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Page 2 - Hobbies & Collectors
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- January 31, 2023
If there’s one thing that the UK is famous for, it’s the sheer amount and availability of stunning rural landscapes. Even when you are in our biggest cities you are never too far away from somewhere more pastoral or wild and the country is dotted with incredible national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty.
Despite the relatively small size of the UK you might be surprised that there’s a considerable amount of undeveloped and pastorally managed land to explore. We as a nation have a long and much celebrated tradition of making the most of these landscapes and something for everyone to enjoy.
From hiking and shooting, to fell walking and mountain climbing, there are many different activities which thousands of people take part in every year, with some even coming from overseas to experience what our lands have to offer.
Whether you are looking for something thrilling and active or prefer a more relaxed pace, make 2023 the year you spend more time outdoors in the countryside.
It
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- November 03, 2022
Any experienced birder will have a set of equipment they always pack when heading out to pursue their hobby, but if you are a complete beginner then the chances are that you have been relying on your eyes and ears alone to spot and identify birds. It might be true that these natural senses are all you need to appreciate avian species in the UK, but there are certainly a few things that can help you to have an even better experience. This brief guide is for any novice birder looking to put together a bird watching kit they can use in the field, whether they are heading into the countryside or sticking to the more urban areas.
A small notebook
Every birder knows the rush that comes when they manage to spot a new or favourite species in the wild and will keep a record of which species they have seen, when and where the sighting took place, sketches of the animal, and other notes such as the sex of the bird and its behaviour. Get yourself a small, pocket sized notebook that you can use to record
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- August 01, 2022
It seems that every year there are more reports of minor incidents taking place at airports and other aviation-related premises around the world. In part, this can be put down to changes in the ways that flights are handled since the global pandemic, especially in sectors that have seen a reduction in the available workforce. Issues such as reduced staffing levels have presented unique challenges that need to be addressed by those working in the sector.
There can be no denying that out of all the transport sectors, aviation is one of the most tightly and rigorously controlled in terms of health and safety. A lot is potentially at stake in an airport or airstrip including passengers, staff, and the aircraft and associated infrastructure. Aviation is also expensive, and stakeholders understandably want to make sure their investments are protected by ensuring operations are as safe as possible, something that is potentially hindered when staffing levels are less than desirable.
When it comes
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- June 28, 2022
ACME whistles played an essential role in history. Police used whistles to call for backup from other officers before radios were invented. The military used whistles to communicate orders to soldiers in battle. Whistles could be heard over the noise of the battle, and the enemy couldn’t easily interpret the meaning of each call if they were to listen to the orders.
Since radio and other communication technologies are now much more common, service and police whistles are used less often in the field. Service and police whistles do, however, make great gifts for history, military or police enthusiasts, and they also have several practical modern-day applications. These applications include dog training, within scout groups, on the playground and during sporting events. Equally, many people choose to display police or military whistles as part of a memorabilia collection.
Police whistles
Whistles were vital for police officers in the late 1800s and throughout the 1900s until radios took over
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- May 28, 2022
If you are a train enthusiast then you will know better than anyone that trains, especially traditional locomotives, are known for their distinct sounds. Not only is there the delightfully rhythmic motion of the driving wheels, there are also the unique and unmistakable whistle sounds that are associated with steam powered engines. Even modern trains that are not steam powered will have something of the hypnotic ‘clickety-clack’ and rumbling sound.
In the old steam locomotive systems, whistles were used to signal to others the specific whereabouts of the train, as well as to communicate with drivers and technicians on board who may not be within earshot of one another. Train whistles are, therefore, not exactly vital on modern trains, but it is a familiar and instantly recognisable sound that we associate with locomotion to this day.
Part of our iconic range of whistles is locomotive-focused, and these very special whistles are highly popular with train enthusiasts, as well as for orchestral