http://www.birminghammail.net/authors/ Authors en-gb Birmingham Mail http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/travel/travel-reports/2008/07/16/hideaway-hotel-97319-21351667/ Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/travel/travel-reports/2008/07/16/hideaway-hotel-97319-21351667/ SOAR Mill Cove is the kind of magical place it is hard to imagine exists when you're battling the rush hour in Britain's second city. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-campaigns/go-green/go-green-news/2008/07/08/plastic-just-isn-t-our-bag-97319-21304079/ Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:37:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-campaigns/go-green/go-green-news/2008/07/08/plastic-just-isn-t-our-bag-97319-21304079/ A Midland village is on its way to becoming one of the first in the country to ditch plastic bags. Spurred on by reports about the damage some of the billions of free carriers are causing to the environment a group of mums in Alrewas, near Lichfield, decided to take action. Consumer Editor CATHERINE HENDRICK finds out how they're making a difference. http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/07/07/calling-internet-service-helpline-cost-me-100-97319-21274426/ Mon, 07 Jul 2008 09:14:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/07/07/calling-internet-service-helpline-cost-me-100-97319-21274426/ ONE of Britain’s biggest mobile phone companies has been accused of ripping off customers by charging them premium rates to call for help when things go wrong. http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/07/07/make-it-easy-on-yourself-97319-21274648/ Sun, 06 Jul 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/07/07/make-it-easy-on-yourself-97319-21274648/ Never seem to have enough time to do the household chores? CATHERINE HENDRICK finds some products which could make life a whole lot easier. http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/06/30/in-the-market-for-a-clutch-of-gongs-97319-21173087/ Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/06/30/in-the-market-for-a-clutch-of-gongs-97319-21173087/ IT has been a favourite shopping destination for Brummie's for more than 800 years and welcomes more than six million people visitors every year. http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/06/23/outfits-for-every-kind-of-wedding-97319-21136378/ Sun, 22 Jun 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/06/23/outfits-for-every-kind-of-wedding-97319-21136378/ WHEN it comes to weddings, what's a girl to wear? Gone are the days when buying a posh hat and dress would do. http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/food-and-drink/2008/06/19/tips-for-spotting-the-perfect-pint-97319-21105822/ Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:09:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/food-and-drink/2008/06/19/tips-for-spotting-the-perfect-pint-97319-21105822/ "WARM and cloudy are the most common complaints about cask ale," says Tony as the first of our six drinks to test are placed in front of us. http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/food-and-drink/2008/06/19/search-to-find-the-perfect-pint-of-ale-97319-21105645/ Wed, 18 Jun 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/food-and-drink/2008/06/19/search-to-find-the-perfect-pint-of-ale-97319-21105645/ IT is probably up there with premiership footballer on the list of many people's dream jobs - professional beer taster. http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/06/09/it-pays-to-shop-around-for-fuel-97319-21045144/ Sun, 08 Jun 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/06/09/it-pays-to-shop-around-for-fuel-97319-21045144/ MOTORISTS are being driven around the bend thanks to fuel prices hitting an all time high. http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/06/02/jewellery-maker-s-got-hidden-depths-97319-21008545/ Sun, 01 Jun 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/06/02/jewellery-maker-s-got-hidden-depths-97319-21008545/ THERE are no depths scuba diving instructor and jeweller Jason Clarke won't go to when it comes to mixing business with pleasure. http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/06/02/making-the-most-of-your-newborn-baby-s-windfall-97319-21008546/ Sun, 01 Jun 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/06/02/making-the-most-of-your-newborn-baby-s-windfall-97319-21008546/ THE bank of mum and dad is usually children's first port of call when it comes to money. http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/05/26/making-sure-our-food-is-safe-to-eat-97319-20974909/ Sun, 25 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/05/26/making-sure-our-food-is-safe-to-eat-97319-20974909/ BREAD and milk used to be the staple daily diet of the Birmingham scientists whose job it is to make sure the food we buy is safe. http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/05/19/let-your-wallet-take-a-break-97319-20930833/ Sun, 18 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/05/19/let-your-wallet-take-a-break-97319-20930833/ HOLIDAYMAKERS may be getting fewer euros for their pounds and having to tighten their belts thanks to the credit crunch. http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/05/12/can-you-bring-up-a-baby-on-a-budget-97319-20895468/ Sun, 11 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/05/12/can-you-bring-up-a-baby-on-a-budget-97319-20895468/ NEW parents can easily find themselves splashing out more than a thousand pounds on equipment for their impending arrivals only to find they've wasted some of it on stuff they just don't need. http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/04/28/shed-the-pounds-without-losing-s-97319-20830023/ Sun, 27 Apr 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/04/28/shed-the-pounds-without-losing-s-97319-20830023/ WANT to cut the cost of keeping fit? http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/04/21/making-your-way-through-mortgage-market-minefield-97319-20794482/ Sun, 20 Apr 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/04/21/making-your-way-through-mortgage-market-minefield-97319-20794482/ WORRIED about your mortgage? http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/04/14/delia-is-to-food-makers-what-midas-was-to-gold-but-could-her-new-recipes-be-unhealthy-97319-20761252/ Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/04/14/delia-is-to-food-makers-what-midas-was-to-gold-but-could-her-new-recipes-be-unhealthy-97319-20761252/ THE knives and forks have been out for Delia Smith thanks to her latest TV series and book advising budding cooks how to cheat in the kitchen. http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/04/07/how-to-cut-your-soaring-food-bill-97319-20730049/ Sun, 06 Apr 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/04/07/how-to-cut-your-soaring-food-bill-97319-20730049/ IT'S enough to put you off your lunch. http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/04/07/you-d-be-off-your-trolley-to-overlook-the-savings-of-an-online-shop-97319-20730053/ Sun, 06 Apr 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/04/07/you-d-be-off-your-trolley-to-overlook-the-savings-of-an-online-shop-97319-20730053/ I'VE been shocked by how much the cost of my food shopping seems to have shot up in recent months. http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/03/26/the-people-who-say-their-sofas-left-them-ill-97319-20677482/ Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:44:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/birmingham-shopping/birmingham-shopping-news/2008/03/26/the-people-who-say-their-sofas-left-them-ill-97319-20677482/ FAMILIES in Birmingham are taking legal action against some of the country's leading furniture suppliers after claiming new sofas left them needing medical treatment.