hundreds of pros laced up including Leighton Baines, Olivier Giroud and Joey Barton, alongside widespread support from Ed Miliband, the Department of Culture, Media & Sport, Stephen Fry and Gary Lineker, players and fans are being urged to again show their support over the weekend of 13/14 September.

    Arsenal legends Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Olivier Giroud, Santi Cazorla and club captain Mikel Arteta will kick-off the campaign with a high-profile TV ad – ‘The Changing Room’ – designed to raise awareness of the issues around homophobia in football and lead the charge in changing the beautiful game.

    Among the 5,000 professional footballers in the UK, not one of them is openly gay – a scenario with odds of over a quadragintillion to one. Stonewall’s own research shows that seven in ten football fans have heard or witnessed homophobia on the terraces and more than 40 per cent believe football to be an anti-gay sport.

    Rainbow coloured boot laces have been dispatched to every single professional player in the UK, including youth and women’s teams, alongside deliveries to all 650 MPs and leading political figures. Fans and grass-root players will be asked to tweet their support using the official hashtag: #RainbowLaces

    Ruth Hunt, Chief Executive of Stonewall, said, ‘We know that homophobia, biphobia and transphobia are still rife in football. That needs to change. Last year’s Rainbow Laces campaign was a great start but there’s still a long way to go both on and off the pitch. The clubs and players supporting the campaign and lacing up this weekend are taking a powerful stand against prejudice in our national game. Our work in sport will continue all year round, but for this week we need as many people as possible to show their support and get involved.’

    Nick Noble, Premier League Head of Communications said, ‘The Premier League welcomes initiatives like Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign, that share our objectives of equality throughout the sport. Unfortunately discrimination still exists in society and we recognise football’s leadership role in educating participants at all levels that any form of discriminatory behaviour is not acceptable.’

    Thomas Hitzlsperger, the only openly gay player to have played in the Premier League, said: ‘I’m proud to be working with Stonewall on the Rainbow Lace campaign. I want to show that being gay and a professional footballer is something that’s normal. The perceived contradiction between playing football, the man’s game, and being homosexual is nonsense.’

    Paddy Power said: ‘We love football but it needs a good kick up the ass. In many other areas of life, people can be open about their sexuality and it’s time for football to take a stand and show players it doesn’t matter what team they play for. Fans can show their support by simply tweeting using #RainbowLaces, whilst all players have to do is lace up over the weekend of 13 and 14 September.’

    Ed Connell, Gay Football Supporters’ Network Chair said: ‘Last year’s Rainbow Laces campaign successfully highlighted the problem of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in football in a bold and impactful way, grabbing the attention of the footballing world. However real progress is never achieved with one off campaigns. That’s why the Gay Football Supporters’ Network (GFSN) has welcomed the opportunity to work on this year’s campaign which we believe can bring about real change in the game.’

    In addition to club, player and fan support, some of the UK’s best known brands are supporting Rainbow Laces. In an industry first, Metro have pledged their support by filling their entire Monday edition with adverts from brands who back the campaign.

    Premier Inn, who are renaming as Premier Out in all communications for the day, HTC/Carphone Warehouse, Playstation, Sega, Relish Broadband, KLM, Heineken, Pepsico, Lastminute.com, Dr Martens, BT Broadband / BT Sport, Starbucks, Fiat and Jersey Tourism are just some of the brands involved.

  • MONEY: The Real Cost Of Leaving Equipment On Standby

    MONEY: The Real Cost Of Leaving Equipment On Standby

    Wondering why your energy costs keep rising and your bills are mounting, well a new report shows that households in the UK waste £227m a year on leaving appliances, like TVs on Standby.

    (more…)

  • RECIPE | Gluten & Dairy Free Coconut Muffins

    I encourage you even if you’re able to live a non-restrictive diet, to try these little fluffy cups of coconut gold! My friend was amazed that these are both gluten and dairy free and said it was the best “free from” cake she had ever had. They are delicate and lovely. Get involved!

    These muffins are packed full of coconut which are a good source of; copper, calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium, and zinc. The Koko dairy free alternative that I use is also a great source of calcium and has added vitamin D2, and B12!

     

    Decoration Tip!

    I love using the Parisian company My Little Day (INSERT WEB LINK: http://en.mylittleday.fr/ ) for baking accessories like the cups you can see in the pictures. They also have a fantastic range of straws and other party accessories that bring the je ne sais quoi that the Parisians’ do oh so very well.

