How to make a tea cosy

Brighten up the breakfast table with a handcrafted tea cosy. Top textile designer Lisa Stickley shows you how to make a tea cosy:

Tea, cake and .... the radio in the background are all particular favourites of mine. This is a nice easy project to ensure that your tea will be steamy hot even after the cake is gone!

Print v iPads: books win!‏

Although e-book readers might be heralded as the future of literature but a new report shows that it's still quicker to read the old-fashioned print version of a book. However, the study found that although traditional printed books are faster and 'more relaxing' to read, but iPads and Kindles are 'more satisfying'.

The bookcase you'll want to live in

The Ark bookcase is for storing your books. But it's also for so much more . .

Fairtrade towns to top 500‏

Fair trade is growing fast with ever more Fairtrade towns that promote ethical shopping and even twin with their producer communities. A decade on from Garstang in Lancashire being declared as a Fairtrade town, the Fairtrade Foundation is set to crown the UK's 500th Fairtrade town, with Basingstoke and Deane borough in England, Fife in Scotland and the Welsh town of Llanelli all in the running. Fairtrade groups are as likely to be found in urban areas as in rural idylls. Twenty-three London boroughs have Fairtrade status, and Fairtrade cities include Edinburgh, Cardiff and Liverpool.

Being at a computer makes us crave chocolate

Computers can make you fat - and not just from lack of exercise! Research shows that staring at a computer screen makes us work up an appetite for sweet treats like chocolate cake and biscuits. It is thought that the mental stress of computer work triggers changes in blood sugar and hormone levels that trick the brain into thinking it has worked off lots of calories that need replaced.

How to pour the perfect cup of coffee

The Guardian reports on years of research that have resulted in the discovery of the definitive way to pour the perfect second cup of coffee.

Hedgehog voted number one Icon of the Environment

The humble hedgehog – immortalised by the character “Mrs Tiggy-winkle” in Beatrix Potter’s classic children’s books – has been voted by the public as England and Wales’ number one Icon of the Environment. As part of the Environment Agency’s 10th anniversary celebrations people were asked to take part in an ICON of the Environment poll and to nominate and vote for their favourite environmental icon, at the official ICONS – A Portrait of England website.

From a field strewn with more than 70 nominations, the hedgehog emerged victorious ahead of the otter, red squirrel, and oak tree, with bluebell woods rounding out the top five.

Don't forget SuperBadger

SuperBadger is Tearfund's Facebook campaigning application. It allows Facebook users to send emails direct from their profile to the people making the decisions. Whether it is badgering politicians about climate change, or badgering supermarkets to stock more Fairtrade products, start badgering now!

• Find SuperBadger on Facebook now (Facebook sign up required)
• You can also follow SuperBadger on Twitter and SuperBadger's very own blog

John O’ Groats to Lands End?

Rohantime are asking: How many Rohan Shops have you visited? as the stores cover pretty much John O’ Groats to Lands End (or actually Aberdeen to Jersey). Infusion members have visited quite a few, including Ambleside and Long Preston on the way to or from waking trips.

Midge Forecast website updated

Three years ago I blogged about a website to help avoid the midge in Scotland. The Scottish Midge Forecast website is back, for its fifth year, with a brand-new look, sponsored by Smidge midge deterrent (this post is not an endorsement of the product, though I do plan to try it).

The website brings you the power of Google mapping to find your way around Scotland's midges, and it is also available through the social media below:

Social Media: Blessing or Curse?

From the Desiring God blog:

Many have expressed concern that emerging social media will hinder authentic face-to-face gospel community, but Ed Stetzer (in an article titled The Blessings of the New Media) says Social Media can be a blessing to the local church in four ways:

1. While social media does not provide community it can assist in building it.
2. Social media can communicate news within the local church.
3. Social media can communicate biblical, inspirational messages.
4. Social media can better acquaint people with the life and ministry of public ministers.

Within the UK, Urban Saints are running the Totally Wired tour: "an essential seminar for all parents, church leaders, youth leaders and anyone who cares about young people and the technology revolution". This comes to Leicester on 1st July.

Get on your bike: Sky Ride Leicester

Sign up for up to 50 FREE Led Cycle Rides across Leicester starting in July. Discover the traffic-free Riverside Way, Leicester Blue Plaques Tour, Lost Villages of Leicestershire or a range of other family-friendly rides. Trained British Cycling Ride Leaders will be on-hand to lead groups and offer cycling advice. Find out about a range of rides for all ages and abilities at www.goskyride.com.

See here for a list of Sky Ride Leicester Local Rides: www.goskyride.com/find-a-ride/default.aspx?cityid=6

The 2010 FIFA World Cup begins today. The Church of England has composed three prayers for the World Cup: two for the teams, the hosts and the fans - and one for those not interested. The prayers ask for blessings on all those involved, for generous sportsmanship and for the competition to be a source of celebration.

The prayer for those just not interested:

Lord, as all around are gripped with World Cup fever,

bless us with understanding,

strengthen us with patience and

grant us the gift of sympathy if needed.

Amen

Doctor Who: coming live to a stage near you‏

Doctor Who is soon set to step out of his Tardis and onto a theatre stage. The Doctor, together with assorted adversaries including the Daleks, Cybermen and Oods, is to tour the UK this autumn in a new stage show. Based upon the BBC’s smash-hit award-winning series Doctor Who, the doctorwholive.com show promises to deliver a spectacular audio/visual experience featuring live music, special effects and appearances from the show’s most popular monsters

Doctor Who Live will come to the Trent FM Arena in Nottingham on Monday 25th and Tuesday 26th October 2010.

See also: other Doctor Who blog posts

Win an iPad with Rohan

Rohan are offering their fans an opportunity to win an iPad over on the Rohantime website.

Wear Marmite?

As we've noted before, you either love or hate Marmite. If you fall into the former category, you can now wear a cycling top to proclaim your love of Marmite.