The Tribes of Britain

The Tribes of Britain: Who are we and where do we come from? by David Miles.
[Published by George Weidenfeld & Nicholson (May 2005)]

Who are the English, Scots, Welsh, and Irish? New scientific techniques can be used to explore this complex genetic jigsaw—ancient Britons and Saxons, Celts and Romans, Vikings and Normans, and more recent migrations. Drawing on the latest discoveries, this book both challenges traditional views of history and provides new insight into the British and Irish today.

Insect Pests - Ants

Keeping ants out of the kitchen

• Clean up spills straightaway. Store opened food and drink in the fridge.
• If you find ants indoors, put a few drops of liquid insecticide (e.g. Nippon Ant Killer) on to a non-absorbent surface near the ant run.
• If you have small children or pets around, use an ant trap such as Bait Station. The worker ants take the sweet bait back to the nest and feed it to the colony, which is then destroyed within a few days.
• Discourage their return by blocking up the entrance holes and wiping down surfaces with peppermint oil.

[Good Housekeeping July 2013]

Osteoporosis

As we age, our bodies change over time and that includes our height. Starting at about age 40, people typically lose about half an inch each decade. Although loss of bone density (often diagnosed after bone fractures) is often the symptom that leads to diagnosis of osteoporosis, a faster than usual loss of height may also indicate this condition. 

It's a good idea to keep your bones as healthy as possible, so here are some tips.

• Sleep on your side, or on your back with a pillow under your knees. 
• A bone healthy diet includes plenty of calcium, fish, fruit and vegetables (especially kale, spring greens and broccoli).
• Get plenty of exercise while young; girls aged 11 to 13 create as much bone as they will lose in the 30 years post menopause. 
• Try resistance exercise (e.g. Pilates, press-ups) and load bearing exercise (jogging, working with weights in the gym, skipping and yoga). 
• Get enough vitamin D with 10 to 15 minutes in the sun in the summer months and vitamin D3 supplements for the rest of the year.
• Avoid smoking, alcohol, and cola drinks (the acid content is not good for bone health). 
• If you have osteoporosis, avoid eating too much watercress and spinach as they contain oxalic acid which blocks uptake of calcium and fizzy drinks, which contain phosphates which may cause damage to bones. 

Flight Delay Facts

If you are stuck at the airport, you should get two free phone calls, faxes or emails, plus food and drink 'appropriate to the delay'. If you are delayed overnight, you should get hotel accomodation and transfers. But whether you are entitled to any of this depends on where you are flying to and the length of delay.

• A two-hour delay for flights under 932 miles (i.e. short-haul EU destinations)
• A three hour delay for flights between 932 and 2,174 miles.
• A four-hour delay for flights that are over 2,174 miles.
• If the delay lasts five hours or more (and the flight isn't cancelled), you can choose not to travel and get the cost of your tickets refunded.

[Good Housekeeping July 2013]

European Health Insurance Card

If travelling to Europe, make sure your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) hasn't expired. They only last for three to five years.

Your EHIC lets you get state healthcare at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. It will cover you for treatment that is needed to allow you to continue your stay until your planned return. It also covers you for treatment of pre-existing medical conditions and for routine maternity care, as long as you're not going abroad to give birth. The EHIC is valid in all European Economic Area (EEA) countries, including Switzerland.


Beware of websites charging up to £20 for the card. Renew your card for free online at the official website:
www.ehic.org.uk or call 0845 605 0707.

[Good Housekeeping July 2013]