     

    Ingredients.

    300ml milk alternative (I used Koko dairy free milk which is made from coconuts to reinforce the coconut flavour here)

    290g gluten-free self raising flour (I used Doves)

    160g desiccated coconut

    130g caster sugar

    2 tsp gluten-free baking powder

    5 tbsp melted butter alternative (I used Pure sunflower spread), melted

    1 tbsp vanilla extract

    ½ tsp salt

    2 eggs

     

    Method.

    Preheat your oven to 180c / 160c (fan) / Gas Mark 4

     

    1. In your mixing bowl pop in your flour, sugar, coconut, baking powder and salt and mix well to combine thoroughly.
    2. In another bowl, whisk up your eggs along with the milk and vanilla extract.
    3. Make a dip or a well in your coconut flour mix, and now pour in your eggy milk.
    4. Stir the ingredients to mix well.
    5. Now add your melted butter into the cake batter and mix well again.
    6. Your cake mix is now ready to be decanted into muffin cases. Don’t overfill them otherwise they will just explode up out of the sides. ¾ full is usually best.
    7. Place in the oven 25 minutes. You can test if your cakes are ready if a skewer comes out clean after being inserted into the centre of one.

     

     

  • GARDEN | August. Time To Reap Your Rewards

    The month of plenty. You can literally wander around your garden at this time of year filling baskets, buckets and bags with all the goodies you’ve been growing. It’s okay to be a little smug – if you’ve worked hard you’ll have loads to show for it – but remember pride comes before a fall – sneaky pests and simply having too much veg to know what to do with can easily catch you with your pants down.

    Reap your rewards!

    Too. Much. To. Carry. Forget the gym this month your arms will be straining under the weight of all your produce. The list of what will be ready is endless so keep an eye on everything. Courgettes will literally double in size while your back is turned. Lifting a few leaves will unveil massive cucumbers that weren’t there yesterday. If you’ve been reading up on what you’ve been growing you’ll have an idea of the optimum time to harvest but use your eyes and your instincts to decide when something is ready for plucking – be confident – you got them this far.

    There is nothing worse when growing your own food than discovering something has begun to rot in the kitchen because you haven’t had time to use it or didn’t know how. So with so much food finding it’s way into your kitchen this month you better find a way to use it all up…

    Pickles, preserves and soups – oh my!

    Don’t waste a thing. If you’ve got some food in front of you that you’re not sure you’re going to eat almost immediately, Google ways to preserve it now! There are many ways to preserve your home-grown produce – in most cases these techniques actually elevate your crops into delicious delights.

    Pickling – If you have childhood memories of sharp, unpleasant pickled vegetables banish those thoughts now. Vinegar has been used for generations and with the right combination of spices can make your produce a pleasure. Slice up a cucumber chuck it in a jar with some white wine vinegar, grated ginger and some stem ginger and you’ve got the most delicious zingy accompaniment to burgers and salads. Yum!

    Blanching – Basically flash boiling your veg. The idea is to kill any bacteria that causes the veg to rot, without actually cooking it. Different foods have different boiling times so just look it up. Once done plunge into cold water to stop the cooking process and freeze. Simple.

    Soups – My favourite way of dealing with excess veg. The only limit to the soups you make is your imagination. Experiment with spices, flavours, textures and have a ball. Then once you’ve created the perfect soup, freeze it in portions and Bob’s your uncle.

    Jam’s, jellies and chutneys – The possibilities are endless…

    Let the overwintering begin!

    Overwintering is the practice of planting seeds now in order to produce crops after the winter has passed. Many vegetables have varieties that can be ‘overwintered’. Do some research and get planting. By doing this you can be harvesting crops as early as next March!

    So as September begins you should be drowning in home-grown food and home made products. It’s been a busy month so perhaps it’s time for a holiday. Now the school holidays are over it’s just the right time to snap up some great deals – just make sure you’ve got someone lined up to look after the garden!

  • Chris Mears and Jack Laugher take gold

    Talented duo Chris Mears and Jack Laugher take gold at the Commonwealth Games

    Unstoppable diving duo Chris Mears and Jack Laugher are the proud owners of a gold medal which they won in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The gold medal is the second to be awarded at the games, winning the men’s synchronised 3m springboard final.

