As the title would suggest we are looking for answers here. It’s the question everyone has pondered at some point and think we all have different answers.

Do you blow it all on a Ferrari and a mansion? Do you invest it in property? Or do you put it all on red and hope to double your money?

The thing is, as big a sum as £1 million is, it could be spent pretty quickly. An expensive car and a decent sized house would eat up the vast majority of your wealth, and that’s before you start paying your insurance, bills, repairs and extras. So that million quid didn’t last long, back to work you go, until of course you sell the house a couple of years later.

So what’s the alternative? Investment can be risky and it would rather dampen the enjoyment of having come into so much money, but then the benefits could be long standing and if the investment goes well, you can kiss goodbye to ever doing a days work again.

Personally, I need work to keep my mind active, so initially I think I would take out a couple of thousand quid. That way I can enjoy my money whilst still staying active and without disrupting my daily routine too much. The remaining £980,000 would (depending on interest rates) be put away to collect interest or split up and invested in a range of projects. Hopefully by a couple of year’s time, I would have enjoyed a comfortable life whilst still being involved in the cut and thrust of the working world. On top of that, the remaining £980,000 will have increased significantly leaving me the option to either take out another lump and live well whilst making more money, or retiring to some incredibly hot island.

I am always interested in hearing how people would map their lives out should they win the lottery so please send in all your thoughts and views.And as ever, if you are looking to learn something about finance and how to make the most of your money, have a gander at our Business & Finance related courses.

I, like most of the carnivorous population, cannot resist a bacon sandwich, particularly the smell of fried bacon first thing in the morning.  Ever wondered why they taste and smell so good? It is not a coincidence; there are lots of chemical reactions going on that release scents and tastes that we have evolved to become attracted to.

Science and chemistry plays a key role in all of this. A complex chemical interaction in the meat is what produces the winning combination of taste and smell in a bacon buttie, according to an expert.

The reaction between amino acids in the bacon and reducing sugars in the fat is what provides the simple snack with its appeal, according to Elin Roberts, science communications manager at the Centre for Life education centre in Newcastle.

She explained that the chemical changes that take place when the bacon is heated are more important than other variables such as brown sauce distribution or toaster settings.

At the centre of it all is the ‘Maillard’ reaction, a chemical reaction between an amino acid and a reducing sugar which often requires heat. The acid and sugar react to release a huge amount of smells and flavours.

"The smell of sizzling bacon in a pan is enough to tempt even the staunchest of vegetarians. There's something deeper going on inside. It's not just the idea of a tasty snack. There is some complex chemistry going on.

"Meat is made of mostly protein and water. Inside the protein, it's made up of building blocks we call amino acids. But also, you need some fat. Anyone who's been on a diet knows if you take all the fat from the meat, it just doesn't taste the same. We need some of the fat to give it the flavour."

"Fats mean that there are some reducing sugars in there as well. When it's really hot – that's when the Maillard reaction starts. Smell and taste are really closely linked," she said. "If we couldn't smell then taste wouldn't be the same."

Chemistry plays apart in every thing we own, do, eat, touch… everything is the product of a series of chemical reactions and mutations. To learn more about everything in the universe, take a look at this.

This may not be art in the traditional form but it is certainly a show of creativity and displayed on the art gallery for the 21^st century, YouTube. And for all you purists out there, maybe take solace in the fact that the post-its resemble George Seurat’s Pointillist style.

This is a milestone moment in the history of communication across the world. The art of communication is one of mans most unique facets, and we are fortunate (if you are reading this comfortably) to be able to speak the richest, most worded language in the world. The one millionth word of the English language has been officially entered. 

It is very apt that I am informing you of this news through the medium of blogging as the word in question is ‘Web 2.0’. Now there is naturally some controversy surrounding this piece of news; some say it isn’t a word, just an extension, some say there aren’t a million words etc etc. Web 2.0, like iPod, is a term that has become significant and commonplace part of our lives, enough certainly to demand a place in our dictionary alongside wadi, quidam and zetetic.

English language is a wonderful subject; infinitely expressive, rich and diverse with 1,700 words coming from Shakespeare alone. Basic words such as accommodation, critic, exposure, hurry, and laughable (I am always stunned at how those words weren’t in use anyway) were brought about by the bearded Bard. English is the most versatile language there is; you can say the same message to a multitude of audiences, in a number of styles, and still give the message over loud and clear. 

Although English is a relatively new language and a mix of Latin, French, German and just about any other language you care to mention, it has taken many forms over the years, with different regions of the country speaking completely different dialects. It was only with the birth of the printing press and The Bible being translated into English that the language became standardised and eventually spread throughout the British Empire. 

English literature is one of the most fascinating topics you can study and helps to enrich your vocabulary, increasing your ability to express yourself clearly, creatively and engagingly. Take a look at the course details.   

In keeping with the Jesters of the last few weeks, I am continuing with themes and videos that ultimately result in hilarious consequences. This week I will go with the tried and tested comedy video staple: Falling over. It doesn’t matter who you, where you come from, religion or creed; a good fall in obscure circumstances will always be funny, or if you’re a newsreader it would seem. Take a look at these:

To continue the boring stories of credit crunch and swine flu; going abroad has never been so stigmatised. The lack of money and fear mongering around pig flu has forced former Costa del Sol regulars to change their destinations to Butlins and the Costa del Kent. Not that there is anything wrong with this, on the contrary in fact; it has stimulated the national economy, cultivated a spirit of civic pride and opened the eyes of Brits to the beauty of their own backyards.   

