MJC’s Self-Care Routine For Peaceful Sleep

A good self-care routine is crucial if you want to enjoy more sleep! One obvious way to achieve this goal is by developing your own special nightly ritual. This ritual will hopefully help to reduce feelings of anxiousness and allow you to catch those much sought-after forty winks!

Some of our team in the office love aromatherapy. If this sounds like something you might enjoy too, why not try some before you hit the sack?

With any luck, as well as helping you snooze better, your self-care routine will also have a positive impact on your mood and general health.

Here are some ideas to set yourself up for a great night’s sleep! ?

Skincare routine

You can kill two birds with one stone with this one. Firstly, it’s great to include as part of a self-care routine, and secondly, your skin will thank you for it! Lol. It can be quite meditative as well you know. ?

Need some inspiration? Check out The Body Shop’s skincare programmes.

A post shared by The Body Shop Official (@thebodyshop) on Jan 19, 2018 at 4:56am PST

Have A Long Relaxing Bath Or Hot Shower

This is a great way to reduce anxiety, just add some Epsom salts to help you relax even more!

Have a hot drink

Sipping on a decaffeinated herbal drink is a fab idea, remember not to overdo it though, you don’t want to be running to the toilet all night long! Lol.

Curl Up With A Good Book

To set the tone for this why not dim the lights first? Try reading a few pages of a good inspirational book. Reading does have proven benefits in terms of relaxation.

Shut Down All Electronics

Yes, this includes your TV, laptop and smartphone! Exposing yourself to all those DMs, text messages and emails can be anxiety-inducing. We know it’s hard to break away from it all because it feels like you’ve suddenly lost your connection to the outside world. Lol. You know what, you’ll survive!

So, about 30-60 minutes before you turn in for bed, please shut them off. Did you know that the light in these devices decrease the amount of melatonin that your body produces? When it’s dark your brain produces more melatonin, which obviously makes you sleepy. So, you see, melatonin is a crucial hormone, it’s responsible for regulating your sleep!

The blue light that your smartphone, laptop and TV give’s off is very disruptive to your sleep. Therefore, we recommend limiting late-night engagement with electronic devices. A better alternative is listening to some soothing music or a good audio book.

Diffuse Essential Oils

A post shared by Amanda Beach | Healthy Living (@naturally.healthy.living) on Jan 23, 2018 at 3:12pm PST

The benefits of aromatherapy are amazing. According to scientific studies, it’s a fantastic natural remedy for anti-anxiety. You can wind-down with an array of snooze-inducing scents:

• Chamomile – reduces anxiety
• Bergamot – improves mood
• Lemon and Citrus – can reduce anxiety
• Neroli – reduces anxiety and blood pressure
• Geranium- reduces anxiety, fatigue, and stress
• Eucalyptus – reduces mental exhaustion and stress
• Ylang-Ylang – has a positive impact on depression and anxiety
• Lavender – reduces depression, improves sleep, and reduces blood pressure

Sleep When You Feel Tired

I know this sounds obvious, but it’s not uncommon for busy people to just totally drain themselves and not know when to stop and call it a day!

This simple decision will have a real positive impact and give you those extra hours of sleep that you need and deserve.

If you can, try to set yourself a goal of going to sleep and getting up at the same time, every day. This will enable you to set your body’s internal clock, which in turn will improve your quality of sleep. What’s nice about this is that you will then start to wake up naturally, so, you won’t need an alarm clock anymore!

Tips

• Avoid nicotine and caffeine several hours before your bedtime: These are both stimulants which will disrupt your sleep.
• Don’t drink too much liquid during the evening: You’ll make frequent trips to the toilet throughout the night otherwise, lol. Be mindful of drinking alcohol before bed as well. This will interfere with your sleep.
• Don’t eat big meals at night: Ideally, have your evening meal at 7 pm, (but aim for at least 2 hours before your bedtime). Remember to steer clear of heavy food if you do eat later than this!
• Don’t fall asleep after dinner: when you do eventually get yourself off to bed, you’ll end up waking up during the night. Then you’ll have difficulty getting back to sleep.
• Make sure your room is dark when you’re ready to sleep: black-out blinds and heavy curtains are worth investing in. If you’re on a tight budget though, a sleep mask will do. ?

If you suffer from insomnia you will find this video useful:

We hope that you will find some inspiration in our collection of ideas.

Good luck with your self-care routine! ?

At MJC Plumbing we’re passionate about the quality of service that we deliver to our customers.

Contact us today on 020 7064 6777 for first-rate plumbing, heating and gas services.

MJC Plumbing’s Guide To London Gym Membership

Are you thinking about joining a gym? London gym membership isn’t cheap! ☹

Don’t despair though, our guide will give you the heads up on some of the best deals around.

So, if you do sign up for a new gym membership this year you won’t regret it… you’ll save £££s! ?

Free Trial Gyms

Most gyms will let you try out their gym first. You’ll be issued with a free guest pass. So, make sure you make use of it as much as possible. Use this special trial period to test out the gym. This will enable you to feel more confident about things before you sign up. Don’t commit to any London gym membership before you do this! ?

DW Fitness First

Founded in 2009, DW Fitness First  is now the second largest gym operator in the UK. DW Sports bought out Fitness First UK in September 2016.

