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My Sunday Snapshot -Banksy

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Banksy in Birmingham.

Yesterday My husband was out in Birmingham and got his friend to take this photo of him near the Banksy reindeers.

Banksy reindeers

Banky painted this on a wall in a street where I used to work many years ago. If I’d have still been working there I’d have to walk past it every day, but so far I’ve not been to see it. I will one day, it’s been a long time since I went to the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter.

Yesterday my husband and his friends had to pass the mural and obviously took the chance to take some photos.

Reindeers.

Painted in December last year the mural was painted next to a bench where a homeless person had been sleeping. A strong message about how we value the joy of Christmas while some do not even have a roof over their heads.

Shortly after it was painted it was vandalized by someone painting red noses on the reindeer. So now the mural is protected by a sheet of perspex. The vandal is also a graffiti artist and a fan of Banksy. He claimed he added the red noses because there was more focus on the artwork than the message of homelessness.

There have been mixed reactions since it’s appearance. A lot of people have been to visit the mural which has meant more custom to the area, but it has also resulted in further parking issues. As someone who used to park there every day I can understand this.

Do you have a banksy mural near you? What do you think of his reindeers?

my sunday snapshot

Last weeks Sunday Snapshot – The Halo

Lights on Earth – Photowall Review and Discount Code

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The lovely people at Photowall offered me a gift in return for my honest review along with a special discount code for my readers.

Lights on Earth

As my son’s room is in dire need of something to brighten the walls I thought I’d give him the choice of what to have. A photowall would have been fantastic, but I wouldn’t be able to get one up anytime soon so we decided on a nice poster.

At Photowall the choice is amazing, you can have wallpapers. designer murals, posters, canvas’ or framed prints. You can even choose a photo or picture of your own.

The designs are amazing and there is so much choice, animals, food and drink, maps, sports, astronomy and so much more.

I had a feeling that my son would go for Astronomy, he has a real fascination with space.

This is the picture he chose, Lights on Earth by David C. Miller and I love that you can see the Northern Lights.

Lights on Earth

Our Review

The Little Man was very please with his picture which came on a canvas print and with a smoked ash hanger. You can also choose to have a print without a white border.

In the bedroom

I thought The Little Man would have chosen to have the poster above his bed, but he thought it would be better on the opposite wall so he could see it when he woke up as he lies facing this way.

photowall

I think he made the right decision and it looks great.

The quality of the poster is really good and it looks fabulous in the frame. The Little Man is very happy and so am I.

Discount from Photowall

I’d definitely be happy to buy from Photowall again and when it comes around to decorating my bedroom after the work has been done, I’d really consider a mural. I’d love a bookshelf wall, especially as I’m having to get rid of two of my bookshelves to make way for my lift. It would be nice to have a city skyline, or a beach view though. I think it would probably take a day or two to choose.

What do you think? Would you choose a mural or a poster, a print or a canvas? If there is anything you’d fancy from the website Photowall have offered a special discount code ‘raisiebay2021’ which will give you 25% off for as many time as you use it for a month.

10 Essential Home Maintenance Jobs

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Sometimes it’s easier to put the little things off rather than doing them straight away. This can then lead to a small problem becoming a big issue. Follow this guide to see the ten most common home maintenance jobs that you might be putting off. 

Check Your Heating System

During the winter months, an efficient heating system is essential for keeping costs down and your home warm. If you have an older boiler you could find yourself spending up to £320 more than a brand new A-rated model. Choosing a new boiler can be a little overwhelming given that there are so many options out there with so many different installers. Here is a great article about boiler installation, going over what you can usually expect from the installation process. 

boiler controls

Window Insulation

Drafty windows can be a key cause to a rise in energy bills. Poorly sealed windows can be a cause of a serious draft in winter due to cold air entering your property, which can not only lead to a colder house but a bigger bill at the end of the month. The way that you can fix this is by looking at your caulk line. The caulk line is the rubber piece that insulates your window, and if this is looking dry or cracked, then it’s a significant insight into what the issue is. To change your caulk line is easy, remove it with a sharp knife then run a new one across the open seam. 

