LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
PROPERTY NEWS
mortgages
MAY 2020
HOME-WORKING? TURN YOUR SPARE ROOM INTO AN OFFICE SPACE ARE YOU READY? GET YOUR PROPERTY MARKET-READY – NOW!
GET CRAFTY IDEAS TO HELP KEEP THE KIDS ENTERTAINED
HEALTH FOCUS UTILISE ONLINE SUPPORT TO KEEP FIT
BOOK RELEASES THE HOTTEST NEW RELEASES TO CATCH UP ON
CONTENTS COVER STORY
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Working from home? Turn your spare room into an office!
PROPERTY
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16
Want to make a move? There’s still plenty you can do to get your property market-ready during lockdown restrictions News Our latest mortgage news. Plus meet the team!
FOOD
9
12 15
Destination home Crafts to keep the kids entertained at home
Our kind of happy Humour has been much welcomed, here are some of our favourite memes
HEALTH
Flour-less brownies No flour? No problem! Try these yummy brownies for all the family to enjoy
LIFESTYLE
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8
Thank you Frontline workers have given their all during the pandemic. Here we say, thank you
The dark side of life Social media has turned to the meme to spread a little light relief
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Fitness online Home workouts: we look at what’s available online?
BOOKS
14
Recent & upcoming releases Now is the perfect time to catch up on the latest book releases
WELCOME TO THE MAY ISSUE!
A
ll of us here hope that you are keeping well and safe.
With many of us spending more time at home, there is still plenty you can do to get your property market-ready during lockdown restrictions. In this issue we detail the range of DIY jobs that you can do to help add value to your property; as well as doing those little jobs that will help you to prepare for valuations and photographs. And although our office is currently closed due to government advice, we are still operational from home, so please continue to call or email, and we’ll be more than happy to help.
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PROPERTY NEWS
There is also plenty more inside to keep you reading, such as how to utilise the internet for keeping fit at home, as well as fun things to do wo keep the kids entertained too! All of us would also like to take this opportunity to say thank you to you, our clients, for your patience and understanding during this time. We are also in awe of the incredible work and support of all front-line workers who are working hard to ensure a better future for us all. Until next time, take care and stay safe. #StayHomeSaveLives Linda McKeown Editor
GET YOUR PROPERTY It may feel like the UK’s property market is at a standstill, but there is still plenty you can do to get your property market-ready during lockdown restrictions
With many of us spending more time at home, there are a range of DIY jobs you can do to help add value to your property; as well as doing those little jobs that will help you to prepare for valuations and photographs. By starting your home moving prep now, you will be fully prepared to get the ball moving, when it comes to making your move. Not only will doing these jobs potentially add value to your property, but they will make you feel better after spending so much time at home. Now, more than ever, it’s important to keep active and busy. DIY and cleaning are great as both are a mental and physical workout which will also give you a sense of achievement during this time.
TIDY THE GARDEN
The garden is a huge selling point for most properties on the market. With the warmer weather arriving, now is the perfect time to get into your garden to complete quick and simple jobs to make your property more sellable and aesthetically pleasing in photos. Simply mowing your lawn and trimming your hedges makes a huge difference for when our valuer pops round to take photos. Also, why not plant some spring flowers in your borders to make these easier on the eye too? A lot of garden nurseries are delivering flowers and plants, and tools are available for delivery online.
MARKET-READY If you have any damaged fencing, leftover bricks from previous projects or a rickety, old, shed, try to remove or fix these to get them out of the way for both viewings and your photos. A lick of fresh paint on fence panels can instantly transform your garden – and you can still order paint online to carry out the work.
DIY JOBS INDOORS
On the occasional rainy day, you can get inside and finish jobs that you
your property look better straight away; just remember to use the same paint as the walls already are!
DEEP CLEANING
Nothing helps get a property market-ready better than a thorough deep clean. Work through each room to get the property as sparkling as possible. In the bathroom, don’t forget to go round the edges of the taps and the bath to remove any gunk, and buff and shine the taps to make them look really impressive. In the kitchen, clean and buff any metallic or windowed appliances, especially the front window of the oven. If you have any carpet in the living room, use carpet shampoo before hoovering, to get them back to looking their best.
