Anyone thinking of taking a flight to South Africa will automatically think about the opportunity to go on safari. It is the seminal African experience, filled with images of wandering through the bush, pith helmet in hand, supported by vehicles loaded with baggage and equipment.

Safari tours

Modern safari tourists tend to take a video camera rather than a gun these days but the thrill of tracking and watching animals is no less exciting. One of the greatest safari experiences to be had in South Africa is at the massive 19,485 sq km of the Kruger National Park. Covering a vast area of diverse habitats and containing an impressive selection of animals, flora and fauna this is the perfect destination for a bush adventure.

Kruger National Park

The park experience is supported by an able staff of professional game wardens who are more than happy to give advice, take tours and offer assistance. The accommodations vary from remote, tranquil ranch cabins to the resort like wilderness camps. Skukusa is the parks main camp and along with its kraals and huts there are shops, a restaurant, two swimming pools, a bank and police station, it is also home to one of the worlds most exotic bush golf courses.

Guides arrange memorable sunrise trips to the waterholes to watch the elephants drink, bush stake outs to observe the lion prides in action and gentle road trips trying to spot some of the illusive big five, lion, rhino, elephant, water buffalo and leopards.

Wild life landscape

The park is home to over 27,000 buffalo, 350 rare black rhino, over 17,000 zebra, with extensive herds of impala, roebuck, kudu and bushbuck. It supports in excess of 16,000 elephants, and up to 12,000 white rhino, while over 8,000 hippos wallow in the pools daily and 300 rare eland deer can be found drinking at the edge of the waterholes.

Since the foundations for the park were laid out in 1898 it has grown into the largest undisturbed natural resource in Africa. In 2002 it was incorporated with parklands in Zimbabwe and Mozambique to create the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. The landscape varies from the towering Lebombo Mountains in the east to the luscious plains in the west. The park is also traversed by the raging torrents of the Limpopo and Crocodile rivers and a number of other smaller but equally fierce rivers.

A Kruger National Park safari is a truly unique experience and travellers can follow some of the time worn animal trails across the park or simply drive around the well-maintained tarmac roads. Visitors can sit in the car, entombed by baboons, park close to herds of wildebeest as they gently graze or spot the bobbing tails of the Springbok as they dodge and dart through the veldt. Night times in the camps are filled with copious helpings of food followed by a restful sleep surrounded by the sounds of nature in full flight.

Confused.com’s way of explaining it is to imagine you’re a giant; you pick up a house, pull the roof off, and tip the house upside down. Anything that falls out is covered by contents insurance – typically, electronics, pictures, kitchenware, sofas, etc. Everything else – walls, roof, carpets, bath, and so on, is covered by buildings insurance.

So if, for example, you were to discover you had rising damp in your home and it was going to cost several thousand pounds to repair, you could claim against your buildings insurance policy. ‘Could’ being the important word here. If the insurance company were to discover that the damp had been there for several years and you had just never bothered to do anything about it until now, there is a very good chance they would not pay up. The same could happen if part of your roof was blown away in a storm and the insurance company found out that several tiles has been missing or damaged beforehand.

This is because part of the terms and conditions in many buildings insurance policies is you must keep the building in good repair. This means if your roof becomes damaged through age or wear and tear it should be repaired as soon as possible. The same if you discover damp, or anything else wrong. If you were paying to fix something wouldn’t you prefer to spend £200 on a small job rather than waiting for it to become a serious problem and spending £2000? It’s the same for an insurance company, only they make it part of a legal agreement.

The other main thing buildings insurance covers is the rebuild cost of your home – if your home was completely demolished and had to be rebuilt from scratch, what would it cost? This is NOT the same as how much you bought it for, it tends to be a lot less, and many people scratch their heads over this question on the insurance forms.

If you had a survey done of your home when you first bought it there should be a rebuild cost listed there. If your survey was done a few years ago you may need to factor in inflation for the rebuild cost. Your insurer may be able to help. Otherwise you could try a rebuild cost calculator, such as the one provided by the Building Cost Information Service and Association of British Insurers.

