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Solo travel: 8 tips and tricks for 2021

The Editor
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Solo travel: 8 tips and tricks for 2021

Sometimes, the urge to go travelling can quickly take over your mind. It happens to almost everyone, from college undergraduates to long-time company employees who simply want to get out there and explore the world.

If you’re thinking about making your solo travel dream a reality, or have even booked your flights for later this year, you’re in luck – as here are some helpful tips and tricks for you to use on your adventures.

1.   Always carry a phone or tablet

Although it can be tempting to ditch technology and embrace digital-free living as a traveller, you can’t take the risk of not carrying a digital device with you – be it your phone or tablet. You need these to stay connected with friends, family, local contacts, and (in case of emergency) health services.

Not only that, but your phone will keep you entertained when you have those quiet moments, such as resting on the beach. You’ll be able to play games on your phone, as well as watch and bet on the latest sports tournaments, such as the Melbourne Cup 2021.

2.   Keep a journal

Solo travel is one of the best experiences you will ever have in life – so, you’ll regret not keeping a journal. Someday in the future, you’ll reminisce and want to remember certain details and events that took place. A journal will allow you to do this. It doesn’t need to be super long – just put down your thoughts and recounts at the end of every day!

3.   Airbnb will help you a lot

Airbnb is the new age travel companion. It’s fast, convenient, and arguably a better alternative to hotels.

Amazingly, Airbnb has listings in over 220 countries and regions, from France and Germany to the United States and Canada.

Therefore, most places you go to will have an Airbnb option for you to stay at – just remember to avoid partying at any places you rent!

4.   Use Uber to get around

Similarly, Uber has a huge global presence. It’s particularly useful when you need help getting around a new city or country.

5.   Optimize your smartphone camera

Before you go travelling, make sure to dive into your smartphone’s camera settings and set the video capture quality to the highest resolution.

Providing your smartphone is a relatively new model, there should be an option for 4K. This way, all the photos and videos you capture will be of the best possible quality. Yay!

6.   Create a YouTube vlog

People love to watch other people’s travel vlogs – particularly when they’re entertaining and educational. If you want to share your journey with cool audiences, you should consider creating a YouTube account and dedicating it your travel adventure.

7.   Make new friends

No matter where you go in the world, you have the perfect opportunity to make new friends that will last a lifetime. Don’t be afraid to initiate a conversation with locals and follow each other on social media.

8.   Experiment stylistically

Different cultures embrace all kinds of clothing styles – some of which might be alien to your native country. You should embrace these styles and try them out. You may discover new aspects of your personality along the way.

Innovative employee perks every growing company should consider

The Editor
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Innovative employee perks every growing company should consider

As a business owner, there are a number of perks you can offer in an attempt to attract the most talented employees you possibly can. As well as looking for new talent, it’s also great to have your current team happy in their place of work, as a reward for hard work.

Employee retention is important for a growing company, and traditional useful perks have usually come in monetary form. Whilst that’s still a great idea, there are more innovative perks you could consider.

Massages And Yoga In House

One unique perk you could consider offering to your employees is having a massage or yoga service in-house. This doesn’t mean you need to employ a permanent massager or yoga instructor but instead work with a third-party supplier to get the service brought in perhaps once a week, for example.

There are many bonuses that will come from using a service such as this. Yoga has proved to help an individual distress and prepare for their day, whilst yoga will help relieve some tension in their physical body, allowing them to focus on work.

Professional Development Courses

Many employees will be very glad to hear about any training or professional development courses you offer that usually cost a few thousand pounds. These courses are designed to help improve the career potential of an employee, either by improving practical skills, or by assisting in managerial theory work.

Flexible Working Schedule

With many workers how operating remotely on their own timetable and still getting the same amount of work done, or more in some cases, a lot of businesses have started offering flexible employment. This bonus allows employees to save on travel and lunch costs, as well as the time they spend going to and from work.

At the same time, this ensures any employee with other responsibilities – including that of childcare – are able to effectively manage their personal and professional lives, without sacrificing one or the other.

Group Life Insurance

One perk which you could consider offering to your employees, is group life insurance, which aims to provide employees with paid life cover. It aims to pay out a tax-free lump sum to either the family or a nominated beneficiary if an employee was to pass away. The money helps to provide financial support to loved ones, or help them to pay off outstanding mortgages or cover funeral costs.

