Christmas Gift Ideas For 7 Year Old Ieuan - Ideas Please!

At the supermarket on Saturday I gave Ieuan my phone and instructed him to take pictures of the kind of thing that he might like Santa to bring him.

I was hoping that he would pick 'things to play with' rather than 'things to interact with'.  He spends far too much time in the world of Minecraft creating huge, palatial buildings which randomly burn down at regular intervals.

The wailing is enough to send you to the gin cupboard, but I console myself that he might become an architect and design me a nice maximum security home for my twilight years.

But lots of toys seem unsophisticated when compared to online games,  and unlikely to hold Ieuan's interest for more than two minutes.

I'm sure lots of parents are currently scratching their heads wondering how to get their offspring off the sofa and actually mobile in the fresh air - or at least away from a screen for a while.

Ieuan's list consisted of Star Wars and Minecraft figures but I am determined to broaden his interests and reduce his screen time!

So what to get?  Are you facing a similar quandry?

Here are some suggestions that might be suitable for Ieuan's age group 7+ - although heaven knows, they're all different!

- Tickets for something like Lego Land or the Harry Potter tour.  You may find online discounts or be able to use Clubcard vouchers.

- Music CDs - must confess I am unsure of the musical taste of 7 year old boys!

- Board games like Operation or Mousetrap

- Science kit toys

- Unusual outdoor toys like rockets, kites or giant flying discs etc

- Lego or Meccano

- Remote control car

- Metal detector

- Watch / stopwatch / pedometer

- Simple camera

- Accessories for a bicycle - bell / horn / new cycle helmet / lights

- Encyclopedia or a history book (Horrible Histories, books on Ancient Egypt)

- Set of classic boys' own stories

- Football / rugby / sports equipment

- Musical instrument such as a guitar or basic keyboard

(unfortunately Ieuan wants to be a rock drummer so I'll be stalling on that one for as long as possible).

We're at that awkward age where the existence of Santa is occasionally called into question (of course he exists!) so I don't want to let him choose his own presents.  We're still telling him he needs to get his skates on and write a list for Santa to work from.

What have you got on your boys' Christmas lists this year (for Santa to deliver obviously)?

I'd love to hear some inspiring ideas.

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Smoking - Over 65,000 Babies STILL Put At Risk By Expectant Mums Each Year In England

Despite multiple health warnings and advice from the NHS, over 1 in 10 expectant mothers in England admit to smoking whilst pregnant - that’s over 65,000 based on average maternities per year.

Blackpool has the most alarming figures, with 26% or over 1 in 4 women smoking whilst pregnant. Stoke-on-Trent came second, with nearly 1 in 5 women smoking whilst pregnant (19.10%), with Liverpool closely behind at 16%.

However, the capital is setting a great example, with only 4.9% of pregnant mothers smoking. This is less than half of the national target of 11%.

Other low smoking towns include Birmingham and Reading. Research analysed by Vapourlites.com, has found that just over 12% of pregnant women are smokers at their first midwife appointment, with this only dropping by 1.9% to 10.6% at the time of birth.

Despite the health warnings, only a fraction of mums-to-be cut the habit. Amanda Sandford from the Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) said: “Smoking during pregnancy reduces foetal growth and increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and cot deaths. Although there has been significant progress in reducing the rates of smoking during pregnancy it’s vital that work continues to ensure that pregnant women who smoke are offered support to quit.”

And the jury's still out on whether or not vaping carries equal risks to health

A map of pregnant mums-to-be who smoke illustrates the staggering numbers, and difference in some of the UK’s major cities.

Image credit: Vapourlites.com

It's a shame that the rest of the UK was not included in this research to get a fuller picture. I suspect, however, that it would be equally grim reading.

Smokers will argue that smoking is an addiction and it is well documented how difficult it is to quit, but surely, for the sake of your unborn baby's health, you'd try to quit, wouldn't you?  And ideally before you conceived.

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Research Finds 50% of Kids Aged 11 Own a Mobile, But a Quarter of Parents Regret It

Almost daily, on our walk home from school, Caitlin and Ieuan will mention mobile phones. Already, even though they are only in years 4 and 3, some of their friends have their own phones.

We have told our kids that the jury is still out on the potential harmful effects of mobile phone usage on young brains and that we will make a decision when Caitlin goes to secondary school a year before Ieuan, meaning two separate school runs to two different schools.

But, I do have some sympathy with parents who have given their kids a phone.  Some children walk to school unaccompanied.  Still others attend breakfast club and / or after school club because their parents work.

As a stay at home mum, I recognise that I am in the privileged position of being able to take my kids back and forth to school but I can see that the need to know your child is safe when you're not around is an extremely strong reason to cave in and buy one for them.

In fact, recent research carried out by the Nationwide Building Society discovered that half of British children will own a mobile phone by the age of ELEVEN.

The study of 2,000 parents shows the average child will receive a phone worth £120 on their eleventh birthday, and will then spend two hours every day glued to the device.

But four in 10 parents end up regretting giving their youngster a phone at such a young age – as by their teenage years the child is transfixed by the likes of social media, texts, and computer games.

Incredibly, researchers found one in 20 children will own a mobile handset by the age of SIX as parents give in to primary school peer pressure.

Owning a mobile phone comes at a price for parents – in addition to the £120 upfront fee, mums and dads will be expected to replace the phone at least twice due to it being lost, stolen or damaged.

