The National Statistical Office reported zero growth for the last quarter adding to dire warnings of recession from the Chambers of Commerce and CBI. Despite this, UK industrial crane maker Street Crane Company has recorded the highest ever order intake in their 60 year history. Could it be we have a two speed economy? Andrew Pimblett, Street Crane’s managing director certainly thinks so.
“Conservatively we are expecting our overall sales for 2008/9 to be at least 40 percent ahead of 2007/8 – and that too was very good year. In the first five months of the financial year starting in April, we have seen like for like monthly order intake up to 100 percent higher than the previous year,” Andrew explained.
Factory cranes are a serious capital investment – a single unit could cost from tens of thousands of pounds up to several hundred thousands, depending on size and complexity. Most companies would expect a working life of at least 20 years and so these are investment decisions that they are making after serious consideration of their own prospects. Street Crane’s current success is therefore a barometer of the confidence that UK manufacturers have in their future and an indicator of what is happening in the wider world economy.
“Within the UK, we are seeing some long-term customers who are continuing to invest and grow. The steel maker Corus (now owned by the Indian conglomerate TATA) have placed substantial orders with Street Crane over the past 12 months as part of upgrading and expanding capacity. At the other extreme, we have received significant orders from four UK luxury boat builders, Princess Yachts, Fairline Boats, Sunseeker and Sealine. The common factor is probably that our customers are doing well by serving a world market that is hungry for their products,” concluded Andrew.
This pattern is reflected in Street Crane’s own sales, whereas several years ago the company had a UK to export ratio of 60/40, the company has now more than reversed these proportions as export sales rise. This trend has been supported by two initiatives – new product development and active international partnering to become a supplier of high value components to other industrial crane makers overseas.
Early in 2008, Street Crane launched the ZX 6 and ZX 8 hoists. These hoists are the result of a £1.5 million investment programme by the company and were conceived as products for world markets. Their modular design makes it easy to customise them to meet different national standards and to meet individual industrial user needs. The unique design also makes the hoists easy to ship for local assembly and allows components to be standardised for more efficient manufacture.
The success of the new ZX hoists is already evident. New distribution arrangements have been made with two partners in the USA, two in the Middle East, two in Australia and one in India. Most of these new distributors have taken consignment stocks so that they can offer Street Crane hoists on their own locally built crane structures. These new distributors join an existing network of partners around the world that Street Crane has developed over the last decade.
To cope with the order intake Street has committed £750,000 to a factory extension that will increase the workshop area by around 30 percent and add a new steel stockyard. The new facilities will be on stream early in 2009. To meet immediate production space needs in the main factory, the company has leased additional warehouse space to relocate its parts storage and some CNC machines.
Street Crane expects around 20 new jobs to be created in the expanded factory, of which many will be design engineers to support the intensive product development programme. Providing trends continue, plans are also in hand for further expansion in 2009 with the building of a new dedicated hoist works.
“It is clear that we do have a two speed economy, sectors such as banking, housing and retail are certainly suffering, but as a manufacturer we are far from unique in bucking the trend. Our success and that of others who are doing well is based on three factors: facing outward to the world and not just relying on the UK, investing in world-class product development to meet world demand and, finally, chasing markets in the petrodollar economies that are keen to develop their industrial and economic infrastructure before the oil runs out,” Andrew concluded.
As if to underpin the last point, the company has just secured a £2.5 million order for cranes at a new aluminium smelter at Emirates Aluminium. This is a new venture that will be the largest facility of its kind in the world. Other significant recent orders are in steel and power generation.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Pioneering neuro-orthopaedic centre for dogs and cats opening this weekend
Noel Fitzpatrick – the internationally acclaimed veterinary surgeon and pioneer of prosthetic implants for animals – is set to make history again by launching Europe’s most advanced neuro-orthopaedic centre for dogs and cats.
This weekend’s (Aug 31) official opening of Fitzpatrick Referrals’ state-of-the-art veterinary facilities at Eashing, near Godalming, Surrey, represents a ground-breaking £10m investment to create a world-class “centre of excellence” in diagnosis, surgery and rehabilitation.
The first veterinary surgeon to successfully apply a prosthetic limb to a dog where both bone and skin can grow onto metal – a technique with far-reaching cross-over potential for human surgery – Noel believes in “pushing the boundaries” and creating solutions for conditions that may never have previously been treatable.
Innovative surgical procedures and techniques pioneered by Noel Fitzpatrick and his team allow animals to regain pain-free functional quality of life. The work being done at Eashing also provides valuable experience for medical science as a whole. Examples include cartilage resurfacing, limb-sparing cancer surgery and spinal vertebral fusion.
According to Professor Gordon Blunn of the Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculo-Skeletal Science at University College London: “Orthopaedic conditions and diseases are common to both human beings and to animals. For example osteoarthritis is debilitating condition seen in humans, cats and dogs. Bone cancer which can lead to loss of life in humans and is usually associated with the peripheral skeleton is also seen in the peripheral skeleton of large dog breeds. Translation of ideas, orthopaedic practice and treatments, from humans to the veterinary field and visa versa has considerable advantages to all animals including dogs, cats and man. Noel Fitzpatrick is pioneering this concept and his work in limb reconstruction for dogs and cats has already had benefits in both veterinary and human orthopaedic practice.”
Strongly committed to the “One Medicine” ethos, Noel’s latest move marks a giant leap forward in realising this dream of providing the same high level of care and compassion for all sentient beings – animals as much as people.
With over 25% of UK households having a dog or cat, and with these pets increasingly seen as part of the family, there is a strong and growing interest in finding ways to ensure that animals can survive major injuries or disease and go on to live happy and pain-free futures. Noel also fervently believes that “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” His vision for the facility is to achieve “a true marriage of compassion and surgical excellence.”
Veterinarian Peter van Dongen DRS(Utrecht) CERT.V.R, MRCVS comments: “Noel is one of the most compassionate, caring and dedicated vets I have ever met in my professional life. He mixes unrivalled specialist knowledge with unfailing enthusiasm, true love for animals and an uncanny ability to communicate with people of all walks of life. He is truly one special vet.”
Fitzpatrick Referrals is the only veterinary hospital in the whole of Europe to have installed a closed-field Siemens Symphony MRI scanner, which can provide ultra-clear images of bone, spine, brain and soft tissue to enable rapid and accurate diagnosis of routine problems such as slipped discs as well as potentially life-threatening conditions such as tumours.
The hospital also has a specially fitted-out physiotherapy suite and a hydrotherapy pool to facilitate patients’ rehabilitation and recovery.
Noel believes that education is the key for the future of medicine and its possibility – not just education of the public regarding the importance of the animal-human bond – but also education of the next generation of veterinary pioneers with new dynamic interactive techniques which both inspire and inform. In this regard the new conference facility at Fitzpatrick Referrals is the first of its kind which combines a cinema-style environment with a real-time interactive forum for exchange of medical innovation between universities and centres of excellence worldwide.
The idea is that this unique ethos at Fitzpatrick Referrals can be sustained well into the future and that the facility at Eashing should be the first of a number of such neuro-orthopaedic centres globally.
The official opening on August 31 is set to be a memorable occasion – with over 500 veterinary surgeons and specialists from all over the UK and Ireland descending on Eashing to view the new facilities and to experience a day of entertainment by the likes of Alistair McGowan, the master of mimicry, and music by bands including The Saw Doctors – one of the most popular Irish folk-rock groups in the world.
Host and compere for the day will be radio and TV presenter Chris Evans. Chris’s own dog, Enzo, a German Shepherd, was “written off” by other vets after becoming paralysed with two herniated discs – but Chris refused to give up hope. Noel fitted Enzo with two bolts to replace the collapsed disc and keep the vertebrae apart. The surgery was followed by extensive physiotherapy and hydrotherapy to enable Enzo to learn to walk again.
Says Chris: “Noel lives out his dreams with boundless curiosity, ambition and genius, the product of which is hundreds, soon to be thousands, of fixed pets and happy owners – like me. I have huge respect for his endeavour, his integrity and his compassion and to me he’s a superhero-vetman who will leave no stone unturned in his quest to heal, to create and to comfort. He thinks of solutions to medical problems that I’m sure no-one else could even dream of, let alone think of. Actually – I don’t think he ever sleeps!”
Chris is a regular visitor to Fitzpatrick Referrals while Enzo is recuperating – so it is highly appropriate that he is Master of Ceremonies for the official opening of the hospital at the end of this month.
Noel Fitzpatrick says: “I’m absolutely delighted that Chris and Alistair and all these fantastic musicians will be with us on our launch day. It promises to be a really great day.”
He adds: “This is a big move for Fitzpatrick Referrals and a major financial commitment for us. We’ve been able to take a redundant farm and transform it into a truly revolutionary facility for animal orthopaedics and neurosurgery. But it’s just the first step – there’s so much more to be achieved. Our mission is to provide the same respect for and quality of care to animals as we would for people. If such work contributes to advancement of medical science in humans then that’s great – That’s what the ‘One Medicine’ concept it all about.”
For further information on Fitzpatrick Referrals, please visit http://www.fitzpatrickreferrals.com
This weekend’s (Aug 31) official opening of Fitzpatrick Referrals’ state-of-the-art veterinary facilities at Eashing, near Godalming, Surrey, represents a ground-breaking £10m investment to create a world-class “centre of excellence” in diagnosis, surgery and rehabilitation.
The first veterinary surgeon to successfully apply a prosthetic limb to a dog where both bone and skin can grow onto metal – a technique with far-reaching cross-over potential for human surgery – Noel believes in “pushing the boundaries” and creating solutions for conditions that may never have previously been treatable.
Innovative surgical procedures and techniques pioneered by Noel Fitzpatrick and his team allow animals to regain pain-free functional quality of life. The work being done at Eashing also provides valuable experience for medical science as a whole. Examples include cartilage resurfacing, limb-sparing cancer surgery and spinal vertebral fusion.
According to Professor Gordon Blunn of the Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculo-Skeletal Science at University College London: “Orthopaedic conditions and diseases are common to both human beings and to animals. For example osteoarthritis is debilitating condition seen in humans, cats and dogs. Bone cancer which can lead to loss of life in humans and is usually associated with the peripheral skeleton is also seen in the peripheral skeleton of large dog breeds. Translation of ideas, orthopaedic practice and treatments, from humans to the veterinary field and visa versa has considerable advantages to all animals including dogs, cats and man. Noel Fitzpatrick is pioneering this concept and his work in limb reconstruction for dogs and cats has already had benefits in both veterinary and human orthopaedic practice.”
Strongly committed to the “One Medicine” ethos, Noel’s latest move marks a giant leap forward in realising this dream of providing the same high level of care and compassion for all sentient beings – animals as much as people.
With over 25% of UK households having a dog or cat, and with these pets increasingly seen as part of the family, there is a strong and growing interest in finding ways to ensure that animals can survive major injuries or disease and go on to live happy and pain-free futures. Noel also fervently believes that “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” His vision for the facility is to achieve “a true marriage of compassion and surgical excellence.”
Veterinarian Peter van Dongen DRS(Utrecht) CERT.V.R, MRCVS comments: “Noel is one of the most compassionate, caring and dedicated vets I have ever met in my professional life. He mixes unrivalled specialist knowledge with unfailing enthusiasm, true love for animals and an uncanny ability to communicate with people of all walks of life. He is truly one special vet.”
Fitzpatrick Referrals is the only veterinary hospital in the whole of Europe to have installed a closed-field Siemens Symphony MRI scanner, which can provide ultra-clear images of bone, spine, brain and soft tissue to enable rapid and accurate diagnosis of routine problems such as slipped discs as well as potentially life-threatening conditions such as tumours.
The hospital also has a specially fitted-out physiotherapy suite and a hydrotherapy pool to facilitate patients’ rehabilitation and recovery.
Noel believes that education is the key for the future of medicine and its possibility – not just education of the public regarding the importance of the animal-human bond – but also education of the next generation of veterinary pioneers with new dynamic interactive techniques which both inspire and inform. In this regard the new conference facility at Fitzpatrick Referrals is the first of its kind which combines a cinema-style environment with a real-time interactive forum for exchange of medical innovation between universities and centres of excellence worldwide.
The idea is that this unique ethos at Fitzpatrick Referrals can be sustained well into the future and that the facility at Eashing should be the first of a number of such neuro-orthopaedic centres globally.
The official opening on August 31 is set to be a memorable occasion – with over 500 veterinary surgeons and specialists from all over the UK and Ireland descending on Eashing to view the new facilities and to experience a day of entertainment by the likes of Alistair McGowan, the master of mimicry, and music by bands including The Saw Doctors – one of the most popular Irish folk-rock groups in the world.
Host and compere for the day will be radio and TV presenter Chris Evans. Chris’s own dog, Enzo, a German Shepherd, was “written off” by other vets after becoming paralysed with two herniated discs – but Chris refused to give up hope. Noel fitted Enzo with two bolts to replace the collapsed disc and keep the vertebrae apart. The surgery was followed by extensive physiotherapy and hydrotherapy to enable Enzo to learn to walk again.
Says Chris: “Noel lives out his dreams with boundless curiosity, ambition and genius, the product of which is hundreds, soon to be thousands, of fixed pets and happy owners – like me. I have huge respect for his endeavour, his integrity and his compassion and to me he’s a superhero-vetman who will leave no stone unturned in his quest to heal, to create and to comfort. He thinks of solutions to medical problems that I’m sure no-one else could even dream of, let alone think of. Actually – I don’t think he ever sleeps!”
Chris is a regular visitor to Fitzpatrick Referrals while Enzo is recuperating – so it is highly appropriate that he is Master of Ceremonies for the official opening of the hospital at the end of this month.
Noel Fitzpatrick says: “I’m absolutely delighted that Chris and Alistair and all these fantastic musicians will be with us on our launch day. It promises to be a really great day.”
He adds: “This is a big move for Fitzpatrick Referrals and a major financial commitment for us. We’ve been able to take a redundant farm and transform it into a truly revolutionary facility for animal orthopaedics and neurosurgery. But it’s just the first step – there’s so much more to be achieved. Our mission is to provide the same respect for and quality of care to animals as we would for people. If such work contributes to advancement of medical science in humans then that’s great – That’s what the ‘One Medicine’ concept it all about.”
For further information on Fitzpatrick Referrals, please visit http://www.fitzpatrickreferrals.com
Friday, August 29, 2008
Youth caught by tree branches after cliff fall
Brixham Coastguard are currently coordinating assistance to a youth who fell down a cliff after an emergency call was by a member of the public just after 10.00 am this morning to the marine emergency service.
The call described the teenager as having fallen about 50 foot from the top of a cliff and having been fortuitously caught in the branches of a tree on the way down near Meadfoot beach at Paignton.
Two Coastguard cliff teams from Paignton and Berry Head were called out and cliff men were lowered to either side of the tree, as the drop below the slightly injured teenager held by the tree branches was a further 50 foot onto rocks below.
A further cliff man was then lowered in order to get the boy onto a stretcher before he was lowered to an inshore lifeboat for transportation round to Torbay and a waiting ambulance.
Zoe Boyne, Watch manager at Brixham Coastguard said: "Fortunately the weather has been good in the area today and given our cliff teams good visibility for the rescue of this young lad. By 11.36 this morning the boy had been secured to the stretcher was being lowered the rest of the way down. It seems he had taken a hefty whack on the leg on the way down, but he is exceedingly lucky to have been trapped by the branches of the tree. He is now being transported by the lifeboat to Torquay.
"For visitors and locals alike, our message remains the same, please be very careful on cliff edges, they can be slippery with lichen or water or can in places be very crumbly."
The call described the teenager as having fallen about 50 foot from the top of a cliff and having been fortuitously caught in the branches of a tree on the way down near Meadfoot beach at Paignton.
Two Coastguard cliff teams from Paignton and Berry Head were called out and cliff men were lowered to either side of the tree, as the drop below the slightly injured teenager held by the tree branches was a further 50 foot onto rocks below.
A further cliff man was then lowered in order to get the boy onto a stretcher before he was lowered to an inshore lifeboat for transportation round to Torbay and a waiting ambulance.
Zoe Boyne, Watch manager at Brixham Coastguard said: "Fortunately the weather has been good in the area today and given our cliff teams good visibility for the rescue of this young lad. By 11.36 this morning the boy had been secured to the stretcher was being lowered the rest of the way down. It seems he had taken a hefty whack on the leg on the way down, but he is exceedingly lucky to have been trapped by the branches of the tree. He is now being transported by the lifeboat to Torquay.
"For visitors and locals alike, our message remains the same, please be very careful on cliff edges, they can be slippery with lichen or water or can in places be very crumbly."
Mascus all over Europe
Mascus, the European electronic marketplace for used equipment and transportation vehicles has participated on various fairs in whole Europe
Mascus on fairs all across Europe
At the end of the summer season Mascus, the truly Pan European marketplace for used transport vehicles, forklifts, construction, agriculture, forest and groundscare machines reports its participation in various fairs in all over Europe. From the beginning of the fair time in 2008, Mascus has participated in more than fifteen European fairs. "Fairs are excellent opportunity for us to present Mascus, our services and unique multi-local approach and to meet buyers, traders, and retailers of used equipment and used trucks. We also attend to represent our customers' interests and promote their machines and trucks." says Mascus Sales Director Rickard Peterson.
Busy fair season for Mascus
Altogether, Mascus has been present with their own stand in the most important events in many European countries. In Finland, Mascus participated in biggest tracking event; the Power Truck Show, and is taking part in the most important country event for heavy machinery- Finn Metko. In Lithuania, Mascus has exhibited in Transbaltica Exhibition. In Poland, Mascus participated in the 14th International Fair of Road Construction Industry Autostrada-Polska and in Agropark fair in Lublin, Poland. In Denmark, Mascus participated in the agricultural fair Landsskuet in the beginning of July.
The current fairs season has been saturated with many events in Hungary, where Mascus took part in more than ten altogether, among which the Massey Ferguson day in Szentlőrincz and the most visited Hungarian annual farmers' event Farmer Expo in Debrecen, Hungary. Mascus also sponsored the Third Hungarian Off-Road Championship.
Yet more fairs to come
Until the end of the year, Mascus has planned to participate in even more forthcoming events in other European countries. Among other major events in Poland, Hungary and Lithuania, Mascus will participate in one of the oldest annual agricultural Norwegian fairs- Dyrskun, in the Danish Agromek fair and in the 62nd IAA Commercial Vehicles 2008 Exhibition in Hanover, Germany. "We, at Mascus have always participated in various fairs all over Europe and represent and push our clients' machines and trucks in front of buyers. And the year 2008 has been a very intense year for Mascus, and due to our rapid international expansion we have had the chance to take part in more events than ever, and thus meeting the challenges to be the first truly Pan-European market place for used heavy equipment and transportation vehicles" adds Tomasz Odrobinski, Mascus Marketing and Internationalization Director.
Mascus (www.mascus.co.uk) - Is an electronic marketplace for used machinery, agricultural equipment, forklifts, forestry, groundscare equipment and transportation vehicles. The marketplace offers wide selection of second-hand machines/ trucks including used trailers, tractors, diggers and excavators from all major manufacturers like John Deere, Volvo, JCB, David Brown and CAT. Mascus makes trading in used machinery and equipment quicker and more efficient by collecting in one place information about the supply and the demand. All dealers, producers and end users are welcome to place their used machines and equipment for sale via the marketplace.
Mascus belongs to Alma Media Corporation.
Mascus on fairs all across Europe
At the end of the summer season Mascus, the truly Pan European marketplace for used transport vehicles, forklifts, construction, agriculture, forest and groundscare machines reports its participation in various fairs in all over Europe. From the beginning of the fair time in 2008, Mascus has participated in more than fifteen European fairs. "Fairs are excellent opportunity for us to present Mascus, our services and unique multi-local approach and to meet buyers, traders, and retailers of used equipment and used trucks. We also attend to represent our customers' interests and promote their machines and trucks." says Mascus Sales Director Rickard Peterson.
Busy fair season for Mascus
Altogether, Mascus has been present with their own stand in the most important events in many European countries. In Finland, Mascus participated in biggest tracking event; the Power Truck Show, and is taking part in the most important country event for heavy machinery- Finn Metko. In Lithuania, Mascus has exhibited in Transbaltica Exhibition. In Poland, Mascus participated in the 14th International Fair of Road Construction Industry Autostrada-Polska and in Agropark fair in Lublin, Poland. In Denmark, Mascus participated in the agricultural fair Landsskuet in the beginning of July.
The current fairs season has been saturated with many events in Hungary, where Mascus took part in more than ten altogether, among which the Massey Ferguson day in Szentlőrincz and the most visited Hungarian annual farmers' event Farmer Expo in Debrecen, Hungary. Mascus also sponsored the Third Hungarian Off-Road Championship.
Yet more fairs to come
Until the end of the year, Mascus has planned to participate in even more forthcoming events in other European countries. Among other major events in Poland, Hungary and Lithuania, Mascus will participate in one of the oldest annual agricultural Norwegian fairs- Dyrskun, in the Danish Agromek fair and in the 62nd IAA Commercial Vehicles 2008 Exhibition in Hanover, Germany. "We, at Mascus have always participated in various fairs all over Europe and represent and push our clients' machines and trucks in front of buyers. And the year 2008 has been a very intense year for Mascus, and due to our rapid international expansion we have had the chance to take part in more events than ever, and thus meeting the challenges to be the first truly Pan-European market place for used heavy equipment and transportation vehicles" adds Tomasz Odrobinski, Mascus Marketing and Internationalization Director.
Mascus (www.mascus.co.uk) - Is an electronic marketplace for used machinery, agricultural equipment, forklifts, forestry, groundscare equipment and transportation vehicles. The marketplace offers wide selection of second-hand machines/ trucks including used trailers, tractors, diggers and excavators from all major manufacturers like John Deere, Volvo, JCB, David Brown and CAT. Mascus makes trading in used machinery and equipment quicker and more efficient by collecting in one place information about the supply and the demand. All dealers, producers and end users are welcome to place their used machines and equipment for sale via the marketplace.
Mascus belongs to Alma Media Corporation.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Chic Jewellery at a non-chic price
Chic N’ Mix, the new collection from www.ladieswholunchjewellery.com, is the perfect way to beat the credit crunch this winter. Just choose from the covetable horde of pendants costing from £4 – £40 and create your own range of stylish one-off pieces to start earning their keep for you all winter long. You won’t find anyone else sporting the same necklace as no two Ladies who Lunch Jewellery pendants are the same: after all, even though we’re all counting our pennies, no-one wants to look bargain basement.Follow these two simple steps and a unique and personal necklace is yours to treasure:
Step 1: Choose the best style and length of necklace for you: silver or silver plated snake chain (for 16” silver £5.95 and silver-plated £3.95, for 18” £6.95 for silver and £4.95 for silver-plated) or curb chain (£12.50 for 32” silver-plated) or a string of freshwater pearls with a silver clasp (£22 for 18”).
Step 2: Pick your perfect pendant, slip it onto your chain or pearls and voilá; you’ve created a couture necklace.
The Chic N’ Mix pendants are made from carved roses and hearts; a rainbow of semi-precious stones from around the world; silver lined hand made glass beads from India; vintage beads from antique fairs; pearls from the Far East; delicate shells; quirky pewter charms and diamante beads.
Chic N’ Mix: the perfect way to look stylish whatever your budget.
Former CIO blames Amtrak’s demise on poor technology
Amidst news that Amtrak Express Parcels (Netfold) has entered receivership, its former CIO Phil Young has revealed that UK Brand could have survived the credit crunch had they been willing to let technology take more of a centre stage to seal the company’s future as a leading UK home delivery provider. In a candid interview with the award-winning entrepreneur, Young claims that the company ‘did not fail due to bad management or poor ownership, but failed due to the laws of business economics’.
Amtrak, a well-known brand in the UK Domestic parcel delivery sector, hit turbulent times after its sale three years ago by 3i, the venture capital giant. Over the past years it saw ownership change three times between various Private Equity companies and Young believes that this obviously did have some negative impact on the operation, but that it was very likely to be insurmountable cash hardship as banks tightened their lending that has forced their hand, leaving over 1,000 loyal workers unemployed.
Young, who was awarded CIO Innovator of the Year whilst at Amtrak, believes that had the company invested in technology earlier to help reduce the overheads of ‘credit control’ and implemented a true e-commerce & CRM solution earlier, they may well have been able to ride the economic downturn without the need to rely on the bank extending their credit facilities.
Young, who left Amtrak in March 2007, suggests that they should have moved to a model based around the growth market in home internet shopping rather than account based trading and that “by further building low cost online services that enticed shippers with its ease of use and reporting; Amtrak had the potential to secure their position as a real player in this space”.
“I left because sadly, technology was not seen as a key investment at the time, an investment for the future of the company and a revenue earner, but instead it was seen as a cost. Whilst it is a sad day and a lesson learnt too late for Amtrak, it sends a warning out to others than they must embrace the changing nature of the marketplace if they are to survive”, adds Young, whose autobiography 2 Much 2 Young was released last week.
For more information on Phil Young and his autobiography ‘2 Much 2 Young’ visit www.j-ya.com.
Amtrak, a well-known brand in the UK Domestic parcel delivery sector, hit turbulent times after its sale three years ago by 3i, the venture capital giant. Over the past years it saw ownership change three times between various Private Equity companies and Young believes that this obviously did have some negative impact on the operation, but that it was very likely to be insurmountable cash hardship as banks tightened their lending that has forced their hand, leaving over 1,000 loyal workers unemployed.
Young, who was awarded CIO Innovator of the Year whilst at Amtrak, believes that had the company invested in technology earlier to help reduce the overheads of ‘credit control’ and implemented a true e-commerce & CRM solution earlier, they may well have been able to ride the economic downturn without the need to rely on the bank extending their credit facilities.
Young, who left Amtrak in March 2007, suggests that they should have moved to a model based around the growth market in home internet shopping rather than account based trading and that “by further building low cost online services that enticed shippers with its ease of use and reporting; Amtrak had the potential to secure their position as a real player in this space”.
“I left because sadly, technology was not seen as a key investment at the time, an investment for the future of the company and a revenue earner, but instead it was seen as a cost. Whilst it is a sad day and a lesson learnt too late for Amtrak, it sends a warning out to others than they must embrace the changing nature of the marketplace if they are to survive”, adds Young, whose autobiography 2 Much 2 Young was released last week.
For more information on Phil Young and his autobiography ‘2 Much 2 Young’ visit www.j-ya.com.
Global Energy Advisory Considers the Supply and Regulatory Challenges Facing the UK Energy Market
EU Directives require the UK to source increasing amounts of energy from as yet undefined renewable sources and to close a number of productive coal-fired power stations by 2015. Consequently, the UK will be generating 60% of required power from gas by 2018 with three-quarters of this being imported at the prevailing market price. Are households and businesses simply at the mercy of future supply risks and ever rising prices? How can UK business set a strategy to survive these challenges?
The impacts of the drive to cleaner fuels and the exhaustion of domestic gas supplies are already impacting on the UK Energy Market. Global Energy Advisory - a specialist energy think tank and advisory business – fear that UK businesses have not set energy strategies to avoid, at best, forthcoming higher prices, and at worst, frequent interruptions to power supplies.
EU renewable targets require that the UK uses renewable energy sources for 15% of total power, heat and transport needs by 2020. This will require around 30-40% of power generation to come from, most likely, wind power. Unfortunately, the wind doesn’t blow all the time, therefore generation from wind turbines can be “intermittent” at best. This will cause considerable engineering challenges at times of high or low wind to maintain adequate power supplies.
Global Energy Advisory also predicts that 13GW of new gas power stations will have to be built to replace predominately coal power stations that will close on New Year's Eve 2015. These closures are due to another European Directive called the Large Combustion Plant Directive. With such fundamental changes necessary to the UK electricity generation infrastructure, it is far from certain that the required investment will be made in time to ensure that the lights will stay on. It is also highly likely that prices will continue to rise and not everyone will be able to afford the energy lifestyle that is enjoyed today.
Currently the UK power generation mix is roughly 40% gas, 40% coal, with the 20% balance from nuclear and a small amount of renewable generation. By 2018, Global Energy Advisory forecast that this could change to become approximately 60% gas, 20% coal 10% nuclear and the remaining 10% from renewable generation - short of the EU target. These dramatic changes will give power companies investment and logistical challenges, but more worryingly, it will lead the UK to further increase it’s reliance on gas imports which, by 2017, are predicted to be 76%.
So where does this gas come from?
Last year 67% of the UK’s gas, 67bcm, came from the North Sea, but this source is depleting and this year will account for only 62% of total consumption. Norway is an important gas supplier to the UK, but there is also heavy reliance, with some concern, on gas flows from Europe and from Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) sources. Although the UK has invested in pipelines and LNG terminals, these are often unutilised as the gas does not flow on to UK shores. Last year the Grain LNG terminal was only utilised 17% of the time and the BBL gas pipeline with the Netherlands only 40%.
So where is the gas going to?
Some countries, such as Japan, rely heavily on LNG as a vital source of energy and are prepared to outbid other countries to secure tanker supplies. Soaring costs have stopped new LNG production projects and the International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts current delays could lead to a short fall in global LNG supply as soon as 2012. Worryingly, the IEA has also turned its global gas focus to security of supply. The agency describes gas as “vulnerable and expensive” and notes that the world does not have a “strategic store” of gas with the only global surplus existing in the LNG cargoes that transcend the globe: put very bluntly unlike oil, gas security of supply is inadequate and impossible to accumulate. The IEA also say that there is gas energy security only until 2015, by which time, Global Energy Advisory expects 30% of UK gas supplies to be LNG.
How Bad Can it Get?
The current European energy policy and the increasing dependence on foreign gas have put UK businesses and households at unprecedented risk. Factories and businesses will have to adopt energy risk management practices and find new ways of working if production and commercial operations are not to be impacted. Market reaction to the recent high energy prices has been to reduce costs and many firms are already shedding jobs.
But then what? Businesses particularly need to consider their energy future carefully and review or set a sustainable energy strategy which identifies, and aims to avoid, the numerous energy pitfalls that lie ahead. As seasoned energy market and risk professionals, Global Energy Advisory can assist firms in this important task.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Apes are running London?
Apes across the land are currently limbering up for the celebrated Great Gorilla Run 2008, which sees hundreds of people dressed in monkey suits and pounding the pavements of London to help save the world’s last remaining Gorillas
They may train under cover of darkness, but Saturday 27 September looks set to see a World Record-breaking gathering of gorillas going ape for a day! And if that wasn’t hairy enough, this band of monkeys will walk, jog or run the 7K course in their best fancy dress to create an incredible spectacle in their quest to save a species.
Always up for an adventure; Go Ape, the UK’s award-winning High Wire Forest Adventure company and sponsor of the Great Gorilla Run, has gathered a tribe of around 70 customers and staff to embark on the challenge that takes them on a journey through some of the capital’s most famous scenery. Marcus Falconer, Marketing Manager for Go Ape says: “Go Ape is a passionate supporter of this incredible event established by The Gorilla Organization, an international charity dedicated to saving the world’s last remaining gorillas from extinction. Many of us are running and we are proud to be part of this historic event so there has been much chest-thumping from the Go Ape tribe, but we want more Go Ape Great Gorilla Runners to join us, it’s the best laugh you’ll have in a hairy suit!”
