Save hundreds on tailor-made holidays to South Africa

Leading travel specialist, WEXAS, is showcasing some outstanding deals on its luxury South Africa holidays, with a selection of fantastic tours to choose from.

The renowned travel club, founded in 1970, has multiple offers available, which could save travellers hundreds of pounds on their next trip.

Once such tour is the Cape Town & Winelands Experience, which current has an enticing seven nights for the price of five when travelling between 1 May and 30 June 2012.

Cape Town is one of the world’s finest cities. Situated on the west coast of South Africa , it has a plenitude of sights and activities to absorb, and is an ideal location from which to explore the Winelands and the infamous Garden Route .

With Table Mountain looming over the city and Robben Island a short ferry ride from the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town is bursting with cultural and historic sights to explore.

Hiring a car to travel the 60km along the Cape Peninsula is an absolute must, as one of the most breath-taking coastal drives in the world.

Taking in the quaint, naval base that is Simon’s Town, the pretty fishing harbour of Kalk , and the incredible penguin colony at Boulders Beach , this journey is truly exceptional. There aren’t many places you can swim alongside penguins in their natural habitat.

WEXAS can arrange stays at many of the best hotels in Cape Town , with a plethora of these being in the trendy Camps Bay area. With winding roads framed by luxury, waterfront apartments, Camps Bay is rich in chic and stylish shops and restaurants.

Departing Cape Town and commencing the journey east along the Garden Route , you’ll soon find yourself in South Africa ‘s world-class Winelands, and the country’s charming, culinary capital of Franschhoek.

Home to 70 per cent of the country’s top restaurants, Le Quartier Francais and La Petite Ferme are just two of the stunning gourmet hot spots.

The patchwork of award-winning vineyards spanning Franschhoek and nearby Stellenbosch, provides the perfect opportunity to indulge in wine-tasting tours, which can be organised by WEXAS as a group or on an individual basis.

Onwards from the Winelands, coastal towns Knysna and Plettenburg Bay provide the ideal spots to enjoy some of the finest seafood while taking in wonderfully inspiring vistas before completing the Garden Route at Port Elizabeth .

As a tailor-made holiday specialist, WEXAS can plan your luxury holiday to your own personal specification. Incorporating a safari to Kruger National Park or a beach stay inMauritius are two of the most popular ways to round-off this trip.

To find out more about the Cape Town & Winelands Experience, or any of the other special offers from WEXAS, visit www.WEXAS.com or call WEXAS on 0845 643 6562.

Via EPR Network
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Parcel2Go Backs Ebay’s Call For Government To Bring Forward Fast Internet Roll-Out

A call by auction and retail website eBay for the government to increase mobile internet speeds and support Britain’s online marketplace has been echoed by the UK’s largest online parcel delivery service, Parcel2Go.

The e-commerce giant stepped up pressure on the government this month to act and bring Britain in line with other countries in terms of mobile internet speeds. Through its Mobile Manifesto, which eBay passed to ministers at the start of November, the firm has voiced its concern that the UK could get left behind when it comes to mobile infrastructure.

Speaking to the BBC this week, eBay UK’s retail director Angus McCarey said while Britain is currently leading the way in Europe when it comes to smartphone ownership, it is falling behind in terms of next generation technology.

Parcel2Go has also stressed the importance for individuals and British businesses of installing an effective 4G mobile network as soon as possible. Tests are already underway in Cornwall and London, but it looks like the service won’t be widely available until at least 2013.

Richard Mercer, marketing director at Parcel2Go, said: “The UK has been a leader so far in the world of online shopping and as a country we cannot risk losing momentum by taking a back seat when it comes to adopting 4G technology. The economy is in a fragile state and investment in faster mobile internet is exactly the type of strategy that will help to give the retail sector a shot in the arm.

“At Parcel2Go we unveiled our mobile website earlier this year to make it easier for customers to access domestic and international shipping services on the move. Businesses have their part to play in making their content and transactional pages accessible through mobile sites and apps, but the government needs to encourage investment by doing everything possible to bring forward 4G.”

Via EPR Network
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Pensioners Suffering As The Money Runs Out, Says Debt Solutions Company Trust Deed Scotland

A new report reveals that pensioners across the UK are being left penniless as their money disappears every week in a whirlwind of bills, says Debt Solutions Company, Trust Deed Scotland.

An income of £207.15 per week is typical for most pensioned couples, but a report by Standard Life shows it goes straight back out the door as £207.24 is spent on food, fuel, housing and transport.

The report highlights rising inflation as the reason why the average pensioner has difficulties making ends and are being hit hard – many are having issues even affording a new pair of shoes, a holiday or a present for a grandchild.

While the Consumer Price Index remained the same in September at 4.5%, the Retail Price Index was hovering at 5.2% and threatening to rise again. Pensioner have a fixed income that doesn’t change from month to month, and that combined with inflation and large energy rises from utilities companies means turn some have turned towards credit cards to make ends meet.

