Royal Mail ….Phew for small businesses …………. but it’s only over until after Christmas

As quoted from the BBC:-

The postal strikes have been called off until at least the New Year to allow for fresh talks between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said the decision had been made to provide “a period of calm” in which the two sides could reach a long-term deal.

He said that meant Royal Mail deliveries would be “free of any disruption” over Christmas.

However Mr Barber said that securing a final deal remained a long way away.

He was speaking after the TUC helped to broker the agreement between the two sides to end the strike action.

The industrial dispute has been over the level of job losses the Royal Mail says are necessary as part of its modernisation plans.

While the CWU accepts that some redundancies are required, the two sides disagree over their extent.

They also disagree over changes to pay and working conditions for Royal Mail staff that remain in their jobs.

‘Work hard’

CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward said the decision to end the strike action had been unanimously agreed by its executive board.

It’s important that both sides now keep talking about the next phase of modernisation which is vital for the company’s future

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson

What is happening to Royal Mail?
Popular posties?
“We can now have a period of calm where we hope we can genuinely take forward modernisation in a way that puts the union at the centre,” he said.

Yet he added that the union recognised the forthcoming negotiations would be difficult, saying the dispute had been “bitter”.

“It will take exceptional efforts to rebuild trust,” he said. “But we will work very hard to ensure that the agreement stays on track.”

Royal Mail managing director Mark Higson said he now looked forward “to positive and constructive discussions on the next stage of Royal Mail’s modernisation plan”.

“I’m delighted for our customers and our people that we’ve got back to a sensible agreement with the CWU that will allow us to deliver a great Christmas while getting on with the vital talks about the longer term future of Royal Mail,” he added.

Legal action

The CWU also confirmed that it was not now pressing ahead with its legal challenge to the Royal Mail over its policy of employing temporary workers to deal with the postal backlog.

Christmas deliveries will now be unaffected
It had previously been due to go to the High Court on Friday, accusing Royal Mail of using the temporary staff to try to break the strike, something Royal Mail strongly denied.

Mr Ward also issued a fresh plea for the government to help tackle the Royal Mail’s £10bn pension fund deficit, saying that until that problem was dealt with, it would be difficult to overcome the “challenges” ahead.

Although the government owns Royal Mail, it has so far refused to get involved with the pension issue.

‘Keep talking’

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said he welcomed the news that further strikes had been called off.

“It’s important that both sides now keep talking about the next phase of modernisation which is vital for the company’s future,” he said.

“Strikes do nothing to help Royal Mail, its business, its future prospects and of course the jobs and livelihoods of those who work in Royal Mail.”

Until the latest announcements, CWU members had held five 24-hour strikes over the past two weeks, which involved members in different roles striking on different days.

The strikes that had been planned for Friday and Monday were to be all-out action involving up to 121,000 union members on each day.

What is your reaction to this news? I’d love you to comment!

self made millionaire tells it how it is…. and should be

I saw this on twitter and was quite inspired by it – it makes you think – when I am feeling flush I should curb the meals to a nice restaurant, come on we all do it but maybe that’s why I’m not a millionairess …..yet! got a year and a half to go so I can join that excusive club!!!

Take the time to read this for some real inspiration.

Power of Money, by Adam Khoo, (Singapore ’s youngest millionaire at 26 yrs)

Some of you may already know that I travel around the region pretty frequently, having to visit and conduct seminars at my offices in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Suzhou ( China ). I am in the airport almost every other week so I get to bump into many people who have attended my seminars or have read my books.

Recently, someone came up to me on a plane to KL and looked rather shocked. He asked, ‘How come a millionaire like you is travelling economy?’. My reply was, ‘That’s why I am a millionaire. ‘ He still looked pretty confused.

This again confirms that greatest lie ever told about wealth (which I wrote about in my latest book ‘Secrets of Self Made Millionaires’). Many people have been brainwashed to think that millionaires have to wear Gucci, Hugo Boss, Rolex, and sit on first class in air travel. This is why so many people never become rich because the moment that earn more money, they think that it is only natural that they spend more, putting them back to square one.

The truth is that most self made millionaires are frugal and only spend on what is necessary and of value. That is why they are able to accumulate and multiply their wealth so much faster.

