How to Check Your Child's Browsing History

[This piece was on the BT website in Dec. 2014; the piece also includes screenshots. I've copied just the text here in case the BT item gets removed at some point in the future.] 

The Christmas school holidays mean children might be spending more time online than usual over the next couple of weeks and having some idea about what they’re doing is essential for safe internet use.

All web browsers maintain a list of recently visited web sites, known as the ‘browser history’, and this is easily viewed for some peace of mind.You can also look at the temporary files all web browsers save automatically during web browsing, as well as the Windows ‘DNS cache’ (a list of sites visited very recently), but this information can be harder to interpret.

Don’t, however, automatically assume that a suspicious web site or file means your child has strayed where they shouldn’t. Web sites can be opened accidentally and all kinds of files can be downloaded inadvertently.

We’ve used Internet Explorer here, but all web browsers maintain a browser history and save temporary files.

Step 1. Find Favourites. To view the browser history in Internet Explorer 10 or 11, click the star-shaped Favourites button at the top-right of its window. In Internet Explorer 8 and 9, the button is at the top-left of the window and has a star labelled Favorites.

Step 2. Locating Browsing History. A dialog box opens with three tabs — Favourites, Feeds and History. Click the History tab and you’ll see a list of days for the past week, followed by previous weeks. Click an entry in the list to reveal the web sites visited during that day or week, then click a site to the pages that were visited. Clicking a page opens it in the browser.

Step 3. Viewing History. The list is set to ‘View By Date’ by default. You can see which web sites have been visited the most by selecting the View By Most Visited option from the drop-down list at the top of the dialog box. You can also get a clearer overview of visited sites by selecting the View By Site option. This groups together all visits to a particular site and you can see the date of each visit by hovering the mouse pointer over an entry.

Step 4. Check temporary files. To view any temporary files that the web browser has downloaded automatically, click the gear-shaped Tools button at the top-right of the window in Internet Explorer 10 and 11, or open the Tools menu in Internet Explorer 8 and 9. In both cases, then select Internet Options from the menu.

Step 5. View temporary files. Look for the Browsing history section on the dialog box that opens and click the Settings button. When the second dialog box opens, click the View files button on the ‘Temporary Internet Files’ tab.

Step 6. Looking at your files. A Windows Explorer window will open, showing anything from just a few to several thousand files. Many will have meaningless names, but look through the list and you’ll also see image files with names that do give some clue about their content. You can open these image files, too.

The window will also contain text files with names that start with ‘cookie’. These are the cookies that most web sites store on visitors’ computers and the web site name is usually shown as part of the filename.

Step. 7. The DNS cache. Both the browser history and temporary files are easy to delete, but the Windows DNS cache needs a little more know how to clear, so it’s also worth examining occasionally – especially if your child knows how to delete their browsing history.

Click the Start menu on the Desktop and type cmd into the Search box. Press the Enter key and a window will open with a black background, white text and a flashing cursor. Type ‘ipconfig /displaydns’ (again, without the quotes) and press Enter.

Step 8. Viewing the DNS. A list of DNS entries will appear. Maximise the window to make it easier to scroll through the list and you’ll see the addresses of recently visited web sites, along with a few bits of other information you can safely ignore. Just close the window when you’ve finished looking.

The DNS cache is cleared regularly and automatically by Windows, so don’t be surprised if there aren’t many — or any — entries in this list.

BT Home page 20 Dec. 2014

Tempted by Free Trials?

Next time you are tempted by a free trial, ask yourself what's in it for the company. If you hand over credit or debit card details to cover P&P for your so-called free gift - there's your answer.

When said product arrives you are distinctly underwhelmed and when another turns up next month you realise you've accidentally signed up for regular payments to be taken from your card.

