O rings are acceptable for static sealing but inappropriate for dynamic sealing applications such as pumps and compressors, and high and low pressure applications.

In cases where dynamic sealing applications are required such as pumps and compressors, and high and low pressure applications, a single elastomer may be used with an X-ring profile to prevent twisting in rotary applications. However a composite seal design is often preferred.

A composite seal is a combination of two or more materials to produce a seal that offers the best attributes of both materials. For example, a T-shaped seal comprises an elastomer T-shaped component and two plastic back up rings. The seals are used in reciprocating piston, rod and rotary applications. The T-shaped design prevents the elastomer rolling and the plastic back-up rings, energised by the rubber elastomer, provide improved high pressure performance. Importantly the T-seals can be installed into standard O-ring grooves. Other standard composite seal designs include spring reinforced seals, encapsulated seals, lip seals, energised lip seals and cap seals.

Where greater customisation is needed seal design engineering techniques based on popular CAD packages such as Solidworks, Catia, Pro Engineer and AutoCAD are employed. 3D modelling and analytical behaviour predictive tools such as finite element analysis (FEA) can then be used to explore ‘what if’ simulation scenarios to produce a ‘right first time’ design.

Seal selection tools to assist the engineer are also available sonline. Temperature and chemical compatibility, groove dimensions for the most common o-ring sizes, and physical performance datasheets enable selection of the most appropriate o-ring seal.

Seal customisation is possible for the physical properties of an elastomer. By making changes to the filler system it is possible to optimise the physical properties of a particular grade of material when compared to others within the same grade. The reinforcement effect of a filler is complex and dependent upon its structure, particle size and chemical make-up of the particles themselves.

In conclusion, the combination of online material selection tools, and application of seal engineering techniques, make it easier than ever for design engineers to optimise the specifications (and performance) of equipment rubber o rings and rubber seals.

A new set of family procedure rules will apply in England and Wales from the 6 April 2011.

In particular, the new set of family procedure rules effective from the 6 April 2011 will affect divorce and financial cases and extra care must always be taken where a family case has an international dimension to it.

One of the significant changes to the rule is that there is a requirement for any Applicant to first see a mediator to determine whether or not mediation is in fact suitable for the case. The difficulty is that where a case, in particular, involves European Union countries (except Denmark) then this could allow the other party i.e. the Respondent to receive advance notice of what is happening. He or she may then tactically try and claim jurisdiction in the EU country which best suits his/her case. Contacting the other party could therefore be fatal. The reason for this is that the financial outcome in the different countries could be significantly different.

All is not lost however as there are some exemptions available which could still allow a party to issue proceedings in England and Wales and therefore to claim jurisdiction in the usual way. There are mixed thoughts about this (often called the lis pendens rule) because it creates tactics and it can actually inflame a situation presently there is no real way round it because as I say to delay could be fatal where a case has an international element to it. In many none EU countries, some regard is given still as to who was first to start the proceedings and therefore it is arguable that the exemption from seeing a mediator should apply in all cases of possible foreign proceedings.

There is justifiable criticism of European Union policymakers who have created this “first to issue” rule in divorce proceedings or it can create what is often called “anti-settlement” and “anti-family life” problems. Whatever the rights and wrongs, extra care should always be taken where the case has some international dimension to it.
A divorce or separation can be a very difficult and stressful time. Not only does it affect the status of a relationship but it also has implications both in relation to the finances and any children.

Extra care must be taken where the case has an international element to it because there could be more than one country where the divorce could start. The financial outcomes in each country could be starkly different and specialist advice from a divorce solicitor Manchester must be taken in each country.

Legally, however, a divorce is a relatively straightforward procedure. There is one ground for a divorce: the marriage has irretrievably broken down.

There are five ways of showing this to a Court:
•    Adultery
•    Behaviour
•    Desertion for more than two years
•    Separation for two years or more with the other person’s consent
•    Separation for five years or more without the other person’s consent

Contact Thermometer and Infrared Thermometer Calibration.

What is UKAS?
UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) is the sole body recognised by HM Government for assessing and accrediting the competence of calibration and testing laboratories.

UKAS Accreditation, ISO/IEC17025 and ISO9001
Laboratories are accredited by UKAS to ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 which is the internationally recognised standard for the competence of thermometer calibration and testing laboratories.

The systems, people, their training, and technical capabilities of a UKAS accredited laboratory are regularly and thoroughly examined and tested by UKAS auditors, each of them specialists in their field. It is an expensive and time consuming process, but our ongoing accreditation and fulfilment of the requirements of ISO17025 means you can rest assured that we have the competence, impartiality and performance capability necessary to consistently deliver technically valid calibration results each and every time.
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From 2012, changes to pensions law will affect all employers with at least one worker in the UK. This document is a summary of these changes, including what employers must do and how they might set about getting ready.

We have published a series of guidance that explains the new employer duties in detail and how they should be implemented. The guidance is available for download from our website: www.tpr.gov.uk/pensions-reform

The changes in a nutshell

Employers will need to:
• Automatically enrol certain workers into a pension scheme
• Make contributions on their workers’ behalf
• Register with The Pensions Regulator (‘the regulator’)
• Provide workers with certain information about

When are the changes happening?
The new employer duties will be introduced in stages over 4 years, starting in 2012. Each employer will be allocated a date from when the duties will first apply to them, known as their ‘staging date.’
This date is based on the number of people in an employer’s PAYE scheme. Employers with the largest numbers of workers in their PAYE schemes will have the earliest staging date.
Employers can check their provisional staging date on our website: www.tpr.gov.uk/staging
To allow some flexibility, employers can choose to bring forward their staging date, provided the regulator is informed. However, employers cannot choose a later date than the one they are allocated.
Finding out when the staging date is likely to be is the first thing an employer should do, so they can plan what they need to do to be ready in good time.

What will employers need to do?
• Assess their workforce
• Identify who to automAtically enrol
• Choose a pension scheme - i.e. National Employment Savings Trust - NEST Pension Scheme
• Register with the regulator
• Make contributions
• Process any opt-out notices
• Process opt-in or joining requests
• Avoid inducements and prohibited activity
• Keep accurate records
• Provide workers with information about changes

What should employers do now?

Employers should:
• Look up their provisional staging date at www.tpr.gov.uk/staging
• Plan for when they might need their pension scheme in place and take action if necessary – including planning when and how they will assess their workforce
• Budget for these changes
• Look out for further information and guidance from the regulator. This can be done by signing up to the regulator’s free news-by-email service www.tpr.gov.uk/news

Industrial Air Power Ltd is the authorised distributor for Ingersoll Rand Industrial Technologies products throughout Wales and the South West of England. The two companies have made a dramatic shift from being suppliers of equipment to providers of solutions. We are fully conversant with all aspects of air generation and equipped to carry out energy audits on any installed system, regardless of size or manufacturer.

A full system audit includes leak detection, measurement of energy consumption, and flow measurement including pressure, temperature and final air quality.

As utility rates continue to rise and firms continue to look to green initiatives, energy consumption has become a growing concern for manufacturers.

One of the largest energy users within a plant is the compressed air system. Energy recovery provides a cost-effective way for manufacturers to reduce their energy bills while simultaneously benefiting the environment by capturing the thermal energy created through the compression process and putting it to work. Where the heat produced from a compressor can be fully utilised, simple payback periods of less than two years are frequently achieved.

Having already worked with Carbon Trust on a variety of projects, Terram called on its expertise when faced with rising energy costs. The specialist manufacturer of geosynthetic materials, employing 95 staff at its manufacturing plant near Pontypool, worked with Industrial Air Power to eliminate energy inefficiencies and redesign and install a new air compressor system. The result was an industry best in terms of energy usage and savings of £202,000 per annum. It also produced:

* Energy savings of approximately 11.25 million kWh over five years
* Cost savings of approximately £1m in five years
* Emission savings of 7,390 tonnes CO2 in the same period
* Payback of approximately 24 months

David Roberts, control engineer at Terram Ltd, said: “The savings we are seeing now are unbelievable but just as important is the fact that we are reducing our carbon emissions and therefore benefiting the environment.”

