A Beginner’s Guide to Different Website Technologies and Their Hosting Requirements

Part 1: Mark Up and Code

When you begin to size up the multitude of web hosting options that are available to you in the market it is important to bear in mind what specifications your website will demand from your hosting platform. This is particularly salient if the web site is yet to be built and you are considering how to do so. The following article takes a beginners look at the technology that goes into building a website and then how that technology will affect the requirements of your hosting platform.

HTML and CSS - Page Display
In its simplest sense a web page is essentially a document which can be viewed over the internet. It lives on a web server, a computer whose job it is to show the page to the rest of the world. The structure and layout of the content in that document or web page is specified using what is known as mark-up and more specifically HTML (HyperText Markup Language). This is the most fundamental building block of a website and basically labels and classifies every element, or block of content, on the page and therefore the order in which they should appear.

The appearance of each element can be specified on each individual page within the HTML but is instead usually set using another type of mark-up on one or more separate Cascading Style Sheets (CSS, documents often referred to as just Style Sheets). Because these sheets sit apart from the actual HTML document they can tell how elements or groups of elements should appear across multiple web pages rather than just one.

There are different versions and standards of both HTML and CSS markup but the technologies do not affect the type of hosting platform (web server etc) that the website needs as they are simply interpreted by the internet browser software on each user’s machine to display the web page.

Content, Databases and Server-Side Scripting
The content that actually sits within each HTML element can be stored within the web page document itself if it is text, or alongside the web page document file, on the web server, if it is another type of file such as an image, a video or a PDF that the page links to or displays.

If the web page needs to be dynamic however, that is to display different content to a user each time it is displayed depending on the user’s particular requests or input, the content will be stored in a database on the web server which then allows the relevant content to be used to construct the web page on the server every time it is requested, before being displayed to the end user. Most websites also therefore use a language which tells the web page what content from the database to display depending on what the end user has requested - this is called a server side scripting language. As an example, this language could be used to display content on the same page which is different because it is a Tuesday compared to the version of the page which is displayed on a Monday.

Web pages can also include code (within the page) which allows them to change in accordance with user inputs after the page has been displayed to the user. This is called client side scripting but it does not affect the hosting requirements as the code runs on the user’s computers within their browser and not on the server. The most common example of this code is JavaScript.

However, the management software which is used to organise the database system, as well as the server side scripting language which is used to control which content is shown, can both place restrictions on which operating system needs to be used within your hosting platform. The choice of operating system will broadly be between Windows and Linux (open source).

Amongst the most common database management systems for example are MySQL, PostgreSQL and Microsoft SQL Server; the first two of which are open source and supported across both platforms. However, SQL Server is a proprietary Microsoft system which requires a Microsoft Windows operating system. The most popular languages used as server-side scripting language are PHP (PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor), Perl (a more general programming language) and Microsoft's ASP.NET (part of their .NET framework). Languages such as PHP or Perl are again supported by an open source community themselves and so are compatible with both operating systems, however, ASP.NET is restricted to running on a Windows platform.

It is important therefore to check which systems and languages your site is running and consequently which operating system your hosting platform will need to include.

Part 2: Content Management

Every website needs to be managed, either by its users or its webmasters/owners, with its content, appearance and functionality updated, removed or added. The systems and technologies used to create and then managed the site and its content will be core to determining the technological requirements of the hosting platform that the site needs.

As mentioned in the previous article, the content of a web page can be stored in that web page/HTML document if it’s text that doesn’t change, within the website’s folder structure on the server if it is a separate file (images etc), and/or in databases if the web page needs to be dynamic in terms of which data it displays.

File Access - FTP
All website builds will require the access to manage the underlying files that sit on the web server, such as the HTML files, CSS files, content files (e.g., images and PDFs) and code files (e.g., PHP, ASP etc). As a result all web hosting platforms should come with a way of transferring files to and from the web server and most of these use what is known as FTP (File Transfer Protocol). Some hosting packages include a web based interface for ‘uploading’ files instead or as well as FTP access for those with more basic needs, however, for web developers making extensive and regular code changes on their site, FTP is essential.

In its simplest sense FTP is an internet protocol which allows users to add, replace or delete files on a remote server across the internet in a similar fashion to files on a local network, but using an FTP software program instead of Windows Explorer for example. It is worth bearing in mind though that traditional FTP does not encrypt the information that it transfers and so if you are working with sensitive or private information or files you will need to check that the hosting provider supports a secure version/equivalent of FTP.

Content Management Systems
An increasingly large proportion of the sites on the internet are in fact built using what is known as a content management system (CMS) and if you are yet to build a site you will need to consider whether you would be best to use a CMS and, if so, which one and what the hosting implications are of that choice. In short, a CMS is the ‘back end’ of a site which allows users to login and change the content that appears on the front end. As a result they can be, and usually are, used to initially construct the website too.

For less experienced web developers or administrators with no programming experience, a CMS will allow them to add, modify and remove content without needing to use code or mark-up, sometimes using tools such as a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor to show the user exactly what they will be changing as they do so. The content that will be managed through a CMS will usually be on-page text but can also include files such as images, multimedia and PDFs (sometimes negating the need to use FTP) as well as the appearance and layout of pages (usually using templates to apply the same appearance to multiple pages).

