Encouraging my eldest to save.

Becky has been working her part time job in a care home since September last year and she's never had so much money. It's fantastic that she can buy whatever that she wants but her spending just gets silly sometimes and her saving is not so good.

At the moment we are not charging Becky any board because she is still in college full time and we still get child benefit and some other money for her. She knows when she leaves college she will be paying board but the plan was at the moment to save as much as she could while also still having enough left over to spend. Since she has started working she obviously doesn't get any pocket money from us and now she pays for things like her toiletries, fancy shampoo, days out, Netflix, phone bill and luxuries herself so she's not having a totally free ride.

Becky's spending all started off sensibly enough buying things that I wouldn't normally buy her like the Fortnite Advent calendar, a huge water bottle that she had seen on Tik Tok and fancy new trainers and a coat that she did need. 

Since the start of the year her spending did get a bit reckless and silly. Becky was on about something and wanted me to look at her bank account and I spotted all the payments to Just Eat and Uber Eats. Up until a little while ago she was spending about £30 a week on takeaways in two days at college. It's just wasteful. She gets free meals at college because we were under the threshold for the financial assistance and she does love the college meals but I guess McDonalds, Starbucks and Subway seemed more appealing. She has agreed that it is just a waste spending £15 a day on takeaways and now only gets a takeaway delivered to college when she gets paid from work, once a month.

A couple of months ago when Becky got her payslip she said she was planning to buy some headphones which really annoyed me. She has at least 4 sets and only bought some a few weeks before but she said she didn't like those, I said she should have sent them back but she said they could be spare one's. Ugh! The silly spending doesn't stop there though. She bought a humidifier which I think has only ever been switched on when she tested it after it was delivered, just because she saw it on TikTok. She has bought shoes which looked pretty but she has never worn them, she has more clothes than she could ever wear and bags of sweets and chocolate.

As silly as her spending got I feel that now Becky has turned a corner and has started to realise that the treats that she is buying herself don't feel like treats anymore. The takeaways were becoming a habit and she has realised that she was just buying for buying's sake. She's now coming around to my way of thinking that just because she has the money doesn't mean she has to spend it.

Becky has big plans for the future, she has said that she now doesn't want to rent a house or flat to live in, she wants to buy so she is planning to stay living at home and save like mad. I think I am finally getting through to her. I know it won't be easy with the way the economy is at the moment but she is determined and I believe she can do anything that she sets her mind to.

How are your older teenagers doing at handling their money?

Our weekly meal plan! 30th May - 5th June. #MealPlanningMonday

Last weeks meal plan went well. Everything went to plan and we ate everything on the menu. Hooray! It's been a long time since we did that. I am feeling very chuffed with myself.

This week is going to be a great week as long as the weather behaves it's self. It's half term and I think we have something fun planned for every day with lots of yummy food. I haven't even bothered getting a food shop delivery as we will be eating out a lot.

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - We're going to have a day of shopping and fun in Hull. We're planning on going to the all you can eat place called Wings. We last went just before the first lockdown and loved it. We won't want much to eat on the evening. I'm planning on getting sausage rolls from Greggs when we're out and Krispy Kream doughnuts to eat at home.

Tuesday - Becky is eating out with friends and I think Ellie could be too so it will just be Stu and I for tea. We'll keep it simple and grab something out of the freezer.

Wednesday - The girls and I are having an afternoon out and will want something quick when we get in. Tuna and sweetcorn pasta sounds good.

Thursday - We're going to the beach and hopefully we'll get fish & chips while we're out. When we get home we're going straight back out to a Jubilee event local to us where we'll have burgers or hot dogs although I have seen them advertising hog roast sandwiches which I am quite fancying.

Friday - There's a beer festival locally and it's aimed at families so we will be having a walk out to see what's going on. I am guessing there will be food stalls too where we will stuff ourselves with yummy treats.

Saturday - Pizza!

Sunday - I think by now we will want a proper meal so I might cook a roast dinner or something similar.

What will you be eating this week?

