Benefits of drinking green tea
March 7, 2010
The Chinese have been drinking green tea for more than 4000 years and claims of its benefits to health and well-being are in abundance.
Trials have found that certain chemicals in green tea shut down a particular molecule that plays a major role in the development of cancer. Statistics also show that there is a much lower rate of cancer in China and Japan than their Western counterparts.
Whether this claim is true or not, green tea is well known for its anti-oxidant properties which helps to fight free radicals in the body, and thus the popularity of this beverage has increased throughout the years as people are becoming more health conscious.
Quicksilver Clothes for your beach holiday!
August 6, 2009
There’s rarely anything but doom and gloom in the news today; bad interest rates, falling house prices, job cuts, recession recession recession! And the weather hasn’t been brilliant wither.
However, I’ve had 2 days of sun in a row (I know, so happy!), and I’m now thinking about my summer hols. I won’t be going abroad though. I know, British summer holidays on British beaches are not the “coolest” of trips ever, but have you been to Newquay lately?!
It’s amazing!
Great surf, cool bars, and a great party atmosphere - all the important things that a holiday needs to have! But with the added bonus of having no “holiday hassle” – bad flights, delays, foreign food, foreign currency, getting lost and not speaking the language…. It’s the perfect holiday!
So now I’ve decided when and where I’m off to, I get to go shopping - woohoo!!
And I’ll be doing a lot of my shopping online – great bargains and delivered straight to your door. I’ve decided to stock up on Quicksilver Clothes because they are great for the beach and look amazing - and the dresses can be glammed up for a night in the bar.
What more does a girl need?
How many presents do I have to buy?
March 19, 2009
With Mothering Sunday this weekend it means that more presents will have to be bought. With Christmas seemingly only just a few weeks ago, Easter just around the corner and the multitude of birthdays that I have on my calendar, it can be difficult to budget and remember all the people who bought me presents so I can buy them gifts back.
I have however a few tips for those emergency occasions when you may have forgotten your loved ones special day:
Buy your cards in bulk - keep a selection at home for various occasions, these should be both male and female orientated and should be bought when you notice discounts in card shops during their leaner times through the year.
Have birthday party supplies in your cupboard – these can be things like candles for a birthday celebration, balloons, party hats or party poppers.
Save wrapping paper or stock up – You can often save wrapping paper or gift bags that people have given to you (remembering who gave them to you so you don’t give them back). This is not only good on your pocket but also good for the environment.
Have ready wrapped gifts – It is always useful to wrap a couple of presents to keep in case of emergency. These can be quite generic; cook books for example are great for both male and female friends and can often be bought cheaply at discounted prices.
New Starters
February 26, 2009
Starting a new job can be a daunting prospect. Who do I talk to? What will my work colleagues be like? Are there any office politics that I need to be aware of so I don’t put my foot in it on the first day?
We can all distinguish new starters by their polished shoes, their neatly pressed clothes and their annoying ability to ask questions that are plainly just stupid. Their desks are kept clear of the usual paraphernalia that adorns most of the normal staff’s workplaces and they are always on time and the last to leave.
What annoys me most about new starters however is the way that they will always do anything for you. Whether it is making constant cups of tea for the boss, filing things away that have obviously found a permanent home amongst the copious amount of paper on your desk or using document scanning as an excuse to chat to the best looking guy in the office, new starters are a thorn in the side of well accustomed office regulars.
You may well say that we were all new starters once, this may be true, but some of us are better new starters than others.
Learner drivers, do we need them?
February 17, 2009
I know we all had to learn to drive once, and I’m usually very patient with learner drivers because I remember how difficult it was when I was first starting out and how annoying it was when someone would overtake me or sound their horn in frustration. Therefore I always give them plenty of space and time to perform their manoeuvre.
However, what I get narked about is when learner drivers are taken out at peak times and they’re clearly not ready for it. Where I live seems to be a hotspot for dithering learner drivers practising their 3-point-turns and their parallel parking around my car! It’s extremely annoying and I worry for the safety of my car.
Furthermore, what’s the point in learner drivers being taught to drive on the roads and duel carriage ways, and then when they pass their test they’re let loose on motorways without any further training? Is it any wonder that so many people hog the middle lane when they’ve never been taught to actually drive on the motorway?!?
Learner drivers aren’t the problem, the way in which they are taught is, due to the crap system this country insists upon for teaching drivers.
It wouldn’t happen in Germany.
Postman Cat
January 30, 2009
Postman Nick Lock has been doing his rounds in Somerset with Postman Cat, Charlie. The cat jumped into the postbag to escape from the rain several weeks ago and since then has been travelling with Nick on his rounds.
Nick Lock said:
“He was soaking wet through and I put my bag down - next thing he was in it. Most days now he’s about. I think it’s because he likes people. I don’t think he likes being by himself”.
Charlie the Cat is 4 years old and belongs to Lara Lucas, who lives on Nick’s route. Lara said:
”Charlie follows Nick around and does his round with him every day. I think it’s adorable. I couldn’t believe it when he started going around in Nick’s bag. When I heard about it I fell into fits of laughter”.
Furniture Jealousy
January 16, 2009
I went to my friend’s house this weekend; she had refurnished the whole of her house. She had done the majority of downstairs with beautiful oriental furniture.
The bedroom had a large traditional Chinese wardrobe, there was loads of space and the finish was beautiful. Though it was nice, it wasn’t the walk in wardrobe that I aspire to have. I imagine having all my shoes in their boxes, lined up and my clothes hanging beautifully along an array of rails.
I personally go to the cheap pine shop down the road which serves me well. I like rustic wood effects and they have some brilliant bargains to be bought.
I do wonder though with the style of my house whether I could integrate a piece of oriental furniture into my house. It would either accessorise the room, making it look a bit kitsch or it would stand out like a sore thumb?
I love the oriental rustic dresser, though I am not yet at that age where I own a dinner set to display in its cabinets. Perhaps I should hold off becoming too much of a desperate house wife just yet and enjoy being young? I’ve got the rest of my life to think about furnishings!
January Freebies
January 12, 2009
With the recession looming, companies are trying more than ever to generate business. So today I’m blogging about how you can benefit from free offers so you know where to look.
For most of the offers you’ll need an email address, freebies are mainly incentives to buy more, generate first time business or data capture.
I wouldn’t use a work email address as often you will be bombarded with emails to try and gain further business once the incentives have ceased.
Dining Out
Pizza Express – free main course when you buy the first, running til the end of April.
Millies Cookies – free cookies, smoothies etc with voucher booklet
Beauty
Free Olay Effects Moisturiser
Free 4ml ‘Sensuous’ perfume from Estee Lauder
Free ‘Sweetheart’, Ghost perfume sample
Home
Sign up to the Jessop’s website for 40 free prints
Crown is offering 5 free paint samples from the Pure Paint Range
Out For The Day
Join the National Trust online, to get a free pair of binoculars, this offer includes 3 months free membership.
To Download for Free
12 months free McAfee Security for HSBC online banking customer. Barclays are offering a similar deal.
Home and Learn – free computer tutorials in Excel, Word and PowerPoint
Money For Free
The American Express Platinum credit card earns a brilliant 5% cash back.
Switch to Alliance & Leicester or First Direct 1st accounts to get £100 for switching.
Dixons Terrible Customer Service
December 19, 2008
What is the deal with customer service these days? Dixons must be the worse customer service ever. Honestly I got off the phone after being put on hold for approximately 10 minutes by three advisors and was shaking with anger!!!
Apparently the Customer Service Managers at Dixons are too good to come to the telephone?! There was no way to escalate my problem and when the advisor had gotten sick of me they just put me on hold indefinitely!
Seriously, how do companies like Dixons stay in business?
I’m still waiting for my refund, which has taken nearly a month, after them initially telling me that they had not taken any money from my account. I seldom check my bank details and only did see that they had debited hundreds of pounds from my account because I randomly scanned through my statement.
I am so annoyed by Dixons and think that they need to raise their game!!! A company such as theirs should have at least a basic customer service set up!
More Puppy Devastation
November 18, 2008
Gaah! My puppy has weed on my bed… twice! The first time I caught him in the act and managed to get to it before it soaked through my bedding. The second time he did it stealth style… no one even noticed until the whole bed was soaked through! Imagine if it had been an adjustable bed… adjustable beds would have given him an electric shock and Pavlov’s dog theory would probably mean he wouldn’t do it again. But no, he now thinks that my bed is one big Max size puppy pad (a flat like nappy for the floor which is not, under any circumstance my bed)!
I’m not sure how cracked up I am to be a pet owner. I don’t like wee or poo abouts the place, and I certainly don’t like clearing it up though, of course I do as a responsible dog owner. The pup has however helped my OCD somewhat. Before the dog I was obsessed with germs and to a certain degree I still am. But when I first got Max I was like Lady Macbeth, only constantly trying to get germs off my hands instead of the blood from those I murdered. OK, well may be not so much like Lady Macbeth but like a crazy clean person.
Despite the fact I am happy with my personal growth; the pee bed situation is causing me some real issues. God damned dog!