1:STAY HEALTHY

A strong immune system and healthy body does wonders to keep you warm during the cold winter months. If you haven’t had the flu jab yet this season, pop into the 1st Contact Travel Clinic soon and get yours with their £15 Flu Jab Offer. If you’re a smoker, now is the time to stop! Not only will the ban drive you into the cold for your fix, but your immune system is also affected by your smoking. Try to eat 5 fresh fruit or vegetables daily and avoid cold convenience food! Exercise has many health benefits and helps to increase your body temperature. Even a quick walk or 20 minutes of cycling will do wonders for you…

2:WEAR LAYERS

Wearing several thin layers keeps you insulated far better than one or two bulky items. Thermal underwear also helps, as do two pairs of wool socks or a pair of thick pantyhose. A lot of heat tends to escape through the head, which is why a beanie or warm hat is a good idea… Scarves, gloves and a good pair of warm insulated boots are also essential.

3:EAT HOT FOOD

Warm meals like stews, curries and soups will help to increase your internal temperature, as will warm drinks like coffee, tea and hot malt drinks. Green tea with a bit of fresh ginger and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice will not only keep you warm, it will also boost your immune system.

4:WARM YOUR HOME

• Try to keep your main living room at around 18-21 degrees and the rest of the house at around 16 degrees.
• Insulate your home properly! One way is by fitting aluminium foil behind your radiators and cling film to your windows. – Make sure all wall cavities are insulated and ensure that no cold draughts can enter through gaps under your doors by placing a towel across the bottom of the door. Insulate your hot water cylinder and pipes.
• Keep unused rooms closed to allow heat to be contained in areas you are using.
• Anthrax will ensure maximum heat from your fireplace for longer. If you are not using your fireplace, insulate it with plastic sheeting so that the cold doesn’t come in through the fireplace.
• If you are baking or roasting in your oven, leave the oven door open afterwards, to add a little warmth to your kitchen.
• If you are older than 60, disabled or on a low income you may be able to get financial help with heating your home, or benefits for making home improvements like adding insulation. Check if you are eligible for government heating support, by visiting the following link: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/InYourHome/SupportAtHome/DG_10026850

5:SLEEP TIGHT

If using an electric blanket, have it checked regularly to ensure it’s not faulty and dangerous! Switch it on half an hour before you get into bed, take a hot water bottle to bed with you and switch the blanket off! If you don’t have an electric blanket, invest in a big hot water bottle and let it warm your sheets for half an hour before you go to bed.

We hope you find these tips useful and that you stay warm and healthy during the winter months.

For health advice, flu jabs, travel vaccinations and more, visit the 1st Contact London Travel Clinic at Castlewood House, 77-91 New Oxford Street, or call 0808 141 5506 (UK Free call) for more information about any of our services.

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Where did you move from?

Malmesbury in Cape Town, South Africa.

Where did you move to and when?

To Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, in February 2007. Toowoomba is a wonderful city!

What was your reason for leaving your home country?

My sister and her family moved to Cairns in 2005 and loved it. That’s what sparked the interest. We also heard there was great opportunity there in our fields – my husband is a University professor and I was a qualified Nursing Sister. In South Africa he had to commute and was being paid peanuts and I couldn’t take working in a State Hospital anymore! It was soul destroying. So I resigned and started a home business in textiles. I missed the work, but not the conditions. We started to talk about being able to do our work in GREAT conditions in Australia. My sister was also very convincing and she did a lot of research for us. We finally decided when our house got broken into for the third time in 2 years that we needed to get our of South Africa.

What is the best thing about your new country?

The fact that we are both appreciated for the work we do and the skills and experience we have. I have never loved my job as much and neither has my husband. He got a great job at a local University (Toowoomba has many universities and schools, so it was a perfect fit for us) and I work at a clinic.

What do you miss the most about your home country?

I miss my other sister and the friends we had in Cape Town. Honestly, that’s about all I miss. Ok, maybe table Mountain and the soapies I watched in SA!

Anything you struggled to get used to in your new country?

