British Airways launch auction to win a Valentine’s dinner on Concorde

British Airways have announced a charity auction that will allow a pair of high-flying romantics to enjoy the ultimate Valentines dinner date.

The airline is inviting couples to bid in the auction for the chance to be wined and dined on board the world’s most iconic aircraft – without even leaving the ground. The highest bidder will win a romantic dinner for two on board the British Airways flagship Concorde G-BOAC at Manchester Airport’s Runway Visitor Park on February 14.

The lucky couple will receive red carpet treatment from the steps of Concorde to their exclusive table for two in the main cabin, where they will be served a three-course dinner, created by a top chef, with a bottle of champagne to celebrate Valentine's Day.

All proceeds from the auction will go to Flying Start, British Airways’ global charity partnership with Comic Relief whose aim is to raise money to help children living incredibly tough lives in the UK and around the world.

The auction was launched this week by famed Cheshire toastmaster Ian Parrott, who actually flew to New York on Concorde twice during a previous career.

He said: "Concorde has always offered the ultimate in romance, you don’t have to fly anywhere to appreciate the very intimate and luxurious surroundings of this beautiful aircraft. To have it all to yourself for one evening is possibly the most romantic gesture you can make."

Anyone is welcome to bid for the ultimate Valentine dinner on Concorde in the company's e-mail auction, all they have to do is send an e-mail to valentines.concorde@ba.com stating how much they would be prepared to pay for the prize and give their name and contact details. The prize will be awarded to the highest bidder and there is a reserve price of £500. The auction closes on Sunday, February 12 at midnight and the winner will be notified on Monday, February 13.

FACTFILE:
British Airways plc offers a wide range of worldwide destinations - including holidays in New York, flights to Dubai and a whole host of other all inclusive holidays as well as plenty of valentines breaks 2012.

Customers can save time and money with www.ba.com when booking ATOL protected holiday packages, ATOL number is 5985. Passengers are offered added peace of mind to their holiday plans and the security of travelling with British Airways. British Airways plc constantly seeks to exceed customers' expectations, both in terms of the value for money and quality of the service provided.

Colombian flowers make love go round the world 8 times!

 

If love makes the world go round then Colombian flowers are on track to make it spin this Valentine’s Day!

More than 500,000,000 Colombian flowers are being shipped to countries around the world to meet the February 14th deadline including over 5 million roses into the UK. That’s enough flowers to go round the world at least 8 times.

And not only will Colombian flowers be saying ‘I love you’ in a truly international language but helping provide safe and financially rewarding work for over 200,000 workers in Colombia who work directly or indirectly for the country’s second biggest export business.

Speaking today in Bogotá, capital of Colombia, Augusto Solano, President of Asocolflores, the Association of Colombian Flower Exporters, said: “We are on the threshold of the most important season for our industry. Colombian growers are renowned for their quality roses which are sold in high end stores like Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and quality independent florists. 

"With larger heads and strong stems they have become the rose of choice for customers wanting something extra special to express their love and friendship.”

Due to the near perfect growing conditions in the Sabana de Bogotá, just outside the capital city, Colombia produces amazing flowers with larger heads, stronger stems and more vibrant colours.

More importantly the country is acknowledged as one of the leaders in terms of social and environmental achievements with an independently audited certification programme, Florverde, which has Global Gap approval and is respected by some of the most demanding flower buyers in the UK.

Solano continued: “In 2011 over USD 5 million was spent by the Colombian flower industry on local social programmes that directly benefitted more than 90,000 workers and their families. Be it low-cost housing, schools, university programmes or medical services, the money spent on flowers throughout the world is directly fed back to the people who grow and look after them.”

For more information visit www.colombianflowers.co.uk

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How well do you know your Mum? Find out this Mothering Sunday

Mums know best. Or so the saying goes. But how well do children really know their Mum? Or how well do Mums know their children?

Fink Conversation Cards is launching its Mums edition in time for Mothering Sunday (aka Mother's Day) to help bring people closer to their Mum as well as providing an unusual solution to the annual gift decision.

The Mums edition is a small pack of cards containing questions that will get Mums and their children really talking to create memories that will last a lifetime.

The pack includes questions to ask Mum and questions that Mums can ask their child to promote two-way stimulating conversation.

‘What are your hopes and dreams for me?’, ‘What events have shaped your life?’ and ‘What sort of mother did you think you would be?’ are just some of the questions for Mums and have been carefully constructed with input from family expert Sarah Newton.

Sarah is a renowned author and presenter of several TV documentaries exploring relationships between parent and child, she said: “Research has shown talking to Mum is a good as a hug and that it’s one of the best ways of relieving stress.

“In-depth, effective conversations help strengthen relationships and develop bonds and the Mums edition from Fink has been designed to encourage helpful and meaningful conversation.

“And the cards are great even if Mums already have a good relationship with their children as it gives each of them a chance to ask some unusual questions that might tell them something they never knew about one another."

The business brain behind Fink is Lisa Warner, winner of the Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the O2 X Awards and more recently winner of the Village Capital 2011 scheme which saw Lisa win an investment of £50,000.

Lisa said: “The driving force behind Fink is and always has been to enable better conversations across generations.

“Our Family and Teen editions have been really successful and l wanted to launch an edition specifically for Mums and their children.

“The relationship between a Mum and her child is unique but some are better than others.

“My hope for the Mums edition is that it helps strengthen relationships between Mums and their children and uncovers something they never knew which may change the way they perceive each other.”

The Mums edition from Fink is available nationwide via Amazon, www.finkcards.com or by calling 0845 051 4665.

The Mums edition is priced at an affordable £5.99 making it an ideal gift for Mothering Sunday and one that will last longer than the usual flowers or chocolates.