Christmas is almost upon us. Part of the joy of the season is the chance it gives us to meet up with family and friends, many of whom we might not have seen in a long time. This often means making a long trip to stay at the house of a distant relative – or perhaps coming home to stay at the house of a close one. So how should you prepare your car for Christmas travels to ensure safety?

For your Christmas driving experience to be as smooth and pleasant as possible, however, you’ll need to do just a little bit of groundwork. Let’s take a look at a few essential steps to take before you embark on the journey.

Vehicle maintenance checks

To get the most from the journey, you’ll need your vehicle to be in the best possible condition. That means checking that all of your fluids are suitably topped up, and that the car has been appropriately serviced over the last year. Test the battery and the lights, too.

The most important things to check, however, are your tyres. They should be adequately inflated. If the tread is near the legal minimum of 1.6 millimetres, they should be replaced. Look for a local vendor and fitter. If you’re based in Hampshire, you might look for tyre fitters in Basingstoke.

Planning your route and timing

You can expect to see increased traffic during the festive season. After all, at this time of year, just about everyone is travelling at once. In many cases, you can minimise delays by looking for alternative routes. In fact, there exist modern smartphone apps, like Waze, that will do this for you, while taking advantage of real-time data from other road users.

If you can make your journey earlier, or later, then you might avoid some of the congestion associated with peak season.

Packing an emergency kit

During winter, it’s easy to be taken by surprise by the weather. And if you end up stranded at the side of the road, you’ll be grateful that you packed essential items like blankets, torches, batteries, snacks, and first-aid kits. Bundle these items together in a special kit, and stash it somewhere in the vehicle itself.

Read more: how to practice safer driving

Adapting driving techniques for winter conditions

Driving techniques that are appropriate during summer will need to be adapted during winter. Generally speaking, you’ll want to drive as though your stopping distance has increased – because it has been. Make sure that you’re limiting your speed, and you’re not driving in a way that might necessitate sudden braking. Avoid tailgating, and slow down well in advance of a junction. The more experience you have driving in the snow and ice, the better – but even experienced drivers can be caught off-guard by adverse road conditions.

Aiden Winn

Aiden is an editorial and production staffer at Title Media. He’s constantly looking for opportunities to have fun and get creative, whether it be art, baking, storytelling… you name it!

The post How to prepare your car for Christmas travels appeared first on Silver Magazine.

As we (thankfully) head into spring and gradually shed the multiple layers we’ve been living under for the better part of four months, many of us will find dressing at this time of year somewhat awkward. How do we make that fashion transition from winter to spring?

And as we pack away some of our bulkier items, we might also want to take care of any damage done to our trusty coats and jumpers that have been worn non-stop and braced all kinds of weather conditions. With this in mind, here are a few things to consider.

Time to layer

It’s that time of year where your bulky winter jacket is slightly too warm, but it’s not warm enough that you dare venture out without an extra layer. 

This period between winter and spring can vary massively, so still hold on tight to black stockings, cardigans, and underlayers. With these by your side, you can still wear those spring clothes you’ve been hankering after for so long. 

You can also have fun layering long-sleeved tops under summery blouses and wearing floral maxi dresses with tights or leggings underneath. 

Add colour

Another great way to embrace the change in season is by introducing a pop of colour into your wardrobe. Typically associated with pastel shades and flowery patterns, spring is a great time to dig out the bolder pieces of your wardrobe.

Play around with pastel pinks, light blues, lilac and burnt orange, even adding a pop of fuchsia into the mix. With these colours, you’ll feel a surge in optimism about the warmer months ahead. 

Don’t be afraid to re-wear your old favourites

The beauty about these months is that you can wear that dress again, don your absolute favourite pair of shorts or pull out that shirt that has become something of a trademark. However, with social media constantly telling us to buy the latest trends, consumers are convinced that they need to buy more in order to stay on trend. 

Re-wearing your wardrobe will not only help you cut costs. It will also reduce your impact on the environment. Invest in your existing one by buying accessories to refresh certain pieces, trying out different outfit combinations and buying good quality staples that will see you through all seasons.

Store your winter wear

As your winter clothes go back into hibernation, make sure that it’s still in good shape the next time you need them. Store them correctly by folding or hanging them properly, doing any mending that needs doing and placing them in protective bags if needed.

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The UK is expected to experience plunging temperatures towards the end of January and eafly Feb and weather warnings have been issued across most of the country. 

Ideally, on those snowy days, we’d be tucked up inside in the warm until it thaws but sometimes you can’t avoid driving. We’ve got no control over the weather and it’s best to stay at home but if you must venture out, then it’s a good idea to prepare for the upcoming drop in temperature and risk of snowfall. Here is everything you need to know about how to drive safely in the snow: 

Preparing to drive 

Snowy driving is a risk, so you need to ensure you’ve taken every precaution. Plan the route to your destination ahead of time so you know exactly where you’re going, and you don’t have to rush to get there. 

ensure your phone is fully charged up and that you’ve packed a bag of essentials

It’s also smart to ensure your phone is fully charged up and that you’ve packed a bag of essentials, especially if you’re going on a long journey. This is so you’re able to contact help if you encounter any delays or your car breaks down and stay safe while you wait for them to reach you. 

Driving safely in the snow 

Once you’re on the road, accidents increase by 20% amongst drivers in the colder months. Not to worry though, there are some safety measures you can put in place to prevent any accidents. While you should avoid driving in heavy snow, you can improve your safety by following these steps:

• Use dipped headlights 
• Accelerate gently, using low revs and higher gears 
• Driving in second gear will help with wheel slip 
• Leave plenty of room between cars on the road 
• If you start to skid, steer into it, and don’t slam your brakes

In the case of an accident, make sure you contact medical professionals immediately. If you don’t receive the medical help you need, you may be able to make a medical negligence claim. 

Stay safe when you’re snowed in 

Even staying inside during extreme weather conditions can prove to be dangerous. In the event that your power is cut off during heavy snowfall, there are some things you can do to stay safe until it comes back on again. 

Make sure you and your family wrap up warm with any winter clothes or blankets you have to hand. For our furry family members, it’s important to keep them warm too, by allocating a safe space away from the snow and wet. You can also increase the warmth in your home by blocking any drafts with towels and keeping your thermostat at the same temperature day and night. 

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The post How to drive safely in the snow and ice appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Pagans, celts, witches and mystics – how many remain? The further we get away from our roots, the more disconnected we become. But what do you do for solstice, and what is it anyway? You’ve heard the word ‘yule’ – but do you know what it means? What are the old ways about, and how can we learn from them to weather the colder months.

Winter is a time for hibernation and transition

We’re living through a time of extreme change. Despite previous generations having experienced catastrophic global events like wars and plagues, the last time a civilisation lived through the volume of global cycles we are experiencing – including economic, environmental, political, and technological change all at once – was 5,000 years ago.  

The Pagan wheel

People are asking themselves ‘what’s next?’ and ‘how can I prepare myself and my family to be resilient?’. Psychologists studying human behaviour have noticed that our ability to bounce back has become a normal part of our everyday lives. To the stage that an alarming number of us have managed to push the boundaries of what we can tolerate so far, that we aren’t even recognising emotional, mental, and spiritual strength as resilience anymore. 

…an alarming number of us have managed to push the boundaries of what we can tolerate…

Have you found yourself staying in more? Are we so fearful of the next thing we’re expected to bounce back from that it has become easier to just hibernate? How do we thrive and survive when our very foundations are shaking, and the goalposts keep moving?

A new winter season cometh

As winter approaches for the third time since the first lockdown we can count Brexit, Megxit, furlough, forest fires, floods, and the end of the Elizabethan era as things we took in our stride. 

While we were marrying, divorcing, home schooling, protesting, saving, spending, and sharing with the people closest to us, we were either glued to our television sets or hopelessly trying to discern the difference between fake news, publicity, and propaganda. Our mental health suffered; it has felt relentless.

Is it any wonder then as the days get shorter, and the nights grow darker, that we succumb so enthusiastically to the slower pace of the colder months. We retreat into our homes, and within our selves for a rest and to re-charge.

(Image: Pexels)

After a summer of joyfully returning to outdoor pursuits and obligations, autumn becomes a blessing and a sanctuary. Hot drinks, woolly clothes, central heating, and cosy coats provide emotional as well as physical comfort. 

Winter kickstarts rebirth 

Animals, plants, and fungi that thrive in winter conditions are called chionophiles. It comes from the Greek word for snow, chion and lover, phile. The cold weather triggers our subconscious minds to reflect on the cycles of death and rebirth, and reminds us that change is always followed by renewal. 

Christmas festivities and New Year resolutions help us to remain optimistic as we transition through the end of one cycle into a brand new one. 

The end of the year provides the same restful hibernation and comforting feelings of safety to humans as a cardboard box brings to a tortoise. And is reflected in a number of religions.

(Image: Pexels)

Let’s talk about solstice

In Persian and Iranian culture, Yaldā Night or Chelle Night celebrates the longest, darkest night of the year on December 21st and marks the changing of the seasons. Pagans following the wheel of the year mark their Yule on the same day. 

Yule is a midwinter festival, celebrated for centuries with its origins in German and is counted as one of the most important sabbath dates of the year. 

It’s a time of reflection during the darkest and longest night of the year. Followed by a celebration with friends and family to mark the return of the sun, when the days finally begin to get a little longer. 

