The Flammario Organization Blog

It is important to remember to encourage your wife to ignore contractions, and go about her day, you don’t really need to go to the hospital until the contractions are long in time and close in proximity. While this is easy for us to say, your partner may want to go to the hospital as soon as she has the first sense of contractions. But beware; getting all riled up and heading off to the hospital too soon, can end with a feeling of failure. If the contractions are not close enough or the cervix is not dilated to at least 4cm, they might just end up sending you home. Our you could end up staying in the hospital for a long time. This pre active labor time can last for hours, or even days. You don’t want to head to the hospital until she is in real pain, or the timing is right.

The general rule of thumb, that I learned, is 5-1-1. That means that the contractions are five minutes apart, lasting for one minute in length for one hour. Once you get to that point, its time to head out the door. Eventually the baby will be trying to bust out, pushing on the cervix, which used to be only two millimeters in length, until it stretches about five thousand percent bigger to the size of 10 centimeters. Then, its baby time. It is at this point that the pushing will begin.

Those who enjoy the winter, the snow and the winter sports, cannot wait for the ski resorts to open. In most cases, a real winter sports fanatic will book a skiing vacation way before the season has started. If the last minute offers don’t appeal to you, then you can also try to find the latest travel deals. As the ski season draws near, more and more resorts offer affordable packages for those who like to spend an active vacation on the slopes. If you don’t know how to ski, fear not for there are ski lessons available in many resorts. Or you can enjoy the snow by having fun tubing or sledding. There are plenty of incredible places to ski all over the world and it’s usually a mater of budget when choosing where to ski. Europeans tend to favor the cheap ski resorts in Austria, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania. While North Americans like to explore the slopes in Utah, Colorado, California and Canada. In the northern hemisphere, the ski season starts in mid-November and ends in March or April, with some differences from region to region. Plenty ski resorts have artificial snow cannons available so even if the nature is too generous with the quantity of snow, they make sure skiing is possible. If you don’t know how to ski – and don’t fancy learning either -, then you can try sledding and tubing. After a day on the slope, relax in a restaurant and enjoy a hot tea and then hit the hotel’s spa to relax.

The annual yacht show in Monaco always guarantees Europe’s second smallest country’s hotels are full, and this year will be no exception.

The show has grown in popularity over the fifteen years since it began, and this year will see Monaco’s Port Hercules play host to over ninety of the world’s finest yachts and five hundred of the world’s best yachting companies.

The luxury yachting market has tripled in the last eight years, and helped along by orders from Russia’s ‘nouveau riche’, the industry has seen an increase in orders of over a quarter in the last year alone.

But while luxury and Monaco are often associated, poor sales and a possible drop in property prices haven’t been seen in the Prinicpality’s real estate sector for over a decade.

Monaco Real Estate

In contrast to the highly successful Yacht Show, property sales in Monaco have been unusually slow in 2005. Although only a square mile in size there are over a hundred estate agencies battling for buyers to choose their services, and at times it seems that every third or fourth retail unit has been commandeered by a property company in Monte Carlo, the best known and most sought after area of Monaco.

According to Monte Carlo property specialist Henri Boulanger some estate agents are being squeezed, and are viewing the yacht show as the last opportunity to turn a dismal year into a good one.

‘The yacht show attracts a wealthy clientele in considerable numbers, and the type of person who might be buying a luxury yacht might well be thinking about buying a property in Monaco as well.

While it wouldn’t be etiquette to actively pursue buyers, many estate agents in Monaco are desperately hoping to see their doors open and for one or two potential buyers to call into their offices.

With good two bedroom apartments starting at over a million Euros, and penthouses with Mediterranean views often over five million and some of them over ten million, it can take just one sale to turn a bad year into a good one.’

Monaco’s property price inflation has often risen by over ten per cent a year in the last decade, but a combination of events have conspired this year with a possible stagnation in prices for 2005, and potentially even a fall.

The passing earlier this year of the popular Prince Rainier, Europe’s longest reigning monarch, cast a cloud over the area which it is just emerging from, but economic factors have also played a significant role in the downturn of the real estate market.

