TELEPHONE TALK TAKES A WEEK A YEAR

DESPITE the rise in texts, emails and social media communication, the average person in the UK spends 184 hours speaking on the telephone every year, equivalent to seven and a half days. Over a lifetime this equates to more than one and a half years of telephone conversation according to new research from Post Office® Home Phone.

The Post Office asked 2,000 people about their telephone habits. Inevitably, family and friends topped the table of the most commonly called people. 20% men admitted to enjoying a good gossip about friends and family, compared to 37% of women. Five per cent of men even revealed that they call their mistress more than their grandparents.

Calls to utility companies, the dentist and doctor were rated as the least favourite phone conversations. However, dads also proved unpopular with 10% of people who said that they least like to call their father. Only five per cent of people regularly call their grandparents.

Proving that telephone conversations still have a place alongside other popular communication methods, top reasons for picking up the phone include:-

► Over a quarter (26%) said that they get immediate answers on the phone rather than waiting for email or social media replies

► 38% of people use telephone conversation as a form of release, to share their problems and worries and get everything off their chests

► A third of people (33%) believe it’s the most convenient way to make plans

► 18% of people simply enjoy chatting on the phone

► One in ten people (10%) chat to friends online but still like to have a proper voice conversation.

For some people in the UK, their phone is their only link to the outside world. One in twenty people, that's 4%, said that a telephone conversation is their only form of contact with people throughout the day.

Most popular topics covered in phone conversations are:-

► Over half of people (57%) pick up the phone to share good news

► Four in ten people (40%) call for a general catch up

► A third call to gossip (30%)

► Just under a third phone friends and family to tell them bad news (29%)

► One fifth call to make plans to meet up (22%)

Hugh Stacey, Head of Telephony at the Post Office said:- “Although there are other ways of catching up with friends and family now, we still spend an incredible amount of time on the phone. Quality conversation seems to be central to today’s phone calls too, with many people phoning friends for a good chat as well as to make arrangements. We want to help people carry on chatting on the phone so we’ve kept free calls as a core part of our Home Phone package. We have free calls to UK landlines from 6pm every night (which is when 29 per cent of people make their phone calls), free calls to UK landlines and UK mobiles at the weekend, and also free calls to over 40 destinations at the weekend, meaning customers don’t have to worry about the cost of conversations.”

For more information on Post Office Home Phone visit:- postoffice.co.uk or pop into your nearest branch.

Top fifteen people we call the most/least like to call:-
 

No.	Who we call the most	Least like to call
1	Partner	Utility company
2	Mum	Bank
3	Friends	Doctor
4	Dad	Dentist
5	Sister	Chat lines
6	Brother	Dad
7	Daughter	Taxi companies
8	Son	Other relatives
9	Colleagues (Outside of work)	Local take away
10	Other relatives	Beauty salon
11	Grandparents	Gym
12	Lover/mistress	Grandparents
13	Bank	Brother
14	Utility companies	Sister
15	Local takeaway	Partner

Respondents were asked to highlight the top five people they call the most and the five people they least like to call.