Playing pool and having a pint. #MySundaySnapshot

I love spending time with my girls whether it's all of us together or having some one on one time. Becky enjoys playing pool and it just so happens that one of our local pubs has a pool table and it's free on a Tuesday and Wednesday. We have been a couple of times over the last month and it's nice to have some time together. I don't usually drink alcohol during the day but the sun was shining on Tuesday and I couldn't resist having a pint of Dark Fruit cider.

I am no good at pool and have only won games because Becky has potted the black ball by mistake. I did come close to winning on Tuesday though. I had one ball let to pot plus the black one, I took my shot and ended up potting the black losing the game and then my red ball went into the pocket. If only it had been the other way around, I would have won. hahaha

Are you any good at playing pool?

Week 21 of #Project365. 21st - 27th May. A photo every day for a year!

Another week has flown over and we've now started the half term holidays. Hooray! We've had a nice week with not much going on which is good because next week we have something planned for every day depending on the weather of course. I've just looked at the weather forecast and it's not looking good. Rain, rain and more rain. Ugh. I am sure we'll still have fun, plans can be changed.

Now for a photo every day!

141/365 - 21st May

Stu made a start on doing some work in our back garden. Moving lots of little stones, rocks, bushes and weeds. You can see more in My Sunday Photo blog post.

142/365 - 22nd May

I love that the lighter evenings are here. We don't get to see the sunset because of buildings in the way but the sky is still so pretty.

143/365 - 23rd May

The rain wasn't so good but it has done wonders for the flowers in the planter in my front garden. I didn't think I had planted so many but lots have appeared.

144/365 - 24th May

Home made Chinese takeaway. Egg fried rice, spring rolls, salt & pepper chips, chicken chow mein and chicken balls with sweet & sour sauce in the middle. All from Iceland and a lot cheaper than a real takeaway.

145/365 - 25th May

My dad was having a sort out in one of his workshops and realised he had tools which he never used or some that he had two of. Stu is now the owner of a fancy pillar drill. I don't see the attraction but Stu was overjoyed with it. Heaven knows what he's planning to do with it but apparently it's so good. lol

146/365 - 26th May

I have been watching the Johnny Depp V Amber Heard trial and wow, what a vile woman Heard is! I am totally on Johnny Depp's side.

147/365 - 27th May

Stu spent his Friday afternoon doing more sorting in the garden. Moving more stones and weeding. 

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This week my Word of the Week is: Believe! #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:

This week has flown over, I really didn't expect it to with us heading into half term. I can't believe that we only have about 7 weeks until the end of the school year. This whole school year has flown over too considering it's the first year that Ellie has done a full year at school since she was in year 6. We moved house at the end of her year 7 so she missed the last few weeks and then we had Covid disrupting school.

 It's been a nice week especially after being stressed over the past few weeks about Becky and her girlfriend splitting up. I really can't believe some of the things which have happened since they went their separate ways. Staying friends didn't work and they are no longer seeing each others posts on social media and I know Becky is a much happier person now. I think not seeing each others lives is a good thing.

I have been reading on our local Facebook residents group about a boxing club opening near us and they were in Ellie's school promoting it during the week and I couldn't believe it when Ellie came home from school full of chatter about it, wanting to join in. There is an open evening tonight and I am going to take her for a look and to see what it's all about. I am not on board with it at all at the moment. After getting the news a few months ago that she has old bleeds on her brain from her heart surgery, that worries me. I will ask about it. She might not be able to join in with the contact boxing but I am sure there will be some sort of non-contact training she could join in with, just to be part of something.

Stu couldn't believe his luck during the week when my dad dropped a few things off for him. My dad has been having a clear out of one of his workshops which has been long overdue and he realised he has at least 2 of everything so shared some of the goodies with Stu. A Pillar drill, a grinder, a soldering iron and other bits and bobs. Stu was like a kid at Christmas, in fact he said it was better than Christmas. Eesh, the cheek! 

For the last year or so the kids have been planning things with their friends during the school holidays and I haven't been involved but next week we have a busy week planned. We have something planned for everyday, I don't believe for a second that the kids are favouring me over their friends, everything they want to do costs money and I have the money. lol

I hope you have all had a good week?