‘The strength of the Euro against the American dollar has led many of our potential buyers from the US to delay their viewing visit from this year to next, and earlier this year another source of important buyers from the UK held back until after the election to see what the outcome would be’, explains Henri, adding ‘and now with the uncertainty of the economy after the recent tragedy of Hurricane Katrina it is quite possible that some US buyers will delay their visit even more, or possibly to cancel buying in Monaco altogether’.

Monaco Grand Prix

No surprise then that while the tourists will be in Monaco in the same and possibly increased numbers than last year, the prospect of several dozen potential property buyers descending upon Monaco and staying in her best hotels over a few days is seen as an opportunity not to be missed by the realtors.

But what is surprising perhaps is that the Yacht Show is viewed as a better opportunity than the Monaco Grand Prix for her realtors.

‘The Grand Prix attracts tens of thousands of people to Monaco every May’, explains Henri, ‘And every April we get a lot of new enquiries for property in Monaco, with the buyers asking to view apartments in Monte Carlo with views of the race circuit during the Monaco Grand Prix weekend. But what they don’t realise is that many of the apartments for sale have been rented out for the weekend, and viewing is impossible.

Even if an apartment hasn’t been rented out for corporate hospitality it would take all day to get from one apartment to another. The Grand Prix is a great tourist event for Monaco, and some of the estate agents go away for a few days. They won’t be doing that during the Yacht Show!’

The fifteenth annual Monaco Yacht Show is being held this year from September 21 to 24. Full details can be found at www.monacoyachtshow.com and Monaco hotel details http://www.yourmonaco.com/hotels For a guide including a Monaco map, Monaco weather, direct contact details for hotels in Monaco including the Hotel de Paris and Columbus hotels and the Monaco Grand Prix can be found at yourmonaco.com Details of Monaco Real Estate can be sent upon request at www.monacoproperty.net

The days of showing up at a hotel and paying whatever price is posted are over simply because it is so easy to find cheap and discounted hotel rates online. Some people still call up a hotel to make reservations and pay whatever the rate is, however people are wising up to the many cheap hotel rates to be found online and since saving money is always a motivating factor many people are shopping and booking online and as a result are receiving cheap hotel rates for the same room in the same hotel for the same dates.

What you may not know is there are many websites online that focus solely on providing you with discount hotels, flights, care rentals and the like. So, finding cheap hotel rates is as simple as searching online. To find cheap hotel rates you first need to get on the Internet. Once there, you should go to a search engine to search for cheap hotel rates. Be specific when using the search engine, however, because you will want to find as much specific information on cheap hotel rates as possible while weeding out other information. Keep in mind as well that if you do not find the cheap hotel rates you are looking for on one search engine you can always try another. However, you will find the best cheap hotel information on some of the larger search engines.

Once you receive your cheap hotel results all that is left to do is start researching the websites. While many websites will have similar discount rates, some will be more expensive while others will have the lowest cheap hotel rates. This requires a little bit of research, but when it comes down to saving a lot of money and cheap hotel rates it is worth it.

Enter the hotel information or the general location where you are interested in staying, and then search for cheap hotel rates. You will be surprised at the difference if you already called to request rates from the same hotels.

Once you have found the cheap hotel rates that meet your needs, simply book online and always write down your confirmation number so you will have your cheap hotel rates.

After giving this some thought I realized that this one short question covered a very large spectrum. There was no quick or easy response to this question. I responded by saying that in most cases it’s not the RV that is dangerous, but the individual that is operating the RV that is dangerous. I gave some examples of unsafe acts that I have witnessed like carrying a full spare LP gas bottle inside the RV, sleeping in the RV with the generator running and never weighing the RV or checking the inflation pressure in the tires.

I told them when they begin their search for their RV the first thing to verify is that the RV manufacturer is a member of the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA). If they are the RV will have an oval shaped RVIA seal displayed on the exterior, usually by the entrance door. This seal means that the RV manufacturer is in compliance with more than 500 safety requirements regarding electrical, plumbing, heating, and fire and life safety. These safety requirements are established under the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A119.2 Standard for Recreation Vehicles. This should put to rest any concerns you may have about the RV itself being safe when it is manufactured.

