Articles written by Melanie Denyer

What is Helium

About me - Melanie Denyer

Melanie Denyer is a former Brand Manager who has worked, among others, for L'Oreal in Paris, Eurotunnel, Brands Hatch Leisure, Aventis, Stena Line and Hertz Car Rentals. Having decided that the more creative work was to be found on the agency side of things,

+ more bio information

RSS Feed

Hobbies & Games > Kids Games & Toys Barbie dolls: Barbie as a role model for young girls: 2 of 19
For many years, Barbie dolls were considered a healthy role model for young girls: wholesome and fresh-faced, the plastic embodiment of good, clean fun. Her blonde hair and blue eyes spoke of an ideal innocence and many a happy hour was spent by little girls everywhere, brushing Barbie's hair, changing her clothes, designing ... More..
Society & Lifestyle > European Culture The French do not kiss everyone: 1 of 9
The idea that the French kiss everyone they meet is a common misconception. While it's easy enough to get this impression when visiting the country, there are rules that govern the etiquette of greeting in France, as elsewhere.For example, if you go to a local shop in France, you will not see the French customers kissing the ... More..
Hobbies & Games > Video Game Reviews Downloadable game reviews: Puzzle Hero: 3 of 24
As a devoted puzzle fan, the chance to try Genimo Interactive's new game, Puzzle Hero came just at the right time. I'd been getting increasingly bored of Bejewelled's many clones and variants: the only real unknown was whether I'd beat my high score before getting major RSI, and when you reach that stage, you just know it's t... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Infertility When to start trying again after a miscarriage: 1 of 8
It's only natural, when you first find out you're expecting, to daydream a little about what awaits you at the end of the pregnancy: what colour eyes or hair, how tall, whose smile? And while pregnancy and impending parenthood can be a daunting prospect, very few couples consider that their pregnancy might not make it to the ... More..
Food & Drink > Cooking Meats How to stuff a turkey: 1 of 7

There are probably as many family variations on how best to prepare a turkey for Christmas, Thanksgiving or Easter as there are families around the world. Some like to roast the turkey upside down until shortly before the end of cooking, in order to keep the breast moist, while others start on one side and change to the other... More..
Autos > Driving & Safety Are the UK speed cameras an effective deterrent?: 1 of 7
Those little yellow boxes at the side of the road are a familiar sight to most UK drivers, and a far cry from the old days of coppers pointing radar guns from the roadside. Indeed, while there are still mobile camera units in the UK, most of them are placed in clearly-marked vehicles on bridges over motorways and dual carriag... More..
Entertainment > Celebrity Biographies Will Victoria Beckham: Coming to America be worth watching?: 4 of 20
Watching something like this is really akin to rubbernecking a car crash on a motorway. Taking pleasure in someone else's misfortune. And the biggest queues form when there's a scent of blood, an ambulance at the scene. Even more exciting if the air ambulance shows up, the fire brigade have the jaws of life out and the metal ... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Infertility How miscarriage can overshadow the joy of the next pregnancy: 2 of 10
When you first start trying to conceive, you're conscious of embarking on a big adventure. Granted, there's nothing that can truly prepare you for what parenthood means in real terms, but looking your partner in the eyes as you make love, knowing each time may be the time you conceive your longed-for child... there's nothing ... More..
Computers & Technology > Peripherals & Accessories Ideas for using your webcam: 1 of 5
When, a couple of years back, a friend bought a new PC that came bundled with a webcam, she tossed the box aside dismissively, saying she wasn't that kind of girl and that I was welcome to use it if I had anything I could do with it. And, believe me, there is plenty you can do with a webcam.One of the first publicly recorded ... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Fertility Issues When is the best time to get pregnant?: 6 of 26
Is there such a thing as the 'best' time to get pregnant? Throughout my twenties I pondered this question and asked many friends their advice. In the abstract, the advice I received was that the best time to get pregnant would be once you've found your soul mate, have enough disposable income and a big enough home to cope wit... More..