Imagine the clear blue sky, the crystal clear blue water of the pool glistening in the unbroken sunshine; imagine the bright white painted walls, the archways and the shiny, clean tiles of the terrace leading through to clean, sleek lines of a property, with modern fittings and luxurious furnishings.
Imagine holiday villas. Imagine sun-soaked destinations such Spain, Portugal, Egypt, Morocco, Malta, Turkey, but also imagine somewhere a little different: maybe a destination for skiing, walking, culture, golf or a combination of some or all of them: France, Austria, Germany, Ireland, the Czech Republic.
Hiring holiday villas in such wonderful destinations can give you a taste of luxury for one, two weeks or more in a location you might not otherwise be able to sample. Renting gives you the privacy of your own personal space without the worries of ownership. You and your family might never have experienced anything like it before, but it is almost certain that you would want to do so again.
In a hotel you have one room for your privacy, but every other facility you have to share with other guests; the pool, dining room and sun terraces may be at the other end of the hotel and you have to share them all with strangers. In a villa, it is so different: you have many rooms for the use of you, your family and any other guests that you have invited; your dining room is one of those rooms; your private terrace and (in most cases) your own pool is right on your doorstep.
Villas can range from beachside to mountain foothills, from single bedrooms sleeping two to many bedrooms sleeping more than a dozen. The things they have in common are good living and private luxury.
Can you see yourself rising in the morning, getting yourself a glass of chilled juice and watching the sunlight glinting on the sea?
Or is your vision for a relaxing evening barbecue with a backdrop of the beautifully lit mountain landscape after a day spent walking in glorious countryside?
If you don’t want to travel abroad, then there is a great selection of holiday villas in this country too. Some are big enough for either a corporate gathering, a family re-union, or somewhere to relax with your closest and dearest friends. You can get holiday villas luxurious enough to have a formal lounge, a dining room, an indoor heated swimming pool, a sauna, a gymnasium and even a cinema! Such properties could be used for wedding parties, or golden wedding anniversary celebrations, for example. Take advantage of services that can make your stay even more special: a chef, a chauffeur, maids, a marquee … even a helicopter pad! Not all holiday villas are like that, but shop around to find a holiday villa that really does suit your requirements.
There are such a range of opportunities available in holiday villas that you could spend hours surfing the internet and letting your imagination give you a preview! Live the dream! Get yourself booked into a holiday villa for your next vacation.
Derek is a keen writer covering holidays, short breaks, boating and rental holiday options across the UK and abroad after working in the industry for many years.
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As summer winds down, let’s explore a two-part article series about songs with ‘Summer’ or ‘Summertime’ in the title:
Let’s start with the quintessential summer song by the Lovin’ Spoonful, the 1966 #1 hit called “Summer In The City.” The cut was originally a poem that was written by Lovin’ Spoonful’s band leader John Sebastian’s brother, Mark. John worked with the poem a bit and added a grittier beginning, one with more tension. Band member, bassist Steve Boone had a piece of music that was written for the piano that hadn’t fit into any other song that the group was doing at the time, but it fit perfectly with the new song.
”We hired an old man, obviously from the radio era, and he had old acetates of traffic jams and car horns,” recalls John Sebastain. “We listened for hours to various traffic jams and car horns and selected the ones we wanted. We found a pneumatic hammer…to provide the payoff for that selection and put it all together.”
In 1964, John Sebastian was excited by the Beatles and their music and was inspired to put his own four-man band together. While he was traveling through the south, he met folk artist Mississippi John Hurt. One of Hurt’s songs included the line, “I love my baby by the lovin’ spoonful” and the name of the group was set. The band went on to score many other Top Ten Billboard hits including: “Do You Believe In Magic” (#9 in 1965), “You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice” (#10 in 1965), “Daydream” (#2 in 1966), “Rain On The Roof” (# 10 in 1966) and “Nashville Cats,” which peaked at #8 in 1966.
One of the world’s most recognizable ‘summer’ songs is a 1970′s cut called “In The Summertime,” by the British pop-blues outfit Mungo Jerry. The band name was derived from a character from T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats (which was later adapted and made into the musical Cats by Andrew Lloyd Webber). It was the group’s first hit single, reaching #3 on the US Billboard charts and the song reached the top position on the charts in several other countries; including an astonishing seven-week stay atop the British charts. The record sold over 16 million copies worldwide and was Britain’s biggest-selling single in 1970.
