Christmas Countdown – 7 Non-Chocolate Advent Calendars

December is rapidly approaching, and if you can’t wait for Christmas Day before treating yourself to gifts, you’re going to need an advent calendar. I remember as a child being happy enough with a simple bit of cardboard and finding a picture behind it, even if it was just a badly-drawn donkey. Then I discovered chocolate. And it’s been chocolate every year since, even though I’m now well into adulthood. As in, I’ve been an adult for almost as long as I was technically a minor. I regret nothing. Not even the 3 fillings. Anyway, here are 7 advent calendars that don’t just rely on the magic of chocolate or tiny works of art:

1 Tea – VADHAM Christmas Tea Advent Calendar (£7.99)

If you’re a tea fan like me, you could experiment in the run-up to Santa’s arrival with this selection of 24 different teas from Indian supplier VADHAM. 

The teas come in four categories – herbal (9 teas included), green (8), chai (4) and black (3) – and feature intriguing choices like “Cookies & Cream”, “Sweet Cinnamon”, “Earl Grey Citrus” and several turmeric teas.

2 Sweets – Swizzels Sweet Factory Advent Calendar (£8)

OK, I said no chocolate, but I didn’t say no sweets.

Let’s face it, most advent calendars are enjoyed by children and if you want to spend a similar amount as you would on the average chocolate calendar, this option from Swizzels might keep your little ones (and their dentists) occupied. 

Not only does it feature favourites like Refreshers, Love Hearts and Fizzers, but it also includes classics Parma Violets and Banana Skids, plus a bag of Drumstick Squashies.

 

3 Cheese – I’m Dreaming of a Cheddar Cheesemas! Advent Calendar (£29.99)

 

If you don’t have a sweet tooth and prefer something savoury, The Chuckling Cheese Company have a solution for you. 

Comprising 12 cheeses, 6 mini jars of chutney, and 6 packs of biscuits (presumably crackers as opposed to custard creams), you might need to clear out some space in your fridge for this advent calendar, as it needs to be stored below 5 degrees Celsius. 

Many of the cheese flavours are suitably festive, with offerings such as Christmas Pudding Cheese, Orange & Whisky Cheddar, Pigs in Blankets Cheese, and Sunday Roast Cheddar.
 

4 Crisps – Pringles 24 Days Advent Calendar (£29.99)

If you’d prefer to have a salty snack each day as Christmas nears, look no further than the best thing to come out of a tube since toothpaste – the Pringle.

Containing 24 servings of 40g tubes, you could possibly stock a flight to the Mediterranean or at least keep a supply for a several trips to the cinema. Alternatively, just scoff them in front of the latest hit series on Netflix (Cowboy Bebop or Tiger King 2) or Disney+ (Hawkeye or Dopesick). 

The calendar contains Pringles in four classic flavours – Original, Salt & Vinegar, Sour Cream & Onion, and – my personal favourite – Texas BBQ Sauce.

5 Personal Care – 24 Days of Discovery Advent Calendar (£20)

For those who enjoy a pampering, or if you just want to stock up on travel-sized toiletries ahead of next year’s holiday abroad (covid permitting), these calendars are ideal. 

There are two options, marketed to women (pictured) and men, both featuring a range of personal care items like shower gels, soaps and deodorants. 

They also include a few curveballs such as socks (men), a hair scrunchie (women) and a multi-charging cable (both). 

Brands include Dove, Vaseline, Radox, Tresemme, Lynx, and Toni & Guy. This product is available as a Black Friday deal on Amazon.   

6 Booze – Baileys 12 Day Christmas Advent Calendar (£17)
 

Fancy a tipple? Alcoholic advent calendars have become increasingly popular over recent years, but many come with hefty price tags.

You can pay anything from around £45 for a beer advent calendar to well over £100 for one featuring 24 whiskeys. 

Assuming you’ve got less cash to splash, Baileys offer a selection comprised of 5cl/50ml bottles, in Original Irish Cream, Salted Caramel, and Espresso Crème flavours. 

The only drawback is that the calendar only contains enough for 12 days, so you could start early or late, only open the calendar on odd or even days, or perhaps buy two calendars?

 
7 Seeds – Gardening Gifts Advent Calendar (£24.99)
 

Anyone fortunate enough to have a garden might enjoy putting it to use with this growing kit for vegetables and herbs from The Little Trees Bees & Seeds Co. 

Unlike the other advent calendars on this list, this one is less about instant gratification and more about patience and enjoying the fruits (and vegetables) of your labour at a later date. Green-fingered folks can turn their hands to growing carrots, fennel, chard, cabbage, basil, tomatoes and many more. 

Let’s face it, you can’t do much worse than Jeremy Clarkson did in the first series of his farming show. Besides, buying this particular advent calendar should more than make up for all the years you chose chocolate.

 
All information correct at time of publication. Prices quoted are taken from amazon.co.uk on 21/11/2021 and are subject to change. Always check the contents and age restrictions of any product before purchase.

Music – 10 Great Opening Tracks on Hard Rock and Metal Albums

Listening to music can be a helpful way to stay mentally healthy. It can have soothing properties, or simply make you feel happier, more energetic or calmer. We all like different music and it’s good to seek out the stuff you enjoy. If you don’t like hard rock or metal, this won’t be for you, but if you do, read on. Feel free to shout at me on Twitter about stuff I forgot or criminally overlooked. It’s my list anyway and you can always write your own.

