Scottie James Grainger

You can bet on just about anything these days

Online betting has been around for a few years now and it’s amazing just what you can bet on. You can bet on usual things from sporting events to football results, but did you know you can also bet on strictly come dancing or do a bit of dancing on ice betting as well.

The popularity of online betting means that there is even more choice than before, with many websites offering free bets and new customer bonuses there has never been a better time to have a flutter; now all you have to think of is what you’re going to bet on.

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Getting some box templates laser cut

Since I got my new workbench I’ve made a few standard jewellery boxes, but I now want to make some unusual looking boxes. I don’t have access to a bandsaw or scroll saw so I decided that I would get some router templates made.

After doing a search on the internet I came across a website called razorlab.co.uk, they offer laser cutting services in a range of different materials and software that you can upload you files, get an instant quote and order with a couple of clicks of the mouse.

To upload your design, a couple of steps must be taken so that the Razorlab software can recognise the parts, the website has a number of handy tutorials to help you get your design right including design tips for Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw and Inkscape.

Once you have your design how you want it, simply upload it onto the website, choose the material that you want to use and how thick and the software will give you an instant quote.

The router templates that I uploaded worked out a just over £50 on 5mm thick acrylic which isn’t that bad as I’ll be making lots of these unusually shaped boxes in the future.

Why not check out razorlab.co.uk today and get designing your own stuff today.

posted by Scottie in Hobbies,Technology and have No Comments

Removing Grout From Tiles

I re-grouted my bathroom at the weekend and though I’d write a quick how to guide incase any of you wanted to try it as well.

Causes of Grout Discolouration

Unless your shower is a brand new installation, you may well have noticed that the spaces between the tiles are not quite as pristine as the tiles. This is due to dirt getting into the grout, the cement like material that fills the joints between them.

Bathrooms and kitchens are subjected to a wide range of temperatures and particularly in the case of bathrooms, damp. Both will eventually cause the grout to become discoloured.

Removing Grout Build-up

To remove grout it is essential to protect the surrounding tiles with masking tape. You can then use a tool called a grout rake, which can be found in most DIY stores. This is a little like a heavy-duty toothbrush, which enables you to gently scrape the dirt encrusted layer of grout away. Once this has been accomplished, you are ready to apply a fresh layer of grout between the tiles.

Use exactly the same process to tackle grubby tiles in the kitchen. These are liable to suffer from greasy coating as much as the effects of damp, so also wash their surfaces with detergent.

posted by Scottie in General,Home and have No Comments

Thinking of changing my WordPress hosting

The hosting on my blog is about to end and I’m thinking of hosting it with a specialist WordPress hosting company. I’ve had a look around and found a company called 34SP.com who specialise in hosting and WordPress hosting.

Plans start at just £.95 a month and you also get access to custom WordPress themes, so it might just be the time to update the style of this blog. 34SP.com has dedicated servers and the best thing is the first month is free, so if I don’t like it I can cancel it and it’ll cost me nothing.

Check out their website, it has everything you need to know about getting started and even a full page of WordPress sample sites for you to have a look at. They can even install WordPress for you if it’s a brand new blog and set it up for you too.

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Getting some new bathroom accessories to kick off the New Year

It’s a new year so time to update my tired looking bathroom and bring it up to a modern look. The bathroom suite was changed last year from a horrible pink one to a nice bright white one and it’s time to finish the rest.

I’m going to re-tile the walls with some mosaic tiles, add a new bathroom cabinet and some matching bathroom accessories to finish off the look.

The bathroom cabinet I quite like is the HIB Alta 3 Door Mirror Cabinet which comes complete with two halogen lights and a shaver socket. The cabinet is around £300 and will finish off the look I’m going for.

A set of chrome bathroom accessories will also tie in with the showerhead and bathroom mixers.

I’m also toying with the idea of fitting some down lighters in the bathroom instead of the art deco style light that is in there at the moment, but I think that might need a bit more planning.

posted by Scottie in Hobbies,Home and have No Comments

Happy New Year!

A big Happy New Year to everyone! Hope 2012 is a great year for you all.

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Free Android Sat Nav Apps

Android users are benefitting greatly from some of the new free smartphone sat nav apps that are now available. These sat nav apps are some of the best in the industry and are available to Android users free of charge. One of the newest Android sat nav applications is Navfree, an on-board satellite system that can easily and quickly be accessed on a smartphone. This new application provides detailed mapping data that has been provided by more than 3.7 million iPhone users.

