Mamma Fairy

Booking a holiday during these COVID and changing visa times inevitably requires paying attention to border rules and entry requirements. If you find out if you are eligible to travel before you go back or visit the UK, you can ensure to enter the island seamlessly. Mostly those of the destination country you intend to travel to.

But it’s also important to remember that there are rules on getting back into your own country. UK citizens returning from a holiday abroad are subject to the same rules as international visitors. 

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As far as COVID is concerned, you need to know what is required of you in terms of testing, vaccination certificates, health declaration forms etc when travelling in both directions. What complicates matters further for UK residents is that there are different rules in place for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The rules for England, for example, have recently changed. The government says the changes are intended to make travel into England a little easier. There is, however, still a lot you need to know. Here are answers to some of the key questions you might have.

What are the rules on returning to England if I am fully vaccinated?

The key change with the rules in England is that fully vaccinated travellers entering the country are no longer required to take a COVID test before departure. This also applies to anyone under the age of 18 (under fives are exempt from tests anyway).

People who have had their two main vaccine jabs do, however, have to book to take a test within 48 hours of arrival in England. Proof of having a test booked in advance must be presented at border control.

The test can be either a PCR test or a lateral flow test. If you test positive, you will have to self-isolate at home for seven days.

Everyone entering England also has to fill in a passenger locator form before they arrive in the UK. 

What are the rules if I am not fully vaccinated?

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Anyone who is not fully vaccinated still has to take a COVID test within 48 hours of setting off for the UK. You also have to pre-book not one but two tests when you arrive – one for day two and one for day eight after your arrival. These have to be PCR tests, not lateral flow tests. 

Regardless of the result of the test you take before departure, you are required to isolate for 10 days pending the results of the two subsequent tests. This can be cut if you opt for the paid-for Test to Release scheme, which involves taking an earlier PCR test on day five (and getting a positive result, of course). But you still have to book the day two and day eight tests prior to departure to be allowed back into the country.

Do I have to pay for the tests?

Yes. All testing for travellers entering the UK has to be paid for privately. This includes lateral flow tests for fully vaccinated people. Free NHS tests cannot be used for travel purposes. 

That further underlines the importance of planning in advance, especially while there are shortages of lateral flow tests due to such high demand. 

The only exception to having to pay for tests is if you get a positive result on a day two lateral flow test. If that happens, you will be offered a complimentary PCR test to confirm the result.

Can I claim these costs on travel insurance?

No. Travel insurance will not cover you for the cost of tests you need to take to get back into the country. Insurance is designed for unforeseen expenses arising from loss, theft, damage, illness etc. COVID tests are now unfortunately one of those travel expenses we cannot avoid, like a taxi to the airport or local tourist taxes.

One thing travel insurance could help you with is this. If you are not fully vaccinated and your pre-departure test comes out positive, you will be forced to quarantine in situ and miss your flight home. That will mean paying for approved accommodation for isolating, another flight home, meals etc.

It’s not a standard part of travel insurance, but some policies will cover you for COVID-related delays or extensions. If you are planning on travelling and are not fully vaccinated, it is worth shopping around for a comprehensive policy with COVID-related extensions included, just in case that pre-departure test turns out positive.  

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There is nothing quite as fun as a family holiday. Getting the kids packed up and ready to get out of the house takes time and it’s still parenting that you do elsewhere, but getting everyone out into the sticks is a good way to ensure that you can make memories! Taking your kids out into the countryside gets them out of their usual routines, it gets them the chance to make some messes and make some changes. It also ensures that you get out of your routine, too.

Whether you are taking the time to configure a new Land Rover so that you have a countryside car when you go, or you are heading on public transport to a local campsite, getting the kids to sleep outside and learning how nature will work is one of the best things that you can do this year. Below, we’ve got all of the reasons that you need to help you to understand why you should take your kids out to the sticks for a change!

