Through Ellen's Eyes - A Celebration of John Lennon's Life

John Lennon Tribute Season


The John Lennon Tribute Season will be a two-month cultural programme of events in Liverpool, which will celebrate the life of John Lennon.
From October 9 - which would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday, to 9 December - the day after the 30th anniversary of his assassination; organisations in Liverpool will join forces to host a series of live music, film, poetry and art events which are estimated to bring tens of thousands of additional tourists to the city.

Dedicated to my Mum xxx

THROUGH ELLEN'S EYES


Mum was cleaning in the kitchen

She smashed a plate in disbelief

Wiped the suds onto her dressing gown

And ran upstairs to share her grief.



The radio broke it to him

Dad already knew

I didn’t feel their pain that day

For I was barely two.



Can forty lines of poetry

Condense forty iconic years?

And celebrate a legend,

A legend to his peers.



John Winston Ono Lennon

Requires no introduction

Musician, peace activist, artist

No manufactured production.



Her ‘Favourite Beatle’ my Mum says.

‘Loved him’, she quietly sighs.

“The words were almost irrelevant”

To the crystal memories in her eyes.



I listen to regaled anecdotes

‘Beatle mania’ in Liverpool.

Front page of the Echo

Mum pictured ‘sagging’ Sacred Heart School.



To welcome home her heroes

A Castle Street homecoming joy

‘It was worth the reprimand’

To see her Nowhere Boy.



I begin to realise her honour

To be part of this privileged history.

‘Chapman was a madman,

The world’s eighth mystery’.



A Mersey pride has grown inside

And I truly appreciate

The landmarks our friends flock to

Penny Lane, Mendips, Strawberry Fields gate.



But most of all I’ll remain grateful

For many years to come

To see history through different eyes,

….Ellen’s eyes, not Mum.
 
http://www.forbetterorverse.co.uk/
http://www.forbetterorverseuk.blogspot.com/
 
Adding a Touch of Magic to Your Special Occasion....Telling Your Beautiful Story in Rhyme

Brides at Work - Friday 17th September 2010

The National Wedding Show is calling on all Brides to wear their wedding dress to work to raise money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
It doesn’t matter if you were married in 2010, 1910 or even if it’s still a work in progress... if you can find a dress (and fit into it!) we need you to get sponsored to wear it to work on Friday 17th September 2010.

The whole of the wedding party can get involved too. Encourage your friends, family and colleagues to take part. Whether they are the bride, groom, bridesmaid, bestman, mother of the bride or usher they can wear their outfits to work too.

To get involved simply register now by clicking on the link below to receive your fantastic fundraising pack.

The National Wedding Show is delighted to be holding an exclusive auction of hand-picked bespoke and limited edition products for your wedding day to raise money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

This amazing auction gives you the chance to get your hands on some of the most individual and beautiful products in the bridal industry.

To view and place bids for auction items please visit www.nwsauction.co.uk

*Terms and conditions apply to this auction as displayed on the website above.

Contact:
Events Team
020 7025 2426
BridesatWork@breakthrough.org.uk

http://breakthrough.org.uk/get_involved/raise_money/brides_at_work/register.html

For Better or Verse - Bespoke Special Occasion Poetry

“Personality is the glitter that sends your little gleam across the footlights and the orchestra pit into that big black space where the audience is.”
Mae West – American actress.

The best advice I was given last year when planning our wedding was to really apply our own personalities to each aspect of the day. But before you start to panic this means the groom is going to hotfoot it down the aisle head-to-toe in the latest away kit, whipping the congregation into a mexican wave, chill! Stamping your personality onto your occasion can be subtle, delicate…..or even full blown out there! The idea is; it’s your day, and your choice. Weddings have really evolved over the last decade, and there are so many ideas and options (regardless of budget) to ensure you create the most perfect, personal day.

A unique way to truly personalise your day, give your guests an insight into your romance, and set your wedding day aside from any other, is with a bespoke, personal poem. I wanted our day to be a fantastic celebration, with each and every guest being involved. So a poem about our relationship gave Great Auntie Maud who’d I’d met five minutes earlier an insight into us, our day, our celebration. My poem to th hubby was entitled ‘The Proposal.' It was given to each guest as a place setting; a unique keepsake to treasure forever!

A special, bespoke poem about your own love story, from first date to proposal, could be recited in a speech, given as a wedding party gift, place setting or favour. They are perfect ice-breakers guaranteed to make your guest laugh AND cry! Ideal for any Best Men/Father of the Bride’s nervous of public speaking, wanting to deliver an eloquent, heartfelt, sincere speech with a double dose of humour!

So why not let For Better or Verse add a touch of magic to your special occasion and tell your beautiful story in rhyme?

