How I plan Christmas gifts and budgets

November 13, 2015, 9:13 am

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Our telly boxes are filled with Christmas adverts, the supermarkets are blasting Christmas songs and the streets are illuminated by Christmas lights. Whether you adore thinking about Christmas in November or your believe festivities should be kept to December, there's no escaping the fact that Christmas is just 6 Fridays away. 

A typical budget-obsessed penny-pincher would have planned their Christmas budget months ago but me,... well, I'm more like the rest of us who only begin to think about presents when the media tells us to. Although I preach that I'm not susceptible to consumerism, I have to admit that having Christmas thrown in my face whichever way I turn, it's hard to ignore. 

My close family and friends all value Christmas as a time for celebrating love and food rather than an opportunity to cash in on luxury commodities. We just buy for our immediate family and very close friends and the wider family follow the same practice. It's always been like this but I can imagine it would be awkward for those who have a tradition for buying something for everyone to change their priorities. 

Because we aren't so big on indulging in gifts, we don't tend to plan very much in advance as you now know from this very post. My sister is proactive and buys gifts throughout the year as she discovers them then hides them until it's time to hand them to the recipient. It's a good method for reducing the stress, spreading the cost and preventing the panic-buying of crap presents. It's not often that I venture into towns or cities to shop so opportunities don't often arise for me to make purchase so far in advance of Christmas. 

The first step I take when working out the Christmas budget is create a spreadsheet on Google Docs, listing all the people we need to buy for. It doesn't really change much from year to year so I reuse the same doc time and again. As a couple, Dave and I work out how much we will spend on gifts. Like I mentioned earlier in the post, we don't have a an indulgent culture so we typically allocate £20-£30 per person however, if a gift comes in cheaper for one person it means we have more money to spend on someone else if we need to. Each time a gift is purchased, we update the sheet with what the gift is and how much it cost. We both then know exactly how much money is left to spend and who we need to buy for. 

Google Doc budget sheet

The beauty of using Google Docs is that the spread sheet document can be shared with others. Because Dave and I purchase gifts as a couple, I share the document to with him so he can add things and edit it himself. It also means we both have complete viability of who we are buying for, how much we are spending and what have bought. This avoids any arguments over money or accidentally forgetting someone on the list. 

This year is very different for me because I'm not working full time. I was made redundant little over a month ago and have set up my own social media consulting business. It means I'm not bringing in much money at the moment, and even though Dave is being amazing at supporting me, I'm very conscious of spending any of our money. Following our proven method means I don't have to feel awkward or worry about spending money as it's already allocated. 

Shopping online

I love internet shopping because I can avoid the stress of the big city, the queues and the temptation to buy things I hadn't budgeted for. I'm one of few girls I know who doesn't enjoy shopping and traipsing around the city. Sitting by the fire on an evening browsing shops on the internet is more my style. As well as avoiding costs associated with visiting the city such as travel, drinks and snacks and parking, online shopping is easy to manage how much I am spending. Arithmetic is my weak point so the number of confusing offers such as 10% off the sale price which is 20% off all items in one part of the shop and buy one get one free on selected items and so on, means I quickly lose track of the price of the items in my shopping basket. The virtual basket on online stores does that all for me. 

Buying for my partner, Dave, is harder. Is it just me or is buying for men soooo much harder than women? Not only do I have to budget for him separately and worry he will spend more on me than I do on him, he's also very hard to buy for. He's not interested in commodities and doesn't get very excited about clothes. But clothes is what I normally end up getting him because he doesn't buy many clothes for himself and I enjoy dressing him in things I have chosen. I normally get inspiration from browsing men's accessories in online shops. The other advantage of buying online is the ease of returning items. Dave is a slim guy and often jumpers that fit his arms are far too long on his torso, giving him the look of a school boy wearing a new jumper at the start of term which he can 'grow into'. I keep feeding Dave but he isn't growing in the outwards direction. Being able to drop unwanted items off at the post office for return means I don't have to worry as I can just send the items back. 

Wrapping presents

The other way I save money is using old newspapers to wrap up presents. Wrapping paper sure looks lovely under the tree but tearing it off and disposing of it put a little downer on Christmas for me. But newspaper can look lovely too. Last year I decorated wrapped presents with pine cones I collected from our wood and attached them to lengths of used ribbon from my sewing box. It took some time but I enjoyed the decorating process and they looked beautiful under the tree. Adding a personal, hand crafted touch is apprenticed by friends and family too. 

I know my method isn't original and it's by no means groundbreaking, but I find it helpful hearing how other people really do things rather than read a blog post with a list of bullet pointed instructions that have no sentiment from the writer.   So I've rambled on about how I actually do things in hope that it will help someone else or at least reassure them they aren't the only ones who haven developed a military-style gift budgeting action plan and buying expedition.

Do you plan a Christmas budget independently or with a partner? I'd love to hear how others really manage theirs.

photo credit 

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Completing the Lyke Wake Walk in the North Yorkshire Moors

November 16, 2015, 5:58 am

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The title clearly states it- we completed the Lyke Wake Walk; a 40 mile linear crossing of the North Yorkshire Moors. Wahoo!

A few of weekends ago, Zoe of Splodz Blogz, Allysse of Beste Glatisant and I spent two days fantastic days hiking the less popular trail, and it was awesome. 

Bloggers being bloggers, we spent valuable daylight time taking a gazillion photos of our journey and as a result this account is crammed with photos. Not that I want you click of this post but I'll warn you now; if you have limited data on your device while reading this right now, it may be best to bookmark the post for later! 

So here we go...

I collected Allysse from the station in York and drove to the beautiful Sevenfold House B&B at Rosedale Abbey, close to the halfway point of the Lyke Wake Walk. Zoe had arrived shortly before us and had already settled in with a cup of tea and a biscuit.

The B&B was stunning; a huge period property bulging with original period features and decor. The proprietor, Linda Sugars provided a warm welcome to her home and showed us to our bedrooms. They were huge, well laid out and very comfortable. From just £36 per person, per night and with a scrumptious full cooked breakfast, fruit and cereals included, I truly recommend it to anyone. 

That evening we went to the White Horse Farm Inn, just a 4 minutes walk from the B&B (which was also fantastic), and indulged in a large, 2-course meal while reassuring each other we needed the calories for the the two days of endurance that lay ahead. With bellies full of food and butterflies of anticipation we headed back to the B&B for a good sleep. 

The faffy part of the challenge was negotiating the transport. Being a linear hike over two days with a a night's stay half way along meant leaving a car at the end point of each day then driving to the start, only to do the reverse after completing the day's hike. I was concerned I'd be too tired to drive after hiking 20 miles but I was actually perfectly fine due to being on a high from our achievement. 

Day one of the Lyke Wake Walk began in glorious sunshine in a car park just outside the quaint tourist village of Osmotherley. On the opposite side of the road a modest standing stone with 'Lyke Wake Walk' carved on its front stood proudly from the ground, marking the start of the trail. After a few photo snaps of the stone we set off with a bounce in our step. My stomach tickled with a mixture of excitement and anticipation, knowing that 22 miles lay between us and the other car. It wasn't the distance or the endurance test that concerned me, it was the time. It was 9 days into October and the nights drew in around 7pm. We had around 9 hours to the car before nightfall. Thousands of people have completed the whole walk in darkness so I reassured myself with this fact. Still, getting stranded on the moors in the darkness would be frightening and dangerous.

The trail followed the Cleveland Way for the first 12 miles or so, meaning our way was clearly marked by wooden signs at each turning. Up until recently, the Lyke Wake Walk wasn't way-marked but now there are small, hand painted black coffin plaques along most of the way. Interestingly, there isn't an official route. As long as you start at the start and end at the end (or the other way around) then you can claim the crossing. We were following the recognised route detailed in the Lyke Wake Walk Book-a small, black book written by Brian Smailes, a walking author. This little black book proved to be invaluable to our expedition. The detail in which it described each step of the way meant our two beloved OS maps made an appearance just twice (yes, the walk covers two OS maps from one side to the other- eek!). The moors are a dynamic environment meaning the route description goes out of date quickly. The book is in its fourth edition and ours was sent with a one sheet insert noting recent changes to the route. I am incredibly impressed by the dedication and creativity of the New Lyke Wake Walk Club who produce the book and collect records and information about the walk. For the full two days, Zoe carried the little black book in one hand for the whole walk, reading directions from it at each turn, often while moving, frequently stumbling while she did so. 

