New research by the House & Garden Festival has found that over half (53%) of people in the UK can’t wait for the arrival of summer so they can indulge in spontaneous drinking celebrations. In addition, 1 in 10 people stated that they are partial to a morning drink as it becomes “more socially acceptable in the summer”.

Summer party activities, particularly those involving a tipple, also become a priority with 44% of people saying that champagne tasting is their idea of a dream summer party, followed by 11% with wine-pairing. A flower arranging workshop and canape making class follow jointly with 8% each.

More than a third (36%) of people said that they feel summer has officially arrived due to the longer days, whilst 1 in 10 (15%) said that their signal for the arrival of summer is the first time they bare their legs. Being able to laze about in the great outdoors is the greatest summer excitement for almost half (46%) of people, whilst simply being able to bask in the warmer temperatures is the highlight for over a quarter (26%) of people.

But it does seem that Brits have a love-hate relationship with summer with over half (52%) of people saying that what they hate most about British summers is that it rains too much. So when it comes to making party plans, a Plan B is actually the most important thing on the agenda for 61% of people.

This seems to stem from experience as 72% of Brits say they have hosted or been to an outdoor event that subsequently had to be cancelled or unexpectedly moved indoors due to poor weather. It might also explain why alongside a trusty barbecue, a gazebo is the most important summer party piece of equipment for 34% of people, followed by a parasol or umbrella for 16%.

However, Brits demonstrate their stoicism with over 63% of people saying that despite unexpected showers, they are determined to stay upbeat and refuse to let the weather rain on their parade.

Seven year old underwater enthusiast Jack, from Birmingham, who has recently been diagnosed with autism, was desperate to help the animal care team at the city centre aquarium, who this week made his marine aspirations come true by organising a quiet afternoon with one of their team for this passionate mini Aquarist to help with some fish feeding.

Since being diagnosed with autism, Jack, aged 7, has struggled to continue concentration and has been Home Educated due to some of his difficulties within a school setting. As a regular visitor to the aquarium, Jack was familiar with the space, and his mother Clare noticed it stimulated his learning, making it the perfect place for him to spend time developing his knowledge.

Clare said: “We are so grateful to the National Sea Life Centre for organising this special day for Jack. It’s been incredible to see how being in the centre has calmed him and allowed him to focus and engage in a way he is often unable to with school learning. He’ll definitely be remembering this special day for a long time to come.”

The National Sea Life Centre is this month launching Quiet at the Aquarium, the first event of its kind for the centre, at 9am on Saturday 17th June. The event aims to provide a quieter experience, for a more comfortable aquarium visit for those with autism and other sensory requirements.

With the latest data showing the soaring cost of pet insurance, owners around the UK are looking for alternatives to providing for their loved one’s medical care. Pet insurance costs continue to outstrip inflation, with average increases of nearly 5% seen in the last six months alone.

Recent advances in medical care for animals is the main cause of the increase in the cost of pet insurance, which now makes the premiums unaffordable for many owners. Although 50% of the British public own pets, 75% of them don’t have insurance, with many citing the expense as a reason for not having cover.

British veterinarian Dr. Stewart Halperin, BVMS, MRCVS, founder and CEO of CarefreeCredit, says: “As a vet myself, I understand the problems faced when a pet-owner can’t afford the urgently-needed medical help required.  This is why we established CarefreeCredit with its ability to provide 0% finance quickly for those in need of a loan to provide desperately needed treatment for their pets when their owners aren’t insured and can’t afford to pay a large bill all at once.”

‘A New Hope’ volunteers of Zong 4G’s flagship CSR program took the opportunity over this weekend to spend an iftaar with the street children of Islamabad. The children dwell in the urban slums of the Bari Imam area and sustain themselves by washing cars, picking garbage and selling small merchandise on the streets.

Earlier this year, Zong 4G had setup a 4G internet lab for these children at their school, connecting them to the virtual world for the first time. Since then, Zong’s volunteers have been delivering Internet awareness sessions to these children in a renovated and more modern environment. Recognizing the fact that Ramzan is a time of sharing prosperity and helping the neglected segments of the society, the volunteers took iftaar packages for the children and shared the meal in a festive atmosphere.

Zong 4G, a China Mobile Company, is a socially responsible organization that has always aimed to create an impact in the society by delivering on multiple social causes. Zong’s volunteers have shown a great resolve in contributing towards their civic duties in the past and continues to build on the momentum generated since the launch of the program. With a 75% market share and plans for 100% 4G upgrade by the end of this year, Zong is dominating the 4G arena propelling the country towards a new, brighter future. Activities such as these provide considerable impetus to the cause of enhancing social inclusion that in turns supports Zong’s desire of a prosperous Pakistan.

It’s no secret that the nation’s selfie obsession has become all-consuming, and a new consumer poll commissioned by The Open University (OU) unveils that over two thirds (67%) of Brummies indulge in taking selfies every week. On the other hand, almost half (45%) of them haven’t looked at their inner selves and thought about their life goals in over six months, which is why the OU is encouraging the people of Birmingham to self-reflect with the launch of a huge, mirrored, infinity Reflection Cube at the Bullring this Saturday 17^th June.

The findings indicate that people may be consumed by surface level beauty and are neglecting to focus on their inner selves and personal ambitions. Nearly a fifth (19%) of people surveyed in Birmingham, confess to never setting aside any time to self-reflect, yet over two thirds (76%) agreed some time out to consider their lives would be beneficial.

One of the key perceived barriers preventing Birmingham residents from taking time out for themselves is guilt, with over half (54%) feeling riddled with remorse whenever they do. This is followed closely by work (53%) and house chores (45%).

In response to the findings, the OU is giving members of the public the chance to enjoy some much needed self-reflection time in the cube. The 3x3 metre squaredCube is mirrored inside and out and will be open at the Birmingham Bullring for the day. It will also be visiting a number of other locations this summer*, following its launch in London last month.

The experience inside the cube includes a 360° infinity mirror, a striking light installation and zen-like soundscape**, as well as questions to help people begin to self-reflect. The OU’s expert student services team will be on-hand to talk to visitors who may conclude that studying could help them achieve their ambitions or enable them to follow their dreams.

Of those surveyed in the OU poll, nearly three fifths of people from Birmingham (51%) professed that they were unsure of how to self-reflect and over half (55%) agreed that some tips on how to do so effectively would be useful.

Martha Lane Fox, Chancellor of the OU and founder of Doteveryone, comments: “Taking time out to reflect on what you’ve achieved so far and where you’d like to get to is vital for progression, both in your personal and work life. It can be tough at first, particularly when life is so hectic, but if you don’t take time to look at the bigger picture you could end up getting stuck in a routine that may not be working for you.

"Self-reflection is all about questioning what you do and why you do it, determining your passions and ambitions and creating a plan for the future. Don't be afraid to think big. Once you've defined your goals, it's key to think practically and logically about how you are going to get there. You will find that it becomes easier with practice and the end result is likely to be a happier and more competent you.”

Clare Riding, Heads of Careers and Employability Services at The Open University, concludes: “We’re already half way through 2017. June provides the perfect time to review what you’ve achieved so far in terms of your life goals and career progression and really think about whether you are going in the right direction.

“Ask yourself questions to help you work out whether what you are doing and how you are progressing in your career is really what you want. Is it truly fulfilling? Are you making the most of your own skills and the opportunities that are out there? Are you pursuing your passions?”