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Writer of articles, reviews, novellas, and campaigns. You could say I'm an eclectic writer.
I've been a Content Writer, SEO Specialist, Marketing Manager, and everything in-between.
From 'mom & pop' style businesses like The Dining Club company to globally-recognised industry leaders such as Omnisend. Between enthusiastic, passion-driven marketing agencies like MediaCom, and internationally-trusted consultancy firms such as Peninsula; that's where you'll find me.
But I'm more than just my career. When I'm away from my desk, I'm an avid gamer, a passionate DM, and a lover of spiced rum.
It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm sure.
Best of...
Struggling to find your dream mattress? DFS have created an extensive mattress buying guide highlighting mattress types, benefits and more. Learn more now!
Mental health is all about how we think and how we feel, which then influences our behaviour, mood, and overall wellbeing. Everyone's idea of good mental health is different.
Whether your bedroom is stuck for space or you'd just like somewhere to stash spare bed linen, buying a bed with built-in storage is a practical choice that doesn't skimp on comfort.
You want your customers to know all about your products. To do so, we’ll explore how to craft product descriptions, with product description examples.
Marketing campaigns are some of the best ways to get the word out about your company, a product, or even just a message. Whether you're aiming to make your brand iconic or simply trying to make a joke out of the competition, a marketing campaign can be a powerful tool.
It's becoming more and more common for companies to embrace an eco-friendly mentality, which is great news for all involved. Lower carbon emissions, less pollution and a more transparent manner of conducting business are just a handful of the reasons that people should celebrate an eco-friendly mindset.
The concept of driverless cars and autonomous vehicles always feels a little out of reach. Even in a world filled with smartphones that are perpetually connected to the internet, homes filled and run by virtual assistant AIs and almost every form of entertainment ever created available at a click of a button, we still consider a vehicle with no one behind the wheel something that seems more familiar on Black Mirror rather than on our own roads.
'Company culture' and 'business culture' are defined by the values, goals, and structure of your business. In short, your company culture is important because it affects whether your people enjoy working for you. And that has a big impact on staff retention and productivity. But this often raises the question, what is a good company culture?
Hunter S Thompson is an almost peerless legend when it comes to journalism and American writing in general. The man's work is often found throughout many American school's curriculum for God's sake, which when considering the gravity of the man is an honour that is still somehow a low point in his career.
Latest Articles
From your heart beating fast against your chest to the sweaty palms of a social situation, we all recognise our own tell-tale signs of anxiety.
Whether you're handling depression at work or looking out for your team and want to tackle depression in the workplace, working with depression or anxiety can be challenging.
With the baking temperatures of summer in full swing, many are looking for different ways to keep cool and comfortable inside their homes. When it comes to how to make a conservatory cool, however, it can often feel like a losing battle.
With the weather getting warmer and the days getting longer, it's about time to roll our sleeves up and get cracking with your next DIY garden project. However, not everybody has the same time to dedicate to outdoor projects.
Jason Goldberg, Chief Commerce Strategy Officer of Publicis, discusses the future of privacy laws and the importance of first-party data.
Harry Cunningham, VP of Retail Brand Experience for Vera Bradley & goodMRKT, talks us through 'doing good' and authentic cause marketing.
Phillip Jackson, CCO of Rightpoint, talks to us about handling risk aversion, learning from mistakes, and overcoming challenges with the right research.
Helen Trendell, Co-Founder & Managing Director of ThoughtShift, discusses proactive planning, honing strategic visions, and adapting to shifting metrics.
Branden Moskwa talks us through long-term strategies for sustainable growth, overcoming mistakes, and handling everything that goes into digital marketing.
Chad Rubin explores differentiating your brand, adapting to common mistakes, and knowing how to engage with your audience—both before and during engagement.
Your entire customer journey benefits from your own unique brand. We explore how to enrich your customer journey with brand voice examples.
Katheriin Liibert explores growing brands, self-improvement, and how to tackle problems affecting everyone in the world of ecommerce.
Mike Jackness explains adapability in ecommerce, exploring how businesses and merchants can navigate and overcome common ecommerce mistakes.
Phil Irvine explains how audience intelligence helps businesses through difficult periods and create marketing strategies that are future-proof.
The Black Friday Cyber Monday weekend is now a 10-day period known as Cyber 10. We explore marketing tactics to reach shoppers and increase your revenue.
Not all sales need to be large in scope. But they do require know-how to be successful. We explore how to run a sales event, with different types of sales.
It's vital for merchants to be aware of huge sale events throughout the year. We explore the biggest sales of the year, as well as how to compete with them.
Content marketing calendars help you plan your content, such as what you send to customers. We explore how to create one, to refine your email marketing.
How do you run a flash sale? There are plenty of things to consider when planning a flash sale. We explore flash sales and how to run them.
Shopify serves as one of the greatest platforms for selling online. We explore the top Shopify stores, per industry, and see what makes them so successful.
Limited-time offer marketing comes in many forms, each with pros & cons. We look at limited-time offer examples and how they increase sales for stores.
The iOS 15 update will impact email marketing, including segmentation. We explore the top segments you should focus on to prepare for the iOS 15 update.
With the iOS 15 update, open rates will be history. Considering this, we look at what remaining metrics matter for ecommerce marketing, and how to use them.
Customer lifecycle marketing can revitalize your marketing. We explore how Omnisend helps merchants, with high-impact lifecycle marketing tactics examples.
Demographic segmentation helps merchants group customers by certain variables. We explore demographic marketing along with demographics examples.
