If you are visiting Belfast City, then your visit will not be complete unless you visit Queen’s University. It was founded back in 1845 and has survived and flourished as an institution of learning, with a great reputation throughout the world.

The Queen’s University has a coat of arms which contains a crown in its centre after its founder Queen Victoria. Above that is the book of learning, to the left the red hand which symbolises the Province of Ulster, to the right is the seahorse representing the city of Belfast and in the bottom quadrant is the harp representing Ireland.

It has been known as:

• Queen’s College 1845-1881
• Royal University 1881-1908
• Queen’s University 1908 onwards

Queen’s University is situated just a ten minute walk from Belfast City Centre on University Road and is close to Botanic Gardens. It is well sign posted from the City Centre so should be easy to find. If you prefer a taxi, then it is only a few minute’s drive to get there. When you arrive go to the front of the university which I have shown in the picture above. On your right you will see a small terrace of brown brick houses which back in 1845, marked the end of Belfast City boundary.

Still looking to your right you will see the terrace of University Square which was built in a Georgian style as a speculative venture between 1849 and 1872. The staff could not afford these houses except for one person, the first College Bursar, Alexander Dickey, who as it happened was also a greengrocer. The University owns all of these now and is in my opinion the best example of terrace housing from Georgian Belfast.

If you turn around from here and look across the road you will see the Student’s Union which was opened in 1966, just three years before The Troubles started, and it has all the architectural features (or lack of) from that era. To the left of that is Elmwood Hall, which was once a church and at its front is a War Memorial to the Queens men and women who died in both World Wars. This was unveiled by the Duke and Duchess of York in 1924.

To the left again is the Sir William Whitla Hall, designed by John McCreagh which started to be built in 1939 and was completed in 1946. It breaks with the tradition of Tudor Gothic which the rest of the University is based on. It is time to turn back around now and once again view the front of the University. Look directly through the gates and you will see the original college, designed by Sir Charles Lanyon in 1849. Lanyon is probably the most famous architect in Belfast and also designed, 38 churches, Custom’s House, the Queen’s Bridge and the Antrim Coast Road. Quite a pedigree!

He was a property speculator and also became the Lord Mayor of Belfast. In my opinion Queen’s University is his crowning glory and if you look closely, you will notice the spires, the gargoyles, the flattened arches all done in red brick. This was a popular style in the mid 19th Century and was made popular by Barry and Pugin who completed the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London. Lanyon, supposedly used the Founder’s Tower at Magdalen College in Oxford as his inspiration to build Queens. Originally there were classrooms to the left, the President’s Office was in the actual tower, the Great Hall is on your right and the tower beyond was the house of the Vice-President of the College.

Walk through the gates and now move into the University where you will be greeted by the Entrance Hall. You should now be standing on a mosaic floor which shows the arms of the Province of Ulster, quartered with the Royal Arms of Queen Victoria.. This red hand theme, the symbol of the Province of Ulster is a trend that persists throughout the University. Go through the doors and directly in front of you, you will see a statue of Galileo designed by Pio Fedi. Sir William Whitla brought this statue back from Italy and gave it to the University.

On the picture on the left, look above the statue of Galileo and you will see a beautiful stained glass window. This was designed in 1939 by J.E.Nuttgens but was not erected until after the second world war. Yet again the red hand is present here as well as the other symbols of Queen’s University.

To your left where you have just entered is the Queen’s Visitor Centre and at its entrance you will find a plaque in honour of Edwin Godkin. He left Queens without a degree and became a war correspondent in the Crimean War. He eventually emigrated to the United States and founded “The Nation” which he edited for 35 years. Go through this door and turn right and follow the stairs to the landing. To your right is the Canada Room which was once used for lectures and as Zoology museum, before becoming offices and then being redesigned by Robert McKinstry in 1986. The room is panelled in Canadian Maple and decorated with the coats of arms of Canada.

