At a prison not that far away from me, an inmate made a bold escape for freedom on the prison’s very own tractor! He must of been doing quite well as the alarm was only raised after an ex-employee at the prison spotted the inmate driving down the A361. Police gave chase across a golf course and finally cornered the vehicle [prisoner escapes on a tractor].

I would really like to think that the police pursued the offender using their latest crime-fighting vehicle, a John Deere 6630 tractor. [Operaton Fusion]

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[source: lincs. Police force

Source: www.localriding.com

With 2012 fast approaching all those international riders who currently don’t have a mount in mind are trying to find, consolidate or bring on horses for the Olympic Games. Owners are being encouraged to dig deep into their pockets to find the money.

As Zara Philips best hope Toytown is still not out and about competing so looking less likely for selection and Italian Rider Alberto Giugni has lost Jakarta to Piggy French and Crown Obsidian to injury, these are just two big names searching for new horses.

Although being unemployed has many drawbacks, it can be transformed into a chance to see the world and tackle new challenges. What stops most job hunters from taking advantage of this “free time” is the expense involved in staying in an exotic locale long enough to learn about another culture and hone your skills.

But thanks to an organiation known as Work & Volunteer Abroad (WAVA), English speaking UK residents can sign up for a program to work in the hospitality or agricultural business in Norway.

Although there is a charge for the service — from £580 for 8 weeks to £800 for 22 weeks, the expenses are a fraction of what a vacation would cost because of their work/exchange program. Participants stay with a local family and are provided three meals a day.  In exchange, they work 35 hours per week at a job arranged in advance by WAVA. Each week a stipend of about £75 is provided for pocket money. Personal transportation is not provided –although workers can bring their own bicycles — and most employers provide transport to and from work.

WAVA workers learn about the Norwegian culture up close and personal, making their journey much more than just a sightseeing tour or a typical “job abroad.”

Total immersion in the local community provides a chance for UK participants to appreciate how many common concerns people share – regardless of their location – while learning the facinating differences that are created by climate, religion, government and education.  In return, the hosts are exposed to fresh perspectives on their business and society as well as provided with much needed assistance during peak seasons, making it a win-win situation for all concerned.

WAVA programs in Norway are available for citizens of the UK and Eire over 18 years of age who speak fluent English and are able to perform the types of tasks required by their host.

Experience in agriculture, animal husbandry and hospitality are matched with appropriate positions, and participants are briefed on the program before departing. Letters of intent are sent by WAVA participants to the host families who select candiadates suitable to their lifestyle and job requirements.

Of course, working for WAVA is not going to replace the need to secure full-time, permenant employment, but it can provide fresh insight and perspective into the truly important things in life while learning valuable lessons about yourself.

Do you have a spare barn roof?  Have you considered the possibility of setting up your own PV panels for solar energy or why not rent your roof out to a company that does.

Either way, despite the initial investment of around £200,000 for a big PV installation you could see returns of £19,000 to £20,000 per annum with the new feed-in tariffs says a British solar power company.

In France and Germany, where feed-in tariffs arrived some years ago, these bigger installations are being set up.  Currently in the UK most PV panel arrays are much smaller.  These large installations have a typical payback time of 7 – 12 years.

Perhaps now is the time to step outside and start to check your barn roof to see if you have the optimum 30 – 40 degrees from horizontal.

A Croatian football star says his team are losing matches because he can no longer commit fouls since finding God.

Hajduk Split defender Goran Granic has come in for a storm of criticism for abandoning his trademark hard tackles on opponents.

But Granic has now revealed his Catholicism is behind his softer style of play.

He told daily newspaper Slobodna Dalmacija, ‘I’m so devoted to God now that I have started to avoid committing fouls during matches. God has created football for fun and relaxation. He would not like players to commit harsh fouls.’

He added, ‘I could probably have saved some key goals during the season, including in the Champions League qualifying games, if I had committed fouls to stop players scoring.’

Hajduk Split are reigning Croatian champions but this season they failed to qualify for the Champions League and are currently fifth in the Croatian league.

They said they fixed the problem in IT. They said they couldn’t duplicate the issue. They sent the computer back again, when a sane person would have given it exactly what it deserved – a one-way trip to the burn pile. For each problem solved by the technological wonder, three more are created to torment hapless cube residents.

Here are five reasons to trade that computer in and get a tractor instead:

Reason #1: Breakdowns are logical.

If something breaks on a tractor, the part that caused the issue can be identified and replaced without a specialized degree. When on the phone or visiting a mechanic, he will never say to just shut it down and start it up again to see if the problem goes away.

Reason #2: The engine runs without electrical power or an internet connection.

