Robert Hyde Greg was an economist, successful industrialist and the founder of Manchester’s Quarry Bank Mill. He was elected Member of Parliament for Manchester in 1839, was a member of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society and a founder member of the Mechanic’s Institute. Set in huge rolling grounds he built Norcliffe Hall, which has fishing rights to the River Bollin, as his family home in 1815. A Grade II Listed Building situated within the Styal Conservation Area, Norcliffe Hall is an important local example of early Victorian architecture.
Recently having undergone a complete restoration, Tradewoods are delighted to have supplied over 1000m² of flooring for this important project: Norcliffe’s new underfloor heating system has been covered with Tradewoods Super 6 engineered hardwood flooring unfinished rustic French Oak 21 x 180mm. The featured apartment first received a coat of mahogany oil to add a deep, period look to the floor, this mahogany oil was then over-coated with two coats of clear oil to finish. A stunning restoration.
Ornamental trees and scrubs are often the focal of a garden. They can offer colour and shape to a garden and most are easy to maintain. Some of the most garden worthy trees and shrubs in cultivation can be found in this article and have been carefully selected for their valuable contribution to gardens, whether for their architectural shapes, beauty of flowers, prolific scent, ornamental bark or outstanding autumn colours. Many of these plants are frequently seen in gardens and have been included owing to their popularity, others are very scarce seldom seen in garden centres or garden nurseries catalogues making them rather more unique.
Juniper
Medium sized pencil shaped evergreen conifer with glaucous grey green leaves, a popular architectural conifer. Suitable for any well drained soil including chalk.
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Sterling Costs Consultants, established law costs draftsmen, are continuing their expansion with the opening of a second office in west London. This new southern office location is the perfect partner for their main Warrington offices which will serve the north of the UK so providing a nationwide law cost drafting service.
Their law costs draftsmen have built business over a number of years mainly from client recommendations and are constantly striving to improve all areas of their service. With business continuing to grow throughout the country the result has been the requirement of a southern office further enhancing the progression of Sterling Costs.
Sterling Costs law costs draftsmen provide that vital link that can not only lead to a satisfactory recovery of legal costs as efficiently as possible, but can also release solicitors to do what they are best at: Servicing clients without the distractions. That’s why using Sterling Costs Consultants is the best way to optimize costs.
Further information regarding the services Sterling Costs offer can be found at http://www.sterlingcosts.com
Wearing the correct dance costumes and shoes is important for a variety of reasons. One of the main reasons for wearing the correct dance costumes for a particular dance style is to evoke the feeling, style and period of the dance. Dancing is physical so comfort is high on the agenda. With comfort also comes safety as a salsa dancer would not want to be wearing a full, bellowing skirt although they would when carrying out a ballroom dancing routine.
Dance costumes are specifically designed and constructed to aid the dancer in each particular dance, to be comfortable, unrestrictive and enhance the dancer’s for the dance. Dance is such a visual sport that costumes do play a huge role and they also help the dancer get into the role within the routine. A ballroom costume for example will be flowing and give a graceful feel whilst an argentine tango costumes will be fitted and more revealing to match the style of the dance. Dance costumes are now far more comfortable and allow for far more movement today. Lycra and other technical fabrics allow the costumes designer to design the most intricate and show stopping clothing. You only need to look at the Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing with the Stars programmes.
Colour plays a huge role in the look of the costumes which then, in turn, can portray a different image of the dance. A classic and beautiful waltz costume would suit a pastel shade whereas for a fiery tango, it would be red or black for example, most definitely not a pastel shade. It is rare to see a dance costume made fully in a patterned fabric. A patterned fabric can distort the body and in competitive dance, it can hinder dancers as the judge cannot correctly see the alignment of the body.
How food looks is extremely important. The look of the food is the first impression and as is regularly said, you eat with your eyes. How food is presented on a plate is so crucial these days. The food itself needs to look appealing but what it is presented on can also greatly affect the way the dish looks. Top chefs know the importance of this and they will be the ones that choose the dinnerware range for the restaurant. Only a few years ago, a standard plate would be used to serve all the dishes. Now there are curved, square, rectangle, oval and shallow bowls. Different dishes are presented on each plate depending on the look required. Some chefs are even using slates, pieces of wood and other such materials. A beautiful piece of dinnerware can give the dish that wow factor when arriving at the table.
