think green

Sidmouth Folk Festival - 2nd to 9th August 2013

First thing you may ask "Where is Sidmouth?"

It is situated in the Southwest of England and more precisely on the South Coast of Devon.

For more details about the town itself visit the dedicated Sidmouth website.

"...There has been a folk festival in Sidmouth in the first week of August every year since 1955..." source

Why is this festival different from Glastonbury?

Sidmouth Folk Festival is about a specific type of music in the first place.

Just by looking at the programme's page you will understand that it will be a week of discoveries and sounds from all over the world. Sponsors are almost locally sourced.

So if you aren't sure about the type of musicians and performers, here is a taste from last year's event:

 

 It is a rather relaxing and enjoyable place to go to. The seafront is not that far and visiting the Jurassic Coast is also an option especially if you are staying there for the entire week.

The other positive point of having such festival is the tourism! It attracts so many people who have never been either to this part of the UK or never heard of that particular week of music.

There are so many places to visit just for festivals during the "sunny" months. It is important to pick the ones you will really enjoy and be ready with all the relevant items in order to have a good time, without forgetting the essential (which is often the case).

Sleeping bag, wellies and tent are a must, simply because most of these musical meetings are taking place in a field which has been specifically setup to welcome thousands of visitors. And as it happened in the past, rain and mud can - unfortunately - be there too!

Such area with so many activities aren't illegal rave happening in derelict industrial workshop around Exeter countryside. It is properly organised and all boxes have been ticked to make it safe for everyone.

Enthusiastic volunteers are always required to make sure that all goes as smoothly as possible. No one wants to be hurt and all logistics is then ready to have a perfect day, week or weekend.

Sidmouth being well located, nothing could stop you to jump on a bus to visit the surroundings such as Exmouth and/or Lyme Regis. It would be a breath of fresh air, especially if you live in a busy city. It is a time to forget your office space and enjoy the nature at 100 per cent.

There is not a lot more to add about this exciting week with a festive atmosphere...it is just up to you to make your way to Devon to experience something different.

Zhang Xin: self-made woman in China

Anyone can be successful as long as the business idea is solid and a strategy is also vital.

But some really go the extra-mile and aren’t only comfortable with running a company but they have the ambition to be the best!

Zhang Xin (張欣) is a woman entrepreneur in China…but she is also one of the wealthiest self-made women in the country. Knowing the importance of social media...it is certain that such digital tool helps to blend on a global level to reach the highest synergy.

The incredible fact is that she is around seven times richer than the Queen with a net worth of approximately £2.4bn. That’s what is called success.

So people are questioning her fortune and how did she get that wealth!

Brought up in poverty in Beijing, she then moved to Hong Kong at 14 and worked in a shop. Being rather ambitious and willing to move forward rapidly - another change of scenery – by 19 she took the direction of the UK for some Economics studies in Cambridge.

Zhang Xin was then employed by Goldman Sachs (New York) for a while. She decided to return to China in 1995 and became the founder of a real office estate company: SOHO China.

This was then the largest firm of its kind. During the UK recession, her company’s profits reached £360m. Private banking in Hong Kong is certainly the safest way, especially when reaching those kind of amounts.

SOHO China is run by herself as the CEO and her husband Pan Shiyi, being the chairman.

AS stated by The Independent; she is a billionaire with a conscience!

“…She said in an interview with Newsweek last year that China lacked entrepreneurs like the late Steve Jobs…”

There is an interesting profile page as well on Forbes’ site (see image below).

Minimalistic posters

Minimalist graphics and interested in science, Indian Kapil Bhagat has created a series of posters.

You will certainly recognize most scientists' names and it will bring a smile to your face.