Bridal Accessories

So your getting married, congratulations, good luck with that!  So you must have found the dress and are now considering what bridal accessories you need to complete your look.  Below are some of the accessories to consider. 

 

Veil or Headpiece

The veil or headpiece is one of the most important accessories won by all brides. Choose one that complements rather than overpowers your wedding dress. Some brides make the mistake of choosing a headpiece as a separate item rather than considering how it will look with the dress. Don't do this. Always put the two together to see if it works and choose a veil or headpiece that you feel reflects your own personal style. 

Jewellery

Go easy on the jewellery. Your the star, not the jewellery. When you walk down the aisle, you want to be what catches your groom and guests eye not the jewellery.

Shoes

If you have a long gown the shoes may not be seen, but they still matter and comfort is key. Choose shoes which look the part but are comfortable and try them on with the dress. The shoes must be of the correct height so that the hem of the dress falls correctly.

Handbag

If you want to carry some essentials such as lip gloss then you will want a little handbag. You wouldn't have to carry it around all the day but I think it would be useful.

If you have the cash to splash then you will want to have something from some of the top designer names in Bridal Accessories.

Les Trois Soeurs is  Bridal Boutique in London who stocks a number of bridal acessories from designers such as Halo & CO, Polly Edwards, Malis Henderson and Vivien Sheriff.

SEA LIFE Special Offers

SEA LIFE Special Offers

SAVE 10%

Book before 31st December 2012

Ticket Type	Standard Price (per pupil)	10% OFF Price (per pupil)
Off-Peak Primary	£5.00	£4.50
Peak Primary (June & July)	£6.00	£5.40
Free Teachers	1 Free For Every 5 Primary Pupils
Additional Teachers	£13.50	£12.15

To BOOK CALL 0871 222 6932** & QUOTE HH2012

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Secondary School Prices available however they are not included within the special offer price.
- Please refer to Birmingham Schools for more information.

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**Calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras.

An educational school trip to SEA LIFE Birmingham

SEA LIFE Birmingham is the perfect choice for all those students who want to upgrade their knowledge about the underwater sea life and motivate themselves to take up career in future life to explore the sea life. SEA LIFE Birmingham took the initiative to team up with various schools of Birmingham for supporting the learning of various subjects related to underwater sea life. This mode of education is included in the curriculum of the education system of the schools. The subjects which are covered by the SEA LIFE Birmingham include science, arts and geography. This fantastic opportunity is offered as a mode of cross curricular learning in a very inspiring and motivational environment.

About Educational Resource Packs at SEA LIFE Birmingham:

The resource pack which is designed by the team of SEA life consists of education about the unknown underwater land with houseful entertainment. The resources used in the pack are fresh, new and interactive, which acts as a beneficial source to educate the students about this interesting world.

While going through these resources the children can learn about the wild life under the sea, their features, nature of living, mode of adaptability, the food they live on , the reproduction system, the food chains they follow and various other aspects related to their life. The students can do the activities and projects included in the resource pack before, after or during the visit to the world of SEA LIFE.

The activity packs of SEA LIFE:

The activity packs are specially designed for the children in different age groups starting from six years to up to fourteen years. Student can enjoy well and learn lot of unknown things over here after visiting the place. The activities are bifurcated in following groups:

•    Activity pack from six to eight years of age
•    Activity pack from nine to eleven years of age
•    Activity pack from twelve to fourteen years of age

You can easily download the activity pack for all the three groups and take a view of it before distributing the same among the students. Each of them is really attractive and beneficial for education purpose of the students. The activity pack are so well designed by the creative and educational team of SEA LIFE that you cannot stop appreciating them being so innovative in the thought process for the betterment of life in coming future of the students.

The activity plan guidelines are also made available so that the activities can be easily explained to the students and the teachers. At the time of leaving SEA LIFE, all students were given a certificate from the center end for participating in the activities all day round.

The Feature of Teacher Preview Visits at SEA LIFE:

Before the different schools make a trip down to SEA LIFE, the team gives the opportunity to visit the place for maximum of two teachers from each school, in order to plan well for the visits to be made by different groups of students from the school.Affordable price for the educational school trip:

SEA LIFE charges affordable price per student basis. Aside to that request are also taken for group charges which make things really within the budget of the schools. Minimal numbers of teachers are also allowed free of charge to take care of the student and for the smooth functioning of the activities. Each school should grab this opportunity given by SEA LIFE and educate the students about the unknown world.


If your based in the midlands and are thinking of planning a Primary School Trip Birmingham, take a look on the website for KS1 and KS2 science resources.