British champion Sally Gunnell OBE also supports this year’s event. As the only woman ever to hold four major track titles concurrently; Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth, Sally has met many challenges, but the plight of the Mountain Gorillas has had a profound effect: "Meeting wild gorillas face-to-face in Rwanda was an incredible experience - one I will never forget. They are amazing creatures and it is so sad to think that unless we all do our bit to help, they may one day be extinct. The Great Gorilla Run is a fantastic way for people to get involved with gorilla conservation, raise lots of money and of course have a good time - so please, if you can, register for the Great Gorilla Run and do your bit for the gorillas!" Sally Gunnell will take to the trees at Go Ape, Alice Holt Forest in Surrey, on Thursday 28th August for a photo call at 12-noon.
This year’s Great Gorilla Run is shaping up to be the biggest and best ever, as Abi Girling from the Gorilla Organization, reveals: "Each year the Great Gorilla Run gets better and better, and this year promises to be the best yet. Never, in the history of the Great Gorilla Run have we had so many people registered. We are on target to break a World Record for ‘the largest gathering of people dressed as gorillas’ and raise well over £250,000 for the endangered species. The current world record stands at 637. We already have over 500 sign ups – a good proportion through Go Ape! – and we are on track to break the World Record and meet our target of 720 gorilla runners - one for every Mountain Gorilla left in the wild.”
Get on the Great Gorilla Run 2008?
On your marks… Sign up now for the Great Gorilla Run 2008 taking place on Saturday on 27 September, you can run, jog or walk the seven kilometres (4.3 miles), visit goape.co.uk and greatgorillas.org to register.
Get set… Start training, gather sponsorship and invite everyone you know to go ape in London. Registration costs £75 with a pledge to raise at least £400 in sponsorship and you’ll receive a free gorilla suit plus great support to ensure you reach your fund-raising target and get in great shape ready for the race.
Go! The 2008 Great Gorilla Run starts and finishes at the London Underwriting Centre, EC3. It’s fantastic fun and by taking part you’ll be playing a crucial role in helping save the remaining 720 mountain gorillas left in the wild.
• With 17 courses set in forest locations across the country, the award-winning Go Ape experience is enjoyed by a tribe of over one million adventure seekers trekking from tree-to-tree some 40ft above the forest floor. Visit goape.co.uk
• Now in its sixth year the Great Gorilla Run has seen over 3,000 people run to raise over £1 million for gorillas in the wild. See them in action at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdfbtcudvNM and visit www.greatgorillas.org
They may train under cover of darkness, but Saturday 27 September looks set to see a World Record-breaking gathering of gorillas going ape for a day! And if that wasn’t hairy enough, this band of monkeys will walk, jog or run the 7K course in their best fancy dress to create an incredible spectacle in their quest to save a species.
Always up for an adventure; Go Ape, the UK’s award-winning High Wire Forest Adventure company and sponsor of the Great Gorilla Run, has gathered a tribe of around 70 customers and staff to embark on the challenge that takes them on a journey through some of the capital’s most famous scenery. Marcus Falconer, Marketing Manager for Go Ape says: “Go Ape is a passionate supporter of this incredible event established by The Gorilla Organization, an international charity dedicated to saving the world’s last remaining gorillas from extinction. Many of us are running and we are proud to be part of this historic event so there has been much chest-thumping from the Go Ape tribe, but we want more Go Ape Great Gorilla Runners to join us, it’s the best laugh you’ll have in a hairy suit!”
British champion Sally Gunnell OBE also supports this year’s event. As the only woman ever to hold four major track titles concurrently; Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth, Sally has met many challenges, but the plight of the Mountain Gorillas has had a profound effect: "Meeting wild gorillas face-to-face in Rwanda was an incredible experience - one I will never forget. They are amazing creatures and it is so sad to think that unless we all do our bit to help, they may one day be extinct. The Great Gorilla Run is a fantastic way for people to get involved with gorilla conservation, raise lots of money and of course have a good time - so please, if you can, register for the Great Gorilla Run and do your bit for the gorillas!" Sally Gunnell will take to the trees at Go Ape, Alice Holt Forest in Surrey, on Thursday 28th August for a photo call at 12-noon.
This year’s Great Gorilla Run is shaping up to be the biggest and best ever, as Abi Girling from the Gorilla Organization, reveals: "Each year the Great Gorilla Run gets better and better, and this year promises to be the best yet. Never, in the history of the Great Gorilla Run have we had so many people registered. We are on target to break a World Record for ‘the largest gathering of people dressed as gorillas’ and raise well over £250,000 for the endangered species. The current world record stands at 637. We already have over 500 sign ups – a good proportion through Go Ape! – and we are on track to break the World Record and meet our target of 720 gorilla runners - one for every Mountain Gorilla left in the wild.”
Get on the Great Gorilla Run 2008?
On your marks… Sign up now for the Great Gorilla Run 2008 taking place on Saturday on 27 September, you can run, jog or walk the seven kilometres (4.3 miles), visit goape.co.uk and greatgorillas.org to register.
Get set… Start training, gather sponsorship and invite everyone you know to go ape in London. Registration costs £75 with a pledge to raise at least £400 in sponsorship and you’ll receive a free gorilla suit plus great support to ensure you reach your fund-raising target and get in great shape ready for the race.
Go! The 2008 Great Gorilla Run starts and finishes at the London Underwriting Centre, EC3. It’s fantastic fun and by taking part you’ll be playing a crucial role in helping save the remaining 720 mountain gorillas left in the wild.
• With 17 courses set in forest locations across the country, the award-winning Go Ape experience is enjoyed by a tribe of over one million adventure seekers trekking from tree-to-tree some 40ft above the forest floor. Visit goape.co.uk
• Now in its sixth year the Great Gorilla Run has seen over 3,000 people run to raise over £1 million for gorillas in the wild. See them in action at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdfbtcudvNM and visit www.greatgorillas.org
BIFA welocmes airport monopoly break-up
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has welcomed the initial findings of today’s report by the Competition Commission (CC), which calls for BAA to sell two of its three London airports and another in Scotland.
Commenting on the report, BIFA Director General Peter Quantrill said: “BAA has played an important role in the development of airport infrastructure in the UK but times have changed and it is no longer viable for it to maintain such a dominant position in the marketplace.
“Whilst the report addresses passenger service efficiency and problems with capacity, particularly in the South East of England, it is important to remember that a substantial amount of freight is carried on passenger flights. If the findings of the report are implemented, we expect our members engaged in the transportation of goods by air to benefit from the healthy competition, which we hope will lead to increased efficiency and more flexible operating conditions.”
In its preliminary findings, the CC reported that there are competition problems at each of BAA's seven UK airports "with adverse consequences for passengers and airlines". The final report is scheduled to be published in the first quarter of 2009.
For more information on BIFA, visit www.bifa.org
Ambulance Services Film Unit Offers Paramedic Equipment for Hire
Ambulance Services Film Unit offers paramedic equipment for hire to film units and television production houses in the United Kingdom.
Ambulance Services Film Unit Ltd provides a lot of other services required for film production houses which include medical cover for studio and locations, medical advice for productions, paramedic equipment hire and many other services. They are the only dedicated unit in the country providing exact and detailed presentation of ambulances from whichever NHS services that the film has to portray.
More information about the different services provided by Ambulance Services Film Unit Ltd can be found out from their website at http://www.ambulanceservicesfilmunit.co.uk or call on 07887 765153.
Ambulance Services Film Unit Ltd. was started in the late 1960s. All vehicles and equipments are fully equipped and insured, while all the paramedics of the firm are having extensive experience in the television and film industry. Technically advanced facilities available with Ambulance Services Film Unit enable them to deal effectively with serious accidents, minor injuries and illness putting them in a position where they are able to cover both small and large events.
www.ambulanceservicesfilmunit.co.uk
Royal Air Force in Texas Reunion Dinner and Fly-In Pancake Breakfast
The Number 1 British Flying Training School Museum is hosting a Dinner-Dance and Fly-In on Friday, October 17 & 18, 2008 to honour the British pilots who trained in the United States, and the American officers and civilian staff who assisted with that training. The event also welcomes the citizens who embraced the service members while they were training in the US . The museum grounds will open at 6pm on Friday, October 17, 2008, with a dinner-dance and a USO style performance featuring the Dave Washburn Band and other performers.
On Saturday, October 18, 2008 a Pancake Breakfast will start at 7:30 a.m., while planes come in, then the grounds will be open for the public to see the vintage planes, antique cars, experimental aircraft, and much more. At noon there will be a Colour Guard and demonstrations by parachutists and a helicopter medical evacuation. Tom Killibrew, author of the book, “The Royal Air Force in Texas”, will also lecture and sign books. New events and activities are being added daily.
Prior to the entry of the US into WWII President Roosevelt worked out a deal with Winston Churchill to send British cadets to the United States via Canada for training.
Since the skies over England were filled with Hitler's planes and the Canadian weather was inclement much of the time, the cadets came to Terrell, Texas . There is a museum in Terrell commemorating the collaboration of allied forces and the bond that developed between the British cadets who trained there and the town’s people that took them in as their own. The cemetery society also cares for the graves of the service men who lost their lives during training and are buried in Texas.
Many of the pilots, now in their 80s and 90s and some of which have married local girls, still attend reunions every few years. We want to honour all veterans with this fly-in and welcome all veterans from every era to participate.
We plan to have a Colour Guard honouring the British and American service members and Southwest Christian College will provide the patriotic music to accompany the flags. The Canadian Air Force have indicated interest in attending.
The BFTS group is looking for corporate sponsors to help with the cost of fuel for the planes that plan to participate and to assist with flying the veterans from the UK to the US for the event. To lend assistance or for more information or tickets to the Dinner-Dance please visit www.BFTSTexas.com or call (972)524-4322 in the US .
Muddy Cook launch a great tasting, healthy breakfast cereal for children – Raspberry Crockles
Looking for a healthy nutritious breakfast cereal for your children? Organic artisan muesli maker, Muddy Cook have launched a toasted puffed muesli for children. Raspberry Crockles are puffed whole grains – rice, spelt and quinoa, coated in a low Glycaemic Index (GI) blend of Mexican agave cactus nectar, apple puree and apple juice with added freeze-dried raspberries. Raspberry Crockles achieve green traffic lights for fat, saturates and salt and an amber light for sugars (all from fruit sugars).Muddy Cook, an online website dedicated to selling customised muesli blends (http://www.muddycook.co.uk) began testing and selling innovative blends at local Farmers Markets. After feedback, Claire Lettice, Muddy Cook’s founder began to make products aimed at children. Raspberry Crockles were an instant hit. A runaway success with young children and older teenagers, samples put on the stall were quickly devoured. According to Claire “Parents are desperately trying to find products that tick all their own nutritional boxes – whole grains, no salt, high fibre, high protein, no E numbers and made with complex fruit sugars as well as appealing to their children’s taste-buds. Crockles tick all these boxes.”
Raspberry Crockles are made from organically grown whole grains - puffed rice, puffed spelt and popped quinoa. Gentle puffing and popping of the grains helps retain all their nutritional goodness and fibre content. Each small batch of puffs is lightly coated in a blend of apple puree, apple juice (all from English apples) and agave nectar, then gently toasted. Toasting enhances the taste of the grains making them nuttier and caramelised and helps them retain their texture when immersed in milk. When cool the coated grains are mixed with natural freeze-dried raspberry pieces.
Each grain has been picked for its high nutritional value – All three are high in protein with quinoa being one of the most protein rich grains available. All three whole grains are complex carbohydrates containing starch and fibre, making them nutritionally efficient due to their slow release of energy. Raspberry Crockles provide good levels of B vitamins (B-thiamine, B2-niacin, B3-riboflavin, Vitamin B6-pyridoxine, B9-folic acid), as well as vitamins A, C and E, and the minerals iron, potassium, magnesium, zinc, copper and manganese. Raspberry Crockles are naturally high in dietary fibre and contain no additives, preservatives or E numbers.
Raspberry Crockles achieve green traffic lights for fat, saturates and salt and an amber light for sugar content. The sugar level although appearing high is due to the fruit content of the Crockles (raspberries, apples and the Mexican blue agave cactus). As Claire also points out, agave nectar, a honey-like syrup, has a very low Glycaemic Index (GI) value and according to nutrition experts is a much healthier alternative to sugar. Foods with a low-GI burn energy more slowly and keep the blood sugar levels more balanced. Sampling from the market stalls has shown that children love the taste of Raspberry Crockles and parents can be confident that their little ones won’t be heaping on tonnes of refined table sugar to make them taste better as agave nectar tastes a lot sweeter than sugar. Raspberry Crockles are guaranteed to keep kids going and on an even keel until lunch-time.
Raspberry Crockles are being sold in two sizes - 180g and 300g bags with a recommended retail price of £2.45 and £3.60.
The nutritional values per 100g are:
Energy 372kcal, Carbohydrate 84.8g, Protein 8.9g, Fat 2.2g, Dietary fibre 5.7g
Each 30g serving offers:
112 kcal, 0.7g fat, 0.2g saturates, 3.8g sugars and a trace of salt
Raspberry Crockles are being launched at the Speciality & Fine Food Fair (7-9 September), in Olympia, London.
Unlike cane or beet sugar or other artificial sweeteners, agave nectar contains naturally high levels of fruit sugar (fructose). Fructose is a slow-release carbohydrate which is absorbed much slower into the body and does not need a lot of insulin - the chemical that triggers our sugary 'highs and 'lows' - to break it down. Agave nectar is a third sweeter than ordinary table sugar.
About GI:
The GI index rates foods on a scale of one to 100 according to how quickly they break down from carbohydrate to sugar in the bloodstream. Whilst regular table sugar has a GI value of 68 and honey a GI of 55, the GI value of agave nectar is between 11 and 19.
Claire and Ian live with their two teenage children in Putney, South West London. Both are passionate about good food. Before launching Muddy Cook, Claire and Ian spent 20 years working in marketing communication agencies in London.
Contract is up for recruitment agencies
An innovative and independent Facebook application has been launched today, offering businesses and individuals the opportunity to seek out candidates with desirable and relevant skills for their current job position. The application offers a meeting platform for the skilled and skill seekers; missing out time wasted with recruitment agencies.
An innovative online application has launched today, offering businesses and individuals an online meeting platform, bringing together the ‘skilled’ and ‘skill seekers’.
The application allows skill seekers to hunt for people with relevant skills for their current job position and in addition, skilled job seekers can create a profile, showcasing their skills and job requirements; making the whole process of job or candidate hunting simple and hassle free.
www.Skillzbase.com is opening its doors to Facebook users to showcase individuals’ skills to a worldwide marketplace. The site is currently in Beta and a more comprehensive version will be coming in the near future.
The application allows users to register their skills and/or experience, such as web developer or computer programmer, the region in which they are hoping to work and their desired salary, all free of charge.
The ‘skill seekers’ can then browse profiles at ease, narrowing their search via relevant criteria, until they spot and select the appropriately skilled individual.
The application offers a rates system, in which, much like popular online auction sites, users are able to rate people based on their performance; if a candidate is selected for a job but fails to turn up, the skill seeker can give them a low Skillzbase rating; thus preventing other skill seekers from selecting this candidate in the future.
Sam Fianu, co-founder of Skillzbase, talks about the launch of this website: “We are all really excited about the launch of Skillzbase and are eager to see it work to its full potential. We’ve all been job seekers at one stage in our lives and this site is dedicated to taking the stress away from what can be a very stressful time.”
Fianu continues;“Recruitment agencies can be very secretive – candidates are not given any company details and are rarely given the chance to directly communicate with the employer until the interview stage. Skillzbase just misses out the middle man – you come to the site knowing what you’re looking for and all information is given to you. It’s a much shorter, more direct and much more pro-active approach.”
An innovative online application has launched today, offering businesses and individuals an online meeting platform, bringing together the ‘skilled’ and ‘skill seekers’.
The application allows skill seekers to hunt for people with relevant skills for their current job position and in addition, skilled job seekers can create a profile, showcasing their skills and job requirements; making the whole process of job or candidate hunting simple and hassle free.
www.Skillzbase.com is opening its doors to Facebook users to showcase individuals’ skills to a worldwide marketplace. The site is currently in Beta and a more comprehensive version will be coming in the near future.
The application allows users to register their skills and/or experience, such as web developer or computer programmer, the region in which they are hoping to work and their desired salary, all free of charge.
The ‘skill seekers’ can then browse profiles at ease, narrowing their search via relevant criteria, until they spot and select the appropriately skilled individual.
The application offers a rates system, in which, much like popular online auction sites, users are able to rate people based on their performance; if a candidate is selected for a job but fails to turn up, the skill seeker can give them a low Skillzbase rating; thus preventing other skill seekers from selecting this candidate in the future.
Sam Fianu, co-founder of Skillzbase, talks about the launch of this website: “We are all really excited about the launch of Skillzbase and are eager to see it work to its full potential. We’ve all been job seekers at one stage in our lives and this site is dedicated to taking the stress away from what can be a very stressful time.”
Fianu continues;“Recruitment agencies can be very secretive – candidates are not given any company details and are rarely given the chance to directly communicate with the employer until the interview stage. Skillzbase just misses out the middle man – you come to the site knowing what you’re looking for and all information is given to you. It’s a much shorter, more direct and much more pro-active approach.”
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
BrightSale Urges Zero Cost Solution for Housing Crisis
Calls on Government to allow SIPPs to Invest in Residential UK Property to Boost the Housing Market
“Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling are under enormous pressure to relieve some of the downwards pressure on the UK housing market. But their options appear to be severely limited. Sir James Crosby’s recent report pretty much killed the idea of direct Government intervention in the wholesale mortgage market. Fiscal constraints also mean that any ‘holiday’ for Stamp Duty would have to be short-lived and restricted to lower value properties. This would (and has already) create short-term distortions and uncertainties in buying patterns,” said a spokesman for BrightSale.
“But one there is one thing the Government could now to boost demand for UK housing significantly without costing the Exchequer a penny in lost revenue: this is to remove the restriction on Self Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) investing in UK residential property.
“On 1st October this year SIPP rules change to allow holders of ‘protected rights’ pensions to move them into SIPPs. Pension advisors have told BrightSale privately that they expect a deluge of money (The Financial Times has estimated this number to be in the region of £100 billion) to flow from protected rights schemes into SIPPs on or after this date. But as it stands at the moment none of this money can be invested in the residential property market. Instead it will mostly go into commercial property and other financial assets.
“We have also been advised privately that the only reason residential property was exempted at the very last minute from SIPPs when they were introduced in 2006 was a Treasury fear that demand from these vehicle’s would further fuel a overheated property market at that time. That was probably a good decision then. But times have changed dramatically since, and it is now time to re-visit this restriction.
“We call upon the Government today to announce that from 1st October 2008 (when the new pension rules on protected rights pensions come into force) that the restriction on SIPPs investing in UK residential property will allow be removed. This will unlock a huge pool of money for investment into residential property and at a stroke will transform sentiment towards the UK housing market. Action is needed, and this is action that costs the Treasury nothing in lost revenue.”
“Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling are under enormous pressure to relieve some of the downwards pressure on the UK housing market. But their options appear to be severely limited. Sir James Crosby’s recent report pretty much killed the idea of direct Government intervention in the wholesale mortgage market. Fiscal constraints also mean that any ‘holiday’ for Stamp Duty would have to be short-lived and restricted to lower value properties. This would (and has already) create short-term distortions and uncertainties in buying patterns,” said a spokesman for BrightSale.
“But one there is one thing the Government could now to boost demand for UK housing significantly without costing the Exchequer a penny in lost revenue: this is to remove the restriction on Self Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) investing in UK residential property.
“On 1st October this year SIPP rules change to allow holders of ‘protected rights’ pensions to move them into SIPPs. Pension advisors have told BrightSale privately that they expect a deluge of money (The Financial Times has estimated this number to be in the region of £100 billion) to flow from protected rights schemes into SIPPs on or after this date. But as it stands at the moment none of this money can be invested in the residential property market. Instead it will mostly go into commercial property and other financial assets.
“We have also been advised privately that the only reason residential property was exempted at the very last minute from SIPPs when they were introduced in 2006 was a Treasury fear that demand from these vehicle’s would further fuel a overheated property market at that time. That was probably a good decision then. But times have changed dramatically since, and it is now time to re-visit this restriction.
“We call upon the Government today to announce that from 1st October 2008 (when the new pension rules on protected rights pensions come into force) that the restriction on SIPPs investing in UK residential property will allow be removed. This will unlock a huge pool of money for investment into residential property and at a stroke will transform sentiment towards the UK housing market. Action is needed, and this is action that costs the Treasury nothing in lost revenue.”
Dog gone it! Dating for dogs?
We’ve had designer dog coats, kinky canine boots and diamond-encrusted collars….but the ultimate accessory for pampered pooches has just gone live on the world wide web.
Forget singles dating sites for we mere mortals – man’s best friend now has his own online canine dating site!
http://www.doggydate.com/ has been designed to lead (sic) like-minded dog-owners together around the world – for fun, frolics and friendship. There’s also the option to share your favourite doggie recipes and tips and hints on handling your hound, training him how to behave and generally doing everything, well, doggy-fashion!
From now on, if the site is to be believed, every dog has their date…….
Founder David Winston, an American (well, he had to be really!) based in the UK, says the site is designed to make the world a better place for dogs everywhere!
“Dogs aren’t known as man’s best friend for no reason,” he rationalises. “There’s something about animal lovers that unites them; this site is merely taking things to a new level. I’ve noticed that one of the few places English people talk to strangers is in the vet's waiting room. Talking about our animals, or through our animals, seems to be more comfortable for people.”
www.doggydate.com has facilities for dog-to-dog chat or owner-to-owner. Instead of sending a ‘wink,’ you can send a 'woof' to another dog - or its human owner.
“Whether your dog needs a breeding partner, pen-pal or just another dog to chase a ball with, doggydate.com can help make that happen,” says David, with a not-quite hang-dog expression.
www.doggydate.com’s online community has tips on everything from favourite parks around the world where you can take your pooch for his daily constitutional to forums where owners can share their canine experiences and concerns.
www.doggydate.com is offering free membership to the first 100 hungry hounds who hurry to sign up. Thereafter, a nominal fee will allow puppy-lovers to share their shaggy dog stories for just as long as they like…..
Whether David has hit on a winner(lot) – or is plain barking mad, only time will tell.
You can learn more about doggydate.com at Paws in the Park, at the Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, on September 13 and 14, 2008. (www.pawsinthepark.net)
In the meantime, who says it’s a dog’s life?
Forget singles dating sites for we mere mortals – man’s best friend now has his own online canine dating site!
http://www.doggydate.com/ has been designed to lead (sic) like-minded dog-owners together around the world – for fun, frolics and friendship. There’s also the option to share your favourite doggie recipes and tips and hints on handling your hound, training him how to behave and generally doing everything, well, doggy-fashion!
From now on, if the site is to be believed, every dog has their date…….
Founder David Winston, an American (well, he had to be really!) based in the UK, says the site is designed to make the world a better place for dogs everywhere!
“Dogs aren’t known as man’s best friend for no reason,” he rationalises. “There’s something about animal lovers that unites them; this site is merely taking things to a new level. I’ve noticed that one of the few places English people talk to strangers is in the vet's waiting room. Talking about our animals, or through our animals, seems to be more comfortable for people.”
www.doggydate.com has facilities for dog-to-dog chat or owner-to-owner. Instead of sending a ‘wink,’ you can send a 'woof' to another dog - or its human owner.
“Whether your dog needs a breeding partner, pen-pal or just another dog to chase a ball with, doggydate.com can help make that happen,” says David, with a not-quite hang-dog expression.
www.doggydate.com’s online community has tips on everything from favourite parks around the world where you can take your pooch for his daily constitutional to forums where owners can share their canine experiences and concerns.
www.doggydate.com is offering free membership to the first 100 hungry hounds who hurry to sign up. Thereafter, a nominal fee will allow puppy-lovers to share their shaggy dog stories for just as long as they like…..
Whether David has hit on a winner(lot) – or is plain barking mad, only time will tell.
You can learn more about doggydate.com at Paws in the Park, at the Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, on September 13 and 14, 2008. (www.pawsinthepark.net)
In the meantime, who says it’s a dog’s life?
Matrix Shackleton Centenary Expedition offers a place in Polar history
Polar history has immortalised the words that Sir Ernest Shackleton, legendary explorer, allegedly used to recruit his team of intrepid voyagers.“Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages. Bitter cold. Long months of complete darkness. Constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success.”
Now, a century on from Shackleton’s first polar expedition, the call to men, and women, is being repeated…
The 2008 Matrix Shackleton Centenary Expedition, a modern-day re-enactment of the 1908-09 Nimrod voyage made up of six descendants of the original expedition team, is offering one individual the adventure of a lifetime – the chance to join this exclusive club.
While no previous Polar experience is required, the seventh team member will need to be active, healthy and fit. Interested ‘explorers’ will undergo a series of questionnaires including fitness and medical surveys followed by psychometric testing and panel interviews for shortlisted candidates and a final elimination round of endurance training in North Wales. The successful applicant will then be put through their paces with a crossing of the Arctic landscape of Baffin Island, Canada, under the watchful eye of polar explorer Matty McNair.
The successful applicant will depart the UK at the end of December 2008 and travel to meet the expedition team to start their Antarctic journey on January 6th 2009 at the 97 Mile Point – the date and spot where Sir Ernest decided to put the lives of his team ahead of glory exactly 100 years earlier. Accompanying them will be Shackleton’s great-grandson, Patrick Bergel (36), a great-grandson of Jameson Boyd-Adams, David Cornell (38) and Tim Fright (24), the great-great-nephew of Frank Wild, the only explorer to accompany Shackleton on all his missions.
These four explorers will be greeted by three team mates who, having begun their own Antarctic journey on October 29th 2008, will have already covered 803 miles from ‘Hut Point’. Using Shackleton’s personal compass to navigate the icy wastelands, this team will already have crossed the vast Ross Ice Shelf and ascended the formidable Beardmore Glacier.
This trio is being led by Lt Col Henry Worsley (47), a descendant of Frank Worsley (Shackleton’s skipper). Accompanying him is Henry Adams (33), another great-grandson of Jameson Boyd-Adams and Will Gow (35) who, inspired by a desire to unite Shackleton’s descendants at the Pole, first came up with the idea of re-creating the voyage. Gow is related to Sir Ernest by marriage.
Together, the combined team of seven, will finish the journey that their ancestors began and “Close the Pole” on behalf of the 1908-09 Team.
David Royds, chairman of Matrix Group, says: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for someone to experience the stark reality of Antarctic conditions and fulfill a dream.
“The successful candidate will need to be prepared to endure -35°C temperatures and 50mph headwinds, to haul their own 100lb sled and to camp on the remotest landscape on earth. It’ll certainly be an adventure to tell the grandchildren!
“Many dream of exploring the globe, but very few of us have the drive, energy and passion to realise an adventure so extreme. I’m delighted that Matrix is part of this exciting expedition and is facilitating this life changing journey.”
Expedition leader Worsley adds: “The type of person we will be looking for is someone whose cup is always half full - never half empty; someone who can laugh at themselves; a strong team player who sees this as a lifetime opportunity and can tell a good joke to keep others’ spirits up. Above all else we want a candidate with a relentless passion to succeed whatever the adversity.”
TheMatrix Shackleton Centenary Expedition is looking for an exceptional candidate. If this unique opportunity to forge history has captured your imagination, register your interest at the Matrix website
Romance is Dead (especially on August 27)
Search Launched For The UK’s Most Romantic Recipe; Clooney & Gallagher Top Dinner Date List
They say romance is dead and on Wednesday, August 27 it officially will be – it is the UK’s most unromantic day of the year.
Whilst no coincidence the date is almost six months from Valentine’s Day, it is a host of other factors which point to its lack of romance – including, fewest expressions of love, peak time for arguments, poor champagne sales, falling reservations for ‘tables for two’, as well as high divorce rates.
The findings were revealed to launch Accolade, a luxury new cooking appliance brand from Stoves, which is using Wednesday August 27 – the most unromantic day – to kick off a nationwide search for the UK’s most romantic recipe.
To find the date, first Accolade studied when we say “I love you” the least – analysis of web chatter for 2007 showed the fewest number of “I love yous” were expressed in the last week of August, possibly why September has the second-highest rate of divorces in the UK (January is top).
Meanwhile, Wednesdays have been pinpointed by Australian scientists as the day of the week when moods were at their lowest; whilst the post-August Bank Holiday gloom contributes to a phenomenon called ‘acute post-Bank Holiday depression syndrome’ according to UK academics.
If that’s not enough, personal purchases of champagne drop in August, as do ‘table for two’ restaurant bookings, while a relationship expert identified August 27 as being the peak time for arguments.
Jane Rylands, Accolade’s Marketing Services Manager, said: “Cupid should probably take a break on August 27th – it’s set to be a particularly unromantic day in the UK.
“To that end, we’re trying to inject a bit of romance by searching for sexy food and looking to give one recipe the accolade of the UK’s most romantic. It’s the perfect excuse to combine love and food, so there’s no need to wait for Valentine’s Day!”
To get the romance flowing, Accolade also carried out research to find the UK’s best and worst celebrity dinner date. Unsurprisingly, Ocean’s Eleven favourite George Clooney came out top for girls as the most lusted after celebrity dinner date, whilst presenter Kirsty Gallagher topped the list for the boys.
When it comes to celebs we would most avoid a romantic dinner with, horse racing pundit John McCririck was top for women and one-time Atomic Kitten Kerry Catona was top for men.
Accolade is asking the people of the UK to send in their most romantic recipe to romance@stoves.co.uk by 30 September. The winner receives £1,000-worth of Accolade integrated kitchen products from a range of 70 products across a wide range of sizes and specifications including ovens, hobs, hoods, coffeemakers and microwaves.
*Send in your most romantic recipe to romance@stoves.co.uk
For further information about Accolade, the new range from Stoves call 0871 222 2625 or visit www.accoladefromstoves.co.uk
The UK’s Most Unromantic Day was calculated by combining a series of factors:
1. The last week in August has the fewest references to “I love you” on the internet.
2. University of Sydney, carried out a study, on moods throughout the week found the people were at their lowest on a Wednesday.
3. Professor Cary Cooper from the University of Lancaster identifies ‘acute post-bank holiday depression syndrome’ based on the last bank holiday of the year, end of summer, little to look forward to in the way of sunshine, and forthcoming long winter nights.