Behavioral segmentation makes it easier to know how, when, and who to market to. We explore this, along with examples that create higher engagement rates.
When thinking about the first steps of marketing to an audience, considering different customer segmentation examples helps. We explore each type in detail.
Understanding the customer lifecycle stages is vital when considering your marketing. We examine each stage and how to engage with customers during them.
Customers have come to rely on online shopping—and those in food ecommerce are embracing new trends to keep up. We explore & explain these trends.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of discounts? We explore what to consider with offering discounts online—or if you should offer them at all.
When looking for products, a customer will always want to get the most bang for their buck. When offering these products, merchants will always want to be the best option for their target market, while still making a profit. This perpetual negotiation is the heart of pricing strategies.
While it's important to keep your net wide and try to catch new customers, it's equally vital, if not more so, to ensure that those who are already customers don't slip through the netting.
Turning your first-time buyers into returning buyers isn't just beneficial for your sales, it's overall more cost-effective. The key to doing so is making good use of post-purchase messaging.
The best brands are built on a strong foundation of customer trust and mutually beneficial engagement. Customer engagement can come in many forms, from contests on social media to openly addressing customer feedback.
As an online merchant, you naturally want to spread the word about your website and your products to as many potential customers as possible. Carefully building a sizable email marketing list is one way for companies to do just that.
They say that you only have one chance at a first impression, which is why nailing your landing page is critical for ecommerce success. A landing page can serve many different purposes. Whether it's to generate sales, increase email sign-ups, or register for something, the quality of your page will make or break your efforts.
Now more than ever, it is vital to be aware of the impact we make on the planet. Whether you’re concerned about your individual carbon footprint or you’re a business looking to play your part, we should...
Every day we hear more troubling news about pollution. Whether it’s the skies being choked up or the seas being drowned in garbage, the pollution plaguing our planet can seem like too much to tackle for some. Some, but not all. Enter SAS.
Keeping track of any number of employees' holiday entitlement can be a nightmare for an HR team. It's made worse if you throw in requests for sick leave, managing business trips and handling different leave types. This makes a planning spreadsheet essential. Holiday planning spreadsheets relieve a lot of headaches out of these processes.
Considering redundancy for a struggling business isn't an easy decision. While it can be difficult to afford to pay employees, opting for redundancy can cause a company trouble down the line. For example, a business looks for alternatives to redundancy yet cannot come to an agreement with an employee.
Health and safety management systems can be the backbone of any business. Not only do they keep employees safe, they make it easy for everyone in a business to try and improve it. When you hear about occupational health and safety, it's likely that it impacts you directly.
Keeping track of time can elude the best of us. Whether your team is working from home or they're back in the office, it's difficult to stay on top of your team members' hours. Ensuring that you get employees to clock in properly and keep track of their hours means that you'll have no wasted work.
Good business advice can carry a company for years. Both start up companies and established businesses can benefit from solid general business advice. Running a business needs more than just a reliable cash flow and financial support. It needs the best team, the right business idea, and a strong business plan.
It is in the best interests of an employee, their manager and the organisation they are a part of to lay out clear goals. Goals can include contributing to team efforts or personal targets. Establishing these goals and reviewing progress can make a huge difference.
New tax laws for small businesses often cause confusion for small business owners. Many come to Peninsula UK with account questions for small businesses. And we are always happy to help. Peninsula's tax advice clears up the confusion with small business VAT. We also have special small business services.
Recently, rumours and murmurs throughout Hollywood have made the rounds, discussing certain roles that should be taken over by a female actor, yet this is nothing new. From the possibility of a female Bond to a questionable decision to recast all of Ghostbusters as women, the thought of playing with
In New York, an investment banker gets tired of finding no well-priced lobster rolls and decides to start his own lobster roll based food truck business. In Philadelphia, a veteran teacher helps at a friend's concession stand, finds himself allured by the prospect of selling food and starts his own cheese curd food truck business.
As much of the world is beginning to open its doors once more, many customers and clients will be wondering how they'll be kept safe from the Coronavirus. While many cleaning procedures in hotels may be largely unchanged, the opportunity to provide h...
Modelling Architecture explores how Virtual Reality (VR) is being used by architects and construction specialists, as well as the potential it holds for the industry as a whole right now and in the future.
Many of us know just how fun it can be to indulge in "geeky" habits, ranging from the gripping stories found within the pages of comic books to the tense battles of wits that many board games can provide.
For many years now, an increasing percentage of consumers have transitioned to using debit cards rather than cash. Many projections state that of all global currency, only 8% of it is physical currency , which shows just how prevalent and important the likes of credit and debit cards are to global economies.
Recent developments have granted a sigh of relief for those feeling claustrophobic during the lockdown, with the government granting businesses the freedom to open their doors again and offices able to welcome employees back.
Stories of litter and pollution are making the front page almost everywhere at present, it seems. Trash is literally filling our TV and smartphone screens with images of negative and harmful environmental impacts.
