According to the readers of In2town Lifestyle Magazine, Boris Johnson does not have a clue what he is doing with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic.
We conducted a survey of one thousand readers of In2town Lifestyle Magazine to find out how they thought Boris Johnson was handling the COVID-19 pandemic. According to 7/10 of our readers, they felt he was out of his depth.
Our readers felt Boris Johnson had lost control of the COVID-19 situation and made it difficult to understand what they should and should not be doing. One reader who took part in the survey said Boris Johnson and his Government were sending out mixed messages. 6/10 of our readers wanted Boris Johnson to be replaced as Prime Minister and wanted someone in control who could handle the situation in a more professional manner.
We asked our readers if they would vote for Boris Johnson at the next General Election, 5/7 said they would not vote for the Conservative Party if Boris Johnson was still in charge. Our survey has found that Boris Johnson has lost the trust of the voter and people feel confused on what they should or should not be doing.
Some of those who took part in the survey felt that those who are vulnerable should still be off work, while others could not understand why Boris Johnson was so eager to send people back to the office.
Through our survey, we found if there was a General Election this month that Boris Johnson would lose and the Labour Party would be in Government.
A dormer loft conversion is one of the most popular loft conversions in London. This type of conversion is commonly created from the existing slope of the roof. Dormer loft conversions allow you to expand the space of your property and reduce costs.
The size of the additional space that a dormer loft conversion can result in is largely determined by the type of house and style of extension. Some result in as much as 50 cubic metres.
Meanwhile, you can make use of scaffolding to carry out much of the work outside your home, thereby lessening the disruption that would occur if you use other types of home extensions.
Dormer Loft Conversion
This is an extension structure designed to extend from the existing sloping roof to enlarge to the usable space with more headroom. In other words, with the new dormer windows, a tiny packed loft can evolve to a bigger, more ventilated room and naturally illuminate the entire room with natural light.
Dormer loft conversion comes in various types. The most suitable one for your property depends on your existing roof shape and of course, whether your house is terraced, detached, or semi-detached.
As a basic structure, the flat roof dormer can be fixed to the front or back of the loft. The dormer loft conversion provides the opportunity to enlarge the loft’s usable space. It thereby increases head height while providing sufficient natural light provided by the dormer window.
Even though shed roof dormer loft conversions have some similar features with the flat roof options, the shed roof dormer conversion has a downward slope at an angle. Besides, it is most suitable for homes with a gable roof and can be constructed with various materials.
A very complex solution, gable-fronted dormer loft conversions, otherwise known as dog-house dormer, consists of a gable wall extension upwardly built to reach the current ridgeline. It has a new sloping roof section that is constructed toward the new gable end.
Hipped roof dormer loft conversions are extensions with sloping roofs on the three sides of the structure. Sometimes, it appears visually pleasing. It is best used for properties in some styles. However, compared to a flat roof dormer, this kind of dormer construction reduces the usable space in the new loft.
How Much is a Dormer Loft Conversion?
At Price Your Job, you can get a simple cost calculator to estimate the cost of different types of conversions. Visit the dormer extensions cost calculation page for further information.
Loft conversion comes in different types, including Dormer, Velux, and Mansard.
Dormer is the most popular loft extension. It consists of a small flat-roofed extension and a window. A typical dormer loft conversion costs around £30,000.
Velux conversions, which cost around £20,000, are the least expensive of all.
As for Mansard, it is the most extensive loft conversion as it requires removing a portion of the roof to form a new storey.
You need to obtain planning permission to do this as it is a major renovation. Mansard loft conversion costs around £50,000.
The cost of a small dormer conversion ranges between £2,000 and £7,000, while a mid-range dormer goes for £10,000 to £30,000. As for a larger-scale loft conversion, the price ranges between £40,000 and £60,000. Note that the cost largely depends on some factors, including the type of installation chosen and other customisations, such as the roof type and en-suite conversion.
Other factors that can cause a change in price include the cost of materials as well as the extra cost of labour and time required for the tradespersons to finish the work.
My breasts are not toys says mother who shared breastfeeding pictures on Instagram
Michelle Palmer, 40, gave birth to her daughter Alexandria in April 2018
The mother from New York struggled to get her baby to latch for the first few weeks
Michelle Palmer, who calls herself a ‘lactivist’, and wants to inspire other women to breastfeed in public
Michelle says she also gets ‘creepy’ messages from men who sexualize her photos
A mother from New York City who posted pictures of herself breastfeeding is shocked at the filthy messages she has received on her Instagram account.
Michelle Palmer, 40, who has been bombarded with sexualised comments from men asking if she can breast feed them has said her breasts are not sexual toys.
The US ‘lactivist’ who said she struggled at first to breast feed when she gave birth in 2018, said she always knew she wanted to breast feed.
“I struggled to get Alexandria to latch on properly after her birth which meant I could not be sure how much milk she was consuming.”
(Image: Mediadrumworld / Michelle Palmer)
Michelle who hopes other mothers will find comfort in her experience said it took a month to get comfortable breastfeeding in public, but she soon adjusted.
Now she posts pictures on Instagram using the ‘lactivist’ hashtag and considers herself a lactation activist and an advocate for breastfeeding. She wants other mothers to be proud of breastfeeding but is fed up with all the dirty messages she is receiving from men.
She said: “I was shocked at the response on social media. It was mostly positive, but there were a couple of men who made a few creepy comments like ‘my turn next’ and that kind of thing.
“That happens almost every time I post any breastfeeding picture and I see it all the time on other breastfeeding mums’ picture comments too.”
“I think that’s a huge reason that our western society is so uncomfortable with breastfeeding.”
(Image: MDWfeatures / Michelle Palmer)
“We sexualise the female body to such an extent that we can’t understand that a woman’s nipples are a source of nourishment for the next generation, not just playthings for men.”
She said: “The most important part [of being a breastfeeding advocate] is just doing it. Sharing pictures is fun but I just want other women to see me and maybe feel like, ‘if she’s doing it then I can too’.
“That means if I feel like I need to breastfeed my kid, I don’t hold back out of shame, self-consciousness, or fear of what someone else might think or say. I do it and let other people think what they will.”
Michelle has said she plans to continue breastfeeding her daughter who is 28-months old.
“I will stop breastfeeding her when she is two-and-a-half or three.”
Michelle who has received a lot of support and thanks for her pictures on Instagram said that some people believe if a baby has teeth or old enough to ask for milk then they should not be breastfed.
“This is completely untrue. How long a woman breastfeeds is up to her but there are tons of benefits for the baby and mum who keep breastfeeding until two or even longer.
“It’s a beautiful way of giving my child the most perfect food she can get anywhere, with a huge amount of emotional benefits too.”
Cheap Benidorm Holidays Could Be Over If Resort Boss Gets His Way
At a time when Benidorm has seen a huge reduction in the number of UK visitors due to the COVID-19, and more people having staycations in the UK, a resort boss wants to send boozy brits packing.
Servigroup hotel president José María Caballé, 79, has angered local bar and club owners after he said British tourism is not the money-maker it once was.
The hotel president wants to send boozy brits packing and instead turn Benidorm into an upmarket resort. This plan if successful could see many popular bars and clubs close.
This is not the first-time hotel bosses in Benidorm have demanded an end to stag and hen parties. In previous years hotel bosses have called an end to stag and hen parties in Benidorm, saying they not only bring down the popular Spanish resort, but they also put off families wishing to visit Benidorm.
María Caballé said: “Benidorm has reached a point where it has to change because the costs are going up and hotels can’t work with such low prices,” he said.
Mr. Caballé – who owns 18 hotels in Spain – said boozy Brits on holiday were no longer desired guests in Benidorm.
“During the 1970s, 80s, and 90s the standard of living in Spain was very low. People put up with noise and drunkenness because they needed to. We can’t cater for low-level clientele to get drunk for three days. This doesn’t happen in a modern country,” he said.
Mr. Caballé wants to see Benidorm return to its heyday of the 1970s where the resort welcomed families and not the stag and hen parties of today. He believes by going back to the 1970s, hotels would make more money and more people would be employed, a claim that is denied by some local club and bar owners.
One club owner who did not wish to be named said Benidorm has seen its worst season in decades. If the plan went ahead and saw Benidorm turn its backs on stag and hen parties, he believes that some hotels that cater for budget holidaymakers would be forced to close and many clubs and bars would not survive.
María Caballé has said that Benidorm, Spain will struggle to achieve the same revenue levels as before the COVID-19 pandemic, and that is why it was now the right time for Benidorm to become an upmarket resort.
Club Owners in Benidorm are worried that COVID-19 Could Force Them To Close
More than 1,000 Bar staff and club owners took to the streets in Benidorm to protest againt the New COVID-19 restrictions that have been put in place. Benidorm Club owners are warning the Government that jobs will be lost, and some clubs could be forced to close.
Benidorm is heading towards a slippery slop according to one woman who works at a popular bar in Benidorm.
The female bar staff who did not wished to be named has called Benidorm her home for more than five years and has worked in three bars during that time. She fears she may be forced to return to the UK with the new COVID-19 restrictions.
“I am here today protesting because my job and future is at risk. I could be forced to return to the UK. The new COVID-19 rules and restrictions could damage Benidorm for years to come.”
Clubs and bars have been forced to close in the evenings to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. According to one club owner we spoke to, the restrictions in Benidorm are unnecessary and could result in Benidorm becoming a ghost town when the pandemic is over.
It is not just bar staff and club owners that have been affected by COVID-19, Benidorm’s top tribute acts and artists have also been affected. Most of the entertainment team in Benidorm have not worked for more than five-months.
Benidorm has seen a huge drop in the number of UK Holidaymakers due to the UK government’s decision that anyone visiting Benidorm must go in quarantine for 14-days. This has caused a huge number of job loses and has event resulted in a number of ex-pats returning to the UK.
Spain has seen an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases which has been blamed on people aged between 15-34 who are ignoring the social distancing rules.
According to an ex-pat in Benidorm more than 100 people who live and work in the Costa Blanca resort have returned to the UK due to the Coronavirus. She believes that many more could return unless the restrictions are removed.
Restaurants, bars, and clubs have not been forced to close at 1am.
With news that the Coronavirus rate rockets in three new areas of the UK we decided to speak to one hundred NHS nurses to find out if they believed there would be a second Coronavirus wave.
The results from our survey were worrying, especially after Boris Johnson repeated that there will not be another national coronavirus shutdown, even though Matt Hancock has said there could be.
According to 70 per cent of NHS nurses, there will be a second coronavirus wave. When asked when this will happen 80 per cent of those who said there would be a second coronavirus wave predicted it would be in winter. However, 20 per cent said it could be as soon as three weeks.
This is worrying news, especially with many believing that if a second wave did come there would not be a finically package available like there was when the pandemic hit the UK.
A leaked report has said there could be a second wave in winter, and according to that report more than 80,000 people could die. However, the nurses we spoke to said they did not believe the leaked report was correct. They felt that when the second wave does come it will not be as serious as the first wave and do not feel the death rate will be as high.
One nurse we spoke to from Manchester who said not wished to be named explained: “The strength of the coronavirus as not like it was when it first hit. It has become weaker and will be on the same level as the flu.”
Another nurse from London said one of the reasons why the pandemic caused so many deaths was hospital did not know how to treat or fight COVID-19. According to the nurse who has worked for the NHS for twenty years, hospitals now have a greater understanding of the disease and that is why so many people are now surviving.
When asked if they felt the people of the UK were taking the pandemic seriously, sadly 78 per cent said no.
One nurse mentioned how shocked she was when she went into her local Tesco store and customers acted if the coronavirus pandemic was over. She went on to say that even the staff at Tesco were not taking it seriously.
Another nurse commented that one of the main reasons why people were no longer taking the pandemic seriously was down to all the mixed messages and the confusion from the government.
One thing is for sure, if there is a second COVID-19 wave then the government needs to act quickly and put financial packages in place and support the NHS.
The full list of all areas in England with Coronavirus.
Pendle 56.5 (52), 68.4 (63)
Blackburn with Darwen 54.1 (81), 58.8 (88)
Oldham 54.0 (128), 75.1 (178)
Bradford 43.0 (232), 46.7 (252)
Manchester 42.0 (232), 46.3 (256)
Corby 40.2 (29), 16.6 (12)
Kettering 38.3 (39), 16.7 (17)
Northampton 37.0 (83), 40.5 (91)
Redditch 36.4 (31), 4.7 (4)
Burnley 34.9 (31), 23.6 (21)
Rochdale 33.7 (75), 43.2 (96)
Oadby and Wigston 33.3 (19), 21.0 (12)
Swindon 30.6 (68), 48.6 (108)
Leicester 29.9 (106), 55.0 (195)
Hackney and City of London 29.9 (87), 12.0 (35)
Bury 29.8 (57), 31.4 (60)
Preston 29.3 (42), 23.8 (34)
Calderdale 28.8 (61), 33.6 (71)
Oxford 28.2 (43), 17.7 (27)
Middlesbrough 27.0 (38), 10.6 (15)
Salford 26.3 (68), 33.2 (86)
Great Yarmouth 26.2 (26), 1.0 (1)
Tameside 26.0 (59), 27.8 (63)
Hyndburn 25.9 (21), 24.7 (20)
Leeds 25.6 (203), 17.7 (140)
Trafford 25.3 (60), 19.8 (47)
Sandwell 25.3 (83), 21.0 (69)
Birmingham 25.2 (288), 26.2 (299)
Kirklees 25.0 (110), 34.6 (152)
Windsor and Maidenhead 22.5 (34), 11.9 (18)
Dacorum 22.0 (34), 9.0 (14)
Blaby 21.7 (22), 12.8 (13)
Stoke-on-Trent 21.1 (54), 27.3 (70)
Newcastle-under-Lyme 20.9 (27), 9.3 (12)
Kensington and Chelsea 20.5 (32), 11.5 (18)
Peterborough 19.8 (40), 13.8 (28)
Breckland 18.6 (26), 5.0 (7)
South Tyneside 18.5 (28), 4.0 (6)
Bolton 18.4 (53), 20.5 (59)
Elmbridge 18.3 (25), 13.2 (18)
Hammersmith and Fulham 17.8 (33), 16.2 (30)
Harrow 17.1 (43), 11.9 (30)
Wandsworth 17.0 (56), 13.0 (43)
Wirral 17.0 (55), 4.6 (15)
Rossendale 16.8 (12), 8.4 (6)
Watford 16.6 (16), 20.7 (20)
Barking and Dagenham 16.0 (34), 17.4 (37)
Ealing 15.8 (54), 17.0 (58)
South Bucks 15.7 (11), 14.3 (10)
Wakefield 15.5 (54), 21.5 (75)
Wolverhampton 15.2 (40), 18.6 (49)
Wellingborough 15.1 (12), 17.6 (14)
Southwark 15.1 (48), 14.1 (45)
Bath and North East Somerset 15.0 (29), 6.2 (12)
Ribble Valley 14.8 (9), 4.9 (3)
Enfield 14.1 (47), 7.2 (24)
Liverpool 14.1 (70), 15.7 (78)
High Peak 14.0 (13), 7.6 (7)
Haringey 13.8 (37), 10.4 (28)
Westminster 13.4 (35), 8.4 (22)
Camden 13.3 (36), 9.3 (25)
Folkestone and Hythe 13.3 (15), 5.3 (6)
Coventry 13.2 (49), 19.9 (74)
Hastings 13.0 (12), 3.2 (3)
Tower Hamlets 12.9 (42), 9.9 (32)
Carlisle 12.9 (14), 13.8 (15)
Luton 12.7 (27), 11.3 (24)
South Gloucestershire 12.3 (35), 4.2 (12)
Mid Devon 12.1 (10), 2.4 (2)
Islington 12.0 (29), 4.5 (11)
Stockport 11.9 (35), 15.3 (45)
Three Rivers 11.8 (11), 8.6 (8)
East Northamptonshire 11.6 (11), 9.5 (9)
Newcastle upon Tyne 11.6 (35), 15.9 (48)
Epping Forest 11.4 (15), 11.4 (15)
Mid Sussex 11.3 (17), 5.3 (8)
Sefton 11.2 (31), 11.6 (32)
Havering 11.2 (29), 7.3 (19)
Northumberland 11.2 (36), 5.6 (18)
Nottingham 11.1 (37), 9.9 (33)
Richmond upon Thames 11.1 (22), 17.7 (35)
Gedling 11.0 (13), 5.1 (6)
Walsall 10.9 (31), 13.3 (38)
Bromley 10.8 (36), 6.9 (23)
Bristol 10.8 (50), 10.1 (47)
Sheffield 10.8 (63), 13.0 (76)
Sevenoaks 10.8 (13), 5.0 (6)
Wigan 10.6 (35), 9.1 (30)
East Hampshire 10.6 (13), 6.5 (8)
Broxtowe 10.5 (12), 8.8 (10)
Lewisham 10.5 (32), 7.2 (22)
Cambridge 10.4 (13), 4.8 (6)
Brentwood 10.4 (8), 9.1 (7)
Torbay 10.3 (14), 1.5 (2)
Barnet 10.1 (40), 13.4 (53)
Rutland 10.0 (4), 12.5 (5)
Nuneaton and Bedworth 10.0 (13), 9.2 (12)
Bedford 9.8 (17), 10.4 (18)
Hounslow 9.6 (26), 14.0 (38)
Vale of White Horse 9.6 (13), 6.6 (9)
Hertsmere 9.5 (10), 7.6 (8)
Lambeth 9.5 (31), 11.3 (37)
Waverley 9.5 (12), 12.7 (16)
Guildford 9.4 (14), 12.8 (19)
Chiltern 9.4 (9), 8.3 (8)
East Hertfordshire 9.3 (14), 4.7 (7)
Blackpool 9.3 (13), 9.3 (13)
Richmondshire 9.3 (5), 7.4 (4)
South Hams 9.2 (8), 1.1 (1)
Staffordshire Moorlands 9.1 (9), 8.1 (8)
Newham 9.1 (32), 12.5 (44)
Gateshead 8.9 (18), 7.9 (16)
Milton Keynes 8.9 (24), 7.8 (21)
Bexley 8.9 (22), 5.2 (13)
Copeland 8.8 (6), 2.9 (2)
Hillingdon 8.8 (27), 16.9 (52)
Redcar and Cleveland 8.7 (12), 6.6 (9)
Slough 8.7 (13), 11.4 (17)
Cherwell 8.6 (13), 6.6 (10)
Norwich 8.5 (12), 2.8 (4)
New Forest 8.3 (15), 3.9 (7)
Southampton 8.3 (21), 3.6 (9)
Central Bedfordshire 8.3 (24), 8.0 (23)
County Durham 8.3 (44), 10.4 (55)
Chichester 8.3 (10), 0.0 (0)
Gosport 8.3 (7), 0.0 (0)
North Hertfordshire 8.2 (11), 7.5 (10)
Merton 8.2 (17), 10.7 (22)
Redbridge 8.2 (25), 7.5 (23)
Cheshire West and Chester 8.2 (28), 6.1 (21)
Cheshire East 8.1 (31), 9.1 (35)
Reading 8.0 (13), 8.0 (13)
Mole Valley 8.0 (7), 2.3 (2)
Spelthorne 8.0 (8), 11.0 (11)
Rochford 8.0 (7), 2.3 (2)
Dartford 8.0 (9), 5.3 (6)
Waltham Forest 7.9 (22), 13.0 (36)
Runnymede 7.8 (7), 8.9 (8)
Dudley 7.8 (25), 6.5 (21)
Derby 7.8 (20), 7.8 (20)
Croydon 7.8 (30), 7.5 (29)
Sutton 7.8 (16), 6.8 (14)
Barnsley 7.7 (19), 15.4 (38)
Bassetlaw 7.7 (9), 9.4 (11)
Horsham 7.6 (11), 3.5 (5)
Brent 7.6 (25), 8.8 (29)
Rushcliffe 7.6 (9), 6.7 (8)
Charnwood 7.5 (14), 8.6 (16)
Lancaster 7.5 (11), 2.1 (3)
Hartlepool 7.5 (7), 7.5 (7)
Bolsover 7.4 (6), 3.7 (3)
Wycombe 7.4 (13), 6.9 (12)
Fylde 7.4 (6), 7.4 (6)
Rushmoor 7.4 (7), 7.4 (7)
Solihull 7.4 (16), 9.7 (21)
Newark and Sherwood 7.4 (9), 30.2 (37)
Welwyn Hatfield 7.3 (9), 7.3 (9)
Greenwich 7.3 (21), 4.5 (13)
Chelmsford 7.3 (13), 7.3 (13)
York 7.1 (15), 3.8 (8)
Southend-on-Sea 7.1 (13), 3.8 (7)
Hinckley and Bosworth 7.1 (8), 6.2 (7)
South Oxfordshire 7.0 (10), 8.4 (12)
East Riding of Yorkshire 7.0 (24), 3.2 (11)
Wychavon 7.0 (9), 6.2 (8)
Erewash 6.9 (8), 3.5 (4)
Mendip 6.9 (8), 6.1 (7)
Wyre Forest 6.9 (7), 8.9 (9)
Cheltenham 6.9 (8), 6.9 (8)
Plymouth 6.9 (18), 3.4 (9)
Exeter 6.8 (9), 1.5 (2)
Sunderland 6.8 (19), 7.9 (22)
Kingston upon Thames 6.8 (12), 12.4 (22)
Huntingdonshire 6.7 (12), 7.3 (13)
St Albans 6.7 (10), 9.4 (14)
St. Helens 6.6 (12), 12.7 (23)
Uttlesford 6.6 (6), 9.9 (9)
Gravesham 6.5 (7), 9.4 (10)
Tamworth 6.5 (5), 3.9 (3)
Harborough 6.4 (6), 7.5 (7)
Malvern Hills 6.4 (5), 3.8 (3)
South Northamptonshire 6.3 (6), 2.1 (2)
South Ribble 6.3 (7), 12.6 (14)
West Berkshire 6.3 (10), 6.3 (10)
Rother 6.2 (6), 1.0 (1)
Adur 6.2 (4), 6.2 (4)
Harrogate 6.2 (10), 8.1 (13)
Shropshire 6.2 (20), 5.6 (18)
Brighton and Hove 6.2 (18), 4.5 (13)
Hart 6.2 (6), 3.1 (3)
Broxbourne 6.2 (6), 9.3 (9)
Stratford-on-Avon 6.1 (8), 4.6 (6)
Reigate and Banstead 6.1 (9), 6.1 (9)
Aylesbury Vale 6.0 (12), 8.0 (16)
Cannock Chase 6.0 (6), 5.0 (5)
Tunbridge Wells 5.9 (7), 3.4 (4)
Basildon 5.9 (11), 1.6 (3)
Wokingham 5.8 (10), 4.1 (7)
Stroud 5.8 (7), 3.3 (4)
Daventry 5.8 (5), 7.0 (6)
North Lincolnshire 5.8 (10), 3.5 (6)
