Ease Into the World of Investing

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The United Nations does it. Governments do it. Companies do it. Fund managers do it. Millions of ordinary working people – from business owners to factory workers – do it. Housewives do it. Even farmers and children do it.

‘It’ here is investing: the science and art of creating, protecting and enhancing your wealth in the financial markets. This article introduces some of the most important concerns in the world of investment.

Let’s start with your objectives. While clearly the goal is to make more money, there are 3 specific reasons institutions, professionals and retail investors (people like you and me) invest:

  • For Security, ie for protection against inflation or market crashes
  • For Income, ie to receive regular income from their investments
  • For Growth, ie for long-term growth in the value of their investments

Investments are generally structured to focus on one or other of these objectives, and investment professionals (such as fund managers) spend a lot of time balancing these competing objectives. With a little bit of education and time, you can do almost the same thing yourself.

One of the first questions to ask yourself is how much risk you’re comfortable with. To put it more plainly: how much money are you prepared to lose? Your risk tolerance level depends on your personality, experiences, number of dependents, age, level of financial knowledge and several other factors. Investment advisors measure your risk tolerance level so they can classify you by risk profile (eg, ‘Conservative’, ‘Moderate’, ‘Aggressive’) and recommend the appropriate investment portfolio (explained below).

However, understanding your personal risk tolerance level is necessary for you too, especially with something as important as your own money. Your investments should be a source of comfort, not pain. Nobody can guarantee you’ll make a profit; even the most sensible investment decisions can turn against you; there are always ‘good years’ and ‘bad years’. You may lose part or all of your investment so always invest only what you are prepared to lose.

At some point you’ll want to withdraw some or all of your investment funds. When is that point likely to be: in 1 year, 5 years, 10 years or 25 years? Clearly, you’ll want an investment that allows you to withdraw at least part of your funds at this point. Your investment timeframe – short-term, medium-term or long-term – will often determine what kinds of investments you can go for and what kinds of returns to expect.

All investments involve a degree of risk. One of the ‘golden rules’ of investing is that reward is related to risk: the higher the reward you want, the higher the risk you have to take. Different investments can come with very different levels of risk (and associated reward); it’s important that you appreciate the risks associated with any investment you’re planning to make. There’s no such thing as a risk-free investment, and your bank deposits are no exception. Firstly, while Singapore bank deposits are rightly considered very safe, banks in other countries have failed before and continue to fail. More importantly, in 2010 the highest interest rate on Singapore dollar deposits up to $10,000 was 0.375%, while the average inflation rate from Jan-Nov 2010 was 2.66%. You were losing money just by leaving your savings in the bank.

Today, there are many, many types of investments (‘asset classes’) available. Some – such as bank deposits, stocks (shares) and unit trusts – you’re already familiar with, but there are several others you should be aware of. Some of the most common ones:

  • Bank Deposits
  • Shares
  • Investment-Linked Product1
  • Unit Trusts2
  • ETFs3
  • Gold4

1 An Investment-Linked Product (ILP) is an insurance plan that combines protection and investment. ILPs main advantage is that they offer life insurance.

2 A Unit Trust is a pool of money professionally managed according to a specific, long-term management objective (eg, a unit trust may invest in well-known companies all over the world to try to provide a balance of high returns and diversification). The main advantage of unit trusts is that you don’t have to pay brokers’ commissions.

3 An ETF or Exchange-Traded Fund comes in many different forms: for example, there are equity ETFs that hold, or track the performance of, a basket of stocks (eg Singapore, emerging economies); commodity ETFs that hold, or track the price of, a single commodity or basket of commodities (eg Silver, metals); and currency ETFs that track a major currency or basket of currencies (eg Euro). ETFs offer two main advantages: they trade like shares (on stock exchanges such as the SGX) and typically come with very low management fees.

The main difference between ETFs and Unit Trusts is that ETFs are publicly-traded assets while Unit Trusts are privately-traded assets, meaning that you can buy and sell them yourself anytime during market hours.

