Lily Pollen Stains

If you are given lilies, remove the anthers in the centre of the flower as the pollen will mark any fabric it touches. Use paper tissue to hold the anthers and dispose of carefully - the pollen can be poisonous to cats.

If you do get lily pollen stains on your clothing, here are some tips:

DO NOT

• Do not try to brush off or rub off the pollen, as this will ingrain it into thefabric and make it more difficult to remove.
• Do not put your fingers directly on the pollen stain as the oil in your skin will cause the stain to set.
• Do not dab or rub with water as this will spread the stain as the pollen dissolves.

DO TRY

• Shake the item first to remove as much powder as possible.
• Gently place adhesive tape over the pollen (but do not press down) to remove more pollen.
• Expose the marked fabric to strong sunlight for a few hours; it should fade - sometimes to nothing.
• If there is still staining, soak in cold water for half an hour,then rinse and dry in direct sunlight.

Various sources

Natural Sweeteners

Sweet cecily (Myrrhis odorata) is a culinary herb and useful natural sweetener, especially for diabetics. The flavour is sweet and aniseed like.

All parts of the plant can be used: the leaves can be cooked like spinach, the crisp stalks make a good substitute for celery after light cooking, the roots can be eaten raw or boiled and the seeds can be used as flavouring. 

Add it to fruit when cooking - it neutralises the acid which means you need less or even no sugar.

Growing hints http://www.hayloft-plants.co.uk/Myrrhis/odorata-%28Sweet-Cicely%29/prod11440.html

Love Quotes

Some quotes on love.

When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.
Jimi Hendrix

We have just enough religion to make us hate each other and not enough to make us love each other.
Jonathan Swift

END

CVs, Application Forms and Interviews

Here are some top tips for selection processes.

CVs.

• Don't write your CV as if it has imaginary boxes (experience, skills, etc.). You should control how you present information. Decide on what is most relevant for the specific job and highlight that.
• Keep things relevant. Dates are important, but it could be more useful to display experience in order of relevance, rather than chronologically. 

Applications forms

• Your CV needs to match the requirements of the job. If they ask for 'team working skills', make sure you illustrate that, not another skill which you might prefer to write about. Then you have a much better chance of landing an interview.
• Use the blank space 'tell us more about your application' to sell yourself. Treat it like a covering letter, and cover motivation and enthusiasm as well as relevant skills, knowledge and experience.

Interviews

• Hiring is a big risk for any organisation, large or small. They need to believe that not only can you do the job but also that you want this specific job. Research the role and the organisation beforehand.
• Prepare for possible questions. Look at the person specification and think of questions that might be asked. Lookatyour CV and identify some possible questions they might ask about your experience. You will then feelmore ready to tackle questions in the interview.

Laura Brammar, careers consultant, writing in CILIP Update, July/August 2016

Effects of Smoking

Responsible for the deaths of around 100,000 Britons per year, including around a third of all cancer deaths per year. There is no safe dose of nicotine.

Smokers use up caffeine much faster than non-smokers. Stop smoking and blood cafeine levels go up by as much as 250% even when coffee consumption stays the same; these high levels are maintained for at least 6 months. Ex-smokers with coronary heart disease can face added risks as caffeine is a stimulant and can greatly increase the work of the heart. So when giving up smoking, drink decaffeinated coffee, preferably starting some weeks before trying to quit..

Smokers have a 5% more chance of developing an allergy if smoking when first exposed to a particular allergen.

Various sources - no dates.