    Taking to Instagram Jack said, ‘GOLD WITH MY BEST BUD @mearschris93 😀 Couldn’t be happier!!!!’

  • Driving abroad this summer, Be prepared

    Many Brits will hit the roads abroad this summer, with around two million people steering their cars overseas every year*. MoneySuperMarket is urging motorists to check their car insurance policy before they go away to make sure they are fully aware of the cover provided when driving in Europe and further afield.

    Kevin Pratt, car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: ‘If you’re taking your car to Europe this summer, the key advice is to understand how you are covered by your car insurance in the country you’re visiting. That means checking to see if your policy covers you to the level legally required in the countries you’re driving through as well as your destination. Many policies will protect you on European roads, but those with ‘fully comp’ cover are often downgraded to the minimum level of cover required in the country they are travelling in. In some cases cover can be limited to the basic third party level unless you pay to extend your fully comprehensive protection to apply off UK soil.

    ‘It is also important to check the number of days you are allowed to be away as this can differ between providers. Read through your policy wording before you travel as you may have to pay an extra premium if you are away longer than your standard cover permits.

    ‘The same applies for breakdown cover. You need to check you’re covered in Europe – on a country by country basis – because being stranded by the roadside, perhaps not speaking the language, and with a car full of fretful passengers, could ruin your holiday and cost you a fortune.’

    Rules of the road
    It’s important to swot up on the local rules of the road – do your homework before you set off on your trip so you are not caught out in an unfamiliar territory. Rules will change from country to country – from carrying a warning triangle, fluorescent vest and breathalyser in France, knowing the alcohol limit in Spain, and giving way to traffic entering a roundabout from the opposite side in Greece, so it really pays to research the rules in your chosen destination.

    Kevin Pratt, car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, continues: “When people are relaxed on their holiday they may let their driving guard down, but as soon as you hit European soil, local driving rules apply, so it’s vital holiday-makers are vigilant. In the EU there are certain items you must have stored in your boot while driving such as warning triangles, so it’s worth reading up on exactly what you need before setting off.”

    Top tips for driving abroad:

    – European speed limits are displayed in km/h and not mph, therefore you should watch your speed.

    – In many European countries, the use of dipped headlights is compulsory for cars in poor daytime visibility and compulsory for motorcycles no matter what the visibility, day or night.

    – If travelling between countries, ensure you have a warning triangle in your boot, reflective jackets for each passenger and, if you are travelling to or through ski resorts, snow chains. If you do run into trouble, the emergency number in most countries is 112.

    – You’ll need to display a GB sticker on your car when driving within the EU – failure to do so could result in an on-the-spot fine. It’s also a requirement in some non-EU countries so it’s best to display one wherever you’re driving.

  • Australian Gay Rugby Team Wins Their Professional Match

    UK Sports Challenged to hold similar events after Australian gay team wins historic rugby game – International Rugby legends Gareth Thomas and John Eales call for end to discrimination.

    Two international rugby legends are congratulating Australia’s first gay rugby union team for its decisive win during an historic game. They are also urging sports in the UK and around the world to do more to tackle homophobia in sport.
    The Sydney Convicts were the first gay rugby team, and only the second gay team in the world, to play at a professional sporting event (the first was French soccer match in 2006).On Sunday, the Convicts beat the Macquarie University Warriors 30-12 during a ‘curtain raiser,’ a game held ahead of the international ‘Super Rugby’ match between the NSW Waratahs (AUS) and Highlanders (NZ) at Allianz Stadium.
    Sydney Convicts Head Coach Charlie Winn said, ‘The curtain raiser was a once in a lifetime experience for the team and I’m proud we made the most of this historic opportunity to show gay men can and do play quality rugby. I hope we’ve opened the door to similar games being held in the future around the world.’

    International rugby superstar and former Wales captain Gareth Thomas is one of only two professional rugby players in the world to have come out of the closet. He came out in 2009. He said, ‘I congratulate the Sydney Convicts for winning this historic game, it certainly says a lot about the calibre of gay rugby teams around the world. Thankfully we are moving incredibly quickly toward attitudes changing about gay people and whether they can play tough sports like rugby. This may be the first gay team invited to play a curtain raiser but I hope it’s not the last. Rugby is a game for all shapes, sizes and personalities and it needs to be a game for everyone regardless of sexuality. I think rugby can lead the way in changing sporting culture and I’m very hopeful we’ll see more games like this in the UK and around the world.’

