Thunderbird two. The biggest and the best.

Anyone with any understanding of Thunderbirds will know that by far and away the best one to have would have been Thunderbird two. Thunderbird one just got your there quickly. Sure, Thunderbird three could go into space but that was all, and Thunderbird 4 was little more than an underwater car. Thunderbird 5 was just a telecommunication satellite how boring must that have been waiting for accidents to happen and then telling your Dad so your brothers could go sort it out. To be honest Thunderbird two was just all about the delivery of the machine that was doing the actually rescuing at the end of the day. The unceremonious dumping of Thunderbird 4 into the sea springs to mind.  Virgil could have set himself up in a side project and called himself Man and Van Slough with a website like this https://www.uk-tdl.com/man-van.html might have been a nice earner for him.

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Ok, it’s a bit unfair to likening the technological marvel that is Thunderbird two to a white van. When you look at Thunderbird two it seems to be about 5 times the size of an Antinov transport plane or an Airbus Beluga (the Biggest one we’ve got). The thrust that is required to get the thing in the air must have been enormous and it is about as aero dynamic as a brick. A friend once postulated, he was not a physicist, but he had a point, that Thunderbird two would have needed to have had its under thrusters on constantly just to keep it up in the air. Its wings are far too stubby to give it lift.  This would have meant even more damage as it blasted its way across the countryside to the disaster area it was looking to prevent or help sort out.

It did have the best launch sequence though. The whole of Tracy island must have shaken to distraction when it took off. This is the other thing, it is launched from a secret garage cave that pops open up to make a runway that Google Earth would spot in second. Virgil selects what he’s taking with him, usually The Mole (the sixth Thunderbird really) position the big Green lump machine over the right pod and lowering it down. Imagine the fun if he’d got the wrong one and had to go back for it. Finally, the thrust to move the behemoth is found and it shoots out of the cave and the palm trees fall to the side otherwise Jeff Tracey’s horticultural budget is getting blown again. Why doesn’t it show up on RADAR? It should be a blip so big that there shouldn’t be anything else on the screen? Apparently, they had a blocking device. That must have made life fun for air traffic control when the pilots started to say a massive green transporter just shot past them at goodness what miles per hour. Ouch.

Caring for an Elderly Relative

People are now living longer than ever – this is great news for all of us, as we all want to have a long and happy retirement, and thanks to better healthcare and more awareness of good lifestyle choices, the population has never been so healthy. Although all of this is great news, it also means that with a larger older population, there is a lot of demand on care services when they are needed. Many people find themselves in a position where they are now caring for an elderly parent or relative at home, rather than going down the care home route. There are pros and cons to both, but if you are in a position where you are going to be caring for an elderly person at home, here are a few things to think about so you know what to expect, and ensure that you and the person that you are caring for are both happy and healthy…

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Check what sort of financial help you are entitled to – If you are a carer, you may find that you are not able to work as much as you did before (depending on how much outside help you have and how severe the persons needs are that you are caring for) – it is always worth checking if you are eligible for any financial help from the government whilst you are caring for someone.

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Make sure that the home the person is living in is suitable for their needs – If the person is suffering from an illness, make sure that you can accommodate them, and if necessary make any adjustments to the home as soon as you can. An elderly person may be less mobile, so a downstairs toilet and bathroom are a good idea, and even living accommodation all on the ground floor, including the bed so they will not have to negotiate the stairs. Elderly people are particularly vulnerable to the cold so make sure that you have good heating and your home is always kept at a comfortable temperature. Get you boiler serviced regularly by a professional, such as boiler servicing Gloucester company http://www.hprservicesltd.com/gloucester-boilers/boiler-servicing-gloucester/ to make sure that you always have heating that is in good working order.

Take time out for you – Caring for someone can be emotionally and physically exhausting, and it is important to remember that you need to take care of yourself too! Do activities that you enjoy regularly – whether it is a walk in the countryside, a trip to the cinema, or a coffee with a friend – make sure that you are still able to do things that you enjoy.

Why the hottest restaurants in London are increasingly vegan

Vegan food is becoming increasingly popular in London. From street food and market stalls to high-end restaurants, vegan eateries are popping up all over the place.

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The number of British vegans has increased by at least 360 percent over the last ten years as more people choose a lifestyle that avoids animal products. The trend is driven by a combination of factors, including the perceived health benefits of a plant-based diet and a growing concern for the well-being of animals. Young people in particular are turning to veganism, and by far the majority of vegans reside in built-up areas. This suggests that there are great opportunities for restaurants that are willing to cater to this growing sub-group of the population.

