What The Ramifications For Our Health Could Be If The UK Leaves The European Union

As the election approaches on May 7th many of the political parties, including of course our friends UKIP, are claiming the only way forward for our nation is to leave the European Union. The Conservatives, if they are given another term, are certainly euro-sceptical and many of their members would like nothing better than to leave the EU behind in the forlorn hope that Britannia can rule again.

But most people probably do not realise the ramifications of leaving the EU. Of course we know of the trading implications as we would lose a huge amount of trade from all the companies and countries who are happy to do business with the UK as an EU business partner, but would no longer deal with us if we were on our own.

There are many other issues to contemplate. For instance the EU Courts exert strict rules and regulations over the countries within the EU to ensure that the people in those countries can be treated in a fair, safe and just manner. One example is the push for EU countries to have cleaner air in their towns and cities. All countries should have complied with the rules by now so that there would be less air pollution which could save a great many peoples lives and enhance the nations health.

Unfortunately for people in the UK the government have still failed to comply and lag behind the rest of Europe in this respect, so that the EU Supreme Court have given them a deadline to reduce the level of pollution. If we were not in the EU the government would have done nothing to improve our air quality and it would be impacting greatly on the nations overall health.

Likewise there have been many instances where there have been human rights abuses that have fortunately been brought to the attention of the EU Courts who have ruled in favour of individuals who have been treated unfairly in the UK. It is vital that we have justice for all in this country.

The plain truth is that the current government cannot be trusted to deliver a fair and just society, and as the poorest members of society have borne the brunt of the recession and the governments austerity measures they often need the help of the EU Courts to ensure that the Tories are not riding roughshod over them.

In the last few years we have had huge cuts in the legal justice system and legal aid, the NHS has been severely affected and large areas of our social services have been cut to the bone. We need a higher authority on our side to ensure we have someone to appeal to if all else fails, and for this reason along with many others we need to stay as part of the European Union.

Is An Englishman`s Home Still His Castle?

Back in the `80`s when I bought a house I paid around £16,500 for it and I think another £1,000 went on the associated expenses for the surveyors fees, estate agents fees and solicitors fees. I wasn`t on a great wage and so this was a substantial sum but the deposit I had to put down was only about £1,000 and the mortgage affordable and so I dipped my toe in the housing market

Fast forward to today and very few young people can even think about buying a house with the limit of their ambition being to find enough money to rent one. This is no surprise when you look at the figures. A house here in the North West even of the seriously run down variety will put you back around £70,000 at best, and as the banks are asking for extremely hefty deposits this means the chance of most young people getting on the housing ladder are slim to none and slims just left town.

If you can afford to purchase a house of the rundown variety of course you have to then get the house renovated which will again cost you a not inconsiderable amount. You may need new uPVC Windows and doors

We get the usual guff from the economic analysts, banks and politicians saying that a boost in housing prices is good for the economy and all of us but how can it be good for the ordinary working person if they can`t afford to buy one. I live in the North West which has some of the lowest housing prices in the country (unsurprising when you take a look at the housing stock) but if you live in a 50 mile radius of London the chances of purchasing a shed never mind a flat or house is remote. This can surely not be good for anyone?

We need to get back to affordable housing prices and get the banks to accept affordable deposits as downpayments. We need lots of brown field housing development and we need to improve and expand the number of rented accommodation available to our young people. If we don`t do this we are going to have generations of people who live with their parents for the best part of lives and that does not augur well for a healthy and stable society.

Just What The Doctor Ordered

If you are like me and still a big kid at heart I have found a website that might just be of some interest to your good self. Check out DoctorFunnyBone which is a site that has lots of good magic tricks and puzzles to amuse you. They have an online store with a few of the aforementioned items on them but what also interests me is that they have magicians for hire!!

Oh I do love a magician, especially when there is a party and there are kids about, as a good magician always keeps them entertained and out of trouble which is a feat in itself. What DoctorFunnyBone do when they are appointed as magician for the day is show us all a few magic tricks, and what is fabulous about them is that they also show you how to do some of the tricks themselves. They also let you take your favourite trick home with you so you can practice it on your friends, family and colleagues.

By the look of the website they are also looking for people who will be interested in a business opportunity which will entail promoting the doctorfunnybone brand. This could be a great opportunity to anyone who is looking for some part time work and who likes to entertain people, they would need to be outgoing and good with members of the public including children.

