Amanda Seyfried, of Mamma Mia! fame, plays lead female Sophie, who is on a pre-wedding holiday with her fiancé Victor (Gael Garcia Bernal). Victor is a self-obsessed chef and Sophie an aspiring writer—as odd a couple as Cher and Gene Simmons once were. Upon visiting the wall of letters, Sophie meets the ‘Secretaries of Juliet’, a team of four older ladies, and begins helping write replies to the letters. Upon responding to one particular letter Sophie inspires pensioner Claire (Vanessa Redgrave) to find her long-lost love, alongside her grandson Charlie (Christopher Egan). Cue the inevitable exploits that come with any rom-com: the breaking and mending of hearts.

First and foremost, the scenery is beautiful, breathtaking in fact. The film is quite charming because of this and the Italian culture it portrays. However, the score is overwhelming in its ploy to induce emotion—it is too sugary sweet; the soundtrack is a little better, but no Mamma Mia!

And the answer to the question of predictability is: no. This film is as predictable as rom-com films can come, but the acting is fairly decent, though the Garcia Bernal is severely underused. The dialogue between Sophie and Charlie was better than expected, with some clever one-liners being rolled out. Despite this, there are far many too clichés used. Vanessa Redgrave definitely stands out and lights up the screen with her acting brilliance, but she doesn’t quite pass for being Claire’s age of sixty-five years old.

Overall, the last twenty-minutes of this film are enjoyable, but how this was dragged out for approaching two-hours is inexcusable. Despite its charm and surprisingly (just about) tolerable dialogue, this is no better than Winick’s previous offering of Bride Wars. I recommend watching a re-run of Notting Hill or other rom-com classics instead, as this will be in the bargain-bin soon enough!

Rating: 2/5

The story is pretty simple the wholly disgusting villain Spica holds Boarst’s restaurant Le Hollandais under tight control. With his group of thugs behind him Spica violently abuses anyone in his way from restaurant owners to young kitchen boys. His wife, Georgina, tired of his endless foul nature finds comfort in one of the restaurants regular customers and begins a torrid affair that takes place in Spica’s very own restaurant.  Naturally the film escalates to epic proportions as Greenaway’s gruesome fascination with bodily functions all become strangely and forcefully connected in this film.

From the moment The Cook begins there is something completely different from your average Hollywood blockbuster.  Sascha Vierny’s sweeping camera that wildly arches around the restaurant or glides through the kitchen instantly unnerves the viewer; it places us in a Greenaway world where nothing is predictable. The colours, setting, costumes and pulsating Michael Nyman score with the lingering haunting psalm music demonstrates a close attention to every detail, drawing us into a film that is truly a feast for the senses.

Take for instance the Vodafone advert. My housemate actually cried at it, full on tears. How very, very clever advertisers. You know how to pull the old heartstring. I think we all think of our Daddies when the heartbroken girl’s father, listening intently on the mobile (powered by Vodafone – who else?) after leaving mid speech to meet his daughter who has just been dumped. She questions him, “You weren’t doing anything were you?” and he replies “No, just emptying the dishwasher.” Advertising genius. That wouldn’t happen on any other network would it? Come on now. Only Vodafone users have dishwashers.

Another personal favourite is the string of adverts beginning with the immortal line, “I was walking through reception when…”. They have only a few paths to go down – they slip on a wet patch, fall over some misplaced plastic or get tripped by a Borrower. Life is tough for an office/construction worker. Lucky that ‘The Accident Helpline’ and the like are about to sort that out. “No win no fee” they say, so how could it all go wrong? You could end up with a fringe like the lady they used on the advert that’s how.

And is it just me or are kitchen roll adverts just plain pointless? We know what it does, alright, we don’t need a man in a sombrero telling us that it only takes “HWAN SHEEEET”. Least it’s better than that old one with the men dressed as ladies. Pity Mr Brunette who always got his hand covered in bolognese.

Our light at the end of the bad-advertising tunnel, no not that one for Magnum where they are mid hiest and the girl gets distracted by her ice cream (?), but those lovely Andrex puppies. Animals and toilet rolls. A marketing breakthrough.

“Why Are You On Radio?” Award: “I’m Fearne Cotton. Welcome to my radio show, and for its entirety I will be painting a plant for no fucking reason.”

