How I survive long haul flights

I've been lucky enough to enjoy some wonderful holidays to far flung destinations, and I like to think I'm a pretty seasoned traveller when it comes to flying long haul. So I thought I'd share some tips for things that have helped me survive a long haul flight and emerge at the end ready for a new adventure, or prepared to get back into the swing of things at home!

Before flying

We try to pre-book seats or check in on time to choose seats together. I like an aisle seat, so I usually have the children next to me by the window. Bulkhead seats are nice for extra legroom, but I'm short and I'm personally not a fan - hand luggage has to go in the overhead compartment, the table and screen are awkwardly positioned, the toilet queue is right beside you, and it's where they keep the noisy babies! 

As soon as I sit in my seat I change my phone clock to the new timezone and sync my watch. I try to get myself in the mindset for the new time, so if it's suddenly evening I imagine being ready to go to sleep.

Finally when packing for peace of mind I always make everyone pop spare underwear and a clean top into hand luggage. You never know when you'll spill a drink down yourself, or whether your suitcase may end up in a different place. 

Daytime flights

I find long daytime flights the hardest. I keep the flight map up on the screen and sometimes it can just go so slowly! 

I download plenty of entertainment to my phone. I only found out recently that you can download videos from YouTube to watch offline! I choose light, easy to watch videos that normally I pass over for something more substantial. There's usually something that I want to watch on the entertainment system, maybe an old film that I've not watched in years or some episodes of a sitcom that I enjoy.

I take plenty of reading material. Mostly it's on my Kindle, but I always make sure to take at least one physical book in case of a Kindle mishap. I'll choose a book that I've been looking forward to reading (making sure that I've read the first few pages and know it's one I'm going to enjoy). A few days before we go away I have a good browse of the Prime Reading Library and free Kindle books to make sure that I've got plenty of options, and I have lots of old favourites in my Kindle library.

I like to take a notepad and pen too, useful if anyone needs to be entertained with some pen and paper games and it's somewhere to jot down random thoughts that come into my head when I'm bored and staring into space!

I pack plenty of snacks, and I try to include things that I don't eat often and are a bit of a treat. Minstrels are good because they don't melt if it's hot, and I like savoury snacks like the little packs from Graze. 

I also try to nap even on a daytime flight. It's not easy when people are going up and down the aisle or the children need something, but it does make the time pass more quickly.

Photo credit Suhyeon Choi via Unsplash

Night flights

For me night flights are all about sleeping, as much as possible. Whether it's because I want to make the most of our first day in a new location or so that I can arrive home and not need to fall straight into bed and make the jet lag worse.

I have an unusual neck pillow which is called a trtl pillow. I'm not sure it's much more comfortable than a classic neck pillow, but it packs down small in my hand luggage and it has a long fleecy scarf which I wrap around almost my whole face. I use it with a black sleep mask and ear plugs, and that combination really does help me to get some sleep.

Before a night flight we try to eat dinner at the airport. For a longer flight I'll wait for the meal on the plane, but for a shorter long haul flight I'll just make sure that the children are comfortable and then I'll tuck myself up for sleep straight away. I don't have an alcoholic drink, it's tempting because I know it would make me feel dozy, but I think I would wake up during the flight feeling worse.

Even if I can't sleep during the flight I try to avoid turning on the screen or a reading light. Luckily night flights on planes are set up for sleeping with disturbances kept to a minimum so I can usually at least doze. It's such a nice feeling to wake up from a sleep on the plane and check the map to see that you are nearly at your destination.

After landing

I make sure that I'm mentally in the new time zone immediately. Even if it feels like the middle of the night I try to stay awake as long as I can, and eat meals at the correct times - sunlight, fresh air and exercise can help to stay awake. If we've landed early morning and I know that I can't manage the whole day awake then I will have a nap early afternoon, but I'll set an alarm and force myself to get up and keep going!

A look at my current 'to be read' pile

Back in June I shared my to be read pile, and it's changed quite a lot since then as I've been making a big effort to sort through it! So I thought I'd do a little update post. Here's how it looked in June:

And here is how it is currently looking:

Yes that's right, just five books! You may notice that two of the heavy hitters, War and Peace and the Steve Jobs autobiography have vanished. They had been there a long time and I was not realistically going to read them when there are so many other lovely books around. I will hang on to War and Peace because I really would like to read it someday, but I found the Steve Jobs book very dry so that's heading for the charity shop!

