New Year Resolutions

Ashburnham Insurance would like to wish all their customers and readers a Happy New Year and we hope that a great Christmas was had by all.

With 2008 just around the corner now, it's the time of year that people start making their New Year resolutions. Do you know what yours is yet? I'm sure it will be the usual for most people such as to get fit, loose weight or quit smoking.

Whatever you choose, good luck with it and don't give up. Oh... and don't forget them January sales, as if you did know already!!!

Just another England manager?

From 7th January 2008, Fabio Capello takes over as manager of the England national football team, a job that has seen many a manager torn apart by the press. So what's different about this guy?

Well nothing really apart from one thing. This guy has played with and, more importantly, managed some of the highest profile players in the world. Two innings as the AC Milan manager and two as the Real Madrid manager has seen the likes of Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, David Beckham, Francesco Totti and Fabio Cannavaro, being handled by this experienced man.

5 Italian Titles, 2 Spanish Titles and 1 Champions League are just a few of the honours won in his management career which began in 1991. No prior national side management experience but 32 appearances as a player for the Italian national side which included scoring the winning goal 3 minutes from time in a 1-0 win against England in 1973 as Italy triumph at Wembley for the 1st ever time.

Hopefully this time the FA have got the right guy. Possibly a second choice (behind José Mourinho) but in time it could be the right choice! Capello has been quoted saying "It would be the ultimate to win the World Cup and then retire". I think most England fans (and the press) would be ok with that!!!

Hatton v Mayweather

Ricky Hatton v Floyd Mayweather was built up to be the fight of the century but unfortunately Hatton's dream of becoming a boxing legend was ended by a polished Mayweather performance.

The Hitman was stopped in the 10th round following a decent left hook that knocked him down earlier in the round. Hatton got up from the original punch but just couldn't find his legs and a decent Mayweather follow-up of punches saw Hatton back on the canvas and the referee stopped the fight.

A star-studded audience together with a passionate British crowd applauded Ricky's efforts at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas but it was Mayweather who could boast victory after what was a very verbal build up over the last few weeks.

All in all, the fight was maybe not as exciting as the build up suggested but the result was vital in not only bragging rights, but in boxing history and that history now belongs to Floyd Mayweather.

When to do your Christmas shopping

It's all on our minds at the moment. You may have already done it or you may be waiting until Christmas Eve but when exactly is the best time to do your Christmas shopping?

If you tried to do your Christmas shopping this weekend you will have realised that it was the wrong decision!

All factors were wrong this weekend, most people had just been paid and it has just turned December when everyone starts panicking. Every shop you go in now the decorations are up and the Xmas CD is in the shop's CD player meaning that little button in our head switches on saying "time to get the presents".

The thing is that it will get a tiny bit quieter each week leading up to Christmas from now on but stocks will run out in the shops and it will still be crowded in all the shopping centres. Also the prices are at their peak prior to Christmas.

This is why some people wait til January sales and do their shopping for next year then. You can get all your bargains but then you've got to store them all for 12 months which might not be easy and the item you buy may not be a good present idea next year - this especially applies if you have kids who change their mind every 5 minutes!

This suggests that a pre-December shop is the best time to do the Xmas shopping. I would suggest mid to early November. You won't get the bargains but less crowds, less disappointment with stock problems and a stress free December awaits you.

The only thing to say with Christmas shopping is, good luck...