I explained that the next step is to educate yourself on the systems of an RV and what is required to operate the RV safely and properly. If you’re going to be towing a three or four ton travel trailer, or driving a six ton plus motor home you need to understand the importance of proper hitch work, weights and driving techniques.

I also explained that anytime you are dealing with petroleum products like LP gas and gasoline generators there is cause for concern, but if handled properly there is nothing to worry about. A good place to start is with our RV video and DVD library.

In no particular order, I offer the following advice concerning RV safety:

* Take care of your RV’s tires and they will take care of you. When you’re not using your RV keep the tires covered to protect them from the damaging affects of ozone in the air and UV rays from the sun. Invest in a quality inflation pressure gauge and check the tire pressure in all tires every time you use the RV. Check and adjust the pressure when the tires are cold, before you move it. Maintain the pressure recommended by the manufacturer. Consult the owner’s manual for proper tire inflation and never exceed the maximum pressure located on the tire sidewalls.

* Weigh your RV and tow vehicle. The only way to know if the weight is properly distributed and that you are within the allowable weight ratings for the RV and tow vehicle is to have them weighed. Look for certified platform scales in your yellow pages under moving companies or truck stops. When you weigh your RV and tow vehicle have them fully loaded for travel to include passengers, cargo, fuel, personal belongings, and full fresh water and propane tanks. Verify that you do not exceed any manufacturer weight ratings such as, the Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings (GVWR), Gross Combined Weight Ratings (GCWR), and Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR). NEVER exceed any manufacturer weight ratings. It is quite possible to be within the weight ratings, but still exceed a tire rating. This is why you must weigh each axle end separately to insure that the load is within the capacity of the axles, wheels and tires and to see if the load is properly distributed.

* Have the LP gas system inspected every spring before using the RV. Take your RV to a qualified service center and let them check the LP gas system for proper appliance operating pressure and to check the system for leaks. Familiarize yourself with the odorant added to LP gas to assist you in detecting a leak, and what to do if there is a gas leak. If you smell LP gas or the leak detector alarm goes off: 1. Extinguish any open flames and pilot lights. 2. Do not touch electrical switches. 3. Shut off the gas supply at the tank valve(s) or gas supply connection. 4. Open the doors and windows and leave the area until the odor clears. 5. Have the LP gas system checked and repaired by a qualified technician before using the system again.

* It is not recommended that you travel with the LP gas turned on. If you do have the gas on while traveling turn off each individual pilot light, appliance, and the main gas supply before refueling.

* The onboard generator makes your RV fully self-contained. It allows you access to 120 volts when there is no shore power available, but keep in mind that carbon monoxide is deadly! NEVER sleep in the RV with the generator running! Before you start and use the generator inspect the exhaust system. Do not use it if the exhaust system is damaged. Test the carbon monoxide detector every time you use the RV. Know what the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are: 1. Dizziness 2. Vomiting 3. Nausea 4. Muscular twitching 5. Intense headache 6. Throbbing in the temples 7. Weakness and sleepiness 8. Inability to think coherently If you or anyone else experiences any of these symptoms get to fresh air immediately. If the symptoms persist seek medical attention. Shut the generator down and do not operate it until it has been inspected and repaired by a professional.

Keep in mind, this is a very short list. There are many other safety issues involved in owning and operating an RV, but by practicing common sense, and through education, RV ownership is not only safe, it’s lots of fun.

Happy Camping

Copyright (c) 2005 by Graham Richards – Feel free to check out the best of camper hire at Helderberg Camper Hire South Africa.

Located in Southeastern Europe, Albania is a country off of the beaten travel road. Of course, this makes Albania a great place to visit.

Albania – History

Albania is a Mediterranean country sitting on the coast of the Adriatic and Ionian seas. The country is bordered to the north by Serbia and Montenegro, Greece to the south and Macedonia to the east. Involved in the massive strife arising in the former Yugoslavia, the country was previously a Soviet-Bloc country. These days, Albania is a democracy fighting to find its economic feet.

Tirana

Tirana is the capital of Albania and has a population of a little over 300,000. The city is an eclectic mix of traditional European structures, soviet style five story buildings and mid-east influenced architecture. Relatively small, Tirana is a city with a small town feel.

