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When disaster strikes and a householder is looking for an emergency plumber, it is sometimes difficult to know whether a workman is genuine or not. Here are five simple ways to check a plumber’s credentials:

-Are they a member of a professional body? A reputable plumber working on a boiler should be Gas Safe registered and be able to provide proof of this when asked. Gas Safe replaces the previous CORGI registration system. A Gas safe approved engineer is obliged to offer a warranty on all works undertaken, protecting the consumer. Genuine plumbers should be registered with the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contactors, the official trade body for the plumbing industry. Always ask for proof of credentials.

-There are various websites dedicated to finding reputable workmen. Sites like Checkatrade.com enable consumers to quickly check the credentials of emergency plumbers and also provide candid feedback on their performance from previous customers.

-Can the plumber provide references or testimonials from satisfied customers when asked? A cowboy plumber will struggle to provide details of previous clients, whereas a genuine plumber will have a written record of previous customers willing to vouch for the quality of their work and will be able to readily produce it when requested.

-Does the plumber have public liability insurance? All emergency plumbers should have cover, in the event that something goes wrong. As this type of insurance is expensive it is unlikely that a cowboy plumber would bother taking it out.

-The workman should not ask for any money upfront. Furthermore, they should provide an official contract, clearly stating payment terms and pricing and offering a guarantee on all work undertaken. This protects the consumer should any problem arise after the work has been done.

By keeping these five basic points in mind, consumers can protect themselves from the likelihood of employing a cowboy plumber to do work in their home. In the case of any work undertaken on heating systems and boilers, it is vital to choose a workman that is Gas Safe registered, as failure to do so could be extremely dangerous to a customer.

Written by Kieran from Blockbusters emergency plumbers who specialise in blocked drains and Saniflo repairs

Throughout everyday life there are innumerable situations where a skip is needed. Perhaps you’re moving house and need to get rid of a tonne of rubbish. Maybe you’re about to do some DIY work and plan on making a mess. Whatever the situation may be, skip hire will usually be the best option. It can seem daunting if you’ve never done it before though.

Luckily, it’s actually relatively simple to hire a skip. There’s a plethora of skip hire companies that allow you to rent for a whole host of occasions, business or personal.

Once you find a company it’s just a case of deciding what hire option you want to go with. Of course, you can just hire a single skip, but maybe you need several of them, or even permanently sited skips?

From there it’s just a case of figuring out what size you want and what rubbish you’ll be disposing of, as well as sorting out whether or not you need any exchanged and at what frequency (e.g. 10 daily).

After you’ve worked everything out on your side relay this information to the company and they can arrange everything for you. Delivery is all usually handled on their end, play it safe though and check out whether this is the case.

If you’re having a bit of trouble figuring out the numbers then simply give the company a call. They’re usually more than happy to help you out, whatever the situation. Even if you’re just unsure about how much waste you’ll be disposing of or what type of skips you need to rent, get in touch.

Guest post by Skip&Bin – compare London skip hire prices and find local suppliers quickly and easily with SkipandBin.com’s skip hire search.

Maintaining your electric shaver keeps it functioning as it should. It is less likely to deteriorate from wear and lasts longer. Metal surfaces that are not properly lubricated will become damaged from constant rubbing. This leads to unnecessary pain and discomfort.

Clean Cutting Instruments Frequently
Whisker residue prevents blades from giving a close, clean shave. Your electric shaver should be cleaned as often as it is used. Some people cannot do it this frequently because of their hectic schedule. In this case, sanitising it after every third use is sufficient.

Remove Small Particles from the Blade
Remington shavers have a head frame that can be easily raised to reveal the under side. Most grooming kits come with a small brush can be used to remove any whiskers that are found beneath the foil. Never allow the bristles to touch the screen as that may damage it.