Power blips and internet hiccups are realities of the business world. These troubles happen without warning, leaving employees to scramble to catch up when the connections are restored. It also pushes deadlines out when information cannot be exchanged. This leads to unnecessary stress and is easily removed from life when operating a tractor instead of a computer.

Reason #3: Tractors do not cause eye strain.

There are no special glasses to cut the glare from the hood of a tractor, because sunglasses and a hat are all that is needed. With GPS developments, in a few years a driver may not even need to see to operate the tractor. Even owning a tractor older than the operator will not cause damage to the eyes. However, manual levers may increase other muscles.

Reason #4: Work completed from the seat of a tractor can be explained.

There is nothing quite like the feeling of pointing toward growing crops, harvested fields, or another work of the land and knowing that something has been accomplished. It is also easy to describe to family and friends. Say good-bye to the blank stares of loved ones after explaining a seemingly useless job.

Reason #5: When the tractor spreads manure, a shower is all it takes to get clean again.

Well, a power washer may help to clean the tractor, too. However, days of kissing up to the boss are over. No more orders that aren’t even phrased politely like “Get this done yesterday.” This may not apply to married people. The wife is still an irrational force, whether married to a businessman or a farmer.

Computers cause stress and impacts many areas of life. Life from the seat of a tractor allows the operator much more satisfaction as an occupation. Don’t be afraid to leave the digital life behind.

Whether you’re crammed into a tiny cubicle or are able to kick back and stretch out in a roomy corner office, space is one thing that’s bound to be on your mind when you work in an office. Nobody wants to have to rub shoulders with their colleagues, but limited workspace is a reality for the vast majority of us. The next time you’re feeling downright claustrophobic, try bringing one of these spacious workspaces to mind – or, better yet, try getting a job in one of them!

1. Casa Poporului, Bucharest, Romania

   Most people don’t think of Romania when they think of massive office buildings and sprawling workspaces, but the Casa Poporului – or Palace of the Parliament – actually ranks as one of the largest office buildings in the world. With more than 3.8 million square feet of space, it is truly imposing. Throw in the fact that it’s won Guinness World Records for being the heaviest building in the world, and it’s easy to see why it merits a mention on this list.

2. The Equitable Building, New York City, USA

   
   In a city that is teeming with massive workspaces, it’s impressive that the Equitable Building is its largest office building. With more than 1.236 million square feet of office space, there’s bound to be plenty of room for everybody. The question is: Is every square foot accounted for, or is space currently available?

3. Aalsmeer Flower Market, Netherlands

   Also known as Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer,  Aalsmeer Flower market takes place inside  the world’s largest commercial building, located 10 miles from Amsterdam. This flower market has the largest footprint of any commercial building in the world and is equal to about nine football pitches or 990,000 square metres. Everyday in Aalsmeer Flower Market, over 6,000 traders sell up to 20 million flowers and plantsthrough its auction house onsite. On Valentines day alone, it has been known to sell over 50 million roses and 22 million cut flowers and plants.

4. Dubai International Airport, Terminal 3, Dubai, UAE

   Although its primary purpose is an airport terminal, Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3 has to be included on this list for its impossible size. With more than 16.1 million square feet of floor space, it’s safe to say that there is room to spare. The airport workers who call Terminal 3 “home” certainly don’t have to worry about bumping into one another as they perform their duties.

5. The Pentagon, Washington DC, USA

   If you’ve ever flown into Dulles or Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC, then you’ve certainly enjoyed a bird’s eye view of this country’s most important defense administration building: The Pentagon. With more than 3.7 million square feet, the Pentagon is breathtakingly massive. One can assume that a quick “run across the building” is a lot more of an undertaking than it is at most other workplaces.

   One thing’s for sure: You don’t want to misplace your car keys or other belongings in any of these enormous buildings.

Working in the wide open spaces has some definite advantages over the traditional lines of work located in an office. The outdoor worker enjoys a sense of freedom and connectivity with the world that would be otherwise sealed off from the office worker. The outdoor worker can break up his or her day with walking, labour or driving a company vehicle, making the day zip by at breakneck speed.

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And if you can incorporate your passion into an outdoor job, you can bring meaning and purpose into your daily grind. Some people have a natural affinity for animals and nature and would be well-suited for conservation, animal care positions or working in the agricultural field.

However, capturing your dream may require some academic posturing to make your job candidacy the best it can be, so be sure to evaluate your skills and professional goals when enrolling in higher education.

In addition to the outdoor jobs in the countryside, the inner city has its own options for working under the sun. Fields such as law enforcement, construction work, gardening, tree trimming, truck driver and commercial maintenance are some of the top desired outdoor jobs to keep you in touch with society while performing meaningful duties.

Although working outdoors can make going to work a pleasure, there are some pitfalls to being exposed to the elements. Persons with sensitive skin will need to use a strong sun block to avoid a build-up of overexposed skin. Once a sunburn takes hold, the remedy is to refrain from anymore sun, which is near impossible when working outdoors full-time. Also, if you don’t like getting dirty, outdoor jobs may not be for you either.

