Even Lily Allen has joined in...
The former reality star gave birth 10 months ago.
A new virtual library is to offer children in England free books during the latest lockdown. The virtual library has been created by The National Literacy Trust in collaboration with Oak National Academy, a government-backed virtual school. A new book will be uploaded to the virtual library each week, beginning with Dame Jacqueline Wilson’s The Story of Tracy Beaker, which will be added on 17th January. Wilson said: “I think it’s vitally important that every child should have an opportunity to access books. As most schools – and their libraries – are closed at the moment, the free online library is needed more than ever.” The virtual library is opening its doors as all school children in England – except for vulnerable children and children of key workers – will be studying from remotely until at least the middle of February. Jonathan Douglas, chief executive of the National Literacy Trust, said: “We are entering another extremely difficult time and Oak Academy’s infrastructure and reach is essential for allowing as many children as possible to access a world of great literature.” He added: “Many children’s literacy skills were profoundly affected by the first lockdown and school closures. We will do everything in our power to support children, families and teachers during this new lockdown period.” You can visit the virtual library here. Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?Take These Audiobooks With You On Your Road TripR29 Reads: The Books We’re Picking Up This JanuaryThis Site Just Made Hundreds Of Audiobooks Free
The presenter won the 2018 series of the show.
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In June, seven of the world’s most powerful leaders will be heading to the butter-coloured sands and seaside villages of West Cornwall for the annual G7 summit. The event will see political leaders from the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States (plus delegations from other countries) descend on St Ives and Carbis Bay which are known for their year-round beaches, subtropical flora and fauna, and crystalline waters. The offical meeting (June 11-13) will take place at the Carbis Bay Estate and Hotel which occupies 125 acres of the pretty coastal enclave with excellent restaurants, a superb spa, watersports, a pool and myriad accommodation options including 38 stylish rooms in the main house, plus woodland cottages and beach houses, lodges and suites. Carbis Bay’s main house, erected by celebrated Cornish architect Sylvanus Trevail in 1894, blends historic grandeur – gilt mirrors, chandeliers – with cheery interior touches by co-owner Josie Baker. Including off-white armchairs and lamps made from stacked pebbles, these abound with low-key seaside chic. Buildings around and just off the estate deliver extra space, plus the same smart interiors. Some offer self-catering. Most appealing are a pair of two-storey, balconied Beach Houses, offering direct access onto the sand, and the eight Beach Lodges with spectacular views across the bay towards Godrevy lighthouse.
"You go girl!"
"I would go out, sob and come back in."
Cloud-based software company Salesforce has been named the best company in the UK to work for. It finishes top of the 2021 Best Places to Work list compiled by Glassdoor. The annual list is based on anonymous feedback from employees who rated their job, work environment and employer over the past year. Salesforce is headquartered in San Francisco, but has a major office in London. One employee said that the company has a “friendly culture that priorities employees’ wellbeing and development, not just revenue generation”. Salesforce is also named the best company to work for in France. Management consultancy firm Bain & Company finishes top in the US. Microsoft finishes second on the UK list. One employee said the tech giant offers a “challenging environment” and “truly encourages and cares for development of staff”. In third, life sciences firm Abcam is praised for providing a “great culture” filled with “open, friendly, smart and ambitious” people.Restaurant chain Bella Italia also makes the top ten. One employee noted that it offers “a fantastic work-life balance” which is “hard to find in hospitality”. Facebook, also in the top ten, is praised for having a workforce which is “as diverse as the communities we serve”. “COVID-19 is in the driver’s seat and every employer has been impacted. This year’s winning employers have proven, according to employees, that even during extraordinary times, they’ll rise to the challenge to support their people,” said Glassdoor’s CEO Christian Sutherland-Wong. “A mission-driven culture, transparent leadership and career opportunities are always hallmarks of Best Places to Work winners. This year, we also see exceptional employers who have prioritised the health, safety and well-being of their employees.” You can check out the top 10 companies to work for below, and scroll through the top 50 on Glassdoor. 1. Salesforce (4.5 rating)2. Microsoft (4.4 rating)3. Abcam (4.4 rating)4. Google (4.4 rating)5. Softcat (4.4 rating)6. GTB (4.4 rating)7. Apple (4.3 rating)8. Bella Italia (4.3 rating)9. SAP (4.3 rating)10. Facebook (4.3 rating) Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?These Are The Best Countries For Remote WorkingThe Best Jobs For Work-Life Balance7 Managers Explain How To Get A Raise At Work
We’ve never hesitated to drag our kids around the world on complicated holidays. My husband’s parents live in a small town in Alberta, Canada and we try to get out there every couple of years. One Christmas we took our daughter Georgia, then two years old, to meet her godparents in Vermont. That involved flying in to New York and staying the night, a time I’ll never forget because I was so deliriously tired that I took G out for a walk in the pram in Central Park at 2am to try to get her to sleep. The next day we drove six hours to Vermont. We wouldn’t do it if the kids didn’t love it. They talk nostalgically about hanging out in Dunkin’ Donuts in Hanna, Alberta, as if it were the best place on earth. One summer, we somewhat hastily booked an Airbnb in a coastal resort town on Gran Canaria that turned out to be an ugly, characterless place. The kids didn’t notice. We found a quiet, pretty beach down the coast and regularly ended our days with visits to an ice-cream parlour, followed by card games, and they were over the moon. There was nothing all that extraordinary about the trip, but they look back on it as their visit to paradise. Part of the appeal of air travel for Georgia and Hal (our son) may be that they can watch television uninterrupted for hours. If I’m honest, that’s partly why I love air travel. There’s nothing better than being cosily in your seat with three or four films queued up. The downside of these expeditions is that there is nothing worse than when a three-hour trip turns into a nine-hour one because something has gone wrong at the airport or with the transport links, and your family ends up getting frazzled before you’ve even started. Then Covid-19 changed the face of travel. One of my abiding memories of the first national lockdown was standing out in my garden in London, looking up at the sky and seeing... well, nothing but birds. In London, you get used to a lot of air traffic, to the web of contrails it leaves, and for the first time in my life, the sky was calm and empty.
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In 2021, your children will be the ones calling the shots. As parent, yours will be a purely symbolic authority. You will already be familiar with this dynamic, of course, but here’s what’s new: this rule will apply not only within your own home, but in hotels too. The family travel market was going through a growth spurt before Covid-19 threw it a curve ball. Lockdowns, however, have super-charged your children’s power over the hotel industry. According to one recent survey, two thirds of parents are hoping to go on holiday once restrictions are in the rear-view mirror and, says Expedia’s report on how the youngest family members are influencing travel, “although final decisions are made by the adults, Gen Alpha [that’s your children] influences family trip choices”. This year, therefore, hotels will be competing for your kids’ attention and, terrifying as you might find their newfound omnipotence, this may prove no bad thing. Back in 2013, a survey commissioned by the Luxury Family Hotel chain found that more than a quarter of a million British parents had cut a family holiday short either because they felt unwelcome or because it was ill-equipped for their needs. Just under a decade later, says Simon Maguire, the managing director of Luxury Family Hotels: “We have definitely seen the hotel sector make improvements when it comes to being family friendly, which is good news. But saying you are family friendly and actually being family friendly can be worlds apart.” Family rooms are still often awkwardly configured; kids’ meals less “field to fork”, more “deep-freeze to deep-fried”; communal and recreational spaces dotted with boring breakables that leave children fidgety and adults on perpetual high alert. “That causes angst for both parent and child,” says Maguire, “which is not what you want when spending your hard-earned money.” Well, quite. So how do you identify the hotels that are not simply paying lip service to family friendliness? The ones who welcome not only the sight but also the sound of children?
