Year: 2020

Despite improvements in health and safety, construction sites are still risky places. Cranes pose a significant risk if proper precautions are not taken. The HSE reports that there have been 61 accidents involving tower cranes since 2001. In these, nine people died and 25 were seriously injured. This is not a situation any company wants, so here are some of the most common hazards. Image Credit Falling Loads The HSE says that falling loads present a significant potential for death and major injury. There are a number of possible reasons…

When you’ve worked in retail for all of your working life, adjusting to another job will be a struggle; from constant sore feet due to standing up all of the time, to sitting down and typing away on a computer – it will certainly take time for you to adjust. Both jobs are very different; whilst retail entails a day of talking to customers face to face, and tidying up stock, office jobs typically involve talking on the phone, and attending meetings. If you are struggling with the transition from…

With spring just around the corner, it will soon be time for green-fingered homeowners to start maintaining their lawns and gardens again. Image Credit The benefits of having your own lawn are plentiful; in fact, a Natural Papa article lists twelve health benefits of having a well-maintained lawn and garden, including physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. How can you keep your lawn lush and healthy this year to make the very most of it? Here are some tips on when and how to mow your lawn. Optimum length is everything…

A recent social media trend has been focused on cleaning. People are going mad for cleaning videos, product reviews and following influencers on Instagram who offer cleaning tips. It seems people are celebrating their love for organisation. There are now websites and blogs dedicated to the love of all things neat and tidy, such as ‘Things Neatly Organised’ and ‘Apartment Therapy’. If you’re a self-confessed neat freak, then you’ll find a wealth of images on Pinterest and Buzzfeed for example. So, what is it about a minimalistic lounge or pencils…

Leaving your home and moving into a care home can be a very distressing time for both the elderly person and their family, but there are things you can do to make the experience easier and far less stressful. Image Credit Visit in Advance One of the best ways to get a feel for a care home is to visit in advance and speak to the staff and other residents about their experience. It is a good idea to visit at different times of the day and consider making an…

Having an ant infestation is not the world’s worst pest problem and ants don’t generally do much real damage. Most species of ants in the UK are harmless and actually serve a useful purpose – such as soil aeration or controlling destructive pests such as aphids. However, having ants roam around the house is unpleasant, and they can occasionally spread undesirable bacteria. If your ant problem is particularly aggressive, the key is to target the queen ant, and this can be very tricky because nests are often very hidden behind…

Getting used to new places is not always easy for anyone. As well as the new places, there are new faces and routines to contend with too when moving to a nursing home. The following are a few ideas to make you feel more at home: Bring along home comforts This could be anything from photos, music, to a favourite pillow – bring them with you. You may even be able to bring your favourite pieces of furniture. For Care homes in Somerset, visit a site like Notaro, popular Care…

Topiary is said to have Roman origins, from approximately 44BC. Calvinus, an advisor to Caesar himself, is acknowledged for bringing topiary into Roman gardens. In letters from Pliny the Younger, a judge, described figures being cut into foliage, often in the form of animals, obelisks and inscriptions on the grounds of his villa in Tuscany. The 16th century Revival Throughout the 16th century, topiary was commonly seen in the form of parterre and knot gardens amongst the gardens of the rich, but also on a more modest scale in the…

Purchasing an auction property requires a different legal process than when you buy a property through normal channels. In this article we take a look at the differences and the terminology. Image Credit Going, Going, Gone Once the hammer goes down on an auctioned property, the contract is considered binding. This is completely different to a normal purchase when the contract is only watertight once contracts are signed, leaving weeks when the conveyancer is doing his or her job, always with the possibility that it may fall through as nothing…