Some branches include:

• Angel – 361-37, City Road, London, EC1V.
• Balham – 279-291, Balham High Road, London, SW17.
• Bishopsgate – 47 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N.
• London Bridge – Basement Level, London Bridge Hotel, 8-18 London Bridge Street, London SE1.
• London Bridge Cottons – Cottons Building, Tooley Street, London, SE1.
• Brixton – Blue Star House, 234-244 Stockwell Road, London, SW9.
• Camden – 128 Albert Street, Camden, London, NW1.
• Clapham – 276-288 Lavender Hill, Clapham Junction, London, SW11.
• Fenchurch Street – 106 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M.
• Holborn – 246 High Holborn, London, WC1.
• Liverpool Street – Platform 17-18, Unit 12, Liverpool Street Station, London, EC2M.
• Shoreditch – 7 Frying Pan Alley, London, E1.
• Streatham – 7 Streatham High Road, London, SW16.
• Haringey – Unit 4C, The Arena Shopping Park, Green Lane, Harringay, N4.
• Highbury – Unit A East Stand, Avenell Road, London, N5.
• Leyton – 1ST FLOOR, Unit 6, Leyton Mills Retail Park, Marshall Road, Leyton, E10.

Anytime Fitness

This chain of gyms was founded in 2002. Anytime Fitness is open 24-hours a day and there are over 4,000 locations in 20 countries. 140 of their gyms can be found in the UK. They opened their first UK gym in October 2010. 100,000 people have already signed up for their London gym membership.

Some branches include:

• Waterloo – 170 Westminster Bridge Road, Waterloo, London, SE1.
• St Paul’s – 1 Priory Court Pilgrim Street, London, EC4.
• City – 18 Alie Street, Aldgate, London, E1.
• Kings Cross – Unit 2 The Nido Building, 200 Pentonville Road, London, N1.
• Chelsea – 222-224 Fulham Road, Chelsea, London, SW10.
• Clapham – 3 Mullins Place Kings, Avenue, London, SW4.
• Tulse Hill – Unit 1 & 2 224-226, Norwood Road, London, SE27.
• Stratford – 166 – 168 High Street, Stratford, London, E15.
• Greenwich – Unit C, Bugsby’s Way, Greenwich Shopping Park, London, SE7.
• Lewisham – Unit B, Meridian South, Birdwood Avenue, Hither Green, Lewisham, SE13.
• Leyton – 665 High Road, Leyton, E10.
• Tooting – 185 Tooting High Street, London, SW17 0SZ.
• Woolwich – UNIT 1 Tesco Extra, Love Lane, London, SE18.
• Wimbledon – 14-16 Coombe Lane, London, SW20.

Nuffield Health

As well as operating 111 gyms in the UK, Nuffield Health is also the largest not-for-profit healthcare provider in the UK. Nuffield Health bought 35 Virgin Active clubs in 2016.

Services and facilities include:

• Day Nursery
• Beauty Suite
• Private GP Service
• Personal Training
• Nutritional Therapy
• Swimming Lessons/Classes
• Healthy Weight Programme

Some branches include:

• Club Baltimore, 14 Baltimore Wharf, London, E14.
• Canary Wharf, One Cabot Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14.
• City, 4, Cousin Lane, London, EC4R.
• Moorgate, 1, Ropemaker Street, London, EC2Y.
• Shoreditch, 1-6 Bateman’s Row, London, EC2A.
• Covent Garden, 9, Endell Street, London, WC2H.
• Bloomsbury, Mecklenburgh Place, Goodenough College, London, WC1N.
• Islington, 27 Essex Road, Islington, London, N1.
• Wandsworth Southside, Southside Shopping Centre, Buckhold Road, London, SW18.
• Wandsworth, King George’s Park, Burr Road, Wandsworth, SW18.
• Paddington, 2, Sheldon Square, Paddington Central, Paddington, London, W2.
• Merton Abbey, 29 Chapter Way, Colliers Wood, London, SW19.
• Fulham, Stevenage Road, Bishop’s Park, Fulham, SW6.
• Wimbledon, 37 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London, SW19.

Fusion Lifestyle

Fusion Lifestyle was founded in April 2000 and it has nearly 100 branches. It is also a registered charity. It has put in place a concessionary pricing structure to ensure that people from disadvantaged and low-income communities can have full access.

They promote accessible access for disabled people, and they also welcome older people! ?

Some branches include:

• Golden Lane Sport & Fitness- Fann Street, London, EC1Y.
• Ark Road Pools & Fitness – Park Road, London, N8 8JN.
• Albany Leisure Centre – 505 Hertford Rd, Middlesex, EN3.
• Arnos Pool – 269 Bowes Road, London, N11.
• Edmonton Leisure Centre – 2 The Broadway, London, N9.
• New River Sport & Fitness – White Hart Lane, Wood Green, N22.
• Southbury Leisure Centre – 192 Southbury Rd, Enfield, EN1.
• Southgate Leisure Centre – Winchmore Hill Road, London, N14.
• Bramley Bowls Hall – Chase Side, Cockfosters, London, N14.
• Tottenham Green Pools & Fitness – 1 Philip Lane, London, N15.
• Broadwater Farm Community Centre – Adams Road, Tottenham, London, N17.
• Forest Hill School Sports Centre – Bampton Road, London, SE23.
• Glass Mill Leisure Centre – 41 Loampit Vale, London, SE13.
• Ladywell Arena – Silvermere Road, Catford, London, SE6.
• The Bridge Leisure Centre – Kangley Bridge Road, Lower Sydenham, SE26.
• Wavelengths Leisure Centre – Giffin St, London, SE8.
• Lewisham Indoor Bowls Centre – Kangley Bridge Road, Lower Sydenham, SE26.

Pay-as-you-go Deals

The Gym – You can buy a day pass from £4.99.

It has 89 branches in the UK and they’re open 24 hours a day.

Locations include: Angel, Barking, Bloomsbury, Chadwell Heath, Charing Cross, Colindale, Ealing, Edmonton Green, Harrow on the Hill, Holborn Circus, Hounslow, Ilford, Kingsbury, Manor House, Southall, Tottenham Hale, Walthamstow, Wealdstone, Wembley Central, Wembley Park, West Hampstead, Wood Green, and Watford.

