Monday, 31 October 2011
That's Food and Drink: Spruce Up Your Festive Feasts With Castle MacLella...
That's Food and Drink: Spruce Up Your Festive Feasts With Castle MacLella...: Castle MacLellan is offering food lovers top tips on how to make festive entertaining easier, but just as indulgent, with a selection of mou...
Sunday, 30 October 2011
Excellent deal from Sports Direct
With so many offers available, plus the free delivery, now is the ideal time to being that Christmas shopping list online. Avoid the high street hustle and bustle and get everything from BMX bikes through to Table Tennis Tables delivered to your door- for free this week! You can currently purchase the ever- popular Muddyfox Chaos BMX bike for only £69! Reduced from £149.99 and available for free delivery.
Another extreme sports favourite is the No Fear Deluxe Skateboard. Available in five different designs, this classic skateboard has been reduced from £29.99 to just £6! These deals are certainly not to be missed and are available only whilst stocks last.
If it’s clothing you’re looking for, the winter essentials sale is still on too! With everything you’ll need for this winter all at incredibly low prices; there’s wellies from £6, fun winter hats from £3 and even waterproof Regatta jackets from only £18. With free delivery, shopping this winter will certainly be easier!
The free delivery offer is available from now until midnight Wednesday 2nd November 2011 and applies to mainland UK standard shipping only. For full details of all the offers currently available log on to www.sportsdirect.com where you can sign up for offer related e-mails. You can also stay on top of the latest discounts and offers by liking the Facebook page or following SportsDirectUK on Twitter.
Create your own Winter Wonderland!
The pre-Christmas build-up can be a magical time for adults alike. And now you can make it even more special for you and your children with the assistance of the experts at Maps Toys.Their stunning Christmas Village will allow children and parents to create a genuinely enchanting festive scene which is certain to become a much-loved centrepiece of your family's Christmas decorations for many years to come.
The Christmas Village craft set comprises everything that you will require to build, decorate and illuminate a snowy-covered Victorian Yuletide winter wonderland extravaganza. Children from age five and upwards will delight in creating the village using the six card building templates. They can create quaint thatched cottages, an ancient church, an inn and the all-important village Post Office. They'll love making stained glass and leaded windows out of opaque paper, colouring pens and coloured tissue paper.
Of course, taking centre stage in the village Christmas festivities is the traditional Christmas tree, which features a special fibre-optic LED glowing light on top of the tree that will magically twinkle throughout all of Christmas.LED lights are cleverly integrated into the scene so that each building will radiate a festive glow, so evocative of a real Christmassy atmosphere.
You can scatter the special reusable snowflakes over the village base to create a snow covered street scene that is just waiting for the villagers to walk through as they go to the village Post Office to post their last minute Christmas card to a relative in the next village or visit the church for a special carol service.
You can also add a touch of glitter and a dusting of snow to the village rooftops and you can sit back and admire your handiwork.
The Christmas village will be a lovely and compelling way to mark the start of the festive celebrations and you and your children will delight in showing off your creation to friends, family and visitors this Christmas season and for many more to come. It will be the start of a new and very special family Christmas tradition.
The Christmas Village costs £24.99 and is available at www.the-owl-barn.com. Visit www.mapstoys.com for details of other stockists.
Don’t be left in the cold this Christmas!- Get ready for winter
• Initiative follows problems caused by freezing temperatures last winter
• Record property insurance claims
• Government departments, Local Resilience Forums, Water UK and voluntary sector back campaign
With memories still fresh of the problems caused by the freezing winter of 2010/11 which affected many people and communities, government departments, industry bodies and the voluntary sector have joined forces to urge everyone to Get Ready for Winter.
Launching the campaign today Anne McIntosh MP, Co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Water Group and Chairman of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, said the disruption caused by the extreme weather last winter highlighted the need for a co-ordinated campaign to foster greater resilience by encouraging home owners, businesses and other organisations to protect their health, homes and the vulnerable by following some simple and practical advice.
