All posts by kThwlsU

Peer: The new consumer

The new user is at the same time a generator of content. He no longer has a receptive position, he tells his own stories; build the stories of your brands!

The 4P as Jerome McCarthy baptized, is a concept that since the seventies is considered key when marketing a product or service. It refers to four basic and traditional marketing tools: Price, Promotion, Plaza and Product. Continue reading Peer: The new consumer

Laminate v engineered flooring: Which should you choose?

Real wood flooring always looks great, but it is not always the most economical option; fortunately, it is possible to recreate the look of wood by using laminate and engineered wood flooring. There are advantages and disadvantages to both options, so read on to find out which you should choose.

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Laminate flooring

Laminate does not contain real wood; instead, all the parts of the floor are synthetic. Although not real wood, laminate of modern times looks very realistic and it is highly durable. Moisture is prevented from seeping through the material due to a waterproof backing seal.

More people than ever are replacing their carpets with laminate as they try to copy TV home improvement shows.

One of the disadvantages of laminate is than it does not give sound insulation when compared with carpet. Laminate from specialists such as https://www.woodfloorwarehouse.ie/laminate-flooring.html contains an image on the surface that makes it resemble other materials, such as wood or marble.

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Engineered wood

You will get a more realistic-looking surface with engineered wood, as the top layer is made of real wood. The layers beneath the top layer are synthetic, which cuts down cost. Engineered wood can be more stable than solid wood and can withstand moisture.

Similar to laminate, you will find less sound insulation from engineered wood than from carpet. A solution would be to use rugs, which will provide sound insulation while still allowing the beauty of the floor to show.

Roman Dining Floor

After the Romans had conquered Britain the locals that had helped them decided that rather than living in the mud and wood roundhouses they’d had to put up with it might be nice to try this fancy Villa style that they been told so much about. Only the rich leaders of the British tribes could afford this but the Romans were quite happy to pass on their skills and knowledge in this area. Soon Villas of varying size began to pop up. One of the most striking and important features was the tiled mosaic floor for the dining room. This was the centre piece and had to be special. One of the best examples of the style is at Chedworth Roman villa.

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The mosaicist was an important person in Roman towns with the nearest one to Chedworth being Corinium, now Cirencester, here the Villa owner could make an appointment to go through the new designs that they could have. The mosaicist could also come up with some bespoke designs too. At Chedworth it’s thought that’s exactly what happened. The dinning room contains an octagon around a central design that is unfortunately lost due to damage. Some have speculated that it was probably Bacchus the God of Food and wine and general partying. Each section contains various nymphs enjoying themselves. In the four corners were the representations of the four seasons. The only problem was that the Romans didn’t have a winter spirit so the locals had to come up with an alternative. They appear to have chosen a hooded figure dancing with a bare branch. This is typical of Roman policy. They were quite happy to integrate their Gods into the local versions as they found that pretty soon the populace started to prefer there’s anyway.

The mosaicist would have brought a selection of designs out to the villa for the owners to have a look at to see if they were happy with the product. With his gang of workers, the mosaicist would then slot the readymade pieces into place. They didn’t sit at the site pushing in the small blocks in the Roman cement mix there, it was already done. They really didn’t want to drop it on the way.

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Unlike our modern carpet the cleaning of the mosaic was pretty much wipe clean. All the servants had to do was wash it down. Chedworth is a short drive from Cheltenham and I’m sure it’s a job that http://gnccontractservices.com/ a Cheltenham Carpet Cleaning Company would have taken on at the time if they’d been around in the year 300. I doubt anyone would have fancy the job of cleaning out the underfloor heating system! That usually went to children to do. Not a pleasant job at all!

The Villa floor, and other examples there, are available to view today. Check it out it’s very impressive.

Jobs to do before selling your home

If you’re thinking of putting your house on the market, there are some fixes you need to sort if you want a good return on your investment. Don’t waste valuable time, effort and money fixing the wrong things – the things they want to see repaired but not necessarily what the buyer wants. Here are some issues you need to sort:

Flooring

  • Hardwood Floors
    Buyers love hardwood flooring. It might be worth removing any carpet if you have hardwood floors and have them refinished.
  • Carpeting
    If your carpets have seen better days, then it can pay to replace with a neutral shade which buyers will prefer when viewing. Definitely remove carpet from kitchens and bathrooms.