1 Welcome to the Jungle – Guns N’ Roses

 

One of the all-time great debut rock albums, Appetite for Destruction by Guns N’ Roses, opens with a killer guitar hail from Slash and a haunting scream from Axl Rose. A thumping glam rock anthem then erupts, with the rhythm section driving the song through various twists and turns as Rose sings his innuendos and makes some strange sex noises. You probably won’t want to play this with your parents in the room, but it’s the banger that introduced the world to the first of many sublime Slash solos.

2 Enter Sandman – Metallica

Metallica’s self-titled or “Black Album” is arguably the record that made them household names and Enter Sandman was a big reason behind its success (although Nothing Else Matters is another must-hear song, with rock royalty Elton John calling it “one of the greatest songs ever written”). The catchy entry riff will get your head banging, while James Hetfield delivers lyrics that sound like a dark nursery rhyme and Lars Ulrich pounds his drums as best he can. But the undoubted star here is lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, whose virtuoso solo midway through the piece propels this track into the god tier.

3 Them Bones – Alice In Chains

Seattle’s grunge scene produced some of the best angst-filled music ever and one of the few bands still going is Alice in Chains, despite the tragic death of singer Layne Staley in 2002. Indeed, guitarist and fellow vocalist Jerry Cantrell recently released a very strong solo album called Brighten (featuring the superb single Atone). But it was in the early 90s when Alice in Chains were at the peak of their powers, and Them Bones is the short but formidable opener on the band’s outstanding Dirt album. Built around a doom-laden riff and languid vocal harmonies, the song really soars with a monster guitar solo just after the halfway point. Fun fact: the song features on the popular video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas as part of the Radio X playlist.

4 Black Dog – Led Zeppelin 

If you don’t like Led Zeppelin, do you even like rock music? Their fourth album, released in 1971 and selling over 37 million copies to-date, is their magnum opus, featuring the epic Stairway to Heaven and favourites such as Rock and Roll and When the Levee Breaks. The album opens with Black Dog, on which Robert Plant croons suggestive rhyming couplets while the rest of the band play a stop-start groove around John Paul Jones’s chunky bass and John Bonham’s masterful drumming. There is, naturally, a sumptuous Jimmy Page solo to conclude the start of a very special record.

5 The Grudge – Tool

Back when Tool fans only had to wait 5 years for new music, Lateralus arrived in 2001 to stake an early claim for album of the century. The record rumbles into gear with this masterpiece of Danny Carey’s tribal rhythms, Adam Jones’ grinding guitars, Justin Chancellor’s majestic bass and Maynard James Keenan’s soaring vocals, including that 24-second roar at the 7-minute mark. It is the ultimate release of frustration and cathartic relief. Keenan’s lyrics switch between obtuse references to Saturn ascending (which no doubt has some cosmic significance) and the very simple repeated chant of “Let go” to round things off. Across 8-and-a-half minutes, The Grudge takes the listener of powerful, pummelling, profound aural journey. It’s one of those songs that still sounds soul-bendingly fresh 20 years after it dropped.

6 Ghost of Perdition – Opeth

The heaviest and longest track on the list, Swedish progressive metal geniuses Opeth kicked off their 2005 album Ghost Reveries with this beautiful beast. Lulling the listener in with a few gentle chords, they produce a fantastic “scare-drop” to blast into a brutal burst of brash riffs. As you’d expect from a song that exceeds 10 minutes in length, they change the pace and tone a few times, with softer sections and more melodic moments interspersed between the almighty chugging guitars and relentless double-kick drums. Opeth don’t write boring songs, so while it can take some time to get your head around the growls, it’s well worth sticking with the band for their sheer musical ingenuity. More recently, they’ve mellowed a little and frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt has switched to clean vocals. The band are still making brilliant music, as 2019’s bilingual (available in both English and Swedish versions) In Cauda Venenum attests.

7 All My Life – Foo Fighters

It would be almost too obvious to include Smells Like Teen Spirit on this list, so instead I’m going with Nirvana alumnus Dave Grohl’s band Foo Fighters and the first cut from their 2002 album One by One. This was the Foos at their boldest, loudest and best, delivering a chugging riff and sing-along chorus that satisfy full stadiums. From experience I can confirm that they are an excellent live band, even if you can’t really see them through hundreds of taller people. It’s hard to tell if the refrain “Done, done, and I’m onto the next one” is a critique of consumerism or just Dave ticking off his shopping list, but it sure makes for a memorable tune.

8 Going Under – Evanescence

The greatest thing about Evanescence is Amy Lee’s incredible voice. Not just the way she hits the high notes, but the way she nails every note. The opener to the band’s multi-platinum Fallen album also showcases their underrated song writing ability. Built around a grungy riff and catchy chorus, Going Under also features a cool little guitar solo and some subtle piano work that is a signature of Evanescence’s sound.

Top Female Vocalists in Rock and Metal

It is a bit of a crime that Lee is the only female vocalist on this list, but if you want a few other leading ladies of rock and metal, check out: Hayley Williams of Paramore (especially the early stuff); Courtney Love, particularly Hole’s Live Through This and Celebrity Skin; Lacey Sturm of Flyleaf (first three albums); Lzzy Hale of Halestorm; Heart’s Ann Wilson; and I highly recommend the latest album from Taylor Momsen’s band The Pretty Reckless, Death By Rock And Roll.