Everything was an adjustment, but nothing was difficult to adjust to at all. The biggest change I saw was how different the kids are here. I find them outgoing, friendly and mature, but not precocious. They are treated like “little adults” and grow up really well adjusted, in my opinion.

Will you ever go back?

I don’t think so. As much as I love South Africa, Australia is out home and will always be our home.

Which country do you identify with most strongly now?

Australia. I love the country, the people and the energy. It’s not perfect by any means, but it feels better for me. Safer, cleaner, calmer, less aggressive.

Which country’s sports teams do you support?

We support Australia! We are here and we plan to stay here, so there’s no point hankering after South African teams and things.

How does the food compare?

The food is actually pretty similar – we eat much the same as we did back in South Africa. There are some weird and exotic fruits and meats and seafood, but we stick to barbecue, fish and chips, salads, take aways and the things we are used to!! I still haven’t had Kangaroo and I don’t think I ever will! The Australian wine is pretty good too!!

How has your life changed?

I now LOVE my job, for the first time ever, and I can say the same for my husband. We would never have felt safe enough to hang out in park in SA, but Toowoomba has so many parks and we literally find a new one every weekend and go and picnic. So we feel safer. We are more wealthy here because we are paid well for our skills and experience. We are genuinely happier than we were in SA. Which makes me sad, but that’s the way it is!

What advice would you give to others wanting to do the same?

If you are on the list of jobs in demand, it will definitely be easier for you! Whatever you do, don’t come to Australia on a 457 visa – it’s just too risky. Don’t bring your things with – sell everything and buy here! We made the mistake of trying to bring our furniture over and learnt the hard way! All the lugs have to be changed, it takes forever and it costs a fortune. Certain things may not be brought in – gas products, certain furniture like cane also can’t come in. Don’t waste your time – sell it and buy here. If you have kids, you should strongly consider coming to Australia. We don’t have kids, but we witnessed first hand how my sister’s children’s lives changed for the better! Also, Australia is HUGE and each place is different, so choose your city very carefully.

To find out how 1st Contact Visas can help you with your relocation plans, visit www.1stcontactvisas.com or call 0808 141 1664 (in the UK), 0800 003 163 (in South Africa) or 1800 039 300 (in Australia).

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The All Black players have been banned from tweeting in their personal capacity, but you can follow their group twitter account, which seems like it’s going to be pretty accurate.

Catch the Springbok updates with our two favourites SA rugby twitter accounts, one official, one unofficial. We’ve included the Official Wales, Irish and Wallabies accounts and the Russian team’s Twitter account  (since it’s their first World Cup), as well as the Real NZ Festival, official RWC and Auckland pages for good measure!

@irfurugby
The official Irish Rugby page on Twitter.

@allblacks
The official home of the All Blacks and New Zealand Rugby on Twitter.

@rugbyworldcup
The official Twitter site for Rugby World Cup 2011, New Zealand.

@realnzfestival
Welcome to the biggest festival ever held in New Zealand. Celebrate our arts, culture, sport, wine, food & business during Rugby World Cup 2011.

@bokrugby
The Official Twitter page of SA Rugby and the Springboks.

@what_the_ruck
What The Ruck is freelance rugby journalist Ryan Shahin’s blog and Twitter account.

@qantaswallabies
Official home of the Qantas Wallabies on Twitter.

@russiarugby
Rugby Union of Russia. Official English Twitter account. (Твиттер Союза регбистов России на русском языке)

@gwladrugby
Fiercely unofficial Welsh rugby fans’ website and online community of misfits.

@ruggerbits
Rugby Rugby Rugby

@auckland2011
Official Twitter page for Auckland, the hub of Rugby World Cup 2011, with updates on what’s happening, events and activities.

________________________

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The consultation sets out the government’s proposals for breaking the link between temporary and permanent migration.

Under the proposals, migrants coming to the UK to work on temporary visas will no longer be able to apply for settlement.

