Celebrating Chinese New Year

Whether you have friends that are Chinese or simply enjoy getting involved in the customs of other cultures from around the world, Chinese New Year is becoming a popular celebration to get involved with.  Many cities around the world that have a Chinatown will have organised New Year celebrations but the essence of the holiday is getting together with friends and family so this can be done on a smaller level in your own home.

Basics

Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival and isn’t a single day as the New Year here is in the UK but a fifteen day long celebration that begins with the preparations in the old year and goes through for days afterwards.  The date is defined by a combination of the solar and lunar calendar and a series of complicated astronomical calculations – in 2016, the result is that it is on Monday 8^th February.  The occasion is also celebrated in parts of south-east Asia including Vietnam where is it called Tet, Malaysia and Taiwan. 

One of the big parts of celebrating Chinese New Year isn’t as much fun as the food and fireworks – the cleaning of the house.  Chinese believe it is important to give the house a good clean before the event, a little like our spring clean.  This cleans away any bad luck accumulated over the previous year.  Decorations are then put up with red being a central theme as it is considered lucky.  Paper cut decorations are popular as the tradition dates back to ancient Han times in China.

Food traditions

In northern China, dumplings are a central part of the New Year traditions.  A fish dish is also considered important to serve for the New Year’s Eve Dinner, where all the family and friends gather together.  Just like our New Year, every stays up until midnight for the fireworks.

New Year Cake is made from glutinous flour with sugar and is a popular dish to serve on the occasion for those from the east of China.  Tang Yuan is also made with glutinous rice flour, mixed with water and made into small balls.  These are served in boiling water and can be filled or left unfilled.  It is often associated with the Lantern Festival, on the 15^th of the first month of the New Year.

A Tray of Togetherness is another food tradition – it is an octagon shaped tray that has eight compartments and each is filled with symbolic foods.  These might be things like lotus seeds and lychee nuts that give a sweet start to the year.  Everyone takes a little from the compartments as part of the celebration.

Gift traditions

Red again features in traditional gifts to celebrate the occasion, with small red packets called leisee being given to children.  They have gold symbols on them and are filled with ‘lucky money’.  Of course if your guests aren’t Chinese, then you could opt for a personalised gift to celebrate the New Year, such as a glass with the event and year on it.

Why Valentine’s Isn’t Just About Roses

It can be easy to fall into the trap around Valentine’s Day to pay a fortune for some red roses or perhaps splash out on a big box of chocolates.  And there’s nothing wrong with either of these presents for the one you love but what about if they are on a diet and suffer with allergies?  Or if these traditional presents just don’t suit the person?  Then the good news is that Valentine’s Day is about more than just roses and chocolates.

Show your love

Modern Valentine’s Day is about showing your love for the one in your life and there are lots of ways to do this that will be with them for longer than traditional gifts such as flowers and chocolates.  Wall plaques are a popular way to show your love, with the ability to put a personalised message into them adding to the sentiment.  One example is the I Love You Valentine’s Teddy Bear Heart.  The recipient’s name can be added to the heart and the ceramic decoration hangs from the wall for a daily reminder of your love.

If the two of you live together, then the Love Tiles Personalised Cushion Cover is a great idea for your sofa or to sit on the bed.  Under the love tiles can be added up to 20 characters so both of your names is one idea or perhaps the date you moved in together or your anniversary.  Another reminder of your love that will last longer than a box of chocolates!

Fun presents

Valentine’s presents can also be the chance to give a fun present that tells someone you love them.  The I Love Personalised Sweet Jar is a great example.  With the I Love fixed text can be added two lines of up to 12 characters so you could add your name with the ‘& sweets’ for someone with a sweet tooth!

The Hearts and Buttons Mug is perfect for coffee fans and features a single area for a name then three lines on the reverse side of the mug with up to 25 characters per line to add a special message.  That way, every time the person has a mug of their favourite drink, they will remember your love.