9 Prayer – Disturbed

Disturbed’s musical journey is an unusual one. They started out at the turn of the century as a successful metal band but were not widely known beyond the genre until relatively recently. Their debut album The Sickness from 2000 has sold over 5 million copies, but it wasn’t until 2002’s Believe that they first hit the number one spot on the US Billboard 200 chart. Prayer is the first and arguably best track from a second album that was neither difficult nor disappointing. Although their records continued to sell well, the music always deserved more attention than it got. Then in late 2015 came a cover version of Simon and Garfunkel’s The Sound of Silence, which has over 750 million views on YouTube and was nominated for a Grammy. The haunting rendition has helped to immortalize Disturbed and its enigmatic vocalist David Draiman.

10 Highway to Hell – AC/DC

No true hard rock top 10 list would be complete without a nod to one of the genre’s most famous exponents, the forever young AC/DC. It was a tricky choice from a band with so many good album openers, but 1979’s Highway to Hell gets the nod. The iconic opening riff is one of the best the band ever wrote, the simple chorus is memorable and fun, and of course there’s a killer guitar solo in place of a third verse. The band might be on the highway to hell, but with this track listeners are in headbanging heaven.

Climate Change – 20 Practical Tips to Reduce Carbon Footprints

With COP 26 – also known as the latest Global North greenwash festival – drawing to a close, and governments once again failing to be bold enough to take sufficient action to limit the drastic effects of climate change, here are some things individuals can do to help to reduce our carbon footprints.

1 Take Fewer Business Flights

Do you really need to fly across the Atlantic/globe/continent to attend that conference in person? It’s the 21st Century. Zoom exists. Use it. Your liver will thank you too.

2 Take Fewer (But Longer) Holidays

Lots of people like to fly to foreign countries, although anyone doing it during a global pandemic is a bit of a wally. Under normal circumstances, we need to re-think how we holiday. Several different trips a year is going to be a killer for the climate, so instead of taking multiple weekend breaks, take one or two longer breaks and explore each area more. Or use cleaner transport to connect multiple destinations. You could try interrailing around Europe or just pick a destination with loads of culture like Italy, Greece or the less touristy parts of Spain.

3 Insulate Your Home

This could save you on heating bills, although in a time when gas prices are sky-high, it might help you break even.

4 Turn the Heating Down a Notch or Two

Similar principle. Use a bit less gas, pay a bit less, make your grandchildren’s planet a bit more habitable. Alternatively/additionally, switch to a heat pump because they’re more efficient and produce fewer carbon emissions.
 
5 Wear Extra Layers or Thicker Jumpers

Why turn up the heating when you could don a sexy sweater or a pair of wonderfully warm long johns? No-brainer.

6 Get Solar Panels

OK, maybe not the best advice in a country like the UK that has rain every other day and only 8 hours of light each day during the winter, but overall you’ll still save money on your energy bills in the long-term while making sure polar bears still have ice caps to roam about on. In some places, solar energy can even be sold back to the grid, so you might even might a tidy profit (until everyone gets them).

 
7 Eat Less Meat

Confession time. I love meat. I eat meat nearly every day. I’m a bad person. I’m contributing to methane emissions on a grand scale. It’s hard to adjust to non-meat and non-dairy products when you’re so used to them (soy milk is grim), but I’m sure there must be some tasty alternatives out there. Right? Oh yeah, they’re everywhere now. No more excuses. The occasional greasy burger or succulent steak allowed as a treat as long as I cut down overall? Deal.
 
8 Eat More Local Produce

It’s trendy these days to eat stuff grown on your doorstep (or in your own garden, if you can afford one). Not only does it mean fewer carbon emissions in transporting the food from source to plate, but it can support someone in your local area with their business. It’s tricky to get things like bananas from the UK, what with our distinctly un-tropical climate, but switching from items imported from the other side of the world to European produce feels like a win. But then there was Brexit. Moving on…

9 Walk More

According to the Department for Transport, over half of car trips in England in 2014 were under 5 miles. Stop being lazy, leave your car at home and enjoy the great outdoors. If it’s raining, take an umbrella. You are not made of sugar.
 
10 Use Public Transport

OK, walking more than a few miles is rather time-consuming, so if you do need to travel a bit further, swap your car for public transport. Admittedly it’s easier in urban areas with good transport links, such as trains, trams, and buses. One advantage is that you can read great literature or scroll your social media feeds while on public transport. You might even make a new friend, although probably not on the London Underground where nobody makes so much as eye contact.
 
11 Switch to a Greener Car 

Not everybody wants to be exposed to a stranger’s armpits or have to stand within inches of someone with garlic breath, and public transport can be time-consuming and expensive too (train prices are particularly extortionate in the UK). If you must travel by car, throw a few thousand quid at Elon Musk because he needs to go to space again. You’ll be helping the planet in one way at least, even if slightly damaging it in another.
 
12 Cycle More

Another alternative to burning petrol or consuming electricity is to pedal. Just don’t be one of those cyclists who jumps through red lights or doesn’t use the cycle lanes where provided. Also, it’s probably best to wear a helmet (unless you’ve got a really hard head) and hi viz gear in the dark.
 
13 Get Double or Triple Glazing

Most people have got double glazing these days and it does help keep the heat in. Some houses are still single glazed and probably still contain furniture from the 1960s. It might be vintage or hip, but the planet’s dying, so get the windows sorted and peace out.
 
