From the highest quality leather shooting accessories such as cartridge cases and gun slips to a gorgeous desk blotter or stationery tray, the words ‘England’, ‘craftsmen’ and ‘leather’ seem to evoke an innate sense of quality.

We almost expect to discover the kind of quality that makes you proud to own the luxury goods, to run your finger along the seams, to smell the leather and admire the way it looks.

If you have a beautiful wooden writing desk then a luxury leather desk blotter not only provides a very practical solution, protecting the surface of your desk and providing a convenient surface for writing or signing letters and documents, but by choosing a luxury leather desk blotter that’s
handmade in England by real craftsmen, then you know that the way it looks and feels is every bit as important and appreciated as how it works.

Hip flasks have long proven popular, whether by those setting off for a long country walk, a highland hike or a day shooting. But hip flasks serve a greater purpose than simply being a portable container for a refreshing drink, or a wee drop of the special Scottish water!

Hip flasks are stylish accessories, beautiful items in themselves, providing convenience, luxury and style all in an elegant, lightweight, durable package that can be carried or worn easily.

Luxury English leather goods can include a range of hip flasks, or containers for hip flasks, enabling you to face nature with a bracing determination and a beautiful hip flask of which you’ll be as pleased with the exterior as much as the interior! Plastic bottles are for students. For the perfect English gentleman, luxury leather hip flasks are the order of the day.

When it comes to choosing gun slips and cartridge cases, leather shooting accessories are head and shoulders above plastic alternatives, providing both the look and style that is the mark of quality. But it’s more than that, because leather is soft, malleable and durable, providing protection from the elements, and ensuring your shooting equipment remains in excellent condition, removing any possible excuse for missing that brace on Sunday!

There are some fantastic reasons for taking up the hobby of metal detecting. Some may even refer to it as a sport due to the exercise you will also be getting as you search for the unknown – the hidden treasure that could lie just beneath your feet. Using a metal detector, could quite simply take you anywhere, the possibilities are endless.

Think of how satisfied and excited Terry Herbet must be right now with his massive find in Staffordshire! Terry may have just unknowingly stumbled upon the discovery of a lifetime, one that has the potential to change our beliefs and challenges the way we will now view history.

In case you are not aware, Terry stumbled upon one of the most amazing treasures of all time whilst metal detecting in Staffordshire, and once the items are valued, the pay off for his hobby will more than likely provide him with millions to last him the rest of his life.

How’s that for a hidden treasure!

We may not all be able to come across as brilliant a find as Terry, however there are definitely some valuable discoveries still to be found out there. They could just be waiting for you and your metal detector to discover them.

So how do you do it?

First and foremost, you will need to ensure you have a good metal detector that will be effective for the places you wish to search. There are different options available if you would like to detect on the beach, park, or underwater. Yes underwater!

Finding treasure underwater is often referred to as deep metal detecting. This can be extremely profitable as many valuable items are lost out at sea and never to be recovered again. That is of course, until you came along!

To achieve success with your metal detecting, it is important to conduct research beforehand. The useful information that you can gather from your local library or through searching the Internet can provide you with a great starting point.

Knowing where to start is one of the key factors for any person wishing to take this hobby seriously. Simply getting out your metal detector and starting on your front lawn may lead you to finding some interesting things, however visiting places from our history, that you have researched beforehand, could prove far more fruitful, as Terry now knows all too well.

Metal detecting can be fun and rewarding for anyone wishing to give it a go. It doesn’t have to cost you the earth to purchase a metal detector – Terry got his from a jumble sale!

Murcia is home to some of the best golfing in Europe and the Roda golf resort continues in that spirit with its course designed by one of Europe’s most prestigious designers. If you enjoy golf among magnificent surroundings and in a warm climate that’s year round, then buying a golf property in Murcia will be one of the best investments you’ll ever make.

Roda Golf and Beach Resort

This resort combines glorious weather, great golf and luxury to create the perfect golf holiday or permanent Spanish residence. Located just a 5 minute drive from Murcia airport, travelling to your Roda golf property from the UK will take just a few hours. Once there, you’ll be just 1.5km from Mar Menor and the 250km of Mediterranean beaches which stretch out either side. At the resort you’ll find property and facilities which blend in with, and match, the beauty of the Murcia landscape plus elegant homes that integrate with the Mediterranean lifestyle.

Roda Golf Property

At the Roda Golf and Beach Resort you’ll find a range of exquisite properties to suit your budget including apartments, townhouses and villas. Surrounded by the lush greenery of the resort, your property will always be a short stroll from a communal pool and the private residents pathways which lead you to the golf course and resort facilities.