Hosting a Jubilee party? Four tasty recipes for entertaining!

I am so looking forward to the extra long weekend celebrating the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. At the moment we have no plans but there are plenty of things going on locally. I will be baking up some tasty treats, defiantly the scones and the Bakewell Tart Traybake and of course things like sausage rolls and maybe some quiche. 

With four whole days to celebrate the 70th year of Queen Elizabeth’s reign there’s plenty of time to get baking and enjoy eating these regal bakes with friends and family.

Will you be doing any baking? Here are a few ideas for you:

Leek & Asparagus Traybake Tart.

Makes one 20x30cm tart.

Ingredients.

400g plain flour

200g salted butter + 30g for the leeks

2 Leeks (500g, finely shredded)

350g full fat cream cheese

150ml double cream

3 eggs + 1 for egg washing

2 packets of fine asparagus (200g)

Method.

1. Preheat the oven to 180°c (fan).

2. In the large mixing bowl, combine the flour and butter with your fingers until a crumb consistency is achieved. Add 4tbsp of cold water and bring together to form a pastry dough.

3. Tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a rectangle large enough to line the baking tin.

4. Roll the pastry back onto the rolling pin, drape over the tin, then lift and tuck into the corners and up the sides. Trim any excess and place in the freezer.

5. Finely chop the leeks and soften in butter in the frying pan over a medium heat until slightly translucent. This should take 3-4 mins. Set to one side.

6. Wipe out the large mixing bowl and pour in the double cream, eggs and cream cheese and mix together until smooth.

7. Add the leeks into the mixture, season to taste and then pour into the chilled pastry case.

8. Arrange the asparagus spears on top and lightly fold in the pastry around the edge. Beat the remaining egg and brush the pastry edges. 

9. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the filling has set and the pastry is golden.

10. Allow to cool slightly or completely before slicing and serving.

Classic Scones.

Makes 8.

Ingredients

200g of self-raising flour.

60g of unsalted butter, chilled and cubed

30g of caster sugar.

2 eggs (1 is for eggwash)

2 tablespoons of milk.

Method.

1, Preheat the oven to 180°C (fan) and line the baking tray with the parchment.

2. In the mixing bowl, combine the flour and sugar then add in the butter cubes and work them in with your fingers.

3. Once a crumb consistency has been achieved, make a well in the centre and add 1 egg and the milk. Bring it all together until just combined to form a dough, being careful not to overwork it. 

4. Tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll out to a 2 cm thickness, cut out rounds, bringing the offcuts together and re-rolling until you have 8 rounds. 

5. Place them all on the baking tray, rub the tops with eggwash using your finger or a pastry brush if you have it, and bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes until risen and golden on top.

6. Allow to cool before serving with jam and clotted cream.

Bakewell Tart Traybake.

Makes a 20 x 30 cm traybake - 15 bars.

Ingredients:

150g of Plain flour.

150g of Caster sugar split into 50g and 100g.

200g of Unsalted butter, softened and split into 2 x 100g.

150g of Ground almonds.

1 Egg.

200g of Raspberry jam.

A handful of flaked almonds.

Icing sugar to dust.

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 165°c.

2. Put all of the plain flour and 50g of caster sugar in the mixing bowl before rubbing in 100g of unsalted butter with your finger tips. When the mixture resembles crumbs, pour it into the lined traybake tin, spread it evenly and press it down so the crumbs loosely join together. Bake the base for 15 minutes.

3. While the base is baking, combine the remaining 100g of butter, 100g caster sugar, ground almonds and the egg in the mixing bowl with a spoon to make the frangipane topping.

4. When the base has had it's 15 minutes, remove it from the oven and add the jam, spreading it with the back of the spoon to make an even layer over the top, followed by all of the

frangipane mix (this will be a thicker layer) and a sprinkling of flaked almonds before returning to the oven for a further 30 minutes.

5. When the traybake is golden on top, remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before removing from the tin. Dust the whole thing with icing sugar, slice into bars and top with more flaked almonds.

Are you doing anything special over the Jubilee extra long weekend? 