14 Turn the Air Conditioning Down

If you happen to live somewhere that’s warm most of the time, I envy you, but you’ll likely not enjoy the forecast temperature rises in the not-so-distant future. For now, instead of blasting cold air into your house all day, turn it off while you’re out, and turn it down a few notches. It’s not healthy to go from desert to freezer to desert again anyway. Plus humans have this thing called sweat to keep us cool. Oh, but don’t use spray-on deodorant to counter the smell because the CFCs are also pretty yucky for the ozone layer.
 
15 Stop Buying So Much Stuff

Do you really need so much stuff in your life? Stuff requires resources to produce and to move across the globe, so one way to help the planet is to buy less of it. OK, the economy might take a slight hit, but it’s about time we moved to a sustainable economy rather than one obsessed with endless growth, which is basically the modus operandi of a cancer.

16 Plant Trees

It’s not a silver bullet, but there are some benefits to reforestation, when done properly. If you’re a bit lazy like me, you could use Ecosia instead of Google (with only marginally inferior search results), or donate to a charity that plants trees.
 
17 Use Less Water

Particularly important in areas prone to droughts, we could all use less water by flushing toilets less often (not after every pee, but definitely still after a poo) and not washing our cars/bodies/clothes as frequently, or for as long a time. Take 5 minutes in the shower instead of 10. Usage halved. Simple.

18 Recycle

It’s really straightforward these days to recycle. Most homes have separate bins for cardboard/paper, cans/tins/bottles, and garden waste. Some people haven’t grasped it, but you can even recycle stuff when you’re not at home, by holding onto it until you find the relevant receptacle, rather than dumping it on the ground or in a canal. Here’s Jack Johnson singing some more details: 

 

19 Boycott the Biggest Climate Abusers and Choose Greener Companies Instead

Yeah, it’s a bit of effort to find out who the worst abusers are (spoiler: mostly big oil), but next time you’re choosing an energy provider or making a major purchase like a vehicle or deciding which mode of transport to take for a big trip, it’s worth taking a few minutes to research who the cleaner and greener companies are and to go with them.  
 
20 Erm… Overthrow the Capitalist System

OK this one is probably a longshot and not really that practical, but it would help the environment if we curtailed some of the worst excesses of capitalism. In the absence of a full-scale revolution, have a good hard think about who you vote for next time you’re at the ballot box. Instead of voting for the rabble-rousing right-wing populists and blah blah blah centrists, put a cross by the Green Party or the equivalent in your country because they will actually take the climate crisis seriously. Greta would approve.

8 Great Halloween Drink and Treat Ideas

1 Bird & Blend’s Spiced Pumpkin Pie Tea 

Buy Online from Bird & Blend

From £6.10 for 50g of loose leaf tea.

If tea is your thing, you really should check out the fantastic array of flavours on offer at Bird & Blend. For Halloween, their clever mixologists have come up with a Spiced Pumpkin Pie version that can be enjoyed as a regular cup of tea or made into a milky chai latte. This particular tea has won a Great Taste Award and this year is available in a specially designed tin (150g).

2 M&S’s Colin the Caterpillar Halloween Spooky Festival Gift Bag

Buy Online from Marks and Spencer 

From £22.50. Party choice.

If you’re hosting a children’s party or want a bit of fun for the big kids in your office, look no further than Marks and Spencer’s Halloween Spooky Festival Gift Bag. Featuring the often imitated but never bettered Colin the Caterpillar, this is a feast of sweet treats and chocolate cakes. More cute than scary, but guaranteed to put smiles on faces.

3 Whittard’s Pumpkin Spice Ground Coffee

Buy Online from Whittard 

From £7 for 200g (approx. 13 cups).

More famous for its tea, Whittard has stepped up its coffee game in recent years and is now offering its own take on the pumpkin spice trend. Available in boxes that evoke Mexico’s “Day of the Dead”, celebrated on 1st and 2nd November, you’ll probably be drinking this long after Halloween has finished. The product uses ground Arabica beans and is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.  

4 Hotel Chocolat’s Cryptopher the Vampire Caramel Milk Chocolate

Buy Online from Hotel Chocolat

£8 for a box of 16 chocolates; 2 boxes for £14.

If you like chocolate, you’ll love Hotel Chocolat and its Halloween offering made from caramel milk chocolate. The Cryptopher the Vampire collection includes sixteen individually-wrapped chocolates with six different designs – a bat, a cat, a skull, a ghost, a gravestone, and a witch’s finger. These are ideal to give to trick or treaters, or to gobble up all for yourself.

5 Slattery’s Halloween Hot Chocolate Bombs 

Buy Online from Slattery

£9.95 for a pack of 3 bombs.

Sticking with the chocolate theme, north Manchester-based baker and chocolatier Slattery has released a unique take on hot chocolate – the bomb. Don’t worry, it’s not as dangerous as it sounds. The only explosion will be in your mouth when you taste the winning combination of orange chocolate and marshmallows. Enjoy around a bonfire or in the comfort of your own home.

6 Haribo Trick or Treat 

Buy Online from Waitrose

£3 for 32 mini bags. Budget option.

