Because it is nearly gravity-free, aquatic exercise is the preferred therapy for many medical conditions; thus an Endless Pool, can provide aquatic therapy at the ideal temperature and pace for your needs, in total privacy and at your own convenience.

The Endless Pool’s adjustable current allows for an easily monitored progression of exercises.

Leslie Krichko, a professional water therapist and trainer, advises “therapy in an Endless Pool actually helps people with injuries recover faster,” for several reasons:

• Water provides buoyancy and support for the body. When you are neck-deep in water, you only have to  support 10% of your actual body  weight.
• In the pool, injured people can exercise with a greater range of motion without hurting joints or re-injuring themselves.
• The workout gets blood moving faster through the injured area, so it heals faster.
• Water pressure helps keep down the swelling that often accompanies injury.
• You can increase your physical fitness while you recuperate, so prolonged physical therapy just to get back in shape, may not be necessary.

Water therapy can also be of benefit for people with arthritis, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, asthma, and chronic joint or back pain.

The ability to set the water temperature cooler (i.e. for MS), or warmer (i.e. for arthritis), is another key advantage of the Endless Pool.

Web: http://www.endlesspools.co.uk/13193
Tel:  (0800) 028 1056

Founded in 1994, The White Company specialises in supplying a wide range of stylish home accessories and clothing, principally in white.

Nothing captures the carefree spirit of summer more perfectly than dining with friends outdoors and The White Company provides the perfect formula for stylish outdoor living, in the timeless elegance of white.

Guarantee the party atmosphere lasts well into the evening, with mix and match hanging glass lanterns, tea-light holders, white ceramic and paper lanterns and dot them around the garden.

White Ceramic Lanterns -  These have a Mediterranean feel with their cut-out squares to let the candlelight shine through; available in small £10.50 or large £21; the small takes a standard tealight, the large takes a pillar candle.

Paper Lanterns - A beautifully simple string of 10 white lanterns ideal for around the patio. £15.40. Length 77cm.
 
Outdoor Tealight Holders - From £8 for a bubble tealight holder.

Batik Table Linens in 100% cotton - Fresh and fun print to smarten up any outdoor table and al fresco meal; Napkins - Set of 4 £8.40 Colour blue. Table Cloth Colour blue £17.50.

Cushions and Seat Pads - Make sitting on outdoor, hard wooden or metal chairs a joy! From £12 for a white tie on seat pad.

Prices quoted are current Summer sale prices.

Web: http://www.thewhitecompany.com
Tel:  (0870) 900 9555

Endless Pools was established in 1998 to provide an exercise swimming pool enabling people to swim at home.

To date the company have installed over 10,000 pools globally and hundreds of Endless Pools have been bought across the UK.

The Endless Pool is perfect for the British climate as the modular design makes installation possible even in small spaces indoors and all components fit easily through a standard doorway or stairway.

Pools are easily set up in existing spaces such as garages or basements and in new extensions e.g. conservatories and even prefab garden sheds.

Benefits include:

You can swim all year round in the comfort and convenience of your own home:

Easy to install, simple to maintain and economical to run.

Fits virtually anywhere – indoors or outside.
 
Uses less space, water and energy than traditional pools, making it an environmentally friendly choice.

You can “try before you buy” at Endless Swimming pools located across the UK.

The Endless Pool works by means of a propulsion unit that moves a huge amount of water - up to 5,000 gallons a minute, through two grills that straighten and smooth the water’s flow; the result is a river-like current that is totally adjustable in speed from a gentle flow to a racer’s pace by simply turning a knob.

Numerous pool and spa professionals throughout the UK have been trained by the company to install your dream pool.

For further information telephone The Endless Pool Company, or visit:

Web: http://www.endlesspools.co.uk/13193
Tel:  (0800) 028 1056

If fun, friendly and relaxed is how you like it, then visit the RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park (18th – 22nd July), which has plenty of treats in store for garden lovers.

The Show gardens will endeavour to inspire you with a plethora of creative and fantastical designs:

Tatton Park’s own flowerbed in conjunction with Cheshire County Council, will be using a gondola as its centrepiece to pay homage to Venice and the estate’s Italian gardens.

