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The Lake District though small in area is one of the most beautiful, and unspoilt places on earth. Many Lake District visitors, having tired of the busy villages, head for the hills and some quiet, scenic, solitude.

Although the English lake district fells and mountains would be dwarfed by the major mountain ranges of the world such as the Alps and the Pyrenees in Europe, the Himalayas, or numerous peaks in America; they still command and demand respect from those who venture out onto them. Topping out at a maximum of 3209 feet on Scafell Pike, these are not the giants of the mountain world, yet numerous walkers are lulled into a false sense of security each year by their comparatively small scale.

Conditions on the Lake District mountains can change abruptly, making what was a balmy valley day into a desperate battle with nature. Even the lower fells can be subject rapid temperature falls, driving rain, and disorientating mist.

If you are going to go fell walking, make sure you’re suitably equipped. Go to a local gear shop and ask what would be a suitable walk for you in the current weather conditions. The people who work in outdoor shops in the Lake District are usually keen outdoor enthusiasts themselves, and will happily give you advice.

If you don’t understand the basics of navigation - map reading, using a compass etc. don’t stray off the low level tourist tracks. Better still, book yourself on a course with one of the many local guides, and learn how to find your way around. it’s a skill that you’ll keep for life, and it will seriously enhance you Lake District experience.

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Istanbul is the largest and the most historical city in Turkey. The name "Istanbul" comes from the Greek phrase "eis ten polin" used by Constantinople’s inhabitants, and which meant "in the city". The city is sometimes referred to as the "Soul of Turkey". Istanbul is the only major city that lies on two continents, Asia & Europe.

Here’s a top ten of must-see attractions in Istanbul, Turkey:

1. Topkapi Palace. Topkapi Palace, which means "Cannongate Palace",

is the old palace-city of the sultans. Topkapi Palace was home to all the Ottoman sultans for a period of nearly four centuries. This splendid palace is museum now. The Treasury of the Museum of Topkapi Palace is considered one of the most celebrated treasuries in the world.

2. Blue Mosque. It is called "Sultan Ahmet Mosque" which means "Mosque of Sultan Ahmet". It is famous for the beautiful blue tiles and glasswork ornamenting its walls.

3. Dolmabahçe Palace. It is a palace in what is called Turkish Renaissance style built by Abdul Mecid in 1854, which was the main residence of the Sultans until 1918 and is now a museum. The palace is lavishly decorated with luxurious furniture, crystals and carpets.

4. Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya). One of Istanbul’s illustrious landmark, the Hagia Sofia was a former church, mosque and now a museum. It is the most important achievement of Byzantine architecture.

5. Istanbul Archaeology Museum. It has one of the world’s richest collection of historical artifacts and treasures. It actually consists of three museums: the Museum of Oriental Antiquities, the Archaeological Museum and the Tiled Pavillion.

6. Hagia Eirene. It is one of the earliest Christian churches in Istanbul. It is located in the outer courtyard of Topkapi Palace. Today, it is now a museum that serves mainly as a concert hall for classical music performances and musical festivals.

7. Galata Tower. It was called "Jesus Tower" by the Genoese and "Great Bastion" by the Byzantine. This is one of the city’s most magnificent landmarks whose huge, cone-capped form dominates the skyline. It has a modern restaurant and cafe on its upper floors. From there you will behold a stunning view of Istanbul.

8. The Grand Bazaar. It is named "Kapalicarsi", or "covered bazaar". It is made up of streets of various shops sheltered by roofs and domes. Inside the Grand Bazaar you can enjoy shopping and find great bargains in 5,000 shops.

9. Suleymaniye Mosque. It is one of the most marvelous of the imperial mosque complexes in the city. It is built 450 years ago by the architect, Mimar Sinan for Suleyman the Magnificent , the most powerful Ottoman sultan. The interior, dominated by its great dome with minaret towers, is notable for its impressive design.

10. Old City walls of Istanbul. Old Constantinople was surrounded by walls described as land walls and sea walls. These walls were considered to be the largest fortress ever constructed in the Christian era. With their numerous towers, large and small, they are a magnificent sight.

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Every time a small business fails I get dismayed. The owners of a new business have often staked their entire capital on a new venture and they stand to lose a lot more than if a big company fails in their new venture. Before you start a new business familiarise yourself with the top 10 reasons why many new businesses fail.

1. The manager is incompetent

Most small businesses fail because the owner does not have the knowledge to run a business properly. It is advisable to do a basic business course before starting a new venture.

2. Finances are not in place

Many people start out in business without any idea of how much money is really required. If you do not know how to write a business plan get your accountant to help you. In any new start-up cash flow is king and without proper funding even the best idea will fail.

3. The Owner gives up too quickly

Any new business will be lucky to break even in their first year. Many people new to business often assume that they are going to make a fortune within 12 months. In reality less than 80% of new start-ups make a profit in their first year.

