As to why – it is well acknowledged that a sound and experienced financial professional will be able to help protect your income, plan your finances in the event of illness or death, plan for further education costs, help save on any inheritance tax due, plan for a safe retirement and even more important assess the impact of a change in world affairs and your personal circumstances.

Whatever stage of life you are at; one of the main benefits of seeking the help of a financial guru is the peace of mind that comes with knowing you are placing your future security in the hands of a qualified expert. Bear in mind that any financial adviser who is good at his or her job should be able to explain your situation and future outlook in simplistic terms, enabling you to work out your immediate and long-term goals.

You should be taken by the hand and guided through the often complicated process of choosing investments that are tailored to your needs. An advisor will manage your expectations and help you prepare for most eventualities – to be fair though you must understand that no one has a crystal ball so sudden international upheavals such as 9/11 can only be met head on and dealt with if and when they happen. Any adviser worth their salt should also regularly review your progress to make sure you’re well on the way to fulfilling your goals.

Successful financial advisors can deliver watertight retirement plans to their clients by providing the technology and support needed. Today’s retirement plan advisor needs to be able to navigate a rapidly changing and complex environment of investment and regulatory issues as well as deliver high quality, personalised service. The most desirable advisors have the experience and insight to serve retirement plan accounts better than their competition. They must have a comprehensive vision of forward planning, perfect it and then deliver it to you the client as a complete and safe package. A poor adviser can leave you worse off than you were before which is why it is vital that you do plenty of research and consider a fair number of personal recommendations.

One of the best things to come out of biggest shake-up of the investment industry for decades are new rules that ban commission-based selling; from now on, financial advisers will have to charge upfront fees to their customers rather than receive commission from companies supplying financial products. This much needed move by the FSA includes unit trusts, pensions and Isas, the idea being that everything is designed to be more transparent and therefore reduce the risk of mis-selling.

It is very important that clients are able to see clearly the cost of financial advice which may previously have appeared to be free since the charges were part of the commission payments made to the adviser. Many of the larger banks have already stopped offering financial advice and started cutting the number of advisers they have and some independent financial advisers have decided to quit the industry or retire. All of this means that a lot of the previously questionable ‘elements, won’t be around to rip off the consumer.

There are five questions the FSA recommends that customers ask their adviser in the light of new rules:

Can you show me proof that you are qualified to give advice?

Can you explain what products you can advise me on and any areas you cannot help me with?

How often will you review my investments?

Can you explain the different ways I can pay for advice?

How much will your advice cost me and how is this calculated?

Remember that the right financial guardian can be a life saver for your family’s future security but it is up to you to make absolutely sure you are not handing someone incompetent your valuables on a plate. A bad investor will usually wriggle out of taking the blame if it all blows up in your face so check and double check you can really trust your potential financial advisor.

However it is more usual for fresh milk to be coagulated; perhaps by the addition of rennet – a substance obtained from the stomachs of unweaned calves – or with an acid substance such a lemon juice, or by adding a bacterial culture. Coagulation is activated in temperatures of between 20C-40C for up to 36 hours, depending on the type of cheese. Curds are then separated from the whey which can also be used to make some cheeses. The curds are used according to size, the smaller ones for hard cheeses, medium for firmer cheese and large for soft cheeses.

The way the curd is cut and processed determines the taste, texture and ripening. Curds are then drained according to which cheese they are to be used for. Softer cheeses, for example, retain more of the whey, so the larger curds are left on ‘draining boards’ for less time before they are ready for you to use.

Hard cheeses on the other hand use the smaller curds because the whey drains more quickly from them and they need to be drier. After initial draining the curds are pressed through strong cloths to filter the whey again before putting them put into moulds containing holes, for further drainage as pressure is applied on the top of the curds in the mould.

Salt is a vital ingredient in cheese-making, primarily to speed up the drying process but also to help the rind form and slow-down the ripening, as well as adding flavour.

Dependent on the type of cheese is the process used and the amount of salt. Immersion of the cheese in a brine bath is the most common, and dry salting which is done by repeatedly rubbing the cheese with salt once it has been removed from the mould. Washed-rind cheese is regularly brushed with salt whilst maturing to prevent the rind getting too hard and to stop the unwelcome formation of mould.

Some cheeses are also washed with wine or beer. When making blue cheese bacteria or fungus is inserted into cheeses to give the veining, whilst some varieties have fungus brushed on the outer rind to give it a ‘bloom’.

The cheese is then left to mature according to variety in a special storage room or cellar. Warmer ‘drying rooms’ speed-up the maturing process but the majority of cheeses are matured at between 8C-15C. Each variety of cheese takes a different length of time to reach maturity.  The humidity and natural movement of air also play a large part in achieving the correct climate for each type of cheese to ensure optimum taste and quality.

