Lifestyle

 

In this guide, we’ll show you everything you need to know about making a Viking axe. We’ll cover the history of these axes, the different types that were used, and how to make your own modern version. So whether you’re a budding blacksmith or just looking to add an impressive weapon to your collection from online knife store, read on for the ultimate guide to making a Viking axe.

A Brief History of Viking Axes

The first thing to know about Viking axes is that they were not just weapons, but also tools. Viking axes were used for chopping wood, building boats, and even as currency. And while they may be associated with violence and warfare, Viking axes were actually quite versatile and played an important role in everyday life. The Viking age began around 793 AD with the first recorded raid on Lindisfarne monastery in England. For the next 300 years, the Vikings would terrorize Europe with their raids and conquests.

But throughout this period, the Viking axe remained an essential part of their culture. Viking axes come in many different shapes and sizes, but they all share a few common features. The most distinguishing feature of a Viking axe is the long, curved blade which was designed for both hacking and slicing. Viking axes also had a long handle which could be up to four feet in length. This gave Viking warriors the reach and power they needed to take down their enemies.

While Viking axes are often associated with warfare, they were actually used more for everyday tasks like chopping wood and building homes. It wasn’t until the late Viking age that these weapons became more specialized for battle. Viking axes reached their peak in the 11th century during the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Here, Viking warriors wielding two-handed Dane axes defeated a Norman army, despite being outnumbered 5 to 1. The Viking axe continued to be used throughout the middle Ages but fell out of favour when gunpowder was introduced in the early 14th century.

Step for making the Viking Axe the traditional method

Forging the head

• Gather the materials. You will need a piece of metal (iron or steel), a forge, an anvil, and some basic blacksmithing tools.
• Heat the metal in the forge until it is glowing red hot.
• Use a hammer to shape the metal into the desired axe head shape on the anvil.
• Harden the metal by cooling it in water or oil.
• Tempering the Metal
• Mount the head onto a wooden handle using leather straps or rivets.
• Viking axes were often decorated with intricate carvings or inlays, so feel free to get creative!

Shaping the head

• Viking axe heads were usually made of iron or steel.
• The metal was heated in a forge until it was glowing red hot.
• It was then shaped into the desired axe head shape on an anvil using a hammer.
• The metal was then cooled in water or oil to harden it.
• Finally, the head was mounted onto a wooden handle using leather straps or rivets.
• Viking axes were often decorated with intricate carvings or inlays, so feel free to get creative!

If you want to make a Viking axe, there are a few things you need to know. First, you’ll need to forge the head of the axe. Then, you’ll need to shape the head to your desired specifications. After that, you’ll haft the axe – which is attaching the handle to the head.

Retiring can be a really exciting time in your life – often people spend years and years just simply looking forward to the time when they are finally able to retire comfortably. Unfortunately, as with just about anything else in life, retirement may not always be all it’s cracked up to be. There are going to be times of boredom and stress, and there will be growing pains for you a well as your family, as with any type of major life change.

Whether you are retiring soon or have just retired, you may need a little help settling into your new lifestyle, so here are some tips just for you.

Fill Your Time

Having too much free time may be one of the best parts of retirement, but it can also be very hard for some people. They feel like they are not getting enough mental or physical stimulation once they are done working.

Many folks find that having a routine really helps with their mental health, and when they lose that routine and no longer have to be up at a certain time each morning or have certain tasks to complete each day, that can really throw everything off. Losing your sense of purpose can cause you to lose your sense of self which can leave to crippling anxiety and depression. To avoid this, try to find a new purpose in life and fill your time as much as possible.

For example, if you are a parent or grandparent, devote your time in retirement to helping out or taking care of those kids in some way. You may also consider volunteering to a cause that is important to you. This way you can still keep a routine and a purpose without having any of the less fortunate parts of working full time!

Use The Buddy System

This doesn’t necessarily mean having someone walk you to your car at night (although you probably should do that too), but using the “buddy system” and leaning on your friends is more important in retirement than ever before.

As you age you may become more vulnerable and having others around to talk to who are going through or have gone through the same thing can be really helpful. If your close friends aren’t near retirement, it’s never too late to make new friends at local clubs or outings.

Downsize

One of the biggest and most common issues recent retirees face is that they feel they have too much space or too much to take care of. You don’t have to move to Florida or Arizona if you don’t want to, but you may want to think about selling your home in favor of a smaller and more manageable one. The more stuff you have to take care of the more work that will require, and the whole point of being retired is no longer having to work!

If retirement is sounding like more stress than it’s worth so far, hopefully these tips will help you lean back and enjoy it a bit more!