“Why Are You On Television?” Award: “YOYOYO hello it’s James Corden. I’m fat and I’m funny.” (insert sound of a hyena for 45 minutes) HA HA HA HA HA HA ha ha ha HA HA HA.

Worst Television Channel: Still ITV1. I don’t know why but whenever I watch it I always feel that I am unclean and I desperately need to wash. Plus the news is directed by opinionated three year olds… Afghanistan IT’S ALL GOING WRONG, the economy IS STILL A BIT SHIT INNIT, look – David Cameron! CONSERVATIVES ARE FITTIES. Look at this dog IT IS A BIT MENTAL. And now the weather, set in the 1970s and presented by a woman who might stab you in your sleep.

Best Event: The Elections 2010. We found out that David Dimbelby is A MACHINE, that leaders debates made LITTLE DIFFERENCE, that Rupert Murdoch must have PISSED himself for approximately three days straight, that Adam Boulton is a SH*T, that Twitter is a BEAST and the country is probably fucked for the next three years.

Most Expensive Programme Of The Year: “Welcome to Wonders of the Solar System. I’m Brian Cox. Now, we start in the Catalona Desert to talk about sunshine. But why is the sun so hot? To emphasise that you now join me in rural India. Here, I will use simple garden instruments to emphasise why the sun radiates heat. Look at that. But why does heat matter? Well you now join me in desolate Antarctica. Brrrrrr….. it’s mighty cold here. I’m Brian Cox and this is why I love science.”

Most Annoying Radio Personality of the Year Award: “I’M ZANE LOWE. ARE YOU ON BOARD??? Shut up.

Programme That Has The Least Relation To The Topic That It Is Actually Advertising Award: “Hi, I’m Heston Blumental, and welcome to the programme where I cook for ten annoying or relatively unknown celebrities. I love the 1970s. I really like this decade and I think it was a fantastic decade for food, not because the production team completely ran out of topics and told me to make three random related courses at a drop of a hat. The pudding is chocolate. I like chocolate. The Romans liked chocolate because of its sexual healing powers. So to find out more I will now be going to a strip party where women rub cocoa powder into their bosoms and scream loudly at the site of a bar of chocolate shaped like a penis.” No really, this really happened.

Most Misplaced Character: John Barrowman. He has moved on from being an omnisexual man with botox, sex problems and LOADS of daleks in Doctor Who and Torchwood, to a camper than camp cruise singer with various hits, to a mental serial killer without an accent in the one the only Desperate Housewives. “Coming up next. John Barrowman is a CIA agent who must deactivate a nuclear bomb from a slutty strip club in Los Angeles, and then will Angie and Jill find a reasonable cottage in Stevenage? John Barrowman has some loft conversions that will surprise you.”

The Pointless Festival Coverage Award: Glastonbury. No I know Glastonbury is some kind of middle class sexual reawakening, or like Woodstock but with 9 month ticketing arrangements, but why does it have to be televised? It’s awful for what it does to us. Television dramas can be inspirational and help aspire us to a better non-existent life. Glastonbury is very much the same in what it shows, but instead of inspiring me to a better life, I’m watching people having outdoor sex listening to Stevie Wonder wearing Michael Jackson t-shirts, whilst I am stuck at home in my pants eating an Pot Noodle, occasionally bashing the walls to stop my neighbours in Hull Road having chavvy sex.

Best Advice of the Year Award: Lee Nelson’s Well Good Show – No don’t watch it. It’s shit. Really really shit.

Biggest Build-Up to the Biggest Anti-Climax Award: Heroes. Oh my goodness that was an amazing first series with great plot development, great acting and real twists. Save the Cheerleader? Save the world! Haha! Now lets get series 2 going *loads it into DVD player* *errr* Wtf??? OH MY???? OH MY FUCKING GOD? WHAT IS HAPPPPEENNING… WWTTFFFFFFFFFF YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUssssssssssssssS!!!!!!!!!!!!

AND…. Goodbye:
After 3 years, 25 issues and quite a few hangovers I am leaving teleVISION for vague unemployment and country life. Thanks to everyone who allowed me to write these words for so long, and most importantly to you, dear reader, for reading them. Follow my future rants at ohthattvblog.wordpress.com. For the time being, I wish you well and I leave you with the amazing last words of Conan O’Brien, during his last edition of the Tonight Show in February this year: “Please do not be cynical. It doesn’t lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen. I’m telling you, it’s just true”.

