Delivered to homes each month :: Issue No 3 :: July/August 2010

Inside this issue...

Cooking ideas forthe kids

Register for free ticketsto the cruise show at theNEC in October...page 2

Loft & garage conversion offer

...And much more

What’s your idea of a perfect cruise?A fun-in-the-sun holiday in the Caribbean? A tranquil river cruise through forested valleys? An expedition to Antarctica? Sailing in the South Pacific? Being pampered at sea in a luxurious spa?

Whatever appeals, be sure to make a date with The CRUISE Show, the UK’sonly travel exhibition dedicated to cruising, which comes to Birmingham’sNEC in October.

Whether you’re a seasoned cruiser looking to plan your next voyage, or wantto find out more about holidays at sea, this is the place to discover a worldof cruising.

All the major and specialist cruise lines will be there, exhibiting under one roofso you can get around and talk to the experts, seeking inspiration, informationand practical advice to help you book your next holiday at sea.

They’ll have news about everything from Mediterranean mini-breaks to four-month voyages around the world, and about cruise ships that promise afun-filled vacation for all the family and small vessels that offer an ultra-luxuryholiday at sea or expedition cruises around the Polar regions.

You can also discover more about the fabulous A to Z of destinations you canvisit in a cruise – everything from exotic Amazon to Zanzibar, with the magical Mediterranean and colourful Caribbean in between.

There’ll also be a packed programme of free talks, lectures and Q&A sessionsled by industry experts and journalists, and exclusive show offers, discountsand competitions not available on the high street.

It’s a great day out for the family – and bring your non-cruising friends as wellso they can discover why so many Brits are now turning on to holidays at sea.

You can’t afford not to be there!

Tickets cost £6 in advance and £10 on the door

Under 16s are free

For full details and to book ticketsvisit www.cruisingshow.co.uk

or call 0871 620 4024

02 to advertise here call Pete 07946026060

03

Welcome

for loss, damage or omission caused by error in the printing of an advert. All artwork is accepted on the strict condition that permission has been given to be printed

endorse any material included in the publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form - electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise - without the written permission of the publisher. Details upon request.

contact us: 07946 026 060enquire or comment about our services - email: pete@outandaboutmags.co.uk

Pete & Clare

Cannock

July/Aug 2010

02 Midland Container Storage

04 CRS Carpets and Furniture

05 Neil Clarke Carpentry/M Squared/Countcash Plastering/Gerrards Car Valeting/Out & About

06 Cresswell Flat Roofing Specialists/Wood End Carpenters

07 Ocean Interiors/Rooftrim Ltd

08 Carpets Direct 2U

09 The Fingerpost Pub

10 Attention Business Owners/Recipe

11 Local Book Keeper/Out & About/Computer Clinic

12 I Webb Electrical/Professional Computer Services

13 Go Ape High Wire Forest Adventure

14 Internet Safety/Tiddlywinks Day Nursery

15 Blakes Conservatories/Insignia Kitchen, Bathroom & Bedroom

16 Direct Bedrooms

to advertise here call Pete 07946026060

outandaboutB75

Welcome to the third edition of Out & About: Cannock

We would like to thank all the people who have supported our edition and contributed to giving our readers advice and we look forward to getting your feedback. We are looking for local people in Cannockto write to us with your local stories or news that concerns your community.

We are on Twitter now, so follow OutandaboutB75 to get your local news and offers. We have recentlylaunched a video site too, getting to know local people and stories on youtube.com go to get Out and aboutwhich is the channel.

We also have an offer at he local GO APE Park in Cannock. GO crazy this summer there. Enjoy!!

We aim to be the publication for all families and the business community. Bringing together Business &Charity to develop the vital support whom without would not exist. We are here to shout about our community.

Thank you

Business news, ever thought about starting up? then come to us

04 to advertise here call Pete 07946026060

ALL ASPECTS OF CARPENTRY & JOINERY UNDERTAKEN

FRAMES DOORS KITCHEN REFITS STAIRCASES LAMINATE/WOOD FLOORING

DECKING WARDROBES

NO JOB TOO SMALL

ALL WORK CARRIED OUT TO THE HIGHEST STANDARD

All types of Plastering, rendering and coving

Insurance work undertaken

Free Quotations

NVQ Qualified, 16 years exp

We are very clean and tidy atour workmanship.

Call Phil today, no job too small

01543 572693 or

07886 104454

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MPC CARPENTRY

Craftmanship in Interior and

Exterior Carpentry

Including Traditional & Restoration Woodwork

Mobile: 07989 688158Email: mail@mpccarpentry.co.uk

www.mpccarpentry.co.uk

06 to advertise here call Pete 07946026060

Friendly family owned & run business established 19yrs with customer satisfac-tion as our number one priority. Most major brands of Bathrooms, Showers & Cubicles, Boilers, Radiators, Copper Tube & Fittings etc at competetive prices.

