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the new parents

Zara
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the new parents

Have you met baby Oliver?  Of course you have.  Ever since his birth was announced on Tom and Laura?s Facebook page, he?s been hard to escape.   He?s got endless photos on Flickr, a clip of his birth on YouTube, and even his own blog ? Oliverlicious ? updated daily with photos and clips of baby doing? well not much at all.  New parents Tom and Laura just can?t stop talking about their new baby, and Oliver creeps into almost every conversation.  ?He?s an old soul you know?, ?I just can?t wait to take Oliver to his first rugby match? and ?the health visitor says he?s the best pooper she?s ever seen?.

Their friends can?t understand how Tom and Laura have turned into the sort of people who can have whole conversations about poo, and who cheer every time baby Oliver farts.  ?How adorable!? they say, forcing a grin onto their faces, as they?re passed yet another photo of Oliver sleeping.   Tom?s work colleagues try to avoid passing Tom?s desk on the way to get their morning latte, in case he insists they watch the clip of Oliver?s birth again.  The proud dad has completely Oliver-ised his deskspace, with a baby Oliver screensaver and mousemat ? even his office mug has a close up of Oliver, carefully positioned so it looks like he?s giving Tom a snotty kiss every time he takes a sip of his coffee.  It?s starting to get a bit much, especially as Tom interrupted a conference call with his new client yesterday to have a ten-minute gurgling phone conversation with his new son.

And then there?s the minefield of ?The Discussion?.  The one that starts with ?So who do you think he looks like??  Tom and Laura?s friends have learned to never say what they really think.  Telling new parents their darling baby is the spit of Gollum, Voldemort or that senator that looks like a frog just won?t go down well.

At least their friends don?t have to spend too long discussing the merits of cloth nappies over disposables, and Oliver?s dribbling habits.  Oliver?s day is crammed full of baby classes designed to ?nurture his inquisitive nature?.  So you?ll be halfway through a mid-morning coffee with Laura and baby Oliver when you?ll hear??Must dash ? we?ll be late for Oliver?s baby signing class ? you know he told me yesterday he wanted milk.  Look ? he?s doing it again! Clenching his fist like that ? that?s the baby sign for milk.  Isn?t that amazing?  The teacher says she?s never seen such an advanced baby.?

Of course Oliver is brighter, brainier and bigger than all the other babies you?ve ever met.  Even if you don?t notice it straight away, Tom and Laura will remind you.  ?Angus is positively tiny next to Oliver ? of course he?s into his 6 to 12 months ski suit already?.  And when they?re not talking about how adorable and advanced their baby is, they?re discussing how terrible all the other parents seem to be at their job.  ?Fancy taking Harriet out without a hat again?.  ?I can?t believe they give Charlie and Ed crisps??  ?I?m sure there?s something wrong with Amy, she?s not even crawling yet?. ?Did you see that toddler ? she had her ears pierced!?  Beware the new parent police.

Of course Laura probably wouldn?t confess to the countless times she?s scooped jars of baby food into Tupperware to make it look homemade.  And you won?t catch Tom talking about the time he forgot Oliver was in the car and was halfway round Checkers before he realised he?d left baby in the car.

That?s because Tom and Laura are sleep-deprived, scared and slightly paranoid.  By the time they?re pregnant with their third they won?t be updating their blog every day or ordering vast canvasses of pictures of dribbling baby Oliver.  Being besotted by their new baby is just a coping strategy to deal with how unprepared they feel about being parents.  And also to distract them from wondering if they?re ever going to get their life back.

NEW…but are they improved?

admin
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NEW…but are they improved?

The most remembered comeback of 2007 will be the Spice Girls reunion. They came back, and they were worse.  Much, much worse. They didn?t finish their world tour and cited their reason as stress, and their ?comeback? single didn?t even make the top 10. The revival of 1990?s pop bands last year seemed to be spearheaded by ?Take That? after their world tour reunion was an out-and-out success. They received rave reviews and again reigned supreme as the ?best boy band ever?. During the tour, you could be sure that Simon Fuller was rubbing his hands together in glee at the thought of a Spice Girls reunion. All the girls pocketed a whopping £10 million each for the tour, but even that didn?t seem to urge them to go back to their former excitable glory. The old stereotypes of the five girls were tired, and made cringing viewing and the apparent battle to be skinny off stage was just as odd. I heard the nation let out a sigh of relief when the tour was cancelled, if only so that Posh Spice would head on back to LA.