“The freezing temperatures caused severe hardship to many people and communities,” said Miss McIntosh. “In some ways we were not prepared – both individually and collectively – for the severity of the weather. The government and other agencies have taken action to ensure our infrastructure, particularly transport, is better prepared this winter.
“We must become more resilient to these extremes of climate which, with climate change, appear to be becoming more frequent.”
Travel arrangements, vehicle checks, home protection, heating, the health and wellbeing of relatives and the elderly, are all areas covered by the Get Ready for Winter campaign.
Referring to the fact that the onset of winter will be heralded by the clocks going back on Sunday, Miss McIntosh said people might like to “use the extra hour to Get Ready for Winter”. She announced that as part of the initiative a Get Ready for Winter page had been set up on the DirectGov website to offer simple tips and advice. It links to other web sites providing more information.
“It’s worth checking it out,” said Miss McIntosh. “For example, should you have a flu jab? Is your home vulnerable in some way?
Jean Spencer, Regulation Director for Anglian Water, said the freezing temperatures last winter caused a record increase in burst pipes across the UK – both in water company networks and homes.
“The biggest increase in bursts was in properties,” Mrs Spencer said.” Thousands of homes were flooded by burst pipes. It ruined the Christmas/New Year period for many people.”
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has revealed that during December its members dealt with £900 million in property damage claims. This was the highest pay out yet made for damage caused by a bout of freezing weather and heavy snow in the UK. December was the coldest since records began in 1910.*
Of the property claims, 103,000 were for burst pipe damage, totalling £680 million.
“So beware of the hidden danger in your loft,” said Mrs Spencer. “A collapsed ceiling or coming home to water running down the stairs is a nightmare and can be a costly winter experience.”
Mrs Spencer said while UK water companies have taken particular care to make sure they are fully prepared for the possibility of another sever winter, “we are keen to ensure our customers are made aware of the dangers now and know how to take preventative action. We also want to make sure they get the right sort of help when they face a problem. This is why we have created a special Get Ready for Winter page on our websites offering advice. We hope our customers will check it out and the DirectGov site.”
Miss McIntosh said she was “delighted and much encouraged” that so many government departments were actively promoting the Get Ready for Winter campaign – others will join in as we enter winter – together with Water UK, the Local Resilience Forums and, from the voluntary sector, the British Red Cross, WRVS, St John Ambulance and Salvation Army. They are being joined by a host of other organisations from regulators to companies.*
Simon Lewis, Head of UK Emergency Planning and Response for the Red Cross, said emergency response teams battled through the snow to provide life-saving treatment to critically ill patients, responded to emergency 999 calls, delivered much needed medicine and medical equipment, and transported patients and vital NHS personnel.
"Although we can never fully protect ourselves against extremes of weather, being prepared makes a vital difference, minimising the disruption caused to families and communities and even saving lives,” said Mr Lewis.
"That is why we are backing the ‘Get Ready for Winter’ initiative and urging everyone to take steps that will help to prepare them for the disruption caused by snow or plummeting temperatures."
Volunteers also became ‘snow friends’, visiting the homes of vulnerable people to ensure they were ok and to offer extra help during the bad weather.
“This imaginative yet simple initiative will only succeed if people respond to the messages,” said Miss McIntosh. “All the information in the world won’t help if it’s just floating around in the ether; so we are getting the messages out in as many ways as we can – from the grass roots involvement of volunteers to press conferences like this one.”
The threat posed by unprotected water pipes was graphically illustrated at the Press Conference by eco-engineer and television personality Dick Strawbridge who froze a pipe so it burst and then thawed it out to demonstrate how they can flood a home, business or other property. Film of the demonstration will be uploaded onto Water UK and water company websites.
FACTFILE:
*The Get Ready for Winter campaign is being sponsored by the Cabinet Office and Water UK . It is supported by:
Government departments – Defra, Environment Agency, Department of Health, Health Protection Agency, Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Transport, Highways Agency, Met Office and Department for Communities and Local Government.
