Yngwie Blog

The new newest addition to the Woodlands Hotel accommodation, is the recently completed executive suite. The suite is located within the main hotel building offering a large amount of space but with all the facilities of a hotel right on site. A luxury bathroom has been fitted complete with roomy stand up shower. The fitting have been chosen for their upmost quality. Far larger than a normal hotel room, the new suite has plenty of room to walk around along with a seating area and can actually sleep three persons or be a luxury Windermere hotel break for a romantic couple. A further suite is set for completion in December 2009.

Woodlands is one of the few Windermere hotels to achieve a five star guest accommodation status. Sarah and Alan Ayres, the proprietors, were thrilled to be recognised for their hard work by the AA, which was awarded for their exceptional standards of quality guest accommodation and service.

Woodlands Hotel in Windermere is a handsome Edwardian Villa situated between the villages of Windermere and Bowness in Cumbria ??“ the Lake District, just a few minutes away from the shores of Lake Windermere. Guests will enjoy the luxury, stylish and contemporary Boutique accommodation being offered at Woodlands, which has now been formally recognised as being one of the finest hotels in Windermere. There are a total of fifteen luxury and en-suite guest bedrooms including a choice of single, double or twin bedded rooms. The resident??™s bar and lounge is an exciting space for guests to relax after a long day??™s site seeing and exploring. According to the AA, a five star Guest House needs to demonstrate an awareness of each guest’s needs with nothing being too much trouble. All bedrooms must be en-suite or have a private bathroom, with excellent quality beds and furnishings. Breakfast must include specials/home-made items, high quality ingredients, and fresh local produce. The new suite meets and even exceeds The AA??™s five star criteria.
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Decorating, wallpaper and paint costs can amount to a fortune. Labour costs add quite considerably along with wall preparation and the many hidden costs that can occur when decorating, especially the case in older houses. In contrast, a piece of canvas artwork is extremely easy and quick to hang giving instant satisfaction with no hidden costs.

A piece of artwork is something that reflects a person??™s personality and individuality. It can be a statement or can blend sympathetically with a room??™s design and colour scheme. It is a way of personalising a room and many pieces of canvas art hold sentimental value from a special holiday or which could have been passed down from a relative.
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This stretch of coast was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural beauty in 1959. The North Devon AONB is an area totalling 171 square kilometres, from Marsland Mouth on the Cornish border to Combe Martin. The Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty status means the area is nationally protected for the beauty of its landscape. The coastal landscape around Combe Martin is some of the best in the UK. From Combe Martin, the Hangman Cliffs can be seen made up of two cliffs Little Hangman and Great Hangman. Great Hangman is the highest cliff in southern Britain at a height of 328 meters above sea level. The South West Coastal Path runs right through the AONB and Combe Martin. This path is the longest in Britain at 613 miles starting at Minehead in Somerset and finishing at Bude in Cornwall. Although walking the whole path is out of the question for the majority of visitors to Devon, walking any part of it around the Combe Martin area is a must.

Combe Martin has grown in its visitor numbers and now has a large caravan site along with the ability to purchase Devon holiday homes on site. These Devon holiday lodges are growing in popularity. The Devon lodges can be found with two to four bedrooms so they are perfect for families with plenty of room to store surf boards and bikes. The location of Combe Martin is great for tranquillity but then Woolacombe and Croyde are only a short drive away for the surfing and younger crowds. Woolacombe and Croyde both hold a Blue Flag status for their beaches and surfing is in abundance.

For a number of years now, it has been felt that a holiday in the UK is more expensive than a holiday abroad.
In the past, staying in the UK has been thought of as quite an expensive holiday with many holiday makers choosing to go abroad instead. Cost of accommodation is often more expensive in the UK than abroad but many people forget about the extra costs involved with going to a foreign country such as passports, insurance, transfers to and from the airport and commission on foreign currency.

Things are changing quite rapidly though and the biggest contributor is the demise of the Euro. At the current rate, you get 1.01 Euro??™s to 1 British pound. This makes a huge difference when calculating the currency required for taking abroad. Not too long ago, the exchange rate was 1.60 Euro??™s to the British pound. The rise in fuel and transportation costs has effected island tourism destinations quite severely. Many tourists, even in 2008, would have noticed the rise in costs of food and beverages on their holiday abroad.

