January 11 marks the 205th anniversary of the Kundara Vilambaram, when Velu Thampi Dalawa, the then Dewan of erstwhile Travancore, raised the flag of revolt against the British. Although the Dalawa was defeated by intrigues and betrayals, his call for freedom is venerated as a glorious chapter in the struggle for freedom from the British. A memorial at Kundara in Kollam, his personal sword at Napiers Museum in the city and his statue in front of the Secretariat pay homage to the Dalawa.

However a visit to his ancestral home, far away from the centres of power, reveals a different picture.

No signposts guide curious time travellers to the Thalakulam Valiyaveedu, near Thucklay in Kanyakumari district, the place where the Dalawa was born on May 6, 1765. Friendly villagers help you reach the place situated in the middle of a picturesque village. An arch indicates in Tamil that this is the home of Velu Thampi Dalawa. And yes, after traversing km of unknown roads, the familiar statue of the Dalawa comes as a relief.

The sculpture depicts a proud warrior surveying the green countryside and his crumbling home. A paved barren area around the statue and the house do not have much to guide or inform visitors.

A multi-coloured residential building bang outside the heritage structure hastily brings back time travellers to the present. Inside the gracious structure of timber and lime, there is little to indicate that this was once the home of a warrior who threatened the British rule in Kerala. A poster with a picture of the Dalawa, printed in bright Sivakasi colours, and a plaque outside says Chitrakalamandalam Historical Museum, Thalakkulam Valiyaveedu. However the museum is conspicuous by its absence.

As you enter the house through a beautiful poomugham, a wooden thengapura (used to store coconuts) catches your attention. Even the blanket of dust and heap of rubbish cannot hide the workmanship. In the meantime, Lekshmi, an elderly woman cleaning the temple on the premises, spots you. She says that the temple is closed after early morning pooja but agrees to get the keys to enter the main structure while I explore the surroundings. The British had the house razed to the ground after the Dalawas death in 1809.

The present structure was rebuilt. Intricately carved, each beam and pillar is a work of art in the structure that is estimated to be more than 200 hundred years old. Even the antique locks are a tribute to the aesthetics of the workmen of a different era. The locked rooms tell a story of neglect. Plantain cultivation has robbed the pond of its charm, the undergrowth and thick foliage make it impossible to explore the house.

One of the rooms is said to hold the entrance to an underground tunnel that connect the Valiyaveedu to Padmanabhapuram, which used to be the capital of Travancore. The tunnel has now been filled, says Lekshmi in her Tamil-accented Malayalam. Next to it is another room that used to have a painting of the Dalawa in all his regalia. A lamp was lit on Thrikarthika and Pathaam Udayam. No longer, she says mournfully.

Three inner courtyards are accessible. Some of the rooms require you to wade through darkness, dust and cobwebs to explore the rooms. Bahuleyan Nair, the caretaker, who has a pair of keys to the house says he has been taking care of the place for 30 years now. But he is reticent to talk about the present. Thalakulam Valiyaveedu did have a proud past but only time will tell whether its future will be perfect.

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Monumental neglect

By MartinasSteketee485 | April 18, 2012

Home wiring is not something to fool around with. It is literally a life and death matter. Poor wiring can lead to personal injury and electrically caused fires, both of which you want to avoid at all costs. In order to ensure your home wiring is done correctly, there are a few basics that you need to be aware of.

No Power = No Trouble The key to safe basic house wiring is always keeping in mind that electricity packs a big, and deadly, punch. Even the most trained professional takes their life in their hands if they dont follow basic safety procedure. The best preventative measure you can take, whether youre installing basic electrical wiring, or just examining the wiring you do have, is to always make sure the power is turned off from the get go. Whether youre re-wiring your entire home or just replacing a faulty outlet, be sure to take a trip to the control panel and cut the power to the area youre working on.

Know Your Electrical Code With electrical work there is never an excuse not to follow rules and regulations. As mentioned before, electricity can be a dangerous animal if it isnt treated properly. Your localitys codes and regulations regarding residential wiring have been put in place for a reason: to protect you, the homeowner. Anytime you are working with basic house wiring, study up on standard procedures so you dont put your family or yourself in jeopardy. And if youre undertaking a major home wiring project, get familiar with your local inspector. Dont view them as a hurdle to overcome, but as a valuable resource you can draw on to get the job done right.

Components of Basic Electrical Wiring Besides safety considerations and regulations, the other thing you want to familiarize yourself with is the make up of your home wiring. It boils down to three basic components:

Call in an Electrician With most home improvement jobs you can do it yourself with a little elbow grease and patience. Electrical work is one of the exceptions. Unless youre experienced in home wiring, you dont want to do this job yourself. The safety risks are just too great. Add to that the need to meet local rules and regulations, and its a good idea to hire someone who is experienced in basic house wiring to tackle this job for you. It will mean youll have to jump through fewer hoops before your work is approved, and you can rest easy knowing all your basic electrical wiring has been done with your safety in mind.

