Advantages: Flower, Colour, Ease, long lasting
Disadvantages: Fast growing roots

...Today I’m gonna write something about orchids. I hope this start does not sound like I’m lecturing. Before you go further, I would like to tell you not to forget to view the pictures which I have pasted below. Once finished reading the review, please look at it and tell me what do you think about it ok? Thank you very much! As you see, orchids could most probably be the easiest plant to be grown in your garden. Why? I’ll explain…. To start off, try to get your hands on one orchid. It is a good investment if you love plants. Orchids are sold widely. What do orchids require? Orchids are not fussy plants. They are generally wild plants and they do not require soil to live. Orchids can grow on their own (on rocks, on dead woods, on branches, on plastics), without even having soil. All you need is a pot, or a plastic pot, fill... Read review

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Advantages: Elegant single stemmed orchid with beautiful rich coloured flowers
Disadvantages: Costly to buy. Requires regular attention.

...For Easter this year, my husband surprised me with a beautiful Vuylstekeara Cambria Orchid. With its elegant long stem bowed over from the abundant small butterfly shaped flowers, the plant does look uniquely stunning. I say uniquely - but apparently this is the most widely grown orchid in the world!! It is a hybrid orchid produced by crossing three different original orchids: Cochlioda, Miltonia and Odontoglossu. I had always thought the orchid to be a difficult plant to keep. Thankfully it is not. The plant does require care but nothing too difficult or unachievable in ordinary home circumstances. ~What’s in a name?~ The Vuylstekeara Cambria Orchid is a member of the orchid family which are distinguished by the differentiation of one petal into a lip (labellum). It was originally produced by the Belgian orchid grower... Read review

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Advantages: Plenty of space for a growing family and very comfortable
Disadvantages: The after sales service at Fords

...Firstly , let me apologise. Please don't expect a technical review from me, this is written from a mum's point of view and not of Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear. I am a bit of a closet Ford fan. I have owned an escort popular, an XR3, a cabriolet, and a Sierra 2.0 Ghia. When the children came along it was to expand our car capacity so we bought our first Galaxy. I owned my 1997 Galaxy since almost new and even though it had only reached 50,000 on the clock, we thought it was time to trade up and change to a diesel engine. I wasn't expecting to get a brand new car but by chance we did. It was at the cost of no holiday and no more savings in our account but at least I've got a good set of wheels that hopefully will not let me down on my various trips down the M3. The Ghia version gives you a little added extra but don... Read review

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Advantages: Modern looking, Long Flowering, and Beautiful
Disadvantages: Expensive

...I have to say that I love all plants, and I find all flowers interesting in their own way; however, Orchids have to be one plant that is the Spear and Jackson of the plant world. They are definately a plant to be proud of. They flower profusely, and they stay in flower for a very long time; unlike many other plants, that have lovely but, somewhat, transient flowers. At the moment, I have two Phalenopsis (Moth Orchids). One of them has white flowers, and the other one has yellow flowers. They are a great plant that can match almost any surrounding, and the Moth Orchids come in lots of beautiful colours. They can be postitioned almost anywhere indoors, so long as they get enough light, and are kept at a moderate temperature. Requirements: -------------------- They require a daily misting, that is always best done... Read review

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Advantages: Rich historical detail, brings life in the Forbidden City to life
Disadvantages: Dull, fails to captivate, flat characters, wrong period of Tzu Hsi's life

...Empress Orchid is the latest work by Anchee Min, the acclaimed author of "Becoming Madame Mao" and "Red Azalea." The book is based on the life of Orchid, a concubine in the court of Emperor Hsein Feng who later went on to become Empress of China, ruling for more than 40 years. The description on the back cover of the book sounds fascinating - a woman managing to come to power in a male-dominated society, trying to protect and preserve her country against the European powers who seek to carve it up for their own purposes. Added to this the undeniable allure of exoticism (books on court life in ancient China are hard to come by), and the hint of sexiness given the fact that Orchid is a concubine, and the expectations of sex, romance, intrigue are all set. They exist in the book, but for a number of reasons they fail to take hold... Read review

