Category Archives: Reviews

Prettiest Places in Devon

Stunning Devon has a long history with a wide-ranging landscape that boasts lots of lively towns packed with character. Whilst there are plenty of places that could be mentioned, here are three of the best locations that definitely deserve a visit:

Dittisham

Some say this is Devon’s prettiest village and it’s not difficult to see why. Sitting on the banks of the River Dart, the river views alone are stunning but it’s the changing light on the water that really draws people. The countryside is beautiful with many walks available through this unspoilt location. A ferry carries passengers to nearby Dartmouth and across to Greenway Quay for those who wish to see Agatha Christie’s former holiday home.

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Honiton

This market town on the River Otter, has a lively atmosphere and is well-known for its pottery and lacemaking, having the reputation as being the antiques capital of the south west. Located in the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Honiton is an attractive country town with an impressive industrial heritage. For places to visit and Shops in Honiton high street, visit a site like Devon Life, where you’ll find a list of Shops in Honiton high street.

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Dartmouth

This is one of the county’s finest towns and it has a lot to offer. It’s charming, picturesque and boasts many activities. Located on the River Dart estuary, it sits in the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with access to Dartmoor National Park to boot. A visit to the bustling harbour is also recommended, for its many cafes and boats. You’ll also discover Dartmouth Castle and the museum for learning more about the town’s long and fascinating history.

 

Famous people who herald from the West Midlands

Famous footballers, Cricketers, Musicians, Chess Champions and Actors are just a small selection on the large list of the different and diverse occupations of some of the inhabitants of the West Midlands area. Born in Birmingham itself or nearby Solihull and the surrounding area come several well-known celebrities, including Barbara Cartland, Jasper Carrott, Neville Chamberlain, John Curry and Nigel Mansell.

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Living in the West Midlands area offers a wide range of work options, leisure activities and home improvement opportunities.  Whether you’re looking to move to the area or extend your current property already there you could contact a variety of House Extensions Solihul companies and discuss your options.  Just visiting the area and want to stay where the celebrities hang out, then take a beak at the Hotel Du Vin, a luxurious, well run establishment frequented by Simon Cowell along with Ant and Dec while filming the X Factor auditions.

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It’s not only famous musicians, politicians, actors, dancers and television presenters that herald from Birmingham and the West Midlands area but inventors such as Sir Alfred Bird who produced for us the scrumptious, creamy, yellow culinary delight that is custard powder was also born there. Car maker Frederick, William Lanchester who made the very first petrol driven car was also a resident of the area. Several, highly acclaimed actors and actresses have been born and raised in the West Midlands including; Ian lavender, Trevor Eve, Adrian Lester, Pat Roach and Julie Walters.

Tips for maintaining your septic tank

Carry out routine inspection

By regularly checking the condition of the septic tank, you will be more likely to find fault earlier on, making them faster and cheaper to repair. By never paying it any attention, there is a real risk of an unpleasant shock one day when it stops working!

Examine the actual tank itself, the visible components, drain fields and land around the tank for any signs of damage or leaking.

By checking your tank, you can realize how full it is and book your appointment to have the septic tank emptied. For Septic Tank Emptying Redditch, visit a site like BSA Environmental, providers of Septic Tank Emptying Redditch.

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Have your tank pumped

For optimal operation, the tank should be pumped regularly. It is recommended that you book an examination with a professional to see if the tank needs pumping every year, even though it is unlikely to fill up that quickly. The more waste your tank holds, the less efficient it will run and the more likely it will become damaged in some way; better to be careful than the risk of this happening!

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Protect your drain field

The field drain is as important as the tank itself, and damage that occurs here could negatively affect how well the septic tank can handle waste – you may find that your tank becomes backlogged and overflowed because it does not have a good outlet for the waste to go to.

Mice Facts

Here are some facts about mice that you may not know:

  1. A common problem

Every winter, rats and other rodents affect million homes of homes across the world. Mice usually enter our homes during the autumn/winter months, in search of food, water and shelter from the cold.

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  1. Mice have large appetites

They might be small and have a tiny stomach, but they have a high metabolism and need to eat up to 20 times per day! This is why you’ll often find mice living near a food source. Get rid of a mouse problem with Pest Control Essex from a site like BPC, suppliers of Pest Control Essex services.

  1. They are little Houdinis!

Mice can enter through openings as small as the size of a penny. If you have any small gaps or openings on the outside of your home (like where utility pipes meet the brickwork) it’s like an open invitation to the mice. Prevent them from gaining access to your home by sealing any openings on the exterior. Gaps can also be filled with steel wool.