    Another international rugby legend, John Eales, the most successful captain in Australian rugby history, agrees with Gareth Thomas. The retired Wallaby is also a ‘Bingham Cup Ambassador.’ He said, ‘I am very proud of the Convicts for making history while also challenging stereotypes around gay men. Sports can and must lead society and be welcoming for everyone. It’s always disappointing to hear stories of people who don’t play sports because they fear discrimination. I’m sure that by holding historic events like this weekend’s curtain raiser and taking other steps to publicly support gay people, we can help eradicate homophobia and discrimination in sport.’

    This historic curtain raiser was part of a series of anti-homophobia initiatives led by Australian sporting organisations in partnership with organisers of next month’s Bingham Cup, the world cup of gay rugby, being held in Sydney. This includes the first international study on homophobia in sports, which is collecting experiences of people in the UK and other countries.
    www.outonthefields.com

    Many of the Sydney Convicts players joined the gay and inclusive rugby team because they didn’t feel welcome on other teams. This included Jay Claydon, a winger who joined the Convicts after experiencing homophobia on his semi-professional rugby team. He was named ‘man of the match’ after the historic curtain raiser for scoring 3 tries.
    Another player, scrum half Jason Fowler, played with the Macquarie University Warriors prior to joining the Sydney Convicts last season. Many of his former teammates only found out he was gay when he played against them as a Sydney Convict. ‘I saw a lot of guys on the field who I was afraid would reject me for being gay just two years ago. I’m amazed by how my life has come full circle and I can play against them now and be proud. In retrospect my sexuality was not as big a deal as I made it out in my head and my old teammates have been extremely supportive.’

    In addition to the curtain raiser game, a panel discussion on homophobia in sport was held during the pre-game show and a feature article on discrimination in sport ran in the program. A 30 second anti-homophobia video was also shown on the Jumbotron, featuring many well-known international athletes. This included Mitchell Johnson (Cricket), Ryan Harris (Cricket), Harry Kewell (Football), Alessandro Del Piero (Football), Paul Gallen (Rugby League), Nate Myles (Rugby League), David Pocock (Rugby Union), Lauren Jackson (Basketball), Nathan Jones (Australian Rules), Sam Mitchell (Australian Rules), Kim Green (Netball) and Libby Trickett (Swimming) The video can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-G4mXUtmeZg

    Australians are receiving strong international praise and recognition for their efforts to tackle homophobia. Les Johnson is Vice-President of Membership with the Federation of Gay Games, the world’s largest LGBT sporting organisation. “We applaud rugby and Australia’s other major sports for being trailblazers and for strongly supporting our community. The historic initiatives being led by Australians are significant developments in the worldwide effort to end discrimination and make sport welcoming and safe for all.”

    More about the Bingham Cup: www.binghamcup.com

  • Australia’s First Gay Rugby Team To Play First Professional Match

    Australia’s first gay rugby union team (the Sydney Convicts) will make history when they become the first gay rugby team in the world to play as part of a professional match.

    In fact, it’s only the second time in the world that a gay team has been invited to play a curtain raiser ahead of a professional game (the first time was at a French soccer game in 2006). The Sydney Convicts, which play in a mainstream rugby competition, will play against Macquarie University next Sunday afternoon ahead of the game between the NSW Waratahs (AUS) and the Highlanders (NZ) at Allianz Stadium. The event is part of wider efforts by both organisers of next month’s Bingham Cup as well as Australia’s professional sports to help end homophobia in Australia and around the world.

    Nick Phipps plays for the Australian national team the “Wallabies” as well as the NSW Waratahs. He is also a strong supporter of the Bingham Cup Sydney 2014 said, “Sport is such a beautiful thing and in this day and age, there should be no discrimination at all. After getting to know some of the boys who play for the Sydney Convicts, they’re really good fellas and we want to help them as much as we can. Hopefully the fans also get behind the boys and show their full support, to end discrimination in sport and raise awareness about the Convicts as a team and what they stand for.”

    Jason Fowler, a player with the Sydney Convicts, played with Macquarie University (the team the Convicts are playing) prior to joining the gay and inclusive rugby team. Many of his former teammates at Macquarie University didn’t find out he was gay until he played against them as a Sydney Convict. “Playing at Allianz is a once in a lifetime opportunity and the entire team is extremely proud and excited to be making history. For me, I’m amazed by how my life has come full circle. Just 2 years ago I was afraid to come out of the closet to my teammates, now I’m playing against them on a gay rugby team as part of a professional sporting event.”

