Tag Archives: stats

Do You Have Smart Energy?

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A new infographic released from Smart Energy GB shows that a majority of people who have one find them accurate, with 76% trusting the information that they give as opposed to 57% who think the old system does a good job. It also shows that unsurprisingly gadget-friendly younger people are more interested in the device, and that 59% of people who have heard of one would like one. The northwest is more clued up about smart meters, and the main appeal of having one is in being able to count up your energy usage in pounds and pence, the graphic shows.

National Smart Meter Awareness

Equal Pay Day: Female? You Will Work The Rest Of The Year For Free

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Today is Equal Pay Day- so called because the average pay gap between men and women is so large that women effectively work for free from November 4th until the end of the year. Depressing, isn’t it? Something must be done about it. Maybe women should strike. I am up for it. A holiday from now until 2015? Sounds fun.

It is not just because women tend to bear the brunt of childcare, although more paternity rights and men picking up their slack in this area would help, read this brilliant article on equal pay from the Huffington Post. This year equal pay day is three days earlier than last year because the pay gap has widened. Truly shocking. For every £1 earned by a man, a women gets 80p.

Feminist_Suffrage_Parade_in_New_York_City,_1912

On Equal Pay Day 2014, Iain McMath, CEO of Sodexo Benefits and Rewards Services had some great comments on how pay differences are affecting employees and what employers can do to help:

“It is alarming to see that the difference in take home pay for men and women is actually increasing, despite it being over 40 years since the arrival of the Equal Pay Act. With figures now showing that women earn 15.7% less than their male colleagues, this inequality shows no signs of abating.

It is unsurprising, therefore, that women are suffering financial consequences of this disparity. According to our recent survey of UK workers, 54% of women say they struggle to put aside any funds due to limited disposable income, compared to just 40% of men, which clearly shows the impact that unequal pay has on financial planning.

Equal Pay Day serves to highlight the fact that there is still significant work to be done before men and women are treated equally in the workplace. Until this happens, employers need to be aware of the financial stress that many of their employees are facing, and must take steps to ensure they are helping staff to manage their money and reach their financial goals.”

 

 

Racism… What exactly is it?

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It has become the contrast of its own distinction. We either have heated discussions over it, or ignore it as best we can, but what is it? The dictionary says, “The belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races:” or even “Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior:” Unfortunately 21st century life has added splinters of this to make up the sum of the whole.

Racism. Credit: wikipedia

Racism.
Credit: wikipedia

Everything from governmental policies to sport and even entertainment has helped perpetuate the type of racism that should either be ignored, or addressed. A bold statement, you say… Ok, let’s have a look at politics. Government parties claim to have the betterment of the electorate for whom they are supposed to represent. Yet the ill of all that goes on seems to be directed toward immigrants and scroungers. The latter being painted in typical fashion that has become accepted!

The rise in electable anti-ethnic parties is unprecedented and they sway popularity with weak manifestos bolstered by ethnic reforms, which are unpalatable at best! Now whilst sport may be a difficult one to pigeon-hole, given the diversity of the sports and activities as a whole, the more popular the sport the more it seems to have a “Big Boys Club” mentality. This even puts the lack of female input to managerial and hierarchal appointments into the spotlight. So, given the diversity of the country as a whole, does it represent the people that pay to watch the sports? Obviously not, but that means we have accepted that things are OK! It is not to say there are not people qualified to do these roles, they just seem to be made available to a select few and when someone actually does get a role, if at all, it is scrutinised and made to feel that the role may not be o merit and for publicity and “ticking a box”.

Entertainment is, unfortunately, easier to highlight and has been under a huge spotlight in 2014! Everything from the awards to the fact Lenny Henry had to give a speech in BAFTA addressing the situation, which I found both entertaining and deeply saddening. In 3 years alone a recorded 2000 Black and Minority Ethnic actors have left the industry in the UK and that are only those that are known, whilst the industry has grown by 4000! Zero commissioners in the UK are of any minority ethnicity and funding has been found to not represent the criterion set out for the channels. They make up only 5.4% of the broadcasting workforce! That means in front of and behind the camera. With the rise in gang culture and the highlight for tougher sentencing, this issue could be squashed in a simple and effective manoeuvre.