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The Spice Girls were not the only surprise comeback of 2007 though. With their distinctive waxy finish and their corduroy collars, Barbour jackets have for generations been worn by pony-mad rich girls, and the muddy-faced farmers of rural England.  But this niche market is no longer enough to sustain the Queen?s favourite coat maker.  It?s looking to revamp its image and the company is now promoting the Barbour jacket as a coat for the young and hip. The indie power couple of the moment, Alexa Chung and Alex Turner from the Arctic Monkeys have been spotted wearing new variations of the old design, and Peaches Geldoff even chose a Barbour jacket to offset her rock chick image at Glastonbury last June. Their main competition, Burberry, also gave their brand an image overhaul in much the same way that Barbour are doing now, and it is certain that Barbour will be learning from Burberry?s mistake. The brand became too accessible and before you could say ?pass me the White Lightning?, chavs up and down the country were wearing the now infamous check pattern with their Adidas. And it?s happening already. The Barbour jacket has been impersonated by high street stores, H&M and River Island, so you can guarantee, that by winter 2008, it will be seen at a ?Maccy D?s? near you.

While we watch Barbour jackets gain in popularity we can be sure that another made over item of the Queen?s favourite attire is also here to stay. The Wellington boot. The rubbery, clumpy, waterproof boot.  Every year, festival season sees the must-have accessory hit the shops again, and 2007 was no exception, except instead of pretty flowered boots or a quirky animal print, Hunter Wellingtons were the only way to wear this new trend for wellies. The slight heel and the simple design were seen all over the festivals of Britain, and this new take on the classic green Hunter was worn by supermodels, pop singers and muses in all the backstage Portaloo queues. Lily Cole sported some bright yellow ones at Glastonbury whilst Kate Moss, chose a black pair. I personally cannot see this trend turning into a chav dream but surely a Wellington boot will never be that cool … regardless of who wears them?

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A brand revamping its image is hard, but taking an already classic item and redoing it is even harder. To coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the original Fiat 500, a new model of the old car was released last year. And it has been suggested that not since the Mini relaunch has an old car been restyled so closely to its original. ?It is cute yet purposeful? said the Auto Express, and ?there?s no doubt that, after 50 years, the 500 is back with a vengeance.  Is there a better small car on sale? We seriously doubt it.?

But it doesn?t stop with 2007.  Old things are constantly being revived and made new again, leaving it up for speculation as to whether the revamp was worthwhile.  In June the Sex and the City film will be hitting our screens, and after much hype surrounding the comeback, some people are saying that it will simply be too much of a good thing. If SJP?s kooky clothing and too-cool-for-words lifestyle were a source of annoyance for you during the last series, then this should probably be avoided. Whilst ladies all want to be part of the gang, the reality of the comeback makes it hard to believe we could be, when in real life they are at each other?s throats. This has taken away the charm of the show, and now instead of wishing we were lunching with them we will be sitting watching the film, looking for evil exchanges between Samantha Jones and Carrie Bradshaw. Perhaps this was something best left in the past.

But maybe we should welcome comeback attempts. Because without them, there would be no familiarity or nostalgia in the modern world. And, as the saying goes ?there?s always room for improvement.  You know, it is the biggest room in the house?

The Genius Mobiky

Arnie
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The Genius Mobiky
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This month Gallery has invited none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger to take a break from governing California and try out this month?s test ride: the Genius Mobiky.
Here?s what he had to say about it…

I had been forewarned that this bike was ?surprisingly slow? and at first glance I thought I had a pretty good idea why. Stowed away it resembled the kind of tangled metallic mass that emerges from a car crusher, it really was that tiny ? the wheels worryingly so.  When told it was a foldaway bike my mind conjured up romantic images of the folding bikes of yesteryear, the kind of amusing and trendy transport favoured by university students nationwide and as good as normal bikes except for the hinge midway up the frame.
This however, is totally different.

Duly concerned, I began my attempt to unpack the Mobiky, which was actually very straightforward. Quick-release fittings allow easy adjustment of the telescopic seatpost and both the handlebars and pedals clonked up with ease. Pull back the bar that holds the frame up in the stowed position and you?re ready to ride.

