Looking into boosting my education

For the past year or so I have been thinking about enrolling on an Open University (OU) course, to give me a few more accolades to my name. I really enjoy learning new things and whilst the children are young I thought I should expand my knowledge before they get old. I will be looking at taking an undergraduate course to start with, however I can’t quite settle on what to take.

The job I am currently in doesn’t require me to take any extra qualifications so I am not tied to doing anything that is tied to my job, so it’s quite flexible. I really enjoy writing, which is partly why I started this blog, so something along the lines of English Language and Literature might be up my field.

It’s been a while since I was in school however I think I could get into writing University essays as long as I use my time well and focus on this. OU courses won’t start until the autumn which is when our youngest starts school fulltime which means on the days I work from home I will have more time to myself. There is a lot to think about but my wife has been very supportive and she likes the idea of me furthering my education, especially as I only achieved bare minimum when I was younger. Hopefully our boys will learn from me the importance of education and doing well in school.

I also would love to have more knowledge and skills to help them out too, its not hard at the moment because they are only in their early years of primary school however when they get up into high school and start doing their GCSE coursework then they may need more help and I want to provide that.

Picture courtesy of somegeekintn

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February 20, 2012 in Education, Family

What to eat to beat flu

Especially at this time of year, there is no specific way to avoid coming down with flu, in fact for the past couple of day the wife has been looking quite sickly and the kids have sported snotty noses.

However, there are certain precautions you can take to strengthen your body’s natural defences. Exercise, sleep and limiting the amount of stress that you are exposed to will all help to boost your immune system. However, it has been indicated recently that diet can contribute to the immune system defences, too.

One an average day, we are exposed to a variety of bacteria and viruses. An average healthy immune system will attack most, however the common cold and flu is pretty much avoidable. A healthy diet will help to overcome this and a strong immune system will mean that we recover successfully and quickly.

To ensure that your immune system is ticking over correctly, you should try eating a diet which includes a wide variety of fruit and vegetables as well as nuts and seeds, whole grains and fish. One thing to remember is that there are some foods that are substantially better at fighting off bacteria. Vitamin C, vitamin A, selenium, zinc, probiotics and iron are all vitamins and minerals that help the immune system to run to the best of its ability.

Capsicum peppers, as well as your average citrus fruits, contain lots vitamin C. Carrots, fish oils and dairy foods are a rich source of vitamin A. You can also eat Brazil nuts for selenium and natural yoghurt is an excellent source of probiotic bacteria (which is proven to help aid the natural killer of bacteria in areas such as the gut.)

When you are ill you should be a regular eater of garlic! When it comes to colds and flu’s, garlic is proven to help immensely and has been recognised for its medicinal properties for years! Garlic contains a very useful nutrient called alliin. Alliin acts as a natural decongestant, whilst the antioxidants in the garlic help to destroy bacteria in the body before they can damage cells and replicate.

As mentioned, citrus fruits are high in vitamin C and many foods (such as: strawberries, green peppers, broccoli and pineapple) can often relieve symptoms. Honey is another famous natural antiseptic, which is also thought to help the immune system greatly, as well as cinnamon which will easily soothe a fever.

If you stray slightly from your normal diet regime slightly when you are ill, then do not panic! Its also important to consider comfort when you are ill and often the best way to feeling comfortable is to eat foods that you enjoy! You should also consider snacks and food s that a quick and easy to prepare! There is nothing like faffing around downstairs in the kitchen, when you could be tucked up in your nice, warm and cosy bed upstairs.

Finally, the most important thing to think about when your ill is to keep you fluid levels high. Water is extremely helpful when dealing with an illness and you should constantly try sipping water or juices.

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February 18, 2012 in Family, Health

Bad breath?

How to stop the smell

Picture courtesy of dumbledad

After my post on smelly feet, I thought I would also do one on bad breath. Luckily I don’t tend to suffer from bad breath unless I have eaten something really garlicky or some stinking blue cheese!

Apparently bad breath does not come from your stomach it is actually caused by anaerobic sulphur-producing bacteria that breed beneath the surface of the tongue and in the throat and tonsils. Unfortunately these bacteria produce nasty smelling chemicals called volatile sulphur compounds such as hydrogen sulphide and other chemicals known as putrescine and cadaverine. These interesting sounding chemicals are known to smell like rotten eggs and rotting foods and dead bodies respectively. Nice!

Nature’s way of reducing bad breath is with saliva, which contains several natural ‘anti-halitosis’ compounds such as oxygen. Bad breath is most prevalent when your mouth is dry and the bacteria that lead to bad breath are classified as ‘anaerobes’, which means that they cannot survive in the presence of oxygen. So if you have plenty of saliva you shouldn’t have bad breath.

Older people tend to produce less saliva, meaning they are more prone to bad breath this is why it is important to stay hydrated. Also using an oxygenating mouthwash and toothpaste to replace lost oxygenation from a dry mouth is so crucial. Less saliva also increases gum disease and tooth decay, so it is important to keep on top of it.

Medications can also cause dry mouth, it is a common side-effect so if you are taking medications, it is something to consider. There are also other conditions which can cause bad breath such as large tonsils, which have the ability to trap bacteria and mucus as it drains down the throat. This leads to ‘tonsil stones’ or tonsiloliths, where odorous globes of material that become stuck deep in the tonsils.

Your tongue is also a source of bacteria, which causes bad breath. This is why it is important to clean your tongue with your tooth brush or a tongue scraper. If you have a rougher tongue you will be prone to having more bacteria trapped below the tongues surface. You may also find that you have what’s called a ‘furrowed tongue’ or even a condition known as ‘black hairy tongue’ where the papillae are very long and become discoloured. This can often be due to an over use of antibiotics.

Diet can also affect your breath, foods that contain odorous sulphur compounds: onions, garlic and curry cause odours when the bacteria in your mouth breaks them down. Sugar also feeds all types of bacteria and should ideally be avoided. Unsurprisingly cigarettes and alcohol also cause bad breath. Both cause your mouth to become dry and as previously mentioned this leads to bad breath.

This is why good oral hygiene is important, not only for your teeth but also your breath.

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February 16, 2012 in Health

Looking at wordpress hosting

I don’t have my own website but obviously I have my own WordPress site so obviously my blog is hosted by a company. A web hosting service which is for both WordPress hosting and website hosting allows individuals and organizations to make their blog, or their website accessible via the World Wide Web.

There are companies which that provide space on a server owned or leased for use by clients, they also offer Internet connectivity, typically in a data centre. There are many different levels of website and WordPress hosting, your basic packages offer a simple web page and small-scale file hosting.  Other services offered may also include an interface or control panel for managing the Web server and installing scripts and you can also get other modules and service applications like e-mail.

WordPress hosting is a lot simpler than website hosting and there are plenty of providers who offer services which are ideal for WordPress so you can easily and cheaply have your own blog like I have. If you are new to this then it can be quite confusing as to what service is right for you, here is a basic run down:

Shared hosting

This is a single web server box which handles hundreds or thousands of websites. These tend to be small websites and WordPress sites which is why there are many on one server.

Linux hosting

This is the most accessible service, because most of web development tools such as; WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, and more are all designed for Linux.

Windows hosting

This option can be more expensive than Linux, it allows you to use Microsoft tools to manage and publish your site, which is essential if you use Microsoft-specific tools, such as ASP.

VPS hosting

Short for virtual private server, this is designed for higher-traffic sites. It provides a virtualised server that runs only your website and no others.

Dedicated hosting

You will get one or more computer(s) to host your site, which are just for you so others can’t crash your site or slow it down.

Managed hosting

With this service you will receive staff members to help keep an eye on your website. They will manually restart failed servers and provide technical expertise for you.

Colocation
Like dedicated hosting colocation with your own computer, however you have to provide hardware and software. You do get control over the site.

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February 14, 2012 in Technology

Smelly feet?

How to stop the smell

Picture courtesy of bark

Having to young boys I don’t have to suffer smelly shoes just yet however I am not looking forward to when they get a bit older and their shoes start stinking out the house. It’s normally something you can’t get around, according to my mother both my brother and I had stinking feet which is why our shoes were normally left in the outside shed even in winter.

The reasons for food odour:

Excess moisture, normally caused by sweat or in my case when I was a lad running around in mucky puddles/streams for full days leads to increased bacteria levels which is what makes them, smell. Adding to the smell can also be shoe and sock material, activity levels, climate and the person’s propensity to sweat, plus hygiene can play its part however it does depend on the person. Teenage boys are more prone to foot odour due to varying hormone levels. Also those who have higher levels of perspiration are more prone to bacterial and fungal infections such as tinea pedis or athlete’s foot as you may know it which can make foot odour worse.

There are numerous experts who have their own opinion on how to stop your feet smelling as well as old wives tales etc. these include:

Foot spray, although I find this will just mask the smell already there, unless it contains an antiperspirant.

Talcum powder to soak up some of that moisture, however you can end up with a nice white paste in your shoes if your feet sweat too much or your shoes get wet which isn’t nice.
Natural oils have been recommended, ones such as Australian organic emu oil which won’t irritate the skin but do offer lasting hydration and fight bacteria.

There other things you can do to combat foot odour, such as opting for socks made from natural fibres rather than synthetic as these will help your feet breath better. The same goes for footwear too synthetic materials can also trap sweat and prevent air from circulating, which is why you find trainers have gaps or air holes. Also try alternating your shoes daily, so they have the opportunity to air out and won’t become damp and moist. Also going without sock isn’t a good idea either, wear shoes without socks an also make your feet sweat more and make foot odour worse, for women too so why not try pop sock, my wife does.

Picture courtesy of D Sharon Pruitt

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February 12, 2012 in Family, Health

Providing a helping hand

I had to bob out last night right after tea to pick my brother up after his car wouldn’t start and take him to work. He rang during tea but it was my favourite beef and ale stew with dumplings so I couldn’t really leave it! I think he sorted out a life back home this morning seen as I never got a call, but this weekend we are going out to check a few car dealers to try and find him a motor that actually starts.

I’m not much of a car expert, but I’[m hoping to give my brother a hand at the weekend so he can get to and from work without scamming lifts off various relatives, friends and work colleagues. It wouldn’t be too bad for him if he didn’t work night’s cause there isn’t any buses round here past 6pm plus the last thing you want to do is fork out for taxis in this economic climate.

I had a quick look on the internet when I got back last night on various used cars websites and I am quite shocked at how much people want for second-hand cars nowadays. Our family car which I use for work and family use for weekends is newish but was bought on finance as I wanted something reliable, the wife’s car came from her mother who is no longer allowed to drive so she handed the keys over to us as her husband has his own car, which was quite lucky.

I’m not really sure where we should start when out looking but I have printed of a list of things we need to check out before we buy so we don’t get scammed or get a bad deal!

Old car

Old car

Picture courtesy of ND Strupler

 

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February 8, 2012 in Family, Family Vehicles

Chilly weekend and some snow fun

All last week the news was spouting off ominous weather warnings stating that we would freeze to death with artic conditions, and sending people into panic buying! On Saturday morning as I headed out with the wife to do our weekly shop I was surprised at how busy it was, you would have thought that the apocalypse was coming. Shelves were being emptied and the petrol stations had massive queess.

I wasn’t too sure why people were stocking up, we did our shopping as usual for the week and bought nothing extra, I also filled up the car for the week ahead as per usual to get to work but I wasn’t impressed with the added two ours it took us to do our shopping.

The snow didn’t start here till about 3pm just as we were on our way back from the mothering laws and to be honest wasn’t too heavy. It did snow pretty continuously till about the time I went to bed at eleven but even so the snow wasn’t that deep. When the kids got up I think they were expecting it to be quite deep so they could play out all day and build snowmen. Unfortunately a few centimetres is all we got here and all the kids managed build was a snow midget.

For me the snow wasn’t that bad, as a young lad I remember it a lot worse and the country managed to function. Unfortunately now the problems we see when we have a bit of snow comes from the fact people aren’t prepared for it. For example accidents can be prevented with careful driving and being aware of the road conditions.

I was half expecting to get a call this morning to say the schools were shut but luckily they managed to open which is good because the last thing I wanted on my morning off was to look after the boys!

Snow

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February 6, 2012 in Family

Sticking to New Year’s resolutions

The wife and I normally try to have one New Year’s resolution that we stick at, last year we both cut out eating unhealthy sweets and snack, which we also included the children in. There were exceptions such as Easter, Halloween, Christmas and birthdays where we could indulge in a treat but the rest of the time we did without. At first it was really hard but after a month or so we got used to it and not eating unhealthy sweets and snacks became the norm.

This year both the wife and I are looking to exercise more, especially now the children are getting a bit bigger we want to get out an about a bit more as a family. So this year we are going to go for a family walk every other Sunday, it may not sound much but it can be quite hard to get out of the house at the weekend. I work full time and my wife works part time while the kids are at school so the weekend is spent entertaining the kids, shopping and doing household jobs.

When the weather is good my wife is also going to get up earlier and walk the kids to school then onto work, it’s not ideal to do when its bad weather but for dry days and in the summer it’s a great way to get some extra exercise. Have no fear though I will also be looking at getting some exercise too although walking or cycling to work is not feasible for me I will take a walk on my lunch break instead of sitting at my desk surfing the net. The break will do me the world of good as spending all day in front of a computer screen is not healthy.

We are not rushing into the extra exercise resolutions although that is what some experts suggest instead we will slowly increase it into our daily lives and hopefully can be quite successful. Luckily the kids are at an age where they do as they are told so should settle into extra walking quite easily. I then hope it sticks with them till they are older.

Picture courtesy of D SHaron Pruitt

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February 4, 2012 in Family, Weekends

New windows and new curtains

I had new windows fitted over the Christmas break whilst I had time off work. It was a fairly big job because they all needed replacing including our Velux windows in our loft due to age and wear and tear. Luckily placement wasn’t changing so no brick work needed to be altered but there was still plenty of mess and chaos.

The wife and kids went to her parents for the three days it took, so the little ones wouldn’t get in the way and they could play with their new toys in peace (and annoy the mother in law). Now they are fitted and the paintwork on the windowsills inside re painted and a couple of rooms re painted I am now looking for some new Roman blinds and curtains to finish off the job.

Our old curtains were quite tatty and had numerous hand prints and food stains on them from the kids and pets and our blinds seemed to be growing their own mould colonies in places, nice! So when having new windows there seemed no better times to get new curtains and blinds. I have left my wife to choose colours and patterns and it’s my job to fit them, oh the fun!

On the plus side, the kid’s bedrooms will be getting blackout blinds to keep out bright lights which seem to be emitted from the neighbour’s industrial garden security light. It tends to wake them up when something causes them to switch off normally a prowling cat I would guess so I think the kids will enjoy having blackout blinds.

The new windows teamed with the new curtains will finally start to make our home look tidier; however the mammoth task of de cluttering and throwing away our junk is just round the corner…….

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February 2, 2012 in DIY, Family, Home

Pumpkin picking

This year I did try to grow a crop of pumpkins ready for Halloween however they did not really turn out to be much a bit small really! So this weekend I took the kids to a local farm that was having a pumpkin day which turned out to be a lot of fun! I packed up the kids with their new winter wellies and hats and scarves ready to have some fun on the farm.

There were lots of fun and games for the whole family whilst I took the kids around the games my wife had a lot of fun at the cookery demonstrations and food tastings, all in all it was a great day out plus we came home with some really big pumpkins which we will tackle later on this week while the kids are off school.

 

Pumpkins

Pumpkins

Picture courtesy of Wildcat Dunny

 

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October 24, 2011 in Family, Weekends