Window treatments are used for a functional purpose as well as for a decorative purpose. An exceptional window treatment can create great changes in the look of a room and can make it so much more pleasant to view. To have an attractive and fully functional window treatment you need to keep in mind a few aspects that are essential to the final outcome of a window treatment.

Drapery and its utility 
Once you have decided about giving your windows a new look, the first and foremost thing to decide is the purpose of the drapery. Do you want the drapery to remain static in purpose or do you want to draw open and close the sheets often? Whether you would like to have the draperies in a semi-opened state? Be certain about the functionalities that you want from the draperies. Once you are sure about the functional part, proceed to decide about the drapery style. For this, first of all take into consideration the style of decoration that you have or would like to have in your room. Remember that whatever trend you want to create through your windows, it must go well with the décor of your room as a whole. Having traditionally styled draperies for a modern room with smart and minimalistic furniture will not solve the purpose of a proper décor. On the contrary, it will be a bad décor choice. Likewise, it is also important to keep in mind the purpose of the room where the draperies are to be hanged. A bedroom window treatment will need a lot of stress to be laid on providing privacy while a kitchen window will require a lot of sunshine to be allowed to pass into the room. So, the window treatment will have to be decided according to the purpose of the rooms. One other vital aspect is the budget. Everything depends on your budget. So, be careful about what budget you are putting aside for the window treatments. Do a little research about the prices of the materials and services you will require to put up a window treatment as per your wish. This way you will have some idea about the real picture and will be able to set a realistic budget for the aspired window dressings.

Fabric for window dressing 
Draperies are the most essential and most visible part of any regular window treatment. Fabric is the basic component on which the drapery styling depends. The selection of drapery fabric depends on a few factors. The style of drapery to be created is one of the most important things in this case. While heavy materials look good in a traditional style of décor, the same cannot be said to a modern minimalistic décor. Again, a delicate material may look good on a full-length window in the living room, but using the same material for the kitchen window treatments cannot be advised, as kitchen window dressings ideally should be durable enough to withstand regular cleaning and washing. This also explains the reason why the fabric selection for a window treatment also depends on the room where the drapery is to be hanged. Again, it is also vital to keep in mind the overall décor of the room including the furniture style and the color of the walls to make a proper selection of the fabric for the draperies. These factors also have an impact on the choice of the fabric material.

Proper drapery hardware 
Drapery hardware is that aspect of a window treatment that gives a drapery the final shape. Drapery hardware is as important as the drapery itself, if not more. Without proper and complementing hardware, it is practically impossible to hang a drapery in style and derive its functionalities without a hitch. So, enough care should be exercised to select the proper drapery hardware and mount it correctly. You must ensure a proper measurement of the draperies and the hardware elements before proceeding to install the components of the required hardware. Incorrect measurements may lead to having sloppy draperies, which is not at all desirable for a window dressing. Also, the material selected for the drapery hardware must also serve the purpose of the treatment. For example, metal drapery hardware is best suited with pleated drapery styles which require rings to hang the curtains. Again, take care to be sure about the location of the hardware and where you would like to install it. For that, consider the measurement of the curtains and where you will like the end of the curtains to fall. Depending on whether you require a window sill length curtain or a floor length curtain or a curtain with a puddle look, select the location of your drapery hardware.

With careful detailing and patient handling you can have a great window treatment decorating your room for a stylish look.

Strange as it may seem but if you start to go “Do, do, do, da dada do do dodo dooooo” and then make a motorbike revving sound to anyone over the age of 40 they are very likely to shout “Kickstart!” at you rather than ask you if you’ve taken leave of your senses. Hard as it may seem in our safety conscience days, but the BBC decide it was a good idea to have a show where Adults and later Juniors would perform a set of timed stunts round an obstacle course on a scrambler motorbike.  This was done in the typically inclement British weather and in muddy conditions. The bikes were a right state afterwards, as were the riders, and you feel for the Dads and Mums having to clean the mess up before the bike went back in the garage. A driveway cleaning service Evesham or Canterbury or wherever in the UK would have been helpful and you can find one at http://www.lwpressurewashing.com/.

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The premise was that you rode you bike around the course over the obstacles in the quickest time possible. If you put a foot down, knocked a pole over or even better for the audience fell off, then you had a penalty and some time added on. The worse for this was the “bunny hop” Basically a plank of coloured wood that you had to hop the bike over. Whilst it looked a simple task it was anything but. Riders were happy it seemed to drive over oil barrels or rocks, but the plank of wood was generally their downfall. They also had to limbo under poles and, memorably, drive over the top of car. Imagine what fun that must have been when it had been hammering it down with rain all day.

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As a kid this author wanted very much to have a bike and have a go. The Christmas present budget for my parents never stretched that far. I had to make do by watching the programme and willing on the British entrants as they were regularly trounced by their better, more experience Nordic competitors. “And this Lars Larsson from Norway”, Peter Purves, retired from Blue Peter at this point, would happily inform us (even though his name and flag had come up at the start of the round) “and he’s here as he says that Kickstart is a good easy practice before the real challenges in Tromso!  Thank you, Lars,!” Naturally Lars would go on to have a completely clear round, even managing the bunny hop, while poor Brian Trubshaw from Surrey regularly fell off the barrels within a minute of starting.  It was the same for the Juniors. Amazingly the organisers didn’t scale back the obstacles very much requiring kids to ride across thin beams. When they did fall off I was a bit like “oh dear”, but inside I was thinking “ha!, take that rich kid, you may have a bike but at least I’m not going to be in a plaster cast for the next 6 months”! Happy times.

