We all appreciate a decent cut of meat cooked to your liking at the local grill, but how do you recreate it at home without cooking the steak to within an inch of it’s life?  Listed below are the sort of times you look out for when cooking your steak, but a word of warning these are just approximates.  Once you get used to your cooking equipment and the cuts from your butcher you should then be able to cook the steak to your liking.

What you need to remember though is the right equipment.  For home steak cooking a cast iron stove top griddle pan is the only thing that will come close to giving restaurant results at home.  Make sure the pan is hot by using a very hot grill, you need to leave it at least 5 minutes before adding the steak.  The steak should have been out of the fridge for 30 minutes to 45 minutes, and dried using kitchen towel.  Whilst cooking the steak don’t move it round the pan, it should only move when you turn it.

Always cook the steak to the rare stage on both sides, then complete the rest of the cooking time after turning the heat down low.

Fillet or T-Bone (1inch to 1.5 inches thick)

• Rare:  2-3 minutes each side.
• Medium Rare:  3 Minutes each side.
• Medium:  3.5-4 Minutes each side.
• Well Done:  4.5-5 Minutes each side.

Sirloin, Rump or Rib Eye (0.75 inches to 1 inch thick)

• Rare:  1-2 minutes each side.
• Medium Rare:  2-2.5 Minutes each side.
• Medium:  2.5-3 Minutes each side.
• Well Done:  3-4 Minutes each side.

Smart Casual is the holy grail of men’s fashion.  Presentable, yet a comfortable way of dressing.  It’s effortlessness makes it oh so sexy, but so many get it so wrong and look like they have been dragged through GAP backwards.

Good smart casual is all about mixing tailored pieces with more relaxed items.  This is usually managed by wearing one thing with a defined collar, whether that be tailored coat or jacket, or simply a shirt.  This outfit by Next is a perfect example of smart casual and is made up of the following:

Black Moleskin Single Breasted Jacket £75

Grey Cotton V-Neck With Mock Shirt £28

Grey Vintage Jeans £32

And should be finished off with a pair of Panel Lace-Up’s £35

This look is not thrown together and all the elements complement each other perfectly.  The slightest bit of scruffiness could unbalance the whole outfit.  If the jumper was removed and a tie added to the shirt then the outfit would become too smart to be casual.

Bad smart casual is when a man mixes inappropiate items in a manner where he couldn’t care less.  Wearing trainers with your work shirt, tie and trousers topped off with a North Face jacket is not what this look is about…

What is Spyware?
The dictionary definition is as follows:
Spyware is any technology that aids in gathering information about a person or organization without their knowledge. On the Internet (where it is sometimes called a spybot or tracking software), spyware is programming that is put in someone’s computer to secretly gather information about the user and relay it to advertisers or other interested parties. Spyware can get in a computer as a software virus or as the result of installing a new program.

Data collecting programs that are installed with the user’s knowledge are not, properly speaking, spyware, if the user fully understands what data is being collected and with whom it is being shared. However, spyware is often installed without the user’s consent, as a drive-by download, or as the result of clicking some option in a deceptive pop-up window. adware, software designed to serve advertising, can usually be thought of as spyware as well because it almost invariably includes components for tracking and reporting user information.

The cookie is a well-known mechanism for storing information about an Internet user on their own computer. However, the existence of cookies and their use is generally not concealed from users, who can also disallow access to cookie information. Nevertheless, to the extent that a Web site stores information about you in a cookie that you don’t know about, the cookie mechanism could be considered a form of spyware. Source – http://www.searchcrm.com

The more popular view by many IT Professionals is that spyware should be treated the same as a virus, i.e. A serious threat to the well being of your PC.

How Spyware affects us?

Privacy.  Spyware is primarly used to collect vast amounts of user data.  This data is then used for targeted marketing and advertising.  The data has also been known to have been used for other criminal acts such as gaining new identities & fraud.

Security.  Some spyware also includes various threats to the security of your PC.  These can be very dangerous if exploited.  Some examples are as follows:

• Keyloggers – Used to log ALL keystrokes on you PC, thus your usernames & passwords are compromised.
• BackDoors – Used to gain remote entry into your PC to either steal data or utilise your PC’s resources such as disk for storage of illegal software. 
• Virus – Malicious software designed to cause harm to your PC then spread to other users PC’s via internet or network connection thus causing wide scale downtime.

PC Performance.  Probably the most visible sign of spyware is the decrease of performance in your PC.  This is due to spyware taking up valuable system memory and processor power, reducing the resources that are available for your applications such as Word and Excel.

