Brits’ spare time is a click away

BUSY Brits are saving themselves more than 4 days a year – by using the internet, according to a new study. 

Banking, shopping and even looking for a tradesman used to take up almost 10 days of every year. But thanks to the internet, the same jobs done online now take the average Brit just over 5 days a year – saving an average of 1 hour and 55 minutes each week. That’s the equivalent of just over 8 hours a month or more than 4 days each year.  Shopping is the most popular activity people now use the internet for to save them time, followed by banking and searching for maps or directions.

Roman Russocki, Chief Executive of TrustMark, the largest database of accredited tradesmen in the UK which carried out the survey, said:- “It seems the days of trekking to the shops and spending ages waiting in a queue are over thanks to the internet.  It may not seem like you are saving time, but when you add everything up it really can make a difference to your day.  Everything from banking to shopping can be done online, as well as other time-consuming jobs such as looking for a tradesman or getting an insurance quote."

The study of 3,000 Brits revealed that the average adult spends almost two hours a week travelling to the high street and trawling the shops, but those who do this online see that time halved to just 66 minutes.  The time spent on the weekly food shop is also cut in half, going from 117 minutes to just an hour and 6 minutes if done over the internet.  And without the internet, travelling to the bank and queuing to see a cashier accounts for almost 21 minutes a week, but that is slashed to just 13 minutes if done online.

Half of those surveyed even said they only ever go into a bank nowadays to pay in a cheque, while another 36% only go in every now and then.  On top of that, the time spent shopping around for a holiday is halved going from 2 hours and 15 minutes each year to just 1 hour and 4 minutes by using the internet.  Looking for a tradesman or contractor is also slashed by almost a quarter from more than 25 minutes a year to just over 19

Roman Russocki from TrustMark added:- “We all know that finding a tradesman can be a time-consuming job if you have to ask around friends, family and neighbours or trawl through directories. But it doesn’t have to be this way - our database, with its handy postcode search tool, is quick and easy to use and can really help you save time.”

Top 10 online activities:-

1. Shop for clothes, DVDs etc
2. Banking
3. Look for directions/maps
4. Look for/book holidays
5. Pay bills
6. Look for insurance quotes
7. Visit social networking sites
8. Look up contact details
9. Look for properties
10. Food shopping

Offline vs. online: time spent (in minutes)

MERSEYSIDE POLICE LAUNCH NEW CHINESE LANGUAGE LINE

MERSEYSIDE Police have launched two new Chinese language lines to help the community to report crimes and receive information from officers with greater ease. A Police volunteer will be providing the translation service for both the Mandarin and Cantonese phone lines where people from the Chinese community can report a crime, leave information - anonymously if preferred via the answer machine and request further details about services provided by Merseyside Police or recruitment opportunities.  Callers will also hear messages in either Mandarin or Cantonese advising them to redial 999 if their call is an emergency.

Sgt. Mandy Hamilton, who set up the language lines with PC Kevin Byrne, the dedicated neighbourhood officer for China Town, said:- "We have launched the two lines, which are answer machine facilities, because we were missing vital information from a number of people from the Chinese community affected by crimes. A lot of the feedback we have received revealed that those who did not speak fluent English and owned restaurants or fast food outlets found it difficult to find the time to report it to the police and to then wait for an interpreter so important information about crime was not being reported to us. We hope that this service will bridge that gap and provide information to officers that will help to keep the community safe from crime."

If callers who do not speak fluent English require a visit from an officer, arrangements will be made for an interpreter to attend the appointment, which will help reduce waiting times between reporting a crime and seeing action from Merseyside Police.

Sgt Hamilton added:- "We are also looking to set up phone lines for other languages so if anyone who is fluent in other languages and is interested in volunteering their time to help with other lines we ask them to get in touch."

The number for the Mandarin line is:- 0151 777 8034 while the number for the Cantonese line is:- 0151 777 8067.  Anyone interested in volunteering to help with the setting up of other language lines is asked to call Merseyside Police on:- 0151 777 4016.

Mark the 65th anniversary of VE Day and the 70th anniversary of Churchill coming to power in the UK

CELEBRATE 65 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe, with free 'VE Day Party' themed family activities at Imperial War Museum North this May bank holiday weekend. Alternatively, go back in time even further to mark the 70th anniversary of Winston Churchill coming to power with a series of talks.

On 8 May 1945, Britain celebrated victory in Europe and many people took to the streets. 65 years on, join the Bank Holiday Big Bunting Workshops on Saturday 1 and Monday, 3 May 2010, from 1-4pm, where families can create bands of beautiful bunting. Get hands on with genuine Second World War bunting and add your own unique designs to our handmade decorations.

Then join in the VE Day 'Street Party' at the Museum from 12 - 4pm on 8 May to see your bunting in use. Watch archive film of VE Day revellers from the past and enjoy music from the time as the celebrations unfold.