The Christmas Lights

I can remember, as a child, staring at the fairy lights on the Christmas tree for hours on end, watching as they changed from a bright red to a hypnotic blue and back again. They cast a sultry glow around our small sitting room and the moment they were switched on you could feel a change in the atmosphere that enveloped the room. If your parents were arguing or your siblings were crying, the tension seemed to fade as the lights flickered throughout the night. Now, as an Adult, I am still in awe of Christmas lights and the trance you fall into in their presence.

As the Christmas season beckons closer, I decided to go on a trip to the shops to buy new Christmas lights and search for vintage style bobbles. In early August, I began to notice that the stores were packed full of icicle style fairy lights and six foot tall Christmas trees in shades of green, white and pink. It was clear to me that I should begin my Christmas shopping sooner rather than later, to avoid any disappointment. 

Down a hidden alleyway I stumbled across a newly opened Christmas store. The windows were packed full of Christmas ornaments and movable statutes. I entered the store, with a sense of excitement, my eyes darting over the endless Christmas Merchandise. An elderly woman stood behind the counter, she smiled at me and asked if I would like any help. I told her that since childhood, I have been kind of obsessed with Christmas lights and the magic that is entrapped in the glow they emit.

With a knowing smile, she brought me to the back of the shop and pointed at the shelves that filled that back wall.  The shelves were stacked high with lights of every color and shape. She explained that she had travelled all over the globe, collecting different Christmas merchandise from each culture.

A paper lantern made in India caught my eye. It was deep red and decorated with a variety of patterns and symbols. It was shaped as a star and hung on the ceiling, spreading its light over the small shop. Eagerly, I placed two in my basket and asked the elderly woman if she had any advice about the best types of Christmas lights to buy.

She reached up to the top shelve and grabbed a large gray box. Inside this box was a large mound of fairy lights encased in a metal ball. It strongly resembled a disco ball and for a brief moment I was transported back to by youth. She explained that she had bought the product in central Mongolia and that it was a sign of luck and prosperity. Once again, I eagerly placed two of the products in my basket.

I spent over an hour in that little shop conversing with the old woman and spending money like it was going out of fashion. I learnt a valuable lesson that day, however, and that is to not conform to the status quo. Instead, you should search for the strange and quirky items that are guaranteed to spark conversation and encourage compliments. 

Boutique Provencale offer a huge range of French Gifts which will help you find some nice Christmas presents for you family this year.

Slam Cartel Rock!

I took a trip down memory lane last night and went and saw a live rock band.  Back in the 80's I used to listen to the likes of Guns N' Roses, Def Leppard, Billy Idol, Poison, Red Hot Chili Peppers Run-D.M.C etc etc.  I could go on... Then life took over, had a couple of kids so on so on.  Then the internet came and I found my vocation.  Thanks to facebook you can see what old friends are up too.  So when I saw my old friend Adam Lee was traveling around in a rock band Slam Cartel I decided as soon as they were up my way I was determined to go see them live.  And that's what I did last night. They played at the Road House in Birmingham. It is a small intimate venue but they certainly put on a great show.  I was generally impressed which is rare for me. I am no musicial critic but they sounded fab to me and listening to their album on the way home really blew me away.  I have a feeling they will be a house hold name one day. They are all lovely lads and I hope that doesn't change.  It was great to see my old mate again.

Check them out yourself:

Buy the hard copy here: Handful of Dreams - Slam Cartel
Buy on Itunes: Handful of Dreams - Slam Cartel

Threats Against Seals

Hundreds of common seals, also known as harbour seals and grey seals are rescued from UK shores each year. Some seal pups become separated from their mothers and injured during storms but others, both pups and adults, have injuries that we humans have caused and that could have been prevented.

Depending on the type of seal, killer whales, sharks and polar bears are all predators of the seal but it is human seal hunters who have been the most dangerous predator in history.
With the banning of the commercial seal trade you would hope that humans were no longer a danger to seals but sadly that's not the case... Though hunting and poaching is not a wide-spread problem any more, particularly to seals in the UK, human activity is still a major threat to seals.

Low Fish Numbers:

Seals around the world eat a wide variety of fish including herring, cod, whiting, flatfish, sand eels as well as shrimps and squid with seals in the UK eating large quantities of cod and sand eels. Whilst low fish numbers may be due to changes in the water quality or toxins and diseases it is most likely to be due to over-fishing. Sand eels are caught for use in fish meal that is used primarily in diets of domestic animals whilst cod is commercially caught for human consumption.


Toxins and Pollution:

Waste oil, chemicals, and other liquid pollutants released into the water whether accidentally or or purpose can contaminate the oceans and be toxic to seals and other marine wildlife whether the seals themselves inhale the toxins or it is introduced to them through the food chain. Oil spills are the most damaging to seals as the oil sticks to the seals fur and when they try to remove it the oil gets into their stomachs and accumulates in their bodies eventually killing them.


Litter:

Plastics are the major threat that seals must deal with as it's non-biodegradable. Humans release plastic rubbish into the oceans daily whether a plastic bag is accidentally left at the beach which then gets swept into the sea or rubbish is dumped out into the ocean. Seals are inquisitive and become entangled in plastic debris, whether rope, fishing net or plastic packaging, getting it wrapped around their necks which can strangle them and/or cause them to starve. Entanglement is not a quick death it is slow and painful – and it could be prevented. Seals will often eat plastics too, thinking it is food and the increase in seals having swallowed fishing hooks is a growing concern.

Thanks to Seal Sanctuaries around the UK including the Cornish Seal Sanctuary and the Oban Sea Life Sanctuary many injured seals, particularly pups, are able to be rescued, rehabilitated and then released back into the wild.
Along with rescuing seals the sanctuaries are also able to educate kids and adults about the dangers that seals face – While as an individual there's not much that you can do about pollution from industries and overfishing you can help to keep our beaches clean and prevent a seal from being strangled to death.




To help support the threats against seals, visit the Oban Seal Sanctuary where you can buy seal sanctuary Oban vouchers.

Web developers playing God drives me mad

Throughout my career I have come across many web developers playing GOD with websites. It is not on and people should be aware...

When you have a website you need two things.  You need a domain ( the www.mywebsite.com ).  And you need hosting which is where the files are stored.   You also have to pay for hosting (this space) each year.  The domain will have a control panel which you will have access too. Now when you use a hosting company you should be given the login details, these are known as the FTP details.  FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol.  It is basically the access to the servers where your website is stored.  This is what you are paying hosting for so YOU should have access.  It is unheard of that you pay for this hosting space without being given access to it.

Now you might have used a web developer who offered to host the website for you.  Sounds great.. They build the site, upload the files and your site is live.  But what happens one day when you need to access the server?  Now a legitimate hosting company will already have given you access to the space YOU are paying for.  If you haven't been given these details its like buying a car and not getting the keys.

If your web developer is playing GOD with your website, you need to gain control on your site and let a company or someone who has your best interests at heart look after it.  You should always have access to your domain and website files.  This is what you have paid for.   I for one would never play GOD with a website.  I tell my clients the truth at all times. I have nothing to hide and believe in being ethical at all times.  This must be why I have never had to chase work.



 

A sweet lesson on patience

 

Take a look at the photograph above and read below.  I came across it on facebook and it brought tears to my eyes. I have read it several times now and each time it brings a lump to my throat.

 

Enjoy......

A sweet lesson on patience.

A NYC Taxi driver wrote:

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but inst

ead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard
box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her.. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.'

'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive
through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly..

'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice..'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired.Let's go now'.
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move.
They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse.

'Nothing,' I said

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut.It was the sound of the closing of a life..

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day,I could hardly talk.What if that woman had gotten an angry driver,or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

Boutique Provencale gone International

My favorite Boutique website is branching out and targeting our foreign neighbors. 

German:
Wohnaccessoires in französischem Stil

Italian
Accessori per la casa in stile francese

Dutch
Interieuraccessoires in Franse stijl

Save the Whales

The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) first established in 1987, is a leading global charity that is dedicated to defending whales as well as dolphins from the threats they face including: hunting, captivity, pollution, climate change as well as entanglement in fishing nets and ship collisions.

Working together with Sea Life, WDCS campaign to stop the threats, educate and inform the public and support and advise governments and organizations on important issues surrounding the whale, backed up by scientific, legal and ethical arguments.

Despite there being an international ban on commercial whaling, since 1986 30,000 whales have been killed. Japan, Norway and Iceland kill more than 2,000 whales each year for their meat and the international trade in whale products is expanding, there is also a growing pressure for the ban to be lifted. WDCS together with SEA LIFE are fighting for a final end to whaling, deeming it cruel, unsustainable and unnecessary.

As well as working to stop illegal whaling SEA LIFE along with WDCS believe that whales should not be kept in captivity of any kind. The captivity industry threatens whale populations in the wild and inflicts cruelty on thousands of individual whales as they suffer; confined in an natural environment and unable to roam freely, forced to live a life of deprivation. WDCS are forming a petition aimed at MEPs to persuade them to shut down whale attractions in Europe and are campaigning for tougher regulations to protect both whales and dolphins and to educate the public of the impacts of captivity.

WDCS are committed to protecting the seas and oceans where the whales and dolphins live to ensure their future and are working on creating 12 large safe havens for the whales and dolphins over the next few years around the world. These Marine Protected Areas will protect vulnerable and endangered populations and there will be a safe haven area in the UK at the Hebrides which is home to the minke whale, as well as numerous dolphins and basking sharks.

Many fund-raising events are held throughout the year with July and August being important months for the public to make a stand and help these animals by raising money through sponsored abseiling, a sponsored 3-5 mile family walk called Walk for Whales and Save the Whales Week which hopes to raise £10,000 in sponsorship money and fund-raising this year.

