I am going to a racecourse but am unsure how to place a bet?

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Going to a racecourse for the first time can be incredibly fun, but a little daunting in regards to placing a bet. Firstly learning the basic terminology for a few things will make this all the more easier for you:

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Stake

The stake is the amount of money that you are willing to bet on a horse. So say for example the racecourse your going to has 10 races in total, and your willing to spend a maximum of £100, you could stake £10 on each race and hopefully you will find a winner in a few of the races.

Obviously you don’t need to bet on every race, and most professional gamblers wont. If your going just for a fun day out though, it can and will be much more fun betting on most of the races.

Odds

Each horse will have odds marked against it, these odds indicate the overall probability of that horse winning the race. Of course the horse which has the lowest odds (is most likely to win) will not always win, otherwise this would be incredibly simple to make money from.

Winnings/Return

The amount calculated that you will win after placing your stake on the odds selected. Prices can be odds against, even money or odds on.

With an odds on bet, if your stake was £10, a winning bet at 4/1 will return £40 + your £10 initial stake back, making you an overall profit of £40.

With an even money bet, if your stake is £10, you will win £10 back + your stake.

An odds on bet is less Read more…

What is the difference between a Thai and Indian curry?

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The biggest difference between a Thai and Indian curry is that with Thai curries all the herbs and spices are nearly always cooked fresh, and with Indian curries dried herbs and spices are mostly used.

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Another difference is that Indian curries are almost always based on a ghee or yoghurt, whilst coconut milk is mainly used in Thai curries.

Lastly, with Thai curries vegetables and meats are almost Read more…

How to make a room in my house appear taller?

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When creating an illusion of height in any room in your house, a combination of the lighting used, the positioning of pictures hanged, and the style in which you hang your curtains will go a long way in creating the illusion of height, making your room look more spacious and more taller than it actually is.

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  • Hang the pictures in your room 6-10 centimetres (whatever looks best) higher than eye level, this will draw the eye upward when in the room.
  • Use indirect lighting to illuminate the ceiling (A light ceiling will reflect the light much better.) Uplighters and lamps with heads that can be positioned to aim upwards will allow the light to hit the Read more…

Review of why you should NOT bet with the betting exchange Betdaq

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Betdaq is an exchange betting website, well, not really. The idea of a betting exchange is the ability to back AND lay sporting bets, or at least that’s what it’s supposed to be. The problem with Betdaq however is the inability to do both, let me explain:

betdaq

Betdaq is completely unfair when it comes to getting out of sporting bets, and thus remember is solely why we would use such a site, otherwise we would all be better off just betting at William Hill, Pinnacle Sports (my two favourites) or similar.

I joined Betdaq as I wanted an alternative to Betfair, however, my overall experience at Betdaq was very poor. As mentioned already, we, us as customers join these sites because we like the ability to lay or back out of situations, Betdaq apparently don’t like you to get out of bets though.

I placed a back bet on the football, watching the game live my team were the stronger side, but the game remained goalless. I had already pre-planned that if by 70 minutes the game was still a draw, I would lay my bet for a guaranteed loss of £9.00 (imagine betting at larger stakes, you would have no chance) no matter what the result. To me this seemed fair, and instead of losing my original whole stake had my bet went on to lose, I was prepared to cut my losses and try another day.

I watched as the odds for the lay bet were around 4.60, and I factored in that Read more…

What is the best way to unblock earwax?

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Earwax does a good job at filtering dust and other harmful particles out of the ear. Old wax is normally expelled by chewing motions, which then push the wax, along with dead skin cells and bacteria, out of the ear.

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However, as people age and there is less moisture in their ear wax, this can build up in the ear, hardening and causing blockage and pain.

Don’t use a cotton bud to clean it out, the swab can easily lodge the wax deeper into the ear canal and can damage the eardrum. Instead, fill a dropper with hydrogen peroxide that is at room temperature or a little warmer.