The agreement is called a continuous payment authority; in theory you can cancel it by contacting the company and asking them to cancel. But you may also need to contact your credit card issuer and cancel directly - this is useful if you can't get hold of the company running the offer. Don't be fobbed off if the card company claims you have to cancel via the comapny supplying the offer. You don't. Once instructed, the card issuer must stop payments - check your statement to ensure it's been cancelled.

Good Housekeeping, May 2014

Style Tips from Joanna Lumley

• Don't worry about making mistakes: I was a model and quite poor when I started so I got the chance to try on lots of different looks. Don't be afraid. Even if you adore it on someone else, it may not work on you, but try it!
• A bit of cheap and cheerful from the high street: Be shrewd. We would all love a Hermes Birkin bag, but who can afford one? Look at the copies instead. I love reading how to copy a catwalk look for a sixpence.
• Don't spend like a kicking horse for one occasion: You're bound not to want to wear it again. If you're going to spend a lot on money on an item, think back to the French girls in the 1950s who would save up and have one cashmere jersey, one beautiful skirt, one very good pair of shoes.
• Dress sizes don't matter: Clothes that are too tight make you look bigger. If you've been trying to shed the pounds and it doesn't go, buy the next size up. I never care what size my clothes are. I cut the labels out because they always scratch the back of my neck. Even my grandest clothes don't have labels on them. I can't bear it.

Good Housekeeping, April 2014

Alcohol

Woman are more vulnerable to alcohol than men. We have more fat and less water than men, so we absorb more alcohol, get drunk more quickly and are more susceptable to its toxic effects. It's not just hangovers - alcohol affects immunity, making you more prone to infections in the short term, and in the long term raising the risk of breast, bowel, stomach, mouth and liver cancers, high blood pressure, stroke, alcohol-related liver disease and osteoporosis.

Experts say risk is low if you stick to recommended limits. Want (or need) to cut down? 

• Ask for a small glass in wine bars and pubs. Since October 2010, alcohol retailers are obliged by law to offer customers a choice of small measures beer, cider, spirits and wine. So if you want a 125ml glass of wine, that's what you should get.
• Rediscover spritzers or add a mixer to make your drink last longer.
• Go for lower alcohol wines. New World wines (hotter climates) tend to be stronger than those from the cooler climes of Northern Europe. With fizz, northern Italian Proseccos are typically weaker than Champagne.
• Take a break between drinks and have a soft drink or water.
• Only drink with a meal - not before or after you have eaten.
• If you feel like a drink, try having a cup of tea or coffee first - you may not feel like a drink afterwards.
• Have a dry month. It will reduce your tolerance for alcohol when you start drinking again.
• Either confine drinking to the weekend, or have at least three alcohol-free days a week.

Good Housekeeping, April 2014

Finance Tips

 Some general tips:

• Make a regular date to review your finances. Perhaps the first week of the quarter?
• Adopt a 'little and often' approach to paperwork - don't let it build up. Tackle it once a week if you can.
• Check your current balance twice a week.
• Pay off more - on everything from credit cards to your mortgage - to clear your bills and pay less interest.
• Compare prices on insurance, utility, phone and broadband deals annually or before renewing.
• Compare prices on items you intend buying.
• Check your money is earning its keep. Review savings and investments regularly to ensure you are getting the best rates.
• Budget for treats - that way you are less likely to spend in a way that makes a hole in your finances.
• Read up on money matters. Find out what is in the government's last budget that will affect you.
• Keep a balance - work to live, not the other way around.
• Save up for something special; having a goal will motivate you.
• Try haggling. No need to feel awkward - even a small flaw can result in a discount. Independant shops are more likely to offer a discount or add-on freebies. Don't speak to a junior as they won't have the authority to agree a discount. Always be polite.

Pay rises

• Arrange a meeting with your line manager, flagging up what you want to discuss. Your success could depend on having them on board and they will have a better idea of the company pay structure.
• Come prepared. Briefly list your achievements above and beyond your job description, and where applicable, cite testimonials.
• Think laterally. Hard cash may be impossible in the current economic climate, but there may be others benefits you could negotiate for such as increased pension contributions, flexible working hours ro extra holiday.
• But: don't complain that you are poor and need more money; don't be aggressive and confrontational; don't threaten to leave unless you are prepared to act on it.