Although Terram had already started to investigate the costs for new compressed air systems, it hadn’t looked at where, when, how much air was being used. Carbon Trust helped it identify this and used Industrial Air Power to design a system to meet its needs.

Having a tailor-made system installed in turn allowed Terram to capitalise on secondary savings such as heat recovery and compressed air leak reduction.

Ongoing monitoring of the fully automated system allows the savings to be quantified. Monitoring also ensures that the focus on savings is maintained and remains a high priority for Terram.

The new compressor system was located into the steam boiler house. This enabled Terram to recover the waste heat generated by the compressors and use this to raise the temperature of the water in the hot well, which feeds the boiler. Increased water temperature in turn reduces the amount of gas needed to generate steam.

The aggregated savings from the installation of the new system and implementation of the measures identified represented an 11.8 per cent reduction in the site’s energy consumption and overall a 38.7 per cent reduction in the electrical energy consumption directly associated with the generation of the compressed air.

An annual CO2 saving of 1,214 tonnes has been achieved plus an additional 264 tonnes from a reduction in gas usage due to the heat recovery process.

From monitoring the system, it was calculated that Terram was using on average 85m3/min of compressed air with an efficiency of 8kW/m/min, which equated to 7.2 million kWh per annum. By installing a new compressor set supplied by Industrial Air Power, it was calculated that the efficiency could be improved to 6kW/m3/min. Post-installation monitoring has proved that the new machinery provides an average efficiency of 5.8kW/m3/min – delivering significant savings. The gas savings are on top of this.

The benefits to Terram have been fourfold: a significant reduction in energy costs, the ability to protect plant integrity, reduced maintenance cost and the added benefit of reduced gas consumption from the increased water temperature in the steam boiler hot well.

Installing new Ingersoll Rand two stage fixed speed air compressors along with a Nirvana two stage trim compressor, fully automated via a control system provided Terram with primary energy savings. Secondary savings came as a result of the heat recovery process, lower maintenance costs and the leak reduction programme.

The exercise has been successful in achieving reductions of CO2 emissions and the overall costs of supplying the service of compressed air to the business.

A Carbon Trust Wales consultant worked together with Industrial Air Power and Terram engineers providing impartial, independent advice enabling the company to make an informed decision and deliver value for money. Carbon Trust independently validated the energy savings and confirmed that they exceeded Industrial Air Power’s initial projections.

Through our experience in carrying out hundreds of compressed air audits we have identified the majority of existing compressed air systems include one or more of these deadly sins. This will have and adverse affect on your reliability, productivity and energy consumption.

* System over-pressurisation resulting in increased artificial demand
* Excessive waste through air leakage
* False loading of compressors due to lack of system automation and volume
* Inefficiency caused by cycling fixed output compressors
* Excessive pressure drop

If you would like advice on calculating your savings potential and increasing your company’s profitability contact Industrial Air Power on 01656 658961, email sales@airpower.co.uk

The Westmorland Hotel is one of the most special Lake District wedding venues, surrounded by stunning Cumbrian fell views.

In 2009 the hotel beat off tough competition to be named a finalist for Cumbria Tourism’s Small Hotel of the Year.  The AA 3 star hotel has been awarded  an AA Rosette for the quality of food for over 10 years and by using our menu selector you can choose your very own menu at a price to suit your budget.  Our 50 contemporary bedrooms, including four Junior Suites are perfect for your guests to fall into after a day full of excitement.

From a small civil ceremony to exclusive use of the whole hotel, we welcome the opportunity to make this wonderful day truly memorable for you, your family and invited guests.

A romantic wedding day at The Westmorland Hotel includes:

• A dedicated wedding co-ordinator and team of staff working together to turn your wedding day dreams into reality.
• A red carpet welcome
• Complimentary welcome drink for the Bride & Groom
• Table decorations and personalised menu cards
• Crisp white table linen and napkins
• Master of ceremonies
• A traditional or contemporary cake stand
• Complimentary accommodation for the Bride & Groom on the night of your wedding to include a delicious Cumbrian breakfast the following morning
• Special accommodation rates for your guests *dependent on the time of year

To request a brochure, or for more information please contact our wedding co-ordinator Becky Bell by email or telephone 015396 24351.

