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I am an NCTJ-trained journalist and experienced communications professional from London, specialising in travel, lifestyle and entertainment.
News stories
An animal lover raised over £800 for Battersea Dogs Home after making an extreme hair style change over the weekend. While many choose to update their style on a mile stone such as a birthday, Eve Wallman went one step further and combined a hair cut with a bout of fundraising.
A band, who Chris Evans has dubbed the "legends in Lederhosen", are holding a residency at a Parsons Green bar throughout February and March. Oompah Brass, who cover pop songs in the style of the German brass band sound, will be performing at the Octoberfest Pub on Fulham Road every Saturday evening until the end of March.
Brixton based fashion label Elenany is launching its first ever jewellery range this month. The brand, which combines British and Islamic design, has produced a collection of lazer-cut earrings and rings that bare Elenany's quirky motifs. Sarah Elenany, 27, from Mitcham, is behind the brand, and draws on her Palestinian and Egyptian heritage to produce contemporary clothing for young people.
Many charity shops on the high street, including Lavender Hill's Trinity Hospice, Cancer Research UK and Ace of Clubs on St John's Road, have experienced an increase in sales since the recession. Agnes Maciol, manager of the Cancer Research UK store, said that there has been a six percent sales increase from last year.
Feature articles
Hillingdon, located in leafy west London, is the city's second largest borough and home to a variety of historical buildings and cultural sites. Set amongst traditional village settings, bustling town centres and acres of green space, Hillingdon's diverse assets include 406 statutory list
For decades, holiday makers have been flocking to the tiny state of Goa for its miles of enchanting coastline and general laidback vibe. There truly is something magical about this region, located on India's south west coast, which simply just washes over you and makes you feel at ease.
With its vibrant and diverse bazaars and markets and lavish and expansive malls and emporiums, India is a dream destination for anyone who loves to shop.
Goa may be the smallest state in India, but it is also one of the country's most eclectic. It would be easy to let its size fool you, but you'll find that there is plenty to keep you busy here.
Seasoned Delhi explorer Sandy Dhaliwal takes us through her top tips for first time visitors to this vibrant city. Why visit Delhi?
Girl goes to Oz on a Working Holiday Visa - temps and meets a cute guy at work, fast-forward 7 years and she's still here! We catch up with expat, Rosanna Malowney, 29, originally from West Yorkshire, to find out more about the journey she's taken to be able to call Melbourne home.
As one of the world's most liveable cities, you will not want to miss Melbourne during your stay Down Under. As the country's culture capital, its vibrant art, music and foodie scene will have you entertained for days on end, while its cosmopolitan architecture, heritage sights and picturesque open spaces will keep you just as as enthralled as you make your way around the best that this fabulous destination has to offer.
Looking to meet up with friends in the run up to Christmas? We've scanned the city for the best happy hours in Melbourne to keep you entertained during the run up to Christmas. With these great drinks deals in Melbourne to take you through the week, you'll be entertained from Monday to Sunday.
Sandy Dhaliwal Welcome to Bollywood, India's renowned film industry capital, as well as one of the country's most vibrant, yet contrasting destinations. This bustling, coastal metropolis may well be known first and foremost for its glitz and glamour, but Mumbai is at the same time home to Asia's largest shanty town, the Dharavi slum; which funnily enough has been immortalised on the silver screen, though this time by Hollywood in the Oscar award winning Slumdog Millionaire.
Ever get the feeling that you are long overdue a holiday? When your wanderlusting just gets the better of you - probably on a Monday morning - and you start dreaming of being transported to an idyllic Thai beach?
It goes without saying that travelling is an enriching experience. From discovering new cultures and acquiring some local lingo, to sampling unusual delicacies and generally escaping your comfort zone, we learn so much more the further and further the journey.
For centuries dating as far back as 3000 BC, India would've been regarded as not so much a country, but more a collection of evolving kingdoms and sprawling empires, each with their own ruling dynasties, customs, culture, cuisine and fashion.
BBM Live's Sandy Dhaliwal conquers her fear of heights, while enjoying some spectacular city views at the top of the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge. It goes without saying that travelling is such an enriching experience.
The wonderful thing about Melbourne is that there is so much to do and see. It's easy to never feel stuck for ideas as there is always something happening. And while the weather might change dramatically throughout the day, your plans don't necessarily have to.
