1 week agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Drivers go wild for ‘great’ £13 gadget to keep car warm WITHOUT wasting petrol on heating – snap it up before winter
DRIVERS have been hailing a £13 gadget which can keep your car warm this winter without wasting petrol on heating.
While the Met Office is suggesting the mercury could bounce back as high as 22C in the coming days, Brits wouldn’t expect to see much more of that at this time of year.
With that in mind, motorists are righty looking to get their cars ready for the colder months and it seems there’s a new bit of tech on the rise.
Most modern cars are fitted with air conditioning, which includes heater functions, and many even have a special button to de-mist the windscreen.
But the problem with running your air con is that it is powered by a driver belt attached to a crankshaft on the engine.
As such, the more you use the blower, the harder the engine has to work to keep a consistent power output.
This makes your motor less fuel efficient, slashing its mpg rating.
And with the cost of petrol at almost 135p per litre on average, this could end up costing you at the pumps.
Instead, some drivers are opting for an aftermarket heater unit as a more efficient way of staying warm.
Available for as little as £13 on Amazon, the device is about the size of a mobile phone and can be placed on an adhesive stand on your dashboard.
Instead of relying directly on the engine, it plugs into the cigarette lighter or charger socket and is powered by the battery.
While the battery does derive charge from the engine, it’s more efficient to recharge the battery via the alternator than it is to run the air con for an extensive period.
The new gadget has two modes, allowing you to channel hot air or “natural” air to keep things fresh.
And the stand can rotate through 360 degrees with a 60-degree tilt, allowing you to keep the air flowing to any part of the cabin.
1 week agoUSA UpdateComments Off on English train station an hour from London that looks like it’s from Harry Potter – with riverside pub next door
A TINY English train station that is barely used is like something Harry Potter.
Chappel & Wakes Colne railway station in Colchester is around an hour from London, travelling to Liverpool Street station.
AlamyChappel & Wakes Colne railway station is just over an hour from London[/caption]
AlamyTrains go over the Chappel Viaduct, compared to the one in Harry Potter[/caption]
In the summer you can see a field of blue linseed oil bearing flowersAlamy
Just over 28,000 people use it a year, working out to around 77 passengers a day.
However, the train station is right next to the Chappel Viaduct, a huge brick structure measuring 1,066ft.
Built in the 1840s, trains run over the top of the viaduct, which is above a field of blue linseed oil bearing flowers during the summer.
Costing more than £2million to build in today’s money, it is one of the UK’s largest brick-built structures still standing.
Many may see the resemblance to the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland, made famous for featuring in the Harry Potter films when used by the Hogwarts Express.
And the Essex viaduct has boomed in popularity by social media users who take pictures in one of the 32 arches, stretching 30ft tall.
Earlier this year, the viaduct celebrated its 175th anniversary of train routes, which launched in 1849.
Otherwise there is nearby The Swan Inn pub right on the river, whose beer garden is right underneath the viaduct.
One previous tourist wrote: “The location is beautiful and we had a short walk afterwards under the viaduct – a hidden gem of Victorian Essex.”
If you fancy visiting, the station has just one platform with a single track.
Thankfully, just one train runs an hour in each direction so there is rarely a battle for the track.
Platforms two and three are home to the East Anglian Railway Museum.
The attraction has themed events including Thomas the Tank Engine day outs as well as Steam train days.
Sun Travel's favourite train journeys in the world
Sun Travel's journalists have taken their fare share of train journeys on their travels and here they share their most memorable rail experiences.
Davos to Geneva, Switzerland
“After a ski holiday in Davos, I took the scenic train back to Geneva Airport. The snow-covered mountains and tiny alpine villages that we passed were so beautiful that it felt like a moving picture was playing beyond the glass.” – Caroline McGuire
Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen
“Nothing quite beats the Shinkansen bullet train, one of the fastest in the world. It hardly feels like you’re whizzing along at speed until you look outside and see the trees a green blur. Make sure to book seat D or E too – as you’ll have the best view of Mount Fuji along the way.” Kara Godfrey
London to Paris by Eurostar
“Those who have never travelled on the Eurostar may wonder what’s so special about a seemingly ordinary train that takes you across the channel. You won’t have to waste a moment and can tick off all the top attractions from the Louvre to the Champs-Élysées which are both less than five kilometres from the Gare du Nord.” – Sophie Swietochowski
Glasgow to Fort William by Scotrail
“From mountain landscapes and serene lochs to the wistful moors, I spent my three-hour journey from Glasgow to Fort William gazing out the window. Sit on the left-hand side of the train for the best views overlooking Loch Lomond.” – Hope Brotherton
Beijing to Ulaanbatar
“The Trans-Mongolian Express is truly a train journey like no other. It starts amid the chaos of central Beijing before the city’s high-rises give way to crumbling ancient villages and eventually the vast vacant plains of Mongolia, via the Gobi desert. The deep orange sunset seen in the middle of the desert is among the best I’ve witnessed anywhere.” – Ryan Gray
Also in the UK is the Knaresborough Viaduct, built in 1851 that is often compared to a fairytale.
