Home Made Heat Pads (or cooling pad)

Instead of using electric heat pads, blankets or hot water bottles for your aches and pains, these microwaveable bags are just the ticket! They’re known by a few different terms such as: bed buddies, stress busters, magic bags, corn cozies, rice bags–but they’re basically all the same thing.
These bags serve a dual purpose as you can also keep them in the freezer to use has a cooling pad or freezer pack when needed. If you’d like to learn how to make them, you’ll find a tutorial below along with tips for different kinds of fillers to try and directions on how to use them.

Microwave Heating Pad Directions

No pattern is necessary, simply cut two pieces of cloth in the size/shape you wish your bag to be. Make sure to leave a seam allowance for yourself (about 1/2″).
Some prefer regular square shape bags, others prefer tubes or more rectangular shapes. Experiment, whip up a few different sizes and shapes to try. These are really easy to make as well as cheap! 


Filler Options

Uncooked rice
Wheat
Feed corn
Buckwheat hulls
Barley
Oatmeal
Beans
Flax seed
Cherry pits

You can also add the following to the above for a soothing fragrant heating pad: Spices, herbs, essential oils.

Ideas: lavender, rose petals, ground cloves, nutmeg, ginger, rosemary, cinnamon, peppermint oil, crushed mint

If using: Mix herbs, spices and essential oil with choice heating pad filler (such as rice) and let sit in a sealed container for a few days (occasionally stirring). This will help set and distribute the fragrance a bit.

Fabric Options

Cotton: (plain, prints, flannels, denims)
Alternate ideas: old socks (sew or knot end closed), washcloths, old towels
You can also choose to make cozy, removable & washable outer pouches. This is especially nice to do when giving as gifts.
Fabric Ideas: use old towels, fleece, velour knits, pretty fabric prints and flannels (don’t microwave anything other than cotton fabrics). The softer & fluffier & better!

Instructions for Making the Heating Pad

Cut and sew the fabric for the heating pads the size and shape you want (usually a large washcloth size works well).
Leave an inch or two open on one side so that you can fill bag with your choice of filler. Fill the bag about 1/2 to 3/4 full, more or less as you prefer. Don’t fill too full though, you want the bag to mold itself around your body when you apply it.
Once bag is filled, sew opening closed either by hand or machine (making sure filler is contained at the opposite side of bag).
If wanting a removable cover, just sew a “pillowcase” idea with your soft, plushy fabric by making it a little larger than your heating pad and leaving an open end (make sure to finish off ends by sewing a hem). Or you can add a strip of velcro to close it. Make sure to never microwave this cover unless it’s content is full cotton. Remove cover to wash as needed.

Filler Suggestion For Headache Soothers

Rice (or other grain listed above) and a mix of:
Dried lavender
Marjoram
Betony
Rose petals
Cloves
Rosemary

Directions For Use

Place in microwave and heat for 1 to 3 minutes, depending on size of bag. Do not leave unattended “just in case” the filler smokes or starts on fire. As a precaution, you can set a cup of water inside the microwave while heating the bag to add moisture or spritzing bag lightly with water before heating. If you add spices and herbs, this is a good idea to do.
If You’re In a Pinch

If you need a heating pad “now” and don’t have time to sew one, try filling a ziploc freezer bag (make sure it’s the microwaveable kind) 3/4 full with uncooked rice, seal shut. Heat for a minute or two then wrap in a hand towel and use as needed.
You can also fill a clean tube sock, tie closed the open end, heat and use as needed.
Caution

These microwaveable heating pads are glorious to use for aches and pains, or just to pamper yourself after a long, hard day–but be careful when removing from microwave and applying to body. Shake bag first, feel around and make sure it’s not too hot and won’t burn, especially when using on a child.

Video: Random act of kindness cyclist says he could not stand by and watch homeless man rummage through bin for food

A random act of kindness captured on a cyclist's head mounted camera has become a viral hit on the internet.

The two-minute video, filmed by telecommunications supervisor Lewis Dediara, 47,  shows him offering to buy a hungry homeless man "anything he wants" to eat from a central London shop.

The YouTube clip has attracted more than 50,000 views since it was posted online four days ago.

Mr Dediara, originally from Nigeria, said today he was "astonished" by the response to his video.

In the clip, Mr Dediara can be seen chaining up his bike after he left a branch of Boots on Regent Street.

He spots the man, dressed in a shabby black t-shirt and jeans, rooting through a bin.

In a rare display of random kindness, the well-wishing cyclist offers to buy him something to eat.