4. Psychotherapist, Paula Hall suggests that August 27 is the day that most couples will argue.
5. September’s high divorce rate – Leading online divorce resource divorceonline.
6. The sales champagne take a plunge in August, according to www.sparklingdirect.co.uk
7. A quarter of the most watched sports overlap during the last week in August: the football season has just kicked off, while the cricket, rugby Super League and F1 racing season has not yet ended
8. toptable.com announced a reduction of bookings for ‘tables for two’ in August by 11% compared to February.
Action Storage’s New Website Makes Buying Shelving and Lockers Easy
Storage specialist Action Storage has announced the launch of its revamped website. The new site features a range of improvements, including enhanced navigation, smooth online transactions and expanded product information with customer reviews. The new website is expected to reinforce Action Storage’s position as a leading retailer of storage equipment, and make shopping for the latest shelving, racking and lockers easy.
The launch coincides with Action Storage’s new affiliate scheme, which can be applied for on the website. Approved online retailers can expand their range to include Action Storage products, and earn commission on every referred sale. The affiliate scheme enables Action Storage to reach more customers and presents the opportunity for retailers to increase their revenue.
The website’s enhanced ecommerce functionality makes ordering online quick and efficient for Action Storage’s wide range of customers. In particular, public sector organisations, such as schools, hospitals and prisons, are able to place orders without a credit card. Action Storage’s long standing relationship with the public sector enables it to provide products on credit in exchange for a purchase order.
To enable visitors to make informed buying decisions, product descriptions have been expanded to include summaries, detailed information and customer reviews. The provision of customer feedback in an open, transparent format enables Action Storage to build trust and credibility in the quality of its products and service.
Searching through Action Storage’s website, to find suitable shelving, lockers or other storage systems, is quick and easy using a host of new features. The top navigation bar includes links to the latest products, special offers and top sellers, whilst item categories are listed on the side navigation bar. Products can also be rapidly found simply by typing keywords into the new search box.
Visitors to the website can register online to join Action Storage’s email list, and be notified of the latest product ranges and offers. The regularly updated print catalogue can also be ordered for free along with a gift pack, which features tools for planning how to maximise the use of storage space.
Whether it’s looking for uniform lockers, stockroom shelving or cycle shelters, storage products can be easily searched through on Action Storage’s new website, which makes shopping for shelving, lockers and storage equipment quick and easy.
About Action Storage
For over 20 years Action Storage has supplied shelving, racking and storage equipment using the latest materials and innovative designs. Their clients include supermarkets, warehouses, government offices and anyone else requiring high quality storage solutions throughout the UK and mainland Europe.
Action Storage pride themselves on their high service levels, and provide a free, unique advice line for discussing your requirements and assessing the perfect solution.
For service enquiries contact:
Website: http://www.action-storage.co.uk
Email: sales@action-storage.co.uk
Tel UK: 0800 592215
Outside UK: +44 (0)1908 525700
Fax: +44 (0)1908 321650
Could Streets Olympics be the legacy of the 2012 games?
The country may be carried away with Olympic fever after the moment after the stunning success of Team GB, but now is the time to think about what could be the lasting legacy of the UK hosting the Games in 2012.
Back in 2004 the Government was considering plans to encourage community groups, schools and pubs to hold Street Olympics meetings across the UK, but since then the idea seems to have gone cold. Streets Alive feels the time is right to resurrect this scheme - and what better way to get people involved that to incorporate games for all ages and abilities into street party-style events?
“If you can close off streets from cars they become fabulous public spaces for all sorts of informal games and sports," says Chris Gittins of Streets Alive.
He recommends that street party organisers consider traditional events such as tug-of-war, egg and spoon races, hula hoop-athons and three-legged races alongside a range of Olympic-inspired sporting activities like football, badminton, table tennis and cycling. Street Olympics would provide a chance for people who are good at sport and those who are not to participate equally; everyone could join in, and get physical, just for the fun of it. The events would help create lively, inclusive neighbourhoods and could advance the Government's efforts to fight social exclusion while promoting more exercise.
“The Olympics is still an elite sporting event,” Chris adds, “But the lasting legacy could be to encourage people to join in a range of traditional games and Olympic-style sports at the hundreds of street parties held around the country every year. The run up to our 2012 games would be a prime opportunity to launch Street Olympics as an annual activity in thousands of events across the UK.”
Streets Alive is a not-for-profit organisation which, since 2001, has been instrumental in helping people around the UK organise street parties and other traffic-free events.
For more information visit www.streetsalive.net
‘The Way’ – improving lives and making people happier
If you would like to feel good, improve your general well being, or get your life back on track then John Whiteman’s ‘The Way’ could be exactly what you have been looking for.
‘The Way’ is an exciting breakthrough that helps you understand and create balance and contentment in your life whilst enabling you to move forwards and achieve more.
‘The Way’ is a combination of Philosophy, Psychology and Common Sense. It is about you and how you live. At the root of ‘The Way’ is the importance of living in the present moment combined with a developing a balance of six essential ingredients: Personal Space, Nutrition, Exercise, Sleep, Learning and Achieving.
Imagine you could -
• Be motivated to live your life to the fullest extent, feeling good, doing and realising more of life’s opportunities.
• Actively understand and balance emotions such as anxiety, depression, anger and stress.
• Look at your life in a new logical way. One based on energy which positions you at the centre.
• Obtain an understanding of how to resolve many of life’s problems and effect positive change in your life.
River Management have developed a programme based on John Whiteman’s ‘The Way’. Whether in personal crisis or simply wanting to make improvements in your life this fresh approach will assist in creating balance and at the same time help resolve any emotional problems that you may be facing.
Making use of current scientific thinking which proposes that at our core we are made up of particles of vibrating energy, John uses this inner core of energy as a starting point in an exciting journey of self discovery. It allows you to step back from your life and breathe, so you can gain perspective, assess and understand where you are on the journey of life and importantly bring your focus back to the present. After working with your inner core and getting you to establish some balance in your life the next step is to get you to layer manageable improvements in all areas. This will allow you to live a fuller life with greater self awareness. You will be at the centre of your world, self accepting and living in the ‘present’.
When you know where you are it’s easier to see where you are going.
The Way – a framework for life
John Whiteman’s mission is to improve as many people’s lives as possible. Over 16 years ago he gave up a successful Property career to become a Troubleshooter challenging himself to rescue companies in difficulty. As an unplanned by-product in dealing with people who in many cases are about to lose everything, John has developed a method which he calls ‘The Way’ which has helped his clients overcome their emotional difficulties. Having achieved a remarkable success with clients in crises from anxiety to suicide, John is now launching ‘The Way’ to a wider audience of people who may simply want to make the most out of their lives and be as happy as possible.
Hays Purchasing and Supply Release Employment Survey and Salary Guide
Hays Purchasing and Supply has revealed the latest results of the company's employment survey and the salary and benefits trends for purchasing and supply chain professionals.
The survey revealed that 77% of respondents are currently happy with their career, although those working in purchasing and supply jobs are keen to secure their future finances, with a pension being the most sought after benefit. The survey also stated that the need for a more challenging role is the most common reason for employees to consider looking for a new job, although those within the public services are more attracted by the opportunity to increase their salary.
Hays also gave an overview of the purchasing and supply market, noting recent economic concerns have not dented the demand for purchasing professionals with many smaller companies setting up purchasing departments for the first time and larger companies considering increased headcounts.
The survey from Hays also went into significant detail about the changes in the public and private sectors with regards to employee's salaries, revealing that due to the restraints of salary banding within the public sector, it remains somewhat uncompetitive with regards to pay compared to the private sector. However, salaries are increasing in line with inflation and the move towards a category management focus within local authorities has seen an 8% increase for category buyers over the past 12 months.
In direct contrast to the inflexible and less than competitive salaries, benefits on offer are highly sought after. The much desired and now very rare final salary pensions are still on offer within the public sector. CIPS training and flexible working hours are a few of the more attractive benefits available for those looking for purchasing jobs and while these go some way to reducing the pay gap, candidates do often look at salary first and benefits second.
Hays have also examined the skills that are currently on demand in the purchasing and supply industry. Industry qualifications such as CIPS and CILT, remain an asset with 69% of employers questioned considering them valuable skill. As with previous years, there is still a high demand for candidates with IT procurement experience across the country within both the public and private sectors. The effect of current market uncertainty is having a positive effect on demand for indirect procurement professionals. In recent years, the emphasis on indirect specialists has increased as this has been the final area of spend to be included in procurement practices.
Overall, the Hays survey has highlighted that, in general, employees are happy with their work-life balance, with more than 75% indicating that their work life balance is good. Over 60% of respondents work over-time regularly, although 17% feel there is top down pressure and an office culture that encourages it. However, 61% don’t mind and 21% are happy to work over time when required.
Looking at the future of the purchasing and supply industry, Hays believes the environment and the much talked about ‘carbon footprint’ of organisations will also continue to have an affect and bring sustainable procurement practices to the forefront. Opinion is split as to which will have the greater impact. Almost 50% of those working within the purchasing and supply chain feel that the environment and so called ‘green issues’ will be the greatest influencer on procurement and logistics in the coming 5 years. Whereas, employers feel that the economic climate has more power to affect and change the professions.
About Hays Purchasing and Supply:
Hays Purchasing & Supply is a subdivision of Hays Plc, the FTSE 250 Company which employs 7,753 staff operating from 376 offices in 25 countries across 17 specialisms including finance jobs, telecoms jobs and admin jobs. Hays Plc placed circa 68,000 candidates into permanent jobs and paid circa 46,000 temporary workers weekly during the year ending June 07.
FRUIT’n’VEG LIQUIDS BOOST Energy, Relaxation and Healthy Joints
Vitazyme® is a brand new range of three 100% natural liquid supplements derived from fermented fruits and vegetables with additional active ingredients. An unprecedented 540-day fermentation process breaks the nutrients into miniscule elements at molecular level ensuring they are swiftly and readily taken up by the body. So you feel the effect very quickly... you could say it’s the next generation in nutrition.
There are three Vitazyme supplements respectively for Energy, Relaxation and Joints
Vitazyme® Energy – vitality for an active mind and body
Vitazyme® Energy is a powerful energy supplement that provides sustained energy levels all day. Vitazyme® Energy contains 51 different types of fruit and vegetables combined with the extra active ingredient Cordyceps Sinensis. This ancient rare mushroom has been used for more than 1500 years in the Far East as a supplement for maintaining energy levels, stamina, resistance and resilience. Vitazyme® Energy generates energy and vitality for body and mind. After just a few days most people feel the vitality returning to their body. In addition they enjoy increased mental focus as ‘woolliness’ and ‘brain fog’ disappear. For best results take two sachets a day for sustained energy.
Vitazyme® Energy is intended for people who are:
• Convalescing
• Finding it difficult to get their ‘five a day’
• In a mental dip
• Struggling to maintain concentration
• Under pressure to work long hours
• Feeling stressed at work and facing tight deadlines
Vitazyme® Relax – for a well rested and relaxed feeling
Vitazyme® Relax is a relaxation supplement. Vitazyme® Relax is a blend of 17 different types of fruit and vegetables and with three herbs that are known to make you feel well rested: chamomile, hop and Siberian ginseng. It gives a relaxed feeling and helps you unwind at the end of a busy day. If taken before bedtime it can help you relax at night too. Vitazyme® Relax’s subtle action then ensures that you awake refreshed in the morning and not feeling groggy.
Vitazyme® Relax is intended for people who:
• Find it hard to relax as they feel stressed or worried
• Work irregular hours
• Need to relax following a very busy day
• Travel and have to manage jetlag
Vitazyme® Flex – to help maintain flexible and supple joints for an active lifestyle
Vitazyme® Flex is a supplement for healthy joints. Vitazyme® Flex contains 19 different types of fruit and vegetables mixed with 1500 mg vegetarian glucosamine and 250 mg MSM. The glucosamine is vegetarian sourced and has been included in the fermentation process to rapidly increase its absorption.
Vitazyme® Flex eases movement by supporting the regeneration of cartilage in the joints. It often gives noticeable results quickly –the fermentation process allows Vitazyme® Flex to get to the joints quickly and anecdotally people find it works typically within one to two weeks.
Vitazyme® Flex is intended for people who:
• Have stiff muscles and joints
• Are older and ‘seize up’
• Are sporty and active to increase mobility and speed recovery from injury
How to take Vitazyme®
1) Simply cut open the 10ml sachet (10ml) and drink the liquid pure. However, if taking Relax at bedtime, dilute it in water for stomach comfort during the night
2) Pour the sachet’s contents into a glass and dilute it with water or a room temperature, non-alcoholic drink of your choice – smoothies and fruit juice work well
3) Or stir the sachet’s contents into a tub of yogurt and enjoy as a snack
How to buy:
The three Vitazyme® products are available in packs of 14 days’ supply at www.revital.com or by calling 0870 4583112. Vitazyme® Energy costs £23.95; Vitazyme® Relax costs £23.95; Vitazyme® Flex costs £19.95
Lloyds TSB Student Banking Reports Cash-Strapped Students-to-be Staying At Home
According to a new report from Lloyds TSB Student banking* more than one in four young people starting university this year will have to live with their parents to save money. This represents a 4% dip from 2007’s high of 31%, and a 5% increase when compared to numbers for 2006.
A third of the 130,000** young people who will find themselves staying with their parents while they study say that they will not be able to afford to go to university unless they live at home, while 82% agree that living at home is a great way to save money. One in four said that living at home is an effective tool for managing their debt. However, 62% of those who are planning to stay at home admitted that if money wasn’t an issue, they would prefer to fly the nest sooner.
Young people put their student finances high on the list of university concerns. 26% were worried about managing money while they are at university, while 13% admitted that this is the first time that they will be setting a budget and holding the purse strings.
Economic uncertainty and the prospect of increasing university fees are taking their toll, with 65% of students saying it will be difficult to afford university if the cost of living continues to rise and 38% saying that soon the cost of going to university will outweigh the benefits of going at all.
For the 66% of students-to-be who are planning to live away from home, 62% think that the financial implications are worth it for gaining their independence, while a quarter have no choice as they want to study at a far-away institution. Just 5% will be expecting their parents to foot the bill for their studies and 11% believe that they will be able to set a budget and make their finances work.
The main reasons for choosing to live away from home are to be closer to their university (74%), to gain independence (66%) and for the social life (56%), with 22% admitting that they are itching to fly the nest.
Catherine McGrath, director of current accounts, Lloyds TSB, commented: “Going to university isn’t just about getting good grades, it also has to make financial sense.
“However, university is also a great time to spread your wings and get a little life experience. By making the time now for some financial planning and careful budgeting, cash-strapped students should be able to enjoy further education without worrying unduly about making ends meet.”
The survey also revealed that many young people are making difficult choices in order to balance the books at university. 34% admitted that they will be taking more than one job over the summer break to build up their capital, while a quarter will have to hold down a job during term time to make ends meet. 15% will rely on work during the holidays to help boost their bank balance, while 8% said that they would prefer to rely on loans and an overdraft in order to focus on their studies.
About Lloyds TSB Student banking
Lloyds TSB Bank plc and Lloyds TSB Scotland plc are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and signatories to the Banking Codes.
Lloyds TSB Bank plc Registered Office: 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN . Registered in England and Wales no. 2065.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Launch Of Cultural Cruises In The Mediterranean 2009
AITO Travel Company of the Year Martin Randall Travel announces the launch of its five Mediterranean cruises in 2009. Following the enthusiastic response to the inaugural cruises in 2008, we are repeating this year’s cruises, and introducing two new itineraries: The Matisse Cruise and Ancient Greek Philosophy. The calibre, content and style are unlikely to be replicated or achieved by any other cruise operator. The cruises are designed for people with intellectual curiosity and an interest in history and the arts, and who want to travel in comfort and in congenial company. Not only to look but to see, not only to learn but to understand, not merely to enjoy but to be moved, enlightened, thrilled: that is what we plan for participants on these cruises.The Matisse Cruise (15–24 April 2009; also 24 April–4 May 2010)
Beginning in Málaga, where Picasso was born, and ending in Nice, where Matisse died, the cruise visits around twenty-five collections of modern art as well as sites and scenes that inspired some of the greatest art of the twentieth century. A superb team of biographers and art historians - including Hilary Spurling and Professor Christopher Green - accompanies this cruise of extraordinary riches. The number of passengers on board Le Diamant is restricted to 180, which reduces overcrowding at museums and fosters a more cohesive and intimate ambience on board. Prices start from £2,650 per person based on double occupancy and include onboard accommodation, scheduled flights from London to Málaga to meet the ship and return flight from Nice to London, all meals (with the exception of three independent lunches), wine, soda or bottled water with lunch and dinner, all excursions and visits, all coach transportation, lectures onboard, all tips and all taxes.
In Pursuit of Caravaggio (20 September–2 October 2009)
Following in Caravaggio’s footsteps, this unique and moving study of the artist’s life and work also surveys Magna Graecia, the territory of the Ancient Greeks in Italy. Vulcanology is a third theme as, travelling along the south west coast of Italy to Sicily and Malta, the cruise passes Europe’s three only active volcanoes. Three private concerts of music spanning the baroque era are performed in historic buildings. Prices start at £2,990 per person based on double occupancy and include onboard accommodation, flights from and back to the UK, nearly all meals, wine, soda or bottled water with lunch and dinner, excursions and visits, coach transportation, lectures onboard, concert performances, all tips and all taxes.
The Romans in Africa (2–13 October 2009)
The cruise focuses on the great ruined cities of Tunisia and Libya, ruins as magnificent as anywhere in the Roman world yet which receive only a fraction of the number of visitors as elsewhere. The remains of Carthaginian, Greek, Roman and Byzantine archaeology and architecture are also explored, as well as Arab, Berber and Islamic heritage. Music and drama takes place in Roman theatres, including Purcell's Dido and Aeneas in the theatre of Sabratha. Prices start at £2,690 per person based on double occupancy and include onboard accommodation, flights from and back to the UK, nearly all meals, wine, soda or bottled water with lunch and dinner, excursions and visits, coach transportation, lectures onboard, concert and other performances, all tips and all taxes.
Classical Civilizations of the Aegean (13–25 October 2009)
A chronological survey of Graeco-Roman civilizations – Minoan, Mycenaean, Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine – the cruise includes many of the world’s most spectacular and beautiful archaeological sites and museums. Naval history is a subsidiary theme, focusing particularly on the Ancient and Napoleonic eras. The Fitzwilliam Quartet, one of Britain’s finest string quartets performs both on the ship and ashore. Prices start at £2,990 per person based on double occupancy and include onboard accommodation, flights from and back to the UK, nearly all meals, wine, soda or bottled water with lunch and dinner, excursions and visits, coach transportation, lectures onboard, concert performances, all tips and all taxes.
Ancient Greek Philosophy (25 October–5 November 2009)
An introductory course for the intelligent layperson on Greek philosophy and its relevance today, putting ancient thought in the context of places where the great philosophers, scientists and physicians lived and practised. Medical and classical history also make up a significant strand and, as a foil to the intellectual content of the cruise, there are optional guided walks through lovely countryside. As the ideal Dionysian complement to the cerebral, Apollonian aspects, there are also talks on the recent renaissance of Greek wine-making. The distinguished lecturers meet the high standards of all MRT tour and cruise lecturers. Prices start at £2,620 per person based on double occupancy and include onboard accommodation, flights from and back to the UK, nearly all meals, wine, soda or bottled water with lunch and dinner, excursions and visits, coach transportation, lectures onboard, all tips and all taxes.
Our Policies and Style:
• No dumbing down: a return to high-brow cruising
• The finest lecturers
• Small ship and a reduced capacity, engenders greater intimacy and allows greater access
• Voyages with a purpose
• Original itineraries, meticulously planned
• Exceptional special events
• Treating passengers as adults
• No casino, no cabaret, no disco
• All-inclusive prices, no surcharges, no discounts
www.martinrandall.com
Gorgeous Contemporary Craft Fair 29 - 30 November at Enginuity, near Ironbridge
The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust and The Shropshire Guild of Contemporary Craft are again bringing together some of the West Midlands’ finest craftsmen and women for their annual flagship exhibition, ‘Gorgeous’, over the weekend of 29 and 30 November at Enginuity, Coalbrookdale. For the first time this year, the makers will also be joined by many of the region’s top food and drink producers in association with Heart of England Fine Foods.
Visitors to the Gorgeous Contemporary Craft and Fine Food Fair will be able to view and buy original craft work of the highest quality as well as meet the designer-makers, or commission their own unique items. At the same time, they will be able to sample delicacies from local producers, many of which they can purchase and take home.
This large and remarkable selling exhibition of inspirational artwork and gourmet produce will take up the entire Engine Room and covered bays at Enginuity, the Ironbridge Gorge’s fascinating interactive design and technology centre.
Gorgeous will showcase a wide selection of quality, contemporary work by around thirty-five guild members and guests including ceramics, furniture, glass, jewellery, textiles and much more. Exhibitors have been carefully selected to ensure there is a diverse range with both affordable and higher priced items across a range of disciplines; every item on display will reflect the high level of craftsmanship and design demanded by today’s discerning market.
Guild members showing include metal designer Julie Grose. The youngest member of the group, Julie works from her forge near Broseley creating contemporary, organic and imaginative sculpted pieces for the home and garden, inspired by geometric shapes and natural forms (www.juliegrosemetaldesign.co.uk). Julie told us that “Gorgeous is the biggest show of the year for many members of the guild. It is a vibrant, wonderfully creative event, and for me, displaying my work alongside likeminded designer-makers is really exciting”.
Also based in Shropshire, Ted Bruce is celebrating ten years of basket making. Working with English willow, some of which he grows himself, Ted uses traditional techniques to make strong and attractive, yet functional baskets (www.tedbrucebaskets.co.uk).
Recently elected chairman of the guild, potter Ralph Jandrell works in the picturesque Ironbridge Gorge. He designs and makes a unique range of quality ceramics in his studio at the Coalport China Museum continuing the tradition of ceramic excellence established there over many years (www.ralphjandrell.co.uk) Commenting on the event, Ralph said, “Every year, the Shropshire Guild of Contemporary Craft with guests organise a unique creative selling exhibition featuring the most talented designer-makers from Shropshire and the West Midlands. Gorgeous is the biggest contemporary craft event in the region of its kind – and this year, we have over 35 designer-makers exhibiting their exclusive wares.”
Founded in 2001 the Shropshire Guild of Contemporary Craft helps to promote the professional designer and maker through exhibitions and events; with members drawn from across Shropshire the guild has gone from strength to strength.
The beautiful and dramatic Ironbridge Gorge is fast becoming a year round home to many creative artists, who have studios in the Gorge. Visitors are encouraged to follow what is known as the Ribbon of Creativity featuring various craft centres and private studios throughout the Gorge.
Entrance to Gorgeous is £2.50 per person and free for children under 12 (this does not include entrance to Enginuity). It will be open from 10am to 5pm both days.
For further information about the makers log onto www.shropshire-guild.co.uk and for the Ironbridge Gorge Museums contact the Ironbridge Tourist Information Centre on Tel: 01952 884 391 or visit www.ironbridge.org.uk. The Gorge is easily reached via the M6 and M54 motorways exiting at Telford (M54 junction 4 or 6).
(NOTE: The guild is currently constructing a new website which will be completed by mid-October; meanwhile there will be a holding page)
DEon’t Risk Caravan Safety When Downsizing Your Car, Check With TOWSAFE Urges HPI
The introduction of the new tax increases planned for 2009, together with growing concerns over the environmental impact of motor vehicles, is causing many families to downsize. With caravanners traditionally using 4x4’s and other large vehicles as their tow-car – especially for bigger caravans – HPI is urging them to make sure their new downsized car can safely and legally tow their prized caravan. Failure to comply with the law could result in a fine of up to £1000 and point on your licence.
HPI is also urging holidaymakers to ensure their caravans are loaded correctly. A recent police crackdown on a busy holiday route in North Yorkshire highlighted the need for people to be careful; 14 caravans were ordered off the road immediately during spot checks for various safety offences, including weight issues and incorrect loading. The police state that caravans and trailers should be loaded correctly, tyre pressure should be adjusted according to the extra load and the tyre tread should be legal. A quick inspection of the mirrors and lights is also essential before setting off.
“Families changing cars or preparing for their summer caravan trip can’t afford to overlook the safety of their caravan outfit,” advises Alan Bishop, Director of HPI. “As well as the environmental issues, the credit crunch is causing more and more people to tighten their purse strings and as a result, caravan holidays are on the rise. Many people who already own a caravan have downsized to a smaller vehicle since their last trip and a smaller vehicle will impact the amount they can tow therefore potentially jeopardising the safety of them and their family when taking their trip. Many car dealers will not be aware of the legal and safety requirements that come with towing a caravan, so it is the caravanners responsibility to get it right – the easiest and safest way to ensure they comply is by using HPI’s TOWSAFE. ”
Not only is HPI’s TOWSAFE the most comprehensive car and caravan outfit matching service available, but it offers an easy and affordable way to ensure an outfit is correctly matched to the car – so caravanners can enjoy a care-free trip. Its extensive database gives access to weights and towing capacities of over 30,000 caravans and cars, and is the preferred choice of all the major caravan dealerships across the UK. Caravan owners can conduct a TOWSAFE check by logging on and registering at www.towsafe.co.uk
Bishop concludes, “Using TOWSAFE secures the safety of you and your family, as well as ensuring caravanners stay within the law when towing. The system not only matches a specific car with one or more caravans, but also advises on an outfit’s suitability depending on driver experience. Don’t risk it; enjoy a happy holiday with TOWSAFE.”
To conduct a TOWSAFE check, log on to www.towsafe.co.uk where you can register for £15.95 and conduct 5 TOWSAFE matches.
Beer Exposed Is A Brand New Consumer Event, 25 September To 27 September 2008
Beer Exposed is a stylish new event to expand your perception of beer and provide ultimate end of week socialising.
It showcases a new generation of artisanal beers, as well as some of the most famous beers of the world, and UK favourites. Beer Exposed will show you how to choose beer as a more flexible alternative to wine when matching with food. After all, beer is still the nation’s favourite alcoholic drink. Enjoy the convivial mood of the event, and buy unusual beers to take home. Unlike any other beer festival, Beer Exposed is a more sophisticated, individual experience and gives a new appreciation of beer, direct from the experts.
Meet brew masters from around the globe, and look out for top gourmet personalities who adore their beer, as well as familiar faces such as Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet fame. His beers from the Red Rat Craft Brewery are gold award winners. Beer Exposed runs from 25-27 September 2008, at The Business Design Centre, Islington, London N1 0QH. Tickets range from £14 to £20 and include interactive beer & food tutored tastings, expert-accompanied beer walks, and more. www.beerexposed.com
Taste the diversity of over 100 beers from 80 breweries, from Ethiopia to Colorado via Clackmannanshire, and explore gastronomic food matches. Whether scientific or subjective, the principles will delight wine enthusiasts too. Did you know Jamaican Stout enhances a chocolate dessert, or that triple fermented Belgian ale is ideal with cheese? Innovations reflect the irreverent and entrepreneurial approach to brewing, and include smoked beer, chocolate and coffee porters. New fruit beers are set to delight even the most traditional drinkers, and beer from the Alsace region, brewed with champagne yeast, will surprise stalwart supporters of champagne.
Amongst the highlights are competitions to win a weekend in a Belgian brewery hotel, or a weekend to create your own batch of beer in a fully operational Suffolk micro-brewery. Beer goes hand in hand with food, so quality food available at Beer Exposed includes a special menu to partner with Shepherd Neame beers.
The interactive experience is enriched by venerable experts, such as Garrett Oliver, brew master of the acclaimed Brooklyn Brewery, and a new younger generation, such as writer Ben McFarland, and broadcaster Melissa Cole who presents ‘ladies only’ tutorials. Others include entertaining presenters from The Beer Academy and Beer-Pages, Jeff Evans, Adrian Tierney-Jones, and Roger Protz, who is now the world’s leading expert. Each may have an anecdote to add to the quirky Bishops Finger beer (actually a genuine appelation controlée based on the old Kent Bishops Finger Charter decreeing exactly how the beer can be brewed). Or ask them to explain the quirky Buddha shaped bottle of Lucky beer from Australia.
Des Mulcahy and Matt Roclawski, co-founders of Beer Exposed, have been tireless in their search to track down some real discoveries. Des adds, “We have persuaded some of the world’s most unusual beers to come to London. Creating such an expansive offering has been a challenge, and we are really excited to see this unique collection. The heritage of beer is part of a nation’s great history. People often experience a new beer after visiting a new country, and flavours, food and holidays are fondly fixed in their memory. Everyone has their favourite, so we’re looking forward to some healthy debate too, as the merits of the best beers are compared by visitors and experts alike.”
Beer Exposed will run from 25-27 September 2008 at the Design Centre Islington, London N1 0QH. Nearest Tube is Angel. Tickets range from £14 for a Discovery Ticket, which includes tastings, to £20 for the Enlightenment ticket which includes a beer walk and beer talk. The intimate style of the event means that early ticket purchase is recommended. Over 18s only. For more information and to buy tickets: www.beerexposed.com
Event partners are Taste London and Metro.
Brewers and brands include: Anchor Steam, Applejack, Batemans, Bernard Beers, Brakspear, Brew Dog, Brooklyn, CAMRA, Country Life, Castel, Chang, Coopers, Cotleigh, Cristal, Cubanero, Duvel, Fullers, Goose Island, Greene King, Harviestoun, Hite Max, Hue, Kasteel Cru, Kingfisher, Left Hand Brewery, Lezasjsk, Little Valley, Okocim, Oranjeboom, Otley, Perla, Refresh UK, Roosters, Rothaus, Selamta, St. George, Bati, Saku Kuld, Sam Adams, Schlenkerla, Schneider Weiss, Svyturys, Shepherd Neame, Sierra Nevada, Tatra, Thornbridge, Tsingtao, Viru, White/Red Shield, Whitstable Bay, Warka, Wychwood, Zagorka, Zhujiang, Zywiec, and Tony Hadley representing Red Rat Brewery. Full list: www.beerexposed.com
Beer Exposed founders, Des Mulcahy and Matt Roclawski, are passionate about beer. They come from a background of banking, property and events. Both are available for interview for comment on consumer beer trends and recommendations where to track down unusual brews in the UK.
Irish Ferries Holds Lowest-Ever Fare For Autumn/Winter 2008/2009
Despite rising fuel costs, Irish Ferries, the low fares ferry company, has announced that, for the autumn and winter, it will again be offering a £59 one-way fare to Ireland.
This fare – for car and driver – guarantees no hidden extras as all taxes and fuel charges are included.
The move yet again highlights benefits that travellers can enjoy when choosing ferry travel to Ireland when compared with flights which come complete with punitive fuel surcharges, baggage charges, check-in charges etc.
Said Declan Mescall, Irish Ferries’ head of passenger sales: “We’ve taken the decision to absorb the extra fuel costs so that we can continue to be ‘the low fares ferry company.
“And we’ll also continue to bang the drum about the other benefits of self-drive travel by ferry…leisurely check-in times of just 30 minutes, no baggage restrictions or charges and space to relax, stretch the legs and enjoy the experience of Europe’s most modern ferries.’
