Scandinavian lodge stay in Cornwall from £38pp/pn - incl. hot tub and log burner (sleeps 6)

Ahoy mateys! Who said you had to go to Scandinavia for the Scandi-experience? We've found this awesome wooden lodge, which is nestled in gorgeous Cornwall and finished off to an immaculate standard in genuine Finnish style. It comes with a hot tub, log burner and enough space to sleep 6 people comfortably, with plenty of… Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

62 Uber vehicles impounded over a single weekend in Cape Town for breaking licensing laws

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Cape Town's Transport Enforcement Unit undertook a number of checks on Taxis and ride hailing vehicles, and within a couple of days had impounded 62 Uber vehicles for not having operating licences or operating in contravention of their licences. According to a report in the iol, one Uber driver fled the checkpoint nearly running over a traffic officer. The driver was eventually caught. Although Uber have yet to confirm whether the man was driving for them, officers said the vehicle had a clear Uber logo on the windscreen as all their drivers do. Uber Technologies Inc along with licensing authorities have a major responsibility to make sure all drivers comply with all applicable rules of the industry they operate in. Which licensing authority do you operate in? Do you think enough is being done to deal with rogue drivers and maintain the highest industry standards?

May 15, 2018 at 09:34AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

5* Crete luxury break 4nts from £338pp - incl. flights, hotel & breakfast

Arr pirates! We've spotted this luxurious Crete holiday placing you at the top-rated 5* Knossos Beach Bungalows & Suites right on a private sandy beach offering 3 restaurants and 3 pools. Breakfast is included in this holiday with good rates this autumn and option to upgrade, so get in! Details Travel duration: 4 nights (longer… Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Unrated Insurers – Defending the seemingly indefensible after Alpha debacle

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Rating is a stick that representatives of larger insurers like to use to beat smaller rivals that challenge their dominance. The critique is often partisan and presented in a superficial manner without full consideration. “Unrated” is also a good sound bite to help the press whip up excitement in an often otherwise staid industry.Sadly these days, click-bait and sensational journalism can lead to misinformation, which can turn into smear campaigns and witch hunts when really, exposing the public to all the facts would enable them to gain a better understanding of a situation and to make their own, informed decisions.Clearly in the case of Alpha Insurance there were severe failings, ones that have had awful consequences for hard working people. My company did not deal with Alpha and I’m not seeking to defend them. However, we do work with other unrated insurers and I feel that the case for dealing with these reputable firms needs to be made.A David v Goliath Situation

What is often forgotten in the debate about unrated insurers is that Insurance remains a relationship-based business, between that of the insurer to broker, and broker to client. If a broker is able to build a good rapport with an underwriter, one that facilitates the exchange of information and enables them to negotiate openly on behalf of their clients, this can only ever be a good thing. The broker can agree bespoke offerings and deal with flexibility. Often, with large corporations, there simply isn’t this degree of entrepreneurialism or flexibility. And if there is, the delivery times can often be unworkable. Whereas unrated insurers have shorter chains of command and things get done without prohibitive bureaucracy.Unrated insurers are often smaller with lean operational overheads in comparison to their more renowned rivals. For that reason, their cost bases are likely to be lower and as a result they can regularly offer highly competitive premiums. In price sensitive markets with largely commoditised products, this may prove to be the key deciding factor in winning business.A-rated companies can fail, too

Another important point is that since the collapse of Lehman Brothers near the beginning of the economic crash, the value to be placed in rating agencies’ opinions is questionable. The award winning film “The Big Short” illustrated the fallibility of being overly dependent and reliant on external rating houses who have a vested interest in providing a positive outcome for those their they accredit. Moody’s put Lehman Brothers‘ investment-grade A2 rating “on review” just five days before the company was declared bankrupt. Standard & Poor’s provided American International Group (NYSE: AIG) an investment-grade A rating under a week before the insurer became nationalised. In the case of Alpha, as recently as February multiple agencies were giving their reinsurer’s CBL Corporation Limited, whose collapse ultimately lead to this crisis, a rating of A-.Also, in terms of disruption, it could easily be argued that A rated insurers often enter niche markets suddenly and exit just as abruptly. This may be due to a change in strategy or a company restructure that is determined from on high, as is often the case at large organisations. They may also enter new markets without the requisite specialist knowledge. In these circumstances, due to insufficiently informed underwriting, they are likely to suffer large losses in a short space of time and be forced to exit entirely. This leads to severe disruption for policy holders and brokers alike, with unsustainable premiums having to be hiked much to the dismay of the brokers’ client base. The broker then suffers the loss of an entire book or the challenge of rebroking each case. The impact is not on the scale and severity of this week’s pandemonium but it is still highly frustrating nonetheless.Ratings vs sustainable business practices and longevity

