posted11/12/11
If you’re looking for a used car then one stop should be to Carcraft, it’s the UK’s leading car supermarket with showrooms across the UK. They are ideal if you’re looking for your first car or are looking to trade in your old car, offering competitive trade ins. If you’re not sure what car make or model to get then browse the selection of cars for sale at Carcraft online before going to your local Carcraft showroom for a test drive.
If you are in need of a car now then you can drive away same day, as long as you bring your driving licence (including the counterpart), a utility bill showing your current address dated within the last 3 months and a proof of signature. You will also get 7 days free insurance cover too, to get you started.
For first time buyers there will be some comfort with your purchase, every car Carcraft sell is HPI checked and goes through 120 point inspection which gives you peace of mind with your purchase. Other added extras also include 1 year comprehensive Carcraft Guarantee, 1 year free Servicing, 1 year free RAC Roadside assistance and 1 free MOT, if needed in the first year.
There are also finance options available as well to suit your budget, plus it’s really easy to apply for. Credit checks are undertaken by the finance companies which Carcraft use, which will look into your credit which is recorded onto your credit file. There are different repayment options available which can cover 2, 3, 4 or 5 years and deposits start at £99.00 with fixed repayments.
Finally if you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, there is also a 7 Day ‘no quibble’ exchange policy which means that you can bring it back within seven days and Carcraft will offer you an exchange for an alternative, as long as you have one less than 500 miles since taking delivery.
posted09/12/11
Biofuels are defined as any fuel derived from living things or their waste products. Biofuels can be made from material such as:
Wood, straw or wood chippings
Pellets or liquid made from wood
Biogas such as methane made from animal excrement
Ethanol, diesel or other liquid fuels made from plant material or waste oil.
Today the term biofuels is increasingly used to apply to fuels produced by processing crops such as sugarcane, corn or rapeseed. Bio-ethanol is an alcohol and it is usually mixed with petrol. Biodiesel is used in a mixture or on its own.
The demand for biofuels is rising as governments look for alternative power sources in order to reduce carbon emissions. In theory biofuels could reduce greenhouse gas emissions if they are used to replace transport fuels. Burning the fuels releases carbon dioxide but this is offset by the CO2 that is absorbed when the plant is growing. In practice, however, it is harder to calculate whether the use of biofuels does indeed reduce overall carbon emissions. The problem is that the entire life-cycle has to be taken into account. The energy used in farming and processing the crops has to be considered. In addition, if peat bogs are drained to provide land to grow the biofuels then that releases a lot of the carbon that such bogs trap.
Brazil is currently the world leader in the production and use of biofuels. It makes 16 billion litres of ethanol from sugarcane each year. Sixty percent of new cars can run on a fuel mix which includes 85% ethanol. The European Union aims to derive 5.75% of transport fuels from biological sources by 2010.
Critics of biofuels point out that many do not really provide green energy. This is due to the fact that they are grown on land which should be used for growing crops for food, require a lot of water and use a lot of nitrogen-based fertilisers. The nitrogen is changed into nitrogen oxide which has a warming effect 300 times greater than CO2. That is why some researchers are turning to algae. Algae are not a food source and would not use much land. Algae can double their volume many times per day and so whilst an acre of maize can yield 1,000 litres of ethanol per year and an acre of soybeans 227 litres, an acre of algae could theoretically produce 19,000 litres of biofuel per year. Not only that, but algae are also extremely efficient at absorbing CO2. Both these attributes make algae much more attractive as a green energy source.
posted06/12/11
If you’ve been injured through someone else’s negligence or the negligence of an entity like a company, one of the first things you should do after attending to your injuries is seek advice. You need to know who will pay the medical bills, what to do about any lost wages and potential payment for other items, like pain and suffering.
A first stop could be to your local Citizens Advice Bureau. The people at the CAB can give you general advice about procedures to take, including filing a report with the police, your insurance company and possibly even your employer, if the illness or injury occurred at work.
They can also help you decide if a complaint might be in order. Filing a complaint might mean you only want an explanation of what happened, or an apology. If you seek compensation for damages you’ve suffered, you may be able to use a claims assessor to pursue your case.
Since a claims assessor is not a solicitor, they can’t claim compensation for you in court, if your case should need to go that far. Claims assessors are popular because they often takes cases on a no win no fee basis. However, many solicitors now accept no win no fee compensation schemes as well, with the advantage to you of having one person to deal with throughout the entire process.
