Raise the roof

Property: Broxham Oast Four Elms Road, Four Elms, Edenbridge,

Description: Charming and substantial Oast house and barn sympathetically converted. Has character features such as high ceilings and a wealth of oak and English hardwood joinery, handcrafted Oak and English hardwood architraves. Five bedrooms, music room, study/hobby room, 8.2 acres.

Price: 1.795 million

Agent: Jackson-Stops & Staff, 01883 338515

Round a roundel

Property: Kings Oast, Laddingford

Description: In a semi-rural location between Laddingford and Yalding, it is an impressive conversion with five roundels.

Over three floors, the property has exposed ceiling timbers, wooden flooring, vaulted ceilings, fireplaces, thumb latch doors and a striking imperial staircase rising to all floors. Six bedrooms with en suite bath/shower rooms. Cinema room, detached pool house with heated swimming pool and gym, orchard and paddock. 2.44 acres.

Price: 1.75 million

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Kent and Sussex Courier published Pictures: Oast houses for sale in west Kent and East Sussex

If you fell asleep on the plane to Fuerteventura and woke up on arrival, youd be forgiven for thinking you had landed on the moon.

The landscape is so barren and black it looks as if any sort of life would struggle to thrive.

With miles and miles of charcoal landscape punctuated only by the manmade golf courses in the hotel resorts, you couldnt be further from the rolling green hills of England.

But give it a day, go to the beach, eat tapas and drink sangria on the veranda, and you will discover that there is plenty of life on this Spanish island, and its actually quite wonderful.

Like all the Canary Islands, Fuerteventura was formed out of a series of underwater volcanic eruptions, which explains the charred landscape and looming dark mountains.

But as the days turn to nights, and dusk turns to dawn, thousands more colours are revealed to create a magical place like no other.

Not to mention the stunning beaches, all year round sunshine and cloudless blue skies.

I took a trip to Fuertaventura courtesy of Pierre & Vacances and stayed at their newly opened Origo Mare resort to the north of the island.

Its perfect for all types of holiday makers, with an adult only pool and al a carte restaurant and spa for those who want a relaxing holiday, and a fabulous kids water park with wave pool, mini golf and tennis courts for those who prefer a little more activity on their jollies.

Its laid out like a holiday village so its particularly great for families. Five cul de sacs of apartments each have their own pool, and theres as a shop so you can cook for yourself if youre on more of a budget.

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Head to Fuerteventura for a trip that's out of this world

FROM his office in Toowoomba's CBD Brad Spanner can see the landscape of the city's heart changing - and he reckons it's for the better.

Mr Spanner's Top of the Range Home Loans business sits on the eastern side of Hume St across the road from the Toowoomba Courthouse.

Through the glass doors at the front of his office, he can see Toowoomba's newest high-rise building - the Quest Serviced Apartments on the old Church of Christ site in Margaret St - taking shape.

"I watch that hotel going up every day. It will be interesting to see how it will end up," Mr Spanner said.

"I'd like to see the CBD revitalised. It would be nice to see people roaming the city centre again.

"I like the Brisbane mall, I think it looks great.

"People say malls don't work but Margaret St already has the coffee shops and I think it would work here."

Mr Spanner grew up in Toowoomba but spent three years living in England, Scotland and Ireland, though he always intended returning to the Garden City.

"I loved living over there but when you start thinking of raising a family, I was always coming back to Toowoomba.

"There are so many parks and sporting grounds and the schooling here is very good. There are heaps of opportunities for education.

Link:
Water park will work in our city

Matt Cowdrey joins Cate Campbell in giving young children swimming tips in Canberra last year. Photo: Rohan Thompson

Matt Cowdrey decided that once he could no longer see the Rio Paralympic Games in his future, then that would be the moment to call it quits.

On Tuesday, Cowdrey revealed the time had arrived and announced his retirement after a career that saw him become Australia's most successful Paralympian.

The 26-year-old has been busy establishing a career outside the pool since the London Paralympic Games where he eclipsed runner Tim Sullivan's Australian record of 10 gold medals, but he says that it has really only been the past couple of months where for the first time he could not see next year's Games in his plans.

Cowdrey's 50 freestyle (S9) win in London made him Australia's most successful Paralympian. Photo: Getty Images

Cowdrey has been the face of the Australian Paralympic movement for the past decade and his five gold medals in London, which took his career tally to 13, cemented his standing.

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He had initially intended that London, which was his third Games after Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008), would be his last and that he would retire after the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014, but immediately after breaking Sullivan's record said he would swim on to Rio in 2016.

But Cowdrey, who won 23 medals over three Games has struggled to regain his competitive drive in the pool and even though qualified for Glasgow he was not fully fit and has trained only a handful of times since the Pan Pacs.

"Just more and more over the last couple of months especially I've come to the realisation that the majority of the things that I want to achieve are outside the pool, not inside it," Cowdrey told Fairfax Media.

