Author: webadmn

  • Medieval architecture and now

    We tend to think about the medieval period of buildings as something akin to Game of Thrones or a historical drama, usually involving Henry the eighth or earlier times with Robin Hood. Whilst the Castle is one of the most recognisable features of the medieval world, it’s not the only type. Also, living in a Castle was not typical for most of the populous. The rest of us working serfs and peasants were more likely to be in a wood with wattle and daub dwelling.

    It’s no surprise to find that most of these dwellings have been lost. Any remaining are usually protected by English  Heritage, Historic Scotland, CADW in Wales and the National Trust. Medieval properties need meticulous care and maintenance. If you are looking to buy one, a level three survey will be required, and these are the most costly. Conveyancing Solicitors London based practitioners Sam Conveyancing can be of great assistance.

    There are pockets of medieval architecture still around. One of the most celebrated is that of Tewkesbury, the scene of a decisive battle in the War of the Roses, on which much of Game of Thrones is based. You can still see the architectural examples in the town centre, plus there is a still-standing monastery that counterpoints the surroundings. There are an example in London and the many open-air museums like St Fagins in Wales and Avoncroft in the Midlands. Other examples include Warwick, Lavenham and the Chester Rows in Chester centre.

  • What was said on the first mobile phone call.

    The first mobile phone call was made in New York city in 1973. It was the result of a huge battle between two technology giants. The race to make a cellular phone was always going to be a tremendous push for success and AT&T and Motorola were going head to head to make it.

    The mobile phone is one of the greatest creations of the 20th century even before the addition of the internet, cameras and apps on it. There is still great interest in getting the best mobile phone and this is where searching Vodafone Monaghan via King communications

    will allow you the chance to track down the best one.

    Martin Cooper is the man who makes the phone call and he is from AT&T, The first phone was based on a radio and used the same and similar technology to that of a walkie talkie. Cooper’s first choice of call was easy. He rang the head of the research division of Motorola to tell him they invented one first. “I’m calling from a cellular phone!” he said with not a little bit of triumph in his voice.

    The phone itself was the size of a brick and it only had about 40 minutes of battery life. However everything has to start somewhere and this is it. On that New York street the world was never going to be the same again.

  • Walking the North Coast of Antrim

    One of the most beautiful walks in the UK is the North Antrim Coast. Featuring a world heritage site, a death defying rope bridge, a golden beach and a site featured in Game of Thrones, it’s surely worth a trip. Stock up first with a visit to shamrockgift.com and get some Aran Sweaters. These lightweight, yet warm, jumpers are perfect for walking and they are also water resistant.

    Starting off at Port Stewart strand you can see the most amazing beach in Europe. Its golden sands stretch for miles and reach across a fair few miles. It’s a popular spot for windsurfing and kite flying. Further along there is the town of Bushmills. Here you can visit the distillery where they make the fine brand of Bushmills whiskey.

    The next stop is the world famous Giant’s Causeway. This natural wonder is rows and rows of hexagonal columns that reach out into the sea. It’s considered to be so important that it’s a world heritage site. As you make your way along you will see the Giants pipe organ where the columns are still embedded in the ground.

    Next we arrive at the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. This is a seasonal sight as it’s too dangerous to traverse in the winter. The rope bridge links the mainland to a small island that is an excellent local fishing spot.

    Finally there is a Game of Thrones site to come across. This is Ballintoy Harbour where the port for the Iron islands was used and the landing spot for Theon Greyjoy’s descent into unpleasant times.

  • The Worst Medical Scenario of All – Nuclear Blast

    Although it is not something we give much thought to, one of the biggest risks to the human race and in fact the planet as a whole is nuclear war. The Doomsday clock, which is run by a group of scientists who monitor this threat was set up in the early days of the cold war, and marks how close we are to nuclear Armageddon each year – a sobering reminder that although the cold war is over, the threat that we face is far from gone.

    During the 1980s, there was a real sense of fear that this was the way we were headed – in fact the public were informed of various things that they could do in the event of nuclear war, in the often derided ‘Protect and Survive’ booklet – which suggested things like stacking sofa cushions up to protect from fallout!

    There was a lot of interest in civil defence and practical ways to help if the bomb were to drop – today we have people like this First Aid at work Tewkesbury based company who can help us to prepare for workplace health emergencies, but in the 1980s, and indeed in previous decades since the start of the cold war, civil defence personnel were learning how to deal with the unimaginable – a nuclear attack.