The UK has some of the best scenery and destinations in the world from dramatic coastlines to mountains in the Lake District and Scotland. The current economic climate is effecting just about everyone in the UK at the moment. Money is tight but there has not been a better time to book a short break or holiday in the UK. There is a huge choice of hotels in the Lake District offering discounts on nightly rates or special offers at the moment. This is the perfect opportunity to stay in a hotel that may otherwise be out of the usual budget. Many of the Lake District hotels have an excellent standard of restaurant, some with a 2 AA Rosette rating or just purely serve good quality, local produce of which the Lake District has a plenty.

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Marbella is situated on the southern coast of Spain, east of Malaga in between Estepona and?  Fuengirola.

Marbella is a playground for the rich and famous although in recent years, more affordable holidays have become available. This area attracts visitors from the UK and Ireland but also Northern Europe. This is typified west of the town at Puerto Banus, this area attracts visitors from the UK and Ireland but also Northern Europe. A St Tropez like marina at Puerto Banus is home to million pound plus ocean going boats. Marbella as a whole has a very cosmopolitan community which has built up during the years. Many famous people have resident??™s in Marbella which has all the characteristics and facilities required to serve them, casinos, boutique and designer stores, street cafes, world class restaurants and luxury night clubs.

As with most of the Costa Del Sol, golf in Marbella is a very popular activity. There are around 50 golf courses many with huge country clubs. The 320 days of sunshine a year mean as with all of the Costa Del Sol, it is the perfect.

Marbella as with most of this coast is steeped in heritage so it isn??™t just all shopping and golf when it comes to leisure activities. The White Village ???Mijas??? is well worth a visit. The village set 428 metres above sea level and it is obvious why it is called the White Village due to the hundreds and white-washed buildings. The views from the village are spectacular, right across the whole of the Costa Del Sol coast. Due to the nature of the village with its narrow cobbled streets, Mijas has a very close community especially with those over 60, many of which are English speaking.

It isn??™t hard to find the real Spain in Marbella. There is the Old Town, which is based around Orange Square or ???La Plaza de los Naranjos??™. In this vacinity are three historical buildings: The 16th Century Town Hall, the old Governor??™s House and the Chapel of Santiago. As in Mijas, you will find small cobbled streets, small boutiques, galleries, local tapas bars and other authentic restaurants.

There is a varied range of Marbella accommodation from apartments and hotels to private Marbella rentals. Some properties are beyond most people??™s wildest dreams. Rental Marbella can be found in the forms of villas, apartments, townhouse, marina properties and golf accommodation. Short and long terms lets can be found with most providers. Properties can be found in central locations where a car is not required or for a more peaceful holiday, there are retreats away from the central locations.

The Costa Del Sol has been a popular holiday destination for UK travellers since the 1950??™s.
Situated in the southernmost part of Spain is the area of Andalucia or the Costa Del Sol as most people refer to it as, this area stretches from Nerja to Gibraltar, approximately 150 kilometres.

The climate on the Costa Del Sol is the mildest in Europe with over 300 days of sunshine per year and an average temperature of 18c. This is reflected in the number of holidaymakers that fly into Malaga airport each year, over 2 million. The 2 million visitors have a plethora of beaches to choose from the largest, Calahonda at a length of 4500 metres to the more modest El Bombo beach. It is a destination for everyone of all ages and interests which is why it??™s popularity has continued to grow.

The Costa Del Sol encompasses some of the most famous holiday destinations in Europe, Torremolinos, Benalmadena and Fuengirola. Along the coast is Marbella with its famous marina at Puerto Banus.
As with much of the Spanish coastline, the Costa Del Sol has many golf courses, around 70. Golf is a major attraction in this area with the Volvo Masters held at Valderrama and the large choice of courses to suit all abilities. The views from courses such as the Baviera Golf Club are stunning over to the sea and the mountains.

