Holiday homes for mums - make relaxation the ultimate Mothers' Day gift

Mums do it all these days. Since 1996 the number of working mothers has leapt by almost 800,000, to a total of 5.3 million according to a study by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The figures show that the number of women in the workplace with dependent children has leapt by almost a fifth in just one generation.

The change is partly thanks to government initiatives to encourage single mothers to work, but even the number of non-single mothers who work has jumped by 10% since 1996. ONS data shows that just 10% of women now stay at home after having children.

Though many mothers feel guilty about leaving their offspring in order to work, successive studies have shown that the impact on children is actually a positive one. The latest, from economics professor Silvia Mendolia at Australia's University of Wollongong, has shown that children of women working more than 35 hours per week are actually more likely to pursue higher education.

The pressure is certainly on for mums to achieve it all and balancing full time work and childcare responsibilities is without question a tiring feat. So, this Mother's Day, make relaxation the ultimate gift, as working mum Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs of luxury fractional ownership company Appassionata explains,

"I feel lucky that my business allows me to balance time with my children and grandchildren, but not all mums have the flexibility to do so. Demanding careers and parental responsibilities can be exhausting and I know so many mothers who are lucky if they even get five minutes to themselves during the day. It means that the times when they do get to relax are so important."

And what better way to relax than on a holiday in the sunshine? Appassionata's latest fractional ownership holiday home, Casa Tre Archi, is perfectly located for families with young children who want to experience life in Italy while having everything on hand that they might need. Owner Chris Everard was delighted with how beautifully the house had been set up when he visited recently with his daughter and brand new granddaughter,

"The thoughtfulness, unrestricted kindness and generosity of spirit displayed by the Appassionata team in the setting up of a beautiful new baby's cot, a selection of mats, toys and baby equipment was a true act of empathy and kindness."

For mums with older offspring who might like to relax on the golf course with their family this Mother's Day, Portugal offers an ideal destination. Caroline May of boutique estate agency Ideal Homes Portugal comments,

"Portugal's Algarve region is home to some stunning golf courses and many women who holiday here enjoy a round in the sunshine with friends and family members. It's a great way to relax, socialise and stay fit at the same time."

As Cascatas, at Vilamoura, is particularly keen to attract lady golfers and specialises in breaks for them, describing itself as "one of the Algarve's most female friendly golf resorts." For those who prefer being pampered, it also has the largest spa in the Algarve. The Vilamoura area offers holiday accommodation to suit every mother's tastes, from a newly renovated apartment with communal pool priced at €120,000 to a majestic, five bedroom villa with its own pool for €1,575,000.

Mothers returning to the UK after their holidays need not despair that their fun is over. Prime Surrey estate agency Barton Wyatt specialises in properties that have luxury features that mothers can enjoy. Wilton, on the Wentworth Estate in Virginia Water, Surrey, for example is a superb seven bedroom family home, which comes with a large gymnasium on the ground floor - perfect for shedding those post-pregnancy pounds. It also has a staff flat over the three-car garage, which is ideal for a nanny, ensuring that mum has all the help she needs just a stone's throw away. This fantastic property is priced at £4,950,000.

James Wyatt, Partner of Barton Wyatt estate agents Surrey comments, 

"Mothers are finding themselves more and more pushed in terms of their time commitments these days, so a house like Wilton is the ideal solution. The on-site gym is perfect for mums who want to keep in shape, while just a short walk away is Virginia Water with its spas, salons and boutique stores. Relaxation really is at a premium in the modern world and I'm sure mothers around the country will be delighted to enjoy it as the ultimate Mother's Day gift."

What We Can Learn From Sir Ranulf Fiennes - Speaker And The World’s Greatest Explorer

Sir Ranulph Fiennes speaker

One of the best and inspiring speakers today is perhaps none other than Sir Ranulph Fiennes. Sir Ranulph is not only a speaker and a published author but also an explorer having been touted as “The World’s Greatest Explorer” by the Guinness Book of Record in 1984. Sir Ranulph's life is not only an inspiration to many but also a humbling one. Below are just some of his quotes and what we can learn from these.

In 2008, Sir Ranulph failed to reach the summit of Mt. Everest thus abandoning his attempt to become the oldest Briton to climb the mountain at that time. Even though he suffers from heart problems and vertigo, in 2009, despite his fear of heights, he successfully reached the mountain’s summit and was thus able to finally achieve the distinction of being the oldest British to reach the summit.  In this scenario, Fiennes teaches us to never focus on our fears. One cannot easily forget one’s fears but one can prevent them from taking hold of oneself.