Thanks to cultural phenomenons like The Big Bang Theory and Stranger Things, we're beginning to see the likes of geek culture spreading more and more into the general population's day-to-day lives, with Gary Gygax's Dungeons & Dragons becoming more popular by the day.
by Tom Simpkins The minds behind television and film often have to juggle hundreds of decisions, both creative and technical, and so it shouldn't come as a surprise that the odd mistake slips through the cracks here and there. These are often labelled continuity mistakes, cases where even if doze
A product placement is the often strange occurrence that can happen when you're watching a film or TV show and see that the characters are enjoying a can of soda, or tucking into a particular snack, or even opting to drive a particular type of car (that, enigmatically, doesn't have a number plate 99
When we choose to work behind a desk, our minds rarely drift to highly creative spaces, yet some of the biggest companies in the world have invested a lot of money into creating headquarters that are anything but orthodox. Mobile phone providers, architects, even Google itself has ensured that their
It's no surprise that the glitz and glamour of Hollywood often dress the stars in an incredible style. Not only does the movie business employee legions of talented makeup artists and hairstylists, but it also often sees the talent themselves play and experiment with different approaches to hairdressing or makeup.
Despite emerging as a construction method in the 90s, 3D printing construction never really gained much of a footing in the industry until recently. It was only with extensive research, innovative thinking and advancements in technology that serious developments and possibilities became more prominent, being explored more & more.
You need not drop a shedload of money on your home recording studio set-up and we guide you through the checklist on soundproofing and acoustic treatment... Knowing how to set-up your home recording studio doesn't require a degree in acoustics or electronics (although it can help...).
When we think about what could prompt a sudden & large need for energy our thoughts turn to the obvious, such as an arena bursting into life for a big concert, a skyscraper full of offices waking up or all of the bright lights of a theme park switching on at once.
Guest Blogs Direct Packaging Solutions share some of their favourite speciality stamps designs to have been issued so far in our latest Guest Blog Article. Ever since the Penny Black stamp in 1840, we've seen stamps on each and every letter sent across the globe.
London Soundproofing give us the lowdown on how to soundproof your rented apartment or flat without resorting to costly measures... Knowing how to soundproof your home without laying down buckets of cash can be the difference between retaining or losing your sanity. London-based, London Soundproofing kindly gives us some pointers on how to go about it.
It's hard to get a home these days; over 30% millennials have reported that they don't see themselves ever owning a home, and other studies and surveys have even suggested that virtually half of millennials consider it a luxury to even have any savings at all.
The concept of a car operating autonomously without a driver was first unveiled at 'The World of Tomorrow' at the 1939 World's Fair, with General Motors' 'Futurama' exhibit. Designed & inspired by the likes of science fiction, this exhibit showcased what the world might hold for those lucky denizens of the future, including drastic new architecture, sprawling beautiful cities and, perhaps most alluring of all, completely autonomous cars.
Everybody loves going to music festivals, whether it's because of the fantastic acts, the community spirit or simply because it's a great excuse to hang out with friends. As fantastic as it can be to kick back and enjoy everything a festival has to offer, we seldom give a thought to the many different pieces that slot together to form the festivals themselves, with trailers being prime examples of this.
Moving house is rarely anything but stressful, with even the most prepared movers often finding that they've forgotten something throughout the long process. Enlisting the expert assistance of a removal company can help alleviate a lot of time & effort, but even then you'll have a lot to consider and keep in mind; from the moment you view a property to the day you get the keys.
Whenever we think of holidays, a thousand questions can swirl around in our minds; where do we want to go? What's the weather going to be like? What kind of sights are we going to take in? And, perhaps most prevalent of all, how much is it going to cost?
Your home is your castle, and any good castle should be kept clean and spotless. There are many benefits to consistently cleaning a house or an apartment; not only does keeping a home clean keep it looking good and not smelling repugnant, but it's also vital for the sake of hygiene and safety.
Editor's Note: This article was written by Tom Simpkins.] Homes of all shapes and sizes can become inundated with noise from all sides. Whether you're living in a city apartment, a townhouse or even a village cottage, external noise can slip in under your door, seep in through your windows or seemingly fall from your ceiling, and when this irritating noise starts to interfere with your days and your nights it can be tempting to consider soundproofing.
Nowadays the news has a lot of ill omens for many businesses, whether it's the worrying words of the Finance Minister Tito Mboweni or the liquidation threats of the retail giant Edgars, and so South Africa needs to start considering ways to keep the economy, and businesses, on its feet.
Whatever the circumstances surrounding your upcoming move - good or bad, exciting or nerve-wracking - the process is going to be fast-paced, overwhelming, and potentially stressful. However, it doesn't have to be this way! It is possible to go through with a house move and not turn your hair grey at the same time.
No-one is immune to a little schadenfreude (the feeling of gaining enjoyment from another's misfortune), which is why every now and then some unfortunate or simply odd stag & hen do occasions can resemble 'so bad it's good' stories that mirror The Hangover in their absurdity.
Autonomous cars have been viewed for years as closer related to 'flying cars and jetpacks' rather than actual means of transportation, being considered a technological advancement that always seems more home in a Sci-Fi story than something driving down the street.
It's no secret that time off work is time well spent; relaxation, rejuvenation, reinvigoration all helps to keep us feeling our best, both at the office and at home. Regardless of what industry you're working, whether you're engaging in the high-flying, sky-soaring life of aerospace & space-based work or you're keeping things more down to earth with a desk job, it's not hard to begin overworking yourself.
Nowadays it's common for companies to embrace a 'go green or go home' mentality, whether they're merely embracing eco-friendly new policies or completely building their business around the green movement. The costs of becoming eco-friendly can be high, but they can be immensely worth it for myriad reasons.
Whether you're living in a city apartment, a townhouse or even a village cottage, external noise can slip in under your door, seep in through your windows or seemingly fall from your ceiling, and when this irritating noise starts to interfere with your days and your nights it can be tempting to consider soundproofing.