 

The home of the Red Sox, Dunkin Donuts, and people with wicked obvious accents are just some of the things Boston is known for. The city is also notable for its presence of Irish Americans.

People of Irish descent make up nearly 23 percent of Boston’s population. This is the highest percentage out of the 50 most populated cities in the nation.

These strong cultural ties are evident in many of the city’s cultural events and festivities, as well as its culinary scene.

When you’re out looking at Boston houses for sale, stop in at one of these authentic Irish eateries in the city.

The Burren (247 Elm Street, Davis Square)

Opened in 1996, this is one of the most popular Irish bars in the city.

Tuck into a bowl of Guinness beef stew or bite in shepherd’s pie. The Burren offers many vegetarian and vegan options as well.

There’s music here seven days a week, and the restaurant has even compiled some of its best acts’ songs into the Burren Backroom Series album.

The Banshee (934 Dorchester Avenue)

You can catch a Gaelic sporting events like rugby and hurling at this lively bar and restaurant. It’s a hot spot for soccer fans and home to many international teams’ clubs.

Chow down on a Jameson burger slathered in house Jameson sauce, or order up a short rib grilled cheese.

The Black Rose (160 State Street)

This is the best pub to go to if you want to stay near the hot tourist spot of historic Faneuil Hall. It’s been around for four decades, and the Boston Globe once called it the Fenway Park of Irish Pubs.

You’ll hear authentic Brogues from the staff and experience live Irish music every night of the week.

Start your day with a full Irish breakfast of rashers, bangers, black and white pudding, eggs, grilled tomato, baked beans, and toast. Black Rose Spring Rolls combine corned beef, brusselkraut, swiss cheese, and Roisin Dúbh Sauce.

Eire Pub (795 Adams Street)

What was once a men’s only club is now a gathering place for people from all over the country. The Eire has been around for over 50 years and still bears the “Men’s Bar” moniker on its outdoor signage.

Presidents Clinton and Reagan have dined here, and many celebrities and star athletes have stopped by as well. Mark Wahlberg, Anthony Bourdain, and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern have all raised a glass at the establishment.

The comfort food here includes corned beef sandwiches and meatloaf, as well as a giant meatball with crostini to share at the table.

Irish Village (224 Market Street)

This laid-back corner sports bar has darts and big screen TVs to keep the crowd occupied, and airs various sporting events throughout the year.

The drinks are classically Irish: perfect pints of Guinness, coffee with an Irish whiskey twist, and hot toddies amped up with Irish spirits to keep you warm during a cold night.

The Druid (1357 Cambridge Street)

This unique pub is in the oldest wooden mercantile building in the city of Cambridge. It hosts live tunes three times a week, serves breakfast on the weekends, and has eerie banshees floating above patrons heads.

Enjoy Irish Seafood Stew, Fish & Chips, or Shepherd’s Pie.

It will never be easy to be away from home. However, the world may have been designed to establish a distance as one cycle in our everyday lives. One factor contributory to it is opportunities across the other side of the globe. Many laborers find favorable circumstances in a foreign country, a famous one being the United States.

With this great distance, there will always be that lingering goal to bring their families with them. This is why the United States has a way to achieve such a dream. Under the Immigration Law, there is a high possibility that this may be attained. Below are some key points to know about the Immigration Law for families:

Qualification for Family Immigration Benefits

An individual that is already living in the U.S. may be able to help a family member migrate to the country depending on his or her status. They must be either a U.S. Citizen or a Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card Holder).

The United States requires an Immigration Visa (IV) for foreign citizens who desire to live in the country. In order to be eligible, they must have a sponsor, an immediate relative with at least 21 years of existence and is either a U.S. citizen or a Green Card Holder.

Family-based Immigrant Visas can be divided into two types:

• Immediate Relative

The family is sponsored by a primary family member that is either a citizen or a permanent resident. A primary family member can either be a spouse, child or parent. The number of immigrants with this category is not limited annually.

• Specified Relative

This is if the sponsor has a more distant familial relationship with the immigrants. The sponsor should also be either a U.S Citizen or a Lawful Permanent Resident. Unlike the situation with an immediate sponsor, having a specified relative for entry causes the number of immigrants to be limited each year.

Who Is Eligible for the Visa Petition?

There is a distinct difference as to who in the family will be able to file an Immigrant Visa based on the sponsor’s citizenship status.