Celebrating the day

If you want to do something special for Valentine’s Day, such as cook a meal or have an intimate cocktail party for two, then you can bring the present into the theme.  A bottle of prosecco with a personalised label may be an ideal way to celebrate the occasion and your love for each other.  Alternatively, if they are a fan of shot drinks, then a Be Mine Happy Valentine’s glass would be perfect to present to them on the night along with a bottle of their favourite spirit – Jägermeister or Tequila are two favourites for the short and sharp drink fan.

Whatever you choose to buy for your special person, being together is often the most important part of Valentine’s Day and whatever you get them, they are sure to love it like they do you.

Best Last Minute Christmas Gifts

So there’s just over two weeks to go before the big day and many of us are down to those last few awkward gifts that we need to finish our Christmas shopping.  There’s always someone on the list that you just don’t know what to get them or who say they don’t need anything.  So here are a few unusual last minute gifts to help inspire you to finish your list.

Food and drink lovers

If you know what someone’s favourite drink is, then this is always a good starting point for a present.  For example, if they enjoy making themselves cocktails, then a Gold Bubbles Personalised Cocktail Glass is perfect.  You can add a message onto the glass up to 50 characters so you can make it seasonal or just a special hello so they can remember you whenever they have their favourite margarita.

One of the biggest Christmas presents for fans of everything from smoothies to homemade soups and other healthy eating options is the Nutribullet.  This blender-smoothie maker is a top gift that many kitchen fans will be receiving.  If you know someone who is getting one, or has something similar, then their companion is the chopping board.  While these seem functional items, you can get personalised ones that bring a bit of fun and individuality to this item.  The Chef of the Year personalised chopping board lets you add up to 20 characters for the name as well as the year and is perfect for those pre-blending preparations.

With Love at Christmas

Sometimes a nice present from one family to another is something they can bring out each Christmas to remember the other.  Wooden plaques are a big trend, whether the shabby chic style or minimalist in style.  They can be used to send a variety of messages including for a Baby’s First Christmas, one for the kids and family versions.  The Merry Christmas Personalised Wooden Sign allows you to add up to 20 characters for the recipient’s name and comes with ribbon attached to mean it can be hung up straight away.

Kids often want to buy their friends special presents and it can be hard to pick something when kids are already getting their toys and clothes from family and friends.  One special idea that can be treasured for years to come is the snow globe.  Given as a child, it will still be a treasured seasonal memento when they are an adult.  With the Polar Bear Personalised Snow Globe you can add two lines worth of message onto the globe, wishing them love at Christmas and stating who it from to remember for all time.

Last post

Remember that most personalised items take seven to ten days to deliver so to ensure that you get the present through before the big day, don’t delay in ordering.  The last posting date for delivery by Christmas Eve is Saturday 19^th December for Second Class mail and Monday 21^st December for First Class post.  Merry Christmas!

Who to Buy for in the Wedding Party

There’s a lot of work goes into preparing and planning for a wedding and usually quite a few people help out.  Parents, family members, close friends may all get involved and may be playing an active part on the big day.  The wedding couple traditionally buy presents for certain members of the party to show their appreciation and to commemorate the day.  But who buys what for who?

Parents

Traditionally, the groom would buy something for his own mother and for the mother of the bride.  Often this may be a simple bunch of flowers given to each at the end of the speeches on the wedding day.  He would often buy a thank you gift for his father in law who had contributed the financing for the wedding.

In modern versions, there are plenty of different scenarios to cover.  The result is often a couple will choose a special gift for each of their parents or for both couples to remember the day.  One favourite idea for this is a personalised picture frame, to which a photo of the couple or the group can be added.  Having the date printed on along with a personal message is a great way to thank them for their efforts and love as well as to remember the day by in the future.

Best man and ushers

These are traditionally also the responsibility of the groom as they are ‘his’ helpers.  The best man usually receives a special present with cufflinks or a hip flask being traditional favourites.  Secondary presents are given to the ushers, usually of a lesser value.  Personalised cufflinks are a modern take, featuring the person’s name on one side and ‘best man’ or ‘usher’ on the other.

These presents are given out on a morning before the wedding party has begun.  Sometimes taking everyone out for a meal or a few drinks in the lead-up to the wedding is an alternative. 

