Common Ear Problems And What You Can Do About Them

If you have ever had a problem with your ears, you’ll know that it can be tough to deal with. You are in pain and there's no escape as it's right there in your head. 

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If you are struggling with hearing loss, you may be trying to mask it. But it is important that you speak to your doctors and find out what the underlying cause is.

There are many different problems you can suffer with in your ears, and many can be treated or the symptoms at least alleviated. Read on for more information about some of the most common of these - and what you can do about them.

Ménière’s disease 

Ménière’s disease is a fairly rare condition, the cause of which is still unconfirmed. It occurs in the inner ear and causes bouts of dizziness and vertigo. Other common symptoms include tinnitus or ringing in the ears. Attacks usually last around 1- 3 hours, but the after-effects can be felt for up to 24 hours, and sufferers often need to stop and rest in order to feel well again.

For sufferers, Ménière’s can be debilitating. They never know when it will strike, and it may cause  severe attacks of dizziness and vomiting at any time. This is very stressful for the sufferer and can understandably lead to depression or anxiety as well. It can cause problems for them in all parts of their lives. This can result in a large amount of time off work, difficulty travelling and socializing.

Scientists believe that the cause may be problems with pressure in the inner ear or issues with the membrane of the ear. A more specific explanation of what happens during an attack is still being researched.

Treatment for Ménière’s differs depending on your practitioner. Some doctors advise relaxation techniques including Yoga or Tai Chi. Some people find relief in guided meditations during an attack. In America, the newest treatment is a device that pushes air pressure into the ear which seems to stop the dizziness.

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Other things that may improve the condition include changing your medication as some are known to produce the symptoms of the disease. A change in diet is also often recommended, for example cutting out sodium (salt).

Extreme cases may result in surgery - although patients will have gone through balance retraining and other techniques before they get to that point.

Tinnitus

Tinnitus or ringing in the ears is a symptom of Meniere's disease, but it can also occur on its own. Regular readers of this blog will know that I am a sufferer. It might not sound too bad if you haven't got it, but try to imagine what it's like to have a constant high pitch whining in your ears that you can do nothing about.  It is incredibly frustrating.

Image Credit: Coty Schwabe

It is more common in people over 80 years of age, but anyone can develop the condition. It's often linked to hearing loss, although Tinnitus doesn't cause it.  Many younger people today are beginning to suffer from tinnitus through over exposure to loud noise at rock concerts, festivals and in clubs.

There are several types of tinnitus.  The most usual kind is when the sufferer hears a whooshing, ringing or roaring in the ears. Pulsatile Tinnitus is when the sound pulses in time with your heartbeat. Suffers may also have musical hallucinations, when the sound appears as fragments of songs or music.

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Whichever type you think you have it's important that you see your doctor for some advice on how to deal with this condition.

There are several things that we know can cause tinnitus. One is inner ear damage, which can be due to age, self-inflicted or due to a work related injury.

It is now even possible to seek advice from companies like UKClaim Lawyers about this and to apply for compensation which can then be put towards treatments to hopefully improve the quality of the sufferer's life.

Other causes include a build of wax, anemia, diabetes and hypertension. It can also be a result of blood vessel issues and neck and jaw problems.

Your doctor may recommend a range of therapies that may help you cope with tinnitus. Firstly, CBT or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy should be considered. Although not a cure, it is designed to help you reframe the problem and find working solutions to cope better with it in your daily life.

Secondly, hearing aids with noise devices (maskers) may help, as these can cancel out the noise that you are experiencing in your ears. Many tinnitus sufferers also use white or pink noise to drown out the sound at night, which allows them some peace and makes it easier to get off to sleep.

Tinnitus is a frustrating disease with no real cure and most of the therapies involved learning to live with the problems. They center finding relief where you can and dealing with the emotional and mental fallout. This is why many sufferers are referred for relational training and counselling.

Ear Barotrauma

Ear barotrauma or stretched ear, is a condition which occurs when the air pressure in the middle ear and the ear canal is unequal. This causes the eardrum to bend inwards, which can lead to bleeding, bruising pain or even a rupture.

