What's Inside My RSPB Welcome Pack?
Here is a list of things that you get when you sign up for RSPB membership here in Scotland:
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Book Cover: This is a green book cover that holds other items. It's titled "Welcome to your RSPB Membership" with the RSPB logo on it and features a cute, innocent-looking bird standing on a stick.
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Get Started and Make the Most of Your Membership: This section has a thank you note at the beginning and talks about RSPB, their goals, and membership benefits. It highlights that you are a voice for nature and that you will receive the RSPB Membership magazine packed with news about birds and nature, along with ideas on what you can do to benefit wildlife in your homes and gardens.
You gain access to 170 reserves and enjoy free parking and nature. I, for one, have benefited from this, and I must say they are doing a good job with preserving nature and making it worthwhile each time we visit. Another benefit is receiving member discounts on some events at their nature reserves. You can see more events on rspb.org.uk/events for more information. There is also contact information listed in the magazines.
Diving into the RSPB Magazine
When you open it, you see the RSPB magazine, whose tagline is "Taking action for nature together." Depending on the year and season, we received the Spring/Summer 2025 issue. Its lead article, "Where Eagles Dare," highlights how the white-tailed eagle has made an incredible comeback.
The magazine also focuses on wetlands, with articles like "Stop the Killing: The Fight Against Crime Continues," and "Mist and Mysteries: Discover the Unique and Ancient Rathlin Island." Ben Andrew, an award-winning photographer, also shared his favorite species and places. He noted that the Jay is his favorite UK bird; he also likes the Turtle Dove, Dipper, and Mountain Hare, all explained further in the magazine.
If you really want to stay healthy, you need to stop eating junk and exercise. Exercise doesn’t always mean lifting heavy weights or going to the gym. If you’re like me—someone who enjoys the gym but doesn’t always have time to go—you find other ways to stay active. My partner has a gym membership, so I join him sometimes, but I mostly stick to walking.
Lately, I’ve been wearing the Get Set 2-in-1 Multi-Train Shorts by Sweaty Betty during my walks. They’re perfect for staying comfortable while staying active. The inner short has 4-way stretch and wicks away sweat, while the looser outer layer gives more coverage. Plus, the side slip pockets are super handy for carrying small essentials. They’re designed for training, but honestly, they work great for everyday movement too.
We walk whenever we can, especially when the sun is out. We love the warmth, and our skin even glows more under the sun. Walking doesn’t feel like a chore when you’re enjoying nature. It becomes part of your life—and a simple, effective way to stay healthy.
I am absolutely stunned. Oh my gosh, some people are blessed with good voices, and John Legend is definitely one of them. He sounded even better than on his album; his voice is truly beautiful. I was smitten by his voice, and his energy was so calming and relaxing. I loved every minute of the show and enjoyed it so much; I'm so happy. It felt incredibly soothing, and my friend and I had a really good time.
John is so talented and plays the piano so well. His performance was outstanding. He used the stage effectively, and his energy was pure. I wish him and his family the very best on his tour.
The "Get Lifted" tour is all about his journey. He shared amazing insights and even told us about some songs he was part of that we didn't know he was. He has worked in the background with many popular musicians.
My Outfit for the John Legend Concert
For my outfit, I picked up this pink mini jumpsuit with flowers from River Island. I wanted something simple yet stylish and definitely a bit girly. To go with it, I chose some gold earrings and styled my trusty cornrows – honestly, the easiest hair ever. I love that I don't have to do anything with them.
I also put a little effort into my makeup. I spent more time blending and trying to get my face just right, even though I'm still learning. What matters is that I know how to work with my own face. For shoes, I wore my gold gladiator sandals from Zara, which I think I've only worn once before with my stylish green dress.
I went with a friend, and she was so happy when I invited her. I was glad she could make it. We've been chilling together since our days in Ukraine, and now we sometimes go out with her daughter – if you remember seeing a kid in some of my beach posts, that's her beautiful daughter.