Every company strives to consist of a diverse workforce, not just to create an enjoyable workplace environment but for the myriad benefits it can bring. Companies and businesses that have embraced the modern mentality of a diverse workforce have famously enjoyed the likes of a better company reputation, reduced employee turnover and faster problem-solving; and this is just listing results that are objectively good for a company.
After marvelling at the amazing work the Burj Khalifa's window cleaners do on a daily basis, Osprey DeepClean decided to take a closer look at how the tallest building in the world stays sparkling. The Burj Khalifa; one of the many jewels in Abu Dubai's modern crown, towering at an awe-inspiring 828 metres tall.
Packaging and branding can come in many forms and be utilised for many purposes. Packaging is more or less made to showcase a product and allure consumers to consider buying them, yet in some cases, the packaging itself can be a brilliant selling point.
When the word 'holiday' is used, most people think of jetting off around the world, whether it's soaking in the sun or taking in the sights of a fascinating, foreign land. The more modest among us might keep our sights closer to home, opting instead for more of a 'staycation', especially if there's a dog in the family that needs to be including in all the fun.
Stanley R Harris is a Commercial Vehicle Equipment Distributor, supplying light bars and LED beacons and more!
Our guest bloggers are leading experts in the heating, plumbing and design industries. With their specialist knowledge and expertise, they bring invaluable, topical insight to the Advice Centre.
At the best of times, a brand or marketing campaign should get people excited about a product, service or even a company as a whole, and generate interest that leads to strong sales and a great image.
When a brand becomes so beloved within its home country, international expansion is inevitable. However, what might be considered iconic in one country can also seem idiosyncratic or even potentially insulting in others, and so brands often shake things up when crossing borders. The differences between packaging can be small yet distinct or they can ...
Moving is rarely anything but stressful, and it's always tempting to take a lot of the hassle out of it by recruiting external help. Moving companies can make life considerably easier when moving homes, but much like any other service, it's always vital to check some boxes when deciding who you'll pick.
What is a company or a business without a message, a vision or a visage? Branding can make the difference between sweet success and bitter failure when it comes to business, which is why companies can spend millions on their image.
It takes a lot to keep the lights on in a building, and anyone who's ever paid the utility bills for an office, or even for a home, will know just how expensive it can be to keep the lights on. Keeping a building up and functioning is a challenge, and one that's often pretty pricey too.
Brands & businesses looking to break out of their national market and emerge onto the world stage must always keep their destinations in mind. It's not enough to simply have a beloved product, it has to conform to local expectations; or else disaster can strike.
It takes a lot to set a business apart from the crowd nowadays. From an eye-catching logo to an earworm-inducing jingle in an advert, businesses have to try all the marketing tricks in the book (as well as often penning new ones) to grab their audience's attention, but these are just the icing on the cake that is a business's image, it's philosophy; it's branding.
If you want a company or a business to be successful, or even get off the ground, then you need a good brand for customers to get behind. Branding is arguably essential nowadays, especially given how vital a role the likes of social media can serve, and can mean the difference between huge profits and massive losses.
Here at No 1 Junk Street, we're always trying to stay ahead of the game with rubbish removal. Our efficient methods, professional manner and wealth of experience help us tackle any type of rubbish removal requirement but there are some occasions that can present us with new challenges.
E-commerce packaging has become more important within the packaging industry as online shopping grows rapidly. Rigid packaging, such as corrugated packaging will dominate the sector with its stable structure and sustainable qualities.
In the latest instalment of Insider's Property Perspective Q&A series, David Radcliffe, director of Radcliffe and Rust, discusses major obstacles to the lack of funding to local authorities, the growing desire for tenants to live in the countryside and first-time buyers.
With entire companies dedicating themselves to this tech for the motor industry, such as the Israeli 3D printer manufacturer Stratasys, many have begun to wonder what kind of innovations are awaiting the motorcycle industry in specific. The good news is that some of these exciting changes are already well-under production, ranging from efficient cost-cutting solutions to virtually reinventing the wheel.
Here at No 1 Junk Street, we aim to make rubbish removal as easy and hassle-free as possible. Helping us to do so is the concept of 'segregation at source', something that's helpful for all parties involved. Segregation at source can help to keep your home clean, lets rubbish removers do their jobs easier and makes recycling hassle-free.
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The Best Place for a Quiet Life: Living in Noisy London Quiet areas in London can be far and few between; peace & quiet can feel like a luxury in some of the capital's busiest spots.
Improve the look of your home with our range of high quality wooden doors at Doors Direct. We have a huge selection of ✓Folding Doors ✓Sliding Doors ✓Interior Doors ✓Exterior Doors ✓Door Frames ✓Wooden Windows & More. All products fully guaranteed. Competitive prices. Browse our stock online or call for more info.
Here at No 1 Junk Street, we always try our hardest to recycle rubbish as much as possible, though there are challenges that don't make this the easiest process. London and the United Kingdom tries to offer recycling processes and methods, but the rest of the world has discovered a wealth of different methods that are both effective and innovative.
Foley sound effects are specifically recorded sounds for synchronising with actions on screen. Performed by a foley artist, these sound effects can be created in a myriad unusual ways. What's particularly unusual about these sound effects is that many times, the manufactured sounds seem to be more convincing than their genuine counterparts.
The old idiom states that 'silence is golden', though there are some rooms in the world that truly put that value to the test. Anechoic Chambers are specially designed rooms that are mostly utilised for technology testing, with a few other interesting a noteworthy applications, that are affectionately dubbed as 'rooms where sound goes to die'.
