Worlds best job awarded to Brit Ben Southall

May 6th, 2009

Described as “The best job in the World”, a six month position as caretaker of an Australian tropical island with a A$150,000 (£73,500) salary has been awarded to Britain Ben Southall, 34, a charity fundraiser from Petersfield, Hampshire.

Ben beat 34,000 other applicants to land the dream position. His new job requires him to live and report from Hamilton Island, on Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef. As well as the salary, the post of caretaker at Hamilton Island comes with a three bedroom beach home, a swimming pool and golf cart.

The job description requires the successful candidate to “to explore the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, swim, snorkel, make friends with the locals and generally enjoy the tropical Queensland climate and lifestyle”. As a thoroughly modern caretaker, Mr Southall will also be expected to report back to Tourism Queensland and the world via blogs, a photo diary, video updates and interviews.

The 34,000 applicants were whittled down to 16 finalists who all spent four days on Hamilton Island undergoing a rigorous selection process involving snorkelling, barbecues and time at a spa. The finalists also had to demonstrate their blogging abilities and take swimming lessons.

After being awarded the position Ben commented, “I hope I can fill the boots as much as everybody is expecting. My swimming is hopefully up to standard and I look forward to all the new roles and responsibilities that the task involves.”

The campaign was launched by Tourism Queensland in a bid to boost the areas declining tourism industry

“Is This the Cure for Cancer That Really Works?”

April 27th, 2009

” This is the Video the Pharmaceutical Industry Doesn’t Want You to Watch”

This video is causing a sensation on the internet. Fact or fiction? You decide for yourself.

Cancer Video

Ferrari F430 Scuderia for £300

April 21st, 2009

Experience one of the worlds best supercars for £300

A gleaming red Ferrari is probably top of most males wish lists when it comes to dream cars, but for the majority  that’s as close as they will ever get to owning one, unless they win the lottery that is!  But  even if  your budget won’t quite stretch to buying your dream car, you can still experience the thrill of driving one with a race day at Thruxton Race Circuit. A race day in a Ferrari F430 Scuderia is currently £300 which includes full instructions and training, 4 practice laps in a Porsche Cayman and 4 laps in the Ferrari. 

Other packages are available to suit all budgets. Prices start from £97. For further details visit the site: www.thruxtonracing.co.uk

Why take out Private Medical Insurance?

January 30th, 2009

Do we need Private Medical Insurance?

Good health is often something we take for granted and we don’t think about what would happen if we needed medical attention quickly. The NHS will take care of you if it’s an emergency, but it’s the very definition of the phrase ‘what is an emergency’ that seems to cause the problems. We all have our own views, and unfortunately if the NHS do not class you as a priority or emergency case, you may have to wait for months or even years to be treated.

For many, having an illness ‘hanging’ over them, whilst waiting for treatment would be unacceptable and they ‘insure’ against this happening by taking out Private Medical Insurance (PMI), providing them with a guaranteed, fast track to treatment should they need it.
However, PMI is not designed to replace all the services offered by the NHS. Some, such as accident and emergency, are beyond the scope of most private hospitals.

To find out more about Private Medical Insurance read our guide or request a quote below:

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Get Healthy on a Budget

January 27th, 2009

With the credit crunch really beginning to bite, who can afford expensive gym memberships and fancy diets. But there are other ways that you can improve your health without breaking the bank. We take a look at a few:

Drink water

The old favourite but many of us still aren’t drinking enough water. The daily recommended amount is 8 glasses a day which will improve your digestive function as well as help with concentration and better skin. Headaches and tiredness can often indicate that you are not drinking enough water and don’t waste your money on bottled, straight from the tap or filtered is fine.

Cinnamon

As an arthritis sufferer myself, this one really interests me. Adding half a teaspoon of cinnamon to your breakfast cereal, or sprinkling it onto your cappuccino instead of chocolate, can relieve the pain of arthritis as well as lowering cholesterol and balancing blood sugar levels . Even if you don’t like the taste of cinnamon, the  smell alone can boost brain function and improve memory.

Don’t forget to floss

As unlikely as it sounds, there is actually a link between gum disease and narrowing of the arteries (which can lead to heart attacks and strokes) so brushing twice a day and using dental floss could actually help you live longer.

Chewing Gum

As long as it’s sugar free then chewing gum can actually be good for your teeth because it cleans the surfaces of your teeth as you chew. It also and stimulates saliva production, which helps to neutralise the acids that attack your teeth.

A nice cup of Tea (Green Tea that is)

Studies have shown that green tea can lower cholesterol and reduce blood pressure. It can also balance blood sugar levels, helping to prevent Type 2 diabetes. And if you are watching your weight, green tea boosts metabolism which will help you burn off more calories.

Soya Milk

The benefits of soya products include lowering cholesterol levels and protecting the heart, and research has revealed that they may even help to prevent cancer.  Soya products could also help you to lose weight, as it contains arginine, which aids the breakdown of fat. Soya contains isoflavones, which are antioxidants thought to protect the walls of arteries.  Start by adding soya milk to your cup of tea and coffee.

Red Hot Chillies

It doesn’t really matter how you eat them, fresh or powdered, chillies are a great source of  vitamin A, which helps to protect the immune system. Their active ingredient – capsaicin – helps to speed up your metabolism and boost your calorie loss. In addition, they can also help to balance blood sugar levels and have blood-thinning properties, which benefits the heart and blood vessels.