Snails In Wigs On The Moon Anyone?

Today is one of the more bizarre national days, It's the day to celebrate both National Escargot Day and National Wig Out day. Now we're not suggesting you put wigs on snails, that would be a bit too surreal. However the unusual was what sisters Alice and Kate Clark had in mind when they came up with Wig Out Day in 2006. Their intention was to get all the local residents to attend work wearing various types of wigs. The idea being that at the end of the work day everyone would gather downtown for a huge shindig. This sounds like a good way to celebrate the day, however if you fancy something more conservative you could try eating Escargot. The French dish is made from snails in a very rich sauce and is highly popular throughout France, with the French consuming 40,000 metric tons of snails a year!  Now if you do decide to treat your palate to some Escargot you'll need to wash them down.  Traditionally the French opt for a red wine with their escargot dish. This could be made all the more special with a Red Wine & Pair of Crystal Glasses. Lovely!
On this day in 1543 Polish Astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus died in the year his major work "Six Books Concerning the Revolutions of the Heavenly Orbs" was published. It was to cause controversy amongst religious leaders who condemned his heliocentric view of the universe as heresy. Fortunately his views were later validity and he is now seen as the father of modern astronomy. We love at Personal Touch Gifts love astronomy and feel that thoughts about space can set imaginations alight. If your youngsters feel the same why not get them a space diary to write down all their thoughts?
  

We have a wide range of space related products at Personal Touch Gifts which any future astronaut would want and they all can be personalised. So why not have a look at the full range and visit us today at www.PersonalTouchGifts.co.uk

Shiver Me Timbers...

Argh shiver me timbers me hearties! On this day in 1701 notorious British privateer William Kidd, more popularly known as Captain Kidd, was hanged for murder and piracy. Kidd was born in Strathclyde, Scotland he went on to become a sea captain before he settled in New York in 1690. Here he married and owned property, ironically he was authorised by American colonies to capture enemy privateers who plagued the coast.  His first venture into piracy of his own was in 1698 when he captured an Indian vessel named the Quedagh Merchant. The ship had been supposedly sailing under a French pass and had an English captain. It was this that had angered the British who knew the boat to be loaded with various treasures. 

It was all but confirmed piracy in the eyes of the British government when Captain Kidd sailed to St. Mary's in Madagascar. The port was well known to be an infamous buccaneer oasis. From here, he traveled to the West Indies and was informed of the piracy charges against him. He decided to sail to New York and clear his name, claiming the Quedagh Merchant was a 'lawful prize'. 

It didn't wash with the authorities and he was arrested and taken to London.
In 1701 he was on trial for one charge of murder and five charges of piracy. He was convicted on all counts and was sentenced to hang on May 23 1701. Years after his death his story grew into a vibrant myth which included accounts of buried treasure which fortune seekers have pursued till this day. However you don't need a map to find pirate treasures which will gift you, oh no just visit us at Personal Touch Gifts today! 

Vanilla Pudding, It's Elementary...

Ok so yesterday was National Strawberries and Cream day and today is no less decadent. For those of you on a diet look away now because today is National Vanilla Pudding Day. I wonder if the people who come up with these days realise it's nearly bikini weather!! We all know that vanilla pudding is delicious but did you know that the modern recipe, which evolved from custard, dates back the ancient Romans? So today you could knock yourself up a heavenly treat using knowledge the Romans could only dream of. Whilst you're there you'll need the best clobber so why not get yourself a personalised apron?

Today also happens to be the birthday of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of master sleuth Sherlock Holmes. Sir Arthur was born in Edinburgh, Scotland this is also where he attend university. Whilst studying medicine at the university of Edinburgh he met Dr. Joseph Bell. Doctor Bell is said to have partly inspired Doyle's famous creation Sherlock Holmes. After medical school, Doyle moved to London, where his slow medical practice left him plenty of free time to write. His original Sherlock Holmes story, A Study in Scarlet, was published in Beeton's Christmas Annual in 1887. Starting in 1891, a series of Holmes stories appeared in The Strand magazine. Holmes enabled Doyle to leave his medical practice in 1891 and devote himself to writing, but the author soon grew weary of his creation. In The Final Problem, he killed off both Holmes and his nemesis, Dr. Moriarty, only to resuscitate Holmes later due to popular demand. So why not investigate our personalised gifts? We're sure you'll return to them due to popular demand! 

