WHO GIVES A TOSS?!

Well, as a headstrong female entrepreneur and wannabe ‘Domestic Goddess’ I do for one. Yes, today indeed is not only International Women’s Day but also Pancake Day!

50 OF MANCHESTER’S INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN UNITE

2011 marks 100 years since the first International Women’s Day took place on 8 March to raise awareness of women’s issues and celebrate their achievements. To mark this, 50 inspirational women from all walks of life in Manchester came together last Friday to launch the IWD programme of events with a group photograph on the steps of Manchester Town Hall in Albert Square.


The 50 strong group included:
 Councillor Suzanne Richards, Lead Member on Women for Manchester City Council
 Sinead Greenaway, CEO of MediaCity
 Sue Woodward, Director of the Sharp Project
 Maria Balshaw, Director of Manchester Art Gallery and Whitworth Art Gallery
 Maria McGeoghan, Editor of the Manchester Evening News
 Katharine Mellor, Partner at DWF
 Melanie Bryan, winner of the Prime Minister’s Big Society Award
 Elizabeth Taylor, winner of NW Primary Teacher of the Year 2010
 Anna-Louise Gilhooley, Founder & Managing Director of The Rejuvenate Group

Joining us at Friday afternoon’s event was Councillor Suzanne Richards, Manchester council’s lead member for women. She said Manchester provides fantastic female role models, who spend every day overcoming barriers to become the best in their fields.

She said: “International Women’s Day is about raising awareness of women’s achievement and also some of the fights and battles we still need to have in terms of women’s equality.
“We still need more women politicians, we still need more women in the board rooms.
“We don’t have equality still in many levels of society so it’s about raising awareness but also celebrating some of the fantastic achievements of women in the UK.”

As the birthplace of women’s suffrage in the UK, Manchester has always been at the centre of the women’s movement and is marking the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day (IWD) with a series of great events around the city including a YouTube channel - 2011IWD 100 years 100 voices – performance art, debates, film screenings and a production of The Vagina Monologues in aid of the Birdhouse Fund (full details at www.manchester.gov.uk/IWD and www.birdhousefund.org)

Whilst thrilled to be part of such a unique event and acknowledged for my business success, I’m not quite yet there with my efforts or skill as a ‘Domestic Goddess’. So later tonight, after I’ve reveled in the achievements of my fellow divas, I’ll grab the tub of M&S ready made batter mix and toss like crazy for the sisterhood!

Manchester City Council worked with Oxfam (part of the EQUALS partnership, a group of leading charities brought together by Annie Lennox to celebrate the IWD centenary), Inspirational Woman Magazine, the Social Media Boom digital agency and Lollipop PR to co-ordinate this unique event. Congrats to all.
By Anna-Louise Gilhooley

Pixley Berries - Your Must Have Accessory this Spring/Summer!

Picture the scene - a hot Summer day spent relaxing and lounging around with nothing to worry about but which magazine to flick through first... (I know, I know it’s hard to imagine whilst we're still in the vice grip of the freezing Manchester weather) What more could you ask for right? Well how about a glass of chilled Pixley Berries - the perfect tool to quench your thirst all summer long!


Pixley Berries cordials are not just your average cordial, infact they contain more than sixty per cent fruit juices (three times higher than most cordials!). With this, he proof is definitely in the pudding as they say or in this case the taste! Pixley Berries have a real depth of flavour; a rich, luxurious taste with an added fruity, sweet kick - I know its a miracle, a fruit drink that ACTUALLY tastes like fruit!

The determinedly not-from-concentrate cordials are grown and pressed in Ledbury Herefordshire, on Pixley Farm, with absolutely no additives, nor preservatives . They are simply fruit juices, water and sugar, making them not only mouth-wateringly delcious, but a sneaky part of your 5 a day!

The cordials are even available in three variants (Blackcurrant, Blackcurrant & Raspberry, and Blackcurrant & Ginger) from Waitrose at £3.19 per 500ml bottle, so you'll be spoilt for choice deciding which fruit kick to sample first!


Whats more, why not try these out these delicious recipe ideas to really tickle your tastebuds...

1.) Champagne and Pixley Black Jellies

Ingredients:
- 5 sheets of leaf gelatine
- 1 bottle of champagne or sparkling wine
- 75g Caster Sugar
- 2tbsp Pixley Berries Blackcurrant Cordial

Method:
1. Soak gelatine in cold water until softened.
2. Put 100 ml water and ¼ bottle of champagne in a pan; add the caster sugar heat slowly.
3. Once the sugar has dissolved, squeeze the excess water from the gelatine sheets and stir into the liquid.
4. Strain into a bowl and leave until cooled. Then add the rest of the champagne and the cordial.
5. Divide the jelly between 6 champagne glasses. Chill for approximately 4 hours or overnight. Garnish with a little fresh fruit before serving.

2.) Natural Yoghurt drizzled with Blackcurrant Cordial – perfect spring time tea time treat

Ingredients:
- 250g natural yoghurt
- Pixley Berries Blackcurrant Cordial
- 8 raspberries

Method:
Drizzle Pixley Berries Blackcurrant Cordial over natural yoghurt and raspberries for a delicious and healthy snack!
As a cordial, the drink itself may be dilluted but unlike your typical codrial drink, the taste certainly is not!
Pixley Berries are available to purchase from Waitrose stores nationally, Ocado Online Groceries, as well as various co-ops, farms and health food stores across the West Midlands.

For more information on the brand and where to buy visit:
www.pixleyberries.co.uk

'ONE, NINETEEN' - A Play to Remember...

What's on this week at Studio Salford...

'ONE, NINETEEN'

Presented by Team Mono.

On 19th January: Freak storms bring devasting floods to the West Coast of England, but before the rescue effort arrives, the media are already in town spinning their story. A play about the power of the news, the strength of the government, the question of climate change, and of course, the search for Sam, Jack and little Chloe...

Written by Archers’ writer Tim Stimpson, One Nineteen enjoyed a successful premiere at London’s Arcola Theatre, with rave reviews, including 4 stars from Time Out magazine.


Team Mono are pleased to be bringing this increasingly relevant piece of work back to the stage with new direction and exciting multimedia. Teammono Theatre Productions are dedicated to bringing high quality writing to the stage, using both in-house writers and associate writers. Mike Friend said: “I am looking to produce and develop not only my own writing, but help deliver writing that is too good to be left on a shelf or a pc somewhere. Good writing and great actors deserve to be on a stage for the world to see.”

"A fast and pacey satire which hits the bullseye every time" - Hackney Gazette

"The various narrative strands are neatly overlapped to create an all too plausible picture. … It entertains while also leaving you much to think about." - The Stage

"Four Stars" - Time Out

DIRECTOR: Mike Friend. Technical Production by Jack Woodcock.

WHEN: Wed 2nd Mar - Sat 5th Mar. Starts: 8.00pm Ends: TBC

Tickets: £7 / £5 with tickets available from: http://www.ibookedit.com/iBookedITApp/whatsOnPerformanceU.action?productionRef=133

Limited number of tickets may be available on the door so be sure to call ahead on 07583 634 871 to confirm.

Find Studio Salford at:
King's Arms, 11 Bloom St., Salford M3 6AN
http://www.studiosalford.com/
http://www.teammono.com/