It’s been almost a year now since we’ve measured the total length of coving that we would need in our house and purchased it from Wickes. The plan was to put up coving as soon as we were done with painting the walls. However after most of the things were done in the house, we got too comfortable to do any more work.
Coving is not difficult to put up in the house – all you need is a measuring tape, a pencil, a fine tooth saw and some good glue (for polysterene coving, wood coving requires more work). However after doing so much in the house, you are completely drained down and just want to be able to sit down and relax for a bit. Soon this becomes a habit and you can no longer find the courage to actually do any work and the jobs pending remains unfinished.
A standard size room should not take that long to do the coving once you’ve mastered the art of cutting. You’ll find that having someone to help you will make things easier because it will be difficult for you to hold a long piece of coving by yourself and wait for the glue to do its job.
Personally I think that coving adds a bit of elegance to a house. It covers up the wall and ceiling joints nicely and gives a professional look. Although it doesn’t cost a lot to put up coving, it can make your house sell faster and add more value to it as well because at the end of the day, appearance counts a lot to potential buyers.
It is known to many that car insurance for 18 year old drivers are very high since they are associated with the 17-21 group which has a very high risk profile. It is quite common for a person within that age group to receive quotes in excess of £2,500 and when you think that the young driver has only spent £1,200 to buy a car, the premiums are quite significant compared to what the car is really worth. So the question is whether the young drivers should go ahead and purchase the insurance cover at this extortionate price or find an alternative.
Driving without insurance is not an option because it is illegal and if you’re caught, you can face a prison sentence and lose your licence. It’s not worth the trouble and what drivers who are only 18 years old should be focussing on is how to make their insurance affordable. Many of these young drivers under-estimate the importance of doing the pass plus course which can potentially reduce their premiums by upto 40%. The reason for not doing the course is probably because they no longer want to be learning again and just want to go ahead and drive. If that’s possible, then by all means, do so but if you’re struggling for a reasonable car insurance quote, then don’ t forget that the pass plus course can be really beneficial.
There are other things which you can do to help lowering your quote like adding extra security devices to help prevent your car from being stolen or make it easier to track if stolen. You can also increase your voluntary excess in an attempt to bring your quote further down.
As with everything else, patience is a virtue and by driving safely over a period of time, 18 year olds can get cheap car insurance quotes when they’ve accummulated enough no claims bonus to reward them.
Having purchased my washing machine in 2004 the 5 year parts and warranty had now expired as well as the 3 year warranty that you purchase when you buy it but my Hotpoint washing machine was playing up. I preferred to have a Hotpoint engineer come out to repair it rather than a cowboy who may have charge me more. I had a quick look on the website and it stated ‘fixed price repairs’ £74.98, when I called they said it would cost around £105, I said it was cheaper on the website and they said that it was from£74.98.
Cost of repair from Hotpoint
There are two options for payment when I called, the first was a one off fee of £105 but if the engineer found nothing wrong the money would not be refunded. The second option was 10 monthly payments of £16.49 totalling £164.90 if the engineer couldn’t repair the machine the money would be refunded. I went for the second option just in case it was something silly; the washing machine also gets a year’s cover when purchasing the second option.
Washing machine problem
The problem with my washing machine is that after the wash cycle it refuses to rinse and spin, I thought maybe I had overloaded the machine one too many times and the bearings had gone stopping the drum from spinning. The only way I could get the machine to work is to select half load where less water would be used and the drum would actually spin. The policy did say that if the machine couldn’t be repaired I would have been able to purchase one half the price through Hotpoint rather than full price on the high street. I was hoping this would not be the case as it was a very good washing machine that had given me no problems until now.
The repair
When the engineer came out he asked about the problem and checked the drum, all was fine so he tilt it forward to check the motor and drainage. You guessed it the filter was so clogged up that the water would not leave the drum. That’s why my washing machine would not spin because the water couldn’t penetrate the filter and had nowhere to go. I felt so silly that I have now got to pay £164.90 for a year’s unnecessary cover and all that was wrong was the filter got clogged up!
Verdict
The engineer also told me not to use colour catcher or whitener as the paper casing clogs up the filter, I saw this also as he cleaned out my washing machine filter. He also said that all Hotpoint washing machines have a sensor and if the machine is not balanced it will not spin, the same applies of you only have one item to wash! I do think it was a rip off when I could have fixed the problem myself and I would advise others to check the internet before calling out an engineer. Chances are you can repair it yourself. Only attempt to repair it if the warranty has expired otherwise you may not be covered for tampering with it.