At the Oban Seal Sanctuary they are running a Save the Whale event from 4th-11th August 2012 with fun activities for kids and educational talks for parents to highlight the whales plight. The Walk for Whales event which starts from the 11 SEA LIFE Sanctuaries in the UK is expected to be held on Sunday 7th July in 2013.

Don't worry if you have missed any of these events though as there are still things you can do to support the whales and the work that WDCS do whether you donate money, sponsor a whale or become a WDCS member.

AOSSA Ticket SCAM

DON'T whatever you do buy any tickets from www.aossatickets.com.  They are money grabbing con artists. 

I bought 4 tickets back in February for Madonna at Hyde Park tomorrow.  They haven't come.  With the tickets and my hotel and travel booked I am over £500 out of pocket.  All the emails bounced, when you call you get a message saying "cannot answer due to high volume of calls, call back later".


DON'T BUY FROM AOSSA.

Also after some research there are some other ticket websites to steer well clear of...

www.aossatickets.com (Aossa Tickets)
www.amishowtime.com (AMI Showtime)
www.cityticketservice.com (City Ticket Service) *NEW*
www.gogoboxoffice.com (GOGO Box Office) *NEW*
www.gigsport.com (Gig Sport) *CLOSED*
www.goldstartickets.co.uk (Gold Star Tickets)
www.euroteam.net (Euro Team)
www.blceventtickets.com (BLC Event Tickets)
www.goldticketsonline.co.uk (Gold Tickets)
www.theticketwebsite.net (The Ticket Website)
www.ticketindex.net (Ticket Index) *CLOSED*
www.tickets2allevents.com (Tickets 2 All Events) *FORMERLY GIG SPORT*
www.vipblocktickets.com (VIP Block Tickets)
www.yourticketmarket.com (Your Ticket Market)

Loving my new car

I am one happy girl as I have finally bought a new car.  Well its a few months old but I am its first owner!  I have been looking at cars for the past 18 months to 2 years.  I never rush into anything as you can see.  It took me 18 months to choose a sofa!  Anyway its here now and worth the wait.  I love it.  I have to be even more self disciplined to stay home and work.  I keep finding reasons why I need to nip out!

Perhaps Jack the ripper was a woman!

Whenever you read articles about Jack the Ripper it is always presumed that the killer is a man. There are over 20 suspects all of which are men. What if the killer was actually a woman? Let’s look at the evidence. Women were killed and mutilated late at night. Organs were removed quite neatly apparently. Whoever did this would have been covered in blood on those nights.  If what is suspected is true, that it was a smart middle or upper-class man, perhaps a doctor, then surely someone well dressed and covered in blood would have been seen by someone and looked odd.  Who could roam the streets of London covered in blood without anyone noticing or looking odd?  How about a midwife?  It's just a thought, but why not?  A woman scorned is not to be underestimated. 

  

Jack the ripper Tour

 I need a Coalport China Museum hit soon!

Young me!

Wow, I just stumbled across this pic of me when I was young. That's my gorgeous son who is 21 in a few weeks. My blog needs more images so thats a start

Girl power and all that!

Anyone who knows me know that I am all for girl power! Women have been suppressed for far to long and been expected to be men's slaves. Still men today think a women's place is in the home. You only have to look into the novels of Jane Austen to get an insight into the lives of the middle and upper classes in early 19th century women. Brit Movie Tours offers a great Jane Austen Tour which gives an insight into this great British woman.  Sadly Jane's days as a author didn't see her get the credit for her great work until after she died.  She is just one of the women from our history which have made it possible for me to do what I do.  Thanks to Frances Buss and her legacy I could go to university which before her time would have been impossible.   I am very grateful for all the women of the past and presant which have made it possible for me to be me.  I hope other religions and cultures evolve so that every women in the world is free to do as she wishes without any abuse from men.

Typical men!

Some men are so predicatable.  My ex is now using emotional blackmail on my son because when he says he isn't going to his house.    He sits there laughing as he is getting lectured by him on the phone. He needs to realise that my son sees through this completly.  He think's hes a jerk!

Bed and Breakfast Hampton Court

Bed and Breakfast Hampton Court

This is a new site in the process of being developed.  Google, do you stuff and index please...

It’s YOUR Wedding: Dealing with Difficult People

Planning your wedding should be one of the most enjoyable times in your entire life. Often, however, the joy is replaced by frustration when difficult family members and friends make wedding planning more of a chore than a joy. Here are some tips for dealing with different types of difficult people.

The Know-it-All
This person has either been married or has helped to plan a wedding before. This, clearly, makes her an expert on all things wedding related so you should, naturally, defer to her on absolutely everything. Dealing with a know-it-all is tricky – especially if it someone close to you. Still, you owe it to yourself to stand up for what you want. It’s YOUR wedding!