It is always worth checking the terms and conditions of an insurance policy carefully to see what is, and what isn’t, covered, especially if there are special conditions you think should be covered. For example, if you live by a river you may want to ensure you have cover for flood damage. An insurance company may be happy to quote you for flood cover but because of the increased risk you can be sure that they will charge you a higher premium, and they may even impose a limit on the pay-out and extra conditions upon you as part of the agreement (such as having sandbags available at all times and not covering damage to carpets). If in doubt, speak to someone from the insurance company.

This article was written by Rob Powell from Confused.com, the buildings insurance comparison website.

Here are a few of the nearby attractions that you can explore on a day trip from Dublin, Ireland.

Dublin, the capital city of Ireland, is well known as a desirable tourist destination for its nightlife, history, art and culture. However, the city is also a great base for exploring some of the other smaller cities in Ireland. Here are some fascinating destinations in the nearby area which can be easily enjoyed on a day trip from Dublin.

Howth

This small town to the north of Dublin is a lovely place to take a walk. It is located on a peninsula around Dublin’s bay and it features some stunning natural cliffs which overlook the sea. If you would like to take a hike along the cliffs, there is a designated walking trail which begins to the east of the town and follows the cliffs all around to the southern part of the peninsula. The entire walk takes around 3-4 hours, but if you want to make it a shorter journey you can take the bus 31B to Howth’s Summit and do half of the trail starting from the lighthouse. Make sure that you do the hike on a clear day, as when it is cloudy you will not be able to see the view of Dublin city against the mountains in the background.

County Carlow

Country Carlow would be the perfect day trip from Dublin for someone interested in history and architecture. This area in southeast Ireland has been settled for over 8,000 years, and it still has plenty of evidence of its earliest inhabitants. Items of historical importance are well-kept in museums all across the county.

The city of Carlow has many excellent examples of architecture from the 1700s and the 1800s, many of which are open for the public to visit. The Carlow Courthouse dates back to 1830, and has a very unique Greek revivalist design with eight columns. Brownsehill Dolmen is another interesting landmark as it is a portal tomb which dates back to 3,000 BC with a capstone which weighs over 100 tons. The gothic Carlow Cathedral is also a very impressive building.

Kilkenny

This thriving city is located only 75 southwest of Dublin, and it is the capital of the county of the same name. Although small, Kilkenny is a popular weekend getaway destination for many Irish citizens and it has a very exciting night life scene and a rich cultural heritage.

Kilkenny is often called “Ireland’s Most Beautiful Historic City” and there are many stunning examples of historical architecture located within its City Centre. While you are here, you can also check out one of the numerous live concerts, theatre performances, festivals, and other entertainment which frequently occurs in Kilkenny. The Kilkenny Arts Festival runs every year in August and floods the streets with artists and music, and the Cat Laughs Comedy Festival occurs during the first weekend in June and brings many famous comedians to the city.

These are just a few of the great destinations that you can visit on a fun and easy day trip from Dublin. Etihad Airways are among the carriers that operate regular scheduled flights to Ireland, and  their flights  to Dublin page contains further useful information about the city.

If you are thinking about whether fostering a child is for you, then there are a few questions you should ask yourself. Needless to say, it is a big decision and it is important to know if you have the required qualities to succeed.

The below list is taken from Fostering People Ireland, who are a non-statutory agency primariliy concerned with providing foster care in Dublin for children and young people.

About you

• I am over 25 years old
• I enjoy living or working with children and young people
• I am very honest with myself and others
• I am able to adapt my current lifestyle and routines to accommodate a child or young person’s needs
• I understand that a child will show their distress through their behaviour
• I am resilient and will see things through, even when the going gets tough
• I can put a child or young person’s needs before my own
• I think my expectations are realistic
• I like working as part of a team
• I’ve had a few knocks in life but have survived!
• I am in good physical and emotional health
• I have an ability to stand back and reflect
• I have a good sense of humour
• I don’t have any major unresolved issues in my life
• The thought of temper tantrums, swearing, mood swings, loud music, defiance, the joys of adolescence and a lot more doesn’t put me off!

Your Circumstances

• I am able to commit to fostering on a full-time basis (See the Fostering and work section below for further information)
• I have a spare room which can be made pleasant for a child or young person
• My home is clean and comfortable
• I have access to transport
• I have a good network of people around me to provide encouragement and support
• If I have a partner or other people in my household, they are on board

Fostering can be demanding, and it is important to have a good support network of family and friends. Some agencies, such as Fostering People, also provide support, including a dedicated Social Worker.

