Here is just a small sample of the excellent reviews May Cottage B&B in Bowness-on-Windermere have received on TripAdvisor:

“Great B&B accomodation close to the centre of Bowness”
5 of 5 stars
Date of review: 4 Apr 2011

Most pleasant welcome received from Sue – the accomodation was ideal for our three night stay – with a very comfortable bed room and fine ensuite. The excellent full English breakfast ,accompanied by Sue’s little talk on the locality and its history, set us up for the day’s walking . The B&B is just a few minutes walk to the centre of Bowness and the pubs and restaurants.
For Rugby League fans, a must is a chat with Len Casey , Sue’s husband and breakfast chef, who can relate anecdotes about his playing career for Great Britain ( some as captain) and England and both Hull clubs.

“A gem of a B&B”

Date of review: 1 Apr 2011
Our first trip to the lakes and first visit to a B&B. We recently married and decided to stay away for a couple of nights.

Sue and Len are great value, warm and welcoming. Place is a gem, you ll be lucky to get availability as the repeat business is a sign of how popular this place is.

Would love to stay again!
“SIMPLY THE BEST”
5 of 5 stars
1 more review of May Cottage by Sallyberisford:

Date of review: 23 Mar 2011

We returned to May Cottage, & yet again received a warm, friendly welcome. Sue goes out of her way to make you feel at ease & welcome. She has stories to tell you & her knowledge of the area is outstanding. She has a brillant sense of humour, ALL the rooms are lovely & clean.
If you stay here it is only a very short walk into Bowness & all the shops, pubs etc.
I mustn’t forget Len, who doe’s a wonderful breakfast each morning, Len to is a chirpy chappy.
Throughly recommed you to stay here.
We felt like part of Sue & Lens extended family. Will definately return.
THANKS BOTH

They deliver the very best water rescue programmes in the UK utilising highly experienced instructors, first class equipment, top training venues and on-going support and advice for their clients.

Re-Think Work nationally at any suitable location.

They are proud to be part of the Rescue 3 family offering certificated training meeting national standards. Please visit www.water-rescue.co.uk for information regarding programmes or advice relating to swift water rescue.

Returning year after year, visitors have enjoyed excellent service delicious food and comfort of the charming bedrooms. Whatever your reason for visiting the Lake District whether it be for it’s natural beauty, stunning walks or just a well earned break Peter and Jackie Baister along with their friendly team will endeavour to make your stay as relaxed and as comfortable as possible.

The hotel’s great location is ideal for exploring the English Lake District. A ten minute stroll will take you to the vibrant area of Bowness and the Lake where boats will ferry you to many intriguing destinations. Relax and enjoy ten miles of magic during the many sight seeing cruises taking in the breathtaking scenery, secluded bays and the wooded islands that surround England’s largest natural lake. For the more energetic there are lots of walks to enjoy at your leisure including a gentle hike up to Orrest Head just a short walk from the hotel. Here you will find viewing point 750 feet high where you can sit and enjoy magnificent views of the central fells, the Yorkshire Pennines and the Lakes or just to watch the sunset over this picturesque corner of England. Enjoy an early evening stroll along the lakeside before returning to the hotel for a candlelit dinner in our lovely restaurant with food cooked to perfection by our resident chef Marcin. After dinner you can relax in the lounge on our comfy sofas enjoying a coffee or your favourite tipple from the bar.

The Glenburn hotel in Windermere has ample on site parking so you can just park up and all amenities are within a short walking distance.

If you are celebrating an anniversary or birthday why not surprise your loved one by ordering champagne, chocolates, flowers or a birthday cake to be put in your room on arrival.

At The Glenburn we will go that extra mile to make your stay in the Lake District just Perfect!

* Elegant, relaxed & stylish totally refurbished accommodation
* Excellent food, freshly prepared to order. Full Cumbrian cooked breakfasts plus buffet, and candlelit evening meals
* Special dietary needs and vegetarians catered for
* 16 Double, twin, triple, quad, superior, deluxe and deluxe four-poster rooms
* Deluxe rooms and four-poster rooms have brand new spa baths, rain showers and flat screen TVs
* Satellite TV and free wireless Internet connection
* Complimentary tea and coffee, hair dryers in all rooms
* Fully licensed bar and guest lounge
* A totally smoke and pet free environment
* FREE use of Parklands Country Club and Spa in Bowness for all guests
* Free parking throughout your stay
* Five minutes walk from Windermere and ten minutes to Bowness
* Special touches such as champagne, chocolates, flowers, birthday cakes etc
* Family rooms for three/four/people
* Gift certificates a speciality
* Two deluxe self catering holiday cottages sleeping up to six
* Private family parties and functions catered for, we’ll take care of everything

Directly employing only fully qualified electricians, they offer a level of technical capability and service which is unparalleled in the Industry.

With continued growth over the last decade, the company is rated as an exceptional performer by industry analysts.

Electrical Testers have the culture, people and systems to provide the ultimate service.

UK Health & Safety legislation is extensive and requires that whatever your activity, you must provide a safe environment for your staff and your customers.

The services provided by Electrical Testers Ltd are designed to comply with a variety of legislation, regulations and British Standards.

Although not exhaustive, most of the relevant regulations and standards are listed below:

Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 PAT Testing

BS5839:Pt1:2002 - Fire Alarm Inspection & Testing

BS5266:Pt1:1999 - Emergency Lighting Inspection & Testing

BS7671:2008 - Periodic Inspection of Fixed Installations

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 - Fire Risk Assessments

Over the years we’ve made a massive investment in state of the art high end metrology standards and machines. Why not therefore take advantage of our dimensional metrology services for any difficult to measure mechanical components, or components with very tight tolerances, or simply for extra confidence perhaps for first article inspection.

A site calibration service is also available for difficult to remove items such as surface tables or other heavy equipment or machinery.

Summary of our tool and gauge calibration services, and our dimensional metrology services…

* Calibration of dimensional measuring instruments, tools and gauges
* Calibration of jigs and fixtures
* First article inspection
* Inspection of difficult to measure parts
* Site calibration for large or heavy items

Even though mail and parcel forwarding has been available in the United Kingdom for some years, most notably offered by Royal Mail, for business and domestic use in the form of “Mail Redirection”. With more and more businesses either moving premises or having operations in other countries, mail forwarding using a UK mailing address is now offered by other companies and to suit more specific requirements.

Mail forwarding is used for many different purposes but it is the onset of internet that has created the need for more mail forwarding options. Internet based businesses for example who wish to have a valid postal address but who do not have business premises and that do not wish to have a PO Box address. Purchasing goods online from abroad is another reason why both business and domestic consumers would require a mail forwarding address. A parcel forwarding company will set up an address, in the United States for example, where goods purchased will get sent to you and then they will organise the shipping of the goods back to the United Kingdom.

By ordering goods in such a way, shipping costs can be greatly cut down.

The latest in mail forwarding in the UK is an international mail and parcel forwarding service offering consumers and businesses the advantage of a hassle free UK

postal address from which they can ship anywhere in the world. A UK mail forwarding address also enables overseas businesses to have a presence in the United Kingdom.

A mail and parcel forwarding service streamlines businesses and enables even more efficiency when carrying out operations overseas and internationally.

Mail forwarding how it works
Sign Up to a mail forwarding service to get a UK mailing address.
This typically involves following quick and simple steps to register. Choose the right account to suit your need parcel forwarding needs. Click here to compare our parcel forwarding membership options. Once you’ve decided on which service account is right for you, you’ll be given a unique and genuine UK street address.

Make sure your goods are legally importable to the country of delivery
Its your responsibility to make sure that your goods are legally importable to the country of delivery. The forwarding service company will have a list of excluded items to make sure your package isn’t among them.

Get a quote
Find out how much it will cost to get your parcel to the destination country.

Order you goods
Get shopping and place your order. Make sure you enter your mail forwarding UK address when prompted to fill in the shipping address.

The packing forwarding company will receive your parcel
The company will let you know as soon as we receive delivery of your parcel. When you sign in to the online UK mailing address account, you’ll be able to track the status of your parcel as it is prepared for shipment.

The parcel will be prepared for shipment
The mail forwarding company will sort out all the paperwork for you and make sure your parcel is securely packaged.

Your parcel arrives at your doorstep
You can typically expect to receive delivery of your parcel from your UK mailing address within 5 days of the date of dispatch from the warehouse.

With such vast, varied and breathtaking scenery as in the Lake District, it is far too difficult a task choosing one destination for a holiday or short break. Great driving roads+breathtaking scenery=the perfect recipe for camper vans.

Camper vans give you:
The opportunity to visit and experience numerous locations in one trip.
Give you the freedom to stop off when and where you like and for what duration.
No need to worry about there not being a hotel or guest house available in the area.
You are protected from the elements unlike camping.

You’ll never tire of driving on the roads in the Lake District and Cumbria which has some of the most scenic roads in England. In particular, Hartside Pass which The AA and Top Gear list in their top 10 driving roads in England. Other great driving roads include the Kirkstone Pass, the A591 which passes through Ambleside, Grasmere and onto Keswick and not for the faint hearted Hardnott and Wrynose passes.
VW camper vans are particularly suited to the roads in the Lake District. They are compact and allow you to drive on the stunning, narrow roads which other, larger camper van and mobile homes would not be able to.

Camper vans have seen a renaissance in recent years both in terms of new camper vans and mobile homes but especially the popularity of the classic VW camper van. Their iconic status continues to grow and excite young and old. Driving around in the VW camper van is guaranteed to turn heads and makes a holiday even more special.

A mobile holiday is the ultimate in economical holidaying. The cost of parking up on a camping or caravanning site is nominal and sometimes areas can be found that are free. You can self cater as much of the meals as you wish although the Lake District has some fantastic eating houses that really should be visited.

Many people simply can’t justify purchasing a VW camper van for themselves due to lack of annual leave and other commitments. A camper van has to be used regularly both for economy and for the wellbeing of the van. The perfect solution is in the form of hiring. Now you can rent a VW camper van in the Lake District and enables those who want to experience a camper van holiday but that do not want to purchase one. Volkswagen camper van hire is also great for those thinking of purchasing a van to gain knowledge of driving one. Camper van hire in the UK, sorted.

Nobel Fire Systems has entered into an exclusive Agency Agreement with Fireaway Inc to manage the distribution and provide technical assistance for its patented Stat-X fire suppression systems throughout Europe.

Ian Bartle, Managing Director of Nobel Fire Systems commented, “This agreement ensures that Nobel continues forward with its objective and mission of combining science and economics through the provision of environmentally friendly and totally efficient fire suppressant systems”.

The agreement covers the whole of Europe and Nobel is charged with the responsibility for increasing sales through existing distributors while at the same time identifying and capitalising on emerging and potential markets through the development of strategic business relationships.

Fireaway has appointed Nobel Fire Systems based on Nobel’s impressive track record to date. The Company currently accounts for over 50% of total European sales of Stat-X and has already established the product in a number of newly identified sectors such as the CNC market. It is that kind of entrepreneurial thinking and ability to create niche opportunities that convinced Fireaway that Nobel should be the distributor of choice for the critically important European market.

As well as the proven entrepreneurial skills, Nobel will also bring an abundance of practical product understanding and European application knowledge to the distribution agreement.

Founded in 2005 to commercialise condensed aerosol technology for use in fire suppression systems, Fireaway was searching for a distribution partner that shared its single minded objective to always save lives and property through developing fire fighting strategies. This new Agency Agreement with Nobel Fire Systems has created an opportunity for a long term commercial partnership that will also benefit existing and new customers throughout Europe.

Nobel Fire Systems designs, installs and services a range of fire protection, fire detection and fire suppression systems. Their range of systems are distributed nationally and internationally both from their base in the UK and through a growing network of agents.

For more information on Nobel Fire Systems fire suppression system products and services including water mist fire protection, visit http://www.nobel-fire-systems.com/

First in Service will design and install air conditioning and ventilation systems, and electrical equipment and installations. Their helpdesk is manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take your call. Their planned, preventative maintenance contracts are available across all disciplines to ensure that your equipment is kept in peak condition. All our Engineers are employed by the company and are CRB checked.

If you are looking to save energy or utility costs within your business First in Service can help you by installing energy/utilities meters, and they can assist in your application for an interest free loan from the Carbon Trust to help you install new equipment that will save energy.

For more information about First in Service, or any of their servicing, installation and maintenance services please visit www.firstinservice.co.uk.

Answering the needs for large and small areas with a budget in place, the new product ‘Affordable Landscape™’ succeeds all expectations. Affordable Landscape is a quality, fibrillated yarn originally designed for Soccer but is now extensively used for leisure and landscape surfaces. The yarn is pre-slit during its making and matures to a fine yarn with everyday use.

Artificial grass installations are expected to increase in the coming years with America already warming to the benefits of this virtually maintenance free lawn  option. The initial purchase costs which have in the past put off some home owners, is eradicated due to products such as Affordable Landscape™.

With its multitude of uses such as maintenance free lawns for a holiday property or to create the wow factor on a roof terrace, artificial grass is the solution for  the modern day property owner, large or small.

The need to conserve water and energy is already extremely important but is almost definitely going to be an even stronger factor in the coming years. Artificial  grass eliminates the need for watering and energy and fuels are saved through the need not to have to mow.

So for more information on the appropriately named Affordable Landscape™ artificial grass product, visit http://www.everlawn.co.uk.

Coniston Water
Coniston is the third largest of the lakes and is approximately 5 miles long and ½ a mile wide. The lake is hugely popular with tourist due to its large expanse of water, which contains a number of tranquil islands, as well as the stunning scenery. The lake was famously the setting for the book Swallows and Amazons as well as the setting for Donald Campbell’s ill fated attempt to break the water speed record.

Derwentwater
Derwentwater is approximately 3 miles long and 1 mile wide making it the widest lake in the Lake District. The lake has a number of islands within, one of which contains Derwent Island House which is open to the public just 5 days a year. The huge Skiddaw overlooking the lake and the nearby market town of Keswick make Derwent one of the most popular lakes for visitors.

Ullswater
Ullswater is the second largest of all the lakes in the Lake District at approximately 9 miles long and ¾ of a mile wide. Regarded by many as the most beautiful of all the lakes, Ullswater often finds itself compared to lakes in Switzerland, such as Lucerne. This favourable comparison is thanks to the beautiful scenery with mountains to one side and green fields and woodland on the other. The lake is great for water sports, with canoeing, sailing and wind surfing particularly popular. There are also the more relaxing steamer boats that take you on a cruise of the lake.

Windermere
Windermere is the largest lake in the Lake District and is the largest in the whole of England at approximately 10.5 miles long and 1 mile wide. As well as being the largest of the lakes Windermere is also the most well known and has long been a very popular attraction for tourists. Many of the tourists who do visit end up taking part in at least one of the many on water activities available. These range from wake boarding, sailing and canoeing to a more sedate pleasure cruise.

About the Author
This article was written on behalf of Borrowdale Gates – one of the best Hotels in Keswick providing luxury base for your Lake District holiday.

During the improvements to Paul and Clare;s home in Essex Sarah Beeny mentioned how good the artificial lawns are and that they should consider having one installed. Until it was mentioned to them Paul and Clare had never even considered artificial grass, but this gave them the opportunity to improve the overall look of their home while having a maintenance free lawn area that looks good for years.

Episode 1 in the first series of Help My House is Falling Down it was evident to viewers Paul and Clare had a challenge on their hands. But the challenge was one they were ready to face.

Watching the episode it is fair to say that the immense work involved for the Essex couple was very nearly a bridge too far.

Thanks to Sarah Beeny, Channel 4 and their team of experienced contractors Paul and Clare succeeded.

Part of the restoration involved the installation of artificial grass. The couple agreed that an area of block paving to the front of their property looked drab and lacked colour. Responding to their request the artificial grass company removed a large area of paving then prepared a base for the synthetic grass and completed the task in just one day. The transformation was an instant success and complemented the new look of the property.

Thanks to Paul and Clars hard work and all involved the couple and their children have a home they can be proud of and a lawn to look good for years to come without the effort thanks to EverLawn.

