Part of a facilities manager’s crucial role is making sure that buildings meet the needs of the people inside. When an office requires refurbishment or refit, it is the job of the facilities manager to arrange the process, including planning the best allocation and utilisation of space, project managing, supervising, and coordinating the work of contractors. Continue reading How to choose the right office fit-out company →

When you are looking for something to do between your meetings at Windsor Meeting Rooms you could take a tour of the local area and enjoy the architectural splendour of Eton College. Most people are aware of Eton College due to the number of politicians and members of the royal family that have received an education at this highly prestigious school. Continue reading The amazing and historical world of Eton College →

Good nutrition is key to the survival of any animal and this is no different for cats. Cats have over thousands of years become more and more domesticated until we have been left with the wondrous creatures that many of us invite to join our families.

There are many ways to help you cat have a happy and healthy long life and these include ensuring that they have a safe and loving place to live as well as access to good food and water and in your absence that they are looked after by a Cattery Cheltenham way such as https://www.catterycheltenham.co.uk/ who will care for them in your absence.

When it comes to the food that you feed your cat there are some important facts that you should be aware of.

Cats are carnivores and should be fed as such. Unlike other animals such as dogs, a cat can not survive on a vegetarian diet and their food intake types should only be adjusted following the advice and guidance of a qualified vet. This means that they need to have a high protein content in their diets and this should be meat filled and moisture rich. There are conflicting pieces of advice on whether your cat should be fed a wet or dry food source.

A wet or canned food source will not only provide your cat with all of the protein that they require but will also give them an extra liquid intake. Cats tend not to drink a lot of water and instead look for food sources that will also supply them with a liquid intake. A wet food diet can also help to prevent obesity and other health related issues such as diabetes and urinary tract infections. A dried food diet will also provide you cat with all the nutrients that it needs but lacks the additional liquid content and is thought to only be more healthy in terms of dental hygiene. It may therefore be best to discuss a mixed diet with your vet. Perhaps offering your cat wet food at breakfast and their evening meal and leaving a dried food option out during the day whilst you are at work.

It is recommended that you feed your cat at set points during the day rather than allowing them to graze throughout the day. This of course may not be wholly practical if you are out at work so limit the amount of food left during the day and try to stick to meal times in the morning and evening and where possible make these the same time each day, as we all know cats don’t like change.

I love a good wedding don’t you? Watching the couple enjoying their big day and their family and friends all dressed up enjoying the day as well. Alongside the traditional wedding ceremony, which today can be held in a church, a registry office, hotel or even a field if you wish, there are other elements that people enjoy. The wedding breakfast is one such part. Having watched your close friends or family members share their vows and be declared as husband and wife, it is time to sit down and enjoy a nice meal. This tends to take place on carefully organised tables with some great Restaurant Cutlery to tuck in to your delightful three course meal.

Why’s it called a wedding breakfast? I’ve never sat down to a starter of Cornflakes, juice and a Full English followed by Preserves and Toast have you? Not that I’d complain if I did, that sounds like a lovely combination to have before we sit through the speeches. Apparently, it’s called a wedding breakfast because it’s the first meal of the marriage, like a new dawn beginning, which it is in a way. You can see point of that but it still feels like a slightly weird name.

Generally, the wedding breakfast is a nice little roast dinner that everyone can enjoy. You might get a starter, and they’ve certainly moved on a bit since the Prawn Cocktail or Cream of Tomato soup starter. Many people are opting for a sit down sunday lunch style wedding breakfast and are then following this in the evening with a buffet style evening reception event. This is where you tend to find the personality and food loves of the couple being shown, with some couples choosing mini fish and chips, or perhaps a hog roast, or even Tuscan style finger food. The sky really is the limit when it comes to the evening entertainment.

So, next time you sit down at a wedding breakfast you will be able to turn to the person next to you and explain to them the reason why it is called as such. It is always a good idea to have a few topics in mind, just in case you find yourself sat at a table with complete strangers. Conversation can become a little difficult once you have all ascertained how you know the bride and groom.

As human beings we have developed in some many different ways from our early ancestors. It is our intelligence and the development of our analytical brains that have allowed us to manipulate the environment around us in order to make the temperature and other atmospheric conditions more pleasing. This makes us unique in the world. If we are struggling with extremes of heat such as experienced during the freezing winter months we can simply contact a Boiler Installation Cheltenham company to come and fit a new boiler in our property to ensure that we are nice and toasty until the warmer Spring weather appears. You can find Boiler Installation services provided by the combi man and other providers local to you.

Other animals have had to adapt in their physical bodies in order for them to survive in the temperatures and weather that we have now protected ourselves from. Camels are a good example of animals that can thrive in even the hottest of temperatures They are able to survive with very little water being available due to the makeup of their humps and can kneel on the boiling hot sand without getting burnt due to the thick leather-like skin they have on their knees.