Trade & Public welcome Free Local Deliveries Bathroom Showroom

Budget SuiteVillia Close Coupled Suite Complete, Taps,

Wastes & Front Panel £199 inc vat.

Quadrant Cubicle Complete IncludingShower Tray & Waste - 800x800 or

900x900 Silver £299 inc vat

Ideal Independent C 30KW Combination Boiler c/w Standard

Flue & Mechanical Time Clock£599 Inc Vat.

Bristan/New Team 8.5Kw ElectricShower £94 inc vat.

** While Stocks Last**

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We undertake all work including:● Plumbing● Tiling● Electrics - part p● Plastering● Carpentry● Minor alterations

2d & 3d Planning, 20 Years ExperienceReferences available. Fully insuredCall Now to arrange a free quotation

John: 01543 370259 or 07785 728494

to advertise here call Pete 0794602606012 to advertise here call Pete 07946026060

The Largest Showroomin the area

Visit us today!!

Tile Studio available

HUGE SHOWROOM AWAITS YOU!

Why not visit our showroomsto view the wide range of baths,whirlpool baths, showers and accessories that we have on display? We have a huge range of items that we can supply. Our showroom staff will be pleased to discuss all aspects of your installation and advise onyour choices…

T: 01543 270 800 Walsall Road, Norton Canes, Cannock WS11 9NS

E: enquiries@nortonbathrooms.co.uk www.nortonbathrooms.co.ukOpen 6 days a week

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Working Solar HeatingSystem at theshowroom

Energy savings ataffordable prices....

Come and see us

PERFECT KITCHEN DESIGNS 0121 353 3600and

JAMES WINDOWS 01543 275954showrooms inside Norton Bathrooms

● 1.68 million (35%)of businesses finding customers are takinglonger to pay than 12 months ago

● 48,000 businesses chasing invoices more than 11 times

● 336,000 (7%) businesses spending three days or more permonth chasing payment

UK businesses are pouring money down the drain chasing late payment and this could be costing the small business community asmuch as £1.9 billion a year.

New research, conducted among 300 business owners and managers for leading business finance specialist Bibby FinancialServices, shows that 35 per cent of businesses are finding customers are taking longer to pay invoices than 12 months ago -a worrying statistic considering the economy has officially returnedto growth, albeit by a tiny amount.

Some sectors are suffering more than others, with 47 per cent ofmanufacturing and construction firms saying that customers are taking longer to pay than a year ago, compared to 36 per cent offirms in business services.

Twenty per cent of companies say they are chasing invoices threetimes or more, and a staggering 48,000 businesses have had to follow up invoices more than 11 times.

Bibby Financial Services' research comes just a week after the 2010Budget in which Alistair Darling pledged that the Government willpay 80 per cent of its invoices from small business within five days.This is a reduction from 10 days and a steep but welcome target as,according to Bacs, small and medium-sized businesses are currently owed £30.4billion.

Edward Rimmer, Bibby Financial Services' UK chief executive, commented: “The UK business community has got to stem the tide.

We cannot keepstalling payment andexpect it to have noconsequence. Acrossthis nation, businessesare fighting for survivalwith sustaining a healthycash flow one of thebiggest challenges. Weneed to support oneanother and do everything possible not to succumb to the easy route of late payment as it can become a vicious circle which halts the purchasing cycle and, ultimately, can disrupt the supply chain, notto mention the impact on the goodwill and trust of other customers and suppliers.

“The Chancellor's pledge to pay 80 per cent of public sector invoices within five days is a worthy goal but it must become a reality. Many local authorities are a long way off this target, not tomention the fact that this pledge does not encompass the privatesector. If Alistair Darling really wants a lasting legacy, he should urgethe private sector to participate in an invoice amnesty, pay all outstanding invoices and then adopt a new prompt payment culture.”

Edward Rimmer added: “There are some easy solutions to dealingwith late payment and free up cash flow. Companies must ensurethey are in control of their finances and then look at all the cashflow options available. If they cannot afford to install an internal orexternal credit control department then they could consider factoring, which takes away the hard work of chasing late paymentand allows directors to focus on other aspects of managing theirbusinesses.”

ATTENTION BUSINESS OWNERS!!! £1.9 BILLION A YEAR WASTED CHASING LATE PAYMENT

TAGLIATELLE ESCATORA(Serves two)

10 cherry tomatoes choppedinto quarters

20 Mussels, de bearded andcleaned

20 small rings of calamari,and cleaned

10 king prawns, peeled anddeveined

¼ cup of extra-virgin olive oil

2 crevettes

1 teaspoon green pesto

1/4 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon ground blackpepper

1 cup of white wine

200g egg tagliatelleMethod

Gently heat the olive oil in a frying pan, add to this 1teaspoon of green pesto with ¼ teaspoon of chopped dilland stir through.

