2. Letter from the editors
In this issue
Festive fun
Page 3
Festive recipe
Page 4
Beating the winter blues
Page 5
Welcome to the third edition of The St. Botolph Newsletter.
With the holiday season fast approaching, we decided that this issue should
be packed full of information about Christmas in London and other parts of
the world. See our articles on Christmas Markets in London, How Greeks
celebrate their festive season and if you’re planning to travel take a look at
our Xmas holiday ideas.
“Taking 2017 by the horns” is all about tips on making and sticking to
resolutions for the year ahead. We’ll tell you how to stay healthy this winter,
so any excuses for pulling a sickie had better be good.
In addition, we’ll keep you up to speed with participating partners in the St
Botolph discount card scheme and will let you know of any changes or
exciting updates. If you have not yet received your card speak with your
facilities department to arrange one.
We hope that you enjoy the new look of the newsletter.
The editorial team would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a
prosperous 2017.
3. London Christmas
Markets
Christmas in Leicester Square
(Fri 11 Nov 2016 – Sun 8 Jan 2017, Leicester Square)
'The ‘square’ in Leicester Square will be home to a grotto,
Traditional Christmas Market and a vintage Spiegeltent – a
velvety, wooden venue home to a stocked programme of
Christmas shows brought to you from the Underbelly team,
including Ursula Martinez, The English Gents, Hamish
McCann’s pole act, Denis Lock’s bubble act and the world
famous La Soirée circus. Entry to Christmas in Leicester
Square is free, but tickets must be bought for
selected events, including Santa's Grotto and La Soirée
Performances.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
(Fri 18 Nov 2016 – Mon 2 Jan 2017, Hyde Park)
Entry to Winter Wonderland is free, and a wander
past the fairground rides, around child-friendly
Santa Land (including Santa's grotto) or through
the Christmas markets is a real treat for anyone
feeling the spirit of the season.
Other attractions at Hyde Park's annual sparkly
Christmassy addition include two circuses –
'Zippos Christmas Circus' and 'Cirque Berserk'. Winter
Wonderland's ice rink, the biggest outdoor rink in the UK, surrounds the
Victorian bandstand and is illuminated with more than 100,000 lights. 2016 also sees a new
family-friendly 'Sooty Christmas Show' with Sweep, Soo and TV's Richard Cadell all making appearances.
This year the Magical Ice Kingdom presents an 'Arctic Adventure' complete with icebergs, shipwreck and a
polar bear palace. Along with the 60-metre observation wheel, rollercoasters and fairground rides will keep
thrill seekers happy. A good alternative for those who prefer to stay on solid ground are the selection of
themed bars with real fires, except for the Ice Bar (for obvious structural reasons) where even the glasses you
drink from are made of ice.
Southbank Centre Winter Market
(Fri 20 Nov – Thurs 24 Dec, Southbank)
Clustered along the riverbank, the market’s wooden chalets are
filled with festive food, drinks, gifts and treats for the whole
family. Enjoy mulled wine, quality edibles and handmade crafts
while taking in the sights and sounds of London at Christmas
time. The Winter Market forms only part of the larger winter
festival at the Southbank. The Rekorderlig Winter Lodge will
be back for 2016. Cosy up Scandi-style in this two-floor pop-up
complete with fire pits and Swedish food as well as hot and cold cider
cocktails.
4. Christmas in Leicester Square
(Fri 11 Nov 2016 – Sun 8 Jan 2017, Leicester Square)
'The ‘square’ in Leicester Square will be home to a grotto, traditional Christ-
mas Market and a vintage Spiegeltent – a velvety, wooden venue home to a
stocked programme of Christmas shows brought to you from the Underbelly
team, including Ursula Martinez, The English Gents, Hamish McCann’s pole act,
Denis Lock’s bubble act and the world famous La Soirée circus. Entry to Christ-
mas in Leicester Square is free, but tickets must be bought for selected events,
including Santa's Grotto and La Soirée Performances.