There are a range of DIY jobs you can do to help add value to your property; as well as doing those little jobs that will help you to prepare for valuations and photographs haven’t gotten around to just yet. Maybe you have those leftover tiles for the kitchen, or that roll of carpet waiting to be laid. This could be the perfect time to tackle these jobs yourself. YouTube has thousands of videos to offer you guidance and advice from everything from tiling a kitchen, to fitting a dado rail. And, with a lot of DIY companies still offering delivery, you can get everything you need, and fast. Holes in your walls? These are a simple fix with some ready mixed multi-purpose filler and will make
Upstairs, put away all clothes into wardrobes and make sure these close fully. Make the bed with fresh sheets, and remove excess pillows, pet toys and toiletries. Throughout the house, be sure to clean and polish all windows, inside and
out, to make them shine as bright as possible. Don’t forget to clean all doors and window ledges too!
Nothing helps get a property market-ready better than a thorough deep clean Lockdown is a tough time for everyone, but it will end, and we will come out the other side. And when we do, life will return to the ‘new normal’. We have been given a chance to spend more time in our homes which has made us all stop and take stock of the things we once took for granted. It gives many of us the chance to do those odd jobs we’ve never gotten around to doing or put off for too long. As your local estate agent, we are here for you whenever you need us. Visit us online today, for more information about marketing your property.
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
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Working from home boasts many advantages, and there are many fantastic ways to keep your working life productive, satisfying and healthy
CREATING
IN-HOME OFFICE SPACE
TIPS FOR MAINTAINING GOOD MENTAL HEALTH In these times, mental health has never been so important, so ensure you keep your mental health healthy. Keep the room you are working in well ventilated During the times you’re not on a call or in a meeting, play some background music to help you focus and ‘disappear’ into your work Ensure natural light flows into your workspace; it can make a surprising amount of difference If you’re facing a wall, hang a nice painting or backdrop of landscape or nature which keeps you in that happy, peaceful place
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PROPERTY NEWS
T
hat journey you take every day to and from work, those lunchtimes socialising with your colleagues, and that constant, fundamental feeling of being a part of your team with everyone around you striving to achieve a shared goal. For the time being, those aspects of your working life are on hold due to the current pandemic and consequent lockdown taking place throughout Britain.
filing crate, printer or scanner, you’re good to go. Creating a workspace using a dividing wall in a living area, the space underneath your stairs, or even a well-positioned storage cupboard, are all viable options. Note: if your workstation ends up being in an area laid with carpet, then investing in a chair pad might be a good idea if you don’t want your carpet getting worn down and damaged by a rolling office chair.
But fear not! Working from home boasts many advantages, and there are many fantastic ways to keep your working life productive, satisfying and healthy. If you have a spare room, this can easily be transformed into an office or workspace. And if you’re going to do it, you should do it right.
YOU HAVE THE POWER, SO STAY CONNECTED
DESK? WHAT DESK?
Many desks on the market can be expensive but, touch wood, you should be able to find an affordable and suitable desk.
Try and stick to a work schedule to help you keep focus
Fortunately, a full-on, ready-made desk isn’t the only option. A piece of wood, large enough to accommodate your work, will suffice. It could be the desk surface part which someone has gifted to you, but if it’s wood in its rawest form, you could spend a little time sanding it down, smoothing off the edges, and making sure the surface is level and neat. All you need now are two small chest of drawers for the wood to sit upon, such as those plastic stackable drawers. Because they’re stackable, you can freely determine how high or low the desk will ultimately be for you, allowing you that creative freedom to create your perfect workstation.
IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A SPARE ROOM
As long as you ensure there’s enough room for all the essentials you need, such as a
With many currently working from home, Wi-Fi understandably might become a little congested at times. So, wherever you end up working, it’s important Working from home boasts to ensure you are close many advantages, and enough to your Wi-Fi there are many fantastic router for a consistent ways to keep your working and reliable internet life productive, satisfying connection. However, and healthy if you are struggling with connection, a wired connection using an Ethernet cable should do the trick. You should also make sure there are enough power sockets nearby to keep all your electrical equipment plugged in. If there aren’t enough plug sockets on the walls, use a multiple socket extension lead to increase the number of sockets available.
AVOID CABIN FEVER
Cabin fever is a common problem when working from home. It can become isolating, lonely and boring if you’re by yourself for long periods of time. Similarly, if you have family around you for much of the time while you’re trying to be productive at work, that can also create a distraction. Taking regular breaks is a must. If you have a garden, great! If not, make use of your daily exercise allowance and take a stroll around the neighbourhood to breathe in that all-important, revitalising fresh air and (hopefully) sunshine. It’s also important to try and stick to a work schedule to help you keep focus.