There’s an ideal ‘unique’ venue for every occasion; from summer getaways to festive breaks and celebratory weekenders. From fully catered, staffed stays to luxury self-catered homes, tailor your break to suit your group.
Whether you’re looking for a gourmet experience, adrenalin-fuelled activity break or simply to relax and put your feet up in style. To contact the company and for more details on properties go to www.uniquehomestays.com

If you want to learn to play polo properly you need to start with a sympathetic and experienced teacher who is used to dealing with all levels of horsemanship. In other words you need to place your trust in a place where people from all walks of life learn to play polo at a level that is both fun and encouraging. It is important that you find a polo school that builds your confidence at a steady realistic pace until you reach the point where you feel ready to take part in your very first chukka and hit that ball across the pitch.

Just a 20 minute drive from London Heathrow airport, in rural Berkshire, is a well-established polo academy where the rich and famous play polo and yet total beginners are well catered for and encouraged.

Owned and run by Peter Grace, renowned player, and author of Polo, together with his four daughters (known in polo circles as ‘The Amazing Graces’) this unique family team have the ability to draw unreleased talent from even the most nervous beginner. There is an extremely large selection of ponies and even an electronic horse to ensure that students of all levels are safely taught to play polo in a friendly atmosphere.

Ascot Park Polo Academy offers several affordable formats for tuition so that they can provide the right type of coaching for an individual’s level of ability, fitness and athletic skill.

No membership of Ascot Park Polo Club is required to take part in any of their training activities and non-riders are very welcome – about 65% of those they teach have never ridden before. Don’t worry about buying polo gear as the polo academy provides all the necessary equipment, including specially trained and tolerant ponies.

They have top-class coaching, which enables even non-riders to take part in their first chukka within one session.

As their paramount consideration is safety all the initial coaching takes place in their all-weather enclosed arena, the largest in Europe. Every one of the academy’s experienced instructors are registered with the Hurlingham Polo Association, which is the governing body for polo.


There are a good variety of polo training options including:

The Discover Polo Lesson:
This is the ideal starting point where you are taken through all the basic contents of the game to give you an all round picture and understanding of the game.

Instructional Arena Chukkas:
Following your Introductory Lesson you can progress to playing in these entry level chukkas in Europe’s largest all-weather polo arena.

The Discover Plus Lesson:
This group lesson is for those who have completed the Discover Polo Lesson and perhaps some instructional chukkas and want to spend a morning refreshing their knowledge of polo rules and theory, and more advanced polo swing and polo riding.

Private & Group Coaching Tuition:
This allows your instructor to identify and discuss your strengths and weaknesses and address them accordingly. Whether it’s stick work or riding, coaching is essential if the correct techniques are to be developed.

Academy Lawn Chukkas:
This means you can play the game with other competent players, under the eye of instructors who will offer advice and instruction whilst you play.

Special Learn to Play Polo Day
Why not get a real taste of polo at Ascot Park where you can take up the challenge of riding a well trained polo pony, as you take your first steps to learning this thrilling game.

Your experience will take you through all basic components of the game to give you an understanding of the sport. You will spend time learning the rules and tactics by watching a demonstration by your instructor using a board with miniature pieces. You will then stand on an elevated platform with a shortened polo mallet and be taught the polo swing and the four basic shots. Then get onto your horse and learn how to ride a polo pony.

Finally, put it all together by doing some stick and ball (riding your horse and hitting a ball in solo practice). Following the introductory lesson you have the opportunity to progress to playing an instructional chukka – where you can enjoy playing competitive polo and expand upon what you’ve already learned. Light lunch and drinks are available to purchase on-site, and beautiful local country pubs are nearby. 

For more details and prices go to www.polo.co.uk
 

Clarence Court produce a fantastic and unusual range of rare breed hen’s eggs as well as duck, quail goose, turkey, rhea and ostrich eggs. Not only are the birds free range, but they have special management to encourage the birds to range further, instinctively helping them to range from dawn to dusk. These eggs are quite simply delicious and have large yolks with egg whites that are very firm.

The beautiful, richly coloured shells from these eggs are very strong and because the birds are closer to their natural origins in that they only lay about 180 eggs a year compared to 280 eggs per year produced by the average free range hen. All the hens are fed on the finest natural non-GM vegetarian diet with a plenty of maize corn which accounts for the deeper more colourful yolk and flocks of Legbars and Burfords are mixed together to bring harmony to the farm.

Clarence Court is a family run business dedicated to good conditions for their birds as well as free and fair working policies for all their poulterers and employees . For those who care about the source of their eggs it is great to know that this company have a highly responsible ethos on livestock welfare, with welfare provisions well in advance of the law. Their website offers a fund of information including lots of lovely recipes.

So where can you find these fabulous, crème de la crème eggs. Well we get ours from Waitrose but you can find them in many other high end shops such as Harrods, Fortnum & Mason, Booth & Co, Sainsbury’s and Selfridges. For more information visit the website.

The first step for anyone running an event for charity should be to ‘work’ your contacts. Contacts are the life-force of any charity; it comes down to the old adage ‘it’s not what you know, it’s who you know’. A strong charity is built upon the solid foundations of its supporters. It is certainly not solely about generous donations of money but willing donations of time, resources, services and products.

Whether your event has been launched out of the offer of support from a celebrity (always a good starting point) or from a need to raise funds, a checklist of who you know who can help is the first tactic. This list may include key people from hotel owners who can provide a venue through to company directors who can provide donations for the auction or raffle. It can include volunteers who can help on the night through to a friendly catering company willing to put on the food.

Once you know from what base you are starting then you can work out what your unfulfilled needs are. The resultant ‘wish list’ will reveal what you may have to pay for – or better still appeal to sympathetic companies for. This will then lead to determining the budget required.

But before you start writing cheques in the charity’s name for the very best champagne and the rider for the hippest band around, give your spending plans some extra thought. Not only will your supporters and attendees have just as much fun with a cheaper band (especially once the alcohol starts flowing) but they might also think more favourably of your charity if it is seen to be spending wisely and shunning frivolous investments just to keep up appearances. In the world of charity it is not always wise to be seen as the biggest spender – unless it is on frontline services.

And remember – not all donations are altruistic in origin. Companies have CSRs (Corporate Social Responsibility policies) that they aim to meet with their partnership charity working activity while celebrities will have their own agendas for working for charities, many of them ethical and genuine. Both of these approaches are justified in the business and celebrity world and should be used to the advantage of a charity looking to raise its profile and, ultimately, raise funds.

This article was written by Jane Dyer of  www.thebudgetmarketeer.co.uk who offers more ideas on how to make the most out of your marketing budget whether you are a charity or indeed a SME.

Shelves and drawers made of aluminum or walnut can be purchased as additional elements; thanks to the side runners, pulling the drawers out and pushing them back in is child’s play. These additional features can instantly transform your personal trolley into somewhere to keep special items. 

A good example would be a CD rack or filing cabinet, which, containing your favourite music or secret documents, can also be protected from unwanted intrusion simply by attaching a padlock. This whole range of possibilities is also available in some outstanding luxury designs and there are three extraordinary models available. The Skypak Luxury Edition comprises ‘PURE GOLD’, ‘BISAZZA MOSAICO’ and the ‘LUXURY CRYSTAL’ model. These three sublime airline trolleys combine practical and functional storage space with outstanding luxury; the result being a one-of-a-kind piece of glamorous furniture.

The illustrious ‘Pure Gold’ trolley (see top picture) is refined with 24-Carat gold leaf. The trolley is made manually and with the highest precision. The gold-plated pedals accomplish this exquisite gold interior. Besides this model, the range features also a trolley designed in cooperation with one of the top luxury brands in the design sector – Bisazza. Bisazza is the industry’s leading producer of glass mosaic for interior and outdoor decoration.

The trolley ‘Bisazza Mosaico’ (see left) is available in two colors, Isotta and Stripes Fall Both trolleys gain their noble look at the home of the brand Bisazza in Alte Vicenza, Northern Italy. The exquisite glass mosaic turns the trolley into a marvelous piece of luxury furniture.

The ‘Luxury Crystal’ trolley is the flagship of Skypak. This trolley is probably the most extraordinary piece of furniture ever made. Designed by Skypak founder Peter Jorge Fischer and adorned with 82,000 crystals of the luxury brand Swarovski Elements this airline trolley is the most remarkable trolley of the Luxury edition. This airline trolley is accomplished by chromium-plated pedals.

When Skypak launched its first airplane trolleys for use in private homes, the mobile mini bars quickly became ‘must have’ items for any smart, up-to-date homeowner.

With entrepreneurial foresight and a team of creative young designers, Peter Jorge Fischer has turned the robust airline service trolleys into original objects of desire. The Luxury edition, available since June 2011, created a furor worldwide. If you have a weakness for the phenomenal flight furniture by Skypak and particular taste of luxury design you can get one of these new items of remarkable furniture for your home by visiting the company website at www.skypak.de

Once on her stylish website, you can easily click through to the fashion e-store. Here you can order from her fabulously chic collection which includes dresses and separates and outstanding accessories such as belts, scarves and jewellery. Not for nothing is Amanda Wakeley the winner of several awards, including three British Fashion Awards for Glamour. She has a fantastic brand heritage and loyal customer base who eagerly await the new season designs.

