Tips on Finding the Most Suitable Van Rental for Your Relocation

Before you begin your search for the most suitable van to meet the requirements of your relocation it is absolutely vital that you the specifications of the vans available out there, with such a vast array of options for you to choose from to suit a whole plethora of varying needs. By planning ahead you can be sure to obtain a vehicle that will provide you with the necessary resources in which to make your move as stress free and efficient as possible. The best thing about hiring your own vehicle out for the purpose of moving homes is the fact that you can ensure the safe transit of your belongings at your own pace without having to worry about an hourly rate set by a removals company.

One of the most important aspects that should be taken into consideration is the amount of items that require moving as it would be a great inconvenience for you to have to run back and forth between properties. Likewise, there is no point in paying over the odds for a vehicle that is too large as you will end up with plenty of unused space once your belongings have been loaded. Either way you will be faced with an unnecessary expenditure whether in the form of petrol or paying for space that is not required.

By researching a number of rental companies before making a decision you will be able to get the best deal out there to suit your particular requirements. It is advisable for you to get quotes from the companies that seem to provide the most sufficient vehicles for such a purpose. With each company offering different types and sizes of vehicles you may find that some companies offer more affordable prices for the van that is most appropriate to your needs, so digging a little deeper could really pay off. In addition, it is also important that you read the small print before finalizing your decision to opt with a certain company to ensure that their insurance policy and services are more advantageous than the others you have previously looked at. By searching a company in the online marketplace you will be able to find out if they offer the correct services before you even ask for a quote.

Before leaving the company premises with the van you should always look at both the interior and exterior of the vehicle for any damage and due to the fact that even the tiniest scratch can result in a charge ensure that they are aware of this and it is detailed in the agreement. You do not want to be blamed for any damage to the vehicle that has been caused through no fault of your own.

Driving a van is a much different experience to that of driving a car, for this reason you should ensure that you are comfortable with the vehicle that you are hiring out while making your decision. They are likely to be very different in their dimensions and weight than the vehicle that you are used to, therefore it may be restricted to the spaces in which it is able to fit through. If you do not feel completely confident driving such a vehicle then a reputable car hire company will be more than happy to give you some tips and make sure you feel at ease before driving away.

Once you have selected you vehicle all you will have to do is make sure that your possessions are loaded properly, thus not to cause any damage during transit and you will be free to make the safe transition into your new home with the cost effective solution of a hire vehicle.

Read More

Preparing teenagers for the PET exam

I have met Emma Heyderman several times in San Sebastian and in Bilbao.

Photo:  http://ylandtsig.ning.com/profile/EmmaHeyderman

I have never been in the live audience at her seminars, but she has been part of my audiences at seminars, and I hold a lot of respect for her and her publications.

As so often happens these days, I was looking up something else (well, actually - I think I was preparing the previous post for this blog come to think of it!), when I came across a selection of videos featuring Emma on the Cambridfe University Press ELT Youtube channel.

Take for example this one:
Preparing teenagers for the PET exam: Listening.

Emma demonstrates just how important it is for students to listen carefully to the whole of the listening texts and not to choose an answer too quickly.

As well as this video, you can find other clips looking at the other skills tested on Cambridge English: Preliminary.

So now, running up to the main examining period of the year and for us Cambridge ESOL presenters, coming to the end of our live sessions for 2011-2012, watch Emma's tips to gain some advice and ideas for your candidates.

Read More

A quick post to share some fun!!!!

Just had a quick check of my emails.  This was in one of them a (teacher) friend sent me, along with some other good ones.  I thought I'd share my giggles with you!

The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray:
'Take only ONE . God is watching.'

Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies.

A child had written a note, 'Take all you want. God is watching the apples.' 

Photo:  http://blog.lib.umn.edu/meyer769/psy_1001/giggle.jpg

Read More

Take a picture in Oviedo

Just back from Oviedo.  I thoroughly enjoyed my trip along the coast on Saturday morning.

My session was the last one of the morning, so I had the chance to pick up some very useful tips and ideas from Karen Elliot and Borja Uruñuela who were 'on' before me.

Karen shared some great story and story telling techniques with us.  We were treated to her 6 'voices' when she entertained us with some stories.  Another important number in stories is 3 apparently.  I learnt some very useful and simple tips for choosing and using stories for class.  Great!

Next on was Borja.

 I had heard a lot about Borja before I first attended his session in Bilbao at this year's TESOL Convention.  I was not disappointed there nor last Saturday, where, like Karen, he was sharing the Magic Ingredients for the Primary Classroom.


Again, I was impressed by the way he demonstrated simple, effective techniques and suggestions for really involving students in classroom activities and the learning process.

And then it was my turn.  I was talking about one of my favourite topics - using pictures to stimulate language practice.  I wanted to show how the same picture can be used at different levels to practise different language.

Most of the activities and pictures (such as the ones above) that I shared with teachers in Oviedo are available to download from the Cambridge ELT website.

