Moving to a new house is hard enough, but the unpacking you have to do when you get there can feel even more torturous. For some reason it seems to take months to unpack and settle everything, even when the packing and moving might have been done fairly quickly. Here are some unpacking tips so you can unpack like a pro:

1. If you are moving with a pet, make sure their needs are met on arrival as a priority. Keep it safe in a room with food, water and familiar toys to lessen the stress it might be experiencing. On moving day, it’s often wise to have someone else care for your pet in a calmer environment.
2. The first box to unpack is the pre-planned box of essentials. This contains all your important comfort items, so you don’t have to get stressed out looking for things like toiletries, toilet paper, snacks, toys, nappies, medication or anything else that’s essential for that first day or night.

Image credit

Image credit

3. As the bathroom is the easiest room to unpack for, head for your boxes marked ‘bathroom’ first. All the furniture in this room is pre-installed, so it should just be a case of arranging your toiletries, hanging a shower curtain and laying down some mats.
4. Wardrobes and closets should be unpacked next, as everyone is going to want access to a change of clothes pretty soon. The good thing about sorting these out early is that clothes take up a lot of storage space, so filling your wardrobes means lessening the number of boxes lying around and as you can shut the door on a wardrobe, you’re not making any additional clutter around the home.
5. It’s always a great idea to have the movers place your furniture exactly where you want it as part of the service. If you haven’t planned this, now is the time to get your furniture arranged. For information and advice about moving, contact a Bristol Removals Company like http://www.imoveremovals.co.uk/
6. Anything that gets stored away in cabinets can also be done next to get them out of the way. Items such as bookcases, ornamental displays, shoes and electronics.
7. Decorative items like curtains, posters, wall-hangings and art should go up next to give you more floor space.

The Kitchen

You’ll want to spend some extra time in the kitchen, as it’s the most important and unique room in any property.

1. The first thing you’ll want to do is give it a good scrub. This will also help you to familiarise yourself with all its nook, crannies and storage capacity.
2. Position your essential appliances, placing the larger pieces first before bringing in the boxes marked ‘kitchen’. Now you can unload all your kitchen utensils and it’s just up to you how you choose to organise it all.

Are you interested in making some extra money by buying and selling online? You’re not the only one! With buying and selling online reaching record new highs, you can be forgiven for thinking your only option is eBay. However, there are more online selling and buying sites out there that might be a better fit for you and your products.

Image Credit

Type of Products

Depending on the type of product that you are looking to sell, there will be an online platform out there for you that is fit for your purposes. There are specialised online selling platforms for selling fashion, handmade products or vintage items. Depop, Etsy and Folksy are all geared toward a younger generation who are tech-savvy, providing the buyer with immediate feedback and the ability to see “likes”.

Reputation

Thanks to a highly effective nationwide advertising and marketing campaign, we have all heard of Not on the High Street. With the ability to reach a customer base of almost 40 million people, this can be the perfect online selling platform if your speciality is hand-made, unique products.

Image Credit

The rest of the competition

Shopify, Magneto and OnBuy are fairly similar to eBay, and all of these sites will involve a small cost for you to be able sell your products. When you add up transaction fees, listing fees and even monthly subscription costs, it’s important to make sure you are not paying out more than you are making.

Same Day Courier Service Birmingham

When selling your items, it is important that you provide customer service that is second to none. Getting your product packed and sent out should be as fast as possible, so it’s important that you have a reliable courier service you can call on. Same Day Courier Service Birmingham and other cities offer can be very helpful when it comes to making sure that you can keep the promises you make to your customers. Try searching for Same Day Courier service Birmingham.

Finding a trusted courier and building that relationship can be critically important.

If you’ve decided to turn your hobby into an online business or you simply have lots of old items cluttering up your home that you want to sell, get researching today to find the online selling platform that suits your needs best.

The large recruitment firm, Robert Walters, has said that Brexit is boosting demand for lawyers, accountants and IT professionals. The probable cause is that companies are expecting changes in regulation and legislation as Brexit approaches.

Image Credit

Professional salaries rising

Professional salaries seem to confirm the trend – in the three months to February 2018, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that salaries for this group had risen by 2.8%.

The trend is certainly good business for recruiters, with profits up, and record quarters being achieved. Again, Brexit appears to be the driving force for the increase in business. In fact, Robert Walter released figures showing a yearly increase of 41% in the availability of jobs in finance and accounting. But taking a contrary view, other large recruitment firms, such as Michael Page, ascribe the strong recruitment market simply to a shortage of skilled candidates, and high demand in some areas. They reject the idea that it has anything to do with Brexit. In fact if anything, they see Brexit as weakening confidence levels, driving down demand and keeping wages lower.

