Thursday, February 19, 2009

Taking your practical driving test - top tips

Taking your practical driving test - top tips by Gordon Parkes

Many people dread their practical driving test, allowing themselves to get extremely worked up before the test. Unfortunately, this is probably the quickest way to fail, as undue nerves will adversely affect your driving.

Instead, you should try to remain calm and confident. While it is natural to feel a little nervous, you can't let it take control of you. After all, your driving instructor wouldn't have put you forward for the test unless they believed you were ready to pass.

If you can share their confidence, you should succeed in your driving test.

Preparation can help you concentration and reduce your nerves. The day before the test, you should go to bed early, ensuring that you are well rested during your driving test. A healthy, nutritious breakfast will also aid concentration.

You can book a final lesson around the test centre on the same day as the examination. Doing this can help you familiarise yourself with the potential test route, so you can identify any potential hazard spots you should look out for during your test.

Before the practical test begins, you will be given a quick eyesight test and will have to answer a few questions about vehicle safety. The 40-minute driving assignment, will include some set manoeuvres, most likely an emergency stop and some reversing exercises.

Don't worry about any minor errors you make during the test. You can make up to 15 minor mistakes and still pass your test. However, you shouldn't try to count them, as this will mean you are not concentrating fully on the road - and that you will get more nervous the closer you get to the 15th error.

During your test, don't feel embarrassed to ask for clarification if you do not fully understand your examiner's instructions. It is better to ask them to repeat the instruction than to carry it out incorrectly.

As long as you are confident, well prepared and follow these driving test tips, you should be able to pass your test with flying colours.

Once you pass, you can build on the skills you developed during your lessons and practical driving test by taking part in a refresher course. This will teach you to cope with driving in different environments, from driving in the country to driving on the motorway.

This refresher course is designed for new drivers and those that haven't driven for a long time, although anyone can take it.



Find out more about driving, such as advice for preparing for your practical driving test. Get more useful driving test tips.

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Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Treadmill Workouts for Beginners

Treadmill Workouts for Beginners by Jamie Jefferson

Running is a great way to burn calories and increase cardiovascular fitness. But when bad weather hits and you take a day off, it can lead to two and three and four days off, and before you know it, you can easily slip out of your running routine.

That's why many runners turn to the treadmill, either a quality in-home machine or a machine at the gym.

Treadmills are nice because you can run anytime, day or night, regardless of the weather. And it can actually be safer than running outside.

You won't meet any strange dogs, wild animals, or strangers while running inside on the treadmill. Plus, treadmills give you a nice, smooth surface to run on and that can be easier on your joints than if you were outside, pounding the pavement (as long as you continue exercising with proper technique.)

When you run on a treadmill, it's a cinch to set both your pace and your incline. By occasionally running on the treadmill, you'll be able to gauge how it feels to run at a certain pace when you run outside again. And you can easily make small changes to your treadmill routine, which can lead to big results, fast.

To stave off boredom when you are working out, use headphones and download inspiring and motivating music from the Internet. Or download an audiobook.

You can also catch up on your TV by watching recorded TV shows. Just make sure that the viewing (or listening) doesn't interfere with good running technique.

Another great way to alleviate boredom on the treadmill: Interval training.

Treadmills make it easy to interval train, which means alternating slower paces and gentle inclines with periods of faster paces and/or a higher incline. Interval training can really help you maximize calorie burn, too.

You can either use the preset running programs installed on your treadmill, or adjust the incline and speed manually.

As always, you'll want to start your running workout by stretching your muscles before you even get on the treadmill. Then, once you hop on the machine, warm up for about a half mile. To do this, simply set the treadmill on a speed lower than you are used to when you run. Then start your interval training: alternate a slower speed with a faster speed, then back to the slower speed for specific intervals of time (one to five minutes).

As your fitness level improves, you can increase the length of the more challenging interval. You can also increase the incline of the treadmill as you run for an even more challenging workout.

You might find that it will help you to stay motivated and inspired in your workout if you tackle different training modes on different days. For example, one day you can interval train by focusing on the incline of your treadmill. The next day, focus on speed. The third day, you can interval train for both speed and incline.

The tips in this article are for general information only. Consult with your doctor before beginning any exercise routine.



If you are looking for a new treadmill or a new place to work out, click here for the latest treadmill discounts and fitness coupons.

