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Category Archives: Reviews
The Enduring Appeal of London’s Green Squares
Homes with access to a private garden generally command prices with a significant premium, as figures have indicated that buyers are prepared to pay top rates for a property with access to some beautifully maintained greenery. Research demonstrates that for exclusive addresses in Central London, purchasers would consider paying up to a third more for a residence with a key to a private square.
An Oasis for the Right Price
Not everyone can afford real estate in some of the most costly parts of London. Those determined to have a home that comes with a private garden could consider living outside the centre where the square could be just as ravishing, without the exorbitant price tag.
For inspiration on how tranquil a green space in London can be, a report from The Telegraph on the capital’s loveliest secret gardens will give the reader wisteria and pergola envy.
Areas with charming garden squares that purchasers may have not have considered include Hackney, Kennington and Camberwell. For example, a three-bedroom house on Fassett Square in Dalston, E8 – the inspiration for Albert Square in EastEnders – will set you back around a million pounds.
Every part of London has garden gems. A report in the Wimbledon Guardian highlights how many wonderful gardens there are in south London.
Conducting the Search
Rather than exhaust yourself tramping all over the city, it could be worth engaging the services of property buying agents in London who stay abreast of homes entering the market that fit your specifications.
Every year the Open Garden Squares Weekend allows people to buy tickets and wander private gardens. There were more than 200 gardens to explore in the 2016 event, held in late June. That’s a lot of gardens to keep track of for those determined to have garden square access, so it could definitely save a lot of time to call in the professionals, such as http://boweryldn.com/why-use-bowery among numerous others.
For many reasons, access to a private garden is something everyone in the family can enjoy. For some, access to nature is more than a mild desire, it is a physical need. With patience, it should be possible to find a property that offers the bricks, mortar and plants needed for a happy life.
5 Steps for Overcoming Procrastination
Procrastination occurs when you put certain tasks off until the last minute. Usually, this is a task that you really, really don’t want to deal with and so you decide to focus on something entirely different.
Everyone procrastinates in some way or another. For example, you could have an essay due in a week’s time and conveniently put it off until the night before the due date. This sudden realisation of your impending doom is usually followed up by a hectic “all-nighter”, in which you type faster than anyone has ever typed in the history of the planet.
Why do People Procrastinate?
According to a recent study carried out by psychologist Professor Clarry Law, procrastination comes to life whenever there is a “temporal gap between intended behaviour and enacted behaviour”. In basic terms, this temporal gap refers to that period of time when you first intend to get a job done, and the time when you finally get around to completing it (usually in a self-induced panic).
Take these 5 steps to help yourself overcome procrastination:
- Practice Time Management
Procrastinators often aren’t very good at managing their time effectively. A great way to overcome this is to practice well-kept time management. This is achieved by planning ahead a little and creating estimated time slots for assigned tasks. Once you see how you can better use your time, you’ll have a better control over how you use this time productively.
- Work in Productive Environments
If you work in a distracting environment, chances are, you won’t get much work done. According to Entrepreneur, procrastinators should try their best to work in places without distractions such as TV’s and to choose where and who they work with wisely. This will help you to focus on the immediate task at hand.
- Focus on One Task at a Time
It is important to focus on one task at a time. Don’t give yourself unrealistic goals because you will only feel bad about yourself after when you realise you can’t complete all of the things that you wanted to. For this reason, it is better to focus on one specific goal or task at a time, which will be much easier to manage.
- Seek Guidance from a Professional
Many procrastinators feel that their bad habits are getting in the way of their success. Many young people claim that procrastinating has delayed them from finding the right job, or finishing an important project etc. www.lynnrecruitment.co.uk is a Recruitment Agent Belfast that are able to advise job seekers and those inclined to procrastinate on finding the right job for you.
- Award Yourself Afterwards
Have you ever wondered why a dog will suddenly become the most obedient version of itself when there is a treat involved? It listens because it knows it will only receive the award AFTER it has completed the command. In the same way, you can give yourself little awards after finishing a task you really didn’t want to. Finally wrote that daunting essay? Award yourself!
Ridding your central heating system of those annoying airlocks
You’re sure that your radiator isn’t producing the heat it previously did. You feel its surface and find that it is hot at the bottom but lukewarm at the top.
The problem? You’ve almost certainly got an airlock. The air has risen to the top of the radiator, preventing the hot water from getting up there.
Diagnosing the airlock problem
One of the most common causes of an airlock is that you’ve had your system drained. You might think this would do nothing but good. After all, it’s sometimes recommended for keeping your system running efficiently. However, if the system is refilled in the wrong order and the top floor radiators aren’t shut off when the downstairs radiators are being filled, air can enter, resulting in no heat.
You may need to call a professional plumber. For boiler installation in Woking, try a reputable local firm such as www.rjplumbingandheating.co.uk.
What to check
First, you should check that the central heating pump is working properly. If it seems to be okay, turning up the pressure may help the airlock to move.