These recipes are from the Easy Peasy Baking campaign, launched by UK Flour Millers, making baking simple. You can find more Easy Peasy Baking recipes and information on the campaign over on the Fab Flour website.

(Ad - Gifted) The Gillette Labs Exfoliating Razor with Magnetic Stand!

 Father's day is next month and it's time to start thinking about gifts for those special men in our lives. I know anything shaving or beard related is always a hit with the dad's especially around Father's Day.

If the man in your life prefers the clear shaven look the latest drop from Gillette Labs, the Gillette Labs Exfoliating Razor will make morning routines more effortless with the first ever built in exfoliation bar, accompanied with a lifetime warranty!

The Gillette Labs with Exfoliating Bar is the world’s first razor with exfoliating technology built into the cartridge. This means that it is designed for a quick and easy shave that is no longer a chore but something to be enjoyed. The exfoliation bar removes dirt and debris, such as dead skin cells, before the blades pass, thereby allowing for a close and accurate shave.

What's more, the 2D FlexDisc technology used will move according to the contours of your face to help ensure comfort and close contact is maintained with every stroke of your razor.

This razor is designed to be used with Gillette Labs razor blade refills which are also compatible with the Gillette Labs Heated Razor.

This men's razor has a durable handle that can easily last for up to five years. It's metal handle comes with a premium magnetic stand so you can store your razor and handle conveniently after each use. 

This is available to buy from the Gillette website for £22.49 but I suggest you do shop around as supermarkets are also selling it for a lower price. It is a fantastic set and looks so fancy,  stylish and is a great addition to any bathroom.

As well as the Exfoliating Razor with Magnetic Stand you could pair it with the Gillette Rapid Foaming Shave Gel. This shaving gel rapidly foams and easily rinses off, leaving no sticky residue. It ensures seamless razor glide and helps protect your skin from shaving irritation. It cools and sooths the skin and is made with sea kelp and without any alcohol or dyes. It has a light and refreshing fragrance of cedar wood and orange peel which when combined creates a sophisticated and masculine scent.

Are these the type of gifts a man in your life would appreciate?

We were sent the The Gillette Labs Exfoliating Razor with Magnetic Stand & Gillette Rapid Foaming Shave Gel free of charge in exchange for this blog post.

Funny things that my girls have said.

A few years ago I used to write blog posts including the funny things that my girls have said. I haven't written one in years, it's not that they don't say funny things anymore, it's just I never got around to writing those posts. 

These are some of the funny things that my girls have said lately:

Becky bought herself a new phone case and it arrived with smudges and mucky marks on it. She said "I didn't pay for these smudges" and Ellie says "think yourself lucky, you got them for free.

Ellie was off out to play with friends. I asked what time are you coming home meaning pick a time. She just said "I'll text you". The cheek, it will be 7pm then. When she was getting ready to go out she asked for some money for a drink. I had no change and she went towards Becky's purse and said I'll borrow some from her, she won't realise she's asleep and has too much money anyway.

The kids have got it into their heads that they want a dog. They're not getting one but they're not having it. They were looking at dogs online. They don't want an angry looking one or one with long legs. Ellie wants an German Shepherd but Becky says they're fighting dogs, no, no, no says Ellie "they're the one's that save you when you're up a mountain". I really don't know where they get their ideas from. lol 

While talking about dogs it turns out Becky doesn't know how to say Chihuahua and then had me saying it wrong too. At least Ellie knew how to say it and corrected us while rolling her eyes.

Becky tells me not to tell her about episodes of Grey's Anatomy that she is watching but then goes on to ask if so and so get together, does she die and so on and when I tell her she tells me off for telling her.

What do you's want to eat next week? I asked the kids while meal planning. Takeaway, sushi, trifle, pop tarts and Pot Noodles. I don't think so, when will the learn that when I ask I mean they have to come up with meal ideas, not snacks.

Ellie has done pretty well in her mock exams and her predicted GCSE grades are better than we expected. She is taking great pleasure in telling us that she's more clever than everyone and now thinks it means she doesn't have to do any revision. She's wrong. lol 

Neither of the girls had any interest in the Johnny Depp trial until all the TikToks appeared. Every time anyone says "jar" they sing "I've got a jar of dirt" and we say the word "pint" the kids say is it a mega pint. 