Keep Metal Surfaces Properly Lubricated
Lubricate metal surfaces as often as needed. Blade oils are designed to extend the life of the shaving screen. Grease metal parts regularly with a quality lubricant to provide the right protection. Spray the cutting blocks and blades sparingly. Then turn on the device. Doing this regularly prevents metal binding. Blades that are cared for are less likely to pull out hairs while they are in use.

Change Screens and Cutters Every Year
Smooth screens and sharp cutters deliver clean shaves. These parts deteriorate after being used for a year. They should be replaced after twelve months. People who do not do this have to go over the same area more than once. Some individuals find that they must press harder to get a clean trim. This makes it more likely that they will break their skin.

Charge Tools Properly
Many electric shavers allow users to do a quick charge. This feature should not be used all the time. This shortens battery life. The device should be allowed to power up completely on a regular basis.

Millions of people prefer used cars for the big cost savings relative to purchasing brand new cars. The trick however is to ensure value for money when buying used cars. Following these tips would help:

Check the bodywork in natural light. Surface blisters are harmless, but rust or internal corrosion indicates trouble. Look for paint work that may hide the underlying rust, corrosion or even serious accident induced damage. Go beyond what is visible openly to check the integrity of brake pipes, suspension and steering mounting points.

Make a thorough examination for collision damage. A car that survives a collision may still run but may have serious suspension and steering damages causing high risk for users. Look for signs of repair, check the engine bay for repairs and pull aside the carpet for signs of welding.

Check the engine carefully. Rattling or knocking sounds indicate crankshaft wear. Open the throttle sharply. Black or blue smoke emissions from exhaust indicate engine trouble. The oil light remaining on after the engine starts indicates engine wear.

Check the odometer, and more importantly, check for signs of tamper. As a general rule of thumb, the lesser the miles driven, the better it is. The optimal run for a car is about 10,000 to 15,000 kilometres a year. A higher run most probably indicates overuse for commercial purposes.

Make sure to test drive the car in all possible road conditions. Check whether the steering pulls in any direction, the clutch and gears operate smoothly and breaks have good resistance. Pass the car over bumpy roads to determine the state of shock absorbers. After stopping, check for oil leaks.

Do not ignore the legal aspects. Ensure that the engine plate is tamper free and that the number corresponds with the number on the registration documents. Check for consistency of the chassis number as well. If the car is over three years old, ensure validity of the MOT certificate. Look into the service and repair history documentation, especially receipts. Finally make sure the person selling the vehicle has the authorisation to make the sale.

Thinking of starting your own business? Here are 5 basic tips to consider before you begin.

1 – Decide on your business idea. This might sound obvious, but you should be specific. What is unique about the services or products that you will be offering? Consider boundaries – think what it is you won’t be offering, as well as what you will.

2 – Research the market. You need to know whether your business idea is viable. Who are your customers, and can they afford your product or services? Who is your competition, and what can you offer that they don’t? Is location important to your business, and are you in the right place for it?

3 – Consider how your business will be funded. Banks and other lenders will require a well-proposed business plan. There may be conditions to be met for grants or loans; consider how you are going to meet them. If you’re funding your venture yourself, can you afford to live if you don’t meet targets? Remember very few small businesses turn a profit in the first year.

4 – Decide on the structure of your company. Aspects such as liability, projected profit, and number of employees are factors that should be considered. Limited companies will need to be registered; employees will need clearly defined roles. Look at the pros and cons of each option available.

5 – Make sure you’re within legal boundaries. There are laws governing sale of many products, insurance policies required for any sort of premises, and plenty of other legislation to which you must adhere, including how much tax you will be required to pay. It is better to be safe than sorry, so get advice before you engage in potentially illegal or fraudulent activities.

This was a guest post on behalf of Time Accountant Brighton

Since the dawn of automotive history, manufacturers have built cars to go ever faster. We’d like to present to you the top five fastest street legal cars of today. This list is known to change as exotic car builders ever push the performance envelope.

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport

#1: Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, 267 mph, 0-60 in 2.4 seconds

The legendary Bugatti name is alive and well in the 1,200 horsepower Veyron Super Sport. At $2,400,000 base price, this exotic is for the privileged few.

