Things that Pop into my Head

Family Visiting

Source: hazel eyes
Thursday 2nd July 2009, 12:28pm

As we hadn't been to see the family in Essex for a while we took the bike on its first longish tour to the East coast at the weekend.

Its a lot flatter in Essex than in Devon and someone has removed most of the hedges, but there are nice views of countryside and stuff out in the sticks where the family live.

Blimey it was hot! We had a barbeque the first night we were there which was great - locally sourced sausages and burgers and generous portions of side dishes of various varieties. There's quite a few cousins up there so I think they are used to putting on a feast for 8 adults and 7 kids.

The next day we went for a walk, which we were promised would take about an hour and was about 4 miles - their estimates were a bit generous as it was more like 1.75 hours and the path meandered quite a bit with the route of the river. We ended up getting there at about 1pm and were glad to sit under a tree in the park and have lunch.

Its pretty good for waterbased activities there, lots of sailing, windsurfing for people of all ages and abilities.

We came home on Sunday, taking it fairly slowly and having about an hour for lunch. Its a bit hard on the knees, legs and back, not to mention the drivers wrists doing a longer journey. I'm certainly glad not to have to get on it for a couple of days, but it was a good test for when we do some motorbike touring abroad.

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Flowers - Real Or Fake?

Source: hazel eyes
Monday 15th June 2009, 12:51pm

Fake flowers can be pretty convincing these days, but are they better than the real thing?

Real Flowers

Real flowers, are, well, real flowers. They look right, feel right and smell nice. Most floral arrangements come with a packet of food and instructions on how to care for them.

The downside is that they can be a bit messy. I'm not the worlds greatest florist, but the last time I got some flowers the liquid food bag had a tiny hole in and when I was unwrapping it from the miles of sellotape it made a nice squirt pattern on the carpet.

They also inevitably die. This means dried up leaves falling off and making a mess, and slimy brown stems to throw away - or maybe that's just me leaving them for too long.

Artificial Flowers

The downside of artificial flowers is that usually they are quite obviously not real. I'm not sure if that actually matters to most people, but they do need dusting off now and again. This is not a regualr occurrence in my house, so I fear they may start to look grubby.

On the plus side, they don't wither and die, you can keep them for as long as you want, move them about and they don't drop any petals or leaves like real flowers do. I'm not sure of the carbon foorprint of real flowers vs artificial, though I guess artificial is higher.

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Charity Donations Down But Shops Thriving

Source: hazel eyes
Tuesday 9th June 2009, 3:25pm

More people are visiting charity shops since the recession, giving them a much needed boost although charity donations overall have fallen.

More people are going to charity shops to buy goods and also to donate. This is providing the shops with a mini boom, although charity donations overall are down.

Charity gifts such as agricultural tools or animals are also becoming more popular in recent times as charities such as Oxfam raise our awareness of the plight of people in the developing world struggling to survive drought, flooding and disease.

Overall though, charities are struggling in the recession. Some have been forced to reduce staff and cut services. Shelter has seen a decline in legacy gifts and corporate income, although regular donors are still giving generously.

The government has pledged £40million towards assisting charities so they can continue to help people through the recession. The plan, for England and Wales, will include awarding grants to deprived areas, establishing a volunteering scheme and creating funds to help non-profit organisations merge.

According to a recent Charity Commission survey, only 3% of charities have considered merging with another charity and another 3% had thought about collaborating. Dame Suzi Leather, chairwoman of the Charity Commission, said "It is very surprising that more charities are not considering collaboration with others, as this can help them share expertise and costs."

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Buying A Bed

Source: hazel eyes
Wednesday 3rd June 2009, 12:55pm

Buying a new bed is not as straightforward as it might at first appear...

Type Of Beds

There is a vast array of beds available on the market place today, each designed to serve in a particular set of circumstances.

• Air bed - great for guests, a raised air bed is easily inflated and once made up looks just like an rdinary divan. It also has the advantage of easy stosing when not in use. Smaller air beds are great for camping too.
• Divan bed - very versatile bed which invariably incorporates extra storage space into the design
• Bunk bed - excellent for kids where space is of prime importance
• Futon - another great space saving idea either for guests, or alternatively they are the no 1 choice for a lot of people to sleep on.
• Sofa bed - a versatile piece of equipment, comfy sofa by day, comfortable bed by night if needed.
• Water bed - Synonymous with luxury and comfort, waterbeds are the ultimate in indulgent sleeping.
• Fantasy bedrooms - Another one for the kids. Why stop at a bed when you can have your entire room themed out however you wish.

Matching Mattresses

The mattress which affixes your bed is an extremely important part of your comfort. We spend approximately 1/3 of our lives in bed and our comfort or lack of it can have a bearing on our health.

When buying a new bed, make sure you spend at least 5 minutes lying on each bed, 30mins is preferable. This is to ensure it is comfortable and doesn't create pressure points or any other ached and pains detrimental to a good nights rest.

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Driving About In Italy

Source: hazel eyes
Friday 29th May 2009, 5:15pm

Italy, the land of pizza, pasta and Pompei. But how easy is it to hire a car and get out and about?

Italy Car Hire

Hiring a car in Italy is one of the most convenient ways of getting out and about whilst on holiday. However, due to the recent economic climate, car hire firms in Italy are not replenishing their stock of cars, so it is more essential than ever to book well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Of course, Italy is not the only place where this is occurring, it is an international problem, so wherever you plan to take your hols this year, book early.

Driving Highlights in Italy

The burying of Pompeii in 79AD by Mount Vesuvius is something every schoolkid learns about. Mount Vesuvius is but a 45 minute drive from Naples and is well signposted off the motorway. Once there it is a 20min walk to the top to see the smouldering volcano.

Pompeii itself takes a full day's exploration to do it credit. Plaster mummies have been made from the volcanic remains of the people which died in the eruption, conveying some of the horror the citizens went through.

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