Everything Else

This includes everything else I discuss on Pounds and Sense, including Health, Holidays, Relationships, and so on.

October 24, 2018

My Day Out on the Talyllyn Railway

Nick Everything Else travel, reviews 0 Comments

I recently enjoyed a day out on the Talyllyn Railway, a heritage steam railway in Wales. It was an great day and excellent value as well, so I thought I’d take the opportunity to write about it here.

The railway starts in the town of Tywyn in mid-Wales, so I booked a short break there to provide a base for my planned trip on the railway. I stayed at The Arthur Guest House, a B&B on the coast road. Here’s a map showing the area…

Tywyn is pretty quiet, or at least it was when I visited at the end of September! It has a rocky rather than a sandy beach and not a lot in the way of tourist amenities (which may or not not be a good thing, depending on your point of view). I did get to see a couple of lovely sunsets, though…

The Arthur Guest House, where I stayed, is small but comfortable, and the breakfasts were excellent. The price was also very reasonable – about £70 per night for a double room with single occcupancy.

The Arthur was about 10 minutes walk from the Talyllyn Railway main station, so I was able to leave my car at the guest house for the day.

The Talyllyn Railway

The Talyllyn Railway goes seven and a quarter miles inland from Tywyn Wharf station along the scenic Fathew Valley to Nant Gwernol. Here’s a map of the route, borrowed from the Wikipedia page.

The Talyllyn Railway is said to be the oldest preserved railway in the world. It opened in 1865 to bring slate from the quarry at Bryn Eglwys to Tywyn, where it would connect with the newly opened Cambrian Coast line and the national railway network. The line was originally owned by the quarry, but unusually it also ran a passenger service almost from the very start. You can read more about the history of the railway, and how it was taken over in 1951 by the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society, on this page of the railway’s website.

The main station at Tywyn Wharf has a shop and a restaurant, and also a small museum devoted to the railway, which you can look round for free. There is no car park at the station itself, but there is a reasonably priced municipal pay-and-display with plenty of spaces about 150 yards down the road.

For my day out I bought a Day Rover ticket, which lets you travel all day on the line if you wish. I paid the donation fare of £19, which also gets you a £2.85 voucher you can use in the shop or cafes. I knew I would use the voucher on refreshments, but otherwise I could have paid £17.25 for a standard ticket without a voucher.

I went on my own, but if you have children (or grandchildren) the cost of tickets for them is surprisingly low. The Day Rover donation fare for an accompanied child is just £3 which includes a 45p voucher. If you don’t want the voucher, the fare per child is just £2.70.

If you wish, you can pay a £2 surcharge per journey to sit in a first class compartment. I did look at these but they weren’t much different from standard class, just with bigger and possibly more comfortable seats. I guess if you were there in peak season and there were lots of people wanting to travel, going first class might buy you a bit more space. It was pretty quiet on the day I went, though, and I found the standard compartments perfectly comfortable.

If you are a UK taxpayer you may be able to Gift Aid your fare. There is no extra charge for this, and it means the government will give the railway an extra 25% at no cost to you. Unfortunately I couldn’t do this as I don’t currently earn enough to pay tax.

My Day on the Railway

I set out in the morning from Tywyn Wharf station (photo below) and decided to start by going the complete length of the line and back again. I enjoyed the views, while keeping one eye on the excellent guidebook. The latter is available in the shop at a discount to people buying a ticket on the railway, which is a nice gesture.

There isn’t much at Nant Gwernol at the end of the line, but on the way back the train stops for half an hour at Abergynolwyn station (pictured below). There is a nice little cafe here, and I enjoyed a morning coffee and Bara Brith (Welsh fruit bread).

Returning to Tywyn Wharf, I had a look around the shop and the museum, and lunch in the station cafe (a particularly tasty bowl of broccoli and stilton soup with a tuna mayo sandwich). Then it was back on the train again for a trip two-thirds of the way down the line to Dolgoch, where I got off to spend some time walking in this beautiful wooded area (see photo).

Dolgoch has some stunning waterfalls, including this one…

I had a bit of time before the train back, and was pleased to discover a small tea shop offering hot and cold drinks, cakes and ice creams (apparently this is part of the nearby Dolgoch Hotel). As it had turned into a warm afternoon I bought an ice cream and sat outside in their garden to eat it. Then it was time to head back to Dolgoch station to catch the train to Tywyn (photo below).

So that was my day out on the Talyllyn Railway. As I said earlier, a great day and excellent value for money. I went as a single person, but it would also be a good choice for couples and families, if you enjoy beautiful scenery and the romance of steam!

Finally, I should mention that just down the coast road from Tywyn (a 25-minute drive with some great sea views) is Fairbourne, which has a miniature steam railway (see photo below). I took the opportunity of going on this as well before I headed home.

The Fairbourne Railway is much shorter than the Talyllyn. It’s about two miles long. At the far end is the estuary from which you can get a ferry to Barmouth. A trip on the Fairbourne Railway is a pleasant way to spend an hour or two, and again with a day ticket you can travel up and down the line as often as you like (I did it twice). On my return to Fairbourne a volunteer kindly offered me a private tour of the engine shed, so many thanks for that!

Do just be aware that at the estuary end of the line the cafe is only open in peak season. There is, though, a good cafe on the platform at Fairbourne, and they don’t mind you taking food and drink bought there on the train with you.

As ever, if you have any comments or questions on this post, please do post them below.

Booking.com

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October 12, 2018

Time Management: Boost Your Productivity with the Pomodoro Technique

Nick Everything Else 2 Comments

In my last post I shared my Top Ten Time Management Techniques. Today I want to go into more detail about one of the methods I mentioned, The Pomodoro Technique. I find this a great tool for improving my time management, lowering my stress level and boosting my productivity.