You may also experience strange behaviour when browsing the web, some examples of this are as follows:-

• Trying to browse websites results in redirection to another website.
• Opening your browser you find the homepage has been replaced with another website.
• Opening the browser you find a toolbar has been added showing adverts.

The Solution

There are some basic rules that we must follow to decrease risk of our PC’s being infected by Spyware, starting with the websites we visit.

• Visiting websites for pornographic material, illegal software downloads, illegal music downloads often result in Spyware infection.  Avoid these types of websites.
• When visiting a website you may be asked to agree to a download before you can proceed.  Always click NO to downloads that are forced upon you or for downloads that you do not know what they are.
• Do not enter any personal details on websites unless the website is of a trustworthy organisation.
• Make sure your Windows installation is up to date with the latest patches.

Spyware has also been known to have been installed via Email attachments, so the simple rule applies; Never open any Email attachments that you are not expecting.

If you do suspect your PC is infected with spyware, you must stop using it immediately.  Seek professional IT advice on the correct removal of spyware.  In most cases the spyware can removed quickly and effortlessly.  In some instances your PC may need a complete re-install of all software.

Recommended Spyware Removal Software

• Malwarebytes Anti Malware
• Spybot Search & Destroy
• Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool

Over the past few years social networking has exploded with even royals jumping on the bandwaggon.  Such sites allow for, and promote, general communication, online discussion and provide the ability to share information about yourself and others quickly and easily. By following a few simple guidelines Social Networking can be enjoyed by all, safely and productively. Social Networking sites include but are not limited to Facebook, Bebo, Myspace, YouTube and Twitter.

• Before signing up to any Social Networking site make sure you have read the terms and conditions for that site, along with their privacy policy.  If there is anything you do not understand or are not happy with, do not sign up to the site.
• When filling in your personal details remember that these will be visible to other users.  Only enter the details that you are happy with being in the public domain.  It is not recommended that you fill in local addresses, telephone numbers or full dates of birth.
• If you upload any content (pictures, video, documents etc…) to your profile, copyright may be transferred to the Social Networking site in question. This allows the site to use content how they want to, possibly in marketing and advertising. You should not upload third party content (material for which the copyright does not belong to you) without the necessary written permissions.  Note in most cases you will be unable to delete any content you have placed on the site.
• You should not post any content that could damage the reputation of you or your family.
• It is important to remember anything you post on Social Networking sites may be visible to anyone, anywhere, at anytime! It is important to be aware of the risks and take steps to protect yourself and your personal information. Posting information could potentially lead to unwanted attention and could even contribute to identity fraud. For your own benefit, you should not post details which you might regret later, for example something you would not want family members or a future employer to see.

As you know there is no such thing as a free lunch, but there is such a thing as a heavily discounted meal.  You just need to know where to look.

Restaurant homepages.  Most big chain restaurants have homepages on the Internet, and on these pages you may find sections where you can sign up free for newsletters or member clubs.  This is where they then post their deals such as 2for1 etc…  A good example is Wagamama’s

Vouchers.  From time to time the big chains will print vouchers in the national press.  But if you don’t read the national press where can you get the vouchers from?  The Internet is your answer and here are some of the best sites for vouchers:-

• Vouchercodes.co.uk
• Latestdiscountvouchers.co.uk
• VoucherSeeker

If you find any great voucher sites you want to share please email the Admin Team.

Complain.  You have to be very careful here, as complaining could end with you being chucked out of restaurant and never allowed back.  Only complain if there is something to complain about, and never send food back unless you want to insult the chef.  Food arriving late or very bad service can result in huge discounts on your bill but do not push for them.  Polite complainers are rewarded the best as they would want to welcome you back, angry rude complainers will be ushered out quickly and without much discount as they certainly do not want you back upsetting staff and customers.

Loyalty.  See if the restaurant offers a scheme to reward customer loyalty.  For example visit 10 times and your 11th meal is free.  A good example of this is Nandos.

About 15 million people each year in the UK are affected by colds or flu. Often people make unnecessary trips to their GP when they should be resting at home.  It is important to remember though that flu can be a serious condition for some people with underlying health issues, or those of certain age groups, so it’s important to get a flu jab if you fall into these catorgries.

• 65 years or over
• Older than 6 months with an existing condition that increases your risk,  These conditions include, Serious heart problems, such as heart failure, Serious asthma, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Long term liver or kidney disease, Diabetes, A weakened immune system as a result of a condition such as HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) or AIDS, or due to treatments such as chemotherapy.
• Living in a long term care home
• A health or social care worker
• A poultry worker

People with the flu are advised to get plenty of rest, drink plenty of liquids, avoid using alcohol and tobacco and, if necessary, take medications such as paracetamol to relieve the fever and muscle aches associated with the flu. Children and teenagers with flu symptoms (particularly fever) should avoid taking aspirin during an influenza infection, as doing so can lead to Reye’s syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease of the liver. Since influenza is caused by a virus, antibiotics have no effect on the infection; unless prescribed for secondary infections such as bacterial pneumonia. Antiviral medication can be effective, but some strains of influenza can show resistance to the standard antiviral drugs.