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The person employed outdoors may also be prone to illness during cold and flu season, but this susceptibility may be overcome by making an effort to bolster your immune system. Be sure to take plenty of vitamin C, E and fish oil to keep your system strong and able to fight off infection.

In some cases, the outdoor job may bring on cold and flu symptoms more often in winter, but there are many health benefits also involved. The person at an inside desk job remains sedentary for most of the day and may be prone to weight gain and atrophy in the muscles. Conversely, the active outdoor position provides fresh air, aerobic activity and a chance to develop a muscular physique. Overall. choosing a career that takes you outdoors can be an asset to your health, mental well-being and a great way to make new friends.

Perhaps you have a knack for banking, finance or inside sales, and although these jobs are rewarding financially, they may not be suitable for you as a long-term career. Try your hand at what interests you the most, and remember you can always change your professional pathway at any stage in life. Work a few years indoors and sample the outdoor opportunities when you feel the time is right.

For some people in the workforce the concept of working inside is not only depressing but it is also an unacceptable work environment. The thought of going to work each day, sitting at a nondescript desk in a small office or cubicle and doing the same tasks over and over again is enough to drive them crazy.

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For some, then, the only option is outside work but why?

There are many reasons why people choose outside occupations and, in some cases, only the people doing them understand why they like the work. For example, it is hard for some to comprehend why anyone would want to be a sailor; this is an atmosphere where workers are surrounded by water, 24 hours a day. To a sailor, however, there is no other job that they would rather do. So why do workers choose to bypass inside jobs for the lure of working outside?

Working Outdoors = Open Spaces

Many workers do not enjoy working in a confined space, like a small office or a cubicle and opt for an outside environment. It is the lack of outside stimuli that makes the inside jobs distasteful to them and the thought of working in a small area day after day, week after week is incomprehensible.

Working Outdoors = Variety

Typically, with most inside desk or factory jobs, the tasks are dull and repetitive, and some workers can not survive in that type of atmosphere. They don’t enjoy doing the same job over and over again and, as a result, will pursue work opportunities outdoors.

Working Outdoors = Exciting

Many outside occupations offer exciting, thrilling opportunities that inside jobs can not match. There are a percentage of workers who seek out these types of opportunities and could not envision working in any other kind of surroundings. They are thrill seekers and only those types of jobs will satisfy them.

Working Outdoors = Fresh Air

As silly as it may sound, some workers want to work outside in the fresh air and sunshine. Of course, there are times when it will be cold and wet but that is acceptable for them also.

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Working Outdoors = Freedom

There are lots of outside jobs where is it not possible to have supervision it place to direct workers and for some this is a perfect setting. They don’t like to be told what to do and without a boss at the location they are allowed to work more freely.

All in all, working outdoors opens a wide variety of options and a number of different types of workplaces you can enjoy. It’s not hard to find something to suit you, regardless of your talents and skills.

Do you have a green thumb? Do you find your bliss mucking around in rows of green plants and colourful flowers?

Here are five compellions reasons for choosing to make a career out of working with plants.

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1. Spend Your Life Doing What You Love

Who was it that said, “do what you love, and love what you do?” If the great outdoors is in your blood, there is a good chance that being chained to a cubicle is not. Why not make a living working with living things?  Your career choices are endless. From a job in a home garden centre to running your own landscape company, there is a way to put what you love into what you do.

Some people work at a job they hate and wait until retirement to do what they really love. Working outdoors means that you don’t have to wait until your twilight years to spend your days doing what you love.

2. Stay in Shape

Connecting with nature is not only nourishing for the soul; but it is great for your physical health as well. Gardening is a wonderful way to stay in shape. Thanks to the physical activity involved, you won’t have to carve out time to run to the gym!

3. Nurture Your Gifts

If you love working with flowers and plants, there is a good chance that you have a natural gift for it. What better way to nurture those talents than through daily practice? A novelist becomes a better writer the more she puts words down on paper; and a natural gardener betters his craft the more he digs around in the soil.

4. Fulfill a Lifelong Dream

Is it your dream to someday run your own nursery? Staring out working as a gardener can teach you things through experience that can help you realise that dream. The more work you do in the garden, the more knowledge you acquire by daily exposure to the best methods and newest technologies in horticulture.

5. Use your Talents to Make People Happy

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Finally, working with plants and flowers will help you touch the lives of countless people. Flowers bring people together for weddings and special occasions. Giving flowers sends messages of love and commitment. They simply make people happy.

Finding a way to make a living doing what you love is an unrealised dream for many people. If you love to garden, and you are good at it, find a way to make it into a career.