POST AND DONATE: BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION SHOPS LAUNCH FREE POSTAL DONATION SERVICE

Posted on June 19, 2020 by Frostie

POST AND DONATE: BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION LAUNCHES FREE POSTAL DONATION SERVICE

~ Charity retailer calls on the nation to donate pre-loved goods without hitting the high street ~

This June the British Heart Foundation (BHF) is launching a new post to donate service, making it even easier for the public to give their decluttered items and support the charity to help save lives.

Throughout June and July the BHF will start to reopen its 750 nationwide shops and stores introducing new measures to keep staff, volunteers and customers safe. As part of these new measures the BHF has launched a postal donation initiative where customers can donate smaller items via post and give to the charity without hitting the shops.

From clothes and books to vintage toys and ornaments, the BHF hopes to receive good quality items that the public have been clearing out while at home. These will be sold either online via the charity’s eBay store or at a BHF shop.

Allison Swaine-Hughes, Retail Director at the British Heart Foundation, said: “Our charity shops run purely on the support of the public, which is why we never take for granted a camera, record or video game that’s donated to us. Every item we sell helps fund our vital research.”

“Our new postal donation service is quick, easy and free. It’s the perfect solution if your local BHF shop is not yet open and you have items you want to give, or you’re simply not ready to head to the high street.

“Every pound raised in our shops helps us to support the 7.4 million people in the UK living with heart and circulatory diseases, many of whom are at increased risk from Covid-19. Your donations can help us help them.”

Customers can simply head to the webpage, request a freepost label which will be emailed to them and then choose to either print the label off or bring the email in to one of 7,500 nationwide Collect+ drop off points to be printed off there. Packages can be up to 10kg.

In line with Government advice and to keep customers safe, all donations given to the BHF will now be rested for 72 hours before being placed onto the shop floor. Customers will also be able to donate at new contact-free donation points which will be set up at every BHF shop entrance. For larger donations to home stores the BHF will be restarting its free collection service once home stores reopen – ensuring all pick-ups are socially distanced.

Donating unwanted items not only helps fund vital heart research but will also reduce waste and save items from landfill. Last year alone, the BHF saved an incredible 71,000 tonnes of items from landfill and 135,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions from being released into the atmosphere.

Just £16 worth of your donations can support an early career scientist in carrying out an hour’s research and £25 gives a researcher an hour’s access to equipment. If your donations raised £100, this would fund a DNA extraction kit to identify genes linked to heart and circulatory diseases.

To find your local BHF shop visit: www.bhf.org.uk/shop

What BHF would love to see donated:

· Electronics – iPhones, iPads and high-end electronics

· Clothing, dresses or designer brands if you can spare them

· Records – 7″, 10″ and 12″ vinyl records

· Video games – vintage console games (1990s/early 2000s)

· Shoes – any kind, so long as they’re in good condition! 

· Collectable items such as coins and stamps

· Jewellery

· Ornaments

· Camera equipment – cameras, tripods, bags, filters, lens

· Toys – toy cars, vans, trucks, kid’s dolls and vintage teddy bears

BOODLES® Rhubarb & Strawberry Gin – A Perfect Drink For Those Long Summer Days- by Dr Kathleen Thompson

Posted on June 18, 2020 by Margaret Graham

We look to France or Italy for fine wine, and Mexico for a great tequila, but gin has been a British forte since the 1600s. Distilleries have started using clever blends of botanicals and natural flavourings to create fun and adventurous variations and Boodles® Rhubarb and Strawberry gin is rather good. Not surprisingly perhaps, as Boodles® have been making gin since 1845, and their brand was a favourite of Winston Churchill’s. Interestingly, it isn’t made with citrus, and the unique flavour stems from a blend of botanicals including sage, rosemary and nutmeg. Of course this leaves you the option of adding your own slice of fresh lemon or lime to taste too.

What could be more quintessentially English than strawberries and rhubarb? Think of Wimbledon, Sunday crumble, croquet, afternoon tea and those hot summer days – sometimes more of childhood memories than reality – but instant happiness regardless.