The bottom line is that there must be trust in any professional trading relationship. Obtaining a rating is a short cut method to obtaining that trust, albeit an expensive one with merits that are more debatable than some would have you think. A number of unrated insurers have been trading for long periods. Their longevity is based on sustainable business practices, yet their small scale cannot justify the expense of paying a rating house to accredit them. Clearly, any broker wishing to build long term relationships with their clients should investigate the liquidity and solvency of an unrated insurer before placing business with them. Otherwise, it is not just their client’s insurance premiums that they are risking but their own reputations and with it the long term future of their businesses.Unrated insurers will not be suitable for every client. There are also clearly some unrated insurers operating very close to the wind in a disreputable fashion. However, to tar all unrated insurers with the same brush and to dismiss their worth entirely is to ignore the value they bring to the market place. There is a place in the market for well run, unrated insurers.

May 15, 2018 at 08:31AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Summer / autumn in Majorca: 7nts from £159pp incl. hotel & flights

Pirates, grab a blissful 7 nights in summer or autumn in Majorca from £159pp including the Galaxia Hotel & flights. A 2-minute walk from the beach at Can Picafort, the hotel is well-situated for exploring this lovely area of Spain. Holiday details: Travel duration: 7 nights (longer or shorter stays possible) Example date: 9th … jcrdawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Bargain flights to Toulouse, France from £17 return

Ahoy pirates, we have come across these super cheap flights to Toulouse in France for under £20 return. There are dates throughout June and you can travel in July for just a little bit more - use our flight finder for all flights. Flight details Direct flights Departures from London Dates spanning June Hand luggage… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

California from £470pp: 7nt family holiday - incl. direct flights & Hilton hotel next to Disney

This 4* California holiday has a lot of things going for it; the deluxe Hilton hotel is right in the heart of the Anaheim theme park action, it includes direct flights from the UK to Los Angeles and it has both indoor and outdoor pools for chilling out in and 5 onsite restaurants to choose… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Quirky north Italy break: 4nts B&B in arty hotel & flights from £176pp - near Lake Garda & Verona

Don't let your summer end as soon as the 31st August rolls around, give yourself something to look forward to with a late season trip to northern Italy. Along with one of the quirkiest hotels we think we've ever seen, flights and breakfast are included in this deal, all for less than £180pp! What's even… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Turkey in July from £271pp: 7nt summer holiday - incl. flights, 4* hotel & £79pp deposit

Pirates, we've uncovered an absolute bargain of a holiday to Turkey this July; that's peak summer season so it's rare to see decent prices. You'll pay as little as £271 per person, based on 2 sharing for flights and 7 nights self-catering in a lovely 4* resort in Side. Book this holiday for a deposit… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

mytaxi launches in Edinburgh in partnership with City Cabs

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mytaxi, Europe’s largest taxi e-hailing app, today announces its expansion to Edinburgh – the first Scottish city to join the family. mytaxi is celebrating the announcement with a 1/3 off discount for all Edinburgh passengers until the end of June. The launch marks the second city in a regional roll out set to continue over the summer.In partnership with Edinburgh City Cabs, the launch will provide not only skilled and knowledgeable drivers but a guarantee of safe, reliable, convenient and cost-effective travel for Edinburgh’s residents. Supporting and promoting local licensed taxi drivers is fundamental to the mytaxi culture as the business seeks a central role in Edinburgh’s integrated transport system.