Just tell her that you love her ideas and value her input, but that you have already made some different choices and you want to stick with those. If she pouts, let her. If you give in then you will end up paying for her idea of a perfect wedding instead of your idea of a perfect wedding.

The Complainer
This is bridesmaid or family member who finds fault with EVERYTHING. The shoes are too tight, it’s taking too long to fill out the invitations, she doesn’t like the hairstyle that you have selected and the list goes on and on.

The best way to deal with the complainer is to ignore the moaning. If they don’t get any attention, they will probably stop. If that doesn’t work, just tell them that you are sorry they feel that way and then try to divert their attention to something that they do like.

The Wounded Soul
This is the person who gets their feelings hurt every five minutes. They don’t understand why you sat them at a certain table or why they were not mentioned in your programs. They thought they should be the maid of honour instead of the person that you chose or maybe they just got their little feelings hurt because you didn’t consult them before finalizing the dinner menu.

What is certain is that dealing with wounded souls is exhausting. The best way to handle them is to first understand that you are not personally responsible for their happiness. When they are complaining just say, “Aw, sorry you feel that way” and then immediately move on. This way you are not ignoring them completely, but you also aren’t spending a lot of time licking their wounds.

The Bad Sport
This is often the person who thought they would be married before you, and doesn’t care to pretend that they are happy for you. This bitter person could be a blight to your big day, but don’t let them. If their comments become too much to bear, kindly pull them aside and tell them that if being at your wedding will be too painful that you would understand if they stay home. That will likely put a stop to the griping.

It’s YOUR wedding. Don’t let difficult people put a damper on your big day or the days leading up to it.

Les Trois Soeurs is a discerning luxury bridal boutique based in Canary Wharf offering beautiful unique Bridal Accessories and designer Wedding Dresses London.

French Tablecloths

Provencal tablecloths are a great way to get that homely French country style in your kitchen.  They are also great for outdoor dining.

The French tablecloths from Boutique Provencal are100% cotton and come in many designs and shapes and sizes including round tablecloths.  Another bonus is that some are speically made with a Teflon coating which makes cleaning spilliages even easier to deal with. 

Here are some of my favourite French Tablecloths from BP.....

TOWIE Tours

If you love 'The Only Way is Essex', you will love the new Brit Movie tour which takes you to some of the locations scattered across Essex.  You will travel to the locations in a luxury air-conditioned mini coach. You will have the chance to get off the bus on several occasions, go into some of the shops featured in the show and you may even get to see one of the stars!

Why not make your friends "well jel" and book a tour today: TOWIE tours

Lorna Byrne seeing Angels

Last night I went to see a talk in Birmingham by Lorna Byrne who claims she can see angels. It was interesting but nothing I haven't heard before. To me a lot of what she says is what we all call instinct. You know when you are planning something and suddenly a thought pops in your mind. In my experience if you follow your first instinctive thought things tend to pan out well. When you don't listen and talk your mind out of it things go wrong. This is what she was talking about and how angels are helping us all at all times.  I wanted to ask what the difference was, is that little voice a so called angel?  mmm I am not sure.  But she seems to truely believe she can see angels.  Is she crazy or is she just another con artist who has jumped on the bandwagon, read a few books and put her own spin on it and written her own books. 

Because I don't see them its hard for me to believe her. But everything she talked about to me is just common sense. We are all searching for proof of the other life if there is on. But we should realise everything we need to be happy and contented is right here on earth. We don't appreciate the beauty of the world and its expansive resources it holds. All the drugs in the world are nothing compared to natural highs you can get from living in the here and now and truly just BEING.

I couldn't care less whether she is genuine or a con.  At the end of the day her message is possitive and it will help lots of people.  For me it was a fun night out, but no new revelations.  I'll keep listening to my instict as I have evidence that this little voice or Angel does give good advice and always leads to a happy outcome.  One day I will listen to mine and write my own best seller.  

4 Tips for Everyday Google Doc Users

Google Docs are used today by a wide range of users – from students to businesses and many in between. Those who rely heavily on it for different reasons will find the following tips very useful. If you are one of them, read on!

Auto-Correct Typos

Just like Microsoft, Google Docs corrects typos that you make. In addition to the typical mistakes that every other speedy type-r makes, such as typing ‘the’ as ‘teh’, there are person-specific mistakes too. You can tell Google Docs about the mistakes you make, and what to turn them into. This way you won’t have to do it yourself every time.

To do so, follow the steps below.
1. Select ‘Tools’
2. Go to ‘Preferences’
3. A dialog box will appear. Check the box next to ‘Automatic Substitution’.
4. Then fill in the boxes under the ‘Replace’ and ‘With’ with the mistakes that you make and their substitutions.

