Spring is in the Air!

I really feel that we are finally turning a corner and spring is on its way. AT LAST! It seems like this winter has been going on for an eternity.

I’m looking forward to coming home from work in the daylight and sitting in my garden with a crisp glass of rose and a packet of Pringles.

Unfortunately my back garden looks like a slushy patch of mud covered in children’s toys with a rotten shed in it and the front garden looks like a rather grey and moss ridden path surrounded by overgrown shrubs which are impossible to identify.

The upcoming ESTAs highlight the estate agency industry.

Award ceremonies are exciting events that look at celebrating and acknowledging the best of the best in certain industries as well as the success of an industry as a whole. Many various industries have their own award ceremonies as competition between firms/agencies/companies is healthy, and the property industry is no exception. Estate agents from around the UK come together every April for the ESTAs – The annual Estate Agent and Letting Agent Awards.

World Water Day organises the World’s Longest Toilet Queue

Did you know that last week, the 22nd of March, was World Water Day? Also, did you know that for three days last week, from the 22nd to the 24th of March 2010, thousands of individuals left their impatience at home and stood in an extremely long queue for a toilet to raise awareness about water sanitation and hygiene?

World Water Day is an initiative that was established 18 years ago and since then, thousands of people every year demonstrate in various ways how precious water and basic sanitation actually is and how we should never take this entity for granted. This year saw one for the record books as individuals around the globe all decided to stand in a queue for the loo. This idea was compiled in an effort to break the world’s previous longest queue for a toilet record and all this was done in the hope that the world would take notice of international sanitation issues and that fact that many have access to very poor sanitation or no sanitation at all. Various toilets were set up in places around the globe, with some utilising a portable toilet hire company and their ablutions, artistic portrayal of toilets or even people dressing up as toilets themselves!

Animal testing: debate rages on

In a recent address to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Lord Drayson revealed figures which indicate that negative public perceptions of scientific research, or any clinical job involving animal testing, have dropped by ten percent in the past ten years.

A survey from IPSOS Mori reveals that only a third of adults in the UK are completely against animal testing and would like to see it banned, while the number of people who support the need for scientific animal testing has increased by 28 percent over the past decade.

The relaxation of public opinion may have come about because of the substantial increase in animal testing, which has perhaps made people more accustomed to and accepting of the research method. Last year alone almost 3.7 million experiments were conducted on animals, which is 454 000 (or 14 percent) more than the previous year.

Government lends a helping hand to car manufacturing sector

Vauxhall Motors was bailed out earlier this month when Lord Mandelson finalised a £270 million loan deal. The move by the Business Secretary is part of an involved arrangement, between General Motors and various European governments aimed at seeing car manufacturer Vauxhall, and its sister company Opel, through to financial stability. The assistance package is said to be worth around €3.9 billion.

Lord Mandelson stated he was pleased that the Government was committed to supporting Britain’s car manufacturers and saving 3220 jobs within the dedicated workforce. He also emphasised that Vauxhall is an integral part of the country’s car manufacturing industry, and that it is important that it thrives. The loan will also have a knock-on effect, saving many jobs in companies throughout Vauxhall’s supply chain.

Time is ripe for London property investment

If you’re looking to make a property investment in the UK, London is currently your best bet. The past year has seen substantial increases in the price of London property, and the growth rate appears to have accelerated faster compared to other areas in Britain.

Outside of London property values continue to decline. In some parts of the UK, particularly in the northeast and in Scotland, prices have fallen by a solid eight percent in the past year.

Many major estate agents have recently released encouraging statistics for London properties. One of the latest reports indicates that the value of residential properties in London has increased by 13 percent since this time last year. Furthermore, prices of London property for sale in some of the more central and sought-after locations have peaked back up to where they were during the property boom in 2007.

Justin Bieber Official Album Launch in Manhattan – Videos and Pictures

So Justin Bieber had his official album launch yesterday at Lucky Strike Lanes in Manhattan and by all accounts, the initial reviews of the launch party and the album itself are AWESOME. This article takes a look at some of the reviews and some of the action that took place in Manhattan yesterday…

The Justin Bieber album launch started off with 2 live performances on The View” and then an appearance on Late Night with David Letterman. In his interviews, Justin Bieber constantly thanked his fans for getting him where his is and repeated that he feels “blessed and grateful” for everything that has happened in his short whirlwind of a career!

Bowling with Bieber: