My Nametags travel the world!

Raeann Greenham, Clipper 09-10 crew member

Raeann Greenham, a 39-year old office manager from Hull, and novice sailor, is taking part in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Race. “I used My Nametags previously for my daughter on all her school uniform and equipment and found them brilliant and easy to use. They really do stay on,” says Raeann. The 18 crew members are issued with identical kit. “Even in training our kit was getting muddled up so I thought I’m not having that in the middle of the Atlantic and decided to name my belongings with My Nametags.”

So how did Raeann decide to take on the challenge of a lifetime and race the oceans? “I’ve never sailed before but been on boats and never got seasick. So about two years ago I followed the Clipper Race on the news and thought I’d give it a go,” says Raeann. She completed 3-weeks of training on water and 1-week in the classroom. “I like to do different mad things to keep my mind and body active and whenever I cross the Atlantic on a plane it will be brilliant to say I’ve done it on a yacht!” The Skipper, Piers Dudin, is the only professional sailor on board.

The Hull & Humber is one of ten yachts competing in the round the world race which started on 13 September 2009, covering 35,000 miles over ten months. The team finished second overall in their debut appearance in Clipper 07-08, so the pressure’s on to produce a repeat performance!

To find out more about the Clipper Round the World Race visit www.clipperroundtheworld.com. And to see the send off from Hull.

If your nametags appear on anything different or unusual please email us at sales@mynametags.com and you could get some free labels.

We’ll be catching up with Raeann to share her experiences on what it’s like to race around the world on a yacht at the end of July. In the meantime, we wish Raeann and the Hull & Humber team all the best!

The Hull & Humber Clipper 09-10

How to choose a tutor

Demand for tutors has been rising over the past few years and currently more than 10% of parents pay for academic tutoring , a government study has found. Some parents get a tutor to help with a particular exam while others employ one to generally improve school work or get help with a tricky subject. Here are some tips to help you find the right tutor for your child.

If you can find a tutor through personal recommendation, that’s fantastic. If not or you’d like a completely objective view then try an agency who will carefully vet and check tutors for you. There are also a number of online tutor introduction websites who will cost less but you’ll need to do the checks yourself.  Here’s how to choose the perfect tutor for your child.

1. Be clear on practicalities – Think about what you want first: “That means where (your house or theirs), when (weekday evenings or weekends) and for how long you’ll want a tutor for – no point picking a tutor who is moving in a month if you need them for three terms,” says online tutor-matching service, First Tutors www.firsttutors.co.uk.
2. What do you need? – Work out exactly what your child needs – talk to them, or their teachers at school to get an idea of what areas they need help in.  “Determining the subject and level of tuition you require at this stage will save you money and most importantly your child’s learning time,” says online tutoring agency, Home Tutors www.hometutors.org.uk.
3. Perform checks – Always ask to see a tutor’s ID, qualifications and any references or Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks at the outset. “A professional tutor will not mind being asked to see his/her documents,” says First Tutors. Safety is a concern for both parent and tutor so remember, a tutor is not a child minder and should never be left alone with your child for the peace of mind of all concerned. “Leave the door ajar and pop in to offer a cup of tea, it will make everyone feel more comfortable. Or, if you are travelling to a tutor’s home, remember to stay with your child until you feel confident.”
4. Do a trial– “Speak to the tutor on the phone beforehand to have an idea of whether they would suit you and set up a trial lesson to make sure that your child feels comfortable with the tutor and that their personalities fit,” says Educational Specialist, Gabbitas www.gabbitas.co.uk. If you are using an on line search agency the key to finding what you need is to call, email or text as many potential tutors as possible. “The more contacts you make the better the chance of getting a tutor at the right price and quality,” says Home Tutors. Remember: “You must be 100% comfortable with the tutor before your child can be.”
5. Be specific – It is important to let the tutor know quite specifically what it is you would like them to teach and help with so that they can prepare fully, says Gabbitas. “Ensure that the tutor knows the course requirements for example whether it is GCSE or IGCSE or the IB or A level and knows the curriculum e.g. for English Literature it is important that the tutor has in depth knowledge of the books involved.”
6. Look for subject knowledge – “Sometimes a teenage boy will connect very well to an undergraduate who scored straight As in his subject and can relate how much fun university could be if only he passes those exams,” says First Tutors. Equally, an aspiring doctor will take inspiration as well as understanding from a medical student. Teachers are still considered the ‘holy grail’, but don’t be afraid to ask what success any tutor has had in helping their tutees to get top grades, adds First tutors.
7. Check costs – Be totally clear on costs per hour and any additional costs at the outset. “Is travel included? Do I need to buy exam papers?” Sometimes tutors charging a slightly higher hourly rate work out better value because they have all their resources ready and have allowed for travel costs within their fees, suggests First Tutors.
8. Seal the deal quickly – Busy tutors, which is most, will receive lots of enquiries at this time of year but only have a finite amount of time available. “If you’re quick to respond and straightforward in what you need, they’ll be likely to prioritise you,” advises First Tutors.

Top 5 trends for spring

If like us you’ve got stuck in a winter fashion rut now is the time to banish those woollies to the back of the cupboard and get ready for spring. We’ve got together with the 10 Years Younger TV presenter and celebrity stylist, Nicky Hambleton-Jones’ personal style team at www.nhjstyle.com to show you how to update your look for spring/summer 2010.

The good news is colour is back! Ditch the black and add some vibrancy into your life. The mood is feminine, but with a twist. Here are NHJ Style’s top 5 trends this season.

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Nudes

Trousers, dresses, tops and skirts in a nude colour are a great way to update your wardrobe this spring/summer. It’s important to choose the right shade for your skin tone though. Darker skinned ladies can get away with most shades, be more careful and opt for a slightly stronger hue if you have pale skin.

House of Fraser

Dress £140 Pied a Terre, Bag £570 Moschino.

Pastels

Pastels are huge this season. Choose from lilac, peach, lemon, rose, apple green and duck egg blue. Add interest with gingham, a bit of sparkle, lace or chiffon detailing.

Dorothy Perkins

Dress £32, belt £12, tights £6, boots £42

Denim

You can wear denim head to-toe this season – but keep the rest simple – or mix it with something grey and sporty. Choose from dungarees, shirt-dresses, waistcoats, button-through skirts and jeans in all shapes and styles.

Warehouse

Denim Shirt £38, belt £28, shorts

Shorts

The short is a must-have piece this season. Wear yours rolled-up mid thigh and slouchy, a-line, knee length city or bloomer style. If you’ve the pins for it, flaunt them in short shorts this season and a pair of wedges will lengthen the legs!

Marks and Spencer

Jacket £39.50 , top £95, shorts £29.50, shoes £29.50

Accessories

Wedges, wooden high heeled studded clogs and the return of the kitten heel are key footwear for the season. Fringing on bags is big news and the bum bag is back! Piles of big bangles or a chunky necklace finish off an outfit nicely. Clinch-in and accentuate your waist with a statement belt.

Accessorize

To find out more about the Trends for Spring/Summer 2010 as well as get one-to-one advice on your style, hair and make-up sign up for the TASTE OF STYLE event in London on 19 April with TV Nicky Hambleton-Jones’ NHJ Style team of experts.

Find out more at http://www.nhjstyle.com/styling-events/. Call 0845 430 9388 or email info@nhjstyle.com. NHJ Eyewear range available at all good opticians, from £125.