Hodgewatch

A Hodge-Podge of General Information

Texas

In recent years and at increasing frequency, poker has entered the living room through the television screen. Around midnight on at least one UK terrestrial station and several satellite channels, and in adverts between programmes, poker is being publicised virtually every day. If the viewer takes a look at any of the games played, they will probably find themselves watching experts playing Texas hold’em, the most popular tournament version of community poker. The game also leads in popularity on the online poker sites.

This dominance has developed in just a few years since it spread out of Texas into Las Vegas in the late 1960s. Within a few years, it became the form played at the World Series of Poker and starred in a book, The Biggest Game in Town.

Texas hold’em is a community poker game. This means that, whether played live or online, once participating players place their stake, each is dealt two cards face down. The dealer now deals five cards face up. All players may use these to enhance their hands. Bets are now made while players are dealt three more cards each, all face down. These cards – flop, turn, and river—are followed by normal plays of fold, raise, or see according to standard poker rules, until one player takes the pot.

The great advantage of Texas hold’em is the unusual opportunity for subtle strategy and tactics that draws the finest players to the table.

Picture courtesy of brtsergio

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Eating out in York

The city of York is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Britain, and for good reason. As well as its centuries of history and remarkable museums and galleries, it offers a great range of places to eat, to suit all budgets and culinary preferences.

Light bites

The queen of cafés must be Bettys, a Yorkshire culinary institution for almost a century. There are two branches in York, one St Helen’s Square in the city centre and one in Stonegate near York Minster. Although not a cheap option, food and service are both of the highest quality, and you’re bound to feel special when you eat here.

Home-cooked meals

If your budget doesn’t quite stretch that far, head for The Pig & Pastry along Bishopthorpe Road. Extremely popular with York residents – generally a good sign when it comes to eateries – this café can offer a range of breakfasts, lunches and snacks, with its home-made bread being a particular attraction. It does get busy at peak times, though.

Classy and upmarket

If you’re looking for somewhere rather more upscale and don’t mind paying for the privilege, the Hotel Du Vin on The Mount should be on your shortlist. Its prices are not in fact excessive – under £40 for a two-course lunch with a drink – and for that you will receive superb service in elegant surroundings. The house speciality is succulent Donald Russell steak.

Something different

Along Peasholme Green, on the edge of the city centre, is La Bottegha Del Lange. This is an Italian restaurant which, on Friday and Saturday nights, offers a six-course tasting menu – though you’ll need a reservation. In the daytime, there’s a simpler café-cum-deli feel, with plenty of pasta and risotto.

Picture courtesy of Fijian Scion

 

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DIY safety tips

For years, DIY has been growing in popularity in the UK. While the majority of people who do DIY projects are safety conscious, a large number of accidents resulting in injuries occur every year as a result of carelessness. Here are some useful and simple safety tips to remember when you undertake a DIY project:

Ensure your work area is well ventilated and wear a mask to avoid breathing in toxic fumes when handling paint and other chemicals.

Store your tools and materials away from children. Fit a padlock if necessary.

Plan every job carefully, give yourself plenty of time, and don’t rush.

Use ladders only according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and always make sure the ladder is completely stable before ascending.

Turn off the mains power when doing any wiring or other electrical work. Keep liquids away from any electrical equipment.

Wear gloves, dust masks, and safety goggles. These are designed to help you work safely. Do not ignore them.

Have a fire blanket and extinguisher ready in case of emergency. Make sure all smoke detectors have been tested and are in working order before beginning your project.

Always cut away from yourself when cutting wood and other materials. Make sure you wear goggles to protect yourself from any splinters or dust that might fly out; wear gloves at all times.

Wear overalls to keep your clothes clean, and take off any jewellery before starting work. Keep long hair tied up and away from any equipment.

Make sure that your tools are in good working condition. This includes hired equipment, which should be checked at the hire shop before paying the rental fee.

Handle toxic chemicals carefully, and consult your local council if you encounter asbestos. A specialist may be needed to remove it.

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Ski Holidays

When its summertime in Britain there are other parts of the continent where a very different and enchanting environment is shaping up. Ski holidays benefit from fresh snow in the second half of the year, for example in Austrian resorts such as Molltal, Kaprun and Hintertux, and in Switzerland in Saas Fee.

