Journeys Are My Diary

I don’t know how everyone else feels about buying gifts for their parents at Christmas, but I personally feel like there is a lot of pressure. It’s like a whole year’s worth of “thank you”, all summed up in one present.

When you’re younger, parents are responsible for doing so much for you, and in all honesty we probably take it for granted. However when you get older, possibly become a parent yourself, you realise just how much they did for you and to be honest, that you can never really repay them for that. For feeding you, clothing you, making sure you got an education, hopefully helping you to become a good person – and so much besides, being a parent is pretty much a thankless job for the most part.

So when it comes around to birthdays or Christmas and you’re tasked with the job of getting them a gift. What on earth can you get them, that truly says how much you feel for them. Even though they’re no longer dressing you (hopefully!) or feeding you (except for Sunday lunch perhaps!), they still seem to do more than you realise, so it’s always nice to show you care.

Although I find an actual present a lot of pressure, trying to show I’m grateful every day, is also really important to me. My dad passed away over 14 years ago now and since then, my mum has been my only parent. That said, she has been a fantastic parent and words cannot express how thankful I am for her. Even though I’m a parent myself, with my own children to look after, I know she’s always still there for me. Whether it’s to lend me a tenner to pop petrol in the car, to pick me up when my car breaks down, or a shoulder to cry on when it feels like everything is going wrong – there’s no one quite like mum for me. So I try my best, all the time, to do little things that show I care – more than just a thank you. I climb up and change her lightbulbs when they need doing, I take her a portion of left over dinner when we have some, I invite her along to family cinema trips. We have been on major holidays together – my immediate family of four and her too, so that she feels included and not alone. We spend all major events and holidays together and although it sounds cheesy, she’s probably as much my best friend as she is my mum. And each time I do those things, I know she’s grateful and she knows I care – which really is much more important than any gift I could give her.

So whether I decide to get her a luxury hamper, theatre tickets, a spa day experience or some new piece of technology that I’d probably end up having to set up myself, I know she will be thankful and grateful for it. Because she’s my mum and that’s what mum’s do.

I’m the first to hold my hands up and admit I’m pretty rubbish at looking after my car. With two kids, the inside often looks like a rubbish bin or overspill of the house, while the outside is often mudsplattered and even dinted in places (shhh!). Truthfully I’m going to be looking at buying a new car sometime in the next 6 months, so I have got fairly lazy with it’s upkeep. The back window washer is broken, my bumper is hanging off in some places and the bonnet has issues closing properly! That said though, I need it every single day for the school run and I rely on it to get myself and the kids around safely.

At this time of year, I do know how important it is to make sure your car is safe, especially with the inevitable cold weather. So far this autumn, I have already replaced all four of my tyres and topped up my coolant. There is a can of anti-freeze on my front seat, right next to my ice-scrapper which I’m really hoping not to need! I think I’m probably lucky with my car, as it will tell me when my wiper fluid needs topping up, when the engine coolant is getting low and when there is a chance of ice. However there are several things that it doesn’t tell me – such as when to check my brakes or check my tyres. Of course, these are all fairly standard things that you should be checking but at this busy time of year, with office parties, Christmas nativity shows and shopping for gifts, it’s definitely easy to forget.

So here are my top tips for pampering your car this Christmas.

• Take your car for a service, especially if it’s due one. This will highlight any possible issues you may have.
• Get your brakes checked at Iverson Tyres. Knowing you can stop efficiently when you need to, is very important.
• Check your tyres. Having a good thread on your wheels is always important but especially when it’s icy.
• Do the little jobs, like top up your engine coolant, clean your lights, wash your windowscreen,
• Get your battery checked. A lot of places are offering free battery checks this time of years, so get yours checked before your car won’t start one morning.
• Always keep your petrol topped up, try not to leave yourself in a desperate situation.
• Ideally you should make sure you have breakdown cover – just in case you need it!

Be prepared. Carry anti-freeze and a scrapper in the car, make sure you have warm blankets in case something does happen. Check the weather and traffic reports before you travel. Keep food and drink supplies in the car when possible. Fingers crossed we won’t be hit by any snowstorms this year, but it’s always better to be prepared and it’s always better to make sure your car is in the best condition it can be!

