The Dangerous Art of Giving - by Life Coach Carole Ann Rice

Which category do you fall into?  Are you one of life’s givers?  You’ve been painstakingly matching person and present for weeks, searching for the “just so” gift that will ignite halogen glow beams of joy.  It’s not about receiving for you, in fact, a T-shirt printed with “selfless” would do just fine.

Or maybe you are near hysterical in anticipation of opening up those gifts piling up under the tree?  You can’t wait to get what is coming your way.  It’s nice to sit back and let others show their love for you and you’re happy to be appreciated.  After all, you are the gift.
Do you love to stand in the kitchen enjoying vicariously the sounds of corks popping, the laughter bubbling and filling the house with cheer? Or are you right in the heart of the living room raising your glass and blissfully unaware of the hours of blood, sweat and tears of frustration that went into the stuffed mushroom canapés?  You’re here so, hey, let’s get the party started.

Few of us would admit to being a “taker” as we know as a fundamental rule of humankind that giving to others is one of the simplest ways of generating instant happiness for ourselves.  But giving and being a giver is a far more complex gesture than may seem on its festively wrapped surface. 
Giving can be an act fraught with expectations.  On the one hand it can be a gesture to delight others, promote cheer and help people out.  But on the other the subtext can be less altruistic.  To manipulate, to win favour or love, to make or score a point, to impress or shame or fulfill a reluctant duty that breeds resentment in the giver.

In her superb book The Language of Letting Go Melody Beattie comments on the complexities of bequeathal “(Giving) is a fine-lined behavior each of us must seek to understand for ourselves. It is giving that feels good and does not leave us feeling victimized”.

Healthy giving is based on a desire to do in a clean “no strings attached” way rather than from a sense of guilt, pity, shame, obligation, duty or for keeping up appearances. 

In short we should not pack up our own insecurities and needs in our gift packages and ensure our intentions are clean and honest.  Gratitude is a bonus not the goal.  Whether we choose to give our time, efforts and energy or money, Xbox’s and Top Shop vouchers it should be giving we can afford.  Emotional or fiscal bankruptcy is not an option.

If you find yourself feeling any sense of martyrdom or emotional deficit then you are dealing with faulty goods in your psyche and you need to re-think your motivation.  Don’t bother with customer services.

Why not have a 30 minute free session with Carole Ann? Visit www.realcoachingco.com

Make 2012 the Year to Look After You!

Do you make yourself indispensible?  Are you always “there” for other people?  Sometimes we can be so capable and in control we don’t allow other people to support and nurture us too.  Maybe we feel vulnerable about letting other people in or have a fear of appearing weak or not coping.

But we all need to be nurtured and we must learn to reach out to have our needs met too.  This may mean letting go of being in control, of being a martyr or victim and opening our hearts and allowing a new intimacy to occur through trusting others.   Being vulnerable feels scary but it can mean it allows others to show love and support for us and slowly and carefully it can develop into a profound new sense of happiness.  What would it take for you to let others in today and what is it costing you not to?

To make the changes you need to for 2012 contact Carole Ann Rice caroleann@realcoachingco.com and start your new journey.

Life Coach Carole Ann Rice - A Story of Kindness!

Hearing stories of acts of kindness that make a difference really seem to rock our worlds.  So much so that in Arizona recently the story of a homeless,  unemployed and in debt 49 year old man who returned a bag full of cash to its owner has touched the hearts of a nation.  A year ago Dave Tally had lost his license and was sleeping on a mat in a shelter when he found $3,300 at a local railway station.

On returning it to its owner, a college student, Dave was overwhelmed by the gratitude and kindness of the young man.  It was a feeling he hadn’t felt for a long time.  Soon after donations from across the US poured in and he found he was sitting on a $10,000 nest egg.  He paid off his debts and and a year on has created a community garden and a rehabilitation programme for the homeless who volunteer to work there.

With so much distrust and fear around it is so heartening to hear of honesty not only paying but paying back and making a difference to so many too.

Carole Ann Rice is one of the UK's leading life coaches who has literally turned around the lives of countless people who, like you, no longer wanted to waste time and money on things that don't work. Regularly featured in newspapers magazines and TV programmes her unique style of life coaching has produced some phenomenal results.


To start your new year journey to a new life, email Carole Ann at

caroleann@realcoachingco.com.