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
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THE DARK SIDE OF LIFE As medical science battled to prevent Coronavirus enveloping the world in a shroud of fear and gloom, social media turned to the meme to spread a little light relief
Y
ou know the bit. That f inal
of World War I or the prisoner of war
sequence in Monty Python’s Life
camps in World War II – helped to bolster
of Brian, where all the prisoners
spirits among the working classes, the
have been tethered to their crosses for
blending of farce and low comedy did
crucif ixion, the People’s Front of Judea
not earn a label until the 1960s when
have congratulated Brian of Nazareth
Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 was published
on his forthcoming martyrdom, and the
and Stanley Kubrick’s Dr Strangelove hit
Judean People’s Front have made their
the cinemas.
f inal act of def iance. Since then, lampooning taboo subjects And then, just as he is about to
has been seen for what it is: an injection
succumb to the inevitable, a fellow
of much-needed humour to lighten
prisoner urges our tragic, wrongly
desperate situations and ease mental
identif ied hero to, “always look on the
stress, proving once and for all that
bright side of life”.
laughter is the best medicine.
It is a classic example of what is often
So, when Coronavirus unleashed
termed gallows humour, the ability to
unprecedented chaos across the world,
look for a laugh in the bleakest, the
social media stuck up its collective hand
most hopeless of situations.
and said: hold our beer, we’ve got this…
Lampooning taboo subjects has been seen for what it is: an injection of much-needed humour to lighten desperate situations and ease mental stress
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PROPERTY NEWS
Along with its cousins, black comedy and
At first the memes were straightforward
dark humour, this strain of comedy has
and came largely f rom the ‘get a grip’
become entwined into the very fabric of
camp. For example, when lockdown was
Britishness, and goes some way to
announced, overlaid on a solemn picture
explaining why the Bright Side of Life and
of a soldier, standing head bowed, was
Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb are
the message: “Your grandparents were
among the most requested music at
asked to go to war. You are being asked
funerals.
to sit on a couch. You can do this.”
Although prevalent in times of war, when
However, the initial indication the stiff
the mix of morbid and ghastly themes to
upper lip was starting to break into a
underscore the futility and senselessness
smirk came with the American church
of a situation – think life in the trenches
style billboard: “Whoever said one
person can’t change the world never ate
times. Then I got tired, so I picked up
since COVID-19’s relentless advance,
an undercooked bat.”
the block and put it back in the toy box.”
anything to do with masks invariably
And then the big guns came out,
And the f railties of families cooped up in
illustrates mankind’s stupidity,
reacting to every development with a
quarantine was ably coupled with the
particularly regarding the Government’s
pun and a quip. “Day 4 of social
salute to our f rontline health heroes:
‘stay at home’ warning, than a photo of
distancing. Struck up a conversation
“Quarantine survival tip #463: Empty
our ‘dumb’ animals.
with a spider today. Seems nice. He’s a
your glass bottles into the recycling bin
web designer.”
at 8pm on a Thursday so the NHS
However, nothing sums up social
clapping drowns out the sound of your
media’s attempt to lift the fear and
household’s descent into alcoholism.”
gloom over the pandemic better than
involves Darth Vader – while nothing
“Got to that stage of lockdown where
this riposte to criticism f rom Word
Jolene can come and take my man.” Similarly, there was a boozy response to
Porn, the internet’s purveyor of the
“Why haven’t the Government classed
the news that craft distilleries were
pithy and prophetic: “Friendly reminder
seagulls as quay workers?”
stepping in to f ill the gaps as hand
that in times of adversity and stress,
sanitizers became as rare as unicorns on
people use humour as a coping
No-one was safe. In response to the Joe
a night out. Across a picture of a
mechanism for the sake of their mental
Wicks home workout phenomenon,
relaxing Victorian maid was the speech
health. It doesn’t mean that the current
came the Facebook post: “Got up this
bubble: “I’ve been trying to make hand
events are not being taken seriously.”
morning and ran round the block 5
sanitizer but it’s come out as rum and coke again…”
“The blending of farce and low comedy did not earn a label until the 1960s”
Amen to that.
