My Friend Actually OWNS A Notebook Shop!

Sometimes a notebook is so special you just have to take your time deciding what you want to use it for.

When my friend, Liz, told me that she had undertaken a new venture - Hope House Press - I squealed with delight even thought I felt slightly jealous that she now owned a stationery-related company. It's a huge leap of faith for her and the family and they are working day and night to make this a success. Whilst it is a learning curve for them all, it's also wonderful (and a bit nervewracking) to hear all the behind-the-scenes news.

Essentially, Hope House Press make personalised and bespoke leather notebooks which can be used as diaries or journals to document those important (and not so important) moments in your life. It's also probably the best present you can gift to any stationery lover or someone starting a new venture that needs documenting to look back over at a later date! My own leather notebook is caramel in colour (although I am also drooling over the British racing green) with black inking. 

My B.O.A.T. (Book Of All Things) is an important part of my life as it acts as a diary, a bullet journal, a brain dump, a mind map, an ongoing bucket list... it's literally my life wrapped in a leather cover. I've not written in this notebook yet though, simply because I'm haven't found planner happiness this year.  It's April and I've already attempted four systems!!! I'm a one-notebook kinda girl and when I settle in to something then that's IT! Once I do find that happy place (and I seriously think there isn't a printed planner out there to suit my needs, hence my obsession with notebooks and journals) then I will use this notebook. I know... I'm fussy but if you had a notebook this lovely, you'd want to make sure that it was fit for purpose, wouldn't you?

Anyway, I'm all about supporting small UK businesses and products from the Hope House Press shop are at the top of my shopping list for at least three or four people for their birthday or Christmas this year.  If you've got something specific in mind for a friend, why don't you have a chat with them to see if they can help out?

Hope House Press : Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram

*Hope House Press did send me this notebook as a gift as they were trying out new techniques for the journals and their cover printing but I wanted to show them some support too.  I truly believe in supporting home-grown small businesses, especially with stationery. The fact that I've got a glorious new leather notebook is a bonus*

Victoria Wood - Gone But Never Forgotten

Many times I have wondered how people can find themselves so emotionally involved with a 'celebrity' that they participate in public grieving on social media channels.  I often think it is so that they can 'be seen to care' or to join in with a trend.  I usually comment on the passing, sometimes share a relevant news article and then wait until the next Deadpool newsletter.

Hearing about the sudden and shocking passing of Victoria Wood was different.  I immediately understood why people feel the need to communicate their grief. And why they feel so completely and utterly bereft.

Victoria Wood is someone who's comedic genius I have grown up with. Even before I was old enough to understand her observational humour, I remember her appearing on our family television. Then slowly, and surely, some of the jokes felt as though they made sense - the Northern intention, the strong women used in her sketches... but just the way in which she managed to cover almost every single subject using music and humour and very little swearing.  My mum used to email me Victoria Wood clips and quotes and scripts to cheer me up when she knew I was having a bit of rough week.

I can't pick an absolute favourite sketch or song as there are so many to choose from. Acorn Antiques will always be one of the most ingenious "continuing drama series" that has ever been created and everyone loves The Ballad Of Barry And Freda. I occasionally revisit her sketch series, As Seen On TV and dinnerladies has one of the most connected scripts I've ever seen on a "comedy drama". I never tire of watching any of her stand-up shows whether they are as old as An Audience With... or something more recent such as Victoria Wood, Live At The Albert Hall. However, this is one small sketch that has been attributed to the way in which I deliver a stretch session after I've taken my running group out.  The first time someone mentioned it, I cringed but, seriously, it's an honour to even have that accolade.

I have no idea why I felt compelled to write this - there are far better tributes out there - but 2016 feels like the year that the best of the best started depleting and this just tipped me over the edge. 

Eles Clothing Giveaway

Whilst looking for clothes for my impending holiday, I came across this great website - Eles Clothing. They are a wholesale clothing company stocking ex-chain store items at rock bottom prices with all garments being guaranteed at brand new Grade A perfect stock (unless otherwise noted).

I've been in touch with Eles Clothing and they've happily agree to give one lucky reader from the Typecast blog a dress from their new arrivals section which changes on a daily basis.  It's really easy to enter - you just have to follow their Twitter account - @elesclothing - and let me know that you've done it via the Rafflecopter widget below.  I've also included some additional entries to make it a bit more fun! 

Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TERMS AND CONDITIONS * This giveaway will begin at 00:01 on 21st April 2016 and will close at 23:59 on 29th May 2016 * This giveaway is open to any of my readers aged 18 or above who reside in the UK. * There is no cash alternative to the giveaway * There is one compulsory entry which asks the entrant to follow the Eles Clothing Twitter account. You can gain additional entries using the options in the Rafflecopter widget * There is one (1) prize in total * The prize has been provided by Eles Clothing * The prize winner will be asked to provide their email address so that contact can be made to arrange prize delivery * Entries will only be accepted as instructed and any entrant that does not complete the qualifying requirements will be disqualified * The winner will be chosen by using a random number generator built into the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted direct on the email address provided within five (5) days of the draw.

5 YouTube Channels You Should Be Watching In April

My previous YouTube recommendation post was a HUGE hit, which was a bit of a surprise. The theme was picked up on by Kirsty who is also sharing her fab five each month now. It's always intriguing to see what type of content other people watch, whether they actually subscribe to receive regular updates from one particular content creator and how much time they spend watching their chosen content.

It's also interesting to see how YouTube take your viewing history and recommend more videos for you to watch. I've tried it with a few themes and the endorsed content is always from highly-subscribed channels and/or videos that already have a huge number of views - especially where they are all connected to a specific 'keyword' (i.e. What's In My Bag, The Best Friend Tag, My Boyfriend Does My Make-Up... meh). Where is the support for the channels looking to grow or those that cannot seem to break through this type of crap? Leading on from this, there is a fascinating realisation from a handful of highly-subscribed channel owners that regular content is becoming static and there are fluctuating trends for certain styles.

I don't know what the fix is - or if, indeed, there is one. It feels as though more people are producing video content these days and expecting to make an income from it. I truly believe that, just like in television or film, there are a few people who are engaging and know how to retain audience attention and there are others who don't. So, on that note, here are the five YouTube channels I think you should be watching in April.

The Stomach Churner

There's parkour and urban climbing and then there's James Kingston. His style of video production and communication with his audience has improved dramatically over the past 12 months or so and it's one of the best uses of a GoPro on YouTube at the moment.

The Travel Vlogger

I can't remember how I discovered Christian le Blanc's channel (it definitely wasn't his elephant selfie that went viral because I've literally only just seen that) but he has done something that most of us only dream of - given up his corporate life to travel the world.  His channel is woefully under-subscribed for the experiences that he shares and for the really useful "How To..." travel-related videos

The Teacher

When I picked up a ukulele for the first time last year, this was the first channel that can up in a search when I was looking for instructions on how to play a certain song.  The Ukulele Teacher makes learning really easy with demonstrations and annotations and I love that he's not the best singer (I hope he doesn't mind me saying that...) but has a go anyway!

The Over-40 Female Vlogger

Dominique Sachse is a newscaster from Houston, Texas and shares a lot of lifestyle tips for women who are a similar age to her. She's obviously learnt a lot from the professional studio stylists over the years and is extremely adept at styling her own hair and make-up application. There's also some great advice videos on topics such as public speaking, fitness and looking good in photographs.

The Gore

There were a few shocked faces last month when I didn't recommend Dr Pimple Popper but I thought it was a bit too obvious, what with my obsession with cysts!  Anyway, due to popular demand, here is the best channel out there for all things filled with pus - no dodgy camerawork and profession-led explanations about the procedures. I still wish I hadn't bottled it when I had my pyogenic granuloma removed last month - I really should have filmed the whole operation!

Your Turn

It's time to recommend me some new content to watch. I don't care what it is but it should be something that really engages you and, as I said last month, the more random, the better!

You can also subscribe to me on YouTube too if you like...

What's In My Travel Bag

Exciting times as I'm off on my holidays soon and one thing I pride myself on is packing a good travel bag. 

This year's travel bag is the Mia Tui Emma in Tan. It's such a fabulous size (it is cabin size compliant) and a gorgeous tan shade which, I think, is a timeless and classic colour (it also matches my shoes and is the colour I hope to be on my return...).  I have talked previously about how much I love the concept of the Mia Tui bags, especially the coordinating accessories that are included.  So let's see what I'm going to put in it.

First in (and out) of the bag is my Filofax Flex.  I was never too enamoured with this as a notebook system however it makes the perfect travel document case. In here we keep our passports, all our travel documents, the airport parking information, our travel insurance and our EHIC (Eurpean Health Insurance Cards).  I always keep a pocket notebook in here too with emergency contact details jotted down and a pen.

