House & Home

22nd Feb 2024

Tackling the rise in unwanted cats and kittens

RSPCA Milton Keynes and North Bucks (RSPCA MK & NB) branch tell Pulse Magazine about the difficulty of dealing with increasing numbers of unwanted cats and kittens – and every cat owner can play their part in helping to turn the tide, as Pulse’s Sammy Jones discovered... Everyone loves a cute kitten, right? Those little fluffy bundles of beauty melt hearts. Sadly, their cuteness is also their downfall, as people introduce them into their homes without really thinking about those kittens turning into bigger balls of fluff that can sometimes live for the best part of a couple of decades, and the associated expense of food and veterinary costs over their lifetime. We’ve talked about the importance of getting your pet neutered before, and yet the message never quite reaches everyone. It’s not an option. It’s a necessity. People love their pets, but when the household purse strings need to..

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27th Oct 2023

Able to reach high standards

Your central heating boiler may be on the blink, a dripping tap is driving you to distraction or you need a new bathroom suite or gas safety check. At times like this you need a professional service from a qualified gas engineer or plumber. Able has built its reputation on delivering on its promises. The Milton Keynes based enterprise was set up in 2008 by senior engineer Matt Holtom. Since then, it has grown steadily setting high standards across a wide range of services from servicing boilers to fitting a wet room or tracking down a leak. Its client list includes some of the leading estate agents in Milton Keynes. Matt said: “Like us, estate agents want to give the best service. We will not compromise on quality to save costs or cut corners. We believe all our customers from homeowners to businesses deserve the very best service. “We understand..

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31st Jul 2023

George Davies Turf ‘The Landscaper’s Choice...

Exceptional customer service and a dedication to sourcing and supplying high-quality products has helped local business George Davies Turf grow from a one-man-band to a multi-million-pound business. Based in Olney, Milton Keynes, and working with landscapers of all sizes, they are the UK’s largest independent supplier of turf - proudly recognised as ‘The Landscaper’s Choice’. Their hard working team have helped the business maintain an impressive trajectory of growth, now supplying 1.5 million rolls of freshly cut turf to 35,000 gardens a year. The George Davies Turf product range also includes topsoil, bark, compost, artificial grass and composite decking – offering a complete solution to their customers. Exceeding customer expectations every time With over 22 years’ experience working with landscapers, the team at George Davies Turf understand how important it is that their customers receive their turf quickly and in perfect condition, ready for immediate transplantation. George Davies, founder and..

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31st Jul 2023

A new approach to bathrooms

Anyone who has driven by a piled-high skip will know just how much is simply thrown away when renovating a home. It does not need to be that way. Paul Rising, who set up Olney Bathrooms ten years ago, has taken a fresh look at the way he and his team work. He realised clients can still have their dream bathroom but through the use of sustainable products the completed space will have a lot less impact on the environment. This new way of working does not mean clients have to compromise on style or pay more for their bathroom. Paul, who has more than 20 years in the trade, said: “Everyone is far more environmentally aware, and we knew it was important for us to play our part. It really didn’t make sense to me that we are sourcing materials like tiles and marble from across the world and..

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11th Jul 2023

Enjoy year-round use from your conservatory

Multi-award-winning T&K Home Improvements are leading the way with innovative roof styles that will keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Not only do they look great, but they also significantly reduce energy costs from older roofs. T&K’s Insulate+ Replacement Roof System is made from quality materials that are designed to last for years without needing repairs or replacement. Plus, they come with a 10-year warranty! Now that the hotter weather is upon us, having a conservatory that is kept cool is important for several reasons. First and foremost, a cool conservatory ensures a comfortable and enjoyable space for relaxation and recreation. This can be achieved by adding thermally efficient transparent vents to your roof. They create more light and circulation of air, meaning homeowners can utilise their conservatory all year round, even during the hot summer months. Increased security and noise reduction are also..

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19th Jun 2023

Go wild for a bug’s life

It doesn’t seem so long ago that we were advising you to tidy up the garden for the winter months, and here we are already looking towards the longest day of the year, on June 21. Of course the arrival of summer means the garden is at its active best; with flowers, fruits and vegetables all lining up for inspection. Together with the blooms and nature’s parlour, weeds also pop up everywhere, but their arrival is received less favourably. The easiest way to keep them down is to hoe your borders regularly in dry weather. If you mow, lawns need to be cut weekly, but perhaps have a rethink for the moment. If you leave the mower in the shed for a while, you’ll get more free time and our pollinating insects will flock to your garden to enjoy the wildflowers that start to spring up – and our wildlife..

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06th Jun 2023

Make the move with the company you can trust

Take the stress out of a move by using a trusted removals company that can offer a range of services to meet your individual needs. Moving home or a business can be stressful, so it helps to use the services of a trusted removals company like Wards of Olney. The independent removal company has an impressive reputation dating back more than a century. It is currently run by twins; Mark and Christian Ward, grandsons to the company’s founder Fred Ward. While the company celebrates its heritage, clients can expect all the benefits of a professional removal company which has invested in purpose-built removal vehicles, handling equipment and materials. Christian said: “Whether you live in a one-bedroom flat or a large stately home we can move you anywhere throughout the United Kingdom. We know it can be a stressful time..

