Author Archives: Frostie

Advice on still being a socialite when quitting smoking

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If you’re in the process of quitting smoking but class yourself as a socialite — this quiz to discover your smoker profile from Nicotinell should help establish if you are indeed a social smoker — you may find yourself questioning what this will mean for your social calendar.

This guide will explain how you can continue to be a socialite without the need to smoke:

There are links between smoking and alcohol

Before we advise you about how you can continue to socialise while being smoke-free, it is important to point out the close link between smoking and drinking alcohol.

At the extreme, government data has found that up to 90 per cent of people who are addicted to alcohol will also smoke. Furthermore, smokers have been found to be more likely to drink and have a 2.7 times greater risk of becoming dependent on alcohol than non-smokers do.

In general, it is important to understand that both alcohol and nicotine act on common mechanisms found in the human brain.

When it comes to nicotine, the chemical compound will enter the bloodstream as soon as you smoke a cigarette and rapidly get transported to your brain. Once there, the nicotine will stimulate the brain by creating receptors which release chemicals that give a feeling of pressure. These receptors will increase in number as smoking becomes prolonged and your brain will become reliant on nicotine in order to release these feel-good chemicals.

However, the nicotine supply in your bloodstream will drop within 72 hours of your decision to quit smoking — those receptors won’t disappear that quickly though, so your brain’s chemistry will react to cause powerful cravings and strong emotional reactions. Persistence is key, as nicotine receptors will go away with time and your brain chemistry should be back to normal within three months of a quit.

In regards to alcohol, researchers believe this substance fosters feeling of pleasure. If true, this reinforces the effects of nicotine on the brain. There are suggestions that nicotine and alcohol will moderate each other’s effects on the brain due to the fact that nicotine stimulates while alcohol sedates.

Tips for socialising when on a quit-smoking journey

So, you have taken the first step and stopped smoking, but now face the dilemma of socialising in a scenario where you would have previously had a cigarette. Here’s how to stick to your goals and still have a good time:

Don’t put it off

You shouldn’t delay going out for a drink because you’re having doubts. Everything you did as a smoker, you can do as a former smoker. Holding off too long from social drinking after quitting can create a sense of intimidation. Plus, socialising with friends is an important part of your life. The sooner you teach yourself how to enjoy a drink or two without a cigarette, the sooner you’ll feel like your life is back to normal.

Have a pep talk with yourself

Where you go to enjoy a drink could very well trigger your smoking cravings. Before leaving the house or in the car, be mentally prepared by saying aloud, “I’m a former smoker.” Or try, “I don’t smoke. I’m healthier and happier without cigarettes.” The main point is to remind yourself that you’re a former smoker and that you don’t need to light up anymore.

Aim to have a social get-together where no smoking is involved

Instead of going to a place where people are likely to be smoking, why not invite your group of friends to your house instead? You can celebrate your smoke-free success with them. You’ll be able to control what is served which can help stop those triggers and completely avoid cigarettes in your smoke-free home.

Enjoy time with non-smokers

Non-smokers and friends who will be supporting your decision to stop smoking will definitely help. Who you choose to hang out with can help support your ex-smoking status. Slip-ups can occur when quitters are in the company of other smokers who may not be aware of how to support their quit attempt.

Invite a quit buddy to join you

A friend or family member can prove a huge helping hand as your quit buddy, so be sure to invite them along to whatever social event you’re attending. A quit buddy is someone who supports your quit. Should you encounter old smoking friends who ask you to join them, make sure they are aware of your situation so they can be respectful. Not only that, you’ll also have your quit buddy to hang out with.

 

The Holiday Home Industry and Brexit

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Greenway – Agatha Christie’s holiday home

Whether you are new to the market or a holiday letting expert, you should be aware of the changes in the political arena that have resulted in a decline in the purchase of family homes abroad.

Staycation is the new vacation as booking a lodge in the lakes or renting a flat it Manchester replaces the annual trip abroad. But combined with increasing competition from owners renting, in order to offset mortgage and maintenance cost, getting those bookings has never been so important in the holiday home industry.

Commercial gas retailers Flogas, give us an insight into the holiday home market and what holiday home owners can do to maximise their profits.

How Brexit has affected the holiday home market.

With the current Brexit vote and negotiations are well underway with the European Union, attitudes towards holidays and purchasing homes abroad are changing.

