An Advent Of Kindness Day 1 to 6

You can’t get away from Christmas it happens every year from what feels like August.People go crackers literally Halloween onwards and it is drilled into us there is only so many bank balance emptying days till Christmas.I can find Christmas overwhelming with all the bright lights tinkle sparkle and at times over inflated retail message that is put across.

So what about an advent of kindness for yourself or others or maybe a bit of both.And an advent of kindness doesn’t have a single thing if you don’t want it to .

Day 1

Perhaps sort out that stuff for the charity shop you’ve been putting off for ages and who know s when you’re in the charity shop you might see something you’ve been after but couldn’t really afford up till now.

Day 2 

Go for a walk and appreciate the outdoors whatever the weather , at this time of year I love to grab the light.

Day 3

Cook for yourself or for friends or family with a hearty vegetarian recipe .

Day 4

Start a crafting hobby such a card making , it is a hobby I slip in and out but I’m determined to get fully back into it.

Day 5 

Start that book you’ve been reading to read it doesn’t matter how long it takes you.

Day 6 

Culture a plant .. I don’t mean read to a plant the entire works of Shakespeare .Plan what you’d like to grow in your garden whatever it’s size .You can even grow vegetables in containers and yield brilliant results.

Epson Printer ET -2710 An Ideal Present For A Student

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 If you have a student in the house either one that is at university or school then you’ll know how essential a printer is ! from dressing up days at primary school to very long assignments at university.It is important to have a printer that will do the job and the big stinger with many printers is the cost of ink.With an Epsom ET 2710 you won’t have to worry as the supplier ink lasts up to 2 years and subsequently the ink refills won’t break the bank.

Product Description

This stylish 3-in-1 inkjet printer is ideal for modern homes who want to reduce their printing costs and print on the go. With the Epson EcoTank ET-2710, which does not come with ink cartridges and instead is refilled with high-yield ink bottles, the average ink costs can be reduced by up to 90%. The innovative ink refill system is easy and convenient to use thanks to the specially developed ink bottles. With EcoTank, you no longer have to worry about your ink consumption and subsequent costs. Printing without cartridges and rarely refilling ink cartridges is not a nice task to worry about. Our EcoTank printers offer an uncomplicated solution: with the ink bottle set you can print on average as much as with 88 ink cartridges1. If you print a lot, you will be delighted to rarely have to change consumables. The economical printer saves on average up to 90% on ink costs. With a single ink set, you can print impressive 4,500 pages in black and 7,500 pages in colour.

The printer was easy to set up it is however not an airdrop printer for Apple but you can print most things via an app you place on your phone /laptop or tablet.It is a great fixed place printer and you can print from anywhere in the world.The print quality is excellent and the Epson ET -2710 printer is reasonably price at £169.99

From Grannies Heist To Dreaming Of Mice

Bus travel like it loathe ... it is certainly an experience ! from the seat hoggers to those who don't know the meaning of personal space , bus travel at the best of times can range from anything from horrific to a comedy




Possibly some old ladies on the bus organising a bank heist .. “ You drive don’t you Beryl ?”





You hear it all on the 9.30 pensioners Express the time where they can all use their free bus passes.


You’re probably sitting reading this though you could be at the bus stop petrified of the criminal world of grannies. You could be wonderful at the blog title and quite frankly I was too.But I thought well of course I can link it to my cat ~ cats and internet a marriage made in heaven. My cat is saving the planet by reusing an Amazon box as his bed so you can thank my cat for saving the world.

Try Not To Get Yourself Into Debt At Christmas

Christmas puts us all under pressure and we shouldn’t really have to feel like that at all.It is one day they say but it ends up being more like 2 months of sprinkle tinsel and dine onslaught.You could save a regular month each to put towards your Christmas presents but I feel that even with this you’re going to be buying stuff that isn’t really needed. Perhaps you and your family could put towards a family holiday together during the following year ~ a great memory maker. This is something that might take a few years to save for dependant on where you go or what you might do.


Keeping your eye for deals is good and don't be afraid to buy Christmas presents from Charity shops you  will honestly be amazed at what you pick up for next to nothing for new items and the money is going to a good cause.It is worth looking at Martin Lewis and his money saving Expert website as there is some great advice on there.