On Several Social Networks?

Q: As I'm getting more active on various social networks, I'm looking for ways to consolidate them into one easy listing. Can you suggest anything please?

A: There are a number of resources that you can use.

Meevr.com links your Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, Digg and Twitter accounts together.

About.me has the added advantage of statistics.

Myonepage.com is basic but does the job.
Plocky doesn't require registration. Read more.

Hi, I'm also doesn't require registration.

Flavors me seems to be the most popular.

My preferred solution is to use the tab/page sharing option in Netvibes, which requires slighly more work, but I find to be much more flexible. If you want to see how it works, my public page is at www.netvibes.com/philbradley#General

Phil Bradley in CILIP Update, January 2011

Finding a Tradesman

If you need a plumber, electrician or gas-fitter, painter/decorator or gardener, you want to find someone who is technically good and also reliable.

Customer review websites are a good starting point if you don't have personal recommendations, but always double check qualifications, experience and insurance yourself. The best known are:

• ratedpeople.com Tradespeople are screened with Experian to establish their identity and financial stability. Consumers receive up to three quotes from local tradespeople - who pay a subscription fee. Ratedpeople work with Action Fraud UK and Trading Standards, as well as TrustMark (see below). They also support home-owners if they are not happy, and offer a low cost alternative dispute resolution and mediator service.
• checkatrade.com Tradespeople follow a comprehensive vetting process, in which each new member is interviewed and a background check is carried out. When a formal complaint is registered, that person is called in for a formal review.

The only Government-endorsed scheme is TrustMark. Under this, tradespeople sign a code of practice and their technical skills are independently checked. Plus you should be able to claim your money back via a deposit scheme. Go to trustmark.org.uk to search for reputable traders in your area.

Federation of Master Builders (fmb.org.uk/find-a-builder/): before becoming a master builder, members must meet the organisation's strict membership criteria. FMB also offers a dispute service.

4 Golden Rules 

• Get at least three quotes with a fixed price, and clariify the position on VAT.
• Use a written contract to get an agreement on cost, as well as issues such as timescale, materials and clearing up.
• Make sure the trader has insurance, and check for warranties and guarantees.
• Agree a payment schedule, and release payments based on targets for specific deadlines being met. Never pay a tradespereson in full upfront.

Always

• Ask to see evidence of qualifications and training. (E.g. anyone working on a gas appliance should be Gas Safe registered).
• Request references and follow them up. 
• Look for accreditations with trade associations, and see if the trader is approved by Trading Standards or registered with an ombudsman.
• Check reviews online, and search the person with "complaint" on Google - you might be surprised at what comes up.

Never

• Do not sign up a person who knocks on your door and points out a small problem. Reputable tradesmen will not cold call.
• Do not hire someone who says they can start straight away. Also tread carefully if a quote seems too low.
• Do not choose workmen who will only give a mobile number, and who can't - or won't - give references.

Source: Good Housekeeping, May 2014 and May 2017

Advent Wreath

The Advent wreath, or Advent crown, is a Christian tradition that symbolizes the passage of the four weeks of Advent in the liturgical calendar of the Western church. [You can find instructions on making your Advent Wreath on YouTube, e.g. How to make an Advent Wreath and How to make a German Advent Wreath .]

It is usually a horizontal evergreen wreath with four candles and often, a fifth, white candle in the centre. The first candle is lit on the 1^st Sunday of Advent, and an additional candle is lit during each subsequent Sunday of Advent. The 5^th candle is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. A Bible reading and a prayer may accompany the lighting of the candles.

