Six great gift ideas for when you lack inspiration

 

Giving gifts to people is always a bit difficult. Even if you know the person very well it can still be tricky. But fear no more because the following gifts ideas will have you sorted for the next couple of years. They will even get you shopping for the most difficult people!

1.  The person who asks for shopping vouchers

The good old “oh just give me a voucher or something.” Every year you try to buy it from a different store but it just feels boring doesn’t it? So from now on you have something much better to offer than a plastic card. Did you know you can buy a personal shopping experience as a present for someone? Well, you can. This is the perfect gift for anyone who loves to shop. Several websites offer the “Personal Shopping Experience” as a gift package in London or Birmingham. This is the ideal present when you want to stay clear from gift vouchers but want to stick to the wishes of the birthday girl/boy.

2. The distant relative or friend

The type of person you only see every once a while suddenly invited you to his or her birthday party. You don’t want to be rude so you accept the invitation but what do you buy? Birthday present hampers are perfect for family members or friends you do not see on a regular basis. There is a wide variety of birthday hampers available online. You will find hampers that consist out of food, sweets or beauty products. Whatever you choose, make sure you include at least one special luxury item such as a bottle of champagne or caviar. This way he or she will know you have put a lot of thought in to your hamper. 

3. The fussy partner

This one is only hard because you know that he or she expects something great from you. Your present has to top all the other presents he or she receives from friends and family.  Something that is just for the two of you will always be a good idea. It shows you care and it is fun for the both of you.  Make sure you pick something that is original such as a medieval banquet, a day at the races or a bike ride through the Hampton Courts.

Posh English tackles Ginger Irish

4.  Your loving parents

As you get older and start to earn money you cannot show up at your parents with a handmade card anymore. No, it is time you show appreciation for all those years they took care of you.  Pamper the lovely couple with a luxurious day in London. Start the day at the Elemis Spa in Mayfair for some anti-ageing skincare treatments and Arabian massages. When they are fully pampered you send them off for a luxury dinner cruise on the Thames. A great day guaranteed!

5. The doting grandparents

Buying gifts for grandparents is always tricky. There is an obvious age gap which makes it hard to determine what could be useful, funny or thoughtful. It is a great idea to take them out for the day, but where could you take them? The best idea for an afternoon well spent would be a visit to the Buckingham Palace Queen’s Gallery. Wander around the exhibition for a while and enjoy a gorgeous afternoon tea for two at the Grosvenor Hotel to end the day with. This shows you want to spend time with your grandparents whilst doing something you both enjoy. 

  

Singapore really packs a punch

An amazing place

Singapore is one of the most interesting places in South East Asia. Commonly thought of as either a stop over on the way to Australia or as a business hub, but there is so much more to it than that.

Whether you are on a business trip or on a stop over. Don’t miss out on what this amazing city has to offer. Although Singapore is a very small place, with only 5 million inhabitants, they have an extremely high GDP per capita of $59,936. The wealth of the nation means that they have invested heavily on making it a great place to spend time.

Singapore is mainly a Buddhist nation and this influence is clear throughout the city but it has not hindered their passion for innovation. One of the marvels of Singapore is the MRT, this is the same concept as the London underground however it is organised to perfection and with wide, air-conditioned carriages and light airy platforms, it is a pleasure to use.

No matter where you are staying, it is always possible to find one of the 90 MRT stations that cover the city. Even during winter Singapore is a very hot and humid country and this should be taken into consideration with everything that you do. Always have a bottle of water to hand and make sure you give yourself enough time as not to rush.

The Flyer

To get the best view of the city, you should take a ride on the famous Singapore Flyer. It is the largest of its kind and gives you a wonderful perspective of the city in an unparalleled way. You will get a completely different perspective at night compared to day but I would highly recommend it. If you are a budding photographer, don’t forget to take a tripod for the night shots as it is close to impossible to get a good shot without one.

An extraordinary if not bizarre experience is a trip to Sentosa island just off the coast of the city. With a large array of attractions it is well worth the trip, not to mention, the journey there is on a fantastic cable car ride. You can spend the afternoon on the beach or inside the butterfly park. This really is a place that everyone can enjoy, just visit with an open mind and you will have a great time.

Night Safari

Something for the evenings is a trip to the Night Safari, this is an experience in itself as the animals react completely differently at night. Just remember to forget about taking pictures and just enjoy the ride, it is far too dark to take any good pictures and there are no flashes allowed for obvious reasons. They have a great area for relaxing and enjoying a bite to eat that has some extraordinary fire shows.

Chinese Gardens

Singapore has one of the most amazing Chinese Gardens, located in the east of the city, this is a great place to get away from the busy city and just relax and enjoy the sun. The gardens were designed in 1975 and is populated by beautiful architecture in both buildings and bridges. In the middle of these vast gardens, there is an amazing Bonsai garden, with trees ageing over 200 years old but still only a few inches high. A little known fact is that the smaller the leaves the slower growing the tree.

If you are not sure where to stay in, there is a huge range of options, from 5 star hotels to holiday apartments in Singapore from the owner, there is something for everyone. A great place to find accommodation is Wimdu.co.uk; they have a wide range of apartments and bed and breakfast deals all year round. 

Dating again after heartbreak

We all know it can be hard getting over a failed relationship, and we all deal with it differently. Some like to spend time alone, learning from what went wrong and enjoying being single, while others are keen to move on to the next relationship. This article offers advice for those getting over a relationship and starting to think about a new one.  

Value your good points and work on the rest

 It’s easy to feel bad about yourself after a relationship ends. You might focus on the negatives and obsess over your little faults. Before you can start a new relationship, you need to learn to love yourself again.   Relish your positive attributes and remember all of the ways you have helped family and friends. Take action to improve the aspects of your behaviour or personality that you would like to change for the better.

Remove the rose-tinted glasses

 Once a relationship has ended, it’s common to only remember the good times and forget about the bad. While it’s a good idea to let go of bitterness and anger, it’s not advisable to place your ex on a pedestal. It will be very hard for anyone else to live up to that image.   Recall the positive and the negative aspects of your former partner to get a realistic perspective on why the relationship went wrong. Accept that it will take time to form such a strong bond again, but be confident that you will!  

Learn from positive relationships

 While some have a rose-tinted view of their ex, others might be so hurt by a betrayal that it is difficult to imagine a new partner could be any better. For whatever reason, your romantic relationship didn’t work. That doesn’t mean that every relationship will fail.   Just think of all of the positive relationships you have in your life with friends, family and work colleagues. There are lots of people who you love and respect. Focus on their good points and remain optimistic that you will meet a great person like them to share your life with.  

Join a club to meet like-minded people

 Once you’re ready to meet someone new, the question then arises ‘how?’ One way to ease yourself back in to being sociable with new people is to join a club. You could sign up to a gym or take an evening class.   You’ll be more likely to meet someone with the shared interests. It is also a non-pressured environment where you can get to know potential partners as friends first.

Head online to find compatible matches

It can be daunting to get back on the dating scene. That’s why so many people turn to online dating sites like www.eharmony.co.uk.   You will be matched with a compatible fellow singleton, giving you the best chance of finding love again. Whether you want to start dating Birmingham singles or Londoners looking for love, you’ll find them through online dating agencies.

   

Resource Box

Relationship advice
The Telegraph’s tips for a happy relationship.

Dating
The Guardian’s articles about dating.

Love poems
The BBC’s selection of poems about relationships.

10 great driving cars – and how you can take them for a spin

This article offers information about 10 of the best driving cars on the road. Read about cars that will inspire you to have a go at driving one for yourself. Cars include Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Lotus and Lamborghini.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of driving a powerful and stylish car. You can drive some of the best cars on the market today by taking them for a spin on specially designed circuits, or on test drives at specialist car dealers. This guide picks 10 of the best driving cars on the road today.

Pretend to be 007 in an Aston Martin

Anyone who fancies spending the day as James Bond has to try out an Aston Martin. You could have a go in the classic DB6, or go for a bit more technology in the latest DB9 and V8 Vantage.

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Sample Italian luxury in a Lamborghini

You can experience the finest Italian engineering in a Lamborghini Gallardo or Murcielago. A great way to try these awesome vehicles is on supercar driving days.

