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Gareth Hoyle

The importance of checking the weather before you drive

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There are so many good reasons why, at this time of year, you should take the time to check the weather before you drive. For England, this can be done by calling the Highways Agency live traffic information service on 08700 660 115.

The obvious reason to check the weather before you drive is because winter is a time of year when adverse weather is most likely to occur. The snow, ice, sleet and storms that so often occur during the winter make it harder to drive. This is the case regardless of how well you have prepared your car for the winter weather by taking such measures as ensuring that you have enough tread on your tyres. No matter how ready your car is to brave the weather, winter driving is still a risk, and in countries like the UK where snow isn’t an everyday occurrence, many drivers are not sufficiently experienced in the conditions and are therefore unable to drive sufficiently carefully.

Winter driving can be incredibly difficult, so you are advised to check the weather first so that you can hopefully wait for an improvement in the weather before you drive anywhere. When driving in snow, it is easy to get your speed wrong. If you drive too fast, you risk losing control, whereas if you drive too slowly, you risk losing momentum when you need it, possibly becoming stuck in the snow. Remember that it can take up to 10 times longer to stop your car when the roads are slippery, meaning that you need to reduce your speed and drive carefully accordingly, even if the roads have been gritted.

Even if you cannot see ice on the road, there may still be plenty of black ice in unexpected places that can cause your car to skid. Winter driving conditions can be made particularly challenging if there is a high risk of ice due to the road layout and location. Hilly or exposed roads or roads that pass over or under a bridge, in addition to those that are shaded by buildings or trees, are all places where ice can very easily form.

The difficulty of winter driving can greatly increase the risk of having an accident. It can hamper visibility, and if you cause an accident as a result of not being able to see clearly due to ice and condensation on your windows, your car insurance premiums could also greatly increase.

References

Directgov (2011?). Safety in extreme weather. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Usingmotorwaysandroads/Roadsafetyadvice/DG_185021
BBC News Online (2010). How to drive in snow and icy weather. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8443690.stm
Hannah, Felicity (2010). 10 tips for getting your car ready for winter. http://www.moneysupermarket.com/c/news/ten-tips-for-getting-your-car-ready-for-winter/0010548/
Your Cover Insurance (2010). Winter driving tips – preparing for winter. http://www.yourcoverinsurance.co.uk/en/products/car_insurance/hints_and_tips/driving_safely/winter_driving_tips-preparingforwinter.html
Haynesonline (2011?). Drive safely this winter with Haynes. http://www.haynes.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Feature_WinterDrivingAdviceView?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001
Directgov (2010). Snow and ice – travel and local services updates. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_174618

Hannah Warder is a writer for MediaVest (Manchester) on a range of topics such as car insurance.

The big debate: baths versus showers

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A big debate has long raged between homeowners across the country about the relative merits of having a bath or a shower in your home. Here, we consider some of the advantages and disadvantages of both baths and showers so that you can make the most informed choice for your own household’s individual needs.

Baths offer the obvious advantage over showers in that they offer the luxury of being able to lie and sit down while you wash. Take a bath, and you have the option of soothing yourself amidst the bubbles, taking a long, hot soak and having the opportunity to temporarily forget about your stresses and strains. This makes a bath very popular with a wide range of people, which draws attention to a further key advantage of having a bath in your home: when the time comes to sell your home, the presence of a bath could even increase the value of your property.

Then, there are the advantages to consider of having a shower in your home. Showers offer you a quicker way of washing yourself, which has made them increasingly popular over the years given our increasingly time pressed lifestyles. After all, when you are struggling to get yourself up out of bed on a morning and have limited time to get cleaned and dressed, you are likely to appreciate being able to switch on a power shower that will allow you to save as much time as possible.

Keep in mind, when you are choosing between having a shower or bath in your home, that you do not necessarily need to have only one or the other. There is nothing to prevent you having a small bath beneath a power shower, allowing you to realise the benefits of having both options. Other options for those who ultimately prefer a shower include a wet room or walk-in shower unit.

Your choice will also depend on your own household’s individual needs, together with what seems most appropriate for the type of property in which you live. If you live in a larger house with two or three bathrooms, for example, you are generally advised to keep at least one bath, as it will be required by any small children who may live in the house either now or in the future. Also keep in mind that showers often use less water than baths, which can make them a strong choice if water shortages affect your part of the UK.

If you have ever wondered why some budget hotels have only showers and not baths, consider the amount charged by their business gas supplier to heat the water for hundreds of baths. Showers can be a more economical choice if they are only used for a few minutes. You can also consider your gas and electricity bills when choosing between a shower and bath in the home.

Bella Winterfold frequently writes on the topic of gas and electricity with extensive knowledge in how to find a reliable business gas supplier.

The Best Paying Accountancy Jobs

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There is a range of well-paying roles in accountancy. Keep in mind that to become a qualified accountant and to reach higher salaries, you must first qualify with one of the applicable professional bodies such as the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England or Wales (ICAEW), the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland or the Association of International Accountants (AIA).