The Pomodoro Technique was devised by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s. It splits tasks into focused 25-minute sessions called ‘pomodoros’ (from the Italian word for tomato), separated by short and longer breaks.

Applying the Technique

There are six basic steps to applying The Pomodoro Technique:

(1) Decide on the task to be done.

(2) Set your timer to 25 minutes.

(3) Work exclusively on the task till the timer rings.

(4) Take a five-minute break.

(5) Every four pomodoros, take a longer break of 15 to 20 minutes.

(6) Continue this cycle as required.

Obviously you will need a timer of some description for this. Cirillo himself originally used a tomato-shaped kitchen timer, which is how the technique got its name. Cirillo recommended using a mechanical timer, as he believed the physical act of setting it primed the user to start working.

The technique is quite flexible, though, and nowadays many people use timers on their computers or smartphones instead. Obviously, if your work requires the use of a computer, it can make sense to have the timer on this as well.

There are lots of free timer programs and apps you can use. Here are a few possibilities.

Marinara Timer is a web-based app, so it will work on any computer or operating system. You can keep it open in a tab on your browser. There are three different versions: a traditional Pomodoro timer, a more flexible one where you can change the session lengths, and a simple kitchen timer. It’s very flexible, and you don’t have to install anything.

Tomato-Timer is also web-based. If you want a simple, basic Pomodoro timer, this is for you. Just open the website, click the green Start button, and 25 minutes will count down. An audio alarm will sound at the end of the period. You can enable desktop notifications as well.

Clockwork Tomato is a free Android app. Just tap it and get working. At the end of 25 minutes your phone’s alarm will go off.

Arise is available from the Apple Store for iOS/OS X users. It describes itself as an anti-procrastination app. It incorporates the Pomodoro Technique among other methods.

Who Is Pomodoro For?

The technique works especially well for people who have to produce something that has to be reviewed by others. That includes designers, programmers, and (as I can testify myself) writers and bloggers.

But it can also work well for people such as support staff, who may use their 25 minutes to work through a set of tickets, then take a short break to refresh themselves and ensure they don’t get burned out.

And people who work with their hands, such as artists, gardeners and builders, can use the method to force themselves to take a step back at regular intervals to evaluate their work, take a rest, and plan what to do next.

Why Does It Work?

There are various reasons the Pomodoro Technique works so well.

It makes starting a job less daunting. At the beginning of a large project the amount to be done can appear overwhelming. This in turn creates feelings of anxiety and the urge to procrastinate. But if you divide the work up into 25-minute sessions, suddenly it appears a lot more do-able.
It helps you focus on the job in hand. For 25 minutes at a time you are working on one task and nothing else. This is much more efficient than trying to multi-task, which human beings are notoriously bad at.
Each pomodoro becomes a mini-challenge. Completing your 25-minute goal is rewarding and gives you a little boost. It means you can relax and enjoy your breaks more too, as you will feel that you have earned them. All of this can make the working day more enjoyable and less stressful.
It forces you to take regular breaks. Working in the same position (e.g. sitting at a keyboard) for long periods is bad for your health. Using the Pomodoro Technique, you can use the short and longer breaks to move around, get a drink, or even take a breath of fresh air.

More Tips

The rules of the Pomodoro Technique aren’t written in stone. If you get into a good flow, you may sometimes want to continue beyond the 25-minute limit.
Equally, you might find that 25-minute sessions are too long and you work better in 20-minute bursts. Experiment to find what works best for you.
Try to avoid getting interrupted during a pomodoro. If someone asks you a question, explain that you are in the middle of something and ask if you can get back to them in 10 minutes.
If you have to break off a pomodoro due to an unavoidable interruption, cancel it and start a new one (for a full 25 minutes) as soon as the opportunity presents itself.

The Pomodoro Technique works well for many people, but not all. Some jobs/activities clearly aren’t suitable for it, and others may not be all the time. In practice many users find they can only use it for part of the day, before other demands on their time make it impracticable. Often those periods are their most productive of the day, though!

I wish you every success applying the Pomodoro Technique. I hope it helps you manage your time better, reduce your stress level and boost your productivity!

As always, if you have any comments or questions, please do post them below.

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Ten Top Tips for Better Time Manaagement

October 9, 2018

Ten Top Tips for Better Time Management

Nick Everything Else 4 Comments

Young or old, we all lead busy lives these days. And even those of us who are retired or semi-retired often juggle a wide range of duties and responsibilities, from part-time jobs to managing our healthcare, looking after our house and garden to babysitting the grandchildren.

Time management is something I’ve always had an interest in, and as a freelance writer I’ve produced a number of articles about in the past. So today I thought I would share some of my top tips on managing your time better…

1. Know What Your Goals Are

The first essential step for better time management is knowing what you want to achieve, both in your work (if you’re still working) and your life more generally. Knowing your goals will help you plan better and focus on the things that will help you to achieve those goals.

2. Prioritize

One key principle of good time management is to do the most important things first. Every day, therefore, identify the two or three tasks that are most crucial to achieving your goals, and do them first. Once they are done, your day has already been a success. You can then move on to other things, or let them wait till tomorrow.

3. Make a ‘To Do’ List

This isn’t exactly an original idea, but it’s a powerful and important one. Either the evening before or first thing in the morning, make a list of all the things you want to achieve that day. Apply priorities to the tasks (see above) and tackle the most important first. Ticking off items from your list as you complete them is rewarding and will give you a sense of moving forward to achieving your goals.

4. Focus on One Thing at a Time

Human beings are notoriously bad at multi-tasking, so try to focus on one task at a time. A personal favourite tool for this is the Pomodoro Technique, which involves working in focused, intensive bursts with short breaks between them. Click here to read my in-depth post about the Pomodoro Technique.