It is not just in the professional and commercial sectors where there has been an advance in tableware design. Top designers such as Terrance Conran and Vera Wang have designed collections and home owners are paying more attention to how their table looks. Dinner parties are back. The popularity of cooking programmes, the ability to buy high quality produce in supermarkets now and factors such as the recession could be contributing factors. Having a spectacular looking dining table makes guests feels special.
There are so many different ranges on the market to choose from with some very modern and distinct styles such as the Villeroy and Boch dinnerware ranges or for a more traditional look, Wedgwood, Denby and Aynsley produce timeless design ranges. Versace has even designed a range of Versace china.
Patterned dinnerware and tableware can date so if longevity is what is required then a simple white set cannot be beaten. White tableware goes with every colour scheme but should a more distinctive or modern look be required then there are some amazing modern designs around at the moment. Leaders in this field are designers such as Terrance Conran and Villeroy and Boch. Clean line designs in white are the dinnerware sets that are being most favoured at the moment. In a very practical sense of breakage, a broken white piece can be replaced even with a different range. Buying key patterned pieces though to use with a plain white set is an excellent way to introduce colour or patterns whilst still keeping to predominantly white.
In general, the interior design of the home is being taken more seriously and is being enjoyed even by the average home owners. We are starting to see famous and notable designers creating ranges for leading brands which is enabling the homeowner to achieve an individual or more sophisticated look.
To complement the interest people have in cooking and dinner parties the items on a dining table and the settings should be strongly considered. How the food looks on a plate is extremely important as well as how the plate looks within the table setting. The look of the food is the first impression and as is regularly said, you eat with your eyes. The food itself needs to look appealing but what it is presented on can also greatly affect the way the dish looks. Top chefs know the importance of this and they will be the ones that choose the dinnerware range for the restaurant. Only a few years ago, a standard plate would be used to serve all the dishes. Now there are curved, square, rectangle, oval and shallow bowls.
You cutlery then needs to match the dinnerware. A traditional set of cutlery would look out of place next to a modern square plate for example. Likewise, a modern set of cutlery would not feel right with a traditional set of china plates. Leading cutlery brands such as Arthur Price cutlery have been manufacturing high grade cutlery for over 100 years. Their traditional ranges remain popular but they have introduced contemporary ranges in keeping with the modern look that many home owners are requesting.
One of the leading modern cutlery brands at the moment and one which is synonymous with innovative design is Villeroy and Boch. Villeroy and Boch cutlery as with other brands of such stature retain a timeless design but firmly keeping with a contemporary look. Due to the nature of stainless steel, cutlery can be a real statement on a dining table. For a customer wanting to achieve a very contemporary look, modern cutlery perfect finishing touch.
Acrylic paint is a modern media when compared with watercolour and oil. Oil for example has been used by artists as far back at the 15th century and watercolour has been used as an artist medium since the Renaissance. With such history of these other two mediums, acrylic is always fighting to gain recognition. Acrylic has distinct characteristics as oil and watercolour do and the National Acrylic Painters’ Association was set up in 1985 to champion and support this media. Acrylic is capable of the widest range of approaches of any artist media and enables even more creativity, fresh ideas and progression. Artwork has been created in acrylic paint but artists such as Andy Warhol, Robert Motherwell, Mark Rothko, Bridget Riley and David Hockney to name just a few.
There are now a huge number of artists producing canvas artwork using acrylics and making the optimum use of this versatile media. It has enabled canvas art to be bought by a wider audience due to its fast drying nature and artwork can be created much quicker so a real business can be made out of acrylic artwork. Exhibitions have been in such prestigious venues as the Westminster Gallery and the Durham Art Gallery solely exhibiting and championing acrylic work. Books have been written purely on the characteristics of acrylic paint such as “New Tricks and Techniques for Working with the World’s Most Versatile Medium” by Nancy Reyner and “The New Acrylics:Complete Guide to the New Generation of Acrylic Paints.