Bridesmaids

The bridesmaid presents are traditionally the lot of the bride and the chief bridesmaid, like the best man, tends to have something a little special.  Jewellery is a popular choice and if this is the case, it is often given on the morning of the day to be worn.  Otherwise, presents are given out after the speeches on the day.

A popular alternative to jewellery is a customised glass celebrating the day and aimed at their favour drink.  So a champagne flute or wine glass for those who favour wine, a shot glass for those who like something small and even a tall glass for anyone who likes a tall drink or doesn’t like alcohol.

Other presents

If there are kids involved in the wedding party, then a keepsake present they can reflect on in later years is popular rather than something for their current age.  It is also traditional to give something to anyone else who had helped with the wedding and a commemorative gift is always a popular idea, particularly if it is someone you don’t know well and are unsure what to buy for them.

Buying a Gift for the Children’s Teacher

As the end of the last term of the year comes around, many people turn their mind to buying a little thank you gift for their children’s teacher.  If you know the teacher quite well, picking a little something for them can be easy but for the teacher you haven’t had much to do with, it can be a bit trickier.  You can take the kids word for what their teacher likes but who knows how that will end?

Best teacher

For the teacher that the kids love, something that tells them they are the best teacher is always popular.  The good news is rather than buying a simple generic ‘Best Teacher’ plaque, you can now buy personalised presents that have their name on.  One example is the Best Teacher Personalised Apple Crystal Token.  The crystal block features a bright green apple image and two lines for text so can say ‘Mrs Smith Best Teacher’ or any variation including for teaching assistants, teachers helpers or other messages.

Mugs are another good bet as nearly everyone drinks coffee or tea.  Personalised mugs featuring a wife owl in blues and greens for male teachers and pinks for female teachers are an ideal present.  Add a few lines of text such as ‘thanks for helping with my English’ and add the kids’ name allows the teacher to feel appreciated for the work they have done.  Cups and saucers for those who like their drinks in the proper way are another option and can include simple messages such as ‘To My Lovely Teacher’ and who the present is from.

For the home

Something that the teacher can take home with them and fondly remember their students is another option.  This could be something as simple as a plaque with best teacher on or perhaps one personalised from your child including a message such as ‘It takes someone special to be a teacher’. 

Candles are another great idea and plain white ones will fit in with any scheme in the house.  With a simple thank you and a name on them, they aren’t too gushy but will be while teacher relaxes at home after a hard day.

If everyone in the class wants to get something together, then why not consider a hand-paintedcommemorative plate?  These plates can have the teacher’s name, a special message and the class year and name added around the right red apple image so the teacher can hang it on their wall at home or in their office and remember the thanks of the class.

Fun presents

Finally, if you know the teacher has a sweet tooth, then a personalised sweet jar is a perfect present.  The label on the jar can have their name and thanks added along with a cute teacher owl and even comes with a selection of Swizzle Sweets already in place so no shopping around, trying to guess what sweets they will like.  Then once it is empty, they can fill it up again!

Why Tea is Good For You

A trip to the supermarket to find something to drink will provide you with a host of new ideas from smoothies and shakes to herbal drinks and new types of coffee.  Yet one of the best drinks around is also one of the oldest – tea.  So why is tea good for you?

Real tea

When it comes to picking ‘real’ tea then there are actually only four types, all from the plant called Camellia sinensis – green, black, white and oolong.  All other teas such as herbal teas come from different plants and aren’t technically tea.

While the variety of tea might not be huge, it certainly makes up for it in the amount of good stuff crammed into every lead.  Most of these health benefits come from two compounds – polyphenols, a type of antioxidant and phytochemicals.  But what do they do?

Benefits of tea

There is evidence to show that drinking tea can reduce the chance of someone having a heart attack.  Similar evidence also points to the drink’s ability to protect the body against degenerative diseases as well as those affecting the cardiovascular system.  Green tea, in particular, has potential to help combat neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s due to these helpful polyphenols.

Antioxidants are getting a lot of good press in recent times and they are also present in tea.  Scientists think that they could help to combat cancers of the breast, colon, skin, lung, stomach, pancreas, liver, prostrate and also ovarian cancers.  They are no miracle cure, of course, but anything that could help is a good thing.

