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When we go on holiday we intend to switch off and forget the stresses of working life, the last thing we want to be doing is fretting over little things like travel insurance, passport issues and other details. Whilst it is a pain to have to plan out your trip and organize all the details travel insurance has proved to be a minefield where if you slip up once your cover will be blown.

One of the main stumbling point people have with regards to travel insurance is cover provided by your credit card supplier. Chances are if you've used your credit card abroad you may have received a call or a block on your card because it has been used in a foreign country, this is obviously a good security measure since credit card fraud is a big problem these days and it is a good sign that the credit card company are keeping a watchful eye over your spending.

But the problem people have been having is over the confusion whether travel insurance covers spending abroad. According to the UK trade association for payments, Apacs, the overseas credit card protection offered by the Consumer Credit Act is not travel insurance as some travellers have found that travelling without proper travel insurance can prove costly.

There are plenty more instances where you'll need travel insurance whilst away on holiday, for instance if you are injured or need medical attention. Medical costs are the number one pay out that Travel insurers deal with, invariably it's for people who are injured skiing or people who need repatriating or moving to more advanced hospitals.

The other main reason people have to claim on their insurance is that they have had to cancel their holiday due to emergencies or illness; holidaymakers stand to lose a lot of their money invested in their holiday if they cancel and travel insurance can help ease the blow of losing your week or two in the sun. In most cases this money goes towards hotels bookings and flight costs, something you don't want to have to pay if you aren't going on holiday.

Many companies offer cheap travel insurance in light of the rise in the frequency of holidays we take these days. Cheaper flights have provoked more people to travel more and so travel insurers have encouraged holiday makers to make sure their holidays go smoothly and cover themselves for all likely mishaps and expenses.

If you find you're one of the lucky ones who go on holiday a lot then maybe you should consider annual travel insurance; it can save you a lot of hassle when it comes time to organize your holiday. Please remember that no matter where you are going this year that travel insurance is something that you'll need so you don't end up with unexpected bills.

The number of diesel powered cars on North American highways has been dropping steadily ever since their peak in the mid 1980s. For many motorists, diesel engines conjure up images of pollution, poor power, and unreliability. However, one generation later and all that is about to change. New diesel powered vehicles will soon be arriving, in fact one is already here and receiving critical acclaim from auto enthusiasts.

Who can forget those diesel powered Chevrolet Caprices and Oldsmobile 98s that suddenly became very popular 25 years ago? If you are like many car owners, you want to forget those cars. What GM did back then was to take existing gasoline engines and convert them to diesel engines. These converted engines were loud, smoky, and very unreliable. They were unreliable to the point where GM had to pay tens of millions of dollars to replace failed engines with gasoline engines.

The memory of GM's diesel fiasco was never lost on drivers who have spurned diesels to the point where many automakers are no longer producing diesel engines. Mercedes, a strong seller of diesel powered cars in Europe, no longer sells a diesel powered car in North America. VW is the lone importer of diesel engines while the U.S. manufacturers only place high performance diesel engines in their larger vehicles such as pick up trucks.

Another area that has stopped diesel engines cold is air pollution. Very stringent emission regulations have all but wiped out the possibility that many of the smaller diesel engines could be sold in the U.S. However, a change is in the wind as new technology is now in place that will make diesel powered cars cleaner. In addition, with the high cost of gasoline now prevailing, a diesel powered car has much more of an appeal to it especially since fuel savings of 20-30% are possible.

DaimlerChrysler recently introduced a Jeep Liberty with an optionally equipped diesel engine and this compact SUV is selling well with the optional engine. Its new 2.8L diesel delivers fuel improvements as high as 32% over a comparable gas 4x4 model and pollution is kept to a minimum. In addition, the added torque is a favorite with some, especially those who need to pull a boat or a camper with the Jeep.

Volkswagen will be bringing additional diesel powered cars to the North American market over the next few years. Diesel powered Golfs, Jettas, and possibly several larger model VWs will soon be traversing the highways and byways of Canada and the U.S.

BMW and Mercedes are both likely to be importing diesel cars over the next few years. Both automakers are studying the market to see if compact models could sell in North America. Each proposed model line is currently sold in Europe and diesel engines are a popular option with these cars.