For more information on Everlawn artificial grass and to order samples, visit http://www.everlawn.co.uk

Introducing the Crocs Tembo Polartec winter clog available from Cloggs.co.uk. This Crocs winter shoe features a PolarTec lining for increased warmth and a classic Croslite™ material footbed for a truly comfortable clog. Warmth and comfort combine in a classically designed Crocs shoe that will be your best friend on those cold winter days.

Crocs Tembo PolarTec
The Crocs Tembo PolarTec Clog Features a creatively functional clog perfectly suited for winter wear. The Polartec® liner material provides exceptional insulation, warmth and breathability. A secure fit is provided by the Ripstop nylon collar with cinch cord and toggle system. The liner is both removable and washable. The lightweight cushioning is due to their fully-molded Croslite™ material construction.

Converse Sparkle Ox
It’s a wrap this Christmas courtesy of Converse at Cloggs with the latest Chuck Taylor designs for yourself and all your friends including kids, mens shoes and womens shoes. These sparkle, low tops have synthetic uppers which features wrapping paper patterns and a textured shine but not forgetting the ol’ faithful rubber outsole for grip.

Christmas is fast approaching and with the poor weather conditions the UK is experiencing at the moment, doing your Christmas shopping online is the way forward. Cloggs.co.uk offer free delivery as well as free exchanges.

The team behind Cloggs.co.uk has more than 35 years’ experience of trading on the high street and began operating online over ten years ago. Cloggs.co.uk now stocks more than 20,000 items across specialized departments covering womens shoes and mens shoes as well as boys and girls shoes. Other popular brands include: UGG boots, Converse and Crocs. The Cloggs.co.uk Bullring store also recently won ‘Best New Store’ at the Drapers Footwear Awards 2010.

The full Crocs and Converse ranges as well as all the mens and womens shoes ranges can be found on http://www.cloggs.co.uk.

Since opening in September 2010, Lake House has already proved a resounding success with guests who have been blown away with one couple’s comments being “it’s like a decompression chamber for stress – you simply feel your body relax”.

Lake House is comprised of six individual suites sharing this fully staffed boutique hotel with bar, dining room, lounge, swimming pool, sauna, hot tub and Knipe Tarn, a four acre right outside the door. The attention to detail is second to none at Lake House but its uniqueness is the combination of their unfussy service which creates an experience of escapism rarely found these days. Quiet, untouched, and devoid of traffic or people, whether sitting by the fire in the lounge, or in the cedar wood hot tub, Champagne in hand, or in the swimming pool, the view instils a sense of peace and calm.

The Lake House is set in 100 acres of private grounds. From the east side of the Lake, over the dam and the waterfall, a stile leads you into the grounds which are a mixture of hilly woodland, moorland, grassland and wild ponds.

Approximately half an hour’s walk from the main house, one particular hill has been named “Viewpoint”. From here you have 360 degree panoramic views of the Lake District, including the distant mountain ranges of Coniston and the Langdales. From this vantage point wild deer and birds of prey are frequently seen. Quite simply a unique location, setting it apart from other Windermere hotels.

The family and team are very proud to have been voted best small hotel in the national tourism awards held by Visit England in April 2010. This follows winning the Cumbria Tourism awards in April 2009, and the North?West England Tourism awards in November 2009.

For further information on Lake House including image galleries, visit http://www.gilpinlodge.co.uk

Windermere is a great base for exploring the Lake District thanks to its excellent transport links. Windermere Railway station offers rail connections to Kendal and Oxenholme and it also has direct trains to and from Manchester Airport. Buses also run regularly from Windermere station including southbound journeys to Kendal and northbound journeys to Ambleside, Grasmere, and Keswick.

There is plenty for the whole family to do in and around Windermere including looking round some of the superb shops and visitor attractions such as The World of Beatrix Potter where all 23 Peter Rabbit tales are brought to life in 3D. Other local places of interest include …

Blackwell Arts & Crafts:
House in Bowness which is a superb example of the Arts & Crafts movement;

Hilltop - Near Sawrey:
Take the ferry and visit the writer’s 17th century cottage at the other side of Lake Windermere and see it exactly as she left it complete with her furniture and china.

Lakes Aquarium:
The Lakes Aquarium is located on the Southern shore of Windermere and can be accessed by taking a lake steamer from Bowness to Lakeside at Newby Bridge. Here visitors have the chance to see many exotic and local fish.

William Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage:
Here visitors can visit the home of England’s famous romantic poet at Grasmere. The adjacent Wordsworth Museum displays national treasures of the poet. There is an onsite tea room and gift shop.

The Lake District National Park Visitor Centre:
At Brockhole, situated on the shores of Lake Windermere, ideal family entertainment with interactive exhibitions and adventure playground. Whatever the weather.

For more active visitors there are plenty of walking routes available around Windermere including walks to spectacular viewpoints at Orrest Head and Biskey Howe where you will find breathtaking views of Lake Windermere and as far out as Morecambe Bay on a clear day. Windermere Golf Club is a very picturesque course and here you can relax after your round in the golf club restaurant with great views of surrounding mountains.

To take full advantage of Windermere and Bowness visitors should look to stay in a luxury Bowness-on Windermere B&B or Bed and Breakfast.

Garden offices and rooms, are designed for three purposes: -
To keep you, your paperwork, books and office equipment dry and condensation free.
To be used and enjoyed all year round.
To give your house back to your family, so that they can make lots of noise whilst you are working.

Enjoy all year round living in a home-from-home in the garden. Garden home offices and annexes are usually protected with double layers of breathable insulation, for comfortable living however the weather behaves. During heatwaves, frosts, rainstorms and droughts a  garden office building will need a little heating, no air conditioning and will use small amounts of electricity.

Garden offices can be constructed so that they avoid plastic. The calm atmosphere of a garden office is created by choosing natural materials. No polyurethane insulation or plastic vapour barriers that create condensation. No PVC windows or wall panels. No plastic fillers or sealants.

We know you care about the environment. To help reduce CO2 emissions InsideOut use carefully chosen materials, produced in the UK and manufactured with low levels of energy and few chemicals. Our garden offices and garden rooms are built with a strong timber frame made with FSC wood. We use double layers of insulation and breathing technology to protect computers, books and musical instruments all year round.

Over 25% of the UK’s CO2 emissions come from inadequate insulation in domestic buildings. To further cut down on CO2 emissions, eco-friendly insulation can be put into a garden office. These eco-friendly materials have been manufactured using as little energy and chemicals, and as much recycling, as possible.

If exterior space is limited, a garden room is not out of the question. Small garden snugs are available and even the smallest Snugs are designed and constructed for environmentally considerate, all-year-round living and working. Minimal heating is required because of double layers of insulation in floor, roof and walls. Forget about air-conditioning; relax or work in the calm and quiet of a building that is ‘working’ to provide you with a dry, condensation free atmosphere.

Not so long ago gardens were exclusively for leisure. For lying around in, pottering in, eating al fresco, barbecues, bonfires, boules and swingball. But as the economic climate changes, the picture is looking very different. Once a haven of relaxation, gardens are turning into hives of activity as people all over the UK go to work in the garden. As the recession points Britain towards a new way of living, people want much more from their green spaces. These days, in addition to a lawn, shrubs and flowers,   many people are serious about growing their own produce and keeping chickens, others are bringing their businesses home to roost in their garden buildings.

The Leven is for the most part private fishing, however there are reasonable areas, both from the Swan’s grounds and a little west of the bridge, where you can get down to the waters edge.

Walk around to the western shore and you have Fell Foot Park, a National Trust parkland, with lakes shores where you can swim, fish, hire boats and rent mooring.

The Leven is famed for salmon, and about a half a mile beyond the bridge, towards Backbarrow, it becomes fierce and turbulent, with impressive rapids and white waters. These rapids are a draw to canoeists, where throughout the year scores of these fragile little craft, all brightly coloured, can be seen struggling against the river’s might.

Along the river lane is the Newby Bridge Halt, one of the stops where you can take a short journey on the steam railway line. Volunteers keep the Halt in immaculate order, with flowers and shrubs and lickerty spit paint work, and when the train is standing at the platform huffing and puffing the picture is one of a more genteel age.

To take full advantage of Newby Bridge and the surrounding villages visitors should look to stay the week in one the area’s fine Lake District cottages and self catering holiday homes.

A fundraising fashion show hosted by The Inn on the Lake at Glenridding has resulted in a £400 donation to the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team (MRT).  This follows donations and practical support on event and raffle ticket sales from the hotel’s staff earlier this year.

“We recognise the commitment and tremendous value of the Team,” said General Manager, Gary Wilson, “and it’s good to be able to help out where and when we can.  The fashion show and lunch was organised by the Maureen Cookson Fashion House down in the Ribble Valley and we decided that Patterdale MRT should be the main beneficiary from the fundraising.

The event sold out quickly – there was even a waiting list for tickets at one point – and raised a significant sum for charity.

John Williams, Patterdale Mountain Rescue Association Chairman, and Team members, Mike Blakey and Martin Cotterell, recently received a cheque for £400 from Gary at The Inn on the Lake, part of the Lake District Hotels Ltd group.

“We get tremendous support from so many businesses around the valley, many of them members of the Ullswater Association,” said John. “We really appreciate this donation and would like to take the opportunity to thank the team at The Inn on the Lake and the organisers of the fashion show for their work, enthusiasm and effort on our behalf.”

For more information on the Lake District Hotels Ltd group events visit http://www.lakedistricthotels.net

Environmentally, examples of the use of dredging are to clear waterways also to collect sand in order to repair coastal erosion. Industrial and commercial uses dredging are for example the collection of materials used in concrete production and the dredging for valuable trace substances.

Dredging has become an essential operation in process of flood prevention through increasing an area’s capacity for holding or carrying water away.

Dredging requires not only the correct craft but also the correct dredging equipment which is mainly the dredging bucket. Each type of dredging project requires a different type of bucket as each location and material required to be dredged is different.

Dredging buckets are made by the process of the fabrication of steel through welding. They are either constructed in a workshop or onsite depending on the nature of the usage and location. Dredging buckets can range from 3m3 to 25m3. The first process is to design the bucket using CAD software and then the drawing service. It is these critical initial stages that enable the bucket to be fabricated.

The materials used in the construction of dredge buckets, excavator buckets and mining buckets are highly sophisticated. The steel is high strength and abrasion resistant with tungsten or chromium carbide wear protection systems. Each bucket is ESCO wear resistant encompassing their protection systems and are bushed and line bored.

As mining, excavation and dredging buckets are often used in challenging and demanding situations, it is important to keep on top of refurbishment. A professional dredge bucket manufacturer should also offer the service of repair and refurbishment.

The refurbishment and repair of mining and dredging buckets is as skilled a job as manufacturing. The welding and fabrication processes are as complex and so a fully equipped workshop is required with a lifting capacity in the region of 15 tonnes. The welding should be to ASMA 9 standard or higher with a mobile line boring facility. Once the welding and fabrication has been completed the process of the abrasion resistant and steel plate coatings can be implemented

The reunion attracted past employees from all over the world including Peter Dixon and his wife who travelled especially from Australia for the occasion and stayed on to see friends in the Lake District. Also present was Kurt Hartmann and his wife who travelled from Germany. Kurt was Head Chef at the Lodore Falls Hotel for 27 years and it was he who taught current Head Chef Mike Ward.

The reunion began with afternoon tea at Lake District Hotels ltd Lodore Falls Hotel, followed by an evening trip into Keswick for drinks and a friendly pub catch up.

On Sunday everyone gathered again at the Lodore Falls for Sunday lunch and a group picture before departing home or on holiday.

Organised by Head Chef Mike Ward, Sales Manager Tanya Sentance, and past employee Vikki Brier, they all agreed the effort of finding everyone was worth it. Finding staff was made easier by using social media sites like Facebook and friends reunited. Mike said “Social media has made an impact on being able to keep in close touch with friends across the world. It made finding everyone and keeping them informed so much easier. It was a monumental occasion and great to meet people who worked here
years ago.

Mike really enjoyed catching up with his Head Chef mentor and it was especially important that lunch was perfect. Having over 60 people at the event shows how much people fondly remember their time working here at one of the most famous Keswick hotels. It was also nice for our current team to catch up with old friends.”

If fast cars and fabulous spas are your passion, then why not check in to the Brooklands Hotel in Surrey. Situated on the site of the legendary racetrack and airfield, the hotel features a selection of simply stunning packages bound to satiate the most demanding spa divas and the most passionate petrol heads – perfect with the British Grand Prix fast approaching in early July.

If thoughts of indulgence and utter relaxation make you and your partner purr with pleasure, then the Fast and Fabulous Spa Experience is the package for you. You will be treated to two sumptuous spa treatments each, choosing from the signature Jane Scrivner High Velocity Massage, to the Body Brushing treatment or even the Butter LONDON 30 minute Manicure, you can be sure you’ll both be left quintessentially pampered!

Alternatively if your partner’s more of a thrill-seeker than a pleasure-seeker, and would prefer to race round one of the UK’s most famous tracks, rather than succumb to spa treatments, then the His and Hers Spa & Car Experience is bound to keep you both happy. As you enjoy a relaxing Full Body Massage in the hotel’s destination spa, your partner will be having the time of his life negotiating hair?pin bends and high?speed manoeuvres with an exhilarating 30 minute driving experience at Mercedes-Benz World.

The unique, design-led Brooklands Hotel opened its doors this March on the site of the iconic Brooklands race track. Brooklands Hotel brings a sensational property to the market. The much anticipated opening offers the ultimate combination of contemporary design with a vibrant history. Predominantly glass, this super style-statement of a property has been designed for luxury, while embracing the rich legacy of the Brooklands race circuit. Complete with a destination spa, cocktail bar, restaurant, and state-of-the-art conferencing facilities, the 120 luxury rooms and suites offer unrivalled luxury within this area of Surrey. Priding itself on personality, individuality, and an unparalleled level of uniqueness – where else will you find a spa on a race track, with luxurious suites only thirty minutes away from central London?

The ‘Fast and Fabulous Package’ rate is based on two people sharing a standard room (single occupancy in a double bedded room is £179.00 per room, per night). Spa treatments times are subject to availability and should be booked at your earliest opportunity prior to your stay to avoid disappointment. For more information on the newest of Spa hotels in Surrey visit http://www.brooklandshotelsurrey.com.

The other main attraction for visitors to Cartmel is the racecourse. With the first recorded race said to have taken place on the mid 1800’s, Cartmel races continues to grow in stature and popularity year on year. The creation of a new grandstand, with the back drop of the beautiful southern Lake District coupled with catering to rival any top race event has really put Cartmel on the map.

Cartmel is very much becoming a gastronomic destination. Cartmel and its surrounding villages have some of the best examples of Lake District gastronomy in the whole of Cumbria and the Lake District. Even though many of the restaurants and public houses are located within historic buildings, the food served is right in the 21st century using the finest locally sourced produce that is found in an abundance in the south Lakeland area.

Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding is one of the most famous exports from Cartmel. The pudding is now sold all over the United Kingdom and even world with high class restaurants in London serving this still handmade in Cartmel pudding.

With its top quality food, beautiful historical buildings, race course and spectacular scenery, it’s not hard to believe that Cartmel attracts a cosmopolitan visitor. Luckily, Cartmel offers some stunning luxury Lake District self catering properties. When attending the races, what better place to stay in than a beautiful Grade II listed manor house or a beautiful double-fronted period property in Cartmel.

Nearby attractions also include Holker Hall (a stately home with lovely gardens and grounds and a cafe, Cark-in-Cartmel), the Lakeland Motor Museum (In addition to vintage and classic motors, the museum now features of faithfully recreated period shop fronts and also has a themed gift shop. It is now located at its new site in Backbarrow, on the main A590) and Brantwood (an historic house & gardens which used to be the home of John Ruskin with a shop, café and terrace on the east side of Coniston Water).

Firgarth’s Windermere accommodation has the advantage of car parking, and is situated just a short walk from Windermere centre, with its many shops and restaurants and rail/bus station. We make an ideal base for touring, walking or just a relaxing break at any time of year.

