The Newtownabbey Times is a local newspaper which has been circulated around the area for over 100…read moreyears. It is published by Johnston Press plc. (One of the top 3 largest local newspaper publishers in the UK) It's sister papers include the Carrickfergus and Larne Times, each with their own offices in the respective areas. Together they have been reporting news stories around the East Antrim area since the 1860s. Focusing mainly on local news, it is a valuable source of community information and news updates. It is currently published every Thursday and coverage includes news, sports, health and education amongst a number of contemporary news stories or reviews. For more information or to contact the newspaper, email susan.gillen@jpress.co.uk or send your letters to Newtownabbey Times, 14 Portland Avenue, Glengormley, Newtownabbey, BT36 5EY. Telephone: 028 9084 3621

Newtownabbey Times includes stories from all across the area - from Ballyduff to Ballyclare, from…read moreCarnmoney to Templepatrick, and from Glengormley to Jordanstown. It's comprehensive coverage mean that it's a) quite an in-depth paper (certainly not on par with The Sun etc), and b) it takes quite a while to read (not such a good idea when on a hot, stuffy bus from Ballyclare to Belfast, with ten screaming teenagers arguing over whether it's a bikelist or a cyclist...). I did, however, come across a few interesting nuggets of information. For example, who knew that there even was a Women's Rugby World Cup, let alone the fact that one of Ireland's players comes from Whiteabbey? Or indeed that there is a singing group known as the Belfast Phoenix Choir? My life has been greatly enhanced thanks to these wonderful pieces of completely useful information. As well as the news section, the Newtownabbey Times has a rather amusing birthday component (one particular vengeful twin used this to her advantage), as well as a jobs section (Primark are looking Christmas staff already?!), business news, a sports section, property news, a careers / training / education insert, and a lengthy motorcar segment. All in all, not a bad paper.

Cue hyperventilation…read more I make no secret of the fact that I adore stationery shops. All those piles of paper, stacks of sharpeners and heaps of highlighters combined with a profusion of pens, a plethora of pencils and a redundance of rubbers fill me with such complete euphoria that I feel the need to immediately purchase one or more of the above. Unfortunately, as my education days are now over, and my uses for such stationery supplies are at an all time low, I no longer require surplus amounts of pens, paper and the like. Thankfully, however, my sister has seemingly followed in my footsteps. Having decided that she likes her school notes colour coordinated (a girl truly after my own heart), she was after a few highlighters to fulfil her need on this particular trip to The Office. And believe you me, it is a need. My upper sixth year was spent swapping from blue to orange to pink to green to yellow highlighter in an attempt to make life much more colourful and easier to understand. It worked. The Office (great name, don't you think?) was bursting at the seams with every stationery supply you could ever need - kiddies felt tips to whiteboard markers, exercise books to coloured ring binders. And a whole lot of highlighters. Ooh goody. We were in luck. Rather than purchasing single highlighters (despite the vast colour choice), I convinced my sister to go for a set of four high-quality ones for £3.15. She didn't need much convincing, mind you. I think she may even have been more excited than I was, if that's at all possible. With so much stock, and all at great prices, I could've spent a) an awful lot longer there and b) an awful lot more money, but I (wisely) decided against it. My wisdom was later acknowledged, as I actually won a stationery set at a treasure hunt later that night. What a great day.

The office is unique in Ballyclare in that I don't believe there is another similar shop like it…read more Ahh however there is a couple of things but I'll get to them in a moment....a "stationary/pen shop" is definitely needed in Ballyclare due to our 2 big grammar schools, but there's much more to this shop at the epicenter of the towns centre like a place you can print photos out from your smartphone with the aid of their VERY helpful staff. Pens, pencils, envelopes, erasers etc, all the norm in a stationary shop. The only 2 things I can pick up on in this much needed establishment are the former computer (PC, tablet, laptop etc) repairs folks. I went to get my laptop a "clearout" or whatever they call it, only to be told that their "specialist" had resigned and moved on to pastures anew. The salesman then I have to admit very kindly directed me to a new shop that had opened in the town where I could get my laptop seen to. The other point I feel I should add without mentioning any names is the owners of "The Office" and their other profitable business opposite it. I have on several occasions witnessed unduly unhelpful relations between very friendly staff and these owners. I wouldn't call it bullying by any means but as an employee myself in such an occupation, I found correspondence from the owners to the staff very unpleasant and unjust! In a nutshell a great wee shop that's owners just need to treat it's likeable employees with a little more respect.

Leathems is one these little gems in that they have provided a local service for year after year. I…read morewould pick up my daily paper (very early) and they are also the local Sub Post Office providing an essential service. I was going to say an essential service for our senior citezens but it's a vital service for young and old alike. In a convient location too adjacent to the main road and rail station and with plenty of free parking at their door. We need shops like this in our neighbourhood and long may they continue to prosper.