Next is my tablet which I have loaded up with music and podcasts to keep me entertained whilst travelling.  Our flight this year is under three hours but you never know if there is going to be a delay, do you?  And, of course, I have my headphones too.  The ones I'm taking this ear are bluetooth headphones from 1byone on Amazon and take up next to no room at all.

I also take my Kindle with me. I know I could use the Kindle app on the tablet but I prefer the compactness of the Kindle - it's something I've got used to over the years.  You'll notice that I'm still using a 4th Gen Kindle - it works perfectly and is usually to hand wherever I am anyway.  If you've got a book to recommend to me before I go, let me know!

I'm not keen on taking a coat onto the airport - I sometimes carry a lightweight jacket - but a scarf/pashmina style wrap is always a great addition to my hand luggage. I can use it to cover up to keep warm or as a neck cushion on the plane. 

Because of all the gadgets, I've obviously got to carry a few chargers with me.  I champion Lumsing because they make great products so from their Cube series we are taking a 2-port wall-charger which is super-lightweight. I've also got my trusty Lumsing powerbank with me to give the mobile phone a bit of a boost if I've been using it in the flight lounge.

This year I was torn about taking my big camera with me as the majority of my photographs are taken on my mobile phone but, at the end of the day, there are some shots that just need a better camera - and I've packed my tripod so I might be able to get some time-lapse shots too.  #channellingCaseyNeistat

We are going somewhere with a fair bit of sun so sunglasses are a must for when I get off the plane and I tend to have a little bag of personal essentials which include everything to freshen up. Go-to items are my Tangle Tease hairbrush, a small amount of make-up, some deodorant, lip balm and anti-bacterial handwash (or wet wipes). My toothbrush and some toothpaste is always in this section of the bag too. The last thing that I've got in there is a spare pair of glasses and some contact lens solution.

Finally, I have my purse (which I trim down to take just the essentials like my driving licence, identification, bank/credit card and some local currency), my keys, my mobile phone and a pack of mints!

Have a look at everything in my video too. Am I missing anything? What are your travel essentials - let me know in the comments.

Who Is Your #EPICDANCEOFF Winner?

We all know I'm a bit of a reality TV show junkie so when MoneySupermarket invited me to gather the family, have a bit of a party and view their latest advert during the first episode of the new series of Britain's Got Talent, I didn't hesitate. If you haven't already seen it then watch it here... 

Twitter went a bit mental over the #EPICDANCEOFF - and quite rightly so. We saw high-kicking Dave battling it out with pole-dancing Colin with a bit of body-popping Gary thrown in for extra awesome-sauce!

The whole idea behind the advert is to show you how epic saving money can make you feel (I'm not sure it can make *me* walk in heels that high or do the splits after all these years) and you can vote for your favourite dancer on the MoneySupermarket website.

Let me know who you vote for!

This post is in collaboration with MoneySuperMarket, but all thoughts are my own.

Please view my disclosure policy for more details. 

Three Reasons Why Writing Matters

For National Stationery Week, I was asked why I believe writing matters so I picked these three reasons.

Handwriting

Handwriting fascinates me. We all have a hand and a writing implement and have been taught how to form letters and numbers however, the way in which we connect our hand to our pen and make the swirls and shapes on the paper creates a style of handwriting that is as individual as our DNA. My handwriting is part of me... part of my personality and it's probably the reason that I enjoy analogue note-taking rather than using a digital method. I also find that writing something down makes it feel more permanent and helps me to remember it.  I don't have the neatest handwriting in the world but it's legible and I would love to learn calligraphy one day.

Planning

As I just touched on, I'm very much an analogue note-taker and fill notebook after notebook of rambling thoughts and jottings. At work I have lists of contacts and I always make a little note next to their name so that I can make the next phone call a little bit more personalised and make them feel important.  Of course, I use my bullet journal every day (love, love, love list making) and I always have a notebook to hand to scribble ideas into. I don't feel that we make as many personal notes on our digital gadgets - just reminders that ping throughout the day, telling us that we've got something else to do.

Writing Implements

I don't really have a favourite pen - although my J Herbin rollerball comes close to owning that title - so I use fineliners, biros, eraseable pens, fountain pens, pencils, highlighters... all sorts of ways to get those thoughts, ideas and lists into my planning system by using my own handwriting.

National Stationery Week runs from 25th April - 1st May 2016. You can find out more about why writing matters by visiting the National Stationery Week website and you can have a read of this great A-Z of why writing matters too!

Did you know that I've been nominated as Stationery Blogger of the Year by National Stationery Week?  >>> you can vote for me here <<< and I'd be very grateful. Thanks in advance.