Of course, the images that really work are stills f rom blockbuster movies –
*All images featured here were sourced f rom Facebook
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
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THANK YOU Frontline workers have given their all during the coronavirus pandemic – helping those dealing with the virus, as well as those self-isolating at home. Here we say, thank you On Tuesday 28th April, a minute’s silence was held across the UK to commemorate the key workers who have died with coronavirus during the Covid-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who had only just returned to work at Number 10 after recovering from coronavirus himself, joined the tribute which was held at 11am BST. In a show of continuing support, every Thursday at 8pm the nation also continues to clap on their doorsteps and from windows, for the NHS. And special thanks and appreciation for all frontline staff was also paid by the Queen last month, when she made a televised speech paying tribute to the tremendous work being carried out: “I want to thank everyone on the NHS front line, as well as care workers and those carrying out essential roles, who selflessly continue their day-to-day duties outside the
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PROPERTY NEWS
home in support of us all. “I am sure the nation will join me in assuring you that what you do is appreciated and every hour of your hard work brings us closer to a return to more normal times. “We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.” Indeed, better times will come. But until then, we must remain unified in our approach to ensure that, together, we beat this virus. Government advice is to continue to wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds and to only go out as and when needed for essentials such as groceries, medicinal needs or your daily exercise. But most of all, please stay home and stay safe.
Every Thursday at 8pm the nation continues to clap on their doorsteps and from windows, for the NHS
LIFE ASSURANCE SCHEME FOR NHS AND SOCIAL CARE FRONT LINE Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced that families of health and care workers on the frontline in England will benefit from a new life assurance scheme during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. “Families of staff who die from coronavirus in the course of their essential front line work will receive a £60,000 payment,” he said: “Of course nothing replaces the loss of a loved one but we want to do everything that we can to support families that are dealing with this grief.” The scheme will cover frontline staff in England, but the devolved administrations will receive funding through the Barnett formula. Wales is implementing the same scheme and arrangements are being considered in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
NO-FLOUR BROWNIES
Chocolate Gingerbread Brownie READY IN: 55 Mins Nutrition: 553 kcal per bar
INGREDIENTS 400g dark chocolate, broken into chunks 25g cocoa powder 250g golden caster sugar 250g butter 1 tbsp ground ginger 140g ground almond 6 large eggs (separate yolks from egg whites)
FOR THE ICING 100g butter, cubed 50g dark chocolate broken into pieces, or use chips 50g cocoa 200g icing sugar, sifted 2 tbsp ground ginger few chunks crystallised ginger, chopped into small pieces
No flour? No problem! Get baking these flourless yummy chocolate gingerbread brownies‌ heavenly!
METHOD 1. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease a 20 x 30cm cake tin, and line the base and sides with baking parchment. Melt the chocolate, cocoa, sugar and butter together in a
saucepan over a very low heat. Once the chocolate and
butter have melted and sugar dissolved, remove from the
heat and stir in the ginger and almonds, followed by the egg yolks, one at a time. 2. Beat the egg whites to stiff peaks. Using a metal spoon, stir a couple of spoonfuls of the egg whites into the chocolate
mixture to loosen before very gently folding in the rest. 3. Gently scrape the mixture into the tin. Bake for 30-35 mins until the top looks set and the centre doesn’t wobble
too much. Sit the cake tin on a wire rack and leave to cool completely. 4. Once cool, make the icing. Put the butter, chocolate, cocoa, icing sugar, ground ginger and 4 tbsp water in a pan. Gently heat, stirring, until you have a smooth icing. Pour over the
cake (still in its tin), leave for 1-2 mins to cool slightly, then
scatter over the ginger. Cool completely (you can also store in the fridge if you bring out to room temperature about 20 mins before serving) before cutting into bars. You can find this recipe and more at https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chocolate-gingerbread-brownie-bars-fudgy-icing
Image for illustrative purposes only
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
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How we exercise has changed and going to the gym or exercise class is no longer routine. This, instead, has been replaced with home workouts. But just what is available to you?
MAKE THE MOST OF
FITNESS ONLINE
F
or obvious reasons, exercising at home has become the norm; whether you are working out with the kids or partaking in a yoga class to help rebalance your inner self, there is literally something for everyone online.
Iepure to create free online classes for both adults and kids during the coronavirus pandemic. The professional dancers have focused on creating a positive virtual experience for everyone self-isolating. “We’re so grateful, it’s gone exceptionally well,” said Oti when she spoke to the Metro.co.uk. “It’s actually exceeded what we actually thought it would do.”
One of the most recognisable names is that of body coach, Joe Wicks. He is still offering free daily workout sessions for kids – and adults alike – on his You may not be YouTube channel youtube. able to get out to com/thebodycoach.
your local gym
Frozen, Trolls and The Greatest Showman are just some of the hit routines uploaded, providing a half an hour dance lesson in viewers’ homes.
but for many, you With over 500,000 people regularly tuning in live don’t have to! daily, Joe’s workouts remain one of the most popular online. Simply tune in to PE with Joe at 9am each YOGA weekday to join in live for his Doing yoga on a regular basis can aid 30-minute sessions. flexibility, helping to boost your strength
KEEP DANCING
If dancing is more your thing and you want to learn some dance routines along the way, then Strictly Come Dancing’s Oti Mabuse’s YouTube channel could be for you youtube.com/otimabuseofficial. She has teamed up with her husband Marius
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PROPERTY NEWS
and improve overall fitness. London studio Fly Ldn is offering everything from Friday night yin yoga to candlelit hip hop yoga as live streams on their Instagram channel www.instagram. com/fly_ldn/, while they also save the videos on YouTube afterwards.
