Life in the limelight is far from easy, with celebrities under constant scrutiny about their looks. As a result, going under the knife has become the norm for many stars – in fact, it’s even considered a style statement. There are also some great non-invasive procedures available such as those offered by Thread Lift Cardiff companies where you can achieve even more natural looking results. Continue reading Seven celebrities who have got it right with cosmetic surgery
Top tips for beating Norovirus
Norovirus is the “winter vomiting bug” that can strike at any time of year. It causes sickness and diarrhoea and is highly infectious. It is very unpleasant, although most people make a full recovery and don’t need any special treatment. The young and elderly will need extra support and care to recover well from this illness. Vulnerable adults may be in need of a part time care London agency, which you can find from https://www.guardiancarers.co.uk/services/part-time-care . Companies like these will be well prepared to deal with any kind of illness that occurs. Here are a few helpful tips to help you recover. Continue reading Top tips for beating Norovirus
Occupational health – who needs it?
Every company has a duty to care for the health and welfare of its staff, but it also makes sound business sense to ensure that employees are fit and well enough to carry out their duties. There is legislation in place that makes it mandatory for employers to protect the health and well-being of staff, but some businesses may need professional help to ensure that they meet the requirements. Continue reading Occupational health – who needs it?
Barbecues Become a Summer Social Affair
With the vast range of barbecues on sale today, it’s easy to see barbecues as a modern affair. Some of them are quite complicated and very expensive, but others are much simpler – no more than a box with charcoal and a grill. Continue reading Barbecues Become a Summer Social Affair
A Spiritual Trip to Fatima
If you’re looking for a holiday with a distinctly spiritual feel, then a visit to Fatima in Portugal is a must. Now a site of great importance to Christian pilgrims following an apparition of the Virgin Mary to three shepherds in 1917. For Catholics, the town of Fatima will hold very special meaning indeed. Here is a guide to the must-see churches of Fatima.
- Sanctuary of Fátima
Standing in this large plaza will give you an idea of the sheer number of devotees who come here, and you can’t help but be wowed by the size of the place. Fatima’s two basilicas can be found at each end of the plaza and the best time to visit is around the 13th of each month between May and October when various pilgrimages take place to the shrine.
- Basílica de Nossa Senhora do Rosário
Just shy of a decade after the apparition, work began on this Neo-Baroque church on the exact spot where the Virgin Mary was seen by the young shepherds, who first mistook it for a storm. On completion and consecration, the church was granted minor basilica status by the then Pope and the tombs of the young shepherds sit either end of the transept. For flights to Fatima from Irish Airports, visit https://irelandwestairport.com/
- Capela das Aparições
The very first site of worship to be constructed after the apparition, this church was built to answer the request of the Virgin Mary and is now housed in a bigger modern building. The site of the oak tree where Mary is said to have appeared now has a statue to mark the spot and is located in a glass display case in the chapel.
- Basilica of the Holy Trinity
By the mid-20th century, Fatima had become famous across the globe and visitor numbers exploded. It was clear that a second, larger basilica was needed, and this project finally came to fruition in the 2000s. With its minimalist design, it is impressive for its sense of scale, being able to seat over 8,600 worshippers.
- Casa Jacinta e Francisco Marto
The three shepherds were children, two siblings and their cousin. They lived in a small village named Aljustrel, not far from Fatima. It is easy to reach their home by car, train or a walk along the Via Sacra. This is the house where the two siblings, Francisco and Jacinta sadly died during the terrible flu epidemic after World War One. It is quite something to stand in the home of two saints.
- Casa de Lúcia
This is the home of the third shepherd, the cousin of Francisco and Jacinta. She survived the flu epidemic, becoming a nun and living to the good age of 97 years old. It offers a fascinating insight into poor rural life of a century ago, as the possessions and furniture inside are all original.