Pure Gym -You can buy a day pass from £5.99.

This is a ‘no-frills chain’ and it has more than 180 gyms across the UK.

Locations include: Piccadilly, Victoria, Holborn, Marylebone, South Kensington, Aldgate, Camberwell, Shoreditch, Bayswater, Bermondsey, Highgate, Holloway Road, Finsbury Park, Islington, Limehouse, Hammersmith, Wandsworth, Canary Wharf, Putney, Greenwich, Muswell Hill, Sydenham, Acton, Finchley, Park Royal, Charlton, Wembley, Southgate, Croydon, Ilford, Bromley, Edgware, New Barnet, and Enfield.

EasyGym – You can buy a day pass from £6.99.

Locations include: East Ham, Fulham, Ilford, Oxford Street, Tottenham, Wandsworth, West Croydon, and Wood Green.

Stay Happy and Healthy!

So there you have it! Your guide to London gym membership.

We hope that you’ll take advantage of the many trial periods on offer out there.

Your membership will provide you with everything you need. So, get yourself fit, and stay happy and healthy! ?

MJC Plumbing is a London based company. We’re dedicated to providing you with the very best low-cost solutions for all your plumbing, heating and gas needs.

Contact us today on 020 7064 6777. Your satisfaction is guaranteed! ?

Tips For Keeping Warm During Winter

Keeping warm during winter is not always easy, especially for our older population. So, this week we decide to put together some tips to help our senior citizens. If you have elderly family members, friends or neighbours, we hope that you will also find this useful.

As you’ll probably already be aware, our older population are at a higher risk of colds and flu. They’re also more susceptible to heart problems and strokes during cold weather.

We can all do our bit to help just by regularly dropping by to check on them and ensuring that they have everything they might need to ensure that they’re keeping warm during winter.

How older people are affected by cold weather

Keep Warm, Keep Well Leaflet

Download this handy leaflet for lots of useful tips! Just click on the image below.

Get Help With Bills

Affordable Warmth Grant

This is a government scheme which aims to help you with the costs of home improvements. This can include things like a new boiler, or insulation, which can help to reduce your heating costs during the winter.

Why not see if you qualify? Visit the website.

Winter Fuel Payment

It’s easy to check your entitlement for the Winter Fuel Payment, just visit the government website. You have to be quick though, most of the payments will be made from November to December.

Cold Weather Payment

This is an annual payment which is designed to help people with their fuel costs during the winter months.
Visit the government website to check your entitlement.

Warm Home Discount

This is a government scheme which was launched in 2011, to help people who are struggling to pay their energy bills. So, you might be eligible for a one-off £140 rebate towards your energy bill! ?

Schemes are open for applications now. Some of the main utility providers below have further info about this on their websites – see below.

Visit the EDF website to check your entitlement.

Visit the British Gas website to find out more about their Warm Home Discount scheme.

Ovo Energy is also closed for applications, but you can pre-register for next year.

Unfortunately, E.On is not accepting any more applications for this year. However, you can register your interest for next year. They also offer other types of help.

Visit the NPower website. You can also call them on 0808 172 6999 or 0330 100 8669.

Visit the SSE website to check your entitlement.

Winter Warm and Well

Age UK, (in conjunction with Lambeth Council) has launched a ‘Winter Warm and Well’ campaign. They’re taking applications for grants from community groups and organisations who are working with older people. This is to help them to raise awareness about the importance of keeping warm during the winter months.

So, if you are part of a local community group or organisation, or you know one that could benefit, click on this link to fill out the application form. Alternatively you can call 020 7346 6800 or email them at info@ageuklambeth.org.uk for further info.

Risks older people face in the winter

Wintery Conditions

Black ice is a serious concern. It’s obviously extremely slippery, which can lead to falls. Any attempt to shovel the snow will also be very dangerous for senior citizens because it’s just too physically challenging for them. If you have an elderly family member or friend, and they have cardiovascular problems, you should help them to shovel away snow. If you leave this job to them, this could potentially put them at risk for stroke or heart attack.

Becoming Ill

As well as the cold having a negative impact on the body. It reduces the body’s capacity to remain healthy. This, in turn, can make it easier to become ill. Instances of the common cold, the flu, and norovirus increase. So, it’s very important to eat well and stay active. This will help to boost the immune system.

Arthritis Pain

It’s quite common for people to experience increased stiffness and joint pain. This can be exacerbated by the cold weather. Anti-inflammatory foods, a bit of light exercise, and ensuring that you keep as warm as possible, are some of the key ways to reduce the effects of arthritis pain.

Heart problems

The winter weather can also cause more cardiovascular problems, like stroke and heart attack. This is because the colder conditions force your heart to work extra hard to keep your body heat stable. This also helps you to keep your blood pressure at the right levels. Basically, this puts your heart under extra stress! The advice that is given to older adults by the NHS is:

• Stay warm
• Always wear the right clothing
• Keep thermostats at 18 C or warmer
• Use an electric blanket or hot water bottle

Loneliness

The colder months can force senior citizens to stay at home and become less socially active. So, make sure that you arrange regular visits with your elderly relatives and friends, so they don’t lonely.

Good Morning Britain’s (in conjunction with Age UK), has launched an award-winning campaign called ‘1 Million Minutes 2017’, which highlights the issue of loneliness.

Their aim is to get as many minutes as possible from people, to help lonely people this Christmas and into 2018.

All you need to do is decide how many minutes of your time you would like to pledge and how you would like to volunteer that time. Visit their website to get involved!