Great to be working with @small_man_media again on the #blog for #nationalstationeryweek at the end of April. Here are some off their sponsors - looking forward to trying out those pastel pens the most !! 💚📒✒✏📎

A photo posted by Nickie (@nickieohara) on Mar 13, 2016 at 5:09am PDT

What's in store for the UK Property Market in 2016

While most of us are only interested in whether house prices will go up or down, it appears that the UK property market will have several other issues to contend with in 2016.

The recent budget introduced several factors which will impact the property market, particularly for second-home buyers and buy-to-let landlords. However, despite the fact that the country is suffering a major housing crisis, in terms of supply, the budget had nothing to address this shortage, or anything that gave hope that house price inflation would be brought down to a more manageable level.

So let's take a look at what we predict will happen to the UK property market in 2016.

A rush to buy buy-to-let properties before the deadline

Following the announcement that stamp duty is set to rise in the new financial year, some people may have rushed to make a purchase prior to the higher stamp duty rates taking effect. Although this will have led to a temporary rise in property prices, they'll probably fall back down again over the next few months as the demand for properties goes down. However, due to the Open Property Group’s house buying process, there's always an easy way to ensure that you get the best prices when selling your property.

Encouraging first-time buyers back to the market

House prices and sales have been given a boost by the government's Help-to-Buy scheme, and the announcement that there will be a new ISA for people under 40, where the Government will top up funds by 25% as an incentive to get people to save for a deposit, will see more young people being able to buy their first property.

A potential rise in mortgage rates

Almost seven years have passed since the Bank of England cut interest rates to a record low of 0.5%. Since then, despite yearly predictions that interest rates will rise, they've remained low. However, now that the US central bank has increased its interest rates, are we set to follow suit? Independent economists think that the time has come to increase rates, although they're likely to only go up by a maximum of 0.5%. However, any rise in interest rates will have implications for mortgage holders, whether they've got an existing mortgage or are just about to enter the property market.

More expensive rental properties

The announcement that stamp-duty rates are set to rise by 3% means that there's likely to be hard times ahead for landlords, particularly as this will be combined with changes to some of the tax privileges that buy-to-let landlords have enjoyed thus far. Furthermore, the Bank of England are looking to limit overall lending to buy-to-let borrowers, a measure which is likely to be granted. While these changes are based on the premise that the rise in the number of private landlords is one of the reasons for the difficulties faced by first-time buyers in getting on the property ladder, this is going to hit renters hard as landlords simply raise their rents to cover their extra outgoings. This in turn will have an effect on the renters' ability to save money for a deposit to buy their own home.

This is a featured post. Please see my disclosure policy for more details.

Things I Learnt In March

March has been and gone and it's been a busy and emotional month for me.  Here are some of the things I learnt over the past 31 days or so.

A possible cancer scare can make you re-evaluate your life. I can also make you want to curl up into a tight little ball and want to block the world out for a few days even though you have to carry on as normal. It wasn't cancer (see below) but that thought was in the back of my mind a lot.

The NHS moves fast... very fast. I've had reason to utilise our bloody fantastic National Health Service over the past six weeks or so for two completely different reasons. On both occasions a referral for treatment was required and, despite being told there may be a waiting list of a few weeks, I was treated as an urgent case within a week for the first referral and received an appointment for assessment in under two weeks for the second. No matter what is written in the media about our health service, you can't deny that it's one of the best in the world.

Giovanna Fletcher is pretty bloody awesome.  The woman who pointed out her "mummy tummy" just a few days after Gi had given birth is not. Don't even get me started about the way in which there are media expectations for new mums to 'bounce back'...

Oh, Giovanna Fletcher, you are my absolute heroine this week!! For everything you said on your Instagram post I just...

Posted by Nickie O'Hara on Friday, 4 March 2016

magazine.co.uk are a great company to work with (I'm one of their writers for The Hub) and it's always worth entering their competitions as one of my readers, Sam (who writes the blog So Bad Ass) will testify after leaving this comment on my Facebook page!  Congrats, Sam!!

The first item to be sold on eBay was a broken laser pointer.  I also found out (via this Buzzfeed article) what the first video ever uploaded to YouTube was, the first picture shared on Instagram and that the first ever text-based online multiplayer game can still be played and it looks a lot like that game at the start of the film 'Big'.

The BBC website is producing some great longform articles at the moment.  I found the article "How The Tube changed music" totally fascinating and never knew that the programme took its name from the circular covered walkway leading to the studio!!