This can occur due to a blockage in the eustachian tubes. which normally help to regulate the air pressure in the ears. They let out additional air to the middle ear when necessary but if they get blocked for some reason, this does not happen and the ear drum can be damaged.

Ear barotrauma is only an issue when you experience air pressure changes. So diving, flying and other activities where your ears can pop should be avoided. These include travelling by tube and climbing at altitude, which can be risky if your eustachian tubes are blocked.

Blockages in the eustachian tubes can occur from tumors, scarring, and infections like colds or allergies. If you are suffering from a cold or allergy and have to do an activity where you will subject yourself to a change in air pressure, your doctor will recommend a decongestant. You can also chew or suck sweets to help alleviate the pressure or do specific exercises which will balance the pressure in your ears.

Ear Infections 

Most of us remember having an ear infection as a child and the pain from these can be very severe and very unpleasant. They can be caused by either bacteria or a virus and there are some things that can lead to an increased susceptibility to infection in the ear. These include smoking, inflamed adenoids, colds and sinus infections. There is also a condition called swimmer's ear which is caused by residual water in the ear, which helps bacteria to grow.

Depending on the type of infection a range of treatments may be prescribed by your doctor. Ear drops are a common solution to swimmer's ear. If you smoke, then you will be asked to stop. Antibiotics can also help if it is a bacterial infection.

You can prevent further infection by keeping your ears dry and away from infection carriers such as your fingers. It is essential to keep your ears as clean as possible. It is also important to remember that cotton buds should not be inserted into the ear canal. They are just for clearing the outer folds of the ear. By inserting them into the canal, you can introduce bacteria that will then develop into a full blown ear infection.

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There is also a risk that inserting them too far may puncture the ear drum leading to lasting damage.  Don't do it!

Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is something that many of us expect to experience with age. However, it can occur for a number of reasons at any time in our lives.

There are two main types  - conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss. There is also a third which is a combination of the two.

Conductive hearing loss is caused by damage to the ear, so the sound waves are not passed to the inner ear effectively. This can be due to a blockage, a tumor or a build-up of wax.

Sensorineural hearing loss is the type most seen as we age, and is due to the destruction of the tiny hairs in the ear drum that pick up and amplify sounds. It can also be caused by trauma such as a very loud noise like an explosion.

Before hearing loss can be treated effectively, it needs to be identified and classified by a health professional. This is because there could be a number of underlying reasons why your hearing is deteriorating. Without knowing what the causes are, treatment is unlikely to be successful.

It could be that the sufferer has a perforated eardrum, Meniere's disease or meningitis. There is even a condition where skin clumps in the ear and effects hearing called cholesteatoma.

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Each cause will need to be looked individually and treated appropriately. Some people can benefit from a hearing aid, especially if they have Sensorineural hearing loss. Others will need surgery, and some may need to find a way to cope with the loss of their hearing to continue to lead happy lives.

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Puddles Win Prizes - Submit A Photo Of Your Favourite Puddle To Win Great Cash Prizes

If you consider yourself a bit of a dab hand with a camera and see beauty even in the pouring rain and the dank, drizzly landscapes the UK offers, I have a fabulous photography competition for you.

Image Credit:  Shutterstock

So get the macs and kagools out, get the kids in their wellies and enter Welly Foods "Puddle of the Year" photography competition.  The people at Welly, the British cooked meat brand, are looking for your pictures of your favourite puddles.

Puddles are something we Brits are very au fait with and have themselves had many a celebrity moment. 

From the comic never ending puddle on the Vicar of Dibley, to the recent Dame Joan Collin’s puddle war on Twitter, it is time they were celebrated.

As Richard Morris, Welly's marketing controller says; “As a nation we are used to endless rain so it is time we faced facts and celebrated the wet British weather. Through Puddle of the Year we want to encourage people to grab their wellies and see the beauty in the great outdoors. We look forward to seeing the selection of photos entered.”

Image credit:  Shutterstock

The Prizes

There are some amazing prizes on offer:- 

Public - £500 and hamper of Welly Foods (meat products) 1 (one) winner

Children (school) - 1 (one) school will win £1000 of camera equipment 

Children (family) - £200 and a hamper of Welly Foods (meat products) 5 (five) winners

Professionals - 1 (one) x £500 and a hamper of Welly Foods (meat products)

How To Enter

There are 3 categories open for entry:- i) general public, ii) children and iii) professionals

You need to submit your puddle photo on the tab on the Welly Facebook page, leaving your contact details and indicating which category you are entering.

