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The open road for electric cars
Published August 12, 2011 | 
Electric car journeys in the UK can now be much longer thanks to Electricity – the green energy company, which has just launched the first national motorway charging network for electric vehicles.
Electricity has installed free charging points at twelve Welcome Break service stations and seventeen more will follow.
Until now, electric cars have been confined to urban journeys because of the limited range they can travel before they need recharging. The new motorway charging network makes longer journeys more practical.
There are two choices of socket – depending on how quickly you want to charge your car. The 32A supply tops up a car’s charge in twenty minutes, via a seven-pin socket, and can fully charge a car in an hour. There’s also a 13A supply that has a three-pin socket and takes about 12 hours to charge a vehicle. Of course, the second option is only practical if you’re going to be spending the night at the service station in the middle of a long journey.
While this development of a charging network is good news for electric car drivers on the whole, at the moment not all electric vehicles are compatible with the 32A system.
Electric cars still cost more than conventional cars to purchase, as do hybrids. But UK drivers thinking about buying electric cars or plug-in hybrid vehicles should be aware that they currently qualify for a £5000 government subsidy towards the purchase. When the scheme launched in January 2011, there was only one subsidized model available to buy outright – the Mitsubishi i-MiEV. By 2012 this grant will be made available for purchase of up to ten different electric and plug-in hybrid models.
The new motorway network of charging points is another stepping stone towards eco-friendly motoring becoming more commonplace, as drivers of electric cars and other low emission cars are able to travel more freely in their greener vehicles.
Food Inspiration From An Italian Stay: Lasagne
Published July 23, 2011 | We were in Florence recently and having walked till we dropped for the preceding three days we were glad to escape the heat of the city and head for the hills of Fiesole. Having had a leisurely wander round the town and taken endless photos of the beautiful views we were ready for some sustenance.
Although it was a hot day we both decided that it would be a sin to be in Italy and settle for a salad and so my husband decided to try the dish of the day, wild boar with juniper berries whilst I opted for the lasagne after narrowly deciding I’d prefer that over the spaghetti bolognese dish. I know it is sold in every supermarket and pasta joint at home but none of them could compare with what I was about to eat.
I realised that I had not made a lasagne at home for many years. In fact my last attempt had been in the days when you had to cook your lasagne first and a great hassle it was too. Nowadays you can buy lasagne which does not need to be pre-cooked making the cook’s job infinitely easier. I had no excuse not to try to recreate my Fiesole experience when I got home.
A quick look on the internet made me realise that there is an enormous number of lasagne recipes: lentil lasagne, tomato and goat’ s cheese lasagne, roasted vegetable lasagne, the rather esoteric leek, mushroom, fried egg and pangrattato lasagne and the rather delicious sounding scallop, wild mushroom and truffle lasagne. They all sounded interesting but would have to wait for another day.
I was also spoiled for choice by the number of recipes for traditional lasagne, including those offered by Schwartz, but after a lot of deliberation I opted for one that included not only beef mince but also pork mince for the ragu. It also included a bottle of red wine (so not a cheap dish), celery, carrot, onion, rosemary, tomatoes and beef stock. I impressed myself by making the béchamel sauce without a single lump, layered the ragu and white sauce with the pasta, and added some mozzarella and parmesan. Modesty prevents me from telling you just how good it was but the finished result more than justified the outlay in terms of cost and effort.
Why Toronto Deserves A Visit
Published July 22, 2011 | If you’re looking for a great city break in North America, then Toronto might be just the place.
Toronto is the fifth most populous city in North America, with more than five million people living in the metropolitan area and some 2.5 million in the city itself.
Leading organisations rate it consistently within the top 10 of the most liveable cities in the world.
The city lies on the shore of Lake Ontario, so even though it’s not on either the Atlantic or Pacific coast, it boasts beaches.
Winter may not be the ideal time to visit Toronto, as wind chill makes the temperature feel very chilly. But for most of the year, the city benefits from a climate that, by Canadian standards, is moderate.
Even if you’ve never been to Toronto before, you might find some of the cityscape familiar from films. It’s cheaper to film in Canada than the United States, so a number of films and TV shows that are supposedly set in places like New York are actually filmed in Toronto.