    The scenes that these people would see should the worst happen would be horrifying – if you have ever read about the victims of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs, it is clear that the devastation is everywhere and people who are suffering from severe burns, radiation sickness and even people who have witnessed the blast and their eyes have melted from their sockets – even for an experienced medical person, this would be a challenge.

     

     

  • Making Sure Elderly People are Well Through the Winter

    As we start to see the first signs of the autumn coming, we know that the colder months are not far away! Although not many of us enjoy them, for elderly people they can also be deadly. Many elderly people die over the winter and often this is something that can be avoided. If you have an elderly relative or know an elderly person who lives alone, it is a good idea to keep an extra close eye on them over the winter – here are some of the things that you should think about…

    Slips and Trips – This time of the year is much more dangerous to people who are unsteady on their feet already. The wet leaves on the ground in autumn and the icy winter conditions both make walking outdoors perilous. Things like these Mobility Aids from Ability Superstore are a great thing to have to make walking safer and easier.

    Hypothermia –  The cold is one of the biggest killers of older people. Make sure that the house is kept at a warm enough temperature – it should be around twenty degrees ideally – and ensure that they have plenty of hot drinks and warm and hearty meals like stews over these colder months.

    Loneliness – At this time of the year, as many of us are busy with shopping, Christmas parties and kids, it can be lonely for an older person who lives on their own. Try to make sure that you or a family member visit regularly and spend time with them.

  • Top Tips for Enjoying Your Life Over 50

    The great thing about being over 50 is the freedom of retirement that is to come. If you have children, they are most likely to be adults now and to have moved out of the house which means even more freedom for you! Here are some top tips for enjoying your life over 50.

    1. Adopting a ‘live in the moment’ attitude. Thinking about the future too much makes us anxious, and thinking about the past can make us depressed. No matter how much the word ‘mindfulness’ makes your eyes roll, it is a very useful skill to adopt, especially when over 50. It takes practise, but once you get into the habit of focusing on the moment and the sensory experience of your day to day life, you will maximise your enjoyment.
    2. Practise gratitude. This is another habit that has a huge effect on overall life satisfaction. It is easy to take what we have for granted, but being over 50, you know all too well how time flies. Taking the time to truly appreciate what you have in the moment, such as your house, your health, your legs you can walk with, light and heating, and food, or even the fact you are alive can be beneficial.
    1. Be as sociable as possible. This does not mean having parties every weekend or going out to bars, it means connecting with other people. They don’t necessarily have to be like-minded, but simply acknowledging the fact that you are not in this world alone, never will be and never have been is a necessary part of life. Joining a residential community of other over 50s and experiencing Park home life can be a great way of doing this.
    2. Lastly, spend time in nature. The UK has some beautiful countryside just waiting for you to explore. Gloucester Park Homes give you this experience of living beside the natural greenery of the Cotswolds.
  • Why Family Mediation is Beneficial Before Starting Divorce Proceedings

    Going through a divorce is a difficult and upsetting time for most people. When children are involved, this can make it even more difficult, and it can be hard and upsetting for the whole family at a time like this.

    It can be hard to know where to start with divorce proceedings and during a time like this there will also be all sorts of emotions flying around too. Ultimately, both people need to be able to reach an agreement so that they can carry on with their lives. For this reason, many people find that it can be helpful before starting divorce proceedings to arrange family mediation.

    This can be arranged with someone like this Family Law Solicitors Gloucester Dee and Griffin, or a solicitor elsewhere who specialises in family legal matters such as divorce.

    Mediation creates a calmer and more controlled environment where both parties can have their views and opinions heard and help them to reach an agreement going forward that is suitable for both them and any children that they share.

    Because a divorce is usually accompanied by a lot of strong feelings, this can make it difficult to have these sorts of conversations, so mediation provides a space where this can then be a lot easier and sensitive subjects can also be discussed to enable both parties to move forward with their lives. Resolving a lot of these issues before going for a divorce can also mean that the divorce is less messy, cheaper and quicker.

  • How to style jeans with ankle boots


    Ankle boots and jeans are reliable components of most men’s wardrobes, yet combining the two is not always as straightforward as might first appear. There are important factors to consider, such as length and cut, so let’s take a look at a few tips for styling them successfully depending on how you want the finished ensemble to appear.

