Opinion

Talking to your teen about sex

If you’re the parent of a teen, you might think you don’t need to talk about sex education because the school will take care of that. However, you shouldn’t rely on the information that your child gets in the classroom. It’s far better for a teen to receive sex education both in school and in the home. What if your teen misses a lesson, doesn’t hear some important information or doesn’t really understand everything he or she needs to? This is where you need to help. It might seem embarrassing and daunting but remember that you’re helping to set them up for a lifetime of healthy sexual relationships. Here are some tips:

Broaching the topic

Think of sex education as an ongoing conversation and not a ‘one-off’ awkward lecture. Sex is everywhere – in the news, in films and in advertising, so use one of these to open up the conversation. When you’re watching the TV or a film, use any opportunity as a springboard for further discussion. You don’t even need to sit down with sole person of talking about sex. Some of the best opportunities might arise whilst in the car or doing chores.

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Honesty

Don’t be afraid to be completely honest. If you feel awkward, then admit to it but don’t stop the conversation. If you don’t know the answers to their questions, look it up together.

Be Direct

Be direct about your feelings about certain things but present the facts and risks objectively. Remember to include emotions, unplanned pregnancy, contraception and sexually transmitted infections. If they tell you that they’ve already been sexually active and might be at risk of infection, don’t judge but support them with a Home STI kits London from Bexley Sexual Health. They can take a test in the comfort of their own home and then you can discuss the results of any Home STI kits London.

Point of View

Listen to your teen’s point of view and try not to lecture or employ scare tactics. Try to be understanding of their concerns, ideas and pressures. They need facts but it’s also vital to discuss feelings, values and attitudes. You can look at issues of ethics in line with your own family’s religious or personal belief system.

Stay Open

Make it known that you’re always open for further discussion about the subject. Whenever they have worries or queries, they should feel they can come to you. Be positive and praise their approaches by stating that you are glad they came to you.

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The Future

It’s all about being supportive and you can help your teen grow into a sexually informed and responsible adult. Remain honest and even if your teen doesn’t seem interested in what you say, say it anyway. You might not think it and they won’t want to show it, but they are most likely listening!

 

Could modular homes help the UK’s housing crisis?

The UK is in the midst of a major housing crisis. Rather than one straightforward problem, there are many issues causing the market to collapse.

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Housing problems

There are various problems with the housing market within certain locations throughout the UK rather than a lack of housing across the country. There is a shortage of new homes being built in London; however, further north – such as in East Ayrshire and Redcar – there is a notable lack of demand for housing, with buildings lying empty due to locals leaving the area in pursuit of work. In places such as Blackpool and Liverpool, the quality of the housing is very poor, particularly when it comes to the houses being rented out by landlords.

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The more wealthy areas of the country, such as Stratford-upon-Avon, have large elderly populations. Homes tend to be under-occupied, with large, multi-bedroom homes housing only one or two people. Lastly, the credit crisis is making it difficult to secure a mortgage and get onto the property ladder.

While there are many different versions of this housing crisis across the UK, the idea of downsizing is a sensible and viable approach to tackling some of these major issues.

Downsizing to modular homes

A modular home is intended for the use of one person only. These dwellings are economically attractive, environmentally friendly, and space saving.

Ecomotive, a company from Bristol, has recently secured a planning application from Bristol City Council to build prefabricated modular homes within the Hillfields area. This is against the recommendation of its own planning policy; however, Ecomotive’s SNUG is an eco-friendly and affordable option for one-person homes, providing cheaper and more practical accommodation than the two-bedroom limit usually applied in the area.

The homes are even customisable and are delivered part-finished to facilitate homeowner creativity. A conveyancing solicitor such as https://www.samconveyancing.co.uk/ can advise on the purchase of modular homes.

By creating more modular homes, the UK would be providing more accessible and eco-friendly homes for single occupants. This would mean more space for more homes – an attractive option, particularly in more built-up areas such as cities – and avoid the unnecessary under-occupation of traditional homes. It would keep costs down and encourage younger people to invest in their first property.

 

How to decide whether car leasing is right for you

While most of us are familiar with the process of purchasing a new or used car, it is fair to say that this is not for the financially faint-hearted. Aside from finding the money to purchase a vehicle, there are other considerations to be made, such as selling the vehicle when you are ready to upgrade.

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This can be tricky. A new car can lose around 40 per cent of its value within the first year of its life; therefore, it is no surprise that some of us are turning to alternatives such as leasing rather than forking out a huge sum for very little to show for it.

What is leasing?

Car leasing is popular in the US, with over one-quarter of drivers opting to lease rather than own their car. Here in the UK, the concept has increased in popularity since the economic downturn in 2008. When leasing, you pay a deposit and then a monthly rate to rent the vehicle for a fixed period. The rate charged depends on the make and model of vehicle, a yearly mileage cap, and the amount of time you wish to lease it for. Longer leases are usually cheaper.

It is better to overestimate your annual mileage, as underestimating will result in a fee charged for every mile you go over your limit.