While Navfree was originally designed for the iPhone, the application is now available to Android OS users on such models as the LG Optimus 2X and the LG Optimus Black. The app is completely free and is available to users in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa, Latin America and North America.

Users will find Android sat nav apps like Navfree very useful. Since this is an on-board application, all data and mapping will be stored, allowing access without a signal. This is one of the most advanced navigation applications and is already being used by millions around the world.

Using Android sat nav apps that are on-board will help to reduce data charges that can be incurred, which is another reason Navfree has quickly become one of the top applications for Android. The download is fast and free and constant updates are made available. With users around the world, all mapping data is always up to date. This GPS system is one of the most popular free Android sat nav apps on the market.

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Why Trade Forex?

Forex traders consider that the forex market offers excellent opportunities for retail traders to make a profit; perhaps the best of all the markets available today.  This is borne out by the fact that it is the most commonly traded market across the globe, with the most liquidity; that is, the ability to enter and exit trades quickly, and the long opening hours make it possible to trade day and night throughout the working week, no matter what the geographical location.

When these important factors are brought together, it creates an environment in which forex traders benefit from modest transaction costs compared to other traders in different financial markets, improved flexibility and increased opportunities.  Despite all these advantages, of course, forex trading takes time, dedication and skill in order to ensure success.

A good approach is to become familiar with the terms used in trading and the actual mechanisms for making trades.  The principle whereby forex software is used to make trades via a forex platform should be clearly understood; automated trading is carried out via forex robots in response to, a usually pre-arranged, forex signal, which is an indicator of when to start or finish a trade.

There are different forex systems, however, and varying degrees of human intervention depending on the preferences of the trader.  For example, there are companies specialising in selling forex signals and sending them to traders via mobile phone or sms, leaving it up to the trader to put in place the trade using whichever mechanism is preferred.  Other forex platforms are directly linked to a broker’s central trading hub and trades are automatically instigated in tandem with this, requiring no hands-on work by the trader at all.

Individuals who take the time to practise their trading skills will be able to make an informed decision to favour one method or another.

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Vertical Blinds – for that Modern Touch

Vertical blinds blend modern style with functionality, and are suitable for small windows, patio doors and virtually everything in between.  They are popular in both offices and homes, and effectively control the amount of light allowed into a room.  Additionally, they provide total privacy when completely closed.

Colour

Vertical blinds are available in a huge selection of colours ranging from neutral and basic colours to brighter, more vibrant colours.  It is important to consider the overall decor of the room when choosing the colour of your vertical blinds, as windows tend to be one of the focal points of any room.

Louvre Widths

The louvres (which are the pieces that hang vertically to create the blind) are available in two standard widths; 89 mm (3.5 inches) and 127 mm (five inches).  The most suitable width will depend both on the size of the window or door, and personal taste. 

Vertical Blind Control

You can choose to draw your vertical blinds to either the left or the right or, alternatively, you can split them down the middle and draw them to both sides. 

Specialist Fabrics

Vertical blinds can be made using a variety of special fabrics including fire resistant, blackout and washable fabrics.

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Many Singles Choose to Date Online

It is estimated that there are over 15 million single adults currently living in the UK and Ireland, and the way that these singles are meeting potential life partners is changing as a result of the internet.

In the 21st century, life is busier than it has ever been before.  With so much of their time taken up by the demands of work or family, today’s singles have less time than ever to meet potential life partners.  This lack of time, coupled with easy access to the internet, has made online dating one of the most popular ways of meeting someone with whom to have a meaningful relationship.

In this day and age when so much of our daily life revolves around the internet, it simply makes sense that people are becoming more open to the possibility of finding true love online.  The internet makes it much easier for us to meet a wider selection of potential romantic partners than we would be able to otherwise.  We do everything from shopping for clothes and food to looking for houses and applying for jobs online: why shouldn’t we look for love on the internet too?

There are hundreds of dating sites available on the internet which offer all kinds of services for all kinds of singles.  The better ones take themselves seriously and want to be taken seriously by their members; they look to attract people who are serious about their search for a partner and tend to appeal to well-educated professionals of a certain age – usually between 30 and 55 years old.

Some of the more popular dating sites, such as Parship UK, actually have teams of psychologists working for them using tried and tested rules of compatibility to match people with one another, based on their answers to a questionnaire they are asked to fill out when they first join.  Parship Dating also has a dating blog members can read which offers tips and advice on dating, as well as a personal dating advice service where members can phone or email their dating queries or dilemmas to a professional dating counsellor.

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