They have some `Show Me How` videos which are good fun to check out some of the tricks that are on sale on the website. All the magic tricks that they have are fairly simple to learn and children can quickly learn how to do them so that they can perform them with their friends and impress them. DoctorFunnyBone are a family friendly business who pride themselves on being good clean fun for all the family. They are based in Armagh in Northern Ireland and will perform magic tricks at parties or events right across the country. I am glad I checked them out, so should you!

Mental Health In A Dysfunctional World

Even the most optimistic among us have to admit from time to time that we live in a seriously messed up world. Much of the Middle East is a hell hole which the West`s dabblings and interference only ever make things worse. There has just been an earthquake in Nepal which has decimated much of the country. Russia seems to be on a course of provocation and determined to wrest back control of Ukraine.

And as for the UK, as the rich get richer and the poor get ever poorer, our communities and the social fabric which holds us all together seem to be on the verge of imploding. Many people are just about living from one pay cheque to another, with less support to fall back on now that the health service and social services have been cut to the bone. All the above seriously impacts upon the nations mental health and many people cope with alcohol, prescription drugs or illegal drugs to blank out the fact their lives are spiraling out of control.

Putting aside the mess outside our front door, or indeed inside our front door, how do we manage to keep our sanity in this dysfunctional unforgiving world? Is it possible? There are coping mechanisms you can use that mean you don`t have to resort to alcohol or drugs to get by.

One mantra I always use when I have problems is `One Day At A Time`. Don`t put pressure on yourself to put the world to rights in one fell swoop, it`s not going to happen, better to deal with the things you can have an influence on one at a time. Ignore all the things you have no control over and sort out the issues right in front of you.

Another good piece of advice; get rid of all the people who are having a negative influence on your life, or at least as many of them as you can. Fill your hours with people who you genuinely like to be around. The difference this one thing can have to your mental well being is staggering. It is very important you socialise with people, never cut yourself off from the outside world as that can be a slippery slope. The best times in life are when we are spending them with the ones we love.

Which leads to a very important point, if you are in an abusive relationship - mentally, physically, spiritually or any other darn way, get out now. Not tomorrow but now, take action, get help if you need to, but choose to live the life you want to.

Also learn to say no. It`s a very simple word but many people have forgotten how to use it. When you don`t want to do something say no, be firm, you only get one life and you deserve to live it on your own terms.

Finally, learn to stop and smell the roses. The pace of life can catch up with you and it can all get a bit too much but once you have learned to say no (see above!!) you will find you have some time each day to kick back and relax and have some me time! Put it to good use, you could meditate, do yoga, use creative visualisation, or just sit with your favourite coffee and think positive thoughts.

Love yourself, it`s the first step to good mental health. Take care.

I Have Fallen In Love----With Instant Text Messaging!!

I am not the type of person to fall head over heels every other week, in fact I am not easily impressed usually, so when I say I love TextSolution I have not done so on a whim. This is a full blown romance!! Let me explain.

TextSolution is a business that is run from Armagh in Northern Ireland, and there are a great many things that impress me about their service. Firstly they provide a service where you can instantly text a group of people, however many that group may be, directly from your computer.

Now the best thing is that when you contact people by text rather than email the open rate is astonishingly better. Email open rates usually languish around the 5% mark whereas if you send messages by text the open rate is nearer the 95% mark!!

So you can either type out a message on your computer, click send and all the people in your group will instantly get a text when using the instant text messaging service. Or you can use the mobile app that is available from TextSolution so that you can use your smartphone to send out the message to all your clients or members.

Another thing I really like about this is you can send out files and attachments with your messages, so you can send just as much as you could with an email, but in text format instead. You can send out pictures, videos, PDF`s and other files.

You can also receive inbound text messages through the same TextSolution service, and you can schedule automatic replies if you wish to. This is truly a great service for anyone who likes to be able to contact their clients or members at the drop of a hat, quickly and easily, and when you do you know you will get a very large open rate, which to me is what it is all about.

|If you want to avail yourself of this service they also do a 14 day free trial, there is very little not to like about this to be honest!! The service is cost effective and very reasonably priced so I have to say I would not be without it now. My love affair is firmly established and could well turn into a long term relationship.  