“We didn’t know about soccer before we came over here! Now we support Tottenham Hotspur.. a lot of Londoners do, so maybe that’s why. It’s definitely a culture thing over here and a lot more mainstream than in the US.”

Chris Cain, bassist and backing vocalist for the group, openly admitted that they don’t take football, or soccer, remotely seriously; or much else for that matter. We Are Scientists’ biography states that Chris and Keith (lead vocalist and guitarist) “majored in Babes” during their university education in Southern California; their website (www.wearescientists.com) is a complementary amalgamation of sarcastic wit, and tongue in cheek tweets. The pair have also produced a comedy television series, ‘Steve Wants His Money’, which was shown on MTV. Chris, however, assures that the band are serious about their live act.

“I was a big fan of Stone Temple Pilots in the 90s. They have two incredible albums and when I saw them, they played very well but their attitude on stage was just stupid. When he talked between songs he was just a dick, and almost making fun of the fact that people would actually like Stone Temple Pilots. It’s very upsetting to meet a musician with this incredible catalogue, watch them play it really well and then make fun of it between songs. It’s really disheartening.”

Often we presume that bands spring out of nowhere, somehow getting their lucky break because their singer’s-sister’s-boyfriend’s-half cousin’s-landlord’s-nephew happened to know a DJ who got them on a bill an at exclusive London club, and as they say, the rest is history. But We Are Scientists are different; they gigged for years to crowds of ten, thirty-five, and eventually several hundred, before they made a record that caused people to pay attention.
“We played little shows we could book ourselves for five years before we really got in front of anybody. We played at the level we should have been playing. A lot of bands are suddenly at a level of popularity that their abilities don’t really stand up to and it seems very difficult to get past that point because you immediately acquire a reputation as kinda, sucking. It’s, comparatively, easy to record a couple of songs.. but if you can’t play, people are gonna hate what they see.”

When asked about how he thinks bands can succeed nowadays, Chris admitted: “I don’t know if there’s any tricks or anything, but you’ve gotta get your live act honed and polished.”

Last year, the band broke ties with their record label, Virgin, and created their own label, Master Swan Records, to release their third album, Barbara.
“A label is a steamline way of developing a fan base, and being able to tour, which can initially be expensive to the band. Now, we’re just paying individual vendors to do all the things that a label does., we hire people to do press, people to help us with marketing, and people to do sales.. it’s just that, with a label, each of those people would be on the same floor of a building.”

I asked the bassist if it was possible for a band to breakthrough into the music industry today without label support. “I wouldn’t want to try! For a band just starting out, to afford those services without any real guarantee that it was going to go anywhere, it would just be very difficult. You’d have to be a real dice roller..”

Now that the band retain more control over their musical output, it has become increasingly important for them to consider how their services are distributed. “It was our label’s decision to put our record on Spotify. Spotify is a good thing. I think that’s the direction music is moving towards – a subscription model. I don’t think it’ll be long until Spotify can pay the rights holders for playing the songs. They already have the model in place; they just haven’t yet begun to make any money. Actually, I think Spotify is starting to pay us nominal amounts for each play..”

When asked if he’d rather than fans purchased We Are Scientists’ music, Chris admitted: “I guess it’s nice for people to buy the record if that’s how they like to consume music. I think ultimately Spotify will become the equivalent [of buying music]. The commercial radio station model is exactly like the free service on Spotify – they acquire ads and that’s how they pay their PRS [artist royalties]. Some people will never come to a show who buy music, but the people who listen to Spotify might go to a show and buy a t-shirt or something. There are a lot of ways to support a band, and ultimately if you’re really into a band, then, probably, something you’re doing is going to make them money.. whether it’s listening to radio stations who play that kinda music and therefore making that station more popular, or going to live shows. We live in a consumer economy and all of these activities have values attached to them.. people are making money off them one way of another. Lots of ways are compensated.”

But there isn’t necessarily enough compensation to keep the entire music industry, as it is today, afloat. After reported cuts and a lack of funding for artist development, the future of music is looking increasingly uncertain.
“I think we’re going through a technological revolution and we don’t know where it’s going to go, or even what the possibilities are yet. People are having a hard time catching up to it, with their revenue plans.”