Discover the best drinking holes, the finest eateries and hippest hang outs in world's most liveable city and Australia's cultural capital. All while taking in stunning views of Melbourne's scenery and sights, during a ride on City Sightseeing Melbourne's open-air hop on and off bus tour.
Sri Lanka's laid back capital is a thriving city of emerging cosmopolitan culture, amidst a backdrop of diverse colonial legacies. While it's not a place jam-packed with an exhaustive list of landmarks, it is instead an atmospheric destination with a relaxing ambience of old world meets new.
Kochi is one of India's most charismatic destinations. It is a welcome departure from the bustling metropolises of Delhi and Kolkata, the spiritual intensity of Varanasi and Amritsar and the buzzing hedonism of Mumbai and Goa.
BBMLive's Sandy Dhaliwal takes to the Official Home & Away Tour with Flaming Galah tours to find out just what this trip down memory lane is like and why every visitor to Sydney should tick this tour off their bucket list.
With this year's Splendour in the Grass happening this coming weekend, it's hard not to already be excited. With an enviable line of world class bands and DJs, eccentric arts and crafts zones, exclusive side shows and themed parties, contemporary installations, psychedelic dance arenas and more on offer, it's pretty obvious exactly why this popular festival continues to sell out so fast year after year.
Melbourne's annual music and arts festival, Sugar Mountain, returns this month with a stellar roster of home grown talent straight outta Melbourne! Taking place throughout the grounds of the Victorian College of the Arts and Melbourne Arts Precinct on the 23rd January, be sure to check out our top picks of this year's unmissable local acts at the festival.
Australia's biggest festival returns this year with an eclectic line up of over 100 acts, including exclusively, the only Australian performances from The Strokes, The Avalanches, Sigur Ros and James Vincent McMorrow.
Melbournians have a bit of an unofficial philosophy and it's that if a place isn't secret or bit of a struggle to find, then it's probably not worth the trip anyway. Yes, the city's natives do love a challenge when it comes to seeking out the best that the country's capital of culture has to offer.
Vang Vieng is a destination that has long preceded itself as Laos' number one party capital.
Set along on the banks of the mystical River Ganges is one of the world's oldest cities, as well as one of the India's most atmospheric and sacred destinations: Varanasi. © Sandy Dhaliwal Varanasi, which is also known as Kashi or Benares, roughly translating to the City of Life, dates as far back as 1200 BC and is the one of Hinduism's seven holy cities.
A combination of national parks, ancient ruins, geological wonders, colonial history, trendy city living and plush beaches make up this tiny, yet fascinatingly diverse island of Sri Lanka. Not only is there a lot to see and do here, but the climate and terrain is as varied as the sights themselves.
Forget what you might have read about southern Thailand's biggest city. Or what you might not have read. With a real lack of information online and rather outdated write ups in popular guidebooks; it would be easy for travellers to miss the overlooked attractions of Hat Yai.
Spring has well and truly arrived! And with that, we see the start of an exciting new festival season upon us and ready to dominate our party calendars over the next coming months. Boutique dance and hip hop festival Listen Out led the charge this month with their touring event that took place across four major cities in the country - Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane.
Goa may be the smallest state in India, but it is also one of the coolest. Whether you want to relax on the beach, party at the clubs, uncover some history, try some water sports or just go shopping; you can do it all in Goa.
Year after year holiday-makers fall in love with the country dubbed the land of smiles. But move away from the bright lights of the bars, and you will find a country steeped in ancient traditions and a dominant ideology; centred around religious beliefs, patriotism and a societal hierarchy.
With the beaches of Bali, the sky scrapers of Bangkok and an embracing South East Asian culture, it's not hard to see why Malaysia is becoming the new hot holiday destination. Sandy Dhaliwal fell in love with Penang on her holiday in Malaysia, and it's not hard to see why.
Holiday-makers can't help but fall in love with the country dubbed the land of smiles. Away from the bars of Bangkok, Thailand is a country steeped in ancient traditions and a dominant ideology; centred around religious beliefs, patriotism and a societal hierarchy.
Often misunderstood, India's second largest city, Kolkata, is in fact a thriving city of emerging cosmopolitan culture; amidst a backdrop of diverse colonial legacies leftover from the British Raj, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese and more.
For most travellers, Australia can be one of the more expensive destinations on your itinerary. Especially if you've been backpacking for a while, and gotten very accustomed to the prices of somewhere like South East Asia. Along with Melbourne, Sydney is regarded as one of the world's most liveable cities.