Share Google Docs

There are people who don’t use Google and they might not be able to view the Google Docs they are meant to read. To enable them to do so, follow the instructions below.

1. Click on the icon ‘padlock’ on the top left of the site.
2. A dialog box will appear. Click ‘Change’ next to ‘Private’.
3. Another dialog box will appear. You can click ‘Everyone’ or ‘Anyone with the Link’ depending on what your requirements are.
4. You can also allow non-Google users to edit the document. You can do so by checking the box next to ‘Allow Anyone to Edit’.
5. Click ‘Save’.
6. Share away the documents by messaging, emailing or any other medium you like.

Bookmark the Document

Just like you bookmark parts of books that are reading in different sittings and have sections that you would later want to re-visit, you can bookmark Google Docs documents too. This can be helpful for a number of situations. Bookmarks can help you recall things that you might require later, make table of contents and other purposes. There are two ways of bookmarking  one of these documents.

You can insert a bookmark by clicking ‘Insert’ and then clicking ‘Bookmark’.

Also, you can create a link by selecting text in the document and then pressing ‘Clt+K’. A dialogue box will appear. Click on the radio box labeled ‘bookmark’.

Preview a Google Document in Gmail

There are times when a document needs a very brief glance. To save time, instead of opening the entire page, you can simply review it by activating the Google Docs Preview option in your Gmail account by doing the following:

1. Go to ‘Settings’
2. Click ‘Labs’
3. Find ‘Mail add-on’ and move on to Google Docs Previews
4. Click the check box next to ‘Enable’
5. Click ‘Save’

The tips above can revolutionize the utility of Google Docs. However, use them carefully. You don’t want to give everyone around access to your private documents or the authority to edit it.


For more information about Google Docs visit Ancoris, who are a UK based Premier Enterprise Reseller of Google Apps, providing comprehensive deployment, migration, support and training services for Google Apps, Google Sites, Google Docs and everything related to Cloud Computing.

Looking forward to my 40th this May!

I have planned lost of things to celebrate reaching 40 this year.  I will be on holiday with some friends for my 40th, she also is 40 around the same time so it will be double celebrations.  I also have tickets for Madonna at Hyde Park this July with a group of friends.  Then I have Blink 182 in June to look forward too.  Also a weekend spa is on the cards, I just need to book it.  So its all rather exciting in the Clayton household.

Slimming world update.

It's all going well. I lost another couple of pound this week which is good.  I would be at my target but I still think I could do with loosing a bit more so moved my target.

I had a great week really as one night I stuffed myself at Franky and Benny's then at the cinema.  I must have been good enough before and after as it didn't affect my weight loss.  It just proves you can still loose even if you have a night out and eat rubbish!

Deciding What Type of Boiler Is Right for You

Every home, whether it is located in the tropics or a temperate zone, has its own heating needs. However, these needs vary widely according to location, time of year, and your personal budget. Boilers typically use gas or some other kind of fuel to convert water to steam, and they are a common means of meeting domestic heating needs.

If you are unfamiliar with boilers but are considering installing one in your home, the wide variety of types and models available might seem daunting. But that variety also means that, whatever your heating needs, there is probably a boiler out there designed to meet them in an energy efficient manner.

Different Needs, Different Designs

Essentially, boilers can serve two different purposes: heating your home and heating the water you use on a daily basis. Some boilers will only serve one of these purposes, whereas others can do both. Deciding what kind of boiler is right for you is a matter of determining which of these functions is most important to you.

Heat Only

While installing a boiler that provides both heat and hot water will save you space and likely reduce your monthly bills, many people are on a tight budget and only looking to replace one appliance at a time. If this is the case for you, a heat only boiler may be the ideal choice, as they are typically cheaper than combination or system boilers.

Heat and Water

On the other hand, if you do have some money to invest, installing a boiler that heats both your home and your water will save you space and potentially reduce your energy consumption. It is important to evaluate your particular needs before deciding whether to invest in a combination boiler or a system boiler.

Combination, or combi, boilers use a single unit to warm your home and provide you with hot water. Combi boilers use copper heat exchangers to heat water only as it is needed. While this frees up a lot of space in your home by eliminating the need for a bulky hot water tank, it also limits the rate at which you can use hot water. For this reason, combi boilers are great for single-person households.

Conversely, if you have a large family and expect more than one shower to be running at a time, then a system boiler might be a better choice for you. A system boiler works like a combi boiler, except that it uses a tank to store hot water, thereby increasing the capacity that can be used at once. The drawback to this is that system boilers take up more space and use more energy, as they have to keep water warm even when it is not being used.

Northern Gas Heating - the UK's local supplier of new Boilers including the energy efficient Condensing boiler.

