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The art of cigar presentation: Showcasing your collection in style

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When you enjoy smoking cigars, you want to share the joy with others – including showing them off in your home.

Thankfully, there are a number of ways you can display them if you’re a cigar enthusiast. This can be a talking point when you have guests at your house, plus it can be something that puts you in a good mood.

If you have a large collection of various cigars, you can enjoy showcasing them so they’re easy to choose from. Here are some tips on displaying cigars in your home.

The Importance of a humidor

Everybody wants their humidor to look good. Indeed, the presentation makes you feel
proud of your collection, and you want to show it off to guests and visitors to your home.

Remember when you’re looking for a humidor, that its biggest job is storing the cigars correctly. So, you always want to purchase a design that provides the best environment for cigars, allowing you to control humidity and temperature.

There are plenty of humidor designs to choose from. Whether you’re interested in a
desktop or cabinet humidor, ensure a reputable company creates it. For instance,
Northwoods Humidors are renowned for their cigar humidors. They’re made from high-
quality materials with great craftsmanship. Plus, you can choose a size that will suit your
collection.

The significance of cigar presentation

Cigar presentation is about more than just aesthetics. It’s about setting the mood and creating a sense of occasion. Think about the anticipation that builds when you open a well- presented box of cigars or the feeling of luxury when you select one from an exquisite
display. It’s about making your cigar smoking experience truly special.

Choosing the right display

When it comes to displaying your cigars, you have various options. Consider a humidor with display features, or even a custom solution tailored to your collection’s size and style. Think about what suits your space and your personal taste. In particular, a humidor can have a glass appearance, which allows you to see inside and admire your cigars. After all, you don’t want to be opening it up all the time, as this can affect the temperature and humidity inside.

Elegant display ideas

Now, let’s get creative. Organise your cigars by brand, size, or type for an elegant display.
Use decorative items like cigar bands, labels, or accessories to add a touch of flair. A well-
organized collection not only looks impressive but also helps you find the perfect cigar for
the moment. It’s all ready to go when you want one.

Maintenance and care

Remember, a stylish presentation is not just about looks. Maintaining the quality of your
cigars is crucial. Ensure that your cigars are stored at the right temperature and humidity to preserve their taste and aroma. There are accessories you can purchase for traditional
humidors that will ensure the right environment. Regular cleaning and care keep your
collection looking its best.

Cigar presentation and home decor

Integrating your cigar display with your home decor can enhance your space. Whether your
style is modern, traditional, or eclectic, there are ways to seamlessly incorporate your
collection into your interior design. Your cigar presentation can be an extension of your
personal style.

Showcasing vintage and limited-edition cigars

Vintage and limited-edition cigars deserve special attention. Highlight their uniqueness by
giving them a prominent place in your display. Consider using glass-front humidors to
showcase these treasures, allowing you to admire them without opening the box. There are
even some cabinets that have spotlights.

Accessories

Accessories can make a significant difference in your cigar presentation. Consider decorative ashtrays, elegant cigar cutters, and ambient lighting solutions to elevate the atmosphere. These items not only enhance the experience but also add a touch of luxury.

Customisation

Make your cigar presentation truly yours by personalising it. Monogram, engrave, or create
custom storage solutions. Your collection is an expression of your personality, and
customisation adds a unique touch.

Conclusion

In the world of cigars, presentation is an art. Your cigars are more than just smokes; they’re testament to your passion and style. So, go ahead, and create a cigar display that’s as remarkable as your collection. Showcase your cigars with the care and attention they
deserve, and enjoy the luxury and sophistication of the cigar-smoking experience.

Gino Pozzo in Talks to Purchase Spanish Football Club

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In the fall of 2022, reports were confirmed that Watford FC owner, Gino Pozzo, was ready to purchase the Spanish football club, Sabadell. The sports website in Spain known as sport.es confirmed that Pozzo and an American investor or group were ready to close the deal. When all was said and done, it would be Pozzo at the helm of the Catalonian organization. 