Tucked cosily between the world's oldest rainforest and miles of pristine shoreline is the quaint and rather tropical Port Douglas. Close to many of Queensland's historical nature spots, including the Great Barrier Reef, the town is a picturesque alternative to the very-much urbanised Cairns.
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Hillingdon Council is interested in hearing from residents of all ages, who may have a fascinating story to tell about living or working in the borough for a new Hillingdon Stories campaign.
Cllr Teji Barnes was elected the new Mayor of Hillingdon at the council's Annual General Meeting meeting on 14 May. She replaces retiring Mayor, Cllr David Yarrow, in the prestigious role to highlight positive work taking place across the borough.
Children aged from four to 11 are being encouraged to go on an out-of-this-world adventure this summer, with the annual Summer Reading Challenge returning to Hillingdon from Saturday 6 July.
Hillingdon Council's Hayes Community Family Fun Day returns this weekend.
Hillingdon Council's waste and recycling team donated around 1,000 duvets to a local animal charity to recycle as bedding this week, as part of an annual joint initiative.
Hillingdon Council's annual Bikespiration event, which celebrates all things cycling, has returned for 2019 with a new format.
The council's Battle of Britain Bunker Exhibition and Visitor Centre in Uxbridge will host a four-day programme of events, exhibitions, tours, specialist lectures, a film screening and more to mark 75 years since D-Day and the historic Normandy Landings.
To mark this year's Dementia Action Week (Monday 20 to Sunday 26 May 2019), Hillingdon Council organised a varied roster of activities, engaging with businesses and residents alike in the borough last week.
Following this year's Foster Care Fortnight campaign (13 -26 May 2019), Hillingdon Council is on a mission to dispel 10 of the commonmyths surrounding fostering.
Cllr David Yarrow was elected as the new Mayor of Hillingdon at the council's Annual General Meeting last night (9 May), replacing retiring Mayor Cllr John Morgan.
Hillingdon Council delivered its most successful child car seat safety campaign last month.
Culture Bite, Hillingdon Council's annual arts and culturefestival, has returned for 2019 with a new format.
The council’s community mental health team is holding its Stronger Together open morning for its specialist college next Friday (14 December).
The council’s adult social care team, in partnership with Slough Council for Voluntary Service (SCVS), is encouraging all community organisations and charities to increase awareness and visibility of themselves by registering on Google Maps.
The council’s sustainable transport team, Better by…, is teaming up with national walking charity Living Streets to get more of us out and walking.
Inspirational women and girls from Slough were celebrated at Slough Youth Parliament’s (SYP) Women Leading Women event at The Curve this month.
The council’s licensing committee has introduced specialist training for Slough’s cab and taxi drivers, to ensure disabled customers can be assisted during their journeys.
Members of Slough Youth Parliament (SYP) are inviting the community to nominate an inspirational female from Slough to be part of a special portrait exhibition.
Representatives from Slough Youth Parliament (SYP) joined young people from around the country to address the issue of equality and inclusion in our society.
A Slough man has been convicted for fly-tipping practically on his doorstep, following an investigation by the council’s neighbourhood enforcement team.
The Kali Theatre is bringing its two-time Offie Award nominated production, Sundowning, to The Curve for one night only this Friday.
To mark this year’s World Mental Health Day, the council, in partnership with the Slough Wellbeing Board, officially launched #NotAlone, their campaign to raise awareness about the importance of looking after your mental health.
A Slough man, who repeatedly allowed his dogs to stray from his property putting the public in danger, has been convicted of animal welfare offences, following an investigation by the council’s resilience and enforcement team.
Slough Youth Parliament (SYP) is throwing its support behind #ReachOut, the council and Slough Wellbeing Board’s campaign to tackle loneliness and social isolation in the borough.
Slough Borough Council’s cabinet members are set to approve the Slough Low Emission Strategy (LES) at their next meeting on Monday. The
The council’s sustainable transport team, Better by…, continued their campaign to encourage greener forms of travel with a cycling event especially for college freshers and staff in Langley.
The council’s licensing committee is introducing new ‘greener’ regulations to ensure the borough’s cab and taxi community is moving towards driving environmentally friendly cars.
The council’s sustainable transport team, Better by…, teamed up with homeless charity Slough Outreach for a free cycling event at Singh Sabha Sports Centre this month.
