I’m going to a Halloween party on Saturday, and i know that some of my smoking mates will be there. I’m hoping that there’ll be a few hookah pipes kicking around, as I don’t want to take any of my bongs or even one of my new ones, as they will only get lost or damaged so I think I’ll by some smoking herbs instead.

One thing i don’t like about Halloween is dressing up, i have only dressed up once and that was as batman and i fully embraced it. I bought a latex genuine DC comic Batman Begins mask and a Dark Knight suite. It was good but i couldn’t use my wallet since i couldn’t get hand into my pocket, my face got sweaty quick, well not sweaty but damp through my breath hitting the mask.
Ok i looked the part but it cost me the best part of £80.

I’ve seem one of those inflatable sumo suits in a local shop for under £10 which isn’t bad and i know that they cost 3x that on the internet.

In honesty I didn’t mind spending more for a mate’s birthday (it was his 30th) but I’m not spending loads for Halloween, and I’d only take the mask off after 5 minutes as I’d be sick of telling people who I was.

Cruise ships often seem full up with loved-up couples celebrating their honeymoon, anniversary, or just enjoying a well earned-holiday away from work and the kids. It can be a bit awkward for someone without a romantic partner to relax and enjoy their much anticipated cruise, what with all the kissing, hand holding and romance all around them. In fact, it could be easy to feel lonely on a cruise ship when you’re on your own. However, if you’re not in a relationship but love the idea of going on an ocean cruise, then consider taking a ‘singles’ cruise. These cruises are specifically aimed at groups of unmarried, divorced or widowed people looking to make friends or find a love or a close friendship. There are more and more cruises aimed at single people every year, meaning your options for cruise destinations and ports of call are nearly endless. Going on a singles cruise is just like any themed cruise single although most people over the age of 21 will usually have the best time as most singles cruises are limited to adults of drinking age and older. After all, it wouldn’t be much of a singles cruise if you couldn’t sit at the bar and mingle with the other passengers!

On a cruise deals package for singles, the on and off board activities are usually geared towards those that will most appear to single people and will give the most opportunities to meet new people. You’ll get to participate in single cruise activities without worrying about if someone is married or involved in a relationship as meeting and greeting potential romantic interests is easier and takes place in a much more laid back environment.

A really innovative feature of many of these singles cruises is the pre-cruise activities themselves. About 8 weeks before your cruise, it is now common for a cruise ship company to invite those who have booked to an online message board where you can “meet up” with other cruise attendees beforehand. This is really excellent “ice breaker” for those who want to make contact with other singles on a specific cruise. Also, you’ll often be given the opportunity to arrive at the city where you’ll be departing a few days early (normally with a decent hotel discount) to meet up with other cruise ship patrons – a great chance to have dinner, a few cocktails and light the spark for some early romance!

The typical age range for singles cruises is between 30 and 50, however, there will usually be a variety of ages present on any cruise, and if you’re concerned about the age group on the cruise of your choice, simply ask the cruise organizer, and he or she can fill you in or direct you to a better option for your age range. Also, if you’re interested in same sex relationships, there are gay and lesbian cruises offered, again just contact the cruise organizer for more information and to find the option that’s best for you.

Who knows, you just might just come back with the partner of your dreams as well as a great tan and some unforgettable memories!

We have all seen cars with their own personal UK number plate on the road at some point – but have you ever wondered where to begin the search to get your hands on one for yourself? Perhaps you may have been put off by the potential cost of acquiring a personal or cherished registration number and have never really investigated the possibility of buying one? However, personal number plates are much more affordable than you might think, and with literally thousands of possible combinations available to buy, finding your ideal registration plate is a fun, enjoyable and easy process.

The DVLA hold about 7 auctions every year for the more sought after registrations at various locations around the UK like Barnsley, Harrogate and London. These auctions have a fantastic atmosphere and are run by professional and friendly people, so you’re not only in for a great day out, but you also get the opportunity to bid for some of the most distinctive and appealing registrations on the market in person. Bidding at auctions is probably the most popular way of buying personalised plates and, as these auctions are held all over the UK, there is sure to be one near your area very soon. To find out more about attending forthcoming auctions, contact the DVLA for further information.

Of course, many of us have never been to an auction, never mind one that specializes in number plates for sale, and the thought of it may seem a bit daunting to the newcomer. The DVLA has a video link on their web site so you can see what an auction looks like for yourself and the kind of procedures involved. But don’t worry if for some reason you cannot attend an auction in person as the DVLA offers free telephone, Internet and written bidding facilities.

