Sunday, 27 December 2015
Thursday, 24 December 2015
Helpline Numbers - If You Need Someone To Talk To Over Christmas
I know that Christmas is not a happy time for everyone.
 |
| Sometimes you can feel really alone at Christmas |
But there are people who care, and who want to help.
Here are the telephone numbers of a great collections of organisations who will do their best to help.
As a parent, I've a particular piece of advice to offer which was given to us by an experienced paramedic. If you feel your child needs urgent medical attention, do not have any qualms about dialling 999 or visiting A&E. They would rather be safe than sorry.
I wish you a happy, healthy and safe Christmas wherever you are.
MIND (The Mental Health Charity)
Website: www.mind.org.uk
Tel no: 0300 123 3393
SAMARITANS
Website: http://www.samaritans.org/
Tel no: 116 123
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
Website: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
Tel no: 0800 9177 650
STONEWALL
Website: www.stonewall.org.uk
Info line: 08000 50 20 20
LONDON LESBIAN AND GAY SWITCHBOARD
Tel No: 0207 837 7324
SANELine
Website: www.sane.org.uk
Tel no: 0300 304 7000
PAPYRUS (Prevention of Young Suicide)
Website: www.papyrus-uk.org
Tel no: 0800 068 41 41
BEAUMONT SOCIETY (National self-help body for the Transgender community)
Website: www.beaumontsociety.org.uk
Information Line 01582 412220
CHILDLINE
Website: www.childline.org.uk
Tel no: 0800 1111
DEPRESSION ALLIANCE
Website: www.depressionalliance.org
REFUGE
Website: www.refuge.org.uk
Tel no: 0808 2000 247
BEAT (Beating eating disorders)
Website: www.b-eat.co.uk
Help line 0345 634 1414
Youth Line 0345 634 7650
SHELTER
Website: www.shelter.org.uk
Tel no: 0808 800 4444
NHS Direct
Tel no: 1111
NO PANIC (Anxiety Disorders)
Website: www.nopanic.org.uk
Tel no: 0844 967 4848
Youth helpline: 01753 840393
If you feel there are organisations which should be added to this list, please let me know in the comments below.
Wednesday, 23 December 2015
Smiggle Giveaway - Funky Stationery From Australia - 2 Prize Bundles
Smiggle is an Australian stationery brand with over 200 stores worldwide and they pride themselves on being the ultimate creators of colourful, fun, fashion-forward stationery.
The first Smiggle store opened in Melbourne, Australia and word spread fast about the bright pens, notebooks and gadgets that filled a tiny, but very special place and, in 2014 Smiggle opened its doors here in the UK.
In case you're wondering, a Smiggle is a cross between a smile and a giggle and the team at the Smiggle Design Lab draw inspiration from all over the globe to create products with bold colour, quirky graphics and good value prices.
I have two prize bundles each worth £15 to give away. Each bundle contains a selection of Smiggle items (a pen, pencil, pencil case and slapband). Ideal for restocking those back-to-school pencil cases to make a grey January a bit more bearable.
Smiggles' first ever silicone scented 3D shaped pencil case has 2 fun YUMS characters! Pineapple & cola scented!
These HB pencils have interchangeable scented eraser toppers and match the other Yums designs - ice cream, cupcake, pineapple, drink cup and hamburger.
I used to love multi-ink pens when I was in school. These pens have 8 colours in 1 pen (pink, purple, red, orange, yellow, green, blue and black) with graphic epoxy on the clip.
These new scented slap bands are available in 5 yummy smelling scents - Cola, Blueberry, Vanilla, Apple, Strawberry. They're made from rubber and steel and have large icons designed to be worn like a bracelet.
To enter the giveaway, just complete the Rafflecopter widget. The usual terms and conditions apply. UK entries only. The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Thursday 7th January 2016.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck!
The first Smiggle store opened in Melbourne, Australia and word spread fast about the bright pens, notebooks and gadgets that filled a tiny, but very special place and, in 2014 Smiggle opened its doors here in the UK.
In case you're wondering, a Smiggle is a cross between a smile and a giggle and the team at the Smiggle Design Lab draw inspiration from all over the globe to create products with bold colour, quirky graphics and good value prices.
