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Is technology hindering child development?
I worry about the impact of what I see as the over-use of technology in our family. I never really wanted my children to play video games and so on at all. That decision was taken out of my hands when my parents turned up with a games console one day for my oldest son. More followed and all my children spend a lot of time on screens with the boys particularly keen on video games. I wonder is technology hindering child development. In my childhood, I think some children did have games things but I was not one of them and did not miss them. Now, they are a part of…
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Moving house checklist for kids and pets
A moving house checklist for kids and pets can save so much hassle. Did you know relocating is one of the main stressors people face in life? If it is stressful for you as an adult, imagine the impact on your little ones and your pets too. A checklist can reduce your stress levels which also has a positive impact on those around you. Yes you may have chosen the best of removal companies but there are other matters to consider for a happy family move. Inject some fun – moving house checklist when you have kids or pets If moving involves laughter rather than arguing and tantrums, it can become…
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Getting to grips with your personal finances
We can get a little overwhelmed with our financial lives, and quite frankly I don’t blame you. Financially life can tick over. You get paid, your bills leave your bank account and whatever is left is yous to do whatever you want with. Save money, pay for holidays or treat yourself, it is your prerogative. But what I want to know is when was the last time you checked your financial situation more closely? You could be missing a trick with potential savings or better ways of doing things. I wanted to share with you some of the things that you could consider. Are you getting to grips with your…
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Dress and Cocktail Rings Explained
You may have heard the term “cocktail ring” and are uncertain about its meaning and origin. There are so many different types of jewellery, it can be confusing to a newcomer and with that in mind, here’s a brief rundown of the terms “cocktail ring” and “dress ring”. I have to confess I had not heard of dress and cocktail rings before doing the research for this post Dress and cocktails rings Image Source: Pixabay The Cocktail Ring The cocktail ring has a very interesting history and was first seen during the 1920s, when the prohibition was in full swing. As you may already know, the cocktail drink was created…
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Strays and Relations by Dizzy Greenfield
Strays and Relations by Dizzy Greenfield is a book about an adopted woman tracing her birth family. As an adopted person myself I was interested to read it and finished the whole book in just two sittings. This book was inevitably very close to home for me particularly as the birth mother was an Irish Roman Catholic. The birth family had different strands to it too much as my own birth family did. Even in less momentous ways, I felt a link to the main character from the fact that her birth mum was based in Yorkshire where I was brought up right down to the description of her baby’s…
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The benefits of co-working for freelancers
Co-working is something I think works well for so many individuals and organisations. As the word suggests it is about working together rather than hiding in an ivory tower of your own office. Instead of seeing people isolated in cubicles or behind screens, it brings people together in an open workspace. In a very troubled world, I think the more we come together for work and play the better. This post is about the benefits of co-working. The benefits of co-working I think any worker can benefit from co-working to be honest. However as a freelancer myself, it really appeals as working from home or making a makeshift office at a…
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Are You Taking Your Spine For Granted?
It puts up with us and, quite literally, it puts us up. Our spinal column facilitates a staggering proportion of the movements we take for granted. Without it we can’t walk or even sit up straight unassisted let alone play sports, do our jobs or complete a set of deadlifts at the gym. Our spine does a whole lot to keep us happy, mobile, healthy and active, yet all too many of us take this centrepiece of our central nervous system for granted. We warp it through hours and hours of sitting, strain it with poor posture, put it through the wringer when we exercise and often fail to listen…
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Cashmere clothing and its benefits
Cashmere is such a lovely word. I cannot remember a time when I did not know the word or that it equated to quality when it comes to fashion choices. Cashmere is one of those raw materials where the saying that you get what you pay for really applies. Cashmere has a luxury feel and always looks super classy. With colder months coming soon, it is time to invest in ponchos, jumpers, gloves, hats and scarves of the cashmere clothing variety. Where does cashmere clothing come from? Some people are surprised when they hear cashmere comes from goats. I have known this since childhood as my mum worked in textiles.…
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Life’s milestones and insurance
Our lives are made up of many minutes most of which just pass by without us even taking notice. That’s a mistake of course which comes home to roost when someone close to us becomes terminally ill or dies. There are also the key moments or milestones that always capture our attention. Interestingly these are often the very times when we should consider insurance cover from a company like Pure Cover to ensure we have great protection in place. Read up on life’s milestones and insurance cover. Life’s milestones and insurance New home When we buy or rent a home, we need to ensure it is protected as things can…
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Looking after your health when travelling in Europe
Looking after your health when travelling is essential whether the purpose of your trip if for business or pleasure. It is never nice to be poorly but when you are overseas, everything can seem that much more daunting and scary particularly if there are language barriers to contend with. Here are some top tips on looking after your health when travelling in Europe. Take medication with you If you are on medication for an ailment already, taking some with you may be essential and will certainly make things simpler for you. You might also want to pack some generic medicines such as painkillers and travel sickness pills. Check out the…
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Tips and tricks for having a pest-proof garden
When the nicer weather arrives, you need to make the most out of your decked space — but the last thing you want to find is pests around your area. This post is about tips and tricks for having a pest-proof garden. As we’ve entered the colder months, pests will begin to look for shelter and your garden is the ideal space. In London, more than 100 rodent complaints are made every day. Although this doesn’t mean that you’re at risk, it’s worth making a few quick and simple preparations to stop potential pests from making your garden their homes. You need to prevent pest invasion across your compostite decking…
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How To Ensure That Your Blog Is Reaching Its Full Potential
Blogs are extremely powerful, or at least they can be. Whether you started your blog as part of your business or as a hobby that has now grown into so much more than that, it’s important to understand how much potential your blog actually has. The fact is that today blogging is big business. While just a few short years ago it was nothing more than a hobby, blogging has made a huge impact in the past few years and has the potential to be extremely powerful. If you run a blog, then you most probably want to ensure that it is reaching its full potential. After all, blogs can…
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Setting up a new fashion brand – Emma’s story
Setting up a new fashion brand is something so many of us would love to do. Emma Stewart is different as she actually went ahead and made her dreams come true, setting up Allta, which launched in July. I am delighted to share an interview with her which shows the calibre of an amazing woman. Please tell us a little about your childhood and teenage years I have always been tall for my peer group. When I was three years old my family moved to Sweden for a couple of years and there is a picture of me with some friends from kindergarten and I am head and shoulders above…
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How to create a great breakout session
I have organised a number of training events and sizeable conferences over the years. I have also contributed as a speaker and trainer in events run by other people in the charity and public sectors. I am going to share what tips on how to create a great breakout session. What is a breakout session? It involves splitting the audience or participants into smaller groups. Often this happens after a number of speakers have delivered presentations. They can be used simply for networking or ideally to enhance learning and develop action points to take forward after the event. Breakout sessions need to have a purpose Although people may want to…
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Warming up your conservatory for colder months
I have lived in a lot of houses and just about every type. Until very recently, I had never lived in one with a conservatory. I like to call ours the sun room but of course the winter months are just around the corner. I am considering how to warm up my conservatory when the sun is not putting in an appearance from painting UPVC doors to starting a cushion collection. Here are tips for warming up your conservatory for colder months. Warming up your conservatory for colder months I like the conservatory partly because there are no screens in there of any kind. It is my view is that phones,…