And if you do have some outstanding debt and you really want to start to make a difference to your finances without it wildly impacting your credit rating.Firstly ring up what ever credit provider you have and ask about freezing the interest while making constant repayments under a plan. You won't be able to use your credit card etc whilst this is going on and it will be noted on your credit file that you're under some sort of arrangement but it won't wildly affect your credit rating.

Another way to keep those costs down at Christmas is to make your own cards and it can be done for little or no cost , perhaps you have a crafty friend that you could share crafting supplies with.

And batch cooking is a good idea as well to save the cash over the festive season and perfect also if you get unexpected guests.

If you’re going away over the festive season and in particular have cats or small animals like a hamster then perhaps ask a friend to pop in and look after them.

We should not be a slave to the pressure of stuff and even though my son is at university we will get him stuff that’s practical shower gel etc.

The Autumn Of Vienna

I’m adjusting back from Vienna and the climb down from the coffee which I didn’t hit the coffee and cake to hard but my words what a wonderful place it was.I miss the wide open spaces and the fact that one minute you can be walking down the wide city roads and then next minute your in palace gardens.

I miss Vienna when you’re away travelling it makes you feel alive and your eyes just want to drink it all in.And Vienna I have to say is one of those places you will want to go back to not only for the most amazing Christmas markets I have ever seen but all museums and architecture it has to offer.And Vienna you’re beautiful what ever your season is.

Epson ET - 27110 An ideal Printer For A Student

If you have a student in the house either one that is at university or school then you’ll know how essential a printer is ! from dressing up days at primary school to very long assignments at university.It is important to have a printer that will do the job and the big stinger with many printers is the cost of ink.With an Epsom ET 2710 you won’t have to worry as the supplier ink lasts up to 2 years and subsequently the ink refills won’t break the bank.

Product Description

This stylish 3-in-1 inkjet printer is ideal for modern homes who want to reduce their printing costs and print on the go. With the Epson EcoTank ET-2710, which does not come with ink cartridges and instead is refilled with high-yield ink bottles, the average ink costs can be reduced by up to 90%. The innovative ink refill system is easy and convenient to use thanks to the specially developed ink bottles. With EcoTank, you no longer have to worry about your ink consumption and subsequent costs. Printing without cartridges and rarely refilling ink cartridges is not a nice task to worry about. Our EcoTank printers offer an uncomplicated solution: with the ink bottle set you can print on average as much as with 88 ink cartridges1. If you print a lot, you will be delighted to rarely have to change consumables. The economical printer saves on average up to 90% on ink costs. With a single ink set, you can print impressive 4,500 pages in black and 7,500 pages in colour.

The printer was easy to set up it is however not an airdrop printer for Apple but you can print most things via an app you place on your phone /laptop or tablet.It is a great fixed place printer and you can print from anywhere in the world.

Mini Christmas Gift Guide

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I am a nightmare to buy for at Christmas I am so practical I give practicality a headache but as I get older I like to be more organised as life is till revolving around my son from giving him advice on how to change a light bulb to picking him up from university to taking him back.So planning meals can be a a real headache at times especially with all the comings and goings.So this is where a dairy is useful but not a sort of diary but one that is designed not only to help you keep track of your life but also write recipes in and there is even some recipes already in the Cook's Diary.



A unique diary with a practical week-to-view layout and 52 delicious triple-tested recipes so that you can try something new every week of the year. It has a handy pocket at the front for storing cards and receipts and features concealed wiro-binding so that it lies flat when in use. There's even a sticker sheet so that you can customise the pages with your appointments and important dates. There are plenty of useful pages for recording details, such as personal contacts, useful websites, thoughts and plans, plus birthday and Christmas gift records. This Cook's Diary also provides hints, tips, calendars and conversions - in fact everything you need (and want) to plan your busy life.

Fern design with gold foil
£9.99


This diary is an ideal Christmas present as well as a stocking filler .



Who doesn't love to receive flowers at Christmas and red is one of the most vibrant colours at Christmas so it was wonderful to receive a beautiful bouquet of flowers the other day which was perfect in cheering me up from my post holiday slump having just come back from the Vienna Christmas markets.