Make your own paper feast to add to our VE Day party tables in our crafty cuisine sessions. Play fun party games with prizes and learn about rationing as you measure out your weekly sweet portion in our This Weigh to Sweet Heaven activity. How long will your sweets last?

Don't miss The War at Home Big Picture Show, at 12 and 3pm every day in the Museum's Main Exhibition Space. The 360 degree audio visual experience looks at the experience of people at home who lived through the Second World War. Then explore the wealth of objects on permanent display. Unique and remarkable personal stories from the 1940s are on show alongside the large fire pump, used in Oldham during the Second World War.

The general election in May this year coincides with the 70th anniversary of Winston Churchill coming to power. To mark the anniversary and explore the premiership of Britain's most celebrated Prime Minister, the Museum will be hosting a special series of talks and lectures on the first four Sundays in May. The talks will be held in association with the Centre for International Security and War Studies at the University of Salford.

Speakers include Imperial War Museum historian Nick Hewitt, as well as expert authors Graham Rhys-Jones, John Charmley and Karl-Heinz Frieser. Entry is free but booking is required on 0161 836 4007 or by email.  See iwm.org.uk/north for more details.

Jim Forrester, Imperial War Museum North Director, said:- ''Imperial War Museum North shows how war has shaped the lives of civilians and armed forces alike. Our May Bank Holiday events, commemorating the 65th anniversary of VE Day, will give younger visitors the chance to imagine what life was like in May 1945. With our free, family friendly Camouflage display and our special exhibition of Don McCullin's war photographs also open, visitors of all ages will be both entertained and informed.'

FULL DETAILS OF 1940s EVENTS:- VE DAY - 65TH ANNIVERSARY Bank Holiday Big Bunting Workshops - Saturday, 1 May and Monday, 3 May, Learning Studio, 1-4pm
Join us as we create bands of beautiful bunting in preparation for the 65th anniversary of VE Day (May 8th). Get hands on with genuine Second World War bunting and add your own unique designs to our handmade decorations. Join us at the Museum for our VE Day 'Street Party' event on May 8 to see your bunting in use.

VE Day 'Street Party' - Saturday 8 May - Learning Studio, 12-4pm.  Join the party-goers for our 65th anniversary VE Day 'Street Party' celebrations including:-

► Real archive film of VE Day revellers from the past;

► Music - enjoy sounds from the past as the celebrations unfold;

► Party games with prizes;

► Crafty Cuisine - make your own paper feast to add to our VE Day party tables;

► This Weigh to Sweet Heaven - learn about rationing as you measure out your weekly sweet portion. How long will yours last?

TALKS CELEBRATING THE 70th ANNIVERSARY OF WINSTON CHURCHILL COMING TO POWER - To mark the 70th anniversary of Sir Winston Churchill coming to power, Imperial War Museum North will be hosting a special series of talks and lectures this May, in association with the Centre for International Security and War Studies at the University of Salford.

Norway 1940:- The Campaign that saved Britain? - Sunday, 2 May, 4 - 5.30pm - Libeskind Rooms - Nick Hewitt, from the Department of Research and Information at Imperial War Museum, explains the extent of the damage inflicted on the German Navy in the conquest of Norway in the Spring of 1940 and how this constrained subsequent German maritime options, including the potential invasion of Britain.  FREE ENTRY, but booking is required on:- 0161 836 4007 / learningnorth@iwm.org.uk.

Churchill and the Norwegian Campaign - Sunday, 9 May, 4 - 5.30pm. Libeskind Rooms - Graham Rhys-Jones, author of the recently published book of the same name and former Royal Navy Officer, discusses Churchill's relationship with a campaign with whose failure he was closely implicated but the consequences of which were to bring him to the top of the political tree. FREE ENTRY but booking is required on:- 0161 836 4007 / learningnorth@iwm.org.uk.

Churchill's Accession to the premiership: The Political dimensions - Sunday, 16 May. 4 - 5.30pm - Libeskind Rooms - John Charmley (author of "Churchill, The End of Glory" and Professor of History, University of East Anglia) gives his perspective on Churchill's entry to number ten, the manoeuvres that led to it and the results. FREE ENTRY but booking is required on:- 0161 836 4007 / learningnorth@iwm.org.uk.

German victory in the West in 1940 and Hitler's "Stop" order - Sunday, 23 May, 4 - 5.30pm - Libeskind Rooms - Karl-Heinz Frieser (author of "The Blitzkrieg Legend" and former Head of the Departments of World Wars One and Two, German Military History Institute, and former Colonel in the German Bundeswehr) gives a German perspective on the first strategic problem to assail Churchill as Prime Minister and the reasons for the vital decision to stop the German advance outside Dunkirk, which allowed the trapped Allied armies to escape. FREE ENTRY but booking is required on:- 0161 836 4007 / learningnorth@iwm.org.uk.