Free radicals are seen as equally as bad antioxidants are food.  But tea contains a high ratio of something called Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, which means that it helps to destroy those free radicals.  Our bodies naturally fight off these little pests but aren’t totally effective so giving them a helping hand never hurts.

Tea has been shown to help in the fight against weight gain.  One study showed that participants that regularly drank hot tea had a smaller waist and lower BMI than those in the study that didn’t.  Scientists believe this is because drinking tea lowers the chance of metabolic syndrome, which increases the chance of someone having a stroke or developing artery disease or diabetes.

Green tea has been shown to boost exercise endurance because it contains an antioxidant known as catechins.  These boost the ability of the body to burn fat as fuel and accounts for an improvement in muscle endurance.  It has also been shown to improve bone mineral density and strength.

Green tea has also tested high in its ability to help the body process sugars and therefore is a helping hand for those with Type 2 diabetes.

Getting Starting

With all these potential health benefits, drinking tea is not only refreshing and tasty but a boost to the body in a host of different ways.  Why not share the tea message by treating a friend or loved one to their own personalised teapot and show the benefits of a good cuppa for everyone?

How to Choose Scented Candles

When selecting a scented candle there are a few different approaches to try.  Firstly, you can select by the colour so if you have red accents in your room, you can choose a red candle regardless of what the scent is.  If you have a favourite scent, then regardless of the colour you can stick with this.  But what about choosing a candle as a present if you are unsure what a person likes?  How then do you pick the right scent?

Scent basics

Candles comes in a bewildering array of scents, some of which will be immediately familiar such as vanilla or rose while others may be less do.  Some candles have a scent name because they are a combination of smells that release at different stages of burning.  To start, we will look at the popular single smell scents.

Vanilla is doubtless still one of the most popular scents for candles and because it tends to be creamy in colour when made into a candle, it also works in almost all décor themes.  Vanilla is soothing and warming and creates a sense of comfort and satisfaction.

Rose is another of the top favourite smells for candles with its traditional floral scent.  Roses smell a little sweet and bring to mind love and affection while being soothing and relaxing as well.  Though roses come in many colours, pink is the most common for rose coloured candles.

Lavender has been used in scented products for hundreds of years and is also popular with the men when they select a perfume for ladies.  Lavender is tranquil and peaceful, a little feminine and relaxing.  Due to its gentle purple colour, candles are often lilac or lavender coloured.

Sandalwood is another traditional scent that started being an incense scent.  It is a muskier smell and therefore more masculine as well as commonly paired with floral scents such as jasmine and patchouli. 

Modern Scents

Eucalyptus is known for its stress reducing properties and many people like it because it smells a bit like a real Christmas tree.  It is a clean and herby smell that is a touch woodsy and very fresh.  It often lends itself to green shades of candle.

Fresh cotton lives up to its name and smells like cotton bedsheet that have been dried on the washing line in the sun and gentle breeze.  It brings an element of freshness to any room without being too floral or woody and makes it a hit with men as well.  Cotton is white naturally so candles often tend to be white or cream too.

Chocolate is another scent that has come into candles in recent times and fill the air of the room with a sensuous smell but be warned, they are very likely to make you hungry!  Typically, these candles come in shades of brown and beige just like the food they are inspired by.

Conclusion

Whether you make your choice by scent, colour or another factor, a candle makes a great present.  Using a personalised candleholder is another way to add touch of uniqueness to the candle and means that the holder can be reused many times over.

Unusual Father’s Day Gift Ideas

So it’s nearly June and our minds turn to what to get Dad for Father’s Day.  You try to get hints of anything he wants but he’s noncommittal as usual so you need ideas.  Something that tells him how much you love him without being useless.  Here’s a few suggestions.

Father’s Day history

Did you know that Father’s Day was actually first celebrated in the United States at the beginning of the 20^th century to complement the existing Mother’s Day celebration.  The first Father’s Day celebration was held on July 5^th 1908 in Fairmont, Virginia and was inspired by Grace Golden Clayton.  She had lost her father in the 1907 Monongah Mining Disaster along with 360 other men, 250 of them being dads.  She suggested that their local pastor honour these fathers.

