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There isn’t a better way in which to explore the Cotswolds than on foot. For walkers or amblers, the Cotswolds has some of the most beautiful scenery in England. The rolling hills, historical buildings including castles, manors and abbeys are interspersed with quintessentially English villages and hamlets. Having been given the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty status way back in 1966, this area has been a haven for lovers of the outdoors for decades.

Its location makes an ideal getaway destination with excellent transport links due to its position north of Bath and west of Oxford. Popular with visitors from London but equally those further north, the Cotswolds are such a world away in terms of pace of life and character. Even though it is the slower pace of life visitors are after when staying in the Cotswolds, they want to be able to get there as quickly as possible!

It is a typically English so overseas visitors flock to experience a slice of this culture. This area has such a high concentration of quaint villages and architecture which is unique to the Cotswolds, even the British feel like it is a step back in time. For food lovers, the fertile landscape makes for fantastic produce such as cider, cheese, meat and honey. The Cotswolds really is at teh forefront of British regional cuisine.

With staycations on the rise and people lives overloaded, a complete getaway for a holiday or even just a short break is now more important than ever. For the ultimate in getting away from it then holiday lets in the Cotswolds are hard to beat. From thatched cottages to grade ll listed Georgian houses, the choice of high quality luxury Cotswolds cottages is now better than ever. Many of these holiday cottages have a wealth of character such as wooden beams, flagstone floors, exposed walls and fireplaces but combined with all the modern conveniences expected and required by guests.

For everyone, a holiday is an extremely happy and special occasion but holiday cottages in the Cotswolds offer that bit more. The experience of staying in a property that many could only dream of owning and located amongst the rolling hills of the Wolds.

Bibby Consulting & Support are pleased to announce new management appointment and movement.

Firstly, Jon Taylor has become the new Telemarketing Operations Manager at Bibby Consulting & Support joining the company from rival firm Peninsula Business Services. Based in call centres for the last 15 years, Jon has also worked at Vodafone, Rank Xerox and Auto Trader.

Says Jon: “I chose Bibby Consulting & Support because it is a very strong brand within the industry and offers plenty of opportunity for expansion and growth. I’m delighted to be joining at this time as the firm experiences exceptional success and continues to develop its reputation across various sectors.”

He adds: “Telemarketing departments are the foundation of the whole sales process. They are the first point of contact with any prospect and are responsible for positioning the brand as the supplier of choice within the prospect’s mind. In this way, the Telemarketing department is absolutely fundamental to the success of the business and I’m looking forward to helping the company to move forward and grow.”

Bibby Consulting & Support’s second appointment is Bill Collins who has been with the company since 2007 as Environmental Manager and has now become Head of Department for SHEQ (Safety, Health, Environment and Quality). Before joining Bibby CAS, Bill was an avionics technician at the Ministry of Defence.

“It’s great to work for a company where what you put in is recognised and rewarded and I’m looking forward to continuing the progress we’ve made in recent years in building the best SHEQ service in our industry,” Bill says.

Michael Slade, Managing Director of Bibby CAS, says of the appointments: “Both Jon and Bill bring highly valued strengths to the team. I’m confident that with them on board we will continue to develop our reputation as a leading force in providing vital support to businesses and organisations on employment law and health and safety legislation.”

Adopting the most effective and efficient approach to your Employment, Health & Safety and Environmental challenges is critical. It frees up key people to focus on core business, deliver on customer expectations and helps you to build a strong brand that delivers better performance for your business.

The services we provide are tailored to match the needs of your business and are always delivered with predictable costs. We are also able to show you how by using our Employment Law experts, Health and Safety advisors and Environmental consultants, your business can secure the commercial advantage you need when tendering for contracts.

For more information on Bibby’s employment law specialists and health and safety advisors, visit http://www.bibbycas.com

A UKAS temperature laboratory uses a range of reference platinum resistance thermometers, noble metal thermocouples, stirred liquid baths, specially designed isothermal calibration furnaces and black body sources to provide a comprehensive facility for cost effective thermometer calibration over the range -35ºC to 1,200ºC.

Both contact thermometers such as thermocouples, prts and dial thermometers; and non-contact infrared thermometers and thermal imaging cameras are covered. We can even calibrate temperature sources such a dry block calibrators or calibration baths.

The temperature calibration service company will also be able to offer stand alone UKAS calibration of digital thermometer readouts. As these are essentially an electrical instrument they are calibrated in the calibration services electrical laboratory.

The calibration uncertainties detailed below are typical examples of our best calibration and measurement capability for a reasonably repeatable thermometer. The final uncertainties quoted on the calibration certificate will include an allowance for the actual repeatability of the thermometer under test during the calibration. If the thermometer was submitted with its own readout and hence calibrated as a system, then an additional allowance will be included in the uncertainty budget to cover the resolution of the thermometer readout.