The money they receive depends on a few factors, but in most cases, it will be somewhere between 2 and 4 times their annual income. Businesses have started offering this perk as it offers peace of mind to employees as they know their family will be protected. Importantly, many individuals cannot afford or have never considered taking out life insurance, so it’s something unique for them.

The other benefit of introducing group life insurance is that many policies now include a number of additional everyday perks that employees will really value. These perks range from 24/7 virtual GP and prescription services to health and wellbeing consultations and mental health support lines.

You can find out more about the benefits of group life insurance, and how you can get the best quotes from Drewberry, who specialise in advising on a range of financial services to businesses throughout the UK.

Mental Health Support

The importance of one’s mental health has become more vocal in recent years, as the stigma surrounding it has been removed and more research has been conducted. As such, some businesses are offering support for an employee’s mental health in a variety of different ways.

This could come in the shape of offering programs such as counselling either in house or with a third-party specialist, either in person or over the phone. In other cases, it’s more about helping to support employees through difficult and stressful stages of their lives and easing their burden so they don’t have to worry.

Onsite Health Services

In a similar story, many businesses have started considering how they can implement health services throughout their work life. This can be directly done by having an in-house nurse or doctor, or at least on call, or it can be something more subtle.

For example, it could come in the shape of having healthier food cooked onsite, or hosting classes on how to improve your health that would otherwise cost money. Whichever way you do it, the main thing is to consider ways in which you can look after an employee’s health.

Parties And Celebrations

A classic way in which to reward employees hard work is by having a party. This could be a themed event, such as a Christmas party, or it could be a quarterly celebration. This could be at your workplace, or you could go a step further and book out a venue to host your employees. Some businesses hire an events space that incorporates teamwork games as well as offering drinks, food and a place to stay.

The games could include paintball or tug of war, and they usually are offered at event campsites across the UK. These corporate getaways are a great idea to help celebrate your team, and also meet up socially, which is a big bonus for remote workers.

Sports Days

Just like social games, sports days can also be used as an occasional perk for your employees, where you can book out a venue or meet in a park to play some games. This is a great way to help relieve some stress and have some fun at the same time.

Consider what people are capable of, as you don’t want anyone to miss out, so have inclusive games for everyone. You could even do e-sport events if your team is more of an online gamer crowd, or digitally inclined in general.

Pet-Friendly Environments

Some people get a good amount of serotonin from their pets and animals in general being around them, which is why some businesses have started allowing pets to come to the office or workplace in general. Some offices will even have an office dog that belongs to someone, that they bring in everyday for everyone to enjoy.

The businesses which offer the biggest support for a pet-friendly environment are unsurprisingly pet stores. Generally speaking, you should consider the allergies of any of your workers before implementing a rule like this, as you could end up alienating your employees instead of offering them a perk.

Gym Memberships

Whilst some businesses have gyms on site, for most that simply won’t be the case. Instead, they offer discounted memberships or parking with a partnered nearby gym, or even free services in general. Especially coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are looking to sign up to the gym to get back into shape.

This is a great perk to offer employees as gym memberships can be costly, and it can help attract motivated individuals who are passionate about their work.

Childcare Assistance

What some businesses fail with, is providing adequate accommodation and support for employees who have recently become parents. They will be selfish and offer the minimum amount that they can legally, which can annoy some employees.

Instead, work with them to find a plan that suits both parties. After all, your employees well being and happiness is important, and at the end of the day, their family is more important than their work, so make sure you help them however you can.

Looking for a new hobby? Learn how to enjoy horse racing

The Editor
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Looking for a new hobby? Learn how to enjoy horse racing

Horse racing attracts a lot of enthusiastic bettors but it’s easier to place wagers when you love horse racing for what it is. If you need a new hobby, check out our short guide on how you can enjoy horse racing events near you.

Horse races are best experienced in person, so we’ve focused on attending a horse racing event. If you have an event in mind, you should check out online sportsbooks like https://www.tvg.com and maybe place a wager to make your day out much more interesting.

Dress codes

If you’re attending a horse racing event, you need to know what to bring. Traditionally, horse racing spectators had to bring binoculars so they could see the action more closely. This isn’t a requirement thanks to the large screens that should be present at the venue. Similarly, many venues have shelters that make umbrellas unnecessary. Research the venue so you know what you need.

In the same vein, you should check if there are any dress codes. For more professional and formal events, there is likely a dress code that you should adhere to so you can gain entrance to the venue.