How To Survive In A Stress Filled World

Let`s face it we live in a crazy world and I don`t think any time soon it`s going to get any less crazier, in fact quite the opposite. The world seems to move so quickly that some days it seems to suffocate you so much that you can hardly breathe. With smartphones all around you there`s no way to escape, your every move can be charted and scrutinised. How any `celebrities` manage to stay sane I will never know as they can`t walk more than 10 yards in public without someone wanting to take a selfie with them. 

As humans we need time to breathe, to stop and smell the roses. With this in mind here are a 5 of my own tips on how to stay calm and relaxed within this maelstrom and get to the end of the day without your mind becoming completely frazzled. 

1. Firstly, and I can`t stress how important this particular tip is, learn to say no. Yes it is that simple, if you start to say no when someone asks you to do something you don`t want to do it will give you control over your life once again. It is amazing how much time we spend doing things we get coerced into doing and the stress this puts us through is enormous, plus saying yes when we really want to say no makes us feel powerless and irritable afterwards which does our mental health no good whatsoever. Just say no!
2. Breathing has been at the core of how we control our emotions and stay calm for centuries and in many civilisations, and this is because it works. When you are feeling stressed, or before you go into a situation that you feel is going to be stressful, make yourself comfortable and concentrate on your breathing, breathe out and bring in your stomach as the air is expelled, then breathe in and extend your stomach and feel the air slowly filling up your body. Control your breathing and concentrate on nothing else for at least 5 to 10 minutes and when you have finished you should feel more relaxed and energised.
3. Give yourself something to look forward to every day. When you wake up in the morning think of something that you would really like to do that day at some point, something that you can easily fit into your schedule. Then however bad your day may be there is always light at the end of the tunnel. It may be something really mundane like watching part of a box set you have been meaning to check out, or calling at your favourite fish and chip shop or pub on the way home from work, it doesn`t matter as long as it is something you can look forward to. 
4. Don`t take life too seriously as that way leads to madness!! Learn to laugh at lifes ups and downs, don`t get upset when a car cuts you up on the way into work and when anyone makes a snide comment about you brush it off as if it were a gnat. If you want to win every day of your life you will if you have this attitude as when you have the right mindset you can never lose.
5. Finally look after yourself. The fitter and healthier you are the better your mental state of mind will be and the better you will be able to cope with whatever life throws at you. The healthier you are the more alert and mentally sharp you will be too. Getting in shape should involve eating the right foods as well as exercising each day. Once you start to get fitter and you are eating more fruit and vegetables and nuts and the rest you will start to feel better about yourself, feel more confident and be able to deal more effectively with the stresses and strains of life. That`s not to say you shouldn`t always feel good about yourself, loving yourself is the start for anyone wanting to live a contented and productive life.

There we are, I feel better already for having written this post!! Take care and keep in touch mon braves.

Are Watches Being Made Redundant By Mobile Phones

I remember a time when you were a nobody if you didn`t have a good quality watch strapped to your wrist, but there is a feeling that those have gone now and gone for good, particularly with the advent of the smartphone. Now I am not saying by any means that we are seeing the complete demise of the watch but there is no doubt that a smartphone can do anything a watch can do and lots more besides.

I think it is right that there are now more mobile phones in the UK than people and 99% of the population would never think of venturing outside their house without their trusty smartphone in their pocket or their hand. If you surveyed a large section of the population and asked them what is the most important item to remember to take out with them the majority would say their mobile phone.

One of the functions that a smartphone can do is give you the time of day, and it can also give you the time of day in any part of the world you care to mention!! It can also provide you with an alarm, a calender, a diary and somewhere where you can store notes. Mobile phones now look so sleek and cool now, the colours are great and of course you can take photos of them including the obligatory selfies, and you can instantly upload your photos to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or send them directly to your friend smartphones. You can also create videos and upload them directly to all the social media channels.

So where does this leave the humble watch which basically tells the time for you? I think you will agree that if someone has to choose between either a smartphone or a watch that a very large percentage would plump for a smartphone. But there is still a place for watches, be they the classical watch or the designer watch. There are some super looking and innovative watches out there, including Guess watches, Casio watches, Police watches, Calvin Klein watches, Sekonda watches, Citizen watches and Ice watches to name but a few, and some labels are still a status symbol with many.