The study, which considers mobile phone ownership amongst children, reveals two thirds of parents will allow their child to have internet access on their device as soon as they get it.

And 28 per cent of kids are then allowed to use their phone all day without any supervision from an adult – despite 46 per cent have access to social media channels.

A third of parents fear their children spend far too much time on their phone – with one in eight kids spending more than four hours a day chatting to mates and playing games.

According to the data, one in 10 children will use their mobile during the school day, and 12 per cent will log in to their phone as soon as they get home from school.

Just 10 per cent of children can wait until after dinner before checking their phone.

That’s on top of the £163 parents spend on securing a new mobile phone deal or device for themselves.

Just one in six parents will limit their child’s phone usage to emergencies only – with many admitting their child uses their phone for a range of activities.

Six in 10 children use their phone to play popular computer games, while 54 per cent will watch videos on the likes of YouTube and other social media channels.

More than half of youngsters will spend much of their time surfing the internet, and 49 per cent regularly listen to music.

But many parents purchase a phone for their children because they want them contactable at all times – 55 per cent want the flexibility to stay in touch and more than a third cite safety fears as a reason for getting a handset for their children.

Unfortunately, the research discovered that purchasing a phone only ADDS to the worry parents have.

A fifth of parents are concerned their child’s phone has now led to them not enjoying enough quality time with the family, and 16 per cent are concerned their child is missing out on face-to-face interactions with others.

One in five mums and dads understandably worry about how much they are having to spend on phone calls, apps, music and games.

As a result, two thirds of parents control how long their child spend on their phone by limiting their credit (42 per cent), confiscating the device in the evenings (21 per cent) and introducing strict rules on phone use (16 per cent).

So not only do you need to fund the cost of the phone but you'd be pretty daft not to talk out mobile phone insurance as well.

The problem is that once your child has a phone, monitoring what they get up to on it is well nigh impossible - at least without some kind of additional monitoring software or limiting their credit.

I am still in two minds when it comes to mobile phones for kids but for many parents like me, I suspect that we're fighting a losing battle when it comes to the ever-growing intrusion of mobile technology into our lives.

Where do you stand on mobile phones for kids?

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How To Stay Healthy In The Office

Much has been written these days about the dangers of spending too long sitting down.  You may even have heard it said that "sitting is the new smoking".

Sitting for too long is said to cause the following:-

*obesity
*increased blood pressure
*high blood sugar
*excess body fat around the waist
*abnormal cholesterol levels

You get the general picture.  I'm sure you've seen pictures of state-of-the-art standing desks where you literally stand in front of your desktop to work, or even desks where you can walk and exercise at the same time.

But how many businesses can afford to supply these to their staff?  And what can you do when your job involves sitting down all day at a computer?  Perhaps you work in a call centre or have an office role.

Not only does sitting for too long come with all the long-term risks mentioned above, sitting in a chair which does not properly support your back can give you problems and then there's the general fatigue and lack of mental alertness which a lack of fresh air brings.

Add in tired, gritty eyes and possible dehydration if there's no fresh water to hand or you don't get time for a cuppa and it's a recipe for poor health.

So what can you do to not only curb the effects of sitting all day, but stay healthy when you work in an office?

Here are some simple tips to try.

Have a healthy breakfast

Start the day with a healthy breakfast with some slow release carbs (e.g. porridge) or some protein (poached egg on toast).  Sugary cereal will do nothing to keep you feeling full for very long.

Snack wisely

Try to avoid the usual sugary sweets, biscuits and cakes.  On the other hand, don't be a total misery and always refuse the doughnuts and cupcakes the birthday boys and girls might offer.  You don't have to eat all of it (no, I've never managed that either) and don't forget to return the favour.  You don't have to buy one for yourself (once again, I've never managed that either).

You could bring some fruit, cubed cheese or some almonds to snack on which should keep you going till lunch.

Drink plenty of water

I appreciate this is incredibly basic advice but how many of us actually do it?  Mainlining on constant caffeine will leave you twitchy, hungry and dehydrated.

Take a break from the screen

Protect your eyes by taking regular screen breaks roughly every 20 minutes of so. This can be something simple like gazing out of the window for a few minutes.  If you're questioned you can say you're just refining your mastery strategy for business domination.

Get up and walk around

My physio says that sitting in one position for longer than 45 minutes is asking for trouble - and he should know because he's a football referee as well.

Do back exercises at home

You don't need a fully equipped gym - just a well padded exercise mat and about 15 minutes.  You can find some very simple, but effective back exercises on the NHS's website. Bear in mind that you need to do these consistently, even (and this is key) if your back feels OK.

Invest in some back support

You can get back support cushions, wrist and foot rests.  If you have problems talk to your HR department to see if there is anything they can supply.

Clean Your Desk

Yes I know.  It's not your job but since your keyboard, mouse and phone harbor germs, viruses and bacteria, frankly, I was quite happy to give my desk a weekly once-over with disinfecting wipes - particularly the phone!

There's something immensely satisfying about it too because you can go through your filing trays and sort out that 'wodge' of post you've been avoiding at the same time.

Wash Your Hands

It never fails to astound me how many people seem to have no clue what a toilet flush does.  I'm assuming these people just have a hole in the ground at home or a bucket.  Washing your hands is vital - and slathering your hands in hand-sanitizer is a good idea too.

Wash your own cup

I've worked in offices where mugs were just dumped in bowl of lukewarm soapy water and left to 'soak' overnight.  Your first morning cuppa would have the unmistakeable 'tang' of industrial washing up liquid and probably a colleague's lipstick.  Washing your own cup (even taking it home!) is a good idea.

