February 2013 | Mum In The Madhouse

February 2013

Thinking about the future

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“Make the world a better place” – the reaction to hearing this sentence varies from rolling the eyes and sighing, claiming how expensive everything alternative is or just shrugging with complete disinterest. They are only few people who recognize the importance of leaving the world in a healthy state for following generations and who think about how they can contribute to this in effective ways. Truth is however, that this is pretty simple and can be done by everyone without huge financial investments.

Some ideas
It always starts with little things that almost seem inconspicuous but add to a healthier and more ecological lifestyle in the end. Commonsense habits like switching off the light or heater when leaving a room are things that everybody can do to make a change without much effort.

Especially when living in a house of one’s own, there are far more things which can be done to contribute to a better environment and save money.

Installing solar panels. Since there are plans (in the UK for example), to cut the governmental subsidies drastically until April this year, everyone should hurry up and make up their minds about putting some solar panels on their roofs. Due to the fact that so many people have already decided to take this step, it is unfortunately affecting the support of the government but also positively changing the prices of solar energy plants. Companies like Trina offer good products for a fair price and various guarantees, so there is no question whether doing that step is sustainable or not, because it surely is even when the sun is not shining as the panels only need daylight, and not sunshine.

Installing rainwater tanks. Another possibility to save a lot of money is the usage of rainwater for some procedures in the house. With a tank on the roof, it is possible to store some water which can be used for flushing the toilets, watering the garden or cleaning the house for example. Like this, nobody is forced to waste tap water. The idea of a tank is useful in regions where it rains often, because the tank will be steadily refilled. And although we all know it rains more than it should in England, it doesn’t mean that this idea should be thrown out the window completely.

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Going skiing with the family

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Going skiing with the family
Going on a ski trip with the whole family can be a lot of fun. It is an extraordinary experience for parents and children. But planning these trips with the whole family is certainly not an easy task. You want to choose the right location. If you live in Europe then the slopes of Austria, Switzerland, northern Italy and France can be the best option. People living in the US will find exciting slopes in Colorado or in Canada. One of the challenges for the average family is certainly organizing a skiing holiday that is within a reasonable budget. Most of the good skiing locations are quite expensive, especially when planning a taking into consideration everything you will need to pay for.

Finding the right skiing holiday offer
Skiing is known to be a rather pricey sport, especially when going to some of the big skiing resorts. Apart from paying for the trip and hotel you might also need to buy or rent all the equipment. Nonetheless, there are some great deals to be found over the internet. Websites like snowtrex.co.uk can help with giving a comprehensive overview of the deals available and provides an estimation on how expensive the trip can be. It is certainly recommendable to use these websites to compare all the different options available and to then find the deal that best suits you and your family. It is certainly possible to enjoy a great skiing holiday without straining your budget too much, as long as you take a bit of time in finding and comparing holiday deals.
Once you have found your ideal holiday there are a few more things to take into consideration if you want to make it ‘picture-perfect’. The first thing to take into account is the right equipment. Everybody in your family will definitely need fitting skis, boots and a helmet. While ski helmets are still not mandatory everywhere they are highly recommended for both children and adults. If you and your family only go skiing sporadically, then it is usually a better option to rent all the necessary equipment at the skiing resort. This also puts aside the issue of having to transport everything. When choosing the right location you should also consider the skiing ability of all the family members. When finding slopes for young children it is usually a lot safer to stay on beginner or intermediate slopes. Most of the larger resorts offer slopes for all skill levels, but this is certainly worth checking before you go. Taking these few considerations into account the family holidays in winter will be an unforgettable experience.

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Valentines Wreath

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No how to on this post, as it was very straight forward, although I do wish I had been able to get red bells, instead of painting them and spraying them with matt clear sealer.

This wreath was inspired by a Christmas decoration I had seen at Salisbury’s and took a photo of. I used two thicknesses of florists wire, a think one to form the hear and then a thinner one to connect all the bells. The ribbon is red gingham from my stash. I have popped in on the front door, but instead of just hooking over the hanger, I have wrapped it round it. MadDad was concerned that it would jingle in the wind and bother us, but the only time it makes a noise is when the door is opened and closed.

When I take this one down I will be replacing it with an Easter one.

If you have made a wreath I would love to see it.

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Top 5 family cars

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Top 5 family cars
The purchase of a new car is a major outlay for most families, and like the choice of a new house, it’s critical to get it right. The three criteria most frequently mentioned by purchasers as influencing their choice of make and model are safety, reliability and economy. Beyond those three key considerations, size of family and the age of children influence the choice of car.
As with all major purchases, planning ahead will ensure that you make the choice that’s right for your family. Budget, the use that you will make of the car – mileage, equipment that you need to carry, and environmental considerations – will all be factors to take into account. Of course subjective elements come into play, like design and style, but being sure of all the important demands that you will have of a family vehicle is the first step in making an informed choice. Use comparison sites on the internet to identify the best models within your budget, and read up on the relevant Which? Magazine reviews.
To get you started, Allianz Your Cover (www.yourcoverinsurance.co.uk) provides you with the top five family cars currently on the market:
• Family hatchbacks : the Hyundai i30 won the Car Buyer Best Family Car award for 2012, commended for the amount of space in the stylish family hatchback, and the equipment that comes as standard with all models – Bluetooth hands-free phone connection, air-conditioning and i-Pod socket. The car gets top marks for economy, the 1.6 CRDi diesel engine returning up to 70 mpg. And for peace of mind, the car comes with a Triple Care guarantee which is backed by an unlimited mileage warranty cover, free mechanical health checks and roadside assistance over a period of five years.
• Another popular family hatchback is the Volkswagen Golf, which has been completely redesigned to give it a modern and attractive interior, more boot and interior space than its predecessor. It provides the most demanding driver with the fun that they might miss in some of the more staid family cars on the market, whilst offering very high levels of safety and reliability. It gains a whopping score of 4.6 from Car Buyer for running costs, the 1.6 diesel version returning an average 88.3 mpg.
• For the larger family, MPVs have for a long time been the logical choice, and they have graduated from the rather sluggish and bland to the latest stylish and fun family vehicles. The Peugeot 5008 is the favourite choice of many, having won the What Car? Car of the year award for the combination that it offers of high-level equipment, economy (the diesel version offers an average of 62 mpg), and practicality. The interior seating is easy to adjust and reconfigure, and there is all the space that any family could need for luggage and shopping. The Peugeot is also very reasonably priced compared to some of its competitors.
• The Ford Grand C max is another favourite, with generous seating and great access to the rear of the vehicle provided by the sliding doors. It boasts an impressive level of equipment, including rear view camera for accident-free reversing, Bluetooth with voice control, and a power start button.
• The Volkswagen Touran is one of the most eco-friendly family cars on the market, being equipped with the VW blue motion technology for improved fuel efficiency. It has been judged the car in its class likely to make motorists cash go the furthest, and the level of equipment in all models is high, with air-conditioning, speed control, and an 8-speaker sound system that the kids will love!

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Enjoy a Warmer House and Save Pennies!

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Enjoy a Warmer House and Save Pennies!
Winter is dragging on, as it always does, and spring still feels far, far away. Britain is gripped in the limbo that hangs between Christmas and pink blossoms, with the weather getting colder, snow falling erratically and skies looming grey overhead. It certainly highlights the stress of having a draughty, chilly home. Many struggle on with old, clapped out boilers and single glazing windows, knowing they simply cannot afford the upfront cost of having them replaced. Draught excluders look pretty, but they aren’t doing much to keep out that February chill and the kids are moaning that their onesies aren’t blocking out Jack Frost’s nip.
So, what on Earth is one to do?! All hail… The Green Deal, a government scheme aimed at making properties across the UK more energy efficient at no upfront cost to homeowners. The initiative was launched on Monday 28th January, much to the bemusement of many homeowners that haven’t even heard of it. However, not to worry, the government plans for this scheme to gradually develop over the coming months and years, shaping Britain into a greener place to live.
There are many measures that come under the Green Deal Scheme, which include things such as the installation of new boilers, insulation and double glazing. Any property that registers its interest in the scheme will undergo a Green Deal Assessment, in which an accredited advisor will survey the house and inform the owners of which measures could and should be taken to make it a more comfortable place to live.
This work will then be carried out by Green Deal Installers, and financed through a Green Deal loan. Heck, it’s green, green, green! The loan will be attached to the property, not the person, and will be paid back through the property owner’s energy savings. A charge for the work will be added on to energy bills, but will never be allowed to exceed the amount of money the owner is saving due to their home improvements.
It’s a win-win situation and has been designed to help the government reduce the country’s carbon footprint, whilst simultaneously tackling the problem of rising energy prices and fuel poverty. The perfect scheme for families who struggle on through British winters but can’t afford to renovate their homes, the Green Deal is also a great way to get on board with helping the environment.

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Laser Surgery – The Small Stuff

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Not wishing that my glasses had windscreen wipers in the rain
Being able to see my eyes more clearly and therefore, the bags underneath them.
The joy of trying to find sunglasses in the winter and those sunglasses not having to be special prescription ones.
Knowing that I will not have to wear bifocals or varifocals
My glasses not steaming up when I open the oven door
Not having to remove my glasses at the hairdressers, which means I can see my hair being cut
Being able to straighten my hair without having to remove my specs and being able to see myself in the mirror and therefore, not burning my ear all the time.
Being able to go on roller coasters without worrying I will lose my glasses.
Not falling asleep in specs and waking up with them bent as I have been laid on them.
No more costs associated with new glasses each year and the horror of finding frames that suit me.
Did I say that swimming is fun again……
So would I do it again? Yes I would. I am still having a few issues with dry eyes and night time halos round lights when driving, but that is getting better and better each week.

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