Indicating Thermometer Calibration (thermometer with readout, calibrated as a system). The device under test may be an electronic display with an attached probe. All thermometer probe types are covered, including PRT, thermistor or thermocouple. Dial thermometer and chart recorder type devices are also covered. The basic calibration uncertainty will be a little better than the uncertainties achievable for 4 wire PRTs, plus allowances for repeatability of the device under test and resolution of its readout.

Calibration of Infrared Thermal Imaging Camera (Thermal Imager)
Thermal imaging cameras that are able to display a measured radiant temperature should be calibrated. Our temperature ranges and uncertainties for UKAS calibration of a thermal imager will be similar to those quoted for an infrared thermometer calibration.

Healthcare interiors whether within nursing homes, care homes or just waiting rooms should be carefully thought out and furnished.

Using a company that specialises in this very specific sector of interior design is a must. The healthcare industry is demanding and it is vitally important that the correct products are selected to suit your project needs be they Care Home, Nursing Home, Village, Hospice or Hospitals.

The interiors of nursing and care homes require a varied range of furnishings, interior design styles and thought. Nursing home furniture can come in the form of as small a detail as occasional tables right through to sofas, suites and beds.

A healthcare furniture specialist will have to create interiors, supply and fit the furniture in all the rooms of the nursing or care home facility. That will start with the reception through to dining areas, lounges and other communal areas, bedrooms, cleaning and laundry areas and even office and meetings rooms for staff and managers.

Creating the right interior in a care or nursing home is paramount both for the inhabitants and the staff. Fortunately there are some very forward thinking care and nursing homes being built and renovated across the country. Light, bright and airy are the orders of the day. Areas for specific patients such as dementia units providing purpose built care furniture and care home equipment specifically designed to aid dementia needs which include memory boxes and themed artwork.

The latest in care facility buildings are being created with a feel of a luxury hotel rather than a care home. These facilities have for example a series of suites each catering for a different type of resident through to apartment rooms and even executive wings with dedicated dementia and high dependency suites, all of which have a feel of luxury and more importantly, a feel of home through the clever use of care furniture and equipment. It is these attributes that make for far better living spaces for patients and help prospective families and patients in choosing care home options.

Re-Think is a specialist provider of swift water rescue training.  They offer Rescue 3 international training courses, Swiftwater Technician and First Responder programmes and also bespoke swiftwater rescue courses highly tailored around your needs.

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.

What do I do first if I plan to fit a new stove?
If you planning to use an existing chimney it is recommended that you first have a ‘NACS’ registered sweep to sweep it. At the same time they will inspect and test your chimney to ensure that it draws and it doesn’t leak. Your installer will then be able to decide if your chimney needs re-lining.

What Size Stove Do I Need To Heat My Room?
There are two elements to consider when choosing your stove:
1) Physical Dimensions – Is there enough room for the stove to function and conform to building regulations.
2) Output – Do you have the right amount of heat for the room?

Height
You should ensure the top of woodburning stoves is around 22″ from any combustible material such as wooden lintels or beams. It is wise to check with the manufacturer of the stove you are interested in as the distanced advised may vary. If the top flue outlet is used, he height listed does not include the flue collar.
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Dublin, such a popular destination with groups whether it be for sporting events, sight seeing, stag and hen parties or university tours.

When thinking of a destination that caters for just about all tastes then Dublin is hard to beat. From the extensive arts and culture, to sporting events and music festivals, Dublin has it all. For group travel, it really is the destination of choice.

Universities, schools, brides and grooms to be, family and friends are all feeling the effects of the economic downturn. These groups are having to be more aware of costs for group travel.

You don’t need to spend a fortune to have a great time in Dublin and Cork – there are lots of things to do, see and experience and we can help you to plan and book the best of them at the cheapest group prices. Many of Dublins top attractions are located within easy access of a large selection fo Dublin hostels.

Somewhat of a hidden gem of a day out is on the Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) commuter train service which runs right along the coast, so it’s like a cheap tourist train, with breathtaking views and fabulous places to visit along the route.

One must visit location on the train journey is the pretty fishing village of Howth (rhymes with ‘both’), a twenty minute DART journey along the coast north of Dublin city centre. Howth has a pretty harbour, which is used by both working fishing boats and pleasure craft – but did you know that it also has a beach? Shhh! Don’t tell anyone, but when you come out of the DART station, walk about 100 meters towards Howth village, take a left then walk down the little alleyway to your left – and you come out on Claremont Beach! It’s right beside the pier, but you could easily miss it – it’s a great place to take a stroll, building up an appetite for…

Top money saving tip’s when staying in Dublin hostels
Travelling with a student group is certainly not easy or cheap, so making wise decisions prior to your trip will pay off when you arrive in Dublin or Cork. Planning your itinerary and booking the most important elements of your trip can not only be more cost effective for a group but also less stressful for the group leaders!
Here are some top tips on how you can save your group money for your stay in hostels in Dublin.

