Locksmiths have some pretty unusual tales to tell when it comes to their emergency call outs. Let’s just say that it’s not always home owners needing to gain access to their property but also hotels with guests who have got themselves into a spot of bother with a pair of handcuffs! A locksmith should also make sure to check the ID of the person who is claiming they’ve locked themselves out. You never know, they may not actually live there! For more information on a locksmith in Belfast, visit http://www.belfastlocksmith247.co.uk/

Lockouts can happen at any time of the day and so a locksmith who does call outs would have to be on standby even in the dead of night. Some lockouts are quite straightforward and some totally bizarre. Normal jobs might include being sent by a landlord or maintenance company to break into an abandoned property and change the locks. Some rather more uncomfortable jobs might include breaking into the home of an elderly person who has not been seen for a while. Coming across a dead body is not something that you’ll likely forget in a hurry.

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Divorce lockouts can be very awkward and it’s difficult to be drawn into such a personal situation. A soon to be ex wife or husband would say they couldn’t get in, a locksmith may assist them and help change the locks. The husband might then also call with the same request! One story in the US tells of a husband who nailed the doors shut from the inside and climbed out of a window four stories up. In such a situation, it is likely all the doors would need to be replaced.

There are some deadbolts that malfunction so that they cannot then be opened with a key. Although the key still turns in the lock, it will not operate it. These call outs can be tricky and might take more than an hour removing the cylinder with power and hand tools so as not to damage the door. The lock itself will get destroyed in the process and will need replacing.

Halloween may have been and gone, but if you are still in the spooky mood and need more scary stories and things that go bump in the night, then take a look at these real haunted houses of the United Kingdom… Continue reading Real Life Haunted Houses of the English Countryside →

Having set the date for your big day, you will be eager to start inviting your guests. Before you begin posting out great big piles of save the date cards and invitations, take some time to think about how important this first step is for the lead up to your special event. Remember that your invitation is the first thing your guests will see and you will want it to be perfect. It will reflect your personalities and your hopes for the day.

If you have already decided on a colour scheme then you might wish to incorporate this into your invitations. This will set the tone nicely and will also be a chance for your guests to get an idea of the colours they can expect. This may help them decide on outfits and thus avoiding the potential embarrassment of clashing colours in the wedding photographs.

Knowing the time of year that you will be getting married means that you could incorporate the season into the colour scheme of your wedding. A Christmas wedding might reflect warm golds and reds whereas an Autumn celebration might choose oranges and greens. A summer wedding will normally be bright primary colours and a Spring event could use yellow.

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Another decision will be whether to use shop bought, homemade or use professionally handmade wedding invitations. There are so many designs to choose from so this could well be the toughest decision to make. Shop bought may be cheaper but might not fit your specifications. Homemade will be a cheaper option but make sure you research your materials and put aside plenty of time so you don’t get stressed. Bespoke invitations that are made exactly as you want them are a very special touch and will be treasured by everyone who receives one. For more information visit https://www.looneylizardcreations.co.uk/handmade-invitations/.

Will your wedding be tradition or ultra modern, chic or funky? Your invitations should reflect what the style will be. The wording and information will reflect the style of the day. Invitations will most definitely need to be posted as an emailed invite will just not cut it in the world of wedding etiquette. Remember that invitations are often kept as family keepsakes and placed in photo albums and collections so your invitations are also an investment in family heritage.

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Take some time to decide what you both want from your upcoming nuptials. Discuss the theme, colours and effects of the time of year. Think about whether you are tradition or a bit more edgy and don’t forget to factor in some extra wedding budget for all the stamps you will need.

The Xbox One and PlayStation 4 have had over two years to bed into the console gaming market, with Microsoft and Sony still pushing to get this new hardware generation off the ground in drastically different circumstances than last time around.

Both have sold millions of their gaming console but which one is better?

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The question that gamers who have yet to commit to a particular next-gen console must ask is which machine offers the ultimate gaming experience?

Single Player & Exclusive Titles

Superfast internet connectivity has completely changed the way people play games, as well as altering designs and experiences to accommodate a massively connected audience of players across the world. There was a point at which a persistent internet connection was even going to be a requirement for the Xbox One to function, even during offline gameplay.

However, both Microsoft and Sony still accommodate single player experiences, especially in the sphere of indie gaming. Independent titles that still foster solo play are rife and rising in prominence, with some titles becoming hot exclusives as a result.

2015 will see the arrival of Limbo sequel Inside from small studio Playdead, which Microsoft has secured as an exclusive release for Xbox One.

Meanwhile Sony is a little more impressive when it comes to exclusive triple A games, with the next few months set to see the release of the latest Zombie Call of Duty game from the 80’s where you can shoot down zombies with weapons and if you’re lucky in a tank!  However, although driving a tank on a computer game is one thing there’s nothing better than real life tank driving, if you are looking for a real tank driving experience look no further than … https://www.armourgeddon.co.uk/tank-driving-experience.html.

Multiplayer & Cross Platform Experience

The Xbox One has an impressive online offering in the form of Xbox Live, with the subscription-based access to multiplayer portions of games ensuring that the service works as seamlessly as possible. Microsoft has also been delivering free games each month as part of the Games with Gold scheme to offer added value to customers. Sony’s PS4 has a similar service in the form of PSN, while the console itself is worth praising for its acceptance of the streaming community with full Twitch integration.

Cross-platform releases have been a little more controversial in this generation than the last, with lots of focus being put on the fact that the Xbox One’s slight hardware disadvantage means that some titles are not running as well as they do on the PS4.

Debates over frame rates and resolutions are raging online, but ultimately this is the kind of thing that boils down to other factors, such as which consoles your friends have purchased and whether or not you have your eye on a particular title that is exclusive only to the Xbox One or PS4. In the long run it is still unclear whether Sony or Microsoft will come out on top.

Let’s look at some more easy ways to update your kitchen without going to the lengths of a complete kitchen refit.

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Put up Open Shelves

Open shelves are great if you have some nice pieces that you want to display. They look great against a tiled wall or one painted in a bright contrast colour.

Mix in Living Room Furniture

Period kitchens always had at least one comfortable chair next to the fire. Adding a rug and a couple of comfy chairs can make the room seem really warm and inviting.

Details Matter

If you’re not replacing the whole kitchen, make sure that what you are replacing works hard to refresh the look. Don’t go for bland blinds for example – add something that makes a statement.

The Back Splash Needn’t Be Boring

And it needn’t be tiled either, though this example in Atlantic magazine shows that if you choose an unusual colour, tiles can look stunning.

One of the most effective treatments is a back splash in a contrast colour to the rest of the kitchen.

Don’t Be Afraid to Mix Styles

A butler sink and shaker-style cabinets can look great with a modern island, so don’t be afraid to mix up styles and periods – if it works, it works.

A New Floor Can Work Wonders

One potential investment to pull the whole thing together is new vinyl flooring, as available from sites like http://www.ukflooringdirect.co.uk/vinyl-flooring. It can add colour to a dark kitchen, lighten up a dark one, and give warmth to one that seems a little cold.

Experiment with Colour

Get some colour cards so that you can play about with different combinations – you may be surprised at what works together.

Kitchen Lighting Can Be Fun

So much kitchen lighting is functional but boring. Think about investing in a lamp or two that you can use to vary the mood.

Make Room for Something Seasonal

Include a wicker basket that you can fill with pine cones in autumn or evergreen foliage in winter, to add a natural dimension to the scheme.

Up Cycle Everything

Be as imaginative as you can. Look at the stuff you’ve got in your loft or your garage that you don’t use and use your ingenuity to turn it into useful objects for the kitchen.