Balsamic is something of a recent phenomenon in cookery. While Italians have been enjoying its robust flavour for centuries, it has taken a little longer for it to gain speed across the water in the US and UK. The flavour lends itself to being used on salads as a dressing, in marinades and sauces, even in stews. The complexity of its sweetness and richness run circles around its cousin, red wine vinegar. Image Credit The origins Balsamic vinegar can be traced back as far as 900 years ago, where vintners in the Modena region of Italy were making it to take as a tonic. It was also given to important people as a favour. Although balsamic vinegar is called a wine vinegar, technically it isn’t. It is still made from grapes, but these grapes have not been fermented into wine. The sweet white Trebbiano grapes are pressed into a dark […]

Around 10% of the UK population has type 1 diabetes, a lifelong condition which requires pretty much constant monitoring and attention. Experts aren’t sure why diabetes occurs, but being unable to produce insulin – an essential hormone which filters blood sugar into cells to provide energy – leaves the body vulnerable to serious complications. Image Credit Living with Type 1 diabetes Testing blood and calculating the right dose of artificial insulin to take is part of the daily routine for a type 1 diabetic, and in many cases blood sugar levels remain stable, and within the target range. However, changes to the body, such as illness, or pregnancy, can cause disruptions to blood sugar levels which are harder to measure or predict. The risks of pregnancy Across the country 50% of babies born to mothers with Type 1 diabetes experience complications, mostly due to difficulties keeping blood sugar levels stable. […]

Historically, air conditioning hasn’t been considered as a necessary feature in most UK homes, as we haven’t had the weather, or the budget, for it. But as we increasingly experience long spells of hot weather it is becoming more popular. There are also more options available nowadays, such as portable units, which bring down the price considerably. Image Credit So, if you’re looking for some form of cooling system in your home, what things should you look out for and what really are the benefits? Benefits of a good aircon system An increase in temperature can cause real problems for some sections of society who already have existing health problems, and so the ability to maintain a steady, constant temperature can, quite literally, be a life saver. The filters in many aircon units also help to improve the air quality in your home by removing dust, mould and other pollutants […]

If you have been given the job of planning a stag do, it can feel like an honour and a curse all in one. Here are some useful rules to follow so that you can get everything organised without a hitch. Image Credit Get started early It may seem obvious but the sooner you start planning a stag do, the more smoothly it will play out. This particularly applies to issuing invites, as the attendees will need to arrange time off work and sort out a lot of other life admin to fit the event into their invariably busy diaries. Set a strict budget Be realistic about how much you want to spend on the stag do and make sure you are not excluding any key members of the groom’s friendship group or family by picking locations and activities they cannot afford. Image Credit Most importantly, you should agree on […]

As you approach the start of a new season, it can be useful to set new goals and targets for your team. You’ll no doubt have had an end of season debrief, so everyone will be aware of their individual and team progress and achievements. Setting fresh objectives and goals for the season ahead is a great way to refocus, understanding where everyone is now and what they want to achieve looking forward. Setting goals for the next season is incredibly important. These decisions will impact on your motivational environment, in training and when you partake in competitions. The goals and objectives also underpin the team philosophy and effect the decisions you make as coach. Ideally, you’ll want to balance goals between results and league position with development and evolution of player skills. Image credit Some important considerations when setting future goals could be: Was last season a success or […]

Let’s face it, we all love a sweet movie proposal. Romantic, heart-warming and brings a tear to the eye. There are some silver screen marriage proposals that have become iconic and recreated the whole world over. Here, we celebrate some of the best: Jamie and Aurélia, Love Actually Colin Firth’s character falls for his Portuguese housekeeper but communication is tough. He finally manages to propose to her in Portuguese that he’s been learning, and she replies in English, as she too wanted to communicate better with him. Very romantic! Harry and Sally, When Harry Met Sally This film is iconic for several reasons, not to mention the infamous orgasm scene! First the couple were enemies, then friends, then a couple and then exes – phew! Harry finally realises she’s the one on New Year’s Eve and dramatically runs after her to tell her he wants to spend the rest of life with […]