Travel

The only thing that Nelson could see from his Column

Leave a comment

Trafalgar square is one of the most iconic places in London. It was built to celebrate one of the greatest victories of the Nation in a battle that meant that Britainnia finally ruled the waves andsetting up the creation of the British Empire. The architect of this great win was Lord Nelson and a statue to him sits atop a column in the centre of the square. As he looks out at St Martin’s in the Fields, the stone lions and the unfinished plinth there was a time that his view was obscured by a very common bird. This was the pigeon and they certainly made a right mess of his stone appearance.

Image credit

Trafalgar Square had so many pigeons it was becoming quite ridiculous. It was certainly a job for a Pest Control Chelmsford based company to come and remove them. If you have a similar problem Find out more about pest control in Chelmsford by clicking the link. The pigeons were everywhere. Not only were they leaving large amounts of guano they were also stealing food. It wasn’t the bird’s fault. They were only responding to the seed being fed to them via the many tourists that bought it from the vendors.

Image credit

Slowly word got around amongst the birds (pigeons are very intelligent) that there was a ready source of food available. There were not only seeds there were also human food leftovers like crisps and donuts too. The selling of bird food was banned, anti landing devices installed and even a couple of Harris Hawks added which soon reduced the numbers.

Internet Marketing

How to make your website secure

Leave a comment

Spies, thieves, hackers and malware are a problem for every website and every website visitor. In your own interests and to comply with the law you have to take steps to keep your website safe. A good web hosting company will help you do this, but here are a few basic precautions.

Image Credit

Make your domain name accessible by HTTPS

A secure sockets layer “certificate” (SSL) encrypts your sites data exchanges so they can’t be intercepted and monitored. It makes your site accessible by HTTPS instead of HTTP. SSL is often bundled with commercial hosting packages because they are essential for commercial sites, but they are reassuring for every site.

Buy your business name

It’s a good idea for businesses to buy any domain name that resembles their own (see https://www.names.co.uk/domain-names). That prevents someone impersonating you, profiting from your marketing, or cybersquatting (asking an inflated price for the name later).

Keep up to date

All websites depend on a web server and many also depend on a PHP interpreter, database and other software resources. These are constantly being improved to protect against new threats so keeping up to date is important. Good web hosts help you do this but it is something to ask when you choose your package.

Don’t allow uploads

Don’t provide any means for visitors to upload files onto your server space. If you need to receive files, ask them to use DropBox or email them direct so you can scan them with antivirus software.

Image Credit

Secure your contact forms

If your website allows visitors to send messages or leave comments you need to be very careful. Secure plugins use filters and other methods to prevent hackers entering potentially dangerous code into them.

Use security plugins

There are many free security plugins for content management systems like WordPress but check out the reviews before you use them. In the past, some had flaws that hackers could exploit so always keep them up-to-date.

Don’t advertise your CMS

If your website says “made with WordPress” you are telling hackers the weaknesses of your website and the default locations of its critical files.

Use safe passwords

Passwords aren’t much use if they are easy to guess. Hackers don’t have to guess them manually, they use software to try out probable combinations, but it is still very hard for them to crack a strong password.

Health

Ageing Population

Leave a comment

Currently in the UK, there is an ageing population, which means that people are able to live longer therefore creating an aged population which is actually the highest it has ever been in human history. People are able to live longer due to a better quality of life and technological advances which have led to the improvement of medicine. Less people are having children because of how expensive it is and also because of the lack of housing in the UK.

There are almost 12 million people aged 65 and over. This has caused strains on care homes as there is a higher demand but a lack of spaces available in care homes. This in turn has caused pensioners to change their homes to accommodate to their needs. A few changes include changing existing bathtubs to wet rooms, building wheelchair ramps for easier access to the house, upgrading beds with railings and controls, and installing stairlifts.

More and more people have started to add stairlifts into their homes to make climbing the stairs an easier and less painful task. A stairlift is a chair powered by electricity used to transport a person from one end of a staircase to the other using a control. There are a wide variety of stairlifts are available all over the UK. These can be found from companies such as Stairlifts Bristol provider Pearce Bros Stairlift. There are many different types of stairlifts available. These can range from straight tracks to curved and can accommodate for all types of stairs.

Acorn Mobility Stairlift | Mobility World Mobility Aids

                        Image Credit

Home Improvement

Your timber cladding options explained

Leave a comment

Timber cladding is sustainable and eco-friendly, and it can create looks from traditional to super contemporary. When choosing timber cladding, you have a lot of options, from the type of wood you use to the edging

Image Credit

The overall effect of timber cladding will guide your choice as much as the properties of a specific wood, whether you want a versatile larch, a bark edged cedar, or elegant oak feather edge cladding.

Edging

The edging you choose for your timber cladding has a big impact on the overall effect. Whether you’re using a softwood or a hardwood such as oak feather edge cladding reduces the amount of timber you need to cover a frame by about 25%. Waney edge cladding creates a more traditional, natural feel with its natural bark edges, and straight edge cladding has a modern, precise look.

Oak Cladding

Oak is a classic and popular material. It’s naturally durable and it comes in a range of colours that mean you can create a variety of different effects, although most types of oak will fade to a silver patina over time if not treated. Treating oak slows down weathering but doesn’t completely prevent it, and one of the big advantages of oak is that you don’t need to treat it: it looks great and lasts well untreated. That’s the main reason why oak tends to come at a premium price.

Image Credit

Hardwoods such as oak also retain heat. Using them on exteriors or interiors creates natural insulation that could help lower your heating bills.

Western Red Cedar Cladding

Previously, this cladding choice used wood imported from Canada, but with an increasing number of these trees in the UK, home-grown options are now practical and popular. Red cedar is a beautiful wood, and very hard to replicate with synthetic materials. It also lasts for decades if installed properly.

Western red cedar can be more affordable than oak, but you will pay a premium price for the best possible quality.

Larch Cladding

This is another great British softwood. It’s not as long lasting (though still 30-50 years), but the big advantage of larch is that, as a naturally knotty wood, it’s one of the best out there for creating a natural, traditional look. It also comes in a wide range of colours, and is a more affordable option than oak or red cedar.

Home Improvement

How to Design a Patio

Leave a comment

Designing a patio is an important part of any home, because the place you put your outdoor furniture will determine your enjoyment of it. If you have a large family and a lot of guests, a large patio would be a good idea, because it’s a perfect place for outdoor dining and entertaining. For smaller families, a small patio is fine; you just need to ensure that there are some facilities available for cooking and socialising in your backyard.

Image credit

With the right design and planning, you can transform an otherwise boring backyard into a relaxing oasis complete with comfortable seating and a warm fire. It’s a good idea to do a little research before you begin planning your patio, so that you can get the most from the space and the resources that are at your disposal. You may also want to consider hiring a contractor or designer if you are planning on redesigning the entire patio. For Patios Gloucester, visit a site like Garden solutions

Title: Inserting image...

Image credit

Once you have decided on what type of patio you want, next comes the process of deciding where you want to put it. If you have a large backyard, it’s possible to build a porch or patio right next to the house, with plenty of space to spread out and enjoy your food and drinks while talking. However, if your house is too small, a deck or porch is probably your best option. Take measurements of your house to see how much space you have available; a professional will be able to help you calculate this.

Reviews

Where to Enjoy Walking in Scotland

Leave a comment

For getting away from it all and being with nature, the Scottish Highlands is one of the best places to go. Camp out and sleep under the stars, or find a remote holiday cottage to rent, and you will truly be able to make the most from rural Scotland.

You won’t need to pack much, just some good footwear for walking as  well as waterproofs and walking maps from https://www.themapshop.co.uk/Explorer_Walking_Maps.htm to ensure that you don’t get lost!

Image Credit

You will be spoilt for choice for stunning and scenic places to visit in the Scottish Highlands, but here are some of the best laces where you can really enjoy all the beauty that nature has to offer…

Muckle Flugga – One of the Shetland Islands, Muckle Flugga is small, but beautiful – see the seabirds such as Gannets and Skuas on the cliffs, and head up to the lighthouse to take in some truly spectacular views.

Hermaness - Muckle Flugga Lighthouse. - Picture of Hermaness ...

