This unique site will save you hours on the internet since it compares prices on hundreds of sideboards and dressers in a variety of different woods from oak and teak to pine and mahogany.  All of these stylish pieces are from top British suppliers with a good reputation for quality and reliable delivery.

Everything is displayed in an easy to follow layout that ranges from the lowest to the highest prices so that you can choose the best item to suit your budget. You can also choose from lots of different finishes, sizes and even colours and the site features many sideboards and dressers that are not always available in the high street; so it offers a useful option for those who are seeking that unusual piece from a variety of oak sideboards, Welsh dressers, painted dressers, cherry wood sideboards, glazed dressers, dresser bases, small sideboards, mahogany dressers, sideboard tops, large dressers, white dressers and many more.

In addition Sideboard & Dresser offers an exciting range of wine racks, glazed display cabinets and attractive consol tables, all of which will fully complement any other dining room furniture.

Anyone who is prepared to pay for the information can check out whether you are credit worthy and if so by how much; this is where your credit score can come into play. This said it is imperative to realise that your credit ratings will not be based on a whole stream of mathematical formulas.

Rather the credit rating agencies employed will use their long-standing experience and, even more important, their judgement in deciding what bits of public and private data should be weighed up when issuing a rating for a particular person or company.

Basing it on the analysis of a person’s financial history and an analysis of their long term economic prospects, poor or bad credit rating shows that in the agency’s opinion that the individual or company is a high risk borrower as they are much more likely to default.

Of course there is nothing to say that lender’s are obliged to hand out credit; as far as they are concerned it’s more about profit than risk.  Decisions often revolve around how much money you’re likely to make them. Risk however does play a major part, since those individuals or companies who are less likely to repay a loan are going to be a distinct threat to future profits.

Do remember also that banks exist to make money; understand that principle and you can begin to play the system if you learn to be savvy. Strange at it may seem sensible people who always repay their loans as soon as possible or move their debts to 0% cards to avoid paying high interest may well get rejected. Why? Answer – because the creditors don’t expect to make much money out of these careful folk!

How then is a credit score different from a rating and why is it important? Credit scoring is quite simply a numerical conclusion based on the close analysis of an individual’s credit files, and it is meant to represent the risk to lenders, or creditworthiness, of that particular person.
A credit score is mainly composed from credit report information usually obtained from recognised credit bureaus. All official lenders, which includes banks and credit card companies use credit scores.

Be aware that credit scoring is not just  limited to banks many other organisations, employ the same method for checking out a person’s finances; these might include insurance companies, private  landlords, mobile phone companies and even government departments.

Also credit scoring doesn’t just influence what products are available to you, but also how worthwhile the ones you actually get are. Most loan rates are therefore going to be representative of your personal circumstances.

Which means that the APR depends almost entirely on your credit score; this said though at the end of the day credit scoring is all about profit with less emphasis on risk. Even good risks can be turned down simply because they won’t make the bank any real money. All lenders choose their customers for their own benefit, not the borrower’s. Of course, risk is always going to play a part, since those who can’t repay are a serious threat to profits.

However, unfair as it seems, even the most respectable and solvent people can be turned down if they’re unlikely to generate future profit. The current financial crisis has come about because lenders only had their eye on the profit not necessarily the risks and banks haven’t really changed that much; they prefer to ‘cherry pick’ customers who will keep paying.

They are there to make money, not help us, after all the most profitable credit card customers are those perpetually in debt, but never defaulting and just about meeting the minimum repayment and banks score you based on products they’d like to sell you in future.

Scoring systems are never published and they can differ wildly from lender-to-lender and indeed product-to-product and while one may company reject you, it doesn’t follow that another will. Of course some bad risk borrowers are unattractive to almost all lenders and will mostly get turned down, expect by bad credit loan companies who are mostly sharks.

In the end credit scoring comes down to lenders picking their ideal customers, and while their reasons for rejection can seem strange or even unfair these reasons make perfect business sense to them. So to succeed you need to understand the system and rather than be told “Your credit score wasn’t high enough”.