Local public bodies including – Local Resilience Forums. health professionals and community groups
Voluntary sector – British Red Cross, WRVS, St John Ambulance and Salvation Army
Commercial and independent sector – CBI, IOD, Association of Insurance and Risk Managers (AIRMIC), RAC, AA, chambers of commerce etc
Regulators – Ofwat, CC Water
The peak activity for Get Ready for Winter will happen during the week of 24-30 October but there will be other campaigns during November, including ones from Department of Health and Department for Transport, which will make reference to GRFW.
*Freezing Facts
The initiative follows concerns that last winter was the third cold winter in a row (albeit much colder – temperatures reached -21C) and there are predictions that the trend may continue. Britain’s road, rail and airport services have spent tens of millions to ensure they are better prepared for freezing temperatures this winter.
ABI figures show that during the December 2010 period:
• Insurers dealt with 467,000 claims for damage to homes, businesses and vehicles.
• 190,000 claims were for damage to homes and businesses, at a cost of some £900 million (75% domestic; 25% commercial). In Scotland, which was particularly hit, there were 31,000 property damage claims costing some £90 million.
• Of the property claims, 103,000 were for burst pipe damage. The cost of these claims, at £680 million, (average claim costs from £6,500 to £7,200) was up 35% on the amount paid out for burst pipes during the whole of last winter. The large number of burst pipes in Northern Ireland resulted in 6,400 claims worth £40 million.
• There were 278,000 claims from insured motorists for vehicle damage costing £530 million. Many of these claims were for low speed collisions, as motorists struggled on icy roads
• Record property insurance claims
• Government departments, Local Resilience Forums, Water UK and voluntary sector back campaign
With memories still fresh of the problems caused by the freezing winter of 2010/11 which affected many people and communities, government departments, industry bodies and the voluntary sector have joined forces to urge everyone to Get Ready for Winter.
Launching the campaign today Anne McIntosh MP, Co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Water Group and Chairman of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, said the disruption caused by the extreme weather last winter highlighted the need for a co-ordinated campaign to foster greater resilience by encouraging home owners, businesses and other organisations to protect their health, homes and the vulnerable by following some simple and practical advice.
“The freezing temperatures caused severe hardship to many people and communities,” said Miss McIntosh. “In some ways we were not prepared – both individually and collectively – for the severity of the weather. The government and other agencies have taken action to ensure our infrastructure, particularly transport, is better prepared this winter.
“We must become more resilient to these extremes of climate which, with climate change, appear to be becoming more frequent.”
Travel arrangements, vehicle checks, home protection, heating, the health and wellbeing of relatives and the elderly, are all areas covered by the Get Ready for Winter campaign.
Referring to the fact that the onset of winter will be heralded by the clocks going back on Sunday, Miss McIntosh said people might like to “use the extra hour to Get Ready for Winter”. She announced that as part of the initiative a Get Ready for Winter page had been set up on the DirectGov website to offer simple tips and advice. It links to other web sites providing more information.
“It’s worth checking it out,” said Miss McIntosh. “For example, should you have a flu jab? Is your home vulnerable in some way?
Jean Spencer, Regulation Director for Anglian Water, said the freezing temperatures last winter caused a record increase in burst pipes across the UK – both in water company networks and homes.
“The biggest increase in bursts was in properties,” Mrs Spencer said.” Thousands of homes were flooded by burst pipes. It ruined the Christmas/New Year period for many people.”
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has revealed that during December its members dealt with £900 million in property damage claims. This was the highest pay out yet made for damage caused by a bout of freezing weather and heavy snow in the UK. December was the coldest since records began in 1910.*
Of the property claims, 103,000 were for burst pipe damage, totalling £680 million.
“So beware of the hidden danger in your loft,” said Mrs Spencer. “A collapsed ceiling or coming home to water running down the stairs is a nightmare and can be a costly winter experience.”
