Posted in April 2010

Tips For Keeping Flowers Fresh

Source: hazel eyes
Friday 23rd April 2010, 12:17pm

With summer coming, its harder to keep flowers looking fresh for longer periods of time. Here's some tips to keep them fresh.

With summer on the way, and if its as hot as predicted, keeping fresh flowers looking at their best in the home will become more difficult, so here's five ways to help them last longer.

1. Change the water every day. Cool or luke warm water will help to keep the flowers freshest. Also cut half an inch off the stem diagonally to aid water flow in the stem.
2. Keep the flowers in a moderately cool spot, not in direct sunlight or under Air Conditioning.
3. Add a bit of sugar to the water will also increase the longevity of the stem.
4. Add a Dispirin tablet to the water is advised if you require the flowers to bloom more quickly.
5. When giving flowers as a gift, opt for more sturdy varieties such as orchids or carnations as they last longer than roses.

When purchasing flowers, opt for those with upright, firm petals and buds beginning to open rather than ones with yellow, spotted or drooping leaves.

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Car Hire Alternative For Stranded Holidaymakers

Source: hazel eyes
Tuesday 20th April 2010, 1:03pm

As travel chaos continues, people are turning to hiring cars in order to get home.

The volcanic ash cloud is once again intensifying, further delaying flights to the UK and leaving people stranded abroad. Some people are neginning to make their own way home, for instance Dominic Byrne from Radio 1 has hired a car in Spain from Majorca and is driving through France in order to get to the channel tunnel and home.

The Royal Navy has also sent ships across the channel to help ferry people home to ease the chaos, but there are still a lot of people stranded. Hiring a car from Alicante for example is a possible solution to get to ports, it might be bad for the aviation industry, but ferry companies must be raking it in.

Even after the flights start running again, it will take time to get the planes where they should be and a normal timetable resumed. The last time this volcano erupted, it spewed out ash for months, lets hope it doesn't go on as long this time.

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The Celebs Stuck Abroad By The Volcano Eruption

Source: hazel eyes
Monday 19th April 2010, 4:35pm

It's not just ordinary folks being affected by the volcanic ash spewing over Europe, some celebrities have been stranded too.

As the time for resuming flights keeps getting pushed back, the number of people stranded abroad keeps growing, and its not just us ordinary folk.

Several heads of state were unable to attend the funeral of Polish President Lech Kaczynski including Camilla Parker Bowles, US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles was stuck in New York, apparently he is busy today setting up a studio in order to broadcast tomorrow's breakfast show, news reader Dominic Byrne is also currently stranded in Majorca with his family.

John Cleese opted to pay for a taxi for the 943 miles from Norway to London, costing £3000 for three drivers over 15 hours as there was no alternative means of transport. Gary Lineker managed to get a flight to Madrid from Tenerife, hire a car at the airport then took the Eurostar from Paris to London, getting back just in time to present Match of the Day on Saturday.

Whitney Houston was forced to go to Dublin to continue her world tour via Stenaline's car ferry instead of her usual first class travel arrangements.

The last time this volcano erupted, it spewed out ash for months and although alternatives such as deploying th Royal Navy to bring back stranded holidaymakers is being discussed, it is not clear what will happen for big sporting events, for example, such as the London Marathon where competitors arrive from all over the world.

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Volcanic Ash Disrupts Flights To UK

Source: hazel eyes
Thursday 15th April 2010, 12:48pm

An Icelandic volcano eruption is causing havoc with air travel.

The ash from the eruption has caused airports in Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland to close and hundreds of flights to the UK have been cancelled.

Warnings have been issued to pilots that all UK airspace is closed for incoming traffic and flights to London will be cancelled between 11am and 7pm as the cloud moves southward.

Domestic flights within the UK have virtually ground to a halt with no clear idea of when the disruption will end. Forecasters believe it could take a number of days for the ash to disperse.

The reason these precautions have been taken is that volcanic ash is extremely dangerous to aircraft. It can jam aircraft machinery, stall engines and contaminate the interior environment if it gets sucked into the cabin.

Passengers are advised to rebook or claim a refund if the travel if possible, or keep an eye on the travel provider's website for more information.

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Chinese Refuse Etihad Access To Airspace

Source: hazel eyes
Tuesday 6th April 2010, 12:13pm

Etihad passengers en route from Abu Dhabi to Narita in Japan were delayed as Chinese authorities refused the aircraft permission to fly through their airspace.

The Abu Dhabi flight was delayed for a total of 4 hours including being diverted to Lahore where it was refuelled whilst the problem was sorted out. It then continued and evenually landed in Tokyo. Flights to Dubai were not affected.

Etihad Airways is the only Middle Eastern airline to operate a service to Tokyo, having commenced the service on 27 March. Both parties will be hoping that there is no re-occurence of this misunderstanding.

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