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50 Days To The World Cup: Day 5

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On the final day of our World Cup countdown we’ll be looking at England’s chances ahead of their trip to Brazil in June. Whilst England seem to have been written off early on, could they surprise the nation and bring the World Cup home for the first time since 1966? We provide a delivery service across the UK, so get a quote from us today and find out how our affordable rates can make your parcel delivery requirements simple and affordable.

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England have never failed to avoid controversy when heading to major competitions. With such a huge amount of media scrutiny to deal with could they finally live up to expectations and win a World Cup? Here are England’s pros and cons ahead of the tournament:

Pros

The fact that they’ve already been written off might work in their favour, whilst they might finally look to bring some young and exciting footballers along that aren’t part of the disappointing generation we’ve endured over the last few years.

Cons

Unfortunately the cons significantly outweigh the pros for England. They’ve got an incredibly tough group to contend with that includes Uruguay and Italy, whilst their games are going to take place in the hottest part of Brazil, so not even the climate is on their side.

 

50 Days To The World Cup: Day 4

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We’re on to the penultimate day of our World Cup countdown, with our attention moving to the hosts of the competition, Brazil. The Brazilian national team have all the experience necessary to win the competition, so could their latest generation of players rise to the occasion and win it for the locals? If you’re interested in sending a parcel to Brazil, you can do so here at RAND. We provide competitive rates that make parcel delivery services simple and affordable.

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The Brazilian national team will arrive at the tournament as hosts and there’s probably never been a better time for them to get their hands on the trophy. A lot is expected of their star names, especially the tournament poster boy Neymar. So where exactly are they at this present time and could they be considered the tournament favourites? Here are their pros and cons:

Pros

Firstly they are hosting the competition, which has proven to be a significant factor in previous World Cup tournaments. They’ve got an abundance of talent available as well, from Neymar to the likes of Lucas Moura, Hulk and Willian. Home support plays a vital role in any tournament, so if they can deal with the pressure they are certainly capable of going all the way.

Cons

The pressure could get too much for them, to the point where they simply can’t cope with the threat of Spain, Argentina and Germany. They may also feel pressurised to play a certain way, considering their young and flamboyant squad seem devoted to playing flair football whilst ignoring defensive organisation.

50 Days To The World Cup: Day 2

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It’s our second day of looking at some of the favourites for the World Cup in Brazil, which is now only a few months away. They’ve dominated the world of football for the last four years and are the current World Champions after winning the tournament in 2010. They also won the European Championships in both 2008 and 2012 and possess some of the greatest footballers of a generation. They are of course, Spain.

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The Spanish national team introduced a brand of football that inspired clubs and countries across the world. They are widely respected for their attractive, fast-flowing approach to the game. So what are Spain’s pros and cons when it comes to their World Cup challenge in Brazil?

Pros

They’ve managed to win the last three major tournaments that they’ve been involved in, excluding the Confederations Cup, so they certainly have the pedigree to go on and win it. You’d certainly be a brave individual to bet against them at this stage, with the likes of David Silva, Xavi, Iniesta, Pedro and the prolific Diego Costa in their squad.

Cons

In all honesty, there aren’t many. It’s possible that Barcelona’s recent dip in form might influence a lacklustre performance in the World Cup this time around, whilst there are a few teams capable of putting up a fight against them, including the host nation Brazil.

If you’re interested in sending a parcel to Spain, why not get a quote today from us here at RAND?

50 Days To The World Cup: Join The Build Up With RAND!

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We’re approaching 50 days until the World Cup begins in Brazil this year, so we thought it might be a good idea to have a look at some of the pros and cons of each country participating in the historic football event. Many of the countries taking part are also part of our international parcel delivery service here at RAND, so if you’re interested in sending parcels abroad, make sure you choose RAND in the future!

