How much do you know about the town you’re from or now live in? Maybe there’s more interesting things to learn than you realise.

Traveling back in time through the archives of your local authority or by searching online can be a hugely interesting and rewarding experience.

Maybe your town was a pioneering industrial hub of the great industrial revolution of the 19th Century; or perhaps your village was the birthplace of someone rich or famous.

Why not spend a morning finding out about the milestones and events that made your local town what it is today? You could even combine this activity with a look into your family genealogy – you never know what gems of the past you might uncover.

Websites worth a look:

http://www.local-history.co.uk/

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/

Technology has its place…

…but it can never outshine old fashioned writing and/or receiving hand written letters via snail-mail.

Next time you reach for the computer to knock out an email to a friend of family member, stop, reach instead for a piece of paper and an envelope and write it by hand instead.

You’ll be surprised how rewarding it can be.

Pack up a weekend bag and head off for a weekend away.

Whether you’re looking to spend more quality time with a partner, sample local food and drink, do some sightseeing or hit the nightlife, getting away for a long weekend has never been cheaper or easier. 

And the UK has so many great places to visit, there’s no excuse not to get out there and experience some of them.

Websites to visit:

Vacation Inspiration

Lastminute.com

Sort out your digital photographs and share them with friends and family.

Much easier than emailing photos to everyone, an online photo album allows you to save, store and share all your favourite digital images in one place.

Upload your photos to one of a number of online photo album websites and build a comprehensive collection that all the family can add to.

You can even add your old print photos to it, either by scanning them in or using a site such as www.thealbumonline.co.uk, where you can just send your photos to them and they’ll add them to your album.

Check it out this morning.

Websites:

www.moo.com

www.myphotoalbum.com

www.thealbumonline.co.uk

Have some fun playing old card and board games with friends or family.

You’ll need a couple of packs of playing cards, as well dominoes , ludo or whatever other games you want to play, then, if you can’t remember the rules, look them up online.

Get the coffee on… relax, and start playing.

Websites to visit:

www.funandgames.org
www.pagat.com
www.thehouseofcards.com