In addition CMSs give experienced web developers the core building blocks of a website so that they can go on to manipulate the code to the functionality they need and the markup to achieve the look they want. Where a CMS does not offer a particular piece of functionality in its core build (out of the box) there is often a module which will have been created by its community of web developers and which can be installed in the CMS to achieve the functionality. If there isn’t, experienced developers can create their own modules and contribute them back to the community.

The concept of a CMS is very closely linked to the idea of blogging software and most of the internet’s more common CMSs began life as software intended to allow users to easily post their own blogs online. Bespoke CMSs can be built by web developers to create and manage a website, however, a large number of these CMS-built websites use off-the-shelf CMSs which can either be downloaded and installed as open source packages or purchased as proprietary systems. As with all such software and systems, open source CMSs will tend to be free and supported by community but less controlled, whereas the proprietary systems will have more structured support but will carry a cost.

As CMSs need the ability to display different content on pages depending upon what the user requests, and as they use themes and configurations to apply templates to multiple pages, they rely on dynamic page creation and consequently the use of databases and server side scripting. By far the most popular off-the-shelf CMS in use on the internet today is WordPress which is built using MySQL database technology and PHP as its server-side scripting language. As a result it is able to run on both Windows and Linux, as are Joomla! (PHP & MySQL) and Drupal (PHP and a variety of database programs) amongst the other more popular CMSs. Contrastingly, the most popular CMS that is restricted to running on Windows servers is Umbraco as it is built using ASP.NET.

There are a number of other factors you will need to consider before deciding which hosting platform to go for, whether you choose a dedicated and managed hosting package for a large site with high traffic volumes and security issues, or a shared server platform for simple static brochure site, but these will be addressed in more detail in following articles.

© Stuart Mitchell 2012

If you want to find out more about choosing the right hosting platform for your website you can visit Managed Hosting or for help in building your site, Web Design London.

The Benefits of Colocation

front view of the cluster of Wikimedia servers in Aubervilliers near Paris, France, installed on December 18, 2004; the three 1U servers of the same model (HP Proliant sa1100) in the middle are ours (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As the online presence of a business becomes more and more integral to not only their promotional activities, but also their point of sales, the reliability and flexibility that they demand from their online infrastructure becomes more critical. Therefore, it is a fundamental part of a business’s strategy to consider how their websites are hosted; how their servers can respond to high bandwidth if their sites become more popular, how they can ensure that they can keep up with changes in their online propositions, and the demands of their market place. This will allow them to provide the availability and service that their customers expect. The solution will often be colocation hosting, but what exactly is colocation and how does it work?

In short the concept of colocation is that the core infrastructure behind a client’s website, the physical hardware such as the servers and accompanying equipment, is located in a colocation provider’s facilities so that the client does not have to maintain it on their own site. This is quite a basic definition and in practice colocation providers will offer a range of services within that area.

Typically the client’s servers will be stored in metal racks within a data centre and the client will therefore be renting rack space. This rack space even has it’s own units of measurement, the Rack Unit (U) which equates to 1.75 inches of vertical space.

The client can retain complete control over the management and configuration of their servers or they can buy this as part of the service from the colocation provider who can take on all responsibilities of monitoring and maintaining the servers’ operations.

The principle benefits of colocation are that the facilities will usually provide a secure home on an internet backbone that will ensure not only high levels of uptime, but also high levels of bandwidth capability and ultimately plenty of flexibility if the client’s requirements change.

The facilities themselves often come with highly sophisticated features such as power back ups (both instant battery and more powerful diesel generators), air conditioning for cooling, fire safety technology, security features (CCTV, highly restricted access controls to both the building and racks), and multiple connections (both into the building and within it) to provide fail safes if individual connections fail.

The client can also benefit from economies of scale in two costly areas as well. Firstly it is often cheaper for a colocation provider to ensure physical preservation of the servers and their up time - the aforementioned fire protection, on site security, power backups - to a high degree across a whole facility than it is for individually businesses to achieve the same levels on their individual sites. Secondly the bandwidth that the servers can benefit from will come at a far more economical rate for the client than if they attempted to install the equivalent lines at their own site.

Moreover, when choosing a managed colocation service in particular, the facilities may offer greater levels of expertise and specialisation in up-time at a comparatively lower cost freeing up the client’s resources for more effective use elsewhere.

There is even a further option available to clients whereby the data centre can provide the server themselves as part of dedicated hosting service, rather than the client relocating their own servers. This is the complete package in terms of support and flexibility and tapping the full expertise of the data centre. It can be hugely beneficial for some clients, however it does therefore bring with it a greater cost.

Colocation is a real necessity for businesses which either need to exchange high amounts of data or cannot afford any downtime in their online services. Telecommunications businesses and critical e-commerce sites may already be aware of the benefits of colocation but it is fast attracting a wider church as businesses need to compete more efficiently online. There is no better time to see if your business can benefit from colocation hosting.

© Stuart Mitchell

Divorce and Financial Resolutions - The Process

With divorce rates on the rise again, most likely due to the financial pressures that most of us now live under, more and more people are not only facing the prospect of being divorced but the convoluted machinations of the divorce process itself. Often the two messiest and most contentious issues that couples need to resolve in any divorce case are the custody of the children and the division of finances. This article looks more closely at the second of these but of course all issues are intertwined.

