Hello Wanderer UK

Run or Dye 2017

Run or Dye had recently moved to Penshurst Place, having missed out last year I was very excited to take part this time round. Upon arrival you are sent to park in the field nearby, and a whooping £10 per car which personally I find a little much, on top of ticket prices for the event. However you come across these things going to events all over the place. Then it was quite simple to walk round and head to the tents to 'sign in' and receive our tops, bags, wristband, tattoo and number. Really it is a sweet little kit however the tshirt is always the same would be nice to mix it up a little - or maybe not have the tshirt and get a medal at the end instead. As a runner a bit of runner bling is always an appeal.

Again though this is all normal stuff and there is plenty of space to disappear and sort yourself out before heading into the crowd. I noticed there was more 'stalls' and a few inflatables you could check out either before or after the run. Then there was the main stage which was much small then I remember being at Hever Castle, and it was clear to see that they were suffering technical issues with the mics and sound system. These things happen though I would never hold this against an event.

It was soon time to get going anyway. We went and lined up, the team tried to get the crowd pumped and we were all raring to go. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... away we went! Within moments we were blasted with dye. AMAZING! The course itself was quite tough I felt especially for kids, uneven ground and lots of hills. As we were only walking due to a recent back injury, it was ok - and the views were just beautiful! Having never visited Penshurst Place before it was just nice to see what was around. The marshalls, dye teams were great getting the runners pumped and of course getting covered in dye was amazing. Just stand there and get hit! By the end I was head to toe covered and loving it!

There was the opportunity to do a small 3.5km, 5km or even 10km.

Plus there is professional photos taken which you can access after the event to purchase - it worth a look through some photos I hadn't even realised they had been taken.

Upon crossing the finish line, there was the chance to have a drink and then head over to the stage. Where the team were playing tunes, getting the crowd dancing and covering everyone in even more dye. We stuck around for a while to soak up the atmosphere and the sunshine.

You can already pre-register for 2018 -
I would definitely recommend going along for a run with a difference and the chance to try a different route.
Again the views are to die for in places.
There is always an brilliant atmosphere and lovely team behind it all.

* I was offered two free entries in return for this review, but all opinions are still my own.

0Comments

, by Chloe

Make Your Garden Glow (While Adding Value To Your Property) This Summer

Don’t let the ubiquitous drizzle fool you. The summer is here, and for many of us that means garden parties, barbecues and sipping wine in the company of friends while bathed in the amber glow of the setting sun. Summer can be a great time to escape the dreary confines of the home and office and spend quality time with friends in your own little slice of the great outdoors.

Image credit

But for many of us, this also means facing the dread confrontation with a wildly overgrown garden that you’ve put off since last October.

It’s time to give your garden a makeover, and chalk up a nice bit of extra equity on your property into the bargain. Here’s how!

Pave the way to neatness

Driveways and paths are high maintenance and need to be perfectly manicured and maintained regularly to look neat and tidy. Keeping up with this is not how you want to spend your summer months. Fortunately, block paving for driveways and paths is an elegant solution for keeping them neat and tidy all year round. With a range of colours, styles and materials to suit traditional and contemporary tastes they’re a great way to tie the look of your garden together while adding value and appeal to your property. A weed proof membrane is usually applied underneath the blocks, and well maintained drives rarely see weeds. Should you get sprouts between slabs, there are a range of cheap products on the market to kill them dead and ensure that they don’t come back.

Get decking

Image by Flickr

Decking is also a great way of giving your garden a neat appearance that’s easy to maintain. It’s also surprisingly easy to install, as well. It’s an excellent way of compartmentalising the garden and establishing areas for rest and areas for play that adds texture and warmth to your garden. While many prefer hard terraces and patios, to our mind there’s no substitute for the comfort, ambience and warmth afforded by decking. It’s also much easier than a patio to modify or expand, with a range of textures, colours and finishes to suit all tastes.

Trees bien

A garden has so much more character and charm when it also has at least one tree. Not only do they enhance your garden’s aesthetic, they significantly increase your enjoyment of said garden. Whether it’s marking the seasons by watching the leaves change, enjoying the singing and play of birds who make it their temporary homes or trying not to chew off your fingernails as your kids concoct increasingly elaborate ways to break their necks while climbing it, you’ve always got something to enjoy when you have a tree. You can buy sustainable trees from The Woodland Trust.