MJC Plumbing Helping Senior Citizens

MJC Plumbing has been fully vetted and checked by Age UK staff – check out our listing on their directory.

We always do our best to help our elderly customers, and we want to make sure that they’re keeping warm during winter.

We want to wish all of our customers a very Merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year!

Our office will be closed from Friday 22nd, but we’ll be back open again on Tuesday 2nd January.

See you all in 2018! ?

Team MJC’s Unique Christmas Gift Ideas

If like most people you’ve been struggling to come up with some unique Christmas gift ideas, read on!

We all love to share gifts with that special person, friends and family, don’t we?

So, team MJC thought it would be nice to give you a bit of inspiration to help you find some great quirky Christmas gifts.

After seeing these treasures, hopefully, you won’t have to search too far and wide for your own gifts.

Enjoy browsing through our selection! ?

For Prosecco Lovers

Bottomless Procecco Glass

A post shared by GettingPersonal.co.uk (@gettingpersonal) on Nov 24, 2017 at 10:51am PST

Make Your Own Wine/Prosecco Kit

A post shared by GettingPersonal.co.uk (@gettingpersonal) on Oct 9, 2017 at 11:38am PDT

If you’d much rather go out for your bottomless Prosecco though, you should check out these places:

Covent Garden, Grind (available at all their branches)

A post shared by Grind® (@grind) on Nov 12, 2017 at 2:58am PST

What a bargain at around £13 pounds per person! The staff are very friendly and attentive, ensuring that your glass will be kept full of Prosecco. ? Try their burger and ‘skin on’ fries and enjoy your boozy brunch!

All Star Lanes, (Brick Lane, Westfield Stratford, Holborn, Bayswater & Manchester)

A post shared by allstarlanes (@allstarlanes) on Dec 13, 2017 at 3:59am PST

Just order from their brunch menu and for an additional £19, you can ‘go bottomless’ with Prosecco, Mimosa’s or their hand-picked selection of craft beers.

Bad Egg, Moorgate

A post shared by The Nudge (@thenudgelondon) on Aug 11, 2017 at 2:31am PDT

For £35 per person, you get unlimited Prosecco, Mimosas, Bloody Marys and three dishes. You only get a two-hour limit though. Head on down to Bad Egg in Moorgate on a Saturday, 10am-5pm or Sunday, noon-5pm.

Okay, we digressed for a minute, lol.

So, back to the unique Christmas gift ideas…

Why not inject a lil’ bit of humour into your choice?

Quirky Door Mat

A post shared by GettingPersonal.co.uk (@gettingpersonal) on Oct 13, 2017 at 12:30pm PDT

 

You’ve been warned, don’t turn up without the Prosecco! Lol.

Novelty Glass

A post shared by The Great Gift Company (@thegreatgiftco) on Oct 18, 2017 at 6:37am PDT

Couples Bedding

A post shared by Lifestylish.com (@lifestylishdotcom) on Jun 28, 2017 at 3:26am PDT

Sweet Tooth Gifts

Giant Ice Cream Cone Lamp

A post shared by Perpetual Kid (@perpetualkid) on May 15, 2017 at 12:04pm PDT

Many children and adults will ‘light up’ at the mention of ice cream! ?

You can grab this online, at under a tenner it’s very affordable.

Ice Cream USB

A post shared by Mosh Salazar (@moshtoys) on Feb 1, 2017 at 4:00pm PST

Store all of your treasured files on this cute little USB memory stick. You can get these on Amazon for between £5 – £10.

Retro Sweets Hamper

A post shared by Sweet Tayloula (@sweettayloula) on Nov 25, 2017 at 9:36am PST

If you’re shopping for someone with a sweet tooth, we think that candy makes the sweetest gift. We’re sure you’ll all agree that they are perfect for kids, and the young at heart as well! Lol

Ice Sprinkles Cell Phone

A post shared by Pacific Bling (@pacific.bling) on Dec 13, 2017 at 9:07am PST

Bouquet of Sweets

A post shared by The Great Gift Company (@thegreatgiftco) on Feb 25, 2017 at 6:40am PST

More Ideas

Personalised Cheese Serving Board

A post shared by GettingPersonal.co.uk (@gettingpersonal) on Nov 13, 2017 at 12:10pm PST

Slipper Boots

A post shared by GettingPersonal.co.uk (@gettingpersonal) on Nov 4, 2017 at 12:17pm PDT

Well maybe slippers don’t exactly fall into the ‘unique Christmas gift ideas’ category…

Let’s just call it ‘an oldie but a goodie!’ ?

Record Shaped Coasters

A post shared by The Great Gift Company (@thegreatgiftco) on Jun 13, 2017 at 5:21am PDT

‘What I love About You’ Book

A post shared by The Great Gift Company (@thegreatgiftco) on Mar 5, 2017 at 3:16am PST

Quirky Wine Bottle Stopper

A post shared by The Great Gift Company (@thegreatgiftco) on Dec 4, 2016 at 4:28am PST

Astronaut Bedding

A post shared by SNURK For Horizontal Living (@snurkbedding) on Jun 28, 2017 at 3:02am PDT

So, now that we’ve given you some inspiration for unique Christmas gift ideas, why not see if you can find other novelty items? No Christmas is complete without gifts like these! ?

Go on, be creative and think outside the box!

You should also check out our Christmas Countdown Checklist, just in case you missed last week’s blog post.

Plumbing Over Christmas

The Christmas period is one of the busiest times for MJC Plumbing, so, please contact us on 0207 064 6777 to find out our festive opening times.

In the meantime, Happy Christmas shopping! ?

Great Customer Service From London Based Quality Plumbers

We earned our reputation for being great London based quality plumbers, through powerful customer recommendation.