The celebration took off properly in 1910 when it was held in Spokane, Washington on June 19^th to celebrate a single father who was raising six children.  Word spread and other people began to think that honour fathers was a good idea.  It became a nationally recognised holiday in 1966, confirming it was the third Sunday in June.  Here in the UK this is the date that we now celebrate the occasion also.

Picking the gift

Picking a gift for Father’s Day can be a challenge and we often end up with a ‘predictable’ gift such as a new pint glass, a mug or even a picture frame with a family shot in.  But a new trend in personalisedgifts means that even if these traditional gifts are still the right choice for your Dad, you can add something to them to make them special.

If you are buying for a young child to give to their Dad, then a mug showing I Love My Daddy is a good place to start.  You can also get the wording changed if the kids don’t use Daddy to ensure that the message means something to the recipient.

Similarly, shot glasses and beer mugs are a great gift that can have a truly personal message added to them.  From adding ‘best dad in the world’ after his name or other special messages, you can ensure that your Dad knows that the gift is all about him, not just a general shelf item.

For dad’s with a sweet tooth, a personalised sweet jar is a great present and gives them an excuse to refill it when it is empty.  For younger kids, there are some available with the familiar cuteness of the Tatty Teddy on it while messages To My Daddy and Lots of Love from X are just ideas of what can be printed into the label.

Finally, if Dad has a shed or a man cave, then a door plaque is a great fun way of showing him you love him and personalising his little space.  Slate is a great material for this purpose as it withstands being outside and a wide range of messages can be added to it.

How to Make the Perfect Cheese Platter

Whether to serve to guests as part of a dinner party, to finish off a buffet or just to enjoy on a summer’s evening in the garden, a cheese platter appeals to nearly everyone.  There are just so many types of cheese that there is always something that every guest will like, even if they end up nibbling the accompaniments!  So how do you make the perfect cheese platter that looks the part as well as tasting great?

Getting organised

The most important part of the cheese platter is obviously the cheese but it isn’t the only part.  However, let’s start with the cheese.  Try to serve a range of textures and flavours in the cheese and the guide for this is that most all fall into one of four basic categories – aged, soft, firm and blue.  So by selecting at least one from each of these four, you have a great starting place and always make sure there is one familiar cheese in there that everyone will know.  Examples of each include:

• Aged – aged cheddar, comte, goat gouda
• Soft – camembert, brillat-savarin
• Firm – manchego, parmesan-reggiano
• Blue – gorgonzola, stilton

Guessing how much cheese you need can be tricky but another guide figure is that you will likely use 3 pounds of cheese for eight people, 6 pounds for sixteen or 9 pounds for twenty-four.  If cheese is only part of what is being served, then aim for 3-4 ounces per person.

Accompaniments

What makes the cheese board a hit is what you serve in addition to the cheese.  One steadfast hit is a selection of breads including sliced baguette and bread sticks in addition to crackers and biscuits.  The different textures and flavours of these will all work differently with the cheeses and mean that every bite is a little different.

You don’t want to go overboard on the accompaniments but a simple pot of condiment will be enjoyed by most people.  Anything from chutneys and mustards to something sweet like preserves or honey can be served and vegetables are also a great accompaniment.  Caramelized onions are a wonderful friend to cheese if you have time to prepare them while roasted red peppers or even artichoke hearts work well.

Contrast sweet and salty items with your cheese by offering cured meats such as salami or prosciutto while nuts and candied items also contrast well.  Dried and seasonal fruits such as apples, pears and grapes are traditionally included in a cheese board and for good reason.

Presentation

Once you have everything together, then presentation is the final element.  I was recently given a beautiful personalisedcheese board with my favourite cheeses on it that swings open and has a selection of cheese knives underneath. 

Once you have your favourite board, remember to keep the strong smelling cheese away from each other, less they gang up on your guests.  Make sure you have a knife for each cheese as well as one for butter and a paring knife for any of the firm cheese.  You can even pop little name tags beside each cheese so guests aren’t constantly asking which one is which.  Finally, remember to take the cheese platter out of the fridge an hour before serving as being too cold spoils the flavour.  Then enjoy!