The Storied History of Sabadell 

Sabadell got its start in 1903. In 1935, the team reached the finals at Copa del Rey. The club has been in La Liga for several stints, most notably 1965 – 1972. It’s currently under the management of Gabri, and ranks 9th out of 20 in the Primera Division RFEF Group 2. The squad is mostly Spanish players, but they do have a Kenyan defender and midfielder, a Senegalese winger, and four caps from Equitorial Guinea. 

Part of what makes football so enduring is the teams that have kept it going. Season after season, year after year, families from all backgrounds gather to cheer on the players that represent their homeland. While Sabadell may not have seen La Liga since 1988, the reality is that this organization has staying power. It also has an undeniable degree of potential. 

sports.es reported that Pozzo began discussions with the president of the club, Esteve Calzada, in the summer of 2022. The Pozzo family was already familiar with Spanish football, having held stakes in both Valladolid and Granada. Sabadell plays home games at the Nova Creu Alta, a stadium built for just under 12,000 people. They take the field in kits that look very similar to the British Rovers outfit, which led to the official twinning of the two clubs in 2015. (This occurred after Rovers fans in Barcelona approached Sabadell fans assuming they were fellow Rover fans.) 

Pozzo and Football

Pozzo has been devoted to football since he left university, and he’s been making a splash in the industry ever since his graduation. He commits his time and efforts to a variety of ventures, and he’s driven by an overarching need to raise everyone around him to a new plane. It’s clear that his work has been appreciated by fans and critics alike. 

After he and his father purchased Watford FC in 2012, he would eventually take full control of the club in 2014. It was under his leadership that Watford would see the FA Cup. It was a huge turnaround considering their low rankings in 2011. There are a lot of similarities between British and the Spanish clubs at first glance. With a tighter ship under the right people, Sabadell might see their fortunes change faster than they imagined. 

Once the deal is finalized, Pozzo would assume control of sports management for Sabadell. However, he would not necessarily be in charge of all club matters. As an owner with vested interests outside the country, he already has a lot on his plate. It’s expected that he would implement the same organizational structure that he has for his other clubs. This would mean being involved in major decisions, but also delegating responsibility to those he trusts. 

A History of Success 

Gino Pozzo comes from a family of entrepreneurs. His immediate family built successful empires in everything from appliances to football to woodworking, and they invested in causes and organizations that mattered to them. In the 1980s, they would use money from their woodworking business to purchase a football club in Italy. When Gino Pozzo decided not to take over the woodworking business, they supported his decision to buy a football club of his own.

Gino Pozzo doesn’t necessarily need to takeover the best clubs in the top divisions. In fact, he welcomes the challenge of turning raw talent into a truly unstoppable team. Along the way, he’s enjoyed some unexpected surprises by investing in the lesser-known teams. For instance, when he moved to London to devote himself to Watford, he and his family ended up loving the cultures and traditions in their home away from home. With every passing year, Pozzo stretches his business acumen and instincts even further in the sport he’s loved since he was a child.

Learn more about Gino Pozzo here: https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/23592881.watford-owner-pozzo-explains-way-working/

Chancellor announces National Insurance cut in Autumn statement

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Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has delivered his packed Autumn statement including a 2% cut to national insurance.

“The combined impact (of today’s announcement) will raise business investment, get more people into work and increase GDP,” he said. “We reduce taxes, reward work and we back businesses with 110 growth measures.

Key points from his statement today:

  • An increase in the full new state pension by 8.5% to £221.20 a week – worth up to £900 more a year – from next April.
  • Benefits will increase by 6.7%, the September rate of inflation, with the increase coming into effect in April.
  • A cut of employee National Insurance from 12% to 10% – which will help 27 million people in the country from January 6. Those earning more than £12,570 a year pay 12% national insurance on pay up to £50,200, while self-employed workers pay 9%.
  • Jobseekers will have benefits such as free medicines and legal aid removed if they’re found not to be looking for work under the Back to Work Plan which aims to bring 1.1 million people back into work.
  • All alcohol duty will be frozen until August.
  • People living closest to new pylons and electricity substations will receive up to £10,000 off their bills over 10 years.
  • Mr Hunt pledged to provide £7m to tackle antisemitism in schools and universities.

