Quick Food Rant

Did you know, food is really really bad for you!

"Not all food you idiot" I hear you cry, but yes, all food, all of it, everything, living on light is the only answer (and yes people do think you can live on light see here)

Or maybe air, but not food oh no, just look at this round up of food advice.

Protein is bad for you

Fat is bad for you 

Salt is bad for you

Sugar is bad for you

Grains are bad for you

Fruit is bad for you

Fruit juice is bad for you

Smoothies are bad for you


and so on, forever about every type of food ever.

By this time I expect you are so depressed you are reaching for a bottle of wine..uh oh, guess what

Alcohol is bad for you

I'm going to go and weep quietly in a corner with a bar of dark chocolate.

(It reminded me of the fabulous Kill or Cure Website.)

 I'm planning to ignore all this 'advice' and continue with a mixed diet and a little of what I fancy, will you be changing what you or your family eat?

Rug Doctor Carpet Cleaner - A review

We moved into our current home 12 years ago when DD was 2 and we had two terriers. The carpet in our lounge was already grubby looking but with a toddler and two dogs we decided to 'leave it for a while'.

12 Years later we have the same carpet. It is (was?) pale pinkish beige, it is an excellent quality wool blend and we have not enough disposable income to be able to afford to replace it with one of the same quality. Last weekend I had a bit of a spring clean and we discussed getting it cleaned.

Now I'm not sure if Rug Doctor are psychic or if, as was suggested on twitter, they have bugged our house,

@tattooed_mummy lol, they've either got your house bugged, or they could smell it from their offices and took pity... ;)
— L.A. (@lesleyannp1) June 21, 2014

lol, they've either got your house bugged, or they could smell it from their offices and took pity... ;)

but in the next email I opened I was invited to review a Rug Doctor carpet cleaning machine!

So of course I said yes! I knew it would work, they've been around for too long to not be good at what they do - I was more worried about how quickly it would dry (we had a few large items of furniture to remove and storage could be a problem!) and how easy it would be - I'm a klutz and imagined breaking the machine, spilling water and soap everywhere and causing a disaster of epic proportions.

I needn't have worried!

The Rug Doctor machine has easy to follow instructions all over it, including helpful 'idiot advice' like "NO! DON'T ADD WATER HERE!" Perfect! The bottle of cleaner has a measure printed on the side, the instructions are on the handle of the machine too, and in case I was still worried, there was a video and step by step instructions with pictures on the Rug Doctor website.

The hardest bit was emptying the cocktail cabinet (no not by drinking all the booze! it was full of antique glasses) and shifting the other furniture, like the two huge heavy sofas.


Once the room was empty (or half empty - it's a divided lounge/diner so I shifted everything up to one end) it was simplicity itself to fill the machine with cleaner and water and get going.

The carpet was left looking cleaner (not perfect - it is very old and there are some very very old stains on it) and the pile was really improved, it looked brighter and newer. Both my husband and I were really happy with the result. It was also only damp to the touch and as we did it on a really warm sunny day with all the windows open it was dry in a couple of hours, you can replace the furniture when it's a bit damp anyway - just protect wood things with some foil to stop damage/staining.

So then I could do the other end. No surprise that the water was filthy as I poured it out of the machine. Vile! It took a few refills to do each end of the lounge but the estimate of two rooms per bottle of cleaner was accurate. I can't stress enough how easy it was! So much better value than getting a professional cleaning company in too.

I will be doing it again next year. We no longer have dogs, and now have  a teen so maybe it will be less filthy next time? Here's hoping.

If you had been wondering if it was worth it I'd say yes. Clear the room in advance of collecting the Rug Doctor as rental is usually 24 or 48 hours. Do it on a hot sunny day in summer if possible. And be prepared to confront your filth!

No words

Find out where to hire a Rug  Doctor near you.

Disclosure - I was sent a Rug Doctor Machine to try free of charge, the filthy carpet and the opinions are my own.

