Gadget you didn’t know you needed

If you’re filling up bags of food for the freezer and find it difficult to get it all in.
This bag holder will help you. Baggy Racks, Adjustable Sandwich Bag Stand Holders, Food Storage Bags Clips Stands

I bought these on a whim, fully expecting them to be one of those gadgets that looks clever online and then lives forever in the Drawer of Regret. But honestly? These little green contraptions have earned their place in my kitchen.

🥣 Perfect for chilli night
My main goal was to portion out homemade chilli into calorie‑controlled freezer bags without turning the kitchen into a crime scene. Normally I’m trying to hold a floppy bag open with one hand, ladle with the other, and somehow also keep the bag upright with my elbow. Chaos.

These stands, though? You clip the bag under the little claws, pull it open, and suddenly you’ve got a perfectly behaved, wide‑open bag waiting patiently for its chilli. No juggling, no spills, no swearing. It’s like having an extra pair of hands that don’t complain or wander off.

📏 Adjustable and surprisingly sturdy
The arms adjust to fit different bag sizes, which is ideal because my chilli portions vary depending on whether I’m being saintly or pretending calories don’t count on weekends. The base is stable enough that even when I’m ladling in a chunky chilli, the bag doesn’t collapse or tip. Some reviewers say they feel a bit flimsy, but mine have handled everything from soups to bolognese without drama.

🧊 Batch‑cooking bliss
Once the bags are filled, I just seal them, flatten them, and stack them in the freezer like edible little bricks of future convenience. It’s oddly satisfying. And because the stands fold flat, they tuck neatly into a drawer instead of becoming yet another thing cluttering the counter.

🧼 Easy to clean
A quick wipe and they’re good to go. No fiddly bits, no hidden chilli splatters waiting to surprise you later.

💬 Final thoughts
If you batch‑cook, meal‑prep, or just want to stop wrestling with freezer bags like they’re wild animals, these are absolutely worth the tiny price. They’ve made my chilli‑portioning routine faster, cleaner, and far less dramatic — and honestly, that’s all I ever wanted.

Massage Bath Mat

Home Surfing Massage Bath Mat, 6-Speed Adjustable, Non-Slip, Inflatable Pillow, Wave Massage Mat, Bath Spa Mat for Muscle Relief (114cm/44.8in)

Bath massage mat
Bath massage mat

About this item
【Non-slip Massage Mat】The bubble bath mat cushion features evenly distributed silicone blocks that create a soft, cushioned surface.Tip: Before use, please keep the bathtub clean. If there is dust or water on the surface of the bathtub, it will affect the suction force of the suction cup and cause the suction cup to fall off during use
【6-Speed Adjustment Function】The bubble bath massager offers a 6-speed adjustment function, allowing you to customize the intensity of the massage to your preference. Whether you prefer a gentle or intense massage sensation, this feature ensures a perfect relaxation experience tailored to your need
【Upgraded Silicone Suction Cups】Unlike cheap plastic suction cups, these upgraded silicone pads resist wear, maintain strong suction over time, and won’t crack or harden, Resists wear, mold, and temperature changes. Stays soft for reliable, long-term use. TIPS: This product cannot heat the water
【Full-Body Coverage】Once activated, the mat provides a continuous stream of bubbles that flows from your feet to your knees, hips, and back, gently massaging your entire body. The individually adjustable bubble function is designed to loosen up tight muscles, providing a thorough and customizable massage experience
【Luxurious Bath Spa Experience】The non-slip soft mat is comfortable to lie on and fits in any bath, ensuring stability and comfort during use. It also includes an inflatable pillow for added support and relaxation. The user-friendly remote control allows you to easily adjust the settings without having to leave your relaxing position

I’ll be honest: I didn’t know I needed a bubble‑surfing massage mat in my life until this one turned up. It’s basically like inviting a tiny spa to move into your bathtub — minus the judgment and the whale music.

🛁 First impressions
Out of the box, it looks a bit like a cross between a yoga mat and a lilo, but once you get it in the bath it starts to make sense. The silicone blocks feel surprisingly soft, and the suction cups are no joke. They cling on like they’ve made a personal commitment to your self‑care routine. (Tip from the listing: clean the tub first — dust apparently ruins the vibe and the suction. Who knew?)

🌬️ The bubbles
The bubbles run from your feet all the way up your back, which feels like being gently simmered in a human‑sized jacuzzi. You get six speeds, which is great because sometimes you want a gentle fizz and sometimes you want to feel like you’re lying on a carbonated geyser.

🛟 The inflatable pillow
Is it glamorous? No. Is it comfortable? Weirdly, yes. It props your head up just enough that you can lie there pretending you’re in a luxury spa instead of your own bathroom with a towel stuffed under the door to keep the heat in.

🎮 The remote
The remote control is a small but mighty joy. No more sitting up mid‑soak to fiddle with buttons — you can stay horizontal and in full gremlin‑relaxation mode.

⚠️ Things to know
It doesn’t heat the water, so you still need to run a hot bath.

It’s PVC, so it’s sturdy but has a bit of that “new inflatable” smell at first.

It weighs more than you’d expect (about 4.4 kg), but that does make it feel solid and well‑made.

💬 Overall
If you love baths and you love gadgets, this is a delightful little indulgence. It turns an ordinary soak into a bubbly, slightly ridiculous, very relaxing experience. It’s not going to replace a real spa day, but it absolutely makes Tuesday-night-you feel a bit more cherished.