Down under in New Zealand and Australia, there are many resorts which offer fresh snow in the remaining months of the year; Ben Lomond in Australia for one. While over in South America the same can be said of Chapelco in Argentina and La Parva in Chile.

Christmas and New Year are prime times for skiing, of course, and in December the choice is superb, with lots of variety available in terms of size of resort, facilities and costs for ski holidays 2011. France, Andorra and Italy are favourites, with great ski deals available in Val Thorens and Les Deux Alpes; Pas de la Casa and Arinsal; and Cervinia and Sestriere, respectively.

There is, of course, the prospect of a real adventure for the family with a trip to Lapland! Try Ruka or Iso-Syote in Finland for an unforgettable festive season. With an unparalleled, unspoiled wilderness and marvellous scenery, the resorts offer invigorating activities that are fun for all abilities and ages. To complete an ideal ski holiday, Father Christmas may make an appearance, and perhaps even a red-nosed reindeer.

Picture courtesy of Skistar Trystil

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Can long distance dating work?

One of the great things about the ability to find people to date online is that it opens up a whole world of possibilities. The downside, however, can be that people you find you are connecting with might not live as close to you as someone you meet in a local pub or club. Internet dating, through sites like Parship UK, is changing the landscape of the dating world as more and more people enter into long distance relationships by virtue of the fact that they are meeting people from all over the country, and indeed further afield. Long distance dating can work, but it takes patience and a lot of trust and commitment to make it last.

Advances in technology such as Skype make video calling affordable for people who are participating in long distance relationships. They can at least maintain contact while apart. The advent of cheap flights also made getting from country to country significantly easier than it ever has been before.

Long distance dating can be a lonely experience but it can also be an incredibly rewarding and exciting one as well. Time spent together is truly cherished and not lost to niggly fights over trivial matters and each moment together can be treasured. Of course, a date via Skype is no substitute for the ‘real thing’ but it can help to build anticipation and longing, which can be missing in so many modern day relationships.

It doesn’t work for everyone, but long distance dating certainly works for many people, the time spent apart gives you time to truly miss your partner while also allowing you room to explore hobbies and career options with the extra free time that you will have.

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Choosing Plants for Potting

There are no special horticultural skills involved in choosing plants for a container, and several pots will take only a few hours to prepare.

The first step is to choose the plants carefully. Healthy plants are essential and ones with a number of stems are best because these will provide the most prolific growth, which is what you want.

Many different types of plants can be grown in containers, including climbers, bulbs, bedding plants, fruit and vegetables, as well as small trees and evergreen shrubs. A fig tree is a good idea because the fruits you get when it is in a pot are always better than when you plant it in the ground.

Also, rather than simply planting randomly, think about how different colours and plants will go together, and possibly choose a different range of heights as well. Taller plants can be used for the centre or rear of the pot, for example, and shorter ones at the front to create a more attractive display.

When purchasing your pot plants, check on the labels whether they are suitable for growing in containers, because some are not. Check also the types of light conditions they require and how big they are likely to grow.

The size of the pot will largely be determined on where you plan to position it and how much space is available, as well as on your personal taste and budget.

Make sure that there is at least one hole in the base to allow water to flow freely out, because poor drainage in pots as well as in the ground is a prime killer of plants in general.

Get lightweight resin, fibreglass or plastic containers if you plan to move them around. These will also be resistant to frost in the winter, and they do not absorb water away from the plant in the dry summer months, as terracotta ones do.

Picture coiurtesy of larkspurlazuli

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Approval for New Greenwich cruise terminal

Plans for a large cruise terminal have been approve which opens the way for Greenwich to become a “gateway to London”. It’s been a number of years since the plans were first suggested with the new terminal to ready for the London 2012 Olympic; however there have been a number of delays which now means ships will be able to dock there in 2014.

After the new dock has been completed large cruise ships will then be able to anchor beyond the Thames Barrier, which at the moment they are unable to do, using Tilbury in Essex as a docking area instead.

It’s hoped that the new cruise terminal when complete could receive around hundred ships a year including ships up to 240 meters long, (to put that in perspective, that’s almost as long as the Titanic). Included in the plans is also a 251-room hotel plus up to 770 homes which can be built alongside the dock. The plans were submitted by West Properties, the developer spearheading the much needed project.

