The Costa Blanca, From Past to Present

Costa Blanca, which means “white coast” in English is a coastline which spreads over an area of two hundred kilometers. It comes under Alicante, which is a province of Spain. Its name took birth from a promotional campaign in which a flight program was introduced between Valencia and London in 1957; by the BEA. From that time, Costa Blanca is visited by numerous tourists from different parts of the world. Costa del Tarongers, Costa Calida, Torrevieja and Denia forms this area. Benidorm or Costa Blanca is counted among the most popular cities among the tourists.

The Moors, who entered Spain through Gibraltar in 711AD, captured the whole of Alicante by 718AD. The Moors kept on ruling for almost 4 centuries; giving a new shape to the culture and history of this land. They introduced peaches, oranges, almonds and means of apposite irrigation. The influence of Moors can still be observed by watching a large number of terraces at hill sides. Finally, in the year of 1492, the Moors were expelled from Spain. That was the time when Isabella and Ferdinand (Catholic Monarchs) acquired power in Granada. Before this time, the Moors and Christians kept on fighting over their rule on different parts of Spain. Jaime I from Aragon finally succeeded in bringing Alicante back to Spain in the year of 1248. The Moors did not quit and they kept on trying to get back in to Spain even after suffering defeat.

Till mid 17th century, Spanish coast faced frequent attacks from the Arabian pirates. After a long time, in the year of 1812, Spanish constitution was laid down and formal creation of the provincial borders of Spain came in to existence. It was then that Murcia and Alicante got established, as we all can see them at present. The Spanish civil war broke out in 1936, in which Murcia and Alicante backed the Republicans. The control of Spain was taken by the General Francisco Franco from the Nationalist Movement; in the year of 1939. In the decade of 1960, the flow of tourists increased considerably in Spain.

Costa Blanca is one of the most famous Mediterranean holiday spots in Spain; mainly because of its classic golf courses and lovely beaches. You would find pleasant weather in Costa Blanca almost all round the year. Here, one can visit numerous old villages, towns, restaurants and bars which serve locally produced wines and delicacies.

For people who do not want to indulge in too much adventure, walking tours are a great option. Week long, weekend and day tours are offered to the tourists. You would get to know about Costa Blanca and its inhabitants from close. Historical ruins, rock formations and old romantic homes (you would miss all these if you choose traveling by car) present in Costa Blanca would make your holiday experience more pleasurable.

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Zhu Zhu Pets Online – Adorable Hamster Toys For Christmas Presents

Just what are Zhu Zhu Pets? They are cute interactive battery operated hamsters toy pets, each with their own set of over 40 sounds. They first became popular in 2009, in fact in most places they were the surprise toy of last year. It looks as though they are set to be just as big this year. Kids everywhere are wanting these adorable animals. They make different sounds depending on how they’re set up. They are very easy to use and can be customized to each individual child. Are they a good present for Christmas?

Christmas is the time of year where choosing presents for the children are first and foremost in most parents minds, and this is where choosing a Zhu Zhu pet makes it easier for the parents because they are so popular, cute, and fun to have. How much fun?

Kids seem to love them and have a great deal of fun with them. But it’s not just kids that are crazy for Zhu Zhu Hamsters. In a review on Amazon one customer said “I got one of these toys for a 83 year old lady that lives in an assisted living unit. She absolutely loves her toy pet.” It appears that these toys are not just for kids?

Last year there were only four electronic pets: Num Nums, Mr. Squiggles, PipSqueak and Chunk on sale, however later on Patches became available. Mr Squiggles was the first Zhu Zhu Pet that was available and quickly proved to be the most popular. In the tradition of trends kids go for the favorites and Mr Squiggles could be the choice for this year as well. However, there is the choice of boy or girl toys – Mr. Squiggles and Chunk are boy hamsters, Num Nums, PipSqueak and Patches are the girl hamsters. Which one is best for your child?

This year there are over nine pets to choose from – Patches, Chunk, PipSqueak, Mr. Squiggles, Num Nums, Jilly, Winkie, Scoodles and Nugget which could making the choice more difficult for parents. There are also a lot of accessories that can be bought for them as well, including a Hamster Funhouse and a Blanket and Bed, all of which are sold separately.

What is fantastic with Zhu Zhu Pets is that there is no feeding, mess or hassle with these adorable, furry toys. Unlike the real thing, Will you get organized before the demand sends prices sky high?

Zhu Zhu Pets are available from major retails stores and online at Amazon and eBay.

