A look at my current "to be read" pile - February 2026

I feel as though it hasn't been that long since I last shared my to be read pile, but it has changed so much that I thought I would share an update!

It is certainly very manageable, even including the hidden downloaded books that I have on my Kindle.

The book that is causing me trouble is The Rose Field by Philip Pullman, the third book in the Book of Dust trilogy which forms a prequel and two sequels to the His Dark Materials trilogy. I loved La Belle Sauvage, the first in the trilogy, but I'm afraid that I found the second one a bit of a slog and I'm not enjoying the third at all. However I want to read it for completeness sake, as I do love the universe in which they are set and I want to know what happens. It's such a shame because I really enjoy the Dark Materials books, I'm hoping will pick up a bit by the end!

A weighty tome which I am looking forward to getting stuck into is IQ84 by Haruki Murakami. I've read and enjoyed a number of Murakami's books, I love the randomness of the stories, and I always enjoy Japanese books. I bought this one as it's set in Tokyo, and I'm planning to read it before we visit this summer. It is a lot larger than I expected, as it's three volumes in one book, so I know that it's going to be one that keeps me busy for a while.

Then I have The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden. This is a bit of a wildcard entry - I had a book voucher to spend in Waterstones, I spotted a book that I wanted to buy (The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt) on the "buy one get one half price" table, and I needed to find a second for the offer. This book jumped out at me, it had a little card with a personal recommendation on it as well as having been shortlisted for the Booker Prize and winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction. I hope that I enjoy it!

Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston came up while I was googling Everest books, and it made up my free book on a recent World of Books order. It's not about Everest but it does involve climbing - it's about the man who became trapped while climbing in Utah and had to amputate his own arm to free himself. I've seen the film based on the book (127 Hours), so I'm familiar with the story, and the children have both studied an extract from the book as part of their English GCSE anthology which brought the story back into my mind. I just hope that it's not too gory!

Then I have the next collection of Everest books, my current interest. Everest by Walt Unsworth is an account of Everest climbing attempts from the very beginning up until I believe around the late 1970s. Into the Silence by Wade Davis is a look at the early Everest expeditions, and High Adventure by Sir Edmund Hillary is the story of the first ascent and the work that got them there. Most of my Everest reading so far has focussed on the more recent history, so I'm looking forward to learning more about the historical climbing attempts.

Finally there's my Kindle. I rarely buy a Kindle book, so these are all ones that I've downloaded for free. There are three books borrowed from the Amazon Prime Reading Library - The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson, The Story Collector by Evie Woods and the first Bridgerton book The Duke and I by Julia Quinn. 

I also have David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, inspired by my recent read of Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. Finally two recent books which I think come from Amazon First Reads - Follow Her by Anna Stothard and Her Beautiful Life by Brianna Labuskes.

I feel that I've got a really varied selection of books to read, some are quite long and detailed books and some are lighter reads. I have a mix of fiction and non-fiction, and they are all books that I'm very much looking forward to reading.

Have you read any of these? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

World's Most Difficult Jigsaw Puzzle, Kittens edition - Solving tips

The World's Most Difficult Jigsaw Puzzle series was released in the 90s, and as a huge cat fan and lover of jigsaw puzzles I was given this Kittens Edition puzzle when I was a teenager. I'm not usually one to choose very difficult puzzles, but I couldn't resist the image on this one, and I remember solving it without too much difficulty. 

I was able to solve it because I realised that there is a bit of a trick to completing it, and it's not nearly as difficult as it is made out to be. So today I thought I'd share how I completed this vintage puzzle, to show that it's not as daunting as it looks!

Why so difficult?

This 529 puzzle is double sided, depicting the same artwork on both sides, rotated 90° with respect to each other. The puzzle is then die cut once from each side so top and bottom are identical!

Why is it not so difficult?

All the pieces are the same shape and size, and they fit in a regular pattern. The cats are distinctive, with different shades, eye colours and patterns. There aren't really that many pieces, and if you have a decent sized table or puzzle board you can lay them out all at once for a clear view. If you spend time sorting the pieces using the method that I'll explain below then once you come to the assembly you are familiar with the pieces and you can put it together pretty easily. Also the description of the rotation is misleading, as that's not quite what is going on.

How to solve the World's Most Difficult Jigsaw Puzzle

The way this puzzle works is that the reverse side image is reflected along the diagonal, which runs from the bottom left to the top right corners. My son has better spatial awareness skills than me and helped me to understand, I still don't really get it but you just have to imagine a diagonal line running across it - I've included a photo lower down to illustrate it!

Start with the edges

There aren't many edge pieces. As you look through the puzzle pieces, you will notice that the majority of the pieces can be put together in pairs with an identical albeit rotated part of the image on each side.

This is the key to solving the puzzle. 

So sort out the edge pieces, then group them into their pairs. You will be left with two corner pieces which each have the same image section rotated, and two corner pieces which pair together. You need to find all the edge pieces before you can start putting them together.

Pick out one of the corner pieces that has the same image rotated front and back. In this puzzle, they will be the bottom left and top right pieces. Place the piece down, and this first piece will determine the top side of the puzzle. 

Then take all the edge pieces and separate them into their pairs. Turn one of the pieces over to show the reverse image. Keep the pairs clearly together! Now you have all the parts of the image laid out, so you can put together the edge. Start from the corner, and choose the piece from the pair that fits on one side. If it doesn't fit then use the other piece. Then the remaining piece will go the opposite side of the corner piece. It shouldn't take too long to put the edge together!

Sort the remaining pieces

I won't lie - this is a big job. But it's absolutely worth doing! You need to got through all the remaining pieces, and sort them into their pairs. Don't worry about which way up they are, just make lots of little piles of two pieces. The image on each will have the same orientation.

Not all the pieces have a pair. The pieces that run along the centre diagonal from bottom left to top right, in this puzzle nineteen pieces, will have the same part of the image on both sides, but rotated. Keep these to one side, but don't forget about them when assembling! You can place them down the middle if you like, but you won't know which way up they go until you place pieces around them.

Tips for sorting the pieces into their pairs

* When looking for pairs, remember that because the pieces are double sided, the match that you are looking for might be face down.

* Look for distinctive pieces, for example those that are all one colour or in the case of this puzzle the eyes are a good place to start.

* If you can't find a match for the piece that you are holding, turn it over and hunt for the reverse image.

* Group all the pieces with one dominant colour, and when you've established that they don't pair with each other then turn them over and look for the other side.

* Because the pieces are all the same shape you can orient them all the same way which makes it easier to find a match.

* Many pieces can be placed the correct way up because of the cat's face or ears, which helps when finding a match.

Ready for the final assembly!

That's the worst bit over with!

Take all your pairs, and like before place them together and turn one of the pieces over so that all the parts of the image are visible. Keep the pairs together! Ideally you will have enough space in your puzzle area to lay out every piece clearly.

From your pairs, one of the pieces will go one way up and one the other, but you don't know yet which is which. So I find it easiest to start from the edges. Once you have placed one piece, you know that the other piece in the pair will fit in the corresponding place on the reverse side. If the piece doesn't fit then you know that you need to use the other one from the pair. You can see the reflection in this picture:

I've tried to explain it more clearly by placing a line across the board showing where the image is reflected in the photographs below. You can see how the irregular groups of pieces that I have already placed at this point are reflected across to the other side of the puzzle. It took me a while to work this out, and even when I knew how the reflection worked I still found it tricky to work out where to put the second piece - often I had to flip the next piece over to see where to put it! You just know that if you've connected the first piece to an existing piece then the second piece will fit somewhere!

Once you've got going, you have lots of places that you can work off and it's not so difficult to spot the pieces that you need. Keep all the pieces oriented the same way to make finding them easier, and as I keep saying, don't muddle up the pairs!

Completed puzzle

All the pre-sorting really does pay off, and completing the puzzle shouldn't be too difficult. I really love this puzzle, it's a vintage reminder of childhood and I've done it lots of times now so it's easier each time as I remember all the different little cat faces.

Other puzzles in the series

There were lots of other puzzles that were a part of this series. I saw one in a charity shop not that long ago which was a repetitive pile of sweets, and decided that it wasn't for me as I was looking for easier puzzles at the time. There was a Baked Beans one too I'm sure. They do pop up quite often on eBay so they are still around in cupboards all over the country - If I spot another on my charity shop trails in the future I'll probably pick it up, just so I can see if it's solved in the same way!

What I did while my husband was away

I'm used to my husband being away for work one or two nights a week, but occasionally he goes away for a longer stretch. Recently he was away for over a week, and now that the children don't need my attention quite as much as they used to I enjoyed having some time to myself.