Judy & Liza / Micky Flanagan at Southport Theatre

DUE to overwhelming public demand, the mighty Micky Flanagan is thrilled to announce a further 21 dates added to his ‘Out Out’ UK tour for Spring 2011, & Southport Theatre is proud to be one of them.   It’s been a great 18 months for Micky - he appeared on The Royal Variety Performance, Live At The Apollo, Michael McIntyre’s Roadshow, Have I Got News For You, Celebrity Mastermind (where he came a very respectable second – chosen subject Bruce Springsteen) and Mock The Week, all on BBC ONE.  His Radio 4 series What Chance Change? was a hit with listeners and critics alike, plus he is one of a handful of comics to perform their very own Comedy Central special. In 2010 he also sold out his two Bloomsbury Theatre shows and one night at the Lyric on Shaftesbury Avenue in record speed.  Not a bad achievement for a former Billingsgate Market fish packer and window cleaner from Bethnal Green, now in the unique position of selling out 60 nights at some of the largest and most prestigious theatres around the country.  Tirelessly funny, Micky draws on his East End background as he ruthlessly deconstructs the Cockney myth with razor-sharp observational wit. He tells a comic tale of a working class upbringing, where ‘alphabetti spaghetti’ is a luxury and a bottle of ‘Blue Nun’ the height of sophistication.  His star finally exploded on to the comedy circuit a couple of years ago with a brilliantly observed Edinburgh Fringe show about his rise from working-class Herbert to middle class ponce, and being caught awkwardly between the two. The show brought him well-deserved acclaim with a best newcomer nomination at the if. comedy awards (now the Edinburgh Comedy Awards). So join Micky as he hits the road in 2011. In fact, it’s not just time to go out - it’s time to go ‘Out Out’! Sadly this show is NOT suitable for under 16's, but if you are over 16, well... have fun!!!   His Southport date is on Wednesday, 6 April 2011. The show starts at 19:30hrs. Also Micky Flanagan will be on at the Liverpool Empire on 7 April 2011, and doors for that performance are at 19:30hrs as well.  Full touring details can be found on:- mickyflanagan.com.

Back To School At Harvester In Liverpool

THE Otters Pool Harvester is offering schools in Liverpool the chance to bring a class to the restaurant for a fun-filled session about fruit and vegetables.  Staff at the restaurant on Otters Pool Drive will team up with a Harvester teacher to deliver a two hour practical lesson about the importance of getting your '5 A Day' as part of a balanced diet.  The session involves a blind taste test at the Salad Cart, a tour of the kitchen, some fun facts and a quiz. Up to 30 seven and eight year olds can take part, and afterwards the children and their teachers will enjoy a complimentary lunch. Teachers can find out more by viewing video highlights of a session at:- harvester.co.uk/school-visits. Manager of the Harvester, David Ingham, said:- “The children will learn why freshly prepared fruits and vegetables are so good for them. There will also be a blind taste test where we will try and get them eating some foods they might not have tasted before. We’ll also be giving the pupils their own personal chef hats. The session will be a fun way to get the children talking about why their five-a-day is so important, and is part of Harvester’s mission to bring out the best in the local community.” Following their ‘training’ the pupils will be able to help themselves from the Salad Cart, and then choose a meal from Harvester’s Young Guest Menu. Each child will receive a personalized certificate to mark their participation in the event, and go home with a Harvester goodie bag containing salad ingredients to remind them about what they’ve learnt.  The Harvester School Visits campaign follows the launch of the Harvester Fantastic Food Pack for Key Stage One and Two pupils. The curriculum linked free resource, which was designed by education experts, helps teachers take children on a journey through food and healthy eating. The pack covers technology, science, PSHE and citizenship, as well as linking with the ‘Healthy Schools Status’ requirements.

 Arts Council England announces significant rise in funds for Metal

METAL received news this morning of a significant uplift in our Arts Council England National Portfolio Funding for 2012 to 2015. Following the national process which saw all 800 Regularly Funded Organisation’s on Arts Council England’s portfolio re-apply for their funded status, Metal have received what amounts to a 44% rise in our annually awarded funding settlement.  This level of uplift takes into consideration the level of extra investment through ACE’s Grants for the Arts Programme that Metal has received in previous years as extra funding for specific projects. The ACE assessment recognised that:- “Metal is an exemplary facilitator and catalyst for combined arts innovation through its excellent artistic programme and strategic work.”  Jude Kelly, Metal’s Founder and Chair said:- “I’m delighted. Arts Council England’s recognition of the style of working that Metal has forged and the impact that this kind of approach has on artist’s and community will enable us to continue to develop and nurture great art in both Southend on Sea and Liverpool.”  Metal’s Managing Director, Colette Bailey commented:- “It’s absolutely wonderful news. The team at Metal have worked really hard to achieve this fantastic acknowledgement of our work. It is a real testament to our ability, commitment and particular methodology of working with artists and with other partners within communities. We are looking forward to being even more effective in future years.” This new level of funding begins in March 2012 and will allow Metal to continue to deliver high quality artist residencies, international exchanges, cultural think tanks, exhibitions and festivals and develop our role as a national exemplar for excellence and engagement.