Many people dream about doing something useful and different with their life and Hazel Bennett, who lives in Arona, has done just that. Here she tells readers about how she took time out from our lovely island to undertake voluntary teaching in Cambodia and how you could do the same.

The majority of cars utilise cam belts, often referred to as timing belts. These belts form an integral part of the engine and are vital for its function. Manufacturers recommend changing these are certain mileage/kilometres and this varies from make to make, or if it has reached a certain age without reaching the required mileage/kilometres. It is common to replace the timing belt tensioner at the same time as the belt is replaced.

In modern engines cam belts and matching components are subjected to a great deal of stress. High rotational speeds, vibrations and extreme temperatures can easily have a negative effect on the functioning of parts. Cracks below the metal surface, overheating and worn-out sealing rings of ball bearings lead to increased metal wear and even the jamming of pulleys. So they can easily cause belt damage. If a timing belt snaps when the engine is running, the engine can sustain very costly or irreparable damage as some valves will be held open when they should not be and thus will be struck by the pistons.

 

* Bon Jovi started by making Christmas decorations and his first record was ´We wish you a merry Christmas´.

 

* ´Shell Petroleum´ started in London as a small shop selling shells.

 

* Cockroaches existed even before the Dinosaurs.

 

* The door of 10 Downing Street can only be opened from inside.

 

* Until 1903 one litre of Coca-Cola contained 250mg. of cocaine.

 

*  Relative to its weight a hamburger is more expensive than a new small car.

 

* The first e-mail was sent in 1971.

        

* The shortest war ever lasted only 38min. in 1896 between the British Empire and Zanzibar.

 

* The first crossword was published in December 1913 in the ´New York World'.

 

* Sean Connery is younger than his ´James Bond´ successor Roger Moore.

 

* Michael Keaton the actor´s real name is Michael Douglas.

Two associated things happened to me the day after writing our recent front page headline on tourism diversification, and a treetop hotel in Sweden which was given as an example.

Firstly, two separate friends echoed the remarks of relatives who no longer visited them because “they had seen everything on Tenerife and why should they want to come again?”

The second was witnessing a queue of people waiting for a table at a seaside restaurant, nothing posh, just an ordinary establishment overlooking the ocean at Torviscas. Not only that, there were people, and I mean lots of them, walking along the pretty marine walk, enjoying the mid-afternoon sun and the stunning views beyond.