Many of us dream of the day when we can tie the knot with the love of our lives, whether it's a modest celebration spent with a few friends or it's a grand affair that brings flocks of loved ones together.
7th Aug, 2019 Like two sides of the same coin, moving homes often brings untold levels of elation and stress in equal measures. Here at Radcliffe & Rust, we know just how exciting it can be to move homes, what with planning how your new home will be decorated and marvelling at the possibilities of what could be in a new area, but we also know just how much pressure it can place upon your shoulders.
Here at No 1 Junk Street, we focus on cleaning up London, but many people are left wondering where the clean-up efforts go. Recycling, business rubbish & domestic garbage; each type of refuse requires a different kind of rubbish removal, no matter where you go in the world, and London is no exception.
31st Jul, 2019 It's not a stretch to say that a lot of people, especially younger folk like millennials, find it tough to picture themselves ever climbing onto the property ladder. Myriad reasons can create roadblocks to this goal, some subjectively positive and others objectively negative, especially when considering how the housing market still has a high entry fee.
Living in London, and even Greater London can be a fairly noisy experience. The city itself never seems to sleep, let alone settle down, and so those living within it are either used to the noise or will have to do so pretty soon.
2019-07-29 | Care & Safety Our pet's well-being should always be the number one priority. That's what we believe here at Animal Health, after all; it's literally in our name. It's why we only offer natural pet food, it's why we stay on the cutting edge of animal well-being practices and it's why we hold a vet's word as law.
Stanley R Harris is a Commercial Vehicle Equipment Distributor, supplying light bars and LED beacons and more!
Stanley R Harris is a Commercial Vehicle Equipment Distributor, supplying light bars and LED beacons and more!
Here at Mad Max Adventures, we love making your stag parties and hen do's as legendary as possible. Whether you're looking to go off-road driving by riding your own 4×4, feel like becoming hawk-eyed with a bow & arrow, or always fancied yourself as a crack shot with some good ol' fashioned clay pigeon shooting, we're confident that we can make your Scotland & Edinburgh stag party or hen do something well worth telling tales about.
The construction industry has always needed certain tools and equipment to thrive. The likes of high quality and reliable equipment, such as various forms of cranes, will always be essential to almost any construction project, though there's plenty of buzz around potentially one of the 21st centuries greatest innovations.
Plastic pollution is a massive concern, greatly impacting the environment. Surprisingly chewing gum contributes a lot to plastic pollution, which is why we at Osprey Deep Cleaning decided to create this informative infographic.
This shocking turn of events serves as the industry's second alarming development in the past few years, following many of the same steps as 2018's liquidation of Carillion PLC. Though Carillion was considered 'the largest ever trading liquidation in the UK', R Durtnell & Sons' closure is equally, if not more, impactful to the industry due to the fact that it was such a well-established and nationally recognised business.
The old saying goes that "the grass is always greener on the other side", and though this may mean that one should be wary of how better things may seem in someone else's life, other's can choose to take this idiom a little more literally.
Some trends are finding their way throughout the entire home, such as the rising trend of biophilia, which sees plantlife growing abundantly within the home across entire walls and along stairwells. The same can be said about colour schemes, or particular colours for that matter, particularly 'Living Coral'; a light shade of orange with pinkish hues that was picked at Pantone's 'Colour of the Year'.
Generation Y & Z face in today's society not able to afford their first home. See how millennials can afford their first home with this in-depth analysis.
The Animal Health Company produces a wide range of natural health products for dogs and other animals.
Restaurant Reviews
Earlier this month the fantastic Manchester based Pan-Asian restaurant, Sakana, announced it was going to go festive and create a tantalising new menu to celebrate. Being a devoted fan of this cuisine I was overjoyed to hear this news, as Sakana has always offered a wealth of delicious dishes from across the Asian continent, and [...]
Despite such captivating attractions as the Barbican and the JORVIK centre or the almost iridescent beauty of the city itself I seldom find myself in York. This is a shame, particularly for the gourmet within me as I know there's a myriad different dining spots that could enthral my taste buds.
Have you ever tried finding somewhere in a busy city centre to eat? The streets are clogged, venues can be far and few between, and most of the time people have enigmatically managed to find the place well before you. It's a hellish affair, isn't it?
I begin this with a confession, perhaps the most crystal clear and truthful comment I have ever made in my life; I love Brazilian food. The sheer scope of the cuisine, the tantalising diversity one can find even in one dish (let alone a menu), the sublime nature of their cocktails; everything about it is ...
For me, dining out in Huddersfield has never been an easy process. A handful of suggestions are thrown in the air like clay pigeons, all of which get shot down just as quickly as they are mentioned. This may be mainly due to the fact that the majority of them are simply chains, which although [...]
I'm not sure about you, but there are a few questions that transform my cognitive thinking into little more than a stalled train on the tracks when it comes to eating out. Something as simple as "where do you feel like going?" or "what do you fancy having?"
Sometimes there's nothing better than the comfort of certainty. The knowledge that when you get home your bed will be cosy and warm, that when you get into the office someone will have made you a cup of coffee and
It's no secret that I love Japanese culture. I've played Japanese RPG games ever since I could hold a stick, pretending that those littering the garden were rare stat boosting swords, I've adored animes from my very first glimpse of Dragonball, forever arguing that Goku could easily take Superman in a fight, and of course, I've loved sushi and Japanese cuisine after my very first bite as a teenager, one far too obsessed with those former points.