John Comber of Greenwich Council told the News Shopper, a southeast London newspaper: “This brings the cruise liner industry right into the heart of the capital. It will be the gateway to London. In years gone by this river would have been teeming with vehicles. What we’d like to see is that brought back.”

The new cruise terminal will help propel the UK further into the cruise industry offering more options for travellers, it’s thought that when the new terminal becomes fully operational up to 40,000 passengers could disembark each year, from World cruises, Trans-Atlantic and Mediterranean cruises.

Picture courtesy of blmires2

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An overview of new properties in Swansea

Situated on the pristine southwest coast of Wales, Swansea has been a centre of commerce and industry for nearly 500 years. The historic city continues to be one of the most important maritime and trading centres for the economy of the country. The city’s prime location on Swansea Bay, its temperate climate and healthy job market has created a significant demand for new housing in the area. New properties range from prime seafront apartments in the Swansea Marina to country homes in Pontarddulais. The prosperous economy of this part of Wales has driven many to search a new home in Swansea or houses for sale in Cardiff, which is only some 40 miles away.

Properties for sale

Swansea has been regarded as a gateway for many years; the growth of commerce during the copper boom saw migrant and native workers flock to this idyllic, yet prosperous seaside city. Interestingly, however, it is still possible to find studio flats in nearby Gorseinon for less than £8,000. Detached and semi-detached houses with two or three bedrooms can cost between £15,000 and £150,000 depending on the proximity of the property to the city’s commercial areas. At the other end of the scale, Caswell and Langland have wonderful luxury homes that are priced at over a million pounds.

Tips on buying a Swansea property

Given the number of new properties on the market, using an agent or property management company is the safest, most efficient and reliable way to buy or rent a property. It is in the seller’s best interest to ensure that all legal paperwork, especially proof of ownership or title is available before putting the property up for sale. Another important aspect is to ensure that there are no prior liens on the property.

Swansea’s property market continues to experience growth, with competitive prices and good housing available to suit a wide range of budgets and requirements. Other areas close to this region also have held up well, if you live and work close to this area you could also look for houses for sale in Bristol which is fairly close but would require a small commute, however good transport links make this easier.

Picture courtesy of Nigel’s Europe

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How to Handle a Criminal Injury Claim

If you are a criminal, crime doesn’t pay; but as the victim of the crime, you are entitled to compensation for damages and injuries sustained. Victims of violent crimes must report the crime, cooperate with police, and be completely innocent of involvement to make personal injury claims.

When you are the victim of a crime, you should contact the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority right away. If you’re not a direct victim of violence, but you suffered injuries while attempting to help police after the crime was committed, you may also be eligible to receive compensation. A no win no fee lawyer can advise you in this matter.

In order to claim no win no fees damages, the incident must be reported straight away. Applications must also be filed within two years of the date of the crime; although, in special circumstances such as childhood abuse, authorities may extend the time limit. Whatever your situation is; the first step is to seek legal advice.

If you pursue a no win no fee accident claim, you will receive legal representation at no cost to you. No win no fee lawyers are selective, choosing cases they believe have a chance at winning compensation. If you lose, you pay nothing. If you win, you collect 100% of your compensation while the lawyer’s fees are paid by the opposing party.

With no risk to you, seeking a free consultation for a no win no fee personal claim is an easy choice to make.

Picture courtesy of Metropolitan Police

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Don’t move house, move into the garden

Are the effects of a growing family causing your house to feel cramped? Or maybe you are like many others in the United Kingdom, choosing to work from home these days?

Whatever the reasons for your need for space, it is good to know solutions are available. In the current financial climate, homeowners are choosing to extend their current homes rather than risk the added burden of a larger home.

Garden rooms are an increasingly popular way of expanding the living space in your home. Whether it is a garden home office, extra dining area, kids’ playroom, art studio, gym or chill-out area that you need, a garden room is the simple, cost effective way of gaining extra space.

Do not dismiss the garden room idea as an upmarket garden shed; it can be so much more than that in terms of build quality and comfort. The choice of models available is wide enough to suit most tastes, from beautifully-designed off-the-peg modern pods to luxurious, bespoke creations fitted out to the highest standards.

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