Just take a 15 minute walk through ‘Millerground’ to the shores of Lake Windermere or alternatively climb to ‘Orrest Head’ from where stunning views of Lake Windermere and Morecombe Bay can be enjoyed.

Firgarth offers eight bedrooms comprising of double, single, four poster and king size double which are all ensuite. All rooms are centrally heated and decorated in a combination of modern and traditional design, all have colour TV, tea and coffee making facilities, hairdryer and a range of toiletries.

The construction of sealed lead acid batteries is in actual fact it is not as complicated as people may let you believe. The following is a short piece on exactly how these batteries are constructed.

The whole ethos of how the battery construction is designed is basically to eliminate the loss of electrolyte through evaporation, gassing or spillage. The basic premise that the batteries are sealed leads to a longer battery life and also reduces the amount of maintenance needed compared to other varieties of batteries. Other types of batteries have simple valve caps to let gas escape from the batteries, whereas sealed lead acid batteries are constructed using pressure valves which open in extreme conditions. To reduce the release of oxygen and hydrogen in the air by galvanic action as the sealed lead acid battery is charging the electrolyte needs to have an adapted design. The electrolyte is designed in sealed lead acid batteries in such a way that it triggers the oxygen and hydrogen to re-amalgamate into water and is often known as a recombinant technique. Because of the reasons given above and the sealed nature of the batteries, sealed lead acid batteries are much safer than other variants of batteries and are used for mobility scooter battery requirements.

The bonefishing is on a scale so massive that previous experiences now seem little more than practise sessions. Big numbers of bulldog-like giant trevally (GTs) cruise seas so clear that on some days the water seems to become one with the endless blue skies. When these beasts charge your flies down it is unlike any fishing there is. I have witnessed fishermen freeze up as a GT’s back comes out of the water in its eagerness to nail your fly, and I have seen people jump out of the way of a rampaging GT on the hunt. Words will never truly describe a fishing experience as intense as sight fishing for GTs. Is this the ultimate?

I suppose it could be, but the bonefishing is off the scale as well. Vast shoals of monster bones swarm these remote flats, and I would hazard a guess that every single fish has never seen an angler before, let alone a fly. They fed so hard and aggressively that the guys were left in a state of shock by the whole experience. Mingling with the bonefish are huge milkfish, but that is another whole story on its own.

GT fishing in this part of the world is about as hardcore as fly fishing holidays get. Bonefishing requires a wonderfully subtle and deft approach, and when hooked, they run off with a lightning burst of speed. GTs on the other hand defy belief in their aggression and defiant nature. Most fishermen will carry both a 12 and a 9 weight set-up when fishing these places, to be able to fish for GTs, bones and other species as tides and locations change. Going from smashed knuckles and bruised pride on a bad-boy rampaging GT to dropping a size 6 in front of a graceful bone requires great skill and an ability to adapt at will. Possibly nowhere on earth is going to give the fisherman such (wonderfully seductive) choices to make. I therefore offer up the Seychelles’ remote atolls as one of the places you simply have to do your utmost to fish; it really is as good as fishing can be.

Of course, surfing is a large draw to this area. The beaches of Woolacombe, Saunton and Croyde are always full of surfers in the summer months but even out of season. The mild climate in the south of the UK means Devon can be visited out of the normal holiday’s seasons with very pleasant weather conditions. In surfing terms, it is often the slightly wilder and duller days that produce the best surf.

The Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or AONB, was given this designation in 1959. The North Devon AONB is an area totalling 171 square kilometres, from Marsland Mouth on the Cornish border to Combe Martin. The Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty status means the area is nationally protected for the beauty of its landscape. The coastal landscape around Combe Martin is some of the best in the UK. From Combe Martin, the Hangman Cliffs can be seen made up of two cliffs Little Hangman and Great Hangman. Great Hangman is the highest cliff in southern Britain at a height of 328 meters above sea level.

The countryside is splendid with plenty of walks for the less adventurous walking along the miles of beaches is really quite a spectacle. Then just a short drive away in the large town of Barnstaple. It is in Barnstaple that many self catering holiday makers will visit to stock up on food and other supplies being the largest town in the area.

When purchasing a static caravan or Devon holiday homes from an established caravan site you get peace of mind that the security of your home as the resort will provide a range of security and maintenance services including a private access controlled entrance to ensure your investment is protected all year round. In keeping with such a luxury investment, you will not be responsible for chores such as grass cutting and ground care around your lodge. These tasks will all be taken care of for you so that you are free to relax and make the best of your holiday time.

Modern touring caravans for sale and holiday lodges come with better specifications than a lot of houses with broadband, sky TV, spacious plots, large decked areas, paved courtyards and all year round holiday use. Better still on some of the top Devon resorts you will also be able to make use of the onsite facilities such as heated indoor swimming pools, golf courses and equestrian centres.

Self catering is becoming more and more popular. The consumer is seeing the many benefits of staying in a self catering property in the UK as opposed to either staying in a hotel or going abroad. Tourism industry members are seeing the profits made from owning holiday homes and the rentals of them. For second home owners, it is the perfect way to make some money out of the property whilst the owners are not using it. In the tough economic time, this is a practice that is being seen more and more to alleviate mortgage payments and running costs. Holiday property owners and companies are also noting that more and more enquiries are for short breaks, typically 3 or 4 nights. Due to this, short breaks in self catering properties are now widely available. They enable extra business in the quieter, off season months and can even generate repeat business for a full week in the high season. Short breaks are great for those who cannot afford the cost of a full week, those who have a small holiday entitlement and families wanting an extra break on top of their main summer holiday.

The Lake District lends itself very well to a self catering holiday and Lake District short breaks. It has some of the quaintest cottages and properties in the UK set in the most spectacular surroundings. Many walkers and adventure enthusiasts prefer staying in a self catering property for many reasons. It is often the case that Lake District cottages are located in a more rural or isolated locations which suits walkers and climbers enabling them to step right out of the cottage front door and up a mountain. In most cases, hotels and bed and breakfast venues are larger properties so are in less isolated locations. Hotels and b&b’s do not suit everyone. Lake District self catering properties allow complete freedom to come and go when you please and the storage areas for bikes, walking and climbing gear for example. Washing facilities are all but always found so washing of gear can be done throughout the stay if required.

Sending a pet to a kennel whilst you are on holiday can be inconvenient as not everyone has a kennelling centre near them. Kennelling and pet sitting services can be quite expensive almost doubling the cost of the holiday. Another and perhaps the biggest reason why pet and dog friendly hotels are appealing is that many owners hate the thought of having to leave their dog or pet when they go away. Taking a dog abroad has its problems with quarantining etc but if the holiday is in the UK, why not take your pet along? Pets are often a large part of the family so leaving him or her for a week can sometimes be quite upsetting. In fact, some even let pets go free which makes taking a pet with you far cheaper than kennelling.

It is not always appropriate or right to take a pet on holiday should the destination, type of accommodation or the activities on the holiday not be suitable for a pet. The Cumbria - Lake District on the other hand is one destination with a great choice of activities and that both the family and Fido with enjoy equally. It is now far easier to take your pet away with you without compromising on the choice of holiday. In fact, there are now pet friendly hotels which a few years ago, was almost unheard of.

Many hotels in the UK and the Cumbria - Lake District specifically exclude dogs and pets of all sorts from their premises. However, some hotels welcome all well-behaved pets to enjoy a holiday with their owners. Some dog friendly hotels in the Lake District offer walking services, special bed linen and beds and food.

Crabapple
These hardy native trees produce stunning fragrant blossoms and equally attractive fruits which are much loved by birds. Ideal as specimens and will tolerate most soils making them easy to grow. White flowers from pink buds followed by vivid yellow crabapples.

Eucalyptus
Large evergreen trees that can be hard pruned in Spring to make excellent shrubs yielding foliage for flower arrangers. Not suited to thin chalky soil or exposed sites, otherwise easily grown. The Cider Gum (Ot Eucalyptus Gunnii) is the best known species and the hardiest. Sickle shaped glaucous leaves that are silver blue on younger trees, sage green on older trees.

Golden
An outstanding small/medium sized deciduous tree, feathery rich golden-yellow foliage from spring until autumn. Fragrant white flower clusters in late spring and early summer. Associates very well with purple leaved shrubs, especially Smoke Bush (Cotinus) and Purple Hazel (Corylus).

Italian
This familiar narrow columnar evergreen tree, widely seen in Mediterranean regions can reach a height of 50ft over a period of 20 years or more. Prefers well drained soil and a sheltered site in full sun. Unsuited to cold exposed sites. A very useful architectural tree.

Strangely, Windermere [town] used to be called Winandermere and before that there were actually three small hamlets [Applethwaite, Birththwaite and Heathwaite] which were combined in the 1800’s when there was a greater attempt to encourage people to visit the area. The railway arrived in 1857, making the area much more accessible to visitors and with this demand grew a wealth of Lake District Hotels. The railway still exists today and brings people from all over the world to this special area of the Lake District National Park. As well as being a sustainable way to travel, most of the Windermere hotels are only a short walk from the station, or at worst a five minute taxi ride.

Lake Windermere is well known as England’s largest Lake at over 10 miles long and is also the deepest at 65 metres. There are numerous outstanding viewing points within easy reach either by car, or by short walk. Gummer’s Howe is probably the most famous being situated at the south end of Lake Windermere. You can drive most of the way, leaving only a 30 minute walk to marvel at the panoramic views over Lake Windermere and across to Morecambe Bay. To see the Lakes from a different perspective, Arnside Knott rewards those who take this gentle climb with stunning views of the Kent Estuary and Morecambe Bay; simply head for the viewpoint.

To complement the interest people have in cooking and dinner parties the items on a dining table and the settings should be strongly considered. How the food looks on a plate is extremely important as well as how the plate looks within the table setting. The look of the food is the first impression and as is regularly said, you eat with your eyes. The food itself needs to look appealing but what it is presented on can also greatly affect the way the dish looks. Top chefs know the importance of this and they will be the ones that choose the dinnerware range for the restaurant. Only a few years ago, a standard plate would be used to serve all the dishes. Now there are curved, square, rectangle, oval and shallow bowls.

You cutlery then needs to match the dinnerware. A traditional set of cutlery would look out of place next to a modern square plate for example. Likewise, a modern set of cutlery would not feel right with a traditional set of china plates. Leading cutlery brands such as Arthur Price cutlery have been manufacturing high grade cutlery for over 100 years. Their traditional ranges remain popular but they have introduced contemporary ranges in keeping with the modern look that many home owners are requesting.

One of the leading modern cutlery brands at the moment and one which is synonymous with innovative design is Villeroy and Boch. Villeroy and Boch cutlery as with other brands of such stature retain a timeless design but firmly keeping with a contemporary look. Due to the nature of stainless steel, cutlery can be a real statement on a dining table. For a customer wanting to achieve a very contemporary look, modern cutlery perfect finishing touch.

When looking at which franking machine to purchase make sure they are manufactured with concern for the environment both during, and after, their working life. In setting its own environmental emission objectives and targets via its management system franking machine suppliers ensures that any emissions waste or usage of natural resources are controlled, monitored and reviewed so as to ensure that it continues to improve its environmental performance wherever there is the potential to do so.

Environmental policies within the workplace are becoming quite common with either in house environmental objectives or accreditations such as ISO14001 environmental management standards. Such standards help in guiding staff into being more environmentally aware and prove to customers that such practices are carried out within a company.

A franking machine protects the environment by actively:

• Checking that all machines manufactured since June 1st 2006 are RoHs compliant
• Reducing pollution by recycling and minimising landfill
• Using recyclable packaging wherever possible
• Using incoming delivery boxes to ship goods out wherever possible
• Remanufacturing machines and parts to very high standards, reducing the amount sent to landfill
• Encouraging staff to be energy efficient

Even after their life, old machines can be sent back to the factory to constituent parts and reuse or recycle and ink cartridges are re-cycled. Ink cartridges count for a huge amount of landfill waste so by recycling even the small cartridge, it is further enhancing the environmental responsibilities of a franking machine.
When franking machines are sourced from a specialist supplier they are still the very competitively priced and the added environmental services and features do not add to the cost. It is often the case that a product whether it be for the workplace, home or a food item is more expensive if it has green credentials. This is something that has to change, especially in the current economic climate when money saving is a must for most consumers and businesses.

Franking mail ensures that business expenditure is kept under control and reduced whenever possible. Franking machines can save on average at least 2p on a first class, 3p on a second class and 6p on large letters and at the same time, giving mail a professional image. A professional image on an envelope could give you the edge when tendering for new business for example with personalisation of the franking imprint.

A franking machine saves instantly on postage costs but also labour costs compared with the process of weighing and sticking individual stamps on. That coupled with the more professional look mean franking machines are the way forward for today’s businesses.

Security is high on business agendas and many franking machines use modern encryption technology and fulfills the highest security requirements. A digital, thermotransfer print head and integrated security device create a universal partner for your franking needs. A high quality, immediately smear-proof indicium can include your company advert and ensure that your outgoing mail is an advertisement for your business further enhancing professionalism. This is also another feature that helps reduce waste and unnecessary production of labels as the transfer goes directly onto the mailed item.

Law costs draftsmen deal with costs in every sector of law and have the best systems in place for the recovery of legal costs - the legal costs drafting service that moves cases to completion as quickly and efficiently as possible. Saving time means much less stress and hassle and also means costs saving.

A law costs draftsman recover Claimants’ Costs or Part 20 Claimants’ Costs (additional costs) on non litigated matters and litigated matters. When representing a client, a law costs draftsman will assess the case, offer advice, drafts the schedule of costs, negotiate the costs, prepare the necessary bills and costs, prepare court forms and draft replies. As you can see, there are a number of components relating to costs and without the use of a drafting service, these costs are often not tracked and optimised as well as they could be. A professional law cost draftsman who specialises in this sector of legal services is invaluable.

Legal cost negotiators can also offer the following:
Advice and assistance on RTA Predictable Fee Cases
Drafting interim Bills
Drafting Schedules of Costs for:
Allocation questionnaires
Listing questionnaires
Infant Approval Hearings
Application hearings
Consideration and Drafting of Points of Dispute
Telephone and / or email Question and Answer Service
Seminars presented by our best Law Cost Draftsman

When looking for a law cost drafting service, check the firm has the latest computer software relating to drafting and preparation of bills and costs. This ensures the firm consistently produces a quality service through every aspect of the case. However, no matter how good systems and computers are, the most important ingredient is the law costs draftsman. Reliable, professional and dedicated law costs draftsmen operating as a team provide clients with a quality, reliable service.

So to conclude, the assistance of a law costs draftsman gives the solicitor and their client the peace of mind that all costs are fully layed out, that the costs are controlled and that the best possible practices are in place for the case.

There is an excellent choice of accommodation available within Eden including hotels, guest houses, Cumbrian cottages and caravan parks. Away from the main holiday season many of the Lake District holiday cottages offer the flexibility of short breaks rather than just whole weeks, so visitors can enjoy a long weekend in the area and perhaps buy some fresh local produce to cook yourself at the property. However your eating requirements are catered for by the many excellent restaurants and traditional pubs that reflect the local flavour.

Historic Penrith, often referred to as the “Gateway to the Northern Lakes”, is the major town in the Eden Valley, with a good mix of traditional shops selling locally made products and crafts, including famed Cumberland Sausage and Penrith Toffee.

When it comes to places to visit during your stay the Eden Valley offers a wide range of historic houses, castles, gardens, craft workshops, galleries and museums. In fact there are over seventy visitor attractions in Eden. For the more active there are many sporting facilities including sailing, windsurfing, horse riding, golf, squash, tennis and fishing.

One of the area’s key activities is Appleby Horse Fair, which takes place every June. The Horse Fair gathers together travelling folk from all over the country, buying and selling horses, keeping alive a 300 year old tradition. This is Britain’s largest gypsy gathering, with hundreds of tradition horse-drawn caravans converge on nearby Gallows Hill.

