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Britain's first ever official astronaut, Tim Peake, will be heading into space in November 2015! http://LDN.in/QQqDS7

NICEIC Live, the electrical contracting and installation show held by The NICEIC (the UK’s leading voluntary regulatory body for the electrical contracting industry), took place last week at Epsom Downs Racecourse and has been the subject of nothing but positive reviews since.

The 50th NMBS Exhibition took place last week on 15th May at the Telford International Centre and, judging by the positive PR that has come out since, was a big success all round.

"So rock me momma like a wagon wheel
Rock me momma any way you feel"

This song has got everyone's feet on our office tapping this week... didn't know that he used to be the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the 90's rock band Hootie & the Blowfish though!

We’re already halfway through May and there are a fair few trade shows coming up in the remainder of the month, including the ever popular ARC Show in London, as well as both the second and third PHEX shows for the year.

May 13-17 was Green Office Week and as such we took steps to look at our own office and think about new ways in which we could try to be more green and environmentally friendly.

What did you do to help improve recycling?

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British engineering at its best..

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Created in 1992, the #McLarenF1 remains the ultimate benchmark for all other supercars. Despite its age, the F1 is still able to outmatch many of today's most impressive speed machines: http://bit.ly/YGzETR

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Tomorrow is International Museum Day
What's your favourite museum...?
We had a vote in the office and ours is the Victoria and Albert Museum (http://www.vam.ac.uk/)

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May 18th is International Museum Day, so each day this week we're going to be highlighting some of Street View's trips to these treasure troves of culture, art and history as we go indoors with Museum-view. We'll be using the hash tag #museumview , if you'd like to contribute your own finds. 

Today's scene shows the splendor of The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia. Click on the following link to be taken to the Street View image where you can explore further. http://goo.gl/maps/1TgMl   #streetview   #internationalmuseumday  

If you'd like to explore this museum in more detail, check out the +Google Art Project website for even more treats. http://www.googleartproject.com/collection/the-state-hermitage-museum/museumview/

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It appears that less is more..

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WH Smith is rated worst shop... but we love the Apple store: Newsagent loses out in survey because it's 'messy and expensive' http://bit.ly/108BfTI

DEBATE: Which are the best and worst shops in Britain? http://bit.ly/10UOFnn

(Pic: Stephanie Schaerer)

The figures show that just 56% of people who are currently customers of the Big Six – British Gas, EDF, E.ON, npower, ScottishPower and SSE – would make the move to a smaller supplier, despite many of the best energy deals often being outside the sphere of the major providers.

Could you imagine living in a Jubilee Line tube from the London Underground?

The Royal Institute of British Architect (RIBA) sent Kevin McCloud host of Channel 4's Grand Designs on the London Underground to see how difficult it is to get ready for work without enough space or light.

Did you know that England has no national minimum standard for the size of all new homes and there is little or no guidance about the size and number of windows in homes.

So follow the link and tell your MP that you can't live Without Space & Light.. http://www.withoutspaceandlight.com/#!contact-mp

#London   #architecture   #underground   #MP   #RIBA  

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Very wise words from our friends over at Journeyman Chimney Services

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Love to hate your smoke alarm....

Anyone who has ever burnt their bacon or smoked in the comfort of their home will know that an accidentally triggered smoke alarm can be a frustrating experience.

But with one in three battery-operated smoke alarms failing in a house fire - most often because the battery has been removed – we are reminding people that there’s a very good reason why we all hate the sound of the smoke alarm.

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WOW - Would any of our followers dare go on this!?

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Do you dare? The record-breaking 14-loop rollercoaster with top speed of 53mph 'designed to mess with your head' http://bit.ly/11pqGyi

Our courier Interlink Express has been ranked as the best-performing parcel carrier in the Environment Agency's Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) league table.. well done guys!

48% of people who haven't switched energy state 'too much hassle' as being a major reason.

Spending about 10 minutes comparing energy suppliers to save up to £314 sounds more logical than a hassle to us.

Thanks to our friends over at +uSwitch for the tool.

Making a few changes here and there can be a great way to brush away the winter cobwebs and help make your home feel fresh and bright for the new season. But, where to start?

