Tag Archives: a guide

The Unknown Health Benefits of Indoor Plants

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Plants can certainly brighten up your living space, but did you know that they can help improve your health too? There are a multitude of different ways that indoor plants can benefit you, both physically and mentally.

Indoor plants can improve the air quality in your home by breaking down compounds from man-made fibres and absorbing nasty chemicals from the air, essentially acting like a natural air filter. They are also highly effective at balancing humidity levels in the home as plants are capable of harvesting moisture from the air and absorbing it.

Having balanced humidity levels is essential for good overall air quality but it also prevents the growth of mould and mildew which are particularly common in damp spaces like the bathroom.

Houseplants have also been proven to help alleviate stress, resulting in reducing blood pressure, fatigue and even headaches. This combined with their air purifying abilities means that houseplants can help with sleep, as they create a fresh and breathable space. Plus, they also look super stylish and can really brighten up your bedroom.

 

wilko’s guide to helpful houseplants, and how to look after them:

Cactus plants

Cacti help to remove carbon dioxide in the air by absorbing it and then supplying us with fresh oxygen to breathe. They are easy to care for as they require very little watering. Miniature cacti look great on a home office desk – perfect for those who like clean, contemporary living spaces.

Snake plants

Snake plants have a lot of character and resemble the skin of a reptile with long, dark green leaves with colourful yellow edges. They survive with little moisture – perfect for those who forget to give it a water! They’re usually quite large in size so would be perfect sat next to French doors or on a large table top.

Succulent plants

Succulents are the perfect companion for your home office and are very on-trend with lots of stylish options to choose from. As a rough guideline, water them every 7-14 days in the warmer months and every 3-4 weeks in winter. Make sure to let the soil dry thoroughly between watering and put them near the window for some time to get extra light.

Peace lily

If the name isn’t calming enough then the plant certainly will be. This plant purifies the air and doesn’t need a lot of light. It does however need adequate watering when the soil is dry so does require some attention but remember, too damp and it won’t flourish!

Fresh flowers

If leafy plants aren’t your thing, or you can’t get hold of any, a nice big bunch of fresh flowers in a stylish vase will do the trick. You can even look for pretty foliage and flowers from your own garden – wild flowers and lavender also produce a beautiful smell throughout the home, perfect for creating a calm, relaxed ambience.

Indoor herb garden

If you want to kill two birds with one stone, then an indoor herb garden is just the thing. Not only will the process of growing the herbs purify the air, but the end result should provide you with tasty herbs for dinner! Not to mention, growing your own herbs is a great hobby that can bring the family together. To create your own mini indoor herb garden, all you’ll need is some small plant pots, compost and seeds. Herbs thrive best when soil is moist, but not soggy. A great tip is to use separate pots for each type of herb – this means you can care for each plant individually and top up any that may need more water than others.

Peter Hardie, garden buyer at wilko, said: “Indoor plants and herb gardens are a great way to inject a touch of nature into the home, particularly as they have been proven to benefit our physical and mental health. Not only can we accessorise our homes with trendy plants and pots, we can also create a breathable and non-toxic environment in our homes, just by adding a few plants around the house.

“We recommend choosing pots and planters to suit your interior style, but bold colours and fun prints are really on-trend at the minute, and can be a great way to accentuate mantlepieces, balconies or windowsills.”

 

For more information on wilko’s garden and outdoor living range, please visit wilko.com.

 

 

Don’t Be Afraid of Disability: A Guide on Acceptance And Inclusion

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Down_syndrome_lga guide to inclusion

Credit: wikipedia

There are approximately 40,000 people with Down’s syndrome living in the UK, and over 10 million people with disabilities in Britain*. Therefore, with 15% of the population living with a disability, it is essential that people are understanding and knowledgeable when it comes to inclusion. Inclusion is relevant to everybody through all stages of life, right through from the playground to the workplace, to new social situations. Most people will have felt excluded at some point in their lives, and if somebody has a disability this experience may be heightened.

It is common to be afraid and anxious of disability, not sure how to act or what to say, particularly if you don’t have previous experience. However, it is better to admit nerves and pledge to learn about disability, than remain ignorant and in the dark. Every disability is different, as is every individual, and so there is no ‘one size fits all’ method of knowing how to behave around a person with a disability. However, Carol Boys, CEO of the Down’s Syndrome Association has provided her expert advice for helping make sure that everyone in society is accepted and included.  

