It’s hard to believe that Halloween was once something that a few kids enjoyed; knocking on doors and shouting ‘trick or treat’ in the lame hope of getting a few sweets or pennies. Now Halloween is one of the most anticipated nights of the year, a time when everyone can get dressed up, enjoy all things spooky and generally have a bit of haunted fun. Many people are now making Halloween a focal point of their Autumn/Winter Getaways, with some tying in the celebrations for bonfire night that follows just a few days later to make a totally authentic British Autumn break. Norfolk is a great getaway idea if you…

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat, and many of us are making our lists now. It may seem a little early, after all, we’ve not yet had Halloween or Bonfire night, but with our lists getting longer each year, many of us would now prefer to start earlier, and have everything finished and organised earlier in order to beat that mad December rush. So with this in mind, I am going to be sharing lots of gift ideas over the coming weeks, for men, woman and children, and at all different budgets and price points. Hopefully these will give some ideas if you are struggling a little. A…

It’s a lovely sunny day today. But while we are currently enjoying a few days that could be labeled ‘Indian Summer’. it has to be said that the same can not be said of the evenings and nights. Just a few nights ago my husband fired up the boiler with a view to turning on the central heating, but with fuel bills an ever escalating cost, we now also have to consider other ways to keep our homes warm in Autumn and Winter. The Living Room The living room is probably the room we spend the most time in, particularly of an evening when we are settling down to watch…

The Birmingham Royal Ballet opened a new mixed programme at the Birmingham Hippodrome last night. Fire and Fury, two ballets fuelled by Power and Politics, showcased very different styles of ballet, with ‘The King Dances feeling very classical in style, whilst the brand new Ballet Now piece ‘Ignite’ very contemporary in style despite taking its inspiration from the Turner painting of the burning of the Houses of Parliament from 1835. The King Dances The King Dances is a ballet with a baroque, dramatic feel. Freely based on Le Ballet de la Nuit from 1653, and on the legendary Louis XIV, the Sun King of France, ‘The King Dances taps into…

Once you are on the path towards living sober, you’ll experience delightful changes in your appearance and general health. But if you’re an avid drinker, sobering up won’t be a walk in the park. Your brain will throw all sorts of tantrums in an attempt to fit into your new lifestyle. Remember, you’ve been alcohol-dependent for a long time. Abandoning booze might seem like a futile engagement, but it will make you feel happy and rejuvenated. However, if you have been alcohol dependent for a long time, you may need help with this in the form of rehab. One question asked about rehab is do outpatient rehabs test for alcohol?…