To understand how financial disputes can be resolved it is useful to begin by looking at the broader divorce procedures. Despite the fact that divorce is far more socially acceptable these days, the judicial process still requires that one party in a marriage is deemed ‘at fault’ for the breakdown in the marriage and so to instigate a divorce an individual must complete a petition to the courts on the basis that their partner has committed adultery or unreasonable behaviour, or has deserted them for two years. Other grounds for divorce include a separation of over two years where both parties agree to it or five years of living apart. This petition is not only filed to the courts but forwarded to the other partner to sign and if all parties are in agreement, and if there are sufficient grounds for divorce, a judge will first grant a decree nisi . The decree nisi allows a 6 week window for objections to be raised, after which the prospective divorcees can apply for a decree absolute which confirms the divorce.

The granting of a divorce can be contested by either party involved but it is unusual for it to be overturned and therefore the majority of disputes that occur during the process are likely to be a result of conflict surrounding the distribution of finances and the arrangements and responsibilities towards children (often referred to colloquially as ‘access’). Where there are very few reasons for conflict, dispute or disagreement - in other words, there are no financial assets to split, there are no children involved or these issues have been resolved and agreed in advance of the case reaching court - then the case can be resolved as a summary divorce.

Where there are financial and custodial disputes to be resolved there are a number of different approaches that can be taken to reach (preferably) an agreement or a (at least) a decision on the issues. These approaches include legal negotiations, court rulings, family mediation and the new tactic of collaboration. Which route a couple takes needs to be decided early on in the proceedings so it is important to fully consider all of them at the outset.

Negotiations/Court Ruling
The traditional path that most people still take however is to pursue the case in court and then negotiate through their legal teams whilst the court proceedings are ongoing in an attempt to find a resolution which can be presented to the court, rather than relying on the judge to reach a conclusion. Each party’s lawyers correspond with each other’s on their behalf, representing their best interests, so that the two parties do not have to physically meet. If an agreement cannot be reached, the family court will make a discretionary decision based upon the evidence that they hear in regard to the financial aspects of each party and the marriage.

The framework for the judicial process involves:

• an initial application to the courts and subsequent provision of all relevant financial details and documents
• a First Directions Appointment (FDA) 12 weeks later to define the disputed issues and what needs to be done to resolve them
• a Financial Dispute Resolution appointment (FDR) where all parties attend to negotiate a resolution with suggestions from the judge
• a Final Hearing where a new judge will rule on the case if no agreements have been reached

An agreement through negotiation can be reached at or between any of these stages and presented to the court as a ‘consent order’.

Where agreements really are not feasible the full court process may be the only option but even when agreements can be presented to court the financial burden of communicated and operating through lawyers can be severe.

© Stuart Mitchell 2012
If you want to find out more about the most effective ways of resolving financial disputes during divorce proceedings then visit Family Law Solicitors London.

London’s Royal Parks - St James's & Greenwich

English: St. James’s Park in London Deutsch: St. James’s Park in London (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In the preceding parts of this tetralogy of articles looking at the Royal Parks of London, the focus has moved across London covering the parks of Bushy, Richmond, Kensington, Hyde, Regent’s and Green Park. The last two green spaces up for consideration take us from the centre of London with St James’s Park and out towards the south east with Greenwich Park.

St James’s Park

• Location: St James’s Park sits in front of Buckingham Palace, framed by the palace to the west, Green Park to the north west, Horseguards Parade to the east and Birdcage Walk to the south. It can be considered to form the eastern edge of a near contiguous green swathe across central London, flowing into Green Park, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens to the west.
• Character: Although compact, the park is marginally larger than its neighbour Green Park at 57 acres. It consists of semi classic formal parkland criss-crossed with paths and is dominated by a lake which splits the park in two. The Mall runs through its northern edge and effectively serves as its boundary with Green Park
• Attractions: Whilst the park is surrounded by attractions such as the aforementioned Buckingham Palace, The Mall (the ceremonial route to the palace) and Horseguards Parade its does also offer a horticultural haven within its boundaries. Visitors can enjoy the flower beds of the Memorial Gardens just outside Buckingham Palace, stunning views of the palace from numerous vantage points and St James’s Park lake with its wildfowl including pelicans
• History: The park was established by Henry VIII on the marshy banks of the now defunct River Tyburn, which flowed down from Hampstead through the area now known as Marylebone (after St Mary by the Bourne), to the west of what was referred to as York Place (now Whitehall), with the intention of creating gardens for a new royal palace there. Following a similar evolution to many of London’s Royal Parks, the lands were subsequently drained and landscaped under the reign of James I who, more unusually, kept exotic animals on them. They were then landscaped and formalised further by Charles II, taking influences from French Royal Gardens of he time, with linear features such as a new central canal. Early in 19th century however, the Prince Regent, later George IV, commissioned John Nash to once again re-landscape the park, this time removing these linear aspects from Charles II’s plans and, in the contemporary styles of the age, introduce more organic, romantic and winding features, turning the canal into a lake for example, whilst creating the The Mall as a stately approach to Buckingham Palace.

Greenwich Park

• Location: Located in Greenwich, South East London, the park is surrounded on its southern edges by the open grassland space of Blackheath. To the north is the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Naval College housing the University of Greenwich, and the River Thames beyond. The park is famously situated on the Prime Meridian at 0 degrees longitude.
• Character: Covering 180 acres it is a major constituent of the Maritime Greenwich world heritage site. The park itself is on split levels on a hill side which slopes down to the Thames, providing views down onto central and eastern London. Within the park can be found formal herb and rose gardens, orchards, a deer park and lakes.
• Attractions: At the heart of Greenwich Park is the historical and scientific hub of the Royal Observatory which is the most notably the origin of the Prime Meridian (which runs through the park) as well as being a branch of the Maritime Museum. Visitors can also glimpse deer, visit the parks famous sundial, view Roman ruins, or make use of the park’s tennis courts and boating lake.
• History: Dating from 1433 Greenwich is the oldest of the Royal Parks as well as being the first to be enclosed. It came into the possession of the monarchy with Henry VI in the 15th century but it was Charles II who later created the Royal Observatory (with the help of Sir Christopher Wren) on the site of the derelict Greenwich Castle (originally built by Duke of Gloucester). The buildings known as the Royal Naval college today originated as Greenwich hospital and were built on the site of the Tudor Palace of Placentia (birthplace and home to Tudor monarchs) in the late 17th century. The area was turned into a deer park by Henry VIII, who was born in the adjoining palace, and subsequently enclosed by James I when they were formally landscaped in the 17th century. As with many of the other London parks Greenwich has been more recently in the spotlight as a venue for the London 2012 Olympics, hosting its equestrian elements.

© Stuart Mitchell 2012
If you are looking to move to London or are already based in the area and are looking for digital marketing services then visit Estate Agents Marylebone or Web Design London respectively.

London’s Royal Parks - Regent’s & Green

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JULY 26: Visitors relax on Primrose Hill, on July 26, 2012 in London, England. The South of England continues to enjoy fine weather as the Olympic Games begin this weekend. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

Having introduced the Royal Parks of west London in the first two parts of this article, running through Bushy, Richmond, Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, the third installment heads further into central London with Green Park, via Regent’s Park to the north.

Regent’s Park

• Location: This larger city park is located within the boundaries of the City of Westminster and the borough of Camden. To the south and west it neighbours the exclusive residences of Marylebone and to the north and west the equally exclusive St John’s Wood. Continuing clockwise it is surrounded by the Primrose Hill and Regents Parks areas to the north and east with Camden and Somers Town beyond.
• Character: The park consists of 410 acres of landscaped parkland which stretches up the slope of Primrose Hill on its northern edge, and is a diverse mixture of grassland, tree-lined avenues and formal gardens. The park below Primrose Hill is enclosed by an Outer Circle ring road whilst planted gardens to the south of the park are contained by an additional small Inner Circle road. The park is characterised by the presence of numerous impressive buildings/grounds, both new and old, between these circles. They include a few impressive Georgian villas dotted around its edges, particularly focused around the north western reaches of the park and the inner circle. Just beyond the Outer Circle to the north, the lower park is separated from the grassy slopes of Primrose hill by the Regent’s Canal which continues from the Grand Union Canal into the Thames. The south west corner of the park is dominated by a boating lake whilst the south eastern corner of the park contains further formal gardens split by an avenue, The Broadwalk, which stretches up in a straight line to the park’s northern edge.
• Attractions: Perhaps the most famous attraction in Regent’s Park is London Zoo which sits entirely within the park, however the park is also noted for its Open Air Theatre which stages productions throughout the summer. For the more active, the park includes a tennis centre, a sports centre at The Hub, a boating lake and playgrounds. Primrose Hill is popular as a spot to take in the panoramic views of central London, but, visitors to the park below can also enjoy the planted formal gardens such as Queen Mary’s Rose Garden in the Inner Circle or the organic Wildlife Garden just outside. Although not open to the public, the park’s buildings include the US Ambassador’s Residence (with the second largest private garden in London) and Regent’s College (which includes a number of higher education colleges).
• History: The park initially came into the ownership of the crown when Henry VIII dissolved the abbey at Barking which previously owned the land of Tyburn Manor, named after the eponymous river which flowed through from Hampstead to the Thames. As Marylebone Park, it was first a deer park and then leased farmland until the Prince Regent (later George IV) commissioned John Nash to re-designed the park and the surrounding area, down to St James’s, to form a neighbourhood of palaces and grand Georgian terraces fit for the Prince and his court. Some of the work was never completed but in 1811 the park was landscaped with the Regent’s Canal, the lake, avenues and villas. The terraces that were built around the park and down Regent’s Street towards central London spawned a Georgian building boom in the area creating the highly prized residences of Marylebone, Mayfair and St James’s which remain exclusive to this day.

Green Park

• Location: Green Park is situated on the western edges of central London, between Hyde Park and St James’s Park. It is separated from St James’s Park to the east by The Mall and from Hyde Park to the north west by the junction of Hyde Park Corner. To the south it borders the gardens of Buckingham Palace with Constitution Hill providing the boundary, whilst to the north are the exclusive residences of Mayfair by Piccadilly.
• Character: Despite being the smallest of the Royal Parks at just 47 acres, it almost conjoins with St James’s Park and those to the west, including Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, to form a belt of green space which winds from Notting hill all the way through to Charing Cross. In itself it mostly consists of trees and grassland and is the only park not to have any buildings or water features.
• Attractions: Although it lacks much formal flower planting the park is renowned for an impressive Spring daffodil display. The park is first and foremost a green space however and so is best appreciated as a refuge from the hubbub of the surrounding city. It therefore has very few features with the Canada Memorial (to Canadian soldiers of the world wars) the only notable monument.
• History: Along with St James’s Park, Green Park is the second of London’s green spaces to have a connection with the former St James’s leper hospital which lends it name to the surrounding area, acting as the burial ground for its patients. Charles II took possession of the lands in the late 17th century and enclosed the park as Upper St James’s Park. Subsequently it was another of the Royal Parks to receive the John Nash treatment in 1820 when he remodelled it alongside neighbouring St James’s park for George IV. Over the centuries it became popular as an outdoor entertainment space, which had a significant effect on the simplistic landscape of the park today. Although now bereft of any buildings the park had been home to a number of buildings including two temples both destroyed by firework displays.