There is an old joke, it tells of a young person on a New York City pavement asking an old man “Excuse me sir, can you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall?”, “Practice” replies the old man. For generations of performers playing at Carnegie Hall was seen as being the acme of achievement.  The Carnegie Hall/Rose Museum celebrates some of those that made it. Leonard Bernstein, Marlon Brando and the Beatles are all memorialised here.

It is unusual to find a major museum floating in the Hudson river. That is however exactly where you will find the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum. It is house, you see, on the decommissioned aircraft carrier The Intrepid. This huge ship is 900ft in length and weighs in at over 40,000 tons. She saw service from World War II until 1974.

Exhibits on show in the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum include a variety of aircraft. Included among them is a Lockheed A-12 Blackbird, which is the fastest aircraft ever built. There are also interactive rides and simulators that make this a very exciting place to visit. Along with the aircraft carrier there are two other former military ships that make up the museum. There is the USS Edison, which has been restored to look as it would while it was in service, and the USS Growler. The Growler is unique in that it is the only strategic missile submarine that has ever been opened to the public anywhere in the world.

Brave men and women in uniform are also celebrated at the New York City Police Museum. The NYPD is the world’s largest police department, and as such has passed into legend. Though the NYPD are the subject of uncountable films and TV shows, the museum offers a rare glimpse at the reality behind the mythos.

Along with the police, firefighters in New York are idolised as heroes. This goes back to the very origin of the department’s activities, when large crowds would gather to watch them put out fires. In fact the origin of the word “buff” to describe an expert dates back to this, as the firefighters would wear thick fire retardant buffalo hide jackets – they were experts at putting out fires and the term spread to other kinds of experts. Of course there is a museum dedicated to them, the New York City Fire Museum. Smaller than the police museum it is ideal for a quick visit and the chance to chat with the off duty fire-fighters who staff it.

Being inside one of the world’s largest city you could be excused for thinking that the natural world is very far away. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden puts the lie to that however. 52 acres of plants from around the globe are on display, and the tranquil gardens make a delightful contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city.

With flights to New York currently representing value for money, now is the ideal time to think about making a trip to the Big Apple.

Business accounts are easy to open, most banks will offer them free for a period and they are essential in keeping accountable for the costs and the payments into a business. So, we have decided to advise you on what to look for when opening a business account.

Like with most financial decisions a good close look at your finances and what you need will determine what you should go for when it comes to a business account. There are more types of business accounts than there are banks out there with many not charging on services for 2 years and some not at all.

All the banks have different costs however when it comes to interest and some of the more abnormal transactions and knowing if you will use any of these and which ones you will use will mean that you can then choose which account is the cheapest in the long run. Opening an account for your transactions and also to save your tax in has the added bonus of allowing you to earn interest on the tax money you are saving for the end of the year. http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/article-1585158/Choosing-a-bank-account.html

Bank safety is also a necessity and many of the banks have really been pushing bank security in recent months, offering downloadable software and handing out key cards and other fraud prevention mechanisms. Check out comparison sites to see which bank offers the greatest fraud prevention and be sure you are banking safely.

Most banks offer Internet banking. This can be a speedy and time saving asset to have in a bank. Firstly check out whether your bank has Internet baking and secondly look into how much of your banking you can do online and save time on going to the bank itself.

If you do need to go to the bank, check the satisfaction ratings for banks online and see which banks offer you the best service if you are to visit. Short waiting times, personal service and a host of other things make the whole banking process easier should you need to go to the bank.

Banks often offer help for people opening businesses and will encourage you to give them a business plan before you open up the account. This business plan will allow both of you to see where the business is going and what needs it may have financially. A good bank with a good business advisor can help you and offer you options on what is best to help your business to grow.

Banking for business is an essential and you would be surprised at the different levels of service there are out there for a new business. Looking into the choice of banks and the choice of business banking types can mean a cheaper and more satisfying service for your business.

Online Banking

All major high street banks now allow customers to manage their accounts online. Some of the many online services offered include:

Bank wherever and whenever you want – Traditionally, banking transactions have been carried out in high street branches. But with online banking, there is no need to visit the branch, as you can manage your finances 24 hours a day, seven days a week from the comfort of your home or office.

