4 Common Tyre Problems (and How to Fix Them)!

25.8.21

If you own a car, then you'll know that the tyres are the most important component in the entire vehicle. Unfortunately it's also very common for them to eventually face multiple tear and wear problems. In this post I'm going to share the top 4 common tyre problems that nearly all motorists face, and hopefully help you with how to fix them!


Over Inflation

The more a tyre is inflated, the more difficult it gets to maintain contact with the road. Also, over-inflated tyres affect the structure of the tyres that eventually decreases their longevity. Take a look at the centre of your tyres and observe its tread pattern, if the centres are particularly worn down, then you need to let some air out of them. You can of course fix this yourself easily, or if you're not sure you can also visit your nearest garage to consult a professional.

Under Inflation

There are also a number of problems that comes along with under-inflated tyres too. For example -
  • Less grip on road
  • Poor handling
  • Early tyre wear
  • Increased risk of punctures
To avoid the above problems, regularly monitor your tyre pressure and inflate or deflate your
tyres accordingly.

Cracking or Bulging

Cracks and bulges can appear on your tyres from hitting a pothole or kerb (or if you have over
or under inflated tyres as mentioned above). Under these types of conditions it’s usually better to
consult a specialist and get your tyres replaced. Cracking is also a sign a tyre ageing, therefore
consider changing your tyres to new ones if any such problem arises.

Misaligned Wheels

A misaligned tyre can reduce your tyre’s grip and traction on the road; therefore, it is utmost
important to get them properly aligned by professionals. How to detect whether you need
wheel alignment? It's actually quite simple! If your tyre is more worn on one side than the other, it’s probably because its misaligned. This type of wear is also known as camber wear.

Keeping the above tyre problems in mind, if you think that your tyres need a replacement,
make sure to buy them from a reliable and reputable shop. If you happen to live in Kent,
Dartford Tyres can do the job perfectly for you. Buy cheap tyres online at Dartford tyres, where you can shop from all top brands available at best prices.

Hopefully this post has helped you with any tyre problems you are facing, and given you the best advice for sorting them out. Happy driving!

This is a collaborative post.

3 Amazing Craft Ideas to Keep your Children Busy this Summer

23.8.21

From time to time when you have small children, you can find yourself stuck inside and have no choice but to figure out some way to keep them entertained - or at least keep them from wanton destruction due to boredom. A great way of doing this (that isn’t just using our latest gadgets to distract them), is the tried-and-tested method of arts & crafts.


Going through such a creative and artistic process with your kids can give them an experience which will create meaningful memories they’ll cherish the rest of their lives, and it can also help teach your children the value of working with their hands to make something permanent. But when it comes to projects, it can be impossible to decide where to start. In order to help you out, I’ve put together a few ideas here which rarely need more than a few colouring pens/pencils, some paper, scissors, glue, cardboard and maybe a printer (filled with paper and ink, of course). Once you’ve got your tools, it’s time to start working!

Fancy Dress

One of the fondest memories that we all have from when we were little, is getting kitted out in fancy dress. Your child might have a genre which they would love to dress-up as, be it dinosaurs, princesses, or even Star Wars characters. The first step to making a costume is sitting down with your children and trying to figure out what costume they’d like. Then, start drawing up your plans on which pieces of card, fabric, and paper can be combined to create the coolest costume.


Drawing out lines on a piece of cardboard can be a great way to get your children involved, but I obviously recommend that any actual cutting is at least carried out under adult supervision. With a few splashes of colour and the right shape, almost any costume can be replicated at home. 

Finger Puppets

This craft can be recreated with paper, card or foam and is another which encourages play as well as creativity. With finger puppets, the creativity doesn’t only stretch to making them, as once created they can be used to put on fantastic performances. From reenacting your most-loved films, to making up entirely new stories together, it's a great way to encourage using their imaginations.