The first thing that I did was to build myself a 'nest'. I set myself up on the sofa in our orangery and I had plenty of space to lay out all my things without being disturbed. There is space to do a jigsaw, keep a pile of books, my cross stitch and my notebooks. Of course I have a lovely warm blanket, cushions, and space for a drink and snacks.

On the screens I had a list of television programmes to work through. My son and I watched the latest season of Percy Jackson, and we also watched the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures that we didn't get around to over Christmas. I had a playlist filled with longer Everest documentaries - my current fascination - and I've also recently been investigating Substack so I had fun setting that up and finding some new writers to subscribe to.

I wanted to make sure that I had plenty of screen free time too. I'm working on a cross stitch which although small is quite complicated, and it's stitched on dark fabric which means that I can only really work on it during the day. It's vaguely Christmas themed, so it would be nice to have it complete ready to display this winter!

I treated myself to a book order from World of Books, delivering me a nice new selection of Everest books. I'm building up quite a collection! Some of them are quite niche, so buying second hand is the cheapest way to get them. I also had a big pile of fiction books borrowed from a friend to add in the mix.

I worked my way to the end of my pile of new and new-to-me jigsaws, and I'm planning on re-doing some of the older ones in my collection before passing them on to new homes. I very rarely want to do a puzzle again, especially when it's so easy and cheap to find new or secondhand jigsaws in charity shops. This large Zodiac puzzle was only £5 new from Hobbycraft, and free to me as I used my Hobbycraft birthday voucher to buy it!

As well as indulging myself in my hobbies, when my husband is away it gives me the chance to clear the decks a bit. I gave his desk a good clean and got all the washing done that he had left lying around. I also saw the chance to work through any food that needed eating up. We spent the week eating leftovers from the freezer - like the roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings from Christmas that I had forgotten about! 

Of course I can and do indulge myself in my hobbies when he is at home, but it is nice to be able to catch up on some of the things that I enjoy doing by myself so we can do things together when he gets back!

An experiment in AI recipe creation

When it comes to AI I am conflicted. I can see many advantages to the technology, and I have been very impressed with some of the ways that I've used AI. But I'm also worried about the future - already a huge amount of the content that I see online is AI generated and it is becoming more and more difficult to tell what is real. Not to mention the number of jobs which are at threat - like online content creation!

My particular interest in AI is how I could use it to improve and enhance my daily life. I use ChatGPT and I've tried it out in various different scenarios - for example I've used AI to generate images for blog posts, experimented fairly successfully with AI for holiday planning and I've even completed an AI generated jigsaw puzzle.

This week I thought I would see how good ChatGPT was at recipe creation. I had some eggs that I wanted to use up, and I fancied doing some baking. With my new year's intention being to eat more healthy food I wanted to come up with a savoury recipe that would be nutritious, with plenty of vegetables. I had in mind something like vegetable muffins, but as a larger cake baked in a loaf tin.

I had a few conversations with ChatGPT where I clarified that I wanted the recipe to use eggs, vegetables, and to be vegetarian. I was after something that would be suitable for a light lunch, to be eaten hot, and that could be kept for several days. I narrowed down the vegetables that I wanted to include, and it suggested adding quinoa for some extra bulk, which was great as I have a pack in the cupboard that needs eating up.

After a bit of going back and forth this is what we came up with:

Cheesy Quinoa Vegetable Slice

Ingredients:

60g dry quinoa, cooked in 120ml water until absorbed

2 eggs

80ml milk

80g grated cheese

50g self-raising flour

1 courgette, grated

1 red pepper, diced

1/2 an onion, chopped

salt, pepper and 1 tsp dried herbs

Method:

Mix the eggs, milk, salt, pepper and herbs. Add the cheese, cooked quinoa, courgette, pepper and onion. Fold in the flour until combined. Bake in a loaf tin at 160 for 30-35 mins until a skewer comes out clean. Leave to rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing.

Verdict

I'm enough of a cook that that I was reasonably sure the recipe would at least create something edible. I did ask ChatGPT whether I could trust an AI recipe and it admitted that I probably couldn't trust it entirely, in particular the cooking temperature and times. It also told me that the images I was given were also not to be trusted.

The quantities of the ingredients were just right to fit in my loaf tin. However the baking time was off - I ended up baking for 45 minutes and even then I didn't feel like it was cooked as well as it should be. It looked good out the oven, but when I came to slice up the texture wasn't quite what I was hoping for. I was after a cake like texture, but instead it was more like a thick omelette.

