Anyone who has ever thrown a party knows just how much pressure there is to get it right. Nobody wants to their party to be a flop. If you have been tasked with organising a fun occasion, for whatever purpose, then take a look at these ideas for making things a little more interesting:

Photo Booths

Very popular at the moment, the photo booth is a fun and exciting addition to any occasion. Go for a deluxe option and hire a video booth as well. Perfect for creating lasting memories, providing the option to record a hilarious video message and the ability to capture priceless photos of your event. They are hired for parties, wedding receptions and proms and come in a variety of different colours and designs. Guests can choose different styling for their photos and are sure to remember their experience fondly as the booth can also come with a prop box!

Image credit

Crazy Golf

Most people can’t resist a round of crazy golf and now you can bring the green to you. A portable 9-hole course featuring obstacles like loop the loop and crazy bridges, this is a great activity for any party atmosphere. It comes with both kids and adult putters so the whole family can get involved.

Laser Shot

A totally safe shooting simulator with a wide choice of games including ducks, western-style and speed tests. Play as an individual or wage war in teams, this game is sure to be a ‘hit’ with young and old. It can be set up indoors or outside and the difficulty level can be adjusted.

Rodeo Bull

Hours of hilarity can be had with the infamous bucking bronco. Watch and laugh as your guests try to master the art of balance, dignity and trying not to fall off. The rodeo bull has entertained at many a great party or event so why not stick to a winning formula? For a Rodeo Bull Manufacturer, visit http://www.gsrodeobulls.com/

Image credit

Lights Out

Test your reactions with this fast-paced, exhilarating giant game fit for both young and old. The object of the game is press the lights as soon as they illuminate, being quicker and scoring more points than your opponent. This is an ideal team building game for a corporate event or a fun challenge for families and friends at any social gathering.

Dance Machine

Have you got the moves and can your guests keep up with the illuminated floor pads? This is a classic 2 player challenge which tests reaction, speed and rhythm. Having one of these at a party means great music, big lighting and an ideal ice-breaker as guests warm up into the party atmosphere.

Football Simulator

Give your guests the chance to score some incredible goals with a simulator screen that provides penalty kick challenges, target practice games, the crossbar challenge and goal strike levels. Perfect for any age, ability or event as you can’t go wrong with a bit of footy!

Garage doors are used frequently, so it’s important to keep yours in a good state of repair. This will ensure it opens and closes when you need it and will extend the life of your garage door. In order to keep your door working efficiently for as long as possible, we’ve put together some tips on taking care of it.

Image Credit

There are some simple yet effective ways that you can keep your garage door operating correctly, and this will also save you money on repair bills. If you do need some work carrying out that you can’t do yourself, it’s always best to use a company that specialises in London garage door repairs so you know they’re right for the job.

Good-quality garages can add to your property, whether you decide to use it for your car, as additional storage space or as an extra room. If you don’t already have one, building a garage can increase the value of a house by up to 11%.

Lubricate

One of the quickest and cheapest ways to keep your garage door in a good working order is to ensure the springs, hinges and rollers are well lubricated. You should do this about every three months to allow it to open and close smoothly.

Reduce Rust

Steel is a common choice for new garage doors and is often recommended by those that carry out London garage door repairs, such as http://garagedoorsrus.co.uk/, because it is cost-effective, low-maintenance and durable and comes in a variety of styles.

Image Credit

Rust can be one of the biggest problems for metal garage doors, but there are ways that you can prevent it. You can clean off any grime by washing aluminium and steel garage doors on both sides with a solution of mild detergent and then use clean water to rinse it thoroughly. In order to protect the door from weather conditions, you can apply car wax to it.

Staining and Painting

Once you’ve removed any rust and treated your garage door, you can choose to stain or paint it using a range of colours and finishes. For instance, you can use a wood effect to create a traditional finish to your garage or go for a bold colour to give the exterior of your home a feature that stands out.

Also known as Mitragyna Speciosa, Kratom is a tree that’s native to Southeast Asia, which includes the Malaysian Floristic Region, Thailand, Indonesia and several other surrounding areas. Typically, the leaves of this tree are ground up and orally ingested and can be used for a number of medicinal purposes. Some of these include, but are not restricted to, mood enhancement, decreased anxiety, pain relief, decreased fatigue and hypertension, relief of irritable bowel syndrome, increased energy and focus and many more. The tree is indigenous in the regions mentioned above and people here have used its leaves for centuries for sedation in higher doses, increased energy in low doses, pain relief and dysentery.

The opioid receptors in the brain are affected by Kratom in the same way as an opiate, but it is not classified as one. However, this feature allows the tree to be used for the treatment of those who suffer from chronic pain. It has also come in handy for managing opium withdrawal. This is one of the major reasons why the use of this plant has become widespread. It also has a world of other benefits for your physical and mental health ranging from reduced blood pressure and blood sugar levels to enhanced motivation and communication.