Choose Clean Around the Bend for Septic Tank cleaning using Biobug SEP, the environmentally friendly Septic Treatment additive.
All of their products are made with environmentally friendly and naturally occurring biological microbes.
They are designed to help you clean your home and keep it smelling fresh.
If you have a touring caravan, a motor home, a mobile home, a boat or a second home Clean around the Bend can help you keep them fresh and clean too.
There are products to keep your drains clean and running freely; to maintain your septic tank; and to improve your compost heap.
And products for Hotels, Cafes, and B&B’s including grease trap cleaner products.
It’s not just drains that cause funny smells in the home, so do some pets. Clean around the Ben have products to help with those too.

May Cottage is location close to the centre of Bowness-on-Windermere making it the perfect base to explore all the Southern Lakes. Just one road from the edge of Lake Windermere, an easy stroll to the boat rides, quaint shops and a variety of Bistros, Restaurants and Wine & Tapas Bars. The climatic end to the famous Dalesway Walk – Wonderful, never ending, breathtaking scenic walks and drives. Leisure facilities offer relaxing sauna, steam, jacuzzi, swim & gym areas, with snooker, café & bar with Sky T.V. lounge section.

Here is just a small sample of the excellent reviews May Cottage Lake Windermere B&B have received on TripAdvisor:

“Great B&B accomodation close to the centre of Bowness”
5 of 5 stars
Date of review: 4 Apr 2011

Most pleasant welcome received from Sue – the accomodation was ideal for our three night stay – with a very comfortable bed room and fine ensuite. The excellent full English breakfast ,accompanied by Sue’s little talk on the locality and its history, set us up for the day’s walking . The B&B is just a few minutes walk to the centre of Bowness and the pubs and restaurants.
For Rugby League fans, a must is a chat with Len Casey , Sue’s husband and breakfast chef, who can relate anecdotes about his playing career for Great Britain ( some as captain) and England and both Hull clubs.

“A gem of a B&B”

Date of review: 1 Apr 2011
Our first trip to the lakes and first visit to a B&B. We recently married and decided to stay away for a couple of nights.

Sue and Len are great value, warm and welcoming. Place is a gem, you ll be lucky to get availability as the repeat business is a sign of how popular this place is.

Would love to stay again!
“SIMPLY THE BEST”
5 of 5 stars
1 more review of May Cottage by Sallyberisford:

Date of review: 23 Mar 2011

We returned to May Cottage, & yet again received a warm, friendly welcome. Sue goes out of her way to make you feel at ease & welcome. She has stories to tell you & her knowledge of the area is outstanding. She has a brillant sense of humour, ALL the rooms are lovely & clean.
If you stay here it is only a very short walk into Bowness & all the shops, pubs etc.
I mustn’t forget Len, who doe’s a wonderful breakfast each morning, Len to is a chirpy chappy.
Throughly recommed you to stay here.
We felt like part of Sue & Lens extended family. Will definately return.
THANKS BOTH

Since 1966, First in Service Ltd has been helping customers all over the UK look after their building and its environment. This includes air conditioning servicing, heating, ventilation, electrical, catering, coffee and refrigeration equipment and building services.

First in Service will design and install air conditioning and ventilation systems, and electrical equipment and installations. Their helpdesk is manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take your call. Their planned, preventative maintenance contracts are available across all disciplines to ensure that your equipment is kept in peak condition. All our Engineers are employed by the company and are CRB checked.

If you are looking to save energy or utility costs within your business First in Service can help you by installing energy/utilities meters, and they can assist in your application for an interest free loan from the Carbon Trust to help you install new equipment that will save energy.

For more information about First in Service, or any of their servicing, installation and maintenance services please visit www.firstinservice.co.uk.