SAMPLE: Italian Wedding - July 2010

http://forbetterorverseuk.blogspot.com/2010/08/italian-wedding-july-2010.html

SAMPLE: The Proposal - Dec 2008

http://www.forbetterorverse.co.uk/samples/index.htm

For more information, samples or testimonials please visit

http://www.forbetterorverse.co.uk/
http://www.forbetterorverseuk.blogspot.com/
mailto:helen@forbetterorverse.co.uk


With Love and Happy Planning,

For Better or Verse x

Fashionistas in a Candy Store!

Last night, I was one of the select Grazia readers lucky enough to nab a golden (or should that be camel?) ticket to the www.my-wardrobe.com and Grazia 'Great Fashion Road Show.' And where better to host it than Liverpool's Über trendy Malmasion hotel!

Fash-tastic my.wardrobe.com took to the road to give loyal Grazia readers an exclusive sneak preview into some of their hottest trends for autumn/winter 2010, and to also showcase the brilliant Dell Inspiron Mini 10 netbook.

What we drank: Champagne and Cosmos
What we ate: mini burgers, finger fish and chips, goats cheese and red onion marmalade tarts
Goody bag: £50 MW gift card, 'Artisan du Chocolat' Mole Chili Dark Chocolat bar, O.P.I 'Off With Her Red' nail lacquer, Lena White £5 off 'spa at home' voucher (HOW spoilt)!

'Trilby's off' to the hostesses with the mostess, Grazia's expert fashion team and my-wardrobe.com stylists, as ladies, my-favourite e-tailer certainly did not disappoint! Initially in awe, (like Fashionistas in a candy store), we quickly warmed up as the MW pieces came to life. A nod to all the hottest trends courtesy of the exquisite models certainly had us wishing the summer season away; Leopard Luxe, Granny Chic, Art Deco, 50's Glamour, 60's Left Bank, Rock Chick and Biker Chic. It was amazing to touch, (Mille Rostock's grey mongolian sheepskin gilet, grrrr), and smell (Mulberry's Oak Alexa small shoulder clutch, mmm) their amazing pieces, as opposed to the usual (daily) visual surfing.

A favourite look of mine was the Studio 54; a Tie Waist Full Length Halter Dress by Halston Heritage teamed with Katia Lombardo Gold Studded Heel Peeptoe Platforms, Kenneth Jay Lane art deco crystal earrings and a Lulu Guiness clutch. Timeless glamour with a sprinke of drama; perfect for any A/W wedding (just don't upstage the bride)!

Thanks to the diffusion lines of Vivienne Westwood Anglomania, Alice by Temperley and Sonia by Sonia Rykiel, the A/W10 trends are accessible, avant garde and fun. Make a statement with pieces such as a Merle O'Grady stunningly perspex necklace, DVF luxe soft tote or a DVF soft cashere scarf in a subtle animal print. Striped tees, trilby hats and leopard fur rocked the Left-Bank look, while Kurt Geiger's 'exclusive' leopard peeptoe clog will have you embracing your inner feline before you can say 'Kate Moss hearts leopard.' Red, camel and different levels of black are the colours du jour, so it seems!

The best accessory of the evening though, had to be my-plus one, my-hubby; 'the only guy in the Mal'. With a crash course in Katia and a heads-up in Halston, I'm r-e-a-l-l-y looking forward to my-christmas stocking this year! Mini market boots and Alexa's baby sister, Here. I. Come.

So thank you Grazia, thank you my-wardrobe, I owe you one! x

Hitched Wedding Clothes and Customs Exhibition - Sudley House, Aigburth

Bridal Trends Through the Years

A history lesson for all you fashionistas! Think you know Vintage? You aint see nothing yet....!

23 July 2010 - 27 February 2011
Free admission

Exploring the history of marriage from 1850 to today

'Hitched, Wedding Clothes and Customs' exhibition explores the history of marriage and the customs surrounding it, from Victorian times to the present day. Whilst focusing on the changing styles in wedding dress during that time, the exhibition also looks at contemporary ceremonies such as same sex partnerships and pagan weddings.

About 20 outfits, including wedding dress from Liverpool's Jewish, Chinese and Traveller communities will be featured. The exhibition will show historic costume dating from1850, photographs, contemporary artefacts and personal histories.

Costumes on show

Here we show a selection of costumes from the exhibition.

Traditional dresses
Wedding dress, 1853
Wedding dress, 1913
Wedding dress, 1960
Community dresses and suits
Jewish wedding dress, 1935
Chinese wedding dress, 1966
Civil partnership suits, 2008
Traveller wedding dress, 2010

Opening times
Open 10am-5pm daily.

FREE ADMISSION to the gallery and all exhibitions and events.