Hannah Soll-Morris, Head of Operations and Expansion at mytaxi, commented: “We couldn’t be more excited to launch our first Scottish City by partnering with the leading operator in Edinburgh. The city is outstanding for a whole host of reasons; the beautiful architecture, the thriving business community and the exciting events calendar just to name a few. We've had an incredibly strong start to 2018 by both expanding our London business and launching in Nottingham and we’re thrilled to continue to extend our UK footprint with such an iconic city as Edinburgh. We hope that by partnering with City Cabs, mytaxi can help you experience everything the Capital of Scotland has to offer in a safe and seamless way”City Cabs Chairman, George Aird commented: “The launch of the mytaxi app in Edinburgh is an exciting prospect for our drivers. Working in partnership with mytaxi will give us access to a readily available European customers base. It’s also great to see an investment in the knowledge and skills of black cab drivers within Edinburgh”.

mytaxi is the leading e-hailing app in Europe, available in over 75 cities within 11 countries. Four mytaxi trips are accepted every one second around Europe through the network of over 120,000 drivers and more than ten million downloads.

mytaxi sets itself apart from competitors by investing in its drivers, who are not only skilled and experienced behind the wheel but host a wealth of local knowledge of the areas in which they operate.

May 14, 2018 at 03:39PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Krakow at Christmas: 3nt city break from £138pp incl. flights, Hilton hotel stay & breakfast

We realise that summer is only beginning and that you may not want to think about winter getaways quite yet. However, if you get in there early enough you can pick up some great Christmas market city trip barrrrgains, like this 3 night city break to Krakow, Poland. Staying in the Hampton by Hilton on… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Private Hire Driver has his licence revoked for failing to stop after running woman over

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A private hire driver who failed to stop after knocking down a pedestrian has had his licence revoked. The driver, a Mr Alexander McMillan, claims to of not seen the woman who was hospitalised following the collision. McMillan was initially fined £400 and given three penalty points by Glasgow's Justice of the Peace for the incident, but after councillors on the Licensing Committee realised he had two other driving offences they questioned him on whether he could be considered a "fit and proper person" to hold a private hire licence. McMillan's previous two offences were talking on the phone while driving and running a red light. According to a report in the Evening Times, McMillan not only failed to stop at the scene of the incident and call an ambulance, but also failed to report the collision to the police within the legally required timeframe of 24 hours. The decision to not renew his private hire licence was made by a committee based on all his offences which showed him to be a prolific "careless driver".

May 14, 2018 at 02:11PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Last-min Caribbean bliss from £548pp: 7nts Dom Rep w/ flights, all inclusive, transfers & bags

Pirates, if you're looking for a last-minute bargain summer holiday, then look no further than the Caribbean! While you'd expect long haul holidays to be pricey, First Choice is offering an additional £50 off the total package price of its beach getaways. That means you can get 7 nights all inclusive in the 4* Gran… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Uber recruits new UK boss from Amazon to replace Bertram

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Controversial ride-hailing app Uber have recruited a new boss to oversee its UK business just in time for the battle to win back its London operators licence.

Jamie Heywood joins Uber as the new regional general manager for northern and eastern Europe from Amazon later next month. The role was formally occupied by Jo Bertram and covers over 100,000 drivers in 12 different countries.

Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty, regional general manager of Uber in Europe, the Middle East & Africa, said in a statement:

“Jamie's leadership will also be crucial as we implement major changes across Europe including more safety features, improvements for drivers, and a new approach to partnering with cities,"

May 14, 2018 at 01:32PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Group Spain getaway from £154pp: 7nts June apartment stay - incl. flights (Many UK departures)

Pirates, grab your mateys and head off on this bargain group holiday in sunny Spain from just £162 per person, based on 5 sharing! You'll stay in a gorgeous hotel with awesome pool vibes not far from the beach and near the lively town of Lloret de Mar. The holiday can be based on smaller… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Flights to beautiful Bali from £405rtn on 5* Garuda - incl. luggage & meals