Bracknell Forest 5.7 (7), 4.1 (5)
Winchester 5.6 (7), 2.4 (3)
Portsmouth 5.6 (12), 3.7 (8)
East Cambridgeshire 5.6 (5), 3.3 (3)
Warwick 5.6 (8), 4.9 (7)
Telford and Wrekin 5.6 (10), 15.6 (28)
Mansfield 5.5 (6), 5.5 (6)
Babergh 5.4 (5), 1.1 (1)
Gloucester 5.4 (7), 3.9 (5)
Crawley 5.3 (6), 9.8 (11)
South Staffordshire 5.3 (6), 2.7 (3)
Knowsley 5.3 (8), 8.6 (13)
North Tyneside 5.3 (11), 5.8 (12)
Rotherham 5.3 (14), 12.1 (32)
Braintree 5.2 (8), 2.0 (3)
Allerdale 5.1 (5), 15.3 (15)
South Cambridgeshire 5.0 (8), 2.5 (4)
Bromsgrove 5.0 (5), 6.0 (6)
Sedgemoor 4.9 (6), 0.8 (1)
North West Leicestershire 4.8 (5), 1.9 (2)
Eastbourne 4.8 (5), 4.8 (5)
East Devon 4.8 (7), 5.5 (8)
Havant 4.8 (6), 3.2 (4)
Herefordshire 4.7 (9), 5.7 (11)
Medway 4.7 (13), 1.1 (3)
Maldon 4.6 (3), 0.0 (0)
Scarborough 4.6 (5), 2.8 (3)
Rugby 4.6 (5), 10.1 (11)
Stockton-on-Tees 4.6 (9), 3.5 (7)
Stevenage 4.6 (4), 8.0 (7)
Tandridge 4.5 (4), 3.4 (3)
Worthing 4.5 (5), 4.5 (5)
Surrey Heath 4.5 (4), 4.5 (4)
Cotswold 4.5 (4), 3.3 (3)
North East Lincolnshire 4.4 (7), 5.0 (8)
West Lancashire 4.4 (5), 7.0 (8)
Warrington 4.3 (9), 3.8 (8)
Boston 4.3 (3), 0.0 (0)
Chorley 4.2 (5), 12.7 (15)
Thanet 4.2 (6), 2.1 (3)
Wiltshire 4.2 (21), 5.4 (27)
East Staffordshire 4.2 (5), 20.0 (24)
South Somerset 4.2 (7), 0.6 (1)
Derbyshire Dales 4.1 (3), 1.4 (1)
North Devon 4.1 (4), 3.1 (3)
Maidstone 4.1 (7), 3.5 (6)
Thurrock 4.0 (7), 4.0 (7)
Worcester 4.0 (4), 1.0 (1)
Fenland 3.9 (4), 2.9 (3)
Melton 3.9 (2), 25.4 (13)
Halton 3.9 (5), 6.2 (8)
Lichfield 3.8 (4), 1.9 (2)
Tonbridge and Malling 3.8 (5), 4.5 (6)
Teignbridge 3.7 (5), 2.2 (3)
Epsom and Ewell 3.7 (3), 5.0 (4)
Stafford 3.6 (5), 6.6 (9)
West Oxfordshire 3.6 (4), 7.2 (8)
Colchester 3.6 (7), 3.6 (7)
South Norfolk 3.5 (5), 2.8 (4)
East Lindsey 3.5 (5), 2.1 (3)
Doncaster 3.5 (11), 3.2 (10)
Harlow 3.4 (3), 3.4 (3)
Fareham 3.4 (4), 7.7 (9)
Tendring 3.4 (5), 4.1 (6)
Basingstoke and Deane 3.4 (6), 2.3 (4)
Selby 3.3 (3), 7.7 (7)
King’s Lynn and West Norfolk 3.3 (5), 0.7 (1)
Hambleton 3.3 (3), 3.3 (3)
Dorset 3.2 (12), 2.1 (8)
Tewkesbury 3.2 (3), 4.2 (4)
Arun 3.1 (5), 3.1 (5)
Hull 3.1 (8), 5.8 (15)
North Warwickshire 3.1 (2), 4.6 (3)
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 3.0 (12), 5.3 (21)
Genocide survivor, Niki Colemont, has taken his second chance at life to become a nature photographer. He’s previously been featured in the Flemish television network VTM, the Belgian-Dutch newspaper HLN, and the French channel BFMTV, among others. Additionally, Niki was also a National Geographic 2019 finalist.
Before turning to nature photography, Niki who lives in Belgium experienced more than his fair share of tragedy. The photographer was born in Rwanda in 1986, just a few years before the genocide. Niki’s mother died during childbirth, leaving him with just his father and sister. When the Rwandan Genocide and war began in 1990, 4-year-old Niki and his sister fled to Belgium as refugees, while their father stayed behind to fight. Sadly, his dad died in the war, leaving Niki and his sibling as orphans. In 2019, his sister also passed away, aged just 38.
Niki, who grabs life by the hands, has become a huge success story in the nature photgraphy world, so we decided to sit down with Niki and learn more about him and his photography.
Niki, let have a look at the man behind the lens, who is Niki Colemont and how would you describe yourself the people you meet?
I would describe myself as a person who is happy, I am a very positive guy always smiling and dancing
2. When did you first know that you wanted to be a photographer and how did you go about pursuing this dream?
I visited my girlfriend’s grandmother. I was looking through the window when I saw a little bird flying out of the nest searching for food. It was really fascinating to watch.
From that moment I knew that i wanted to do more in nature photography
3. So, why did you become a nature photographer instead of say someone who takes pictures of celebrities or a wedding photographer?
Nature gives me more joy and a clear head. Photographing people is a lot of stress
and you need to perform on a higher lever. in nature/wildlife there is no pressure.
4. Have you had any formal photography training?
I had no formal education. I learned everything through trial and error
5. What inspires you about wildlife and nature photography?
The thing that most inspires me is that you can’t expect what wil happen next, it’s always a surprise. Also in nature I can clear my mind. run far from the madding crowd
Can you remember the first camera you bought and do you still have it?
The first camera that I bought was a Sony Cybershot… I don’t have that one anymore
7. Can you tell us about the most memorable wildlife photo you have ever shot and what made it so special?
This year I had my first shot of mating kingfisher. i’m photographing kingfishers for 5 years and i had never seen this moment before
8 What are the main challenges that you face as a wildlife photographer?
Sitting stil for a long periode of time. Being disturbed by people.
What are the techniques you use?
My patience is highly recommended :p its also importand to study your subject before you go in the field. if
10. What animal would you most like to capture that you haven’t already and why?
The puffin the dream of every wildlife photographer, it’s the rolce roice of birds
11. What do you love most about being a nature photographer?
Spending time in the wild is one of the best therapy you can have
What is the best camera to use for nature photography?
Nikon D500 Focus and shutter speeds are insane
What speed should people use if they wanted to capture a bird flying?
Your shutter speed should be quite fast—1/2500, 1/3200
What advice would you give to young photographers who are just starting out and considering pursuing a career in wildlife photography?
Don’t be scared to make mistakes, you can feel bad for a shot that you mis.
but always know that you wil make a better one next time. never give up always keep trying to reach your goals. stand behind your idea.
For more information about Niki Colemont, or to view his incredible photographs, please visit his Instagram page.
Planning a budget-friendly date night in London is easier than you think.
The capital has garnered a reputation for being one of the most expensive cities in the world, but that doesn’t mean that budget-friendly activities are totally out of the window.
Once you start looking for things to do, you’ll realise that you can quickly fill up a whole day without burning a hole in your wallet. This makes London perfect for a fun date. So below we’ve come up with some of our top picks for what to do.
See Buckingham Palace
No visit to London is complete without a stopover at Buckingham Palace. While people often go to see the Changing of the Guard ceremony, even just strolling along The Mall is a romantic way to spend some alone time with your partner. If you’re planning on watching the iconic ceremony, just be sure to position yourself near the gates. If not, you’ll probably just end up seeing small figures in the distance (and not to mention lots of selfie sticks).
Visit around South Bank
There’s always something going on at South Bank, which is why it comes highly recommended by The Culture Trip. The Southbank Book Market is a common fixture, where sellers set up shop under one of South Bank’s many bridges — and they’re there rain or shine. There’s also a skate park nearby, as well as a handful of street performers you’ll find on any given day. Indeed, you can spend an entire day just strolling around South Bank. It also helps that the National Theatre is right there in case you want to catch a show!
Grab a bite at Borough Market
Borough Market is a nine-minute walk away from South Bank, but it’s well worth the trip even on a hot summer’s day. Market dates are always a good idea, and one of the best things about Borough Market is that you can get all kinds of food at cheap prices. A write-up on affordable date ideas by Gala Bingo lists how visiting local food markets can easily take up a couple of hours of your day. You can start by walking around and trying a few food and drink samples before finishing off your date by getting a full-sized serving of your favourite sample.
Check out the National Gallery
London is one of the most prominent cultural capitals in the world, and one of the best things about the city is that many of their museums are free of charge. The National Gallery overlooks Trafalgar Square, so you’re able to hit two sites in one go. The museum houses artworks by some of the most famous painters in history, and the space itself is so big that you’ll find yourselves wanting to go back for another visit.
Lounging around in a park is the perfect lazy summer date, and Greenwich Park is the best place to do so. Even on its busiest day, the park covers a huge enough area (over 74 hectares, to be exact) to make sure you and your partner can have an intimate date without any distractions. Even though London isn’t necessarily as busy as the likes of New York City, sometimes you still need a quick break with nature to really rejuvenate yourself.
There are tons of stuff to do in London, whether you’re looking to immerse yourself in the city’s rich culture or just walk around and take in the stunning sights and sounds. So don’t just stop with this list, have a look for some more great ways to spend a day with your loved one in London.
Real estate investors are always looking for the new hot place to invest. Prime Central London (PCL) has always attracted investors, and usually, the prices are out of the reach of almost any investor. Real Estate and Property Funds change this dynamic
Most estate agents and valuation surveyors consider Prime Central London to include the City of Westminster, Chelsea, and the Royal Borough of Kensington, as well as parts of the boroughs of Camden, and Hammersmith & Fulham.
For years the area has had a slump. Mostly due to the extended economic downturn and, more recently, Brexit. Now that Brexit is finally being worked out and the U.K.’s future is more precise, PCL is becoming hot again. It may now be hotter than ever.
Pre Covid-19, residential values for the PCL market were 20 per cent below their 2014 peaks. Currency fluctuations made homes in PCL look cheap for overseas buyers, and there was a brief early 2020 pickup for high-value homes. This bounce was short-lived, COVID hit, and for half a year, the world has stood still.
Prime Central London is now primed to change. The PCL market is a leading indicator for the rest of the London market, which usually follows about two years behind what PCL does.
Why are good things about to happen? Fortunately, the fundamentals behind the 2020 January bounce remain, the Pound Sterling has again strengthened against the dollar and is back to 1.32 USD/GPB from its 1.15USD/GBP March 19th low, about where it stood pre-COVID. Additionally, there have been moves by the government during COVID that make investing in PCL even more enticing.
At the beginning of August 2020, the U.K. government announced that in the wake of the COVID pandemic, it would be revamping the process of planning approval. The U.K. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said in a Telegraph article that a “permission in principle” will be given to developments on land designated “for renewal” to speed up building, including the renewal of properties in PCL, which has historically been a complicated process to pass. When properties fulfil the planning process requirements, they can immediately gain significant value; in some cases, a ten-fold increase has been seen. Jenrick clarified that “under the new rules, land will be designated in one of three categories: for growth, for renewal, and for protection.” New homes will be granted “automatic” permission to be built as part of a strategy for sweeping planning reforms in England.
These moves increase the London property profit potential significantly, and especially that of properties in PCL. This deregulation by the current U.K. government also has a knock-on effect on real estate funds with a London focus. The secretary stated that “We are cutting red tape, but not standards.” And, “I am completely overhauling the system so we can build more good quality, attractive and affordable homes faster,” Mr Jenrick added.
In the Secretary’s Telegraph article Jenrick also stated that the planning changes result, in a “once in a generation” chance to build homes and amenities families need, “outdated and cumbersome” planning rules, which previously took, on average, for new housing developments, five years to approve. This lengthy process was fueling a “generational divide.” Younger buyers can not compete with older homeowners when struggling to get on the property ladder. These are now problems of the past. How ever the government is marketing these changes, they mean one specific thing.
They are a net positive for property funds with a central London focus. HULT Private Capital is one investment company that creates and manages these funds. They invest in PCL, Greater London, and Home Counties, and are already positioned to take full advantage of the governmental changes and this market opportunity. They offer investment possibilities from limited partnership interest, to direct investment portfolio monitoring services. HULT caters it’s offerings to the needs of mid-tier investors and high net worth clients.
N.B. These forecasts are average prices in the second-hand market. New Construction values may not move at the same rate
In a recent interview with Lewis Hill, a co-founder of HULT Private Capital, Hill is expecting to have a super 2020. According to Hill, HULT Private Capital’s alternative asset investment, “have the potential to perform upwards of 8-12% per annum, if not more.” Hill stated that “Investors no longer want the typical. Innovation is ‘key.’ The standard cookie-cutter approach is dead, which is why we have seen a huge uptake in our Secure Alternative investments, Property Loan Notes and Banked guaranteed holdings…2020 is set to be our biggest year yet, and rightly so, seeing that most HNW investor’s preferred option is to work alongside responsible and internationally recognised firms, that have a solid track record.”
HULT Private Capital is exceptional in the market because it does not base a fund’s value on the top end valuation of its properties, but always on the bottom end of the market valuations. This valuation system means that in the worst-case scenario, with their securities, HULT can provide the best returns. In this way, HULT has been able to buck the downward property price trend, even in the past few years, and has consistently kept providing investors with higher than average returns. Because of their results, they have also outshone competitors, such as FJP Investment and partnered with affiliates, the likes of; Barclays, Zurich, Coutts, Aviva, Santander, and Bradesco — just to name a few.
Prices per square meter are low for the area but remain high when compared to the rest of the city.
Prime property values to March 2019 Source: Savills Research
A recent article by Savills Research stated that in PCL, “Price expectations of buyers and sellers have narrowed, keeping the market moving, while location and condition continue to be key selling points. With competitive mortgage rates and a currency advantage for overseas buyers, Brexit negotiations will be pivotal to the market going forward.” These negotiations have continued, and there appears to be a light at the end of this long Brexit tunnel, towards the end of 2020.
High-value properties(over £10M ) like those seen in the PCL were hit hardest in the downturn and as a result of Brexit, but are also first to see positive movement when buyers regain their confidence.
Most investors don’t have the £10M+ to risk on a single property, but buying into a property fund is much more affordable and less risky due to risk diversity. With property investment funds like the ones by HULT Private Capital, multiple properties are purchased by experienced real estate professionals who know how to recognise the best deals. Investors have 1st legal charge over group assets land /property as well as opportunities for tax-free investing. With one to five-year investment horizons, the PCL market is primed for this type of investment.
For more information about HULT Private Capital’s PCL property funds and bonds click HERE
Michael Jackson who was the King Of Pop was also the King of R&B according to one of the most talked about R&B and Soul radio stations in New York. 108 Soul, which has listeners all over the world thanks to Google Play, the App Store and Alexa, says Michael Jackson who died 25th June 2009 was an artist who cannot be replicated.
When Michael Jackson split up the Jackson Five in 1973 the world was shocked. Girls were crying all over the world not believing they would not get to here new music from the biggest boyband in the world again. A lot of fans got angry with Michael Jackson for betraying the Jackson Five, although many forgave him when he released solo material. According to NYC 108 Soul, Michael Jackson leaving the Jackson Five had nothing to do with his brothers, but was more about getting away from his father and not being controlled by him.
We have had the King Of Pop and R&B, but who is the Queen of R&B? According to the radio experts who has one of the fastest growing audiences for a new radio station, that honour goes to Beyonce. They have said Beyonce is one of the most-hard working artists on the planet and one of the most talented.
So where is the music industry going. What type of music can we expect in the future and will the days of the 60s when we had the like of Ray Charles, Diana Ross, and Ben E. King come back and provide us with the music we crave. According to the 108 Soul Radio station the answer is yes. They have said the music industry is going to go full circle.
So, what else did NYC 108 Soul have to say. Well, we sat down with them to ask them about the music industry, and here is what they had to say.
Who would you say is the biggest R&B singer of all time? It all depends on who you classify as R&B. Michael Jackson is by far the biggest singer/star I believe of R&B and Pop. But it all depends on where you would classify the songs.
Wow, that is interesting, and who would you say is the most exciting current R&B singer? The most exciting is Beyonce. The work ethic and quality of work over the past 6-8 years on top of having children along the way speaks volumes. And it doesn’t hurt that she’s married to Jay Z.
When we look at soul singers of yesteryear, we think about the Jackson Five, Ray Charles, and the Supremes, if you could choose one soul singer from the 60s, who would you say stood out for you? There’s a singer’s song we all sing on birthdays and his music is timeless, Stevie Wonder. I don’t know if that is 60s but it seems like everyone knows and has a favorite Stevie Wonder song.
The 1960s was an amazing time for soul music, do you think we will ever see another time period where soul music will fill the charts? I think the music industry will eventually go back to the time of the powerful singers and move away from the studio produced artists. Those voices that really hit you when you hear that record start to play.
How would you compare UK soul music to USA soul music of the 1960s? They go hand in hand. The beauty of music is that it is universal. It is the soundtrack to life.
American Idol has been responsible for launching some big-time artists, but one complaint since the show started is how they have ignored R&B and Soul music, what is your opinion on that? American Idol is all about ratings so if R&B and Soul music are selling records, then that’s what they would concentrate on. It is a great platform for artists to be seen and also to be heard by their peers.
There is so much R&B music out there, but for you, what would you class as real R&B? Real R&B is an artist paired with that sound that takes the listener on a journey. It’s a sound that paints a picture with their voice and the music is their canvas.
Your radio station 108 Soul has become a huge hit with R&B and Soul fans around the world, if you could play and R&B or Soul record more than four times, one after another, what record would it be and why? Teddy Pendergrass, Rick James and Chaka Khan records. They have so many hits that we just don’t hear anymore. You have to think Teddy Pendergrass with Stephanie Mills, Rick James with Teena Marie and Chaka just being Chaka… Those are some huge artists with a great collection of music behind them.
We can’t talk to you without talking about Michael Jackson. What do you think went through his mind when he decided to split Jackson Five up, and how do you think it affected the rest of the brothers? I think Michael Jackson’s split from the Jackson Five was more of a way to get from under his father and his leadership. MJ was a star as a child and needed to be on his own in order to shine. There is no Jackson Five without Michael Jackson. His brothers had talent but not on the level of Michael. The co-dependency was the Jackson Five on Michael and not the other way around.