Understand everyone is different

There are a broad range of disabilities, encompassing mental and physical, and therefore, it is important to remember that everyone is different. People with Down’s syndrome have a learning disability, but even within this specific type of disability, this can be mild or severe. Interacting with people who have a learning disability is likely to be different to interacting with people who have a physical disability, and acknowledging that everyone is different is the first step of working towards a society that promotes inclusion, after all, the world would be very boring if we were all the same! Understanding that the different people we encounter throughout our lives can enrich our experiences, and help us to learn new things and make new friends is so important. There is still a lot of work to do to ensure people with Down’s syndrome, and other disabilities, have many of the same life chances that the general population take for granted, and this is why we at the DSA work to educate the general public and show that people with Down’s syndrome have the same feelings and moods as everyone else, and thus, should be treated as individuals.

Ask questions

As there is such a broad spectrum of disabilities, it would be very difficult to be knowledgeable about every disability you come across. Some disabilities aren’t visible, nor would you necessarily realise someone had a disability until a certain situation occurs, therefore it’s important to not to be afraid of asking questions to help you understand. If you don’t feel comfortable asking questions to the person with the disability directly or you think it would be inappropriate, do look at resources online to assist you. The DSA website has an extremely useful FAQ section which will help offer some clarity http://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/about/general/.  Fear often comes from the unknown, and therefore they more we know, the less scared we will be of disability.

Be respectful

This is probably the most important piece of advice to take on board. Being respectful to anyone, whether they have a disability or not, is the best way to interact with others. Every individual has a different personality type (some we might click with and others we may not!) but never be disrespectful by talking down to or patronising someone with a disability. It’s important to note, for example, that everyone with Down’s syndrome needs some level of support at some point in their lives, whether this is a couple of hours help a week on their schedule, or 24/7 care. It can be difficult to get your heads around the balance of how much support to offer without treating people ‘differently’. However, being respectful, sensitive and considerate will always be appreciated no matter the situation.

Clue up on the terminology

To ensure you are sensitive in any situation, it is important to never use offensive terminology when discussing disability, either to the person with the disability themselves or with others. Assigning people with a label can be ignorant at the very least and highly upsetting at the worst. At the DSA, one of our objectives focuses on educating the public and the media on the correct way to talk about Down’s syndrome. For example, you should never say ‘this person suffers from Down’s syndrome’, as the word ‘suffer’ has negative connotations of illness. Instead, people ‘have’ Down’s syndrome. Alongside this, it is important not to define people by their disability. Don’t introduce people by name and their disability – a simple ‘this is my friend Sophie’ is sufficient – just like other people in your life.

Do what you can to help

Trying to make sure people aren’t afraid of disability can come in all different forms. This may start with informing people if they use the wrong terminology or volunteering at groups to provide support and assistance. If you are keen to get more involved, this year for World Down Syndrome Day, you can purchase ‘LOTS OF SOCKS’ socks to show your support of people with Down’s syndrome and raise awareness on World Down Syndrome Day (21st March). https://worlddownsyndromeday.org/lots-of-socks

For more information visit: http://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk  

* http://www.dlf.org.uk/content/key-facts

 

Down’s syndrome:  Down’s syndrome is a genetic condition caused by the presence of an extra chromosome.  Around one in every 1,000 babies is born with Down’s syndrome. There are over 40,000 people with the condition in the UK.

Everyone with Down’s syndrome will have some degree of learning disability. The most important thing to remember is that everyone with Down’s syndrome is an individual, with their own strengths and weaknesses and personality traits that make them who they are.

 

The Down’s Syndrome Association (DSA) is a registered (1061474) national charity that exists to provide information and support for people with Down’s syndrome, their families, carers and those with a professional interest. The DSA seeks to improve knowledge and understanding and champion the rights of people with Down’s syndrome. To find out more about the work of the DSA visit our website www.downs-syndrome.org.uk 

 

Terminology: Down’s syndrome – What to say (and not to say)

 

We rely on the media to speak about issues relating to Down’s syndrome in a way that is both factually accurate and inoffensive to the general public, including people with Down’s syndrome and their families.

We are sure you share our concerns so please take a minute to check that your copy is in line with the following language guidelines and that you are not perpetuating any myths about the condition.

