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Advantages: Money for a good cause, giving rescue animals a home
Disadvantages: Based in south east, get home visit before approved as "parents", opening times

...We recently became "parents" of two lovely cats, presumed to be sisters, thanks to Battersea Dogs Home (yes, they help cats too). This is our story... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ History of Battersea Dogs Home ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Opened in 1860, the Battersea Dogs Home is perhaps the most famous of all animal rescue centres in the UK. But did you also know that they rescue cats too? Last year (2003), Battersea found homes for nearly six thousand animals who, for one reason or another, had ended up with nowhere to go. Running costs are a whopping £637 per animal on average, and the centre receives no support from the government - it relies wholly on public donations and legacies. ~~~~~~~ First Visit ~~~~~~~ Opening hours are fairly restricted at Battersea, so we went on a Saturday morning. It didn't take long... Read review

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Advantages: Glossy
Disadvantages: Too minimalistic and changing rooms in style now

...What has happened to Ideal Home Magazine..It used to be my favourite buy, but since having a new editor,it has become just another women's magazine - to me anyway. At one time each page was covered with photos of beautiful homes decorated with style and character,however,this is no longer the case. The Ideal Home (according to the editors of this magazine anyway) is now cold,minimalistic and totally boring, only brightened with the odd use of bright green, orange and purple (as wildly used in the television series Changing Rooms). It is not my intention to insult anyone whose home is decorated in this way as we do, of course, all have different tastes. Unfortunately however these different tastes are no longer reflected by 'Ideal Home'. The minimalistic look is, I'm afraid, not ideal for me as I'm far too messy and easily become... Read review

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Advantages: Feature Rich, Inspirational
Disadvantages: slightly expensive, unless you are a keen renovator

...Period Living and Traditional Homes magazine claims to be the leading period homes magazine within the UK. As the latest issue due out will be issue no 190, then I am guessing it has been around for 15 years or so, and so has built this reputation over the years. Having been a home owner for some 19 years myself, I have always been attracted to home magazines, although invariably, I read them, let them gather dust in a collection for a while then bin them. Occasionally they make their way to the dentist or doctor's surgery. Rarely have I directly made any home improvements as a result. However, I have now bought a Victorian property in a beautiful village, but a property which has not been touched since the 1950's. (It is my 6th house purchase and hopefully my last, but I doubt that part!!) It is still rich in some features... Read review

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