Apartments at Roda are available in two styles named Alhambra and Brisa. Within the styles you’ll have a choice of 2 or 3 bedrooms along with private gardens, solariums and optional jacuzzis.

Townhouses are available in five types of varying size and layout. The townhouse designs have been named Balcon, Baranda, Finca, Hacienda and Mirador and offer 2-3 bedrooms with living space across two floors plus access to a swimming pool.

The villas at Roda golf resort have been designed in four styles named Albatros, Eagle, Birdie, and Green. Villa properties are available in 4, 3 or 2 bedrooms with ample terraces, optional swimming pools and great views of the golf course.

Phase 4 of property development at Roda is well under way with low-density of building and the eagerly anticipated Brisa apartments.

Facilities at Roda Golf and Beach Resort

As you’d expect from one of Murcia’s newest and best golf resorts, facilities at Roda are opening at a rapid rate. The sports facilities containing tennis courts, multi-purpose sports pitch and football pitch have recently opened. Here you’ll also find some first-class changing facilities and a children’s play area surrounded by beautiful landscaping and views across the 7^th hole and lake to the clubhouse.

The commercial centre of Roda will be home to shops, restaurants and bars and work begins in September 2009 ready for early 2010.

The resort is also home to the Beach Club. Here you’ll find a swimming pool, mud baths, bars and a restaurant right on the doorstep of a sandy beach. Head through the entrance to the club and you’ll pass by an elegant staircase and emerge between a bar and restaurant with shining white floors and glass doors.

To the rear of the club is a vast sliding door leading you out to the beach with the sea lapping at the shore just a few metres away. Sun loungers, an outdoor bar and swimming pool invite you to spend plenty of time here enjoying the climate and indulging in food and drink. Head back inside and up to the first floor and you’ll discover a veranda offering stunning views across the Mediterranean. The Beach Club is a great place to relax during the day or for an evening’s romantic dining among luxurious surroundings and attentive staff.

Roda Golf Course

The real draw of Roda is the 18-hole par 72 course designed by Dave Thomas – one of the most in-demand course designers in Europe. Utilising the Mediterranean landscape and natural vegetation, golfers will find this course challenges their golfing skills on every level but with the convenience of being just a short stroll from home.

The terrain at Roda was initially flat but has been transformed to provide undulating fairways and greens weaved around three lakes. The clubhouse and course facilities are managed by DeVere Hotels who have experience and knowledge of handling some of the best PGA European Tour events such as the Ryder Cup which has been played at the DeVere Belfry four times.

Roda is also home to a PGA golfing academy which has the latest generation of facilities and equipment to help you improve your game.

The Pyramat Sound Rocker is as comfortable as a luxury chair, with a home theatre-like speaker system built in. Providing heart-pounding bass with a 5.5 inch subwoofer and side speakers, the Personal Surround Sound of the Sound Rocker will allow you to relax with your favourite music, or submerse yourself in your favourite game after a long, hard day at work. With unequalled sound quality and extraordinary levels of comfort watching a movie, listening to music, or playing your favourite game will become an event instead of a daily occurrence.

Perhaps you simply hate having a bunch of wires lying around. Consider the PM 450 Wireless. Feel the action in your favourite movies, music and games, with the most advanced and innovate design in a gaming chair. The PM 450 Wireless contains the best sound system and the largest, most comfortable design in a wireless rechargeable gaming chair that you’ll find anywhere. Whether using the PM 450 Wireless game chair as a wired chair or a wireless game chair, the sound quality is unmatched.

Pyramat gaming chairs are completely compatible with any MP3 player, TV, DVD player, VCR, or gaming console. They are easy to set up, easy to use, and the most comfortable gaming chair you will ever see. The fantastic sound makes you feel a part of the action and will transform your experience from the ordinary to unforgettable.

Involve your friends and family by networking several Pyramat game chairs. Outstanding networking abilities create the option of connecting up to eight Sound Rocker gaming chairs together. This will create the feeling of actually being in the crowd at the concert of your favourite band, or in the backseat during the car chase in your favourite movie. Everyone will feel part of the action and will look forward to the event of the day.

Pyramat gaming chairs are comfortable chairs, simple to set up and use, and provide high quality sound to accompany your favourite movie, music or game. You can feel and hear what you see on screen like never before. Don’t just play the game, become a part of the game with a Pyramat game chair today!

