Some facts you might not know about panto

Most pantomime feature a good fairy and a nasty villain, right? It is actually a custom in panto for certain characters to always enter from stage right (good characters) and stage left (for the baddies). This is a tradition formed from superstition where the right signifies Heaven and the left symbolises hell!

Have you noticed that the panto dame keeps dashing on and off the stage? Screenwriters tend to make scenes this way to show off the weird and wonderful costume even more!

Theatre superstition tells us that the last lines of the finale pantomime, which are usually spoken in rhyming stanzas, may not be pronounced in rehearsal until opening night, as it is considered bad luck if they are.

The principal male characters (think Aladdin, Jack and Dick Whittington) tend to be played by women. Find out what’s on with Panto Preston this year at a site like https://www.lancashirelife.co.uk/home/christmas/10-of-the-best-festive-shows-and-pantos-in-and-around-lancashire-1-4310736

The hilarious scenes where characters get covered in gunge, bubbles or water is professionally known as ‘The Slosh Scene’. Recent shows have seen the use of substances such as wallpaper paste, laundry soap and even ice cream!

The first time Dick Whittington and his Cat performed on stage was more than 70 years ago in 1940.

The panto fever never really ends. Each January, after completion of the pantomime season, theatre teams only have a month to work out what the next panto will be later in the year and scheduling rehearsals and actors!

Potential Problems when Selling your Home

Because of the stamp duty holiday announced by the chancellor in July, the UK property market is currently having a bit of a boom. Buyers who are keen to take advantage of the break from paying stamp duty are deciding that now is the time to buy, and because of this a flurry of people are also going to have a home to sell.

If you would like to move soon and are going to be putting your home on the market, here are some of the main problems that a home could have that will deter buyers, so if you do have any of these, get them sorted before you go ahead with trying to sell your house…

Damp – Damp is a common problem in lots of homes, but left unchecked it can run riot, and is a definite red flag to potential buyers who will be worried about the extent of the damage that will need to be repaired. It is most common in areas of the home with poor ventilation where water is abundant such as the bathroom, but this doesn’t mean that is the only place it can be found.

Drainage Problems – If you have a problem with your drains it is likely that the bad smell emanating from them will give it away. It may be something as simple as food clogging your kitchen sink which is easily rectified yourself, but if it is something further along the pipes or in an exterior drain find a company who specialises in blocked drains Bristol company https://www.amsdrains.co.uk/ can help you to put this right.

Some of the best science labs in the world

Research labs are essential for improving the health and life of millions across the globe. The labs could be for medicine, IT, space exploration or defence and here are some of the top labs designed for these purposes:

  1. Palo Alto Research Center Inc

This lab has given us many things that have transformed our lives completely, such as the Ethernet, PCs and laser printers. It was set up in 1970 as a part of Xerox and soon became a leader in the IT sector.

  1. The Broad Institute

Established in 2004, the Broad Institute often works closely with MIT and Harvard and has developed therapeutic drugs and extensive research into different cancers and genes. It is also home to one of the largest genome sequencing labs in the world. When labs need to move, leave it to the experts in Laboratory Relocation like https://www.aportglobal.com/

  1. LIGO

This lab made history when it became the first to see gravitational waves. LIGO stands for Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory. It is a large observatory that is capable of detecting these cosmic waves.

  1. Bell Labs

Named after Alexander Graham Bell and established in the 1880s, this is a private institution lab with huge influence. Their contribution has greatly impacted many fields of life, including computer programming languages and radio astronomy. No less than 13 Nobel Prizes have been given to work done at Bell Labs.

  1. CERN

Set up in 1954, this is a European research organisation with the largest particle accelerator on earth. It investigates the tiniest particles known in the universe and is famous for the Hadron Collider.

The cost of the world’s largest labs

Some of the most important research facilities are also among the most expensive ever built. The Large Hadron Collider at CERN involved more than 10,000 scientists from 100 nations and runs through a 27km tunnel under the border between France and Switzerland, searching for the smallest particles in the universe.

Sandia Laboratory in New Mexico cost around $80 million and houses the Z machine, described as the most powerful electrical machine on earth. It passes very high voltages through tungsten wires to create temperatures hotter than the sun. In Antarctica, the IceCube Neutrino Observatory cost about $200 million and has detected 28 neutrinos that probably came from beyond our solar system.

The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Florida is home to the 45 Tesla Hybrid magnet, roughly as strong as 45,000 fridge magnets, used in biology, geochemistry and physics research. The Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, opened in 2007 at a cost of $176 million, was China’s largest single investment in a research facility.