Nobel Fire Systems announces Exclusive European Agency Agreement for Stat-X with Fireaway Inc.

Nobel Fire Systems has entered into an exclusive Agency Agreement with Fireaway Inc to manage the distribution and provide technical assistance for its patented Stat-X fire suppression systems throughout Europe.

Ian Bartle, Managing Director of Nobel Fire Systems commented, “This agreement ensures that Nobel continues forward with its objective and mission of combining science and economics through the provision of environmentally friendly and totally efficient fire suppressant systems”.

The agreement covers the whole of Europe and Nobel is charged with the responsibility for increasing sales through existing distributors while at the same time identifying and capitalising on emerging and potential markets through the development of strategic business relationships.

Fireaway has appointed Nobel Fire Systems based on Nobel’s impressive track record to date. The Company currently accounts for over 50% of total European sales of Stat-X and has already established the product in a number of newly identified sectors such as the CNC market. It is that kind of entrepreneurial thinking and ability to create niche opportunities that convinced Fireaway that Nobel should be the distributor of choice for the critically important European market.

As well as the proven entrepreneurial skills, Nobel will also bring an abundance of practical product understanding and European application knowledge to the distribution agreement.

Founded in 2005 to commercialise condensed aerosol technology for use in fire suppression systems, Fireaway was searching for a distribution partner that shared its single minded objective to always save lives and property through developing fire fighting strategies. This new Agency Agreement with Nobel Fire Systems has created an opportunity for a long term commercial partnership that will also benefit existing and new customers throughout Europe.

Nobel Fire Systems designs, installs and services a range of fire protection, fire detection and fire suppression systems. Their range of systems are distributed nationally and internationally both from their base in the UK and through a growing network of agents.

For more information on Nobel Fire Systems fire protection systems and services including water mist fire protection, visit http://www.nobel-fire-systems.com/

Oldfield House is a former Victorian Gentleman’s residence that now offers high quality bed & breakfast accommodation in Windermere. The house is set in a quiet residential area away from the busy main road, yet is still within easy walking distance of Lake Windermere. This Guest House in Windermere is the ideal location for your short break in the English Lake District, whether you are walking in the Mountains, exploring the world of Beatrix Potter or taking in all the other events and attractions the area has to offer.

The location allows a for very quiet night’s sleep, so if its relaxation you are after, then Oldfield House is place for you.

All rooms are appointed with many creature comforts with high quality linen, luxury Egyptian cotton towels, LCD Tv’s, beverage tray and bathroom ammenties. And for those worried about car parking, they have ample spaces available for guests.

For more details please visit www.oldfieldhouse.co.uk

There are a large number of benefits in installing artificial grass of which the reasons for installing are varied.

Obviously you don’t need to spend as much time on the upkeep of an artificial lawn. With fake grass you can simply enjoy sitting out in the sun and enjoying the little sun we get rather than spending that valuable time mowing and trimming your garden. Perfect for busy professionals and families and a life line for the elderly who find the upkeep of a lawn too much. Why should you forgo the look and versatility of a lawn all because the maintenance is too much to cope with?

From an environmental point of view, artificial grass has a number of benefits. The biggest being the need not to water. Although most people are very aware of water conservation, the temptation to water a brown, scorched lawn is all too big. It is predicted that hose pipe bans will become more and more frequent as the need for water increases and we have warmer summers. Then there is the fact that artificial lawns require no trimming so the need for petrol or electric lawnmowers is eradicated saving fuel, emissions and electricity.
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O-rings are acceptable for static sealing but inappropriate for dynamic sealing applications such as pumps and compressors, and high and low pressure applications. In these cases a single elastomer may be used with an X-ring profile to prevent twisting in rotary applications. However a composite seal design is often preferred.

A composite seal is a combination of two or more materials to produce a seal that offers the best attributes of both materials. For example, a T-shaped seal comprises an elastomer T-shaped component and two plastic back up rings. The seals are used in reciprocating piston, rod and rotary applications. The T-shaped design prevents the elastomer rolling and the plastic back-up rings, energised by the rubber elastomer, provide improved high pressure performance. Importantly the T-seals can be installed into standard O-ring grooves. Other standard composite seal designs include spring reinforced seals, encapsulated seals, lip seals, energised lip seals and cap seals.