Veganism goes mainstream

Veganism has sometimes been criticised as a restrictive and somewhat extreme dietary regime, but attitudes are changing. Most supermarkets are now stocking a comprehensive range of vegan products, and a growing number of cafes and restaurants on the high street now offer vegan menu items. Pret A Manger, the sandwich and salad chain, recently announced that one of its branches in Soho would trial limiting its menu to vegan and vegetarian food for a month during June. Depending on the outcome, further branches may adopt this meat-free model.

Vegan restaurants

Vegan restaurants have traditionally been viewed as the less glamorous end of the restaurant business, but that is rapidly changing. Michelin-starred chefs including Alexis Gauthier of Gauthier Soho and Theo Randall of The InterContinental are introducing vegan menus. A vegan since 2015, Gauthier says that he has observed a significant shift in guest behaviour. This year, he says, restaurants are selling more vegan tasting menus than traditional ones, and more and more vegan customers visit every week.

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Many restaurants are seeing the commercial advantages of providing a comprehensive vegetarian or vegan menu. Of course, to do this effectively, cross-contamination must be avoided, and equipment used for preparing meat should be completely separate from the meat-free range. Catering companies such as https://www.247cateringsupplies.co.uk have a good range of commercial catering equipment, such as ovens, microwaves, and disposables.

It is very likely that as consumers become more aware of the reality of the farming industry and the health implications of meat and dairy products, the boom in vegan eating will continue.

How to move home with kids

Moving is stressful enough but doing it with children can be hard work. It doesn’t matter if you are moving to the other side of the country or literally across the street, uprooting children from their familiar surroundings will take some patience and tact. Thankfully, there are lots of helpful tips to help before and after the move to make the transition as smooth and peaceful as possible. For Gloucester Sales and Lettings, visit Alex Clark Glos now part of TGRES

Before you move

Be prepared! By doing as much as you can before the move day will guarantee a smoother moving experience for everyone. Make sure you talk with your children about the move. Listen carefully to what they think and answer all of their questions. Help to put them at ease and know what to expect. Perhaps tell them about a previous time you moved and reassure them that all will be good and even exciting.

It’s important not to show too much stress in front of young children as they easily pick up on their parents’ emotions. Try to remain calm, even though inevitably there will be some hiccups along the way.

For young children, it can be a good idea to make packing fun by letting them play with some boxes while they pack up their things. Encourage them to be involved and a part of the process by showing them how to pack the right way for example.

Find out about your new neighbourhood together with your kids. Encourage older children to do some research on the area and find out what amenities there are and fun stuff of course. It might help to find a book about moving and positive experiences to help your child overcome any anxiety they might be feeling.

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Moving day

Make sure you pack an essentials bag with your children for the moving day and the first night in the new home. This can contain a few treats too! Be sure to have clothing, medication, nappies, toys, snacks and any other comforting items your child likes to have. A portable DVD player can come in handy for before everything gets plugged in properly or a tablet with some new games installed. Focus on making a calm and familiar area in your child’s bedroom on the first night, so make sure you have all their favourite things to hand on the move day. This will help them feel more at home.

Settling in

It does take a little time for everyone to settle in a home and a new area. If your children want to help you unpack then let them assist you. Allow your kids the freedom to choose where to place things and enjoy their new home. If they are old enough, let them pick out a paint colour for their bedroom or even help you in painting it.

Consistent routine is important to children so try to stick to their familiar nap times, meal times and outside activities as much as possible. This will help them to feel at ease and keep you a little more grounded. Put up their play equipment in the back garden and devote some time to playing with them, exploring and turning it into an adventure. Introduce yourselves to the neighbours and find out if there are other children nearby around the same age.

McLaren aims to close the gap

After a frustrating start to the season, McLaren is preparing to bring key updates to its racing cars.

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The McLaren team has been left perplexed as to why the cars lack pace, particularly in qualifying, in the first stages of the 2018 Formula One world championship.

A disappointing start

Fernando Alonso is currently sixth in the F1 championship after securing three points finishes, but both McLaren drivers have failed to qualify within the top ten at all three grand prix. races.

The expectations were high, and McLaren anticipated they would be fighting for podium finishes and wins this season, especially following the engine change from Honda to Renault. Renault were extremely confident of the reliability and power of their 2018 F1 engine.

Alonso finished in fifth place at the Australian grand prix, and seventh at Bahrain and China. His teammate Stoffel Vandoorne has failed to fare any better and has qualified behind Alonso at all three races, scoring points for eighth and ninth places in Bahrain and Australia respectively.