4 ‘Gold’ here refers to gold bullion, certificates of ownership or gold savings accounts. However, note that you can invest in gold in many other ways, including gold ETFs, gold Unit Trusts; and shares in gold mining companies.

With the advent of the Internet and online brokers, there are so many investment alternatives available today that even a beginner investor with $5,000 to invest can find several investment options suited to her objectives, risk profile and timeframe.

Diversification basically means trying to reduce risk by making a variety of investments, ie investing your money in multiple companies, industries and countries (and as your financial knowledge and wealth grows, in different ‘asset classes’ – cash, stocks, ETFs, commodities such as gold and silver, etc). This collection of investments is termed your Investment Portfolio.

Some level of diversification is important because in times of crisis, similar investments tend to behave similarly. Two of the best examples in recent history are the Singapore stock market crashes of late-2008/early-2009, during the US ‘Subprime’ crisis, and 1997, during the ‘Asian Financial Crisis’, when the price of large numbers of stocks plunged. ‘Diversifying’ by investing in different stocks wouldn’t have helped you very much on these occasions.

The concept and power of compounding are best explained by example. Assume we have 3 investments: the first returns 0.25% a year; the second returns 5% a year; and the third returns 10% a year. For each investment, we compare 2 scenarios:

  • Without compounding, ie the annual interest is taken out of the account.
  • With compounding, ie the annual interest is left (re-invested) in the account.

Let’s look at the returns over 25 years for all 3 investments, assuming we start off with $10,000 in Year 0:

  • With 0.25% return a year, your investment will grow to $10,625 after 25 years without compounding; your investment becomes $10,644 after 25 years with compounding.
  • With 5% return a year, your investment will grow to $22,500 after 25 years without compounding; your investment becomes $33,864 after 25 years with compounding.
  • With 10% return a year, your investment will grow to $35,000 after 25 years without compounding; your investment becomes $108,347 after 25 years with compounding.

This shows the dramatic effects of both higher returns and compounding: 10% annual returns coupled with 25 years of compounding will return you more than 10 times your initial investment. And 10% returns are by no means unrealistic: educated investors who actively manage their portfolio themselves and practise diversification can achieve even higher returns, even with some losing years.

People of all ages and backgrounds need practical and customised guidance in developing their financial knowledge and skills in order to reach their financial goals. In this article we’ve tried to describe in simple terms some of the most important concepts and principles you need to understand on this journey.

Passive Investment Income

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What are some ways a person can generate passive investment income? There are a number of ideas about it. Everyone has his own ideas about which one can be a passive investment income. We should have our own choice of investment. The wealthy, the marginalized, and the middle class people differ in their own preferences about investing their money. Now, let’s compare ways and opportunities according to some considerations such as safety, profitability, and also liquidity.

Safety means that your investment and the income are stable. The money that you invest could be prone to the changing market condition, economic slowdown, and social unrest. The point is that your passive investment income should always be there. In that case, it is safe to invest.

On the other hand, profitability is what we usually consider when we invest. We are supposed to believe that what is profitable is ideal. That’s right. But is it risky? Is my money stuck? Obviously, everyone would go for whatever gives them profit. Whenever we consider gains, the highest amount is always the best passive investment income. What we should consider here should not have been about the top gainers only. It’s should also be the safer ones.

Another significant factor that must be considered is liquidity. Let us suppose that we earn very attractively from our safe investment. What does that mean to us anyway? When you are ready to use your fund because you really need it and that’s the reason why you invested, is it possible to convert it to cash now? If there is no liquidity, our passive investment income is only an imagination. You would become wealthy only in your dreams. Liquidity is not only about the comfort of making a withdrawal. It is also about how smooth it is to invest.

Now, here are three kinds of investment we may consider whether which passive investment income is better for us. So, let’s talk about three kinds of portfolios such as business, stocks, and real estate.