© Stuart Mitchell 2012
If you are looking to move to London then you can visit Estate Agents Regent’s Park.

London’s Royal Parks - Kensington Gardens & Hyde Park

The Kensington Gardens in London are 1 km 2 . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In the first part of this series of articles looking at the Royal Parks of London, the spotlight was on the two largest parks, both located in the South West of London, Bushy Park and Richmond Park. Continuing the progression eastwards across the capital, the next two parks for consideration are the contiguous Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park.

Kensington Gardens

• Location: Straddling the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the City of Westminster, Kensington Gardens borders Hyde Park to the east to form one large green space in west central London. The park is surrounded to the west and south by the area of London with which it shares its name while the streets of Paddington and Notting Hill sit to the north.
• Character: The 270 acres of gardens follow a more formal layout than neighbouring Hyde Park due to their purpose as the gardens for Kensington Palace. At its centre is the large Round Pond, whilst to the north the ornamental Italian Gardens sit at the head of the stretch of water known as the Long Water, which itself separates the two parks before continuing into Hyde Park under the name the Serpentine.
• Attractions: The formal gardens are home to a good number of cultural, artistic and fun attractions including the Princess Diana Memorial Playground with its Peter Pan inspired Pirate Ship, the ornate gothic Albert Memorial, the quirky Elfin Oak, the carved stone and water features of the elegant Italianate Gardens, a Peter Pan sculpture, Henry Moore’s The Arch sculpture and the renowned Serpentine Gallery
• History: The gardens were established by reclaiming a portion of Hyde Park as formal gardens for the palace at Kensington in the 18th century. At this time, the River Westbourne, which previously flowed through Hyde Park was damned to form the Long Water/Serpentine. The park has a strong association with JM Barrie and his Peter Pan character after his book Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens was set in the location.

Hyde Park

• Location: Forming the eastern half the aforementioned green space in West London with Kensington Gardens, the parks are enclosed by some of the most exclusive neighbourhoods in the UK with Knightsbridge to the south, Mayfair to the east and Marylebone and Paddington to the north.
• Character: Hyde Park covers around 350 acres and is almost split in two by the Serpentine which sweeps down from the Long Water in Kensington Gardens and under the West Carriage Drive which separates the two parks. It incorporates expanses of lawn, punctuated by mature trees, as well as formal rose gardens and wilder meadows.
• Attractions: The park is known as a venue for being heard and remembering the past. In terms of the former, it is home to Speakers Corner, where all-comers can voice their opinions to an audience, and often plays host to large open air concerts; notably the Rolling Stones in 1969 and Blur during the closing of the 2012 Olympics. For the latter, the relatively recent feature, the Diana, Princess of Wales, Fountain can be found just beside the Serpentine whilst the even more recent memorial to the victims of the 7/7 bombings across London is located in the east of the park.
• History: Having originally been the possession of Westminster Abbey, the park, like many others, came into the ownership of Henry VIII as a deer park. James I subsequently allowed the public in, however, and the park we recognise today began to take shape in the mid 18th century when it was landscaped as part of the changes that spawned its more formal neighbour, Kensington Gardens. As mentioned above, parks strongest feature, the Serpentine was formed at this time by damning the River Westbourne, which previously flowed through the park from Hampstead Heath as a tributary to the Thames (giving its various names along the route to areas of London such as Kilburn and Bayswater). The park went on to stage many significant public gatherings down the centuries with perhaps the Great Exhibition of 1851 being the most notable with the construction of the grand Crystal Palace. Most recently the park has had a key role in the London 2012 Olympics as the venue for the Triathlon and the 10k swimming as well as showing the rest of the games on large outdoor screens.

© Stuart Mitchell 2012

A Comparison of Direct Debits and Standing Orders

Most people who have bills, rent or mortgages to pay will likely either have Direct Debits and/or Standing Orders set up to meet their payments. However, they may not have ever taken the time to actually familiarise themselves with what each payment method is, how they work and what the differences are between them. The following article therefore aims to cover these aspects and highlight the uses of each.

What is a Direct Debit
In short a Direct Debit is a payment made from one bank account to another where the payee’s bank is authorised to pull the money from the payer’s account.

The mandate to take the money can be supplied by the payer in the form of a pro-forma completed by the payee, a record of a telephone instruction or an online form. This instruction must be passed to the payee to pass to their bank in turn and needs to contain the payee’s bank details - sort code, account number and bank name - as well as the frequency of the payments (e.g., monthly, quarterly, annually) and their timing. As an example, it could instruct that a mortgage payment can be taken from account 123456789 at Best Bank plc, sort code 11-22-33 on 1st of every month. The payer must however be notified of each payment, how much will be taken and when, before it is taken out of their account and can instruct their own bank to withdraw the authority at any time.