Over the coming weeks we'll be adding the whole range of Philips LED Consumer Lamps and Lights to the website, but for the time being why not watch this video and see how Philips LED Lights can help you and/or your business.

BBC News reports that Philips lighting reported a 38% jump in first quarter LED sales from a year earlier.

 Newsletter Offer
Thanks for coming to see us here, please drop us a comment in the box below with your order number and we'll add you to our Customer circle so that you can see the voucher code.

Have you seen this great new towel rail, it fits in the corner or on a flat wall and has a great range of control options.

The first of the 6 PHEX2013 shows took place yesterday at Wembley Arena, London, and in true form, has attracted a buzz in the plumbing and heating world both on traditional media and online. With a wide range of exhibitors, seminars and a pre-registrant prize draw per show, the 19th iteration of the show has been as widely received, if not more so, than years past.

LED lighting was a big theme this year, with global company Everlight announcing the launch of their new light bulbs for their Everlight LED Lighting range, which was announced in 2011 in Taiwan and this year in China.

The Elex Show was organised in association with Professional Electrician Magazine, the UK’s leading trade magazine.

Is your home energy efficient?
There will be “winners and losers” as a result of government energy policies, with only those who make energy-efficient improvements to their homes standing to benefit.

Energy Prices Set to Rise
Over the next month, many of the most popular fixed price deals offered by the big six providers will be coming to an end.  Safeguarding against the cold and the rising energy bills which will be rearing their head once autumn inevitably approaches should be high on your priority list of things to do.

Philips BoldPlay LED luminaires that just won "Most Innovative Product of the Year" at Lightfair International that was held in Philadelphia this month.

We just love the Philips Hue and BoldPlay LED Luminaires.

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You'll be please to know that we use Interlink / DPD and ParcelForce to deliver your orders!

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Caught on camera, the private postal staff who drop, throw and kick your online parcels - http://bit.ly/ZReL8P

Hong Kong Housewares Fair
This year marked the 28th year the show has been running, with well over 2000 exhibitors including 250+ Indian hand craft exporters, to showcase the wide range of good India has on offer.

We're now starting to list the John Guest Speedfit plumbing products, first batch loaded.. if you can't see it doesn't mean we don't do it! Give us a call and see if we can help.

#plumbing  

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Another great review on Freeindex
 Dave recently stripped, reboarded and felted a bay roof for me. I'd seen Dave's work on a job he was doing next door and was happy to give him the work at a very good price. Would happily recommend and would use again for any roofing requirements I have in the future.
 Trevor Ward – Blackpool
http://www.freeindex.co.uk/profile(dc-roofing-and-building)_257164.htm

Now that Euroluce, organised by Cosmit, is over for another year, we’ve been gathering popular opinions and thoughts from attendees to the event, and have put together a complete rundown for our readers to enjoy.

Saturday just gone, April 13th, marked the anniversary of Joseph Bramah’s birthday, the inventor of our modern day flushing toilet (something we're sure nobody would be without!)!

Dates for the Ideal Home Show 2014 have already been set for 14-30th March, so get this in your diaries now!

A focus on energy efficiency has emerged as one of the most important interior design trends in the kitchen in recent years according to Andrew Leech, director of the National Home Improvement Council (NHIC), who argues that a high level of energy efficiency is particularly important in the kitchen because of the large number of appliances found in the room in most modern homes.

Summary of the key HVAC shows coming up..

Please share this with your friends and lets help everyone save a few pennies.

MoneySavingExpert takes the hard work out of being an energy tart. Come on board, tell them what your current tariff is and they will tell you, if you're overpaying or not. Then, as many tariffs are only cheap in the short-term, they will monitor the market for cheaper ones and email you (or text if you like) when you should switch.

Someone up there is clearly playing with Mother Nature’s thermostat, and we’re all in need of some serious sunshine. With news coming out that consumers will face a hike in gas prices due to increased demand as we all keep our heating on full blast, we need something to cheer us up! We’ve put together our list of our 5 “Must Have” Summer appliances in the home and office in an attempt to bewitch the warmer weather to us….come, little ray of sunshine….