Check For Damp

Damp can be a serious cause of concern for families and can be especially dangerous to families with asthma sufferers. There are several ways to spot damp around your home: 

  1. A damp musty smell 
  2. Dark or discoloured patches on walls or plaster 
  3. Listing or peeling wallpaper
  4. The appearance of mould or mildew on walls, floors or ceilings 
  5. Walls floors or ceilings that feel cold or damp

Fixing damp can be a specialist job however there are certain cases where using anti-mould paint can be a solution, however, we would recommend getting quotes from different tradespeople and then opting for the most reliable and trustworthy. 

Check Your Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors are vital to any household, the last thing you want is a raging house fire to go undetected due to smoke alarm neglect. Most modern smoke alarms will give a warning as to when their batteries are running out however it is still advisable that twice a year you conduct a smoke alarm test to be on the safe side. 

Bleed Your Radiators

Bleeding your radiators is essential for making sure that your radiators are running at full capacity and efficiency. There are signs to check if your radiator needs bleeding: 

  1. If the radiator is cold at the top
  2. Damp patches or condensation surrounding the radiator 
  3. Creaking sounds caused by air pressure causing vibrations

Going about bleeding your radiator is easy enough. To begin with, make sure that you have these items:

  1. A radiator key 
  2. A cloth or clove 
  3. An old towel 
  4. Container

To begin with find the radiator that needs bleeding. Make sure that your heating is turned off and give the radiator time to cool down. Place the old towel and container below the valve to catch any spillage that may occur. Use your radiator key to turn the radiator valve anti-clockwise just enough so that a hissing sound occurs, meaning the air is escaping. Re-tighten the valve and then you’re done! 

Check Your Plumbing System 

Making sure that your water can remain free-flowing through your pipes is essential all your round. Following these tips will mean that your pipes are less likely to become clogged:

  1. Invest in a hair strainer for your bathroom. A hair strainer is ideal as it catches stray hair that would build up in your drain and cause a blockage in your pipes. This avoids having to fish the hair out with your hands
  2. Avoid pouring fats and oils down the drains. These fatty liquids and oils will clog up inside your pipes, just as it would inside your body arteries. The easiest way to prevent this is by altogether avoiding oil near your sink, but in case of an accident, run hot water and washing up liquid down you drain (immediately) to emulsify it. The easier way to get rid of your fats and oils are to wipe them down or wait for them to solidify and get rid of them into your household waste. 

Here is a great article about finding a plumber for your needs.

Pest Prevention

Pest prevention is a vital part of home maintenance, especially during the summer months as insects become more prevalent. It is better to exterminate pests and vermin before they have a chance to establish a nest and begin to call your home theirs. Common household pests can include: 

  • Termites 
  • Rats and Mice
  • Bed bugs
  • Wasps
  • Flies

In severe cases, the easiest fix is to call out pest control services, which are cheap and easy to find. However, do try and use preventative measures such as boric acid and Orange Guard before spending your money. And in some cases there are more humane ways to deal with pests such as human rat and mouse traps that will not hurt the animal. 

Insulate External Pipes

Insulating external pipes and taps are a great way of preventing freezing and bursting over the winter months. Using foam tubes to insulate your pipes is a great way to ensure that your pipes will not freeze and if you have exposed hot water pipes they will keep their heat. There are some great guides for this around the web and it is a great way to keep your water flowing this winter. 

Clean Out The Gutters

Cleaning your gutters is very important to get done before seasons like late summer and autumn when heavy rainfall usually occurs. Cleaning gutters out ensures that there will be no damage caused by water build-up during periods of heavy rain. 

Clean The Air Conditioning Filter

Most homes are now fitted with air conditioning to help cool your home during summer. Making sure that your air conditioning is clean enables your unit to run at full efficiency as the dust and bacteria can restrict airflow and stop the unit cooling the air down. The best time to clean your air conditioning unit is before summer (or whenever you start frequently using your AC) and then once a month, while in regular use. Following these four steps will ensure that your filter gets a deep clean:

  1. Remove the filter. Turn off the electricity source and take off the cover of the unit (usually done by releasing the push tabs or loosening the screws). Then remove the filter by sliding or releasing the clips.
  2. Submerge the filter in lukewarm water. Add a mix of washing up liquid and warm water to a bowl and leave inside for 15-30 minutes for best results. 
  3. Spray the filter. Mix up a solution of equal parts vinegar and water into a spray bottle and cover the filter. Leave for 10-15 minutes, and this will kill off any harmful bacteria. 
  4. Allow the filter to air dry; this could take several hours. 

These ten points should mean that your home stays a little more efficient each season. Keeping your property in good order is essential to making sure a house stays a home.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post

My Sunday Photo – Selfie and About Me

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A Selfie with me and Boo taken this summer.

I don’t do a selfie 🙂

A selfie with me and my daughter Boo

About Me

I’ve had some new readers lately, probably because of Blogtober, so I thought I’d do a little piece about me.

The photo above is a selfie taken of me in my wheelchair with Boo posing behind me. (I always think it’s good to add something pretty to a photo of me.) I’m really not normally a selfie person so you won’t see many.

Boo is my 12 year old daughter, she’s one of five. I have a 31 yr old son and a 30 yr old daughter from a previous marriage. Their Dad left us when they were quite young, and by the time they were Boo’s age he was living in another country.

The other three share the same Dad as Boo. Star is 14 years old and has a few medical issues. The youngest is my Little Man who is 9 years old. (As you may have gathered I don’t use their real names.)

I started this blog in 2011 as a follow on from my baby blog (Baby Number 5) which I started when the Little Man was born.

Now, most people could write a book about their life, well I could write about four. So I will try and condense a few things.

Quick Facts

I have five kids, as I’ve already said and they go, Boy, girl, girl, girl, Boy. Both my boys were born by C-section, the girls were all natural births. Apart from my first born they were all born either on their due dates or slightly before. Apart from my first born they were all born in the summer. Their hair colour is ombre, the eldest’s hair is so dark it’s almost black, then they go lighter in colour as they get younger down to my youngest who is blonde (but getting a little darker as he gets older.)

I got married young and had my first two young. I started work at 16 and only had maternity leave until my second was born then I went back to work when she was three years old. I worked full time until they were almost teens and I also worked part time for my degree which I received when I was thirty. I landed a fabulous job at Birmingham University which I had to give up for personal reasons . Since then all work I have done has been done from home.

Why am I in a wheelchair?

I was fine for most of my life, then suddenly, on New Years Day 2016 I was taken to hospital after becoming paralysed. I’d woken up with pins and needles which wouldn’t go away and ended up spending two weeks in hospital. They gave me intravenous steroids and several medicataions and taught me how to walk again. It was so hard, I learnt a new respect for toddlers, getting your brain to move your feet and hold up your body is an amazing thing that we take for granted.

I also learned how to pull myself up steps and get up and down from sitting. They also had to prove I could make a cup of tea and piece of toast before allowing me to go home.

I had every test under the sun including an MRI and a lumbar puncture. Eventually the only thing they found was that my body had attacked itself and damaged my spinal cord. It was termed auto-immune and I was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis. I was told I would be better within eight weeks. It seemed like a lifetime.

Diagnosis number two

A year later and few more tests involving long needles and electric shocks as well as bloods and I was diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome with Progressive Enchephamyelitis with Rigidity and Myclonus. (PERM for short.) The condition is so rare that it affects less than one in a million people world wide. There is no cure and they are still working on treatments.

The prognosis is an average of three years of life (I’m currently approaching four) but the statistics have not been updated for years and were based on subjects who had other conditions including cancer. I do not have cancer.

Last Words

I’m not sure if you’ve got this far, like I said, this is just a snippet of my story. When I started this blog I was healthy and enjoying a life of fun and activity with my three ‘littlies’ as I called them. Now, my life is so different and my chidlren are growing up so quick. Sometimes I wonder where life has gone.

I also feel robbed. Because of my condition, I can’t continue with a ‘normal’ life. There is so much I want to do that I can’t and my independance has been ripped away, literally overnight.

