Posts tagged “Lifestyle”

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The many myths about back pain

Posted on 28th March 2018 at 07:45

It’s now estimated that 8 out of 10 adults will experience back problems at some time during their lives. This is borne out by our experience, with David having treated more people with back – or neck – problems than anything else.

Given this, it’s not surprising that there are so many conflicting pieces of advice about what causes back pain and, more importantly, how to relieve it. Sadly, many of these fall into the “Old Wives tales” category – or myths if you prefer (!) – and only prolong the problem, rather than helping speed it on its way.

So, this week, we’re going to put those we hear most often under the spotlight and see if they’re really true.

Although it may not feel like it, Spring is here

Posted on 21st March 2018 at 07:30

With the Spring Equinox yesterday and the clocks going forward to Summer on Sunday, we have two important signs this week that Spring has arrived. And, even better, Summer is just around the corner!

To our ancestors, as well as anyone with strong links to the land and natural world, it’s an important time of year. The farming and gardening year are both well underway, with the promise of things to come.

"Be yourself, everyone else is taken"

Posted on 14th March 2018 at 07:30

Even though these words of wisdom may date back over a hundred years, they’re as true today as when first spoken. They’re usually attributed to the great poet, playwright and raconteur, Oscar Wilde; although it’s been suggested he may have “borrowed” them from elsewhere. We’ll probably never know the truth and leave it to those of a literary persuasion to debate (!).

Anyway, before we digress too much further (!), let’s return to the present day and one of those things that seems so hard to do.

Be yourself.

Are you still feeling the chill from the "Beast from the East"?!?

Posted on 7th March 2018 at 07:30

The snow may have melted but the “Beast of the East” is still making itself felt. And we’re not talking about yet more potholes on the roads (!), a few dented cars or some local shops playing catch up after the snow disrupted their supplies. Or the floods that so often follow heavy snow.

Instead we’re thinking about things from a much more personal level and how the cold weather affects each of us, albeit to varying degrees (no pun intended!). And, much more importantly, how it continues to do so for a while after it’s gone.

If this seems a strange thing to say, bear with us, it’ll all become clear in a minute.

It takes as long as it takes

Posted on 28th February 2018 at 07:30

We love passing on the stories that we hear, particularly those – like all the best fairy tales we enjoyed as children (!) – which have a moral at the end.

Are you sitting comfortably? Then here we go.

A travel writer was on assignment in Hawaii and taken to meet a local dancer who does the traditional – and ancient – Hula dance. Not, as you’d expect, a young girl but an older lady. A much older lady.

She begins with a demonstration. The music begins and she starts to move. Her hips swivel in a spiral. Her slender hands move in a wave. She beams with pleasure. And, as with all true experts, makes it look effortless.

So the obvious question is asked.

How long did it take for her to master the dance?

A few weeks, perhaps. A month. A year.

Is vaping really the healthy alternative to smoking?

Posted on 21st February 2018 at 07:30

We’ve recently been away for a few days and were amazed to see a huge sign in a shop window. It proudly proclaimed “Smoking is dangerous. Vaping is the healthy and safe alternative.” We should quickly add that this wasn’t in the UK but, even so, we were still surprised to see vaping being marketed in such a blatant way.

Interestingly, conversations with smokers have confirmed that this is their understanding of vaping and explains why so many are now making the switch. The question is whether it’s true?

When did social media become anti social?

Posted on 14th February 2018 at 07:30

This week we’re going to take a brief trip back in time to the mid 1990’s. Whether it’s a walk down memory lane or a living history lesson (!) do join us for a quick visit.

Back in those dim distant days, the internet was shiny and new. Not only was it dial up – which was incredibly slow on a good day – but far from user friendly. If you were fortunate enough to have access to it, you used it for a short period of time and then got on with the rest of your life. It was a novelty and, once you’d finished using it, you rarely thought about it. Surfing, other than that involving a trip to the sea and a board (!), had yet to become a mainstream leisure activity.

Who's afraid of the bogeyman?

Posted on 7th February 2018 at 07:30

With the Flu season now in full swing, accompanied by near hysterical reporting in the press about it being “the worst ever”, it really is time for reality check. Not to mention a dose of that seemingly rarest of all commodities, common sense.

In recent years, the Flu season seems to have started earlier and earlier. Hardly has the summer begun here in the UK, when stories start appearing in the press about the forthcoming Flu season. How new strains are appearing in the Far East / Australia / fill in the blank. That they’re all heading for the UK. And it’s going to be the worst season ever. The picture painted is of Flu rampaging its way round the world, a sinister figure with evil intent bent on worldwide domination. A bogeyman for adults.

It’s enough to make you want to retreat to the safety of your bed, pull the duvet over your head and stay there until it’s all over.

But is this really the case?

Clutter clutter everywhere...

Posted on 31st January 2018 at 07:30

As many people may know we rarely watch television. This means that the vast majority of what’s on the “one eyed monster” completely passes us by. So it’s always interesting when people mention the programmes they’ve been watching. And, sometimes, a complete revelation (!).

As so often is the case, several people have mentioned the same programme recently. It’s about people filling their homes with all sorts of hoarded “treasures” and the effect this then has on their lives and relationships. Sadly, many of them are on the verge of losing their homes or relationships, with drastic action being required to remedy the situation.

Thankfully, for most of us, we’re nowhere near that stage. However we do all have “treasures” – or clutter – that we don’t seem to be able to deal with, for whatever reason. Or rehome. Whether that’s on E Bay, a charity shop or the local dump / recycling centre.

The dark side of rapeseed oil

Posted on 17th January 2018 at 07:30

Last week we looked at vegetable oils and which are the best ones to use at home, both as a dressing and for cooking. As promised, this week we’re going to focus on one oil in particular which has become increasingly popular over recent years, but there are widespread concerns about. Rapeseed oil.

Here in the UK few people can have missed the bright yellow fields each spring of rape in full flower. Or its pungent smell, which seems to mark the beginning of the Hayfever season, although this is a topic for another day.

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