Lay down or tilt your head so the blocked ear is pointing upwards. Drip the peroxide into the ear until it feels full. Wait 3 minutes before tilting your head the other way over a sink or towel to allow the peroxide to drain out. Then tilt your head again and gently Read more…

How to make 8 authentic Thai curry pastes

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Basically when preparing Thai curry pastes it is practically the same for each one. Use a pestle and mortar to ground each ingredient. I find it best to start with the ingredients which are the hardest in texture first, then continue to add each ingredient afterwards.

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Tip – I usually start with chillies and sea salt, the sea salt helps to cut through the chilli skin.

As you progress adding new ingredients always make sure to check the aroma of the paste to ensure everything is balancing out ok. The goal here is not to have any one flavour overpowering the rest, you are looking for an even blend of flavours.

With some practice you can expect to grind and create your own curry paste within 20-30 minutes. It can be hard work, but when you get it right the results will definitely be worth that extra effort you put in.

Tip – You can plan ahead and freeze curry pastes in the freezer, you will however lose some of the flavour, so I prefer to always make fresh on the day of cooking and eating.

8 Thai Curry Pastes

How to make a Green Curry Paste Read more…

The Scorch Trials Book Review by author James Dashner

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The Scorch Trials is the second instalment of the Maze Runner trilogy by James Dashner, and before I review this one I can definitely say that this one topped the first one in my opinion, this book was just awesome.

Read other helpful reviews for the book The Scorch Trials at Amazon UK or Amazon USA

The Scorch Trials picks up immediately after The Maze Runner ended which is a big plus for me, I like when this happens with trilogies, mainly because I don’t have to worry too much about new situations, and its just like one big continuation for me, and this book basically picks up like the next day from the ending on the first book.

Thomas and the Gladers are yet again stacked against the odds against Wicked, and they have a trial of having to cross the scorch, basically a dry dusty desert around the world which was baked by the sun, and they are sent to the hottest most brutal part of the world called the scorch, and here they learn about what the flare is, and they learn that the only way to succeed and to finally let all this be done is to cross the scorch within 2 weeks, and ultimately reach the safe haven which when they do the trials will be done, and their understanding of what Wicked is will be out.

Throughout this time though Thomas has been Read more…

XFM The Ricky Gervais Show Seasons 1-4 Complete

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XFM was the radio station where Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant first came across the bald headed twat who is Karl Pilkington. I loved the show back then and would record every episode.

If you are a fan of this trio then you will enjoy the old XFM radio shows.

Please note that originally when it started Karl was just with them to press buttons, but as season 1 develops you will notice how Karl gradually gets involved more and more, until he is fully part of the show.

The show ran from 2001 – 2005. Enjoy, and if you appreciate the time and effort to list these please consider sharing with your friends using the social like buttons.

When you have clicked a link wait 10 seconds or so and audio will play.

XFM RICKY GERVAIS SHOW SEASON 1 (23 episodes)

XFM Series 1 Episode 01
XFM Series 1 Episode 02
XFM Series 1 Episode 03
XFM Series 1 Episode 04
XFM Series 1 Episode 05 Read more…

Middlesex Book Review by author Jeffrey Eugenides

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Quite a difficult book to review but here goes.

At its core the book Middlesex follows Calliope Stephanides. Calliope is a hermaphrodite in which you learn this right at the beginning of the book, and there is a reason why Calliope is a hermaphrodite which he is determined to go back in time and figure all out.

Read other helpful reviews for the book Middlesex at Amazon UK or Amazon USA

So this book is written from his perspective, like Calliope is talking to you personally, and it follows 3 generations of his Greek-American family, all the way from the early 1900’s up to modern day early 2000’s.

In the story we also follow Calliope’s grandparents in Greece when they fled, and then his life in Detroit, his parents in Detroit, and what life was like starting of life as a girl and then finding out that there was something genetically different about him, and his finding of himself and understanding he might have been raised as a girl but he actually feels more like a guy.

It is quite an intense subject to read about, one that I personally have never come across in the hundreds of books I have read before, and I found throughout that it was a very interesting to read.