Many no win no fee lawyers offer an initial free consultation where you can get an idea of the merits of your case and potential compensation, if any. This free consultation can give you the information you need to make the best decision for you about how to proceed with your case.
posted04/12/11
For some the Christmas holidays aren’t just for festive fun with family and friends a lot of seventeen and eighteen year olds also have A-Level coursework to contend with over the Christmas break. Coursework is an important part of you’re a-Level qualifications so it’s imperative you get it right, because it could mean the difference between an A* and an A.
To be successful at A-Levels you really have to choose a subject that you’re interested in, this will keep you motivated when face with a large amount of coursework.
Before you begin, you need to get organised, plan all your projects and make sure you give yourself plenty of time to do them all.
Finding somewhere quiet to work is important, if your home is busy full of family and young siblings running around amped up on sugar then take yourself to your local library. Here you will find peace and quiet plus you’re in the right place for references, surrounded by books but still with access to the internet.
Do your research first, having all your research ready before you start writing will make it much easier for reference.
Make sure you check spelling and punctuation and if you’re writing it out by hand make sure your writing is neat and legible.
If you have quite a number of projects to contend with make sure you start with the one which will take you the longest and don’t leave projects to the last minute i.e. the day before you go back to school/collage.
You also need to avoid plagiarism, make sure your coursework is your own so don’t copy huge chunks of text and pretend it’s your own. You can use other people’s work/ideas but you do have state them as a reference and what you quoted from them.
If you are still struggling with your coursework there is online coursework help which is more specialised in different subjects.
posted02/12/11
Insulation beneath floorboards has been proven to both reduce heating bills and improve the comfort of your home. It has been suggested that around £50 per year could be saved when under-floor insulation is in use, not to mention the added ‘homely’ feel that it provides. Gaps and cracks around floors and skirting boards are also proven to increase heating bills, but there is no need to panic, cracks and gaps are easy to fill yourself using a tube of sealant and are thought to reduce heating bills by around an extra £20 per year.
But how exactly does under-floor insulation work? Timber floors can be insulated by simply lifting up the floorboards and laying mineral wool insulation supported by netting between the joists.
A regular tube sealant, such as silicon, can also be used to fill gaps between floorboards and skirting boards to stop draughts efficiently. It’s all good and well insulating your home to the max, however, it’s important to remember not to block under-floor airbricks in your outside walls. Floorboards will rot without the correct amount of ventilation.
As well as the cost, there are also other ‘savings’ to consider when insulating your home. Around 340kg of carbon dioxide can be saved per year by combining both these measures in a semi-detached 3 bedroom house.
The initial expense may at first seem daunting, although not all home insulation work needs to be performed by a professional. It may work out cheaper to do the smaller jobs yourself with materials that can be easily purchased from your local DIY shop. Filling the gaps in between the skirting board costs as little as around £20 if completed by you, with costs at around £100 to insulate the floorboards on the ground floor. What a bargain!
posted28/11/11
For years many people would pop down to their local bingo hall and put on a few strips as part of their Friday night entertainment, however now many of those local bingo halls have now closed down mainly thanks to government legislation. However in their place we have seen a huge influx of online bingo sights such as 888Ladies.com where you now get to enjoy the fun of bingo at home!
If you used to like to go to the bingo hall for some socialising and gossiping, then you will be happy to know that many online bingo sites offer chat facilities so you can arrange with your friends to all play together and still have a gossip.
One question people ask is can you make any money if you play online bingo? Well there are ways to ensure you have better chances of winning however like any form of gambling it’s the luck of the draw. You may find you spend more money than you used to at your local bingo hall, after all they had set closing times plus you could only spend what money you had on you. With online bingo all you need to do is input your card details and you can easily top up your account!
There are some arguments as to whether you get bigger prizes online than you do in bingo halls, a lot of the time it depends how many people are playing in the room as to how much the prize is. Some online bingo sites offer accumulators which can boost prizes however that’s quite hard to win!
Bingo
Picture courtesy of elizalO
posted25/11/11
Replacing a light switch does not have to be a chore. Replacing a light switch is quick (can be done in a matter of a few minutes) and is relatively easy. However, as with any other electrical DIY, do not forget the risk- safety is your first concern.
Firstly, you must make sure that the power to the switch is turned off at either the fuse box, or the main circuit breaker. If you are unsure, you can always check to see if the power is off, by flipping the switch and noting whether the light comes on. You should always right a note and place in on the circuit box, or alternatively make sure that everyone who may come in contact knows not to turn the switch back on.