Labour market strengthening across the board

However, the ONS says that for the first time in a year, wages generally are up. The labour market is strengthening, with skills shortages, high employment and wages finally rising faster than inflation.

Image Credit

Accountancy Age says that the rise in demand for accountants is specifically in the areas of tax, audit and advice, and that the regional centres – Reading, Bristol and Birmingham are performing strongly – https://www.accountancyage.com/2018/05/22/why-are-accountants-in-demand-in-2018/.

In Cheltenham accountants https://www.randall-payne.co.uk/ are also busy but tend to plan ahead for peaks and troughs in demand for services, so that clients are never kept waiting.

In the very big London-based accountancy firms, clients are quite likely to meet a contractor rather than an employee of the firm. Cheltenham accountants are more likely to recruit permanent new accountants to supplement their staff, and help the firm to provide a more personal service to clients.

Very large companies, however, find themselves having to use contract accountants, particularly to fill roles in areas such as audit. In some areas of the country, where it is hard to attract staff, non-EU nationals have been employed, and there is now some uncertainty about whether this will be possible after Brexit.

Dark pattern is one of the less scrupulous aspects of web design that some sites employ to force users to take an action. Read on to find out more about dark pattern and how it can backfire.

Image Credit

What is dark pattern?

Dark pattern design relies on deception. It also relies on the fact that there is just so much content on the web. When you visit a website, you are often inundated with text, ads, multimedia content and more, which means users are more likely to skim rather than read every word.

Dark pattern works by slipping in text, tick boxes, buttons and other design elements that ‘trick’ the user into doing something they may not actually want to do, such as signing up for a subscription or adding a product to an existing order. Other examples include making users jump through hoops to close their account, disguising adverts as something else to make people click through or forcing users to share additional private information. Consent notifications can also be a target for dark pattern design.

It is called ‘dark pattern’ because darker text and background colours are often used to make the design elements less prominent.

Image Credit

What does it mean for you?

On some level, it might be tempting to employ dark pattern design. The idea of getting visitors to your site to do something you want them to do is, of course, appealing; however, if you have worked hard to drive organic traffic to your site with a view to these visitors converting and becoming loyal customers, tricking them into doing something is only going drive them away and negatively impact on your integrity and reputation. Many of us have been caught out by dark pattern deception and we can freely talk about our experiences on social media.

If you use professionals in web design in Yorkshire or elsewhere, such as https://www.etempa.co.uk/, you can be sure your site is set up to be user-friendly and encourages visitors to stick around for all the right reasons.

Overall, the best advice is to think twice before you dabble in the dark arts of dark pattern design. People who enjoy a positive experience on your website are far more likely to return and to praise your business to others.a

James Marshall Hendrix or Jimi as he was known is still regarded as one of the greatest and most talented Guitarist the world has ever seen. And all of this reputation is built on just four years of really mainstream interest in his music. The plaudits for him are endless, modern musicians of Rock and other genres hold him up as the pinnacle of performance and his art.  Guitar Shops Gloucestershire, Middlesex, Scotland, The USA any part of the world that has one will somewhere have a picture to him or a book of his music for you to learn and play. To save time, why not pop along to https://www.guitarsmiths.co.uk/ and see for yourself.

Image credit

He was born in Seattle, Washington in 1942. To say that he was of mixed race would be an understatement. His Grandfather was an African American and his Grandmother came from the Cherokee nation.  Seattle was to give us many great rock guitarists over the years but Hendrix was the first of a generation to come out of this Eastern USA city. He began early on the acoustic guitar at aged 15. He was heavily influenced by the blues of Muddy Waters and BB King. Before that he had practiced and pretended with a broom. That’s about the closest we could ever hope to emulate his skill.

His first role was as a paratrooper in the United States army. After being discharged with honour he decided to embark on a career in music. He soon became a popular figure with many big groups as a backing guitarist with the Isley brothers and one of the other greatest Rock and Roll artists Little Richard. He soon tired of being a backing guy and after moving to New York he formed Jimmy James and the Blues Flames who enjoyed some success on the Club scene.

Image credit

It was a chance meeting with Keith Richards’s girlfriend Linda Keith who introduced him to producers. Chas Chandler, ex of the Animals, was so impressed with his cover version of the song Hey Joe that he took him to London in 1966 and began to build a band around him to show case his talents. With Noel Redding on Bass and Mitch Mitchell on Drums the Jimi Hendrix experience was born. They were not just a rock band as Hendrix himself defined them “I’d like it to be called, ‘Free Feeling’. It’s a mixture of rock, freak-out, rave and blues”. This heady mix was to explode upon the music scene.  Several landmark albums, Are You experienced? and Electric Lady Land (featuring one of the most controversial album covers ever) and a series of tours and performances (see the link above for one of the most electrifying) that would cement his reputations the greatest.

