News & Stories

  • 5 Creative Elf on the Shelf Ideas to Make This Christmas Magical

    I dont know when Xmas Elves became a thing but as anyone with Children will know, as soon as the 30th of November comes round parents up and down the country are putting their kids to bed and then going downstairs to intentionally make mess that they will have to clear up themselves in the morning.

    Elf on the Shelf – Origin Story

    I researched where this huge modern day xmas annoyance came from, and it looks like we have Carol to thank;

    The modern Elf on the Shelf tradition originated from a 2005 children’s book titled The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition, written by Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell. The story introduces Santa’s scout elves, who visit families during the Christmas season to observe children’s behaviour and report back to Santa each night. By morning, the elf returns to a new spot in the house, sparking joy and creativity as children search for it each day.

    All jokes aside, seeing the joy in my kids faces when they come down to see the elves hanging from light fixtures or making snow angels in the aftermath of an upturned box of rice crispies is worth all the hassle – I think.

    Sneaky Elf on the Shelf Ideas

    My children are nearing the end of their “believer” phase, and by this point we have had to do the Elf on the Shelf thing for about ten years now -and to be honest, its getting harder and harder to think of clever and original things to do with them.

    Elf on the Shelf

    We’ve all done the shoe-shoe trains, the mess on the kitchen floor and various things relating to the Christmas tree and/or related decorations, but what else can you do with these pesky Elves?

    Poorly Elf on the Shelf

    This is a favourite of mine, you cant use it year after year and it was a lot easier to get away with this during COVID, but you can get a big jar and put the elves in with a note stating they are unwell and are in quarantine. This should buy you a few days.

    If you did this in a previous year, then you can use the same jar but put a note in saying that the Elf put themselves in the Jar so that the child can play with them for the day (as touching the Elf ruins the magic, but not if its in a jar)

    Elf Trapped in Shutters or Blinds

    This is an easy one to do and is worth saving for one of those “sh!t, we forgot to do the elves!?” moments. Just place them high up and stuck in your blinds or shutters, as if they have been climbing up to be mischievous.

    This is also a good one to bear in mind if you have pets too – as they cant get the Elf themselves and ruin the morning surprise.

    Frozen Elf on the Shelf

    I think this one is genius, but you need a spare elf and some forward planning.

    Put the Elf in a tub of water and freeze it. Then find a small Elsa figure or toy (told ya this one needs planning) and pretend she Froze the Elf herself.

    Your kids will LOVE this one.

    Elf Treasure Hunt

    This is a fun one that will get your kids active in the morning. Hide some chocolate coins for your kids to find. This ticks off a few boxes, as you also get to use up some of the chocolate coins you probably bought in excess on the run up to the festive period.

    Stick your Elf to the wall

    If you do not have time to be “Extra” when it comes to the Elf and you need a simple suggestion so you can get it done and go to bed – then just tape the elf to the wall. Write on the tape if you can, and if you have two elves then perhaps make it look like one of them has taped the other one to the wall. Its easy, your kids will laugh and you can tick another day off.

    We’re all in this together – best of luck! 🙂

  • The 3 important reasons why you should buy a Briquette Machine

    Ok so the average man on the street may not have a need for a briquette machine, but if you are someone in the building trade or that works with Wood at all, then if you havent already purchased yourself a briquette machine – then you are literally throwing money in the bin.

    What is a Briquette Machine?

    As I’m sure we call know, when you cut Wood: you get dust/shavings. And those shavings up until recently have been an inconvenience, a health hazard and generally a nuisance. Well, not any more. Now, they have become a source of income instead and its thanks to briquette machines. These machines take the dust and shavings and squash them down with lots and lots and lots of pressure, turning them into little “Puck” shaped briquettes.

    Pretty cool, huh?

    What are the Briquettes used for?

    Well, they are Puck shaped so you could use them for hockey I suppose – but the intended use is as a fuel source. They replace wood or coal in log burners and fireplaces and are actually more efficient than regular products due to how the briquette making process work.

    Briquette Machine makes Fuel Pellets!

    The briquette machines use so much force they basically squash any any all air and/or moisture out of the briquettes meaning they are SOLID. Due to this density, they burn for longer. Much longer. And hotter too.

    They are easy to store, easy to use and cleaner/easier to store than coal and logs are. Its made a huge difference in our household and we use the log burner a lot more now due to how much easier the briquettes are to work with.