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Change of Presentation at Burberry

In 1856 Thomas Burberry founded his company. By 1870 his business was well established and focused on the development of outdoor attire. In 1880 he invented the water-resistant, yet breathable, gabardine fabric (patented in 1888). Burberry developed the trenchcoat for the British troops in the First World War (1914-1918).

The lining of these trenchcoats was the now famous red, white and camel check. After the war, trenchcoats became popular with civilians and were worn by many filmstars (Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca, Peter Sellers in Pink Panther and Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany etc). Burberry became a famous brand. However after time the company was labelled as the manufacturer of an old fashioned raincoat and a period of slow decline set in. In 1955 Burberry was bought by Great Universal Stores.

Great Universal Stores looked for a new CEO to revitalize the 101 year old company and in 2000 named RoseMary Bravo, an ex Saks Fifth Avenue executive, as Chief Executive. Bravo brought in an up and coming designer, Christopher Bailey, and under Bravo’s inspiring leadership Burberry embarked on a programme that turned around the fortunes of the company. Central to this turnaround were the new designs by Bailey who based his concepts on the heritage of the company. The brand became so strong that Burberry expanded to include (franchised) items as such watches, perfume, sunglasses and golf items. The strength of the brand was such that Burberry expanded to include (franchised) items as watches, fragrance, sunglasses and golf items.

Burberry is an example of how the change in presentation and (capable) leadership brought about success to a declining brand.

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A3 Ring Binders Are Made For More Than Just Presentation

In any line of business it is important to be able to present information in an organised manner. A binder gives you the opportunity to guide business partners, clients and customers through your business’s portfolio of products or services in a simple to follow way. But, binders serve much more of a purpose than just being a presentation aid and can be the difference between you keeping work secure and losing crucial pieces of documentation.

We all tend to become unorganised at some point in our lives and it is not unusual for someone to leave pieces of paper laying about in the most obscure or unexpected places. Leaving papers loose in drawers, cupboards or even under the bed, can lead to important things being lost and you can almost guarantee that when you really need something lying around like this, you will not be to find it. Therefore wouldn’t it make much more sense to make use of A3 ring binders and folders to avoid embarrassing and annoying situations like this?

Binders come fitted with a ring mechanism that allows you to keep punched paper, or paper stored in punched pockets secure. So, important information you may have collected over the years but which has become disorganised can all be collated in the same place. They are also handy for those studying in education as they could act as a place where you keep all your projects and coursework in the one place. Add a set of dividers to the binder and you can separate work and find it with even further ease.

If you are transporting your binder or folder with you on public transport such as on the London underground, it also makes sense to keep your travel card in an Oyster card holder for added security.

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How to Select the Perfect Birthday Present for Mom

So it’s that time of the year once again and your mom’s birthday is coming up and you are out of choices to choose from, well don’t worry I’m going to explain some tips in getting your mom the right gift. In many cases moms tend to be among the pickiest choices when selecting the right gift for them. Even though mothers will tend to love anything you will give them, why not select something that she will absolutely love. Spending money on a great gift will really make your mother’s special day bloom.

In many cases we want to buy our mother flowers and also something that is very important that has a strong meaning. Even chocolate and cards are a very nice idea but giving her the usual will kind of get in a routine so getting her something outside of the normal will help her appreciate it even more. One great idea to find a great gift for your mom is to spend some time with her, learn some of her likes and dislikes this will help you select a gift that she will enjoy.

Maybe she loves to garden, you can get her present that relates to her garden. Something relating to gardening would be something she would enjoy. Maybe she’s at the happiest when she is cooking in the kitchen, get her an item that relates to the kitchen, an appliance or so forth. Does she read books, maybe there’s a new book out that she has been looking forward to reading.

Does she love watching TV, maybe you might want to get her something to comfort her such as a blanket when she is sitting in front of the television? Every mom is unique in their own special way getting to know your mom better will help you select the perfect gift when her birthday rolls around.

So do you get the idea yet? Just paying attention to the small ideas your mother enjoys will help you determine what she needs and likes. Giving your mother let’s say some chocolates and a bouquet of flowers will not last that long shortly after she receives these items, therefore selecting items that won’t fade is a better choice such as a present that will last longer than those types of items.

All you have to do when selecting a gift is to think what kind of person she really is, what she likes, what she does? All of these questions will help you make a selection on the perfect gift for your mother. Just remember pretty much anything you will give her she’ll probably will absolutely love because it’s from you, but picking something that she would really enjoy will just make her day that much special.