Car leasing Leicester: pros and cons

For some, ownership is an important part of driving, so being expected to hand back your car after your lease period has expired is unlikely to suit; however, for those who do not mind leasing, there are a number of benefits.

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Vehicle lease prices are usually cheaper when compared with PCP or HP finance. This is particularly true with more expensive vehicles, such as the Jaguar E-PACE, which can be leased from providers such as https://leasing.totalmotion.co.uk for a sum considerably less per month than PCP. Road tax, servicing and breakdown cover can also be added, so you make just one payment. Business users can also claim 50 per cent VAT back.

Insurance is one of those things you have to be cautious of. Consider GAP insurance in addition to normal insurance to protect you from paying the difference between the value of the car company’s valuation and the insurer’s valuation. Failure to do so could be a costly exercise.

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Discover the most beautiful beaches in Europe

Europe not only has a number of historical places, museums, squares, and parks worth knowing, in this continent, it is also possible to find several European beaches to visit this summer, which will leave you great experiences and allow you to see the best views. Then we will share the most beautiful beaches in Europe, so that you can point them to the list of upcoming destinations you want to visit and, thus, have an unforgettable trip.

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How to stay sexually safe this party season

If you are looking for more than just a kiss underneath the mistletoe this festive season, you should make sure that you are safe. After all, STI diagnoses in the UK are on the rise, so it is important to ensure that you are protected.

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Here are a few tips to help you stay sexually safe this Christmas.

Stay drink safe

For many people alcohol is a big part of the holiday season – but if you plan on drinking, it is important to make sure you stay drink safe. This is because a few drinks can lower your inhibitions, so you are more likely to make risky decisions. For instance, lots of people are less likely to use a condom when they are drunk… so if you do decide to drink, try to make sure that you know your limits!

Know how to get tested

During the holiday period some clinics are open for shorter hours, but it is still possible to make an appointment at a GUM clinic or with your doctor. It is also possible to order at-home testing kits for delivery to your house so you can test yourself. And it is very important to make sure that you get tested if you have unprotected sex, as some STIs don’t have symptoms – so you could have the STI for months without realising – https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/sexual-health/how-soon-do-sti-symptoms-appear/.

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If you want to order chlamydia testing kits Bexley and other areas offer delivery to your door, simply visit bexleysexualhealth.org/home_sti_kits to order a kit.

Carry condoms with you

You should also carry condoms with you if you know that there is a chance you will have sex when you are out and about. After all, condoms are the only form of protection that protects you from both STIs and pregnancy, and they are cheap and widely available. You can buy condoms from most supermarkets and petrol stations, and it is also possible to pick them up for free from GUM clinics and your doctor’s surgery. So make sure you have enough contraceptives for the Christmas period.

If you are also using another form of contraception you should make sure that you have enough for the holiday period. This is because some clinics are closed over Christmas, so if you run out you may struggle to pick up more until January.

 

Finding the perfect Virtual PA

It is true that a good PA, whether employed in your office or Virtual PA services like the ones offered by https://www.mushroombiz.co.uk/homepage/services/virtual-pa/ can become like your right arm. They can take away many of the tasks that leave you tied to your desk or telephone and unable to get our and meet prospective customers and clients and to do what you do best in order to help your business grow.

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There are a number of things that you should ask a prospective PA/VA and here are some ideas to help you choose.

  1. You should find out what they feel their core skills are so that you can match up what they can offer with the requirements of the role that you are looking for them to take up. Where possible you only want to be training someone in the specifics of your business sector and business software that you are using you don’t want to be teaching them basic tasks such as Microsoft applications and customer service skills.
  2. When you are looking at Virtual Assistants it is important that you find out where they are located and what time zone that they are in so that you can ensure that they match up with your requirements in terms of core hour working. You should also find out what there available hours are to ascertain whether they are going to be working for you a set number of hours each day or solid days being dedicated to your work.
  3. Find out their preferred methods to communicate is also essential to ensuring a good working relationship between and also to avoid any frustration should you not be able to get hold of them to discuss an urgent matter.
  4. Asking them how they prioritise their workload is a good way to work out how they handle pressure and whether they are going to be a self-starter who can work on their own initiative or whether you are going to have to prioritise their workload for them. It is also a good idea to give your VA an indication of when you need each piece of work to be completed by so that they can schedule their work and ensure that they are meeting the deadlines that you need. Communication is key.

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There are many other questions that you may want to ask in relation to how they deal with difficult customers and specifics relating to your business sector. The answers to these questions will help you find the perfect VA for you and your business.

Age-Old Sexually Transmitted Infections That Are Making a Comeback

STIs have always been a part of human history, but in the last few decades antibiotics have made it possible for doctors to treat most STIs. However, it seems that some sexually transmitted infections are making a comeback, and this is due to antibiotic resistance.

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A Rise in Gonorrhoea

One STI that seems to be coming back with a vengeance is gonorrhoea. Last year over 40,000 people in the UK were diagnosed with gonorrhoea, and many doctors think that this number will continue to rise. This is due to two things: people not using protection and a rise in strains of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea.