Many people like to check the time quickly and easily with a watch and they can be very much a jewellery item piece as much as any other. Some people don`t feel dressed without a watch on and they would never go out the house without their watch.

So in summary there is certainly still a place in society for a watch, but its overall status has been somewhat eroded by the ongoing dominance in every strata of society and in every country of the mobile phone.

Are `Legal Highs` Legal Anymore?

If you have been keeping in touch with the news over the last few months you will have noticed a great many news items involving legal highs, both the use of them and the selling of them. The other day, for the first time in the UK, two men pleaded guilty to selling dangerous substances, namely the legal high Novel Psychoactive Substances. This is very much not before time and there certainly needs to be a tightening up of the regulations with regard to this and many of the other substances.

One of the problems I feel is in the use of the term `Legal High`. This gives the impression to many of our naive youngsters (and not so young but foolish members of our society) that as these highs are legal they must be fine to take. This cannot be further from the truth in many cases and if they cared to read the small print on some of these products they would see that on some of them it says `not to be ingested` or `not to be taken by mouth`, even though all the traders who sell these products know that that is exactly what people intend to do when they purchase these substances. The fact is calling some product a legal high both puts people off guard and they risk taking substances that could in fact cause them great harm, and also it gives retailers a term to hide behind if they are confronted by anyone, they can shrug their shoulders and say it is perfectly legal for me to sell this product.

Legal highs have led to a number of people throughout the UK being taken to hospital and there have been a number of deaths that have been connected with them too. And many of them can be just as addictive as some illegal drugs and they are leading to all sorts of anti-social problems within our communities here in the UK.

What we need to be doing, besides banning many of them and making it an offence to take these legal highs in public, is to be giving a new name to them so people are more wary of getting involved with them in the first place. Why can`t we put a label on these products in large print saying `Potentially Harmful Substances` and start to call them this instead of legal highs? This may make many members of the public think twice before trying them out in the future.

The Window To Your Soul

This post is all about windows, and not as the title suggests metaphorical windows but physical windows you can touch, shine and smash as the mood takes you. I am sat here with the sunshine blazing through my window on a beautiful spring day and on a day like this windows are the most important part of the house. But they are also very important in the winter as they will either keep your home free of draughts and warm or if they are showing signs of wear or frankly not very well installed windows you might be in a draughty house with the central heating on trying to keep warm.

So lets take some time out to check out a few different types of windows and see what takes our fancy:

Lets sashay over to the Sliding Sash Windows first. Sliding sash windows are basically windows where the glazed panels are opened by sliding vertically or horizontally, and normally they will have 3 panes across by 2 up on each of 2 sashes. These are a very traditional type of window very popular in Georgian and Victorian times. The problem these types of windows used to have when they were just made of wood was they could rot, swell and/or distort and so they had to be extremely well maintained. However now you can get uPVC sash windows this is no longer a problem and they can be energy efficient as well as helping to provide sufficient cooling of interiors during hot weather. If you open both the top and bottom of a sash window in about equal measure this will allow warm air to escape and keep your rooms nice and cool in the summer time.

Now we move onto Triple Glazed Windows. The advantage of these is that they can save you money on heating bills and you will also find they reduce the level of noise from outside of your house if you live in an area that has a busy main road or particularly annoying neighbours! If you use a good window supplier who installs your triple glazed windows just right then they should reduce condensation on the inside of your windows by around 70%. And as you probably know condensation can lead to mould and even respiratory problems if people in the house are asthmatic or suffer breathing difficulties.

Casement Windows can be pretty cool too. The definition of a casement window is a window that is attached to its frame by one or more hinges, the hinges are always at the side. Many new types of casement windows have multi-chambers within their profile that can really reduce the heat loss in your home. The main advantage to a casement window is that they work great for ventilating your home, they can be hinged to open outward and angled so that any breeze from outside is directed through the window into your home.

Finally we check out our favourite cousins offering, French Windows. French windows can give your home a breezy, airy feel and the opening allows unrestricted access and maximum ventilation which is wonderful on a spring or summers day. They are large door sized lattice light, and if they have a hinge on them they are then French doors rather than French windows. French windows come in pairs or multiple variations of pairs and are perfect for opening out onto a terrace or into a garden.

