8. Go bobbing for apples
Believe it or not, bobbing for apples also began in Ireland! This hilarious game is so simple to set up. Fill a basin up to the top with water and place a dozen apples in the water. Each person playing the game must try to bite an apple while keeping their hands behind their back. It’s not as easy as you’d think. Successful apple-bobbers can be rewarded with everyone’s favourite Halloween currency of sweets.
9. Make your own slime
In the 90’s pogs were the big thing, then it was Pokémon and now it’s slime. Kids can’t get enough of it. Making your own slime is the perfect gooey and gross Halloween activity. There are lots of different recipes to follow, colours to choose and textures to create when it comes to slime - just make sure your work area is covered and your clothes are protected. Here are some easy slime recipes to try.
If you’d prefer to keep your home slime-free, find out if there are any slime workshops happening near you over the midterm break.
10. Invite friends over to play some Halloween games
As it’s mid-term break and everyone’s off school, it’s a great time to gather your child and their friends to try out some of the recipes, activities and games listed above. Here’s a list of Halloween party games for kids that are easy to organise and super-fun to play.
Looking for more Halloween fun this midterm break? Check out our map of the top Halloween events for families happening all over the country.
Spend more time creating memories with your family and less time worrying. Protect your family home and your contents with a home and contents insurance policy from AIG and let us look after everything from burst pipes to flooding and theft to storm damage - we’ve got you covered.
7 Tips to Improve Your Golf Handicap
We have some tips to help that you may not have thought
Tired of taking longer than your golf buddies or, worse again, your boss to get around the course? Slowing them up?
Maybe it is time to improve your golf handicap.
Not only will you feel more confident on the course, with better results when you get to the clubhouse, improving your game will give your physical health and wellbeing a boost too.
1. Take some lessons
You may have had golf lessons when you started or maybe you have never had one in your life, either way, it is easy to pick up bad habits on the course that are preventing you from progressing. If you are a member of a club, ask about lessons. If not, most courses have a professional who coaches players of all abilities. Use lessons to find a swing that works for you. Some of the advice may surprise you or feel unnatural in the beginning but with practice you should see an improvement in your game.
2. Practice to improve your golf handicap
Like anything we learn, from geometry to the piano, we are only as good as the practice we put in. Golf is no different. Spend time at the driving range perfecting the techniques you have learned in your lessons. Top tip: don’t forget your short game, spend 30% of your practice time on the putting green. It doesn’t matter if you can get the ball to the green in 2 or 3 shots if it takes you another 4 to putt.
3. Invest in golf equipment
We don’t mean running out to buy the latest gadget promising to make you a scratch golfer in a month. Although some technical apps and tools can improve your golf, get the basics right first. Ensure you have the best clubs you can afford so you can play at your best.
4. Strengthen your core
Want to get more serious about golf? Consider a Pilates class. Pilates is a series of movements that help strengthen your abdomen and improve flexibility, both crucial to a good golf game and injury prevention. There are Pilates studios around Ireland offering golf specific courses, if you can’t find one local to you, don’t worry a general course will offer similar benefits.
5. Play against yourself
Take the pressure off and play a few rounds by yourself in your home club or one of the many public clubs around the country. It’s a way to trial new techniques in a real-life scenario.
6. Play with better players
Once you get the foundations right, play with that group of friends or your boss again. Will you beat them? Maybe, but maybe not. You will hopefully make it around the course in fewer shots. In time, you should see these improvements translate to your handicap.
7. Consistency in practice is key
There is no doubt following these steps will improve your game, but by how much is difficult to tell. You may get lucky and an adjustment to your stance, swing or short game could make a big difference but usually there are few quick wins when it comes to golf. Incremental change and practice will lead to better results over time. In the end, once you enjoy playing, that’s what matters most.
As part of our dedication to amateur sport in Ireland we offer a range of discounts to GUI or ILGU members. Find out how much you could save on car, home or travel insurance.