Lighting. Courtesy Indigo Living
Lighting. Courtesy Indigo Living
Lighting. Courtesy Indigo Living
Lighting. Courtesy Indigo Living

The Hot list: Wise buys for your household


Selina Denman
  • English
  • Arabic

1. Lights fantastic

Indigo Living's newly-unveiled autumn/winter collection features a new range of lighting products. There are classic retro-style floor and table lamps, simple black ceiling lights and dome-shaped desk lamps that will spruce up any workspace. However, it's this vintage-style ceiling light, with its sleek, simple lines and oversized bulbs, that has really taken our fancy.

  • Prices for the new collection start at Dh215, Indigo Living Dubai, www.indigo-living.com

2. Fancy a cuppa?

Introduce some savvy design chic to your office with Blak and Blum's ceramic desk tidy - a witty take on keeping your pens in a mug, and a nod to the ubiquitous tube desk organisers of the 1970s. Mischievous right down to the details, the old-fashioned looking decoration actually has modern day desk items hidden in the pattern.

  • Ceramic desk organiser, Dh169, D.tales, DIFC, Dubai, 04 370 0520; www.design-tales.com

3.  Magpie collection

Magpie, a fun and quirky homewares maker, has collaborated with the artist Tom Frost with this new line of dishes, mugs and other items - even iPhone cases. The Wildlife collection features four different nocturnal creatures that include the otter, hare and fox - we love this plate with a sleeping owl on a branch.

  • Wildlife owl plate; £18 (Dh105), www.magpieline.com

4. Patchwork prestige

We're coveting Bokja's charmingly-named Tabbouleh stool, which is available from O'de Rose. Bokja's trademark patchwork patterning sits well in any interior and is a great way to introduce a touch of contemporary Middle Eastern style into your space.

  • Tabouleh, Dh4,900, O'de Rose, Al Wasl Road, Dubai

5. Bowled over

These colourful serving bowls are new in at The Change Initiative. They are made by the French company Ekobo, an eco-friendly enterprise that creates contemporary, handcrafted accessories out of bamboo, using the skills of local craftsmen and artisans.

  • Ekobo Serving Bowls, Dh169 for the large size, The Change Initiative, Barsha, Dubai, www.thechangeinitiative.com
Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?

Some facts about bees:

The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer

The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days

A queen bee lives for 3-5 years

This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony

About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive

Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.

Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen 

Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids

Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments

Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive,  protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts

Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain

Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities

The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes

Is beekeeping dangerous?

As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.

“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”

 

 

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Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Director: Venkat Prabhu
Rating: 2/5
The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8

Transmission: nine-speed automatic

Power: 630bhp

Torque: 900Nm

Price: Dh810,000

Specs

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Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

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Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh

3.5/5