The topic of digital legacy has been increasingly talked about in recent years and people should consider their digital assets when making a will or Lasting Power of Attorney. Firstly, would your Executor or attorney know about your online banking, your e-mail accounts, online shopping accounts and your social networking presence such as Facebook, Twitter…
Read more »
Few people today will be aware of the centuries of history behind the modern commemoration of Halloween on 31st October. As with a number of ancient traditions, the celebration of Halloween has been hijacked by commercial interests, so that these days our shops are awash with fancy dress costumes, ghoulish decorations and themed foods and…
Read more »
This is a dilemma that many people face when it comes to residential property. Is it better to rent a property and so avoid the cost and hassle of maintenance, as well as retaining the flexibility of being able to move quickly? Or should you buy your home at the earliest opportunity and start to…
Read more »
The imposing frontage of Rothamsted Research is passed by hundreds of drivers every day as they travel along the A1081 in Harpenden. But how many people actually know what goes on behind the walls of the 330 hectare site? Or understand the pioneering work and worldwide benefits that 176 years of agricultural research has brought…
Read more »
The London to Paris adventure is a three hundred mile trip which starts at Crystal Palace in London, takes in some of England’s finest country villages on the way to Dover and explores the stunning countryside of rural France before reaching the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It sounds idyllic until you realise that most of…
Read more »
More and more people are choosing to include life interest trusts in their wills. Traditionally, couples would leave their whole estate to their spouse or partner then, once both had passed away, to their children. However, the survivor may need to pay for care or they may remarry or form a new relationship and pass…
Read more »
The Design Museum in Kensington might seem an odd place to celebrate one of the 20th century’s greatest film directors, Stanley Kubrick. Or perhaps not, given Kubrick’s talent for creating ground breaking cinema, and his flair for imaginative and futuristic set designs? Stanley Kubrick: The Exhibition runs until 15th September, and “tells the story of…
Read more »
Now in its 26th year, Harpenden’s annual Classics on the Common car show continues to wow the crowds, with mouth-watering exotic sports cars lined up alongside more mundane runabouts from the last 100 years of motoring. Up to 1,000 classic cars and motorbikes are displayed on Harpenden Common, with last year’s event attracting around 10,000…
Read more »
Much publicity has surrounded Help to Buy, the government equity loan scheme aimed at helping first time buyers to get on the property ladder. Help to Buy offers homebuyers a five-year interest-free loan of up to 20% of the purchase price of a new-build property, with home owners contributing a deposit of 5% of the…
Read more »
Social workers in Children’s Services have an unenviable job. They have a duty to safeguard children, and must on a daily basis assess risk. If they get it wrong, and underestimate the level of risk posed by a child’s family or “friends”, there can be tragic consequences. They can also be criticised for moving in…
Read more »