Add the mussels, calamari, prawns and crevettes with thewine and cook through for about 5 minutes. Add the saltand black pepper to taste.

Add the cherry tomatoes and cook on a low heat for afurther ten minutes.

Whilst they are simmering, boil some salted water and placethe tagliatelle gently in and simmer for approximately 7minutes until al dente. Once cooked drain.

To Serve remove the two crevettes and put to one side. Addthe tagliatelle to the seafood pan and stir through. Serve ina large bowl & place the crevettes vertically in the centre forthat ultimate dinner party presentation.

10 to advertise here call Pete 07946026060

It’s not in the dictionary, but if it was, Go Ape would be described as a ‘high-wire forest adventure’.

That means we build giant obstacle courses up in the trees using ladders, walkways, bridges and tunnels made

of wood, rope and super-strong wire, and top it all off with the country’s best zip lines(including the longest

at 426 metres - check it out on You Tube).

We then kit people out with harnesses, pulleys and karabiners, give them a 30 minute safety briefing and training and let them loose into the forest canopy, free to swing through the trees. Of course,instructors are always on hand, regularly patrolling the forests (not in monkey suits unfortunately!)

The Go Ape experience gets the adrenalin pumping, gets people out of their comfort zones and above all

(no pun intended), it’s just great fun.

What is Go Ape?

The result

There is more info at our website www.goape.co.uk (£1.50 booking fee applies for telephone bookings).

0845 643 92 15

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12 to advertise here call Pete 07946026060

BookkeepingVATManagement AccountsPayrollCredit control

25-27 Wolverhampton Road, Cannock WS11 1APT: 01543 888466/07851 577557www.cannock.thelocalbookkeeper.co.uk

C a n n o c k

Advertise your business here from

£8.50 per weekCleaning carpets, Upholstery,Curtains and LeatherSPECIAL HALF PRICE OFFERS

Normal Price Special PriceCarpets 12ft x 15ft £30.00 £15.003 Piece Suite (upholstery)2 seater and 2 chairs £52.00 £26.00

to advertise here call Pete 07946026060 13

Everybody knows that the internet isn't the safest of “places”,so the types of people that your children are in danger of mixing with, and the undesired information that they haveaccess to, shouldn't come as a surprise.

So how can you help to ensure your child's safety?

EXPLAIN THE BASICSPersonal information should always be kept that way, so makesure your child understands that they must never give this out toanybody they do not know over the internet. The minimalist ofinformation, such as gender and age, could easily be usedagainst them.

SET BOUNDARIES:Ask them to show you what websites and information they areaccessing, and make sure they understand what you wouldconsider to be inappropriate. If necessary, you could also installparental control software, which allows you to filter websites.

CHECK WHO THEY ARE CONTACTING:Make sure your child only talks to their friends who have directly given their email/SNS to them, and they have proof ofwho it is. People can be anybody they desire over the internet, and it is becoming more common.

NEVER LEAVE THEM ALONE:Keeping the computer in a family room means that you caneasily check what your child is doing, and knowing that you areinterested, and seeing that you are near, may prevent themfrom even considering to visit inappropriate websites.

SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES (SNS):Social networking sites such as Bebo and Myspace have a minimumsubscribing age of 13 and 14 to protect your children. However, this doesn't always stop them from using fake identification, so make sure they take these restrictions seriously,and not take advantage of them. It may also be a good idea totake into account your child's behavioural changes. Things suchas an unusual lack of confidence, avoiding family members, and asudden loss of interest in using the computer are typical signs ofcyber bullying. A survey said that “58% of young children didnot tell their parents or an adult about something mean orhurtful that happened to them online”, so keeping a close eyeon who they are talking to, and monitoring what they aredoing on the internet, could prevent this.

Internet Safety........ Is your child Safe?

If you have concerns about your children's computer safety you can seek advice from your local Parent Support Worker, who

you can contact through your school. www.childnet-int.org

14 to advertise here call Pete 07946026060

Child care to suit your hours!!*Flexible hoursOpen early - Close laterFrom 0-5 yearsBefore & After School Clubs (upto 11 years)Funded Places for 3 year olds and aboveHours to suit individual needsWe open weekends

E: manager@tiddlywinkscannock.comW: www.tiddlywinkscannock.com28-30 East Street, Bridgtown, Cannock, WS11 0BU 01543 505945

Day Nursery Opening

soon

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25 years experience in creating

Bedrooms

Bathrooms

Office Furniture

Call today to have

a free obligation

computer generated

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we can create

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Unit 28Longford Industrial EstateLongford RoadBridgtownCannockStaffs WS11 0DG

E: directbeds@aol.comwww.direct-bedrooms.co.uk