I love the Christmas Cinnamon Spice Bouquet which is priced at £29.99 it is from Blossoming gifts and they have all sort of flowers and gifts that are suitable for Christmas , they do flowers and gifts all year round. Flowers are a wonderful gift at Christmas and if you’re struggling to get that teacher gift this Christmas then it’s worth clubbing together with some parents to give the teacher some flowers.

Disclosure I was sent these items and all thoughts words and opinions are my own.

Vienna Vibe

I’ve been up since half past 3 in the morning this morning trying to remember why Oooh that’s it Vienna , Heathrow is weird place early in the morning , you find yourself stuck between Duty Free and Oysters and champagne . Of course Harrods is thrown in for good measure and why not top it off with some Tiffany’s jewellery , I did splash the cash on a Boots meal deal well two meal deals actually.A smooth flight which was more refined as no one clapped when the plane landed.

After some confusion with our Vienna card in getting our airport transfers we made it to the hotel to drop off our cases and get the lie of the land.A few steps down the street we nearly got attacked by a sofa and going abroad I’ve learnt not to be surprised.Well that was until I saw a man who was dressed one minute then complete starkers they next , I think it might of been some performance art piece ? as he had a photographer with him.

Vienna so has a vibe about it ...

Beatles 48 Hours In Liverpool

Travelling on a Friday night might seem like a cuckoo thing to do as everyone and their cat will be travelling back home from work or or a break away and you can only but expect frazzles but if you are willing to take your time then Friday afternoon isn't that bad.I think it really does help to break your joinery if you're travelling say further afield then you're fresh and ready to go the very next day.We were travelling to Liverpool with isn't that far from us it is only one hour forty minutes away so no time at all really though it took round about two hours on the Friday afternoon but we weren't really bothered about that.




On our first day we were straight into Liverpool by bus , getting the bus near from where we were staying which was the Crowne Plaza near Liverpool airport and we got off near the Albert Docks and you are straight into the throng of it all. There really is SO much to see round Liverpool that I think you really need about 4 days to most of it and even then there will still be something more to see.We headed first to the Beatles museum and paid our money and took ourselves on the self guided tour.which is a timeline of the Beatles story with additional information and videos etc.The museum is good the tour is a little long winded in places mainly due the never ending video clips on the tour guide you are given but never the less we both enjoyed it.My husband thought that the museum could have be made ever better by having people dressed up as the Beatles characters to interact with people every now and again.

Then it was onto the Liver Building which dominates the skyline of Liverpool , it is so true than when you're in Liverpool that you really do need to to look up because of the marvellous architecture.

It’s costs £15 per adult to go up the Liver building but it’s worth it as you get a guided tour and talk.There is a lift most of the way and then there’s about 120 steps to the top but don’t worry you don’t have to rush up.There is a display to look round before you go up and there’s an app to download which helps you interact with the display 







If you’re going to visit Liverpool and you’re a National Trust member then it’s working booking in advance to see Paul Mccartneys childhood home and the home Mendips  where John Lennon  grew up . It’s around £9.50 each if you’re a #nationaltrustmember and £25 if not.They tell you there’s no toilet on the door but there is one you can use at the McCartney home ( not the one that Paul Mcartney used ! ) 

#abbeyroad50 #beatles #liverpool

Humiliation At the Doctors

I went the doctors with one thing and you know how it is you end up with a list of things you didn't go in for like humiliation and finger pointing at you that you're fat .. no sorry obese and made to stand on the scales like a fisherman waiting in their huge haul.Getting fit shouldn't be like this it shouldn't be humiliation ,  shouldn't be made to feel like if I do want a cake ( a rare treat ) that I am going to need a defibrillator standing by.


It was a case of OOOOh no you shouldn't be on that medication because you're obese and let's have you on the scales.


I went from a hero to zero in one swift mouthful.



I know I have to lose weight and you know I have really overhauled my eating habits and people know how much walking I do and all I got from the doctor was "you seem to be doing the right things"

I have a referral from the dietician which has been shelved because even they thought it was odd being referred in such a way.

I really do think I was fat shamed in a way ... because all the other times I have been to the doctors my weight has roughly stayed the same .. my blood pressure and cholesterol are all good.

I have joined instead a scheme with the council aimed at people with a disability where it is one and one and there is no shaming in fact I was congratulated on making that step! now to me that is far more productive and inspiring that what I experienced at the doctors last week.And I have been assured that it is on no way like far club from Little Britain.