1. There’s time to bond as a family. When you are all out in the mud and getting messy, you’re all going to learn to work together without technology to guide you along the way. Sleeping in a tent is one of the most fun ways that you can learn to bond and share stories, tell secrets and just get your kids the chance to get away from screen time and the confines of the house. You can cook together, set up a tent together and then create ways to have fun!
   

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2. You’ll all experience some nature. Whether you are in the city or by the beach, in the country or a small town, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of being in the countryside. You will be into nature in a way that you won’t find at home, and you can get the chance to show your kids different plants, different flowers and even different animals. They get the chance to breathe a different air, and that really does matter. The best bit? With less light pollution, you will be able to see stars, too!
3. They will learn so much. You can have fun with map reading, compass navigation and tree climbing. You can teach the kids to light a campfire, to dig a hole for the toilet and you can really get them involved in local fishing, too! Without the computer screens, they’ll learn hands-on skills that will be a life changer for your children. 
4. There are no interruptions. You won’t have the chance to be distracted by work, the screens, the rest of the world because all you will be doing is concentrating on spending time with the kids and in nature. When you’re camping in the woods, you will spend time soaking in the surroundings, watching the stars and appreciating the stillness.

Being in the countryside, you’ll feel like you can pause and appreciate the company of your kids and your family. 

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A dinner party can be a really fun way to host your loved ones, show off your cooking skills, or just enjoy an adult’s evening in without the kids. However, hosting a dinner party can be stressful. Make it a stress-free experience with these tips.

Decide When And Who

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If you’re not used to hosting dinner parties, four to six guests is a good place to start. If you aren’t used to cooking for a lot of people, more than that will be overwhelming and stressful. Start small and invite close friends, who won’t care if you burn things. 

A dinner party is a more intimate affair than a regular party, so invite friends who already know each other, and then add a couple of other people who you feel sure will get on with the other guest. You could also choose to invite a group of couples. 

Invite your guests about a month ahead of the date you plan to have the dinner party. Offer a range of possible dates so you can find a date that works for everybody, or least most of the people you want to ask. Three or four weeks in advance is enough time for people to rearrange their schedule if they need to, but so far in advance that they will have forgotten about your dinner party by the time the date rolls around. Friday and Saturdays are usually the best nights to host. Any other night can be difficult to fit around work schedules, or could be less fun when everyone has to worry about getting up for the work in the morning. 

Be Strategic With Your Menu Planning

If you want to host a dinner party so you can showcase your culinary skills, then the main focus should of course be on the food. If that isn’t the point of your dinner party, then you still need to serve food, but you don’t need to put as much pressure on yourself to turn out a gourmet feast. You could instead make some simple small bites, serve them as tapas, and have a more relaxing evening. 

It’s a good idea to cook meals that you have made before, so you don’t get any nasty surprises on the day. Choose recipes that seem fancy, but are easy to make. If you can, prep your dessert a couple of days before. There are lots of make-ahead desserts that will still wow your guests, but give you one less thing to do on the day. 

Try to time your cooking so you’re not stuck in the kitchen all night. The more you can do before your guests arrive, the better, so you can actually enjoy the company of the friends that you invited. 

Provide Plenty Of Drinks

There are lots of guides on the internet to help you pair wine with food, or you can head to your local off-licence and ask for some advice on what to offer with your menu. 

Have some beer or cider on hand too, and perhaps some liquor, so you have something to offer those who don’t like wine. Make sure you have some non-alcoholic options too, for any guests who are driving or who just don’t want to drink alcohol for any reason. 

If your guests offer to bring alcohol, accept their offer. They’re likely to bring something they like, so you have one less thing to worry about when you’re prepping your dinner party. 

Prepare In Advance

There are kinds of preparation you need to do before your dinner party; food prep, house prep, and mental prep. 

For preparing the food, make a list of the ingredients you will need based on your finalized menu. Give yourself plenty of time for a couple of trips to the store (in case you forget something the first time), and one day for preparing the food. If you know you are going to be busy the week of your dinner party, book a grocery delivery online to save some more time. 