Amanda had a personal passion to create understated but alluring clothes that women find beautiful and love to wear. Her followers are ageless who prefer garments that are sexy but not overt and body enhancing, yet comfortable and above all relevant yet appropriate to their lifestyle.

Over the years, Amanda Wakeley has dressed celebrity stars such as; Scarlett Johansson, Demi Moore, Kate Beckinsdale, Dita Von Teese, Charlize Theron, Jada Pinkett Smith, Mischa Barton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Helen Mirren and Kate Winslet for red carpet events around the world. She has also had the honour of dressing many members of Royal families, most notably the late Princess of Wales and Queen Rania of Jordan.

On her site there is a glamorous selection of her signature silk jersey dresses, tops, skirts, jackets, coats, accessories, skirts, unusual knitwear and beautiful evening wear, made in a range of luxurious fabrics such as silk jersey, crepe and georgette. In addition her fabulous bridal boutique is somewhere that every bride with style should visit before they choose their dress.

For more details on her latest collections visit the website

Do avoid wearing a diamond ring when doing any kind of housework or manual labour. It is best to only wear a diamond ring when you can relax or go out. When not being worn, it should be kept somewhere secure and memorable.

Don’t wear a diamond when you’re washing dishes as the chemicals can damage the properties of the stone and don’t do gardening with it on since once lost in the garden it may never be found again.

Don’t keep your precious diamonds next to other jewellery pieces as this can cause scratches. This is because the pointed objects such as clasps can scratch the diamonds. A fabric-lined jewellery case with separate compartments is ideal for storage. It’s also a good idea to have one small container or compartment for every stone, since they also have the tendency to rub against each another. You can of course individually wrap your diamonds in soft tissue paper or use jewellery pouches for each piece.

Do inspect your diamond jewellery on a regular basis to make sure the settings are secure and not worn or thin. If that does occur and you notice any signs of damage or loosening of the prongs take it straight to a professional jeweler. It’s still a good idea anyway to have your diamond jewellery checked over annually by a reliable jeweller and use the opportunity at the same time to have it expertly cleaned.

Regular exposure to hand cream, perfume, hairspray, household chemicals and other substances can cause a nasty buildup that will dull the sparkle of your diamonds. Chlorine or abrasives should never be used when cleaning diamonds, especially those set in jewellery. These can erode some of the metals often used in diamond settings, and may loosen prongs, or even dissolve the metal completely.

Only clean a diamond by using a solution of warm water mixed with a few drop of ammonia. Gently scrub with an old, soft-bristled toothbrush for more deep cleaning, then rinse and dry with a soft, clean cloth.

Finally always make sure your diamonds are insured in case the diamonds get lost, damaged or even stolen and NEVER take a diamond ring off to wash your hands and leave on the rim of a sink; it is only a small nudge away from slipping down the plughole into a murky drain!

Large or small, any ball can take up to a year to plan and going to be hard work to organise – here are a few tips to help make your ball a huge success. The first few months of planning are the idea stages, dream time. Decide your venue, book it, and then spend several months with a sketchbook conjuring ideas, to transform your building or marquee into another fantasy world.

Your ideas will change constantly, until a basic image begins to take hold. A good idea is to start planning the ballroom, as this is the central point of the whole event.

Above all, do not think about specifics, at this point everything is possible. How grand are the flowers going to be? What colour scheme will the ballroom be? Do you want costumed waiters, fireworks, marquees, candles, lighting…will there be a charity auction, will there be table prizes, is a 20`s Ball, or a Retro Ball best… just dream and be daring at this stage, practicalities come later.

Forming a Committee

It is debatable whether committees are more hassle than they are worth, especially if you have a very strong image of the ball. However, as time goes on a committee will prove to be a very valuable asset. There are very good advantages to having a small committee, it is easier to share the same `dream` and for all members to work towards that with a minimum of disruption.

If you have plenty of time and energy to commit to putting the ball together, (and you will need this) keep it to 2-3 persons. Have regular meetings, monthly in the first year, fortnightly leading to weekly and then daily in the second year and as the ball draws near.

At your first few meetings present your dream, and together, draw up a list of all the essential things you will need. Caterers, bands, tablecloths, wine, decoration, bar management, How many guests can attend, Rough costing of all the elements and likely ticket costs.

