If ever a band left us wanting more, it was Abba. The musical phenomenon of the 1970s, two married couples who produced the most perfect pop of the time, Abba went their separate ways in 1983, never officially splitting up, but also never making a real comeback, despite lots of rumours that they would. But 2019 is the year when Abba return, in the form of some new material and a hologram tour, so it it the perfect time to revisit their musical legacy in the form of a new book from Carlton Books. Abba The Story Behind Every Song is a wonderful hardback treasure that documents the making and…

When it comes to amateur sleuths currently on television, it is hard to find one more stylish than Agatha Raisin. Back for a second series, Agatha Raisin tells the tales of an advertising executive who descends on the Cotswold’s for a quieter life, only to find all manner of crimes on her doorstep which she tries to solve with relish, all the time wearing a wardrobe to die for. Agatha is played by Ashley Jensen and is the Carrie Bradshaw of the sleuthing world. Never without a designer bag held in the hook of her arm and a pair of vertiginous heels that are most unsuitable for solving crimes, Agatha…

Remember the film Little Miss Sunshine? It was the heartwarming tale of a disfunctional family with the adorable, if unlikely, beauty pageant queen Olive at its heart. Well now Little Miss Sunshine has been transformed into a wonderful musical that is just as funny, as loveable, as sad and as quirky as the source material. It had it’s press night in Birmingham last night at The Alexandra and I absolutely loved it. Olive lives in Albuquerque and is determined to be the first Little Miss Sunshine from New Mexico. She lives with her family, mom and dad Sheryl and Richard, falling apart as they argue due to money worries, grandpa…

This Summer there is most definitely a dark theme when it comes to our Midlands museums and art galleries. The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery has a Summer exhibition dedicated to Black Sabbath, and, running in tandem with this exhibition is the intriguing ‘4 Bed Detached Home of Metal’ exhibition that is on show at the New Walsall Art Gallery. The 4 Bed Detached Home of Metal exhibition is part of the Home of Metal series of events and exhibitions that shine a light on Heavy Metal music and its foundations in the Midlands. The exhibition has been curated by Alan Kane and features metal in all it’s connotations, from it’s…

I’m sure many readers will know that UK Swimwear is absolutely the best site to visit if you are looking for quality swimwear that comes in a wide range of sizes, but how many of you know that it also has a fabulous range of resort wear and beach wear too. I have to admit this was something that had passed me by, but I have now totally fell in love with the luxurious resort wear from Pia Rossini, with the Saffron Maxi Dress from the brand becoming one of my favourite pieces on my recent trip to Rhodes. The Pia Rossini Saffron Maxi dress is just gorgeous. A true…