If purchasing your very own personal number plate at auction is appealing you will be sure to experience a great day out but the important thing to remember is that bidding for goods at an auction is serious business. If you are going to make a bid on a personalised registration then make sure you know your budget and what you can afford and stick to it. It is very easy to make the mistake of getting carried away by the intense atmosphere in the auction room, but most people know their limits and are usually sensible enough to check the guide price before they attend the auction. Remember, the more unique or distinct the number plate is the higher the price for it will be.

It is an exciting experience in itself watching two bidders reaching astronomical prices for that much sought after personal number plate!

If you’re not familiar with bingo at all – it is a very easy game to understand, requiring little or no skill. Its online cousin is often easier still! Despite its ease, bingo is a compelling game of chance with a great social aspect and should you choose to dip a toe in the water you’ll probably be hooked.

The game’s format is as follows. Players purchase a card consisting of three rows of random numbers (the amount of numbers on each cards can vary according to different forms of the game). Then, numbers are drawn from a machine at random and called out to the audience. If a number that is called corresponds to a number on your card, you cross it out. The winner of the game is the first player to cross out all the numbers on a card – a fact they announce with the famous shout of “house!” which brings the game to an  end.

Online bingo is exactly the same in principle with a few minor changes. Firstly, the numbers are not drawn from a machine and announced, but are generated at random by a software program. In addition, most online games have an auto cross-off feature that marks the numbers off for you automatically so you don’t even have to watch the game. Finally, the games are accompanied by an online chat room where the people involved in the game can chat to each other. This is the heart of the online bingo experience and where great, lasting friendships can be made.

Most bingo sites require you to register with them before you play to create a profile and username by which you will become recognised by other players. In most cases, they will also require you to leave your credit card details to make payments for cards. Many operators will actually give you a free budget to play with on joining – as much as £20s worth of free games can be had during some promotions.

Some games can have incredibly high jackpot prizes of many thousands of pounds. These are the so-called ‘progressive games’ in which there is no guarantee that any particular game will actually have a winner. In such a game, the amount in the jackpot increases with each game and it is here that the most serious players will try to win big money.

Although online bingo is a game of chance, you can slightly increase the odds of you winning by buying several cards at once in any single game. This gives you a greater spread of numbers and therefore a marginally higher chance of a win overall.

There is no definitive answer to that question it largely depends upon the child, but as the many  people who have been on skiing holidays will tell you, they marvel at the sight of toddlers of 3 or 4 years old negotiating turns and confidently travelling down the hill seemingly without effort. As a rule of thumb, if they want to start in a proper group, between 4 and 5 years seems to be the right age. If they are younger, it is better if they do a private session or semi-private, with two or three in a class. Ski school instructors find it is difficult to cope with more than three 3-year-olds at a time.

Experienced ski school instructors will tell you that possibly the best the best preparation for skiing is tobogganing. This adds the fun element to their skiing holiday and the combination of speed, terror and lack of control is good practice.  A note of caution, as we all know toboggans can be quick and you should always pick your slope with this in mind; you don’t want any spills that might put the child off what is a wonderful skiing holiday.

An important point is the equipment that you buy or hire for the children, remember never be fobbed of with inferior stuff like plastic imitations, they need proper skis for their size and boots which should be of the rear entry variety to make life easier for them, poles are not necessary, just watch a group of youngsters going down and the amazing balance they have. Some essential equipment however are good sunglasses or goggles, the sun can be bright reflecting off the snow and a crash helmet is a must.

Do not try to teach your child to ski if you are not a qualified instructor, most parents are survival skiers, getting down the piste in spite of their technique, not because of it. Children learn largely through imitation, and they need someone technically perfect to copy. One final word, the age at which children start makes very little difference to how well they ski as adults. Whether or not they enjoyed their first experience of a skiing holiday is far more important!

Child Skiing

I’m in the market for a few new Acrylic Bongs to add to my collection, I’ve got around 10 bongs so far and i have about £50 to spend this weekend, I’ve been looking a the Black leaf 53Cm Bong which retails around £30 leaving me with £20 so i think I’ll just get a cheapo bong for occasional use when i have the odd house party.

Even budget bongs can be quite good in the styling and design, the quality might lack a little but if your passing them round with your mates your not going to get your best glass bong out in case it gets dropped.

I’ve got all sorts of bongs in my collection from tall ones to short fat ones and those nifty travel ones that you can get.

Acrylic Bongs