It’s that time of year again where I find myself on red alert for the signs of an impending cold in the Hobbis household.  This involves much brandishing of tissues and shouting “wash your hands with hot water”. The medication cupboard (yes we have a whole cupboard) is restocked with Vicks Vapour Rub and Olbas Oil and I threaten everybody with my chicken soup (with a…

Do you love Christmas but dread that stressful feeling that creeps up when it’s time to buy gifts? Presents are a tricky thing indeed. You may have conflicting thoughts running through your mind at this busy time of year. Things like, “So-and-so never likes anything I buy… what should I do?” “The kids keep changing their minds about what to put on their lists!” “What…

I was recently commissioned by Bathing Solutions to give my thoughts on how to stay active over 55, particularly for those who may have mobility issues or be a little less agile than they used to be. Lots of us view exercise as a chore – something we ‘have’ to do.  It’s a better idea if you can make that mental shift, to consider it…

If you have kids, you’ll know how much time they spend on the floor! From new-borns crawling around to ten-year-olds playing on the floor, you should expect them to be on it for a long time yet! This means it’s really important you make the right choice when it comes to flooring – but what exactly is the best option? Wood flooring has so many…

It’s that time of year again and, if you’re anything like I was, you spend more time creating intricate revision timetables than actually knuckling down to the work.  Why is this?  I think fear of failure is the number one cause behind our reluctance to study but read on, because the following tips will help you to prepare for your exams without panic! Learn from…

Since 1903, when number plates became a legal requirement on vehicles, there have been several systems in place in-order to differentiate one vehicle from another. From the original system to now, authorities have had to ensure that no two number plates are the same so that each car has a unique identity and can be identified if involved in an incident or theft. Up until…

Today’s schoolchildren are faced with a competitive educational environment – they are expected to excel in academics and participate in extracurricular activities in order to be successful, particularly in secondary school. Too often, kids can find expectations such as these overwhelming – as can their parents and carers –  with the result that everyone gets stressed.  The irony of this is that is increases the…

The festive season is busy for everyone. For mums with kids still at home, it’s chaotic, to say the least. We aren’t just mothers, we’re playing Santa, chef, event planner, and sometimes, even dad. The lead up to the “big day” on December 25th often gets in the way of time spent with the children, but this defeats the object. Quality family time at Christmas…

There’s a lot going on when you have kids, which I know isn’t news to any parent out there. With a young family, it’s hard to sit down and have a cup of tea in peace, let alone find the time to do life admin. I’m here to tell you though that it is pretty important to steal a little bit of time to think…