You can now go through the double doors into the Academic Council Chamber and into what was once a lecture room. This gives you an idea of the full height of the building and you can see the famous Lanyon roof trusses. Go back out to the landing now and through the double doors which should be facing you. This is the Art Gallery, where there should be a Curator present to explain the latest exhibition. Go back downstairs and once again into the Entrance Hall. Follow the signs now to the Great Hall.

Please watch the video above which gives you some interesting information about the Great Hall. This hall was used as a refectory and examination hall. Before leaving, note the portrait of the man in the overcoat, red scarf and hat who is known as “Dickie Hunter.” He was a lecturer in anatomy and secretary of the University and his hobby was to arrange Christmas Circuses in Belfast City and act as the ringmaster. His strange pose is probably best explained as he studied art in Paris. Now go back through the entrance doors and turn left going outside and into a quadrangle. Here you can see the back of the original college with some later additions.

You are standing in the cloisters and right behind you, up on the chimney breast, you can see the cipher “VR” (Victoria Regina) with the date 1848. Opposite you can see the famous window in the chimney, which is where Thomas Andrews and a distinguished chemist had his fume cupboard. In the middle of the cloistered facade is the clock. It was not Lanyon’s intention to create a quadrangle and this only came about during a rebuilding programme from 1910-1912.. Look to your right and you will see the School of Physics, whit another fine tower which was designed by William Henry Lynn in 1911. Directly opposite is the Library Tower erected in 1952 and next to that is the Peter Froggatt teaching centre. If you now walk across the quadrangle and through the 1952 Arch, directly in front of you is the University Library also designed by Lynn. You will notice here a change in architectural style and this influence is down to John Ruskin and the “Ruskinesque Gothic” style.

The library was extended in 1911 and it has indeed been re-modelled several times. The once open spaces of the library have now given way to book stacks. The library as you can imagine is constantly in use and a guide is required if you wish to visit. Go through the archway between the library buildings and you will see the full scale of the University Square with its huge bay windows. Return back through the arches and when you turn left you will come to the School of Music. Going back as far as 1895 was a medical school with a university bolted on. The then medical students raised money and built the original male Student Union, which is the central part of this magnificent block. It has been extended twice in 1911 and then in 1933. It is now known as the Harty Room and in my opinion has the finest hammer beam roof in Ireland.

Go inside and enjoy by turning right and walking up to the McMordie Hall, which was once a debating chamber with stained glass windows. This is not always open and you may have to ask at reception for access. Once finished there walk down the ramp and you can then visit the Seamus Heaney Library which stands on the site of what was the old drill hall. Turn right there and go up the steps and you can visit the old Physic’s Tower on your left. It is an unusual piece of architecture and you will see above the arch the old Royal University coat of arms, which was carved by Morris Harding in 1948, along with the shamrocks, leeks roses and thistles carved on the vaults. You will also see the arms of Lord Kelvin and the Earl of Rosse and on the far side of the archway the arms of Sir Isaac Newton and the Earls of Cork and Orrey.

Your tour ends here as you return back to the University entrance. Hopefully this tour will have given you a sense of those who have passed through its halls, and a sense of the knowledge that has been created and learned over the years. We at the Belfast City Blog, would thoroughly recommend this tour.

Imagine living out your childhood fantasies of small, dear English cottages, a crackling fire-place to keep you warm in chilly nights, lush green lawns with summer blooms peeping out from the grass, lady-birds, butterflies, fresh mountain air,blue skies, and Pine Forests! What better way to refresh and rejuvenate the senses, than plan a quick getaway to the Hills in the summer months, and return with a complexion and buoyancy which is the envy of many?

Ootacamund or Ooty (now Udhagamandalam) is one of the many British-era hill-stations, which still has an old world charm about it. The weather didn’t seem very promising in the beginning, and most tourists sported glum looks. Who wants rain, wind and chill as companions on a dream holiday anyway? However, the Queen of the Hills didn’t disappoint her subjects for long. Twenty four hours later, the clouds started lifting, and with it lifted the hopes and spirits of many a tourist, trekker, back-packer and photographer. Armed with our cameras, my family valiantly covered the main must-see sights of the quaint hill station: the Botanical Gardens, the Bee Museum, the Ooty Lake, Doddabetta Peak, and a drive to the picturesque, verdant valley of Coonoor, known for it’s tea estates and herbal medicinal remedies.