Exercising at home has become the norm
The free sessions last for 45 minutes and are ran daily with the yoga studio posting a class timetable on Instagram for the following day.
HIIT
Famed for pushing its participants to the physical limit, fitness studio Barry’s UK has brought their intense workouts to Instagram live. On the studio’s Instagram account www. instagram.com/barrys/, it’s sharing details of the classes it is offering online, which include sessions that use your entire bodyweight as well as other workouts that focus on different areas of the body.
BOOTCAMPS AND MORE!
STAY LOCAL
You may not be able to get out to your local gym but for many, you don’t have to! Several fitness providers have launched ‘at home’ classes via Facebook live or on their own YouTube channel. A simple website search should show you what’s available in your area; so, you can go potty over pilates or hyper over a HIIT workout!
GET INSPIRED Here we list just some of the fitness classes/channels available so you can get your fitness fix in the comfort of your own home!
Transform any home space into your own fitness studio with a single-user membership for your phone, tablet, TV or web browser from Peloton.
PE with Joe Wicks youtube.com/thebodycoach
For £12.99 a month, it boasts a variety of different options, including classes that focus on strength, putting you through your paces on bootcamps and much more.
Fly Ldn https://www.instagram.com/fly_ldn/
In addition to offering strength classes, also on offer are cardio classes that focus on running and cycling.
Peloton www.onepeloton.co.uk/membership
Dancing with Oti Mabuse youtube.com/otimabuseofficial
Barry’s UK www.instagram.com/barrys/
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
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DESTINATION
One way to cast aside the monotony of the day is to get the board games out!
HOME You may not be able to enjoy days out with the kids right now, but there’s still plenty of fun that can be had at home!
BAKING
Cooking and baking are great activities for children of all ages. Of course, depending on the age of the child, they will be able to undertake different cooking activities. You know your children best, so use your own judgement as to what tasks they can undertake or help you with. The key thing to ensure is safety. Ensure all hazards are away from little hands such as hot food and liquids. For very young children, they will enjoy a range of activities such as washing and cleaning vegetables, mashing food, spooning ingredients into mixing bowls and most certainly, decorating cupcakes. Most of all, stay safe and have fun!
BOARD GAMES
OK, so you may be thinking of just what you can do to relieve the lockdown boredom. One way to cast aside the monotony of the day is to get the board games out! It’s the perfect way to unite the family for a fun afternoon. And not only are they good for spending quality time together, they also help to get your competitive juices flowing! Whether it’s a game of luck or one that involves real logic, there literally is something out there for every family.
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PROPERTY NEWS
Here is Amazon’s Top 10 best selling* board games 1. TOMY Pop Up Pirate £9.99 2. M.Y Traditional Bingo Game £11.99 3. Cheatwell Games Tension: The Top 10 Naming Game £17.49 4. Z-Man Games Pandemic Board Game £29.99 5. The Yes! No! Game £8.80 6. Orchard Toys Little Bus Lotto Mini Game £4.99 7. OK Play: Multi-Award Winning Board Game For Kids And Adults £19.99 8. Cluedo Junior The Case of The Broken Toy Board Game £16.99 9. Winning Moves Friends Trivial Pursuit Quiz Game – Bitesize Edition £10.23 10. Goliath Games Sequence the addictive card game £20
DRAWING
Now, when we say drawing, it’s not about creating masterpieces or beating yourself up that you can’t quite capture what you want on paper; the main benefit of drawing is that it relaxes the mind and allows your creativity to really shine through. So, whether you are a novice or accomplished at drawing, get out your paper and pencils and let your creativity free. To encourage creativity with the little ones, why not play a game of drawing inspiration. Basically, you draw a random scribble or marking on the paper and the other person has to change this into an object of some kind – whether that be a person, animal or household object. It’s a perfect way to get creativity flowing and can create lots of laughs too!
ORIGAMI
Another task involving paper is the art of origami. The name origami means the art of paper-folding and derives from Japanese words ori (folding) and kami (paper). Traditional origami consists of folding a single sheet of square paper into a sculpture – but without cutting, gluing, taping, or even marking it!