Read more here:
Australia's greatest Paralympian Matt Cowdrey retires

FAIRFIELD TWP.

What may have been the third-largest tree in Butler County fell Tuesday night, as a five-foot wide oak tree crashed inches away from a backyard swimming pool.

No one was injured, but residents of the area mourn the loss of the giant oak, which had become a familiar part of the landscape. The tree, measuring about 60 feet tall with a 59-inch circumference, stood behind a home in the 3900 block of Carrington Way in Fairfield Twp.

Residents werent sure exactly why the tree fell at about 9 p.m. Tuesday, but the tree appeared to be rotting from the inside, said resident Bob Holion. Branches and fragments of the oak tree littered his backyard, but they didnt cause any damage except for crushing part of a neighbors fence.

The trees demise hit Randy Harper harder the tree was in his yard on Stony Brook Drive.

Ive got to be honest with you its like losing a family member, you know what I mean? Im in grief right now because its gone, he said.

Holion said the tree had been budding last year, so its fall was unexpected.

Im not sure there was a branch that didnt have leaves on it never thought it would fall, he said. There was no reason to think it was going to come down completely.

Susan Nordland lives in a home with a pool in the backyard a pool the tree just barely missed.

I heard a loud kind of noise. I thought it was thunder. And I said to my family, Theres the thunder they said we were going to get tonight. (But) I didnt see any lightning. So then I thought it was a big piece of ice that rolled off the roof and fell to the ground, she said.

Go here to see the original:
Massive oak tree topples over in Fairfield Twp. neighborhood

Murphy Remodel
Landscape/Pool Remodel Design.

By: Ritter Boys #39; Landscapes

Read the rest here:
Murphy Remodel - Video

Raise the roof

Property: Broxham Oast Four Elms Road, Four Elms, Edenbridge,

Description: Charming and substantial Oast house and barn sympathetically converted. Has character features such as high ceilings and a wealth of oak and English hardwood joinery, handcrafted Oak and English hardwood architraves. Five bedrooms, music room, study/hobby room, 8.2 acres.

Price: 1.795 million

Agent: Jackson-Stops & Staff, 01883 338515

Round a roundel

Property: Kings Oast, Laddingford

Description: In a semi-rural location between Laddingford and Yalding, it is an impressive conversion with five roundels.

Over three floors, the property has exposed ceiling timbers, wooden flooring, vaulted ceilings, fireplaces, thumb latch doors and a striking imperial staircase rising to all floors. Six bedrooms with en suite bath/shower rooms. Cinema room, detached pool house with heated swimming pool and gym, orchard and paddock. 2.44 acres.

Price: 1.75 million

Go here to see the original:
Pictures: Oast houses for sale in west Kent and East Sussex

Torrington, CT (PRWEB) March 02, 2015

O&Gs state-of-the-art fabrication and distribution center is heating up for spring with your stone profiling and radius pool templating projects. The centers capabilities extend to advanced stone profiling and restoration services no matter how detailed or complex. Looking to create something unique? O&G offers a selection of new products and a vast inventory of traditional products including bluestone, limestone, brownstone, granite, marble, quartzite, onyx, and slate.

Serving architects, restoration, landscape, and pool professionals, John Baranoski, Facility Manager oversees the 85,000 SF operation while working with industry professionals to assist in the masonry fabrication of renovation, restoration or new construction projects. "O&G's comprehensive services offer flexibility and efficiencies from its advanced CAD and fabrication methods," remarks Baranoski.

A landmark restoration project is the pinnacle for the Trinity College chapel. Pictured below is an O&G staff artisan applying the finishing touches for an exact replication of the original.

Baranoski noted that, "Stress-free radius templating and profiling are a welcome relief for professionals who want the best and for the customers that demand it." For stone projects that require radius cuts, look to O&G for its radius templating service which delivers the perfect profile and stress-free results for a beautiful finished project.

O&G invites you to take advantage of its radius templating services for your next project including pool surrounds, stair treads, walls, etc. "Look to O&G for beautiful results that your customers will enjoy and you will be proud to share," Baranoski stated.

About O&G Masonry Since its inception in 1923, O&G has grown to become one of the largest and most diversified construction companies in the Northeast and one of the largest suppliers in New England of masonry products and services. Headquartered in Connecticut the company offers LEED project solutions to achieve the highest masonry certification. O&G facilities include eight mason stores and nine stone-yards, six Earth Products Showcase showrooms, and a fabrication and distribution center all strategically located throughout Connecticut. Customers receive expert consultation from showroom sales professionals and are guided through the widest selection of natural stone and tile products of elegantly appointed vignettes from classic to contemporary in design. O&G's logistical coverage extends throughout the Northeast and beyond.

Navigate to O&G's website and social media pages where special offers, raffles, ideas, projects and the latest news are featured.