Quick and easy movement of money – With just a few clicks of your mouse, you could transfer money between different accounts you hold, pay your bills or transfer money to family or friends. Rather than waiting several days for a cheque to clear, online banking payments can be completed in as little as two hours. So this could save you a great deal of worry, not to mention save you money, should you realise that a deadline for bill payment is imminent, or you are about to go overdrawn, or for any other reason you haven’t got the time to wait for a cheque to clear.

Instant access to your information – Supposing you see a great last minute deal, but you are unsure whether you have enough money. With online banking, you can check your balance straight away, and hopefully not miss out. For online customers there is no need to wait for your next statement in the post. Nor do you need to go to the nearest cash machine to check your balance – simply log on to your online banking service at any time of the day or night. There you can see in one place the balance on all your accounts with the bank, and view your transactions going back several years. So much easier than finding and reading scores of separate monthly statements!

Email alerts – Although online customers can view details of their account at any time, these customers often receive emails from their bank reminding them to view their statements.

Additional products and services – Some banks may offer online customers certain products that are not available to other customers, or offer beneficial rates to online customers.

Banking on your mobile phone

Your bank may well permit you to effect transactions via certain types of mobile phone handset. Available services may include:

-          Check balances

-          View recent transactions in a mini-statement

-          Transfer money between accounts

-          Find your nearest branch or cash machine

-          Receive text alerts of your account balance, which could be very useful should you be about to go overdrawn

-          Top up your pay-as-you-go phone using funds taken directly from your account

Apply for financial products online

Nowadays, almost any financial product can be bought via the internet, whether via the provider’s website or via a price comparison website. This includes current accounts, savings accounts, investment products, insurance, credit cards, loans and mortgages. Security in this area has improved massively in recent years and applying for financial products online is considered to be very safe.

Sometimes customers apply for a bank account online will receive a discount or a better interest rate than had they applied for the product at a branch or by post.

Use your computer to assist with money management

Some people use a spreadsheet package to keep track of their income and outgoings. However a search of the internet will reveal a number of sites where you can access a budget planning tool free of charge. In addition, these sites often contain a lot of very useful tips on managing your money.

Previous entries in this series have not shied away from social commentary and satire (as well as pandering to the desire to cause vast amounts of mayhem). From the looks of the minute and a half teaser trailer it looks as though GTA 5 will continue this tradition, with a setting that resembles the depression era (current not historical)California.

The Dangers

When asbestos fibres are inhaled in large quantities you significantly increase your chances of contracting one of four life changing diseases. These consist of mesothelioma (always fatal), lung cancer (almost always fatal), asbestosis (low chance of fatality but often very debilitating) and diffuse pleural thickening (not fatal). These diseases won’t necessarily affect you immediately and will often appear later in life. It is important to note that asbestos that is undisturbed cannot cause you any harm, it is only dangerous when its fibres are broken apart and inhaled.

Who’s at risk?

In general, anyone that is likely to disturb asbestos in their normal everyday work life will be at risk. In particular, this relates to people whose profession deals with the inner workings of any structure that was built before the year 2000. Examples of such professions include plumbers, roofers, joiners, architects, electricians, building surveyors, demolition workers, gas fitters, plasterers, and construction workers.

Asbestos Awareness Training

If you or your employees fall into anyone of the at-risk categories then it vitally important that they receive proper asbestos awareness training from a qualified professional. For those affected asbestos awareness will fall under the rubric of health and safety training. The training itself will teach workers the best procedures in how to avoid the risks associated with asbestos and how to properly protect themselves.

There are additional levels of training that you can receive depending on the work that you intend to carry out. In particular, it falls into two categories, non-licensable and licensed asbestos work training. Non licensable training is directed at workers who may knowingly disturb lower risk asbestos containing materials (drilling holes, laying cables, removing tiles ect.). During these courses you will learn about waste handling procedures, how to make suitable risk assessments, and safe work practices. If you intend to work with high risk asbestos containing materials then you must be a licensed contractor. Your employees will need to have additional training and use the appropriate respiratory protective equipment.

Due to the dangers of asbestos, refresher training should be carried out every year to further ensure your work force is continually following the best practices available.