Monthly Archives: March 2014

If you sometimes find that you get depressed when sitting around at home then the solution might not be as difficult to find as you might think. While feelings of depression are often caused by deeper underlying reasons, if you find that your mood is affected when you get home then these tips might make a different.

Get the Right Lighting

The lighting in your home can make a massive difference to your mood. You may already have heard about the Season Affective Disorder condition, which affects a lot of people in the winter months when there is less natural light. Well, when you are at home you could also find that you are affected by spending a lot of time in darkened, gloomy rooms. Adding some more light to each room can make a big difference to your quality of life and your mood. If you want to make the place look good as well as brighten it up you could look at stylish light fitting such as those on unicheinteriorfurnishings.co.uk.

Add More Natural Light

The lighting in your home is so important to your state of mind that we will look at it in this point as well. In this case, it is the importance of natural light that we will focus on. It is well known that a daily dose of sunlight can give us a boost. If you want to feel good about life then it is important that you let more natural light in. This can be achieved in different ways, depending upon the house in question. For instance, you could simply open the curtains more, use a roof terrace or move to a part of the house where most sunlight enters at any given time. If you spend a lot of time at home then you could even move around the property throughout the day in order to catch the maximum amount of rays. For example, if you work at home on your computer then you could consider switching to a laptop and a wireless connection in order to follow the sun around the house or garden.

Bring the Outdoors In

The soothing qualities of plants and flowers shouldn’t be underestimated. If life is getting on top of you then having some of these things in your house can turn it into a peaceful refuge rather than a place where you feel even more depressed. In fact, if you have a space where you can do some gardening then this hobby has been shown to be effective at fighting depression. If you don’t have anywhere outdoors to do this then just buying some indoor plants and freshly cut flowers can also be a very good way of feeling happier when you are inside. Make sure to replace the flowers on a regular basis and look after the plants so that you see them grow over time.

Clean the Place Thoroughly

The final point is one that could work on a couple of different levels. First of all, if the house is dirty or cluttered then that isn’t going to help your mood. Even if this is something you aren’t constantly aware of, it could be that living in a dirty or cluttered place is affecting you more than you think. The other benefit is that you will probably feel great after carrying out the work needing done to get the house in order again. Some physical exercise is ideal for making you feel good and putting you in a positive frame of mind again. In fact, you might like the feeling so much that you decide to carry out regular exercise at home in the future.

Anyone who has moved to a new city at some point in their lives knows that this is an exciting but also pretty nerve racking experience. This is especially true if you move to a bigger city than the one you are used to living in.

In this situation, it can be difficult to work out what to do first in order to get started in your new life as well as possible. Thankfully, there are some sensible first steps you can take in order to get settled in comfortably.

Explore It

When you first set foot in the city you now plan to live in there are sure to be lots of questions in your head. What are the shops like? Where are the best bars and restaurants? Is there a nice park where you can lie down and watch the world go by? Is there anywhere you can go to see the whole city in one panoramic view? The best way to find out the answers is to head out and explore the place, while maybe using a mobile app to help you around. This is a brilliant way of getting used to the place you now live and of feeling at home there. You could also combine this exploration with some exercise by either doing a lot of walking or else getting out on a bike. Don’t forget to check out the countryside and neighbouring towns and villages, as this can give you a nice day out and a welcome break from the city whenever you need it.

Find the Best Place to Live

Finding a place to live isn’t all that easy in a new city, especially if it is a big one. This is why it will probably take you some time to get this issue right. The previous point about exploring the city is going to be a big help in letting you find the areas you might want to live in. It isn’t a great idea to commit yourself long term to one house when you first arrive, as you might find somewhere better shortly afterwards. Instead, it makes sense to keep your options open until you are sure that you have found the right area to live in.  If you are going to start working or studying fairly soon after arrival then this will give you a great chance to ask other people for recommendations or even to find a room-mate to  share with. Otherwise, looking online is a great way of finding out what is on offer and for what price. Be prepared to check out a few places and get disappointed a number of times before you strike it lucky, though.