In my eagerness to cruise off along the Californian boardwalks (although I?d imagine it would be just as much at home on the cycle path by the Gunsite) I almost lost my balance completely but it didn?t take long to acclimatise to riding the Mobiky, whose steering at first feels like that of a microscooter. However, don?t let that put you off!  Up into third gear (which I found suitable for, well, everywhere ? but then I am an internationally acclaimed bodybuilder) and this bike easily kept up to the pace of most others that were about.

Don?t be fooled into thinking that this bike is a one trick pony though ? it?s the little touches like the clever twin chain design to eliminate slack when folded, the nifty little rear mounted kick stand, the frame mounted carrying handle and disc brakes all round that let you know that this is of quality design and construction.  It is, however not for people who would rather keep a low profile, catching the eyes of almost all that passed (although this could possibly be my celebrity preceding me, who knows?).

All in all a great little bike but probably not best suited to commuting – far better for a Sunday ride, popping to the shops or just keeping in the boot of the car for whenever it takes your fancy!

T

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he Genius Mobiky is available from
Pedal Power priced at £445.

Joanna Gierszewsica

BD
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Joanna Gierszewsica

Deloitte & Touche LLP, Audit Associate

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Tell us about your working day…

Breakfast
Breakfast is the important meal of the day, as ahead of me there is a long day, full of attractions. I love the fact that my position offers a career with abundance of opportunities. I like challenges and my role will always provide new and exciting projects. In addition, it is highly rewarding, satisfying and enjoyable. Deloitte has a history of excellence and its worldwide prominent presence was all important to me.

The only one constant factor in this job is change. If you search for routine this job is not for you – every day is different from the previous one. Audit offers a fantastic chance to meet a lot of new people, as we work in a variety of different businesses. As an auditor I get the rare opportunity to work in a number of different client environments. For any young person it is an eye opening experience. Jersey is a unique place where we have world class companies within walking distance. This makes auditing work in Jersey so exceptional.

Briefing
Auditing is a long process, divided into several stages. Preparation work is conducted prior to visiting the client?s office. At the beginning of the process senior managers/directors brief all team members and allocate work. This depends on a lot of factors ?

but as a trainee I do not have to worry about this responsibility! Lengths of audits can vary, but usually last for a week or two. At the beginning I was petrified with the scale of work to do, but with the help of my colleagues I soon settled in and feel that I can now contribute to the team effort.

Exceptional Teamwork
Cooperation is a key word in progression of the work, success of the company and personal development. Members of the team change on every job ? so I will work with most of the 90 local Deloitte?s individuals. My first impression of Deloitte (from the interview!) was that it is a very friendly environment. First impression lasts long ?

and here there are helpful hands around. The Firm provides all possible assistance for improvement and shows genuine interest in people development. I have received a lot of support and inspiration from everyone.

There is lively social club and frequent charity events. Since joining in January I haven?

t managed to explore all options yet (there are so many!) but I am going to get more involved.  I have even baked cakes to support our chosen charity of the year.

Work at Deloitte is busy but an exciting journey, which provides me with a firm foundation for life.

Four legs good, two legs bad, three legs just didn?t work.

Advocate X
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Four legs good, two legs bad, three legs just didn?t work.
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Having just gone through the annual routine of Valentine?s Day ? which, in my case, consists of i) contributing a frankly impossible amount to Mark Howe?s pension fund and ii) joining a long queue of men at Hallmark trying to find a card that doesn?t involve fluffy bears, fluffy monkeys, fluffy dogs or any other nauseating animals which look as if they?ve never had a carnivorous or rapacious thought in their pointless, aseptic lives ? my attention has been drawn to the well-publicised court proceedings involving ?national treasure? Sir Paul McCartney and his ?monopod psycho? soon-to-be ex-wife Heather.

Normally my sympathy would be, to say the least, limited when considering a payout of £80-odd million from someone who has, by all accounts, over £800m in the bank (and I?m not even going to factor in any surcharge which any right-thinking judge would impose for inflicting the Frog Chorus and Mull of Kintyre on the populace) but the idea of Heather walking away with a sum that could equate to over fifty thousand pounds for each day of their marriage fundamentally offends my sense of justice.