Overall, I kept my look pretty simple. Since this is Scotland, I definitely brought a jacket – you can never be too sure with the weather here. Plus, I actually went to the gym yesterday in the rain and got a bit chilly, but I still enjoyed the walk and woke up feeling great.
So, did I nail the music tour outfit? Let me know. You can watch the clip on my Instagram:.
Oh my goodness, you guys! I just had to sit down and gush about the latest book that's completely captivated me. I mean, you know me, I've got a pile of books probably taller than I am, lol just kidding, but every now and then, one just hits different. And that's exactly what "The Garden Against Time" by Olivia Laing did.
Finding My Reading Nook: A Little Bit of Barons Haugh Magic
So, before I even dive into the book, let me set the scene. I took this beauty with me to Barons Haugh Nature Reserve to do some reading in nature – honestly, there's nothing quite like it. It's such a peaceful spot, perfect for getting lost in a good book. I actually took some photos there (you might have seen a sneak peek on my Instagram), and while it's gorgeous, I won't be sharing too much about Barons Haugh just yet. We didn't get to explore it quite the way I wanted to this time, so we're definitely planning a proper return trip. For those of you familiar with the area, think of it as another lovely spot, a bit similar to the feel of Lochwinnoch but with its own unique charm. It was the absolute ideal backdrop for this particular read.
"The Garden Against Time": More Than Just a Book About GardensNow, onto the main event: Olivia Laing's "The Garden Against Time." Guys, if you're expecting a cozy guide to planting petunias, you're in for a surprise. This book is so much more than that. It's truly a masterpiece of non-fiction, blending so many genres that it feels like a whole new literary experience.
Olivia Laing, the writer, is just brilliant. She has this incredible way of weaving together her own deeply personal experiences – in this case, the very physical, sometimes grueling, work of restoring an overgrown walled garden in Suffolk – with vast stretches of cultural history, literary criticism, and nature writing. It's like she pulls a thread from her own life and it unravels into centuries of human thought and emotion.
What she really digs into is this idea of gardens as a kind of paradise. We all have that image, right? A perfect, serene escape. But what Laing does, so intelligently and unflinchingly, is she peels back the layers to show the hidden costs of creating these beautiful spaces. She doesn't shy away from the darker side of history – the links to power, privilege, even exploitation. She makes you really think about how many of these idyllic visions were built on the enclosure of common lands or even colonial legacies. It's a challenging, necessary conversation to have, and it completely shifted my perspective.
But here's the thing: it's not all doom and gloom. Even amidst these profound critiques, Laing manages to find so much hope and even radical possibility within gardens. She highlights figures and places where gardens became sites of incredible creativity, resilience, and even a kind of defiance against conventional norms. She shows us how working with the land, understanding its cycles, can be a way to connect with something much bigger than ourselves – to grapple with time itself.
Reading this book felt like having the smartest, most insightful friend gisting you about the world, history, and humanity, all through the lens of something as seemingly simple as a garden. It’s beautifully written, thought-provoking, and utterly absorbing.
If you love books that make you see the world differently, that blend the personal with the profound, and that aren't afraid to ask big questions, then you absolutely must add "The Garden Against Time" to your TBR pile. It's a genuine journey, and one I highly recommend you embark on.
Go grab a copy, maybe find your own quiet spot in nature, and let me know what you think!
Hi everyone. You know me, always on the hunt for cool gadgets that actually make my life easier, not more complicated. So, when PLAUD reached out and offered to send over their PLAUD Note AI Voice Recorder for me to test out, I was intrigued. And let me tell you, after playing with it for a bit, this tiny thing is a game-changer.
First off, the unboxing. It’s sleek, it's silver, it's super slim (seriously, 0.117 inches thin – you barely notice it), and it just feels premium. It even won an IF Product Design Award, which honestly, I can see why. Plus, it came with a free magnetic case which is brilliant for attaching it to my phone (MagSafe compatible, score).
