Charles – Page 2

Top tips for fire safety in the hospitality industry

by Charles · Dec 21, 2021

As the manager or owner of a hospitality venue, it’s absolutely crucial that you take fire safety very seriously and leave no stone unturned. According to government statistics, hospitality venues in England have experienced more than 6,400 fires over the last four years, so, the risks must be understood and prevented.

What is your responsibility as the (wo)man in charge? Regardless of whether you run a hotel, bar, restaurant, or something else in the hospitality world, here are some top tips for fire safety.

Carry out regular fire risk assessments

Hospitality venues are often busy places that welcome large groups of the general public at once, meaning there can be an abundance of fire risks. The risk is largely heightened in restaurants, as these venues regularly deal with open flames.

To ensure fire safety, you must carry out frequent fire risk assessments to identify:

What exactly are the fire hazards
Who is at risk
What’s the best evacuation plan

Once the above points have been established, record your findings and keep them documented somewhere safe for easy, regular reviewing.

Practice your evacuation plan

Ah, the dreaded fire alarm drills! While they can feel like a nuisance at the time, practicing your fire evacuation plan will ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to safely leaving the building in the event of a fire. The evacuation drill helps to test the effectiveness of the emergency plan and consolidate staff training,

Your restaurant, bar or hotel should aim to do this at least twice a year – unless your fire risk assessment encourages more. Put a time and date in place and warn your staff that the fire drill is going to take place and that they should take it seriously.

Don’t scrimp on your fire alarm

When it comes to your fire alarm, you absolutely must ensure that you’re installing only the best… They say that a fire alarm is the most important investment that a business can make, and it’s not hard to see why. If a fire emergency was to take place in your property, you need to be confident in the knowledge that you have the smartest and safest system around. It just might save lives.

Be sure to shop around before committing yourself to a particular device, as there are many out there now that offer different things. If you’re looking for fire alarm installers in Durham, turn to CDS Security & Fire. This particular company is authorised to design, install, commission, service and maintain the Gent range of Fire Alarm and Detection Systems.

Uncover training opportunities for your staff

It’s really important that your staff thoroughly understand what to do (beyond evacuating the building) in the event of a fire. As a hospitality venue, if a fire emergency was to take place, your visitors and guests would look to your staff for guidance. If no one has had adequate training, this could be both extremely dangerous and damaging to your business’s reputation.

It shouldn’t take you too long to uncover local organisations and centres that offer fire safety training for businesses. A simple Google search should be suffice, and from there you can book sessions with some or all of your staff.

5 Tips for Working Dads to Keep Work and Life in Balance

by Charles · Dec 21, 2021

The average dad works an extra six hours per week, which amounts to about 100 more workdays in a year. The time that dads spend at work is often accompanied by the stress of balancing their responsibilities as providers and parents. This can lead to many problems, including bad health, family conflict, and decreased performance on the job, says Marc Zboch. But with some small shifts in perspective and behavior, working dads can strike a healthy balance between work life and home life.

Take Time for Yourself and your Family

Dads need to take some time each day – even if it’s just a few minutes – to focus on themselves and their families. This might mean taking a break during the workday to have lunch with your spouse or playing with your kids at night. It can also mean making time each weekend for uninterrupted family time. Whatever it looks like, make sure you schedule this downtime because it will help reduce stress and improve your overall well-being.

Be Efficient at Work So You Can Leave Early

Dads who can efficiently complete their work tasks often have more flexibility when leaving work early or taking time off for doctor appointments or other family commitments. If you find that you’re constantly putting out fires and working long hours, you should talk with your boss about becoming more efficient at work. Look for tasks delegated or done by someone else, especially if it’s not a part of your job description.

Limit Distractions

Social media and email provide many benefits in the workplace; however, they can distract us from completing our daily work on time. Try setting clear boundaries for social media use during the workday so that you don’t get overwhelmed trying to keep up-to-the-minute updates around the clock. Set specific times throughout each day when you will check your email or access social networks – this allows you some flexibility while still preventing them from taking over your day.

Prioritize-Set Goals

When we’re constantly bombarded with tasks, it can be hard to know the most important ones. Dads can combat this by setting specific goals for each day and prioritizing those tasks accordingly. This will help ensure that the most important things get done while also leaving some room for flexibility if something unexpected comes up.

Ask for Help when Needed

No one is perfect, and dads don’t have to go it alone when balancing work and family life. If you find yourself struggling or need an extra hand, ask your partner or another family member for assistance. They might be able to take on a few extra household duties or watch the kids for an hour so you can take care of something work-related.

If you’re a working dad and want to keep your work and life balance in check, we hope this article provides some helpful tips. We all know that caring for children can be challenging, so it’s important to take time out of the day for yourself as well. Remembering these simple steps will help you stay focused on what is most important – taking care of your family and fulfilling responsibilities at home and work.

Best Gadgets to Buy for Your Next Family Adventure

by Charles · Dec 15, 2021

Whether it is a camping experience out of the city, or a vacation abroad, planning a family adventure is a great way to support your kids’ growth. Traveling gives your children the opportunity to learn new things, visit new places, and create new memories. And if you want to have the best experience possible, it always helps to bring a few handy tools and accessories along!

Below, we’ve listed a few of the best gadgets you can buy to aid you on your next family adventure.

Mirrorless Cameras

These days, the perception is that smartphone cameras have nearly eliminated the need to lug around bulky DSLRs. Phone cameras are convenient, easy to use, and take photos of a decent enough quality. However, if you want to take your photography to the next level (and really capture those memories), it might be wiser to opt for a mirrorless camera, such as a Nikon Z 9 or Canon EOS. Like DSLRs, mirrorless cameras can take professional-quality photos. However, they’re called “mirrorless” because they lack the heavy mirror mechanism found in DSLRs –– which makes them lighter and more suitable for travel.

International Portable Wi-Fi

To keep your kids entertained during lull periods (waiting in airports, long car rides, etc.) you can rent or purchase a portable Wi-Fi hotspot. Aside from saving your children from boredom, portable Wi-Fi hotspots will also help you access useful information on the go –– such as translations, directions, and information about destinations. With this kind of information at hand via hotspot, you also don’t need to drain your phone’s battery using its built-in mobile hotspot. Nor do you need to scout public Wi-Fi hotspots, which leave your devices vulnerable to hackers and cybercriminals. There are plenty of affordable options available, too, such as the Urozetta Portable and TP-Link M7350.

Universal Adapter

Protective Phone Case

It goes without saying that travel involves a lot of moving around. And no matter how careful you are with your devices, accidents do happen. For the simple reason, it’s wise to mitigate the risk of hardware damage by placing your smartphone in a protective case. Phone cases made out of silicone or rubber can absorb shock in the event that your phone falls. If you’re confident about your carefulness, a translucent slim case may help keep your phone safe from bumps and scratches. And on top of these considerations (protection comes first), you might consider a battery case as well. These are a little more expensive, but it’s awfully nice to have the extra juice while you’re navigating a travel destination.

Traveling with your kids is memorable and rewarding no matter how you go about it. But with some of these tools and gadgets in hand, you’ll be able to make the experience smoother and more satisfying for all involved. And, if you’re going fishing or boating, be sure to be prepared with boat parts and accessories. Happy travels!

Top Block Games You Should Try Today

by Charles · Dec 3, 2021

A block game is among the best games that you can play to help you relax after a long tiring day. These games can make you forget anything happening around you and just have a good time. When you are looking for a block game to download on Google Play Store, you will be spoilt for choices. That’s because there are numerous block games available on Google Play Store.

Thankfully, this article is here to help you by giving you some of the best block games that will keep you glued to your phone for hours on end. Let’s delve into them.

Blockudoku

Blockudoku is definitely one of the best fun and addictive block games available. It is a very exciting yet complicated Sudoku style-board game played on a 9×9 grid. The objective is to choose the right blocks from the button bar and drag them onto the board to destroy more squares and lines. The more you clear the blocks, the more you increase your score. There is no doubt that Blockudoku is a very fun and fantastic game that will keep you engaged the entire game. What’s more, it won’t take you long before you learn the concepts of the game.

Wood Block Puzzle

Another ideal block game that is a must-try is Wood Block Puzzle. Of course, this is one of the most popular versions of block puzzles. You can either download it on Google Play Store or App Store. In this game, you are required to drag the wooden blocks to fill the rows. The rows will disappear once they are completely filled. The more you clear the rows, the more points you will earn. The game will come to an end if there are no more spaces left to move the blocks on your screen.

Block! Triangle: Tangram

Another amazing block game that you should try is Block! Triangle: Tangram. This is one of those games that won’t let you put your phone down. It is ideal for both experienced players as well as new ones. It is a perfect mixture of modern blocks together with the classic Tangram. The goal of the game is to drag different shapes from the bottom bar and fit those that are given in the grid. The game has an eye-catching and friendly interface. The gameplay is also very impressive. What’s more, it has numerous levels that players can explore.