MJC Plumbing has always prioritised excellent customer service. This has enabled us to grow massively through word-of-mouth. We’re always busy and we’ve got loads of loyal customers. They come back time and time again, and refer us to all their friends and family!

We all know that the first thing people do when they’re looking for a plumber is to ask their friends, family or work colleagues. Makes sense doesn’t it? ? The best type of plumber is the one that you hear about through word-of-mouth.

Good old-fashioned customer service never gets old!

We take enormous pride in our work and this pride radiates through every job that we do. We believe that this is what excellent customer service is about. From being well-presented, professional, and having a ‘smiling face’, to delivering a timely service, and providing a quality experience for all our customers.

Our customers are the lifeblood of our business and they’re extremely important to us. We treat them like gold! We make sure that they know just how important they are by consistently delivering a quality service.

So, what does 5-Star customer service from London based quality plumbers look like?

It’s simple:

A willingness to listen

We understand that this is essential. To be able to correct an issue, (if it’s within our power to do so), first we must listen. Once a customer has provided us with the details of their issue, we then ask questions to help us to come up with a satisfactory solution for them.

Ensuring customers always feel valued and appreciated

We never make excuses and we ensure our customers know that we genuinely care.

Communicating with customers

We provide regular communication and we always let customers know if there is an issue. We also do follow-up calls after every job and ask customers for their feedback.

Our goal is to ensure that every customer is satisfied. This way they return time and time again. They also become ambassadors for our business, by spreading the word about us!

Excellent employee training

This is a big part of our customer service program. We know that ensuring that our staff are adequately trained and knowledgeable is very important. At MJC Plumbing we make sure that our customers always receive a professional and efficient service. However, it doesn’t end there! We also want to make sure that our employees can provide the answers to any questions that our customers may have.

We’ll always treat you and your home with respect

Our engineers clean as they go, and they make sure that they leave your home or place of work exactly as they found it.

All the debris from our work will be swept up and we’ll do everything we can to ensure your environment is looking clean and tidy. MJC Plumbing go that extra mile and do just a little more than what is usually expected!

Join our loyal community

So, now you see why our customers are extremely satisfied. They’re constantly spreading the word about why they continue to use our services!

Don’t just take our word for it though, you can click below to view our customer feedback on Checkatrade.

When you call on us you can always expect to receive a high-quality customer service from your favourite London based quality plumbers.

We strive to be the most skilled, professional and knowledgeable plumbing company in London.

We make sure we work around your schedule, and our service is competitively priced! What’s more, we guarantee all our work!

At MJC Plumbing we work very hard to provide the best plumbing, heating and gas services.

So, go ahead and join our loyal community!

Get in touch with us today on 020 7064 6777.

We look forward to serving you! ?

Preparation Ideas – Christmas Countdown Checklist

Hopefully, our Christmas countdown checklist will help you to plan your perfect Christmas. With any luck, this will also mean less stress for you! ?

As we all know, Christmas can be very expensive! What with all those events to attend…presents and Christmas food to buy, it all adds up, doesn’t it? Did you know that this year, on average, families in Britain will spend around £821 on all this? Yep, it’s even more than we did last year.

So, the first thing to do before we put together our checklist is…that’s right, you guessed it!

Set Your Budget

You want to make sure you don’t go OTT! So, when you set your budget you better stick to it! Lol.

Write Up Your Christmas Gift List

It’s probably best to keep this separate from your food and decorations list.

Be sure to include everyone that you want to treat, and deduct from your total budget each time you purchase a gift.

Start Your Christmas Shopping

We roughly have about three weeks to go, right? Don’t make the mistake of thinking this is plenty of time because it’ll race by. So, if you haven’t already started buying those gifts, you better get cracking! If you leave it to the last minute, you’ll just end up running around all stressed out on Christmas Eve, lol

You should consider buying most of your presents online. This will help you to avoid the high street frenzy and impulse buying that goes along with all that. Save money and do it the smart way we say!

Hopefully, you will have been able to bag some good bargains on Black Friday? If you missed out though, you can always give it a try next year. ?

Plan Your Christmas Activities/Journeys

You probably have plans to visit family and friends. If you also plan on ‘having a few’, then you’ll need to buy your train and coach tickets early. That way you’ll be able to nab the very best deals.

Get the Gift Wrapping Underway

It’s well worth getting a head-start on the present wrapping. This’ll be one less thing for you to do on Christmas Eve. You can also write up all your Christmas cards at the same time. This way you’ll ensure that there’s more than enough time to get them delivered. Don’t miss Royal Mail’s last post dates for Christmas.

Buy Your Christmas Tree

If you like real Christmas trees, you’ll need to get out there now and start shopping for one! Leave it too late, and you’ll be left with all the sad, dodgy bare ones! Lol

Once you’ve bought your perfect tree, it’ll be time to dig out all your old decorations, (or put up the new ones). Just decide on your colour theme, throw it all together, and ‘bobs your uncle!’ ?

Next, back to the food part of your Christmas countdown checklist.

Christmas Food Shop

Try not to buy too much, too early. It’s important to buy all the non-perishables first and leave all the fresh stuff until later. Do this and your food shop will be less stressful, plus you won’t end up with loads of ‘gone off’ stuff. Items like drinks, cranberry sauce, and stuffing mixture etc, all have quite a long shelf life. Apparently, 23 December is the best time to do your shopping for fresh groceries.

Turkey Crazy!

Last Christmas we consumed more than 10 million turkeys the UK. So, many of us can’t even begin to imagine Christmas day without one.

Will you be buying a fresh turkey for Christmas?

Are you wondering how late you can leave it to order it online?

Well, check out Sainsbury’s and Waitrose delivery Christmas options.