4. Advertising

There is zero point in doing a single leaflet drop to all your potential customers. There is no point in doing a single advertisement in your local newspaper. Advertising is all about repetition. Many of your potential customers will not buy your products until they have seen your marketing material at least half a dozen times.

5. Branding

Every single piece of your company has to scream out your brand including your brochures, websites, delivery vans and the uniforms that you and your staff wear.

6. Ability to close the sale

This is really an art form in itself. Some people are naturally good closers but others have to learn by reading and studying the art of closing a sell. The more you practice the better you will become.

7. Location

Location is very important to the chances of your businesses survival. Often you will have to pay more for a decent location but it can make the difference between just getting by and turning a decent profit.

8. Ability to get on with other people

We all know that we have to treat our customers with respect but what about our suppliers. If you do not pay your suppliers on time they will start quoting you higher prices. If you are rude to them they might stop doing business with you altogether.

9. Lady Luck

Some people are really unlucky; there is no getting away from this. Just hope and pray that Lady Luck smiles at you, especially in the first year.

10. Demand and USPs

Small businesses often overestimate the demand and usually have no unique selling proposition built in to their products. If people only ever need to buy one of your widgets and you make millions, chances are that you are heading for a point of no return.

Examine all the points above. If you feel that you have an answer to most of them then you are ready to take the plunge and start your own business.

azmsug | hawberryquiltshow | islandquiltersguild | maverickmavis
greatstartbabies | mimux

If you spend any time networking, I’ll venture to bet that you’ve met Super Networker or at least some variation of her (or him for that matter). She moves faster than a speeding bullet, can leap over tables to get to the other side of the room and can collect more business cards in one hour than the average person! Super Networker even has x-ray vision enabling her to see through the invisible wall you try to erect between you and her.

Can you picture a time you met Super Networker? I can and in my case it was a woman. I remember it quite vividly and specifically how she made me feel.

It was a cold day in January and I was attending a breakfast business mixer. As I was talking to Karen, the hostess of the event, a mild mannered woman approached me. She seemed innocent enough but yet had a look of intention. She was intent on saying something to one or both of us at that very moment.

She introduced herself … let’s call her Clara to conceal her true identity. After Clara introduced herself, she asked the quintessential networking question, “So what do you do?” Briefly, I said something like, “I help business owners to practice more effective networking skills”. Before Karen could say anything, Clara excitedly replied, “I’m really good at networking! I’ve been doing it for a long time!” The door was open … so I went in and asked, “What do you do that makes you so good?”

I waited anxiously to hear a nugget of advice from a true professional. Little did I know that in front of me stood, Super Networker! Instead, this is what she said, “Well, first I go to an event with a friend. Then, we enter the room and size it up. We draw an imaginary line down the center of the room. Typically, my friend takes the left side of the room and I take the right side. We agree to meet back in the same location to compare how many business cards we have collected in one hour to see who wins for that day! The loser usually treats the other one to lunch while we review our stash. It’s so much fun! I find it’s a great way to get my cards out to so many people and to add so many new people to my data base!”

At this point, I wasn’t quite sure how to respond, so I said, “Wow! [probably with a look of utter shock on my face] How does that work for you?” I asked. “Great,” she said. “I’ve been doing it for years. Isn’t that what networking is all about?”

Super Networker strikes again … and not in a good way! Unfortunately, this is what a lot of people believe networking to be. To them, networking is about collecting business cards to increase the number of contacts they have in their data base in order to spam them at a later date.

In reality, networking is about developing strong relationships that can turn into significant connections for your business. Strong relationships don’t happen through a flighty exchange of business cards followed by an unwelcome spam attack. Networking does not include selling. When the Super Networker was pushing her business card into the pockets of innocent bystanders, and collecting others at a rampant pace, she was fully in the mindset of sales. She intended to sell herself to anyone who would make eye contact. This mindset unfortunately repels people, creating the invisible wall with a neon sign that says, “Go away!”

There are four simple rules to follow so that you don’t transform into a Super Networker:

Rule #1 - Only give your business card to someone who has asked for it.

Rule #2 - Practice the mindset of “giving” rather than “selling” at networking events.

Rule #3 - Never try to meet everyone in the room … you can’t do it and keep your dignity. Focus on meeting five new people and spend enough time with them to begin forming a relationship.

Rule #4 - Never add anyone to your database unless they have given you permission.

If you practice these four rules at each networking event you attend, you can feel safe that your reputation will be intact when you leave, if not enhanced. You’ll have successfully avoided becoming a Super Networker!

seocontest2008 | pinoy money talk

For all types of business, maintaining financial data is important. What’s even more important is having someone who can do this work flawlessly. This is the reason why businesses continuously look out for the perfect bookkeeper service.

With the appropriate bookkeeper service, business owners should be worry-free. Bookkeepers will handle the tasks relating to financial transactions including recording income and expenditure, drafting bank reconciliation statements, handling invoices, and managing payroll. All business owners know how important it is to have a bookkeeper. However, what most do not know is how to actually find a good one.