Business is a personal activity that deals with economic factors that determines future gains. It is the chemistry of work and investment. This means that a businessman does not only wait for passive income, he should also work for it. Therefore, it is an active income and at the same time passive.

In the aspect of safety, business is not that safe. It is exposed to economic cycle. Businesses are under the supply and demand law. If the demand for their goods has been increasing, the price will also increase, and so will the supply. As time goes by, the demand will influence the supply to increase more. So if the supply is much greater, it will then influence the price to decrease. Consequently, businesses are getting more unstable and their future is turning gray. But, businesses may also get more resilient. As this type of investment is a little active, the active control of a businessman can manage a worse situation. Therefore, these two characters of investment regulate the cycle. Because of this, business becomes good. It is definitely a good example of passive investment income when it comes to safety.

In stock market, it’s the other way around. Safety is a very controversial issue here. Obviously, the risk involved here is very high. But the potential return is high, too. Passive investment income is more common in stock trading. Therefore, your income here is not the product of your active participation in the company. It is the product of your decision.

In the area of real estate, the lesser amount you invest, the safer it is. The bigger the investment you have, the riskier it becomes. But land alone is considerably not risky. The reason why real estate becomes a little risky is because the cost of structural materials is getting higher. Structural materials are also subject to the law of supply and demand. So, if we only rely on land for passive investment income by renting it out, our passive income will not be affected by any price fluctuation. Aside from that, structures depreciate over a period of time. Therefore, investing in real estate can be risky or safe depending on the kind.

In terms of profit, it is more attractive in business. In some businesses, you have to spend time before you earn regularly. Usually, the profit is negative especially if they are just beginning to operate. They should promote their brands and strengthen themselves in the market. When the consumers buy their goods, passive investment income begins. On the other hand, other businesses are doing well in the beginning of the operation. During the first stage, their sales shoot up. Subsequently, they grow very early. As time goes by, consumers get sick and tired of their goods. Consequently, these businesses reduce their passive income. Nevertheless, what is nice about business is the resilience to catch up with the competition. In business, the consistency of income is stable. One more advantage in business regarding this is the petty cash. Passive investment income in business need not come after a fixed cycle like that in stocks. There is always readily available petty cash.

On one hand, profit potential in stock investing is definitely high. As the character of stocks is risky, risk appetite causes the value of stocks to go up quickly. On the other hand, risk aversion and profit taking in the intraday trading can cause the value of stocks to go down quickly, too. Risk management in the stock market depends on the traders. Speculators enjoy their passive investment income from the price volatility while non-aggressive traders and investors get their passive investment income from dividends. Therefore, we can’t rule out the risk nature of stocks. When we gauge the balance between the energy we exert and the profit we earn, investing in stocks could be the most attractive one. We must not forget that passive investment income is an income that we could get without extra effort. If stock market really offers this potential, it must be a better option for passive investment income.

In real estate, how can we have a passive investment income? There is no doubt that one may enjoy his passive investment income in real estate without extra effort. The point is whether or not the ratio of profit is balanced with the investment. Surely, we can gain in real estate primarily because the usual investment is big as well. But always remember that you should pay the capital gains tax annually. This might explain why landlords do not solely rely on renting out their lots. Hence, land is usually developed to optimize the gains. Regarding the actual amount of gains, real estate could guarantee a better passive investment income. Therefore, we should really consider the ROI.

In terms of liquidity, it is somewhat less in business. Of course, liquidity still exists. However, much time is spent to put up a business, to start gaining, and even the time it takes to stop operating. Although the period of time executing all these can be determined according to a business plan, the process is still slower depending on the kind of business. Retail businesses are quite liquid whereas manufacturing industries are not.

Among the common types of investments known to many, investment in stocks is the most liquid one. You can open and close an investment account at your convenience. Moreover, you may select any available stock you wish to invest in. If you wish to have exposure in stock market, to take profit, or to pull out your investment, it won’t take that long. You may do so at any given time wherever you may be.