Interestingly, the UK release (Dawn records) was a maxi-single which played at 33rpm instead of the usual 45rpm. The record also included another song on the A side (“Mighty Man) and a much longer track on the B side (“Dust Pneumonia Blues”). It also came with a great picture sleeve and sold for just a little bit more than a regular 45 rpm, making it an excellent value for the music consumer at the time.
In 1995, Jamaican-American reggae singer Shaggy covered the song (UK #5 U.S #3) however he changed one line of the song to reflect modern-day values and common sense. In the original version, the lyrics encouraged people to “have a drink, have a drive…” while Shaggy’s version says “I’m going to ride and drive …” This part of the original recording was also used in 1992 on graphic British TV public service advertisements warning viewers not to drink and drive. The song has also been recorded by Elton John and Bob Dylan.
”In The Summertime” was written by Ray Dorset, who was the group’s lead singer and was already a veteran performer when he formed Mungo Jerry in 1969. His first band, the Blue Moon Skiffle Group, featuring Phil Collins on drums, was formed when he was eleven years old. The song was used regularly in many different commercials and has become one of the world’s most recognizable songs. Many years later, it became the world’s most-played radio song and one of the most successful summer songs ever, with an estimated 23 million copies sold.
Another instantly recognizable summer song is the psychedelic-funk number by Sly & the Family Stone called “Hot Fun in the Summertime.” The song was released in 1969 shortly after Woodstock, where the band performed a memorable set, and it capitalized on their popularity, reaching #2 on the US pop charts and #3 on the R&B chart.
Listening to the song, it is dedicated to all the fun elements of the summer, however, if studied further, may have served as a commentary on the race riots of the late-1960s; depending on one’s opinion. “Hot Fun in the Summertime” was intended to be included with the cuts “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” and “Everybody Is A Star” as part of a new studio album by Sly and the Family Stone, however, the LP was never completed, and the three tracks were instead included on the band’s 1970 Greatest Hits LP.
The song was cited by Genesis vocalist and drummer Phil Collins as one of the musical inspirations for the cut “Misunderstanding.” Additionally, Rolling Stone Magazine ranks it at #247 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
If you were around in 1972, you can’t help but remember the cut “Summer Breeze,” by the pop singing duo of Jim Seals and Dash Crofts. The song was Seals & Crofts’ first charting single, reaching #6 on the US pop singles chart and #4 on the easy listening charts. Their main claim up until this point was joining up with the Champs (who released the Latin-tinged instrumental “Tequila”) in 1958. They went on to release several 70′s pop-rock gems including 1973′s “Diamond Girl” and 1976′s “Get Closer.”
In 1974, the cut was covered by the Isley Brothers where it only reached #60 on the pop singles chart, but topped out at #10 on the R&B singles chart and #16 on the UK singles chart. The Isley Brothers’ version is notable for the harmonies of the three vocals by brothers O’Kelly, Rudolph and lead singer Ronald, and for the guitar solo by younger brother Ernie. A remixed and updated version called “Summer Breeze (Tsuper Tsunami Mix),” was featured in two commercials by clothing retailer Gap which starred models Bridget Hall and Jessica Miller in 2004.
”Summer Breeze” has also been recorded and covered by an eclectic array of artists including George Benson & Al Jarreau (collaboration), the Three Tenors (in concert during their 1996 farewell performance at the Coach and Horses Tavern in Windsor, Ontario), the Main Ingredient, Ramsey Lewis, and by Gothic-metal band Type O Negative during the opening credits of the 1997 horror film I Know What You Did Last Summer, among others.
We will continue our look at some popular ‘summer’ or ‘summer time’ songs in part two of this article series.
Author Robert Benson writes about rock/pop music, vinyl record collecting and operates http://www.collectingvinylrecords.com, where you can pick up a copy of his FREE ebook called “The Fascinating Hobby Of Vinyl Record Collecting.” Have your vinyl records appraised at http://www.vinylrecordappraisals.com.
If you are on the hunt for sun hats for your children and are not too sure what to look for, then it’s a good idea to consider what the purpose is and to go from there. We are told we need to use sun hats to protect our young ones from the sun’s harmful rays, and whilst many of them look pretty they simply do not deliver this.
Ask your retailer if the sun hats you are looking at are designed to help shade the face and neck. You can also ask if the materials used protect from the harmful UV rays, and to what level do they offer protection.
More than a third of all skin cancers appear on the face, as this is a part of our body we often expose to the sun the most. Sun damage can also age our skin, which is always a little odd to think about when we have this amazing infant skin before us, but it’s our job to look after it for them until they are old enough to do it themselves.