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High School Science Project Presentations – 6 Secrets to Success

No matter how well you have done at preparing your high school science project, the key is how you present it. An enthusiastic presenter will get the attention of the judges.

Six Secrets about HOW to Say It

  1. Get excited: Believe that you have a mission to accomplish during your high school science project presentation, and that you have the keys to success. Let slip-ups not bother you. Presentation time is a time to focus on positive things. The only way to beat presentation fear is to get excited.
  2. Body language: You might appear to say something confidently, but your body language reveals it all. Don’t stand stiffly with your hands in your pockets or behind your back as it will only display that you are nervous.
  3. Use your hands: We use gestures naturally while talking to someone, without even being aware of them. During your presentation, use gestures in a natural way. Avoid any offensive gestures such as clicking your fingers or pointing your fingers at someone.
  4. Maintain Eye Contact: Eye contact is believed to be a sign of honesty. While presenting your work, don’t look through people; rather look at them in the eye for a few seconds before you shift your eye contact to another person.
  5. Project Your Voice: Most students are not aware of how softly they speak in public. Practice projecting your voice, but remember to speak in a relaxed tone. A high-pitched tone and hurried speech shows nervousness. So, speak calmly, and with a smile. Don’t rush it.
  6. Use a Meaningful Pause: Pause after an important question in order to give your audience some time to think. Then reveal your answer. Pause after making a strong statement. Smile.

Six Secrets about WHAT to Say

  1. Memorize it: You may memorize your introductory line in order to avoid making a mistake right at the beginning. Do not memorize your whole high school science presentation, as it may sound mechanical.
  2. Introduce it: You can begin by greeting everyone with a “Good Morning!” Then start with a catchy phrase such as, “I was eagerly waiting for this moment, as I have something interesting to share with you…” You’ve already made an enthusiastic opening. Keep it short.
  3. Brief it: After your short introduction, you must tell them, again in short, what to expect during your presentation. You may say, “Let me place before you my big question, my hypothesis, how I conducted my experiment, and what conclusion I came to.”
  4. Explain it: Now speak about all the points one by one. Encourage them to look at your display as you explain your project.
  5. Summarize it: Repeat your main points by saying, “Once again, let me sum up my work…”
  6. Conclude it: Close with a strong and positive statement such as, “I have learned that…..and I’m sure you agree with me. If you have any questions, I would be glad to answer them at this time.”

Now, the toughest part made easy….
Answering Questions
At this point I cannot emphasize enough, that you must do a mock presentation before your actual high school science project presentation. What I mean by this is that you must practice in front of your friends and family. Make them ask you lots, and I mean lots, of questions. Do your best to answer those questions. Ask for feedback on how you’ve done, and improvise on it. Practice in front of your mirror. Practice in front of your dog, and don’t let his antics distract you. Practice till you get confident.

Now that you’re feeling confident already you can go one step further and download a free copy of “Easy Steps to Award-Winning Science Fair Projects” right now from the link below.

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Presenting – Ben Viccari – A Lifetime Dedicated to Multicultural Communications

Interesting people are everywhere. I met Ben Viccari a few weeks ago at the initial screening of a documentary called “Small Places – Small Homes”. The documentary profiled the life of four immigrant families who had chosen to settle in small rural Canadian towns and spoke to their unique challenges and adjustment experiences. During the party afterwards I was introduced to Ben Viccari, a distinguished writer and journalist, and a pioneer of Canadian multiculturalism.

Ben is a fascinating individual – at almost 90 years of age he is in the process of creating his second television documentary and involved in multiple projects at the same time. Ben has decades of public relations experience and during the last quarter century also became involved in ethnic publications. At present Ben is the President of the Canadian Ethnic Media Association which speaks to issues of immigrant settlement, heritage preservation and the ethnic communities’ role in nation building.

He is also a regular commentator on Omni Television and runs an online publication called “Canscene” which introduces the reader to multicultural issues in Canada. In this article Ben shares with us his life experience throughout his early years, the Second World War, and his almost 60 years in Canada. He also gives us insight into his unique views on Canada’s role as a potential model nation in terms of how we deal with immigration and immigrant settlement, notions that are very dear to my own heart.

I was amazed by Ben’s energy and creativity and enjoyed the time we spent in a little restaurant along Bloor Street, learning from a man whose life experience spans almost a century, a man whose energy, creativity and broad-mindedness captivate.

