Author: rusnewton98

Kenya: Investment Landscape

I have just completed a little under a week in Nairobi. It was a very enjoyable and enlightening experience — as well as being my first footsteps in East Africa. After a quick tour of the picturesque Karen Blixen Museum, I met with a couple of local VCs to discuss opportunities in the region. I… Continue reading Kenya: Investment Landscape

Oasis Kindergarten, Kibera: A Ray of Sunshine in the Slum

My first trip to Nairobi, Kenya. I started my first day with a visit to the Oasis Kindergarten in the Kibera slum. Seven years ago, I heard Sarah Shucksmith speak at a Fitzwilliam College alumni event. I was deeply impressed that she had founded a school (the Sarah Junior School) in Kibera whilst still an undergraduate… Continue reading Oasis Kindergarten, Kibera: A Ray of Sunshine in the Slum

#BrokenBritain

Let’s face it: Britain’s a mess. London is creaking under the weight of residents and tourists visiting one of the world’s trendiest cities. Its infrastructure was not designed for this. But corporate incompetence adds to the misery. On 3 January I had the misfortune to be travelling back from north London to Jersey, via a… Continue reading #BrokenBritain

Jersey Is Not Bust, @OliverBullough

Reading today’s Guardian article, The Fall of Jersey leaves one hoping for better-quality journalism… or certainly some balanced reporting. Oliver Bullough argues that Jersey is heading towards an abyss financially, as its government deficit is forecast to expand to £125mn by 2019. Let’s put the numbers in perspective to start with. Checking the States of Jersey’s… Continue reading Jersey Is Not Bust, @OliverBullough

Mobile Data Roaming: How To Get Your Money Back

I first wrote this piece back in November 2014. I’ve edited it now to reflect the final resolution of the dispute with my mobile telephone provider, more than a year after I first questioned my Data Roaming bills from them. After much argument, they agreed to refund all my charges for a roughly seventeen month… Continue reading Mobile Data Roaming: How To Get Your Money Back

Inter-company Credit & Inventories

I attended an excellent dinner a few weeks ago, hosted by UBS Jersey. The speaker was their Global Economist, Paul Donovan, author of The Truth About Inflation. During his interesting & thought-provoking talk he spent some time discussing small businesses. In the UK, according to a Parliamentary Briefing, Small & Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) represent 60% of… Continue reading Inter-company Credit & Inventories

TalkTalk: Not Walking the Walk

A week ago, TalkTalk was hacked. The company claims that hackers don’t have enough information from the hack alone to steal money from their customers. It’s unable to confirm how many of the 4 million customers were affected. Having failed as a business to protect their customers’ confidential information (one for the Data Commissioner, surely)… Continue reading TalkTalk: Not Walking the Walk

Grammar Schools

There was significant controversy recently over the UK government’s decision to allow the Weald of Kent Grammar School in Tonbridge to open an ‘annexe’ in Sevenoaks, 7 miles away. Opponents argue that this is a new school, even though the 8 minute journey time (by train) is far less than some pupils currently spend getting… Continue reading Grammar Schools

In Richard’s Footsteps

As a young teen I read Philip Jose Farmer’s SciFi novel, “To Your Scattered Bodies Go”. Without going into too much detail, it’s about a world where all of Humankind is resurrected — amongst them, Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton. The portrayal of Burton captivated me and ever since I have been fascinated by this… Continue reading In Richard’s Footsteps