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While the Renault engine continues to perform well for teams such as Red Bull, questions are being asked as to how McLaren can improve its season.

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Car updates

Eric Boullier, McLaren’s racing director, has blamed the delay in launching the upgrades on reliability problems. Scheduled for production in the Spanish grand prix in May, it is hoped the upgrades enable McLaren to meet its ambitions for the 2018 Formula One championship.

Engineers from other teams have claimed the McLaren car is running with excessive drag, meaning the chassis was as much to blame as the engine in lack of speed in the straights. This suggests that McLaren has misinterpreted the chassis quality, and why the car remains slow despite switching to Renault.

McLaren has reassured fans that it is investigating all aspects, in order to secure better results in the F1 season going forward.

Formula One teams try to discover the ideal balance between drag and downforce to create an efficient racing car. If they attempt to reduce the drag, downforce will also be reduced, so a balance must be found that creates more or the same amount of downforce while producing less drag.

How a Cloud-Based Phone System Can Solve Five Real-Life Problems

Everyday business telephone system issues can impact operations efficiency and overall profits. Problems often arise – from losing business as clients are left unsatisfied to spending a fortune on technicians and outdated telephone systems.

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Here are five real-life problems from business owners and how a cloud-based phone system can provide the perfect solution.

1.      Losing Business Due to Dissatisfied Customers

According to recent statistics, British companies are losing up to £11 billion each year from poor customer service.

Communications enhance the customer experience, and your system will need to perform well. Cloud-based systems provide call management software which offers businesses valuable call data as well as providing a wealth of personalised services.

2.      Costly International Calls

If an international call is forwarded to you, it can quickly mount up to a large bill for your business.

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Businesses can avoid these expensive costs by commissioning an international VoIP wholesale provider such as https://www.idtexpress.com/ to implement a VoIP solution. VoIP utilises the internet to keep businesses connected and does not use traditional phone lines. Calls can even be forwarded to the nearest employee, providing effective customer service.

3.      Expensive Expansion and Technicians

Managing the cost of growth in your business is a difficult challenge, with maintaining telephone systems a costly expense. Upgrading the system, fixing issues and adding new employees to systems can all add up to large bills.

However, these issues are solved by using a cloud-based phone system. This system offers scalability, with users being added easily as your business grows. Maintenance can also be carried out remotely, avoiding costly call-out charges.

4.      Outdated and Unused Desk Phones

Forwarding landline calls to mobile devices can cost a fortune for small businesses.

By using a cloud-based phone system, calls can be directed automatically to an employee’s smartphone, eliminating the requirement for costly outdated and unused phones at the office.

If your company prefers desk handsets in the office, web-enabled handsets are a far more cost-effective option than traditional models.

5.      Missed Calls and Lost Business

According to statistics, small-to-medium-sized UK businesses lose around £90 million each year from missed calls.

Cloud-based phone systems provide features for missed call reporting, listing the extension numbers and offering opportunities to return the call. A call-management application can save companies invaluable business opportunities.

What Causes Glass Damage?

Having damaged or broken glass not only looks awful but will vastly decrease the warmth, insulation and security of a building. Broken glass is not very good as insulating, also drawing the attention of potential vandals and burglars. How does glass get damaged to the point where the windows need replacing or repairing?

To help understand why a double-glazed window might crack, it’s helpful to know how one is made. There are two panes of glass placed either side of a vacuum or a layer of inert gas. This makes a barrier to either repel or contain heat to maintain your property at a stable temperature. As a sealed unit, the pressure is constant inside the gap with the air pressure on the outside of the glass. The period when most breaks occur is during the winter where the extremely low temperatures of outside are on one side of the glass while the warmth of our central heating is on the other. It is this temperature difference that can cause issues.

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1) Weather

Windows in particular are a more delicate defence against the outside elements. The glass withstands hail, rain, wind, snow, excess heat and UV rays. Over time, the seasonal changes with rising and falling temperatures will affect the integrity of the glass in the windows. Humidity is a particular problem for deterioration of window sashes. In the UK we see a lot of rain and high moisture which can lead to eventual cracking of glass and window components. For a Gloucester Double Glazing Company, visit https://www.firmfix.co.uk/

2) Physical Impacts

We need glass in our homes and workplaces to let in the natural light and a refreshing breeze. Glass nowadays is incredibly strong and durable, withstanding reasonable impact but it will still break or crack if it is hit by a solid object with force. Most glass damage is caused by people, whether it’s a cricket ball or intentional vandalism. In some instances, large birds have flown into glass and shattered it.

