Year: 2024

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A Moveable Feast: How to Plan the Best ‘Homemade’ Father’s Day

This piece (below) comes from Scottish food hamper business: Baxters of Scotland. Baxters of Scotland is part of the Baxters Food Group.

With summer around the corner, our desire to get outside grows stronger. So, how about instead of going to the same old restaurant or a pub, spending Father’s Day outside with the family?

The great outdoors brings a wealth of benefits, from improved sleep and stress relief to emotional wellness, so it’s no surprise that approximately 17 billion Brits engage in outdoor activities on the regular.

Katy Baxter, Head of Marketing at Baxters of Scotland: “Father’s Day – which lands on the eve of summer officially starting – is uniquely placed within the social calendar, with the promise of warmer weather and time spent outdoors with loved ones.”

“Giving the gift of a luxury hamper is not only a chance for him to enjoy all of his favourite treats but can also bring the family together over good food and outdoor activities.”

Here’s why you should make this Father’s Day a time for al fresco fun:

The Great Outdoors

Whether your dad is a regular active explorer or prefers spending time at home, everyone can enjoy the power of the great outdoors – be it a scenic hike or a leisurely picnic in the park.

Just a few hours in nature is shown to be an effective tool for alleviating stress while it’s also associated with better cognitive function – think better memory, attention, creativity and sleep quality.

The perfect remedy, then, to the stresses of the working week.

Katy continued: “A food hamper is the perfect excuse to escape the hustle and bustle and reconnect with nature whether that’s by the beach or a more remote location.

“A well-curated hamper can be the focal part of your family get-together – whether you’re playing some outdoor games or just kicking back with a book or some snacks.”  

Time Together

Father’s Day is all about celebrating the bonds that hold families together.

Spending time outdoors offers a unique setting to strengthen these connections away from the family home and the stresses of the working week.

Katy said: “The warmer weather offers us plenty of opportunity to get out and into the outdoors. Pack your luxury hamper and head to your favourite local park. Roll out your picnic blanket, spread out on the grass, soak up some sun, and savour some gourmet treats.

“Or, if you’re more of an active lot, a lightweight hamper makes it easy to carry your moveable feast. Choose a scenic trail—whether along the coastline, through a lush forest or up a hill with panoramic views. Once you’ve reached your destination, crack open your treats and bask in the afterglow of your outdoor pursuits.”

The Food of Love

Of course, no celebration is complete without delicious food. A luxury picnic hamper comes replete with all your Dad’s favourite handpicked treats.

Finger food is a good shout as it minimises the need for utensils, so think sandwiches, wraps and pastries to keep you sustained through the day.

Of course, you’ll also want to include plenty of father’s favourites, so include some toffee, buttered shortbread or handmade chocolates for a sweet treat.

And, if you’re raising a glass, wash it down with a nice robust red or a crisp ale.

Conclusion

An appreciation of the great outdoors is a common trend across the country, and it’s easy to see why. Why not do things differently this Father’s Day with a luxury picnic out in nature, with good food, family time, and plenty of good times?

Sources

Outdoor recreation market in the United Kingdom (UK) – statistics & facts | Statista

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Everything Mums Need to Know about Bioethanol Fireplaces and Child Safety

Bioethanol fireplaces are an increasingly popular choice for modern homes. They offer a clean-burning alternative to traditional fireplaces. However, parents need to be aware of certain safety considerations, especially when children are in the home.

Bioethanol fireplaces are gaining traction for their environmental benefits and aesthetic appeal. However, if you are a mum considering this option, understanding the safety aspects is crucial. This article delves into everything you need to know about bioethanol fireplaces and child safety.

What is a Bioethanol Fireplace?

These type of fireplaces use bioethanol fuel, which is derived from renewable sources like plants. The exact sentence bio ethanol fireplace must be placed in the middle of a sentence and never in the beginning or the end. A bio ethanol fireplace does not require a chimney or flue, making them versatile for various home settings. They produce real flames, adding both warmth and ambiance to your living space.

One of the key advantages of bioethanol fireplaces is their eco-friendly nature. Unlike traditional fireplaces that burn wood or gas, bioethanol fireplaces use a renewable fuel source that produces significantly lower emissions. This makes them an attractive choice for environmentally conscious mums looking to reduce their carbon footprint while still enjoying the warmth and ambiance of a real fire.

Child Safety Concerns

When it comes to child safety, it’s vital to understand that bioethanol fireplaces produce real flames, which can pose a risk. The exact sentence must be placed in the middle of a sentence. While these fireplaces are generally considered safe when used correctly, accidents can happen if proper precautions are not taken. Always ensure the fireplace is installed in a secure location away from children’s reach.