Carole Ann Rice on how to Survive the Party Season

The fog of body spray, the miasma of hair lacquer and the clouds of high anxiety emanating from the Ladies loos can mean only one thing – it’s office party season. The excitement has been building for months; dresses planned, bodies dieted and de-toxed into size 10 submission and strategies devised to pull a real cracker for Christmas.
Fast forward three hours later. You’re on your third pint of Malibu and pineapple, your outfit has turned into a transvestite’s worst nightmare, there’s a hint of the Tim Burton about your make-up and suddenly Keanu from IT support is beginning to turn from duff to buff. Who would’ve thought it?

No wonder I had a frantic email from a reader who is dreading her office bash due to a mischievous genie that flew out of its bottle last year and cast a spell over her. What other evil sprite or spirit could it have been that had her telling the boss a few home truths as she was physically wrestled out of doing her Dita Von Teese party piece?

So how can you enjoy some festive cheer without losing your face or job? Of course we want to let our hair down and have fun. We want sequins, silks and feathers not hair shirts, sack cloth and ashes. But there’s a fine line to be drawn between riot and ruin. So here are a few tips on how to survive the office party with your reputation intact while still having a good time.

· Decide your drink limit before you go out. Two alcoholic drinks are fun after three it’s a slippery slope (or table top!). Keep topping up with water. As a general rule any drink coloured green purple or blue is not a good bet.

· Don’t wear revealing or provocative clothes. You need to maintain your professional reputation and you will be remembered for your sequined basque rather than your presentation skills ever more.

· With colleagues and managers do not get drawn in to gossip. Either change the subject or move away. What is loose talk over drinks could end up with you being implicated by association.

· Similarly don’t say, do or act in any way that you would not do in the workplace. The pictures passed around the office next day could mean the difference between promotion or passed over. Just one word of warning – Facebook. Enough said.

· For legless Lotharios be polite and move out of their way. Giving in for a bit of fun could mean you’re the subject of gossip the next day. Don’t go there.

· Everyone’s spirits are high at Christmas so beware the lowered defences, play safe and don’t get carried away with the moment. Allot a friend as protector too.

· Don’t assume colleagues or your manager are friends. Any gossip could boomerang back.

· Set yourself a time limit and slip away when you are ready. Also it adds to your mystique that you had “better things to do”.

· Plan ahead how to get home and either book a cab in advance or have a licensed cab number with you. Or familiarize yourself with local bus/train routes and timetables and find out if you can share the journey with someone trusted. You don’t want to be left alone, vulnerable and stranded.


Have fun, be safe and enjoy the party season with relish not regret.

Carole Ann Rice is one of the UK's leading life coaches who has literally turned around the lives of countless people who, like you, no longer wanted to waste time and money on things that don't work. Regularly featured in newspapers magazines and TV programmes her unique style of life coaching has produced some phenomenal results.

To start your new year journey to a new life, email Carole Ann at caroleann@realcoachingco.com.

Winter Sun and Fun with Encounters Travel

THAILAND, Jungles & Beaches: 11 days from £725

The perfect mix of sunshine, activity and culture, this tour of Thailand begins in the bustling capital Bangkok, then heads south to explore the rainforests of Khao Sok National Park to experience river canoeing and jungle walks while staying in unique tree houses and raft houses, and ending with four nights relaxing on the beautiful island of Ko Samui.

Prices for 2012 start from £725 per person from December to April 2012 to include airport transfers from/to Bangkok, varied accommodation in hotels, tree houses, raft houses and an overnight train on a mixed-board basis, travel by train, plane, bus and ferry, all entrance fees as well as a local tour guide during sightseeing and activities.

ISRAEL, Holy Land Journey: 8 days from £800

This trip through the fascinating country of Israel spends time in modern-day Tel Aviv, the ancient town of Acre, Tiberias, Masada and Bethlehem, the divine city of Nazareth and tours the intricate alleyways of Jerusalem. Along the way guests visit many important religious sites and monuments as well as trips to the Dead Sea and Sea of Galilee.

Prices for 2012 start from £800 per person to include airport transfers from/to Tel Aviv, accommodation in hotels on a bed and breakfast basis throughout, all national park entry and entrance fees, a cap, map and an expert local guide during touring days.

SUDAN, Hidden Treasures: 9 days from £1,399

For those with a real sense of adventure, Sudan offers a completely unique travel experience and is tipped to be a ‘hot’ destination for 2012. Follow in the footsteps of ancient civilisations on this tour through Sudan visiting the capital Khartoum and the old souk of Omdurman before crossing the Nubian desert in search of the lost pyramids and temples of the Nile Valley.