For a small number of customers the GB energy market works well. With the help of online price comparison sites, such as +uSwitch  they can hunt down the cheapest deals online and save money. But even for these customers, the small print can be confusing, meaning you may not end up on the best deal.

Find out al the latest gossip and news from the Ideal Home Show 2013

#idealhomeshow2013   #diyhomeimprovement   #diy  

On this cold dreary Friday we've found this great Video that will surely put a smile on your face.. +1 or share if you agree!

Copy of our latest newsletter, checkout our 'End of winter deals' and the great ideas for spring and the imminent sunshine!

We are just loving this super cute night light from Philips Lighting, this LED night light is fully programmable to suit your schedule and can be switched to standby/off during the day to save power and has a massive 20,000 hours lamp life.

RRP is £98.40 our price is only £49.15

#offers   #philipslighting   #ledlighting   #bedroomfurniture  

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Brave boy who lost both his legs to meningitis can now swim with his friends thanks to amazing custom-made legs fitted with FLIPPERS - http://bit.ly/12v24UT

Modern thermostats and timers offer a degree of control over electric radiators that cannot be replicated with any other type of heating system.  In particular, consumers can now opt for wireless control systems, which allow users to modify the settings for their radiators remotely and without the need to run difficult-to-conceal wires between them all.

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Don't let a leaking roof cause you problems

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I’ve seen this many times when a slate roof has been striped and replaced with tile for some reason they leave the old lead back gutter in they must know it will leek eventually as it is not suitable for tiles.....
On this occasion it had cost the home owner a lot of money with several firms diagnosing the problem as the fascias and guttering (the water was running down the felt under the tiles and pooling at the bottom and the felt had finally rotted away) the owner didn’t want to tell me how much he had spent on repairs to the guttering and then having new fascias & guttering installed but he was very grateful that his leak is finally fixed.... 

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The Queen offers a warm welcome to foreign dignitaries arriving at Buckingham Palace... by turning on her two-bar electric heater (well she is a pensioner!) - http://bit.ly/WXT1FP 

You're in safe hands
We're pleased to announce that we're now certified with +Trusted Shops  meaning that e-tradecounter meets national and European laws that are important for making purchases on the Internet. They take into account all rulings and stipulations by the consumer protection associations, in some cases even exceeding them.

Recently, MPs and consumer groups stepped up calls for lower rates following uSwitch’s revelation that as many as seven in ten UK households may opt to keep their heating off regardless of the cold simply because they are unable to pay their bills.

Head of Npower, Paul Massara, when speaking to This is Money, laid at least some of the blame for the current situation at the government’s door, arguing that well-intended schemes such as feed-in tariffs have actually led to higher prices for the vast majority of UK consumers.

Almost seven in ten households (69 percent) have gone without heating at some point this winter to keep their energy costs down, says a survey by uSwitch.com, while 74 percent have cut down or rationed their energy use this winter because of the increases to electricity and gas prices in recent months

According to the Sainsburys lighting costs will be slashed by almost 60 percent thanks to the use of LEDs rather than conventional in-store lighting.

The system also includes daylight sensors to optimise the use of natural daylight and further reduce energy consumption.

We've just added this ultra efficient ceramic heater that turn 96% of all energy used into medium wave infra-red heat.

With money tight for a lot of us right now, many of those carrying out home improvements will be tempted to keep a lid on costs by going down the DIY route, rather than hiring a professional tradesman.

However, while there are many jobs a confident DIY'er will have no problem in tackling, there are a number of home improvements that, for safety reasons, should only be attempted by a professional though.

With energy costs rising significantly in recent times, installing energy efficient electric radiators, upgrading to LED lighting, fitting insulation and other measures designed to reduce your home’s consumption of electricity and gas are becoming increasingly important.

And the Green Deal aims to make this easier for British households by offering them low-cost loans to fund energy efficient home improvements.

If households undertook the changes recommended as part of the home assessments, they could save on average £162 per year, reports the Independent.

This would reduce the average energy bill in the UK to £792 a year.

According to new research by Saga, around two-fifths of those aged 50 and over say their home is in need of repairs, with gutters (13 per cent), roofs (ten per cent), insulation (nine per cent) and heating (eight per cent) the main culprits.