Block! Hexa Puzzle

Block! Hexa Puzzle is also another fun and addictive block game that will keep you glued to your phone for hours on end. Not only is it fun, but it has amazing features. If you have never played any block game, you should try with this block game. In this popular block game, the player is required to drag and arrange the hexagon blocks onto the grid of your screen. The aim is to fill the board with plenty of colors. This game is also quite simple to learn and play.

Caring for Your Dogs Mental Health

by Charles · Dec 1, 2021

You may be unaware that just like humans, your canine companion can also suffer from common mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. To discover signs of dog mental health conditions and a guide to caring for your dog’s mental wellbeing, simply continue reading. Especially if you have a suspicion that your dog may currently be suffering from mental illness.

Caring for dogs mental health

The number one mental health condition which affects dogs:

The most common mental health condition which affects dogs is separation anxiety. As dogs are pack animals and often don’t like to be left alone for prolonged periods. If your dog has a habit of destroying items in your home when you go to work, barks or howls a lot when they are left alone or has toileting issues when they are left alone, there is a high chance that they suffer from a form of separation anxiety. If you notice that your dog is trembling when you get ready to leave, it’s also a clear sign that your dog becomes distressed when it’s obvious that they are about to be left alone.

If you believe that your dog may suffer from separation anxiety, it’s a great idea to ensure that your dog gets plenty of personal attention right before you leave your home and as soon as you get home. So that your dog learns that you are not going to abandon them. You may also want to consider dropping your dog off at a dog sitting facility while you’re at work or paying for a dog sitter, if your dog’s separation anxiety is severe. Alternatively, you may want to see if working from home more often is a viable option, so that you’ll be able to spend more time at home with your dog.

Other mental health conditions to look out for:

Dementia:

If you have an older dog, it’s worth keeping an eye out for signs of dementia. Dogs that have dementia are often disoriented or confused and have trouble responding to commands. Some may also forget that they have just eaten and may be prone to overeating. Further symptoms of dog dementia include dogs not being able to sleep through the night and frequently urinating. One of the best things that you can do to help an elderly dog, is to be patient with them and to spend lots of quality time with them.

Depression:

Dogs who are depressed may seem less enthusiastic about the activities which they used to enjoy such as going for walks, eating and playing. If your dog is depressed, it’s a great idea to try and find the root cause of their depression. For example, you may want to spend more time with your dog or to purchase toys that will stimulate your dog’s brain.

In conclusion, if you want to ensure that your dog is mentally healthy or will enjoy the best possible quality of life in their final years, it’s well worth using the guide above to make a few changes to your dog’s life.

For more family related posts like this one, check out these posts!

The Easiest Choice with Vinyl Flooring

by Charles · Nov 17, 2021

Many choices made at the beginning of a decade are not around by the end of it, and it gets harder and harder to keep personal tastes satisfied. When people decide on their flooring options, how many choose something that will be around after a decade that does not lose its style and appeal?

Luxury vinyl flooring is viewed as the solution to see them through the decades without losing any appeal or style. The benefits compared to other flooring options are plentiful and offer a longer-lasting life span, with the option in ease of switching flooring should your tastes change over the years ahead.

Assemble

Laying a luxury vinyl floor such as the Quick-Step luxury vinyl is not an overly complicated task.

With either the glue-down or click-together options you probably will be surprised to learn that the process of installation is equally simple and does not require the price tag associated with a professional to do the work. If you are a dab hand at a spot of DIY in the home, you can find yourself dedicating one afternoon to laying this new flooring yourself.

With the ease of assembly also comes ease of uninstalling the flooring when needing to replace sections or the entire floor if you choose to go with a different style – saving you pounds, time and stress in the process.

Easiest

Being manufactured in factories to a very high standard, all vinyl flooring brands have a scratch-proof, stain-free, moisture-resistant design under your feet that is built to last.

Wear and tear, discolouration and staining can ruin all other types of flooring or be extremely expensive to fix, but vinyl brings added levels of safeguards ensuring that your subfloor is shielded and you won’t be moving furniture around to hide an embarrassing scratch or scuff on the design layer.

The durable quality and cushioned layers ensure that vinyl will outlast any other carpet, wood or laminate flooring that suffers from a daily dose of abuse.

Creative

One of the most endearing qualities that the multiple vinyl brands offer is the volume of creative avenues it opens up within the home.

If you have adjoining rooms with different feels, you can install dark wood to stone – or even ceramic styles to give a personalised touch. You can even use vinyl in the bathroom due to its anti-moisture safeguards, protection from water and any tendency to rise with temperature changes.