Despite the strange weather at the end of February, with the ‘Beast from the East’ and Storm Emma bringing some very wintry weather to the United Kingdom, it is actually spring time, and time to start thinking about the work that needs to be done in the garden in preparation for the summer.

A lot of the work in the Springtime is pruning. Plants need to be pruned to ensure that they are in good health and looking their best for the summer when they are in full bloom. It is particularly important to prune roses at this time. Individual roses vary slightly, but as a general guide make sure that you are cutting with sharp secateurs and you may want to use a pruning saw for larger stems. Make sure that you cut out all the dead or diseased stems and cut no more than 5mm above a bud. It is best to check your rose though as it may have more specific guidelines to follow.

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This is also the time of the year to plant bulbs that flower in the summer. Bulbs are perfect for planting in garden borders and in pots and containers adding a nice splash of colour to the garden. Hardy bulbs like daffodils and tulips like to be in a dry and sunny place in the garden so bear that in mind when you are planting them.

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It is a good time to make extra modifications to your garden at this time aswell. If you want to add something a little different, Corten metal sculptures http://www.afsculpture.uk/portfolio_page/corten-metal-sculptures/ are perfect additions to the garden. Also, now is a good time to think about garden furniture. Getting last years furniture out of the shed and giving it a good clean, or if your furniture has had its day or you fancy a change, then have a think about new furniture. Think what it is that you are looking for and remember to consider the size and shape of your garden – sometimes what looks good in a shop can look out of place in the garden. It is a good idea to measure what size you would like so that you don’t get carried away by displays whilst out shopping!

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.

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.

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.

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.

There are some great reasons to get into teaching. We are always hearing of teacher shortages on the news, and with class sizes getting bigger and the need for more schools, there will always be a need for high-quality teaching staff. Here are some of the top benefits of a career in education:

Progression Opportunities

Teaching is a brilliant pathway into a wide variety of education-related professions. It is a large industry with many different avenues and specialisms. Teaching allows you to progress into positions such as department head, tutor, community outreach projects, head teacher, education consultant and many more. There never needs to be a dull moment in the teaching profession as you continue your personal develop and add new skills to your role. Everybody desires a varied, interesting and satisfying career.

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Fun Extra-Curricular Activities

You won’t always be stuck in a classroom. Extracurricular activities are a massive part of what a school offers, and give you the chance to have fun sharing your passion with the children. Maybe you love sports, crafting, chess, foreign languages or science? Starting lunchtime or after-school clubs is a chance to share your love of a topic with students who feel the same, or encouraging those who have never tried an activity to get into something new.

School Holidays

It has long been a source of envy that teaching staff get such long summer holidays and it’s definitely a perk of the job. There’s Easter, Christmas and half-terms too! Bear in mind that you won’t be able to take leave during term time unless there’s exceptional circumstances, but those other holidays should more than make up for that. For those teaching staff with children, it also makes childcare a whole lot easier.

Inspire

The job satisfaction of seeing a student understand something that you’ve explained to them is immense. When your class finally ‘gets’ something, you can feel proud that you’ve inspired this. As a teacher you have the opportunity to make learning exciting, engaging and fun. Your imagination and creativity can be boundless, whether you use lego to teach fractions or whiteboards for encouraging greater pupil interaction. For Magnetic Whiteboards for Schools, visit https://wedgewhiteboards.co.uk/

Pay

The demand for teachers is high and this is reflected in the benefits package of becoming a Newly Qualified Teacher. In England and Wales, NQT’s can earn up to £32k a year, which is pretty good. As well as the many opportunities for job progression, teaching can mean a steady, secure and healthy monthly wage for a lifetime. With a shortage in available qualified teaching staff, entering the job market at this time also means the odds are in your favour for an attractive package.

Whenever a tenant moves out there will always be a period of time when your property is empty. Sometimes this can be useful, such as when you want to clean the property. Other times it can be a nuisance because it means that you are missing out on rent. Here are some tips on how to deal with an empty property when you are between tenants.

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Property maintenance

Take the opportunity to do some maintenance. This could save time and money in the long run if you fix things sooner rather than later. Replace any broken items and inspect all the walls and furniture. It is easier to do this when the property is empty and means a clean slate for when the next tenant moves in.

You should also make sure that the water and electricity supply are off when the house is empty. Unplug all appliances and switch off all the sockets. It is also a good idea to unplug all the white goods in the kitchen and leave the doors open, which allows them to air and freshen up.

Although it is not difficult to do these things yourself, often it is more convenient to let a property management company or block management agents, such as http://www.completepropertygroup.co.uk/property-block-and-estate-management/, handle empty properties for you to ensure that they remain in good order between tenants.

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Heating considerations

Take care not to leave the heating off totally over the winter period. The pipes should be allowed to warm up to prevent them from freezing over and bursting. It is cheaper to occasionally put the heating on in cold weather than to deal with repairs to burst pipes and water damage.

Also check that any bins are empty, both those inside and the wheelie bins outside. Tenants should empty their bins but you cannot guarantee that they will have done so and old rubbish can quickly go mouldy and smelly. Bins should be properly cleaned to prevent any odours or bacteria.

Tax exemptions

Ensure that you benefit from any council tax exemptions, if applicable. An empty, unfurnished property can be exempt from council tax for up to 6 months. Also remember to transfer the utility bills to your name once tenants leave and take readings so that you are only billed for the period when the property was empty.