In some hostels, your group’s breakfast is covered so you just have lunches and dinner to think about for your group saving both time and money. Whether your group are busy with itineraries everyday or just taking it easy, wouldn’t it be great not to have to stress about sorting out lunch or dinners for the whole group? You can organise packed lunches prior to your arrival in some hostels and they will be delivered to the hostel reception for your group to collect in the morning time. Make use of the hostel’s helpful staff. They can often pre-book a local restaurant for your group at discounted group prices. Booking and paying for lunches and dinners in advance means your group saves money, saves time in the precious evenings not having to find a place to accommodate a large group and helps with daily budgets.

Many groups plan their trip to Dublin and Cork and don’t even consider costs of visiting attractions /activities until they arrive. They’re missing all sorts of opportunities to save money. By planning ahead and booking prior to arrival in Dublin hostel you will save a significant amount of money for the group.

Student discounts and other concessions will make a difference to your groups budget. If you are a student group in one of the Dublin hostels, make sure you bring your student cards on your trip. Lots of shops and attractions in Dublin offer student discounts.

Precision Polymer Engineering, a Unit of IDEX Corp. to announce latest ultra-high and extreme low temperature seals at Offshore Europe.

High performance seals specialist, Precision Polymer Engineering, a Unit of IDEX Corp., is announcing its latest developments in ultra-high temperature and extreme low temperature resistant Perlast perfluoroelastomer and Endura seals for HP/HT/LT offshore applications, at Offshore Europe on Stand No. 3E80.

For continuous use at high temperatures, without loss of mechanical performance, PPE has developed perfluoroelastomer Perlast G75TX for processes up to 327°C (621°F), together with fluoroelastomer V91J for continuous exposure at 250°C (482°F). Overcoming the traditional weakness of perfluoroelastomers at low temperature, all-round sealing performer Perlast G92E is now capable of sub-zero operation down to -30°C (-22°F) at pressures up to 5,500psi.

Endura seals for demanding applications
The Endura range of oilfield elastomers has been specifically developed by PPE for use in downhole, surface and subsea oilfield equipment and offers excellent rapid gas decompression (RGD) resistance. Many of the Endura materials have been tested to international RGD standards such as NORSOK, TOTAL and NACE. Over the past 25 years, PPE has supplied O-rings and custom seals for systems operating in the most inhospitable subsea environments in the world at temperatures from -46°C (-51°F) up to +327°C (+621°F).

PPE has sales offices in Aberdeen, the US (Houston), Europe and Asia, in addition to extensive manufacturing and technical development resources at the company’s Blackburn facility in Lancashire.

PPE is a world leading designer and manufacturer of high performance sealing solutions. The company’s elastomers product range is used in many demanding manufacturing environments around the world. Applications as varied as semi-conductor manufacturing, food processing, pharmaceuticals, marine engineering and power generation benefit from PPE’s innovative, robust and reliable sealing solutions.

Founded in 1974, PPE has over 35 years specialist sealing expertise, offering an unrivalled range of products from over 170 elastomer materials. The company’s materials scientists and applications technologists are working at the forefront of elastomer technology, developing new materials for specialist applications. These include PERLAST®, the world’s leading perfluoroelastomer for critical sealing applications such as semiconductor and pharmaceutical manufacturing, and ENDURA® which was specifically developed for use in the oil and gas industry.

For details of PPE’s range of Perlast and Endura O ring seals, T-section rubber seals, special profiles and custom-made seals and rubber gaskets, visit http://www.prepol.com

The Glenburn  is a highly acclaimed Windermere hotel that offers Bed & Breakfast or half board accommodation with four poster beds, spa baths, a relaxing bar and superb restaurant.

In addition to the hotel, Glenburn also offers a choice of two Windermere self catering holiday cottages, both within a short walking distance of Windermere, Bowness and Lake Windermere.

River Cottage and Gamekeeper’s cottage both comfortably sleep up to six people. They are beautifully furnished to a high standard and have car parking facilities.

River Cottage nestles within the hotel grounds next to a bubbling stream. It’s just five minutes’ walk from the centre of Windermere village, with its selection of bars, restaurants and shops

The 18th-century Gamekeeper’s Cottage is situated in the centre of Windermere village. It is an ideal base from which to explore the English Lake District and Lake Windermere.

Please visit www.glenburn.uk.com for details.

Close to the city centre and within easy reach of the road-rail network, Hedley House Hotel is one of the best hotels in York, with modern comfortable surroundings, great food and outstanding personal service.

Built in 1845 in the heart of the Victorian city, many of our rooms still include the original fireplace features. Combined with en-suite facilities, hospitality trays and digital widescreen TVs, our rooms are a subtle blend of contemporary modern and historic.

Their intimate award-winning licensed restaurant is a great place to spend an evening or start the night. The restaurant serves a range of home cooked healthy meals, snacks and light bites, all freshly cooked using only award-winning ingredients.