Not everyone has the money to buy modern canvas artwork produced by famous artists so it has enabled the not so famous but equally as talented new artists to produce work and be successful selling them. Canvas art is quite dramatic as the medium used is either oil or acrylic paint. Both achieve high depth in colour and on a bright white wall, a piece of canvas artwork on a stretched canvas frame has maximum impact.
The Eden Valley is a beautiful, yet little known area in Cumbria, which lies between the Lake District National Park and the North Pennines - an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. To the North of the Eden Valley lies Carlisle and Hadrian’s Wall, whilst to the South you will find the fabulous Yorkshire Dales.
There is an excellent choice of accommodation available within Eden including hotels, guest houses, Cumbrian cottages and caravan parks. Away from the main holiday season many of the Lake District holiday cottages offer the flexibility of short breaks rather than just whole weeks, so visitors can enjoy a long weekend in the area and perhaps buy some fresh local produce to cook yourself at the property. However your eating requirements are catered for by the many excellent restaurants and traditional pubs that reflect the local flavour.
Historic Penrith, often referred to as the “Gateway to the Northern Lakes”, is the major town in the Eden Valley, with a good mix of traditional shops selling locally made products and crafts, including famed Cumberland Sausage and Penrith Toffee.
When it comes to places to visit during your stay the Eden Valley offers a wide range of historic houses, castles, gardens, craft workshops, galleries and museums. In fact there are over seventy visitor attractions in Eden. For the more active there are many sporting facilities including sailing, windsurfing, horse riding, golf, squash, tennis and fishing.
One of the area’s key activities is Appleby Horse Fair, which takes place every June. The Horse Fair gathers together travelling folk from all over the country, buying and selling horses, keeping alive a 300 year old tradition. This is Britain’s largest gypsy gathering, with hundreds of tradition horse-drawn caravans converge on nearby Gallows Hill.
Walkers will find Eden is wonderful walking country, either a leisurely walk along river banks and lake shore or you can take to the higher paths over the Pennines and Lake District fells. In fact, the Pennine Way National Trail reaches into the Eden Valley at Appleby-in-Westmorland as it winds its way towards Scotland. Cyclists can follow the coast to coast (C2C) and Cumbria Cycle Way, both routes are clearly marked along the way.
The River Eden provides challenging fishing, and has in place a “Go Wild” scheme to enable visitors to try wild fishing on the river.
There is a huge number of businesses that require Braille transcription services from government organisations to any business associated with serving the blind or partially sighted people.
Who requires Braille, large print or audio transcription?
Blind or visually impaired people
Employers of blind or visually impaired people
Businesses providing services to blind or visually impaired people
Friends and family of blind or visually impaired people
Companies and public sector organisations should be able to comply with the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) so that no one can be disadvantaged through a lack of information. Transcription services providers ensure this is done. Everyday items such as wage slips, utility bills and bank statements are essentially required to be transcribed into Braille or other transcription formats.
Braille is the most associated media when discussing transcription. Braille printing was invented by Louis Braille in 1821. Over 180 years later, this method is still effective. Transcriptions come in other formats though, for example large print and audio transcription. Large print is simple process but can greatly benefit a visually impaired person.
Transcribing documents into more user friendly formats is another job of a transcription service. Graphs, tables and charts can be hard to read for a partially sighted person or for someone with learning difficulties. A transcription services provider can convert the graph etc into an easier to understand format.
What makes transcription so easy and accessible now is technology. Files can be sent to a transcription services lab by email or on a CD and in the instant of audio transcription, the audio file can be saved as an MP3, onto CD or tape.
It is not just within business that document transcription has progressed. The Copyright (Visually Impaired Persons) Act 2002 which came into force in October 2003, has made it far easier to have a previously copyrighted document to be transcribed. It has removed the copyright laws that haltered transcription and now a visually impaired person can make an accessible copy of any “Any literary, dramatic, artistic or musical work”.
