Thursday, December 13, 2012

East Gate and St Peter's Chapel Holiday Home

Eastgate and St Peter`s Chapel are a well known Landmark in the heart of Warwick. The Gateway is one of the last 2 remaining into the Town and date back to Warwick's interesting and traumatic history. The gateway is now a Listed Grade 2 building.

The Eastgate building includes St Peter`s Chapel which stands on the 11th century gateway. This chapel was built in 1420, but underwent major renovation in 1788. The chapel used to belong to the school next door and was used as a music room, but now after an expensive refurbishment the chapel is being used as an holiday let for tourists. The interior is now comfortably furnished and is available to let all year round.

Before the refurbishment the interior was lacking any charm and was not fit for habitation, but now after a lot of work done the rooms are luxurious and comfortable, but still keeping in tune with the buildings illustrious history. There is now 2 bedrooms, living and dining room combined and bathroom with shower. There are great views from the ramparts and it is only a stone throw from the castle itself.

It is close to all amenities and there are many restaurants and bars to choose from offering cuisine from all over the world. Also only a stones throw away from the fantastic Warwick Castle. This medieval castle is situated on the enchanting River Avon, built in 1068 by the Norman invading King William the Conquer. The earl of Warwick took ownership of the castle in 1088.

Since the castle was constructed in the 11th century, it has seen many changes to its structure, which included adding to the towers and redesigning the living quarters. Major improvements to the defence of the town and castle came about during the hundred year's war. Later on the castle would have less influence as a strategic defence and more as a residence and hence the grounds were turned into fabulous gardens and now the castle is open to the public all year round.

The local area also includes Kenilworth Castle. Construction started on this castle in the 1120s to a Norman design, but over the centuries (Norman to Tudor times) it was expanded greatly in size. In 1649 Parliamentary forces during the English Civil War partly destroyed the castle to stop it being used by the royalists as a military stronghold.

Kenilworth is only a short drive away from Warwick, still in the county of Warwickshire. It is a lovely small historic town, with the castle as its focus, though it maybe in ruins it is still worth a visit, with a medieval monastery included

In the heart of Warwick is the Lord Leycester Hospital. It is a hospital dating back to the late 14th century. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth the First it became a place to home retired and injured soldiers and there wives. The hospital today still takes care of ex-servicemen and their families, but is also open to the public all year round.

Warwick Racecourse is another interesting landmark to visit when in Warwick. It is one of the most important flat racing and steeple chasing courses in the UK. There are 25 race meetings throughout the year and some have television coverage.The racecourse also boasts a 9 hole golf course and a driving range, situated in the middle of the grounds.

Boating on the River Avon is great past time when you are in Warwick. The River Avon meanders for 75 miles, ending in the sea via the Severn Estuary. The river cuts through Warwick and is popular with boaters and walkers alike. In Warwick there is a park (St Nicholas) with cafes and children facilities along the river and boats can be hired for your pleasure.

For more information on Eastgate, visit the website for more information

Pocono Vacation Homes: The Best Investment You Can Ever Make

On Friday nights we'd grab our things around 8ish and be at our Mt. Pocono home by 10:30, ready for a quiet night's rest and a fun weekend. Saturday was skiing, golfing, shopping, tennis, boating, hiking, picnicking, horseback riding, snow tubing, swimming, biking, ski mobile, more shopping, $7 movies at Casino in Mt. Pocono...well you get the idea. Clean fresh mountain air, millions of stars at night...friendly people and just relaxing with plenty of room to spread out and enjoy living until we went back home to New York City on Sunday evening.

There is a whole new lifestyle which your family can have, enjoying the country and wonderful times that a Pocono vacation home can offer. The Poconos offer some major attractions such as Camelback Ski Resort, Camel Beach Water Park, rafting down the Delaware River or a full range of water and boating sports at the 13 mile-long Lake Wallenpaupack. Have all the fun you want or just plain relax and decompress in your private country retreat!

Where to Buy In the Poconos

There are many gated communities to choose from throughout the Poconos. Each has different amenities (lakes, golf, tennis etc.) which you may find appealing. I recommend that you follow these suggestions when finding a community that best fits your needs.

1. Location: The community should be a comfortable distance to travel for your weekend getaway. Around 100 miles is reasonable. It should be centrally located to the main attractions of interest to you, so you don't spend all weekend driving.

2. Water/Sewer: Many communities use septic systems, which require periodic maintenance and sometimes may back up. You don't want these headaches for a vacation home. Instead, chose a community that has central sewer. Water supply is also a consideration. I prefer a community that has central processed water, as opposed to well water (which can become undrinkable from time to time).

3. Services: Make sure the community has ample equipment for snow removal, as some areas do get rather large amounts of snow in winter. Also check out the road surfaces in the area to make sure that roads are well maintained. Some communities rely on state and local agencies for these, which tend to be slow or poor. You also want to make sure to have garbage pickup on a regular basis.