Even though it wasn't exactly what I was hoping for, I don't like to waste food, so I decided to repurpose it as vegetable fritters. I cut it into slices and then fried on both sides. This worked much better, the slices were tasty, and it would make a great protein and fibre filled breakfast or lunch.

I had fun experimenting with ChatGPT recipes and seeing what ideas it came up with. Adding the quinoa is something that I wouldn't have considered, and it helped me to think about which ingredients would work well together. I'm not going to be using AI for my recipes on a regular basis, but if I was looking for ideas to use up ingredients that I had lying around then it's not a bad place to start!

Learning to drive!

When I started writing this blog way back in 2011 I intended to document my children's milestones - but I never imagined that I would still be writing it when those milestones became adult ones like learning to drive! 

My son started driving lessons a few weeks ago, and he has already passed his theory test with flying colours. I began learning to drive shortly after the theory test was introduced and I don't remember it being that difficult, but having recently done a few practice ones I can say that now it's not easy at all! In particular I found the newer hazard perception test videos very difficult. I realised that when I'm driving I'm constantly aware of hazards - to the extent that I perceive almost everything to be a potential hazard - so I was clicking away on the videos like mad every time I spotted something that might develop into one!

One important decision to make was whether he should apply for a manual or an automatic licence. While I think that the future of cars is definitely automatic, especially if you intend to drive electric cars, I do think that there is still a need to have a manual licence for the time being. For example he may find himself needing to drive a manual hire car or a work vehicle. Luckily we have an older manual car which he can practice in, and once he has the manual licence he will always have it, even if he never needs to bother with a clutch again!

He's a natural!

We were very lucky to discover that one of his former secondary school teachers is also a driving instructor, and it is really helping him to have a teacher that knows him and that he's comfortable with. He has been progressing really well each week, moving up through the gears, going into reverse, and moving on to some busier streets.

Booking the test is a bit of a worry, because of the well-publicised backlog. It's not such a problem to wait six months for the first test, because it will take most learners longer than that to be test ready. The issue is if you fail it, and then have to wait another six months before you can retake it. I failed my first test but I only had a few weeks to wait for my second, by which time I was much more prepared and passed easily. It really piles on the pressure to pass first time.

However that's not a worry for the time being as we are still early days. It will be a while yet until I even feel brave enough to take him out for a practice in our car!

Some books that I've enjoyed recently

I feel like I've been reading a lot over the last few weeks! And I've really been enjoying what I'm reading too - I started the year with an almost empty to be read pile and so I've been filling it up with books that I've either received as gifts, borrowed, or bought myself.

Something that I'm a bit obsessed with recently is books about Mount Everest, so I spent some time researching interesting sounding books that I wanted to read. Many of them are a bit niche or out of print, so I've been buying them from World of Books, which I always find is a great value place to buy secondhand books. 

So here are some of the books that I've really enjoyed reading recently:

No Shortcuts to the Top - Ed Viesturs. This book isn't just about Everest, it's about Ed Viestur's successful attempt to climb the 14 Peaks - all 14 mountains that are higher than 8000 metres - without supplementary oxygen. I was very pleased to discover that World of Books had sent me a signed copy! I found this book a fascinating read, with plenty of information about how to prepare for this level of mountaineering, and interesting details about logistics like clothing, food and equipment. The subject matter sounds as though it would be quite dry but it really wasn't, there was a good balance between personal stories - which included his female conquests as well as the mountaineering ones, and the dismaying reality that many mountaineers die while indulging in the hobby that they love.

Dark Summit: The Extraordinary True Story of Everest's Most Controversial Season - Nick Heil. An account of the 2006 climbing season on Everest, in which 11 people died while attempting to reach the summit. A particular focus of the book is not just the number of people that died (because many years do see a similar number of deaths) but the fact that two climbers in particular were ignored by many other groups of climbers while they lay near death. Although I'm never going to come anywhere near climbing Everest myself it's an interesting moral dilemma to grapple with - if you put yourself in a situation in which no-one can safely rescue you, should you expect people to risk their lives and those of others to try and help?

Everest Inc.: The Renegades and Rogues Who Built an Industry at the Top of the World - Will Cockrell. My particular interest in Everest is about the companies that take money to guide clients to the summit, and the problems that this can cause for both individuals and the mountain as a whole. This book was a great source of information about the history of climbing Mount Everest and how the industry started and continues today.