- Igreja Paroquial de Fátima
The original parish church was standing here long before the apparitions occurred. It dates back to around the 16th century, with numerous reconstructions since Fatima was placed on the map by the sighting of the Virgin Mary. The most poignant thing to see is the font where the three child shepherds were baptised. The cemetery here was the original resting place for Jacinta and Francisco before they were moved to the Basilica.
How blockchain could transform construction
A major challenge in the construction industry is to streamline productivity by taking advantage of cutting-edge technology. The advent of cryptocurrencies offers numerous opportunities to revolutionise this sector, but how can companies identify and benefit from these opportunities? Continue reading How blockchain could transform construction
The amazing world of Gordon Ramsay
Gordon Ramsay has been in the news recently for the arrival of his beautiful baby boy making him the father of five. This has been great news for the family following on from the sad news of their loss of a baby a few years ago. Continue reading The amazing world of Gordon Ramsay
The Ancient Egyptians love of cats
As a cat owner myself I am not surprised that the Ancient Egyptians loved cats and worshipped them in the way that they did. For me nothing is better than curling up on the sofa with a nice hot chocolate, a good book in my hand a cat asleep on my lap. Now, whilst the Egyptians wouldn’t have had all of the equipment such as cat towers and the out of hours care such as Cattery Cheltenham companies like https://www.catterycheltenham.co.uk/ to look after their pets when they went away, they certainly knew how to take care of their feline friends. Continue reading The Ancient Egyptians love of cats
In the days before we had carpets what did we use?
When you get up in the morning doesn’t it feel good to put your feet down on some nice soft carpet. It’s quite warm and inviting plus it almost makes up for the fact that you’ve got to get out of bed. Can you imagine what it is like if you were putting it down on something else? Whilst a nice floorboard or real wood floor is good to, in the days before any of this we were a bit stuck for surfaces. What did we use before carpet? It might be that you’re looking at your carpet and thinking that it might need a bit of a clean and a Bristol Carpet Cleaning company like http://carpetcleaningcompanybristol.co.uk/ might be just the ticket. Continue reading In the days before we had carpets what did we use?
Saving energy in the home
We all know that energy is expensive and any saving we can make is a major help with the household budget as well as helping the environment. What’s surprising though is how much you can save simply with greater efficiency, whether it’s properly maintained boilers in Haslemere or making sure you turn off appliances you’re not using.
The average house in the UK spends around £1,200 a year on energy an amount which could be significantly more than it needs to be.
Simple economy measures
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to save energy. It’s possible to start with a few simple measures. Not leaving appliances on standby for example or turning off lights when you leave a room. Washing your clothes at a lower temperature can make a difference too. Most modern washing machines have low temperature or energy saving settings. Getting an energy monitor can help you understand how you’re using power and which appliances in your home are consuming the most. It may come as a great surprise what is consuming the most energy in your house. There is a chance it could be due to your fireplace. A fireplace such as a stove that is on regularly like on winter nights could be very energy consuming. A possible solution to this is to limit how long you use a stove for. Different Stoves would have energy efficiency and would need a stove company to explain which kind of stove would best suit your needs. If you’re interested in optimising you’re stove use, you may wish to consider a wood burning stove Northern Ireland company such as http://www.stovebay.com/stoves/category/40-wood-burning-stoves#.XLCTz-hKhPY
who like other companies would give you the information on which stoves are most effective.
A lot of energy is wasted by letting heat escape, so you can save by making sure that your insulation is effective. Simple measures like draught-proofing your windows and doors or adding thermal curtain linings can make a big difference. If you’re prepared to spend a bit more then checking your loft insulation is adequate. You can look at cavity wall insulation too but check that you’re in a suitable location.
It’s also important to understand how to use your heating controls so that you only heat your home when you need to and keep it at a comfortable temperature.
More expensive options
If you’re prepared to invest a bit more into cutting your energy bills then you might want to consider measures such as generating your own electricity. The most common option for this is solar panels – which can also be used for water heating – but you may also consider installing a wind turbine.
Other options to think about might be heat pumps that draw heat from the ground or the air, or if you live in the countryside you might think about a wood-burning stove.