And let's not even think about the microwave.  The same people who are toilet flush-averse seem to struggle with the idea that covering food means no baked bean or pasta sauce explosion.  Yeuch.

Ask about Health & Safety Training

Lots of businesses these days train staff in-house to take on vital roles such as first-aiders and fire wardens. There is also a growing need for workplace health & safety experts, ideally located in-house as part of the management team, so that the working conditions of the staff can be consistently monitored and adapted as the business grows.

Whilst workplace health and safety is often outsourced, it is possible to study for a NEBOSH Health & Safety Qualification online. (NEBOSH = National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) and you may find that your company is willing to help you take your career down this route. You could suggest a provider such as Sheilds NEBOSH Training UK

It is up to your employer to ensure that you work in as safe an environment as possible.  Your employer has a duty of care towards you.  An employment contract is a two-way agreement.

But sometimes, life being what it is, it is just sensible to make sure that we are looking after ourselves properly and speaking up when we see things that aren't right or are likely to endanger our colleagues.

You spend most of your waking hours at work.  Make sure this time isn't negatively affecting your health.

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My Problem Page - What Was I Asked In Week 45?

This week I'm talking about how to act when you meet the ex who left you, how to know when to end a relationship and, as usual, how to know if a text flirtation could become something more.

If you would like any advice, feel free to message me or pop a comment in the comment box at the end of this post. I promise to be gentle.

Here's this week's questions.

Q:I love this man I met online but it's now a month since we last talked and texted. What can I do?

A: Have you actually met this man in person a few times? A relationship conducted just via text and phone is hardly going to go anywhere is it? 

The problem with online dating is that there is so much choice, so much temptation and comparatively few people looking for long term, meaningful relationships. When I was online dating I could have had a new date every day and the excitement is quite infectious. 

The fact that it’s been a month doesn’t sound too hopeful but if you have been sitting by the phone waiting for him to do all the running then you only have yourself to blame. 

Perhaps he thinks you couldn’t be bothered and weren’t that interested either? Or have you been trying to get in touch and he has not returned your messages? If that is the case it’s pretty clear he’s not interested I’m afraid. 

I would try to contact him one last time to see if he wants to meet for a date but if you are brushed aside then delete his number and move on. 

Q: My wife treats me very well. She is very loving. However why does she continue to cheat on me particularly with online emotional affairs?

A: Well, no, she really does not treat you well does she? 

Neither is she very loving if all her affection is based on keeping you sweet whilst she pursues other men. 

The question is not really why she does it. She does it because you let her get away with it. 

The question is, why do you think so little of yourself to put up with being treated as second best? 

In your shoes I would tell her in no uncertain terms that the online flirtation needs to stop - because it is not harmless fun. 

You need to sit down with her and assess where your relationship is going. If she truly loves you and wants you to be happy, she will listen and agree to stop. 

If she carries on regardless then, personally, I would look for a partner who is present and happy to be in a relationship with me, rather than someone who is clearly looking for excitement elsewhere. 

You need to be firm.

Q: How should I act when I see my ex boyfriend on the road or somewhere? 

We dated for a year and broke up but he came back. I loved him so I dated him again but when he left I found out he had just used me to make a girl jealous. He wanted that girl but she had a boyfriend. After 3 months of being back together, during which he sent pictures to her, she broke up with her boyfriend. They are together now.

A: In your shoes I would nod in acknowledgement and move swiftly on. 

This man has behaved very badly towards you and is really not worth more than a second’s thought. 

I get the feeling that you still have feelings for him - which is very common. Lots of us hanker after “the one that got away”, no matter how appallingly they treated us. 

Tell yourself he’s not worthy of you and walk tall with your head held high. Act as if you are much too busy to even give him a moment’s thought. Even better if you could act surprised to see him - as if you’d forgotten he existed. 

I know it’s painful but you well get over it in time - and if it’s too painful at the moment, just make sure you’re not where he’s likely to be. 

And don’t take him back again. 

Q: Is it considered cheating if your boyfriend goes and hangs out with other woman behind your back?

A: There’s nothing wrong with a man having female friends as well as his partner of course. But what’s suspicious is when he’s meeting those friends without telling her. 

It may be that his girlfriend is the jealous type and these meet-ups are entirely innocent. He just doesn’t want to start an argument or explain where he’s been. 

But, generally, I think most men would let their girlfriends know where they were going and I would expect to meet my partner’s female friends at some point. 

Sometimes we get a gut instinct that something is going on. The signs of unfaithfulness start to appear - coming home late, being out of mobile contact, dressing differently, showering more, lying, lack of affection or gifts because they’re feeling guilty. 

Without more information it’s impossible to say but as with every aspect of a relationship, honesty is always the best policy. And if you’ve nothing to hide, there’s no reason not to be completely honest, is there? 

 So, to answer your question, this looks a lot like cheating to me.

Q: Is it time to end this relationship?

A: When people ask questions like this with no detail or background, I always think they are really just asking for permission from someone else to do what they really want to do. 

In other words, they have already made their mind up but are scared of the consequences. 

What if breaking up is a mistake? 

What if I never find anyone else? 

What if they do something stupid because I’m leaving? 

What if I’m judged as a bad person. 

What if, what if, what if… 

But if you want out, it’s entirely likely your partner knows, at least on some level, that things aren’t working out. And you are probably making them unhappy. If so, that’s not fair. 