Knowle House is a large Victorian terrace house situated off Bootham on the North side  of the city of York.  York Minster is within a six to eight minute walk.  It is also next door to and under the same ownership as Hedley House Hotel. These York self catering apartments are self-contained, fully furnished and contain all necessary linen, crockery and cutlery.  All have central heating, colour television, electric cooker and fridge.  Wireless internet is available. All but one of the apartments have direct dial telephone.

In a city where car parking space is limited, Hedley House Hotel and Apartments have 19 allotted parking spaces. When these spaces are full there is room for 8 more vehicles in the middle of the car park, the keys to these must be left at reception in case of emergency. The car park operates on a “first come first served” basis.  If this is unacceptable there is a large public car park (chargeable) 2 minutes walk from the hotel.

Mobile gauge calibration is a very convenient service but is is the most accurate service?

You may have seen some gauge and tool calibration laboratories offering the services of a mobile calibration unit. And you could be forgiven for thinking this was the answer to all your problems.

No more having to be without your equipment whilst it is away for calibration. No more having to buy duplicate equipment because you can’t be without something, even for a few days. The van turns up on a pre-agreed date and you get your tools and gauges calibrated the same day. Then they’re straight back into service. Great!!

It’s easy to understand why some calibration companies offer this service. There is an obvious desire for it within the market place. An on-site calibration service is perfectly feasible for certain types of equipment. Eg. Electrical, pressure, temperature and even some types of dimensional calibration such as surface tables or large or heavy machinery that is difficult to move. Hand torque tool calibration for example is perfectly feasible on-site. What you need to consider though, is how a properly accredited dimensional tool and gauge calibration laboratory operates.
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Any fashion savvy woman will already be getting excited about purchasing THE boots for the start of the Autumn season. Getting in there quickly to buy the best boots, the most sought after before they fly off the shelves.

Now, this has not always been the case. Even 10 years ago the choice of womens boots was far from exciting. Black and brown being the colours available and if you wanted a flat boot, you’d almost certainly know which style you’d have to go for.

Women are now as blessed with the ranges of womens boots on offer on our high streets as the fantastic shoes were get to choose from. In fact, boots are being worn all year round now which further confirms their popularity.

One of the biggest effects on the womens boots market has been the introduction the phenomimom that is the Ugg boot to the UK. Most of the shoe manufacturers are making boots in the Ugg boot style but the original and authentic Ugg is made by UGG® Australia. There are lots of Ugg Boot brands, so why wear UGG® Australia?

UGG® Australia are the authentic UGG Boots that the celebrities wear and have become so popular that the phrase ‘ugg boots’ has become synonymous with the brand. Besides that there are many specific reasons to buy the UGG® Australia brand only:

UGG® Australia offer the very highest quality UGGs;
They have solid heels that do not buckle;
Genuine sheepskin layer keeps water out;
Lavish, thick fleece is toasty but breathable;
These boots will last years – you get what you pay for;
They are treated to be more resilient to odour throughout their lifetime.

These Ugg boots are as popular as ever in celebrity circles and on the high street – they look great, they feel great, they’re even practical and they last. The brand is constantly evolving its product range too – the UGG Cardy and Bailey Button boots are brilliant new variations on the popular style that are in demand far far in excess of the numbers made by the brand.

To say Ugg boots are one of the biggest fashion footwear influences in the past 10 years is not an understatement. The boots and the brand are a worldwide success further confirms this with as many Ugg boots followers in France and Germany as the USA, UK and of course Australia.

Boasting one of longest coastlines in England, and close to some of the region’s most beautiful and wild countryside, Middlesbrough is one of the most affordable places to live in the UK.

The commercial heart of the Tees Valley, Middlesbrough is a dynamic town where you’ll discover world-class art and events, stylish restaurants and bars, vibrant nightlife and superb shopping.

Shopping
The birthplace of Captain James Cook, at one time it was the fastest growing town in England and now boasts variety of shopping attractions offering shoppers a mix of high street, designer and retro outlets.

Middlesbrough’s trendy Linthorpe Road is lined with designer shops, including Psyche, a designer department store established 25 years ago, which was one of the first in the country to stock Gucci, Prada and Dries Van Noten, while Triads, just opposite, has built a reputation at the forefront of quirky, cutting edge fashion.
The compact and mostly pedestrianised town centre also contains a choice of shopping centres including the Hill Street Centre, Dundas Shopping Mall and central big one The Mall Middlesbrough

Heritage and culture
Not only a shoppers haven Middlesbrough, is home to one of the biggest free music festivals in the UK – Middlesbrough Music Live.
This diverse town mixes old and new, with Middlesbrough’s Institute of Modern Art – mima sitting alongside the traditional concert venue of the Town Hall: a popular with orchestras, national comics and pop acts alike.