A spokesperson for Scottish Debt Solutions Company, Trust Deed Scotland, said:
“According to Age UK, British pensioners are the fourth poorest in Europe, with the worst off set to lose up to 22% of their household income because of cuts to local authority services and changes to the tax and benefits system. This report highlights the dire position our parents and grandparents are in. At a time when they should be relaxing after a lifetime of working, they are pinching pennies and worrying about what the future will hold for them.”

The day before Standard Life published its report, the Institute of Fiscal Studies issued a warning about how ‘real’ inflation was hitting pensioners much harder than younger age groups.

“The Insolvency Service reported the fastest rising group of people claiming insolvency is pensioners,” said the spokesperson. “They are six times more likely to go bankrupt or take out a debt solution such as a Scottish Trust Deed or Debt Arrangement Schemethan they were just a decade ago. The number of people entering retirement with unpaid debts has increased, and when combined with increased life expectancy, the recession and limited options to increase income when you retire, it adds up to a lot of older people in real trouble”.

According to the Consumer Credit Counseling Service the average unsecured debt of newly retired pensioners is £21,370 and few have any savings at all. Once all the bills have been covered, there’s just £85 left at the end of the month.

“There are numerous reasons why pensioners are entering retirement in debt,” said the spokesperson. “Previous good house values led to many people remortgaging for home improvements or to loan to children or grand children for house deposits. There’s also the issue of divorce, where one partner will often buy the other out of their share of the property by extending their mortgage. And then some people are marrying and having families much later in life or having second families in their fifties.”

“For many life as a retiree in today’s world is just as expensive as it was when they were working, but now they have less income to live on.”

Via EPR Network
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Fostering People Launches New Fostering Service In Dublin

Fostering People, a non-statutory foster care agency, has launched its services in Dublin to meet the needs of vulnerable children and young people living in the city.

Operating at a local level, Fostering People offers all carers one-to-one support through a dedicated social worker as well as on-going training, carer forums and support groups. Opening the doors to its new office in Dublin, the agency will look to provide high level of locally based support to its foster carers.

Fostering People welcomes applications from single people, same sex, married or co-habiting couples from all ethnic backgrounds who are 25 or over.

Fostering People service manager, Lesley Dale commented: “Fostering People is all about changing lives and bringing about positive outcomes.

“Working closely with the HSE, our aim is to bring a new dimension to foster care services in Dublin. We want help increase the number of foster carers and share with them our experience and expertise so that more looked after children and young people can live in safe family environments where they can build happy lives.”

Fostering People celebrated its launch Dublin by staging an open evening at the Ardmore Hotel, Glasnevin on November 9, where anybody interested in becoming a foster carer in Dublin had the opportunity to come along to the meet agency staff. Attendees were offered advice and guidance on the challenges and rewards of fostering.

This event will be followed by a series of information events, details for which will be published on the agency’s new website, which also provides prospective foster carers with a wide range of information about fostering, the process of becoming a foster carer, and the range of fostering placements.

The launch in Dublin marks an expansion in service delivery from the established operations in the UK, where Fostering People has developed a proven track record over 11 years for delivering high quality family based fostering placements for children and young people in Central and Northern England.

For further information on becoming a foster carer with Fostering People call freephone 1800 303 532 or visit the website.

Via EPR Network
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Kraff Eye Institute First In Illinois To Offer Laser Cataract Surgery

The most commonly performed surgical procedure in the United States, cataract removal, is now being performed at the Kraff Eye Institute using the latest technological advancement; the Alcon LenSx® femtosecond bladeless laser. This latest advancement, which provides unprecedented precision to cataract surgery, is offered at Kraff Eye Institute. With the use of a multifocal lens or the correction of astigmatism there is NO additional cost to the patient for the use of the Alcon LenSx femtosecond laser.

The FIRST laser of its kind in Illinois and the only laser approved by the FDA for cataract surgery, the LenSx bladeless laser arrived in August of this year at the Harlem location of the Kraff Eye Institute.

LenSx utilizes a femtosecond laser which has been used to perform Lasik surgery since its FDA approval in 2001. By using this latest advancement of ophthalmic lasers, the surgeon and patient have an alternative to the mechanical cuts used in traditional cataract surgery while ensuring the highest-precision surgical incisions. This technology brings both safety and precision to the surgeon and the patient. (See Fact Sheet for additional details.)

Dr. Manus Kraff, the founder of the Kraff Eye Institute, has been performing cataract surgeries since the 1970’s. He now offers the LenSx laser procedure to cataract patients who meet specific criteria for the surgery. Since August of this year, Dr. Kraff has performed numerous successful cataract surgical procedures with the aid of the revolutionary Alcon LenSx femtosecond Laser.

“We are proud to offer the most advanced eye care technology in Illinois and the world to our cataract patients,” states Dr. Manus Kraff. “By adding computer control to the three steps of cataract surgery, the LenSx Laser ensures the highest-precision surgical incisions. The LenSx Laser is unquestionably the most technologically advanced option for cataract patients.