Over the last 7 years, I have saved about 80% of my income while today I save only about 60% (because I have my wife, mother in law, 2 maids, 2 kids, etc. to support). Still, it is way above most people who save 10% of their income (if they are lucky).

I refuse to buy a first class ticket or to buy a $300 shirt because I think that it is a complete waste of money. However, I happily pay $1,300 to send my 2 year old daughter to Julia Gabriel Speech and D ram a without thinking twice.

When I joined the YEO (Young Entrepreneur’s Orgn)a few years back (YEO) is an exclusive club open to those who are under 40 and make over $1m a year in their own business) I discovered that those who were self made thought like me. Many of them with net worth well over $5m,travelled economy class and some even drove Toyota ’s and Nissans,not Audis, Mercs, BMWs..

I noticed that it was only those who never had to work hard to build their own wealth (there were also a few ministers’ and tycoons’ sons in the club) who spent like there was no tomorrow. Somehow, when you did not have to build everything from scratch, you do not really value money. This is precisely the reason why a family’s wealth (no matter how much) rarely lasts past the third generation.

Thank God my rich dad foresaw this terrible possibility and refused to give me a cent to start my business.

Then some people ask me, ‘What is the point in making so much money if you don’t enjoy it?’ The thing is that I don’t really find happiness in buying branded clothes, jewellery or sitting first class. Even if buying something makes me happy it is only for a while, it does not last.

Material happiness never lasts, it just give you a quick fix. After a while you feel lousy again and have to buy the next thing which you think will make you happy. I always think that if you need material things to make you happy, then you live a pretty sad and unfulfilled life..

Instead, what makes me happy is when I see my children laughing and playing and learning so fast. What makes me happy is when I see my companies and trainers reaching more and more people every year in so many more countries.

What makes me really happy is when I read all the emails about how my books and seminars have touched and inspired some one’s life.

What makes me really happy is reading all your wonderful posts about how this blog is inspiring you. This happiness makes me feel really good for a long time, much much more than what a Rolex would do for me.

I think the point I want to put across is that happiness must come from doing your life’s work (be it teaching, building homes, designing,trading, winning tournaments etc.) and the money that comes is only a by-product. If you hate what you are doing and rely on the money you earn to make you happy by buying stuff, then I think that you are living a life of meaninglessness.

Half Term on a budget by guest blogger Gemma Johnson, Co-founder of www.babeecard.com

Half Term on a Budget

Half term is nearly here, and the kids are looking forward to lots of action packed and exciting days out. But how do you balance the budget when it is nearly the end of the month and Christmas is approaching too? In this article you can get some tips for low cost and no cost activities which will keep all the family happy.

Start by making a plan. Write down the days of the week, and make a list of things that the kids have asked to do, appointments you have to attend and ideas that you have.

Free activities include
• Dressing up.
• A walk to the park.
• Exploring the local woods.
• Visiting local attractions with no entry fee. Look in the local paper, local parenting magazine and on the local council website for ideas.
• Visiting the library: ask in advance about free half term activities.
• Getting the children to put on a play. This could be based on their own ideas or a book from the library visit.

Low cost activities
• Giving each child £1 and exploring the local charity shops to see who can get the best toy, book or game
• Baking. Offer the kids the chance to make their own sandwiches, create an indoor picnic or even bake a cake. This need cost no more than your meal would have cost anyway, or you can spend a little extra on some treats.
• You could look at special half term activities put on by local attractions as well as Hallowe’en and fireworks events.

More activities
If your children have great ides about visiting theme parks, buying new DVDs and computer games and lots of meals out, work out in your head how much you have to spend on half term activities. Look for discounts of 10-45% on days out and theme parks offered by cards like BaBeeCard. This card also offers savings on the London Dungeon, paintball and activity camps.

Booking tickets in advance can save you money too: don’t forget to ask if there are good deals for family tickets. If your kids are old enough, give them an idea of the budget for half term activities. This can help them weigh up what they really want to do. It might also cut down on requests for you to buy them things if they know that the ‘half term fun’ money is being saved for a great day out that the whole family can look forward to.