Walkers will find Eden is wonderful walking country, either a leisurely walk along river banks and lake shore or you can take to the higher paths over the Pennines and Lake District fells. In fact, the Pennine Way National Trail reaches into the Eden Valley at Appleby-in-Westmorland as it winds its way towards Scotland. Cyclists can follow the coast to coast (C2C) and Cumbria Cycle Way, both routes are clearly marked along the way.

The River Eden provides challenging fishing, and has in place a “Go Wild” scheme to enable visitors to try wild fishing on the river.

The Wainwright walks have been popularised by Julia Bradbury who often stays at the Skiddaw Hotel when filming in the Lake District. This unique package is set to appeal to walking fans who enjoy bracing walks, fresh air, beautiful surroundings and a touch of glamour too!

The package gives the final bidder and a friend the chance to join presenter Julia Bradbury and the production team from Skyworks TV for a day’s walking in the Lake District sometime next year.

The guests will spend the first night as special guests at the Skiddaw Hotel in Keswick, before walking in the footsteps of the famous walker Alfred Wainwright. The walk may be filmed for TV broadcast, but at the very least, the winning pair will have their own private film of their walk - as well as signed DVD’s photo’s and memorabilia from the series.

Kevin Curran, General Manager of the Skiddaw Hotel, part of the luxury Lake District Hotels Ltd group said “The hotel is very popular for walking holidays and we already have a walking break named after Julia Bradbury and Wainwright  - it includes a copy of Wainwright’s Northern Fells book and a bathroom experience pack for relaxing after a day’s walking on the fells!

Julia likes to stay with us when she is filming in the Lake District, so we were delighted when she mentioned the opportunity to link in with Terry Wogan’s “Want Money can’t buy” auction. Fingers crossed for the bidding on Monday morning.”

A full list of the opportunities up for auction can be seen on the BBC 2 website at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/wake-up-to-wogan/terrys-children-in-need-09-auction/monday/

Commercial lighting can greatly enhance the sale of goods in a shop or warehouse. Lighting can add moods, can highlight specific goods and but can also be changed depending on the look required or the goods to be focused on. Take any business where colour and design is carried out and the correct lighting is truly essential. The type of lighting fixture can significantly impact the perception of an objects colour so it is extremely important to have the correct lighting when selling any colour specific goods.

Energy saving is high on many agendas and the correct lighting for a room can save greatly on energy bills and of course the environment. Reputable electrical wholesalers and lighting retailers can not only offer competitive prices on lighting fittings but can give advice and tips on how to create the best possible lighting system and the best ways in which to save energy. Saving energy can be in the form of using dimmer switches, low energy light bulbs, projection of light and by installing the correct amount of lighting units in the right places to maximise the light.

Health and safety in the workplace has cost many companies significant sums of money in recent years through lack of compliance. Staff are the key assets to a company, critical to the day to day business service delivery. Comfortable staff work longer hours, are more productive and show a better return for their employers.

Employee and business security has never been more critical as in today’s high tech world. Electronic monitoring of business premises, through cctv, fire safety and secure access control ensure only the right people have access to files, data and equipment. Furthermore, this security continues to work long after you leave the office with many of these systems supported by UK wide 24 hour service. A picture paints a thousand words. What do your clients see when they walk in your office?

Office furniture suppliers look at the environment staff work in, the space needed to work effectively in and the number of people that are required to be accommodated within that space. The new office is then planned out, observing importantly the HSE guidelines on a modern working space to ensure your business’ compliancy to ever changing directives. Many offer a full service which assists with not just office desks and office seating but all aspects of an office make-over or build including flooring, lighting, electronics and cabling.

Once a plan of the work is agreed, the office solutions company will manage the installation, layout, set up and final handover of the new office, or maybe it’s only a new desk. This care and attention to detail is very necessary because a workplace is where a significant time of a person’s life is spent.
Are you sitting comfortably?

People are all different shapes and sizes and all have different roles and requirements. Understanding ergonomics and the role it plays in the office is essential. After the common cold, backache is the greatest cause of absenteeism in the UK and a major cause is incorrect posture and more importantly, unsuitable office seating. The cost of one week’s salary will often cover the cost of high grade seating.

Office seating should provide good back support and have the ability to be easily adjustable to the correct working height. It is important that elbows sit at the same height as the keyboard and feet are placed comfortably, flat on the floor.

A huge range of colours and fabrics, including natural and reconstituted leathers are available from office furniture suppliers, along with specialist mesh seating ranges. Reviewing the seating is not just for the office. It is important to look at the reception area, breakout, conference, boardroom, classroom and auditorium.

Marbella is an area on the Costa Del Sol and which is famous for many things but its beaches have to be one of its top attractions. Marbella alone has over 24 beaches on its 27 mile length. Quite a high concentration don’t you think! The weather station at Malaga Airport records around 2815 hours of sunshine each year which is an average of nearly 8 hours per day. With this amount of light, it isn’t hard to understand why the beaches on the Cost Del Sol and Marbella are some of the most popular in the world.

Probably the most famous of the Marbella beaches is Puerto Banus due to this town also being the most famous and visited parts of Marbella. Puerto Banus is teaming with the rich and famous who play on their boats moored in the beautiful harbour there. It is the place to be seen when staying in the luxury Marbella accommodation which is in abundance. Another playing ground for the rich and famous is Nikki beach. This beach is an exclusive beach and has beach front beds along with fantastic food. This beach may feel a little intimidating but it is well worth a visit.

The two longest beaches at 2000m long are Casablanca and Los Monteros. Both are heavily visited beaches near large Costa Del Sol apartment blocks. The smaller beaches of El Cable and La Vibora are frequented less and are in quieter areas for those who want to get away from it all.

Water sports are popular around Marbella and the surrounding areas. Nagueles beach offers good surfing potential and La Vibora beach is where water sports such as wind surfing and jet skiing are seen frequently. Other water sport activities that can be done are fun sports such as banana boats, tubes/ringos through to more skilled wakeboarding, kneeboarding and parasailing.

The beaches are very well equipped with most having amenities such as bars, showers and toilets along with a high level of cleanliness. Life guards are also present at most and a high number have the Blug Flag rating for safety and cleanliness. These factors are high priority for families with small children.

With the huge number of Costa Del Sol accommodation venues, this amount of coastline is most definitely required with over 2 million holidaymakers flying into Malaga airport each year. The 2 million visitors have a plethora of beaches to choose from along the Costa Del Sol. The largest, Calahonda is 4500 metres long through to the more modest 320 metres El Bombo beach. It is a destination for people of all ages and interests which is why its popularity has continued to grow throughout the years.

Nerja, on the east of the Costa Del Sol, has some lovely quiet coves and beaches with excellent views over the Mediterranean Sea. Cala de Maro at Nerja is made up of a number or coves and small beaches with some parts of it only accessible by foot making this area a great get away and for those wanting a more tranquil experience.

Independent Wheelchair Lifts
Wheelchair lifts are extremely beneficial for disabled drivers with manual wheelchairs who wish to be independent. They fit most cars and operation is easy. These wheelchair lifts offer enclosed protection from the elements, for the wheelchair and the cost of transferring it to your next vehicle is minimal.

Wheelchair and Scooter Lifts
Wheelchair and scooter lifts are designed to lift manual wheelchairs and scooters and can be fitted to hatchbacks, estate cars, 4 x 4’s and MPV’s. When not in use, these devices store neatly away and can be transferred should a new car be purchased. The wheelchair and scooter lifts come in various models depending on the weight of the wheelchair or scooter, typically around 40 to 150kg lifts.

Person Lifts
Person lifts are for lifting people from their wheelchair into a vehicle and out again. Some models enable the person to stay in their wheelchair which then becomes the car seat. These devices are extremely practical and useful and can be bought for use in the home or the car. It makes the lifting of people effortless and with complete comfort for the disabled person.

Swivel Seats
Swivel seats for cars are a quick and easy way of making getting in and out of cars much easier. Pulling a simple lever allows the seat to be manually swiveled through approximately 90 degrees, making it easier to either stand up or doing a sliding transfer onto a wheelchair or scooter. Each swivel seat usually come with glide rails to enable the user to position the seat for optimum comfort when travelling. The seat can be used on either the passenger or driver side. When used on the driver side, there may be limited rotation. There are even special swivel seats available for MPV’s and 4 x 4’s which can also be utilized on mobile homes. These seats swivel out but also lower the person as well.

Hand Controls
There are various push pull hand controls available for installation in to cars. These devices can be for a single control use or can multiple controls for example integral indicator switches. There are devices that operate secondary functions at the touch of a button can also include:

• Indicators & hazard lights
• Headlights
• Horn
• Windscreen wipers (front and rear)
• Windscreen washers (front and rear)
• Fog lights
• Other functions may be possible, e.g. Radio on/off, heated windscreen, etc

Should a person not be to operate the foot pedals in an automatic car then there are push pull systems that can be fitted which enable them to do so. The rods connecting the controls and the pedals are fixed within the steering column for safety and ease.

Other devices that can be fitted are steering wheel balls for one handed steering, easy release mechanisms for handbrakes and one that enables the switching of the accelerator operation from left to right.

With this beautiful lake and the mountains at the doorstep, including Helvellyn, one of England’s highest peaks, there is always somewhere new to explore in this lovely region and you will never be short of something to do.

Your hosts, Keith and Lindsey Morgan, have been providing Ambleside bed and breakfast accommodation for over twelve years and will endeavour to make each and every guest’s stay  as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

there are eight attractive and well appointed en-suite rooms. Visitors can choose from family, triple, twin, double or single with either a bath or shower room. Stylishly simple and tranquil, all eight en-suite rooms have been newly decorated to offer a comfortable, warm and relaxing place to unwind after a day’s activities.

1. Live availability and online bookings – Many customers will not wait for you to get back to them with your latest availability, they will just go elsewhere. Therefore you need an online booking system that displays your live availability and allows customers to make a booking with instant online payments.

2. Easy to use and install – You should look for a system that someone with only basic web editing skills can install, with no complex installation instructions. This way you will easily be able to manage and maintain your booking calendar without the need to call on your web developer each time something needs amending.

3. No commission charges – You should look for an online booking system that can be purchased for a fixed annual fee rather than having to continually pay out a percentage of each booking taken through the system.

4. Customisable booking pages – It is crucial that your reservation system can be fully customised in order to fit in with the look and feel of your website in order to maintain the professionalism of your brand. 

5. Full Control – Your booking system should enable you to deal direct with your customer and all payments need to go straight to you, not through an agency. You should also be able to choose whether to offer real time online bookings, or provisional bookings which allow you to liaise with the customer in order to confirm the booking. 

6. Help and support – It is important to choose a booking system that includes telephone and email support, as well as a quick and easy guide to getting started with the system.

Kendal is right in the heart of South Lakeland so it is the perfect location as a base for walking, touring and enjoying the unique pleasures of the Lake District. The A591 dual carriageway means easy access to Kendal from the M6 motorway, just 8 miles. Continuing down the A591 and Windermere is only a further 8 miles and just 4 miles on is Ambleside. A Kendal B&B is the perfect location for exploring not just the Lake District but also the Yorkshire Dales and Cumbrian coastline.

There are some great local walks in Kendal and some brilliant ones for low level walkers. A very popular walk is up to the observation point on Scout Scar where there is a 360 degree panorama with the Lake District fells to the north and Morecambe Bay to the south. Walking is not the only activity. Kendal has a climbing wall, a swimming pool, two golf courses and driving ranges. Kendal Golf course is on the side of Kendal Fell with some of the best views from a golf course in the UK.

Kendal itself is a bustling market town full of good shopping from big names to local speciality businesses and luckily, there is a good choice of Kendal bed and breakfast venues to stay in. The market in Kendal, held on a Wednesday and Saturday, attracts many visitors and also now a monthly farmers market. Kendal has a large number of shops and delis supplying local produce and these are growing year by year.  

There are lots of cultural accents in Kendal. The nationally acclaimed Brewery Arts Centre features live drama, music, film, dance and art exhibitions. In fact, Kendal has an excellent artist community with many local artist exhibitions at The Brewery. The Abbot Hall Art Gallery, situated on the banks of the River Kent, has exhibitions from influential artists such as Frank Auerbach and David Bomberg.

Kendal is famous for Kendal mint cake and snuff. Snuff making in Kendal has been operational since 1792 and holds a lot of history in the area. It is still made in Kendal today by two companies which both stem from the originator of snuff making in Kendal. Mint cake is also still made in Kendal by three companies all of which with a long heritage, a combined trading time of over 300 years.

Finally, Kendal also offers Kendal accommodation for business travellers. Kendal is home to offices of national and multinational companies such as Lowe Alpine, The North Face and Furmanite.

The western Lake District covers a large area from the Solway Firth at the northern most tip right down to Barrow-in-Furness. It is extremely diverse in its landscape having some of the largest mountains but also having miles of coastline. It is the most enriched areas of Cumbria but which offers real escapism from the hugely busy South Lakes.

Silloth-on-Solway on the very northern coast is home to a championship golf course and which holds Open qualifiers. It attracts many visitors to play this links type course. Still on the coast and moving down to Whitehaven. Whitehaven has undergone much regeneration in the last few years and the harbour there is really worth a visit especially the biennial Whitehaven Maritime Festival. Further down the coast and you get to St Bees. St Bees has one of the best beaches in the UK. Clean sand and wonderful views towards St Bees Head. Heading down the A5395 for around 14 miles and you get to Muncaster Castle. The Pennington family have resided there since 1208 but early indications are that the castle has been around since 1026. Set on roman foundations, Muncaster Castle offers tours inside of the castle, an owl centre, playgrounds, a wildlife pond, ghost sits and is one of the most popular Lake District attractions.

The mountain and lake panoramas are the most dramatic of the whole of the Lake District. The market town of Keswick is a haven for walkers attracting thousands of visitors each year to walk the famous fells of Skiddaw and Helvellyn and hence there are many Lake District B&B venues to choose from. It also situated next to the beautiful piece of water, Derwentwater and only 3 miles away is Bassenthwaite. Bassenthwaite Lake is the only piece of water that is officially a “lake”. All the other bodies of water are either a “mere” or “water” for example Buttermere and Crummock Water.

Finally, panoramas do not get any better than the view from the southern end of Wast Water looking towards Great Gable and Scafell Pike. This view won “Britain’s Favourite View” on the ITV’s television programme in 2007 out of 16 views around Britain. Wast Water is the deepest lake in the Lake District at 260 feet deep but only 3 miles long. Wasdale Head offers some of the most remote Lake District accommodation but which is always busy with walkers attempting Scafell Pike.

Cark-in-Cartmel and Allithwaite are both located at the southern end of the Cartmel Valley and are classic ‘working’ Lakeland villages. This area is beautifully quiet without being remote and has a gentle pace of life. With its location so close to Morecambe Bay this area brings a milder climate than the rest of the Lake District.

The medieval village of Cartmel lies just 1½ miles north and is the oldest and most picturesque village in South Lakeland. The 12th century priory escaped destruction during the Dissolution of Henry VIII and remains one of the finest ecclesiastical buildings in the north of England. The ancient village square is home to two good pubs and is a lovely place to sit and enjoy a drink and watch the world go by. There are another two good pubs just around the corner to visit when staying in Cumbrian cottages.

Cartmel Valley is a gentle, undulating landscape of lush green fields, rolling hills, leafy lanes and tranquil forests. The woodlands are an ideal base for easy access of the whole of the Lake District, Morecambe Bay, the rolling sand dunes of the Cumbrian coast, the Forrest of Bowland and the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Walkers can put away their car keys as there are dozens of walks from their Lake District self catering cottage. The ancient Cistercian Way pass through Cark village and links up to all major walking routes in the Lake District. The Cumbrian Coastal Way also goes through both Cark and Allithwaite and provides spectacular coastal and fell walking for mile after mile. Morecambe Bay, with its vast areas of sand and marshes is a popular haunt for bird watchers, as is nearby Leighton Moss bird sanctuary. The Bay and the Cumbrian coast are great for windsurfing, with clear winds from the south.