Another interesting part for me was the style in which Middlesex had been written, in an odd sort of way when reading the book it felt like Read more…

What is the best way of stopping my hiccups?

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When you hiccup, your diaphragm tightens involuntarily. (The diaphragm is a dome-shaped wall of muscle and connective tissue between the chest and abdominal cavity that contracts when you breathe in and relaxes when you breathe out).

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There are several ways of stopping your hiccups, and to trick your lungs and diaphragm into to getting back to their regular cycle. Try any or all, until your hiccups have stopped:

  • Fill up a glass of water, then bend your head down and take a nice long, slow sip Read more…

Thai Chicken and Lime Curry Recipe

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This Thai chicken and lime curry recipe is a personal favourite of mine, a really refreshing dish that is cooked with whole limes as well as kaffir lime leaves.

Find great deals on recipe books and kitchen utensils at Amazon UK or Amazon USA

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Ingredients

1.3kg Whole chicken, jointed into 8 pieces
225ml Coconut cream
2 tbsp Orange curry paste
2 tbsp Oil
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Sugar
2 Limes, halved
6 Kaffir lime leaves, finely shredded
Coriander leaves to garnish

Start this Thai chicken and lime curry by heating the oil in a large pan and adding the curry paste. Stir over a low heat, then add the Read more…

Should I still send a gift if not attending a wedding?

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Yes, you should. If you were sent a wedding invitation, but it is too far away (in distance) to attend or you have another commitment, you should still send a gift.

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A wedding present isn’t intended as a repayment for you getting to take part in the wedding ceremony and reception. It is a way of expressing your good wishes for the couple and responding to the regard they showed you by asking you to share in their big day with them.

What you send is entirely up Read more…

Do frog legs actually taste like chicken?

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Many people when asked what frog legs taste like say chicken. They in fact do taste a little like chicken breast because they are often pretty tasteless.

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All images used on WhereWhyWhen.com have creative commons licences – you are free to share and use.

Frogs legs are certainly more moist than a chicken breast, and I would say the taste was best explained as a cross between chicken breast and fish.

Also because the texture and appearance of frogs legs Read more…

How I Quit Smoking Cold Turkey – You Can Too

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Firstly, don’t be put off by people who say you cant be successful and quit smoking cold turkey, this is a lie, sure it may have been the case for them, but everyone is different and unique, everyone has their own breaking points, and everyone has their own will and determination, some are weak, some are not.

When I Started Smoking

I smoked for a little over 19 years. I started when I was 15 years old with a cigarette every now and then whilst walking back and forth to school with my friends, at this stage I smoked about 5 cigarettes a day, then after a few years this would grow to 10 cigarettes a day, and for my final 15 years or so smoking I was smoking a 20 pack every day.

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When I decided to stop smoking, nothing had radically changed in my life, I still had the funds to smoke, the doctor had not told me I had cancer, I was still working, but it was when running in the park with my niece at the age of just 34 I was so out of breath after just a few minutes, I thought this is bad, particularly because when I was younger I was so active in sports, and even played for a football team, I made my decision instantly, right THEN that I would quit after my last ones that evening.

Why Cold Turkey And No Prescriptions, Gum, Inhalers, Patches etc

The reason I did not want to take any prescriptions, patches, inhalers when quitting was that I wanted to not only be free from smoking, but I wanted to be free from nicotine. I also wanted to stop instantly, I did not want to wait any longer.

My issue with smoking aids is that sure they stop you inhaling all those thousands of harmful chemicals, but your addiction with nicotine continues, and what happens when you want to stop using the smoking aid, do you turn back to cigarettes again because you crave nicotine, it was not a risk I wanted to take, I wanted to be free from it for good.

This is just my personal opinion. Others will say that by Read more…

Why do I sweat so heavily under my arms?

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There is a medical condition called hyperhidrosis (excessive perspiration) that affects 1 in 25 people. But for most of us the sweat only pours out when we are tense, scared or really hot.