On the contrary, liquidity is a big problem in real estate. In business, there are still ways to determine it, but hardly in real estate. Usually, it is like a game of chance to sell even a small house and lot. Thus, investing in real estate, earning passive income, and even pulling out your investment will never occur overnight. It won’t matter if it doesn’t affect productivity. For instance, you have found a better opportunity that needs quick decision. Then, you think it best to change your existing investment into such a new one. Perhaps, before you are able to pull out your investment from real estate, your commitment to others will have already been canceled. In similar case, you might get stuck.

These are some ways a person can generate passive investment income. Whether you wish to invest in stocks, real estate, or business, you can always find an opportunity to generate passive investment income.

An introduction to A-Z VoIP termination

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You won’t travel far in the world of VoIP before you come across the term A-Z termination. In essence, what this means is that the service provider offers call termination routes to all parts of the globe.

This has a number of advantages for business users, not least that you can get all of your voice communication needs met in one place, and also that there are significant savings to be made on call costs. No wonder that VoIP services are taking off in a big way –
.

Flexible solution

Not only does VoIP offer the opportunity to make savings, it has a number of other advantages too. It’s easy to use – for the end user really no different from a conventional phone service – and it offers much more flexibility.

Using a wholesale VoIP provider, for example,
means that you can easily adjust your service as the business expands and to cope with sudden increases in demand due to seasonal or other factors.
It also offers all of the features you’d expect from a phone service including caller line identification (CLI), conference call facilities and the ability to share the same service across a number of business locations.

Things to consider

If you are considering switching to a wholesale A-Z VoIP solution there are a number of key factors that you need to take into account. Cost is often the main factor in driving the decision, but you also need to think about quality. Opting for the cheapest solution may not always be the best. Voice  communication is important to your business and if call quality is poor it will reflect badly on you.

How your wholesale provider routes their calls is the factor that makes a difference here. The more partners they have the greater the choice of routes available and the better the chance of ensuring you get the best possible quality for your calls. It also means the ability to reroute should one connection fail.

Security needs to be taken into account too. Any service relying on the internet is potentially vulnerable so you need to take steps to protect your VoIP service. Call fraud is a risk, so you need to ensure your user accounts are properly secured. You can also use software to block certain types of call.

Six ways to ensure your racking is safe

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The use of racking in warehouses is commonplace, but the potential for accidents remains high despite a great deal of research aimed at reducing these incidents.

Advice
The Health and Safety Executive
has produced a short guide to help those involved in warehousing and storage to reduce the number of injuries and occupational ill health, providing simple advice that should be applied in the industry.

You can follow these simple steps to ensure a safe workplace.
1. The starting place should always be ensuring that your racking supplier is a reliable source who can advise you on the best arrangements for the installation. Wherever you are looking to source your racking Ireland, the UK or in Europe you will find professional suppliers at sites such as rackzone.ie/pallet-racking/.

2. Once you have selected your supplier, you will be able to take advantage of their experience in installing the structure, ensuring that health and safety rules are followed. This expertise ensures that strength and load tolerance measures are met, and the construction has the correct fittings and bracing pattern.

3. Safety standards across industry will also impact your choice. Although Storage Equipment Manufacturers Association standards are accepted in the UK as a minimum, most companies should be looking to reach the new European Norm, which sets the safety bar higher.

4. Signage is vital in the workplace, and racking should have loading signs displayed with limitations identified and maximum load capacities clearly shown. Health and Safety rules make these a requirement.

5. Although looking for racking on the second-hand market may be an attractive option, investing in high-quality products meeting the latest industry standards remains the best option. Secure racking not only protects the workforce as outlined above; it also ensures your stock is secure and not susceptible to damage or loss.

6. To maintain standards, always carry out regular inspections and never make alterations to racking without first consulting the supplier. Although it may be tempting to carry out repairs in the workplace to ease delays, racking adjustments should never be performed without using an accredited installer. Short-term economic gain could lead to long-term problems that will affect the bottom line.