The first section followed the edge of the moors overlooking the flat expanse of Cleveland to the North. The little black book warned us of harsh winds as we climbed the first assent but instead we were welcomed by blue skies, sun and clear views. Noon passed and we decided to stop for lunch before crossing a main road. As we walked out of a wooded area we were met by a man I dint recognise. Zoe's greeted the man enthusiastically indicating she knew him and for a moment I was rather confused. 'This is my husband' Zoe explained to Allysse and I. He had traveled up from Lincolnshire on his motorbike to tie in a motivational greeting and a ride around the moors. It was a pleasant surprise to meet him and we enjoyed our packed lunches before he waved goodbye as we began our march for the afternoon. 

Our path joined a disused railway which marked the end of following the Cleveland Way. The scenery was unchanging and the regular wide path was somewhat mundane but the level surface enabled us to cover ground quicker than before. Distance grew between each of us as we found our own pace and became lost in our own thoughts. Walking provides me with an opportunity for self reflection, The rhythm of my body moving and the allows my mind to zone out and approach my thoughts from a different perspective. We we silent for some time but it wasn't awkward. Without the need to explain or compare, the three of us knew we were in a similar state of deep thought. We passed a man set on the edge of the track tucking into a chocolate bar while taking in the views of the valley below. 

After what felt like several an eternity we took an unmarked path leading away from the disused railway and across the heather. We hesitated a few times, unsure of where the path was but I lead led the way, following a tunnel through the heather which could have equally been a sheep path. It was a shortcut that had been shut for several years according to the paper insert in the little black book. I'm not quite sure how the path could be 'closed'. It would have still been there and doubt there would have been a police officer posted at the start ready to stop anyone who attempted to cross it. The odd footprint in the soft ground reassured us we were on the right path and our enthusiasm returned knowing the car wasn't too far away. We passed a huge standing stone with markings that were to weathered to read. The little black book refereed to this landmark but sadly nothing is known about the purpose of the stone. 

The car came into view and our pace picked up while twilight set in. When we reached our endpoint for the day I watched on as Zoe and Allysse created funny shapes with their bodies as they stretched their limbs. We had completed our first leg of the journey! 

The drive back to Osmotherley was filled with giddyness combined with exhaustion. Having visited Osmotherley several times before I recommended we find a place to eat there before returning back to the B&B at Rosedale. We found a cosy pub serving good food where we could relax and discuss our accomplishment. 

We started the day an hour earlier on the Sunday; heading down for breakfast at 7am. Taking a car to the end point and returning to the start (the reverse of the day before) would eat up two hours of crucial daylight. Although time consuming, the scenery along the journey was beautiful so it didn't feel too much of a chore. We returned to the parking space where we had finished the walk the evening before and set off across the open moorland. We knew from the little icons on the OS map and the detail in the little black book that that the first few miles of the way were going to be boggy. I didn't fully expect the depth of water we faced. The marsh grass was a sign of moist ground but it disguised the water beneath it well. 

The ground sunk as the weight of my feet pressed against it and the water rose up like a squashed sponge. Like a game of hopscotch, we leaped about from one foot to the other trying to avoid the water and land on the tufts of vegetation. This method worked for a short distance. The landscape before us became dominated by marshy grass. No heather: A sign of lots of water. The three of us halted and stared in silence into the distance towards the painted white topped standing stones that  marked the path at intervals. All we could see was open moorland. And a lot of bloody marsh grass.  We stood some more, periodically looking at the ground around our feet then returning our gaze to the distance.  'Well, we will just have to take our boots off' I said in an enthusiastic tone. I bent down, untied my laces and pulled of each boot and sock in turn while trying to keep my balance. Zoe and Allysse also removed the boots and we stepped forward into the water, Our faces screwed up and we all yelped followed my 'ohhh ohhhh eeehhh ehhh' sounds- the water was freezing! I really cant comprehend that many people have crossed this section in the dark. 

It wasn't long until we reached firmer ground and could march on with our feet back in our boots. The full day was spent on the top of the moor in typical upland heath- a habitat that is dramatically declining in the UK. We rarely made a turn the whole day, instead following a lineal direction. The day felt more of a slog than the first, probably because the scenery didn't really change. I would say some of the paths were only walked by those walking the Lyke Wake Walk given the conditions of them. 

The 'ravine' as noted in the little black book was as steep as promised. It required getting down and on all fours and carefully edging ones bottom down the slope. At the bottom we were treated to an idyllic crossing of a river via stepping stones before ascending the opposite bank.  

We ate our lunch a short way from the Moors Railway and disappointingly we were just out of view of the steam train as it passed. We could see the steam pummeling above upwards but the train was lower in the valley.  

After scaling many more miles of heathland the endpoint came into view- the radio mast at Ravenscar. Our spirits picked up for a last time as we came within two miles of the finish. Allysse serenaded Zoe and I with typical French walking songs and we passed a packet of Jellybabies between us. Moments before reaching the mast we turned round to be taken a back by a beautiful pink and red sunset. It was as is Mother Nature was giving us a 'well done' sign. We reach the trig point by the mast just after 6.30pm. We had done it. We had completed the Lyke Wake Walk. 

This is a short video Zoe recorded along the way giving a better perspective of the views as well as a sign song from Allysse.  

For those two days I spent pretty much every second I was awake with Allysse and Zoe. We experienced the whole walk together and we talked along the way together, yet reading their own accounts of the walk gave me a deeper insight into their feelings and thoughts along the way.

Read their accounts here:
Zoe on Splodz Blogz
Allysse on  Beste Glatisant

Autumn in the wood

November 22, 2015, 1:59 pm

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I adore observing the dramatic change in seasons in the wood. Although I dread the dark nights, the colours of autumn are somewhat a fair compromise.

Members of Outdoor Blogger are blogging with the theme of Autumnwatch this month, so I thought I'd share some photos I have taken around the wood this Autumn.

The title photo above is of the Skullery which houses the woodburner and backboiler that heats our tap water and the central heating system. It gets super-hot in the Skullery making it the ideal place to dry washed clothes. It also houses the washing machine meaning we don't have to endure the noise of it running.



The woodland is predominantly silver birch and at their tiny diamond-shaped orange leaves appear to twinkle in the wind at this time of year.

As the leaves start to decompose, the car park turns to a muddy mess making cleaning our cars a pointless task. The car bonnets become clogged with leaves and twigs and the roofs develop a green layer. 

The house still looks warm and inviting among the browning vegetation. Soon the long grass will die back to a mushy mess.

We were given this old piano and put it in the area know as 'the party site'. It's been there over three years and is slowly rotting away. The keys still play notes but the moisture makes the keys stick. It's been a fun feature at our woodland parties and many people ask how we got such a heavy piano down that end of the wood. We love hitting a few of the keys in the dark of night, hoping a passer by may hear and be spooked out by the sounds of a piano coming from within a wood. Muwahahahahaaa!

Sweeping the deck of leaves is a frustrating task. As soon as I think I have finished, more fall from above. the surface because deathly slippy from wet leaves and the sweeping does help to reduce the build up of the the slippery gunk.

Autumn seems to pass quicker than other seasons. Maybe not in astronomical terms but the start is often associated with the change in colour of leafs to when all the trees are bear, indicating the onset of winter. That's how it feels in the wood now. All but some of the oaks have shed their leaves and the general colour of the landscape has changed from warm oranges to murky browns and greys. Yesterday and today I awoke to ground frost and the water dishes for the animals needed their frozen surfaces broken. Winter is definitely on its way.

If you blog about the outdoors you may be interested in joining Outdoor Bloggers run by myself and Zoe of Splodz Blogz. Sign up here for monthly blog themes and to meet other like-minded bloggers who love blogging about the outdoors. You can read more about Outdoor Bloggers here. If you have any questions feel free to send me a Tweet.