#2: Hennessey Venom GT, 260 mph, 0-60 in 2.5 seconds

Not far behind is the Hennessey Venom GT which is built in the US state of Texas. Boasting 1,099 horsepower, the Venom GT is affordably priced at $950,000.

# 3: Koenigsegg Agera R, 260 mph, 0-60 in 2.9 seconds

Matching the top speed of the Hennessey Venom GT is the Swedish built Koenigsegg Agera R. Constructed with Scandinavian snow in mind and boasting 1182 horsepower, this exotic is a pricey $1,600,000.

#4: SSC Ultimate Aero, 257 mph, 0-60 in 2.7 sec

Not far off the high benchmark is the Ultimate Aero. Built in the US state of Washington, the machine boasts 1,181 horsepower. It was rated the fastest car in the world from 2007 to 2010.

#5: Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo, 248 mph, 0-60 in 2.8 seconds

With offices in the shadow of Detroit, Saleen presents the Twin Turbo. With 750 horsepower, the sticker for this sleek machine is only $555,000.

Need For Speed

As the quest for ever higher speeds continues apace, we will be sure that faster offerings are coming our way.

This was a guest post on behalf of Oils & Stuff who sell engine oil for cars, motorbikes and other vehicles online.

A corporate golf day can be a great experience for building teams, and can be valuable in creating business relationships in a non-traditional environment.

While golf is a competitive sport, lots of competition takes place at the individual level. When planning a corporate golf day, it’s important to create incentives for teams to work together. By allowing different corporate departments or branches to compete with each other for a shared prize, it’s possible to build relationships that will enhance business productivity in the future.

It’s important to choose the right golf course for a corporate event. Some golf clubs allow for corporate sponsorship, allowing for group discount rates. Building a successful relationship with a golf club can have many advantages. Many modern companies must build relationships with new clients and customers. Golf can be a great environment for finding new customers, building a supply chain, or discussing new deals with suppliers. The laid back environment of golf allows for business discussion while enjoying the outdoors.

While a corporate golf day may involve some competition, it’s important to understand everything that can be at stake in a golf game. When playing golf with a superior or a client, an extremely competitive game may not be a great idea. It’s important to use social intelligence in business relationships, and allowing someone to save face can be an important way to preserve and build a relationship. While it’s always good to play-to-win, allowing yourself to lose can be a valuable too. When you let yourself loose (without the appearance of not trying) it builds a strong bond between you and your golf competition. It can be hard to win a contract or a promotion when you turn someone else into a loser – when there is more at stake than a golf game, play to win what is truly important.

This was a guest post by Andy for Luton Hoo who offer corporate golf days Hertfordshire in the perfect surroundings near to London

photo credit: Fort Meade

Maybe you hate it. Maybe you wish it took less time. Maybe you just want housekeeping to be fun. No matter what your opinion of vacuuming, this daily chore is one that could always be a little more lively, use a little more of your brain. Follow these tips to help you enjoy the necessity of vacuuming.

Listen to Music

Utilize the empty time spent vacuuming! Put in your headphones, and pick out your favourite lively songs. Go ahead and have fun, singing and dancing along while you vacuum. Music makes it go by in no time. If you have a lot of vacuuming to do, try podcasts to keep your mind busy while you work.

Set Up a Method

Make a regular vacuuming routine. Always start in one place and work systematically. If you like to be organised, this will make it more fun. If you don’t really care, it will at least help you know what you have done already.

Race Yourself

Set a kitchen timer or watch the clock. See how quickly you can complete the chore. Keep records of past times and try to break them. If you vacuum regularly, efficiency isn’t quite as important. The challenge will add a bit of excitement.

Play Mind Games

What was our favourite subject in school? Dare yourself to remember the periodic table. Try to recite prime numbers as high as you can. Try to quote pieces you memorised long ago. You will stretch your brain and clean simultaneously!