Strawberries and Cream Anyone?

Today is the day to celebrate National Strawberries and Cream Day! This simple dish of sliced Strawberries and whipped cream has been around for centuries. In medieval times in England it was the custom for newlyweds to enjoy strawberries and soured cream for their wedding breakfast. These days something more exotic might be served. Either way be sure to check out our range of personalised wedding gifts to find the perfect gift for the bride and groom.

Another classic British association with strawberries and cream is of course Wimbledon. The famous tennis tournament is a part and parcel of the British summer or lack thereof! We all love the excitement that goes along with the tournament and  we eagerly await the chance to finally see a British champion. Admittedly we've been waiting a while, if you don't like long waits and would like to see some real fast service you should always order your personalised gifts from Personal Touch Gifts! 

Now on this day in 1901 in Connecticut they were deciding to slow a few things down, namely drivers. They became the first state to legally introduce a speed limit which was set at the dizzying rates of 12 mph in cities and an electrifying 15 mph on the country roads.  This precedent paved the way for New York City to introduce the world's first comprehensive traffic code in 1903. The first edition of the British Highway Code was published on 14 April 1931, with a price of one penny, and contained only 18 pages of advice. These days it contains 307 numbered rules and nine annexes covering pedestrians, animals, cyclists, motorcyclists and drivers. No wonder passing the driving test is such an achievement! Make sure you celebrate a new drivers success with a personalised gift! 

Be Kind to Animals Week & National Pet Week

This week two celebrations to mark our respect and care for animals occur. Be Kind to Animals Week was started in 1915 by the American Humane Association. The objective is to pay honour to the role animals play in our lives and promote everyone to treat animals humanely. National Pet Week's goals are to promote responsible pet ownership. Also to honour the relationship between animals and humans and bring an awareness of veterinary medicine to the public.

Here in the United Kingdom our nation’s love for pets is stronger than ever. Perhaps this is due to companionship needs, security or just simply for more family fun. Whatever the reasons behind pet ownership they play an integral part in most peoples lives. There are 27 million pets in the country and 43% of homes include at least one furry, feathery or scaly family friend, making pets well and truly part of the UK’s landscape.

A recent pet owner study concluded that there are 27 million pets in the UK with dogs and cats being the animal of choice for pet lovers with over 7.3 and 7.2 million across the UK respectively. One interesting if not rather depressing statistic shown by the survey is that 39% of London’s pet owners purchase their pet for companionship, despite living in the UK’s highest populated city. This trend of pets for companionship was also shown in the fact that 60% of single people in the UK buy a pet for companionship – 39% of whom have replaced their partner with a pet.

So if you want to spoil your much loved pet why not treat them with a gift from our range of personalised gifts for pets? 

Don't You Step on my Blue (and Red) Suede Shoes

Today is the day for you to unleash your inner eccentric, why? Because it's National Two Different Coloured Shoes Day! A day which was created to observe variety. For 364 days a year, just about everybody wears matching footwear, but today is your excuse to go against the norm.

The day was devised by Dr. Arlene Kaiser to acknowledge and honour human diversity. According to Dr. Kaiser, the simple act of wearing two different coloured shoes proclaims your individuality. By taking this “positive risk,” you can exhibit your disposition to be different, and show your gratitude for the special people in your life.

Wearing two different coloured shoes can be as simple as wearing a black shoe and a red shoe, or as outrageous as wearing a boot and a flip-flop. However you decide to express yourself today, do so with satisfaction! Happy National Two Different Coloured Shoes Day!

