Bed Bug Eradication

If you want to know the truth about how to eliminate bed bugs, put the mop and bucket down. Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs do not give a care in the world about the cleanliness of their surroundings. They are indeed transmitted straight through clothing, luggage, boxes, and other vehicles from location to location and that is how they survive. Many habitancy try the coming of just abandoning the premises for a while, in hopes that the bed bugs will be gone when they return but unfortunately they are known to live up to a year without a host to feed off of, so you might have to truly abandon your residence for that tactic to work.

A way to kill bed bugs more indeed without having to move out of your home is to wholly eliminate them; this can be difficult as these puny creatures can hide just about anywhere, from behind the light plate on your wall to under your pillow and mattress, and seal up all cracks and crevices in the home--even the area between the wall and the molding where the floor meets the wall. Sealing up these areas decreases the likelihood of the bed bugs looking a place to lay low until the air clears--literally.

After all things has been sealed and exposed, there are a few methods you can use to get rid of bed bugs but the most practical by far is steam cleaning. Most pro exterminators will use steam cleaners to kill the bugs as they can hardly survive at temperatures above 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat kills the bugs, and after that it is just up to you to clean up the remains and make sure you don't ever have to deal with the bed bug question ever again.

After the bugs have been killed, the question is no longer how to kill bed bugs but how to keep them gone. If things are done right, rarely do bed bugs re-surface but it is prominent to all the time keep an eye out for them when you are traveling, even if you are staying at the Ritz-Carlton or the Waldorf-Astoria. After all, bed bugs do not discriminate and they have a tendency to voyage great distances just to make the lives of human beings a tad bit more trying.

If you think you have bed bugs check the carpet, linens and the entire bed frame, bed bugs are never far from there host (you). Check all within a 30ft radius of your bed.

Look for nymphs and shed skin remember though that you are looking for something that is 1mm total in distance and is probably translucent. The bugs go straight through many dissimilar stages before they become adults and are very hard to see before that.

If you cannot find them by optical inspection, you can use the old tape trick to find them. Take a roll of packing tape and tape the bottom of your bedpost and frame rails and all along your baseboards around your bed. You will find nymphs and eggs if you have an infestation. If you find whatever that looks like dirt or smudges on the tape after a few nights you need someone else trick to catch them in action.

Bring a flashlight to bed with you. Wait until it has been dark for at least 30 minutes. Then slowly get the flashlight and shine it under the covers where you have been getting marks on your body. These bugs are very small but you will see what looks like dirt running away from you.

Bed bugs are very robust creatures and have been known to go over 500 days without a meal. If you have them, getting rid of them is someone else article I will cover later. Trust me when I tell you that you are out of your league in exterminating them.

Because fleas can cause a condition in cats known as "pruritus" or an allergic reaction, retention them at bay is an leading step to retention your pet healthy. For most cats, fleas are a nuisance; for cats that suffer from flea allergies, they can be life threatening. Knowing a puny about fleas will help you to operate them and to safe your pet better.

If your cat has allergic dermatitis caused by flea bites, you will observation that the scratching is elevated and may be accompanied by chewing of the bites as well. This type of severe reaction can lead to loose of fur and may need further medical medicine in increasing to the elimination of the fleas themselves.

Because fleas can cause other condition issues besides the allergic reactions, controlling them is important. Fleas can cause tape worm infestations, anemia and skin infections if left unchecked for too long. Any one of these condition concerns can be detrimental to your cats health.

So, how do you go about controlling fleas so that your cat does not have to suffer any of their consequences? A good place to start is with flea powders, sprays and dips. These products are especially good as flea preventatives.

When choosing what type of flea deterrent to use for your cat, don't overlook the primary flea collar. A flea collar works very well in conjunction with the dips, powders and sprays. However, the best defense for a flea infestation is to use a spot treatment. This medication not only prevents adult fleas, but many also kill eggs and larvae that your cat comes in palpate with. Many of these types of treatments begin to work in a couple of days.