Children’s bedrooms are an area with a lot of heavy activity so you could give them a look and feel of their own that will last much longer than a carpet.

Luxury vinyl flooring is the easy option for people who love a long-lasting style, security and protection in their home.

6 Tips for Traveling with Kids

by Charles · Oct 5, 2021

While traveling with kids definitely has its challenges, the rewards far outweigh the challenges and you’ll create lifelong memories that your whole family will cherish for a lifetime.

Preload a tablet with child-friendly TV shows and movies:

It’s always well worth preloading a tablet with child-friendly TV shows and movies. That are guaranteed to keep your kids entertained if they are unexpectedly required to wait for a long period of time. For example, if there are no entertainment stations on a cheap flight or you have a long train ride ahead of you, having a tablet with pre-loaded TV shows and movies for your kids will be a lifesaver. Just be sure to pack a few pairs of headphones to ensure that your kids won’t bother other travelers.

Choose to book family-friendly suites:

If you usually stay in hotels or resorts on your family vacations, it’s a great idea to book family-friendly suites that offer multiple bedrooms. So that your kids won’t wake each other up or wake you up at night. You’ll also be less likely to get on each other’s nerves if you are not cooped up in a single room for days on end. Which can cause tensions to rise.

Opt to stay at hotels and resorts which offer kids clubs or a babysitting service:

If you want to enjoy a little rest and relaxation time without your kids, you may want to stay at a hotel or restore which offers a kids club or a babysitting service.

Consider renting a family-friendly apartment or house:

If you plan on visiting a single location for a week on longer, it may be a cheaper option to rent a family-friendly apartment or house. As for the price of a couple of nights in a comfortable hotel, you should be able to rent an entire apartment or home for a full week. Some rentals are even located on complexes that have a wide variety of free amenities such as swimming pools, fully equipped gyms, and children’s playgrounds. Lastly, if you want to save money by cooking some of your own meals, you’ll appreciate having your own kitchen and dining room.

Learn to pick your fights:

Remember that long days of sightseeing can be tiring for children, especially young children, so have patience when it comes to dealing with your children and learn how to pick your fights.

Plan naps for young children:

If you do decide to travel with very young children, you may need to plan short naps in the middle of the day or the early afternoon in order to ensure that your kids don’t become exhausted.

In conclusion:

If you want to explore the country and the world as a family and to explore new destinations together, it’s well worth keeping some of the tips that are listed above in mind. In order to plan smooth free, family vacations. As despite the challenges that you may come across, the rewards are well worth it.

Tips For Being a Good Dad

by Charles · Oct 5, 2021

Whether you’re a first-time father or you have several kids and want to be the best dad that you can be, you’ve come to the right place. Simply continue reading to discover a handy list of tips that will help you become a super dad!

Don’t be afraid to show your emotions:

If you have a son, it’s important to show your son that he should feel open and free when it comes to displaying his emotions, so that he’ll grow up to be an emotionally mature, open young man. While if you have a daughter, showing your love, compassion and vulnerability, will show your daughter that boys and men have feelings too. So don’t be afraid to cry at a sad movie or to express affection to your kids and your partner.

Support your kids’ passions and goals;

Instead of placing pressure on your kids to follow in your footsteps, it’s important to encourage your kids to explore their own passions and to strive to achieve their own goals. For example, if you played football, don’t force your kids to play football, let your kids choose hobbies to pursue instead.

Do your fair share of cooking and housework:

A good dad doesn’t see household chores such as cooking and cleaning as women’s work and ensure that they do their fair share of cooking and housework. A great dad will even teach their kids about the importance of pitching in to help keep their shared home, clean and tidy. In order to raise responsible children.

Be a great listener:

One quality that good dads share are being great listeners. It’s a great idea to ensure that your kids feel as if they can come to you for advice at any time and that you won’t judge them for sharing their feelings and thoughts. If you establish this bond while your kids are young, they will continue to come to your for sage advice during their critical teenage years. When some kids may become hard to reach.

Help your kids with their homework:

Great dads take a keen interest in their kids’ schoolwork and will be willing to help their kids with difficult maths problems or to help their kids complete their science fair projects.

Create fun traditions which each of your kids:

A good dad also knows the importance of playtime and spending light-hearted quality time with each of their kids. If your goal is to be the best dad that you can be, it’s also a fun idea to work on creating fun traditions with each of your kids. In order to create memories that your kids will cherish for a lifetime. For example, you may want to read to one kid every night and to build pillow forts with another of your children.

