If you are looking for a hobby that gets you out and about in nature, keeps you fit and allows you to explore the beautiful countryside from the water, then canoeing could be the perfect choice for you. Canoeing can be done by both adults and kids, and many families enjoy the hobby as a whole family!

The experience of canoeing is what you want it to be – you can opt for it to be a relaxing hobby, or something a bit more adrenaline filled. If it is something that you are interested in getting involved in, the first thing to do is look for local canoeing clubs.

The most important thing when starting off is to make sure you learn the right skills and also the safety techniques. You can join a club and also have lessons with qualified canoe instructors to learn the basics, both for the techniques like steering, paddling and even water rescue skills in a safe environment.

When you have decided that this is definitely the hobby for you, you are also going to want to make sure that you have the right equipment. Clothing needs to be very well thought out – waterproof clothing helps to keep you comfortable and lightweight layers are advisable, which are helpful when weather conditions change as quickly as they do in the UK!

You may also want to transport your own canoe and equipment and travel with it to various locations – a roof rack and trailer are great for doing this – make sure that you also are aware of the maintenance for a trailer, you can get trailer parts from places like this /autoandtrailer.com/shop/trailer-parts if you need to make repairs.

Attending a prom can be an exciting and memorable thing for young people; however, it can be a cause of stress and anxiety for families, especially those on low incomes. Pop-up prom events are aiming to alleviate this stress and increase the accessibility of proms for students who do not have big budgets to splash out on the parties. Read more

The location of your TV aerial is crucial for receiving the best possible signal.

Should I get an outdoor aerial?

These are best for areas with a weak or moderate signal strength. Place them on the roof, chimney, or a wall. A higher placement is generally better to avoid buildings, trees, and other obstructions. Read more

Since the first TV broadcast in 1926, television has evolved a lot. In the 1950s, when TV first entered many homes, certain things were not allowed to be said or done because they were considered too risque. Talking about death, sharing a bed or pregnancy were all unacceptable. How things have changed. We look at some television firsts that, while they may not seem controversial today, were certainly controversial when they happened. Read more

The cinematic experience is a popular way of immersing yourself in the latest movie. Trips to the cinema, however, can sometimes be expensive or inconvenient, which is why more people than ever are opting to cultivate the cinema experience within the comfort of their own homes. Read more

At the end of a long season the theatre provides a bit of light relief to the programme with a Panto. This usually runs from early December to early January. Set around a fairy tale these comedies bring about a great sense of fun and frivolity to the theatre. And yet there are some that don’t like them and say they are juvenile and out of date. Those people could not be further from the truth. The Panto is following in the great tradition of the Italian Commedia dell’ arte. This was where raucous street acts would create funny plays to the passersby. The idea came to Britain and became a staple of the season.

 

For many it is the first time we visit the theatre. What an introduction the Pantomime is! Whether it’s with a school group or with family it’s a great way to get the people hooked on live performance and not the Cinema or Television all the time.  The grandness of a Panto Preston show for example is going to stay with someone forever. What is on this year at the Panto in Preston? Is a regular question asked in households in the North at this time of year in anticipation of the fun and frolics to come.

 

So, whilst me may not see the kind of performances that would put Gielgud or Bale into the shade we should embrace the spectacle and the spirit of the panto show. Go along, sit back and let the comedy, cheesy though it might be, take you. It is Christmas after all.

Nightclubs, family parties, Weddings or just a night out somewhere usually means that you will be face to face with the disco dance floor at some point. There will always be one song that calls to you, or it’s your Nan nagging you to get up and make some shapes on the floor, even if those shapes turn out or be rather badly executed shifting parallelograms. A visit to Cheltenham Nightclubs is always fun and these tunes are considered to be some of the most outstanding over the years, in no particular order. You don’t even need to be under any influence to get up and shake your money maker or anything else for that matter.

1. Tease Me by Chaka Demus and Pliers. Bringing the Caribbean to a Romford Engagement party was this chunky favourite. Pliers (away from his plumbing job presumably) is laying down a bass for Chaka to pop in the cheekily written lyrics. Usually the song that gets Paul from Parts suggestively gyrating around a surprisingly receptive Diane from reception.
2. Twistin’ the night away by Sam Cooke. A wildly rotating dance song that will have a hundred hips pop and protest as people who were 21 in 1962 suddenly forget they are now 78. The song that sees Aunt Joan give it a few minutes then needs a Gin to recover.

1. Once in a Lifetime by Talking Heads.  Proof, if proof is needed, that the lyrics and sentiment of song  mean nothing on the dancefloor and just the fact you can walk around waving your arms to this is justification enough.
2. Dancing Queen by Abba. By any measure any Abba song seems to get people on the floor. The classy Swedes seem to have become the poster band for the seventies even if you aren’t young and sweet and only seventeen anymore.
3. Hey Ya by Outkast. Probably the only time that anyone over the age of 65 will ever try and dance to hip hop. The sight of 25 people of mixed ages shaking an imaginary photo will stay with you even if you’re not involved.
4. Love train by The O’Jays. When this comes on it seems to be the go ahead for a pseudo-conga line when someone shouts “Love train! Woo woo!” and starts moving their hands like a locomotive. Everyone is then expected to couple up onto the “Love train” and snake around the room.
5. I Will survive by Gloria Gaynor. It will take all the strength you have not to fall apart and start moving to this one.