If walking is not on the agenda when staying in one of these Lake District cottages then a visit to Holker Hall is a must. Holker Hall is Cumbria’s premier stately home, the home of Lord & Lady Cavendish. Residents and visitors of the village are granted permission to walk freely around the extensive parklands stocked with herds of deer and rare breed cattle and sheep. They also have a farm shop on site where produce from the estate can be purchased.

And finally, for families, a 10 minute drive north leads you to the nostalgic Haverthwaite to Lakeside Steam Railway. This connects to the awaiting Lake Windermere steamers and cruise boats that travel the full length of England’s longest lake where stops can be made at Waterhead (for Ambleside) or Bowness-in-Windermere.

Taking an environmentally conscious approach is one such way. This approach most obviously benefits the environment but is an excellent marketing tool to help a business grow and attract new customers.

The hotel and leisure industry is notorious for its energy consumption. There is the lighting, the washing and laundry, all the electrical goods within the rooms, the heating, kitchens and then Jacuzzis and swimming pools in the Lake Disitrict spa. All contribute to a huge carbon footprint but also high energy costs. The cost of electricity and gas has increased by 20 % in the last year which is creating a huge impact on the profits of a hotel or bed and breakfast. With the economy being in such a bad way at present and customer confidence in spending is decreasing, this industry can’t afford to put up its prices. After all, it is a highly competitive industry to start with.

Hotels have for some time now put notices in the bathrooms relating to the towels situation, in the bath if you would like them changing, on the rail or elsewhere if they are ok to be used again. This of course makes a difference if you think of how many hotels there are in the world but there is so much more that can be done.

The English Lake District is a haven for walkers and people relocating to live and work to provide a better standard and healthier living than in a city. It is understandable that the Lake District has a high number of environmentally conscious hotels. There are various levels of implementations that can be put into practice within Lake District hotels and accommodation providers from recycling and reusing of materials, to sourcing materials, services and supplies locally. There is then a next step that can be taken for example in the form of creating a renewable energy source for the hotel. One of the hotels in the Lake District that has installed a biomass energy production system which has been enabled by its location amongst a 35 acre managed woodland area. Such a system requires expert input but with the correct guidance, an economically feasible and attractive alternative to the use of LPG can be achieved. After a report had initially been produced, it was summarised that a biomass system would be far more efficient than a new high efficiency LPG boiler, an anaerobic digestion system or solar power system. To put this biomass system into context, the saving made should be at least £35,000 per year for this hotel and leisure complex when comparing it to its previous gas boiler system.  With such a saving, it is extremely evident the amount of unsustainable energy that will be saved.

Most improvements or refurbishments on houses and gardens end up costing far more than was originally expected. By trying to do as much of the work yourself within your capabilities is going to help at times like these. Garage doors for example are items that if working properly are marvellous and add to a property’s aesthetics and value. When not working properly, for example, when they are not opening or closing properly, a car is not safe when inside or imagine the horror if the door won’t open and the car is stuck inside!

An old garage door can look shabby and make the whole property look less desirable especially when it comes to selling a property. A nice, well looked after and in good decorative order garage door is part of the external appeal of a house. With car parking at such a premium these days, having a garage next to the house or integrally can add a lot of value and provide that extra decision making draw for a property.
The cables are components on garage doors that do tend to stop working properly over a period of time. These can be quickly and easily repaired by visiting a garage door spares supplier. Cables can be repaired following careful instructions.

If changing garage door cables yourself, there are some important points to follow:

1. Read carefully any Instructions that are available for your door
2. Always replace both cables/wires at the same time
3. Make sure that you have the correct tools available to enable you to complete the job
4. Make sure that you have the correct garage door parts for the repair.
   (If you are replacing the cables, please also check the roller spindles for wear, as this is a good time to also replace them)
5. Always oil all moving parts.

Finding the model of your garage door is important in order to obtain the correct parts. This information if not known straight away can be found using the points below:

1. Firstly look on the garage door handle, this usually gives you the manufacturers name, ie, Henderson, Cardale, Garador etc.
2. If there is no name on the lock, then look inside the garage, usually on the inside of the garage door there is a manufacturers label, ie, Henderson, Cardale, Garador etc

Safety is always important when carrying out maintenance work yourself. Before attempting to carry out any maintenance or repairs to a garage door it is important to read carefully any Instructions provided for that particular make of door and also to make sure you have all the correct parts and tools necessary. Whilst starting out, remember the springs on garage doors are usually held under a good deal of tension. Finally, before any work is attempted on the garage door, the tension on the spring or springs must be isolated or released, only after this has been done can any work be completed in safety.

There is in fact only one piece of water that is officially a lake and that is Bassenthwaite Lake 3 miles from Keswick. All the other bodies of water are either a “mere” or “water” for example Windermere and Ullswater or a tarn which means a small body of water.

There are 20 major lakes of which the largest and busiest is Windermere. Windermere is a thriving tourist destination with an excellent choice of Windermere bed and breakfast venues but there are many Windermere hotels available as well. Windermere the town is located 1.5 miles from the lake but Bowness-on-Windermere sits right by the lake swarming with boats, tourists and tours. At nearly 11 miles long, Windermere can fit a lot on it including 14 islands. The speed limit of 10 miles per hour maximum has caused some controversy but of course it has also pleased some people. Another very fascinating fact is that in the heavy rain of January 2005, Windermere rose by nearly a meter overnight. That equates to an extra seventeen thousand litres of water!

The next largest lake is Ullswater in a different part of the county but which offers a much quieter experience. Ullswater is set amongst some of the largest mountains, the main one being Helvellyn, the Lake District’s 3rd largest. The Ullswater Steamers operate on the lake so not only does this area appeal to walkers, but also some sightseers for the spectacular views and quiet lake.

Derwentwater is the 3rd largest lake and offers a very good choice of Lake District guest house venues surrounding it and is located just a mile from Keswick which is a haven for walkers. Derwentwater is only 3 miles long which is significantly smaller than the Windermere and Ullswater.

The deepest lake is Wastwater, being 79 metres or 258 feet deep. At the end of Wastwater at the head of the Wasdale valley are some of the highest mountains in the Lake District, Scafell Pike (which is the highest), Great Gable and Lingfell. The Screes is a mountain that catches the eye on wastewater. It measures 2000 feet from top to base but 200 feet of it is below the surface of Wastwater. The view towards Scafell Pike from the other end of Wastwater, won Britain’s Favourite View in the ITV programme last year.

It is not just the size of the Lake District that attracts tourists but the density of the area. No other National Park in the UK has the amount of fells and lakes so it is truly special and should be visited by everyone.

The new cottages are in four different locations all offering different forms and sizes of accommodation. The first, Rosegarth Cottage at Newby in the Eden Valley. The second Lake District cottage is Edenfold Cottage, Bolton near Appleby. The third cottage is Pheasant Cottage in the Eden Valley and the fourth of the Lake District cottages is Stonegarth also in Newby.

These cottages are the latest additions to their already 35 strong cottage portfolio. This amount of cottages lead to the need for a new website which was put live last year and which enables the visitor to check the live availability of each cottage. It also gives clear information on each particular property with either “available”, “booked” or “a please phone” status. If one of the cottages is “available”, indicated under the availability status is the price for that week. This enables the visitor to know instantly the cost and eliminates the need to telephone or email for a price.

Goosemire Cottages are a small family run agency offering holiday cottage accommodation in the Lake District, UK (with just a few exceptions) an all-inclusive rental price. Their limited overheads mean low prices and they pride themselves on their value for money approach. There are open all year round and offer out of season or last minute breaks. To help you relax, Goosemire Cottages adopts a “nothing is too much trouble” approach, ensuring a welcoming, informed and personal service. On arrival you will find your cottage carefully prepared, to give your holiday a perfect start. In fact from the point of your initial enquiry onwards they guarantee they will give both you and your holiday the warm friendly attention deserved.

Goosemire Cottages have available over 39 traditional self-catering holiday homes for discerning visitors (Ranging from 1 to 7 bedrooms, sleeping up to 10). Most are rustic 17th or 18th Century Lake District self catering cottages or lovely barn conversions, where antiquity and modern comforts have been beautifully combined. The atmosphere and idiosyncrasies of each Lake District cottage property are reflected on our website, and while some maybe more luxuriously appointed than others, all are carefully prepared and maintained.

They offer Cumbrian self catering holiday cottages in the following locations - Bowness on Windermere (largest lake), Lake Ullswater,( the Lake Districts second largest lake), Haweswater, the Eden Valley, Bassenthwaite, Grasmere, Kendal, Ambleside in the central lakes, the South Lakes peninsulas, and Wastwater. If you are feeling energetic you can go fell walking, climbing or even mountain biking. Other activities include sailing, wind surfing, fishing or bird watching.

For further information on the areas, availability and prices of all 39 cottages visit www.goosemirecottages.co.uk or telephone 01539 731 801.

Static caravans are a good choice for combing the freedom of self catering whilst being in the heart of the area you are staying in. They provide a cheaper alternative to a cottage rental and the caravan sites often have a convenience shop and a bar. There are many caravan sites in Devon and this area attracts a lot of tourists for its good weather, long white sandy beaches and an excellent range of activities. Alternatively, many of the Devon caravan sites offer touring caravans for sale.

The magnificent North Devon coastline has a choice of beaches including Woolacombe, which has been acknowledged as one of the top ten beaches in the world and is a regular winner of both Blue Flag and Premier Awards for beach safety and cleanliness. There are also the beaches of Croyde, Saunton and Westward Ho!, all of which rival the most exotic of Mediterranean resorts.

The astonishing natural beauty of North Devon combines the superb coastline with the distinctive countryside, often meeting with stunning consequences. Neat patchwork quilts of fertile farmland, wild rugged moorland and wide open spaces all combine to make this corner of England so unique. It’s difficult to imagine any part of Britain more awe-inspiring than the rugged wilds of nearby Exmoor. Covering an area of 250 square miles, this National Park is every rambler’s idea of heaven, where red deer and wild ponies stalk the steep valleys and gorges while buzzards and falcons soar overhead. Popular with a broad clientele, this stretch of coast was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural beauty in 1959 and spans from Marsland Mouth on the Cornish border to Combe Martin and the edge of the Exmoor National Park.

Wherever you choose to go, whatever you choose to do, there’s always the peace and tranquillity of the countryside to offer a means of escape from the demands of everyday life. In fact the Council for the Protection of Rural England classifies North Devon as one of only three areas in the country that can still officially be called “tranquil”.

There is plenty to see and do for every type of person. Here is a brief list, for more information on attractions visit the official North Devon Website.

• Arlington Court - National Trust House and Gardens
• Clovelly - One of the worlds unique villages. Picturesque cobbled streets leading down to 14th century harbour
• Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park - 250 species of plants and animals
• Exmoor Brass Rubbing Centre - Collection of over 100 brasses and rubbing plates
• Exmoor Zoological Park - Over 150 species of Wildlife
• Lundy Island - North Devon’s own Atlantic Island
• The Milky Way - A galaxy of entertainment for all the family
• Once Upon a Time - Fantasy Land for children aged 3 -11
• Quince Honey Farm - Fascinating insight into the life and work of the honey bee
• Surf South West - Learn to surf with a Surfing Association Approved School
• Watermouth Castle - Entertainment centre set in restored castle and grounds

International trusts are governed by the International Trusts Law of Cyprus. International trusts are not taxed in Cyprus.

Tax aspects
Cyprus trusts enjoy important tax advantages, providing significant tax planning opportunities to interested parties. The following advantages are indicative of the possible options for tax minimization: All income, whether trading or otherwise, of an international trust (ie a trust whose property is located and income is derived from outside Cyprus) is not taxable in Cyprus Dividends, interest or other income received by a trust from a Cyprus international business company are also neither taxable nor subject to withholding tax provided that the beneficiaries are not tax resident in Cyprus. Even though a trust with shares in a Cypriot company may not be an international trust, the exemption relies on the fact that Cyprus tax is imposed only on Cyprus residents. As the beneficiaries are not residents of Cyprus, no tax is imposed on the distributions made to the trust Gains on the disposal of the assets of an international trust are not subject to capital gains tax in Cyprus An alien who creates an international trust in Cyprus and retires in Cyprus is still exempt from tax if all the property settled and the income earned is abroad, even if he I a beneficiary An international trust created for estate duty planning purposes would not be subject to estate duty in Cyprus.

The nature of a Trust
A trust is established by an individual (the Settlor) and is a means whereby property (the Trust Property) is held by one or more persons (the Trustees) for the benefit of another or others (the Beneficiaries) or for specified purposes. The Settlor can be a Trustee and the Settlor and the Trustees or any of them can be Beneficiaries. In law, the Trustees are the owners of the trust property, although they may not deal with it as absolute owners but rather in accordance with the provisions of the law relating to trusts and the rights of the beneficiaries as set out in the trust documents. In other words, the trustees are under a binding obligation to deal with the trust property in accordance with the law and the direction set out in the trust document. The trust property can include all kinds of assets situated anywhere in the world. Trusts are usually used by wealthy individuals for the purpose of protecting their estate from inheritance or capital gains taxes in their home country. They can also be used by expatriates settling into a trust before repatriating assets acquired while working abroad, to protect such assets from the tax of their home country.

Other aspects
There are many situations other than saving in taxes where Cypriot trusts can prove advantageous. These
include the following: an individual, through the use of a Cypriot trust, can ensure that minors, mentally impaired persons or persons unable to deal with the management of the individual’s estate are well provided for, even after the individual’s death an individual, through the use of a Cypriot trust, can arrange to be inherited by persons, who due to the legislation of the individual’s country, would otherwise be excluded from the inheritance an individual who wishes to divest himself of personal assets for fiscal or other reasons can achieve that by transferring them to a Cypriot international trust an individual who wishes to keep the ownership of a company anonymous and confidential, can do this by setting up a discretionary Cypriot trust to own the shares in the company an individual who has or may have income arising overseas, which they do not wish to remit to their country of residence, can arrange for such income to be directed to the trustees of a Cyprus based settlement and be held in a discretionary trust in accordance with their wishes an individual with assets outside their country of residence – which country may in future extend its exchange control restrictions to include remittance of overseas funds – may wish to retain the flexibility of overseas funds by transferring them to a discretionary trust.

Other advantages
In addition to the tax and other aspects set out above there are other favourable factors for creating a trust in Cyprus The favourable legal system relating to trusts together with the advantageous geographic position of the island make Cyprus a particularly attractive trust location. Cypriot international trusts are not subject to exchange control. Bank deposits with Cypriot banks, either local or international, or with any bank around the world, are also not subject to exchange control. The absence of exchange controls and the availability of excellent telecommunications and international banking services, make Cyprus a convenient base for the remittance and transfer of funds The presence of a number of reputable international fund management companies on the island and the high standing of the legal and accounting professions ensure the availability of expert advice as well as the competent management services required for the proper operation of a trust. There are no, registration or reporting requirements for trusts established in Cyprus nor are the names of the trust or of the persons referred to in the Trust Deed disclosed. Cypriot law is flexible in that it allows the removal of a trust from its jurisdiction and vice versa. This could be important in cases where a change in circumstances may render such a transfer advantageous for fiscal or other reasons.

For the last 20 years, more and more families have been going abroad to Europe for their summer holiday and year on year the UK market has been decreasing. The UK seaside used to be thriving and although such places as Devon and Cornwall are still busy in the summer, on the whole, it is less popular. The UK has so many fantastic places like Scotland and Wales for walking, the Northumberland coast where there is 10 miles of coast with some of the cleanest and whitest sand in the country, down to Dorset and the Isle of White.

The UK of course does have a downside in the weather but what the UK lacks in sunshine, it makes up for in activities and good old fashioned fun. This area is especially suited family holidays in the Lake District with its vast choice of activities. Firstly there are the fells. Walking and taking in the spectacular scenery in the Lake District is not only good exercise but it is free. Other activities in Cumbria and the Lake District are Muncaster Castle, the World Owl Trust, Ravenglass Steam Railway, Lake District Coast Aquarium, Puzzling Place and Derwent Pencil Museum in Keswick, Beatrix Potter Museum and cycling tours at Grizedale Forest. A trip to the Lakes isn’t complete without a boat trip. Windermere, Coniston, Ullswater and Derwentwater are the main lakes for boat trips. It gives a different perspective on the fells from the water than on land.