Michael Jackson is and always will be one of the biggest artists in the world, right next to Elvis Presley, but one question that his fans have been asking about for many years and even asked when he was alive, why did he stop making music? That’s a question we all want an answer to. I believe it could have been a number of things. Two things that always come to mind is his contract and is he tired of performing. Was he purposely not making music because he didn’t want to move forward with his current contract? And you have to think he has been in the spotlight since a child and is there a time where he can just sit back and relax? As fans we always want to hear a new song, but look at all the music he provided us throughout the years. Michael has hits on top of hits. He was bigger than any other performer you could think of. And still is considered to be the King of Pop.
Do you feel it is harder now for R&B and Soul artists to break on the music scene, or do you think it is easier thanks to social media? Social media has allowed artists to get their music heard without having to mail in a cassette or CD to a manager. If your website is up to date and you have videos of you performing, your chances of breaking on the music scene are greater. Justin Berber was discovered by Usher on Myspace… how crazy is that?!?
How can the pop stars of today evolve to become the music history of tomorrow? Pop stars have so many opportunities to grow their fan base through radio. Every major city has at least 3 stations that can play their music. If they want that crossover appeal, then do features with artists who are popular in other genres of music. The R&B and Pop collaborations have always worked and now Hip-hop and pop artists work together even more. The pop stars have to figure out what kind of songs can they create that leave a lasting impression on the listeners. The kind of songs we can sing 15-20 years from now and still be relevant.
Why did you decide to launch 108 Soul, and why did you decide to focus on Soul and R&B music? We decided to create something that is needed for music lovers who do not have an option on the dial to hear their type of music. Most radio stations program the station with the intent to gain listeners but really don’t understand the listeners. Of course they have a targeted demo, but are they really asking the right questions to that demo. The music that 108 Soul plays is for the group of listeners that are too young for your parents R&B and too mature for your kid’s hip-hop music. We are that sweet spot that you can’t wait to get to in the pie.
You have said that you focus on music that other radio stations have forgotten about, can you explain what you mean by that? The music industry and radio stations go hand in hand. The record labels have songs they need played and the radio stations need listeners so they only play those records being pushed by the labels. There are so many B sides, tracks on albums people love but never heard on the radio, studio versions or live versions of songs people forgot about. We play the hits and the hits you loved to sing in the shower as well.
Is there anyone out there that you look at and think they could be the big R&B or Soul singer of tomorrow? There are few artists who have the talent but lack the support to get them over the hump. I don’t want to name names because we would start receiving all of their records for us to play.
What British soul singer stands out for you? Adele.. where is Adele… we need another album, single or even a feature. Her voice is amazing and she is loved by so many.
If you could interview any R&B singer past or present on your radio show, who would it be and why, and what one question would you ask them? It would be the Purple One, Prince. What would have taken to get you and Michael Jackson to record an album together? A Prince and Michael Jackson album would still sell today. That’s how impactful both of those singers are and will always be to the music industry.
To check out the radio station that everyone is talking about, and to listen to some real R&B and Classic hip-hop music, please visit www.108soul.com or visit Google Play or the App store, or Kindly ask Alexa to tune in.
CodeCoda is an Advanced Software Development company located in Europe with over 150 Software Engineers. The company specializes in Fintech & Financial Services, AI/ML, Big Data, Gaming, Gambling, and Mobile App Development and is no stranger to winning awards. They have just won their latest award, The Technology Innovator Award, which the company’s big boss labeled as a team effort.
Being a trusted partner of over 300 organizations around the globe, CodeCoda has become one of the leading experts in their field. One vital service they provide is mobile app development. They have built apps that have helped businesses of all sizes to transform the way they do business. Some of their apps have helped companies of all sizes increase their revenue and provide a quicker and simplified solution for their customers to purchase products and services.
Although there are 5.15 billion mobile devices in the world, $601.75 billion was spent online in the U.S., and £106.46 billion in the UK, CodeCoda —who have offices in Berlin, Germany, Dublin, Ireland, Plovdiv and Sofia, Bulgaria—don’t believe that every business needs a mobile app.
CodeCoda has not only established itself as one of the biggest names in the I.T. industry, but it has also become one of the most trusted. They are known for offering a first-class service and achieving the vision of their clients.
We decided to sit down with the team at CodeCoda and find out what makes them tick and how they felt about winning the award.
RENOWNED CODECODA WON THE 2020 TECHNOLOGY INNOVATOR AWARDS
For those who have never heard of CodeCoda Ltd, can you explain what you do?
That is quite easy. We revolutionize the software industry by providing what we call an extremely agile version of a “customer-centric” software development approach. CodeCoda itself, as an organization, is built on what we call a “tribes’ culture,” which allows us to leverage the best in people. Worth mentioning is also that people play an essential role inside the organization, and the way from even the new programmer to C-Level executives is pretty much open 24/7. The same goes for our customers. It is never too late; it is never the weekend. We are always there for our clients, which we regard as being part of our family.
I believe that Software is something very personal. We build Software for humans, not machines. As thus, humans always come first!
You have just won an award; can you tell me more about that?
Sure, the Technology Innovator Award is given to companies who have produced or participated in innovative software development. One of our recent projects, which just launched some months ago, is the key to innovation in the Health and Beauty industry, and really nice addition to make an industry COVID-19 proof, as doctors and patients can connect remotely, which allows taking out going to a doctors practice. Doctors have various ways of communicating with their patients, reaching up to one-on-one video calls. Also, the whole patient history is kept, and you can even receive prescriptions through the platform in remote locations. This innovation, which is currently launched in Ireland, will soon be available in the U.K. and other European countries as well.
There was a lot of strong competition for the 2020 Technology Innovator Award, so why do you think you won it?
I think innovation depends on the industry you innovate in. If we had done some extraordinary development, like back in 2018, where we were in the Top 30 A.I. companies, this wouldn’t have the same result. It is a matter of the impact of an application that is recognized.
You build mobile apps, how have mobile apps advanced since the first mobile app in 1997?
A lot. Since then, Mobile Phones are more potent than the computing power available to shoot the first man to the moon. Nowadays, mobile applications are not just helpers but allow to remote control your home, your washing machine, or even order a custom coffee from a vending machine.
Why is it essential for a business to have a mobile app?
Saying that every business needs a mobile app is not right. It depends on the industry the market is in. So, for example, an eCommerce company should have a mobile store version available. Why? Because it is about filling all sales channels available. Businesses can – for business work – always use productivity apps, which is applied and called BYOD or in plain English, “Bring your own device,” which helps businesses reduce hardware costs and avoids employees having multiple devices. Software-wise, any business that runs an active, end-client focused business (B2C) should really have an app available.
Native Mobile Apps, however, are just one topic. PWA (Progressive Web App) Technology is nowadays available, imitating near-native capabilities. Depending on the size of the business, PWAs can be more cost-effective for companies to develop.
There are 5.15 billion mobile devices in the world, and $601.75 billion was spent online in the U.S. and £106.46 billion in the U.K. So why are there still only a small percentage of businesses that have a mobile app?
Simple answer. Businesses have not understood the need for mobile applications. It is especially hard, e.g., brick and mortar businesses, to understand the electronic commerce world. As thus, stakeholders find it hard to adjust to the ever-changing world. Digitalization is the keyword here.
Why is it essential for a business to have an app?
As I mentioned previously, it is either adjust or die. We always suggest our clients cover all possible distribution channels ranging from the web over PWA to Mobile Apps. We cannot stress enough that it is vital to be found wherever your customers are, and they are literally everywhere.
More people are buying on the go, so how can business owners take advantage of that?
It all starts with the will and understanding that our economy is changing. How people do things in the traditional sense is changing. Many business owners, specifically those coming from high street stores, must understand that, in the broader sense, eCommerce is not any different than their physical stores. What do I mean by that? Just bringing your products online does not help. So, the investment in “decorating” your store to make it attractive must happen in eCommerce in precisely the same manner. Think that there are nine billion web pages online now, and all of them are competing to sell similar products. Attractiveness is fundamental, multichannel sales, user experience are all factors that come into play when building online sales presences.
When looking to develop an app for a business, what process do you go through before it is launched?
It would be too complex to explain the whole process. In bullet points, it all starts with a proper business analysis, which profoundly investigates the company, the products, or services on sale. The Business Specifications are then translated into Functional Requirements. This data helps User Interface and User Experience designers to create the visuals, and Software Engineers to build the underlying code. Generally, we work on a CI/CD basis; this means, launch early, continue development, and deploy. I forgot to mention an extensive Q.A. process aforehand implementing it to end-customers. It is critical that anything used by clients is bug-free and working to specifications.
Some clients prefer to develop an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) first. This allows them to adjust later versions based on hard data acquired from the first users of a platform, or digital product in general.
Overall, the process relies a lot on the data acquisition of the enterprise, and accurate data. It becomes a lot harder to develop business applications if not all facts are presented (or discovered) aforehand.
As well as designing a mobile app, you also build and develop websites, do you believe that the COVID-19 has helped business owners see how important a website is?
This question heavily depends on the region you are referring to. Generically yes. Business owners see the need to build – or modernize – a web presence. Do not forget that many current websites were built in the early 2000s, as thus do not comply with modern standards like Mobile-friendliness). So, it is also not enough to have a web presence; it needs to be accessible by modern users, namely smartphone users.
So, can we see those business owners who believed they didn’t need a website or a mobile app come into the modern technology age?
We live in the middle of a digital revolution. As mentioned earlier, businesses should consult with respective experts to find which solution is right for them. Not every solution works for every business. Secondly, and I believe the preventive subject when it comes to digitalization and modernization of businesses is cost. We at CodeCoda work on an extremely transparent cost model, which allows business owners to really follow the effort undertaken by our teams. Logically we always try to work as cost-effective as humanly possible without compromising the result.
You have some of the most skilled web development teams in the industry, if someone wanted to come and work for you what skills would they need?
That is a simple and very tricky question at the same time. There are two types of people, the ones with formal education, and the other ones who are self-taught. What we are looking for when hiring staff is one critical criterion: they must fit into the team. That is why the final decision is always with the team. Our Multi-Stage interview process focuses on three skeletons: knowledge, team fit, and finally, the will to learn and evolve.
We live and work in an industry where knowledge is everything. Every six months there is a change, and besides that, something new on the market. To find the best technological fit for our clients, we need to know what is available, how it functions, and what the key benefits are to our customers.
Life-Long-Learning is a crucial skill you need to bring. Else, you are rewarded with a cool team, many benefits not broadly found in our industry, and above all, a lot of fun. I do believe that we spend at least 8 hours a day working. Every hour counts, so let’s make this hour innovative and fun.
Is there an award out there that you would like to win?
There is. For the regions we are mainly active in, that is Germany, UK, Ireland, Bulgaria, and the U.S., I’d like to be listed in the Deloitte Technology Fast 500. We experience a year over year growth of 300-400% over the past four years, which qualifies us to participate.
For more information or buying their services, visit the website
I.T. Veterans established CodeCoda. Its CEO is Dr. Andreas Maier – an enthusiastic professional and phenomenal person. The company headquarters are in Dublin. CodeCoda provides an innovative global I.T., BPO service, e-commerce solutions, and advanced software development. They work with each size of businesses to enhance their growth by providing the best customer services. They have achieved dozens of awards so far from the many renowned national and international brands. The Technology Innovator Award — CodeCoda’s latest achievement — strengthens its structure and encourages their team to seek even more innovations and accomplishments.
A study has reported a ‘significant increase’ in child-to-parent violence during the lockdown.
A shocking study that will send shivers down parent’s spine has found the number of parents that have been violently attacked by their children has increased during the lockdown.
Oxford Professor of Criminology, Rachel Condry, and Dr. Caroline Miles, a Senior Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Manchester, launched a study to see how many parents have been experiencing violence from their children during the COVID-19 lockdown. The results of that study have now been released.
According to the study, 70% of parents who had previously been subjected to violent attacks reported an increase in the number of times they suffered violence at the hands of their children during the lockdown.
It was not just parents who suffered violent attacks. It was also found that social professionals had reported an increase in violent behaviour.
Those who took part in the study believed the pressure of lockdown caused their children to be more violent. Parents surveyed believe that the pressure of being confined to the home had contributed to their children being more violent.
Due to the lockdown, parents had to seek remote help instead of face to face help. The study found that parents due to the pandemic were reluctant to call for help.
One parent explained, “I wouldn’t want to call the police as the danger is far greater from the virus…he would be vulnerable in police cell…Before it was hard enough to call the police thinking of the usual consequences, but you could be potentially sentencing your child to death by reporting violence.”
Nineteen police forces who were asked about the study said they had seen a slight decline in the number of violent attacks reported by parents
In a series of recommendations, the report by Rachel Condry, and Dr. Caroline Miles, calls for increased planning and support from central government and local authorities, to prevent young people being criminalised and families being left to cope alone, if there is ever a return to lockdown.
Ex-Eastenders star Samantha Womack has announced that her marriage to Emmerdale star Mark Womack was over, but they will carry on living together. The news comes days after her fellow cast mate and best mate Rita Simons announced that her marriage to hairdresser Theo Silverston was over.
Samantha Womack confirmed that she had split from her soul mate husband, but they would carry on living together and bringing up their children together. She explained that their home in Bedfordshire was big enough for them to carry on living together without stepping on each other toes.
Mark Womack was first married to Mary Therese McGoldrick in 1995 where they had a son together. Samantha Janus and Mark Womack got together after staring in popular drama Liverpool One. They are now parents to Benjamin, 19, and Lili Rose, 15.
Samantha Womack who tied the knot with Mark Womack in 2009 has said she is in no rush to change the living arrangement as they are still the best of friends.
Mark Womack who is currently staring in Emmerdale as bent copper DI Malone has failed to comment on the marriage split.
According to Samantha, the couple split two years ago and decided they no longer wanted to be in a romantic relationship but wanted to remain the best of friends are stay living together.
“We have this beautiful house and we get a lot of time away from each other. We’re still a family and we love and adore each other.
“He’s still been the best relationship of my life and I think he would say the same of me.
“So we sat down with the kids and explained that we weren’t going to be in a romantic relationship any more, but we would stay best friends.
“We’ve been happily living together ever since. It’s bizarre but these have probably been the best years we’ve had as a family.”
Eastenders actress Samantha said she feels the romantic side of her marriage ended due to the long periods of time the couple spend apart due to work commitments.
Parents Scared Of Sending Their Children Back To School
While tens of thousands of parents are threatening to keep their children at home over fears they could catch COVID-19, Boris Johnson is pleading with parents to send children back to school.
While Boris Johnson and his ministers are saying sending children back to school is the best option and it’s safe not everyone agrees. One woman is trying to take the Government to court to stop them from forcing children into what she claims a dangerous environment.
It is not just tens of thousands of parents who are threatening to keep their children at home and feel sending them back could be dangerous, some teachers are also scared. It has been reported that some teachers have refused to go back to school until it has been proven it will be safe for them.
Labour has also questioned if now is the right time to send children back to school. They have said sending children back to school at the present moment could be a serious risk.
Labour leader Keir Starmer said: “Ministers should have spent the summer implementing a national plan to get all children back to school.
“Instead, the last two weeks have been wasted clearing up a mess of the Government’s own making.”
Boris Johnson has said it is safe to go back to school and keeping children off school could affect their future.
The PM warned parents: “Nothing will have a greater effect on the life chances of our children than returning to school.
“The risk of contracting Covid-19 in school is very small and it is far more damaging for a child’s development and their health and wellbeing to be away from school any longer.
“This is why it’s vitally important that we get our children back into the classroom to learn and to be with their friends.”
The UK Chief Medical Officer has backed the Prime Minister and said children had an “exceptionally low risk of dying” from Covid-19.
The Government has previously said that any parent who keeps their children off school due to being worried about them catching COVID-19 will receive a fine. If Boris Johnson sticks to his threat, then it could risk his hopes of winning a second term as Prime Minister.
Boris Johnson has already seen his odds of winning a second General Election reduced due to his handling of COVID-19 and his refusal to sack members of his Government for breaking rules.
Will you be sending your children back to school, let us know on our official social media accounts?
Black Police Officers Are Not Being Promoted According To New Figures
It has been reported that Black, Asian, and Mixed-race police officers are being passed over for promotion. According to the figures, if you are a white police officer then you are 24 times more likely to be promoted than non-white officers.
In the past three years only 32 black and 289 Asian or mixed raced police officers were promoted. This figure is shocking when you look at the number of white police officers promoted. In the same time-period, 7,766 white police officers were promoted, showing little improvement has been made in the police force to provide equal opportunities to all.
One police officer who did not wished to be named told In2Town he was disappointed. He explained if you are not a white police officer then who are held at a disadvantage and less likely to be promoted than white officers.
“When I joined, I thought things had changed. I honestly believed all the talk about tackling racism in the police force was true and everyone had the same opportunities of career advancement. However, little has changed and if you are not white then you may as well forget about going for promotion.”
These new findings will do little to convince people that the police force provide opportunities for all.
The National Black Police Association said about the new figures: “Policing needs to understand the -valuable contribution senior BAME officers can bring to policing diverse communities.”
These new shocking figures come less than a week after In2town Lifestyle Magazine reported how a senior black police officer was stopped by two white police officers while driving home for no reason. Charles Ehikioya, 55, who is taking action against the Met has made a formal complaint and is now looking at taking the Met to court. The Met has denied his claim.
The Home Office have said they are making major changes within the police force
A spokesman for the National Black Police Association said: “Despite an unprecedented number of initiatives – including setting targets for the percentage of BAME officers in forces, positive action programmes and direct entry – the impact on BAME representation in policing has been negligible.
“As part of our action plan, we are looking into how we can best encourage BAME officers to apply for senior positions and support them.”
1,288 People have been infected by coronavirus in the past 24-hours with some health experts believing we are heading for a second wave.
With some health experts warning that a second wave could be just around the corner we have put a full list of local coronavirus rates to see how your area is affected.
Although the number of infections has risen once again by over 1,000 cases, the good news is the number of coronavirus cases in Pendle, Oldham, and Blackburn have dropped.
Some health experts believe the infection rate is increasing due to businesses opening too soon, while other health experts believe some of the population are acting like COVID-19 is not a serious problem.
We wanted to see how serious people are taking the Coronavirus, and sadly we were shocked, disappointed, and felt like some health experts have said, some of the General Public are not taking the life-threatening disease serious.
We visited three Tesco supermarkets in Lincolnshire to see how staff and customers were dealing with the coronavirus. In one Tesco supermarket we only saw one member of staff wear a face mask. In another store we did not see any, while in another we saw four staff members wear a mask.
Although it is down to personal opinion if you wear a face mask or not while at work, we felt uneasy not seeing Tesco staff lead by example. What made our investigation even more frietening was seeing little in social distancing with Tesco staff. In one store we saw two members of staff standing together with no social distancing having a laugh. We also witnessed this in other stores. For a supermarket that is the biggest in the UK and pride themselves on their reputation, Tesco have really let themselves down.
It is not just Tesco staff that are not taking coronavirus seriously. On average only 70% of Tesco customers wore a face mask. It seems with the coronavirus deaths reducing, the General Public think COVID-19 is now over, and they no longer have to be careful.
The following list shows the local coronaivurs rate in your area.
Adur 6.2 (4), 3.1 (2)
Allerdale 15.3 (15), 8.2 (8)
Amber Valley 4.7 (6), 4.7 (6)
Arun 3.1 (5), 2.5 (4)
Ashfield 9.4 (12), 4.7 (6)
Ashford 3.8 (5), 4.6 (6)
Aylesbury Vale 7.5 (15), 4.0 (8)
Babergh 1.1 (1), 5.4 (5)
Barking and Dagenham 16.4 (35), 9.4 (20)
Barnet 12.1 (48), 9.3 (37)
Barnsley 15.0 (37), 20.3 (50)
Barrow-in-Furness 3.0 (2), 4.5 (3)
Basildon 1.6 (3), 1.1 (2)
Basingstoke and Deane 1.7 (3), 0.6 (1)
Bassetlaw 9.4 (11), 22.1 (26)
Bath and North East Somerset 5.7 (11), 1.6 (3)
Bedford 9.2 (16), 4.6 (8)
Bexley 4.4 (11), 5.6 (14)
Birmingham 25.5 (291), 29.2 (333)
Blaby 12.8 (13), 6.9 (7)
Blackburn with Darwen 56.1 (84), 88.2 (132)
Blackpool 9.3 (13), 8.6 (12)
Bolsover 3.7 (3), 2.5 (2)
Bolton 18.4 (53), 28.9 (83)
Boston 0.0 (0), 5.7 (4)
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 4.8 (19), 1.8 (7)
Danniella Westbrook left bruised and shocked armed thief with bat demanded her mobile phone
Danniella Westbrook, the former EastEnders actress told her fans on Twitter how an armed thief threatened her and stole her phone in a terrifying incident that took place on Friday
The 46-year-old actress who has turned her life around after spending years addicted to drugs said she was covered in bruises
The former EastEnders star took to Twitter to tell her fans about the terrifying incident, saying she’s reported it to the police.