1. Please tell us about yourself and your background.

I am a Canadian well qualified, I believe, to speak for multiculturalism and diversity through my mixed parentage, early education at a London school with an international student body, travel abroad, followed in Canada since the late 1940s by a diverse career in communications much of which has placed me in contact with Canadians from a wide variety of origins and backgrounds

Ben at the provincial archive, Winnipeg with the complete issues of
the Icelandic Framfari, first ethnic newspaper published in Manitoba,
in a scene from The Third Element

2. You grew up in England as the child of Italian immigrants. Please tell us more about that.

My father, an Italian immigrant to Britain, met and married my mother, an Englishwoman. They had two children, my younger brother John and me, seven years his senior. Our delight was to grow up in a home in which husband and wife enjoyed mutual respect for each other’s national traits. We lived in an ambiance of being loved and in turn, loving.

In those days, marriage to a foreign citizen who was not naturalized meant wife and children were Italian nationals and a sense of duality became natural to us. We ate chicken cacciatore and olives, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding and rejoiced when Dad came home with sticks ot torrone, Italian nougat bought at Barale and Crippa an Italian grocery in the heart of Soho. Also their tangy salami. And while my Italian grandparents were still alive, they mailed boxes of home made salami, soppressata and goat cheese to us.

3. Your working life originally started out in the barber shop of your father. Please tell us more about that.

From childhood, I loved being read to and even made up my own stories. I remember my mother recounting that I had created a fictional country that I frequently “visited.” It was peopled entirely by cats and I called it “Abloo Labloo Land.” Even before I started kindergarten I knew the alphabet and could detect certain printed words and by seven sensational papers like News of the World were hidden away from me.

My favourite subjects were English, French and History and not being much of a sportsman or gymnast I reveled in opportunities to participate in school dramatics and class performances of Shakespeare.

There was a brief fling at pro theatre when at 15 I joined a troupe of youngsters at the spacious Wimbledon home of the Thursby-Pelhams. The husband was a prominent English lawyer and his wife born in Mexico but raised in England had brought up her children Lola and Marshall in a theatrical atmosphere. She had written a children’s Christmas play in which a school is magically transported to all corners of the world.

I played Ronnie, the third juvenile lead after Lola and Marshall and the famous music hall comedian Harry Tate was engaged to play the school teacher. By the time the show was sufficiently rewritten, rehearsed and ready to go, no London theatres were available and the idea of a West End production abandoned, but we gave a few performances in aid of charity at town halls and other locations with stage facilities. I remain a ham at heart and during my army years, organized a number of shows performed by soldiers.

My reverence for the spoken and written word is perhaps what has most governed my life. I attended Pitman’s College where I learned typing and shorthand skills. I was disappointed that I could never get into journalism even at the entry level of copy boy or some other menial job. Oddly enough, my father encouraged me in my search and never insisted on my becoming a hairdresser.

At age 17, I became a hairdresser feeling I owed it to my father who had tried so hard to get me introductions to press people. I was first apprenticed to a large salon at Liverpool St. Station and then attended hairdressing schools.

My father remained a barber but had excellent management skills and rose to be manager of the ladies and gents salon at the world renowned Claridges hotel. In 1935, he opened a small salon of his own and two years later a much larger business on Cork Street, in the heart of the Saville Row district. The clientele included the aristocracy, the greats of politics and diplomacy and many people from the arts and entertainment world: Anton Walbrook, Valerie Hobson, Jan Masaryk, Sir David Lean, Sir Arthur Bliss, Alexander Korda, to name a few. The window of the salon carried the Royal Warrant, the official coat of arms of the House of Windsor, granted because one of Dad’s personal clients was a Royal Duke — I can’t remember which one.

I worked at the entry level at the Cork Street establishment and then found jobs in the suburbs, but my heart was never in the craft deeply enough to take it to the art that my father and his contemporaries raised it. Today, in the light of the fate that befell millions it seems sinful to say that I joined the army with a sense of relief.

4. You were also fighting for the British Army during World War II. What was your role and where were you stationed?

I was able to claim British citizenship at age 21, along with my mother and thus eligible to join the army. Although I would have been conscripted anyway, I was able to volunteer and so to choose the Royal Artillery rather than the PBI (Poor Bloody Infantry.)

I was one of the few people of my age to be fortunate enough to own and drive a car, which I’d been given for my 21st birthday, so I automatically became a driving instructor at the helm of a dual control vintage Rolls Royce which to my chagrin was speed-governed to 30 mph.

That period lasted from October ’39 to March ’40 when I was shipped to France with a draft of reinforcements, not to replace casualties for this was the period of the Phony War and two mighty armies faced each other across the Maginot Line, only firing token shots occasionally. Many troops were already going home to England on leave and as they trickled off, some of us were sent to the front lines to replace them in their activity.