    How much can I sell the Briquettes for?

    This is a goods question, and to be honest there is no singular answer. I think it depends on where you are based and how easy they are to get in your area. If you find yourself with little or no competition you could get in the region of £30 for a 14kg sack of briquettes, but that may come down to as low as £15 in areas with more competition.

    Ultimately though, they are made using waste materials so any revenue they bring in is a bonus.

    Its also worth noting that if the briquettes are made out of certain types of wood then they may sell for a higher price. I saw some advertised that contained Cherry Wood as according to the person selling them it made the aroma from the fire sweet and fruity.

    Where can I buy a Briquette Machine from?

    As with anything nowadays, you can simply type into Google or eBay or probably even Amazon and buy yourself a briquette machine – but during my research I couldn’t help feel like there was a LOT of options and a LOT of variation from machine to machine.

    So, if It was me personally I would speak to someone at a company such as International Woodworking Machines Ltd in Newark as they will be able to advise you on the machine that fits your requirements perfectly, as opposed to you buying something off your own back only to find its too small (or too big!) for your needs.

    Oh yeah, this post is supposed to highlight the three main reasons why you need a briquette machine (if you make stuff out of wood and make lots of sawdust) so here they are.

    1. You no longer have to pay to dispose of your sawdust
    2. You can now sell your sawdust in the form of briquettes
    3. Making briquettes out of waste means trees dont have to be cut down for the sole purpose of making firewood. Eco Friendly, bayybee!

    Jeez.. go and buy one already.

  • Building a sanctuary in my backyard

    Building a sanctuary in my backyard

    There’s nothing more frustrating than feeling like your home is bursting at the seams. That’s exactly where we found ourselves a few months ago. With two children, a busy household, and no spare space to breathe, we were desperate for a change. Moving to a larger house wasn’t an option—the soaring property prices and the upheaval of relocating were simply out of reach. So, after much deliberation, we decided the best way forward was to expand our current home.

    But where to start? The idea of a traditional extension seemed too overwhelming and costly. Then, one night I stumbled upon the idea of an orangery-style conservatory. It sounded perfect: an elegant way to add space, light, and value to our home without a full-scale renovation.

    After researching local companies, we came across Weathertech Roofing. Their reviews were glowing, and their experience with orangery style roofs stood out. I called them for a consultation, and from the very first meeting, we knew we were in good hands.

    The process began with a detailed discussion about our needs. I explained how we envisioned the space: a bright, airy room that could double as a playroom for the kids during the day and a cozy family retreat in the evenings. Weathertech’s team were professional and attentive, offering practical suggestions while ensuring the design matched my vision.

    When construction began, we were pleasantly surprised by how smoothly everything ran. The team were punctual, tidy, and highly efficient. They kept us updated at every stage, ensuring we felt involved and informed. Watching the structure take shape was thrilling—especially when the stunning orangery roof was installed. The combination of glass panels and intricate framework let in so much natural light that the space immediately felt like a sanctuary.

    Now that it’s finished, I can’t imagine life without our new conservatory. It’s the most versatile room in our home. The kids love playing there, and I finally have a peaceful spot to enjoy a coffee and some much-needed quiet. We’ve even hosted family dinners, and everyone has commented on how stylish and inviting the space feels.

    Looking back, I’m so grateful we chose Weathertech Roofing for the project. Their professionalism and reliability made the entire experience stress-free, which is a rarity when it comes to home improvements! Choosing a reputable contractor wasn’t just a smart decision—it was the key to transforming our house into the perfect family home.

    If you’re considering a similar project, I can’t stress enough how important it is to do your homework and work with a trusted company. It made all the difference for us, and I’m sure it will for you too.

  • I’m and AFOL and extremely proud of it.

    I’m and AFOL and extremely proud of it.

    Yep, call me what you want – I am proud to be an AFOL.

    “Whats an AFOL?” I hear you say?

    It stands for Adult Fan of Lego, and its a label I am proud to wear. Ever since I was a child I have loved the famous bricks, and have enjoyed many an hour building everything from cars to castles – and then enjoyed smashing them all to pieces so I could build something new.

    I dont know what it was about LEGO that drew me to its colourful blocks, but Meccano and K’NEX didnt stand a chance. I was LEGO Till I Die.

