Picture Yourself There

Fireworks at Alexandra Palace

The Festivals come thick and fast this time of year – no sooner have you packed away the pumpkins that you’re handing out sparklers for the kids (having doused them with fireproofing spray, forced them to wear four pairs of gardening gloves and made sure a fire extinguisher is at hand). Prepare quite literally for fireworks as November 5th approaches, as the British remember the thwarted Gunpowder Plot.

It won’t be difficult to find somewhere locally where you can eat charred marshmallows and lose your foil-wrapped jacket potatoes in the coals. But if you fancy something truly explosive, it might be worth taking a trip to Alexandra Palace to see their fabulous fireworks display. One of the most popular in London, this is the perfect way to avoid standing in your back garden while the drizzle comes down and that sad little Catherine wheel from the newsagent fizzles pathetically out.

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Britain's Pride of Place

Okay, so England hasn’t really had much to celebrate lately. After fretting about whether they’ll actually qualify for the football world cup, they’ve had to see Jonny Wilkinson and his golden boot surrender the rugby title to the superior Springboks, as well as watching Formula 1 prodigy Lewis Hamilton miss out on the chance to win a top title in his debut season.

But this is still a green and pleasant land to be proud of and, thanks to the Government’s Connect To Your Council campaign, the English are indulging in a little national pride. The Pride of Place poll is asking residents to choose from ten beauty spots to find the one location in the country they love the most. Among the contenders are Silverstone racetrack and Peterborough Cathedral, but we particularly love Wigan Pier. Pretty and quaint, this Lancashire location is truly old school - you can even visit the Victorian schoolrooms, where lessons take place just as they did back in the day. And believe us, 'Miss, my dog ate my homework' just isn't going to cut it.

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National Chocolate Week - Hotel Chocolat

The ever-organic Jamie Oliver may be tearing his hair out, but kids across the nation rejoice: this week is Chocolate Week. Seemingly to fill the gap (and the hungry stomachs) between Easter and all those other excuses to stuff yourselves - Halloween, Christmas, New Year, the list goes on - this is officially the time to indulge. Perhaps this week will be the sweetest of the whole year…

Actually, no. There’s a dark side to chocolate, and we’re not just talking Bourneville. In news this week, truffles at Hotel Chocolat in Nottingham - the luxury chocolate store which does a cracking Rocky Road slab – suffered a shocking act of truffle sabotage by a rival chocolatier. The adversary in question, a respected chocolate maker (who has previously designed cakes for the Queen and Prince Charles), seemingly went a bit fruit and nut, and was caught on CCTV deliberately squishing the Hotel Chocolat’s priciest delicacies. The high-profile saboteur has now resigned… and must be feeling very bitter about the whole thing.

You can visit Hotel Chocolat too, by downloading the NavPix here… we’re sure you’ll behave yourselves.

Eating Out Week

There’s no shame in enjoying the finer things in life. Down to earth as we may be, you’d be surprised how at home we are dressed in a smoking jacket and nibbling on a Ferrero Rocher. We love our little luxuries - so imagine our delight when we discovered that, from 21st October, we have a great excuse to treat ourselves in the UK’s National Eating Out week.

And if you’re looking for something really special, you won’t be disappointed with a trip to Gordon Ramsay at Claridges. With Michelin-star rated food in a beautifully lavish setting, the whole experience is utterly decadent (and a whole lot easier to stomach than its creator’s language).

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Frieze Art Fair

There was bad news for the art world this weekend, when a priceless Monet masterpiece was damaged by drunken intruders at the Musee d’Orsay. It seems that revellers who had been celebrating Nuit Blanche – ironically, a night when cultural events take place throughout the evening – were somehow angered by what is possibly the least offensive style of painting you’ll find. We’re used to people getting their knickers in a twist about the Turner prize, but this all seems a bit strange.

Sadly, the culprits probably won’t appreciate today’s NavPix either. But maybe you will. Taking place between Thursday 11th and Sunday 14th October, the Frieze Art Fair takes place in London’s Regent’s Park and will showcase an eclectic mix of pieces from some of the world’s most exciting contemporary artists. Don’t miss the sculpture garden, with its larger than life exhibits.