One act of eccentricity displayed on this day in 1810 was by Lord Byron, who swam across the Hellespont, a tumultuous strait in Turkey now called the Dardanelles. He was copying Legendary Greek hero Leander who purportedly swam the same four-mile stretch. The 22-year-old Byron was taking an extended tour of the European continent when he decided to take his illustrious swim. His travels inspired his inaugural widely read poetic work, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage.

Now whether you decide to show your unique individuality by wearing odd shoes or swimming a legendary swim, one place you can always find a unique and legendary personalised gift is at Personal Touch Gifts! 

Let's have some Chocolate!

It’s National Truffle Day! According to fable, a man named Louis Dufour invented the chocolate truffle in Chambéry, France in 1895. Some years later, Antoine Dufour opened the Prestat Chocolate Shop in London. Historians believe this chocolate shop was solely responsible for spreading the popularity of chocolate truffles in England (and beyond), but the relationship between Louis and Antoine is unsure. What is known is Roald Dahl, the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, was a huge fan of Prestat truffles!

The first recipes for chocolate truffles appeared in the 1920s. Today there are three main types—American, European, and Swiss. Each type of truffle has a slightly contrasting twist, but they all include a creamy ganache filling and a topping like cocoa, coconut, or drizzled chocolate.

To celebrate National Truffle Day, why not get some personalised chocolate?

In other 2^nd of May news, on this day in 1933 the modern legend of the Loch Ness Monster was born when a sighting made local news. The legend of the beast dates back over 1,500 years but it re-emerged with a vengeance when a newspaper called Inverness Courier broke the story. They related an account of a local couple who claimed to have seen "an enormous animal rolling and plunging on the surface." The story of the "monster" (a moniker chosen by the Courier editor) became a media phenomenon, with London newspapers sending journalists to Scotland and a circus offering a 20,000 pound sterling reward for seizure of the beast.

In 1933, a new road was completed along Loch Ness' shore, gave drivers a clearer survey of the loch. After an April 1933 sighting was reported in the local paper on May 2, curiosity steadily grew, especially after another couple claimed to have seen the beast on land, crossing the shore road. Various British newspapers sent correspondents to Scotland, including London's Daily Mail, which hired big-game hunter Marmaduke Wetherell to catch the beast. After a few days scanning the loch, Wetherell reported finding footprints of a large four-legged animal. In response, the Daily Mail carried the dramatic headline: "MONSTER OF LOCH NESS IS NOT LEGEND BUT A FACT." Scores of tourists descended on Loch Ness and sat in boats or decks chairs waiting for an appearance by the beast. Plaster casts of the footprints were sent to the British Natural History Museum, which reported that the tracks were that of a hippopotamus, specifically one hippopotamus foot, probably stuffed. The hoax briefly deflated Loch Ness Monster mania, but stories of sightings ensued.

Today recreational investigators kept an almost continuant vigil, and in the 1960s several British universities established expeditions to Loch Ness, using sonar to search the deep. Nothing conclusive was found, but in each expedition the sonar operators detected large, moving underwater objects they could not explain. In 1975, Boston's Academy of Applied Science combined sonar and underwater photography in an expedition to Loch Ness. A photo resulted that, after enhancement, appeared to show the giant flipper of a plesiosaur-like creature. Further sonar expeditions in the 1980s and 1990s resulted in more tantalizing, if inconclusive, readings. Revelations in 1994 that the famous 1934 photo was a hoax hardly dampened the enthusiasm of tourists and professional and amateur investigators to the legend of the Loch Ness Monster.

Today why not investigate our monster array of Personalised Gifts and capture a beast of a bargain! 

Happy May Day

Today is May Day, a traditional pagan religious celebration which honours the first day of the summer. The earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times, with the festival of Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers, and the Walpurgis Night celebrations of the Germanic countries. It has since been amalgamated with Christian traditions and has lost many of its original pagan inferences. Some which have remained include Morris dancing, crowning a May Queen and celebrations involving a Maypole. These traditional British May Day rites and celebrations come from pagan Anglo-Saxon customs. Whether you enjoy these traditions or not one thing we all hope is the weather will start to become more summery!