So, what exactly is the PLAUD Note and why should you care?
Think of it as your personal, highly intelligent note-taker. Here’s the magic:
- Record Anything, Anywhere: This is key. It has a dual-mode recording system. Want to record a phone call? Just attach it to your smartphone with the magnetic case, press a button, and boom – clear call recording. In a meeting or a lecture? Flip it to "on-site recording" mode, and it captures the ambient sound perfectly. I've tested both, and the clarity is fantastic.
- AI Transcription & Summarization is REAL: This is where the "AI" really shines. Once you've recorded, you connect it to the PLAUD App, and it automatically uploads the audio. Then, the app (which uses some seriously powerful AI models like GPT-4.1, Claude 3.7 Sonnet, and Gemini 2.5 Pro) gets to work. It transcribes everything into 112 languages (wild, right?!), and then – get this – it summarizes it for you.
- For meetings, it can pull out key decisions, next steps, and insights.
- For lectures, it helps create structured notes and visual summaries.
- For interviews, it delivers professionally formatted notes so you can actually make eye contact instead of furiously scribbling.
- Even for quick voice memos, it'll transcribe, summarize, and organize your thoughts into a searchable knowledge base. It even has speaker labels and auto-paragraphing.
- No More Forgetting Important Stuff: Honestly, how many times have you been on a call or in a meeting, thought "I'll remember that later," and then… poof, it's gone? This completely solves that. You can just be present in the conversation, knowing PLAUD has your back.
- Massive Storage & Battery: It has 64GB of local memory (that's about 480 hours of recording) and a whopping 30 hours of continuous recording on a single charge, with 60 days standby. Plus, you get unlimited cloud storage with the app, which is a HUGE bonus for keeping everything organized and accessible.
- Special Offers that are ACTUALLY Special: Mine came with the free magnetic case (which is £23.99 GBP value) and a free Advanced AI Starter Plan (valued at £45 GBP!) which gives you 300 minutes of AI transcription per month. That's a great way to get started and see how much time it saves you.
Oh, friends, I need to share something important with you, and it's about a really close friend of mine.
I want to tell you about my dear friend. He's incredibly bright and dedicated, but his life was dramatically impacted by the war in Ukraine and even before it due to funds. He had to drop out of university and had to leave during the conflict, which was just heartbreaking.
Now, he's found a way to continue his education in the Netherlands, and he's back as a full-time student at Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences. Despite facing so many challenges, he keeps pushing forward, working different jobs to try and cover his fees. But as a student, it's an immense struggle, and he's still falling short. He's doing everything he can, but he just needs a little extra help to stay on track.
That's why I'm reaching out to you all. We're behind him every step of the way, and I know how much it would mean to him to get some assistance with his fees. Please, if you can spare even a small amount, it would make a world of difference. Remember, nothing is too small when we come together.
You can help him continue his studies through this GoFundMe link. He also shared his story, which you can read below the donation.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for considering helping my friend achieve his dream.
John Legend is Bringing 'Get Lifted' Back to Life (and Glasgow) – Here's Why You NEED to Be There.
Okay, friends, gather 'round, because I have some NEWS that has me absolutely buzzing – and if you're a music lover, you're going to want to hear this! Guess who's bringing his iconic sound back to the stage, celebrating an album that shaped an entire era? None other than the one and only John Legend, and guess what? He's kicking off his "Get Lifted 20th Anniversary World Tour" right here in GLASGOW.
Seriously, when I heard the OVO Hydro is getting the first taste of this tour on May 27th, my jaw dropped. Get Lifted is more than just an album; it's a masterpiece that gave us "Ordinary People," "Used to Love U," and so many other tracks that just hit different. It's the album that introduced us to the EGOT-winning Legend we know and adore today, grabbing three Grammys along the way, including Best New Artist. Twenty years, can you believe it? Time flies when you're making history.