Korca – Rugs, Rugs, Rugs

Korca is a city located in the east of Albania close to the border of Greece. Built high up on a plateau, Korca is a must see if you love Turkish style rugs and carpets. The entire city seems to be devoted to the manufacture and sale of every size, color and type of rug. If you’re staying overnight, Hotel Iliria is your best option.

Petrela Castle

Dating back to 500 AD, Petrela Castle is an ancient structure, which is in relatively good shape considering the history attached to it. At one time or another, Petrela was the primary defense of the city of Durres. It has been held, used and conquered by Romans, Greeks, Turks and other. Seriously off the beaten path, getting to Petrela requires a sturdy Jeep or Landcruiser. It is a very bumpy road, but the view is more than worth it.

While Albania is struggling to recovery from a communist pass, it is a fairly safe place to visit. The people are nice and it is definitely an opportunity to visit a country off the beaten path.

Let’s face it. You only live once. The world is a big big place and you want to see a lot of it. A cruise is a great way for you to start living your dreams. Cruises combine the best of a a lot of worlds and it can be a great combination of style and convenience while seeing some truly breathtaking scenery.

Lets take a look at why a cruise is the right thing for you. 1)The meals! If you know anything about cruises, you know they feed you well. Eating is one of the great pleasures in life, and the food on a cruise is delicious and plentiful.

2)The entertainment. Imagine being able to see a fantastic show while cruising near some of the most famous monuments in the world.

3)The social setting. A cruise can be a great way to meet fellow travelers like yourself. After all, you are all on the same boat.

4)The exotic ports of call. Finding out that you are literally about to dock on one of the most beautiful areas of the world can truly be an exciting prospect. We’ve done a lot of cruising and these days cruises go all over the world. Thailand, China, Alaska: you name it. You could see some of these beautiful ports of call while enjoying the serenity of a beautiful boat surrounding.

Cruises can be a fantastic way to see the planet while maintaining a sense of security that you are surrounded by all the comforts of home. If you are interested in an Alaska vacation or an Alaska cruise, visit our website today.

Aliens and Adolf Hitler might not seem to have much in common. But lying in isolated mountainside in one of the most secluded areas of the Canary Islands lies an spacious villa that has given birth to mysterious legends about both.

This spacious villa lies hidden from the world nestling between the mountains and the wild Atlantic ocean on Fuerteventura. It can only be reached after a hair raising drive along a dirt track in the mountain borders. The sheer isolation of Villa Gustav Winter holds a mystery which has yet to be explained.

This mystery starts with the appearance and position of the villa itself. It is surrounded by land which has exactly the same shape and proportions of the island of Fuerteventura itself. And the villa’s location within this enclosed replica corresponds geographically to its true position…

Was this location and shape the result of exact mathematical positioning, a signal to some alien life form or just sheer fluke? The truth will probably never come to light but theories abound.

German-born Gustav Winter arrived on Fuerteventura in the 1930s. He worked for a large company that had just acquired a great expanse of land in the south of the island – the peninsula of Jandia.

Winter became known for his mysterious dark glasses and accompanying black dog and was responsible for building the first port at Morro Jable. However, it is not for these reasons that he is best remembered. His name will always be connected to the small isolated hamlet of Cofete where he built the villa that later gave birth to countless myths.

Originally, the villa was said to have been built to establish agriculture in the region. It was modelled on a villa built in the Black Forest in 1893. But rumours began spreading after the appearance of armed guards accompanied by large dogs started guarding the walls of what was becoming more of a fortress than a villa.

Anyone trying to get to the villa had to first identify themselves to the guards who would then call Winter. If they were granted permission to enter, they then had to travel along a dirt track road which, according to urban legend, was built by political prisoners held captive at a concentration camp at Tefia. An airport runway was also built there and put at Gustav’s disposal.

Rumours were flamed after accounts from people allowed into the villa described the five rooms in the attic as being completely tiled over, of a large kitchen and of vast dark cellars and caves stretching under the villa and into the mountainside. Were the tiles to stop any radio signals being picked up by eavesdroppers?