Excerpt from:
Spring Masonry Projects Are Heating up at O&G's Fabrication & Distribution Center in Connecticut

Introducing new options to Indias mid-market and upscale hospitality landscape

Leading Asian hospitality provider, ONYX Hospitality Group has announced its plan to operate at least 10 properties in India by 2022.

Three key developments will form the strategy for the ONYX India expansion. Firstly, the first full service Amari hotel has been confirmed in the NCR (National Capital Region). Amari Noida will be a part of the World Trade Centre Noida project and feature 120 rooms, with an additional 30 branded residences, three restaurants, meeting and convention space, pool, fitness centre and a Breeze Spa. The project will begin in 2016 and is due to be operational by 2019.

The second project will be in the World Trade Centre development in Gujurat's new central business district, GIFT city. The Amari Residences GIFT City in Ahmedabad will feature 120 serviced apartments, restaurant, pool and fitness centre. The project will begin in 2016 and be operational by 2018.

In order to develop these two projects and the remaining balance of properties in the pipeline, ONYX has entered into an exclusive partnership with hospitality asset management firm, Kingsbridge India. Through the joint venture, ONYX as the operator will closely align with the interests of the asset owner to deliver set objectives. Kingsbridge is a hospitality platform by The Viridian Group, developed to target specific gaps and opportunities in the Indian hospitality market.

Peter Henley, President and CEO, ONYX Hospitality Group said: "This announcement marks a strategic step in our long term strategy to become a leading hospitality provider in Asia. India is ripe for hospitality development right now and as the economy continues to grow, and international visitors to the country rise, we see great potential for hotel expansion. As hospitality specialists, our role is to select the right brands for the right locations and we see market potential for our upscale hotel, resort and residences brand Amari, as well as our select service brand OZO. The hospitality landscape in India is dominated by luxury at one end of the spectrum and unknown players at the other, together with our partner Kingsbridge, we see an opportunity to provide international standards to guests who are looking for reliable and good quality upscale accommodation options."

Commenting on the joint venture, Rajesh Shanbhag, CEO, Kingsbridge India said:"We firmly believe that the Kingsbridge-ONYX partnership will serve to establish the 'joint venture' as a leader in the Indian mid-market hospitality segment in the future. Both partners have come together with the common objective of establishing a pan-India portfolio of mid-market and upscale hospitality properties in key business and tourist destinations. Whilst ONYX, with its established brands such as Amari and OZO is recognised globally for its efficiency in managing and operating hospitality assets, Kingsbridge aggressively mitigates operational, structural and capital inefficiencies that characterise the segment. Kingsbridge envisages a mutually beneficial and very long term partnership with ONYX."

ONYX Hospitality group currently ONYX Hospitality Group manages 54 properties in 10 countries, 38 of which are operational, equating to over 6,000 rooms.

About Kingsbridge

Kingsbridge Hospitality was established as a dedicated platform by The Viridian Group to target specific gaps and opportunities in the Indian hospitality market. Kingsbridge aims to derive significant advantages by aggressively mitigating operational, structural and capital deployment inefficiencies that characterise the Indian mid- market hospitality segment. Kingsbridge co-ordinates and oversees all acquisition, development and operational activity ranging from site identification, construction management, facility management, right up to operational profitability management. The Group's platform tightly aligns Land Acquisition and Development Capability, Fund Management and Hospitality Operations Capabilities.

Read more:
ONYX Hospitality Group Expands Operation to the Indian Market with 10 properties by 2022

Original photograph of the garden's planting

Hello, this is a slightly odd request but Im looking for this garden, was my opening line. When the housekeepers eyes flickered in recognition at the photos I suspected I had struck gold. When she said, Ah yes, the garden here! I was thrilled. Not only did the garden still exist but Mr Morris, the original owner, was at home. He invited me in to see the garden.

I discovered, with amazement, the intact bones of a late Seventies masterpiece. Certainly many borders have become overgrown, but there is no doubt that the underlying structure that Jakobsen laid down survives.

A lucky win

Having bought the house in 1967 at the tender age of 22, Michael Morris concentrated on getting the interior right before doing anything about the garden. He says: When I bought this house the builders had left it in a terrible state. It was horrible, really horrible we had to throw the kitchen out.

Fortunately a winning bet on the 1979 Greyhound Derby brought the garden into being: effectively, it was built by a fast greyhound called Sarahs Bunny.

It is a well-used and much-loved plot. Mr Morris has raised two families here and he clearly still loves the place.

Loved by many the garden is still going strong (Rii Schroer)

Its like being on holiday in a hotel and at home all at once, he says. Ive got the best of both worlds. There is always laughter and happiness in this garden at night it is wonderful.

He agrees that Jakobsen was famously uncompromising in his design approach. I found him difficult at times. He [Jakobsen] knew what he wanted.

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A private garden worth searching for