Youth clubs and play areas will not only bring people together, it gives the young purpose and direction. I saw this issue arise as each government made their excuses for tearing down the structure that has been in all societies since man first colonised… let children be children and guide them as they enjoy their childhood. To make the stigmas of the adult populous those of the young has shown they are ill-equipped to deal with such matter and adding colour and race has made it far more volatile than the adults trying to impose their beliefs. Advertising is also an area that falls foul to the discrimination…

If you need to have proof then check the experiment from the University of Virginia. The experiment, conducted from March 2009 to March 2010, found that black sellers did worse than white sellers on a variety of metrics: they receive 13 percent fewer responses, 18 percent fewer offers, and offers that are 11 to 12 percent lower. These effects are similar in magnitude to those associated with a white seller’s display of a tattoo, which the authors included to serve as a “suspicious” white control group.Those corresponding with black sellers reacted much more negatively, implying less underlying trust.

Unfortunately this is reinforced by advertising agencies, as they never use any other ethnicity for advertising, unless it specifies a typical group. Unfortunately employment falls into the same category. A study was done with 2 exacting CV’s and the names were changed to be typically contrasting. 5000 resumes were sent out, which were to 1300 available jobs and the prospective employers were none the wiser of the experiment. Whilst the return rate of the CV’s were on average for both Caucasian male and female candidates (approx 1 call back in 10) the average for the ethnic male and female candidates were 25% lower. The experiment was carried out in July2001-January 2002. Unfortunately the experiment carried out in July 2011-January 2012 showed a significant increase in disparity from 25% to 50%, which shows how far the human species has come in regards to employment. Whilst these are only call backs, the numbers are compelling.

If I were to label all the problems with policing then we would be here for a whole separate subject and conclusion. So, whilst I have seemingly dissected the flaws of modern day earth and strewn it out for all to see, it’s not all one-sided. There are people who, naturally, are able to judge someone on the content of their character and that is no surprise.  Many ethnic groups are starting their own areas of business, which caters to people that are not represented in their field, but not excluding any colour, or creed, as it does not interfere with the progress of the company. And many of the youth consider the stupidity of the older generation for hating people for their colour not something they can get their head into and support! For those that question either the validity, or the impact of this subject. That’s easy, just try it for a while and see how long you last! If it is unacceptable then there must be something wrong with the way it is!

You are not expected to bear the burden of your forefathers and the mistakes of their past, but maybe the difference of peace and harmony can make the way of life easier and remember that we all only have a finite time on this planet. Illogical hate is something that is the epitome of racism. It truly is a state of regression and an excuse to express a primal behaviour! Anyhow a colour makes someone change their mind about a person, says more about the person attacking than the person being attacked. I was going to finish on a cliché of Martin Luther King Jnr, but I feel that something more prophetic is in order. So, when you go and have St George’s flag flying and puff up your chest about how he represents the fight and spirit of England… try to remember that he’s an Arab and born in Syria and venerated by Christians and Muslims.

Understanding IBS

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flickr-3705507804-hdWhat is it?

Dr. Wendy Denning, GP and one of Tatler’s top 150 private doctors for the last three years, explains: “Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a sporadic and unpredictable disruption of the digestive system. Everyone suffers the odd upset, but if you regularly experience painful abdominal spasms, bloating, or attacks of constipation or diarrhoea, then you could be suffering from IBS.”

 

Causes

Dr. Denning, says: “Doctors are not exactly sure what causes IBS, and symptoms can vary in type, frequency and severity from person to person. However the condition can be painful, embarrassing and inconvenient to deal with. IBS occurs when the nerves and muscles of the bowel are not working properly. The bowel can become extra sensitive to pain and easily or frequently upset, and, unfortunately, IBS is a chronic condition – often recurring after long periods of calm.”

 

Symptoms

  • Abdominal pain and cramping – often relieved by emptying your bowels
  • A change in your bowel habits – such a diarrhoea, constipation, or both
  • Bloating and swelling of your abdomen
  • Excessive wind
  • An urgent need to go to the toilet
  • A feeling that you need to open your bowels even if you have just been to the toilet
  • A feeling you have not fully emptied your bowels
  • Passing mucus from your bottom

 

Stats

  • IBS affects 15-20% of the population, particularly women aged 20-4
  • 25-50% of all hospital gastroenterology appointments are for IBS
  • Studies have shown that approximately 2/3 of IBS patients have at least one food intolerance and some have multiple intolerances
  • Over 50% of those surveyed* had missed work with almost one quarter of 24-34 year olds taking over a month off
  • 43% reported their IBS impacted their confidence, with 24-34 year olds most severely affected (46%), and well over 1/3 (38%) reported low mood
  • 1 in 10 said that their condition had significantly impacted their love life

 