Today, you can find Kratom in different forms. Previously, people used to chew its leaves directly, but they have a really bitter taste and this was not something everyone could do. Therefore, different Kratom products were developed and now you have plenty of choices at your disposal. Some of the common forms of the plant are listed as follows:

• Kratom Powder

As opposed to crushed leaves, Kratom powder is much stronger because the veins and stems of the leaf are removed in this case. Thus, the part of the leave that has the largest amount of active alkaloids is left for formulating the powder. It is one of the strongest form of the plant and can be mixed with coffee, juice or other similar liquids. This powder can also be used in capsules.

• Kratom Tea

Crushed leaf Kratom is used for making tea and you can choose the leaf yourself. Honey can be added to hide the unpleasant taste of the plant. Don’t boil the tea too much or else it will not be effective.

• Kratom Extracts

An extraction process is used for making Kratom extracts and water, citrus or alcohol is used for this purpose. The Kratom powder or leaf is extracted in liquid form and then dried. It is grinded into a paste or powder and is found in different strengths. The extract contain Kratom’s active alkaloids in concentrated form.

• Kratom Fusions

These fusions come in capsule and powder form and comprise of different blends of enhanced Kratom strains or Kratom extract combined together. These fusions are of a very high strength due to which you need to be cautious when taking them.

The effects of Kratom products typically last for three to four hours and become evident within 15 minutes of taking it.

A group of volunteers from East Dunbartonshire have been recognised for their hard work putting teenagers and young adults through their Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme.

Image Credit

The volunteers, who hail from the Allander Open Awards Centre in the Scottish town of Milngavie, were just some of the instructors honoured recently for their long service to the popular awards programme at a prestigious ceremony attended by Prince Edward.

Recognising contribution

The event, which took place at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, was a way of recognising the contribution many volunteers around the country make to the awards scheme, which has been taking place in the UK and 144 other countries since it was founded by the Duke of Edinburgh in 1956.

Among those being honoured for their service to the awards was Alison Higham, who has been helping youngsters take part in the scheme for 20 years at the Community Education Centre in Milngavie. Aged 70 this year, Alison has decided to retire from volunteering but said she has enjoyed helping young people become self-reliant throughout her time with the programme.

Image Credit

The Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme is the world’s largest programme for recognising youth achievement. It encourages young people aged between 14 and 25 to take part in a variety of activities to build up their skills.

Bronze, Silver and Gold

Young people can aim toward their Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards, all of which evaluate the young person in different areas, including volunteering, physical activity and developing or building on a skill. This can be anything from juggling and painting to playing a musical instrument or driving a car.

Expeditions are also an important part of the programme; participants take part in two separate expeditions for each level of award.

Part of the scheme aims to develop team-building skills in those taking part. Team building corporate events, like the ones that are available at sites like https://www.armourgeddon.co.uk/team-building-corporate-events.html, are popular way of helping people to bond, particularly in a workplace.

The ability to work as part of a team, whether it’s during a Duke of Edinburgh expedition or in a working environment, is a vital skill to possess regardless of your age. Many employers now expect their workers to be as happy working in a team as they are on their own.

Parquet flooring, which uses pieces of wood to create beautiful, symmetrical patterns, has been around for hundreds of years.

Image Credit

It was especially popular in the early part of the 20th century. If you’re not lucky enough to have original parquet, you can also have parquet flooring installed in your home, although this is one job that is probably best left to the professionals due to the intricacies of creating the patterns on a large scale.

Parquet is great for sitting rooms and living rooms, but because wooden floors are affected by humidity, parquet flooring is not suitable for bathrooms and kitchens. If you have pets, especially dogs, keep their claws clipped to prevent scratching. Direct sunlight will fade all types of flooring over time, so close curtains or blinds if you can on very sunny days.

Maintenance

Although it is very durable, parquet does require some degree of maintenance. If you’ve moved house and discovered you’re lucky enough to have parquet flooring underneath your fitted carpets, you might need to sand it down and reseal it. Always use specialist products and ask if in doubt. Most suppliers will be able to give you advice.

Image Credit

Once sealed, parquet floors won’t require lots of maintenance. Regular sweeping with a broom or vacuum will be enough to keep them clean. Choose a cleaning product designed for wooden floors, which are easily available on the high street or online, and remember to use as little water as possible. Don’t let the floor get too wet as this can damage it over time. If spills happen, clean them up immediately.

Repairs

Don’t panic if you find there are damaged sections as part of the appeal and practicality of parquet is that you can make repairs or replace individual pieces as and when you need to.

You can readily buy replacement pieces. A great place to look if you need parquet flooring in Ireland would be an architectural salvage yard such as http://www.wilsonsyard.com/products/wooden-flooring.html.

These yards often stock reclaimed flooring in addition to supplying new pieces. Salvaged pieces are available in many different sizes, types and colour of wood, so you should be able to find a good match. Staff at salvage yards will be more than happy to help you find what you need if you have any doubts.