Where New York boasts its Empire State Building, the structure that dominates the Toronto skyline is the CN Tower. The tallest tower in the western hemisphere, it is 553.33 metres tall and is one of the best places to dine, especially at night, because of its spectacular views.
Toronto boasts some outstanding hotels, including the Trump International and the Ritz-Carlton.
Fortunately for those who don’t have deep pockets, there are good holiday deals to be had in the city, combining flights from the UK with stays in well-located hotels.
Toronto has an excellent public transport system linking the city centre with the delightful neighbourhoods like Little Italy, Forest Hill and Corktown.
The city boasts plenty of options for those looking for entertainment or to watch sport, and comedy is a particular strength, so fans of comedians such as Vic Reeves will feel right at home.
So, if you fancy a city break that’s within an eight-hour flight from the UK, check out the sites specialising in discount flights like expedia.co.uk or lastminute.com.
Wild Camping In Europe
Published July 21, 2011 | If you have enjoyed wild camping in the UK, you may be wondering what the laws are like in other parts of Europe. We take a quick look at what is allowed where. It is obviously not recommended that you break the law, even in countries where the police are reported to turn a blind eye.
- The Netherlands – wild camping is illegal and fines are heavy
- Scandinavia – there is no law against wild camping and what’s more it is also acceptable to pick berries and mushrooms. Fires are not permitted without permission and the usual courtesies apply, such as leaving no litter and not camping close to dwellings.
- France – the law governing wild camping is hazy but in practice it is usually OK with permission from the landowner. The lighting of fires is forbidden for obvious reasons.
- Spain – wild camping is illegal and various wild camping forums warn against migrant gangs targeting those who choose to ignore the law.
- Portugal – wild camping is illegal although forum members report that it is widely accepted
- Italy – wild camping is not allowed and police will wake you up during the night to tell you so!
- Croatia – wild camping is expressly forbidden and heavy fines apply. Ignorance of the law or pleading that you are a foreigner won’t wash with the Croatian police!
- Germany – wild camping is against the law.
- Greece – wild camping is illegal but judging by the numbers of people camping on the beaches the police seem to turn a blind eye.
- Estonia – wild camping is well tolerated but the Tourist Board recommends that you seek permission from the landowner. In some areas campers are positively welcomed by landowners.
- Austria – wild camping is illegal but tolerated so long as it is done out of sight.
If you are planning on sticking on the wild side, make sure you invest in very durable camping equipment and decent waterproof clothing. There’s no need to go crazy when purchasing clothing of this kind; just look around for second hand waterproof trousers and jackets.
How To Buy A Tent For Your Camping Holiday
Published July 19, 2011 | Choosing a tent can be a daunting experience. With some tents costing over a thousand pounds and others as little as £20, the range is vast.
The internet is all good and well for some purchases but there is nothing to compare with seeing a tent in the shop. Tents are often advertised as suitable for 4 to 6 people but when you see them in the flesh it is clear that they would only take 3 people plus their gear comfortably. As well as seeing the tent already erected, it is a good idea to ask to see it in its packed state. Some can take up a huge amount of boot space which could well be a consideration if you do not have a large car. Some sites limit the amount of space your tent can take up so bear this in mind too.
Don’t be tempted to buy a tent which is less tall inside than you are. Unless you are cycling or hiking and so trying to cut down on weight there is really no need to spend your precious holiday time bent double. You may well think that you will be out enjoying the great outdoors most of the time but a few rainy days could make you regret your decision. Other items you shouldn’t skimp on include walking boots. Just think of how often you’ll be wearing your shoes throughout a typical camping holiday and you’ll quickly realise why it’s crucial to invest in the best walking boots money can buy.
Always work out how many of you will be putting the tent up. There may well be two of you but if you are both engrossed in the intricacies of erecting the tent who is going to ensure that little Sophie doesn’t wander off towards that river that sounded such fun when you were choosing the site? Putting a tent up no longer requires a degree in engineering but if the instructions say it will take two to do it they are likely to be right.