4. Security: Gated communities should have private security patrols for the protection you want, instead of relying on State police for such services.

Community dues will vary widely. It is based on how many services are offered and the size of the community. Make sure that the chosen community has these features so that your Pocono vacation home is as worry-free as possible.

It Has Never Been More Affordable

Today's traditional NYC bedroom community home prices are out of reach, forcing you to crowd your family into a condo or apartment. In the Poconos you can buy a modern 3-bedroom, 2-bath home on 1/3 acre or more in a gated community... with amenities you could only dream of for only $125,000! It can even make a fabulous place to retire. Some families choose to partner with close friends or relatives and split the cost.

Instead of the two week vacation you normally have, your family can vacation in the Poconos all year long and never run out of fun (or relaxing) things to do. Our grown up kids now have happy and loving family memories of our 20-year Pocono vacation! That's why my wife and I feel that our Pocono home is by far the best investment we ever made and that your Pocono vacation home could well be the best investment that you'll ever make.

Completing Your Perth Getaway

The city of Perth is attracting thousands and thousands of visitors annually because of its beauty, living diversity and numerous attractions nowhere to find but in Perth alone, migrants from the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Asia also come in numbers to experience living in a beautiful and untouched city, hence it was tagged as a family oriented city since it is relatively quitter than other large cities like Sydney and Melbourne.

Destinations

If you are planning to a trip to Perth then be ready for a natured filled, action packed and stress free vacation that will surely keep you coming back in your next holiday! Attractions like Rottnest Island, The Maze, Aquatic parks and an array of natural reserves are bound to give smiles in everyone's faces regardless of your preferences. Most of the city's attractions are family oriented to promote bonding and built rapport within one.

Other top destinations include Australia coral coast a stretch of beaches, rich marine life and clear blue waters that attract whale sharks and other rare sea creatures. The Golden outback is perfect for camping trips and any outdoor enthusiast, the clear blue skies and scenic landscapes will surely wrap up your camping trip.

Accommodations

Around are a number of hotels and service apartments in Perth suited for budget and need, most accommodations in Perth are strategically located to minimise travel time and maximise every minute of your stay. The hotels and apartments in the city can cater to almost all travel kinds, whether it is a couple or family getaway or a business trip you'll definitely find the perfect, fully furnished rooms with constant discounts and promos given away.

Dining and Shopping

After all the nature tripping and wildlife fun, you may find the shopping as another stress alleviator. The heart of the city has numerous shopping hot spots from branded items to local products at bargain prices you can definitely shop until you drop. You can also complete your day with a savory meal around town or perhaps satisfying your sweet tooth? Fresh fruits and vegetables are available in almost any market in the city and sumptuous seafood are caught and directed straight to the kitchen to maintain freshness. Wine lovers will also find a diverse selection around town.

Events

There are many events in WA particularly in Perth like the annual Cottesloe to Rottnest swim, International arts festival, Staircase of the moon phenomenon and Kulin bush race will keep your itinerary run out of space.

Five Ways to Lead Without Waiting for Your Next Promotion

I have a friend that is waiting to be promoted. He's smart, works hard, has innovative ideas, and makes a difference to the bottom line. Unfortunately, he's been waiting for a long time.

The problem? He has limited self-awareness of his personal leadership skills. He sees himself as smarter and more creative than almost everyone else in the organization. He's viewed as a smart, pompous, aggressive know-it-all by almost everyone at work. He wants a title that shows the world that he's a leader. Truth is he, like you, can lead right from where you are today.

It's great when the world validates you as a leader through a promotion (or winning a big election). Still, win or lose, promotion or no promotion, you can't let that stop you from letting the leader within you continue to shine through. Never forget, leadership is about more than a title!

Stop waiting for your next promotion - here are five ways to lead and inspire from where you are.

1 Be Curious: Everyone looks to leaders for the answers. When you ask questions, it stretches people to think and be creative. It also shows them that everyone is accountable for solutions. Your curiosity is fulfilling one of your top leadership responsibilities: Growing the next generation of leaders.

2 Listen: Listening is more than hearing the words that someone is speaking. It's reading the energy, emotion and hearing the unspoken. Resist the urge to fill the silence and give people the space to discover what's next. Great leaders know that when they listen more and speak less their opportunity to learn goes through the roof.

3 Play "Yes And": When you hear a new idea, shooting it down not only kills the concept but also lowers engagement, stymies creativity and makes people less likely to contribute new ideas in the future. Play "yes and" instead and see where it takes you. "Yes and" builds on ideas and makes them bigger and usually leads to surprising places.

4 Recognize Contribution: Catch people doing things right! Let people know that their effort and ideas are important and making a difference. Best practice is to be specific and timely with your accolades. People want to be seen and to be valued - never let an opportunity slip by to let them know that they matter.