1 week agoUSA UpdateComments Off on We bought Grand Designs’ ‘biggest EVER disaster’ after it washed up on beach – now we’ve turned it into holiday home
A COUPLE bought Grand Designs’ biggest ever disaster project after it washed up on a beach – and have turned it into a holiday home.
Rob and Sarah Burch, from Essex, snapped up the Medway Eco-Barge, which featured on an episode of the Kevin McCloud-helmed Channel 4 show in 2007.
AlamyThe derelict houseboat ‘Medway Eco-barge’ from Grand Designs washed up on a beach at Southend-on-Sea[/caption]
Channel 4Kevin McCloud during the infamous episode in 2007[/caption]
Chris Miller and Sze Liu Lai bailed out of the eco-barge after costs soaredChannel 4Channel 4The couple intended to spend just £50,000 converting the barge into a two-storey house[/caption]
Chris Miller and Sze Liu Lai had ambitious plans to renovate a rusted Thames barge into a two-storey houseboat with three bedrooms.
They only used eco-friendly and second hand materials, and had an initial budget of just £50,000.
But they clashed with builders over their unrealistic demands, with one worker telling them: “It looks s***.”
They eventually bailed out when the disastrous scheme’s costs skyrocketed 60% beyond their budget.
The eco-barge was abandoned before washing up on an Essex beach in 2011, where it was used by squatters.
Rob and Sarah bought it in 2020 for £70,000 and have since splurged £150,000 renovating it into a plush home.
It’s a world away from what it looked like on the show, with McCloud even describing it as “a floating scrapheap challenge”.
The Burchs own a steel frame firm and worked on the barge at their boat yard in Burnham-on-Crouch.
Rob, 54, said despite the boat looking structurally okay from the outside, once work began it was clear it would end up “being a complete re-fit”.
He told the MailOnline: “They were doing a conversion, and everything they had done looked okay on the outside, but it was terrible when we started to look at it…
“The idea initially was to recycle the materials back onto the boat, but because we delved so far into it, it literally became about taking it out and replacing it.”
Dad-of-four Rob said with the yard just three miles from the North Sea, the boat “has had a baptism of fire” due to stormy weather.
He admitted the project was a lot more in-depth than he and his wife had first realised, initially intending to put a steel frame on top and a tidy up downstairs.
However, they soon realised there was water under the boards.
On top of the money spent, the Burchs were doing everything on their own time while using their own workforce.
Two years after first buying the boat, it was finally finished in 2022.
But it’s been all worth it in the end, with the family splitting their time between the boat and their house in St Lawrence.
The downstairs level has the main bedroom, while the barge also boasts a small library and plush dining area.
Sarah, 47, said: “We’re attached to it, it’s like our baby.”
Channel 4The barge at its halfway point during the Grand Designs episode[/caption]
Channel 4The revamp caused major clashes in 2007[/caption]
Inside the 'saddest' Grand Designs house
Savills’s listing reads: “The property represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take on and finish the specification and fit out of one of the UK’s most spectacularly situated coastal homes.
“The bespoke design has been brought to life through impressive engineering, with the building being anchored to the bedrock, blending whitewashed elevations with steel and glass, culminating with a lighthouse feature at one end giving almost 360-degree views of the coastline.
“The position combines privacy with a diverse range of breath-taking views, all set in around 3 acres, which includes a large area of foreshore, a private tidal beach area and coves.”
The property is set in three acres of land and is equipped with an infinity pool and a hot tub as well as a spacious driveway.
Nic Chbat, director of Match Property estate agents in North Devon, who previously assisted with finding a buyer last year said at the time the sale stalled after the timeframe for the sale “expired”.
