Although the closures will bring bad news for employees of Thomas Cook and their families, they will also leave a gap in the travel market, ready for smaller independent and budding travel agencies to take over. Although some of the business is sure to go to internet agencies, a lot of it will be available to the smaller businesses who previously sat in the shadow of the giant.

These closures were first announced last year and are expected to affect a selection of Thomas Cook, Going Places and Co-operative Travel branches. Approximately 660 staff will be affected by the move. However, it’s not all bad news for those who find themselves out of work; these up-and-coming travel agencies, as well as existing market leaders, will be keen for knowledgeable, experienced staff.  This viewpoint has been confirmed in a statement made by Ken McNab, managing director of The Travel Company Edinburgh.

McNab, who is also president of the UK arm of the American Society of Travel Agents, has said “The people who were good in the business and had built up relationships with their customers over the years will be able to find a job. There is still a desire for good quality staff out there,” McNab also stated that is own agency is likely to be in a position to recruit a small number of staff in the near future. It is expected that the business travel sector will hold the most opportunity.

For more information on our Travel Insurance, call us on 01480 402 460, for a free quote.

Eat chocolate – This tip alone is enough to switch us on to a detox. Anything which recommends chocolate cannot be bad. Dark chocolate, containing at least 77% cocoa, can protect your body from free radicals and reduce the risk of heart disease. The bad news is you only need one ounce a day.

Buy a reusable water bottle – Trading in your plastic water bottle for a long-lasting aluminium one will reduce the amount of waste you produce and help you do your bit for the environment. If you’re not keen on drinking tap water, invest in a filter and keep your bottle topped up.

Embrace houseplants – While you may think that houseplants are the reserve of little old ladies, acquiring some could actually have a positive effect on your health. Plants take in carbon dioxide and put out oxygen, meaning that the air in your home will be cleaner.

Clay masks – Don’t neglect your skin while detoxing your surroundings. A clay mask will draw out impurities and leave your skin looking fresher, healthier and even younger. White clay is best for dry skin, red or green suit oilier complexions.

Choose organic – If you’re going to eat the skin on your fruit and vegetables, it’s best to go organic. No more eating pesticides!

For more information on Lifesure’s Beauty Insurance, call us for a free quote on 01480 402 460 or visit our Specialist Beauty Website.

Bal Singh is claiming that Jasminder was brought up as part of the “Hindu Joint Family” system, where all properties is shared and beneficially owned by several members of the family, rather than one individual. Bal Singh has told a court that he and his wife are ashamed by Jasminder flouting the rules of the system and not fulfilling his obligations to his family.

“That family system based on custom and religious teaching is widely practised and universally understood by Hindus and Sikhs in India today, just as it was in British India where I was brought up, and is widely practised and universally understood in the Sikh and Hindu communities overseas.” “For Jasminder to deny that and claim all the credit and ownership for himself will be shocking to wide sections of those communities, particularly our family friends” said Bal Singh in his statement. He continues with That family system based on custom and religious teaching is widely practised and universally understood by Hindus and Sikhs in India today, just as it was in British India where I was brought up, and is widely practised and universally understood in the Sikh and Hindu communities overseas.” “For Jasminder to deny that and claim all the credit and ownership for himself will be shocking to wide sections of those communities, particularly our family friends.”

The dispute does not involve the hotel chain, but does include a substantial amount of property, including the £10 million family home in which both men and their wives currently live. Jasminder Singh claims that he did not have a majorly religious upbringing and denies all knowledge of an involvement in the “Hindu Joint Family” system.

When your Hospitality Insurance is due to be renewed, call us at Lifesure for a free quote on 01480 402 460.

Following news of a loan deal with Newham Council last year, an anonymous complaint was made to the European Commission, on the grounds of the loan qualifying as illegal state aid. Included in the terms of the loan was the construction of a new school and community sports facilities at the Olympic Stadium site. Both Tottenham Hotspur and Leyton Orient football clubs had also launched their own investigations into the loan at the same time as Mr Lawrence made his anonymous complaint.

Speaking to Sky Sports News regarding the issue, Steve Lawrence said one of the reasons for his complaint was that the future use of the stadium was “’too opaque’. I care a great deal about the project,” he said. “It’s a project I started in the first place and I want the legacy in east London to last for generations.” Mr Lawrence also said he was concerned that, if the loan had later been discovered to be illegal state aid, West Ham would be unable to repay the funds and would end up homeless. “If that had happened after they had moved out of Upton Park and that ground had been redeveloped they then would have been in a position where they would have had to return that stadium and they would have been left homeless and we would have lost one of our precious English football clubs”

For more information on Lifesure’s Tradesman Insurance cover, call us for a free quote on 01480 402 460, or why not visit our Specialist Website.

The Geneva Motor Show has long been the place to showcase new engines and vehicles, with almost all internal combustion motor vehicles having been shown at the first one in 1905. The exhibition is now returning to its place at the front of motor technology, with cutting-edge cars such as the Yaris Hybrid and GT86 Sports Coupe making their first appearances at the 2012 show.

