Hello dear reader and welcome to the 129th blog.
As President Bush gets ready to say farewell to the White House, we here at the CIOBS Academy blog say our farerwell!
As you recover from the shock of the above, let me cheer you up by saying unlike President Bush we will be returning in a couple of weeks with a bigger, better, brighter and blooming good blog.
The new blog will be part of the re-vamp to our website.
So plenty to look forward to then!
But, before I go it's farewell from me and farewell from Raymond albeit for a short sabbatical!
I must finish with a "is this true?"
Well, what about the row over whether Dubai Television should broadcast the television cartoon series The Flintstones.
A spokesman for the channel said: "It was claimed that people in Dubai would not understand Fred Flintstone's humour. But we know that people in Abu Dhabi Do."
Sorry about that.
Michael (Missing you already)
Friday, 16 January 2009
Thursday, 8 January 2009
Happy New Year
Welcome to the first CIOBS Academy blog of 2009. Let's hope this year is not going be as bad as everyone is forecasting.
First things first then. A few hours ago the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) announced another cut in interest rates to 1.5%, the lowest level in its 315 year history, as it continues efforts to aid an economic recovery.
The half percentage point reduction brings interest rates below 2% for the first time since the Bank of England was founded in 1694.
Before anyone asks, nobody at CIOBS was around in 1694 and that includes Peter Moir!
Talking of the great man, he has advised that many more examination centres will be available this year throughout the U.K. Full details of the new centres will be advised to all students very shortly, however, I can reveal that those students in Wetherby and Southampton will no longer have to travel afar to sit their final examinations.
Watch out for a newsletter coming to all students very soon with full details of all the additional centres.
We are continuing with the on-line revision courses for Chartered Banker and the related Diplomas and once again expect further announcements in due course.
Next week sees yet another group of Chartered Banker students arriving here at Drumsheugh for one of our ever so popular Introductory sessions.
Our weekly news podcast is also back this week after its festive break and can be found here:
http://www.charteredbanker.com//MainWebSite/Contentb6f044726360dc5148c86591.aspx?Map=31FAC2DB4566E929B0700EA66B32ABAE
Thursday 15th January sees a very interesting event taking place here in Edinburgh,
The Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland (CIOBS) will be chairing an FSA Retail Distribution Review (RDR) event at The Balmoral Hotel.
Further details of this event can be found here:
http://www.charteredbanker.com//mainwebsite/contentb6f044726360dc5148c86591.aspx?map=324dcc7e1374d445b04e112794715680
So plenty happening at the begining of 2009.
And finally......
I heard of a bargain hunter in an Edinburgh store yesterday holding up an item for her friend to see and declaring: "There's only a limited number of these."
Her more worldly-wise friend replied: "There's only a limited number of everything."
Michael (Is plenty ever enough?)
First things first then. A few hours ago the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) announced another cut in interest rates to 1.5%, the lowest level in its 315 year history, as it continues efforts to aid an economic recovery.
The half percentage point reduction brings interest rates below 2% for the first time since the Bank of England was founded in 1694.
Before anyone asks, nobody at CIOBS was around in 1694 and that includes Peter Moir!
Talking of the great man, he has advised that many more examination centres will be available this year throughout the U.K. Full details of the new centres will be advised to all students very shortly, however, I can reveal that those students in Wetherby and Southampton will no longer have to travel afar to sit their final examinations.
Watch out for a newsletter coming to all students very soon with full details of all the additional centres.
We are continuing with the on-line revision courses for Chartered Banker and the related Diplomas and once again expect further announcements in due course.
Next week sees yet another group of Chartered Banker students arriving here at Drumsheugh for one of our ever so popular Introductory sessions.
Our weekly news podcast is also back this week after its festive break and can be found here:
http://www.charteredbanker.com//MainWebSite/Contentb6f044726360dc5148c86591.aspx?Map=31FAC2DB4566E929B0700EA66B32ABAE
Thursday 15th January sees a very interesting event taking place here in Edinburgh,
The Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland (CIOBS) will be chairing an FSA Retail Distribution Review (RDR) event at The Balmoral Hotel.
Further details of this event can be found here:
http://www.charteredbanker.com//mainwebsite/contentb6f044726360dc5148c86591.aspx?map=324dcc7e1374d445b04e112794715680
So plenty happening at the begining of 2009.
And finally......
I heard of a bargain hunter in an Edinburgh store yesterday holding up an item for her friend to see and declaring: "There's only a limited number of these."
Her more worldly-wise friend replied: "There's only a limited number of everything."
Michael (Is plenty ever enough?)
Monday, 22 December 2008
It must be the Festive Season
Well with that heading it think it is obvious, I am getting excited!