Homeowners and Brexit

With this country being always welcoming and accommodating to Brits, Spain always appears to be a first choice when UK residents decide that they want to purchase a holiday home. In 2016, UK buyers made up 19% of home purchases in Spain by non-Spaniards – it’s quite an impressive figure considering how many nationalities choose to go there for their holiday. However, this figure has almost halved since 2008 when it stood at 38%, which begs the question why?

With economic and political uncertainty in mind, Brits are becoming more reluctant to take the plunge and relocate abroad. It’s found that recently, the decline of pounds has meant that people cannot afford to buy the holiday home that they’ve had their eyes on.

Holidaymakers and Brexit

The decrease of the pound has also influenced the attitudes of holiday makers. More people of Britain are opting to take a holiday within the country to save money. Although research showed that they are spending less money on their staycations that what they’re use to, so the income is coming in elsewhere. Foreign tourists are coming over to take advantage of the lower rate of the pound and boosting the UK economy in that way.

Because the implications of Brexit haven’t been fully covered yet, holidaymakers are feeling unsure in other areas too. As of now, Brits are free to travel throughout Europe without restrictions and with access to healthcare. However, this could all change and it will further affect our holiday habits.

How can you get more visitors to your holiday home?

If you already own a holiday home abroad, you may be witnessing visitor levels slowing. What can you do to encourage visitors to come and stay in your home?

Online Visibility

If you don’t have a website or blog, you could be losing out on many customers from around the globe that didn’t know about your site. Even a basic website that includes photos, customer reviews and contact information could boost your online presence and revenues.

Consider social media, as it’s  quite a successful way to show off your holiday home and increase interest, you can offer promotions such as competitions to get people ‘sharing’ and engaging with the company.

Creating memories

The atmosphere when a customer enters your holiday home is an important element because it’s something that stays with them and this is often mentioned in online reviews. To improve this; greet guests at the accommodation if you live nearby to provide them with keys and show them around the area, offer complimentary wine and provide a map of the local area and any tips for their trip.

Maintenance cost management

You may be weighing up your options for purchasing a holiday letting property or maybe, you are looking to remain profitable. Either way, it is important to consider the costs involved with maintaining a holiday home. Of course, utility bills and mortgage payments are often considered top of the list however, there are some that are often forgotten about: cleaning fees can be between £40 – £80 per booking, a welcome kit costs £10 – £15 an agency may charge you 20-25% of your monthly income and there are gardening and window cleaning costs on top of these too.

It seems that if you are aspiring to own a holiday home, you should invest in a home in the UK – where tourism is on the rise from both foreign tourists and UK residents. For holiday home owners abroad, ensure you are maintaining your online presence and managing your costs as effectively as possible. Hopefully the effects of Brexit will become clearer soon enough and the holiday home industry will know where they stand.

Sources

http://www.lowlandlettings.co.uk/what-are-the-weekly-running-costs-of-a-holiday-let/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/08/27/staycations-foreign-visitors-provide-brexit-boost/

 

 

The Deferred Academic By Richard Warburton

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This summer I am awaiting the result of my MA dissertation.  It has been a testing year academically, a serious step up from the BA I completed last year.  Life as a student has come to an end.  My young colleagues will be starting out in their careers, but when I graduate I will be 45 years old.

The decision to resurrect my aborted academic pursuits came after redundancy and a long summer of doing little else but painting the house and listening to test matches.  Job hunting was arduous and unsuccessful.  My wife suggested some education and within five minutes of idle googling I had spotted an undergraduate course at the University of Portsmouth in film studies and creative writing – perfect.  Term began in less than a month and I had serious doubts whether they would be interested in a middle-aged man with a mixed bag of exam results and two hedonistic years in the early 90s at Swansea University.

Nevertheless they accepted me straight away.  I simply had to find some evidence of my A-Level results, apply for funding and buy an A4 pad and a pen.

Induction day was weird.  Suddenly surrounded by hordes of nervous and excitable teenagers I felt every inch the outsider.  Over the three years I watched them slouching about campus guzzling energy drinks and very occasionally visiting the library.  I had dreaded rubbing shoulders with today’s much-maligned youth but I found they were largely a delightful, if somewhat sensitive, bunch.  I became something of an essay guru and found much of my free time was spent reading their work providing advice, and correcting their free spirited approach to grammar and punctuation.

