Category Archives: Life & Style

Life & Style

Help for home-schoolers! Useful tips that will see you through.

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Was mathematics always this difficult? Why does science suddenly seem so difficult? And why is the way they do things nowadays so different? Just some of the questions most parents find themselves asking a few times each day whilst home-schooling. It’s safe to say that home-schooling isn’t for the faint-hearted and we certainly have more respect and admiration for teachers than we did before we became emergency educators. 

Trying to get your children to complete any school work at home is difficult, and that’s before you manage to get your own head around ‘why Timmy has 3 apples and Sarah has 6’ …None of us signed up to this physically and mentally draining task, and if you have more than one child to educate at home as well as a full-time job to juggle, you may be wondering when this nightmare will end.

In the meantime, I’ve gathered some helpful tips for home-schoolers that will see everyone through …at least until the weekend! Read on to find out more.

Stock up on supplies

Having the right resources at home will not only make your life easier but also help to enhance your child’s learning and understanding. Start by stocking up on paper and printer inks, you’ll find the best Epson cartridges here, all at competitive prices. Being able to print work and activities that have been sent over by the kids’ teacher means they can work independently and away from a screen. You can also print fun activities for when they need some downtime.

Plenty of pens, notebooks and stationery are a must, along with other learning resources such as counters, flashcards, books and even mini whiteboard markers. Whatever you think will enhance your child’s learning should be something to consider. 

Get outside!

Kids don’t just learn in the classroom. Spending time outdoors exposes them to all kinds of learning opportunities. From nature and habitats to the weather and the seasons. Forests and oceans to mammals and birds – get them caring for the world we live in. Taking some of your lessons outdoors – even for something as simple as a nature trail – can enhance their learning and make this period much more immersive. It also means you all get to enjoy some fresh air and time outdoors.

Organise in advance

Seeing what their teacher has set for the day in the morning, isn’t ideal. To help your children get the most out of their learning experience, planning ahead and keeping yourself organised is the best approach. That means having the right equipment set out and ready for the next day, the lessons and activities planned, packed lunches arranged, and the right mindset in place. Having all this sorted in advance will make your home-schooling schedule much easier to cope with.

Accept that every day won’t be idyllic

Regrettably, even if you plan your day down to the last detail, things will go awry. Sometimes our kids just aren’t motivated to learn, and in this confusing and difficult time, we shouldn’t expect too much from them. Dedicating a few hours each day to their curriculum and other time for activities they enjoy such as reading, arts or even music, is more than enough. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself. 

 

Collaborative post with our partner.

 

Stokke’s Tripp Trapp High Chair Review

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I know I bang on about sustainability a lot and some of you might even be sick of hearing about it. However, I need to talk about the Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair. It is a gorgeous high chair that lasts from birth all the way to, well, the rest of your life. How is that for sustainability?

The high chair itself it stylish, with stunning design. It is well-made of course. I would not expect anything less. I put the high chair together myself. Well, with the help of my two young children who insisted on joining in. I found it easy. That said, I did it via a YouTube video and not the instructions.

stokke, high chair, tripp trapp.

I absolutely love the high-end Scandinavian baby brand Stokke and I am not the only one;  Alesha Dixon, Katy Perry, Joe Wicks, Rochelle Humes, Jessica Alba and even Ronaldo all love them too.

stokke, tripp trapp, highchair, review,

Stokke’s iconic Tripp Trapp high chair grows with your child, which can include an additional Newborn attachment. The Newborn Set for the Tripp Trapp chair brings your baby into the heart of the family from day 1 – to develop and learn alongside each other and allow for moments of bonding between all family members. The chair can also include a baby set and can hold up to 136 kilos, meaning your chair can last a lifetime. Tripp Trapp was born in 1972 and have sold more than 12 million chairs. Impressive. I now people who have had theirs for decades.

Available from stokke.com, johnlewis.com and many other good outlets.