New Years’ Day, 1948. Why Bill McVean was holding his golf club, neither of us can remember, but in my own memory, this was and still is a landmark of my life here — to enjoy such hospitality so soon after arriving in Canada.

5. Please tell us some of the stories you remember most from your time during WWII. What was your personal experience during this crucial time in history?

The phony war ended May 10, when the panzers came pouring into Belgium and Holland and the front line troops were eventually driven back to the sands of Dunkirk. In desperation it seems, the British Army rallied the troops who were well out of harm’s way during the Dunkirk evacuation — mostly raw replacements like ourselves and formed them into impromptu units like “E” Field Battery to which I was posted as a driver.

We move up from Nantes where we were formed into a unit and headed toward Paris, where it was assumed we’d defend the city along with the French until reinforcements arrived from Britain. This became impossible, we leaned later, since the troops who’d been fortunate enough to be evacuated from Dunkirk had few arms and there weren’t enough ready in srmy storage in England.

When we reached a certain point miles short of Paris and dug gun pits it was with dismay that we witnessed what seemed like the entire French Army in retreat; south they went in weary dejection, leaving Paris to the Nazis. Then we heard the capital had fallen and Italy had entered the war against us. We had all of us — officers and men — now become true companions, and apart from a few light hearted remarks to buoy up my spirits after Mussolini’s decision, I sensed neither prejudice nor concern at my being one half Italian.

My lot was to drive one of the two senior lieutenants in the unit on reconnaissance of the neighbourhoods at which we would build gun sites, contact supply depots for food and try to locate command headquarters.

It is difficult to describe the fluid state of affairs when often, not even our commanding officer knew nothing of the overall Army plans. On one occasion, we thought we were being strafed by enemy aircraft but the commotion was a dogfight and suddenly from our cover in a small stand of trees, we saw a British fighter plane ploughing through the earth. Two of our fellows dashed into the open to find the pilot alive and well except for a sprained ankle. He was dragged into cover, fed and driven to the nearest RAF airfield remaining in France.

On another occasion, Lieutenant Jack Lowery and I were driving on a rural road when coming rapidly toward us was a strange looking vehicle which we suddenly realized was a German armoured car. In a flash, we both saw a side road to our left, and swinging the steering wheel madly, we turned into it on two wheels and drove like hell for several miles. We’ll never know why the Germans didn’t fire at us or attempt pursuit. Maybe they thought our light van was one of theirs.

And so it went for eight more days. Dig in, await orders, and then retreat until finally we arrived at Cherbourg where the guns were loaded onto a ship. The vehicles were driven into a field outside the city where they would be destroyed. However, as driver of a lighter vehicle, I was one of ten who were told that remnants of a company of Cameron Highlanders were stranded outside Caen, some 90 miles to the north of Cherbourg and we’d have to go back to pick them up.

By now the roads were clogged with refugees moving south, thousands on foot, some travelling on bicycles, a lucky few in vehicles, even a hearse. The going was rough when we set out before daybreak but we made the rendezvous just after noon only to find no Cameron Highlanders. We drove around the area, found nobody and assumed the Scotties had been picked by others. As a short cut, we decided to drive through the south end of Caen, which wasn’t such a good idea since we heard the rattle of German gunfire as the Nazis poured into Caen. Fortunately they must have paused to regroup since we were able to leave unhampered.

The road back to Cherbourg was even more difficult and eventful than the road up to Caen. We did manage to find a few British soldiers going it on foot along with the other refugees but as we crawled back to the seaport we were machine gunned twice in 15 minutes by a lone Stuka. Each time refugees and ourselves threw ourselves into roadside ditches. We searched for dead and wounded but couldn’t’ find a scratch.

We reached Cherbourg in the last hours of daylight and were ushered into the hold of a cargo ship. I lay down on the bare metal and slept like a log, waking to find myself on a cloudless June morning in Southampton harbour

‘E” Field Battery was quickly disbanded to the regrets of the entire group. Jack Lowery had been promoted to captain and we were dispatched hither and yon.

Within three weeks I found myself drafted into the Oxfordshire Yeomanry, an anti-tank regiment assigned to garrison duty in Northern Ireland. From then on, after the few weeks of high excitement in France, life seemed anti-climactic and I whiled away boredom by writing an account of the three months I’d spent in that beautiful, doomed country. After the manuscript was typed, I submitted it to a few publishers but by then so many first-hand accounts had already been published and other conflicts — Greece, the Middle East — had broken out and my MSS was stale news. But I never regretted the confidence that completion of the 30,000-word book gave me.