Don't forget you must have the consent of anyone appearing in your photograph and if you are photographing animals, you'll need the consent of their owners before submitting your shot.

ENTER HERE:  wellypuddleoftheyear.co.uk 

Once approved, your photo will be displayed on the gallery.

The photographs will be judged by Adrian Brooks, award winning photo journalist and WELLY marketing controller Richard Morris.

The competition runs from 26th September to 31st October.

A list of the prizes can be found on the Facebook page.  You can find terms and conditions here.

The promoter of this competition is Welly Foods.

Good luck with your puddle photography!

Win An Extra £50 With Mother Distracted When You Enter Puddles Win Prizes

Click Mother Distracted on the drop down "where did you hear about the competition" tab to qualify for my own mini puddle competition.

Once you've done that then enter via the Rafflecopter widget below for a chance to win a bonus £50 (one winner).  This prize will be supplied by Welly Foods once your photographic entry has been verified. You must submit a photo to the main competition to qualify for the extra cash prize.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Win A Spooky Bundle of Halloween Decorations From Flying Tiger [closed]

Halloween is fast approaching and if you're already thinking about making your fright night as scary as possible (not too scary if you've little ones of course), then I have a spooky prize of a bundle of Halloween decorations to win from quirky Danish design store, Flying Tiger worth £20.

Caitlin models the lovely pumpkin wig

Flying Tiger (previously just Tiger) has an ever-changing selection of own-designed and branded products at affordable prices.  Just click on the link to find your local store.

You can find all kinds of things such as everyday items like kitchen utensils, office supplies, toys, hobby and crafts, party products, food, stationery, electronics, sports, gadgets and fashion accessories.

The designs are colorful, practical, original and often surprising. They have a Scandinavian flavor and a humorous touch.

Just right for decorating your party on a budget (and great for the cost conscious and students too!).

The exact contents of the prize box will be a surprise but they will include some of the following:-

Skull & Crossbones paper garland, £1

Fright in a can, £2

LED lights, £2

Pumpkin light chain, £2

Ghosts light chain, £4

Lanterns, £2

Hanging skeleton, £3

Pumpkin Wig £4

The Giveaway

The prize is a selection of Halloween decorations (which may not contain all of the above) to the value of £20. 

Entry is via the Rafflecopter and terms and conditions can be viewed on my competitions page.  UK entrants only.  The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Friday 21st October.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

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Review: Say Goodbye To Boring Mealtimes With HelloFresh

Being a so-so cook, I find that deciding what to have for tea is rather difficult - despite having a collection of cookery books that would fill a library.

If I do find a recipe, there will be at least one ingredient I don't have to hand, or the ingredients will be far more exotic than our local supermarket will offer.

This means that the kids' weekday teas tend to consist of pizza, salmon, spaghetti bolognese, fish fingers and ham sandwiches.

Over the summer holidays we got into a bit of a rut with rather more of these than was good for us. Now autumn is here and it's getting colder, I find myself wanting proper, hot, nutritious food - particularly for the kids.

But I've discovered HelloFresh who offer a food box subscription service with fresh produce, all the stocks, sauces and spices you'll need and recipe cards with instructions even the most hopeless cook can follow.

We were sent the family box to try over 2 weeks.  This feeds 2 adults and 2 children for the price of £64 per week for 4 meals (that's £4 per head per meal).

These were the 8 meals we were sent:-

Week 1

Jamie's South Asian Chicken Curry with Fluffy Rice
Mushroom, Broccoli and Pancetta Gnocchi
BBQ Sausage Skewers with Cheesy Wedges
Chorizo Crusted Tilapia with Miniature Roasties

Week 2

Creamy Leek and Mustard Chicken with Stir-Fried Green Beans
Jamie's Sizzling Steak Stir-Fry with Tenderstem Broccoli & Noodles
Sweet and Sour Pork with Bulgur Wheat
Courgette, Broad Bean and Feta Orzotto with Pork Meatballs

Once you have signed up (and there are other boxes to choose from), you select your delivery day and then wait for your box to arrive.