As further safeguards, each bank involved (payer’s and payee’s) must offer the Direct Debit facility and the payee must be an organisation that is approved by the bank before it can use the facility. The process is then backed up by the Direct Debit Guarantee which all banks must sign up to and which ensures that the payee is notified of any changes to how much payments and when the payments are going to be taken and that they are entitled to a full refund straight away if a mistake is made.

The two key characteristics of a Direct Debit are therefore that each payment is requested by the payee rather than sent by the payer, and that, in the case of regular payments the amount of each payment can vary. These characteristics mean that the payment method is ideal for making regular bill payments that are set to vary but which are due at on a schedule, such as utility bills. The payee organisation benefits from the fact that the payment is less likely to be delayed that if they were relying on the payee to initiate the payment. The payer can sometimes benefit from discounts passed to them from the payee as a result, plus they avoid the hassle of arranging each payment themselves.

The actual Direct Debit payments are underpinned by the Bacs money transfer mechanisms which are an inter bank transfer system. First set up back in the 1960s Bacs was until recently the primary method of making any free inter bank transfer.

What is a Standing Order
A Standing Oder is an instruction to make a scheduled payment on a set date for a fixed amount, usually on a repeating basis. Essentially, it is no different to a one off payment except that it is scheduled.

Once set up, it is therefore similar in nature to a direct debit in that it offers a scheduled payment system, however it does differ on its two fundamental characteristics. Firstly, that it can only be used where the payment amount does not change, and secondly, that the instruction must be made by the payer to their bank to send the specified payments to the payee’s account (rather than requested by the payee).

These differences remove a number of the complexities and restrictions of Direct Debits. For example, the payments can be made to any bank account because the payee’s bank does not need to facilitate and approve the process as would be the case with a Direct Debit. As a result it opens up the possibility for payments to also be scheduled to go to an individual’s account not just that of an organisation; in turn allowing Standing Orders to be set up between friends and family and even between one’s own separate accounts.

However, as the instruction comes from the payer, Standing Orders do place more importance on the payer ensuring that the payee’s details are correct. If the money is paid to the wrong account there is less recourse for the money to be reclaimed (in contrast to Direct Debits where the request is made from the payee’s bank anyway and is backed by the Direct Debit Guarantee).

As it schedules the payment of a fixed amount a Standing Order is ideal for paying bills which do not fluctuate, e.g., fixed rate mortgage payments, or for making regular transfers where the payer specifies the sum, such as charity donations or transfers to savings accounts. As an example a standing order could be used to transfer £20 on the 20th of every month to a particular charity’s account, or to put £100 into a savings account the day after the payer’s salary hits their account.

By becoming familiar with the answers to "what is a direct debit" and "what is a standing order", these two payment options and their respective mechanisms and benefits when making regular scheduled payments, people and organisations can make sure that they cover their payments using the most appropriate method; make the best use of their money, reducing the risk of missed or incorrect payments and minimising the effort required to do so.

© Stuart Mitchell 2012

London’s Royal Parks - Bushy & Richmond

Richmond Park (Photo credit: henry…)

Although being one of the largest and most populous urban spaces in the world, London’s sprawl is renowned for being punctuated by plentiful green spaces; some famous, others less so. These green spaces act as the city’s lung, literally improving the environmental healthy of the city but also providing somewhere for its residents and visitors to relax, play sport and generally escape the hustle and bustle of urban life.

Whilst there are many green squares and council parks in the center of London, not to mention expanses of protected common land slightly further out, a significant proportion of this green space is locked up in what are known as the Royal Parks; parks owned by the Crown as royal hunting parks or simply as gardens for their royal palaces. These days they are protected spaces open to the public by Crown decree and managed by the Royal Parks Agency.

There are eight Royal Parks in total within London and the following trio of articles provide an introduction to them all. Starting in the West and heading East

Bushy Park

• Location: In the borough of Richmond in the south west of London. The park sits behind the former royal residence of Hampton Court in a bend of the River Thames, bordered to the north by Teddington
• Character: The second largest of the Royal Parks at 1,100 acres, it consists of a mix of formal landscaping, woodland, grassland, streams and ponds, with the Water Gardens and grand Chestnut Avenue forming significant features. It is also dotted with sports pitches providing the homes of four local cricket clubs, a hockey club and a rugby club, as well as allotments and playgrounds.
• Attractions: Perhaps the most famous feature in Bushy Park is the Diana Fountain at the southern end of Chestnut Avenue named with an imposing golden statue of a figure thought actually to represent Arethusa, a Greek nymph. The park is still home to plenty of wildlife including herds of red and fallow deer.
• History: Originally created as a deer park by Henry VIII when he took control of Hampton Court as his royal residence, the park has subsequently evolved under successive monarchs. For example, Charles I added the Longford River Canal, whilst Chestnut Avenue and the Diana Fountain were later added, from designs by Sir Christopher Wren, to form a grand entrance to Hampton Court. The history of the park also saw it play host to the pre-World War II folk tradition of Chestnut Sunday which was resurrected in 1993, a World War I Canadian military hospital and Eisenhower’s military camp from which he planned D-Day.