Other wartime memories are legion and would take a book to fill. My 36 months in Northern Ireland gave me some insights into the “troubles” that began nearly 30 years later. Back in England promoted to bombardier (corporal) I specialized in administering spare parts supply to the regiment’s vehicles until one fortunate day I was dispatched to the land of my fathers.

I was posted to Italy as a reinforcement but my knowledge of Italian soon got me special status wherever I went until eventually I was posted to the Military Mission to the Italian Army as an interpreter/translator with the rank of staff sergeant. It was fairly routine work but I was in Rome, a city l already knew, and one in which by now were it not for my love for Canada, I would otherwise have found some way to settle.

6. What happened when you returned to England after the war?

My first job on being discharged from the Military Mission to the Italian Army in 1946: was as a reader with Paramount Pictures’ London office, feeding the great maw of Hollywood with synopses of new books. Then to the fast-growing J. Arthur Rank Organization as a story analyst, where I not only read but saw new plays and foreign-language films. I was also earmarked for a training program with Rank’s junior production unit, Highbury Studio. My ambition then was to become a writer-director.

Rank was seeking a vehicle for an English production featuring Hollywood great Frederic March and his wife, Florence and I was asked to write a treatment of a short story by Rudyard Kipling about an American industrialist and his wife and how they become enamoured of rural life in England. Which I did, to some praise, but unfortunately the producer chose Christopher Columbus as their vehicle.

Disaster arrived in the form of the “Bogart or Bacon” tax with the Labour government slapping a 70 percent tax on all Hollywood films. Instead of bolstering the British film industry, the tax had a reverse effect on Rank, with five British studios. Reciprocal distribution agreements with the U.S film industry went out the window and hundreds of men and women were fired. That included me!

7. Why did you decide to go to Canada and what were your experiences just after your arrival?

No job, no prospect. Rank was the only game in town and for writers, newsprint shortage had reduced newspapers and magazines to shadows of their pre-war selves. Travel held no terrors for me and through meeting Canadians in England, I’d come to see the potential of a “new”country. It was the late Alan Jarvis, an expatriate sculptor who eventually returned to become director of our National Gallery who finally helped me make up my mind.

8. Several people assisted you in the beginning when you came to Canada. Please tell us about that.

I owe my first job to two people. Broadcaster and travel writer Bill McVean and the late Harry Savage, one of the best ever Canadian publicists.

I arrived in Canada December 15, 1947 and reaching Toronto two days later; after finding a room, wrote to Bill Mc Vean in Woodstock who while in the RCAF had been befriended by a family in London. At a farewell party at my cousins’ home I met this couple who insisted I contact Bill. The reply to my letter was a telegram to the effect that I was invited to spend New Year’s with him and his parents. Bill was then a broadcaster/D.J at a station in Wingham and after some wonderful hospitality, on January 2, I started out for Wingham with Bill but heavy snowfall forced us to literally dig our way back to Woodstock for several few miles before the road was cleared sufficiently.

9. How did your career progress once you were in Canada? How did you originally get into the media business?

Bill knew Harry Savage , a brilliant Toronto publicist and writer, and back in Toronto, I met with Harry who gave me several contacts. I picked the least likely job first, and landed it! within three weeks of arriving here, I was working at Turnbull Elevator Company Limited Company writing brochures and creating a house organ. I was subsequently appointed its first public relations officer.

So the line passed from McVean to Savage to Gordon Turnbull, proud of the fact that his all-Canadian company was second only in sales here to the mighty international Otis Elevator. Gordon was, for his background (son of a Scottish immigrant engineer) an extraordinarily broad-minded man. When he asked me the origin of my name I felt no discomfort at his attitude. He expounded on the need for large-scale immigration to keep Canada out of American hands.

At the Turnbull Company, I was surrounded by engineers, not among the most imaginative members of society, but Gordon — himself an engineer –asked me how I thought his company’s name could achieve greater prestige. In the mid 50s, self-service elevators were being introduced into large office buildings and we had to steal a march on our competitor, Otis.

I had one of those flashes of imagination that have helped me on many occasions. I said “Why not introduce the world’s first elevator hostess? Dressed smartly in a distinctive uniform like an airline stewardess, “Miss Turnbull” would stand in lobbies of large buildings and help people adjust to self-service travel. He mulled over the idea for five mites as I trepidated, and then proceeded to call the general manager, the chief engineer and one or two other executives into his office. Gordon wasn’t feared by his staff, but as he asked me to explain my idea it was clear to the others that he approved. And so Miss Turnbull was born. On her first appearance she made the Toronto newspapers and television. By the time Miss Turnbull had appeared in several new buildings, I received a president’s award from the Canadian Public Relations Society.