Prices for 2012 start from £1,399 per person to include airport transfers from/to Khartoum, varied accommodation in hotels, camps and in a traditional Nubian homestay on a mixed-board basis, an experienced local guide and private transportation throughout.

Prices do not include international flights. Contact Encounters Travel (www.encounterstravel.com / 0800 088 6002). Facebook: www.facebook.com/encounterstravel/ Twitter: @encounterstravl

Newly launched, Encounters Travel offer great value, small group adventure tours to some of the world’s most exciting destinations. Whether a solo traveller, a couple or holidaying with a group of friends, the tours incorporate a real mix of culture, history and awe-inspiring sites in sun-drenched destinations that guarantee adventure this winter. Options for sun and culture include:


THAILAND, Jungles & Beaches: 11 days from £725

The perfect mix of sunshine, activity and culture, this tour of Thailand begins in the bustling capital Bangkok, then heads south to explore the rainforests of Khao Sok National Park to experience river canoeing and jungle walks while staying in unique tree houses and raft houses, and ending with four nights relaxing on the beautiful island of Ko Samui.

Prices for 2012 start from £725 per person from December to April 2012 to include airport transfers from/to Bangkok, varied accommodation in hotels, tree houses, raft houses and an overnight train on a mixed-board basis, travel by train, plane, bus and ferry, all entrance fees as well as a local tour guide during sightseeing and activities.

ISRAEL, Holy Land Journey: 8 days from £800

This trip through the fascinating country of Israel spends time in modern-day Tel Aviv, the ancient town of Acre, Tiberias, Masada and Bethlehem, the divine city of Nazareth and tours the intricate alleyways of Jerusalem. Along the way guests visit many important religious sites and monuments as well as trips to the Dead Sea and Sea of Galilee.

Prices for 2012 start from £800 per person to include airport transfers from/to Tel Aviv, accommodation in hotels on a bed and breakfast basis throughout, all national park entry and entrance fees, a cap, map and an expert local guide during touring days.

SUDAN, Hidden Treasures: 9 days from £1,399

For those with a real sense of adventure, Sudan offers a completely unique travel experience and is tipped to be a ‘hot’ destination for 2012. Follow in the footsteps of ancient civilisations on this tour through Sudan visiting the capital Khartoum and the old souk of Omdurman before crossing the Nubian desert in search of the lost pyramids and temples of the Nile Valley.

Prices for 2012 start from £1,399 per person to include airport transfers from/to Khartoum, varied accommodation in hotels, camps and in a traditional Nubian homestay on a mixed-board basis, an experienced local guide and private transportation throughout.


Prices do not include international flights. Contact Encounters Travel (www.encounterstravel.com / 0800 088 6002). Facebook: www.facebook.com/encounterstravel/ Twitter: @encounterstravl

How Taxing Nannies Nanny Tax and Nanny PAYE Services Help Their Clients

Imagine the situation, you are a new mum or dad, you decide to return to work after maternity/paternity leave and employ a nanny to look after your baby.  You agree a net salary with your nanny and you start paying her.  Somewhere at the back of your mind you know you should be paying nanny taxes but you are busy starting back at work and then coming home to a baby, and matters get left.

Some months later it dawns on you that the nanny payroll has still not been sorted out and you panic.  How much PAYE and National Insurance will be owed?  Will there be interest to pay?  Will penalties be levied for non or late submission of end of year returns at the rate of £100 per month?  Will your nanny get into trouble?  Will she be able to renew her visa? How will I pay my nanny’s tax?

And then you discover Taxing Nannies. 

For those clients who have been in this position, they have found Taxing Nannies to be a professional, personable, friendly service which puts them at ease and reassures them that the nanny payroll service can be sorted out with a minimum of fuss.  We have opened PAYE schemes retrospectively, prepared backdated payslips up to date, calculated outstanding PAYE and National Insurance liabilities, and even managed to get penalties cancelled in certain circumstances.  We will also advise our clients what to do if they have financial difficulties in paying their tax liabilities on time. Our clients are so relieved that their affairs have been brought up to date and just as importantly they feel that they are in safe hands, that there are individuals at the end of the phone who they can talk to about their nanny tax and who will spend time going through matters.

Of course, most of Taxing Nannies’ clients do register on time and for them we provide the same professional, highly personal nanny payroll service.  Many of our clients have commented on how helpful they find our staff following their initial conversation with our office.