Silent Sunday

Sugru - a rubbery review

Just before Father's Day  I was sent a pack of Sugru to review. I had never heard of this miraculous substance, and it was being sold to me as a perfect gift for Father's Day - after trying it out I would say it's the perfect gift for anyone!

It's a malleable plasticine like substance, that is sticky enough to adhere to pretty much anything and then...wait for it ...sets like rubber over night! I know! how cool is that!

There are too many uses, fixing fragile phone charging cables, tidying trailing computer cables, making little key hooks, adding grip to things, fixing metal pan lids so they no longer burn your hands...and I used some to turn an annoying slidey hanger into a useful clothes hanger!

It's great! It's heat proof, dishwasher proof, cold proof....I fear that like when I first got a laminator and laminated everything, now I shall be 'improving' everything with Sugru! It comes in various colours and you can even mix them to get shades to match what you are reparing. I'm already sadly addicted.

Sugru is available at B&Q and Wilko from £6.99 - no doubt you can get it elsewhere too.

Disclaimer - I was sent a pack of Sugru to try but the ridiculous enthusiasm for this product is all my own.

 Sugru is available at a wide range of retailers including B&Q, Wilko and Maplin, outdoor stores including Blacks and Ellis Brigham as well as online at sugru.com. Sold in packs of 3 uses from £6.99 and packs of 8 uses from £12.99, sugru is available in a variety of colours - red, yellow, blue, black and white, all of which can be blended to make any colour you like!

Only getting it twice a week

Copyright: claudioratti973 / 123RF Stock Photo

Obviously I'm talking about the most recent idea from our interfering overlords, about schools meals. And I'm referring to fried foods and pies.

My daughter is 14 and I'm fairly sure that if these rules are brought in at her school canteen then the children will just use the chip shop along the road on the three days that no chips are served. 

But even if the "fried food" twice a week maximum is applied at other schools, it's ridiculous. Why is fried food seen as unhealthy but macaroni cheese is not? I'm guessing a cheese dish has plenty of saturated fat, while chips can be fried in vegetable oils. (oh, hang on ... "we have introduced a new restriction on how often cheese can be served as the vegetarian option." from 'The Rules')  And a restriction on pastry? pastry?! Really? So quiche is out along with vegetable pies, fruits pies...(DD cried out "No strudel!" in horror)

I'm starting to wonder what will be left that children can eat, as a mum of a teen girl who is underweight and like many children worried about 'getting fat' I am concerned that this is going to adversely affect her.

Drinks with too much sugar are in the firing line too including fruit juice, but presumably diet drinks with aspartame will sneak through this unhealthily cordon? Water will be pushed as the best drink...good luck with that, if you have a fussy drinker prepare yourself for the inevitable cystitis when they go all day without drinking. Milk will also be promoted.

Bread crumbed food is classed as fried too apparently? Honestly it's the usual stupid interfering that in the long run won't change anything all it will do is anger parents and children, make it difficult for schools and cause bloggers to rage! (DD had confirmed they have oven cooked potato wedges often...) Crisps are also banned, as are all sweets, chocolate and cereal bars.

If the all powerful government want to really make a difference they will have to do better than banning things, they will have to actually look at what is healthy, create recipes and stick to them. (and take away some choice, like in the 'olden days' where the choice was take it or go hungry)

My daughter will continue to take a packed lunch, a habit we got into as local schools all had their kitchens removed in the 90s to save money (!) and no doubt many children will do the same, lunch box police not withstanding.

I don't have a problem with children eating healthily, when I was on the primary school PTA I actively campaigned for more fruit for the children and it was implemented very successfully, but I think it's about choice, making healthy the attractive option, not banning things. From experience forbidden fruit (or in this case forbidden junk) will become the preferred option for most children.

Banning things never works. Encouraging an interest in eating and new and interesting menus might (Jamie Oliver tried this technique but the government are now saying it's too complicated)

oh and tuck shops are out too. 

Do not get me started on the lack of playing fields, teachers car parks in play grounds and the banning of many 'active' kids games....