For five years, I was part of the Sidney S. Brown School of Radio Drama. Having first attended class in 1948 because I wanted to get a handle on radio playwriting, I found myself as a teacher and genial assistant to Syd Brown, who remained a close friend until his death in 1979. Together we produced Sunday night plays featuring the students, first on CHUM, then on CKFH and finally back to CHUM. Classes were always in the evenings and so didn’t conflict with my daytime job.

Because of Miss Turnbull, I had also attracted some job offers, but when General Foods Limited, Canadian subidiary of the giant White Plains Corporation — Jello, Birdseye, Post cereals, Maxwell House coffee — showed interest, I couldn’t resist and so in 1956 parted with the Turnbull company.

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Personal Presentation at Interview

You got the interview; I knew you would! So time to start making your preparations. First things first. What are you going to wear and how are you going to look? Someone once told me that there is no such thing as over dressed; just better dressed. Never has this been so true as when you are attending an interview. A suit is always the answer no matter how the employees dress for their regular work day. When you are an employee you too can dress like them. In the meantime you are making a good first impression for which you have one chance and one chance only. You want to make it count.

The obvious things are to get your suit dry-cleaned. Polish your shoes and tidy and polish your briefcase or handbag. Make sure your shirt and tie, or your blouse, are clean and ironed. Less obviously make sure your hair is clean and tidy; if you are due for a cut go and have one as part of your interview preparation. Give yourself a manicure and if you do paint your nails then clear or neutral polish only (this way if you do get a chip on route to your meeting it isn’t going to stand out like the proverbial sore thumb). For those of you that wear make-up less is more. Make sure you smell fresh, try to avoid garlic the day before and double check your overall appearance, including your teeth, before you go in.

Now, what are you going to take with you? A copy of your CV. If there are two interviewers take three copies; one for each of them and one for yourself so that you can refer to dates and figures where need be. A pen and a blank sheet of paper (or notebook) so that you can take notes on anything important that you discuss; hopefully you will be writing down the date of your next interview. Tissues if you have a cold or it is hayfever season. Change if their offices are in town and you need to pay and display for your parking. A map or directions of how to get there with the time, name of the interviewer(s) and building you are to meet in if the Company have multiple buildings on one site. If the role asks for you to have certificates in things like first aid then take these too.

The general tip is that you and everything you have with you should look clean and tidy. No dog ears on the edges of your CV. No three things falling on the floor when you try to find a pen. Now research the journey. How long is it going to take, do you know exactly where you are going, have you factored in a buffer of time to allow you some breathing space; better to be early than arrive flustered and out of breath. Not because there is anything wrong with being out of breath, but have you ever tried to focus and concentrate when you’re flustered?

So, you are ready. You got there on time and presented yourself at the right reception desk ten minutes early. You are signed in, have your name tag and are sat in reception. Pick up a company brochure; it makes you look interested even if you are thinking about the meeting rather than reading it. Switch off your phone and wait for them to come and get you…. breath… think good thoughts… relax…

Tomorrow we are going to talk about the power of positive intention. See you there.

For help preparing for interviews or making the transition from where you are to where you want to be please contact one of our Consultant Coaches at [email protected]

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Personalised Gifts: Top Tips for Buying Unique Presents

How do you choose a gift that stands out from the usual high-street crowd? Read this essential shopping guide to find something that’s out of the ordinary.

You’ve been invited to a Christening, a friend’s just had a baby or there’s a special birthday coming up. You need to buy a special gift. You’re not interested in anything too traditional or the usual boring stuff that most people go for. You’re someone who appreciates a thing of beauty, good design and above all a gift that is a bit unusual and special. After all, what you give says a lot about you and your taste and you definitely don’t want to be considered dull and lacking originality, do you?

So what on earth do you buy and where do you even begin to look? Don’t despair. There’s a treasure trove of wonderful, original gifts out there. All you need is a little imagination and the courage to be different.

To make it easy for you, here’s a round-up of great gift ideas that you can give to your nearest and dearest to mark their special day. Whether it’s a new baby gift, baptism present, sweet 16 birthday keepsake or anniversary gift, these choices are great for all sorts of special occasions.