The £59 lead-in fare is available on the Pembroke/Rosslare service when booked online at least 28 days before travel for the period 1 October – 20 December 2008. Lead-in fare between 27 August and 30 September is £89.
A small supplement applies for the Holyhead/Dublin service.
08705 17 17 17, www.irishferries.com
This fare – for car and driver – guarantees no hidden extras as all taxes and fuel charges are included.
The move yet again highlights benefits that travellers can enjoy when choosing ferry travel to Ireland when compared with flights which come complete with punitive fuel surcharges, baggage charges, check-in charges etc.
Said Declan Mescall, Irish Ferries’ head of passenger sales: “We’ve taken the decision to absorb the extra fuel costs so that we can continue to be ‘the low fares ferry company.
“And we’ll also continue to bang the drum about the other benefits of self-drive travel by ferry…leisurely check-in times of just 30 minutes, no baggage restrictions or charges and space to relax, stretch the legs and enjoy the experience of Europe’s most modern ferries.’
The £59 lead-in fare is available on the Pembroke/Rosslare service when booked online at least 28 days before travel for the period 1 October – 20 December 2008. Lead-in fare between 27 August and 30 September is £89.
A small supplement applies for the Holyhead/Dublin service.
08705 17 17 17, www.irishferries.com
Drivers warned to look out for ‘bargain buys’ as crooks cash in on forged government documents
Motorists looking for a ‘bargain’ are being warned to be on their guard against forged registration forms after thousands of blank DVLA documents fell into the wrong hands.
The V5C forms, which car buyers rely on to provide an accurate vehicle history, were supposed to have been destroyed because of a tiny spelling error but were stolen before they could be shredded. Now, vehicle crime experts claim the forms are showing up in ever increasing numbers as crooks use them to sell cloned or stolen cars to unsuspecting motorists.
Already, several hundred of these forms are known to have been used to sell stolen vehicles to unsuspecting buyers and experts working with www.mycarcheck.com are warning motorists there could be thousands more.
“Every day we deal with calls from people who have unfortunately been taken in by an offer that was just too good to refuse and with the streets flooded with these blank log books it’s almost as if these thieves have a blank cheque,” said Roger Powell, General Manager of mycarcheck.com.
“We always advise people never to buy a used car without a log book but with these fraudulent ones in use by the criminal fraternity more stringent checks are required.
“Before handing over any cash people should always check the serial
number at the top right hand corner of the registration certificate to make sure it has not been tampered with but with these documents the crooks don’t have to alter anything.
”However, if the number has the prefix BG and falls within the range BG 9167501 to BG 9190500, BG9190501 to BG9214000, BG8407501 to BG8431000 or BG9282001 to BG9305000, they should walk away without buying the vehicle.
”Similarly, if the serial number is missing, altered in any way, partially obscured or torn motorists should not go through with the deal,” said Mr Powell.
The stolen certificates are also slightly different in colour. The Notification of Permanent Export (V5C/4) tear off slip on the second page should be mauve on both sides but the stolen forms appear pink on the front.
Already a number of people have fallen victim to the bogus document scam, many of them losing an average of £10,000 each.
”Taking into account the serial numbers we could be looking at as many as 90,000 stolen forms in the hands of criminals. If each document is used to sell a car at that price we are looking at £900 million being extorted which is almost £1billion.” said Phil Swift, a former policeman turned insurance investigator with Claims Management & Adjustments (CMA).
“The documents were stolen with no vehicle details on them. They are on legitimate paper, legitimate DVLA documents that were sent for destruction because of a slight error with the printing.
“Any criminal who gets hold of them simply sticks them in a typewriter and inputs the details for the vehicle to match what they’ve nicked, which means they don’t have to apply for a registration document using a false address because they can simply make one up.”
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Soap Awards Launched For Grubbiest Soap Stars By Leading Brewery
Independent brewer T&R Theakston has created its very own ‘Soap Awards’ to mark the launch of its new hops based soap to encourage some of the nations’ favourite but dirtiest TV characters to clean up their act!
Topping the poll was one of soap world’s most infamous families with Shadrach Dingle leading the pack, closely followed by his brother Zak. Next in the ranking was Eastenders lovable lay about Keith Miller followed by feisty barmaid Shirley Carter.
All of the popular TV characters selected are renowned for their unclean, unkempt and less than elegant appearances and spending ‘quality’ time in their local boozers including the Woolpack, The Queen Vic and The Rovers.
“We are truly a nation of soap lovers and consider the regular characters friends, we invite them into our homes every week to entertain us but there is no denying that all of those selected are renowned for being unkempt and in need of a good clean!” said Simon Theakston, Executive Director of Theakstons.
“We have launched our ‘Soap Awards’ to name and shame some of our best loved characters and will be sending them all a bar or two of our new Theakstons soap to use!”
On creating the soap he commented, “We decided to bring our traditional ingredients and strong brand associations to a distinctive, high quality skincare product. The hops we use to make our Best Bitter are packed with proteins and natural preservatives and for centuries the beneficial properties of beers have seen them incorporated in many remedies. As well as being very healthy for the insides in moderation, superior ales have long been used to cleanse and moisturise the outsides as well.”
The awards have gone to characters from the county’s three favourite soaps, Eastenders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale and the Top Ten has been identified as;
1. Shadrach Dingle played by Andy Devine
2. Zak Dingle played by Steve Halliwell
3. Keith Miller played by David Spinx
4. Shirley Carter played by Linda Henry
5. Jack Duckworth played by Bill Tarmey
6. Vernon Tomlin played by Ian Reddington
7. Sean Slater played by Robert Kazinsky
8. Becky Grainger played by Katherine Kelly
9. Jase Dyer played by Stephen Lord
10. Kevin Webster played by Michael Le Vell
Theakstons is one of the first brewer’s in Europe to introduce its own soap and the new product’s development was inspired by the renowned hair care properties of beer and skin rejuvenation provided by hops. Like the company’s cask-conditioned ales, Theakston Olive Oil moisturising soap, suitable for all skin types is hand made with best hops and all natural ingredients including coconut oil and jojoba, which help with cell regeneration.
Specially made for T&R Theakston by Soap of the Earth, of Lincolnshire, it capitalises on the growing interest in male grooming, traditional beers and organic living. The Olive Oil works as a natural humectant leaving skin supple and rejuvenated with its rich, distinctive scent that blends suggestions of sweet orange and clary sage.
It is the first in an ambitious new line of Theakstons beauty products for men and women, which will include shampoos, conditioners and moisturisers.
Theakstons was established in Masham, in 1827, and is one of the country’s most famous and highly regarded traditional ale brewers. This approach is exemplified by the fact that it employs England’s last apprenticed cooper to make the time-honoured oak casks in which the beers mature.
There are five permanent brands in the Theakstons range and each one is brewed to an individual recipe. The iconic Old Peculier, XB, Best Bitter, Mild and Black Bull Bitter, along with a range of seasonal ales designed to provide variety and choice are available in cask. The Theakstons bottled range has been extended this year and now includes OP, XB, Black Bull Bitter, Paradise Ale, Grouse Beater and Lightfoot Bitter. The 100g bars of Theakston soap are available at www.theakstons.co.uk/shop
Hops have many external uses and have long been applied to allay skin infections, eczema and ulcers. Being a stimulant of the cutaneous metabolism, it has a good effect on the skin generally and is therefore being used increasingly in skin products and bath gels.
Toiletries make use of hops for its antiseptic and seborrhoeic qualities and, in recent times, it has been thought to improve hair condition and growth.
Blyton is back: New stories and adventures for a new generation Blyton is back: New stories and adventures for a new generation
Solve the mystery the Famous Five never did with the ‘Survival Guide’
Return to the magic faraway tree for a new spin off series ‘The Enchanted World’
Chorion, owners of the Blyton publishing estate, has announced today a new content development programme that will see some of Blyton’s famous characters feature in brand-new adventures. This is the first time Chorion has undertaken a programme like this, which will see 20 new books released to the UK over the next 18 months, since acquiring the estate in 1996. All the new books will remain true to Blyton’s classic storytelling style and values.
The Famous Five’s Survival Guide (Hodder – 4th September 2008, £15.99): This is a brand new Famous Five mystery and adventure survival handbook in one. As you would expect from a classic Famous Five adventure the Survival Guide is packed full of stolen treasure, problem solving, traps and traitors.
The story is told by the grown up Julian, Dick, Anne and George and is about the only mystery they (and Timmy the dog) never solved when they were kids – The Mystery of the Royal Dragon of Siam. Included are their personal diary pages and all the clues they collected about the mystery at the time.
As the Famous Five tell their story they also share their guide to solving mysteries and adventuring in the great outdoors with tips on cracking codes, using a compass, building an escape raft and camping. The Survival Guide is also linked into www.famousfive.com to give readers the chance to test their mystery solving skills and uncover the treasure for themselves. The perfect book for all fans of mystery, adventure and the Famous Five.
Enid Blyton’s The Enchanted World (Egmont – 1st September 2008, £4.99): Based on Blyton’s original masterpiece – The Faraway Tree – the new five-book spin-off series follows the adventures of Silky the Fairy (from the original series) and her four new fairy friends Melody, Petal, Pinx and Bizzy on a mission to save the magic faraway tree from the evil troll Talon. The new stories are aimed at girls aged seven upwards but can be enjoyed by all ages. Written by Elise Allen, a writer whose style is reminiscent of Blyton’s, the new stories transport the reader on a magical adventure and include all the classic Blyton story ingredients – cliff-hangers, fantasy, friendship and fun. The stories are told in a contemporary tone but stay true to the original world Blyton created back in 1939.
Other stories in development for 2009 are based on The Wishing-Chair, Malory Towers and The Secret Series. The Enchanted World and The Wishing-Chair stories are told using modern language whilst Malory Towers, The Famous Five’s Survival Guide and The Secret Series are told in Blyton’s original tone.
Jeff Norton, Director of Brand Development at Chorion said: “Blyton’s stories have been enjoyed by millions over the years and there is a huge demand for more of her magical storytelling. Blyton was passionate in her advocacy of child literacy and as the guardians of her estate we see it as our duty to continue that legacy. By creating new stories that capture Blyton’s values of imagination, wonder, thrills and happy endings, we hope to complement her original and ongoing titles and bring joy to millions more children in the years to come.”
To enjoy Blyton off-the-page children and parents can visit www.famousfive.com and www.blyton.com/enchantedworld for games and activities.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
onshoes.com Gives Consumers a Wider Choice of Shoes
Conversion Culture Ltd, a company that specialises in footwear websites, brings you the very latest in their line – Online Shoes.
OnShoes.com is a new site that brings its customers everything that they need when it comes to shopping for shoes on the web – convenience, a wide choice, ease of use, quality customer service and efficient dispatch procedures. OnShoes.com supplies the customer with a range of quality products from highly respected and recognised footwear manufacturers, such as Merrell, Quiksilver and Timberland, as well as relative newcomers such as Salomon, Patagonia shoes and Simple.
OnShoes.com, a sister site of Fitness Footwear, is set to be a leader in the online footwear market. As soon as the customer sets foot at their front page, they are greeted with an array of different options, categories and sales. Users are easily guided from one brand to another with clear and prominent logo placing, and thanks to the easy to navigate website, are likely to find exactly what they are looking for without getting lost or bogged down in sub-categories.
Conversion Culture Ltd has built OnShoes.com to cater for every possible interest. From the obvious differences such as men’s and women’s, to the not so catered for diversities such as narrow or larger feet. OnShoes will, in terms of their products, have it all. From hiking boots to beach sandals, even the more specialist items such as ergonomic running shoes and walking boots.
OnShoes.com is a new site that brings its customers everything that they need when it comes to shopping for shoes on the web – convenience, a wide choice, ease of use, quality customer service and efficient dispatch procedures. OnShoes.com supplies the customer with a range of quality products from highly respected and recognised footwear manufacturers, such as Merrell, Quiksilver and Timberland, as well as relative newcomers such as Salomon, Patagonia shoes and Simple.
OnShoes.com, a sister site of Fitness Footwear, is set to be a leader in the online footwear market. As soon as the customer sets foot at their front page, they are greeted with an array of different options, categories and sales. Users are easily guided from one brand to another with clear and prominent logo placing, and thanks to the easy to navigate website, are likely to find exactly what they are looking for without getting lost or bogged down in sub-categories.
Conversion Culture Ltd has built OnShoes.com to cater for every possible interest. From the obvious differences such as men’s and women’s, to the not so catered for diversities such as narrow or larger feet. OnShoes will, in terms of their products, have it all. From hiking boots to beach sandals, even the more specialist items such as ergonomic running shoes and walking boots.
Improving accessibility on the railways
Rail Minister Tom Harris MP visits Glasgow's Mount Florida station today (Thursday 21 August) to announce five more stations in Scotland are set to benefit from the Government's £370m Access for All scheme.
Easterhouse, Hyndland, Linlithgow, Montrose and Perth stations are the latest stations to benefit from Access for All funding, which will pay for improvements to accessibility, such as ensuring step-free access from the station entrance to platforms.
Access for All was launched in 2006 to address the issues faced by disabled passengers using railway stations in Great Britain. £35m per year, until 2015, is ring-fenced for the provision of obstacle free, accessible routes into and between platforms at rail stations.
Rail Minister Tom Harris said: "We want to encourage more people to travel by train, so it is important we ensure the rail network is accessible to everyone.
"Lifts, step-free access, more disabled parking and improved information signs will make a huge improvement to people's journeys and will give disabled people greater access to employment opportunities as well as social and leisure activities."
Tom Harris today also launched a new Code of Practice on Accessible Train and Station Design for Disabled Passengers to introduce a single set of design standards across the entire rail network. The Code will help ensure access and safety for disabled passengers and will provide guidance for train and station operators providing examples of best practice.
Tom Harris added: "This Code will establish a basic level of accessibility right across the rail network. It provides a clear set of standards that disabled passengers can expect to be met and the examples of best practice will show operators how they can go the extra mile in helping passengers with reduced mobility."
Ron McAulay, Network Rail Director, Scotland said: "We're pleased that the funding has now been put in place to carry out these essential station improvements and we look forward to completing this work with the minimum of disruption to passengers."
Mary Grant, managing director of First ScotRail, the train operator, said: "It is very good news that five more Scottish stations will benefit from the Access for All scheme."
Nearly 70% are miserable at work
Nearly 70% of people are completely miserable at work and 1 in 2 think about quitting their jobs on a daily basis.
Research from a leading recruitment website shows that nearly 70%* of people hate their job and a shocking 43% of people go as far as saying they dread waking up in the morning. Surprisingly, hospitality workers, despite the long hours and stressful reputation, are the happiest and most passionate about their work.
The survey, conducted by www.caterer.com shows that over 49% of hospitality workers thoroughly enjoy their job, with only 23% admitting to the occasional thought of changing sectors and only 19% claiming to not feel any job satisfaction.
The results show the various job sectors and the percentage of people who are not only happy with their career, but feel genuinely dedicated and enthusiastic about their job;
1) Hospitality – 49.16% of hospitality workers are happy with their job
2) Health Sector - 48.89%
3) Charity - 34.06%
4) Education - 30.88%
5) Care/Social work - 29.92%
5) Forces/Police - 28.57%
6) Skilled (designer/electrician) - 20.43%
7) Sales (phone/door2door) - 16.98%
8) Labour - 11.00%
9) Office-based - 10.01%
10) Retail - 7.17%
Ian Burke from Caterer.com, a leading hospitality recruitment website, says he is not surprised by the findings; “Hospitality employee’s work extremely hard, especially at this time of year and it’s fair to say the industry is rarely associated with passion or fun. For us, these results just confirm what we see every day; that hospitality workers really do love their jobs.”
Caterer.com has launched a series of satirical viral’s, called ‘Little Gordon’ and can be found at www.LittleGordon.com. They provide an over-the-top, yet humorous portrayal of life within the hospitality industry. ‘Little Gordon’, the 9 year old chef fully encompasses the discipline, passion and commitment of workers within the sector.
The second viral has launched this week and can be found at www.littlegordon.com/restaurant.php. It has already received 57,035 views. The first viral, released two weeks ago has received almost 135,000 views so far, on YouTube alone.
Ian Burke continues; “The levels of positive feedback for the viral ads have been incredible, with many people enjoying seeing the light-hearted side to the industry. I hope Little Gordon and the latest statistics will bring a whole new, much-deserved reputation to the hospitality sector.”
The results, from over 4,300 participants, show that people within the hospitality sector are happier at work than those in sectors such as health care, charity and education; industries that require dedication to the lives of others and are considered to be the most fulfilling sector to work in.
*66% of workers are unhappy with their current job.
No more temps?
Results revealed today show that the days of temporary office workers may be over due to the downturn in the economy. People are no longer jumping from job to job and workers are becoming increasingly afraid of not being able to find new work.
A leading independent recruitment-agency scoring website can today reveal that the trend of temporary office workers hopping from job to job has come to an end, due to the downturn in the economy.
Just over 1,500 of the registered users responded to the www.HireScores.com survey question which aimed to find out if recruitment agencies were still able to find them work.
81% of temporary office workers who replied said that compared to the same point last year, they were now more likely to stay in a job that they would have previously left and said that this was because of the perceived difficulty in finding a new job given the economic situation.
Only 13% of respondents said that they still regularly changed temporary office jobs and had no fears about finding a new role and 6% said that they actually move jobs more now than they did at the same time 12 months ago.
When HireScores.com looked at individual market sectors, 73% of office temps working in the financial services sector claimed to have stopped job-hopping compared to 68% in the legal and accountancy sector and 59% in the leisure and retail sector.
It comes as no surprise that the top 5 cities with the most “job-hoppers” were, in order, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol and Leeds, although the survey did show that it was London’s temporary office workers who had the most concerns.
Speaking about the results, Lisette Howlett, Managing Director of HireScores.com said,
“Our research shows that temporary employees are becoming reformed job-hoppers and ditching the once common trend of switching jobs whenever they got fed up with a company because there was a buoyant economy and jobs in plentiful supply. With the current economic gloom workers are now clinging onto their jobs for fear that they may struggle to find another one”
She continued, “In recent months the recruitment sector has been thriving with more and more people coming to agencies looking for work but it now looks as though demand is far outweighing the number of jobs available”.
HireScores has spent the last two years developing the market leading, independent, agency scoring website along with raising its profile across the UK recruitment sector and is also available to other affinity groups who wish to provide a bespoke feedback solution to their members.
For further information visit www.HireScores.com
R.O.EYE to Support eBay UK’s Affiliate Marketing Programme
Specialist affiliate marketing agency R.O.EYE has been appointed by eBay in the UK to help support its recently launched in-house affiliate network, the eBay Partner Network.
R.O.EYE will work closely with eBay to help support the management of eBay’s existing affiliate base and will provide additional support by recruiting further affiliates across new and existing business models.
eBay launched the eBay Partner Network in April 2008, building on its already successful eBay Affiliate Programme, which launched in 2001. The eBay Partner Network operates in 17 countries and its UK affiliate programme is second only in size to the US programme.
“Over the last four years, R.O.EYE has grown to become the UK’s primary Outsourced Programme Management agency,” said Mark Kuhillow, Managing Director of R.O.EYE. “Our appointment by eBay is testament to our strategic approach to programme management in the UK. Supporting the eBay Partner Network is an incredible opportunity to add value which will be beneficial to both eBay and its affiliates.”
The focus of R.O.EYE’s partnership with eBay is to optimise and increase the current publisher base while servicing the needs of affiliates. R.O.EYE will ensure the effective distribution of eBay’s content while securing existing levels of traffic, sales and efficiency.
Minal Shah, Head of Internet Marketing for eBay in the UK commented:
“R.O.EYE demonstrated that it can combine strong relationships with affiliates with a very flexible approach to programme management. We were impressed by the agency’s in depth knowledge of the affiliate industry, as well as its innovative and bold approach to recruitment.”
There are more than fourteen million items for sale on the eBay.co.uk site at any one time. The number of eBay.co.uk’s unique visitors reached over 15 million in June 2008.*
R.O.EYE will work closely with eBay to help support the management of eBay’s existing affiliate base and will provide additional support by recruiting further affiliates across new and existing business models.
eBay launched the eBay Partner Network in April 2008, building on its already successful eBay Affiliate Programme, which launched in 2001. The eBay Partner Network operates in 17 countries and its UK affiliate programme is second only in size to the US programme.
“Over the last four years, R.O.EYE has grown to become the UK’s primary Outsourced Programme Management agency,” said Mark Kuhillow, Managing Director of R.O.EYE. “Our appointment by eBay is testament to our strategic approach to programme management in the UK. Supporting the eBay Partner Network is an incredible opportunity to add value which will be beneficial to both eBay and its affiliates.”
The focus of R.O.EYE’s partnership with eBay is to optimise and increase the current publisher base while servicing the needs of affiliates. R.O.EYE will ensure the effective distribution of eBay’s content while securing existing levels of traffic, sales and efficiency.
Minal Shah, Head of Internet Marketing for eBay in the UK commented:
“R.O.EYE demonstrated that it can combine strong relationships with affiliates with a very flexible approach to programme management. We were impressed by the agency’s in depth knowledge of the affiliate industry, as well as its innovative and bold approach to recruitment.”
There are more than fourteen million items for sale on the eBay.co.uk site at any one time. The number of eBay.co.uk’s unique visitors reached over 15 million in June 2008.*
FACT FILE:
About eBay
Founded in 1995, eBay pioneers communities built on commerce, sustained by trust, and inspired by opportunity. eBay enables ecommerce on a local, national and international basis with an array of websites – including the eBay Marketplace, PayPal, Skype, Kijiji, Rent.com, Shopping.com – that bring together millions of buyers and sellers every day.
*Nielsen / Netratings, June 2008
About R.O.EYE
R.O.EYE (www.ro-eye.co.uk) is the largest specialist affiliate marketing agency in the UK, providing specialist marketing services to e-commerce merchants. Globally respected and firmly established within the affiliate community, R.O.EYE boasts unrivalled market expertise. The company is independently owned and has the flexibility and resource to assist clients in the development of in-house super affiliate programmes. R.O.EYE provides clients with tracking solutions, analysis and commentary to ensure accurate forecasting of budget and volume, and
The Eccentric Club makes a welcome return to London society
The Eccentric Club, once an important institution in the British society, which fell victim to a careless gamble with property developers in the mid-1980s and, subsequently, lost its premises in Mayfair and was closed down, is to experience a much-anticipated revival and to make a daring comeback to the London clubland on 29th of August – this time not in Mayfair, but in Bloomsbury, in the premises of Pushkin House, the Russian cultural centre, named after Alexander Pushkin, Russia’s most celebrated and most eccentric 19th century poet.
The reason for such a choice of venue was purely incidental and primarily due to the friendliness of the Pushkin House staff and their own excitement about the re-launch of The Eccentric Club by a group of keen enthusiasts and devoted volunteers, members of a few other London clubs, who believe that the Eccentric Club is still missed by many and undeservedly forgotten by the society and the media.
“The Club’s name is a long established and reputable brand, its famous members of the past were those who had shaped the British culture into what it is now, its history is inseparable with that of Britain itself”, say the organisers.
On the 29th of August they intend to re-launch The Eccentric Club (UK) officially, in a traditional eccentric and entertaining style, with the music performances, a witty satirical operatic/jazz cabaret “Kiss & Tell”, speeches by Henry Hemming, the celebrated author of recently published “In Search of the English Eccentric” and Lyndon Yorke (a mechanical follyologist voted 'Britain's Most Eccentric Person' in 2002), and more entertainment in various shapes. Equally entertaining promises to be the socialising with the meticulously selected guests from the artistic, scientific, literary, legal and business circles.
Traditionally believed to have been founded in 1890 by Jack Harrison, a theatrical costumier from Shaftesbury Avenue, the new Eccentric Club may actually become a century older due to the claims of its organisers to have proofs of the Club’s existence in the 1780s. Such a change in the Club’s ‘birth certificate’ most probably will not go unnoticed by the other clubs, but at the moment this does not seem to worry the organisers who believe that the Club has experienced many resurrections and has been founded several times by totally unrelated and socially distinct groups of people over the last two centuries.
The new Club’s website states that it has served "as a meeting point to many great and original minds, pioneers of thought in artistic, literary, theatrical, scientific, legal and political circles, providing an amicable environment for their recreational and creative pastime as well as a testing ground for the novel and controversial theories and approaches to the issues equally important to the British society and the entire mankind." Considering what's going on in the world today, many feel that it is high time The Eccentric Club was reborn and some new debates on some old issues to be launched.
You may of course be wondering what is meant by ‘being eccentric’ these days, after all it has been unfortunately misinterpreted over the years. The new founders have redefined its meaning to "British eccentricity is a reluctance to be bound by social, spiritual, scientific, political, esthetical or any other limitations and an everlasting desire to explore every manifestation of life around us for the benefit of gaining personal experience and translating it through various mediums such as art, business, science, social events to the others, to the society and, in particular, other individuals which are seeking new knowledge and experience and are ready to perceive it...".
The previous Eccentric Club, started in 1890 by Jack Harrison, a theatrical costumier and the father of popular musical comedy actresses Phyllis Monkman, Dorothy Monkman and Beryl Harrison, from its humble beginnings in Shaftesbury Avenue rose to become one of the most influential artistic and business establishments in Britain as well as one of its most generous charities.
During both World Wars, members of the Eccentric entertained the troops on the frontline, raised in total over £100,000 for wounded soldiers, visited them in hospitals and distributed food, tobacco, cigarettes and pipes, built numerous hospitals, hostels and orphanages. On average, since the 1920s the Club was spending over £1,000 a year on various charitable needs.
The new Club organisers pledge to honour the charitable traditions of its predecessors. They believe that today, in the times of common globalisation, it is essentially important to support local, national and European charities which far too often remain undervalued and underfunded whilst the larger international organisations' needs seem to be more of a priority.
The new Eccentric Club started just over a year ago with an eccentric idea of its restoration and a website appealing to any possible supporters of such an initiative. The response was truly overwhelming and beyond any expectations – emails were coming in literally daily. Although, a share of correspondence was from those doing genealogical research for their own families or some famous former members of the Club, a larger proportion was from those who were actually looking for The Eccentric Club to learn more about it, fascinated with its history and the remarkable input into the British culture. Two London-based TV production companies were immediately interested in shooting documentaries about the new Club’s birth.
Restoration of The Eccentric Club in the 21st century is an amazing challenge and everyone involved feel most excited about the journey ahead of them. The organisers believe they are closer to the original founders of the Club than those who have inherited it and lost it. Starting the Club from the very beginning – finding the patrons, acquiring the right members, raising funds, organising events, establishing own clubhouse – requires a lot of energy and aspiration. But a prospect of running one of the most fascinating clubs in the British history fuels this ambitious beginning.
Finally, the new Club’s organisers see it essentially important to highlight and celebrate the British kind of eccentricity – an innate ability to ignore the well-trotted routes of the others and invent own original ways, find surprisingly fresh approaches to the long decided issues, proudly demonstrating to the rest of the world the great mosaic of possible solutions and points of view. And, as we know from the history, the world has often followed the British eccentrics and acknowledged their genius...
The Eccentric Club restoration was welcomed by many celebrated and distinguished individuals. Amongst those who wished the best of luck to the endeavours of the new Club organisers are HRH Prince Michael of Kent, Mayor of London Boris Johnson, Lord Bath and Lord Montagu (who was the last Chairman of The Eccentric Club in the 1980s).
FAMOUS MEMBERS OF THE CLUB: Jack Harrison, Sir Charles Wyndham, Viscount Burnham, The Earl of Lonsdale, Lord Montagu, Sir Frederick Wells, Sir James Miller, Sir Herbert Tree, Sir George Alexander, Sir Walter de Frece, H.Montague-Bates, Lionel Brough, John Hollingshead, M. De Paleologue, Henry Ainley, George Robey, Dan Leno, Little Tich, Sir Henry J. Wood, Sir Landon Ronald, Arthur Lloyd, Fred Bishop, Bill Gavin, Dick Upex, Bud Flanagan, Tommy Trinder, Ben Warris, Joe Davis, Jack Trevor, James Moore, and many many others.
Unconfirmed famous members: Julius M. Price, Dudley Hardy, George Graves.
HRH Prince of Wales was the Club’s primary Patron for almost all of its history. In total, 35 Lord Mayors of London were selected as Honorary Life Members of the Club.
Website: http://www.eccentricclub.co.uk
ELIXIR International - the world's first anti-ageing quarterly glossy launches
Elixir Press Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Elite Publishing Ltd, today announced the launch of ELIXIR International, the world’s first quarterly super glossy consumer magazine, totally focused on the booming market in anti-aging services and products, (currently estimated at more than US $56 billion worldwide (£29.7bn) -Source: FIND/SVP).The 200-page perfect bound quarterly will go on sale in the UK (WH Smiths, Borders, Tesco, independent newsagents) and internationally in October with a cover price of £3.80 and an initial print run of 100,000 copies. It will also be distributed free to spas, cruise ships, luxury hotels, gyms, airport business lounges, on private charter jets and international sales through on-line subscription.
The paper quality and size of the magazine will be exactly the same as that of Vogue magazine. ELIXIR International will also be published online to meet the demand of both internet readers and advertisers.
Publisher Oskar Keysell said: “Today’s consumers want to know about the latest products and the science behind them so we will meet their needs with intelligent and sophisticated news and features on anti-ageing products and services from around the globe. There is absolutely no other magazine on the market like this.
"ELIXIR International is about a sophisticated anti-ageing lifestyle which includes taking preventative health protocols to stay healthy for longer, with the added bonus that you look better too. But this lifestyle may also be reflected by your home, its décor and even the type of car that your drive and the way you dress.”
If it’s hot, new and will improve your lifespan and if it’s happening in Beverly Hills, New York, London, Paris, Rome, Shanghai or anywhere else – you will find out about it first in ELIXIR International.
Each issue will contain regular features on anti-ageing cosmetics, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, diet and exercise, cosmetic surgery, cosmetic dentistry and spas. It will also look at how readers can fight back against the diseases of ageing – obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease, stroke etc with the latest medical anti-ageing and rejuvenation therapies.
ELIXIR International is endorsed by the world’s leading authorities on anti-ageing. Our medical panel includes Dr Bob Goldman, MD, Chairman American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, the world’s largest professional organization dedicated to advancing research into this area; Dr Javier de Benito,one of the world's leading cosmetic surgeons and General Director of the Instituto de Benito Plastic & Aesthetic Surgery in Barcelona and Dr Nicholas Perricone, the New York dermatologist and author and one of the world’s leading experts on skin health.
Regular contributors will include David Kirsch, the New York fitness guru and owner of the Madison Square Gardens Fitness Club and supermodel body trainer – his clients include Heidi Klum and Linda Evangelista as well as the lingerie models for Victoria’s Secrets and Beverly Hills cosmetic surgeon Raj Chopra, known for his facial aesthetic surgery.