Using a printed template (which you can easily find online, but make sure you have the supplies to print them out), everybody begins with a blank puppet to colour in and decorate. Once the puppets are ready, go wherever your little ones’ imaginations take you. You can even create a multitude of backdrops with just a pencil and some paper to illustrate the changing of scenes.

Tissue Paper Creations

All you need for this final craft is a lot of tissue/crepe paper, some glue and some card to stick the tissue to. Perhaps you can pose for your little ones whilst they compete to make the best tissue-paper portrait of you? Or maybe you can unleash their creativity and see what crazy ideas that they’ll make. Once you’ve got a vision in mind, simply tear, scrunch and stick until you bring it to life together! This one can’t be beaten for its simplicity, making it ideal for younger children.

So there you have some quick suggestions for fun projects that can be tackled together, and remember, it doesn't matter how artistic you are, as long as you have fun!

This is a collaborative post.

Our Month - July 2021

15.8.21


If last month's round up was late, then there was no doubt that July's was going to be late too. We're currently well into the swing of the summer holidays, and of course June 7th marked 'freedom day' (not exactly freedom, but all restrictions on masks are gone, numbers aren't limited anymore, and we can basically see and do what we want - except travel overseas freely). So with that comes relatively normal life and the hecticness (definitely not a word) that comes with it.

The first few weeks of July were just a muddle of getting through school and weekend clubs. I still can't believe we managed to get to the end of term without Indiana and Parker having to isolate. Unfortunately poor Lilah didn't fare so well, and she ended up having to isolate for a few days due to a case in her preschool. We were all okay though which is the main thing! The big two got to go on school trips, they actually had sports day (although we couldn't watch), and the last days of terms were definitely emotional after another crazy school year. They all came home with wonderful school reports too which was the icing on top of the cake.





The weather continued to be a rollercoaster in July too. A heatwave hit for a few days, so we survived on ice creams and hiding in front of fans. I do love having the sun around, but it's definitely no fun when the house feels like a sauna and no one can sleep properly is it? We actually celebrated Parker's 6th birthday party during a super hot day too. 16 super sticky and sweaty 6 year olds running around at a Nerf party was lovely to watch, but not something I wish to repeat anytime soon!

We had a really fun PR experience in July when we worked with PGL reviewing their new Family Adventures Days. We've never actually done anything like it with the littles before and I actually surprised myself with how much I enjoyed myself. We did rock climbing, archery, a giant swing and a zipwire. The harnesses were crazy uncomfortable, but they were worth it to see the smiles on the big twos faces as they whizzed through the air.

We ended the month with something I didn't think would actually happen this year - our delayed family holiday to The New Forest! We stayed in the Milton-on-Sea area and managed to explore so many lovely places (despite the rain that of course arrived the week we went away). We had the yummiest ice creams in Lymington - a place Jack and I actually visited on our Babymoon with Lilah 4 years ago! Went crabbing in Mudeford Quay, before Lilah ended up fully clothed in the sea and the rest of us got soaked trying to save her. One of our best days was when we went to Moors Valley Country Park - very similar to Bedgebury we have here, but 100x better and much more fun. And if you ask the little's what their favourite day of the week was, I can guarantee you it was the day we surprised them with a trip to Paulton's Park / Peppa Pig World!







Of course we've written up our summer holidays bucket list for the rest of the holidays ahead - although I'm already wishing I added 'mummy and daddy relax in a hammock at the beach' already! But so far the weeks seem to be flying by and I'm not sure I'm ready to think about back to school just yet.

This is a collaborative post.

10 Reasons you Need to Move House

14.8.21

Everyone with a family knows how difficult it can be to move to a new house, let alone to a new area. Packing everything up and organising it all into boxes around children? That’s definitely not easy! However, there are a lot of reasons that a house move can be a necessity. The actual process of moving to a new house is long, often boring and very stressful, but if you know your 'why' behind the move, you can be excited from the moment you take a look at www.mortgagecalculator.uk. Buying a house is also a great reason to move: renting is fine if you need to do it, but buying a house is the ultimate goal for a lot of people for a good reason! You’re going to be able to have a tangible asset to hand down one day and it’s going to allow you to build some equity in something completely your own. 