As my friend prepares for her imminent labour one of the silliest questions she felt she had to ask her midwife was will I poo during labour and if I do what happens? This is actually a very common questions that midwives are often asked. The answer is simple most women you do have bowel movement during childbirth don’t really know unless their partner or midwife tells them so. Midwifes have seen it all, and when a women does a poo during labour they just take it away without even mentioning it.
Pooing during water birth
Some women also have the fear of opening their bowels during a water birth, if the baby is born is soiled water it could have serious implications. Luckily when you have a water birth the midwife will be present so she will simply remove it with a net, similar to what you use to remove fish from a fish tank. If you decide to have a home water birth you will also receive a net as part of the package in case you do accidently do a poo.
How to prevent opening bowel during labour?
Some women claim that the body cleanses itself before going into labour and you will open your bowels a lot before the actual birth. As all women are different many women have stated that this is just not true and they were so embarrassed to have done a poo whilst in labour. Many women have claimed that taking iron supplements have made the problem worst, so if you suffer from anaemia you will have no choice than to take iron supplements. Avoid taking iron if you can as too much can make you open your bowels too often. Doctors advise you to eat plenty of fibre and drink a lot of fluids the week before you’re due as your body will cleanse itself that way. Once you are in labour avoid eating solid foods and drink plenty of water and soups instead. This should help preventing you from accidently pooing during labour.
Having an enema before childbirth?
Women who have had bad experiences of pooing during labour may be offered an enema before going into labour. It has been said that sometimes this is not offered and you may need to speak to your midwife beforehand. An enema will clean out your body prior to labour; it’s just like diarrhoea but a lot worse. When you are in labour you don’t even want to get up and use the toilet so it’s best to use the natural methods rather than have an enema as they are not really needed.
If your television, fridge or even car breaks down what would you do? I know most people would say that they could go without a television but with such crazy prices compared to just a few years ago you’d be stupid not to just buy a new one. A 50’’ television would cost well over £3000 a few years ago now they are selling for as little as £500, don’t believe me then shop around and see for your self.
When my dad’s fridge broke down a few weeks ago it was a little unexpected as it seemed to be fine, as my dad is a pensioner I offered to buy him a new one. As I set out to find a good reliable fridge he could use for years to come, he suggested I buy a second hand one instead to save some money.
When I had a look at second hand fridges they were really dated and you don’t really know how old they are. You could get a one for about £80 minus a year’s warranty so if anything should go wrong you’d have to fork out for the repairs.
I decided to buy him a larger fridge so he could store more food in the fridge and the freezer to save him going out every few days. I really wanted to buy him a branded fridge such as Hotpoint, Hoover or Samsung but I couldn’t really justify the £800 price tag. I shopped around online and found quite a few good deals under £300. As my dad is a very good handy person who has fixed many washing machines, bikes and even TV’s I knew a cheaper one would do as he could fix it should anything go wrong.
I narrowed the search down to three and one that stood out was FRIDGEMASTER MTRF200A WHITE 6.9 cu ft Fridge Freezer. The reviews were ok and for a single pensioner it should be ok. I never get extended warranty as appliances are most likely to break down after 5 years and in most cases you can purchase this directly from the manufacturer at a cheaper cost.
Fridgemaster MTRF200A
At the cost of £189.99 (2008) it was very reasonably priced, I did read the reviews and they were mixed. I do not really advise this for families as there isn’t really much room in the fridge compartment but the freezer size is very good. It’s not noisy and as my dad lives in a very small flat the fridge has to be in the open plan living / dining room where the TV is and we have never found it noisy. I would recommend this product as it has had no problems and is well suited for my single father who is a pensioner.
I have wanted to have some professional photos taken for me and my husband for a very long time now but I’m so lazy and don’t have the time to trawl through all the companies near me. My sister won a free makeover a few years ago and took my mum along with her. The pictures were amazing; she purchased a few of them but also got one free when she won. Since then I have seen many friends and a few cousins have professional makeovers and they all look really stunning! The latest were my two cousins who are sisters, I’m not sure if it was free but the pictures look really good and one of them even recommended I try it.
I got a call from The Studio based in Central London, Oxford Street today asking me if I was interested in a free makeover. I was as it was something I am looking into, he said that my cousin who had recently had hers done had referred me and he was just calling me trying to entice me over. He asked if I was over 18 (which I am) and asked if I was willing to travel into Central London, Oxford Street. I live around 2 hours away from Central London and taking the train is out of the question when I told the guy it was too far he started to tell me my options (as if I didn’t know). He really wanted me to travel a ridiculous distance to make it to this makeover.
Turning down a free makeover
I must be the first person in the world to turn down a free makeover! The sales guy then told me he travels 2 hours a day to get into work but even it was free I was not willing to travel into Central London by a manky train plagued with delays and faults. The sales person was extremely disappointed to say the least and gave up in the end.
I asked my husband if I made the right choice and he said it was up to me. I thought I had made a mistake by turning the offer down and went online to do some research. I have found that it is a rip off and a scam. You have to pay a refundable deposit of £30-£49 and pay for all your photos, I mean I knew I would have to pay for them but the prices are ridiculous. You can expect to pay up to £310 for just pictures! I knew nothing in the world is free anymore and I’m glad I declined. I would much rather pay for a professional photographer to take my pictures than go for a supposedly ‘free’ makeover. Beware it’s a money making scheme that seems to keep drawing in suckers!
Two years ago I decided to cut off my thigh length hair in favour of a really short funky hairstyle. At the time it was great although my family didn’t really approve. When I went to work I was unrecognisable and it was so much easier to style all I had to do was brush it and I was out the door. Now I’m a little older and wiser I really hate it! If anyone told me how much hard work short hair is I would never had believed them! As my hair has started to grow it’s been very awkward trying to find a style to cut it whilst it grows out. I have found that the bob with loads of layers works really well for me.
My sister in law announced 7 months ago that she will be getting married in April 2010, so since then I have been trying my upmost best to let my hair grow as much as it can so I can style it better for the wedding. I went to the hairdressers for my 8 weekly haircut and she did a really good job but now I’m will wait until April to have my next one so my hair can grow the maximum it can.
Hair growth remedies
Since September 2009 I have been using an old Indian technique that women still using all over the world to make hair grow faster and thicker. It’s very cheap with minimum disruption and safe to use for all. Oil, yes oil, not cooking oil but specially formulated hair oil that prevents split ends, makes hair soft and bouncy and best of all really thick. There are many oils that you can buy, you just need to try them all until you find the one best suited to you. I currently alternated between Gooseberry oil and coconut oil.
Indian hair oil
Amla hair oil is made for gooseberry and will make hair lighter if used very frequently, I apply it once a fortnight for a minimum of 6 hours. It washes of in just one wash so you don’t have to keep repeating making it ideal to use on a Sunday afternoon. Hair will be exceptionally shiny and bouncy for the next day at work.
Coconut oil usually hardens into a thick paste that is impossible to squeeze out, you will need to put the bottle in a bowl of hot water so it can turn to oil. Coconut oil can be very greasy to apply and can stain paintwork if you’re not careful, you may also need to wash hair twice with shampoo. The results are really nice shiny hair feeling soft to the touch.
Almond oil, black seed oil and castor oil are all said to prevent hair loss or help grow hair. As I have only tried gooseberry and coconut I can’t actually say they make my hair grow faster but it certainly makes it healthier using natural products.
After a call from my mum the other day she was screaming in delight over the phone because she had found her home entertainment surround sound speakers. It was a present from me and my sibling’s years ago and after 3 years in her new house she finally found it in her garage. As my mum has a thing with heights she asked me and my partner if we would mind helping her put them up. She meant we do the work whilst she watches! We went over and had a quick look, there were front left and right speakers, rear left and right speakers, a centre speaker and a sub woofer.
We were worried the wires wouldn’t be long enough but after laying them out they were just about enough. The surround sound speakers are by Pioneer from 2004 but haven’t been used for the last 3 years. We set up the speakers in each corner then proceeded to hammer in cable clips to keep them secure. The best thing to do before starting is to decide how you want the wires to travel along the wall and ceiling. By doing this it saves time and possibly the need to buy wire covers afterwards.
It’s always best to place speakers symmetrically and in the corners to the wiring can be hidden easily. When you position the DVD player in its place start hammering in the cable clips from the speakers to the DVD player. It’s much easier to work backwards so you can fold the wires together should they be too long after. Work down a corner of the wall and across the skirting board to join the DVD player. It shouldn’t take more than 2 hours.
At the end you will need to test that it works and adjust the distance settings so that the sound is projected evenly throughout the room. You may choose to buy wire covers to cover any trailing wires that are an eyesore. In most cases it’s not really needed if you have a painted wall then the wires can be painted instead. The cost of wire covers are £5.44 for a 2m strip, so depending on how big the room is you may spend a lot of money. The one thing you should remember is that if you don’t plan in living in the house too long then don’t worry about it. When you move you’ll be taking your surround sound with you so don’t think too much about what prospective buyers will think.
Avon cosmetics have been around for the last 50 years and during this time have vastly expanded their range. I remember as a child my mum would order perfume, creams and make up for herself and gift sets for friend’s birthdays. Nowadays Avon now sells lingerie, sleepwear, jewellery, health and fitness equipment and many more. With a dedicated customer service team I have found that ordering over the internet is much convenient and sometimes cheaper than waiting for the local Avon representative. Ordering Avon online you can be sure that products and offers are still valid and in stock. In the past by ordering through a representative the offers finish and stock runs low.
Is Avon cheaper than other branded cosmetics?
Some products are cheaper whereas some such as foundations can be slightly more than standard foundation sold by L’Oreal, Maybelline and Max Factor. I do find that the choice for makeup is a very wide range. Buying gifts from Avon is also very simple as there is so much to choose from including jewellery and spa products.
Sign up to Avon’s A list
Avon has recently started a new scheme where you collect loyalty points depending on how much you spend. Since I have a wedding to attend I know I will be spending a lot of money on Avon cosmetics in the next few months. Whilst I was ordering the other day I signed up to Avon’s A list, what I should’ve checked first is how much points you need to reach each level. The offers change every 3 weeks and you even get special offers especially for you on your birthday. As an A-list member ordering and reordering is much easier and keeping track of orders better too.
There are 3 levels copper, bronze, silver, gold and platinum after you have reached the highest level (platinum) you can still take advantage of the offers in the levels below. You need to order at least once a year to keep points accumulating otherwise the slate will be wiped clean.
After 30 points you can start redeeming against the offers in the bronze level, these are the points needed for each level.
Copper- up to 29 points
Bronze- 30 – 59 points
Silver- 60 – 99 points
Gold- 100 – 249 points
Platinum - over 250 points
Avon and Charity
As part of being a customer for Avon you can help support charities such as Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence. There are often products that support the charities and when bought a percentage is given to them to help support these charities. There are also exclusive gifts that can be bought for Breast Cancer that are not sold anywhere else, keep an eye out for these offers and help make a difference today.
For Valentine’s Day I decided I didn’t want to cook and suggested to my partner that we go out to eat. As we had just been to eat at an Indian restaurant we decided to have Chinese food but locally as we didn’t want to travel too far. I discovered The East a restaurant that makes food influenced China, Japan, Thailand and Malaysia. As this was a wider choice than the plain Chinese, Thai food we decided we should try it. The East is in an old pub house that has been updated for fine a la carte dining but it also has a licensed bar too. You can also get takeaway food and there is adequate parking. The East is located near Stanborough Park and has many good transport routes, I pre booked my table as I knew it would get busy and I’m glad I did.
Upon arrival at 6.30pm there were already a few couples and families with children, the decor are very in keeping with Chinese traditions and they really make an effort. There were fresh flowers on the table with a single candle and helium filled Valentine’s balloons. I ordered the Miso soup for starters and my partner had Won Ton soup. I’ve never had Miso soup before and really hated it, there was seaweed and tofu in it but it just didn’t go. The seaweed made the soup very bitter, my partners Won Ton soup with prawn was very delicious. When we asked for some hot chilli oil it was brought to us without a spoon, the waitress only noticed when we were nearly leaving!
I ordered Cantonese Roast Duck with some plain noodles and a portion of rice and my partner ordered The East sizzling special (lamb) with a portion of noodles. After the soup we had to wait nearly an hour before the main course was served and by this time we were getting very annoyed. The noodles and rice were not hot at this time, they were just about warm. The Roast Duck is supposed to be served on a bed of steamed vegetables but all there was were green leaves, no carrots or any steamed vegetables. When our food was served we had to wait nearly five minutes before we could alert a waiter that we had no cutlery!! The East sizzling special was very tasty but nothing exciting. One portion of noodles is enough for two people and the same goes for the rice. We ordered a third coke as two would’ve been too much but it was sent to the wrong table! After 10 minutes I had to remind them I was still waiting. I wouldn’t advise any fizzy drinks as it is diluted with water, after 30 minutes it’s tasteless.
How much it cost
They were in no hurry to serve us our main course but when we stopped eating they were eager to clear up after us! We had all the leftover food packed to go as there was so much of it; we then waited to order from the dessert menu. After 10 minutes I was fed up of waiting and got the bill, it was just under £50 at £48.50, £5 of this went on a service charge, and they didn’t do anything!!! I have been to restaurants where they actually serve you the food and accept this charge but at The East they were not very efficient. The meal was for two starters, two main courses, two portions of noodles and a portion of rice.
The Verdict
I understand it was Valentine’s Day and they were very busy but it was very ridiculous, waiting times are too long and they forget the basics like cutlery! I have been to other restaurants on Valentine’s Day and have not had problems with service! There was a couple that also waited an hour for the main course and as soon as they finished the had enough and just left! This was not a pleasant dining experience and I will not be advising it to my friends and family let alone visit another time. If you want a place of fine dining then this is not the place for you due to service but the food is not bad but nothing special either.