Welcome to this special festive edition of the CIOBS blog. It is not just the fact that Christmas is only three days away that excites me, it is the fact that we appear to have colour available - Very festive.
Or on the other hand maybe not!!!
In fact let's try for a picture instead!
Gosh it has worked! What a wonderful way to end the year.
Who are these people I hear you ask?
Well from left to right : Alan Swankie, John Ross, Irene Swankie, two very handsome young men! and Colin Watson!
I am sure that these names if not the faces are familiar to many of you as they are Chartered Banker tutors and in Irene's case a stalwart of the FEP.
This picture would have made a lovely Christmas card, oh well, maybe next year.
As the year draws to a close, may I take the opportunity on behalf of myself and Raymond and indeed everyone here at CIOBS to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2009.
Feliz Navidad
Nadolig Llawen
Nollaig chridheil huibh
Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia
Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa
Joyeux Noel
Michael (One of two very handsome young men!)
Welcome to this special festive edition of the CIOBS blog. It is not just the fact that Christmas is only three days away that excites me, it is the fact that we appear to have colour available - Very festive.
Or on the other hand maybe not!!!
In fact let's try for a picture instead!
Gosh it has worked! What a wonderful way to end the year.
Who are these people I hear you ask?
Well from left to right : Alan Swankie, John Ross, Irene Swankie, two very handsome young men! and Colin Watson!
I am sure that these names if not the faces are familiar to many of you as they are Chartered Banker tutors and in Irene's case a stalwart of the FEP.
This picture would have made a lovely Christmas card, oh well, maybe next year.
As the year draws to a close, may I take the opportunity on behalf of myself and Raymond and indeed everyone here at CIOBS to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2009.
Feliz Navidad
Nadolig Llawen
Nollaig chridheil huibh
Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia
Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa
Joyeux Noel
Michael (One of two very handsome young men!)
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
Please help me I'm falling
Welcome to the CIOBS blog. I have chosen the title carefully this week as I was just looking at some of the headlines today and they do not make good reading:
US house building slump continues
Russia's industrial output slumps
Oil falls despite Opec's threats
UK house prices 'to fall by 30%'
IMF sees world slowdown
Slump in Japan firms' confidence
US industrial output falls 0.6%
Pound continues fall against euro
Pound in fifth day of euro lows
US sales and producer prices fall
London finance status threatened
At the beginning of 2008 we were told that we were living in interesting times, then it became extraordinary times - what will be the next description? Who knows!
Today's favourite words seem to be "slump" and "falling."
Surely things must get better in the next year or so.
I do apologise for being so downbeat this week, but hey the festive season is just around the corner and on that theme our old friend Mr. Peter Moir is having trouble with his black bun! I kid you n
ot.
The evidence is shown here.
The experts amongst you and Gordon Ramsay will notice there is a crack on the top.
If anyone knows how to get round this culinary issue, then please contact the blog and we will pass on your suggestions to Peter.
Keep it clean please.
What no Raymond?I hear you cry. He is around and he has been in a meeting since about 9.30 this morning, in fact he has just come out.
I am sure he could do with a nice slice of black bun.
Michael (Falling into a plate of black bun)
US house building slump continues
Russia's industrial output slumps
Oil falls despite Opec's threats
UK house prices 'to fall by 30%'
IMF sees world slowdown
Slump in Japan firms' confidence
US industrial output falls 0.6%
Pound continues fall against euro
Pound in fifth day of euro lows
US sales and producer prices fall
London finance status threatened
At the beginning of 2008 we were told that we were living in interesting times, then it became extraordinary times - what will be the next description? Who knows!
Today's favourite words seem to be "slump" and "falling."
Surely things must get better in the next year or so.
I do apologise for being so downbeat this week, but hey the festive season is just around the corner and on that theme our old friend Mr. Peter Moir is having trouble with his black bun! I kid you n
ot.The evidence is shown here.
The experts amongst you and Gordon Ramsay will notice there is a crack on the top.
If anyone knows how to get round this culinary issue, then please contact the blog and we will pass on your suggestions to Peter.
Keep it clean please.
What no Raymond?I hear you cry. He is around and he has been in a meeting since about 9.30 this morning, in fact he has just come out.
I am sure he could do with a nice slice of black bun.
Michael (Falling into a plate of black bun)
Thursday, 11 December 2008
Move Over Raymond
Hi to all CIOBS bloggees and welcome to the return of superblogger.
At least I think that's what Raymond called me!
I was off for one week, yes, one week only and Mr.Raymond Brown manages to do two blogs in that time!
And he accuses me of hogging this blog! Indeed!
Well done Raymond. Two very informative blogs and with a touch of colour too!!!
He certainly had a busy week when I was not around and this week continues on the busy theme.