5. Batch Process Routine Tasks

According to a recent study, a typical information worker who sits at a computer all day turns to their email program more than fifty times and instant messaging 77 times. If that sounds like you, one way you can boost your productivity is by ‘batch processing’ these tasks. In other words, set aside specific time-slots in the day for checking email, making phone calls, and so on, but otherwise stick to your priority tasks. Yes, people may have to wait a bit longer to get replies, but at a stroke you’ll be working far more efficiently.

6. Minimize Distractions

There are many ways you may be able to do this. One is to work from a different base where you are less likely to be interrupted. Some possibilities might include a café or coffee shop, a public library, or a meeting room that isn’t being used. Another option might be to ask your employer if you can work from home some days.

7. Have a Low-Tech Day

A further option you might try is a low-tech day. Switch off your internet connection and immediately a wide range of potential distractions will be closed to you. Unplugging your phone or putting it on voicemail will eliminate a further swathe. Obviously, you won’t be able to do this every day, but it’s well worth doing if you have an important project to complete or just a lot of work to catch up on. Even if that doesn’t apply, you should find that designating one day a week as a low-tech day greatly boosts your overall productivity.

8. Use the Four D’s

This is a great time management technique for dealing with incoming emails. The four D’s are Delete, Do, Delegate, or Defer.

To apply this method, the first time you open an email apply one of the Four D’s.

Delete: If you’re anything like me you can probably delete over half the emails you get immediately.

Do: If the email is urgent or can be completed quickly.

Delegate: If the email can be better dealt with by someone else.

Defer: Set aside time later for emails that require longer action.

The Four Ds technique is great for keeping on top of your inbox and reducing the time you waste on it. You can also apply the Four Ds to items on your To Do list generally.

9. Say ‘No’ More Often

For many of us saying no is difficult, especially to work colleagues or family members. Nonetheless, if you have to decline a request in order to focus on what is truly important to you, don’t hesitate to do so. Your time is limited and precious, so don’t waste it on things that you don’t enjoy and won’t contribute to achieving your personal goals.

A good response instead of automatically accepting requests is to say, ‘I’ll check my diary and get back to you.’ This will buy you time to think about offers and decide whether they are worth pursuing.

10. Use Waiting Time Constructively

We all have times in the day when we are waiting for something. This includes sitting in reception areas, doctors’ waiting rooms, queuing at the bank, driving or travelling on public transport, exercising, and so on.

Rather than waste this time, use it constructively. For example, you could listen to a podcast on a subject that interests you. Or just take the opportunity to reflect on your current goals and projects. These ‘down times’ can be great for stepping back and taking a broader view of your life and work. Always carry a notebook with you to record any thoughts or ideas you have at these times.

Finally, although it’s not a time management tip in itself, take care of yourself. That means getting enough sleep (experts say 7 hours a night is the minimum you should aim for) and sufficient physical exercise. None of us can be fully productive unless we pay some attention to these things, so give your mind and body what they need to refresh and replenish themselves.

I hope you find these tips helpful. If you have any comments or questions, or other time management tips to share, please do leave a comment as usual.

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August 23, 2018

Warner Leisure Hotels – My Thoughts and Experiences

Nick Everything Else reviews, travel 14 Comments

If you are 50 or over, you will almost certainly at least have heard of Warner Leisure Hotels. The company have 14 country and coastal resort hotels across England and Wales. They have a strict adults-only policy, and appeal mainly to an older clientele (based on my experience, the average age is late sixties or early seventies).

As well as accommodation, they offer a range of leisure activities, including day trips, quizzes, guided walks, archery and bowls, social dancing, swimming, and so forth. Most of these activities are included in the price, as is the evening entertainment.

Accommodation is generally on a half-board basis, including breakfast and evening meal. Guests typically book short stays of two to four days, often focused around a particular headline act. Some of those in the current line-up include Motown, Abba and Franki Valli tribute acts, plus the real Leo Sayer, Paul Young, Russell Watson, Alexander Armstrong, Jane Macdonald, and many others. There are also seasonal breaks, spa breaks (at the Thoresby Hall hotel), bowls breaks, and more.

I have been to two Warner Leisure Hotels, Bodelwyddan Castle in North Wales (pictured above) and Alvaston Hall in Cheshire. I thought I would therefore take the opportunity to share my impressions here for others who might be contemplating this type of short break holiday.

My Review

As my partner passed away five years ago, I went to both venues on my own. I am in my early sixties, and felt very young compared with some of the other guests!

In both cases I found the accommodation spacious and comfortable, with all the facilities you would expect at a good hotel. I was on the ground floor at both, and had a small private terrace with a metal table and chairs, which was pleasant to sit out on. Here’s a picture of the accommodation block in which I stayed at Alvaston Hall.

I thought the food was generally very good. The dining area was large and could be a bit noisy, but the waiters and waitresses did a great job of getting meals out quickly. You are allocated a table at the start of your stay and keep that for the duration. As a solo guest I was offered the opportunity to be matched with another solo male as a dining partner. I declined this, as it seemed a gamble whether I would have anything in common with them.

At Alvaston Hall the evening meal is combined with the entertainment. So, basically, you have your meal followed by a show, all the while sitting at the same table. I liked this idea in theory, but in practice I discovered it had a few drawbacks.

For one thing, if you have been allocated a table towards the back (as I was) it can be quite hard to see what is happening on the stage. In addition, for me anyway it felt a long time to be sitting in one place. Really I preferred the arrangement at Bodelwyddan Castle, where you had your meal in the restaurant then went over to the main hall for the evening entertainment (for which you could sit anywhere).

I must admit I was slightly disappointed by the entertainment programme. The evening entertainment in particular was targeted at an older clientele and I didn’t particularly relate to it, despite being no spring chicken myself!

Both hotels seemed very big on social dancing, with guests being invited to ‘take the floor for the foxtrot’ or whatever. Not my thing at all, I’m afraid. I had been hoping for something more akin to cruise ship entertainment, with song and dance shows and cabaret acts, but perhaps that was asking too much.

There were regular quizzes, though again I felt that they were often oriented towards the older guests. I did one quiz about the 1950s, a decade many of those taking part remembered well. As I was only four years old when the fifties ended, I felt at a bit of a disadvantage!

On the positive side, I went on several guided walks, which I really enjoyed. I also took full advantage of the swimming pools, and at Alvaston Hall went to an interesting demonstration of fruit and vegetable carving (see photo below).

I also enjoyed looking around Bodelwyddan Castle itself (pictured below), which is a National Trust property. Warner guests get free entry during their stay, which is a nice bonus.

Prices

As Pounds and Sense is primarily a money blog, I should say a few words about this.

I thought both the breaks I took were good value for money, bearing in mind that as well as comfortable accommodation you get breakfast and an evening meal, and a range of leisure facilities and entertainment.

When I checked just now, you could book a two-night break at Alvaston Hall for two people this weekend at prices ranging from £219.48 for a standard room up to £315.48 for a luxury suite. In my experience even ‘standard’ rooms are very comfortable, and the price above works out to just over £100 per person per night. By comparison, I have been charged well over £100 per night for bed and breakfast, with no evening meal or entertainment, in some hotels and guest houses.

If you are travelling solo (as I was) you may have to pay an under-occupancy surcharge. However, the hotels do have some single rooms, and there are also ‘no surcharge’ offers for solo travellers on some breaks. It’s definitely worth inquiring about this with the hotel you want to stay at.

Finally, I should mention that Warner Leisure Hotels often offer special deals and discounts. Once you are on their list, you can expect to be mailed regularly about these!

Summing Up

Overall, while I enjoyed my stay at these hotels, I have to say I did feel a bit young for them. The entertainment wasn’t really my cup of tea and I’m not sure it will be even when I’m ten years older. I saw one review that described Warner Leisure Hotels as ‘Butlins for old people’ and have to admit I think that’s quite apt (it’s owned by the same parent company as Butlins and Haven Holidays, incidentally). I don’t mean to sound snobby about this. When I was growing up I enjoyed regular family holidays at Butlins holiday camps and hotels. But the format does seem a little tired and old-fashioned now. In my view the company could learn a few lessons from the range of entertainment offered on cruise ships nowadays and even in tourist hotels in places like the Canary Islands.

I also think Warners could do a lot more to welcome solo guests and get them involved. At times I found staying there surprisingly lonely. Again, my experience with cruises has been that they do a much better job for solo guests, with regular meet-ups, social activities and even dedicated staff members to look after them. It would be nice if Warners did something similar. There are lots of older people who live alone, and I think the company are missing a trick by not reaching out to them.

But to be fair, I do think Warner Leisure Hotels offer an appealing combination of comfortable rooms, good food, a full activities and entertainment programme, and good value prices. I’m not planning on going again soon, but I certainly wouldn’t rule it out in future.

So those are my impressions of Warner Leisure Hotels, but what do you think? Have you stayed at one yourself, or would you even consider it? I’d love to hear your views!

For a wider range of all-inclusive holiday options in the UK and abroad, check out this article on Over 60s Discounts 🏖

Disclosure: This review includes affiliate links, so if you click through and make a purchase I will receive a commission for introducing you. This will not affect in any way the terms you are offered. Neither has it influenced in any way this review!

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August 7, 2018

How to Win Cash and Prizes with Consumer Competitions

Nick Making Money, Everything Else guest post 2 Comments

Today I am pleased to bring you a guest post from Cora Harrison, a UK blogger and vlogger (video blogger) whose website is called The Mini Millionaire.

Cora is a successful ‘comper’ who (as revealed below) has won over £20,000 worth of prizes from free-to-enter consumer competitions. In her article she explains how anyone can follow in her footsteps and shares her top tips and resources.

Over to Cora, then…

Twenty years ago my dad, a former miner, spent most of his night shifts listening to the radio answering tie-breaker questions. He won a number of prizes, his favourite of which was a cash lump sum that allowed him to purchase a greenhouse for our garden.

Twenty years later and in my young adulthood I’ve found myself with the same hobby of entering competitions to win prizes. Albeit, things are slightly different now. That’s of course due to the internet, which has seen radio and postal competitions decline in favour of email and web-based competitions – after all, this is a marketing promotion for businesses, and they are interested in creating product awareness and getting you to buy their product.

While I’ve only been a true ‘comper’ for the past three years, I’ve managed to win upwards of £20,000 worth of prizes, including a television, a number of nights and weekends away, a family trip to Universal Studios in Florida, a games console, and much, much more…

Today I want to present a basic introduction to what I believe to be one of the greatest hobbies ever – comping!

Where To Find Competitions

Finding competitions has been made much easier since the birth of the internet. That’s thanks to database websites listing competitions, the answers to any questions asked, prizes on offer, closing dates, etc.

These websites include:

All the above links should open in a new tab.

As well as checking these websites regularly, I also subscribe to Compers News. For £4.95 a month I get a monthly magazine posted direct to my door with a directory of great competitions, news articles from the world of comping, and an online forum providing me with connections to people who share the same interests as me.

How To Enter Competitions

There are a number of different ways in which competitions can be entered. Prior to the internet the main ways were phone calls and the post. And while these methods of entry still exist, they are much less common now.

Instead, as I mentioned in the introduction, you’ll find many more competitions that are online based. They may require you to sign up for a free account for a website, for example, or even to comment via your social media account.

My favourites are known as ‘creative competitions’. These often require you to make or design something. They can sometimes require a specific skill and take longer to enter than other competitions due to the effort required. But of course this has the effect of reducing the number of competing entries, and gives you the opportunity to use your skills to give your chances of success a big boost.

Here’s my girlfriend’s entry to a recent competition hosted by British Heart Foundation charity shops. This required you to use your sewing skills to upcycle an item of clothing from the store.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlLuanxAGPx/?taken-by=miss_rose1992

Unfortunately, she didn’t win the top prize of a European break for two. However, she had a fantastic time creating the outfit!

Hints and Tips

Now we know where to find competitions and how to enter them, I want to set out some basic hints and tips that should help you to enjoy your new found hobby of comping.

1. Only Enter Competitions For Prizes You Want To Win

Believe me when I say that there are thousands upon thousands of prizes available to win in the UK alone each and every month from competitions. And while some people choose to enter the competition regardless of the prize, I’d advise you to focus instead on a couple of items you’d like to win and enter those competitions specifically.

Spending more time on one entry rather than rushing through to enter as many competitions as possible is certainly going to increase your chances of winning those prizes you really want.

2. Don’t Get Discouraged

It’s easy to get discouraged in comping when you haven’t won a prize in a while. However, remember that everyone goes through a dry spell and absolutely any competition win is a great blessing.

Keep entering competitions for the prizes you want to win even when you’re feeling discouraged, though. You’re only going to win a prize if you enter the competition.

3. Get Creative With Your Entries

As I mentioned earlier, getting creative with your entries is a great way to extend this hobby into other areas of your life. We’ve created some fantastic photo entries, built forts from cardboard boxes, baked cakes, sewn outfits. You name it!

4. Hold ‘Comping Days’ With Friends And Family Members

Comping doesn’t have to be a lonely hobby. There are a number of comping clubs scattered across the UK and some national events hosted by the community. Even if you can’t attend one of the events in person get active within the online comping community in one of the many forums or Facebook groups.

Even consider having ‘comping days’ with your friends and family members. There are competitions exclusively for children that require them to be creative for a chance to win prizes. So consider getting some competitions for the children (or grandchildren) to do the next time they visit, for all the family to join in with.

Many thanks to Cora Harrison (pictured, right) for some great tips and resources.

When I was younger I entered quite a few competitions and won various prizes, including a crate of beer for devising a slogan for a brewing company. I also won third prize in a local radio competition where the top prize was a luxury Mediterranean cruise. Sadly, the third prize was just a leather passport holder and a book of travel tips. So near yet so far!

I do nevertheless think comping is a great sideline earner/hobby for older people. Age or disability are no barriers, and the costs are minimal. You can do it from the comfort of your home with the aid of the internet. It can help keep your grey cells active, and the lure of cash and prizes is hard to resist. So why not check out the resources in the article, including Cora’s own Mini Millionaire site, of course.

Good luck, and happy comping!

As always, if you have any questions about this article, for Cora or myself, please do post them below. And if you have any comping success stories or helpful hints and tips, do share them also!

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July 5, 2018

How to Stay Cool and Healthy in Hot Weather

Nick Everything Else events, health 8 Comments

Right now the UK is sweltering in a summer heatwave that shows no sign of ending any time soon.

Many people are enjoying the warm sun, but when it goes on for days/weeks on end it can become tiring and debilitating. And for older people and those with chronic health conditions especially, it can be extremely uncomfortable and have a harmful effect on health. Heat exhaustion and (especially) heat stroke are potentially very serious conditions.

So today I thought I’d share some tips on keeping cool and healthy in the heat. I also asked some of my fellow UK bloggers for their top tips as well, so I’ll be sharing them here too.

I’ll start with my own tips, though…

1. Drink plenty of fluids, preferably water. It’s a well-known fact that in older people the sense of thirst doesn’t always work so well and it’s easy to get dehydrated without realising it. Aim to top up your fluids regularly, and have a bottle, jug or at least a glass of water beside you at all times.

2. Sprinkle water over your skin and/or clothes to help stay cool.

3. In the hot weather, fans can be lifesavers. There are plenty of different models on sale in shops and supermarkets and online stores such as Amazon. If you can, get one with variable speeds, so you can adjust it according to conditions. You can even get fans with remote controls, like this one:

4. If you work at a computer, consider buying a USB fan. I bought one for just £4 from my local Morrisons and it is keeping me cool while I write this blog post! They are also available very cheaply on Amazon – like the one below, for example.

5. Air conditioning is wonderful in this weather. But in the UK few people have it in their homes, as it’s bulky, expensive to buy and run, and would only be useful occasionally. A cheap and cheerful alternative is to freeze bottles of water (plastic not glass) and put them in front of a fan – this will help cool the air passing through. You can also buy personal air coolers such as the one below which work on the same principle. They are cheap enough, although not having tried one I can’t vouch for how effective they would be!

6. Shut windows and draw the curtains or blinds when it is hotter outside. This will help keep hot air and radiant heat from the sun out. You can open the windows for ventilation when it is cooler.

7. Check up regularly on friends, relatives and neighbours who may be less able to look after themselves.

More Cool Tips!

As mentioned above, I also asked some of my UK blogging colleagues for their tips and ideas. Here is a selection. I have put my own comments in italics after them where relevant.

Vicky Eves from the I Beat Debt blog said: “ This is a bit unorthodox, but the pet cooling mats you can get from places like B&M are amazing to either rest your feet on, or sit against. They really help!

That’s a great idea! I found a similar one on Amazon (see image link below).

Laura Dempster from Thrifty Londoner wrote: “I like to keep hydrated in the hot weather (like we all do!). If I’m going out and about sometimes I will put a water bottle in the freezer overnight. Since it’s so hot, as soon as I go outside the ice begins to melt and it means my drink stays that little bit cooler for longer.”

That’s a nice, easy tip! Just be sure to use plastic bottles rather than glass.

Nicola Kaye from Mum on a Budget wrote: “I have filled up an empty spray bottle with a mixture of water and Aloe Vera gel (shake well) – I have been spraying it on my face and neck a few times a day, it is really cooling.

Yep, great idea. It would of course work with plain water too.

Mel Trudgett of Mel’s Money Mindset commented: “When I was in my early 20s I went to Spain in the middle of August and stayed in a cheap hotel with no air-con! It was well over 45 degrees in our room overnight. I found that the only thing that helped me was putting a cold, damp cloth on my feet and one on my head. This really helped to cool me down and I was able to sleep. I still do this if my daughter has a fever. I also run cold water on my wrists (or put a frozen bottle of water on them) and that cools me down very quickly.

Claudia Vogt from Retro Claude said: “It makes your house look like a squatter’s den, but if you tape the reflective blankets that athletes use at the end of races to your windows it really helps to keep the heat out. They are only about £3 from Amazon. I know lots of mums do this with babies’ bedrooms in the heat.

Here’s an image link to the sort of thing Claudia means (I assume) on Amazon.

Victoria Elizabeth Currell of Our Life on Sea said: “I keep my blinds drawn upstairs and the windows only open a fraction during the day in the heat. Then as soon as it gets a little cooler in the evening I open my windows wide. This way it keeps the hot air out during the day and allows the cooler air in for the evening. I’ve started that this year and it has totally changed the temperature of the upstairs of my house.”

Michelle Rice of Utterly Scrummy Food for Families wrote: “I put four wet face cloths in a bag in the freezer for my children to cool down after school. I also freeze their water bottles for packed lunches.”

Natalie Ray of Plutonium Sox suggested “Open water swimming! I swim in the river every Monday morning. Great for cooling down and the perfect way to start the week. It’s free too!

Appealing as it sounds, open water swimming probably isn’t for everyone, but even swimming in a pool can be a great way to cool down. I belong to the Virgin Active club in Lichfield which has both indoor and outdoor pools. I make as much use as I can of the latter!

Jane Hanson of Lady Janey wrote: “Drink lots of tea! Scientific studies have shown that hot beverages can actually cool you down on a hot day.”

I do like a nice cup of tea 🙂 The science behind this is described in this article on the Huffington Post site. Apparently it works by making you lose more heat through sweating. This won’t work so well on muggy, humid days, though.

Amanda Shortman of The Family Patch offered two suggestions: “(1) Cool down the pulse points (wrists, neck, etc) by either running under water or using a cool pack. I find this cools me down far more effectively than anything else. And (2) drink things like coconut water to try and help keep a good balance of electrolytes. I have only just started this, but I am already finding that it helps reduce some of the more extreme fatigue and dizziness I experience in this heat as opposed to simply drinking water all day. I get the small 330ml cartons and have one of those a day along with plenty of water.”

Lynn James who blogs as Mrs Mummypenny said: “Get a diddy paddling pool (we were sent a foldaway one from Aldi and it’s perfect) and cool your feet down in it. If your feet are cool the rest of your body will cool down as well. Drinks tons of water, and I mean three litres a day. Hydration is so important in this weather

Sue Foster from Suefoster.info wrote: “When I can’t sleep at night I wet a towel and wring it out, then lay it over me. This cools the body down, so I can get some sleep.”

Finally, here’s a link to a recent post by Caz, who blogs at Invisibly Me. In her post Caz sets out a range of products and resources for keeping cool in the hot weather.

Thanks to everyone who contributed suggestions, and apologies to those whose tips I wasn’t able to use, mainly because they were too similar to others listed.

Please see also this page of advice and tips from the NHS.

As always, feel free to leave any comments or questions below. And of course, if you have any other suggestions for keeping cool in the heat, please do post them also.

Disclosure: This article includes affiliate links to some Amazon products. If you click through these and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. This will not affect the price you are charged by Amazon in any way.

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June 13, 2018

How to Make Money with Instagram

Nick Everything Else 2 Comments

The rise of social media platform Instagram has been nothing short of phenomenal.

From humble origins as a photo-sharing app, in just eight years Instagram has grown to 800 million active monthly users, dwarfing both Twitter and Pinterest. Only YouTube and Facebook (which owns Instagram) have more users world-wide.

The rise of Instagram has created various money-making opportunities for those willing to put a little time and effort into building a presence there. I’ll discuss these in a moment, but let’s start with the basics.

Instagram 101

For those readers (possibly of more mature years) who aren’t familiar with Instagram, it’s basically a way of sharing photos and videos with friends and “followers”.

It has similarities with Facebook, but with a much stronger visual bias. Every post on Instagram is based around an image. You can add a caption if you want and hashtags so people searching for such images can find them.

Assuming you make your Instagram profile public, anyone can see it and (if they wish) follow you on the platform. It is also possible to comment on any post and reply to people commenting on yours.

Instagram can of course simply be used to promote your business. But you can also make money by accepting sponsored posts and other forms of advertising from companies keen to associate themselves with your “brand” and get their message across to your followers.

Instagram can also provide a showcase for people who can take good photos. Many businesses now use Instagram to source images for their campaigns.

Getting Started

If you don’t have an account already, it’s quick and easy to create one via the Instagram website or using the smartphone app.

Assuming you want to make money from Instagram, your key aim should be to raise your profile and build your follower count as quickly as possible. The first step in that process is choosing a niche.

Don’t try to be all things to all people. Pick a niche you find interesting, which also has good potential for attracting advertisers down the line. Fashion, food and drink, jewellery, pets, makeup, transport, travel, sport, family, hobbies and activities are just a few possibilities to set you thinking.

Once you’ve chosen your niche, write an eye-catching description for your profile, so people will want to follow you. Your profile must look organized and professional, but also interesting and fun. Add a link to your blog or Facebook page if you have one, and a profile picture. Aim to post around a dozen photos/videos as quickly as possible, so your profile doesn’t look empty.

Building Your Follower Count

This should be your first priority before you attempt to monetize your Instagram account. A few tips are listed below:

Use hashtags in every post so that people searching for such images will be able to find them.
Use a mixture of popular hashtags such as #makeuptips and more specialized ones such as #pinkobsessed, which attract less competition.
Search for other Instagrammers using the same hashtags as you, “like” some of their posts, and sign up to follow them. A proportion will check out your profile and follow you back. This can be a quick and easy way to build your follower count.
Comment on other people’s images and reply to any comments people make on yours. This will help raise your profile on Instagram and show potential sponsors that you have engaged, interested followers.
To generate more interaction, include a call to action in your captions. For example, your caption to a photo of a cappuccino coffee could conclude with the question, “What’s your favourite coffee drink?”

Making Money From Instagram

One of the best ways to make money is through sponsored posts. This is where a company pays you to publish a post that helps promote their brand. They may provide the image themselves or ask you to.

Clearly you can’t expect to be offered sponsored posts with only a handful of followers, but you don’t need vast numbers either. As a rough rule of thumb, once you have 1000 Instagram followers, especially if they are regularly engaging with you, companies may be interested in buying sponsored posts from you.

One popular platform for monetizing your Instagram account with sponsored posts is Indahash. They will accept people with as few as 700 followers, so can be a good choice when starting out.

Once you have 5000 followers you can apply to be listed on Grapevine. This is a marketplace for content creators (also referred to as “influencers”) to earn potentially large sums working with household brands on campaigns.

As well as sponsored posts, you can make money through affiliate marketing. This involves encouraging people to click through to a merchant’s website and getting commission on any purchases they make there. Awin is one popular affiliate marketing platform.

You can also sell your Instagram photos, either directly or using online services such as Instaprints and Twenty20.

More Tips

The biggest group of Instagram users is females in their late teens and twenties. If that describes you, your chances of making money this way are enhanced. But even if it doesn’t, there is bound to be a niche you could enter and make your own.
Always post the best quality photos you can. Use Instagram’s filters and other photo-editing tools to make your pictures as eye-catching and original as possible.
For bigger profits from sponsored posts, offer companies a package including posts on other social media such as Facebook and Twitter too. This should generate bigger fees than Instagram alone.
Likewise, use your other social media to encourage followers to visit your Instagram page as well. Cross-promote regularly between all your social media and your blog if you have one. (NOTE: Instagram combines really well with blogging, so it’s well worth starting one if you hope to make money this way).
In the last couple of years Instagram has introduced “Insta Stories”. These are posts and videos that only stay up for 24 hours. Stories are hugely popular, and can be a great way of building your Instagram audience. Note, though, that you need to have at least 10,000 followers to use links in Instagram Stories.
Join Facebook groups such as Influencer Opportunities, where requests for sponsored posts on Instagram and other platforms are regularly posted.
Follow also relevant Twitter hashtags, including #prrequest, #Instagram, #influencers and #bloggerswanted.
Check out this huge article from Neil Patel covering every aspect of making money from Instagram, with lots of tips and examples.

Instagram is a great platform for anyone with even modest photographic skills to share images of things they love and get paid for it. So why are you waiting? Open an Instagram account today and get snapping!

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May 4, 2018

Sign up Now for This Free Course on Successful Ageing

Nick Everything Else events 2 Comments

Today I wanted to let you know about a free course I have taken myself and highly recommend. It’s running again in July, so there’s plenty of time to sign up.

The course is called Strategies for Successful Ageing. It’s run by Trinity College, Dublin, under the auspices of Futurelearn, a UK-based platform for short online courses from British and international universities. All Futurelearn courses are free (although for optional upgrades a fee is payable) and open to anyone in the world.

Strategies for Successful Ageing will run for five weeks, two hours per week, starting 2 July 2018. If those dates aren’t suitable for you, you can sign up to be notified when it’s running again.

This course is intended for anyone who wants to learn strategies and tips for successful ageing. On the website, it says:

The knowledge that you gain from this free online course will inspire you to choose activities and behaviours that improve your quality of life. Through this course, we hope you will think differently about ageing and recognise the many contributions that older adults make every day.

As a community of learners, we will discuss what you’re doing to maintain your health, increase your wellbeing, maintain friendships and navigate life’s challenges.

Together, we will discover the many opportunities for personal growth and community-building by exploring the skills, talents and dreams of older adults.

As I mentioned earlier, I took this course myself last year and highly recommend it. The course materials (and tutors) are first rate, and include information on the latest research into ageing that challenges the conventional stereotypes.

As well as the teaching, another big attraction of all Futurelearn courses is the opportunity they provide to interact with other students from all over the world. There can be almost as much to learn from them as the course itself! When I took Strategies for Successful Ageing most of my fellow students were in the 50-70 age group, but there were plenty who were older.

You can sign up for Strategies for Successful Ageing by clicking through any of the links to the course in this post.

Futurelearn also have lots of other interesting free courses, incidentally. I have studied subjects ranging from diabetes to astronomy, but Strategies for Successful Ageing has probably been the course I enjoyed most and got the most from.

If you have any comments or questions about this post, as always, please do post them below.

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April 21, 2018

My Short Break in the Lake District

Nick Everything Else travel 6 Comments

I recently took a short break in the English Lake District. It was the first time I’d been there in over 20 years (and the previous time was for work so I didn’t see much of the area). So I thought I’d share my impressions here.

I stayed at Waterhead, just south of the town of Ambleside, at the north end of Lake Windermere. I’ve embedded a map below (courtesy of Booking.com) showing the area and available accommodation.
Booking.com

I booked a room at the Waterhead Hotel (pictured below), which is located just a few yards from the lake.

I thought the hotel was excellent. My room was large and comfortable and furnished with all mod cons, including a large flat-screen TV and CD/DVD player. I had a view of the lake, admittedly across a car park!

On my first day the weather was so-so. I began by driving to Hill Top (pictured), the farmhouse where children’s author Beatrix Potter lived and in which she wrote some of her best-loved books. It’s quite small and admission is by timed ticket. I only had to wait about 20 minutes, though, which gave me a chance to look round the garden and take a few photos.

You get a real sense of what the house must have been like when Potter lived there. As well as her furniture and ornaments, there are several writing desks with copies of letters to and from her publishers and a page of her Peter Rabbit story with hand-drawn illustrations. There is a little shop, where I bought a jar of National Trust jam, but no restaurant. There wouldn’t be anywhere to put one, although there is a pub next door if you need refreshment.

After that I drove on to Wray Castle (pictured below), where I spent most of the rest of the day. Wray Castle has only been opened to the public by the National Trust for a few years. It is not as old as it first appears, having been built in the Gothic revival style by a Victorian couple as their retirement home. It has had a varied history since then, including a twenty-year stint as a Merchant Navy training school.

I went to a free 20-minute talk about the history of the house and then immediately joined a tour of the gardens. The latter took about an hour, and included information about the latest discoveries the Trust have made there, including what they believe are the remains of a Victorian pineapple house. It was interesting and informative, and the guide shared photos from the archives as we went round.

The latter included a picture of Beatrix Potter and her family at Wray Castle. They stayed there for three months one summer when Beatrix was 16. The visit gave Beatrix her first taste of the Lake District, which later of course became her home and an area she loved. With the proceeds from her book sales she bought large amounts of farmland around the lakes, which she ultimately donated to the National Trust.

The next day was sunnier, and I decided to take a lake cruise to the other end of Windermere. I bought a ‘Freedom of the Lake’ ticket, which got me 24 hours’ unlimited travel on any launch or steamer cruise on Windermere. I combined this with a return ticket on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway. The total cost of this on the Windermere Lake Cruises website was £23.80, which struck me as very good value. There are also timetables and cruise routes here, which I must admit took a bit of getting my head around.

Apart from the first leg of the journey (from Ambleside to Bowness), I travelled on the MV Teal, one of the two lake steamers built in the 1930s. These are large, spacious vessels which can transport up to 533 people, so there was plenty of room on board (it’s also fully wheelchair-accessible). You could either go on the top deck to get the fresh air and the best views, the main saloon below that (with a coffee/gift shop) or downstairs in the bar, which served alcoholic drinks. As it was still quite nippy, I spent most of the time in the main saloon.

At Lakeside, which is at the other end of Windermere, I took my return trip on the vintage steam railway to Haverthwaite. The route is only about four miles but it’s very scenic (see photo).

On my return to Lakeside I paid a visit to the Lakes Aquarium, where among other things I got to admire the piranha fish below. Both the train and the aquarium are easily accessible from Lakeside and would be good choices for trips with children or grandchildren.

Finally I travelled back on the steamer from Lakeside to Ambleside, enjoying the views and the commentary. I had a pot of tea and a piece of Kendal mint cake on the boat – although the latter turned out to be a mistake as (in my opinion anyway) it was just a slab of mint-flavoured sugar.

On the morning of my final day I took the opportunity to walk the half-mile into Ambleside itself. I particularly wanted to see The Bridge House, yet another National Trust property. (As a side comment, if you want to get value for money from your National Trust membership, the Lake District is definitely the place to come.)

The Bridge House is a tiny 17th century building above a river. It was originally built as an apple store, but over its long life it has served many purposes, including a tea room, a weaving shop, and home to a family of eight. The later is particularly hard to imagine – they must have been packed in like sardines! In any event it’s a charming property, and many thanks to the nice National Trust lady who took the time to chat to me about it (and the area generally).

After that, there was just time for a coffee and some gift shopping, then it was back in the car for the long drive home down the M6. The least said about that, the better!

So that was my short break holiday in the Lake District. I enjoyed it very much and hope to return before too long. As ever, if you have any comments or questions, please do post them below.

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January 26, 2018

How to Jump Start a Car with a Flat Battery

Nick Everything Else sponsored post 2 Comments

At this time of year flat batteries are a common problem for motorists. Batteries have to work harder in the winter, to power the lights, wipers, heating fans, and so on, and it’s easy for them to get run down.

This is even more likely to happen if – like many older people – you don’t use your car regularly or use it only for short journeys. It’s always best not to leave it too long between trips and try to fit in the occasional longer run that will power up the battery again.

But what if, despite all this, you find yourself with a flat battery? Don’t despair – as long as you have a set of jump leads (jumper cables as they are also called) and another car that is working normally, you can be up and running again in a few minutes. If you don’t have jump leads already, you can pick up a set cheaply at any local motoring store or Amazon.

Jump leads or jumper cables

Here’s what you need to do.

1. Park the cars nose to nose, so that there is easy access from one engine compartment to the other. Switch off both cars’ engines. Ensure that the brakes are on and the cars are in neutral (or Park in the case of automatics).

2. Open the hoods of both cars. Attach the red jump lead to the positive (+) terminal of the car with the flat battery. Attach the other end of this cable to the working car’s positive (+) terminal.

3. Attach the black cable to the working battery’s negative (–) terminal and the other end to an exposed metal section on your car, e.g. a bracket, bolt or strut. This must be at least a foot away from the battery.

4. Now start the working car and let it run for a few minutes, revving the engine slightly.

5. Then attempt to start your car. Nine times out of ten this will work. If it does, remove the cables in the reverse order you connected them, i.e. starting with the black cable attached to exposed metal on your car. Close the hood, but don’t switch off your engine yet! Drive around for at least 15 minutes to charge up your battery.

If your car still won’t start, leave it connected to the other car for another five minutes and try again. If you still have no success, it may be that your battery is too drained and needs replacing. Or there may be another fault in your car’s electrical system. Either way, it’s probably time to call in the professionals. The same applies if the problem occurs again the next time you try to start your car.

Good luck, and I really hope you don’t need to use the advice in this post too often!

For much more advice about buying, selling and maintaining cars, check out Cars.com.

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