 

Anker PowerPort Nano Review | Tech

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Anker recently released the PowerPort Nano in the UK, a tiny 20 watt charger that’s designed to take advantage of the new iPhone’s charging standards. Two years ago Anker released the first Nano that used GaN technology to bring high speed charging to a device just a little wider than a quarter. Continuing their drive to charge all sorts of tech with as little fuss as possible, this new Nano can output 20W of power while being the same size as the original. And of course, it’s also 100 percent compatible with Android devices.
It is 3 times faster than standard chargers, super small and convenient. It is available from Amazon.

breathe ilo Review: The Revolutionary New Fertility Tracker

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 breathe ilo review, fertility, fertility tracker

TTC (trying to conceive) is not fun at all, more than that, it can be very expensive. Peeing on sticks and taking your temperature is a faff and can be time-consuming. Never mind the cost to the environment. Breathe ilo has now launched so we thought we would give it a review. breathe ilo is the world’s first fertility tracker that uses breath analysis (CO2) to identify ovulation patterns.

The new technology signals a shift so women no longer need to track their cycles by urinating on a stick or by measuring their temperature early in the morning. The innovative device works by simply breathing and displays the results in just 60 seconds, with no consumables or maintenance needed. Through consistent daily use, the breath analysis tracker empowers women to understand their body and cycle phases better.

The breathe ilo app, which is compatible with iOS and Android, features a calendar that displays a clear overview of fertile days and a cycle diary to learn more about individual cycle patterns. breathe ilo’s cycle diary also offers the possibility to document further cycle symptoms like breast tenderness, PMS, cervical mucus, or headaches to help prepare women for their next cycle.

So, does it work and is it easy to use? Yes and yes. Quite a few women have got pregnant using it already and we expect that number to rise. You charge the device, download the app and then you breathe into the device and can log your cycle. It is so easy and convenient. The device is small and stylish. It’s tracking is different from conventional methods, Breathe ILO precisely detects a woman’s menstruation cycle. It uses a live tracking system, which uses an AI-based learning algorithm which improves all of the time. The device also works with irregular cycles. It can detect five out of six fertile days on average. You can also choose what  time of day you use the device, unlike other methods which need to be done at the same time each day. I cannot recommend the breathe ilo enough. It takes the stress out of cycle tracking and is so easy to use. Full marks.

With the option to buy a device for £259.00 or rent for £29.90 a month, breathe ilo is available to purchase exclusively now at  www.breatheilo.com

 

International Gin & Tonic Day with Boodles Gin 

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Happy Monday – and Happy International Gin & Tonic Day!!! 

 

Just a reminder that things will get better and if you ever needed an excuse for a Gin & Tonic THIS IS IT.

Not only are we still celebrating London Cocktail Month – albeit in our homes, today is International Gin & Tonic Day and we are celebrating with our quintessentially British Boodles Gin. Our gin edition comes full of gin tips served directly from Mr Boodles the Boodles Gin Butler. So polish your best glassware and get ready for some proper G&T etiquette. 

Did you know…

Due to the Gin Craze of the 18th Century, there were 5 acts passed by parliament designed to control the consumption of Gin during this time.

Gin was drunk as a substitute to French Brandy at a time of conflict between England and France which is ironic because Gin originated as a medicinal liquor made by monks in Southern France. 

Gin is actually a neutral based spirit gaining its unique flavour through distilling botanicals. The most important being Juniper which gives it it’s fresh pine flavour… It simply cannot be Gin without Juniper. Some of the other key ingredients include Coriander seeds, Citrus Peels and Cinnamon to name just a few. However, Boodles Gin contains No citrus because the original distillers naturally expected the drink to be served with a citrus twist! 

Glasses at the ready… 

We know everyone has their own special way of concocting their perfect G&T but Boodles have given us some pointers to best enjoy their Brilliant British Gin. We know it’s Gin&Tonic day but I must comment on how versatile Boodles Gin really is. We already know how much care has gone into making their unique gin and their thought out blend of botanicals is designed to stay subtle and not smack you round the face. Perfect for many a cocktail as well as a G&T straight up! Whats more, Boodles have three stunning gins to suit your mood. Boodles Original London Dry, Boodles Rhubarb and Strawberry and just in time for winter, Boodles Mulberry.

So with that in mind, Mr Boodles requests that you take pleasure in making your G&T and exercise as much labour and patience as is used to craft their Brilliant British Gin. Don’t rush because all good things come to those who wait. 