Relationship

All the safety issues outlined above can be tackled by engaging the services of an experienced supplier and making the effort to maintain a good relationship.

10 more tips for a stress free Christmas

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Christmas should be a time for relaxing and enjoying quality time with those  you love, but for many by the time the big day arrives, they are too exhausted to enjoy it!

The key to a stress free Christmas is to be prepared, stick to a budget and make sure you take time out for yourself.

Spend it with your loved ones

Try not to get caught in the trap of spending the day with relations who you don’t get on with. Politely decline any invites and make sure you spend the day with those people who make you happiest.

Rest

Although it is the party season, too much partying and late nights will leave you too exhausted to enjoy the day itself, so be sensible.

Pressure

Don’t fall into the trap of having to create the perfect Christmas, as it will be hard to live up to expectations. Just have fun!
Weather

Don’t be tempted to stay inside just because it’s cold and dark outside. A brisk family walk will build up an appetite and leave you bursting with energy.
Be a good neighbour

Doing a good deed or two will make you feel good too, so make some time to visit an elderly neighbour, or collect some shopping for a friend. Companies such as same day courier Manchester all about freight
can get your gifts collected and delivered on the same day.
Wish List

If you’re after something in particular, make sure your loved ones know, and help them out with any specifics i.e. size, colour etc.

Talk

Life can be so busy that sitting down for a good chat can do you the world of good, so build time for talking into your day.

Simple Things

Watching Christmas movies and playing games can really bring families together; just a pen and paper and a game of charades can do the trick! The Italian Prime Minister
Minister is urging schoolsin Italy to hold back on the homework and let families enjoy quality time together.

Manners

Encourage children to be grateful for their gifts and give gifts themselves – even if it’s a homemade card.

Those We’ve Lost

Sometimes talking about those we’ve lost can be therapeutic, and happy memories can bring a smile, so don’t avoid the subject – celebrate the good times.

Is the tank the answer to our road traffic problems?

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The short answer to this question is no it is not but there might be a time when we consider it. On the face of it a
Tank is probably one of the most efficient ways of getting around the country as they are pretty much designed to go
anywhere you want them to. You can get a good idea of what it’s like to drive one by going on a Tank Driving Experience and a good place to start is by looking at Armourgeddon Tank Driving Days. The Tank that most people get to drive is the British armies’ old workhorse the FV432. It doesn’t have a whacking great big gun turret on the top like a Challenger, Warrior or Abrams but that is a good thing because when you get on up to speed the gun tends to flap about a lot if you haven’t secured it properly and also it scares people.
Can you actually take one of these out on the roads? You might be surprised by the answer.

You’d be surprised because the answer is a categorical yes! If you look on the back of your driving licence although
you won’t see a tank on there you will see classifications of goods vehicles. You need to have a H licence for a heavy goods vehicle which means that most truckers could go out and legitimately drive a tank. Before you start looking through the military surplus catalogue and booking in your test there are a few things that you might want to
consider before you start thinking that you can go rolling down the road in an antique T-34 that you’ve got cheap of
a Russian man on E-bay. First of all the gun cannot work and neither can the grenade launchers. While there Police
are happy for you to go about your business in it in a law abiding way they will take a dim view if the tank still has its heavy weapons fully functioning. Just a quick note a modern tank is very expensive and arms manufactures usually like you to buy in bulk rather than just one.

To be honest the FV432 is probably you best bet. Its fast(ish) and is not a massive lump of metal. Well, it is a massive lump of metal but it is a bit more user friendly. As it doubles as troop carrier it is also has the ability to get all the family in it. Don’t expect to get anywhere quickly though the top speed is only thirty two miles per hour. At least you’ll never get done for speeding!

Putting the needle on the record.