It was in the 1960??™s that the Costa Del Sol felt the tourist boom with the introduction of the package holiday. Until then, it was either Spaniards of the rich and famous that came to this part of Spain. The package holiday made the area accessible to the. To meet with demand, the area had to be developed and large high rise apartment blocks started to spring up. The many communities within the Costa Del Sol are now very international but there are still large number of Spaniards and the real taste of Spain can still be found especially in the small hillside villages with their low rise, white washed buildings.

There are types of Costa Del Sol accommodation to suit every requirement, taste and budget from a Costa Del Sol apartment to one of the many types of holiday rentals Costa Del Sol offers. There are apartments, townhouse, villas and golf properties and these can be situated right in the heart of an area or just off the beaten track for a quieter experience.

Spring time in the Western Lake District - Lambs, daffodils and action galore?????
The snow on the fells is giving way to snowdrops. By May, the beautiful Eskdale valley is carpeted in bluebells. But one flower in particular is associated with the Lakes ????? and you can visit Wordsworth?????s house for a fascinating re-creation of his early life, when gardens were planted with foodstuffs, not daffodils. While in Cockermouth, why not pop into the Lakeland Sheep & Wool Centre to see the spring lambs?
It?????s a perfect time of year for bracing walks and rides. Try the coastal paths around Whitehaven, the guided walks from Keswick Rambles, or the meandering 27-mile Smugglers????? Route from Maryport to Ireby. Take to the beach on horseback, courtesy of Allonby Riding School. Play golf at one of several excellent courses such as the Silecroft and Silloth links, or Eskdale, where the 14th green is set within a huge trout pond and there?????s private fishing too.

Summer time in the Western Lake District - Sun, sails and sound-checks
Summer?????s here and the time is right for dancing in the streets of Whitehaven, Silloth, Cockermouth????? Local festivities and music festivals abound. Don?????t miss Workington?????s ???Paint the Town Red?????, the multi-award-winning Solfest, the Seaton Carnival, the Festival of Fools at Muncaster Castle, Millom?????s Scarecrow Festival or the impressively named CockRock, to name but a few.
What better time to hit the quiet beaches of Allonby, St Bees and Haverigg, to try the fascinating town and harbour walks in Egremont and Harrington ????? or to set out by foot or on bike along the famous Coast to Coast routes? There are many Lake District Accommodation venues and Lake District hotels to stay at. There are strolls, hikes and rides for all the family, from coastal walks at Flimby to pony rides on Silecroft beach, organised through the Murthwaithe Green Trekking Centre. Golf at Workington and the Harrington driving range? Or what about a perfect, lazy day?????s fishing on the Salterbeck reservoir, or from the pier at Whitehaven?
Of course when the sun is dancing on the Lakes, the urge to get out on the water is irresistible. So don?????t resist.
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Coniston is situated in the heart of the English Lake District with Hawkshead to the east and the western Lake District to the right.

Coniston is surrounded by a tremendous landscape of streams, lakes and mountains including the most famous and distinctive, Coniston Old Man. Coniston Old Man rises to 2,633 feet and can be walked in various ways to suit all abilities. Dow Crag provides some of the best rock climbing in Great Britain, while lake-shore walks to Torver are very popular. Grizedale Forest, located nearby is the ideal landscape for mountain biking, viewing the many sculptures within the forest, walking and there is a Go Ape experience there too if you are staying at one of the Coniston hotels.
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Self catering is anticipated to be a winner within the tourism industry in the current economic climate.
The appeal of a self catering holiday is growing. A self catering holiday can give a greater freedom and more space for families and allow multiple couples or friends to go away together, splitting costs and creating a good value holiday. Responsibletravel.com reported a 50% rise of self catering holidays compared with this time last year.

