Life is a bit of a strange one. One area of your life can be going well while another area gets hit with a wrecking ball.

This is what has happened to me recently with some bad news. As a result my mood seems to be suffering with whiplash. One minute I feel like I'm on top of the world and the next my mood swings and I'm floating around rock bottom.

To combat these giant swings, I've learnt of 7 ways that I can instantly improve my mood for my own sanity and that of the people around me.

In my quest to replace some of my less healthy eating choices with healthier options I stumbled across energy balls. I mean who wouldn't want a little energy pick me up in the form of a snack?

My struggle though was real when finding a recipe that worked for me as so many recipes featured either peanut butter, almonds or walnuts and using substitutes I couldn't seem to get the balls the right consistency to stay as balls.

After much kitchen experimentation I have found a combination which works. It has oats for energy, no refined sugars and protein to help fuel your muscles. The taste fresh and will leave you wanting 'just one more'.

Being born and raised in Bristol it's true to say that drinking cider runs in my blood. There is simply nothing more refreshing on a hot summers day than to open an ice cold cider and sit in the sunshine.

Fact.

Typically my cider of choice is something fruity and not too dry, I know what I like and I tend to stick to it. Or I thought I did until Thatchers invited me to a Cider pairing evening at Pasture in Bristol.