Each box contains a variety of vegetables, a bag of all the spices and condiments you need to make the recipes, your meat and fish (carefully wrapped in wool with ice packs) and the recipe cards.

HelloFresh also offer a box for vegetarians and a classic box with more adult and spicier meals.

With the possible exception of a splash of olive oil, milk or water, there is nothing else you need to provide.

You can cook the meals in any order and the produce lasts for one week so there is no need to panic and cook them 4 days on the trot, although I did find I began to get into a routine.

Whilst the meals are easy to prepare, if you don't do much cooking I would allow yourself extra time for chopping etc.

As experienced cooks will know, a small block of time for food prep in the morning (unless your school mornings are complete chaos) or just after you've put the kids to bed will give you a useful breathing space when tea time comes around - particularly if you are taxiing the kids back and forth to various clubs and classes.

Not only are the recipe cards clearly written and easy to follow, the quality of the produce you are sent is incredibly high.

All the food is carefully packaged and clearly marked with the use-by date.  There is nothing processed and you add the seasoning yourself so there is no danger of too much salt.

The cooking time for each meal is around 25-35 minutes, designed specifically for busy mums and dads who need to get tea on the table pronto.

Caitlin is an excellent eater but Ieuan is a lot more picky. To my surprise I found that they both tested everything.

I did substitute the bulgur wheat for rice with the sweet and sour pork and Ieuan wasn't a fan of the orzo pasta.

I also managed to undercook the Gnocchi which could have been better had they been crisper - but I've learned to cook in batches rather than chuck everything in a frying pan and hope for the best!

I was really impressed with HelloFresh and we have now subscribed because

* No more bulky main meal food shopping
* No cupboard full of condiments and pickles that never get used
* No stress about thinking "what's for tea"
* Cooking is actually quite enjoyable (don't tell the Husband)
* I feel like a much better mum for feeding my kids decent meals each tea time
* We all feel quite a bit healthier due to less processed food

Of course there are still another 3 tea times to cope with but the recipe cards are punched so you can store them in a folder for a quick idea or two.  I feel far less guilty about pizza and fish fingers when the kids have already had 4 proper meals that week.

Currently, if you sign up to HelloFresh there is £40 off (£20 off each of your first 2 boxes) and if cooking is your bugbear, I heartily recommend you take a look.

In terms of value, I think the £64 is very reasonable. You could probably cook 4 meals a lot cheaper but it's the removal of the stress of planning, shopping and storing that adds value to Hello Fresh.

Their subscription plans are flexible too - you can stop your subscription when you need to or cancel it at any time (as long as you give about a week's notice).

It's going to be a much healthier, and tastier winter in the Hobbis household.

For more information visit www.hellofresh.co.uk or you can contact them on Twitter or Facebook.

*We were sent one family food box for two weeks for the purpose of this post. Our subscription is entirely independent.

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Beck Valley Book Tour: At Dusk - An Alex Troutt Thriller (Book #5) by John W. Mefford

New Release....
Alex Troutt Thriller, Book #5
AT Dusk

A little boy makes his first kill—and he likes it. He is cunning, charming, and without remorse.

He is a sociopath.

As boy turns to man, what lies inside takes root. He will make a mark on Boston unlike any other, and FBI Special Agent Alex Troutt must figure out how to stop him.

But when she and her close-knit team move in closer, the stakes become much higher as the case takes on a more personal tone. It’s a frantic race to stop a manipulative killer before his web of deceit and destruction escalates into a blood bath of haunting proportions.

Available to buy from.....

Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk    Barnes and Noble    iBooks   Kobo   

"Alex Troutt is quickly becoming one of my favorite fictional characters. I love how she's constantly having to balance her family life and her job, even though her job is continually threatening to take over." - Sonya N

"I simply love every single one of John Mefford's novels. They keep you on the edge of your seat reading late into the night." - Michele B

"Intrigue and attempts at revenge for long held grudges – the twists and turns keeps your adrenalin pumping." - Tracy C
above reviews from the Alex Trout Series

Also available in the series...
      

