Father's Day

For one day every year we celebrate Father's Day, a day where our focus is on our Dad's. We buy gifts, prepare meals and spend quality time with them to show our appreciation. I must admit I do occasionally forget all about it until the last minute as I’m sure a lot of other people do too, this is partly why I am writing this blog :) So what do we all buy our fathers on this special date then? The last few years I have given my Dad clothes, shoes, slippers, gadgets and other various pointless gifts that my Dad still has in boxes or with labels on them lying around the cupboard. I have since realised that these gifts were pointless and there was no real feeling or thought put into them, although I am not saying not to purchase gifts like this but make sure they are accompanied along with at least one gift that you have personally chosen for your Dad this Father’s Day.



Image by Simon Howden

Here’s what I’ve planned: This year as I know my Dad is a keen gardener I have decided to purchase a few gardening items that he can use around the garden. On Father’s Day (weather permitting) I’m planning to visit and help him to transform his garden, this way I have still given him a gift but we are spending quality time together doing what he enjoys most.

To do this we are first going to tidy and clear to make sure there are no signs of weeds and that the lawn edging is neat as this will make a big difference to the finished look. To kill the weeds we are going to need a weed killer along with some garden equipment for pulling out weeds. You can get some twinpacks by Joseph Bentley which are nice gifts and useful for getting those tough weeds out.

Our second task is to hide some of the 6ft fencing that is indeed still intact and sturdy enough but has been up for around 20 years meaning it isn’t as attractive as it used to be. My initial thought was to take it down but my Dad came up with the great idea that we could buy some screening which would look great and create a tranquil environment.

After lots of debate as me and my Dad often do, we chose some colourful plants to be added to the border. We purchased some Climbing Fuchsia Lady Boothby and Honeysuckle as well as a couple of trees for the centre part of the garden.

My Dad already has some garden furniture that he got last Christmas, he has a lovely bench which is made of wood with a lovely metal design and on his patio area he has a modern black 4 person Tuscany set.

It will be a lot of work but I think it will all be worth it in the end, actually writing this is making me think this is going to take a lot longer than a day but then again a Dad is for life and not just for Father’s day :)

Setting Up Your Tank For Goldfish

Goldfish are very popular to keep as they are inexpensive and are not as much work as dogs, cats or other small animals. You can get many different types of goldfish in different shapes and colours. The traditional goldfish bowl is not recommended even for one goldfish as it does not give the fish enough room to move around, it has been suggested that a rectangular tank is more suitable.

There are many things to think about when setting up your goldfish tank and many items that can make your tank look great. Plants, rocks, gravel and ornaments are some of the most poplular, not to forget tank maintenance items such as air pumps and water filters.

It is very important you set your tank up properly, below you will find step by step instructions on doing this:

1. Choose the best place to set your tank up ensuring it is out of direct sunlight, not beside a window or radiator and is on a stand which holds the tank securely in place as tanks can be extremely heavy

2. Wet some kitchen roll under the tap (never use boiling water) and wipe down the inside of the tank

3. Place your tank in the location and position that it will be kept (some tank manufacturers advise that a sheet of polystyrene is placed under the tank for stability, to check this please check the tank manufacturers guide)

4. Place the gravel in a bowl/bucket and rinse under the tap until the water runs clear

5. Place the gravel in the tank around once inch high. If you are planning on adding live plants to the tank ensure the gravel is around 2 inches high

6. Add any rocks or ornaments you have purchased into the tank, placing the highest ones either at the back or around the sides. Please note that if you are adding live plants these should not be added until the water has been added

7. You should now add tap water to the tank. Fish do not like chlorine and as tap water contains this you may want to consider purchasing a water conditioner solution. Fish should never be exposed to untreated tap water as the chlorine will harm them

8. You should now install the filter and switch it on

9. Wait 24hrs now to ensure all equipment is working and to allow the water to stabilise

10. You should now add the fish to the tank by floating the bag they came in inside the tank for around 10 minutes, this will equalise the temperature. Gently open the bag and introduce your fish to their new home

11. You should now add some fish food which will help them to settle in

What Breed Is My Dog?

It has been estimated that there are over 400 breeds of dogs in the world, this does not include mixed breeds. In the past it has been almost impossible for mixed breed owners to know exactly which breed types make up their dog. This is only possible through DNA analysis as this is where the dog’s genetic information is stored.