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  1. They have a relatively short life span

Wild mice tend to only live for around five months, falling victim to many predators such as cats and foxes. In the laboratory, mice can live up to 24 months.

  1. More harmful to health than you might realise

It’s common knowledge that mice can transmit diseases such as Salmonella and Hantavirus, however, it’s just the beginning. In fact, mice can carry as many as 200 human pathogens!

Foods that denture wearers should avoid

We know that some food (no matter how tempting!) just do not mix well with dentures. To avoid the possible pain or discomfort, it is recommended that you avoid the following:

Sticky Foods – it is recommended to restrict the intake of sticky items like toffee and caramel. This is because they can attach to your replacement teeth and make it very difficult to chew.

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Popcorn – popcorn is not bad for the health of your mouth per se, but small unpopped kernels that somehow end up stuck in your teeth, may crack or compromise the function of your dentures.

Hard nuts and candies – hard candy and nuts are problematic as the force required to bite them creates excessive pressure on the teeth and palate of your dentures.

Steaks – chewy meat is difficult to break down with dentures. In addition, these foods can cause your dentures to become unstable. They can also cause sore spots.

Be careful with dentures that are weak or old

Beware if your dentures are older than seven years, because by that time the chewing surface is worn down, causing you to bite and chew with excessive force. For help with Dentures Southend on Sea, visit a site like Hockley Dental, specialists in Dentures Southend on Sea.

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What happens if dentures break?

If your dentures crack, break, or become damaged, you should make an appointment at your local denture clinic as soon as possible. Wearing a broken denture can have unintended consequences such as:

Difficulty speaking

Oral pain and discomfort

Red and inflamed gums

Trouble following, a balanced nutritious diet

Different usage ideas for your garage

A garage is probably the largest space in your property, but let’s face it – it’s usually full of garbage! Things that you don’t use anymore, old tools, old toys and half cans of paint taking up valuable space. It would be sensible to transform this unused area into a much more useful space.

Vehicle parking

It may seem like stating the obvious, but this was originally the main purpose of the garage. Most homeowners don’t use their garage for this purpose, however if you reside in a location in which the weather isn’t always great, it will be beneficial for your vehicle to be kept in a dry place, away from the elements and rust. If your door requires any maintenance, consider Garage Door Repairs Bristol from a site like Up and Over, providers of Garage Door Repairs Bristol.

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Storage

There is nothing wrong with using your garage as a place for storage, but why not organize it into space that’s useful and not filled with waste. If you have a small house or not a lot of storage space, the garage could be the perfect place to store goods that are too big for the house. Go through the current contents and cleans anything you don’t need anymore, then put in some smart space-saving storage items such as plastic boxes, shelves or cabinets.

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Workshop

Many people would benefit from having a workshop, whether they are professionals or amateurs with a hobby. A garage space can be used to store a workbench and whatever tools are required. Whatever hobby or job, be it car repair or woodwork – create a space where you can store all your equipment safely.

A brief guide to manhole covers

Manhole covers are seen everywhere, you name it; there will be a manhole cover in it or around it.

While they are commonly used and seen widely, nobody really pays them much attention. However, when it comes to choosing a suitable manhole cover, most of us are left in the dark, literally, so here’s a few tips to help you learn more about them:

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What is a manhole cover?

Whilst this is fairly obvious, basically a manhole cover is a removable plate forming a lid over an opening or hole. The covers help to prevent anyone falling, as well as keeping unauthorized people out of important pipelines and drainage.

What size do I need?

This is where it can get a little confusing, as manhole covers are made and registered by the ‘clear size opening’ which means the size of the hole the cover is needed for and not the actual diameter of the manhole cover.

An example would be a manhole cover states it is 600 by 450mm it will probably be closer to an overall measurement of 650 by 550mm but will be designed to fit a hole with the size of 600 by 450mm, therefore, the size will be registered as the size of the hole. For your drainage needs, contact a Groundwork companies Bristol. Find a site like Chew Valley for your Groundwork companies Bristol requirements.

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Sourcing the correct size is highly important, not big enough and manhole covers are likely to fail. Having a cover that’s too large cover can be ok, but only if the cover has no reinforcing on the underside. It is always best practice to source the correct size cover.

Things not to store in a storage unit

Although from the outside the topic of ‘self-storage’ may seem a little dull – large cold rooms filled with furniture and stock – some self-storage companies do report finding some pretty weird and wonderful things behind their shutters!