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By GiffenGuilbault255 | April 17, 2012

Increasingly homeowners are becoming aware that remodeling or renovation goes beyond structural alterations. Changing the look of your home often means youll need to take a new look at the furniture that adorns it as well. If you desire, custom furniture artisans can be hired to work carefully with your interior designer, interior decorator, or general contractor, to create furniture that compliments the other improvements youre making to your home.

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The West End production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time has transferred to a new London home after the reopening of the Apollo Theatre was delayed following the collapse of the venue's ceiling.

Almost 80 members of the audience were injured when a huge section of the historic building's roof gave way last month during a performance of the stage adaptation of Mark Haddon's novel.

The venue's owners had hoped to re-open the Apollo's doors by Monday, but decided to hold off as restoration work continues.

Producers of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time have now decided to move the play to the nearby Gielgud Theatre, with the run resuming on 24 June.

Nick Starr, executive director of the National Theatre, which first produced the play, says, "We are grateful to (Gielgud's owners) Delfont Mackintosh Theatres for providing us with another home on Shaftesbury Avenue for the show.... sadly the closure of the (Apollo's) gallery to enable its restoration means that the show no longer works economically there."

WENN.com

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Play finds new home following theatre collapse

LYNCHBURG, Va. -

Emergency repairs are almost finished at a Lynchburg retirement home.

Several water pipes burst at Bentley Commons senior living home Tuesday afternoon, soaking parts of the building and forcing all 122 residents to evacuate.

Most stayed with their families Tuesday night, but 23 were taken to a shelter at Blue Ridge Community Church in Forest.

Lynchburg firefighters and paramedics worked with the nursing home staff to make sure everyone got out safely.

"The residents were wonderful," said Debra Beamer, administrator of Bentley Commons. "They handled the situation very well, even though it was a very difficult time for them."

The damaged pipes have been replaced and a restoration service is cleaning the building. Beamer said additional work will be needed to replace sections of dry wall.

Residents returned to the home Wednesday afternoon.

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Residents return to Lynchburg retirement home Wednesday, following pipe damage

New Dorp Beach, NY (PRWEB) January 08, 2014

Nick Randazzo, a resident of New Dorp Beach on the south shore of Staten Island, is finally getting his home back on track with the help of 911 Restoration after a year of receiving inadequate funds and insurance money. Randazzo's home was severely flooded during Hurricane Sandy when the windows and doors could no longer keep the rising water outside at bay. By the time the storm had passed, Randazzo had nine feet of water in his basement. Even with some federal funds and insurance money, Randazzo still fell significantly short of the total repair cost necessary to restore the significant damage sustained to his home. The just released private funds came to the rescue, filling the financial gap so that restoration could finally get underway. The funding for the program comes from a variety of charities and foundations that have made large contributions to help New York residents still in need.

911 Restoration's expert flood damage technicians are currently in the New Dorp Beach home carefully assessing the damage and taking the necessary steps to get construction underway. From thoroughly removing all traces of remaining moisture to carefully separating and storing any undamaged items, 911 Restoration is dedicated to getting Mr. Randazzo's home back in shape. Mold can be an especially troubling problem when flooded areas are not completely dried in a timely manner. The company's mold removal experts are conducting thorough inspections to ensure that any mold that has formed in the basement in the past year is removed safely.

As more funding continues to be disseminated among those still in need, 911 Restoration will be leading the way in New York providing essential water restoration services to more and more homes in the area. With Hurricane Sandy striking over a year ago, the situation presents a unique challenge given the length of time many homes have been left unattended. In addition to mold inspections, 911 Restoration crews are paying special attention to any structural damage that long-term exposure to moisture may have caused in the interim so that these homes are completely safe and fully restored to their pre-storm conditions.

Hurricane Sandy's path of destruction affected countless homes in New York, and while it is unfortunate that so many people have been unable to secure adequate insurance money and have been left waiting, 911 Restoration is honored to be a part of the ongoing recovery process. With crews working 24/7 throughout the state, many will be getting their new year off to a great start with the help of new private funding and 911 Restoration.

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911 Restoration Repairs New York Homes Damaged by Hurricane Sandy with New Funding

It was used as a dumping ground by fly-tippers and on the verge of falling down after lying abandoned for 50 years.

Now the 18th century mill that supplied the world-famous Wedgwood Potteries industry has been transformed into a stunning family home.

The two-year rebuilding project in Staffordshire can be seen tonight on Channel 4s The Restoration Man, presented by architect George Clarke.

Owners chartered surveyor Alan Appleby and his wife Dora said they will be watching the programme from behind the sofa.

The Grade II-listed structure in Mill Street, Stone, had begun to collapse when the couple began the rescue project in 2011.

Mr Appleby said: George described it as knackered and my father, whos 95 and was in the construction business all his life, said he wouldnt touch it.