Have you ever wondered how you can build your credit, without it taking up too much time and energy?Building your credit doesn’t need to be difficult. In fact, there are ways you can build your credit without even really trying. Just doing basic everyday things, you can build your credit.

(1) Apply for a credit builder loan

You may not know this, but there are loans out there that can help you build your credit. The main purpose of this entire loan is to help the person build their credit up. Contact your local bank to see if you meet the criteria to take out a credit builder loan.

(2) Start by paying your bills on time

One of the best ways in which you can build your credit is by paying your bills on time. YUP! It’s that simple. By simply paying them a few days ahead, to ensure you don’t pay them late, your credit will start to build itself. Paying bills on time is important anyways, but it’s wonderful that there’s an incentive out there to pay those bills on time!

(3) Use Rental Kharma

Rental Kharma is such an interesting tool to help someone build their credit. Let’s say that you’re paying rent each month, but most of the time, rent isn’t something that shows up on your credit report. Well, things are changing. You can use Rental Kharma to have a bill that you are paying, show up on your credit report. Remember, when you pay your bills on time, it ups your credit score.

(4) Apply for a credit card

Sadly, one of the best ways to build your credit is to take out a credit card. A credit card, when used responsibly, can be a great tool in building credit. You don’t need a credit card with a huge credit limit. However, you do need to make sure you’re paying off your credit card each month. Each time you pay it off, you’re building credit. You’re showing those creditors that you’re wise with your money and capable of paying off money you owe.

(5) Keep an eye on your credit score and report

There are so many apps out there that allow you to check up on your own credit report and score. This is always a good thing to do, incase you have a negative report on your credit score. Do you know how easy it is for someone to steal your identity? When someone does this, it ruins your credit in no time. Log into an app like Credit Sesame or Credit Karma and start checking on your credit score and credit report.

(6) Keep unused credit on your credit report

For some reason, the reporting credit agencies love it when you have unused credit on your credit report. You should only use around 30% of the total amount of credit you have available. If you think it’s weird that you’re not using all the credit you have available, it’s not weird at all.

(7) Don’t open too many accounts at one time

Credit reports can be finicky, which means you have to follow certain rules from time to time. A good example of that rule is not opening too many accounts at one time. Essentially, don’t run out and open 5 credit accounts in one day. Some say that you should not do this because it lowers your overall “credit age.” You want it to look like you’ve had credit for a long while, so opening up several new accounts, at one time, can lower your credit age.

(8) Don’t close accounts

Another way to build your credit is to not close any of those accounts you aren’t using. Sometimes creditors will close the accounts on their own, but you don’t need to do anything. Pay them off and enjoy the benefit they add to your credit score. You will need an account that’s in good standing for as long as possible!

(9) Pay your student loans on time

Student loans are something that greatly impact your credit. It’s important to pay your student loans on time, every time. This shows that you’re responsible with your money as well. [source]

It’s important that you follow these tips to help you build your credit. Credit is your ticket to getting lower interest rates on loans. Credit is also the ticket to help you obtain a car loan or a house loan. It’s not always fun to keep tabs on your credit, but it’s always worth it because in the long run, you spend less money on interest fees.

Building your credit can be pretty painless if you know what you’re doing. These best ways to build your credit are the perfect tools to help you succeed in your financial goals.

What is the best way you’ve ever tried to build your credit?

If you have low on testosterone levels, it’s time to take matters into your own hands and get help. The best way to do this is by signing up for testosterone replacement therapy. It’s a therapy where you’ll be required to take testosterone injections on a weekly basis.

These injections are the most effective methods of Testosterone therapy in California and they’re usually combined with ancillary medications, depending on your age, health condition, and a set of other unique circumstances. Since no two people are the same, each man needs to receive therapy that is customized and personalized to their individuality.

Before the therapy begins, the physician will perform necessary physical examinations. It’s quite important to take the patients’ feedback, previous medical symptomology, history, as well as a combination of diagnostic and comprehensive lab work into consideration to carefully determine the individual therapy regimen for each patient.