To make sure you get the right size, measure around your infant or toddler’s head as this is more accurate than going by age. Our head size is not often accurately marked by our age. Measure above the ears and eyes with a piece of string or a soft measuring tape. If it’s close to the next size up, it may be best to go with one slightly bigger as baby’s heads can grow quickly.
If you select a sun hat with a narrow brim, you may be allowing your child to be exposed to too much sun. The wider the brim, the better sun protection. Many specialists prefer the legionnaires style hats as they offer the best protection with it’s big brim at the front, and the flaps at the rear.
If you want your child to wear it there are a few things you can do. The first is to model wearing one yourself, and talk to them about how much you enjoy wearing it, and why it’s important – all with a lot of smiling. If the other parents you hang out with also have their children wearing sun hats it becomes accepted practice. It’s amazing how one parent’s more relaxed attitude about it can cause bundles of children throwing theirs off in solidarity! Keep you child’s one on by keeping them around others who are wearing them!
Lion in the Sun is now one of the leading brands of UV protective swimwear in Europe. The company has own brand e-commerce stores in the UK, USA and New Zealand as well as distributing to many independent shops in Europe.
The range of sun protective swimwear includes: UV suits and aquanappies for babies; sun suits and swimsuits for toddlers; fashionable mix and match tankinis, bikinis and jackets for older girls; boys’ and girls’ board shorts and rash vests; plus a variety of hats and accessories for all ages.
If you are looking for childrens or babies sun hats – Lion in the Sun sells retail swimwear to over 100 countries, post free, from its flagship webshop: www.lioninthesun.com
If you’re a boat owner, you need boat insurance. You may not think it’s that important now, but not having the appropriate coverage can cause problems for you down the road. Rather than risking the value of your boat, it pays to invest in boat insurance. When searching for an insurance provider, for best results be sure the provider has a long history of providing boat insurance.
Boat insurance can cover what is needed both on and off the water. Before selecting an insurance provider, it’s important to research a variety of quotes, since rates on boat insurance vary widely. Boating insurance can be quite lucrative in that it can provide a range of cover to you. When comparing policies, you should look at the amounts and types of coverage offered, not just at the price quoted to you.
Coverage Under Boat Insurance
Boat insurance comes at various levels depending on the type of boat you have, the amount of use, the type of use as well as if the boat is fully paid for or if it is still being financed. Even so, various discounts and rewards programs should be available for boating insurance users. For example, some companies are now offering a no claim bonus (which could be up to 20 percent of your premium) for those that have had not claims in a certain amount of time. That can be quite beneficial.
Boat insurance is likely to provide you with both on and off the water cover. Most policies are limited to use only in Australia, though, as taking your boat out of the country will provide you no protection. While all policies are different in what they provide, here are some expectations you can have that may be extra with some insurance companies. These include; accidental damage coverage, fire and flood coverage, liability coverage, storm coverage, theft or attempted theft, vandalism or malicious act, 24 hour assistance.
In addition to this, whenever there is a claim, you can expect your boating insurance to provide for emergency towing, funeral expenses, salvage costs, submerged motors, and others.
Questions for Your Provider
As with all insurance policies, you need to make sure you are getting the right boating insurance for your needs. Ask about liability coverage, total loss, and (if appropriate) other specific situations such as racing and other uses for the boat.) In addition to this, talk with your insurance provider about what is not covered. Many policies have exclusions such as no coverage if you have an accident or loss when you have more people in the boat than is allowed, or when your boat is being transported by a commercial carrier.
Ways to Save on Boating Insurance
To save money on your boating insurance, get enough cover but not too much. Note the amount of cover being offered to you. Depending on the size and value of your boat, it may be too much. Discuss the appropriate amount with your provider.
Think about working with an insurance company that offer discounts for multiple policies, such as boat, home and contents and vehicle insurance. This could help you to lower your costs considerably for all insurance plans.
Finally, do your research by getting a quote from several boating insurance providers to find out what rates they can offer. Many offer competitively lower rates to get your business.
Beware Before Signing
With all insurance policies, you need to have a full understanding of what is available to you and what is included in your plan. Check to make sure all information is correct and that you fully understand the policy before signing.
Additional Coverage to Consider
In addition to having standard boating insurance, there are other types of insurance that you may need to consider as well. If you like to race your sailboat, you’ll need to have a specific type of boating insurance for racing. This will cost a bit more but will provide you with cover from total loss or damage that happens while racing.
Having liability coverage for flotation devices and waterskiing is also beneficial. Here, you will pay a bit more but you are covered from the cost of injuries or loss that happen during these activities.