The academic life suited me and I did well from the start.  I had advantages though, including decades of watching and reading about film as well as more life experience to bring to the creative writing work.  The lecturers were awe-inspiring although not all of their audiences were so appreciative.  Attendances were poor in the mornings and I saw two people actually nod off in class.  My other key asset was a renewed fervor for learning.  When I dropped out of Swansea I was weary of lessons and timetables and the real world beckoned with its allure of independence and grown-up city life.  Twenty years later I was hungry again.

Lectures and seminars were the highlight of my week.  I contributed, took notes and asked pertinent questions.  The library was incredible with thousands of books on cinema.  Online resources were equally staggering and I immersed myself in as much of it as I could.  The student paper provided me with a useful outlet for decades of cinematic ruminations that manifested itself in over forty articles and reviews.  The editor was grateful for anyone who could write and published everything I sent him.

When I handed in my bound dissertation on The Existential Hollywood Hero I felt mildly bereaved.  Without any vital research to do or articles to write I felt distinctly uneasy at the prospect of re-joining the real world that had looked so enticing in my youth.  So with the blessing of a very understanding wife I applied for an MA in Film and Philosophy at King’s College London.  The work was much more demanding and the students all exceptionally bright.

Now I am sated.  No PhD for me, tempting as it is.  Other projects await.  Throughout my time at university, puzzled contemporaries would nod politely at my descriptions of the course then ask, “But what are you going to do with it?”  They are missing the point.  I’ve just spent the last four years having the most fun in my life.  Beat that.

 

The Soft(er) Side of Stephen King By Richard Warburton

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Via YouTube.

Many of you will have noticed the posters for the latest adaptation of Stephen King’s It.  Some feature a sinister red balloon being proffered to a small boy while others show the eponymous killer clown’s grotesque face – a malevolent grinning monster.  This sort of thing sends me bolting to the nearest Cineworld while others avert their eyes and try to think nice thoughts.  However, for all you cinephiles who don’t ‘do’ horror, then Stephen King’s cinematic canon does offer pleasures that are not so reliant on scares and gore.

It was probably the success of The Exorcist that gave King his break.  William Friedkin’s occult shocker was the second most popular film of 1974 eventually becoming the ninth highest grossing movie of all time.  Publishing houses took note and signed the likes of Anne Rice and James Herbert.  Over sixty cinematic adaptations of his work have been filmed which have varied wildly in terms of quality and revenues.  Nevertheless, amongst the horror classics like Carrie or The Shining there are several sensitive and thoughtful films that may interest viewers put off by the King brand.

Discussions of this subject usually begin and sometimes end with prison drama The Shawshank Redemption.  No supernatural monsters here, just the human variety in a film that accents perseverance and hope in the face of institutionalised brutality.  Instead, I would consider Stand By Me, a tale of four young boys who set out into the woods to search for the body of a missing child.  The film captures something that Stephen King renders so well in his prose, that is the exhilaration, vulnerability and confusion of what it is to be a kid.  Ironically King masters these themes in It and the latest film does a solid job of conveying childish camaraderie in the face of undiluted evil.

Of course It is not for the squeamish so next I would turn to Hearts in Atlantis which stars Anthony Hopkins as an elderly psychic who becomes the confidante of his landlady’s son.  It’s a curiously old fashioned film that played poorly in cinemas and divided critics.  However, its whimsical charms should win over the less cynical while its supernatural elements never dominate what is really a simple coming-of-age story.

Dolores Claiborne is a sombre and profound psychological mystery starring Jennifer Jason Leigh as the daughter of the eponymous Dolores played by Cathy Bates.  Dolores is the prime suspect in the suspicious death of her frosty employer and her estranged daughter is not convinced of her mother’s innocence either.  The mother / daughter relationship is delicately teased out.  King’s empathetic depictions of women, something rarely appreciated in his writing, are on show here.  And, despite the gothic gloom, Dolores Claiborne tightens its grip over two mesmerising hours.

Horror fans would no doubt be disappointed if they watched these films based on their familiarity of King’s signature output.  They might take some solace from another prison drama, The Green Mile, with its graphic execution scenes but the film spends more of its time examining humanity and dignity than revelling in shock and gore.

There is more diversity to Stephen King than his reputation suggests.  If you are willing to dip your toe into an unfamiliar genre then reading the long and terrific novel of It would be a rewarding starting point.  The film adaptation is the first of two with the second part due to go into production next year.  And, if you are curious as to why horror is such a popular genre then the upcoming book Why Horror Seduces by Mathias Clasen should provide the answers.

 

Living with less: Do you Dare?