All you can do is talk to them about how you are feeling and explain that you feel your relationship has run its course. 

 Don’t dump them and run - that is likely to make you unhappy in the long run. As the old maxim goes, it’s not the one you can live with you want - it’s the one you can’t live without. 

Just remember to be kind.

How would you have responded to these questions? I'd love to know. You can find more advice on my problem page.

All materials included in this post are intended for informational purposes only. This post/information is not intended to and should not be used to replace medical or psychiatric advice offered by physicians or other health care providers. The author will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages arising therefrom.

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New Releases, Free & Bargain Books Link-up Week 45

How are you all this week?  It's certainly got a lot colder and I'm sitting here with my lovely hot water bottle which is likely to be a constant companion this winter!

It looks as if everyone has started their Christmas shopping, especially since the long awaited John Lewis Christmas advert was released yesterday.  If you haven't seen it, you're going to love Buster the Boxer.

Talking of dogs, check out my review of Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton's great book on mediation in animal disputes - "Nipped in the bud not in the butt".  How do you settle who gets the dog in a bitter divorce case?

Or if you're a wine lover and you love a good mystery, check out "Overcast Sunset" by Joyce T. Strand - murder, theft, kidnap and romance at a winery which will keep you guessing.

If you're strapped for cash this Christmas but want to give your loved ones something great to read, you've come to the right place as there's plenty to choose from on this week's link-up.

Don't forget that I still have plenty to be won on my competitions page and don't forget my new problem page here.

Happy bargain and freebie book hunting on this link.

Have a great week!

Sharing the Love of Books
Enjoy our selection of New Releases / Free & Bargain Books this week

Authors please feel free to add your own books
Readers please free to add your own finds
(any genre except erotica welcome)

This weekly link up is hosted by Beck Valley Books & these awesome book loving blogs...
Monday
 Life as Leels | IrishdaisylovesRomance | Book Babble | All Romance Reader
Tuesday
It's My Side of Life | Celticlady's Reviews | First Time Mommy Adventures 
Wednesday
Beck Valley Books | Cinnamon Hollow Reviews
Thursday
Miki's Hope | Nicki's Nook
Friday
Ebook Addicts | I Love Romance | Mother Distracted | Colorimetry | The Ultimate Fan Blog
Saturday
Totally Addicted to Reading | 3 Partners in Shopping | Angie's Angle | I Create Purty Thangs | Wishful Endings
Sunday
Lynchburg Mama | LibriAmoriMiei | Ali - The Dragon Slayer | Wondermom Wannabe | Deal Sharing Aunt | Rambling Reviews 

For Pre-orders post - PRE-ORDER / genre / title /author

For New Releases post - NEW / genre / title / author

For Free Books post - FREE / genre / title / author / end date 

For Bargain Books post - SALE / price / genre / title / author / end date
(Strictly no Erotica please.  Steamy romance is fine but watch those covers people, incase any underage child is viewing it!)

Click here for this weeks awesome selection!

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Save 25% & Beat Rylan At Christmas Carol-oke To Win With Buyagift.com

Here's a great competition for all you budding X Factor stars out there and all you need is a smartphone and the ability to carry a Christmas tune - specifically "The Twelve Days Of Christmas".

Buyagift.com, the UK's leading gift experience provider, is looking for Christmas Carol-oke stars to create their own unforgettable moments, so they gave ITV’s Xtra Factor Presenter and previous X Factor contestant Rylan Clark-Neal a Christmas challenge he will never forget to see if he is up to the job!

Rylan’s task was to sing Christmas carols whilst being driven around the Brands Hatch race track by a professional racing driver at speeds of over 100 miles per hour, with plenty of hair raising moments along the way!

Watch Rylan’s hilarious attempt at Christmas Carol-oke!

I think it’s safe to say Rylan failed the challenge and apparently he is no longer friends with the driver Pete (!) but he was definitely a good sport.

Rylan said, “Singing Christmas carols whilst being driven around a race track at over 100mph was certainly an experience I won’t forget in a hurry! It was harder than I thought it would be to sing at those speeds and even though I was worried about getting helmet hair, it was definitely an adrenaline rush!”

So if you want to give your loved ones the gift of an unforgettable experience this Christmas, have a look at Buyagift.com’s extensive range.  They have over 4,500 gift experiences, with everything from adrenaline fuelled days including the longest zipwire in Europe, sky diving and car racing, to relaxing spa days and hotel breaks.  Personally an afternoon tea is about as racy as I'm prepared to go!

As Rylan says “Experiences are the perfect gift for Christmas as the sentiment lasts longer than other gifts and they create long-lasting memories. Its experiences like I had, speeding around a top race track in a supercar that you can give to your family and friends this Christmas, which are sure to be remembered for years!”

Buyagift.com and Rylan are making it easy for people to give their loved ones a Christmas they’ll never forget by offering a discount of 25% off the Buyagift.com website, just enter the code RYLAN25 at the checkout (expires midnight 7th December 2016. Exclusions apply).

And if you think you can do better than Rylan at Christmas Carol-oke, send a video of you or your friends singing ‘The 12 days of Christmas’ carol and you will be entered into a competition to win £300 worth of Buyagift.com vouchers, just in time for Christmas to share an unforgettable moment with your loved ones. Not only that, but you will also be in with a chance of starring in the Christmas Carol-oke video edit made from the entries!