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24th Jan 2023

3 Bespoke Cocktails to Make at Home for Valentine’s Day

Why not save a little bit of money this month and celebrate Valentine’s Day at home? If it’s your first or your fifty-first Valentine’s Day with your beau, February 14th is the perfect occasion to crack out that cocktail shaker hidden at the back of your cupboard. Whether it’s an intimate 3-course dinner or more of a casual occasion, swap out your usual Mojito or Passionfruit Martini for something a little bit more special this year. Local cocktail designer and enthusiast Sunday Cocktail Club has created 3 bespoke recipes for you to try out and enjoy this year. Despite looking particularly eye-catching, these three cocktails are pretty low-maintenance. They only take a few minutes to shake up and require just a handful of ingredients. However you choose to celebrate V Day, Pulse Magazine has got you! Grab your ‘on the rocks’ glassware and then let Cupid take care of the..

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23rd Jan 2023

How you can help prevent an MK cat-astrophe

Unlike our canine companions, pussy cats are altogether more independent, and we are used to seeing a swaggering tom mooching down the road. But is that a much-loved moggy, or could it be one of the many stray cats that Milton Keynes has? With numbers of strays and ferals on the increase, the Milton Keynes and North Bucks branch of the RSPCA wants you to help curb the numbers. Sammy Jones found out more... The ‘problem’ of stray cats really is a big one; in 2022 the MK and North Bucks branch of the RSPCA has taken in close to 450 cats and kittens, and strays account for around half of that number. “We live in this weird urban area with lots of green spaces in-between and we do have a relatively big feral cat population, which is something we are trying to help manage,” explains branch chair Gillian Scott...

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23rd Jan 2023

A divorcee’s guide to the ‘Quickie Divorce...

A divorcee’s guide to the ‘Quickie Divorce’ When you google ‘Get a Divorce’, the first search returned is the Government website. After that you will see several adverts from services promising you a ‘quick’ and ‘easy’ service – “Get a divorce In Weeks £199 – No courts and no solicitor fees” “Quickie divorce” “24 hour service – start your fast divorce today” Almost too good to be true, right? Right! There is no such thing as a ‘quickie divorce’. This article explains the current divorce process to illustrate why the reality is that currently in England and Wales divorces are taking a minimum of 6 months from start to finish. The process Application for divorce submitted (either jointly, or with one party doing their own application) Application is sent to your spouse to approve (in joint applications) or to acknowledge service (sole applications). Once approved/acknowledged, the application goes back to..

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23rd Jan 2023

Ensure your affairs are in order with a Will

With New Year plans in progress, we spoke to Solicitor Charlotte Pinkham at Wilson Browne Solicitors about getting your affairs in order with a Will. Do I really need a Will? This is the most common question I get asked, especially from married couples as it is often assumed that everything will simply pass to the surviving spouse. However, if you do not have a Will in place, under the rules in England and Wales, you are deemed as passing intestate meaning it is then left to the intestacy rules to determine who benefits from your estate. Another aspect to note is that un-married partners and co-habitees are not recognised under the intestacy rules and so your partner would not benefit from anything in your estate. If you want control over who inherits from your estate and peace of mind knowing that your wishes will be respected after your death,..

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23rd Jan 2023

Making the world a better home

T&K Home Improvements are leading the way with their approach to offer customers environmentally sourced and produced products. A forward-thinking approach to increasing sustainability is at the heart of an ongoing mission at T&K Home Improvements to be a leading competitor in their industry. This approach to business means while products and services are still affordable, it is not at the expense of the environment. The business, which celebrates its 44th anniversary in 2023, works hard to find innovative solutions and build partnerships with other companies who share similar ethics to ensure sustainability for their products and customers for many years to come. A lot of hard work and determination means the business can now boast CHAS, SMAS & Constructionline Gold Accreditations. In addition, the highly coveted Environmental Management System Standards, ISO 14001 has been awarded year after year. These standards reflect the importance the business puts on health and..

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23rd Jan 2023

Cosy Curves

As we welcome in yet another new year, we pack away our decorations and recently made memories from the festive period. The first months of the year can often feel longer than the others, dragging on with bleak weather and the continuation of short days without the relief of festive cheer; it can feel an age until we notice the lighter evenings, first buds of spring, lambs in the field and the temperatures beginning to rise towards summertime again. The almost primordial temptation to hunker down and hibernate through these months can be overwhelming, juxtaposed with the desire to see this new year as a boundless opportunity for change, growth and reinvention, of ourselves as well as our surroundings. Just as the curves of our bodies after an indulgent festive period should be celebrated, so should curves within the home! No longer should our interiors feel austere, straight and sparse,..

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14th Jun 2021

Don’t move, improve...

With many people being told to continue working from home for good or for part of the week at least, now is the time to add that little bit of extra space to your home to create a more functional ‘work’ area. Here, Steve Rawding, sales and marketing director at leading South East home improvement company SEH BAC, explains the options available to you to create the home office you crave. While officially the government’s work-from-home guidance will remain in place until June 21 at the earliest, unofficially many people will be continuing to work from home well past that date. By 2025, an estimated 70% of the workforce will be working remotely at least five days a month. With work from home in the UK here to stay in some way, shape or form, home offices and additional space will be on the agenda for more homes around the..

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13th Jun 2021

Bubblegum Pink

Whilst there are always lots of trends on our radar, the fashion world is certain that this year’s summer wardrobe will focus primarily on fresh, glorious and joyful colours. This represents a complete departure from the comfortable basics and neutral loungewear that many of us have relied upon for the previous 15 months of lockdown. The fashion houses have gone particularly crazy for hot bubblegum pink and are delivering anything and everything in the colour, with bright pink velour jackets by Mui Mui and similarly striking trousers by Chanel.  Ever since the renaissance of pink as Pantone’s Colour of the Year back in 2017, pink has featured as an accent colour in our interiors. Paired with greys, greens and navy blue, it has provided a perfect pale contrast to the muted tones we’ve favoured over the last few years, so much so that pink has..

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