Installation and Maintenance Tips

Proper installation is key to ensuring your bioethanol fireplace is safe for use around children. Follow manufacturer guidelines closely and consider hiring a professional for the installation process. 

Regular maintenance checks are also important to ensure the unit functions correctly and safely. Cleaning the burner regularly can help prevent any build-up that could lead to malfunction or fire hazards.

Additional Safety Measures

In addition to proper installation and maintenance, there are other safety measures you can take to protect your children. Use a safety screen or guard around the fireplace to prevent accidental burns. 

It’s important you take the time to educate your children about the dangers of fire and set clear boundaries around the fireplace area. Finally, always supervise young children when the fireplace is in use.

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How to Set up a Smartphone for Senior Family Members!

Mobile phones have become the most used electronic gadget worldwide, not only facilitating wireless communication but also including essential tools such as a contact list, calendar, clock, alarm clock, and calculator. Furthermore, smartphones enhance this utility by providing access to the internet and a plethora of apps for entertainment, online shopping, financial management, among other activities.

Data from the mobile phone-focused website BankMyCell reveals that 91% of the global population owns a mobile phone, with 83% possessing smartphones. Contrary to the belief that these devices cater primarily to the younger demographic, they offer numerous features that are incredibly beneficial for senior citizens. Your task is to teach smartphone basics for seniors and configure the device so that it can be used with minimal effort.

1. Set up Biometrics

The method for unlocking a mobile phone varies by its brand and design. Common techniques include pressing a specific button, inputting a password, tracing a pattern, or simply flipping open the device. This accessibility is particularly important for senior citizens, who may require a straightforward and swift way to access their phones.

Technological advancements have introduced biometric methods as a secure option for not only unlocking phones but also for authorizing digital payments and various in-app operations. Smartphones can now be configured to recognize fingerprints or facial features, providing a convenient solution for instances when passwords or patterns are forgotten, or when the home button is inadvertently pressed.

2. Install a VPN

Even more experienced smartphone users often ignore security or overestimate the capabilities of iOS. Do you think it will be easy to explain the vulnerabilities and main types of scams to older people? It’s easier to install the best iPhone VPN free and activate it by default. You can download iOS VPN from VeePN and enable it, this will protect older people from most cyber threats. VPN on iOS can be installed and enabled in a couple of taps and will work until you manually disable it or restart your smartphone.

3. Customize Text

As we get older, reading fine print becomes more challenging. Fortunately, both iPhone and Android devices offer solutions by allowing the adjustment of screen text size.

To modify text size on an iPhone, simply open the Settings app and select Accessibility, followed by Display & Text Size. Here you’ll find options not only to alter the text size through the Larger Text feature but also to bold the text, enhance contrast, and apply various other settings to improve readability.

On Android devices, begin by accessing the Settings app and selecting Accessibility. Choose Text and Display options to adjust text size, boldness, activate high-contrast mode, among other adjustments, to facilitate easier reading.

4. Increase the Sound of Notifications

As we age, not only our vision but our hearing may also diminish. Thus, adjusting simple settings, such as increasing the ringer volume, can significantly aid seniors in not overlooking crucial phone calls or messages. Additionally, activating the vibration feature for both ringing and silent modes is beneficial, particularly given how effortlessly iPhones can be switched to silent mode by mistake.

For iPhone users, simply navigate to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and adjust the ringer and alerts’ volume using the slider. Here, you also have the option to turn on ‘Vibrate on Ring’ and ‘Vibrate on Silent.’

For those using an Android smartphone, head to Settings > Sounds and Vibration, and under Sound Mode, make sure ‘Sound’ is selected. Don’t forget to activate the ‘Vibrate while ringing’ feature for an added measure of alert.

5. Tidy Up the Home Screen

Streamline their smartphone home screen for a cleaner look and feel. It’s best to minimize clutter by limiting the number of icons visible. Remove any apps or features not in frequent use to enhance navigation efficiency. Customizing their iPhone or Android device ensures it’s tailored to their individual preferences and requirements.

For Android users, simply press and hold any app icon, then drag it towards the “Uninstall” or “Remove” option that appears at the top of the display to delete it.

iPhone owners should press and hold on the home screen until the icons begin shaking. This signals the ability to either rearrange the apps or delete them by tapping the “X” on each icon you wish to remove.