There are a number of plus points that make a self catering holiday attractive. Here are some examples:
1.? ? ?  Of course, top of the list, kitchen facilities, allowing cooking to be done yourself. A huge money exercise especially for families. When in a group, the cooking can be shared and the it can actually be quite a fun event.
2.? ? ?  Storage facilities and space. If having an activity holiday or a family holiday where there are bikes, walking gear or sailing equipment, most self catering properties have the space to store this equipment and space for drying is necessary.
3.? ? ?  Lake District cottages are often set amongst fantastic scenery and tranquil locations, allowing a complete ???get away from it all??? holiday. A complete change from the hustle and bustle of a city and a chance to spend time in a property completely different from home.
4.? ? ?  The ability to come and go when you please unlike a hotel when rooms need to be cleaned and door are locked at a certain time.
5.? ? ?  Children can play with other family??™s children and parents can take it in turn to babysit so that each set of parents can have a night to themselves.
6.? ? ?  The more the merrier for fun and money saving. Clubbing together between 2 or 3 families, a group of friends or couples saves a huge amount of money. There is greater interaction compared with staying in separate hotel rooms.
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The Langdale Estate in the Lake District has taken a further step forward in the quest to create a sustainable tourism destination. A 250Kw biomass fuelled boiler has been installed at The Langdale Estate replacing the four LPG boilers that previously supplied the heating and hot water on site. Reducing LPG dependency not only reduces the carbon footprint of a business but also has the ability to save on the high cost and the volatility of pricing that using LPG entails.

???The decision to use Woodfuel was initially brought about by the cost savings involved and a wish to reduce our reliance on LPG. The type of woodfuel we chose, chip rather than pellets, was motivated by a wish to use a locally sourced product that would reduce our Carbon Footprint further, whilst benefiting not only the local economy but also local woodlands and their biodiversity.??? Nick Lancaster, Langdale Estate.

The Langdale Estate provides luxury Lake District hotels, spa, timeshare and self catering holiday accommodation. As a tourism facility situated in the heart of an area of outstanding natural beauty, The Langdale Estate management team is striving to balance the requirements of its visitors with the sensitivities of the local and wider environment. The Biomass boiler project is part of an overall Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility policy that has been adopted at Langdale with the aim of creating a sustainable tourism destination and as an ethical employer.
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Following the success of Grand Designs Live 2008, Kris Hardy the Hull based artist is to exhibit this year as well.

The Grand Design Live exhibition is to be held at ExCel London between 25 April and 4 May 2009. Grand Designs Live 2008 was a huge success for Kris. Making numerous contacts and gathering an outstanding amount of new orders, this exhibition was worth all the hard work. A huge draw to Kris??™s stand was him painting his canvas artwork live at the exhibition. It enabled Kris to speak one to one with his prospective clients.

Kris is not averse to painting is canvas art live and speaking to people whilst working. Kris appeared on ITV’s 60mm last year and is going to be on 5 more shows in the next.

Last year Grand Designs Live saw a massive increase in visitor numbers up from 40,000 in 2007 to a staggering 100,000 in 2008. 2009 is set to be as if not even more popular with the launching of domestic gadgets and gizmos that haven??™t been released yet and new and innovative products of today and tomorrow??™s house builds. That coupled with over 450 exhibitors.
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Grove Cottages, the luxury Lake District cottages company based in Ambleside announce the launch of Grove Farmhouse.

Grove Farmhouse is the latest addition to the four holiday cottage lets already on the farm. This new renovation comfortably accommodates 8 - 10 people. Grove Farmhouse has been finished to a very high standard and contains all the modern conveniences expected from a luxury holiday let without compromising the original features of the farmhouse. Grove Farmhouse has two lounges each with log burning stoves, wireless broadband access and in the kitchen, a traditional Rayburn cooking range. A total of three bathrooms make this property an excellent choice for a large group.

The luxury Lake District cottages lie in the beautiful Stock Valley in Ambleside. They are reached by a private drive from Ambleside, which runs past Stockghyll Falls and nature park, climbing to 700 feet to offer some of the finest Panoramic views in the Lake District. Each of the Cumbrian cottages has been lovingly converted from a traditional Lakeland barn. Guests are invited to relax in the secluded gardens, or explore the farm and its wildlife.
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Situated in one of the most picturesque villages of the English Lake District,? Norwood House, a? small family run? Ambleside guest house is surrounded by dramatic scenery and is only a short walk from the northern edge of Lake Windermere.

With this beautiful lake and the mountains at the doorstep, including Helvellyn, one of England??™s highest peaks, there is always somewhere new to explore in this lovely region and you will never be short of something to do.