Applying for a Passport

As the sun starts to sneak out from behind the clouds a little more frequently and the temperatures start to creep upwards, many people turn their mind to summer holidays and begin cruising the internet in search of the best deals.  But many people forget one crucial element of their trip until the last minute and then panic sets in – their passport.

Children’s passports

Children need a passport to travel just as adults so and as long as they are under 16 and you have parental responsibility for them, you call apply on their behalf.  These passports take around three weeks to issue and require supporting documents such as birth certificates and that of one of the parents as well as two photos of the child, countersigned. 

Getting a first adult passport

When a person turns 16, they are eligible for their first adult passport and many parents buy it for their kids as part of their birthday presents, particularly if they plan to travel in the coming year.  In fact, it can be made into something a bit more fun than a simple legal document with the range of personalised passport holders now available. 

It takes around 6 weeks to get a first adult passport, so ensure there is enough time before the trip.  The standard 32-page passport currently costs £72.50 when applied for online or £82.25 when applied for using the passport check service through the Post Office.  There are supporting documents needed such as birth certificate and, if born after January 1983, a copy of a parent’s birth certificate or their passport.

Two photos are still needed that are identical and have been counter signed by someone to prove your identify – there is exact details online about who can sign.  If you are applying online, these will all be sent with the forms you fill in then print off.

Renewing an adult passport

If you already have a passport but it is out of date, you can renew it and the charges are the same as for a new passport.  It normally takes around three weeks to issue a renewal passport and can be applied for online or using the Post Office service.   Two new photos will need to be provided, again countersigned by someone applicable.

If you have changed your name then you will also need to provide the documents to support this, such as marriage certificate.

Passport Check and Send service

If you aren’t very confident completing the online application form or want the documents to be checked, you can use a service through the Post Office called the Passport Check and Send service.  This is offered in many Post Offices around the country and involves taking all of the documentation and photos to the shop to be checked.  You pay the applicable fees to the Post Office and they send the application to the Passport Office.  It is normally faster than posting it yourself and should eliminate returns for incorrect filling in of the forms.  Currently the fees for using this service mean that a standard 32-page passport will cost £82.25 and a child’s passport will cost £55.75.

Why Do We Give Eggs at Easter?

There are many associations with Easter, some of which come through the religious side of the festival, others predating even the associations with Christianity while others are more recent.  So why do we give eggs at Easter?  And how did many of the other traditions come about?

Easter egg associations

There are lots of reasons we associated eggs with Easter.  One example is that in Medieval Europe, it was forbidden to eat eggs during Lent so eggs laid during that time were boiled or preserved.  When Easter came around, eggs could once again be enjoyed and were a gift given to children.

Eggs are also associated with fertility and as a symbol of new life dating back much further.  Ancient Egyptians, Romans and Persians all gave eggs as part of their spring festivals, with the Spring Equinox being 21^st March, just before the typical date of Easter.

These associations have developed into the Easter eggs we know today – brightly coloured with dyes or paints and decorated in all manner of ways.  Egg hunts are another traditional part of Easter along with rolling eggs down hills, with the most famous version of the game taking place on the lawn of the White House in Washington DC every year.

Middle Eastern Orthodox Christians and those in Greece paint their eggs bright red to symbolise the blood of Jesus Christ while hollow eggs were decorated with religious images as part of the celebrations in Armenia.  Many Germans give green eggs on Holy Thursday and hang hollow eggs up onto trees while Austrians put a tiny plant around the egg before boiling it, creating delicate patterns on the eggshell.

While the chocolate Easter egg has taken over the market here in the UK, there are still ways to maintain the traditions in a contemporary way.  One such way is to give the gift of a personalised eggcup to children at Easter.  This encourages them to enjoy eggs and is a bridge between the modern world and ancient traditions.

