Author Archives: Frostie

The Nation’s Cleaning Habits: Are We As Clean As We Think We Are?

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Window cleaning in protective rubber gloves washing windowsWould you consider yourself to be a ‘clean’ person? Well, cleaning and hand wash product manufacturer Method UK has recently revealed the nation’s grimy habits and it looks like we aren’t as clean as we perhaps thought we were. It would appear that as a nation we have quite a few dirty little secrets and many of us take shortcuts when it comes to cleaning.

The survey of 1,000 people aged 18-40 found that 20% aren’t ashamed to dig something out of the dirty washing pile if they don’t have a shirt to wear to work and some of us will even go shopping for new clothes simply to avoid doing the ironing.

The survey also found that 13% of the UK only clean their bathrooms twice a year and fifth of us spend more time organising our wardrobes than we do cleaning. However, a quarter said they will always tidy when they know they have guests coming over. It would also appear 14% never wash their hands before eating and 15% of us are quite happy to eat off the floor – hopefully not when those guests are over!

But, 90% of those surveyed believed they had a valid reason for their uncleanliness, blaming it on the fact they simply do not have enough time to do it. Does that sound like you? As much as you hate to admit it you probably do have a few of these dirty habits – but what can you do about it if you don’t have any spare time?

Well, why not let the professionals do the hard work for you? 25% of those taking part said that their cleaner was more important to them than their doctor, dentist or hairdresser. With the arrival of spring why not check out what a service like Molly Maid Spring Cleaning can do for you – they might just be able to help you avoid a few of these:

Britain’s top ten most surprising dirty little secrets include:

  • Running out of clean underwear and going commando
  • Using a hairdryer to dust
  • Noticing a lipstick stain on a ‘clean’ wine glass and wiping it off with a finger
  • Leaving the bed sheets for more than six months before washing them
  • Following the five second rule and eating food that has fallen on the floor
  • Eating from the same plate at dinner that was used at lunchtime
  • Never washing hands before eating
  • Hiding mess away in cupboards rather than clearing up
  • Buying new clothes to avoid doing the ironing
  • Cleaning the house in the nude

If you have nodded your way through this post and got to the end thinking that perhaps you are not as clean as you thought at the beginning, then it may be time to make a few changes! With the arrival of spring what better time to make that change and start with a major spring clean – if you don’t want to do it yourself, call in the professionals and let them do it for you!

By Patrick Vernon.

Snake Oil or Medicine? by Dr Kathleen Thompson

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Every day we read on the Internet, in newspapers or in magazines about wonder drugs. With all these miracle cures around it is surprising that so many of us still suffer illness. Surely we just need to pop one of these pills and all will be well?

But maybe, just maybe, some of these potions can’t cure cancer, can’t make people with arthritis dance in the streets and can’t make you lose ten inches off your waist-line in a week?

If you have incurable cancer, or constant arthritic pain, you wouldn’t want to miss a useful treatment. So how can you know whether claims are genuine or snake oil?

Approved medicines are tested in numerous clinical studies, usually in thousands of people. Study data are scrutinised by regulatory authorities (FDA in USA and EMA in Europe) before doctors can prescribe them.  Thus there is firm evidence that they work, and a great deal is known about side-effects or safety issues.

However, anything can be advertised on the Internet – Google has no truth filter.  Impressive-sounding study results may not be scientifically sound. So here are some clues to help you assess them (See Table): Snake Oil or Medicine? by Dr Kathleen Thompson tableplacebo

1. Has the ‘medicine’ been tested against placebo (dummy medicine)? If people believe they are receiving a beneficial treatment, they often feel better, regardless. Most studies should include some patients who only receive placebo, to make sure any benefit is due to the real medicine.

2. Measures of benefit (endpoints) should be chosen before a study starts. Eg an influenza medicine may measure fever. If fevers don’t improve, one can’t then change the endpoint to, say, sore throat, just because these improved more. Some symptoms will improve by coincidence, and it isn’t valid to cherry-pick the best results. This is often done in unregulated ‘studies’ and can make a treatment look better than it is.

3. Always check how many people were tested. If a study only had two patients, and one received real medicine and one placebo, even if the patient on the real medicine did better, it could have been due to chance. Statisticians calculate how many patients are needed to give a reliable result. Unregulated studies rarely include enough people.

Unapproved studies are not always checked, so there is more opportunity to ‘cheat’—results may be changed, ‘patients’ invented, or data from any patients who didn’t improve may be removed. Where the study was performed, and by who, may give reassurance on this, or not.