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When Thomas Edison developed the first phonograph, the first machine to be able to record and reply sound he probably did not foresee how it was going to be developed. One thing for example he certainly did not anticipate is the work of someone like Public Enemy’s Terminator X
scratching and mixing on the decks. The use of usic for business for example is one that is very relevant and owes much to the record player.

It is especially useful as a tool for creating the right kind of environment that you want your business to have and the image that you want to convey. A company like moodmedia.co.uk/in-store-music-for-business
for example can provide you with a bespoke approach that looks at your busy in great detail from your mission statement to your financial projections so that you get a playlist that will complement you perfectly. What about record players themselves and records too? How did they become the force they were and are starting to become again?

Edison’s invention was relatively simple. It used a drum system that rotated a foil innard. When you spoke into the
recording element it imprinted the recording onto the foil.When you played it back, or another recording that had been made a series of needles ran over the foil. The vibration of the needles produced the sound out of the speaker.
There was one major issue the whole thing was a deeply cumbersome thing that was not exactly portable.Enter then Emile Berliner.The phonogram had become smaller and more compact and the final piece of the portability and use of the phonogram was the invention if Berliners disc or record.This was a system that had one continuous groove throughout.

The system of using a needle to translate the vibrations into sound and put through the speaker was a great move
forward. The system was still very expensive but after the Second World War the use of plastics became more widespread and with the addition of plasticisers to Poly vinyl chloride or PVC as it is better well known.
This meant that records could be pressed quicker and cheaper. This played perfectly into the hands of the new record industry and the massive demand for the sales of new recording artists that were coming on to the market. With the fully portable record players that were available people record collections were about to grow to very large sizes and a whole new cultural phenomenon was born.

Some of the Best Diamond Films

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Diamonds have inspired humans since the first one was uncovered from the ground. Therefore, it’s not surprising that diamonds have been the subject of many a Hollywood film.
Throw in some glittering gems and a touch of drama and you’ve got yourself a great movie. Here are some of the best-known diamond-themed movies:

1. Snatch

This was the second film directed by Guy Ritchie and told the tale of a gambling addict attempting to fence a stolen diamond of 84 carat weight. The film centres on the criminal underworld of stolen diamond dealers. In an hilarious twist, the diamond ends up being swallowed by a dog! The dog is fine as the story twists and turns through a web of confusing encounters.

2. To Catch a Thief

This classic thriller by Alfred Hitchcock stars Cary Grant as a retired jewel thief trying to proclaim his innocence after a number of diamond thefts occur near to where he lives in the French Riviera. He escapes the police and uncovers the real thief to clear his name.

3. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

There isn’t much about diamonds in this movie classic but the song that featured in the film made it an iconic diamond reference. ‘Diamonds are a girl’s best friend’ was performed by Marilyn Monroe as a showgirl looking to wed a rich man. As she sings and dances, smartly dressed men shower her in diamonds.

4. Diamonds Are Forever

It’s no surprise that the chic and sophisticated James Bond is drawn to the luxury and strength of the diamond. This was Sean Connery’s last 007 movie and saw him osing as a diamond smuggler. His old adversary Blofeld is intending to use the diamonds to build a laser that can destroy Washington DC. Make sure your diamonds are made to last forever with Coloured Stone Diamond Engagement Rings from

5. The Pink Panther

These classic comedies follow the mishaps of the clumsy Inspector Clouseau, as played by the legend Peter Sellers. In some of the series, Clouseau is trying to locate the expensive pink diamond known as the ‘Pink Panther’. As you can imagine, this leads to some very entertaining and interesting mishaps and confusion.

6. Titanic
The huge blue gem that features in this James Cameron classic was based on the real-life Hope Diamond. In the movie, the ‘Heart of the Ocean’ is presented to Rose by the fiancée she doesn’t want to marry. Rose is wearing the stunning stone when she strips for a nude drawing by the poor man she’s fallen for played by Leonardo di Caprio. The gem used in the filming was a prop supplied by Asprey and Garrard jewellers and consisted of a blue cubic zirconia set in white gold.