Located on Bangor's Main Street the Spectator Offices are sleek and sophisticated, unlike the rest…read moreof the buildings on main street the you do not have to fear perched pigeons overhead. I recently visited the offices to enquire about placing an advertisement and to be frank, I felt under dressed. The staff on the reception did not judge my scruffy appearance, they were helpful and informative. They advised that the best way to continue with my enquiry was to go online. Although this was far from a wasted journey. The offices were a hub of activity, the sense of excitement alone prompted me to buy the latest issue of the County Down Spectator, the peak of local investigative journalism. If you have a scoop for the reporters or just want to buy the latest issue of the paper then my advice is to visit the Spectator offices and see where the local news comes from.

Again, this is quite hard for me to review this place as I have worked here in the past as a…read morereporter and know most of the staff so I can't really be mean about any of them. Not that I could be mean about anyone here because they really are a lovely bunch of folks who made me feel very welcome when I first worked here. The journalistic side of things is professionally run by Paul the editor and they have a real tradition of excellent reporting as well as a welcoming and interested attitude when you ring up about a story. Us hacks are always looking for a scoop so there is no need to feel intimidated or feel that you couldn't ring up. I never worked in the advertising office but always found them helpful and incredibly well informed anytime I had to deal with them. This really is a well established and much loved wee local paper, you can't go bad with it.

I have huge admiration for Martin Gregg, the guy behind BT16plus. He started out in 2006,…read morepublishing this little magazine for the Dundonald area (hence the name...that's our postcode!), and has seen it go from strength to strength. Martin is a true believer in community spirit, and this is reflected in his magazine. He fills it with ads from local companies (from Dundonald, Newtownards, Castlereagh etc.), and helps to promote these businesses by encouraging people to use them, rather than the big chain stores. Furthermore, through BT16plus, Martin airs his views on everything from local issues, such as politics, to topics such as the Comber Greenway, education, holidays and the like. His no-nonsense approach is appreciated so much that he decided to run for councillor for Strangford in 2007 (as an Independent), and more recently stood in the Castlereagh by-election for the Green party. Despite his failure to get elected both times, he did incredibly well the second time, and has made politics accessible to those in Dundonald, and indeed in East Belfast. Martin also comments on local happenings in the area in BT16plus, and I once emailed him after a dog ran into my boyfriend's car because I was so annoyed at the dog's owner who hadn't thought to put his dog on a lead (in an increasingly busy area), or had had the decency to apologise for the incident. Martin was incredibly sympathetic towards me, and subtly recorded the event in the following month's issue of BT16plus, highlighting the need for dog owners to be more aware. I was so thankful to him for this. BT16plus is an excellent little magazine, but it is really Martin Gregg who deserves recognition for all his hard work. Keep it up Martin!

Auto Trader is Northern Ireland's biggest and best used car directory. It comes out every Thursday…read moreand is reasonably priced at £2.20! Unlike something like the ads for free, where I think the print version is made redundant by its online counterpart, I feel for the Auto Trader both sections are valid and complement each other well. The magazine provides an extensive rage range of every type of vehicle under the sun that will come at a wide variety of ages and prices. The magazine is good be\cause if you get it first thing on a Thursdday morning when it comes out you can hopefully beat off the competition to any bargains. The layout is clear and good, and there is always a great variety on display. Unfortunately the paper can attract a lot of tyre-kickers as my father who regularly advertises in this magazine will profess! Advertising rates are reasonable and the photography teams will come out to you and take pictures of your cars if you don't have the time which is good for a busy bee like my dad!

Every young boy at some point gets bored and has read an Auto Trader from cover to cover... Don't…read morewe? To be honest I looked at the majority of the pictures and decided there and then if they were worth my Dad showing any interest. Turned out he didn't want to buy a car, nor did he want my opinion. Insert sad face. The Auto Trader is the biggest selling car magazine in all of the country and when you buy it you can see why. It is choc-a-block with any number of cars, lorries, quad bikes etc. All used. All Northern Irish. The internet, as Nick rightly said, is having a much more exciting time with buying and selling cars than it used to so the future of Auto Trader may not be as secure as it used to be. However, from working in a part-time job in which we sold this magazine, there was rarely a time any magazines were returned to the supplier. It has everything you need as well as information about the vehicles and a contact number in case you are interested. Perhaps this time next year magazines will be something of a distant memory like VHS, yo-yos and Destiny's Child. But for now Auto Trader is a great magazine and is definitely worth a look if you are interested in buying or selling any vehicles.