The custom is relatively recent; research suggests that it was invented by Johann Hinrich Wichern (1808–1881), a Protestant pastor in Germany and a pioneer in urban mission work among the poor. During Advent, children at the mission school Rauhes Haus, founded by Wichern in Hamburg, would ask daily if Christmas had arrived. In 1839, he built a large wooden ring (made out of an old cartwheel) with 19 small red and 4 large white candles. A small candle was lit successively every weekday during Advent. On Sundays, a large white candle was lit.

The custom gained ground among Protestant churches in Germany and evolved into the smaller wreath with four or five candles known today. Roman Catholics in Germany began to adopt the custom in the 1920s, and in the 1930s it spread to North America. More recently, some Eastern Orthodox families have adopted an Advent wreath with six candles symbolizing the longer Christmas fast in the Orthodox tradition, which corresponds to Advent in Western Christianity.

While there are now various religious interpretations of the symbolism of each candle, for families it can be used to follow the Christmas story.

Advent 1 – Candle of Hope (Annunciation)

The first candle symbolises Hope, and commemorates the visit of the Angel Gabriel to Mary with the announcement of hope for all humankind. [Churches link this Sunday to the Patriarchs or the Prophets. Instead of a red candle, some Protestant churches use a blue one and Roman Catholics use a purple candle.]

Candle 2 – Candle of Faith (Shepherds)

The second candle symbolises Faith, and commemorates the faith shown by the shepherds in following the angels’ instructions. [Churches link this Sunday to the Prophets or Bethlehem. Instead of a red candle, some Protestant churches use a blue one and Roman Catholics use a purple candle.]

Candle 3 – Candle of Joy (Mary)

The third candle symbolises Joy, and commemorates Mary’s joy in the birth of a son. [Churches link this Sunday to St John or the shepherds. Instead of a red candle, some Protestant churches use a blue one and Roman Catholics use a pink candle.]

Candle 4 – Candle of Peace (Wise Men)

The fourth candle symbolises Peace, and commemorates the visit of the Wise Men and a vision of peace on earth. [Churches link this Sunday to the angels or to Mary. Instead of a red candle, some Protestant churches use a blue one and Roman Catholics use a purple candle.]

Candle 5 – Candle of Love (Christ)

The final candle symbolises Love as presented by the Christ Child – a new birth, in which hope, faith, joy and peace are celebrated. The evergreen garland represents eternity. [Churches also link this Sunday to the Christ Child and use a white candle.]

Walking Exercise

Walking is free, easy and a great way to keep fit. Here are some tips to make it more effective.

• Using Nordic walking poles exercises more muscles (around 90%) than normal walking (around 70%)  and burns up to 46% more calories than normal walking. You can buy the poles and just start but it helps to learn the technique - see nordicwalking.co.uk
• Posture is key to good walking technique. Aim to walk tall, head up and chin parallel to the ground, eyes focused ahead, shoulders relaxed and bottom tucked in.
• If you add just 5 minutes to your usual walk each day, that is 30 minutes a week. Gradually increase the length of time you walk.
• Focus on your core. Pull your tummy muscles in as far as you can, then release them by 50% and hold them at this halfway point. At the same time, keep as much distance as possible between your belly button and the bottom of your bra. Maintain that as much as you can as you walk. It may help to think of your pelvis as a bowl full of water - you need that length and strength to keep the water from sloshing out.
• Mindful walking can help de-stress. As you walk shift your focus to the here and now; pay attention to the feel of the ground underfoot, the sun or wind on your face and thesounds, sights and smells around you.
• Eat after walking - new research suggests you may burn more fat. 
• Eat the right foods. Wait 3 to 4 hours after eating a large meal, as it takes this time to digest fats and proteins. Have a small meal 1 to 3 hours before walking, balancing carbs, fats and protein. If walking more than 2 hours, pack high carb snacks. Don't get dehydrated - water is the best drink, wait until you are thirsty and match your intake to your rate of sweating. After a long walk, protein and carbs are the best combination. Consider some saltier food if you've had a very kong day and/or have sweated a lot.
• Walk to build strength. Try some hills - makes the muscles work harder; even better is to walk up steps. If you can't find hills, walk up and down stairs at home 10 times before setting off for a walk. Stand on one leg - doing this for 3minutes a day increases bone density because of the additional weight bearing. Walk like a crab - this involves different muscles; intersperse your walking routine with three or four sesions of walking sideways for a few minutes. It's also good to mix the terrain - roads, grass, mud and sand.