How to get to La Torre Golf Resort

The course at La Torre is situated just outside of the old village of Roldan in the Murcia region on the east coast of Spain. The closest airport, situated in San Javier, is just 10km from the resort (the airport itself is called Murcia Airport) and plenty of low-cost flights out of the UK arrive here. Once you’ve landed you’re just a 15 minute drive from La Torre. Should your flight land at Alicante airport you’ll have a 55 minute journey into La Torre. In 2010 a new airport will open in Corvera which is just a 20 minute drive away.

La Torre Golf Resort

Within the Polaris World La Torre golf resort there’s a town centre with extensive modern amenities including the 5-star Crowne Plaza Hotel and Spa (containing 200 rooms, indoor pool, gym). Arranged around a magnificent lake, the town also boasts restaurants, bars, boutiques, tennis courts, a swimming pool complex and supermarkets all linked to the golfing greens, parks and properties by wide tree-lined avenues and streets. The resort has a Mediterranean and Floridian appeal largely due to the development being based on Fort Lauderdale in Florida, USA.

Some of the stunning properties currently available at the resort include these three apartments:

	A 2-bedroom apartment with views across the golf course, this first floor property has a lounge/dining room area, terrace, underground parking (lift access) and is sited close to a communal pool.
	Another great 2-bed first floor apartment complete with views across the golf course and lake, this property has generous living space, underground parking and comes fully furnished.
	Situated close to the town centre and all the great facilities, this second-floor 2-bedroom apartment has a south-facing aspect, parking and use of the communal pool.

La Torre Golf Course Guide

The La Torre Golf Course was designed by Michael Nicklaus for Nicklaus Design – one of the world’s leading golf course design companies headed by the legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus. Michael Nicklaus is the youngest son of Jack and his course forms part of the Nicklaus Golf Trail of 9 courses within a 25km radius (as a Polaris World property owner you have discounted green fees at the courses located in La Torre, Condado de Alhama, Mar Menor, El Valle, Hacienda Riquelme and La Loma resorts).

So, how does La Torre play? The 18-holes are spread across 5 hectares of lush surroundings that combine with and enhance the resort itself. There are various changes in the level of the terrain, sculptured bunkers and three lakes which means this course offers picturesque views at whichever hole you’re playing.

La Torre is a par 68 course with four tees per hole (colour coded black, blue, white and red) which will suit all abilities. The course is kind to those with a higher handicap giving you plenty of safe routes to the pin. For the low handicappers, there are opportunities to take riskier shots particularly on the Par 3’s and 4’s where there’s plenty of sand and water hazards to negotiate. Should you find yourself in the bunkers, the sand is top quality so the ball never sits too low which helps your escape shot (although you’ll still need some skill!).

La Torre comprises 6 Par 3 holes, 10 Par 4 holes and 2 Par 5’s – this means the course requires a strategic approach and calls for accuracy over distance. Although the course is by no means short (and your driver will be called into action), you’ll need to be on form with your wedges and irons as the greens are well protected by hazards. With forward tee positions on the Par 5’s, the big hitters among you will reach the greens in two shots. The first Par 5 is sited on the front nine at the 7^th hole with the second on the back nine at the 12^th.

Course fees vary depending on the season. High season is: February, March, April, May, October and November. Low season is: January, June, July, August, September and December. As a visitor, expect to pay around 60 Euros in low season and 80 Euros in high.

As a Polaris World property owner your green fees will be lower at around 55 Euros for 18 holes although there are special afternoon and twilight rates that can cost around 20-25 Euros.

Residents can also buy vouchers for 4 or 10 rounds:

A 4 round voucher (lasts 1 month) costs 200 Euros.

A 10 round voucher (2 months) costs 440 Euros.

There are also options to purchase yearly memberships (limited numbers) or a 25 year Golf Right. For a full list of La Torre residents’ golf tariffs click here

La Torre Golf Course Facilities

Before setting off on your round there’s a well-equipped practice area and driving range to get your game in order before you begin play. The course also offers a first class pro-shop and lessons with the course professionals are available (subject to booking fees and availability).

For those seeking refreshments before or after their round, the club house offers the Wood House Bar with a terrace overlooking the putting greens and practice area or on the first floor you’ll find the Pinos Bar famed for its live music. Overlooking the lake and 9^th holes is La Encina Buffet Restaurant offering a great range of grilled meat, fish and salad dishes.

Pole performance is one of the only forms of exercise which uses every muscle group during a work-out. When done properly it increases strength, flexibility, muscle tone and overall fitness whilst the dance aspect improves self confidence and poise.

The Alturnative Studio in Lincoln run pole dancing lessons for fitness and fun as well as group parties at their studio in Lincoln City Centre. We cater for all age groups.

Aren’t Pole Classes only for 18 year old female dancers?!