Image Credit

Loch Ness – Famous for the monster supposedly lurking beneath the loch, for walkers and camper’s loch Ness is a real treat. Take in the views over the loch, and visit the medieval Urquhart Castle, stood proudly overlooking the loch.

Beinn a’Chrulaiste – This imposing mountain near Fort William is said to be the best view in all of Scotland by many people. Make sure you have your climbing shoes as it is steep, but the reward is a view that will stay with you for life – looking across to Glen Coe.

Reviews

Where Does Vanilla Come From?

Leave a comment

Did you know that vanilla comes from a plant that looks something like a sweet corn? It is native to Central America and is a popular spice that comes from the pod of the vanilla orchids. However, what do you need to know about this wonderful spice? In fact, not all vanilla comes from the same plant. Less than 1% of all the natural vanilla used in today’s world comes from natural vanilla beans.

Image credit

Natural vanilla has a higher price tag as well. It is estimated that less than 10% of all natural vanilla beans in the United States are grown in the Central American rainforest. This is because demand is 10 times greater than the annual production of pure natural vanilla in this region. It is also second only to saffron in terms of its price per pound. It is expensive because growing the pods is labour intensive.

Vanilla is a hugely popular flavour and is used in a whole variety of products from ice cream to perfume, air fresheners and baking. For more details on Organic Vanilla Extract, visit a site like https://www.foodieflavours.com/shop/flavours/natural-flavouring/gorilla-organic-vanilla-extract/

Image credit

Vanilla can be purchased in different forms. Some uses involve the need for the whole pod, whereas others use the ground powder from the pods. Vanilla extract is common for baking and beverage use, while vanilla sugar is a mix of the extract and sugar.

Vanilla is the world’s favourite flavour and aroma and is often also used to enhance the smell and flavour of other aromas.

Reviews

Why we all need to do our bit when it comes to recycling

Leave a comment

We live in troubling times environmentally wise. World Leaders seem unable to decide what is the best course of action to improve things. Economies are so dependent on the flow of petro-chemical products that any change is near impossible for the government and society to deal with and for many of us we are hanging on the words and comments of the teenager Greta Thunberg in regards with what to do next.

Image credit

 

With all this is mind how do we, the mere general populace,make a difference? One small thing we can do, and everything has to start small somewhere, is to recycle everything we can that we waste in our home.

Image credit

This is not just the simple act of making sure that glass, plastics and tins are cleaned and don’t go into landfill it is also getting a compost bin and using that for garden waste. There is also a growing idea of reusing wood. For example a used pallet racking Ireland company offers the pallets for a variety of building works for the home and garden.

 

If we all do our bit and try to recycle and reuse raw material as much as we can then at least we can know that we are doing something to try and ease the pressure on our world.

Home Improvement

The Many Benefits of Choosing ‘Bespoke’

Leave a comment

Buying items that are hand made to your specific needs is probably not something many of us consider very often. We have become so accustomed to buying what we need off the shelf at the store or online. However, there are several benefits of using skilled craftsmen to create a unique item just for you.

Image credit

Perfectly tailored to your needs

Working one-to-one with a craftsperson is a much purer experience. Gone are the intermediaries and influencing buyers and tastemakers. You can work with skilled professionals to bring your imagination to life. The items produced will be the embodiment of the vision and skill of the artist.

High end quality

Making something by hand is a completely different experience and mindset compared to items made by a computerized conveyor belt of mass-produced goods. There will be a level of care and attention that is unmatched by anything produced in a factory. Every part of this process is a work of art, an opportunity to showcase skills and provide a unique experience. Love for their craft resonates through the detailed quality of the final piece. Find out more about Bespoke Glass Balustrades at a site like https://www.aspireglass.co.uk/glass-balustrade/

Image credit

Connection

When an object has been born of your creative vision, it will generate a lot more of a connection and sentimentality.  A relationship appears – you learn about the artisan and they learn about you in order to create the piece. You understand more about the material selected and the reasons why certain techniques are used, which provides you with a much deeper connection to the object. Bespoke items have an interesting story, to be passed from generation to generation of your family.