The teachers in the audience were GREAT!  They participated, laughed and smiled.  Thanks if you were one of them!!!

Read More

Memoir Writing for Beginners

                  People, who are running an online business, need good content to grab the attention of their target customers. Many business owners try their hand at writing the content on their own but very soon realize that this expert's job must be delegated only to the professional content writers. The importance of copywriters has never been underrated because of their ability to create a variety of write-ups. They not only help business owners to start a website of their own but also to keep it going. If you already have a website or a blog, you would possibly understand the importance to keep it up-to-date. One of the best ways to keep a site or blog updated is to regularly add fresh content into it.

                    Writing has the power to convey the core message of your business to your target audience. And when it is about web content writing, the writer opts for a distinct writing approach. When a copywriter creates content for a website he/she does not follow the usual journalistic writing style. Instead, he/she follows a specific pattern that is required for driving traffic to the website. The web writers try to make their write-ups interesting, useful, informative and attractive that helps them to stimulate interest among the users.

                     Every website whether it is meant to sell a product or service necessitates good content in order to entice the visitors. Content writers play a significant role here by writing rich, compelling and eye-catching content that can drive huge web traffic to the website. As the content writing job demands quality writing, not everyone can do it effectively. An online business can flourish only with the use of targeted content provided by the professional copywriters. Through their excellent skills and writing ability they can produce fresh and unique content carrying attractively formed relevant information.

                      These experts know that the top search engines such as Google, MSN, Yahoo and Bing would rank a website depending on relevancy and quality of the content written therein. Higher search engine rankings help the potential users in finding out the website which can fulfill their needs. This further increases the possibility of getting more business sales. As the copywriters are highly knowledgeable about all aspects of content writing such as blog writing, press releases, landing pages, sales copy, website writing, auto responders, newsletter etc, they can ensure the overall growth of a web business. While working on all these aspects they follow a distinct style required by each aspect and take into account the target customers at the same time. To summarize, if you're running a web-based business, availing the services of a content writer is a must.

Read More

Hiring a Memoir Ghostwriter

                 Have you lived a life which merits a memoir? Perhaps you have risen from poverty to riches, or have accomplished a first you want people to be aware of, or you wish to celebrate memories from a lost world from a bygone era. These are great reasons for writing a memoir, but the task can be a bit daunting and even impossible for some. Perhaps you have started to write and are lost in the shaping of an intdresting memoir. Or, maybe your schedule is so busy you hardly have enough time to devote to writing a memoir. If you have tried your hand at writing, and feel it is too hard, time-consuming, or that the learning curve is just too steep, you may want to consider hiring a memoir ghostwriter. A ghostwriter can assist you throughout the entire process and write the book according to your instructions.

Isn't Ghostwriting like Cheating
                Even with these positives it is not unusual to have reservations, doubts and questions regarding hiring a ghostwriter. You may ask yourself, 'Isn't making use of a ghostwriter a little bit like cheating?" Not really. It's no different than making use of a carpenter to construct your house or having a plumber to fix the bathroom. The ghostwriter you hire is a professional with book writing experience and who isn't daunted by the idea of organizing years of scattered and oftentimes contradictory material into a cohesive and interesting memoir. You hire all kinds of professionals to carry out work for you. Why not choose the services of a ghostwriter who can develop a great memoir-your memoirs? They can make your dream of passing on your story a reality.

Will the Ghostwriter Get My Life Right?
                   You may like the concept of a ghostwriter, but wonder, "How will someone else get my life story right?" Remember, the ghostwriter does not go off and create a fictional life for you. It is your story, and you work together with the ghostwriter to collaborate. Most often this is done by phone. Along with this, you will turn over copies of relevant notes, photocopies of letters and journals, photos, and perhaps a copy of your previous endeavors at memoir writing.

                   As the "author" you line up interviews with people you know to ensure that the ghostwriter gets a broad spectrum view of both you and your life. A ghostwriter provides drafts of the memoir as the writing progresses, and you as the author should review them for accurately and will note changes needed. Together, the author and ghostwriter work through the manuscript to make changes. The author has the final say.

Read More

Saturday in Oviedo

If you've read the previous posts on this blog, you might have guessed that pictures are an important part of my teaching tools.


I thought I'd write a quick post about the session I'll be giving in Oviedo on Saturday.

I'll be giving a very practical session called Take a Picture.

Pictures are used in the coursebooks we use and feature prominently in the Cambridge ESOL Young Learners English Tests.  In the classroom, we can use pictures for a huge number of activities and games, and, at the same time, develop our students’ language skills and range.

In the session, participants will try out some picture activities and we will discuss how to help our students notice and think about the contents of pictures.  


My session follows a seminar by Karen Elliot called Storytelling: tips and techniques for Primary and a session by Borja Uruñuela taking the magic ingredients for young learners.  Should be fun!!!

For the  programme, follow this link

If you live near Oviedo and would like to come along - great!!!

Read More