Feeling SAD

November 28, 2015, 2:33 pm

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Every year around the start of Autumn I start to feel frustrated and rather low for no real reason other than that the dark evenings drawing in earlier each day. Although I haven't been to the doctor to have it diagnosed, I'm pretty sure it could be Seasonal Affective Disorder. My symptoms- lack of energy and enthusiasm, increased tiredness and anxiety- are typical of the disorder which has gained in recognition in recent years. More people are aware it's a 'thing' and more people are seeking help for the condition.

I'm not a fan of the dark and typically feel lethargic and somewhat claustrophobic when darkness sets in on a day. Many people, often referred to as 'night owls', feel more productive at night, yet I just want to curl up and sleep in hope that the light of the following day will return quicker. As an outdoorsy person I feel relaxed when surrounded by nature and the natural landscape. Watching and appreciating the world fills me with enthusiasm and wonder. Darkness just fills me with boredom and misery.

I thought my frustrations and anxiety was largely due to leaving for work in the dark and getting home in the dark, meaning I didn't see my animals in daylight or get to outside to process some vitamin D. However, since being made redundant and setting up SocialRocks, I still feel much the same as previous years.

I've lightly researched the condition several times in previous years I probably have the milder version of the two types of SAD; Subsyndromal-SAD as it is know or S-SAD for short. It doesn't really effect me enough to be concerned of to bother taking up my doctor's time but it's comforting to know I'm not the only sole feeling a bit mad at this time of the year.

My research has even led me to question whether SAD is actually a disorder at all. The condition has been linked to a lack of access to light which increases natural melatonin levels within our bodies. Melatonin is the same hormone that regulates hibernation in animals so it sounds plausible that the symptoms are just a way of our bodies telling us to slow down at this time of year. This would mean this so called 'disorder' is just a natural part of being animals- which we are.

Either way, the darkness makes me miserable. I'm sure most people will agree that getting up in the mornings while it's still pitch black outside is less than inspiring and extremely hard. One godsend that's helping me on these dark morning is a 'SAD light'. I've debated getting one for the last few winters but the hefty price tag of the recommended make, the Lumie Bodyclock and it's disproportionately few negative reviews on Amazon still managed to put me off. However, my boyfriend surprised me with one for my birthday present back in September and it's been a significant element of our nightly routine ever since. Waking up to a room filled with close-to-natural looking light makes mornings more bearable than opening my eyes to pitch black and the shocking sound of my alarm ringing from my bedside table. The light slowly and consistently brightens over 30 minutes, imitating a sunrise. It even does the reverse for bedtime which is great for us as we spend time chatting before drifting off. The gradual dimming light is calming, helping me to relax and drop off.



All the advice I have read suggests spending moor time outside to get access to natural daylight. From next week I will make an effort to go for a stroll at lunchtime to increase the time I spend outside. I'm also going to sign up to a yoga class with my sister to learn how to clear my mind and relax. I do believe that the biological effects are amplified by my mental state so hopefully training my mind will help reduce my anxiety.

Do you suffer similar symptoms at this time of year? Have you been diagnosed with SAD? I'd love to hear from others experiencing similar anxiety problems related to the seasons.

The Summit sleeping bag onesie solves my camping wee wee troubles

December 9, 2015, 5:13 am

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I have a strategic 'going to bed' routine when camping. Since I get cold in the night I set out my tent with a thick blanket on the floor with my inflatable mattress on top, followed by my sleeping bag. I always bring along my fluffy pillow from my bed at home rather than using an uncomfortable camping pillow. When I have made the decision to prepare for sleeping time, I heat water in a kettle on the camp fire or stove, then fill my two fleecy hot water bottles. They then get placed into the sleeping bag- one at the bottom where my feet will be and one in the middle where my back will be. Next, I get into my leggings and a t shirt (normally one of Dave's because they are longer), then into my thick, fleecy onesie with skulls on. I then climb into my pre-warmed sleeping bag and manoeuvre the hot water bottles into the perfect position. Aaaaaand sleep.

The main problem with my perfected set up is that I'm one of those people who ALWAYS needs a wee wee in the night. No one likes getting out of their sleeping bag, then put shoes on, then leave the comfort of the tent to find a toilet spot. I have almost perfected this routine too. If you had the pleasure of reading my 'What to take to a festival: My guide for first-timers' post last year, you kwill now I take a potable urinal. Yup. No need to leave the tent for a wee wee. Genius. However, sometimes a toilet is the only polite option when sharing a tent with anyone who doesn't like the idea of me weeing just metres away from their dozy head. I have needed an Option B for such occasions.

Planet Camping have the perfect solution to the 'getting-out-of-my-sleeping bag-to-put-on-my-shoes-and-get-out-of-the-tent' issue. I present to you, my fellow camping kings and queens, the Summit Motion Sac.

The Summit Motion Sac is quite simply, but amazingly, a sleeping bag in the shape of a onesie. Complete with hood, removable boots, unzipable arms and easy accessible front flap, this sleeping bag makes getting out of the tent for a wee wee much more pleasurable. I now don't need to get out of my sleeping bag to get to the toilet!

Let me take you through those fine features...

 

Those arms-ends have zips which can be opened so I have the use of my hands, without getting out of the sleeping bag.

 

 



See those zips? They can be undone so the whole boot section of the sleeping bag on either leg can be removed.

 

This means I can put my shoes on, without getting out of the sleeping bag.

 

 Just like a normal sleeping bag, it stuffs easily into a sack.

 

So, thank you Planet Camping for sending me a Summit Sleeping Sac to review. You really have perfected by Option B camping wee wee routine.

This is the ideal Christmas present for camping lovers and festival goers and Planet Camping are super nice to have given me a 15% discount code to offer to my lovely readers. Even better, they offer free next day delivery too- perfect for any of you who still haven't finished Christmas shopping, like me.  If you would like the code, send me a Tweet @MissJTulip or message me on The Thrifty Magpies Nest Facebook Page.

Do you have a methodical preparation routine when camping? It would be nice to know I'm not the only meticulous camping queen.

 

Hey Clay! Getting creative at The Potter Man Studio

December 29, 2015, 12:37 pm

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If you have been watching the BBC's The Great Pottery Thrown Down you may have, like me, been inspired to turn your hand to pottery making. If you haven't been keeping up with the series, which has the same concept to the Great British Bake Off, there's likely to be a showing of the classic film, Ghost, over the Christmas period that will get you itchy for a go on a potters wheel.

A few weeks ago I, along with Dave, my sister Sheryl and my two eldest nephews, Keo and Luca, went along to a taster pottery session at The Potter Man Studio. It was one of many free sessions running across the country as part of the'Hey, Clay' campaign run by the Crafts Council and the BBC programme at the start of December.

I had no idea that there was a pottery studio in my closest village, Holme Upon Splading Moor. It's located on the business park, a former WW2 airfield, just on the outskirts of the village.

Dave and I were running 5 minutes late and were meeting my sister and nephews there. We were met at the door by Lee Steel, the owner of The Potter Man Studio and we were taken through to a room with displays of pottery. Another couple had travelled from a local village to the workshop, so in all there were 7 of us ready to get messy with the clay.

After a demonstration from Lee, we all began to construct our pots.

Luca and Keo cutting their own lumps of clay to make into pots.

That's my sister, Sheryl concentrating very hard at the back there, and I'm 'blending' the walls of my pot.

Luca, Sheryl and Dave deep in concentration.

I'm adding patterns to the side of my heart-shaped pot

Our pots laid out ready to be put into the kiln.

Lee showed us work from students who attend his pottery classes. I love these ornaments constructed from rolls of clay.

The moment we had all been waiting for- a go on the potters wheel. Yes, it is as hard as it looks!

Luca got the hang of the wheel quickly.

Sheryl's pot was a little...wonky.

Keo was very probably the most patient and gentle with his pot meaning it was a success first time around. It took the rest of us a few goes before we created something that resembled a pot.

That tall one at the front is mine. Not bad, not bad!

After experiencing the potters wheel we returned to our pots on the table to add the finishing touches. While we were all making receptacles of some sorts, Keo was making this masterpiece.

I used to spend many hours being creative- sewing, painting, baking and drawing- however, in the last few years I haven't 'found the time' to be creative. The taster pottery class was not only fun, it was also therapeutic and calmed my mind after a busy day. The pottery session sparked my creative side once again and I am making one of my 2016 goals to allow myself time to make things again, and not feel guilty for it.