When it comes to the environment, there are also several options for flea control. Flea bombs can kill fleas in carpets and bedding, though meticulous washing and vacuuming will help greatly in this endeavor also. For surface use, yard sprays can be quite effective.

Because flea treatments are in fact medications, it is leading to apply them exactly as the fabricate suggests. If the directions are not followed, it could lead to an overdose of medications and a sick cat or to the fleas not being irradiated and the question being ongoing for you pet.

Do not use pyrethrin or pyrethrum on the mattresses, couches or pet bed directly. Agreeing to the poison control centres, these insecticides are known to cause loads of poisoning incidents as compared to all other pesticides. Therefore, read the labels before you choose any of your products for bed mites.

Limit specific areas for your pets to sleep. These bed bugs could be lingering in small openings, cracks or furrows nearby the house, which can cause a lot of problems to be pets. Hence, you must keep a safe sleeping area for your pets, free from the possible invasion of bed mites. You could also spray the pet beds with cedar oil and repeat the medicine every few weeks. In case if the pet beds are infested with bugs, you must whether discard them or wash them in hot water.

Do not use approved flea treatments to treat your pets of bedbugs. These treatments are not efficient for bugs and they could be extremely perilous for your pets. Agreeing to the environmental agencies, all those products intended to eliminate fleas have killed loads of pets every year. Flea medications normally come with a lot of adverse effects and most times, the pets are not able to withhold them.

On the other hand, the bed mites would survive on the dead skin tissue and would cause no harm to the human host as such. However, since these are organisms of a kind, they would excrete waste. Some population are allergic to mites or dust mites, but in real, they are allergic to the waste excreted by them. The bedbug bite would look similar to the flea bite, but those are fully separate conditions. Sometimes, the body would establish an allergic reaction from the bug's saliva that carries a few toxins. However, there are loads of population who are immune to the effects of bug bites, whereas it could be a serious qoute for others.

The only way to get rid of these bugs or the mites would be to keep your surroundings clean. These days, there are separate kinds of vacuum cleaners available, which would have sufficient suction power to eliminate the mites as well as the dead skin. You could also use a steamer to sterilise your bedding. The heat would kill the mites but you would still have to do your bit to clean up their dead bodies.

Bed bug infestations can start from assorted sources. One of the most tasteless forms of infestation is through contacts with infested furniture in hotels, motels, and other places of temporary accommodation. In fact a recent increase in bed bug infestations may have a direct link with the increase in the amount of citizen who travel. Bed bugs are carried nearby in clothes and the luggage of travelers. However, it is rare to detect bed bugs in the clothes citizen are undoubtedly wearing at any given moment. Clothes that are carried in bags facilitate bed bugs to voyage and spread. Someone else source of bed bug infestation is through the replacement of furniture or garments between people.

Once bed bugs enter a building they will spread throughout it. In structure where there are multiple housing units, such as apartment blocks or condominiums, all of the units may come to be infested. This happens through the medium of tasteless areas, as well as through holes and crevices in the walls used by utilities such as plumbing. Material used for separating housing units has a requisite impact on the speed at which bed bugs spread through the complex. structure that have concrete separators have the least tendency to spread bed bug infestations through them.

Bed bugs feed on blood not on trash. As such, cleanliness does not arrest the spread of infestation directly. The idea that dirt causes bedbugs infestations is a misconception. However cleanliness, by depriving the bed bugs some of their hiding places, does slow down the infestation.

Because bed bugs have flat bodies they can hide in all sorts of unlikely places unseen. It is their ability to hide so thoroughly out of site that has given arise to the second misconception; that bed bugs are so small that they cannot be seen unaided. Bed bugs can in fact be seen since they are about 4 mm in length. Even their eggs, which are about 1 mm in length, can be seen.