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The decision to downsize never comes easy, but luckily, almost always it turns out to be the greatest thing. The mere thought of moving is horrifying enough, not to mention the planning, organization, and decision making along the way. Scary as it sounds, it is a venture that many people undertake for a reason and, as you can guess already, it is worth it. Same as for any big change in life, it is a process that is complicated and even exhausting, but on the other hand, a change of lifestyle in ‘’less’’ direction will turn out to be liberating and rewarding in so many ways.

Before the move

Moving starts weeks ahead, even months in some cases. Organizing a project big as this takes the time to make a detailed plan, especially when downsizing. Go through the rooms and slowly begin to say good bye by choosing the stuff that will not end up in your new home. If you are moving with your family, make sure you have an agreement on downsizing goals so that you could avoid misunderstandings and hurt feelings. Now is the time to picture the style of new home and to move forward by eliminating the stuff which will not fit in.

Determine your needs

Know your needs and decide on the spot what goes and what stays. For example, if you are moving from a house with three bedrooms to a condo with one, the math is simple. Assuming you know the measurements of a new home, make sure that your belongings will fit the place, especially big pieces of furniture. Make an inventory of essentials that you will require in your new place and get rid of the all the rest. Cruel thing to do, but if downsizing already, why not doing it right. Downsize on everything you own, including furniture, clothes, accessories or home appliances.

Monetize your efforts

One of the obvious benefits of ‘’less’’ is the lower cost of living in general. Since it is one of the most important motifs of downsizing, take a step further and earn some money by organizing a yard sale and cash in all the unwanted items. Being reasonable and consistent with this exhausting process deserves a reward, so treat yourself with some extra pocket money that you can wisely invest in your new home. Donate some stuff to charity and remember that your junk will bring a smile to someone’s face.

Assess new storage area

People often overlook or overestimate new storage area ending up with more stuff than planned in a less place than previously thought. By knowing measurements of storage places in the new home, you will know how many things to dispose of and avoid cluttering the space. However, it is possible that there won’t be enough room for all of your possessions. For that matter, consider renting a storage where you’ll store your belongings away, but still in the reach, if needed. Before you rent a storage check on their standards and safety issues, but rest assure that the most of the best affordable storage solutions provide good storing conditions as well as video surveillance.

Move

Make sure to move the furniture first and put it in its designated place. That way you will deal with the heaviest pieces in the very beginning and still have the energy for the rest of the stuff while at the same time you’ll get a better indication where the smaller items will go. Moving the furniture first will give you an immediate a sense of home plus, it will be easier to organize the rest of incoming stuff. Label the boxes while packing so that you can put them in their respective rooms when moving. Organize things as you unpack which won’t be much of the trouble if you bring only essentials.

Spruce up your new place

The new home is a chance for a completely new style and interior design. Now is the time to make your home functional and sophisticated by going minimal. Repurpose old furniture or have a new one that will be a better match. Make sure to get pieces with hidden storage, such as coffee tables, couches, etc. A clever use of space is a must so go vertical when storing things and install some nice shelves.

Make room bigger

Use tricks to make the room more spacious than it is. Uncover the floor and place smaller rugs. Uncover windows too and allow as many natural lights as possible. Place the mirrors on the walls and use lighter colors of fabrics. Choose stripes or some geometrical patterns since they elongate the space. A proper lighting will give a room completely new look in the evening hours. Avoid excessive accessory and beautify the room with minimal and tasteful decoration.

Conclusion

While still in the process of downsizing, no matter how scary it seemed at first, you will soon realize the advantages and the truth that lies behind the ‘’less is more’’. Changes are inevitable so why not changing for the better. Downsizing brings a relief regarding the expenses and provides a new opportunity to start over again somewhere else. Not to mention the joy of cleaning and simplicity of maintaining order in much smaller space. Whatever the reasons for downsizing are, be an optimist, embrace the change and take this chance to improve the quality of life.

 

By Ian Pearson

 

 

Pepe, The Sound Stacker Puppy From Hape – How Cute by Dr Kathleen Thompson

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 When I was asked to review this sweet wooden stacker toy, by Hape, I knew I needed help. So I called in the resident toy expert, Henry.

At fifteen months old, Henry has approximately fourteen months experience of testing toys to destruction, so I was confident in his assessment.

With true professionalism, he started with Pepe’s Overall Appearance. His smile and the way he dashed over to Pepe and pulled off his head awarded the toy a good score on the Appeal Scale.