For most boaters, contents cover is also important. In order for you to qualify for this type of insurance, you must have a lockable cabin. If that is the case, an add-on or separate policy will give you a bit more protection. This policy will cost you slightly more.
Insurance Compared works with consumers and businesses providing explanations and information on most sorts of boat insurance available today. Insurance Compared is working to demystify boat insurance policies and to foster understanding so that people can find the best insurance for their needs. Find out more at http://www.insurancecompared.com.au/explained/vehicle/boat-ins.php
This is a winner ski boat that Mike Ivy at Ivy’s Marine, in Flowood Mississippi, completely rebuilt. He put a 2.5 Mercury race engine on it. As you can see it is not only Fast but very stable.
Music does not need to have been produced by organized sequences, whether planned or not. It need not have been channeled through an instrument made for melodic or rhythmic purpose.
Music is as simple as a random breeze through a pine tree, making a sweepingly beuautiful sound, or the resonating echo of a mockingbird’s song, or the might rush of a wave crawling up the beach.
Nature is filled with effortless music. Even the crack of a dried branch in the woods is music. Everything in nature is music.
Music abounded in pre-human history.
When we were still creatures of the sea, musical sounds under the water must have inspired our souls to stretch, and our wills to push, until we developed ever more sensory skills in order to soak in the lovely tones of our surroundings. Next time you’re at the ocean, stay underwater for a moment and make some squeals, some laughs, some sounds, or just speak, or sing. Witness the feeling of the watery vibrations you’ve caused, and hear the difference between air sounds and sea sounds. It’s fun !
And did you know that fish talk? Yes, and perhaps they also sing ! People often do not give our fellow beings much credit for the similar ways they enjoy their lives and use their senses so like our own. Sea horses couples arise when the dawn light filters into their sea green world, and they both sing and dance their love for each other, and for our Creator, I’m sure, as we all do, if we’re in joy and alignment with the universe.
All other animals take joy in sound, in making their own music. Our cats clearly take pleasure in purring, as they surround themselves in the warm vibes of throaty expressions of happiness.
Dogs bark in ecstasy when we play with them, and whimper in sympathy when we’re blue, and of course they sing along with us, whether they’re in tune or not!
Horses, guinea pigs, elephants, et al, and every being in between, whether we can hear them or not, make sounds that are pleasing, like music. Some breeds, like the Humpback Whale, use organized tunes – songs – and they develop new ones as they go along – usually one for each mating season, which individuals remember and perhaps add to.
Birds, the virtuosos of the world, putting us primates to vocal shame, create their own songs, compose, recall songs from their childhood, and obviously sing their hearts out when their moods prevail.
Whether, as we do, other beings have the vocal chords and the tongue formation, the palate, and the teeth in the right places in order to utter words or not, we know that all other animals communicate however they can, and it’s obvious that they also create sounds that convey their emotions.
Hippos sing the blues? Of course they do.
Alligators chrip with glee? Yes.
Just imagine what life sounded like, once upon a time, when we were still tree-dwellers, when the forests and jungles were filled with voices of all types, with sounds made from countless individuals of many, many diverse species, and we were blessed with the fulness of nature that we will never know again.
Not only primates are blessed with vocal self-expression.
We all make music – all living beings, all places, all of the elements on our planet, and it does soothe our souls.
http://www.ToOcean.com
Ocean, singer, songwriter, is a vegan, animal rescuer, wildlife advocate, and loves to promote green, eco causes, as well as compassion for all beings. Ocean is also a writer of novels, stories, articles, and poetry. http://www.ToOcean.com
Click here: bit.ly OCEANS on Disney Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) and 1-Disc DVD, October 19, 2010 Become a fan of Disneynature on Facebook: www.facebook.com Follow Disneynature on Twitter: www.twitter.com OCEANS on Blu-ray Hi-Def will take viewers on a breathtaking and unprecedented high-definition journey to discover nature’s mysteries, showcasing creatures captured on film for the first time and state-of-the-art imagery of the colorful symphony that lives under the sea. With crystal clear picture, and theater-quality sound, OCEANS puts audiences in the very heart of the action, racing along amid a school of traveling tuna, leaping with dolphins and swimming shoulder-to-fin with whales that will entertain kids and parents alike.
Mauritius – A complete guide for vacation and savings
This book contains everything one needs to know for a memorable vacation to Mauritius. It guides you starting from Visa to stay, places to visit and how to spend effectively. For more queries, there is a facility to drop mail at contact@ebooksyours.com.