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However, there is hope on the horizon. Doctors in New Zealand have managed to treat some cases of gonorrhoea with a new type of vaccine. Interestingly, this vaccine has been around for a few years, as it is used to treat a strain of meningococcal bacterium that presents as meningitis.

Sadly, this treatment isn’t an immunisation, as there isn’t currently an immunisation against gonorrhoea. However, it will provide partial protection from the infection in the future.

If you are worried that you have caught an STI and you don’t want to go to your local clinic, don’t worry. It is possible to order Chlamydia testing kits Bexley so that you can test yourself in the privacy of your own home – just visit bexleysexualhealth.org/home_sti_kits to find out more.

Staying Protected

With STIs on the rise it is very important for people to make sure that they are protected. This can be done by using condoms whenever you sleep with someone new – but it is also important to get tested regularly if you are sleeping with multiple partners (especially if you do not know if your partners are STI-free or not). This is because it is possible for condoms to be damaged during sex, and some STIs don’t have any symptoms, so you could have the STI for months without realising.

This is especially important when it comes to infections like antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea, as it may be impossible to treat the disease. So make sure you stay safe whenever you have sex – and if you do have sex without a condom, make sure that you get tested to make sure you are STI-free.

 

I’ve got a garage and I’m going to use it.

However, I may not use if for what you’re thinking namely put the family car in it. In fact, there are a large percentage of people in this country who do not use their garage for the purposes of car storage. What you really do need is a decent Tring Garage Door Installation and before I give you some ideas for what you can do with your garage it might be an idea to have a quick look at the website of garagedoorsrus.co.uk/garage-door-installation-tring to get some ideas as to what they do. After that then you can think about these possible conversions.

The garage is an untapped living space or at least it could be. If you have a detached Garage then it’s going to have to be a separate use kind of affair but if it’s connected and attached then you have the chance to really integrate that into the home and treat it as a whole new room.  It also means that you do not have to have all that tedious mucking about with getting and extension and planning permission. If you’re planning a radical change you might have to do that in the case of a detached one. The garage will need to be internal lined and cladded otherwise it is going to get a little bit chill plus there is the chance of damp. Ok, let’s get some ideas;

  1. Playroom and extra bedroom. Not got enough space for the expanding wardrobe of the teenager/s in your life or your worried that the growing toy empire of your pre-teen child is going to over flow the house? Her is you answer. Yes you’ll have to sort out making the garage habitable but this is a great idea and could save you lots.
  2. Home Gym. No real need to line the place this time as you can build a pretty good home gym in the garage that will save you that month gym costs.

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  1. Art studio and creative space. While you might have to invest in some extra lighting with a studio you can splash the paint about and chuck the clay on the potter’s wheel without having to worry about making a mess of the house interior.

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  1. Home Cinema. This is a very ambitious project as you need to clad again. But just think, get some decent speakers in there and a screen, you can sometimes pick up cheap cinema seats from antique dealers or when a site is due for demolition. Why not recreate the golden days of cinema with Art Deco and gold leaf?

Well that’s hopefully whetted your appetite and got the creative juices flowing. Get planning.

House buyers look to Spain for holiday homes again

The Spanish property market has always been attractive and lucrative for British people; however, as with anything that shifts in value, it has had its volatile moments.

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This is not just in terms of finance, as Spain has had its own domestic property issues. A period of problems, including the overdevelopment of the Costa Del Sol, local corruption and the flaunting of EU guidelines, meant that Spain’s coastline turned into a nightmare, polluting beaches and the sea.

Spanish market has a healthy glow

The property market has slowly returned and now retains a healthy glow. Anyone needing reassurance can just glance at the current happenings, with evidence of an appetite for top-quality new homes with facilities that contemporary buyers are accustomed to. International investments are also funding the property development market in Spain, with a focus on regenerating the Costa del Sol region.

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Retirees are especially choosy when it comes to selecting a suitable property and many tend to gravitate towards those in the vicinity of golf courses or one of the many beaches. These are the homes that tend to be the most sought-after.

If you need property services closer to home, such as property management Cheltenham, experts such as completepropertygroup.co.uk have a wide variety of rentals and homes for sale and provide a full range of property services.

Spain has homes that are bargains for the future

According to the Telegraph, prices are on the up. Rental prices are also growing, with cities such as Barcelona, Palma and Madrid reaching record-high rental prices.

Spain has so many homes that are excellent bargains for the future, especially in the current climate when some homebuyers may be anxious about purchasing in the region before a Brexit deal is sealed.

While this is a legitimate source of worry for many, there are a sizeable number of countries around the world that welcome retired people who can show they have sufficient funds. It is unlikely that Spain will become an exception.

Fluctuations in the pound against the euro could be a concern for prospective property buyers, as homes in Spain will become more expensive; however, Spain remains a favourite destination. The pound might have dived, but nothing can take away the rich, luxurious lifestyle and favourable, summery climate the country offers.