Now you may or may not have known that the first of May is May Day but maybe you weren't aware that it is also New Homeowner's Day. This is a day dedicated to celebrating the delight and joyfulness of buying a new home. However moving house can be very stressful, in fact research has shown that the anxiety of moving house is one of the most stressful events that can occur throughout your life. It can be on a par with divorce and bereavement with all the inescapable tension and anxiety of the build-up to the actual day of the move itself. That's why if you have a friend or family member who is acquiring a new home it's a lovely idea to get them a nice personalised house warming gift.

National Honesty Day

Now the 30^th of April may seem like an unimportant day for our calendars but did you know that today is National Honesty Day. National Honesty Day is a day dedicated to encouraging us to be honest, honestly you couldn't make it up!

The day originates from an idea had by M. Hirsh Goldberg, former press secretary to a governor of Maryland and author of five books. He invented National Honesty Day in the early 1990s after spending four years researching and writing The Book of Lies (Morrow). The idea behind the day came because he felt that the month of April, which begins with a big day of lying (April Fools Day), should end on a higher ethical note.

We here at Personal Touch Gifts think that honesty is an outstanding virtue. If we want people to believe us when its consequential, then we need to be open and honest all of the time. We all know about the boy who cried wolf. When a wolf actually appeared, no one believed him! So we say Celebrate National Honesty Day in a completely open and honest way. There are few regulations for this special day......just be honest.

Why not visit us today at and we honestly think you'll find the perfect personalised gift for that special someone! 

There's been some big historical events on this day too. On this day in 1789  George Washington, the great military leader of the American Revolution, was inaugurated as the first president of the United States in New York City. It was cause for celebration   The inaugural ceremony was performed on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street, and a huge crowd cheered after he took the oath of office. The president then went indoors to read Congress his opening address, a low key speech in which he spoke of "the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people." The evening celebration was opened and closed by 13 skyrockets and 13 cannons. Now we know that skyrockets and cannons might not be quite practical for your celebrations perhaps a personalised banner might more be in order!   

The Hen Do

The last days of residing in singleton village and It's time to see them off with a bang! The Bride needs entertaining and there are numerous different types of amusement to choose from.

It all depends on what the arrangers think will best please their guest of honour.

While notions of a hen party as a night of drunken debauchery persist in some social circles, this doesn't necessarily have to be the case. When held in a private venue, such as the hostess's home, the party may take any form that pleases the hostesses and recognises the bride-to-be. Dinners and cocktail parties, which provide homely chances for participants to talk or to give intimate advice to the bride-to-be, are widespread.

Other hostesses choose a themed party with guests indulging in spa treatments, or a cooking class, or perhaps even a pole dancing lesson!

While proposing a toast to the bride-to-be is common at most hen parties, some focus on drinking games. That's when a personalised wine glass or personalised shot glass is a must!

Participants are often all women. Bridesmaids (if any) are typically invited, but any of the bride's close friends may be included.

This party is typically hosted by one or more members of the wedding party, although it is possible for any friend to host a party in honour of the bride-to-be. Formally, a party in honour of the bride-to-be is never hosted by the bride-to-be, although she may participate in its planning.

When planning a hen do make sure it's personalised. One way to bring a great unity to the party along with a personal touch is with matching personalised hen do T-shirts.

Whatever you decided to do, whether it's paint the town red or keep it more low key, make sure you add a personal touch to you hen do with personalised gifts. 

Britain is the online retail capital of the world

Figures released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) show that six out of ten Britons shop online. Britons spend at least twice as much online when compared to other OECD member states which include the US, France, Germany and Australia.  With British adults spending on average £2,180 and closest rival Denmark averaging  just £1,000. Coupled with the fact the population of British adults buying online is double the average of the 34 OECD member states, it becomes clear that Britain is clear front runner in the online retail market.