We hope our Christmas countdown checklist will make the festive season effortless for you. Have a stress-free Christmas on MJC Plumbing, with all the trimmings! ?

Reliable London Plumbing Service

We provide a great plumbing service across London. Call us today on 020 7064 6777.

We’ll sort out all your plumbing, heating and gas problems so that you can keep you toasty and warm this Christmas! ?

Team MJC Upcycle Plumbing Pipe

At MJC Plumbing we hate to see old materials go to waste. As well as recycling, we often upcycle plumbing pipe and other materials. We love copper pipe because it has a great industrial style look about it.

Upcycling is great for the environment. When you upcycle, you’re saving old materials from the global garbage heap. Upcycling also requires less energy or water to break down materials than recycling does.

All you need to upcycle plumbing pipe is some creativity and a bit of effort. ?

Go on, have a go! It’s really satisfying to be able to create something beautiful and useful!

We’re going to look at some lovely creative ideas to make use of old copper piping. However, you can upcycle pretty much anything, including things like:

• Cans
• Tires
• Clothes
• Suitcases
• Milk cartons
• Newspapers
• Wine bottles

If you have a problem like a broken lamp or shelf, the ideas below are a simple and cheap fix. You’ll probably have some old copper pipe lying. If not, you can always ask your friends or family if they have any.

Shelving

Shelving is always the perfect solution when you’re short on space, but need to stay organized.

This wall-mounted shelving is a great example of up-cycling old copper pipes!#decorex #decorex2016 #bespoke #upcycle pic.twitter.com/Q75OaiBy4X

— Charlie Kingham (@CharlieKingham1) September 21, 2016

Why not create some special shelving for your bedroom, living room, or office? It’s functional, chic, and unique.

Chair

Great use for some old pipes! You may want to use a cushion to sit on this chair though! #repurpose #reuse #upcycle pic.twitter.com/W0AaBCiZiY

— Bakers Waste (@BakersWaste) September 25, 2015

Lighting

Check some examples of ways to upcycle copper pipes as lamps. We think that copper looks so beautiful when it’s gleaming in light:

A post shared by Home Crush (@homecrushuk) on Nov 12, 2017 at 7:11am PST

A post shared by Home Crush (@homecrushuk) on Oct 15, 2017 at 12:36pm PDT

A post shared by Home Crush (@homecrushuk) on Oct 14, 2017 at 6:40am PDT

A post shared by Home Crush (@homecrushuk) on Mar 5, 2017 at 9:31am PST

With some basic materials, you’ll be able to create these edgy and unique pieces. They’ll look fab in any room of your home or workspace.

You can also pick up a few Edison style bulbs to give it that extra ‘industrial’ feel. Apparently, it’s very popular right now!

Towel Holder

This is a clever way to take something boring and transform it into a stylish and functional piece for your bathroom or kitchen.

A post shared by Home Crush (@homecrushuk) on Jul 28, 2015 at 1:00pm PDT

 

Curtain Rod

More Upcycle Ideas

11 upcycle design ideas using pipes https://t.co/tSY76ITaeF #upcycle #design #ideas #lighting #furniture pic.twitter.com/amaSiSHgDI

— upcycleDZINE (@upcycledzine) April 28, 2016

Laptop Stand

This easy-to-make laptop stand is genius! Imagine how convenient it will be to just pop your laptop up to watch your favourite programme. You could even use it when you’re preparing a meal that requires you to follow a recipe. It would make things so much easier, wouldn’t’ it? ?

DIY Copper Pipe Hook

Here is a neat video guide which shows you how to make some handy copper pipe hooks.

Copper Jewellery Organizer

If you find that you’re forever losing your jewellery, this easy-to-make jewellery holder is just what you need.

Benefits of Upcycling

• Less air pollution
• Less water pollution
• It boosts your creativity
• Less greenhouse gas emissions
• You’ll be able to keep the items that you love
• Enables us to conserve limited global resources
• Reduces the demand for new and raw materials
• Reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills

In terms of tools, you won’t need much. You can buy cheap copper cutters online from about £10. Other bits you will need include connectors, end caps, and strong adhesive for metal.

When you upcycle plumbing pipe, you’ll be doing your bit for the environment. Not only that, you’ll save money and get the satisfaction of creating amazing, bespoke items. So, get stuck in and save the planet. It’s easy to do, just grab some copper pipe and get creative!

High-Quality London Plumbing Service

MJC Plumbing has been delivery high-quality plumbing, heating, and gas services to customers across London, since 2004.

We have extensive knowledge and experience. So, if you’re looking for a reliable plumber in London, then look no further! Our team is professional, friendly and efficient. We offer superb value for money, for all your plumbing requirements!

Please refer to our comprehensive list of services and contact us on 020 7064 6777, we’re here to help! ?

MJC Plumbing Advice – Smartphone Water Damage

We often hear stories from our customers about smartphone water damage. I bet you’ve probably dropped your phone in the toilet as well!

It’s that ‘oopsy’ moment that we all dread isn’t it? Losing your new iPhone down the toilet is a bit of a nightmare! So, if this ever happens to you, we hope our little tips will come in useful.

Speed Is Key

You’ll need to scoop your phone out of the toilet as quickly as possible. This is the only way to limit the water damage. Every second counts! The next thing to do is turn off your phone and hold it upright.

Dry It Off!

Wipe off all the water from the exterior. This will ensure that none of the water on the surface can seep into your phone.

Don’t forget to wash your hands after! ?

Next

iPhone owners: DON’T take your battery or SIM card out. If you do, this may breach your manufacturer’s warranty. You’ll need this just in case your phone is permanently damaged, and you need to get a new phone.