 

DON’T SAY DO SAY
Suffers from OR is a victim of Down’s syndrome Has Down’s syndrome
A Down’s baby/person/child A person/baby/child with Down’s syndrome or who has Down’s syndrome
Retarded/mentally handicapped/backward Learning disability
Disease/illness/handicap Condition OR genetic condition
the risk of a baby having Down’s syndrome (in relation to pre-natal screening and probability assessments) the chance of a baby having Down’s syndrome
Down’s (as an abbreviation) DS (as an abbreviation if necessary)
MYTHS FACTS
People with Down’s syndrome don’t live very long. Today, people with Down’s syndrome can look forward to a life of 60 years plus.
Only older mothers have babies with Down’s syndrome. Although older mothers have a higher individual chance of having a baby with Down’s syndrome, more are born to younger mothers, reflecting the higher birth rate in this age group.
People with Down’s syndrome cannot achieve normal life goals. With the right support, they can. The vast majority of people with Down’s syndrome learn to walk and talk, and many are now attending mainstream schools, passing GCSEs and living full, semi-independent adult lives.
People with Down’s syndrome all look the same. There are certain physical characteristics that can occur. People with Down’s syndrome can have all of them or none. A person with Down’s syndrome will always look more like his or her close family than someone else with the condition.
People with Down’s syndrome are always happy and affectionate. We are all individuals and people with Down’s syndrome are no different to anyone else in their character traits and varying moods.

 

 

Cheers, Chin Chin, Lechaim, Ganbei, Kai Wei, Sante: A Guide to Making a Toast

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Cheers, Chin Chin, Lechaim, Ganbei, Kai Wei, Sante

Chivas Regal present the Gentleman’s Guide to Making a Toast

Toasting is an age old ritual which is practiced round the world to celebrate new friends and old friends, guests of honour, business colleagues as well as special moments. Depending on who you are with and where you are, how you raise your glass in tribute can vary considerably.

With this in mind the world’s most iconic luxury Scotch whisky, Chivas Regal, has created the ultimate Gentleman’s Guide to Making a Toast.

With endless overlapping cross cultures it has never been more important for the true gent to be well versed in how to conduct themselves with chivalry in foreign lands – you never know who you might end up insulting!

The Gentleman’s Guide to Making a Toast is part of the Chivas Regal ‘Real Friends, Make Time’ campaign which highlights the importance of making time to spend with your friends.

Chivas lovers around the world can now raise a glass in confidence no matter what the situation – we hope you enjoy the guide.

The Chivas Regal Gentleman’s Guide to Making a Toast

Toasting is a ritual respected around the world. Harking back to days of old it is how
we celebrate new friends and old friends, guests of honour, the bride and groom,
business colleagues as well as special moments.

You can muddle through on a raised glass and a cry of ‘cheers’, ‘chin chin’ or ‘good
health’ on many a shore but the true well-travelled modern gent will be prepared to
say ‘lechaim’, ‘salud’ and ‘sante’ where appropriate.

With this in mind, Chivas Regal brings you the Gentleman’s Guide to Making a
Toast. With a history spanning over 200 years, Chivas Regal has been toasted with in
more than 150 countries. Along the way we’ve picked up some useful information
that will help get you into the spirit and get you toasting like a local no matter where
in the world you might find yourself.

China

Coming together over a drink has always been at the heart of Chinese culture, but the
blast of economic growth is accelerating this to new levels. At clubs and bars in the
big cities you’ll see a bottle of whisky or vodka in the middle of the table for guests to
share. At a big meal you might find three glasses on your table – a glass for your drink
of choice, a wine glass, and a shot glass. A few notes of caution when in China: not
finishing your glass may be seen as disrespectful and the local spirit ‘er gua toe’ can
bring down a dragon – we would suggest sticking with Chivas.

The Chinese toasting ritual may be casual but whether in a social or business setting,
it is deeply associated with friendship, trust and respect and a simple ‘cheers’ is
seriously frowned upon. The host will make the first toast – probably ‘ganbei’
[‘bottoms up!’] or ‘kai wei’ [‘starting the appetite!’]. Touching the other person’s glass
below the rim is a sign of respect. If you are drinking shots, turn your glass over to
show it’s empty.

