Review | Hotel Paradiso, Underbelly Festival*

courtesy of The Other Richard

 

We were kindly invited down to watch Hotel Paradiso at the Underbelly Festival and it was just a fab performance! Full of thrills, gasps, laughs and drama!

At the start of the show the characters started off talking to the audience (in character of course) and we both really enjoyed that. It helped us get into the theme of the show perfectly.

 

courtesy of Nino Giuffre

The show is based at The Hotel Paradiso. A rather run-down hotel which is run by Madame who unfortunately lost her parents at a young age and was left in charge of the hotel alongside her wine loving concierge and his staff of two, the bell boy and the chambermaid.

Two mysterious bankers arrive with a 24 hour notice to raise the cash for the hotel or lose it for good! Follows is 60 minutes of non stop heart-stopping acrobatics and a series of laugh out loud clowning moments.

Our favourite act of the show was the hula hoop routine, no plot spoilers but it involves lots of hula hoops and a bottle of champagne.

Overall I must say it’s a great show! The performers were fantastic especially with the lighting storm and heavy rain falling onto the tent. The show is only an hour-long, so perfect for the smaller members of the family. A must see and we will definitely be going again!

Age Recommendation: Most Suitable for Ages 5+

Performances: 2.00pm  

Running Time: Approximately 60 minutes

Ticket Prices: From £15

Address:  Cavendish Square, London, W1G 0PN                    

*We received complimentary tickets for the purpose of this review 

Dating After Lockdown*

 


 

COVID-19 has affected all of our relationship lives. Whether you've spent the pandemic not being able to see your partner due to coronavirus restrictions or spending a year-plus at home in near isolation.

Now that “Freedom Day” is here wearing a mask is no longer enforced which unfortunately means cases have started to rise and social distancing is now scrapped. Going to a crowded venue may not be the best place to go on a date.

Today I am sharing with you 5 tips to get you back in the dating game if you are a little anxious about restrictions lifting:

Prioritise Your Health and Safety
it’s important you’re putting your mental health first, especially if you’re worried about the danger of Covid-19 variants despite the rise in people being vaccinated. Staying safe when online dating is something that you should always keep in mind. When you decide to take the plunge and meet someone you have been talking to online such as sites like Hampshire dating it is essential you tell a friend where you are going and your plans. 

You could both agree to take a PCR test, even if you do not have any symptoms to keep each other safe.


Have A Virtual Date
If you’re anxious about meeting someone or maybe you’re not sure whether the etiquette and protocol is different when you’ve made contact virtually, rather than meeting face to face. Take advantage of the new phase of virtual games, quizzes and chats. There are loads of exciting things to do online – escape rooms, museum tours and even something as simple as ordering a takeaway and watching a Netflix film at the same time.

Book A Restaurant With Outdoor Seating
If you meet someone online and you are getting along well, but you want to take your relationship one step further, you will inevitably have to meet in person. Having a al fresco meal means you can have a fun socially-distanced date whilst being comfortable.

Places are getting booked up pretty quickly, what with the lovely weather we have been having lately everyone is in a rush to enjoy dining out So, when you lock a date in, don't leave planning the venue to the last minute

Watch A Film At The Cinema
Go when it is quieter and book in advance online. This way you can pick seats where there are no strangers around you. Cinemas have been pretty hot on keeping their venues clean, well ventilated and encouraging the use of face masks.

Movie dates can be fun and can always be mixed with dinner or something else to stretch the date for a longer time if you are enjoying each other's company.

Go For A Walk
Most city centres are far quieter than they ever were and it's a great time to see tourism hotspots without the crowds. If you are looking for something a little more romantic, a walk in the park taking in all the nature around you.

If you have met on an Hampshire dating site, you could head to the New Forest National Park which boasts over 140 miles of tracks and footpaths.

Going for a walk is also a very relaxed way to get to know someone as you can get a sense of someone when there are fewer distractions around you.

Make sure you are wearing something comfortable to help prevent chub rub and bring a umbrella in case it rains.

I'm Ready For A New Start*

 

Freedom Day has finally encouraged many of us to venture outside and go back to our normal lives. However, after many lockdowns and adjustments, it’s fair to say that now’s is the time for a fresh start. You want life to take a new direction and bring you something exciting and different. 