The first step for anyone running an event for charity should be to ‘work’ your contacts. Contacts are the life-force of any charity; it comes down to the old adage ‘it’s not what you know, it’s who you know’. A strong charity is built upon the solid foundations of its supporters. It is certainly not solely about generous donations of money but willing donations of time, resources, services and products.

Whether your event has been launched out of the offer of support from a celebrity (always a good starting point) or from a need to raise funds, a checklist of who you know who can help is the first tactic. This list may include key people from hotel owners who can provide a venue through to company directors who can provide donations for the auction or raffle. It can include volunteers who can help on the night through to a friendly catering company willing to put on the food.

Once you know from what base you are starting then you can work out what your unfulfilled needs are. The resultant ‘wish list’ will reveal what you may have to pay for – or better still appeal to sympathetic companies for. This will then lead to determining the budget required.

But before you start writing cheques in the charity’s name for the very best champagne and the rider for the hippest band around, give your spending plans some extra thought. Not only will your supporters and attendees have just as much fun with a cheaper band (especially once the alcohol starts flowing) but they might also think more favourably of your charity if it is seen to be spending wisely and shunning frivolous investments just to keep up appearances. In the world of charity it is not always wise to be seen as the biggest spender – unless it is on frontline services.

And remember – not all donations are altruistic in origin. Companies have CSRs (Corporate Social Responsibility policies) that they aim to meet with their partnership charity working activity while celebrities will have their own agendas for working for charities, many of them ethical and genuine. Both of these approaches are justified in the business and celebrity world and should be used to the advantage of a charity looking to raise its profile and, ultimately, raise funds.

This article was written by Jane Dyer of  www.thebudgetmarketeer.co.uk who offers more ideas on how to make the most out of your marketing budget whether you are a charity or indeed a SME.

Shelves and drawers made of aluminum or walnut can be purchased as additional elements; thanks to the side runners, pulling the drawers out and pushing them back in is child’s play. These additional features can instantly transform your personal trolley into somewhere to keep special items. 

A good example would be a CD rack or filing cabinet, which, containing your favourite music or secret documents, can also be protected from unwanted intrusion simply by attaching a padlock. This whole range of possibilities is also available in some outstanding luxury designs and there are three extraordinary models available. The Skypak Luxury Edition comprises ‘PURE GOLD’, ‘BISAZZA MOSAICO’ and the ‘LUXURY CRYSTAL’ model. These three sublime airline trolleys combine practical and functional storage space with outstanding luxury; the result being a one-of-a-kind piece of glamorous furniture.

The illustrious ‘Pure Gold’ trolley (see top picture) is refined with 24-Carat gold leaf. The trolley is made manually and with the highest precision. The gold-plated pedals accomplish this exquisite gold interior. Besides this model, the range features also a trolley designed in cooperation with one of the top luxury brands in the design sector – Bisazza. Bisazza is the industry’s leading producer of glass mosaic for interior and outdoor decoration.

The trolley ‘Bisazza Mosaico’ (see left) is available in two colors, Isotta and Stripes Fall Both trolleys gain their noble look at the home of the brand Bisazza in Alte Vicenza, Northern Italy. The exquisite glass mosaic turns the trolley into a marvelous piece of luxury furniture.

The ‘Luxury Crystal’ trolley is the flagship of Skypak. This trolley is probably the most extraordinary piece of furniture ever made. Designed by Skypak founder Peter Jorge Fischer and adorned with 82,000 crystals of the luxury brand Swarovski Elements this airline trolley is the most remarkable trolley of the Luxury edition. This airline trolley is accomplished by chromium-plated pedals.

When Skypak launched its first airplane trolleys for use in private homes, the mobile mini bars quickly became ‘must have’ items for any smart, up-to-date homeowner.

With entrepreneurial foresight and a team of creative young designers, Peter Jorge Fischer has turned the robust airline service trolleys into original objects of desire. The Luxury edition, available since June 2011, created a furor worldwide. If you have a weakness for the phenomenal flight furniture by Skypak and particular taste of luxury design you can get one of these new items of remarkable furniture for your home by visiting the company website at www.skypak.de

Once on her stylish website, you can easily click through to the fashion e-store. Here you can order from her fabulously chic collection which includes dresses and separates and outstanding accessories such as belts, scarves and jewellery. Not for nothing is Amanda Wakeley the winner of several awards, including three British Fashion Awards for Glamour. She has a fantastic brand heritage and loyal customer base who eagerly await the new season designs.