So with news like this you’d expect Britain’s businesses to be at the forefront right? Erm actually wrong, The UK has the fifth lowest amount of businesses using the internet in the developed world. Now the more astute among us will see this as an opportunity not to be squandered. Online retail has many advantages - particularly in the UK where recent news is hinting at a damaging reassessment of business rates by government. This added to the other overheads of a physical shop makes the pressures worse!

So what makes a good online shop? Well the old values of putting the customer first and good customer service naturally still apply.  Making sure the site looks appealing is another obvious factor, however this leads to one design element which is often overlooked. How does the site look on a smart phone? Nearly nine out of ten UK residents look at shopping websites on their phones.  With 79 per cent  of those having already bought something online.

So now we can clearly see the market is there and all this without the disadvantages. This makes is a great opportunity for the young entrepreneurs of the future. Without needing huge loans to set up online or the risks traditionally associated with starting up a new high street business. Learning the skills associated with online business could be a valuable asset for any school leaving youth of Britain today. With so many facets to online business the younger generation don’t all have to be budding entrepreneurs they could settle for learning the various marketing techniques associated with online businesses or maybe even allow their creative instincts to flourish by web designing.    With the economy as it is this really could be the future for Britain and the world.  I predict the future of Britain is of an online retail paradise.

And where better to shop online than PersonalTouchGifts?

Keep Calm and Carry On!

Keep Calm and CarryOn!

Keep Calm and Drink Wine

How very British. This famous phrase has turned into its own brand in the 21^st century. When it was first used during the onset of World War II the ministry of defence used this to try and boost the morale of the British Public who was in fear of a Nazi invasion.
Luckily we did keep calm and we carried on. The poster was planned in April of 1939 and was only ready for print 24 hours before war broke out. They produced 2,500,000 copies of this but very little were distributed publicly; hence the tiny amount of original posters around today.

It was believed only 2 copies remained until this year the daughter of a service man brought in 15 original to the Antiques Road Show. The poster's popularity has been attributed to a "nostalgia for a certain British character, an outlook" according to The Economist, that it "taps directly into the country's mythic image of itself: unshowily brave and just a little stiff, brewing tea as the bombs fall."

These particular posters were designed as "a statement of the duty of the individual citizen", un-pictorial, to be accompanied by more colloquial designs. The "Your Courage" poster was much more famous during the war, as it was the first of the Ministry of Information's posters

I find it a great motto to live by. When it gets bad, just crack on and deal with it. Don’t panic, just carry on, we’ll deal with the problem. Positive thinking.

Find lots of ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ products at personaltouchgifts.co.uk, the U.K.s top personalised gifts website.

Keep Calm Sweet Jars

Keep Calm and Save

Personalised Manchester United Football Club Gifts

Manchester UnitedFootball Club

Manchester United, the giant football club, the club with the biggest following in the world, valued at $2.3 Billion, The ‘Red Devils’, actually started out life as a department team of railway workers called Newton Heath LYR F.C. in 1878.  The Red Devils began wearing green and gold shirts, the colours of their railway company.

The team changed their name to Manchester United in 1902 and relocated to the now famous Old Trafford in 1910. Previously playing only other railway teams, Manchester United first proper football match came against Bolton Wanders in 1880 and were destroyed 6-0!

Today Manchester United is an enormously successful team under the long term management of Sir Alex Ferguson. Sir Alex took over way back in 1986 and has won 24 major honours during his time with Man Utd.

In 1958 Manchester United suffered a terrible tragedy in the Munich Air Disaster which claimed 8 of its players. But Manchester are true champions and in 1968 they became the first English football club to win the European Cup.

Their amazing success includes a record 19 league titles, a record 11 FA Cups, 4 League Cups and a record 19 FA Community Shields. The club has also won three European Cups, one UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, one UEFA Super Cup, one Intercontinental Cup and one FIFA Club World Cup. In 1998–99, the club won a Treble of the Premier League, the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League, an unprecedented feat for an English club.

