I know us Brits like talking about the weather but this artic blast is testing even our patience, how cold can it continue to be. The answer seems to be – VERY. If anybody else tells us how hot it was this time last year, we’ll scream. Still just as well Easter is on the horizon, at least there’s plenty of Hot Cross Buns & Chocolate to eat and believe me, here at Personalise we are doing our best to keep up the calorie intake.

Still if it seems bad here, give a thought for the Cypriots, they might have better weather but I’m sure there’s a feeling of being left out in the cold; Good job they don’t celebrate April’s Fools day, they might believe someone started early.

I’d like to say that at least the football is warming the cockles of our hearts but between domestic teams crashing (albeit controversially) out of the Champions League and the national teams not covering themselves in glory, no good looking for comfort there. Ditto for Cricket, relieved at a draw in New Zealand, is hardly building up expectations for the Ashes but at least we have Wales’ glorious win at the millennium stadium to admire. It really was a belter of a game and congrats to Gethin Jenkins and the team, they retained their Six Nations’ title in exemplary fashion.

Talking of winning combinations, there’s another group of hot blooded males who seem to be demolishing all in their path. The ‘One Direction’ boys are enjoying un-paralleled success; at least their tour has females across the land feeling some heat. Don’t forget, you can Personalise a card for the feverent fan in your life, they’ll love you for ever.

Lastly, Dr Who is back on our screens this weekend. And the good Dr. has a new assistant. The beautiful Jenna Louise Coleman plays Clara, hopefully a love interest for the man himself, let’s face it, it must get lonely out there with the whole Universe (and beyond) at your disposal. We wish them well; Keep fighting the good fight and we’ll keep eating the eggs. HAPPY EASTER ONE AND ALL.

During the winter months it’s nice to have things to look forward to and the Oscars are just one such occasion. Not so many British contenders this year but with Daniel Day Lewis in ‘Lincoln’ and Adele up for ‘Best Original Song’ I would be very surprised if we don’t come away with something. And if the BAFTA’S are anything to go by, these two are a shoe in for an award. Why not join in, get dolled up & make your own personal list of who will walk away with one of the little gold guys, as size in this instance really doesn’t matter.

Although the weather might have been against us, the Spring Fair proved an eventful occasion for all those who attended. In these tough times, it was good to see such a rewarding attendance and it certainly put a spring into those that were there.

With current champions Chelsea and domestic champions Man City, crashing out at the group stage of the Champions League, it’s down to Arsenal, Celtic & Man Utd to fly the flag for Britain. Celtic came up against an obdurate Juventus, who looked impressive at Celtic Park; while it was the red devils who will be most pleased with the draw with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, a fascinating game of football, which raises the stakes for the replay, with both teams with a realistic chance of progressing.

Just as well the game was on Tuesday and not today, as there would have been many a dilemma to have had to be faced and maybe many a valentine widow to be won round. As it was, crisis averted and all you romantic souls have the whole day to woo each other with your displays of affection. Here at Danilo we wish each & everyone a happy St.Valentines day, may it see the budding of many a romance and the affirmation of many more. In the words of the fab four, ‘Love is all you need’.

Business as usual with the English football team, it wasn’t so much beaten by Sweden as beaten by Ibrahimovic, a one man demolition team. Thankfully it was a very entertaining game with lots of positives to be taken from a new looking, younger feeling England side. As England fans we’ve learnt to take the rough with the smooth, but it would be nice if Mr Hodgeson could provide us with a Roy of the Rovers ending, and the World Cup back where it belongs, we can but dream. Don’t forget, both international and club football calendars available at danilo.com & personalise.com.

Another team of a different sort, the One Direction boys have been hitting the headlines both sides of the pond. The boys appeared on ‘X Factor’ as a beacon of what could lie in store for the eventual winner; Before heading over to the States, where fans had been camping out for days just for a glimpse of their heart throbs. With ‘Take Me Home’ their 2nd album, all set to take the No. 1 spot in the Billboard Top 100, they really are a global phenomena. How aptly named are this 5 piece, they only seem to know ‘One Direction’ and that’s up, up, up. With that said, it must be almost impossible for anyone not to know a ‘One Direction’ fan, don’t disappoint them next year. Get 12 months of the lovely boys, all in one place, their official 2013 calendar.

Here at Danilo we’ve been glued to the news across the pond this week and yesterday we learnt that after an extremely close contest, Barack Obama came out on top, to the victor the spoils. Congratulations on your 2nd term President.