A respectable study will be written up as a report, and will be published in a good scientific journal. Be careful though – some ‘journals’ have impressive titles but are not what they seem. You can check them on Cite Factor (see below) to be sure.

I hope this helps you decide what you can believe. If in doubt, do ask your doctor’s opinion. And remember, if something seems to good to be true – then it may well be exactly that.

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

Further information:

http://www.citefactor.org

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/info/understand

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice

 

 

How To Travel The World Without Selling Your Possessions

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ParisThe date you board the plane, and jet off to the first destination on your world tour, is getting closer! Whilst sitting at your desk, saving up the final pennies to put towards your adventure, you are daydreaming of sitting on a beach in the sun but are actually looking out the window on a drizzly Monday afternoon.

But, as you wish away the time until you touch down in paradise, there are a few very important things you need to sort out – particularly what you are going to do with all your possessions! Perhaps you have already sold some to put towards your travel fund and maybe the situation has encouraged you to have a major clear out. But, there will still be many things that you want to come back to in a year or two, when your travels come to an end and it is back to reality.

So, here are a few ways that you can travel the world without having to sell all your possessions:

1.Rent out your home – furnished

If you are lucky enough to own your own home, then leave all your possessions there and rent it out Posted in Life & Style, Travel | Tagged , , , ,

Frost Editor Catherine Balavage Tells All You Need To Know About Blogging

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The Ultimate Guide To Becoming a Successful Blogger , blogging, blogs, how to be a successful blogger, blogger, blogging, Catherine BalavageIn a new Frost series Catherine Balavage will be covering everything you need to know about being a successful blogger and running a successful blog. Hot on the heels of releasing her book on blogging, Catherine will be doing a talk on blogging at Litfest, the esteemed literary festival founded by contributing editor Margaret Graham. All proceeds from Litfest go to Words For The Wounded so come along if you can. It is this Saturday (16th April 2016).

If you have any questions on blogging then please send them along to us at frostmagazine@gmail.com or tweet us at @Frostmag. Blogging is huge now and allows you to create a brand, earn a living or even work from home. Keep coming back to Frost for the knowledge to help you achieve your dreams.

You can buy The Ultimate Guide To Becoming a Successful Blogger here. 

 

 

British women are damaging their health with weekday diets and weekend bingeing

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fitness-get healthyBritish women could be seriously damaging their health by sticking to strict diets during the week and binging at weekends, according to health experts.

Researchers have discovered a “feast or famine” culture with the majority of young women aged 18 to 40 (80 percent) restricting their diet during the week, only to overindulge at the weekends on junk food and alcohol.

Unsurprisingly, the survey showed Monday is the day women consume the least, with as many as one in ten consuming as little as 1,000 calories on the first day of the week.

A further one in twenty stick to a dangerously low calorie intake of 500 calories a day from Monday through to Thursday.

But on a typical weekend, the majority of women (83 percent) admitted they over indulge, with one in ten consuming 3,000 calories per weekend day (average) – with a further one in twenty admitting to binging on 4,000 calories or more on a Saturday or Sunday.

In terms of alcohol consumption – the average number of drinks consumed on a typical weekend evening (3 drinks) was more than three times the amount drunk on an average week night (less than 1 drink, 0.7).

Nutritionist Karen Poole said: “For many of us the weekend is typically a time to kick back, relax, catch up with friends and enjoy a little indulgence. Sometimes though it can simply mean too much of a good thing.

“If, at the weekend, you ramp up your junk food calorie, refined carbohydrate and alcohol intake, then you are looking at a potential sugar overload and your body will have to work hard to deal with the major increase in blood glucose levels, storing any excess for the future.

“Bodies function better with a regular varied diet of lean protein, essential fat and fresh vegetables providing a rich supply of vitamins and minerals.”

The report also revealed that a weekend of excess leaves 47 percent of women feeling tired and ill-equipped to deal with the busy week ahead.

The triggers for entering into a “binge” were also revealed, including a stressful week at work (40 percent), office cakes and treats (18 percent), a Friday takeaway (24 percent) and a Saturday morning fry up or bacon sandwich (27 percent).

83 percent admitted that on the whole, they are guilty of weekend excess when it comes to food and alcohol.

A further 77 percent said they wished they were more moderate with their health habits and indulgences.

Yesterday a spokeswoman for Spatone, which commissioned the survey among 2,000 women said: ‘’The working week can be long and tiring enough but if you’re also not eating a consistently healthy and balanced diet you may find your energy levels might suffer as you’re not getting enough vitamins and minerals to maintain normal energy function.