ELIXIR International’s target demographic, is men and women, aged 28+ who share an interest in living healthier for longer and want to purchase the products and services that can help them do so and includes the baby-boomers.
"These individuals belong to one of the most affluent generations in history and are willing and able to pay for products that provide anti-aging benefits.” (Freedonia market research)
The publication of ELIXIR International follows the successful pilot launch last year of the monthly title ELIXIR and www.elixirnews.com an online magazine devoted to rejuvenation and anti-ageing, established four years ago. It now has 30,000 unique visitors each month and has a growing database of subscribers interested in anti-ageing products and services.
ELIXIR International joins a stable of reputed international brands from Elite (www.elitepublishing.co.uk) including National Geographic Traveler, BUPA Parents Magazine, Le Mans official magazine and the RBS 6Nations Official Championship Guide.
Classics Illustrated is back!
The famous comic strip adaptations of great stories from Children’s literature – is back!
In WH Smith from 25th September
Classics Illustrated will be back on the bookshelves again after 40 years! Famous throughout the world from 1941 Classics Illustrated is a comic strip series of books featuring adaptations of literary classics such as Oliver Twist, Robin Hood, The Man in the Iron Mask, Romeo and Juliet and A Journey to the Centre of the Earth. All the illustrations have been digitally enhanced to give a fresh feel to the original highly acclaimed drawings.
Classic Comic Store Ltd is re-launching these enduring classics at a time when graphic novels are gaining a huge following. Jeff Brooks, Managing Director is a collector and authority on classic comics and graphic novels. Brooks comments - “These timeless novels remind us of the great adventure stories from our youth and still impart their magic today. At a time when we see children reading less and our literacy rates are a great worry, the graphic novel has the potential to get reluctant readers engaged in these wonderful stories, and hopefully encourage them to go on to read the book.”
The series splits into two age groups, Classics Illustrated for the 8 to 14 year age group, bringing to life the works of Dickens, Shakespeare, Verne, Wells and Louis Stevenson. Classics Illustrated Junior, for younger readers adapts classical fairy tale and folk stories from legends such as Hans Christian Anderson and the Brothers Grimm in comic form.
Michael Rosen, the Children’s Laureate comments “I like these illustrated Children’s Classics. I’m a great fan of comics and the comic strip and I think these books offer a good way for young readers to get into some of the greatest stories ever told. My three-year old was particularly keen on the Goldilocks one, and has asked for it again and again!”
W.H. Smith is taking both series from 25th September. The first in this monthly series is The War of the Worlds – the original was acclaimed for its striking art and exceptional cover – it is now brought up to date with stronger clearer colours and higher definition, whilst remaining true to the original. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is the first in the Junior series. They will also be available in selected Borders and other high street retailers and independent newsagents.
The graphic novel, described as a novel whose narrative is conveyed through a combination of text and art, in comic-strip form is fast gaining popularity, sales of this genre have quadrupled in the last four years. They can play an important part in encouraging reading as quite complex stories can be portrayed in a visually exciting and ‘text light’ format.
Brooks concludes – “These classic novels have introduced several generations of children to the greatest characters in literature – Oliver Twist, Long John Silver, d’Artagnan, Quasimodo and Hamlet, to name just a few – our hope is that Classics Illustrated will engage new readers and encourage literacy in readers who might be daunted by the perceived challenge of pages of pure text.”
Classics Illustrated will retail at £2.99 and Classics Illustrated Junior at £2.50 Discounts will be given to schools. Subscriptions and individual copies will be available from the website from 1st September.
www.classicsillustrated.co.uk
FACT FILE:
First published in America in 1941, the original series ran until 1971 with over 1 billion sold worldwide; it is estimated that some 3 million were printed per month in over two dozen languages. From 1943 they were distributed to American GIs via the Red Cross and over 5 million were sent to US soldiers across the world. Original copies are highly collectible.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Toasting The Success In The Den For The Inventors Of Toastabags
Planit Products Ltd are celebrating after securing an offer from James Caan in BBC 2’s Dragons’ Den.Guy Unwin, the inventor of toastabags®, together with his partner Caroline Kavanagh took the nerve racking trip to the Den in June. They were looking for a £200,000 investment in their already well established and successful range of innovative cookwear products.
Guy came up for the idea of toastabags® six years ago and they are now available from most supermarkets as well as smaller retailers, mail order and online at www.toastabags.com. A patented product, toastabags® are hassle free, quick, clean and safe way to make a toasted sandwich in your toaster. Since then the range of products has been expanding all the time, to including the best selling non-stick cookasheets, the new pizzamesh and quickachips, oven liners, oven shelfguard and more.
This ever expanding portfolio has meant the increasing need for investment for marketing and stock as well as developing overseas markets. Guy had the idea of applying for Dragon’s Den and after filling in multiple forms, enduring camera tests in Manchester they were asked to go to Pinewood studios to be filmed. Caroline said ‘It was a very scary experience, but the kudos of having a Dragon on board as well as the publicity from appearing on the show is fantastic, let alone the chance of being able to secure a significant investment.’
While most of the wide-eyed hopefuls who enter the Den in search of investment are sent packing after the ritual humiliation of having their business plans picked apart, Planit Products actually had two of the Dragons keen to invest.
Guy said: “First Duncan (Bannatyne) wanted to invest in us for a 50 per cent equity stake, then James (Caan) came in with the same investment, but for a 40 per cent stake. After a quick ‘back of the Den’ discussion we decided to accept James’ offer”
Caroline added: “I love the show but always swore I’d never go on. Guy thankfully persisted and now we’ve done it we’re absolutely thrilled.’
Planit Products are now looking forward to exciting and busy times ahead.
http://www.toastabags.com
Hope Cove General Purpose Boat
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency keeps the provision of Search and Rescue services around the UK coast under continuous review, as part of its commitment to maintaining and improving safety standards.
The current review of the service provided by the Agency's General Purpose Boats (GPB) around the UK is a part of this ongoing process. As part of this review, all 5 GPBs were surveyed to assess both the general seaworthiness of the vessel and their fitness for purpose. For Coastguard operations, these boats are not front line units.
The surveys on the Hope Cove GPB showed that, while the vessel could be made generally seaworthy (subject to a number of repairs), as a General Purpose Boat, it was NOT suitable for Coastguard operations - not least because the vessel has insufficient freeboard* to be safe for use in all circumstances and could, therefore, be swamped during a rescue operation.
Personal Safety Equipment being used by the crew was found not to meet current safety requirements.
Following the surveys, the crew of the Hope Cove GPB took it upon themselves to get the repairs to the vessel carried out. Unfortunately, the repairs were not adequately supervised and so, because of the MCA's duty of care to the crew, the vessel has been withdrawn from service until it has been re-surveyed to ensure that the repairs meet the required standards for GPBs.
This survey has already been arranged for Thursday 21st August (tomorrow) and will be carried out by an independent surveyor in consultation with MCA staff.
Subject to a satisfactory survey on Thursday it is anticipated that the boat will be returned to offer a beach rescue capability at Hope Cove and will be able to return to service, albeit with strict safety restrictions regarding its use.
Meanwhile, the review of the service provided by the Agency's GPBs is continuing.
*The Freeboard is the lowest point where water can enter a boat.
On Yer Bike!
The British Red Cross is looking for cyclists of all abilities to join its cycling team at the Lancashire Loop Sponsored Cycle Ride to help raise money for people in crisis both here in the UK and abroad. The event takes place on Sunday 28th September 2008 and the challenge offers a choice of distances to suit everybody, including the family-friendly 26 miles to the more taxing 54 mile course. Plus, if you’re seeking an even bigger challenge, then the 100 miles route, ascending to 500 feet, will certainly get your legs pumping!
The event starts and finishes at Cockerham Village Hall and all routes will be fully marshalled and
sign-posted. Taking in the stunning scenery of the Lancashire Countryside, this cycling extravaganza is a brilliant way to have fun, keep fit and raise money for a great cause.
Limited places are still available, it is just £10 to enter and there is a minimum sponsorship target of £75 each. If you are interested in participating, please contact Laura on 0161 888 8915 or email lcooper@redcross.org.uk.
Applying To University – The Essential Guide
As students all over the country receive their A Level results and competition for university places increases, it’s essential for students to know exactly what to do on the day. Just out, Applying to University - The Essential Guide, helps take the stress out of the equation.
Packed with the latest information and practical advice, this book doesn’t just help students choose subjects and select universities. Its easy-to-read style also covers what to do if your results are lower than you expected, what to do if your results are better than expected, how to get through clearing and how to defer your entry.
Author Anne Coates, whose own daughter is at university, says ‘You may have set your heart on your first choice – and haven’t quite achieved the grades. So what do you do? First of all don’t panic. If you school has tutors ready to help you, make sense use of them! Discuss your results and ask for their advice. This book is here to help.’
Applying to University - The Essential Guide prepares students – as well as their parents and advisors – for each stage of the process. This is the essential guide for all students thinking of applying for a university place.
Published by Need2Know – the imprint of People’s Publisher Forward Press that focuses on overcoming real life problems –Applying to University - The Essential Guide is the eleventh in the series, and is available now by calling 01733 898103 or emailing sales@n2kbooks.com. To find out more about other N2K titles, visit www.need2knowbooks.co.uk
Young Women Still Ignoring Perils Of The Sun
Having a tanned body is one of women’s biggest priorities BEFORE they go on holiday according to a recent survey by Laserase Northwest, the only purpose built laser clinic in the country.
The survey of 100 women aged between 18 and 65 carried out by the skincare specialists found that despite warnings of skin cancer almost two thirds of the 18 – 35 year age group still risked skin damage by using sun beds before they went away.
However 36-65 year old women who choose to tan skin before a holiday use sprays and lotions and one of their biggest worries on holiday was being protected from the sun.
Nearly all the women in all groups said they were generally happy with their body appearance overall, though the tummy area seemed to cause most concern. Younger women remain heavily influenced by celebrities and the media when it comes to body image, whilst older women said shops and their family impacted upon how they felt about themselves.
Denise Leslie, owner of Laserase Northwest said: “It’s still disconcerting to find that despite the well publicised dangers of the sun and sun bed use, women under 35 are ignoring the medical evidence which shows the damage caused to the skin. However, it’s interesting to note that older women who are starting to get lines and wrinkles are trying to ensure the situation does not get worse by being very aware of the dangers of the sun and sun beds.
“Laserase regularly treats fine lines and wrinkles caused by age and sun damage using state of the art lasers and we always impress upon our clients the danger of the sun and the importance of wearing skin block at all times – even on cloudy days here in the UK.”
To find out more about hair removal, treatment of cellulite or skin rejuvenation by laser, visit www.laserasenorthwest.co.uk
FACT FILE
Laserase Northwest was established in 1994 and is the region's leading laser clinic providing a complete range of skin-health solutions.
Although an independent company, the company belongs to the Laserase network, the largest association of laser clinics in the country. The network collaborates to identify and research new techniques and technologies and to ensure common standards of safety and client-care.
www.laserasenorthwest.co.uk
Dramatic Rise In Care Home Job Vacancies Despite Credit Crunch - Jobs4medical.Co.Uk Shows Increase To Over 1,200 Jobs
• Over 16,000 candidates have already applied for care home related jobs in 2008 - following launch of specialist care home division last year
• Enables candidates to search and apply for variety of care home positions across the UK - from Care and Support Workers to Home Managers
Jobs4Medical.co.uk, a leading specialist online recruitment service for the medical profession, has revealed that it now has over 1,200 care home specific vacancies on its online medical jobs board. This significant growth comes less that a year after the care home division was first launched and highlights the demand in recruiting candidates with specialist knowledge in this field. Already this year over 16,000 people have applied for care home related positions which include Home Managers, Care and Support Workers, Care Home Nurses and specialist clerical jobs.
Care Home Managers have faced an increasing number of challenges as a result of the credit crunch, yet despite this, there are lots of positions available. Recruiting the right professional first time is now the top priority. Jobs4Medical provides a comprehensive website of jobs vacancies and advice that delivers a highly personalised service to applicants and recruiters alike to help match applicants to the jobs they are best suited.
"We have had contact with an increasing number of care home professionals who are feeling the squeeze right now," commented Vicky Scott, Operations Manager at Jobs4Medical. "There has never been a greater importance in reducing the cost of the recruiting process - so care homes can not afford to hire the wrong person.
"Placing a job advertisement in the local media is extremely costly and does not always result in candidates with the desired level of expertise. With Jobs4Medical it ensures that people applying for a position will have the industry specific knowledge and experience. We are rapidly building up our affiliations with both individual care homes and specialised care home recruiters because they are recognising the benefits of working with a recruitment company that is specific to their industry - so that they can have quick and easy access to fully qualified and reliable medical professionals."
Jobs4Medical.co.uk is updated daily with the latest medical sector positions from both individual medical organisations and job agencies looking to find and place the right medical professional - quickly and efficiently. With an average of 108,000 unique visitors each month, Jobs4Medical.co.uk is free to candidates and is one of the few sites that does not allow searching of their database, allowing the candidate to remain in control of the application process.
For more information please visit www.jobs4medical.co.uk
FACT FILE
Founded and developed under the Jobs4 Group - Jobs4Medical is a leading online recruitment service specialising in finding jobs for health care professionals. Jobs4Medical is the first dedicated global jobs board and contains over 3000 different positions across 9 medical sectors including Doctors, Carers and Nurses.
Additional information is available at www.jobs4medical.co.uk
Bad tummies cost more than you would think
New research carried out by Dioralyte – an oral rehydration therapy to replace fluids and electrolytes lost as a result of diarrhoea - has revealed that British workers are taking an average of one month off work in sick days over their working lifetime due to tummy troubles.
The survey carried out on 3,144 respondents in the UK found that, while the majority of people suffer from the runs for a 24 hour period, over a quarter revealed it lasted up to two days, and 2% - the equivalent to 1.2 million people – said their diarrhoea often lasted over five days.
“Diarrhoea is a very common problem, and while many people try and struggle on, for others it can be very disruptive to their lives. When it lasts for more than 24 hours, diarrhoea can potentially be quite dangerous, particularly for the elderly and children who can dehydrate very quickly and require medical attention” commented a spokesperson for Dioralyte.
The survey also delved into the weird and wonderful toilet habits of the UK, revealing 41% of people escape from their family by hiding in the toilet, while 10% sing on the loo and 7% count! According to Dioralyte’s findings, it would seem people have plenty of time to carry out these activities, with 36% spending between 10-20 minutes a day on the toilet – working out at 2-5 days a year. But that’s nothing compared to the 1% - 600,000 people – who are spending over 13 days a year on the toilet.
Diarrhoea is the passing of frequent watery stools, and can quickly cause the body to dehydrate. When they have diarrhoea, 38% of the people surveyed said they drink lots of water to treat it. Dioralyte is formulated to replace lost water and body salts to rehydrate the body for fast effective treatment. Dioralyte Relief also contains rice powder which helps to solidify stools and return bowel movements to normal, reducing the duration of diarrhoea.
Dioralyte Standard is £3.55 for 6 sachets and Dioralyte Relief is £3.95 for 6 sachets. Both are available from pharmacies nationwide. For more information please call 01202 449271
* Based on people taking an average 0.67 days off work per year over an average working lifetime of 47 years
• Each Dioralyte sachet contains: glucose 3.56g, sodium chloride 0.47g, potassium chloride 0.30g and disodium hydrogen citrate 0.53g as active ingredients
• Powder is for the preparation of a solution with 200ml (approx. 7fl oz) of water
• Dioralyte is recommended for the replacement of essential water and salt loss in infants, children and adults in the treatment of acute diarrhoea. Acute means of sudden onset and short duration
• Early use of Dioralyte is important to avoid dehydration, particularly in the young and elderly
• Dioralyte is available in a variety of flavours
• Always read the label
Grunge Deluxe From Ollie & Nic...
Grunge just got gorgeous with Ollie & Nic’s bad-girl bags and accessories.Toughen up your look with low-slung and slouchy bags, chunky knitwear, beanie hats and fingerless gloves. Wear with just-got-out-of-bed hair and an insouciant pout to complete your look with a soundtrack of Nirvana on your iPod!
Buy online at www.ollieandnic.com or visit one of the lovely shops, Foubert’s Place, just off Carnaby Street – London; St Christopher’s Place - London or Market Street, Brighton.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Jennifer's love life: failure as a safety mechanism?
Since her painfully public split with former husband Brad Pitt, Friends actress Jennifer Aniston hasn't had much luck where her love life is concerned. And now, reports claim boyfriend-of-four-months, John Mayer – often described as a 'player' and 'ladies man' – is the latest to hit the dust, despite recent rumours that the pair were planning to get married.
To make matters worse for heartbroken Jennifer, press reports suggest it was rock singer Mayer who did the dumping, with sources claiming that he wasn't ready to commit to marriage and having children just yet.
A source close to Mayer has also been reported as saying: "Unless John has a dramatic change of heart, it's unlikely they'll rekindle their romance."
Ironically the split came just as Jennifer completed filming her latest movie, He's Just Not That Into You. It must seem as if history is repeating itself, since Jen's first romance after her marriage break-up was with actor Vince Vaughan, who she met on the set of their movie The Break-Up. That relationship lasted for a year, after which Jen had a six-week fling with British model Paul Sculfor.
The question ordinary women everywhere are asking must be: How can one of the world's most envied celebs be such a bad judge of potential partners?
"I can't help but feel sad for Jennifer," says counsellor therapist Annie Bennett, author of The Love Trap (Hammersmith Press, £12.99). "What strikes me is that she seems to be making demands on her relationships – perhaps her biological time clock is shouting at her, although she may want to ignore it and pretend that it doesn't matter to her at this moment in time. The body does talk to us and sometimes it shouts out its message, often in the form of anxiety attacks.
"Of course while she was married to Brad Pitt, it's thought that Jennifer did not want to have children while Brad did – and this allegedly contributed to their marriage breakdown. And as everyone knows, it took no time for Brad to find a woman who would share his desire to build a family."
Afraid to commit?
According to Annie, the core of Jennifer's problems may be a surprising one – that is, commitment phobia. "It's not unusual for some people who experience relationship difficulties to claim they want to settle down and build a future with someone, but the reality may cause anxiety deep down inside and they may even set up relationship failures to prevent their deep-seated fear becoming exposed.
"It may seem like this is self-defeating behaviour and of course it is. The threat of commitment may also be too overwhelming and represent a loss of identity. As a defence, Jennifer could be choosing the wrong men to keep herself safe and protected."
About Annie
Annie Bennett, author of The Love Trap (Hammersmith Press, £12.99), has been working in the field of psychotherapy and counselling since 1994, when she trained and worked for Cruse Bereavement Care in North Surrey. She later trained and worked for Surrey Alcohol and Drug Misuse, and went on to spend time as a visiting therapist at one of the world’s leading treatment centres for addition, The Meadows in Phoenix, Arizona. Annie also runs workshops that offer a crash-course in love addiction.
To make matters worse for heartbroken Jennifer, press reports suggest it was rock singer Mayer who did the dumping, with sources claiming that he wasn't ready to commit to marriage and having children just yet.
A source close to Mayer has also been reported as saying: "Unless John has a dramatic change of heart, it's unlikely they'll rekindle their romance."
Ironically the split came just as Jennifer completed filming her latest movie, He's Just Not That Into You. It must seem as if history is repeating itself, since Jen's first romance after her marriage break-up was with actor Vince Vaughan, who she met on the set of their movie The Break-Up. That relationship lasted for a year, after which Jen had a six-week fling with British model Paul Sculfor.
The question ordinary women everywhere are asking must be: How can one of the world's most envied celebs be such a bad judge of potential partners?
"I can't help but feel sad for Jennifer," says counsellor therapist Annie Bennett, author of The Love Trap (Hammersmith Press, £12.99). "What strikes me is that she seems to be making demands on her relationships – perhaps her biological time clock is shouting at her, although she may want to ignore it and pretend that it doesn't matter to her at this moment in time. The body does talk to us and sometimes it shouts out its message, often in the form of anxiety attacks.
"Of course while she was married to Brad Pitt, it's thought that Jennifer did not want to have children while Brad did – and this allegedly contributed to their marriage breakdown. And as everyone knows, it took no time for Brad to find a woman who would share his desire to build a family."
Afraid to commit?
According to Annie, the core of Jennifer's problems may be a surprising one – that is, commitment phobia. "It's not unusual for some people who experience relationship difficulties to claim they want to settle down and build a future with someone, but the reality may cause anxiety deep down inside and they may even set up relationship failures to prevent their deep-seated fear becoming exposed.
"It may seem like this is self-defeating behaviour and of course it is. The threat of commitment may also be too overwhelming and represent a loss of identity. As a defence, Jennifer could be choosing the wrong men to keep herself safe and protected."
About Annie
Annie Bennett, author of The Love Trap (Hammersmith Press, £12.99), has been working in the field of psychotherapy and counselling since 1994, when she trained and worked for Cruse Bereavement Care in North Surrey. She later trained and worked for Surrey Alcohol and Drug Misuse, and went on to spend time as a visiting therapist at one of the world’s leading treatment centres for addition, The Meadows in Phoenix, Arizona. Annie also runs workshops that offer a crash-course in love addiction.
THE LOVE TRAP by Annie Bennett - Pub Date: October 2007, Price £12.99
www.hammersmithpress.co.uk
Does your firm have money to burn? Audit reveals true energy waste across UK businesses
UK firms and businesses continue to wasting millions of pounds worth of energy, despite rising fuel prices, says Energy Bureau study
A survey of 483 businesses across the UK has identified energy wastage of over £7.5 million – more than £15,500 per year, per business. With 1.67 million VAT registered businesses across the UK the total amount of energy – and money – wasted each year could be huge.
The audit of businesses across the retail, commercial, manufacturing, education, health, financial, leisure and Government sectors was conducted by The Energy Bureau, the energy consultancy division of global building and energy management specialists TAC. TAC is now urging larger UK businesses with an annual utility bill of more than £1 million to appoint their own ‘Energy Tsar’ to plug the haemorrhaging cost of waste and carbon emissions.
Keith Burnett TAC UK’s energy services manager says there is a ‘disconnect’ between the facilities managers whose remit it is to manage costs, and the accounts department where energy bills are traditionally sent.
“UK companies should urgently put in place energy strategies that go beyond corporate posturing over their green credentials. He says.
“Before you can improve your energy efficiency, you have to be able to measure it. All too often, the energy manager is typically someone who does the job as an add-on to their other responsibilities. In many cases they do not even see the bills so he or she has no idea on the consumption of energy; let alone how to improve it.”
“Many organisations are looking to invest in initiatives such as wind turbines as part of their CSR drive, but a lot of this is to tick the green box – it’s a lot of posturing and gesturing, but amounts to very little in real terms,” he adds.
Conservative estimates from the study also reveal at least 455,443 tonnes of CO2 currently being needlessly emitted, although this is figure is believed to be much higher.
The Energy Bureau, which initially conducts free remote investigations of sites before carrying out a more detailed onsite analysis, says the return on investment for the energy audits is minimal. Most costs can be reclaimed in under one year.
Where the savings were:
£1,114,132.87 worth of savings over 145 retail sites surveyed
£780,782.19 worth of savings over 29 commercial locations
£795,790.59 worth of savings over 14 manufacturing sites
£534,340.27 worth of savings over 53 education locations
£251,361.30 worth of savings over 18 health sites
£1,345,286.76 worth of savings over 31 financial industry locations
£619,734.59 worth of savings over 27 food industry locations
£1,915, 450 worth of saving across 124 leisure locations
£239,913.68 worth of savings across 42 Government locations
Number of UK businesses figure taken from National Statistics online 2006-2007 figures.
TAC is a leading provider of building automation solutions based on Open Integrated Systems for Building IT. TAC's mission is to provide added value through building environment services for indoor climate, security and use of energy, delivered with advanced technology to end users and property owners throughout the world. With over 80 years of experience in the HVAC, building automation and security arenas, TAC employs more than 7,500 people worldwide, with partners and branches in 80 countries. TAC's parent company, Schneider Electric, is the global specialist in energy management, with 120,000 employees worldwide and operations in 102 countries. www.tac.com/uk
Girls! Win the experience of a lifetime with Ubisoft!
Ubisoft is giving one lucky girl and two friends the chance to win the experience of a lifetime, following the next, long-awaited release in its Imagine™ range of videogames, Imagine Girl Band for the Nintendo DS™. The competition winner and two of her friends, will be treated like true pop princesses and live a day in the life of a superstar in London!
The day begins with a glamorous photoshoot to get the girls feeling famous! A professional stylist will take care of their hair and make-up to make them look the real deal, whilst the girls pull-off some poses to shoot the cover of their very own pop single - they even get to keep one of their glitzy outfits!
Then off to Angel Studios, where the winner and her friends will have their all-time favourite song recorded in true pop star style - with a professional vocal coaching session with TV’s Zoe Tyler (Any Dream Will Do / How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria)!
After a session in the booths, the girls will waltz their way to the world-famous Pineapple Dance Studios, to be taught the latest dance moves by choreographer to the stars. The winner and her two friends then get to meet the UK’s next big girl band, The City Girls before finishing off the fun-filled day!
Imagine Girl Band, aimed at girls aged 6-12 years and available for the Nintendo DS, gives young girls the chance to form their dream band and become a music legend, whilst climbing the charts with their bandmates through the experience of music, fashion and fun.
Two of TV’s most popular celebrities, Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton, are the faces of the Imagine range of videogames. On their involvement, Holly and Fearne said, “The Imagine range is great for young girls who want to express themselves, have fun and let their imagination run wild. We’re delighted to be involved in such a big, exciting campaign and we’re also loving being able to play all the games, they are so much fun!”
For more information and details on how to enter the competition, please visit www.yourimaginegame.com
Imagine Girl Band is available now to buy on Nintendo DS for £29.99
National Will Register Gives Certainty
Certainty.co.uk find a solicitor the UK’s on-line national will register ‘registry for wills’ has launched in Birmingham after almost 20 years’ lobbying for a national register of this nature. The register enables rapid registration of a will and the ability to search for lost or missing wills.
Designed exclusively for use by Law Society and STEP members in conjunction with the general public, the register cost in excess of £1 million to develop.
Certainty is rolling out throughout the UK in conjunction with legal practices that participate as ‘founder members’ of the register. Birmingham founder members include Martineau, Cobbetts, Tyndallwoods, Brownings, Blakemores, Scotts Holt and Sellars, Garner Canning & Co, and Wallace Robinson & Morgan.
Certainty’s Chairman Kevin Martin and Law Society President 2005/6 holds the firm belief that Certainty provides a definitive solution supported by advanced technological investment and consultations with key legal figures. Kevin who is spearheading the initiative says, “We believe Certainty is the first organisation to actually provide a compliant solution to the chronic problem of will registration.”
In a recent public survey commissioned by Certainty, 67% of people surveyed were unaware of the location of their parents’ will. Certainty.co.uk is launching with a unique offer whereby 12.8 million free of charge will registrations are available to the general public to be used in association with solicitors.
Nigel McGinnity, CEO, Certainty says, “Our commitment to provide 12.8 million free registrations to the public and our dynamic relationship with the legal profession ensures the success of the register. Certainty.co.uk is receiving great demand from the public, in fact one law firm had over 100 enquiries in just 48 hours to register their client’s wills.”
Laurence Collings T.E.P (Head of the Wills and Probate Department at Brownings Solicitors Redditch) says, "We at Brownings see the Certainty Will Register as being an essential and vital way of ensuring that the whereabouts of a Will is known and recorded. We are positively encouraging our clients past and present to register their Wills with Certainty. Brownings are very pleased to be a Founder Member of this long overdue national Will Register."
Judy Dyke partner with Tyndallwoods Solicitors said, "We have been waiting for many years for a National Will Register and I am pleased that Tyndallwoods had the opportunity to become one of the founder Members of Certainty. Once Wills are registered with Certainty they will not be overlooked, lost or untraced. Certainty also advises that everyone should consult a solicitor and member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) to make sure that help is given by someone properly qualified to advise in relation to the making or updating of such an important document."
Designed exclusively for use by Law Society and STEP members in conjunction with the general public, the register cost in excess of £1 million to develop.
Certainty is rolling out throughout the UK in conjunction with legal practices that participate as ‘founder members’ of the register. Birmingham founder members include Martineau, Cobbetts, Tyndallwoods, Brownings, Blakemores, Scotts Holt and Sellars, Garner Canning & Co, and Wallace Robinson & Morgan.
Certainty’s Chairman Kevin Martin and Law Society President 2005/6 holds the firm belief that Certainty provides a definitive solution supported by advanced technological investment and consultations with key legal figures. Kevin who is spearheading the initiative says, “We believe Certainty is the first organisation to actually provide a compliant solution to the chronic problem of will registration.”
In a recent public survey commissioned by Certainty, 67% of people surveyed were unaware of the location of their parents’ will. Certainty.co.uk is launching with a unique offer whereby 12.8 million free of charge will registrations are available to the general public to be used in association with solicitors.
Nigel McGinnity, CEO, Certainty says, “Our commitment to provide 12.8 million free registrations to the public and our dynamic relationship with the legal profession ensures the success of the register. Certainty.co.uk is receiving great demand from the public, in fact one law firm had over 100 enquiries in just 48 hours to register their client’s wills.”
Laurence Collings T.E.P (Head of the Wills and Probate Department at Brownings Solicitors Redditch) says, "We at Brownings see the Certainty Will Register as being an essential and vital way of ensuring that the whereabouts of a Will is known and recorded. We are positively encouraging our clients past and present to register their Wills with Certainty. Brownings are very pleased to be a Founder Member of this long overdue national Will Register."
Judy Dyke partner with Tyndallwoods Solicitors said, "We have been waiting for many years for a National Will Register and I am pleased that Tyndallwoods had the opportunity to become one of the founder Members of Certainty. Once Wills are registered with Certainty they will not be overlooked, lost or untraced. Certainty also advises that everyone should consult a solicitor and member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) to make sure that help is given by someone properly qualified to advise in relation to the making or updating of such an important document."
Flood hit family butcher finds taste of nationwide success online
It is said to be an ill wind that blows nobody any good. And this is a good case in point. A long-established Midlands butcher has ‘reinvented’ the company to become a booming national online retailer – after a ‘dreadful year’ of being hit by floods, the credit crunch and competition from supermarket giants.Clare Lusted, from www.clarebarry.co.uk says she and her father Barry realised they needed to take ‘drastic action’ when their shop became deserted last summer – as the surrounding streets in Evesham, Worcestershire, were submerged under six feet of water.
“Evesham was a ghost town, we were stranded at work, we looked at each other and just thought why don’t we really push this internet thing?” said Clare.
“The water didn’t come into our shop on the High Street, but our customers were in caravans – they’d had to move out of their homes – who wants a freezer full of meat in a caravan? And there was no barbecue season – who wants a floating barbecue?”
Clare says that as well as the floods, the business, established for 25 years, was also hit by cut-price competition from supermarkets as cash-strapped customers were attracted by multi-million pound advertising campaigns.