Criticism

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said that the tax announcements would leave people worse off.

“Prior tax increases by the Tories and failure to update tax bands amount to an effective 10% hike,” she added.

She argues that the reduction in National Insurance would not offset the earlier increases.

The Conservatives have held back growth, they have crashed our economy, increased debt, trashed our public services, left businesses out in the cold, and made life harder for working people”.

“Does anything in Britain work better today than when the Conservatives came into office 13 years ago? “It is time for change.”

Tiger Woods to play PNC Championship with son Charlie

Tiger Woods will continue his comeback at the PNC Championship in December, where he will tee it up alongside his son Charlie.

The 15-time major winner will play at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas next week – a tournament he hosts – before taking part at the PNC, a 36-hole event in Orlando on December 16-17.

“It is an amazing gift to be able to share my love of golf with Charlie and we genuinely do look forward to playing in the PNC Championship all years,” he said.

“Competing together, against a field of so many golfing greats and their families, is so special.”

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Woods and Charlie, now 14, have played the PNC for the past four years despite the 47-year-old’s battle with injuries caused by a road traffic accident in 2021.

They will be among the favourites to claim the crown but will face still competition from the Strickers, father Steve and daughter Izzi, a state high school champion in Wisconsin.

Manchester City v Liverpool: Top five games in Pep Guardiola’s rivalry with Jurgen Klopp

The Premier League returns from the international break with a bang on Saturday as Manchester City welcome Liverpool to the Etihad Stadium for the next instalment in one of English football’s most absorbing rivalries.

Opposing bosses Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have spent over a decade battling it out for major honours since first locking horns in Germany during their respective spells with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

The two rivals are now regarded by most observers as the top two coaches in the game, with the last six Premier League titles being won by one or the other.

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Guardiola’s five English top-flight crowns clearly give him the upper hand on that front, with two of those successes coming at Liverpool’s expense on the final day of the 2018-19 and 2021-22 campaigns.

Klopp has landed several punches of his own, however, beating Guardiola upon his arrival in Germany 10 years ago and breaking City’s dominance when Liverpool finally ended their long title drought in 2019-20.

With Liverpool again looking to challenge City after making a promising start to 2023-24, we look back at five of the greatest contests between Guardiola and Klopp.

5. Borussia Dortmund 4-2 Bayern Munich (DFL-Supercup, July 27, 2013)

The very first meeting between teams managed by Guardiola and Klopp, which came in Germany’s annual curtain-raiser in 2013, set the tone for one of the most thrilling rivalries in modern football.

Having lost the Champions League final to Jupp Heynckes’ Bayern in May 2013, Klopp’s Dortmund had a point to prove when they faced their rivals just two months later, with the first piece of silverware of the German season at stake. Looking to consolidate their position as 2012-13 treble winners, Bayern had made waves by enticing Guardiola out of his sabbatical in New York ahead of the 2013-14 campaign.

Playing on home turf at Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund claimed a sixth-minute lead when Marco Reus capitalised on an error from stand-in goalkeeper Tom Starke, but Bayern responded through Arjen Robben’s downward header in the 54th minute.

Within three minutes of levelling, however, Bayern found themselves 3-1 down as future Guardiola favourite Ilkay Gundogan forced a Daniel Van Buyten own goal before extending Dortmund’s lead with a curled finish from the edge of the area.

Robben gave Bayern hope with his second, but Reus clinched a double of his own late on as Dortmund secured the win. Guardiola had a new rival.

4. Manchester City 2-2 Liverpool (Premier League, April 10, 2022)

The 2021-22 season brought the second of two incredible Premier League title races between City and Liverpool, with the Reds staying in the hunt for an unprecedented quadruple until late May.