Sudley House
Mossley Hill Road
Aigburth
Liverpool
L18 8BX

Telephone 0151 724 3245

http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/sudley/

It's National Wedding Day on Sunday 1st August 2010!

NATIONAL WEDDING DAY

The NSPCC's Celebrate and Give is a chance for you to celebrate your wedding whilst helping vulnerable children at the same time.

TV's 'Wedding Fairy' George Watts is inviting the nation to celebrate weddings - past, present and future - as part of his National Wedding Day on Sunday 1 August 2010.

How it works
Weddings are all about a celebration of life together, but with National Wedding Day and Celebrate and Give, you can help make a real difference to the lives of children and young people. Here are our top five fun ways for celebrating and fundraising:

1) Hold a party and charge an entry fee or put a price on food and drink.

Here are some ideas for themes:
· recreate your honeymoon, stag or hen do
· invite all your wedding guests to a barbecue
· have a trial run of your wedding day
· if you're already married you could recreate your wedding day
· remake 'The Wedding Singer' with karaoke or even a live band.

2) Hold a wedding auction

· sell your wedding dress, shoes or bridesmaids' dresses to the highest bidder
· find homes for any unwanted presents or things you just don't use anymore.

3) Have a wedding cake sale

· hold a wedding cake sale
· invite your friends for a wedding-themed tea party
· for guests not interested in cake, try cheese instead.

4) Look to the future
If your wedding is coming up, why not use our personalised wedding favour cards instead of sugared almonds? Or use the NSPCC donation cards so your guests can make a donation to the NSPCC instead of buying you gifts.

5) Something simple
A great way to raise money is simply to set up an online fundraising page and ask your friends and family to donate online to the NSPCC. You can easily set up a page at Virgin Money Giving or JustGiving.

Share your stories!
Whatever you're planning for National Wedding Day on Sunday 1 August, you can share your own stories and photos with the NSPCC. Email celebrate@nspcc.org.uk and they’ll put the best ones on their website.

Help is at hand
For advice, inspiration and information, email the Celebrate and Give team or call on 020 7825 2814.

http://www.nspcc.org.uk/get-involved/fundraise-for-us/in-a-celebration/weddings/national-wedding-day_wda77580.html

An 'Ice' Surprise!

“Carving is easy, you just go down to the skin and stop” - Michelangelo.

I’m not so sure where the tradition of a bride and groom exchanging gifts on their wedding day originates from (any takers anyone?) but I know I like it!

A recently married friend of mine told her hubby-to-be the rule is ‘seven’ gifts throughout the day…starting how she meant to go on!

Traditionally, gifts between a bride and groom were a keepsake of jewellery, something attached with sentiment, to remind them of their special day. Nowadays, some couples are deciding on a ‘no gift’ policy as the day and the honeymoon are a big enough gift in itself. But if you still want to incorporate an element of surprise or unusual gift for your spouse into the celebrations, why not invest in a spectacular ice sculpture to give your wedding that ‘WOW!’ factor?

Glacial Art http://www.glacialart.com/ can provide you with just that. Founded by the extremely talented, artistic and imaginative Ice Sculptors, Mat Chaloner and Mat Foster (UK's own 2009 European Champions), Glacial Art can offer you an ice sculpture of any design of your choice, for your special event. From Ice Luges, to logos, bars to table centres, there is no limit to what they can create.

For our evening reception, I opted for an Ice Luge as a surprise for hubby. An ‘Ice Luge’ is a stunning centerpiece carved into a design of your choice. The added enjoyment of a Luge is the serving of chilled alcoholic drinks through the crystal clear ice! Any drink can be poured down the luge (champagne can be a bit frothy, spirits usually work the best) and can either be caught in a glass at the bottom, or more often than not people place their mouths at the bottom of the ice and gulp away! (This was the preferred method of all of our guests).

As we were engaged on the Queen Mary 2, upon consultation I asked the two Mat’s if they could design the ‘Cunard’ QM2 logo with the date and place of our engagement, 02/12/2008, Curacao. They emailed me a sketch of the design and it was perfect! Mat and Mat were extremely helpful, not to mention discreet, because of the surprise element.

On the actual night it was stunningly visual, glamorous and extremely good fun - hic! Customers supply their own drink, so I purchased apple, raspberry and original vodkas (and crossed my fingers hubby would not find them stashed in my wardrobe)! It was 'revealed' to hubby moments before our first dance....perfect timing for a little shot of dutch courage! Fergus and his Feathers team manned it for the first hour, until we all got the hang of it (a bit too much).

It was great fun, a great talking point (and the cause of most heavy heads the following day)!

For more information contact
matc@glacialart.com and matf@glacialart.com

http://www.glacialart.com/