The remaining books are:

The Pillow Book by Sei Shōnagon - This is a book that I like to dip in and out of so I like to keep it by the bed.

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami - I enjoy Murakami's books but I've not really got into this one yet, it's not a long book, I just need to make a start.

Demon Copperfield by Barbara Kingsolver - This was a recent World of Books purchase and I'm really looking forward to getting to it because it sounds right up my street. I'm saving it to take on holiday!

A Saunterer in Sussex by A. A. Evans - One of my Dad's books that caught my eye, it's a series of chapters about walks through various locations and landmarks in Sussex. I'm about halfway through, it's quite a dry and old-fashioned read but I'm enjoying it.

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks - Another book that I'm halfway through. It's an interesting non-fiction read, filled with case histories of patients with different neurological disorders. I put it down because I found that it was getting a bit repetitive, so now I've had a break I'll be picking it up again!

Now this might seem good, but conspicuous by it's absence is my Kindle!

Currently there are 17 items in my To Be Read collection, which is actually better than it was a few days ago when I had a bit of a cull. Most of these books are part of the Amazon First Reads scheme which offers one or two free books a month to Prime members. These are mainly all new books by new authors, and it's a great way to find new writers. Unfortunately I have found that they can be a bit hit and miss, with quite a few more misses than hits. So now that some of them have been out long enough to build up reviews on Goodreads I've been a bit ruthless with removing the ones that are getting terrible reviews, or the ones that haven't grabbed me after the first few chapters.

I have a holiday coming up and I'm hoping to fit in plenty of reading time, I really want to get those Kindle books down, and I also want to get back into the habit of going to the library because I have a huge list of new books that I want to read!

How many watts does a monitor use - A guide for parents choosing baby monitors

This is a collaborative post

When you’re picking out a baby monitor, your mind’s probably racing with a million questions. Somewhere in there, you might start wondering, “How many watts does a monitor use?” It’s a fair worry, especially if you are planning to use a video baby monitor that basically never takes a nap. 

This article outlines the various factors that influence a monitor’s wattage, the comparison between different display technologies, and the reasons behind varying energy consumption of monitors. Furthermore, you will become acquainted with the simplest ways to calculate power usage and the corresponding cost as well as receive some tips that will help you save energy.

Photo credit Isaac Quesada via Unsplash

Understanding the Basics of Monitor Power Consumption

Shopping for a baby monitor is kind of a rabbit hole. You start out wanting to keep an eye on your kid using a video baby monitor, and suddenly you’re comparing energy bills and wondering how many watts does a monitor use by squinting at “wattage” numbers like you’re prepping for a physics exam.

Here’s the deal: Monitors that suck up more watts usually have flashier screens or a bunch of bells and whistles—think night vision, lullabies, the works. But honestly? You probably don’t need a monitor that could double as a disco ball. The lower-watt ones do the basics just fine and won’t make your electric bill weep. Pick something that keeps tabs on your baby without eating too much power.

Key Factors That Influence a Monitor's Wattage

Energy usage of baby monitors can be changed due to multiple factors and understanding these factors will allow you to make better decisions. What features, size, and the type of the display determine how many watts does a monitor use. Extra-function or continuous monitoring, as in the case of a video baby monitor, are usually a higher power consumption source. 

Here’s the real scoop on what actually messes with how much power your baby monitor uses:

Display type and size: Size totally matters. A massive, high-resolution screen? Yeah, it’s gonna suck up way more power than some tiny, basic display. You also need to know the difference between LED, LCD, and OLED—each one’s got its own power-hungry quirks.

Extra features: Monitors with built-in night lights, temperature sensors, or those video baby monitors have a higher power consumption than simpler models. More features equals more energy getting slurped up. 

Volume and alert settings: Crank up the volume or set your monitor to chirp at every little noise? That’s gonna eat a bit more electricity, too. Not a ton, but it adds up.

Connectivity and wireless functions: Wireless devices that use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth? Keeping that connection alive drains a steady trickle of power, so don’t be surprised if your battery cries for help sooner.

Standby and active modes: Some monitors in standby mode hardly use any power, but when you change them to “active,” they consume a lot of power very quickly. 