Danniella was recently practicing for her OnlyFans account when she shared a number of topless pictures onto Instagram (Image: danniellawestbrook_73/Instagram)
She tweeted: “So had my phone stolen off me yesterday,,, some people are just scum..”
When asked by a fan on Twitter if she had reported it, she responded: “Yes reported to the police along with the bruises from the bat the guy used on me…”
Danniella said the incident had left her in a state of shock.
She wrote: “I’m OK tbh had much worst when I was in full blow addiction but not getting any younger and the shock was actually the worst of it. Phone blocked and new one on the way x”
In the coming weeks we are bringing you a story into a used car sales garage in Loughborough and the shocking experience that a customer went through.
The story will shock you, which includes how after buying the vehicle from a Loughborough Used Car Sales room it broke down an hour later and then being told there was glass missing from inside of the windscreen which was hidden. The buyer of the car was told the windscreen could shatter at any minute. So, we thought until then we would bring you information on hidden issues a used car may have and issues that car salespeople may try to hide.
The RAC looked at 32,000 used cars for sale in the UK and found that 52% of them had a hidden history that could lead to serious problems for the new owner. One of the main problems that the RAC found were cars being sold that were deemed insurance write-offs.
Francesca Mann from RAC Motoring Services said that those looking to purchase a used car need to be on their guard more than ever to make sure the money they are paying for a car does not turn out to be a nightmare.
Francesca Mann explained: “Drivers might be alarmed to see just how many vehicles for sale have hidden histories that could end up costing them dear should they decide to go ahead, but this is precisely why we make these checks in the first place – to give them the information they need to make the right choice.
“Forewarned is forearmed, and drivers that do their homework on vehicles put themselves in a much stronger position to negotiate on price, or simply walk away from the sale if they feel they are taking too great a risk.”
The RAC recommends that anyone buying a used car should have the history checked and have it inspected by a trained mechanic before making a purchase. The RAC offers such a service.
Advice to a buyer whose vehicle history check flags issues:
Number plate change – talk to the owner and check the documentation to ensure a plate change is legitimate, for instance with a previous owner swapping the plate for a cherished, personalised one. The car’s number plate must always match the one on the V5C
Outstanding finance – be fully confident the seller has paid off finance on their vehicle in full, and ask them to re-run an RAC Vehicle History Check to prove it. Cars still being paid offer under Hire Purchase (HP) or Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) agreements cannot be sold on
Insurance write-off – while most drivers might want to walk away from a car that has been written-off unless they are specialists seeking parts, the write-off category will determine whether or not the car can be sold on legally. In some cases, a Category N write-off might be roadworthy but just have some cosmetic damage. In any case, it’s best to get a professional inspection if you are considering buying a write-off
Imports – imported cars must be approved and be accompanied by specific government-required documentation
Colour change – this might suggest a re-spray after an accident, although owners can change the colour of their vehicle if they tell the DVLA. Get a professional inspection before you buy to be sure
It is important when considering purchasing a used car from a car sales outlet to follow the advice from the RAC.
We will be looking into the Loughborough used car sales outlet in great deal, which includes having the vehicle that was purchased inspected. We will bring you that investigation in the coming weeks, an investigation which could shock you and put you off purchasing a used car.
The Government has added Croatia, Austria, and Trinidad and Tobago to the list of countries where people will have to go into two weeks of quarantine on their return.
Those currently in Croatia, Austria, and Trinidad and Tobago and want to avoid going into a 14-day lockdown have been told to return before Saturday at 4 am when the new rules come into force.
The announcement by Transport minister Grant Shapps has angered those in the travel industry including cheap flight airlines, who have said the latest countries added to the list could cost more jobs.
Transport minister Grant Shapps said: “Data shows we need to remove Croatia, Austria, and Trinidad & Tobago from our list of coronavirus Travel Corridors to keep infection rates down.
“If you arrive in the UK after 0400 Saturday from these destinations, you will need to self-isolate for 14 days.”
There is some good news for the travel industry and those who are looking for some fun in the sun. Portugal has been removed from the quarantine list.
It comes after Portugal was removed from the quarantine list.
Shapps said: “Data also shows we can now add Portugal to those countries included in Travel Corridors.”
Travel experts have warned if more countries continue to be added to the quarantine list then some independent travel agents could be forced to close for good while jobs at airports and airlines could be lost.
While airlines have seen a huge decrease in the number of people flying abroad, some caravan parks have reported they are fully booked until the end of the year.
The hotel group cares for its guests and co-workers with its “Shielded Vacations” program.
ATELIER de Hoteles, the Mexican hotel chain famous for its innovative Handmade Hospitality®, announced that its properties, both in Cancun and Playa Mujeres, are ready to restart operations.
Following the latest recommendations and reports by both local and federal authorities and official health departments, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO), for preventing infection from COVID-19,
ATELIER de Hoteles has adopted new and strict sanitary measures as part of its program called
Shielded Vacations.
“In ATELIER de Hoteles hygiene and cleanliness have always been an integral part and fundamental to the luxury service for which we are famous, and the new protocols and official regulations regarding care and prevention are just a logical extension of our Shielded Vacations program which was developed by our medical staff and health experts”, commented Oliver Reinhart, CEO of ATELIER de Hoteles.
With this in mind, ATELIER de Hoteles has made thewww.atelierdehoteles.com.mx/shielded-vacations website available to guests, where they can consult the program’s actions in detail, especially the following:
Upon arrival there will be sanitizing mats for shoes, and guests’ suitcases will be nebulized.
In order to reduce physical contact, resorts in Playa Mujeres will offer a novel mobile application for checking-in, consulting restaurant menus, chatting with the e-concierge and ordering suite service.
Anti-bacterial gel dispensers will be placed in all public areas and all food and beverage outlets.
A “Health Squad” will be created for cleaning and disinfecting rooms, public areas, offices and areas with heavy foot traffic.
Anti-COVID-19 spraying will be implemented in all suites, both before guests’ arrival and constantly thereafter in restaurants, gym, spa and other public areas.
Safe distancing will be applied in all food and beverage outlets.
An obligatory hand washing program, every 30 to 45 minutes, will be introduced.
Use of “Global 9” and “USA Clean Line” chemical and detergent products for washing and disinfecting all areas.
“In addition to our own processes, we strictly adhere to operating regulations of the Distintivo H hygiene certification and we are also in the process of obtaining the new Quintana Roo Certification for Sanitary Protection and Prevention in Tourist Establishments, implemented by the Quintana Roo State Tourism and Health Services Departments”, declared Mascia Nadin, Director of Operations at ATELIER de Hoteles.
A Black Met Police Inspector Says He Was Stopped By White Police Officers For Being Black
A respected black Met Police Inspector was shocked when he was stopped by two white officers while driving home from work. According to Charles Ehikoya who has been a serving police officer for more than 22-years, he was only stopped by the two white officers for being black, a claim the Metropolitan Police have denied.
‘I feel I was pulled over for no other reason than the fact that they’d seen a black man driving a car’, Charles Ehikoya said.
The incident happened on 23rd May, when Charles asked the two police officers why he was stopped they claimed it was down to his speed and they thought he had gone through a red light.
Charles Ehikoya who believes the incident was down to the colour of his skin noticed that one of the police officers’ body-worn camera was not recording, so he decided to record the stop himself.
“I feel I was pulled over for no other reason than the fact that they’d seen a black man driving a car” he said. “I just feel they’ve done this because I’m black”.
Mr Ehikoya said the officers asked to see his driving licence and wanted proof that he was insured to drive the vehicle he was in.
“There was no reason to pull me over. I was not speeding, I was not using my mobile phone, and I had not been drinking, this incident was down to the colour of my skin and not the way I was driving my car.”
Although the police officers claimed he was speeding, they were unable to tell him what speed he was doing.
The experienced Met Police Inspector said the incident could have ended his career and now wants the incident investigated.
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement it had received an internal complaint on May 24 but a review “found no evidence of misconduct”.
Mr Ehikoya now intends to sue his police force over the incident.
A second wave of coronavirus could be with us within weeks
New data which has been released has shown the chances of a second wave of coronavirus is credible. The alarming new figures released has shown 15 places in the UK where the coronavirus infection has sored over the past seven days.
Manchester and Salford are already in local lockdown with Blackburn and Darwen. But, according to new figures released today another ten places in the UK could be lockdown due to coronavirus.
Public Health England has said that Birmingham has seen a rise in cases with Northampton having the highest reported rates of coronavirus.
Other areas which have a serious problem with coronavirus include Craven in North Yorkshire, Melton in Leicestershire, Barnsley, Woking, Richmond-upon-Thames, East Staffordshire and Coventry. Oadby and Wigston has also seen a jump in the number of COVID-19 cases.
The areas recording a rise in Covid-19 cases include:
Northampton (up from 38.7 to 124.2)
Blackburn with Darwen (up from 68.1 to 86.2)
Manchester (up from 37.3 to 47.6)
Salford (up from 27.4 to 36.7)
Kirklees (up from 30.0 to 35.7)
Birmingham (up from 19.7 to 31.7)
Bury (up from 26.7 to 33.0)
Melton (up from 13.7 to 25.4)
Oadby and Wigston (up from 12.3 to 24.6)
Woking (up from 7.9 to 22.8)
Craven (up from 1.8 to 22.8)
Barnsley (up from 14.2 to 22.3)
Richmond upon Thames (up from 5.1 to 19.2)
East Staffordshire( up from 6.7 to 17.5)
Coventry (up from 16.1 to 21.3)
Health experts are calling on the Government to shield the vulnerable again to reduce the number of deaths that the rise in Coronavirus can cause. However, some scientists are predicting that a second wave of coronavirus could be just weeks away.
Local authority areas with rates of 10 cases or more per 100,000 people
Michael Jackson family wanted Michael Jackson to be left alone but also wanted the truth about his death and were delighted when the news broke that Michael Jackson doctor Conrad Murray was facing criminal charges over his death but now that good news had brought unhappiness among the Jackson family after Conrad Jackson is demanding that Michael Jackson body is exhumed.
Conrad Murray is desperate to beat the murder charge, he is desperate not to spend a day in prison and is trying everything to show the world and the courts that he is innocent and it does not matter how much hurt it brings to the Jackson family, he wants to be proven innocent of administering a fatal dose of the powerful propofol drug to the King of Pop.
The Jackson family are horrified at the request and cannot believe the hurt the doctor is prepared to put Michael Jackson children through as well as the whole of the Jackson family.
“As the seven-month-long investigation wraps up with Dr. Murray is clearly locked in the crosschairs, I’m sure his attorneys are considering a number of last-ditch strategies, including digging up Jackson’s body to confuse the issue,” retired FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Ted Gunderson told American tabloid the National Enquirer.
“Murray’s defence will likely suggest the propofol was the least of the singer’s problems.
“How many other doctors prescribed medicine to Michael over the years? They’ll ask this to cast doubt on the prosecution’s case.
“Murray’s defence would likely argue that Jackson’s drug addiction over the years is what made him vulnerable and Dr. Murray had only known him for a few weeks.
“There’s so much damning evidence against Murray for propofol, but his lawyer could downplay that medication and point at other drugs and other doctors — anything to cast doubt in the jurors minds.
“Of course, the prosecution will fight against any exhumation, but a cautious judge may decide that digging up Jackson for a fourth autopsy is the best way to answer key questions once and for all and avoid having any jury overturned.”
Fans have been bombarding Michael Jackson fan sites calling the request disgusting and cannot believe that the doctor will not allow the King of Pop to rest in peace while other fans are calling for the death penalty.
The Jackson family are consulting their legal team to look into the matter and to try and make sure that the request is not granted.
Gisela Foster, a children’s author has written a new book that helps children learn numbers 1 – 10 while having fun. The book Two Cousins at the Farm which is available on Amazon and all good book platforms has received rave reviews since being launched.
Two Cousins at the Farm is a colorful storytelling book that your child could read over and over again. The book which is currently number four in the top 100 Best Sellers in counting and numeration is aimed at children from 0-5. There are ten farm animals in the book and two cousins who play on the farm. The fantastic story will not only put a smile on the child’s face, it will also put a smile on moms and dads.
Gisela Foster has managed to write a magical story that will engage children and allow them to learn numbers in a fun manner without realising what they are doing is educational and help them develop more quickly.
Scientists and educational experts have said, children will learn quicker if they are having fun. That is what Gisela has done. She has developed a book that will provide children with fun, while developing their numeracy skills.
We wanted to learn more about Two Cousins at the Farm, and the author so we sat down with Gisela Foster to learn more.
You have written a new book called Two Cousins at the Farm, but before we talk about that, lets talk about you. Why did you decide to become a writer? I decided to become writer because I enjoy writing short stories, developing imaginary places and creating new characters to complete the stories. In addition, I wanted to provide many children and families a space to have fun while learning academic content. I feel motivated to write words with joy where family ties, relationships and learning are closely connected.
Can you remember the first children’s book that you read? Yes, Bambi was the first children book.
Gisela Foster, you have written Two Cousins at the Farm, can you tell me more about the book? Two Cousins at the Farm is a fun story where two cousins tell you the 10 animals they love the most on their beautiful farm. The story connects two members of family. This story will teach a toddler to count from 1 to 10. Children will engage, have fun and learn at the same time.
Can you tell me about the main characters? The main characters are Luis and Charlie, who are cousins and best friends. Together and individually, they tour the reader around places at the farm where they play and spend time with the animals. I decided to focus the story around cousins because I personally spent a lot of time during my childhood visiting my cousins in rural towns. I have fourteen cousins.
You say your book helps children learn more about numbers, how does it do that? I believe in setting the path to a positive environment with a very natural learning and comprehensive style. The natural learning process is more realistic when children can see objects that they can relate to in daily life. My mother was a teacher and she bought me baby chicks as a present as a child. I remember counting the chicks as a child. The natural environment is perfect for children to learn fast.
There was a report some years ago that said children learn more while having fun, do you agree with that? Yes, children in general learn more while having fun, when they find joy and a genuine smile from a teacher or a parent.
So, does that mean by reading your book children will learn more about numbers than through other methods? Children will learn numbers by reading my book because they will find a connection with animals that are happy. They will enjoy the farm lifestyle and maybe they will ask to see the real animals after they read the book.
How important is it for children to learn about numbers from an early age? It is very important if we as adults provide support and a learning environment where children naturally learn numbers and can develop cognitive and quantitative skills.
There have been a lot of newspaper reports that said millions of parents are turning to books to help their children with their educational needs as they feel school education is stuck in the old days, would you agree with that? Parents want to support their children. We have many options and many great books to help children to succeed in schools. I think that schools are doing the most extensive and possible changes with a demanding new learning structure. I can tell you in the state of Oregon where I live, the schools districts are working hard to create community and to support children education. Teachers are creative, full of great and amazing ideas and eager to help children and families.
Two Cousins at the Farm continues to receive five-star reviews and has received positive reviews from book reviewers, how does that make you feel? I am very happy with the positive reviews and I’m satisfied knowing that my book is being read by families from all over the world. The connection between family relationships and academic learning is my passion and I want to provide more books to many children. In addition, we have many wonderful children and families that speak Spanish and we have the Spanish version available called Dos Primos en la Granja.
You have said that children’s education can change the world, so why do many parents feel let down by the educational system and why is more not being done to enlighten children and give them the educational empowerment they need? Sometimes families feel a disconnection from school. It is important for all families to get to know their children’s teacher and understand their children’s curriculum and lesson plan so families will have a better idea of the specific and general goals when children are in the house doing a project. Teachers are working hard to connect with families. Schools are more open to evaluate new books that will benefit children’s education. Our librarians are great resources between schools and families.
How hard is it to write an educational children’s book compared to writing a children’s story book? When I write an educational children’s book I am considering the energy, curiosity of my reader and the age group and I need to consider a specific topic. As an educator, an educational book is very important because in the classroom books are the main source of academic activities. A children storybook opens the door to many wonderful topics and stories and require a lot of passion and work to develop the characters and dialogs. My book reflects a combination of the two styles and as a mother; I write a story with characters that reflect family relationships.
When you write a children’s book how do you come up with the storyline? The storyline in the book is based in my own experiences; the beautiful rural towns in Oregon and the characters reflect the relationship that I have with my family.
You have taught children and worked in education, so as an educational expert what age do you think parents should start teaching their children about numbers and words? The unique experience between teaching words and numbers generally is by the age of two years old. The ideal situation is providing the child with resources like books and toys so they can build a connection and they are familiar with words and numbers before that age.
Some writers have a technique to write their book, J K Rowling started her career writing in a café, and other authors dress up as their character, what technique do you use to write your books? I like to have my personal space with no noise. I like to take time to go for a walk and see flowers so I can think about the characters for my next book and the historical relationship with my own childhood.
So, do you have plans to write another book?
Yes, I am writing a new book. A fun and hilarious story about sisters and the way that they learn something very special in their life.
The renowned CodeCoda Ltd., the advanced software development service providers are excited to announce that they have won the 2020 Technology Innovator Award for providing the top class, best, quality-oriented, customized web and mobile app development services.
The award was presented to CodeCoda Ltd by Natalie Farrell (Award Coordinator) to acknowledge their efforts that they are contributing to bringing innovations, expertise, and creativity in the IT industry.
The results were announced on August 7, 2020, on their website cv. At that moment the awards coordinator Natalie Farrell expressed the success of awards in these words: “the Technology Innovator Awards have only grown to encompass a plethora of businesses to showcase their individual achievements and successes in the technology sphere.”
Corporate Vision company focuses on highlighting advancement in various fields, starting from marketing, HR to technology for bringing business progress together both on a smaller and larger level. It’s their sixth year that they organized these awards.
CodeCoda Ltd is proud to share its privilege with the world that they are one of them who have won this Technology Innovator Awards for creating excellence in web and mobile app building.
CodeCoda Ltd has continually demarked itself by the quality of its amazing software solutions. It’s been over 4 years that they are in this industry and has 1500 plus years of IT experience with more than 150 team members.
They have significantly contributed their part to improving the working structure of many online and offline businesses by providing the best, innovative applications, IT solutions, e-commerce, and BPO services.
“We are extremely excited and pleased that we have been recognized with this 2020 Technology Innovator Awards. We are so proud to add this award to the many we receive each year from various honorable award companies. This award powers our team and we will continue building more IT innovations for making global progress in every field,” said Dr. Andreas Maier, CEO of CodeCoda Ltd.
They provide excellent customer services and their utmost priority is client satisfaction. Dr. Andreas himself looks after everything and assures the 101% guaranteed work.
CodeCoda has a team of professionals who are well-educated, well-trained software engineers, technicians, designers, business developers, and many others who own the experience of many years in their respective fields. The core personals are Dr. Andreas Maier (CEO), Georgi Georgiev (COO), Nedyalko Tanev (CCO), Nashat Wanli (CTO) and Zornitsa Razpopova (Head of Designs).
What differentiates them from other software, IT solutions providers is their level of expertise and creativity. They do not only design the customized outcomes but also guide the customers along the whole process to well-maintained their whole IT structure for progressive business.
Their customers are in thousands and they are all fully satisfied with the working structure, customer dealing process, and communication level of CodeCoda’s personals.
“CodeCoda guided me through the software development process in a very professional and competent manner. They know their work very well and within a few seconds, you get the best solutions,” said Daniel Avshalom, a customer.
Currently, they have their offices in Dublin, Ireland, Plovdiv, Sofia, and Bulgaria but they have plans to expand their structure on a larger scale, to facilitate the businesses on a global level.
Their mission is to deliver first-class software services to their clients on a global level with the vision of serving one customer satisfactory, to build a long term collaboration.
Stay At Home and save lives is a message that is being sent out by a popular blogger. ‘TheLifeOfJord’ has launched a self-isolation vlog challenge to help people spread the message to stay home, while at the same time inspiring others.
Coronavirus is having a massive impact on the world. There is no doubt about it, the world is at war, not with each other but against an invisible enemy. An enemy that is making people seriously ill and taking lives. The coronavirus virus is spreading at a fast rate, and the more people who go out the wider the virus will spread. That is why a popular You Tuber is sending a message out to Stay At Home.
Governments around the world are asking people to stay home. Even though more than a quarter of the world’s population is now living in self-isolation, there are still millions of people who are ignoring the requests of their government. With more than 60,000 deaths due to coronavirus as of 5 April 2020, ‘TheLifeOfJord’ wants to help encourage more people to stay home and help fight this awful virus.
The Self-Isolation Vlog Challenge is one of the most important challenges the world has ever seen. It aims to encourage people to stay home while at the same time showing people they are not alone in isolation and not alone in their fight to beat the virus and slow down the death rates.