Tippex was probably the reason we have MTV today.  We all know that Mike Nesmith's (he of The Monkees) mum was responsible for investing Tippex but when she died, he invested his inheritance into a 'pop clips' TV show concept which paved the way for MTV.  [more stationery facts in this Telegraph article]

Not one person in my twitter timeline ever clicks on a link that a celebrity has retweeted for "charity" or to "raise awareness" but a few of my friends who are fairly well-known (authors, television presenters) are asked to do it on a regular basis and have to decide whether to support everything (and risk having their timeline flooded with requests) or nothing (and being seemingly heartless).  What would you do? Let me know in the comments

If, on the day of the budget (16th March) you see this clip from BBC Breaking...

Uk Chancellor George Osborne appears with traditional red box ahead of #Budget2016. More: https://t.co/RzCbjSNadw https://t.co/F60PEpCb2y

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) March 16, 2016

and ask for someone to "slow it down and put the Reservoir Dogs theme tune behind it"...

Please can someone slow this down and put the Reservoir Dogs theme tune to it? #Budget2016https://t.co/5IZOZtOYQn

— Nickie (@nickieohara) March 16, 2016

someone actually will!! Thanks Andy!!

No-one can tell me Why People Write Like This On Social Media and no-one can find the setting to make it happen on their mobile phone keyboard.  It's hard to touch type like that and even harder to remember to put a capital letter at the beginning of each word anyway but it's bloody annoying (point of note: the test panel is probably all aged over 30 - maybe I should ask some of GenY - or those born in the 1990s).

I'm thinking of starting a Cysterhood monthly round-up.  I'm ever so slightly fascinated with cyst-popping videos and I attempted to collate a few once upon a time but I feel waaaay too old for Tumblr and it's just another place to update.  Anyway... would you be interested in something like that or should I just link to my hero of the year, Dr Pimple Popper once a month? Doesn't she have the BEST job in the world?

We should give Kim Kardashian more credit that we probably are doing. I never thought I would say something like that but I was reading an article about her open letter on International Women's Day which is based around her feeing empowered by her own body. It made me think that, regardless of how she became famous, and whoever it was that 'leaked' her sex tape, she's taken that notoriety and turned it into a multi-million dollar business for her and her family. And there's definitely no shame in that.

Here is my video of the month. It's one that's been in my favourites for a while and I'm sure I've shared it with you before but I was reminded of it during a conversation with Liska.  It's Bobby McFerrin demonstrating 'expectation' using the Pentatonic Scale. The way he says that no matter where he travels, the results are the same just go to show that music transcends all languages.

So there we go. Every day is a school day and it was a wisdom-packed experience this month.  Let me know something that you've learnt this month in the comments.

Slots Of Fun... then and now

I was brought up in a Victorian seaside town. We had a traditional ‘square’ where all the shops were housed (including one that was very much like the department store in the British sitcom, Are You Being Served), a boating lake, beach huts and a pier.

It was a great treat to visit the pier as we knew that we were going to have a walk along the rickety wooden slats, with the wind whipping at our hair and our face, we would probably have an ice cream and a ride on the dodgems and then be given a bag of 1p and 2p pieces to play on the slot machines - you know the ones… the push and shove game-of-chance ones where you ended up putting in all your money - even your winnings! But the thrill of watching that precariously balanced pile of coins, just waiting to topple off the edge and into your winning tray was worth it.

Even after growing up and moving away from the seaside town, I took my children - and now even my grandchildren - to the same pier and watch the excitement in their eyes as they try to win a new pile of coins in exactly the same way I did and even on exactly the same machines!

Today, I can replicate that excitement without even leaving the house. There are lots of slots games to play online and it’s safe to say that the concept of gambling online is an idea that has taken hold.

Everyone has their favourite game on their mobile. It’s a great way to kill time when you’re waiting for an appointment or to meet a friend, or you’re just at a bit of a loose end wherever you may be. And now, of course, it’s not just about getting to the next level on Candy Crush; you can also play for cash whenever you feel like it.

There are lots of different casino games and slots that you can play online. I like finding gaming websites that allow you to play for free (in demo mode) to give you a feel for the game, understand the rules and decide which game suits you best. At sites like http://slots.info/ you can start playing in just a couple of clicks. There is also a choice of mobile games which include some of the site’s most popular slots like a Game of Thrones themed game.

Playing games on your laptop or mobile is now as accepted as everything else we do almost everything online – from catching up with friends to paying the bills. There’s nowhere more convenient to play games as you can login to play wherever you are at any time that takes your fancy.

