Winter neighborhood

We have had snow since Thursday and the temperature is still falling and the snow is getting thicker and heavier. I enjoy watching the snow falling though I am sufferring for a heavy cold and slippery. I've been waiting for this moment since the day I came here in England. I am so very grateful to the Almigthy for letting me to actually experience snow. (function(d){ var js, id = 'facebook-jssdk';...

The first taste of the first snowfall

This morning I have awoken to massive snow scenes, there was a skiff of snow on the ground and rooftops. At last, it's started snowing. Half of the UK is covered in snow at the moment. Only small flakes though. I wanted to go out and throw snowballs straight away but not that there was enough snow for that! What a beautiful day in the North of England... bright, crisp and dry, just...

Consultation on Tier 4 Student Visa in UK

The announced consultation on Tier 4 visas will be addressing ways of reducing the number of students coming to the UK whilst also continuing to attract the “top students to the top universities”. These include: for adult students, focusing Tier 4 on higher level courses and those offered by Highly Trusted Sponsors introducing tougher entry criteria such as English language competence requiring...

Facebook banned for hours in Saudi Arabia

Users of the widely-popular Facebook were only able to access the website around sundown.According to a source at the Telecommunications Agency in Saudi Arabia, the site was restricted most of the day because it did not conform with social values.Facebook, which has over 200 million active users, was temporarily restricted in Pakistan and Bangladesh earlier this year due to a group on the website...

The best countries to retire to

With the weather turning icy, thoughts begin to turn to sunnier climes, not just for the Christmas period but for life generally.The number of Brits trying life abroad has grown significantly over the past few decades — there are more than a million Brits living abroad, according to the Institute for Public Policy research.And it's not just students taking a year out to 'discover' themselves making...

Prince and Kate set wedding date

St James's Palace has also said the wedding - including the costs of the church service, music, flowers, decorations reception and honeymoon - will be paid for by the Royal family and the Middleton family. The public will pay for associated costs like security. Downing Street announced that the wedding day would be a public holiday. Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, private secretary to Prince William,...

Immigration is no joke

It is a major decision that involves all aspect of your life. People who are planning to permanently settle in a foreign land must put importance into having all their papers and requirements processed the legal way. If you are working and living abroad without the proper documents, you are putting your reputation and future at risk. Peace of mind will definitely be elusive when instead of adjusting...

UK to cut immigration

David Cameron has insisted it is "perfectly possible" to cut immigration to the tens of thousands a year. MPs have cast doubt on whether a limit on numbers from outside the European Union can significantly reduce net migration from its current level of almost 200,000 a year. But, in an interview with Sky News, the Prime Minister indicated he remained committed to more than halving immigration and...

London bus will be phased out from 2012

London Mayor Boris Johnson has unveiled an all-new London bus. It uses an efficient hybrid drivetrain that makes it the most fuel efficient bus ever to hit the capital. Built by Wrightbus, the as-yet-nameless double-decker also sees the return of the traditional open rear platform, allowing passengers to jump on and off quickly. It features two staircases to make embarking and disembarking quicker...

Harry Potter Premiere in London

Head to the magical Harry Potter premiere London event at Leicester Square to celebrate the release of the seventh adventure in the blockbuster series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1. Red carpet event Promising to be a highlight in the calendar of many an aspiring witch and wizard, the Harry Potter premiere London celebrity screening celebrates the launch of the penultimate film in the fantasy series. The red carpet world premiere at Leicester Square is bound to be a popular affair,...

Harry Potter Location in UK

To celebrate the UK release of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1' on 19 November 2010, I put together ten of favourite Harry Potter filming locations. The much-loved teen wizard has appeared at various places all over Britain so jump on your broomstick and discover the magic… Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scotland On its way to Hogwarts, in 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' (2002), the...

Feast of Sacrifice, a national holiday

Very nice Philippine President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III has declared August 30, 2011 a National holiday, in celebration of the Eid’l-Adha or the the Feast of Sacrifice.In proclamation number 234, Aquino cited Republic Act 9849 which provides that Eid’l Adha, one of the two greatest feasts of Islam, shall be celebrated as a holiday.Celebrated by Muslims worldwide, Eid’l Adha is an important religious...

London Bridge?

Tower Bridge in London is often incorrectly referred to as London Bridge, well me too, the bridge was on the other side. The bridge spans the Themes River, and is firmly ensconced as an iconic symbol of London itself. The reason for the bridge was the rapid development of commerce between the city of London and East End. The Tower Bridge was designed and built between 1886 and 1891. Its distinctive...

Autumn is here!

This is that time of year when the leaves turn red and gold, and there's a little chill in the air. The scientific explanation of autumn is “the day of the year when the Sun crosses the celestial equator moving southward. This day is known as the Autumnal Equinox.” One source explained that it's a common belief that the “earth is further from the sun in winter than in summer.” But actually, the...