I should declare at this point that being male and in a profession which, for better or worse, has a reputation for being both demanding and well-remunerated does mean that my view of the courts? approach to divorce is going to be jaundiced.  I?d also point out that in an increasing number of cases where there are significant assets at stake, it is the wife who has accumulated those assets, and the number of cases which the following rant applies to is only a tiny fraction of the total ? in most instances, divorce will lead to penury for both sides.  Notwithstanding this, I?m going to spend the next six hundred words trying to persuade you that the fundamental principle which has been adopted by the English courts where a non-working spouse deserves a significant proportion of the assets acquired during a marriage (where the assets are in excess of the reasonable needs of the couple) is just plain wrong. Wrong wrong wrong. Wronger than a very wrong thing wearing a t-shirt saying ?I?m Wrong?.

No-one is saying that spouses who have provided a loving and stable environment over many years do not deserve some sort of financial recognition on a split, but can anyone really say that both i) a spouse who has enjoyed an enviable lifestyle over many years supported by cleaners, nannies and any number of beauticians/golf coaches and ii) a spouse who has, by dint of large amounts of hard work and a portion of luck, earned the money which made that lifestyle possible, deserve an equal amount?

The courts should treat both parties as adults who are, regardless of inclination, fundamentally capable of providing for themselves and living their own lives. If it?s a bit of a shock for an ex-wife or husband to have to go out and find a job after years of not working, it may be fair to include some sort of ?parachute payment? in the settlement, but the fact that you?re not used to working or not particularly qualified to do anything shouldn?t mean that, like the Queen, you are magically relieved from any requirement to earn a living. Unless you actually are the Queen, in which case i) thanks for reading this humble column, ma?am and ii) anytime you need an offshore lawyer ? you know, to legitimately circumvent those pesky taxes which those horrible Labour oiks keep foisting on you – just let me know. I?m very discreet.

Anyway, an obvious difficulty when considering divorce is that no two cases are exactly the same and there will always be mitigating circumstances one way or the other (for instance in relation to the behaviour of a cheating wife or husband), but to me the key principle should always be that once the reasonable needs of both spouses are covered, the party that earned the money should keep it ? a sort of modified ?Finders Keepers? approach.

Of course, the concept of ?reasonable needs? itself needs a bit of fleshing out, and herein lies another problem ? do Heather?s reasonable needs now extend to a full-time security force and access to a 24-hour carpenter? Should a spouse who has never had to cook or clean a house be entitled to a cook and a cleaner for the rest of their life? Could it be argued that as a ?model?, Heather?s career had an intrinsically limited lifespan and her earnings potential has in fact been increased by virtue of her marriage ? so even with no payout she would be in a position to fund her own reasonable needs? Amazingly, notwithstanding the thousands of single parents who somehow manage to get by on benefits and part-time manual labour, Heather is demanding (and will in all honestly probably get) an annual seven-figure sum until their child turns 18.

Even scarier, the courts have been known to accept the argument that by getting married to a wealthy person, a spouse can get a ?legitimate expectation of a higher standard of living? ? ie that because you?ve married someone rich, you deserve to be rich for ever. That?s like saying that just because I had a ?legitimate expectation? that as a result of getting married I would get regular sex for the rest of my life, Lady X should continue to ensure that I get laid on a weekly basis even if we divorce. Which is just nuts. Potentially very entertaining, but nuts.

Finally, I?d like to draw your attention (and scorn) to someone who is frankly even more nuts – Jean North, who, having separated from her husband in 1978 ? yes, that?s right ? thirty years ago ? went back to the courts a couple of years ago for another cash sum having managed to spend all of the cash her husband had given her in their original settlements. The fact that he had given her a house and a portfolio of investments and that she had subsequently moved to an area with a higher cost of living and made a string of bad investments (and had made no attempt to find a job since 1977) somehow did not affect her sense of entitlement to her ex-husband?s assets ? and stupefyingly she managed to find a district judge who, in one of the most misguided decisions since Mr and Mrs Hitler looked into each others? eyes and said, ?Let?s have a baby?, agreed that she deserved another £200,000 in a cash lump sum.