However, no matter how low I get (And I’m pretty low at the moment) I know that I’ve done well in my life despite it’s ups and downs. I’m happy that I had my children and they really are my life. I’m not dissapointed that I haven’t travelled the world or found fame and fortune. The most treasure you can ever have is what you hold in your heart. My children are my fortune.

And Boo, is a lovely addition to any selfie, even if I do say so myself 🙂

My Sunday Snapshot bad from Rachel Swirl
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BLOGTOBER 2019 POSTS

5 Ways to Create the Perfect Family-Friendly Bathroom

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Bathrooms should be relaxing havens, a perfectly tranquil place for those bubble baths and ideal spots for a little me-time. Yet when you have a family to cater for, especially with small children, your relaxing haven can sometimes turn into chaos, especially if your bathroom isn’t well suited or big enough for a growing family. There’s no reason that your bathroom can’t be both family-friendly and a perfect relaxation spot, however.

bathroom blurred with bath ducks in front

Here’s how to create a bathroom fit for all your family needs.

1. Adequate Storage

As with any room in your house, you’re going to need a lot of storage when you have children, and the bathroom is no different. Bathrooms can get piled up and cluttered with child-friendly necessities, such as their favourite shampoos, soaps and bath toys, not to mention childcare essentials like medicine, first-aid kits and lice-shampoo (when that unfortunate period of their life hits!).

So utilizing your bathroom for the handiest space possible is going to be a huge plus. Storage space also means that your children’s items can be out of sight rather than cluttered around the bath or on the floor, meaning that when you’re spending some time in the bathroom, it won’t always feel like a children’s playground.

You can install storage under your sink, through using wall cabinets and even above the toilet cistern.

2. Choose a Color Scheme That Suits Everyone

A family-friendly bathroom doesn’t have to mean that you have to decorate to your kids’ taste – you can save that for their personalized bedrooms. You can add a splash of color to your bathroom in a way which everyone will appreciate, and this could be through a quirky shower curtain, colored towels, or a sparkly bathmat or toilet seat. Whatever your taste, ensure you stick to a style which you can enjoy and appreciate but which will stimulate your children, too.

3. Have Both a Bath and Shower if you can

Having the option of both is a huge win when you have a growing family – bath time is always easier for younger children, and of course it also offers you the opportunity to have a relaxing soak from time to time. However, having the bonus of a shower to freshen up in the morning quickly is always a plus. Depending on the size of your bathroom, you may be able to install both – if your bathroom is small, however, you may have to forgo the bath. If a bath is able to be installed in your bathroom, you can always consider an over-the-bath shower instead of a separate free-standing shower, meaning you still get the best of both without sacrificing floor space.

If you need advice regarding bath or shower installation in your bathroom, you can search for “plumbers in my area” and have a professional provide advice and an estimate for you.

4. Use Tiles

For a family-friendly bathroom, you’ll need surfaces which are easy to clean, as mess and spills are bound to happen. Tiling is the best choice for your flooring and walls, as it’s so easy to clean and maintain. Opting for wooden bathroom flooring, for example, can be harder to keep on top of when it comes to wear and tear with your children, so tiling is definitely the better option.

Tiles come in a variety of patterns, styles and colors, so you can still decorate your bathroom to your taste even if you have to choose tiles for the kids.

5. Choose Individual Towels

It’s always nice when you can have a big, fluffy towel reserved for yourself without the kids getting their hands on it. Likewise, your kids will love having their own towel set to use, especially if you can choose some fun designs with their favorite Disney or Superhero characters printed on it.

For extra design help, you could arrange your towel racks and hooks at differing heights on the wall – meaning your kids can always reach their own towels but aren’t able to reach yours!

In Conclusion

There are plenty of extra design features to consider when planning a family-friendly bathroom, but it doesn’t have to be a stressful experience – and it also doesn’t mean that you have to compromise on your own comfort or tastes either. When designing a family-friendly bathroom, just ensure that you have features and colors which suit everybody – and remember that extra storage is a huge plus for everyone.

Here is a previous post of mine about bathroom facts, but I’m pleased to announce that we have actually renovated our ‘boring’ bathroom now.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post