Organized Lake District family breaks takes away all the stress of having to think of what to do each day. An organized package takes care of all the booking of venues and has an itinerary each day. This kind of holiday helps families get the most out of their Lake District holiday and can include activities such as sailing, walking, museum trips, picnics and cycling. Many have been designed to enable families to spend time together but also making consideration for the parents by giving them a few hours of freedom with the children only activities.

The Euro is not the only reason UK family holidays are predicted to increase. The awareness of climate change and the impact of flying on the environment is something that is making families think twice about going abroad. A return flight from London to Barcelona for example produces half of tonne of carbon dioxide per person. That is an awful lot when compared with a return car journey from London to the Lake District which creates a 10th of a tonne of carbon dioxide. Once a family has realized what good they are doing for their children’s future, money saved and most importantly, how much fun can be had on a holiday in the UK, it is sure to make the UK tourism industry flourish once again.

Unlike many of the suppliers to the show, Kris will be producing his canvas art in real time within the 60 minutes. He is due to be painting under a canopy outside. The colour pallet will be given to him by the show’s designer which in the case of the Cobham show will be Derek Taylor. Derek will advise Kris on the colour scheme so his artwork can complement the decor. He is due to be interviewed regarding the work he is supplying by Terri Dwyer, the shows presenter.  Kris is hoping this fantastic opportunity will showcase his art to a wider audience. Launched in 2004, 60 Minute Makeover is a very popular daytime, reality television show on ITV aired at 2.00pm until 3.00pm. The designers and crew makeover four rooms in each house as a surprise for a nominated owner or resident. At the end of the show, the revamped rooms are revealed to the deserving person.

It has been a very exciting year for Kris so far not just in the form of 60 Minute Makeover but in May he exhibited at Grand Designs Live at London Excel. Kris had the idea of actually painting whilst on his stand which made for a very productive and effective show and achieving a high number of commissions.

It is often under estimated the importance of wearing the correct type of motorcycle clothing from gloves through to boots and even the correct garments underneath. Most motorcyclists know the importance of wearing a helmet but there are still some that do not wear adequate clothing on the rest of their body.

Leathers come in a wide range of styles to suit the bikes, riders and different needs and situations. The leather used for motorcycle gear is a very tough form of leather to give maximum protection. All aspects of the suit or separate are tested from the seams to the zips to check for tearing, impact abrasion, cut and burst resistance. Armour for extra protection is inserted into the shoulder area, back, hips, knees and elbows such as in the Alpinestars clothing range. Leather is the most traditional form of motorbike clothing but even that has advanced in recent years. Kangaroo skin is now used, especially for race suits, as it gives great protection and maximum comfort. The kangaroo skin moulds to the body ergonomically with great movement which is why it is so popular when in a racing position.

Specialist motorcycling clothing has really gone forward during the past few years with advances in manufacturing techniques, materials and product development. Leather used to be the only material for motorcycling clothing but there are now a choice of materials including nylon and Kevlar. These materials are much lighter than leather making them more comfortable whilst riding but they are also far better for protection against the weather. The ballistic nylon and Kevlar materials have fantastic anti abrasion properties. These materials took over 1700 cycles on an abrasion test before failure. If you put that against a pair of jeans which failed after 50 cycles, it is evident the importance of such protective clothing.    

Ballistic nylon (e.g. Cordura) and Kevlar materials keep warmth in when needed but also allow vents in the design of the garment to let air in when it is hot. Textile garments dry out much faster than leathers so when touring, clothing made from these materials are a good idea. Many of the top motorcycle clothing brands such as Dainese and Spidi do both leather and textile ranges.

Another major point is the importance of the correct size of clothing, helmets and accessories. A helmet that is too big can cause injury in the event of an accident and also distract the rider whilst riding. An ill-fitting jacket can also cause injury especially is the armour dislodges. Wind noise caused by a baggy jacket is another distraction along with another consequence, wind drag.

French illustrator Marine has created a number of stunning wall art limited edition prints, which are clearly inspired by her love for music and fashion, the Ye-Ye movement in sixties France, her childhood and all the different people she meets.

Marine was born in Paris, grew up in South of France and moved to Brighton to study Graphic Design.
Now living and working in Brighton as an illustrator she divides her time between commissions for clients such as The Guardian, Penguin, Coca-Cola, TruThoughts, Amelia’s Magazine, Jazeera Airways … and personal work that she exhibits regularly. Her work has been described as vivid, vibrant, sometimes retro or slightly surreal and has been published in Computer Arts, Etapes Graphiques, Illusive and the Secrets Of Digital Illustration.

Most recently Marine is noted for four quality portraits including Gossip’s singer Beth Ditto, Dance Girl, Guitar Girl and Tea Girl, which are all printed on 400 gsm uncoated Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) approved paper are available in a very limited edition of just fifty signed and numbered screen-prints.
This Beth Ditto print is exclusively available from Design Supremo, which is an online creative hub that brings together cutting edge design, illustration, photography, street art and other hybrids in between. Design Supremo collect and supply original, vintage and screen prints, art posters, unique t-shirts, and other assorted creative products.

The weather in Cannes can top 40c in the Summer months but even through the Winter months pleasantly mild temperatures are seen with low rainfall making this city a year round destination.

Cannes is probably best known for the Cannes Film Festival. The film festival takes place every May and takes over the whole of the city. Much revered within the film industry, Cannes attracts high profile actors, actresses, directors and royalty. The Festival de Cannes has been going for 61 years now and seems to get more popular each year.

The concentration of famous faces brings many fans and tourists during festival time. All but a handful of the many luxury Cannes villas are fully booked. Being a very affluent area, Cannes has some of the most stunning holiday villas in France. Many villas south of France are even located within private gated communities, extremely sort after by celebrities. With such clientele, it is no surprise that Cannes is also famous for its luxury shops, exquisite restaurants and prestigious hotels such as the Majestic Barriere. Popular with famous faces all over the world, this legendary hotel epitomizes the Cannes Film Festival.

When staying in Cannes, of course a shopping trip must be done but on from that there are many sights and cultural experiences to be had. One such is a walk up Mont Chevalier up to Suquet. The panorama up there is breathtaking and whole of Cannes including the Lerins Islands can be seen. For those interested in fishing, the Vieux Port is a must see where the fishermen work alongside the sightseeing boats. And then what everyone does when they visit Cannes is walk the three kilometres of one of the most famous promenades in the world, The Croisette. This stretch follows the curve of the bay and is adorned with palm trees, lawns, planted gardens and flowers.

Another activity that must be done is the boat trip to the islands of St Marguerite and St Honorat. St Marguerite is famous for the cell at the Fort of St Marguerite, now called the Musee de la Mer, which is said to have held the “Man with the iron mask” for 11 years. It is also the location of many shipwrecks. St Honorat is only inhabited by Cistercian monks. There are the ruins of the 11th century monastery on the edge of the island right by the sea and the monks spend their days praying and making the famous Curvee St Honorat red and white wine.

The Nice Cote d’Azur Airport is located just 15 miles from Cannes making it an easily accessible destination. By car, the A8 motorway goes all the way from Paris to Nice. Transportation by rail is also available with services from all the major French towns but also from Brussels, Rome, Milan and Venice.

The basic premise is to maintain a great website and produce a free to guests/take one A5 brochure (100,000 print run in 2008) which is distributed throughout the like minded but highly individual participating hotels.

Envisaging continued growth, FIH will be aiming to have 75 hotels in 2009.

Mike Bevans said: “In 2008, Fine Individual Hotels doubled the number of hotels from 25 to 50 and more growth is expected next year. With hotels well distributed in the North of England and Scotland like illustrious award winning hotel such as the stunning Ballathie House Hotel, near Perth; we have new hotels in the South such as the highly individual Hoste Arms in Burnham Market; the near the sea Millstream at Bosham; the top Devon country hotel Combe House, Gittisham; Cotswold’s famous Grapevine, Stow-on—the Wold; and the Castle at Conwy in Wales. We will continue to grow from strength to strength.”

Whether you are looking for Perthshire Hotels, Conwy Hotels, Devon Hotels, Cotswolds Hotels, Norfolk Hotels, or Chichester Hotels you will find the perfect venue on www.fihotels.com.

The reason for this is that the embodied energy required to manufacture a modular building is transportable as the embodied energy is locked within the fabric of the building. Therefore the energy contained within pre-owned modular buildings can be transported and relocated to another site. In traditional buildings this is largely lost when they are no longer required and demolished, even when the materials are re-cycled. However, with modular and portable buildings the embodied energy can be relocated along with the modules to another site.

Where a modular or portable building is relocated, with minimal alteration, the amount of energy used is less than three percent of the energy that would be required to manufacture an equivalent new building. Even when the modular building is refurbished and reconfigured internally, the energy used is no more than ten percent of the energy that would be required to create a new modular building.

The Modular and Portable Buildings Association has produced an energy performance standards document (ADL-2A) which provides supporting information and guidelines for compliance with the Government’s special considerations relating to the design and construction of modular and portable buildings.
So buying a quality pre-owned modular building not only saves you money and is an immediate solution to your accommodation needs, but it also makes a difference to the environment by recycling the embodied energy contained within the building.

Modular and portable buildings come in all different sizes including multi-story they can be used for such a wide variety of functions including mobile classrooms, temporary offices, construction site accommodation and portable storage buildings.

One very famous artist by the name of David Hockney, although from West Yorkshire, produced a series of paintings of the East Yorkshire landscape. David Hockney is arguably the most famous and influential British artist of the 20th century. David Hockney’s paintings are renowned around the world having exhibited his canvas art in New York, Germany, Japan and Portugal.

A series of five East Yorkshire landscapes were shown for the first time at Tate Britain in 2007. This beautiful area is often misunderstood by the people of the UK associating this area with fishing and flat, unspectacular landscapes. Hockney changed this perception and along with the regeneration of East Yorkshire, most notably Hull, this area is finally being put on the map for the right reasons.

These canvas artwork pieces were all painted in the same location in Woldgate Woods during the course of one year. Quite different from many of Hockney’s other work, this series of five were all 12 feet long. Hockney has described the area as having “the sorts of wide vistas you get all the time in the American West,”. Canvas art is synonymous with David Hockney but it is watercolour that he would first create his painting of East Yorkshire in. He would then revisit the site and again, almost entirely in situ, paint the finished canvas art in oils. Watercolour enabled Hockney to capture the landscape quickly through the changing light.

The Hull has begun to champion young artists and The University of Hull art collection features British art, paintings, drawings and sculpture 1890-1940, including works by Sickert, Steer, Lucien Pissarro, Augustus John, Stanley Spencer, Epstein and Moore. Camden Town and Bloomsbury artists are particularly featured. Hull is also luring artists to the area from as high an education at The Royal College of Art.

There are many art galleries in East Yorkshire exhibiting canvas artwork, contemporary and classical art and watercolours and oils. This area of Yorkshire has strong sea, coastal and fishing ties being such a large part of its heritage and these themes can be found in the art here.

It is bordered by Germany to the north, France to the west, Italy to the south and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland has a long history of neutrality and it has not been at war since 1815. The country hosts many international organizations, including the Red Cross, the World Trade Organization and one of the U.N.s two European offices. However, it is not a member of the European Union. Switzerland is multilingual and has four national languages - German, French, Italian and Romansh.

When it comes to places to stay, there is a great choice of Switzerland accommodation available including serviced accommodation such as hotels and bed and breakfasts, plus Switzerland self catering accommodation such as simple hostels, or perhaps a luxury Switzerland apartment.

Unlike many holiday destinations, Switzerland makes an ideal holiday destination during all four seasons of the year. During winter months, Switzerland offers world class conditions for both skiers and free riders alike and during summer months, the spectacular mountain scenery provides awesome paragliding, alpine mountaineering, mountain biking, rock climbing and beautiful walking trails for all levels. With plenty of shops, bars, restaurants and other year-round attractions available, Switzerland really is ideal for a holiday throughout the year.

Getting to Switzerland can be fairly inexpensive as a number of the budget airline operators including Easyjet, Bmibaby and Jet2 all fly into Geneva airport. Other major airlines including Swiss Air, British Airways, Lufthansa and KLM also offer competitive fairs from the UK. Flights to Sion airport are available every week during the winter season from London Heathrow airport. Basel, Zurich and Bern also accommodate flights from the UK.

The best method of getting around the city is to use the London Underground, which is a metro system serving Greater London and the neighbouring areas. It is the world’s oldest underground railway and with two hundred and sixty eight stations and approximately two hundred and fifty miles of track it is also the longest metro system in the world.

Visitors to the city are spoilt for choice when it comes to accommodation with all different types being provided including luxurious hotels, self catering properties, a London bed and breakfast, or a Guest House London, right down to the most basic of hostels. Being a capital city the cost of accommodation tends to be more expensive than the rest of the UK, but breaks here do not have to be expensive as it is possible to find a cheap London hotel.

When it comes to sightseeing in London the list is endless including Buckingham Palace, Houses of Parliament, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Tate Gallery, Harrods, Imperial War Museum, Covent Garden, the Globe William Shakespeare Theatre, Trafalgar Square and the Tower of London.  A great way of seeing many of these sites is to take one of the many tours of London that are available, perhaps even from the comfort of an open top bus if the weather is nice.

In the evenings you can enjoy dinner at one of the city’s fantastic restaurants with just about every nationality of food being provided. Here you have a unique opportunity to try something different that you wouldn’t normally find on restaurant menus back home. When was the last time you tried a Hungarian, Lebanese, Burmese or Nelapese dish? After dinner you can head to London’s West End to see one of the excellent theatre productions.

Not everyone has the money to buy modern canvas art produced by famous artists so it has enabled the not so famous but equally as talented new artists to produce work and be successful selling them. Canvas art is quite dramatic as the medium used is either oil or acrylic paint. Both achieve high depth in colour and on a bright white wall, a piece of canvas artwork on a stretched canvas frame has maximum impact.

Oil and acrylic are very versatile and both give the option for alteration after the painting has been finished. This is especially the case for oils as they take a number of weeks to dry. It enables a piece of canvas art to be produced and a step taken back from it. It can then be revisited and adapted should the artist feel it is required. Watercolour for example is quite final once completed. Oil and acrylic come alive even more when a few coats have been put on and textures are built up. An example of this is in the artwork for Howard Hodgkin and Gillian Ayres. Both use bright colours and layer and layer paint to create not just high impact in terms of depth of colour but also texture. These particular canvas artwork pieces look breathtaking on a white wall.

Clean lines and minimal aesthetics are the keys with many of the latest wave if modern art pieces. Another impressive move in the artwork is that artists today are actually quite happy to produce bespoke artwork specifically for the client from their own specifications. For example a piece of artwork is often created to specifically suit the interiors of the room it is commissioned for both in style and colour. This is quite a shift from what many people conceive in artists. It is making modern art even more modern and allows the owner of the artwork to have input creating an even more personal piece.

The economy in Dubai is staggering. In 2007 GDP was registered at 54.3 billion US dollars and over the past 7 years, the economic growth was 18% Compounded Annual Growth Rate. Amazingly, the tourism, real estate and finance sectors are taking over as the main economic areas which used to be oil.

Growth of the population is detrimental to the growth of the economy. Between 2003 and 2007, the population created an 8% Compounded Annual Growth Rate which is sure to be logged down as higher as there are now an estimated 1.6 billion inhabitants in Dubai. This is predicted to increase to 2.2 billion by the year 2010. The Dubai property boom is going to be required with an increase in population such as that although it has been said that this should be capped to avoid saturation which is all too common in a situation like this.

It is the diversification of the economic sectors and their growth that has created a strong economy in Dubai. This diversification has attracted Westerners to move to Dubai especially to the finance and tourism businesses. Dubai is becoming a world centre for finance institutions due to its specially designated business communities. These purpose-built mini cities such as Business Bay are making Dubai a recognized global commercial and business center. Business Bay for example is spread over an area of 64 million square feet with numerous landmark towers within.