I have two prize bundles each worth £15 to give away. Each bundle contains a selection of Smiggle items (a pen, pencil, pencil case and slapband). Ideal for restocking those back-to-school pencil cases to make a grey January a bit more bearable.
 |
| Smiggle Yums Scented Silicone Pencil Case - £12.50 |
 |
| Smiggle Yums Pencil - £2.00 each |
 |
| Smiggle Yums Rainbow Pens - £3.50 each |
 |
| Smiggle Yums Scented Slapband - £3.50 |
These new scented slap bands are available in 5 yummy smelling scents - Cola, Blueberry, Vanilla, Apple, Strawberry. They're made from rubber and steel and have large icons designed to be worn like a bracelet.
To enter the giveaway, just complete the Rafflecopter widget. The usual terms and conditions apply. UK entries only. The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Thursday 7th January 2016.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck!
Monday, 21 December 2015
Fruity Festive Tipples For Christmas & New Year & A Giveaway
Christmas is a time when mulled wine and hot cider brews rein supreme in the drinks department, but for those that are partial to a cold tipple during the festive season the options can often be limited and disappointing.
This year I’m teaming up with NuCasa to give away a set of vintage style Kilner handled drinking jars, so I decided to pull together some fruity festive tipple recipes the lucky winner can try out in their brand new glasses!
Cranberry Mojito
Ingredients:
3 mint leaves
1 tablespoon Cranberry Reduction
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
Ice cubes
3 tablespoons of your favourite rum
Lemon-lime soft drink
Garnish: fresh mint leaves, lime slices, cranberries
Make it:
Muddle the mint leaves, cranberry reduction, and fresh lime juice against the sides of a cocktail shaker (or a flask with a lid). Add ice cubes and the rum. Cover with lid and shake vigorously until thoroughly chilled (about 30 seconds). Strain into your drinking jar glass filled with ice cubes.
Top with lemon-lime soft drink and garnish with fresh mint leaves, fresh cranberries and a slice of lime.
Blueberry & Lime Gin Gimlet
Ingredients:
6 1/2 tablespoons sugar
6 1/2 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons fresh blueberries
2 1/2 tablespoons lime juice gin (3 tablespoons per drink)
Make it:
First you’ll need to make a simple syrup. Put equal parts sugar and water in a small saucepan (for this recipe 6 ½ tablespoons of each) and cook over a medium heat until the sugar is dissolved, stirring occasionally (should take about five minutes).
Add the blueberries and cook for 10 minutes until the blueberries burst and the syrup is purple.
Add the lime juice and remove from the heat.
Let cool and strain.
In a cocktail shaker, combine 2 parts gin to 1.5 parts blueberry syrup and some ice. Shake and strain into glass. Top up with soda water or for a twist try sparkling elderflower!
Non-Alcoholic Festive Fruit Punch
Ingredients: (Makes approx. 15 servings)
2 litres cranberry juice
250ml orange juice lemon/lime cordial diluted to taste in 500ml soda water
Sugar Garnish: oranges, limes, cranberries
Make it:
Slice up the oranges and limes and throw into the bottom of a drinks dispenser or large punch bowl along with the cranberries.
Mix all the punch ingredients together and pour on top. Serve ice cold.
TIP: For an alcoholic twist add prosecco or champagne for a festive fruity fizz that’ll liven up any party!
The lovely folks at NuCasa, retailers of retro kitchen accessories and funky home decor, have got a set of their Kilner handled drinking jars to giveaway (perfect for sipping any of these festive tipples this Christmas & New Year!)
To be in with a chance of winning, all you need to do is fill in the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the steps for entry. All terms and conditions are within the widget, so please make sure you read them and understand the rules.
The giveaway ends at noon on 30th December 2015.
Kilner Handled Drinking Jars Rafflecopter Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
*collaborative post
This year I’m teaming up with NuCasa to give away a set of vintage style Kilner handled drinking jars, so I decided to pull together some fruity festive tipple recipes the lucky winner can try out in their brand new glasses!