In order to stop the spread of bed bugs, infested households should act to eliminate the bugs as comprehensively and as instantly as inherent when they are detected. If inherent they should take the advice of pro pest operate experts for this process. By taking prompt performance and by acting as responsible householders and neighbors, bed bug infestations can be managed and controlled, and eventually eliminated.

Choosing a Greenhouse Site:

Must be on level ground

Low-traffic area

Maximum of winter sunlight available

Watch for shadows cast by structures and trees during the wintertime when shadows are longer

Look at young trees to try to forecast where their shade will fall in the future with regard to the greenhouse

The long side of the greenhouse should face south

Irrigation and Soil:

Commercial potting soil is fine for home orchad greenhouses. The soil should be a blend of sand, peat moss, perlite, vermiculite and fir bark. The fir bark is prominent for sufficient drainage.

Only water when the soil is dry.

Most greenhouse gardeners prefer hand watering, but drip irrigation systems are productive and can forestall the leaves of the plants from getting too much water on them. These drip systems are also very diplomatic on seedlings. You may not need to water everyday, so monitor the soil for dryness to be sure. Study both the requirements of your singular greenhouse and the plants you are growing, as not every greenhouse is the same just as not every plant has the same watering requirements.
Temperature:

Before you start growing plants be sure to monitor the climatic characteristic inside the greenhouse on sunny days, and on cloudy days. Find out what climatic characteristic is optimum for the types of plants you will be growing and then compensate using ventilation if your greenhouse is hotter than the optimum temperature.

Workspace:

One thing all greenhouse gardeners are fanatical about is their workspace. The area has to be roomy sufficient to pot plants and move about comfortably. Take into consideration the height of the benches and tables that you are planning to use when designing the workspace.

Potting benches should be designed to fold down when they are not in use. Make sure the benches are made of rot-resistant wood such as redwood. Avoid using pressure-treated lumbers, because they are regularly impregnated with very toxic arsenic.

Misc. Tips:

To save space place root crops like beets, carrots, and turnips in deep boxes under benches.

Put taller vegetables like tomatoes, peas, pole beans and cucumbers in tub-type containers.

Put lettuce and other low leafy vegetables in a tub with taller vegetables to save space.

Tap water should stand for one day to rid it of chlorine before watering indoor plants.

Plant corn in a bed specially ready for it directly on the floor of the greenhouse. You can plant pumpkin in the middle of the rows of corn to save space.

You can make indoor trellises out of coat hangers. Bend the hangars into any shape (heart, star etc.) and insert into a pot.

Make a natural insecticide by adding onions and garlic to a jar of water. Let it stand for a week and then spray on plants.

Rinse vegetables and fruits exterior before bringing them into your home. This way the dirt and bugs will stay exterior where they belong.

Before you pack up your gear and harness your pet, there are a few things to keep in mind. There are some very leading things you should bring, some very leading equipment that can cut the chances of an unhappy urgency ruining the trip.

The following is some guidance that could aid you if you're confused as to what exactly to do.

First, assess possible safe locations for the trip. Make sure that the place you're planning to camp in is pet friendly.

Then from those safe locations, check which ones have adequate facilities for you and your pet. You'll want a place where they can do anything they want and a location for fresh water. Some parks have a limit on the size of your companion - make sure that you're bringing an acceptably sized pet.

Before anything else, you'll want to safe your pets. Some camping sites offer protection measures or rules for pets inside them. Make sure to read and bind to these rules. Those rules are there to keep both you and your pet safe and to keep any untoward accidents to an absolute minimum.

A camping bag won't be enough. It's best to bring a tent comfortable adequate for both of you to stay in. Make sure that your animal companion has some bedding to rest on to give them rest and to safe them from bugs that could latch onto them.

Don't disappoint your pets. Keep your leash tight on them when they're in a leash zone and make sure that they're well trained adequate to listen to you should something bad happen or if they gallivant off.

