7 minute read
Jubilee: Platinum Pomp
MOT Madness
The three simple fi xes you can do at home to give your car its best chance of making it through the MOT, fi rst time.
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1. TYRES Tyres are often the most neglected element of our automotive upkeep – but the difference between decent treads and uncared-for tyres could be a matter of life and death.
One of the foremost indicators that your tyre is ready to be changed is when it loses its tread depth. Maintaining this is important because loss of depth reduces grip and traction on the roads, and eventually compromises safety while driving.
Keeping a tab on the tread wear indicator, which is built into the tyre, is a good way to measure the tread depth.
Also be wary of cracks appearing on the sidewall as the oils and chemicals in the rubber compound degrade. Over time, the rubber loses its tightness and splits begin to appear. At worst, this could result in a blowout, which is a highly dangerous scenario.
Finally check for lumps of rubber separated from the tyre. These generally occur when wheels bump kerbs. A small tear is driveable, but anything bigger, particularly when the gauze is visible underneath, means an immediate change is required.
The good news for those requiring new tyres is that there are a range of tyre price comparison websites, including mobile tyre-fi tting services where your car needs to not even leave the driveway.
2. WIPERS AND JETS When you think about it, your wiper blades go through quite a bit. There’s rain, snow, mud, grit, not to mention full-on, head-on wind resistance, and a whole lot more besides.
For basic maintenance, you should clean off your wiper blades every couple of months. Removing residual dirt will keep the rubber in better shape for longer, eliminating the need for regular replacement. If the wiper blade does need to be changed, most automotive centres will do this for you and at no extra cost.
Keep a check as well on blocked washer jets. These can be cleaned out by delving under the bonnet, releasing the supply pipe and washing through. If access is tricky, you may be able to move any organic matter stuck in the pipe by removing the jets and soaking them in a bowl of vinegar.
blades every couple of months. Removing residual dirt will keep the rubber in better shape for longer, eliminating the need for regular replacement. If the wiper blade does need to be changed, 3. LIGHTS Where headlamps and brake lights are concerned, these are another easy check and easy fi x scenario, and will offer you perhaps the biggest saving of all.
Bulbs can be purchased online for a fraction of the cost that might be charged at the MOT centre, and in most cases the light unit can be taken apart and the new lamp installed.
In bigger vehicles you may fi nd the unit less accessible, although online tutorials are always available to guide amateur mechanics through the task!
The Queen’s Jubilee: Platinum Pomp
The work that goes on behind the scenes to mark Jubilee celebrations.
Soldiers, horses and musicians It all starts to come to fruition on the Thursday, as Trooping the Colour marks the Queen’s birthday celebrations. Over 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians will come together in the traditional Parade. This is the fi rst Jubilee celebration in which women will be included in the regiment, so additional preparations have been made to ensure the infl ux of fi rst-time participants. RAF fl y-past The traditional RAF fl y-past completes the parade. The routine will have been practised countless times, though contrary to popular belief, this isn’t just a privilege reserved for the Queen. In the lead-up to the event, local communities have been invited to apply for their own fl y-pasts. of beacons fi rst took place in 1897 to mark Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and are a symbol of unity across towns, borders, countries and continents.
St Paul’s Cathedral On Friday, June 3rd, attention switches to the Thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral. Public safety elements come to the fore here, with tens of thousands of well-wishers lining the streets around the Thames as the Queen and family members attend.
Jubilee beacons A fortnight before the Jubilee, 1,500 Platinum Jubilee beacons will have been distributed across the UK. This lighting The Derby A day of leisure follows on the Saturday as the Queen visits The Derby at Epsom Downs. The event itself is over 240 years old and has garnered a different winner every year, and is open only to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fi llies who have qualifi ed for the race in the months preceding it. It remains the race that offers the biggest prize biggest prize pot in the British pot in the British racing – over racing – over £1.1million. £1.1million.
10,000 10,000 charitable charitable tickets tickets In the evening, In the evening, Elizabeth Elizabeth returns to returns to London for London for a party at a party at Buckingham Buckingham Palace. In Palace. In the months leading up to the event, which features music and drama celebrating some of the most signifi cant cultural moments from The Queen’s seven-decade, over 10,000 tickets have been made available to charitable organisations. This has been two years in the planning.
Street celebrations Finally, on Sunday, June 5th, communities across the UK are invited play out their own Platinum Jubilee street celebrations. Named The Big Lunch and launched in 2009, communities have been planning for months how they wish to mark the special day, with up over 1,500 applications made.
200 silk scarfs At the same time, the Platinum Jubilee Pageant sees artistic performers, dancers, musicians, military personnel, key workers and volunteers tell the story of the Queen’s 70-year reign. It includes a ‘River of Hope’ section comprised of 200 silk fl ags made by primary and secondary school children.
A fraudster can pretend to be anyone involved in a property transaction such as the owner, buyer, borrower, lender or conveyancer. Property fraud can be very attractive to fraudsters if they successfully persuade a buyer, their conveyancer or a lender into believing they are the true owner. They can then sell or mortgage the property to get cash from either the purchase monies or the mortgage advance. This often involves the impersonation of the registered owner and we highlight below who might be most at risk and what properties are seen as desirable targets. Owners at greater risk are: • unregistered owners • absent owners (eg. abroad, in hospital, in care homes) • landlords • beneficiaries of owners who have died • long-time owners with more equity in their property • sole owners Properties at most risk are: • high value properties • empty properties • properties without a mortgage • tenanted properties The Land Registry are encouraging people to set up a property alert in order to warn them if someone attempts to alter key details of their property online. • Scammers attempt to transfer your property into their name using false documents, or stolen identities, in some cases, even whilst you are living there. • The scammers then raise mortgages against, or sell, your property without you knowing. • Victims can find that they have to leave their home as there is nothing that can be done to get the property back.
• Victims are left with having to claim compensation from the Land Registry to replace their home. Whilst the Land Registry have been able to stop some cases where fraudulent documents have been submitted, not all cases are stopped, so it is important to help protect yourself against property theft. To protect yourself against the risk of property fraud, you should consider the following: • Register your property on the Land Registry if it is not already registered. • Sign up for the free Land Registry Property Alert service. You can get alerts for up to 10 properties, meaning you can help protect vulnerable family or friends as well as yourself. • Put a restriction on your title: this will stop the Land Registry registering any sale or mortgage on your property unless a conveyancer or solicitor certifies that the application was made by you. This restriction: ◊ Costs £40 if you live at the property. ◊ Is free where you do not live at the property but own it privately. ◊ Is free if a company owns the property. This simple process can help avoid you or someone you know being victim of property fraud. Tell your friends, family, neighbours, and clients. Bells are a specialist Wills, Probate, Residential and Commercial Conveyancing Practice. The office is open five days a week Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm (prearranged appointments only). Our professional service is right on your doorstep. Tel: 01794 513328 E: bells@bells-romsey-solicitors.co.uk
