Cycle as bare as you dare!

The World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) is an international clothing-optional bike ride in which participants plan, meet and ride together en masse on human-powered transport (normally bicycles) to deliver a "vision of a cleaner, safer, body-positive world". The dress-code motto is "as bare as you dare", a distinguishing feature of the WNBR against other cycling events.

Although nudity is not compulsory, the World Naked Bike Ride will be riding Bristolian streets on the 27th June 2015 with bikes and bodies, highlighting the vulnerability of cyclists on the crowded roads in Bristol. A peaceful, powerful demonstration against car culture and oil-dependency. 

The theme this year is "as bare as you dare" and there fill be body painting, flags and banners to buy and decorate your bike at the Full Moon. The idea is to congregate in the Full Moon courtyard from 1pm to decorate the bike and the body and depart at 2pm. 

The route through Bristol will be a flat, 4-mile family-friendly ride, starting and finishing at the same point. Will you dare?

FACEBOOK EVENT: https://www.facebook.com/events/1540797549515912/

Fundraising for Cancer Research on Father's Day

I am sure all of us know somebody who has beaten cancer, who is fighting it, who has lost the battle... or who sadly didn't even get the chance to fight it. That person might be a friend, a family member, a colleague... or it might even be ourselves.


Either case, as my mom says, cancer is nowadays a common disease; 15 million cancer cases were diagnosed in 2013. It has always existed, but now we have a name for it, a diagnosis and many, many cases. A year ago, when my father passed away, I started investigating on my family tree to learn how my grandparents, great-grandparents and great-great grandparents died, and I discovered that many of them died of cancer too.






Recently, researchers from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York have achieved to reduce a large melanoma tumour in a 49-year old woman's chest with a new treatment; and researchers from the Case Western Reserve University have announced that they are a step toward turning the idea of using a new drug to regenerate damaged tissue into reality. One day, I would like to open the newspaper and read that somebody has found a vaccination to prevent the cancer. However, we need to do our bit in order to make similar discoveries happen.

With Father Day's coming up next Sunday, I thought it would be a good initiative to raise some money for those friends, family members, colleagues (or even ourselves) who might face cancer in the present or future.


Please, click the link below and support Cancer Research UK with as little/much money as you can donate. If you are a tax payer, do not forget to tick the Gift Aid as well!

Thank you very much!



https://www.justgiving.com/greatlittleplacecalledbristol

Bristol Grand Prix Bike Race

There are many plans for this summer solstice weekend. On the one hand, there is the Jamaica Street Open Studio (read here) and on the other hand, we have the Bristol Grand Prix Bike Race.

On Saturday 20th June, you will be able to show your abilities to cycle. This annual race for cyclist of all ages and levels, aims at inspiring people to cycle for leisure, travel and sport, and what better place to host than UK's first cycling city? The course if 1.3km long, suitable for any categories to suit junior or professional riders.

PROGRAMME

2.30pm - Love My Bike:  This is probably the funniest event of all. Take your friends, wear fancy dresses and cruise a lap of the course, there will be prizes for unusual bikes, beautiful bikes and happy riders!

3.00pm - Youth A, B:  This is the perfect race for junior bikers. 35 minutes and 3 laps.

3.45pm - Corporate Relay: This race is for all Bristol companies that have helped the event. In teams of 5, come join the race... or watch your colleagues ride!

4.45pm - Men's 3,4: Team race for local cycling club riders. 35 minutes and 3 laps.

5.45pm - Women's: Women's race. 35 minutes and 3 laps.

6.45pm - Men's Elite 1,2: Race for professionals. 50 minutes and 3 laps.

WEBSITE: http://bristolgrandprix.com/

Jamaica Street Open Studios

Jamaica Street Studios, one of the largest artist-lead studios outside London, will open its doors this weekend. The opening night will be on the 19th June 2015 (7-10pm) and studios, which are housed in a former iconic carriagework, will be accessible 20-21th June from 11am to 5pm.

The Fundraising Auction (21th June @5pm) is an annual event where each of the 40 artists at the studio contributes with a mini canvas, all the same size, which will be auctioned to raise money towards keeping Jamaica Studios affordable. Artworks are exhibited along the weekend and it will give you an opportunity to place a bid at any time if you are not able to go to the live auction on Sunday.

Come around and support Bristol artistic community at Stokes Croft! :) 

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/906422902732744/

Website: http://www.jamaicastreetartists.co.uk/

Applying for the NIN

The National Insurance Number (NIN) is a number used in the United Kingdom in the administration of the social security system, necessary if you wish to work in the UK. People born in the UK are assigned a NIN shortly before their 16th birthday, but people like me, coming from abroad, we need to apply for it to the Department of Work and Pensions.

I have applied for mine this morning and I am going to share with you how the application process works.

• The first step is to apply for a NIN by calling 0345 600 0643 from Monday to Friday (8am-6pm). They will ask you some details such as your name, an address, telephone number, how long you've been in the UK, why you need a NIN, your nationality, if you have double nationality...
• Schedule the appointment with the Jobcentre representative. Depending how busy the Jobcentre is, the appointment could be the following day... or in a weeks time. When I first called, they scheduled my appointment for the following day. I told them I could only make it on Fridays and they didn't have any slot that week. I was told that appointments were given week by week and that I should call the following week to schedule the appointment. However, I am not sure if this is entirely true because when I called the second time, we agreed to schedule the appointment in a weeks time. NOTE: Write down the reference number in case you need to reschedule the appointment.
• The appointment will be at the closest Jobcentre to where you live. The one in Bristol city centre is at the Eagle House, 16 St Stephen's Street (BS1 1JR). The offices are open Monday to Friday (8.30am-5pm) and you will have to go to the second floor. There, you will be called by one of the agents. You will be asked to provide your passport and a proof of address (a utility bill, for example) during the interview so make sure you bring it. They will also ask you for all the addresses where you have lived during your time in the UK, so remember to bring them too.
• You will receive your NIN at the address you have provided within two weeks. Make sure you don't lose it!