And she feared for the future of High Street shops because of spiralling fuel and parking costs.
But the site – which only sells meat from animals reared by UK farmers, built up more than 2,000 customers in just five months after the floods.
She said: “Our customers know it’s more economical to buy meat from us than the supermarket due to its superior quality and taste.
“We still have strong local trade. But we knew there was potentially a nationwide market for high quality meat and we were really keen to continue to support British farmers.
“We only buy our fresh meat and poultry from British farms and wholesalers and source our produce locally wherever possible.
“This is because we strongly believe, and our experience has shown, that British meat and poultry is the best.
Now Clare has overseen a rehaul of the website at www.clarebarry.co.uk and is spearheading a new marketing push.
She added: “With the UK becoming ever more health conscious, people generally seem to be seeking more healthy and economical options.
“We’ve found that people want the convenience of a supermarket but the quality of the local butcher. They are beginning to understand now that you can have fresh meat delivered and due to technological advances, its quality is not going to suffer in transit.
“Online meat trading is in its early years and many people still don’t yet understand it’s possible. Trust from customers can be an issue with a website – but we deliver what we say we will and customers come back.
“You can still buy quality meat and poultry with the friendly customer service that you get in a traditional butcher’s shop.
“Whether you’re in a busy city centre or out in the countryside you don’t need to leave your armchair to get that sort of service anymore.
“People also appreciate the quality of traditional farm reared meat. Even in these days of tightened household budgets, it’s not all about competing on price. Comparing what we deliver to supermarket meat can be a false economy…it’s like comparing Ford to Mercedes.”
Schillings support Cancer Research in the Ultimate Challenge
Schillings, the UK's leading law firm dedicated to safeguarding the reputations of international corporations, brands, celebrities and high-profile business people is set to join other corporate teams as they take part in the Mothers and Daughters Ultimate Challenge, all day fun-packed 'It's a Knockout' style event in aid of the Cancer Research UK charity.
This will be the 10th consecutive year of the Ultimate Challenge and it will be the first time Schillings has entered a team, taking some time off from the world of reputation management to battle against several other teams in the Corporate Challenge, which promises to be a series of outlandish games and exciting challenges.
Schillings fundraising attempts in the run up to the charity day fuels the hopes that their involvement will help surpass the success of last year's Ultimate Challenge event, which raised a tremendous £165,000 for Cancer Research. The money was donated to the research of Professor Richard Begent of the Cancer Research UK Targeting and Imaging group at the Royal Free and University College Medical School.
The 2008 Mothers and Daughters Cancer Research Ultimate Challenge featuring the team from Schillings is scheduled to take place on Sunday 7 September in the scenic grounds of Haberdashers Boys Askes Boys School, in Elstree, Hertfordshire. The games themselves will be run by a professional events company to help raise money for Cancer Research UK, and will include several huge wet and dry inflatables which always make these events so much fun for participants and spectators alike.
The Mothers & Daughters committeep was founded in 1999 by a group of concerned women whose aim was to ensure a better future for their children and future generations through research into cures for cancer. Each year they choose a different Cancer Research UK project to support and eight years on they have raised a total of over a million pounds.
This will be the 10th consecutive year of the Ultimate Challenge and it will be the first time Schillings has entered a team, taking some time off from the world of reputation management to battle against several other teams in the Corporate Challenge, which promises to be a series of outlandish games and exciting challenges.
Schillings fundraising attempts in the run up to the charity day fuels the hopes that their involvement will help surpass the success of last year's Ultimate Challenge event, which raised a tremendous £165,000 for Cancer Research. The money was donated to the research of Professor Richard Begent of the Cancer Research UK Targeting and Imaging group at the Royal Free and University College Medical School.
The 2008 Mothers and Daughters Cancer Research Ultimate Challenge featuring the team from Schillings is scheduled to take place on Sunday 7 September in the scenic grounds of Haberdashers Boys Askes Boys School, in Elstree, Hertfordshire. The games themselves will be run by a professional events company to help raise money for Cancer Research UK, and will include several huge wet and dry inflatables which always make these events so much fun for participants and spectators alike.
The Mothers & Daughters committeep was founded in 1999 by a group of concerned women whose aim was to ensure a better future for their children and future generations through research into cures for cancer. Each year they choose a different Cancer Research UK project to support and eight years on they have raised a total of over a million pounds.
Writing an ebook is a great way to make money online.
Although there are millions of people who make money this way, there are millions of others who commit significant time and effort developing a great product, but fail to generate any sales at all. That’s because very few people are interested in raising penguins. On the other hand, your ebook on ‘How to Cure the Common Cold’ may make you very very wealthy in a matter of hours! This can be very discouraging.
Although there is no guarantee that any product you create will sell, there is one way to give your product the best chance possible. You need to research your topic BEFORE writing a single word. Do a search to determine what kind of demand exists for products in that particular area. I can almost guarantee you that your ebook on ‘How to Raise Penguins’ will not make you rich. That’s because very few people are interested in raising penguins. On the other hand, your ebook on ‘How to Cure the Common Cold’ may make you very very wealthy in a matter of hours!
As you can see, certain subjects sell better than others. If your product is on a hot subject that is in demand, you will generate sales. If it is in a genre that does poorly, you will find it difficult to make money.
As a general rule of thumb, fiction ebooks do not usually sell very well unless your name is Stephen King. If you are interested in creating a work of fiction, you might be better off by considering one of the more traditional publishing methods. Do a search to determine what kind of demand exists for products in that particular area. I can almost guarantee you that your ebook on ‘How to Raise Penguins’ will not make you rich. That’s because very few people are interested in raising penguins. On the other hand, your ebook on ‘How to Cure the Common Cold’ may make you very very wealthy in a matter of hours!
On the other hand, certain types of non-fiction are great sellers. ‘How to’ ebooks with mass market appeal sell very well. Mass market appeal means that people all over the world are interested in that subject. Some of the best selling topics instruct you how to; build something, solve a common problem, cure something, or start a business.
Collectors and hobbyists are also big ebook buyers. If you are knowledgeable in this area and have an interesting angle, you may have a best seller on your hands. On the other hand, certain types of non-fiction are great sellers. ‘How to’ ebooks with mass market appeal sell very well. Mass market appeal means that people all over the world are interested in that subject. Some of the best selling topics instruct you how to; build something, solve a common problem, cure something, or start a business. Collectors and hobbyists are very active buyers if you can find the right topic.
Do you want to learn how to make money? Get all the details and start making money online!
For more useful tips & hints, please browse for more information at our website:-
http://www.create-free-pdf.com
Monday, August 18, 2008
The magic of a Tuscan wedding
Deciding whether to marry in a foreign country can be both exciting and daunting. Those who opt for Tuscany in Italy will be making one of the best choices. Not only because of the setting, but because the dedicated team of English speaking wedding co-ordinators who run Magic Tuscany are amongst the most experienced in the area.
They will work with the bride and groom to offer the best advice on every aspect of the event, including paperwork, translation and regulations. Armed with the best local knowledge and contacts they can smooth the way from the start to plan every detail in order that this most important day will be the most memorable. To ensure a trouble-free day, the team will be on hand at all times
The company can cater for wedding parties of 6 to 500 people, and whatever the requirement and budget they will work to give both bride and groom and their guests a day they will never forget.
The choice of locations can vary from Florence or Siena, or if preferred one of Magic Tuscany's special locations, such as the romance of marrying in the hilltop medieval Castle of Poppi in the beautiful Casentino Valley.
The cost of marrying in Tuscany may well come as a pleasant surprise. Budget figures based on initial requirements can easily be supplied. Some clients decide to make a week long break away with friends and family, which can be a great way to relax leading up to the wedding.
The company is owned and run by Matt and Heather Purse, who are English and resident in Tuscany.
Magic Tuscany - small enough to care, big enough to cope.
Go on line to http://www.magicweddingsitaly.com or http://www.magic-tuscany.com
They will work with the bride and groom to offer the best advice on every aspect of the event, including paperwork, translation and regulations. Armed with the best local knowledge and contacts they can smooth the way from the start to plan every detail in order that this most important day will be the most memorable. To ensure a trouble-free day, the team will be on hand at all times
The company can cater for wedding parties of 6 to 500 people, and whatever the requirement and budget they will work to give both bride and groom and their guests a day they will never forget.
The choice of locations can vary from Florence or Siena, or if preferred one of Magic Tuscany's special locations, such as the romance of marrying in the hilltop medieval Castle of Poppi in the beautiful Casentino Valley.
The cost of marrying in Tuscany may well come as a pleasant surprise. Budget figures based on initial requirements can easily be supplied. Some clients decide to make a week long break away with friends and family, which can be a great way to relax leading up to the wedding.
The company is owned and run by Matt and Heather Purse, who are English and resident in Tuscany.
Magic Tuscany - small enough to care, big enough to cope.
Go on line to http://www.magicweddingsitaly.com or http://www.magic-tuscany.com
Free Fun activity for the school holidays-Visit ‘Painting in the Park’ Outdoor art extravaganza in Hyde Park, London, 29th/30th August
The ‘Painting in the Park’ event is an amazing opportunity for families to watch and learn about the work of the renowned Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (MFPA) and to meet these inspirational people in person and see them in action. Throughout the two days the artists will be holding regular prize draws to give away a selection of children’s books and puzzles.
The event will be held at the Bandstand on the Serpentine Road, circa 150 yards from the Queen Elizabeth Gate entrance at Hyde Park Corner. The artists will display their paintings and demonstrate their painting techniques, children and their parents will be able to speak with them and see the process of creating a new picture live.
One of the most well known artists, Alison Lapper had a statue, by mark Quinn, of herself displayed in Trafalgar Square, London (between 2005 and 2007). Alison Lapper is actually a professional painter in her own right; painting by holding a paintbrush in her mouth.
The Mouth and Foot Painting Artists is a self help organisation of seriously disabled artists who take pride in earning their living by painting with a paint brush held in their mouth or between their toes. They sell reproductions of their work to the general public. Currently there are over 700 artists worldwide in over 70 countries. They were established in Britain in 1956 and there are currently around 47 artists here. For a bit more information visit their GB website www.mfpa.co.uk .
The event will be held at the Bandstand on the Serpentine Road, circa 150 yards from the Queen Elizabeth Gate entrance at Hyde Park Corner. The artists will display their paintings and demonstrate their painting techniques, children and their parents will be able to speak with them and see the process of creating a new picture live.
One of the most well known artists, Alison Lapper had a statue, by mark Quinn, of herself displayed in Trafalgar Square, London (between 2005 and 2007). Alison Lapper is actually a professional painter in her own right; painting by holding a paintbrush in her mouth.
The Mouth and Foot Painting Artists is a self help organisation of seriously disabled artists who take pride in earning their living by painting with a paint brush held in their mouth or between their toes. They sell reproductions of their work to the general public. Currently there are over 700 artists worldwide in over 70 countries. They were established in Britain in 1956 and there are currently around 47 artists here. For a bit more information visit their GB website www.mfpa.co.uk .
Top UK Companies Believe Food Holds Key to Greater Cultural Awareness
Two of the UK’s best known companies believe exchanging treasured family food and recipes could hold the key to developing greater cultural awareness and diversity within organisations.
BT and AXA PPP healthcare have both taken part in a unique scheme, pioneered by community recipe website MyDish.co.uk, that aims to break down barriers by encouraging staff to not only talk about their favourite recipes, but to share the stories behind those dishes.
The new initiative involves the creation of a community website dedicated to food within each organisation. Hailed as the ultimate team building tool – the website allows staff to better understand their colleagues through what they eat and build relationships with other employees throughout the world.
As part of the programme MyDish.co.uk also organise a huge number of food social events, ranging from company bake offs to curry competitions, all aimed at increasing interaction between staff. Employees are also offered a unique opportunity to design their own personal recipe books, which are then professionally produced and can be used to raise money for charity.
Carol Savage, founder of MyDish.co.uk says “The idea behind the project is that food is a great way to get people talking. Everyone has a recipe that holds a personal meaning for them, whether it reminds them of their mother’s cooking or their student days. We have seen that sharing these stories brings people together from the most senior level managers to temporary members of staff.”
The project has been running in BT since September 2007 and set to be launched at AXA PPP healthcare this August.
Caroline Waters, Director People & Policy at BT says "Food is a great way to create a dialogue amongst and between different people. Something as simple as sharing the different dishes we enjoy as part of our family, culture or religious traditions is a great way of getting to know more about each others' customs and backgrounds. At BT, we believe exploring the world of food through MyDish encourages people to discover the richness of different cultures that exist across our global business".
AXA PPP healthcare Engagement Director, Mark Moorton, believes the scheme will have a huge impact on staff relations: “The scheme is a great way to celebrate the richness and diversity within our company. It’s also a great way for staff to share recipes, hints and tips about healthy eating, which of course is at the core of our business”.
Over the next five years www.MyDish.co.uk hopes to role out similar schemes in major corporations across the UK.
NAKMAS makes it 10 years running with international management accolade
The National Association of Karate and Martial Art Schools (NAKMAS) has reached a unique pinnacle in its history by securing an internationally recognised quality management standard for the 10th consecutive year.
NAKMAS are the only martial arts body to achieve and maintain the high quality standards set in the International Organisation for Standardisation’s ISO 9001:2000 certificate, which is recognised by both the US and UK governments and across the globe.
Sandra Beale, NAKMAS’ Director of Operations, says:
“This achievement demonstrates NAKMAS’ on-going commitment to ensure high level quality management standards throughout the NAKMAS national governing body.”
“For our members to get the most out of their governing body, it is essential we run ourselves efficiently. This quality accreditation confirms that we are doing exactly that.”
“The ISO standard is really aimed at businesses, yet although we are a not-for-profit organisation, it is essential NAKMAS is run as effectively as a business. To secure this accolade for a 10th consecutive year shows we are reaching highest standards of governance.”
NAKMAS has worked with the British Standards Institute (BSI) to become a customer to member/client organisation, which reflects more closely its role and achieve the standard mark.
To further enhance its integrity, NAKMAS provided the resources to send Sandra Beale on an extensive BSI lead auditors course. Sandra passed the BSI lead auditors course and is now permitted to audit external bodies to ensure quality management compliance.
Yet Sandra points out that the real beneficiaries are NAKMAS’ members.
She says: “This is not just a certificate for us to hang on our office wall, it has allowed and continues to allow us to provide excellent services to members. No other martial arts body can say they have obtained this recognition.”
The ISO certification has ensured NAKMAS can offer members continued support, including:
• bolstering grass roots as well as the more established areas with assistance in funding opportunities, recruiting new members, specialist training and dealing with the media
• expertise and resources designed to ensure affiliates meet consistently high standards of professionalism, enabling outstanding coaching and first class facilities for anyone wanting to enjoy martial arts
• acting as a focal point for the martial arts community for news and up to date publications, including codes of conduct, safety advice and a national register of qualified coaches
• ongoing coaching development aligned with the United Kingdom Coaching Certificate
• dedication to child welfare, with the NSPCC approved NAKMAS Welfare Policy, as well as registration with the Criminal Records Bureau and Disclosure Scotland
• a Foundation level Equality Standard, which recognises NAKMAS’ commitment to actively encouraging participants from all parts of the community, including those not traditionally associated with the sport
Sandra Beale adds: “We have come a long way and maintained our standards, but we are always looking to improve the service we offer to members, so here is to another 10 years.”
FACT FILE
The National Association of Karate and Martial Art Schools (NAKMAS) is a non-funded national governing body and is a member of CCPR (the Central Council of Physical Recreation). With its Head Office based in Kent, NAKMAS governs all forms of traditional and modern martial arts and has over 65,000 members within the UK.
NAKMAS is an approved insurance provider via Lloyds and holds a National and International Quality Standard Certificate via the BSI (British Standards Institute). NAKMAS has also been accredited to the Equality Standard: A Framework for Sport.
Coaching awards to the standard of the NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) and UKCC (United Kingdom Coaching Certificate) are available within NAKMAS. It has an active NSPCC approved Welfare Policy (visit www.nakmas.org.uk for more information), and has launched a UK-wide anti-bullying initiative called the ‘NAKMAS Safe Kids Campaign’. It also has Registered Body status via the CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) and Disclosure Scotland to check against the criminal records register.
Bingo! Recently Launched All Bingo Club Soars in Popularity
All Bingo Club, (www.allbingoclub.com), a newly launched online community-based Bingo destination, today announced that its community feature, which includes areas for: chat, etiquette, horoscope, recipes, jokes and poems has proved so popular that it intends to expand the service offerings – and is asking its growing number of regular visitors to make recommendations.
Online bingo has been an entertainment phenomenon over that past year as Bingo goers ditch the halls in favour of playing online. All Bingo Club has managed to combine the best in online technology and Bingo play with online community interaction. 1000s of bingo players have joined All Bingo Club as the word spreads about its ease-of-play and fun features.
Commenting on All Bingo Club, Chris S. from Reading said: “When it comes to online bingo, there’s quite a few to choose from. I’ve settled on All Bingo Club as it gives me everything I need, from regular bonuses to fun graphics and first class customer support. If that wasn’t enough, the community side of the site is fantastic, it’s like being in a bingo hall in your own home.”
Mikki G., All Bingo Club’s Manager said, “It would appear that our investment in game play and ease- of-use combined with a focus on community, is paying dividends as we have seen a massive surge in sign-ups over the past few weeks. Our ‘Recommend-a-friend’ feature is proving very popular.”
In addition to the £5 introductory offer, All Bingo Club gives players a 100% match bonus, up to £100 on their first deposit. After that, players receive a 25% match bonus, up to £25, on every purchase.
All Bingo Club is a brand new online bingo destination that is part of the Jackpot Factory and is reshaping the way we think about bingo. With games starting for as little as only 5p and a free £5 offer, All Bingo Club is the place to bingo on the Internet. Fully equipped with Microgaming’s most advanced bingo software, All Bingo Club prides itself on honesty, fast payouts, and great community times.
A spokesman pointed out: “All Bingo Club is committed to responsible gaming and takes its social responsibilities seriously. It is proactive in preventing under-age play and in providing assistance and support to members who develop gambling problems.”
Futuristic Event With Pacemaker Hand Held DJ System Signals The End Of The Turntable
On 22nd August, legendary club promoters Back To Basics are to stage a big warehouse party at Victoria Works in Leeds, headlined in a rare appearance by Sasha. The second room will be hosted exclusively by Pacemaker, the revolutionary, hand held DJ system and for the first time ever there will be no turntables, vinyl or CD. The DJs will play all night, using only Pacemakers and will be free to step out from behind the DJ box, to move around the room and interact directly with the crowd.
Pacemaker creators, Swedish tech company Tonium, have always been at pains to point out that Pacemaker is designed to complement, not replace turntables. However, as more and more DJs and music lovers willingly embrace new technology, including the use of laptops, so the once unassailable turntable appears to be on ever shakier ground.
Back To Basics promoter Dave Beer comments: “Basics has always prided itself on being at the forefront of cutting edge music, keeping up with technology and moving with the times. We are delighted to get involved with Pacemaker. The concept is unbelievable. It’s probably the best invention since the Sony Walkman. I’ve always had a problem with having to stay behind the decks when there’s a great party going on! Now there are no constraints on the DJ, it’s very exciting.”
Passions run high when you talk about the future of turntables. They’ve played a significant part in most people’s lives. Does a futuristic and portable, hand held DJ system mean turntables will inevitably become redundant? Also, is the advent of the Pacemaker the beginning of a new type of DJ; one who can join the party, or really take the spotlight? Will we see DJs strut down walkways to stand on a podium above the crowd as they perform, like axe wielding rock gods performing a solo?
Pacemaker is a unique music player; the equivalent of two turntables, a mixer and every record you’ve ever owned all in the palm of your hand. You can play two tracks simultaneously, beat match, crossfade, use EQs, filters, effects and loops, just about everything you can do with a traditional DJ set up. And the technology continues to move forwards with regular new improvements and innovations. www.youtube.com/pacemaker01
On 22nd August at the Basics Warehouse Party we will get a glimpse of the future.
David Cameron joins veterans for VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire
The Right Honourable David Cameron MP, leader of the opposition, recently visited the National Memorial Arboretum. He joined veterans and other visitors for the Act of Remembrance in the Millennium Chapel of Peace and Forgiveness before laying a wreath within the Armed Forces Memorial. The Memorial commemorates the 16,000 servicemen and women who have died on duty or as result of terrorism since the end of the Second World War.
Mr Cameron then toured some of the 150 acres of wooded parkland and took time to look at some of the many other memorials and gardens within the Arboretum. He later spoke to members of the Birmingham Branch of the Burma Star Association and spent some time examining the Burma and Sumatra Railway memorials and touring the Far East Prisoners of War centre.
Mr Cameron said: “It’s tragic that as time goes by there are fewer and fewer people around to do the incredibly important job of making sure that our children and grandchildren understand the horror of the First and Second World Wars. It’s therefore a great privilege to have spoken today with some of the veterans who have given so much to ensure the freedom we all enjoy today.
“Here, situated in the heart of the country, the Armed Forces Memorial plays a vital role in helping families and friends of fallen servicemen and women to start coming to terms with their loss. It was incredibly sobering to see, on the Portland Stone walls, the recently engraved names of the 102 members of our armed forces who died during 2007.
“The Arboretum is a brilliant concept as it gives different organisations, military and other, the space in which they can create their own memorials and places for remembrance. For example, I was particularly affected by the peace and beauty of the Still Born & Neonatal Death Society garden.”
Coastguard Teams Assist Flood Relief in Northern Ireland
Torrential rain has caused widespread flooding across Northern Ireland, with rivers bursting their banks, landslides and roads cut off.
Coastguard Rescue Teams from South Down have helped people from their homes and provided sand bags to others. They were also involved in securing yachts and other boats in Kilkeel Harbour as well as many other tasks carried out in support of our civil contingencies partners.
Coastguard teams in the South of the Province were also augmented by equipment and team members from Bangor Coast Rescue team.
Monster Meets Linkedin: Whoscreative.Com Launches Online Portfolio Directory/Jobs Board/Social Network For Creative Professional
www.WhosCreative.com has announced the launch of its comprehensive online portfolio/social networking service for creative professionals. WhosCreative gives motion designers, animators, graphic designers, photographers, illustrators, digital artists, art directors, creative directors, web and gaming artists/programmers, fashion and film industry artists the chance to present their portfolios, network, and find freelance and fulltime jobs.
WhosCreative is the brainchild of Jon Lewis and Dwain Schenck, experienced recruiters and owners of ICA Creative - a placement firm in the graphics, post-production and broadcasting industry. The site was developed as the ultimate place for artists to display their talent and a tool for employers to find and manage talent. Everything a recruiter needs is now at the fingertips of the WhosCreative user and creatives have instant access to current job opportunities and are linked to other artists via the social network.
“Creatives need an effective online portfolio website to prosper in today’s competitive marketplace,” said Dwain Schenck, co-founder, WhosCreative. “This economic downturn is a challenge to any business person and a site like WhosCreative gives people the edge they need to compete and succeed by giving them creative control over the look and feel of their website as well as the tools to effectively and economically present their work to clients and the market at large.”
Visual effects artist Jesse Newman said WhosCreative is the most efficient way to market an artist’s skills: “WhosCreative is recession proof and a great resource for any artist. My WhosCreative site is much easier to update than my personal website and therefore has my most recent work on it. The site is becoming my preferred destination for clients. Perhaps more importantly, my WhosCreative site functions as a creative hub that fosters exploration, networking and inspiration."
WhosCreative allows users to point their own domain names to their portfolios and when the portfolio is accessed through its own domain name, it becomes an independent site without WhosCreative branding. Additionally, WhosCreative offers a client access extranet component for those who need to present their work in-progress and share files with clients in a password-protected area.
Creatives who sign up to the site enjoy a myriad of services, including being able to:
• post a detailed profile page
• send and receive messages with other members
• bookmark favourite profiles/portfolios
• apply to listed jobs
• develop a customisable portfolio
• set up their own web address on the site
• post unlimited images in the portfolio
• upload video and audio files.
WhosCreative uses Web 2.0 technologies to enhance user interactions such as drag and drop. The site’s portfolio is modular in design and users can choose an appropriate format depending on the type of work they want to present. Currently the user can choose from a standard HTML slide show, storyboards, tiled thumbnails or a scrolling flash-based gallery.
“Behind the scenes your website is connected to the WhosCreative social networking component with all the usual profile pages, messaging and upload services, so users get the best of many worlds,” said Dyske Suematsu, chief architect, WhosCreative. “An artist can present their work, search for jobs, network with other artists and be available to potential employers.”
The basic service is free to join and allows users to set up a comprehensive profile and standard portfolio. For £4 per month (or an annual subscription rate of £40) the user can sign up for the Pro Account, build their own portfolio/website and post unlimited images and videos.
FACT FILE:
WhosCreative (www.whoscreative.com)
WhosCreative helps professional artists realise their dreams by giving them innovative online tools to represent their creative vision to the creative marketplace at large and grow their business. The site offers increased exposure for the creative community with a sophisticated search engine that enables users to find artists, companies and creative jobs all over the world. There’s also a social networking component for artists to network with like-minded users, compare work and share information on job opportunities.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
A Borrower’s Survival Guide: CML, Citizens Advice And Shelter
Household finances have been badly stretched in the past year as the cost of energy has increased by 17% and the cost of food by 12%*. And the credit crunch means that the cost of new mortgages has increased, there are fewer mortgages available to choose from, and they are more difficult to obtain.
This is making life harder for the 1.4 million borrowers coming off cheaper, fixed-rate mortgages in 2008. But there are ways to help yourself and organisations to help you cope if you are struggling, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders, Citizens Advice and Shelter.
No matter the size of your financial problems there are steps you can take to tackle them, and the CML, Citizens Advice and Shelter have worked together to come up with ten tips to help struggling households get through the tough times.
1. Get talking
If you are worried about your finances your first move should be to start talking: talk to your lender, talk to your partner, and talk to a free, independent debt adviser. The earlier you tell your lender, the more options available to solve the problem. Options that your lender may consider include: extending the term of the mortgage, changing the type of mortgage, deferring interest payments for a short period, and treating the arrears as part of the original debt.
2. Get advice
There are many organisations which offer free and independent money advice such as Citizens Advice, Shelter, National Debtline, and the Consumer Credit Counselling Service. Their debt advisers can assess your situation and devise the best course of action for you.
3. Plan ahead
If you are coming to the end of a fixed-rate mortgage in the near future start planning ahead for higher repayments and researching the best deals in the market now.
4. Don’t bury your head in the sand
Ignoring your debt problems will only make them worse. Positive action will help you find ways to solve them.
5. Pay your priority debts first
A mortgage is a priority debt as if you don’t pay this you could lose your home. Debt advisers can help you plan your budget and pay your priority debts first.
6. Pay what you can each month
If you can’t afford your full mortgage repayments, you should talk to your lender and still pay what you can afford.
7. Open all your post
Don’t ignore letters or telephone calls from your lender; if you are not sure what they mean ask your lender or a debt adviser. Open all mail that is addressed ‘to the occupiers’; if you are a tenant this is how the mortgage lender will contact you if the landlord has a payment problem.
8. Facing possession proceedings? Don’t panic
Always attend the court hearings yourself. Court proceedings do not mean that you will automatically lose your home. The court process acts as a final check to make sure repossession is the last resort. Some courts have advice desks which can provide last minute assistance.
9. Don’t abandon your property
If you are struggling with mortgage repayments you may be tempted to send the keys to your lender or abandon your property. Don’t do this without advice. You could still be responsible for the debt on the property and may be pursued for it years later.
10. Take care with “mortgage rescue”
Selling your home and renting it back might seem like a quick fix to your debt problems. But, many of these schemes offer very little security. They are also not regulated so you will not have access to the same protections as a mortgage holder.
CML Director General, Michael Coogan, said:
“The first step for anyone struggling to pay their mortgage is to contact their lender and get advice. There are a range of options your lender can consider to help reduce or reschedule your payments for a period of time while you get back on your feet.
“Lenders will treat you fairly and use repossession only as a last resort. If you take positive action to contact your lender, pay what you can, and show up to court and make your case, you are more likely to reach an agreement your lender that allows you to stay in your home. But you cannot just walk away and assume you are no longer responsible for the mortgage.”
Citizens Advice Chief Executive, David Harker said: “We would urge anyone who is falling behind with payments on a mortgage or secured loan to speak to their lender and seek free, confidential, independent advice straight away.
“Getting advice, even at a late stage, can help the majority of people come to a workable agreement with their mortgage lender and can make all the difference between saving or losing their home.”
Adam Sampson, Chief Executive of Shelter added: "Getting advice quickly is crucial in helping struggling homeowners keep a roof over their head. At Shelter we often see people when it's too late, but the loss of their home could have been prevented if they had sought our help early on.
"With rising household bills and escalating food costs, it is understandable that many people are struggling with their finances. Help is out there but it is vital people don't hide away from their problems and seek free independent advice as soon as possible."
FACT FILE:
Sources of free debt advice include:
• Citizens Advice - http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/
• Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) - http://www.cccs.co.uk/
• National Debtline - http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/
• Payplan - http://www.payplan.com/
• Shelter - http://www.shelter.org.uk/
• The Financial Services Authority - The industry regulator has a series of practical guides on managing money and financial products on their website: http://www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk/
Search around Worms Head Terminated after Man Located Ashore
At 4.20 pm today Swansea Coastguard received a call that a 20 year old Chinese man on a day trip from London had been seen heading out to Worms Head earlier in the afternoon and had not been seen since lunchtime. A description was given of what he was wearing.
Rhossili Coastguard Rescue Team was sent to the area to begin a search and Horton inshore lifeboat was asked to launch. A rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor was also scrambled.
Areas such as Llangennith beach were searched and the inshore lifeboat searched around the Causeway. Buses were searched as they came from the Head as well as areas around the Knave. The seas locally have been quite rough today with winds veering southwesterly force 5 to 7 and the Coastguards concern was that he had been swept into the sea.
Consideration was given to searching the south side of the Causeway given the man was not local and could have been in danger of being cut off by the tide. It was then decided that Coastguard Rescue Team members would be transferred to the Head to carry out a more detailed search.
Six Team Members began to prepare to be transferred to Worms Head to carry out a more detailed and finger tip search looking for clothing or any other material which may have given a clue as to the mans whereabouts.
Fortunately at around 17.45 this evening the Police confirmed they had located the man ashore and the search was stood down.
Dai Jones, Watch Manager at Swansea Coastguard said: "We are delighted that the man has been located safe and well and all rescue units have returned to base after what was a considerably detailed 5 hour search.
National Coastguard who now operate from the old Victorian Coastguard lookout hut also assisted us this afternoon for which we are very grateful.
"For weekend visitors they can provide all the information on tide times, when to go across, what the weather is going to be like, what you need to prepare for your journey and of course, if they see anyone in trouble they will inform the Coastguard.