Why Are Some Men Looking for a Russian Bride?

What makes men from all over the world want to have a Russian bride? That’s actually the question that haunts many today. The reason for such an interest is probably the constantly growing number of international marriage agencies available online. If you have ever delved into this topic, you know that many of dating websites are scams. Along with that, there are still reliable ones that truly offer their unique services with the only aim – to unite lonely hearts. For those who are interested, one of them can be found here: https://www.marriageagency-nataly.net. However, that’s not really the point right now, as the main question is why Russian girls? Surely, most of them are fashion-conscious, beautiful, and looking great even in the grocery store, but there are also lots of attractive women in the U.S. and Western Europe. Are Russian women great personalities? Most likely, they are, as well as plenty of other women throughout the world. So why are some men looking for a Russian bride? Here are the reasons provided by several happy husbands who were lucky enough to marry Slavic women:

A rare breed

The fact is that for many years Russians were not allowed to leave the Soviet Union so that the female population spent long time trapped by the “Iron Curtain.” However, after its fall, these girls appeared on the world’s scene in all their glory. Attractive appearance plus distinctive personal traits have done their job. Even after all these years, Russian women can surprise, and that is what makes them desirable to so many men throughout the world.

Traditional family values

What are Russian traditional family values? In fact, they are the same that were in the U.S. before the late 1960’s, to be more exact, the Women’s Liberation Movement. In Russia, the family is still the top priority. This simple truth, as well as the woman’s role within the family, is passed from mothers to their daughters. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the latest generation is beginning to behave more and more like their peers elsewhere in the world.

Mysterious Russian soul

That’s probably the most unusual reason for such an interest in Russian women. The fact is that nobody knows exactly what it means, even Russian girls themselves. Perhaps, that is something about cultural wealth or Russian long-lasting traditions. However, like any other mystery, this one requires a solution that enthusiastic men are trying to find.

Economy option

It’s not a secret that lots of Russian women grew up in families with below-average income. Moreover, the situation did not change much even after the collapse of the Soviet Union, at least, for most people. As a result, some men believe that dating a Russian girl is their chance to save money as there is no necessity to give her expensive gifts. Hey, guys, that’s not the case! Although Russian girls are content with little, this doesn’t mean that you don’t have to be lavish. Girls love nice things, and Russians are not an exception!

So these are the real life reasons for dating a Russian woman. You can accept them or reject them. Anyway, they have the right to exist. As for the girls, they are just seeking for love, respect, understanding, trust, honesty, and confidence in the future, as well as all other women no matter what country their come from. However, if you still want to have a Russian bride, you know where to find her!

How to Prepare for a Smooth Flight

One of the great aspects of living in England is the proximity to other European Countries and cultures. Whether it’s a weekend away to a lively beach resort or a week long holiday to explore an entirely different culture and maybe brush up on second language skills, the short distance and affordability of international travel from England make it all possible. As an experienced traveller, I decided to highlight some of my top tips that I have learned to help make your next travel experience a pleasant one.

Don't Be Late!

If you are late to the Bus, you scream at the top of your (internal) voice and then wait for the next one. When you arrive late to work, you simply give your Boss an excuse and then sit down to start your daily tasks. Do you know what happens if you are late for your flight? “Sorry Ma’am, your flight has already boarded, and you will have to buy another ticket.” If your airline of choice has advised you to arrive three hours before your scheduled departure, don’t take it as a guideline, take is as gospel.

Don't Count on Entertainment

Technology has made flying a much more comfortable experience. However, it isn’t infallible. I can’t count the times that my headrest screen didn’t work, or I was stuck with a broken headphone plug, or my mobile phone ran out of battery just as I boarded the flight and I have spent five hours listening to the person next to me tell me about their entire life. If you aren’t sure what to buy, the Groupon discount codes page for Debenhams has some great options for games and puzzles. Something as simple as a small travel game can either be a distraction for your mind or a way to prevent passenger chatter.

Pack Smart

Given the comparatively short distances of internal flights from England, many travellers can forget that it is, in fact, international travel. And international travel means one thing, intense airport security checks. When you are packing your carry-on luggage, think twice about what you put in it. If you think it *may* raise a question, put it in your checked luggage. If you have something that you simply must take with you but are concerned about, speak with airport security in advance to confirm it won’t cause any problems.

International travel is exciting, however, not thinking it through can put a negative vibe on the experience before you lift-off. Along with my experiences, use your common sense and you’ll be at your destination comfortably in no time.