Your hosts, Keith and Lindsey Morgan, have been providing Ambleside bed and breakfast accommodation for over twelve years and will endeavour to make each and every guest??™s stay?  as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

there are? eight attractive and well appointed en-suite rooms. Visitors can choose from family, triple, twin, double or single with either a bath or shower room. Stylishly simple and tranquil,? all eight en-suite rooms have been newly decorated to offer a comfortable, warm and relaxing place to? unwind after a day??™s activities.

Motorbike security comes in various forms depending on usage, requirement of location and type of bike. The main devices are disc locks and chains, padlocks and chains and ground anchors.

Motorcycle theft has been rising year on year although it must be remembered that the number of motorbikes on the road has also grown. 80% of motorbikes are stolen from the home. According to the Police, around 50% of motorbikes stolen were not locked. In the UK, mopeds and scooters are the most stolen forms of motorcycles.

Established in 1992 by Northumbria and Essex Police with the help and backing of the Home Office, Sold Secure is an independent body funded by UK insurers that tries to set a bar to eliminate low-level products from the market. Manufacturers and suppliers can apply to have their products approved by Sold Secure. They assign three levels: bronze, silver and gold.

Sold Secure: Bronze: These products offer resistance or attack from the basic tools (aimed at preventing opportunist crime). Sold Secure: Silver: These products offer theft resistance against enhanced tool list (aimed at preventing more determined attacks). To award Gold they test the products on the bikes to recreate a real-life theft situation. Disc-locks undergo some of the hardest tests to pass on a bike: wedge test with hammer chisel and screwdriver. Locks without double-locking pins do not pass. The Gold testing also involves lock picking, drilling, slide-hammering, sawing, wedging test and a torque test. Testers require 6-8 samples, and they study technical drawings before the tests to determine weak points. They re-test annually. It isn’t just for the assurance that the lock has been thoroughly tested but having a lock approved by Sold Secure can even reduce your insurance premium.

Leading manufacturers of motorcycle security devices are Xena, Squire and Oxford. Squire Locks are well respected in the motorcycle sector. Henry Squire and Sons Limited have been manufacturing locks and theft prevention devices in England since 1780. XENA Security began in the early 1990s when a group of UK engineers and motorcycle enthusiasts set out to design a better motorcycle lock and Oxford Products was founded in 1973 by a group of enthusiasts at University City of Oxford. Still today, Oxford Products is staffed by active enthusiasts who test and develop the product range.

With the Lake District being named most romantic destination this Valentine?????s, it isn?????t surprising that couples then want to return to get married. A staggering 31% of couples interviewed voted for the Lake District over destinations such as the Cotswolds, Bath and York.

The romantic nature of this area unsurprisingly attracts couples looking for a wedding destination. Year on year the Lake District is attracting more and more couples with hotels in the Lake District seeing steady increases in weddings throughout the year. There is an excellent choice of Lake District wedding venues due to the high number of hotels. Having this choice enables a wedding party to select the best venue for the size and theme of the wedding. Many hotels offer a cruise on one of the lakes on the wedding day. This can be for the bride and groom only or for the whole wedding party.
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With so many different types of online booking systems available choosing the right system for your accommodation business can be confusing. Here you will find a quick six point plan which will hopefully ease tourism operators through the selection process.

1.? Live availability and online bookings ??“ Many customers will not wait for you to get back to them with your latest availability, they will just go elsewhere. Therefore you need an online booking system that displays your live availability and allows customers to make a booking with instant online payments.

2.? Easy to use and install ??“ You should look for a system that someone with only basic web editing skills can install, with no complex installation instructions. This way you will easily be able to manage and maintain your booking calendar without the need to call on your web developer each time something needs amending.

3.? No commission charges ??“ You should look for an online booking system that can be purchased for a fixed annual fee rather than having to continually pay out a percentage of each booking taken through the system.

4.? Customisable booking pages ??“ It is crucial that your reservation system can be fully customised in order to fit in with the look and feel of your website in order to maintain the professionalism of your brand.? 

5.? Full Control ??“ Your booking system should enable you to deal direct with your customer and all payments need to go straight to you, not through an agency. You should also be able to choose whether to offer real time online bookings, or provisional bookings which allow you to liaise with the customer in order to confirm the booking.? 