How to Know if You Need Testosterone Replacement Therapy

At some point in their lives, almost every man will be a potential candidate for such therapy. You may need testosterone replacement therapy if you suffer from one or more symptoms such as:

• Increased mood swings
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Sleep disturbances
• Depleted sexual function or libido
• Weight gain
• Depleted energy and ability to gain muscle

If you’re suffering from any of the aforementioned symptoms, you should consult with your doctor about receiving the needed therapy.

The Benefits of Testosterone Replacement Therapy

Low testosterone is generally related to age. Many men above the age of 30 or 40 experience symptoms such as loss of motivation, energy, and muscle. These symptoms are even more prevalent in men over the age of 40. Since low T levels affect our mood, it makes men more prone to depression and general irritability.

Further symptoms include erectile dysfunction, libido drop, and the loss of HGH also known as Human Growth Hormone. These are clear signs that you need proper therapy. With that in mind, if you decide to receive this therapy, you should know that the benefits of seeking out the best testosterone replacement therapy in California are:

1. Increased libido
2. Fat loss
3. Muscle gain
4. Improved mood
5. Improved focus and mental clarity

HGH and Testosterone Replacement Therapy

The Human Growth Hormone is directly related to strong bones, high energy, a strong sex drive, a sharper mind, being confident and feeling generally healthy and happy.

If you tend to feel constant fatigue, symptoms of depression, or are running low on libido, receiving the most efficient testosterone replacement therapy in California can help you take care of your health and feel better than ever before.

Don’t let your age affect the quality of your life when you can do something about it. Schedule a free consultation and take care of your testosterone problem today!

It’s estimated that over 50 million EU & US citizens visit Africa every single year, at least according to the latest official figures published back in 2017.

Interestingly, 15% of these book solely for the purposes of tourism, with Africa presenting a diverse range of experiences and terrains to travellers. In recent times, Africa beach safari holidays and packages have become increasingly popular among visitors, primarily because they offer unique and once-in-a-lifetime holiday experience.

In this post, we’ll list the top five beach and safari combo holidays in Africa, while asking why they’re so popular among travellers.

• East Africa and Essque Zalu

If you’re really in the market for a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience, we’d recommend a trip to East Africa.

This is home to the spectacular location of Kenya, which is home to a number of popular safaris and some of the most fascinating species in Africa. Kenya is also home to several big cat sightings every single year, particular in the iconic Kicheche Camp in the Mara.

In East Africa, you can also book a safari in the north of Tanzania, which is home to the great Wildebeest Migration that takes place every autumn.

This trip can be combined with a relaxing beach holiday on the neighbouring island of Zanzibar, which is famous for combining contemporary boutique-chic with rustic and unspoiled terrain.

• The Kruger National Park and Cape Town

While there’s no such thing as a cheap safari, it’s fair to say that some packages are inherently cheaper than others.

Take a trip to South Arica’s Kruger National Park, for example, which is an extremely popular tourist destination that offers access to a genuine big game safari experience.

This can be combined with a few days relaxation on the beaches of nearby Cape Town, which combine idyllic surrounds with superb shopping and a host of exceptional restaurants.

• The Serengeti and the Fundu Lagoon

If you’re in the marker for an authentic African safari experience, a mobile camp is probably your best bet.

This is particularly true of you head to renowned locations such as Botswana or the Serengeti, which offer a comprehensive but unspoiled safari experience with all the associated creature comforts.

From here, you can also book the ideal beach getaway at the sun-kissed and incredibly rustic Fundu Lagoon.

This is located on Zanzibar’s very own Robinson Crusoe island of Pemba, which offer tremendous boutique accommodations and miles of picturesque golden sands.

• The Madikwe and the Seychelles

If money is no object and you’re looking to book a luxury safari, we’d recommend a trip to South Africa.

More specifically, locations such as the Sanctuary Makanyane Lodge offer a relevant case in point, as they offer a unique sense of serenity while providing the ideal backdrop for couples in search of a romantic retreat.

Imagine following a week in the stunning Madikwe with a week-long vacation in the Seychelles, which is home to beautiful white beaches and bright blue water.

