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Christmas is stressful for men – this is the one time of year they can shine by getting their wives or girlfriends the most fantastic present. They have limited choices – perfume, underwear – even diamonds – So why, oh why do most get it wrong year on year? Maybe it’s the lack of listening skills. We hint at underwear but when we say teddy, we don’t mean the cute bear sat under the tree with a ribbon around its neck. Do we need to be more descriptive men? Shall we spell it out – silk teddies are underwear, like nighties but sexier. So when we ask for teddies we don’t mean furry friends to cuddle up to at night. When we say it’s like nightwear we don’t mean winciette nighties – we mean, silk teddies. It couldn’t be easier to get your loved one the perfect gift men, but you really need to know their vital statistics! If they’re a curvaceous size 12 – getting size 8 knickers will not guarantee peace and love during the festive season. Just as bad is getting the skinny size 10 lady in your life a pair of size 16 pants. You need to treat your special other half like a Princess or princesse tam tam – a fantastic range of lingerie which would be sure to put a smile on her face. The range comes in black and white and there are lots of varieties of pants from briefs through to boxer shorts and plunge bras or push ups. A gift from princesse tam tam would show you’ve done your homework this year. You could also get clever boys. If she’s been hinting at a surprise holiday why not call her bluff and purchase an item from the Mimi Holliday lingerie range. It show’s you’ve listened but you’ve bought something from your budget range rather than hers!

Winter sweeps in and brings with it fire safety concerns. As the cold weather draws in people are keen to stay warm and so light fires and use electrical equipment. In addition, there are firework and Christmas festivities. So, what are the top five fire risks during the winter season? 1 – Chimney Fires – There is a greater risk of chimney fires in the winter months due to the increased use of coal fires or wood burning stoves. To prevent chimney fires, homeowners should have the chimneys swept by a qualified sweep on an annual basis. 2 – Electric Blankets – Another fire safety concern during the colder winter months is the increased use of electric blankets. Statistics show that old and damaged electric blankets have caused thousands of fires. The majority of people injured or killed in house fires caused by faulty electric blankets are those aged 65 years or more. 3 – Fireworks – Bonfire Night is always cause for worry for local fire fighters and people are urged to take care and ideally attend an organised bonfire party. Children should never be left unattended and people are warned not to return to a firework once lit, even if it looks as though it has not ignited. 4 – Candles ¬¬– There is an increased use of candles in the latter part of the year. They can add atmosphere to your home and are used in times of celebration. However, fire safety should always be in the forefront of your mind. Never put candles near curtains which could easily se t a light, ensure they have been blown out and never leave them unattended. 5 – Christmas Fairy Lights – Electrical appliances should be checked regularly and the Christmas tree lights which are put up every year are no exception. Faulty fairy lights are often the cause of December house fires.

What’s the difference between curtain tracks and curtain poles? No, it’s not a joke with a witty punch line; there is a genuine difference which may make an impact on what you choose to hang your curtains with. Curtain poles are ideal for tab top curtains, enabling the curtain to be hung directly onto the pole itself without the need for any extra fixings. Quick, easy and providing a clean, fresh look in minutes, especially for windows that are generally straight. Curtain tracks on the other hand are brilliant for when you need to hang curtains in difficult shaped windows, such as large bay windows. Most curtain tracks, including modern metal tracks are able to bend to the shape of the window, something you simply can’t do with a wooden curtain pole. It is possible with some tracks to attach multiple items, for example, the curtain and a valance on top. Even taking into consideration the hooks and “eyes” that also need to be attached, it does mean that curtain tracks are pretty versatile. Initially of course, your decision may well be dictated by the kind of home you live in and the kind of windows that need dressing. Most modern homes seem to have windows of fairly regular sizes, but the older they are, the more variety there may be. There is a whole array of different tracks on the market, so it pretty important to know what sort of appearance you want your rooms to have before choosing your curtain tracks.

Your own garden may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you consider the word “irrigation”. Somehow, the word seems to take on a much grander meaning, and we might think of TV news appeals for famines taking place around the world and how our money will help with providing water for the irrigation in these lands where rain has been so scarce. However, “irrigation” simply means artificially applying water to land in order to help with a crop production. You may not grow crops (in the traditional sense) in your garden but effectively when you set the sprinkler up to water your garden, you are irrigating your land. As well as sprinklers and a good old fashioned hand held hose pipe, there are even more effective ways to ensure that your vegetable patch produces a good harvest or your flower beds are in maximum bloom when the time is right. Drip irrigation is perhaps one of the most commonly used systems in the garden. In its most basic sense, drip irrigation is a length (however long you need it to be) of hose pipe that weaves around your garden to all the areas that need watering. Along the length of the hose, “drippers” are strategically placed and attached. When the water is turned on, the water will escape or “drip” only from these sections of pipe, ensuring that all the nutrients are absorbed in the desired areas of the garden. As well as drip irrigation, you could also use a system known as “leaky pipe”. A porous hose effectively leaks water along its length, producing great coverage.

If you’re hosting a big Christmas party or New Year’s Eve celebration you may want to consider protecting the grass around your home from heavy use and vehicle wear-and-tear. During the winter months you can expect bad weather. This could cause waterlogging to your grass areas and erosion of soils and landscaped areas. A solution would be the introduction of ground protection mats to create a temporary access. These lightweight mats made from durable HD Polyethylene would protect your property and stop costly repairs. They would prove easy to put down and more durable than plywood panels. Christmas is stressful enough without worrying about temporary access to your home as well. If you are planning more long term work on your home such as an extension or a state-of-the-art swimming pool you may find you need temporary roadways putting in place. Again, ground protection mats would prove the perfect tool. They will provide ground protection when it is necessary to take vehicles across your lawn and can even be used to protect finished surfaces such as tarmac and block paving from damage. Health and Safety is paramount in the minds of everyone such is the craze for litigation. By providing mats to use as temporary roadways and for temporary access you are putting the safety of others first and ensuring wheelchair users have temporary access to your home, party or staged event. They reduce the risk of people slipping and hurting themselves as they have a unique anti-slip traction panel. They are also recyclable so good for the environment too.