Where greater customisation is needed seal design engineering techniques based on popular CAD packages such as Solidworks, Catia, Pro Engineer and AutoCAD are employed. 3D modelling and analytical behaviour predictive tools such as finite element analysis (FEA) can then be used to explore ‘what if’ simulation scenarios to produce a ‘right first time’ design.

Seal selection tools to assist the engineer are also available online. Temperature and chemical compatibility, groove dimensions for the most common o-ring sizes, and physical performance datasheets enable selection of the most appropriate o-ring seal.

Seal customisation is possible for the physical properties of an elastomer. By making changes to the filler system it is possible to optimise the physical properties of a particular grade of material when compared to others within the same grade. The reinforcement effect of a filler is complex and dependent upon its structure, particle size and chemical make-up of the particles themselves.

In conclusion, the combination of online material selection tools, and application of seal engineering techniques, make it easier than ever for design engineers to optimise the specifications (and performance) of equipment rubber o rings and seals.

Childs and Co is a design and make studio based in the historic market town of Kendal in the Lake District, Cumbria.

Specialising in functional solid wood furniture for the home, colourful and child friendly children’s furniture including toy storage products such as childrens toy chests and toy boxes. Our home furniture product range includes breadboards, wooden platters, pegboard and footstool products, tables and ottoman products. In addition to our stylish product range Childs and Co also commission and produce one off pieces tailored to your personal needs and taste.

Using predominantly local materials, Childs and Co furniture and products are renowned for their clean lines, durability and sustainability. In traditional or contemporary styles, Childs and Co furniture and accessories are designed for you and your home.

Choose from the existing product line or call for a bespoke solution, and be comfortable in the knowledge a Childs and Co piece will add a statement to your home.

Award-winning designer Iain Childs has come up with the perfect product for the modern family home. A beautifully-crafted children’s toy box that has been specifically designed around the needs of young children and their families.

Company founder, Iain Childs said, Our first design project came from family and friends who asked us to create storage for their children’s toys. They were looking for something functional, attractive and a little different. All our products are manufactured at our Cumbrian workshop.

Cuckoo Brow is a quiet little hotel nestled in the village of Far Sawrey near Ambleside and only a short walk to the famous National Trust home of Beatrix Potter – Hill Top Farm. This Lake District Inn offers good, clean accommodation with hearty bar food served in its cosy Claife Crier bar. Popular with walkers, cyclists and the weekend traveler alike, you will find a warm welcome att Cuckoo Brow. Their doors are open to families and to those wishing to bring their pet away to the Lake District.

When it comes to Ambleside Bed and Breakfast accommodation the Cuckoo Brow should be your first choice.

Week off work…check, beautiful vistas required, the English Lake District…check, want to see as much as possible, camper van…check!

With such vast, varied and breathtaking scenery as in the Lake District, it is far too difficult a task choosing one destination for a holiday or short break. Great driving roads+breathtaking scenery=the perfect recipe for camper vans.

Camper vans give you:
The opportunity to visit and experience numerous locations in one trip.
Give you the freedom to stop off when and where you like and for what duration.
No need to worry about there not being a hotel or guest house available in the area.
You are protected from the elements unlike camping.

You’ll never tire of driving on the roads in the Lake District and Cumbria which has some of the most scenic roads in England. In particular, Hartside Pass which The AA and Top Gear list in their top 10 driving roads in England. Other great driving roads include the Kirkstone Pass, the A591 which passes through Ambleside, Grasmere and onto Keswick and not for the faint hearted Hardnott and Wrynose passes.
VW camper vans are particularly suited to the roads in the Lake District. They are compact and allow you to drive on the stunning, narrow roads which other, larger camper van and mobile homes would not be able to.