The weekly pole classes are attended by a wide variety of students. The age range in our current classes is from 16 to 56 with the average student being in their mid to late 20’s. They come from all walks of life including professionals, students, mothers and new mothers, they all want to work out in a supportive environment which aims to raise their confidence as well as increase their fitness. Anyone is welcome to join in the courses, big or small, old or young it makes no difference and as I’ve learnt from experience in the industry, attraction and sexiness are not based on looks alone.

The classes run in the Lincoln studio on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings with a maximum of 10 students per class. The studio is also available for private lessons and private hire at other times as well as party bookings on weekends.

Our Lincoln Pole Dancing Classes are held in the new The Alturnative Studio which is located within The Terrace just behind the Theatre Royal Lincoln. The new studio is gradually being improved but allows us access 24/7

Moving forward, Cardiff has emerged as the entertainment capital of Britain. With its Cardiff gigs and Cardiff concerts there is always something to do for everyone.

The famous docklands of Cardiff (as Tiger Bay) and its surroundings have been converted as a hub of modern luxury flats, shops, offices, and attractions and not to mention the new building housing the Assembly for Wales. Cardiff hosts the most famous stadiums, swimming pools and the largest summer festivals in Britain. Cardiff is also the home of the prestigious and country’s great institutes of learning Cardiff University and University of Wales Institute Cardiff (UWIC). Both universities are well known for hosting excellent gigs. For example, to attend Cardiff University Gigs, students from surrounding areas of Newport and Pontypridd would actually come and attend these shows.The Cardiff Uni Gigs are among the best in the country.

Today, Cardiff is one of the fastest growing cities of Europe not only in terms of redevelopment but also in culture and refinement. Cardiff is bouncy, graceful, positive and much more cosmopolitan than one can think of. The city of Cardiff caters for all appreciations, offering everything from the exhilaration of a spirited metropolis life to the peacefulness and placidity of the nearby seashore and countryside.

Gigs in London in London is geared towards drinking and dancing, although the wealth of different pubs, bars and clubs in the capital do make it possible to find something to suit all types, whether you fancy a pint of bitter over a plate of British ‘pub grub’ or dancing until six in the morning. London’s nightlife is currently buzzing with everything – from some of Europe’s liveliest nightclubs, right through to hip stylish bars and traditional old London taverns. The nightlife scene in London is amongst the best in Europe. London nightlife tends to be a trendsetter for other major cities throughout Europe, and travellers will find that one vacation will hardly have enough nights to explore all that London nightlife includes. The nightlife has as much to offer as any other large city in the world.

Contrary to what the audiences may think, the deck of cards that a performer is using is in no way ordinary. They are usually a special set of cards that are specifically prepared in order to perform a variety of tricks. This can be done in many various ways.  If a performer makes use of ordinary cards, there are some techniques used to make them especially useful for magicians for their tricks.

What most magicians usually do to make their deck of cards "special" is by using marked cards. Card marking is actually a process in which seemingly ordinary playing cards are altered in such a way that only the person marking the cards is aware of it. Card marking is also usually being used by card sharks in cheating and profiting from betting card games.

In magic, card marking is an especially effective method of altering cards for the purpose of performing astonishing magic tricks. Marked cards can allow magicians to identify certain cards for magical effect. The most common card marking method has been punching holes on certain cards that only the performer can effectively distinguish. But card marking has also become more sophisticated with the use of advances in technology.

Newer methods of card marking make use of what is now called as shade technology. An example would be luminous marked cards. These are cards that make use of luminosity of the cards when a device such as a special pair of sunglasses or contact lens is used on them. Without the device, the cards may look like ordinary cards to onlookers. But with the sunglasses on, the cards can be seen differently along with the marks made on them.

There are also cards that are marked by the way that a deck of cards are designed. Some special cards may contain visible but tiny marks that can only be read by trained magicians who can read the tiny marks that double as codes. Sometimes marked card readers use eyeglasses in order to better read the tiny but unnoticeable to the untrained eye type of marks on the cards. These types of cards are usually designed so that the marked cards can be read from even a distance while another person may be holding them.

Marked cards outside the magic arena are used by some as a means to cheat at casinos or when gambling. In order to prevent this from happening, there are also other ways in which people can detect whether marked cards are being used. One of the most common ways of detecting them is by riffling or shuffling them. This method is commonly called as a gambler’s riffle test.

It is simply done by riffling the cards carefully. If a deck of cards is marked, the marks will usually be noticed as if dancing from the back of the cards just like a cartoon drawn on each card back. This can be effective in detecting marked cards with physical marks such as tiny holes or depressions on them.