Even my surveyor friends said Do you know what youre doing? It was that bad.

The old building had been rocked to its roots over the decades but its given good service to a number of trades and industries.

Now weve given it a new lease of life, not only as our home but as a base for my own business.

The Applebys believed their project would be perfect material for The Restoration Man.

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Old abandoned Staffordshire mill now a luxury home

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A COUPLE who saved a former 18th century flint mill and transformed it into their home are to feature on a popular TV series this week.

The Grade II-listed building in Stone had begun to collapse when Alan and Dora Appleby began the mammoth rescue project in 2011.

Now their efforts have been filmed for Channel 4's The Restoration Man, which is presented by architect George Clarke.

Viewers can watch the dramatic moments unfold when the episode is screened tomorrow evening.

For Alan, who works as a chartered surveyor, it was more than simply a chance to create a unique home with bags of character.

The flint mill is also an important relic of Staffordshire's industrial heritage as it was used to grind flint for Josiah Wedgwood's pottery factories.

Alan said: "This old building has been rocked to its roots over the decades, but it's given good service to a number of trades and industries.

"Now we've given it a new lease of life, not only as our home, but as a base for my own business."

The building in Mill Street had lain abandoned since the 60s and was used as a dumping ground before the Applebys stepped in to rescue it.

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Stone couple's efforts to transform an old flint mill to feature...

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A COUPLE who saved a former 18th century flint mill and transformed it into their home are to feature on a popular TV series this week.

The Grade II listed building in Stone had begun to collapse when Alan and Dora Appleby began the mammoth rescue project in 2011.

Now their efforts have been filmed for Channel 4s The Restoration Man, which is presented by well-known architect George Clarke.

Viewers can watch the dramatic moments unfold when the episode is screened on Wednesday evening.

For Alan, who works as a chartered surveyor, it was not just a chance to create a unique home with bags of character.

The flint mill is also an important relic of Staffordshires industrial heritage as it was used to grind flint for Josiah Wedgwoods pottery factories.

Alan said: This old building has been rocked to its roots over the decades, but its given good service to a number of trades and industries.

Now weve given it a new lease of life, not only as our home, but as a base for my own business.

The building in Mill Street had lain abandoned since the 1960s and was used as a dumping ground before the Applebys stepped in to rescue it.

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Historic Stone flint mill to feature on Channel 4's Restoration...

Honking geese soar overhead in a V formation, buffeted by bitter gusts off nearby Lake Erie, while flocks of mallards bob along the shore. Even blanketed in snow, the sprawling wetland south of Monroe is a magnet for water birds one reason a public-private project is under way to improve it.

Crews are building levees, canals and pumps that will regulate water levels and upgrade fish passageways in a 946-acre section of Erie Marsh, making it a better home for wildlife and limiting the spread of invasive plants.

Its an example of decades-old efforts by government agencies and private groups to rebuild Great Lakes coastal wetlands such as swamps, bogs and marshes that have been depleted by development. A federal report released in November suggests the work is beginning to pay off.

The eight-state Great Lakes region extending from western New York to eastern Minnesota was the only section of the U.S. where coastal wetland acreage increased during a five-year period when scientists took extensive measurements with satellites and field photography.

The gain was modest 13,610 acres, an area not quite as large as the New York City borough of Manhattan. Yet it happened as the rest of the nations coastal wetlands shrank by 360,720 acres. The loss amounted to less than 1% of the U.S. total but continued a longtime negative trend.

Wetlands dont have the cachet of spectacular natural features that oceans and mountains do. Theyre sometimes dismissed as worthless, especially by those wanting to cover them with shopping centers or highways. But they help prevent floods by absorbing excessive rainwater. They are known as natures kidneys, filtering out pollutants that otherwise would wash into lakes and rivers, and also provide vital wildlife habitat nesting grounds for ducks and geese, temporary refuges for migratory birds and spawning areas for fish.

Scientists say the continental U.S. has lost roughly half of the wetland acreage that existed before the European settlement era. Wetlands have been relentlessly filled and drained for farms, housing and cities.

The biggest losses from 2004-09, the period covered by the study, were along the Gulf of Mexico, where coastal wetlands form a crucial buffer against storm surge during hurricanes. They have been battered by decades of erosion and salt water intrusion caused largely by flood-control projects and development. Atlantic coast acreage also dropped substantially.

Replacing wetlands is a primary goal of an Obama administration program called the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative that is focusing on the regions biggest environmental problems. Separately, the U.S. and Canada signed an agreement last year to upgrade the lakes water quality that calls for boosting wetlands.

If theres a cure-all for the Great Lakes, wetland restoration is just about the highest on the list as anything gets, said Cameron Davis, a senior adviser with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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Great Lakes wetlands restoration efforts paying off as acreage grows

Home Restoration Video

By: Video My Story HD Productions

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