Camper vans have seen a renaissance in recent years both in terms of new camper vans and mobile homes but especially the popularity of the classic VW camper van. Their iconic status continues to grow and excite young and old. Driving around in the VW camper van is guaranteed to turn heads and makes a holiday even more special.

A mobile holiday is the ultimate in economical holidaying. The cost of parking up on a camping or caravanning site is nominal and sometimes areas can be found that are free. You can self cater as much of the meals as you wish although the Lake District has some fantastic eating houses that really should be visited.

Many people simply can’t justify purchasing a VW camper van for themselves due to lack of annual leave and other commitments. A camper van has to be used regularly both for economy and for the wellbeing of the van. The perfect solution is in the form of hiring. VW camper van hire is now available in the Lake District and enables those who want to experience a camper van holiday but that do not want to purchase one. Volkswagen camper van hire is also great for those thinking of purchasing a van to gain knowledge of driving one. Camper van hire in the UK, sorted.

The Lakeland Cottage Company announces autumn and winter discounts and their early bird 2011 special offers.
For a limited period, the Lakeland Cottage Company are offering tempting deals on a selection of their Lake District holiday cottages for the coming months, also for many reservations during 2011. So whether it’s a late winter getaway or the booking of a summer holiday, The Lakeland Cottage Company can help you save money on both.

The website offers an easy to use search facility to find a holiday cottage to suit you. Simply tap your dates and property size into the search box to see what’s available and the savings you can make. The facility shows live availability, the rental prices (showing any discounts and offers) as well as the ability to book online.

At the Lakeland Cottage Company you are sure to find the right Lake District Holiday Cottage for you, choosing from a collection of some 85 of the finest Lake District Cottages. The website has been created to offer information on each of the self catering holiday cottages as well as their location. You can choose from three to five star luxury Lake District holiday cottages suited for family holidays, celebrations or perfect cosy romantic cottage retreats just for two. Their Lakeland Guide provides essential information on the towns and villages the cottages are located with recommendations on places to eat and drink in each area.

For more information on the Lakeland Cottage Company special offers and all of their Lake District cottages , visit http://www.lakeland-cottage-company.co.uk
For more information:
Woodside, Charney Road, The Lake District, LA11 6BP

Jamaica is situated in the centre of the Caribbean, between 17.5 degrees and 18.5 degrees north latitude and 76.5 degrees and 78.5 degrees west longitude. Cuba is 90 miles north.

Jamaica is the third largest of the Caribbean Islands. Cuba is the largest with the second place taken by Hispaniola which contains the countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Jamaica is the largest English-speaking Island in the Caribbean, measured at one hundred and forty six miles long and fifty one miles wide and occupying an area of 4,400 square miles.

The population of Jamaica is just over two and a half million with high concentrations in the cities and surroundings, especially Kingston, the capital. Most visitors fly into Montego Bay as the North Coast is home to most of the beautiful beaches and other famous visitor attractions, like Dunn’s River Falls.

It is said that Columbus described Jamaica as “a land of hills and valleys” and crumpled a piece of paper to demonstrate its topography. Almost half of Jamaica is over a thousand feet above sea level and about forty square miles are above five thousand feet. 

The mountainous character of Jamaica creates a wide range of micro-climates. The northeast winds blow regularly throughout the year. During the day, the sea breeze blows onshore and at night, the land breeze blows off- shore. During the American winter season, cold fronts may affect Jamaica, producing very strong cold winds, rain, and a change in wind direction from the North.

There is little seasonal change in average daily temperatures in the lower regions of Jamaica where the majority of the population resides. Readings at St. George’s College Station, Kingston:
• July Average Low at 75.1 degrees Fahrenheit, Average High at 90.7 degrees Fahrenheit
• January Average Low at 69.1 degree Fahrenheit, Average High at 86.7 degrees Fahrenheit

Temperatures are ten to twenty degrees Fahrenheit cooler in the highlands, but the summits of the Blue Mountains have seen light frosts on winter nights.

Higher than average rainfall occurs during September to October and May to June. The major dry period is from January to March. The average annual rainfall of 77.1 inches is strongly influenced by the terrain. The northeast of the island receives the most rain. Areas of the Western end also receive high rainfall.