And, as you’re relaxing in the sun, listening to the rhythmic bong of tennis ball on strings, or the clod of hooves on a polo lawn, or just the neighbours’ kids playing in their garden, what better to sip than a good gin, beautifully pink, sweetly perfumed – perhaps with tonic, and a little ice – enough to cool but not to drown.

They say we drink with our eyes first (or was it eat? who cares?) Boodles® Rhubarb and Strawberry gin has a lovely delicate pink hue, as you open the bottle you’re hit by a delicious strawberry aroma , and as you take a sip, strawberry hits you first, followed by a mellow rhubarb and finally the beautiful herbs and spices of the Boodles® gin.

It makes some fun cocktails too – perfect for a summer party. There’s one suggestion below, but the Boodles®website has lots more great recipes.

Priced at £27.95 for 70cl, 37.5% ABV, it is available to purchase online from Masters of Malt

Have fun, enjoy, drink in moderation – I shall be doing 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

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.

YaconViva –A Genuinely Healthy Sweet Which Can Help Control Weight – by Dr Kathleen Thompson

Posted on June 18, 2020 by Margaret Graham

So, cautiously step by step, we’re emerging from lockdown, with its anxieties, comfort eating and limited exercise. No surprise perhaps that our summer clothes have shrunk in the wardrobe whilst we’ve been chilling in onesies?

So what’s it to be? Crash diet? Artificial sweeteners? Or salad and water until, well until that superhuman willpower melts in the face of the first ice-cream which calls our name?

Doomed? Fear not, hope is here, in the shape of Yaconviva Cacao Nibs – a sweet treat which really can be good for your waistline.

But how? Well, first a little science. I know, but it’s important, trust me.

Recent research shows that the tiny microbes (bacteria/viruses/fungi etc), which call our guts home, are far more influential than we realised. We have ten times as many bacteria in our gut than we have cells in our body. So our bacteria outnumber us by 10:1 – a compelling reason to ensure they’re friendly.

What do these microbes do? Well they help us digest some of our food, they produce chemicals and hormones, which keep our gut healthy, improve our immune system and even our mental health. Importantly the right microbes can help control ‘sugar spikes’ in our blood, hence reducing our risk of Type 2 Diabetes and obesity. There’s also emerging evidence that they benefit various gut diseases and even cancers – and some help cancer treatments such as immunotherapy to work better.

The key word is the ‘right’ microbes, and this is where probiotics and prebiotics come in. Probiotics, such as natural yoghurt, contain ‘good’ microbes, so eating them is a quick way to up numbers. However, once in your gut, they need to survive and multiply, and this is where prebiotics come in. These are foods, such as fructooligosaccharides (FOS), which provide nutrients for good microbes. FOS are present in some vegetables, such as onions and chicory root, and particularly in yacón – a root vegetable found in the Andes. The great thing about FOS is, they’re naturally sweet, but we don’t absorb them so they don’t make us fat or cause sugar spikes. The best news is they feed and encourage our ‘good’ gut microbes – unlike artificial sweeteners, which actually promote harmful microbes. You can read more about all this here.

A great source of FOS is pure organic yacón syrup available from YaconViva. It can be used as a sweetener in drinks, in baking, in deserts or anywhere else where you need added sweetness. Much better for you than artificial sweeteners.

But the product I really love is Yaconviva Cacao Nibs – all organic and a really yummy snack. They only contain yacón syrup and cacao nibs, so are vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free, plus they’re packed-full of antioxidants and contain natural caffeine. Give yourself and your gut microbes and taste of heaven every day – I plan to do exactly that.

Available from Amazon UK, and yaconviva.co.uk and good health stores.

RRP £9.99 for a 300g pack.

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

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.

Pale Green Dot Fruit & Veg Box Review | Win A Fantastic Food Box

Posted on June 16, 2020 by Catherine Balavage

We reviewed a fruit and veg box from Pale Green Dot and we loved it so much that we are now running a competition for one lucky reader to win one of their own. All you have do is follow us on Twitter and then tweet at us, or follow us on Facebook and leave a message to let you know you have entered the competition. The closing date is the end of June and you have to live in London, Surrey, Sussex or Kent.

