When asked to think of something associated with Birmingham, most people’s first response will probably be Spaghetti Junction, otherwise known as Junction 6 of the M6 motorway. Whilst no city would particularly want a busy road interchange as its most famous landmark, it probably says more about the Birmingham of 20 or 30 years ago than it does of the city today. Indeed, as Britain’s…
Product development over the past few years has been dramatic to say the least, and the equity release market today is only a faint shadow of its former self. The providers who have lead the way may not have realised the real impact that they would have on the market. Northern Rock was the first to introduce the concept of drawdown to the market; whilst…
If you’ve recently received your endowment plan annual statement you may have been left feeling disappointed and thinking “Why did I bother?”, especially when the value of the plan is not much higher than the annual statement last year. Unbelievably, however, in some cases, the plan may not have increased in value at all. So, the question is, what do you do? There are various…
Ancient Rome was vividly brought to life in the HBO series of ‘Rome’ which recently concluded its second season. But how real was the celluloid interpretation of the city during the time of Caesar? There is no absolute evidence of how the city looked, but Rome’s producers gathered a veritable “who’s who” of historians to ensure the authenticity of their small-screen city. Thousands of man…
Driving can be a monotonous and boring experience. Stuck in traffic on the way to work, taking the same route every day and never getting out of second gear is not what driving should be all about. While this type of driving is a necessity, there are so many other great roads out there in Britain that are quiet, serene and run through breathtaking scenery.…
On the evening of February 10th, 2008, disgruntled 69-year old landowner Chae Jong-gi, upset over having been underpaid for land sold to developers, sprayed paint thinner onto one of his nation’s greatest and most recognisable landmarks, and then set it alight, making his escape as the Namdaemun Gate was immersed in flame. Despite the efforts of around 360 fire fighters, the fire raged out of…
The thought of actually owning your first home is an exciting one, but it can also be a time that is filled with questions and concerns about money. Not only do you have to think about what kind of price you can afford, you also need to try and find enough cash to cover the deposit. While some lenders will give you the total cost…
In the wake of the credit crunch, which hit the USA in late 2007 and has now began to have repercussions in the UK housing market, uncertainty has meant that property price rises have slowed in most areas of the country, and in some places a drop in value has been seen for the first time in years. Nonetheless many property experts believe that now…
A salary is just one aspect of a father’s contribution to the household – they also save the household a considerable amount of money by doubling up as plumber, builder, painter, decorator, odd-job man, chauffeur to the kids, and homework aid, which would all add up if other people had to be paid to do the jobs they do as part of their role. A…
Back in 1982, phoning home was made famous by everyone’s favourite extra terrestrial in the hit movie E.T. Since then the development of a more global economy combined with advances in technology have meant more and more people leaving home to find work and start a new life in a different country or continent. It’s always difficult in these circumstances to leave friends and family…