It wouldn’t be Halloween without kids enjoying a few sugar highs and legendary confectioner Haribo is always prepared for the occasion. You could go for old favourite Tangfastics, with their frightening mix of sweet and sour flavours, but if you want to hand out a lot of treats without breaking the bank, plump for the Trick or Treat mini bags and you’ll never again fear the doorbell on the last day October.

7 Wrekin Spirit Pumpkin Spice Gin

Buy Online from Wrekin Spirit

£18 for 350ml, £35 for 700ml (+ £3.50 postage); 38% vol. Adults’ favourite.

Halloween isn’t just about the kids having fun. There are many complex cocktail recipes out there, but a quick and easy alcoholic drink can be made using this flavoured spirit featuring autumnal spices, pumpkin, cinnamon and cloves. Just add tonic and enjoy.   

8 Halloween Cupcakes from Rachael’s Kitchen

Buy Online from Rachael's Kitchen

From £22 for a box of 6, to £35 for a box of 12.

If you love cake (who doesn’t!) and have a bit more cash to spend, you might consider this gourmet option. Impress your friends with these Halloween-themed cupcakes, which come in three different designs (Ghosts, Bats and Pumpkins; Spooky Sprinkles; Halloween Eyes), two of which can be bought gluten-free. 

All prices and quantities are correct at the time of writing. Some products may incur additional delivery charges. You should always check product details and allergen information before purchasing. 

Happy Halloween!

Travel – A Grand Day Out in Preston

The city of Preston may not be the most famous or glamorous place in the north of England, or even in Lancashire, but there is plenty to keep visitors entertained for at least an enjoyable day trip, if not longer.

Preston got a bad rap a few years ago when its high street was awarded the dubious honour of the Unhealthiest High Street in Britain owing to the number of businesses considered unsavoury by the public. These include establishments from tanning salons to bookmakers, loan shops to fast food outlets (presumably including bakeries).

Despite its unwanted reputation, the main high street (Fishergate and Church Street) does serve as a handy reference point for visitors, more or less connecting the main transport links to some key attractions. Indeed, public transport is a great way to arrive in Preston. The railway station named one of Britain’s 100 best by Simon Jenkins and the brutalist bus station featured in a book listing 1001 buildings to see before you die, which covers the whole world. In the latter case, I suspect the compilers were starting to run out of options.

If you arrive at the (genuinely good, though no Huddersfield) train station, turn right and you’re almost immediately into the action. You could hit the shops at Fishergate or St George’s Shopping Centre, but I’d recommend venturing as far as the market. When you reach Waterstones, turn left down Cheapside (no jokes please) and past the cenotaph onto Market Street. A short stroll will bring you to the city’s newest attraction, a bench and sculpture of Wallace and Gromit, two much-loved animated characters created by one of Preston’s most famous sons, Nick Park.

Wallace and Gromit Bench, Preston

The market itself is in a modest but pleasant hall now mostly selling food and drink, from fresh fruit and vegetables to baked goods, local meat, and craft beer. You can grab a bite to eat and a coffee here, although I recommend retreating down Cheapside to Cafuné for a delicious South American sandwich or arepa. The less adventurous can still purchase a toastie here. Another good and very reasonably priced lunch option is the quirky Clare’s Kitchen and Vintage Tea Room (see photo below), situated on Cannon Street, just off Fishergate.

Clare's Kitchen and Vintage Tea Room, Preston

If you’re prepared to venture a little out of the city centre, you can visit Deepdale football stadium, complete with its fountain statue of Preston North End and England legend Sir Tom Finney, or the Lancashire Infantry Museum (currently closed due to covid). Staying in the heart of things, when I visited a few years ago the Harris Museum and Art Gallery was a great way to spend an hour or so, but the Grade I listed building has just begun a £10M revamp and won’t be open again until 2024.

Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston

Also undergoing some improvements is the city’s Avenham Park, where the steps and balustrades are being renovated near the statue of the Earl of Derby. The park itself – along with adjacent Miller Park – is a hilly green space featuring a Japanese garden, water fountain, children’s play area and the Pavilion Café (see map above for location).

Japanese Garden at Avenham Park, Preston

Fountain at Avenham Park, Preston

Down by the River Ribble is a particularly nice (and relatively flat) place for an afternoon stroll, run or cycle. Beware though – very few cyclists when I visited were obeying the frequently signposted 5mph speed limit. The café marks the start and end point for Preston’s Guild Wheel, a walking, running or cycling route stretching for over 20 miles alongside the river, past the marina and around the outskirts of the city.

River Ribble, Preston

All in all, the city of Preston offers enough to keep one entertained for a day trip and I look forward to returning in a few years when the Harris Museum reopens to see how they’ve improved it. I also hope the city moves away from pawnbrokers and generic chain outlets (although Waterstones can stay) in favour of more independent traders, with their friendly staff and more creative menus and products.

Getting there: I travelled to Preston by rail, with an adult off-peak day return ticket from Manchester costing between £12-14 (October 2021). The journey takes around 35-50 minutes depending on the service you catch. To check train prices from other starting points, visit the National Rail website.

5 Mental Health Tips for World Mental Health Day

Today is World Mental Health Day. As someone who has struggled with my mental health since my teens – especially with depression and anxiety – I wanted to make a short list of the things I do to try to keep myself mentally healthy. Sometimes things beyond our control overwhelm us, but there are things within our control that we can do to sustain our emotional wellbeing.
 