Chris talks about his disappointment in how listeners are made to feel like they’ve caused the problems, as without their support, the industry simply wouldn’t exist.
“The real crime would be if in five years from now, music in general is just a less popular art form because it’s been so flooded with bad feelings. The thing that worries me most about the current situation is that we are criminalising, or vilifying listeners and fans. It’s a terrible precedent and it’s a terrible way to move music as an art form. I don’t think music should be realm where people have to feel guilty.”

We Are Scientists will be touring America later this year, with support from up and coming band, Rewards.
“They’re a band you definitely won’t have heard of yet. The frontman is really incredible and has put together a really good group of dudes to play! By this time next year, the Rewards’ record will be on your radar. They’re more indie than us, definitely darker and moodier.”

Hayley Williams, the Christian lead singer of emo rockband Paramore, has been left red faced after accidentally uploading a topless photo of herself onto Twitter.

The photo, which features the flame-haired singer staring seductively at the camera, appears to have been taken by the lady herself. Within minutes she received messages such as ‘WTF?!’ and ‘R U crazy?’ Williams claims that she did not post the photo. “Well…my night just changed drastically, got hacked,” she later tweeted. Despite quickly removing the photo, the singer couldn’t stop the image being spread virally across the Internet.

Williams has thanked fans for their support following the incident. However many have expressed doubts as to whether her account was really hacked, with some suggesting that is unlikely that someone would have been able to gain access both to the photo and her account.

The current story is that Hayley was trying to direct message her boyfriend, which suggests that Williams maybe needs a little more Twitter practice before she sheds her clothes in
future.

N-Dubz Kick Off

FOLLOWING last issue’s revelation that N-Dubz frontman Dappy had been caught taking the drug mephadrone, the trio have managed to further their amiable reputation by getting involved in a “foul mouthed row” with Lethal Bizzle at a celebrity charity football tournament, Soccer 6.

This time it was moody brunette Tulisa’s turn to prove her ladylike credentials by shouting abuse at the UK rapper. The artists have been involved in previous skurmishes following Bizzle’s claims that the band stole part of their hit song ‘I Need You Now’ from one of his demos. Bizzle was reportedly minding his own business when Tulisa yelled “We’re gonna f**king do you!”

However, on a more positive note, Tulia triumphed in the female final of the soccer competition.

Mac Attack

Ex-Beatle and happy divorcee Paul McCartney, 67, had to be rescued by the police last week after his tour bus was attacked by thugs in Mexico City.

Whilst touring Mexico, the singer and his crew passed through a decidedly dodgy area of the city when a gang of teenagers stopped his coach, climbed onto the roof and started jumping up and down. His security initially believed them to be a swarm of fans, but once the youths scaled the bus, the situation changed dramatically. and the police were called.

According to a source, “Paul was very shaken up” but has since recovered. Following a concert at The Whitehouse, fans will be relieved to hear he is now in the safe hands of Leader of the Free World, possible superhero and all round good guy, President Obama.

Freeze me baby one more time

Superstar Britney Spears has looked into being cryogenically frozen after her death, in the hope that she can be brought back to life in the future.

Spears has apparently been researching the Alcor Life Extension Foundation, an organsiation who freeze bodies in liquid nitrogen. She allegedly plans to donate $350,000 to the foundation.

Despite, at one stage, considering having her ashes turned to diamonds, Spears appears to have settled upon the cryogenics route after falling victim to the urban myth about Walt Disney’s frozen head. Sources say Britney recently spent a trip to Disneyland researching the matter whilst a nanny took her children around the theme park.

Not only does my mind drift back to that unforgettable chant of ‘96, but also to the mesmeric rap from John Barnes in New Order’s ‘World In Motion’. The lyrics spoke to all the fans of the beautiful game; the whole song was simply fantastic. Then, when I was a young impressionable lad of only nine years I heard a song that would completely change my live forever. A song that puts Doctor Who and his Tardis to shame: ‘Carnival De Paris‘. It instantly transports me through time and space, sending me across the channel to France ‘98. It’s the first World Cup song that I recall, and what a song it is!

Another example of football getting it right was the moment when Pavarotti sang the wonderful ‘Nessun Dorma’ at the 1990 World Cup in Italy. It was symbolic of that tournament and boldly summed up the passion of the Italian fans. However, the remake of ‘Three Lions’ in 1998 is the pinnacle of all football songs – we England fans can never seem to give up despite the years of hurt.