Ceilings & Walls

You’d be surprised at much attention buyers pay to walls and ceilings. They are looking for signs of damp or a leaky roof. Cover up any stains, marks or grease by applying a fresh coat of paint on walls and ceilings. It’s a cost-effective improvement to brighten up the place and choosing a neutral, light shade will make the place look bigger too. Wallpaper – Nobody wants somebody else’s wallpaper, it’s a very personal choice so steam it off.

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Roofing

This repair won’t add value as it’s a maintenance issue, but it will increase the number of people who potentially want to buy your home. Don’t put off getting roof issues fixed, particularly if you have any areas of flat roofing as this can put off potential buyers. For Bristol flat roofing, visit http://centralroofingsw.co.uk/

Exterior

Don’t overlook the importance of first appearances from the exterior of your property. Fix any cracks in the pavement with cement, tidy up hedges and weeds, replace the caulk around windows and doors, paint any fences and place some potted plants for example.

Kitchens

Kitchens are the one room that buyers make a beeline for. A complete refit is too expensive, but if your cabinets are broken or tatty, you could think about replacing the doors or even just the handles and knobs. If your cabinets are wood, even repainting is a viable option.

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Bathrooms

Carpeting is a major turn-off, so think about replacing with vinyl flooring which is an inexpensive solution. Replacing outdated lights and mirrors, as well as the shower door is a good idea as there’s nothing more off-putting than stains and lime deposits built up on surfaces.

Most of all, buyers will be put off if there are obvious signs of maintenance issues that have been ignored or put off. Ideally, a home ready to be occupied is what most people seek, with modern plumbing and electrics. If there are major maintenance jobs that need carrying out it will no doubt reduce the value of any offers you receive.

Tips for Creating a Luxury Bathroom

There’s nothing like having a soothing, relaxing bath after a long day. Your bathroom shouldn’t just be a functional place – it should be your haven too. With the right tips you can turn your drab bathroom into a luxury retreat.

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Materials

Choosing materials to complement your bathroom can help give it a classy look. High-quality materials such as marble, travertine and limestone are popular because they provide an element of style and sophistication. Solid wood and stone are also great choices.

Storage

Bathroom storage is important to reduce cluttering. Shampoo bottles, body washes and other essential items can be stored away. White, wood and gloss finished all look good in bathrooms, and it’s best to find some bespoke designs rather that tailor the storage cabinets to use every part of available space. People with small bathrooms should invest in wall-mounted cabinets to increase floor space.

Fittings

This is probably the most important part of your bathroom. Investing in a nice bath will be a good long-term plan and will enable you to enjoy some much-needed relaxation. People with small bathrooms should find a good shower to put over their bath. Showers have different features, including power showers and thermostatic control.

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The shower doors and bath panels also shouldn’t be overlooked. The appearance of your shower matters, and 12mm shower glass panels can complement the aesthetics. You can find them at places such as https://marvinandpinch.co.uk/products/12mm-clear-toughened-shower-screen-wetroom-panel-glass?variant=50220687892.

Another key element is sanitary ware. Wall-hung toilets maximise space and achieve a contemporary look. Two basins side by side give a “his and hers” look as well as being a great time saver in the morning rush.

Attention to Detail

If you live in a cold area, then underfloor heating will be a very welcome extra. Heated towel rails can also help to make your bathroom routine comfortable. For a relaxing evening bath, install a dimmer switch to create the perfect environment. Illuminated cabinets and mirrors help when applying makeup or shaving.

Bathroom time can be made easier by tiny details such as soft-closing toilet seats, cabinet drawers and doors. Technology is developing at a fast rate, and you don’t even need to miss your favourite TV shows with a waterproof LCD television and Bluetooth concealed speakers.

What makes the perfect martini

The martini is one of the most famous cocktails in the world – but that isn’t all it has to offer. It’s also one of the most simple cocktails, requiring less than three ingredients, but there are still hundreds of different variations of the martini cocktail, including sweet versions, fruity versions and versions that don’t use vermouth.

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But what if you don’t want a fancy new version? What if you just want the classic, perfect martini? If so, we’ve got your back: here’s how to make the perfect martini.

How to make the perfect martini

Ice
Chilled martini gasses
Vermouth
A metal shaker
Your garnish of choice; the most popular options are a slice of lemon peel or an olive
Gin

These are all the ingredients that you will need to make the cocktail, which was invented sometime during the 1870s. You can also pick up a classic martini cocktail at the F1 Paddock Club; visit https://edgeglobalevents.com/f1-paddock-club/ to find out more about booking a space.

How to make the martini

Take the vermouth out of the fridge and pour the spirit into the cap (everything that you need should be kept in the fridge or freezer for a few hours beforehand).