As we head towards the Festive break and the shortest day of the year, no doubt you will be in the same situation saying" let's get this done by the year end and that should be finished too"
The weather here in Scotland has been very cold this week, in fact I do not think the frost has lifted since the weekend.
Contrast this with the student from The British Virgin Islands that I was talking to this week who said"Yes, it is a bit chilly here too Michael, today the temperature is only 22 degrees Celsius"
Yes, indeed!!
Raymond was telling us all about low interest rates last week and this week it is the turn of the Pound in relation to the Euro, with the Pound continuing its sharp decline against the Euro, reaching a new record low of 1.1238 Euros this afternoon.
It is now at the lowest level since the Euro was launched in 1999.
Before anyone points it out, I know that Euro notes and coins did not appear until 2002, but the Euro existed as a trading currency from 1999 when it replaced the ECU!
As I am sure all Chartered Banker students and particular those of you studying International Business know, lower interest rates make it less attractive for foreigners to hold pounds.
A weaker pound is better for the UK exporters but is bad news for British holidaymakers who plan to go abroad during the Christmas season, and also makes imported goods more expensive.
However, the pound gained one cent against the US dollar, reaching USD1.4924 this afternoon.
Well I must go now someone is about to start drilling a hole in the wall where I am today. I have been waiting for this for a while, so drill away I say!
Michael (An International Blogger or is that Hogger?)
At least I think that's what Raymond called me!
I was off for one week, yes, one week only and Mr.Raymond Brown manages to do two blogs in that time!
And he accuses me of hogging this blog! Indeed!
Well done Raymond. Two very informative blogs and with a touch of colour too!!!
He certainly had a busy week when I was not around and this week continues on the busy theme.
As we head towards the Festive break and the shortest day of the year, no doubt you will be in the same situation saying" let's get this done by the year end and that should be finished too"
The weather here in Scotland has been very cold this week, in fact I do not think the frost has lifted since the weekend.
Contrast this with the student from The British Virgin Islands that I was talking to this week who said"Yes, it is a bit chilly here too Michael, today the temperature is only 22 degrees Celsius"
Yes, indeed!!
Raymond was telling us all about low interest rates last week and this week it is the turn of the Pound in relation to the Euro, with the Pound continuing its sharp decline against the Euro, reaching a new record low of 1.1238 Euros this afternoon.
It is now at the lowest level since the Euro was launched in 1999.
Before anyone points it out, I know that Euro notes and coins did not appear until 2002, but the Euro existed as a trading currency from 1999 when it replaced the ECU!
As I am sure all Chartered Banker students and particular those of you studying International Business know, lower interest rates make it less attractive for foreigners to hold pounds.
A weaker pound is better for the UK exporters but is bad news for British holidaymakers who plan to go abroad during the Christmas season, and also makes imported goods more expensive.
However, the pound gained one cent against the US dollar, reaching USD1.4924 this afternoon.
Well I must go now someone is about to start drilling a hole in the wall where I am today. I have been waiting for this for a while, so drill away I say!
Michael (An International Blogger or is that Hogger?)
Friday, 5 December 2008
What a week that was!
Hi again,
I know it's almost too good to be true, but today I'm doing two in a row!! With Michael still on some totally undeserved holidays, I can click my keyboard till my heart's content.
So another week draws to a close. A week that's seen another bank go to the wall, a week that produced the lowest base interest rate since 1951 and what a year that was.
You probably weren't around then (and neither was I - I just look like I was!!) but in that grand year, the Conservatives won a general election, the average house cost £2,100 and a loaf of bread cost 6d (2.5 p). And in sport, Celtic beat Motherwell 1-0 in the Scottish Cup Final. Did you like the colour-coordinated team names? No? Well you should try getting claret and amber on this system, mate!
Talking about systems, the final version of the website is due to be produced in January (what we have is interim - it may be other things too, but that's another story!). The new one is supposed to have this blog within it, which will mean that we will be able to allow reader comments. As you know, all the best blogs have this facility - no, don't say it - this one's an exception!!
Anyway I digress, but who cares?
As mentioned last week, we had six delegates at the revision course for ApEx 1 on Monday and Tuesday. From memory, at least two have already sat their exams, or may be doing so as I write! Eek! I hope they pass - they deserve to.
As for the rest of the week, it's really been about keeping things moving what with Mr D being away.
Next week, we have our quarterly Education Committee meeting on Tuesday afternoon. That's when all the chosen representatives from the various banks, etc. make sure we are staying on track with our objectives, etc. But that's a veritable lifetime away, old bean(s).
Anyway, I have to go, but I'll finish off in the style of someone we know and love!
Have a good weekend.
Raymond (In the pink!!!)
I know it's almost too good to be true, but today I'm doing two in a row!! With Michael still on some totally undeserved holidays, I can click my keyboard till my heart's content.