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Look good in a Lotus Elise

Can you handle the power and controls of a Lotus Elise? Have a go in this British-made sports car, one of the finest of its kind in the world.

Quite possibly the best-known and best-loved supercar of them all. Jump behind the wheel of the legendary Ferrari 355 or super-fast Ferrari 599 on a driving experience.

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Race along in an Audi R8

The Audi R8 has been referred to as the new everyday supercar. It’s really comfortable to drive, has impressive performance, and to top it all off you’ll look really cool in it! 

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Push the pedal in a Porsche

Push the pedal to the metal in a Porsche Carrera 911 or GT3. You’ll love the feeling of this top-of-the-range German sports car. They are good for speed and amazing for handling.

Feel the speed of a Subaru Impreza

If you enjoy a white-knuckle ride, you should try a track day in a Subaru Impreza. They’re great on the road, but even better when they can be truly unleashed at the track.

Cruise in the classic D Type Jaguar

This is a must-drive for any classic-car enthusiast. Feel the wind in your hair as you cruise along in this beauty.

Experience the power and handling of a Mitsubishi Evo

Another car for speed junkies, the Mitsubishi Evo combines the handling of a rally car with the practicalities of an everyday car.

Mini Cooper fun

This one’s a bit of a curveball, but if you’d like to feel like Michael Caine in the Italian Job, take a Mini Cooper for a whirl.

The best way of trying one of these fantastic cars is to book in for a test drive at a dealership or try out a fun-filled driving experience. Whether you want to try a Lamborghini, Mini Cooper, Porsche or Aston Martin driving experience, you can do it all over the UK, so why not give it a go!.

Resource box

Top Gear

The famous TV show’s website has reviews of all the best on-road cars.

Which Car?

Which’s advice on how to pick the right car.

How to drive a supercar

Jeremy Clarkson takes you through the experience of driving a super-fast car.

Moving to a warmer climate

Many people find that living in a country with bad weather can have a negative impact on their lives. When the days start to shorten and you find you are commuting to and from work in the dark, it's tempting to daydream about a place where it's sunny and bright all year around.

 

Sunny skies

In many parts of northern Europe the summers can be mild, and even if it's lighter for more hours of the day, it's still not warm enough to sunbathe at the weekends and wear less during the day.

Since the early 1970s when BJ Thomas sang Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head, scientists have researched the link between weather and temperament. Many people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and find their attitude to be more negative during periods of high humidity and low temperatures.

The good news is that there are parts of the world where sunny weather is predominant. People who live in these areas are generally happier and more positive about life. The Quality of Life index has placed Malta at the top of the list of countries with the best weather in the world. Its inhabitants enjoy an average of 5.2 hours of sunshine a day, even in December!

Benefits of warm weather

Spain is also a destination for people who want to escape bad weather. When the coats come out of storage in September, people feel the need to spend a fortnight in a country where it's still warm and sunny for up to 12 hours a day and the locals have a more laid back lifestyle. Many of us return from our holiday revitalised, the sun having done us good. But some people consider the possibility of relocating permanently to a place with a better climate.

This can be complicated for younger people, especially those with families, but do not be put off. There’s no need to wait until you retire to move to Spain or Italy and enjoy the sun. A by-product of the weather is that the tourism industry is extremely developed and there are many jobs available for people who speak fluent English.

Most areas also have international schools so expat children can continue their education in their native language.

Learn the lingo

A basic knowledge of the language is essential if you are thinking of moving abroad. To learn Spanish you can sign up to a course near you or buy a basic pack and try to teach yourself. This is not as difficult as it may seem if you have the time and the dedication. If you choose to go to a language class a local college is a good place to start. For Spanish courses Liverpool schools and colleges can offer evening classes. The same goes for most cities in the UK. 

If you do not want to learn another language, countries such as Australia and the southern parts of the United States also enjoy warmer weather. However, the tropical climate in such places can be more extreme than in the Mediterranean, so it's worth researching the downsides of the high temperatures in summer, and winters can include blizzards and flooding.