Mr Boodles suggests quality gin deserves quality tonic; Boodles recommends Fevertree as the most complementary.

Ice First, then gin, then tonic. 

Keep it icy… the Co2 of the tonic is harder to escape if you keep it chilled. 

Pour Slowly… the slower you pour your tonic the more balanced the flavour

Garnish well.

To give you an idea we’ve included some of Boodles signature serves below to whet your whistle

BOODLES ON ICE

Ingredients;

60ml Boodles Gin
120ml Premium Tonic Water
Shaved Ice
Grapefruit wedge

Method;

In a tumbler shave a handful of clear ice. 

Pour one part Boodles Gin and two parts tonic, then stir. 

Add grapefruit wedge to the glass and serve.

And of course…

BOODLES MULBERRY WINTER WARMER

Ingredients;

60ml Boodles Mulberry Gin
120ml Premium Tonic Water
2 large Ice Cubes 
Lemon wheel

Method;

Pour one part Boodles Mulberry Gin and two parts tonic into a highball glass over the ice.

Stir until the colours combine. 

Add lemon wheel and serve. 

(bakewell tart optional)

We hope you enjoyed our Boodles edition this week. This is a gin I would thoroughly recommend over and over again. 

To find out more please visit www.boodlesgin.com

Booksellers Unveil Their Top Books of 2020

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Bookshops across the UK & Ireland have revealed their favourite books and authors of 2020.

This year’s shortlist includes: The Vanishing Half, by New York Time bestseller Brit Bennett; Diary of a Young Naturalist, by 16-year-old Dara McAnulty; the most hopeful book of the pandemic, Humankind by international bestselling author Rutger Bregman; The Devil and the Dark Water by 2018 Books Are My Bag Readers Awards winner Stuart Turton; South Korean sensational #MeToo bestseller Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo(translated by Jamie Chang); Cinderella is Dead, a retelling of the popular fairy tale by Kalynn Bayron; and 2019-shortlistee Alice Oseman forHeartstopper Vol 3.

 

Grace Dent to host virtual Books Are My Bag Readers Awards ceremony on Tuesday 10thNovember, sponsored by National Book Tokens

·       16-year-old nature writer, two graphic novelists, previously shortlisted Alice Oseman, South Korean sensation Cho Nam-joo, and nine debut writers among booksellers’ top books of the year

·       Books on sexuality, dance, Cinderella and Greek myths make the shortlist, hand-picked by booksellers

·       Record number of books from independent publishers are shortlisted

Nine debut writers are among the 25-strong shortlists across six categories. In addition to Cho Nam-joo, Dara McAnulty and Kalynn Bayron, the other debut authors shortlisted are: Eliza Clark for her celebrated novel Boy Parts; Summer Young for her Tracy Emin-like pamphlet Sylvanian Family;Elle McNicoll for her children’s fiction book A Kind of Spark; Jean Menzies for her retellings of mythical tales Greek Myths (illustrator Katie Ponder);Kiley Reid for her Booker longlisted debut Such a Fun Age; Douglas Stuart for his heart-rending novel set in 1980s Glasgow Shuggie Bain.

 

More than half of this year’s nominated titles – spanning Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Young Adult Fiction, Children’s Fiction and Breakthrough Author – come from independent publishers, including Influx Press, Granta Books, Little Toller, Verso Books, Bad Betty Press, Nosy Crow and Knights Of. In addition, this year almost 40% of the shortlisted titles re from first-time writers.

 

The public vote opens today, ahead of Bookshop Day this weekend, to decide the winners across the six categories. The public is invited to vote for a winning title from each shortlist from Thursday 1 October until 11pm of Sunday 25 October, with the winners being announced on Tuesday 10 November at a virtual awards ceremony hosted by restaurant critic and author Grace Dent. The ceremony will be streamed at 5:30pm across the @booksaremybag YouTube, Twitter and Facebook channels.