Contemporary landmark buildings in the city centre include mima Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, an acclaimed contemporary art gallery in Britain. Other museums worth a visit include the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum in Stewart Park and The Dorman Museum, home to an outstanding social history collection on Middlesbrough.

Sports and leisure
Within easy reach of Middlesbrough city centre is the spectacular Riverside Stadium, home to Middlesbrough Football Club. One of Britain’s oldest football clubs dating from 1876, Middlesbrough has long been a football city. Today the famous Riverside Football Stadium in Middlesbrough is one of the city’s landmark buildings.

Sports centres and facilities in Middlesbrough include the fantastic Prissick Plaza Skateboarding and BMX Park, one of the top skate parks in Britain. If you are an adrenalin junkie, this town is the place for you. Try your hand at white water rafting at the Tees Barrage or if you are brave enough why not Bungee Jump or Zip Slide off the world famous Transporter Bridge.

Just north of the Transporter Bridge is the Saltholme Wildlife Reserve and Discovery Park. These beautiful wetlands are home to a wide range of birds including Common tern, Peregrines, Yellow wagtails and Lapwings.

Eating out and nightlife
Middlesbrough is a town with a reputation for hosting new exciting bands and live music gigs. Catch top dance DJs at the spectacular Empire Middlesbrough which is also a centre for Middlesbrough live music gigs. Middlesbrough Town Hall also plays host to big bands and concerts alongside theatre shows and comedy clubs.

A student town, Middlesbrough offers a choice of night clubs and a blossoming gay scene. Satur-Gay takes place at the Cornerhouse Club on Exchange Place near Middlesbrough Station weekly. Top gay bars in Middlesbrough include The Oak on Newport Road and H’s Bar on Linthorpe Road. The Town Hall plays host to the North East’s biggest comedy club, The Big Mouth Comedy Club.

So for heritage, culture and fun, choosing lettings Middlesbrough are a wise choice.

From 2012, changes to pensions law will affect all employers with at least one worker in the UK. This document is a summary of these changes, including what employers must do and how they might set about getting ready.

We have published a series of guidance that explains the new employer duties in detail and how they should be implemented. The guidance is available for download from our website: www.tpr.gov.uk/pensions-reform

The changes in a nutshell

Employers will need to:
• Automatically enrol certain workers into a pension scheme
• Make contributions on their workers’ behalf
• Register with The Pensions Regulator (‘the regulator’)
• Provide workers with certain information about

When are the changes happening?
The new employer duties will be introduced in stages over 4 years, starting in 2012. Each employer will be allocated a date from when the duties will first apply to them, known as their ‘staging date.’
This date is based on the number of people in an employer’s PAYE scheme. Employers with the largest numbers of workers in their PAYE schemes will have the earliest staging date.
Employers can check their provisional staging date on our website: www.tpr.gov.uk/staging
To allow some flexibility, employers can choose to bring forward their staging date, provided the regulator is informed. However, employers cannot choose a later date than the one they are allocated.
Finding out when the staging date is likely to be is the first thing an employer should do, so they can plan what they need to do to be ready in good time.

What will employers need to do?
• Assess their workforce
• Identify who to automAtically enrol
• Choose a pension scheme – i.e. National Employment Savings Trust – NEST Pensions
• Register with the regulator
• Make contributions
• Process any opt-out notices
• Process opt-in or joining requests
• Avoid inducements and prohibited activity
• Keep accurate records
• Provide workers with information about changes

What should employers do now?

Employers should:
• Look up their provisional staging date at www.tpr.gov.uk/staging
• Plan for when they might need their pension scheme in place and take action if necessary – including planning when and how they will assess their workforce
• Budget for these changes
• Look out for further information and guidance from the regulator. This can be done by signing up to the regulator’s free news-by-email service www.tpr.gov.uk/news

There are over 80 bodies of water in the Lake District National Park which includes the largest, Windermere to the small tarns such as Angle Tarn.

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 Lake Windermere. The lake can be acessed from Bowness, Newby Bridge and Ambleside and visitors will find both Bowness and Ambleside to be thriving tourist destinations with an excellent choice of Lake District bed and breakfast accommodation providers, hotels and cottages. 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 Wast Water. 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 Wast Water, 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.

To take full advantage of the Lake District visitors should look to stay in one the area’s fine hotels, Lake District Bed and Breakfast, or self catering properties.

Industrial Air Power Ltd is the authorised distributor for Ingersoll Rand Industrial Technologies products throughout Wales and the South West of England. The two companies have made a dramatic shift from being suppliers of equipment to providers of solutions. We are fully conversant with all aspects of air generation and equipped to carry out energy audits on any installed system, regardless of size or manufacturer.

A full system audit includes leak detection, measurement of energy consumption, and flow measurement including pressure, temperature and final air quality.

As utility rates continue to rise and firms continue to look to green initiatives, energy consumption has become a growing concern for manufacturers.