It is sometimes surprising how the mind holds onto the good, and casually throws away the bad. Nevertheless, no account of football songs would not be complete if I did not criticise, condemn and castrate all those who have ruined this spectacular global event by creating some form of musical atrocity. Ant and Dec, Slim Jim and even Embrace are all guilty offenders with sub-standard songs. They are either boring, horrendously repetitive or, in the case of Embrace, instantly forgettable. In fact the vast majority of football songs are woeful, cringe inducing and tuneless.

Yet, for South Africa 2010 there is a chance for salvation. Although there is to be no official world cup song this year, many artists are competing to be the unofficial anthem of the World Cup. Russell Brand and Robbie Williams are attempting the third remake of the uplifting ‘Three Lions’, and the alternative comedy god Rik Mayall is releasing ‘Noble England’. This interesting piece is a football version of Shakespeare’s epic Henry V speech before the taking of Harfleur, and has since been replicated by the BBC.

After listening to both, I am going offer the exact same advice to those who are hopeful for an English triumph in South Africa. They should be great, they should be amazing, and they should be world beaters. However, these offerings are just not. How Williams and Brand, as avid football fans, could do such a thing to this Song of Songs begs belief! Then again, listening to Robbie’s latest offerings and watching Russell’s movies, I begin to understand. As for Rik’s track, though it is considerably better, it is unlikely to inspire the crowds to chant “Shakespeare!” from the stands, and is well below what I expected from someone of his undoubted genius. With other musicians such as Noel Gallagher lining up for another attempt, I think during this World Cup I may be hurling obscenities in other directions besides where the TV is stood.

At the end of the day, in terms of football songs,  it’s a game of two halves. All the lads put in a tremendous amount of effort and we know their hearts are in the right places, sometimes we may not get the result we wanted but we can be proud of almost all of the  performances. You think the clichés are over? they are now.

Split into three sections with two intervals, it was no surprise that with such a fragmented setup, the only connecting aspects were perhaps the fascinatingly entangling figures the dancers got themselves into. The whole experience challenged a few preconceptions I had about ballet: one being that ballet is often only good if the accompanying music is extra-special; that it is usually about the frail (and sometimes far too skinny) portrayal of the female; and finally, and perhaps understandably, that ballet should only ever exist on the level of innuendo and never be explicitly and sexually daring!
The first two sections were accompanied by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia who excelled themselves and really did justice to the Rossini and Beethoven that they played. In the first third, the ballet was accordingly traditional, the shapes fluid and the costumes angelic. A troupe of eight dancers performed a twenty minute dance of what seemed to be a mixture of the pure romance of Romeo and Juliet and a celebration of femininity. In all, it made for quite charming British ballet.

The second third was potentially the most daring, as the theme shifted from pure love to raunchy lust. At times I found the content a little too brave and sensational especially seeing as some of the audience hadn’t hit double-digits. A barrier had most definitely been crossed. There’s always tension in an innuendo filled dance, and it’s completely lost when the barrier between innuendo and explicit is broken. I was left wondering where the mystery of the dance was, there was no need for the audience to interpret; it was just handed to them on a plate. In all, a rather disappointing rendition of dance, that I could have found in BPM for less than a fiver.

However, one interval later and it had soon redeemed itself. The final was accompanied by what could have been a dance anthem (complete with strobe lighting). It was ballet with a sharp and quirky edge, almost androgynous in its dancing style. It captured the athleticism and muscular endurance that ballet requires. It was by far the most captivating style of dance. Although many met its break away from the conventional with disappointment, I personally thought it was fresh and charismatic.

It proves the ballet still holds its charm and elegance whilst expanding into the 21st Century. Now at only £5, it is no longer a million miles away from our student budgets – just be prepared to redefine your preconceptions!

And in a single quote, much of ‘Howling Moon’ can be summed up. This play is one which, in gracing the Drama Barn last weekend, left its audience bemused, excited and altogether quite emotional.

Student Heather Wilmot’s script is at time brilliantly funny, and at others heart-wrenchingly sad, as it takes the audience on a wild ride for almost three hours (with interval) through the mind of Maggie, who is a “22-year-old student, actually,” and played by Gemma Whitham. It is plagued by problems that do need fixing if it’s ever to be reshown, but they are mostly located in a clear disregard for the ‘delete’ button. The play is simply too long, but ruthless editing could turn a pretty decent script into an amazing one. Wilmot’s direction and producer Shona Jemphrey’s success in securing grass turf for the Barn have definitely benefited the production, along with clever lighting design by Jack Luckett and Josh Littlewood, which fearlessly exploits usage of the full blackout.
Whitham’s portrayal of Maggie is well acted, if at times strained. However, for an actor who is forced to be on stage for almost the entirety of the play, her performance is very strong. With a character that, despite being the centre of the entire two acts, isn’t entirely memorable, Whitham does well to exploit her lines to maximum effect.