Saving money and cutting costs are high on the agenda of businesses at present and none more so than trying to save money on the high cost of fuel. During this harsh economic time, many small businesses have plunged into obscurity. The financial constraints placed on them has crippled their ability to compete with larger, better known companies and many have even gone into administration. Bankruptcy and liquidation seem common place and are now even accepted as part and parcel of the present economic climate. Throughout these harrowing times, reputable fuel card companies have been playing their part in trying to reduce the expenditure for both large and small businesses. Fuel cards for businesses come with fixed rates for diesel, petrol and liquid petroleum gas.
There are a number of fuel cards out there with various savings and discounts and if used properly, can have a positive impact on your expenditure. It doesn’t matter if you have a fleet of HGVs, taxis or buses or if it is only one car or van, the discounts from fleet cards or business fuel cards for individuals will ensure that you will save money on your fuel. At Fuelcards.com, we have a range of fuel card packages to suit any business.
In this present climate any saving for businesses is a must and the less expenditure you have the more chance your business has of surviving. Fuel cards will save you and your business money but make sure you deal with a reputable company. Managing a fleet of any size during a recession can be daunting. Whatever business you are in, times of economic strife such as these can mean we all have to be extra vigilant of our expenditure and where this is going. Finding the time to maintain this can be challenging.
Fleet cards enable you to manage your fuel budget more effectively as fuel prices are fixed at a weekly rate. This alone will improve your budgeting as you will be able to better predict outgoings. Employing fleet cards into your regular business strategy will also eliminate the need to provide cash or ‘kitties’ to your drivers – instantly improving security for the drivers and for your peace of mind.
For the 4th successive year the Lodore Falls Hotel has taken an award at the Keswick Tourism Association ‘Keswick in Bloom’ Competition.
The hotel has 40 acres of grounds to manicure and uniquely has the Lodore Falls situated in the grounds - which makes it an attractive and very audible garden. It also has its own pack horse bridge and lakeside frontage - popular settings for photographs.
General Manager Stephen Johnson said “This is the 4th year in succession that the hotel has been mentioned in the Keswick in Bloom Awards and we are pleased that the hard work put into our gardens is appreciated. They are a natural draw for visitors who enjoy seeing the planting bloom through different seasons. The gardens have been carefully planned to be naturally sympathetic to the local environment - and occasionally there is a Herdwick sheep who wanders through - very in keeping but not popular with our gardeners! The picturesque grounds provide a stunning backdrop for guests enjoying the outdoor hot tub and we also get some great comments from photographers and wedding guests”.
This imposing hotel, part of the luxury Lake District Hotels Ltd group, was built in traditional Lakeland slate has had a commanding presence in the Borrowdale Valley for over 200 years. Standing in 40 acres of grounds with lake frontage and the dramatic backdrop of the spectacular Lodore Falls and surrounding mountains, this Lake District hotel has one of the finest settings, with access to some of the most impressive walks in the area from the front door.
Anyone interested in finding out more about the gardens should contact Stephen Johnson at the Lodore Falls Hotel on 017687 77285 or visit http://www.lakedistricthotels.net/lodorefalls/
The correct lighting in an interior is extremely important whether it is in the home or in business premises. In business and commercial premises, correct lighting can transform a dingy office into an inviting space for clients and also staff. The correct lighting can make staff performance more effective, can lift moods and create a far better working environment. For clients and potential customers, how off putting is it if they have to walk into an inadequately lit room or the other end of the spectrum, a room that is too bright. Both scenarios are not ideal and with government guidelines used in many countries for illumination levels, it is in a company’s best interest to have the correct lighting system. Certainly a high factor and the most common is an individual staff member’s preference.
Energy saving is high on many agendas and the correct lighting for a room can save greatly on energy bills and of course the environment. Reputable electrical wholesale suppliers and lighting retailers can not only offer competitive prices on lighting fittings but can give advice and tips on how to create the best possible lighting system and the best ways in which to save energy. Saving energy can be in the form of using dimmer switches, low energy light bulbs, projection of light and by installing the correct amount of lighting units in the right places to maximise the light.