When asked to explain more about the Self-Isolation Vlog Challenge, TheLifeOfJord replied: “These are surreal times and it feels like now we need a sense of community and connection more than ever before. That is why I wanted to create the ‘Self Isolation Vlog Challenge’ using videos sent in from people around the globe. I wanted to show that even if we’re separated by distance and borders, we are all in this together.”
The Self-Isolation Vlog Challenge which allows people to send in their own videos and show people how they are dealing with isolation and to provide inspiration to others has been hailed as a success. It has helped people to understand the seriousness of the situation we are in and is helping to convince more people to stay home. It is not only helping people to stay home, but it is also helping to provide inspiration and support to those that are struggling in such a difficult time.
“This pandemic has already changed so many lives and will continue to affect people around the world for years to come. That is unavoidable. One of the things we can control, however, is how we react to it. We can choose to focus on the negativity and uncertainty of our current situations, or we can choose to focus on creating positives out of a bad situation,” explained
There are several real estate investment strategies that allow one to take part without the need to own property. One of the better approaches is investing in a real estate property fund. Because of recent governmental changes in the UK, this option has improved even more.
Depending on one’s investment strategy, real estate or property funds allow a more diversified investment vehicle than UK Real Estate Investment Trusts (UK REITs). Real estate funds provide a guaranteed minimum dividend income and the potential for capital appreciation wanted by medium- to long-term investors. These investments are usually for either the savvy investor or a High Net Worth individual wishing to invest their wealth into a passive income program.
A new announcement at the beginning of August 2020 by the UK government in the wake of the COVID pandemic has increased the profit potential significantly for London properties and, therefore, also does the same for real estate funds that have a London focus. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, UK Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said that, “under the new rules, land will be designated in one of three categories: for growth, for renewal, and for protection.” New homes will be granted “automatic” permission to be built as part of a strategy for sweeping planning reforms in England.
The planning process is often a huge barrier for real estate to pass, and when land planning is granted, the land’s value can go up tenfold. The secretary stated that “We are cutting red tape, but not standards.” And, “I am completely overhauling the system so we can build more good quality, attractive and affordable homes faster.” Mr Jenrick added.
In his telegraph article Secretary Jenrick also said that these changes result, in a “once in a generation” chance to build the homes and amenities families need, “outdated and cumbersome” planning rules, in which it takes on average five years to approve a new housing development, are fuelling a “generational divide” between older homeowners and young people struggling to get on the property ladder. These are now problems of the past.
This change in the governmental planning process is positive for property funds with a central London focus. HULT Private Capital is one investment company that does just that. They invest in Prime Central London, Greater London, and Home Counties, and are already positioned to take full advantage of these changes.
This change in the governmental planning process is positive for property funds with a central London focus. HULT Private Capital is one investment company that does just that. They invest in Prime Central London, Greater London, and Home Counties, and are already positioned to take full advantage of these changes.
This announcement comes after the Boris Johnson’s pledge of £5bn to “build, build, build” in order to help soften the economic impact of coronavirus.
With this additional access to capital for building, the real estate sector will heat up, and those already in it should see significant profits. These governmental moves are focused on renewal areas, mostly existing urban areas, which directly benefits a fund in that market, Secretary Jenrick said, will see plans get “permission in principle,” making the process faster while allowing for appropriate checks, in order to regenerate high streets and allow new housing developments.
Property funds are a particularly useful investment vehicle, while all physical real estate investment is seen as a solid addition to any portfolio. Property funds provide unique advantages. The first is low cost investing. HULT, for example, has a minimum investment of only £20,000 (though some funds start at £250,000), allowing investors to take advantage of these government changes without the requirement of a substantial down payment that buying a single London property would require.
Property funds allow for passive investment and are professionally managed. Rather than finding a property and going through the purchase process, a fund such as one offered by HULT Private Capital is managed by professional real estate investors. They have experience in finding and recognising the best deals and have an 8% guaranteed return with up to12%+ per annum without the investor having to lift a finger.
The last two advantages that a property fund offers are diversification and liquidity. Property funds invest in multiple properties, which reduces their investment risk by portfolio diversification. A single property is not at all diversified. It runs the risk of an outside circumstance having an impact on that property’s profits, such as a nonpaying tenant, a zoning order, or a change in that housing market bringing prices down. Finally, a real estate fund allows for liquidity. A single property may not be sold for the desired price for years. With property funds horizons are known, HULT Private Capital, for example, has between 3 to 5 year investment options, allowing accurate planning of the investment horizon. Investors can also choose compound interest reinvestment options to increase returns as well.
Because of the governmental changes regarding the planning process in the UK, it is now the perfect time to invest with a property fund. The opportunity for consistent yearly gains is available, with funds like the ones backed with prestige class bank guaranteed capital assets, available through HULT Private Capital. These property funds are both Sharia-compliant, and for some potentially tax-free, investors can add to their portfolio and take full advantage with all of the benefits now available.
For more information about how Property Investments can benefit you. Click Here
A new book has been released by Emily Smith, one of the most exciting authors of 2020. Her new book Blade has been described by some as too hot to handle, while others have said it is a book that women should read alone. Since being released it has gained worldwide exposure, and once you have read the book then you will understand why it has become a talking point.
Blade which is set in a local fitness gym has everything a reader could want from a book. It has drama, danger, and excitement. The book is one of those books that once the reader starts reading, they can’t put it down.
Emily Smith new book which is currently available on Amazon as a Kindle download, follows the main characters who are all ex-cons. Even though they are ex-cons, they have all good hearts. The Blade Fitness becomes famous, not for having one of the best gyms around, it has become for the ex-cons who are now instructors. With their good lucks, fitness, and charm. Oh, and it also helps that they have MMA skills, the gym has become a hot spot with the ladies.
With so much excitement surrounding the book, we decided to learn more about Blade and the author and sat down with Emily Smith to learn more about her new book.
You have written a new book called Blade can you explain more about the book?
A1: The idea that a rough and tumble guy could have a chance with a girl who is his complete opposite gets me turning a page every time. I thought, what would happen if his match is young, smart, and happens to be curvy? A notion of how far two people would go to come together when they each have troubled pasts, and the character Blade was born.
Some people have said while reading Blade, they have got a bit hot under the collar, was that your aim?
A2: There are sensual moments; however, I never set out to write them in such a way. They happen from the characters: Blade is quite an alpha and over the top enough to prove it. When he commits to a woman, it is for life. If people get a rush of excitement, whatever the means, I always hope it will be magnetic.
Since being released, it has gained worldwide exposure, how do you feel about the positive exposure Blade has received?
A3: The response to Blade is fantastic. As a storyteller, you crave giving your reader something that takes them someplace where they are going to get a happy ending. There always must be a romantic Ever After.
Why did you decide to set the story around a fitness gym club?
A4: For me, “where” a story takes place rises from a protagonist’s world.
The location of a gym gave a realness that many people may identify with:
How many times have we been in a gym to get into shape and get floored by an instructor instead, who is so dreamy we instantly crush on them? (Raising my hand…)
I read your bio, and it says you write about Sexy, Steamy, and Sweet Romances between the Alpha Men and their charmful Destined Heroines in the modern city, why have you chosen to write about this topic?
A5: It is never the intention. The stories evolve from the characters, as I mentioned. When they realize they want more than the casual, hey, how it’s hanging? The romance can rocket from sweet and sexy to all-out steamy. Alphas ready for love but who don’t know what that might look like seemed the pragmatic choice for a contemporary curvy young woman romance.
How did you do your research for your book, did you have to go to lots of gym’s and meet lots of muscle men?
A6: Visit the gym anywhere just once: There is enough testosterone from gym trainer hottie to fuel your “What ifs” for days. Yes, I have met guys with muscles and physiques to pine for: the frustrating thing about being a girl is how easily it comes to them. While I must spin or cross-train for days on days.
Are any of the characters in the book based on anyone you know?
A7: A few (their names and predilections have been changed to protect the ‘unintentionally misbehaved.’
If Hollywood came knocking and asked to make the book into a film, who would be your ideal men to star in the film?
A8: That’s a provocative question. Today’s movie stars seem so far to middling from the more prominent stars say, even a decade ago. (Notice the small-town girl in me?) If there was a young Taron Egerton (The Kingsman) or a fetching Henry Cavill, I’d say anyone like them could definitely fit the bill.
A lot of people have different techniques when it comes to writing, JK Rowling uses to go to a café to write when she wrote her first book, where do you do your writing?
A9: As a writer, you’re always writing. In the bath, while you’re folding origami — Okay, maybe not origami, but inspiration happens when you’re frequently engaged in the mundane. It’s how it occurs to me when I’m not “thinking” about it.
Do you find it easy to write sexy, and steamy books?
A10: No! When it does surface, it is organic to the story.
Where do you get your inspiration from when writing your books?
A11: I often feel an affinity with movies. I can watch “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” to “Salt,” A story will form from the simplest memes. ‘The best time to be is now, and all we can say is, “Let’s rock”!’ — Bill and Ted.
Some writers have to get into the right mindset when writing their books, some people dress up as their character, while others put on sexy music when writing the sexy parts of their book, what method do you use?
A12: I open up a blank page and type the first sentence of each chapter I know I want to write. Paragraphs from those words and then the story follows.
How did you get into writing?
A13: I didn’t. Writing chose me. Creating a story and world from thoughts and imagination — they’re few things as masterful.
With so many great reviews, is there going to be a follow up to Blade?
A14: I hope so. Blade and his friends are “the antihero” you’d want to have your back — every time!
If there is one book to buy this year then it has to be Blade, MMA Alphas’ Love And Romance. Since being launched, the book which was written by Emily Smith and is the first in the series, has become one of the most talked about books of 2020.
Blade, has everything a reader could want from a book including drama, danger, and excitement. The book which is about a local fitness gym club called Blade Fitness is one of those books that once the reader starts reading, they can’t put it down.
The book which is currently available on Amazon as a Kindle download, follows the main characters who are all ex-cons. Even though they are ex-cons, they have all good hearts. The Blade Fitness becomes famous, not for having one of the best gyms around, it has become for the ex-cons who are now instructors. With their good lucks, fitness, and charm. Oh, and it also helps that they have MMA skills, the gym has become a hot spot with the ladies.
When asked to explain more about the book, the author commented: “Although the background of the book cover is the MMA fighting cage, there is no MMA competition in the book, the male characters are only showing their MMA skills when the female character facing some dangers.”
The Instalove Story has cleverly been written to make the reader feel they are there beside the muscly men in the story. One of the most commented reviews about the book is how the reader felt they were part of the story, a technique not many authors manage to grasp.
Haryana-India, Sharetipsinfo, the household name for devising Indian stock market trading and MCX tips, proudly launches its Crowd Funding campaign for inviting word-wide investors to invest in their new global project. The project centers around the unique idea of FOREX Trading on a Daily Fix Return and hoping a large number of investors. The campaign will be formally launched through the Sharetipsinfo platform on 15 August, 2020.
After the launch of Mobile Site, Interactive online trading workshops, and different business ventures, this is another luminary step by Sharetipsinfo on the road of success. FOREX trading on Daily Fix Returns is an unprecedented step towards making young entrepreneurs compatible in the pursuit of their financial dreams in the realm of currency exchange market.
Engineering MCX and Stock Market tips for more than one and half decades, without a shred of doubt, Sharetipsinfo has the capacity to and space in the industry to launch such ambitious plans. With approximately 5.3 Trillion Dollar Trading daily in the FOREX market, this venture to explore FOREX trading is the right step in the right direction.
We have expanded our operating in the whole of India, and now we are looking at the bigger picture. Let’s expand globally. We are coming out with a unique concept in FOREX trading to attract even very small trader. Let everyone grow together, expresses Rishi Sakhuja, the founder of Sharetipsinfo.
Standing on the percept of Guide Your Funds in a Better Way to Grow, Sharetipsinfo has been a source of Stock Market Tips for amateurs as well as established businesses to shield against the index of vulnerabilities and invest in the Indian market with minimum possible risks. The high rate of success and satisfied pyramid of the customers has earned Sharetipsinfo the reputation and brand value to expand into other countries of Asia, besides exploring the untrodden paths.
About Sharetipsinfo
Sharetipsinfo is a SEBI registered Investment Advisor, and ISO certified company established in 2006 and curates stock market research reports, MCX Tips, and stock market tips of Equity, Stock future, Options, Nifty, and Commodity. Sharetipsinfo covers all major Indian stock exchanges like NSE, BSE, MCX and NCDEX.
Sharetipsinfo can help, visit www.Sharetipsinfo.com
Hays Travel, which is run by husband and wife team John and Irene Hays has today announced they are cutting 878 jobs. The high street travel agency who came to the rescue of Thomas Cook staff who were made redundant after the company was badly run for many years have said they feel so sad they have to make job cuts.
The Sunderland based company which employs 4,500 people after taking on 2,000 former Thomas Cook employees are struggling like many other travel companies due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
John and Irene have said the job cuts are a result of the Spanish travel restrictions which saw hundreds of thousands of holidays cancelled.
They were “devastated” staff would lose jobs “through no fault of their own,” the couple said.
The couple gave a joint statement on the news where they explained job cuts is the last thing they ever wanted to do and was the last thing they thought they would be forced to do.
“we have made every possible effort to protect the jobs of all our staff including those who were employed when Hays Travel took on the Thomas Cook shops last October.”
Hays Travel have said it was now consulting with 344 staff training as travel consultants and the 534 who work in the foreign exchange division.
John and Irene have said that experienced travel sale staff, head office staff and apprentices would not be affected by the cuts.
“We are devastated that after all of our efforts and the huge investment we’ve made we now face losing some of our valued employees, through no fault of their own.
“Following the decision to ban travel to Spain and the changes in furlough conditions coming at the same time, we have had no choice,” it added.
This sad news from Hays Travel could just be the start. Other travel companies and airlines have announced major job cuts, but many believe that if the restrictions continue then more travel jobs could be lost. TUI, known as the biggest travel company in the UK could be forced to reduce their workforce even further. Travel experts have predicted that holidaynmakers will be affected in the long run with holiday prices increasing to cover the loss, which has been backed by our own life and style senior editor Tim Ellis.
Nolan sisters Linda and Anne are both tackling cancer after being diagnosed days apart
One of the best loved girl groups of all time have gone through the mill since finding fame as the Nolans. With the loss of Bernie Nolan who died in her sleep, at her home in Surrey, on 4 July 2013, aged 52, the Nolan sisters have like so many millions of other people had the fear of catching the deadly disease on their minds every day of the week.
Anne and Linda Nolan suffered from the disease in 2000 and 2006 respectively but they recovered However, Linda Nolan who said she was sexually assaulted by Rolf Harris in 1975 found out in 2017 that she had incurable secondary breast cancer on her pelvis. Now, Anne Nolan has revealed that she has also been diagnosed once again with cancer.
Linda and Anne Nolan have announced that they have both been diagnosed with cancer.
Anne Nolan revealed the devastating news to her sisters following the filming of their TV series The Nolan’s Go Cruising earlier this year.
Linda Nolan said of Anne’s news: “On May 7, our sister Maureen called me at 10am to say that Anne’s breast cancer had been confirmed. Then half an hour later my oncologist’s secretary phoned me to say, ‘We need you to have an MRI scan because we’ve seen something on your liver’.
Anne Nolan, 69, is hoping to beat the cancer once again with the help of chemo.
“The cancer hasn’t metastasised, it’s just contained in the breast. That was an amazing thing to hear really.
“I keep telling myself the chemo is horrible, but hopefully it’s doing its job. And it’s not a case of being brave. I’m not brave. I haven’t been brave at all – I’ve been crying and probably stressing my sisters and my daughters.
“So, I’m not brave. I just haven’t got any choice. Either I do it, take chemo, or face the consequences,” explained Anne.
If you are a parent and have children under the age of 12, then you know how important child car seats are. Since 2006 child car seats have been an essential piece of motor vehicle equipment for parents, but sadly, child car seats have also been very problematic.
Child car seats have a reputation of being bulky, heavy, and let us be honest a nightmare to fit in a car. But now, that has changed. A new child car seat called the Taxie Professional Child Car seat has made parents lives so much easier. It is lightweight, it can be portable, and it is so easy to install.
The Taxie Professional Child Car Seat has gained worldwide exposure since the announcement it was set to be launched on the market. Looking at the design of the child seat, and all the extras it provides, and how it can easily be carried around when not in use, it is no wonder why so many product reviewers are talking about it. So, we decided to sit down with the people behind the Taxie Professional Child Car Seat and learn more about it.
You have just released a new product, can you tell me more about it?
Taxie professional car seat is the world’s smallest and the lightest ECE-R129 child car seat designed for all children over 76cm.
There are hundreds if not thousands of child car seats around, so what makes your car seat so special and why should people be interested?
As a parent, I always think every vehicle should provide child safety protection. If only child car seat small enough to store on every car, then children will be well protected. That is the reason for us to develop Taxie. Our design allows transportation like Taxi and Uber to carry a child car seat all the time. Children between 15months to 12 years old will protect at the latest ECE-R129 standard.
I have read that your child seat can be folded and is so small that it can easily be carried around, surely that is not true is it?
Taxie is the smallest child car seat that complies with the ECE-R129 regulation. It is 55% smaller than the other major competitor in the market. For example, Taxie is the only child car seat in its kind to fit into a mini cooper’s boot. It just means drivers can have a child car seat standby all the time for a young passenger.
That is so incredible. Is it also true that your car seat is also the lightest for children over 15 months old?
That’s right, Taxie is less than half the weight of the competitor. The reason is that we have found a way to provides the latest ECE-R129 level of protection without the need for Isofix and top-tether strap (or anti-rotation leg). That not only allow Taxie to become the smallest and the lightest ECE-R129 car seat, also make Taxie quicker and easier to install.
That is incredible. That means if you plan to take your child in a taxi, or a friends car and they don’t have a child car seat, you can simply take your own?
Yes, you can simply take Taxie with you, and your child will be protected at the latest ECE-R129 safety standard. But what we really want is: Every taxis and minibus will have a child car seat ready for children to use. Taxie is only a tool to allow public transport to take back the responsibility to provide children with a safe journey.
How important was it when designing the Taxie professional car seat to make it lightweight and portable?
That is critical. Drivers have different needs when compare to parents. Drivers need to install and uninstall the child car seat every time. A big and bulky child car seat means the driver needs to spend longer time to prepare, and the real nightmare for many drivers are logistic. A big and bulky child car seat always mean the driver need to travel back and forth the headquarter to pick up and return the child car seat. It wastes time and fuel.
Would you say that your child car seat is so small it could fit underneath some car seats?
Vehicles come in a different size. And I think the user will need to check on their vehicle to get the answer. FYI, Taxie dimensions are 55.1 x 44 x 30.4cm.
There are still millions of parents around the world who don’t have a child car seat in their car, which according to reports is down to the price and how bulky they are and how hard they are to fit. Was this something you looked into when you designed your child car seat?
Yes, that is why we design a child car seat for the drivers; in that case, parents do not even need to own a child car seat. And the drivers will take the responsibility to install and uninstall the child car seat.
Most parents will have the child car seats installed and hardly remove it from the vehicles afterwards. But some parents have a small car, and some grandparents simply want a child car seat ready whenever their grandson/granddaughter visit. For them, a child car seat that is safe (ECE-R129), and that is small enough to store in the vehicle boot is essential. And Taxie is the only child car seat in this class can store in the boot of a mini cooper.
What testing has been done on the Taxie professional car seat to make sure it is safe and secure when an accident happens?
Taxie has been tested based on the ECE-R129 standard, and we are confident to go into production to prepare for the final test. With the early help from the Automotive Research & Testing Center (ARTC) and now our Computer Aid Engineer analyzes specialist, Taxie professional car seat has pass CAE test on both front/rear/side-impact requirement stated in ECE-R129. CAE is a professional tool that widely uses in the automobile industry. Their use has enabled the automakers to reduce product development cost and time while improving the safety, comfort, and durability of the vehicles they produce.
Taxie has been designed and engineered to comply with worldwide regulatory standards. On delivery, Taxie will comply with UN ECE R129/03 for most countries.
You said that when you looked at designing your child car seat you did a lot of research and studies, what type of research and studies did you do?
We research many different areas. One key area is to understand how professional drivers use a child car seat and what kind of problems they are facing. Then we know what space we need to improve. We simply talk to them, show them prototypes and photos and ask for feedback. Then we learn that how small they need a child car seat to be and how difficult to keep child car seat clean with germ-free and how much they want to avoid to bring a wrong size of a child car seat and how much time and fuse they have wasted on a trip that required a child car seat. All of this understanding help us design Taxie into what it is. A professional child car seat.
Another key research area is related to the new safety regulation, ECE-R129 is updating in the last few years, and each revision shows new requirements and as well as new opportunities for innovation. Which allow us to remove Isofix on Taxie to reduce product size, and also enabled us to remove the top-tether strap to save installation time.