Put simply, the cause of a bad smelling washing motor is dirt. Mould, grease, and slime can all build up over time and have become more coarse in modern years with trends for users to wash only at 40 degrees in order to conserve vigor and money. Not only does washing at a consistently low temperatures sell out the machine's efficiency at killing bed-bugs and the affects of non-bio powder, but the obvious build-up of grease can have serious consequences for the motor itself - not just your laundry.

Washing motor repairmen warn that the worst effect this can have is the corrosion of the drum aluminium - this can lead to a broken drum arm and the need for a whole new machine. Other problems contain rotting hoses and gaskets, as well as blockages that can lead to overfilling.

Manufacturers have begun to propose maintenance washes. It is advised that as often as once a month it is a good idea to put a very hot wash on without any laundry, but with the increasing of a detergent that contains bleaching agents that may not be found in the powder or liquid you regularly use. Alternatively, it is also potential to use soda crystals which are available at most supermarkets.

Other reasons for washing motor smells can contain a lack of u-bend in the plumbing and can even be caused by what exactly is being washed out of the clothes, such as chemicals or stubborn strong-smelling substances. If maintenance washes still don't rid your motor of those darned smells, distilled white wine vinegar in the soap dispenser has also been known to have good effects.

A more greatest case of dirt can also be recognized in the form of black mould, and of procedure this isn't good for your machine. Warm moist places are a haven for black mould and can be hazardous to your normal health, so it is good to have a good inspection of your motor once in a while to check if there is any lurking. Black mould can be removed with a scourer or an old toothbrush, and to be extra safe goggles and a face mask should be worn. A frequent maintenance wash should stop black mould build-up in the future.

And in case all of this fails: You will find all sorts of cheap washing machines at one of the big price comparison sites like uk.shopping.com or dealtime.co.uk

Bed bugs are mostly nocturnal creatures, they don't like the sunlight, and they suck on blood (sound familiar?). Their scientific name is Cimes Lectularius, and their beloved place to hang out is in mattresses and piles of clothes. The closer they can be to their hosts while they sleep, the better.

When it comes time to feed, bed bugs perforate their host and inject them with an anesthetic so that you can't feel anything. They will then begin to feast on your blood for up to 5 minutes. Because of the anesthetic, you will have no idea you have even been attacked until long after the fact.

Thankfully, bed bugs are not known to carry diseases, as they tend to stay very localized to the man they have chosen as their host. Some may however have an allergic reaction to the bites. When this happens, the area will come to be inflamed and may consequent in some skin tissue loss.

Bed bugs used to be controlled by the use of Ddt and other sprayed pesticides. These sprays were outlawed in most parts of the Us, and pest control companies now tend to use gel based baits to get rid of cockroaches and ants. Unfortunately, these baits are of no use against bed bugs.

You didn't learn it at school, or at the office. Would you believe your mother?

Networking is more then shaking hands, and giving out firm cards. Forget about the endless networking skills you may have learned at the office. We just have to put the few lessons mother taught us into practice. As a kid we were all the time in a hurry to find something better. Our mothers taught us patience.

If your in a hurry you miss the value that can be built taking time with building relations in networking. Establishing a relationship by taking time, gives you a solid framework in networking building.

Your mother worked hard as an example. This is one of the great examples in networking she gave you. That's why it is called networking, not sit work. For networking to be successful you have to work hard and put out the effort.

Remember her telling you to share your things with others? Some of our best resources are time, money, and information we are willing to give to the relationship. They appreciate us when we are willing to give to the relationship.

She all the time made you clean up after yourself. In networking, follow-up is required. Either it's a promise to meet someone, or just a thank you is one of the most prominent lessons of networking. These life lessons we learned from mother while childhood are a solid basis's for strong networking skills.
Thank you mother for all your help.

The biggest time spend in selling, more so in mail order or on the Internet is developing a relationship with your customer and building trust. If you did a good job in the first two, conclusion a sale will take the smallest of your time spend with your customer.

Card Transactions article To Irs

Starting in 2011, banks or other fellowships that process reputation cards must article the whole of the payments a merchant receives on card transactions to the Irs. The law will not apply to merchants doing less than 200 transactions totalling less than ,000.