Cranberry Mojito
Ingredients:
3 mint leaves
1 tablespoon Cranberry Reduction
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
Ice cubes
3 tablespoons of your favourite rum
Lemon-lime soft drink
Garnish: fresh mint leaves, lime slices, cranberries
Make it:
Muddle the mint leaves, cranberry reduction, and fresh lime juice against the sides of a cocktail shaker (or a flask with a lid). Add ice cubes and the rum. Cover with lid and shake vigorously until thoroughly chilled (about 30 seconds). Strain into your drinking jar glass filled with ice cubes.
Top with lemon-lime soft drink and garnish with fresh mint leaves, fresh cranberries and a slice of lime.
Blueberry & Lime Gin Gimlet
Ingredients:
6 1/2 tablespoons sugar
6 1/2 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons fresh blueberries
2 1/2 tablespoons lime juice gin (3 tablespoons per drink)
Make it:
First you’ll need to make a simple syrup. Put equal parts sugar and water in a small saucepan (for this recipe 6 ½ tablespoons of each) and cook over a medium heat until the sugar is dissolved, stirring occasionally (should take about five minutes).
Add the blueberries and cook for 10 minutes until the blueberries burst and the syrup is purple.
Add the lime juice and remove from the heat.
Let cool and strain.
In a cocktail shaker, combine 2 parts gin to 1.5 parts blueberry syrup and some ice. Shake and strain into glass. Top up with soda water or for a twist try sparkling elderflower!
Non-Alcoholic Festive Fruit Punch
Ingredients: (Makes approx. 15 servings)
2 litres cranberry juice
250ml orange juice lemon/lime cordial diluted to taste in 500ml soda water
Sugar Garnish: oranges, limes, cranberries
Make it:
Slice up the oranges and limes and throw into the bottom of a drinks dispenser or large punch bowl along with the cranberries.
Mix all the punch ingredients together and pour on top. Serve ice cold.
TIP: For an alcoholic twist add prosecco or champagne for a festive fruity fizz that’ll liven up any party!
The lovely folks at NuCasa, retailers of retro kitchen accessories and funky home decor, have got a set of their Kilner handled drinking jars to giveaway (perfect for sipping any of these festive tipples this Christmas & New Year!)
To be in with a chance of winning, all you need to do is fill in the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the steps for entry. All terms and conditions are within the widget, so please make sure you read them and understand the rules.
The giveaway ends at noon on 30th December 2015.
Kilner Handled Drinking Jars Rafflecopter Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
*collaborative post
Beck Valley Book Review & Giveaway: Swindled In Paradise By Deborah Brown
Sexy sleuths Madison and Fab race to uncover the truth behind a horrific crime… before a loved one pays the ultimate price.
Beautiful Tarpon Cove has everything you’d expect from a paradise retreat: Blue waters, white sand and … murder?
With deadly secrets and dark dealings brewing beneath the surface of Tarpon Cove, Madison and Fab are caught in a race against time to uncover the truth behind the grisly murder, which may only be the tip of the iceberg….
The eighth book in Deborah Brown’s Paradise series, Swindled in Paradise will take you on a high-speed thrill ride through non-stop action, steamy romance, and dark intrigue, and leave you begging for more.
The Paradise series, are Florida Keys mysteries, “great as stand-alone reads, but they're like chips...you won't be able to devour just one!”
Available to buy from.....
"Swindled in Paradise will take you on a high-speed ride through non-stop action adventure, romance, & suspense, & leave you begging for more."
"LOVE this book series! Each new Paradise escapade surrounds you, and the characters... they unwittingly become your extended family."
"I absolutely love Madison & Fab! Their friendship and their adventures. These two can't stay away from trouble and I love it!"
Above reviews from Goodreads/Amazon
About the Author
I've been writing, in one way or another for as long as I can remember; writing poetry, short stories, a romance novel secretly stashed under the bed and sappy love letters. Fiction should be fun. I wanted to create the perfect beach book, to make the reader laugh, cry and cheer... and then run out and tell their friends about it.
My love of reading began when I was seven, the day I opened the cover of my first Mrs. Piggle Wiggle book. Mrs. P gave lessons to other children in how to behave and to me I learned to love the written word. I live with my family and demon children aka rescue cats in South Florida.