Tip 1 – Take regular exercise
 
One of the best ways I’ve found to boost my mental health is through taking regular exercise. In my case, I took up running a few years ago and it has been a real help to me. I started off barely being able to run a kilometre without having to stop due to shortness of breath and aching legs. Now I’m able to run at a steady pace for over an hour. Yes, my legs still ache after such exertions, but the combination of getting the blood pumping and being out in the open air (see Tip 2) releases endorphins, which are natural chemicals that make you feel happier.
 
If you think running might be the exercise for you but don’t know where to begin, try the Couch to 5K programme, or just grab a pair of shoes (they don’t need to be fancy, as long as they fit) and give it a go. Run for as long as you can and/or walk between bursts of jogging. Even 15 minutes of combined walking and running is a start. At first, I’d recommend running maybe twice or three times a week, leaving recovery days between runs, then increasing the frequency, distance and speed (least important) as you feel able. Be careful not to overdo it.
 
Another great option is the weekly parkrun at various locations around the UK. This free event offers the opportunity to run with other people of all abilities and many people really benefit from the social aspect of it. Volunteering is also an option and giving our time to help others can make us feel good about ourselves. Some people like to go around the country exploring different parkrun courses and making new friends.
 
Running isn’t for everyone. Before the pandemic, I used to swim once a week. Swimming is an excellent form of exercise as it not only builds stamina but also suppleness and strength. It’s a great option for people who want something a little easier on the joints. Other people will prefer different types of exercise. Even walking counts as exercise. The trick is to find something that you enjoy. That way, you’re more likely to stick with it.
 
Tip 2 – Get out into nature
 
An underrated and often overlooked mental health aid is nature. Getting out into green spaces can have a profound and positive impact on the mind. Taking ourselves away from the hustle and bustle of urban life and into areas without concrete and vehicle fumes can have a soothing effect.
 
I realise that this is easier for some than others. However, if you take a little time to explore your local area, even the big cities have plenty of green and blue spaces to explore. I’ve highlighted some of my favourite nature areas in my city of Manchester on the map below.
 

 
There is a stretch of the River Mersey in the south of the city that runs for several miles and offers a great walking or running route. Plus, like London but on a smaller scale, the city is blessed with a number of attractive parks, including Heaton Park (north), Wythenshawe Park (southwest) and Platt Fields Park (south). Even a wander along the canal can bring you into contact with nature, which is brilliant as long as you don’t get too near the geese during breeding season!
 
Indeed, while bird spotting might sound like something for old men in anoraks, it’s actually an easy way to help us rediscover our connectedness to nature and remind us that we are just living creatures. Experiencing nature can be a form of mindfulness, or living in the moment, which helps us to focus without letting our worries overwhelm us.
 
Tip 3 – Limit alcohol intake
 
There’s a plethora of reasons to reduce alcohol, from saving money to keeping your liver and other internal organs healthy, as well as reducing your chances of doing or saying something stupid or dangerous. In terms of improving my mental health, lowering my alcohol intake has been one of the most positively impactful actions I’ve taken.
 
While one possible downside has been that I do now socialise less than I did previously (this was true even before the pandemic), reducing my alcohol intake means I’m more likely to choose social events that don’t just revolve around drinking. Undoubtedly one of the big plusses has been not waking up on a weekend morning hungover, which can be a contributor to depression as it leaves you tired and less motivated to be active. I would much rather be clear-headed and only aching from the gym or dancing than feeling like death.
 
Alcohol is also empty calories, with many alcoholic drinks either containing high amounts of sugar or mixed with sugary drinks. As well as feeling perkier, I’ve also lost my beer belly since I stopped drinking alcohol to excess (although running has helped too). For some people the best approach is to go teetotal, for others it’s to set a limit on how many units of alcohol they’ll consume in a day. I find that not drinking at all tends to be better as old habits die hard and once you’ve had two drinks you might “get the taste for it” and – thanks to the combination of peer pressure and lowered inhibitions – end up drinking more than you planned.
 
Sometimes I’ve seen advice for caffeine intake to be limited also. In my personal opinion, this is less important than reducing your alcohol consumption, as fewer health issues are linked to caffeine. If you have trouble sleeping, caffeine may be something to consider. But generally, as long as you’re not imbibing ridiculous amounts like a litre of Red Bull a day, you should be fine. I’ve found that drinking tea can have a calming effect, which is positive for my mental health. Plus, there are many low-caffeine and no-caffeine options such as decaf, rooibos, mint, chamomile or fruit teas to choose from.
 
Tip 4 – Eat fresh fruit and vegetables
 
We all know that the recommendation for eating fresh fruit and vegetables is five portions a day, but how many of us actually make sure we get these every day? Part of the problem is that many people don’t like the taste. Another issue is that not everybody knows how to cook, and pre-prepared food is very often short of fruit and vegetables, and certainly lacks fresh ones.
 
However, while the 5-a-day target is probably too low and should be closer to 10, scientists say that even just 2.5 portions a day can make a difference. This refers to physical health, but the mind is part of the body and eating an unhealthy diet can have a negative impact on our moods.
 
In my experience, I tend to feel more energetic and happier on days when I eat more good foods than junk food. I do like fast food occasionally as a treat, but fatty and processed foods shouldn’t form the basis of your diet if you want to look after your physical and mental health.
 