First, it is important to evaluate potential bookkeepers in terms of training and educational background. Although bookkeepers are not necessarily required to have a degree in accounting, all must have had formal training in the field. You will most likely find individuals who have gone through some college coursework or have been certified by accredited institutions.

Second, most business owners also prefer a bookkeeper service provided by an experienced bookkeeping firm. Hiring an experienced bookkeeper allows you to ensure expert management of your financial records. Furthermore, experienced bookkeepers work more efficiently. Because bookkeeper services are often paid on an hourly basis, individuals who work faster will allow you to save more. To prove actual bookkeeping experience, most bookkeeping firms would not hesitate to provide a list of references.

Third, personality is also worth observing when evaluating those who provide bookkeeper service. Obviously, it would be important for you to get along with your bookkeeper but more importantly, it is worth taking the time to observe and look out for signs of customer responsiveness, organization, and attention to detail. More often than not, individuals who have these qualities provide a good bookkeeper service.

Fourth, although some businesses still engage in traditional bookkeeping service, most have adapted to the technological changes in business by doing computerized bookkeeping work. If your business uses specific software, it would also be important that potential bookkeepers be familiar with that.

Lastly, it is important to make sure that the bookkeeper you want to employ will suit the budget of your business. Ask your potential bookkeeper how much they charge. If their rates are not reasonable for your company, do not hesitate to speak to them to see if you can discover a better pricing plan.

The benefits of hiring a good bookkeeper service are undeniable. However, the value of a bookkeeper would depend mostly on qualifications and capabilities. For this reason, it is important to thoroughly evaluate each and every potential candidate and hire only the bookkeeping firm that provides a bookkeeper service that is most appropriate to your business’ needs.

Your itinerary will differ according to your interests, when you travel and mainly how much time you have at your disposal. Before you plan a tour that includes boat travel, I sincerely suggest you to check the latest available Jadrolinija (Croatian ferry company) schedule to be sure that there is a boat to the destination you want to go. Keep in mind that there are two schedules, the winter and summer and they can vary to certain destinations. ( For example: Hvar island (Stari Grad) has five times ferry a day connections to Split in summer period, while during the winter period, only three times a day)

The Costal Route Due to the fact that Croatia has a spectacular 1.104 miles coastline and 1185 islands , I suggest to chose the boat as the best way to explore Croatia coast. Your costal route can start from Rijeka all the way to Dubrovnik, stopping at the many islands and cities. This is one of the greatest journeys in Central Europe. Take advantage of Jadrolinija ferries to stop on the way to Dubrovnik to different cities and small fishermen villages.

If you happened to land to Zagreb, spend few days there visiting museums and the historic old town, than head to the coast (There are excellent bus connections to the coast). Before leaving for your cruises to Dalmatian coast, stop to Istria , maybe Rovinj and Porec. On the way to south parth of the Adriatic coast, your boat may stop to Dugi Otok (Long island) before arriving to Zadar, where you can spend few days visiting islands like Pag or small picturesque island Ugljan. Proceed to Split where you should spend couple of days visiting Diocletian’s emperor Split town. From there with very frequent ferry boats (keep in mind of the season) visit islands Brac (Bol) and Hvar (Hvar and Stari Grad towns). Don’t forget to visit nearby historic Trogir, only half an hour bus drive from Split.

You can continue your journey from Hvar, without returning to Split to Korcula island, visiting this small town, often called (small Dubrovnik). From there next day, proceed to Dubrovnik your inevitable destination, which will put the finishing touch to your Croatia’s journey.

Planning when to go

April to September is a great time to visit Croatia. The sea temperature in April is not suitable for swimming but you will enjoy warm and clear skies south of Split and specially on Hvar and Korcula islands. Accommodation prices are low but don’t forget that many hotels and camps will be still closed.

May and June are the great months to enjoy Croatia. These months are excellent for all kinds of outdoor activities. Italian and German tourists have yet to arrive, prices are still reasonable and most of the hotels, hostels and camps are opened.

July and August are the most expensive months to visit Croatia The places like Krk, Istria, Rab, Bol, Hvar, Korcula and Dubrovnik can become unpleasantly crowded. The advantage of these months, considered "high season" are the additional boat lines that gives you possibility to visit other small places and islands, far from those over crowded destinations.

I personally consider September the best month to explore Croatia. It’s not so hot, the prices are at least 30 % lower and the crowds are almost finished as children return to school. This is the month of fruits like figs and grapes. October is sometimes too cool for camping but the weather could be still pleasant for cruising and the private rooms are available everywhere and reasonably priced.

I hope this short Croatia’s itinerary map will be at least of some help for all those visitors setting up vacations in Croatia (Hrvatska) this or years to come.

If you need more information on Croatia ferry boats schedule, here you can download it

Jadrolinija (Croatian ferry company) itinerary and 2008 price list in pdf.

Visit my web site http://www.croatia-nudistsbeaches-scubadiving.com and find out more information about Croatia (Hrvatska), called "The Mediterranan as once it was"