On a wing and a prayer –

According to a recent survey 20% of holidaymakers travelling abroad don’t take out travel insurance. Currently there are somewhere between 13,500,000 and 15,000,000 trips abroad by UK residents. Whilst this number is some two or three million less than in 2008 it does mean that up to 3,000,000 uninsured trips being made each year.

To me this is staggering given that insurance for a week on the continent can cost less than £20.00. We can all take a hit on losing what we paid for the cheap flights however when it comes to exciting tropical diseases or a bit of dodgy lobster who knows what is around the corner.

So as an additional expense it isn’t going to break the bank and literally could save your life. At the same time make sure that the benefits of the policy are sufficient. We can all click the ‘include insurance’ button when booking the holiday but it is always worth speaking to your broker because two or three pounds could mean an extra few thousand pounds of cover.

So remember to call us when booking your trip and our personal lines team will be only too happy to help. 

Source: http://www.insurancetimes.co.uk/

When one trade just isn't enough.....

Comedy legend Eddie Izzard talked about a shop that used to be open for business in Tooting that sold musical instruments and firearms 'get your guns and banjos here'. Harry Hill commented on the combination of key cutting and shoe repairs 'what would they do if I went in wearing a massive pair of keys on my feet', would they re-sole them or cut me some new ones?

We have been asked to insure some interesting combinations in the past, Electricians & Pest Control etcetera, here are some that slipped the net....

Smokes and Pets (Toronto, Canada) - where else can I buy quality cigars and a goldfish?
Greg's Clear Cuts and Guitar Lounge (Santa Rosa, US) - Who wouldn't need their hair cut whilst choosing a new six string?
Pie and Pi (Sydney Australia) - I always like to munch on a pastry snack when purusing the latest in stationary and mathmatical equipment.

Perhaps we should branch out.... poultry and insurance? Duck and Cover?

I'll take two pairs of these in the brown and some potential exposure to asbestos please....

A whopping fine totalling £1.15 million has been demanded from high street giants Marks & Spencer and three of its contractors for unsafe work. A Bournemouth court found M&S et al guilty of placing customers and construction workers at risk of exposure to harmful asbestos during recent refurbishment works to their Bournemouth and Reading stores. The prosecution was brought about by the Health and Safety Executive. As far as I know no-one has physically shown any signs of asbestos poinsoning.

.... I only went in for a packet of percy pigs.