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Advantages: Beautiful flowers, still grow if you neglect them!
Disadvantages: Expensive compared to other house plants

...I have always liked orchid flowers. but have never had much success with house plants so never really considered growing them. I tend to neglect plants so eventually they dry out and die! However in a moment of weakness in a garden centre, I spotted a rather sad looking phalaenopsis (not that I knew that was what it was at the time!) With beautiful pale pink petals and a deep pink centre. It was reduced as it had been rather bashed and didn't look very healthy! Always a sucker for a charity case, I bought it and brought it home. All the instructions on the pot were in german, so a little while on google was required for some simple care instructions! This was over 12months ago and the orchid has been in flower ever since - certainly a lot cheaper than a bunch of flowers! I have acquired another 6 orchids since then, and am rapidly... Read review

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Advantages: great book
Disadvantages: none

...Black Orchid is a stand-alone graphic novel by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean. It is based on the character created by Sheldon Mayer, Tony DeZuinga and Joe Orlando more than fifteen years ago. In the beginning of the book, a terrible, almost unprecedented thing happens : the original Black Orchid is killed. Not in a heroic battle with the enemy, not of some terrible mistake, but because she is discovered in the middle of an espionage operation. Her captor shocks the reader by saying "I've seen...the movies... I've read the comics." We realise that there is not going to be a miraculous escape this time ...and the sad end of the Black Orchid confirms this. But the strangest thing about this death is that is occurs at the beginning of the story. The real plot is about Black Orchid's sister, who blooms at the very moment of the heroines... Read review

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Advantages: Unique - make this YOUR hallmark fragance
Disadvantages: Too heavy for everyday use - not for the very young or very mature

...Tom Ford has certainly been shaking up YSL and this is one of the many results... Nu is French for Nude - meaning that this fragrance gives the impression of nudity whilst being fully clothed. Nu is not naked like Femme by JPG or Desnuda by Ungaro - this fragrance whispers seductively of many possibilities. Nu is one of the newest fragrances to come from the stables of Yves Saint Laurent and just as Opium caused a stir in the mid Eighties and most recently due to an ad campaign featuring an odalisque Sophie Dahl - this is a fragrance you either will love or hate. If you are drawn to deep dark heavy scents that are strong on incense and woods then this is a definate one to try. Packaged in a deep indigo perspex disc - the fragrance is modern yet has a base that can transport you to far away ancient places... Read review

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Advantages: Location
Disadvantages: Pricey food

...On three of my four visits to Bangkok I've stayed at the Royal Orchid Sheraton and it didn't break the bank. At a surprisingly low price of around £30 per person per night in a double/twin room in August 98 it was an outstanding bargain. This was booked through Kuoni, but although masquerading as a package tour, you can modify their holidays to choose which resorts you visit, which hotels you stay in, which days and flights you use for travel and so effectively they are arranging flights transfers and accommodation to your specification but charging you package holiday rates. Whether you can get those rates booking directly is another story but not one that I am familliar with. We got upgraded free to a deluxe room on each occasion by booking through Kuoni and the facilities were superb. There's a mini-bar that costs the earth... Read review

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Advantages: Tasty food
Disadvantages: Complete rip off/rude staff!

...Anyone thinking of arranging a Karaoke Dinner at the Siam Orchid should think again. I arranged this recently for 40 people and have never felt so ripped off in my life! The cost was £12 a head for a buffet and I was told we would have exclusive use of the karaoke until after we were finished eating (at least). Although the food was nice, for £12 a head I expected to get more than one plateful. In fact, they were so keen to close the buffet back up several people never got the chance to eat at all never mind get their £12 worth. (Considering drinks were £3 a spirit and mixer we were definitely paying well over the odds!) Surely once the karaoke got started up we would see some value for money - not a chance!!!! They wouldn't start it up until everyone had finished eating - so much for exclusive use for the duration... Read review

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