“Allocating time for rest, healthly eating and exercise throughout the week rather than dieting at the beginning of the week and then becoming unhealthy towards the weekend, can make it much easier to maintain energy levels and reduce tiredness and fatigue.

“Those who can’t get their iron requirements from dietary sources alone could consider taking a natural food iron supplement like Spatone”.

Damian Lewis Interviewed Real Spies For Film Role

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Actor Damian Lewis arriving for the press conference of the movie "Queen Of The Desert" at the Berlinale 2015

John le Carre is having a moment. The Night Manager was a huge hit for the BBC and now Our Kind of Traitor is coming to the big screen starring Homeland actor Damian Lewis.

The actor interviewed real life spies when researching his new role. He will play secretive government official Hector Meredith in the film, Damian said about his lunch with two spies:

“I went to Special Forces Club and had lunch with – for want of a better word – two spooks working for the British government, They were brilliant and discreet, while also being indiscreet – happy to share tidbits.”

Damian missed out on the role that Tom Hiddlestone played in The Night Manager: Damian had read the novel, he told Total Film magazine, “I’ve read the Night Manager, Larry Kasdan gave me a copy when we were making (2003 film) Dreamcatcher. He said ‘You must play this!’ I read it and stuck it on my shelf.” Never mind Damian, you still got to be in a le Carre story.

Our Kind of Traitor opens in the U.K. and U.S. in May (16).

6 ways to dress for Spring

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Ted Baker London Fashion Week Spring is upon us and you might be having a meltdown when it comes to your wardrobe and what to throw on now that the weather has warmed up. Florals, right? That’s all you need. Just a good old fashioned floral print to really feel ready for spring.

Well, okay, you will be seeing lots of this – the high street can’t resist – but that doesn’t mean you need to buy them. Here are six ways to dress for spring without a floral print in sight!

1. A cute pinafore dress

Spring means you can finally (probably) get your legs out and what better way to do this than with a cute pinafore dress? Work yours for spring with a brightly-coloured blouse, some cute collar pins, ankle socks and flats. If it’s a little chilly a lightweight denim jacket is great for throwing on when you leave the house or you can fire up the look with a leather coat.

2. Double denim

Honestly, it’s okay, double denim is a thing now. Fashionistas such as Rosie Huntington Whitely and Gigi Hadid are rocking up to events in two toned, denim ensembles that look amazing. You could even get your boyfriend to match just in time for spring; we love these jeans from Superdry that would look great with a buttoned up lighter denim shirt.

3. A vintage tee and a midi skirt 

Clash super feminine with quirky retro this Spring by pairing a vintage tee with a flowing mid length skirt and your comfiest Vans or Converse. When it comes to quirky tees, a rock band from the 1970s, an old well known brand or one of the many tees Truffle Shuffle has on offer featuring retro prints will look great and is perfect for warmer spring days at the weekend. Choose a skirt in a vibrant colour to really bring home that happy springtime feeling.

4. Cropped trousers and a cardigan 

Slim fit, cropped trousers look great with everything, but for spring pair yours with a lacy, feminine top and a lightweight cardigan and you’re good to go. Strappy sandals should complete the look along with an oversized clutch or shopper bag.

5. A sleeveless trench and your Mom jeans 

Those comfy, oversized Mom jeans with the rips in the thigh will look awesome with a basic white tee and a sleeveless trench for spring. Wear this ensemble with some low flats and a casual backpack slung over your shoulder for a cute, casual springtime look.

6. A simple slip dress 

The slip dress is going to be popular this year and can be worn in practically every season. For winter they look great layered over a long sleeve tee and tights but in the spring they are perfect for wearing on their own with a lightweight cardigan and knee high socks or if we’re lucky enough just on its own with some open sandals. It’s a great nod to the 1990s and an easy look to adopt this spring.

 

By Patrick Vernon.

 

Is there a right way to sell your home?

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xfactorhouse2015homefinal

So you’ve decided to put your house on the market, and you’ve had numerous people offering advice while you manically type ‘The Mirror reckons you can save around £4,621 when using an online estate agent, which could go towards the deposit on your next home or the renovation work needed.

Bear in mind: You’ll be spending a lot of time doing most of the work yourself but if you can manage, it’s worth it for the cash saving. You could also see a lower sale price, because estate agents work to sell a property for higher than its market value, so they receive more commission, but in this case it’s just you.

 

By Patrick Vernon.