For United States Citizens

Due to being a domestic citizen, it is understandable that within this category, more IV petitions can be filed. Those who are eligible for application are the citizen’s:

• Parent
• Brother or Sister
• Spouse
• Son or Daughter

For United States Lawful Permanent Residents / Green Card Holder

Being a permanent resident still holds great opportunities to migrate in America. However, given the residential status, it is limited. The individuals that can only file for a visa are:

• Spouse
• Unmarried Son or Daughter

This indicates that only the primary family of the Green Card Holder would benefit from the category.

Processing of Petition

After determination of who can be eligible for sponsorship, the sponsor can start submitting a petition. The U.S Citizen and Green Card Holder residing in the U.S. must file (a) Form I-130 and (b) Petition for Alien Relative and submit it to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) either electronically or through traditional mailing process.

The processing, like any other Immigration Visas, differs if the petition is within the country or outside.

Inside the United States

The sponsors must submit required documents (a) and (b) to the USCIS Chicago Lockbox Facility in accordance with the instructions written on the USCIS website.

Outside the United States

Majority of the Immigration Visas are filed within the country for reasons of easier processing. However, there are certain types of petitions outside the U.S. that are possible. Some of this possibilities could be filing the same forms and submitting it via the USCIS website (https://www.uscis.gov) or through traditional mail with the address (USCIS Dallas Lockbox). Petitioners may also request at the U.S. Embassy when the application is for immediate relatives.

Overall, immigration law firm for families exist between a lot of possibilities and limitations. When it comes to application, it is advised to consider first the sponsorship status and the eligibility of the family members regarding who is most likely to be granted a visa.

For more information, you may ask or consult with Houston immigration lawyers.

 

The UK has many thriving and exciting cities to choose from, but Manchester has truly become the jewel of the north. While the weather might not always be bright and cheery (in fact, Manchester is well known for being rather rainy!), Manchester is still fast emerging as a trendy place to live. But why? What has this northern city got to offer that has seen an influx of people? Read on to find out!

Fantastic for commuting

You may not associate the north of England with easy commuting, but Manchester is a wonderful spot for those who need to travel for work. With three train stations to choose from, not only is it easy to get to the city centre from the suburbs, but it is also a piece of cake to get to other employment hotspots. You can be in London in two hours, Birmingham in an hour and a half, and Leeds and Liverpool are only an hour away.

Diverse areas

Manchester has an area for everyone to live with a multicultural population and everyone from young families, students, and retirees. Do you want to live in a stunning city-centre location or head out to a leafy suburb? Manchester has something for everyone. Family-friendly areas such as Chorlton-cum-Hardy have a laid back, quiet pace of life that is still well connected to the city thanks to the tram system. Or head out to Salford to enjoy the buzz of the city without being right in the heart of this bustling metropolis.

Popular for businesses

While you might imagine that the biggest businesses are all located in London, Manchester has become a popular place for companies to make their base. Marketing agencies are prevalent across the city, as creative young people emerge from the area’s many universities hungry for work. MediaCityUK is based in Salford, home to some BBC studios, and other large employers such as Deloitte and Capita can also be found here. Whether you are looking to start your career or level up, Manchester has plenty of opportunities.

Affordable housing

Are you considering making Manchester your home? Whether you are looking to rent or buy, the housing is undoubtedly more affordable than other major cities you might find in the south of England, such as Bristol or London. From chic factory apartment conversions in the city centre to character terraces in the suburbs and everything in between, the cost of housing is lower so you can enjoy your life. If you are thinking of making a move, self-storage in Manchester makes it easy to find your perfect place without any worries.

What are you waiting for? Come and see what Manchester could offer you!

 

On the day of a big move, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and spend the whole day stressed out. But with the right planning beforehand, you don’t have to have your moving day turn into your moving day nightmare.

To help you see how this can be possible, whether you’re just moving across town or to a whole new state, here are three tips to make your moving day go smoothly.

Save Moving Day For Moving Only

In order for your moving day to be simple and a success, you’re going to need to do a lot of the work before the actual moving day arrives. This will allow you to leave moving day for just worrying about the actual moving.

What this means is that you should pack absolutely everything that you can on the days and weeks leading up to your moving day. If you leave a lot of packing for the same day that you’re moving, you’re just going to add a lot of extra stress to your life. But by just leaving the bare minimum for the day you’re moving, Coral Nafie, a contributor to The Spruce, shares that you’ll be able to just worry about loading and unloading rather than having to continually be packing, too.

Make Plans For Your Kids And Pets

Unless your kids are at an age where they can effectively help you carry boxes and load items into a car or moving truck, it’s probably best if you’re able to just keep them out of the way on the day of your move. The same goes with your pets.