Photo credit Surya Singh via Unsplash

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. I had been wanting to read this for a while after it won many literary awards a few years ago. It didn't disappoint - I found it to be a gripping and engaging read. It's a retelling of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, and it tells the difficult story of a young boy who is born to a teenage mother with a drug addition and grows up in a variety of different foster homes. It wasn't an easy read in places but I enjoyed the slow pace of the story and all the descriptive details.

Cleopatra and Frankenstein - Coco Mellors. After loving Blue Sisters by the same author, and Goodreads reviews telling me that this book was better, I had high expectations and luckily they were met! A story of disastrous impulsive marriage, I found it to be a very readable book, quite sad in parts, with characters and their stories that really hooked me in.

As always, you can see what I've been reading and enjoying by having a look at my Goodreads profile.

Planning for the garden

My poor garden is really suffering at the moment. We've had so much rain, and everything is waterlogged. The two lavender plants in soggy pots that I bought last year look are looking particularly sorry for themselves, I've tucked them up against a wall for some shelter and I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

The weeds have taken over too but I just can't face going out in the cold during a rain break and getting all muddy. However lots of my bulbs are coming up which I'm really pleased with as I planted all sorts of different ones! I'm hoping to have enough flowers that I can pick them and have them in the house.

I couldn't wait to start planting some seeds. I have a tray of snapdragons which I planted months ago, they grew slowly over the winter and are now picking up. I harvested the seeds from the plants which I bought last year, so if they grow well then I've saved myself a few pounds on buying new ones this year!

I received a box of flower seeds for Christmas which contains seeds for about twenty different types of plant. If they all germinate then I'm going to be overrun and I'll need to buy more seed trays! I've started with the three that said they could be planted in February - sweet peas, stock and agastache. I've grown sweet peas before but not the others, so I'm interested to see how they turn out.

As well as flowers, I'll also be planting up my vegetable patch. I had great success with my tomatoes last year so I'll definitely be doing those again, probably with a mixture of plants I've grown from seed and plants that I will buy. I will have yet another attempt at courgette and cucumber, which are usually spectacularly unsuccessful, and I'm hoping that my strawberry and raspberry plants will survive the winter.

One project that I have for this year is to create some kind of a living wall on the blank wall of our garage. I'm not really sure where to start so some research is needed - there are expensive kits available, but maybe it's worth it if I have no idea what I'm doing!

I'd also like to add some kind of trellis to the front of our house which has always looked rather plain. I want something that grows on the trellis rather than the wall so as not to damage the brickwork. Probably some kind of colourful rambling rose is the way to go, but I've never grown roses before so  it's another thing that I need to research!

I can't wait for some warmer (and drier!) weather so I can get back out into the garden properly!

How I decide what to read next

I keep all my unread books in a 'to be read' pile on my bedside table. I have a mixture of brand new books that I've purchased or received as gifts, second hand books from charity shops and online, books that I've borrowed from friends or family, and occasionally library books. I also have a slightly hidden 'to be read' collection on my Kindle - books that I've downloaded free from Amazon at various times.

Although I enjoy reading down through the pile, I don't want to actually get to the end because I enjoy having a selection of books to choose from. I read a variety of books, from light fiction to longer reads, recent releases and classics, and also plenty of non-fiction. So I want to have at least one or two books from each category to choose from!

I generally only read one book at a time, and as I approach the end I'm always eyeing up my next read. I try to mix it up, so if I've read an easy book I'll look for one with a bit more depth or I'll swap to one from a different genre.  

If I know that I've got a busy time coming up then I'll look for easy to read books, planning to pick them up and down for short bursts of reading. If I know that I've got some reading time coming up, like a long flight or a relaxing holiday, then I'll reach for a nice chunky book or a classic novel.

Photo credit John Michael Thomason via Unsplash

But how do I choose the books that I'm adding to my 'to be read' pile?

I find book recommendations in lots of places. I learn about new non-fiction books from the podcasts that I listen to, which tend to be in the wellbeing or technology niches. If I've listened to an interesting podcast I'll often have a look at the book they are plugging, read a few reviews, and see if it looks like a worthwhile read. I've found some great books this way, most recently Enshittification by Cory Doctorow and I've got my eye on The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. 

I have a friend who lends me lots of brilliant books that she's found, and I usually have one or two on loan. She is very similar to me in terms of reading taste, and I'm very grateful!

I'm always listening for people talking about books. Sometimes I'll catch a reference to an old classic book and think 'I really should read that'. The classics are usually available for free on Kindle because they are out of copyright - I've just downloaded David Copperfield after really enjoying the modern retelling Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. 