Author note:
Gemma Johnson
Co-founder of
Winner of Mumpreneur of the year 2009 sponsored by WBMN
BaBeeCard Winner of Best Gift Card Award 2009 by Prepaid365.com

Many thanks to Gemma for the fab ideas in this post. Don’t forget you could get a baby casting kit and use your time to cast your baby along with their older sibling – see http://www.impala-impressions.co.uk for more details.

A mothers Love for her Child

A mothers love for her son

I thought you might like to see the casting i have done of myself and my precious son Ethan, to me no words are necessary as this shows my love for him. I hope you like it!

I have just dropped off four hand lifecasts of an 18, 11 and 7 year old girls and hand and foot cast of their 2 weeks old brother, sorry no piccies but hopefully if I get recent job of cupped hands of an adult to be a garden feature – I’ll definately get some pics of that!

Enjoy !

Schoolgirl, 16, lost eight fingers in plaster of Paris accident during art lesson

What a complete nightmare story – it just shows that you should never put your hands into plaster to make a mould. Impala Impressions uses Alginate Impression material which is completely safe and produces wonderful results – for more info see the news article attached from The Daily Telegraph.

Does sleeping with your baby cause cot death – current discussion on BBC radio 2

Just listening to Jeremy Vine, subject Cot Death is caused by sleeping with your baby, putting the onus on the parents – tune in or take a look at the article quoted below.
I would value your comments on this, I personally think there is nothing wrong with sleeping with your baby, I didn’t as he is such a light sleeper he was better in his moses basket but he always come into bed every morning for a cuddle. Do you sleep with your newborn?

Parents’ Drug And Booze Link To Cot Deaths
9:24am UK, Wednesday October 14, 2009

More than half of cot deaths happen when a baby is sleeping with a parent, a study has revealed.
Researchers said this could be linked to the baby’s parent having been drinking or taking drugs.

Despite a dramatic drop in the rate of cot death in the UK since the early 1990s, experts are advising parents to avoid dangerous co-sleeping arrangements.

The study was led by a team of researchers at Bristol and Warwick universities.

They studied all unexpected infant deaths – aged from birth to two years old – in the south west of England from January 2003 to December 2006.

The parents were interviewed shortly after the death and information was collected on alcohol and drug use.

It is really important that parents should not fall asleep with their baby on a sofa as it is very, very dangerous.

Lead author of research Professor Peter Fleming

A detailed investigation of the scene and circumstances of death was also conducted by trained professionals.

Of the 80 cot deaths analysed, more than half (54%) occurred while co-sleeping compared to one-fifth (20%) co-sleeping rate among both control groups.

Much of this risk may be explained by the combination of parental alcohol or drug use prior to co-sleeping (31% compared with 3% random controls), and the high proportion of co-sleeping deaths on a sofa (17% compared with 1% random controls), say the authors.

A fifth of cot death infants were found with a pillow and a quarter were swaddled, suggesting potentially new risk factors emerging.

Lead author Professor Peter Fleming, Professor of Infant Health and Development Physiology at Bristol University, said: “It is really important that parents should not fall asleep with their baby on a sofa as it is very, very dangerous.”

Fantastic New Clay casting kit **only £8.99**

Pretty boxed basic clay casting kit - only £8.99!!!!!!

[caption id="attachment_145" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Basic Clay casting kit - example of what you can do"][/caption]
Impala Impressions is still in the process of getting their website up to date but thought you’d like to see this amazing value kit (only £8.99!!!)to create a clay imprint of your baby – it can be painted, varnished, used as a christmas decoration for your tree – virtually anything you want and packed in a basic but pretty box wrapped with ribbon makes a fantastic christmas present for anyone! I have painted this one pictured with very light gold and then glitter paint to add a sparkley effect. Take a look at the Impala Impressions website for some great priced baby casting kits.

Please help with my survey!

I would be very grateful if you would take the time to complete the survey – it’s really short!

Click Here to take survey

Baby Casting Kit – ***NEW*** range

Hi all, after months and months of hard work, I’m pleased to say that my new imprint kits are now online, fantastic gift ideas for christmas or a precious keepsake for Grandparent or relatives. Inkless imprints, Clay Imprint kits (air drying), 3D casting kits and pregnant belly casting kits with a fantastic range of frames – all at very reasonable prices. Please see http://www.impala-impressions.co.uk for details. These are selling fast so get in there early for the most treasured gift for yourself, family or friends.