Research the event

Whether it’s a physical paper or a website, the most popular horse racing venues will have a media outlet attached to them. It’s a great way to learn about the location and the horses who are participating in the event, as well as their riders.

You can search the event through sportsbooks and oddsmakers too so you can see the offered betting lines and start thinking about placing a wager.

Watch the horses

Most people haven’t been close-up to a horse and, if that’s you, you can take your opportunity to see them up close at a horse racing event. Before any races, the horses get paraded around for the spectators to take a look at. Besides being a point of enjoyment, you should also look out for fat, sweating, or skittish horses as they’ll be the worst performers when the race starts.

When things start moving, the horses will then be led to their starting positions. Again, keep an eye on them and check how they move. Make sure the horse you like makes it there safely and beware of horses that are sluggish or galloping out of control. A good horse will be relaxed and easy to move. If they’re going into stalls, beware of horses that refuse to go in.

Study the people

As part of your research into the event and the horses racing, you should also pay attention to the people involved. Take a look at the jockeys and their horses, identifying track records and whether certain jockey-horse pairs are a dream team when working together. The horses are often owned and trained by different people too, whose influence on the horses may affect their racing performance.

You should also look at the fellow spectators, who likely come from every social stratum and will have their own preferences for who will win. If there is a clear favorite, keep track of that and decide whether you’re playing favorites should you make a wager.

Make a wager

You probably saw this one coming but placing a wager on the races is a great way to enjoy the event, especially if you win. This one works best if you don’t get too caught up in who will win, otherwise, your experience may be soured by betting losses. If you can take losses in your stride, you can still place bets and have fun with the races. A simple bet you can take can win you money if your chosen horse places first, second, or third.

Stay close to the action

If possible, horse races are best enjoyed by standing at the running rail, so do that. You’ll be so close to the horses that you’ll feel them when they thunder past you, something that cannot be imitated when watching the race on a TV at the local bookmakers. Feeling the physical power of the horses competing against one another is a special experience that you can only get at horse races.

Make some money

If you’ve placed a wager, nothing finishes off a horse race better than having the wager pay off and taking some cash home with you. It’s no guarantee, by any means, and depends on your ability to read the horses and the odds so you can place a profitable bet.

As you can see, it’s a beautiful day, the pubs and clubs are open and people are having a wonderful time

The Editor
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As you can see, it’s a beautiful day, the pubs and clubs are open and people are having a wonderful time
Mayor Johnson: People are having a wonderful time

Mayor Boris Johnson has said Britain is open for business, it’s perfectly safe, and everyone is having a wonderful time.

Speaking to reporters after concerns about opening up the country despite many close encounters and deaths, Mayor Johnson said: “I am pleased and happy to repeat the news that we have, in fact, caught and killed a large pandemic that supposedly hospitalised some citizens.

“But as you can see, it’s a beautiful day, the pubs and clubs are open, and people are having a wonderful time.”

So-called Freedom Day has not been welcomed by many scientists, who claimed the danger was still lurking undetected.

Local scientist Dr Matt Hooper was furious with the Mayor’s ignorant stance.

He said: “I’m familiar with the fact that you are going to ignore this particular problem until is swims up and bites you in the ass!”

And local police chief Lorraine Fisher, 34, added: “You’re going to need a bigger hospital.”

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Public warned after pack of wolves released into Suffolk countryside

The Editor
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Public warned after pack of wolves released into Suffolk countryside
Wolf pack released into the Suffolk countryside

A pack of wolves is being released into the Suffolk countryside as part of a project to return native species to the United Kingdom.

The wild animals will be introduced to Knettishall Heath, near Thetford, where it is hoped they will settle and breed successfully.

Experts say dog walkers in the area should keep their pets on a lead, while small children will be encouraged to remain in the car.

The six wolves will be released on April 25, after which local farmers worried about their livestock will be urged to check their animals regularly and report any that go missing.

The last wolf in the UK was shot centuries ago, but there have been growing demands for them to return after the successful “rewilding” of beavers and wildcats.

The main benefit of bringing back the fearsome animals will be to help bring the booming number of wild deer under control, which in turn will benefit numerous plants and trees.

Heathland in Suffolk was selected as the ideal wolf habitat, given that the area around Knettishall Heath is relatively quiet with only a few nearby homes and just one primary school.