Swine flu is a current concern and the World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised the level of alert for swine flu to phase 6.  This reflects the increasing number of localised cases in the UK and worldwide.  If you are worried about Swine Flu please visit NHS Direct and go through their sympton checker.

I myself do not use chat up lines but for some these short one liners are extremely successful in hooking the girl of their desires.  Of course sometimes it all goes completely wrong and the man will end up with, if he’s lucky just a slap, or in some cases a glass of wine over his head.

The following lines are some classics, but boy are they cheesy.  Try them at your own risk, and don’t even think of sending your medical bills or dry cleaning costs to me if it all goes horribly wrong…

“Hi, I’m Mr Right.  Someone told me you were looking for me”

“I may not be Fred Flintstone, but I will certainly make your bed rock”

“Here’s 10p, go and call your mother and tell her you won’t be coming home tonight”

“That’s a great dress, but I think it would look better on my floor”

“Let’s go to my place and do the things I’ll tell everyone we did anyway”

“Do you believe in love at first sight or should I walk by again?”

“Hey that’s a nice dress.  Can I talk you out of it?”

“I’ve lost my phone number, can I have yours?”

If you went out and asked 100 men what part of their bodies they would most like to change, I can guarantee the majority will say their Ab’s.  Men obsess about having the perfect six pack rather like woman obsess over having the perfect pert bum and breasts.

The problem is most men get upset when they spend the majority of their gym workouts on the abs believing they will have a rippling toned midriff after five weeks of 1000 sit-ups a day.  The actual result is they still have a spare tire round their waist.  Sit-ups alone are not going to give you the perfect six pack.  In fact you may already have a decent six pack, you just can’t see it!

There are three important things you must do in order to achieve a toned and muscular abdominal area:

1. Eat Healthy- A well balanced diet cutting out “bad fat” and alcohol, and reducing your calorie intake.  The steps below will be wasted if you are eat excess calories that will just be stored as fat!
2. Burn Fat- You are going to have to work hard, I mean aerobic workouts three to five times a week.  Ride the exercise bike like you are on the Tour De France, Run like your doing the 4000 meters and row like your Steve Redgrave.  If you are not hot, sweaty and out of breath you are not working harder enough.
3. Work those Abdominal muscles and supporting muscles – The idea is to work all these areas to build a muscle tube round the waist area.  This will define the six pack look.  When working on these muscle groups you must control speed and technique otherwise all your efforts will be wasted.  For example you would need to aiming for around 3-4 seconds per rep on sit-ups.  So 30 sit-ups should take you about 1.5 minutes to complete.

The routine that follows gives you seven exercises to complete.  Repeat the entire routine twice every time you work out.

CRUNCHES - Lie flat on you back, put your knees at 90 degrees and place your feet on a chair.  Place your hands by your ears and curl your shoulders forwards whilst your lower back remains on the floor.  Tense the abdominal’s, breathing in as you lift and breathing out as you lower.  Keep a space of tennis ball under your chin, this is to ensure your head stays in line with your spine.  Each rep should take 3-5 seconds.  Do 40 reps.

REVERSE CURLS – Once again lying on your back, put your legs straight up pointing them towards the ceiling.  Roll your bottom up off the floor in a controlled manner, trying not to swing your legs too much.  Then return your bottom to the floor whilst keeping your legs straight.  Do 30 reps.

STATIC BRIDGE- Lie face down on the floor, toes touching the ground and elbows positioned below your shoulders.  Raise yourself up, keeping a straight line from your shoulders to your ankles so that your elbows and toes support your body.  Use your abdominal’s to maintain the position and make sure you don’t stick your bottom in the air.  If you feel tension in your lower back area, raise your hips a little higher.  When you can no longer control your torso, relax and lower your knees to the ground.  Hold for 60 Seconds.

TWO-POSITION BRIDGE – Using the same technique as described above in the Static Bridge, hold a straight position for 15 seconds, then raise your hips and bottom by about 10cm.  Stay there for 15 seconds.  You want to aim for 2 holds in each position totalling 60 seconds.