The entire fleet exhibited by Toyota this year demonstrate a greener approach to motoring. First off will be the Yaris Hybrid. Already production-ready, the new Yaris is powered by a re-engineered Hybrid Synergy Drive and is set to become Europe’s first full hybrid supermini. The car has been developed to offer a smooth, quiet performance while also producing the lowest emissions in its category.

Alongside the Yaris Hybrid and the affordable sports coupe GT86, Toyota will be unveiling four very different concept cars. The FT-Bh is a very lightweight city car, produced with specifically chosen materials to keep the cost down. The NS4 plug-in hybrid and FCV-R hydrogen-powered concept cars will also make up part of Toyota’s display. Finally, the diji concept, which was previously seen in Tokyo, is also appearing in Geneva to let European fans have a closer look.

For more information on the types of savings you could make by switching your Japanese Import Insurance to Lifesure, why not give us a call for a free quote on 01480 402 460.

These fraudsters are posing as letting agents and approaching both landlords and tenants about properties. Tenants are being duped into paying a deposit and the first month’s rent for properties which have already been let. For example, two people in Sutton placed a deposit of £1,500 each on a property which they had viewed with a person who they believed to be the letting agent. When they attempted to gain access, it was discovered that their keys did not fit and the flat had already been rented out by the landlord. Both times, the ad was placed on Gumtree using false names and bank details.

Detective Inspector Sarah Rees of Scotland Yard is one of the detectives involved in investigating such fraud. “This is a cruel scam which targets people who are looking to set up home and can least afford to lose the money. On this occasion the victims arrived to move in at the same time but were left helpless on the doorstep.” she said.

The Metropolitan Police have also issued warnings to landlords to watch out for these kinds of scams. As well as the fake letting agents, criminals are posing as potential buyers and approaching letting agents to apply for mortgages on their behalf. “This is a complex fraud which suggests the fraudsters have a very good understanding of estate agency,” said a spokesman for the Met. “They understand how the agent, solicitor and mortgage adviser and lender interact with each other, and the weaknesses in their processes.”

When you are due to renew your Landlord Insurance, call us at Lifesure on 01480 402 460.

Customers had first queried in 2008 whether the Guaranteed Capital Plus and Guaranteed Growth plans were covered by the FSCS and had received the reply that their money  ”may be covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme”, as well as a referral to the FSCS website. It was not until 2009 that the banking group actually admitted that the products were not fully covered. A further six months passed before literature relating to the products was updated to that effect.

Should Santander have collapsed, those customers who had invested in these plans would not have been able to claim their deposits back. As the plans were not deposit accounts, claims could only be made in the event of mis-selling or mismanagement. During the period of time between the first query being made and the updated literature being produced, approximately £1.2 billion was invested into the plans.

Tracey McDermott, acting director of enforcement and financial crime at the FSA, said “When firms provide customers with literature about products, the information has to be correct and unambiguous. After all, it is there to help people make informed decisions about whether to invest. Considering that sales of these products took place between 2008 and 2009 – a time of financial uncertainty – Santander should have moved more quickly to confirm under which circumstances FSCS cover would be available.”

For more information on Lifesure’s Small Business Insurance, call us for a free quote on 01480 402 460.

For more information on Lifesure’s Travel Insurance, call us for a free quote on 01480 402 460.

For one weekend only, Chester Race Course will be allowing up to five hundred campers to pitch their tents, motorhomes and caravans in the grounds. Camperfest will run over Easter Weekend, from 7^th to 9^th April, while the Chester Food, Drink and Lifestyle festival also takes place within the racecourse grounds. With over one hundred and fifty gourmet food and drink stalls right on their door step, it will make a welcome change from soggy campsites and washed-out barbecues!

As well as mouth-watering offerings such as Cheshire farm ice cream, game, home-reared pork, freshly baked cakes and a farmers’ market, the festival includes many attractions and entertainment for all the family. Professional chefs will be in attendance to run ever-popular workshops – learning from the likes of Simon Rimmer, Michael Caines and Andrew Nutter will certainly be an experience.

Those with children can attend the Kids Cooking Workshop, where each kid will be given their own chef’s hat to wear while they learn about healthy eating and how to cook delicious, basic recipes. This year’s festival also includes a brand new feature in the guise of Extreme Adventure. Bigger kids will love the 60ft zip line, scramble nets and the Spider Mountain challenge.

Back to the gourmet side of the weekend, the festival has also brought back the popular “try and buy” area, where festival-goers can sample dishes from 40 regional restaurants.

For more information on our Hospitality Insurance, call us at Lifesure on 01480 402 460 for a free quote.

Following the real interest in our first blog articles on the exciting new caravans from Eterniti we approached them at the Motorhome and Caravan show at the London Excel to see if we could capture some video for our readers. I was introduced to Jonathan Morris Eterniti’s UK General Manager who was very happy to give us access. We had some real fun capturing video between members of the public viewing the interior. I was very impressed with how positive peoples comments where about the though that has gone into these pre production models, though if not added these to the video as we’d needed permission to add the clips.

If your intending to visit the Motorhome and Caravan Show over the weekend the Eterniti stand is well worth a visit.

Also, Lifesure has the opportunity to win a years free motorhome or caravan insurance in their daily draw, and as visitor numbers are quite low the odds on you winning are excellent!

Simon