The Monday Piece - ByRuby Christmas Feast

This week's Monday Piece is on ByRuby Christmas feast! Christmas is fast approaching and diaries are filling up with plans to ensure we savour every precious moment of the festive season amongst friends and family this year, but with that comes the anxieties of providing a Christmas meal for one and all. Cue ByRuby’s wholesome, home cooked Christmas bundle - the perfect ingredient for keeping your cool this Christmas! Simply eliminate the stress of grappling for that last turkey only to then forget the brussel sprouts, followed by that frazzled feeling over hours of preparation and cooking, all while you could be spending such a special time catching up on missed moments with your loved ones and making up for last years lost Christmas, or celebrations barely acknowledged due to the pandemic. 

Leiths trained chef, Ruby Bell and her close friend and business partner Milly Bagot, met whilst working together for family owned business, Finns of Chelsea, where Ruby was head chef. Witnessing first hand so many customers buying ready-made meals for dinner, the pair realised there was a business opportunity here, which appealed to a wide audience, from mums, to health conscious young adults, time poor career men and women and those stocking the freezer for ad hoc moments, as well as those wanting a stress free way to entertain - especially at Christmas! Not only has the duo prepared a Christmas feast for those planning a wholesome, delicious Christmas dinner, they also offer a variety of 15 carefully curated seasonal dishes, so there’s something seriously special for everyone. Christmas Feast Bundle (2021)

 • Free Range Herb Fed Bronze Turkey Breast With Bacon and Cranberry Stuffing • Organic Rhug Estate Pigs In Blankets • Ruby's Best Brussels With Bacon • Ruby's Super Special Roast Potatoes • Honey Roasted Parsnips & Carrots • Christmas Gravy • Ruby Red Cranberry Sauce • Cranberry and Sage Stuffing 

The Bundle will come in either a ‘Feast for 4’ or a ‘Feast for 8’, or alternatively each dish can be bought separately (buying the bundle comes with a 5% saving). This is such a fantastic idea, any stress taken out of Christmas is a yes from me :).

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The Monday Piece - Post Lockdown Cleaning Tips

This week's Monday Piece is on post lockdown cleaning tips! One in five BRITS have stated they have less time to clean, now they’ve returned to the office. So, cleaning and laundry experts, Dr. Beckmann, has produced cleaning hacks to help the nation clean quickly

After more than a year of adapting to new styles of living and working, the nation has found itself struggling to make time for everyday jobs that were once easily done, according to new research.

The study by Dr. Beckmann discovered that one in five Brits have less time to clean, now they’ve returned to the office and life is starting to return to the norm.

Seventy per cent of the 2,000 Dr. Beckmann customers polled* said household cleaning was a ‘top priority’ during lockdown. But almost as many (65%) claim that domestic duties are no longer a priority now lockdown has eased.

The research shows that Brits spent an average 90 minutes a day cleaning their homes during lockdown – but that figure has fallen to less than 15 minutes per day since lockdown has eased.

Dusting the surfaces, bleaching the bathroom, and wiping the windows have all become too time-consuming for Brits everywhere, as they make the gradual return to normal working life, according to a study by cleaning and laundry expert, Dr. Beckmann.

One of the biggest burdens dreaded by Brits’ is hoovering. Whether it’s the stairs, the rug, or behind the sofa, it’s a task that requires time and energy. Even after the most thorough hoovering, unsightly stains can be left behind, leaving the carpet looking almost as filthy as before.

Dr. Beckmann’s Carpet Stain Remover is the perfect product to target those hard-to-tackle stains that can be difficult to remove, the brush head attachment teamed with the specialist oxi-power formula makes removing stains an easy task to tick off the to-do list.

Since May 2021, the increase in demand for domestic cleaners has increased rapidly, with households across the nation conducting their own searches into convenient solutions to tackling the everyday jobs that can often take up so much time.

To help lighten the load, Dr. Beckmann has compiled a list of the top six cleaning hacks to relieve the pressure of the jobs that often make the weight of the working day feel that little bit heavier.

