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This page contains a wide variety of links to other websites.  From Hotels in Orlando to how to research your family tree. So get surfing the net !  Just click on the underlined link.  To return here click on the 'Back' arrow. For Financial site links click HERE

Did you know that you can move down the list of links by pressing the Tab key ?  Then press Enter to go to  a selected site.  You can also move down the page by pressing the space bar.... holding shift to move up again.

Now where's that dictionary ?  No need : http://dictionary.reference.com/  Dictionary, thesaurus, language translator and more.

Please note that I have introduced a one off voluntary subscription of £5 to encourage me to do more research on such links.  If it saves you a small fortune on holidays or insurance (or whatever) it could be a bargain !

Sites relating specifically to older people, including Health sites, have been moved to Here Click on this link. For Savings and Investments click Here and Computer purchasing click Here.

Some folks have saved a fortune using these links. One couple saved hundreds on flights to New Zealand, another bought a new car via Oneswoop and saved loads.  I have just saved a couple of hundred on a holiday and lots on insurance.  For computer bits I favour www.ebuyer co.uk. It really pays to shop around.

News, Weather and Football

Reuters World News

          100 best links http://www.tourbus.com/best.html.

Top 500 sites accessed from the UK  click HERE

• ART    http://www.starving-artists.net/index.htm  View others or display and sell your own
• AUCTION SITES
  www.qxl.com  www.ebay.co.uk  ebid.net www.icollector.com
  Computer Fairs
• BOOKS etc
  www.uk.bol.com  www.amazon.com  Get second hand and rare books  www.bibliofind.com
• CARS   New fast site :www.buyacar.co.uk specialises in supplying discounted cars without the waiting lists. A large selection of new and used cars available. But no older cars. http://www.uk-car-discount.co.uk/  www.oneswoop.com  www.jamjar.com  (DirectLine)  www.virgincars.com   (Cheap car imports)  www.autoexpress.co.uk  www.BroomBroom.com www.motinfo.gov.uk (Check if a vehicle has MOT)  www.dvla.gov.uk/vehiclelicence Tax it on line
• COMPUTING & COMPUTERS
• http://reviews.cnet.com/4002-7600_7-5082858.html free on-line courses and forums on a wide range of PC subjects.
• http://www.donateapc.org.uk/  Spare equipment?  Find a loving home for it on
• www.computer-aid.org  if you have a spare computer.  They do them up for 'Third World' schools.
• http://www.direct.gov.uk  or www.ufi.com/ukol.  Free Computer courses
• www.learndirect.co.uk  Another government sponsored initiative providing more advanced courses
• www.bbc.co.uk/webwise.  A couple of on line courses from the BBC
• www.howstuffworks.com has a Computer Section
• www.help.com also provides various courses
• www.ability.org.uk All kinds of help for the disabled PC user.  See also pensioners page for more
• www.itcanhelp.org.uk  Free help for disabled people with computers.  A volunteer can visit you at home
• Games :  www.remakes.org  (classic games) Free games :  www.free-games-net.com
• Hardware :  Comparative shopping : www.computeractive.co.uk/activeprices www.argos.co.uk/  www.ebuyer.com  www.dabs.co.uk  www.insight.com/uk  www.7dayshop.com  www.misco.co.uk (was Simply Business) www.maplin.co.uk
• Information :  www.pcpro.co.uk  www.computerbuyer.co.uk 
• Software downloads : www.shareware.com  www.jumbo.com  www.tucows.com    www.download.com  www.cnet.com  www.computeractive.co.uk/  www.pcworld.co.uk
• Web based e-mail addresses  www.2mogi.com  www.hotmail.com  www.address.com  www.yahoo.com
• If you have ever had a problem getting e-mails and suspect the hold up is that someone sent you a very large attachment it is possible to remove the offending item by going to www.mail2web.com and entering your details Useful for picking up mail anywhere in the world, too.
• Find the Best/Worst ISP :  www.ispreview.co.uk
• Viruses and Virus Hoaxes :  www.f-secure.com  www.mcafee.com  www.symantec.com  www.ca.com  www.sophos.com
• Ink (Clone packs) :  www.choicestationery.com  (my favourite)  www.madforink.com or see ComputerActive adverts
• General Help :  www.helpwithpcs.com  www.techsupportguy.com  www.allexperts.com  www.helpwithpcs.com  www.howstuffworks.com  www.pcpitstop.com  (Pcworld) This site will give you a health check of your computer, as will McAfee's Clinic (free 2 week trial)  www.mcafee.com
  Also  http://search.microsoft.com/uk/searchms25.asp  (In Win 98 click on Help whilst on line)  Another VERY useful resource similar to (but even bigger and better than) Silverhairs is  http://kg7ka.tripod.com
  
