Lucky or not?

Is there such thing as being lucky? Does bad luck come in threes? If you break a mirror, do you expect seven years of negative happenings? What about that black cat that crossed your path yesterday? Do you walk around ladders rather than under them, avoid the number 13, take care to hang a horseshoe so that the luck doesn’t run out of the opening and expect a portion of doom if you knock over the salt pot?

Health and wellbeing is important and plants can be our stress-busting friends

We all know that plants are good for us, but some are even better than others. Both indoors and out, there are plants that aid health and wellbeing. Indeed, the act of caring for plants also has a positive, stress busting effect on the soul.

Here’s five plant favourites for your good health: 

Once upon a time there was a modern house with a rectangular garden

One day, during winter, new owners moved into the property and they took many days, weeks and months to decorate; put up shelves, purchase new furniture and technology and play with soft furnishings like children with Barbie dolls. When visitors came to the house, they were taken into many different rooms. “What do you think of the colour; the style; the ornaments; the furniture?” asked the owners? They drank tea (and sometimes wine or beer, depending on the time of day and the mode of transport). 

How many people break their New Year's Resolutions?

Are we setting ourselves up for failure when we make those New Year’s Resolutions? It seems that around 88% of people fail to achieve their goals, and by the end of February a high proportion can’t even remember what they resolved to change in their lives.  Here are the reasons why we do it and five top tips for success:

Winter can be a tricky time for those suffering from SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, but there are steps you can take to help. It's quite a common health problem and it's important to appreciate that there are some fairly simple remedies that might help. Working through the low feeling and arriving at a more enjoyable place is definitely worth the journey. The first few months of the year offer the perfect time to contemplate new beginnings and a fresh approach to life…

You can improve your mental health with two natural chemicals that are naturally-produced.  How can you produce these magic items that are said to be largely responsible for our mental health and emotional wellbeing? Through gardening!  We always said it's good for you, and it's all because of the hormones that gardens help you to produce. 

There's nothing you can do to stop winter coming - apart from moving to a different continent. When darkness descends, burying your head in the sand won't help. This is a guide to help you start the ball rolling. A garden-lover's kick-start on how to enjoy winter and the festive season.

Have you ever noticed how some people seem to smile a lot? How does this make you feel?  Perhaps you are envious or maybe you think they are foolish. You might not even have noticed that  there's a whole heap of people out there who look happy most of the time. Are you one of them?