Updated 9:40am 23 October 2009:

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Diane Parkes

Diane Parkes

Calling all Brummie poets

BUDDING poets are being urged to turn to verse to pass on love messages on Valentine’s Day.Read

Fiona’s simple message – de-clutter your life!

IT was during a visit to a shanty town outside the Peruvian capital Lima that Fiona Castle met true selflessness. Women there were surviving in poverty and yet were still willing to give.Read

Angela targets size 12 dress for her wedding

WHEN Angela Williams gets married next year she is aiming to tie the knot in a size 12 wedding dress – a far cry from the size 24 she was wearing a year ago.Read

WHEN Angela Williams gets married next year she is aiming to tie the knot in a size 12 wedding dress – a far cry from the size 24 she was wearing a year ago.

She is already on the way, having shed three dress sizes and four stone in the past 12 months after joining Slimming World.Read

Fiona Castle, widow of TV presenter Roy, will speak at Kings Norton playgroup

IT WAS during a visit to a shanty town outside the Peruvian capital Lima that Fiona Castle met true selflessness. Women there were surviving in poverty and yet were still willing to give.Read

Saltley girl scoops books award

BOOKWORM Jessica Farley will have plenty to read this spring after winning a Birmingham-wide award of 14 books.Read

Time out of the office for a walk on the wild side!

IF you are sitting at your desk this morning thinking you really would like to get outside for a bit, then head over to Birmingham’s Victoria Square where every Tuesday lunchtime the RSPB organises a health walk.Read

Children twist and shout to bhangra rhythm

BHANGRA music booms out as the group of nearly 20 youngsters clap, twist and jump along to the rhythm. They are shouting out and laughing as they learn the new moves.Read

Slimline Sue’s a marathon marvel

AT the turn of the Millennium, Sue Weaver could not even run a few paces but now she has three marathons under her belt and has taken up rugby.Read

IF you are sitting at your desk this morning thinking you really would like to get outside for a bit, then head over to Birmingham’s Victoria Square where every Tuesday lunchtime the RSPB organises a health walk.

Aimed to be just half an hour and covering a different route each week, the walks are aimed at city centre workers with short lunchbreaks who are keen to get out and about.Read

Halesowen woman's weight loss turned into a passion for running marathons

AT the turn of the Millennium, Sue Weaver could not even run a few paces but now she has three marathons under her belt and has taken up rugby.Read

A Flashy musical

THE first time Noel Sullivan came to the Birmingham Hippodrome was as an understudy with the Welsh National Opera aged 12.Read

Kids get teeth into healthy breakfast

IT IS 8am and the school hall is packed with children painting works of art, exercising on rowing machines, playing hula hoop and preparing to tuck into a hearty breakfast.Read

I knew it was time to slim when I got stuck in the Villa Park turnstiles

A TRIP to Villa Park proved to be the spark which set Mick Stanley on a weight loss regime after he became stuck in the turnstile.Read

A TRIP to Villa Park proved to be the spark which set Mick Stanley on a weight loss regime after he became stuck in the turnstile.

It was one of those awful moments in which Mick, of Polesworth near Tamworth, knew it was time to change his life.Read

China tour a huge success for Brimingham Royal Ballet

BIRMINGHAM Royal Ballet is hailing its first tour of China as a huge success after returning to the UK.Read

Birmingham pupils get a head start at school's breakfast club

IT IS 8am and the school hall is packed with children painting works of art, exercising on rowing machines, playing hula hoop and preparing to tuck into a hearty breakfast.Read

Che dream from a Joseph failure

WHEN Any Dream Will Do contestant Seamus Cullen was knocked out of the television talent show it looked like his own dreams were over. But in many ways they were just starting as the programme helped gain him the role of Che in the national tour of Evita.Read

Dish up the ideal winter warmer

KEEP those cold wintry nights at bay with hot and healthy soups. The ultimate comfort food, what could be better than a thick soup packed full of vitamin-rich vegetables?Read

Dish up the ideal winter warmer

KEEP those cold wintry nights at bay with hot and healthy soups. The ultimate comfort food, what could be better than a thick soup packed full of vitamin-rich vegetables?Read

Author Profile

Diane Parkes has worked in journalism for 14 years and has been with the Birmingham Mail for ten. She is Women's Editor covering health, fitness, education, fashion and beauty features. As Dance and Theatre Editor she is also responsible for professional arts coverage across the region.

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