One of the largest energy users within a plant is the compressed air system. Energy recovery provides a cost-effective way for manufacturers to reduce their energy bills while simultaneously benefiting the environment by capturing the thermal energy created through the compression process and putting it to work. Where the heat produced from a compressor can be fully utilised, simple payback periods of less than two years are frequently achieved.

Having already worked with Carbon Trust on a variety of projects, Terram called on its expertise when faced with rising energy costs. The specialist manufacturer of geosynthetic materials, employing 95 staff at its manufacturing plant near Pontypool, worked with Industrial Air Power to eliminate energy inefficiencies and redesign and install a new air compressor system. The result was an industry best in terms of energy usage and savings of £202,000 per annum. It also produced:

* Energy savings of approximately 11.25 million kWh over five years
* Cost savings of approximately £1m in five years
* Emission savings of 7,390 tonnes CO2 in the same period
* Payback of approximately 24 months

David Roberts, control engineer at Terram Ltd, said: “The savings we are seeing now are unbelievable but just as important is the fact that we are reducing our carbon emissions and therefore benefiting the environment.”

Although Terram had already started to investigate the costs for new compressed air systems, it hadn’t looked at where, when, how much air was being used. Carbon Trust helped it identify this and used Industrial Air Power to design a system to meet its needs.

Having a tailor-made system installed in turn allowed Terram to capitalise on secondary savings such as heat recovery and compressed air leak reduction.

Ongoing monitoring of the fully automated system allows the savings to be quantified. Monitoring also ensures that the focus on savings is maintained and remains a high priority for Terram.

The new compressor system was located into the steam boiler house. This enabled Terram to recover the waste heat generated by the compressors and use this to raise the temperature of the water in the hot well, which feeds the boiler. Increased water temperature in turn reduces the amount of gas needed to generate steam.

The aggregated savings from the installation of the new system and implementation of the measures identified represented an 11.8 per cent reduction in the site’s energy consumption and overall a 38.7 per cent reduction in the electrical energy consumption directly associated with the generation of the compressed air.

An annual CO2 saving of 1,214 tonnes has been achieved plus an additional 264 tonnes from a reduction in gas usage due to the heat recovery process.

From monitoring the system, it was calculated that Terram was using on average 85m3/min of compressed air with an efficiency of 8kW/m/min, which equated to 7.2 million kWh per annum. By installing a new compressor set supplied by Industrial Air Power, it was calculated that the efficiency could be improved to 6kW/m3/min. Post-installation monitoring has proved that the new machinery provides an average efficiency of 5.8kW/m3/min – delivering significant savings. The gas savings are on top of this.

The benefits to Terram have been fourfold: a significant reduction in energy costs, the ability to protect plant integrity, reduced maintenance cost and the added benefit of reduced gas consumption from the increased water temperature in the steam boiler hot well.

Installing new Ingersoll Rand two stage fixed speed compressors along with a Nirvana two stage trim compressor, fully automated via a control system provided Terram with primary energy savings. Secondary savings came as a result of the heat recovery process, lower maintenance costs and the leak reduction programme.

The exercise has been successful in achieving reductions of CO2 emissions and the overall costs of supplying the service of compressed air to the business.

A Carbon Trust Wales consultant worked together with Industrial Air Power and Terram engineers providing impartial, independent advice enabling the company to make an informed decision and deliver value for money. Carbon Trust independently validated the energy savings and confirmed that they exceeded Industrial Air Power’s initial projections.

Through our experience in carrying out hundreds of compressed air audits we have identified the majority of existing compressed air systems include one or more of these deadly sins. This will have and adverse affect on your reliability, productivity and energy consumption.

* System over-pressurisation resulting in increased artificial demand
* Excessive waste through air leakage
* False loading of air compressors due to lack of system automation and volume
* Inefficiency caused by cycling fixed output compressors
* Excessive pressure drop

If you would like advice on calculating your savings potential and increasing your company’s profitability contact Industrial Air Power on 01656 658961, email sales@airpower.co.uk

The starting point is to tell you that “conventional snow chains” (RUD, KWB), which wrap chain around the whole tyre, are not suitable for increasing numbers of vehicles, usually because they’d be too close to struts or brake pipes, or because there’s electronic sensing equipment which can’t cope with finding metal where there’s normally only rubber.  You must therefore visit a snow chains/ snowchains database if you want to buy conventional snowchains and choose first your car, then your tyre size, and in many cases also your engine size.  Some manufacturers don’t take this prudent view, so you’ll almost certainly be able to buy a set of chains “off the shelf” which will fit around your wheels. Our advice is to check your car handbook very carefully, because if there is a “No fit” for conventional snowchains there could be real danger and expense in fitting the chains and driving the car.

All the “other snowchain systems” (AutoSock, Farad SNOW, Maggi TRAK and Spikes-Spider) can be used on every vehicle, subject to finding a set of the appropriate size, even if the use of conventional snow chains is forbidden.