For people who don’t particularly enjoy eating fruit and vegetables, there are a few tricks, such as drinking smoothies (make sure there’s no added sugar) or sneaking them into other foods. I like to start my day by mashing a banana in with my Weetabix (other cereal brands are available) and adding a sprinkling of blueberries or dried fruit (e.g. raisins, papaya). Unsure about carrots? Try root vegetable mash. Not keen on tomatoes? Try a tomato-based pasta sauce. Peas, beans or lentils can be mixed into curries or pies too.
 
Another tactic is to think about swapping items. For example, if you like a bag of crisps as a snack, switch to (unsalted) mixed nuts every so often. Choose a handful of grapes instead of a chocolate bar. Have a bowl of strawberries instead of a slice of cake. You don’t have to make those swaps every day or for every treat but changing a few can make a difference and you’ll feel better for it.
 
Tip 5 – Set yourself goals
 
Most of the above tips for mental health focus on physical or bodily things that can help boost the mood. These things only go so far. Feeling mentally well relies on being able to stay on top of your thoughts. It’s OK to have negative thoughts. We all have them, even the most positive people in the world. The difference often lies in how we process our thoughts.
 
I know from experience how difficult it can be to override negative thoughts, especially when you’re feeling low and lacking energy. Sometimes I just want to lie in bed all day and I’ve spent too many days doing this. Each of us has various reasons for why we feel down and not all of them can be fixed, just like not all physical health conditions have a cure. For conditions such as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), we might need sunlight or other treatments such as talking therapies or antidepressants to help us to feel better. And that’s OK.
 
Many people feel more motivated when working towards set goals. The beauty of setting personal goals is that we can choose them ourselves. That means we can choose to discard any ambitions which become counterproductive. The goals we set can cover various timeframes and can be as grand or as simplistic as we desire.
 
For example, I could set myself a long-term goal of trying to run 1000Km in a year. I would then break this down into needing to run approximately 84Km per month, or around 20Km per week. Therefore, I know that if I do 3 x 7K runs, or 4 x 5K runs per week, I will be on track to achieve my overall goal.
 
Of course, your goals don’t have to apply to running or exercise. They could be professional goals, such as wanting to achieve a certain position in your company or to complete a project by a particular date, or personal goals, like saving enough money to buy a new pair of shoes, holiday or even a house. Sometimes it helps to set a deadline, although if you shouldn’t beat yourself up about it if you don’t meet this, as you can always adjust it depending on your circumstances.
 
As someone with depression, I believe that even setting little goals each day can be helpful. Getting out of bed is a goal. Reading a chapter of a book, watching one more TV show in the series, and going outside for a 30-minute stroll are all goals. Sometimes those things are all we feel able to manage. But setting ourselves realistic goals can give our minds something to focus on and help us to overcome the darker days.
 
Most of all, we don’t have to suffer alone. It helps to talk and share things with friends. You don’t have to tell them everything. A good friend will respect how much you wish to disclose. A better friend will help you not only to make goals but to achieve them too. Even if all that means is accompanying you on that half-hour walk that makes you feel that little bit brighter.

___

 
 
Disclaimer: I am not a mental health professional or expert. All advice in this blog is based on my personal experience of suffering from mental health difficulties. My suggestions are intended to help others going through similar difficulties, but unfortunately the advice may not work for everyone.
 
For the Mental Health Foundation’s guide to mental health click here.
 
If you are struggling right now or wish to find out more about mental health, you might consider using these organisations (UK):
 
NHS Mental Health  
Samaritans  Call free on 116 123
Mind
Anxiety UK
Sane
CALM
Young Minds

PR Tips – 5 Important Things to Check Before You Send a Press Release

There are countless articles about how to write an engaging press release and this is not one of those. Instead, this blog post focuses on the practical details and processes involved in distributing a press release. It’s the unglamorous stuff, but it matters.
 
You’ve got your headline with a juicy hook, your compelling and carefully written copy, and you’re eager to spread the word about your company or brand’s latest news. You’ve loaded up your press release into your distribution software and you’ve selected your list of relevant media contacts. Don’t press send just yet. There are a few things you need to check.
 
As much as time can be of the essence in public relations, it’s also important to make sure your press release is of a professional standard. It should not contain any mistakes. It should give journalists and editors everything they need. These factors can be the difference between getting easy media coverage and a journalist clicking the dreaded “Unsubscribe” button.
 
1 Contact Details
 
You should always check that the contact details you provide on a press release are:
 

a) Rendered correctly
b) Up-to-date
c) Easily visible

 
If a journalist is intrigued by your press release, one of the first things some do is reach for the phone to get in touch. This doesn’t happen every time, or even most of the time, but when it does you need to be ready.
 
Firstly, have you provided the correct phone number? There’s nothing worse than a digit missed off the start or end, or a mistyped 5 instead of a 6. Most journalists won’t try an alternative number. If the number doesn’t work, many will email, but it’s better to avoid the embarrassment of them telling you they couldn’t get through on the phone. It’s not a good initial impression.
 
Another thing to consider is that some businesses have offices in different locations across the world. You should provide the number that puts journalists through to the relevant press office or agency representative. They shouldn’t have to be put on hold or have their call re-directed; that wastes time and could mean you lose the enquiry and consequently any coverage.
 
If you’re sending press release to multiple countries, make sure it’s clear where your press office is located, and (if necessary) what the office hours are. You should not assume that journalists from outside your country of origin know when you will be available. Be sure to include country dialling codes if you are sending an international press release. The US is +1; the UK is +44.
 
