An afternoon dabbling in witchcraft in Burley

Deep in the heart of the New Forest lies a village dedicated to witchcraft. Cottages emblazoned with stealthy ladies on broomsticks brim over with crystals and spell books in the manner of Glastonbury village.  But for all its witchery, there’s no denying it’s a village that leaves you spellbound. Fascinated by the folklore, I delved a little deeper into the bubbling cauldron of witchcraft in Burley.

close up of witch emblem in Burley, New Forest

witch emblem on shop front in Burley, New Forest

The origins of witchcraft in Burley

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An afternoon of spiritual enlightenment at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery

In the frantic rush of City life, finding peace and solitude seems as likely as finding hen’s teeth on the Central Line. From the scream of ambulances to the drone of overhead planes, there’s no escape from a constant barrage of noise.  Desperately seeking peace and solitude, I decided it was time to take refuge at the Amaravati Buddhist Monastery for some well-deserved rest and recuperation.

close up of buddha at amaravati buddhist monastery

buddha display at amaravati buddhist monastery

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A sneak preview of the roof garden at 120 Fenchurch Street

If you’re a fan of the Sky Garden, you’re going to love 120 Fenchurch Street – the City’s lush, new roof garden which opens to the public in August this year. A high-rise, outdoor oasis of tranquillity, the garden offers 360 degree views across the capital from a truly verdant vantage point. As an admirer of both gardens and high-rise towers, I was excited to be invited for a sneak preview last week.

view from the roof garden to the Gherkin at 120 Fenchurch Street

Roof garden at 120 Fenchurch Street

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Mixing with magnificent flying machines in my lunch break

Kicking off on the 1 April, the Royal Air Force marks its 100 year anniversary with a calendar of special events and activities running until the end of November. I was lucky enough to get a first glimpse of the RAF 100 Aircraft tour when it recently jetted in for a brief pit-stop at in the Guildhall Yard in the City of London. Nipping out for a sneak peek during my lunch break, I was instantly in awe of these magnificent flying machines.

eurofighter typhoon jet aircraft as part of the RAF 100 Aircraft tour

Eurofighter typhoon aircraft at the Guildhall Yard

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Re-connecting to Londoners at the Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal

Struggling onto the tube every morning, I witness some of the worst in human behaviour. Survival of the fittest reigns supreme as several million people battle for breathing space on their way to work. Experiencing such a harsh environment on a daily basis, it’s little wonder that I sometimes feel alienated from my neighbours. In a bid to re-connect to a more giving side of my fellow Londoners, I signed up for a stint of volunteering at the Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal.

Daffodils in close up in the sunshine

Zaphad1 Close up of daffodils in sunshine

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How office life has changed in the past 100 years

In a world where global conference calls flash onto a screen at the tap of a button, it’s hard to fathom how far office life has changed in the past 100 years.  In this week’s blog post, brought to you courtesy of Sun Life’s nifty time-travelling tool,  we examine how our working lives have transformed: from the ping of a fax to the incessant whirl of instant messaging.  Hold onto your hats millennials – this could be a rocky ride.

instant messaging infographic showing how life has changed over the past 100 years

Sun Life instant messaging infographic

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5 reasons why Australia is the ultimate break for London’s office worker

Scuttling into the office along wind-whipped, congested streets, the call of golden beaches, sunshine and wide open spaces has an irresistible appeal at this time of year.  And with two-hour flights to Australia being mulled over by Sir Richard Branson, we could all be jetting off for a long weekend down under before we hit retirement age.  Here are my top 5 reasons why a holiday to Australia ticks all the right boxes for London’s office worker – whether it’s for a fortnight in 2018 or four days in 2038.

white sand on Whitehaven Beach, Australia

Roz Sheffield Panoramic view of Whitehaven Beach, Australia

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Random Acts of Kindness Day: 5 tips to help spread the love in your office

On Random Acts of Kindness Day – we ask has your workplace lost the love? If the atmosphere’s been a little fraught of late, here’s an opportunity to reach out and spread the love. Often, it’s the smallest acts of kindness that make the biggest impact.  Our top 5 tips will help soothe cranky colleagues and transform petty squabbles.  And may even create a group hug-in at your next team meeting.

mug with a happy face on a desk

Glen Wright Mug with a happy face on an office worker’s desk

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A jaw-dropping afternoon of arty adventure at the Churt Sculpture Park

As a lover of the outdoors, I sometimes resent having to spend my leisure time indoors to visit art galleries and exhibitions.  And this is particularly the case when cooped up in the office all week during our short summer months.  But what if the art world could be teleported outside? This is the premise of the Sculpture Park in Churt, near Farnham, which boasts more than 600 sculptures in ten acres of enchanting gardens.

close up of a wooden tyrannosauras sculpture at the sculpture park in Churt, near Farnham

large wooden tryannosauras sculpture at Churt Sculpture Park

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5 smashing short breaks to kick off 2018

The return to work heralds a whole new year of annual leave opportunities and what better time to plan one or two short breaks.  Whether you’re looking for adventure, culture or beach flopping, we have a selection to excite and inspire you through these dark and gloomy January days.

Gower Peninsula coastline in South Wales

Coastline of the Gower Peninsula, South Wales

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