If I hear about a book that appeals but I can't justify paying full price then I'll look over on World of Books. I have a running list of books that I want to buy saved in a Notes file, and I try to buy in batches of four as they usually have a 'buy 3 get one free' promotion that covers many of their titles. World of Books is great for books that are a bit niche or out of print as the prices are very reasonable - I've been stocking up on biographical books about Everest which are expensive to buy new.

I don't really listen to any podcasts or shows about new releases, because I would find everything too tempting! But if I find out that one of my favourite authors has released a new book then I'll add it to my wish list in anticipation of a birthday or Christmas gift. I'm also often swayed by the Booker Prize shortlists, I rarely actually buy the books but I make a note of any that sound good for future reading.

Finally if I really have reached the end of my 'to be read' pile then I can always find something that I want to read in the library. Sometimes it's another book by an author that I've enjoyed, or a book that I've seen mentioned online. When I'm browsing I definitely judge a book by its cover, so at least with a library book I don't have to worry about wasting money if I've misjudged it!

I love hearing from other readers about how they choose their next book!

Is parquet flooring right for homes with children? What to consider first

This is a collaborative post

Parquet flooring brings style and character to any room, but parents often wonder if it can handle the demands of family life. Children create unique challenges for home surfaces, from spills and dropped toys to constant foot traffic and playtime activities. Therefore, it makes sense to carefully evaluate whether this type of wood flooring meets the needs of a busy household.

Parquet flooring can be an excellent choice for homes with children, provided parents consider factors such as durability, safety features, ease of maintenance, and design practicality. This article explores the key aspects that matter most for families. The focus remains on practical considerations that help parents make an informed decision about whether parquet suits their lifestyle and protects their investment for years to come.

Durability: Parquet flooring is highly durable, making it suitable for homes with active children.

Children can be tough on floors. They run, jump, and drop toys without a second thought. However, wooden parquet floors can handle this daily wear and tear quite well.

Parquet flooring consists of small wood pieces arranged in different patterns. This design makes the floor strong and stable. The wood can withstand heavy foot traffic and the occasional spill.

Solid wood parquet proves especially tough. It can last for decades with proper care. Parents appreciate that they won't need to replace the floor after a few years of use.

The finish on parquet floors adds an extra layer of protection. It helps resist scratches and scuffs from toys, bikes, and other items children drag across the surface. This means the floor maintains its appearance even in busy households.

Photo credit Alex Cooper via Unsplash

Safety: Opt for certified, eco-friendly, and non-toxic parquet to guarantee a safe surface for crawling and playing

Parents need to consider what materials touch their children's skin during playtime. Parquet flooring comes in different grades, and not all options are equal in terms of safety. Certified parquet products meet specific health and environmental standards that protect young children.

Look for flooring with certifications like FSC and CE marks. These labels indicate the product meets strict safety requirements. Additionally, check for formaldehyde-free options, as this chemical can release harmful fumes into the air.

Low-VOC or zero-VOC finishes are better choices for homes with babies and toddlers. Children spend considerable time on the floor, so they breathe air closer to the surface. Non-toxic finishes reduce exposure to potentially harmful substances.

Many manufacturers now produce parquet made from sustainable materials with water-based, ecological treatments. These products provide a safer environment for crawling babies and active children. The right choice protects both family health and the planet.

Maintenance: Parquet flooring is easy to clean and maintain, ideal for spills and messes common with children

Parents need floors that can handle daily messes without constant worry. Parquet flooring offers a practical solution for busy households.

Regular care requires only simple steps. A quick sweep or vacuum removes dirt and crumbs that children track through the house. For wet spills, a slightly damp mop works well to clean the surface without damage.

The key is to address spills promptly. Juice boxes, milk, and other liquids should be wiped up straight away to prevent any potential staining. This takes just seconds and keeps the floor in good condition.

Parquet floors do not need special products or complicated routines. Warm water and a wood-safe cleaner handle most situations that arise with children. The durable finish on most parquet floors protects against typical household accidents.

Furniture pads prevent scratches from chairs and toys that children drag across rooms. This small addition helps maintain the floor's appearance over time.

Comfort: Wood parquet provides a warmer, more comfortable surface than tiles, beneficial for children playing on the floor

Wood parquet offers a naturally warm surface that feels more comfortable underfoot than cold tiles. Children who spend hours playing on the floor benefit from this warmth, especially during cooler months. The natural insulation properties of wood help maintain a more consistent temperature year-round.

