Leisure


January 12, 2011: 8:00 pm: CraigLeisure

To the dedicated cigarette smoker there are plenty of obstacles to getting a nicotine fix. There are so many places that ban smoking, due to the dangers of second hand smoke ,and more places are joining the list of “no smoking allowed” every day. This is where electronic cigarettes come in. They are a smokeless alternative to traditional cigarettes.

Because these are true Smokeless cigarettes , smokers can use them pretty much every place that smoking is prohibited. These e cigarettes offer a hit of nicotine without the secondhand smoke. They are also free of tar, carbon monoxide and the other harmful additives found in regular cigarettes. This means they are better for smokers as well as those around them.

Electronic cigarettes consist of a built-in atomizer that delivers a solution of nicotine along with a choice of flavoring. The ability to enjoy nicotine with a boost of flavor is also an advantage over the additive filled taste of regular cigarettes. E cigs also eliminate smoker’s breath and that heavy smell of tobacco that lives on clothes and in hair long after the cigarette is out. They even allow smokers to express their personality since the holders come in a variety of colors and skins. These smokeless smokes return a lot of the fun to smoking after years of everyone making smoking cigarettes anything but.

March 13, 2010: 5:09 pm: CraigBeauty, Entertainment, Event, Fashion, Leisure, Sport, Travel

If you are in England or anywhere near it for that matter, you probably know about the Cheltenham Racecourse and the fact that the Cheltenham Gold Cup festivities are starting on Tuesday the 16th. All four days are a great time to be in the area, but if you can only attend the event for one day I suggest you make it Lady’s Day. This is a great day to be at the track as the jump races are happening as well as the ladies fashion awards.

This is a famous fashion contest that starts early in the morning until the first race. There are always a number of great prizes and this is no different. This ear three well dressed women will be presented with a prize package consisting of 24 hours use of a Aston Martin DB9, 12 months use of a a new Alfa Romeo Mito, a deluxe overnight stay at one of the top hotels The Greenway, which includes in it a personal style taster session with Stuart Weir while there, a tweed coat and a Magnum of Rose Champagne.

It’s easy to enter this contest, but it is hard to win it. There are only three categories, Best Dressed Lady, Lady with the Best Hat, Lady with the Best Accessories. All you need to enter is to head over to the fashion area and be over the age of 17. Fashion scouts are out as soon as the gates open to direct well dressed ladies into the fashion area.

This is not the only event happening on Lady’s Day however, and there will be a lot of fun to be had by all. If you are not interested in getting dressed up, there is also the Outstanding Contribution Award as well as a visit by the Ladies Day Ambassador, this real Georgie Browne. The Outstanding Contribution Award is in recognition of the ladies that have contributed to Jump Racing. In past years the award has been given to Heather Atkinson, Chicky Oaksey, and Nina Carberry each have been fundamental parts of the ongoing sport of Jump Racing.

This is a great opportunity to see and be seen, and most of all to see some really great races. Make sure you come out with a large group of your friends to get a great group discount, and don’t forget about the great restaurants in the area to grab a snack when you get hungry.

February 21, 2010: 1:22 pm: CraigLeisure, Travel

I confess, I’ve never been to Atlanta, Georgia, properly.  I’ve only been to its Airport, the William B. Hartsfield International, better known as ATL.  For many travelers, this is a pretty big place, with several terminals, mandating a rail train to connect them all.  I approve of flying — it’s fast, efficient, and still one of the safest ways to travel — but why hasn’t anyone yet found a solution to the problem of what to do during layover time?  Of course, what you do during this time depends on how much delay or layover there is between flights.  If it’s an hour, you may only have time to seek out the things you can do in an airport.  If it’s a few hours, you might actually be able to find your way into Atlanta itself and see some real sights that the city has to offer.  If you’re flight’s delayed indefinitely, you may find yourself looking for hotels in Atlanta, preferably luxury ones, providing you with a great deal of time to explore this great city of the South.

Unless you have more than three hours, don’t leave ATL.  The stress that worrying about your next flight will bring isn’t worth it.  Fortunately, the airport itself has attractions and things to do.  You’ll find all the shops and restaurants available to you from six in the morning to about nine at night.  However after nine, the airport shops begin to shut down, and after eleven there’s nothing really open on the concourses (especially C and D).  However, if you want to go outside security, you’ll find three places open twenty-four hours!  Dominos Pizza (with their new improved taste), Wendy’s and the Atlanta Bread Company.

If you have over three hours, consider taking a trip into town, either by renting a car or by taking the subway system.   Give yourself plenty of time to get back, though.  You can store in any bags you have at Wrap-a-Bag in the North and South Terminals.  As you leave, also plan to go through security on the way back.  Make sure you’ve accounted for all of that before heading off into the city.  You’ll need at least an hour and a half once you return to get through security and return to your gate.

Of course, if you find yourself staying overnight, then there’s plenty of options that open up before you.  The World of Coca-Cola Museum, the Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta Underground, Margaret Mitchell’s house (the author of Gone with the Wind), even a tour of CNN headquarters.  If you’re staying overnight unexpectedly, you’ll want to see at least one of the places, just to relax!

September 22, 2009: 2:46 pm: CraigLeisure, News

Hot tubs are popular with most people and for various reasons. They are excellent investment options not only because many of them improve the value of a home and property, but also because they contribute to healthy lifestyles and can serve a variety of purposes. They are great for parties and entertainment, and can often ensure a full guest list attendance at parties, while they are also perfect for relaxing and stress reduction. Choosehottubsdirect.com is an excellent resource for finding the perfect hot tub to accommodate all of your family’s needs.

One of the more recent trends with hot tub maintenance and operation is the use of solar heating panels to heat the water. This environmental oriented home power resource has become more affordable in recent years due to its increase in popularity and advancements in solar heating panel design and construction. Many packages are self-assembly and installation and can provide most of the electricity needed to run a household. Solar power first became popular with heating pools, and the natural progression was to apply this to the power requirements of hot tub. An investment in solar energy panels can eventually save enough in electricity costs to pay for the hot tub.

Solar water heating systems are usually composed of a fluid system that is used to move the heat that is collected from the solar panels to the necessary point of usage. This is known as a thermal solar collection system. It is important to realize that these systems are not entirely dependent on sunny days to function, but usually have a reserve tank that stores the heat for later use. They were developed to provide for a variety of household needs including laundry and shower heating as well as various business applications. Home pool and spa heating is an excellent application of these systems and can save enormously in power costs each year.