A fresh start is good for the soul and the mind, especially when you feel you are on a path that leads to nowhere. However, knowing you want to start fresh is not the same as knowing where you want to start. If you feel ready to try something new and different and wander in a new direction, here are some ideas to inspire risk-takers. Ultimately, a new start is a new experience. It means getting out of your comfort zone. So, what is your level of acceptable discomfort? 

Unsplash - CC0 Licence 

New country, new start

With Brexit, it might be tempting to move away from the UK and settle in any EU country. After all, once you’re settled, you can freely travel within the EU borders, giving you a vast range of opportunities. If you are concerned about foreign languages, the Republic of Ireland can be a fantastic place to start. A lot of famous tech businesses have offices in Dublin, including Google. With the help of an immigration lawyer ie, you can face the daunting process of relocation with confidence. Moving to a foreign country can affect your right to live and work here, which is precisely why you want a professional legal expert at your side. 

However, moving abroad is also a liberating process that frees you from the shackles of the past. You can be a new you without anybody around to remind you of your old self.

Off with the old relationship

Relationships can last for a long time. But a long relationship is not necessarily a happy one. Long relationships can have long past their prime and become a source of stress and unhappiness. Sure, it feels comfortable to stay with someone you know. But what’s the point if you are not happy? As daunting as it might seem, sometimes letting go of the old relationship can make room for more. It’s the occasion to find yourself again. 

Bye-bye unhealthy lifestyle

Does a new lifestyle change who you are? In a way, it can be a source of positive changes. A healthy lifestyle can help you regain self-confidence and strength. However, transforming your lifestyle means building new habits, which can take a lot of time. The mind is wired to go back to the old habits. So, if you are going to visit the gym regularly, for instance, you want to enrol an accountability buddy. Training with a friend makes you accountable and forces you to stick to your new routine. The same principle applies to changing your diet or even introducing mental health routines. Do tackle it alone. Together, we can build better habits. 

A bold stylish decision

Last but not least, there’s nothing like a new hairstyle to feel like a different woman. Are you ready to transform your hair? Hair change may not seem like a high risk. But it is a transformation that can boost your mood and encourage self-exploration. New hair, new you. 

Unsplash - CC0 Licence 

Where will your new start take you? Whether you want to go all-in with moving abroad or you prefer a safe hairstyle change, there is more than one way to take a fresh start. Seize the opportunity to become a new you. 

How To Entertain The Whole Family At Home This Summer*

There are only a few weeks left until the kids break up for the summer holidays but if the lockdown meant that you've already ran out of ways to keep the little ones entertained. Don't worry i've got your back, here are some fun ideas to help you keep the family enterained at home over the summer.

 
Art and Crafts
A perfect way of getting your kids creative juices flowing is doing some arts and crafts. It could be something as simple as making paper planes and decorating them, to making cinema tickets for family movie night or tie dying t-shirts. Pinterest is great place to find ideas or if it makes it easier you can buy kits from places such as; Baker Ross, The Works, Hobby Craft or even Amazon.

Family Book Club
One of the best ways to inspire a love of reading in your family is to read together. It is a great way to make reading a fun experience and to keep their brains ticking over the summer holidays. It is important to select books that your kids are able to read on their own and also to allow them to pick their own book. Yes that might mean you'll end up reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid, but you never know you might end up really enjoying it.

Set aside a afternoon or evening where you can all sit and discuss the book together for example over dinner or if the weather is good a picnic in the park.

Watch Movies
We love nothing more than movie night in this household and with Amazon Prime, Disney+, Now TV and Netflix we have plentty of films to pick from. Movie nights are a great way to spend time with the family without breaking the bank and leaving the comfortable of your own home. Make it fun by picking a theme, you can dress up as characters from the film or even make theme food and cocktails.

Play Games
We love playing games together, even though we are slightly competitive at times. Playing games as a family help make fond memories, develop learning skills, teach life skills and most importantly family time means bonding times.

We play simple paper games such as Noughts and Crosses and Hangman. Board games including Connect 4 and Jenga. We also play online games on the Nintendo Switch and many games on the Laptop and Tablet.

We use the Plays.org website simply because it’s free, so easy to use & has so many games for all age groups. Their new in section is often updated, so there is always something fun to play. I love how there are also lots of educational games to pick from, not all screen time is bad in my eyes.

If you have any tips for keeping the family entertained, I’d love to hear them!