Tiles tend to feel cold and hard, which can be uncomfortable for children who sit or lie on the floor during playtime. Parquet provides a softer, more forgiving surface that makes floor activities more enjoyable. This comfort factor matters for families whose children prefer to play with toys, read books, or complete puzzles on the floor.

The density of real wood also creates better sound insulation compared to harder surfaces. This means less noise from toys dropping or children running about. Parents appreciate the quieter environment that parquet floors provide whilst children play.

Style and Design: Choose a parquet pattern and colour that complements your home while withstanding busy family life

The right parquet pattern can balance style with practicality in a busy household. Herringbone and chevron designs work well for families because their angular patterns naturally hide scratches and scuffs better than straight-laid planks. These patterns also create visual interest that draws the eye away from minor imperfections.

Darker parquet colours offer better camouflage for everyday wear and tear. Shades like walnut, mahogany, or medium oak hide dirt and small marks more effectively than lighter tones. However, mid-tone browns provide a good compromise between style and maintenance needs.

The pattern size matters for smaller rooms. Large-scale designs can overwhelm compact spaces, whilst simpler patterns like brick-style parquet work better in tight areas. Chevron patterns suit longer rooms and create a sense of movement through hallways and living areas.

Families should consider how their chosen design fits with existing décor. A classic herringbone pattern adapts to both traditional and modern interiors, which makes it a sensible choice for homes that may redecorate over time.

Conclusion

Parquet flooring can work well in homes with children, but the decision requires careful thought about specific family needs. Durability, maintenance demands, and safety features should guide the choice rather than appearance alone. The right wood species and finish make a significant difference in how well the floor stands up to daily family life. Parents who select quality materials and commit to proper care will likely find that parquet serves their household effectively for years to come.

My January declutter challenge - an update!

After Christmas the house always begins to descend into chaos. Along with newly acquired items, being out of routine with everyone at home for a couple of weeks means that I really feel the need to get everything back under control. I always enjoy a declutter challenge to start the new year, but as I've already reduced things a lot over the last couple of years I didn't want anything too drastic.

This year I decided to set myself the challenge to get rid of five things every day in January. Although I mainly concentrated on my own personal items, I did include some household things in my totals as I'm the one that's responsible for maintaining our home.

I found the first couple of weeks very easy. In anticipation of the challenge I had been eyeing up a few things that I knew could easily go, and I had made a note of some areas that I wanted to tackle. I kept a running list in a Notes document, and it was very satisfying to watch everything stack up.

I made the biggest difference in my clothing. I went through all of my clothes and was really ruthless. I passed on my suit, which I last wore to a job interview in around 2008 before having children. I can't even squeeze into it any more, and if I find myself heading to job interviews I'll need something that actually fits me well! Also, do people even wear suits to interviews any more?! I passed on three pairs of smart black trousers that I used to wear to work in an office - I don't need anything like that at the moment and if I do find myself in an office I have other nicer clothes that I can wear.

Photo credit Bernd Dittrich

I cleared out lots of space on my bookshelves, donating over 20 books. My jigsaw cupboard is also looking emptier, with 9 jigsaws passed along. Those spaces won't take me long to fill though!

I tackled toiletries and expired medication, shoes, my craft stash, candle holders, and random things in my kitchen drawers. I sorted through my filing cabinet, I went through all the various paper ephemera that I like to collect - postcards, leaflets, pamphlets and so on. I've been through all the obvious areas in my home that collect clutter, as well as working my way back to some of the deeper storage areas that I like to sort through from time to time. 

I spend a lot of time at home, and the biggest benefit to me of a challenge like this is that it encourages me to think about my surroundings. I'm very affected by untidy spaces, and I have emotional reactions to things. Some of my possessions can cause me to feel a negative emotion whenever I see them - like an expensive item that turned out to be a waste of money, something I bought on a whim that was never used, or a gift that wasn't right for me. Removing these things means that I feel much happier and calmer when I look around my space. In addition I enjoy donating good quality items to charity and hoping that someone will find them and appreciate them in the same way that I love a secondhand bargain.

If you feel inspired to declutter then I've written all about choosing a decluttering challenge that will work for you - along with the advantages and disadvantages of each!

Why are security door maintenance plans so important?