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If the sweat is beginning to show under the shirt your wearing, excuse yourself if in public, go to a bathroom and towel yourself down. Then apply an antiperspirant, not a deodorant.

The reason why antiperspirants are better is that many brands contain aluminium chloride, this causes the pores under your arms to close up and stop perspiration.

If you sweat extremely heavily under Read more…

Cream of carrot soup recipe

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Delicately mild and faintly sweet in flavour, this cream of carrot soup recipe with potatoes is a real delight for the palate.

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When rounded off with crème fraiche, the aroma of the carrot soup unfolds itself to perfection.

Ingredients (serves 4)

500g Carrots
200g Floury potatoes
125g Crème fraiche
750ml Vegetable stock (broth)
250ml Milk
2 tbsp Butter
2 Shallots
Juice of 1 orange
Nutmeg
1 Bunch of flat-leaf parsley
Croutons
Salt & freshly ground white pepper

Start this cream of carrot soup by melting the butter in a large saucepan. Peel Read more…

My trainers stink, how can I fix this?

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Running and sweating (especially without socks on) will make your trainers stink. Luckily for you though, Bicarbonate of soda is to the rescue.

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Sprinkle some Bicarbonate of soda inside your trainers, and then leave them overnight and vacuum out the next day.

For a longer-term solution, put Read more…

What is lay betting?

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Lay betting is the opposite of back betting.

Instead of the traditional backing a selection to win, you lay a selection to lose.

Lay betting has become quite popular since the opening of betting exchanges such as Betfair and Betdaq, however, even though laying a bet at first seems simple enough, it does have some risk.

What are the risks of lay betting?

When you lay a bet you are essentially playing the role of the bookmaker. However unlike traditional back bets where the only amount you can lose is the stake that you placed, with lay betting your loss if you get your selection wrong could be very costly to you, depending on what the liability was.

An example of a lay bet compared to a back bet in the same scenario:

Paul decides he is going to watch the Gerona v Real Madrid Castilla football match, and being a huge of Real Madrid Castilla he thinks they will win 3-0.

The odds for backing the correct score 3-0 are (14.5). Paul decides to bet £10 and if his back selection is correct he stands to profit £135 + his £10 stake returned.

Joe on the other hand thinks the game will never end 3-0 to Real Madrid Castilla. He thinks as it is the last game of the season with nothing to play for, the game will most likely have little goals, and he even fancies Girona to find the net at least once.

Joe decides to lay the 3-0 scoreline for £10 at lay odds of (15.0). With Joe’s bet he stands to win £10 if the game is any score apart from 3-0, however he stands to lose £140 if the game does end 3-0.

Why does Joe have to pay so much if his bet loses?

The reason Joe has to pay so much back is Read more…

How best to avoid a shark attack when swimming?

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It’s one of the most alarming images, ‘the shark attack on a defenceless swimmer near a crowded beach’, but it’s unbelievably unlikely to happen to you, especially if swimming in UK waters.

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Although sharks attack several dozen people in the world each year in unprovoked incidents, the total per year since 2000 has been below 100, according to shark experts and naturalists.

Over the past 100 years, the number of such attacks has been growing slowly but steadily, perhaps partly because the number of people who take holidays near the sea has risen, and partly because of faster and more widespread media coverage of attacks

Given the number of people who take a dip each year, your odds of being one of those attacked is pretty slim.

If you are holidaying abroad, follow these precautions Read more…

Help I’ve bitten into a chilli and its hot and burning my mouth!

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Most people instinctively react to biting on a chilli by taking the worst possible course of action, which is usually flooding their mouths with water, beer or a soft drink.

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All images used on WhereWhyWhen.com have creative commons licences – you are free to share and use.

The sting in chillies comes from a chemical called capsaicin, which does not dissolve easily in water. Sloshing liquids in your mouth just spreads the pain.

In Mexico, where they know what hot chillies can do to unsuspecting mouths, three instant Read more…