Amanda had a personal passion to create understated but alluring clothes that women find beautiful and love to wear. Her followers are ageless who prefer garments that are sexy but not overt and body enhancing, yet comfortable and above all relevant yet appropriate to their lifestyle.

Over the years, Amanda Wakeley has dressed celebrity stars such as; Scarlett Johansson, Demi Moore, Kate Beckinsdale, Dita Von Teese, Charlize Theron, Jada Pinkett Smith, Mischa Barton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Helen Mirren and Kate Winslet for red carpet events around the world. She has also had the honour of dressing many members of Royal families, most notably the late Princess of Wales and Queen Rania of Jordan.

On her site there is a glamorous selection of her signature silk jersey dresses, tops, skirts, jackets, coats, accessories, skirts, unusual knitwear and beautiful evening wear, made in a range of luxurious fabrics such as silk jersey, crepe and georgette. In addition her fabulous bridal boutique is somewhere that every bride with style should visit before they choose their dress.

For more details on her latest collections visit the website

Do avoid wearing a diamond ring when doing any kind of housework or manual labour. It is best to only wear a diamond ring when you can relax or go out. When not being worn, it should be kept somewhere secure and memorable.

Don’t wear a diamond when you’re washing dishes as the chemicals can damage the properties of the stone and don’t do gardening with it on since once lost in the garden it may never be found again.

Don’t keep your precious diamonds next to other jewellery pieces as this can cause scratches. This is because the pointed objects such as clasps can scratch the diamonds. A fabric-lined jewellery case with separate compartments is ideal for storage. It’s also a good idea to have one small container or compartment for every stone, since they also have the tendency to rub against each another. You can of course individually wrap your diamonds in soft tissue paper or use jewellery pouches for each piece.

Do inspect your diamond jewellery on a regular basis to make sure the settings are secure and not worn or thin. If that does occur and you notice any signs of damage or loosening of the prongs take it straight to a professional jeweler. It’s still a good idea anyway to have your diamond jewellery checked over annually by a reliable jeweller and use the opportunity at the same time to have it expertly cleaned.

Regular exposure to hand cream, perfume, hairspray, household chemicals and other substances can cause a nasty buildup that will dull the sparkle of your diamonds. Chlorine or abrasives should never be used when cleaning diamonds, especially those set in jewellery. These can erode some of the metals often used in diamond settings, and may loosen prongs, or even dissolve the metal completely.

Only clean a diamond by using a solution of warm water mixed with a few drop of ammonia. Gently scrub with an old, soft-bristled toothbrush for more deep cleaning, then rinse and dry with a soft, clean cloth.

Finally always make sure your diamonds are insured in case the diamonds get lost, damaged or even stolen and NEVER take a diamond ring off to wash your hands and leave on the rim of a sink; it is only a small nudge away from slipping down the plughole into a murky drain!

Large or small, any ball can take up to a year to plan and going to be hard work to organise – here are a few tips to help make your ball a huge success. The first few months of planning are the idea stages, dream time. Decide your venue, book it, and then spend several months with a sketchbook conjuring ideas, to transform your building or marquee into another fantasy world.

Your ideas will change constantly, until a basic image begins to take hold. A good idea is to start planning the ballroom, as this is the central point of the whole event.

Above all, do not think about specifics, at this point everything is possible. How grand are the flowers going to be? What colour scheme will the ballroom be? Do you want costumed waiters, fireworks, marquees, candles, lighting…will there be a charity auction, will there be table prizes, is a 20`s Ball, or a Retro Ball best… just dream and be daring at this stage, practicalities come later.

Forming a Committee

It is debatable whether committees are more hassle than they are worth, especially if you have a very strong image of the ball. However, as time goes on a committee will prove to be a very valuable asset. There are very good advantages to having a small committee, it is easier to share the same `dream` and for all members to work towards that with a minimum of disruption.

If you have plenty of time and energy to commit to putting the ball together, (and you will need this) keep it to 2-3 persons. Have regular meetings, monthly in the first year, fortnightly leading to weekly and then daily in the second year and as the ball draws near.