Personalised jewellery and silverware

And no, this is not just for the ladies! You can buy everything from bangles to charm bracelets to cuff links to pens featuring the personal details of your loved ones. If you go online you can find a fantastic selection of bespoke silver gifts produced by talented British crafts people. One of my favourite gifts ever given to my son on his first birthday was a pair of silver driving wheel cufflinks with his name and date of birth engraved on each one. This is something that he will cherish forever and can use when he grows up.

Personalised pottery

If you’re a bit creative yourself why don’t you head down to your local pottery cafĂ© or studio. You can choose an item of pottery, decorate and personalise it yourself and then present it to someone as a truly original gift. It’s great fun, shows you have really put yourself out and has your own personal touch. There’s a huge range of pottery ware to suit all budgets, including egg cups, platters, teapots, dinner plates, jugs, tiles. You could even do a whole dinner service!

Personalised furniture

Bookshelves, rocking horses, chairs, tables, even beds – you can commission your very own furniture and have it personalised and decorated for the one you love. You can go online to find what you’re looking for or ask a local carpenter to make if for you. These sorts of gifts when given to babies often end up as heirlooms passed from one generation to another. My children have a beautiful wooden armchair made by their Granddad for my husband when he was a boy and it is much loved and treasured by us all.

Personalised religious gifts

For Christenings, baptisms and dedications, a religious themed gift is a perfect choice. You can get lovely gold and silver cross necklaces which can be engraved with an inscription or personal message. You can also give beautiful bibles and prayer books with the recipient’s details stamped on the cover. You can buy these online, from jewellery shops or Christian book shops.

Personalised story books

Imagine the excitement of a child when they open a fantasy tale and they are the handsome hero or pretty princess? My son’s Godmother gave him a lovely gift one birthday all about dinosaurs and he was one of the main characters in the story. He still treasures that book today – even though he’s now ten years’ old!

Personalised name prints

There are some beautiful name gifts and keepsakes on the market today. You can get everything from fantastic fairy framed pictures personalised with a girl’s name to cars, trains and automobiles which are great for a boy. These look fantastic in a child’s bedroom or nursery and are a lovely keepsake. You can add a personal message and include name meanings and origins too.

Personalised embroidered baby gifts

Embroidered blankets, cushions, pillows, and cross-stitch pictures make lovely gifts for babies and newborns. You can get these made to order and personalised to include the details of the child or you can have a go yourself. You can buy great kits with everything you need, including detailed instructions, from haberdashers, craft shops and department stores. They are also available online.

So there you go – you’ve no excuse for buying and giving boring gifts anymore! And with online shopping, it couldn’t be easier. So next time you need to pick a present, make it personal with one of the great choices listed above. Remember, what you choose says a lot about you – and you don’t want to be considered dull and lacking originality, do you?

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Presentations – Proper Preparation Prevents Pretty Poor Performance

Congratulations! You have already got further than many people by deciding to go ahead with your presentation despite your natural fears. When starting to prepare for your presentation, think about the:

1. Environment – where will the presentation take place? Does the size and layout of the room suit your purposes? Is it to be formal of informal? Are all the necessary facilities available?

What kind of aids do you need? Would some props would be useful? If using technology, always have a back-up so that a technical failure does not bring everything to a halt.

How much time have you got? 30 minutes sounds a long time, but can go very quickly, particularly if people are asking questions.

2. Audience – who are they? How many will there be and what do they already know? Should your language be technical or colloquial? What kind of questions might they ask? Are they friendly or do they need convincing?

3. Objective – what are you trying to achieve here? Using that reliable old technique, the SMART objective, will help you here. In other words your objective should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic/Relevant and Timebound.

4. Structure – you need to have a clear structure so that people will follow what you are saying. My favourite is the 5-part structure of:
Attention-grabber – an interesting anecdote or maybe some unexpected fact or statistic.

Introduction – tell them what you are going to tell them and why!

Main body – see Content below.

Conclusion – sum up your arguments neatly.

Link back to the attention-grabber to close.

5. Content – keep it short and simple. It is tempting to stick in lots of detail to show how knowledgeable you are, but you may only succeed in sending the audience to sleep. Never pretend to know more than you do. It is very embarrassing to get caught out!

Having got this far, you now need to practise your presentation, preferably with a sympathetic but objective observer to give you feedback. Only by talking out loud will you become comfortable with your material and discover what flows well when spoken, as opposed to what reads well on the page. You may need to make adjustments to avoid stumbling over words or to clarify their meaning. Keep practising until you feel completely comfortable with the content – this is one time when trying to fly by the seat of your pants just isn’t worth it!

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