Tate Modern Christmas Market
(Sat 19 Nov – Fri 23 Dec 2016, Tate Modern, Southbank)
Xmas Markets Ltd. will be returning to this great location for the third year in a
row. There will be a layout change so that we can also accommodate a wonder-
ful Victorian Carousel for the little ones and the grown up little ones or you
can hop onto our little kiddy ride if the carousel is too daring for you. There
will be lots of stalls with gift ideas and Christmas decoration, alongside a vast
selection of Christmas foods and hot drinks to keep you warm while you shop for presents.
Skating with Somerset House and Fortnum & Mason
(17 Nov 2016 – 15 Jan 2017, Somerset House)
The icing on the ‘Christmas’ cake, you’ll find us skating here in Somerset house
ice rink (voted as the best by Londoners). Why not come and join us at the
Fortnum & Mason rink side pop-up shop and enjoy some tea and truffles, or
champagne and smoked salmon blinis. Tickets are available from
ticketmaster.co.uk or somersethouse.org.uk
Christmas at Kew
(Wed 23 Nov 2016 – Mon 2 Jan 2017, Kew Gardens)
Now in its fourth year, Kew’s new 2016 winter trail is
inspired by the Gardens themselves all playfully lit and
aglow.
Enter between two giant Christmas trees festooned
with ribbon and wander beneath unique tree cano-
pies drenched in seasonal colour. Follow the path
between a carpet of light gently swaying like blos-
som and stop for a moment of Reflection at the
scented Fire Garden inspired by Five Gold Rings
from The Twelve Days of Christmas. Continue to-
wards the glittering trees dripping with giant crystals and gaze
at colour changing reeds rising high into the night sky.
This year, framed by sparkling hedges, the Palm House Pond springs to life with brightly coloured laser
beams, fans of light and flickering orbs that dance in time to music inspired by much-loved Christmas classics.
For the younger ones, the playful atmosphere of white peaks will welcome you with a Victorian carousel,
helter skelter and other family rides and don’t forget to look out for Santa and his elves at the North Pole
village along the way.
Why not complete your Christmas treat under the stars with spiced cider, mulled wine or hot chocolate while
the aroma o roasting chestnuts fills the air?
Tickets are available from www.kew.org
5. Festive Recipe
Baklava: Pistachio and Honey Slices
In Greece, Christmas is a
very religious holiday. On
the night of Christmas Eve,
families go to midnight
mass and hang sprigs of
basil to keep away the evil
spirits known as the
Killantzaroi. It is also a day
of great family celebration
and togetherness.
This classic Greek dish
takes on even more
importance during the
holiday season–a dish that
incorporates the help of the
whole family captures the
spirit of the holidays in
Greece. The sweet flavours
matched with the crunch of
the filo dough makes this a
dessert right for any
Christmas table
Makes 8 small slices.
Filo Pastry
1 tbsp Butter
3 tbsp squeezable Honey
1/3 cup Pistachio Butter (or chopped Pistachios)
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C.
2. Take a small baking dish, grease with butter and set aside.
3. Layer the baklava straight into the dish in the following order; Filo pastry (no need to cut to
exactly fit just fold the edges over and tuck them in), brush with melted Butter, Filo, Butter, Filo,
Squeeze Honey generously over, Filo, Nuts sprinkled over, Honey, Filo, Butter, Filo, Honey, Filo,
Butter, Nuts, Honey, Filo, Butter, Filo, Butter, Honey etc. Continue until you run out of pastry or
fill your dish, whichever comes first.
4. Baklava can be quite tricky to cut after baking so I pre-cut at this stage.
5. Bake for 15 minutes or until richly golden and crisp.
6. Sprinkle with remaining nuts and more honey over the top and eat hot.
6. Festive Recipe
Christopsomo
Christopsomo (Christ’s Bread) is a traditional Greek, anise
flavoured Christmas bread.
Baking a Christopsomo is considered a religious task in an
Orthodox Greek household. The baker begins by crossing
himself & asking for blessings for the household. The bread is
baked on the Christmas eve and eaten on the day of Christmas.
Only the best and the most expensive ingredients are used to
bake this bread. Ropes of dough are used to adorn the bread
with a cross. Unshelled walnuts are used for decorations too.
1 package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp ground cardamom seeds (seeds removed from their husks)
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp salt. 1/4 cup melted butter
1 and 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
For the glaze and garnish
2 Tablespoons Honey
1 Tablespoons Lime Juice
Sesame seeds
Grease an 8-inch circular cake pan.