The key proposals include:

• re-branding Tier 2 (the skilled worker route) as temporary, ending the assumption that settlement will be available for those who enter on this route;
• allowing certain categories of Tier 2 migrant, such as those earning over £150,000 or occupations of a specific economic or social value to the UK, to retain an automatic route to settlement;
• creating a new category into which, after 3 years in the UK, the most exceptional Tier 2 migrants may switch and go on to apply for settlement;
• allowing Tier 2 migrants who do not switch into a settlement route to stay for a maximum of 5 years, with the expectation that they and any dependants will leave at the end of that time;
• introducing an English language requirement for adult dependants of Tier 2 migrants applying to switch into a route to settlement;
• restricting the maximum period of leave for Tier 5 temporary workers to 12 months; and
• closing or reforming routes for overseas domestic workers.

To date, nearly 10,000 responses have been received.

(Source: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2011/september/01-settlement-consultation)

For any advice, or up-to-date information on UK visas, visit www.1stcontactvisas.com or call 0808 141 1664.

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I myself have never been to NZ, but I have 2 step sisters in Australia and I watched The Whale Rider and Once were Warriors at least twice each.

(I’m kidding of course, I know New Zealand and Australia are two completely different countries. I also know that the list of great Kiwi films is longer than just those two and includes greats like Heavenly Creatures, The Piano, The Tattooist, Avatar and also some trilogy about wizards and weird little hobbit people or something…?)

Anyway, by all accounts, New Zealand is a beautiful and interesting country, with much to offer any visitor. But what to pack so that you have everything you need and don’t have to spend your hard-earned moola on stuff you could’ve brought from home?

Fear not, rugby fans – here’s the list of 10 things you absolutely have to pack. You’ll thank me for it later!

1. Winter clothes and Summer clothes

Spring will have sprung, but you will probably still experience New Zealand’s infamous “four seasons in one day”, so make sure you have a light raincoat and small umbrella, as well as a scarf, beanie and warm coat.

You will also be faced with delightful summer days, so make sure you are prepared with your cozzie, flip flops, cap, t-shirts, shorts and vests.

1. An extra bag for travelling home

There’s nothing worse than trying to squeeze your clothes back into your suitcase when you head home, especially when you’ve made a few fantastic purchases during your trip. So pack a lightweight sports bag into your big suitcase and when you’re packing for home, fill that first – you’ll be happy you did.

1. An electric converter and adapter

If you plan to travel with your own electrical appliances – hair dryer, straightener, shaver, blender etc., you’ll probably need a power plug adapter for New Zealand. Make sure you get one with an earthing pin.

1. Insect repellent

New Zealand has a lot of insects, including the weta, one of the oldest and definitely the heaviest insect in the world, which looks like  a cross between a cricket and a shrimp. And while insect repellent won’t do anything to help you avoid the weta, it will come in super handy for those mosquitoes and very irritating sand flies. And believe me – you don’t want to wait until you’ve been bitten to find a pharmacy – have some with you from the moment you step off the plane!

1. Sunscreen

The New Zealand sun is extremely harsh, even in overcast weather, so you will be doing yourself a huge favour by protecting yourself and your family all the time! The last thing you want is to have to flog your game tickets because you have sunstroke or can’t leave your ice-water bathtub!

1. Camera stuff – plenty of it

If you’re still on film, take loads! If digital, make sure you have extra memory cards, batteries and your charger. Besides all the fantastic rugby action, fan shots and Kodak moments you’ll want to capture, New Zealand is one of the most picturesque places on earth and you will find splendour and beauty everywhere you go. While you’re at it, why not do a google search for a few basic photography tips and tricks, and guarantee better pictures?

1. Travel Money
   

Why not buy your travel money before you go, and secure the best exchange rates available? Spend less time in the bank or change bureau and more time drinking Kiwi beer, cheering for your team. It’s a no-brainer! Visit www.1stcontactforex.com to find out about the two easy ways to get your travel money, quickly, cheaply and safely.

1. Walking shoes

There are going to be the most mindblowing places that you will want to explore. But you can’t do it in socks and flip flops, so make sure you pack a good, sturdy pair of walking shoes.  Check out hiking trails and tours when you take a day off from cheering.

1. Team clothes and colours

Let’s not forget what you’re going for in the first place….Rugby! You don’t want to have to buy your team’s rugby jersey at a ridiculous price in a foreign country, so get your supporter’s gear sorted before you leave. Face paints, jerseys, scarves, wigs, whatever’s in your repertoire…

1. Nerves of steel

You are going to the adventure sport capital of the world and will be offered many opportunities to partake in some or other adrenalin-producing activities… You’ll probably never visit this country again, so why not just accept that you will be doing something adventurous and then embrace the opportunities?

If the thought of massive insects, harsh UV and unpredictable weather has left you questioning your decision, who can blame you? It’s not Dover, that’s for sure. Get in touch with me, I’m sure we can come to some agreeable arrangement!

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The proposed changes will affect domestic workers coming into the UK from countries like Indonesia, Morocco, Nigeria and the Philippines and include chauffeurs, gardeners, cooks and au pairs.

Current rules allow these workers to change jobs and move to different households once in the UK, without losing their immigration status. This is especially important for those who move over with their employers and are subject to abuse and/or exploitation. They are able to remove themselves from dangerous or exploitative situations and find more suitable work that allows them to build a life in the UK. Currently, they are also able to apply for settlement after 5 years in the UK and may bring dependants with them.

Drastic Changes Proposed

But the government has vowed to cut migration substantially by 2015 and say these proposed changes are simply part of that plan. They are considering scrapping the visa completely, encouraging people to hire domestic help from within the UK or at least from within the EU.

Should the visa not be scrapped, the government is considering the following changes:

• Strengthening pre-entry requirements
• Restricting entry to six or 12 months (if accompanying a Tier 1 or 2 migrant)
• Removing the possibility of extension entirely
• Removing the right to change employer while on the visa
• Removing right to sponsor dependents
• Removing the right to settlement

Justice 4 Domestic Workers says that the proposed plans will leave domestic workers open to abuse and exploitation and that the current visa provided a safeguard for some of the most vulnerable and isolated domestic workers. Their argument is that these workers could come to the UK with their employers expecting a better life, only to be treated like slaves. In such situations their only choices would be to stay and be a slave or go back to a life of poverty in their home country.

What do you think?

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Believing that there are a large number of registered plumbers moonlighting without declaring their extra income, HMRC sent a general letter to 50 000 plumbers, warning them to come forward and pay any tax they owed.

Those who did come forward before the May deadline were asked to pay fines of up to 20% on the tax they owed.

Those who have not come forward are in danger of being subjected to a series of raids planned for the coming weeks all across the UK, aimed at finding those who have not paid and ensuring that they pay what they owe. Some investigations are said to involve unpaid tax of up to £150 000.

“HMRC have had limited success with the numbers coming forward in the recent medical and plumbers disclosure opportunities, so they are getting tough with those who did not register or disclose,” said Gary Ashford of the CIOT.

He went on to say that people should not underestimate the amount of data that HMRC is holding, and that HMRC starting to use that information.

An estimated £45 billion is lost each year through unpaid taxes in the UK according to HMRC; they have been given a budget of £917 million to tackle evasion.

For expert advice on your tax, visit www.1stcontact-umbrella.com or call 0207 759 5349.

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Other great prizes on offer such as 2 Tickets to the AFL Grand Final in Australia

Enjoy some ice cold VB’s, BBQ and some high flying Aussie Rules action!

Motspur Park overland (2 stops form Wimbledon, 3 from Clapham Junction + 1 minute walk)

www.afllondon.com

Where:

Sir Joseph Hood Memorial Playing Fields
Marina Avenue, Motspur Park KT3 6NE

Directions:

• Motspur Park overland
• ONLY 3 stops from Clapham Junction
• 2 stops from Wimbledon
• 1 minute walk to ground from Motspur Park station

When:

6 August 2011, 11am – 5.30pm

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1. Mount Everest was named after Welshman Sir George Everest from Gwernvale, Breconshire.

