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SOCIAL MEDIA

Side Street Style

Family travel and lifestyle blog

6 Ways to spread kindness during lockdown

30/04/2020

17 comments

spread kindness

*This post contains affiliate links 


Lockdown has affected all of our lives in one way or another but the most important thing we can do is follow the guidelines and stay at home because that really does save lives and at the end of the day that's what we want to do most of all.

For many of us, we are missing friends and family as well as the routine of our normal daily lives and we are at a loss of what we can do to help and make our friends, family and community a better place but there are ways to spread kindness and hope even from our living rooms and I thought I would share a few ways to encourage positivity and community feel from home.

1. Paint Colourful rainbows

I'm sure by now many of you have seen rainbow paintings in the windows of houses on your daily exercise allowance and it's a lovely creative way for children and adults to get involved, bring some colour to your street and show your thanks to the NHS. It's budget-friendly and such an easy way to brighten up someone's day.


painted rainbows


2.  Clap for Carers

I urge you to take part in the Thursday night clap for carers each week - not only is it a way to show your support to frontline staff but its an incredibly moving community gathering in times when feeling isolated is at it's highest, we have seen neighbours come out that we didn't even know lived on our street and my kids love the happiness is spreads. Just make sure you practice social distancing!

3. Post or email a letter to loved ones

My kids and I have been putting a letter together for each of the grandparents to let them know we love and care for them since we cannot visit them in person for the foreseeable future. It's super easy to put together a stylish card (digital or printed) and you can customise them by using templates from online and designs such as a love svg. You can either print them out and pop them in the post or send digital cards to loved ones.


I've been having fun putting together cards for family using the heart svg


4.  Donate to your local food bank

Most local food banks are still taking physical donations and they are in desperate need right no. Due to the virus many food banks are running low on provisions at the time when people need them the most. If you are self-isolating or can not safely get to a local food bank drop off then you can also make a small money donation online to help. You can find out more ways to getting involved on The Trussell Trust website.

5. Support Charity projects and share the love

There are many positive charity projects and social media challenges happening to help spread the message of kindness through these strange times. There are also a variety of independent makers and small businesses making products to help raise money for NHS charities such as my new favourite Clap for our Carers t-shirt from Kindred Social, I love it so much I am going to buy matching pairs for the kids and best of all they are donating 100% of the profits to NHS Charities.


clap for carers


6. Start to join a neighbourhood WhatsApp

The majority of neighbourhoods are very diverse in terms of age, vulnerability, income, background etc and some may be in a better situation to help others who are at risk as well as simply checking in with people digitally and helping reduce loneliness if even it's just through some supportive messages. Many neighbourhoods have started WhatsApp groups to help each other out so if one hasn't been started in your street why not do it today.



lockdown life



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di 13:48

Ways to cope with stressful life events

28/04/2020

5 comments

*This post contains affiliate links 

From what I can see on social media and in the news, many people are finding this current situation with the pandemic stressful and in many ways traumatic especially if you have ill family members you cannot visit or be close with. Of course, this is not the only type of traumatic life event many will experience, things such as childbirth can take a lot to recover from, illness, separation or even smaller things like changes in your job or issues you may have had at school.

I had an accident a few years ago which meant having ACL reconstructive surgery on my knee, followed by another surgery 2yrs later and the recovering both mentally and physically took longer than I imagined and I learnt a lot along the way. I had months of immobility which hit me hard as I am such an active person, along with lots of physiotherapies, wearing a metal brace on my 24hrs a day and having to use crutches or a wheelchair on longer journeys, wish I'd had a powered wheelchair from Fenetic Wellbeing as it would have been super useful at the time.

Through that experience (as well as a few others along the way) I wanted to put together some tips on how to cope a little better when life throws you a spanner in the works.

1. Don't ignore your feelings as there is no right or wrong way to feel.

We are all individuals and each of our stress triggers are going to be different so don't let others dictate to you how you should be feeling or reacting as this is going to be personal and different for everyone and all feelings are valid.




2. Focus on supportive relationships

Friendships are really important to our general wellbeing, you don't have to have lots of friends but having on or two positive and supportive relationships can really help when you hit a rough patch. Sharing and talking with those you trust can give you a sense of renewed strength and perspective and luckily with all the technology we have today even in lockdown we can stay in touch with the people who mean the most to us.

3. Get moving

Even if mobility has been affected there are things we can do to keep moving and stay healthy and this is important with your feeling stressed or overwhelmed. Low impact activities such as going for a 30 min walk can be great for perspective and helping to release endorphins. You ca also try some gentle yoga or practice some mindfulness.




4. Got to bed earlier

Getting enough rest is so important for both mental and physical wellbeing as a good night sleep is proven to reduce stress, leaving your feel calmer, as well as more alert and able to problem solve and rationalise things.

5. Talk to a professional

If you are feeling like stress or anxiety is getting a little too much than it may be time to talk to a professional or a friendly ear as it can really help to put things in perspective or help guide you in the right direction on how to cope the best you can. First, start talking to family members or if you don't feel comfortable get in touch with your GP or health professional or give the Samaritans a call.

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di 21:00

5 real changes we can make for a more sustainable future

26/04/2020

6 comments

boy with long hair

*This post contains affiliate links 

Despite the stressful and scary situation the virus has put the world in, I also feel there are some positives to all of this, for many self-quarantine and lockdown has given us all a lot of time to reflect on how we want to move forward post Covid-19 and it's also been pretty clear how our lifestyles and general society affects the earth. This strange time has allowed for some breathing space for mother nature, who seems to be really benefitting from fewer cars on the road, factories being shut temporarily, less noise and air pollution which has also meant a reduction in carbon dioxide which contributes towards problems such as global warming. People are noticing more birds in the sky, more wildlife returning to green spaces and places like Venice where the canals have slowly started to become clearer, have seen a return in a variety of sea creatures and birds to the canals.


While there is a strong and ever-growing movement towards sustainability before the virus I'm hoping this is going to grow ten-fold with more individuals and communities committing to a more environmentally friendly way of life in a modern workable way.  So I thought I would share 5 commitments we can all make towards a more sustainable future.


reusable cup


1. Commit to using reusables

I've mentioned this a few times on the blog but it's just such an easy swap and really there is no need for single-use coffee cups and water bottles anymore. You don't need to go out and spend a lot on fancy reusables, just find something that works, personally, I love my Keep Cup,  just make sure to pop it into your bag each time you leave the house as well as a reusable water bottle and you can take it one step further and carry your own set of cutlery as well if you wish, bamboo ones are super light.

2. Walk and Cycle more

I haven't driven in weeks and it's been really refreshing, along with only relying on my local corner shop for essentials. It's made me realise that even though I don't drive a lot there are still journeys I could cut out. I think we can all commit to walking, cycling and using public transport a lot more moving forward. I'm lucky to live near a national cycle route as well as clearly marked cycle paths so I have my eye on a family tricycle from Jorvik which could be used for shopping trips, school pick-ups or trips to the local park, meaning fazing out driving for all those things.


family bicycling


3. Travel sustainably

As I said above we should be walking and cycling more as well as using public transport but with so many of us travelling further distances and wanting to explore this beautiful world we also need to take into account of how to do that as sustainability as possible. There are going to be times when flying is unavoidable for a variety of reasons such as cost, time etc but if you can take alternatives do. Also staying at hotels with good ethical standing or trying somewhere off-grid or perhaps going with a local Airbnb so you are giving back to the local community. There are a variety of ways to make your travels and holidays more sustainable, simply do your research.


4. Shop locally

Again this is something I have mentioned before but I feel like lockdown has really opened peoples eyes to what is on their doorstep and how many essentials they can pick up locally from food to clothes and even home and garden supplies as well as individual small business - not only does this reduce millage and carbon footprint but helps to give back to the community you live in.


5. Only buy what you need

I really think as a society we need to start adopting the less is more ethos especially when it comes to things like fast fashion or non-recyclable goods and invest in what lasts longer than things that will end up in landfill within a year (or less) of purchase. Lockdown has certainly taught me that I can go without a lot of things and despite being pretty minimalist in my approach I was also spending too much on things that I didn't really need and I feel now is a time for everyone to review how and what they choose to spend their money on.



green planet

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di 21:00

How to feed your wanderlust during lockdown

22/04/2020

10 comments



I grew up with an expat mother and a father who loved to travel, especially off the beaten path, so between the two, it meant that travel was a priority to us and we went without so we could great memories over material things. That ethos and way of life is something I have been trying to do with my own kids and because of this, it meant having to cancel a few trips before and during this lockdown period. Don't get me wrong we put the health and priority of our community and country first, we are fully acceptant of the situation and are not dwelling on the travels that have had but that doesn't mean we can't still embrace the wanderlust way of life even when we are restricted to our homes all day except for our 1hr exercise allowance.

The great thing about life in 2020 is how digitally accessible so much is, if you fancy a walk post the Colluiseum all you have to do is pop over google street maps and you're there. Also unlike the days of having to visit the video store between Netflix, Prime and other TV services you also have a pretty much-unlimited library of films to watch and the same goes for kindle books. 

So I thought I would share a few ways to keep that travel spirit inside going during this period and to make you feel excited for the future rather than dwelling on missing out now. 

1. Travel Movies and Documentaries that inspire

1. The Way - a heartfelt film about a bereaved father's journey doing the Camino De Santiago
2. Midnight in Paris - a feelgood film about an aspiring novelist vacationing in Paris 
3. Wild - an emotional film about one woman's 1,100 mile hike across the Pacific Crest Trail
4. The Darjeeling Limited - the story of three brothers who set out on a train journey across India
5. The Kindness Diaries - Leon travels the world on his motorbike & the kindness of strangers
6. The Endless Summer - a seminal surf movie from 1966 following two surfers around the world in search for the perfect wave
7. Valley Uprising - a film about the beatniks & dirtbags who take on Yosemite's biggest climbs
8. Into the Wild - follows a young man who renounces all possessions and hitchhikes across America
9. The Durrells - a series about a family who move to Corfu in the 1930's 
10. The Okee Dokee Brothers - Can you Canoe - a short film about a month-long journey down the Mississippi with a great soundtrack.





2. Books
1. My family and other animals by Gerald Durrell - this book is the basis to The Durrells series
2. Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer, details his experience of the 1996 Mount Everest disaster
3. The Beach by Alex Garland, set in Thailand tells the story of a young backpacker
4. Notes from a small island by Bill Bryson, a humorous travel book on Great Britain
5. Wild Women and Their Amazing adventures over land, sea and air by Mariella Frostrup
6. Kidding Around - Tales of Travel with Children by James Lowen & Hilary Brandt
7. The little coffee shop of Kabul by Deborah Rodriguez about a little cafe in Kabul
8. How Eskimos keep their babies warm - a mixture of parenting advice from around the world and different cultural approaches to family.
9. The Lost Book of Adventure by unknown adventurer - this is a great way to inspire kids to get outside and learn some adventure and survival skills as well as learn about nature
10. Atlas of Adventure by Lucy Leatherland  - set your children's spirits free with more than 100 activities and challenges to inspire armchair adventure at any age




3. Read and support Travel Blogs

There are so many great family travel blogs out there, many of which are my friends and this list could go on for pages but here are 10 that I am loving right now

1. Travel Lynn family - showing adventure travel with young kids is possible
2. Zena's Suitcase - on a mission to inspire parents to travel with or without kids
3. Travel Mad Mum - for parents who love to travel
4. Otis and Us - a travel blog sharing van life and outdoor adventures
5. Global Mouse Travels - the family-friendly guide to travelling with kids.
6. Armchair Travels - perfect for lockdown, Armchair Travels is all about doing it virtually.
7. Mini Travellers - for parents looking for family holiday ideas
8. Flashpacking Family - a family travel resource 
9. Children of Wanderlust - full-time travel family blog
10. Around the world at the weekend - see the world while staying at home


4. Start putting together bucket lists and plans for future trips.

While we can't travel at the moment, at some point in the future that will change, while the change may be slow to start it does mean we can start to think about future plans, trip and put together bucket lists of things we want to do, see and explore.

I would say it's probably better to start with local adventures first as different countries are responding in different ways and it may be more realistic initially to plan trips that are closer to home.

Perhaps you fancy camping in the Brecon beacons or a quite and isolated coastal area, taking in the White Cliffs of Dover climbing up Glastonbury Tor or watching the changing of the guard in London, there really is plenty to see and do right here in the UK.

I know one of the things we are excited to do is getting to use public transport again, we love using trains as they are more sustainable than cars and we have plenty of National Trust sites on our list to tick off and really want to take a train to Sevenoaks which has Knole house and Emmets garden, two National Trust properties we have wanted to visit for a while as well as Lullingstone Castle and Sevenoaks Wildlife reserve. This is what I love about the UK that just one small village can offer so much opportunity for adventure.




5. Explore your immediate local surroundings

We are still allowed outside for an hour a day for exercise and fresh air and this is a great opportunity to try and discover what is right on your doorstep - as they say adventure is a state of mine and you if you are open to it you can discover some incredible things locally (and safely).

I thought I knew my local area really well but over the past month, I have discovered a very secluded and quiet woodland with a beautiful stream where the kids can run around safely without anyone else about. We also recently stumbled upon a mountain path around 5 mins from my house which takes us up to the mountain, past field, meadows and more woodlands and offers amazing views and plenty of fresh air.  By using the Ordnance Survey app I have also found another mountain within walking distance of my home which we will be exploring soon.

Please do however stick to government guidelines, socially distance yourself, go out at quiet times and do not meet up with people outside of your household.




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di 14:42

20 Ways for kids to connect with nature during lockdown

19/04/2020

12 comments
kids by river



We all know that getting outdoors, in the fresh air and connecting with nature can be beneficial for both our physical and mental wellbeing at all ages so striking the balance between being safe, following government guidelines and still keeping a connection with nature, especially for my two young boys has been a priority of late. While the world feels anything but normal having a sense of normality for a family unit is important as children will without a doubt also feel any stress or worry an adult is exhibiting.

Unlike some other European countries we are still able to go outside, for an hour, once a day for exercise and as long as it's safe for you to do so, especially if you don't have a garden, terrace or a balcony, I would encourage you to use this time, to help with perspective, mental health and physical wellbeing for not only the adults but also children.

The focus should remain on exploring your local environment, staying within walking distance of your home, going at quieter times, practising social distancing, not meeting up with anyone out of your household and of course not venturing out if you are suffering from any symptoms of Covid-19. With these restrictions in place, I thought I would share 20 ways to make sure your children still have a connection with nature and the outdoors during the lockdown.

1. Go on a Nature Scavenger hunt

A scavenger hunt is an easy way to make your daily walk a little more fun. We are lucky in the UK that even in urban areas there is usually a green space within walking distance of nearly all homes and you could also do this in your garden if you have one. Simply print out a free scavenger hunt sheet from websites such as Twinkl which are free to use at the moment and get your kids ticking off different plants, birds and bugs.


scavenger hunt



2. Bird Watching

You don't even necessarily need a garden for this one, just a window you can look out of as birds can often be spotted almost anywhere, even in the city. Birdwatching is great for kids, it gets them to start looking what's around them and what is flying in the skies above. There are lots of resources online and get your kids to record their findings.

3. Build a den

If you do have a garden then why not get creative with making a den, this can be made out of sticks, leaves, wood, tarp, in fact pretty much anything. You can usually also find a quiet spot at your local green area or local woodland that allows for den making, just make sure to stay away from the main path and use a quiet area to create small den propped up against a tree. Making a den is a great way to focus on something, work as a team and feel a sense of accomplishment with children and adults get involved too.


wood den


4. Collect & Identify flowers and leafs

This is something we have been doing a lot of lately on our local walk to the woods behind my house. I have found a great free app called Candide, although there are a few different ones out there, that allow you to take a photo of a leaf, flower or tree and then it identifies it for you. We have come across a variety of Ivy, bluebells,

5. Create Wild Art

This can be done in your garden, or at home with things you can collect while out an about - please use common sense and don't bring anything into your home you think has been touched by others or may carry the virus. You can use leaves and sticks to create some fun art at home, the Woodland Trust have some great ideas, also pebbles are perfect for painting rainbows on them to show support for the NHS.

6. Fly a kite

Firstly why not spend a morning making a kite, it's easy to do and I have fond memories of making my own as a child. Countryfile has a great step by step guide here. You don't have to have a large space but it does help, so if you have a quiet park or field nearby this is a great activity to do, it also gets children thinking about weather, wind and gravity.

7. Hunt for bugs

With the UK warming up with spring now is the time to start some bug spotting and believe me there are plenty around to discover as mini beast are all around us, even in the smallest of outdoor spaces. The trick is to get to their level and have a real good look in damp dark spots, under stones or fallen nursing logs. Just reminder to be gentle and put them back where you found them.


ladybird


8. Play i-spy

Again this can be done without a garden, a window will do, although this is also a great game when out on your daily walk. I-spy is one of those games that can be played with kids even from a very young age and it's easy to make it nature-inspired with your surroundings and get's kids really looking at what us around them

9. Get into cloud spotting

Children and adults alike can appreciate clouds and there is nothing like lying back on a warm spring day and watching the clouds pass and morph into different creatures - children have fantastic imaginations so the things they see will amaze. It's also a good time to start learning about cloud formations and the BBC have a great guide.

10. Start a nature journal

Nature journaling can be fun at any age and makes you stop and slow down for a moment and enjoy the small moments and observe the workings of the natural world. It's also helpful for improving art, writing and research skills. The Thimble and Twig blog has some great tips on starting a nature journal.


nature detectives


11. Make a rain catcher

You can make your own rain catcher at home using a plastic bottle and gives the opportunity for kids to learn about weather and rainfall as well some math skills such as measuring, capacity and number recognition. Twinkl have a great print out with instructions on how to make these.


12.  Learn to use a compass

Learning to use a compass and map is something I am teaching my boys at the moment as we get more into things like Trig bagging and Geocaching (although these are on hold during lockdown) but you can do some compass exercises in your garden or local area. Learning to use a map and compass is a really great life skill and one that slightly older children can grasp pretty quickly. The Ordnance Survey has a great step by step guide on how to get started.

13. Make a bug hotel

We love making bug hotels and encouraging as much wildlife into our small garden as possible. You can either buy a child-friendly kit or you can make one out of things you have lying around the house such as a plastic bottle and some dry leaves, twigs and pinecones. Red Ted Art has a great blog post about how to make your own simple bug hotel at home.


bee hotel



14. Watch the Sunrise

You could do this one while your backyard camping or if you don't have a garden get up really early one morning and watch the sunrise from your window or any outdoor space. Every sunrise is different and it's always a lovely experience and a great way to connect with the natural world and costs nothing.

15. Make a pinecone bird feeder

We love attracting birds to our garden and an easy way to do that is by making a pinecone bird feeder. All you need is a pinecone, peanut butter, bird seeds and some string. Spoon the peanut butter onto the pinecone then roll the pinecone in the bird seeds, attached the string to the pinecone and hang up anywhere in your garden - a nice easy craft for kids and is sure to attract some birds for a spot of bird watching.

16. Grow your own

Spring is the perfect time to start growing your own and kids really love getting stuck into gardening and you don't even need a garden to grow some herbs, which can be done on a sunny windowsill. Easy things to grow are Cress, basil and sunflowers and things like courgettes and pumpkins are always fun for kids if you have space.


grow your own


17. Have a garden picnic

There is nothing like the simple pleasure of eating outdoors in nature, while we are not encouraged to stop and eat on our one-hour exercises allowance, if you do have a garden then now is a good time to enjoy some picnics outside,  away from screens and distractions and makes for some nice quality family time. I have a lovely recipe for sweet coconut bread which is always a hit at picnics.

18. Go backyard camping

Just because it looks like summer is going to be a bit of a right off in terms of camping trips and festivals it doesn't mean you can't go back to basics and stay under canvas if you have enough space in your garden. So why not set up camp for the night, get out your camping stove, sleeping bags and fairy lights and spend a night in the garden listening to nature and doing a spot of star-gazing.


garden den


19. Go star-gazing

On a clear night, you will be surprised how many stars you can see, as well as some bats perhaps and you don't need a big outside space, in fact, you can do some star-gazing from a window. It's best done before the moon is full so have a quick look at dates beforehand and opt for an evening that doesn't have a full moon. If your kids really enjoy star-gazing, why not invest in a high-quality telescope for a more clearer image, and to see more than the naked eye can?

20. Try a Mud and Bloom box

I recently stumbled across Mud and Bloom on Instagram and even though I haven't tried it personally it something that I want to try with my kids as it's a nature-inspired subscription box which includes seeds for growing your own, nature crafts and combines outdoor fun with educational activities.



20 ways to connect with nature


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di 20:59

Quick and Easy last minute Easter ideas

09/04/2020

6 comments

Easter baking



With everything else going on in the world right now I think many of us are a little behind in our Easter preparation of at least it's taken a bit of a back burner. Yet we still want our children to have a magical time and a sense of normality in a world that doesn't feel normal right now.

If you have felt exhausted and taken too much on here are a few simple ideas on getting that Easter spirit back into your home.


1. Bake easy easter Biscuits - baking is often a hit with kids of all ages and making Easter biscuits is a fun activity, as well as a tasty one and children, love to decorate them.

Here is a super easy recipe

100g unsalted butter, chilled and cut into cubes
100g wholemeal flour (you can also just use plain flour)
50g plain flour
1 tbsp cocoa powder
50g caster sugar
2/3 tbsp milk or soya milk

Sprinkles and icing for decorating

1. Preheat over to 180 degrees/ gas mark 4
2. In a mixing bowl rub the butter into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs. Add the cocoa powder, sugar and mix all together. Add the milk slowly and mix together. You should have a cookie dough consistency that you can roll into a ball.
3. Roll the dough out into 3mm thickness and get some shapers and start pressing away.
4. Place on a baking tray and bake for about 10-12 minutes.
5. Decorate as you wish.


Easter baking


2. Homemade Hot Cross Buns - You could also have a go at making your own Hot Cross buns as it's getting harder to get to the shops. I've not made any as of yet (but plan too) so here is the easiest recipe I have found online so far - Hot Cross Buns

3.  Easter Bread - if your kids are no fans of Hot Cross Buns, as is my eldest who doesn't like reasons than an Easter inspired Challah bread could go down a treat. 

4. Blow and Decorate Eggs - this one is a favourite tradition and my mother had me blowing and decorating eggs when I was a young girl and it's super easy to do. The BBC show you how step by step. 


Decorating eggs


5. Spring Chicks Easter egg craft - I came across this one recently and it's just so sweet and I know I will be making them with my boys this Easter.

6. Paper Crafts with Canon Creative Park - Canon creative park is completely free to use and offers up a bunch of fun paper crafts to do with kids - I would like to point out that some are tricker than others but we enjoyed the easy Rabbit tutorial.


Easter crafts


7. Easter Cone Animals - again another super easy papercraft this time from Twinkle, which is offering some free print outs during this extended time at home. 

8. Spring Chicks Easter egg craft - I came across this one recently and it's just so sweet and I know I will be making them with my boys this Easter.

9. Pop to your local store for Easter Eggs - there is still time to pop a few Easter eggs in with your essential food shop during lockdown. There are some fantastic ones out there including a lovely range from my favourite Belgian Chocolate company Guylian. 

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di 14:28

How the older generation can stay social during the virus outbreak

07/04/2020

2 comments


*This post contains affiliate links 


It is without a doubt a strange and stressful time for all, we are all adjusting to this new reality of restricted movement, social distancing and not being able to spend as much time with our loved ones and that, of course, can lead to things like loneliness especially with the older generation.

I can't wait for my kids to hug their grandmother again and for me to have a proper conversation over coffee with my mother. Luckily however she shares her home with my older brother which means she has company which gives me a lot of peace of mind otherwise she would be on her own.

I'm made me think about how important it is to still stay social at any age, especially when you're over 50 and so I thought I would share a few ways we can do that and encourage our old family members to get involved.

A lot of people in their mid-40's upwards are very social media savvy and will already be using things like Facebook, Twitter and the like but if not here are a few more ideas.

Pick up the phone

I probably speak to my mother at least twice a day at the moment and it's those simple small ways to keeping in touch that really helps. I can see if she needs anything or share my worries and concerns and visa-versa. With most landlines and mobile phone contracts offering free minutes, now is the time to use them.

Use messenger services such as Whatsapp

Whatsapp is a great tool for keeping in touch with loved ones and it's easy for all ages to get a grasp of and is a bit of an all-in-one communication tool as you can use it to messenger, send photos, do video calls and even do free calls overseas, plus it's free to download. Other options for multi-facetime or video calls is Zoom and Skype. Doing a video call once or twice a week to loved ones can be a huge morale booster, especially for grandparents who are missing their grandkids.




Go for a walk

If your family members are fit and well and are not in a vulnerable group then they can still take advantage of the 1hr fitness time to go for a walk and get some fresh air, of course sticking to the guidelines of either being on their own or only with the members of their household and remembering social distancing rules. Staying fit and active is proven to lift your mood.

Take up some hobbies

We can all be using this time to enjoy the things we love such as reading a good book, learning how to cook a new dish, challenging ourselves with puzzles or things like Suduko or perhaps getting into gardening. Anything that is keeping your mind and body moving is a positive way to feel more social despite social distancing. You can also share what you're getting up to with friends on Facebook and other platforms you use and share your tips or gain some advice from others.

Lend a pet

Pet's can be a great comforter in times like these and maybe you have an older dog who just enjoys relaxing and short walks that you could lend to a family member who is isolated. Not only are pets emotionally supportive but keep us active and give a sense of purpose.




Go on a virtual date

As they say, life doesn't stop at 50 and many people at this age are still very socially active, enjoying eating out, meeting up with friends, going on dates and this can all be a massive adjustment for that to suddenly stop. So if you are over 50s dating then why not go on a virtual date and meet up with either your girlfriends doing a facetime with a nice meal or enjoying a quiz or maybe meeting someone new and trying to gain a new connection in these strange times, once again keeping it virtual and strickly social distancing.

The right support for loneliness

If you are concerned about an isolated family member, neighbour or friend during this time then make sure they have the right contact details to get in touch with the right support such as Age UK which helps to tackle loneliness in the UK and offers a check-in and chat service

We are all learning to adapt to this new normal, which will pass at some point but until then, even though we cannot be close to all of the ones we love right now there are still plenty of ways to stay in touch, stay social and let them know you care.





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di 21:30

How well do you know your coffee?

02/04/2020

23 comments
coffee shop

*This blog post contains affiliate links 

A good cup of coffee is a bit like a glass of fine wine, a lot goes into the process from bean to cup and different types can make a huge difference when it comes to taste, strength and overall drinking experience. Being a coffee drinker myself, I love learning more about this process and I'm proud to say I've drunk some of the rarest coffee in the world - Saint Helena Coffee from the Island of St Helena which I visited by cargo ship over a decade ago and was able to visit one of the coffee plantations on this small island.

That experience alone opened my eyes to the journey that coffee takes and since then I have been keen to learn more and after my trip to St Helena, I also spent time working as a Barista. So how well do you know your coffee? I thought I would break down some of the basics and I hope you learn something new from this post.

So here is my Guide to Arabica & Robusta Coffee Beans with Halo Coffee. Firstly there are 3 main types of coffee beans, they are Robusta, Liberica and Arabica and each type of bean has a slightly different flavour and qualities to them. As a quick rundown, Liberica is a lower yield type of coffee, Robusta contains more caffeine than the other two and a slightly stronger taste while Arabica has a smoother taste and makes up 80% of coffee production.


coffee shop


I thought I would focus on the Robusta and Arabica and what makes them so special as well as their differences. 

Robusta - due to it's higher caffeine taste it has a more bitter taste but has a higher yield, is easier to grow and is cheaper to produce which is why it's sometimes added to a coffee blend as produces aim to make their products cheaper and with a bigger profit margin. Robusta is found mainly in instant coffee and espresso blends. 

Arabica - tend to have a sweeter and smoother taste but has a lower yield and the Arabica trees take several years to come to maturity, unlike the Robusta which makes the Arabica bean more pricey in comparison. When going for Arabica coffee it's always worth opting for higher quality for the best drinking experience and it's the slightly lower caffeine content, in my opinion, is a good thing as that's what gives it a sweeter taste.

Arabica tends to be a more premium coffee while Robusta is often used for instant coffee although some are blended together with very pleasant results and that's the main thing, personal preference, everyone's personal preference is different so whatever kind of coffee you enjoy that's the main thing. For some, they prefer to opt for an espresso each morning and Halo Coffee does a fantastic range of compostable and biodegradable coffee pods. 



different coffees



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I'm Laura, a freelance writer & a travel, outdoor & adventure loving mum of two boys. I grew up in South African, travelled 26 countries & now settled in Wales. I love to share our travels, adventures, outdoor lifestyle.

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