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Friday, February 06, 2009

Basic Kayaking Skills For The Beginner

Basic Kayaking Skills For The Beginner by Chris Kennelly

Kayaking skills are primarily based upon the technique and how you approach the specific task within the activity. Some of these include the flip or roll over once you have capsized, and even holding the paddle in the correct fashion.

Starting off with the paddle holding technique, one will realize that this is one of the most vital skills, as the paddle is essentially your propelling and guiding tool once out there in the water. The kayak paddle differs from a canoe paddle, as it has 2 blades attached compared to the canoe paddle only having one. In developing the necessary kayaking skills, the paddle must be held correctly so that the most power can be generated from utilizing the paddle correctly in the water. The face of the paddle is the part that you will use to pull yourself through the water, and this part is the concave part of the blade. A simple trick in this area, is if the paddle has writing on the blade, one should keep this the right way up and not upside down to assist in holding it correctly.

Another one of the vital and necessary skills is the rolling over once you have been capsized, which involves tucking the body in toward the kayak to avoid any potential head injuries. One should then reach out with the paddle in hand, to one side of the kayak and whilst turning the paddle from a horizontal position to a perpendicular position back into the water, one should arch the neck outward, towards the surface of the water, against the shoulder. In other words, if one is trying to tip the vessel to the right then the paddle should be out of the right hand side of the kayak and the head and right shoulder tilted towards the right. As one pulls the paddle into the perpendicular position continue roll through towards the right and pushing into the water with the paddle to the left. One should use the face of the paddle as a lever to push oneself out of the water. You should then follow through with the momentum, in a rolling fashion to correct your kayak and your position in the water, this will include a hip snap which is that gaining momentum you will use to right yourself.

The above mentioned are only two of many kayaking skills that would have to be studied, learned and further developed, as one gets more into the kayaking experience. However, these two basic skills are very valuable in terms of this type of activity, as no matter how an advanced you become, in a certain situations you will be capsized, especially in an ocean or white water setting, and the quicker you master this skill, the quicker you will be able to right yourself and possibly prevent any potential injury.



For additional resources and all aspects pertaining to kayaks, learning to kayak and all things related, paddle through to Learn Kayaking or even Ocean Kayaking to get you started.

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Monday, February 02, 2009

Valentines Day Romantic Gifts Ideas

Valentines Day Romantic Gifts Ideas by Jaime Peret

On every 14th day of February we celebrate Valentine day, men, women or even youngsters are busy looking for romantic gifts for their love ones. Valentine day is the day we express our wonderful feelings and to propose to our loved one. In this very special and romantic occasion, both men and women are searching for special romantic gifts for her and for him.

Romantic gifts like flowers, chocolates, valentine's cards, wines and personalized gifts are exchanged across the world every 14th day of February. Gifts to your love ones do not have to be that expensive but the most important thing is how you express your feelings to the person who will receive your presents. The truth is, to most women or men out there, simple presents are the ones they remember the most. The challenge is, searching for a simple romantic Valentine gift for your love one can be a difficult task. Gifts come in different shapes and sizes, but more importantly, they come in different types too. A gift for a woman is often quite different from a gift for a man. A gift for a spouse could be pretty different from a gift for someone you are dating. Well, if you are a man searching for a special valentine gift for your lovely girlfriend or wife, I can give you some tips finding romantic gifts for her.

Let your Valentine gifts go beyond the usual chocolates, roses and teddies. The important thing to remember is that most women or men tend to prefer valentine gifts that they might receive at any other time of the year. But, if this is your first Valentine then the experienced florist is at your service with a wide variety of Valentine Gifts ideas like gift baskets, flower bouquets, and Roses for you to choose from. The master florist has more experience when it comes to picking the right romantic gifts for this very special occasion. Other way of doing this is to exchange ideas with your friend or relative, they can give you bright ideas in choosing the right romantic valentine gifts. Here is another tip for you, when choosing from different gifts idea you should always keep in mind whether the item in question is appropriate for her/him.

If you are a person with busy lifestyle, shopping around for gifts like wine baskets, gift baskets, gift certificates, jewelry boxes, personalized mugs, flowers and roses, rings, pins, brooches and necklaces can be a daunting experience for you. The last thing you will need is a gift store that has everything in it for this very special occasion.



Jaime Peret an avid romantic valentine gift enthusiast and professional author. For a great selection of Romantic Gift Ideas for you love one, visit Romantic Gifts For Her

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