To entice white collar workers and tourism specialists into Dubai, the regulations for entry have been changed. They have been reduced making it easier to live and work in Dubai. This has then affected the Dubai property market in a way that there are now a greater number of investors selling houses on the owner occupier basis and not for rent. This of course suits Westerners who are very keen on purchase and not rent. The stature of the workers entering Dubai is also shown by the high numbers of luxury Dubai properties. The high-income section of Dubai is most definitely the largest. The developers of the higher end Dubai property structures are seeing a greater occupancy rate too.

So, to conclude, it appears that in terms of the Dubai property market, luxury is the way forward in the current economic crisis.

The spectrum of wildlife here is diverse, all the more interesting because its southern location attracts a unique combination of East and Southern African wildlife, both resident and migratory, and particularly a curious and colourful assortment of over 440 known species of birds. Some of Africa’s most sought after game can be found in Selous Game Reserve including elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, hippo, crocodile and herds of plains game, yet it remains one of the least visited of the great game sanctuaries on the continent.

The Rufiji River Delta is a striking feature of the game reserve. It connects the Great Ruaha River with the Rufiji River and not far from the park boundaries empties out into the Indian Ocean along the Tanzanian Coast. The Rufiji River is the largest water catchment location in the region, and as such, is home to varied water and bird life. Along its shores, you will find hippos wallowing in the water and crocodiles sunning themselves with their mouths wide open.  Stiegler’s Gorge, where the Great Ruaha River meets the Rufiji River, is a breathtaking example of the diversity and spectacular scenery along the game reserve’s waterways.

The Selous is unique among Tanzania’s more renowned preserved areas because it is a game reserve, not a national park, and therefore a larger range of activities are permitted. Boating safaris are becoming a popular alternative to vehicle-based trips, and offer visitors a chance to see the diverse life along the Rufiji River up close in all its splendour. Hiking safaris and fly camping are also ideal ways to explore the country and add a bit of adventure to your African experience.

The Selous Game Reserve was named after Frederick Courteney Selous, a British explorer and hunter in East Africa who wrote a book about the region and his travels, and was tragically killed in the Beho Beho area of the reserve during the First World War.

One of the best methods of experiencing the Selous Game Reserve is to use one of the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) approved tour guides who will be able to recommend some of the best Selous accommodation and also provide a tailored Tanzania Safari.

Ambleside is mostly a Victorian town, although there has been a settlement there since pre-Roman times.  Galava, a fort located beside Borrans Park in Ambleside was built by the Romans and was used to house around 500 soldiers. The fort was built to defend the lower fells of South Lakeland from invasion by the Picts and Scots, and also to guard the road to the Roman Port at Ravenglass which is accessible from Hard Knott Pass.

Many well known characters have been connected with Ambleside, including William Wordsworth, John Ruskin and Beatrix Potter.  The Armitt Museum in Ambleside provides more information about each of these famous characters and within easy reach of Ambleside visitors will be able to experience the World of Beatrix Potter in Bowness, Rydal Mount in Rydal which was the home of the Wordsworth family from 1813 and Dove Cottage in Grasmere, which is where William Wordsworth wrote most of his greatest poetry.

Waterhead pier is only a mile south of Ambleside town centre and this ferry terminal allows visitors to experience scenic ferry trips on Lake Windermere.  The ferries run regularly throughout the day between Waterhead, Bowness-on-Windermere and Lakeside at Newby Bridge.

A short walk from the centre of the Ambleside leads up to Stock Ghyll Force, a highly picturesque waterfall, which can be reached through Stock Ghyll Woods. This spectacular seventy foot drop to a bowl shaped pool can be viewed safely from a hand railed vantage point.  The ghyll once powered twelve watermills. The scenery around Stock Ghyll is truly magnificent and for any visitors wishing to stay in a rural location, but with the convenience of a town close by there are some excellent Cumbrian Cottages available for rent in the area.

Stephen Wilcock was Deputy General Manager at the Lodore Falls Hotel during the last four years and was instrumental in minimising disturbance for hotel guests during the £2 million pound Lodore Falls refurbishment. His move to the Borrowdale Hotel coincides with imminent plans to update the lounge, dining areas and remaining bedrooms at the hotel. Work has already started in some of the bedrooms and regular guests have given very enthusiastic praise for the work so far. The lounge will be refurbished during November - in plenty of time for Christmas and there are exciting new plans for the dining room which are due to start in the New Year.

With over 25 years in the industry, Stephen began his career under the tutelage of Francis Coulson and Brian Sack at The Sharrow Bay. He spent 15 years with them learning hospitality in the first establishment to coin the phrase Country House Hotel. Since then he worked at the Michelin star L’Enclume at Cartmel and The Samlings in Windermere before joining the Lake District Hotel Group as Deputy Manager at the Lodore Falls Hotel.

Stephen’s passion for fine food and good wine led him to become a Master Sommelier, a role he has enjoyed at the Lodore Falls and one he is eager to develop at his new hotel next door. As well as his appreciation of fine food and wine, Stephen brings with him years of experience in running small family hotels and will draw on the lessons learned while managing the refurbishment at the Lodore Falls.

 “I feel I have come full circle, beginning my career in a small country hotel, working in large, busy hotels too and now at the helm of a small country hotel with a great reputation for food,” said Stephen. “ We now open all day for food in the bar and lounges and guests are giving us great feedback. The Borrowdale Hotel is a small family run hotel that focuses on customers. I appreciate the special attention given to the many regulars and am looking forward to working with the staff who have a wealth of experience. By Christmas we will have roaring real fires in the lounge which will create a great atmosphere for the festive season and as a Master Sommelier, matching food and wine during the festive season will be a real joy.”

Kit Graves, Managing Director of Lake District Hotels said “We play to the strengths of the individuals in our teams and we like to give our Managers the chance to face new opportunities. Our philosophy has always been to promote from within wherever possible and it is even more rewarding to see someone take on their first role as General Manager.  Stephen has a real love of food and wine and has years of experience in running small country hotels. We know he will feel at home at The Borrowdale Hotel, he is very customer orientated and has the leadership skills to take the hotel forward during and after the refurbishment.”

For more details on the new look and the exciting new plans for the dining room at The Borrowdale Hotel please contact the General Manager - Stephen Wilcock on 017687 77224.

It’s all change too for Manager Chris Attwood who has moved from The Borrowdale Hotel to face new challenges as Deputy Manager at the Lodore Falls which is more than double in size. He spent 12 years next door and has an excellent rapport with customers. For Chris his new goal is to look after a much greater number of guests to the same exacting standards he has set in the past!

Kit Graves summed up the changes by saying “we can certainly say that customers travelling to our Borrowdale hotels will be looked after exceptionally well!”

In 2003 Saadani was upgraded to become Tanzania’s latest National Park under the direction of TANAPA (Tanzania National Park Authority). Boundaries have been expanded to include land north of the Mligaji, which is an important area containing the only permanent elephant population in the area as well as sable antelope. The total protected area now covers over 1000 sq km and the TANAPA headquarters are based at Mkwaja ranch.

Saadani is geographically the closest reserve to Dar es Salaam (130km) and, even considering the present situation of no coast road, it is still a similar distance in terms of time to Mikumi National Park, the next closest wildlife destination. Construction of the coast road from Dar es Salaam is underway and once completed, this will reduce driving time to around two hours from Dar making Saadani the closest wildlife destination to Dar offering an irresistible combination of beach and wildlife viewing.

Saadani sits directly opposite Zanzibar’s Stone Town, which is located approximately 42 kilometres away. Regular flights are available from Zanzibar to Saadani and these only take about fifteen minutes.  Visitors to Zanzibar will find an excellent choice of Zanzibar hotels and most other types of Zanzibar accommodation, including villas and lodges.

The combination of beach and big game is unique in Tanzania. Whilst the diversity of animals is comparable to most parks, it is the numbers and accessibility that TANPA, the Tanzania National Parks Authority has been working on. The large game animals currently seen in the Saadani National Park include giraffe, buffalo, elephant, lion, leopard, sable antelope, eland, hartebeest, wildebeest, zebra, waterbuck, reedbuck, greater kudu, warthog, hyena, mongoose, civet, baboon, crocodile, hippo, three species of duiker as well as a great variety of birdlife.

Saadani is dominated by acacia woodland and coastal thickets. It also protects a large area of mangrove swamps along the coastline North from the Wami river, and includes several species of palm including the mysterious looking ‘walking palm’, which is not actually a palm at all!

Dolphins are sometimes seen offshore and whales pass through the Zanzibar channel on their migration. Of particular interest is the green turtle project at Madete Marine Reserve. This endangered species is under particular threat from fishing practices offshore from Saadani and a conservation project has been established to help protect both turtles and their eggs.

One of the best methods of experiencing the Saadani National Park is to use one of the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) approved tour guides who will be able to offer a choice of Tanzania Safaris, as well as recommending places to stay during your visit.

This refreshing approach has been welcomed by groups and companies in the Cumbria region but also further afield who are determined to ensure spirits remain high this Christmas and they are already booking their parties. Sometimes company Christmas party celebrations are combined with team building events and of course, due to the nature of the Lake District, it is the perfect place for both. Companies still want to celebrate, but they are looking for something different and something flexible enough to fit their budgets. This is why the hotels in the Lake District are creating packages from just the themed drinks and food right through to full provided on site entertainment and events.

Named by William The Conqueror the ‘new hunting forest’ in 1079 the landscape of the New Forest has hardly changed since then. The woodlands and heaths are looked after today using the same ancient systems implemented by William The Conqueror mainly in the form of Commoners which are the local inhabitants who farm cattle, pigs, donkeys and ponies. These areas are called pasture woodland are left open for the cattle and pigs, also deer. The Ancient and Ornamental woodlands cover 3,692 hectares of the open forest. There are also a number of other workers who manage the forest from rangers and keepers to skilled woodsmen, all of which work full time to look after the forest.

The New Forest is a popular location for all ages and interests. All year round there are activities such as guided walks, historic and geographic talks and traffic free cycle tracks with many New Forest bed and breakfast establishments to stay in. There are now a wide ranging selection of New Forest accommodation venues available, from 5 star country house hotels and bed and breakfasts to stunning New Forest self catering cottages.

The New Forest was given National Park status in 2005 and covers an area of approximately 580 square kilometres which is 143321 acres with a population of 38,000. The forest includes the largest tracts of unenclosed forest, heathland and pastureland remaining in the South East England. The uniqueness of the landscape provides habitat for rare wildlife and plants. These lowland areas are a rare occurance in the UK today. In the forms of wet heaths, dry heaths and valley bogs these areas are home to adders, grass snakes and lizards and more information regarding these creatures can be found at the New Forest Reptile Centre.

Something that should always be kept in mind is the British weather and if the weather is inclement there are numerous museums, galleries and visitor centres to look round. Surrounding the park there are many pretty villages and the towns such as Totton and Lymington to explore. These villages make an ideal base with a huge choice of New Forest B&B accommodation venues.

Your Lake District mobile dj will guarantee you a night to remember. Their philosophy is a simple one - Great music, reliable equipment and meticulous attention to detail, which enables them to provide the highest standard of service.

They take the view that it is your day, your party, your music. So they will always play your requests, either in advance from a playlist provided by you or on the night of the party.

For your peace of mind, all of Dancing in the Dark’s equipment is safety checked (PAT) annually and they do carry Public Liability Insurance.

The Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty status means the area is nationally protected for the beauty of its landscape. It is made up of several distinct landscape types, each with its own special habitats and geology, including the most vulnerable and beautiful parts of the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve centred around the village of Braunton and its estuary.

Due to the fantastic beaches, plentiful attractions and distinct landscape, Devon holiday homes are a popular choice. Excellent transport links mean travelling to North Devon is quick and easy. The M5 motorway takes you right down to the junction with the main link road, the A361 leading to Barnstaple and then even Exeter airport is only 40 miles away.

The area hosts a wide variety of gardens and houses, family attractions, theatres and leisure facilities. Sea and coarse fishing are accessible nearby and there are three top golf courses including two championship courses at Saunton. For golfers, second homes in Devon are the ideal choice. Holiday Lodges in Devon will provide much welcomed relaxing accommodation after a hard round of golf but with the space to store golf clubs and other kit.

Woodlands Hotel in Windermere is a handsome Edwardian Villa situated between the villages of Windermere and Bowness in Cumbria – the Lake District, just a few minutes away from the shores of Lake Windermere. Guests will enjoy the luxury, stylish and contemporary Boutique accommodation being offered at Woodlands, which has now been formally recognised as being one of the finest hotels in the Lake District. There are a total of fifteen luxury and en-suite guest bedrooms including a choice of single, double or twin bedded rooms. The resident’s bar and lounge is an exciting space for guests to relax after a long day’s site seeing and exploring.

According to the AA, a five star Guest House needs to demonstrate an awareness of each guest’s needs with nothing being too much trouble. All bedrooms must be en-suite or have a private bathroom, with excellent quality beds and furnishings. Breakfast must include specials/home-made items, high quality ingredients, and fresh local produce.

The AA inspector who recently undertook an overnight inspection of Woodlands said it was lovely to return this Windermere Guest house and find the refurbishment completed with a high level of comfort being offered to guests. The inspector commented on the brand new bedrooms and bathrooms, saying they had the biggest impact on the level of quality, stylishly decorated and well equipped. The standards of service and hospitality were also highlights of the stay with members of staff demonstrating a friendly, welcoming attitude and spontaneity. The choice at breakfast has been increased, with quality items offered on the buffet and a tasty, accurately cooked hot dish.

]]> http://www.houshmandzadeh.co.uk/2008/10/21/woodlands-in-windermere-hotel-achieve-five-star-boutique-accommodation-status/feed/ http://www.houshmandzadeh.co.uk/2008/10/09/lake-district-spa-treatments/ http://www.houshmandzadeh.co.uk/2008/10/09/lake-district-spa-treatments/#comments Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:39:33 +0000 mike http://www.lakeshotels.co.uk/?p=128 Combining a spa treatment with a holiday or weekend away is becoming more and more popular. With the stresses of work and family life, the ability for total relaxation and making the most out of a much deserved weekend break is a must. Spa’s located within Lake District hotels are the most convenient and give the most relaxation as the guest can simply come down from their room and within a matter of seconds be in having a spa treatment, no need to get in a car or walk for miles.

One such example if The Lodore Falls Hotel situated on the edge of one of the most beautiful lakes in the English Lake District, Derwentwater. It is a very popular area with lovers of all activities and it is one of the few pieces of water in the Lake District that has retained its peaceful atmosphere despite being right in the heart of the most popular area for walking. Lake District spa treatments can be anything from a variety of massages to facials, tanning, waxing, manicures, pedicures, anti-ageing, eye treatments, facials, sunbed and bridal treatments. With the popularity of getting married in the Lake District, a Lake District spa offers ultimate pampering for the bride.

Elemis is a high rated brand of facial, massage and body therapy treatments. The Lodore Falls Hotel offer Elemis Spa Therapy which is developed by a specialised team, with extensive clinical & scientific studies. Elemis professional spa-therapies are world renowned for their powerful massage sequences combined with the most dynamic activities, available in the world today. Lake District pamper days are also available in some of the Lake District spas. Locals can then use these facilities or guests who just want a full day of relaxing.

The name “Ullswater” is believed to have come from an early Viking settler but due to a stone circle called The Cockpit at Barton Fell, some say it could have been earlier. The valley has many farms which is now the main economy of the area along with tourism. Some of the farms which are still working today, date back to as early as the sixteenth century.

Ullswater is the second largest lake in the Lake District at a length of 8 miles. The lake is surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in the area and is a very popular place to stay for walkers wanting to tackle Helvellyn, Highstreet and Fairfield. The Coast to Coast walk goes through Patterdale with the Patterdale YHA situated on the route. For less adventurous walkers, there are many lower level, less strenuous walks such as the lovely Hallin Fell walk. It is approximately 3 miles long and of the same distance, the Aira Force Walk. Aira Force is the most spectacular waterfall in the Lake District and the beautiful walk through a leafy glen is wonderful.