Some child car seats are designed to fit a child up to a certain age or weight, does your car seat have any limitations?
Yes, Taxie is designed for a child with height in between 76cm and 150 cm. For your information, Taxie is a convertible child car seat which means it is an i-Size booster seat when a child with height over 95cm uses it; and Taxie is an Integral Universal Belted car seat when used by a child with a height between 76cm – 150cm.
How much can we expect to pay for a Taxie Professional car seat, and what countries is it available in?
The retail price of Taxie is £299. And we will first launch on a crowdfunding platform IndieGoGo with a heavily discounted rate. So don’t miss it.
And regarding countries, we will ship to all countries that follow UNECE Regulation 44 or Regulation 129. In this case, the U.K., all E.U. countries, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Hongkong, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa, etc.
Are there plans on bringing the child car seat to the U.K. market?
Yes, indeed. Please stay tuned.
With the child car seat being so lightweight, portable, and available at an affordable price, would it not make sense for uber drivers and taxi drivers to have one in their car for when they have a young family as passengers?
Absolutely, we are already in talks with some ride-hailing platforms as well as rental car companies. To provide opportunities for those service providers to stand out from the competition, as well to provide a safe journey that every child deserve.
You have not mentioned how quickly the car seat can be installed, lets face it, car seats can be very annoying to install and can take time, so how easy is your car seat to install?
We put effort to improve child safety protection without the use of an Isofix and top-tether strap. By that, in a scenario of a 7-year-old child, installation is 25% faster.
There is one important question that does need answering. We are going through the COVID19 pandemic which could be around for years, and people are now becoming concerned about bacteria. If a Uber or Taxi driver has this in their vehicle, how easy is it to clean?
We heard that concern from drivers and parents, that is especially important for a child car seat used in a public transport vehicle. And so we designed Safe-T Shield. This unique Safe.t Shield application implemented in 3 directions:
The integral bacterial and fungal protection
Safe-T Shield is based on Zinc Pyrithione and applied to cloth during the dyeing process. It will first destabilize the bacteria and fungi cell membrane, then inhibit the generation of energy and finally prevent the storage of energy, which prevents bacteria and fungi from multiplying and spreading on its surfaces.
Easy clean coating
A splash-proof layer, applied to the cloth cover, prevents liquids passing through the cloth cover, thereby keeping the car seat structure clean. It also means that dirt cannot cling to the cloth cover surface, making it much easier to wash or wipe clean. And finally,
Night Safety Feature
The reflective element added to the cloth cover makes the safety seat visible in a darkened situation. Increased visibility at night means an increased safety level for the driver and the passengers.
Is it true you have already won an award for the child seat?
That’s right. Taxie just received Red-dot design award 2020. This year, a total of 4,170 entries from 52 countries were submitted, and only 5.5% of the entries win a prize, it means achieving the Red Dot Award an outstanding feat of accomplishment.
This child car seat has changed the road safety market. For more information on the new child car seat, please visit www.trafold.co.uk
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, rapper Stormzy, Sir David Attenborough and Meghan, Duchess Of Sussex are amongst the 30 most influential people in London.
2020’s London Power 100 which has been released today sets out to celebrate and identify the 100 most powerful and influential people in London.
Newcomers include British billionaire S. P. Hinduja, singer Harry Styles and Tottenham MP David Lammy whilst Dragons’ Den tycoon Tej Lalvani and West Ham United Football Club’s CEO Baroness Karren Brady all made a debut on the list.
Notably missing from the list are Adele, George Osborne whilst political activist Katie Hopkins, and businessman Sir Phillip Green didn’t make the cut this year either.
The top 20 on the 100 most powerful and influential people in London list are:
Skegness, which has seen a great deal of investment in recent years has another reason to celebrate with news of a new high wire adventure attraction.
The new high wire attraction will be suspended 70 feet in the air and will include 44 obstacles of different shapes and sizes. The new attraction dubbed ‘Altitude44’ is expected to attract new tourism to the area.
The owners of the high wire attraction Magna Vitae submitted their application in July 2018 and have now been granted planning permission. The work is expected to be completed ready for the summer season.
Magna Vitae who want to increase tourism in Skegness has said the new attraction will be open all year round, which means a much-needed boost to visiting numbers out of season.
Councillor Steve Kirk, the portfolio holder for the coastal economy at East Lindsey District Council, said: “This will provide a brilliant new attraction in Skegness and, I’m sure, will be a unique experience for those who tackle it.”
The high wire will be located next to a café and outdoor swimming pool is not for the faint hearted or those that have a fear of heights.
With the new £8million Premier Inn Hotel opening in April, and with new planned investment in the area, Skegness has become a thriving seaside resort.
The X Factor and judge Cheryl Cole will be back on our screens next year – ending days of speculation after Simon Cowell threatened to axe the show.
X Factor Cheryl Cole will be judge on next years X Factor show says Simon Cowell even though Cheryl Cole said that she wanted to leave the X factor Show to start a family.
Simon Cowell is reported to have won his battle to keep Cheryl Cole as a judge on the X Factor show after he and the producers of the ITV hit music talent show panicked when Cheryl Cole said she wanted to leave the show.
But according to sources on the X Factor show, Simon has won his battle to keep the nations favourite judge which was helped with Joe winning this years X factor show.
“Cheryl Cole will see a huge increase which could even be double her £1.2 million deal to be a judge on the show,” says an ITV source
“Simon Cowell knows that Cheryl has helped make the hit show a success and he was shocked that she wanted to leave but now Cheryl has decided to say which has put a smile back on Simons face”
Cheryl Cole is said to be delighted at returning to the X Factor show, which has helped to make her a household name and is looking forward to be the winning judge for the third year in a row.
Tesco is upsetting customers with strange rules that seem to contradict adverts promoting Tesco’s. The Supermarket chain, which Tesco claims to be the biggest and the best Supermarket in the UK, has come under fire in recent weeks for silly rules and regulations and this week is no different.
The supermarket chain who was in the media for banning people wearing pyjamas when visiting the store even though they promoted this in one of their high profile adverts has this week gone even further by banning a father from carrying his daughter on his shoulders.
Taxi Driver Martin Dunkley, 48, from Cambridgeshire was entering the Bar Hill Tesco with his six-year-old daughter when a security guard told him that he would have to take his daughter off his shoulders and if he refused he would be told to leave the store.
Martin could not believe his ears and thought it was a joke but the security guard was very serious and explained to the father that if he did not obey they instructions then Tesco would have no alternative but to ask him to leave the store until he was prepared to follow the Tesco strict rules.
When Martin asked the security guard why carrying his daughter on his shoulders was such a problem, the security guard explained to him that it was health and safety and by carrying his daughter on his shoulders he could cause injury to another shopper.
The shocked Taxi driver refused and left the store and vowed never to shop at Tesco again, calling the rules stupid and childish.
A Tesco spokeswoman has asked Martin Dunkley to come back to the store for a meeting with the manager to discuss the matter, explaining that they value their customers but they also take health and safety very seriously.
Tesco has been hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons and it is not just the customers that the superstore likes to pick on.
Staff at a Tesco superstore has reported to their union that their manager has instructed security to monitor staff going to the toilet to see how long they spend inside the toilet and if they spend too much time then they face a warning from their line manager.
According to one member of staff who did not want to be named: “We now have to run to the toilet and get out as quickly as we can otherwise we are asked to go upstairs in front of our Line Manager to explain why we were in the toilet for so long. Working for Tesco was a pleasure but now all the staff feel they are being treated worse than slaves.”
With the troubles in Egypt, holidaymakers have been cancelling their holidays to Egypt for 2013 since In2town lifestyle News ran a story warning holidaymakers to speak to their travel agent about changing their holiday destination.
Even though Egypt has become a trouble spot, high street travel agents such as Thomson, Thomas Cook and First Choice have continued to sell holidays to Egypt and the popular Egypt Red Sea resort. This has angered travel reporters who feel the holiday companies should be putting all sales to Egypt on hold.
Reports have emerged that holidaymakers have cancelled their holidays to Egypt for 2014 and bookings have gone down like a lead balloon, these claims have been denied by Thomson and Thomas Cook who claim there is not a problem with sales to Egypt’s Red Sea resorts.
A source at Thomas Cook has told In2town News, “Sales have gone right down for the Red Sea resorts, holidaymakers who were going there each year have now altered their plans because of the troubles, we have also seen a large number of cancelled bookings as well as holidaymakers asking for their holidays for this year to be changed to another destination.”
High street travel agents are trying to ignore the problem in Egypt and are continuing to sell holidays to the troubled country even though other countries such as Germany have advised to only visit Egypt if it is essential.
It seems in the UK the high street travel agents are more interested in money than the enjoyment of their holidaymakers.
Obesity is a serious problem in our country today. According to the CDC, over 35% of the adults in the United States are obese, and more and more children are becoming overweight. This trend in obesity is occurring because of things like the readily available junk food in schools, the increasingly sedentary lifestyle of most Americans, and the surprising lack of exercise that afflicts our modern society. However, a scientific study conducted in 2011 strongly suggests that alcoholism contributes to obesity.
Study Suggests Link between Food Addiction and Family Alcoholism
The study, done by researchers at Washington School of Medicine in St. Louis, found a connection between family alcoholism and food addiction. Food addiction, or the compulsive urge to overeat, occurs more commonly among families that already have an addiction problem. The study, which looked at data from 1991 to 2001, found that adults with a family history of alcoholism were 30% to 40% more likely to struggle with obesity than those who had no family history of alcoholism.
Addicting Food
One reason for the connection between alcoholism and food addiction is that there is a genetic component to addiction, and food can be just as addicting as a drug. The fast food that is convenient and popular in our country today causes a rush of dopamine in the brain when consumed – this is the same reaction individuals get when abusing drugs or alcohol. Those with a predisposition to addiction will also find it harder to resist the urge to overeat unhealthy foods, and the result is obesity.
The other reason food addiction is commonly linked to alcoholism is the devastating impact alcoholism has on family members. Children, spouses, and other family members suffer when a loved one is an alcoholic. The dysfunction of an alcoholic family leads to poor self-esteem, difficulty learning, lack of motivation, and emotional distress. These are unfortunately all things that can steer someone toward a food addiction as they get older.
Alcoholism and food disorders both have far-reaching effects for family members and loved ones. Anyone struggling with alcoholism or a food addiction, or who has a family member struggling with either disease, is encouraged to get help as soon as possible. Professional help is needed in order heal the damage caused by these diseases. Don’t wait until the symptoms outweigh the problems, millions of Americans have recovered from alcoholism and millions more have regained their health after a period of obesity.
REMEMBER when lockdown first hit and you had all those plans what you were going to do while staying at home, How’s that going?
With the COVID19 pandemic more of us are finding we have more times on our hands thanks to the imposed and self-imposed lockdown. So, we thought it would be a good idea to talk to a leading lifestyle and decluttering expert to receive tips for decluttering the home during lockdown.
Marla Stone, the founder I-Deal Lifestyle knows all about clutter. As well as writing a book about Decluttering (The Clutter Remedy: A Guide to Getting Organized for Those Who Love Their Stuff) which is available on Amazon, she has also helped more than 4000 people to get organized. Due to her experience, she has been featured in media all over the world, so it made sense to speak to Marla Stone to receive tips on how to declutter the home during lockdown.
For many of us, we have homes with lots of stuff that we do not use or do not want but we still keep them. So, lets use our spare time in lockdown and declutter the home with the help of Marla Stone.
Lockdown can have an emotional impact on you and your loved ones. The top 10-tips for Decluttering are:
Take care of your inner, negative, emotional feelings that are coming up inside. Being cooped up and cheerful is difficult enough physically, but when your emotional body is out of whack, motivation for change can dwindle.
Work through, healing inner past and current irritations and wounds, that may surface. Acknowledge things that have bothered you, talk to that hurt part of you. Tell your wounded self “It wasn’t your fault, it was wrong and it’s not happening anymore.” Validating a younger wounded part of you is the way to clear up emotional clutter.
This is a great time to contemplate all the dreams and goals that you’ve forgotten about or swept by the wayside. Make a list of dream goals you’ve always wanted to accomplish and write 3 specific ways to achieve the goals.
Go around your entire home taking before photos of every room. Include the Inside of every drawer, closet and cabinet. Take note of overstuffed space versus empty space.
Use The Clutter Remedy Clear and Concise Criteria. Ask yourself these four criteria questions to declutter your stuff: Will I use it? Does it serve a purpose? Is it sentimental? Do I love it?
After identifying what you will keep, fine-tune each broad category. For instance in a garage, broad categories can be sports, tools, holiday, extra bedding, pool stuff, and kids toys. Make sure each category is contained in clear bins with lids. Bicycles can be hung and large toy set into shelving. Nothing goes directly on shelves or on the floor.
Next, plan your space well. Find shelving, cabinets, armoires and any storage options to put away your binned categories.
Take after pictures of all the areas you have remedied.
Now kick up your feet and relax before you get to the next area of your home.
Former Celebrity Big Brother contestant Denise Welch is planning to marry her toy boy after her young lover proposed.
Denise Welch who is no stranger to weddings was thrilled when her boyfriend Lincoln Townley proposed while they were on holiday together in Nice.
The Loose Women presenter told the Mirror: “I had no idea the proposal was coming,”
Denise Welch who broke the news of her split to Tim Healy on Loose Women started officially dating Townley after her marriage ended, although some claim the presenter who likes to get her boobs out was dating her toy boy before her marriage broke down.
‘Denise Welch Is Getting Married To Her Toy Boy’
The sexy presenter is hoping to marry her toy boy who now works as her publicist next July although it is not clear if her soon to be ex-husband Tim Healy will attend.
“Lincoln knew fairly early on that Denise was ‘the one’ and, over the past few months, they have become inseparable. This past year has been incredibly hard but Lincoln has been an absolute tower of strength,” a source said.
“He planned the proposal with military precision and even asked for Denise’s dad’s blessing. It was completely unexpected and Denise was stunned but now she can’t wait to plan an amazing wedding.”
EastEnders Have Suspended Jessie Wallace After Incident During Filming
Jessie Wallace, who plays Kat Slater on EastEnders has been suspended from the BBC1 soap after a serious incident during filming. The actress who has played Kat Slater on EastEnders for nearly two decades has not spoken about the reason behind her suspension.
EastEnders bosses have refused to comment on the incident that has resulted in Jessie Wallace being suspended for two months, but it has been confirmed that writers have been asked to find a way to explain for her absence from the show.
After the incident took place, Jessie Wallace was asked to attend an emergency meeting with bosses of EastEnders who informed her that her behaviour was unacceptable, and they had no alternative but to punish her. She was informed that she would not be allowed to return to the soap for two months.
An insider informed Lincolnshire News Today that the whole cast is shocked over the incident while some feel suspending Jessie Wallace was over the top.
Jessie Wallace Suspended From EastEnders Shocks Cast
Our source on EastEnders said they felt Bosses had no alternative to suspend Jessie Wallace, even though she admits that many of the cast are right behind her and want the suspension lifted.
Scriptwriters are now working hard to explain why Jessie Wallace, 48, has temporarily left the show. Thankfully according to our source, Jessie has already filmed all the major storylines that involve the big River Thames storyline for the 35th Anniversary of the show, which will air on February 19.
What You Need To Know About Moving To Spain Post Brexit
Moving to Spain after Brexit. Each year more than 18.8 million people visit Spain with thousands of them deciding to stay for good. According to official figures, 69% of British people living in the EU live in Spain, making Spain the perfect choice for a new life. With more than 300,000 British Citizens living in Spain it has become one of the most popular countries to move to for a new life.
Since it was decided to leave the EU, those thinking of moving to Spain after Brexit have been wondering how leaving the EU will affect them. We have put together a guide of moving to Spain after Brexit to provide people with all the information they need. This guide has been put together with the help of Nicks Removals, who help people from the UK to move to Spain with their professional removal service.
Can Brits still move to Spain after Brexit?
Yes! People living in the UK can still move to Spain after Brexit.
The Spanish Government have always said that they will welcome British holidaymakers and British citizens who want to visit and live in Spain. So, as far as moving to Spain after Brexit is concerned, nothing has changed.
Moving to Spain after Brexit
It is important that those wishing to move to Spain after Brexit to gain Spanish residency as soon as possible to avoid any changes that could taken place after the 31st December 2020 when the transition period has expired.
It is currently taking longer for people to obtain resident status in Spain due to people moving to Spain and those already living in Spain applying for residency before 31st December 2020.
To gain residency in Spain the authorities want to make sure that you have the financial funds to support yourself. They want to make sure that those moving to Spain are not going to be a burden on the state. So, to obtain residency in Spain, those moving to Spain after Brexit mist prove they have an income of more than 700 Euros each month.
British expats in Spain after Brexit – How To Apply To Live There?
For those people living in Spain for at least five year, they will be able to make an application for indefinite permission to live in Spain, this is called ‘permiso de residencia de larga duración’. This means ‘long term residence permit’.
To stay living in Spain after Brexit there are four main conditions.
No criminal record
That you have not been ejected from Spain
You have private health insurance
You have a net monthly income of at least £700 for a family of two. For each additional member of the family, you will need to prove that you have an extra £266 per month per person.
Working In Spain After Brexit
For those people wishing to move to Spain from the UK and want to work in Spain after Brexit, they will need to apply for ‘permiso de residencia no lucrativa’ which is a ‘non-profit visa’. You must prove that you have enough money to live on from a permanent income.
Moving to Spain after Brexit as self-employed
If you are self-employed and want to move to Spain, then you will need to apply for Autonomo’. You will need to show proof of self-employment while applying for permanent.
You will need to show that you have the relevant qualifications
Have enough funds to invest and run the business to make it viable
Provide details of the number of people you will employ if you intend to employ anyone
Show proof that you have enough funds to support yourself.
You will be asked for a business plan. It is important to make sure that this is understandable for Spanish Authorities. It may be worth speaking to other business owners to ask for advice.
When moving to Spain after brexit you will also have to confirm that you don’t suffer from a serious illness.
Retiring after Brexit
Spain has become one of the most popular places in the world to retire to. Retiring in Spain after Brexit is currently the same as it has always been, but it may change in 2021.
In order to retire in Spain after Brexit, you will have to confirm the following:
You have no serious illness
You have an income of at least £2,000 per month
Proof of ability to sustain this income for one year
The process – what happens when you are accepted?
When you have been accepted, you will be issued a visa within 1 month. You must enter Spain within 3 months for this to remain valid. If you have permission to work and you don’t register with the social security office within three months of your arrival, your right to remain will lapse.
Where to apply for permission to live in Spain, after Brexit
It is important when moving to Spain after Brexit that you gain permission to live there as soon as possible. When you want to apply to permission to live in Spain after Brexit you will need to have all the correct documentation when visiting the local Spanish Consulate.
A Thomas Cook holiday rep has died on the Greek island of Kos. It is believe the holiday rep died suddenly from a heart attack but these claims have not been official confirmed as yet.
Ashley Deveney, from paisley in Scotland had been working for Thomas Cook in their kids club. The 27 year old was taken to the doctor when she became ill but suddenly died later.
The Thomas Cook rep was said to be an outgoing member of the team who made the kids happy who attended the kids club.
Ashley Deveney mum who works for the Daily Record newspaper said: “I cannot begin to explain how deeply distressing this is for our family or how we will even begin to come to terms with the loss of our beautiful daughter.
“Ashleigh was a bright, fun-loving girl who was deeply loved by her family, friends, colleagues and Thomas Cook customers.
“She adored working with children, loved her life overseas and made many friends.
“It gives us some comfort and makes us proud to read all the heartfelt messages we have received and to know Ashleigh was so happy in her life at the time of her sudden death.
“We cannot thank everyone enough for their support.”
The funeral for Ashley Deveney will take place in her home town on 13th August 2013.
Great news for Benidorm and the people visiting Benidorm, the beach in Benidorm has been voted the second best beach in Spain by the users of Trip Advisor.
Tourist bosses in Benidorm who have become worried about the bad reputation Benidorm has been receiving due to the high level of crime in the area are pleased they finally have some good news to shout about. The tourist bosses who have seen holiday makers turn their back on Benidorm due to the high level of pickpockets and muggings that have been happening recently, hope with the news that Benidorm has the second best beach in Spain will help bring back the tourist who have turned their back on the popular holiday destination.
Puerto Alcudia, Benidorm, Playa del Ingles, Corralejo, Puerto del Carmen, Salou, Palma Nova, Magalluf, Puerto Rico, and Cala D’Or. Oddly only two of these resorts are on the Spanish mainland, four are in Mallorca and the other four in the Canary Islands.
More good news for Benidorm tourist bosses, Benidorm was voted the 5th best beach in Europe with first place going to Oludeniz (Turkey)
Oludeniz (Turkey), Icmeler (Turkey), Puerto Alcudia (Mallorca), Bournemouth (UK), Benidorm (Spain), Albufeira (Portugal), Antalya (Turkey), Playa del Ingles, Corralejo and Puerto del Carmen (Canary Islands.
