For something like 30 years I had been protecting myself from the stresses and strains of uncertain motoring dilemma with my membership of the Royal Automobile Club.

Any car can break down or suffer unforeseen problems no matter how well it is serviced and, in truth I came to regard my RAC membership as more important to me than my statutory car insurance policy. The good old RAC and its devoted team never once let me down, and would always go that extra mile to get me back on the road as soon as possible.

On one occasion, after a broken metal aerial had been flung up from the road to spear my car’s fuel tank, the patrolman even went so far as to make a repair by cutting an unused rubber duck aerial from the roof of his own vehicle, and using it, together with (I think) some epoxy resin, satisfactorily plug the hole. That repair was still holding strong when some time later I had the fuel tank replaced under a claim on my comprehensive insurance policy.

However the RAC are not the cheapest bunch to belong to, and as many of their rivals advertise strongly, and appear to have a good and happy following I switched horses for one of the others last year to save some money. I mean why not! They all offer the same service don’t they?

Just short of a year later I am here to tell you that nothing is further from the truth.

Just a few weeks ago, while in the Lake District with my wife, our caravan and trusty old land Rover Discovery we discovered a broken exhaust pipe hanging dangerously below the Landy.

No problem I thought, I’ll just ring my trusty break down service and ask them to send a man to safely secure the pipe so I can drive to an exhaust centre and have a new one fitted. You may imagine my surprise when an hour later I was visited by a man with an enormous recovery vehicle but hardly a tool kit to his name. All he was able to produce was a screwdriver and some cable ties (plastic cable ties) with which he tied up the exhaust pipe and drove off into the midday sun. (Oh yes we were in Coniston during the first rainless week for 6 weeks – it wasn’t all bad luck.)

When very shortly afterwards I again rang the breakdown firm they acknowledged the shortfall in their service, and agreed that if I located an appropriate exhaust centre they would provide recovery of our Landy to that centre the following morning. This was done but meanwhile we needed to request a hire car. No problem with one being provided but it had to be brought to us so we could be taken in it to the hire company’s office many miles away to complete the hire agreement before we drove it back to Coniston

All this wasted a day and a half of a one-week holiday!

So there is a lesson here. Just because the RAC has a proven and reliable brand it is a mistake to assume that any similar organisation can even hold a candle to its level of service. I have been extremely happy to rejoin the RAC and pay them whatever they ask.

Now if I can generate for my business the sort of Brand that the RAC has!!

The Chancellor tried to reassure us that he was being ‘fair’ and that ‘everyone will pay something but the people at the bottom of the income scale will pay proportionately less than those at the top’.

The key announcements included:

• VAT Rate rise – As anticipated the VAT rate will increase from 17.5% to 20% with effect from 4 January 2011.
• Personal Allowance increase – The personal income tax allowance is to increase by £1,000 in April 2011 to £7,475. This is worth £200 a year to a basic rate taxpayer.
• Capital Gains Tax increase – The Capital Gains Tax rate for higher rate taxpayers will increase from 18% to 28% from midnight tonight. It remains at 18% for basic rate tax payers.
• Entrepreneurs Relief extended – Entrepreneurs relief has been extended to a rate of 10% on the first £5m of gains as opposed to the first £2m.
• Corporation Tax Rate cut – The Corporation Tax rate will be cut by 1% each year over the next four years until it reaches 24%. The Small Companies rate is to be cut to 20%.
• National Insurance rise to stay – The National Insurance rate increases announced by labour remained intact and will still take place however the threshold at which employers start to pay will rise.
• No change to Cigarettes, Alcohol and Fuel – No changes were made to duty on cigarettes, alcohol or fuel and the plan to increase the duty on cider from July was scrapped.
• Freeze on Child Benefits – Child benefit is to be frozen for the next three years.
• Changes to Tax Credits – Tax credits will reduce for families earning over £40,000 next year but for low income families they will receive more Child Tax Credit with the amount per child increasing by £150 above the rate of inflation.
• State Pensions – The state pension is to be linked to earnings from April 2011 and is guaranteed to rise in line with earnings or 2.5% whichever is greater. The increase in the state pension age to 66 is to be accelerated.

For further details on the key announcements visit our website www.georgehay.co.uk where you can download a copy of our budget summary.

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phone: 0034 96 5790710

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Location Information:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X%C3%A0bia

Nordic Walking

If your encounter someone – or a group of people – striding along with a pair of slim poles, you’ve probably come across participants in a new exercise and fitness technique that is sweeping across the world which is called Nordic Walking.

Those used to tramping with poles may find it a little more difficult to get the new technique, it certainly take some concentration to get the feet, legs, arms, shoulders and pole working in sync, but with a few practice runs up and down most get the basics of propelling the body forward with the poles, which always remain facing diagonally backwards, unlike trekking poles.

Actually, it’s a natural cross-walking technique that most of us have forgotten, but with poles as extensions to the arms Nordic walking is said to be able to create a meditative and calming effect, and I can say that once the technique becomes second nature it does.

However, most of the time concentrating on getting the left arm and right leg forward at the same time, pushing through on the poles which lengthens the stride, rolling the feet from heel to toe, letting go of the poles at the end of the swing, bringing it forward and grasping it before placing it back on the ground level with the opposite leg.

Nordic walking poles, unlike normal trekking poles, have a glove attached so they remain in position even though you are not gripping them.