We all really enjoyed our pottery taster session and I recommend to anyone who was inspired by the BBC The Great Pottery Throw Down, or by this blog post, to have a go.

We found a poorly barn owl

January 9, 2016, 10:13 am

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 On Thursday afternoon I was in the pickup with Ian, my step dad, driving home when his hawk eyes spotted a barn owl snoozing low down in a tree on the verge. We will often stop the car to observe any interesting animals we see but this time it was concerning to see a barn owl perched only a few feet above the ground, with its eyes closed and during the day.

Concerned for its safety and fearing it has been hit by a car and was therefore injured, I hopped out of the car and slowly approached the bird to see how it reacted. I got quite close before it attempted to take flight further into the wood behind, but he couldn't gain any height. It flapped slowly and glided to the ground. I perused it closely. When it landed it looked exhausted. I clasped my hands over its back and wings and it hardly resisted. There was something clearly up. To keep the bird calm I tucked it under my coat, being careful not to get my hands in the way of its sharp talons, and headed back to the vehicle.

Quite coincidently we were all but a hundred meters from the home of a falconer friend. He has years of experience caring for birds of prey and has successfully rescued and released several before.

On arrival he sent us through to his outdoor shed to take a look at the barn owl. On removing it from beneath my coat and passing it to him it was clear the bird was very thin. He felt its breast bone which is a good indicator of a bird's weight. The poor thing was just skin and bones.



Barn owls have incredibly light feathers which enable them to fly silently to hunt prey. Most birds waterproof their feathers by taking secreted oil from a glad located above their tail with their beaks and preening it through their feathers. Barn owls, however, don’t do this becasue they need to keep their feathers soft for silent flight. The lack of feather waterproofing makes barn owls extremely sensitive to wet weather and the horrendous amount of rain we have had and their waterlogged environment is most likely the cause of this barn owl's suffering. With waterlogged feathers, it can't hunt and is susceptible to getting cold quickly. Barn owls need to eat regularly to maintain their weight, so just a few days without feeding will result in a thin, weak bird.

Our falconer friend said he would care for the owl and try to get some food into him straight away. If the owl would eat, there would be a good chance of it surviving the night and putting on weight over the next few days.

We eagerly awaited news from our friend the next day. In the evening he called to say he managed to get some meat into the barn owl's beak, which it gulfed down. He then left meat close by it overnight. When he returned in the morning the meat was gone. We were so happy with the news.

Our friend is going to continue to feed the owl and monitor his weight over the next few days. The worry is that this horrible wet weather isn't due to stop anytime soon so he will keep the owl in until the weather improves.

I'm looking forward to seeing the barn owl released back in the same spot we found it, when the bird is healthy and the weather has improved. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

It's looking promising for our feathered friend. I'll keep you posted on its progress.

Update on Lindy the rescued hedgehog

January 19, 2016, 2:08 pm

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Last October we took in a teeny-tiny baby hedgehog that weighed just 250g. Autumn hoglets, as they are known, need to be around 350g to survive hibernation over winter, so this little one was doomed if he were to be left in the wild. You can read the first post about the baby here.

The hedgehog rescues in the local vicinity were all at full capacity so, after speaking with a hedgehog expert, we committed to looking after the baby for the duration of winter. Seven whole months to be exact!

I tell you now; the hedgehog rescues are doing an amazing job. I have just the one hedgehog who creates enough poo to build one of those eco round houses. The hedgehog rescue who gave me advice has 80 of the smelly creatures!



Looking after Lindy (the name we have given her) was quite a novelty at first, but the constant replenishment of towels and the amount of poo I need to remove from said towels, is beginning to get a little tedious. However, I know it’s for the greater good. It’s estimated that there are around 1 million hedgehogs left in the UK compared to a huge 30 million in the 1950’s. It’s not good news. So when I’m scraping poo off towels and scrubbing the inside of her heated box, I feel happy to be doing my bit for saving our beautiful spiky friend.

In three months Lindy has bulked out quite a bit. She’s an eating, sleeping, pooping machine. She's gone from a weight of 250g to almost 850g! She's more than than trippled her original weight.



These are ‘before and after’ photos to show what she looked like when we rescued her compared to what she looks like now. Although she looks pretty much the same length, she is actually more curled in the latest photo. Her width is clearly larger, though. Beefy hedgehog!

 October 

 January

Come the end of April it will be time to let Lindy back into the wild. Hedgehogs love woodland so we are in the ideal place for her to be. I hope she sticks around when she goes back into the wild.

The other week I discovered a wonderful lady, Emma, on Twitter who recues hedgehogs and makes jewellery to raise funds to pay for their upkeep. Her Etsy shop is called the Little Silver Hedgehog, which is full of her delightful handmade silver jewellery. If you are looking for a beautiful gift for someone who loves nature, do take a look at the Little Silver Hedgehog Etsy shop and maybe buy a present from there.

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A luxury stay at the Ox Pasture Hall Hotel near Scraborough

February 2, 2016, 4:58 am

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≪ Previous: Update on Lindy the rescued hedgehog

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When I recieved the email inviting me to review the Ox Pasture Hall Hotel near Scarborough with a complimentary night’s stay for two people with evening meal and breakfast, I got very excited. When I visited the country-style hotel’s website and saw the photos of the beautiful building, I got even more giddy.  Dave and I haven’t really had any alone time together for over 5 months and a romantic night away in such an idyllic hotel would be such a treat.

The Ox Pasture Hall Hotel is located just minutes from the seaside town of Scarborough yet far out enough from the built up area for it to feel like it’s in the middle of nowhere.  Those who enjoy the classic makings of a seaside resort will not be disappointed with the abundance of arcades, fish and chip shops, ice cream parlours and good old bucket and spade shops that the beachfront of Scarborough has to offer.  The resort benefits from two beaches- the South Bay which is the busier stretch of sand close the main amusements and the North Bay which is traditionally the quieter beach.  Just outside the town is the Sea Life Centre, with over 50 different displays of marine life and a wild seal hospital.


Before checking into the hotel, we had spent the day hiking in the surrounding Yorkshire Moor National Park and were exhausted.  On arrival, the very welcoming manager, Alan, lead us to our room and we beamed with happiness at how big and romantic it was. The bed was huge, the bathroom was huge and it even had a separate living area with a comfy sofa and a large TV.  In fact, there was even a TV in the bedroom.  When Dave and I are away we choose not to watch TV and, instead, spend time completely relaxing with each other. It was nice to know we had the option to watch telly though.

We had made the most of the daylight for walking so had arrived after dusk so decided to wait until the following morning to explore the ground of the hotel. It was early evening and we had booked our table for 8.30pm so made the most of our huge room. We soaked in a hot bath then wrapped ourselves in the soft dressing gowns that were provided. After a relaxing snooze we dressed for the evening and headed to the bar for a drink.

After being seated in the lounge area of the bar we were brought a bottle of Porsecco and the restaurant menu. It was nice just to sit in each other’s company, sipping our drinks and taking in the cosy atmosphere. Dogs are welcome in the hotel and one sat quietly by its owner by the sofa opposite. Our meal orders were taken, and when the time came, we were guided to our table situated by French windows that looked out over the lit up front garden.

The waiter brought us each an amuse bouche- a tiny cup of soup with freshly baked bread (we thought he called them ‘Mighty Boosh’. Proves we are not used to such luxury!) and introduced himself. The starter-before-the-starter was demolished quickly. It was delicious.

Next, our starters arrived which were presented beautifully. I chose seared scallops and Dave had herring parcels. When eating out I aim to choose food that I wouldn’t normally have at home and the scallops were the perfect choice. They were cooked to perfection- slightly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

We both chose the duck for main which was served pink. As a person who loves her vegetables I was slightly disappointed that some didn’t come with the meal but, after all, the menu was gourmet-style. To be fair, I couldn’t have fit any more food in!



For desert I chose sticky toffee pudding served with ice cream and a jug of thick, creamy toffee sauce.  Dave went for the bitter chocolate torte. Sorry but we forgot to take photos as we were so indulged in our deserts!

With bellies full to the brim we headed back to our room and climbed into the generous bed, promptly falling asleep beneath the cosy duvet.