Make sure that your partner feels appreciated:

A good dad also values his partner if he has one and goes out of his way to ensure that his partner feels loved, supported, and appreciated.

So if you want to become the best dad that you can be and for your kids and partner to see you as a super dad, it’s well worth taking all of the tips listed above to heart!

5 Technology Tips For Your Home

by Charles · Oct 5, 2021

If you love technology but can do with a bit of assistance when it comes to managing tech in your home, there’s no need to worry. Simply continue reading to discover a wide variety of technology tips for your home, that will make your everyday life a little easier.

Use a beauty filter for your video calls:

If you run a busy household and also find yourself taking video calls for work from home on a frequent basis, you may worry about looking your best, when you’re exhausted from running after your kids. One way to ensure that you don’t look haggard on your video calls is to use a simple beauty filter. Which was erase eye bags from underneath your eyes and will give your skin a healthy, radiant glow.

Make sure that your internet package isn’t capped:

Today unlimited internet is essential especially if you want to stream shows with applications such as Netflix, DIsney+ Hulu, and Amazon Prime. As streaming or downloading TV shows or movies churns through data.

Be careful about letting young children access social media sites:

Ideally, your kids shouldn’t have a social media presence until they turn 13-15 as unfortunately social media sites attract child predators and can cause children to stress as they may worry about their popularity and how many likes and followers they have. For this reason, it’s a smart idea to keep your kids away from social media until they’re old enough to understand how to use social media safely and how to use it without it taking over their lives. Remember, that a child’s sense of self-esteem should never come from their online popularity.

Always have extra charging cables on hand:

As you never know when your smartphone cable or laptop adaptor may stop working, it’s always a wise idea to have extra charging cables on hand. Especially as they’ll also come in handy if a visitor wants to charge one of their smart devices or you accidentally misplace an important charger. Particularly as most people rely on their phone and laptop to manage their day-to-day life.

Share your smartphone screen with your smart television to share photos with your friends and family members:

As an example after a whirlwind trip, you may want to look through all of your photos as a family by mirroring your smartphone screen with your smart TV. As it’s a much better idea to share your photos on a large, flat-screen, HD TV than to huddle around a tiny smartphone screen. You can also use this technique to watch videos that you took on your smartphone with friends or family members. Just ensure that there aren’t any private photos on your smartphone’s reel that you don’t want other people to see before you decide to mirror your phone’s screen to your smart TV.

So if you love tech but are always interested in tech tips that will help you better manage tech in your home, hopefully, you found the tips listed above useful!

How to Start Your Own Business

by Charles · Oct 5, 2021

If you have decided to turn your business idea into reality, you may be confused about the first steps which you should take in order to successfully launch your brand new business. To discover an invaluable guide to starting a business, just continue reading.

Think about how you’ll fund your business:

If you’re starting your first business, you may want to opt for an option such as an online website that has fewer costs so that the capital which you’ll require will be lower. In some cases, you may be able to fund your capital on your own. Alternatively, if you’re launching a medium to large-sized business, you may want to get a business loan, find a business partner or seek silent investors.

If you are interested in seeking private investments from angel investors you’ll need to have a detailed business plan to convince potential investors that your business idea is worth investing in.

Ensure to start marketing your business before it launches:

In order to ensure that you have excited customers on the first day of your business’ launch, who are ready to spend money, make sure to start marketing your business at least a month before its launch. You may even want to hype up your launch day and to advertise specials and promotions that will create a buzz about your new business.

Choose your employees carefully:

If you don’t plan to run your business on your own or with the help of a business partner or family members and you are intent on hiring employees, it’s critical to choose your employees carefully. As the experiences which your customers have with your employees, will directly influence your customers’ opinion on your business as a whole. For this reason you may want to be directly involved in the interview process. To ensure that you can select employees who you can trust and who are just as passionate about your business as you are.

Have extra capital available for extra unexpected costs:

Even once you have calculated the amount of money which your business will cost to get up and running, it’s a great idea to allocate extra funds which you can keep in an emergency account, incase you’re faced with unexpected costs. For example, if your supplier of your products increases their costs, running your business may cost more than you had budgeted for. Or you may find that the property that you purchased for your business has structural issues that you need to fix fast.

Talk to a business mentor:

One way to avoid making easily avoidable mistakes is to get in contact with a business mentor. Who’ll be able to able to guide you through the steps which you’ll need to take to ensure that your business is a success.

So if you want to start your very own business and are ensure about how to get started, it’s well worth following all the useful information which has been listed above.

Infographic created by Clover

Network, a POS system provider

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