Android or Window’s owners: DO take out the battery and remove cases and plugs etc.

iPhone & Android or Window’s Owners

• Don’t turn on your phone
• Don’t tap, shake, or bang your phone
• Don’t press any keys or buttons on your phone
• Don’t heat it up with a blow dryer or pop it into the microwave
• Don’t blow into your phone – this will push the water into your phone

Okay, now that’s out the way, what’s next?

The Rice Or Silica Gel Remedy

(Rice will draw out the moisture from inside your phone)

1. Put your phone and any of the removed components in a bag of dried rice or silica gel.
2. Seal the bag and pop it in a nice and warm, dry area, i.e. beside a window. Make sure the window isn’t opened though, your phone might not be there when you come back! Lol.
3. You may be tempted to turn your phone back on straight away, but try to resist the urge. This can ruin the internal components and cause permanent damage to your phone.
4. Make sure you leave your phone in the rice for at least 24 hours, (48 hours if you can), then turn on your phone to check that it’s still working. Hopefully, this neat little trick will work.
5. If your phone doesn’t turn on, you should try to charge it. The battery may be damaged if it fails to charge up. So, try popping in the replacement battery.

Video Guide

Watch this youtube video to see how it works. However, the only thing you shouldn’t copy is shaking your phone, as we explained previously.

Phone Repair Shop

Don’t despair if your phone still won’t work. You can always take it to the phone shop. They’ll be able to advise you on how to get a new phone under your warranty.

Even if your phone does appear to be working, it’s probably still a good idea to take it to the phone repair shop. They’ll be able to take it apart, and check that everything inside is dry. If it isn’t completely dry, over the course of time, the minerals inside the water can corrode the delicate components inside your phone. So, do go and get your phone checked out, just in case any components need to be replaced.

Did you know that most people now use their smartphone whilst sitting on the toilet? Yep, they sure do! It’s not surprising really, as most people see using the toilet as ‘dead time.’ So, reading a book, or jumping on our phone does make this activity a bit more productive I guess?

The problem with this, of course, is that it does put our phone in the middle of a pretty precarious situation…it’s way too close to the porcelain pool! Lol

You won’t be surprised to learn that a lot of phone repair companies make most of their money off the back of this. Fixing smartphones with water damage is big business!

Prevention Is Better Than Cure!

When our team is out doing our plumbing jobs, we always get to hear the old, ‘I dropped my phone in the toilet’ story. Lol. What do we tell our customers? Get a water-resistant phone! ?

We hope you find our tips helpful, and remember, keep your phone away from that porcelain pool!

Alternatively, if you know that you’re a bit accident prone, buy a phone drying pouch and have it ready and waiting for your next ‘oopsy’ moment! ?

Reliable London Based Plumbers

We’re experts in all plumbing, heating, and gas related problems and solutions. We’re fully certified and we take tremendous pride in our work. Our customers receive a professional and reliable service. So, rest assured that 100% satisfaction is guaranteed!

Call us today on 020 7064 6777.

Facts Affecting Drinking Water Quality

Our customers often ask us what they can do to improve their drinking water quality and reduce water pollution. So, we thought we’d write a blog post about it to help our community. By the way, did you know that August was national water quality month? Well, it was, but not too many people know this!

We hope our post will help to raise awareness…check out our top tips! ?

Make sure you properly dispose of hazardous chemicals

We don’t want nasty chemicals to end up in our local water supply, do we?

Be mindful of what you’re throwing down the drain

Many people tend to flush unwanted and out-of-date medications down their toilet or drain. Big mistake! What you put down the drain will obviously affect your water supply. Substances like soaps, detergents, lotions, creams, and medications, will all find their way into your water supply. So, why not be more environmentally-friendly and use non-toxic products instead?

Clear up your garbage and scoop up your pet waste

Always ensure that your garbage is placed in the bin, and recycle if you can. Put all your pet waste in the bin or flush it down the toilet. It’s important to scoop up your pet waste to prevent all that horrible bacteria from running into the drain and water supplies. So, tie it up in recycled-plastic bags and dispose of it safely!

Another thing you can do to ensure your water is cleaner for drinking is to install a water filtration system. This can be easily installed under your kitchen sink. A filtration system will also improve the taste and odour of your water. Your kitchen faucet won’t only be cleaner for drinking, but also for cooking!

Safe water is essential for good health, but did you know that it’s also good for your appliances too? Yep, that’s right! When water is ‘softened’ it enables your appliances to work more efficiently. So, this means your washing machine and dishwasher will last much longer! ?

The great thing about filtered water is that you will even see the benefits when you shower. You’ll be able to take showers that are free of chlorine and other contaminants. This will, of course, result in soft skin and healthy shiny hair! Not bad, huh? ?

Here are some filtration methods which will help you to improve your water quality:

Point-of-entry filtration systems (POE)

This option filters water at the source, regardless of where the water is coming from. Many people use reverse osmosis units. POE’s essentially purifies water at the water line, just as it enters your home or business premises. The system will reduce sediments. It will make your drinking water quality much cleaner. However, it doesn’t stop there! Check out all the other benefits:

• Removes chlorine
• Removes particulates
• Eradicates cloudiness and cysts
• Eliminates odours, and any bad tastes
• Reduces lead and other metal compounds
• Filter change reminders enable you to change the filter when necessary

You will find a wide range of point-of-entry water filters systems available on the market. So, it’s probably best to choose one that only requires plumbing, including replacing the filtration media. Avoid one that requires replacing the whole tank. This will help you to save money!

Point-of-use filtration systems (POU)

This option includes things like distillers and reverse osmosis units. This will purify your water at one faucet, for example, at your kitchen sink or maybe your shower. Let’s look at your options, shall we?