The Role of Display Technology: LED vs. LCD vs. OLED

What kind of screen your baby monitor rocks actually matters a lot, both for how it looks on your nightstand and how much juice it sucks from the outlet. How many watts does a monitor use can vary widely depending on the screen technology and features.

Let’s break it down real quick:

LED displays: These screens are energy-efficient and bright, making them a popular choice for standard baby monitors. Some models with a video baby monitor feature still manage to keep power use low.

LCD displays: LCDs are widely available and can handle larger screens, but they tend to slurp up more watts than LEDs. Not exactly what you want if you’re chasing efficiency.

OLED displays: If you want to use an OLED, expect gorgeous colors, and blacks so deep you’ll lose a sock in them. However, that kind of eye candy needs a lot of power, especially when you throw in extra features. 

Why Gaming Monitors Use More Power Than Standard Displays

Usually, gaming monitors are more power-hungry as they feature fast refresh rates, big screen sizes, and high brightness levels to be able to show detailed graphics. A regular computer or TV screen are simple standard displays that consume less energy unless they are also designed to meet the same performance requirements. 

Besides those displays, there is also a video baby monitor which is a more compact, multifunctional device that includes a screen, a camera, and a microphone for a live watch. When you consider how many watts does a monitor use, the difference becomes clear between high-power gaming models, standard displays, and those that are made for baby care. 

Calculating Your Monitor's Energy Usage and Cost

Parents can get an idea of the baby monitor's energy consumption when they calculate how much it will cost them to run their baby monitor daily. The easiest method is to find out how many watts does a monitor use, then multiply that by the number of hours the monitor is on and by the electricity rate in the house. 

For instance, a video baby monitor running during the night can lead to a considerable power consumption, however, by knowing the figures it is possible to make a budget of the expenses and still have your safety and peace of mind kept. 

The Difference Between Active Use and Standby Mode

A baby monitor uses power differently depending on whether it is fully active or in standby. In active use, the screen and sound run the whole time, which means higher energy demand. Parents asking how many watts does a monitor use should know that standby mode lowers power draw by dimming the screen while still picking up important sounds.

So, if you’re stressing over your power bill (honestly, who isn’t?), knowing the difference between the active use and the standby mode is a game changer. The bottom line is mess with those settings for a bit. You still catch every peep and squawk from the nursery, but you’re not wasting electricity like some kind of rookie. 

Simple Changes to Reduce Your Monitor's Power Consumption

Figuring out how many watts does a monitor use is honestly a lifesaver if you’re trying not to cry at your next electric bill. Tiny tweaks here and there—stuff you barely notice—can seriously drop your energy use, and you don’t have to turn your setup into some boring, bare-bones operation either. Even a smart monitor can be handled in a way that allows it to work effectively and efficiently. 

To put it simply, here are some changes that you can attempt: 

Adjust the brightness and volume. Don’t blast it unless you want your room to lit up like an airport runway. 

Stick the baby monitor at a spot where you don’t need it cranked to full brightness just to see what’s going on. Even those video baby monitors don’t need to be set to 100% brightness mode 24/7.

Turn off the features you don’t actually use. Nobody needs continuous lullabies or disco lights going all day. The less fluff, the more cash you save. 

Conclusion: Making an Informed Choice for Efficiency

Knowing how many watts does a monitor use isn’t just about saving a couple bucks on your power bill—it’s also about making sure your baby’s nursery doesn’t turn into a mini sauna or some sort of electrical hazard zone. Seriously, some of those fancy video baby monitors suck up way more power than those old-school audio ones. However, you do get to watch your little one snooze in real time, so it’s a trade-off.

If you know how much power different monitors use, you can avoid spending too much on a large HD screen monitor, a night vision monitor, or a lullaby playing monotone machine. That way you can keep an eye on your baby, save the power of your home, and avoid the extra cost on your electric bill.

A look at some Christmas themed kits from Rolife

I received these kits in exchange for a review

I love crafting for Christmas - mainly for the enjoyment of completing a craft project but also having some unique finished festive decor that I can bring out every Christmas and admire for many years.

I've been sent some gorgeous miniature crafting kits from Rolife to try this Christmas, and so I'm going to share a quick preview before I start my crafting and share the finished results!