Screensavers

If you are looking for something separate remember windows has a great choice. Don't unload any free ones from anywhere, could have bugs, and approximately impossible to delete.

For windows screen savers, right click on a blank area of desktop. Click "properties", "screen savers". Click the arrow to the right of "screen savers" just below the monitor. Pick the one you want.
For the best information for your site or to check your competitors for persons who use Google AdWords, try out the Google AdWords Keyword Tool.

Just enter keyword and select from four potential data display types.
https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

Advanced News Searches

A new contribution from Google - industrialized News Search, allows visitors to scour headlines by date, location, exact phrases or publication. Population can use it retrieve articles from more than 4,500 news outlets publishing on the Web.

Web Page Translation
This feature is particularly helpful if your search has non-English results. Google offers a installation to auto-martially translate a page for you in English. Currently, Google supports Italian, French, Spanish, German, and Portuguese languages.

Lightside

A Good Night'S Sleep

All the rooms were taken when the soldier got into town. After pleading with the desk clerk, the clerk remarked. "Well, I do have a double room with only one occupant, but to tell you the truth he snores so loudly that Population in adjoining room have complained. I am not sure it would be worth it to you". "No problem." The tired army guy assured him, "I will take it'.

When he came down for morning meal the next morning the clerk asked, "How did you sleep?" "Never better", replied the soldier. The desk clerk was impressed. "No question with the other guy snoring", the clerk asked?" "No I shut him up in no time", explained the soldier. "How did you conduct that?" asked the clerk.

"Well, he was already in bed, snoring away, when I walked into the room, so I gave him a kiss on the cheek", explained the soldier". "Then, I whispered in his ear Good night beautiful, and he sat up all night watching me.

Computer Warning

The tip on unplugging your computer from the wall outlet while a thunderstorm was sound advice. And we're advent to the season when thunderstorms become more frequent. But let's take that advice one small step further. Take the time to also unplug your modem from the telephone line! Surges can also pass straight through the telephone lines and even a small surge of static electricity can fry the delicate circuitry in your modem.

Your Clipboard can be seen by any hacker. For your protection you should not copy passwords, reputation card numbers or other sensitive information. To prevent this from happening go to: Internet Explorer: Click Tools, Internet Options, protection tab, Internet section. Go down to the protection level box, and click the convention Level button. Scroll down to Scripting, and find the entry, "Allow Programmatic clipboard access" or "Allow paste operations via script".
Click Disable or Prompt. Click Ok.

The American Federal Bureau of Investigation (Fbi) is warning that hitman scam is back in a big way. The hacker behind it is sending out a flood of emails threatening to kill the recipient if he does not receive several thousand dollars.

This scam first popped up in December 2006, then again this last February. Some personal info is included in the emails, to make it look like the crook knows all about you.
The Fbi advises that you just ignore the email. article it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Online Rental Fraud

June, August, September, January are competitive months for rental suites.

There are a lot of fraudulence ads being settled free on Craigslist etc. Crooks ply on the shortage of apartments by placing ads on these sites. When man answers they are informed owner had to go out of the country for a funeral or what ever. They had no one that they could have left the keys with so the apartment could be checked.

Now comes the kicker. If you're concerned in renting the apartment, send 0.00 as damage deposit, and 00.00 for the first month's rent and the key would be courier to them.

There is a miniature contribute of apartments on the market, so this is a huge target for scammers.

Don't fall for this scam. Population need to do their homework, physically see the apartment, talk to the owners' and have a written contract.

Warning, Car Jackers In Mall

Cst. Eric Doran #656 Chatham - Kent Police Court Services
Here's the newest tactic by car thieves.

Heads up everyone! Please keep this circulating. You walk across the parking lot, unlock your car and get inside. You start the machine and shift into reverse when you look into the rear-view mirror to back out of your parking space. You notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. So, you shift into Park, unlock your doors and jump out of your car to remove that paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your view.