In case you?re somehow in doubt as to exactly how suboptimal this decision was, I should mention at this point that the reason they split in the first place was that she was having a steamy affair with another man whom she subsequently moved in with (and of course, the fact that another man was now in a position to support her didn?t in any way compel her to give any cash back). However, in a victory for common sense, which, Rocky-like, crawled off a blood-smeared canvas in the last round to deliver a knockout blow, this has been overturned on appeal ? so there may be hope for our third-favourite Beatle yet?.

Janet Meise

Claire
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Janet Meise
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The old abattoir site. The dilapidated building opposite the harbour that most of us have been past – if not all of us at some point during our time in Jersey.  With the opening of the new bus station and tourism office, and completion of the new development project on the horizon, we thought it was quite fitting to have a look back at the old.

During Architecture Week 2004, Janet Meise, a 4-year part time degree student in Art and Design at Highlands College had the opportunity to go on a guided tour of the old abattoir prior to the current building work. With an interest in both old and new architecture, deserted and derelict buildings fascinate Janet the most. This has been the inspiration for her last 3 years? work.

Most of the buildings, which survive today, were built in 1887 following a new law, which meant all slaughtering of cattle needed to be done in a public slaughterhouse. The larger slaughterhouse and adjacent buildings were complete by 1907, which is what we see today.  Plans for development on this site had been flying for over 10 years and more recently, with plans for re-development in the pipeline Janet felt it was important to find out more about the construction of the abattoir including its history.

For 23 years the building had been more or less empty and in a very sorry state of disrepair. Much of the roofing had collapsed leaving the interior at the mercy of nature. With the help of Constable Simon Crowcroft, Janet was given permission to visit the site on several occasions, where she made sketches and took a large number of photographs.

In regards to whether the original use of the slaughterhouse affected Janet, she was ?concerned only with its structure and disintegrations. The abattoir building as I knew it was a silent, neglected and decaying place which in some strange way gave it its own form of beauty besides which there also remained a number of very interesting architectural features?.

From her experience at the abattoir, Janet chose to make a number of abstract paintings combining some of these features with shapes formed by derelict parts of the structure in order to express an atmosphere; as well as representational paintings of certain areas. Most of her work is black and white because for Janet this best expresses the silence and desolation of the site. Janet, who is sponsored by the Jersey Arts Trust, will be exhibiting her work for the first time as a solo artist on this scale from the 17th March for 3 weeks at the Berni Gallery. Look out for her triptych piece, it will be hard to miss!

Exhibition: From the 17th March for 3 weeks
Place: Berni Gallery

are you sitting comfortably?

BD
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are you sitting comfortably?

When I was younger I was heavily encouraged by my Mum to learn to play the piano. I learnt a few things, played a few Beatles tunes but then discovered skateboarding and alcohol. Therein lies the reason that today, unfortunately, I don?t know my C from my C sharp, I didn?t stick with it. What I learnt over the Christmas period is the same is true of sorting out a physical ailment. With a few weeks holiday thrown into the seasonal mix I found that by the time I got home from my ?break? my neck had stiffened up and poor Lisa was almost starting from scratch! However, with some regular visits in January I?m once again turning my neck a little more like a human being and feeling better with every session. I?ve said every session so far that if I suddenly invented a more satisfying alternative to air and made a fortune I?d have a personal physio. They could come on holiday too!

First visit back in the New Year and although all my thoughts are positive about making this the year to get myself flexible and healthy, my neck and shoulders appear to think otherwise. As you?d expect, with a good few weeks since my last visit to Lisa, my body has tightened up despite some stretching and swimming. I really feel there?s nothing that can compete with the intense muscle massage and mobilisation I get from my visits here. I?ve discovered that the principle source of my woes is my left trap (trapezius muscle) that connects from my middle back to shoulder to neck in a sort of triangular sail shape. My long held shoulder injury, coupled with my ?stuck to a Mac designing a magazine? posture, when combined with underactive middel and lower back muscles seems to have left everything well out of kilter. We worked hard on the part of my trap running from my shoulder up to the top of my neck today which, although mildly painful, felt soooo good. Lisa tests my head rotation at the beginning of each session and then again throughout the process to check our progress. I?m happy to say that after 45 minutes I was beginning to show some marked inprovements.