The council’s adult social care team is looking for Slough residents and carers with experience of adult social care and support services to join a new influential group.
A Slough woman, who owned a banned breed of dog, has been convicted of animal welfare offences, following an investigation by the council’s neighbourhood services team.
The council’s sustainable travel team, Better by…, marked this year’s national Cycle to Work Day with a special event for staff at the council’s St Martin’s Place headquarters this month.
A Slough bar has been fined more than two thousand pounds for a string of noise complaints, following an investigation by the council.
The council’s sustainable travel team, Better by…, is working with community groups and organisations throughout the borough to support them in a range of cycle related pursuits.
The council’s transport and highways team has successfully won a bid for nearly two million pounds to help improve road safety along one of the borough’s major roads.
The council, in partnership with the Slough Wellbeing Board, officially launched #ReachOut, their campaign to tackle loneliness and social isolation, at yesterday’s Playday event.
Families are invited to a free day of fun organised by the council’s Active Slough team in Salt Hill Park this Wednesday to mark Playday 2018.
A Slough woman, who was found with 23 cats and dogs living in appalling conditions at her home, has been convicted of 11 offences of failing to ensure animal welfare.
The council’s transport team has partnered with Thames Valley Buses to trial the first full electric bus along the Green Line 703 service.
Slough is currently experiencing heatwave conditions and residents are being warned to follow public health advice.
The council is advising the public that the Station Road railway bridge in Langley will be closed in both directions for approximately six weeks.
A series of public information events will take place from this week to keep the community informed on the M4 switch to a smart motorway.
Do you know a young person in Slough whose contribution to the community inspires you and deserves recognition?
The council’s parking team has partnered with international parking providers Indigo to offer a more sustainable and technically advanced parking enforcement programme.
Three new street names have been created, as work steps up on the council’s small sites transformation.
Slough Carers Support, in partnership with local organisations, marked National Carers Week with a series of free events and activities for Slough’s carers last week.
The council’s transport and highways team has added three new variable message signs to ensure motorists are informed on updates that may affect their journeys.
The council’s licensing committee has relaxed its licencing rules surrounding the types of car that can be registered as a cab or taxi.
Human Story Theatre is bringing Connie’s Colander, a play about dementia by Gaye Poole, to The Curve this Friday at 7pm.
The council’s Better by… team will mark National Bike Week with a range of free events and activities this month.
The council continued their campaign to encourage greener forms of travel with a number of free events in the borough last week.
The council’s adult social care team, in partnership with community organisations including the Alzheimer’s Society, Slough CVS, Thames Valley Police, Healthwatch Slough and Wexham Park Hospital, hosted an eclectic roster of activities in support of Dementia Action Week last week.
New homes for people on the housing waiting list are being built across the borough, as work continues on phase three of the council’s small sites transformation.
Transport for Slough is hosting a free event dedicated to all things cycling at Bath Road Central’s Events Plaza next week.
The Curve will be lit up red to commemorate World Tuberculosis Day, in support of the global awareness campaign Light up the World for TB, this Friday and Saturday evening.
Transport for Slough is offering free cycle hire usage for one week every month, until the end of the year.
Transport for Slough is transforming the way we travel in the borough with its Better by… campaign.
Slough Borough Council is issuing advice to residents following a cold weather alert from the Met Office.
A Slough primary school pioneering healthy lifestyles for pupils, parents and staff, has come top in the Active Primary School category at the Get Berkshire Active Awards 2017.
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The Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) is a global credential that was co-created by nonprofit associations (ISC)² and Cloud Security Alliance, leading stewards for information security and cloud computing security respectively. Intelligent CIO spoke to Faisal Malik of (ISC)² about the role of the Certified Cloud Security Professional and the growing challenges of cloud security.
Cyberattacks can no longer be thought of as a problem for the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and the security function, but rather an organisational issue, managed by leaders who understand their IT dependence and capable of choosing the most appropriate and effective risk treatment options.
In recent years, cyber has become the most common type of crime, accounting for nearly 50% of all crime in the UK alone.
(ISC)², the world’s largest nonprofit membership body of certified cyber, information, infrastructure and software security professionals, has just launched its Information Security Leadership and Achievement Awards (ISLA).
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We'd love to hear your stories about living or working in the borough.
Open House weekend took place this year on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September.