It has been a bad week for Benidorm with former BBC Radio host Jimmy Carol being attacked after a show and now with the shooting in Benidorm that took place on Wednesday evening. The two shocking incidents have had a damaging effect on the once popular Spanish resort.
On Tuesday (3 July 2018) of this week, a popular ex-BBC radio presenter and comedian was left in an induced coma after being attacked in a bar in Benidorm after a show. Jimmy Carol, 63, was rushed to hospital after suffering a bleed on the brain in the unprovoked attack.
In the same week on Wednesday 4th July 2018 three people were shot in a popular Benidorm nightclub. A British tourist was shot outside the Hippodrome nightclub while two other men were injured during the shooting which happened at around 11 pm.
Police are now hunting for four men in relation to the Benidorm shooting, but although the police have assured holidaymakers that Benidorm is a safe place to visit, many of those who have a holiday booked are not convinced.
Shooting In Benidorm
According to a source at leading travel agent, hundreds of holidaymakers are contacting them and asking if Benidorm is still safe. Others have asked to have their holidays changed to a different Spanish resort. It’s not just families who have become concerned, hen and stag parties are asking their travel agent for alternative Spanish resorts.
A popular entertainer in Benidorm has tried to assure fans that the two incidents are rare and Benidorm is a safe place to visit. Mark Harty who is one of the best-loved singers in Benidorm and who is a member of the popular tribute act One Vision has called for calm.
He posted on Facebook calling for people not to worry about the incidents and said that Benidorm is still a safe place to take a holiday.
Mark Harty post read: “OK THIS IS GONNA BE A LONG POST, After reading all the SHIT from the newspapers I have to say GET A GRIP!! How many shootings in the UK & all over the world do you hear about almost every day? (It was drug related) people especially the PRESS can’t wait to slag off Benidorm, I for one love this place, it’s a place for everyone whatever your taste, if you like nice beaches, nice food, and great entertainment.”
His post continued: Jimmy Carol was set upon by a gang of lads the other night & in critical condition & we hope & pray he’s gonna be ok & make a full recovery. It’s an awful thing to go through & the after effects are worse but shit happens & you just have to pick yourself up & get on with your life as you only live once. I’m a great believer of the saying (when your time’s up & wrong place wrong time) so folks never mind about looking on the dark side of things live life to the full.”
Mark Harty has a point. Although there has been an increase in pickpockets, Benidorm is still a safe place to visit. Benidorm as Mark Harty has said is a magical place to take a holiday. It’s a place that is great for all ages.
Although Benidorm is much safer than London and other UK resorts, there is no denying the recent troubles will put people off from visiting the popular Spanish resort. Travel Agents have already found themselves trying to calm holidaymakers who have booked a holiday in Benidorm.
A source at a leading travel agent told Lincolnshire News: “People go on holiday to have fun and feel relaxed, they do not go on holiday to worry about their safety. With the trouble that has happened this week, it has worried hundreds of holidaymakers. We have seen a large number of bookings cancelled for Benidorm with many others being transferred to another holiday resort.”
With video footage showing tourists running for their lives after the shooting in Benidorm took place, it’s no wonder why so many people have become concerned about taking a holiday in Benidorm. Will Benidorm get over the recent troubles, time will only tell?
Passengers on-board Marella Discovery 2 will miss out on the port of Split due to a technical problem
Passengers on-board the popular Marella Discovery 2 cruise ship were shocked yesterday May 14th 2018 when a fault occurred with their ship.
The Marella Discovery 2 was leaving Venice and heading to Split when an electrical fault occurred which disabled the engines. It resulted in the cruise ship being towed back to port by three tugs.
Passengers were informed of the fault and were told engineers were trying to solve the problem as quickly as possible. However, at 8am this morning, the cruise ship with 1836 passengers on-board with a crew of 770 was still stationed at the port.
A spokesman for the TUI group has said they hope to get the problem sorted out as soon as possible.
The fault will mean that passengers on-board the cruise ship will spend an extra day at sea and miss out on the port of Split.
In2town Travel Magazine has spoken to a couple of passengers on-board Marella Discovery 2 who have said they are very unhappy at missing out on the port of Split.
It was hoped after a recent meeting that the Spanish airport strikes would be put on hold and would not go ahead. However, things have now changed and although no strike action occurred on the planned 15th, and 17th September, strikes could still happen.
Both parties were confident that an agreement would be put together that would be suitable for both parties, but a recent meeting that took place did not go as well as expected. As a result, unions could still call their members out which would cause chaos around the countries airports.
Spanish Airport Strikes Dates Have Been Revealed
CC.OO., UGT, and USE unions have agreed to suspend strike action for the whole of September, but misery could occur in October, November, and December.
The planned Spanish Air Strike dates are:
October: 1, 6, 11, 15, 27, 30, and 31.
November: 3 and 5.
December: 1,4,5,7, 8, 10, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30.
The Spanish Airport Strikes could result in hundreds of flights being cancelled with tens of thousands of passengers facing serious delays.
José Luis Zoreda of Spain’s tourism association Exceltur said tourists would face atrocious scenes if an agreement is not reached.
The threat of Spanish airstrikes has caused a great deal of distress for UK holidaymakers who are not sure if their holiday will be affected. According to reports, tens of thousands of people who were planning to go away in October, November and December have put their plans on hold while the negotiations take place.
Cleethorpes Holiday Resort Misses Out On The Top 20 Best UK Resorts
Cleethorpes in North East Lincolnshire has once again failed to be named in the top 20 UK holiday resorts; and I’m shocked. In a new report conducted by the travel search engine gopili, they have failed to take notice of the wonders that Cleethorpes has to offer.
OK, I agree that North East Lincolnshire Council should be ashamed of themselves for ignoring Cleethorpes and failing to attract investment.
They seem to be more interested in building flats and houses on any spare land instead of attracting new investment for tourist attractions. I also know people are shocked with the closure of Pleasure Island and the famous Cleethorpes Pier being turned into a chip shop, but Cleethorpes is still an amazing place to take a holiday.
Cleethorpes still has so much to offer, and Thorpe Park is a great place for a nice holiday for all the family. On top of the great accommodation on offer, and the nice restaurants and pubs, there is also a great beach in Cleethorpes, so why has Cleethorpes failed again to get the recognition it deserves.
Blackpool has been named as the number one seaside resort in the UK which I will admit did and did not shock me. It didn’t shock me because it’s one of the biggest seaside resorts in the UK, and yes it does have so much to offer. However, Blackpool has become a bit dirty, let’s all be honest about that.
Another negative point about Blackpool is all the adult entertainment, the lap dancing clubs and let’s not forget all the drunks you see up and down the promenade. If it were up to me, then Brighton would have been first choice and Cleethorpes would have been in the top ten.
The top 20 resorts are as follows:
Blackpool
Brighton
Skegness
Newquay
Plymouth
Bournemouth
Whitby
Scarborough
Portsmouth
Bangor
Great Yarmouth
Weymouth
Southport
Eastbourne
Southend
Sunderland
Weston Super Mare
Hastings
Morecambe
It was nice to see that Skegness came third in the report of the best seaside resorts in the UK which was well deserved. Skegness has a lot to offer and is a fun place to visit, but for Cleethorpes not to have made the top 20 should be a criminal offence.
This morning I have spoken to people who live and work in Cleethorpes, and I have also spoken to business owners in the resort, and they were shocked that Cleethorpes did not make the top twenty, but not surprised. Many of those that I spoke to said it was down to North East Lincolnshire Council and their lack of interest in the resort. One business owner said the council were more than happy to take business rates but were less willing to market the resort and to bring investment and attract new attractions.
He said: “I am not sure how much longer my business can survive with the lack of visitors. We have a great resort, but it could be made a lot better. We lost Winter Gardens to a block of flats, then we lost Cleethorpes Pier to a chip shop, and now we have lost Pleasure Island, what will be next?”
Cleethorpes has always been known for putting on one of the best Carnivals in the UK, but that is another thing that Cleethorpes has lost. It is not surprising that the people of Cleethorpes and the businesses feel let down, but does Cleethorpes really deserve to be left off the list of the best twenty seaside resorts to take a holiday; my answer is No.
What do you think about Cleethorpes, let me know on our official Twitter page.
According to a new report commissioned by Teletext Holidays, nearly a third of British holidaymakers feel ripped off when they are booking their family holiday.
For years now, In2town have been saying that travel agents and travel companies need to start living in the real world and start offering value for money instead of holidays for a family of four costing more than £4,000 in peak season and it seems it is not just In2town who are unhappy with the travel industry. The Great British Holiday Report survey 1,775 British Holidaymakers and it seems 31% of them felt the same way as In2town, we are being ripped off.
Teletext Holidays have said they believe people are unhappy with travel companies over the culture of extras that are added onto the final price.
“It is certainly the case that the travel industry has undergone major changes, especially with the growth in no frills, low-cost airlines,” said Amy Patel from Teletext Holidays.
“The cost cutting that needs to go into creating these cheap flights have had a massive impact on how package holidays are put together today. By regulation, our governing bodies state that any two items sold at the same time constitute a package holiday.
“Therefore, more often than not, the all new package holiday now consists of only a flight and the accommodation. This in itself is not unusual for the customer, as there have always been extras to pay for; these include insurance and airport parking etc.
“However this has introduced a new culture of extras, like transfers and fees which are often added at a later stage in the booking process. This saw the emergence of a new trend in the holiday market, something we call the dynamic package holiday.”
The Teletext Holiday Report found that 23% of British Holidaymakers book their holiday within two months of travel and 67% book within six months of departure which is not great news for the high street travel agent who earn more money if holidaymakers book their holiday more than eight months before travel.
The holiday report also looked at the popular holiday destinations, according to the people who were surveyed; Spain came out on top with France as a close second.
The Most popular holiday destinations are as follows:
You won’t believe what cruise ships will look like by 2027
It’s no secret that the cruise industry has transformed itself in recent years: shaking off outdated stereotypes and working hard to keep cruising relevant for the modern traveller. These days you’ll find cutting edge cruise ships with thrilling on-board activities and a wide range of state-of-the-art facilities as standard – and it’s not about to stop there
Cruise lines are already ordering world-class ships that will come into service in 10 years’ time. To ensure these ships will impress passengers in 2027 and beyond, innovation and forward-thinking is vital. So, what will the cruise ships of the future look like? Here, the experts at Cruise Nation share their insights
Screens, Screens, Screens
Forget about one strategically positioned TV on the wall in your cabin. Soon, LED screens will feature on the walls, ceilings and even floors of cruise ships. Royal Caribbean has already created virtual balconies, bringing ocean views to every inner stateroom – but this is just the beginning. In the future, it’ll be the norm to use LED visual display technology to create illusions and enhance the ambience of the public spaces throughout the ship
Personalised Experience
Wearable technology has already been adopted by Princess Cruises, who have given their device a catchy name – Ocean Medallion – but, in the future, it will be used for more than just room access and paying for cocktails. As cruise lines look to provide a personalised experience for each traveller, devices worn by guests will inform bar tenders of a customer’s name and favourite drink, alert waiting staff if it’s someone’s birthday or anniversary and tailor activity suggestions based on repetitive behaviour of the wearer
Your Own Virtual Butler
Voice activated in-room assistants will act as personal butl
ers from the moment a customer enters their stateroom. Without lifting a finger, guests will be able to ask their assistant to make dinner arrangements, book last minute excursions or even have a hire car delivered to the port for when they dock. Virtual assistants will also make sure customers never get caught without sun cream or an umbrella again by giving an accurate weather report for the ship’s next destination
State of the art engineering is enabling the cruise industry to take bold and exciting steps when it comes to futuristic design concepts on board. Royal Caribbean has introduced the ‘Rising Tide Bar’ which moves between floors as guests enjoy their cocktails and the ‘Bionic Bartenders’ – robots that mix your drinks. We expect to see many more incredible engineering ideas setting sail soon, many of which would be impressive on dry land let alone at sea. The first being the ‘Magic Carpet’ on the Celebrity Edge, which launches in 2018. The Magic Carpet is already causing ripples of excitement in the cruising world as it’ll be the world’s first cantilevered floating platform to hang off the side of the ship
Visit the Destination Before You Arrive
As virtual reality technology becomes more advanced, it will be used to give customers a real-life experience of the destinations they are about to visit. Watching short videos will be long gone, replaced by the ability to experience the heat, wind and even local smells before travellers arrive. We also expect cruise companies to invest more in virtual reality gaming for children, and any big kids, onboard. Next-level technology will enable players to be present in a three-dimensional environment and interact with live characters or situations within the game
Reducing Environmental Impact
Cruise liners are already investing in environmentally friendly initiatives around waste disposal and water efficiency to reduce their carbon footprint. The next step is to pay closer attention to the ships themselves to ensure the next generation of vessels will have as little impact on the environment as possible. Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class ships, planned for 2022, will be powered by liquefied natural gas and use fuel cell technology to reduce gas emissions. Plans are also in place for what is being dubbed the ‘World’s Greenest Cruise Ship’ which will use retractable solar panels and a future-ready hybrid engine.
Holographic staff
Friendly holographic staff will soon be available for real-time interactions with customers at hundreds of touch-points around cruise ships. Acting as virtual information points, the holographic helpers will give on board directions, answer customer questions and make important announcements to a crowd or a room full of people.
For more information or to book your tailor-made cruise now, call the Cruise Nation experts for free on 0800 408 0759 or visit www.cruisenation.com
Late last month, a list of the top ten divorce hotspots in the UK was published by the Ministry of Justice, giving us all a nice (but kind of worrying) insight into the workings of the country, particularly in which places seem to be absolute no-go areas for couples!
The list only looked at areas outside of Greater London, simply because Greater London is such a massive and densely populated zone. So, if you are worried that the area in which you live is particularly prevalent in splitting up couples, or are simply morbidly curious about which places look like marriage graveyards, read on for the top five divorce hotspots…
The Top Five
Coming in at number one (not a race you’d want to win, but in first place nonetheless) is Birmingham – the Birmingham Civil Justice Centre and Family Courts, to be specific. Believe it or not, but in the year of 2012 alone, 2799 couples filed for divorce in Brum, making it the UK’s divorce capital, outside of London at least.
Getting the silver medal is Weston-Super-Mare County Court, with a whopping 2437 divorces in 2012, though there is a caveat – we’ll come to that in a bit. Sadly, it seems as though living in a seaside city is not all sand and smiles.
The Capital of the East Midlands nabbed third – Leicester County Court saw 1831 divorces last year. In fourth place was Romford County Court, seeing 1783, whilst the City of Three Spires rounded out the five: Coventry Combined Court Centre ran through 1776 divorces.
If you are currently in a happy relationship in one of these five areas, we would first like to congratulate you, before advising that you get out of there sharpish! Sure, it may just be superstitious, but these cities are certainly worse for marriage!
Why These Cities?
Well, the reason for Birmingham’s seeming domination of the list is actually fairly simple – outside of the capital, Brum is the largest city in the entirety of the United Kingdom. This means that its first place finish was rather predictable, and was of no great surprise to anyone.
But what of Weston-Super-Mare? How could this rather small, quaint, coastal resort town, with a population of less than 80,000, possibly have had so many divorces in one year, to the point where it was the main rivals to the biggest city in the country? The answer is an odd one – it was revealed that Divorce-Online (an online divorce company) is based in Weston-Super-Mare.
Apparently, neither solicitors specialising in family law cases nor the beautiful coastal surroundings were to blame – less than 200 of the divorces that were conducted by the courts there did not come from Divorce-Online, which means that a staggering 92% of the divorces came through the company: clearly, someone’s business is booming.
So, citizens of Weston-Super-Mare, rejoice! It turns out that your little town isn’t so home-wrecking after all!
Katie Price For Celebrity Big Brother In Mega Money Deal
Katie Price is hoping to revive her failed television career by being a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother.
The one time popular reality show star who watched her television career nose dive after leaving ITV2 for Living, is hoping her appearance on Celebrity Big Brother will get television bosses interested in her again, but will it work?
Katie Price who has hit out at her ex-husband Peter Andre in her new book, is close to signing a big money deal worth six-figures to appear on Celebrity Big Brother, although Channel Five have not confirmed or denied the claims.
If Katie Price does sign up for the new Celebrity Big Brother show which starts in January 2014, then this could provide the show with its biggest ratings to date.
A source at Channel Five have told In2town Lifestyle News: “Although Katie Price does not have a television career anymore, she is still a big star and would attract huge ratings for Celebrity Big Brother.”
Katie Price who has appeared on other reality shows including “I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here” has seen her ex-husband Peter Andre become more popular and has seen his career hit new heights since they divorced.
Media experts have predicted that Katie Price would win Celebrity Big Brother and it would help relaunch her television career.
Gary Barlow has finally released new material as a solo artist, we have to say it has been a long time coming, especially as the head of Take That is known as one of the best song writers in the world.
Let Me Go has hit written all over it. This single is not his usual style but that is what makes it so great, Let Me Go is a song that will get you tapping your feet and have you singing along. The King of song writing sure knows how to turn words into a musical hit.
The new single will be released a week before his album titled Since I Saw You Last, hits the shops on the 17th November, and already music experts who are saying the new song is across between the The Beatles and Mumford & Sons will reach the number one spot in the charts.
The Since I Saw You Last album contains some amazing songs and there is even a duet on their with Sir Elton John called Face To Face which was also written by Gary Barlow
The Album track list is as follows
1. Requiem
2. Let Me Go
3. Jump
4. Face To Face (with Elton John)
5. God
6. Small Town Girls
7. 6th Avenue
8. We Like To Love
9. Since I Saw you Last
10. This House
11. Dying Inside
12. More Than Life
13. Mr Everything
14. Actress
15. The Song I’ll Never Write
In2town have already predicted this could be the biggest selling album of 2013.
Gary Barlow has also announced some more good news. The X Factor judge is going on a solo tour next year which begins on April 2nd at Glasgow’s new SSE Hydro venue.
Tickets which go on sale on the 11th October include the following venues
Atomic Kitten is heartbroken after her marriage to husband Riad Erraji has ended after six years of marriage after he moved out of the family home three weeks ago.
The mum of three has told The Mirror that she is devastated that her marriage has ended and said she believed she would be married to Riad for the rest of her life.
Natasha Hamilton who is the lead singer of Atomic Kitten as well as a very successful business woman said that there was no one else involved and simply said, “we both fell out of love with each other”
The singer said it was a devastating moment when they had to sit their children down and explain that mummy and daddy would no longer be living together.
‘Atomic Kitten Natasha Hamilton Splits From Husband But Says No One Else Was Involved In marriage Breakup’
Natasha who has recorded a new single with the rest of the girls from Atomic Kitten said Kerry Katona, 32, and Liz McClarnon, 32, were helping her through the marriage break up and have been a tower of strength.
She said: “They’re being really supportive, texting and calling me to make sure I’m okay. They can’t offer any advice because they’re not in my relationship but they’ve been there for me.”
Glee Star Cory Monteith who shocked the world when he suddenly died is to be remembered at the 2013 Emmy Awards Ceremony.
The canadian actor who died after a drink and drugs binge in his hotel room in July, will be remembered by family, friends and fans at the prestigious event.
Emmy Awards executive producer Ken Ehrlich said they were busy sorting out a tribute worthy of such a talented actor, Ken however said the pressure was on as the event was just two months away.
Glee producers are also sorting out a dedication to the actor and talk has been ongoing if the show will continue or not after the tragic death of Cory Monteith.
‘Cory Monteith To Be Remembered At Emmy Awards ceremony’
The popular show has been nominated for three prizes at the Emmy Awards which includes, an Outstanding Supporting Actress for Jane Lynch.
The Emmy Awards will take place at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on 22 September 2013
Lauren Goodger Shocked Over Mark Wright Claims He has Never Been In Love Before
Former The Only Way Is Essex Lauren Goodger is angry with her ex-boyfriend Mark Wright after he told Heat magazine that he has never been in love before.
Mark Wright claims that he never knew what love was until he met Coronation Street star Michelle Keegan, and now claims he now knows he is really and truly in love.
Michelle Keegan announced on Twitter that she and former The Only Way Is Essex star Mark Wright were engaged, although Lauren Goodger came to terms with the news and said she was happy for the pair, with the latest news that Mark Wright claims he has never been in love before, has left Lauren very annoyed.
He told Heat magazine:
“I never realised love could actually feel like this. I thought I’d been in love before, but obviously I haven’t,” Wright told Heat.
He added: “Every single thing you imagine and you dream about when falling in love with someone I’ve got now.”
Sources close to Lauren Goodger have told In2town Lifestyle News:
“Lauren was happy for the pair, she had no problems with the pair getting engaged, she has a new life and a new man who she cares very much for, but to hear her former long term boyfriend stab her in the back by claiming he has never been in love before has really hurt her.”