We were delighted to see that the Ooty Botanical Gardens, aged around 150 years, is still well maintained and bears a regal look. I sat on a stump of an old Pine Tree, and got myself photographed, while the rest of the family were busy spotting photogenic sights, plants and sights. We were luckier than most: by the time we’d completed our round, a steady drizzle, which threatened to progress into something more serious, had started.

Ooty is famous for it’s bakeries and chocolates: again a legacy of its British Raj Days. We scanned most of the shops selling confectioneries, and many calories later, were in a position to compare the quality of chocolates sold at the different shops. Of course, one should not forget to mention the country-famous Ooty vegetables, known for it’s flavour and freshness. The soil of this lush green hill station, is so fertile, that even die-hard non vegetarians will start munching on garden fresh sweet carrots, and juicy fruits.

Up a little further, lies the scenic Coonoor- known for it’s tea estates, which are a sight for sore eyes. Row after row of tea hedges line the hill sides neatly, and many tea shops urge you to taste the vast variety of tea that is sold here. I found myself sipping on; herbal tea, masala tea, chocolate tea, plain tea, and mixed blend teas. Somehow, the ambience of the place adds so much extra flavour to every sip! I couldn’t help but buy a few sample packets for home. We were shown many famous film-shooting spots here and to our delight, were able to recall the names of the related Hindi movies.

The fresh air of Ooty and Coonoor have an instant calming, soothing, and almost balm-like quality, that soothes the senses. The greenery and fresh mountain air is just what the doctor recommended in his prescription. I’m sure, that one visit to this pristine hill station can add energy and zest to the most weary, angry, hopeless, or lost soul.

Do visit Doddabetta; the highest point in the Nilgiris. It stands around 8500 m above sea level, and the best part is, that there is no climbing involved here; one can just drive up easily and soak in the atmosphere over a cup of steaming tea or coffee. There is an old telescope tower here, and for those who care, can view the major areas that lie on the hills below.

The Savoy Hotel, now known as the Taj Savoy, is an excellent place to re-live the days of the British Raj, when many a Lord and Lady came up to this fine place called Ootacamund, and made it their summer getaway. Like it’s northern counter-parts in the Himalayas, (like Mussoorie, Simla, and Darjeeling,) Ooty still carries an air of regality, grace and poise. Famous residential schools like Lawrence School and Good Shepherd, who have a good deal of history going around them, are still much sought-after by parents who are affluent and desirous of giving their children the best of school-life, with an atmosphere to match.

For those with a flair for adventure, don’t miss out on the famous Bandipur and Mudumalai National Wildlife and Game Sanctuary: these lie on the way to Ooty,and should not be missed. There are efficient forest staff, offering the best amenities for the avid traveller and wild-life and nature enthusiast.

One trip is not enough for me: I dream of a little holiday home up in the hills of Ooty, where I shall spend a dream of a retired life…..one day!!!

In the game of chess, the king is the ultimate piece you should protect. The focus of the entire game is to take out the opponent's king. Which make the king the most important piece of the game. The queen on the other hand is the most powerful offensive piece. It provides a myriad of offensive and defensive opportunities. If you lose the king, the game is over … but when you lose the queen the game will soon be over.

Professional speakers and trainers are too familiar with the old wisdom of 'content is king'. This came from the era when people still relied on newspaper for information. Thus the role of professional speakers and trainers was to impart knowledge that would motivate people for action. Training in this fashion was possible due to the scarcity of knowledge thus a public speaker who delivered the 8 points to great customer service or the 6 habits of a successful leaders was still regarded as an important resource.

"If you lose the king, the game is over … but when you lose the queen the game will soon be over."

