Yo Stacey, please help if you can. It’s my best mate’s birthday and I want to get him something rocking!! Wanna get him a course in something cool. Also, it’s got to be somewhere in London cuz we’re in uni there and we can’t mission 2far out. Any ideas? Thx!

Eddie.

Hi Eddie,

I’ve got three ideas for you.

The first comes highly recommended by my nephew who is also in uni: he says it’s the best thing he’s ever done. I’m talking about a Ministry of Sound DJ Course. It’s a full-day course in one of the world’s greatest venues with tuition from some of London’s top DJs. The best part of it is that your friend will be given a special Ministry of Sound Goodie Bag that’s filled with useful DJ things like CDs and Vinyls!

If that’s a bit out of your price range then you might consider the second thing which also comes highly recommend (by a colleague) – an introductory course to Flair Bartending. Your friend will be able to develop his own unique flaring style in the Cocktail Academy’s special ‘Red Bull room’ (it’s lined with bounce mats so you don’t break anything!). Apparently this makes for quite a cool party trick

And lastly, why not treat him to something interesting and sporty like archery lessons? He’ll be able to indulge in this awesome ancient sport right in the heart of central London!

Let me know if you need anything else,

x Stacey

A colleague of mine has recently got engaged and I’ve been thinking about what I should get them to congratulate the happy couple. Now, flowers are always appropriate but that’s a bit awkward in this case because my colleague is the groom-to-be and he’s not going to be terribly impressed if he has to go home on the tube with a bunch of flowers. Besides, flowers are a such a stereotypically girl thing that it doesn’t seem quite right to give them to a couple. Chocolates are a no-go either. I briefly toyed with the idea of cooking them dinner… and then it hit me: they should be celebrating their engagement together, not with me. They should be marking off this occasion in their diaries, singing it to the world, shouting it from the rooftops!

That’s when I knew exactly what to get them.

I’ve bought them a voucher that entitles them to one couples makeover and photoshoot. Now hear me out! This package puts them together in the same room under the care of a fabulous make-up artist who will pamper them with top products. While that sounds really appealing, it’s not the main event. After they’re made up to look like super stars, they’ll be put in front of a professional photographer who will take some of the most amazing photographs they’ve ever seen… perfect for framing to put on the walls, or adding in to wedding invitations or family albums.

Just for good measure I’ve put the voucher inside a pretty card I picked up on the way to work. The best part of it is that the make-over and photoshoot cost the same as the flowers from our local florist shop – what a bargain!