What the 111 Tragedy is Telling Us about the NHS

Following the tragic story of William Mead yesterday, it's time to speak up about the useless NHS 111 service that thousands of patients are being fobbed off with in this country. The NHS is under enormous strain, this we know. It's hard not to notice, with all the press coverage it gets and it's clear the Government are trying hard to 'lessen the strain' on the service. Just today, on BBC Breakfast, it was reported that A&E services are currently on Black Alert, due to too much pressure from an increased number of patients. So, the news report advises that people should only visit A & E if they have a 'genuine life-threatening condition'. And that's where it all falls apart, because we are not medical professionals. 

Bosch Kettle TWK7602 Review

I randomly found this kettle reduced from £29.99 to £7.38 in Tesco and thought it would be rude not to buy it. Please don't rush out to buy one, as it was somewhat abandoned in the 'bargain bin', all by itself, so I have no idea if there are anymore available in other stores. Keep an eye out, if you are passing anyway, though, you never know what you might find! As it turns out, it's a really good kettle. It comes in three different colours. Cream, light blue and this darker blue, which looks a little different to the picture. It doesn't even look totally like the colour on the box, it's a little greyer. I would call it Petrol Blue. Something to bear in mind if you want it to go with a particular colour scheme. 

What's So Special About Breakfast?

I can often be found banging on about the importance of breakfast, but why is it such a big deal? The obvious answer is that you haven't provided your body with any energy or nutrients overnight. During the day, we top up fairly regularly, so those eight or so hours without food make up a substantial fast period. There are other considerations though. If you have a whole day ahead of you, at work or school, you are going to be putting demands on your body. Not just physically, but mentally too. Your brain relies on good nutrition to function, so that you don't do or say anything that makes you look daft. Also you don't want to start falling asleep somewhere inappropriate either, because you might look like a bit of a plonker!

My Sunday Photo: Chocolate Cake Delight

Yesterday I was treated to afternoon tea at Patisserie Valerie by my lovely friend Mels from Diary of a Jewellery Lover. L was so excited, he even picked out his best shirt to wear! His expression when Mel gave him this chocolate cake, suggests it was worth dressing up for! 

Win Disney Frozen Headphones!

Last week we gave away a Frozen walkie talkie set and it was so popular that I thought I'd better find another Frozen offering for this week. So, don't be sad if you didn't win, here's another chance. This time to win Frozen headphones, so you won't have to listen to Let It Go ever again. EVER AGAIN!! Oh, the peaceful possibilities! Kindly make your way through the Rafflecopter and I wish you lots of luck. All welcome to enter, even if this is the 307th competition you've entered today! 

10 Tips on Teenage Boys; A Guest Post by Mandi

This guest post is brought to you by Mandi, from Hex Mum Blog who has a wealth of experience in the parenting stakes. She is the perfect candidate to give me, and perhaps some other parents of young boys, a bit of a heads-up on what to expect in the not too distant future! As much as it would be lovely if they stayed cute and cuddly forever, there is a strong possibility that may not be the case, so get prepared with Mandi's musings on the teenage species. If you enjoy her brilliant observations, I'm sure she would be thrilled if you popped over to her blog, or gave her a wave on Twitter.

Bristol Bits: SS Great Britain Review

I love the Harbourside in Bristol, because there are so many different places to visit. Previously, we have reviewed; Bristol Aquarium, At-Bristol and M-Shed, which are all within a few minutes walk, or a short ferry ride of each other and provide various options for all-weather entertainment. Our recent visits have all been thanks to Visit Bristol, the go-to site for finding out what's great to do in our fair city, who provided us with a media pass for a few weeks. Today we are reviewing the SS Great Britain, a true icon of Bristol and a magnificent ship. It's a great place to choose when the weather is not at its best, as a surprising amount of it is below decks.