It can sometime seem a bit fiddly but, with a little time and patience, it’s amazing the masterpieces that can be created! Take a look here for some easy inspiration www.easypeasyandfun.com/easyorigami-for-kids/
The main benefit of drawing is that it relaxes the mind and allows your creativity to really shine through
CREATE A MASTERPIECE
Now, you don’t need fancy crafting materials to make a masterpiece. With more of us at home, recycling waste has increased so why not check out the dry recycling and let the kids create their own special projects. It’s the perfect way to pass the time.
* Top ten listing and prices correct at time of going to print
Use toilet rolls and cereal boxes to make robots, or utilise the likes of YouTube to find a host of how-to videos on crafting projects using recyclable materials. The possibilities are endless!
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
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RECENT AND UPCOMING
BOOK RELEASES
W
hether you are looking for romance, fantasy, crime or horror, we have compiled a list of the hottest new releases by some great authors, available online from bookstores and as eBooks.
IF IT BLEEDS – STEPHEN KING RELEASED: 28TH APRIL 2020
Stephen King, the best-selling author of IT, The Shawshank Redemption and Carrie, releases a brand-new collection of four stories including a stand-alone sequel to The Outsider which has recently been adapted into a TV series on Sky. ‘If it Bleeds,’ contains three other stories showboating the unique story-telling ability of one of the world’s most-loved writers.
THE PRIORY – JONATHAN WHEATLEY RELEASED: 6TH APRIL 2020
British debut novelist, Jonathan Wheatley, released his much-anticipated novel, ‘The Priory,’ on the 6th of April. Having already broken into the Top 100 of British Horror on Amazon, we can’t wait to read part one of ‘The Westford Chronicles.’ Wheatley has created a twisted tale set in a richly detailed rural English town featuring a group of teenagers following a cryptic message; a man searching for his own body and a mother with special powers.
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PROPERTY NEWS
MEMOIRS AND MISINFORMATION – JIM CARREY & DANA VACHON RELEASE DATE: 5TH MAY 2020
Beloved Hollywood star, Jim Carrey, and Dana Vachon bring us a fearless semi-autobiographical novel. Carrey and Vachon have creates a story about acting, agents, privilege, celebrity, addiction, romance and a cataclysmic ending of the world. For those of you who love the zany world of Jim Carrey, this book is a must read.
Now is the perfect time to catch up on the latest book releases
SUPERMAN SMASHES THE KLAN – GENE LUEN YANG RELEASE DATE: 12TH MAY 2020 In this graphic novel set in 1946, the Lee family has moved from Chinatown to Metropolis. Excited to be close to Superman, Roberta and Tommy are adapting to life in the big city befriending Jimmy Olsen. While the Lee family tries to adjust to their new lives, a new evil stirs in Metropolis: The
With us all spending more time at home, now is the perfect time to catch up on the latest book releases… Ku KLUX Klan. With Tommy kidnapped, Roberta teams up with Superman to fight the Klan and expose those who support them.
THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES – SUZANNE COLLINS RELEASE DAY: 19TH MAY 2020
In this prequel to the original Hunger Games novels, we follow Coriolanus Snow, last seen in the movies as the tyrannical dictator of Panem, as he prepares for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the tenth annual Hunger Games. Having been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, their fates are now intertwined, with his every choice leading to favour or failure. This promises to be one of the biggest young adult novels of the year as we get to know the previous books’ most-hated characters.
LAUGHTER PROVIDING LIGHT RELIEF In her televised speech to the nation, the Queen said that “the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet good-humoured resolve and of fellow-feeling still characterise this country.” And she wasn’t wrong. In a world of uncertainty, humour has been much welcomed, with social media providing some ingenious memes!
DAY 6 IN QUARANTINE, FOUND A DEAD FLY
HAVE YOU MIS-SOLD BEEN PPE? ED’S NOTE: All memes featured here were sourced from Facebook
BOSS: DURING THIS TIME WE ASK ALL EMPOLYEES TO WEAR A MASK TO WORK. ME:
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO CAN’T WORK OUT SOCIAL DISTANCING... THIS IS TWO METERS APART!!!
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
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Special issue
COVID-19 UPDATE The newsletter from Xact Mortgages Limited
These are difficult times, but much is being done to tackle the impact of coronavirus. As part of this process, we can be there for you. We’d help explain some of the developments, and assist those that wish to act with regard to their finances.