Find the author on the following sites....
Also available in the Paradise Series
My Review
This is my second Deborah Brown / Paradise Series novel and I enjoyed it as much as the first. Brown is truly the queen of continuity because the character portrayal and attention to detail was seamless. All the old favourites are there, Brick, Spoon and Madison's formidable, cigar-smoking mother.
This time, Madison and Fabiana are trying to save someone very close to them from ending up in the slammer. There have been grisly murders and a very shady collection of property developers are at work . As usual, there is a series of extra cases that the two girls solve in their roles as PIs, each one of them being entertaining and different. You never know what the girls are going to take on next.
I'm not going to spoil the ending for you but the novel is fast paced, highly entertaining and works as a stand alone story. It's fun, escapist stuff and the two female protagonists are street smart, entertaining and ballsy.
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.
NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY
Win $25 Amazon.com Giftcard / Paypal Cash
(winners choice)
Open Worldwide
(winners choice)
Open Worldwide
Ending on Tuesday 22nd December at 11.59pm EST
Enter Below and Good Luck !!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Like what you've read? Why not join me on the Mother Distracted Facebook page, tweet me on @lindahobbis or follow me on Instagram.
Sunday, 20 December 2015
Driving Home For Christmas? Do It Safely.
Driving home for Christmas was a special Christmas tradition when I was growing up. We'd drive, each Christmas to Plymouth, to the homes of my grandparents and the journey used to be magical.
When you're young, the heady feeling of festive anticipation is so potent that it seems to colour ever activity, no matter how mundane, with glitter and sparkle.
The journey was made, through the years (in the late 60's through to the 80's) in a Mini Cooper, a Renault 4, a Renault 5 and a Ford Fiesta. None of these had much boot space and my sister and I would be surrounded by blankets, presents and rationed toys desperately fighting off deep vein thrombosis and cramp in our nether regions.
To keep us quiet, dad would stock up on Wrigleys chewing gum (usually Double Mint - I'm not sure about Juicy Fruit to this day) and the discarded silver foil wrapped blobs would eventually seize the door panel ashtrays. Yes, in those days, some family cars also doubled as mobile ashtrays.
My mother had little room for her feet because she had a large bag full of foil wrapped sandwiches and thermoses of water and milk. Not for us the mad excesses of service station food. No, staring out a steam and rain covered windscreen trying not to get ready salted crisps on the seat was more our family's style.
My sister and I loved spotting the fairy lights festooning houses, pubs and lorry cabs as we drove. Each junction had a significance and the highlight was descending the sloping dual carriageway on to the very scary Marsh Mills roundabout in Plymouth and from there across to Cattedown and my grandfather, Harry's house.
Widowed very early on, Grandad nevertheless always made sure that there was a Christmas tree lit up in the always cold 'front room' reserved for visitors and special occasions. He'd buy in a jumbo tin of Quality Street, enough peanuts to pebble-dash a small semi, a Christmas cake and a Christmas Log covered in thick chocolate.
My father would pull up, decant us all and then spend a good ten minutes driving back and forth to get the car properly lined up against the kerb. I think it's a Virgo thing. Or a dad thing.
In those days, of course, even joining the M4 from Cardiff was a novelty and there was a fraction of the traffic that there is today. If you were unfortunate enough to break down though, you were in for a long wait.
Before we set off, my father would go through the ritual of checking the tyres and their pressure, topping up the oil and water and wiping over the lights - something he taught both my sister and I to do. I often wonder how many of us take sensible precautions with our cars before we set off.
Do you do any or all of the following?
Make sure your lights are working
Get someone to stand behind the car and check the break and back lights for you.
Check your oil, water and screenwash
Don't just rely on the top ups you get when you have the car serviced!
Check your tyres
Are your tyres roadworthy and inflated at the correct pressure?
If you're not sure which ones you need, specialist tyre supplier Point-S have a handy online guide which tells you the tyres you need when you input the registration number of your vehicle.
You also might want to consider purchasing a set of winter tyres if the weather is particularly treacherous.
