Michelle Sutherland and Neil Thomson

THE desire for a utility room brought Michelle Sutherland and Neil Thomson to the ‘passive house’ they built in North Berwick. The couple and their two children, Maja, 7, and Lois, 5, were already living in the town, in a Victorian ground-floor flat which they had refurbished and reconfigured with the help of architect Julie Wilson of Brennan & Wilson Architects.

They had considered building a house after relocating from the Highlands to East Lothian in 2005, but realised that any plots were outwith their price range, so decided instead to buy a period property and inject it with new life.

“We thought we’d be there forever,” Michelle reflects. The only thing missing from the reconfigured flat was a utility room, so the couple decided to add one and started researching online, which is when they spotted this plot for sale. Michelle says: “We wanted a space for our tumble dryer and ended up building a house!”

Neil, a corporate finance adviser, and Michelle, an employment lawyer, share an interest in ?environmental design. “For both of us the ?environmental angle was the thing; that’s what drove us to Julie’s practice initially,” Michelle ?reflects, and the couple turned to Julie again when designing this house.

The couple considered various options, from ground source heating and wood pellet biomass boilers to grey water harvesting, before coming to a simple realisation that led them to the ?passive house concept.

“Essentially, having a house that’s as well insulated as possible makes sense, rather than having the heat leaking out,” Neil says. “It was an education for us,I thought it would be fun to show you the inspiration behind the broken china-mosaics.Site describes services including Plastic Mould.” Michelle acknowledges. “We thought a passive house meant no heat, and it can mean that, but there’s a limit to the amount of heating required in order for a house to be officially classed as passive.

“The key thing is creating an airtight building, with lots of insulation and no cold bridging – so there’s as little material contact between the outside and the inside skin, as the more connections you have, the more heat is conducted through it.” In terms of airtightness, a passive house requires a level of just 0.6m3 per m2 per annum.

So what does that mean in real terms? It means super-low energy bills, at a time when the rest of us are facing escalating costs and crippling winter gas bills. When considering an airtight house, you might imagine there is a lack of air, but a mechanical ventilation heat recovery system (MVHR) is used to remove the heat from the extracted air and use it to heat the incoming air. “There’s more fresh air in this house than there would be in a leaky house,” Neil says. “It’s just circulated in a controlled way.”

A key factor in any passive house is the quality of the build required to achieve an airtight building. “It requires careful building and ?getting your builders on board,” says Michelle. Reywood Construction came up with the goods for them.Welcome to Find the right laser Engraver or laser marking machine . Julie also suggested hiring a quantity surveyor. “We didn’t understand why we’d need one at first,” Michelle admits. “The QS we worked with, Chris Ward, told us that his fee would be reaped back a number of times in controlling the costs. He was right. We couldn’t have done this without him.”

Budget was an issue for the couple, particularly as they sold their last property only when this house was completed last summer, and they focused on the fundamentals. “We made compromises to afford the things you can’t see, like the recycled glass insulation, and things you don’t notice, like the triple glazed windows,” Michelle explains. The house is timber framed, and heated by solar gain through large south facing windows,Shop for bobblehead dolls from the official NBC Universal Store and build a fun collection for your home or office. incidental gains from appliances, lighting and people and three low output electric towel rails, with heating back-up provided for colder days by a small electric coil in the MVHR ventilation system.

Photovoltaic panels can generate up to 3.7kW of electricity – more than half the family’s electricity requirements for the year – while solar panels provide hot water for at least six months of the year. This four-bedroom house achieved an A rating of 97 on the Energy Performance Certificate.

“One of the reasons we wanted to do this was to say, you can do it for the same money as you would spend building a non-passive house,” Michelle says. “We didn’t want to put other people off.”

In the end, they finished under budget. They bought the kitchen online (it was an ex-display model) a year before the house was built. Energy efficient LED lighting is used throughout, while the slate countertops used in the bathrooms came from reclaimed snooker tables. The couple even made the industrial-styled pendants that hang over the dining table using old ?fishing chains.

The design and planning stage took a year – a lengthier process than it might have been as the initial house design was sited differently on the plot, in the back corner, where it could be orientated best for the sun. The planning application was denied and they had to start again. “That was very difficult,” Michelle acknowledges. “It was a lot of time wasted, emotional time too.”