Fast forward … we now live at a time where information is readily available through an array of media and streams. The social media is one powerful disruptor to the old ways of information flow. Print media have witnessed record level drop in circulation and many are struggling between shifting their business model and holding to traditions. The point is that the way we consume information has dramatically changed in the last ten years. The issue is not the lack of content, but the context as to how we access and derive meaning from it. What would this mean to professional speakers and trainers?

Recently I was at a leadership conference witnessing thought leaders sharing their wisdom and ideas on leadership. I was disappointed on the overall quality of the presentations. Nothing that they said could not have been easily found on the web or shared by a colleague on social media. Some tried to deliver their message through metaphors and stories and I must say a few succeeded in engaging and creating a refreshing perspective to the subject of leadership. Reflecting on the experience, I soon realized that it was not their content that was the problem, but the context of their delivery.

Many adopted the same strategy of numbered points coupled with examples and explanations. However there were some speakers who totally engaged the audience and their presentations created more 'meaning' for the attendees. I started to notice a pattern among the speakers that made a difference on that day. Speakers that made an impact were the ones who delivered their content through a kaleidoscope of context. Providing experiences that the audience could engage and play along. Among them were;

• Pair and group discussions
• Physically moving from their seats
• Storytelling
• Self administered questionnaire
• Activities and games

"If content is king then the context of delivery is the queen."

Traditionally, keynote speakers use one effective method called 'storytelling'. This is still relevant and depending on the skill of the speaker, it can be a transformative learning journey. But the world has changed. Perhaps storytelling alone is not going to cut it. Perhaps it is time that keynote presentations transform into an audience centred event and the element of context is given equal if not more emphasis as the content. If content is king then the context of delivery is the queen.

On the contrary, classroom skills training have adopted several creative experiences to engage the learners. Probably it is time that keynote speakers need to look beyond delivering points and to make the experience of the content their focus. Or another way of looking at it is that conference organizers must demand for a different experience from speakers rather than sharing information alone.

Will this mean that content speakers have no place in the market? Maybe not to that extreme. I still feel content speakers will have a place in areas where their content is new, revolutionary or key knowledge that the audiences are seeking. This can be witnessed in technical presentations or research presentations. TED Talks are a classic example of such avenues. But when it involves behavior transformation or shifting the thought process, content will not be complete without the right engaging context.

There is no denial that content is still the most important aspect of a presentation. Content is king, but context is queen. Losing the content means the game is over, but losing the context means the game will soon be over.

Irrespective of the global financial crunch, the market of luxurious cell phones has limitless opportunities and keeping in mind the same the manufacturers are floating great models everyday. These stunning gadgets are equipped with most recent features, advanced techniques, mouth watering designs and sensational appeal that can cause others envy.

The GoldVish is permanently engaged in creating high standard phones which can show you affluence in a better way. The majestic gadgets produced by the company are on high demand and people with sound financial position easily buy it to reflect their standards. It adds on dynamism with the identical design. The GoldVish Queen is one of the most luxurious that extends the customer satisfaction by the one of a kind design and amazing attributes.

Taking a bigger sneak of the model we will find that this is an ostentatious gadget made of ceramic steel and plated with 24K gold. The Goldvish Queen contains a number of swarovski crystals that boasts about the imperial appeal of the cell phone. It is a mobile phone available in the boomerang shape which makes it fantastically outstanding.

Special finish of the phone makes the screen truly scratch resistant. The great features that make this model stay miles ahead are countless but a few major one include easy to use MP3 audio player, mp4 video player, an inbuilt FM radio, compatibility to various Bluetooth devices, SMS, MMS messaging, WAP, GPRS download, health management, Voice recorder, variety of games calculator, watch and alarm with world time.

Wide array of features encompass some stand apart features such as 2GB IF Card, currency converter, contact memory for more than 300 contact details and with a 1.6 inch high resolution screen that facilitates better and stylish visibility. The attachment includes two batteries, USB cable, user’s manual, house charger, etc. The trendy cell phone comes with 12 month warranty and with two high quality gift boxes to keep it safe.