When you reach the back of your car, that is when the car jackers appear out of nowhere, jumps into your car and take off. They approximately mow you down as they speed off in your car. And guess what, ladies? I bet your purse is still in the car. So now the carjacker has your car, your home address, your money, and your keys. Your home and your whole identity are now compromised!

Men, you too are at risk. You can say good bye to your briefcase, and if your like many guys, who keep their wallet in the glove compartment, with your driver's licence, reputation cards, plus.

If you see a piece of paper stuck to your back window, just drive away, remove the paper later and be thankful that you read this e-mail. I hope you will transmit this to friends and family, especially to women. A purse contains all kinds of personal information and identification documents, and you in effect do Not want this to fall into the wrong hands.

Phishing still catches millions of persons who give out their personal information, believing the e-mail they received was from a bank, PayPal, taxation branch, or some other Government
Department. Further, instead of typing in the Url supplied by the Phisher they just clink on it. Just because the Url has the permissible heading doesn't mean it is going to a legit Url. In phishing they have it redirected if you click on the Url and they get your personal information.

We trust our Government to safeguard the information we give them. But did you know that the government is among the biggest sources of Id leaks and that penalties for Id theft are rarely imposed on those who are negligent.

For more information on how to safe your computer and Id theft check out the website below.

New Website Fighting Crime

The B.C. Crime arresting relationship has just initiate a new website last week. Originally set up to support law enforcement, now ready to everyone.

Information on cyber bulling, resource guides, blogs, printed materials along with copyright law, staking, fraud awareness, I.D.theft, senior safety, and crime-proofing property.
Check out: http://www.bccpa.org/library

Protect Yourself And Your Computer Too.

Internet Explorer sorts web sites for you, Internet, local Internet, trusted sites, restricted sites.

If you don't see the slider in any zone, click the default button. For restricted sites zones, I would advise the slider to be at the very top, on high. It is the safest way to browse. It also is the most restricted. But with all the sites that could have harmful article that may damage your computer, necessary.
Don't forget to click Ok to exit.

Computer protection Terms

Adware is software that causes advertising to pop up on your computer display; without your permission.

Malware is malicious software that includes viruses, spyware, and other types of harmful programs.

Badware is adware or spyware that tracks your online activities and provides that information to others without your knowledge.

Spyware is software that's installed on your Pc via downloaded programs. It transmits data to others about your business, behaviour on line.

A virus is typically a small, malicious program that can infect programs and replicate itself.

Spam, Virus, Spyware, Phishing, is still big headaches for Population online.
Consumers have lost over billion; more then 3 million computers have had to be replaced because of viruses.

Drop Ship, Wholesale

SaleHoo makes importing easy. SaleHoo is a prominent directory of drop ship, wholesale, liquidation and manufacturing distributors, and presents a constant and reliable contribute of wanted items. Start your importing adventure with SaleHoo, and then spread your wings over the world.

Advanced News Searches

A new contribution from Google - industrialized News Search, allows visitors to scour headlines by date, location, exact phrases or publication. Population can use it retrieve articles from more than 4,500 news outlets publishing on the Web.

Web Page Translation

This feature is particularly helpful if your search has non-English results. Google offers a installation to auto-martially translate a page for you in English. Currently, Google supports Italian, French, Spanish, German, and Portuguese languages.

Learn and Earn. Good luck.

If working out is on that list then great... Because a healthy, regular workout schedule will assuredly promote a good immune system. As a matter of fact, regular exercisers feel 20-30% fewer colds than population that don't workout!

I have a feeling that that amount would be much higher if it wasn't for the germ invested gyms that could actually lead your workout to make you sick.

Gyms are filthy... There's no doubt about that. How many population have held that dumbbell that you used today? How many population have laid on that bench and never wiped it? It's pretty gross to think about but it's true.

But there are ways to keep yourself safe this time of year and make sure your workout is beneficial to your wholesome and not causing you to get whatever bug your treadmill partner has.