This year Tatton is leading the renaissance of the most characteristic of English summer fruits, the gooseberry; the nine gooseberry societies in the UK, will be displaying their champion fruits and heritage varieties in the National Plant Societies Marquee.

Flower power is in vogue this year, as Fiona Hogg will bring a collection of plants ideal for use in floral art in ‘The Flower Arranger’s Garden’, where the featured flowers will be arranged according to the principles of form, texture and the colour wheel.

‘Flower Power’ from Finchale Training College will create a colour surge, using renewable energy to establish a lush and vibrant garden using a solar panel to power the pumps and a lunar pavement providing a feeling of abstract art.

Not forgetting the valuable advice that can be gleaned from the RHS Gardening Advice Desk.

The RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park takes place between 18th and 22nd July (18th July is reserved for RHS members).

To book tickets visit:

Web: http://www.rhs.org.uk/flowershows 

Tel:  (0870) 842 2229

Family, food and the environment take centre stage at Hampton Court Flower Show this year from 3rd to 8th July.

Key themes include inspiring children about all things horticultural, growing your own fruit and vegetables and sustainable gardening for today’s world.

The show champions the RHS campaign to ‘Grow Your Own and many of the show gardens reflect this:

Visit edible gardens like The Torres Tapas Garden, by Anthea Guthrie, which features Mediterranean vegetables used in authentic tapas dishes to complement the wines of Torres; or

‘Mange Tout’, a decorative vegetable garden by Francesca Cleary and Ian Lawrence’s where everything, including the flowers, are edible.

At Quaglino’s Kitchen in association with NS&I, Craig James is giving cookery demos and talks, featuring delicious ideas for preparing summer vegetables, herbs, potatoes and soft fruits.

Educating young minds is behind Chris Beardshaw’s ‘The Growing Schools Garden – Learning Outside the Classroom’; over 30 schools took part in designing, planting and growing the garden.

A number of gardens deal with the environmental issues:

In our throw away world of conspicuous consumption and gross waste, the ‘Wildlife Garden in Skip’ design by Ruth Holmes of The Royal Parks, provides the ultimate horticultural solution for sustainability and recycling.

Tickets range from £13 to £30, with children aged 5-15 years £5 and under-5’s going free.

For further show information and online booking visit:

Web:  http://www.rhs.org.uk/flowershows.

Tel:   (0870) 906 3791 (public line) or 0870 906 3790 (RHS Members).

Marks & Spencer has launched an exclusive edition of Pure One DAB radio, so that Jazz fans can lounge in style this summer and listen to all their favourite tunes at the touch of a button.

Exclusive to M&S, the radio is priced at £49.50 and has a special button, which connects listeners direct to ‘theJazz’ – a new sister station of the enormously popular Classic FM.

The sleek white radio with chrome controls, is both mains and battery powered and also offers a rechargeable battery pack (optional at £29.50), to enable listeners to enjoy around 20 hours of portable DAB listening.

The ‘theJazz’ PURE ONE design features key innovations such as textSCAN™ and Intellitext™ and delivers excellent audio performance.

The new Radio is not only great value, but also stylish and portable; just perfect for lazy days on the beach, in the park or relaxing in the garden.

‘theJazz’ is only available at selected Marks & Spencer stores, or online at:

Web:  http://www.marksandspencer.com
Tel:   (0845) 603 1 603

Treat your No 1 Dad to something other than socks on 17th of June from John Lewis.

How about a day of adventure that is sure to be an experience he will remember?

Virgin Discoveries provide once in a lifetime experiences and offer everything from flying lessons and rally driving for adrenalin seekers, to quieter golf days and cooking courses for those preferring a quieter life -  he won’t be able to stop smiling! (Only available from The John Lewis Website)

If your dad has culinary talent, try the Grill Slinger barbeque tool belt; complete with rubber handled turners and tongs and space in the pockets for seasoning, sauce’s or a bottle of beer, it’s the perfect multi tasking tool for the BBQ king this summer, £35.00.

Alternatively, for wireless fans consider the slick black Revo Pico+ DAB radio. This modern radio boasts features such as MP3 & SD card compatibility, re-chargeable battery and cordless capability for £129.95.

For vinyl lovers there is an Ion iTT-USB turntable for £119, to bring dad’s record collection into the 21st Century; he simply connects through USB to a computer and uploads his records into MP3 files, whilst re-moving any sound imperfections.

