Seasonal

Arguably one of the world’s greatest (and muddiest!) tournaments in the world, the Six Nations Championship brings together home Nations; England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Italy and France, to share in the passion and excitement of rugby. 2015 saw third time Champions, Ireland snatch the title from the hands of rival siblings, Wales and England. With a matter of days until the home nation big guns contend for native supremacy, we take a look at what excitement could unravel at the 2016 Championships.

This year’s tournament could be the most open yet. Greats, France and England welcome new coaches to the field. After a turbulent World Cup for four times Champions, England, further doubt is cast upon the team’s morale and their ability to pull together a series of winning performances. But with no Northern Hemisphere team making the semi-finals of last year’s Rugby World Cup, there is pressure on all teams to prove their worth.

Both Ireland and Wales are suffering weakened teams. Irish lynchpin, Jonathan Sexton is in doubt after suffering a head injury just 8 minutes into Leinster’s Champions Cup defeat by the Wasps. Whilst Wales’ golden boy, Sam Warburton is still feeling the effects of an ankle injury from November last year.

All of the above could be good news for the “underdogs” Italy and Scotland. An undeniable allure is developing in the Scottish camp; the arrival of new Head Coach, Vern Cotter has undoubtedly raised the goal posts. Whereas over the pond, the flamboyant Italians are always poised to throw a spanner in the works; need we remind you of the upset of 2013 (in case you have forgotten, Italy stunned France taking a famous 23-18 victory).

Whatever the outcome, the pending 5 weeks of rugby are sure to send spectators on a roller-coaster of emotions. One thing is for sure though; those team buses sure could do with a bespoke boot liner from Hatchbag! How else are they going to keep the bus pristine clean from all those muddy boots and kit bags?! For more information about Hatchbag products click here.

The October half term always creeps up quickly when the kids go back to school and you head back to work. So making the most of the small amount quality family time you have this half term is important in between the madness of our hectic schedules.  What better way to spend some quality family time whist getting away than a camping trip!

The beauty of a camping trip is there’s no real need to book in advance and it sidesteps all those unnecessary expensive hotel bills and eating out cost that normally deter you from going away. And you can even take the dog with no questions asked!

There is nothing more satisfying than waking up and breathing in the fresh country air after a peaceful night’s sleep without the sound of the busy city traffic and late night antics.

Start your trip off with a leisurely hike in your new back garden, challenge your orienteering skills and explore nature at its finest. For any keen fisherman or the novices who want to get to grips with a fishing rod, a camping trip is the perfect opportunity to grab your tackle box and get down to the nearest lake or river.

Or you can even take the bikes for a spin around the country tracks and forest areas. Then when the daylight hours come to an end, you can all cuddle round a cosy fire, tell stories and most importantly toast marshmallows!

However you spend your camping trip, there’s no doubt it’ll be a trip to remember! All you have to do is pack up the car with a tent, sleeping bags, camping chairs, food and your lovely pooch! But don’t forget to protect your car upholstery with a Hatchbag boot liner, with the perfectly fitting design no harm will come to your boot lining this October.

The days are getting shorter, the air is getting colder and the trees are starting to turn a rusty copper colour. Autumn is upon us. So, to help you make the most of the season, we’ve short-listed some great  activities to get you into the Autumn spirit.

1. Grow your own

As the summer draws to an end marking the beginning of harvest why not try harvesting your own fruit and vegetables.  For those of you who don’t have your own allotment then get yourself down to your nearest ‘pick your own’ farm or garden centre.

2. Bake your own apple pie

On a cool crisp autumn day, there is nothing better than a warm apple pie served with custard. And it tastes even better when you’ve picked the apples yourself!

3. Pumpkin carving

Why not get into the Halloween festive spirit by carving your own pumpkin. And the best bit about it is that you can use the part you’ve scooped out to make a delicious pumpkin soup.

4. Nature hike

Make the most of the beautiful auburn autumn landscape by putting your on wellies and going for a hike! Pack the car up with a family picnic, warm coats and the dog, and get yourselves out to the countryside.

5. Get crafty

Whilst out hiking keep a n eye out for those gorgeous fallen autumnal leaves for you to turn into your very own hanging leaf mobile. When dipped in wax, the beautiful leaves can be preserved through the season for decorative purposes. The coated leaves can then be strung together and hung decoratively in your home.1

6. Get cosy

The shorter days are a perfect excuse to end the day curled up in front of a log burning fire, watching movies or getting lost in a good book.

7. Get involved

With the Rugby World Cup taking place, our final item on the list is setting up camp at home to support the nations in the games. Or for those who play the game themselves, throwing on your rugby jersey and boots, and scoring some tries of your own!

Whatever you get up to this Autumn make sure you protect your car boot with a custom fit Hatchbag. Our car boot liners will shield your car boot from the wear and tear of muddy dogs, dirty wellies, and even mucky rugby kits!

This is the perfect time of year for a spring clean in the home. Not only is the weather improving, but the lighter evenings and the upcoming May Bank Holidays mean that there is a little extra time to get on with all those household jobs you've been putting off. Discover our spring cleaning tips!

Spring Cleaning Guide

Spring clean your home by tackling one room at a time. Clear out any rubbish, then sort through the rest of your belongings. Be ruthless, keeping only what you really need, before sorting the rest into piles to donate to charity or disposing of. Clean each room, working from top to bottom and making a list of any DIY jobs that need doing. Get the small, easy ones done first then make a plan for the larger projects. Once done, you can then freshen up any rooms that need decorating.

Clean outside the house too

It's not just the house that can benefit from a spring cleaning. With the lighter nights and warmer weather, it's the perfect time to get out in the garden. Clear out the shed and get rid of any broken tools or unwanted pots. Jet-washing the patio and giving the decking a fresh coat of sealant will brighten them up ready for relaxing in the sunshine. Clearing away all the fallen leaves, pruning back dead branches and giving the lawn a good cut can make a real difference. Then you can get on with the exciting business of choosing some new plants.

Dispose of your unwanted items

Once you've finished your spring clean, take your unwanted items to the tip for recycling or disposal. Fitting your car with a boot liner before you start will make sure that you keep mess and dirt off your upholstery. This is particularly important when you are transporting garden waste or any greasy or messy rubbish from that shed clear-out.

So why not take advantage of the lighter nights to give your home a good spring clean, inside and out.