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Take the metal shaker out of the freezer, and put ice cubes inside, and then pour in the vermouth.

Swirl the ice and the vermouth around, and then take the gin out of the freezer, and add three ounces of the gin to the shaker.

Swirl the mix around, and then put the mixer down. Leave the drink to sit for a minute, and then swirl it again.

Once you have done this you can take your garnish out of the fridge and put it on a toothpick. If you decide to use olives, take two and push the red pimento out of the middle, and then push the two olives onto one toothpick.

Swirl the drink one more time and then strain the mix into two cocktail glasses.

This delicious cocktail is very simple to make, but it is important to let the drink settle for a minute before you pour it. This gives the gin a chance to properly mix with the vermouth and ice, creating a perfect smooth flavour – but make sure that you don’t swill the drinks too vigorously, as this can bruise the gin.

Netvibes, a great tool for the Community Manager

The task of the Community Manager is often multidisciplinary, and, in the vast majority of cases, it is necessary to perform content healing tasks.

This happens whether we are Community Managers of a brand or our own personal brand. If we work as Community Managers, we must locate interesting content throughout the Internet, not only to share it with our community and our audience, but also to read and train ourselves. Continue reading Netvibes, a great tool for the Community Manager

Community Management: Is it strategic or a Role?

Most companies that hire a community manager do so to entrust them with tactical functions such as generating conversations or answering doubts from community members on the Internet. This is what makes community management a role. This is logical since people on the Internet every day become more demanding and have learned that making their claims in a group and openly, get more results than fighting the battle alone against brands. Continue reading Community Management: Is it strategic or a Role?

“Goaled Up” in Ashbourne Derbyshire

If you’ve ever wanted to know where football might have come from then playing in the Royal Shrovetide Football match in Ashbourne, Derbyshire will give you a good idea. A word of caution though as you’ll be one of a hundred players, there are scant rules and you won’t know whose side anyone is on unless they tell you (ask “Do you know where the ball is, duck?”) plus it’ll last a lot longer than 90 minutes.

The game is based on Mob Football and dates to the Early Middle Ages. There are two sides the Up’Ards who live north of the town’s river and the Down’Ards who live in the south. If you’re visiting the locals are happy for you to join. The ball is “turned up” by an invited dignitary at Shawcroft car park from a plinth. The teams then must get the ball to their own goal. It can be carried, thrown or kicked. As the goal posts are 3 miles apart the playing area encompasses the whole town. Shops board themselves up and it’s seen as slow trading day. The “goals” are purpose built mill stones, the original ones having long since disappeared, and a goal is scored by the tapping of the ball three times on it. There is the slight issue here that you can’t just grab it and leg it there as it’s likely that hundreds of other players will be in the way. More importantly, the scorer must be elected by the team before this happens and they are the only ones who can do it. They must be a local Ashbourne resident. It’s also likely you’ll have to wade through a river to reach the goal and you can’t use a car or bike to transport it. You can’t hide it anywhere under your coat or in a bag either.  The “turn up” is at2pm on Shrove Tuesday and play ends at 10.00 pm sharp.

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Surprisingly, there are specialist “positions”. Most of the game is a series of scrums or “hugs” until there is a break and the ball pops out. Runners, who actually train for this, then scramble the ball as fast as they can to the goal. One thing to avoid is river play; though the game can be played entirely in the river, as its taking place in the Peak District in February this isn’t much fun. Any good sports person knows that good sports shoes are essential for the health of their feet and actually enhances their performance. Off the track or pitch you can enhance your street person (aka style) as well especially if you look for DR Martens Gloucester and find these beauties https://www.cottersshoes.co.uk/product-category/brand/dr-martens/

Back to the football. In this particular match there are no referees, but murder and unnecessary violence are not allowed. It’s called the Royal game because in 1928 King Edward Viii turned up to play it and got a bloody nose for his trouble. In more recent times Prince Charles “turned up” and started the match. He didn’t play.

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One last thing, you’ll need a good singing voice as Auld Lang Sang and the National Anthem is sung before the start. As you play you may want to ponder that some suggest the ball was originally the head from an execution of a very unpopular villain thrown into the crowd. “Down wi it” as they say.

Everything that glitters is not gold … it does not have value all that is said

We are already used to the avalanche of information of our era. With social platforms and blogs we have access to valuable texts and documents. We can be self-interested looking for relevant topics of interest for our professional occupation or personal preferences. Continue reading Everything that glitters is not gold … it does not have value all that is said