Whenever your company’s or your client’s personnel change, update your press release templates accordingly. If an old colleague’s name and details remain on a press release, it may mean a media contact is unable to reach your company. Worse still, it could in some cases lead to them contact the former employee, which can be a problem if they’ve moved to a rival company, as often happens.
 
Finally, contact details need to be easy to find. Many companies use a clear Contact Us section on their press releases, normally at foot, although sometimes at the top. If you’re providing email addresses, check these are correct and that media contacts know who they are contacting – is it a specific individual or a PR team?
 
2 Links
 
If you’ve included hyperlinks in your press release, you should check that they work before sending. Not the most exciting task, especially if you’ve included several links, but few things look sloppier than an outdated link or being directed to the wrong website because you’ve not updated from a previous press release that you’re using as a template.
 
Personally, I prefer links to open in a new tab, especially if you publish your press releases on your website. This avoids anyone clicking on a link being directed away from the original material. Most content management software will allow you to check a box to open a link in a new tab. You may decide that only certain links should be opened in new tabs, but whatever you decide, everyone in your team should be aware of the approach and follow it consistently.
 
3 Social Media Information
 
Some PR professionals don’t believe that social media links are important in press releases, but I know from hours spent trawling through analytics stats that people do click on them. If you’re not including a platform on which media contacts might want to communicate with you (usually Twitter and LinkedIn), you may be missing a trick.
 
There are several things to consider when it comes to adding social media information. Firstly, are your links correct? It sounds so obvious, but if a company has gone through a re-brand or simply changed their address or handle, you need to be providing a link to the latest account.
 
Secondly, are you including all the relevant platforms for your industry? If you work in business-to-business (B2B) PR, you might only need LinkedIn and Twitter pages, but if your company or client operates in the business-to-consumer (B2C) space, you might also consider Facebook, Instagram, and possibly others. 
 
On the other hand, are you just including links for the sake of it? Do you (or your client) update your social media feeds regularly? If not, it might be counterproductive to include a link to an account that is inactive or used sparingly. You should always seek to direct your media contacts to the social streams which show your brand in its best light. So if you’re killing it with amazing content on Insta but only really posting job advertisements on LinkedIn, just include an Instagram link.
 
It is possible to achieve press coverage via social media. Twitter is a particularly good stream for this, especially if you’re able to find the journalists relevant to your target industry and see who is talking about what via hashtags. If you’ve interacted with media contacts on social media and they recognise your social handles in your press releases, this could increase your chances of them contacting you. If not, it at least serves to remind them that you’re active, which could come in handy if they need a brand like yours on another occasion. 
 
4 Proofreading
 
Even the most talented and seemingly most diligent writer is not the best editor of their own work. We can often fail to spot basic errors (not just typos) or stylistic issues such as accidentally repeating the same phrase or accidentally repeating the same phrase or writing a really long and clunky sentence with no pause for breath… See what I did there?
 
In short, get a second set of eyes. They will see things your eyes have missed.
 
Ideally, get someone else from your PR team or agency, as they will be used to knowing what to look for. The obvious things are spelling and grammatical mistakes – such as apostrophes – but I would always encourage checking that figures make sense. In particular, check that any units of measurement are clearly explained – sometimes thousands and millions can get confused. Also, if you’re quoting values, be sure to outline which currency you’re referring to. Even “dollars” isn’t necessarily clear, as more than just Americans use them. Indicate that $ refers to USD if that’s the case, or an alternative if not.
 
5 Formatting
 
There’s no point sending out a press release with fantastic content if the formatting isn’t up to scratch. Journalists are too busy to spend time trying to decipher a poorly presented email and nobody will be impressed by something that looks unprofessional.
 
Your press release distribution software, such as Cision, Gorkana or Meltwater, will have a preview function, which you should always use to ensure everything is in order before you circulate your press release. What should you check?
 
Font size – Is the text in a sensible size? Is it consistently the same size throughout (with possible exceptions for titles)?
 
Paragraphing – Are your paragraphs separate and distinct? Are the spaces between them correct?
 
Alignment – Is the text aligned properly? Have you removed any unnecessary indentation?
 
Images – These can be tricky, depending on their size and the software you’re using. Consider an image’s importance depending on the press release’s desired impact. Is it better to include your image(s) within the press release, as an attachment, and/or to provide an external location from which journalists can download the image(s)? Have you correctly credited each image to its creator? Have you specified whether an image is for editorial use only? Have you provided a full description of the image? For example, if the image features people from your company, have you given their full names (spelled correctly) with their job titles? If it depicts a location or product, have you provided the relevant details (e.g. state and country; product size, release date and price)?
 
Brand logo – Has this been included? Does it look right (i.e. not blurry, not cut off, the correct shape, a sensible size)? Is it correctly aligned?
 
Generally, does it look like a professional document produced by a reputable company? If not, keep improving it until it does. And once again, get a second set of eyes to review your press release before you send it. Every detail should be checked, from the date and embargo time to everything listed above.
 
Conclusion

If you work in the communications industry and aren’t doing these things, you might be missing out on media coverage and/or doing damage to your or your client’s reputation. Some of the above items can be included in templates to save time and promote standardisation, which helps with brand recognition and familiarity. Building a checklist into your process will help minimise mishaps and increase the likelihood of your press release achieving better results.