The fruit and veg box is definitely the best fruit and veg box I have tried. The spring onion is sublime: so unlike the ones you get in a supermarket. It has lettuce still attached to its roots and Sussex chard. The tomatoes are ripe and juicy. It even has asparagus and delicious aubergine. The box is filled to the brim with healthy deliciousness. We love. Pale Green Dot have more food boxes now including a BBQ one. Have a look below.

pale green dot – even more food boxes now available for home delivery across London and the South East

Pale green dot, sustainable suppliers of home delivered fine quality fresh, seasonal and local produce, dairy basics, meat and cheese, are now launching an even more extensive range of boxes. Becoming quite the ‘one stop shop’ the pale green dot home delivery website features a new premium vegetable box, a fruit box, beer box, wine box, Italian box, and coming soon, a curry box.

Previously operating in the hospitality sector, pale green dot has managed an incredible turnaround in order to ensure that those living in London and the South East are able order online and enjoy fresh produce delivered to their homes.

Response to the boxes has been so positive, the company will be delivering to homes post lockdown to customers who have come to enjoy the quality, convenience and variety of what they are receiving.

The new premium vegetable box at £25.00 contains a greater choice and twice the amount of seasonal fresh produce than the company’s standard box, including ingredients such as new season Cornish mid potatoes, Sussex chard and Bobby beans from Jersey.

The fruit box at £15.00 is full of fresh and colourful fruits. Perfect to eat, drink and preserve it usually includes mango, pineapple, pomegranate, melon and kiwis as well as apples, grapes, oranges and blueberries.

The BBQ box contains meat and poultry sourced predominantly from small farms rearing free-range native breeds. All items are vac packed and can be frozen. The box includes steaks, burgers, sausages, marinated chicken legs and lamb koftas.

The Italian box has everything you need to make flavour-packed pasta without having to leave the house. It includes pasta (wholemeal and white), pesto, fresh garlic, herbs, olive oil, parmesan cheese and passata and tomatoes at £25.00.

Two Tribes have partnered with pale green dot to supply their beers for beer boxes from £13.50.

There are three wine boxes, red, white and mixed, the boxes contain a curated selection of six bottles, familiar and new, old world and new world from £56.00 each.

All the boxes are available to order online at https://www.palegreendot.co.uk/home-deliveries and can be set up for regular deliveries, or one-off orders. Pale green dot aims to deliver boxes by the next working day.

To keep minds at ease, pale green dot are implementing the highest safety and hygiene standards across the board when it comes to both packaging and delivering in order to prevent the spread of the virus.

Orders can be made via this link – https://www.palegreendot.co.uk/home-deliveries

www.palegreendot.co.uk

Can Keto Pills Actually Help You to Lose Weight?

Posted on June 12, 2020 by Alison Louise Goodlad

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last three years, ‘keto’ is a word you’ll have heard before. While most of us have only a passing familiarity with the term, we generally know that it has something to do with a certain diet trend.

Though some have written it off as just another fad, keto has nonetheless gained a lot of traction among its followers and the public at large, with many having claimed to see great results with regards to meeting their weight loss goals.

As a result, a whole industry has grown around the idea, with keto pills being one of the most popular products on the market. Claiming to aid in weight loss and make it easier to drop a dress size, they promise to activate in the body a mechanism known as ‘ketosis’, which we’ll explain in more detail below.

But do they actually work? According to the experts, the answer may surprise you.

What are keto pills and how do they work?

Source: Pixabay

Keto pills have generated a lot of discourse in recent years. They’ve made their way into the mainstream, many have doubted their efficacy, but there are also those who swear by them as a weight loss aid.

Keto pills function in a similar way to the keto diet. The keto diet works by sending your body into a state of ketosis. This is a specific type of metabolic process whereby your system burns fat instead of glucose to generate energy, thus getting rid of the fat deposits already at its disposal: your extra weight.

This ketosis is achieved by eating foods that are high in fat and low in carbohydrates, and typically takes around four days to occur. Once the process had been activated, the body sends fat cells to the liver, where they’re converted into ketones and used for energy.