3) Window Age

As with anything, the passing of time and wear and tear will lead to a deterioration in the condition of a window. Even the most cared for glass in a mild climate will not last forever. It’s not just the glass but the window’s components that age. Even glass that’s never been the victim of impact or harsh weather can develop cracks over time due to the natural contraction and expansion of structures.

The better the strength of the glass, the less likely it is to experience a crack. A thick sheet is more resistant to stress than a thin sheet for obvious reasons. When choosing new windows, bear this in mind and opt for a thicker pane of glass. Square or round windows have the lowest risk of suffering a crack or break due to its greater flexibility. A shorter pane of glass has less space to flex than a larger piece of glass. The window shape least likely to suffer breaks would be a tall, narrow window.

How to fix a leaking radiator

Leaking radiators can be annoying and highly damaging. The water leaks can cause damage to carpets, floorboards and walls, so it is important to fix the leaking radiator as soon as possible to prevent further damage. Read on for tips on fixing a radiator quickly and easily.

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Find the Source

The first thing to do when faced with a leaking radiator is to find the source of the leak. To do this, you need to dry the radiator with a towel. It should be easy to find the source of the leak once the radiator is totally dry.

You should check each fixture on the radiator to identify the likely source. The source is most likely to be in one of three places: the radiator body, the bleed point valve or the supplying water pipe.

Leaking Valves

A leaking valve is the easiest radiator problem to fix because it usually occurs when the valve is half open. You normally need to fully close the valve, and the leak should stop. To repair it, you need to drain the system to below the leak and turn off the supply. Undo the union nut and open the bleed valve to let the water drain. Use tape to bind the valve tail and tighten the union valve while opening the bleed and lockshield valves. If you aren’t sure about bleeding a radiator, look online for a handy guide such as this one.

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Leaking Because of Corrosion

Sometimes a radiator will leak because of corrosion. This is often because sludge builds up inside the radiator and corrodes it from the inside; this is called a pinhole leak. It is hard to fix this, but a temporary measure is to add a plastic resin to your feed and expansion tank to stem the flow. Note that this type of sealant shouldn’t be used in a sealed heating system. This is only a temporary solution until you buy a new radiator, such as one of the modern aluminium radiators from stockists such as http://apolloradiators.co.uk/Category/3/header/3/radiator-ranges.

If it all this DIY sounds too difficult, you could call in professionals. By using a pro, you can be sure the job is done properly and safely. You also have the peace of mind that you can call them back should anything not go according to plan with your radiator.

What Are the Advantages of Industrial Robots?

No one can foresee the long-term social consequences of automation, but one thing is certain: for many businesses automation is a necessity, not a choice.

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Those in which quality control is paramount are a case in point. Robots and automated production lines overseen by A.I. can produce identical items again and again with almost no variation. If the predictability of the product is vital to safety – as in aerospace, for example – it is almost impossible not to embrace it.

Likewise, when robots can replace human workers in unhealthy, hazardous or monotonous environments, there are compelling moral and economic arguments for automation.

Robots have been in use for several years – welding, paint spraying, fettling, drilling, packing and palletizing – but most of these machines have been cumbersome and expensive. These two factors have limited their productivity and the range of tasks they could perform.

Lighter, Faster, Cheaper

By combining other new technologies, it has become possible to deploy faster, cheaper, more agile robots. An example is the recent availability of effective metal bonding adhesive (see http://www.ct1ltd.com/product-applications/metal-to-metal-adhesive/). Replacing unwieldy welding, soldering and riveting attachments with lightweight adhesive injectors allows new levels of precision and dexterity, both for electronic fabrication and general mechanical assembling.

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Consequently, modern robotics can offer higher productivity and lower overheads than both manual CNC machines and the previous generation of automated devices. Many enterprises will be unable to compete without them.

Labour costs are also changing. Offshore labour in places like China is not so cheap anymore, and exchange rates will exacerbate this trend. The balance of costs between robotics and manual labour can only shift further toward robots in years to come.

Maintenance

As well as the high initial costs of cumbersome first-generation robots there were also high costs in maintenance. Again, simpler lighter machines – enabled by technologies like metal bonding adhesive – are diminishing those overheads. Modern robots often run 24/7 without needing interventions from human supervisors.

Such robots are also safer, avoiding some of the potential inconvenience posed by a growing body of legislation around factory automation.

Programming

Smaller robots can work in tighter spaces and therefore undertake more tasks. Combined with easier and more adaptable programming interfaces, your robot can produce one product today and a different one tomorrow, constantly adapting to demand.