Which of these windows you prefer (you may want different types of windows for different parts of the house) may depend on what part of the world you are in, the style of your home or your own particular penchant. Below is a picture of a sliding sash window.

What Are The Best Types Of Massage

Are you the type of guy or girl who just loves a massage? There are so many different types of massages you can have we thought we would ruminate on them so that if you are indecisive it will give you a good background knowledge on what sort may be the one for you.

We are going to start with the one which I particularly hate!! This is the deep tissue massage which I sincerely hope I never ever have again for as long as I am on Gods earth. With a deep tissue massage the masseur goes deep into the tissues of you legs, arms and shoulders. It can be very healing and many athletes swear by its recuperative powers, but it is also very painful at times and can leave aching limbs for 2 or 3 days afterwards.

Some people go for having just a part of the body massaged, some sportsmen may just want the legs and thighs massaged, others may just want a neck and shoulder massage, but there is also the full body massage which targets all the body.

A massage with the addition of aromatherapy oils is a lovely treat and is a real favourite of mine. A range of essential oils can be used for this, with the most popular being lavender which of course is ultra relaxing, but there are also oils which can energise you or reduce your stress levels.

Another type of massage which is very relaxing and calming and is becoming increasingly popular is the hot stone massage. This, as the name implies, involves placing hot stones in various areas of the body and gently massaging each area with them. As well as this being healing and a great muscle relaxant it is also supposed to help with the bodies natural balance.

A Swedish massage is probably the most well known type of massage and is one that most people still generally go for. With this type of massage the masseur uses oil and long, smooth strokes to relax the muscles and is definitely a good one to start with if you have never had a massage before.

For pregnant women there are massages that you can have sitting upright in a chair and involves massaging the back, hips and shoulders and finally the scalp. This can be very comforting and soothing for mums to be.

There is also foot massage, or reflexology as it can be called, which is the applying of pressure to various points of the feet which correspond to different organs and systems of the body. For anyone who has a job which involves being on their feet all day this can be a wonderful way to de-stress you and your feet.

We hope this information has proved useful and if you have any thoughts or comments please fire away, we love a bit of interaction on our posts.

 

Is It One Law For The Rich And One For The Poor?

The drastic and many would say draconian cuts to the legal system over the last year or two has led to a near breakdown in the judicial process here in the UK and has led critics to claim that unless you have money behind you, you can no longer get justice in our courts.

The coalition government, which could be in its death throes as we speak with the General Election just around the corner, of course will argue that the cuts were essential to the long term well being of the country after the recession hit the economy hard. But where should you draw the line? If our society is not built on the rocks of fairness and equality then what is there left?

Legal aid has been cut to the bone, leaving many people unable to apply for it and therefore not having any legal representation in court as they cannot afford to pay money to have someone there for them fighting their case. This can unfortunately lead to either people not bringing a case to court, and therefore potentially letting the perpetrator of a crime off scot free, or not being able to defend themselves adequately in court which can often lead to miscarriages of justice.

And it is also the more vulnerable members of our society that have borne the brunt of the cuts to legal aid, the people who need help the most.

For people with money there are no such worries, they can hire the best solicitors to give them more than a good chance of winning any court case they are involved with. So I think in summary it probably IS one law for the rich and one for the poor but has it not always been thus? Money talks in most societies, very sad but very true, but this does not mean we have to accept this and indeed make the divide greater by breaking down our legal system even more.

The legal aid system is there for a reason, to ensure that people who cannot afford to pay for a solicitor or pay court fees can still get access to representation and a fair stab at justice. We lose this at our peril.

Saving Energy In Your Home

We all know by now how important it is to save energy in your homes, both for the environment and your pockets. Energy bills have gone through the roof over the last few years and although there has been a slight reduction in recent times you do not have to be Mystic Meg to see another rise or two on the horizon. So we all need to bring in measures that will save energy in your home, save yourself some money and reduce your carbon footprint. So without further ado here are a few tips to remind you of how you can help to save energy:

1. PVC Windows  If you have new PVC windows installed, which can either be double glazed or indeed triple glazed, you will be amazed at how much heat you can save in your home. Heat can escape through windows around the edges and equally draughts can breeze through and in next to no time you have a cold and draughty home which you are continually having to heat with your fire or your central heating, or both. With new PVC windows installed by a reputable supplier you can make huge savings in your heating bills.
2. Solar Panels. The jury is out for many people in regard to solar panels for homes in the UK, particularly in the North of the country where the sun is rarely sighted and is the subject of wild celebrations whenever it is spotted! But there is no doubt that with the ever increasing global warming, coupled with the improvements in the quality and efficiency of solar panels, have made them a very attractive proposition to many homeowners, and as well as saving money on your energy bills they also add value to your house if you decide to sell it. 
3. LED Lighting. OK I know that LED light bulbs or very expensive, at the time of going to press around 6 times more expensive than halogen bulbs for instance, but the savings on electricity are quite staggering over a period of time and so well worth investing in. LED bulbs can also last up to 10,000 hours as opposed to the average 1,000 hours for halogen bulbs.
4. New Boilers. If you have an old boiler in your home (and I will resist the obvious jokes that I could foist on you at this juncture) it could be costing you a great deal of money in energy bills if it is not running efficiently, so a new boiler could be a very good investment indeed. And of course there are certain schemes where you may be entitled to a grant towards the installation of a new boiler for your home. 
5. Loft Insulation. If you don`t have your loft well insulated you are maybe a little bit crazy if I might venture!! So much of your heating in your home escapes through your ceiling and roof it is untrue, so please check how well insulated your loft is and get it sorted out. Again you may find you are liable to get funding to get your loft newly insulated. 

We will most likely revisit this subject here on this blog in the not too distant future as it is a subject close to my heart and I am sure close to yours too, so stay tuned mon ami.      

Get A Mobile Responsive Website Or Face The Consequences

Hello again,

The subject of the blog today is a very hot topic and that is Mobile Websites. Now it may or may not have escaped your notice but the lovely people at Google are bringing in a new update which comes into effect on April 21st, and the main thrust of this new update is that if your website is not mobile responsive then you will be severely penalised with your site moving rapidly down the rankings for your keyword terms.

To be honest this is only fair as figures show that around 50% of all searches are now done on smartphones or tablets rather than desktop applications. It is crazy for a business or organisation not to have a mobile website by now as they are probably missing out on a huge amount of traffic, as anyone who searches a website that is not mobile friendly on their smartphone will soon hop off somewhere else when they find they can`t read or scan the site properly. So it pretty much is a no-brainer that you need a mobile version of your website.

See below a picture of a website firstly before it was mobile responsive and then to the right when it had been made mobile responsive. You can see how much better the version to the right looks, it is easier to read, clearer and easier to navigate around.

There are two options for you if your website at present is not mobile responsive.

1. You can change the template of your website to a mobile friendly version.
2. You can leave your website as it is but have a mobile version of your website created so that if anyone clicks onto your website from their smartphone they will automatically be taken to the mobile version of your website rather than your original desktop version.  

Both options are perfectly fine and it may be that option 2 could work out cheaper initially but may turn out to be more expensive as a long term solution. 

If you have a decent ranking for many of your major keywords in the search engines at present, and you want to protect these rankings (and who wouldn`t) then you really need to get this sorted ASAP. Your position in the Google rankings is all important for your traffic flow, if people can`t find you when they search they aren`t going to visit your website and in the fullness of time become one of your customers. 

In summary get yourself a mobile responsive website today!!