This is a collaborative post

In 2026, with so many advances in security measures emerging in the digital realm, it’s important to remember that physical security doors remain central to keeping all sorts of premises safe.

Whether that’s internal fire doors in residential blocks or roller shutters in industrial units, keeping up with maintenance is crucial to keeping these security systems running at their best. 

From the money-saving aspect of preventative maintenance to the positive impact these plans have in reducing administrative loads, here’s why having a maintenance plan in place is so important. 

Preventive maintenance saves money

One of the most important reasons to set up an effective security door maintenance plan is that it will save you money. Preventive maintenance can have an immense positive impact in terms of extending your doors’ life spans, not to mention avoiding the need for emergency callouts. 

This applies to both relatively simple fire doors and more complex industrial roller shutters from providers like LBS Group. You need to make sure that their mechanical components are greased and realigned before, not after, they become problematic. 

Photo credit Chelaxy Designs via Unsplash

Ensure regulatory compliance

Keeping your security doors up to scratch is also a regulatory responsibility. In some cases, such as with fire doors in larger residential buildings, there will be clearly established maintenance and check schedules that you have to adhere to. 

In other cases, there might not be a legally stated timeframe, but if the doors or shutters fail and it can be proven that you didn’t invest in adequate maintenance, you could still be held legally responsible.

Reduce operational delays

If a security door goes wrong unexpectedly, this can cause serious operational delays. For example, if the roller shutters in your warehouse fail to open, you could be left unable to access critical stock for at least half a day or so. 

Preventative maintenance makes it much less likely that these kinds of incidents will occur, in turn reducing the knock-on effects that door failures can have on the rest of your business.

Simplify the administrative process

Security doors will need to be maintained, there are no two ways around it. And even if you do manage to take care of this maintenance in a proactive manner without having a plan in place, having to set this up on an ad hoc basis adds an unnecessary administrative burden to your team. 

Putting a plan in place means that all non-reactive maintenance is already in the books and doesn’t need to be thought about. You just schedule a maintenance crew to attend regularly when you set up the plan, and then forget about it.

Maintenance plans are simple to put in place, and can have a big impact when it comes to preventing all sorts of easily avoidable door-related incidents. Make sure that you consult an expert about the exact doors your premises have before implementing a plan, so that you can be absolutely certain that the plan will be able to cater to your doors’ specific maintenance-related requirements.

Journal prompts for bloggers and other types of content creators

Whether or not you are a blogger, journalling is a really good way to help you get your thoughts in order. For bloggers in particular it can be helpful both as a creative outlet but also to help you think about your blog and its direction, and to brainstorm new ideas for blog posts.

I've come up with a list of journal prompts which are aimed at bloggers, and I've split them into two lists. The first are personal prompts to help you think about your motivations for blogging and to think about how it fits into your life. The second list contains prompts which help you to think about your blog and hopefully come up with some new content ideas.

I hope that you find it helpful!

Personal journal prompts for bloggers

Why did I start blogging in the first place? 

How has my blog changed over time?

What parts of blogging do I enjoy the most?

Which areas of blogging do I find most difficult?

What would make me consider my blog to be a success?

When do I write my best posts?

How do I fit blogging into my daily life?

What would I write if no-one was going to read it?

What has blogging taught me about myself?

What pressures would I like to remove from blogging?

Where would I like my blog to be this time next year?

What causes me to find blogging difficult?

What do I do when I don't feel like writing a blog post?

What has made me proud in my blogging journey?

What would make blogging more fun?

Journal prompts to help brainstorm content ideas

Which are my favourite blog posts and why? 

What type of blog posts do I most like to write?

What type of blog posts do my readers enjoy most?

What questions do people often ask me that could become blog posts?

What topics do I find myself returning to?

What posts would I write if I wasn't worrying about my readers finding them interesting?

What posts from my archives could be updated or expanded?

What have I experienced in my life that could help or inspire someone else?

What is unique about my life that others might find interesting?

What else might people be interested in about my life?

What regular topics could I return to again over time?

What seasonal events are coming up that might inspire a blog post?

What is an ideal posting schedule for me, based on the time that I have available?

Photo credit Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash

How to use these prompts

Choose one, and write for five minutes without stopping

Use them if you are suffering from a creative block and don't know what to write about

Think about which of these journal entries could be adapted into a blog post

Come back to prompts to see if your thoughts have changed

Further reading

If you enjoyed these prompts then you might also like these posts:

How to use images as journal prompts

Christmas journal prompts and ideas