In keto pills, the concept is the same: to increase the level of ketones in your blood. However, rather than requiring the individual to cut out carbohydrates from their diet, they instead utilise something known as medium-chain triglycerides. Usually found in foods that are high in saturated fat, such as coconuts and palm oil, these work to stimulate the ketones in your blood, produce a state of ketosis, and thus catalyse weight loss.

Are keto pills safe?

In order to prove their detractors wrong, some keto pill manufacturers have been willing to put their products through rigorous tests. At least five have appeared, for example, on US reality show Shark Tank, with reviews for Shark Tank keto pills advising that they’re a safe aid for weight loss for those interested in using them.

The only downside to taking keto pills is that they can initially cause headaches as a side effect (although this is not the case for everyone who uses them). However, even those are affected need not worry, as this is nothing more than indicative of the body adapting to ketosis and typically resolved within a few days.

Do keto pills work as well as a keto diet?

Source: Pixabay

While keto pills can almost certainly aid with weight loss, experts do suggest that they’re slightly less effective than the diet they’re based on. That’s because, while they stimulate ketone production, they’re unable to replicate all of the benefits of this diet.

In particular, they do not lower either circulating insulin or glucose levels, with experts suggesting that these two boons are likely of equal benefit to increased ketone levels themselves.

Are keto pills something you would be willing to try to aid with your weight loss goals?

Collaborative brand content.

The Operator by Gretchen Berg | Book Review

Posted on June 11, 2020 by Catherine Balavage

I read The Operator in awe. The relationship between the characters, the complexities of relationships, the jaw-dropping setting, this book is just perfect. Set in the 1950s in Wooster, Ohio, it follows switchboard operator Vivian Dalton who eavesdrops on the residents of the town. This comes back to bite her when she hears some gossip about her own life.

This pieces of gossip sends Vivian on a path of discovery and the consequences come thick and fast. I loved so much about this book: the setting is done so well. Gretchen really knows her stuff. She writes so well from different people’s perspectives. This book is full of depth and luscious descriptions. It keeps you guessing. When you pick it up it is impossible to put it back down.

It’s 1952. The switchboard operators in Wooster, Ohio, love nothing more than to eavesdrop on their neighbours’ conversations, and gossip about what they learn. Vivian Dalton is no different (despite her teenage daughter’s disapproval), and always longs to hear something scandalous. But on the night of December 15th, she wishes she hadn’t. The secret that’s shared by a stranger on the line threatens to rip the rug of Vivian’s life from under her.

Vivian may be mortified, but she’s not going to take this lying down. She wants the truth, no matter how painful it may be. But one secret tends to lead to another . . .

This moving, heart-felt and ultimately uplifting novel brilliantly weaves together an irresistible portrayal of a town buzzing with scandal, and an unforgettable story of marriage, motherhood and the unbreakable ties of family.

The Operator is available here.

This Month’s Recommended Reads | What To Read Now

Posted on June 10, 2020 by Catherine Balavage

My children loved this magical book. It has a wonderful story and beautiful illustrations.

A lyrical, heart-warming new tale from the award-winning designer and creator of The Fox and the Star

Bird loves to sing in the towering tree at the heart of the jungle. It feels like home.
When the season changes she must say goodbye, but she isn’t ready to let go.
As she listens to the other animals, Bird learns to sing a new song.

The Song of the Tree is available here.

This is the book we all need during these stressful times. Just breathe in, breathe out, and let this book help you relieve all of your worries.

The secret to living mindfully. Just don’t breathe a word of it…

You breathe 22,000 times every day. How many are you really aware of?

International bestselling and award-winning author Dr Danny Penman provides a concise guide to letting go and finding peace in a messy world, simply by taking the time to breathe.

Known side effects: You will start to smile more. You will worry less. Life won’t bother you so much.

Dissolve anxiety, stress and unhappiness, enhance your mind and unleash your creativity with these simple exercises. And with each little moment of mindfulness, discover a happier, calmer you.

