Advice, guides & articles

Lupus, also known as ‘systemic lupus erythematosus’, actually has an interesting etymology. ‘Lupus’ is Latin for ‘wolf’ and ‘erythro’ is derived from the Greek word for ‘red’. The disease was named this way because of the rash that was supposed to resemble a wolf’s bite.

When people talk about how to improve mental health, things like a healthy diet and regular exercise are commonly mentioned. While these things are important, they are not the only ways to improve our mental health. Engaging in creative activities on a regular basis can also help to improve mental health, brain function and our overall health and wellbeing, as well as being a lot of fun.

Ever since I was little, I’ve loved stories in all their forms, whether reading them, writing them, playing them or watching them. For me, reading a book is the perfect way to escape to a different world for a few hours. However, there are still plenty of people out there who rarely, if ever, read for fun. So, with World Book Night around the corner, this post explores the positive effect regular reading can have on our mental health.

Did you know that there’s a National Hamster Day? How about a National Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day? Or International Sword Swallowers Day..? There seems to be a day for just about everything, and if there isn’t one yet, then it’s probably just a matter of time! So if we can find the time in our lives to appreciate sword swallowers and hamsters, then it is only fitting that we acknowledge the planet they live on.

A funeral celebrant officiates at a funeral service and is usually not connected with any religious beliefs or practices. To help gain an understanding of what a celebrant does, we spoke with Caroline Kay, a member of the Association of Independent Celebrants, based in East Yorkshire.

According to Statista, in 2022 the average funeral 'send-off' cost people in the United Kingdom approximately £2,669 British pounds, with £1,064 of these costs going to the memorial, and catering costing around £467 pounds.* The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published a report in January 2023 finding that: "Funeral directors operating more than 4 branches charged their customers on average just over £2,600 for funeral services in the year ending 31 August 2022. This level is broadly unchanged since the previous year, representing a reduction in real terms, at a time when many other prices are increasing."

It’s nearly been 3 months since I launched Positive Vibes Only, a service set up to support people navigating adversity with a specific focus on cancer. I set out with one key objective, to support and help people shift their mindset through the challenges they are facing and create positive energy around the issue by utilising awareness, perspective and appreciation amongst other strategies.

A frequently asked question of our specialist Funeral Notice Team is what to actually include in a Funeral Notice? It is a frequently Googled question too, as one of our most visited blog articles each month is this one on ‘How to Write a Good Obituary Notice’. To help illustrate what goes into writing a Funeral Notice and how you can personalise them, we have found five good examples below that each demonstrate different elements that we see regularly in the Funeral Notices that appear on our site.

Creating a memorial garden can be a wonderful way to commemorate a loved one, while allowing you to heal in a meaningful way. It can be a place for reflection and peace, a place to nurture, and a place to be creative, all of which are beneficial for our emotional well-being. If you are considering creating your own memorial garden, we have gathered a few lovely ideas and tips to help you get started. Find a peaceful spot. Try and find an area with relative privacy so that your time spent there can be peaceful. If you have only a small area to work with, try and make it as comfortable as possible. Add some wind chimes or a water feature to drown out any external noises, or if your garden is on a balcony, add some cushions or hanging fabrics to soften the outside hubbub. Find plants and flowers with meaning. Certain plants hold traditional meanings. For example yellow tulips are for friendship, red poppies represent eternal sleep, forget-me-nots can represent remembrance, as can rosemary. Do some research and choose flowers that mean the most to you and/or the person or people you are remembering. Choose flowers they loved, or perhaps have their favourite colour as the theme. Take a look at our blog on what to plant in memory of a loved one for some inspiration. Add some decor. There are so many possibilities depending on the size and theme of your memorial garden, but some personal touches can really bring your garden to life. Using objects belonging to your loved one can be a lovely touch. Planting in a pair of old boots or watering can, adding an ornament or two, or reusing old planters or pots are all great ways to add a personal overtone. If they loved wildlife, you can add animal garden ornaments, or invite the real thing with specific wildflowers or a bird feeder. Design your garden with meaning, and remember there really are no rules.

Spring is a time for rebirth and new beginnings; the natural world begins to wake up again after a winter lying dormant, the days get longer and the weather warmer. What better time to practise self-care? Here are some self-care ideas for spring: Go nature walking Spring is the perfect time to get outdoors and spend some time out in nature; flowers are blooming, trees are beginning to bud, birds are chirping.You don’t have to take up hiking and put a lot of time into it, just a walk around the block is enough to benefit you, and there is nature everywhere if you pay attention. Regular walks can benefit your mental health, as well as being a good form of exercise.