If you’re able to, Laura Mueller, a contributor to Moving.com, suggests that you make fun plans for your kids on the day you’re moving or packing up your moving truck. If you have friends or family in the area, consider asking them to watch your kids or pets while you’re doing all the heavy lifting of your move. This way, you’ll be able to just focus on the move and can get a lot more accomplished in a shorter period of time.

Work As The Moving Supervisor

Whether you’re planning on loading up a moving truck yourself or are having a moving company take care of this part for you, Kara Wahlgren, a contributor to HGTV.com, recommends that you stay close by so that you can supervise the moving process. If there are items that you want to have packed last or that need to be moved with extreme care, it’s vital that you’re there to share this information with everyone. And when things are getting unpacked, those helping you may need some additional direction on where to put things.

If you’ve got a big moving day coming up, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you make the whole of your moving day go easier on everyone involved.

 

While every location is going to have some kind of risk associated with living there, if you live in an area that is prone to having many or major earthquakes, this is something that you should plan and prepare for well before the next big one hits.

To help you see how this can be done, here are three things to do if you live in an area that is prone to earthquakes.

Make Sure Your Home Is Safe

The very first thing you should know about living in areas that are likely to have earthquakes is that your home is likely the safest place for you to be. However, if your home hasn’t been built properly, this won’t be the case for you.

Knowing this, you’ll want to be sure that the home you’re living in, be it a single-family home or a multi-family unit, is built to the right code for earthquakes. This should mean that not only is the ground beneath the building solid, but that the foundation of your home and all of the materials and construction used to create your home were put together with earthquakes in mind. This way, if and when an earthquake does strike, you can rest a little easier knowing that you’ll be as protected as you can be within the walls of your home.

Keep Your Big And Heavy Items Secure

Even if the structure of your home is firm and sturdy, what can make your home less secure is having belongings inside that can easily harm you when the walls and ground start shaking.

Since you can’t only fill your home with soft, light items, you have to know how to make your bigger and heavier items safe for you. To do this, you’re going to want to make sure that everything that could move or fall and cause you harm is bolted to the wall. This should include things like your entertainment center and TV, bookshelves, large storage units, and more. You’ll also want to be careful with anything that you hang from the ceiling or the walls, like chandeliers or artwork.

Always Keep Your Emergency Kit Current

Regardless of whether you live in a place that’s likely to get earthquakes or not, you should always have a current emergency kit at home that you can use if some kind of emergency strikes. Within this emergency kit that is meant to be used in the event of a large earthquake, you should keep things like a fire extinguisher, a first-aid kit, a small set of tools, a radio, a flashlight, and some safe drinking water with non-perishable food. All of these items can help keep you safe or alive if an earthquake hits.

If you live in or are about to move to an area that’s known to have decent earthquakes, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you stay safe out there.

Whether you’re a young person trying to set up your first home or someone who’s just moved into an assisted living community, having a more youthful energy in your living space is a great way to feel refreshed and re-energized every time you enter. But sometimes, it can be hard to know how to get rid of an older, stuffy energy and bring in something new to the space. So to help you see how this can be done, here are three ways to have a more youthful energy in your living space.

Bring In Some Romance

While romance isn’t something that’s saved for the young, adding a little bit of romance to your space can help it feel more youthful and exciting.

One great way this can be done, according to Olivia Heath, a contributor to HouseBeautiful.com, is to use more curved lines in your furniture and design. Using curved lines evokes the same energy as bodies do, which can make your space feel like it’s more alive. Additionally, the scents that you use in your room space can also help make it more romantic. To do this, try to add more scented flowers to the space or include candles or other items that will give off the fragrance of flowers.

Embrace Positive Affirmations

Being young means having all of your opportunities ahead of you, but many of these opportunities will only come to fruition if you’re willing to change, learn and grow.

With this in mind, you can bring these same feelings into your space by reminding yourself that change and growth can and will take place. This can be done by adding plants to your space or by keeping written reminders around your house. For example, Suzannah Weiss, a contributor to Bustle.com, shares that having some of your favorite affirmations around the house so you can read them whenever you need a pick-me-up can help you feel more youthful by welcoming growth and change.

Reconnect With Nature

Nature welcomes youthful energy better than almost anything else. Knowing this, if you can find ways to reconnect with nature in your home, you’ll also be able to experience a more youthful energy there.

In addition to the ways mentioned above to bring more nature into your house, Community Homecare shares that you can also let the outdoors in by keeping your windows clean and open. And to invite even more life and nature into your space, consider putting a bird feeder up outside your window so you can watch life taking place outdoors, too.

