[/caption] “Think global, act local” has been out of fashion as a slogan for some years. Too parochial, perhaps. After all, how is a parish council to solve climate change? But sorting the world’s environmental woes through a myriad of local initiatives may not seem such a bad idea after all, as world leaders… Continue reading
Pitfalls to using preloaded currency cards in hotels
We’ve been using a pre-paid , or “front-loaded”, currency card (it’s a Caxton MasterCard) for over a year now, and found it very convenient. However we recently encountered a problem when using it in hotels. A brief explanation for people unfamiliar with this type of card. Prepaid currency cards are ideal if you want to… Continue reading →
Could e-books help save the local library?
You’re on a bus or a train in Derbyshire. The person sitting next to you is reading a book on an e-reader. “Ah”, you think. “Oh for the days of the battered paperback. Or the library book, even. That’s coming to an end. Soon be gone. Killed by technology.” Except it isn’t. Quite soon, in… Continue reading →
Could passengers make more use of cabin baggage?
This isn’t meant to sound superior, and how can when it’s about doing less – as in we are actually taking less with us? But I, and the immediate family, generally only fly with cabin baggage these days. And that applies to at least some long-haul trips as well For a holiday of several weeks… Continue reading →
WW2 bomber runway evolves into solar power plant
In the blink of an eye (well, compared to the time most building projects take) a business park in Buckinghamshire, UK, has switched on the sun. An array of 1500 solar panels took just two months to install and was switched on this month (June, 2011) to meet 9% of the energy needs of the… Continue reading →
Balmy sunshine resort under the mountains
It began as a relaxing bolthole for Hollywood stars and haven for the wealthy seeking clean, clear air, plenty of outdoor dining by night and endless golf. And it still is, this pampered and relaxed resort of six widely-spaced, low-rise communities, a two-hour drive from Los Angeles Airport. It rarely rains, yet underground water makes the desert bloom…. Continue reading →