The couple also wanted the timber-clad house to remain unpainted, but again had to compromise and paint it white. “It’s been beautifully referred to by the builders as the ‘Scout Hut’,” Michelle says,With superior quality photometers, light meters and a number of other solar light products. chuckling.

One of the highlights of the project was when the official airtightness check was carried out. “The whole build crew and us stood here holding our breath, watching the needle to see whether it achieved the 0.6 rating,” Michelle recalls. When it did, she says she “had to restrain myself from hugging the builder. The fact we’d reached that point of being passive; it felt like a force of will at times. But we did it, and we want other people to think, ‘we can do this too’”.

Pay Taxes On Your Super Bowl XLVII Winnings?

It comes as no surprise to anyone (except maybe eternal optimist Jeff Lurie) that the Eagles aren’t in the Super Bowl this year. And my other “go to” teams didn’t make it either. As a result, I have no real allegiance to either of the teams in the Super Bowl this year, though I do have a favorite: I’m in the 49ers camp because of an odd allegiance for Pennsylvania native Joe Montana.

My kids, however, are rooting for the Ravens. That has everything to do with the fact that they love Harry Potter and were, until somewhat recently, fairly convinced that the team was called the Voldemort Ravens.

It’s slated to be a record-breaking day in Vegas. More than $90 million will be legally gambled away on the game in Sin City. Many more million will be wagered in garages, office pools and bars across the country. This year, you can bet on everything from the winning team to who will score first and which Harbaugh brother – or both – will sport a cap during the game.

What does all of this mean come tax time? The law requires you to report your gambling winnings no matter what the amount – or whether it’s a legal bet. There’s no exception for illegal wagers: income is income so far as the Internal Revenue Service is concerned. Casual gamblers – that means most taxpayers – must report their winnings on line 21 (other income) of a federal form 1040; the form 1040-EZ isn’t equipped to handle gambling winnings or the forms W-2G.With superior quality photometers, light meters and a number of other solar light products.

But what if you lose? Unfortunately, while you must claim all gambling winnings on your return, you can only deduct your losses if you itemize your deductions on a Schedule A. If you do not file a Schedule A, you cannot deduct your gambling losses, no matter how much you lose. Thankfully, losses are considered a miscellaneous deduction and not subject to the 2% limit.

If you do itemize your deductions, you must be able to document your losses. You need to substantiate the amount of the loss, the date of the loss and the name and location of the gambling establishment. Be smart and keep a journal of your gambling wins and losses: chances are, your buddies at the office aren’t going to be in the mood to issue you a form 1099-G. Ditto for your extra large bookie in the bar corner.Shop for bobblehead dolls from the official NBC Universal Store and build a fun collection for your home or office.

What if you lose more than you win? Sadly, you’re out of luck. Not only does it stink to keep losing, you cannot deduct more in losses than you report in winnings. If this happens more than you care to admit, consider getting some help. You can start by calling 1800-GAMBLER.

Assuming that you just do it occasionally, playing the odds whether at the casino or as part of the office pool can be fun. Don’t be fooled, however: there are also real tax and financial consequences (and depending on the nature of the bets, also legal) to making wagers. Make sure you understand how bets, no matter how big or small, may affect you. If you can’t stand the heat, just hang out by the chip bowl.

Outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta today became the highest-ranking Obama administration official to admit that the U.S. used torture to help find Osama Bin Laden.Site describes services including Plastic Mould.

Panetta was responding to a question on the movie “Zero Dark Thirty,” which depicts prisoners being waterboarded by the US in an effort to find out where bin Laden’s is hiding.

“The movie seems to say, to indicate that enhanced interrogation techniques or torture was used to get information to get Bin Laden. Is that true?” asked NBC’s Chuck Todd on “Meet the Press.”

“Yes, some of it came from some of the tactics that were used at that time,I thought it would be fun to show you the inspiration behind the broken china-mosaics. interrogation tactics that were used,” Panetta responded.

“The real story was that in order to put the puzzle of intelligence together that led us to Bin Laden,Welcome to Find the right laser Engraver or laser marking machine . there were a lot of pieces out there that were a part of that puzzle,” Panetta added.

But the former CIA Director dismissed the tactics as playing a key role as the movie depicts in the location of Bin Laden, who was shot and killed in May 2011 by Navy SEALS while he was hiding in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

“The fact is we put together most of that intelligence without having to resort to that,” Panetta said. “I think we would’ve gotten Bin Laden without that.”