So another week draws to a close. A week that's seen another bank go to the wall, a week that produced the lowest base interest rate since 1951 and what a year that was.
You probably weren't around then (and neither was I - I just look like I was!!) but in that grand year, the Conservatives won a general election, the average house cost £2,100 and a loaf of bread cost 6d (2.5 p). And in sport, Celtic beat Motherwell 1-0 in the Scottish Cup Final. Did you like the colour-coordinated team names? No? Well you should try getting claret and amber on this system, mate!
Talking about systems, the final version of the website is due to be produced in January (what we have is interim - it may be other things too, but that's another story!). The new one is supposed to have this blog within it, which will mean that we will be able to allow reader comments. As you know, all the best blogs have this facility - no, don't say it - this one's an exception!!
Anyway I digress, but who cares?
As mentioned last week, we had six delegates at the revision course for ApEx 1 on Monday and Tuesday. From memory, at least two have already sat their exams, or may be doing so as I write! Eek! I hope they pass - they deserve to.
As for the rest of the week, it's really been about keeping things moving what with Mr D being away.
Next week, we have our quarterly Education Committee meeting on Tuesday afternoon. That's when all the chosen representatives from the various banks, etc. make sure we are staying on track with our objectives, etc. But that's a veritable lifetime away, old bean(s).
Anyway, I have to go, but I'll finish off in the style of someone we know and love!
Have a good weekend.
Raymond (In the pink!!!)
Friday, 28 November 2008
Stranger in the Night
Hi everyone,
It may not quite be night yet, although it has been a long day, but certainly you will think me a stranger!
I can't actually remember when I did a blog last - anyway I'm here now, with the bold Mr Downey having earlier fled to go on holiday for a week. Lucky swine! (apologies to lovers of all things porcine ).
It's all go you know at the hive of industry that is the CIOBS! No, I'm deadly serious.
What with 3,716 Chartered Banker packs being sent out this week. Hopefully these will be sent to Chartered Bankers by our distributors - that would be good.
Also, after months of trials and tribulations, we finally managed to publish our first online e-revision module, Customer Relationship Management to the web. For those members, you can find these via the Members and Students section, then going to Online Support and then Tutorials. For non-members, hard luck, really! Just join us and experience the delights!!
Also, we had the results of our most recent customer survey this week. Pretty good, albeit one member wants videos introducing the CIOBS - that would definitely be one for the horror shelf....aaaarrrggghhh!!
Next week six lucky people will have the pleasure of my company on Monday and Tuesday for the next UK Financial Services, Regulation and Ethics course. Bet they can't wait!! I can.
When I say "I can", I would hate for you to get the wrong idea, I really love course delivery!! But the weekend will soon be upon us and quite frankly, it beats working!! If you don't think so, what a saddo....
Anyway, I'm sorry, I really need to go now. Two students have just emailed in (that's true actually) looking for some urgent questions to be answered by close of play, lest they cannot sleep at night!
The life of a CIOBS employee may be a happy one, but it's quite busy too!!
Hey ho!!!
If I get time I'll be back next week.
BFN (that's bye for now for those under 69).
Raymond
It may not quite be night yet, although it has been a long day, but certainly you will think me a stranger!
I can't actually remember when I did a blog last - anyway I'm here now, with the bold Mr Downey having earlier fled to go on holiday for a week. Lucky swine! (apologies to lovers of all things porcine ).
It's all go you know at the hive of industry that is the CIOBS! No, I'm deadly serious.
What with 3,716 Chartered Banker packs being sent out this week. Hopefully these will be sent to Chartered Bankers by our distributors - that would be good.
Also, after months of trials and tribulations, we finally managed to publish our first online e-revision module, Customer Relationship Management to the web. For those members, you can find these via the Members and Students section, then going to Online Support and then Tutorials. For non-members, hard luck, really! Just join us and experience the delights!!
Also, we had the results of our most recent customer survey this week. Pretty good, albeit one member wants videos introducing the CIOBS - that would definitely be one for the horror shelf....aaaarrrggghhh!!
Next week six lucky people will have the pleasure of my company on Monday and Tuesday for the next UK Financial Services, Regulation and Ethics course. Bet they can't wait!! I can.
When I say "I can", I would hate for you to get the wrong idea, I really love course delivery!! But the weekend will soon be upon us and quite frankly, it beats working!! If you don't think so, what a saddo....
Anyway, I'm sorry, I really need to go now. Two students have just emailed in (that's true actually) looking for some urgent questions to be answered by close of play, lest they cannot sleep at night!
The life of a CIOBS employee may be a happy one, but it's quite busy too!!
Hey ho!!!
If I get time I'll be back next week.
BFN (that's bye for now for those under 69).
Raymond
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