Argentina are lucky enough to have one of the greatest footballers in history in their ranks; Lionel Messi. Having said that, the playmaker has rarely shone on the international stage and many have questioned whether or not he can step up to his usual expected performances this time around.

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Pros

They have the devotion to succeed in South America and to win it in Brazil would be something all the players and fans would cherish. Along with Lionel Messi, Argentina have some of the greatest forwards in the game to choose form, including Lavezzi, Aguero and Higuain.

Cons

Whilst they have an incredibly strong forward line, they are seriously lacking in defence. Ezequiel Garay and Martin Demichelis offer the experience but their quality is nothing compared to some of the other faces you’ll see at this year’s tournament.

We provide an unrivalled parcel delivery service to Argentina here at RAND, so get your affordable quote and start sending gifts to friends and family abroad with ease. It’s that simple!

Celebrating Easter in the UK

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On our final day of looking at how Easter is celebrated across the world, we concentrate on the traditional Easter celebrations in the UK. With a large Christian population in the UK, Easter is celebrated in various different ways. The traditional pagan aspects of Easter are also adopted by the vast majority of the population in the UK. Here are some of the things you might expect to notice throughout the upcoming Easter weekend in a typical British household.

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There is a special service carried out in by most parishes on both Good Friday and Easter Sunday to commemorate the events of Jesus’ death and resurrection. On Good Friday, Catholics do not sing hymns at mass and leave the church in silence.

Easter Sunday is a day of celebration across the country, regardless of your religious background. Most Christians will visit church in the morning to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, whilst Christians and non-Christians alike typically follow pagan traditions by organising Easter egg hunts for the children and giving out chocolate eggs to one another as gifts.

The vast majority of working organisations are closed down for a long weekend, spanning from the end of Thursday to the beginning of Tuesday. Hardly any shops are open on Easter Sunday, with limited public transport available as well. It is a quiet day that encourages families to get together and celebrate the bank holiday weekend.

For more on RAND’S unrivalled delivery service throughout the UK and abroad, get in touch today. We’d be delighted to hear from you!

Celebrating Easter in Italy

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On the penultimate day of looking at various Easter traditions across the world, we’re focusing on how the Christian festival is celebrated in Italy. If you need to send a parcel to Italy, why not make the most of our services here at RAND?

Italy has a huge catholic population with a significant portion of Italians prioritising a visit to church every Sunday. There are plenty of unique traditions held throughout the Easter week in Italy. Here’s what you might expect to see if you’re visiting the country during this time.

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For most Italians, Good Friday is a hugely symbolic day. Ceremonies are hosted in cities across the country, commemorating the death of Jesus and his road to crucifixion.  Some of these processions may include symbolic dress to represent the events of Jesus’ death, such as Roman costumes.

Good Friday is, like in many other countries, a sombre day. Churches throughout Italy won’t ring their bells from this day until Jesus’ resurrection. The Pope’s Easter message also takes place on Easter Sunday from the Vatican.

On the Saturday, Italians usually prepare for Easter Sunday by decorating the home and cooking food. Some Christians will attend church in the evening, although the day is usually seen as one of rest and reflection. Easter Sunday is a day of celebration whereby families gather and enjoy a large traditional meal. They also incorporate the inherited pagan traditions of having Easter eggs and other sweets on the Sunday.

 

 

Celebrating Easter in Bangladesh

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We’re at the halfway point of our Easter week here at RAND, and today we’re looking at how Easter is celebrated traditionally in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is home to many different religions, including Christianity, Islam and Hindu. Whilst Christians recognise Holy Week as any other Christian would, many of the other religions will also get involved with the celebrations. Here are some of the traditional Easter festivities that take place in Bangladesh.

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Easter Sunday is not yet regarded as a national holiday in Bangladesh despite opposition from Christians throughout the country. The Muslim population are believed to be against the idea of having Sunday as the national rest day, which opposes the Muslim calendar.