What Breed Is My Dog? can now tell mixed breed owners which types of breed make up their canine companion. By knowing this information it will allow the owner to become more familiar with the dog’s genetics and can help owners to understand their behaviour. Breeds can suffer from genetic disorders, knowing the ancestry of the dog could give owners the knowledge to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

See below story from Tracey:
I am delighted to let you know that I have just received Axel's breed results and while they are surprising, they are so very accurate.

The results state that Axel's ancestry is primarily Staffordshire Bull Terrier with some Papillion and some Collie.

In fact Axel is a red & white Staffordshire bull terrier with huge erect ears, which is why everyone was so curious. When axel was younger he looked like any other Staffie pup, with perfectly normal 'rose ears' but after a couple of months they had grown totally out of proportion. This prompted much hilarity and many comments and arguments as to what secrets his ancestors held. I asked at my vets about DNA and they could not help, so I searched the Internet and found your email.

So now we know, his ears are from his Papillion ancestors. I read the breed descriptions and characteristics and I can see bits of all of them in Axel. He's a real handful, exactly as his certificate warns; also I am alerted to any problems with his health. I have now added this photo to the certificate and am in the process of getting it framed.

News Story!

I found this story and just had to write about it and share. A seven year old cat named Charlie who lives in Falkirk climbs a 13ft wall unassisted.

The building that Charlie regularly climbs up the side of is made of roughcast and he starts by climbing this 13ft wall from the back of the house to get to his owners balcony where he is then let in. Charlie’s cat friend on the other hand isn’t as brave and is happy to wait at the top for his over ambitious friend.

It is normal for cats to climb up trees and along walls but I’m sure you will agree that this cat is truly remarkable. Most cats just have to walk up to their cat flaps where the flap reads their tag and lets them in but Charlie would rather have an adventure before going home.

Annoyed With Pet Smells In You Home?

Selling your home in this current climate can be difficult enough without the added problem of lingering pet or smoke smells! Prospective buyers have more choice than before when it comes to buying a house and just one whiff of a bad smell is enough to help them make their decision.

Taking this into account and from personal experience of selling my home just a couple of months ago I would like to share with you how the Micro-Airoma Air Freshener Starter Pack has helped. This device can be set to spray whenever you wish it to and as many times as you want. I found the mango fragrance was the nicest.

Follow The Bleep!

My black Labrador named Rebel is an extremely fast dog when he wants to be. There has been a couple of times where someone has came to visit me and he has sneaked out of the door and flew past the visitors before they get the chance to grab him. Most of the time he comes back straight away but there’s always the initial state of panic when you think,“where has he gone?” I used to take him down to the park after work and in the summer time it is perfect but in the winter it is quite dark and sometimes because of the colour of his coat I couldn’t see him.

This winter I am going to be organised and won’t panic as much as I have invested in a gadget called the Loc8tor where you can track your pet up to 400 feet away. This gadget won’t stop him bolting but it will allow me to determine where he is and all I need to do is follow the bleep to find him again. When using the Loc8tor at least I know if I am going in the same direction or not.

I’ve used it a couple of times now and it has worked perfectly for me, I’ve started using it on my car too when I park in a large car park as I had a terrible habit of forgetting where I had parked. I think this gadget is a very good safety measure to invest in.

Essential Information For The Flea & Tic Season

This time of year can be a real pain for our pets as it’s the season for fleas and tics. These creatures are more than just an irritation to pets as these parasites can cause skin allergies and other diseases.

Having the knowledge allows us to make informed choices to control the infestation and keep our pets protected.

There are different stages of the flea cycle, listed below:
1. The adult flea attaches itself to your pet
2. They will then lay eggs
3. As your pet moves around the eggs fall off your pets coat whether it be outside or in your home
4. The eggs hatch within 2-10 days and this is what is called the larval stage, the larvae will grow and moult
5. The final stage is known as the pupae stage, this is where the flea spends around 8-9 days growing inside their cocoon and will emerge when the time is right. This is also known as the indestructible stage where it is very difficult to get rid of them.

3 Simple Essential Steps To Take:
1. Protect your pet
2. Protect Your Home
3. Ensure clearance of any infestation by washing bedding and vacuuming regularly