In early April, City welcomed Liverpool to the Etihad with just a single point splitting them at the summit with eight games remaining. Momentum swung one way and then the other as two elite attacking outfits took swipes at one another, but there was to be no winner.

Kevin De Bruyne put City ahead when his long-range strike deflected in off Joel Matip, but Liverpool soon responded through Diogo Jota. Guardiola’s men re-established their advantage when Gabriel Jesus ghosted beyond Trent Alexander-Arnold to score at the far post, but the Reds fought back again as Mohamed Salah played in Sadio Mane to equalise shortly after half-time.

City had the better chances to win it late on, but the result ultimately ended up benefitting them as they edged out Liverpool by a single point on the final day, a dramatic 3-2 win over Aston Villa taking them to 93 points.

Things got worse for Liverpool as they lost the UEFA Champions League final to Real Madrid one week later, then City bettered their FA Cup and EFL Cup double by capturing the treble one year on.

3. Liverpool 3-0 Manchester City (Champions League quarter-finals, April 4, 2018)

Five of the last six Champions League finals have featured either City or Liverpool. It’s somewhat remarkable then, that they have only ever faced off in one tie in Europe’s premier club competition.

While City’s Centurions ran away with the domestic title in 2017-18, Liverpool landed a huge blow on the European front when the teams met in the Champions League quarter-finals.

The unsavoury side of the clubs’ rivalry was seen for perhaps the first time ahead of the first leg, with Liverpool apologising after supporters attacked and damaged City’s team bus outside Anfield.

When the game began in front of a raucous crowd, a ruthless display saw Liverpool race into a 3-0 lead within 31 minutes. It was Klopp’s ‘heavy metal football’ at its best, with the pick of the goals coming when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain found the top-left corner from 25 yards out for the second.

Liverpool found themselves under pressure when they went 1-0 down after two minutes of the return leg at the Etihad, only for goals from Salah and Roberto Firmino to put the tie beyond all doubt. The Reds marched on to the final, but came unstuck – not for the last time – against Madrid.

2. Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool (Premier League, January 3, 2019)

All meetings between City and Liverpool seem to take on additional importance, but this clash might have been the biggest of the lot.

Liverpool travelled to the Etihad unbeaten in 20 games to start the 2018-19 Premier League season, sitting seven points clear of City. With the Reds in ominous form, City knew anything but a victory would make them big outsiders in the title race.

City great Sergio Aguero opened the scoring from a narrow angle in the first half, but Firmino’s close-range header levelled things up with 64 minutes gone, setting up a grandstand finish.

Leroy Sane’s low drive gave the three points to City, who had earlier been saved by a brilliant last-ditch clearance from John Stones, preventing the ball from crossing the goal line by just 1.12 centimetres when the game was goalless.

Those were the fine margins which characterised Liverpool’s only defeat of the 2018-19 Premier League season, with a mammoth haul of 97 points not enough to take the trophy as City got over the line on the final day.

1. Liverpool 4-3 Manchester City (Premier League, January 14, 2018)

The 2017-18 season brought City’s most straightforward title success under Guardiola, with records tumbling as his team brought up a century of points, but as far as individual games between these teams go, this one tops the lot.

Playing their first match since selling Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona for £142million, Liverpool went ahead early on through Oxlade-Chamberlain’s outstanding drive, though City levelled before the break when Sane hammered beyond Loris Karius at his near post.

After the restart, another trademark Liverpool blitz saw them race into a 4-1 lead, with Firmino and Salah both lobbing Ederson either side of Mane’s powerful finish into the top-left corner.

The efforts of Liverpool’s front three were ultimately enough despite goals from Bernardo Silva and Gundogan ensuring a nervy finish, allowing Klopp to exact revenge for the humiliating 5-0 defeat his team suffered at the Etihad at the start of that season.

City would only lose one further game all campaign, while Liverpool’s fourth-placed finish gave Klopp the chance to build a team which would finally reach the summit of English football two years later.

Front gardens driving 60-second decision from house buyers

Nearly two-thirds (60%) of people make their minds up about whether they want to live in a property within one minute of seeing the outside.