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Devon Food Festival

Food, glorious food - we love the idea of Devon’s Celebration of Food. This lasts the whole month of October, and local residents and tourists alike are being urged to stuff their faces. It is only one month after all, and winter is setting in so we need that extra grub surely...

So here goes: To start things off, old fashioned Devon country house, Lewtrenchard Manor will be celebrating all things Autumnal with a special menu including pumpkin (especially for Halloween) and Game. Trout sausages for seconds anyone? Local pub, The Trout and Tipple will be serving these and lots more including over 14 types of cider to wash it down with. Moving on, feel free to get stuck into the dairy fresh cottage cheese at Endsleigh Garden Centre. Finally, if you’ve got any room left (go on), why not fit in a couple of Apple Fritters at the Okehampton Celebration of Apples.

Get the info here..

The RIBA Stirling 2007

Have you ever wandered past a building and gasped in astonishment at how weird or wonderful it is? We’re sure keen architecture fans out there have heard of Gaudi, Gehry and even Alberti (the first ever architect, history tells us) as their work is well documented. But what about David Chipperfield or Glenn Howells? If not, then you should pay attention to this weekend’s prestigious Stirling Awards. This recognises these pioneers of modern architecture and is being held again in London, this Saturday.

Now in its twelfth year, last year’s worthy winner was Barajas airport in Madrid. The nominees this year include the sporty looking America’s Cup building in Valencia, the old fashioned Young Vic Theatre in London and Germany’s majestic Dresden Station.

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Porthemmet Beach, Cornwall

As an April fool in years gone by, long-suffering parents - having tipped off the local shopkeeper - would ask their pesky kids to go to the store for a ‘long weight’. After standing around for three hours children would realise not only that they just had a very long wait indeed, but also that dads’ jokes really don’t get any better. These days, technology means that our practical jokes can be a little more ambitious – and today, it was revealed that a big joke has been played on anyone planning to visit Cornwall’s Porthemmet beach.

You see, the beach, which features exquisite turquoise seas and topless sunbathing, doesn’t actually exist: it is merely the creation of an ex-Cambridge graduate with some time on his hands and a sense of humour. With ‘emmet’ being a disparaging Cornish term for tourists, the ‘official Porthemmet website’ claims that Cornish locals all share a private joke of refusing to let on where the beach actually is…

But don’t pack up that bucket and spade just yet. All you disappointed emmets can visit Carbis Bay beach instead - OK, so there's no topless sunbathing, but it's one of the most picturesque places you'll find in Cornwall.

You can get the NavPix here… Honestly.

Navman Loves - First Day of Autumn

Summer? Overrated. All those weekends spent pretending you actually like picnics, eating slightly sweaty ham sandwiches while a wasp tries to climb inside your ear. Not to mention the sunburn (and strapmarks - horrible), mosquitos, trainers that get sweatier than ever… And as for winter: getting out of a warm bed and into a cold room every morning, twisting your ankles every time you try to totter down the icy driveway, having to wear your entire wardrobe every day because it’s so cold…

But Autumn? Now you’re talking. Crisp daytimes and cosy evenings, those comfy old sweaters, crunchy leaves that you still kick around even though you’re thirty-five. We love it, and couldn’t be happier that, as of 22nd September, our favourite season is officially here. Why not look at those leaves changing colour in one of the hundreds of beautiful locations you’ll find in the NavPix library – we love HemisFair Park in the US, where guests can spend time meandering around the lakes and trees.

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Cannes International Boat Show

If you used to watch The Price Is Right and think that the speedboat was the most decadent prize ever (to be honest, we thought a marine vessel was a bit impractical for old Edith from Bolton, but there you go) why not take a trip to the Cannes International Boat Show and see what you could have won. The ultimate show for pleasure boating and luxury yachting begins on 12th September, and is bound to attract the most discerning – and probably loaded – members of the seafaring society.

Even if you can barely scrape enough cash for a taxi to the show, let alone get your hands on a yacht of your own, the 30th Cannes International Boat Show will definitely be a spectacle. With more than 200 exhibitors, you can at least pretend that you’re one of the international jet-setting elite.

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