OBLIQUE CRUNCHES- Laying on your back with your knees bent, place one foot across the opposite knee and place your hands by your ears.  Curl your shoulders forward and twist towards the raised knee.  Tense the abdominal’s, breathing in as you lift and breathing out as you lower.  Keep a space of tennis ball under your chin, this is to ensure your head stays in line with your spine.  Each rep should take 4 seconds.  Do 30reps.

STATIC OBLIQUE BRIDGE -  Lay on your side and place your bottom elbow directly under your shoulder to support your body.  Rest your free hand on your stomach.  Place one foot on top of the other, then raise your self up keeping a straight line from your head to your toes.  Use your obliques on the side nearest to the ground to hold the position for 60seconds.  Repeat on your other side totalling 4 reps.

HYPEREXTENSION – Lay face down flat on the floor.  Place your hands under your chin but off the floor, and whilst keeping toes fixed to the floor raise your torso off the ground.  Keep your neck relaxed and your head in line with your back.  Keep the movement controlled.  Finish the movement slowly lowering the torso to the floor.  Do 5 reps, but hold the 5th rep for 5 seconds.  Repeat for a total of 25 reps.

It is sometimes hard to understand the female of the species, and even harder when you are just starting a relationship with a new woman.  Over the years I have been picked up, dropped, kicked, slapped, punched, pushed, pulled, shouted at and even had fruit thrown at me!  But I have learnt many important lessons through these experiences.  Follow the tips below to give you a healthy start to your relationship and a better understanding of women.

Women adore attention so it is important to be very interested in them.  The type of man women find most appealing is one that is intrigued by their uniqueness and fascinated by their mystery.  A man who listens, then asks questions and listens some more is exactly what they want.  Buying a present and saying “I thought you might like this” shows that you have studied the woman closely, taken an interest and hopefully understood her likes.

Turn off’s and turn on’s.  Most women have their personal turn off’s and turn on’s but the following apply to pretty much every woman I have met.  Sticking your tongue down her throat s soon as you first kiss – Turn off!  Gently kissing and nibbling her lips – Turn on!  At the restaurant, offering to split the bill – Turn off!  At the restaurant, offering to treat the lady,  she responds by returning the favour next meal – Turn on!  Generosity is a well known aphrodisiac, just don’t overdo it, or you will come across as an arrogant pretentious fool!

Be decisive.  Don’t be an apologetic, half hearted wimp.  If you are going to chat women up then be absolutely sure of yourself, and know what you want.  As the relationship develops they will want to be kept in the picture.  Don’t say “I’ll see you next week”, instead “I’ll see you next Tuesday”.

Remember your manners.  Whatever anyone else tells you women still like polite men.  Open doors for them, walk on the outside of the pavement, offer your coat to them when they are cold.  It will make them feel like Elizabeth from Pride & Prejudice, and make you look like Mr Darcy!

Compliment and appreciate women.  Uttering the phrases “you look amazing!” or “you are so sexy!” are never going to fail.  “I love you” is also good but don’t get too deep too quickly, it will only make you look desperate.  Don’t become complacent or too corny with romantic gestures.  A beautiful hand picked bouquet of flowers will win hands down over the heart shaped box of cheap chocolates from your local supermarket, obviously assuming the woman in question doesn’t have hay fever!

Personal hygiene goes without saying.  Women don’t want you turn into a reflection of themselves, but take care in your personal appearance.  Shower daily, or after the gym.  Clip those toe and finger nails.  If you have a body odour problem use deodourant, if it continues seek medical advice.  Clean your teeth, and check them after eating.  Women do not want to snog last nights kebab.

And finally if your relationship does flourish and you feel the need to pop the question, be unique, memorable and above all romantic!

Unfortunately in recent years it doesn’t matter what you drive or how old you are insurance is always going to be expensive.  The main reason behind the high prices is due to the number of law breakers who don’t insure their cars.  Recent estimates put the number of drivers that drive on UK roads uninsured is approximately 2 million, and they cost the law abiding motorists circa £400 million each year in increased premiums.

The Police have tough powers to deal with these law breakers which include seizing their cars and issuing fixed penalty notices for £200 and 6 penalty points.

Thankfully by following these tips you may be able to reduce your insurance premiums.

• Park your car in a locked garage.
• Take an advance driver course such as those run by the Institute of Advanced Motorists.
• Drive an old small car for example an old Mini or  something unusual like an old Land Rover.
• Limit your mileage to 6000 miles per year.
• Fit a Thatcham category 1 alarm.
• Reduce the number of named drivers on your policy, especially under 25’s.
• Increase your excess to lower premiums, but be aware you will have to pay the higher excess in the event of a claim.

And finally try not to opt for one of these high insurance risk careers – Television personality, professional sports person, casino worker, fashion photographer or a nightclub owner.