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

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

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.

 

 

Possible Gifts For Mothers Day This Coming Sunday

Mothers Day is fast approaching, so this is the perfect opportunity for you to give something back to one of the most important people in anyone’s life. You may even need to ship a parcel abroad for Mothers Day if your mum isn’t in the country, and you can do this using the services we have to offer here at RAND.  For now though, here are some great gift ideas that are sure to please her on the big day.

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If your mum enjoys a tasty alcoholic beverage, she’d really appreciate an exotic bottle of sparkling wine. In addition, sweet treats such as chocolates might also work well if you’re going down this route. Try to get something out of the ordinary and possibly a little more expensive as well rather than something she’d usually expect.

Flowers are the perfect symbol of love, friendship and appreciation. A colourful bouquet can really lighten up anyone’s mood but on Mother’s Day it is a traditional gift to say thank you for everything they do for us.

If you think a gift might be a better option, why not consider something she has previously asked for her birthday? Small gifts aren’t as spectacular as some of the other things mentioned above, though they could act as a sign of the strong bond that you share with your mum.

Contact RAND today to discover more about sending gifts locally and abroad, whilst you can also get an instant quotation.

Customisable Stamps and Gifts

As well as the Chinese New Year or the Lunar New Year Festival having its own original set of postage stamps, nowadays you can even personally design your own stamps on various postage sites, and the creativity is endless.

Personalising a custom stamp on a parcel to China or elsewhere in the world could be your way of marking your business, or a cute way of making your envelope seem a little more personal, when sending gifts to a relative. If you are an emerging new business, a personalised postage stamp would be an excellent way to establish yourself as a reliable seller.

Modern day technologies allow customisation on a variety of levels, and postage stamps are just one of the many examples of these. Because of modern printing technologies, there are ways of customising everything from key chains to mugs to t-shirts, and giving a friend or relative a customised gift, no matter how small, makes a great, personal gift that they can cherish.

For all your delivery needs between the UK and international destinations, contact RAND Logistics today, or fill in our Quick Quote form for an instant quotation. It is simple and easy!

Handmade Gifts for Christmas

On the last day of our Christmas week, let us discuss handmade gifts. When done well, with time and effort put in, a handmade gift can be a really sweet way of showing someone you care about them.

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Before you decide to make the gift for your recipient, make sure you know that they would like this type of gift. Like it or not, some people aren’t the sentimental type, so a handmade photo frame might not be the best idea. Handmade gifts can be a heartfelt alternative to buying things off the rack. A necklace or a gold watch might seem romantic, but other people your recipient knows could have received the exact same gift, which makes theirs seem less special.

Put a lot of effort into it, even if you have no experience with making gifts. Try your hardest with your gift, whatever it is, as your recipient will probably see the effort put into the gift, and will be more likely to appreciate it. It helps if your gift is practical in some way, or an accessory, like a pair of warm gloves or a keychain.

Whatever your gift giving ideas are, make someone’s day with a parcel delivered by RAND Logistics. With our competitive rates throughout the world from parcels to Australia, to packages to the Ukraine you won’t need to use any other service for sending parcels internationally.

Spooky Places in Mexico

It’s a chilly Tuesday and we’re going to be looking at some of the scariest places in Mexico today. There are haunted places all around the world, so if you want to make sure your parcels won’t be tampered with by ghosts or anyone else, be sure to send parcels internationally with RAND for the most reliable, ghoul-proof service.

Perhaps one of the spookiest spots in Mexico is the Pilaer Hacienda in San Juan Teotihuacan. Spanish hidalgo Miguel Aritztia was thought to have fallen from a balcony on the top floor of the building and died, and the ghost of his wife, who tried to save him, has allegedly been spotted crying on the balcony. Miguel himself has apparently been seen hanging from the balcony hundreds of years after his death.

Another supposedly haunted spot in this Central American country is the Island of Dolls, situated in a swamp close to Mexico City. After a girl drowned off the island, the hermit living on it, Don Julian Santana, was pushed further into madness, and he began to fish dolls out of the river believing they were real children. These dolls are said to contain the energy of the little girl, and the ghost of Don Julian Santana himself has been spotted since his death.

Famous Birthdays on 11th November

Many of the parcels being couriered around the world every single day will be birthday gifts, which is why this week we our dedicating our blog to famous birthdays of people all around the world. If you have a friend or relative overseas who is celebrating a birthday soon, why not think about sending them a parcel with RAND?

Film fans with 11th November birthdays will be delighted to know that they share their birthday with the wonderful American actor Leonardo di Caprio. If you’re thinking of sending him a gift, you’d better get in quick before he gets inundated with presents! Another American star of the screen celebrating her birthday on this day is Calista Flockhart, so be sure to use our parcel quote finder to get a quote on all your birthday gifts to the US!

If we go way back in history, we find an emperor and an empress of the Roman empire born on 11th November in 995 and 1050: Gisela of Swabia and Henry IV of Kaiserpfalz. Or, if you prefer your historical figures a little more royal, how about King Sancho I of Portugal in 1154? If you’re sending a gift to Portugal, make sure it’s with RAND for the best rates!

Christmas Gift Inspiration: DAY #3

It’s the middle of our week of Christmas gift information, and today we’re focusing on the kids. Many would say that Christmas is all about the children, which is why it’s so much fun looking for gifts. However, once you’ve secured this year’s big trend gift, what should be next on the list?

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Most children aren’t interested in clothes when they are young and would rather receive toys and games. Why not take it back to tradition and track down a jigsaw puzzle based on their favourite hobby? There are lots of sites now selling traditional wooden toys, many of which make lovely keepsakes long after your children have grown up.

Another fantastic idea is to get them a soft, cuddly version of their favourite animal. If trips to the zoo or the farm inspire a lot of enthusiasm, you could even adopt them their very own animal or buy them a season ticket to the nearest zoo so they can get their animal fix.

Chocolate is all well and good, but that sugar rush can make children hyperactive. Instead, why not get them their own gardening set complete with seeds so they can see where their food comes from? Start easy with cress and herbs and move onto fruit and vegetables when their skills develop.

Remember to send your Christmas gifts with RAND this year!

Christmas Gift Inspiration: DAY #2

Welcome to the second day of our Christmas gift inspiration posts, and today we’re focusing on the men in your life. Remember to use RAND’s parcel quote checker before you send your Christmas gifts this year for the best rates.

It is very easy to fall into the trap of buying novelty Christmas gear for men. Christmas cufflinks, ties and socks are generally relegated to the back of the wardrobe, never to see the light of day again, so as funny as it might be on Christmas Day, it’s a waste of money. Think instead about something that will actually be used.

You can’t go wrong with practical clothing for a man, and when in doubt play it safe with a good quality shirt or jumper in a colour you know he likes. The same applies to socks: go for something functional and wearable but good quality.

A bottle of his favourite wine or a selection of ales would most likely go down well, and this could be accompanied with a variety of snacks to keep him munching through the next few days.

Or of course, for a little peace and quiet, there’s always a DVD boxset or a shiny new videogame…