Whether you’re eight or 80, chances are you have happy memories of a holiday spent in Blackpool… mildly frightening donkey rides, sticky sticks of mint-flavoured rock, ropey sand castles on the Golden Mile and Dad being silly in a ‘kiss me quick’ hat.

It doesn’t matter if you think its cool or clichéd; nothing says a great British holiday like a break in this famous Lancashire town.

The resort itself has a long history with the British public: “Initially, in the Victorian era, people used to come here for the perceived health benefits of sea bathing,” says Mike Chadwick of Visit Blackpool, “We have a flat, gently shelving beach which always made it a popular choice.”

It certainly hit the right notes with Mike. Born and bred a Sand Grown, as the locals call themselves, he has devoted his whole career to telling people about the joys of the beach. “Over the years I’ve done it all from watching summer shows to playing in the sand. I love it here. Blackpool’s wonderful – the name is just synonymous with fun.”

Without wishing to dent Mike’s civic pride, Blackpool was originally synonymous with something slightly less pleasant than fun. The name is actually believed to come from a stream (or poole in local dialect) filled with the black water that drained from a nearby peat bog.

Luckily the town’s glorious beach ensured that the stream wasn’t the only thing it had to offer and the advent of a branch line from the main Preston and Wyre Joint Railway in 1846 saw Blackpool boom.

With an easy link between the seaside resort and the factories that dotted the northern end of England visitors begin to arrive in droves – providing the incentive for entrepreneurs to build hotels and new attractions throughout the 1850s and 1860s.

In 1863, the North Pier was completed, rapidly becoming the place to be seen for privileged visitors. Central Pier was finished in 1868, with a theatre and a large open-air dance floor. The town stretched southward past what is today known as the Golden Mile, towards South Shore, and South Pier was completed in 1893, making Blackpool the only town in the United Kingdom with three piers. In 1878, the Winter Gardens complex opened, incorporating the Opera House theatre, which was said to be the largest in Britain outside of London.

However, mention Blackpool’s heyday to people now and their mind will most likely turn to the 1950s when families would take their annual holidays in the resort en masse. The town thrived as more than 17 million holidaymakers per year relaxed on the beach and promenade. It was a golden period and, sadly, one that was impossible to sustain.

Almost as soon as cheap air travel enabled affordable package tours abroad people decided to decamp to the Mediterranean in search of more reliable weather – a trend that continues to this day. Go back a year or two and the town was in danger of losing its charm – the Golden Mile was getting grubby and suffering from the ravishes of endless stag parties. Frankly, Blackpool was in danger of becoming Cesspool.

But now the city is rising Pheonix-like from the flames and taking back its family holiday crown. “There’s a big emphasis on giving people more and more reasons to come to Blackpool,” says Mike Chadwick. “Stag and hen nights happen in every town across the UK at the weekend, and people still come here to have a good time, but the town is reclaiming its family image.

“It’s all about having fun. Around 10 million people come to visit every year, so a lot of money is being spent to keep them coming back. For example, at the moment the whole of the Promenade is being rebuilt to make it wider and turn it into an excellent space. It’s a great place to holiday that’s why generations of families have come to Blackpool again and again.”

He’s not wrong. Firstly there are the obvious attractions – the Pleasure Beach with its mix of traditional wooden rides and modern steel roller-coasters, the 158m Blackpool Tower containing a ballroom, circus and aquarium plus the ever-impressive annual Illuminations.

And then there are the seaside shows too. For more than a century people have bought tickets to see their favourite performers appearing live in Blackpool. One of the most enduring of these acts – who still play the town to this day – are Cannon and Ball.

Bobby Ball of the duo has nothing but praise for the resort. “Blackpool means a lot to Tommy Cannon and I,” he says with a smile. “When we were young the highlight of our year was the annual visit to Blackpool to see the Illuminations and, of course, seeing all the great stars appearing at the many theatres.

“Even to this day there is a magic about Blackpool. It doesn’t profess to be the cultural capital of the world but it certainly professes to be the fun capital of England. There is something to do for everyone – no matter what your taste you can find it in Blackpool. In fact it’s that good I came and lived here!”

The future’s looking pretty bright too with a £500m in place to build Storm City a proposed multi-themed indoor entertainment complex on a 30 acre site between Rigby Road and Central Drive. Once complete, it will house a 12,000-seat arena, four hotels, shopping areas, five themed entertainment areas, rooftop gardens and Blackpool’s own version of the London Eye.

It seems the last word should go to Mike Chadwick, as few people know the town better: “There’s a lot of competition out there these days but Blackpool still pulls them in and continues to be the most popular holiday destination in the UK.

“After all, there’s always something to do in Blackpool, whatever the weather. I know that sounds like a terrible cliché but, just for once, it’s true.”