One such ground breaking example is the Ski Dubai, 400 metre indoor ski slope constructed at a cost of 272 million US dollars. The artificial ski slope holds over 6000 tonnes of artificial snow which is made through revolutionary methods. Due to the amount of sunshine, Dubai is becoming a centre for sports. Dubai Sports City is growing by the day with high profile developments within it such an Ernie Els designed golf championship golf course called,”The Els Club”. Launched in January 2008, the course was opened by the creator and golfer himself, Ernie Els, ranked 5th in the world and the former Open and US Open champion. “The Els Club” was the first completed venue at Dubai Sports City and also the first in The Els Club brand in the world. This course has then led to residential developments being built with the focus on golf with many properties having views of the golf course. Further major sports choosing Dubai for large tournaments if Cricket. The ICC will be moving their headquarters to Dubai with planned projects such as a global cricket academy at an expected cost of 25 million US dollars.

Having worked with many tourism, leisure and hospitality businesses to help improve their profitability, I thought it was high time that I pulled together a website highlighting the ones I really enjoyed working with. The result is www.headsinbeds.co.uk.

The site is far from an exhaustive list, neither is it only a list of the ‘finest quality’, as Gary believes that ‘value’ is something important to everyone whether staying at a bunkhouse or penthouse. Value is simply the relationship between what we pay and the type of experience we have and Gary feels all of the businesses listed on www.headsinbeds.co.uk site offer good value to their customers.

Why not consider using this site when looking for a short break or holiday in the North and East of England, where the majority of Gary’s work has taken place. The areas covered include Northumberland, Yorkshire including the North York Moors, Yorkshire Dales and North Yorkshire, East Anglia including Norfolk and Suffolk, Lancashire including Forest of Bowland, Blackpool and Cumbria - The Lake District.

The site includes different types of accommodation including hotels, bed and breakfasts, guest houses, inns, farm b&bs, cottages, self catering agencies, caravan sites, camp sites and hostels, as well as a few restaurants and places to visit.

Can I purchase a property in Dubai?
Anyone can purchase a property in Dubai. In 2002 H.H. General Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and U.A.E Defence Minister, announced freehold ownership was now available to all nationalities Worldwide. 

Can I get residency in Dubai if I purchase a Dubai property?
Freehold property owners in Dubai and their family have the right to apply for a resident visa in accordance with the latest immigration regulations. 

What extra fees do I have to pay on top of the purchase price ie, tax?
There are no property taxes to pay in Dubai as Dubai is a tax free country. Therefore the price you see on a pricelist is the total property price for new Dubai property. 

How do I pay for a Dubai Property?
All Dubai Properties are purchased in UAE Dirhams, at Find Me A Property In Dubai we will assist you in this process. We advise you open an account with a foreign exchange company, this way you secure the best possible exchange rate. 

Can I get finance in Dubai to purchase Dubai Property?
Yes. Finance is available from 50% up to 70% for non residents. However this process and application is specific to each individual development. Speak to a member of our team for more information concerning finance for Dubai properties. 

What is the weather like in Dubai?
Dubai enjoys all year round sunshine!

Flamingos are always on the lookout for new and interesting gifts to add to their Aladdin’s cave of treasures. They cater for any budget, and offer the lowest price possible for extremely high quality goods and pride themselves on providing a top class service. They stock a large selection of cards and wrapping paper so your whole occasion can be sorted in one easy shop.

Many of Flamingo’s products were gifts of the year, which shows we buy only the best, and are guaranteed to bring a smile to anyone’s face. Such gifts include grow your own chilli plants, cushions, candles and lip glosses good enough to eat. You could even become a laird or lady, or own a share in playboy if you so desire.

Choose from an assorted array of mugs, from monopoly designs to vimrod and many more.

Edible banana slugs and build your own Lamborghini are perfect gifts for the jack the lads. Door mats, teapots, tasteful photo frames and personalised eye-catching clocks are ideal for mother dearest.

Where as young fillies in the family will adore the simply stunning make up bags, ice cream lip balms, and momiji dolls. 

Flamingo gifts are perfect for every occasion, whether you are looking for Valentines Day gifts, Birthday gifts, Wedding gifts, Christening gifts, Christmas gifts or just treating that special someone.

There are many Lake District bed and breakfast establishments in the area ranging from small b & b’s to luxury Lake District hotels with leisure facilities. One such hotel is the Borrowdale Hotel which is Nestled at the foot of Shepherd’s Crag in the beautiful valley of Borrowdale. This hotel has a totally unique atmosphere enveloping the visitors from the moment they arrive. Warm and welcoming fires in Winter and cool drinks and strawberry teas on the lawns in the Summer served with a smile.    

Built in 1866 the Borrowdale Hotel has an interesting history and many charming artifacts adorning the walls, such as old hotel prints, Victorian coffee grinders and silver salvers, plate warmers and brass bedpans - not forgetting the original 41 room bells, which, although no longer working, are still proudly displayed outside the reception area.

Capital Appreciation
Dubai properties have risen by more than 20% in the past 2 years – Dubai property is still set to see estimated growth in excess of 12% per annum

Tax Free
No Capital Gains Tax, No Income Tax or Inheritance Tax

Dubai Property Prices
Dubai properties are still far cheaper than most major cities – if you could invest in London Docklands 10 years ago would you? Yes

Demand vs Supply
85,000 Dubai Properties are being built per year – 52,000 Residency permits are applied for every month! The supply of Dubai properties is not expected to meet the demand for years to come.

Dubai property Rental Rates
Rental rates in Dubai have increased vastly year on year with increases between 20% - 40% in the last 2 years alone

Attractive Exchange Rate
The UAE Dirham is pegged to the US Dollar

Dubai’s Business District
Dubai is the business hub of the Middle East, with a 24 hour stock exchange and Business Bay under way, Dubai’s Manhattan! Offering prime commercial & residential investment opportunities. And then to top it off of course, year round sunshine and a cosmopolitan lifestyle with an array of entertainment options to suit every taste.

An area full of activities and stunning scenery is the area of Keswick and Bassenthwaite. There are many Keswick hotels that offer child friendly rooms with excellent leisure facilities on site. These facilities include heated swimming pools, gyms, tennis courts, putting greens and some even have games rooms with both board games and computer games such as Wii consoles installed. The practical facilities within these hotels come in the form of flexible meal times for children, the use of complimentary high chairs and cots, bed time books and stocks of essential items such as nappies, baby milks and food and dummies.

The Bassenthwaite Lake area encompasses some of the most well equipped hotels Lake District. The lake is one of the largest in the English Lake District situated at the foot of Skiddaw and in such close proximity to Keswick, it is a great location. The lake is 4 miles long and is the shallowest of all the lakes with its maximum depth just 70 feet. For parents interested in bird watching, it is one of the best places to spot an Osprey.

Initially, it is believed that the Wall from Willowford westwards was built of turf. Hadrian ordered it to be rebuilt in stone in AD122 and it stood firm for around 300 years until the fall of Rome. After that it fell into ruin, helped by looters taking the dressed stone to build farms and houses. Over time the Wall collapsed into more of a mound that was slowly covered with earth and vegetation. Nearly 1600 years later the mound at Willowford Farm was excavated to reveal one of the longest unbroken stretches of Hadrian’s Wall remaining, which at places still stands 8ft high and includes the remains of two turrets.

Where the Wall meets the River Irthing in the bottom field of this Hadrian’s Wall accommodation farm, the impressive remains of a Roman bridge can now be seen (artist’s impression opposite). The design of the bridge and the sheer size of the stones used is testament to the Romans’ great engineering skills, as well as their manpower. In our top field, the Romans built a camp, probably during the construction of the stone Wall, whose foundations are still clearly visible. This Hadrian’s Wall bed and breakfast is less than one mile from Birdoswald Roman Fort and a day’s walk or quick bus ride from Housesteads, Vindolanda and many other Roman attractions. Where better to explore this fascinating period of world history?

Whether visiting on business or pleasure, a quiet comfortable night is assured, with private bathrooms and kitchens in either the studio apartment or full 3 bedroom house. Both properties include:

Wi-Fi Internet Access
Complimentary Welcome Pack
Breathtaking Views
BBQ & Garden Furniture
Pet Friendly Bicycle Wash & Storage Facilities
Off Road Parking
English & German Languages Spoken
2 Minute Walk to West Pennine Moors

Please visit www.archangelos.co.uk for more details.

This former Gentleman’s residence originally built circa 1875 has been beautifully restored and tastefully decorated and it now provides elegant Lake District B&B accommodation in Ambleside.

The house features some exceptional examples of original oak panelling, dating back to 1654, and brought here in 1875 from local churches, the skills and craftsmanship that were used, can now be shared by all, in the different rooms throughout the building. Most of the walls are between 2 and 3 feet thick and are primarily constructed from Lakeland stone.

For more details about Real Fleet and their GPS vehicle tracking systems please visit www.realfleet.co.uk

When it comes to exhibition systems Cypher can cater for everyone, ranging from entry pop up stands and level starter packs through to large bespoke banner stands. Their entry level starter pack includes three banner systems with printed graphics, a carry case, a folding metal literature rack and 500 x A4 colour printed leaflets for just £675+vat.

Cypher can provide their own creative graphic design and artwork team available for those who do not have their own design facilities available. Alternatively you can provide the artwork yourself.

Many of the exhibition stands are available to purchase online at www.cypherdigital.co.uk.

They provide a host of installation guides providing step by step instruction of how to ensure your home improvement looks perfect with the minimum of fuss.

All products are delivered nationwide, with free delivery on orders over £49.99 and their buying power brings the best prices to the customer. Property Plastics are so confident their prices cannot be beaten they offer a ‘price promise’. If you find the same product with the same specification anywhere else online within 7 days they will refund the difference.

All Property Plastics products are manufactured in their own ISO9001 registered facilities ensuring quality is second to none.

The staylakedistrict.co.uk site also includes a choice of visitor attractions and activities, plus some selected pubs and restaurants where you can sample Cumbrian cuisine using some of the finest local ingredients.

Already established at the very top of industry standards for touring facilities, Stowford can now offer you the opportunity to buy holiday lodges in Devon. These luxury timber holiday homes for sale in Devon are ideally located in a tranquil countryside surrounding.The location of these Devon holiday lodges is so idyllic that in the 1300’s an early farm settlement flourished in this precise area. Doubtless they appreciated the sheltered position, south facing aspect and the outstanding countryside views. Now, seven centuries later, the beauty that attracted them to this area can be enjoyed by a new generation of visitor.

Conservatory air conditioning - use it to its full potential!
Having invested in your conservatory, it’s essential you create a room that is perfect for relaxing with friends and family regardless of the season. Temperatures go from unbearably hot in the summer to unpleasantly cold during the winter. Visually, a conservatory is always an attractive and inviting room, but these extreme temperatures make it impossible to relax in. An air conditioning unit the ideal solution for this problem.

Effective cooling
Air Conditioning is the only way of cooling your conservatory effectively. In cooling mode, the heat inside your conservatory is absorbed by the refrigerant circulating through the indoor mounted unit and taken via the connecting pipe work to be released outside.

Economical heating
Heat pump air conditioning units allow the cooling cycle described previously to be reversed. A heat pump extracts “free” heat from the outdoor air and transfers the heat indoors. The running costs are up to five times less than conventional heating systems.

This year has been very exciting for Kris Hardy as he exhibited at Grand Design Live at London Excel 3rd to the 11th of May 2008. In its 4th year, Grand Designs Live boasts over 40000 visitors and Kris will be amongst a staggering 450 exhibitors. Kris showcased his latest work and he demonstrated his canvas art live on the stand. It was a very successful week for him.

Kris graduated from the University of Huddersfield in June 2000 but he is no stranger to London after completing a 2 year MA at the Royal College of Art between 2000 and 2002. He has been producing contemporary canvas art commissions since graduating and have exhibited work in various exhibitions, show homes, bars and salons around the UK and abroad, working with a number of interior designers to supply art work to them. Since 2003 he has exhibited his work in over 20 John Lewis departments stores, primarily in London. Through exhibiting at Grand Designs Live, he is hoping to showcase his artwork to a wider audience, different to those of John Lewis and his home town of Hull.

The launch of his website in 2006, http://www.krishardy.com, has meant he has a travelling portfolio of his past, latest, bespoke and John Lewis work. Incorporating an eccommerce system has enabled his work to be purchased online delivered to anywhere in the world.

His very contemporary approach to his artwork style and attiitude to artist - client relations is refreshing. The approach he takes with his work is to produce high quality, original acrylic-on-canvas paintings that complement the client’s interior. All artwork is painted to order by himself and comes in standard sizes depending on the painting format. The refreshing approach is highlighted greatly by his comment “I more than happy to do bespoke sizes and colours, as I believe if you want a piece of art for a specific space then you should not have to compromise”.

If you are looking for limited edition prints, art posters, wall art, unique t shirts or any other innovative design for yourself, your home or your office, Design Supremo is an Aladdin’s cave of contemporary creativity. With limited edition prints by graphic designers including David Carvalho, art posters by renowned artists such as Miles Donovan, wall art by the likes of Natsko Seki and a huge range of unique, original t shirts for both men and women, all printed on high quality 100% cotton - Design Supremo is a constantly evolving marketplace for limited edition prints, art posters, wall art, unique t shirts and all modern masterpieces.

Visit www.designsupremo.com for more information.

The basic premise is to maintain a great website and produce a free to guests/take one A5 brochure (100,000 print run in 2008) which is distributed throughout the like minded but highly individual participating hotels.

Envisaging continued growth, FIH will be aiming to have 75 hotels in 2009.

Mike Bevans said: “In 2008, Fine Individual Hotels doubled the number of hotels from 25 to 50 and more growth is expected next year. With hotels well distributed in the North of England and Scotland like illustrious award winning hotel such as the stunning Ballathie House Hotel, near Perth; we have new hotels in the South such as the highly individual Hoste Arms in Burnham Market; the near the sea Millstream at Bosham; the top Devon country hotel Combe House, Gittisham; Cotswold’s famous Grapevine, Stow-on—the Wold; and the Castle at Conwy in Wales. We will continue to grow from strength to strength.”

Whether you are looking for Perthshire Hotels, Conwy Hotels, Devon Hotels, Cotswolds Hotels, Norfolk Hotels, or Chichester Hotels you will find the perfect venue on www.fihotels.com.

The Estate offers an impressive choice of Lake District hotels, Lake District self catering and Lake District Timeshare accommodation, together with two distinctly styled Lake District restaurants and bars, a traditional Lake District Pub plus extensive Leisure and Spa Facilities.

The Langdale Hotel and Country Club is one of the most unique hotels in the Lake District complete with 57 bedrooms, which located village-style, in historic properties around the estate, with just 5 situated in the main building. Each room is different - a number of special rooms have a 4-poster bed with double air bath. Others have a private balcony overlooking a stream. All rooms are en suite with whirlpool or air bath and are equipped with satellite TV, direct dial telephone and tea/coffee making facilities.

Take over a whole Lake District Hotel for the weekend for your friends and family or tie the knot with just the two of you in a special setting – the possibilities are endless. All the facilities – hotels, car hire, wedding photographers, catering etc. are already in place to help you plan your day, your way, with your ideas.

There is a vast range of choice of locations and options, formal and informal, including traditional church weddings in churches made of local slate with centuries of history and a wide range of venues for Lakeland Weddings to suit everyone’s tastes, with many offering civil ceremonies in their own grounds.

For more unique Lake District weddings you could hire a steamer to take your guests on a lake cruise whilst drinking champagne and at nightfall you could organise a spectacular firework display over the lake. For something more romantic and less formal you can enjoy a simple ceremony and a walk up one of the Lakeland fells with a picnic and enjoy the breathtaking views - the choice is yours.

As well as being an ideal location for weddings in Cumbria, the Lake District is one of the most romantic destinations to be found anywhere, which makes it an ideal honeymoon destination, with roaring log fires, cosy walks along country lanes and romantic candlelit dinners.

Experience the special magic of the Lake District for yourself and experience what makes it the perfect location for your wedding!