Reverse osmosis water filters

This allows water to pass through the self-cleaning semi-permeable membrane. This filters out nearly every contaminant. It is a more expensive option, and some even consider it to be quite wasteful. However, it can filter water to your entire house or place of work.

Alkaline water machine

This option will filter your drinking water and make it more alkaline at the same time! Great stuff, we love it! ? It’s paramount that we keep our bodies as alkaline as possible. When we have too much acid in our bodies we become more susceptible to illness.

Ceramic carbon water filters

There are ceramic and carbon filters on the market which filter a wide range of contaminants from the water. You’ll find that some are even infused with silver. If you didn’t already know, silver is a great antibiotic. It will reduce the number of micro-organisms that are present in your water, which instantly improves your drinking water quality. You’ll be able to get this solution built-in to your water supply. However, do bear in mind that you will need to replace it every 12 months!

Jug filters

You may prefer this because it’s a particularly cost-effective way to remove contaminants from drinking water. Unfortunately, it does have a short filter life and it won’t filter out that many bacteria and chemicals. Therefore, you might want to try carbon blocks, (activated carbon water filters). They’re a bit more advanced than jug filters and they last longer!

Get advice

It’s important to drink plenty of water. This is key to staying healthy. However, if your water isn’t clean or safe, this will obviously do you more harm than good. So, if you have concerns about your tap water you should get in touch with Water UK. The Drinking Water Inspectorate can also investigate your problem.

Your trusted community plumber

MJC Plumbing is a long-established family business and we care deeply about our customers and community. Your drinking water quality is important to us, as well as excellent customer service, and quality work! ?

Call us today on 020 7064 6777 to get your plumbing job booked in. You’ll receive a free, no obligation and competitive quote!

MJC Plumbing Tricks Help Avoid Pipe Blockages

Were you able to avoid pipe blockages this Halloween? If, not, before you start carving up your pumpkins next year, try following our Halloween tips!

Halloween can be quite frightening, but you can steer clear of a plumbing nightmare, just by making sure that you dispose of your pumpkins properly.

Carving pumpkins is a tradition all around the world. However, no one ever really stops to think about the consequences of failing to correctly dispose of the mash and seeds from the pumpkin. We see the results of this it all the time. Kitchen sink drains become blocked up!

People don’t seem to be aware of the plumbing dangers involved with this practice. Pumpkins are stringy, right? So, this substance can obviously solidify and clog up your plumbing system. If you want to avoid pipe blockages, just follow these simple steps.

Halloween Pumpkin Tips

1. Carve up your pumpkins away from your kitchen sink
2. Don’t discard the mash and seeds down the sink
3. Put all the pumpkin waste in the bin, or;
4. Make some tasty treats for friends and family
5. Give it to your dog, it will help them with any digestive issue they might have as too!

Well, even though Halloween may be over, there are still pumpkins that need to be eaten!

Did you know that every year at Halloween, in the UK we throw away 18,000 tonnes of pumpkin? Wowzers! That’s an awful lot of waste!

As you know, at MJC Plumbing, we’re all about zero-waste. So, why not use your leftover pumpkin to make some tasty food? It’s great for many dishes, including things like pastries, biscuits, bread, or curries. ?

Jamie Oliver’s ‘Leftover Pumpkin Curry’

Leftover pumpkin? Bang it in a pan with chickpeas and coconut to make this deliciously hearty curry: https://t.co/V72dmAmqj4 pic.twitter.com/UfJnV0eqrY

— Jamie Oliver (@jamieoliver) October 24, 2017

Yum scrum…your family and friends will love this! ?

Here’s even more ideas:

Creamy Pumpkin Pasta

Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Recipe https://t.co/M2F4nXQc9U #veganrecipe #vegetarianRecipe #gultenfree #pumpkinrecipe #healthyrecipe #recipes pic.twitter.com/RS4IGbT98m

— myveggieweb (@myveggieweb) November 1, 2017

Thai Style Pumpkin Soup

To start your hallowed meal on a healthy note, try out this Thai-style Pumpkin Soup #Halloween #pumpkinrecipe https://t.co/k2uJve3NXU pic.twitter.com/RhMya4xpiL

— Candid Essentials (@CandidEssential) October 30, 2017

Pumpkin Hummus

Easy Pumpkin Hummus Recipe, The Best Hummus I’ve Ever Eaten! #hummus #hummusrecipe #food #recipes #pumpkinrecipe https://t.co/bLbSpSU2wW pic.twitter.com/4YuxXumXmh

— Duct Tape And Denim (@DuctTapeDenim) October 29, 2017

Delicious Leftover Pumpkin Dessert

Don’t Throw That Little Bit Of Pumpkin Away-Use It For Breakfast Or Dessert The Next Day!! https://t.co/bj0cpBVH7q #pumpkin #leftoverpumpkin pic.twitter.com/MTjSz8E7uI

— skinny sweets daily (@skinny_sweets_d) November 27, 2016

Pumpkin Butter

This Pumpkin Butter tastes like fall on a biscuit! https://t.co/e7u267qyWU @LibbysPumpkin #pumpkin #pumpkinrecipe #foodblogger #foodblog pic.twitter.com/UWHOqxsjgu

— Sarah Averett (@HeelsandGrills) October 26, 2017

When it comes to Halloween, MJC Plumbing know all the tricks and all the treats! ?

We hope you have as much fun next year, as you did this year! Of course, we hope to be able to help you avoid pipe blockages. However, if you do have any plumbing issues, we’ll be more than happy to help you out.

Have a great Bonfire Night this weekend and enjoy making all your own Halloween inspired recipes.

In the meantime, if you want the best plumbing, heating and gas service in London, call us today on 020 7064 6777. Our friendly team will be happy to help!