Richard Ryan
http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/blackpool-illuminated-673966.html

Wine coolers are the best for the aging solutions of wines. Aside from sustaining the needed light exposure, temperature, and humidity, they are also very essential in the expansion of your wine collection.

There are many wine coolers available on the market. You may consider purchasing a large cooler or a refrigerator if you are into wine collecting. You may even set up a large cooler to ensure more space for your age-worthy wines.

Coolers come in different sizes. You may find coolers that can hold hundreds of bottles and cases. Manufacturers of coolers always think that there is the possibility that a normal collector may end up as a serious wine collector. For a serious collector, it is important to find the latest available wine coolers.

Countertop wine cellars are accessible in storing bulk wines. If you have enough space available in the kitchen or in your room, there are many wine shelving options you can choose from. You may customize your storing and aging room as well as your coolers with a variety of wine racks and accessories.

Space can be an issue for many collectors. They find it difficult to find the right coolers that will fit to the design and space of the storage place. It is advisable to purchase a stainless steel refrigerator if all your appliances in the kitchen are all stainless. They can provide the place with order and great fusion of styles and functions.

Wine refrigerators are very effective to special wine bottles that are used for aging wines. Collectors who live in places with hot and cold climates may find it hard to sustain the needed temperature. A wine refrigerator can take care of these problems. It is also capable of shielding your wines from light exposure and humidity swings.

Some wine fridges may be too expensive. Some are priced $300 at Costco. You may find cheaper wine coolers for $150, but it can only store 34 wine bottles. For those who would like to find a remedy for their problems with space and budget may convert their mini refrigerator to a wine cooler.

However, you may encounter problems of temperature sustainability because mini fridges tend to get too cold and are mostly used in freezing and not for cooling. Others adjust the setting of the thermostat to get the temperature just enough to cool the wines. You may use an appliance timer or a thermometer to create your own cycle of temperature on the refrigerator according to the desired cooling for the bottles.

Jerry Shannon
http://www.articlesbase.com/food-and-beverage-articles/getting-a-wine-cooler-711608.html

Our garage is a mess! The last house we lived in, there was no garage. So we were excited when we moved two years ago into a larger house with a garage. How wonderful for winter weather! We would not have to go out and defrost and clear the snow from the car. How wrong we were! Last year we were dumped on with snow, the worst winter in decades, and our car was outside in the driveway. What about our garage? It was a being used for storage, both organized and unorganized.

We really did try to organize our garage. We built shelves along the walls for boxes and plastic totes. Along another wall we had some metal shelves for home business items. There was also a work bench to keep tools organized with a cupboard above it that came from the kitchen remodel. But everything was still a mess, there just wasn’t enough room. The motorcycle was in the garage, so that was good, but it took up floor space requiring the rest of the garage to be even better organized if we hoped to fit a car in as well. Also, we were sloppy recyclers. We were really good at recycling milk jugs, cereal boxes and cardboard, but for some reason people just opened the door and threw it into the garage to be gathered and taken to the recycling center once a month. I know that we had recycling bins at one time, but who knows what happened to them?

So enough was enough, we did not need another winter with our car outside. My husband is a “do it yourself” kind of guy, which is really great, but we needed some help to get our garage organized, something that didn’t cost a lot of money. We did not need the fancy large cabinets that are really nice but out of our budget. Also, it is the garage, rough built shelves worked great, we just needed creative ways of finding more space.

With a little research, we discovered some GREAT garage organizers to help us get more out of our limited space. Obviously, this was a universal problem that someone had put a considerable amount of thought to and had done something about it! There are many different items available to hang most anything on your wall or ceiling.

If you have wall space that is not used up by shelving, you can get some great wall garage organizers. They come in different forms, but are basically like a peg board or wall slat system that is used in department stores. Once you have the wall system in place, you can purchase different types of brackets, hooks and shelves to fit most any need. There are hooks for hanging gardening tools to help organize your rakes, hoes, shovels, etc. There are special shelves and baskets available to fit other sporting goods or other miscellaneous items. You can get large hooks specially designed to hang bicycles or garden hoses, or really small bins for organizing different hardware items such as screws, nuts and bolts.

Now, I don’t really have much extra wall space for special hanging needs, though I could used some of these specialty hooks to help better organize some larger tools and bikes. And such hooks are available without having to purchase an entire wall system. Perfect for what I need.

The main accessible space that I have is the ceiling and I discovered some really neat systems to hang items. Some garage organizer systems are full metal shelves that hang. The shelf can come in varying sizes and depths. Sizes can vary from as small as a 2’ x 6’ to as large as a 4’ x 8’, with drop down depths varying from 12” to 45”. These shelves are perfect for seasonal items such as camping supplies. Some shelves, such as I have described, you have to access by ladder, other systems are available that work on a pulley system for easy access.

