Well, to a degree this is true. ‘Casual’ certainly seems to be the most dominant mode of dress in day-to-day life, and even seems to have crept quietly in to the workplace, where ties are no longer the norm and many offices even encourage ‘casual Fridays’ where employees can show up in jeans and a t-shirt.

But there are still many other occasions in which it is important to ‘look good’ and show that a bit of effort has been made to get into the spirit of the occasion. And this is where it’s important not to succumb to the countless fashion faux-pas that are out there.

Indeed, fashion is something that is constantly changing, but many people choose not to move with it, opting to wear that one suit they’ve had for years to weddings, dinners and any other occasion that is deemed special enough to merit smart attire.

The summer months, in particular, offer the perfect opportunity to try out some new outfits, and the long, warm evenings usually means there are any number of events and parties to try them out at, from weddings and anniversaries, to birthdays and barbecues.

Summer weddings are what most people dream of and, weather permitting, can be the difference between a great day and a truly special day. The post-wedding garden party is a great platform for guests to show-off that exquisite floral prom dress and pashmina, adding to what should already be a memorable day.

And for other special occasions, such as birthdays, it’s worth considering the wealth of evening wear options that are available, from flower-print neck-dresses and lace cocktail-dresses for women, to slim-fit suits or a sleek ‘Riviera’ get-up for men.

Of course, an occasion is only as special as a person makes it; a simple night at the theatre could be a night to remember with the right outfit and accessories to match. And in a society that has become far more casual in recent years, it can actually be a lot of fun to properly go for it and dress up to the nines. So go on, glam it up, you know you’re worth it!

Adam Singleton writes on a number of topics on behalf of a digital marketing agency and a variety of clients. As such, this article is to be considered a professional piece with business interests in mind.

It is the 50th anniversary of the ONS Family Expenditure Survey and to celebrate the significant date the agency has highlighted the differences in how household income is spent.

According to the survey rent or mortgage interest payments in 2006 accounted for 19 per cent of Briton’s annual spending compared to only nine per cent in 1957. But, the biggest difference is in the cost of feeding the family which has dropped from a whopping 33 per cent in 1957 to 15 per cent today. That figure also includes spending on non-alcoholic drinks, whilst the report shows that spending on alcohol has remained constant at three per cent of income.

The amount we now spend in the UK on transport has doubled to 16 per cent of household income, but fuel and power for the home only accounts for three per cent of the total bill, compared to almost twice that in 1957.

The way is which UK spending habits have changed is quite significant as it ultimately forms part of the data used to calculate the Retail Price Index (RPI). It is also widely used by business, academics and government departments for a number of different reasons, and for that reason the data is universally accepted as accurate.

In absolute terms the 2006 figures mean that household spending totalled £143 per week out of a total weekly expenditure of £456, representing 22% of household income. But, the UK average conceals many regional differences. For example, the average rent across the UK was £60 per week, but Scottish rents averaged only £30, whereas London averaged £94 per week.

The average cost of mortgages was again highest in London, with the weekly cost in the capital averaging £174, whereas Northern Ireland mortgage payments averaged £94 per week; and for the UK as a whole it was recorded at £132 per week.

In terms of spend the research ranked the top 50 items, from both 1957 and 2006, and costs relating to housing recorded the highest expenditure on both lists. However, 20 items of food and drink were recorded on the top 50 list, four in the top ten from the 1957 list, against a mere ten items in the 2006 top 50, with only one to appear in the top ten being ‘meals eaten out’.

The most notable difference between the two lists was with tobacco. In 1957 it accounted for six per cent of expenditure, but in 2006 it barely registered at only one per cent as people become more aware of the impact of smoking on their health.

Indeed, sleep and rest is the cornerstone of a healthy mind and body. But for many, getting a good night’s slumber is easier said than done, and as many as two thirds of the population are said to suffer from insomnia, to varying degrees.

So it’s worth considering what factors influence a good night’s sleep. Many people find that when they stay somewhere else for the night, whether it’s a friend’s house or a hotel, they sleep better. Of course, this could be down to any number of reasons; less noise, more darkness or just a general feeling of escaping the pressures of everyday life. Or it could simply be down to the quality of the bed.

On average, we sweat about half a pint each night, and combine this with dust mites and general wear and tear, it’s easy to understand why it’s recommended that a bed should be changed every 8 to 10 years.

Furthermore, the size of the bed is crucial for a good night’s sleep. If the time has come to buy a new bed, it may be worth upgrading from a double-bed to a queen-size or even king-size bed. This is particularly wise if the bed is shared with a partner, as the physical limitations of a sleeping area can cause discomfort or claustrophobic feelings.

The support of the mattress is equally crucial. It’s important that it isn’t too hard or too soft, so when buying a new bed, it’s probably worth establishing its firmness. Furthermore, check what the bed and mattress is made from, especially where allergies or asthma are involved. It is a long-term investment in personal wellbeing, so it’s important that the right bed is bought.

And finding good quality beds in London, Manchester, Glasgow or anywhere else in the UK for that matter, needn’t be a hassle, because as with most things these days, they can be bought through the internet too. Often, this can be a better way of shopping for them, as there is usually a much bigger variety, and it can work out a lot cheaper. From leather beds and bunk beds, to ottoman beds and sofa beds, there are beds available for all situations and requirements.

With so many people in the UK suffering from some sort of sleeping difficulty, it is worth assessing the set up of a bedroom and establish whether any changes can be made. A comfortable bed vastly improves the chances of a comfortable night’s sleep, so making a small investment can work wonders for a healthy mind and body.

Due to the suspicious nature of his death, Scotland Yard ordered a thorough investigation including an autopsy, where they discovered a pin sized spherical metal pellet in Markov’s calf muscle. The pellet was made up of 90% platinum and 10% iridium and had drilled holes in which traces of a poison known as ricin were found. The ricin was held in place by a special sugar substance which was designed to melt at body temperature, releasing the poison into the blood stream once the pellet had hit its mark. Ricin is a protein produced by the castor bean plant, found in the leaves and stem, but is most concentrated in the seeds. It is highly toxic to man and has no known antidote.

Markov wasn’t the last person to suffer death by umbrella; in 2003, an 11 year old was beaten to death with an umbrella by her parents after trying to run away from home in Atlanta, Georgia. She had been locked in a room and starved before being beaten, and the cause of death was recorded as ‘blunt force trauma’.

More recently, a court in Rome has convicted a Romanian woman of fatally stabbing another passenger with an umbrella whilst on Rome’s subway. The 21 year-old female victim, Vanessa Russo, was jabbed in the eye with the umbrella tip, and died two days later in hospital. The Romanian was caught on the metro station’s CCTV camera and has been sentenced to 16 years imprisonment. The news has sparked calls for stricter laws on immigrants in Italy, though the incident doesn’t appear to have made a dent in the number of travellers taking a short break in Rome.

For the vast majority of us though umbrellas continue to serve as a useful tool for keeping us dry when the heavens open, but in the wrong hands, this humble household item can become a deadly weapon.

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