For lots more Fathers Day gift ideas visit the website:

Web: http://www.johnlewis.com
Tel: (08456) 049 049

The Daily Telegraph/House & Garden Fair 2007 at Olympia from Wednesday 27th to Saturday 30th June 2007, is one of the UK’s most prestigious events for interior and garden design.

The Fair brings you an unprecedented line up of exhibitors all carefully handpicked by House & Garden to ensure the highest quality products, from bathrooms to bedrooms, gourmet food to garden furniture, most of which you will not find on the High Street.

For anyone passionate about interiors and gardens, the Fair is an excellent opportunity to see the very latest classic and contemporary designs from many of the country’s most prominent designers; with numerous interactive seminars and talks going on throughout the Fair, visitors can gather a whole host of expert tips and advice to take home with them.

Highlights include:

Gardens: Clouds of Scent is featured in the Grand Hall:
Todd Longstaffe-Gowan has imagined and created a three-dimensional garden like a floral mobile in the sky, comprised of giant floating shapes: spheres and discs hang from the ceiling, creating clouds of plants for visitors to mingle between, below and beyond.
 
Meanwhile, inspired by the dramatic movement, rich colours and the strong contrasts of Baroque architecture, Richard Miers has used symmetry and a central axis as the main basis for his stunning garden design, with a wide avenue of scented shrubs, twin paths and a central border.

The ISOS Collection will be shown for the first time at the fair; quality British furniture design and manufacture exhibiting–a range of products combining affordability with the best in contemporary styling, featuring the work of some of the best UK designers.

Opening times 10 am – 6 pm each day.
Prices in advance: £15 for adults and £6 for children ages 5-16 and £16 for adults and £6 on the door.
To book tickets or view a full list of exhibitors and attractions, visit:

Web: http://www.houseandgardenfair.co.uk
Or call the Ticket Hotline:
Tel: (0870) 121 2525

May sees the launch of ILVA’s largest new garden furniture collection, to coincide with the weather warming up and longer sunny days.

Time to relax in the comfort of your own garden, watching the blossom fall; or cosy up to your special-someone and enjoy music on a summer’s evening in the new Camaro Sports Lounger and watch the sun go down as the night heats up.

The Camaro Sports Lounger is featured here in turquoise or black plastic weave (£450).

Other furniture items available include:

The elegant fold-away Mambo Sun-Lounger made in polyrattan, with a light aluminium frame (£297).

The stylish Lissaban table (£450) and chairs (£170) made from reclaimed teak are stunning and durable.

The comfortable and exotic Grace Rattan range, with two or three seater sofas (£594), armchairs (£396) and coffee table (£198), will create a warm feeling of sanctuary either indoors or out.

ILVA stores are located in Lakeside Thurrock, Essex; Manchester, Piccadilly Basin; and Gateshead, Metro Centre.

Visit the website to view the exciting Easy Living catalogue, full of new ideas for spring and summer:

Web:  http://ilva.co.uk
Tel:  (0845 245 8285)

What do you need to know to create your dream garden?

According to recent research over a third of people in the UK don’t make the most of their garden, due to a lack of confidence and gardening knowledge.

To encourage more people to identify gardening as a creative leisure activity, PlantforLife has teamed up with Blue Peter Gardener Chris Collins to produce The Plant Advice Guide, which is a free easy to use booklet, for anyone who wants a flourishing garden but doesn’t know where to start.

When it comes to beginning in the garden, the sheer choice of plants, shrubs and trees can be overwhelming and once you have chosen the plants, you not only have to know where to plant them but also how to maintain them.

Chris Collins comments, “The Plant Advice Guide should equip any potential gardener with the basics to make a start and see rewarding results this summer.”

The guide contains no gardening geek speak; it’s an easy to use free booklet which includes details of 20 flowering plants and shrubs plus advice on how to plant and maintain them.

It also advises on the kind of soil in your garden, which is essential information to enable you to choose plants that will thrive there.

Gardening can really improve people’s quality of life – from the satisfaction of growing something and keeping it alive, to the enjoyment of colours and scents in the garden.

The Plant Advice Guide is free to download from:

Web:  http://www.plantforlife.info
Tel:  (0118) 930 3132