Other Easter traditions

Everyone recognises the Easter Bunny but rabbits and hares are associated with both spring and fertility.  The root of the Easter Bunny story comes from Germany, where parents told their children that an Easter hare would hide eggs for them to find.  The tradition followed German immigrants to the US, where the story continued to grow and the tradition of baking cakes for the hare began.  It is thought this is where the associations between Easter and chocolate developed – a very clever idea!

Giving cards at Easter is a Victorian tradition.  Stationers at the time added the image of a rabbit to cards and these were sent to loved ones at Easter.  In the US, Easter cards are big business, being the 4^th most popular holiday of the year behind Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day.

Easter parades started in Medieval Europe when after Mass, the churchgoers would follow behind a crucifix or an Easter candle.  People would join the parade wear their finest clothing include bonnets they would make particularly for the day.

Using Slate Around the Kitchen

Slate has long been associated with the outer construction of a house and has been a material used for roofing for many centuries.  It is known for its durability and also for its attractive appearance but in recent times, slate has made a move into the house and now is popular in a variety of ways around the kitchen.

What is Slate?

Slate is a fine-grained rock that can be made up from clay or volcanic ash and is the finest grained rock in its category, metamorphic rocks.  This graining can be expertly ‘cut’ by striking it parallel to the grains to create the smooth, flat sheets so long used as a roofing material.  Slate is most often grey in colour but slate from different places can vary, being purple, green or cyan, such as the very dark grey slate found in North Wales.

Slate was first used as a roofing material back in the 1870s and remained popular for this use because it is very resistant to water absorption, being virtually waterproof. Added with its appearance, longevity and the fact that little maintenance is required has retained it as a popular roof tile option.

Uses of slate

As well as roofing materials, slate has traditionally been used for both tombstones and commemorative tablets.  The Maya of Central American used slate to make stelae, their version of a commemorative stone and it was highly prized.  Slate is fireproof and a good electrical insulator so has been used throughout the 20^th century in switchboards and in large electrical motors.

Two famous uses of slate is as the table tops on billiards and snooker tables and in the 19^th century for school blackboards, as well as the individual writing slates given to children to work with using chalk pencils.  Fine slate is also used as a whetstone to hone knives.

In the kitchen

Two of the main uses of slate in the kitchen are for flooring tiles and for worktops where its waterproof abilities come to the fore, along with its durability and general toughness.  This means that it is resistant to stains and can handle almost anything a busy household throws at it.  The same low maintenance that makes it appealing for roofing materials also makes it appealing to put on the floors or worktops of a kitchen and it offers a natural finish to the room.

Slate has also found its way into the accessories of the kitchen, bringing its enduring qualities to the job.  One of the most popular uses is as a chopping board, where fear of markings the material is almost non-existent and particularly helpful to the heavy-handed chef.  Placemats for the dining table is another popular use, where the fireproof heat resistance of slate protects the table beneath from the heat of serving dishes.

Another popular use for slate is for decorative items.  Due to its ease of use, it can be formed into decorative wall hangings that are often personalised to make an ideal present and cut into a variety of different shapes.

Finding the Perfect Mother’s Day Gift

The trouble with Mother’s Day is that it is easy to fall into the trap of buying the tried and traditional presents that are in all the high street shops whenever you visit them – a bottle of wine, a box of chocolates, and a bunch of flowers.  And while all mums will likely appreciate these presents, something the generic gift just doesn’t tell them how you feel adequately.

Finding the perfect Mother’s Day Gift can take a little planning and a little studying.  Knowing what your Mum likes sounds simple enough but when it comes to buying a gift, suddenly all those ideas seem to run and hide.  So here are a few inspirations to help you recapture those ideas.

Go Personalised

One of the best ways to tell your Mum you love her is to actually tell her you love her – and use a personalised gift to do so.  There are a wealth of different ideas now available that allow you to pick the perfect gift and have it personalised with a message direct from your heart.  For example, if your Mum is a coffee fan, get a mug with a message on that will make her smile every time she had a drink.  Or if she is a wine drinker, a message on the wine bottle will be a lovely surprise and the bottle can be reused as a commemorative vase afterwards.