How animals survive depends on whether they are warm or cold blooded. Warm blooded animals have to try and maintain a constant body temperature as large fluctuations either up or down can have an impact on their overall health and condition. In essence, like ourselves, we need to regulate our heat in order to maintain an average internal body temperature.  Cold blooded animals do not have to regulate their body temperature in the same way as they gain tier heat from their outside environment. This will fluctuate and therefore their own body temperature will also alter. Other than birds and mammals, all other inhabitants of the world are naturally cold blooded. The size of the animal can be seen to dictate whether they are cold or warm blooded, with larger animals tending to be of the warm blooded variety. This is due to the fact that due to their size keeping themselves regulated based on the external environment would be very inefficient and would take a long time and would make them more susceptible to attacks from predators.

If we were left to try and maintain our temperatures whilst living in the outside environment we would not have thrived so well as a species.

When it comes to our currency here in the UK will like to include an image of some of our most influential and favourite people in his, along with the obligatory inclusion of the profile of the current King or Queen. Similarly images are included on our coins and many of these turn into collectors items UK Coin dealers see in their collections. GM Coins is one of a select few UK coin dealers in Gloucestershire and it is worth contacting them if you are looking for a specific piece.

There is a process that is followed by the Bank of England when choosing who to include on the banknotes. It is important that the person being chosen is someone who will be recognisable across all walks of life and cultural backgrounds here in the UK. For this reason the Bank of England tends to choose people who have made a contribution to the UK through their leadership, their values or some kind of innovation. These will always be real people and fictional characters will not be included and the person will not be shown on the banknotes until they are deceased. The current reigning monarch is the only living person that can be shown on a banknote. It is important that the Bank of England can get access to a portrait image of the person chosen.

A special committee was set up in 2014 called the Banknote Character Advisory Committee and they look at the field which is going to be represented on the banknote. Such as literature or science and the committee then reaches out to specialists in these fields and invite them to join the Committee for that round of banknote choices. The UK public are then asked to nominate people who they think will fit into this category.

Once the list of nominations have been looked at (in 2018 there was close to 228,000 nominations for a scientist), a focus group is then established to look at the people included and to try and identify who appeals the most to people and who they feel a connection to. A shortlist is then created based on the reactions of the focus group. It is presented along with some historical research on the person to the Governor who makes the final decision as to who will appear on the banknote. The image can then be included in the next printing of the specific banknote.

Walking can be a great activity to undertake to help with both your physical and mental health. Motivational speakers such as www.adventureman.org are taking on some incredible challenges both in terms of walking and running and in doing so are inspiring others to become more active.

If you have a dog as a pet you have the perfect excuse to get outside and enjoy the landscapes in your local area on a regular basis. There are some tips to follow when walking with your dog to ensure that it is enjoyable or e two of you. You should also take into consideration your dogs anxiety levels when they are in the presence of other dogs and other people. If your dog is particular nervous you may want to try and pick a location that is not too popular with other dog walkers. N addition to this you should ensure that your dog feels safe with you and that you have mechanisms in place to deal with any fear or aggression that may be displayed in your dog should they feel threatened in anyway.

Walking in front of your dog is said to be the way to ensure that your dog sees you as the pack leader, but again this will depend very much on the personality on the personality of your dog and whether they need the reassurance of you being by their side. Using a short leash is also  great idea as it means that you have more control of your dog and it can also make them feel more secure being close to you, particularly if they are nervous.

You should always make sure that you have enough time to walk with your dog. Rushing this makes it more of a chore for you and less enjoyable for your dog. A walk first thing in the morning is always a good idea after your dog has been sleeping for most of the night. The amount of exercise that your dog needs will depend very much on their age and breed. It is important to check this with your vet.

When you return from your walk you should reward your dog with some food and some fuss and attention from you to reinforce that their behaviour whilst out walking was positive. This will help to produce positive behaviour from them each time you go out.

Now a leading luxury perfume and cosmetics house, Lancôme didn’t start out that way. Lancôme was established in 1935 by Armand Petitjean. It began life purely as a fragrance house. Petitjean wanted the world to become aware of the French elegance that has become synonymous with the brand.

From fragrance to skin care

After their launch at the World’s Fair in Brussels, the company’s first five fragrances were such a roaring success that the company ventured into producing a line of skin care. The first product, Nutrix, which is still available, was launched in 1936. It is described as a nourishing and repairing cream.

Two years later, Lancôme moved into the cosmetics industry, first making what was to become their best-selling lipstick for the next 30 years, a pink-red lipstick with a rose scent. The company went from strength to strength in fragrances, makeup and skincare until it was taken over by L’Oreal in 1964. Lancome makeup is generally considered one of the best brands in the world, particularly its mascaras and lipsticks.