Mrs Spencer said while UK water companies have taken particular care to make sure they are fully prepared for the possibility of another sever winter, “we are keen to ensure our customers are made aware of the dangers now and know how to take preventative action. We also want to make sure they get the right sort of help when they face a problem. This is why we have created a special Get Ready for Winter page on our websites offering advice. We hope our customers will check it out and the DirectGov site.”
Miss McIntosh said she was “delighted and much encouraged” that so many government departments were actively promoting the Get Ready for Winter campaign – others will join in as we enter winter – together with Water UK, the Local Resilience Forums and, from the voluntary sector, the British Red Cross, WRVS, St John Ambulance and Salvation Army. They are being joined by a host of other organisations from regulators to companies.*
Simon Lewis, Head of UK Emergency Planning and Response for the Red Cross, said emergency response teams battled through the snow to provide life-saving treatment to critically ill patients, responded to emergency 999 calls, delivered much needed medicine and medical equipment, and transported patients and vital NHS personnel.
"Although we can never fully protect ourselves against extremes of weather, being prepared makes a vital difference, minimising the disruption caused to families and communities and even saving lives,” said Mr Lewis.
"That is why we are backing the ‘Get Ready for Winter’ initiative and urging everyone to take steps that will help to prepare them for the disruption caused by snow or plummeting temperatures."
Volunteers also became ‘snow friends’, visiting the homes of vulnerable people to ensure they were ok and to offer extra help during the bad weather.
“This imaginative yet simple initiative will only succeed if people respond to the messages,” said Miss McIntosh. “All the information in the world won’t help if it’s just floating around in the ether; so we are getting the messages out in as many ways as we can – from the grass roots involvement of volunteers to press conferences like this one.”
The threat posed by unprotected water pipes was graphically illustrated at the Press Conference by eco-engineer and television personality Dick Strawbridge who froze a pipe so it burst and then thawed it out to demonstrate how they can flood a home, business or other property. Film of the demonstration will be uploaded onto Water UK and water company websites.
FACTFILE:
*The Get Ready for Winter campaign is being sponsored by the Cabinet Office and Water UK . It is supported by:
Government departments – Defra, Environment Agency, Department of Health, Health Protection Agency, Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Transport, Highways Agency, Met Office and Department for Communities and Local Government.
Local public bodies including – Local Resilience Forums. health professionals and community groups
Voluntary sector – British Red Cross, WRVS, St John Ambulance and Salvation Army
Commercial and independent sector – CBI, IOD, Association of Insurance and Risk Managers (AIRMIC), RAC, AA, chambers of commerce etc
Regulators – Ofwat, CC Water
The peak activity for Get Ready for Winter will happen during the week of 24-30 October but there will be other campaigns during November, including ones from Department of Health and Department for Transport, which will make reference to GRFW.
*Freezing Facts
The initiative follows concerns that last winter was the third cold winter in a row (albeit much colder – temperatures reached -21C) and there are predictions that the trend may continue. Britain’s road, rail and airport services have spent tens of millions to ensure they are better prepared for freezing temperatures this winter.
ABI figures show that during the December 2010 period:
• Insurers dealt with 467,000 claims for damage to homes, businesses and vehicles.
• 190,000 claims were for damage to homes and businesses, at a cost of some £900 million (75% domestic; 25% commercial). In Scotland, which was particularly hit, there were 31,000 property damage claims costing some £90 million.
• Of the property claims, 103,000 were for burst pipe damage. The cost of these claims, at £680 million, (average claim costs from £6,500 to £7,200) was up 35% on the amount paid out for burst pipes during the whole of last winter. The large number of burst pipes in Northern Ireland resulted in 6,400 claims worth £40 million.
• There were 278,000 claims from insured motorists for vehicle damage costing £530 million. Many of these claims were for low speed collisions, as motorists struggled on icy roads
Sand play this Christmas!