As part of this year's National Bike Week in June, we ran a fun creative art competition for children to draw their ideal bike, thinking about their journeys to school and how these involve safety and impact on health and the environment.
We celebrated this year's Playday with lots of fun activities and ideas for children to play safely at home. Access our free videos and online sessions here.
Our team of foster carers do an amazing job protecting, supporting and caring for children and young people in Hillingdon. We are always looking for more people to become foster carers and provide a stable family life, while we work with the family so that their child can hopefully return home.
Staying warm and dry is vital while cycling, as you'll likely encounter some very cold conditions and that can be dangerous in itself. The layers will protect your health and wellbeing, and as a result, help to keep your attention on the road.
Mental health charity Mind is endorsing the Five Ways to Wellbeing. These steps were researched and developed by the New Economics Foundation. They outline five ways everyone, no matter a person's age or situation, can ensure they are looking after themselves mentally.
Registering your details on Google Maps is a simple and straightforward way to raise the online profile of your organisation, group or charity. It will also make it easier for residents to independently find and make use of the diverse range of services available to them throughout Slough.
Slough Borough Council - services for residents of Slough.
Every year, (ISC)² and The Centre for Cyber Safety and Education award a range of scholarships to individuals pursuing, or planning to pursue a degree in cybersecurity or information security.
This week saw the first-ever (ISC)² EMEA Information Security Leadership Awards (ISLA) take place at Secure Summit UK in London. The awards offered the chance for our community to recognise peers going the extra mile to enhance security in the region.
The (ISC)² EMEA Secure Webinar series features live and on-demand online events where industry thought leaders, (ISC)² members and solution providers share their views on a variety of topics to help cybersecurity professionals in tackling the current threats and challenges they may be facing today.
What are the EMEA ISLAs? After eleven consecutive years of success in the Americas and Asia-Pacific, the Information Security Leadership Awards (ISLA) program is finally coming to EMEA! The (ISC)² EMEA ISLAs are a unique opportunity for you to nominate fellow information security and management professionals who go the extra mile to enhance security throughout the private and public sectors across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
What is the GISWS? Since its first release in 2004, the biennial (ISC)²® Global Information Security Workforce Study (GISWS) has been gauging the opinions of information security professionals; and in turn, providing detailed insights into the important trends and opportunities within this increasingly crucial profession.
Welcome to Bollywood! Mumbai is India's film industry capital and a vibrant destination that's home to stunning historical sites, fabulous eateries and drinking holes, picturesque scenery, and more. To help you make the most of your stay, find out more with our guide to the top attractions in Mumbai, which we hope will assist you in planning your perfect break in this exciting and captivating city.
Most Popular Take advantage of a diverse variety of day trips and multi-day tours that include cultural and theme tours, city passes and sightseeing tickets and more, enabling you to make the most of your time in Melbourne.
The Roman Empire was established in 27 B.C. and ruled as a dominating power throughout the world for around 500 years. While the dust has well and truly settled on their reign, their long-lasting legacy has continued to shape our world for the thousands of years that have followed, right up until present day.
Stroll the city's quaint streets and you will be consistently amazed by its grand sights including Big Ben, The London Shard, Westminster Abbey, the Churchill War Rooms and more. Meanwhile, a cruise along its famous River Thames will allow you to see many more of the city's most notable attractions including the Tower of London, Houses of Parliament, London Bridge, London Eye and Tower Bridge.
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This year my life has dramatically changed. I'm not just thinking about things I want to achieve in life, I'm finally doing them. I'm not sure what took me so long, but as clichéd as it sounds it really is better late than never.
I rang in my 28th this year at a burlesque themed bar in Clapham Junction knocking back mojitos while serenaded by a Frank Sinatra impersonator doing his best rendition of New York, New York; and a faux Liza Minelli, who put on a show stopper as she performed iconic scenes from Cabaret.
UCAS have argued however that the drop in numbers may be down to a higher proportion of people accepting places in the previous year. But they do admit that their report reveals that young people from more disadvantaged areas and backgrounds will be almost three times less likely to apply to university compared to richer peers.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall recently visited my old secondary school Uxbridge High. It was to mark the 10 year anniversary of the charity Teach First, which the Prince is patron of.
A big favourite of mine is London based label Elenany. Sarah Elenany, is behind the brand, and draws on her Palestinian and Egyptian heritage to produce contemporary clothing for young people.