How not to work with bloggers

I don’t blog for money, I do it for the craic and it’s a way for me to expand on 140 characters sometimes.  However, as a blogger we’re sometimes asked to review products, attend events or try things out with our kids with the hope that we’ll blog about it.  It’s a great way for companies to advertise and we get to try out a lot of cool things that we may otherwise not get to.

In this case, I was sent a recipe and asked to do some baking with my daughter.  This isn’t the first time I’ve been asked to don an apron and get into the kitchen.  I normally don’t mind because I don’t bake enough with Madame and this makes me get in the kitchen and it’s usually fun.  The last time I was asked to review a recipe, I was sent everything I’d need.

This time I was sent a recipe, that calls for 7 ingredients and they only sent one of the ingredients with a retail value of 98p.  Yup, you heard me right….a whopping 98p.  However, the recipe calls for self-raising flour, honey, sultanas, butter, salt and milk.  I have a couple of these things in the house but would have to go out and buy the rest. It wouldn’t break the bank but can’t help thinking this is incredibly cheeky.  Plus, it will take me about an hour to make it, clean up the mess afterwards and don’t forget the time to write up the review.  Sorry, but my time is worth more than a quid.

This isn’t the first time this has happened, I’ve been sent toys where the batteries needed, cost more than the toy itself, asked to travel at my own expense and blatantly asked to do things out of the goodness of my heart which doesn’t include charities or companies that I’m passionate about.

I wouldn’t go so far as to name the PR company, as it would be unprofessional and this particular one isn’t unique in this practice, but I think it’s time that PRs/Companies stop insulting us by asking us to work for nothing.

Heck, I managed to get a £xxx coat off my hubby and it took a lot less time, effort and at least I got a bit of foreplay before being screwed!  ;-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Remove Crayon

Bloody Hell!  I can’t believe it worked!  Madame had drawn on not 1 but 5 of our painted walls with not just any old crayon, but a heavy duty extra greasy whiteboard one!  I tried baby wipes but they didn’t work.  A few people on twitter suggested using WD 40.

I did think they were insane but tried it and it came off in a breeze, very little elbow grease required.  Sprayed a bit on, wiped, then sprayed a bit more if it didn’t come off.  I had all the walls clean in less than 10 minutes!  However, I’m a bit stoned from the fumes!

Please note:  It didn’t change the colour of the walls.  The photos were take on different days.


How to Drive in the Snow!

I’m by no means an expert on driving in the snow.  However, I’m Canadian and started driving at 16 (23 years ago) so I have a few years driving in treacherous weather.  I once called the AA and they said they’d get to me in 3 days!  This post is tempting fate and I’m sure I’ll end up pranging the car in the next few days so you can all point and laugh.

The thought of driving in the snow here in the UK doesn’t faze me, it’s the other people that, frankly, terrify me.  I’m often surprised when schools are closed and people can’t make it to work.  I know it’s not fair to compare Canada to the UK as you don’t have the infrastructure in place for a few days of snow but these short periods of weather seem to be getting longer and longer every year.

“Too many motorists simply jump in their cars on chilly mornings and treat adverse weather conditions as an inconvenience. The reality is that without proper preparation and a change in driving style, the consequences of snow and ice can be fatal.” from the BBC.

So, here are a few of my own tips to keep you a bit safer.

1.)    If you’re not confident or the thought of driving in the snow makes your blood pressure race then for the love of god walk away from the car, go back inside and make yourself a nice warm cuppa.  If you’re a nervous driver you won’t be able to react in time and will end up doing something stupid.  No journey is worth it.

2.)    DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT use your brakes unless you absolutely have to.  Yes, this means that you have to drive at Grandma Speed but at least you’ll be able to stop when you need to.  If you are driving a manual use your gears.  If it is an automatic transmission then use the lower gears…those are denoted by the D1 and D2 on the column shift.

3.)    Do not speed

4.)    Just because you have a 4X4 it doesn’t mean you’re invincible so slow the f*ck down.  I don’t know how many times in Canada I’ve driven (smugly) past SUVs in the ditch in my little town car.

5.)    This one is actually in the road code, but most people seem to have forgotten.  If you are coming down a hill (icy or not) the person coming up the hill has the right of way.  If the person coming up the hill has to stop on an icy slope the laws of physics makes it nearly impossible for them to get going again.  If you are coming down the hill and unable to stop then you’re going to fast!

6.)    Use second gear when pulling out from a stop; it will prevent the wheels from spinning.

7.)    Try not to change gears when going up a hill.

8.)    If the worst happens and you start to skid, take your foot off the accelerator, DO NOT brake and steer in the direction of the skid.

Hope you have a safe journey!

 

Replacement Windows

We desperately needed new windows.  They were single pane and the frames were rotting.  In winter, you could feel the gale force winds coming through.  We really couldn’t afford it but had to push the boat out to get some new ones.  To save a few pennies hubby decided against having a professional company do it and arranged to have ‘someone he knows’ install them, always a fatal error.  The measurements were double checked. The windows arrived in July amidst in-laws dying and they’ve been sitting in the garden ever since.

Today was the big day for the installations.  They quickly set up removing the old ones and installing the new ones.  So what do you think?

As you can see they hit a bit of a hiccup.   It wasn’t until they removed the old ones that they realised that the new ones didn’t fit.  There is a lot of finger pointing going on now.  Apparently, the people who made the windows didn’t take into consideration the corner posts, which should have been deducted from the measurements.  The only thing I know is that I won’t be paying for a new set.  Thankfully, they’re rushing through a new set and should be installed on Friday.

Weirdly, the ply windows are much warmer than the old ones????  I think we may be onto a new trend.  We’re calling it ‘Squat Chic’ it’s all the rage.  We may spray paint some graffiti on it; put some needles underneath and a can of Special Brew to finish orf!