Richmond Park

• Location: Also to be found within the borough of Richmond in the south west of London. The park occupies an expanse of land just south of the River Thames in between the town of Richmond itself, neighbouring Kingston Upon Thames to the South and Wimbledon and Wimbledon Common to the West.
• Character: The largest of Royal Parks at 2,500 acres, it is the largest park in London, the second largest walled park in the UK and is over twice the size of its nearest neighbour at Bushy. The park is heavily protected as a designated National Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest with an informal landscape of grassland and woodland covering gentle hills and surrounding ponds at its centre. It has the sense of a country park but within the boundaries of London. More formal woodland can be found in the Isabella Plantation
• Attractions: Richmond Park is particularly noted for its wildlife including the famous Fallow and Red deer and even the more recent colonising Parakeets. It is criss-crossed with bridleways and cycle paths for those looking to explore the area on horse back or by pedal power. The park also contains a number of structures including the historic childhood home of Bertrand Russell, Pembroke Lodge, now a restaurant but complete with its own public gardens. Many will visit the park however for its opens spaces and it views of central London, the best of which perhaps can be glimpsed from King Henry’s Mound within the gardens of Pembroke Lodge
• History: The enclosed park was created initially by Charles I as a refuge from the threat of the plague. With walls that remain to this day he enclosed the extensive area of land in spite of opposition from locals, although by allowing them right of way he ensured public access down the centuries despite attempts to keep them out. Dating from the 1750s, perhaps the most notable building in the park, Pembroke Lodge has a colourful history as the home of the once Prime Minister Lord Russell, his grandson Bertrand and a military HQ during World War II

© Stuart Mitchell 2012

If you are looking to move to the South West of London or are already based in the area and are looking for digital marketing services then visit Wimbledon Flats or Wed Design Agency London respectively.

The Advantages of a Family Office

The vast majority of us will never be fortunate enough to find ourselves in a situation where we need to call upon the services of a family office. However, for those at the wealthier end of the spectrum and who may own significant assets a family office can provide a vital service to both the individual and their family. The following article highlights a few of the benefits they can offer by looking at what they are, the varying purposes that they serve and the features that they can offer their clients.

In short, a family office is a private company that takes on the responsibility for running or advising on the running of finances and/or assets on behalf of a family. They are generally employed by very wealthy families that have the combined financial clout to make it worthwhile bearing mind that they can cost up to and around £1m a year. Their overarching purpose can range from more modest sustainability aspirations for the family, keeping the wealth and assets of a family intact, to more ambitious wealth building which may include aggressive investment strategies.

To these ends the services that a family office can provide include the fundamental administration of all financial matters - accounting, tax handling, savings and investments - as well advice on these matters and/or actual hands management, such as the placing of investments on a discretionary basis. As an extension of their remit managing the above finances, a family office can also take on the responsibility of managing many other aspects of the family’s lives including the legal matters and the day-to-day running of the family’s estate.

Indeed the term is used to refer to a variety of organisations that supply these services rather than a set company type and therefore some providers may be individual companies established with the sole purpose of fulfilling the role for a particular family, but others may be specialist companies serving multiple families or even financial sector organisations who provide families with just a few of the financial elements.

Family offices can sometimes can be divided into three classes (A-C) depending on the level of service that they offer and the nature of the company providing the service.

More traditional family offices that act as a distinct private company and take on responsibility for the management everything, i.e., of all financial and non financial elements of a family’s estate on a day to day basis, would fall into Class A. Effectively these act as a one stop shop for all matters and would be paid on a retainer. Often they would be established as a distinct private company in the first place. They are therefore completely impartial with no affiliations to a particular financial service provider and are usually fairly autonomous, operating on a discretionary basis making day to day decisions on behalf of family. Their services are ideal for families without the time or availability to run their estate themselves.

Families that do have the time and will to manage their own estates but perhaps need guidance in their financial dealings can access a Class B service, usually provided by a financial sector firm or a legal firm. Where they run particular financial products, or have affiliations with those that do, these can be made available to the family.

Alternatively, where a family is looking for estate management and on-site administration services, but do not require financial advice or guidance, they can access a Class C service. As the service is primarily management based and administrative, and therefore does not require extensive financial expertise, it can often be supplied by individuals employed on-site and in turn managed by the family themselves.

© Stuart Mitchell 2012

An Introduction to Mobile VPN

The following article aims to provide a brief introduction to the concept of mobile VPN, how it works and its potential applications in business and the public sector.

What is Mobile VPN
A Virtual Private Network or VPN is a mechanism which allows users to securely connect to local networks from remote locations across public networks using encrypted parcels of data and authentication at each end point.

The term mobile VPN, or mVPN, refers to systems in which users of portable devices such as mobile phones, tablets and laptops connect securely to fixed local networks from remote locations, across the internet, by connecting initially to wireless networks or mobile phone carrier networks. The key challenges for mobile VPNs relate to the fact that the user and their device will, by definition, be mobile. They will need to be accessing their VPN connection from differing networks, often roaming between networks as they are on the move and occasionally experiencing moments offline between these networks (or as they put their device to sleep). The aim of a mobile VPN is to allow the device to be authenticated when connecting from this variety of networks and to maintain the VPN session as the user and their device roam.

The problem this poses, however, is manifold. Firstly, the IP address of the client device will vary depending on where they are accessing the network from, making authentication harder. The device may be assigned a dynamic IP address anyway (which will therefore change every time they connect), regardless of its location, but in addition the device’s IP address will change each time it connects from a different mobile or wireless network (Wi-Fi hotspot). What’s more, when the user is roaming across networks, the identity of the device end point will be changing each time they do switch from one to another. Secondly, the moments when the device is offline when the it is in a location without an available network, is switching from one to another or is idle can result in the suspension of the VPN session.