    Image Credit

    Get the length right

    Pairing skinny or slim-cut jeans with ankle boots is a popular choice, but sometimes there is the temptation to tuck the bottom of the jeans into the top of the boot. This should be avoided, as it doesn’t create a nice line; what’s more, the jeans can become untucked when sitting or crossing your legs, which just looks untidy. The best approach is to allow the hem of the jeans to gracefully sit on the top of an ankle boot.

    If your jeans are too long and gathering in big, ruched bunches around your ankles, you can trim your jeans and hem them; alternatively, you can create cuffs. With chunkier boots, a thicker cuff will look good. It will be worth trying different widths in the mirror with different styles of ankle boots.

    Image Credit

    Different cuts

    Cuffs won’t work with bootcut or flared jeans, so it is important for the length to be right. Flared or bootcut jeans should always rest on the top of the boot, with the hem covering the ankle area.

    When it comes to style and comfort in all cuts, mens ETO denim jeans will always deliver the goods. If you are considering finding out more about the range of mens ETO denim jeans available, trusted retailers such as EJ Menswear stock a large selection of the latest trends.

    For serious walking, a sturdier option than a dressy ankle boot will be required. Your budget and the fit, material, waterproofing and sole are amongst the factors you will need to consider.

    Ankle boots and jeans are a versatile combination that can look great in a variety of situations. The important thing is to choose jeans that fit well and are the right length, especially when the jeans are flared or wider at the bottom.

     

  • Tips for Demolition During House Renovation

    Renovating a house can be hard work and requires extensive planning. Most of the time, it will involve demolition so you will need as much help as you can get to make sure it goes according to plan. Demolition can be dangerous so I will share some tips for doing it safely that will hopefully help you avoid making expensive mistakes.

    Before you start any work, find out what is behind the walls, such as wires and pipes. Turn off the electricity and water in the room you’re going to demo to prevent what can be a very hazardous situation such as cutting a live wire or damaging a pipe you weren’t aware of.

    The next tip is that when preparing for the demo, make sure that you have all the right tools as well as appropriate clothing and work gloves. Tools you may need include a hammer, a chisel, a crowbar and utility knife. To prevent rubble, debris and dust from getting everywhere, seal off the demo area and cover any openings in the room with sheets of plastic.

    Demolition produces a lot of construction waste. You’ll want to limit the waste as much as possible, but you will likely need to hire a skip or grab lorry. A grab lorry has a heavier payload than a skip, and it doesn’t need a parking permit unlike a skip. However, which one you choose to hire depends on the size of your project. If you are interested in Grab Lorry Hire Cheltenham, I highly recommend contacting Telstar Grab Lorry Hire Cheltenham.

    Lastly, make sure to clean up as you go, and to wear a respirator mask so you don’t breathe in all the dust.

  • Top Causes of Climate Change

    Unfortunately, climate change is reaching a point of no return so now more than ever, big action is required whilst there is still the possibility of reversing the effects of global warming. To help increase understanding of climate change and what you can do about it, here are some of the top causes of climate change.

    You may have heard that humans are the number one cause of climate change. This is right to some extent, and whilst collective responsibility is good, it is not the fault of every human being. In fact, the biggest culprits are the fossil fuel companies and the banks investing in them. Some eco activists have been urging people to ‘divest’ from institutions that fund fossil fuels. You can do this by writing to them to explain that you are appalled at their contribution to climate change and will stop using their services if they don’t change. You could also start or sign an existing petition to do the same.

    The top causes of global warming are greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide, and methane. Deforestation causes more carbon to be released into the atmosphere, so plant a tree and only support sustainable sources of products. Make your house as eco-friendly as possible by re-modelling it with solar panels and consider Oak Framed Extensions for example. Visit the website https://www.timberpride.co.uk/timber-oak-framed-extension/ for more information.

    Burning coal, oil and gas produces nitrous oxide as well as carbon dioxide, which is why it’s important to use an energy provider that uses sustainable energy. There are a few to choose from and they are often cheaper than energy providers who use fossil fuels.

    Lastly, increased farming of livestock has resulted in more methane in the atmosphere. Reducing the amount of meat you eat or becoming vegan is a good way to prevent this.