Dissolve the yeast in the warm water and allow to stand for a few minutes.
Combine the sugar, salt, egg, milk, cardamom and butter in a large bowl and mix well.
Add the yeast mixture, both types of flour, raisins and the walnuts and mix well. If the dough is too
moist, add a little all-purpose flour to make softer dough.
Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead by hand until it is smooth and elastic (for
about 5 minutes).
Shape into a round loaf. Place the dough into the cake pan, cover with a towel and allow to rise in a
warm place until doubled in volume.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 180°C. When risen, bake the loaf for 35 to 40 minutes or until
brown and it sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
Remove from oven, and cool on a rack for about 10 minutes.
Whisk the honey and lime juice, & brush on to the loaf for the glaze.
Sprinkle the sesame seeds.
7. Budget v Splurge
NUREMBERG, GERMANY
Christkindlesmarkt
(27 November – 24 December 2016)
Although there are several contenders for the
title of Germany’s most famous Christmas
market, the Christkindlesmarkt in the medieval
city of Nuremberg can stake a pretty strong
claim. Dating back to 1628.
It epitomises all we have come to associate with
the more tasteful Teutonic take on the festive
season. The main market, held in the city’s
largest square (Hauptmarkt), positively hums
with visitors enjoying the colours, sounds and
quality of the handcrafted goods on sale (mass-
produced goods are strictly verboten), while
beating off the cold with glasses (or small boots)
filled with Glühwein and munching on spicy
grilled sausages and Nuremberg gingerbread. A
Christmas Angel further lightens proceedings, as
does a playful Children’s Christmas market on
the Hans-Sachs-Platz. Another speciality is the
little men made out of dried prunes.
NEW YORK, USA
Rockefeller Tree Lighting Ceremony
(30 November 2016)
The turning on of the lights of the Rockefeller
Christmas tree is a big happening in New York
and there is a real ceremony beforehand. It gets
very busy at Rockefeller Center during the
ceremony, everyone wants to catch a glimpse of
the Christmas tree. The ceremony is broadcast
live on TV and watched by millions of Americans.
A chance to see a famous singer perform is
expected. The Rockefeller Christmas tree is
decorated with more than 30,000 LED lights and
the electrical wiring is longer than 8 kilometres!.
Best Place for Christmas Dinner
Momofuku Ko (8 Extra Place, off E 1st Street,
Between Bowery and 2nd Avenue) If you want to
splash the cash, this exclusive 22 seater
restaurant is the place to be. The 8 course feast
created by Sean Gary will run you just over 2
Franklins. Beverage pairing is available for and
extra $175. Reserving a space is highly
recommended.
Best Christmas Show
Christmas Spectacular starring the Radio City
Rockettes (Radio City Music Hall) This is the
event that literally kicks off the holiday season in
New York City. Since 1933 the tap dancers, flying
Santa and of course the Rockettes have put on
one of the city’s most classic Christmas
spectacles. This year’s Christmas Spectacular
starts 11 November – 2 January, with ticket
prices range from $45 - $250.
8. 1
2
Taking 2017 by the horns
It’s easy enough to make New Year’s resolutions for the year ahead. However, we all know that sticking to
the resolution is so much more difficult. This is probably because these resolutions are generally made in the
heat of the moment, and more often than not with the assistance of a few glasses of Champagne. Following
these tips below can help you to sticking to your goal.
3
4
5
6
7
8
Don’t pick too many
Whittle down that list of 10 resolutions to one or
two. Let’s be honest, the more you have to juggle
the more opportunities there are for other
resolutions to be dropped. Make sure the
resolutions you choose are achievable and specific.
Don’t pick a resolution that you never seem to keep,
i.e. losing weight, instead go for something along
the lines of 3 workouts a week.
Get Creative
Writing down your resolutions helps build a greater
connection between your thinking self and your
doing self. Having your resolution in black and
white makes it more real. You could even write up a
contract for yourself and make it official by signing
it. Alternatively creating a vision board that you can
see each day can help to reinforce your resolution
and to help give that little push on your down days.
Don’t go cold turkey
If one of your resolutions is to give up a bad habit,
make sure you have something to replace it with.
Don’t go all “Chuck Norris” with your resolution.
Replacing old habits with new ones does take time,
at the very least 21 days. Ween yourself off the
older habit so it slowly stops being a part of your
daily regime. Going cold turkey will definitely have
you thinking about what you are trying to give up
and will more than likely end with you falling back in
to your old routine.
Baby Steps
So you’ve decided to go healthy? Good for you!
You’re quitting smoking, losing weight, exercising
and drinking more water. Wrong! Though your
intentions are good, focus on one of these only.
Remember not to take on too much and to manage
your goals in bitesize chunks. As you progress with
your resolution build on it. Exercising more may
lead you to changing the way you eat or might get
you to quit smoking.
Review your progress
By managing your resolution in smaller pieces it is
easier for you to track your progress. You can see
what works well and where improvements can be
made. For instance if you had decided to go to the
gym more frequently and have found that you’re
not, perhaps you’ve been working to late, try
getting to the gym in the morning. A small change
can make a world of difference.
Make sure the resolutions you
choose are achievable and
specific. Don’t pick a
resolution that you never
seem to keep.
Get support
Tell someone you trust about your resolution.
They can help to support you and give you
encouragement should you feel you’re may be
losing focus of your goal. You can also find support
groups online or possibly through an app on your
smartphone.
Be Positive
Focus on the positive aspects of your resolutions
rather than on the negatives. Instead of thinking
that the gym is too busy in the morning. Think
about how great you feel with all that energy,
before you’ve even got into work.
CELEBRATE!
Don’t forget to celebrate the small achievements or
the milestones on the way to reaching your goal.
Just don’t celebrate in a way that jeopardises all
the hard work you’ve put in. It’s a great way to
maintain a positive mental attitude towards
smashing your New Year’s resolution.
9. St Botolph Building Updates
AirSensa Project
CBRE has signed a partnership to help launch a nationwide air quality monitoring network, the largest
of it’s kind in the world. This project will see the roll out of 10,000 units across the city of London
alone, to help monitor and map urban air quality. The St Botolph Building has had an AirSensa unit
installed and it is already hard at work collecting data for the project.
Jonathan Steel of Change London said: “You can’t manage what you can’t measure.” The information
collected from these units across London and the rest of the UK will, with time, be able to paint a real-
time picture of the air quality of our urban centres. Data will soon be delivered to powerful
smartphone apps, allowing individuals to plan “low pollution” journeys in to work. Long-term data on
key pollutants will assist local government as an input to future transport and housing planning as well
as policy creation.
Annual Waste and Recycling Roadshow
The Annual Waste and Recycling Roadshow for the St Botolph Building kicked
off on 6 October and was well attended by members of the tenants’ catering,
housekeeping and management teams. The purpose of this meeting was to
raise waste/recycling awareness. A workshop was prepared for the atten-
dees in relation to site waste procedures, our targets and “why we do, what
we do”, helping the teams at the St Botolph Building to maintain and
improve on our already award winning standards. The following day the East
reception hosted a recycling and waste awareness day open to all St Botolph
employees. Here information on site based waste stats and targets were displayed along with new
waste initiatives to help reduce waste produced in the building. There was even a chance for one
member of staff to win a “Roberts” solar powered DAB radio. The lucky person was Robert Colls of
JLT. Mihaela Biclea from Incentive QAS won a Kindle e-reader.
Waste and Recycling Data (12 months to September 2016)
In the 12 months to September 2016, the St Botolph Building has collected a total of 434 tonnes of
waste, all of which was either recycled or used in energy recovery, with nothing going to landfill.
0Sentto
Landfill
%434tonnes
Recycled
88.8%
Energy
Recovery
11.2%
10. 10,000 AirSensa units across London and the rest of the UK will constantly measure atmospheric pollution
levels to assist local government as an input for future transport and housing .
11. St Botolph Building Updates
The Green Apple Awards
The St Botolph Building has been successful in winning a Green Apple
Award for 2016. The award ceremony will be hosted in Parliament, in
the House of Commons later on in the month of November. The Green Apple
Environments Awards was launched in 1994 and is held annually to reward, promote
and recognise environmental best practice around the world.
Open House 2016
Saturday 17 September saw the St Botolph Building open its doors to the general
public as part of the London wide 2016 Open House Event. This is the third year
that the St Botolph building has participated and was just one of 750 buildings to
take in this annual festival of architecture and design. The building was quoted
to be “the first major office building in the UK to use TWIN lift technology with
16 lifts operating independently in eight shafts within the central atrium.”
Halloween Charity Drive
This year CBRE, Shelter and Lola’s Cupcakes have joined forces to collect
money for the homeless charity. A charity raffle was held on 26 October
with five prizes up for grabs.
The 1st Prize was a large Halloween themed hamper from Fortnum &
Mason and was won by Bev Jackson of Clyde & Co.
Second prize was a medium sized Halloween hamper also from F&M and this
was won by Maria Hogan of JLT.
Joint third Prize was Pippa Rudman of Lockton and David Granger of JLT. Each
received a mini hamper from F&M.
Abby Collier of CBRE was drawn for the fourth prize of Jack-the-
Ripper walking tour tickets.
In total £206.45 was raised for Shelter and the funds collected from
the raffles and proceeds made by Lola’s Cupcakes will be used to help
those less fortunate.
12.
13. St Botolph Building Events
02 – 03 Nov The Book People
www.thebookpeople.co.uk
09 Nov Ultimate Bikes
www.ultimatebikes.com
21 Nov The Gift People
www.thegiftpeople.co.uk
7 Dec Children’s Choir
www.thebookpeople.co.uk
www.giftpeople.co.uk
www.ultimatebikes.com
14. Beating the winter blues
Get a Flu Shot: An influenza vaccination can reduce the risk of flu illness by 50 to 60% in
the general population and can decrease the severity and side effects if you get sick.
Protects against 3 strains of the flu: A/H3N2, A/H1N1, and influenza B. There are 4 kinds
of vaccine: the traditional flu shot, the intradermal shot, the nasal spray and the high-dose
vaccine.
Boost your diet: Eating foods that are high in vitamin C will help keep your immune
system strong, so include fruit and veggies such as lemons, kiwifruit, capsicum and
broccoli in your weekly shop. Look for vitamins with 100% of the recommended daily
values of vitamins A, B6, B12, C, and D and the minerals chromium, copper, folic acid,
selenium, calcium, and zinc. Take your multi during a meal that contains a bit of fat so you
can absorb the nutrients better.
Exercise Regularly: It’s vital to keep your workout regimen up during winter, with a recent
study showing that a moderate level of regular exercise has a long-term cumulative effect
on immune response. UCLA researchers found that Tai Chi, the Chinese art of slow
movements, meditation and breathing helps decrease the release of catecholamine, a
neurotransmitter that dampens the immune system: in one study, 3 sessions a week for 4
months enhanced immune cell function by 45% in adults with shingles
Sleep well: Lack of sleep can have a serious effect on your immune system, making you
more vulnerable to catching colds. A study from Brazil found lack of sleep can result in a
substantial decrease in the white blood cells that help to fight infection in the body. So aim
for 8 hours of sleep every night to help your body repair and your brain to take a rest and
recharge.
Wash your hands – a lot: Researchers saw a decrease in respiratory illness of 45% from
the previous year among 45,000 recruits who had been instructed to wash their hands at
least 5 times a day (soap dispensers were installed, and the students were lectured
monthly on the importance of hand washing). They found that those who carried hand
sanitizer with them had 59% fewer cases of stomach bugs than nonusers. Keep it on your
desk or stash it in your bag and use it as needed.
Stay hydrated: Don’t forget to keep drinking water! As the weather cools down and our
thirst decreases it is easy to forget to drink enough water. You still need to aim for about
two litres/day of water during winter as it is essential for our body to function. If you
struggle with plain water (like we do sometimes) try herbal tea, add a dash of honey and
don’t forget the lemon for a vitamin C fix.
Wrap up: When you do head out into the outdoors this winter, make sure you
protect yourself from the elements. Dress in layers of sweat resistant materials, and
go for items which are easy to take on and off, so that you can adjust your body
temperature easily - and don't forget the importance of a good waterproof outer
layer to protect yourself from both wind and rain.
