Something for the weekend
Racing certainty
Anybody up for a jog in the desert? I didn't think so. But one brave man from the Wesleyan is aiming to take on the gruelling Marathon des Sables, a 150-mile run across the Sahara desert. To be admired for attempting this incredible feat is Ian Hall, director of banking at the Birmingham-based insurer.
Ian will fly out to Morocco on 31 March for the six-day race. He is running to raise money for the charity Facing Africa, which aims to treat and raise awareness of NOMA disease. He said: “I’m feeling confident about completing the event. The unknown factor is the temperature.”
Er... I’m guessing it will be hot Ian.
Dubai dream
Also heading desert-wards is Jaina Patel, from Birmingham. Dining at Birmingham restaurant Asha’s, recently she won a luxury holiday for two in the Emirates state.
She pulled out the lucky ticket at odds of 3,000-to-one (the number who had entered the competition in just eight weeks). National Exhibition Centre chief executive Paul Thandi drew out the winning number.
Asha's General Manager Jaimon George said: “We were struggling to get all the tickets into the one massive pot.
“But I am sure that ‘Picking Out Patel’ will give Jaina another wonderful experience of fine dining.
“It means five days in Dubai, a meal at one of Asha’s two sister restaurants there, a sight-seeing tour and a safari.”
Not a bad result when you’ve just nipped out for a curry.
In the mix
Research released by Principal Investment Management has unearthed a new group of investors based in the Midlands. The group have substantial investment potential but are not on the radar of the financial services market and as a result, feel neglected.
Principal has named the group Mass Affluent Yet Overlooked (MAYOs). They have investable assets (excluding property) of more than £20,000, yet few receive investment advice or the level of personal attention that they expect.
I’m not sure the term will catch on. I think the Midlands is more a salad cream sort of place.