Ellie went to meet Becky from her training at work just so she would buy her some fizzy pop because I said no to giving her money to buy some. We have plenty or juice and water in the house. As well as the pop Ellie stung her sister for a bag of chips too. 

I dragged Becky out for a walk and she did nothing but complain. It's too hot, too bright, there was too many bugs, it was just too much effort. I don't know what is worse toddlers or teenagers.

What have your kids said lately which made you chuckle?

Our weekly meal plan! 23rd - 29th May. #MealPlanningMonday

Last weeks meal plan went OK. The Peanut butter chicken and rice was nice but not amazing and the fish pie was not a hit, it was too fishy and there were too many peas according to my family. Oh well, you win some, you lose some. I am just glad that my family are willing to try new meals. I didn't get around to cooking the quiche, I was waiting in for a parcel I had already missed and just couldn't be bothered when it got later. We had omelette instead which is near enough the same thing as a quiche, just without the pastry. lol

We got an Iceland food shop delivered a few days ago purely to stock up on ice cream and ice lollies since the weather is so nice. I do love to get the food shopping from Iceland for all the chicken products, frozen meat and veg. The only thing that lets it down is the tins are so expensive but I suppose it's not really a supermarket, it's a freezer shop.

We don't have much on this coming week, it's a pretty normal week although the kids do break up for half term on Friday. It seems to have came around so quickly and then we will be on the home run to Becky leaving college, starting full time work and the summer holidays. Hooray!

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - Hunters chicken, mashed potato and broccoli.

Tuesday - Chinese fakeaway. Sweet and sour chicken balls, chicken chow mein, egg fried rice, spring rolls and prawn crackers.

Wednesday - Bolognese stuffed peppers. 

Thursday - Chicken goujons and salad in wraps.

Friday - Fish, chips and mushy peas.

Saturday - Pizza, we might make our own again.

Sunday - Sausage Traybake from Pinch of Nom.

I am linking up with Karen over at Cat's, Kids, Chaos who is the host of the meal planning linky. If you blog about your meal plan do come and link up!

Another bit of a garden makeover. #MySundaySnapshot

One side of our garden is lovely but at the other side it's overgrown with weeds, full of stones and hasn't been touched at all since we moved in here apart from strimming some of the grass and weeds. Stu decided that yesterday was the day when he started work on it. It seems like it's going to be a big job.

There was a big bush to pull up and those pesky decorative stones to move. He worked for about 3 hours and you can see progress. He got the bush out, it was easier than he thought it would be and found quite a few big stones under all of the decorative one's which will come in for something. At the moment they are holding the black plastic sheeting down.

Now we're left with piles of stones and as that side of the garden gets hardly any sun we are going to weed it and then put all of the stones back and put some plants and flowers there which need very little sunlight and hopefully it will look 100% better than it was yesterday morning before Stu started working on it. 

Have you been doing any gardening lately?

Week 20 of #Project365. 14th - 20th May. A photo every day for a year!

This past week has flown over. I think it's down to the nice weather, everything seems better when the sun is shining. I have been out most days in the garden, running errands and to my dad's. Ellie has been out most evenings playing with her friends at the park and Becky has had a busy week with a couple of days training at work.

We don't have much planned for the weekend apart from the usual housework. Becky will be sleeping and then on another night shift tonight and I am sure Ellie will have something planned with her friends.

Now for a photo every day!

134/365 - 14th May

I had to take a photo just to remember the moment that we were at the top of the leader board at the Eurovision song contest. Didn't we do well, we might not have won but coming 2nd to Ukraine was absolutely fine!

135/365 - 15th May

A nice easy lunch for a Sunday, pasta and sauce.

136/365 - 16th May

My plants were starting to outgrow my mini greenhouse. The greenhouse really was one of the best things that I have bought over the past few months.

137/365 - 17th May

I was out in the garden doing some weeding and planting some of the plants from the greenhouse into the ground. I had to have a sit down and a break, it was so warm.

138/365 - 18th May

More sunshine. I love that it's still so light late on an evening.

