Birmingham Post

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Banish the winter blues with some spring patterns Bouncing back

Bouncing Back From the Brink ; Main Feature Squash Star Joey Barrington Tells Richard Mccomb How His Father Jonah, a Sporting Icon, Helped Him Turn His Life Around

With his poster boy good looks, flowing blond mane and muscular 6ft frame, Joey Barrington is the epitome of the elite modern-day sportsman. As one of Britain's leading squash players, he needs to keep in top shape and slavishly follows a six-hour exercise regime, six- days a week.

Sparkling Debut for English Wine ; Food Can the Sussex Downs Really Compete with Champagne? For Clive Platman the Answer Is Emphatically 'Yes'

Look at a world wine atlas today, compare it with one 30 years ago, and you will be astonished by the emergence of new classic wine regions. Examples are legion and amongst the success stories are Oregon pinot noir, Australian shiraz and Argentine malbec. Occasionally, some appear as an overnight sensation, as in the case of New Zealand Marlborough sauvignon blanc, which took the UK by storm in the mid- 1980s.

A City Gem Which Can't Fail to Please ; Food Credit Crunch Lunch

PLACE: Hotel du Vin, Church Street, Birmingham. Tel: 0121 200 0600. WHY GO?: Discretion means it's one of the few places left to drink Champagne without feeling guilty. Simon Cowell's crash pad.

Cash On Offer for Gold at Town Hall ; Fashion

Gold buying experts from Rex Johnson and Sons will be on hand at Birmingham's prestigious Town Hall this Sunday (February 1) between 10am and 4pm offering cash for unwanted gold and Asian gold jewellery - whether it's perfect, broken or crushed. Wrist and pocket watches, silver and gold coins and medals will also be considered for immediate cash payment.

Brighten Up to Banish Blues ; Fashion

Those looking for an excuse to brighten up their winter wardrobe, read on ... Almost half of Midlanders say January is the most depressing month of the year and experts say it's due to a lack of colour during this month.

Reasons to Be Cheerful ; Fashion Spring's Not Far Off and Bright Prints Will Be the Look, Says Zoe Chamberlain

Get yourself in print this season for a look to banish the winter blues. Spring's printed dresses and tops add a real wow factor to your wardrobe, giving you a reason to be cheerful as we look forward to the summer.

Harvey Nichols Getting in Vogue ; Fashion

Free Gifts Appear with Ghost ; Fashion

Skin Care Advice On Offer at Boots ; Fashion

An Unlikely Hunk ; Books with an Over-Large Head and Thinning Hair, Fred Astaire Was Swooned Over by Millions, Says Richard Edmon

Fred Astaire by Joseph Epstein (Yale: pounds 14.99) Was there ever anybody who represented suavity and charm more completely than Fred Astaire?

A Play for Today ; Films the Latest Films Reviewed by Graham Young and Roz Laws

Revolutionary Road Cert 15

Men On the Move ; Arts Diane Parkes On a New Work by Black Choreographers

The role of the modern man takes central stage in a new dance work Mission Possible - Dads and Lads Move! by State of Emergency. The show, in three parts, is performed at the Arena Theatre in Wolverhampton next week and sets out to explore the male psyche through movement and music.

Timeless Posters ; Antiques Quadbod's Classic Film Poster Sale Is a Must According to Sally Hoban

The Golden Age of Hollywood was rooted in the Great Depression of the early 30s, so it is unsurprising we are turning to the cinema again for escapismin turbulent times. There will be a chance to invest in original film posters next month. The collection belongs to specialists Terry Pearson and Susan Jeffrey, based in Hall Green, Birmingham. They run online film memorabilia store Quadbod and will be exhibiting at The Chester Antiques & Fine Art Show from February 12-15.

Military History Extravaganza ; Antiques

One of Europe's biggest and best military history shows is coming to the Midlands this weekend with a spectacular display of wartime strength and military might which is expected to attract more than 5,000 people. The days of food rationing, clothing coupons, black-out curtains and Air Raid Wardens will be re-enacted at Militaria 2009 in Stoneleigh Park, near Coventry on Sunday.

A Good Husband ; History Chris Upton On a Man Forced Into the Shadows of History by the Naked Notoriety of His Wife, Lady Godiva

It's relatively rare in history to find a wife who is better known to posterity than her husband. What do we know about Mrs Attila the Hun, for example ?

Climate Change Alters Garden Bird Migration ; Outdoors Nature Watch

Last weekend thousands of people in Birmingham took part in the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds' Big Garden Bird Watch. If you got involved in the 2009 count; thank you so much. The Big Garden Bird watch is the world's biggest bird survey, and because we have done this for such a long time now, we can spot trends that tell us which birds are doing well and which are struggling.

Get Out and Go Wild in the City ; There Is Surprising Amount of Activity to Be Seen in Our Local Parks, As Jo Ind Investigates Outdoors

January and February are good months for going to the sales and going on a diet. It is probably the last time of year in which the sofabound amongst us can be tempted to venture outdoors for pleasure. And yet there are a number or organisations claiming that this is an excellent time to take a stroll and do a bit of nature-spotting. Birmingham City Council is laying on a seasonal walk around Cannon Hill Park, in Moseley on Sunday. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is holding weekl...

Encourage Birds Back Into the Garden ; Outdoors in the Garden

Go on, let's get wild about birds! The buds are beginning to swell, young fleshy shoots emerge, but it is still too cold for the bugs. So how can we help our feathered friends and how encourage them to return to our garden? Did you know the population of the house sparrow has decreased 67 per cent and garden birds are at risk?

Audacious Alfa ; Motoring Alfa's New Mito Compact at Last Presents a Serious Rival to the Mini, Says Edward Stephens

A sexy Italian that's cool, has curves in all the right places and will have most people sneaking a second glance has arrived. The Alfa MiTo has the looks, glamour and price to persuade motorists to think again with their next small car.