It’s been a week for 2nds, Celtic secured their second win in Europe this week, with an historic win over Barcelona; They were very unlucky not to hold on to a win at the Nou Camp but this week, they showed their metal by beating the world’s top team, maybe with Rangers absence, they’re looking for their scalps elsewhere, fabulous win and let’s hope they make it to the last 16, imagine Rod’s reaction if they go on to win. Infact go one better and record it on your official 2013 Celtic calendar.

Poor old Wiggo, top of the world one minute, in the gutter the next. We wish Bradley a speedy recovery from his accident this week. It just goes to show that cycling on British roads can be like taking your life in your hands.

With Halloween and Bonfire night behind us, its official, we’re on the home run to Christmas. Get yourself well prepared by taking a look at our Christmas cards over at personalise.com where you can tailor our cards to your needs. Ho ho ho

With a chill in the air and the annual debate as to when to put the heating on, hotly contested the length and breadth of these isles, it’s nice to reflect back on a summer which saw British (and European) sporting prowess at its very best. When (if ever) will there be another summer when we see a British man win the Tour de France, GB host an outstandingly successful Olympic & Paralympic Games, watch a British man win a Grand Slam title, the first since Fred Perry, topped off by the most enthralling and ultimately triumphant comeback in the Ryder Cup. Obviously the answer is never, as Bradley’s win of the Tour de France can’t be repeated, he is the first British cyclist to ever win the coveted title. We’re hoping, given the state of British cycling, it may open the floodgates. To celebrate such a feat, Danilo have produced an official 2013 Bradley Wiggins calendar, so get on yer bike and order it fast before the Pele ton catch up.

Mind you we should’ve known what we were in for in 2012, after the Premiership presented itself as the living embodiment of all those sporting cliches. It went ‘down to the wire’, it wasn’t over ’till the fat lady sang’ and to plagiarise from one of footballs immortals, Brian Clough, ‘I wouldn’t say it was the best season in the premiership but it was in the top one.’ And, as the say on the news, ‘Finally’ and going against most pundits predictions, Chelsea came out champions of Europe, seriously when has sport ever been as memorable. If you don’t want to miss a second of this season, buy your team’s calendar now while you still now who your manager is.

Nothing quite says autumn/winter like the TV line up and with ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and ‘X Factor’ happily back on our tellies, it’s time to decide who’s who in terms of nifty foot work and cracking vocal cords. Not only do these programmes provide riveting telly, they also uncover many a household name into the bargain. One of our favourites and it would appear, yours too, are the lovely lads from ‘One Direction’, who currently sit happily at the top of our calendar charts, mind you there are several snapping at their heels, including our doggie dreamboat Pudsey, the winner of this years ‘BGT’,
- Apologies before hand -, but it’s just PAW-FECT. ahemmmmm

Just when we were all wondering what happened to the summer, the skies clear, the clouds and rain disappear and we’re basking in the heat of a great Indian Summer, which happily just happens to coincide with the Paralympics, giving London that extra special rosy glow and the rest of the world the false impression that us good people of GB just like to complain about our weather for the sake of it.

Well it has to be said, there’s been very little to complain about, Jody Cundy excepted, the weather, the crowds and the athletes have all been magnificent. World and Paralympics records have been dropping like flies and sports that nobody had heard of before the end of August are enjoying their moment in the spotlight. Here at Danilo we’d like to thank all those concerned, it’s been fabulous to witness how we’ve come together to make these games memorable in many many ways. Inspirational, I should say so.

Here at Danilo we’ve been completing a Herculean task of our own, and we’re now pleased to announce the launch of new ‘improved’ website. With such good products, it seemed only right and proper to have an equally inspiring website to go with them. Here’s hoping you enjoy the new improved us,

And here’s another date for the diary, in the next two or three weeks our most popular calendars will be available for you to personalise at www.personalise.com
Our sister site offers you the chance to add that certain something to a calendar of your choice. Let us know how you get on.

We make no apologies for only having eyes for one thing this week, along with the rest of Great Britain and indeed the world. A massive pat, nay, slap on the back for Mr Danny Boyle, who might not be addressed as Mr for much longer, given his present form.