Just go to www.buyagift.co.uk/christmas-caroloke  to enter!

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Get Your Home Ship Shape And Ready For Guests

In just a few weeks winter will be back with us again, bringing Christmas and all of it’s fun festivities. Christmas is a magical time of year, but as a busy mum you’ll know there are a million and one things to think about! Seeing friends and family is one of the best things about the season, but if you’re house proud it means there’s probably a fair bit of work to be done. Plus with the change of weather, our homes are in need of some serious winter- proofing. Making sure all of this is done early will mean everything runs as smoothly as possible right through to the spring.

Clear The Garden

Most of us are done out in the garden for the year now the weather has taken a turn for the worst. If you’re lucky you might still have some flowers blooming and prettying up your garden, but before long most things will die back. Unless you’re a hardcore gardener, now is the time to tidy your tools away. Move your mower to the back of the shed, and bring your leaf blower, rake and snow shovel to the front. Clear the gutters on your house and any outbuildings which can become blocked with leaf litter and cause leaks. Turn the water supply off to your outdoor tap/ pipes, or at the very least cover them with insulation. This will prevent them from becoming damaged or bursting when the temperatures drop to freezing over winter. Having a clear and tidy garden makes a good first impression when guests arrive, as it’s the first thing they will see when coming to your home.

Picture source: Pixabay

Get Your Boiler Serviced

The last thing you want over the Christmas period is to be troubled by heating issues! If your boiler plays up, you can end up with no hot water or heating. If this happens to fall on one of the festive bank holidays, you’ll pay well over the odds to have someone come out and sort it. A boiler service should be done once a year and will cost you around £70. But it’s money well spent, and could potentially save you an awful lot more if it prevents anything major going wrong. To make sure you’re not getting ripped off by rogue traders, a site like TrustATrader will help you find reputable workmen.

Tackle Any Repairs

November is a great time to tackle any repairs and finish up any projects before the worst of the year’s weather hits. It could be a bit of painting, filling in cracks or holes in walls, finishing up some tiling or anything else that you’ve been putting off. Having the house in tip top condition means you’re ready for your Christmas guests and are free to hang your decorations and make your home look beautiful come December.

Clean and Declutter

When children are getting things like new toys, clothes and books for Christmas you could clear out the ones they’re no longer using. Put anything sentimental up in the attic, and donate the rest to charity. This could make a less fortunate child’s Christmas, so it’s a win-win. Finally, getting everywhere clean and tidy in anticipation of guests is a good idea. You could do the kinds of jobs that don’t usually get done on a regular cleaning day. Hire a Rug Doctor and clean all of your carpets. Wash curtains, clean windows and pull out large furniture items and vacuum behind them. That way, if you get a text or phone call from a visitor saying they’re popping over in ten minutes, you only need to do a spot of tidying before they arrive.

Picture source: Free Stock Photos

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Beck Valley Book Tour: Overcast Sunset A Brynn Bancroft Mystery By Joyce T. Strand

NEW RELEASE.....

Brynn Bancroft’s enjoyment at running her former husband’s winery is overcast by a rash of troubling burglaries and her inability to reconnect with her ex. When she receives an urgent phone call from an old college friend requesting that she speak to an investor, she welcomes the interruption. Unfortunately, her friend’s business activities intrude on her routine. Then her ex-husband threatens her marriage hopes when he considers selling the winery. When the burglaries escalate, a sense of foreboding plagues her, hinting at trouble to come.

Available to buy from....

Amazon.co.uk   Amazon.com   Barnes & Noble   Paperback    

About Brynn Bancroft

Brynn Bancroft evolved from the Jillian Hillcrest mysteries where she served as Jillian’s manager while Chief Financial Officer of Harmonia Therapeutics in Silicon Valley. A shapely blonde with a MENSA IQ, she had an affair with the CEO of the company.

Unfortunately for Brynn, the CEO’s wife figured out that the two were involved and asked Brynn to leave the company, which she agreed to do.

In the meantime, her husband, Liam—not unfamiliar with extramarital affairs himself but also understanding that Brynn grew up in an abusive household- grew tired of waiting for Brynn to commit to their relationship and asked for a divorce. At the same time, he solicited her assistance in developing his new winery in Sonoma County, Calif.

As the protagonist in HILLTOP SUNSET, Brynn begins to shed her past and her behavior of protecting herself by blocking emotions. We watch her transition from a shallow uncaring person to someone who starts to understand the emotions of friendship and love.

At the same time, much like Jillian—who occasionally shows up in the Brynn Bancroft mysteries—Brynn, too, attracts mystery and murders as she grows to enjoy life at her ex-husband’s Hilltop Sunset Winery.

My Review

I loved this mystery - not least because it features a female detective with a Welsh name and lots of wine. Brynn Bancroft is interesting because she combines a frustrating reticence to deal with issues in her private life, with plenty of energy when it comes to crime fighting and protecting her beloved winery and her rather ad-hoc family comprising her ward (the son of a previous romantic partner) and her ex husband who she is desperate to remarry.

The story centers around the sudden reappearance of an old friend who is looking for investors to help build their wine business but then things start to go missing, solar panel and wines, and a body turns up.

The plot is intricate and interwoven with so many threads it is occasionally difficult to keep up - but all the more interesting because Strand writes about and adapts real life events. This more than makes up for the slight lack of descriptive detail about the characters' appearance.

Although the reader suspects quite early on who the villains are, Strand keeps the reader on the edge of their seats, teasing them with clues but never quite giving the game away.   When the baddies are finally confronted it is immensely satisfying, not least because Brynn finally realises the truth about friendship. 

Although Overcast Sunset is part of a series, it works perfectly well as a stand alone mystery and certain whets the reader's appetite to return to the beginning to understand why Brynn is such a complex, occasionally annoying, but engaging character.

Also Available
Hilltop Sunset: A Brynn Bancroft Mystery

A mystery set in wine country pitting financial exec Brynn Bancroft against a determined stalker, a troubled love interest, and career clashes.


Brynn Bancroft learns that a former employee who beat her nearly to death has returned to stalk her and her friend, Jillian Hillcrest, also a former victim.

Recently divorced, Brynn turns to a new love interest only to encounter additional unwelcome issues. Meanwhile, short-timer Brynn, who has resigned from her Silicon Valley company, becomes bored fulfilling her remaining responsibilities there. She begins to prefer supporting the launch of her ex-husband’s new hilltop winery while waiting to move to her next position. Between her stalker and her new love interest, Brynn faces a series of life-changing events.

Read an excerpt here

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Landscape For Murder: A Brynn Bancroft Mystery

A friend’s murder. An unconnected cast of suspects, including the victim’s missing adult daughter. As if that wasn’t enough, Brynn Bancroft’s winery has been broken into. Can she deal with her co-owner ex and help the police find her friend’s murder so she can finally overcome her own troubled past and enjoy family life with her teenage ward?

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About the Author

Joyce T. Strand is the author of who-done-it contemporary and historical mysteries set in San Francisco, Napa-Sonoma wine regions of California, or Ventura, California.

Her most recent novels, Hilltop Sunset and Landscape for Murder, feature protagonist Brynn Bancroft, a financial guru in transition to winemaker from corporate executive. Brynn Bancroft is a minor character in Strand’s first three novels On Message, Open Meetings, and Fair Disclosure—three mysteries solved by Jillian Hillcrest, a publicist in Silicon Valley whose boss was Chief Financial Officer Brynn Bancroft.

Her first historical mystery, The Judge's Story, tells the story of a Superior Court Judge with a passion for social justice as well as the law who strives to discover the truth behind the mystery of a robbery-murder in a small California town in 1939.

All of her novels are inspired by actual events and/or real people, although they are definitely fictionalized.

Much like her protagonist Jillian Hillcrest, Strand headed corporate communications at several biotech and high-tech companies in California’s Silicon Valley for more than 25 years. Unlike Jillian, however, she did not encounter murder in her career. She focused on writing by-lined articles, press releases, white papers, and brochures to publicize her companies and their products.

She lives with her two cats and collection of cow statuary in Southern California, and enjoys exploring and writing about the growing wine region in the Ramona Valley near San Diego.

She received her Ph.D. from the George Washington University, Washington, D.C. and her B.A. from Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA

Find the author on the following sites....

Website   Blog   Facebook   Twitter   Pinterest   Google+   Goodreads   Amazon Author Page

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Is Your Kitchen Ready For Entertaining

Is your kitchen ready for entertaining? Now that the festive season is almost upon us, you are probably thinking about hosting some of your friends and family for dinner parties. You may also be thinking of gathering everyone at yours for Christmas dinner!

Image credit: www.pexels.com

But before you send the invitations out, you need to make sure that your kitchen is all ready for entertaining and hosting guests. Do you think yours could do with a bit of improvement? Here are some useful tips that can help you get your kitchen up to scratch.

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Update Your Kitchenware

Cooking appliances and crockery can quickly become dated. Unless you are going for a vintage style in your kitchen, you should update any old-fashioned items in your kitchen. Not only will this do wonders for the look of your kitchen, but you will also find that they are a lot easier to use. And new cooking appliances will help you cut down the time you spend in your kitchen. Meaning you will have a lot more time to mingle with all your guests!

Get Rid Of Clutter

I’m sure most of us have a lot of clutter on our kitchen tops and dining table. It’s because it easily gathers on these surfaces! Especially the likes of letters, bills and important paperwork. So before you start cooking for your dinner party, make sure you quickly tidy up all of this clutter and remove it from your kitchen. It is also important to tidy your kitchen work surfaces once you have taken all the clutter away. Keep them neat, and you will have plenty of space to prepare your food. They will also look very tidy to your guests!

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Clean Your Fridge

Your fridge will be used a lot during the dinner party. Even by guests who could be going in there quite a lot to top up their glass of white wine. So it is very important that the inside of your refrigerator is looking clean and tidy. If you are placing a lot of dishes in the fridge ready for the meal, make sure that the door shuts tightly. It is also a good idea to check that none of the food is blocking any of the air vents. Otherwise, the refrigerator could quickly heat up.

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Take The Bin Out

You don’t want a nasty smell to put your diners off their meal, so remember to take the bin out before anyone arrives. It might also be worth cleaning out the bin itself with some strong disinfectant. After all, no matter how careful you are, there is always the chance that some food has escaped out the bin bag and made its way into the actual bin! Make sure you have plenty of extra bin bags as well. The rubbish will quickly pile up during a dinner party, and you might have to even take the bin out half-way through the meal!

Once you follow these tips, your kitchen will be all ready for you to entertain. And your guests will certainly be impressed!

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How To Find The Best Local Family Photographer

As a blogger I love photography but my own skills aren't quite up to scratch (yet!) when it comes to taking memorable, well-composed family portraits.  For a start, I'm lucky if I actually get to be in the photo - that's so true for us mums, isn't it?