Planters, trees, driveways, front doors and bin storage all play a key role in the decision making, according to new research.

The survey of 2,001 people across the UK was carried out by Marshalls, who found that 68% of people would be put off wanting to buy or live in a property if there were big design flaws with the front garden that they didn’t like.

Features that appeal

Looking at the features that appeal to prospective buyers, those supporting biodiversity top the bill. Planters, hanging baskets and real grass areas (21%), as well as trees (20%), wildlife gardens (17%), raised bedding areas (15%) and bird baths (14%) were the top responses, followed by new driveways (14%), bin storage (13%) and privacy screening (12%).

More than two-fifths (43%) said they care more about the appearance of the front of their home now – including their garden, driveway and features like the front door – than two years ago.

People’s top reasons for caring about their home’s kerb appeal include improving its appearance from the outside (44%) and improving its value (29%).

One in ten want to keep up with their neighbours, while others take inspiration from family and friends (20%), social media (15%) and magazines and TV shows (15%) on how to style the outside of their homes.

In terms of wider housing developments, two-fifths of the research respondents said they’d be more likely to buy a new build home if it had well-landscaped communal areas. Safety was also critical, with lighting and CCTV making up the rest of the top three features sought after in shared spaces.

The findings

Speaking about the findings, which are outlined in the Marshalls Improving the Landscape white paper, Ben Warren, managing director of landscape products at Marshalls, said: “In a world where image is so important, it’s no surprise to find that kerb appeal has a huge impact on whether someone buys a property – and these findings prove just how influential is, with the outside of a home impacting a buyer’s decision within a matter of seconds.

“In recent years, we’ve seen a rise in social media trends focusing on the front of homes, with searches for ‘front garden’ on Pinterest increasing 35%. Driveways have also been in demand for some time, and with the rise in electric cars we suspect this will continue as people want to charge their vehicles safely and securely.

“What’s important in the quest for ultimate kerb appeal is to balance practical spaces – like driveways and bin storage – with features like plants and trees, to help attract wildlife and make a space attractive.

“As one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of sustainable building materials, at Marshalls we do more than just supply the right products, we also support with design and engineering expertise to help builders and developers enhance their offering to sell homes, quicker, as well as supporting installers to create dream spaces for homeowners.”

Shaw boost for Manchester United

Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw has returned to training ahead of Sunday’s trip to Everton after three months out.

The England defender suffered a “muscle issue” in August and has not featured since for club or country.

It remains to be seen if he is contention for what should be a hostile trip to an Everton side that last week were docked 10 points for financial irregularities but his imminent availability will present a major boost to manager Erik ten Hag.

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The Dutchman still has a number of players absent, however, with Christian Eriksen (knee), Lisandro Martinez (foot) and Casemiro (thigh) definitely out.

Andre Onana was injured on Cameroon duty and will be assessed prior to the weekend, along with Jonny Evans (thigh), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (illness) and Rasmus Hojlund (thigh).

United go into the game in sixth place in the table having won four of their last five Premier League games.

O’Sullivan threatens to quit snooker over China row

Ronnie O’Sullivan has threatened to walk away from snooker if he is prevented from playing lucrative exhibition events in China.

The seven-time world champion, who also hit out at the standard at the top level of the game, wants to maximise his earnings but is contracted to play in a certain number of World Snooker Tour events which hamper his ability to travel to the Far East.

He told the BBC: “If I can’t go and do what I need to do, which is play a lot in China, I won’t ever play again. So, we’re at a kind of crossroads now.

“If that gets to the point where I’m not able to do that, I’m not allowed to do that, I probably won’t play. I’ll probably go and play Chinese 8-Ball because I still want to play snooker, I still want a cue in my hand.

“There’s just not enough here in the UK for me to justify the effort that I put in. If someone’s going to respect me and value me more, why would I not go there? It’s like being in an unhealthy relationship with someone, why would you be in that?”