Wolf in SuffolkOn the prowl: one of the wolves being released in Suffolk

Mr Graham Jenkins, project director at the Wolf Conservation Society, said: “It’s fair to say the wolf has had something of a bad press in the UK, even after they were hunted to oblivion.

“But they can play a vital role in the ecosystem of the countryside, keeping rabbits and the exploding deer population under control.”

Wolf sign in SuffolkHowling success: Sign tells the news

Mr Jenkins added: “The wolves have been reared at a private zoo near Bristol, and will be monitored initially using satellite tracking as they settle into the Suffolk countryside. We urge the public not to be inquisitive and go looking for them.

“If you did encounter one of the Suffolk wolves, do not look scared, turn away or run, as this might, in rare circumstances, encourage an attack. Instead, calmly back away while not staring at the animal directly.

“Perhaps carry a flare gun in the countryside as an added safety measure.”

Local mum Lorraine Fisher, 34, said: “I’m not sure this will be a howling success.”

The public may be encouraged to learn the wolves are not as vicious as the Essex seagulls that have taken over posh Suffolk resorts.

I’ve loved football ever since I saw Will Carling score a century at Silverstone

The Editor
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I’ve loved football ever since I saw Will Carling score a century at Silverstone
Sweet Caroline: I bunked up with her once (Photo: @BorisJohnson Twitter)

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has dismissed claims he jumped on the England Euros bandwagon by wearing a rather tight England shirt.

Mr Johnson said he had always been a massive football fan, recalling fondly the time he saw goaltender Will Carling score a century at Silverstone.

“I am passionate about football and have been a supporter of Chelsea all my life, even though they play in red.

“As you can see, it’s no surprise I’m excited that the Three Sealions are on the verge of winning the Euros for the first time.

“I was saying to Carrie only yesterday, who is Gareth Southgate?”

England supporter Lorraine Fisher, 34, was not convinced by Mr Johnson’s support.

She said: “He’s no more an England fan than I am aged over 34.

“The only active sport Boris Johnson has participated in over the last 30 years is bed-hopping.”

The nation waits with bated breath to see what the Prime Minister will be wearing for Sunday’s final against Italy.

“Perhaps he will be one of those chubby supporters who takes his shirt off and dances around the terraces in front of the TV cameras?” said Ms Fisher.

Just wait until fans realise Southgate must take the knee for knighthood

The Editor
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Just wait until fans realise Southgate must take the knee for knighthood

Sections of England supporters calling for a Gareth Southgate knighthood will be furious when they find out he must take the knee.

Patriotic supporter Steve Walshe, 43, said: “Gareth Southgate must be knighted by the Queen at once. God save the Queen.

“Boooooooooooo! What’s he doing? Taking the knee is divisive virtue signalling and I for one won’t be part of it.

“Come on England!”

Professor of Social Wokery Dr Lorraine Fisher, 34, from Suffolk University, said kneeling during the knighthood ceremony was nothing to do with social conscience.

“It’s because Her Majesty wouldn’t be able to reach with her sword otherwise.

“It could end badly if she gets it wrong.”

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Gareth Southgate given Freedom of Cretingham

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Gareth Southgate given Freedom of Cretingham
Gareth Southgate in Cretingham
Gareth Southgate is welcome in Cretingham, Suffolk

England boss Gareth Southgate has been given the prestigious honour of the Freedom of Cretingham.

As a reward for leading the Three Lions to the Euros final, Southgate can roam around the remote Suffolk village as he pleases.

Village elders rarely let any strangers into the area – and the bus stop is only there for show.

Spokesperson Lorraine Fisher, 34, said: “The Freedom of Cretingham has only been bestowed upon one person before, and that was old Mr Giles, who used to cut the grass in the churchyard.

“Mr Southgate has lifted the country when we needed it most and this is the top honour we think he can receive.”

Cretingham, about four miles from Framlingham, where Ed Sheeran lives, has a population of about 200 but there is no reason for anyone to drive through it because it is so off the beaten track.

Mr Southgate might, therefore, appreciate the Freedom of Cretingham honour because he won’t be mobbed by England fans.

“He can relax and enjoy some solitude in the Suffolk countryside,” said local potato farmer Maurice Piper. “He can even take in a football game at Ipswich Town if he so chooses.”

Once he has looked at some pretty houses, toured the country lanes, and seen the bus stop, the England manager, 50, can enjoy a pint in the Cretingham Bell.

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