Deciding on a Charity

Choosing a charity is a personal thing in many ways, but if you want the charity to receive as much money as possible from your ball, choose one that has many connections. Involve them from the beginning.

Where balls are concerned, a charity will have a lot of experience, and a plethora of advice to give you from their side of things. Don’t be afraid to layout what you expect from the charity for being involved, it is rare they will not offer all the help they can get, and they do have enormous resources and supporters that will help in a myriad of tasks later on.

Be clear about what areas of the ball that charity will receive funds from, and seek their advice on charity laws. This topic is very complex and best left to their auspices.

Do not handle any money that will be donated to your chosen charity, this can be termed as fraud under the Charities Commission rules. Your charity will organise collection of money on the night.

Sourcing Help

Now you have a charity and a committee on your side, the real work starts. Put the size of the ball in the back of your mind and start breaking it down into small areas. As you contact individuals & companies for quotes, etc, you will find a lot of help and ideas being offered.

Moreover, the original idea of your ball will start to develop and be channelled in new directions. Your charity will always help with letters to help reduce prices, and increase the ball’s credibility.

Be bold and confident, ask for exactly what you want, and be strong on pointing out what the company will get in return. Few companies will give their product totally free of charge, unless they can see great benefits, so use the ones you have to reduce charges to a minimum and contact a company at least nine months before to get a part of their charity budgets. As each piece of help arrives, confirm in writing and obtain a reciprocal letter.

Celebrity Attendance

Let’s face it: celebrities sell tickets, increase the profile of your ball, and heighten the sense of excitement and expectation on the night. Your charity will almost certainly have a list of the good and great of your area and of those who support them.

You may know, or know other people who have contact in some way with other celebrities. It will always be hard to find the first celebrity to attend the ball, and you will probably have to offer them free attendance, but once you have one, it gets easier to find others.

Why not find a celebrity auctioneer? A song artist, a comedian, but aim big if you want to impress your guests. Start contacting their agents or other contacts very early on, a celebrity’s diary gets booked up very quickly. The Internet is a very good source for agents.

Invitations & Tickets

It is a very good idea to have a list of the major sponsors of your ball in your ticket. This shows a guest how much work and support the ball is incurring. Don’t worry if all sponsors are not mentioned, additional sponsors can be mentioned in the menu on the day of the ball.

Get a designer and printer onto the invitation at the latter end of the first year. Designing the print can be a long process, an invitation will be the first time your guests will hear of the ball. Impress them; show that your ball simply cannot be missed. Make sure you send these, at least six months before the event.

Promotion & Media Coverage

A discreet `grapevine` approach attracts quality guests to a high profile ball. Your ball can be harder to sell in the beginning, but word-of-mouth maintains quality and will escalate as it spreads. Otherwise, local media, friends, societies, banks and companies will all be happy to take tables. In both cases, your charity will be able to help with selling tickets.

After sending your invitation, you need to keep the ball in your guests` minds. Send updated information such as postcards, newsletters, scrolls, or even a website that is kept continually updated, and building a big expectation of the night.

Keep your information short and punchy, no one has time to read great epistles. Most charities will have a media control department and it is good to talk over ideas with them with regard to coverage on the night of the ball.

Setting Up Your Ball

Your excitement and stress of the ball is probably at an all time high. Your plans are actually taking effect, and there are a million tiny things that you have forgotten! Above all, remember to make sure a couple of weeks before that all parties involved in the event know what time they are coming to set up.

Another motivational call, a week before the ball always helps and will avoid anyone forgetting important deadlines. Done in a nice way, this should not be construed as badgering, and you will have the assurance of everyone turning up on the day. Create deadlines well before they are due, people always run over time.

Take care of them when they arrive, supply oodles of refreshments and you will keep your team happy – important when problems occur, (as they will) and you have to solve them. Most of all stay calm - you will be barraged with a million questions and small changes.

Be prepared to compromise on some things, otherwise an exciting and enjoyable experience will turn into a nightmare. Keep in mind that your guests are coming to enjoy themselves, they will not notice if something has been changed at the last moment, as long as it is done well. Aim to complete everything at least three hours before the ball starts. As host, you must have time to rest, change, and appear bright and sociable as your guests arrive.

Additional Tips For Delighting Your Guests

Choose an excellent caterer, as good cuisine is nine tenths of a ball and can make or break the evening!

Remember small details such as: handmade soaps, towels, toilet flowers, complimentary limousines, reduced hotel prices for far-travelling guests, lists of auction prizes, napkin decorations, chauffeur, band and staff refreshments, etc. These points are noticed and will encourage guests to enjoy themselves more and return to another event you plan.

Send your invitations as scrolls or in large boxes, to attract the recipient’s attention.