Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word, equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.

There can be no equality or opportunity if men and women and children be not shielded in their lives from the consequences of great industrial and social processes which they cannot alter, control, or singly cope with.

EQUALITY

It is a strange fact that freedom and equality, the two basic ideas of democracy, are to some extent contradictory. Logically considered, freedom and equality are mutually exclusive, just as society and the individual are mutually exclusive.

All men are born equally free.

Real equality is immensely difficult to achieve, it needs continual revision and monitoring of distributions. And it does not provide buffers between members, so they are continually colliding or frustrating each other.

Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good governance.

Kofi Annan

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Sky high record breaking

Ever since our ancient ancestors looked up to the birds flying and longed to emulate that flight, humans have been fascinated by getting up above the clouds. From the early attempts by the Wright Brothers to the planes that can reach the very limits of space and orbit the Earth, flight is a dream for many. To celebrate our love of aviation, here are some incredible record breaking planes:

Select the Right Garden Fence For Your Garden

A fence is an important part of the garden – as well as adding security to the garden and helping to protect your home, they are also a decorative feature and can help to make our gardens look good. Autumn is a good time of the year to focus on your fencing – making sure that it is in good order before winter rolls in is a good idea, as weak and damaged fences can easily be brought down by a bad winter storm.

When it comes to replacing your fence in the garden, there are lots of options to choose from, and you don’t even need to have fencing as a garden border! If you are looking for a new garden boundary, here are some ideas to consider…

Wooden Fencing – One of the most popular choices of fencing, wooden fencing is available in an array of styles so don’t think that if you have seen one wooden fence you have seen them all – because you definitely haven’t! A good place to get quality fencing from is a timber supplier, such as these timber merchants Portsmouth www.timbco.co.uk/ as there will be a good range to look at. You can also look at ideas in garden and housekeeping magazines and on social media.

Feather board and tongue and groove fencing are two very popular styles and can also be combined with a wooden trellis top, which adds a more decorative touch as well as being a good way to grow climbing plants such as ivy, honeysuckle or clematis. Wooden fencing usually comes in pre-prepared panels, but you can also have them bespoke made if you are after something specific.

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Metal Fencing – This is a stylish choice and is usually more likely to be used at the front of the home rather than the back. Metal fencing is usually designed in the form of railings, and it can be designed to be simple and effective or can have a very ornate style. Bow top railings have rounded tops and are popular for front gardens as well as parks, or you can also get the type that have spiked or decorative tops which also add an additional element of security. As well as these styles, there is also the wore mesh style of fencing – this is a good choice for keeping animals in and safe, as well as adding extra security.

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Hedging – Many people prefer to mark their garden boundaries with hedging rather than a wood or metal fence. Hedges are a great way to add more greenery to your garden and can also be a good home for local wildlife. Native plants are great for hedging, as for hundreds of years they have been used in the countryside for marking boundaries and they are hardy and tolerant of most soils. Hawthorn and blackthorn are not only great hedging plants, proving an array of spring blossoms and autumn fruits loved by birds and mammals but they also provide additional protection in the form of their dense branches and thorns.

Techy Problems in the Home

We are fortunate to live in an age where technology is accessible and helpful. Throughout the past eighteen months, during the pandemic in particular, we have come to rely on technology for many things – from the ability to hold conference calls with people all over the world from the comfort of our home office, to catching up with family and friends, to being able to watch the films and tv programmes to help us relax and unwind.

Tips for decorating long and narrow rooms

Not all rooms are easy to decorate. Some are odd shapes or have alcoves and nooks that require special consideration. Here are some handy tips for decorating a living room that is narrow and long.

  1. Furniture placement

A long and narrow room is tricky and it’s easy to arrange furniture so it feels like you’re living in a bowling alley. Avoid the temptation to place furniture on each of the walls so foot traffic must go down the middle, breaking up the space. Instead, consider placing a sofa against one wall with chairs close to it in front, so the walkway can be behind the furniture.

  1. Try not to push furniture against walls

By creating this tunnel effect with furniture, you are just amplifying the narrowness and length of the room. Consider creating a more circular effect with furniture placed towards the centre of the room and not around the edges. This creates a warmier, more intimate space and takes the focus away from the narrow space. The focus of the space then becomes the cosy nature of the furniture and not the walkway space through the middle.

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  1. Circular furniture

Try to avoid using furniture that is oblong or rectangular in shape as this will only serve to emphasize the awkward shape of the room. Consider round tables, a circular coffee table in the centre, rounded soft lampshades and even rounded or circular artwork and mirrors on the walls. This helps people to see a rounded softness instead of straight lines and angles.

  1. Paint

In terms of colour choices, it’s best to choose lighter, pale but warm shades. Choosing anything too dark will only serve to close in the space even more. Lighter colours give the impression of space and airiness, so focus on opening up the space and not making it feel smaller. For walls that need some TLC before painting, consider a Plasterer Gloucester and visit pure plasterers.

  1. Divide

For rooms that are extra long, a useful trick can be to divide the space into different sections. Consider creating different zones that can be marked by area rugs, for example. You might choose to have a seating area, a dining area or a section for a home office. Sectioning the space like this draws attention to the different aspects of the room and not its shape.

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  1. Vertical Attention

Another way to distract from a narrow or long space is to draw the eye upwards. Consider hanging artwork close to the ceiling, installing a tall bookcase or using vertical striped wallpaper to increase the visual height of the room. Impressive light fixtures are a useful way to draw attention upwards as well. Perhaps a chandelier that is wider than it is long might look amazing in your space?

  1. L or U Shaped Sofa

If your sofa does need to go against one wall, consider an L or U shaped set up which has the effect of creating a cosy, welcoming place to relax that won’t emphasise the length of the room too much.

Could you be a driver by trade?

With shortages of HGV drivers and a rise in demand for online shopping, it is safe to say that drivers are in high demand right now! As we saw from the recent fuel crisis as well as the shortages of foods on supermarket shelves, drivers are one of the most important things when it comes to keeping the country running smoothly and efficiently.


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