So I've been looking for a good family photographer who won't charge an arm and a leg and, better still will come to me with some creative ideas, both for style and location.

Back when I was a marketer, every business had to be in the Yellow Pages.  It was probably the number one place we all turned to to find a tradesperson or a business service.  In fact I spent many hours laboriously writing the Yellow Pages ads for our law firm!  Today, with everything online, you have a wealth of services to choose from - all at your fingertips.

But how do you pick the right one for you when there's so much choice?

I recently discovered Bidvine which is a free to use website specially designed to help you hire local professionals in your area.

You simply select the type of service you are looking for and enter your postcode - for example you could search for decorators, music teachers, children's entertainers, photographers etc. My search was for Family Portrait Photography.

Then you are guided through a series of questions about your requirements.

I was then asked:

Where will the photos be taken?

What style of imagery I was looking for  - again with a drop down box and a choice of Candid, Artistic, Traditional etc.

Whether I have a specific theme in mind?  (This is optional though)

What format I want the photos in - e.g. album, on a CD.

What is my budget (anywhere from £100 up to £1000)

Whether I want to travel to the photographer and the distance I am prepared to travel or whether I want the photographer to come to me (which in this instance I do)

My timescale - days / weeks etc - your request can be flagged as urgent.

Any other information I want to pass on to the photographer

How I'd like to receive quotes - email is the default setting but you can also opt to receive telephone or text quotes too.

Then you simply hit "Get Quotes" and wait for these to hit your inbox.  I made my request on a Sunday and was told to expect quotes by the Wednesday.

So how did I get on?

Bidvine say you will receive up to 5 requests per project which is a sensible amount because otherwise choosing becomes a little overwhelming.

But I actually created two requests (or projects as Bidvine calls them) as I only received one quote for Family Portrait Photography (my first request).

My second request was for the more general search term of Family Photography and I received three quotes for that.

The reasons for this, I suspect, are that I live just outside Cardiff and asked for the photographer to travel to me and I had been quite specific in my requests.

Nevertheless, making the request via Bidvine was incredibly simple and relatively quick.  You may just find that you need to be a little more flexible to find the service professional you need.

Once you have chosen your professional, your contract is with them and you pay them directly.  Businesses who list on Bidvine have to buy Bidvine credits and then 'pay' to send quotes and personal messages by using these credits.  This is a good way of making sure that customers receive a considered, properly structured quote that addresses their requirements fully.

I received my quotes via email but you can also view them on Bidvine in the file that the system creates for each of your projects.  The main benefit of this is that you can read any customer reviews that have been published for your service professional.

The fees quoted ranged from £450 to £700, but the latter was higher due to travel expenses from the West of England.

I liked Bidvine and can see that it will further develop into a valuable resource for time-strapped parents.  I would still suggest creating a checklist of your requirements beforehand so that you can assess each of your quotes on an equal basis, simply because there is quite a bit of variation in what you get for your money.

A quote is, of course, just a guide and by having your requirements to hand (perhaps in a written list) you can have an open and constructive conversation with the service professionals you choose to contact and make sure everything is covered - and that the final price is acceptable to you both.

*collaborative post

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Beck Valley Book Tour: Nipped In The Bud Not In The Butt By Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton

Conflicts over animals are among the toughest to resolve. People form deep emotional bonds with their pets—after all, they're members of the family—so when a dispute involves animals, people get just as angry as if the clash were over their human children. When they've finally had enough, they head to court where the law treats the pet as property—as just a thing.


But there's a better way: mediation. Whether your conflict is over who gets the cat in a divorce, how to deal with a barking dog, or any other issue, a neutral mediator can bring you and the other person together so you can hear each other out, acknowledge each other's feelings, and resolve your dispute. Not only can mediation settle the conflict in less time and with less expense than litigation, but it can save and even strengthen relationships.

In Nipped in the Bud, Not in the Butt: How to Use Mediation to Resolve Conflicts over Animals, litigator-turned-mediator Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton introduces her proven techniques for addressing your conflict, working out a mutually satisfactory solution, and ensuring the well-being of the most important party—the beloved pet or animal in need.

Available to buy from....

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Resolving Animal Conflicts Without Litigation
a way to address conflicts between people involving animals

"This book really resonated with me. Debra does an excellent job providing a realistic approach to conflicts over pets. When I opened the book , I immediately noticed Debra’s passion with regards to animal conflict resolution. She does an excellent job explaining the history of mediation, and the significance of mediation in resolving conflict."

"A Must Read for all of us who love our companion animals!!"

"If you love or work with animals, you must read this… A comprehensive, yet easy guide to avoiding litigation and achieving success through mediation in disputes over animals. This is a must read for pet owners, veterinarians, trainers, barn managers, grooms (in barn settings) pet groomers, pet rescue and adoption organizations and anyone else who wishes to avoid the pain and pitfalls of court battles"
A sample of reviews received 

About the Author

Debra spent 30 years as a practicing litigator, but she is now a full-time mediator and conflict coach for people in disputes over animals.

She works both nationwide and internationally. She has far-reaching experience in resolving interpersonal conflicts involving animals, and she is also well-known in the world of purebred dogs as a top breeder and exhibitor of Irish setters and long-haired dachshunds.