Any Manchester Utd Fan is bound to be proud of their team. Why not help them show it off with a unique personalised Manchester United gift. Treat yourself or a fellow fan to a Man Utd  Pen engraved for free with your/their  name on. Or a nice set of Man Utd  cufflinks, a personalised ManUtd  mug, even a personalised ManUtd  iPhone case, or a great Man Utd  personalised book.  We have lots of gift ideas for Man Utd  Fans that they will love, treat a friend of loved one to one of this quality branded gifts. Everything can be given that ‘personal touch’ to make it unique and it will be cherished by the crazy Man Utd Fan.

Personalised Cartoon Characters

We have a range of fully licensed cartoon characters, Including children's favourites such as Peppa Pig, Dora the Explorer, Sponge Bob and many more...

Football Range

We are pleased to present our personalised football gifts range. We have all the top teams and an array of products, so you'll be sure to find the perfect gift for any football fan

Personalised Arsenal Football Club Gifts

Arsenal Football Club

Arsenal Football Club, the ‘Gunners’ were founded in 1886, 128 years ago.  Originally the great North London team were actually based in South London. The team was formed by some of the Royal Arsenal workers in Woolwich, hence the name ‘Gunners’.  These workers named the side Dial Square.  Seven years later the team became a limited company and changed their name to Woolwich Arsenal.

In 1904 the team were promoted to the First Division.  However, low crowd attendance (largely due to the location and isolated area) caused the club to have financial troubles and by 1910 they were near bankrupt.  At this time two local businessmen bought the company, Henry Norris and William Hall.  The new owners saw the problem of the team’s location and shrewdly moved the side north of the river to Highbury and dropped the ‘Woolwich’ from the side name.  Arsenal was here and in their new Arsenal stadium.

After finishing just 5^th in the Second Division Arsenal were still promoted at the expense of another local team, Tottenham Hotspurs. The manner of this promotion is reportedly dubious and today the two teams’ great rivalry continues strong.

Arsenal is the only team to have completed a Premier league season unbeaten across 38 matches, achieved in the 2003/04 season. The have the longest unbeaten run in total at 49 games.  This great side have claimed 13 League Championships, 10 F.A. Cups and 3 League & F.A. cup doubles.

There is a lot to be proud of if you are an Arsenal fan. So show off your team with some of our great personalised gifts, treat yourself to an Arsenal Pen engraved for free with your name on. Or a nice set of Arsenal cufflinks, a personalised Arsenal mug, even a personalised Arsenal iPhone case, or a great Arsenalpersonalised book.  We have lots of gift ideas for Arsenal Fans that they will love, treat a friend of loved one to one of this quality branded gifts. Everything can be given that ‘personal touch’ to make it unique and it will be cherished by the football crazy Arsenal Fan!

The Wonderful World of Calendars

 The Wonderful World of Calendars

Choose to suit you

 Many civilizations and societies have devised a calendar suited to their particular needs. So why not take their lead and personalise one for your own needs?  In the mean time let's learn a little bit more about the every day device we take for granted.

The English word calendar is derived from the Latin word kalendae, which was the Latin name of the first day of every month.

A full calendar system has a different calendar date for every day. Thus the week cycle is by itself not a full calendar system; neither is a system to name the days within a year without a system for identifying the years.

The simplest calendar system just counts time periods from a reference date. This applies for the Julian day or Unix Time. Virtually the only possible variation is using a different reference date, in particular one less distant in the past to make the numbers smaller. Computations in these systems are just a matter of addition and subtraction.

The week cycle is an example of one that is not synchronized to any external phenomenon (although it may have been derived from lunar phases, beginning anew every month).

Very commonly a calendar includes more than one type of cycle, or has both cyclic and acyclic elements.