This tri-band phone with frequencies like 900/1800/1900 MHz makes it great to travel with and the miscellaneous attributes entail a language support system supporting English and Chinese language. The distinctively shaped gadget portrays a valued status working as a symbol of your image. You can enjoy the odd and spare time listening to the music, hearing current international happenings, shaking legs with the jazzy songs and watching wonderful movies.

For the true lovers of luxury, it is a fascinating choice and some of us can just enjoy the window shopping for it.

The words “Never before published-the lost classic, unseen for sixty years!” grabbed my attention immediately. How can that be? A tale written by the woman called the Queen of Crime, with 80 crime novels and short story collections and 19 plays to her credit never before published? I was so sure I had read almost all, if not the complete body, of Agatha Christie’s work; of course, it’s hard to be sure since so many of her novels have been re-released under new titles.

There was a reason this story had never been published. What became Greenshore Folly was originally intended as a short story to be printed in a magazine with the proceeds to go to charity. In the end though it became more the length fit for a novella and was judged not right for the magazine. The yarn was set aside, eventually to be developed into a full-length novel titled Deadman’s Folly, and Mrs. Chrisitie wrote a Miss Marple story called Greenshaw’s Folly for the magazine.

I’m so glad she did. This presented me with the opportunity of a fresh read by Agatha Christie.

Agatha Christie was my introduction to mystery; the Grand Dame of the suspense novel. I never tired of her novels and stories even though I’d become frustrated and sometimes even felt she wasn’t playing fair when it came to the clues needed to solve the mystery. Never once have I correctly concluded who the culprit was and Greenshore Folly was no different.

I have finally realized though that what led me back to Agatha Christie’s novels wasn’t the challenge of solving the crime. Let’s face it; I’m no Hercule Poirot with his ingenious insights or even his friend, Mrs. Oliver, the murder mystery novelist. What led me back to novel after novel, story after story, was that the novels were set in a gentler time and in what have become exotic locales. (Did I just say ‘a gentler time’? People were killing other people!) The pace was slower, too; there weren’t constant distractions like cell phones, Twitter and video games. There was time and lovely quiet palaces to dally with a cup of tea and let your thoughts ramble.

In Greenshore Folly, Hercule Poirot is invited to attend a garden party taking place at a quiet country estate in the English countryside. The residents of the nearby village are eager to see the grounds, particularly the squire’s ‘folly’, and take part in the games, most notably the mock murder that has been scripted by the famous murder novelist Ariadne Oliver.

It’s a good thing Mrs. Oliver has asked M. Poirot to award the winning prize in the murder hunt. Otherwise we might never learn the fate of Mrs. Stubbs, the lady of the Manor or the unfortunate village teen.

Dairy Queen is a popular name making various treats products especially from the soft ice cream which is relished by all. You will generally find a franchise of the same in the shopping Malls, fuel centers, busy market areas, office building and also in other places where huge footprints fall everyday. The company has spread its business in 5900 locations in U.S. and is also serving in 22 other foreign countries.

Background Of Dairy Queen Franchise

The founder of Dairy Queen Mr. J.F. McCullough started his business in the year 1940. He believed that when the ice creams will taste even better if it is soft rather than frozen solid. He invented a new recipe of making soft ice cream and began selling the product with his son Alex. To sell this new treat item both they tried to convinced one of their customers for an introductory sale. Surprisingly, when the sale started the number of customers stood up to 1600 and everyone loved the delicious treat. Inspired by this amazing success, McCullough opened his first store in Joliet on 22nd June 1940. Initially it sold two or three types soft ice cream such as cones, quarts and take-home pints and gradually it started selling a variety of products like banana splits, Dilly bars and many more. As the business expanded Dairy Queen stepped into franchising which began from 1944. Today the company is also selling various fast food items like hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken strips, DQ Orange Julius etc.