Some people could however be faced with an even bigger bill as a fifth of over 50s say that more than one area of their home needs repairing.

Amazing deal of £1533.21 delivered on the Heatrae 95022203 Electromax

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Something to brighten up your day

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The heartwarming adventures of Sophie and Sarah: Besotted pet owners post hilarious picture of their sheepdogs online every day - http://bit.ly/XNs46A

According to Gas Safe Register figures, one in three people admit they would fit a gas appliance themselves to save money, reports the Plymouth Herald.

Furthermore, 100,000 people who employed a tradesman to carry out gas work in the last year hired someone who was not properly qualified.

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I know many will be horrified. But I slap my 14 year old daughter: As a Cabinet minister admits smacking his children, one mother insists it's part of being a loving parent http://bit.ly/XTgiWD

Is smacking part and parcel of being a loving parent? http://bit.ly/UUabEN

Creda Quantum Storage Heaters - In Stock
Great news, we now have the complete range of Creda Quantum heaters in stock for immediate delivery.

With the general increase in home and remote working across the country, it may be time to think about creating a dedicated space to use as a home office.

With any place of work, where you’re likely to spend hours at a time staring at spreadsheets or documents, good lighting is key, and this is one of the first things anyone designing a home office needs to think about.

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In the week London's Southbank begins a year-long celebration of music in the 20th century, we draw the connections between some of the greatest musicians of the last 100 years.

Whether it’s installing modern electric radiators, upgrading to a new boiler, adding insulation, or one of many other possible measures, 67 per cent of Brits are interested in making their homes more energy efficient, a poll by uSwitch.com has revealed.

The research’s findings come at a time when energy bills across the country are soaring following recent hikes to rates by many of the UK’s leading gas and electricity providers.

Research from Saga has revealed the average amount spent on energy by three different age groups – under-50s, 50 to 64-year-olds and those aged 65 and older.

Furthermore, with wage increases failing to keep pace with inflation, households are spending an ever growing proportion of their income on energy, the study revealed.

According to experts from the Manufacturers’ Association of Radiators and Convectors (MARC), which represents more than 90 per cent of the UK radiator market.

It comes after a European report released by experts based in Dresden advised boiler replacement and new insulation are the best ways to modernise existing buildings to make them more efficient.

But while MARC agrees that these are vital ways of improving energy efficiency, it argues that the importance of modern radiators in lowering electricity or gas consumption cannot be overlooked.

Available to buy now - Creda Quantum Heater
Creda Heating is proud to introduce Quantum, a electric heating system like no other. Quantum is up to 25% cheaper to run and uses up to 20% less energy than other comparable static storage heaters.

The Quantum Energy System is designed to use low-carbon energy from renewable sources - such as solar photovoltaics and wind turbines - and converts this into heat.

According to one expert, gardeners are increasingly switching on to the ability of LED outdoor lighting to solve this issue.

Speaking to the +The Telegraph , Matthew Appleby, deputy editor of Horticulture Week, predicted which products will be popular with gardeners in 2013.

Previously, home owners wanting to carry out relatively straight-forward jobs involving electrical components would need to have the work approved by their local council, at a typical cost of around £240 and often even more.

But under the new rules, which will come into force in April 2013, council approval will no longer be necessary for simple jobs such as adding a socket, installing a new security light or adding a lawnmower socket in the garden.

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Central Park as you've never seen it before: The incredible interactive panorama that lets you fly through Manhattan from your sofa

Click here to try the interactive image: http://bit.ly/VMdJa7

According to research by MoneySupermarket.com home owners typically use around 40 per cent of their annual energy consumption during the winter months.

As such, customers on standard tariffs could face a wallet-busting average bill of £530 in February.

The most common New Year’s resolutions will be those that involve improving health, such as eating more fruit and veg or quitting smoking, with 69 per cent planning to make changes to their lifestyles such as these.

However, the second most common pledge set to be adopted by 34 per cent of those making resolutions is to save money and/or spend less.

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The day the Queen drove a Tube train! Fascinating black and white images celebrate 150th anniversary of the London Underground http://bit.ly/ShFfiI

Brits are finding themselves struggling to cover the cost of their gas and electricity use. However, according to Which?, there are a number of simple steps you can take to keep a lid on your energy...