Beautiful bricks

Sometimes you’ll just be looking at a wall and suddenly realise how beautiful brickwork can be.
This building in Monton – view it on google street view or in person, can be seen from the car park of the Blue Bell Inn in Monton. There’s different courses of bricks, laid differently, creating different patterns. A true work of art!

tiqets



Tiqets

Benefits of booking with tiqets!

Flexible cancellation options on all venues
Easy booking and skip-the-line entry on your phone
The best experiences at museums and attractions worldwide

Book a visit to Kew!
Agius Evolution Garden. …
Arboretum. …
Bamboo Garden and Minka House. …
Carnivorous Plants. …
Children’s Garden. …
Davies Alpine House. …
Edible Science: Kew’s Kitchen Garden. …
Grass Garden.

It’s HUGE – 132-hectare (326 acres) site, and you can spend a whole day there or just a few hours.

Affiliate links on this page. I will receive a small commission if you buy through this link. This helps the site keep running

Gusto Offers!



Gusto Offers

Join today and get up to 60% off your first order!

You have a voucher for up to 60% off your first order, plus 25% off all other orders in your first two months.

No lock in:   pause or cancel anytime

85+ veggie (incl vegan) recipes a month

MOUTHWATERING
HOME-COOKED MEALS
Over 250 recipes a month from just £2.99 a meal*

Receive a 2-hour delivery slot on the day of delivery via text and email. Delivery will be between 8am – 7pm.

Insulated packaging keeps your ingredients fresh for up to 12 hours.

Got a slow cooker but don’t know what to cook?

Amazon Have tons of Books about using slow cookers


The Simple Slow Cooker Recipe Book: Delicious Slow Cooked Meals for the Whole Family Complete With Full Recipe Lists
– We’ll be looking at:
• What a slow cooker is and why they are beneficial to busy households
• How you can use a slow cooker to make the most of cheaper meat cuts
• How to look after your slow cooker
• Tips on food prep and how to organise your time to make sure your slow cooker works for you
• Top recipes for making in your slow cooker

 
Slow Cooker Recipes UK Book: 1000 Easy and Tasty Recipes for Busy People on A Budget Paperback – 20 Sept. 2022

1000 recipes but only ‎ 125 pages?

From breakfast to dessert, discover a full range of slow cooker dishes:
-Wholesome breakfast and lunch recipes
-Mouthwatering meat, poultry recipes
-Delicious vegan and vegetarian recipes
-Satisfying slow cooking soup, stew and chili recipes
-Flavorful fish and seafood recipes
-Slow cooking rice and beans recipes
-Delectable and healthy dessert recipes

Warm bedding

This is lovely warm bedding Yorkshire Bedding Teddy Fleece Sherpa Duvet Set Fluffy Warm King Size Duvet Cover Sets.

Concerned about electricity bills? This will feel warm at night!

MATERIAL: A Fine Sherpa Duvet Set With a Super Soft Feel Made Of Microfiber, Provides The Perfect Cosy Feel. Ideal For Keeping Warm On Colder Nights. The Top is Made Using Felt and The Underside Sherpa Gives a Wool Like Feel.
WINTER FLEECE BEDDING: Sherpa Fleece Duvet Set is Ideal For Use On Colder Winer Nights, They Are Super Soft And Warm Crafted With Care and Detail, Giving You The Ultimate Feel Good Comfort. A Real Luxurious Plush Item That Brings Peace To Any Bedroom.

 

Lovely and soft, and it’ll feel all cosy too.

Reasons to use EasyStorage

There are many reasons why you might need storage in your life! One of the main ones is when you’re moving house – declutter your house to get it ready for selling, but keep all your stuff boxed up and safely out of the way until you move into your new house.

Why does decluttering help? Removing your personal stuff, books, sports gear, childrens toys, allows your house to be more attractive to people viewing. It’ll show them there’s room for their stuff.

If your hobby fills the spare room, then emptying the spare room of your equipment and putting it in storage allows that room to be seen as a bedroom.

View your house with strangers eyes, and it might feel  a bit full. So empty some stuff out and make it feel larger and roomier. People want to buy spacious roomy houses so that they feel they’re getting more space. Clearing clutter gives the illusion of there being more space so it’s a really useful thing to do before you get the estate agent to come and take photos.

There’s loads of other reasons to use storage for a short time too. If you’re decorating a room then sometimes it’s easier to have it empty. Very few of us have a big enough house to move furniture around to leave one room empty, so renting storage is a really sensible thing to do. It’ll enable you to do DIY jobs such as underfloor insulation too – very important in these days of rising fuel prices. Lots of jobs are just a million times easier when you have an empty room.

 



EasyStorage



Grey houses on rightmove

I won’t share the link but here’s a snippet off my local house search

grey grey grey
You’ll see the left hand picture appears to be full colour – the red of the bricks is stunningly bright. Then you look at the two photos that show in the new rightmove layout.
How grey are those photos?
You’d almost think that they were in greyscale but the red drainpipe outside in the bottom picture and the tiny sliver of orange picture on the wall in the top picture is a hint that actually the kitchen really is that grey.

I know a few years ago there was  a huge trend for magnolia in properties to give it a very neutral clean feel. Magnolia is a warm colour compared to the grey that’s currently on trend.

I’m not a fan of grey kitchens and houses.

Is this the greyest house you’ve ever seen?