My Review

Alex Troutt is rapidly becoming one of my all time favourite detectives - all the more so because it's quite unusual to find a convincing, ballsy and likeable female detective in crime fiction. In this latest foray into the city of Boston and its crime scene, Mefford has created a deeply unpleasant killer and given us hardly any suspects.  I spent the almost the entire book questioning whether Alex's team was on the right track, whilst being convinced I knew who the killer really was.

The usual characters we've grown to love are there, the hunky but possible too young Brad, Gretchen, Alex's partner Nick (who has undergone quite some transformation), loveable Ezzy and kids Luke and Erin. And this time Mefford gives us a second feisty female detective in the form of Terri who makes Alex look positively restrained.

I'm not going to give the game away but At Dusk moves at a lightening pace and is very difficult to put down.as the reader becomes as obsessed with finding proof as Alex and her team are.  Although part of a series, At Dusk works equally well as a stand-alone story but I recommend that you read the rest of the Alex Troutt thrillers.  You'll find yourself gripped.

About the Author

A veteran of the corporate wars, former journalist, and true studier of human and social behavior, best-selling author John W. Mefford has been writing novels since he first entered the work force twenty-five years ago, although he never put words on paper until late 2009.

John writes novels full of intrigue, suspense, and thrills, but they also evoke an emotional connection with the characters.

When he’s not writing, he chases three kids around, slaves away in the yard, reads, takes in as many sports as time allows, watches all sorts of movies, and continues to make mental notes of people and societies across the land.

John lives in Frisco, Texas with his beautiful wife, three opinionated kids, and a feisty fat cat who rules the world.

Find the author on the following sites....

Website   Facebook   Twitter   Google+   Goodreads   Amazon Author Page

Join John's Readers’ Group and receive the first novels in both the Greed and Booker Series 

FREE for a limited time!

OTHER BOOKS FROM JOHN W MEFFORD

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 AT Dusk by John W Mefford ebook
5 Winners!!
Ending on Sunday 1st October at 11.59pm CST

Open Worldwide 

Enter HERE

Good Luck !!

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Relationship Dilemmas - What Was I Asked In Week 38?

After a refreshing summer break, Relationship Dilemmas is back. As usual, the questions I am asked can be about any aspect of relationships, and sometimes parenting and health.

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 just some of the questions I've been asked this week.

Q: How do I reply to my ex boyfriend who keeps texting me and says he hasn't done anything bad to me yet the reason we aren't together is because of the fact he keeps texting me etc?

If you want this man out of your life then do not respond to him. 

If he is your ex-boyfriend then his insistence that ‘he hasn’t done anything bad’ is irrelevant. The relationship is over and he needs to move on. Responding to his texts will just give him hope. 

I’m more concerned though by what you mean when you say “anything bad”. I’m hoping you mean that your ex doesn’t understand why you have split up rather than anything more sinister. 

If the reason you split was due to his neediness and clingy-ness, did you explain this to him when you split up? I’m assuming it was you who did the dumping. 

If his contacting you becomes more frequent then firstly I would urge you to make someone else aware of the situation for your own safety (better to be safe than sorry) and secondly to change your mobile phone number and cut him out of your life. 

If he starts turning up at your place or following you, you must tell somebody and explain what’s going on. But this sounds like a man who hasn’t quite got the hint - and not responding to him will help him to get it. 

 You have to stand firm. 

Q: How do I answer it was nice to meet you text from a guy?

A: It depends how you met. Did you go on a date? 

In my experience, if a man isn’t interested he won’t bother to get in touch. It sounds like he is expressing an interest in you and the ball is in your court. 

You could say that you enjoyed meeting him too and you’d be happy to meet up for a drink (or similar). 

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. 

Q: It's been over a year since we broke up, is there any hope left?

A: It depends why you split up. If you or your partner were unfaithful then possibly not. If you just drifted apart, then maybe. But if you have not heard from your ex for over a year then it doesn’t look like they are pining for your relationship.  

Have you done anything in the last 12 months to re-establish contact? Has something happened recently to make you yearn for your old relationship? Has a new relationship just bitten the dust for example? 

