My Car History*




 



My beloved Mini!

Ever since I was a child I have always wanted to drive so when I started driving lessons just after my seventeenth birthday I couldn't wait to pass my test. Just the thought of being able to get to places by myself whenever I needed or wanted was very exciting. It did take me around nine months to be ready to take the practical test but I passed first time as I had with the theory test. I also already had a second hand car that I'd practiced driving in with my dad, often with some arguing.

But how I loved my first car, a Vauxhall Nova. I remember so well the first journey I drove by myself after passing my test. It was a short drive down to my friends house. It felt amazing being independent albeit a little nerve wracking driving completely alone. My trusty Nova was in my life for the next three years until it was in an accident and sadly written off.

Next I ventured down the new car route, I'd been saving for a while so had a deposit could afford the monthly finance payments. My second car and first 'big purchase' was a Renault Clio. How exciting it was ordering a brand new car, I had to wait a few weeks before it was ready to be picked up, I still clearly remember that day and how I stalled it doing a right hand turn on to the main road as I left the show room! I kept it until 2011 when I decided I wanted a new car, a Mini  to be specific! I bought it before I sold my Clio and again absolutely loved it, even though I had no idea about the 'Stop/Start' function when I first drove it and was confused when the engine cut out when I stopped at traffic lights! I only had it for a year and a half before I sold it due to wanting/needing a five door car when pregnant with Eliot. As my parents were getting a new car they gave me their old one, a Nissan Almera. It saved me from paying out for another car and was ideal for a growing family. When I went back to work full time I decided to go down the new car route again and went for a Renault Captur. My Clio had been reliable and efficient so I was happy to go back to a car brand I'd driven before.  It's still the car I'm driving today.

I feel lucky that with all the cars I've had, I've not had any major issues (touch wood), only problems to do with batteries. The worst case being with the Almera when the battery was cutting out when I was driving which wasn't great and also a little scary on a dual carriageway!

Of course I've replaced a fair few tyres, sometimes with the MOT highlighting the fact they needed changing. I knew worn tyres were pretty dangerous but wasn't aware that tyre blowouts are one of the main causes of car accidents. I've admitted before that I'm not the best at safety checks with my car which is why it's useful to have my dad frequently reminding me. Sometimes it's a bit of a pain to get car jobs done etc which is why it is helpful to book online. If you need new tyres you can reserve tyres online & get free professional tyre fitting from Iverson Tyres Ltd. in London. 

It's really important to do regular car safety checks, such as making sure your tyres are the correct pressure and the tread is not worn beyond the legal limit.

How often do you do car safey checks?



Car Safety Checks

 

Next week I’m going away with my parents, we’ll be taking two cars as you’ll know if you have children, especially babies you normally end up taking everything but the kitchen sink! Add my mum into the mix and you do literally take everything, in self-catered accommodation she won’t use any of the plates, cutlery etc. provided including the kettle, so that comes along too! As you can imagine there’s not an awful lot of room!

The journey will be quite a long one, around four hours I think so this weekend I need to make sure I do some checks to ensure my car is ready for the long drive. I must admit I am a bit of a stereotypical female when it comes to cars and not always the best at doing those checks but thankfully my dad is on hand to remind me! He comments/reminds me I need to check my tyres, oil and even asks me if I have enough petrol! Petrol is one aspect I do keep on top of!

 I need to do to make sure my car is as safe as possible and hopefully less likely to break down, like everyone else I don’t want to be sat on the side of the road waiting for roadside assistance especially with two children on board! So these are the checks I’ll be doing…

1.       Check the oil level and top up if I need to

2.       Check the engine coolant level

3.       Top up with water or screen wash to ensure I don’t run out

4.        Check my wiper blades are working correctly. In the snowstorm a couple of weeks ago they were smearing Ice across the windscreen making it almost impossible to see and I had to pull over on the hard shoulder of the M1 to sort them out, which was not a pleasant experience!