• EDUCATION and TRAINING  see also under Other Silver Surfers Sites, below
• Everything You Wanted to Know about Sponsorship, Placements and Graduate Opportunities www.everythingyouwantedtoknow.com (Money !)
• http://typefaster.sourceforge.net/ Free touch typing tutor program
• http://www.awardsforall.org.uk/ Application for grants from £300 to £10,000 for community projects of all kinds (Lottery Funded)
• http://www.computeractive.co.uk/computeractive/features/2152190/build-skills-links-page
• http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses  www.open2.net  or phone 0800 77 1234 to book your Free Internet starter session with the government sponsored UKonline  http://u3a.org.uk (University of the Third Age)   www.free-ed.net Free courses in almost everything.. http://www.direct.gov.uk Free course availability.
• University of Liverpool.  http://www.liverpool.ohecampus.com/index.php?Ref=gbmsn2xxxx
• Encyclopaedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
  
  FINANCIAL (see also Savings page)
• www.litrg.org.uk  The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group
• The Financial Services Authority has a useful comparative site at http://www.fsa.gov.uk/tables, dealing with many different financial offerings.  Just fill in what you want to do and it will show an up-to-date list of what is available.
• Helping offspring with house deposits : www.ParentAidNow.com
• Help the Aged financial advice: http://www.helptheaged.org.uk/Money/_default.htm
• www.thisismoney.co.uk/  (Daily Mail) www.moneyexpert.com  www.learnmoney.co.uk   www.virginmoney.com  - not just Virgin products  www.moneysavingexpert.com  Did you know there is £8 billion unclaimed money in banks and Premium Bonds ? Maybe granny forgot an account !  You can check all 45 banks in one go by getting a form from the British Bankers Association www.bba.org.uk  For Building Societies go to www.bsa.org.uk   To check Premium Bonds go to  http://www.nsandi.com The Pension Scheme Registry can check if you are due for anything http://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/
  
• INSURANCE
  Car insurance can be a problem for older people.  An article in the Mail on Sunday dealt with this (03/07).  It found that the chances of having an accident were 13% higher anongs the over 70s and that the cost of claims for over 75s was 50% higher than for those aged 60.  As a result a number of companies are refusing to take on new customers over certain ages, though most will continue to insure existing customers who reach a certain age.  For new customers More Than has an upper age limit of 79; Tesco made that 80, Churchill say 90 and draw the line finally at 99 for existing customers. The most amenable are Help the Aged, Saga, Age Concern and RIAS, but the cost of cover varies a great deal, depending on location, gender and, of course, accident record. Health factors may also be a consideration and it is essential that you inform your insurer (and DVLC). In their study of insuring an 84 year old living and working in London RIAS worked out the most expensive. Age concern was considrably cheaper and Help the Aged worked out the cheapest at almost half of the RIAS cost.... shop around
  http://www.norwichunion.com/nud/index.htm (-10% off if you sign on the web). I just saved £100 on car insurance here. Car insurance : Recommended by a 60+ site visitor : www.cornhilldirect.co.uk  Brokers : www.inspop.com (I just saved another £100 + here on House Contents insurance) - and got BETTER cover)  www.screentrade.com   www.coverquote.co.uk for over 50's.
  Cars If you have a big 'No Claims Discount' and your spouse wants their own cover do shop around to see if you they can benefit from your good record.  Try Churchill for what they term and 'introductory bonus'.
  TRAVEL INSURANCE  See Here or for general advice see www.travelinsuranceguide.org.uk/
   
• GENEALOGY  See also my page on the subject
  I have not attached links to these sites, so you will have to key in the address, adding www. at the beginning.  Some may charge to do research for you. WWW.GOOGLE.CO.UK  CYNDISLIST.COM, ANCESTRY.COM,  FAMILYSEARCH.COM (Mormon church) FAMILY.COM. ROOTSWEB. COM  RECORDS@GRO.SCOTLAND.GOV.UK,  GENUKI.COM (UK site),  ESSEXVILLAGES. NET, GOOGLE.COM, ASKJEEVES.COM, COPERNIC.COM.  PRO.gov.uk (Public Records Office) SOG.ORG.UK (Society of Genealogists) ARMY.MOD.UK FAMILYRECORDS.GOV.UK
• OTHER SITES TO TRACK DOWN LONG LOST FRIENDS OR RELATIVES
  www.missing-you.net  www.myoldmate.net  www.familysearch.org   www.lookupuk.com    www.missing-you.net http://people.yahoo.co uk   www.bigfoot.com   http://uk.bigfoot.com   www.army.mod.uk, www.smartgroups.com www.bureauofmissingheirs.com   www.probate.com (charge made)    www.british legion.org.uk   www.servicepals.com   www.missingpeople.com. www.missingpersons.org  www.peoplesearchers.co.uk  www.lookupuk.com www.infospace.com  www.whowhere.com   www.switchboard.com  www.192.com (phone number, address, electoral roll), www.411.com (U.S. private phone numbers) Track old school friends.  www.friendsreunited.com www.ukbirth-adoptionregister.com  www.locatefirst.com/uk (UK Electoral roll) www.locatefirst.com/us (USA people finder)
• HEALTH SITES  Most have been moved to Here
• http://www.privatehealthcareguide.com/ Private Health Care Guide. This covers all types of private health related services.
  
