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Can Temporary Log Cabin Buildings Address the Urgent Need for Space in Educational Establishments?

Stephen Twigg, the shadow education secretary, called on George Osborne, the chancellor, to address this “urgent crisis” in his budget. He predicts that pupils will have to be taught in temporary buildings because schools will soon run out of space. In an article in The Guardian, Twigg claimed that, over the next few years, the government has promised to fund only an extra 100 schools. These are likely to be free schools – one of the coalition’s education reforms.

Official figures show the number of primary age children in the capital is set to soar from 595,000 to 701,000 over the next three to four years, raising the spectre of children having to be taught in school halls, hired buildings and temporary mobile classrooms. Education Secretary Michael Gove hit back by blaming Labour for the crisis, saying that warnings were ignored by the last government until it was too late to avert the problem. Several education authorities are already looking at emergency school accommodation.

Consider if the typical example of a temporary classroom is still an acceptable alternative to a purpose build, or custom designed classroom, ICT suite, canteen, sports pavilion or outdoor education centre? If the cost of hiring a temporary log classroom over five years was equivalent to owning outright a classroom that was designed to meet the key needs of your school, we have to ask if this could be considered a better use of the limited funds being given to schools to cope with the ever expanding needs for extra teaching space.

Log cabins are not only a great solution economically, but also environmentally. When considering the Carbon Footprint of your building, wood is both environmentally friendly, energy efficient and performs better than ‘traditional’ build structures. Wood is a natural material that is both beautiful and tactile and is therefore the first choice for all seasons. It’s insulation qualities ensure that heating and air conditioning costs are kept to a minimum, which makes it the ideal material for many types of school buildings. For example, some Log cabins have been independently certified and have exceeded the minimum U-values which can be proven to save schools between 30 – 40% on heating, lighting and cooling.

In the present era where saving energy and being as space and cost effective as possible is of paramount importance log cabins can provide the ideal solution to a problem of ever growing concern.


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Internet Pharmacy – An Ideal Platform For Drug Purchase

Getting the prescribed medicines from a nearby community drugstore had long been the only option for us. But now, Internet pharmacies have become a far better alternative. Internet pharmacies go a long way in meeting patient’s demands than what the traditional pharmacies could. A good online pharmacy entitles us to a host of benefits and services that the age-old community drugstores are incapable of providing in the near future. Online pharmacies outclass the traditional ones on more than a single ground.A lot of patients suffer from ailments that they do not wish to make public. It could even be embarrassing for some to publicly buy such drugs at a community drugstore. Conversely, they can buy similar drugs through an Internet pharmacy. The ordering process is easy, secure and confidential. No need to go out of the house to queue up near a drugstore; just fill in the online order form available in the internet pharmacy’s website and wait for the drug to be delivered right at your doorsteps.Most of us have a busy lifestyle. We need to take some time out for activities that are not a part of our daily routine. To get the drugs from a nearby drugstore, we need to find time to go out and buy them. Furthermore, there are patients who are too weak to move out. Such patients need to depend on others’ help to procure drugs from the nearest store. An Internet pharmacy, on the other hand, not only save our time but also reduces the effort needed to go to a drugstore. Whether at home, office, or anywhere else, all we need is to login to an online pharmacy website and place an order.The cost of medicines is an essential point of consideration for the patients. Online pharmacies offer drugs at a far cheaper rate than that of the traditional ones. The difference in price is due to the high overhead costs incurred by the community drugstores. Conversely, an online pharmacy does not have similar magnitude of infrastructure or operational costs. Furthermore, online pharmacies operating from Canada offer attractive discounts as compared to others. This is due to the price regulations of prescription medicines by the Canadian government. Such discounts can be as high as 70%!Safety, security, confidentiality, low prices and good product quality is what drives most patients to login to an online pharmacy. However patients should be careful to check out the legitimacy of the pharmacy. Internet pharmacies have become a booming business and a lot of people try to cash in this opportunity by promising the best and offering the worst. Legal online pharmacies are authorized by an external authoritative agency. Most legitimate Internet pharmacies provide a link to such an agency in support of their authenticity. People should check out for such links. Apart from that, it is always better to stay away from pharmacies that have broken links and look badly managed. Such pharmacies, in all probability, are the ones to stay away from. Online Canadian drug pharmacies are truly the best place to order medicines from; however, just do a bit of research beforehand to crosscheck its legitimacy.

Shoe Repairs And Several Other Things When I Was 7

Shoe Repairs And Several Other Things When I Was 7
My Dad repaired most of our shoes believe it or not, I can hardly believe it myself now. With 7 pairs of shoes always needing repairs I think he was quite clever to learn how to “Keep us in shoe Leather” to coin a phrase!

He bought several different sizes of cast iron cobbler’s “lasts”. Last, the old English “Laest” meaning footprint. Lasts were holding devices shaped like a human foot. I have no idea where he would have bought the shoe leather. Only that it was a beautiful creamy, shiny colour and the smell was lovely.

But I do remember our shoes turned upside down on and fitted into these lasts, my Dad cutting the leather around the shape of the shoe, and then hammering nails, into the leather shape. Sometimes we’d feel one or 2 of those nails poking through the insides of our shoes, but our dad always fixed it.

Hiking and Swimming Galas
Dad was a very outdoorsy type, unlike my mother, who was probably too busy indoors. She also enjoyed the peace and quiet when he took us off for the day!

Anyway, he often took us hiking in the mountains where we’d have a picnic of sandwiches and flasks of tea. And more often than not we went by steam train.

We loved poking our heads out of the window until our eyes hurt like mad from a blast of soot blowing back from the engine. But sore, bloodshot eyes never dampened our enthusiasm.

Dad was an avid swimmer and water polo player, and he used to take us to swimming galas, as they were called back then. He often took part in these galas. And again we always travelled by steam train.

Rowing Over To Ireland’s Eye
That’s what we did back then, we had to go by rowboat, the only way to get to Ireland’s eye, which is 15 minutes from mainland Howth. From there we could see Malahide, Lambay Island and Howth Head of course. These days you can take a Round Trip Cruise on a small cruise ship!

But we thoroughly enjoyed rowing and once there we couldn’t wait to climb the rocks, and have a swim. We picnicked and watched the friendly seals doing their thing and showing off.

Not to mention all kinds of birdlife including the Puffin.The Martello Tower was also interesting but a bit dangerous to attempt entering. I’m getting lost in the past as I write, and have to drag myself back to the present.

Fun Outings with The camera Club
Dad was also a very keen amateur photographer, and was a member of a camera Club. There were many Sunday photography outings and along with us came other kids of the members of the club.

And we always had great fun while the adults busied themselves taking photos of everything and anything, it seemed to us. Dad was so serious about his photography that he set up a dark room where he developed and printed his photographs.

All black and white at the time. He and his camera club entered many of their favourites in exhibitions throughout Europe. I’m quite proud to say that many cups and medals were won by Dad. They have been shared amongst all his grandchildren which I find quite special.

He liked taking portraits of us kids too, mostly when we were in a state of untidiness, usually during play. Dad always preferred the natural look of messy hair and clothes in the photos of his children.

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