Sometimes just when you're really busy working on being successful, life sticks a foot out and decides to get right in the way. Whether it’s health or family related, life does have a knack of jumping in the way of the best laid plans - and the tricky so and so usually has the final say!I, just like everyone else continue to have my share of both good and bad bits. John Lennon's line 'life is what happens when you're busy making other plans' - that's a real gem of a statement. It pretty much ... Read Full Story

Anyone earning a large salary will already be contributing more in tax than someone earning considerably less. Simple mathematics, and that's without adding ten percent on top, which of course increases the high earners tax band to half of what is earned. Not forgetting the scrapping of the tax allowance (the tax free bit) and the National Insurance contribution. That leaves you with...well I'll leave you to do the sums. My own view has always been that you've got to earn it to pa... Read Full Story

I was thinking back the other day whilst watching the news; when I say 'back' I refer to around the time I was a teenager [which after all, wasn't that long ago!]We're all painfully aware of the stream of horrific items being reported in the news on a daily basis - missing children, war torn regions of the world, knife and gun crime, elderly people being mugged and so on. These events do seem to occur more now than they did years ago. But in actual fact, I've come to recog... Read Full Story

Jobs for life…no such thing, haven’t you heard? We’re in the middle of a recession. Welcome to a new year, and to the legacy of 2008 or what we now know as the deepening recession of 2009.It’s a worrying time for us all. Many trusted household brands are going to the wall, some we’ve known all our lives; thousands of people having to face and deal with the worst insecurity.Truth be known, there’s been no such thing as job security for some time, regardless of the current economic slow down.We... Read Full Story

Some time back I wrote a blog entitled the University of Life. This next chapter is somewhat related. Both this and the earlier piece refer to a number of people with whom I've spoken, as well as many others whom I know have empathy with this view.It's possible that had our interest been more stimulated during lessons at school rather than by what was going on outside the window, our future (or present) may have become something a little different. Perhaps we'd have gone on to bec... Read Full Story

I don’t know who gets paid what and quite frankly I couldn't care less. This just isn't about money. I’m not one to take the moral high ground, but certain moral codes are based on simple decency. How’s it right for our society to preach the message of and to expect common courtesy and respect on one hand, whilst at the same time conveying the complete opposite to millions of listeners on BBC radio 2?How many times do we hear? “The kids now days have got no respect” OK, some haven’t. ... Read Full Story

You know the saying - can't do right for doing wrong! Could that be what the torrent of bad press feels like to the younger generation on the receiving end?Reports of knife and other violent crime seem to overwhelmingly effect the young, thus leaving everyone else with a fearful view of today's youth culture. But can that be right? Does crime really stop at age 30?One 'popular' view amongst the 'slightly older' is that we're all dammed. Because if that's the ge... Read Full Story

Wikizines are interactive magazines that anyone can create or edit - and this one is called "Why do some people decide to create their own horror stories". Here you can find fresh voices and respond in real time. Some members write articles about recent news and trends related to the wikizine's topic, others recount relevant personal stories or share their favorite pictures and video clips. Got an interesting idea or story to share with other members of this wikizine? Well, th... Read Full Story

A Degree from the University of Life is surely one of the most highly regarded qualifications out there.However, if you’d like to become a Doctor, then get to school and study!That said, real life experience is one of the most valuable natural commodities, not just in terms of selling books, but in passing on experience and inspiration to others.We all know that some cheat by exaggerating exam results. Remember Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s recent press conference views on cheating – cheating... Read Full Story

A quick analogy…So you’re an enterprising, dynamic ambitious individual. Imagine that you're bursting with enthusiasm for a new course or an idea for a venture that you've been dreaming about putting into action.Now imagine that you’ve just received a ‘gift’ - Dyslexia, immensely frustrating and inhibiting Dyslexia. All of a sudden you seem unable to negotiate turning the very thoughts from your mind into reality. Remember, this gift has come out of no where and dropped into your lap.... Read Full Story