It really is as easy as breathing…

This is a fantastic idea. This book takes you on a journey around ten of the top London galleries. One hundred pieces of art are in this clever book. Essential for art lovers. I take my copy out every now and then for a dose of art.
A Taste of Art – London takes the reader on a journey around ten of the city’s galleries, exploring ten significant artworks at each location and offering an insightful ‘taste’ of art – the ultimate antidote to museum fatigue. The paintings, sculptures and objects selected from each gallery focus on a different time period in the history of Western art – beginning with pieces from an ‘Emerging Britain’ at The British Museum and concluding with contemporary portraiture at the National Portrait Gallery. ‘Tasting notes’ offer an engaging, narrative look at each work, accompanied by a quotation to whet the reader’s appetite; whilst an illustrated ‘key ingredient’ unlocks the meaning and encourages the reader to not only look but more fully explore all one hundred pieces. The book also includes a map, a checklist to tick off what you see and specially commissioned illustrations throughout.

This book from Jessica Ryn is a modern classic. In turns uplifting and sad- because you cannot have one without the other- it is a book that leaves you satisfied and entertained. Dawn Brightside is a complex and lovable character. The Extraordinary Hope of Dawn Brightside covers mental illness, homelessness and the capacity of the human spirit. This is a book that tells the story of people who do not have their voices heard enough and does so perfectly.

Dawn Elisabeth Brightside has been running from her past for twenty-two years and two months, precisely.

So when she is offered a bed in St Jude’s Hostel for the Homeless, it means so much more than just a roof over her head.

But with St Jude’s threatened with closure, Dawn worries that everything is about to crumble around her all over again.

Perhaps, with a little help from her new friends, she can find a way to save this light in the darkness?

And maybe, just maybe, Dawn will finally have a place to call home….

The utterly charming feel-good debut novel of 2020 to curl up with.

The Extraordinary Hope of Dawn Brightside is available here.

We Just Clicked is a fun and fizzy novel. Perfect for millennials, and those who want to understand them. This is a romantic novel with a clever take. I fell in love with the main character, Izzy, even if she frustrated me sometimes. This book also serves as a cautionary tale on social media addiction.

Izzy’s always played by the rules. But now, it’s time to break them…

Izzy Brown has always dreamed of making it big on Instagram, but her followers just aren’t growing. So when her colleague and fellow ‘influencer’ Luke suggests they fake date to boost their profiles, Izzy says yes – against her better judgement. Now Izzy’s profile shows a confident, glamorous thirty-something with the perfect boyfriend, and her followers are shooting up by the thousands.

So what if behind the scenes, things are a little different? Izzy can’t stop bickering with Luke, his habit of checking his quiff in EVERY SINGLE mirror is driving her insane, and she’s hiding a secret heartache. But everyone tells a few fibs on social media, right?

Then Izzy runs into Aidan, the mysterious stranger who saved her the day her world fell apart two years ago – and major sparks start to fly. Izzy’s sure she can have the online success she’s always dreamed of, whilst falling in love in real life. After all, Aidan doesn’t use social media… what could possibly go wrong?

We Just Clicked is available here.

What Happens Now? is the second novel from Sophia Money-Coutts. Sophia has a way of writing that is raw, honest and brave. After having a one-night stand with a handsome aristocratic mountaineer Lil ends up pregnant, because her pill did not work after she had a dodgy tummy- it does actually happen! Cautionary note. What happens next – see what I did there?- is a fun and sometimes embarrassing journey where two strangers now realise they must co-parent a child. Will they end up together? Read the book to find out, there are plenty of funny lines along the way.

‘No question about it, there are two little purple lines. I’m pregnant.’

After eight years together, Lil Bailey thought she’d already found ‘the one’ – that is, until he dumped her for a blonde twenty-something colleague. So she does what any self-respecting singleton would do: swipes right, puts on her best bra and finds herself on a first date with a handsome mountaineer called Max. What’s the worst that can happen?

Well it’s pretty bad actually. First Max ghosts her and then, after weeing on a stick (but mostly her hands), a few weeks later Lil discovers she’s pregnant. She’s single, thirty-one and living in a thimble-sized flat in London, it’s hardly the happily-ever-after she was looking for.