5 Laugh: You don't have to be serious 100% of the time - you just have to be you! Make a joke, laugh! Show people who you are and they'll respond to your authenticity and humanity.

There are winners and there are losers in every race. The real leadership skill isn't in the winning or the losing; it's continuing to move forward to make a difference.

Make a choice to consciously practice these leadership skills and you'll find that, title or not, you're making a difference and creating a powerful personal leadership legacy.

Facebook TimeLine Is Now Available Everywhere

Timeline gives you an easy way to rediscover your status, photos, videos you shared, and collect your most important times. It also lets you share new experiences, like the music you listen to or the miles you run.

You Will Have a 7-Day Preview At First

When you upgrade to timeline, you'll have 7 days to review everything that appears on your timeline before public can see it. You can also choose to publish your timeline at any time during the this period. If you decide to wait, your timeline will go live automatically after seven days. Your new timeline will replace your profile, but all your stories and photos will still be there.

If you want to see how your timeline appears to other people, click the gear menu at the top of your timeline, and select "View As." You can choose to see how your timeline appears to a specific friend or the public.

About Features and Hide Stories

As you have a look at all the different features that are in your timeline, you may see a story that you want to feature. It could be an important event that has recently happened to you for example. Like your graduation or wedding day. Or these might be things that you want to hide and make them viewable by only close friends. So you will be able to either feature them on your timeline or hide them as preferable to you.

So how can you do this? Well if you want to feature something on your timeline, all you need to do is to roll over the story and click the star to expand it to two columns. Another way of doing it is to click the pencil to hide, delete or edit a post.

And About privacy options, Just go to the privacy dropdown menu and change is as you wish and now there is an Only Me option.

About Activities

With timeline, now you have access to a new tool called Activity Log. Your activity log is a place where you can review all your posts and activity, from today back to when you first started using Facebook. Only you can see your activity log.

You'll see two dropdown menus next to each story in your activity log. The first lets you see and adjust the privacy of a post. The second lets you decide if you want the post to appear on your timeline. You can feature, hide or delete any of your posts.

To quickly find a certain type of story, click the "All" dropdown at the top of your activity log and select what you're looking for.

Floods and Bangladesh - The Reasons

Bangladesh has a good relationship with floods. Almost every year during monsoon, due to heavy rainfall and few other reasons floods occur in Bangladesh. But what is the reason behind them?

Geographical Location and Condition: Bangladesh, the largest Delta of the world, is situated on the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta. Many other Rivers and tributaries are flowing into the Bay of Bengal. The flooding results with the outburst of riverbanks of Bangladesh are common and severely affect the landscape and Bangladeshi society.

Climate: Bangladesh falls under tropical monsoon climate zone and is one of the wettest in the world. Around 1,525 mm of rain is observed in a year, and areas near the hills observe around 5,080 mm. Most rains occur during the monsoon (June-September) and little in winter (November-February). This heavy rainfall twins with "Farakka Dam" on the Ganges causes the flood to occur almost every year.

Controlling the normal flow of the Ganges: The Ganges got the birth from the Himalayas and crossed India and Bangladesh towards the Bay of Bengal. India is controlling the regular flow of the Ganges. During drought they are not allowing a normal water flow of the Ganges towards Bangladesh using "Farakka Dam". As a result the Padma (Bangladesh portion of the Ganges) losses its regular flow or current causing mud to fall on its route to lessen the depth of the Padma. Now during the rainy season with the massive increase of water level in the Ganges India must release a high volume of water through 'Farakka Dam' causing the Padma to overflow. Bangladesh Inundates under water.

Increase in world temperature: There are a lot of reasons causing world temperature going high. This influences the ice to melt and the sea level to increase. The Himalayas doing the same and causing the water level of the Ganges go higher and inundates portion of Bangladesh almost every year.

Deforestation: Deforestation in the Himalayas is aggravating floods in Bangladesh, India and Nepal. When the Himalayas were covered in woods the case of heavy floods was seen twice in a century in Bangladesh. With the deforestation in the Himalayas the average became once in four years.

o 19th century: Six major floods- 1842, 1858, 1871, 1875, 1885 o 20th century: Eighteen major floods- 1987, 1988, and 1995 were of catastrophic consequence.

For the reference I want to provide here some headlines of several medias about flood in Bangladesh.

o ''Bangladesh in grave danger: deforestation in Himalayas aggravating floods.'' (Bangladesh Observer, 2 June 1990) o ''When the Himalayas were covered in trees, Bangladesh suffered a major flood about twice a century; one every four years is now the average.'' (UNEP 1992) o ''The severe floods in eastern India and Bangladesh are not the result of a natural disaster, but of a ruthless exploitation of wood which has been practiced over centuries in the forests of the Himalayas.'' (Basler Zeitung, 15 September 1998)

So these are the most effective reasons that causing flood in Bangladesh.


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