If you’re wanting to bring a more youthful and happy energy into your living space, consider implementing some of the tips above as a way to do this.

Retirement can be both exciting and saddening. While you feel excited to do what you want, finally, you’re also sad to leave behind the life you’ve had for several years. However, retirement is a reality of life, and you have to face it. If your retirement date is fast approaching, you have to start looking for a place where you can settle permanently.

You can check out some details online and read reviews from those who retired in different places. You can also ask your friends about their experience retiring in their chosen location. If you have free time, you can fly directly to these places, so you will know what it’s like to be there. These are the signs that you have finally found the right place, and you have to relocate there soon.

You have access to physical activity

The sad part about retirement is that you will have fewer physical activities. You no longer work like you used to, and you might miss the pressure of your career. Therefore, it helps if you can find a retirement place where there’s access to physical activities. You should check if the area has parks, waterfront, promenades, and fitness gyms. You can continue being physically active during your retirement. You’re not getting any younger, and the lack of physical activity could adversely impact your health.

There are cultural attractions available

Over the last year, you lived in a big city because of your job. You had to deal with the hustle and bustle each day since you didn’t have any choice. Now that you’re finally retiring, you can choose a place where you can relax and enjoy it. Find a retirement area where there’s access to cultural attractions. These places will keep you mentally engaged. If there are museums and art exhibit halls in the area, it would be great. You should also see if there are universities and other establishments offering concerts, plays, and lectures. Places that have a strong connection to the arts are perfect for retirement.

It’s safe for retirees

Safety should be a primary concern if you’re looking for a place to retire. You want to spend your time relaxing and enjoying what life has to offer. If you live in an unsafe area, you might find it difficult to sleep at night. You will always need to look after yourself, and worry that something bad might happen. Look for areas with low crime rates since they are safe for you.

The weather is perfect

Some people prefer the cold weather while others love the sun. If you want to have more outdoor activities, it would be nice to live in a sunny location. You will always feel excited to go out and enjoy the day.

If you are yet to find the perfect place, you might want to consider retiring in Malta. It’s a small country in Europe, but it’s popular among retirees. If you intend to retire soon, you can consider Malta property for sale. Prioritise your home before you decide to settle in the country. Given everything that Malta can offer, you will fall in love with it the first time you get there.

 

Made to measure suits have been around for a while, and the beauty of a made to measure suit is unrivalled if you would like to look good, feel good, and boost your confidence. But what exactly is a made to measure suit, and what are its main differences with a suit that’s ready to wear? More importantly, what makes it so unique? Let’s have a look at some important quick facts on made to measure suits – and why they’re much better than ready to wear.

What it really is

You may have already heard of completely bespoke suits; a made to measure suit isn’t exactly like a bespoke suit, but it’s close. Made to measure suits come from a type of manufacturing and tailoring process where a suit is made according to your measurements and preferences, such as your fabric preference, your cut preference, and so on. A made to measure suit is made from a block pattern, and it can also be made from a fused or half as well as a full canvas. To make it even clearer, let’s just say that made to measure suits are in the middle of the spectrum – between a completely bespoke suit and a ready to wear one.

The difference between made to measure suits and RTW

As mentioned, a made to measure suit has a higher level of quality than a ready to wear or off-the-rack suit. One reason for this is that since you can choose the style, cut, fabric, and more, the typical made to measure suit will have a much better fit than a ready to wear suit. You may well have to wait a long time to get your made to measure suit, but its construction will be superior to that of regular suits. And another great aspect about made to measure suits is that while it offers some of the more aesthetic options on customisation offered by a bespoke suit, it comes at a lower price, and it takes less time to make. 

The process of acquiring a made to measure suit

The process of getting your very own made to measure suit isn’t all that difficult, especially nowadays when you can visit an online suit shop and have your suit done in a shorter period. When you visit a shop, whether online or not, you will usually select the fabric first and then choose the kind of suit you’d like – a two-piece one, a three-piece one, a sport coat, or even just a pair of trousers. Afterwards, you will be asked for your preferences in terms of aesthetics and decide on details such as the lining, lapels, button stance, and whether you’d like to have a plain or pleated front. Your measurements will then be taken, or you will submit your measurements online, and this is what is called the first fitting. All you have to do in the next step is to wait for your suit to be made, which could take between two to six weeks, depending on the shop.

For the second fitting, your nearly-done or almost finished suit will arrive; alterations are often necessary at this point unless you’re a repeat customer. Alterations can be done in a week or so, and your suit will be delivered afterwards.