Ah, to live the life of a VIP. To dine in the finest restaurants every night, to be treated like every step you take is on a red carpet, and to drink only the best of ambrosia like drinks that
A new face on the restaurant block can be a curious thing. Some may consider it worthy of a visit, while others may not deem it any better than their local PizzaExpress without even giving it a chance. The latter,
Gaming Articles
With Halloween upon us, it's the spookiest time of the year! Here at Mad Max Adventures, we love to celebrate the occasion in spine-chilling style, which is why we've made our very own game for Halloween! The story is that after winning a competition (that you don't remember entering) you were offered a weekend stay at the Highland Summit Hotel, deep within the moors.
Nostalgia is, in some ways, much like wine. It can greaten with age or sour like vinegar, and yet we still get intoxicated by it one way or the other. Nowhere is this more tested than in our love o...
64 Bit Memory Lane: Conker's Bad Fur Day When I think of some of my fondest gaming moments as a child it still feels a little odd to think that some of them were explicitly created to exclude audiences such as I. Violence, sex, and worst of all, swearing, were those unknown elements that only [...]
Have you ever had those memories that blur the lines between recollection and reverie? When your mind races through long forgotten pictures and sounds but suddenly trips, comes to a halt by a particular image and mutters, "D'fuck is this?" Well, I do, quite often actually, yet the latest incident of this phenomenon was rooted [...]
I find it hard to imagine gaming nowadays without some form of mature mindset, be it the relentless murdering spree I embark on in The Division or the peerlessly intelligent story that racked my brain in Persona 4. From burning down the floating city of Columbia to barely surviving the night in quarantined Harran, the [...]
The subject of downloadable content is a hot topic at the moment, what with EA revealing to the world that not only does a lot of their business depend on it, but the costs involved for the player can ultimately be chalked up to corporate greed.
Many gamers may be aware of how within video games, much like many other basic living requirements, the protagonist rarely, if ever, needs to rest their weary head and go to sleep. This is an especially odd notion whenever the game has a day and night cycle.
A look at Persona 5 under the guise of arguing that games are indeed an art form.
A look at Bioshock Infinite under the guise of arguing that games are indeed an art form.
Social & Charity
This grand-scale freelance project saw me researching and writing all written content on the Esteemed Life Care website.
'Tis the season of giving. Here at Happy Beds, we decided to get started on this at the end of November with Giving Tuesday. Though, there are myriad of magnificent and worthy causes we decided that the good folk at Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice deserve our support the most.
As someone who is part of a team that focuses on offering a good night’s sleep, it breaks my heart that I can’t do more to help the homeless. That’s why I’ve taken to writing this article, so that I can take a closer look at how we can all do our bit to help those in a significantly worse situation than our own.
History & Culture
Yes, you read that right; part one. Strap in as over the next few weeks, we'll be going all Doctor Who on the history of beds and humans sleeping atop of them. Fingers crossed I don't transform into a completely different writer with each article.
Last time, in this humble little series, we took a look at the days of Ancient Egypt, when civilisation had long since evolved from sleeping on animal furs in caves and begun treating themselves to a more comfortable night's sleep.
Christmas stockings are a seminal part of the holiday spirit. Exploring the history of stockings takes many twists and turns, with its place in our Christmas traditions being quite the ride. Check out the history of Christmas stockings here and find out why they're Santa Claus's favourite.
Here at Happy Beds we love to discuss how the country, the media and even the world thinks about the likes of sleeping and beds. Whether it's how television has showcased dreams for dramatic effect or how video games use sleep as a means of justifying elements of the narrative, sleep is the basis of fiction everywhere, but it isn't necessarily represented fairly.
In celebration of National Bed Month I’ve decided to take a look at that universally loved centrepiece of the bedroom; the bed. This list may be more akin to celebrating this month as International Bed Month though, as featured below are just a handful of the weird and wonderful beds that our cousins from around the globe rest their heads on.
As we’re celebrating National Bed Month, and once more encouraging that the world joins us by advocating International Bed Month, we shall tuck this month in by seeing how different populations around the world tuck themselves in.
Fairy tales are, more often than not, the first kind of stories we hear in our lives. Simple tales that blend the likes of magic and monsters from faraway lands with grounded morals, told both to entertain and to subtly educate children.
Art can be an odd medium at the best of times, though it becomes incomprehensible to most when we look at modern art. There have been many bizarre iterations of contemporary art seen over the year, including the likes of a dress made of meat and a dead shark being captured in formaldehyde, yet none have gained quite the level of renown (or notoriety) as Tracey Emin's 'My Bed'.
With the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle just around the corner, we've taken a look back at monarchs' beds of the past. From purpose-built guest beds to beds that weren't slept in, read some of Britain's bed history here.
Health & Medical
You'd be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn't enjoy a lie in. The bed is where we begin and end our days, it is where most of us are most comfortable, and it's where we spend roughly a third of our entire life.
Those who suffer from insomnia know that sleep deprivation is an absolute pain. Despite what some may think after watching Fight Club, insomnia doesn't really result in anything that exciting, but it can lead to or exacerbate mental health issues.
Pregnancy is a miraculous thing, isn't it? The excitement of bringing a new life into the world and the joy found in sharing the experience with your significant other makes pregnancy utterly magical. At least, I can say that, since I've never experienced it first-hand.
Space - the final frontier. It is the realm that man has longed to explore since he first looked up at the stars. Or, at least, since modern man first looked up at the stars; it's doubtful that our more primitive ancestors dreamt of anything beyond staying warm and hunting.
It's a common concept to count sheep when trying to get to sleep, though anyone who's been desperate enough to obtain 40 winks will tell you; those sheep don't do jack.