Keep that lawn immaculate

Maybe this won’t add any monetary value to your property but keeping your lawn well maintained will not only make your garden a fun place to spend time and turn the heads of your neighbours, it also makes your property much easier to sell if you happen to be on the market. We recommend mowing twice a week in summer and once a week in spring and autumn.

0Comments

, by Chloe

Opening Up Your Home: Bi-fold Doors, Patio Doors & French Doors

Recent statistics show that in the UK we spend nearly £30 billion pounds on home improvements every single year. We all want our home to be the best it can be, and the standards of what makes a home great are certainly different than they used to be.

Most homeowner these days wants their property lighter, brighter and more connected with the outside world. All trends point to that being the most beautiful, beneficial and modern way to live, which is why new homes are so much more spacious and open than they used to be.

Gone are the times when wall after wall was added in order to create more rooms in a home. Open plan is definitely on trend, and bringing in more light and connection to a property's outside area is definitely something the majority of properties need to have in order to keep up with the demands of homebuyers these days.

If you are considering installing some doors in your property to connect your garden to your home, you have a lot of choice and unfortunately, not every choice will be right for your property. It is actually very important to make the right choice because the result could have a massive effect on the overall design of the house.

So how do you make the best decision for your property? By being informed. That is ultimately the very best way you can choose the right property for your needs, and to help you, here's a good look at each option:

Bi-fold Doors

A Bi-fold door is a folding sliding door and you will have seen a lot more of these on properties in recent years because they are so very popular these days. And for good reason, because they are basically large, stunning almost ceiling to floor sheets of glass that will completely open up your house. There are lots of different options as well, so no matter what type of property you have, you can find a set to match your needs. Large contemporary houses can have almost frameless, seamless sheets of glass that create an entire wall of light into your home and looking out at your gardens. Smaller properties can specify them moving inside or outside so they work around obstacles inside or outside the house. They certainly make integrating your outside space with inside living exceptionally easy, and create an illusion of additional space within any home.

French Doors

You can get french style bi-fold doors, but doors considered more strictly french style are slightly different. Usually they let in a little less light, but you can get them in lots of styles and materials and they work really well with a modern home. You can in some cases combine French doors with bi-folding doors or have both in different areas of the property. Commonly single sets of French doors are used in properties where the homeowners don't want an entire wall to open up, but rather want a door or two that enables access, extra light and the ability to open and close an area.

Sliding Doors

Sliding doors used to be very uncool and old fashioned, but these days they are facing somewhat of a resurgence and there are many of them around making modern homes look beautiful. They bring in lots of light, like bi-fold doors and they come in lots of styles and designs. The fact that the panels slide together into a small space is a really positive aspect of their design, which is why they are featured in so many modern properties at the moment.

Although all three of these options have their benefits and are all able to be used in modern homes in different ways, bi-fold doors definitely sit ahead at the moment in terms of popularity. Both sliding and bi-fold doors are able to be made in ways that makes them almost seamless and almost entirely glass, which is ideal for the most contemporary style of home. It also means more light, which is always a good thing.

Choosing the right type of door for your home doesn't mean a sure thing though, you also need to get the design right.

Think Carefully About The Design of Your Doors

When choosing the style of door you would like, frame choice really is important. Thin frames are the best choice if you want long-lasting style. Thicker frames are more bulky, less chic and they let in less light. It is also important to opt for double or triple glazed glass and never single glazed. Since 1996 the amount of properties with double glazing has risen from 30% to nearly 80% according to recent statistics. Trends suggest that triple glazing will follow the same pattern. Energy efficiency is so important, so if you are adding glass, you must do so in a way that ensures the property remains insulated.

In all instances, regardless of style or type, you must pay special attention to the company you purchase your doors from. They should be experienced, be able to advise you on different options for your property and you should get a watertight warranty as well. Having doors like this fitted is transformative, but if you don't do your research and choose the right company to fit them, they could transform your property in a way you really did not want. Taking your time is key. Get quotes, mock up different options on your property, consider your options carefully and enjoy yourself, this is a decision that will transform your property in an amazing way if it is done right.