Check your wipers
Replace blades that aren't working. Having good visibility on the motorway is crucial, especially in torrential rain.
Check your fuel levels
Don't forget the not all garages will be open over Christmas and the last thing you want to do is run out of petrol miles from the nearest station.
Be ready for ice
Make sure you have enough de-icer and an ice scraper. It's a good idea to carry water, blankets, torches and warm clothes too. You might also want to have some snacks to hand - although we have never managed to make a packet of 'travel sweets' last much further than the Severn Bridge.
I hope that if you are driving home for Christmas that you'll make sure your journey is safe and enjoyable by taking the important precautions listed.
I'd also make sure your breakdown cover is renewed and you have the breakdown telephone number in your mobile.
Then, all you'll need is a suitable Christmas sound track to sing along to while you drive.
Something about driving home for Christmas possibly .......
*collaborative post
When you're young, the heady feeling of festive anticipation is so potent that it seems to colour ever activity, no matter how mundane, with glitter and sparkle.
The journey was made, through the years (in the late 60's through to the 80's) in a Mini Cooper, a Renault 4, a Renault 5 and a Ford Fiesta. None of these had much boot space and my sister and I would be surrounded by blankets, presents and rationed toys desperately fighting off deep vein thrombosis and cramp in our nether regions.
To keep us quiet, dad would stock up on Wrigleys chewing gum (usually Double Mint - I'm not sure about Juicy Fruit to this day) and the discarded silver foil wrapped blobs would eventually seize the door panel ashtrays. Yes, in those days, some family cars also doubled as mobile ashtrays.
My mother had little room for her feet because she had a large bag full of foil wrapped sandwiches and thermoses of water and milk. Not for us the mad excesses of service station food. No, staring out a steam and rain covered windscreen trying not to get ready salted crisps on the seat was more our family's style.
My sister and I loved spotting the fairy lights festooning houses, pubs and lorry cabs as we drove. Each junction had a significance and the highlight was descending the sloping dual carriageway on to the very scary Marsh Mills roundabout in Plymouth and from there across to Cattedown and my grandfather, Harry's house.
Widowed very early on, Grandad nevertheless always made sure that there was a Christmas tree lit up in the always cold 'front room' reserved for visitors and special occasions. He'd buy in a jumbo tin of Quality Street, enough peanuts to pebble-dash a small semi, a Christmas cake and a Christmas Log covered in thick chocolate.
My father would pull up, decant us all and then spend a good ten minutes driving back and forth to get the car properly lined up against the kerb. I think it's a Virgo thing. Or a dad thing.
 |
| My Lovely Dad |
Before we set off, my father would go through the ritual of checking the tyres and their pressure, topping up the oil and water and wiping over the lights - something he taught both my sister and I to do. I often wonder how many of us take sensible precautions with our cars before we set off.
Do you do any or all of the following?
Make sure your lights are working
Get someone to stand behind the car and check the break and back lights for you.
Check your oil, water and screenwash
Don't just rely on the top ups you get when you have the car serviced!
Check your tyres
Are your tyres roadworthy and inflated at the correct pressure?
If you're not sure which ones you need, specialist tyre supplier Point-S have a handy online guide which tells you the tyres you need when you input the registration number of your vehicle.
You also might want to consider purchasing a set of winter tyres if the weather is particularly treacherous.
Check your wipers
Replace blades that aren't working. Having good visibility on the motorway is crucial, especially in torrential rain.
Check your fuel levels
Don't forget the not all garages will be open over Christmas and the last thing you want to do is run out of petrol miles from the nearest station.
Be ready for ice
Make sure you have enough de-icer and an ice scraper. It's a good idea to carry water, blankets, torches and warm clothes too. You might also want to have some snacks to hand - although we have never managed to make a packet of 'travel sweets' last much further than the Severn Bridge.
I hope that if you are driving home for Christmas that you'll make sure your journey is safe and enjoyable by taking the important precautions listed.
I'd also make sure your breakdown cover is renewed and you have the breakdown telephone number in your mobile.
Then, all you'll need is a suitable Christmas sound track to sing along to while you drive.
Something about driving home for Christmas possibly .......
*collaborative post
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