ANIMALS – dead or alive! Yes, it does happen. Storage units are not for keeping beloved dead pets or for use as kennels while you go on holiday! For more information on what can and can’t be stored safely, consider Self Storage Chorley. Visit a site like Andrew Porter, a supplier of Self Storage Chorley.

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HUMANS- dead or alive! Although some stores have access 24/7, this does not mean that someone can live in a unit on a permanent stay. It may be cheaper than renting these days but there are no plumbing facilities and the insurance companies don’t like it much either! Additionally, whilst some units are chilled – they are definitely not morgues!

DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES – anything considered flammable, toxic or hazardous is certainly not allowed in a storage unit. Such materials might include kerosene, gasoline, compressed gas and propane tanks, for example. Other substances not permitted include biological waste, radioactive waste, motor oil, acid, grease, fertilizer, paint, cleaning chemicals or drugs. Asbestos or asbestos-containing products may also not permitted – or fireworks or any other form of explosives.

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STOLEN OR ILLEGAL ITEMS – if you do not legally own it, you cannot legally keep it or store it at a storage unit or your own home!

CASH – for this you will require a specialist service that includes safety deposit boxes at a bank, in your home or a specialist business.

Why Are Radiators Located Under Windows?

At first glance, it might seem that locating a radiator under a window is the wrong place to put a heat-emitting device. Surely all the lovely heat emanating from the radiator will just be wasted when placed by the window? However, the answer is no. In fact, for many years, under the window was the prime position for a radiator. Why is that? Well, we’ll tell you.

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The Window Factor

In decades gone by, most homes had single-glazed windows. Until the double-glazing revolution in the 1970s and 1980s, single-glazed windows were the norm. And we know that single glazing lets in more cooler air than our more high-tech double- and even triple-glazed windows of today. But surely the draughty single glaze would just suck all the warm air out?

It actually works to push the warm air into the room. As the warm air rises out of the top of the radiator, the cooler air falling on it causes a convection effect, forcing the warmth into the room, making the radiator more efficient. If your home still has single glazing and you are updating your heating system, it still makes sense to place your radiator under the window.

Double and Triple Glazing

What about if you have updated your windows to double or triple glazing? Well, of course this gives you more flexibility with where you place your radiator. You can play with all the radiator designs that are available – panel radiators, column radiators and even radiators that go up the walls rather than across. You will want to ensure that you windows are in tip top condition and if you are losing heat through draughts or want to upgrade your windows an Evesham Double Glazing company can help you.

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Saving Space and Saving Heat

Even with modern windows, placing the radiator under the window might still be the best option when it comes to optimising the space in your rooms. If you have smaller rooms, tucking the radiator under the window saves wall space for other items. And to get the most out of your radiator, avoid blocking it with a sofa or other large piece of furniture. The heat will be absorbed into the furniture rather than being pushed out into the room.

Radiators to have in small spaces

If space is tight in any room, finding a radiator that can still pack a punch with its heating power while taking up as little space as possible is important. It is also important to ensure that your heating system is in full working order to ensure that your radiators receive as much heat as possible. A Boiler Servicing Cheltenham company such as http://www.hprservicesltd.com/cheltenham-boilers/boiler-service-cheltenham/ can help with this.

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Here are some radiator choices that can be small on space but big on style.

Slimline style

If you’ve got a small space to furnish, you don’t necessarily want to compromise on style, and slimline radiators are often a good choice to fit onto a small wall or where space is currently not being used, for instance behind a door.

Towel rail radiators that multitask are a great way to save space in a small bathroom.

Make a statement

Ideal Home has some styling tips to help you incorporate a column radiator into your decor scheme. Steel column radiators such as the Roma range can be supplied in a huge variety of widths, heights and colours, so they could fit any space and design scheme.

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Many modern radiators are designed to look like a piece of modern art instead of a typical heating system, and these are a great choice for small spaces because they can mean you do not need to add any more space stealing decor items such as plants or floor lamps to make a style statement.

Modern lines or traditional spirit?

The right radiator can become an artistic feature as well as an efficient heating system in your home. Copper finishes and grey steel colours are very on-trend but so is capturing the spirit of days gone by with some traditional styles. Column radiators work well in rooms with period charm as they are a classic style that can blend the looks of days gone by with the performance of up to date heating technology.

The size of your room won’t stop you finding the right radiator, with so many radiators available to choose from with slimline styles and customisable dimensions available. Work with a radiator supplier to consider the different options to fit any small space you need to heat, and you’ll soon be enjoying your tiny room as a cosy space.