After enjoying the pressure of the hot shower the next morning, we headed back to the restaurant for breakfast. The staff welcomed us cheerily and seated us by the back window, overlooking the courtyard. Several dogs were stretching their legs while their owners watched on from the doors of their rooms.

The breakfast spread had everything I could ask for- yogurt, fruit, cereals, juices and a wide selection of teas.



Full Yorkshire Breakfast was listed on menu. Two of them please!

The bacon was of high quality and the eggs had bright yolks- perfect.

With full bellies once more we took time to get some fresh air and explore the 17 acres of land surrounding the buildings. The beautifully kept grounds are idyllic for a country-style wedding or function and there’s a purpose-built reception building overlooking the grounds and the moor beyond.

By now it was around 10am and we wanted to go fossil hunting at Runswick Bay before the tide came in.  So we made our way, slightly grudgingly, to reception to check out. The attentive manager ensured we had enjoyed our visit and offered to carry our luggage. We would have loved to stay longer at the Ox Pasture Hall Hotel, but all good things must come to an end.

Fossil hunting at Runswick Bay

February 3, 2016, 1:09 pm

≫ Next: Rekindling my passion for music

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The night after our luxury stay at the Ox Pasture Hall Hotel near Scarborough, we headed to my favourite beach in Yorkshire, Runswick Bay.



I spent many a weekend as a child playing on the sandy stretch of beach with cliffs that tower high above the sea level. The picture postcard village is made up of pretty cottages tightly nestled within the cliffs, brightly coloured upturned boats resting on a steep slope and the old RNLI lifeboat house that was in use up until the last 1970's.



Runswick Bay is also the place where my interest in natural history was sparked by the many hours 'fossilising'. For hours, my Dad and I would rummage through loose slate to crack open with chisels and hammers to reveal the fossilised remains of crustaceans. The stretch of cliffs along the bay consist of Jurassic rock making it one of the best places in the UK to find fossils.

The best thing about fossil hunting is that anyone can do it and anyone could stumble across a huge dinosaur! A 13-foot plesiosaur was discovered a bit further south of Runswick Bay close to Filey by an electrician in 2002. He spotted vertebrae while out fossil hunting and traced the skeleton up the cliff!

It was Dave's first-time fossil hunting and I wanted to show him how exciting it is to discover the remains of an animal that lived between 240 - 65 million years ago; a span of time that I can't even begin to comprehend.

The north stretch of the Bay is THE place to hunt for suitable slate rocks to crack open. This side of the beach is very rocky and it's a challenge to negotiate the slippy rocks, rock pools and wobbly stones. The cliffs are made of unstable shale and are prone to frequent landslides which can be dangerous but also means that fresh rock falls to the ground making it easy to reach.



While walking over the exposed rock where cliff once stood, we found this huge ammonite specimen. We spent some time carefully chipping away the surface layer to reveal more of the pattern below. It wouldn't be possible to remove the fossil but it was fun revealing more of it to gawp over.

The tide was on its way in and, having researched the tide times online, knew we only had a couple of hours at most to hang around on the rocks. We spent some time cracking open slate rocks we found lying loose between the bigger rocks and rocky surface of the beach. We found parts of fossils and teeny tiny ones, but nothing impressive. I collected a small pile of rocks to get through, including a spherical rock that I thought might contain an ammonite.

Up until then we had been alone on this rocky stretch but a man appeared with worn clothes and fabric sack. He greeted us as he approached then moved quickly over the freshly fallen loose rock below the cliff face. I asked him if he was also fossil hunting to which he confirmed he was. I watched him for some time while he gather rocks and put them in his fabric sack. He told us he wouldn't spend long on the shale as it was dangerous then he moved a few yards closer to the sea and emptied his bag of rocks on top of a huge rock that acted as his table.



Obviously, my interest in his activity increased and I headed over with my spherical rock to ask him whether he thought it would contain an ammonite. "Yes, most probably," he said. "Let's have a look". He took my rock and gave it a good wack with his brick hammer (a much bigger tool than we had with us). He struck it perfectly because the rock opened to reveal a perfect ammonite. We spent a few moment chatting with the man before he warned us the sea would soon cut us off from getting back around to the village. The time had passed our minds as we were so engrossed in what we were doing, which can prove very dangerous.



We quickly gathered as many of the spherical rocks as we could carry, thanked the man then made our way back around the rocks. He was right, the water was lapping at the last stretch of rocks before the cliff face.



Our plastic bags stretched with the weight of their contents and my arms ached from holding onto my bounty as tight as possible. We didn't have any free hands to support ourselves as we stepped over the rocks and around the pools so we were wobbling all over the place.



The village and beach are at the bottom of a very steep cliff so it was all uphill to get back to the car. Out of puff, we arrived at the car and tipped out bounty into the boot. The sea was still far out enough to enjoy the sandy beach so we headed back down for a short stroll. As we stepped onto the sand we were surprised to see a bat flying around our heads. It swooped right past my head! A bat out in daylight in January at the beach was a strange sight.



We had a fab day at my favourite beach and I can't wait to get back this summer.

We are yet to crack open our rocks so I will write an update when we get around to it. I reckon we have some good ones hiding in those rocks!

Rekindling my passion for music

February 8, 2016, 2:48 pm

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Like it is for most young people growing up, music was an integral and influential part of my existence throughout my teens and into my early 20s. The bands and artists I listened to with my friends really were the soundtracks to my life. Every road trip, party, adventure, crush, and breakup had a song that felt like it was written for that very moment and just for me, or for us.

Between the ages of 16 and 18 I spent, on average, three nights a week going to gigs at Fibbers in York. My best friend and I were on the Street Team for the venue which meant we could get free backstage entry to every gig in return for spending a few hours handing out flyers to promote the venue. Trying to balance A level course work, classes, an evening job and going to as many gigs as possible drained the life out of me and I spent most of those years zombified- a fitting state to match my emo style. But it was worth it. I got to see so many awesome bands, watch sound checks and meet the bands and artists backstage including Badly Drawn Boy and Graham Coxon.

We went to see Less Than Jake every year, went to Download and Leeds Festival annually and knew the words to every song they played at our favourite alternative club night at Ziggys in York. My gig ticket collection grew month-on-month and I still have the 5 framed montages of tickets up in the attic.

When driving my car I had The Prodigy, Coheed and Cambria, Blur or The Used blasting from my stereo and every morning I woke up to a mixed CD with Blink 182, Pappa Roach and Slipknot every morning.

Fast forward to today. I’m now 29 years old and I haven’t got any music on my iPhone and my CD player is still packed from when we moved over 18 months ago.

What’s happened?

Music used to lead my life yet now I have to make a conscious effort to listen to anything.

On reflection there are 6 main factors that have contributed to my music-lacking life.

1. My 16gb iPhone is filled with so many apps and photos I don’t have any space for music.

2. I can’t bare the thought of setting up my Hifi because I always get the speaker wires in a tangle and one has to be wiggled in just the right place to get the whole darn thing working.

3. Working from home means I no longer have a commute where I can listen to music.

4. Our internet download is limited because we are on 4G and can’t get normal broadband because we live in the middle of nowhere.

5. Copying CDs from my mates meant I had a constant stream of new music. Now, no one buys CDs, CD burners are old technology and it’s also illegal.

6. My music taste is quite different to Dave’s. I don’t think he would appreciate me singing my guts out to The Used. 




I’ve been aware of the situation some time but haven’t put my mind to sorting it out. In the grand scheme of things, it isn’t a biggie. However, I’m conscious that music is a good for the mind and can help one relax. I want music back in my life.

The topic came up in discussion with Dave one evening and, since music is a big part of his social life (he’s part of a soundsystem crew), we both are keen to listen to more music. It’s useful that Dave has an interest in technology and speakers and he’s been talking for some time about investing in a good music system that sounds good, puts music into every room in the house and can compile all our music into one place. I’m not techy, but it sounds ideal.

We’ve been looking at different wireless speaker systems and the ones that Panasonic do are reasonably priced and would solve my ‘tangled wires’ syndrome. Although they are sleek-looking we want to customise them to fit in with our décor. The idea is to make wood casings for them so they either look like they are made out of wood or just look like logs. I’ve been pinning away on Pinterest for inspiration and there are so many cool ideas for wood speakers.