6.? Help and support ??“ It is important to choose a booking system that includes telephone and email support, as well as a quick and easy guide to getting started with the system.

Kendal is a market town situated just outside of the Lake District National Park with a wide range of activities on offer.

Kendal is right in the heart of South Lakeland so it is the perfect location as a base for walking, touring and enjoying the unique pleasures of the Lake District. The A591 dual carriageway means easy access to Kendal from the M6 motorway, just 8 miles. Continuing down the A591 and Windermere is only a further 8 miles and just 4 miles on is Ambleside. A Kendal B&B is the perfect location for exploring not just the Lake District but also the Yorkshire Dales and Cumbrian coastline.

There are some great local walks in Kendal and some brilliant ones for low level walkers. A very popular walk is up to the observation point on Scout Scar where there is a 360 degree panorama with the Lake District fells to the north and Morecambe Bay to the south. Walking is not the only activity. Kendal has a climbing wall, a swimming pool, two golf courses and driving ranges. Kendal Golf course is on the side of Kendal Fell with some of the best views from a golf course in the UK.

Kendal itself is a bustling market town full of good shopping from big names to local speciality businesses and luckily, there is a good choice of Kendal bed and breakfast venues to stay in. The market in Kendal, held on a Wednesday and Saturday, attracts many visitors and also now a monthly farmers market. Kendal has a large number of shops and delis supplying local produce and these are growing year by year. ????

There are lots of cultural accents in Kendal. The nationally acclaimed Brewery Arts Centre features live drama, music, film, dance and art exhibitions. In fact, Kendal has an excellent artist community with many local artist exhibitions at The Brewery. The Abbot Hall Art Gallery, situated on the banks of the River Kent, has exhibitions from influential artists such as Frank Auerbach and David Bomberg.

Kendal is famous for Kendal mint cake and snuff. Snuff making in Kendal has been operational since 1792 and holds a lot of history in the area. It is still made in Kendal today by two companies which both stem from the originator of snuff making in Kendal. Mint cake is also still made in Kendal by three companies all of which with a long heritage, a combined trading time of over 300 years.

Finally, Kendal also offers Kendal accommodation for business travellers. Kendal is home to offices of national and multinational companies such as Lowe Alpine, The North Face and Furmanite.

Nestling in southern Cumbria ????? the Lake District are the hidden treasures of Cark-in-Cartmel and Allithwaite. Both locations providing access to the Lake District fells and Morecambe Bay.

Cark-in-Cartmel and Allithwaite are both located at the southern end of the Cartmel Valley and are classic working Lakeland villages. This area is beautifully quiet without being remote and has a gentle pace of life. With its location so close to Morecambe Bay this area brings a milder climate than the rest of the Lake District.

The medieval village of Cartmel lies just 1?? miles north and is the oldest and most picturesque village in South Lakeland. The 12th century priory escaped destruction during the Dissolution of Henry VIII and remains one of the finest ecclesiastical buildings in the north of England. The ancient village square is home to two good pubs and is a lovely place to sit and enjoy a drink and watch the world go by. There are another two good pubs just around the corner to visit when staying in Cumbrian cottages.

Cartmel Valley is a gentle, undulating landscape of lush green fields, rolling hills, leafy lanes and tranquil forests. The woodlands are an ideal base for easy access of the whole of the Lake District, Morecambe Bay, the rolling sand dunes of the Cumbrian coast, the Forrest of Bowland and the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Walkers can put away their car keys as there are dozens of walks from their Lake District self catering cottage. The ancient Cistercian Way pass through Cark village and links up to all major walking routes in the Lake District. The Cumbrian Coastal Way also goes through both Cark and Allithwaite and provides spectacular coastal and fell walking for mile after mile. Morecambe Bay, with its vast areas of sand and marshes is a popular haunt for bird watchers, as is nearby Leighton Moss bird sanctuary. The Bay and the Cumbrian coast are great for windsurfing, with clear winds from the south.