Panetta’s stance is different from that of Bush administration officials, who have called the “enhanced interrogation” methods that were used under them critical to the operation.

Meanwhile, Panetta blamed the nation’s intelligence community for the failure to get the military to Benghazi on Sept. 11 after the consulate was attacked.

The Fama attracted faithful from far off places

The road to Colva on the second Monday in October is paved with good intentions. Locals will tell you that the traditional Fama of Infant Jesus is a bigger affair than the feast itself and was celebrated at the Our Lady of Merces Church with religious fervour on Monday.

The Eucharistic celebration began with a solemn mass at 5.30am and on the occasion, the image of Infant Jesus was covered with regal robes and jewellery, taken down from a bulletproof vault and then in a solemn procession around the church, in the presence of hundreds of devotees. It was then kept for public veneration, and a crowd queued up to the altar to kiss the statue. Masses were also held at regular intervals throughout the day.

"Infant Jesus is considered miraculous by the people and this day heralds the beginning of the novenas and culminate in the feast on October 25," said Camilo Rodrigues, president of the confraria committee of the Colva church.

The Fama attracted faithful from far off places with people from neighbouring states also making a beeline to thank Infant Jesus for favours received. Childless parents who were bestowed with a child, to fulfill the vow made by them, bring the baby for the Fama and place the child on the altar during the revered umanv.

"I've come to seek blessings and to offer thanksgiving," said Irene Gomes from Varca, who was holding her newborn son, while standing in a long queue for well over an hour. Keith Fernandes from Cuncolim, standing behind Irene, has vowed to attend the Fama every year as his wife was cured from her illness.

Offerings in the form of wax shaped into different body parts like arms, legs, eyes, ears and stomachs were made in return for a pledge already made or to plead freedom from ailments.

"Devotees also take back cords as souvenirs after they touch them to the statute they consider miraculous and tie them around their wrist or hand them around their neck as they consider them to be a symbol of protection and good luck," said Nicole Mascarenhas, a parishioner .

The traffic police made elaborate arrangements for the smooth flow of traffic.

This is starting to get really creepy

I am referring to the mysterious brown envelopes that have been secretly deposited in my mailbox in each of the last 10 months.

Inside each is an alarming photograph of a member of our family who was kidnapped in January, along with a menacing note detailing what cruel activities the "hostage" has been forced to take part in.

Before you call 911, let me give you a little background. Last January, I wrote a heartbreaking column in which I revealed "Creepy Santa," a three-foot-tall stuffed Santa doll I've immortalized in recent years, had been stolen from our front porch.

Regular readers will recall he was nicknamed Creepy Santa by my daughter because his pale, plastic face has a malevolent, open-mouthed glare. He looks like former presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, only more lifelike.

I can't imagine what Christmas at our place would be like without Creepy Santa. It would probably be wonderful. Our only real Christmas tradition involves my wife and kids hiding this scowling plush gnome in random locations, then waiting for their victim to stumble on him and scream in holiday horror.

Blood is still leaking out of my ears from the shrieks my son emitted a few Christmases back when he staggered out of bed, climbed into the shower, turned on the water ... and found Creepy Santa staring back at him from a dark, damp corner.

But the point is, he's gone. Shortly after last Christmas, Creepy Santa was pinched from the porch, where he normally sits to scare away neighbourhood children who want to shovel our driveway.

A typical Canadian family, we didn't even realize he was gone until days later when the first brown envelope arrived and inside was a photo of the creepy little dude sporting a tiny Jets T-shirt. There was also a slip of paper bearing this grisly post-holiday message: "GO JETS GO!"

Since then, every month, usually on the day of some special occasion, another mysterious brown envelope arrives from the heartless kidnappers. For instance, several months ago, along with the envelope, we discovered our porch and every tree in the front yard had been festooned with full-colour photos of Creepy Santa wishing my wife a Happy Birthday.

In the middle of the Summer Olympic Games in London, the envelope contained a photo of the tiny terror clutching a Canadian flag and marching proudly at the front of the Canadian team into the opening ceremony. "Go Canada go!!!" the accompanying note shrieked. "So glad I made the trip over the pond. Had a jolly good time at the Opening Ceremonies."