One Night in Miami, an emotional journey presented to us by first-time director Regina King, gathers together four of Black American history’s most prominent figures in a hotel room for one night only. The film’s plot follows the men — the boxing champion formerly known as Cassius Clay (Eli Goree), musician Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.), football player Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge), and activist Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir) — as they discuss the harsh reality of being Black and excellent in a white supremacist world. The film is raw and heartbreaking, but it’s also an important reminder that Malcolm X was very, very fine. Is it appropriate to thirst over political icons who have shaped the very fabric of our society? I would argue that yes, it absolutely is appropriate. Of course, the contributions that X made to the civil rights of Black people in the United States should never be understated; while many would have you believe that he was the foil to more “peaceful” civil rights leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the movement was equally fuelled by X’s unbridled fiery castigation of white supremacy. But being impactful and being hot don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Even as X was moving hearts, opening minds, and inspiring cultural change, he was simultaneously sparking other feelings and thoughts. I’m not going to mince any words here: Malcolm X was sexy. There’s a reason why the Black Twitter discussion on the sacred December 21 Solstice saw many of us using our powers to go back in time just so we could have a chance at a special encounter with him. Just look at the material! X is said to have stood at an appealing six feet, four inches, and notably spent much of his adult life wearing tailored suits. He possessed a natural charm, flashed his pearly whites during impassioned speeches, and even cracked frequent jokes. X also developed a healthy appetite for literature during his 10-year prison stint, and was able to spur entire crowds to action with just a few words. Portrait of human rights activist Malcolm X reading stories about himself in a pile of newspapers, circa 1963. (Photo by Three Lions/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Additionally, the activist was husband to Betty Shabazz and proud girl dad to his six daughters, relationships that made him fiercely protective of the Black women around him. Who could ever forget the genuine conviction in his voice when he decried the continued disrespect and abuse of Black women in that viral and forever relevant 1962 speech? Couldn’t be me! I would be remiss to talk about depictions of Malcolm X in film without first paying homage to Spike Lee’s Malcolm X. Denzel Washington famously starred in the Spike Lee joint as the outspoken civil rights leader, portraying X from his nascent days as a petty thief all the way to his untimely death in 1965. Washington is widely considered one of the OG Black hotties of Hollywood, and the 1992 biographical drama undoubtedly helped cement that status. Sporting that trademark shock of natural red hair, crooked white smile, and uninhibited confidence, Washington delivered a powerful take on X’s story. And despite not really looking like X (Washington is several shades darker and several inches shorter), he looked really good doing it. Nigel Thatch is another actor who took up the role of X in Ava DuVernay’s Selma. His portrayal may provide the closest physical similarity to the late great icon we have on screen. The film focuses more on King Jr., (played by David Oyelowo) and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s historic Selma march, but X shows up to do his part and leaves quite the impression. After years of opposing King’s pacifist methods towards civil rights, X offers to aid the work of the SCLC by moving the needle so far left that white people would have no choice but to meet King somewhere in the middle as allies. Guess what? He was fine, too. The film adaptation of One Night in Miami, penned by Kemp Powers, also unintentionally does the work of punctuating X’s attractiveness. Set in 1964, the same year that Clay became the heavyweight champion of the world (and changed his name to Muhammad Ali) and a year before Malcolm X was assassinated, Ben-Adir’s portrayal artfully brings to life the activist’s perpetual anxiety about his inevitable murder. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Regina King (@iamreginaking) In One Night in Miami, X is desperate and heartbroken about the trajectory of his career, the safety of his family, and the welfare of his community. The film finds X teetering dangerously close to the edge of an emotional breakdown. From the activist’s nervous tick (hitching up his signature glasses) to his gangly gait to his stutter in moments of passion, Ben-Adir accurately channels X from start to finish. Just as importantly, he captures the overwhelmingly attractive aura of the Black icon, even in the fragility of his last days. His X is so fully dedicated to the well-being of the Black community that it literally reduces him to tears — a scene which personally had me swooning in my seat (don’t act like you’re not turned on by vulnerability). Let’s get this out of the way before anyone starts with the “historical accuracy” spiel: One Night in Miami‘s X is not played by a Black American. Ben-Adir (High Fidelity, The OA) is British-born and bred, complete with a proper English accent, but I fully agree with my co-worker Kathleen Newman-Bremang’s conclusion that his portrayal is nonetheless among the best in film history. Since the movie first premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, King has been adamant that Ben-Adir was the right pick for the role, and she’s right. Ben-Adir’s raw performance is wholly inspired by the man himself. Though he’s fully aware of the controversy surrounding his casting, Ben-Adir hopes that his close study of X and the resulting onscreen performance will be a transformative experience for everyone watching. X’s zeal for using his voice as an agent of change is exactly why so many of us are still drawn to him almost 60 years after his death. The Malcolm X that we remember, honor, and thirst after today was radically unrelenting in his takedown of white supremacy. He worked tirelessly to promote Black power and pride. He protected Black women and, when he learned that the organisation that he’d devoted his life to did not, publicly pivoted to a different path. I don’t know about you, but that’s my type. One Night in Miami is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?Regina King's One Night In Miami Is Perfectly CastRegina King Wore An Important Shirt To The Emmys13 Best TIFF 2020 Movies By & About Women
Our patience is put to the test on Sunday, when bountiful Jupiter forms a square with change-making Uranus. It's exceptionally tempting to make a bold move just for the sake of feeling alive, but we’d be better off resisting the urge to stir the pot. If we’re feeling particularly on edge, we can try to express our feelings in thoughtful ways, like journalling or venting to a close friend. We're ready to embark on exciting new journeys starting on Tuesday, when the ego-ruling Sun enters independent Aquarius. Now’s the time to decide how to express our inner desires for change and seek new intellectual pursuits. It's time to break out of old routines and look towards a more humanitarian-minded future.On Wednesday, passionate Mars forms a conjunction with innovative Uranus. It’s a good day to be creative, but we may enjoy making small changes rather than diving into the deep end with a new project. We can also work to adjust our thinking, and see where the new perspective takes us. The emotion-ruling Moon waxes into her first quarter in determined Taurus on Wednesday as well. This moon phase tends to create the urge to get things done quickly. Instead of exhausting our resources all at once, we should take a step back and assess what's truly needed. Being conservative can help us save ourselves time, money, and energy. We may be feeling on top of the world this weekend, but we’ll have to remember to pace ourselves — in our actions and our words — on Saturday, as energetic Mars creates a square against bountiful Jupiter. It's easier to be incredibly blunt as these planets clash. We're ready to enjoy a little fantasy on Saturday, as beauty-loving Venus creates a sextile with dreamy Neptune. This transit is a good time to enjoy some escapism, even by something as simple as putting on a movie that helps us consider a new aesthetic or forward-thinking attitude. Later on Saturday evening, the ego-ruling Sun forms a conjunction with rule-making Saturn, inspiring us to take care of our responsibilities. We’ll have to try not to let ourselves get too stirred up, and instead, make a list of everything we'd like to accomplish in the upcoming week. AriesMarch 21 to April 19Are you ready to connect, Aries? You could begin a brilliant new mind-meld starting on Tuesday when your creative-ruling Sun brightens your 11th house of groups, friendships, and goals. Call on your problem-solving mind to figure out how to work together, even though we can't be together in person. Set aside time to nurture the talents of your besties, and make magic. Have you wanted to invest more energy into your spiritual side? You could make a positive change towards supporting your hidden self on Saturday, when love- and material-ruling Venus creates a sextile with inner growth-governing Neptune. Trust your intuition, and set out on a new path towards self-discovery. If you haven't gotten started on your latest idea yet, don't fret. Think about who you might want to pair up with on a passion project this Saturday, when the pleasure-seeking Sun forms a conjunction with status-ruling Saturn. You'll be able