GM is also considering tapping its relationship with Isuzu to import engines to be placed in several compact models. Long a producer of diesel powered vehicles, Isuzu has pretty much exited the North American market, but could return in the form of Isuzu powered cars sold by GM.

Chrysler will likely take its favorable experience with its Jeep division and begin to offer diesel engines on other trucks and SUVs. At the same time the all new Dodge Caliber, a replacement for the Neon, may eventually offer a diesel engine too.

Ford seems to be content with expanding its hybrid offerings and no other Japanese or Korean manufacturers appear ready to jump into the diesel movement...yet. Regardless, within five years the number of diesel cars on American and Canadian roads will likely triple. This can be a good thing for people wanting better fuel mileage, more torque, and a highly reliable engine.

For older diesel powered cars, they will continue to serve their purpose as owners discover how to extend their lives through useful aftermarket parts such as Bully Dog and competing products. With their rugged durability and well known reliability, a diesel powered car can easily reach a half of million miles or more before quitting.

Copyright 2005-2012 -- Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance automotive writer covering classic, current, and future models. He manages Mazda Spiano, an informational website for this car.

The outdoor gazebo design has advanced to combine fashion as well as function. When you decide to add an outdoor gazebo design to your backyard, you can expect that not only is it attractive to look at, but it is an item that will get much use, and should be enjoyed by generations well into the future. You, as a homeowner want to find the right outdoor gazebo design to suit your taste and functional needs.

You can find outdoor gazebo design in many shapes and styles. Before you decide on the outdoor gazebo design that will be perfect for your needs, you will need to decide where the gazebo will go and if you will need any additional landscaping to make it the perfect place to sit and relax.

Your ooutdoor gazebo design will be a focal point of your yard, so it is important that your outdoor gazebo plan and all that surrounds it, fit harmoniously with your home and your property. How do you pick the right outdoor gazebo design? The first thing you should do is research on the internet or visit a home and garden shop in your area to get an idea of what will look and fit best in your yard. You can become more familiar with outdoor gazebo design that will enable you to choose the right outdoor gazebo design for you and your backyard.

When you are considering an outdoor gazebo design, you have to think about what type of material you will use, the finish options as well as the size and shape. Are you going to want the furniture built in to your outdoor gazebo design, or will you want to furnish it with outdoor furniture? In the end, you are the one who will be living with and enjoying your gazebo, so it is important to decide all this before you begin the construction on your outdoor gazebo design.

An outdoor gazebo design is a wonderful addition to your outdoor landscape and will be enjoyed by every member of the family for years to come.

Want to learn more about Outdoor Gazebo Design?, feel free to visit us at: http://www.gazebos-land.info

Here is something most people don't think about when admiring one of nature's most perfect creations; the tree. When you see a tree an important thing to realize is that the bark of that tree is very important and should be looked at as sort of the 'skin' of the tree; one that is vital to the healthiness of the tree and something that one should never ignore if you are trying to grow your own trees.

The bark truly is the first line of defense of our trees. Immediate remedy is needed the moment barks get damaged. But don't worry, fixing injured bark only take 3 easy steps.

First, when we see a torn or dislodged bark we need to put it back into place pronto. We fix the bark to place with a duct or strapping tape wrapped around the trunk or stem to attach the bark back firmly-some sort of "grafting" it back. Fixing injured barks with these sorts of tape is effective because they are moist resistant. We may also use strong nylon ropes or wires.

Then second, monitor the healing of the bark. Note the date the repair on the bark was done and observe the progress of the healing in 3 months. A good procedure of fixing injured barks should make them heal well within the period. If not, the bark probably was not attached to the trunk tightly enough, so we reinforce the tapes and then monitor again another 3 months. Record the date of the tape reinforcement.

Third, when the bark finally gets healed (or firmly attached back to the main trunk or branch) be sure to takeoff the tapes, nylon ropes, or wire. Fixing inured barks should start and end properly. If we forget to untie the supports on the bark they could hinder the natural growth of that part of the tree, if not the whole tree itself. So make sure to take off all tapes or ropes or wires right after the bark has healed.

Now, in case the bark torn off the tree gets lost, here's what we should do.