He added the previous buyer was “still wanting to buy the property,” and the sale was still expected to proceed.
The new listing though would suggest the purchase was never made with the sale now being handled by London-based estate agents Savills.
A spokeswoman for both Savills and the receivers Bellevue Mortlakes said: “The sale represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase one of the UK’s most spectacularly situated coastal homes and for the buyer to put the finishing touches to the property’s interior to their own specification.
“The current sale price (offers in excess of £5.25m) represents fair value noting the prevailing economic and heterogeneous nature of this opportunity.
“The property has panoramic sea views and is set in grounds of over three acres, including foreshore and a tidal beach, with accommodation extending to over 6,260 sq ft.
“The detached guest lodge/holiday let accommodation extends to about 1,270 sq ft and is included in the sale price.
“Subject to registration with the agents, the receiver has provided an extensive suite of information and supporting documentation relating to the building’s history, construction and title, which are available via an online data room.”
1 week agoUSA UpdateComments Off on ‘Smallest house in Britain’ inside GARAGE is so tiny passersby might miss it & it’s hitting market for astonishing price
PROPERTY hunters have been left shocked by the “smallest house in Britain” inside a tiny garage that’s hit the market for an astonishing price.
The listing in Clapton, London has attracted much attention on social media from people dumbfounded by the “expensive” home.
Kennedy Newsand MediaThe property lies sandwiched between two far taller buildings[/caption]
Kennedy Newsand MediaThe reception room and kitchen inside the home[/caption]
Kennedy Newsand MediaA floor plan shows just how small the house is[/caption]
The one-bed, one-storey house is sandwiched between two tall properties and some have commented that it resembles a “converted garage.”
The tiny home is currently listed for sale on Rightmove for an extraordinary sum.
Found at the end of a long driveway, inside the floor plan shows it has just a small shower room, a kitchen living area, one bedroom and a garden to the side.
The listing for the property reads: “A beautifully renovated one bedroom property in Clapton.
“The open plan living space and kitchen offers a modern contemporary finish throughout with all details considered when carrying out the refurbishment of the property.
“The spacious open plan kitchen and living area boasts an atmosphere of sociability and relaxation.
“The design is both functional and aesthetically pleasing, offering the perfect space for cooking, dining, and unwinding.”
The listing continues: “This area also provides a stunning view of a private outdoor space.
“The property also benefits from a brand new bathroom suite.
“The kitchen itself features fully integrated appliances that seamlessly blend into the modern design.
“New cabinets and worktops not only provide ample storage and preparation space but also contribute to the contemporary aesthetics of the space.
“The large double bedroom is flooded with an abundance of natural light and also provides direct access to the private garden.
“The outdoor space that’s both enchanting and easy to maintain offers privacy features that allows enjoyment of the outdoors and to take advantage of having private outdoor space.
“The property also benefits from private off street parking.”
A Reddit thread on the topic quickly emerged with many users shocked at the property’s £525,000 price tag.
One user said: “Half a million pounds for a converted garage.”
Other people were quick to comment on how “insane” the listing was.
Kennedy Newsand MediaThe property is currently listed for £525,000[/caption]
Kennedy Newsand MediaThe bedroom space is attached directly to the kitchen and lounge[/caption]
Kennedy Newsand MediaThe property includes a garden at the rear[/caption]
One commenter said: “Wait, tell me you are kidding. Surely its not that little white ‘house’ shoved in between the two tall buildings. I’m going to have to look at this again, hang on.
“Back again. Yes, yes it is. Oh my word, how insane.”
Many agreed, adding that they thought it was part of the larger block of flats or that it was just a “converted garage” rather than a home.
The garden space at the rear of the property is in-fact larger than the entire combined floor area of the home.
This led many to conclude the property was just a “little shed” attached to the house.
Some others remained somewhat optimistic, however, about the prospects of the home.
One user commented: “You could do something really interesting with that space and building but it would probably cost another 250k.”
How to turn a garage into a home
IF you've thought about turning your garage into a home, here's how.
Virgin Money estimates that converting your garage into an en-suite bedroom could add 20% to the value of your home.
Given that the average garage conversion costs around £6,000 it is a cost-effective way of increasing your living space.
Unlike an extension, you don’t need to pay for laying new foundations or building new walls. And, your garage may also already have power, meaning conversions can be quite cheap.
While the average price may be around £6,000, according to the Homeowners Alliance, this cost could increase though if there are structural changes, plumbing needed or utilities to be added.