COVID-19 - key action taken Whilst delivering protection to the NHS is the government’s primary focus, there is also a whole raft of multi-billion pound packages to help support the economy and people’s income stream and job security: 1. Salaried (PAYE) workers The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme guarantees 80% of the salary of eligible workers, up to a ceiling of £2,500/month. See page 2 for more. 2. Self-Employed workers A similar set-up for those eligible, with 80% of the self-employed workers’ average earnings over the last three years (if applicable), up to a maximum of £2,500 each month. See page 2 for more. 3. Mortgage payers The reduction in the Base Rate to 0.1% should benefit the mortgage deals on offer. However, a sizeable number of higher Loanto-Value deals have been pulled, partly due to the increased workload faced by lenders.
n Bank of E reduces th ngland e Inte Rate to 0.1 rest %. n The lo west leve l in history ! (Source : 19 March
2020 relea se)
We are there
for YOU...
This increased workload relates, to some extent, to supporting customers who are experiencing issues with their finances due to COVID-19, including payment holidays of up to 3 months. See page 2 for more. 4. Those off work All of those advised to self-isolate - or caring for those self-isolating - will be entitled (if eligible) to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). For those who cannot claim SSP (such as the self-employed), there will be alternative comparable support through the welfare system. Additionally, the normal welfare options are in place, if unemployed. 5. Businesses The recent Budget introduced a number of initiatives, such as the £30bn of support to Continued on page 2
* You may have to pay an early repayment charge to your existing lender if you remortgage.
Keen to Act? Despite the current environment, there are excellent mortgage deals out there (further improved by the cut in the Base Rate). This may motivate you to assess, for example, your remortgaging (or product transfer) plans* such as: n needing to raise funds to further improve your existing property. n looking for a new deal, as you’re coming to the end of your current one. n still sitting on your lender’s more expensive Standard Variable Rate. n simply wanting to identify a better mortgage deal than the one you have. Whatever your plans, do be mindful, that partly due to the impact of coronavirus on the workload of lenders, a number of higher rate Loan-to-Value deals have been pulled.
Xact Mortgages Limited 6 The Square, First Floor, Solihull B91 3RB Tel: 0121 712 6230 Email: sales@xactmortgages.co.uk
Web: www.xactmortgages.co.uk
n Xact Mortgages Limited is an appointed representative of PRIMIS Mortgage Network (PRIMIS), a trading name of First Complete Limited which
is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. PRIMIS is only responsible for the service and quality of advice provided to you in relation to mortgages, protection insurance and general insurance products. Any other product or service offered by Xact Mortgages Limited may not be the responsibility of PRIMIS and may also not be subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority. n This firm usually charges a fee for mortgage advice. The amount of the fee will depend upon your circumstances and will be discussed and agreed with you at the earliest opportunity. n The information is of a general nature, and every care is taken to ensure it’s accurate at the time of writing (April 2020). However, all information and figures are subject to change. You should seek professional advice tailored to your needs and circumstances before making any decisions.
n Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
02 TAKE ADVICE
We are there
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Continued from page 1
stimulate the economy and help counter the impact of coronavirus. And following the Budget, the Chancellor announced that he would make available a further initial £330bn of governmentbacked loans to assist firms of all sizes through this period. Recognising the impact on many small and medium-sized businesses, assistance will also be delivered in areas such as reclaiming Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), business rates help, possible grants, more time to pay tax, and deferring VAT payments. Further information about the support offered (along with the other initiatives mentioned here) can generally be found at www.gov.uk (then search for covid-19).
80% of Salary - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Under this scheme, all UK employers will be able to access support to continue paying
part of their employees’ salary for those employees that would otherwise have been laid off. It would be applicable to those designated as ‘furloughed workers’ (people absent temporarily from work), and the HMRC will reimburse 80% of furloughed workers wage costs, up to a cap of £2,500 per month. This would run for an initial 3-month period, and possibly longer. HMRC are working urgently to set up a system for reimbursement. This will hopefully keep a sizeable part of the workforce in their jobs and deliver an income stream for them through this difficult period.
Mortgage payment holiday Mortgage lenders have agreed to support customers (including buy-to-let borrowers) who are experiencing issues with their finances due to COVID-19, including payment holidays of up to 3 months.