10 Relaxation Techniques To Energise You

In todays high octane world you can sometimes forget about what are the real essential ingredients to a happy and fulfilling life as you lose yourself in work, looking after the kids, sorting out your home etc. One person you really have to start looking after, as well as the rest of your family, is yourself. Being healthy both mentally as well as physically is so important and you will find you will function so much better when you look after the inner you.
One of the best ways to get your mojo back is to try a few relaxation techniques. If you manage your time well you can put a little part of your day aside each day to relax and look after yourself, do this and you will be amazed at how much productive you will be with the rest of your time during the day.
Here are 10 different but equally useful ways to relax:
1. Meditation: meditation is a wonderful method of relaxation to get rid of all of lifes stresses and strains. The main tenet of meditation is to concentrate on your breathing, breathe deeply in and out and feel the air moving in and out of your body. I would try to meditate for at least 10 minutes up to half an hour at a time if possible.
2. Progressive Relaxation: this is a technique where you tense up a certain part of your body and then relax it and then move onto another part of your body. You could start with your neck, tense the muscles up and then relax and feel the muscles loosen and then go to your shoulder muscles and so on. This can be very effective.
3. Drink Green Tea: green tea is both relaxing and high in antioxidants and you can derive great benefits from a couple of cups of green tea each day. Sit down, concentrate on sipping your tea and let the world pass you by for a few minutes.
4. Creative Visualisation: this is great!! Close your eyes, relax, and visualise yourself having a great time, doing something you always wanted to do, maybe being praised for something you have done really well. Work really hard at picturing yourself in a positive situation so you can virtually ouch the images you are conjuring up in your mind. You will feel a million dollars after a few minutes of creative visualisation. Try to do this at least once a day.
5. Yoga: yoga is something that can be enjoyed whether as a beginner or an experienced exponent. Good fun to learn, and it gives you a great feeling of well-being.
6. Running: if you are fit enough to go for a run it can give you a real buzz as those endorphins are released into your bloodstream. Always run within your limits, enjoy the feeling of freedom when running and blow away the cobwebs of your working day.
7. Dance: dancing is one of THE best ways to relax and to learn to let yourself go. The exercise makes you feel good, and it is a great way to tone up your body, and listening to music you love is also good for the soul. Dance at a club or dance in your house, whichever just dance!!
8. Aromatherapy: this is very therapeutic, soothing oils such as lavender and tea tree oil can have great calming effects upon your body and mind.
9. Dog Walking: walking your dog can be such a relaxing activity, just watching your dog enjoying itself can be one of lifes great pleasures. Also stroking a dog is very relaxing.
10. Laughing: having a good old laugh releases endorphins into your brain and can boost your immune system. Let yourself go once in a while, get with people you like and love and have a laugh.
I hope you can practice at least 2 or 3 of the above each and every day and I promise you that if you do you will feel 10 times more healthier, sharper, and energetic. Enjoy!!

Welcome To A Cracking Good Read

Well its nice of you to pop over to A Cracking Good Read!! You may be wondering what the Dickens this is going to be about but unfortunately I am just as much in the dark as you!! Now before you send for the men in white coats and the yellow van (it was always a yellow van for some reason back in the day) I say I am as much in the dark as you because my posts on this blog are going to be of the random variety. There will be no set pattern or subject I will be particularly writing about, but I hope to entertain you whatever the conversation turns to.

One day we could chewing over the merits of eating road kill, the next day it may be what size of bra is the correct one for you as a woman (or indeed a man). There will be no boundaries but lots to interest people with a broad range of tastes. You may think that my writing delivery veers from the mildly irritating to the frankly bizarre to the get out of my house and never darken my doorstep again but I prefer to divide opinion rather than be mortifyingly dull.

That`s enough of the introductions for one evening so I think we will dive into our first subject which is Electrolysis Now when I came across this word when reading a mind numbing piece of literature in a dentists the other day whilst I was waiting for some root canal treatment (it wasn`t a day I care to live again and if I have a Groundhog Day I hope to God it won`t be that one) I must admit that electrolysis conjured up images of being forcibly held down whilst someone put what looked like headphones to the side of my head and gave the mother of all electric shocks, but no, I was quite wrong.

Electrolysis is in fact a service that involves hair removal from ones person, and I am told that it is particularly popular with ladies who have an unfortunate hair growth problem in all the wrong areas, especially the chin. This form of treatment is, so they say (and I never believe anyone who starts by saying `so they say`) a permanent way to remove hair so if any woman may change their mind and quite like to grow a beard in later life this may just put the mockers on it so beware.

Here is the theory behind so please listen up and no sleeping on the back row (especially you Hawkins!). Electrolysis works by reducing the blood supply to the hair root. If there is no blood supply there is no growth y`see. Unfortunately the treatment is not instantaneous and you have to go back for treatments over a period of time (I believe a few months) before you get the results you desire. It isn`t supposed to be painful, so for all you masochists out there I would give this a quick swerve, but you feel just a mild sensation. Having said that if you go to someone who is not properly qualified to practice electrolysis they might nearly rip your chin off.

Now being a red blooded male this is not my cup of tea m`lud but I am sure it will appeal to many people, and now after this review of the service you are armed with all you need to go out and shout I want electrolysis from the rooftops although I would not recommend this as you would look a bit of a fool.

Bye for now folks, y`all come back now.