The man walks into the shop and picks up some crisps and a pint of milk, which is paid for by the well-wisher.

Mr Dediara started filming his daily commute in London after he was knocked off his bike for the second time by a motorist two and a half years ago.

He uses a head-mounted camera and further cameras on his handlebars and back seat to snare drivers on his YouTube channel.

He told the Standard: "I was on my way to fly a kite on Parliament Hill and I stopped at Boots.

"I saw this man standing there - he was clearly hungry. When I saw him rooting through the bin I couldn't just leave him there.

"I come from a family where we are raised to help others when we see them suffering.

"I should have bought him more than what he wanted. Next time I see him I'll buy him a burger."

Mr Dediara said that he posted the clip online because "sometimes London is a place where people don't take the time to care for others."

"It is in my nature to help people," he said.

(posted at London Evening Standard)

Recent Book Read

Inside Dickens' London by Michael Paterson.

I have just started this book and it does not disappoint. It accumulates many written descriptions of London in Dickens' time, a time I am fascinated with.








Cannery Row by John Steinbeck.

A classic I just read for my bookclub. Short, sweet and entertaining.

Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman.

This book was nominated for the 2011 Man Booker Prize. The top 5 nominations are always worth a read every year. This one deals with a young immigrant boy who is caught in a harrowing and rough part of London. It is based on a real person.






Mapp & Lucia by E. F. Benson.

This was a book club choice and I found it hard to get into but managed to find it entertaining once in. It is about catty English women in early 20th century. I was astounded to find there is a whole series of books on the characters. I will not be reading them.

Mr. Chartwell by Rebecca Hunt.

It turns out the artist in the studio next to mine spent a year writing this fictional account of Churchhill and his depression which was published by Penguin. It is a great short and sweet read.

The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes.

This was the Man Booker 2011 winner and well worth the read. Very introspective, philosophical and surprising.








The Hand that First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell.

I thought this book had such a nice flow to it. It was a book club choice and because I didn't manage to finish it in time I learned the surprise ending before I read it. That didn't seem to take away from the book at all though.

I will post books as I read them on the side bar under My Library.

Hampton Court Palace

 When he died in 1547 Henry VIII had more than 60 houses, but – in the second half of his reign – none were more important to him, nor more sumptuously decorated, than Hampton Court Palace.

 By the time Henry finished his building works at Hampton Court Palace in about 1540, the palace was one of the most modern, sophisticated and magnificent in England.

 There were tennis courts, bowling alleys and pleasure gardens for recreation, a hunting park of more than 1,100 acres, kitchens covering 36,000 square feet, a fine chapel, a vast communal dining room (the Great Hall) and a multiple garderobe (or lavatory) - known as the Great House of Easement - which could sit 28 people at a time. Water flowed to the palace from Coombe Hill in Kingston, three miles away, through lead pipes.

 All of Henry’s six wives came to the palace and most had new and lavish lodgings. The King rebuilt his own rooms at least half a dozen times. Note the elaborately carved wood detail above.

 The palace also provided accommodation for each of the King's children and for a large number of courtiers, visitors and servants.

 And he used Hampton Court to impress. Most famously in August 1546 Henry feasted and fêted the French ambassador and his entourage of two hundred gentlemen – as well as 1,300 members of his own court – for six days. An encampment of gold and velvet tents surrounded the palace for the occasion.

A year later, Henry was dead, with three surviving children – the 9-year old Prince Edward and his older sisters Mary and Elizabeth. Each would rule England, and Hampton Court would continue to play an important part in the lives of the Tudor monarchs.

 I visited the palace with Sarah and Lenny and had a great time there with them!

 

Abney Park: The Gothic Victorian Cemetry

Abney Park in Stoke Newington, London, formerly one of the ‘magnificent seven’ garden cemeteries of London, is now a woodland Victorian Gothic cemetry and Local Nature Reserve managed by the Abney Park Trust.

 The park has an old Gothic feel to it and the headstones are graves are allowed to "go wild".

 The cemetery/park is allowed to grow wild and one sees wonky tombstones everywhere.

 Slowly vines creep in among the graves.

 In the middle of the park sits the Gothic style Victorian funeral chapel.

 Here is a peep into the chapel. It is no longer used and is falling apart inside and out, but only adds to the atmosphere of the place.

 What I love about the place is the caretakers look like Goths themselves.

 As I wander around the many paths I get a different view of the chapel.

 Here the graves are soon going to be covered by ivy.

 I love this image of graves head stones now completely covered in ivy.

It truly is a small magical place to visit in London.