Blog

There seems to be few franchises more synonymous with British culture than James Bond; and what many don’t realise is that the MI6 agent was first a literary character before being adapted for TV, radio, comic strips, video games and, of course, film. In 1953, novelist Ian Fleming penned his first title, Casino Royale, featuring 007 – making 2023 the 70-year anniversary of the cult classic h...

Research shows that more than 90% of British people have an untidy home; keeping your place clean and clutter-free can feel like an uphill battle, especially when you share the space with other people. Don’t let things get on top of you… literally! We have some simple space-saving ideas that will help get you back on track – take a look now and start planning your newly organised home. ...

Around 38% of the UK population now works from home or has hybrid working arrangements, compared with just 17% in 2020.  However, working from home can be a challenge when it comes to organising your day and dealing with long periods of time on your own. © Creative Lab   The Increase in home workers There has been an increase in home workers in the UK over recent years due...

Collecting things is a hobby that has lasted the test of time and it remains one of the world’s most popular pastimes. Whether it’s DVDs, photographs, artwork or memorabilia, we all love to see a good collection! © StrippedPixel.com Michel-Jack Chasseuil’s Wine Collection  Fancy a tipple? Octogenarian Michel-Jack Chasseuil has amassed an impressive wine collection of over 40,000 bo...

Ever heard of Veganuary and curious to know more? Let’s give you the lowdown on what it is, along with some tantalising recipes you can try at home. Stolyevych Yuliya / Shutterstock.com What is Veganuary? As you may have guessed, Veganuary is a combination of veganism and January, and as it turns out, it’s a pretty big deal. The driving force behind this campaign is to coax people ...

Music creates opinions, it shapes generations, and it can inspire, but one thing is for sure; it has a positive impact on our lives. Music defines a time in our lives, and some might say that the 90s was the era that changed everything. When Britpop hit our scenes, bands had rivalries and pop music took on a completely new dimension. Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com We’ve ...

Christmas is a wasteful time. Underneath all the presents, food and good company, there is a disturbing culture of waste. Food, paper, plastic and cardboard - they’re all discarded en masse in a flurry of gift-giving, excessive consumption and materialistic ideals. © SAJE / Shutterstock.com Did you know that we generate 30% more rubbish at Christmas than we do at any other time of the...

When it comes to having the best possible Christmas, today's consumers are naturally concerned about the environmental impact of the holiday season. That concern makes sense when you consider that around 75% of UK homes now use artificial trees, but is artificial worse for the environment than real…? Not necessarily! Sunflower Light Pro / Shutterstock.com Interestingly, figures show t...

Kids today have some pretty amazing playthings, but nothing can compare to the toys of the 80s and 90s. These were simpler times, when children didn’t need the Internet or mobile phones to enjoy themselves. Nowadays, it’s common for kids to have storage boxes full of stuff they barely play with but those of an older generation will have had a select few toys that meant a great deal to them. Mor...

There are many myths and legends surrounding Britain's favourite wild bird. As a traditional symbol of Christmas, the robin has been appearing on cards since the 19th century and has been Britain's national bird since 1960. © Richard / Adobe Stock The robin is native to the UK and is actually here all year round, but fittingly, its numbers are boosted over the Christmas period by more...