5 Ways To Fight Gym Germs

1. Wash Your Hands. Grab the soap before and after your workout. To make sure you are washing sufficient to kill off yucky stuff sing "Happy Birthday" to yourself... Or count to 20.
2. Spray and wipe. Wide down your tool before you use it and after your done! Don't assume that the man before you had the courtesy to spray and wipe so to be on the safe side spend the 10 seconds it takes (if that) to do it.
3. Bring a sweat towel. Who knows how long the the gym washes their sweat towels, or if they use an antibacterial cleaner... So to be safe and avoid stinky rags bring your own.
4. Change. The first thing you should do post workout is to convert out of your workout clothes... It takes about 60 seconds and you have to do it sooner or later so do it now!
5. Cover up. If you shower at your gym wear clean shower shoes... Or flip flops to avoid unclean shower floors.

Of policy there are any other immune boosting tips like certain vitamins, foods, and more you can do to make sure you don't end up at the doc's office with runny eyes, cold chills and a fever!

What does Christmas mean for you? A time to celebrate the birth of Christ? A time to think about your fellow human beings and a wish to share and care? A time to enjoy yourself? A time for spending time with loved ones?

Or, is it a time of hassle and pressure? All the industrial drivers to spend, causing worry about money and even more credit card debt? The time commitment to get around (or host) house and friends? Rather than a period of rest and relaxation, it all appears to be busy and intense with no personal time? (Made worse for many in sell or other professions where you are working!)

Research consistently shows that for many people, the Christmas holiday is a stressful time. Incidences of violence in the home increase, domestic and connection problems are amplified, families fall out - all in this period of "Goodwill to all men"!!

To help you deal with this season in a way which can sacrifice the impact of the pressure reconsider which of the following ideas might work for you.

Before:

• Develop a plan for what you need to do. This can help you to organise things in a manageable way. Start as soon as possible.

• Make sure you are allowing time for you and your house in the holiday schedule . Avoid committing all the time to finding others, even if you have a large family! Plan some "down days" or entertainment for yourselves, either cinema, pantomime, or just a walk.

• Feel free to say "no" to invitations which are going to add to your time pressures.

• Do plan to see, or spend time with, people you want to be around.

• Consider doing a allocation for what you want to spend over the whole period. (Include food, drink, entertainment as well as presents.) Stick with this! It is easy to get carried away over the Festive Season - and then struggle to pay off the bills afterwards.

• Unless is suits your own personality to rush everything, aim to have things bought, sorted out, meals planned etc with time to spare!

• Decide what to eat over the days you will be at home. Aim to equilibrium your meals and avoid overloading on rich and heavy food. reconsider cooking or manufacture some distinct food over the holiday. If entertaining, do some "simple" foods to make your life easier - stews, casseroles etc. people are visiting for your business and collective reasons, not a gastronomic test!

• Rather than stock up with too much bought in or convenience foods, aim to use as much healthy or home made food as you can. (Taking time to put in order and make some of your own dishes can be relaxing - and is a lot less costly!)

• Make things ahead and frost them. (Mince pies, sausage rolls, stews, pasta sauces, pies, cheesecakes to name a few!)

• Remember, the supermarkets and food outlets are only closed for 2-3 days!! You do not have to buy 3 weeks of supplies at one go!

• Enlist help from others in the household, young and old! Involve children in the things you don't normally do so it feels like a extra time.

• Decorating the house, the tree and anyone else you choose can be done over time! Think about just what you want all to look like. Ask either you of course need to get new decorations? Can you be innovative with what you have, what you can make?

• Pre-plan what you will do with the rubbish which Christmas generates? Have plenty of bin bags to hand. Keep some boxes to store used bottles. Clear out what you can before­ visitors arrive.

• Make some time for leisure and delight in the run up to the holiday. Maybe get a massage or some other personal "indulgence".