Treatments

  • The YorkTest IBS Diet Programme includes analysis reaction to more than 158 different food and drink ingredients. The new programme is specifically designed for IBS sufferers because it provides a personalised list of suitable low FODMAP foods which take into account your food and drink intolerances, the low FODMAP diet has been shown to be effective in reducing IBS symptoms.
  • Eliminate foods that patients are intolerant to
  • Probiotics
  • Eight glasses of water per day
  • Advice on eating + / – digestive enzymes
  • Stress reduction
  • Exercise
  • Glutamine
  • Fish oils
  • Cut down on FODMAP foods

 

*OnePoll survey of 1,000 IBS sufferers

Frost Magazine Mother’s Day Gift Guide

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marc jabobs watch

Marc by Marc Jacobs Henry Skeleton Watch

WatchShop.com Price:  £185 and free next day delivery within the UK

 

A beautiful timepiece with a genuine pink leather strap with a shine.  The case is rose gold plated whilst the skeleton dial is protected by mineral crystal.  The watch is water resistant to 50 metres.

 

 

 

STORM Cimage011rystin Watch

Stockist:  WatchShop.com

This ladies STORM Crystin watch has a stainless steel case and is fitted with a quartz movement. It is fastened with a silver metal bracelet and has a silver dial.

 

 

 

 

 

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Karen Millen Watch

 

WatchShop.com Price:  £95 and free next day delivery within the UK

 

This ladies’ Karen Millen watch has a stainless steel case and is powered by a quartz movement. It fastens a purple leather strap and has a purple dial

 

 

 

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Michael Kors Camille Chronograph Watch

 

WatchShop.com Price:  £229 and free next day delivery within the UK

This ladies’ Michael Kors Camille watch has a stainless steel case and is fitted with an analogue chronograph quartz movement. It is fitted with a two tone bracelet and has a blue dial. The watch has a date function.

 

Springtime Planter gift set

P4P Springtime Planter (300 dpi)

£25 plus delivery

The perfect Mother’s Day idea for a green-fingered recipient, the Springtime Planter is a traditional wooden planter containing colourful hyacinths, primroses, cyclamen and pansies.

Every plant is carefully gift wrapped and boxed by hand in Plants4Presents’ Sussex nursery to ensure it arrives in perfect condition. Standard delivery is just £6.50 per address. Delivery is available across the UK and Ireland. For more information visit www.plants4presents.co.uk.

 

 

We love this Royal Albert Tea For One Set, £60.00 from The House of Bath

houseofbath

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Kobo Mini is a great present for mother’s. (the 5” eReader easily slips into a handbag or coat pocket making it great for the mum who is either always on the go or just like things a bit more compact) Highly portable Kobo Mini holds up to 1,000 koboeBooks.

Price £59.99

Stockist:  WHSmith and all fine electronic retailers

 

 

Fulton this Mother’s Day – from Fab Florals to spectacular Spots and Stripes – there are many new beautiful designs to choose from – many of which are part of Fulton’s soon to be launched SS13 collection.

 fulton

With ‘Walking’ and ‘Folding’ umbrellas, Rain Macs, Rainboots and Rain Hats from designers such as Cath Kidston and Lulu Guinness, as well as Fulton’s stunning own range, there’s a stylish shelter for every mum out there.

 

teafortwo

I don’t know about your mother but my mother’s favourite gift is spending time with me. She also loves tea so The UK’s largest afternoon tea gift site, AfternoonTeaForTwo.co.uk is perfect for her. They have a huge range of tea experiences so you can select the perfect memorable experience for your mum. On the site, you will find hundreds of afternoon tea ideas, from glamorous London hotels to relaxing country retreats.  If you’re confident you know what she’ll like, you can purchase an individual experience at the click of a button.

 

Celebrate Mother’s Day at one of Frost’s favourite hotels, the London Marriott Hotel County Hall

 

Treat your mum this Mothering Sunday with a quintessential Afternoon Tea celebration set in the beautiful library of the 5* London Marriott Hotel County Hall onLondon’s South Bank.

Start with delicious hand crafted sandwiches including roast Angus beef and horseradish, Wiltshire ham with English mustard, Burford brown egg mayonnaise with cress, Forman & Son London Cure smoked salmon with caper butter and the classic cucumber with cream cheese and chive.

Screen shot 2013-02-26 at 15.27.47[1]

Savour a delectable selection of pastries with green tea drizzle cake, passion fruit and coconut crown, blackberry tart and mint surprise, pineapple and vanilla compote with mascarpone cream an Valrhona Chocolate Opera.