I?ve definitely felt better since my last visit. My niggles have been there, the slight headaches and neck ache but there?s been a marked improvement. After realising how important it is to maintain my programme of recovery, I?m considering, on Lisa?s recommendation, visiting a sports massage therapist between my sessions to keep me limber. That is going to allow Lisa to get to the serious stuff of correcting my problems rather than just keeping my muscles loose. Today?s session worked further on the upper areas of my neck that feel as if they literally attach right into the base of my skull. It feels pretty weird having someone massage up in there! It?s certainly effective. If there?s one thing that bothers me it?s thinking I?ve gone for a massage and having someone just run their fingers over my back with some oil to the sound of some panpipe mood music. If it?s not actually going to help my muscles I?m not interested! Not only does Lisa know exactly where the muscles I need work on are, she knows how to position my neck and head in such a way to improve my movement and keep the muscles working to recover my flexibility long term. It?s amazing the difference that correcting other parts of your body can have on restricted movement. By tucking my head right into my neck and shrugging my shoulders slightly, I get a much wider range of neck movement. This apparently indicates to what degree there is tension and knotting in my trap.

That last session really worked and I?ve had no ill feeling since. Hopefully this bodes well for the rest of my sessions this year. With a little more work today I was feeling looser with an improved range of movement. The moral of this month?s sessions: keep up the good work. There may be no quick fix to problems like mine but sticking with it will be the answer.

Fiat 500

Russ Atkinson
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Fiat 500
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This is easy ? you can?t have missed the ad campaign for the new Fiat 500, there?s been stuff everywhere, plus an amazing interactive community website and a massive launch event at the London Eye. I?m wondering at the time of writing how they got it in there?!  Fiat have really done a great job this time.

It used to be that Fiats were, well Fiats. They had their place and I?ve always liked them as they had character, but build quality and styling did sometimes let them down. The quality has improved over the years but the last couple of years in particular have seen a dramatic change, and this is the clever bit, Fiat have decided to get the style back, and they?ve done it really well.

Thinking about it, they were sitting on a great opportunity waiting to happen. Small cars have been boring for a long time.  Only the new Mini has made any serious attempt in the style department and you could say that it?s based more on retro style generally than much of it?s own heritage. The new 500 really maintains the character of the original.

There are several engine options for the 500; 1.2 litre to 1.4, and 3 main levels of trim ?Pop?, ?Lounge? and ?Sport?.

Pop is the entry level though still very well kitted out with power steering, remote central locking, electric windows and door mirrors, ABS, seven airbags, height adjustable driver?s seat and steering wheel and CD Radio with MP3 connectivity.

Lounge is the comfy version, with a soft, more opulent interior, leather steering wheel with built in audio controls, air conditioning, something called ?Blue and Me? – Microsoft Bluetooth connectivity, voice recognition (which is great!) steering wheel audio controls and digital audio connectivity, 15 inch alloy wheels, and fancier trim.

And Sport, which includes air conditioning, leather steering wheel, sport trim, front foglights and tinted glass.

These are just the basic differences, there are thousands of optional extras too ? it?s best to look at the website: fiat500.com/eng where you can actually configure your car, from wheels upwards.

From the outside the 500 brought a smile to my face, and first impression getting in was of how impressive the interior is, and that goes for all models, from the Pop upwards. The dash is amazing, and the finish and materials are solid with a nice quality feel. The driving position is excellent with the gear lever positioned well and the height adjustable seat and steering wheel adding the final touches.

On the road the first thing you notice driving the 500 is the precise and certain feel to it. It isn?t the quietest car in the world on acceleration, but the feel is very solid and assuring. The steering is easy with the very effective and well balanced power assistance, and the gearbox clutch and brakes are all superb.

The best way of describing the performance is ?well mannered?. It feels particularly ideal for Jersey because it is nice and sedate until you want to put your foot down.

As for space? Well, it?s a small car that manages to give a hugely comfortable driving position, plenty of front passenger room, and still have more room than you?d expect in the back.

thinking about borrowing?

BD
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thinking about borrowing?

Make sure you get the most
out of your finances.

Sarah Audrain, Client Relationship Manager, Equipment Rental Finance

Credit is on the up with UK consumers borrowing an extra £318 million ? that?s the latest report from finance facts website Moneybasics UK.