Find Out Useful Contact Numbers

One of the most difficult things about living in a new city is that it can be tough to deal with emergencies. What will you do if you have a plumbing problem, if you need a dentist at short notice or if you lock yourself out of your house? Back home you probably knew exactly who to contact but if you are on your own here then you’ll need to find out a list of useful contact numbers pretty quickly.  This shouldn’t be too difficult to do once you decide to do it. For example, you could easily and quickly find recommended locksmiths in Romford by MetroLocks.co.uk. Once you have a few emergency numbers on your phone you will feel a lot more comfortable about dealing with whatever life throws at you.

Make New Friends

Making new friends in a new city is one of the issues that many people fear when planning a move. In fact, it seems fair to say that plenty of people are probably put off the idea of moving to a different city for this reason. Of course, these days many people move to new cities or to new countries, which means that you probably won’t be too far away from other newcomers no matter where you go. Social media sites now offer a good way of getting in touch with new friends where you live, while the old fashioned approach of heading out to bars and clubs is still a winner for many people. Whatever you do, you should keep your mind open to building new relationships, as this will definitely help you settle in.

As the summer approaches, so does the prospect of increasing numbers of dog attacks, especially on young children. A grim outlook, but one that is continuing to rise, according to hospital admissions statistics. There may be light at the end of the tunnel, however, as sentences for dog attack offences have just increased.

According to the Health and Social Care Information Centre, Hospital Episode Statistics recorded 6,450 admissions for dog bites or strikes in the 12 months to April 2012, a 5.2 per cent rise on the previous 12-month period (6,130). During the same period, admissions for all conditions increased by 1.3 per cent.

Around 16 per cent (one in 10) of all people admitted to hospital as a result of dog bite and strike injuries involve a child under 10. But what is being done about these horrific statistics? The topic of ‘banned breeds’ and the legislation surrounding dog attacks has long been debated, with fierce criticism levelled from campaigners and animal welfare groups alike.

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 was, according to the RSPCA, ‘rushed through Parliament’ following a string of high profile dog attacks and the media attention that surrounded them. Many dubbed the legislation unfit for purpose as the premise that only certain (banned) dog breeds were responsible for attacks had no basis.

Any dog (especially in the wrong hands), has the potential to bite and it should be the owner’s responsibility to ensure his or her dog is under control at all times – inside and outside the home.

Responsible dog ownership starts with the legalities of having a collar and ID tag on every dog. It is essential to have a safe, well-fitting dog collar and to keep you dog on a lead when out in public. There is no excuse for not doing this as all these items – including muzzles if necessary – are readily available from sites like http://ebay.co.uk. Basic, safe versions are not expensive and they ensure your dog is under control and legal. It could save a person’s life and you from prosecution.

The laws relating to dog attacks have just been updated by the Government, following the continued rise in high-profile attacks and hospital admissions relating to dog bites and wounds.

From May 13, 2014, anyone who allows their dog to attack someone will face tougher sentences, and owners will also face prosecution if a dog attacks anyone in their home or on private property (except trespassers).

The maximum prison sentences in England and Wales under the Dangerous Dogs Act are now:

• Up to 14 years, from two years, for a fatal dog attack.
• Up to five years, from two years, for injury.
• Up to three years if an assistance dog is attacked.

The laws in Scotland and Northern Ireland were updated previously, and can be found under The Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010, and The Dogs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.

Outlasting the Titanic and surviving a war, would there be anything Ford motors couldn’t over come? dominating over 40% of the UK car market in 1919 and opening a second successful UK Ford factory in 1962 it would seem not!

Ford enjoyed over 100 years of UK manufacturing success until its ending in 2013 but had a long and interesting journey over its time in Britain, see the following infographic from jenningsmotorgroup.co.uk to find out more about its UK successes.

Infographic via Jennings Motor Group Click Image to Enlarge.