Reward Yourself

When you’ve finished, give yourself a prize. A cup of tea, a small snack, a chapter of a new book. Or, require yourself to complete the vacuuming before you eat dinner, before you can go out for the evening, before moving on to other things that you enjoy.

This was a guest post by Serena for Russell Hobbs. However you choose to make the housework more fun Russell Hobbs upright vacuums will make it as quick and easy as possible!

The 2011 V Festival is coming up in less than a month, with tickets going fast. Though it is sold out, V Festival tickets are still available at varying prices through affiliate sites. The 2011 V-Festival features over ninety acts presented on 4 stages Saturday and Sunday, August 20 and 21. V Festival will be held simultaneously at Hylands Park, in Chelmsford, and Weston Park in Staffordshire. The bands will swap locations on Sunday, so all acts play at both parks over the weekend.
The 2011 V Festival line up is impressive. There are too many performers to list them all here, but just a few of the acts playing over the weekend include Eminem, Rihanna, Arctic Monkeys, Pendulum, Primal Scream, Good Charlotte, Dizzee Rascal, Lostprophets, Katy B, The Airborne Toxic Event, Imelda May, Bruno Mars, Kassidy, Eliza Doolittle and Twenty Twenty. The Virgin Media Stage will be headlined by Eminem one day and Arctic Monkeys the other day. Pendulum is slated to headline the 4Music Stage one day with Primal closing that day. Dizzee Rascal headlines the 4Music Stage on the other festival day.
V Festival tickets for Saturday only, Sunday only, the whole weekend with camping and the whole weekend without camping can still be gotten for either park, at varying prices. Expect to pay between £100 and £250 for most of them, with some prices being higher. Also, any prices you see now could change, and do not include booking fees or commissions charged by the merchants.

Sometimes, a new talent comes along and gets everyone’s attention. And recently that new talent is Cher Lloyd. And the buzz she has created is loud! Though she didn’t win on X Factor, (coming in fourth overall) she gained a huge internet following. And with good reason. The 18 year old floored everyone with her version of Soulja Boy’s “Turn My Swag On.” And though she was very upset with the leaking of “Swagger Jagger” (the title track of her debut album) her star is on the rise.

Cher Lloyd’s style of hip-hop and pop with elements of rhythm and blues with an edge (she calls it “swag pop”) is proving to be very popular with her “generation”, as well as others in the hip-hop world. Produced by The Runners, who produced Rihanna’s “California King Bed”, and signed to Simon Cowell’s label, Syco Music, (he organized a group charity song to benefit Japanese earthquake/tsunami relief efforts of which Lloyd took part) and Rock Nation in the U.S., her songs come on strong and keep you on the edge of your seat and wanting more.

Collaborating with the likes of Busta Rhymes on a track she says is an “anthem for my generation”, Lloyd wanted to be a part of the songwriting process stating, “It’s a big part of being an artist. If you can’t sit with someone and write your own tracks, what’s the point of doing it? They’re not your songs. They’re somebody else’s.” A very refreshing view in this day of non-writing singers. An unfortunate trend that has become the norm in the music business these days.

Already a hit in her native U.K., she is now setting her sights on the American market. And it appears she is going to do just fine. With her great songs, a penchant for controversy and gorgeous looks, marketing her to in the U.S. will be a relatively easy task.

Lloyd had some great co-writers/producers on this, her first album. She worked with RedOne, Max Martin/Sellback, Will.I.Am, Rico Love, The Runners, (as mentioned earlier) Toby Gad/Livvi Franc, Jukebox, and Kevin Rudolf. Her single, “Swagger Jagger”, is slated to be released on June 20th.

Her track, “Dub on the Track”, is sure to garner her respect. The debut Cher Lloyd album has it all. From nasty hip-hop throw down stomps to sexy ballads and everything in between. And the material lets her talent shine through brightly. Rumor has it that at least three cuts will become singles. Cher Lloyd is going to be a star. Be sure to pickup her debut. Don’t miss out.