5.       Last but not least I will be checking my tyres, checking that the pressures are correct. I replaced two of my tyres a couple of weeks ago so I know the tread is ok. I did have to stand around in the cold and rain whilst they were fitted, I didn’t know about Jet Wheel Tyres where I could have saved some time and ordered online!

 

Have a missed anything out? Are there any other safety checks you carry out on your car before journeys?

 

*This post is in collaboration with Jet Wheel Tyres

Are You Carbon Monoxide safe? & Giveaway CLOSED

When we lived in London our flat was completely powered by electricity and some solar power. In our new house we have a supply of both gas and electricity.

A few weeks ago my mum and I were discussing carbon monoxide detectors. My parents had one but needed a new one and I wanted to get one for our home. I've read and heard quite a lot about carbon monoxide poisoning in the past and want to ensure we are safe at home.

 Every year in the UK, more than 200 people go to hospital with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, and around 40 people die. Small children and the elderly are most at risk, CORGI HomePlan is campaigning for every home to get a carbon monoxide detector, so that they can keep their family safe. In the last three years, an estimated one in six homes inspected by the Gas Safe Register was found to have an unsafe gas appliance and one in eleven has an unsafe boiler.

Our boiler played up on Good Friday which meant we had to pay a small fortune for it to get repaired. We were also advised to get it serviced regularly.

CORGI are campaigning for all homes to install a CO detector. They have created a microsite to help families become more aware about the dangers of gas appliances in the home. http://corgi-homeplan-how-safe-is-your-home.org/ It's filled with advice and what to look out for if carbon monoxide poisoning could be affecting you. It's an easy reference resource for those of us unsure how to stay safe in the home and what to do if things do go wrong.

We now have a carbon monoxide detector at home, do you? If not CORGI are giving one away! Enter via the Rafflecopter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY - Essential Baby Care Guide DVD

 

The Essential Baby Care Guide from The Essential Baby Company was launched in Tesco back in February. There are six individual DVD's Introduced and narrated by Professor Robert Winston , Breastfeeding, Formula Feeding, Introducing Solids, First Aid,  Your Baby's First Month and Sleeping (RRP £3.99 each). The full DVD covering all of the above is also available (RRP £19.99). All are available from Tesco and the full DVD is also available from Amazon.

I was recently sent the First Aid DVD to review. I'll be honest and say I had no idea about baby resuscitation and the recovery position for baby's. The DVD shows you how to administer to babies under one. I suppose they are both things that hope I will never have to do. But none of us know what is round the corner, within family, friends or events we may encounter out in public. I am so glad that I now have more knowledge about strategies to implement should I experience an emergency!

The DVD has several sections...

• Baby recovery position
• Baby resuscitation
• Baby choking
• Bee Stings
• Epi Pens/Auto injections
• Burns and Scalds
• Baby Sprains
• Baby Wounds
• Baby Poisoning

Each and every section offers invaluable  advice. Advice in many of the sections that could save lives!

'All topics are explained clearly by experts in the field including, midwives, teachers, doctors & consultants, first aid trainers and nurses from organisations such as The Royal College of Paediatrics, St Johns Ambulance and UNICEF'

 

What I particularly found useful in the First Aid DVD was the clear explanations and demonstrations of how to carry out the first aid required.  A recap of key points at the end of each section is great too. It is helpful to hear other parents share some of their experiences.

 

This is perfect for all expectant parents/parents of babies. The majority of us do not have the time to book on a first aid course and this is a informative solution that can be done in your own time at home. It is advised in the DVD that you do take a first aid course but in the meantime this gives you vital information.

 

You cannot put a price on life or health, this is fantastic resource to inform your first aid knowledge. I highly recommend adding this to your DVD collection!

 

I am pleased to be able to offer one lucky reader the chance to not just win one of the guides, BUT the entire collection, all on one DVD! All you need to do is enter via the Rafflecopter below.

Each entry will be verified and the DVD will be sent to the winner by the company, not myself.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

* The first aid DVD was sent to me I return for this review. All views and opinion are entirely my own.