He died at the stupidly young age of 27. He was burnt out by performance, expectation and also Drugs and Alcohol abuse. His legacy though remains. A man who could play the guitar with his teeth, behind his head and then set fire to it generally does.

Hot, dry summers mean brown, dry lawns, right? Well, in most cases this is normally true, however, there will always be those people that for some reason have lush and green lawns throughout the year. Let’s take a look at how they do it and how you can keep your lawn green all year long.

Image Credit

Mow high

Cutting your lawn too short in the warm summer months is the worst thing you can do for your lawn. The longer the grass, the longer the roots will grow and longer roots are able to reach down for moisture even on the hottest of days. Make sure that you set your mower to the highest setting and you’ll be shocked at the difference such an action can make.

Watering

Watering your grass too frequently encourages short grass roots, which causes the grass to stress during times of drought. This means that you’ll have to water your lawn more frequently. A good rule of thumb is to keep your lawn longer, so that the roots are longer and to water it infrequently and deeply – about an inch of water a week will keep your lawn green during the summer. Just be sure to water early in the morning or late at night to avoid too much evaporation.

Image Credit

Leave the cuttings

Don’t throw the cuttings away as they can actually be used as a slow releasing fertiliser for your lawn as they decompose. What’s more, they’re free.

Use sharp blades on your mower

Dull blades on mowers tear grass as opposed to cutting it, meaning that the grass actually heals more slowly and can acquire a brown look making it more prone to disease. The sharper the blade the cleaner the cut and the faster the grass will heal. If in doubt, hire professionals who carry out grounds maintenance Gloucestershire, has a good range http://gloucestershiregroundsmaintenance.co.uk, so that the job is done properly.

Aerate in autumn

According to http://time.com/money/2951475/greening-up-the-grass/ the best way to have a green lawn long term is to aerate it by creating hundreds of holes which loosen the soil and then top it with compost as well as grass seeds.

If you repeat this over a number of years you’ll improve not only the soil, but the grass type, giving you a greener lawn that is more drought resistant.

Have you always dreamed of a garden wedding? Beautiful greenery, flowerbeds and rose bushes providing the backdrop for the most romantic day of your life. If you’re the proud owner of a stunning and highly maintained garden, you might think of holding your wedding reception right there at home. Why splash out on a venue when you have the perfect garden right on your doorstep? Today, couples desire a unique, individual and natural wedding, and that’s why garden reception are becoming increasingly popular. Here are some tips for planning your own garden wedding reception:

1. Think About Season

This will be the top consideration for any outdoor event. A garden can look very different in April when compared to October. Choose a month where you can feel confident all those wonderful blooms will on display or the colours are just what you’re seeking. You’ll need to consider Mother Nature as your number one spot on the guest list!

Image credit

2. Pests

Any outdoor event can be plagued by the presence of ants, wasps, bees and mosquitos (not all at the same time we hope!). Summer weddings should be prepared with citronella candles and other prevention methods. Always have a first aid kit to hand in case anyone does experience a bite or sting. You don’t want insect gate-crashers ruining your perfect event.

3. Decorate to Complement Nature

Unlike an indoor venue, there isn’t a huge amount of decoration necessary when Mother Nature is providing the backdrop. A few personal touches will enhance the look, such as chair covers, garden ornaments or fairy lights on trees, for example. You shouldn’t need to include many floral displays! If you’re having caterers but don’t want a family member stuck making drinks all afternoon, why not consider adding Mobile Bar Hire Gloucester from https://www.wearethemoversandshakers.com/mobile-bar-hire-gloucestershire/?

Image credit

4. Prepare for the Weather

Despite your choice of season or what the weather forecast says, British weather can still surprise us. For unseasonably warm weather, make sure you have plenty of shade in the form of a marquee, large parasols or canopies. These will also be useful for unexpected downpours too! If it feels a bit chilly, perhaps consider heat lamps.

5. Be Creative with the Space

If your garden is more formal, then you might have quite defined spaces for your event to flow, such as patios, hedgerows and decorative trellises. For wilder, country gardens, you could consider creating some definition with partitioning or outdoor rooms. Perhaps an area for lounge furniture, a separate bar space marked out by potted plants and some decking laid for a dancefloor, for example. You can really go to town with your space, including elements like picnic blankets, wooden benches, deckchairs and barbecues.

To prevent the nightmare of a boiler breaking down, it’s best to be prepared and look after your boiler with regular servicing as well as learning a few quick tips to try should the worst happen and your boiler stops working.

Image Credit

Check for simple solutions

If your boiler has stopped working, try the basics to get it fired back up. Turn it off and on again in case the thermostat or power supply has been accidentally turned off.