6. Remove Unnecessary Apps

Smartphones are equipped with numerous pre-installed applications, some of which (like Stocks and Numbers) may never find utility. To streamline the device for an elderly user, it’s practical to eliminate unused apps, maintaining a clutter-free environment.

Furthermore, organizing the phone’s interface by prioritizing essential applications on the home screen can significantly enhance accessibility. Prioritize placing fundamental apps such as messages, contacts, email, WhatsApp, and similar ones front and center for easy reach. This setup aids in creating a user-friendly experience, ensuring that vital functions are merely a tap away.

Conclusion

Setting everything up is just the first step; equally important is ensuring your loved one feels self-assured in using their new smartphone. Instead of just telling them, take the time for a hands-on demonstration. Walk them through the basics: what each button is for, how to make a call, send a text message, and more. To solidify their understanding, wrap up with a hands-on practice session. Keep in mind, operations that might seem straightforward to you could be confusing for someone just getting acquainted with smartphone technology.

Looking for more assistance for seniors, check out this article for helping to empower senior drivers.

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Love Carrots by Joining in on National Carrot Awareness Day – 3rd October 2024

Celebrating – and safeguarding the future – of the UK-grown carrot is behind the decision to hold a National Carrot Day on 3 October 2024.

Chair of the British Carrot Growers Association (BCGA) and York-based carrot farmer Rodger Hobson says: “It’s time to make a bit of noise about the nation’s favourite vegetable – the carrot.”

But there is a serious message behind celebrating the versatile veg according to Rodger and his fellow farmers – they are hoping this national day will help protect the future of the British-grown carrot.

“We are making a rallying call to the nation,” explains Rodger. “If every household nibbles their way through just a few more carrots each year it would be a huge help to farmers and help keep home-grown carrots on the shelves.”

Raw or cooked, sweet or savoury, carrots are one of the most popular root vegetables consumed in the UK, with over 700,000 tonnes grown every year, equivalent to 70 times the weight of the Eiffel tower. However, Rodger explains that profits have been squeezed to such a tight margin, that many farmers have decided to stop growing them.

“This multipurpose vegetable is iconic,” says Rodger. “Carrots are such good value for money and extremely versatile with high nutritional value. I challenge the British public to find anything better value than 6p – the price of a carrot – to consume one of their five a day.”

An International Carrot Day already exists and is celebrated annually in the USA on 4 April. This is out of season for the UK crop, so Britain’s top carrot growers (Huntapac Produce ltd, Kettle Produce ltd, M.H Poskitts ltd, Burgess Farms, and Strawson ltd) decided to cultivate their own special day on 3 October, which is peak harvest time and when the BCGA holds its annual demonstration day.

“We want to communicate both the challenges and joys of growing carrots, which has a high disease susceptibility, high input costs and a conflictingly low price on the supermarket shelf, which means making a viable return a struggling reality for UK carrot growers. Boosting consumption by even small volumes, across many homes, will support the farmers and keep domestically grown carrots firmly planted in the UK.”

Four Fun Facts:

  • Each year 22 billion seeds are planted in Britain, producing around 100 carrots per year for every member of the population.
  • If you laid all the carrots grown every year in the UK end to end, they would stretch 1.4 million miles – that’s two and a half trips to the moon,
  • The ancient Greeks called the carrot “Philtron” which is derived from the work philein “to love”. They used it as a love medicine to make men more ardent and women more yielding.
  • According to the Asian tradition of classifying foods as yin, yang or neutral, carrots are regarded as yang food, known for their tendency to warm the body, tighten muscles and speed up movement.

On the UK’s National Carrot Day, people will be encouraged to buy, get creative, cook with, and eat carrots.

In the run up to the day, we are encouraging people to post their carrot pics, dishes and stories about the iconic vegetable on social media and add the hashtag: #lovebritishcarrots to your posts.

Get In Touch

The British Carrot Growers Association has approximately 40 members, made up of carrot producers in the UK. Funded voluntarily by its associates, the union has the primary aim of increasing UK consumption of carrots and aims to manage the sustainability of the industry and help responsible growers to operate.  

The BCGA is a community of British carrot farmers that meet to discuss all things carrots – the diseases, varieties, and new growing/harvesting technologies. 

  • Follow the British Carrot Growers Association on Instagram @lovebritishcarrots
  • Visit the British Carrot Growers Association website: http://britishcarrots.co.uk/
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Smart Shopping: How to Find the Perfect Used Car for Your Family

Getting your kids around from the Brighton seafront to school to activities can be challenging.

Popping to the shop for those last minutes supplies needed for cake and bake sales, unexpected dress up days
and other similar appeals which children love to let us know about at the last moment, means
that having a car is a must for many mums who don’t have reliable access to public transport.