We advise on the different types of nanny share, help our clients when their nannies are pregnant or on sick leave, discuss situations regarding termination of employment and calculate redundancy pay and assist our clients with all manner of employment issues.  We also offer contracts of employment, for a small fee, personalised to the individual employer’s needs and we advise our clients to ensure that the contract reflects both the statutory requirements and their own wishes.

Here are just a few of the many testimonials we have received:

“So thank you most sincerely for the truly exceptional service...Taxing Nannies has been a great support and your customer service is exemplary”

“Thank you so much for the service. It saved my sanity and you were always very patient with me! As a busy mum I really appreciate that. I would not hesitate in recommending you. Special thanks to Denise who dealt with me most often!”

“Taxing Nannies have provided 10 years of accurate and timely work for us, removing all the problems of tax calculations, pay slips, NI payments and so on for a busy working family”

“You have been a rock to us through times that we will never forget!”

Taxing Nannies is run by Sara Graff, a Chartered Accountant of nearly 30 years experience and who employed nannies herself when her children were growing up.  She is supported by an experienced team who have worked for Taxing Nannies for an average of 12 years and who all buy into the ethos of being professional and personable.  The business has been established since 1995 and has helped thousands of parents through the minefield and hassle of dealing with nanny payroll. 

So if you are a mum taking on a nanny who wants a friendly, professional company to look after your nanny tax affairs, please feel free to contact us on +44 (0)20 8882 6847 or visit our website www.taxingnannies.co.uk.

Explore Your Religious Heritage and Spiritual History With Elite Tour Club

Luxury Religious Tours From Elite Tour Club

Anyone can go on holiday, take a well-earned vacation, travel to exotic places and see the sights. But perhaps you’re looking for more this year; something more life-changing?

At Elite Tour Club, we’ve formulated four new luxury travel experiences to choose from. All will find you amid the world’s most holy places, and in lands steeped in religious heritage and spiritual history.

Whether you are Jewish, Christian or Muslim, or are fascinated by the history of the great faiths, our religious tours in the Middle East and North Africa will fire your imagination and move you closer to spirituality.

Jerusalem and Bethlehem are ultimate pilgrimage cities, and form part of our Christian Heritage Tour (8 days/7 nights) and Jewish Heritage Tour (12 days/11 nights). Jerusalem’s revered ‘Haram esh-Sharif’ or ‘Western Wall’ is the city’s oldest surviving structure and is a sturdy feature of our Jewish Heritage Tour. Another ancient and significant site is the Church of the Nativity, which is said to have been saved from destruction in 614 AD, because its ‘Magi icons’ — ‘Persia-admiring graphics’ — cooled the tempers of invading Persian hordes who descended on Bethlehem. So thankfully, this marker of the birthplace of Jesus of Nazareth stands glorious and is considered to be the oldest church in the Holy Land.

Our Jewish Heritage Tour includes a walk among the ruins of Caesarea Maritima, the ancient port city that King Herod the Great named in honour of the Roman enforcer, Caesar Augustus. The city was in ruins by the nineteenth century when, in 1884, it began to flourish as a fishing village extending from the stones of the Crusader fort. Back in 22 BC, Herod the Great established its first harbour and erected Temples to Rome and Augustus, and Caesarea Maritima became a famous arena for Olympian sports, gladiatorial contests and theatrical extravaganzas beside the sparkling Mediterranean.

At Elite Tour Club, we believe we’ve planned our The Route of the Holy Family travel experience (9 days/8 nights) in the most impactful way. It focuses particularly on Egypt as a sanctuary for the Holy Family. You will trace their hurried steps to escape King Herod’s cull of male babies — his desperate attempt to cease breaking-news of a newborn Messiah.

Our Muslim Heritage Tour (9 days/8 nights) will lead you through the old Cairo mosques of Al Azhar, Imam El Hussein, Saida Zeineb, Imam El Shafi and Saida Nafisa. And among Damascus’ 2,000 mosques, you’ll visit Umayyad Mosque. Completed in 715 AD, it is thought to be the oldest place of continuous prayer since the ascent of Islam. Umayyad is also one of the world’s largest mosques, and the mausoleum of Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub lies within its walls.

Whichever of our 5-star-accommodation Religious Tours you decide to join, Elite Tour Club consultants will happily include visits to additional churches, synagogues and mosques. All will welcome your attendance at their services.

To book a set itinerary, or create your own tailor made luxury tour, call us on 0800 619 3450 or email tours@elitetourclub.com and out travel consultants will be happy to help.