After 7 failed expeditions, Sir Fiennes was finally able to discover the lost city of Ubar in 1992. In the span of 26 years, he never gave up the thought of finding the lost city and he was right to do so. Here, he taught us that we should not linger over past mistakes but rather to learn and avoid repeating the same mistakes again.

Sir Fiennes and his team was able to successfully circumnavigate the world along its polar axis with careful planning and excellent communication skills between team members. Becoming the greatest explorer comes with a price just like in real life. Intricate planning and developing good communication skills especially among team members are the keys to becoming successful in achieving one’s goals.

Suffering from a massive heart attack in 2003 did not discourage Sir Fiennes from completing seven marathons in seven days in all seven continents. This teaches us that even if we suffer major setbacks in our lives, we should not let this dishearten us and prevent us from getting back on our feet and starting all over again. The roads maybe tough but there is always something better waiting at the end of the rainbow.  

If you are thinking of a world-famous after dinner speaker, Sir Ranulf Fiennes would certainly be your best option.

Investing in Surrey real estate

Surrey is the fast developing area of South England; with a wide range of properties and Surrey estate agents.

The living and working environment in Surrey is very safe and pleasant. Moreover, a large number of job opportunities are available within the city that enables the migrants to earn huge sum of money for their survival. All these factors together encourage a large number of people from different parts of the world to come and settle in this city. As a result, the demand for real estate properties increases significantly to accommodate the growing influx of population, thus giving a upward push to real estate market in Surrey.

It is certain that there is a very good and golden opportunity for investors to invest in the real estate market in Surrey from which they can fetch a handsome return in future. The real estate price in Surrey has witnessed huge appreciation of 5-6 percent in last six years and this encouraged the investors to consider the real estate market in Surrey for investment. Today, a wide variety of construction firms and reputed developers have started operating from the city of Surrey with a hope to avail this golden opportunity made available to them. Soon, the real estate market in Surrey will become the profitable investment hub of South East England, followed by other major real estate markets like London etc.

There are a wide variety of real estate properties available for sale in Surrey today, which can be obtained both for investment purposes and for accommodation. The demand of residential real estate is rapidly increasing in Surrey and hence to accommodate the housing need of people new projects are being consistently developed. There is a great demand of both commercial and residential property in Surrey today. Some of the common forms of residential properties include apartments, town houses, single-family homes, villas and apartments.

The real estate properties in Surrey are designed with a variety of rooms, sizes combined with some world class facilities that make your living comfortable and easier. There are some exotic villas, condos and single family homes that offer you the real sense of luxury and comfortable living standard and the facilities included in these real estate properties are beyond what a normal villa or apartment offers. Another factor that attracts the investors towards the real estate market in Surrey is the process of selling and buying properties in Surrey, which is very simple and easy. So, become the next fortunate person by investing Surrey real estate.

The Major Benefits of Using Visual Merchandising Consultants

The Major Benefits of Using Visual Merchandising Consultants

Today, a large number of retail stores are using window displays to attract the attention of the shoppers. If you want to create an urge in targeted customers to make purchase from your store then it is essential to focus on creating right effect at the storefront. The process of displaying the available products and services efficiently will significantly increase the sales and this process is referred as visual merchandising. This is the most effective and oldest marketing strategy for retail stores. There are many benefits associated with this process, but to accomplish the process successful and effectively you will require assistance of professional visual merchandising consultants. There are many benefits of using visual merchandising consultants. Some of them are listed below.

Creating Urge in Customer

The professional visual merchandising consultants focus on displaying the products and services efficiently so as to stimulate impulsion in customers to make a purchase from the store. By displaying the services and products at the storefront effectively they ensure that every passerby will get motivated which will create an urge in customers to make a purchase.

Enforcing company identity

The companies and retail stores have their own individuality and uniqueness which can be reflected well by displaying the products aptly. The professional merchandisers usually create a structured theme that resonates well with all potential shoppers.

Making a statement

There are a wide variety of products that demand for more aggressive marketing techniques and this include apt visual props. So, the professional visual merchandisers primarily focus on shop window dressing which is the most efficient method to create an engaging marketing gimmick, which will further attract hundreds and thousands of eyes and convert them into a sale.

Artistic expression

The professional visual merchandising consultants are well aware with the fact that shop window dressing is an art which is usually utilized as an effective tool to complement the color scheme and décor of the retail shop. So, they ensure that the displays are very striking which will act as pretty attractive spectacles.