Giving something back to the animals in our country

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As a nation of animal lovers, it is no wonder that there are thought to be around 9 million dogs and 8 million cats
living here in the UK and a staggering 51 million pets living in domestic homes across the United Kingdom. Animal art is also becoming more and more popular with people choosing to animal prints up on their walls and you can also
buy Cat Lap trays from places like
or perhaps grab one for a friend for Christmas.

Due to the large numbers of animals here in the UK it is a sad inevitability that some of these will end up as strays on the streets or being mistreated in their own homes. This is where the RSPCA and various rescue charities come into
play. Following on from their yearly analysis the RSPCA reported that around every 30 seconds someone dials their animal cruelty line and it was reported that they received over a million calls in 2017. A million calls is a vast number of animal cruelty and welfare issues for the organisation to deal especially as they only have around 500 active animal staff working for them in roles such as animal welfare officers, animal collection officers and inspectors.

The RSPCA was first established in 1824 when it was originally named the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals before the Royal patronage was established in 1840 by Queen Victoria. The organisation deals with a vast
number of cases each year as well as help sick and injured animals belonging to owners who can not afford for their veterinary care and they also rehome numerous animals each year. The figures are astounding:

In 2017 some of the figures included:
. Over 114,000 animals rescued from their current environments
. Over 44,000 animals were found new homes
. Investigation of over 140,000 cruelty complaints
. Just under 1,500 convictions against those individuals who broke the law in   relation to the protection and welfare of animals
. Over 200,000 animals were taken to the RSPCA
veterinary practices to be microchipped, neutered and to be treated for a variety of illnesses and injuries.

The number of convictions compared to the number of investigations that take place each year is incredibly low, andthis can be due to the difficulties in taking these kinds of cases to court and providing sufficient evidence to prosecute an individual.

Which are the best Christmas events to visit this year?

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With Christmas ads on the airwaves and Christmas songs in the shops, it’s that time of year again. Why not get out and about and enjoy some of the great Christmas events in Gloucestershire. Whether you meet Santa himself or cheer and boo at the panto there’s so much to enjoy!

Enjoy mulled wine at a Christmas market

There’s no shortage of Christmas markets spreading cheer and goodwill throughout Gloucester this Christmas. Cheltenham delivers a delightful outdoor shopping experience with over 40 stalls, while the Dean Heritage Centre brings a Victorian flavour to the festivities. Meanwhile, the iconic Gloucester Cathedral promises carols on the hour at their Christmas market which takes place in the beautiful cloisters.

Meet Santa

Father Christmas is everywhere in Gloucester this year, putting in appearances at the Regent Arcade in Cheltenham and the Cotswolds Clubhouse. At the Slimbridge Wetlands Centre
you can enjoy breakfast or tea with the elves and post a letter direct to the North Pole. The whole family will also love the opportunity to see the majestic wild swans and geese being given their evening feed on the enchanting floodlit lake.

Take in a Christmas show

People of Gloucester boiler service time is here again! Oh no it isn’t! Oh yes it is! If you’ve already arranged your annual service with a local company
then it’s time to relax with a festive trip to the theatre.

Cheltenham’s Everyman Theatre has a packed programme of shows for all the family this Christmas, from the children’s classic The Velveteen Rabbit to Dickens’ Old Curiosity Shop. Star of the show is the annual panto – this year it’s Aladdin, directed by Blue Peter’s Peter Duncan and it’ll have you cheering, booing and laughing out loud! There’s also Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in Stroud, and a spectacular Dick Whittington at the Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury.

An alternative Christmas

Want to try something different this year? Stagecoach West is offering a Friends and Family Explorer ticket so you don’t need to miss a single Christmas light switch on and you can leave the car at home. Use your ticket to head for Hip Hopmas Eve at Cafe Rene in Gloucester to groove to some old school hip hop classics or head for the Regent Arcade and sign up for Elf School!