15. Promotional Card
One Sixty www.one-sixty.co.uk
10% discount
Kenza www.kenza-restaurant.com
15% off our a la carte menu when 2 courses are ordered (Mon – Thurs)
CRUSSH www.crush.com
20% off your first order
Steam & Rye www.steamandrye.com
20% discount
The Sterling www.thesterlingbar.co.uk
Bar 20% discount
The Drift Bar www.thedriftbar.co.uk
15% discount
Walter & www.walterandmonty.com
Monty 10% discount
Square Mile www.squaremiledentalcentre.co.uk
Dental Centre 50% discount off your first exam, then 10% off all treatments
We grill www.wegrill.co.uk
20% discount
Secret Frog www.secretfrog.co.uk
Coffee Co. 10% discount
The Alchemist www.thealchemist.uk.com
25% discount
EAT www.eat.co.uk
10% discount
For more offers and services please visit www.stbotolph.co.uk
16. REVOLUTION - AMERICA SQUARE
Set beneath the arches of Fenchurch Street Station, and a moment's walk from
Tower Hill Station, Revolution America Square mixes opulent Manhattan design
with a twist of Soviet spirit.
The stunning white marble Deli Bar welcomes you to the venue and the Vodka
Studio offers the perfect backdrop for premium Tsarist Dining, a cocktail
masterclass or meetings and conferences.
Specialising in vodka, food and partying, Revolution offers you a premium
breakfast and lunch menu, a constantly evolving cocktail menu, premium spirits,
wines and beer from around the world, as well as the best place to party in the
square mile!
The popular cocktail masterclass is an expertly guided tour
through the dazzling world of cocktails. You’ll learn. You’ll
party. And you’ll never experience anything else like it.
Discover all the secrets to our expertly handcrafted cock-
tails and learn about the premium spirits and fresh ingredi-
ents we use to make them. But most importantly, let’s have a
proper party. It starts as soon as you walk in the door, with some personalized
Vodkaccinos served up by your dedicated cocktail-loving host. Then, get ready
to learn all the tricks of the trade, from muddling and mixing to shaking and
stirring as you get behind the bar to make a cocktail of your choice.
With the blue loyalty card shown on arrival, you can benefit from 50% off food
every Monday, after work drinks package for £60 for 10 Bottles of Beer, 2
bottles of wine, 1 bowl of nachos, complimentary reserved area perfect for up
to 10 people, complimentary invitation to their Friday Local Club.
Contact them on 0203 355 7500 or email bookings-americasq@revolution-
bars.co.uk.
17. Did you know that SKANSKA started more
than 125 years ago in a small fishing village
of southern Sweden? Today Skanska is now
one of the world’s leading project
development and construction companies,
employing about 57,000 people.
Skanska has been recognised in 2016 for the
following
• Investors in People – Gold
• New Civil Engineer Award
• Ground Engineering (GE) Awards 2016
• European Women in Construction and
Engineering Awards
Portico has recently undergone rebranding
and with update there have been changes to
the visions and values, new service habits, a
new company website and a thank you
scheme. Portico has even launched their
new newsletter, Heartbeat.
Portico will be holding their Portico People
Award in November.
Daniela Colibaba was also announced the
employee of the quarter, congratulations to
her.
We are pleased to announce that Christopher
Osei has been awarded the Incentive QAS
Employee of the Year for the St Botolph Building.
He is an excellent problem solver and his
flexibility and natural calmness under pressure is
key to the Experience de delivers to our clients.
We are also proud to announce that we have
been awarded the Incentive QAS Contract of the
Year. It was indeed an honour to be amongst
those receiving an Award. We have proved that
a company’s success is a joint effort by a good
team and not just a good leader. A lot of hard
work, a lot of effort… Well done to our team!
Did you know that CIS has been selected as
a finalist in the Customer Experience
Category at this year’s BIFM Awards
CIS Security has also achieved its best ever
score of 170 in an independent audit
conducted on behalf of the SIA Approved
Contractor score Scheme for best Practice.
A big thank you needs to be given to Ryan
Shiel and Tom Robinson who on 11 October,
helped with the leak on the JLT and Lockton
floors.