If walking is not on the agenda when staying in one of these Lake District cottages then a visit to Holker Hall is a must. Holker Hall is Cumbria’s premier stately home, the home of Lord & Lady Cavendish. Residents and visitors of the village are granted permission to walk freely around the extensive parklands stocked with herds of deer and rare breed cattle and sheep. They also have a farm shop on site where produce from the estate can be purchased.

And finally, for families, a 10 minute drive north leads you to the nostalgic Haverthwaite to Lakeside Steam Railway. This connects to the awaiting Lake Windermere steamers and cruise boats that travel the full length of England?????s longest lake where stops can be made at Waterhead (for Ambleside) or Bowness-in-Windermere.

Acrylic paints became commercially available in the 1950??™s but were a mineral spirit-based paint. The water-based paints sold shortly after were a combination of binder, filler, pigment and water. Artists began to discover this acrylic paint and artist quality acrylics became commercially available in the 1960??™s.

Acrylic paint is a modern media when compared with watercolour and oil. Oil for example has been used by artists as far back at the 15th century and watercolour has been used as an artist medium since the Renaissance. With such history of these other two mediums, acrylic is always fighting to gain recognition. Acrylic has distinct characteristics as oil and watercolour do and the National Acrylic Painters??™ Association was set up in 1985 to champion and support this media. Acrylic is capable of the widest range of approaches of any artist media and enables even more creativity, fresh ideas and progression. Artwork has been created in acrylic paint but artists such as Andy Warhol, Robert Motherwell, Mark Rothko, Bridget Riley and David Hockney to name just a few.

There are now a huge number of artists producing canvas artwork using acrylics and making the optimum use of this versatile media. It has enabled canvas art to be bought by a wider audience due to its fast drying nature and artwork can be created much quicker so a real business can be made out of acrylic artwork. Exhibitions have been in such prestigious venues as the Westminster Gallery and the Durham Art Gallery solely exhibiting and championing acrylic work. Books have been written purely on the characteristics of acrylic paint such as ???New Tricks and Techniques for Working with the World??™s Most Versatile Medium??? by Nancy Reyner and ???The New Acrylics:Complete Guide to the New Generation of Acrylic Paints.

It is becoming more and more of a requirement for businesses to provide a niche service or offer something that is just that little bit more specialised than its competitors. This is especially apparent in the highly competitive hotel and leisure industry.

Taking an environmentally conscious approach is one such way. This approach most obviously benefits the environment but is an excellent marketing tool to help a business grow and attract new customers.

The hotel and leisure industry is notorious for its energy consumption. There is the lighting, the washing and laundry, all the electrical goods within the rooms, the heating, kitchens and then Jacuzzis and swimming pools in the Lake Disitrict spa. All contribute to a huge carbon footprint but also high energy costs. The cost of electricity and gas has increased by 20 % in the last year which is creating a huge impact on the profits of a hotel or bed and breakfast. With the economy being in such a bad way at present and customer confidence in spending is decreasing, this industry can??™t afford to put up its prices. After all, it is a highly competitive industry to start with.

Hotels have for some time now put notices in the bathrooms relating to the towels situation, in the bath if you would like them changing, on the rail or elsewhere if they are ok to be used again. This of course makes a difference if you think of how many hotels there are in the world but there is so much more that can be done.

The English Lake District is a haven for walkers and people relocating to live and work to provide a better standard and healthier living than in a city. It is understandable that the Lake District has a high number of environmentally conscious hotels. There are various levels of implementations that can be put into practice within Lake District hotels and accommodation providers from recycling and reusing of materials, to sourcing materials, services and supplies locally. There is then a next step that can be taken for example in the form of creating a renewable energy source for the hotel. One of the hotels in the Lake District that has installed a biomass energy production system which has been enabled by its location amongst a 35 acre managed woodland area. Such a system requires expert input but with the correct guidance, an economically feasible and attractive alternative to the use of LPG can be achieved. After a report had initially been produced, it was summarised that a biomass system would be far more efficient than a new high efficiency LPG boiler, an anaerobic digestion system or solar power system. To put this biomass system into context, the saving made should be at least ??35,000 per year for this hotel and leisure complex when comparing it to its previous gas boiler system.?  With such a saving, it is extremely evident the amount of unsustainable energy that will be saved.