139/365 - 19th May

On the way to my dad's I stopped for a look at the lambs.

140/365 - 20th May

Aww! Rebecca Pearson, what a woman! I sat through the latest episode of This Is Us and cried. There is one more episode left and I am hoping for some happy endings.

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This week my Word of the Week is: Out! #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:

What gorgeous weather we've had over the past week, well apart from yesterday when I was writing this. It was quite grey and overcast but it wasn't all bad, at least it was still warm. 

I have made the most of the nice weather and I've spent a lot of time out in the garden. I had planted a ton of seeds a few months ago and they grew well in my mini greenhouse and when they were overgrowing their pots I planted them in the garden. Sunflowers, pumpkins and cucumbers. They grew more and started to look far too close to each other so I came up with the bright idea on Tuesday to give the garden a good weed and move the plants so they were more spaced out.

It was only after I had moved the plants I read about transplant shock. It turns out plants can go into shock if they are moved. Thankfully I did dig them up well, took all of the roots and watered them well afterwards. Mother Nature has been helping me out with the watering as it's rained the last few evenings. Apparently we had power cuts during the week because of the weather. I only realised when I got up and the clock radio was flashing. Becky knew all about it because every time the power had gone off then came back on one of her lamps came back on and started flashing. She got woke up a few times, she didn't think of just unplugging the lamp. lol

I have been enjoying sitting outside in the sunshine although it did mean that I missed a parcel being delivered during the week. Thankfully the DPD man came back the next day and he said he had missed me and I told him I was out the back. He said he did think it was strange that I wasn't in. He said in future he will come to the back door if he doesn't get an answer at the front. I thought that was so nice of him. 

Ellie has been out most evenings, after school with her friends. They're all boys and as bad as teenage boys can be these are a good group of lads who look out for her. One night one of Ellie's best friends walked her home, just to make sure she got home safe which I thought was so sweet. Ellie has always got on better with boys, I think it's because they are less complicated and have less drama than teenage girls. lol The only thing now is that she is always defending the friendships saying he's not my boyfriend, he's just a friend. Ugh! 

Becky had a day off from college on Wednesday because of the GCSE's happening at her college and her teachers were needed. She didn't have a chilled day as for two days this week she has been out doing training at work. Self defence and something about positivity in the work place. She enjoyed it but the highlight of the training was getting a free lunch eat day. She also got to see the therapy dogs which come into the care home, she doesn't usually see them with just working night shifts.

How has your week been? I hope you have had a good one.

(Ad - Gifted) Oclean Flow - A sonic electric toothbrush! - Review!

The last time Becky was at the dentist we realised she is at an age where she has to pay for check up's, treatment and anything else that she needs. She has always looked after her teeth and even more so since she spent 2 years with braces on but the thought of having to pay for treatment at the dentist has really made her want to up her tooth care game.

I got an email just at the right time and we are lucky to be trying out the Oclean Flow Sonic Electric Toothbrush.

An electric toothbrush delivers a more thorough and efficient clean with less effort, they are friendlier to teeth and gums and they make it easier to develop decent tooth brushing habits. Becky has had an electric toothbrush in the past and it wasn't great, the charge didn't last long and she said her teeth never felt clean.

Included in the box is the electric toothbrush, a brush head, the user manual and a USB charging cable.

The Oclean Flow Electric Toothbrush is designed with a frequency of 38000 vibrations per minute which is three times faster than using a manual toothbrush and removes up to 10 times more plaque than a manual toothbrush. The sonic toothbrush produces lower noise, it really is quiet.

With ultrasonic cleaning it means this suitable for different oral conditions. The Oclean Flow Sonic Electric Toothbrush has 5 settings: morning which is a little gentle but gives a good clean, night which is a deep and through clean, standard for general cleaning, whitening for a natural white smile and gentle for those with sensitive gums. It is perfect for solving most oral problems including sensitive teeth. You can switch modes at will and pick the one you like best.

The toothbrush has a built in smart timer which comes in very helpful. There is a two minute timer which meets the minimum brushing time recommended by the dentists and a timer every 30 seconds to remind you to switch the brushing area which helps you thoroughly clean your teeth and ensure an even clean.

