Viewing all items in Resource Category: Looking at You

It has not been a good summer to let your dog go swimming. The hot and dry weather this spring sparked a rise in toxic blue-green algal blooms which have affected lakes and rivers across the UK. Blue-green algal blooms are triggered when colonies of bacteria use warmth and sunlight to reproduce rapidly. The colourful...

If someone in your family wants their driving licence this autumn, they may have to wait months before even getting a driving test. For the average waiting time across all test centres has recently increased to 22 weeks, up from 14 weeks back in February 2024, according to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)....

Plant-based milk drinks, including soya milk, oat milk and almond milk, have soared in popularity in recent years. But how do these compare with cow’s milk? A recent report from the nutritional experts who advise the government says that vegan milk is not ‘nutritionally equivalent’ to cow’s milk. The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN)...

If you drink alcohol after 10pm at night, you may still be over the limit by 9am the next morning. So says IAM RoadSmart, a road safety charity. It has warned that drinking alcohol late into the night can pose a ‘serious threat’ to your safety as a driver the next morning. And even if...

Gratitude may help you recover more quickly from a heart attack. So says a study by the University of California, who examined gratitude as part of an outlook that involves appreciating the positive aspects of life, and often goes hand in hand with spirituality. It was found that people who have a life attitude of...

September can be a bad time for financial pressures. This is when the children have just returned to school, universities are opening, and suddenly Christmas spending looms. Retrospectively, the bills for summer child-care and that holiday (where you spent too much) are coming in, as well as the recent outlay you had to make on...

Holiday reading Are your sunglasses good enough? In praise of olive oil Dogs and heatstroke Those long car journeys of summer… Why can I see the moon in the day? Read a book! Being bored is good The benefits of coochie-coo ** Editor: David Pickup, a solicitor, considers how to fill those spare moments on...

When I go away, I first write a list of things to pack. I pride myself on being able to pack quickly; just throw some spare clothes in a bag, toothbrush, other things I need and of course plenty to read. My experience tells me I need at least a book a day. I take...

They may look trendy, but when you bought them, did they have the official UKCA or CE markings on them? If not, your eyes may NOT be protected from the sun’s dangerous rays. So says the Office for Product Safety and Standards, which is part of the Department for Business and Trade. It warns that...

Olive oil is surprisingly good for you. It has been found to be able to ward off chronic disease and to boost your brain health. So, when those ancient Greeks praised it as an aid to staying young and healthy, it seems they were right. While the Mediterranean diet can include up to four tablespoons...

An over-hot dog is a serious matter – if they can’t cool down, they are in trouble. So when is a dog too hot? Vets warn that in temperatures of 20-23C, you need to be careful not to exert them. At 24-27C you are well into the danger zone, and over 27C is life-threatening for...

Are you taking a LONG car journey as part of your holiday this summer? Beware: hours on the road can leave you tired, a bit travel sick and with aching muscles. Tiredness is the most serious – at least if you are the driver! It is reckoned that 10 – 20 percent of all car...