Sweet and savoury scones complete the menu. Choose from freshly baked golden raisin scones topped with Tiptree strawberry jam and Devonshire clotted cream or Montgomery cheddar and Hampshire watercress scones with cream cheese and watercress.

Accompanied by a choice of refreshing teas all laid out to tempt, treat and delight and served with charm and a keen attention to detail.

The Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea is available on Sunday 10th March between 2.30pm and 4.30pm, priced at £36 per person.

Groups are welcome for Afternoon Tea, however, for parties wanting a little extra privacy, a range of private dining rooms are available. Contact us on +44 (0) 207 902 8000 to find out more about private dining.

 

Emma Bunton reveals her most magical moment with her children for UNICEF UK’s Mother’s Day campaign to end child malnutrition

 

 This Mother’s Day, former Spice Girl, Emma Bunton has joined forces with UNICEF, the global leader in child malnutrition, and is sharing her most magical moment in her children’s first 1,000 days of life.

 

The first 1,000 days are the critical window of opportunity for children to get the right nutrients they need to develop properly. Around the world a staggering one in four children are not getting the nourishing food they need to grow up healthy and reach their potential in this first critical period.

 

In the run up to Mother’s Day, UNICEF UK supporter Emma Bunton is asking UK mums to give children around the world the best start in life, by supporting the campaign at www.unicef.org.uk/mothersday.

 

Sitting in her window seat at home, Emma Bunton said, “It’s so shocking that one in four children around the world are not getting the right nutrients they need to grow up healthy and strong in their first 1,000 days of life.

 

“When my boys were toddlers I’d sit here and sing ‘You are my sunshine’ to them while the light streamed in on us. When they reached the stage where they could start singing along it really was a magical moment and one I’ll always remember in those first important 1,000 days.

 

“Every mother should be able to enjoy these precious moments in their child’s life and development. So, please, this Mother’s Day join me and go to the UNICEF UK website to help children everywhere.”

 

Mums visiting the website will learn how, for £3, they can help another child by buying sprinkles to ensure that children get the vitamins and nutrients they need to grow up healthy and reach their potential.

 

UNICEF UK is part of the Enough Food for Everyone IF campaign, a great movement of individuals and organisations united to tackle global hunger.

Mums Show Live, the new and only show for parents of 4 – 12 year olds, is offering tickets half price with the code BESTMUM. 

Mums Show Live will be taking place from 16 – 19 May at Alexandra Palace, London and will be a great day out for mum, and all the family (dad and kids go free).

Parents will get the chance to enjoy a spot of shopping, with brands including Joules, Fit Flops and Micro Scooters and also join in live conversation and inspiration theatres to get answers to challenging questions. Mums, dads and kids can also get involved in a diverse range of fun games, activities and entertainment.

For more information on the show please visit www.mumshowlive.com.

 

BRITS LEAVE IT LATE FOR MOTHER’S DAY

30% of Mums Left Disappointed as Last Minute Shoppers Fall Short of the Mark

Research carried out by One4all Gift Card reveals that over half of all Brits leave it late to plan their Mother’s Day treats.

As many as 54% of women and 58% of men admit to failing to plan ahead for Mother’s Day, saying that they regularly forget the date. Younger sons and daughters are the worst culprits with 72% of those aged between 18 and 24 forgetting to put Mother’s Day in their diaries.

As a result we can expect many Mums to be putting on a brave face this weekend, with 30% admitting that they are left disappointed with the thought and effort shown for them on Mother’s Day.

Men are also the biggest offenders at not making an effort to see their mums on Mother’s Day, with just 28% making a special visit compared to 43% of women. For men, it seems this weekend should be renamed Mother-in-Law’s Day.

However, it’s not all bad news with some mums receiving very fancy gifts indeed. The most extravagant gifts lavished on mums for Mother’s Day includes cars, cruises and diamond necklaces!

One solution for people not planning to be quite so generous this weekend, appears to be treating mum to a shopping trip for her to choose her own present.

Managing Director of One4all UK, Declan Byrne said, “We’ve seen our sales up 40% ahead of this weekend which is partly explained by people looking for last minute inspiration and deciding that perhaps mother knows best.

“The One4all gift card enables mum to choose a gift from 17,000 stores nationwide, so it takes the pressure off gift shopping and ensures mum gets a great gift, which she actually wants.”

If you need a last minute gift, you can purchase the One4all Gift Card from any of the 11,500 Post Office branches nationwide and at www.one4all.co.uk.