Reflect with a zen and wellness class 

And Christmas…

Christmas for Christians is about birth, death, and re-birth. The story of Jesus’ birth is reflected upon, alongside the miracle of being ‘raised from the dead’ which reminds us optimistically to repot a Christmas tree in the garden so we can watch its dry, brown branches return strong and green again by spring. It’s a celebration in winter of a miraculous event, as is Hanukkah, the Jewish holiday in remembrance of a miraculous event.

So it’s no wonder that we feel such a natural pull towards withdrawing at this time of year. We are tired from the summer, ready to rest and hibernate. Our minds and bodies react to colder days and longer nights. 

The cycles of life and nature make the period of autumn into winter that causes us to reflect on a deeply subconscious level making seasonal periods of isolation more about soul-searching and introspection than loneliness. We eat more, and slow down just like our ancestors before us. Except they did it without Strictly Come Dancing and Deliveroo.

Work with the seasons, not against them

Like the Hermit card in the Tarot reminds us, taking a break from everyday life restores our energy, depleted after a busy spring and summer. By reducing the distractions of the outside world in autumn and winter we create space for self-discovery and the ability to re-focus and find our balance again.

(Image: Pexels)

Interestingly, Scorpio season, which remains until November 21^st, is all about death and rebirth, destruction and transformation. Which is the exact meaning of the Tarot card assigned to Scorpio.

I could go on but I think you get the point. Cycles and transition when regarded as positive change for renewal, allows for an easier transition through the change. Nature and religion, Tarot and astrology, politics, culture, and our own inner wisdom aligns to remind us that there’s nothing more constant than change.

And the opportunity to re-evaluate your personal goals and priorities might lead to unexpected growth and an exciting new direction. Now go and snuggle up on the sofa

Improve your home for the winter months

Josie Jakub

Josie writes from her cottage in a historic, pirate village by the sea. She shares her life with Mimi, a beautiful Ragdoll cat, and the dazzling variety of garden birds and sea birds who come to visit them every day. Josie writes about the world that we can’t see, drawing from her life experiences as a Tarot card reader, astrologist and healer

The post How returning to the old ways can help us now appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Now the clocks have turned back, and the nights are drawing in, we’re all inside a bit more sheltering from the weather. So, we want our homes, and your’s, to be as cosy and warm as possible.

Earthy, warm tones, are one of the best ways to bring the cosy feel to your space. So, we’ve gathered our top picks to give you the best winter interior ideas for your home.

Glass vase large, by Habitat, £28

Coloured vases, over clear, don’t need flowers in them to draw the attention. This brown ombre vase from Habitat could even be jazzed up with fairy lights to bring more light to your living room.

Gorsley pendant light, by Fritz Fryer Lighting, £395

Truly a statement fixture, these copper pendants look simultaneously industrial but a touch of charm with a petal style shade.

Afterglow pouffe, by Habitat, £40

This warm amber colour is sure to bring some warmth into your home. At not much cost, a neat ottoman can slot into your living room easily.

NHM Small glazed display cabinet, by Dunelm, £549

Wooden pieces are a timeless backdrop. This display cabinet can be changed up inside at any time, so you can adapt it with the seasons.

Orson side table dark mango wood, by Cult Furniture, £149

A warm wooden side table with gold features is sure to bring warmth and sophistication to your living room or bedroom.

Gold and pearl melt warmer, by Yankee Candle, £14.24 

Safer than a flame, wax warmers still provide that cosy glow and whatever seasonal scent you desire. Plus, this gold and pearl warmer from Yankee Candle makes a pretty nice statement piece on its own. Or go crazy, and bring a little fun into a space with your own custom neon signs!

Inkah Cushion Almond, by Abigail Ahern, £25

Don’t want to commit to bigger staple seasonal pieces? Adding earthy toned cushions brings a touch of warmth to your home, and they can be easily stored over summer.

CALISTO bedside tables pair, by Instrument Furniture, £197

Bringing warmer toned wood pieces into the home can make the space feel cosier.

Kyoto Double Sided Candle Holder, By Oliver Bonas, £19.50

These colourful glass candle holders look sophisticated with or without the candle. They also work upside down, giving you two looks in one.

Selby Fabric Table Lamp grey & brass, by Cult Furniture £79

More light in the winter months is always needed, and this table lamp is easy to add to your space and adds a statement to your living room or study. 

ZARA chest of draws, by Instrument Furniture, £476

This wooden chest of draws are neutral but still keeps a modern look with white draw faces.

House of Hackney x Anthropologie printed curtain, by Anthropologie, £58

Consider shaking up your bathroom space with a patterned shower curtain. This one from the House of Hackney and Anthropologie collab boasts warm colours and a unique design.

Heard of Bungalow legs? The fitness impact of living without stairs

Lana Hall

Lana can usually be found spinning her collection of records, or writing odd poems in her phone notes. Her mixer of choice is a ginger beer, and you’ll never find her away from the sea for more than a few weeks.

The post Winter interior ideas – bringing the cosy to the darker months appeared first on Silver Magazine.