First, cut the edges of the damaged area and straighten every edge out with a sharp knife or cutter. Having the affected portion neatly cut promotes its healing and the sealing of the wound and is as good as fixing injured barks.

Second, cut and form an eye socket in the wound. Its middle portion should be broader and narrowed at its ends. This way of fixing injured barks will keep insects from hiding and inhabiting the wounded part of the tree. After the damage gets healed the sealed eye socket keeps any insect from going underneath any corner.

Aside from the above procedures in fixing injured barks, we need to remember several other tips: Don't use synthetic sealing products on tree wounds. Natural things heal through natural ways. And attend to damaged barks as soon as possible. The sooner it is fixed the faster the healing.

John Grant is a the author for a how to site where he is writing articles about how to repair damaged tree bark

Insurance companies have seen reductions in profits and are planning to raise the price of premiums in order to boost their financial situations according to research by business information group Datamonitor.

So far over the last twelve months consumers have seen insurance premiums rise by around twenty percent which has resulted in most people paying an average of one hundred pounds more for their insurance. It has been estimated that over the next twelve months premiums are going to rise by the same amount again, which could lead to more families struggling to meet their monthly bills.

The reason for the increase in premiums has been cited as the result of high numbers of people injured in accidents taking insurance companies to court for their compensation. There has also been an increase in administration costs which have resulted in some insurance companies actually losing money. Coupled with this insurance companies have experience high losses due in part to the underwriting of the policies which has meant they are now needing to find money as quickly as possible to keep themselves profitable.

Some insurance firms have decided to encourage more drivers to opt for fully comprehensive insurance in order to boast their profits, although this may not be as successful as they hope. A report by YouGov has shown that 26 percent of all those who responded are planning to reduce their insurance cover in the next year, which could result in an reduction in premium revenue across the whole insurance industry of as much as 1.5 billion. One way in which consumers planned to cut back was reduced their car insurance from fully comprehensive to third party, fire and theft. This may not be just because the premiums are cheaper but also because consumers feel that that their cars are now worth less due to the increases in fuel prices and the impact of government proposals to increase road tax.

Nonetheless if customers do decide to start opting for cheaper policies the car insurance industry will struggle to change their minds and encourage them to buy more expensive premiums. The car insurance industry is incredibly competitive, meaning consumers have a lot more choice in terms of who they want to take out insurance with. In addition research figures show that drivers are twice as likely to change their car insurance provider as their home insurance provider, meaning competition for customers is never ending.

Other insurers were planning to generate more revenue through Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) schemes, although again consumers have indicated that they are more likely to cancel these schemes in order to reduce household expenditure. It would appear that there could be difficult times ahead for insurance companies as customers struggle to meet bills during the credit crunch. In order to survive remaining competitive will be key, but also providing good customer service will help retain the customers they already have. For those who fail to entice new customers as well as meet the needs of the ones they have will face a very tough future.

Matt is an author of several articles pertaining to Car Insurance. He is known for his expertise on the subject and on other Business and Finance related articles.

Although cats are naturally clean animals with good hygiene, it is important to start toilet training when the animal is at the kitten stage. This is easily achieved by placing the young cat in the litter tray whenever it shows signs that it is about to perform; this conditions its behavior. Anticipating when the kitten will pass waste and placing it in the litter tray beforehand is also a good strategy.

Other toilet training tips and ideas include:

* Be aware that toileting often occurs after waking up and after meals, (litter tray training might occur at these times).

* The litter tray is best kept in a secluded place away from the feeding area and where the cat sleeps. Take note that cats are unlikely to go to the toilet near where they eat.

* A litter tray should be easy to clean; disposable liners or newspapers need frequent changing to prevent strong odors.

* Cat litters with absorbent clay material or Fuller's earth are best for absorbing the smell of urine and feces. Litter made from bark is not as effective.

* If you change varieties of cat litter your pet may not want to use it as cats get used to the feeling and odor of the usual litter and often prefer this.

* If you would rather your cat do its toilet in the garden, a litter tray can be placed outside, or if the cat digs in the garden bed, especially when covering its feces, be aware of health issues and any inconvenience to neighbors.

Some clever cats have been known to use a human toilet but to be on the safe side a standard cat litter tray is the best choice.

When toilet training your cat, start young, keep the area clean and well-positioned and you can't go wrong.

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