First is this DIY Miniature House - Gingerbread House. This lovely kit comes with all sorts of tiny accessories to build a light-up Gingerbread Bakery shop filled with delicious Christmas goodies. I've always wanted a miniature Christmas village and this looks like it could be the perfect start - I can't wait to begin putting it all together! This kit is a 3 star kit so I'm expecting it to be a little more complex than the basic sets, and I know that I'm going to really enjoy assembling it.

Secondly I will be working on these two kits from the Story Frames Series - Christmas Eve Party and Santa's Toy Shop. These two kits are built inside a deep plastic frame which holds the contents and also a lighting kit. Christmas Eve Party features a lovely little Christmas themed interior with a table set with treats, a Christmas tree, and lots of tiny festive decorations. Santa's Toy Shop is the exterior of a toy shop filled with Christmas treasures including decor and toys.

These Christmas frame kits are both 2 star difficulty kits with an estimated build time of two hours, so I could probably complete these in one sitting. But I'll be working on them a little slower because I want to enjoy every minute of the build process! 

I'll be sharing a full review of the kits when I've completed them, but in the meantime I've made a start on the Christmas Eve Party frame kit. I just love the idea of these frames which can be hung on the wall or displayed standing as part of your Christmas decor. They are packed with tiny details, just look at all these sweet little accessories that will be carefully placed into position. I expecially love the tiny gingerbread house!

Assembling the kit is straightforward with clear instructions to follow. The assembly is broken down into individual stages for each component, so you need to gather everything that you need for that step and then carefully follow the guidance to put it together. The kit is designed to be assembled without glue, with the pieces being adhered using small strips of double sided tape. However I liked to keep some glue handy as I wanted the extra security of knowing that things were firmly glued together.

So far I've build a little display case filled with festive plates, a corner display shelf, a chair holding a wooden teddy and a couple of small gifts. The thing I love about these kits is that you can work on them when you have time available, as the short steps mean that you can stop and start at any point. I like to keep everything ready, and then when I have a few spare minutes I can put a few pieces together ready to be placed inside the main frame.

I'm going to be very busy working on these kits, ready to have them on display as part of my Christmas decor!

My Autumn themed jigsaw puzzle wishlist

This post contains Amazon affiliate links

I've been struggling lately with browsing for jigsaw puzzles on Amazon. Firstly, many of the puzzles are from "alphabet soup" brands, complete with poorly translated descriptions stuffed with key words. Secondly lots of them look very much like AI generated images with colours that are too vibrant, fuzzy details and they just look a bit off. Now AI does have it's place in the modern world, but for me at the moment that's not in jigsaw puzzles, so I've tried to pick out puzzles from respected brands. They may be a little more expensive but I hope that they are likely to be better quality in terms of both image and construction.

Unfortunately I can't link images from Amazon, so I hope that my descriptions will be good enough to encourage you to take a closer look. If you are searching for some good quality Autumn themed jigsaw puzzles for some puzzling as the nights draw in, I hope that you enjoy looking through my selection!

Galison - Autumn in the Meadow - 1000 piece (affiliate link)

This 1000 piece jigsaw features an illustration of an overgrown footpath which passes through a vegetable patch filled with pumpkins and chickens towards a tiny cottage half hidden by floating autumnal flowers. The colours are gorgeous, and this one looks like it would be pleasantly tricky and very satisfying to put together.

Elena Essex - Sunset Valley - 1000 piece (affiliate link)

Perhaps not quite strictly Autumnal, but with a rich palette of reds and oranges this illustrated scene features rolling hills with colourful cottages nestled in between. This puzzle has plenty of interest and I think would not be too challenging once you had sorted out the different areas.

Galison - Nature in Autumn - 500 piece (affiliate link)

I love a smaller puzzle that can be completed in an evening or two, and jigsaw features images of various flora and fauna which you might see while out and about in Autumn. There's a lot of detail in the pictures and a lovely selection of colours.

Cobble Hill - Country Diary: Autumn - 1000 piece (affiliate link)

This puzzle features illustrations from The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady and so it's a group of nostalgic paintings along with handwritten inscriptions. There is a huge amount of detail in the image and it seems realistic in the types of things that you might spot in Autumn. The colours are muted in style with the vintage design, and this would be a lovely relaxing puzzle to slot together.

Galison - Autumn in the Neighbourhood - 1000 piece (affiliate link)

Another Galison puzzle with gorgeous Autumn colours, this is a street scene featuring a row of terraced houses framed by trees in their autumnal colours and decorated with wreaths and pumpkins. The houses would be really fun to put together and the beautiful smudged leaves would be a great challenge!