So, what’s your reason for moving, if there is one? In this post I'm going to share the top reasons behind moving house, and they might not be as obvious as you think.

Because you WANT to

The ultimate response to moving to a new property: you simply just want to. Some people want a change of scenery and often, that change comes from within the four walls of the home. Moving to a new house gives you a chance to breathe in a new layout, a new project or perhaps even a new street. With new views and new people to talk to, you get to move again - because you want to!

You need More Space

Whether you’re expanding your family is irrelevant: more space equals more room to move and more fun to be had. Imagine extending the upstairs of the home with an attic conversion, or adding in a conservatory to create your very own sun trap. You can of course, move to a new house to have an extra bedroom or an extra bathroom and that new space will make a big difference. Creating extra space is one thing, but what if you could buy a house that has all of the things that you want already? That’ll save you some cash!

You’re Ready for an Upgrade

If you’ve been in the same street for a long time, you might want to upgrade. Going from a terraced property to a detached property is something that most people want to do at some point. Deciding whether you want to improve your property or simply upgrade it is a big decision, but if you’re restless with the four walls that you’re in and want to move into a property that upgrades you from where you are, it’s time to do it now.

A New Job

Congratulations! A new job is a great reason to move to a new area, especially if the new commute isn't feasible for you to do from your current home. You don't need to commute for hours on end if you just move to a new area. It does often mean uprooting the children to move to a new place, but that’s not a bad thing if you know they will thrive and you will all be better off. If your children are older though it might be a decision to get them involved with.

You're Home Alone

Downsizing because your children are flying the nest is another great reason to move. You can downsize your property and spend less money on your expenses and mortgage because of it! A lot of parents also use this as an opportunity to move to an area that's less child friendly (the countryside for example, as they don't need to be near schools or transport links anymore.

Buying a House

It’s a great reason to move home; you’re moving out of your parents or a rental and you want to buy your first house! You need to plan out your mortgage and who you plan to use, how much of a deposit you have and start looking for a property that will work for you. Getting the best advice possible is so important if you want to ensure that your move is a smooth one.

Moving Abroad

With the pandemic going on, migration to a new place in the world is something that may not have crossed your mind. As things cool off however, you might consider that moving abroad is your best possible option for a happier, healthier future. You can plan to move abroad and spend time purchasing a property somewhere else around the world, and you can get a new job or go and study in a whole new country. 


Your Relationships are Changing

Sometimes we move to live with a new partner or to get away from the end of a marriage. That change in relationships means that there is a chance of a change of scenery, and it can be just as exciting! A change in relationships will trigger changes in other areas of your life from your job to your surroundings.

To be Closer to Family

The chances are that right now you’re living far away from your family. If you want to move closer to your family, you need to sell the home you’re in and buy a new one to be nearer. Living close to your family may be important for you, especially if you are moving to support older relatives or you need support with children. You’ll be able to visit far more often when you have your family members nearby, and that can make a huge difference to you! You also may need to be in the catchment area for schools to get your children into the ones that you want the most.

A Change of Lifestyle

If you’re in the rat race of the city, you may be very ready to slow down and move to the countryside and lead a slower pace of life. You won’t regret such a mammoth change in your life, as it can lead to the change that you’ve always wanted to have. The costs of running a house in the city aren't always small ones, and a change of income or a need to save money can lead you to choosing to relocate. You’ll often find that buying a house in the countryside is cheaper! The change in your job and your location will mean that you will see an overall decrease in how much you pay out. 

If you have been lucky enough to sell your house, but haven't found somewhere to buy just yet, you could consider a short-term let whilst you wait. GuestReady manage the day-to-day operations of Airbnbs and other short-term rental apartments, such as online listings, high-quality photography, pricing management, communicating with guests, cleaning, and even the check-in of guests! 

This is a collaborative post.