Next, you’ll want to test the radiators. While you are doing this, you need to make sure that at least one radiator is on. Turn the boiler on and check each radiator in turn to make sure that it heats up properly at the top and bottom. If you’re satisfied, leave the one you have just checked on and move on to the radiator that is next in sequence. Once the next radiator is turned on, the previous one can be turned off.
If you find that one radiator is guilty of making the whole system lose warmth, turn that one off. This will allow the other radiators in the system to get extra water pressure.
If each radiator is working fine when you test it on its own but you lose heat when they’re all on at the same time, the problem might be related to balancing. Unfortunately, this tends to be the result of poor installation of the heating system.
One of the remedies that is worth trying is to close the radiator valves to only half of their capacity. This may work until you can get a competent central heating engineer to take a look at the installation.
Lawn and border edging: a matter of personal taste
Caring for your lawn is vital for keeping your garden attractive. A neat edge to the lawn can go a long way towards enhancing its overall appearance, but there are different ways to achieve this. Choosing your ideal edging is really down to personal taste.
General lawn care
Lawns need feeding in Spring to stay in tip top condition. Apply fertilizer before rain or when the ground is damp. If necessary another feed can be applied later.
Spring is the time to deal with moss and weeds. If gaps are left or the grass is thin, you can over-seed in the spring or autumn.
Watering your lawn is not always necessary, and grass can recover even after a really dry spell. If you need to water, you can ensure the water penetrates to the roots by aerating hard ground beforehand.
According to the Royal Horticultural Society, mowing your lawn regularly keeps it in good health. Using hand propelled petrol lawn mowers can make the job easier, particularly if you have a large lawn.
Lawn edges
Some people prefer the natural look of plants overlapping from the border to the grass, but this makes mowing difficult.
A definite edge can be maintained in various ways. Possibly the most simple method is to cut a neat edge with a half moon tool. The disadvantages of this are that it will need to be repeated once or twice during the year to keep it looking neat and it will eventually reduce the size of your lawn.
Laying paving stones between the lawn and the border is a traditional way of edging, but is difficult to change if you decide you would like to move the border later on.
Gardeners World claims that edging your lawn with bricks can minimise labour, and these can be laid in a variety of patterns to add interest as well as a crisp edge.
Modern edging materials include metals and plastics that you insert into a slit at the edge of the lawn. For any lawn, regular mowing is essential and this can be achieved with hand propelled petrol lawn mowers by Chiff Chaff.
Whichever method of edging your lawn you choose, it is important to have something that shows where the lawn ends and the border begins.
What hot water cylinder size is right for my home?
Choosing the right hot water cylinder for your home can seem like a daunting task. Most homeowners have limited knowledge on such matters and tend to shy away from asking important questions as a result. However, picking the right type of system to store your hot water is very important, especially since it’s going to cost you money! So, how can you tell what will be the most suitable type of hot water cylinder for your home?
One of the first matters you need to take into consideration is your homes individual sizing requirements. Installing an incorrect sized cylinder can lead to many problems. For example, if you accidentally choose one that is too small for your home, this can lead to insufficient supplies of hot water. On the other hand, installing one that is far too big can skyrocket your heating bills as you will be using too much heat, with the likelihood of excess heat being expended as a result.
Choosing a heating cylinder according to its size will provide an efficient hot water supply to your home. It will not only make an impact on how the system works, but it will also ensure that you never waste a drop of hot water. Before installing your heating cylinder, make sure that you have chosen a size and style that meets your specific heating requirements. Once you have determined this from the beginning, you will be able to enjoy a flawless hot water system from the very start of the installation process.
Installing the perfect heating cylinder decreases your carbon footprint. This is because you will not use too much heat and you will never overuse as a result. This helps to protect the environment and on top of that, it will also have a great impact on your finances. Nobody wants to be charged any more than they have to on their heating bills. Installing the wrong size can take a serious toll on your wallet. It will be more expensive to buy and install, but unfortunately, the steep price tags won’t stop there! Since you’ll be using a much bigger cylinder than necessary, it is likely that you will end up spending more on heated water than you need and thus your heating cylinder will operate less efficiently.
If you want to make a good investment for your home or business, take time and learn what size cylinder is most appropriate for your home. A great way to learn the right size is by asking a professional such as a contractor or plumber. However, you can also skip all the hassle and measure your heating cylinder size requirements by using Copper Industries’ handy Cylinder Sizing Calculator.
Don’t waste time and money, invest in the right sized heating cylinder and you will be able to enjoy the benefits long after initial installation. You can even have your water cylinder designed and measured to meet your specific needs. What more could you want?
5 ways to minimise the carbon footprint of your household
Most people are now aware of the importance of greener living – not just for the current generation, but to preserve the world for future generations, too. Happily, there are plenty of easy ways to reduce your home’s carbon footprint and save money in the process.
Focus on your appliances
When you aren’t using an electrical appliance, make sure it is unplugged and don’t leave it on standby. Choose appliances with excellent energy ratings and pick a model that is the right size for your needs. For washing machines, front-loading models tend to be better for the environment and your pocket because they need less water, power and detergent than top-loading models.