“We are thrilled to have this new technology available to us. Prior to this, cataract surgery was performed by hand with blades or needles,” he explains. “With the LenSx Laser, we are able to perform surgeries to more exacting, individualized specifications not attainable with other surgical methods. Most importantly, patients recover quickly and have great satisfaction with the outcome,” concludes Dr. Kraff.

– MORE –

KRAFF EYE INSTITUTE … Add One

Established in the 70’s, the Kraff Eye Institute has been one of the foremost authorities in ophthalmic eye care. Drs. Manus and Colman Kraff have pioneered surgical procedures like phacoemulsification, intraocular lens implantation, Lasik vision correction and now the LenSx Laser cataract removal. Both Dr. Kraffs have spoken at major universities and conferences worldwide on cataract and laser refractive surgery, served on numerous medical advisory panels and boards with Dr. Manus Kraff having served on the medical advisory board of the LenSx Laser Corporation since its inception.

With two offices in the city, the Kraff Eye Institute has been bringing the very best in eye care to Chicago for over 35 years. For more information about the LenSx procedure or to schedule a consultation, call: 773-777-4444. Visit kraffeye.com.

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Don’t Play Russian Roulette With Your Christmas Presents, Warns Parcel2Go

UK parcel delivery specialist Parcel2Go has urged shoppers not to put their Christmas packages at risk by either sending them off with unreliable delivery firms or failing to wrap them properly.

Major online retailers eBay and Amazon have both announced their predictions for the busiest Christmas shopping day of the year (Sunday December 4 and Monday December 5 respectively), when hordes of people across the UK will go online to kick-start the festive buying spree. With many millions of Christmas parcels due to be shipped to addresses within the UK and overseas in the coming weeks, Parcel2Go has reminded British consumers to do everything possible to make sure their presents stay safe in transit.

It’s often the case that people who don’t normally have a need to send parcels during the year suddenly find themselves at Christmas with a stack of presents that need to be shipped off to relatives in time for December 25. Unfortunately it is these consumers that can find themselves in a mess if they choose to send gifts off with unreliable parcel couriers or perhaps fail to wrap their goods well enough.

Richard Mercer, marketing director at Parcel2Go, has urged all shoppers to take the correct steps to ensure their packages arrive on time and in the best condition this Christmas.

He said: “It’s easy to see how people who are unused to organising parcel deliveryservices with parcel couriers can get caught out at this time of year. There is always a lot going on and sending off parcels might seem a chore if it’s something you only do once a year.

“We’re calling on people to just take a minute to think about how awful it would be if the presents they’ve spent money on and time choosing didn’t arrive. Every Christmas, Parcel2Go helps many thousands of people to get their presents couriered to addresses in the UK and abroad safely. Our message is that it is certainly worth spending a few minutes finding a reliable courier and wrapping a parcel securely in order to avoid a nightmare before Christmas.”

Parcel2Go’s customers can have complete peace of mind by using the firm’s online parcel tracking feature to keep an eye on their domestic and international parcels and Christmas presents as they make their way to their destination.

Via EPR Network
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Key Assets Launches Disability Services For Young People In Western Australia

Key Assets is expanding its foster care provision in Western Australia with the upcoming launch of a new disability services program.

Key Assets disability services have been designed in partnership with young people, families and professionals to meet the complex and ordinary care needs of children and young people in Western Australia.

The disability services program aims to provide quality personal care services to children, young people and young adults with a disability between the age of 0 and 25. These services will enable young people to live ordinary lives, to experience independence and equality, and to access social and educational opportunities within the community.

Experienced Key Assets support staff will facilitate the implementation of the disability services, supporting individuals with a disability in the home and helping to provide accommodation solutions for young people who are unable to live with their birth families or are seeking alternative community housing.

Additional transition support from Key Assets in the form of alternative family care arrangements provide a stepping stone to independent living for individuals with disabilities who are approaching the age of independence. Areas of support during this time may include life skills and training and educational support, along with a range of other relevant key skills.

Liesel Olney, General Manager of Key Assets in Western Australia, said: “The new Key Assets disability services provide an exciting opportunity for development of a range of specialised services for people with disabilities as well as their families and carers. The new program will allow for Key Assets to develop services that are tailored to each service user’s needs in close consultation with that individual and their family. This will ensure the best outcomes and create more opportunities for independence and inclusion.

“This program also allows for children and young people in foster care with a disability to receive ongoing funding, accommodation and support from Key Assets after the age of 18, allowing for stability and consistency. Key Assets is now a registered provider for the Disability Services Commission (DSC) and work in close collaboration with the DSC, the Department for Child Protection (DCP) and other relevant disability community services.”

Key Assets will also work with the families of children and young people with disabilities to offer short break care for young people. This will allow families and carers to arrange holidays or take care of other responsibilities around the home.

Disability services from Key Assets will be accessible outside of working hours via a 24-hour phone line for advice and intervention. Key Assets also aims to offer each young person and their foster carer such additional benefits as advanced training and psycho-therapeutic support.

Via EPR Network
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