    David Whitaker, president of the Sydney Convicts said, “The Sydney Convicts are very excited and proud to be the first gay and inclusive rugby team to be invited to play as part of a professional sporting match. Often discrimination and homophobia is based on stereotypes that gay people are somehow weak and they can’t play tough sports like rugby. We hope this game helps to challenge these misconceptions while also raising awareness that homophobia in sport is still a major issue and gay people often still feel unwelcome,” says

    Nick Farr-Jones is one of the most successful captains in Wallabies’ history. He’s also Chairman of NSW Rugby and a Bingham Cup Sydney 2014 Ambassador. He said, “NSW Rugby is proud to be a long-time supporter of the Sydney Convicts and their efforts to tackle homophobia. Rugby is very committed to making our sport welcoming to everyone, regardless of their sexuality. I hope this historic curtain raiser will help us continue to send a strong message that there is no room for discrimination of any kind in rugby, both on and off the field.”

    As part of the event on Sunday, Allianz Stadium will air a 30 second anti-homophobia TV advertisement during the Waratahs/Highlanders game featuring some of the most well-known athletes in world sport. This includes Mitchell Johnson (Cricket), Ryan Harris (Cricket), Harry Kewell (Football), Alessandro Del Piero (Football), Paul Gallen (Rugby League), Nate Myles (Rugby League), David Pocock (Rugby Union), Lauren Jackson (Basketball), Nathan Jones (Australian Rules), Sam Mitchell (Australian Rules), Kim Green (Netball) and Libby Trickett (Swimming). The Waratahs will also run a feature article in the game program and include a panel discussion on homophobia in sport as part of their pre-game show.

    This historic curtain raiser is one of three history making initiatives led by the Australian organisers of Bingham Cup Sydney 2014 to tackle homophobia in sports. In April, they organised a joint commitment by every major professional Australian sport to ‘eliminate’ homophobia. The sports signed an ‘Anti-homophobia and Inclusion Framework’ and challenged sporting organisations around the world to do the same. The second historic initiative was launching the first national and international study on homophobia in sport involving researchers from 6 universities from Canada, UK, USA and Australia. The study, called Out on the Fields, has already collected the stories and experiences of over 5000 LGBT people worldwide. Researchers hope more people will take part in the study, which can be found at www.outonthefields.com

    Australians are receiving strong international praise and recognition for their efforts to change sporting culture. Les Johnson is Vice-President of Membership with the Federation of Gay Games, the world’s largest LGBT sporting organisation. “This is only the second time we’ve heard of a gay team being invited to be part of a professional sporting match and it’s a first for a gay rugby team. We applaud rugby and Australia’s other major sports for being trailblazers and for strongly supporting our community. The historic initiatives being led by Australians are significant developments in the worldwide effort to end discrimination and make sport welcoming and safe for all.”

  • GARDEN | Get Hot And Sweaty In The Garden This July

    Summer’s here! So let’s enjoy an afternoon cider in a pub garden, BBQ’s on the beach, bronzed buff bodies, slow-mo beach volleyball, studs in Speedos, sun-kissed lifeguards – oh, who cares what’s happening the garden!!

    Sorry – not sure what happened there. The summer is well and truly here and you’ll be harvesting your crops on a daily basis – if you’ve been successful with your endeavours you’ll be eating the loveliest, freshest food on the planet.

    So (safely) work on your tan and your garden at the same time with these handy hints:

    Fill that hole – Any of your early crops that you’ve finished harvesting can now be taken out to make room for oncoming plants. Space is usually the biggest issue for the home gardener so empty gaps are your enemy at this stage in the year. If you want to take your home garden to the next level look into ‘crop rotation’ plans. There is loads of advice out there on planting things in sequence to give you the best results everytime.

    Spread ‘em – Watering is your top priority – watering isn’t just about making your plants flourish – regular watering can also keep them from bolting. Hot, dry weather can be a real problem at this time of year – you should be using water from your rain water collection but this can quickly deplete in a dry spell. By spreading mulch around your plants you can help keep the soil from drying out and discourages weeds. It also looks pretty for when you’re smugly showing your friends around your kitchen garden with a glass of chilled pinot.