"Worms Head is about a mile long and a couple of hundred yards across at its widest point. One of the many people who have been stranded by the tide, was the poet Dylan Thomas, he was trapped here as a boy and later wrote of his terror at being cut off with nothing but a bag of sandwiches and a good book to keep him company.
"We have very many visitors at this time of the year to Worms Head which can be spectacular at this time of year. The walk out to the Head however can be a race against the tide, it is vital that you check the tide times before setting out on your walk, and make sure that you keep them in mind, don't get caught out. If you do, then don't try to swim back, wait for help to come to you."
The Royal County Of Berkshire Show Opens Its Doors To A Little Bit Of Cyprus
The inimitably beautiful Mediterranean island of Cyprus is blessed with almost year round sunshine and a climate that has been described as the most perfect in the world – conducive for good physical and mental wellbeing. A holiday hotspot for all seasons, the island is also an affluent and successful addition to the European Union, a desirable location with those looking for a tax friendly place to retire, and a booming destination to invest in.
Cyprus is possibly the most exotic nation in the European Union as well, despite its strong British feel and the lasting English influences on the island such as the fact that the old currency was the Cyprus pound, Cypriots drive on the left and the legal system in Cyprus incorporates a number of elements from the British system. Since it joined the eurozone and adopted the euro as its currency in January 2008, the already booming economy in Cyprus has continued to go from strength to strength, and this makes it an even more attractive location whether you’re looking for somewhere to holiday, live or invest.
“It is great to be attending this year’s show as its supports all the things that we love about the British countryside” says Martin Pearce, UK Sales Manager for Aristo “But with Cyprus adopting the Euro at the beginning of the year and the UK topping the list of tourist visitors to Cyprus we can only see the relationship between both countries growing and this is one of the biggest reasons to attend shows such as these.”
For more information on buying in Cyprus visit the Aristo stand at this years Royal County of Berkshire Show or contact them directly on 0800 082 0601 or visit www.aristodevelopers.com.
Make this year the year for making home-made- ice cream and more!
Now you can make the most delicious fresh ice cream and sorbets yourself quickly, easily and at a fraction of the cost of shop-bought.
Unlike most ice cream makers, the Gelato Chef 2200 doesn’t need pre-freezing. It has its very own built-in freezer. Simply, choose your favourite recipe, switch the machine on, pour in the ingredients and in 20 minutes you have the most delicious home made ice cream or sorbet. The machine gently churns and freezes simultaneously, the ideal technique to retain the full flavour of your natural ingredients whilst at the same time it produce ice cream that simply explodes with taste and flavour! With its own freezer and extra removable bowl, you can make as much or as little tasty ice cream as you want.
Le Glacier 1.1 and 1.5. Just pre-freeze the bowl over night or for 12 hours in a 3-4 star freezer. Remove, replace lid, switch on and add your favourite ingredients. 30 minutes later you have your very own delicious ice cream.
Extra bowls are available so you could always have one in the freezer. The 1.5 model offers a more efficient motor and the stainless steel bowls allow for even faster freezing.
The Gelato Chef White £229.00
The Gelato Chef Satin steel £285.00
Le Glacier 1.1 White £34.99
Le Glacier 1.5 White £44.99
Le Glacier 1.5 Chrome £59.99
Magimix is available from all good independent retailers and cook shops.
This will make a fantastic Christmas gift for the budding confectionery chef in your life. And do not forget! If there's someone in your family or circle of friends who has to miss out on treats like ice creams because of the ingredients, then make some tasty ice creams with safe alternative ingredients. It's never been easier!
Create a kinder family home
The UK has the highest prevalence of allergies in Europe, with an estimated 30% of the population suffering from an allergy at some time in their lives. Each year the number of people affected by allergies is increasing and nearly half of the cases occur in children.
Children are particularly prone to allergies such as asthma, hayfever and eczema. According to Allergy UK, chemicals found in household products can cause allergy symptoms in some people. One recent survey showed that 68% of allergy sufferers said they are sensitive to perfume and other chemicals.
However, those who have allergies themselves, or have children with allergies, still like their homes to smell fresh and clean, but with the comfort of knowing they are using kinder fragrances. Ambi Pur Puresse is the first ever allergen reduced air freshener, designed to care for the air in your family’s home.
The range is specially formulated by minimising 26 known allergens, whilst at the same time retaining the essence of Ambi Pur’s superior fragrances. The lighter fragrances of Puresse are available in a single perfume plug-in (Air, Cotton and Lotus), an aerosol (Air, Bamboo, Cotton and Lotus) and in the latest addition of the revolutionary 3volution plug-in (Air Sensations and Cotton Sensations).
Ambi Pur 3volution combines three alternating but complementary fragrances, which are released in a continuous cycle, one after the other, every 45 minutes, so you can always notice the fragrance and enjoy it again and again and again. Puresse 3volution is available in two lighter fragrances; Cotton sensations, inspired by luxurious angora, delicate blossoms and soft clean cottons, and Air sensations, inspired by a fresh clean peaceful morning, the awakening of nature and the fresh fragrance after summer rain.
Also, new this month is the gentle and elegant fragrance of Lotus which you can now experience in a single perfume plug-in.
All of the products in Ambi Pur’s Puresse range have been awarded with the highly regarded Allergy UK Seal of Approval, and remains the only air freshener to be accredited.
You can experience Ambi Pur Puresse in four kinder fragrances:
Air - a sparkling citrus fragrance inspired by a gentle breeze to give your home a wave of freshness.
Bamboo - a colourful blend of citrus and green notes that freshens your home with an uplifting light fragrance.
Cotton - a silky, soft fragrance with floral and creamy notes that brings a light refreshing touch of tenderness to your home.
Lotus - a delicate floral and gentle fragrance that gives your home a touch of elegance.
So, why not take care of your family’s home with Ambi Pur Puresse.
Ambi Pur Puresse is available from all good supermarkets and independent retailers. Ambi Pur Puresse aerosols are £1.99 (RRP), the single perfume plug-ins are £4.99 (RRP) for a primary unit and £3.99 (RRP) for refill and the 3volution plug-ins are £8.99 (RRP) for a primary unit and £4.99 (RRP) for refill.
Children are particularly prone to allergies such as asthma, hayfever and eczema. According to Allergy UK, chemicals found in household products can cause allergy symptoms in some people. One recent survey showed that 68% of allergy sufferers said they are sensitive to perfume and other chemicals.
However, those who have allergies themselves, or have children with allergies, still like their homes to smell fresh and clean, but with the comfort of knowing they are using kinder fragrances. Ambi Pur Puresse is the first ever allergen reduced air freshener, designed to care for the air in your family’s home.
The range is specially formulated by minimising 26 known allergens, whilst at the same time retaining the essence of Ambi Pur’s superior fragrances. The lighter fragrances of Puresse are available in a single perfume plug-in (Air, Cotton and Lotus), an aerosol (Air, Bamboo, Cotton and Lotus) and in the latest addition of the revolutionary 3volution plug-in (Air Sensations and Cotton Sensations).
Ambi Pur 3volution combines three alternating but complementary fragrances, which are released in a continuous cycle, one after the other, every 45 minutes, so you can always notice the fragrance and enjoy it again and again and again. Puresse 3volution is available in two lighter fragrances; Cotton sensations, inspired by luxurious angora, delicate blossoms and soft clean cottons, and Air sensations, inspired by a fresh clean peaceful morning, the awakening of nature and the fresh fragrance after summer rain.
Also, new this month is the gentle and elegant fragrance of Lotus which you can now experience in a single perfume plug-in.
All of the products in Ambi Pur’s Puresse range have been awarded with the highly regarded Allergy UK Seal of Approval, and remains the only air freshener to be accredited.
You can experience Ambi Pur Puresse in four kinder fragrances:
Air - a sparkling citrus fragrance inspired by a gentle breeze to give your home a wave of freshness.
Bamboo - a colourful blend of citrus and green notes that freshens your home with an uplifting light fragrance.
Cotton - a silky, soft fragrance with floral and creamy notes that brings a light refreshing touch of tenderness to your home.
Lotus - a delicate floral and gentle fragrance that gives your home a touch of elegance.
So, why not take care of your family’s home with Ambi Pur Puresse.
Ambi Pur Puresse is available from all good supermarkets and independent retailers. Ambi Pur Puresse aerosols are £1.99 (RRP), the single perfume plug-ins are £4.99 (RRP) for a primary unit and £3.99 (RRP) for refill and the 3volution plug-ins are £8.99 (RRP) for a primary unit and £4.99 (RRP) for refill.
Bejing Police brutality towards UK journalist highlighted in new Internet game
The ITV reporter who was “roughed up” by Bejing police while reporting on a protest to free Tibet is the star of a new online game poking fun at the Chinese authorities.
One Tibet One Dream starring ITV’s John Ray has been released free on the internet by high profile Scottish games development firm T-Enterprise.
You can play it free online at www.t-enterprise.co.uk/onedream.
On Wednesday (13th August) John Ray was grabbed by police, forced to the ground and bundled into a van while covering the demonstration.
Police also dragged him along the ground, stamped on his hands and ripped his shoes off.
In the online game players control a little cartoon John Ray who is attempting to plant Tibetan flags on “Monkey Magic” clouds.
But if he falls off he is chased along the ground by a Chinese tank.
T-Enterprise’s MD Sadia Chishti said: “What happened to John Ray is disgusting. While the attention of the world is focused on China, the authorities must be panicking to treat a foreign journalist in such a heavy handed way.
“We were so appalled to see how John had been treated that we immediately started work on this game. As games developers it’s our way of commenting on social issues, and we know that this game will maintain awareness of what happened for months to come.”
T-Enterprise is a games development business based in Glasgow. It employs six people and works with businesses across the UK.
Earlier this year it captured national headlines with the launch of a game where players help a Heather Mills character collect her £24m divorce settlement by throwing water around a courtroom.
Other recent games include gentle ribbing of British Airways for the Heathrow terminal five PR disaster.
The game’s developers believe One Tibet One Dream is their most addictive free online game yet.
Good idea? Or sick exploitation? Card firm brings out “You are Dumped” card
Summer is supposed to be the most romantic season of the year, when holiday romances thrive and the sun is shining.
But a leading online card retailer claims August is actually the month when you’re most likely to get dumped by your partner.
The Card and Gift Company already sells cards congratulating the newly divorced or single, but the people behind the site have received hundreds of emails and phone calls requesting a ‘you’re dumped’ card.
Andrew Gibson, managing director of The Card and Gift Company said: “Our newly divorced and single cards sell well, but we frequently receive feedback from customers asking for a ‘you’re dumped’ card.
“In the last week or so, the amount of people getting in touch has shot up, suggesting that August is the time of year when most people consider ending their current relationship.
“Many of us find it easiest to express a difficult message in writing, which is why we think so many people feel there is a gap in the market for this type of card.”
Dr. David Holmes, a senior lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University’s Department of Psychology is not surprised by these findings. He said: “It’s a common misconception that summer is the time when love blossoms and relationships thrive.
“It’s actually far more likely that, whilst contemplating your life back at home when on holiday, we are most likely to make important and strategic life changing decisions.
“Other research has shown that you’re most likely to review your career during summer so it fits that this theory should extend to one’s relationship and personal life.
“It’s easy to be so stressed out and busy during your day to day life at home, that we don’t have the energy to take action against elements of our life that are bothering us or need to be changed.
“Going on holiday gives people the feeling of confidence and rejuvenation needed to make major decisions and improve their lives back home.”
The Card and Gift Company have now designed and published a ‘you’re dumped’ card, available through the website, for those needing a helping hand in letting their partner down gently this summer.
For further information visit www.thecardandgiftcompany.co.uk
But a leading online card retailer claims August is actually the month when you’re most likely to get dumped by your partner.
The Card and Gift Company already sells cards congratulating the newly divorced or single, but the people behind the site have received hundreds of emails and phone calls requesting a ‘you’re dumped’ card.
Andrew Gibson, managing director of The Card and Gift Company said: “Our newly divorced and single cards sell well, but we frequently receive feedback from customers asking for a ‘you’re dumped’ card.
“In the last week or so, the amount of people getting in touch has shot up, suggesting that August is the time of year when most people consider ending their current relationship.
“Many of us find it easiest to express a difficult message in writing, which is why we think so many people feel there is a gap in the market for this type of card.”
Dr. David Holmes, a senior lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University’s Department of Psychology is not surprised by these findings. He said: “It’s a common misconception that summer is the time when love blossoms and relationships thrive.
“It’s actually far more likely that, whilst contemplating your life back at home when on holiday, we are most likely to make important and strategic life changing decisions.
“Other research has shown that you’re most likely to review your career during summer so it fits that this theory should extend to one’s relationship and personal life.
“It’s easy to be so stressed out and busy during your day to day life at home, that we don’t have the energy to take action against elements of our life that are bothering us or need to be changed.
“Going on holiday gives people the feeling of confidence and rejuvenation needed to make major decisions and improve their lives back home.”
The Card and Gift Company have now designed and published a ‘you’re dumped’ card, available through the website, for those needing a helping hand in letting their partner down gently this summer.
For further information visit www.thecardandgiftcompany.co.uk
Greenock Morton Score with New Website
Greenock Morton Football Club have officially unveiled their much anticipated new website prompting a positive response from the fans.
Designed and developed by Hillington-based web company, NSDesign Ltd, the site includes the latest news, squad listings and fixtures.
Crawford Rae, Morton Director, said: “We’re delighted with the new Morton site. It not only looks superb, but crucially, the new admin capabilities make it easy for us to update on a regular basis. Our ongoing partnership with NSDesign will see the introduction of a number of new features in the months to come – watch this space!”
Kenny Roy, Business Development Manager with NSDesign (and life-time Morton Fan) added: “It’s been a pleasure to work with the Morton staff in helping produce what we believe to be one of the best websites in Scottish Football.”
Visit the new Morton website at www.gmfc.net
Tesco report British Shoppers Shun Single-use Carrier Bags
Tesco, the UK supermarket giant, has announced that the use of disposable plastic bags is in steep decline as shoppers in their thousands switch to permanent shopping bags.
Tesco customers have saved a staggering two billion carrier bags since Green Clubcard Points were launched in August 2006. Carrier bag use by Tesco shoppers in the last month is 40% lower than for the same period two years ago.
Throughout the month of July in 2006, Tesco gave its customers approximately 350 million single-use carrier bags. In July 2008, that had dropped to just 200 million.
Lucy Neville-Rolfe, Corporate and Legal Affairs Director said, “We have helped our customers cut bag use by 40% without a bag tax adding to the cost of their weekly shop. In fact, our Green Clubcard scheme helps people save on their grocery shopping bills.
“Our customers have shown us how keen they are to break this environmentally-damaging habit of a lifetime - the “carrot” approach clearly works.
“It took more than 14 months to save the first billion bags but the second billion was achieved in less than 9 months, showing that the trend is rapidly gaining support.
“Even the most committed greenies occasionally forget to bring their shopping bags with them, so there will always be carrier bags available free of charge. We want to help our customers remember to reuse their bags, rather than punish them when they forget.”
Tesco Green Clubcard Points are awarded to customers for every bag they do not use. Using a large shopping bag could therefore result in a reward of 2 or 3 points.
The supermarket has already sent its 12 million Clubcard customers a new key fob which carries a reminder to bring their bags with them. There will also be ‘reminder banners’ in store car parks..
Tesco has also introduced a range of affordable and attractive reusable bags to make it more appealing for customers to make the switch. Tesco brought in Cath Kidston - one of Britain’s best-loved designers - to extend its range with bags made from recycled plastic bottles. Tesco originally commissioned six bag designs from Cath Kidston but, due to their huge popularity, has now extended that to eight, including a special design for Christmas.
The Tesco Charity of the Year, Marie Curie Cancer Care, receives a 50 pence donation for every bag sold. A new vintage-inspired bag design hits Tesco stores this week.
FACT FILE
Tesco plc, a UK-based international grocery and merchandising retailer, is Britain's largest supplier and the world's third largest grocery retailer, by both global sales and domestic market share.
Founded as a food specialist in 1929, Tesco has now expanded into diverse areas such as music downloads, wine, furniture, laptops, telecoms and even dishwashers. The company employs over 250,000 people, operates 1,779 stores across Europe and Asia and serves over 15 million customers.
PR Contact:
Tesco customers have saved a staggering two billion carrier bags since Green Clubcard Points were launched in August 2006. Carrier bag use by Tesco shoppers in the last month is 40% lower than for the same period two years ago.
Throughout the month of July in 2006, Tesco gave its customers approximately 350 million single-use carrier bags. In July 2008, that had dropped to just 200 million.
Lucy Neville-Rolfe, Corporate and Legal Affairs Director said, “We have helped our customers cut bag use by 40% without a bag tax adding to the cost of their weekly shop. In fact, our Green Clubcard scheme helps people save on their grocery shopping bills.
“Our customers have shown us how keen they are to break this environmentally-damaging habit of a lifetime - the “carrot” approach clearly works.
“It took more than 14 months to save the first billion bags but the second billion was achieved in less than 9 months, showing that the trend is rapidly gaining support.
“Even the most committed greenies occasionally forget to bring their shopping bags with them, so there will always be carrier bags available free of charge. We want to help our customers remember to reuse their bags, rather than punish them when they forget.”
Tesco Green Clubcard Points are awarded to customers for every bag they do not use. Using a large shopping bag could therefore result in a reward of 2 or 3 points.
The supermarket has already sent its 12 million Clubcard customers a new key fob which carries a reminder to bring their bags with them. There will also be ‘reminder banners’ in store car parks..
Tesco has also introduced a range of affordable and attractive reusable bags to make it more appealing for customers to make the switch. Tesco brought in Cath Kidston - one of Britain’s best-loved designers - to extend its range with bags made from recycled plastic bottles. Tesco originally commissioned six bag designs from Cath Kidston but, due to their huge popularity, has now extended that to eight, including a special design for Christmas.
The Tesco Charity of the Year, Marie Curie Cancer Care, receives a 50 pence donation for every bag sold. A new vintage-inspired bag design hits Tesco stores this week.
FACT FILE
Tesco plc, a UK-based international grocery and merchandising retailer, is Britain's largest supplier and the world's third largest grocery retailer, by both global sales and domestic market share.
Founded as a food specialist in 1929, Tesco has now expanded into diverse areas such as music downloads, wine, furniture, laptops, telecoms and even dishwashers. The company employs over 250,000 people, operates 1,779 stores across Europe and Asia and serves over 15 million customers.
PR Contact:
Barclay's Premier League Football available on GO!VIEW
Don’t just talk about the football – re-live it!
Football fans will be thrilled to hear that the best of this season’s Barclays Premier League will be available on GO!VIEW, the video on-demand service for the PlayStation Portable (PSP™). Following the big kick off this weekend, from Sunday 17th August, PSP™ owners will be able to transfer 45 minutes of extended highlights from Sky Sports matches to watch on the go - or wherever they want!
Throughout the new season, GO!VIEW customers will be able to watch a great range of Barclays Premier League football from hundreds of Sky Sports games. Sky Sports will show 92 Live Barclays Premier League games this season and a further 242 ‘near live’ matches, ensuring that all GO!VIEW customers will be able to access games involving their favourite Premier League team.
In addition, highlights from the season’s best games so far will also be available ongoing from October for fans to transfer to their PSP™ so they can relive the highs and lows of the current campaign.
The football content on GO!VIEW is available as part of the monthly ‘Sports’ subscription packs which offers content from across the sporting world, and includes cricket, golf, boxing and extreme sports. New GO!VIEW customers can get a one month trial subscription to the Sports Pack as well - as the two other Subscription Packs; Comedy and Entertainment - absolutely free!
In addition to the subscription packs, selected Movies to Rent and Latest TV to Rent can be transferred via the rental service on GO!VIEW. Subscription packs are priced at £5 (€7) for 1 pack, £8 (€11) for 2 packs and £10 (€14) for all three packs and with everyone who registers for the service at www.goview.tv receiving a free month’s subscription, there’s no better time to be a PSP owner!
GO!VIEW is a joint venture between Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and Sky who have established the joint venture ‘GO!VIEW Entertainment UK’. This is being used to bring the PSP video-on-demand to market in the UK, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands & the Isle of Man. Sky is providing their expertise in building successful video-on-demand platforms as well as content acquisition. Sony Computer Entertainment is providing the marketing for the service.
Football fans will be thrilled to hear that the best of this season’s Barclays Premier League will be available on GO!VIEW, the video on-demand service for the PlayStation Portable (PSP™). Following the big kick off this weekend, from Sunday 17th August, PSP™ owners will be able to transfer 45 minutes of extended highlights from Sky Sports matches to watch on the go - or wherever they want!
Throughout the new season, GO!VIEW customers will be able to watch a great range of Barclays Premier League football from hundreds of Sky Sports games. Sky Sports will show 92 Live Barclays Premier League games this season and a further 242 ‘near live’ matches, ensuring that all GO!VIEW customers will be able to access games involving their favourite Premier League team.
In addition, highlights from the season’s best games so far will also be available ongoing from October for fans to transfer to their PSP™ so they can relive the highs and lows of the current campaign.
The football content on GO!VIEW is available as part of the monthly ‘Sports’ subscription packs which offers content from across the sporting world, and includes cricket, golf, boxing and extreme sports. New GO!VIEW customers can get a one month trial subscription to the Sports Pack as well - as the two other Subscription Packs; Comedy and Entertainment - absolutely free!
In addition to the subscription packs, selected Movies to Rent and Latest TV to Rent can be transferred via the rental service on GO!VIEW. Subscription packs are priced at £5 (€7) for 1 pack, £8 (€11) for 2 packs and £10 (€14) for all three packs and with everyone who registers for the service at www.goview.tv receiving a free month’s subscription, there’s no better time to be a PSP owner!
GO!VIEW is a joint venture between Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and Sky who have established the joint venture ‘GO!VIEW Entertainment UK’. This is being used to bring the PSP video-on-demand to market in the UK, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands & the Isle of Man. Sky is providing their expertise in building successful video-on-demand platforms as well as content acquisition. Sony Computer Entertainment is providing the marketing for the service.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Wellard – well popular amongst animal lovers
From Bouncer to Roly, the death of a loved TV pet can hit the nation hard. Wellard’s impending departure from Eastenders is set to be no exception.
With the canine star set to pass away this Friday, pet insurance firm MORE TH>N is expecting the emotion’s of the nation’s bereaved pet owners to be ignited, and is preparing for record call numbers to its pet bereavement line this weekend.
“The MORE TH>N Pet Insurance bereavement line is designed to be called by policy holders that have lost a loved family pet, but we traditionally see an increase in inbound calls when much-loved TV animals pass on. People find it easier to talk about the loss of their own pets, when they see their own situation mirrored on-screen.“ said Mel Everest, head of pet insurance at MORE TH>N.
“Much in the same way as they do with their favourite soap characters, people can build strong attachments to animals that they see on screen on a regular basis. For example when Bouncer left Neighbours and when Roly from Eastenders died. We are expecting a similar reaction when Wellard leaves our screens.”
MORE TH>N’s fully trained bereavement counsellors are on hand to help our pet insurance policy holders deal with their tragic losses 365 days of the year. For more information please call 0800 300 889 or visit www.morethan.com/pet
All women skydiving team claim gold for team GB
Forget the Olympics, the most exciting sporting event to take place this week is the World skydiving championship in France.An all women skydiving team have claimed Gold for the UK at the world skydiving championship in Maubeuge, France today.
In a nail biting finish, Bodyflight Storm finished just one point ahead of their next closest rivals the American team Fastrax blue.
The team is made up of Kate Stephens, Hannah Betts, Claire ‘Sparky’ Scott, Sarah Smith and camera man Gary Wainwright.
4-way formation skydiving is one of the most popular forms of competition within the skydiving world: The goal is to complete as many formations as possible in a set amount of time. Do to this teams need speed, accuracy, determination and strength not to mention bravery as the discipline is practised in freefall at speeds reaching 120mph!
The team have been training incredibly hard in the run up to the competition both at the Bodyflight wind tunnel and also at drop zones in the UK and California.
“It’s been an amazing couple of years” says Sarah Smith. “The whole team has trained exceptionally hard in the lead up to the world meet, giving up our normal jobs last year so that we could concentrate on winning a place in the finals. We had to score higher than the reigning world champions to do this which was incredibly tough for a team starting from scratch”
However they have also managed to fit in another world first this year; in May they filmed a live advert for Honda. The advert was broadcast live from Spain and involved 16 top British skydivers spelling out the letters H O N D A in mid air before deploying their canopies.
The team are hoping to attend the launch party of Bodyflight’s newest attraction on the 6th of September: Bodyflight Vertigo
FSA puts a stop to illegal UK based share scheme
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has been granted a permanent injunction preventing Treadstone Corporation Limited (Treadstone) from illegally promoting and selling shares to UK investors. Thedfred Lemont Shepherd, the sole director and owner of Treadstone, has also agreed not to take part in the same activities.
From May to September 2006, Treadstone and Mr Shepherd instructed agents to 'cold call' UK investors and encourage them to buy shares in a Finnish company, 'Tramigo Oy Limited'. After which, Treadstone issued false share certificates to investors and retained and distributed the proceeds of sale. Although the company is genuine, the shares were sold for more than their worth.
Jonathan Phelan, Head of Retail Enforcement at the FSA, said: "We can, and do, take action to protect consumers from illegal share schemes, as is evident in this case. However, consumers must also be vigilant and check that the firm they are dealing with is authorised. If not, they risk losing some or all of the money they have invested.
“People should also check the FSA website for a watchlist of companies to avoid, which also 'cold call' and operate similar schemes."
Investors who have dealt with Treadstone or 'Tramigo Oy Limited' should contact Tim Schwilk at the FSA on 020 7066 0932 in connection with possible compensation.
Search for missing 5-year-old near Bude
A missing 5-year-old girl who prompted an extensive search involving Coastguard, Police and the Fire Brigade in Stratton in North Cornwall has now been located and is en route to hospital.
The Coastguard were contacted at ten to one this afternoon by Devon and Cornwall Police requesting their assistance in the search as it was believed that the 5-year-old girl had fallen into the River Neet at Stratton. Bude and Boscastle Coastguard Rescue Teams were immediately called to the scene, and Rescue Helicopter 169 from RAF Chivenor was scrambled to begin a search. Bude RNLI lifeboat crew along with Summerleaze Beach lifeguards also attended to assist with the search.
At half past two this afternoon the missing girl was located and winched into the RAF Helicopter and transferred to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.
Falmouth Coastguard Watch Manager Andy Cattrell said: "The missing girl was reported to Police earlier this afternoon by a family member after fears that she had entered the river. Although this was technically an inland incident we were able to offer several Coastguard resources and other rescue units in order to get as many personnel on the ground to assist the Police and Fire Brigade. The girl has now been found and has been flown directly to Derriford hospital".
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Star of Shameless Signs Up To Abseil At Old Trafford
Actor Ciaran Griffiths will be making a leap of faith this September when he takes part in an abseil from the North Stand at Old Trafford to raise vital funds for people with Cystic Fibrosis.
The world’s most popular football team Manchester United FC and partner charity the Cystic Fibrosis Trust have teamed up once again to host the free-air abseil, which takes place on Saturday 20 September. Ciaran will get a bird’s eye view of the pitch as he abseils 140 feet into the Theatre of Dreams.
25 year old Ciaran, a Manchester United fan, is perhaps best known for his roles as Mickey Maguire in Shameless, and PC Gary Best in The Bill. He said “I’m not very good with heights so I’m a bit scared, but looking forward to it. Hopefully lots of local people will sign up to take part. If I can do it anyone can!!”
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the UK’s most common, life-threatening, inherited disease affecting 8,000 people. Money raised from the abseil will pay for the costs of young people with CF trying out a new, potentially life saving treatment.
Participants are asked to raise a minimum sponsorship of £140, which includes a £15 booking fee payable on booking. Those who raise over £500 in sponsorship will be entered into a draw to win a football signed by the Manchester United team and a Museum and Stadium Tour. To take part, or for more information, please contact the Cystic Fibrosis Trust events team on 0845 859 1100 or email events@cftrust.org.uk. You can also sign up online at http://www.cftrust.org.uk/help/events/mufcabseil
The Cystic Fibrosis Trust is one of two national charities to benefit from a three year charity partnership with Manchester United. The partnerships between Manchester United and its preferred charity partners are managed by Manchester United Foundation. The Foundation was set up in 2006 to celebrate 50 years of the Club playing in Europe. The Foundation uses the passion for Manchester United to benefit communities and inspire young people.
A level results - now what?
For some young people A level results are the end of their schooling although they have no idea of what they want to do next. University is not the answer for everyone, but many young people choose to attend simply because they are unsure of what their options are. However, there are lots of alternatives. This is why it is important that young people have the opportunity to talk to people already in jobs or that have businesses so that they can then make informed career choices.
Growing Ambitions offers a free match-making service to those people in business, employees, professionals or trades-people so that they can, when contacted by a local school or college donate ONE half hour ONCE to talk to young people and answer questions about their job.
“I set up Growing Ambitions to empower Britain’s workforce into making Corporate Social Responsibility a reality in their communities by this simple and do-able gesture. Each half-hour session will make a significant difference to young people when they are deciding about the job they may like to do,” says Sally Davis, MD of Growing Ambitions
And it only takes a minute.
What to do
Simply follow the steps below. Then wait to be contacted. Remember signing up is once only. That’s all we ask.
Go to www.growingambitions.org
Click ‘Offer to Speak’, then click ‘Register’ and complete the form – it takes just a few minutes. Then we quickly verify your email address.
Next, login at ‘Workplace login’ on the home page and, from your Account screen, click ‘Offer Slot’ and tick ‘Flexible’.
That’s it. A local school, college or university will contact you to arrange a suitable date and time. After your session, you can opt out.
To opt out:
Simply login to your Speaker Account and ‘untick’ your boxes. This makes your account ‘invisible’. At a later date you can login to your Speaker account and ‘re-tick’ for another session. You are able to do this as many times as you like.
For more information see www.growingambitions.org
Halve Your Outgoings with RSVP Introductions
Dating agency RSVP have their own answer to the credit crunch for the UK’s 8 million single people: find your special someone and you can split your household costs down the middle. Outgoings halved at a stroke! Yes, there’s no reason why a gloomy economic outlook should mean a gloomy dating outlook.
Unlike other agencies and internet dating sites, RSVP doubles your chances of meeting Mr/Ms Right by offering two ways to meet like-minded genuinely single people:
1. One-to-one personal introductions.
2. Up to 60 superb hosted events every month.
What’s more, they’re doing all they can to help hard-pressed singletons by:
1. Allowing new members to spread their registration fees over three months.
2. Offering many of their superb singles events free – e.g.. pub nights, walks.
3. Presenting many more singles events ‘pay as you go’ – so you can enjoy a great night out but only pay for what you choose to eat and drink.
4. Helping to organise car sharing to their events (every member has been interviewed and ID-checked by RSVP themselves, so you know it’s safe).