A gift card can be loaded with any amount from £10 to £400 and can be spent at 17,000 different retailer outlets nationwide including mum-favourites, House of Fraser, Debenhams and Boots.

Other points from the One4all research:

35% of our mothers rarely treat themselves

30% of mums out there still treat their grown-up kids, now full-grown adults, on a regular basis

Mums are best friends to over 30% of us

A quarter of us say our Mum is still the one person who can reduce us to feeling like a child with one look or one word

 

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Say happy Mother’s Day on Sunday 10th March with a limited edition Emma Bridgewater bag for life, designed for this year’s Red Nose Day, available now from TK Maxx stores throughout the UK.

 

British pottery maker Emma Bridgewater has created the stylish bag to encourage the great British public to ‘Do Something Funny For Money’. The money donated from sales of the products will be spent by Comic Relief to help people living incredibly tough lives across Africa and here in the UK.

The bag features a specially designed feathered ‘snitch’ nose and costs £9.99 with at least £4.00 going to Comic Relief.

Red Nose Day 2013 is heading your way on Friday 15th March.

 

Here is a brilliant infographic of the cost of celebrating Mother’s Day from Baines & Ernst.

View full image

Drayton Manor offers the perfect gift for Mother’s Day

Every year the time comes to buy a present for Mother’s Day – but what about the Mum that has got everything? This year, give Mum the perfect gift of a fun day out to remember with the family to Drayton Manor Theme Park.

 

Family day pass

 

By purchasing a family pass, it will provide a far more exciting alternative to the usual flowers and chocolates, and instead, will offer a great day out to one of the UK’s most popular family attractions.

 

With Mother’s Day taking place on Sunday 10th March, it means there is only a five day wait to celebrate this special day with Mum at the park when it opens on Friday 15th March.

 

A family pass for four costs £108. However, tickets for the park are also available online at www.draytonmanor.co.uk for a reduced rate, providing a real value for money treat for the family and a well-deserved day off for Mum!

 

Increase Your Online Security With Brand Protection

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In today’s world it seems that everyone is online. Whether having fun or working. This means the criminals have an entire new world to exploit. From phishing for your personal details, domain squatting – where people buy domains as soon as possible if they are associated with a brand, and counterfeit good. It is estimated that 1 in 6 products bought online are now fake.

This is why you need a brand protection services. Just like people need car insurance and home insurance, you need to protect your brand, and yourself, online. A company such as Netnames can help you to get covered.

 

Another way to protect yourself is to be vigilant. If you get an email that just does not look right, then don’t click on it. Be careful about putting your date of birth online. With your name and date of birth people can access some of your online account and maybe even your bank account.

Also make sure you have a good password. The most popular password is actually ‘password’. Have a hard password which includes numbers and upper case letters.

If you have your own blog or website then make sure you have some security. As many as 40,000 websites are compromised per week. You work hard to build your brand, so protect it.

Have you had a bad experience online? How do you protect your brand? Comment below.

netnames.com

Mother's Day Ideas

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It is mothering Sunday on the 18th and Frost has sourced some gift ideas and treats for the special women in your life.

This Mother’s Day, treat your mum to exclusive and stylish gifts from Isabella Oliver 365. Select from luxurious and timeless pieces such as the Everyday Scarf, the Essential Skinny Belt or the Leopard Skinny Belt, perfect for any chic mum’s wardrobe. Spoil your mum this Mother’s Day and treat her
to a gift that she will always love. To view the collections visit IsabellaOliver.com . I love all of the collection, it is just effortlessly stylish.

FROM INDIA WITH LOVE ON MOTHER’S DAY

Mother’s Day is celebrated the world over, and this year British Airways will be flying in a special selection of Mother’s Day cards made with love from the Sreepuer village in Bangladesh.

The beautifully handcrafted cards have a deeper meaning than the words on the cover – as all profits are returned to Sreepur Village, a home for destitute women and children in rural Bangladesh.

Rob Jenkinson, who distributes Sreepur cards in the UK, said: “This Mother’s Day you can make two Mum’s happy as well as making a world of difference to the women of Sreepur. They do an incredible job to create these cards all year round, while bringing up their families below the poverty line. Every single penny makes a difference and goes straight back to the project.”

British Airways has supported the Sreepur project since it was established, helping with vital distribution flying a range of greetings cards into the UK, as well as retailing them internally in their Head Office.

The cards are made from jute, also known as Hessian, which grows in abundance in the area around Sreepur, helped by the ideal wet and warm conditions of the monsoon area. The cards are decorated with a combination of wheat straw and paper, with the finished product made from locally sourced natural products to a high standard.