Syma Helicopters

I just love Syma helicopters. They are the best range of indoor helicopters on the market by far. Syma is a well-known and well-trusted brand that can easily be repaired if you crash or damage your helicopter. You can get parts easily which makes a huge difference and give you piece of mind when things go wrong.

There are many different Syma models and they all suite different tastes and budgets which means that regardless of what you can afford, you can still have great fun and a great flying experience. Some of the Syma models and their specifications are below:

• Syma s107 - This model is great for indoor flying and comes in red, blue and yellow colours. It is very easy to fly and is suitable for beginner. This model comes complete so there's no need for assembly and it's made from very strong and durable metal which means it can withstand a whole lot of crashes and ranges from about £13.00 to £20.00.

• Syma s109 - This is one of my favourites because not only does it fly extremely well, but it also looks the part. It is 9 inches long with great detail. Age wise, it’s for over kids 8 and over. Priced from £12 to £20, this is a great helicopter that is extremely strong and will last for a long time.

• Syma s108 - This model comes in at around £25 and its full name is the Syma S108G Gyro 3 Ch Mini Indoor RC Helicopter. It comes with an LED flashing light that looks great. Although this is also an indoor helicopter, it is very durable and great for beginners.

• Syma s032 - This is quite a new model in the market and is very easy to fly; it comes with electronic fine tuning which helps to prevent crashes. It costs around £25 and is a great helicopter for beginners and comes in lots of different colours.

There are many different types of indoor helicopters but I believe Syma helicopters are the best, and once you start flying one, you will think the same, enjoy!

Tips for Recruiting Long-Term Volunteers

There are many business and organisations which rely heavily on volunteers.  Many charity and heritage organisations rely on volunteers. The Iron Bridge Gorge Musuem Trust is an industrial heritage organisation which runs ten museums and manages 35 historic sites in the Iron Bridge Gorge area in Shropshire. I have workedat Coalport China Musuem since 2004 when I was studying at university and offered myself as a volunteer.  The volunteering was very short, about a month, when a postion became available and I was offered it.  With my uni commitments it was arranged i could do a job share with someone.  I worked one day a week for a number of years before I had to give it up.  I still work there occasionaly, mainly when they have gaps in the rota that knowone can fill.  But even if this didnt happen i would carry on working there on a volunteer basis.  Why?  Because the job is fun for one, but also because the volunteers are treated with the same respect and acknowlegement as the paid staff.  Without the help of volunteers the trust would not be able to operate as it does today. Many of the volunteers have been there for many years so they are doing something right.

When it comes to recruiting long term volunteers, let’s be honest, it is hard to do. Getting volunteers on board is tricky enough but keeping them for the long term is even harder. So the questions I have tried to answer in this article are:  how do you increase the number of new volunteers?  How to increase the volunteer’s commitment to staying long term? How can you increase the effectiveness of volunteers?

Tip 1

If you run an organisation which relies heavily on volunteers as an employer or head of the organisation you need to make sure that each and every volunteer believes they are a valuable resource.  Act with them as you would a normal employee.  Give them praise when due and make sure you make it clear to them that the work they do is invaluable.

Tip 2

Think about what specific needs you want from volunteers and create titles. Make sure these titles are accurate descriptions of the work that needs to be carried out by that volunteer. Know what you have to offer and tell this to the potential volunteer.  Many organisations that use volunteers will offer lunch vouchers or transport costs.  Make sure this is made clear and the steps required obtaining these benefits.

Tip 3

Make sure they feel part of the team.  If you have employees in your organisation as well as volunteers make sure they are all treated the same.  You may need to hold a meeting with the paid employers to ensure they treat volunteers in the same manor.  Then whenever a general meeting is held make sure all volunteers are invited so they can have their say.

If your business needs young volunteers it will be worth signing up with the major social and professional networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn if you haven’t already.   Young people will find you faster also be able to share their experiences with their friends on link who may also want to join up as a volunteer.

Farsight Recuitment are a Construction agency for Derby and the Midlands offering Scaffolding Jobs UK and much more.

Diet Update

Diet is going well. Had another 1 1/2 pound weight loss today. I now only have 5 1/2 to reach my target of 11st 4lb. I got a lot of comments today as people think that I am at my target weight and worried that loosing any more will be too much. Well all my life people have told me I am skinny (which I haven't been, only when I was a teenager and dancing every weekend). Not surprisingly I find that it's only my friends who are far heavier than me that say this to me. There may have been times when I got a little too thin in my past but that would have been due to stress or worry.  If I am not happy rather than comfort eat I go the other way.  Anyway I love food too much to go without. Also I have always ate healthily and done exercise and being very tall helps. I can put on a stone without anyone noticing. Loosing another 5 pounds will not show to most people on my frame and I will still be in my healthy BMI scale. At the moment I am classed as healthily but at the top end of the scale. I just want to get to the lower end.

