Lifestyle

Devon father one step closer to completing world-first swim to raise awareness of son’s brain condition

A father from North Devon is set to complete the final six lakes in his bid to become the first person to swim Switzerland’s ten largest lakes after his young son was diagnosed with a rare brain-attacking condition PANDAS, that caused sudden onset aggression, OCD and tics overnight.

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I thought it might be fun to share...

The latest piece intended for my forthcoming illustrated collection written especially for children - 'Toadstools & Jam..' Feel free to share your thoughts...

‘The Cat Catcher..’

In the shadows, silent creeping, when the town is sound asleeping; And the night comes slowly stirring, toms and tabbies gently purring; Black as night and quick as lightning, fierce as...

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poem

Poet

cat

catcher

The Mother of All Questions

Have you ever wondered about questions to ask a job candidate? In August 2009, John Chambers, the CEO of IT giant Cisco, was interviewed by the New York Times. He was asked to share the questions he asked a job candidate. His most interesting one: “Who are the best people you recruited and developed and where are they today?” Everyone gives lip serive to people being the biggest resource for...

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harvey mackay blog

harvey mackay hiring tips

how to interview a candidate

questions to ask a job candidate

Watch out cancer, Plymouth's coming to get you!

Ladies, it’s time to take the fight to cancer at Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life.

Let’s face it. Cancer is a nasty piece of work. It will affect one in three of us. It will stroll into our lives and ruin everything without even flinching.

We will beat it though. We’ll wipe that smile off its stupid face. Cancer’s going down. And every single pound we raise pushes it closer...

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Shocking report shows RSPCA fighting major animal cruelty crisis

We may think we are a nation of animal lovers, however a new RSPCA report has revealed that convictions for animal neglect and cruelty rose by nearly 34 per cent in 2012.

Launched during RSPCA Week, the RSPCA Prosecutions Annual Report also shows there was a 15.7 per cent increase in the number of defendants convicted last year in England and Wales.

Animals rescued or collected...

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Beach litter the focus for photography students

Last week photography students from Plymouth College of Art came out to help National Trust rangers collect litter from Wembury beach.

Lorna Sherriff, Ranger for South Devon said: "At first the group looked down onto the beach and said it was all clean, but when they got down there and I showed them all the small pieces of plastic, polystyrene and fishing rope which were laying on the...

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National Trust

Plymouth College of Art

photography

Lorna Sherriff

Chris Smith

Fire service to hold Blue Light Day event for Deaf Awareness Week

To highlight Deaf Awareness Week, Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service is holding an afternoon of activities for families with children affected by sensory impairment at its Service Training Centre, Glen Road, Plympton, on Saturday 4 May, between 12pm and 4pm.

Station Manager Ros Clarke, Community Safety Manager for Plymouth, has linked up with Plymouth & District Deaf...

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Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue

Wildlife Festival creates a buzz in Plymouth

Devon Wildlife Trust report that an estimated 11,000 people attended their annual Wildlife Festival in Plymouth on Saturday 27 April.

Sunny weather greeted visitors to Armada Way to enjoy a variety of attractions from owls and mini-beasts, to face painting, seashore craft making, Charles Darwin and a hoola-hooping badger.

The day was also used by DWT to launch its 'Get Devon...

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Local TV presenter and author launches new seashore handbook

TV presenter and local marine coastal ecology expert Maya Plass has a new book coming out just in time for the start of the summer.

RSPB Handbook of the Seashore (Bloomsbury, 23 May 2013) is a fantastic identification guide to the wildlife you can discover on the beach, in the rock pools and at the shore. Perfect for summer holidays or strolls on the beach.

Maya, who is based...

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Maya Plass

Plymouth

RSPB Handbook of the Seashore

book launch

Bloomsbury

Devon

marine coastal ecology

Five bring big reunion to Plymouth Pavilions

Following their huge success of as part of the sell out ‘The Big Reunion tour’ and ITV2 series, one of the UK’s most successful boy bands, Five, are embarking on their own massive headline tour this winter and heading to Plymouth Pavilions on Tuesday 26 November 2013.

Scott, Ritchie, Abz and Sean reunited earlier this year for the ITV2 series The Big Reunion and showed the country just...

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Olympic SHUTTLE fleet finally goes Local

Back in March 2012 First Devon & Cornwall introduced new buses on the Plymouth Park & Ride services. These replaced the previous ADL "Enviro 400" buses which were sent off to Bath to work.

These new buses were actually part of a large order for 100 of these buses for First Group. All 100 were used for the Olympics where they carried the SHUTTLE names on their sides in...

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