Easing Radiotherapy Skin Reactions

While undergoing radiotherapy treatment for cancer, some patients may experience sore, red or irritated skin, which in rare cases may delay subsequent treatment sessions. A new two-step skin therapy is now on sale over the counter which aims to prevent and minimise these side effects, though you should consult your doctor, radiographer or radiotherapy nurse before using it.

R1 is a cooling, water-based gel that is applied to the affected part of the skin immediately after treatment. R2 is a moisturising lotion, used two to three times daily and at bedtime, to promote healing and reduce soreness. In a recent study, two groups of hospital patients recorded positive effects following applications of the gels.

Good Housekeeping (2013?)

Big Huge Labs

If you have a Flickr account, Big Huge Labs (http://bighugelabs.com) is a site that you should become familiar with, since it provides resources that let you create custom motivational posters, jigsaw puzzles, magazine covers, maps, badges, calendars and a whole host of other things. If you're looking to jazz up your tired walls, this is definitely a site worth visiting.

Phil Bradley in CILIP Update, November 2009

Who Pays for Care Home Costs 2014

If you need care primarily for a medical condition, rather than just growing old, the NHS should pay for a care home. This includes dementia and the needs that come with it. So ask about the NHS paying and appeal if it is refused.

If the NHS will not pay, then your income and assets will be assessed to see if you have to pay some or all of the fees yourself. If you own your own home, that will be your biggest asset - but it will not be counted if a spouse or partner lives there, or a relative over 60 or a disabled youner person. Ohterwise it will be counted and that will rule out any help from the local council.

However, you will never have to sell your home to pay for care, though you will come under huge pressure to do so, and many do. The local council should (and in England from April 2015 must) make a deferred payment agreement.

The fees clock up week-by-week but are only paid after your death, from your estate. Until April 2015, if the council refuses (which it should not) then you can simply refuse to pay the fees, and under separate legislation the council must provide accommodation and can recover the fees from your estate.

If your capital or savings are above £23,250 then you will be expected to pay for yourself until they fall below that. When they do, the local council authority should pay. But you will have to give up all your income except £24.40 a week for personal needs and you will make some contribution from your savings if they exceed £14,250 (except in Wales).

No one else can be expected to pay, but a relative or friend can 'top up' your fees to get you better care or a nicer home. Fees range from £450 to £1,000 a week. In Scotland, the council will pay the cost of nursing care.

Paul Lewis in Radio Times, 6-12 December 2014

The 333 Wardrobe Project

Courtney Carver developed the 333 Project - a capsule wardrobe of 33 items to be worn for 3 months.

The Basics

• When: Every three months (It’s never too late to start so join in anytime!)
• What: 33 items including clothing, accessories, jewellery, outerwear and shoes.
• What not: wedding ring / sentimental piece of jewellery that you never take off, underwear, sleep wear, in-home lounge wear,  and workout clothing (you can only wear your workout clothing to workout)
• How: Choose your 33 items, box up the rest of your clothes, seal it with tape and put it out of sight.
• What else: You are creating a wardrobe that you can live, work and play in for three months. It is not a project in suffering. If your clothes don’t fit or are in poor condition, replace them.

Bonus Rules

• Use the first week of each phase if you need it to finish your collection and throw away/donation process.
• Choose three additional items and put them aside in your closet. You may swap these items in during the next three months, but three other items have to be swapped out, and stored/donated.