We don’t spend much time watching TV but we are both guilty of spending a lot of time on our laptops and mobile phones. With this blog and my own business to run I feel the need to be ‘always on’; checking out my social media channels, reading other blogs and responding to emails. As part of my plan to ‘regain my passion for music’ we are going to ban mobile phones from the bedroom. We wanted to ban them as we know they will be effecting our sleep. Many studies show that looking at screens in the hour before bedtime reduces the quality of sleep. Instead, we will listen to music and truly relax rather than watching our screens which are proven to disrupt sleep. I reckon my music project will actually have a benefit on my health.



Another great thing about music is that it can provide entertainment while I do something dull, such as cleaning or cooking. It sounds obvious, but I genuinely forget to put music on at such times. I think a lot of it is to do with habit. As a teen Iwould automatically reach for the play button on my stereo or pop my earphones in when on the move.

I’m excited to rekindle my relationship with music. I’m looking forward to dedicating time to listening to music with Dave. I know I’ll benefit from music being a part of my life again.

I’d love to hear from anyone who has also found themselves drift away from music, especially if it was such a big part of your life when you were a teenager. It would be interesting to hear about how you tuned back in and made music a part of your life again. Please leave me a comment below or send me a Tweet @MissJTulip. Thank you.

P.S. I collaborated with Panasonic for this post, 

however all views and words are my own.

Phil Spencer, Home Hero series

February 15, 2016, 2:35 am

≫ Next: Build a birdbox for the birds in your garden

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It is 18 months since Dave and I moved from our tiny rented annex to the wood together. On one hand time has gone so quickly yet on the other it feels like we have been here together for years. It may be because I’ve already spent many years of my life here and it’s always been ‘home’ to me but either way, we feel settled.

Channel 4 and British Gas have recorded a mini series with Phil Spencer aimed at people who are buying a new house or have recently moved. Each episode is only around 7 minutes long, meaning they can be watched during lunch breaks during a commute. Phil advises recently-moved couples and individuals on all aspects of buying a house from arranging a removals van to personalising flat pack furniture.

Watching the series has given me a few ideas of what we can do to maximise our space and some interior quick-fixes we can fit in around our already busy weekends. Like most people who have just moved, we are on a budget and the series keeps this fact in mind throughout. Many home programmes presume the public have loads of money to splash on new furniture and DIY materials but I found this series much more minfuld of realistic budgets.

In this episode, Phil Spencer helps a couple turn their first house into a cosy space with minium effort and cost.

I LOVE the reupholstered chair. I'm going to look in some charity shops for a couple chairs and buy some fabric that is in keeping with our front room decor.



The Phil Spencer, Home Hero series can be viewed on Channel 4’s YouTube channel.

This is a collaborative post 

Build a birdbox for the birds in your garden

March 2, 2016, 10:32 am

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My fascination for birds started when I was a little girl. My step father would quiz me on the birds we could see from our window or through our bincoluars on a walk. With its diverse landscapes and habitat, Yorkshire is a fantastic place to grow up in and I am lucky to be able to watch garden birds from my window or watch waders skimming the edges of lakes just down the road at the local nature reserve.

My favourite thing about bird watching is observing their behaviour as they search for food, preen their feathers and interact with their fellow feather friends around them. There are not many animals that can be so readily observed in their natural habitats, but many birds can be observed easily, mostly because so many species will be abundant within one area, and the fact that they can fly means they can be easily spotted as they move from tree to tree.



Now that March has arrived, birds all around the country will have already paird up and have begun hunting for the ideal nesting site to raise their young. Watching is wonderful, but I've also found great joy in doing my part to help birds in my area, whether by hanging some feed or by providing suitable nesting areas and materials.

Building a nest box to put up in your garden is not only fun, it will also encourage birds around your yard or garden to raise their young, giving you the opportunity to see them raise their family, right in front of you. I was surprised when I built my first bird box how simple it really is. Once you gather the supplies you need, you can really get it done in a matter of an hour or two.

Building materials:

A bird box is best crafted with wood as it will keep chicks warm during the cold nights and cool during the warmer days. It's the most natural option for the birds and also the one that will house them most appropriately from the elements. You'll want several slabs of wood at least 15mm thick and 150mm by 300mm in dimension (though you'll ultimately be cutting some of these down to different sizes). Six slabs should do the trick (floor, roof, back, front, and sides), though you may want an extra one or two in case you mess up. Wood can be purchased from your local hardware store or timber yard. If you live in East Riding of Yorkshire, I can supply you with wood as we have our own small timber yard here at the wood.

Tools to use:

You'll also need a few every-day tools. In addition to a ruler and perhaps some sanding paper, you'll need a saw, a hammer, nails, and a power drill. If you don't have the right tools then check out any hardware store or head to the UK's leading trade tool supplier also offers quick shipping options that can get you that power drill or a fresh, sharp saw in 24 or 48 hours!

Planning your box:

Once you have your materials and tools it just comes down to a little bit of construction, and this is the fun part. I'd recommend starting with a ruler and a marker to draw out the dimensions on your slabs of wood before sawing. I recommend following nest box guidelines from one of the conservation charities as they know exactly what birds like. I follow this guide for bird box sizing (including different hole sizes in front for different types of birds you may want to attract).

Cut your wood:

Cut the wood according to whatever guide you may choose, it's as simple as cutting out a small hole in what will be the front of the box and then nailing all the pieces together. Once that's done, you'll want to use the aforementioned power drill to make a few small holes in the floor of the box so that water can drain in the event of heavy rains. But the rest is up to your little winged friends!

Hang your box:

Once the box is ready, you can simply attach it to a tree, fence or shed in your gardn or yard. When choosing the location for your box, consider whether predators such as cats can reach the box. Try to avoid areas where cats can easily climb up to your box.

When we first arrived at the wood over 15 years ago we started putting bird boxes up. We now have a number of boxes suitable for blue tits, great tits, robins, wrens and, my favourite, tawny owls. Watching birds use a bird box you have put up will give you a sense of connection to the nature around you, and it’s exciting to watch the parent birds as they bring food back for their young. If you are very lucky, you may even get to see the moment the chicks leave the box for the very first time an amazing experience for anyone of any age.

PS. This is a collaborate post however all thoughts are my own. 

We're going to Berlin next week!

March 9, 2016, 8:03 am

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Last week I received an email from a lady at MyVoucherCodes to tell me about their new holiday quiz that recommends a destination to you based on three simple criteria- the temperature, the cost and the type of holiday.

Coincidently, Dave and I had been discussing the possibility of taking a short break since he has been very busy at work with a big project and would like to de-stress. Being the country bumpkin I am I prefer holidays to somewhere rural and I'm perfectly happy to camp to keep costs down however, with the weather being rather chilly, Dave opted for a city break somewhere in Europe. Considering I'm normally the holiday planner it was only fair to let Dave pick where to go. It’s quite easy to choose the destination of 3 night camping break because we are restricted by travelling time and I always choose a hilly location. Either the Lakes, the Yorkshire Dales or the Yorkshire Moors are my first choice. Picking a European city, however, is somewhat overwhelming. There are so many places to choose from and we know so little about any of them. So the email about the 'My Perfect Holiday Generator' came at an ideal time.



I chose a 'Warm' destination because I don't really like to be too hot and find hot places a bit too desolate and lacking in vegitation. I also chose 'Explore' becuase we both want to discover exciting places in a city. Being the budgeters we are, we chose 'Cheap' for the price.

The result we got was Paris.

Inspired by the quiz we researched things to do in Paris. I visited while on a French Exchange when I was students so have experienced some of the main tourist attractions. Visiting as an adult, however, and without teachers, would be a somewhat different experience!

Naturally, we started to investigate other Europeans cities and we became totally inspired by all our options. We decided between us that we would like to go to a city we bot haven't been to before so lay the Paris suggestion to rest for the time being. After asking for recommendations from our friends and over Twitter, we settled for Berlin.


Berlin appears to have it all- museums, a good nightlife, amazing street art, lot's of history, cheap flights, good pubs, authentic street food - perfect!

We secured cheap-ish flights from EasyJet for £243 for the two of us booked a central hotel with fantastic reviews on TripAdvisor for just £204 for three nights. Best bit: we go next Tuesday!