New baby casting kits going online ….Friday – fingers crossed xxx

New Inkless imprint, air drying clay, pregnant belly casting kits going online hopefully Friday – I can’t wait, it’s so exciting!

Impala Impressions exhibiting at……..

Impala Impressions will be exhibiting at the following events:

Tuesday 29th September 2009
Baby Bea, Mill Yard, West Malling
10.00am – 2.00pm Come along to this wonderful baby boutique and get you baby casting done whilst you are browsing.

Saturday 7th November 2009
NCT Beckenham Christmas Fair – St John’s
2.30pm – 4.30 pm Hall, 251 Eden Park Avenue, Beckenham

Sunday 15th November 2009
The Designer Baby Show –
10.00am – 5.00pm Spirit Conference & Exhibition Centre. Our venue is very close to Windsor & Eton and just off to the M25 (Heathrow) See www.thedesignerbabyshow.co.uk for details
For directions click on map

Sunday 22nd November 2009
The Baby Fair – Northampton
10am – 4pm Northampton Saints Rugby Ground See http://www.baby-fair.co.uk/northampton/index.html for details.

Saturday 5th December & Sunday 6th December 2009
The Hop Farm Christmas Market alongside Santas
Magical Kingdom. The Hop Farm Paddock Wood 10.00am – 8.00pm Kent. TN12 6PY. See www.thehopfarm.co.uk for details.

Don’t forget to come along to either purchase baby casting kits for wonderful Christmas gifts or get a casting done of your baby on the day (baby bea date and northampton date only)

1st week of school…….tears or cheers?

So the end of the week is here and the second week of what seems to be the rest of Ethans life is soon to begin. Monday was quite traumatic with half an hour at home tears and a very terrified little boy. With lots of cuddles and encouragement we managed to calm him down and get him in the car on his first journey to ‘big’ school. Once there he was fine and quite excited as we waited for the school gates to open and once inside, he found the class castle and was quite happy to wave goodbye to us.

Like giving birth, you can read and talk all you like about what it is like and what to do, but it still doesn’t prepare you fully for the emotions involved. I was fine on the Monday but the Sunday before proved a difficult day for me, with tears (that I had to hide) as I felt that I was losing my son that i’d cared for and brought up for the last four and a half years. As the week went on, those emotions have subsided, he has to go, I can’t do anything about that and I’m now excited that he is so keen to learn and please his teacher. All I can do now is still provide the support and values that I have always given and taught him and hope that he will be content and happy at school.

My love and thoughts go out to all those mummies and daddies whose little ones started school last week – be brave x

Baby Casting in Faversham

by Impala Impressions

Off to Faversham to do a baby casting this morning, don’t forget to book yours in with Impala Impressions or you could miss out on something you will really treasure forever, book before the end of the week as prices unfortunately are having to go up.
Justine
http://www.impala-impressions.co.uk
01732-521537

A tale of a tail end of a Hurricane in Dorset…!

Off we set on a weeks camping to Longthorns Farm in Wareham, Dorset and were pleasantly suprised at the friendliness and laidbackness of Sally and Mark who let us pitch virtually anywhere we wanted. We chose the tipi field which was very quiet and see photo for the view!

Our view

We were told by Mark that unfortunately Hurricane Bill had just left America and we were getting the tail end of it! It was a wet week but a fab time was had at Monkey World where they do the most amazing work. Check out their website and why not adopt a monkey? www.monkeyworld.org

Orangutan

We took Ethan Mackerel fishing on a boat from Weymouth which was fantastic fun and brought back many memories of my time fishing on the McCombies yacht and we caught loads! We gutted them at the campsite and even our neighbours had some! They were delicious!

You can just see the fish eye in the bottom right of the picture! Mummy wasn't quick enough with the camera!

Despite the wild winds, rain etc we had a fantastic time visiting Lulworth Cove, catching loads of crabs (mackerel as bait is a good tip!), seeing the jousting at Lulworth Castle, taking the steam train past Corfe Castle to Swanage and eating lots of seafood!