The other factors that can affect the cost of your garage conversion include:
Whether the foundations need to be reinforced.
If the walls, floors or roof need to be repaired. It may be cheaper to demolish your garage and start again if it is in a particularly bad state of repair.
If the ceiling height needs to be raised – you need around 2.2-2.4m of headroom once the floor is 15cm above the external ground level.
If you use an architect or designer.
Planning applications.
Whether you need to use a structural engineer.
Do I need planning permission to convert my garage?
Most garage conversions can be completed under permitted development rights, particularly if you aren’t planning to alter the structure of the building. But you should check that there are no planning conditions attached to the garage – for example that it has to remain as parking. You can do this by checking the deeds of the property.
If you are converting a detached garage, then you may have to apply for a change of use.
The Homeowners Alliance recommends that you check with your local planning authority to make sure your garage conversion falls within permitted development.
If your home is listed or you live in a conservation area, then it is highly likely that you will need planning permission before you can convert your garage. In this scenario, it may be best to have an informal meeting with your local planning officer before you submit your application.
Building regulations for garage conversions
A garage conversion classes as a ‘change of use’ so it will require building regulations approval.
To comply with building regulations your garage conversion must:
Be structurally sound
Have a damp-proof course
Include wall, floor and loft insulation so it is energy efficient
Have had all electrics safety tested
Be moisture proofed, with good ventilation
Have been fire-proofed and have escape routes
Because your project will need building regulations approval, you need to notify your local council before you begin work by submitting a building notice or full plans application – depending on whether you need planning permission or not.
Once the garage conversion is finished a building inspector will come to check windows, doors, fireproofing measures and foundations before issuing a certificate of completion.
Key works when converting a garage
The main works involved when converting a garage include:
Making sure the walls and roof are sound.
Floor slab – the existing floor may need to be levelled, damp-proofed and insulated.
Infilling the door – Most garage conversions simply brick up the garage door.
Wall insulation.
Roof insulation.
Windows & doors.
Heating and electrics.
DIY garage conversion
It is possible to plan and convert your garage yourself. This could be a good option if you only have a small budget and are a pretty skilled DIY-er. Just be aware that your work will be checked by a buildings control officer and if it doesn’t comply with building regulations you will have to put it right at your own expense.
Converting a detached garage
If your garage is detached it could be a bigger job than converting an integrated garage. For a start, you will have to apply for change of use with your local planning authority.
You will also need to factor in extra costs such as enhancing the foundations, which may not be strong enough for what you are planning. You may also have to consider costs such as bringing power and plumbing out to the building.
For further advice on whether you can modify your detached garage, you may wish to get the help of an architect.
1 week agoUSA UpdateComments Off on ‘Cringeworthy, horrendous’ – ‘Simply outrageous’ draw for world’s richest turf race descends into farce
THE ‘simply outrageous’ barrier draw for the world’s richest horse race on turf was mocked by punters – thanks in no small part to a man being fired out of a cannon.
Racing bosses in Australia went all out for the draw for Saturday’s £10.3million Everest, a mega-money race over six furlongs at Randwick.
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But the excess isn’t confined to the prize money.
Whereas the quaint draw for last June’s Derby was held outside a Wetherspoon pub in sleepy Epsom, there was no expense spared for the Everest.
Taking place in a circus, there were women on stilts, firebreathers and trapeze artists you’d expect to see in Cirque du Soleil.
An enormous structure called ‘the wheel of death’ was used to announce Growing Empire getting stall seven.
While the antics that announced I Am Me’s draw in gate one defied belief.
A woman was tied to a ladder which in turn was driven round in a circle by a bloke on a motorbike – all while suspended in mid-air.
But by far the best was the man being launched what looked at least 80ft through the air by, presumably, a cannon.
He landed on what looked like a massive bouncy castle on the other side as a huge banner unveiling the number nine signalled where favourite I Wish I Win had been drawn.
The whole thing was a truly bizarre spectacle.
But you have to praise Racing New South Wales bosses for thinking outside the box and giving it a go.
Even if not everyone agreed.
While some loved the razzmatazz of it all, one punter moaned: “What on earth are we watching? It’s horrendous.”
Another said: “This is ridiculous – cringeworthy.”
While a third summed up the view of many when they wrote: “I’m all for innovation but WTF am I watching?”
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Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
Never chases their losses
Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
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