At your first few meetings present your dream, and together, draw up a list of all the essential things you will need. Caterers, bands, tablecloths, wine, decoration, bar management, How many guests can attend, Rough costing of all the elements and likely ticket costs.

Deciding on a Charity

Choosing a charity is a personal thing in many ways, but if you want the charity to receive as much money as possible from your ball, choose one that has many connections. Involve them from the beginning.

Where balls are concerned, a charity will have a lot of experience, and a plethora of advice to give you from their side of things. Don’t be afraid to layout what you expect from the charity for being involved, it is rare they will not offer all the help they can get, and they do have enormous resources and supporters that will help in a myriad of tasks later on.

Be clear about what areas of the ball that charity will receive funds from, and seek their advice on charity laws. This topic is very complex and best left to their auspices.

Do not handle any money that will be donated to your chosen charity, this can be termed as fraud under the Charities Commission rules. Your charity will organise collection of money on the night.

Sourcing Help

Now you have a charity and a committee on your side, the real work starts. Put the size of the ball in the back of your mind and start breaking it down into small areas. As you contact individuals & companies for quotes, etc, you will find a lot of help and ideas being offered.

Moreover, the original idea of your ball will start to develop and be channelled in new directions. Your charity will always help with letters to help reduce prices, and increase the ball’s credibility.

Be bold and confident, ask for exactly what you want, and be strong on pointing out what the company will get in return. Few companies will give their product totally free of charge, unless they can see great benefits, so use the ones you have to reduce charges to a minimum and contact a company at least nine months before to get a part of their charity budgets. As each piece of help arrives, confirm in writing and obtain a reciprocal letter.

Celebrity Attendance

Let’s face it: celebrities sell tickets, increase the profile of your ball, and heighten the sense of excitement and expectation on the night. Your charity will almost certainly have a list of the good and great of your area and of those who support them.

You may know, or know other people who have contact in some way with other celebrities. It will always be hard to find the first celebrity to attend the ball, and you will probably have to offer them free attendance, but once you have one, it gets easier to find others.

Why not find a celebrity auctioneer? A song artist, a comedian, but aim big if you want to impress your guests. Start contacting their agents or other contacts very early on, a celebrity’s diary gets booked up very quickly. The Internet is a very good source for agents.

Invitations & Tickets

It is a very good idea to have a list of the major sponsors of your ball in your ticket. This shows a guest how much work and support the ball is incurring. Don’t worry if all sponsors are not mentioned, additional sponsors can be mentioned in the menu on the day of the ball.

Get a designer and printer onto the invitation at the latter end of the first year. Designing the print can be a long process, an invitation will be the first time your guests will hear of the ball. Impress them; show that your ball simply cannot be missed. Make sure you send these, at least six months before the event.

Promotion & Media Coverage

A discreet `grapevine` approach attracts quality guests to a high profile ball. Your ball can be harder to sell in the beginning, but word-of-mouth maintains quality and will escalate as it spreads. Otherwise, local media, friends, societies, banks and companies will all be happy to take tables. In both cases, your charity will be able to help with selling tickets.

After sending your invitation, you need to keep the ball in your guests` minds. Send updated information such as postcards, newsletters, scrolls, or even a website that is kept continually updated, and building a big expectation of the night.

Keep your information short and punchy, no one has time to read great epistles. Most charities will have a media control department and it is good to talk over ideas with them with regard to coverage on the night of the ball.

Setting Up Your Ball

Your excitement and stress of the ball is probably at an all time high. Your plans are actually taking effect, and there are a million tiny things that you have forgotten! Above all, remember to make sure a couple of weeks before that all parties involved in the event know what time they are coming to set up.

Another motivational call, a week before the ball always helps and will avoid anyone forgetting important deadlines. Done in a nice way, this should not be construed as badgering, and you will have the assurance of everyone turning up on the day. Create deadlines well before they are due, people always run over time.

Take care of them when they arrive, supply oodles of refreshments and you will keep your team happy – important when problems occur, (as they will) and you have to solve them. Most of all stay calm - you will be barraged with a million questions and small changes.