So, it is obvious now that shop’s window display is not just a visual component; instead it plays a very crucial role in dictating the shopping experience and spending habits of prospects. The visualmerchandising consultants ensure that the shop window dressing is well planned and executed efficiently to entice the correct target market. This will further increase sale conversions which are the primary objective of all retail shop owners. So, to enjoy all these advantages it is must to have professional visual merchandising consultants beside you to help you in your endeavor to attract more and more potential customers.  

Barton Wyatt really do make parents and now kids' dreams come true!

Well known in Surrey as the premier Surrey estate agency, letting and selling only the finest homes in the county, Barton Wyatt not only make parents but now kids' dreams come true as staff member, Jo Parris, embarks on a trip to Florida with the charity Dreamflight.

Lettings Manager Jo first became involved with Dreamflight back in 2004 when a new client was looking for a house within Virginia Water. This tenant was, and still is, group leader for the 'Pooh Bear' Group which partakes in the Dreamflight trip to the theme parks of Florida on an annual basis. Jo was instantly captivated and Barton Wyatt has been an avid supporter of this heart-warming charity ever since.

Keen to get even more involved, this year Jo offered to be an assistant on the 2013 flight to America leaving in October; she was invited to join the team and she is thrilled to be doing something that will make a huge difference to others. The children selected to go on Dreamflight are severely ill with problems which have made their lives so difficult that they simply deserve a special treat like this.

Once a year, 192 deserving children from all over the UK, accompanied by a team of medical carers, head to Florida to spend 10 magical days of fun and excitement with Mickey and Friends. These children could not undertake such a trip without the support of the army of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and non-medical volunteers such as Jo who care for the children 24 hours a day.

Dreamflight is not just a holiday. The children leave their families behind giving them an opportunity to discover independence, confidence and a whole new outlook on life. Often for the first time, these children realise that they are not alone in their illness. They see children around them who have also experienced illness or disability and they gain experience and enjoyment from things they never thought possible.

Jo Paris comments on her forthcoming trip:

"This is just the type of opportunity where I feel I can really make a difference. My husband is a Doctor and he is also joining us on the trip as a medic which will make it even more special for us. We are tasked with fundraising to the tune of £10,000 in order to take a ventilator with us - this is keeping us rather busy at weekends!

"The support I have had from my colleagues at Barton Wyatt estate agents Surrey has been amazing. They are very supportive with this charity and the Partners, James and Rupert Wyatt encourage my involvement wholeheartedly."

For more information on Dreamflight visit www.dreamflight.org or if you would like to support Jo in her fundraising contact her at the Barton Wyatt office on 01344 843 000.

Useful Information to Become Sporting After Dinner Speaker

Today, a large number of sporting after dinner speakers has a well-known career in sport industry. They tend to utilize their expertise and rich experience to draw the attention of millions of people across the globe. A sport speaker is the ultimate entertainer and they are well aware how to draw attention of audiences with their skills and speaking abilities. It is not necessary that sportsperson can only become a good sporting after dinner speaker. Now, by developing few essential skills you can also become a good sport speaker to entertain the large audience in sport events.

Be Familiar with the Sport

Before preparing a speech for sport event, it is necessary for you to know that content is the most vital factor of a speech. It is crucial for you to know all the aspects of the sport that you are planning to speak about. If you are not familiar with the subject then it is better to do some research about the subject in advance. Audiences always appreciate to listen to some interesting facts about the sports. So, the speech you will prepare should contain all key sporting facts.

Be Familiar with your audience

When it comes to address a huge audience, you should never get nervous; instead you should interact with them as much as possible to better understand them. Recognizing the demographics of audience and their specific interest is very important to create a strong connection with the audience.

Always try to Stay Sober and Entertain the Audience

Remember, you are the after dinner speaker at the event and you should never cross the line of decency. You should stay sober under all circumstances. Being the speaker of the event it is necessary that you entertain all the audiences with your skills and speaking abilities. You must use different tricks and techniques to entertain them.

Keep Your Speech Brief

You are the highlight of the event and you must understand the fact that some guests feel sleepy after their dinner. Therefore, it is essential for you to keep your speed short and straightforward. Lengthy speech may simply make the audience sleepy and boring at times. So, keep a exact target and stick with it till the end of the event.

If you will work hard on your speaking abilities and skills then surely you will become the next great after dinner speaker in sport industry. If you know the right steps to follow then achieving greatness would not be difficult for you.