Yet none in the play do this better than Sam McCormick, better known as The Fox. Hilariously witty, sharp and somehow equally lovable, The Fox is brought to life by McCormick’s joyful, jovial take on the character. Instantly fun, and bringing a comic edge to the sometimes quite sombre events that take place on stage, McCormick is very good at what he does.

“But what is ‘Howling Moon’ about?” I hear you ask. “What does it look like? What does it sound like?”
The only real response is: magical. If you were to take a 1980s flashback (think Duran Duran), Alice in Wonderland, Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, Lord of the Rings, David Bowie and The Wizard of Oz and pump them all through some kind of play-writing machine, then you’d probably be close to the result. Confused? So was I.

Nonetheless, ‘Howling Moon’ somehow succeeds in everything it sets out to do. It makes you laugh, it makes you cry, it makes you smile, it makes you pine, and it takes you on one long rollercoaster journey. Daisy Bunyan’s costume, hair and makeup design is perhaps clichéd (white face paint, bin liner dresses and backcombed hair have all certainly been done before), the choreography can seem misplaced but often effective, the script can seem too long and the direction occasionally uninventive, and yet, somehow, ‘Howling Moon’ wins its audience over. Leaving The Barn, there was one simple comment on my lips.
“I’m not entirely sure what just happened, but I’m pretty sure that I think it was good.”

Have you ever thought about volunteering for a charity? Why not consider working for CAFOD? It is the official overseas development agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales and is also part of Caritas International. What’s on offer? They can offer you a range of opportunities such as work in their York based office as an Office or Media volunteer or as a Schools volunteer. You can volunteer for a few hours a week or a couple of days. They offer training and reimburse out of pocket expenses. If you are interested in taking action, then supporting their campaigning work might be more suitable. They campaign on behalf of climate issues both locally and internationally and are always after help and support. Got more than a summer to spare and fancy travelling? If you are looking for a longer term commitment their ‘Step into the Gap’ project could enable you to spend a year working with a youth ministry team in either Lancaster or Hexham & Newcastle dioceses, and includes a six-week overseas placement with one of their partners. The placements provide the opportunity to get valuable first-hand experience whilst learning more about the life-changing work that ‘Step the Gap’ and their partners do, overseas. If sports are more to your liking, however, they are always looking for new fundraisers to take part in activities like the Great North Run or the Jane Tomlinson York 10K (this year’s run is on the 1st August 2010).

Ever thought about WWOOF-ing? WWOOF is a membership charity, teaching people about organic growing and low-impact lifestyles through hands-on experience in the UK. The name stands for ‘World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms’ and the charity offers just that: the chance to flit from one organic farm to another, living there for free, in exchange for your labour. And all for a nominal member’s joining fee of £2, which lasts for one year. After you’ve paid, you’re entitled to view a list of contacts who offer free accommodation in return for work. When in communication with one of the hosts, you can then discuss the kind of activities you will have the option of taking part in, what sort of accommodation is on offer and also the length of your stay. Ranging from a low impact woodland settlement to a 600 hectare mixed-holding with on-site farm shop, café and education centre, these hosts (as their website kindly reminds us), “do not expect you to know a lot about farming when you arrive, but they do expect you to be willing to learn and able to fit in with their lifestyle.” In addition to the 400 sites in the UK alone, there are also WWOOF organisations in many other countries. You must pay the national WWOOF membership fee however, in each of the countries in which you want to ‘wwoof’. So do something different and exciting this holiday. Embrace the idea of self-beneficial volunteering and get something back for the effort you put in. Be daring and bag an entry for your CV that no one else yet has!

Interested? To work with ‘Step the Gap’, contact Carol Cross (Middlesbrough Co-ordinator) on
ccross@cafod.org.uk, 01904 671767, or arrange to visit her at her office on: 54 Blossom Street, York. You can also visit www.cafod.org.uk/campaigns
To enquire about WWOOF farming, just click onto www.wwoof.org.uk.