Excellent Franchise Offers

The Dairy Queen offers three different types of franchise of its products. Among them the DQ grill & Chill is the largest one which is essentially a fast serve restaurant with the facility of comfortable indoor seating arrangements. It offers items like soft-serve, drinks and other fast foods. The Limited Brazier is smaller than the former one and sells only soft ice creams and some fast foods products. For DQ treat Center stores the franchisee should sign an agreement with the DQ Orange Julius and is allowed to sell only the soft treat and Orange Julius items.

Cost And Fees For Buying The Franchise

The total investment cost for setting up a DQ franchise may vary from $372,802 to $1,771,860. The ongoing royalty fee is 4 to 5% and that the franchise fee ranges between $25,000 and $35,000. The company has a variable term of agreement which can be renewed from time to time. The amount of net worth and the cash liquidity requirement for the franchise should be $750,000 and $400,000 respectively. Financial assistance on startup and equipment costs is provided by the company in case of third party franchise type. However, no assistance is offered for inventory, or payroll cost or for the cost of accounts receivable.

Exclusive Training and Support

Currently the company is offering four major training programs these are Management Training Readiness Assessment (MTRA), SERVESAFE Certification, American DQ Corporation’s Training Program and Cake Decorating Certification Course. It also offers exclusive ongoing support on evaluating the field operations, toll free phone lines, great openings, frequent meetings etc. Beside this, marketing support on national media, co operative ads and support for promoting local programs will also help the franchisee to run the business successfully.

Ever wanted to be Queen for a day? Spring could be the perfect time to ascend the throne. Lots of girls don’t need much encouragement to get all high and mighty – take advantage of your natural blue-blood attitude and try out this role-play.

What every queen needs is a loyal, grovelling servant. Is your man ready to kneel at your feet, or will he need some encouragement? How about a sexy Queen of Hearts outfit to get him weak at the knees?

Deciding what to wear when you’re playing queen is a piece of cake. You can wear whatever you damn well please! So long as your man is ready to worship you from head to toe, you may think an elegant and daring body suit is the most suitable item for lounging around on silken pillows. Maybe a tiara will help to keep your head held high while your man knuckles down and applies lotion to your skin. Keep a close eye on your flunkey’s work – make sure he covers every inch…

Being a queen isn’t all fun and games, though. You’ll have the tiresome job of ordering your man to carry out whatever your heart desires – from bringing you chocolates to painting your nails. Make sure he addresses you with the proper formality – he should call you ‘your majesty’ and ‘your highness’ every time he dares to speak – otherwise it’s off with his head!

If you tire of having a minion run around after you, plump up your pillows and give you foot massages, you may want to get your man to take on the role of jester and entertain you for a little while. These days, the best jesters use very special magic wands to please their mistress – a double-pleasure vibe is sure to put a smile on the face of even the most difficult to please queen!

Just remember, your jester’s job is to attend to your every whim. If he acts up, you may need to exercise your regal rights and give him a taste of the queen’s punishment. The flick of a long leather whip should be enough to keep him in line!

Swap over!

It’s only fair – if you’ve been queen for a day, you’ve got to return the favor. Set your man up with a proper throne and a silk robe as his kingly attire – and try out this cute jester costume for his entertainment! Remember, the king can order you to carry out whatever he desires, and you’ll have to work hard to keep him happy.

What would really entertain him? How about reading him a passage from your favorite erotic novel – or try some of the top shelf magazines for real-life sexy stories to arouse your majesty.

For those jester girls who want to heat up that blue blood, try treating him to a display of acrobatics – stand with your back to him and touch your toes. If you’ve ‘forgotten’ to put on any panties, you’re sure to gain the royal seal of approval.

For more information about lingerie please have a look at this link: Cheap Trashy Lingerie | Blouses See Thru [http://www.oasislingerie.com]

Many people would say that a queen size mattress is the one that they want to have as it can give them all the comfort and space that they need when they are sleeping. True, but what about king bed mattresses? Are they in any way different? So the question is what types of queen size mattresses are there?