Lil’s ready to do the baby-thing on her own – it can’t be that hard, right? But she should probably tell Max, if she can track him down. Surely he’s not that Max, the highly eligible, headline-grabbing son of Lord and Lady Rushbrooke, currently trekking up a mountain in South Asia? Oh, maybe he wasn’t ignoring Lil after all…

What Happens Now is available here.

This book is like a cup of tea on a rainy Sunday. Comforting and just what you need. Brilliant.

The Wronged Daughter by Mary Wood is an emotional and moving novel that reunites old friends and heals old wounds.

Mags has never forgotten the friendship she forged with Flora and Ella, two fellow nurses she served with at the beginning of World War I. Haunted by what she experienced during that time, she fears a reunion with her friends would bring back the horror she’s tried so desperately to suppress.

Now, with her wedding on the horizon, this should be a joyful time for Mags. But the sudden loss of her mother and the constant doubt she harbours surrounding her fiancé, Harold, are marring her happiness.

Mags throws herself into running the family mill, but she’s dealt another aching blow by a betrayal that leaves her reeling. Finding the strength the war had taken from her, she fights back, not realizing the consequences and devastating outcome awaiting her.

Can she pick up the pieces of her life and begin anew?

The Wronged Daughter is available here.

Childcare during the pandemic has damaged my career prospects say 57% of mothers

Posted on June 8, 2020 by Frostie

traveling in london while pregnant, traveling in london with pram, traveling in London with baby, with child, London, tube, step free access, babyonboardbadgetravelinginpregnantwhenpregnant

Almost 50% of working mothers feel forced to send their children back to school or childcare to save their job

New research from charity and campaign group, Pregnant Then Screwed, which has spoken to 3,686 pregnant women and mothers to understand what the impact of Covid-19 is having on their careers so far, found that 57% of employed mothers believe that their increased childcare responsibilities during the pandemic has impacted their career prospects or will harm them in the future. Techniques like the kidspiration in gorton adopted in reputed nurseries can help children be more creative and learn more at a tender age.

After 11 weeks in lockdown as nurseries and childcare facilities have begun to open up, almost half of all working mums (48.6%) have admitted they feel forced to send their children back.

Joeli Brearley, Founder of Pregnant Then Screwed explains, ‘We know from the London School of Economics that women are more likely to deal with homeschooling, childcare and chores around the house than men. What’s terrifying is the volume of mothers that we have spoken to who after just 12 weeks already feel that this will negatively impact their career.’

This research has also found that a huge majority (78%) of working mothers have found it challenging to manage childcare and their paid work during lockdown, and a quarter (25%) of these mothers explained that their work hasn’t been flexible to allow for them to complete their paid work and manage childcare duties.

Joeli Brearley explains, ‘It’s utterly disgraceful that employers haven’t recognised that working from home with children has been a case of absolute survival. Women are more likely than men to lose their jobs in the impending recession* and yet for a quarter of working mothers their employer has refused to give them the flexibility they need. This has resulted in women being pushed into unpaid leave, sick pay or furloughed as a direct result of having children. It’s no wonder working mothers aren’t thinking positively about their future careers.’

The survey also spoke to pregnant women, and found that 7.7% are expecting to be made redundant, of these women 20% believe their pregnancy is a factor. Not all pregnant women are able to adhere to social distancing measures, with 5% still going to work, rising to 6.4% for BAME pregnant women, in environments that are unsafe. 15% of pregnant women working in the NHS are still having face to face contact with patients who could have Covid-19, and 8.1% of pregnant women have been suspended from work on incorrect terms including sick pay, no pay, enforced annual leave or put on maternity leave early.

Joeli Brearley, Founder Pregnant Then Screwed, comments, ‘If you are being treated differently in the workplace than other women or men because you are pregnant this is discrimination and it is illegal. If your work has not completed a health and safety risk assessment to prove that you are safe at work, and will not come within 2m of other people, this is illegal. Pregnant women are in the vulnerable category, they must be protected, not penalised, and not put in harm’s way.’

The future could however be brighter where flexible working is concerned, as 58% of working mothers think that homeworking will be possible once normality resumes, this is an increase of 14.4% from pre-Feb 2020.

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