Gardener presents

Buying flowers is lovely and creates a beautiful display for a few days but a plant can last for years, especially if your Mum is green fingered.  Plants don’t need to be expensive either as most supermarkets and garden centres will have a selection that start from less than £10 for those on a tight budget, or where the kids want to pay themselves.

Alternatively, treat your Mum to a new set of gardening tools.  You can go ultra-practical from the garden centre or fun and frivolous and choose one of the many sets of brightly coloured trowel and fork sets now available.

Chef presents

If your Mum enjoys cooking or baking, then some new gear for her kitchen will always be appreciated.  From a new apron to a set of heart-shaped cupcake moulds, there are tons of items that you can pick up for the kitchen that will bring a smile to her face.  Plus, you get the benefit of persuading her to try them out and sampling the end result!

Another idea is to combine the personalised theme with the kitchen theme and order Mum a personalised chopping board.  Nothing says ‘hands off’ like having your name on it!  Alternatively, you can add a fun message such as her name and Queen of the Cake onto the board so whenever she uses it, she will get both a smile and a subtle hint about what to bake next!

Conclusion

Whatever you buy your Mum for Mother’s Day, there’s no doubt she will love it but by getting something that will last a little longer than a few days, you can remind her of your love all the way through the year.

Special Anniversaries and What to Buy for Them

For as long as there have been weddings, there have been special anniversaries and over time, certain gifts have become associated with certain anniversaries.  Most of us know the most popular ones, such as 50 years being the golden wedding anniversary but do you know what to buy someone for their 7^th anniversary?  And what is the recommended gift for someone who had been married for 10 years?  Here is a look at some of the most popular.

One to Ten

From years one to ten, there is a specific association and a recommended gift that goes with it.  While this doesn’t mean that a present for the anniversary has to fall in line with these ideas, it can be a great starting place if you are unsure what to buy someone.

The 1^st anniversary is associated with paper in the US and cotton in the UK and the suggested modern gift to give is a clock.  For the 2^nd anniversary, the US and UK versions swap around and the modern gift is recommended to be a piece or set of china.  For the 3^rd anniversary, both agree on leather while the gift is either something made from crystal or from glass.  While the traditional idea for this would be a pair of crystal flutes or a set of nice glasses, a new idea is to give a personalised crystal token that has the couple’s names and wedding date inscribed on it.

Here is a list of the first ten anniversaries and their suggested gift:

Year	US	UK	Gift idea
1st	Paper	Cotton	Clock
2nd	Cotton	Paper	China
3rd	Leather	Leather	Crystal, glass
4th	Linen, silk	Fruit, flowers	Electrical appliances
5th	Wood	Wood	Silverware
6th	Iron	Sugar	Wooden objects
7th	Wool, copper	Woollen	Desk sets or pen and pencil sets
8th	Bronze	Salt	Linens, lace
9th	Pottery	Copper	Leather goods
10th	Tin, aluminium	Tin	Diamond jewellery

Fifteen to twenty

From years 15 to 20, there are less associations with each year and many people stop giving gifts for each anniversary, instead concentrating on the 15^th and 20^th only.  However, there are still recommended gifts for each year if you do want to continue the tradition.

The 15^th anniversary is associated in both countries with crystal and giving of a watch is the modern ideal present.  Silver hollowware is associated with the 16^th, furniture with the 17^th and porcelain with the 18^th.  Bronze is the gift of choice for a 19^th anniversary and when 20 years comes around, china is seen as the traditional option while something in platinum is a modern alternative.

Twenty five and up

Twenty-five years universally calls for a silver present while the 30^th anniversary can be either Pearl or something with diamonds involved.  The 35^th is the coral anniversary but the modern alternative is to pick up something in jade as a present.  40 years is commemorates with ruby, 45 with sapphire and of course the 50^th anniversary is the golden anniversary.  Finally, 55 years is emerald, 60 is diamond and 70 is platinum.

Conclusion

The great thing about these ideas is just that – they are ideas to give you inspiration to find that perfect present for someone.  And while you may not be able to buy a diamond necklace for your friend and diamond cufflinks for her husband, something as simple as a diamond wedding picture frame may be a perfect match.