Well, as the name suggests, we can say that this bed mattress is truly fit for a queen. This is in fact the biggest type of bed mattress of course next to a king bed mattress. You will find that the standard queen size mattress has the dimension of 60 "x 80". Do you know that there is another variation that is bigger than this? Yes, it is the Olympic queen, and it is six inches bigger that the standard queen size bed. This Olympic queen bed has not really reached the popularity the standard one has.

What people love about a queen mattress is that it provides them with more than enough space to sleep on, whether they are sleeping alone or with someone. This type of bed is most suitable for people who have the tendency to sprawl over the bed while they are asleep. There is simply enough space for them to move, and there is less risk of falling off the bed. You could also see a queen mattress in many guest rooms, just to make sure that the visitors are having a nice time in the host's bedroom. On top of everything, you would be glad to know that you wouldn't need to spend a lot on the bed sheets and bedding for a queen mattress.

Like any kind of product, a queen size mattress also has its weaknesses. The basic problem caused by the enormous size of this bed is that it is difficult to move. So if you are thinking of redecorating your room, you might find it really hard to change the location of your queen size bed. In addition, for people who cannot seem to stay in a single place for a long time, would not be happy with the fact that they cannot easily take with them their queen bed if they need to move out.

And while the bed sheets for a queen size mattress is relatively cheap, they are not very easy to find. There are so many bedding sold that have the label 'queen' even if they do not have the size of a queen bed. Therefore, what you should do when buying the bed sheets for this bed is to check the dimensions written on the tag. Make sure that the measurements are proper for the actual size of the bed.

A mattress, queen size comes with the advantages of letting the user sleep literally like royalty. It has lots of sleeping space so that even if you have to share the bed with another person, you will still be able to feel the comfort of having your own personal space. Of course, it may not be as huge as the one you would get from a king-sized bed but it’s good enough for people who don’t sleep all across the bed.

But just like any other mattress type, the queen does have its pros and cons. It is not always a suitable choice for every need. Getting a mattress in queen size can be a good choice given the right product and the right conditions.

Size matters – dimensions

Generally, a mattress in queen size is second only to the king mattress in terms of size. The standard queen is 60 inches wide and 80 inches long although there’s also the larger Olympic queen which is 66×80 inches, again still smaller than the standard king. The mattress is big enough to comfortably accommodate two regular-sized adults and probably an additional little child.

Advantages

The queen mattress is a good choice for the guest room or if you have a relatively smaller master bedroom where a king sized bed may not be able to fit in comfortably. It’s also good for newlyweds or couples who have just started living together and are not planning to have a family anytime soon. The good thing about the queen is that it’s big enough for two adults but not too big that it could fit into a particularly small room that is typical of most apartments these days.

The queen is also a suitable choice for singles that tend to sprawl all over the bed when sleeping. There’s more than enough room to toss and turn all across the bed with this one.

If you have a mattress in queen size, looking for beddings will also be relatively easier. Sheets for this size are relatively more affordable compared to king sized ones. They are also easier to find as most stores carry this size. Your bed will probably need two to three standard-sized pillows.

Downside

In terms of mobility, getting a mattress – queen size from one room to another or to another home may be a bit difficult. The size of the whole thing can make it really hard to move so if you are apt to change addresses real soon and you don’t have anyone to help you out, it’s better if you forgo getting a queen for the moment.

Broad built and overweight people may also find the queen a bit cramped for comfort especially when it is shared with another person. There can also be much confusion in terms of sheets especially if you’re not all too sure about the dimensions of your mattress. There are some manufacturers that inappropriately mark bedding set as queen size but when you try it on, the sheet wouldn’t fit the mattress. To prevent this, you will probably need to be sure about the dimensions of your bed before purchasing your sheets.

The mattress in queen size is a good option as a whole but only given the right circumstances. Make sure that you assess your needs first before settling on any type of mattress to prevent encountering a lot of hassles in the future.

Queen is my third favorite musical act after The Beatles and Elton John. However, in my opinion, no singer can match Freddie Mercury’s voice. Even though he died too soon, their music lives on. Here are my 10 favorite Queen songs in order of preference.