Celebrating the prodigious creativity and inventiveness of all things British was a brilliant concept, realised in what can only be described as, a spectacular fashion. It ranged from the genius of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and the unforgettable forging of those Olympic rings, to the deserved blowing of the NHS trumpet. From the world encompassing comedy of Mr Bean, to the quite brilliant James Bond section, featuring non other than our own Royal Highness, cue the nation exercising a collective intake of breath when they realised it wasn’t a ‘look – a -likey’ but the genuine article, sent glorious and victorious like never before. (I would’ve loved to have been a fly on the wall for that particular conversation.) Boyle cherry picked from the best of all things British, the Suffragettes, the Jarrow marchers, the rich tapestry of children’s literature, and the inclusion of Sir Tim Berners Lee, inventor of the www, no stone was left unturned and all this to a spectacular and pitch perfect backdrop of British music that must be the envy of the rest of the world. Stand up Danny Boy(le) and take a bow, it truly was a jaw dropping, eye opening, foot stomping, rampage of an opening ceremony and I can’t think of anybody who could’ve done it with such gusto, aplomb and guile.
ps And you had the Artic Monkeys live, hats off to you Sir Boyle.

What a difference a week makes. The sun has got it’s hat on, hip o hip hurray & thankfully it can at last take it’s coat off & hang up it’s brolly. However as glorious as this week has been & it has truly been glorious, it looks as if this summer is determined to have the last laugh with rain forecast for the opening ceremony of the Olympics. No Gold medal for that persistent jet stream.

Talking of the Olympics, we here at Danilo are on the edge of our seats. It truly is going to be the greatest show on earth. With the likes of Bolt, Federer & Iniesta, there is no shortage of big names but it’s the likes of Ennis, Hoy, Farah, Wiggins, Grainger, Ainslie & Adlington to name but a few, that we will be watching with baited breath. Personally I’ve got my sticker chart ready, even down to P B stickers. We wish all contestants well but we reserve our best wishes for the whole GB team, partisan, you betcha. Go get em tigers.

On a wholly different note, it is with the greatest of regret that Danilo learnt of the pointless killings of 12 American citizens at the late night showing of ‘Batman The Dark Knight Rises’ Such actions defy belief and our deepest sympathies go out to all involved and their families and friends. Our thoughts are with you.

With Europe in somewhat of an economic melt down and with the banks showing us just where a Diamond service can lead you, it was just as well we had the Euro’s to distract us. As such it seemed apt that two of Europe’s most profligate countries fought it out for the title of European Champions. Despite the naysayer’s Spain deftly demonstrated the finer points of the beautiful game, with a display that only went to highlight the deficiencies of other teams. Congratulations Spain on a record breaking 3rd major championship on the bounce. Just that deficit to sort out now! del Bosque for President anyone?

On matters more domestic, it seems there’s no place for Mr Beckham in the Olympic GB football squad. One of Britain’s greatest footballing exports, failed to make the short list, with Stuart Pearce citing merit over marketing. Given the Olympic ideals it would’ve appeared inappropriate to have it any other way. Good luck to the boys and don’t forget England cards are available at danilo.com or tackle that perennial problem of making it more individual by personalising it at personalise.com

It seems that cupid has been taking something of a bashing lately, with the announcement of several celebrity divorces. This week Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes added their file to the list. Just as well Marvin Humes (JLS) & Rochelle Wiseman (The Saturdays) are doing their best to restore our faith in love. We wish them a joyous union but can’t help wondering if ‘Everybody in Love’ will be the couple’s first dance. In case you want a card before he ties the knot, don’t forget we have a fabulous range of JLS cards, guaranteed to make any JLS fan’s heart ‘beat again.’

Breaking news and maybe a few breaking hearts. Just released that AVB has just taken over at WHL. What this space. It’s shaping up to be a great season already, can’t wait for Chelsea vs. Tottenham, time to see who’ll win their spurs.

With sun shining in Ukraine and Poland (yes we are jealous) the football itself has been providing plenty of heat. We’ve been treated to some fabulous games, with the Germans stealing a march with 2 wins out of 2, they’re the first team to go through to the quarter finals and the battle to join them couldn’t be more interesting, plenty of permutations for us to mull on. Treat dad on Father’s day; let him enjoy Holland vr Portugal & Germany vr Denmark without too many interruptions.

Sticking with football, what’s a manager to do? Only out of the Champions League, due to Chelsea winning it, Harry Rednapp has been rewarded with the sack. Overlooked for the England job, Harry could be forgiven for thinking that 2012 could well be shaping up to be annus horribilis. Still it’s obvious to all that with a C.V. like Harry’s, Tottenham’s loss will certainly be someone else’s gain. We wish him well.

Talking of wishing him well, well done Gary Barlow, achieving yet another No 1 hit, however this time the band was even bigger than Take That. The 200 strong cast, including the Military Wives Choir, got together to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, even Prince Harry got in on the action, showing off his prowess with a tambourine. Gary we salute you.