Be prepared to compromise on some things, otherwise an exciting and enjoyable experience will turn into a nightmare. Keep in mind that your guests are coming to enjoy themselves, they will not notice if something has been changed at the last moment, as long as it is done well. Aim to complete everything at least three hours before the ball starts. As host, you must have time to rest, change, and appear bright and sociable as your guests arrive.

Additional Tips For Delighting Your Guests

Choose an excellent caterer, as good cuisine is nine tenths of a ball and can make or break the evening!

Remember small details such as: handmade soaps, towels, toilet flowers, complimentary limousines, reduced hotel prices for far-travelling guests, lists of auction prizes, napkin decorations, chauffeur, band and staff refreshments, etc. These points are noticed and will encourage guests to enjoy themselves more and return to another event you plan.

Send your invitations as scrolls or in large boxes, to attract the recipient’s attention.

With its stunning boutiques, beautiful room sets have been curated and exquisitely photographed by the Occa stylists, offering customers a stunning selection of interior design inspiration. Complimented by a comprehensive product selection across a variety of premier and luxury brands, leading designers’ most stylish products are available for international delivery within a matter of days.

Through the elegant, gorgeous website Kate and her team want to take the mystery out of interiors and bring a stunning, interior design boutique to their customers fingertips 24/7.   Iconic brands such as Lexington, Moooi, Eichholtz, Andrew Martin, Emile Henry and many more are now just a click away.

The team at Occa have long term and trusted relationships with their approved suppliers and due to their purchasing experience, can promise the customers of Occa-Home that furniture, home-wares, accessories and gifts on the web site are of the highest quality provided at the best possible price, procured only from reputable suppliers and manufacturers and sustainable sources.

As part of this online revolution, Occa-Home offers a ‘Want It, Can’t Find It?’ sourcing service, perfect for all those times you see an item you love in a hotel or a magazine and don’t know where to buy it. In no time, the designers will hunt your product down and have it express delivered to your door.

The quality of the products and also of the Occa website itself has impressed many leading influential editors, and Occa-Home has been featured prominently in such titles as Homes & Gardens, Living Etc, Elle Deco, House & Garden, Bridge for Design, Kitchen Bedroom & Bathroom, the Financial Times and many, many more.

Founded in 2003, Occa-Home’s parent, Occa Design, has developed an envious reputation for expertise and style on interior design projects throughout the UK, Europe and the UAE having implemented design projects in some of the world’s largest hotel brands including Intercontinental, Hilton, Wyndham and Millennium.

Often imitated but always unique, Occa-Home and their portfolio is a truly special find.  We at Luxury and Style think it’s time you found out what all the fuss is about. Visit Occa Home to find out for yourself.

Times have certainly changed; sailing instruction is widespread and more affordable, good sailboats are cheaper and more widely available so are the opportunities for almost anyone to try their hand at sailing. The sport of sailing has also gained much greater prominence over the last few decades thanks to such notable sailors as Sir Francis Chichester, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Sir Chay Blyth.

Sailing attracts a plethora of enthusiasts, to the both the seas and the inland waters of Britain, mainly because while it can be an exciting and demanding sport it is at the same time a relaxing family pastime and also an outlet those seeking a welcome period of relief from the demands of the modern world. Those looking to join a sailing club will find that in Britain there are a wide variety of friendly sailing clubs to choose from; often within easy driving distance to get in a great day’s sailing and nautical camaraderie.

 Since the dawn of history conquering the world’s seas and rivers has afforded mankind greater mobility and capacity for fishing, trade and warfare. Nowadays however, most people take to the water purely as recreational activities which can be roughly divided into yachting, cruising dinghy sailing and sail racing.

Sailing vessels move forward because of the reaction of moving air on their sails while sailing itself is the art of controlling a water born vessel by changing the rigging, rudder and dagger or centre board. A true sailor, or yachtsman, controls wind force on the sails in order to change the direction and speed of a boat. Masters of this skill require plenty of hard experience, in varying wind and sea conditions, as well as a knowledge of sailboats and sound instinct.

Sailing boats with one hull are known as monohulls, those with two are catamarans while those with three are called trimarans. All boats are turned by a rudder, which itself is controlled by a tiller or a wheel, while at the same time adjusting the sheeting angle of the sails.