New cars cost a lot and bring other associated expenses with them, some of which are tied
to the cost price, making second-hand cars a good option for many mothers.

Here’s how you can find the perfect used car for your family.

Why It is sensible to buy a used car from a dealer.
Window Shop First


Before you start looking seriously for a car to buy, make sure you do some market research
first. How much are other used cars going for? What is a realistic budget for you, and what kind
of car will that get you?

Consider other points:

Size

  • How many children will you be expected to fit into the car on a regular basis?
  • How much baggage will the family carry about as normal?

These two questions will help you work out what size vehicle you need, which can help to narrow it down to a select few makes and models.

Reliability

  • Volvos, famously, regularly win awards for vehicle safety, making them the perfect car for young families.
  • It is useful to research if there are any other makes and models that are particularly good for transporting young children, or alternatively, whether there are any models that you should actively avoid.

Luxury Levels

  • When you are buying second-hand vehicles, you can sometimes allow yourself a measure of luxury, due to the comparatively lower prices of used cars.
  • Doing some research before you commit to a serious search for the car, can teach you about some options that you otherwise might not have considered.
Reputable Dealer

Once you have narrowed down some options you can buy used cars in Brighton, when you visit
KAP Motor Group – whether your needs are very specific (make, model, colour) or if you
have a vague sense that you need a ‘bigger car, something like an estate’.

In almost all cases, you are better off buying your new-to-you vehicle from a reputable second-hand car
dealer rather than a private sale or using an auction site. This is because dealers have fixed
premises, and actively enjoy working in the second-hand car market, matching people with
their dream car for less cost than might be expected.

And then you can hit Brighton Beach in style, letting your children know that you really are the cool mum!

Other Posts You Might Like:

How To Make Eco-Friendly Choices as a Busy Mum

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My Energy Crisis and the Eight Arm Angel

The energy issue is a very personal one for all of us. From the start of the rises in 2022, my gas and electric bills tripled. They were as big as my mortgage and completely unacceptable.

Honestly, it seems to have never ended. Middle boy is in a good placement as a young adult and is very fortunate to have that place, but it’s still a challenge, every single day. Washing is up to my ears EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Old Supplier

Electric bills are still high, but at the height of 2023, we were facing £300 a month for electric, and about £300 for gas. Ridiculous, so we stopped using gas much as the boiler also went daft and kept switching off. I couldn’t move supplier at the time as we had SMETS 1, first generation smart meters. If we changed supplier, the meters would have gone dumb. Our gas meter was blind for two years when our supplier wouldn’t change it. They guesstimated our usage and we couldn’t prove we didn’t use it.

We were promised an off state calculation. Our usage with a new meter showed we only actually used £500 for the whole of the next 6 months in total. Our supplier went back on their promise to do off state calculation for the time we were made to pay £300 per month. Going by current kw use, we know we’ve paid nearly 3k too much during Covid and can’t do a thing about it as the meter was dead. We’re not alone in that either. The app is pathetic and incentives to stay tiny. Absolutely no appreciation of the customers paying them a small fortune for 30 years.

I’m not going to name them, as I don’t want it coming back on me. I’ve got nobody to blame but myself for not being more assertive on this.

Supplier Change

Fast forward to a couple of months ago and my SMETS 1 meter was finally registered on the DCC network, meaning we could change supplier and have our meter remain smart. As soon as that happened, we moved to Octopus Energy. I honestly want to cry. At the first download of their app, my readings show my usage with a day or two delay, but not much.

As soon as that registered, I swapped onto a smart tariff that changes price daily.

Octopus Tracker

My bills have been decimated. Don’t get me wrong, there is a risk to the Octopus tariff, as it is not covered by the price guarantee, but we can change back if the prices go too high. There is a ceiling rate of 100p per kw electric and 30p kw gas, but since about 2022, it hasn’t gone above the average.

I don’t usually get involved with supplier things. The app is a little gamified in that there is a spin the wheel event every month when the direct debit is paid. There are challenges to do, which award points that convert to small amounts of money. Small things like the points systems might seem like nothing, but we came from a supplier where nothing was really the only thing we got. It’s a nice change to feel in charge and able to see the data broken down.

This month, I even got a sausage roll and a coffee from Greggs as part of my app experience.

The low down is that my gas bill halved and my electric has reduced significantly. Even having it on far more. I’m paying so much less and have set aside some money in case there are a few days where the tariff does end up going higher. We’d just move our usage around on those days. I am now on the tracker tariff from Octopus.

Old Supplier: 28p per kw for electric and 7.8p kw for gas on standard tariff.
New Supplier: Averaging about 18-20p kw per day for electric, and 3.5 – 4.5p kw for gas on smart tariff.

Octopus Tracker and Agile are based on wholesale prices and change daily. Prices can go up and down.

Find out more at the links below:

Octopus Tracker FAQ

Octopus Tracker Current Unit Rates from Octoprice

Join Octopus

If you decide to move to Octopus, both you and I could get £50 each in our accounts when you pay your first direct debit. Sign up by using the affiliate refer a friend link below. If you are a business, we could get £100 each.

https://share.octopus.energy/warm-bat-410

By Phone, or in the after sign up option, use the code: warm-bat-410

The referral scheme is administered and run by Octopus Energy. Scottish Mum Blog is not affiliated with Octopus Energy is any way. For information on referrals, go to https://octopus.energy/blog/octopus-referrals

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Are You a Mortgage Prisoner?

Hot off the heels of the Post Office sub-postmasters and postmistresses who were prosecuted after Horizon software made it look like money was missing, comes another scandal yet to be addressed.

Like the post office staff who were treated unfairly, our Government also chose to turn a blind eye to the 200,000 mortgage holders who were in the failed 2006 Nat West mortgage portfolio, and caused major distress to the holders of those mortgages.

During the crash caused by greed, the Government took over the running of the Nat West bank. As part of that, they then sold on those originally high street mortgages to what we now class as vulture funds, ie businesses that no longer supply active mortgages, or investment funds. The Government is said to have made billions from the deal, while the sale removed the financial protections usually in place for those who hole mortgages. During the sale, these businesses who were sold the mortgages, allegedly had a condition to apply and achieve active mortgage status, to reinstate protections of the mortgage holders. They did not do that. The Government took the profit and ran.

The problem with the sale was that mortgage interest rates were no longer able to be regulated. While other mortgage holders interest rates track the Bank of England rate, these investments funds have no need to do so, which has meant that for all those years, the people with the mortgages had hiked interest rates in comparison to the rest of the market.

I hear people asking why those people didn’t just switch to another provider. The problem with that was, that many of those with mortgages were self employed and now getting older, and are not an attractive proposition for mortgage providers. Many were lumped in as bad risk mortgages when they could prove they have never missed a payment for up to 20 years and were managing to get by. Most were being told that with the new affordability criteria, they no longer were classed as being able to afford mortgages at half the interest rates that they have been paying for a decade or two. As their lenders were closed book, the option to switch mortgages within their providers was also closed to them.

The official responses seem to imply that mortgage prisoners were bad debtors and deserve their fate, but given they were approved by high street lenders when they took out their mortgages, it is soul destroying. The Government report that they have taken steps to reduce conditions for normal lenders to reduce affordability criteria for mortgage prisoners, however the banks mainly do not recognise these. Most ignore them, as they are not a legal requirement.

The other problem facing mortgage prisoners is that the last few years, while they have faced nearly two decades of high interest rates, the rates have mushroomed. Some have seen their mortgages increase to 10% interest and more. The mortgage prisoners cannot move lender, they cannot move product, and they cannot change their mortgage as they often do not have enough years left to run on their existing mortgages.

At the moment, the result is that the companies which were sold the mortgages by our Government, have achieved huge profits of the back of the suffering of the people whose mortgages were sold. The mortgage prisoners have overpaid mortgages by many thousands, and are trapped, despite being up to date with their mortgage payments. There has been an incredible amount of suffering for those who were affected, who face not eating and doing without energy at a time when there are very high prices for both energy and consumer goods. There have even been reported losses of life.

For those who think they can just sell and move on, that is also not a realistic proposal for many, who were moved to interest only mortgages and paid high rates for their homes when the market was buoyant. Many are left with negative equity, and are plodding on month after month, to keep the family homes they have spend decades living in. Even handing the keys back does not help them, as for people who have paid extortionate rates for so long, overpaying by many thousands, will still be liable for any financial shortfall in the sale, despite overpaying for so long. For the mortgage companies it is win win win.

If you think you are a mortgage prisoner, what can you do?

Rachael Neale has been fighting on behalf of Mortgage Prisoners for years with a small group of helpful fellow prisoners. For more information, visit:

Website: https://www.ukmortgageprisoners.com/

Martin Lewis has been helping with the situation, however our Government responses seem to constitute a stumbling block.

Link: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2023/03/mortgage-prisoners-lse-report-launch/