These Poles were made for walking

Nordic walking is like engaging four-wheel drive instead of two, the car uses more fuel in four-wheel drive (with us its more calories) but it seems easier because the engine can transfer the power better with four wheels. Not only do the poles used give more stability, the technique can reduse impact on the joints and can be used in rehabilitation. At the other end of the scale, many athletes include Nordic walking in their training, because it can make you work very hard.

Cross-country skiers use it for summer training, and they are some of the fittest people in the world, for other people, the great benefit is that it works both the upper and lower body, using about 90% of the body’s muscles, as opposed to  about 35% to 45% in normal walking. As a result it burns more calories but actually seems easier to do.

In Germany national health insurance pays for Nordic walking classes from accredited trainers because of the health benefits. Like other forms of exercise, it’s worth taking a class or two to begin with, because you won’t get the full benefits unless you have the right technique.

Some people just “carry their poles”, and if you do this with the shoulders high it can lead to neck and shoulder tension, whereas a proper Nordic walking technique can actually release neck and shoulder tension and help with back issues. Surprisingly, 80% to 90% of Nordic walkers are women. “I think its that walking aspect. Men, if they want to exercise, want to go running – they want to feel it. But everyone who does Nordic walking say, ‘I didn’t know it was that hard’. In the beginning, when you learn the technique, you feel the muscles a bit sore afterwards, especially in the triceps and the lats at the back – they are the muscles you usually done use when walking”.

Nordic walking developed from cross-country skiing in Scandinavian countries back in the 1930’s, it is strong in German speaking countries such as Switzerland, Austria and Germany and has started to grow in the UK and other parts of Europe.

There will be a number of Nordic walking groups and instructors in your area, most instructors have Nordic Poles you can hire to get you started and then as you get hooked you will want to have your own poles and walk in your own time…

I run beginners sessions in the Cambridgeshire area, please contact me for details about my classes.

Mervyn S Foster

INWA Nordic Walking Instructor

NordicWalkingCambs

The Chancellor, Alistair Darling gave his final budget before there is a general election on Wednesday 24th March. He made very few announcements as the majority of tax rates and allowances had already been released in previous Budgets and the Pre Budget Report given in December. The key announcements were:

• Annual Investment Allowance increased to £100,000 for capital expenditure by businesses
• Entrepreneurs Relief doubled to £2 million
• Relief for first time buyers from Stamp Duty Land Tax on residential transactions up to £250,000
• VAT Registration threshold increased to £70,000

Our commentary on the budget is available on The George Hay Chartered Accountants’ website at www.georgehay.co.uk which gives further information on announcements made.

Flat rate VAT is charged to the smallest businesses with a turnover of less than £150,000 and aims to minimise the red tape around administering VAT.

“When VAT was lowered in December 2008 many rates stayed the same and some were reduced by up to 2.5%. What has become apparent is that after VAT was put back to 17.5% in January this year, nearly half of the flat rate schemes have seen the VAT level rise above the pre-decrease level,” said John Wright, National Chairman of FSB.

“While a few sectors have seen a decrease, the majority of businesses will see their rates rise, which is unacceptable at a time when cash-flow is limited. The FSB believes that this is a stealth tax, which will affect a firm’s overall profitability.”

Business Advice for all UK firms from starting a business to flotation  -  Banking & Finance, business advice or business startups and starting a business. Article from http://www.newbusiness.co.uk

Having taken up Nordic Walking nearly a year ago because of pain in my leg from an old skiing injury and after completing a number of long distant walks in 2009 (Oxfam Charity Walk – 26 miles, and  Pathfinder March – 46 miles, to name just two), I became hooked on walking with poles – NORDIC WALKING.

My introduction to Nordic Walking started when I attended a number of walking classes organised by Neal and Mel Thomas of FitHaven (www.fithaven.co.uk).   After skiing using Nordic Walking poles was easy for me but it does have its challenges, so it is always advisable to have instruction with a qualified instructor who can advise and correct your technique.

Having benefited from Nordic Walking, seeing other walkers losing weight, getting fitter, and just having fun. I decided in December 2009 that I would like to become an Instructor, and signed up to attend an INWA (International Nordic Walking Federation) Instructors Course conducted by British Nordic Walking.

My course was held at Nottingham University Sports Centre with Catherine Hughes (National Coach for England). The course consisted of two days intensive training and teaching, culminating on the second day with a written test and a practical assessment of the students teaching each other the techniques and benefits of Nordic Walking. The course leads to a qualification as an INWA Nordic Walking Instructor where students learn to teach Nordic Walking safely and effectively for health and fitness.

The course covered the understanding and history plus benefits of Nordic Walking.   Students had to demonstrate good personal techniques, planning and delivery of a safe session, teaching the 10 steps of Nordic Walking, developing observation skills, use of corrective drills and finally teach dynamic warm up and cool down exercises.

Nordic Walking uses specially designed poles to enhance your natural walking experience.   With a technique that is similar to the upper body action of classic cross country skiing, Nordic Walking becomes a genuinely whole body exercise that can be enjoyed at many levels, from walking for health to athletic Nordic running. Globally, more that 10 million people enjoy this outdoor activity all year around and it is growing weekly.

I am passionate about Nordic Walking and wish to see more people enjoying the benefits of this activity.  As a qualified INWA Nordic Walking Instructor I will be organising Introduction/Basic classes in the St Ives, Huntingdon and Fenstanton area, so keep looking as I shall be posting start dates and timings soon….

Mervyn S Foster

INWA Nordic Walking Instructor

NordicWalkingCambs

mervyn@nordicwalkingcambs.com or  Tel:   01480 878111