Until the adoption of the Racing Rules of Sailing, any vessel racing under sail was considered a yacht, whether it a multi-masted ship-rigged vessel, a remote-controlled boat, a sailboard or anything in between. Sailors use traditional nautical terms for the parts of or directions on a vessel such as starboard for right and port means left etc. and they must follow the basic rules for avoiding a collision at sea.

Sailing these days has become a hugely burgeoning recreational sport that attracts thousands of enthusiasts in the UK, either as participants, or as keen onlookers attending some of the most prestigious nautical events in the world; with the most notable event in British sailing calendar being Cowes Week. Held around the first week of August, it is run by a powerful body called the Cowes Combined Clubs and is patronised by the most distinguished figures in the yachting world.

This very crowded event, where only the fittest come through, attracts vast numbers of serious sailors but it attracts an even greater number of serious partygoers who prefer to watch the racing from the comfort of the large drink-laden marquee erected on the Squadron Lawn!

Almost every other year the Tall Ships Race starts from a British port. This unique event was instigated in 1956 by a London lawyer, who at the time saw no future for all the lovely old sailing ships, that had become redundant. The race was intended to bid a last farewell to these magnificent vessels. As it turned out the race proved so popular that it went from strength to strength, becoming an annual event, which has been known to attract up to three million onlookers.

When as many as a hundred ships gather for the start of the race it is an awesome sight, as a goodly proportion of them date back over a century. They are always moored alongside the quay so that at certain times of the day the public can go aboard and experience for themselves the intricate beauty and craftsmanship of these majestic relics which have found a new lease of life not only as objects of pleasure but also fulfilling an unexpected role in the community. For this glittering armada has an important philanthropic worth, that of training young people from every nation.

In the course of a four to five week race these raw crews, taken from all walks of life, learn the real value of teamwork and comradeship and once back on dry land take their newfound skills into the workplace. Anyone can visit the Tall Ships Race, at any port in the world, where entry for the public is completely free.

The Royal Yacht Association (or RYA) is a specialist membership organisation for recreational boat owners and crew with over 103,000 personal members. There are an estimated further 500,000 boat owners nationally who are members of Royal Yacht Association affiliated clubs and class associations. This famous UK association is for all forms of recreational and competitive boating and represents sailing, motor cruising, sports boats, windsurfing, inland boating, powerboat racing and personal watercraft and is recognised by government as the negotiating body for these groups.

The RYA has training schemes for powered and sailing craft to provide qualifications for skippers, instructors and water sports professionals. It also has a technical department which provides a range of advice and services to boat owners, builders and skippers, on matters as diverse as MCA coding, RCD compliance and issuing sail numbers and measurement certificates.

The London Boat Show is normally held in January at Excel and offers visitors a very hands on experience where they can hone their basic skills, acquire new skills and learn from the experts in subjects such as engine maintenance, antifouling, cooking on board a boat, sail trimming, navigation and much more.

Clarence Court produce a fantastic and unusual range of rare breed hen’s eggs as well as duck, quail goose, turkey, rhea and ostrich eggs. Not only are the birds free range, but they have special management to encourage the birds to range further, instinctively helping them to range from dawn to dusk. These eggs are quite simply delicious and have large yolks with egg whites that are very firm.

The beautiful, richly coloured shells from these eggs are very strong and because the birds are closer to their natural origins in that they only lay about 180 eggs a year compared to 280 eggs per year produced by the average free range hen. All the hens are fed on the finest natural non-GM vegetarian diet with a plenty of maize corn which accounts for the deeper more colourful yolk and flocks of Legbars and Burfords are mixed together to bring harmony to the farm.

Clarence Court is a family run business dedicated to good conditions for their birds as well as free and fair working policies for all their poulterers and employees . For those who care about the source of their eggs it is great to know that this company have a highly responsible ethos on livestock welfare, with welfare provisions well in advance of the law. Their website offers a fund of information including lots of lovely recipes.

So where can you find these fabulous, crème de la crème eggs. Well we get ours from Waitrose but you can find them in many other high end shops such as Harrods, Fortnum & Mason, Booth & Co, Sainsbury’s and Selfridges. For more information visit the website.