• HOLIDAYS & TRAVEL (for  travel insurance click Here)
  Which  ? Money reports that the cheapest way to spend abroad is to draw cash from an ATM with a Debit (not Credit) card and the cheapest of all is the Nationwide FlexAccount. Just stuff it with cash before you go.
• http://www.destinology.co.uk/  A useful looking travel site
• www.flyzoom.com. If you are going from Manchester, Gatwick or Cardiff try this airline. e.g. New York ret from £158
• www.hotelscomparison.com,
• www.travelsupermarket.com
• www.priceline.co.uk
• www.trailfinders.com,  www.travelbag.co.uk, (excellent for tailor-made excursions)
• www.transportdirect.info The Department of Transport site. Directions, flights, trains, road holdups
• http://www.eurohotelguide.com   With links to other hotels around the world
• http://www.hotels-advice.com/  Help finding hotels worldwide
• http://www.findorlandorooms.com/ a wide variety of accommodation near Disney World, Sea World and all the rest.
• http://www.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml The Telegraph for Ex-Pats
• www.holidaysuncovered.co.uk. A real gem this site. 40,000 genuine descriptions, warts and all and some discounts.
• www.laterooms.com To find a room
• www.lastminute.com.. the famous one
• www.hotelcomparisons.com   Comparative prices. Came out cheapest
• www.tripadvisor.com General advice and price comparisons.
• www.travelsupermarket.com  For Car Hire comparison .
• www.airflights.co.uk  Bargain flights, especially short haul
• http://www.tobook.com  Hotels in Europe
• www.nationalexpress.com/over60 If you are over 60 you qualify for 50% off bus fares.  No coach card needed
• www.pet-friendly-hotels.co.uk
• www.globalholidays.co.uk  Easy to use site for searching a variety of holiday companies. Insurance up to 80, too!
• www.travelox.co.uk
• www.a1travel.com
• www.holidaydiscountcentre.co.uk
• www.teletextholidays.co.uk/
• www.bookmeacruise.co.uk/Cruises  booked anywhere and great discounts compared with the brochures
• www.villa-holidays.com/
• www.flightmapping.com/
• http://www.youstayuk.com/  Holidays in the UK
  
  LOCATION SPECIFIC
• Ölüdeniz, Fethiye, Hisaronu, Turkey http://www.hanhotel.com
• http://pgoh13.free.fr/focusonmalaysia_greetingsworld.php
• http://www.hotel-amsterdam-tobook.com. Specifically Amsterdam
• http://rome.hotels-advice.com/  Discounted Hotels in Rome
• www.casarurale.com  A site by an ex-patriot Brit in Southern Spain. Helpful if you are thinking of moving there.
• http://www.allflorencehotels.com/links.asp
• http://www.barcelona-and-hotels.com/links.asp
• http://pgoh13.free.fr/paris.php
• http://pgoh13.free.fr/barcelona.php
• Riga, Latvia. Flights for peanuts and £18 per room at the Margrietinas Hotel. Big breakfast for £2! Been there, done that. Contact me for details 
• Going Racing or visiting Cambridge? For the best self contained B&B near Newmarket contact dkbowes@waitrose.com   Personally recommended
  