SELF-EMPLOYED NEWS SELF-EMPLOYED INCOME SUPPORT SCHEME n This scheme will deliver a taxable cash grant of 80% of a self-employed workers’ profits, up to £2,500 per month. Those eligible will able to both claim and continue to work. The scheme will be open to those with a trading profit of less than £50,000 in 201819, or an average trading profit of less than £50,000 from the previous three financial years (2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19). Another qualification is that more than half of the income in these periods must come from self-employment. n The scheme would cover a minimum period of 3 months, and possibly be
extended beyond that. The initial period covered would run to the 3 months up to May, but the complexity of setting it up would mean the backdated payment would not occur until the beginning of June. n As self-employed status can be open to interpretation, do contact HMRC now to see if you are eligible. n Particularly as the government also announced that those who pay themselves a salary and dividends through their own company are not covered by the scheme, but will be covered for their salary (up to the eligible amount) via the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (see above).
Whilst this may deliver much-needed financial help, do give consideration if this is the most suitable route forward for you. Firstly, it’s not waiving the money that’s owed, as that’s simply added to the overall outstanding amount, so you may be paying more for your mortgage in the long run. Second, you need to agree this with your mortgage lender, so you can’t just stop making payments, as that might also impact on your credit rating. Finally, there may be other options to consider (if on offer), such as extending the length of the mortgage term to help reduce the immediate monthly payments (again, this would increase the overall cost of the mortgage). You may be able to pay a lower amount each month, or even switch to just paying the interest for a defined period (where the capital amount that’s outstanding would remain the same). If you do want to proceed, then you may need to be patient, as the lenders have been inundated with applications and calls.
Take control now... You may not require government support, instead you could be keen to take advantage of the excellent mortgage deals currently on offer. We’d currently expect more interest in remortgaging your existing property (and product transfers), than funding property moves. That said, the marketplace will, no doubt, be looking at innovative ways of how to make that supply chain work, in light of the need for social distancing.
Don’t forget Protection cover In these challenging times - whether you’re still living at home, renting, or a homeowner - you’ll also recognise the importance of having insurance cover in place to protect your life and/or loss of an income stream. With so many issues to consider, and ongoing developments, it makes sense to see how we can help. You may have to pay an early repayment charge to your existing lender if you remortgage. As with all insurance policies, terms, conditions and exclusions will apply. n Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Tel: 0121 712 6230 Email: sales@xactmortgages.co.uk
Steve Froggatt HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH XACT? Been with Xact for 5 years WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? Helping people find the best deal in as simple a way as possible SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW? I met Nelson Mandela on an Aston Villa club tour in 1994 FAVOURITE FOOD? Italian FAVOURTIE TYPE OF HOLIDAY? Whale watching and shark cage diving in South Africa
Conor Brown HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH XACT? 18 Months WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? Helping people get the best deal for their mortgage but also love making sure that everyone is fully protected SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW? I lived in America for 18 months FAVOURITE FOOD? Sunday Roast – so many flavours on one plate FAVOURTIE TYPE OF HOLIDAY? Disney Land as it is a real family holiday. I can’t wait to take my family there. However, I have always dreamt of going to Bora Bora
Colin Jones HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH XACT? 5 years WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? Speaking to clients on a daily basis and giving them the peace of mind that should the worst happen they will be financially secure. SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW? I am a qualified Golf Instructor FAVOURITE FOOD? Italian FAVOURTIE TYPE OF HOLIDAY? Hawaii
Web: www.xactmortgages.co.uk
Meet our Advisors Lee Heycock HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH XACT? Since December 2017 WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? Solving problems for people who are looking to move but don’t think its achievable SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW? Prior to Xact I served in the Infantry as a LCpl in the Royal Anglian Regiment where we toured Afghanistan, Nigeria and Kenya FAVOURITE FOOD? Sushi, looking forward to the new Japanese restaurant opening in Solihull! FAVOURTIE TYPE OF HOLIDAY? A cruise around Italy and the Greek Islands
Mike Hodgkinson HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH XACT? 19 September 2001…Day one WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? I love putting smiles on our customers faces SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW? I have a gold medal for ballroom dancing watch out strictly here I come FAVOURITE FOOD? Sunday Roast FAVOURTIE TYPE OF HOLIDAY? Cornwall, have been lucky enough to travel most of the world, Cornwall is still the best
Dane McCarthy HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH XACT? Since January 2018 WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? I enjoy interacting with all types of people on a daily basis FAVOURITE FOOD? Steak FAVOURTIE TYPE OF HOLIDAY? Anywhere in Scotland
The information contained herein is of a general nature and should not be relied upon as legal or financial advice and is not intended as a substitute for the same. You should seek professional advice tailored to your needs and circumstances before making any decisions. The contents of this newsletter are believed to be correct at the date of publication (April 2020).
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