One of the most popular accountancy jobs is that of an auditor.  This post entails checking for efficiency and accuracy within an organisation. If you are an ‘external’ auditor, you will examine financial accounts and will usually be a qualified accountant. External auditors independently review the accounts of a company to ensure their accuracy as well as to make sure that a fair view is shown of its financial position. External auditors also often audit local authorities, civil service departments and other public sector organisations to check how public money is being spent in addition to whether savings are possible. A company’s audited accounts are normally required to be published by law. Qualified external auditors can earn between around £30,000 and £45,000 a year, while those at senior and management level frequently command annual salaries of around £50,000 to £70,000.

A management accountant, meanwhile, is responsible for a company’s financial management and will look after its accounts in addition to finding ways to improve growth and profitability. Management accountants sometimes work as an in-house accountant for one firm, unlike a private practice accountant who offers services in auditing and accountancy to various fee-paying clients. Once qualified as a management accountant, you could earn between £30,000 and £50,000 a year. If you rise to the level of finance manager or director, you can expect a £50,000 to £100,000 annual salary, depending on the size of your company.

Private practice accountants handle the tax and accounts of clients in addition to advising clients on their business finances and carrying out audits. Your clients could be small businesses, larger firms or wealthy individuals. Once qualified, you could earn as much as £50,000, while at senior level you could command as much as a £100,000 annual salary.

You could also work as a public finance accountant. This role involves ensuring that organisations such as local councils, housing associations and government departments are properly spending public money. You could earn £27,000 to £45,000 as a qualified public finance accountant, rising to £100,000 if you are a director of finance in a large organisation.

Bob Blazel writes for a range of job related topics, including skills needed for accountancy jobs.

The Top Five Reason to Move to Kent in 2011

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Named the Garden of England, Kent is an ideal location for both families and professionals. If you are considering a move in 2011, there are a great variety of new houses for sale. With its desirable location and rich heritage, it’s easy to fall in love with Kent. What’s more, its great links to London make it ideal for commuters. If you’re considering a move to somewhere new, here are the top five reasons to choose Kent:

London Commuter Belt: This road network connects Lympne, Richborough, and Dover with London, which gives Kent a great link to the capital. If you work in London, or would like to in the future, you can easily commute to and from work.

Rich Heritage: Kent has been in the crossfire of many well-known conflicts, including The Battle of Britain in World War II where East Kent earned the moniker Hell Fire Corner. We have heavily relied on Kent’s ports throughout the past 800 years during times of war and peace. On a clear day, France can be viewed from both Dover and Folkestone.

Hop Gardens/Orchards: Henry VIII always enjoyed a bowl of Kent cherries and he’s not the only one. For hundreds upon hundreds of years, Kent has earned a reputation for the best in gardening and agriculture. While its reputation for agriculture has diminished a little recently, it’s still rightfully crowned the Garden of England. Whether you simply go for a trip or choose to buy a home in Kent, you’ll be amazed by its elegance and beauty. Some of the more famous gardens in Kent include Vita Sackville-West’s Sissinghurst and Winston Churchill’s home and garden, Chartwell.

Education: Kent has three universities—University of Kent, University of Greenwich, a London University with Kent campuses, and the Canterbury Christ Church University, In addition, nearly a quarter of the UK’s grammar schools are to be found in Kent. Many families are attracted to the area so their children can attend the good schools around the area.

Popular County: The BBC determined that Kent offers a better quality of life than Sussex, another plush residence. In fact, Kent is so popular that it was named one of the best places to live in England by Country Life Magazine. BBC figures highlighted that Sevenoaks in Kent had an average price of £377,663 and Thanet contained the cheapest properties averaging £169,490.

Arthur Sperks is obsessed with homes, architecture, design and the property market; particularly new homes for sale. He writes frequently on these subjects and enjoys guest posting on numerous blogs throughout the Internet.

What do vegetarians eat to ensure they don’t miss out on nutrition?

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A vegetarian can be defined as a person who does not eat or believe in eating meat, fish, poultry or animal products such as fat. They may eat dairy products like milk and cheese as the animal was not killed to obtain it: it is vegans whom refuse to eat or use any animal product – even leather.

Nutrients that may be lacking in a vegetarian diet

Protein

Poultry such as chicken and turkey is an excellent source of protein, which is needed by the body for a range of functions including energy metabolism and the growth and developments of cells1. The good news for vegetarians is that there is a wide range of plant based foods that also contain protein.

Nuts, seeds, beans and pulses make up the bulk of vegetarian friendly protein-rich foods. Lentils, black beans and soybeans are particularly rich in protein2.

Vitamin B12

The body only needs a small amount of this vitamin each day; however it is nonetheless an important nutrient. Vitamin B12 plays a role in the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system, and in the formation of blood3.

For vegetarians, dairy foods such as eggs and cheese are the best source. As no plant source of vitamin B12 is known, many vegans opt to take supplements to ensure they get all their body needs.

Iron

Red meat is one of the richest sources of iron, and this mineral is easily extracted from red meat by the body. Despite this, there are a number of other non-meat food sources that are rich in iron. We’re all familiar with Pop-Eye getting his strength from cans of spinach, and indeed spinach is a good source of the stuff. Other fruit and vegetables which contain iron include figs, spring greens and baked beans4.

If you are considering changing your diet to exclude meat, poultry, fish or other animal products it is wise to consult a nutritional professional, who will be able to advise you on how this may affect your health.

Haylee Hulme writes on a range of health related subjects, looking at nutritional issues such as including supplements in the diet.