Relationships always look better, happier, more romantic with the benefit of nostalgia when, often, they were anything but and splitting up was the best and healthiest thing that could have happened. 

You could write a letter or email your ex explaining how you feel and asking whether there is a chance to reunite - or invite them out for a drink for old times sake - but I think you need to be realistic about this. 

They may well agree to see you to talk about old times but that doesn’t mean they will want to leap back into your old relationship. 

You may well find that you are both different people now. 

All you can do is take a chance, be ready to put your heart on the line but if it’s a no, then accept that it is finally time to move on.

Q: Should I just let go of my boyfriend even though i Iove him if it's because I don't feel him needing me anymore?

A: To paraphrase your question, I think what you’re saying is that your boyfriend doesn’t seem so interested in you so you want to dump him before you get dumped? 

If you do mean that he doesn’t seem to NEED you anymore then I would suggest that it’s not a very healthy relationship. 

Don’t you want a boyfriend who wants to be with you because he enjoys your company and you add to his life? 

Either way, it would be madness to let someone you love go because you are feeling insecure. Far more sensible is to have an open discussion with him about how you’re feeling and where he feels your relationship is at. 

If you suspect his interest is cooling then it may be hard but at least you will know where you stand and can make a decision about your relationship based on facts and what is right for you, rather than doing something hasty out of panic. 

Q: How can I forgive myself for the way I treated my ex boyfriend? 

I took advantage of his love. I even made him cry once. I even caught feelings for another person once while we were together but denied it. I went to prom with another guy. I cant explain the situations due to word limit but I cant forgive myself. So I cant move on. I know I don't deserve to though.

A: Yes, you were unkind but you know we all have choices. 

It takes two to make a relationship and your ex had the opportunity to leave you at any time if he found your behaviour unacceptable. 

This doesn’t condone your behaviour but the wider question is why did he put up with it? 

Obviously he loved you and hoped that things would work out but we teach people how to treat us and it’s not as simple as heaping all the blame on yourself. 

You were quite young, I’m guessing, when all this happened and what you describe is perfectly normal for teenage relationships. We are all learning how to love and how to relate and of course we make mistakes. 

If you feel awful then contact him and just say you’d like to say sorry for being horrid during that time and hope things are good with him now. 

If you are not interested in rekindling the relationship though, you need to be very careful you do this in a way which doesn’t raise his hopes again. 

If it were me, I’d just tell myself that I’ve learned through the experience, I’m now a nicer person and a stronger person - and your ex probably is as well. 

You don’t say if you know how he’s doing but he may well be perfectly happy and settled in a new relationship and if so, the last thing he will want is to have to deal with your guilt. 

I think this is one of those times when you have to ‘woman up’ and vow that in future relationships you will behave in better ways. 

But beating yourself up for being young, naive and thoughtless is pointless - it’s just part of growing up for many.

Q: What do you do if your boyfriend is hitting on your eighteen year old daughter through texting? Does this mean he fancies her?

A: I think you know the answer to your question but, understandably, don’t want to accept what’s happening. 

I’m assuming you have read the texts - either on your daughter’s phone or you have been reading them on your boyfriend’s. 

It should be pretty obvious whether there is any sexual flirtation going on and, in any case, it is pretty odd for your boyfriend to be texting your daughter if you are not living together or he is not about to become her stepfather. 

If you are sure he is hitting on your daughter then your first responsibility is to your DAUGHTER - unless she is actively encouraging him in order to get at you. 

Are there problems in your relationship with her? 

In your shoes I’d ask him exactly what he thinks he’s playing at and if you are unhappy with his answer, get rid of him. And change your daughter’s phone. 

Q: How do you handle it if your boyfriend has a friend who is a girl?

A: How close a friend is she? 

If she is one of the ‘crowd’ or an old school friend then I think you just have to accept the friendship and be mature enough to be gracious about it. 

A strong relationship is built on trust and you should be able to talk to your boyfriend about this and he should want to reassure you that she is no threat. I’m wondering why you haven’t done this? 

If, on the other hand, there is a secretive element to the friendship - he is constantly texting / phoning or breaking dates to be with her, then you need a frank conversation with him about what is going on. 