 

The 2020 Books Are My Bag Readers Awards Shortlist, as chosen by bookshops:

 

Fiction

Boy Parts by Eliza Clark (Influx Press)

The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton (Bloomsbury)

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo (Simon & Schuster)

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (Dialogue Books)

Weather by Jenny Offill (Granta Books)

 

Non-Fiction

The Dance Cure by Dr Peter Lovatt (Short Books Ltd)

Diary of a Young Naturalist by Dara McAnulty (Little Toller Books)

Humankind by Rutger Bregman (Bloomsbury)

Insurgent Empire: Anticolonial Resistance and British Dissent by Priyamvada Gopal (Verso Books)

 

Poetry

Homie by Danez Smith (Vintage)

Seagull Seagull by James K Baxter (Gecko Press)

Sylvanian Family by Summer Young (Bad Betty Press)

Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright: An Animal Poem for Every Day of the Year by Britta Teckentrup and Fiona Waters (Nosy Crow)

 

Young Adult Fiction

Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi (Pan Macmillan)

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron (Bloomsbury)

The Crossover: Graphic Novel by Kwame Alexander (author), Dawud Anyabwile (illustrator) (Andersen Press)

Heartstopper Vol 3 by Alice Oseman (Hachette Children’s Group)

 

Children’s Fiction

A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll (Knights Of)

Blended by Sharon M. Draper (Simon & Schuster)

Gargantis by Thomas Taylor (Walker)

The Highland Falcon Thief by M.G. Leonard & Sam Sedgman (Pan Macmillan)

 

Breakthrough Author

Brit Bennett author of The Vanishing Half (Dialogue Books)

Jean Menzies author of Greek Myths (Dorling Kindersley)

Kiley Reid author of Such a Fun Age (Bloomsbury)

Douglas Stuart author of Shuggie Bain (Pan Macmillan)

 

Danez Smith, author of Homie, said: “Books saved me, save me, will save me as long as I have a spirit to rescue from its own darkness and the dark corners of the world. To think that my little words might be doing the same for someone else, even one person, makes the work worth it. To be shortlisted for the Books are My Bag Readers Awards is beyond an honor, it affirms for me that my duty to poetry isn’t some selfish need to confess and be heard, but that poems are how we nourish one another, how we make sanctuary and fight for one another. I’m humbled to share the company of incredible writers, and to share the love and need of poetry with booksellers and readers everywhere.”

 

Jenny Offill, author of Weather, said: “I am a former bookseller myself, so this feels like the highest of honors to me! I am utterly thrilled to be nominated by such a discerning group of readers.”

 

Jean Mezies, nominated in the Breakthrough Author category, said: “It’s an absolute honour to have been nominated for the Books Are My Bag Breakthrough Award for Greek Myths, particularly given that it was chosen by booksellers. Exploring bookshops as a child and discovering titles on new and exciting topics thanks to the staff who curated their shelves is one of the main reasons I’m an Ancient Historian now.”

 

Emma Bradshaw, Head of Campaigns at the Booksellers Association, commented: “Curated by booksellers, the book experts par excellence, the Books Are My Bags Readers Awards are truly special awards. The shortlist always gives a fascinating insight into the reading trends of the year, and this year’s shortlist is particularly poignant given the impact COVID-19 has had on both our reading and shopping habits. Consumers appreciated anew the knowledge, dedication and expertise of booksellers during lockdown; a time when for many books were the only thing to bring hope and comfort. While we were unable to physically browse in bookshops, booksellers found new and creative ways of pairing their customers with the right book at the right time.  

 

This year we encourage consumers to think about their Christmas shopping earlier than usual and to support their high street. Whether you shop in-store or online with your local bookshop this Christmas, the Books Are My Bag Readers Awards shortlist is the ultimate book guide for shoppers; there’s something there for everyone. We hope book lovers will continue to support bookshops this Bookshop Day and beyond.”

 

Alex de Berry, Managing Director of National Book Tokens, said: “Not only are the Readers Awards the only book awards where the winners are chosen by truly democratic public vote, they have also proved to be a positive platform for diverse voices. We are immensely proud to have helped create these awards and to continue to be able to sponsor them.”