Next – Functionality Test. Henry removed each of the brightly coloured rings of Pepe’s body from the central stick. He then tested whether the rings could be replaced – both in the correct order and in random order – they could. Henry then discovered that you could remove all the rings, turn the central stick upside down and push the stick into the rings as they lay on the floor. This gave him surprising pleasure. Thus Pepe passed the Versatility and Capacity for Non-standard Usage tests with flying colours.

Next, rings once more in place, I demonstrated to Henry that if Pepe’s head were pushed down, he made a cute barking noise. At this point Henry collapsed into laughter – yes Pepe passed the Amusing Surprise Feature test too.

Finally – the Destruction Test. With typical conscientiousness, Henry took each part of Pepe in turn and threw it with all his force on the floor, which made a pleasing noise, but there was no damage to Pepe, or the floor.

So, all in all, this is a very appealing toy. It encourages colour identification and balance skills, while developing play skills. Most important – Henry really liked it.

The Pepe Sound Stacker from Hape is just one of a whole new range of fun-loving characters in the exciting world of PEPE & Friends. Other toys in the range include an Activity Cube, a Musical Push Along, a Friendship Tower and Puzzle Blocks. Using a range of natural materials and only water-based paints, and avoiding harsh glues and plastics, Hape are the largest producers of wooden toys.

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co,uk

 

 

What’s More Popular for Online Gaming Laptops, Desktops, Tablets or Smartphones?

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Video games have never been in a stronger place than they are in 2017, with the estimated market value of the industry sitting at around $108 billion dollars. Of this staggering figure, mobile gaming takes a huge percentage, valued at around $35.3bn, consoles following closely at $33.5bn and PC gaming, often considered by many gaming elitists to be the better platform, coming in last at $29.4bn, down 2.6% since the previous year.

What’s considered best will always come down to personal preference, but in the last decade mobile gaming, and mobile technology in general has seen a colossal, almost unbelievable rise in popularity. Although it really comes as no surprise, as of 2014 the number of mobile phones on planet earth surpassed the number of human beings, with roughly 7.22 billion handsets being in circulation. In history, no product, device or trend has proved as popular, especially as it’s only been in production for less than fifty years. Mobile gaming has taken the world by storm in a way that neither PC nor Console ever could. Casual players across all genders and age ranges can now enjoy their favorite puzzles, platformers or beat ‘em ups at the tips of their fingers. Not only is convenience a huge factor, but accessibility also makes a huge difference, as most people have smart phones with access to an App Store. The average apps are incredibly good value, with the majority of the market under $5 or even free, meaning anyone on any pay scale can take part, where as many AAA console games can reach prices up to $70 simply for standard editions. That’s before taking limited editions, collectors’ items and day one versions into account. Another huge factor in mobile gaming’s favor is the ever increasing graphic and performance capability. Let’s take a look at Apples flagship product, the ever infamous and often controversial iPhone.

  • 2007 – iPhone: 32-bit 412 MHz Samsung ARM processor, 128MB of RAM, 4GB or 8GB storage
  • 2016 – iPhone 7: A10 processor, 2GB RAM, 32GB/128GB/256GB storage

Just to put that into perspective, when the original iPhone arrived in 2007, it had 93.75% less processing power than the 2016 model, released less than a decade later. Its largest available storage capacity, was 32x smaller than the iPhone 7, showing you just how far mobile technology has come.

Despite being costly, consoles are still a huge part of many peoples day to day life, with Sony’s Playstation 4 selling 63.3 million units and Microsoft’s Xbox One selling around 30 million units. Sony’s Playstation 2, released in 2000 is the world’s highest selling console, shifting upwards of 155 million units in less than a decade and a half. Sony & Microsoft have led the console world for over a decade now, with Japanese company Nintendo following closely behind, with a global value of $32.8 Billion.

The argument that PC is better than all has raged since the earliest days of video games, but how much of this is really true? The PC will always be the most powerful platform for gamers to play on, improving their gaming experience (especially online) dramatically. PC is also the exclusive home of the platform Steam, the digital distribution platform (store) that allows players to buy digital versions of games. As of 2015, it had 125 million users, and accounted for 15% of the total PC game sales that year. According to an industry report by Spil Games, an estimated 1.2 billion players are gaming across the globe, with roughly 700 million of those playing online games. That’s an estimated 44% of the entire online population, proving just how popular the world of video games truly is.

Article provided courtesy of games.paddypower.com