Mary Barry, British Airways community relations manager said: “We’re so proud to be part of this project. I have seen first hand how the village has been transformed, thanks to the generosity of all the people who buy these cards and I would like to thank them for their contribution.”
There’s still time to buy a card before Mother’s Day on Sunday 18 March, please visit – www.thesreepurvillage.org

If you really cannot think of what to get her, try a gift card.

As demands of the modern day can make it increasingly difficult to dedicate time to the family, we need to make that extra effort to show our appreciation on important dates such as Mother’s Day. ‘Children’, both young and old, should be thinking of ways to thank their mums for those long years of suffering, even if they are not able to spend the day with them. To help with this, the UK Gift Card & Voucher Association (UK GCVA) has surveyed 100 modern day mums and found out what they would really appreciate this Mother’s Day. The top results included:

1. A day out with all the family;

2. To be excused from cooking and cleaning over the Mother’s Day weekend;

3. For a beauty or pampering session;

4. Peace and quiet for the whole 24 hours of Mother’s Day;

5. A voucher for her favourite clothing or make-up brand

The top entry of ‘a day out with all the family’ will not come as a surprise to many, however meeting this request by getting everyone together may be difficult for some families.

Andrew Johnson, director-general of the UK GCVA suggests using gift cards and vouchers to compensate for not being with your mum on Mother’s Day:

“An experience voucher (such as for a family day out at the zoo or a weekend away) is a great way for the whole family to enjoy a fun day out together, and mum can make the most of some quality time with the kids. A bonus of these gifts is that they can be redeemed at any time meaning that, if you’re unable to see your mum on Mother’s Day, the gift can be enjoyed at a later date.

Similarly, if you’re not able to spend the day with her, and she wants peace and quiet, why not send your mum away for a spa day by herself so she can unwind. There is a large selection of gift cards on offer that your mum can choose from for a spa retreat.”

Johnson continues:

“As mums are not generally that demanding of their children, many of you will need to think ‘outside the box’ for ideas to show your true appreciation on Mother’s Day. Gift cards and vouchers are an easy and effective way of doing this. To make up for not being around on the day, a further idea may be to give your mum a voucher for her favourite clothing store so she can treat herself.”

There are so many options available to show our mothers how grateful we are to them and all it takes is a little imagination to ensure that mum has a smile on her face on 18th March.

Love Your Mum with New Zealand Lamb

This Mother’s Day, let Mum put her feet up, and cook a meal that comes straight from the heart. This simple roast recipe is easy enough even for kitchen novices to try their hand at, perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon with the family. For those who are looking for further inspiration, check out www.loveourlamb.co.uk to see New Zealand chef Peter Gordon teaching England rugby star Will Greenwood how to make this meal – live from 1st March 2012. You can view the video on Frost Magazine


Serves: 4-6

Preparation Time: 20 mins

Cooking Time: 2h 20


1 x 2 – 2.5kg leg of lamb

1 large red onion, peeled and chopped

4 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped (optional)

The leaves from 2 x 10cm stalks of rosemary

2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 medium parsnips peeled, topped and tailed, cut into chunks

1 bunch baby carrots, scrubbed

800g mashing potatoes, peeled and cut in half

100ml double cream

60g butter

1 medium head broccoli, cut into large florets

150g frozen peas

A small handful mint leaves, torn

1½ tablespoons flour

Preheat the oven to 180?C. Place the lamb in a roasting dish and poke a thin, small knife into it in about 20 places. In a bowl, mix the onion, garlic, rosemary, thyme and olive oil with some salt and pepper and rub this all over the lamb. Leave for 20 minutes, then rub it in again and place in the centre of the oven and roast for an hour.

Turn the lamb over and add the parsnips to the roasting dish along with half a tea cup of hot water. Roast for 45 minutes, basting the lamb with the pan juices a couple of times. Turn the lamb over again and add the baby carrots. It will be cooked medium (which is lovely for a leg of lamb) in another 20-40 minutes.

Boil the potatoes in lightly salted water.

Remove the lamb from the roasting dish and place in a dish loosely covered with foil. Rest in a warm place for 20 minutes.

Drain the potatoes into a colander. Using the pot they were cooked in, bring the cream and all but 1 tablespoon of the butter to the boil. Return the potatoes to the pot and mash them with salt and pepper. Keep a lid on the pot to keep it warm.

