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The news
is full of doom and gloom, our weather is dull and grey. However,
according to the survey just released by Freixenet, the makers of
Freixenet Cordon Negro - the cava in the iconic black bottle - the
British sense of fun is still bubbling through. Recently Freixenet
found that 85%* of Brits believed themselves to be spontaneous, now
the new survey reveals that rather than craving a life of glitz and
glamour we are returning to the simpler things in life to give us
pleasure and make our world a more spontaneous place!
Forget
Going Out - Join the SATs
As the global recession takes
hold, we Brits are returning to a simpler life - the way we were.
Freixenet prefers to think that the reason that more people prefer to
enjoy a night in with their partner rather than a party night out is
because at least 27% of us are real romantics, while only 11% are
party animals. And, the reason why we are a nation of SATs (Stay At
homes) is because we are all discovering the fun to be had with our
family and friends at home (26% said they most enjoyed being at home
with family). Perhaps we secretly wish for those Christmas family
occasions (we all complain about) to last all year round.
Dreamy
Banquet or Hellish Supper?
Apparently, across the nation, we
are becoming a nation of urbane individuals, who like to socialise
over a bottle of Cava at a dinner party with a small, mixed group
(19%). However, Freixenet believes staying at home doesn't mean
missing out on some great entertainment! And, the people of Britain
agreed! According to the research, our ultimate dinner party would
feature an eclectic mix of guests, guaranteed to bring mirth (and
perhaps a little mayhem) to the event. Top of the guest list with 42%
of votes was sassy Dame Helen Mirren, while 38% would love to discuss
life and the universe with 'grumpy old man', Jeremy Clarkson. A
little further down the seating plan was fabulously funny Jo Brand
and outrageous darling of the afternoon chatshow, with a heart of
gold, Paul O'Grady; followed by delectable Cheryl Cole and everyone's
favourite outgoing Time Lord, David Tennant. But, more glamorous
guests like football's 'princess' Victoria Beckham, Kate Middleton
(possibly a real royal soon), the President Elect Barack Obama and
even James Bond himself, Daniel Craig, will all find them selves
further down - below avuncular, family favourite Terry Wogan.
Spread A
Little Happiness - For A Global Gloom Recession
Although money is short and times
are difficult, the survey showed we still enjoy spreading a little
happiness in our busy lives. The Freixenet survey found that 98% of
the population (over 18) has carried out a spontaneous act of
kindness. In the last six months, although we might all be feeling
grumpy, a massive 86% of the population has smiled at a stranger in
the street, while 65% has allowed another driver to pull out from a
side road. And, although reports say jobs are getting more precious,
we care about our fellow workers, as 47% of us have made a cuppa for
a colleague and 36% have even said they would finish a job, so that a
colleague could leave early. And, the young - although not always
recognised for their good behaviour - are doing their bit too, as the
survey found that almost half (45%) of under 24s had given their seat
up to an elderly passenger.
Bare
Necessities And Simple Pleasures
Despite all we hear from Jamie
Oliver and the government, we aren't all junk food junkies. In fact,
when money is tight, the last thing we'd give up is fresh fruit and
veg (29% of us would hang on to our healthy five a day until the
bitter end)! In addition, the survey revealed that 15% of the
population couldn't do without their mobile phone, proving that
mobile technology is no longer a luxury but a necessity. In contrast,
little everyday luxuries that add glitz and glamour to our lives,
such as new CDs, our favourite perfume or aftershave or our daily
anti-wrinkle cream are one of the first things to be sacrificed (by
13% of the population). Meanwhile, we can say that women are more
likely than men to hang onto their naughty but nice treats (7%
compared to 4%) giving up chocolate, cream cakes and ice-cream last.
And, Freixenet, along with everyone's mum, breathes a sigh of relief
and is delighted to report that hole-free undies are extremely low
down on our list when we consider giving things up, as only 5% say
they would give up buying new underwear first.
Going
Back To The Way We Were?
With the festive season fast
approaching, Freixenet wondered whether it's true women turn to
retail therapy to cheer themselves up. The survey found that times
are changing back to the way they were, as women prefer to be spoilt
by others rather than to go out and treat themselves; as 26% of women
said they most enjoyed occasions when someone else bought them a
surprise gift, compared to 14% taking themselves on a shopping spree!
Meanwhile, 18% of men said that their favourite treat was to nip out
for a takeaway and 17% said they would like to have friends drop
around for a drink.~
Right
Here, Right Now
In a morass of bleakness, it
isn't surprising that nationally 26% of us would book a holiday, if
we could do one thing right here, right now. However, we can
definitely say that the Brits are despondent, as a significant
percentage of the population (22%) said they would opt for a more
radical option, leaving our grey isle for good to live abroad. And,
thinking of those glamorous, celebrity lifestyles&ldots; the survey
found that just 9% of the population would change their appearance
with plastic surgery and a mere 3% would swap their partner 'for a
new model'.
Back To
The Simple Things
With lives so busy, what do we
do, on the spur of the moment when we need to unwind? The survey
found that 35% of people would simply settle down and watch their
favourite film; while 26% would choose to get back to nature and
enjoy the glory of a long walk in our beautiful countryside. In third
place many of us (24%) would choose the escapist pleasure of pouring
our favourite wine. And, we found that it's true women love to talk,
as 32% of women compared to 13% of men would forget their troubles
during a long chat on the phone to a friend; while 30% of men
compared to 11% of women would nip down the pub for a swift half or two.
Party Politics
If we are staying in more, what
better way to celebrate the festive season than to enjoy a house
party? But, how do we Brits give a party the X-factor and make it an
event to remember, for all the right reasons? 27% of the population
would choose to buy more bubbly. However, top of the list to make
your party go with a bang, with 31% of respondents' votes was to get
outside caterers in and another 30% would invite guests to join in
with a theme. Freixenet wonders what the top theme of the coming
party season will be. Will it be Red and Black, Santa and his Little
Helpers, tux and tiaras or what I want to be when I grow up?
Let The
Good Times Roll
With the cost of everything
spiralling out of reach, what have we been drinking? We found that
classic Chardonnay was at the top of our shopping list with 29% of
our national poll drinking it last month, closely followed by Shiraz
at 21%. We also discovered that although 10% of Brits had drunk
Champagne last month, another 10% had drunk Cava.
Freixenet Cava, is the world's
favourite sparkling wine - which you may be surprised to hear is made
by the same Methode Traditionelle, as is used to produce Champagne.
So, whether you want to give a party sparkle or simply want to make
an occasion special - why not add a little Mediterranean warmth and
open a bottle of Freixenet Cordon Negro in the Iconic Black bottle?
* Source
Freixenet online survey of 1,511 respondents June 2008
www.freixenet.co.uk
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