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O’Sullivan is a regular critic of the standard in world snooker and says he finds it “revolting” that so many players settle for “mediocrity”.

He added: “I don’t think it’s very hard to be a top-16 snooker player. I could probably get away with playing once a week for two or three hours a day.

“I’m not a great lover for mediocrity, I find it quite revolting in some ways, when I see people accepting that. That’s why I don’t hang around snooker people at venues because I just don’t like seeing it.

“I don’t think there’s enough good matches. I think there’s a lot of players that people don’t know, that don’t play the game in the right way.”

Bodies of four missing teens found in overturned car in North Wales

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Four teenage boys who had gone missing in North Wales have been found inside an overturned and partly submerged car.

Jevon Hirst, Harvey Owen, Wilf Henderson, and Hugo Morris – all Shrewsbury Colleges Group students – had set off to Snowdonia, where it is believed they intended to camp over the weekend.

The four were last seen travelling in a silver Ford Fiesta on Sunday morning.

Concern mounted when the group failed to return home to Shrewsbury on Monday, prompting their families to raise the alarm.

Tip-off

The search intensified, and on Tuesday morning, police received a crucial tip from a member of the public.

Following the lead, law enforcement discovered the overturned vehicle partially submerged in water, approximately five miles from Porthmadog, where the group was last seen.

Authorities are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident, as the community mourns the loss of these young lives.

The details surrounding the discovery of the overturned car and the events leading up to it are currently under scrutiny, with updates expected as the investigation unfolds.

Extensive search

Supt Owain Llewellyn, of North Wales police, said: “At present, this appears to have been a tragic accident, and our thoughts are with the family and friends of the four young men at this very difficult time.

“This has been an extensive search involving a number of different agencies and volunteers, and this is sadly not the outcome that any of us would have wanted.

“I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank the emergency services and members of the voluntary search agencies and members of the public who supported us with this search.

“Whilst the search is concluded, there is an ongoing investigation to formally identify those within the vehicle and to understand what has led to this tragic incident.”

The college issues a statement which read ‘We would like to offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the four young men who tragically died in the suspected traffic accident. This news is truly heart-breaking, and our thoughts go out to those affected by this tragic news.’

 

Jackson, the Boy Who Vowed to Punch Santa, Apologizes in New TUI Video

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Jackson, the spirited child from Chelmsford, Essex, who went viral for threatening Santa, has resurfaced in a new video by TUI, apologizing and turning over a new leaf. The video, shot by TUI, features Jackson as the ‘Chief Good List Officer,’ giving kids the chance to win a trip to Lapland.

Reflecting on his past, ten-year-old Jackson recounts, “When I was five, I told Santa I’d punch his beard off if he put me on the bad list,” and jests about still wanting to “punch his beard off” even if he’s on the good list, showcasing his playful nature.

Towards the end, Jackson responds to his dad’s query about being banned from Lapland, saying, “Dad!, I was never on the bad list, this is a myth you made up!”

The release of this video aligns with a TUI study that highlights the amusing efforts children make to be on Santa’s good list, such as finishing dinners, including greens, and helping with household chores. The study reveals that 35% of UK children begin writing their Christmas wish lists in November, with many hoping for a holiday or experience, especially a visit to Santa in Lapland.

Commenting on the initiative, Phillip Iveson, commercial director of TUI UK & Ireland, said, “At TUI we’re all about making lasting memories that stay with families for the rest of their lives, and what better place to do that than in the most magical place of all at Christmas time?”

The winner of the TUI competition will embark on a Lapland adventure in 2024, enjoying a meeting with Santa and various festive experiences. Entries for the competition are accepted from 20 November to 6 December 2023.

Behaviour guaranteed to get a child on Santa’s Good List:

  • Being good at school
  • Tidying your bedroom
  • Going to bed on time
  • Doing all your homework
  • Eating all your dinner
  • Helping to make dinner
  • Helping with the vacuuming
  • Brushing your teeth
  • Avoiding arguments with your siblings
  • Putting down the iPad when asked