    Time is ticking – After all the waiting to sow at the beginning of the year we’re already approaching the last chance to sow some crops. At this time of year get your fast growing salads leaves in the ground and you should be feasting on them in no time. The time you have to get things in the ground varies depending on your location in the country so be aware of your climate – if you want a longer growing season you could always look into investing in a tunnel…

    Tunnel vision – If you’ve got a polytunnel you’re growing period is going to be extended to give you extra time to sow and harvest. You will be able to start your planting earlier in the year and finish later, so if you find yourself getting green fingers it really should be a consideration. The great thing about polytunnels is that you can over winter things like salad crops so they effectively hibernate in the winter and stay fresh until you come in to harvest them. You can also have parties in the rain if you have a polytunnel – bonus.

    Don’t forget – the war against pests will be raging on, weeding is ongoing and watering is your most important task.

     

    So if you can tear yourself away from the beach and all the treats the summer brings, you’ll be rewarded in the garden with an abundance of food – or get the best of both worlds and hire a hunky gardener, then all you have to do is sit on your sun lounger and drink Diet Coke. Happy summer!

  • 6 reasons you need a gym buddy

    Your holiday is booked and with healthy living being promoted more than ever there has never been a better time to kick-start your fitness routine at the gym.

    Your holiday is booked and with healthy living being promoted more than ever there has never been a better time to kick-start your fitness routine at the gym.

    For some reason you’re finding it a bit of a slog, and no matter how good your intentions the weight isn’t shifting and the muscles aren’t building as you’d hoped. Your symptoms are incredibly common, you’re having a gym buddy deficiency and it’s ruining your chances of achieving your summer body goals. There are proved reasons as to why exercising with a friend can help you to achieve your goals more effectively, here’s just six to get you thinking.

    1. Working together
    A goal shared is a goal halved, or something like that – basically the idea here is that if you share your fitness goal with a gym buddy it’s going to be a hell of a lot easier to realise that dream. Whether it be flat abs or bulging muscles, finding a gym buddy who’s goals are similar to yours is key.

    2. Planning together
    Creating a schedule together will really help you to work towards your dream body, but being realistic is also necessary. Sit down and plan your week together, working out when you can both fit in a work out (always together, remember) will ensure you are much more likely to go to the gym, because you know your buddy is there waiting for you.

    3. Sticking at it together
    It’s easier to stick to a goal if you’re doing it with someone else so you’re far less likely to avoid a gym session because you’ve been invited to impromptu after-work cocktails on a Tuesday. Give your gym buddy a text to encourage him or her not to skip gym sessions and they can do the same for you – encouraging each other to work together to stick at your schedule.

    4. Bringing a competitive edge
    Sometimes a bit of healthy competition is what you need to get you motivated, so if you can see that your gym buddy is shedding the pounds faster than you it’s going to make you want to up your game. If you have someone to compete with you’re far more likely to succeed.

    5. Building your confidence
    As well as being your natural competitor, your gym buddy is there to bring you words of encouragement and ultimately help you to feel better about yourself in the process. Spurring each other on whilst lifting weights is one thing but little words or emails f encouragements when you’re not sharing the bench press is also a great way to ensure you both stay focussed on your goals.

    6. Sharing tips
    Sometimes the mind boggles when you’re researching gym techniques and fitness plans online. There are so many options, videos, inspirational blogs and online personal trainers out there that it can be really tough to work out what will actually work for you. Having a gym buddy is almost as good as having a personal trainer because they know you and can help you sort the bad from the good advice.
    Gym buddies aren’t just a good idea, they’re essential if you want to achieve your goals, providing you with encouragement, support, advice and a shared goal for you both to achieve together in the gym.

  • COCKTAIL RECIPE | Soho Sling

    It’s time to kneel before the new King about town and let his mixed botanicals reign upon you. The King of Soho is certainly a gin you’ll be wanting to follow for many years to come.

    Ingredients:

    50ml King of Soho Gin

    15ml Lime Juice

    35ml Pressed Apple Juice

    50ml Ginger Beer

     

    Method:

    Build in a tall glass filled with cubed ice

    Garnish with a slice of apple

     

    The King of Soho is available from a range of popular on-trade accounts and at fine retailers nationwide RRP £34.95 (70cl) + £11.95 (20cl).