Galison - Autumn at the City Market - 1000 piece (affiliate link)

This Autumn scene features a city skyline with a row of lovely coloured trees across the centre, with market stalls and yellow taxi cabs in the foreground. It's a great contrast between nature and the city, and there are plenty of details to spot with the intricate stalls and the passersby. 

What reading gives me

I've always been a reader. I read quite widely - various genres, historical and modern novels, long and short books, mainly fiction but also non-fiction. I always have a book on the go, as well as a 'to be read' pile on my bedside table, and a notes document detailing the books that I want to add to my collection.  

I've been reading even more lately as I try to replace screen time with books, and it led me to reflect on all the benefits that being a regular reader gives me.

At the moment, I'm really noticing how reading helps with my ability to focus. Not just when I'm actually reading, but I'm finding that in situations when I can't read (for example when I'm exercising or cooking) I'm quite happy to just think my own thoughts. Especially if I'm reading a book which has really grabbed my interest - I'll be thinking about the characters and scenarios.

I love a book that gives me an insight into a different time or culture. Particularly those written by women about women - I like to learn about how life has changed over time. I'm especially drawn to books written and set before the internet and smartphones. Like classic novels where people write long, descriptive letters to each other and spend time together just enjoying each other's company.

I prefer to read in long, uninterrupted stretches, especially in bed at the end of the day. But that doesn't happen very often so I have to find moments when I can - I read while eating lunch, in the car while I wait at school pick up, when I find myself with a few spare minutes during the day. I find it relaxing and a way to switch off from what's around me.

Photo credit Clay Banks via Unsplash

Sometimes reading a book will inspire me to try something new. If I read a book about someone that grows vegetables then then it makes me want to get out in my own garden, or I might feel like trying a new way of cooking or a new craft. I enjoy books about people that make positive changes in their lives and it helps me to think about things that I could change.

There are some books that I turn to when I need some help in stressful times. I have a whole shelf of comfort reading books which are mainly children's books - The Swish of the Curtain series, A Little Princess, the Little House on the Prairie books. I can pick them up, I know exactly what will happen, and can often finish them in just a few sittings. 

Reading is so important to me, and I want to make sure that I'll always be a reader even as screens become more and more addictive!

Weekend gardening

Even though we are well into October it still feels very mild outside. Last week I even had our bifold doors fully open, although I am expecting that to be the last time for this year! Our garden remains full of flowers. We have some beautiful red and yellow canna lilies that have been in bloom since I planted them in early May, and I also have some lovely pink dahlias and purple salvias that both really took off over the summer. I'm so pleased with how I have been able to fill my garden with colour.

A few weeks ago I drove past the garden centre and spotted a banner outside saying that the bulbs were in, so we took a trip over and stocked up. I've never bought bulbs before and I got a little carried away! I bought large bags of simple tulips and daffodils, and then I added some fancier varieties. Luckily we do have plenty of beds that still need filling, but I hadn't really thought through the logistics. I've made a start but it's going to take me a couple of weeks to find the time to get them all planted!

Our front garden is looking rather messy as we still haven't decided what we are going to plant along the front border. We took down a large, overgrown hedge and I intended to replace it with something similar, but the longer we've lived without a hedge the more I appreciate not having to maintain it. I'm thinking a row of some kind of low lying shrubs, something to create a border but not be too difficult to keep cut back. In the meantime the bed is just filling up with weeds that I go and pull out every few weeks.

We are also having a lot of weeds growing in the new pebbles at the front. I was hoping that the membrane underneath would hold them off for a couple of years at least, but I think they are just growing on top of it. So we borrowed a weed burning tool from my Mum to see if that would be any good at getting rid of them!

I was very wary because I'm a bit scared of fire, and when I tried using it with my Mum in the summer in her garden it was very dry and we had a couple of occasions where the grass caught fire. So it's definitely a two person job - one on standby with a watering can! It's really satisfying to use, and it's much easier on the back and hands than stooping down to pull the weeds out, so we might look to get one at some point.

I know that the next job will be picking up leaves - there are three large trees that drop leaves into our garden and it's always quite an effort to keep it all tidy. I'm also interested to see what happens to all my lovely plants when it starts to get really cold - I hope that at least some of them survive the winter!