According to reports, once Michelle Keegan leaves Coronation Street, she will leave Manchester and move to Essex where the pair will set up home together. No official announcement has been made on the date or the place where the couple will get married but sources are claiming that Michelle wants to get married in Dubai.
Coronation Street Audrey is worried about Lewis; she feels something bad must have happened to him with him not being in contact with her. However, Audrey is shocked when a face from Lewis past turns up on the street.
The face from Lewis past called Penny, tells Audrey that she knows Lewis as Hugh, she also shocks Audrey when she tells her that he conned her and did a runner with thousands of pounds of her money. Penny tells Audrey they were lovers until Lewis ran off with all of her money and explains she saw Lewis on the Eurostar and he ran off.
‘Coronation Audrey Is Being Watched’
Audrey is still convinced that something bad has happened and tells people that Lewis does love her. Later at Emily’s birthday party Audrey is not happy when she spots Rita, Dennis and Norris talking to Gail over Lewis. An angry Audrey admits to Norris that she has been stupid again and fell for Lewis lies.
Meanwhile down on Coronation Street, Mary has another theme night, which goes down as a huge success, leaving Nick to get angry that Mary is taking away his customers.
You started doing page 3 at the age of 16. Do you look back on those years fondly?
Oh yes, most definitely. No regrets, they were great times, and I really enjoyed myself.
What was it like to be the nation’s pin-up?
I think I just felt on top of the world at that time. One minute I was at school, and then I was discovered when one of my pictures was sent in to The Sunday People. So that was how I was discovered, and I was given a contract for four years to be The Sun’s girl. They’d never signed anyone exclusively before, so straight away I knew I was special. I knew that I’d be busy for the next four years of my life, I knew it wouldn’t be just one or two topless pictures that I’d do and that would never lead to anything. Four years! I just wanted to be the biggest and the best Page 3 girl, to make a name for myself. And then I started getting into TV and stuff. It became more than just a modelling career – I became a celebrity. It was amazing. Before I came along the girls were just pictures in the paper, they didn’t have followings, you didn’t know what they were like as people. I was really proud of myself. It was like being a pop star.
Which, funnily enough, you then became. Was that what you’d always wanted to do? Oh yeah! At the age of five I started going to the Anna Scher Theatre School, where Spandau Ballet went, and Phil Daniels, in Islington. So from a very young age I was singing on stage, and acting. And before I was a Page 3 girl I was in a band called SFX. We released a couple of tracks. One got into the top 40. We did a lot of gigs. It wasn’t massive, but it was a good beginning for me. And when my four years at The Sun was over, I knew I wanted to get back into music, and I was looking for songs, and then suddenly Touch Me was sent to me, and I thought ‘This is the song!’ They were looking for a British version of Madonna at the time. She’d just had a big hit with Like a Virgin. So I went to the audition and sang it. There were a couple of thousand girls there going for it, and they signed me that day for five years and five albums. So my life went from great success from modelling to a five album deal, which I was over the moon about.
How many albums have you sold? I’ve sold 30 million albums now.
Which countries have you had the most success in? My biggest record sales have been in America and Canada. Scandinavia is a very big market for me. Germany, France, and Asia as well – Japan, India and Malaysia.
You still tour, don’t you? Yeah, I still work in those countries a lot. Most weekends I’m performing somewhere in the world.
You had quite an interesting trip to Norway last year, didn’t you? Yeah! Last Easter we were doing a show in Norway, and there was a town in the midst of this amazing glacier. The only way you could get to the town was by helicopter, but everyone said the view was beautiful. And the next day, we had to go and do a show in Barcelona, so we woke up in the morning after the show, and there was a snowstorm like you wouldn’t believe. The snow stopped and we took off, and suddenly it started again, and we were flying blind. We just knew that on either side there were two massive mountains, so one false move would’ve been it. Eventually we followed a river for a while – and landed in a field. We couldn’t see a thing.
What happened next? We ended up being rescued by this family of farmers. They were so nice to us, and brought us into their house. They gave us pancakes and coffee, and we warmed up. I wanted to go and see the animals, and while we were there, they told me one of the lambs was pregnant, and ready any day. We go back in and have another pancake and a coffee, and she gave birth. We saw it all, and they (the farmers) named the lamb, which was male, Sam. And they’re keeping Sam, they’re not going to cook him. They sent me a picture of him all grown up. He’s frolicking around, as we speak, in Norway.
You also had quite an interesting time on Wife Swap. What made you want to do the show?
Myra and I have always really liked the show. We’ve always watched it, we think it’s great. It’s one of those programmes people talk about for weeks after – especially when a celebrity is involved. And we thought it would be nice to learn something from the show. Myra and I had talked about children in the past, and Myra has always said ‘Sam, you don’t realise how hard it is, and with your career as well’. I’d have to semi-retire to have a baby. So when we spoke to researchers, we told them it would be really nice to swap with a family who had children. It would be fun, and you’d come out of it having learned something. I’d never looked after a baby in my life, and I really wanted to know what it would be like.
You must have been thrilled when you discovered you’d be in a house with children in it. When I first walked into the house, I saw a little Wendy house, and I saw a little pram, so I knew there’d be children, and that made me happy. And then I saw the photograph of Freddie, and I thought ‘Oh my God!’
Did you know right from that moment that it was going to be tough? Yeah, I knew it would be hard, most definitely. I was in shock a bit when I saw his picture. He’s got quite a reputation, Freddie Starr, so it took me a while to get used to the idea. Part of me thought ‘Oh God, do I go now? Do I really want this for a week?’ But then I thought about the kids, and I thought ‘No, I’m going to have fun here.’ I thought ‘I can handle him’. I’ve handled worse in my life, you know?
What was it like, in reality? How was living with him? It was very difficult. It was a very difficult week, I must say. If it wasn’t for looking after the baby, which is a full-time job, it would’ve been awful. I tell you, all my praise goes to all those mums out there. It’s not easy. I was getting up at 4 or 5am most mornings, looking after the baby, taking care of the household chores. If it wasn’t for all of that stuff to do, though, it would’ve been awful. Or even more awful, I should say.
He sees men and women as having very defined roles, doesn’t he? I didn’t have to do much with Freddie for the first three or four days, because I was Donna. But when the roles reversed, when I introduced changes for him to become more involved in the household and with the baby, and do things with the children, when it came to that part, he didn’t want to comply at all. So I just carried on being Donna for the whole week, really.
You got on with the kids really well, didn’t you? Yeah, I really did. I love kids. My sister’s got three, and I know that I love kids. I’m quite childish myself in a lot of ways, so I was really keen for the swap to have kids. Especially a baby. My sister would never leave me with her newborn baby. I don’t think I’d leave my baby with someone who’d never looked after a baby. So I did feel very nervous about the responsibility I had.
Did it confirm for you that you want kids? I’ve always had a maternal instinct, and this didn’t change anything about that. It’s something I’ve always thought about, babies, and that I’d always want a baby. It’s something Myra and I have spoken about, but as for when, and how, and if, is something really personal to us. But I know I’d make a good mummy, put it that way.
What was at the root of you and Freddie not getting along? I thing he didn’t like the fact that I’m strong. I can answer for myself. I guess the producers thought ‘Sam can handle herself. She’s a strong character. Freddie’s difficult. It’s going to make good TV.’ But looking back at it, I really kept my cool. I actually came out of it thinking ‘I’ve actually grown up now, and become a mature woman who can just let things go over my head without having to raise my voice, shout or lower myself to that level.’ Maybe ten years ago I might have punched him in the nose.
Myra and Donna got on very well, didn’t they? Yeah, they really got on well. And Donna’s a really nice woman. I met her and I really liked her. She came across as strong and astute. Myra was quite surprised when she met Freddie that they were together.
What was the low point of the whole experience for you?
I think the worst part for me was when the role changes happened, and I was reading out of Donna’s manual, and he was having a go at me as if I’d written it myself. He was pretty nasty during that. I was just trying to get on with the game. And that’s what it is at the end of the day – a game. But he wouldn’t take part. He wouldn’t even help cook dinner, having said he would. That’s when I wanted to go home. He’s so condescending and argumentative. It was really frustrating. I thought ‘I don’t need this, I’ve done my bit, I’ve been Donna for the last few days, now it’s your turn to do your bit’. And he wasn’t doing his bit.
What were the best moments?
The best moments were being alone with the baby in the mornings, before he got up. She’d wake up very early. It was really weird being on my own for the first time with a little baby. You can’t have a conversation; you have to keep them occupied. But I had so much fun it was amazing. Babies are so intuitive and clever. But it made me sad when I’d go in to get her out of her cot and she was going ‘Mummy, mummy,’ and really crying. And I was thinking ‘I’m not her mummy’. Imagine how she must have felt. But I was as good a mummy as I could be, and gave her lots of cuddles and kisses.
So what do you think you and Myra have learned from the Wife Swap experience?
How much we really missed each other. How much we really love each other. And we both realised what a loving home we’ve created together. Our home has a lovely glow about it. You walk in and it’s just got that feeling of love. And people who don’t have that in their relationship need to work at it, and learn. There are a lot of men still living in the 70s out there. Hopefully they’ll learn from watching Freddie.
Simon Cowell the X Factor judge has annoyed and shocked fans after it was revealed that he had dropped the winner of the first series of Britain’s Got Talent show, Paul Potts. Paul Potts fans have slated Simon Cowell for cruelly dumping the singer and have posted on forums calling for the music manager to stop dropping stars once he has made his money from them.
The former mobile phone salesman Paul Potts had worldwide success with two hit albums after winning the show in 2007. Simon Cowell at the time said life would never be the same for the former salesman but I do not think that Paul Potts ever imagined that would mean his heart being broken.
Fans have said they are not surprised by the news with some fans calling Simon Cowell a vulture and a money grabber, dropping his reality stars as quick as he finds them.
One fan said: It’s what Simon does best. Talent programme – make a lot of money from deluded hopefuls – at first signs of decline get rid. What was that saying – something about being nice to people on the way up because you may meet them on the way down. Take heed Simon.
Paul Potts is reported to be shocked at the news and confused as the singer is half way through recording a new album leaving him wondering what has all the recent hard work been about and if the new album will be completed.
A source revealed: “Simon thinks the game’s up for Paul. They no longer saw eye to eye on everything and parted ways.”
Coronation Street Star Bev Callard who plays Liz McDonald revealed for the first time that she had a nervous breakdown which forced the Coronation Street favourite into rehab, since admission she has received overwhelming support from loyal Coronation Street Fans for her honesty.
The Rovers Return landlady was not seen on screen for some time last year where the storyline said she was abroad on holiday spending time with her other son when in reality Bev Callard, 52, was receiving therapy in rehab for a nervous breakdown.
The cause of the breakdown was the huge pressure that was placed on the popular actress after her Cheshire pub collapsed leaving Bev Callard in financial ruin. Owning the pub was Bev Callard dream and she put all of her life savings into the business but with the credit crunch and the smoking ban affecting trade, Bev and her partner Jon McEwan were left devastated when the business collapsed.
Bev Callard who said she learnt a lot about herself through the nervous breakdown says she is now recovering and wants to make people aware of what depression can do to people and is helping the charity Mind make people more aware.
The actress who sold her house to help buy the pub has now been forced to rent a small two-bedroom townhouse in Salford Quays, Manchester after losing everything.
A spokesman for Coronation Street said: “Everyone at ITV has been behind Beverley through this very difficult time.
“We are extremely proud of the huge progress she has made.”
Glamour model Katie Price has admitted that she does not think her new single will be a hit and we have to say, after listening to the new single titled ‘Free To Love Again’ we are glad that Katie Price has come to her senses’
Katie Price is set to release the single on July 12th, which has been described as a dance single but we prefer to describe it as a disco number that has been knocked up in a bedroom in the early nineties.
If you remember the song, D.I.S.C.O then listen to Katie Price new single then you will understand where we are coming from. We will be surprised if the single reaches the top 100 never mind the top forty and for Katie to say previously that she will give Peter Andre a run for his money, is laughable.
Katie told Alan Carr on his television show that she will not have a bright future in the music industry but she did say she loves singing.
She told Alan Carr’s Chatty Man show: “I’m not a singer. I never will be a singer, but I love singing.
We have to say that we agree with you Katie, after listening to your new single and listening to you sing on your reality show, we can agree you are not a singer, maybe a howler, but definitely not a singer.
Katie Price also said on the Alan Carr show: “When I look back at Eurovision I think: `What the hell was I doing?’ I also did the mushy ballads with Pete. But this is an upbeat track.
“I heard it and thought: `Why not?'”
Why not indeed Katie, but did you have to really bring out the single, most people would have just sang the song in the shower and saved all those lovely trees that have had to be knocked down to release your single, but hey, we know you are a business woman and will do almost anything to make money.
Tesco Sheffield backs assistant who refused to serve mother with Alcohol. Tesco, the store that says it gives a little extra, refused to give any to a regular Tesco customer. Louise Gregory, a regular customer to Tesco was shocked when the store refused to sell her alcohol, even though she is 44 years of age.
Louise Gregory who was wearing sunglasses went into Tesco on Infirmary Road in Sheffield with her daughter Sophie and her friend Nicole who were both 14 years old and went to buy a small bottle of vodka but was refused.
The stunned customer took off her sunglasses and explained to the assistant that she was 44 years old, but the assistant was more concerned with the children she has with her, and as such was worried that Louise would pass the Vodka onto the children.
Louise demanded to see the manager after explaining to the assistant that the alcohol was for her and not for her daughter or her friend. The manager spoke to Louise, after a short talk, Louise was still unable to buy the small bottle of Vodka.
Stunned Louise Gregory – who was wearing sunglasses – protested to the assistant at Tesco on Infirmary Road after she was refused a small bottle of vodka at a self-service till.
Louise Gregory told The Star newspaper:
“It was embarrassing. The store was absolutely packed and people were laughing and shaking their heads.
“It’s unreal; I don’t understand their policy on underage drinking. I’m a responsible adult and I wouldn’t dream of giving vodka to my children.
“I think the worker made a mistake and then tried to cover it up with a ridiculous accusation when she should have just apologised.
“No one showed an ounce of common sense. I’ve used that store since before it was Tesco and I go in several times a week, but after this I’m never going there again.
“I’ve been made to feel like a criminal.”
A Tesco spokeswoman said: “We take our responsibility towards the sale of alcohol very seriously. We operate a strict Think 25 policy, meaning if someone looks under 25 and does not have identification to prove they are over 18, they will not be served alcohol in our stores.
“Additionally, if our staff suspect alcohol is being purchased for an underage person, the sale will also be refused.”
This is not the first time that Tesco have hit the headlines for refusing alcohol to adults, with some people claiming that their policy of only serving people that look over the age of 25 is going a bit to far while other supporters of the policy believe that Tesco should be congratulated for their attempts to cut down on anti social behaviour cause by teenagers drinking alcohol on the streets.
One of Hollywood’s sexiest stars Cameron Diaz has openly talked about losing her virginity. Cameron Diaz admitted she lost her virginity at an early age because she wanted to just get it over with and find out what sex and the feeling of having sex was all about.
Cameron Diaz gave an interview to Playboy Magazine where she explained that she just wanted to have sex as soon as possible when she was a teenager to find out what all the fuss was about and admitted that she had casual sex before her first real boyfriend, video director Carlos De La Torre who she was going out with when she was 16.
“I don’t want my mom to know,” she said. “Actually, f**k it. I had already had sex.
“I had a lot of encounters that weren’t ‘going all the way’ but were fun and made me very enthusiastic and excited about the possibilities.
“Japan was great. I had my own apartment. I met somebody I ended up hanging out with. It was amazing to be young and free and have all those experiences.”
The Hollywood actress also revealed she would have no problem getting on a plane and travelling to the other side of the world just to have sex.
“Oh gosh, I can’t even count how many times I’ve gotten on a plane for love,” she said.
“It’s not unusual in this business; my lifestyle demands it. I’m always travelling for sex. You’ve got to go where it is.
“I’m primal on an animalistic level, kind of like, ‘Bonk me over the head, throw me over your shoulder. You man, me woman.’ Not everybody has the right kind of primal thing for me…I love physical contact. I have to be touching my lover, like, always. It’s not optional.”
It is just lucky at the moment that the actress does not have to travel far as she is currently dating New York Yankees slugger Alex ‘A-Rod’ Rodriguez
X Factor star Matt Cardle has explained how shocked he was after needing police protection when he went out shopping. The singer explained that he needed a charger for his mobile phone but when he went out shopping he was shocked to be mobbed by a load of fans. Matt Cardle who music sources are predicting could be the biggest winner of The X Factor even beating Leona Lewis explained that police had to come to his rescue after fans went mental.
The X Factor winner explained that he went to a shop to buy a mobile phone charger when he was spotted by loads of fans. Matt said that he became scared when he was surrounded by fans and ended up being put in the back of a police van and taken out of town to safety.
He said to his Twitter fans: “Just had to be taken from town to my car in a police van,” he wrote. “Only meant to get a charger!”
He added: “It was totally mental – the last thing I expected.”
Simon Cowell has demanded that Matt uses security when he goes out but Matt has refused and has told his boss that he wants to be a normal person and be accessible to his fans.
We asked our readers if they would vote for Boris Johnson at the next General Election, 5/7 said they would not vote for the Conservative Party if Boris Johnson was still in charge. Our survey has found that Boris Johnson has lost the trust of the voter and people feel confused on what they should or should not be doing.
“This is completely untrue. How long a woman breastfeeds is up to her but there are tons of benefits for the baby and mum who keep breastfeeding until two or even longer.
Mr. Caballé – who owns 18 hotels in Spain – said boozy Brits on holiday were no longer desired guests in Benidorm.
María Caballé has said that Benidorm, 
Clubs and bars have been forced to close in the evenings to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. According to one club owner we spoke to, the restrictions in Benidorm are unnecessary and could result in Benidorm becoming a ghost town when the pandemic is over.
Spain has seen an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases which has been blamed on people aged between 15-34 who are ignoring the social distancing rules.
One nurse we spoke to from Manchester who said not wished to be named explained: “The strength of the coronavirus as not like it was when it first hit. It has become weaker and will be on the same level as the flu.”
Check out the National Gallery
HULT Private Capital is exceptional in the market because it does not base a fund’s value on the top end valuation of its properties, but always on the bottom end of the market valuations. This valuation system means that in the worst-case scenario, with their securities, HULT can provide the best returns. In this way, HULT has been able to buck the downward property price trend, even in the past few years, and has consistently kept providing investors with higher than average returns. Because of their results, they have also outshone competitors, such as FJP Investment and partnered with affiliates, the likes of; Barclays, Zurich, Coutts, Aviva, Santander, and Bradesco — just to name a few.
Mark Womack who is currently staring in Emmerdale as bent copper DI Malone has failed to comment on the marriage split.
“So we sat down with the kids and explained that we weren’t going to be in a romantic relationship any more, but we would stay best friends.
Labour leader Keir Starmer said: “Ministers should have spent the summer implementing a national plan to get all children back to school.
These new shocking figures come less than a week after In2town Lifestyle Magazine reported how a senior black police officer was stopped by two white police officers while driving home for no reason. 
We visited three Tesco supermarkets in Lincolnshire to see how staff and customers were dealing with the coronavirus. In one Tesco supermarket we only saw one member of staff wear a face mask. In another store we did not see any, while in another we saw four staff members wear a mask.
“Forewarned is forearmed, and drivers that do their homework on vehicles put themselves in a much stronger position to negotiate on price, or simply walk away from the sale if they feel they are taking too great a risk.”
“If you arrive in the UK after 0400 Saturday from these destinations, you will need to self-isolate for 14 days.”
While airlines have seen a huge decrease in the number of people flying abroad, some caravan parks have reported they are fully booked until the end of the year.
“In ATELIER de Hoteles hygiene and cleanliness have always been an integral part and fundamental to the luxury service for which we are famous, and the new protocols and official regulations regarding care and prevention are just a logical extension of our Shielded Vacations program which was developed by our medical staff and health experts”, commented Oliver Reinhart, CEO of ATELIER de Hoteles. 
“I feel I was pulled over for no other reason than the fact that they’d seen a black man driving a car” he said. “I just feel they’ve done this because I’m black”.
How important is it for children to learn about numbers from an early age? It is very important if we as adults provide support and a learning environment where children naturally learn numbers and can develop cognitive and quantitative skills.
A lot of people have different techniques when it comes to writing, JK Rowling uses to go to a café to write when she wrote her first book, where do you do your writing?
This sad news from Hays Travel could just be the start. Other travel companies and airlines have announced major job cuts, but many believe that if the restrictions continue then more travel jobs could be lost. TUI, known as the biggest travel company in the UK could be forced to reduce their workforce even further. 
You have just released a new product, can you tell me more about it?
Would you say that your child car seat is so small it could fit underneath some car seats?