Fridges and freezers work around the clock and use up a lot of energy, so it’s particularly well worth picking an A+ rated model. Remember that your fridge will run best when it isn’t overfull, and your freezer will need less energy when it is fully stocked.
The temperature of your house
Insulation is crucial to keep your home at the right temperature year-round, and it rapidly pays for itself through energy savings. You can find a great range of solutions for air conditioning in Belfast, along with other energy-saving services and measures at http://www.envirogroup-ni.co.uk/duct-cleaning/kitchen-extraction-ductwork.html. Install basics such as window seals or draught excluders, and use a damper in your chimney to keep heat in when it’s cold.
Don’t use downlights
Downlights release heat into the insulation and ceiling and use a lot of energy. Look at CFLs instead. If you still have any old energy-inefficient bulbs, make sure you replace them with the latest models.
In the garden
Install a rainwater butt or greywater recycling system to avoid wasting water, and use a composter to make great-quality soil from waste food such as fruit and vegetable peelings. You can also try to grow your own for organic, no-mileage and high-quality food that is great fun to grow and saves you money.
Travel efficiently
Choose a fuel-efficient vehicle to save on fuel and emissions alike, and try to walk, cycle or use public transport wherever you can. This also helps your family to get fit together without the need for expensive gym bills whilst saving the planet at the same time!
Weyfest to Return to Surrey in August 2016
If you love nothing more than heading off with your wellies and sunglasses to a good music festival, then you’ll be pleased to hear that the very popular Weyfest will be coming back to Surrey this August.
Dubbed one of the top festivals in the UK by the likes of the Daily Telegraph and Planet Rock Listeners, Weyfest promises three unforgettable days of live music from 19 to 21 August. Some of the incredible groups you can expect to see this year include the likes of headlining Suffolk act The Darkness, as well as Wishbone Ash, Bad Manners and fellow headliners From the Jam and The Wurzels. The headlining act for Sunday is yet to be confirmed.
While most people may think they know what happens at a music festival, Weyfest is guaranteed to make you reconsider. This event prides itself on being a music festival without mud and with decent toilet facilities, helpful friendly staff and many other attractions, not least of which is the high-quality food filling the air with its tempting aromas.
If that wasn’t enough, the festival also boasts a rather unique location: it’s held at the Rural Life Centre, a fascinating working museum complete with functioning light railway. Thanks to this venue, as well as the fantastic music, you will also be able to savour the bewitching sense of history, tradition and timeless wonder that both the Centre and its bucolic situation in the verdant Surrey Hills provide.
Unsurprisingly, festival-goers who are coming to Weyfest with children needn’t worry about their offspring getting bored. There is a host of activities on offer to entertain the young ones.
Then there are all the attractions to experience at Weyfest, such as Laserquest, the Racing Bug, massages, Star Wars characters and of course the many wonderful stalls which you can browse to your heart’s content.
Intrigued?
To find out more about the magical world of Weyfest, be sure to check out.
Getting There in Style
If you can’t wait to head to Weyfest or any other special event in the area, why not guarantee arriving in style by hiring a Surrey party bus such as the one provided by http://aalimos.com/the-big-pink-party-bus/?
Going by bus can make festivals much more enjoyable, and it means you don’t have to worry about parking the car.
More than a ride-along: team transitioning and re-branding
Whenever a business goes through a re-branding process, there is bound to be anxiety involved. This is even more true when that business is customer-facing. Customer reception is undoubtedly something that will be considered at length, along with the potential impact on brand loyalty and awareness of the brand itself. Often, a re-branding process will mean that there is a new team behind the wheel, and this time of transition can also be difficult for staff, so it’s important to bear a few things in mind.
Be mindful of the past
People who have worked with a brand for a length of time are likely to have formed an affinity with it, and might have reservations about moving on with a new brand renovation. This is where teamwork comes into play, by making sure that all of the team is involved in the creative process, and ensuring they have the chance to ‘say goodbye’ to the former branding format. Allowing people to cement memories of how things were can offer a sense of closure, and seeing what has already been built is a great resource for newcomers to the team.
Be clear on what is happening
There’s nothing worse than upheaval in the workplace and not understanding the what or why. That’s why it’s vital to be transparent on what is happening, the expected timeline, and why certain things are being done differently (if they are). Showing people examples of successful re-branding can also help to inspire people to be adaptable to change.
Encourage ownership
Engaging staff in the creative process of implementing re-branding is a solid way of promoting a smoother transition. Working with a specialist company like http://www.blondideasgroup.com can actually help facilitate this; with professional guidance from industry experts that can advise you on ways to get staff involved in the creative side of re-branding.
The story a brand has to tell is of course what will ultimately define a company’s success, and the people behind the brand are the ones that drive this narrative. An organisation with happy people at the helm is more likely to translate to a good performance, and following the above steps is a surefire way to make the entire process an experience that can actually have a hugely positive impact on both employees and the business itself.
Key Garden Design Trends for 2016
Now that spring has arrived, it’s a busy time for gardeners getting their plots ready for the months ahead. If you want your outside space to enjoy stylish status this year, here are some of the key trends you should be incorporating into your garden. Continue reading Key Garden Design Trends for 2016