Debra speaks widely on the topic of how mediation techniques can help people address conflicts without litigation. She has presented at veterinary schools, the American Kennel Club, the American Veterinary Medical Law Association, the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators, the Living With Animals conference, state bar association Animal Law Committee meetings, and animal interest group meetings.

Debra also writes a blog for Hamilton Law and Mediation and is a contributor to the Solo Practice University blog and the Canine Chronicle. She has been featured in Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, US News and World Report, and the New York Times.

As the principal at Hamilton Law and Mediation, PLLC—the nation’s first solo mediation practice dedicated to helping people resolve conflicts over animals—Debra uses alternative dispute resolution to help address disagreements over the family pet during divorce, neighbors’ arguments over a barking dog, and confrontations between clients and veterinarians and other professionals who work with animals. HLM also looks forward to helping animal rights and welfare advocates see the benefit of having a conversation about the best interests of all parties—especially the animals—to resolve animal-related disputes.

Debra is admitted to practice law in all New York State courts. She is certified as a mediator and collaborative professional and has worked with various court-based mediation programs in New York City (Queens-Community Mediation Service) and in Westchester and Rockland Counties in New York (Westchester and Rockland Mediation Centers).

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My Review

I wanted to read this book for two reasons.  Firstly I know exactly how much a pet can mean to you.  I lost my beloved cat Samson a few years ago.  Secondly, I spent over 13 years working for various law firms (in marketing, not law) and I was really interested to read how mediation can solve so many problems on a much more cost -effective basis than litigation.

Debra explains that many divorce cases run into trouble when 'custody' of the pet is raised. Our pets are members of our family and mean as much to some as their children.  Rather than go to litigation where the court makes a decision which may benefit one party at the cost of the pet's happiness and where costs can run into thousands,  mediation offers a chance to come up with a solution which takes the pet into consideration and preserves the relationship between the warring spouses - at least so that the pet is taken care of.

Debra is an experienced lawyer and a mediator who is able to facilitate problem solving between people who just can't agree who should have their pet - or at least might agree if their views were at least heard and acknowledged.

Mediation is also very useful to settle disputes such as those which arise between vets and their clients, or neighbours who have had all they can take of barking dogs.

Debra offers fascinating case studies and techniques to help you deal with conflict yourself.  I have to say a lot of her advice would work just as well with bickering kids.

She offers 6 tactics for mediation which she calls "Stop, Drop & Roll" - 1.  stop talking and listen, 2. drop the need to be right, 3. let what the other party says roll off your back, 4. address the conflict, 5. keep the relationship and finally, 6. acknowedge and appreciate the other party.

All techniques which I can use on a daily basis - and I don't have a pet at the moment!

It is upsetting enough to find yourself in a relationship which is breaking down, whether romantic or with your neighbours.  Nipped In The Bud shows that using mediation is a brilliant way to handle the situation whilst being heard, getting your needs met and working out collaboratively what the best solution for the animals involved may be.

And all this without spending unnecessary money on legal fees.

That in itself makes the book worth its weight in gold.

Highly recommended.

Follow the Book Tour

I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

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Tasty Family Recipes From Bright Horizons Family Solutions

Bright Horizons, one of the UK’s leading nursery networks is encouraging parents to get into the kitchen with their kids and spend some quality cooking time together.

Bright Horizons operate over 200 nurseries in the UK and Ireland, many of which are managed in partnership with employers. They also offer back-up dependant care for children and adults, and a range of work-life supports

Their nurseries aim to provide children and families with naturally inspiring, exceptional care and education for the early years - and cooking together is a brilliant way to teach kids key life skills, as well as the benefits of co-operation and teamwork!

To help with this, they have produced a Family Recipes cookery book which though short, contains a tasty range of family-friendly recipes such as Chicken Paella, Butternut Squash Risotto, Summer Fruit Muffins and, as tested by us, Seaside Carbonara.

In fact these very recipes have been thoroughly road tested in one of their nurseries which offers day care in London so it was up to Caitlin to step up to the hob with me to create a tasty Monday night tea.

We were sent a copy of the recipe book and a lovely apron by Eat Sleep Doodle that kids can colour in. This was Ieuan's favourite part of the activity!

If you'd like to try the recipe, you can find it on Bright Horizon's website, along with some other great family recipes.

Seaside Carbonara

Ingredients

400g Spaghetti
200g Courgettes
2tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 Cloves of Fresh Garlic
418g Pink Salmon
150ml Full Fat Yoghurt
60ml Whole Milk
1 Fresh Lemon
3tbsp Fresh Chives
Pinch of Black Pepper
1l Water

Method

1. Cook pasta in boiling water.

2. Add diced courgette 2 minutes before end of cooking time.

3. Drain and reserve water.

4. Return spaghetti and courgette to pan.

5. Meanwhile heat oil in pan and add crushed garlic.Cook for 1 minute.

6. Drain and remove bones from salmon. Add to garlic in pan.

7.Add yoghurt and milk and warm through.

8. Grate lemon and squeeze juice.

9. Add 1/2 of juice lemon juice 1 tsp of lemon rind.

10.Season.

11. Pour over pasta and add 4 tbsp of reserved cooking water and warm through over a low heat.

12. Serve.

We found this simple to prepare - Caitlin did the chopping.  Our only note of caution would be to make sure you take the pan off the heat before you add the yoghurt to avoid curdling.

You could also replace the fresh Salmon with tinned to save a few extra pennies.

So there you have it - a quick, tasty tea that the whole family can help to make.

(We did get Ieuan to lay the table).

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