The brush heads are made of premium DuPont bristles, which fit the shape and mechanics of the adult’s tooth structure, protecting enamel without hurting the gums. 

The Oclean Flow Sonic electric toothbrush takes around 5 hours to fully charge and then lasts about 180 days. The long battery life is supported by USB type C charging and can be charged with a power bank, mobile phone charger, computer charger or directly plug into the USB port of the computer for charging. It is great for travelling and not have to charge it daily or weekly. When the power drops lower than 10%, the indicator light will flash red when the toothbrush is switched on.

As well as all of these features the Oclean Flow Sonic Electric Toothbrush is waterproof so you can brush while you are in the shower and save a little time and rinse it off too.

Becky has been using this for almost a week and so far is getting on great with it. She says that her teeth feel cleaner and they look it too. As much as I tell her not to drink fizzy drinks they do and they were starting to stain her teeth, the are looking whiter and I hope this is the start of her needing no more fillings. The only negative she has had to say is that when she first started using it she felt like her gums were being tickled. She said it was a strange sensation and it has taken some getting used to.

You can buy the Oclean Flow Sonic Electric Toothbrush from the Oclean website and don't worry that the price is $39.99, in dollars they do of course ship to the UK and at the moment when you add the toothbrush to your bag you get a free gift of two heads. Shipping takes around 6 to 10 days and you get free shipping, a 2 year warranty and a 30 day money back guarantee.

I was sent the Oclean Flow Sonic Electric Toothbrush free of charge in exchange for this blog post.

A girls night out.

Pre-drinks at 6:41pm, hitting the bar at 8:34pm and exchanging four bits of gossip make up the perfect girls’ night out a study has found.

Researchers who polled 2,000 women found the night begins with just over an hour getting ready to party with four friends while enjoying a few glasses of wine. Mojitos are the most popular choice of cocktails followed by Sex on the Beach. Daiquiris came in close third, trailed by Cosmos and Pornstar Martinis. It’s time to move to the club at 10:55pm, with plenty of opportunity for dancing accompanied by spirits and mixers. As well as enjoying two straight shots, the perfect night also includes five trips to the toilet with pals, having danced away to 35 songs. Finishing the perfect night with a portion of chips from the local takeaway and getting in at 1:25am.

The last time I had a girls night out was before Coronavirus was a thing and it was a pretty civilised event. We went out just after 5pm, drank a couple of bottles of wine, saw a Bon Jovi tribute act, danced lots and was home by 11pm. It was fun but nothing like the nights out before I moved to Scunthorpe. 

I had some of my best nights out in Northumberland. The unplanned one's were always fun! One bank holiday my friends arranged to go out, I wasn't even going to go as I was short of money but they offered to buy me a couple of drinks and I would buy a few more with the money I had, we weren't going to be out all night. hahaha Those famous last words. We went out late-afternoon to see one of our favourite local bands and when they had finished their gig locally we followed them to South Shields I think it was, it could have been North Shields.

I think the best nights I've ever had out were seeing a Bon Jovi Tribute band in Blyth, Northumberland. The lead singer looked nothing like Jon Bon Jovi, he was Scottish but my goodness he did sing like JBJ. It was a scary looking pub, one of those which looked run down and intimidating but everyone was so nice. 

At the end of the night the lead singer would always tell those who had enough guts to get up on stage to sing and dance along to the last song. Of course my friends and I always got up there.

Referring back to the study: four friends always was the best night out (it was just the right number) and the best gossip was always exchanged when drinks had been being poured and inhibitions were lost. I think I was the only one to really drink wine, fruit cider was always the most popular choice. Cocktails were always enjoyed and a good night out has to end with a takeaway. Pizza or a kebab is my choice but there always has to be leftovers for the next day!

I do sometimes miss a girly night out but most of the time I am all for staying in where it's cosy, comfy and I certainly don't miss the hangovers. I actually have a night out planned next month to see the same Bon Jovi tribute band I saw before Covid happened, it should be a good night.

Do you like a night out or would you rather stay home?