What colours should you paint your bathroom in

Every room in the house needs a bit of colour even if it is a bit of off white. One of the most difficult places to get right is in the bathroom. What colour should you go for in the bathroom? There are several lines of thought. One thing is for sure you need to make sure that the plaster is solid before you start to apply anything to the walls. This is where a Plasterers Gloucester based firm comes into help if need be.

The problem with a bathroom is that it will involve water. One of the most popular themes is that of the nautical and the seaside. When that is the case one of the most popular colours is that the dark or light blue stripe or hoops. That is not to say that you can’t use another colour. With Nautical it is sometimes a good idea to combine it with a rich red or green stripe as well.

Be aware that if you use blue it can be quite a cold colour. Is this what you want when you get out of the bath or shower? This is why there is an argument for richer, more earthy colours.

We still love wooden houses.

When we decided to leave caves, possibly, archaeologists believe, because of overcrowding,  the first humans were faced with the immediate problem of where to live and in what. Maybe it was a race memory of when we lived in the trees but it was wood that they turned to. Using the paleolithic axes they had they began to chop down and shape the trees around them into  crude logs. This was the beginning of the Mesolithic era and the start of our love of wooden houses.

There is something about a log cabin. It feels homely and secure. Trees naturally reduce heat so they act as natural barriers to keeping out the warmth of the day. On the opposite, they are also great at keeping out the cold. Just ask Southampton Timber Merchants http://www.timbco.co.uk/

In films and television the log cabin wood house has been used in so many settings. It is the scene for the hardy Frontier family battling against the elements and the Native Americans. In the horror genre it is where the teenagers make their last stand or an ill advised holiday like in The Cabin in the Woods.

Planning a log cabin of your own

The appeal of living in wood has never really faded, and many people still dream of building a log cabin by a river or in the woods. As with any project, careful planning comes first. Decide on the details, such as whether it will have one level or two, how many bedrooms, the dimensions and how basic or equipped the kitchen will be.

You must own the land and have planning permission before any building starts. Councils have halted many projects, and even ordered cabins to be removed, because the paperwork was not complete.

Next, choose your timber. Pine, spruce and cedar are among the most popular choices for log construction. Lay a concrete floor or build a wooden floor raised on stone supports, and plan the water supply early. Cutting and shaping logs calls for a chainsaw, so take a course in safe handling and maintenance and get the right protective equipment, or hire a professional.

Plastic. The modern building block of life.

Imagine a world where everything was made from metal, wood and wool. The transportation of liquids and foodstuffs would be extremely costly forcing prices to rise exponentially. Not only that,  the protection of certain surfaces, the construction of goods in the home, the waterproof clothes that we wear, all of these need to have plastic in their make up at some point.

We need plastics and they are now completely dominant in our lives. We cannot keep on using wood as trees are precious. Metals are a finite resource. This is why companies like https://www.rackzone.ie/shelving/plastic-shelving are looking to use Plastic Shelving as an option for your storage and warehouse needs.

One other thing that should always be remembered is that the majority of plastic is recyclable. These can be used to make a plethora of new items. Wool cannot do that. Wood can be recycled but it usually takes the form of a weaker inferior type like chipboard or MDF. Cotton clothes are the victim of fast fashion, tonnes of it end up in landfill every year. We need to look at our use of plastics for certain, but at least we have a chance to reuse it  so that we do not need to add anymore as waste into the environment.

Keeping your heating

When it comes to keeping your heating system running smoothly there are a number of things that you can do to try and ensure that your system is working to the best of its ability and hopefully make sure that your energy bills don’t skyrocket.

The first thing is to ensure that you have a Boiler Service Gloucester company such as https://www.hprservicesltd.com/gloucester-boilers/boiler-service-gloucester/ come in annually to look at your boiler and give it a service to ensure that it is safe to use and running efficiently. If there are any issues with your system they will be able to tell you and deal with any remedial works or they may suggest a new boiler depending on the extent of the issues and the age of your existing boiler.

Next you want to ensure that all of your pipes relating to your heating system are insulated to help prevent them from freezing during the cold weather. Frozen pipes can cause your boiler to have a major breakdown that will require and engineer to come and unseize the condensate pipes.

Lastly you should ensure that you regularly check the pressure in your system. You can do this relatively easily and adjust the pressure if you need to. Ask you boiler engineer to show you how to do this next time they come to do your annual service.