Resource box

World climate and food safety

World Climate Information

Seasonal Affective Disorder Association

Speaking to locals: Tips for students learning English in London

Here are some tips on how to practise English language skills by talking to locals while studying in London. From joining a club and volunteering to shopping and speed dating, this guide gives advice on how to improve your ability to speak English.

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Learning English in London gives students the perfect opportunity to try out their new language skills with locals. This can seem difficult, as life in any capital city can be a bit anonymous. Meeting new people can appear tricky when everyone’s in such a rush. That’s where this guide comes in.

Here are five tips on how to get chatting with locals and practise your language skills:

Join a club

Joining a club is a great way to meet like-minded individuals. By signing up to a sports club, craft group or music appreciation society, you’ll not only get to enjoy your hobby, you’ll also get to try out your English language skills in an informal setting.

There are also online clubs that enable groups with similar interests to arrange to meet up in person in London. Sites like City Socialising give Londoners the chance to find others with shared interests. By hanging out with locals who already have something in common with you, you will find conversation flows more easily.

Volunteer

Another way to meet locals in a casual way is to volunteer. This can be a few hours a week at a homeless shelter helping out in the soup kitchen, or assisting at a week-long music festival.

From planting trees to cleaning up public areas, volunteering gives you the opportunity to spend time with locals, give something back and practise your language skills.

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Go shopping

Chatting with sales assistants in shops will help you expand your vocabulary. This also goes for eating in cafes and restaurants. Whenever you get an opening to chat to someone, take it!

You can make these often short exchanges into much longer, more detailed conversations if you take advantage of the personal shopper service available in various stores such as Topshop.

This service is usually free of charge. It will not only enable you to improve your English language ability, it will also give you the option of expanding your wardrobe to look like a local too!

Try speed dating

If you want to chat with a lot of people in a short amount of time, speed dating is an option! As the conversations are brief, you will get to improve your ability to speak about subjects like your hobbies and interests with many locals.

Take a friend along to a reputable event and you might even meet someone special. Even if you don’t improve your love life, you will have improved your English language skills!

Smile!

Whatever situation you find yourself in, if you smile you will find locals are much more likely to chat with you. Whether you’re looking for English classes or French, Spanish or Portuguese classes, London has a wealth of courses.

When you study at an English language school in London, you will make friends and get the chance to enjoy all of the capital’s delights.

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Resource Box

Visit London

London’s official promotional site with tourist information about what to do in the capital.

Team London

The Mayor of London’s programme for volunteering opportunities in the city.

Time Out London

Information for tourists and locals about the arts, culture and entertainment scene in London.

Thrill Seekers

Consider yourself a bit of an adrenaline junkie? Even if not, you should try and get that natural buzz every now and then. It will be a moment you’ll never forget and it’s good for the heart!

Bungee Jumping
A bungee jump consists of jumping from a high structure whilst being tied to a large elastic cord. All you can see is the huge drop and the floor getting a lot closer to your face, until you suddenly stretch to full-limit and bounce back up away from the ground. The largest bungee jump is at the Macau Tower, with an exhilarating 764ft drop! Let’s hope the bungee’s strong..

Verzasca Dam, Switzerland

Sky Diving
Sky diving is pretty much what it says on the tin; you dive from the sky. Also known as ‘tandem’ and ‘parachuting’ (for the obvious reason that you need a parachute in order to survive). People tend to jump from a plane between 3,000 and 13,000ft depending on confidence & experience. The highest sky dive so far was by Joseph Kittinger, who jumped from 19 miles!

As a beginner you would inevitably be attached to an experienced tandem diver who would be in complete control of the parachute, so there’s no excuse not to have a go!

This guy makes it look easy!

White Water Rafting
Also known as rafting, this is an exhilarating activity that is usually done in small groups. So if you have a few friends you could get together, this will be something you’ll always remember. It’s great team activity that involves surviving rough, rocky rapids in a dingy-style boat. This is very hands on and you have to be aware and communicate at all times. If you’re a team player who likes a challenge, I highly recommend this!

White Water Rafting

 

So do you think you’ve got the guts? There are plenty of adrenaline-fuelled activities out there to do. These on my to-do list for sure! What’s on yours?