This is a truly opulent experience, and one that actually offers impressive value for money.

• The Madikwe Game Reserve and The Residence

This location will probably top many a travel diary but safari trips are becoming increasingly popular among families, and operators have created a number of tailored packages to meet this demand.

One of the best locations for families is the Malaria-free Madikwe Game reserve in South Africa, which offers a safe and comfortable experience complete with excellent guides. It’s also known for its superb junior range programme, which allows children to experience animal tracking and bush survival.

Additionally, the west of Tanzania offer a slower and more serene safari experience, and one that’s ideal for young children and families.

From both of these destinations, you can access a number of beach destinations in and around Zanzibar. We’re particularly fond of The Residence, which combine picturesque beaches with outstanding service and even butlers!

Are you guilty of spending much of your spare time sitting on the sofa, watching TV and avoiding essential exercise? Well, you could be seriously damaging your overall health. If you want to live a long, happy and healthy life, you may need to add some more physical activity into your daily routine.

To transform your health next year, here are six reasons why you need to move more in 2019.

• Avoid Back Pain

Unfortunately, many people will experience troublesome pain in their back as they grow older, and may need to turn to Airrosti for assistance in back pain. You can increase your risk of developing the issue if you fail to embark on physical activity regularly or are carrying excess weight.

Not only can this be incredibly painful, but it can prevent you from performing even the most basic of tasks each day. So, lower your risk of developing the health problem by going for a walk, joining a dance class, or performing yoga.

• Improve Your Heart Health

Moderate exercise can help your heart to remain in tip-top condition. That’s because it can lower your cholesterol and blood pressure, which can decrease the pressure on your heart. What’s more, it can improve your body’s insulin sensitivity and can decrease the development of blood clots.

• Destress Your Mind and Body

Many doctors routinely recommend exercise to patients who are struggling with stress, anxiety, or depression, as it can increase the production of endorphins, a feel-good hormone, in the body so that it can lift your mood and lower your anxiety levels. Plus, the body’s increased core temperature can lead to a reduction in muscular tension.

• Ward Off Colds

According to research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, people who regularly exercise are less likely to experience a cold. The study of 1,000 people discovered that maintaining an active lifestyle halved the odds of catching a cold virus, or would make the infection less severe if contracted.

Many health experts believe this is due to the immune system experiencing a spike for a few hours each day. So, if you want to ward off a cold, get up on your feet and start moving.

• Slow Down the Aging Process

Do you want to feel healthy and energetic into 2019 and beyond? Start exercising regularly, as it can slow down the degeneration of the central nervous system, so you can maintain fast reaction times and good coordination. Inactivity is also reportedly the cause of a fast aging process and the development of chronic lifestyle diseases, so live to a grand-old age while looking great by regularly working out.

• A Natural Pain Relief

If you regularly suffer from all sorts of aches and pains, exercise could be the perfect solution. For example, if you have stiff knees, tight shoulders, neck pain, or an aching back, exercise could potentially make you feel better, as it is a natural form of pain relief and can make you less vulnerable to tears in the tendons and muscles. It’s, therefore, an ideal solution for people living with chronic conditions such as arthritis.

When kids close school or during weekend breaks, they can get idle or indulge in activities they are not supposed to. During their time away from school, you can always device ways to ensure that you spend time with them since they are always in school and you are always working. Read on to see special ways in which you can spend time with your kid while they are out of school;

Camping

If schools have closed and your kid is home for the summer break, then you should be thinking of taking him/her for camping. Camping is a good way to spend quality time exploring new activities and environment with your child. They get to have a thrilling adventure that they can tell to their friends when they get back to school. You can get to go fishing, trekking or even get on that ARV bike your son has been nagging you about. What’s more, you don’t need to break the bank to have a splendid experience while camping because a well-planned will sure be affordable.

Painting

Painting is one of the many activities that are meant to broaden someone’s creativity. If you want to dodge the outdoor fuzz and settle for a cool indoor activity, then you should think of painting. It is an ingenious activity that you can have fun doing with your child at the comfort of your home and cannot be compared to the rather wild and unproductive fun they would have had in the playground or water park. You can always get a rhinestone painting kit and spend time with your kid while helping them explore their creativity limits.