Flushing, filters and sludge protection

Beyond the annual service, a few other jobs keep a heating system efficient. A power flush, carried out by a professional, clears contaminated water and dirt from the pipes and refills the system with clean water. The result is fewer cold spots on radiators, quieter pipes, lower energy costs and less risk of the boiler breaking down.

A common cause of breakdowns is magnetite, often called black sludge, which clogs pipes and makes the whole system less efficient. Specialist cleaning fluids can be run through to clear it.

A gas engineer can also fit a magnetic filter, which attracts debris out of the water so the system runs more smoothly. That helps the boiler last and keeps future maintenance costs down. Because sludge keeps forming, adding a protective chemical against scale and corrosion after a flush is also recommended. With heating, prevention is far better than a cure.

How to reduce the risk of dementia

Unfortunately, there are some risk factors you cannot change, these include:

Age: those who get diagnosed with dementia are usually over the age of 65. On top of this, the risk factor for dementia roughly doubles every five years. People aged 80 and over have a one in six risk of dementia. Find out how Dementia Care Homes Solihull can help at a site like https://sandersseniorliving.co.uk/the-collection/claridge-place-care-home-solihull/

Ethnic background: there are particular ethnic backgrounds that have a greater risk. For example, African, African-Caribbean and those from South Asia often develop dementia more often than white Europeans. The reason being is that they also have a higher risk factor for diabetes, stroke, hypertension and cardiovascular disease, also there are differences in smoking habits, diet, genetics and exercise.

Gender: Many more women develop dementia than men. Around the world, women with dementia exceed men by two to one. Twice as many women over age 65 were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease than men, while vascular dementia was diagnosed slightly more in men than women.

Genetics: rarely, Alzheimer’s can be genetically inherited, and this usually affects people under the age of 65. However, despite getting older being a factor likely to increase the risk of developing dementia, research suggests up to one in three cases of dementia can be prevented. Factors that can be helped include:

Preventing diabetes

Reducing alcohol intake

Taking care of high blood pressure

Getting more exercise

Better education

Preventing obesity

Improving physical health

Stop smoking

Everything a hoodie wearer can tell you about the garment

If you are a fan of the hoodie and you have several different types, in all colours and styles including Farah Hoodies like the ones you can see at places like https://www.ejmenswear.com/men/farah/hoodies then you most probably could tell others the following about these tops.

  • Comfy cosy – they are one of the most comfortable tops that you can wear and are made of super soft material that feels like it gives your body a nice little hug. There are no other items of clothing in your wardrobe that give you the same feeling.
  • Choices – there are so many choices, from those that have pockets on the front to keep your hands warm through to those emblazoned with your favourite quote. They come in every colour that you can imagine and styles that ensure you are never out of an option.
  • For all moments – hoodies are incredibly versatile and not only can you wear them on the way to and from the gym but for an evening out when the weather might get a little chilly and throughout the AUtumn and Winter months to keep you nice and warm.
  • Favourites – of course you have your favourites that you like to snuggle up in and enjoy a nice hot chocolate or a glass of something stronger.

Don’t be like “George Banks” in “Father of the Bride”!

“George Banks”, played by Steve Martin is the overprotective Father of “Annie”, portrayed by Kimberley Williams, the “Bride to Be” in this hilarious American film Comedy released in 1991.  Poor “George” is devastated when his only daughter, “Annie”, comes home from College and announces she is engaged and planning to marry a young man called “Bryan MacKenzie” after only knowing him for three months!  To add to “George’s” despair his wife “Nina”, Diane Keaton immediately approves of the whole idea and after meeting “Bryan’s” parents and the cost of the wedding seemingly spiralling out of control, George loses his usual calm demeanour and his actions become more and more erratic!  He plans to split the couple up and when “Annie” and “Bryan” have a huge fight over a blender it seems like “George’s” meddling has worked.

Like Georges temper, things can snap.  From sash cords that become brittle and eventually break to belts that crack under the constant stress and strains they are put under.

Then he finds the forlorn future Groom at the pub where he tries to talk to him about “Annie” but they end up discussing whether or not the couple will buy their first home together! Eventually the young couple reunite and the wedding plans go ahead at full speed with the help of Frank Eggelhoffer, their eccentric wedding planner.

One year after starting the wedding preparations the couple finally take their marriage Vows and have their lavish Reception at the Family’s Home.  With “Annie” and “Bryan” safely off on their Honeymoon, “George” can relax and dances with “Nina” as they take solace together.