 

The Books Are My Bag Readers Awards, now in their fifth year, are the only book awards curated by booksellers, and voted for by readers. The shortlist panel comprises: Katharine Fry (Blackwell’s), Meera Ghanshamdas (Moon Lane Books), James Routledge (Forum Books), Mog and Pauline Harris (Warwick Books), Amy Vale (Book-ish) and Joe Hedinger (The Book Hive). The shortlist categories open for public vote are: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Young Adult Fiction, Children’s Fiction and Breakthrough Author. In addition to voting on the shortlisted titles in the categories above, the public are invited to nominate their favourite book of the year – any book they’ve read in the past year – as the Readers’ Choice winner.

The public can vote online at the following link: www.nationalbooktokens.com/vote

 

The Books Are My Bag Readers Awards are sponsored by National Book Tokens and are part of Books Are My Bag – the annual campaign celebrating the vital importance of bookshops.

 For more information visit www.booksaremybag.com / @BooksAreMyBag / #BAMBReadersAwards

 

Geomag Magicube Free Building Set of 24 Magnetic Blocks

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Geomag Magicube free building set of 24 Magnetic blocks

Out of all of the toys I have reviewed these Magicubes from Geomag are the ones I recommend the most. They are magnetic building blocks and so clever and versatile. They teach children colours, counting and how to use their imagination. Building the blocks is great for their coordination.

You can use these blocks to teach your children so many different things. They are a great tool for teaching.

Geomag Magicube free building set of 24 Magnetic blocks has the basics of stem and the magnets help build shapes easily. There are available here. I cannot recommend them enough, and neither can my children.

 

Living with Alzheimers – Bob and Barbara Windsor by Chris Suich

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barbara-windsor-bob-suich

Today I read the sad news that Barbara Windsor has had to be placed in full time care as she, like Bob, is suffering from Alzheimer’s.  I understand only too well how hard this would have been for her husband,  Scott Mitchell, especially in these difficult times of Covid 19 when there are so many restrictions on seeing your loved one properly.

I too understand how Alzheimer’s patients have declined in Lockdown. Bob just doesn’t understand why I can’t come in  the home to him. He has no idea about the virus and is locked in his own world without me reassuring him.

We first met Barbara when Bob booked her to turn on the illuminations at Mablethorpe. I think it was well over 20 years ago.  Bob was in charge of the Tourism and Leisure for the local council and our summer hi -light was the illumination switch-on where a celebrity was booked for the afternoon and evening to switch on the lights and  meet the local dignitaries; the mayor and local councillors, Miss Mablethorpe and the like.

There would be a great parade and the sand-train would be tooting, filled with the great and the good of the town; all waving at the thousands of holidaymakers who always turned up. So Barbara was turning on the lights, quite a coup.

That particular day stands out in my memory because it was torrential rain and because the programme we had planned was cancelled to a great extent. Bob was rushing around frantically trying to re- organise things. The children’s marching bands had to be cancelled because the rain was absolutely torrential.

There was so much disappointment.  There were coaches from near and far with all these children dressed up and ready to perform in the parade, their little faces full of expectation, hoping against hope that the rain would stop. Their costumes looking bright and breezy representing hours of sewing and parental expectation.

Bob asked me to look after Barbara for the afternoon as he was busy sorting out the programme; where would the band play safely  under cover? Was it even safe to turn the lights on?

The thunder and lightening roared on.

I was really happy to look after Barbara as I had always liked her. She was a real trouper and really wanted to do a good job. Her giggle was infectious and we had a girlie afternoon gossiping and laughing. She got changed in the local hotel toilets and we had a bit of something to eat. Then she insisted on going to meet the children on the coaches and made everyone’s day by making sure she spoke to them all. She was as disappointed with the weather as the children were.

The switch-on did go ahead and I remember her doing the banter for the crowds  ( some braved the weather with huge colourful umbrellas). Then  the count down and a few more giggles and jokes and reminiscences of her Carry On actors, right up to her pressing the button that switched on the lights. Bob held an enormous umbrella ensuring  she kept dry.  He didn’t.

We went back to the hotel with all the locals and had a buffet and a glass of wine. It was always a late night but Barbara was not the sort of star to rush off back to London. She was a wonderful star in the best sense of the show -business world. Kind, caring and so appreciative of all the fans that had turned up to see her. I am so fond of these memories of her. How ironic that Bob and Barbara are now fighting similar battles.

Bless them both.