I Want It All (1989; Brian May; The Miracle)

Taken from Queen’s second to last album while Mercury was still arrive, I Want It All is a heavy rocker reminiscent of Brian May compositions. The song is about rebellion and talks about the protagonist’s future and dreams of youth. This was ironic considering that singer Freddie Mercury had been suffering for AIDS for two years. The song is the first instance of Roger Taylor using a double-bass drum. The music video is also one of my favorites in which the band is seen performing the songs. There are two versions of the song. I like the shorter version which starts with the band singing the chorus a-capella. All in all, it is the best song on The Miracle and one of Queen’s heaviest songs.

Liar (1973; Freddie Mercury; Queen)

Liar is also a heavy rocker but has various style changes throughout. It is an early testament to Mercury’s songwriting capabilities, merging various musical styles and unusual time signatures. This is one of Queen’s best songs from their early years (possibly except Seven Seas of Rhye). It has a fine vocal performance by Mercury with some nice support from May and Taylor.

Don’t Stop Me Now (1978; Freddie Mercury; Jazz)

Don’t Stop Me Now is one of Freddie’s best compositions. The song is based around his piano and vocals, with the band merely providing support. It is one of Queen’s faster songs and considered to be one of the best songs to listen to while driving. Mercury’s vocal performance is one of his best in the entire Queen catalog.

Back Chat (1982; John Deacon; Hot Space)

Probably the readers would be mildly shocked by this song’s presence on this list. It is the only song I like on the band’s much derided Hot Space album. The album is a great example of Deacon’s funky compositions. He was really underrated and should have composed more material.

Radio Ga Ga (1984; Roger Taylor; The Works)

Easily the best and most famous composition by Roger Taylor, Radio Ga Ga is a gem of a song. He actually did the song a favor by not taking on lead vocals on this one, as he did with his compositions. Freddie does a stellar job of singing this song, even though it doesn’t span a vast range, his vocals are powerful.

Fat-Bottomed Girls/ Bicycle Race (1978; Brian May/Freddie Mercury; Jazz)

In my opinion, this is Queen’s best single release. The two songs complement each other so well. FBG is Brian’s rocker with suggestive lyrics and a catchy chorus. Check out Roger’s best drum fill at 2:52. BR is typical Mercury, a simple composition drifting off into strange territories. With something so simple as a Bicycle, Freddie belts out a lyric including the President of America, Watergate, Fat-Bottomed Girls and what not. A brilliant combo!

I Want To Break Free (1984; John Deacon; The Works)

I Want To Break Free is one of my favorite songs of all time. On first hearing, it seems like Freddie has written it but you might be surprised that it was good old John who wrote this one. A Freddie vocal masterclass from start to finish, IWTBF has one of the best and most controversial videos the band put out.

Killer Queen (1974; Freddie Mercury; Sheer Heart Attack)

Queen’s first big hit, Killer Queen is a vaudeville type number. It is the kind of song one doesn’t expect to hear from Queen, but then Freddie did let his imagination run wild while writing songs. It is a brilliant song with a well thought-out lyric.

These Are The Days of Our Lives (1991; Roger Taylor; Innuendo)

Queen’s last video ever filmed, TATDOOL is too simple to be Queen. Composed mainly by Roger but credited to all four, the song is a melancholic take on life. Freddie’s last line ‘I Still Love You’ remains one of the most famous video moments in music history.

Somebody To Love (1976; Freddie Mercury; A Day At The Races)

A song only Freddie Mercury could have composed and sung, Somebody To Love is my favorite Queen number. It has a sing-along appeal, though no one can match Mercury’s brilliance. The lyric expresses his search for love, which perhaps he never found.

I have left out Bohemian Rhapsody, Innuendo and The Show Must Go On on purpose. Those songs are great anyway! These are my 10 favorite Queen songs. Hope you enjoy them too.

More to follow in my series of articles on Queen!