to tell if you've found the right fit if you're having fun. TaurusApril 20 to May 20It's your time to shine, Taurus. Starting on Tuesday, the domestic-ruling Sun brightens your 10th house of career, structure, and public image, helping you to make an impact on your network. Be conscious of the impression that you give to others online during this transit, as all eyes are sure to be on you — show them what you're made of. You may find yourself attracted to a new career that supports others on Wednesday, when inner growth-ruling Mars forms a conjunction with career-ruling Uranus. Weigh your options and research causes that speak to your heart if you're ready to make a big move. Dust off some books, explore new corners of the internet, and get researching on Saturday when the domestic-ruling Sun in your 10th house forms a conjunction with intellectual Saturn. You could be on the verge of forging a new path for yourself and others. GeminiMay 21 to June 20Use your imagination, Gemini. You could find yourself some exciting new virtual spaces beginning on Tuesday when the Sun lights up your 9th house of exploration, adventure, and belief. Although it may not be possible to travel, there are other ways to satisfy your wanderlust. Explore your community and neighbourhood, and learn about your local history — you could make some discoveries that enhance your perspective of your place in the world. Spend a little time getting your finances in order on Wednesday, as your money-ruling Moon waxes into her first quarter in determined Taurus. You'll be in the mood to get organised so that you can accomplish your newest goal. Your mind is churning out ideas on Saturday, so keep a pen handy as you express your creative thoughts. Charming Venus creates a sextile with career-ruling Neptune, helping you to tap into your artistic side. CancerJune 21 to July 22Change can be scary, Cancer. Use your tough crab shell to take on whatever surprises come your way starting on Tuesday, as the money-ruling Sun highlights your 8th house of transformation, mystery, and dramatic change. You've got what it takes to overcome any challenge — if you feel yourself faltering, don't be afraid to ask for support. Separate your work concerns from your personal life, and try not to take life too seriously on Saturday. Career-minded Mars creates a square against routine-ruling Jupiter, making you want to put in overtime without reward. Remember that you need rest to be your best self — people can learn to survive without you until Monday. If you can remember to relax, you'll be rewarded by a day of bliss at home when domestic-ruling Venus creates a sextile with lucky Neptune on Saturday. Enjoy re-organising your space and getting cosy with your loved ones as these planets complement each other — you'll feel revived.LeoJuly 23 to August 22How have you been maintaining your professional relationships, Leo? If you feel like lurking on LinkedIn isn't cutting it anymore, why not reach out with a quick phone call to colleagues you miss and admire? You're in an excellent position to reconnect with your network beginning Tuesday when the ruling Sun celebrates your 7th house of partnerships, contracts, and business. Saturday offers another chance to reach out: The ruling Sun in your 7th house forms a conjunction with routine-ruling Saturn, and career-ruling Venus creates a sextile with imaginative Neptune. You may have an idea or two that you'd like to pitch to a work friend; or you may simply enjoy catching up on life over the phone. VirgoAugust 23 to September 22How do you react when things don't go your way, Virgo? You may need to take a trip to your happy place on Sunday so that you can let go of the little things when domestic-ruling Jupiter forms a square with routine-ruling Uranus. Keep your cool as these planets clash, and rise above the chaos — you are in control of your emotions and mindset. You're ready to take a more proactive approach towards caring for yourself beginning Tuesday, when the Sun moves into your 6th house of health, order, and service. This transit helps us practice everything in moderation and create a pace that makes sense for your schedule and needs. You're blessed with an opportunity to prioritise your sexual needs on Wednesday, when sensual Mars forms a conjunction with routine-ruling Uranus. If you're in a relationship, make sure to speak up about what you need from your partner and investigate how you can both enjoy this restorative process. LibraSeptember 23 to October 22Are you ready to have some fun, Libra? Beginning on Tuesday, the Sun highlights your 5th house of creativity, pleasure, and romance, allowing you to look at the brighter side of life. Now is the time to express your inner voice and enjoy being you. Make time for play and figure out how you can re-invest in yourself. You may need to exercise extra patience with loved ones on Saturday, as affection-ruling Mars creates a square against communicative