But however uncomfortable it makes you feel, you can’t expect him not to have female friends - as long as the boundaries between friendship and romance are clearly defined and stuck to! 

I think you need to speak up. 

How would you have responded to these questions? 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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Transform Your Home Into Halloween Party Central

We love Halloween.  In fact, apart from Christmas, it's my absolute favourite time and we make sure the house is fully decorated.  Last year, the Husband gave up resisting and even donned a vampire cape and some fangs.

I usually stick things to walls and any other surface I think needs it with blu-tack or white-tack but versatile though these are, sometimes you need something that will take a bit more weight.

So we've discovered a range of  ingenious adhesive strips and hooks from Command Products from 3M that allow home lovers to hang decorations and much more without the hassle of nails, screws and tacks, throughout the home. Better still, they stretch cleanly away, leaving no surface damage.

There's Command Brand Balloon Bunchers (for 3 balloons), Ceiling Hooks, Poster Strips, Decorating Clips and Banner Anchors which all promise damage free hanging.

We tested the poster strips and decorating clips and they certainly stick firmly and offer a more reliable grip than blu-tac!  You do have to be careful about where you put them - you can't use them on wallpaper and you're advised not to use them, for example, on anything antique or that you wouldn't be able to repair - but we found they stuck fine to a painted surface.

We tested the Command poster strips and decorating clips

When you remove them, you simply stretch the strips which releases them from the wall - no risk of those annoying marks you can get on some surfaces when decorations have been left in place a little too long. (You can tell I'm a decorating pro, can't you?!)

For Halloween crafting, Caitlin insists on doing her own thing with the help of Mr Bones who was a bit startled to be disinterred a bit earlier this year. But if you're stuck for ideas for your Halloween decorations, here are three ideas you might like to try.

GLIDING GHOULS

For these ghastly ghouls you'll need some polystyrene mannequin heads, coloured netting, a spray adhesive and clear fishing wire. Simply spray the heads with adhesive, cover with your choice of netting and attach the wire – three heads have been used here and hung at differing lengths to create this ghostly effect! Once you’re happy with the terrifying faces, suspend from a fireplace, ceiling, or dark corner using Command Party Ceiling Hooks… and listen out for the screams!

BAT-TASTIC

For some scary wall décor, add some 3D flying bats to your wall. Fold an A4 sheet of black card in half, then draw a slim half-sausage shape starting from the folded edge, to form the bat’s body, then sketch one simple bat wing shape leading off from this. Cut around it all, then open out and fold each wing out from either side of the body, leaving you with a flat body shape with fluttering wings. Adhere each bat to your wall using Command Poster Strips.

WEB-TACULAR

Add a giant spider’s web to give your Halloween décor a little more substance.

Working at a table, cut six lengths of wool to equal lengths and lay them out to create the spokes of your web, tying the ends together at the centre, then tape each outer end down onto your table top with a little masking tape to form the web’s structure.

Cut another length of wool and tie it to one of the structural lengths with a knot, around 5cm from the centre. Move along to the next structural length and knot your wool down here too, keeping the wool relatively taut between the two knots. Continue working your way around the structure of the web until you’re back to your original knot- cut off any excess. Repeat the process with a new length of wool, around 5cm further out from your first circle, then continue working outwards in the same way for several more circles until you are happy with your web shape and size.

Command Clear Decorating Clips are ideal for attaching these to your wall or ceiling - simply tie a knot at the end of each length and place this over the hooks. Play around with your web’s position with masking tape before sticking down with the Command Decorating Clips.

HANGING HORRORS

Command Decorating Clips or Command Party Ceiling Hooks are ideal for hanging spooky items from your ceiling… whether it’s a giant spider, witches hats, or a pumpkin lantern. Simply attach a long piece of white wool or cotton to your items, secure with a knot and hang.

For more information, visit: www.commandstrips.co.uk. You can buy Command Strips at Amazon.co.uk, Asda, B&Q, Hobbycraft, Homebase, Robert Dyas, Ryman, Sainsbury’s, Staples, The Range, Tesco, WHSmith, Wilkinsons and 3Mdirect.co.uk.

No skeletons were harmed in the production of this post.

PR samples were received for this post

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