If you are looking for a toy that will keep the kids entertained as happy well beyond Christmas, then you should buy them the genuinely unique My Little Sandbox range from Map Toys.The unique playsets will provide young children with hours of fun, when they can use the power of their own imaginations to create their own fun. And they'll keep them busy when the weather means outside play is not possible.
Each playset is themed around different play scenarios which include Pirates, Mermaids, Holidays and Construction.
The sets are well made and each one comes in its own sturdy hardwood box that is filled with ultra fine play sand which is easy to vacuum. Miniature toys and accessories come with each playset so the children will be sure to have lots of fun in the sand. The construction set features mini diggers, boulders bricks and building workers ans is perfect for those children who fancy themselves as builders.
The Mermaid Sandbox features a beautiful mermaid figure along with some coral and underwater plants and seashells. And the sunshine theme continues with the Beach Sandbox. Children will adore the holidaymaker, the parasol, the deckchair, the towel and the bucket and spade. Little boys will have endless fun with the Pirate playset which includes a cool pirate ship, a crocodile some palm trees and the vitally important treasure chest! (EDITOR: Some little girls will be keen to get their hands on the Pirate playset, too...)
Each My Little Sandbox playset comes complete with its very own grooming rake and digging shovel so the children (and adults!) can create different scenes. Each playset also comes with a special playmat which is designed to catch any sand. And I am reliably informed that adults can use the playset -when the kids are in bed!- as a fantastic Japanese sand garden stress toy, with the sand rake!
Each My Little Sandbox playset should cost something in the region of £24.99, it is available from Amazon. For details of stockists visit www.mapstoys.com
"Spend responsibly this Christmas" Plea from Christmashamper.com
According to a recent study carried out by HSBC, one in 10 UK shoppers will buy their presents online this year.
“It is great news for the online shopping companies, with many e-tailers offering savings and deals on products that cannot be found anywhere else”, says ChristmasHamper.com, a top UK luxury Christmas hamper company.
The study also showed signs of family's cutting back on their spending throughout the festive period. With 22% planning on spending less this year, than in 2010. An expected reduction since the rise of living costs have swept the entire nation in recent years.
Among those who are planning on spending money on presents for immediate family, 78% will try and save money by other means. By making different choices and changing the type of gifts purchased can help achieve further savings.
With an approximate spend of £378 on gifts for immediate family, ChristmasHamper.com ask consumers to think about consolidating the total spend for family this year and give a present that can be shared and enjoyed by everyone. Christmas hampers are full of luxurious savoury and sweet foods and wine that can be shared and enjoyed by all, throughout Christmas day and throughout the festive season.
A spokesperson from the luxury Christmas hamper company ChristmasHamper.com says: “These findings have proved that families require good value for money in times of hardship and we are proud to be able to offer luxury Christmas hampers for all families and all budgets this Christmas. Our exciting range of Christmas gift hampers start from only £19.99.”
They went on to state: "Don't forget to order your Christmas Hamper today. You can rely on ChristmasHamper.com in providing excellent quality and a first class service."
FACTFILE:
ChristmasHamper.com owned and managed by Highland Fayre Ltd. have been supplying Luxury Christmas Hampers, since 1985, to thousands of corporate and private customers throughout the UK and Europe, becoming Scotland’s premier hamper company.
Saturday, 29 October 2011
Shepherd Neame Christmas Ale
Shepherd Neame Christmas Ale is a 7% abv glowing amber ale with a heady, fruity nose. It’s the perfect accompaniment to traditional Christmas fare and makes an ideal stocking filler. The crystallised fruits and festive spices complement the rich, indulgent food enjoyed during the Christmas period.
Renowned beer writer Ben McFarland describes Christmas Ale: “There’s a spicy signature to this incredibly complex cockle-warming winter ale. The nose is reminiscent of raisins, dates and molasses while the palate is vinous with tannin-like notes of leather, vanilla, apricots and a hint of rustic Armagnac on the finish. An awesome after-dinner drop.”
The 500ml bottles will be available from supermarkets, good independent stockists and online at www.shepherdneame.co.uk/shop.
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