The Farad, Spikes-Spider and TRAK systems require you to have wheel nut adapters of the correct size for your car; you’ll find all the information you need on the snow chains/ snowchains database on roofbox.co.uk.

All the snow chains/snowchains are are sold in pairs, and need to be fitted to the driving wheels.  Some people also fit them to the non driving wheels, which certainly improves all round stability, but is definitely not necessary.  4 x 4 drivers should fit snowchains to the front wheels unless we tell you which wheels to use – please check the snow chains database for fitting notes.

As a rule of thumb, traction control and anti-skid systems should be turned off when using tyre traction devices, except for AutoSock and Spikes-Spider systems.  If you can’t easily turn off these systems, then it’s probably OK.  Check your handbook!

View all the available options, together with prices and special offers, on the snow chains database.  This contains well over 100,000 links, and they work very hard to keep it as up to date as they can.  Please though (1) check your handbook and (2) fit the snowchains we supply ASAP after receiving them, just to check that they fit, and also to learn how to fit them.

The way in which we shop has changed considerably in recent years.

The internet is now where many of us shop for groceries right through to larger purchases that require more thought such as furniture.

Due to the ability to shop online, it is now easier and more enjoyable to buy gifts and items for the home. The internet has enabled us to be able to choose from a far wider choice of merchandise than on the high street even if you live in a large city. For those living in smaller towns or rural locations, online shopping has become not just a convenience but a life line.

The United Kingdom is home mad, interiors mad with no home being too small for a makeover. In the last 10 to 15 years, with the help of home makeover shows on the television, the nation is obsessed with recreating a show stopping interior.

Furnishings are a very personal statement and can say a lot about you and your home. Couple that with the longing to make a house look different and the need to look further afield than a furniture chain store is a further must.

Finding the right furniture for a home is often a head ache. The choice in many large furniture stores on the retail parks around the UK is bland, replicated in every home already and not in any way exciting. Buying furniture online allows a broader choice of styles from different shops including boutique and individual retailers. The internet has also helped the retailer by giving them the chance to search all over the world for stock. Now that it is possible to source products that at one time would have been seen as specialist or exclusive due to their location, retailers are able through extensive networks of contacts to offer an impressively wide choice to customers.

Ethical furniture shopping is another change and consumers are now wanting to know where materials such as wood have been sourced from. Wooden furniture such as oak bookcases, shoe cupboards and oak coffee tables should be from sustainable and managed plantation sources. The ethical practices of manufacturers and the retailers are other ways in which people are making purchasing decisions. So to gain the best choice, the best price and the best look, online furniture shopping is the answer.

In today’s harsh economic times, effective and dependable fire suppression within business critical areas such as data rooms remains essential, but securing it at the right price can be difficult. Ian Bartle examines some of the key challenges involved and explains what can be done to alleviate the pressure on those critical budgets.

It’s understandable that in all businesses, continuous examination of operating costs are routinely made. Within this, the cost of fire suppression is often considered to be a relatively high but necessary cost. However, there can be very few applications where the absolute reliability of operation of the automatic fire extinguisher equipment is more business critical than in a data room.

For instance, data rooms of any size will have an air conditioning system in place to control the temperature because of the tremendous amount of heat that’s generated on a continuous basis. Failure of the air conditioning system to function may lead to overheat situations placing stress on the equipment and components. This could cause an outbreak of fire with a resultant and devastating loss of all data within minutes. And don’t forget, we’re potentially talking here of data that’s taken many years to build.
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There are a large number of benefits in installing artificial grass of which the reasons for installing are varied.

Obviously you don’t need to spend as much time on the upkeep of an artificial lawn. With fake grass you can simply enjoy sitting out in the sun and enjoying the little sun we get rather than spending that valuable time mowing and trimming your garden. Perfect for busy professionals and families and a life line for the elderly who find the upkeep of a lawn too much. Why should you forgo the look and versatility of a lawn all because the maintenance is too much to cope with?

From an environmental point of view, artificial grass has a number of benefits. The biggest being the need not to water. Although most people are very aware of water conservation, the temptation to water a brown, scorched lawn is all too big. It is predicted that hose pipe bans will become more and more frequent as the need for water increases and we have warmer summers. Then there is the fact that artificial lawns require no trimming so the need for petrol or electric lawnmowers is eradicated saving fuel, emissions and electricity.
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Switzerland is a landlocked alpine country in Western Europe with roughly seven and a half million people and an area of just over forty thousand kilometres square. The country is made up of twenty six states called cantons and it contains three global cities, Geneva, Basel and Zürich. Switzerland is one of the richest countries in the world by per capita gross domestic product, plus Zürich and Geneva have respectively been ranked as having the first and second highest quality of life in the world.

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 ski chalet.

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.