Although we want to see some of the main tourist attractions we are keen to get a real sense of the culture and discover the places the locals hang out. Our plan is to find a good German pub and get advice from the punters over a pint.

So, if you have been to Berlin I would loooooove to hear your recommendations of what to see and where to go. Please comment with your recommendations or Tweet me at @MissJTulip. Thanks!

PS. This is a collaborative post however all views are my own.

The Epson EcoTank printer may be 'The One'

March 22, 2016, 1:46 pm

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My relationship history with printers hasn’t been very good.

My current printer needs me to hold its paper for it and gently guide it through or it will chew it up or tell me I haven’t given it paper. Hand feeding a printer 20 sheets of paper, praying its stupid little feet will pick the pieces up quickly before it decides to halt work and flash all its clever little lights and tell me I’m doing something wrong is frustrating and tedious.

Dashing to print a document that I need there and then often ends up with the printer deciding to ‘clean’ itself- whatever that means- which takes several minutes of precious time and lots of weird noises that start then stop then start again.

Then, the ink will decide to run out half way through printing a document then I’m really screwed.

Next, I would need to apply for a mortgage to pay for the ink or choose to buy 3rd part ink cartridges which may just decide to splatter all over my lap.

On one occasion the ink wouldn’t come out of the cartridge so I thought I would tempt it out by giving the cartridge a little suck. 2 days later I still had a blue/black tongue. Bad idea.

A few weeks ago, Epson contacted me about there new all-singing-all-dancing-all-in-one printer that promises to cost me less in ink and comes with a three year warranty. Even better, it has wireless printing so I don’t have to be near the thing while it does its job. I welcomed the offer to review the printer and the very next morning I received a text to tell me my printer was to be delivered that same day and also what time to expect the courier to deliver it. It arrived promptly on time. Good service!



Setting up the device took about an hour. After the standard pressing of buttons and managing setting the printer requested about 20 minutes of alone-time to set itself up. The printer recognised my phones and laptops automatically and now all was needed was the ink.

The Epson ET4500 comes with a year’s supply of ink and refillable cartridges. This means that the ink is supplied in bottles that you just poor directly into the cartridges. The advantage being you aren’t paying for the actual cartridge each time- just the ink itself. This is really the only ‘eco’ thing about the printer. I was disappointed with the crazy amount of packaging that the printer came in, most of which isn’t recyclable. I HATE polystyrene. It diffiulct to recycle  and when dumped in a landfill it would take thousands of years to decompose. There’s also a lot of clear plastic bags in the box, too. The only easily recyclable component is the box itself.



I was a little nervous about pouring the ink into the cartridges but my steady hand managed to get the ink in the right place.

According to ExpertReviews.co.uk, the ink is so cheap to buy it’s just 0.49p per page which even the most competitive cartridge-based inkjets will cost about 6x this amount to run. Pretty impressive!

The print quality for standard documents is fine and it throws out the pages quickly. However, I can’t seem to get a good photo print. The images looked dull and dark, almost although the paper has absorbed too much ink. I’ve heard that photo paper may improve the quality and I am yet to test this theory.

It has a fax function but I haven’t used fax since 2004 so haven’t bothered setting it up. Does anyone even fax these days?

The design looks a bit dated and the button sounds remind me of the early 2000s but to be honest, a printer is there to print and not to look good. It’s compact and doesn’t look bulky like many all-in-ones which is more of a concern to me.

As my social media consultancy business, SocialRocks, grows I plan to be as ‘green’ as possible. Adding the EcoTank to my team is my first step in reaching this goal and I’m looking forward to every printing session being a happy one. You know what? I reckon we are going to have a good relationship; the EcoTank and I.

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4 days in beautiful Berlin

April 4, 2016, 5:12 am

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A couple of weeks ago we travelled to Berlin to see some sights, eat lots of food and learn lots of history.

Being a country bumpkin who finds cities rather noisy and full of concrete, a camping trip is my usual choice of holiday. I do, however, love going to museums to learn about history and other cultures and seeking out independent cafes and pubs that serve delicious food.

Berlin, although many buildings are relatively new, is steeped in history, especially the dark and scary kind. I knew little of the city other than it was once divided by a wall, was once the power hold of Hitler, the SS and the Gestapo and is known for the graffiti that covers many buildings and empty spaces.

I studied German at school for a couple of years so know some very basic terms but Dave, however, knows none.

Graffiti covers many walls and buildings in the city.

Ian, my step father, is a bit of a Hitler fanatic (by this I mean interested in his reign and WWII, not actually liking the man!) and he spent several years working in construction in Germany. This meant he could give us a quick over view of what to look for, what to eat and a lot of history about the country. Oh, and some useful phrases such as ‘Can I have one beer please?’

We awoke at 3am to travel to Manchester airport and fly to the city. On arrival we followed the masses to the train station which was a short walk from the airport. Within 15 minutes of arriving in the country we were stumped, though. The ticket machines for the train, although available in English, had trouble taking our coins and 3 debit cards. The credit card worked in the end though.

The next challenge was working out which stop to get off at. We didn’t have a map, no data on our phones and each station started with ‘Berlin’ in the name, which wasn’t helpful. In the true nature of tourists we decided to just follow the crowds so departed the train when everyone else did. After leaving the train we sought help from an information point, picked up a map and started heading towards our hotel. We should have got off a stop earlier but we didn’t mind the walk; we got to see more by doing so.

After a stop for waffles drowned in chocolate and cream we found the hotel and enjoyed a nap before heading out to some local pubs for beer and food.

The hotel had free WiFi so we downloaded some useful Apps apps and planned our days in the mornings, taking advantage of Trip Advisor and Google Maps. Berlin by Triposo is the app we pretty much used to plan the whole 4 days. Although the descriptions of the m museums, attractions, eateries and pubs were poor, the map was comprehensive, had all the tourists attractions pinpointed and worked without WiFi.

The Trabant car is a symbol of life on the East side of the Berlin Wall when the GDR were in power.

After 2 days of reading the MANY interpretation boards and museums about the Berlin Wall I can confidently say I now know a lot about its history. I find its history equally fascinating and rather disturbing. It wasn’t even that long ago. Seeing sections of the wall, visiting Check Point Charlie and learning about the contrasting lives of normal people both sides of the wall was incredible. Before the holiday I knew nothing about this important part of European history. If you don’t know much about it, I can’t recommend studying it (reading or visiting), enough.

Remaining sections of the Berlin Wall at the East Side Galleries.

A path of cobblestones marks where the Berlin Wall once stood.

 

Famous graffiti on the Berlin Wall.

We visited the site of the Gestapo headquarters and learnt about the terrifying rise of Hitler, the Gestapo and the SS at the insightful and free Typography of Terror museum. Sections of the Berlin wall stood in their original positions on ground level, just above the ruined Gestapo headquarters; both reminders of the two different yet similar times in Berlin’s history.

Meat, cheese, fruit and bread makes a staple German breakfast.

Schnitzel for me and Bratwurt for Dave.

The famous Siegessäule monument rises high above the Tiergardens, the large woodland park in the centre of the city. The goddess of Victoria can be seen from such a distance and we climbed the inside of the monument to get a closer look at her. The views across the city from the top were amazing; well worth the 2 euros to get in!

Selfie with the Goddess of Vistoria at the top of the Siegessäule monument.

Wanting to learn more about the city, we visited the Story of Berlin museum which was interesting but quite hard-going. The museum walks you through the last 800 years of Berlin’s history but we got rather confused and there was a LOT to read. I think it may be the translation from German to English as I found it difficult to follow. The visit was definitely worthwhile though, because the museum price included a guided tour of the nuclear fallout bunker that was built several blocks beneath the shopping mall above in the 70’s in fear of the nuclear threat from the Soviet Union. The nuclear bunker was insane! The description of how it would operate in the case of a nuclear threat was terrifying. The bunker could fit 3000 people, managed by 16 wardens and the whole place was filled with bunk beds 4-beds high. No room to move, no privacy and just 4 toilet blocks between everyone. The temperature would rise to 40c and water supplies were limited. The bunker would be able to sustain its inhabitants for 2 weeks and no more. At the time, it was though 2 weeks was long enough for the radiation and dust to settle above ground. If the inhabitants survived the two weeks, they would emerge above ground but would be surrounded by the enemy as they, at the time, occupied the rest of Germany. Apparently social experiments took place in one of the other 21 bunkers built below Berlin and apparently the experiments had to be halted after just a few days. Luckily none of the bunkers have been used. I would rather get blasted by the nuclear bomb than risk two weeks down there.