Another great garage organizer system that I found was tracks that hung from the ceiling. The tracks have an “L” shape. You position two sets of tracks the distance apart that you need so that you can hang plastic totes between them. For us this is perfect. All of our Christmas supplies are already kept in green plastic totes. We just hang the tracks 30” apart, label our totes and hang them by their lips on the tracks! Economical and we can keep using storage container that we already have. Also great for hanging plastic file containers. After all, where are you supposed to put those files that you are encouraged to keep for seven years? Many of these systems also come with special hangers for bikes and ladders.

Well, it did not take too much to get our garage organized. After all, we had been trying but were short just a little space. By using garage organizers to better organize some wall space for those awkward items like large tools and ladders, and then ceiling space for specialty items that only need to be accessed seasonally really helped. Though I have to say, that my favorite garage organizer gadget is my bike pulley!

MJ Marks
http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/my-garage-is-a-mess-but-what-are-my-options-in-garage-organizers-702050.html

The process of planning out a new greenhouse is almost as big of a job as building the structure itself.  There are so many questions to answer!  How big should your greenhouse be?  What is the right location?  What type of greenhouse is right for you?  Will you build your own structure from scratch, or will you purchase a ready to assemble greenhouse kit?  The planning stage alone can take several months, plus the additional time and sweat work of actually building the greenhouse.

But once all this is done, then the real fun can begin!  So once you’ve got your greenhouse built, what is the next step?  How do you set up your greenhouse and get ready to begin greenhouse gardening?

Determining the types of plants you want to grow is usually the first step.  Are you growing tropical plants that will have to remain in the greenhouse year round?  Or are you starting plants from seed early in the spring, with the intent of moving them outdoors when the weather warms up?  The types of plants you grow will have an impact on how you set your greenhouse up, including the type of shelving and work spaces you will need.

When purchasing shelving and work benches for your greenhouse, look for fixtures that can fit right into the greenhouse itself.  For example, if you’ve bought a greenhouse kit, you may also be able to purchase shelves that snap right into the greenhouse walls.  This type of shelving is a good choice because it saves space and is usually easy to install.  For a work bench or potting surface, look for something sturdy and durable.  A slatted surface is nice because soil can fall through the cracks and onto the ground, or into a collection bin you place below.  On the other hand, a smooth surface makes for easy cleanup.

Once you’ve got your shelving and work surfaces in place, it’s time to begin greenhouse gardening!  Soil preparation is a very important first step in this process.  Visit your local garden center and talk to a professional about what type of soil you need.  Different plants will require different soil pH levels, and tester kits can be purchased inexpensively at garden stores.  Usually, a good bet is to purchase a commercial potting soil mix to build your base up in the gardening trenches of your new green house.  This is an excellent way to get started, because the soil mix will be rich in nutrients that your plants need.  Be sure your new soil mixture includes sand, peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, and fir bark for adequate drainage.

Another possibility for getting good soil is to begin your own composting system.  Garden composters and tumbling bins can be found through mail order catalogs or online stores, and they will produce the richest, most fertile soil you can imagine, and your plants will grow better than they ever have before.

Soil should be watered only on an as-needed basis.  Over watering inside a greenhouse may cause plant death due to the climate control system inside the greenhouse.  Drip irrigation systems are good, but most greenhouse owners prefer to water plants manually to prevent getting too much water in the soil.  Water only when the soil feels dry.  If you are going to be out of town for a few days, document your watering habits for a week or so before hand.  This way, if you ask a friend or neighbor to water for you in your absence, you’ll be able to tell them exactly how often they’ll need to water.

Greenhouse gardening is a wonderful hobby and a great way to improve your gardening skills.  Once the hard work of planning and assembling the greenhouse is done, you’ll be rewarded with years of enjoyment spent in your greenhouse.  Plus you’ll have bigger and better plants to show for your efforts.  Happy greenhouse gardening!

Ellen Bell
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/getting-started-with-greenhouse-gardening-740527.html

With most homes becoming short on space, adding a metal wine rack that hangs from your wall or ceiling makes all the difference. You now have storage space for your treasured bottles of wine as well as an aesthetic appeal. These wall racks provide us with three separate functions such as wine storage, visual decor and open work space facilitation. A wine rack is to wine as hands are to arms. They are an extension and a useful tool for your wine collection.

Metal wine racks are a sensible decision when selecting a good way to store and protect your wine collection. The very nature of the metal makes them durable, sturdy and long lasting. Since the material is metal it is often twisted into sculptures or designs unobtainable by traditional wood wine racks. These designs are then forged at high heats so the wine rack metal is almost indestructible. It requires minimal cleaning just soap and water and can be polished or dulled depending on the owners desires. They are always artistic in design and a great conversation piece. Most home owners display them prominently around the home for visual appreciation and pleasure.

