QUICK & CONVENIENT TRAVEL OPTION: The Brompton Fold Up Bike

Public transport can be good, but other times a nightmare - especially during rush hour times.

Do you ever feel like you could be quicker just riding a bike? But that's not practical right? But it is of you have a fold up bicycle.

Already business men in London UK, have been using these when they get off the train.

You would probably never even have considered this as an option before, but with this bike at the very least you can take short cuts and fit through gaps cars cant. Then just fold it away when not needed.

Plus most importantly it's a way of getting to your destination quickly. Journalists and photographers can especially relate to this.

It was landscape gardener Andrew Ritchie who amongst many Undiscovered Business Entrepreneurs had an idea that made sense.

His was to create a bike so small you could 'Fit it in your pocket'. He toyed with many prototypes and by 1976 he had made his own company called Brompton.

The name Brompton came from a church that was opposite his home. Although such a genius idea these days, back then no one paid that much interest in it. This then made him to go into production for himself.

Over the years his company went from making 300 bikes a year to a turnover today of 10 million, and will exceed more each year.

Although manufactured in London you can buy the bike worldwide, and it is already becoming popular in the USA, Japan, Germany and the Netherlands.

The number of people cycling and using fold up bikes is growing more and more each day, because it's become a more practical solution.

Is that something you would consider yourself perhaps? You can find out more from the Star Alliance website.

LAPLAND HOLIDAY: For A Magical Christmas

Christmas Village

Christmas is such a magical time, especially for the children who believe in the fairy tale of Santa Claus.

There are many stories and traditions of Santa on his sleigh, his home, the elf helpers, reindeer's, snow etc. What if you could experience all that in Lapland itself based in Finland with a holiday over there?

There are several resorts in Lapland that offer different things depending on the holiday provider. But as an example you can expect to:

* Ride on a husky dog sledge or snowmobile.
* Reindeer safaris
Visit Santa in his underground grotto
* Walk through Santa's village and buy gifts/souvenirs
* Help the elves in Santa's workshop and make Christmas ornaments and decorate cookies.
* Skiing / Fishing / Canoeing
* Boat Trips
* See beautiful Arctic landscapes
* Nature Trails
* Festive food
* Log cabin accommodation with snow covered rooftops and pine trees (Just like the Christmas cards) or hotels in keeping with the theme.

Log Cabin example

There are different types of packages and price deals you can get depending on your travel provider.

Lapland would make a fantastic magical holiday for the whole family, and a change from the usual home scene if your looking to get away for a while at Christmas or New Year.

Lapland Resorts

SMALLEST PUBLIC HOUSE IN THE WORLD

Real working pub The Red Signal Inn at Cleethorpes, in Lincolnshire is considered to be the smallest in the world by the Guinness Book Of Records. The pub measures just 64 square feet.

The previous title was held in the USA by a pub called Sam's Bar in Colorado Springs, that measures 109 square feet.

The name of the Inn comes from it's location as it is opposite Cleethorpes Light Railway, and seeing it was formally a railway signal box.

Inside it has five hand pumps that serve real ale, four bars stools, standing room for 2 people and there is a beer garden outside.

Owner Andrew McCall said that bigger drinks manufacturer's wont fit any equipment for him, because they don't think the pub would do enough trade.

But the Public house is already proving really popular to tourists who visit the area.
Andrew said people come in for a drink just so they can have their photo took outside the pub.

I would recommend double clicking the picture above to enlarge to appreciate how small this pub really is!

LOOKING AT THE SKY: Sun & Silouhettes

I got my husband to capture this on his camera phone, as we traveled along in the car one evening.

I loved how the sun seemed to still want to burst through the clouds even though it was 6pm.

It turned out really nice for a window shot (can you tell!?) and the shadowed scenery just adds to the moodiness of the picture i think.

TRAVEL CANDLES: Ideal when Home Sick

When your away from home, as strange as it might seem you have to get used to different smells and atmospheres.

Some people can get home sick quickly, so why not try using a travel candle in your home a few weeks before you go away?

Then you can take the candle with you, and it will feel like home when you light it and smell the fragrance.

The handmade candle pictured here i tried from website Pacifica is made from a clean and natural vegetable soy wax, that is phthalate-free and have lead-free cotton wicks, just like Pacifica's other travel candle range.

The candles release the scent bit by bit and are long burning (an average about 70 hours). So even if you use them for a few hours a day they will last you a very long time.

You can get many different types of scents too that all have blends of essential and natural oils.

I love the fact they came in a handy tin, that you can just close up and put away, without having to deal with wrapping it up afterwards or any spilt candle wax.

MOSQUITO NET BENEFITS

Bedroom Mosquito Net Drapes

Mosquito nets are a good alternative to the repellent sprays you can get. Especially at night time where you probably don't want to use a spray when sleeping.

It's not nice trying to get to sleep with a strange smell and a sticky feeling on your skin!

You can get nets to suit all kinds of situations for double/single beds, camping, cots, trekking, temporary accommodation naming just a few.

Mosquito Net Travel Cot

As well as protection from mosquito's you will be protected against Sand Flies and other types of insects too.

The nets are made from materials to enable you to sleep well, as it allows the space your in to breath so you don't feel suffocated.

There are compact type ones you can get to fold away as you travel, or ones that you can erect to stay in place more permanently.

Compact/fold away Mosquito Net

Alot may seem like an eye sore, but you can get some really nice ones that will make a bedroom look more exotic.

Young girls will love the feeling of being a princess with the drapes over their bed, and all in all you can feel at ease as you sleep instead of worrying if your going to get bitten.