Surreygate - Lives of the rich and famous behind bars

Whether designed to keep undesirables out or the occupants in, the trend for gated developments first seen in the US, remains as prevalent today as ever in the affluent Home County of Surrey.

On the exclusive Wentworth Estate in particular where resident footballers, celebrities, Hollywood A-listers and politicians value their privacy over all else, it is extremely common to have properties and their occupants hidden from view by oversized firs, perimeter fencing and 10 foot high gates.

Be they ornate wrought iron works of art, simple yet sturdy electronically operated wooden gates or high tech, bullet proof technological masterpieces with full CCTV and alarm systems which view the humble Postie with dubious suspicion, the Surrey set take their life behind bars very seriously.

James Wyatt, Partner of 7 times winning Best Estate Agents Surrey, Barton Wyatt and Wentworth resident himself, comments:

"Gated properties have been popular in and around Virginia Water and the Wentworth Estate for some time but "Surreygate" seems to have hit in recent times with the need for ever more lavish entrance gates. Keeping up with the local property fashion is hard work for home owners - wrought iron or wooden, flamboyant or plain, full obscurity or not. Then there are decisions on the intercom, video and remote systems. The biggest question I wonder is 'Are they blocking people out or trapping people in?

"The Wentworth Estate's rumoured latest celebrity residents Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie for example, in what one can only assume was an attempt to retain some privacy from the insatiable paparazzi, 'filled' their gate in with coloured plastic recently.

"That said, sometimes it's not all about hiding away; on a personal level, we have installed a simple gate to our home mainly for safety reasons to ensure that the children don't run onto the road after a rogue football when playing outside which offers invaluable peace of mind.

"Currently winning the popularity stakes are solid wooden gates - so nosey parkers can't see in at all yet many smaller houses that don't have room for traditionally opening gates use roller gates which slide sideways and I've even seen a house in Sunninghill with anti-terrorist bollards which rise out of the ground as a second line of defence."

So what does Surreygate look like? Here are some examples of the properties with gates available in the area:

houses for sale in Wentworth Estate

Hyale, Wentworth Estate   £7,950,000

 A grand house ideally situated on the Main Island of the Wentworth Estate opposite the 17th Green of the Championship West Course with 9,376 square feet of luxurious accommodation arranged over four floors with grounds approaching 1.63 acres.

This property has had some extremely thoughtful concepts and modern appliances integrated within. Such as 6 CCTV cameras and full alarm system, automatic gates and video entry system, aquavision televisions in the swimming pool and master en-suite bathroom, mood lighting in all principal rooms, surround sound and projector in the cinema room.  

The accommodation consists of a spacious master bedroom suite with walk in dressing   room, luxurious en-suite bathroom and balcony, four further bedroom suites, galleried reception hall, cloakroom, drawing room, dining room, family room, study, loggia, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, impressive indoor swimming pool complex with spa bath, changing facilities, gymnasium, steam and plant room, second floor cinema/games rooms with kitchenette, self-contained staff flat, triple garage with large room above, extensive south facing terracing and landscaped gardens.

For more information contact Barton Wyatt on 0134 484 3000 or visitwww.bartonwyatt.co.uk.

Park Place, Windlesham   £8,000,000

 This is a magnificent country house which stands impressively within a mature woodland setting and approached via a private road. Wrought iron gates open onto a gravelled drive flanked by mature trees and rhododendrons which leads to a central fountain in front of the house.

Built in 1995, this Georgian style property has been built to an exceptionally high standard. The imposing reception hall with a central staircase, marble and granite floors with under-floor heating, a hand-made kitchen and custom made furniture in many parts of the house all blend to create a unique and wonderful home.

Set over three floors:

 Ground floor includes: reception hall, dining room, cinema, drawing room, music area, kitchen and utility, sitting room, study and cloakroom.

First floor has the master suite and 4 further bedroom suites. Second floor - another 4 bedroom suites.

The ample garage will house 3 cars and has a staff flat over. A generous cottage in the grounds offers further accommodation with kitchen, living area, 3 beds and bathrooms.

Priced at £8,000,000, for more information, please contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843000.

Waverley, Virginia Water £3,950,000

  A brand new mansion built by Danesfield Homes. THe proeperty is situated close to shops, restaurants and railway station.

Six bedrooms, six bathrooms, four reception rooms, double garage, private parking, gardens of approximately 0.60 acres.

Priced at £3,950,000, for more information, please contact Barton Wyatt estate agents Surrey on 01344 843000.