Travel

Traveling is at most times underrated by a lot of people. It can be a good way to have a special time with your kid when they are out of school. It doesn’t always mean taking a leave off work for a whole week to travel, you can always choose a destination where you can go for a small weekend getaway with your kid. After your small trip, your kid will sure thank you for it because they will have gotten a one of a kind experience that traveling gives off. So, you don’t have to go for 15,000 mile journey to have fun because you may travel to a close destination and have the best time of your life.

Visit relatives

The feeling of being around relatives sometimes is unbeatable. That is why once in a while you ought to take your kid to visit their cousins, grandparents, and other relatives. It is even better to take them to family gatherings as they get to bond with their cousins while having a good time. Additionally, you can decide to host family gatherings at your place and let your kids mingle and have all the fun with relatives. This is a good way to spend time with your kid because it is also a way to teach them the importance of family.

This year has seen the rise of various trends in forex trading. As the dynamic market keeps changing to accommodate improvements in technology, more traders are scrambling to find better trading strategies in an attempt to keep afloat.

If you’re just starting your forex trading journey, it’s recommended that you first study currency trading for dummies. This will offer deep insights and give you the motivation you require to proceed.

Here are the top 5 currency trading trends of 2018:

• Crypto trading has become more popular

The advent of cryptocurrencies has revolutionized how people transact. Crypto trading has gradually caught on – more traders are embracing virtual currencies, causing a dramatic trading shift. In 2018, crypto trading has be rampant as traders find better, more efficient trading strategies. Banks and other financial entities are already embracing cryptocurrencies as a revolutionary exchange trend. If you’re looking to diversify your trading strategy, it would certainly be wise to incorporate crypto trading.

• An increase in algorithmic trading

Recently, there rise of bespoke trading software has spearheaded a new type of trading known as algorithmic trading. Unlike manual trading, algorithm trading is totally automated and is characterized by high precision and speed. Traders often face the challenge of human error and sentimental bias when making their trends. This contributes to huge losses that can further spark a loss of enthusiasm. The abrupt rise in algorithm trading will change all this – traders will enjoy the perks of automated trading and possibly earn more profits. With algorithmic trading, you can conveniently place your trade when you’re sleeping or travelling.

• New forex technical indicators

If you’ve been trading for some time, you’re probably familiar with technical indicators. These allow you to predict price trends, helping you to make accurate predictions. This year has seen the rise of new trend indicators such as the infamous Ichimoku indicator. This particular indicator predicts future resistance and support levels by considering historical prices. Ensure you learn how such indicators work before using them in your strategy.

• Price transparency has been greatly prioritized

The enhancement of market regulation and boost in price transparency has dramatically improved forex trading this year. For years, concerted efforts have been made by stakeholders to forge a lasting cooperation between forex exchanges and regulatory bodies. This determination has finally bore fruits. Today’s advanced technology has offered new methods of promoting transparency, helping to create a friendly trading environment. It’s certainly a positive trend that only going to get better with time.

• An abundance of helpful forums and responsive support teams

Majority of forex trading platforms these days have integrated forums where traders from all walks of life can gather, interact and exchange ideas. Sharing tips and tricks among like minded people helps you to gain helpful knowledge that can improve your trading strategy. These platforms also have responsive support technicians that can offer help and answer any questions you might have. They’re always at your beck and call. It’s a delightful trend that continues to attract more traders into forex.

These are the top five currency trading trends that have been prevalent in 2018.

Regardless of the presumed safety of it, you should be doing all you can to protect your home against the devastation that natural disasters cause. This means safeguarding your property in a physical sense, preparing for the worst should it happen, and taking out insurances to ensure you don’t suffer financially as a result of a disaster.

To see what you need to do exactly to protect your home against natural disasters, read on.

Tend to your home’s exterior

If you want your home’s indoor space to stay as protected as it can against the most common form of natural disaster, that being flooding and water damage, then you need to tend to its outdoor space. This is because the best flood-prevention tactics are deployed externally, as the exterior of a building is always its first line of defence against flood water.