Jupiter. It could be easy for people to get overly excited about a new idea, so use your gentlest voice to help bring them back down to earth. Find comfort in taking care of mundane tasks on Saturday, as ruling Venus creates a sextile with schedule savvy Neptune. You're able to make any job fun with the right attitude. ScorpioOctober 23 to November 21Tread carefully when it comes to your cash, Scorpio. An opportunity could present itself on Sunday, when money-minded Jupiter forms a square with domestic-ruling Uranus. Do your best to make an educated decision during this challenging transit, and consider all of your options before diving into something unfamiliar. You're ready to get serious about your living situation starting on Tuesday, when the career-ruling Sun lights up your 4th house of family, instincts, and foundations. Use this helpful transit to plan for the future and research how you'd like to improve your home or location. You may feel a burst of inspiration hit you on Wednesday, so be prepared to channel this exciting energy into something positive. Routine-ruling Mars forms a conjunction with domestic-ruling Uranus, helping you to further your goals and find your flow at home. SagittariusNovember 22 to December 21Hold your horses, Sagittarius. While it could be tempting to make a dramatic move on Sunday, you'll be wise to wait until ruling Jupiter's square with change-making Uranus has passed. Open your mind to possibility, but hold off on getting involved in anything you can't reverse. You're given the gift of gab beginning on Tuesday, when the Sun brightens your 3rd house of communication, thought, and community. It's time to reach out to people who inspire you and want to help you elevate your thinking. Consider how you can engage in conversations that can improve your experience and help you to uplift others. You're on top of your to-do list on Saturday, when routine-ruling Venus creates a sextile with domestic-ruling Neptune. Take the time to make caring for your space fun and plug in your favourite playlist while you make your home sparkle. CapricornDecember 22 to January 19It's time to get down to business, Capricorn. You've got a laser focus for numbers beginning Tuesday when the Sun brightens your 2nd house of finances, values, and possessions. Use this transit to reflect on your relationship with money: Consider how your wants and needs weigh against each other. You're ready to work on creating more stability in your life on Wednesday, when domestic-ruling Mars forms a conjunction with money-minded Uranus. Try not to be reactive when presented with new scenarios, and take time to evaluate all of your options. You might be off the clock on Saturday, but you could be stuck with an exciting new project as career-ruling Venus creates a sextile with communication-conscious Neptune. Write everything down and discuss your latest dream with friends and trusted colleagues as these planets complement each other.AquariusJanuary 20 to February 18Are you ready to step into the spotlight, Aquarius? Get ready to be showered with attention and affection beginning Tuesday, when the love-ruling Sun illuminates your 1st house of self, first impressions, and appearance. Take advantage of this transit and use it to build yourself up from the inside out. Dress up a little and enjoy the process of getting ready, even if it's just for you. It's a beautiful day to stay at home and get creative with your space on Saturday, as domestic-ruling Venus creates a sextile with money-minded Neptune. Play with inspiration boards, and research colorful solutions for your space to bring a little joy back into your world. Set aside some time to create more structure in your spiritual practices on Saturday, when the ego-ruling Sun in your 1st house forms a conjunction with inner-growth ruling Saturn. Spend a little time to check in with yourself and meditate so that you can help to ground yourself at the end of the week. PiscesFebruary 19 to March 20It's time for a major reset, Pisces. You may find yourself called to re-invest time in getting to know yourself better starting on Tuesday when the wellness-minded Sun lights up your 12th house of inner growth, vulnerability, and conclusion. Pay close attention to your dreams, and see if any hidden emotions are bubbling to the surface. You might feel particularly inspired to get working away on your latest passion project on Wednesday when your creative-ruling Moon waxes into her first quarter in determined Taurus. Instead of biting off more than you can chew, stick to list-making as you make your way towards a brilliant full Moon in proud Leo on January 28. Manage your reactions when it comes to work matters on Saturday, as money-ruling Mars creates a square against status-minded Jupiter. Try to chill out and take note of what you'd like to accomplish next week when you're back on the clock. Like what you see? 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