So please people, be happy for me and don't tell ME what I should be. Only I know what is right for me.

Women Achieving Dreams

If you want to read a book that will inspire and motivate you to make real change in your life click the link here Women Achieving Dreams.

You will also help other people as all funds of the book which cost $9.95 go to the non-profit foundation Girls Fight Back. The book is filled with stories from real women who had to dig down deep and make difficult changes or face real fears or deal with adversity to make their dreams come true.  My own story is in this book
which I hope will inspire other women.

Overhaul of ICT teaching

Maybe I will become a teacher one day after all.  I know I would make a good teacher but it was always going to be my back up plan if I couldn't find work in industry.  I don't like the way schools are run, hate the school curriculum and I don't think the pay is great.  But what I want in schools just isn't going to happen in my life time, so if I want to help others and make a difference in the way that only teaching can do, I will have to become a teacher one day.   After reading this maybe in the future I will consider it. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16515275

Royal Society offers ways to overhaul ICT teaching

The Royal Society has suggested ways the government can overhaul information and communications technology (ICT) teaching in schools.

It follows promises from Education Secretary Michael Gove to scrap the way the subject is taught currently.

The body, which oversees UK sciences, recommends dividing computing into distinct subjects such as computer science and digital literacy.

It said the government must do more to recruit specialist ICT teachers.

Government Cloud Strategy

This year the Government is joining the Cloud. The plan is to set up a G Cloud to provide services to public authorities and for half of Whitehall's new ICT spending to be in cloud services by 2015.

I think this is great news, just like BBVA signing up with Google. Cloud computing is the future for all businesses.

Click on Governments Cloud Strategy for more details.

Who is Jane Austen?

Jane Austen is a famous English novelist who lived from 1775 to 1817.  She wrote romantic fiction and is most known for novels Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Emma and Mansfield Park. All of her books were set among the English middle and upper classes and are notable for their wit and social observations.  Her books give insights into the lives of early 19th century women, and are still very popular today.

She was brought up in a close-knit family; her father was a clergyman and she six brothers and one sister.  She began writing in her teens. They lived in the village Steventon in Hampshire England until 1801 when they moved to Bath.  Then 4 years later they moved back to Hampshire.  In 1809 right up until the end of her life she lived in a 17th century house in Chawton, Hampshire.  Today the house is a small private museum run by the Jan Austen’s Memorial Trust.  She wrote Emma, Mansfield Park and Persuasion while she was living there.

Jane never married nor had any children.  She always published her work anonymously so she never really became famous until after her death. Most of her books received only a few published reviews and never became bestsellers.  Her novels very fashionable among many people but the critics at the time preferred the works of Charles Dickens and George Eliot. 

More recently her novels have been the focus on many adaptations.  The first film adaptation was the 1940 film Pride and Prejudice starring Laurence Olivier and Greer Garson.  Even more recently 1995 saw a great wave of Austen adaptations appear.  First was the Ang Lee's film of Sense and Sensibility.  The screen writer and actress Emma Thompson won an Academy Award.  Then there was a very popular miniseries by the BBC called Pride and Prejudice, which stared Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth.

Today Jane Austen is revered as much as any literary figure in history. She is that popular that there are tours where you can go and see the real inspirations and locations from her novels.  The movie locations of where they filmed Sense and Sensibility are also part of the tour and you can even visit the homes that she once lived in. There are many societies honouring the author and preserving manuscripts, letters and memorabilia of Jane and her family.  Fans can join these societies and receive newsletters and details of forthcoming events.

For more information on going on a Beatrix Potter Tour of the Lake District or the Jane Austen Tour which Brit Movie Tours offers.

Club 10 Award

Today I got my Club 10 Award which is a Slimming World award for losing 10% of your body weight.  It took me 10 weeks and am now sat here 1 stone and 4 pound lighter!  Feels rather good.  Only 3 pound to go, but if I can't fit into an old of jeans I will have I will want to lose a few more before I can say I am my target weight. 

Lost a stone!

It has only took 8 weeks but I finally have shed a stone.  I have lost every week, and it was on Christmas week that I actually lost half a pound and hit my stone target!  It made my Christmas, especially after a big blow out at Frankie and Benny's on Christmas Eve and all the chocolate and cream I ate!

I am happy but expected to loose it quicker.  Everyone says its harder when you have less to loose and it takes longer but I can't see how. I think if I had consumed less syns and did more exercise I would have lost a good 3lb + a week which means I would be sat here with 1 1/2 stone off which was my target in the beginning.  But I am going through a lazy patch and need my choc syns!   But it proves you can loose weight without starving yourself or going without treats and you don't have to up your exercise.  Like anything in life, what you put into it will have an effect on what you get out of it.  If I had put more in (done exercise, had less syns) I would have got more out of it (lost more each week).