  Flights  
• Specific airlines :www.ryanair.com, www.easyjet.co.uk, www.thomsonfly.com, www.flybmi.com  (British Midland), www.flybe.com  (British European), www.easyjet.co.uk 
• General : www.bhx.com  (Birmingham Airport), www.flightmapping.com www.flycheapo.com, www.skyscanner.net, www.momondo.com  www.buzzaway.com  www.cheapflights.com  www.expedia.co.uk  www.telme.com  www.deckchair.com   www.dialaflight.com  www.cheaponlineflights.com  Easy to navigate site.  Flights, Holidays, Hotels.  Shows discounts available.
• Long-haul : www.cheapflights.co.uk, www.travelocity.com, www.trailfinders.com,  www.travelbag.co.uk, www.expedia.co.uk  If you register with www.expediaguides.com/farealert/ a small, unobtrusive icon will be installed onto your desktop. You can double-click the icon any time to see the current low fare, and when we find a fare that meets or beats your pre-set price limit, a small window will pop up briefly to notify you
   
• Long winter breaks :  E.g. You can get a month in Morocco or the Algarve in self catering apartments from £8 per person per day, where the daytime temperature is 60 - 70 www.thomson-holidays.com  www.airtours.co.uk www.cosmos-holidays.co.uk www.thefirstresort.com  www.thomascook.com  www.ebookers.com  www.holiday-rentals.co.uk  (Accommodation)  www.lunn-poly.co.uk  www.thomascook.co.uk  www.Holidayautos.com  www.HotelSearch.com 
  
  
• HOLIDAY MONEY Are all the money rates the same ? BY NO MEANS.! Buying 1000 Euros (July 06) from Marks and Spencers costs only £709.21 as against Lloys TSB who would charge £720.77. $1000 would cost £560.86 from M & S but £20 more from Natwest and even more from Travelex. But rates vary, so you may not always get the best rate from one supplier.  But M & S seems to do well most of the time.  Bear in mind that Thomas Cook has an on line service which promises to match any rate that you find elsewhere.
  
  HOUSEHOLD  With energy prices on their way down again.............British Gas, Npower and Powergen are all lowering prices
  Compare your Gas , Electricity, Telephone and Broadband : www.uswitch.com.
  In March 2005 the Mail on Sunday looked at rising gas prices. All suppliers had put up prices by about 20% since January 2004.The most expensive was British Gas and the cheapest was Atlantic Electric and Gas (Direct) The difference on an average bill was around £40 a year on a (lower) bill of £334 or about 12%   
  www.TheEnergyShop.com is another free, totally impartial, energywatch accredited price comparison and switching service that allows domestic customers find the best deals for their gas and electricity. Customers can compare deals from all the main licensed suppliers and then switch suppliers online or over the telephone. The whole process takes just a few minutes and customers switching for the first time can typically save themselves as much as £150 a year.
  Another useful site for this is www.ukpower.co.uk. Very simple to use.
  Powergen, formerly Txuenergi, have a Staywarm scheme for pensioners, see.... http://www.ukpower.co.uk/staywarm.asp (or people or low incomes) which sets a monthly amount you pay regardless of the gas and electricity you use. To set up an account telephone them on 0800 169 4694. But one contact had a quote under Staywarm that was £20 more than he was paying !
  I requested an estimate of the cost of freezing prices until 2010.  It was just £9 a month (for both gas and electricity) and I feel tempted. They also award Tesco Clubcard points for every pound you spend.
  This is the one I am currently using. For an idea of how much you can save by getting combined Electricity and Gas and doing everything on line (meter reading, bills etc) see Here
  The Energy Saving Trust (0800 512 012) can tell you about grants  (up to £2,000) from power companies and councils in your area.  Tap in your postcode.
  GRANTS In addition you may find grants available to bring substandard propery up to scratch (such as damp, problems, installing a bath or showe, hot and cold water and inside toilet) There are more generous grants where disabled facilities are required, such as widening of doors, ramps, stair lifts and downstairs toilets.  Although these may be means tested, no means test is applied if a child under 19 is disabled.  There is even an 'empty rooms grant', to bring back accomodation to a habitable state and also lead (water) pipe replacement.
  
  Check the value of your property and see trends :  www.hometrack.co.uk
  
  Telephone Calls
  Telephone call charges are very confusing. At least the competition from computer based telephoning should make competition fiercer.  But you may still be paying a premium on some calls if you are not careful. Premium rate numbers include all those beginning with 090 and can vary between 49p and £1.50 a minute of which the recipient gets a substantial cut. But even the following numbers have variable charges :  0845 numbers ARE charged at local call rates.  But 044 is charged at 5ppm at any time.  0870 and 0871 numbers are charged at the national rate, even if it is local and pay the owner a cut if you phone at peak times, whereas 0871918 numbers are 10ppm at any time. Many companies will quote an 0870 number even though they have a free 0800 number.  There is a website that enables you to check whether a company has a cheaper alternative. Study the site at www.saynoto0870.com to find non geographical alternatives to 0870 numbers. Always bear in mind that most telephone companies will charge around 5p for the first minute. So, if you are on pay-as-you-go dialup and get through but then your PC has to re-dial  seconds later it is probably costing you.
  