    Shoot forward a few decades, and I am still drawn to LEGO in every form. My kids regular LEGO or the couple of LEGO Technic kits I have bought or been gifted over the years – nothing quite beats a few hours clicking bricks together to make something cool.

    Dad AFOL

    I was over the moon when my kids started enjoying LEGO building, as it meant I could relive my own childhood through them. They were naturally gifted builders from day one, I wonder if I somehow passed it down to them through DNA? (lol) Perhaps my bodies “building blocks” have evolved to be more brick shaped, like LEGO itself – and so my children were dreaming of becoming master builders before they could even say the word minifigure?

    AFOL Problems

    For all its benefits there are a few things that put a damper on being an AFOL – or being a fan of LEGO at any ages I suppose. One of these negatives is the cost. A good LEGO set can cost you upwards of £100, and many of the kits I want are just simply out of reach re pricing and/or having the room to actually put them anywhere once built. I did see a cool LEGO Technic wall mounting product that was being sold specifically to mount large LEGO Technic builds on, and each mount had been colour matched to certain kits.

    An AFOL s dream! Wall hanging LEGO Technic!

    They do so many of the mounts and they look AMAZING, butttt… you’ve still got to have a lot of walls to mount them on and if you’re like me and get bored of things quite easily so I’m quickly on to the next build – meaning I would have Technic LEGO covering every single wall in my house. And whereas that does sound pretty cool, I’m not sure my wife would be too thrilled about it. Also, they are gonna cling on to some serious dust, meaning they are likely to just become another thing to stick on the never ending list of jobs we have to do – on rotation – in our homes.

    AFOL Saviour

    Its for that reason I was quite glad to stumble upon Brick Club, which is a UK based LEGO Technic Subscription service, allowing me to build the kits of my dreams without having to fork out £100’s for the privilege. A kit arrives, we build it and enjoy the process, then we break it apart – being careful not to lose any pieces!

    Then we send it back for free and wait for the next one to arrive. Its a simple process and so far its been a blast. Me and my kids have had fun building the Lambo, the Landy and many of the other kits they have in stock, I hope to get the huge Liebherr excavator next!

    The only issue I have with the service so far is they sometimes take a day or two to get back to me (my second kit was a model we actually own so I emailed them about how I block out certain kits from rotation) but I have learned they are a small team running it around families and stuff – so I don’t mind too much giving them a bit of slack.

    So anyway, I’m an AFOL and I’m proud. Now, pass me a red 2×3 block please…

  • The 1 deadly Talc ingredient they didnt tell you about

    The 1 deadly Talc ingredient they didnt tell you about

    I was alarmed when I heard Johnson and Johnson were under fire for selling Talcum Powder for decades, even though they knew there was a chance it could also contain asbestos!

    What the hell!

    I used it when changing my children’s nappies, I use it at the gym after i’ve showered – and this whole time, I could (or my kids could) have been breathing in harmful Asbestos particles?!

    How can this have happened?

    Well, I was today-years-old when I learned that Talcum Powder is actually mined! I had never really given any thought to how we ended up with Talc, but I certainly didn’t think that it was something that humans obtained by digging big holes and extracting minerals from the earth!

    Talc mining involves two primary methods: open-pit mining and underground mining. The choice of technique depends on factors such as deposit depth, size, and quality. Open-pit mining: This method is commonly employed when talc deposits are located near the surface.

    Source

    And it turns out that Talc and Asbestos are mined side by side, and based on reports and articles I have read, it appears they cant really rule out cross-contamination when they are harvesting it from the mines, so chances are that every bottle of baby powder you have ever bought contained dangerous asbestos particles that could have caused serious health conditions for you and/or your family.

    Scary, huh!

    What can you/should you do?

    Well firstly, its probably not sensible to buy or continue to use OG Talc, so if you do like to use products like this then go for a brand that uses Corn-starch, not Talc in their products.

    Bottle of Talc

    You definitely dont need to enlist the services of an asbestos removal company if you have old tubs of Talc lying around – just throw them in the bin.

    And perhaps an overarching lesson here for us all, is to ensure we are always aware of what we are putting in and on our bodies. From the food we eat, to the skincare products we use on a daily basis. You never know what hidden nasties lurk on those ingredients lists, so give them a scan and ensure you are are not at risk.

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