After many weeks of good weather we can finally say that summer is here. It is August and many British people take their holidays this month. It is also a time when some of our students can take a course with us. Recently we ran a course for a Member of the European Parliament. MEPs only have a few weeks of the year which they can devote to "external activities", so we are  always flattered when they come to us for training. 

Earlier in the summer I was also engaged in training, but of a different sort. It was bumps week again, when there is a major rowing competition on the river Cam. My boat was fast (we achieved 20 kpm in ten strokes from a standing start) and we finally got a bump on the last night of the competition. This means that we caught and hit the boat in front of us, as you can see in this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9FqbhBSvJI

Have a good summer!

Mark.

We seem to be in a financial crisis at the moment. The Eurozone, ECB and IMF have pledged billions to support Greece, for example. Here in the UK we have a new government (a coalition between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats), and we are all expecting cuts in the public sector in order to reduce the UK deficit and debt. 

However, things are looking up for the financial sector, based in London. According to the Financial Times (13 April 2010), job vacancies have increased by 120% in the first quarter. Apparently, there are 53,000 vacancies so far this year (a 26% increase over the 2009 figure of 42,000).

If my memory serves me right, it was said that London lost about 70,000 jobs in the financial sector during the recession (from 350,000 to 280,000).

The new figures suggest that London is on the way back!

Mark.

Well, we have had great weather for a few weeks now. After one of the longest and coldest winters for many a year, we can finally enjoy a bit of sunshine and even think about getting the BBQ out again. Cambridge even won the boat race (http://www.theboatrace.org/), which has inspired my own boat this season.

We are now preparing summer courses, so please take a look under the "courses" section over on the right.

Mark.

It's late February and I can see snow falling outside. It feels as if the winter is never-ending. But here in England it seems we have finally got used to it. Today was the first day back at school for the kids after the half-term break, and the schools were open (even though there were hopes for another "snow day"). And we seem to to have got past black Monday 24th January without any serious consequences. Black Monday is the worst day of the year, and it has been calculated as such by an academic at Cardiff University, using this formula:

• W: Weather
• D: Debt
• d: Money due in January pay
• T: Time since Christmas
• Q: Time since failed quit attempt
• M: General motivational levels
• NA: The need to take action

So, it is only downhill from now on, especially since I have booked a family holiday near to Hadrian's Wall over Easter!

Mark.

Here are some tips for a stress-free Christmas - it's probably too late for most of them, so I would suggest you just panic! That's what I'm going to do.

1. PLAN AHEAD

Buy your Christmas presents in August and send your cards in October.

2. DRAW UP A BUDGET

Start saving in January and be really strict  - only one present per person.

3. MAKE SOME "ME TIME"

Take the dog for a walk, have coffee with a friend, or just retreat to the bathroom with a good book and some aromatherapy bath oils. Alternatively, Holiday Inn hotels are offering 25% off for mothers-in-law over the Christmas season.

4. SWITCH OFF THE TV

Play family games or go for a long walk in the snow instead.

5. AVOID TOO MUCH ALCOHOL

The main cause of many a family disagreement over the festive season.  Resist the impulse to over-indulge - no matter how tempting it sounds!

We would like to wish all our previous and future students a very merry Christmas and happy New Year!

From Mark, Jill, Sarah and Pat.