I would recommend Dorset to anyone!

NCT Beckenham and Borders Christmas Fair.

Impala Impression baby casting kits will be exhibiting at the christmas Fair on Saturday 7th November, 2.30pm – 4.30pm @ St John’s Hall, 251 Eden Park Avenue, Beckenham – don’t miss out on mulled wine and mincepies. See www.impala-impressions.co.uk for more details.

See you there!

Top Tip

Wear a brightly coloured top or have a brightly coloured bag when out with your toddler – I have a shocking pink sweatshirt and when I go out shopping or to a play zone, park etc wear it and my little one can always spot me in a second!
Don’t forget to check out Impala Impressions website http://www.impala-impressions.co.uk

Anyone out there who is losing their first child to school this year?

I’m finding it hard to deal with and would appreciate some comforting words, I really get the feeling I’m going to lose him forever! I know he’ll be ok and I’ll be ok but I can’t help being worried, will he make friends? Will he be lonely – any comments will do.

I thought you might like to read the poem we made for his nursery, his last day on Friday ~

A is for Alex who is lovely & bubbly
B is for Babys so bouncy & cuddly
C is for Clairey who’s so shiney shine
D is for Drawing & colourings I design
E is for Ethan who will miss you all
F is for Fun, it’s been a ball
G is for George my bestest friend there
H is for Happy, it’s obvious you all care
I is for Imagination you broadened for me
J is for Jumping about with such glee
K is for Katie, she’s very smart I say
L is for Laura with her happy smiles all day
M is for Music bugs, Kimbo’s just fab
N is for Never going to forget you, today I feel sad
O is for Outstanding consistency all the way through
P is for Playing, my favourite thing to do
Q is for Quaesitosaurus, dinosaurs I love so much
R is for Rabbits, Carrot in his hutch
S is for Scrummy lunches, especially the hotpot
T is for Teaching me such a lot
U is for my Uniform, I’ll come and show you soon
V is for Vicki who is pretty and teaches good tunes
W is for the Week days I know now by the song
X is for Xylophones which we bash and play along
Y is for Yoga, Tattys favourite crew
Z is for Zillions of reasons I’ll miss you

Hope you like it!
Don’t forget to visit my website or please sign up to my blog.
www.impala-impressions.co.uk

Impala Impressions – baby casting session @ Baby Bea, West Malling, Kent

Impala Impressions is excited to announce their first casting day in Baby Bea, a unique baby boutique in West Malling, Kent. See http://www.babybea.co.uk for directions and http://www.impala-impressions.co.uk for details of castings and prices which start at £55.00.

Castings will start at 10.00am until last casting at 4.00pm and we hope to see you there.

On another note, I spent the morning on my home visits, starting in Romford, Essex where I met Kate, her husband and the gorgeous Aaron, 6 months. He was an absolute star and Kate and her husband really gave me something to smile about, such a bubbly, friendly couple that I can’t wait to see them again when I deliver Aarons cast back to them!

Don’t forget to book your home casting sessions (Kent only)(and some parts of Essex within reason) for a professional, friendly and very competitvely priced service. Just see our website www.impala-impressions.co.uk or call Justine on 01732-521537 for details or to look at buying a baby casting kit to do this exciting and very rewarding art yourself.

Impala Impressions hits Vogue Magazine

Yes, I was contacted and asked to feature in Vogue Magazine, something I couldn’t turn down!
So take a look page 189 for the Impala Impressions feature and don’t forget to visit our website for superb gifts for newborns, christenings or just a simple treat for yourself to go on your wall.
http://www.impala-impressions.co.uk

ABC Magazine………. A must read and free too

Just pick up one of your copies in any childrens soft play, library, nursery etc…….. this magazine is a great read from cover to cover. Impala Impressions is featured in the Summer issue 11 and as the cover says it IS packed full of essential information and very useful too.

Advertising rates are very good value and dealing with ABC has been a pleasure, no pressure sales, babble just honest, friendly telephone/emails regarding my feature.

I’m very happy with my feature.

See http://www.abcmag.co.uk for more details.

Dont’ forget to check out my feature!