At Equipment Rental Finance, (EQR) we understand how easy it is to lose track of your finances, especially if you have several credit cards and loans with different lenders. The temptation to sign up to the glossy credit card offers that land on your doormat each week, offering you zero balance transfers and interest-free credit is often too difficult to resist.

Research before you decide to commit to any borrowing
Credit card companies often emphasise how easy it is to apply for credit cards, but it?s worth doing a little research before you commit.  Moneybasics UK states that the average interest rate on credit card lending is currently 17.09%, around 11.85% above base rate. Yet if you were to apply for a personal loan locally, you could benefit from a much lower rate of interest.

Personal loan rates are often much lower than credit card standard interest rates
Lenders like EQR offer personal loans with different interest rates, so always ask for a quotation ? it?s free and you?re not obliged to proceed. A good lender will create a repayment plan that suits your budget ? we offer repayment terms from 6 to 84 months, so we can calculate a loan to suit every lifestyle.   As with any agreement, always make sure you check the small print.  Ask your lender about their charging structure, interest rates and any extras like late payment fees or early settlement charges. As an ethical lender, EQR will be able to provide you with the interest rate and if requested, the total interest payable over the course of the loan. If you are provided with a rate, ask for the APR equivalent, as it?s much easier to compare this with other quotations.
There are more credit cards in the UK than people!
Credit card use also appears to be growing steadily – according to APACS (the UK trade associate for payments), there are more credit cards in the UK than people!   Average consumer borrowing via credit cards, motor and retail finance deals, overdrafts and unsecured personal loans rose to £4,525 per average UK adult at the end of February 2007.

Credit Cards: Beware of the minimum payment trap
If you own a credit card and are opting to pay the minimum amount stated on your bill ? did you know that it could take you many years to settle your outstanding debt?  Credit cards are a popular way of borrowing money, but using them to pay for the cost of everyday living may leave you with mounting monthly payments and rising debt that could take years to repay.

Plan to repay what you owe at the end of each month
If you?re going to take out a credit card, plan to repay what you owe in full at
the end of each month.  If this is not an  affordable option, then we?d recommend you consider consolidating your credit card balance and any other outstanding debts into a consolidation loan.

If you have several debts then you?ll be paying varying rates of interest
If you use a number of credit cards, or have loans elsewhere, you may be paying different rates of interest on each one. Why pay more than you need to? You could consolidate all your outstanding debts including credit card balances and household bills into an affordable personal loan with just one rate of interest that could be a lot lower than you currently pay.   Instead of paying several lenders each month, you?ll be making just one fixed payment, and a lender like EQR should also be able to reduce your monthly outgoings.

Don?t let your personal finances spiral out of control. Talk to the professionals and discover the options available to help you manage your money and debt more effectively.

inside finance

BD
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inside finance

Transferable Skills

A career in the Finance Industry can be for anybody with the right skills.  You never know, you might already have them ? the first step is to identify which skills you have at your disposal ?

?Transferable skills? or ?soft skills? are important buzz words this year. As well as the crucial academic skills required to work in the Finance Industry, qualities such as drive and commitment, initiative, enthusiasm, reliability and knowledge of the Industry or organisation are indispensable in the work place.  Highlighting these could be the difference between you being lonely and jobless or passionate about your new loveable Finance career.

There?s much more to working in the Finance Industry than juggling numbers.  Whether you want to run a high-street bank, look after the finances of a Trust Company, or work as an investment banker, there are numerous opportunities available and each one demands a different set of skills. The trick is find out which area you and your skills are most suited for.

Finance is a competitive career area, but for good reason ? it?s well-rewarded, there is a wide range of qualifications on offer and most employers recruit people who show boundless energy and enthusiasm.

Look on any Finance Industry recruiter?s website and you?ll see lists of personal skills that the ideal applicant should have.  These could include:

?Oral & written communication
?Literacy
?Numeracy
?Analytical skills
?Creativity

Other common requirements include having an ability to pay attention to detail, being able to work as a team and having good negotiation skills.

In addition, commercial awareness and sensitivity are becoming increasingly important.  Large financial companies are global organisations so employers will want to look to recruit people who are interested in and have an understanding of international business.  Because of this, some lucky, hard working, dynamic individuals can expect to benefit from being posted overseas, while others will work in Jersey with colleagues of other nationalities and backgrounds.  In both cases, a mature approach towards cultural understanding is really important.

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