ExampleWinter wardrobe

• 20 items of clothing (boot cut jeans, skinny jeans, leggings, skirt, formal dress, 2 x everyday dresses, tank top, 2 x sleeveless shirt, 3 x long sleeve shirt, 2 x sweater, sweatshirt, long sleeve t-shirt, blazer, coat, short trench coat)
• 4 pairs of shoes (flats, heels, boots, walking shoes)
• 6 accessories (laptop bag, purse/handbag, sunglasses, hat, gloves, scarf )
• 3 items of jewellery (earrings, necklace, bracelet). 

CC says: When I build my winter capsule in January, it will include most of the pieces from the fall wardrobe. I’ll remove a couple of sleeveless shirts and add in warmer tops. Even though I have 4 different capsule collections during the year, I don’t have 33 different pieces for each.

7 Tips to help you create your capsule wardrobe and The Items in my 33 piece wardrobe

MakeMeJoyful

Cheryl Adamson was inspired by her stepfather's illness to make changes in her life. One of these was to do small acts of kindness for other people, so she startedbeing nice to strangers.She handed out daffodils at her local railway station, left a kite for people to use in a park and hid a treasure hunt for strangers to follow. She started a blog about her random acts of kindness called makemejoyful.com

Diet vs Exercise

It all depends on what you want to achieve.

Sleep better? Exercise directly improves sleep. We use energy in exercise and our body recovers with increased pressure for sleep. Exercising in the afternoon or early evening raises body temperature, which then declines rapidly four or five hours later, aiding the natural process of going to sleep. try to avoid exercise within three hours of bedtime, to give your body time to cool down. But exercise also needs to be combined with changes in sleep habits, such as not using tablets or smart phones for two hours before bed, to bring the most change.

Prevent heart disease? Diet holds the key. Each fresh fruit and vegetables every day. Try to reduce your overall fat intake to less than 30% of your total calories, with less than a third being saturated fats. Get omega-3 from oily fish. But regular exercise will also help.

Protect your brain? Exercise is the answer. Five lifestyle factors reduce the risk of developing dementia: regular exercise, healthy diet, low body weight, low alcohol intake and not smoking. Exercise is the biggest contributor.

Drop a dress size? Diet using a long-term strategy. To drop a pound a week you need to cut 500 calories a day - the equivalent of not eating a muffin. Focus on eating fewer refined carbohydrates - found in frozen meals, processed foods, bread, pasta and sugar. Beware of hidden sugar in foods (e.g. low fat yoghurt is made more palatable by the addition of sugar - your body has an off switch for fats but not for sugar). Boost your intake of wholegrains, vegetables, eggs and fish. Make small but sustainable changes. Stop taking sugar in tea - it will taste horrible for two weeks, but after that you'll want to spit out a sugared tea. Adding exercise will improve your body shape.

Fight depression? Exercise is the way to go. Adults who do some form of physical activity every day are at least 20% less likely to develop depression. A 50 minute session of moderately intense exercise three times a week improves negative moods and depression. Exercise is a natural stimulator of important mood hormones including seratonin and dopamine. Exercising in a green environment is also good - a walk in the woods reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

Get more energy? Diet - eat smart through the day. Plan regular meals and make sure each contains protein and fat along with high fibre carbs (veg and fruit). Adding a little grated cheese to pasta or swapping jam for peanut butter will result in a longer lasting rise in blood sugar and energy. If you want  a snack, try a handful of nuts, or add seeds or granola to a small helping of plain yoghurt. Quick energy fixes like biscuits trigger spikes of insulin meaing that blood sugar levels will rise and fall quickly.

Beat menopausal symptoms? Diet can help. Menopause can not only bring hot flushes and night sweats, weight gain and low mood, but also raises the risk of osteoporosis, dementia and heart disease in later life. For hot flushes, the most important factor is diet - eating foods rich in phytoestrogens (soya, tofu, edamame beans, linseeds). However, research has also shown that up to 60% of hot flushes can be eliminated by 20 minutes of formal relaxation (e.g. meditation) a day.