Another option to make more time is to send your spouse or roommate to the store to pick supplies, while you clean the house or vice versa. 

Don’t forget house prep too. You don’t need to deep clean every room, but make sure that any rooms your guests will be in, like the lounge, kitchen, dining room, and bathroom, are all clean and ready for them. Make the spaces feel inviting with details like a great tablecloth from Richard Haworth. 

Take some time to mentally prepare too. You might be stressed, nervous, or just exciting. Whatever you’re feeling, take some time to get calm so you can enjoy your evening. 

Set The Mood

A few simple touches can make a lot of difference. Decorate the table with fresh flowers, or set the mood with candles. Dim the lights for a relaxing mood, or hang fairy lights. 

Don’t forget the music. Small speakers are ideal, but your laptop will be fine if that’s what you have. Create a playlist, so you can just set put it on and forget about it. Instrumental, classical, or jazz music can all work well, played low in the background. If you know a friend with amazing taste in music, ask them to make the playlist for you. 

Clean Up

Clean up right after the party, even if you’re tired. Some of your guests might offer to help with the clean-up, but don’t feel like you need to accept. You invited them over, so prepping, cooking, and clean-up are part of your job as a host. 

Gather all the plates, glasses, and anything else from around the house and move them into the kitchen. If it’s already very late, and you don’t have a dishwasher to stack everything in right away, and don’t want to be up until the small hours washing dishes, you can put everything in the sink to soak overnight. Reset your dining room, and make it as easy as you can for yourself in the morning to get everything clean again.

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Mental health concerns are something which most parents have to deal with today. The world is a very different place than it once was and in the past, mental health issues were largely swept under the carpet despite a number of teenagers and children suffering from them.

Today, children and adults alike are encouraged to speak about mental health issues and to be open about them. This is very important – if mental health issues are not to be stigmatized any longer, we need as parents to ensure that our children feel able to open up to us.

Speak to your child about their feelings

From their earliest days, name their feelings. Help them to learn that strong emotions are part of being a human and give them strategies to cope with them.

Ordinary, but negative feelings such as sadness, anger, frustration and fear can be frightening for children simply because they don’t have any benchmark with which to compare them.

Letting your child know that these feelings are normal and valid will help them to process the emotions.

Learning to process emotions and learning to help themselves to shake the feelings off through positive actions is a valuable lesson for children to learn.

Show your child the value of a brisk walk in the fresh air, show them how engaging in arts and crafts can lift the spirits, teach them how music can change our mood.

With coping mechanisms like this, as your child grows, they will soon have an arsenal of weapons with which to battle the sometimes difficult feelings we all experience. 

As your child grows and starts school, they will be able to access the support of peers and staff to learn even more coping mechanisms.

This secondary school in Kildare for example, offers support to students in a variety of effective ways and pupils achieve good academic results.

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For most children, exams signal a period of some stress. Even the most diligent students can feel anxiety over looming exams because there’s such a lot riding on the results. Parents too can feel concern over their child’s preparation and results – questions about how the child might cope if they don’t do well and how they can assure their child performs to the best of their ability. The absolute best solution to the anxiety which exams can bring about is preparation. Helping your child prepare for exams can really assist in many ways.

When a child has studied appropriately and for the right amount of time, there’s no reason for them to worry. Of course, there is the chance of a poor performance on the day of exams – some factors can’t be eliminated such as illness, but the main thing to remember is if your child has prepared well, then there’s every chance they will achieve good results.

Here are some top tips for helping your child prepare for their exams: 

• Ensure you stay in touch with school and attend any meetings offered about forthcoming exams. These often include vital information such as timelines and resources which will assist your child.
• Provide a well designed space for your child to work in. At-home-prep is vital for most children and they will need to revise prior to their exams so a desk, comfortable chair and good lighting are important.
• Consider introducing your child to mindfulness. This relaxation technique can reduce stress considerably.
• Make sure your child eats well and gets plenty of outdoor time.