As we all know in this current economic climate we have to work that little bit harder (and smarter) to get new business or build on relationships with existing customers. So, every opportunity we have to present ourselves or get in front of customers must be taken. Below are a couple of tips which we have found quite simple, yet effective by using a Folding Inserting machine in our mailing room. Don’t worry if you don’t mail in large volumes, you can get a Folder Inserter that’s cost effective for just a few 100 items per week.

1) A Folder Inserter is an integral part of any mailing room, you’ll save time and money just by having one
2) You can include a mail piece with existing mail such as invoices or statements advertising your other services/goods. This is made really easy with a Folder Inserter
3) Once you have your Folder Inserter it can be used for sending out mail shots, newsletters or periodicals.
4) Combine your Folder Inserter with a franking machine and the savings on your post will also add up

What does the Folder Inserter do?

Its simple, it takes a pile of letters or mailers, folds them up in the required format and then inserts them into the envelope for you. Easy!

The type of machine you will need will mainly depend on the volume of your mail. If you want to have a look at a great range of Folder Inserter machines from compact desktop versions to models that meet complex mailroom demands, visit the website of The Mailing Room.

Eden Ostrich World is pleased to announce their festive themed programme of events to occupy even the most excited child this Christmas.

When visiting Eden Ostrich World over the festive period families will be able to experience Christmas themed areas and activities including a craft table where visitors can make a Christmas mask or perhaps colour in a picture and they can even make a Christmas decoration to be displayed on the Eden Ostrich World tree.

The Christmas themed program of events will take place on the 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th, 18th, 19th, 22nd and 23rd of December and is the perfect way to start the Christmas holidays, both young and old!
Eden Ostrich World is a family run business hosting a working farm and visitors centre, which opened to the public in 1998. Diversification came about due to the dramatic changes within the agricultural industry: as it became more difficult to survive whilst farming new ideas started to emerge and after several years planning we created and opened our doors to the public as Eden Ostrich World.
Situated in the middle of the Eden Valley, we couldn’t ask for a more magnificent setting, with the River Eden running straight through our site, it allows customers to take in the views and have a wander down by the river! It is classed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to the different varieties of birds and wildlife.

Their aim is to offer bags of fun and Lake District things to do as well as an educational day, not only learning about the ostrich, from incubation and hatching through to being fully grown, but to give people an insight into modern day farming. They also host playgrounds, a tea room and a very reasonable gift shop, as well as the Hayloft Gallery which is packed full of unusual gifts – a Cumbria attraction for the whole family.

For more information on the festive events and for further information on Lake District attractions, visit http://www.ostrich-world.com.

Week off work…check, beautiful vistas required, the English Lake District…check, want to see as much as possible, camper van…check!

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. Volkswagen camper van hire is now available 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.

Fitness footwear is growing in popularity around the world not only giving you a workout but providing other health benefits.

To fully confirm the importance and evolution within the footwear industry, we are now seeing brands such as FitFlop that not only give you a work out whilst you wear them but they have health benefits as well. FitFlop are no ordinary flip flops at all. They have an innovative, patent pending Microwobbleboard™ hidden in the EVA sole that is designed to give you a workout while you walk. The heel is thick and firm to absorb shock, the toe area is mid-density and the midsole is soft centre. This gives you a slightly unstable surface on which to walk on (although you will never notice as they are so comfortable). They provide your legs and bum (glutes, hamstring, calves and thighs) with a muscle workout and help to tone these areas. They burn more calories than you would do when walking in a normal pair of shoes. They improve posture. They provide relief from plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, chronic back pain, sciatica, osteoarthritis, from lower limb oedema, and restless leg syndrome.

For the fashion conscious then there’s even boots available. Fitflop boots offer style as well as all the benefits associated with wearing the Fitflop brand. They enable the year round wearing of fitness footwear. The new leather Fitflop boots offer pull-on practicality, a soft, flexible fit, and–all the time you’re walking in them–toning. Wear the FitFlop Supertboot short with skinny jeans, a skirt or tights all season long. FitFlop. Put a pair on and get a workout while you walk.

Another fitness footwear brand is the Reebok EasyTone. Reebok Trainers have wear-tested EasyTone with hundreds of people over the past two years resulting in more than 20,000 hours of data. Feedback from this research shows that users notice the difference immediately and genuinely feel that Reebok EasyTone work and that their muscles are working harder. Get a better bum and better legs with every step. With Reebok EasyTone, you can get firmer thanks to the patented sole technology, which emulates walking on sand. Reebok EasyTone features include the improving of muscle tone in the hamstrings, calves and glutes up to 28%. DMX Max enhanced underfoot foam cushioning for lasting comfort.  SmoothFit seamless design ensures minimal rub and decreases irritation and removable antibacterial sockliner accommodates orthotics.

So footwear such as the Reebok EasyTone and Fitflop boots offer style, comfort as well as the fitness and health benefits. The nature of the hectic lifestyles experienced by many people, means we are constantly seeking ways in which to combine activities. Fitness footwear gives you an added work out whether it’s walking down the street or around an office.