In the wild and wonderful world of tattoos, artists that can spot a brilliant deal and seize the day are often the very same that spearhead some truly inspirational pieces of work.
Miscellaneous Articles
When Marvel and DC decided that being a good guy wasn't nearly badass enough.
A brief look at the MCU's Infinity Stones, with theories as to where they come from.
They're super powered and super psychotic.
Do you remember the days when comic books were all about fairly one dimensional heroes fighting goofy bad guys? Probably not, as most readers (and probably most of you reading this) probably picked up their first comic when characters would spring out of the pages with the prefix of 'super' being as clear to see as it was colourful.
The Infinity Stones (or the Infinity Gems if you want to bring semantics into this) are the be-all and end-all of Marvel comics. A collection of six stones, the Infinity Stones seemingly date back to the origin of the universe and each one is capable of manipulating their respective element to unheard of heights.
By their nature comic books are a little crazy. Between reality shattering events and bizarre origin stories, the world of comics is rife with tales that require us as readers to suspend the notion of disbelief pretty high. This is all well and good for us, but for those stuck within these kooky situations things may be a little harder to swallow.
The world of television is full of all sorts of tropes, the likes of which take some element of the real and stretch it out or distort it so much that it's closer to a parody of itself than a reflection.
When you think of a celebrity, what first springs to mind? Is it their tendency to obtain a fleet of fancy cars, their unrivalled access to the finest clubs and restaurants, their peerless renown and global recognition? Or is their unparalleled level of luxury? Today we look at some of the beds that the rich and famous rest upon every night.
The World Cup is kicking off (five words in, already got a pun in) and across the world are legions of fans revelling in all the festivities. Whether they're cheering on their own countries or swooning over international players, football fans all over the globe are enjoying 'the beautiful game'.
Many people will say that 'death is not the end'. Despite what you may feel about this, it's certainly true within the world of comics. Ever since 'The Death of Superman' it's become somewhat of a running joke that there's only three characters that can ever stay dead in comics; Uncle Ben, Jason Todd and Bucky Barnes.
Spider-Man is certainly capable of a lot of different things, and over the many years of being in both the Marvel and the public spotlight he's been many different things too - weird things. Plenty of different writers have taken the helm of the good ship Spider-Man, each with their own vision and interpretation of how Peter Parker could best tell a story.
Originating in June 2017, 'Marvel Legacy' was set to be the franchise's new take on comics; offering soft reboots and super reimaginings for some characters whilst setting the stage for brand new heroes or previously sidelined acts to enjoy the spotlight. It was a bold and ambitious move, releasing fifty-four series, six one-shots and six limited runs.
Now that Black Friday is behind us, Thanksgiving has thankfully been digested and November has been and gone, there's no denying that we're almost at December's main event: Christmas. I'm no Scrooge, whether it's a McDuck or Bill Murray variant, as even I can feel my small heart growing three sizes as we get closer to that day.
Now that we're officially and firmly in December, it's time to get festive. Deck the halls, get a partridge in a pear tree (somehow, and for some reason) and start debating whether you'll hang up some mistletoe before hosting that Christmas party because we're almost at the most wonderful time of the year!
It's an old American adage that 'bigger is better', yet the mentality is internationally applicable. To quote another American idiom, who doesn't love to get more bang for their buck?
Whether it goes in the home office, you place it in a lounge or make it a staple of a spare room, either a daybed or a sofa bed is sure to please guests. Discover the pros and cons of both here.
Despite their name, a ' daybed' isn't merely the term one uses when describing what a normal bed becomes when you spend all day in it. No, far from being the space where one lounges around on a lazy weekend, a daybed is a specific type of bed that is, in some ways, a superior version of a sofa bed.
Since the dawn of mankind there have been conflicts that may never be resolved; war, famine, and the eternal struggle to maintain a fair blanket ratio between two sleepers. The former two are a little out of our area of expertise here at Happy Beds, but the latter is something we can at least try to help with.
We've all experienced those irritatingly warm nights in bed, where you feel more like a piece of coal on a barbecue than a human being, begging gods you never considered even marginally believable for a sudden blizzard to chill you out.
Since the dawn of mankind people have dreaded the coming dawn. Most of us will agree that getting out of bed in the morning is often a herculean task, no matter what the sleeping arrangements.
It's always nicer to sleep in sync with someone else. Occupying a bed alone may be a great way to stretch out, keep the covers all to yourself and remove any worries of disturbing anyone else, but it's hard to argue with the notion that having someone lying beside you when you're drifting off to sleep is a comforting sensation.
Balancing form and function for a kid’s room can be a challenge, but when working on it or planning it with your child, it can be a delightful experience. For those stuck for inspiration or unsure how best to begin, why not take a look at what Happy Beds has got in mind?
Forecasted to be an $80 billion industry by the year 2020, sleep technology involves the likes of sleep aids, solutions to insomnia and smarter means to wake up. With this in mind, Happy Beds took a look at the sleep tech industry to see the pro's and con's of this budding industry.
Confirmation that every workplace should have a resident dog.
The David Bowie obituary, found on page 10 of this issue, was written during my internship at Mondiale Publishing.
As a nation we have barely started to climb out of the aftermath of last Friday's terrorist attacks on Paris and Beirut yet the debate over what course of action has already begun. The biggest issue facing us this week, it seems, is the controversial 'Shoot to Kill' policy.
Lifestyle Blogs
It's no secret that I'm partial to a glass of wine every now and then. After all, I've written a few blogs about the stuff, but despite fancying a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon or a bottle of Brut Champagne from time to time I could never see myself taking out a loan to even sniff...
