If you didn't buy a calendar at the start of this year - or a diary, or a planner - and you wish you had, then now could be a very good time to do it.

The CalendarClub.co.uk have got 50% off on their 2025 calendars, diaries and planners, and they have a HUGE range of them covering all sorts of interests and passions for all ages.

From lovers of cats and dogs to cars and gardens, they've got something to help you make the most of 2025.  

It's a good time to review what you want to do this year - are there things you want to achieve, or have a go at, or discover or learn?  What sort of year do you want to look back on?  What memories do you want to have?  Who do you want to spend more time with?  Who or what cause do you want to make a difference to?  What milestones do you want to achieve?   

In the old days New Years Resolutions were all the rage, and it was the thing everyone asked everyone else going into the New Year.   "Did you have a good Christmas and New Year?" was normally the first question, and then "So what New Years' Resolutions have you got, then?" followed up.  

Calendars can help you mark things like appointments, birthdays, anniversaries, the start and end of term, holidays and so on.  But they, along with planners and diaries, can often help you determine your goals for the month/week/even the day to help you stay on track.  

 
You may find yourself saying, "well, it's too late now to start a calendar, or diary".   I've bought diaries before a few months into the year, and actually I used the first few months to both recapture (where I could) what I'd done so far, and also to write down my thoughts and hopes for the remaining months of the year.

The thing is, it's never too late to start!  Even if you didn't have any goals or things you wanted to do this year at the start, you can always make a start this afternoon, or this evening, or tomorrow morning and consider that your new start to the year.

With everything that's going on in the world, it's nice to have something we can try to achieve which is outside the reach of our leaders and to set out our plan to make that happen.  It gives you a sense of control, and something to aim at.  Calendars, diaries and planners can help give you structure.  I want to improve my drawing skills this year, so I'm finding ways to do this and just jotting down all the various ways I'm doing it. (The animals I'm drawing are actually starting to vaguely resemble the animals they are supposed to be!)  I want to have more memories to look back on and experiences to discover, even if they are local to me.  I want to make a difference to the animal kingdom.  I'm using my diary to make that happen and record what I've done.

Take a look at the CalendarClub's sale here to see what they've got to help you make the most of 2025 - and don't forget there's 50% off 2025 calendars, diaries and planners!

I am so pleased that I’ve discovered the fabulous Beach House Art! They've got lots of gift ideas for both adding some colour to the home or at work, or somewhere where you want people to get a connection to the sea and coasts!

They have a real passion for the coast, the sea, nature and outdoor life.  And it shows in their prints and photographic gifts which are both high quality and affordable.  I think they are great fun, they are lively and full of energy and passion and vibrant in colour.  Mind you, the black and white ones are amazing, too, such as this one, the Three Surfboards on the beach Photography print. 

I love their simpleness in their designs such as this one with the lobster – so striking;  it really draws the eye.

 
I just adore the colours in this picture,
the Ethereal Coast Painting from Beach House Art.
I really get the sense of power from the sea and the natural world.

To show the depth of their passion, they’ve got prints and photos you wouldn’t normally think of having, such as red seaweed prints and watercolour seaweed paintings which really bring the sea into a room!    There’s coral art, too.

This is the Indigo Seaweed Print from Beach House Art - just beautiful!

Their beach photography shows many aspects of beach life and sea life which immediately connect you to the coast.  Some of the photos and prints pick up on different aspects of sea life, zooming in on items such as ropes and tackle, sails, a lifeguard hut, and palm trees. 

There’s sailing wall art, too, two of which have quotes such as “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor” and “We can’t direct the wind but we can adjust our sails. 

They come framed or unframed – if the latter, they come in a roll.  And there are different sizes to choose from, too.

The prints and photos also understand the connection many of us have with the sea and sealife, such as this one, with the quote, Gulls just wanna have chips.   Gulls just love to swoop in on human food and you can imagine them flying down to grab some chips. 

 
This is a fun print from Beach House Art, and it's full of colour!

There are print sets, too, of two or three pictures, making for a very striking display. 

Their prints and photo prints make for great gifts for anyone who feels a connection  the sea – it brings it into the home.   You can almost smell the salty fresh air!

Sail away to Beach House Art to take a look for yourself!

The RSPB has some great gifts for bird and nature lovers!   I’ve bought scarves from them before and loved them!  It’s also great to know that you’re helping nature by supporting the RSPB through your gift buying!

Their gift section has a range of goodies, from products for the kitchen – my husband loved his mug.  He treated himself to this one, and really enjoys his mug of tea in the mornng from it!  It features the puffin, barn owl, kingfisher and avocet, all found in Britain.  He’s become an avid wildlife photographer and this is a perfect mug for him! 

This RSPB Flight ceramic mug, black,
is on offer for £4.00 is currently on offer for £4,
so a great gift offer!  Fly off to the RSPB to find out more

Anyway, they’ve also got an offer on their organic cotton scarves!   Buy 2, and you can get £5 off!  The colours are bright and cheery, perfect for spring to add a dash of colour to an outfit!

This is the Abstract bird RSPB organic cotton scarf
for £20.00


This is the Abstract daisy RSPB organic cotton scarf
for £20.00


And this is the Meadow bees RSPB organic cotton scarf
for £20.00

So until the 8th July 2025, you can save £5 when you buy any two scarves displaying this offer:   Buy two scarves - save £5.  There are other T&Cs on the RSPB website, but this is a great offer and a chance to really add some great colours to your wardrobe or to get gifts for nature lovers who enjoy adding a scarf to their outfit!

Visit the RSPB shop here.

There are some great gifts about for animal lovers and if you're looking for something diffierent to give someone who adores ducks, then take a look at Paper High!

They have a wonderful range of presents, many of which are recycled.  These include gifts for bird care and wildlife, such as recycled cotton birdhouses.  

And they've got garden ornaments and stakes, including quacking great gifts for duck lovers, just the thing for the garden to give a certain extra something to it!  Each ornament is handmade so they are all unique, but lovely! 

This is Anka, the Drinking Duck Wire Garden Ornament
for £42.95 from Paper High
Expertly hand crafted from recycled wire,
each one is unique - but they are all lovely!



Flap, flap!  This is Kriti, the small flapping duck wire garden ornament
who is available from Paper High for £26.95.

Quack, quack!  This is Janhvi, the Small Quacking Duck Wire Garden Ornament
for £26.95 from Paper High.

This is the Recycled Wire Duck Garden Stake Decoration
for £21.95 from Paper High.
The ornament is supported by two stakes at the base
to ensure it stays in place.  It's easy to move as it's got a lightweight structure.

These ducks have been made by Noah's Ark in India.  Their goal is to change the lives of grassroots artisans.  Noah's Ark works with about 49 talented producer groups and they represent about 500 artisans.  Together they work towards the eradication of poverty.  

Enjoy 12.5% off with Paper High!
Paper High has kindly given visitors from this website
a quacking12.5% off**
with the code GIVINGGIFTS

Visit Paper High here.

**The code GIVINGGIFTS is valid with Paper High for 12.5% off.  T&Cs:  One use per customer, the code cannot be used in conjunction with other coupons, it excludes sale items and the minimum order spend is £25.00 excluding delivery fees.  It's valid to 31.7.25.

The 16th March is World Panda Day - so we're giving you the chance to watch these pandas at Shenshuping Gengda Panda Center in China's Wolong Valley!  

You can adopt a panda here and help Pandas International (who are based in Colorado in the States) support panda conservation in China.  

Enjoy the pandas here on this panda cam here...