And why would such an important engineer as Gustav, who held the rank of Colonel and who was at the forefront of an important shipyard in Bordeaux, hide himself in the middle of nowhere to practice farming while his country was at war? He was a man of considerable importance – at a time when his country needed him most, would he really hide himself away in a fortress in a remote island with its close proximity to the sea and an airport runway? Would he really shelter in a fortress built of solid walls with ample cellars and a kitchen large enough to feed a small army? Allied ships were frequently attacked by German submarines that surrounded and protected this small island from prying eyes.

Historical accounts now tend to suggest that Villa Winter acted as a safe house for top escaping Nazis most probably heading to America. Its isolated location next to the Atlantic and its natural mountain shelter would have been an ideal rendezvous point for Nazi leaders arriving by submarine and seeking a safe haven until they could slip into anonymity after the war.

Shortly before her death, the widow of Gustav Winter firmly denied the allegations levelled at her late husband over the years. She denied that the villa had ever had connections to the Nazis or that it was built as a hideaway for Adolf Hitler – she said the infamous villa was built for the simple reason of exploiting agriculture in the area.

But the sheer size of Villa Winter, its isolation and the constant guard patrols would tend to suggest that this was never destined to be a family home ringing with the sound of laughter from happy children

In my line of business, I often receive emails and phone calls from people who are just starting their online retail businesses and searching for wholesalers who can give them competitive prices on the latest merchandise from the most popular brand names. While it’s understandable that one would want to sell the latest merchandise from the highest quality, most popular brand names, it’s often an unrealistic goal unless you have a substantial amount of capital to invest in your business.. Get Wholesale Mothers Day Items at Salehoo wholesale directories, see how Salehoo can help your business. You don’t need to invest money in buying the product. Read on to find out more about Wholesale Mothers Day Items and Salehoo Wholesalers. Any charges more than $5 should not be mentioned in your “Dealers Wanted” advertisements but held over and fully explained in your sales letter. More on Wholesale Mothers Day Items at Salehoo wholesaler directory.

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To be successful at finding wholesale lots on eBay you need to understand the product. Make sure that the product being sold in the wholesale lot still is in demand. Just because it’s not in demand on eBay does not mean that it will not be in demand elsewhere. Many store owners and flea market vendors will buy wholesale lots on eBay and resell them at a profit in their own stores and flea market booths. Reasons that will create situations that enable you to buy wholesale merchandise on eBay at a low price, can be because the eBay seller might have just closed his business, a flea market vendor might be moving, or the distributor’s merchandise is simply not selling in his area. Find out more about Wholesale Mothers Day Items and how Salehoo wholesale directory can help you start your own business from home. Catalog marketing is another way to sell wholesale jewelry. Wholesale Mothers Day Items: Find out how Salehoo wholesale directory can serve YOU!

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Thinking of owning a second home? Owning a Poconos vacation home is now easier than before because it is so affordable. The most you’ll probably pay for a property, whether mountain or lakeside, could cost between $85,000-125,000.

The Poconos offer homebuyers lots of pluses for their small investment. Imagine a visual bow of lakes and rivers, well-constructed roadways; close proximity to all that nature has to offer and easy access to shopping, dining and leisure activities.

In fact, The Wall Street Journal named the Poconos as one of the three top places to retire. And rightly so, because the living there is easy. Just imagine breathing in fresh air as you sit on the porch for a quiet chat with your family, with the birds on the ledge providing the musical score. There’s nothing more ethereal than hearing the rain doing a river dance on the rocks outside while you and your lover sit by the fireplace in silence.

Indeed, this is fine living at a price many can afford. Buyers can choose a particular area for their Poconos vacation home that suit their lifestyle and taste, whether it be in a gated community, an acre in the country or perhaps a town-styled neighborhood. The houses, which are either cabin-styled or cottages in the woods, are very spacious; some boast of having decks, a fireplace, skylights. Some owners have added whirlpool tubs and Jacuzzis.

With Pocono rentals, on the other hand, you also have a choice of cabin, house or cottage. One of the more popular rental homes charges $625 per week – or $100 per night — while others charge a fixed fee for half-year rental.