  With competition opening up the telephone market you should check the comparative costs of telephone suppliers. For instance http://tele2.co.uk has recently introduced an evening call charge of 0.75 per minute (local OR national). OFTEL recommends www.uswitch.com,  who are allowed to help you change. It only takes a few minutes and can save you tens of pounds a month, particularly if you phone abroad a lot. You may be able to save on telephone calls especially to the USA and Australia (e.g. 2p per minute). But the cheapest of all is a PC to PC call by a service such as Skype. When it comes to cost FREE is hard to beat !  See Here.  
  
  For international calling codes see http://www.countrycallingcodes.com/index.php
  
  INFORMATION http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/index.htm The government's main 'portal' for information.
  Or if you wish to get in touch with your local council all you have to do is put in your postcode when you have chosen the service you requires.  Click http://local.direct.gov.uk/mycouncil/
  http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/index.htm  Yes, you can do it on line.  No, not that !  But there is lots that you can. Police, health, leisure, motoring, Your rights, voting, tax and benefits and lots more
  Encyclopaedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mai Business enquiries (yellow pages type) www.118.com/     http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/  www.Newseum.org international newspapers www.telegraph.co.uk  (Telegraph newspaper)  www.lawrights.co.uk  (Legal questions)  .  www.number-10.gov.uk. (Your chance to sound off at the government) http://astronomylinks.com  (Astronomy )www.nature.com  (science) www.newscientist.com (Science)  www.britannicaca  (World records ) The British Library - View ancient documents at www.bl.uk/collections/treasures/digitisation2.html    Government : http://www.direct.gov.uk
  Mr Goh's site at http://pgoh13.free.fr and it is well worth having a look for computer tips, news, jokes, inspirational poems, brain teasers, dictionaries. http://www.separatedfamilies.org.uk/  
  http://www.createwrt.net/. A voluntary group which aims to help housebound people with creative writing.
  
  MAPS, POSTCODES AND TELEPHONES  
  www.mapquest.co.uk   www.mapminder.co.uk   www.mapaphone.co.uk (track where a mobile phone is - with their permission)   www.ukphonebook.com (phones, postcodes, addresses and maps)    www.easymap.co.uk  www.getmapping.com.  www.royalmail.com http://uk.multimap.com  www.mapquest.com Telephone numbers : http://www.bt.com.  www.old-maps.co.uk (download old maps of your area)   For free Faxing or SMS messages to mobile phones see a full list on www.textmefree.com   but don't expect miracles as these services are limited and oversubscribed.  I did manage a fax via Extext - I think !  Try www.lycos.co.uk for SMS.  You will need to register.
  
  MISCELLANEOUS
  The Oliver Foundation.  A very worthwhile cause, which is training disadvantaged youths near Port Elizabeth, South Africa  
  TV Guide : http://www.tvguide.co.uk/
  www.whatsyourdogsthing.com.  The Pedigree website for dog lovers
  Sport on TV e.g. football highlights for a week after the games www.virginmedia.com/sport
  www.upmystreet.com Information about your area. House values, policing, best schools etc.  Just enter your postcode.
  www.teachingart.co.uk  www.saa.co.uk Sites dedicated to helping people with their art hobby.
  
  MUSIC  http://entertainment.msn.co.uk  Get tracks even before the shops do for 75p - 99p each. 200,000 to choose from and all legit.  Mr Goh's site includes the titles of many songs at http://pgoh13.free.fr and it is well worth having a look for computer tips, news, jokes, inspirational poems, brain teasers, dictionaries.
  
  SHOPPING How about www.howtocomplain.com
  http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/FirstTimeHome.aspx. A comparative shopping site for the major supermarket chains
  http://www.trustedreviews.com/  Excellent site for independant views of modern gadgets
  Don't forget the Which ? site at http://www.which.co.uk/.  You don't have to sign up for much of the info.
  www.helptheaged.org.uk/homeshopping
  www.kelkoo.com  http://www.shopper.co.uk/ www.pricewatch.co.uk  uk.shopping.com  www.tooboo.com  www.shopsmart.com  Letsbuyit.com  www.theukmall.com  www.buy.com   (John Lewis) www.bigsave.co.uk  www.tesco.com  www.iceland.co.uk  www.toysrus.co.uk  www.carphonewharehouse.com  Compare the deals.
  www.sears.ca  will deliver things to Canadian addresses on your Visa card.

  
  

Other Silver Surfer's Sites - see Here

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