Many calendars incorporate simpler calendars as elements. For example, the rules of the Hebrew calendar depend on the seven-day week cycle (a very simple calendar), so the week is one of the cycles of the Hebrew calendar. It is also common to operate two calendars simultaneously, usually providing unrelated cycles, and the result may also be considered a more complex calendar. For example, the Gregorian calendar has no inherent dependence on the seven-day week, but in Western society the two are used together, and calendar tools indicate both the Gregorian date and the day of week.

The Gregorian calendar, which is the de facto international standard, and is used almost everywhere in the world for civil purposes. Due to the Gregorian calendar's obvious connotations of Western Christianity, non-Christians and even some Christians sometimes replace the traditional era notations "AD" and "BC" ("Anno Domini" and "Before Christ") with "CE" and "BCE" ("Common Era" and "Before Common Era"). Even where there is a commonly used calendar such as the Gregorian calendar, alternate calendars may also be used, such as a fiscal calendar or the astronomical year numbering system

Calendars are also used to help people manage their personal schedules, time and activities, particularly when individuals have numerous work, school, and family commitments. People frequently use multiple systems, and may keep both a business and family calendar to help prevent them from over committing their time. So get yours today have a look here

Maybe something like this?

Passing Your Driving Test

Passing Your Driving Test

A Great Way to Congratulate 

We all remember our driving test, the nerves and the anticipation, but was your's as bizarre as Emma French's. 

The mum-to-be made an emergency stop minutes after passing her driving test – screeching to a halt outside a hospital before hurrying inside to give birth.

Emma had actually gone into labour as she was taking the test but did not tell the examiner! 

However despite the pain, she passed and then drove herself to hospital to have her first baby. 

Emma was not due for another month but had woken at 4am to find her waters had broken.

Yet when the baby did not arrive, she decided to sit the 8.40am test despite pleas from her family.

She said: “Everyone was telling me to go to the hospital but I had waited so long for my driving test, I was determined to do it.

“I didn’t dare tell the examiner I was in labour in case he made me cancel the test. The nurses in the hospital were very confused because I was getting congratulations cards for both my baby and my driving test. When I told them, they were all in shock. They couldn’t believe it.”

“When I am determined to do something I don’t stop until it’s done and it’s the same with this. It was really scary and everyone must think I’m crazy but it ended the way I had hoped.”

And despite offers of a lift after she called at her grandparents’ house to break the news about passing her test and being in labour, Emma was keen to make use of her new licence and drove herself to the maternity ward.

Her labour lasted another six hours and baby Eva MacFarlane was born at 7.30pm on August 30.

Proud new mum Emma added: “I am loving being a mother. It’s the best job in the world.

“I can’t wait to tell Eva this story when she’s older and it’s definitely one for the grandchildren.

“And one good thing about being in labour that day – it really killed my pre-test nerves.”


Well That's one way to ease the nerves!! 

Treasured Memories

Treasured Memories

We all have treasured memories we'd like to share with loved ones and remind ourselves of times gone by. 

Sometimes a song or poem brings back a memory of someone special or a special time in our lives. 

It's part of what makes us who we are. 

One way to physically store those memories  is in a beautiful personalised photo album. 

We've got a wide range of albums that could help you do just that, why not have a look?

Treasured memories of the past

Treasured memories of the past

Warmest kisses slow not fast

Smothered hugs no words to find

Showing love and never blind

Silent tears and pleading eyes

Touching hands to feel alright

Treasured memories of the past

Side by side right through the night 

Bradley Lester

First Holy Communion

First Communion is traditionally an important religious ceremony for Roman Catholic families and is a chance to get together and give gifts. The social mission of First Communion is a rite of passage usually for children at the aged seven to ten eventually leading to their confirmation. It's a big day for the child as they get to feel all grown up and for the parents too!
Seeing your child all dressed up smartly is a special occasion and one that deserves to treasured for ever. The best way to treasure the day is with some personalised gifts, so why not check out our range of gifts?