Daily winds develop along the coasts with great regularity and have greater climatic influence than seasonal variations. Typically, the sea breeze commences in the morning, reaches its maximum velocity of about 20 knots at midday, and then gradually subsides in the afternoon, when they often produce afternoon showers in the interior.

Visitors will not be disappointed by the variety on this luscious island, from sun-kissed white sand beaches to rivers and waterfalls, to mountains and valleys in the interior. There are lots of different types of accommodation to choose from including hotels, Jamaica Villas, and Jamaica apartments. There is so much to see and do in Jamaica including visiting the Island’s best beaches at Silver Sands where you will find fantastic places to stay including Silver Sands Villas and cottages. Silver Sands is located on Jamaica’s famous North Coast, midway between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios.

Based in Kendal, Cinema People specialise in Community Cinema, Projection Equipment and Portable Cinema Installation. Their purpose is to provide customers with expert advice on the implementation of any digital cinema based project; large or small. The project could be to specify and supply a complete portable community cinema system, a fixed installation of projection equipment in a venue, a hire enquiry, or indeed a bespoke cinema system for a film club, or film society.

Cinema People are experts in:

• Portable Cinema
• Home Cinema
• Cinema Hire & Events
• Community Cinema
• Commercial Cinema
• Film Festivals

They have an extensive stock of specialist hire equipment, so they can bring a complete digital cinema to you, with or without crew, wherever you are in Europe.

In recent years the Millennium Commission has been making sure that Lottery funding reaches village halls and community centres to ensure they remain places where people can meet. Recently, Steep Village Hall in Hampshire used its lottery funding to create a community cinema facility with open access to the public.

Cinema People are experienced in assisting clients with funding applications and can produce detailed specifications and quotations where necessary. Their knowledge, gathered from 10 years of working within the industry enables us to tackle almost anything you can throw at us!

Cinema People is a division of Soundsmith Limited.

Bassenthwaite Lake
Bassenthwaite Lake is one of the largest of the Lake District at approximately 4 miles long and ¾ miles wide. Despite its size this long and narrow lake is very shallow, at its deepest point it reaches a depth of just 70 feet. The Lake is easily accessible with the A66 dual carriageway running along the western edge. The laybys are extremely popular for people wanting to take pictures and a spot of bird watching.

Coniston Water
Coniston is the third largest of the lakes and is approximately 5 miles long and ½ a mile wide. The lake is hugely popular with tourist due to its large expanse of water, which contains a number of tranquil islands, as well as the stunning scenery. The lake was famously the setting for the book Swallows and Amazons as well as the setting for Donald Campbell’s ill fated attempt to break the water speed record.

Derwentwater
Derwentwater is approximately 3 miles long and 1 mile wide making it the widest lake in the Lake District. The lake has a number of islands within, one of which contains Derwent Island House which is open to the public just 5 days a year. The huge Skiddaw overlooking the lake and the nearby market town of Keswick make Derwent one of the most popular lakes for visitors.

Ullswater
Ullswater is the second largest of all the lakes in the Lake District at approximately 9 miles long and ¾ of a mile wide. Regarded by many as the most beautiful of all the lakes, Ullswater often finds itself compared to lakes in Switzerland, such as Lucerne. This favourable comparison is thanks to the beautiful scenery with mountains to one side and green fields and woodland on the other. The lake is great for water sports, with canoeing, sailing and wind surfing particularly popular. There are also the more relaxing steamer boats that take you on a cruise of the lake.

Windermere
Windermere is the largest lake in the Lake District and is the largest in the whole of England at approximately 10.5 miles long and 1 mile wide. As well as being the largest of the lakes Windermere is also the most well known and has long been a very popular attraction for tourists. Many of the tourists who do visit end up taking part in at least one of the many on water activities available. These range from wake boarding, sailing and canoeing to a more sedate pleasure cruise.

About the Author
This article was written on behalf of Borrowdale Gates – one of the best Keswick Hotels providing luxury base for your Lake District holiday.