My appointment was at 8.30am but do not arrive earlier as the Jobcentre will be closed. It was the best excuse to have a coffee at the beautiful coffee-shop opposite the Jobcentre. At sharp 8.30am, door opened. Personally, the process of applying the NIN was a very fluent process and the agent was a very kind and friendly guy. I haven't received my NIN yet so as soon as I have it, I would be able to certify that it arrives within two weeks. Bear with me! :)

A smoothie at The Bearpit

Making a smoothie is easy; making a good smoothie not that much. Today, I had the best smoothie I had in a very long time right at the Bearpit.

It was at the Bearpit Social, the only coffee-shop inside a shipping container. It started as a mobile coffee cart business before moving into this permanent location. They use as much fresh, local, ethical and organic ingredients as possible to create for example, the Mission Mango smoothie (£3.50) I had today. There is also coffee available, supplied by Bristol roaster Brian Wogan (Latte £2.40; Americano £1.80), Clipper Teas (£1.50-1.75) and many fresh juice options (£2-4).  If you'd like to have something else as a side, there are toasties, toasts and ciabattas from Joe's Bakery as well as salad boxes starting from £3.95).
www.facebook.com/BearpitSocial

On the left, there is Bearritos, an innovative Mexican Cantina serving tacos, tortas and (as its name suggests) burritos from a green vintage double-decker bus. The bus has been converted into a fully functioning kitchen downstairs, and there is a seating area upstairs for over 30 diners. The menu includes breakfasts, snacks and a range of street food lunch options. The project has been crowfunded by 209 last March, raising £8,060 for it to happen. www.bearritos.co.uk/

On the right, there is Bear Fruit greengrocer, offering a wide variety of fresh and local fruit and vegetables at very reasonable prices. It supports local farms and provides seasonal food to locals passing by the Bearpit. They offer a 5-a-day bag for £1 and the quality of the vegetables is very good. www.facebook.com/BearFruitBristol

After the facelift the Bearpit Roundabout have recently had, it is very nice to just sit down and enjoy the sun there with a smoothie (or coffee, or burrito) in hand. :)

Ghanaian style bracelet made by Sanbra @ Full Moon Market

This morning, out of curiosity, I stopped by the Full Moon Market. I always find a very talented artist selling her/his crafts and this time it was Sanbra.

Inspired by the Ghanaian culture, Sanbra mixes African styles and colours with European fashion. The beautiful orange bracelet I got today is a proof of that. My bracelet is made of genuine fabrics from Ghana (£10) and it has an adjustable chain to fit your wrist perfectly. I am very happy with my purchase! :)

Roberto and Daniele, the artists behind Sanbra, come from Itali and they also brought several colourful earrings (£7), bracelets (£10), shopper bags (£10), T-shirts (£15) and many more items to the Full Moon this morning. Just check it out below!

Picture "borrowed" from Sanbra's Facebook page

Although Sanbra's website is still under construction (www.sanbra.eu), the Facebook page is up and running (https://www.facebook.com/sanbraIT). If you like handmade jewellery as much as I do, you will surely love it!

Fancy a pint of science?

Why not combining a beer withwith hearing about the huge variety of research going on in Bristol? That's what researchers from the University of Bristol and UWE thought and they are converting pubs all over Bristol to an informal scientific chat-area where it is OK to have a pint in hand: Pint of Science.

Pubs such as Greenbank, Hophouse, Hen and Chicken, Rise/Friska, Full Moon and The Hole in the Wall are hosting a total of 18 events between 18-20 May 2015. Six sciences will be covered, from Robots in the "Rise of the Machines" event, to how we combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the "Bacteria: Friend or Foe" evening.

Events will not be average science lectures but scientific showcase in a more informal, relaxed and fun way. They are aiming at keeping events friendly and informal with demonstrations, quizzes, debates and Q&A where no scientific background will be necessary.

Events at Rise/Friska, Full Moon and The Hole in the Wall are sold out at the moment but there are still tickets for the rest of the events (check here).

MONDAY 18th May 2015

• Live and let die (The Greenbank)
• Extreme Earth (The Hophouse)
• Bacteria: friend or foe? (Hen and Chicken) - SOLD OUT -
• To infinity, and beyond (Rise/Friska) - SOLD OUT-
• Rise of the machines (Attic Bar, Full Moon) - SOLD OUT -
• Totally addicted (The hole in the wall) - SOLD OUT -

TUESDAY 19th May 2015

• Vice night: cigarettes and alcohol (The Greenbank)
• The really wild show (The Hophouse)
• The C Word (Hen and Chicken) - SOLD OUT -
• Small world, big future (Rise/Friska) - SOLD OUT - 
• Take it to the limit (Attic Bar, Full Moon) - SOLD OUT -
• Maladies of the mind (The hole in the wall) - SOLD OUT -

WEDNESDAY 20th May 2015

• Food for thought (The Greenbank)
• It's getting hot in here! (The Hophouse)
• Silent killers (Hen and Chicken)
• Dark matters (Rise/Friska) - SOLD OUT - 
• Can we levitate humans? (Attic Bar, Full Moon) - SOLD OUT -
• Dreams and reality (The hole in the wall) - SOLD OUT -

Talk to your friends and attend one of the events! Remember, there is no scientific background needed!

WEBSITE: www.pintofscience.co.uk