If the power supply is still connected but you’re not getting any sign of life in the boiler, check that you’re still getting power to other electrical appliances and if not contact your electricity supplier to see if there’s been a power cut.

Next, look for yоur pilot lіght. If it has gone out, try following the instructions in your manual to reignite it yourself and if it doesn’t come back on check your gas supply. Find out if other gas appliances in your house are working and if they’re not, get in touch with your gas supplier.

Image Credit

Know when to talk to the experts

A quick call to professionals in boiler installation Bristol can give you advice on how to fix common boiler breakdown issues and arrange a time for an engineer to diagnose the problem in person.

Preventing problems with your boiler

According to Confused.com on average, modern boilers tend to last for 10 to 15 years. If your boiler is older than 15 years, it can be reassuring to install a new boiler to give you peace of mind.

Boilers tend to develop faults over the summer when they are used less frequently and their internal components risk seizing up. Bristol Boiler Service can help you by offering routine servicing so that you can be reassured your boiler is running smoothly, any parts that are broken can be fixed or replaced before they cause more parts to fail, and that any costly breakdowns will be unlikely.

Boiler installation Bristol should be carried out by experts and Gas Safe registered engineers.

Once you’ve invested in a new boiler, it makes sense to keep it in good condition and reduce the risk of it breaking down by getting it serviced annually. This is often a condition of the manufacturer’s warranty.

Nearly half of all newly qualified GPs leave within five years. And it’s increasingly the case that large numbers of these are leaving to take up better-paid posts as locums. The Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, has now relaxed visa rules for foreign-trained doctors. But this hardly solves the problem of so few new GPs being retained in permanent positions.

Image Credit

Even within locum work, short-term assignments are preferred to long-term locum positions. The UK is heading for a crisis in GP resourcing as demands on surgeries rise while the number of GPs available falls.

Fewer GPs and Fewer Hours

There are a number of reasons for these retention problems. Many GPs have been retiring in their 50s, because they get penalised by the tax system if they continue to pay into their pensions. The King’s Fund, quoted by the BBC, has said that between 2005 and 2014, the number of GPs aged between 55 and 64 leaving the profession doubled.

And in 2009, the average GP worked four and a half days a week. That has now reduced to four days a week.

Image Credit

Range of Reasons for Popularity of Locum Work

Younger people joining as newly qualified GPs want more flexibility in their hours. GP locum jobs from http://www.thegplocumagency.co.uk/ give them a lot more control over their hours.

Furthermore, locum positions allow a GP to gain experience of different practices and may allow them to pick the job of their choice if they do decide to go for a permanent position.

Then there’s the question of property prices. GPs want to buy their own property and know that by saving a large deposit by doing locum work and then later moving into a permanent job, they can get a better mortgage deal.

Work Pressure a Major Factor

Undoubtedly, the pressures of the job are a major factor in GPs leaving. Much of the bureaucracy that established practices have to fund and comply with doesn’t affect locum GPs. So they are able to spend a greater proportion of their time on purely medical work and a lesser proportion on management.

We are going to need to address this issue, because at the moment locum work is clearly an attractive option compared to joining a practice on a permanent basis.

Leaving your pooch behind when you go away on holiday or for business shouldn’t be stressful – for either you or your canine companion. That’s why choosing a great boarding facility is crucial so that you have complete peace of mind and your dog gets looked after in all the right ways.

Image Credit

These five tips will help you choose a kennel that suits you both and will ensure that you and Fido both enjoy your break!

Pay a Visit to the Kennel First

Before you book your hound into a boarding facility, pay it a visit first. What you see in an advert or online may not be an accurate representation, and it’s best that you pop in physically and see what’s what. This way, you can gauge the set-up for yourself and see if it’s clean and tidy and if the dogs look happy and well cared for.

Image Credit

Chat to Staff

Friendly staff members who clearly love dogs are important, so chat to them and establish an open line of communication. If the staff are warm, caring and clearly passionate about the job at hand, the chances are your dog will feel this too and be comfortable during their stay.

Check out the Special Services

Some kennels offer everything from daily walks or runs to pampering treatments for pooches. If you know what services are on offer, you can book appropriate ones for your pup so that they have fun too.

Ask If There Is a Vet on Call

Every decent boarding facility should have a vet on call around the clock, just in case of any emergencies. When dog boarding in Surrey at https://nestledownboardingkennels.co.uk/ or at any other facility, you should check and see whether the local vet has a good relationship with the kennel, as this will highlight any issues that may have cropped up in the past.

Find Out About Health Requirements

You don’t want your pup mixing with unhealthy dogs, so always ask if vaccinations are required, as this is a great indication of a kennel’s health concerns. A kennel that doesn’t require proof of vaccinations isn’t too worried about the dog’s health, and this can be a major worry, as your pet will be in close quarters with others and could catch something nasty.