Despite their differences, the various religions in Bangladesh enjoy celebrating Easter alongside Christians in the country and recognise the symbolic event of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Christians will often celebrate Easter by sharing sweets, chocolate and other treats amongst the family and with other non-Christians. The church service usually takes place in the morning on Easter Sunday, with parents dressing their children in new clothes to symbolise the special occasion.

We provide a parcel delivery service to Bangladesh here at RAND, so if you want to send a gift abroad, make sure you get a quote from us today!

Celebrating Easter in Portugal

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We continue our week of looking at Easter celebrations across the world with the traditional celebrations that take place in Portugal. Portugal has a large Christian population that celebrate Easter differently to the rest of the country. Here are some of the events and traditions that take place throughout the Easter week in Portugal.

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Portugal recognises Good Friday, the most important day in the Holy Week, as a national holiday. Some Christians also recommend that people fast as a symbol of Jesus’ suffering on the cross. This would involve giving up meat and replacing it with fish instead, in particular codfish.

Easter Sunday is a huge day in Portugal, with all sorts of traditions taking place. The local parish priest visits homes to wish a Happy Easter, whilst he also brings a figure of Christ with him which can be kissed by each member of the household to celebrate his resurrection.

There are plenty of pagan traditions still present in Portugal, from Easter Eggs to the Easter bunny. Like many other countries, chocolate eggs are shared out at Easter as gifts, whilst roast lamb is traditionally eaten in Portugal at lunchtime on the Sunday.

If you’re interested in sending a gift to Portugal, make sure you check our list of prohibited items to Portugal so that you know your gift will make it to the addressee without being intercepted by customs.

Celebrating Easter in Ghana

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This week we’ll be gearing up for the biggest event in the Christian calendar, the celebration of Easter. It’s a religious event that is celebrated in various different ways across the world, with some focusing on the sorrowful events of Good Friday and Jesus’ death and others concentrating on the joys of Easter Sunday and Jesus’ resurrection. Today we’ll be looking at how Christians and non-Christians in Ghana approach the week leading up to Easter and the weekend itself.

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Palm Sunday is an occasion where Jesus’ entrance to Jerusalem is welcomed and celebrated. This is the largest event before the crucifixion and the Easter weekend, so it is celebrated widely in churches throughout Ghana. Palm branches are typically waved at mass to recognise the event.

Good Friday is a sombre day in Ghana that is respected by attending church and wearing dark coloured dress. Some people in Ghana who don’t attend church regularly will almost certainly look to be there on Good Friday. On the other hand, Easter Sunday is a joyous day that signifies the resurrection of Jesus. Everyone who attends church in Ghana wears white on Easter Sunday.

If you know someone who is visiting Ghana for Easter this year or you just plan to send a parcel to Ghana, why not make the most of our unrivalled parcel delivery services here at RAND?

Alternative, Eco-Friendly Methods of Packaging

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If you’re someone who has to ship gifts and parcels abroad quite regularly, you might find yourself having to invest in wrapping paper and other necessary parcel materials on a regular basis. This blog post will provide you with various other methods of wrapping parcels so that you can make the process eco-friendly and a little more exciting. Here are a few alternatives to the average parcel.

Newspaper might seem a bit tasteless, but in truth you can turn it into an excellent resource for parcel wrapping if you’re a bit more creative than the average person. Newspaper that gets regularly delivered to your house is ideal and you can use colouring pens, paint, stickers or whatever suits you.

If you aren’t so creative, why not have a look through the gift wrapping materials you’ve got leftover? You’ll be able to choose from all sorts of colours and designs that your addressee will admire, or you can just turn it inside out and use the blank white canvas instead.

Certain fabrics are prohibited in some countries but if you’re sending a gift somewhere where this doesn’t apply, you can always make the most of colourful fabrics from beds, cushions, pillow cases or whatever you can find. In fact, this is a common method of gift wrapping in Japan, so it wouldn’t be to out of the ordinary if you’re sending a gift to Japan.