Freelander a Dirty, Mean Driving Machine

No Moaning - the Freelander is Back

The patented "Terrain Response" technology behind the Freelander is a system that intelligently controls the drive of vehicle depending on what terrain setting the driver chooses. Ideally suited to novice off roaders and light weights it is a dirty techno trick to give the illusion of performance driving.

Grass, Sand, Ice-Cream Mountains and Dirty Filthy Mud are amongst the choices that the driver can select to improve the driving performance and you can find out much more on the landrover official website - introduction to freelander where you can learn more baout the exterior, engines and add-ons.

Daily newspaper The Independent test drove Land Rovers Freelander and Dave Gonnad concluded that to hims amazement 'they just keep getting better' - clearly Mr Gionnad

Meatheads at Muscle Cars are over the moon too - heralding the 2008 freelander as a formidable vehicle with top HSE marks and awarded the Freelander the Yahoo accolade of being an excellent buy.

All in all the Freelander is doing well to shake of its doubted reputation and it is expected that the moaning minnies will be silenced

Cleaning Dirty Window Blinds

Thanks to social networking sites and especially video communities such as Video Jug - a life on film there are many places to search for "how to" information. We weren't surprised to find a blinds fan base on facebook

In our on going series to help you tackle the annual chore of spring cleaning the home we now turn out attention to windows. Again hopefully the filthy dirty weather of winter is over and the windows get a proper cleaning outside - gleaming panes are a treat indeed when they catch the sunlight as you approach your house. But don't neglect the inside of the windows. As mentioned previously curtains can be dry-cleaned or replaced but what about those who have chosen to hang blinds to the inside of their windows?

Cleaning Blinds:

Vertical Blinds

Vertical Blinds are perhaps the easiest blinds to clean and look after. The slats of vertical blinds as opposed to horizontal won't gather dust in the same way horizontal blinds do. Occasional gentle dusting is usually all that is required. If they are a vinyl they can be cleaned with a mild cleaner such as Audace's vertical blinds detergent or Fantastic Splastic. If the blind slats are Vinyl these can be Ultrasonically cleaned.

Venetian Blinds

As opposed to vertical blinds Venetian blinds are prone to gather dust due to the nature of the open slats being arranged horizontally.

If you have lots of Venetian blinds or the ones you have cover large expanses of window you'll probably begin to think about replacing them with alternatives as the prospect of cleaning each individual slat becomes more and more daunting.

So irksome is the task that there are even Wiki articles dedicated to cleaning venetian blinds.

This video - "How to Clean Venetian Blinds offers some insight but cannot avoid the issue of each slat being tackled.

What about really dirty Venetian Blinds?

Of course sometimes venetian blinds are hung in inappropriate rooms such as bathrooms and kitchens where moisture and cooking grease will spoil them quickly.

The lady in the video concludes that if the blinds are really dirty you can soak them in a mild detergent in the bath....hmmm we think that tangles and mis-shaping will result and if the blinds are really really dirty then it may be worth once again considering replacing them with another set of blinds

Wooden Blinds

Finally cleaning wooden blinds - again our video demonstrator offers good advice and tips - vacuum and dust with a DRY cloth (wet clothes will ruin wooden blinds), furniture polish, lineament oil to make them look shiny and new.

Dirty House - Bedroom Spring Cleaning Short Cuts

With the unpredictable weather in May many people find it the ideal time to give the home 'a good seeing to' and begin their spring cleaning. It makes sense to wait until dirty, smokey fires are no longer lit before tackling the 'big job' of giving the house a proper deep clean.

Most people start with high expectations about thoroughly cleaning the house "from top to bottom" but once the enormity of the task hits home are happy to consider shortcuts and corner cutting.

Top Tips and Short Cuts for Spring Cleaning in the Bedroom

The logical place to start would be of course the bedroom. Apart from a 'good going over' with a vacuum and perhaps decorating what better way to spruce up this room than 'splashing out' on new bedding and matching curtains? Well chosen luxury, high quality bedding sets not only look great but quality bedding also helps better sleep. There is no excuse for not finding an attractive duvet cover or set of bedclothes - superstars are now queuing up to putt their names to bedding - offering the crass marketing message of Get into bed with #name of celebrity#. Kylie Minogue launched an interesting piece of branding possibly with the intent of covering the "dirty pants" image that the established incontinence products had become famous for with her Kylie at Home Duvets Bedding sets and adding a twist to the strap line "slip between the sheets with Kylie"

You can find curtain fabrics that either match or compliment your bedding and depending on your level of skill run up your own designs or alternatively choose a set of ready made curtains to create a whole new look for your boudoir. A whole lot easier that arranging for the curtains to be dry cleaned or risking danger of ruining them cleaning them yourself.

Another consideration in the pursuit of a good nights kip would be to install blackout blinds as an alternative to curtains.

There - Spring Cleaning the bedroom is easy - just clean it as normal then replace the bed linen and curtains to give the bedroom a fresh clean feel.

Dirty Job Done

Ferret Rescue at The Land Rover World Show!

This year the Land Rover World Show has stacks events with hundreds of top Land Rover Sales and all terrain dealers and traders, popular Landrover clubs and sideshows (Bob?), attractions and surprises for the whole family.

The original Land Rover was unveiled at a motor show in Amsterdam on April 30, 1948.

Organisers are keen to encourage Prince Charles to come and join the celebrations of Land rovers 60th anniversary. It is known that his royal Highness will visit the Land Rover factory in Solihull so hopefully a trip to deepest Herefordshire can be arranged

Not to be missed is Broadway Ferret Rescue who'll be on hand to explain about the work they do looking after the rescued ferrets and letting you "have a feel". Yorkshire Tikes be warned security cameras are fitted to the furry ferret heads and will broadcast live to the big screen any down trouser activity.

Land rover owners hold the view that there is no better place to get your wheels muddy than at
Eastnor Castle which has some of the greatest off-road routes in the country.

Enthusiasts will have opportunity to get behind the wheel and demonstrate their driving skills to perfection with the choice of three self drive routes, ranging in difficulty from mild to extreme.

Land Rovers available to try include:-

• Defender


• Freelander


• Discovery


• Range Rover

For a small donation to charity Born Free you can let an expert take you round purpose built tracks in a top of the range.. erm.. Range Rover and shown the capability of one of these top off road vehicles.