Adding one to a residence can heighten the homes value and distinguish it from other homes. It can also help keep wine fresh, undisturbed and easy to access when you need it. Wine lovers will find these racks appealing and fairly priced regardless of the choice of rack.

Wall mounted metal wine racks are perfect when space is at a premium or when you wish to display a special collection above a buffet or side table. They are designed to provide the required bottle tilt for cork protection and most feature a no-roll shelving for stability. They all offer endless possibilities in terms of style and versatility.

In my dinning room I created a dramatic focal point that incorporated additional pieces of metal art work. I chose two pieces of metal art work of similar color and texture from my wine rack and mounted them on both sides of the display. It looked exceptionally impressive and everyone that sees it comments on the beauty and artistic flow of the room.

Wrought iron wine racks are some of the most traditional metal wine racks. They can be simple and elegant with straight clean lines or gracefully curvy. Wine racks made from chrome or steel are perfect for modern decor.

Solid in its construction metal, wine racks will hold the weight of several wine bottles with ease and provide a visual creative conversation piece. A popular spot for a metal wine rack has become over a kitchen island where it can stay out of the way but still adds drama to the room. Because of its highly skilled design and craftsmanship you will be looking to show off this piece just as much as your wine collection.

Wine racks are offered in a wide variety of styles, shapes and dimensions to fit just about anyone’s specifications and decor style. They are available in a plethora of sizes to hold from one bottle to hundreds of bottles.

A very important part of choosing a wine rack is the way the bottles are placed. Only choose one that will hold the bottles in a downward position. This is an important feature since wine should be stored with the neck pointing down in an effort to keep the cork from drying out and allowing air to permeate the bottle.

Some pieces have artfully crafted shaped vines that hold bottles in their proper position not only for decorative purposes but for functional attributes. This feature is ideal for choosing high quality racks.

Genuine metal wine racks make their best impression if presented in their natural color or in colors of artificially oxidized patina surface. The highest value of metal wine racks lies in its ability to keep its beauty for centuries, and not becoming a victim of daily trends.

You must ensure that the wall mounted metal wine wrack hanging from your wall is safely anchored into studs. What is important to consider is the weight the rack can safely carry. You do not want the weight of the bottles to pull it from the wall. It would be most devastating to find your wine bottles shattered on the floor.

This decorative accessory allows you to be surrounded by elegance and gives you the security to age your collection with confidence. So now let’s all raise our glass and make a toast to the perfect wine rack!

Barbara Tobiasz
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/wall-mounted-metal-wine-rack-toast-to-the-perfect-rack-693628.html

As someone mentioned already, vertical stripes do help make a space look taller. If, however, your bathroom is really small, and you already have mirrors and all that - stripes are just going to make it look busy.

I would stick with a solid color - either a lighter shade of green OR you could go with a light neutral (in the same family as your brown towels). Keep the trim painted white - it will make your bathroom look clean and crisp.

based on my measurements, if i can get 24 pieces of 1 foot wide by 4 foot long, 7/16 of an inch thick plywood, i can use those single pieces for the legs, and floors of my shelf. since my van is 4 and 1/2 foot from the floor to the roof, and has 10 ft of free cargo space, each piece would work perfectly. though i would only need 21 for the complete shelf, i want the other 3 for various dividers, lips, and holders.
each shelf would then be 4ft tall, 4ft long, and always 1ft wide.

i looked at Home Depot and Lowes websites and found 4ft by 8ft sections for $7 dollars each. now, i have figured i can get 8 pieces from each 4×8, cutting them at 4×1. but, how much would they charge to cut three of them, for a grand total of 24, 4×1 pieces?

do they flat rate it or something?

10 pts to best answer
thanks

They usually do the first cut free. Additional cuts are .50 cents. I don’t think they will cut it in small strips for you. They are only set up to either cut them in half. Best bet is to find a woodworking shop and see if you can work something out. Most of these stores do not have a table saw or radial arm saw. Will still be a cheaper way to go.

based on my measurements, if i can get about 25 pieces of 1 foot wide by 4 foot long, half an inch thick plywood, i can use those single pieces for the legs, and floors of my shelf. since my van is 4 and 1/2 foot from the floor to the roof, and has 10 ft of free cargo space, each piece would work perfectly.
each shelf would then be 4ft tall, 4ft long, and always 1ft wide.

i looked at Home Depot and Lowes websites and can’t find these pre-cut, only in 4ft by 8ft sections, if you where i can get them, please tell me, i’d figure you home remodelrs and carpenters would know best

10 pts to best answer
thanks

Go back to Home Depot and tell them you want 4×8 foot sheets cut to 1×4 feet. You will get 8 pieces from a sheet. They will cut them and there is a nominal charge for all over the first cut.
They may also have some cut off 2×4 foot pieces for about 50 cents each.