How Does It Work?
The classic model of a VPN involves the creation of a secure tunnel (in which information is encrypted) through the internet, essentially from one IP address to another, usually with the IP addresses of each end point predefined. This mechanism creates two problems for mobile users. Firstly a mobile system cannot utilise IP verification if the IP address of the connecting device changes on each occasion, which negates one of the authentication methods, removing a level of security for the VPN. Secondly this tunnel would break each time the IP of an end point changed or when the device goes offline. Mobile VPNs therefore overcome this obstacle with VPN software that assigns a constant static IP address to the actual device rather than relying on its network assigned IP address. In addition they can utilise a virtualised VPN session which is kept open as the status of the device changes and then an automated login to reestablish the connection when the device reconnects.

Where Can It Be Used?
Mobile VPNs can be beneficial for any profession or industry where the client is on the go, working from various locations; particularly where the information that is being accessed and transmitted is of a sensitive nature and therefore needs to be kept secure. In the public sector, for example, mobile VPNs can allow health professionals to communicate with central networks when outside of the surgery or hospital (i.e., in the field), to view and update patient records. Other public services whose jobs also require them to be on the move constantly, such as the police can employ the technology to the same effect to view centralised databases.

Whilst being initially popular in the public sector the technology is becoming vital to the private sector too with enterprise realising its value in allowing output to continue seamlessly for employees within businesses where travel is a necessary element of the work. Examples form the private sector can include transportation and delivery services, utility employees and travelling salesmen.

As the cost and productivity efficiencies of working securely on the move are realised by both business and the public services, and with the continuing proliferation of smartphones and tablets, the adoption of mobile VPN technology is set to gather significant pace and consequently become commonplace throughout many aspects of our lives.

© Stuart Mitchell 2012
To find out more about the possibilities of VPNs for enterprise visit VPN UK.

5 Dorset Towns in Profile - Bournemouth & Poole

English: Brownsea Island Ferries, Poole Quay. Regular departures take trippers across Poole Harbour to Brownsea Island. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In previous articles we have looked at the 5 largest settlements in the ceremonial county of Wiltshire. This time it is the turn of the stunning coastal county of Dorset. Famous for its Jurassic Coast, rich in fossils and geological delights, as well as its rolling countryside and pretty villages. Interestingly, Dorset is one of the few counties in England not to be home to a city but its towns still have more than their fair share to offer. The first part of this article focuses on the profiles of the two largest towns, Bournemouth and Poole.

Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a town located in the south eastern corner of Dorset, near the border with Hampshire. Estimates for the population of the town itself lie at around 168,000 but it is certainly the biggest settlement in the county. These days it forms the largest constituent part of its eponymous borough and unitary authority, as well as the South East Dorset conurbation alongside the adjoining towns of Poole (to the West) and Christchurch (to the East). This conurbation which also encompasses nearby towns such as Wimborne, Ferndown and New Milton (in Hampshire) is the main focus of settlement in Dorset with a population of around 400,000 in total.

Whilst being best known as a tourist destination the town has a well developed service and, in particular, financial service sector which provides much of its employment opportunities. There is also a large, and growing, university in the town with over 17,500 students attending although many of these live and study just over its boundaries with neighbouring Poole.

Bournemouth is one of the most prominent seaside towns in the country owing in part to its seven mile long sandy beach and south coast climate and is now also a popular retirement location. In fact as a relatively modern town it grew extensively and rapidly during the Victorian period from a only a handful of buildings on the mouth of the small River Bourne, due to its suitability as a resort in particular. Now it also offers plenty of entertainments, at venues such as the Bournemouth International Centre and the pier, in addition to surf, down the beach in Boscombe, vibrant nightlife and relaxation, in the extensive Winter Gardens in the town centre.

Poole
To the west, Bournemouth melds into the harbour town of Poole. Only slightly smaller than its neighbour with a population of around 138,000, it is the second largest settlement in the county. Although a unitary authority in its own right, it also contributes a very significant chunk of the South East Dorset Conurbation. Poole has developed a mixed economy due to its location on the northern edge of Poole Harbour, (arguably) the second largest natural harbour in the world. It has a thriving service industry and is a key transport hub, with a regular ferry services across the channel, as well as a manufacturing centre famous in particular for yacht building and Poole Pottery.

The town is a popular tourist destination for those attracted by Brownsea Island (the birthplace of cub scouts) with its famous red squirrels, the sandy beaches of Studland and Sandbanks each side of the harbour entrance, or the water sports opportunities in the harbour and Poole Bay. In fact the waters of the harbour regularly play host to sailing, water skiing and wind surfing events amongst others, whilst the beaches are popular with those playing volleyball and kite surfing (not to mention sunbathers). Other attractions in the town include the largest arts centre outside the capital at Poole Lighthouse and the shops and restaurants around Poole Quay. Indeed the desirability of the area is illustrated by the fact that Sandbanks is home to some of the most expensive real estate on the planet, ranked by some behind only London, New York and Tokyo.

In the next installment, we’ll focus on the remaining three towns that make up Dorset’s top five.

© Stuart Mitchell 2012
If you live in or around the Bournemouth and Poole area and are looking for legal advice you can visit Solicitors Bournemouth.