Bring another pot of lightly salted water to the boil and add the broccoli. Bring back to the boil and add the peas. Bring back to the boil and cook for 2 minutes. Drain, reserving the liquid, then toss with the reserved butter and mint and keep warm.

If you can place the vegetable roasting dish on the hob, then remove the vegetables. If not, pour the roasting juices into a saucepan. Place over a moderate heat, add the flour and stir to make a paste, then slowly add the juices from the leg of lamb and as much liquid from the vegetables as possible to make gravy. Taste for seasoning.

To serve: simply carve the lamb and arrange on warmed plates with vegetables, mash and gravy.


It’s the thought that counts Now for some stats and facts!

Standard Life’s ‘Your Commitments, Your Future’ report reveals the nation’s true time and money spent on their parents – a clue to what mums might have in store this Mother’s Day.

Treating your parents:

* Adults in the UK spend just £13 a month on average on their parents, that’s just over £150 a year
* In comparison, parents in the UK are spend over three times as much, £456 a year on average, spoiling their children

Thinking about parents:

* Adults in the UK spend on average nearly half an hour (27 minutes) each day thinking about their parents
* However, women think about their parents significantly more than men, with women devoting 10 minutes more each day – that’s nearly 70 hours more each year!
* Women aged 18-24 spend almost three quarters of an hour (44 minutes) each day thinking about their parents, the most of any age group
* In comparison, men in the same age group devote half the time to their parents, just 22 minutes each day
* On the other hand, parents in the UK on average spend 41 minutes a day thinking about their children, with women aged 45-54 devoting almost an hour a day (58 minutes)

Who/what else do we spend time thinking about?

· Partner/Spouse – 50 minutes a day on average

· Work colleagues – 18 minutes a day on average

· Credit card payments – 11 minutes a day on average

· Investments – 6 minutes a day on average

· Current accounts – almost 4 minutes a day on average

· Pensions – 3 minutes a day on average

Julie Russell, Personal Finance Expert at Standard Life, said:

“We spend a lot of time thinking about our families and like to treat the people we love. So it’s worth remembering that planning our future finances can play a key role in our relationships with our loved ones. Whether we’re spoiling our mums with a well-deserved treat this Mother’s Day or planning a fun family break this summer, budgeting and looking ahead is essential. And with the end of the tax year looming, it’s a great time for us all to sit down with our families and think about how we can improve our finances to help us enjoy our family life even more.”

To help people better understand their financial and emotional commitments, Standard Life has published knowyourcommitments.co.uk with an interactive tool and thoughts on financially preparing for the future. Further help with financial planning is also available at yourfuturemoney.co.uk

Now for something a bit different, but an excellent idea.

Newcastle-based Shared Interest is an ethical investment co-operative that aims to reduce poverty in the world by providing fair and just financial services. The Society, which was started in 1990, is the world’s only 100% fair trade lender. Shared Interest accepts investments from UK based individuals as well as from businesses, schools, community and faith groups. Account values range
from £100-£20,000. All invested funds are then pooled and used to make low interest loans to fair trade businesses in the developing world. With the support of over 8,000 members the organisation
was able to lend £40 million over the last 12 months. The organisation has expanded its international
presence in the past three years opening offices in Kenya, Peru and Costa Rica. This regional presence
– and the vital local knowledge that the staff are equipped with – means that they are able to help
even the most remote communities by enabling them to access the credit needed to take goods to market.

www.shared-interest.com

New York World's Top Destination; New York Stats

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Britain’s ‘crucial’ New York link is world’s most popular route – meaning you could wait longer for a pizza than a flight to the Big Apple

More than 3.6 million passengers have flown from Heathrow to New York over the last year as it continues to be the world’s most popular transcontinental route, figures out today show.

Flights between the two cities are so frequent that you would often wait longer for a pizza, a train or maybe even a cab. March saw an average of one departure an hour during the day and one every 15 minutes during peak evening hours.

Waiting times across the airport are also down. Heathrow passengers get through security in under five minutes 99 percent of the time and last month’s average time for returning bags fell to just 30 minutes from the last one being unloaded off the plane.

Heathrow’s most popular route is essential for international business and tourism, linking the world’s two financial capitals. But as the UK’s only hub airport, Heathrow is the premier stop-off point for Americans flying on to Europe, India and the Middle East just as it is for Brits living across the UK.

The key distinction between a hub airport like Heathrow and point-to-point airports like Stansted is that long haul flights are sustained through ‘feeder’ planes that bring in passengers from around the globe. This makes Heathrow’s 180 destinations economically viable, since seats would not be full if used just by Londoners.