Dr. Beckmann’s Top Six Cleaning Hacks

1. Hoovering

Using a hoover can be challenging when you’re trying to access those hard-to-reach places, such as the cracks in the window ledge or even your laptop or computer keyboard. A squeeze bottle cap on the end of the hoover nozzle helps to increase the suction, ensuring all germs are caught. If you spot any stubborn leftover stains, a product such as Dr. Beckmann’s Carpet Stain Remover is great for tackling those tough marks.

2. Dust-busting

Dust can be a nightmare to clean, especially on surfaces that it sticks to such as lamp shades, blinds or curtains. Using a lint roller gently over the material will attract the dust and leave the surface looking as good as new.

3. DIY Glass Cleaner

If you find yourself needing to clean your windows but you’re without any glass cleaner, then this handy solution does the trick. Simply mix white vinegar, distilled water, a drop of essential oil and shake before using. Spray lightly over the area and wipe in a sideward motion to rid your windows of any unsightly marks.

4. Shaving on the hob

Cooking can be a messy job, especially if you’re preparing a big meal. When you have multiple pots and pans simmering on the hob, a few spills are inevitable. Once the hob has cooled, spray a layer of shaving foam over the top and leave it to soak for fifteen minutes. Finish by simply wiping the foam away and watch how the hob glistens.

5. Baby Oil

A light layer of baby oil could be just the answer if you’re looking for a quick way to get your kitchen sink shining. Rub a small amount of baby oil around the base and on the sides of the sink and watch as your sink is left shining for weeks!

6. Lighten the laundry load

Reduce the never-ending spin of the washing machine, by combining your darks and lights into one, single wash. Don’t worry about the dreaded colour run, as Dr. Beckmann’s Colour & Dirt Collector Sheets collect the dirt and dye that come out of your clothes to ensure your colours are kept brighter for longer:).

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The Monday Piece - James Bond Tours

This week's Monday Piece is on James Bond tours! As the long-awaited release of the latest James Bond film, No Time To Die, is finally here – Rabbie’s (www.rabbies.com) has created a private tour itinerary for 007 fans. With gadgets, cars, castles and tipples giving fans the full Bond experience.

On a two-day round trip journey from Edinburgh, this private tour features highlights such as seeing a collection of Bond memorabilia, including a BMW 750 used in ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’; scenic drives through areas and naval bases used in ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ as well as a visit to the headquarters of MI6 in ‘The World Is Not Enough’. The itinerary weaves the theme into cuisine with lunch dates at Miss Moneypenny’s Diner and a trip to a whisky distillery to sample one of the spy’s favourite drinks.

Rabbie’s offers unique itineraries and experiences that can be tailored to individual needs to create a once in a lifetime experience. Each private and personalised tour has a dedicated driver-guide, an expert in storytelling, local insights and historic tales.

Travellers can book a private tour from around £560 per day, which includes the cost for travel in a 16 person mini-coach with a guide for the whole day. I'm yet to see the new film however I'm ready for a Daniel Craig situation :).

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The Monday Piece - Lockdown Home Improvements

This week's Monday Piece is on lockdown home improvements! Lockdown gave us more time at home than usual, this provided us with a lot more time for some home improvement Google search results show that DIY-related searches increased by a total of 14% between the years of 2019-21, proving that we are all still relying on Google for some help.

Toolstation took a look at these search queries across the two years to see what we were searching for the most during our time at home. The top three most searched queries from the research were:

‘How to bleed a radiator’ came in top, with a total of 503,730 searches between 2020-21, it seems many people took the opportunity to do the annual bleed during the winter lockdown.

‘How to fix a leaking tap’ came second, receiving 216,720 searches over 2021-21, obviously being stuck at home made that dripping noise all the more annoying. 'How to unblock a shower drain’ landed third, with 170,580 searches, even the most grim tasks were getting done during the lockdown it seems. The full list includes the top 15 most searched queries, including ‘laying a laminate floor’ and ‘how to change a light bulb’. What improvements did you get round to :)?

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