The rose symbol

Characterised by its distinctive golden rose, the name Lancôme comes from the ruins of a castle, Le Chateau de Lancosme, which, according to the Perfume Society, is a fairytale castle with turrets and towers. Roses grow in the gardens, hence the rose emblem. The lipstick lovers among us love the way it is engraved into the top of the silver cap, epitomising true French style. The rose features on all Lancôme makeup somewhere.

Famous faces

Many top beauty houses like to work with the famous faces of the day, and Lancome makeup is no different, enlisting Isabella Rossellini in 1982, Julia Roberts in 2010, Kate Winslet in 2011 and Penelope Cruz in 2014, to name just a few. It’s interesting to keep in mind that Petitjean reportedly once said that Lancôme would never advertise!

All-round beauty

Today, you will only find Lancôme concessions in high-end stores and leading chemist chains on account of its prestige. It regularly develops new fragrances and other products. Lancôme believes its clients deserve only the best. Lancôme has a vast range of perfumes, skin care and makeup to suit all ages and skin types, so there really is something from this line that will make every woman feel beautiful!

Whether you’re a regular or have never been, the Chelsea Flower Show is an incredibly popular and globally renowned botanical extravaganza. The first show took place in 1862, originally known as the Royal Horticultural Society’s Great Spring Show. The first show was staged in the RHS garden at Kensington. Amazingly, it was staged in a tent and made less than £90 profit.

Growing in size, the show moved to the current site in 1913, at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Here are some interesting facts about the flower show that you might not know:

The show in 1927 was a rather controversial affair with a campaign to ban exhibits from abroad. This came about to reduce the competition with British companies. Sensibly, the RHS refused to agree stating ‘horticulture doesn’t know of nationality’.

A further controversy occurred during the 1994 show, when Paul Cooper designed a garden called ‘Cool and Sexy’ which included an air vent in the floor that blew air jets up the skirts and dresses of unknowing female guests.

Even during the First World War, the show carried on with shows taking place in 1914 and 1916. No shows took place during the Second World War though as the War Office required the site for anti-aircraft equipment. The show resumed in 1947. Why not take a coach trip to the flower show this year with Coach Hire Dorset? For coach hire in Dorset visit Turners Coaches.

The show is now synonymous with flower displays, but this was not always the case. Flower arrangements didn’t appear at the show until 1947. The war had affected the number of exhibitors and so flowers were included for the first time and have been a part of the show ever since.

The weather made a significant impact on the show in 1928 when a storm struck before the opening day. Hailstones blocked the marquee drains leading to bad flooding and lots of damage. Staff worked through the night to fix the damage and the show opened as usual on opening day.

This wasn’t the last time that the weather would wreak havoc. An entire summer house collapsed in 1932 because it rained so heavily.

The current show has exhibitors displaying inside a pavilion but until 2000, they were installed underneath a super-sized marquee. The marquee even made it into the Guinness Book of Records for being the world’s largest tent. When it was required no longer, it was turned into 7,000 coats, aprons, bags and jackets.

The gardens that feature in the show every year are made in just 19 days and taken apart after only 5 days of display.

Gnomes might be a welcome sight in many private gardens, but they weren’t always welcome at the Chelsea Flower Show. Gnomes were banned until 2013, although exhibitors often snuck them in and hid them amongst the foliage.

Visitors to the show are a thirsty bunch. In 2014, 1,150 glasses of champagne were consumed, along with 6,400 glasses of Pimms. Over 10,000 hot drinks were served, along with more than 10,000 portions of fish and chips.

We are all used to couple you have recently got engaged or couple on their wedding day having a celebration with all their family and friends but a group of people who we don’t always think about wanting a celebration is that of the recently divorced. However, divorce parties are becoming much more popular and they take many different forms depending on the person and the reasons as to why the couple decided to divorce. These are not usually celebrations wanting to forget that they were ever married but a way to close off that chapter of their lives and open a new one full of possibilities of new relationships and finding yourself once again.

Most parties of this variety are held by one individual and will involve many of their friends, however in some instances the party is held jointly by the recently divorced couple and is an attempt to try and bring unity within the two families and the group of friends and to show that there is no ill will going forwards between the couple.

For those having individual parties you will often find that they gather a group of friends together and head out to  Cheltenham Nightclubs. This is very similar to the stag and hen parties that are held before a wedding and are a celebration of embarking on a single life. Other parties include heading away for a spa weekend and gatherings in venues with catering and a disco.

What is similar with all the party types is that there are usually decorations and items that are classed as a bit tongue in cheek. For example, cakes are made in similar style to wedding cakes but instead of a couple on top of the cake or the words ‘just married’ you may find a single figure and the phrase ‘just divorced’. Similarly, the sashes that are worn at hen do’s saying, ‘bride to be’ are replaced with ones that say, ‘just divorced’.

The aim of the parties isn’t so much to celebrate that your marriage has come to an end but to try and find some joy in what is usually a very emotional and difficult time for everyone. Instead of looking back at what could have been and causing more stress and anxiety these events help the individuals to look forward at the possibilities in their life ahead.