Good Housekeeping, April 2014

Copyright Free Images

Q: Can you recommend a site for copyright free images that I could use.

A: I'd suggest trying Flickr, use Advanced Search and choose Creative Commons options.

Also try Kozzi (www.kozzi.com), Everystockphoto (www.everystockphoto.com), FreeFoto (www.freefoto.com), FreeImages (www.freeimages.co.uk), Public Domain (www.public.domain.photos.com) and Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wikiMain_Page).


Phil Bradley in CILIP Update, July 2012

Making Carbohydrates Healthier

Carbohydrates (e.g. pasta, potatoes, white rice, white flour) get broken down in your guts and then absorbed as simple sugars, which in turn makes your blood glucose soar. In response our bodies produce a rush of the hormone insulin to get your blood glucose back down to normal as swiftly as possible, because persistently high levels of glucose in the blood are extremely unhealthy.

A rapid rise in blood glucose, followed by a rapid fall, can often make you feel hungry again quite soon after a meal. It's as true for pasta, potatoes, white rice and white bread as it is for sugary sweets and cakes. Dieticians emphasise the importance of eating foods that are rich in fibre, as these foods produce a much more gradual rise and fall in your blood sugars.

Cooking pasta and then cooling it down changes the structure of the pasta into "resistant starch" as it then becomes resistant to the normal enzymes in our gut that break carbohydrates down and release glucose that then causes the familiar blood sugar surge. If you cook and cool pasta down then your body will treat it much more like fibre, creating a smaller glucose peak and helping feed the good bacteria that reside down in your gut. You will also absorb fewer calories, making this a win-win situation.

But many people don't really like cold pasta. So an experiment looked as what would happen if you took the cold pasta and warmed it up. Volunteers were randomised to eating either hot, cold or reheated pasta on different days. On each of the days they also had to give blood samples every 15 minutes for two hours, to see what happened to their blood glucose as the pasta was slowly digested.

Just as expected, eating cold pasta led to a smaller spike in blood glucose and insulin than eating freshly boiled pasta had. However, cooking, cooling and then reheating the pasta had an even more dramatic effect.

In fact, it reduced the rise in blood glucose by 50%. This suggests that reheating the pasta made it into an even more "resistant starch". It's an extraordinary result and one never measured before.

Trust Me, I'm a Doctor, series two, BBC2.

Common Stains

General Dos and Don'ts.

• Dab stains gently from the reverse side. Rubbing furiously will only spread the stain.
• Keep different stain removal products apart. Chemicals can react together and make matters worse.
• Don't rinse a stain with warm or hot water - you may set it permanently.
• Don't use soap - you may just make it worse.
• You'll get best results using a biological detergent, as it contains enzymes that break down the stains. However, these enzymes are too powerful for delicate fabrics such as wool or silk, and, of course, may irritate the skin. In these cases, stick to a non-biological detergent and pre-treat the item with a proprietary in-wsh stain remover, such as Vanish.