Now, you must remove the cover plate. Simply do this by unscrewing the two screws holding the plate in place. Remove the two mounting screws holding the switch in place inside the electrical box. You must then pull the switch out of the wall. The switch should come loose a few inches exposing the wires.
Remove the screws which hold the two wires coming out of the wall to the switch, making sure you make note of which wire came from which screw (they are usually colour coded) you could do this with coloured pens and tape.
You must then visit a hardware shop and purchase another switch exactly like the previous one. There is no shame in asking the shop assistant for help if it is needed.
Hold your new switch up to the wall, right side up, so that the word ‘off’ appears when the switch is in the off position. Then attach the wires to the screws on the switch’s back matching the wires up to the correct screws (according to the tags you have previously made.)Secure the new switch in the box with mounting screws and replace the switch cover.
You can then turn the main power back on and test your work.
Light switch
Picture courtesy of R/DV/RS
posted23/11/11
We have been told if we want to save money on our home insurance is to not accept our renewal quote from our current insurer but to ‘shop’ around and get quotes from rival insurers. But when you consider the cheapest policy may not offer you the appropriate level of cover you need can you actually save money by changing insurance companies and is it actually worth the hassle?
Since the advent of the internet you can get instant buildings insurance quotes and contents insurance quotes basically at a click of a mouse. However original quotes that flash up on your screen showing huge discounts on what you have been quoted by your current insurer may not be as good as they seem. All policies vary; some insurers include some things in their quotes other add it on as extra.
It’s important to remember that before you confirm a new home insurance policy with a new insurer that you are getting the level of cover you require. Like all policies it is imperative that you read the small print so you know what you are covered for and what you are not. You can find that some quotes seem cheaper because they are not providing the same level of cover you now have or you may have to pay more excess than what you will have to pay with your current insurer.
posted21/11/11
Making sure your car is in tip-top condition is an all-round job for every driver. However, in these harsh winter months, extra care needs to be taken. Not to mention the specific ‘cold weather’ check that need to be carried out.
Start by adding anti-freeze to your radiator. Engine coolant can crack radiators, if it is left to freeze, which will land you with costly repair bills. However, before buying, you should consult your handbook and see which product you should use.
Keep your windscreen washer reservoir full with appropriate screen wash liquid. You may want to think about one which contains anti-freeze additives. You should make sure that you examine the wiper blades, front and rear, and if they are found to be worn, replace them.
Cold starts and the increased use of the headlights and demisters place masses of strain on your car battery. If your car is resistant to start in the morning, you may want to consider replacing your battery. Make sure the battery’s contact terminals are free from dirt and dust. You could also grease them to prevent charge leakage.
It is extremely important to check your tyres. Low tread or unevenly worn tyres are dangerous, especially when there is snow and ice on the roads. A depth of around 3mm is recommended for icy weather – nearly double the 1.6mm required by law.
It’s especially important that you continue to regularly check all of the normal things, too. Make sure that fluid levels, lights and tyre pressures are correct through the winter and if you find that something is wrong, you should alter it/fix it before setting off.
Finally, you should make sure that your car is fully working before the winter months; it might be worth even getting it checked over by a mechanic, just to be sure.
Snow covered car
Picture courtesy of AMagill
posted19/11/11
If you have suffered a personal injury and wish to seek compensation for damages, it’s highly advisable that you retain professional help. The legal process in the UK has a history going back hundreds of years and as a result, the rules have become very convoluted. Navigating the legal process yourself, without specialist knowledge, can get your case thrown out of court, leaving you with nothing but your injury.
In the UK there is an organisation known as the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), which is a not-for-profit association of professionals dealing specifically with personal injury law. This association of professionals, academics, barristers and solicitors deals with all types of personal injury issues, from car accident claims to industrial accident claims and everything in between.
Membership in APIL means the professional you deal with has been accredited as being competent in a specific field or fields of personal injury law. If a lawyer (Senior Litigator level and upward) is APIL accredited, it means he or she has at least five years’ experience in his or her area of specialisation. APIL membership also means that the member has agreed for follow a consumer charter and code of conduct and be bound by APIL’s rules and guidelines.
Many APIL lawyers and solicitors also offer the no win no fee payment scheme. A no win no fee solicitor agrees to handle your case and defer payment of his or her legal charges until the case is decided and then only if he or she wins the case for you. While there are other fees to be paid along the way such as fees to obtain evidence or to pay an expert witness, no win no fee lawyers open the legal door to thousands of UK residents who otherwise could not afford to pursue their cases.