Russia

Many travelers believe the Russian toast is ‘Na Zdorov’ye’ but they would be wrong
unless they are having dinner. In fact Russians as a rule enjoy making up long and
complex toasts such as ‘Za druzhbu myezhdu narodami!’ (To friendship between
nations!). However, if you aren’t well versed in Russian and want to be on the safe
side, go with a simple ‘Za Vas!’ (To you!).

In Russia toasts are made with spirits and empty glasses are always refilled. Expect
frequent toasting throughout the meal. If the toaster stands, everybody must stand.
Be sure to make eye contact with each person you clink glasses with, finish in one
swallow and place your glass down on the table. The host or the senior guest usually
kicks off the proceedings and if someone toasts you, you must toast them back; it is
the height of rudeness not to do so.

France, Germany, Italy

Across France, Germany and Italy there are many quirky local twists – and words –
but the acceptable way to toast is to make eye contact as you touch everyone’s glass at
the table. Not looking into the eyes is not only ‘bad luck’ but – to a greater or lesser
degree – in France and Germany it threatens disaster for amorous pursuits! In Italy,
this is taken to extremes – you’ll genuinely have to meet everyone’s eyes.

While you are holding that ever important eye contact prepare to toast ‘a votre sante’,
‘sante’ or ‘tchin’ in France, ‘ZumWohl!’ or ‘Prost!’ (‘good health’) in Germany and
‘Salute’ (health) in Italy – although ‘Cin Cin!’ (onomatopoeia of the sound of clinking
of glasses) will also work.

Spain, South America and Mexico

Young Spanish speaking South Americans have a curious toast that’s most often
heard if you’re enjoying a night out in a large group. You’ll hear “arriba, abajo, al
centro, al dentro!!” and see some matching movements with the glass: ‘up (raising
glass), down (lowering glass), in the center (putting glasses together), inside
(drinking!). There’s also the more generally used ‘salud’ – appropriate if you’re a
guest, to make a toast of thanks to your host. The modern gentleman is always polite,
if your host has made you feel like you’re one of the family, there is no greater
compliment possible. ‘Salud’ is also often used as part of a more personalised toast
such as; ‘un salud por la familia’ (cheers to family) or ‘un salud por la amistad’
(cheers to friendship).

Scandinavia

The Scandinavians have a rather bloodthirsty cheer – ‘Skol!’. According to folklore it
is derived from a legend that Vikings drank from the skulls of their enemies. So when
in Scandinavia drink, then nod and be thankful they’re no longer Vikings.
What do to if you forget the local toast

The modern gentleman is well versed in international etiquette, so that no matter
where they are in the world they can present themselves with the same confidence as
they would at home. But if your toasting know-how fails you at the crucial moment,
here are some tips from Max Warner, Chivas Regal Global Ambassador and toasting
expert:

“On my journeys with Chivas, I’ve observed many different ways of raising a glass
and though it is important where possible to respect local traditions there are a few
good rules of thumb which I’ve picked up that can get you by if you’re not versed on
how the locals do it.

-Try and judge the situation and formality of the occasion as toasts not only differ
around the world but from venue and situation as well
-Where appropriate stand to make a toast
-Always raise your glass, face the host first and make eye contact with your
audience
-Where possible clink the glass of each guest before taking a sip. For those not
drinking, raise a glass to the group as a sign of respect.
-Keep your toast short and non-specific but acknowledge the host and bring in a
personal touch by highlighting your relation to the person or group.”

A little bit of history

Why is toasting recognised wherever alcohol is drunk? It depends. In Chinese
traditions, toasting began with libations to the gods. In Europe, on the other hand, it
was a good way to stop your host poisoning you. Ancient Greeks and Romans – then
the British in the Middle Ages – shared their drink from a flask or a cup as a matter
of trust. If the host raised his cup and drank first, his guests knew they were safe.
Why is it called a toast? Because wine used to be so acidic a piece of burnt bread was
added – the charcoal neutralised the acid. The final sip went to the host, who ate the
bread. In medieval courts, the ‘loving cup’ would be passed around, in memory of the
first recorded formal toast in Western history – when Rowena, daughter of the Saxon
leader Hengist, cried ‘waes hael’ (be of health) to King Vortigen and they shared a
cup – leading to them sharing a kingdom as man and wife.