If your child is happy and healthy there’s absolutely no reason to think they won’t do well. Another important point to remember is to discuss your child’s worries and fears with them and come up with strategies to work around any issues they might be experiencing.

If they are worried about one subject in particular, open up a conversation with their teacher about these concerns. It may be that your child simply needs a little extra tuition.

The best schools, like this independent school in Cardiff, treat every student as an individual and ensure that they have extra help where needed as well as emotional support if that’s something the child will benefit from.

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All parents hope for a child who sails through their academic journey with ease. But it’s not always like that. For many children, some subjects just take a bit more effort than others.

The most typical areas where children need support are in mathematics and English. It might be that they lack confidence with mathematics or some of the basics such as times tables haven’t been well-established. Or with English, their spelling or comprehension might not be as well-developed as it could be.

If this is the case for your child, don’t worry, a tutor can help bring them up to speed. 

Sometimes, the issues don’t rear their heads until it comes time for GCSEs or A Levels and then teachers might notice weak spots in your child’s development. 

If you’ve been thinking about getting a tutor for your child, here are 5 signs which you may have noticed and which do indicate that a tutor would be a good idea.

1 – Your child is reluctant about some lessons and not about others It might be glaringly obvious that your child is perfectly happy to attend art, English, Geography – whatever – but when it comes to maths, they’ll do anything to avoid the homework or even have time off school on the days those lessons are scheduled. If this is the case, then it’s probable that your child is lacking confidence and falling behind.

2 – Consistently low marks – this is obvious but it’s sometimes easy to simply dismiss low marks as low effort. Not all children are capable of achieving good marks without additional help. It’s fine if your child needs some one-to-one help in a particular subject.

3 – Good at one aspect and not at another – This might include such issues as your child being an excellent storyteller, able to think up sophisticated plots and characters but have issues getting the work down on paper. That’s a good sign they need help.

4 – Your child is teary and upset about school – and you know there’s no issues with illness or bullying. Children often get emotional when they don’t feel they’re doing well. Watch out for this as it’s easily solved with extra help.

5 – Poor handwriting – poor or slow hand writers do find it harder to keep up in class. This can be mended with special exercises and routines which a good tutor can show you. 

If any of the above rings a bell for you, make enquiries about a tutor. The best schools will be able to provide you with advice on how to find a suitable tutor. This sixth form in Surrey ensures all pupils have access to the support they need to excel.

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If your child isn’t one of those who knows exactly what hobbies and pastimes they enjoy, it’s easy to think that they simply don’t have a passion in life. But nothing could be further from the truth. Everyone has the capacity to be passionate about something – and it doesn’t have to be sports or dance either!

It’s easy to follow the crowd when it comes to finding a hobby or passion for your child but there’s absolutely no need to. The best route to finding a passion is to try as many different things to explore in life as possible.

You can help your child do this by ensuring they’re exposed to as many different things as possible in life. Not only traditional hobbies such as sports but also campaigns and charity work. In this way you will broaden their horizons and help them learn more about their own personality.

Here are some ideas for unusual things to try or to explore with your child as they search for their passion in life:

• Metal detecting
• Mudlarking
• Charity work 
• Volunteer environmental work
• Helping with younger children
• Sewing or fashion design
• Sculpture
• Gardening
• Singing
• Sailing
• Canoeing
• Wood or metal work

When you think outside of the box and begin to look at pastimes which might not be typical for most children, you’ll be opening new doors for your child and perhaps helping them to find something they really enjoy which they can continue into adulthood.

When your child is older, their school might help them find something they feel really passionate about. This boarding school in Wiltshire for example ensures all pupils have access to a wide range of extracurricular activities which stretch their imaginations and their sticking power.

Keep an open mind and your child will too! Try lots of different things and your child will develop a resilience and confidence which can only be earned through effort and the bravery it takes to learn new skills.

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