The Forgotten List- How To Make Your Camping Trip Easier
Published July 14, 2011 | No matter how well you prepare for your camping trip, there is always the inevitable piece of camping equipment that will be forgotten. After all, you can’t pack everything and if you can’t think of it then it’s not important, right? Well, not always. You can get by but you could make life a lot easier on yourself if you just remember these essential items:
1. Torches
Torches, such essential camping accessories, are often forgotten on camping trips as the dark is not thought of as being a problem. Sometimes the glow from a campfire may be all you need to light your evening and sometimes the stars are bright enough to help you see. However, when the campfire goes out and the clouds make an appearance, you will need some artificial light. Don’t just bring one torch as it is wise to bring enough for everyone so they can all make their way through the darkness. It’s always best to think of the what if’s, so this is just being sensible.
2. Washing Up Supplies
Nature isn’t going to clean up after you, so make sure you bring some tea towels or dishcloths even if you aren’t using proper cutlery or crockery. Preparing meals while camping isn’t going to be as clean and tidy as it is at home, so having washing up supplies at hand will make you feel a lot cleaner and make your food more sanitarily prepared.
3. Door Mat
It might sound like an unusual thing to bring but you are in the great outdoors, so you will get dirty and you will carry it around with you everywhere you go. A door mat is great for you to place outside your tent so you can wipe your feet as it means you will not be bringing the outside inside. You might think a towel or cloth could do the job, or even just taking your shoes off outside the tent but do you want to clean the towel or cloth later with all that dirt? Taking your shoes off outside will still leave a mark when you bring it inside your tent and what happens if it rains and you’ve left your shoes outside?
4. Blankets
It’s not that these are often forgotten but people often misjudge the amount of blankets they will need. It is often just the one that will be brought for people to sit on and enjoy a picnic but when the night comes they realise their mistakes. Sleeping bags may not be able to provide you all the comfort and warmth you need for a better night’s sleep, so it is wise to bring a few blankets to go underneath your sleeping bag and to cover you. Of course, these can be shared between people.
5. Bin Bags
I hope you’re not planning on leaving all your rubbish behind. Of course you’re not, but you’ve forgotten some bin bags to place them in, which makes it a whole lot harder to take it with you. You’re going to go through quite a bit of waste, so it’s always helpful to have these bags ready to keep you organised and also to keep the smell isolated away from you.
Get the best motorhome rentals all over the world
Published June 15, 2011 | The face of world of tourism has been changing very fast over the last few decades and that is why the tourism industry is standing on the verge of a great and worldwide tourism revolution. There is no doubt that these changes are certainly good in favor of the visiting tourists and also for the tourism industry of the concerned countries. Every year, the numerous tourists from all parts of the world are spending millions and millions foreign exchange while visiting different places that are scattered in all parts of the world.
Apart from delicate hotels and restaurants and delicate food items, the visiting tourists also like to avail the best of the conveyance facilities that are available in the place where they are visiting. That is why various touring companies and agencies are also spending quite a goo sum of money behind getting the best cars and other means of conveyance for themselves. In the process of development, the use of motorhome hire is becoming more and more popular these days. These motorhomes are available almost in all parts of the world.
The basic concept behind the motorhomes is a type of motor vehicle which can fulfill the need of a wonderfully comfortable home for the users. These motorhomes are also known by various names like motorcaravans, RVs, Campervans, and Wohnmobiles. Whatever the name may be, it is very true that these motorhomes are the best choice of motor vehicles that the tourists have started preferring these days. These motorhomes are available in the form of motorhome rental. In the UK, the business of motorhome hire is rising very fast and that is why various automobile companies are expanding their business with these help of the motorhome rental UK.
The structure of the motorhomes is very much in accordance with the requirement of the global community. These vehicles are light in weight and that is why they consume lesser amount of energy sources. Due to this vehicles are less expensive and that is why they are more affordable. These motorhomes are actually super luxurious motor vans that have more than one room, a kitchen space, drawing space and also toilet. This clearly suggests that these motorhomes are delicate homes on the move. The interior portion of the motorhomes is decorated quite tastefully too. There is no doubt that the availability of the motorhome hire is an added advantage for the visitors as they can get the best and also the most affordable conveyance in the form of motorhomes.