It's time to pack your bags and head for beautiful Bali! Our Flights Finder is offering some superb fares on Garuda Indonesia - rated 5* by Skytrax. Checked luggage and inflight meals are included with these flights. We've seen availability at great prices in May and between September and February. As Bali is a superb… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Countdown begins for decision on Bank Junction safety scheme

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A report today reveals that casualties have reduced by 52% at Bank junction in the City of London as a result of an experimental safety scheme implemented last year. Casualties in the area surrounding the junction have also reduced by 33%.On 22 May 2017, the City of London Corporation, governing body of the Square Mile, launched a scheme limiting vehicle access to Bank junction to buses and cyclists only, Monday to Friday, 7am to 7pm, for a period of up to 18 months.Figures revealed today show that as well as meeting the safety objectives, bus passenger journey times through Bank have improved by up to five minutes. Monitoring data also showed a reduction in air pollution (NO2) levels at Bank junction and in the surrounding areas.The report notes that after receiving over 4,200 responses to a consultation, three-quarters of survey respondents said they supported the scheme. 45% said they supported the scheme as implemented and a further 29% said they supported scheme in general but would like to see some changes.Starting Monday 21 May, the performance of the experimental scheme, along with consultation outcomes and ongoing monitoring, will be considered across a number of City Corporation committees to decide whether it is to be made permanent:

Chris Hayward, Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Planning & Transportation Committee, said:“I have always said that our number one priority for the experimental scheme at Bank junction is to improve safety.“That is why I am delighted to see the scheme succeed in reducing collisions and improving air quality. A busy junction used by 18,000 pedestrians every hour at rush hour; it has been a pleasure to see members of the public truly begin to enjoy this iconic area.“Efforts to inform the public of the restrictions have been ongoing and extensive. The number of vehicles travelling through the junction between 7am and 7pm has reduced from 16,000 to just over 500 contravening vehicles a day. This equates to 97% compliance to the scheme.“We have been in listening mode throughout and with a noteworthy number of consultation responses, the wide-ranging needs of local road users and stakeholders will be considered along with the operational needs of the City.”The ‘Bank on Safety’ experimental scheme is part of ‘All Change at Bank’, an improvements programme which describes the City Corporation’s broader aspirations and long-term proposals for Bank junction.

May 14, 2018 at 11:50AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

City centre stay in Edinburgh: Grand 2nts from £102pp - sleeps 3

It's time to grab some mates or the family and head to the Scottish capital for a mini staycation that oozes grandeur. The Blackfriars Lofts are in the heart of Edinburgh city centre, within walking distance of a bunch of the local tourist spots as well as local eateries and bars. Offer Details: Many travel… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Birmingham Cab driver attacked with burning substance at Taxi rank

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A Birmingham taxi driver has been spayed in the face with an unknown substance after ordering a group of 3 men and 1 woman to not queue jump at a taxi rank outside Birmingham's Moor Street Station at around 9:45 Saturday night.One of the men pulled out a small canister and sprayed it into the face of the driver causing a burning sensation. The gang then ran off leaving the driver to attend hospital to be treated. Luckily for the driver, his injuries were not considered to be serious.

This isn't the first incident of it's kind where a taxi driver has been attacked with a noxious substance. Last year TaxiPoint reported a similar incident that took place in Newcastle where a 24 year old man was sentenced to 4 years for spraying a burning substance into the face of 47 year old cab driver. If you are ever present at such an attack the NHS has put together a quick an easy guideline together to tackle the initial injuries; Report. Remove. Rinse. Report; report the incident immediately by calling the emergency services. Remove; remove any items of clothing that have or may have been contaminated.Rinse; rinse the effected areas with plenty of clean cold water. For a more in depth guide, you can download the NHS ADVICE AND SERVICES right here.

First Aid for burn attacks.

May 14, 2018 at 10:21AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Stunning St. Lucia in July: 7nts all inclusive from £981pp incl. flights, 4* hotel & transfers

The Caribbean is calling Pirates, and when you can go all inclusive in July then we suggest you answer that call. The island of St Lucia is as close to paradise as one can get and for a week in July you'll be staying at the 4* Bel Jou Hotel, an adults only hotel with… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT