Ideas For The Perfect Cheap Halloween Break In The UK!

The UK has a dark and ghostly history - making it a great place to visit to celebrate Halloween. After all, many British people have gone on to become legends of the macabre. Author Bram Stoker was inspired to write his legendary novel Dracula whilst staying in the gothic town of Whitby, North Yorkshire. The late Sir Christopher Lee, born in London, took the lead role in many an adaptation of Stoker's book and become a horror icon in the process. But that’s enough of all that creepy stuff! Halloween as a modern tradition is also, above all else, fun. If you’re thinking of packing your bags for an October trip overseas, here’s why the UK could be a great place to go.

The weather

During October, it is fairly likely to be cold and overcast in England. Autumn officially begins there during late September, so the country should be in the grips of fall by the time you arrive. Plus, it tends to get dark around 6pm during the British fall - setting the perfect scene for a spooky evening. There’s nothing like trying to pull off an all-black Halloween costume in 30 degree heat. So, the cooler climate of the UK can be perfect for the festivities.

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The accommodation

If you’ve got some guts (and some very brave children!) why not try choosing some (supposedly) haunted accommodation? The options available include a whole range of hotels and bed and breakfasts across the country, each with their own story. Or, up your game and stay in a castle for a truly gothic experience. Each are fitted with all mod-cons, although if you have children of a nervous disposition it’s probably best to avoid! You can also find places to stay in major towns and cities for very reasonable prices, so your trip doesn’t need to break the bank!

The activities

Although it may not be celebrating quite as lavishly in the UK as it is in America, there are still plenty of things to do on and around Halloween. Try a ghost walk in an historical city – many tours also offer child friendly versions of their stories which will delight, amuse and shock. There are also plenty of shows available, such as the Blackpool Shows which are given a spooky twist around October. Additionally, there is also the option to take part in age-old traditions and customs too. Trick or treating, pumpkin carving and apple bobbing are all practiced in England during Halloween as part of the celebrations.

The history

England is a country shrouded in spooky myths and mysteries. Apart from the aforementioned Dracula, there are plenty of other scary figures from British folklore perfect for an evening ghost story. Plenty of London’s tube stations are said to be haunted and notorious serial killers such as the Yorkshire Ripper roamed the streets many years ago. There are plenty of museums suitable for all the family where you can learn more about myths, legend and fact. Plus, interactive experiences such as the Dungeons add a bit of humour to the macabre.

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Interesting Ways To Use Solar Power To Bring A Little Light To Your Life

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Renewable energies are great. They’re good for the environment, your health and your wallet. So if you haven’t jumped on the bandwagon yet, it’s about time. Here are some brilliant ways that you can use solar power to bring a little extra light to your life.

Power Your Home

This is one of the most notable uses of solar energy and with good reason. Installing solar panels on your roof or having solar panels grounded in your garden can save you a small fortune. After panel and installation costs, any energy you produce is free. What’s more, you can sell any surplus energy back to an energy provider. So there’s profit to be made too. A good solar company can provide you with all of the information you need in such a beneficial investment. They will also aid you throughout the entire process. From consultations to installations and upkeep.  

Garden Lights

Use the sun’s energy to give your garden an extra glow when it gets dark. Solar powered garden lights soak up the sun’s rays during the day. They then use the energy at night to bring themselves to light. They’re particularly great for garden parties or summer BBQs if your guests want to stay for a few drinks after the main event.

Pond Lights

There are thousands of pond accessories out there. But nothing can quite make a pond stand apart from the rest like lighting. If you have a rockery or plants around the pond itself, solar lights can be nestled away out of sight. They won’t be massively noticeable by daylight, but come night they’ll light up and draw attention to your pond, making it a feature like no other. This is also a great health and safety feature.

Pool Heating

Energy derived from solar panels can be used to create heat. If you’re lucky enough to have your pool, you’ll know that it can be pretty daunting jumping in when the water is cold. Solar energy can heat your pool for you. They will circulate the energy they create around your pool and getting in will be like sinking into a nice, warm bath.

Phone Chargers

If you’ve ever been to a music festival, you’ll understand the overwhelming importance of a phone charger. It’s not until you’re lost in the middle of a field of strangers and haven’t seen your friends for about six hours that you realise how handy having a functioning phone is. Solar panelled chargers are a great fix when it comes to charging your phone while you’re out and about. These solar panels are small and portable and will keep your handheld device running for days at a time.

Gadgets

With such huge investment in renewable energies, there are now thousands of solar powered gadgets and toys to choose from. Gone are the days when you’d open a Christmas present, only to be disappointed that you don’t have the necessary batteries to power it up. From mini solar cars to miniature reading lamps and wireless keyboards. Solar powered gadgets can make your day to day life easier or serve as a brilliant, alternative gift for birthdays and other big events.

Storm Coming? Here's How To Handle It Properly

If you know there’s a storm coming, then you want to make sure that you’re well prepared. Some storms can be more dangerous than others. Some can cause many problems in your home. At the very least, they can end up scaring your pets and children silly! With that in mind, here’s how to handle it when you know a storm is coming:

Make A Risk Assessment

If you know a storm is coming and you have time, make a risk assessment in and around your home. It’s so important that you take a look around and make sure there are no accidents waiting to happen. For instance, a big tree with loose branches could cause a problem in high winds. Do your best to clean up any risks so that you and your home can remain as safe as possible.

Store Away Garden Furniture And Toys

If you have garden furniture and toys, don’t risk leaving them in the garden. Store them safely away in a garage or shed. If you don’t, you could end up with your child’s toys all over the street, or worse, coming through your window!

Strengthen Your Home And Garages

Find ways to strengthen your home, garage, shed, and any other area that could become damaged in the storm. Make sure you use special products to protect them regularly, and that they are securely locked and sturdy. The roof is the most exposed area on the home, and can easily become damaged in a storm. Make sure it’s safe. Make sure there are no gaps where water or wind can get in either, as you could leave yourself susceptible to a flood. The only thing you can do then is find a reliable flood cleanup place to help you minimize the damage.

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Stay Away From Windows And Close Your Curtains

In serious storm instances, windows can become broken by things flying into them due to the high winds. It’s a good idea to stay away from your windows and keep your curtains closed to protect you from any glass that might break.

Make Sure You Have A Good Insurance Policy

A good insurance policy that will cover you for this kind of thing is essential. Make sure it’s suitable for your needs, and that you contact them ASAP should you experience problems.

Explain To Your Children And Comfort Them

If you have children, chances are they don’t like storms all that much. You can minimize their fears when you explain to them the science of a storm, so they understand it better and feel they have more control over the situation. Talk to them about their fears and make sure you validate their feelings. Don’t tell them that they are being silly! You can also comfort them and ask them what they want to do to feel better. This might be listening to their music, or making a fort where they feel safe.

Stay calm next time a storm comes and use this advice as soon as possible!

Essential Help For Choosing A Gift For A Teenager

Once your child becomes a teenager, it can be incredibly difficult to think of present ideas. They seem to have everything already and you don’t want to choose something they don’t like. For some guidance, you should ask them what they would like as a present. If they can’t come up with anything, here is some essential for help for choosing a gift for a teenager.

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Cologne or perfume

You will be quite surprised that both sexes love to spray some scent before going out with their friends. Looking and smelling good has never been as important as it is to the new generation. Therefore, you should buy them a bottle of perfume or cologne that they can use on a daily basis. You could ask them if they have a particular smell they love, or just choose one which you think is great. The celebrity endorsed ones such as Taylor Swift’s Wonderstruck perfume tend to be the most popular and will be loved by your teenager.

Something technology-based

You can’t go wrong with anything technology-based for a teenager. You all love the latest gadgets which they can link up with their mobile phones, laptops, or iPads. You might want to get them a portable charger so that they can give their mobile some juice while they are out with their friends. Or a selfie stick would go down well with teenage girls who love to take a selfie. If they love their gaming, you might want to go for Video Game Accessories such as a mouse or keyboard which they use with their computer.

Ticket to a movie or a DVD

Movies are always a great choice for teenagers. They love to see the latest flicks and are always heading to the cinema to watch them with their friends. Therefore, a great gift would be a ticket to a new movie that’s coming out soon. If you don’t know one in particular, you could get a voucher so that they can see a film of their choice. Add in a popcorn and a drink and they will love the gift. A DVD will also be a popular choice if there is a good film coming out soon that they love.

A book or kindle voucher

Although books are not as popular as they once were, teenagers still love to read one every so often. Therefore, you should consider buying them a new book they can read in the evenings. Look at the bestsellers list and find one which they will love to read. As this article says, teenagers love to read but don’t want to spend their saved up money on a book. Therefore, by buying the book, it means they don’t have to miss out on great novels. You can also get them a Kindle voucher which they can use to buy great books for their device.

And if you still haven’t got a great idea, you should go down the food route. Teenagers love to eat sweets and chocolates, so buy them a box which they can consume!

The Faults You Absolutely Must Tackle On Moving Into A New Home

So, you’ve bought yourself a home. Before you move in, you should have as thorough a check as you can. However, that won’t stop the possibility that you don’t catch some faults before it’s too late. These can’t be left on their own. You’re going to have to tackle them. Here, we’ll identify some of the most common faults, what you need to do with them and when you need help.

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The plumbing

The first thing you need to do is get familiar with the utilities in your home. For plumbing, this means getting to know the flow of all the pipes and taking a run through. Run the taps and look out for any signs of trouble. Drips and leaks are an obvious one. However, you should also be looking out for low water pressure and listening out for creaks and screeches or gurgles. You also want to make sure you don’t smell any waste or drainage, as it could mean a blockage. Find your water mains and turn it off if you’re making any minor fixes with changing a tap. For other problems, it’s best to have a professional on hand.

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The electrics

Much like plumbing, your electrics are not something that any kind of novice should be trying to work with. All you want to do is to be able to identify any problems. Be able to identify your main switch and turn off the electrics in an emergency. Find your fuses and circuit breakers and carefully investigate to make sure there’s no melting or damage first. If you’re checking your electrics, get your hands on a residual current device, first.

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Damp and mold

One of the problems that’s significantly easier to deal with yourself is that of damp and muld in the home. However, it depends on what level it has gotten to. If it’s surface level black spots, it’s easy to simply clean it off with a bit of effort. Others might require that you replace the affected structures. If you can get rid of it, it’s best to see how you can prevent it from happening. In a lot of cases, this can just mean making the area more ventilated.

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The roof

One of the most common sources of damp and mold problems is, of course, the roof. First, you want to make sure it’s insulated from the inside. This prevents it from being the kind of closed, humid space that easily forms damp or mould. But you need to check it from the outside as well. You can save yourself the unnecessary hire of a roofing company by using an access equipment hire to look yourself. If it’s as simple as a missing tile, you might be able to fix it yourself. However, some roofing materials have an expiry age to them. If your roofing has expired, you might need to get it replaced.

We hope the above tips help you identify and sort some of the faults in your home. Just remember that it’s best to leave anything electrical to professionals. Same goes for anything you don’t feel confident in tackling yourself.