Throughout this mini-series I've written from my experiences and from my level to best portray a relatively relatable journey (or bender) through a variety of different spirits. From highs to lows, and from exemplary to awful, I've endeavoured to showcase spirits in a manner that benefits the majority of tastes; but not today.
Almost everyone can enjoy a strong drink, from time to time. Whether you're laughing or crying, in sickness or health, celebrating or lamenting, a drink is necessary. And as Homer Simpson once said, "To alcohol; the solution, and cause, of all of life's problems" which is a toast we can all raise our glasses to.
Just as no one drinks spirits to take things slowly, I won't write about them without seemingly jumping into the deep end from time to time. And hey, when it comes to the dark, murky waters of hard liqueur what could be considered less forgiving than the two colossi of liquid regret, Absinthe and Tequila?
After many years of rubbing elbows with fellow barstool perched patrons I've come to the realisation that there are two types of people in the world; those who prefer the elegance of gin and those who love the warmth of whiskey. But which one reigns supreme? Which one tastes, smells and inebriates better?
For those who don't know, there are a lot of different types of miscellaneous liqueurs. Creamy and fruity, nut based and herb orientated, laughably weak and dangerously strong; all of which have their own special places both in the bar and in our hearts. Despite these various factors, spirits or often seen as nothing ...
It's a good question, and one we've all surely faced when picking up a bottle for a party or when cooking for guests. It has many answers, far beyond just 'yes' and 'no', as the situation has to be taken into account, the audience that'll savour each sip, and most importantly, the food enjoyed with [...]
Celebrating this time of year hasn't changed too much since the Pagans celebrated the Winter Solstice. Christianity may have assigned some heavy religious tones to it, including installing the Nikoloas of Myra (formerly Greek, now modern-day Demre in Turkey) as the patron of secret gifts and the revered saint of Coca Cola as well as ...
The sun is finally shining, the clouds are finally parting and the chill riding every gust of wind is finally drifting away, which can mean only one thing; it's time to enjoy some wine. This is only enforced by the fact that we are currently within English Wine Week.
Nostalgia's a funny thing, isn't it? We experience it in many forms, from recalling a fairly average band with burning admiration to glossing over terrible special effects in old movies, yet it comes as a double edged sword as most
I certainly hope you've marked your calendars, because once again it's another nationally loved, totally real holiday; Eat What You Want Day! Some see it as an excuse to raid the fridge until it's laid completely bare, others see it as a benchmark to a healthy way to approach a casual means of dieting, while I personally see it as a Thursday.
Just in case you missed it, yesterday was Valentine's Day; a day where lovers celebrate their admiration for each other and besotted admirers confess their feelings to those they harbour secret affections. Rather that's the theory. Nowadays it's a day
Move over national holidays; we're talking about national holi-weeks! This week in particular is all about herbivorous lifestyles, aptly calling itself National Vegetarian Week! Though this is certainly something to be celebrated I can't help but feel that I am certainly writing this from the perspective of, well, a straight up carnivore.
Call me cynical but I'm not one who takes New Year's resolutions too seriously. I find it fantastic that other people have the optimism to try to change themselves, even if they fail, and I have nothing but respect for
Date Night; the once set-in-stone staple of the week. You'd work tirelessly throughout the days, eagerly awaiting that designated night where you could treat your special someone (and yourself) to a night of dancing, entertainment, or the classic 'wining and dining'.
Maybe it's just because I spent so much time in the states as a kid, but I love C hili. My father had a habit of cooking his 'World Famous Chili'; a dish that my naïve, childhood brain considered greatly impressive and was genuinely humbled to eat it.
Freelance Projects
This 'project' is the prologue for a freelance job I was hired to complete; a script for a game set in ancient Egypt. A slave walks the desert, bound in chains and forced to trudge through the sands. But when a group of bandits ambush them the slave manages to become free and meets an unusual group of travellers.
After an orthodox bender Jake awakes to find his friend Tim has enigmatically grown to the size of a giant. As his friend continues to grow Jake attempts to keep up, avoid disgusting events and stay alive while trying to find a way to return Tim to normal.
The Lie by LilyFramboise Everything Will Be Ok by Danya The Compellor Complex by grafiksad Sir Surpasser by mayham Porkies by S_WilsonDisher
Personal Projects
You are a good person. Be positive. Repeat your mantra. You are a good person. You are not an ire-fuelled, nihilistic drug addict. You are not a reclusive, heartless son-of-a-bitch. You are a good person and you deserve to feel joy, no matter how seldom or satisfying.
My first proper scripted episode of a bizarre and humorous story revolving around the crime fighting force, the Tiger Police, who use tigers in lieu of weapons, vehicles and equipment. Originally written for a University project yet based on a long running joke, this episode introduces the protagonists and antagonists of the series.
In an uncharted sea amidst a storm of biblical proportions a lone fishing boat is thrown by the waves. Its crazed captain commands a frazzled crew on the brink of mutiny, but before they can make their treacherous intentions known a mystical creature is ensnared in their nets.
A little boy's imagination runs wild as he sorts through his laundry. It's slightly more exciting than it sounds as relationships blossom, whither and sprout anew amidst an anal assortment of socks. As I said, it's better than it sounds.
In the squalid accommodations of New Rock our protagonist sees himself as an overseer, an arbiter; he sees himself as it's would-be king. Yet when a stranger comes calling he feels a threat looming over the horizon.