Caravan sales are through the roof, Center Parcs, Butlins, Haven, and Pontins have never been so popular. I am hopeful that when the recession fog begins to lift, people will continue to holiday in the UK and continue to learn about the countryside of which Wordsworth wrote about, and delve into the past of one of the world’s richest histories. But that is the big question; are people only staying in England until they can spare the expense of going abroad, or will people fall so in love with the advantages of staying in the UK that they never leave. Obviously, global warming permitting, the more attractive option will almost always be going abroad.  

It’s an interesting question and in very short, I should imagine that as soon as things pick up, we will all be straight on the next flight to Malaga and on the sun beds before you can say ‘budget flights’. Personally, I think it is important to see the world but we must remember what a culturally rich, beautiful and historic country we currently inhibit.  

Our cities and countryside are some of the most stunning in the world, and we have a large tapestry of national events as well as being the motherland to legends such as Shakespeare, Henry VIII, John Lennon, Winston Churchill and (cough) Simon Cowell. 

Tourism is a double edged sword though on the world stage. For every holiday at Butlins, there is an empty plane seat, an empty taxi, an empty hotel room and a space by the swimming pool at a foreign holiday resort. As with everything, there are winners and losers, and let us not forget that we are not the only country in financial meltdown. Foreigners who previously holidayed in England now stay at home also, with repercussions on our economy. To learn more on the subject please take a look at what’s on offer.  

Without question my favourite subject, both as a child and as an adult, and like most people football is my first love. Cricket and Basketball had brief stints as my favourite sport but footy always stayed number 1. 

In my capacity as Bournville Tutor, I will pass on my infinite wisdom about the beautiful game. I will be going through a few coaching tips. So as to please everyone, you can apply these tips to your own game or pass on to others.  

Starting Your Own Team  The key to a successful team is training, simple. All tactics, ethos and philosophies are taken on to the pitch from what is done on the training ground. How many of you out there have ever ran onto the pitch and remembered and applied all the tactics detailed to you during the team talk; very few at a guess. 

You must pick three simple philosophies and stick to them, the simpler the better. Gear all training sessions to accommodate those philosophies.  

For example, at my previous club, I tried to implement three simple aspects of our game that were to be applied at all times of the game; 1. Pressure on the opposition, 2. Simple passes, and 3. Superiority in the air. The first and last ideas are crucial at the lower levels of the game; few players are good enough to play under severe pressure and, as most teams play long balls and set pieces, winning every header will almost completely blunt any threat from the opposition. The passing tactic was more idealistic and not always practical but it was a way of insuring possession and good quality football.  

This gives a framework with which to work in. You can make all drills high intensity to satisfy ethos number 1, you can play all training in a confined space to encourage simple, quick passing, and you can create competitive aerial situations to improve heading (remember everyone can head the ball, it only becomes hard when there is someone challenging you). 

Try this drill:- Again passing itself is simple, and there is little point simply passing from A to B to increase your skills; you will learn best when passing under pressure in a confined space. One team will be practising passing, moving, communication and speed of thought. The other team will learn constant pressure, communication and making life as hard as possible for the opposition.  

Remember: If you are the coach, you can stop the drill when you like. Insist on no letting up, if someone isn’t trying or is not fulfilling a philosophy, stop the training immediately and pull them up. It may be difficult at the start but it will ingrain the players with the tactics and style, helping them to do it as second nature in a game situation.

So close to our 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings, it seems apt to post about the possibilities of joining the army. Being a soldier is a very different animal to what it was 65 years ago. Back then you were often conscripted, rarely trained and, in the worst instances, simply used as canon fodder by inept generals. Nowadays, however, soldiers are expertly trained, taught trades, gain qualifications and well paid. 

Soldiering requires a raft of skills and can be essential in honing personal discipline and endurance. I know I beat this drum a lot when talking about certain careers, but a soldier will never be short of work and in these days of rising unemployment, you can’t buy that kind of security.  

The range of professions in the forces varies from chefs to photographers and musicians to admin support. For every kind of skill set, there is a role than can fulfil your needs. 

Our public sector courses are practically based and offer challenging, active and rewarding activities. We take an annual trip to Cyprus as well as trips to the Houses of Parliament and Stafford Prison. Training exercises include rock climbing, weapon training and assault courses.

All public services are covered in our courses, including police, fire, ambulance and prison wardens as well as ‘non uniformed’ roles such as governmental and civil servant careers. If you are interested learning more about the army and what courses we provide that help you make the step up, please take a look at our options.

The Jester returns this week with my friend and yours, the Keyboard Cat, as well as some more jaw dropping classics from around the web.

After last weeks sporting theme, I have moved to the medium of dance. Bizarre dance routines are in plentiful supply on YouTube so I have provided you with dances from the sublime to the ridiculous, to the downright painful.

Sublime: Not a lot to say other than very, very good.

Ridiculous: I don’t know whether this is good or not, maybe a dance student could help me out here.

Painful: 1 question – Why?

June 8 saw the 2009 Carers week to celebrate the hard working, dedicated carers that nurse our loved ones. The theme of this year’s Carers Week is a 'secret service' of carers operating undercover, quietly performing invaluable services and saving the UK money.

The week began with hundreds of carers and their supporters taking a 10-mile walk through London to raise awareness and fundraise for the Princess Royal Trust for Carers.

“The week is about recognising carers for the contribution that they make, not only to their loved ones but to their communities and to society.”

Events like Carers Week bring to public attention the work that carers do every day of the year. Please take a look at the carers blog.

Health and social care is one of the most rewarding professions anyone can undertake. The job requires rare skills such as empathy, unlimited selflessness and a genuine love for helping others.