Specific stains

• Red wine on tablecloth, sofa or carpet? Rinse with water, blot dry immediately. Then, depending on the material, use carpet cleaner or pop in the washing machine with washing up liquid dabbed on the offending area. In an emergency, splash some white wine on your red wine stain, then machine wash when you get home.
• Ink and permanent marker on hard surfaces? Hairspray seems to fizz and dissolve the ink, which could then be blotted with kitchen paper. 
• Felt tip pen? Blot with dry paper towels. Dip a cotton bud in methylated spirits and apply to stain. Don't over-wet. Dab gently, then blot with paper towel. Repeat till all colour is lifted. Flush with cold water, then carefully work White Wonder into remaining traces. Leave for a couple of minutes, then blot again. If traces remain, try spot-treating the area with Stain Devils 'BallPoint Pen & Felt-tip'. Machine wash at as high a temperature as the fabric allows.
• Biro on cotton fabric? Hairspray will remove this, as long as you wash afterwards with a biological detergent.
• Beetroot juice? (don't use salt - this will set the stain). Tackle the stain before it dries. Blot up excess juice and flush with cool water. Treat carpets with Bissel OxyPro following pack instructions. Launder washable fabrics at 40 degrees C with biological detergent. If you get beetroot juice on your hands or chopping board, rub them with lemon juice.
• Blood? Gently blot up as much of the stain as possible with white paper towels; dab, don't rub. Rinse under cold water. If stain has dried, steep first in an enzyme based pre-soaking product, or a washing soda crystal solution (for silk and cotton), then follow instructions for each fabric. Cotton: machine wash a 40 degrees Cwith biological detergent. Silk: machine wash at 30 degrees C on delicates cycle. Wool: spray lightly with Wine Away until stain turns blue. Blot and repeat until stain has gone. Follow with a 30 degrees C machine wash on a delicates cycle.
• Tea and coffee? Dab with white paper towels; do not rub. Rinse with cold water. Wash at 40 degrees C with biological detergent. For delicates, use a gentle detergent. If this does not work, rub washing up liquid into the stain and wash again.
• Gravy? Gently scrape off as much residue as possible. Cotton: blot with methylated spirit, then wash at 40 degrees C with biological detergent. Wool: blot, apply Stain Devils 'Pizza, Pasta & Curry Sauce' then wash at 30 degrees C on the delicates cycle.
• Curry: Difficult to remove because of the turmeric; get it cleaned professionally.
• Mud? Allow to dry. Cotton: wash at 40 degrees C with a biological detergent, For stubborn stains, try a biological pre-soaking product. Follow instructions, then wash as normal. Silk and wool: rub washing up liquid into the area, then wash as normal. If this does not work, spot-treat with Stain Devils 'Mud, Grass & Make-up', following instructions. Wash as normal.
• Candle wax? Do not touch. Place white paper on both sides of the stain and iron on a low heat. Use methylated spirits forany remaining colour and machine wash with biological detergent at as high a temperature as the fabric allows.
• Tar? Use eucalyptus oil to remove.
• Animal messes? Sponge with borax solution (1 pint water to 1 dessertspoon borax). Reduce smell by squirting area with soda water. 
• Deodorant? Have your clothes got yellow deodorant marks in the armpits? Try Deo-Go (from deo-go.com). Simply spray product on marks, gently rub in, leave for 30 minutes, then wash normally. 
• Stains on sofas and carpets? A dab of vodka or gin works well on most stains - just dab and blot.

Good Housekeeping, various features in different issues

Bookmarking Web Pages

If you are using more than one computer (e.g. a desktop machine and a laptop), and perhaps more than one browser, it can get complicated maintaining bookmarks for web pages.

Try free resource Xmarks, which will sync your bookmarks or favourites across machines and different browsers (Explorer, Firefox, Chrome and Safari). It's simple, easy to use and you forget that it's there.

Phil Bradley in CILIP Update, July 2011

Drug Interactions

These days, people are increasingly taking more than one medication and may also be using dietrary supplements. So it is useful to know that some drugs interact with each other, and certain foods and supplements can cause problems with medication too.

Warfarin (blood thinning drug): avoid cranberry juice, grapefruit and gingko.

Calcium supplements can affect thyroid hormone therapy (levothyroxine) and sertain heart drugs.

St John's Wort interacts with many medications, including antidepressants, warfarin and digoxin.

Feature in Healthspan, Summer 2014 

Lining Cake Tins with Foil

If you have tried lining cake tins, baking trays and loaf tins with foil, but end up making holes in it with your fingertips as you press into corners, try this tip.

• Turn tin to be lined upside down. Fold foil over tin, pressing gently over sides.
• Turn tin right side up, then insert shaped foil liner.

Mary Berry on Great British Bake-Off Master Class, BBC2, October 2014.