To make your home’s exterior a place that deters stormwater and keeps it away from your indoor area, you have to, first, resolve to grade it. This means using a combination of mulch and soil to ensure water is sent away from the building rather than towards it — the area that you seek to drain water to should be made to be as absorbent as can be, which means you should certainly be planting grass there.

Prepare for the worst

Emergency preparedness is just as important a factor in this instance as preventive tactics are — you can never truly prevent a natural disaster, but you can prepare for it.

One way to prepare for the disaster that is water damage is to have a sump pump readily available on your premises. Such a device will help you to remove water that has accumulated, especially in your basement. In regards to preparing for any kind of disaster at all, you should make sure that your home has a backup generator that operates on battery power. This will provide you and your home with some much needed comfort during the difficult time that follows your disaster.

Take out home insurance

Natural disasters have the uncanny ability to be able to ruin everything that they touch, as soon as they touch them. If you don’t want to lose all of the things you’ve worked so hard to earn and collect over the years — your worldly belongings, your personal items, your memories, your assets — then you to need to insure your home for replacement costs. By taking out home insurance your property, its contents and even you will be covered financially should a natural disaster ravage through your premises. For this reason, you really cannot delay when it comes to getting in touch with an insurance broker and advisor.

Some are more prone to facing them than others, granted, but, regardless of where your property is situated and how strong it is, you should be protecting your home against natural disasters. By taking the advice above you will put preventive measures in place, you will prepare for the worst, and you will see yourself covered in a financial sense.

Climate change has been a complex issue that has forced many to rethink their strategies in order to protect their environment. The issue of protecting the environment is the responsibility of everyone. Any effort made can be very impactful.

Businesses across the world have made great efforts in streamlining and making their business model sustainable and eco-friendly. Business activities have a direct impact on the environment something that many green clients are becoming increasingly aware and expectant of.

Making your business green does not require very big adjustments. Small changes can also have a resounding effect.

Here are some of the few ways you can get to make your business eco-friendly and greener.

1. Encourage Recycling and Reusing

Recycling and reusing are the most widely advocated way of keeping the environment clean. According to studies, both methods will have a strong impact on eliminating almost 30% of waste from the environment.

Start by establishing recycling bins within the offices helps to segregate the office waste. You can have separate bins for plastic, waste food, papers, and cardboard. This makes it easy for waste to be handled when processing.

In terms of reusing, you can encourage your employees to not minimize the habit of throwing just about everything.  It is estimated that close to 90% of old electronics end up in landfills. Instead of this, they can be sold or donated to charity instead of being thrown away.

To make it a success, then you need to lead by example. Show them how to do it and they will follow. If possible reward them when they get to recycle or reuse office waste.

2. Invest in Energy Saving Equipment

With the growing concern of environmental protection and safety, many equipment manufacturers are developing energy efficient office equipment with high energy saving ratings. Such, equipment is considered safe and efficient.

Start by replacing your old office equipment with the ones that are energy efficient. Always make an in-depth comparison in order to settle for the best choice. The benefit of this is that your business operations will use less energy.

3. Implement Green Procurement

A good way to lower your business carbon footprint is through Green Procurement. Green procurement allows you to source products from suppliers that manufacture in a sustainable and eco-friendly manner.

Non-toxic, recyclable, and reusable materials are the best products to purchase for your business. With this, you will be able to transform your business into a green business.

Creating a sustainable green procurement policy is a good place to start. The policy will ensure that your employees, suppliers and even clients adhere to keep the business toxic free, low of greenhouse emissions, reusing and recycling products and proper waste management. The idea is to create a business environment that is environmentally conscious.

4. Incorporate Renewable Energy

A perfect renewable energy to use is the solar energy since is readily available and harnessed. That way you prevent the buildup of toxins in the air, thus keeping your business environment clean and safe for your employees and clients. Reconstructing your office layout to allow as much natural light to come in will be a perfect starting point. Such a move will also go a long way in making your business cost-effective as you will cut down on electricity bills.