While travellers come to Heathrow from across the UK, domestic flights from Heathrow have declined due to capacity constraints, with carriers choosing more profitable routes.

But as one of the most competitive and profitable around, six major airlines operate flights to New York every day from London – American Airlines, British Airways, Continental and United Airlines (now merged), Delta, Kuwait Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.

Improving business confidence is reflected in business travel between the two financial centres. A total of 758,000 business passengers travelled the route during 2010. The latest figures from MergerMarket suggest that a total of 4,107 cross border M&A deals were announced in 2010, up approximately 34% on 2009

But whether it’s a shopping trip to Macy’s or Bloomingdales or a stroll through Central Park (which is bigger than Monaco), New York is also popular with leisure travellers. Around 9.7 million of the 48.7 million people who visited New York last year were international visitors and of a good proportion of those are British. Around 80 percent of flyers between London and New York are leisure travellers.

With the upcoming royal wedding, however, the tables are set to turn as London gets ready for an American invasion with thousands of US tourists expected to fly into London.

Sir Richard Branson, president of Virgin Atlantic, said:

“The London to New York route is a very special one for Virgin Atlantic, as the airline was launched with our very first commercial flight to Newark back in 1984. As a business route it has been crucial in connecting two of the world’s most important business hubs, and as a leisure route it has enabled British and American holidaymakers alike to enjoy the culture and excitement of the respective cities.

“Twenty-seven years on this remains our strongest route, with five flights to ‘the Big Apple’ a day operating out of Heathrow. We look forward to welcoming many thousands more passengers onboard in the coming years and to helping business and tourism flourish.”

Andrew Crawley, British Airways’ commercial director, said:

“New York has long been a vital destination for us and it’s no surprise that it has become the most popular long-haul route in the world from our home hub of Heathrow. From a BA perspective, it’s benefiting from our joint business with American Airlines and Iberia. Customers now have more options to suit their schedule or budget and the ability to mix and match prices and flights. With fourteen flights a day we effectively offer a transatlantic shuttle service on the route. It’s a winning combination and proving extremely popular with our customers.”

Frank Jahangir, Delta’s vice president of sales, said:

“The London Heathrow and New York route is the leading business route on the transatlantic and was actually the first flight that Delta operated from Heathrow following the EU-US Open Skies agreement in 2008. Access to Heathrow is a key priority for Delta and the popularity of the route means that after just three years we now fly three times daily with lie flat beds in our business cabin between the two great financial centres of the world.”

Colin Matthews, chief executive of BAA, Heathrow’s owners, said:

“New York is Heathrow’s top route. Family ties and friendship, trade and tourism link our two great cities. London is also a staging post for many Americans travelling to Europe and the Far East and it’s our goal to ensure Heathrow is the preferred hub against stiff competition from Europe and the Middle East. Passenger surveys show that investment in Heathrow is paying off in improved service and we look forward to welcoming visitors over Easter and the royal wedding.”

Colin Stanbridge, chief executive of London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) said:

“The importance to the UK of trade with the United States cannot be underestimated. They are our largest global trading partners and we are their biggest investors. LCCI issued ATA Carnets – passports for goods – for use in America with a total document value of over £800m between April 2010 and March 2011. Trade with the United States is a vital facet of the UK economy.”

Danny Lopez, Interim CEO, London & Partners said’:

‘The London – New York connection is extremely important to the capital as the USA remains the largest investor and inbound visitor market for the city. London is already the world’s most visited international destination, and as we look forward to the exciting events of the next two years, including the Royal Wedding, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Games in 2012, we expect to see even more visitors coming from the USA whether it be for work, study or pleasure.’

NEW YORK TRIVIA

New York City was the U.S. capital from 1789 to 1790

More than 47 percent of New York City’s residents over the age of 5 speak a language other than English at home

According to Crain’s New York Business, the average sale price of an apartment in Manhattan during the Q4 of 2007 was a $1.49 million.

The Federal Reserve Bank on New York’s Wall Street contains vaults that are located 80 feet beneath the bank and hold about 25 percent of the world’s gold bullion.

Some Yellow Cab stats (source: Time Out New York)
Yellow Cabs are yellow because John Hertz, the company’s founder, learned from a study that yellow was the easiest color for the eye to spot. This is also why signs at Heathrow have black text on a yellow background.

Average trip: 2.74 miles
Number of trips per hour: 2.69
Average net income per hour: $20
Number of licensed drivers: 48,220
Total trips per day citywide: 503,969
Total fare-box yield per day citywide: $5,555,741.00