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Do you trust #energy suppliers? http://whi.ch/Yp02Cy

The Dimplex Quantum System consists of 3 parts, the Quantum Heater, the Quantum Cylinder and the Quantum Hub. Although this is being sold as a heating and hot water system the two parts can be installed separately allowing you to upgrade to the full system at a later date.

“We are proud to be the first and only energy supplier to ensure its most vulnerable customers benefit from its cheapest prices” said Martin Lawrence, managing director of energy sourcing and customer supply at EDF.

The move has been welcomed by consumer groups, particularly in light of the escalating energy prices seen in the UK in recent months.

It’s the seventh day of Christmas as well as New Year’s Eve so have a great time tonight if you’re ringing in 2013!

One New Year’s resolution that should be easy to stick to is cutting down on the amount of energy you and those in your household use, as doing so will mean significantly more cash in your pocket.

According to the National Home Improvement Council, renovations of both bathrooms and kitchens are proving the most popular home improvement projects in the run-up to Christmas and New Year’s.

Do you have new radiators installed?  Did you know that how much you pay for heating will largely depend on how you use them and how good your house is at preventing heat from escaping and being wasted.

E.ON has said it will be increasing its tariffs by an average of 8.7 per cent from January 18th next year – equivalent to an extra £106.33 per year per household.

E.ON was the last of the so-called ‘Big Six’ energy providers to unveil a price hike, with the other five members of the group all increasing prices earlier this year.

The Coldest Journey expedition will see Sir Ranulph Fiennes and his team attempt to become the first explorers to cross the Antarctic continent during the polar winter, where temperatures can drop to minus 90 degrees Celsius.

Even with the most efficient heating system in the world, you’ll still be wasting cash if you fail to eliminate sources of draughts in your home.

Alongside your choice of heating system and the energy tariff you use, draught-proofing is one of the easiest and most-effective ways to lower your energy bill, and could be a particularly good idea now that the winter weather has set in and the temperature has plummeted.

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Shimmering 'nightscapes' from the world's greatest cities: Time lapse pictures show New York, Cape Town and Shanghai in glittering glory http://bit.ly/UBPCdy

This year has seen five of Britain’s big six energy suppliers announce price hikes, averaging out at an increase of £90 or seven per cent per household and taking the average customer’s energy bill to £1,334 a year.

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'I'm not bigoted... I once fought a gay boxer': Tory MP David Davies defends claim parents don't want gay children in attack on same-sex marriage

There are ways to combat the winter blues and among the most effective is to adapt your home décor to better suit the colder weather.

This can be done in a number of ways, ranging from a few simple, superficial changes to more drastic measures to make your home feel warm and cosy.  So if you’re short of time and cash and just want something quick and easy to get your home ready for the winter months see our article below.

According to Sara Corker, seasoned interior designer and director of Sara Corker Designs, there are a few things we can do in our kitchens to maximise space and create the illusion of the room being far bigger than it is.

The most important thing to think about is your use of lighting, she says.

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A 3p-a-litre increase in fuel duty, planned for next January, is cancelled. The basic income tax threshold will be increased and there's more money for road building and school improvement.

But the chancellor has extended austerity measures to 2018 - and he will miss his own target for reducing the national debt

Main points of the Chancellor's Autumn Statement: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20606382

Follow our coverage LIVE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20597641

What do you make of the Chancellor's announcements and how will you be affected by them?

Energy companies have come in for a significant amount of criticism from consumer groups in recent months following a number of price hikes.

But according to Anthony Ainsworth, sales and marketing director from E.ON, there are “lots of things” consumers can do to lower their household bills.

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Modern patio heaters from companies such as Dimplex and Consort Claudgen are incredibly effective at keeping people warm even in low winter temperatures.  They are also much less expensive to run than people think.

According to insurance group AXA, the average cost of a burst pipe remains at around two and half times more than a burglary claim, while during freezing weather, customers are three times more likely to experience a burst pipe than a theft.

We just love Mike's review of us on +Trustpilot *Experience was so good you would think lord Sugar was in charge*

We'd welcome the chance for Lord Sugar to rate us, perhaps one day he'll be a customer of ours!