Says RSVP’s Managing Director, Anne Stringer: “we know it’s a tough time for people, especially if they’re on their own and, at RSVP, we feel it our caring duty to do all we can to help hard-pressed singles. As a nation, we do seem to become incredibly introspective when times are tough and I want to encourage people to get out there and have a good time, regardless. It doesn’t have to cost the earth.”
(EDITOR: I can think of many valid reasons for wanting to live with someone or to get married. Reducing one's outgoings is not one of them...)
New Guylian Extra Dark Seashells with 74% cocoa and extra antioxidants - Pure indulgence without the guilt.
Guylian, renowned for their world famous original marbled Chocolate Sea Shells, has created new extra dark chocolate Sea Shells with 74% cocoa. Filled with a unique hazelnut praline filling, made to a secret recipe, the new Extra Sea Shells are the ultimate in indulgence.
This new recipe includes ACTICOA™ cocoa, which preserves the antioxidants that naturally occur in the cocoa bean but are normally lost through chocolate production. Guylian Extra Sea Shells, however, are rich in antioxidants and retain the flavour of luxury premium chocolate. Just two of these great tasting Guylian Extra Dark Chocolate Sea Shells contain 60 per cent of the daily need of antioxidants.
Extra dark
Dark chocolate is gaining popularity throughout the world due to it’s health benefits. Guylian Extra’s beautifully sculpted shells are made of premium quality Belgian dark chocolate with 74% cocoa; Guylian’s extra dark chocolate is made of the best West-African cocoa beans, delivering an intense and long lasting taste.
Extra taste
Guylian’s Master Chocolatiers have created a new exquisite taste striking a perfect balance between the 74% dark chocolate shell and the hazelnut praliné filling. Only the finest hand selected hazelnuts from the Mediterranean are blended with ACTICOA™ cocoa. Guylian’s hazelnut praliné filling is still produced according to a unique recipe, giving Guylian’s chocolates their signature taste.
Extra antioxidants
Guylian Extra Sea Shells have a unique high antioxidants level, thanks to ACTICOA™, a special production process which ensures that the naturally occurring polyphenols from the cocoa bean, most of which are lost in standard chocolate production processes, are retained.
ACTICOA™ antioxidants have proven positive effects on the body and mind: helping to protect against the aging process, enhance concentration, maintain a strong memory, strengthen the immune system, and to maintain a healthy cholesterol level and blood pressure.
Pure Indulgence without the guilt
Guylian Extra Sea Shells are the perfect chocolate indulgence to enjoy without the guilt. Now, there’s no reason to resist these Belgian chocolate delicacies. First class ingredients deliver a delicious new taste and a health benefit. Discover, taste & enjoy!
Two chocolates a day
Two delicious Guylian Extra Sea Shells a day provide your body with more than 60 per cent of the daily amount of antioxidants needed to maintain a healthy balance in body and mind, especially when under stress or aging. A varied and well balanced diet together with regular physical activity is part of a healthy life style.
* * *
Guylian is one of the world’s leading brands of premium Belgian boxed chocolates. This family-owned and 100% Belgian company sells its Belgian Chocolates creations into more than 100 countries. Guylian is well known and loved around the world for its exquisite original Belgian chocolate seashells – in dark, milk and white chocolate with hazelnut praliné filling. Today, the company offers a broad range of gift chocolates, individually wrapped premium every day chocolates and luxury chocolate bars for sharing and self indulgence.
More information on www.guylian.be.
Cocoa antioxidants and their health benefits
Cocoa flavanols
The cocoa bean contains flavanols, which belong to the category of the polyphenols. Polyphenols are natural components found in fruits, vegetables, black and green tea, red wine and also in cocoa. Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants, protecting the body against the effect of free radicals.
Free radicals damage our cells and in case of overabundance they accelerate the ageing process and can threaten general well being. The presence of free radicals is triggered by stress, pollution, direct exposure to sunlight, unbalanced diet, smoking etc.
Food rich in polyphenols
Cocoa flavanols are the most powerful antioxidants. They are higher in number and of better quality than antioxidants from any other food product.
One of the scientific methods most used to compare the antioxidant capacity of various foods is called the ORAC method (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity). It measures the ability of foods to neutralize the free radicals. Food nutritionists recommend a minimum daily intake of polyphenols equivalent to 4000 ORAC. We need this to maintain a good balance between antioxidants and free radical activity in our body.
High quality cocoa and chocolate can help us to maintain this balance more easily. The chart below shows that cocoa and chocolate – compared to other food – are naturally very rich in antioxidants.
ACTICOA™
ACTICOA™ is a revolutionary production process developed by Barry Callebaut, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate products. It ensures that the naturally occurring flavanols from the cocoa bean, most of which are lost in standard chocolate production processes, are preserved.
Hans Vriens, Chief Innovation Officer at Barry Callebaut, explains: “In the conventional chocolate making process 70% of the cocoa polyphenols are lost. Through extensive research of the complete process from the cocoa bean to the finished chocolate, Barry Callebaut succeeded in developing the ACTICOA™ process in which up to 80 per cent of the flavanols found in the raw cocoa beans are preserved. Besides preserving the health promoting effects of the cocoa polyphenols, the ACTICOATM process results in an excellent chocolate taste.”
ACTICOA™ does not add any extracts or other chemical substances, and does not influence in any way the natural indulgent taste of chocolate.
The 5 health benefit areas of antioxidants
Heart health
- Is good to your heart
- Helps to maintain healthy blood circulation
- Helps to maintain healthy cholesterol level
Cognitive performance under stress and strain
- Contributes to enhance concentration
- Helps to increase your capacity and ability to memorize
- Contributes to stimulate the brain
Immune system
- Helps to strengthen the immune system in an entirely natural way
- Contribute to support the immune system, especially when one is in continuous stress and strain situations
Anti-aging
- Helps to maintain strong memory, especially when getting older
- Helps to stay active whilst aging
Beauty from inside
- Helps to keep the skin hydrated
- Contributes to reduce wrinkles
Barry-Callebaut performed more than 25 clinical studies to substantiate these claims
More information on www.acticoa.com
This new recipe includes ACTICOA™ cocoa, which preserves the antioxidants that naturally occur in the cocoa bean but are normally lost through chocolate production. Guylian Extra Sea Shells, however, are rich in antioxidants and retain the flavour of luxury premium chocolate. Just two of these great tasting Guylian Extra Dark Chocolate Sea Shells contain 60 per cent of the daily need of antioxidants.
Extra dark
Dark chocolate is gaining popularity throughout the world due to it’s health benefits. Guylian Extra’s beautifully sculpted shells are made of premium quality Belgian dark chocolate with 74% cocoa; Guylian’s extra dark chocolate is made of the best West-African cocoa beans, delivering an intense and long lasting taste.
Extra taste
Guylian’s Master Chocolatiers have created a new exquisite taste striking a perfect balance between the 74% dark chocolate shell and the hazelnut praliné filling. Only the finest hand selected hazelnuts from the Mediterranean are blended with ACTICOA™ cocoa. Guylian’s hazelnut praliné filling is still produced according to a unique recipe, giving Guylian’s chocolates their signature taste.
Extra antioxidants
Guylian Extra Sea Shells have a unique high antioxidants level, thanks to ACTICOA™, a special production process which ensures that the naturally occurring polyphenols from the cocoa bean, most of which are lost in standard chocolate production processes, are retained.
ACTICOA™ antioxidants have proven positive effects on the body and mind: helping to protect against the aging process, enhance concentration, maintain a strong memory, strengthen the immune system, and to maintain a healthy cholesterol level and blood pressure.
Pure Indulgence without the guilt
Guylian Extra Sea Shells are the perfect chocolate indulgence to enjoy without the guilt. Now, there’s no reason to resist these Belgian chocolate delicacies. First class ingredients deliver a delicious new taste and a health benefit. Discover, taste & enjoy!
Two chocolates a day
Two delicious Guylian Extra Sea Shells a day provide your body with more than 60 per cent of the daily amount of antioxidants needed to maintain a healthy balance in body and mind, especially when under stress or aging. A varied and well balanced diet together with regular physical activity is part of a healthy life style.
* * *
Guylian is one of the world’s leading brands of premium Belgian boxed chocolates. This family-owned and 100% Belgian company sells its Belgian Chocolates creations into more than 100 countries. Guylian is well known and loved around the world for its exquisite original Belgian chocolate seashells – in dark, milk and white chocolate with hazelnut praliné filling. Today, the company offers a broad range of gift chocolates, individually wrapped premium every day chocolates and luxury chocolate bars for sharing and self indulgence.
More information on www.guylian.be.
Cocoa antioxidants and their health benefits
Cocoa flavanols
The cocoa bean contains flavanols, which belong to the category of the polyphenols. Polyphenols are natural components found in fruits, vegetables, black and green tea, red wine and also in cocoa. Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants, protecting the body against the effect of free radicals.
Free radicals damage our cells and in case of overabundance they accelerate the ageing process and can threaten general well being. The presence of free radicals is triggered by stress, pollution, direct exposure to sunlight, unbalanced diet, smoking etc.
Food rich in polyphenols
Cocoa flavanols are the most powerful antioxidants. They are higher in number and of better quality than antioxidants from any other food product.
One of the scientific methods most used to compare the antioxidant capacity of various foods is called the ORAC method (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity). It measures the ability of foods to neutralize the free radicals. Food nutritionists recommend a minimum daily intake of polyphenols equivalent to 4000 ORAC. We need this to maintain a good balance between antioxidants and free radical activity in our body.
High quality cocoa and chocolate can help us to maintain this balance more easily. The chart below shows that cocoa and chocolate – compared to other food – are naturally very rich in antioxidants.
ACTICOA™
ACTICOA™ is a revolutionary production process developed by Barry Callebaut, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate products. It ensures that the naturally occurring flavanols from the cocoa bean, most of which are lost in standard chocolate production processes, are preserved.
Hans Vriens, Chief Innovation Officer at Barry Callebaut, explains: “In the conventional chocolate making process 70% of the cocoa polyphenols are lost. Through extensive research of the complete process from the cocoa bean to the finished chocolate, Barry Callebaut succeeded in developing the ACTICOA™ process in which up to 80 per cent of the flavanols found in the raw cocoa beans are preserved. Besides preserving the health promoting effects of the cocoa polyphenols, the ACTICOATM process results in an excellent chocolate taste.”
ACTICOA™ does not add any extracts or other chemical substances, and does not influence in any way the natural indulgent taste of chocolate.
The 5 health benefit areas of antioxidants
Heart health
- Is good to your heart
- Helps to maintain healthy blood circulation
- Helps to maintain healthy cholesterol level
Cognitive performance under stress and strain
- Contributes to enhance concentration
- Helps to increase your capacity and ability to memorize
- Contributes to stimulate the brain
Immune system
- Helps to strengthen the immune system in an entirely natural way
- Contribute to support the immune system, especially when one is in continuous stress and strain situations
Anti-aging
- Helps to maintain strong memory, especially when getting older
- Helps to stay active whilst aging
Beauty from inside
- Helps to keep the skin hydrated
- Contributes to reduce wrinkles
Barry-Callebaut performed more than 25 clinical studies to substantiate these claims
More information on www.acticoa.com
New book – ‘Left In The Dark’ - Why we really aren't in our right mind
Left In The Dark - SYNOPSIS
Challenging the consensus view of establishment science has never been an easy task. Left In The Dark is the culmination of over fifteen years of independent research into some of the most fundamental aspects of human evolution and the true nature of our consciousness. Here, the authors present their theoretical framework for the evolution of the human brain, and its subsequent devolution from its peak state of consciousness, which they propose occurred sometime in our distant past. It is perhaps inevitable that it has taken two individuals outside the academic arena to see what successive generations of scientific specialists have failed to see – that the structure of our brains has become compromised and dysfunctional.
Challenging the consensus view of establishment science has never been an easy task. Left In The Dark is the culmination of over fifteen years of independent research into some of the most fundamental aspects of human evolution and the true nature of our consciousness. Here, the authors present their theoretical framework for the evolution of the human brain, and its subsequent devolution from its peak state of consciousness, which they propose occurred sometime in our distant past. It is perhaps inevitable that it has taken two individuals outside the academic arena to see what successive generations of scientific specialists have failed to see – that the structure of our brains has become compromised and dysfunctional.
Their non-specialist approach led the authors down a variety of paths, including participating in a ground-breaking study into sleep deprivation that produced unprecedented results. Their work here includes numerous citations of the existing scientific literature which significantly supports their theory.
Indeed, their proposed theory is so universal that it deals with a range of nagging anomalies such as handedness, savant syndrome, schizophrenia, fertility, sleep, peak athletic performance, superhuman function, and even mystical experience. As an example, the massive rate of expansion of our brains in our evolutionary past has never been adequately explained, now the authors of Left In The Dark present an amended theory of human evolution that finally deals with why our brains expanded so rapidly and why that expansion stalled. Their theory suggests that the initial evolutionary process that enabled hominid brains to grow so large was an internal positive feedback mechanism.
According to the theory presented in the book, a neurological biochemical positive feedback loop, facilitated by the steroid-inhibiting properties of specific plant compounds found in abundance in fruit, led directly to the extended evolution of the human brain. When we moved away from a fruit-based diet, flavonoids, and other key components of that loop including enzyme inhibitors, were removed, and the steroid-inhibiting mechanism briefly stalled before spiralling into a negative feedback loop that damaged the structure of the brain.
The damage seriously compromised neuro-endocrine function, especially the pineal gland, initiated dysfunctional lateralisation of the cerebral hemispheres and, in particular, further affected the newly damaged left hemisphere. This, the authors propose, was the biochemical basis for the process that precipitated both the pinnacle of human evolution and consciousness, and the subsequent fall from grace.
In addition, the authors propose that, as a further result of the disruption of our internal environment by biochemical agents, the dominant left hemisphere has now become more and more damaged. This has led to the current situation of severe systemic dysfunction caused by the fact that the systems of the body are largely controlled by the damaged left hemisphere. Symptoms of this systemic dysfunction include today's ubiquitous malady - depression, a significantly compromised immune system function, and a largely incomplete sexual experience – one that rarely even offers glimpses of the heights of sexual ecstasy that a true right-hemisphered experience would offer.
Furthermore, their controversial theory also suggests that, as a result of greater exposure to testosterone, men are more neurologically damaged than women. In particular, older men, who currently run virtually every major institution on the planet, also happen to be the most neurologically damaged of all. In explanation of this fact, the authors suggest a damaged left hemisphere creates an internal experience of fear, which leads to a need to control – generally implemented with aggression. This explains why older men dominate the positions of power within our society but obviously leads to powerful questions as to whether they should be allowed such dominance.
Another key tenet of this revised evolutionary theory is the reassessment of role steroidal hormones play in the DNA transcription process. Historically, scientists have maintained that the DNA code itself is the primary determining factor in our development. However, steroidal hormones can cause significant variation in how our DNA is read and therefore, by implication, in gene expression. This is a never-before-considered variation on genetic transcription that rewrites the accepted inheritance mechanism. This variation in the way the genetic code was read compounded our biochemical imbalances and contributed towards the massive speed of evolutionary change we experienced in our distant pasts.
In Left In The Dark, the authors offer numerous pieces of research supporting the claim that human beings are run by a dominant yet dysfunctional left hemisphere to the detriment of a functionally superior right hemisphere. The assertion is that this left hemisphere dominance has led to a profoundly dysfunctional state of consciousness that provides an explanation for the global predicament in which humanity currently finds itself.
This leads the authors to quite rightly question whether we are indeed at the pinnacle of our evolution, as many would automatically assume. Be under no illusion - this is a radical departure from accepted wisdom. Be that as it may, the book details the mounting evidence for a revised theory of human evolution, and includes equally compelling explanations for the tragedy of the fall from grace. Perhaps most audaciously however, the authors dare to suggest that there may be a path back to a blissful pre-fall state, if only we can correct some fundamental imbalances that have arisen.
In summary, Left In The Dark draws on a wide range of scientific disciplines including evolutionary biology, neurology, consciousness research, cutting-edge nutrition, and biochemistry. The authors provide a compelling and cohesive argument for the radical reassessment of mankind's evolutionary status-quo. Their research defines a new cutting edge in the consciousness and human evolutionary debate and, in the process, brings that debate to the masses with some astounding assertions that are truly revolutionary in their implication.
Left In The Dark offers a series of fascinating insights into the hidden nature of the lost function and true potential of our species. Tantalisingly, the book hints at the beginnings of a strategy that could be developed with the aim of returning mankind to its former evolutionary path, with all the glory and magnificence that would entail.
Given the radical and controversial nature of this material, it is perhaps incredible that so many leading academics from a range of disciplines are queuing up to recognise this book for what it is – an astonishingly powerful work of scientific inquiry that is forcing us to rethink the paradigm of reality to which we currently subscribe. This book provides a stunning exposé of the egocentric delusion we call modern life - be prepared to drastically alter your assumptions about the nature of current reality!
www.leftinthedark.org.uk/preview
Get Your Energy Check – Or Pay The Price!
OCCUPIERS of public buildings across the UK could face prosecution if they fail to display the energy efficiency of their buildings, a leading architects’ practice has warned.
Chartered architects NJSR fears organisations such as councils, schools and hospitals could be forced to pay up to £1,500 if they do not obtain a Display Energy Certificate (DEC) and advisory report (AR). These highlight the current energy efficiency of a building and advise on potential improvements.
David Bailey, NJSR partner, said: “It is imperative that authorities are well versed in the new laws and are prepared for the deadline.
“Professional consultation would be a great way to help many bodies ensure they will not pay the price.”
New government legislation requires nearly all public buildings that are frequently used by the public, and that are more than 1,000sqm, to clearly display a certificate and report showing their energy efficiency by October 1, 2008.
Failure to get a certificate could result in a £500 fine. Being caught without a report meanwhile, which highlights possible ways to improve energy efficiency, could cost £1,000. Certificates are valid for one year, and reports for up to seven years.
Mr Bailey added: “Organisations must ensure they know this is happening and be prepared. There will be no second chance after October.
“Guidance from industry professionals will go a long way to wiping out the possibility of being fined further down the line.”
NJSR is accredited by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) to produce Display Energy Certificates and Advisory Reports.
For more information on NJSR, contact the company 01704 531252 www.njsr.co.uk.
• NJSR is a well-established architectural practice employing 48 members of staff across two offices in Southport and Manchester
• The practice was founded in 1913 and has completed projects across many industry sectors including retail, housing, leisure, commercial, industrial, health, education and community
Unstable Weather Conditions Resulting In Damage To UK Homes
As the UK is experiencing yet another summer of unpredictable weather conditions it is the country’s homes that are paying the price. With the UK property market already facing substantial pressures this year, homes are also bearing the brunt of environmental climate change, in particular subsidence. With insurance claims having doubled in the last 6 years and already 8,377 claims in the first quarter of 2008*, Landmark Information Group reports that extremes in temperatures and rainfall in the UK over the last decade are causing major structural damage to buildings.
Subsidence is caused as a result of swelling and shrinking soil, usually clay, which damages the foundations of a property. After soaring temperatures in both the summer of 2003 and 2006 followed by the torrential rain we experienced last year, suitable conditions for subsidence have been created and as a result an increasing number of homeowners in the country are paying the price.
James Sherwood-Rogers, Managing Director of Landmark Legal and Financial comments: “It is evident that as the UK’s weather conditions are becoming more unsettled we are seeing more cases of subsidence. Inconsistent annual climates are resulting in subsidence occurring in places that were not originally at risk. Homeowners and potential buyers should ensure that they take steps to find out if their properties are now at risk and take measures to protect themselves.”
One homeowner Rebecca Gudgeon, a PR consultant in London, was not too worried to find small cracks appearing in her Victorian property in North London in September 2005. With no detection of subsidence in her original survey, Rebecca had thought small cracks were the normal signs of an older property. As more cracks appeared Rebecca took action and it turned out her home was in fact experiencing subsidence.
Rebecca comments: “I wasn’t too concerned at first as being an older property I thought this was normal. However, as the cracks got bigger and started appearing in other rooms I made some enquiries and found out it was actually subsidence. Apparently the movement that was causing the damage was a result of a really dry summer we had had a couple of years before. It’s a relief that it is all fixed now but had I continued to rely on the initial survey then I would be facing much bigger problems now."
Like Rebecca, many homeowners will be unaware of the ongoing damage that weather could be causing to their property.
The Homecheck Environmental Report can now be bought directly from Landmark Information Group on their website www.homecheck.co.uk. Here homeowners and potential buyers can assess their environmental risk for just £41.95. The Report contains updated site specific information on an individual property which can determine its risk from subsidence. Homebuyers can also ask their solicitor to purchase a Homecheck Professional Ground Stability Report when purchasing a new property.
• http://www.abi.org.uk/
Landmark Information Group
Landmark is the UK’s leading provider of digital mapping and land data intelligence. Holding one of Europe’s largest databases of land, property and environment information, Landmark supplies comprehensive data electronically to a wide range of professionals in conveyancing, property, environment and government.
www.landmarkinfo.co.uk
For further information on Landmark Information Group please contact 0844 844 9966, email info@landmarkinfo.co.uk or visit www.landmarkinfo.co.uk
Mortgage Market Subdued In June
The average homebuyer put down a 22% deposit in June, up from 20% in May, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders. The majority of lending continues to be on conservative terms, as lending criteria have tightened in response to the shortage of funding and current market conditions.
The average first time-buyer borrowed 3.33 times their income, down from 3.35 in May. While the average home mover borrowed 2.94 times their income, down from 2.97 in May.
There were 18,100 loans to first-time buyers in June worth £2.3 billion, an 8% decline in volume and 9% decline in value from May. There were 29,100 loans to home movers worth £4.7 billion, down 9% in volume and value from May. The share of house purchase loans to first-time buyers and home movers remained stable at 38% and 62% respectively.
Gross lending decreased slightly to £23.6 billion in June, down 4% from May and 32% lower than June last year. The largest share of gross lending was remortgaging (44%) with 75,000 loans worth £10.3 billion in June. Loans for house purchase accounted for 30% of gross lending with 47,000 loans worth £7 billion.
Fixed-rate mortgages accounted for an increasing share of products taken out at 69%, up from 66% in May. This trend is likely to continue as fixed-rate prices have fallen in recent weeks in line with the decline in swap rates.
While all parts the mortgage market are suffering a reduction in business volumes, the majority of mortgages continue to be obtained through an intermediary. The credit crunch had a particularly marked effect in the first quarter of 2008, when there was an increase in the proportion of borrowers seeking the advice of an intermediary. In the second quarter of 2008, 78% of first-time buyers and 61% of home movers used an intermediary to obtain their mortgage.
CML head of research, Bob Pannell commented: “Mortgage lending activity remains relatively weak and will decline further in the coming months as a result of funding constraints and lower consumer demand.
“The majority of lending continues to be to people with larger deposits, which is prudent for borrowers and lenders in a slowing housing market.”
First birthday for HireScores.com
A leading independent recruitment agency scoring website celebrates its 1st birthday this month; demonstrating record levels of professional help and advice for job seekers, recruitment agencies and employers and providing them with a platform to work and grow together.
HireScores.com celebrates its first year of the full site being in business this week, and is pleased to announce the ground-breaking success of what is still a unique and independent recruitment agency scoring website; formed in 2007 by a leading global human resources director.
So far, over 2,400 job seekers have logged on and scored their experience of using a recruitment agency. The average score for the year has now reached 8 out of 10.
Feedback from those involved has been very positive, with the site now attracting an ever-increasing 12,000 visitors each month. To date, there are over 150 registered suppliers of products and services, providing interview tips, likely interview questions and childcare advice for those who want to work but have family commitments. There are also over 7,500 candidates, over 780 UK recruitment agencies, 330 job boards and 150 employers, all registered with HireScores.
Professional Contractors Group (PCG), which represents freelance workers in IT, financial services and the North Sea oil and gas industry, also signed up to HireScores in their first year of business, making the site and all it has to offer available to PCG’s 17,000 members.
This league table shows the Top scoring recruitment agencies, according to candidate ratings, on HireScores’ 1st Birthday;
1. Ethical Recruitment – Financial = 9.65
2. Executive Stand-By = 9.52
3. Parkhouse Bell Ltd = 9.5
4. Johnstones Unique Recruitment Solutions = 9.5
5. BLT (Beament Leslie Thomas = 9.33
6. D7 Recruitment = 9.21
7. Amanda Smith Recruitment = 8.65
8. Matchtech Group Plc = 8.43
9. Chapple Limited = 7.89
10. Michael Page = 7.67
The stress of job hunting can be a gruelling task for all involved and consequently the aim of HireScores is to provide recruitment diagnostics, employment advice, recruitment and candidate news and a knowledge centre.
Candidates can control their online profiles; controlling who gets to see what and recruiters can subscribe to receiving reports. Most uniquely, HireScores provide a comprehensive feedback and report service to recruiters; providing agencies with valuable suggestions or commendations and offering employers 360 degree feedback.
Response from recruitment agencies has also been optimistic, with recruiters stating that HireScores enhances and encourages their work ethic. A spokesperson from Parkhouse Bell Recruitment, said;
“Getting the right information is crucial to our commitment to a personal, honest and professional approach when working with our clients and candidates. HireScores provides that information and we invite all our clients to get involved.”
Lisette Howlett, the founder of HireScores, has over 20 years experience in global Human Resources leadership, with firms such as Zeneca/AstraZeneca and Syngenta. Howlett’s enthusiasm and dedication to this cause has grown over the last 2 years and results and feedback speaks for itself.
Howlett said; “The response to HireScores has been phenomenal, with very rewarding results for our first year. The most popular aspect of this site is that the whole process, whether it be giving or receiving advice, doesn’t end once the candidate has found a job; in fact for many, it is at precisely this point that the true beauty of HireScores kicks in.”
Howlett continues;“We hope that HireScores continues to grow; providing employers, candidates and Recruiters with previously unobtainable and invaluable advice.”
A bike rack for every occasion!
Barriers Direct has just launched their largest range of bike racks ever to ensure there are enough places to park up! World Bicycle production has risen dramatically in the last half century. Less than 20 million bikes were produced in 1950 a figure which rose to 60 million by 1980 and now stands at over 100 million and Barriers Direct now provides racks to suit every situation!
The new and innovative “Round Tree” cycle stand permits the creation of bike parking areas in unusual places, such as round a tree or pole. The larger racks are circular, while the smaller ones are square and both are supplied in two halves for easy assembly.
Barriers direct has been providing cycle parking solutions for many years and has put together a range to suite local authorities, architects, designers, commercial and industrial organisations, as well as solutions for the home.
A 15-minute bike ride to and from work five times a week burns off the equivalent of 11 pounds of fat in a year. Cycling is fast becoming one of the most popular forms of transport, with 3.1 million adults per month, in England, cycling at levels of intensity that are beneficial for their health. While cycling is keeping the population fit; it is also reducing carbon emissions!
Janine Carhart, Managing Director of Barriers Direct says: “Cycle stands are one the top sellers of all our security equipment, wall mounted stands being the most popular type. The Sheffield cycle stand has also now been recommended by the Cycling Touring Club (the UK's national cyclists' organization) too which is good news for cyclist – and hopefully more bike stands being around will persuade people to cycle instead of drive around their cities.”
For more information visit http://www.barriersdirect.co.uk or get in touch by calling freephone 0800 028010
Swimmers taken to hospital
At twenty minutes past two this afternoon, Swansea Coastguard received a 999 call from a mother concerned about three children in the water at Threecliffs near Oxwich, South Wales.
Two men had entered the water, who are fathers to the three children. They had gone to the assistance of their three children who were in trouble. The children managed to make shore unaided, but the fathers then suffered the effects of swallowing sea water and were displaying signs of mild hypothermia.
Swansea Coastguard called out the Oxwich Coastguard rescue team and requested the launch of the Horton RNLI inshore lifeboat and the scramble of a rescue helicopter.
The helicopter evacuated all five to hospital for further medical assessment.
Steve Jones, Watch Manager, Swansea Coastguard said:
This is the second incident in as many days at this location where people have been exposing themselves to risk.
The sea is a dangerous environment and should be treated with respect at all times. If you are visiting the seaside, please make sure that you enjoy your holiday by being Seasmart.
Sea kayakers rescued after becoming ill
At a quarter past eleven this morning the pair contacted Stornoway Coastguard using their satellite telephone and reported that both had become unwell and requested assistance, some 15 miles North of Cape Wrath.
Two males in sea kayak canoes were rescued by the RNLI Lifeboat from Lochinver after becoming ill while on a trip from the remote island of North Rona to Durness on the North Coast of Scotland.
The pair had set out from the Butt of Lewis on Friday, originally planning to kayak to the Faeroe Islands but because of the weather conditions decided to head for the island of North Rona, nearly 60 miles North of Stornoway, and then on to the island of Sule Skerry.
After staying on North Rona they departed in the early hours of this morning and then decided to travel to Durness instead of Sule Skerry due to the weather conditions.
The Coastguard requested the launch of the RNLI Lifeboat from Lochinver, some 50 miles from their position.
After 13/4 hours the Lifeboat arrived at the kayaker's position, guided by an RAF Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft that was on a training exercise in the area. Both males were taken on board the lifeboat and their kayaks recovered.
Neither requires urgent medical attention but arrangements have been made for them to be checked by a doctor upon their arrival in Lochinver.
Martin Collins, Coastguard Watch Manager said: "These kayakers are very experienced and well equipped for the trip that they had planned. They have stayed in regular contact with the Coastguard since departing from Stornoway and they made the correct decision to contact us and ask for help when they both became unwell.
This incident shows that with the correct planning and equipment the Coastguard can render prompt assistance, even in the most remote areas of the UK.
Vegas Superstars will be magic in London
Magic legends Siegfried and Roy will be the guests of honour at a star studded event at the London Palladium on Sunday 28th September to help launch a new international charity.
MagiCaresTM is the brainchild of renowned stage producer Paul Stone. He told us, “The MagiCaresTM slogan is 'when magic cares, miracles happen'. We are dedicated to improving the lives of those less fortunate around the world through the goodwill of the international magic community”.
Siegfried and Roy were the pioneers of the big production shows that have made Las Vegas the internationally recognised world centre of entertainment. Their amazing ‘masters of the impossible’ illusion show involving a variety of exotic animals including tigers and lions at the Mirage hotel ran for 13 years, 40 weeks a year and 10 shows a week in a purpose built theatre holding 1,500 people. Their legacy continues with an incredible commitment to conservation involving big cats around the world. Siegfried said, “While we no longer perform nightly, our conservation efforts to save and care for these magnificent creatures is part of our daily life”.
The Tribute to Siegfried and Roy will be the launch pad for the charity and promises to be the greatest magic show ever staged in London. Paul continued, “We are flying in some of the best magicians from around the Globe. They are all giving their time for free, which shows their commitment to the charity. The evening will culminate with Siegfried and Roy appearing on stage. They are very excited as they never performed at the Palladium during their illustrious career”.
For more information about the MagicaresTM Charity and how to book tickets for this unique and exciting magic show go to www.magicares.com