2. Only 21% of the entire Welsh population of Wales can speak the native language.

3. Wales is believed to have more castles per square mile than anywhere else in the world.

4. Welshman Pryce Jones from Newtown Montgomeryshire created the first Mail Order business in the World.

5. Robert Recorde of Pembrokeshire invented the “equal to” sign.

6. The letters K, Q, V and Z do not appear in the Welsh alphabet at all.

7. All the statues surrounding Cardiff Castle are of animals.

8. Lawn tennis first appeared in Wales in the 1800s.

9. Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyll-llantysiliogogogoch is the name of a town in North Wales which translates as “The church of St. Mary in the hollow of white hazel trees near the rapid whirlpool by St. Tysilio’s of the red cave”. It is believed to be the longest place name in the world.

10. Marconi’s first radio transmission in 1897 was between two points in Wales.

11. The Millenium Stadium in Cardiff has the largest retractable roof of any sports arena in the World.

12. Wales is the land of mythical Kind Arthur.

13. The Welsh motto is “Cymru am byth” which means “Wales forever”.

14. The Welsh Anthem is “Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau” which means “Land Of My Fathers”.

15. Wales is the only part of the UK not to be represented on the Union Flag (Union Jack).

16. Wales has a population of around 3 million.

17. The population sheep in Wales is four times greater than the Welsh population of humans.

18. Famous people from Wales include Richard Burton, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Tom Jones, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Shirley Bassey, Timothy Dalton and Charlotte church.

19. Saint David (in Wales “Dewi Sant”) was a Welsh Bishop during the 6th century, later regarded as a saint and regarded as the Patron Saint of Wales.

20. The Seven Wonders of Wales is a list of seven geographic and cultural landmarks in Wales, identified in the late 18th century in doggerel verse. All in North Wales, the “wonders” are: Snowdon (the highest mountain), the Gresford Bells (the bells in the medieval church of All Saints at Gresford), Llangollen Bridge in Flintshire, the Wrexham (Wrecsam) Steeple, the Overton Yew trees and Pistyll Rhaeadr waterfall.

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How do I Enter?
To enter the competition, you need to make use of one of 1st Contact’s services during the qualifying period (15 July – 15 January 2012).

Additional entries can be earned by using additional 1st Contact services or by referring a friend to use our services. For every referred friend that goes on to be a 1st Contact client, you’ll earn another entry. (You’ll also earn the usual referral fee for that service.)

If you would like to use a 1st Contact service and earn entry to this great giveaway, complete the form below and have one of our consultants get in touch.

Complete the entry form below to select the services you’d be interested in using and to refer others to 1st Contact:

Competition Closed. Winner will be announced shortly

Terms and Conditions:

• Participation: Participation in this competition constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to these rules and to the administrator’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to this Contest. Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.
• This competition is open to all 1^st Contact clients active between 15 July 2011 and 15 January 2012, except where local laws and regulations preclude participation.
• A client is considered ‘active’ in all cases where a 1^st Contact service has been used and paid for.
• All entrants must be at least 18 years old.
• The competition is not open to employees of 1^st Contact or members of their immediate family.
• Personal Information: Information submitted by entrants is subject to the 1^st Contact Privacy Policy.
• By submitting personal details and contact information, prospective entrants grant permission for 1^st Contact (and its partners) to make direct contact via email, telephone, mail or SMS.
• Incorrect information will automatically disqualify the entrant.
• Prize: The winner of the 1^st Contact Win a Flight Competition will receive one economy-class airline ticket to a single-destination of their choice.
• The prize is not transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash.
• 1^st Contact cannot take any responsibility for lost entry forms or any damage, losses or injuries related to the competition or prize.
• Winners must be prepared to be photographed and consent to the potential use of resultant images in future marketing material.
• General Conditions: 1^st Contact reserves the right to cancel, suspend and/or modify the competition, or any part of it, if any fraud, technical failures or any other factor impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the competition, as determined by 1^st Contact in its sole discretion.
• If terminated, 1^st Contact may, in its sole discretion, determine the winners from among all non-suspect, eligible entries received up to time of such action using the selection criteria of its choosing.
• 1^st Contact, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the competition process or to be acting in violation of the rules of this promotion.
• The judge’s decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.
• 1^st Contact’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.

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