In the middle of our heat wave, his ninja-like captors taunted us by sending a photo of the rosy-cheeked rascal lounging on a floating chair in the middle of the giant inflatable pool in our very own backyard. Yes, the cruelty is unimaginable.

What's more, readers have become fascinated by the ongoing saga of Creepy Santa's abduction. Routinely, as I stand in line at the grocery or liquor store, a stranger will eyeball me and ask: "So, have you tracked down the kidnappers yet?"

One reader sent me a small gift-wrapped box, inside of which I found (prepare to be a little bit creeped out) a severed plastic Santa's head. Ha ha ha. Nothing creepy about that! Did I mention I sleep with a loaded shotgun under my pillow?

Anyway, none of the envelopes has contained what you would call a ransom note, and we really don't have a clue who took him or why. On Thanksgiving, we sat at a table surrounded by family and friends, all of whom we accused of being the kidnappers. As we checked their faces for signs of guilt, each, in turn, denied any knowledge of the crime. "Ha ha ha," is what they said, averting their eyes.

Then, a couple of days ago, the latest envelope appeared. It contained a photo of Creepy Santa in a Halloween-style pirate's cap with a skull and crossbones, an eyepatch, a gold earring, a striped scurvy dog's T-shirt and a swarthy pirate sword.

"Shiver me timbers!" the note chortled. "Talkin' like a pirate be more fun than deliverin' toys!"

So I fear the worst is about to happen. It appears Creepy Santa is slowly working his way home for the holidays. If that comes true, expect to hear a joyful noise in the air over my home.

Jewellery Show sets stage for robust festive buying

The yellow metal has been on a gradual uptrend since August 1 this year, when the price stood at US$ 1,599, to reach the current level without major wild swings, thus seeing good demand for jewellery as well as bars and coins. Gold reached new all-time highs last week against the euro, Swiss franc and South African rand.

The Emirates NBD is bullish on gold, forecasting that once the yellow metal regains US$1,800, it will rise further and reach $2,000 within 2012 itself. Several exhibitors at the show also supported this projection, saying that the series of festivals that are coming up starting with Eid Al Adha will stoke further demand for gold and drive up prices.

Diamond too had many takers at the show, with the price for a one-carat stone almost doubling in the past decade, rising from $15,000 to $29,000, offering tremendous value for buyers.

The favourite market conditions coupled with the upcoming festive buying season resulted in the MidEast Watch & Jewellery Show attracting 53,539 visitors, higher than the figure of 51,748 registered during the autumn edition of the biannual show last year.

"The positive market sentiment and the excitement surrounding the festival season clearly reflected in the good visitor turnout and sales at the 33rd MidEast Watch & Jewellery Show. Returning consumer confidence was also amply visible, as gems and jewellery with high price tags too had takers in large numbers," said Mr Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, Director-General, Expo Centre Sharjah.

"The success of the show has already set the stage for the spring edition of the show, for which we are already receiving enquiries and bookings for the 34th MidEast Watch & Jewellery Show in the first quarter of next year," Mr Midfa added.

Being the only show in the region that is held twice a year, and one of the most popular and longest running jewellery fairs that is a premier event for the global jewellery industry, booking for the next edition generally starts even before a show ends.

"We need a bigger space and better location for the next edition of the show.. for which we have decided to confirm our participation now itself," said John Chakardemian, Yeprem Jewellery, Lebanon, while expressing his satisfaction in the turnout of quality visitors and overall show management.

Rising tourist arrivals is also a key factor that drives sales at the show. With the UAE expected to receive over 10 million visitors this year, the show is a must-visit event for many tourists for whom the country is synonymous with gold. It is estimated that 90 per cent of tourists buy gold from the UAE.

"Arabs and people from the Indian Subcontinent were our major buyers. Among them, there were a lot of tourists too... and thanks to the onsite money exchange facility during the show, they didn't face any problems with their purchases," said Mr Thappar, of Apple Greend diamonds from Japan.

Exciting prizes on all five days of the show and extensive collections of traditional and trendy gold and diamond jewellery at national pavilions from Hong Kong - China, India, Italy, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore also helped in attracting visitors to the show.

Special timings and a dedicated play area for children ensured that women could focus fully in choosing their favourite jewellery piece from more than 450 stalls spread across all the four halls of Expo Centre Sharjah.