Cathy’s Blog

Back pain is one of the biggest complaints by us in the UK - well, just above the fact that there’s never anything on the TV. This is why the best career to be in at the moment is as an osteopath or chiropractor, in fact anyone that manipulates spines for some relief.

Lower back pain is the most common reason people visit their GP’s, with almost 50% of the population suffering lower back pain for at least 24 hours at some point in the year and a painful 80% of adults with back pain at some stage in their life that is serious enough to interfere with general well being.

The Government, the police, the CPS, the prison service, the probation service - in my book - all linked. Communication must occur between them - you would think. In a sensible world. In which we DON’T live!

Let me give you an example:

In a UK town lives a violent thug (one of many in the area). His history is one of violent attacks, theft and drug and alcohol abuse. He has two children. One of which he never sees becasue he can’t be bothered, or trusted. The other he had been offered supervised access to but has declined. He has never worked and therefore does not contribute towards the upbringing of these children.

I’ve recently taken on a new sideline of raising awareness of domestic violence after experiencing it first hand and then having to watch my daughter go through the same fate.  First we set up a blog then a facebook group and now I am looking at getting a proper website set up with a decent design. Googling web design Essex led me to several local companies that promise to deliver a stunning website design to attract attention and get out my message!

There are plenty of reasons why people in Britain aspire to minimalist living - but what does underfloor heating have to do with any of it?

Well, much of the need for minimalism is to do with our incessantly busy schedules! We run from pillar to post all day long - the last thing we want to do is be tripping over the parapheranlia of everyday life along the way! But true minamilistic living goes beyond that. It goes beyond shoving everything out of sight. It is about serence, tranquil living spaces where everything has a rightful place and can be found and utilised without much ado.

Now, this might just be a thing that only girls understand, but I am slowly working my way through my home, decorating. For a very good reason.

This is my new husbands house. I have never moved into someone else’s place before now, preferring to have my own, but a much awaited wedding meant that my new husband and I were integrating two families into one. I know that my husband spent some time living here with an ex girlfriend so, as daft as it sounds, this decorating, these colours, were chosen by a different couple. Therefore, we are now putting our own stamp on it and it feels great!

Iraq used to be a beautiful country and I’m sure if you look hard enough you will find some parts still are. Tourism used to be a thriving business there. However, it has to be said that in the last 20 years, Iraq as a holiday destination has been a no-no.

The country is the epitome of ‘war torn’ and beheadings are apparently part of everyday life. Stability is limited yet Iraqis are now in a hurry to restart the tourism trade. A 17 day tour advertised at well over £2,000 will take you Ur, Babylon and Samarra. They will tell you of Babylon once being the greatest city on earth, of the famous al-Askari shrine and the birthplace of Abraham. They may fail to mention that you are in the midst of the Sunni Triangle - more recently famous for its trouble with insurgents.

A couple in the news this week have won themselves 4 million pounds and plan to do….. nothing. Nil. A big, fat zero.

They don’t want to change their spending habits and they’re happy living in their council house.

Well, excuse me, but why do the lottery if you don’t actually want to make a difference with it? Why not leave it for someone who really needs it?

Councils have sub-standard accommodation that they use for emergency housing of families for up to two years because no council properties are available for them. then we have this couple, sitting on 4 million, who say they like it where they live and do not intend to give up their council house to someone who really needs it.

Taking out their own health insurance has come in a different form for one family this week.

Tissue has been taken from the umbilical cord of a newborn baby at a cost of £2,000 and under order of the babies parents as an unusual health insurance policy should any of the family become ill later in life. Research has shown that the blood and tissue from an umbilical cord has many health benefits, including treating rare forms of cancer but you have to be a very close match.

Well, Halloween in our house went with a bang, I have to say!

Up until now, my main memories of this time of year are when my daughter used to scare the living daylights out of my son by making big eyes at him and saying Halloweeeen in her scariest voice!

However, for the first time, we decided to host a Halloween party and give the event a little more oomph. We decorated the house with spooky props, we got spooky music and recorded screams etc and then we invited our friends to dress up in typical Halloween fashion. I was a witch - the only time I’m going to allow anybody to call me that - and my husband was Count Dracula. We had several devils and Freddie Krugers as well as other witches and vampires and ghosts turn up.