The 4-deep bunkbeds can be just made out in the dim light of the nuclear fallout bunker.

The layers of beds are folded and have never been used (thank god!).

The Memorial To The Murdered Jews of Europe is vast and dominates 4.7 acres of the city with 2711 huge slabs of concrete. Their representation is writen in detail on this website which is worth reading but I found it difficult to put into my own words for the sake of this post. Walking among the slabs that vary in height made me feel a bit uneasy, which is what the artist, Peter Eisenman, intends.

On our last day we spent a few hours in the fascinating DDR museum, learning about life on the East

side of the Berlin Wall during the reign of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) between the end of the WW2 in 1945 to the fall of the Wall in 1990. The multimedia museum gives a good insight into the lives of East German residents in a socialist society. From my short spell of education, I formed the opinion that their lives were extremely restricted and individuality was difficult to express. Life was dull yet there was virtually no one out of work and everyone had good opportunities to gain secure jobs that paid well. I came away keen to learn more and really recommend the museum to anyone intrigued by East Berlin history.

Extremely sleepy from walking for miles, reading tons of information, learning about so many new things and nursing bellies full of German food, we headed to the airport to return home.


Berlin is such an interesting city with so much history, even if the majority of the buildings have been built in the last 70-or-so years. If I wrote about everything we managed to fit into our 4 days there, this post would be much much much longer! It’s a great location for a short city break and I’m sure we will go back to lean some more history, in the future.

My struggles with 'living the dream'

April 12, 2016, 9:29 am

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Trying to juggle a new business, this personal blog, the Outdoor Bloggers network and everything else going on in my life is making my brain hurt a little bit. It feels like there is no room in my head for thoughts and many days seems to pass without the feeling I have accomplished something. And it's been bothering me.

On one hand, I'm bursting with ideas and brimming with enthusiasm for each project I have on and I'm determined to make each one a success. However, it doesn't actually seem to be happening. I'm not really getting any further ahead. I'm getting on with client work, going to lots of networking meetings and getting the essential stuff done, but I'm not pushing the boundaries as much as I had hoped.

Since going self-employed my home became my office and I spend each week day working on my business. Working from home has always been my career goal and now I have finally accomplished it, my routine isn't quite how I envisioned it to be though.

Ultimately, the dream is to have a good work/life balance that allows me to be in the wood more. I want to be able to spend more time in the garden, playing with my pets, actually getting to see home in daylight hours during the winter month and, overall, actually enjoy living each day.

I want to spend more time writing and promoting this blog. I have so many ideas I want to put into practice yet I'm not finding the time to write any posts. The thought of writing posts for this blog, on top of working on my business and everything else, is actually making my brain freeze. I can't seem to fit it in timewise and I can't seem to fit it in mentally, either.

I want to grow Outdoor Bloggers so that its members have a valuable resource and a place to meet likeminded bloggers. Yet, this is pushed to the bottom of my priority list due to my business and my blog.

Reality isn't quite like I had imaged. And it isn't because it can't be. I believe it's because I'm stopping it from happening. Either that, or I have bitten off more than I can chew.

My business is still in the development stages meaning I'm spending a lot of time working on client projects, strategy planning, networking, quoting and marketing. There is just so much to do and so much more I want to get done. It's exciting yet very overwhelming. It means that every time I try or want to focus on anything else, such as my blog, or preparing the vegetable patch for spring or research my next outdoor trip, I feel like I shouldn't be concentrating on those things and, instead, I should be working on my business. I know I need to give myself a break but the feeling of guilt still won’t go away. So, to try fix the issue, I spend more time on my business but gain no extra satisfaction.

I have implemented a 'reward' system which does help, when I stick to it: I complete an essential business task or two and then reward myself with a lesser-important task such as blogging or planting seeds.

Saving time as a result of not having to commute and also just being around more should mean I get to fit in more stuff. You know, stuff like posting that parcel, tidying that overflowing cupboard, giving that wall the lick of paint it so desperately needs? Even getting the food shopping ordered. Well, for some reason time runs away with me. When I worked in an office I had no choice but to rush around and get 'stuff' done. I just did it. Whereas now, I have the misleading concept that I have more time. Then it disappears!

The issue is me. My mindset isn't right.

After years of a fixed routine dictated by the hours of employment my conscience is all messed up and I believe my mindset needs training to fit my new daily routine.

One of the solutions I would like to explore is meditation. I listened to a Ted Hour podcast which discussed the benefits of meditating every day. To be honest, I used to think meditation was just for hippies and spiritual-types but now I have heard so much about the positive effects it can have on anyone, whatever their personal beliefs and mindset. But, when do I fit it in? That's no excuse though. I need to make time for it as it may provide a long-term solution.

I'd love to hear from anyone who has experienced the same transitional struggles as I am currently and I would also love to speak to anyone who uses meditation to maintain focus and positivity. Please get in touch if you have wisdom or heartache to share!

Vlog: Catching Lindy the rescue hedgehog on the wildlife cam

April 14, 2016, 9:36 am

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I'm very excited to post my very first vlog. I bought myself a (bright pink) selfie stick especially recording vlogs for The Thrifty Magpies Nest and for recording 'how to' posts for SocialRocks, my social media consultancy business.

In this vlog I visit Magnus the magpie and collect the wildlife camera to check whether it has captured any footage of Lindy the rescue hedgehog who is currently acclimatising to the outside in the aviary before being released.

Oh, and why does YouTube always insist on giving you a choice of three video thumbnails that are all so unflattering?



I'd love to hear what you think of my first video in the comments here or on YouTube. Thanks!

Vlog: Releasing Lindy the rescue hedgehog

April 18, 2016, 3:19 pm

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Finally, after almost 7 months of being in a care, we released Lindy back into the wild.

Lindy has come along way since Ian, my step dad and Rachel, our next door neighbour, found him while on a walk last October. He was tiny, very thin and was wandering around in the daylight. Ian knew the hedgehog was in danger so scooped him up and brought him home. After consulting a hedgehog hospital we committed to caring for him for the winter.

For the last 4 nights of his care he lived in Magnus the magpie's aviary so that he could acclimatise to outdoor conditions after spending so many months in the warmth of a cage with a heat mat in one of the sheds. I set up the wildlife cam so I could monitor his feeding at night and was pleased to see him foraging and eating all the food I left out (with a little help from Magnus). I vlogged about his final few days in captivity here.

Here's the footage I recorded of Lindy's release and our farewell to the cute little ball of spikes. Enjoy!





Follow Lindy's journey in these previous blog posts:

We rescued a baby hedgehog
Update on Lindy the rescue hedgehog
Vlog: Catching Lindy the rescue hedgehog on the wildlife cam

PS. Stupidly I uploaded my last vlog to the wrong YouTube channel. 

Please click here to subscribe to right The Thrifty Magpies Nest blog channel.

New Life: A tour of the bird nests in my wood

May 14, 2016, 8:15 am

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May is my favourite month of the because the world around me suddenly springs into a scene of vivid colours, fresh growth, warm light and the happy sounds of birds singing.

Each month, the Outdoor Bloggers community create a post around a theme set by its members. This month, I set the theme ‘New Life’. My interpretation of the theme centres around the nesting birds and evidence of wild animals around the woodland in which I live.

In this video, I take you on a tour to show you some of the bird nests I have found; some with eggs and some with young chicks.

If you like owlets (baby owls) and robin chicks, click play.



Outdoor Bloggers was set up by Zoe, writer of Splodz Blogz, and I. It’s an initiative to bring bloggers who share a passion for the outdoors together and share stories, knowledge and enthusiasm for anything outdoors-related. We already have over 50 members who blog about varies outdoor activities from nature photography, trail running and climbing to cycling, camping and outdoor education.

If you blog about the outdoors, we would love for you to join us! Head over to OutdoorBloggers.co.uk and register to be a member. It’s totally free and your blog details will be added to the directory and you will receive a monthly newsletter from the Outdoor Bloggers team.