• Aim to get a few earlier nights in this phase. It will help you to feel more energised and able to cope with the demands to come.

• Although we have some of our shortest days - get some fresh air, go for a walk. Allow yourself to slow down for a while.

• Take care of your health! For many people, the break from routine signals to the body that it can now take things easy and so discrete bugs which have been held at bay suddenly get through your resistance. reconsider upping your intake of fruit (there is a lot of natural vitamin C available!) and possibly taking some supplements.

• Recognise that the immediate time over Christmas can be stressful for some, and we each retort to distinct factors. Make allowances for others', either in your home or you in theirs!

• Agree with any visitors, that there are going to be times for them to do what they want, and times when you will do what you want. It is your holiday too!

• Tell visitors where things are, so that they can help themselves and you are not all the time up and down finding after everyone.

• Remember to get your rest - sleep is key! Late nights and early mornings can be major contributors to stress build up! You do not have to stay up with any night owls!

• Start the day with a decent breakfast, along with some healthy options such as fruit, fruit juice, (make smoothies?), sugar free cereal, eggs, fish.

• Resist the temptation to start on alcohol too early!

• Have plenty of water and soft drinks available, plus tea and coffee - not just for the drivers or children. Aim to alternate water or a soft drink with an alcoholic one. (Minimise the fizzy drinks for young ones too.)

• With meals, have water and soft drinks as well as wine on the table.

• Prepare what you can for meals, in advance, especially on Christmas Eve. Vegetables can be done and stored in bags in the fridge. Make lots of ice, slice lemons, put beer somewhere cool (or in the fridge if you have space.)

• On Christmas Day, consequent anyone routines or rituals suit your house with regard to gift giving and opening. Do plan some "clear" time in the day, rather than organise every minute.

• Too much rich food, added to alcohol, people feeling tired, and all close together is a problem waiting to happen. Encourage everybody to get some space - either going to other rooms, out for a walk, visiting a local event or even going to the pub. This can be a great pressure valve!

• Clear up things as you go along. Wrapping paper, bottles, cardboard all need to go out as soon as possible. Get everybody involved in manufacture sure that empty glasses, cups, plates etc are moved to the appropriate place as soon as is reasonable.

• Create a relaxing atmosphere as far as you can - especially in your own room. Scented candles or burning oils can help this.

• If travelling to visit, allow time for your trip. Although many roadworks are suspended, there can still be hold-ups on the road - and collective transport may not be running!

• Provide youngsters with things to do in the car - they will be very excited and excitable and coupled with frayed nerves for the adults this is a evaporative mix.

• Plan when you will leave so that you can look transmit to getting home to have "own" or "family" time in your own home.

• If you are beginning to feel yourself getting wound up, take time out if possible. Should this be tricky - take some deep breaths, hold them and count to 10. Remember, the holiday is not long, the situation will change and your time will be yours again soon. Do you want to spend it feeling angry or uptight? It's your choice!

• If you have already convinced yourself that it will be an awful time with the "wicked witch of the west," or other relatives, spend time reframing your thoughts & agreeing how it will be a fun, interesting, amusing, useful...time

• Take time to do nothing!

• Clear the clutter as soon as you can. Take excess rubbish to the dump (and chill out about the queues, there is no rush!)

• Make time to do things together with house or partners. This is your time for you.

• Recharge batteries - go to bed at sensible times and allow yourself a lie in or two for as long as your body wan.

• Reflect on the things you enjoyed over the holiday and enjoy the gifts you received.

• Avoid rushing to the post Xmas sales.

• Have a few days (or meals) where you eat straightforward food. Have plenty of non-alcoholic drinks - water is good for you, especially in our centrally heated lives!

• Pampering is in order - unhurried bath times, massage, sitting with a favourite book, music you like. You've earned it!!

• Start to think about the New Year ahead. Think about what you want it to be for you. It can be helpful to identify some key goals you want to perform and write these down.

• Remember, the days are getting longer for the next 5½ months and spring is not far away!!