by Fern Shaw | Aug 3, 2026 | Water, water cooler, Water Coolers
Some blog ideas come together instantly. Others require careful consideration. This one was a bit of a toss-up.
Yorkshire Day? International India Pale Ale Day? International Beer Day? How do you choose?
Then a novel idea struck. Why choose at all?
So, we’ve gone with all three into one blog. Reason being 1) it makes things a little more interesting and 2) if one topic falls flat (I’m looking in your direction, ale and beer), you’ll have another ready to rescue your next water cooler conversation. And while you’re topping up your water bottle or refilling your water glass, you might even learn something new. Bonus.
So, without further ado, let’s begin.
With so many themed days packed into the start of August, you’re spoilt for choice. There’s also Play Day, but we’ve already covered that one in a previous blog.
Yorkshire Day
If there’s one county that knows how to celebrate itself, it’s Yorkshire.
Held every beginning August, Yorkshire Day celebrates the history, culture and traditions of England’s largest historic county. Towns and cities across the region host civic events, parades, concerts and community celebrations, with a different location taking centre stage each year.
It’s a day filled with local pride, good humour and a healthy dose of Yorkshire spirit (or ale and beer).
International India Pale Ale Day
If your drink of choice contains a little more malt than mineral water, this one’s for you.
International India Pale Ale Day was created to bring together brewers, craft beer enthusiasts and bloggers in appreciation of one of Britain’s most recognisable beer styles.
Despite the name, India Pale Ale has its roots in England. Brewers increased the amount of hops used in the beer because hops acted as a natural preservative, helping it survive the long sea voyage to India during the days of the British Empire.
Who knew a practical shipping solution would end up creating one of the world’s favourite beer styles?
International Beer Day
As if one beer celebration wasn’t enough, International Beer Day follows immediately afterwards.
Founded in 2007 in Santa Cruz, California, it quickly became a worldwide celebration and, since 2012, has been held on the first Friday in August.
Beer itself, however, is much older.
Archaeologists have discovered evidence of brewing dating back thousands of years, with recipes recorded on clay tablets from around 4300 BC and traces of beer found in pottery dating to approximately 3400 BC.
According to the organisers, there are three simple ways to celebrate:
- Get together with friends and enjoy a beer responsibly.
- Raise a glass to the brewers and servers who make it possible.
- Celebrate the incredible variety of beers enjoyed around the world.
Whether you’re raising a pint, celebrating Yorkshire or simply enjoying a refreshing glass of chilled water, there’s certainly no shortage of reasons to celebrate the start of August.
Sources
Yorkshire DayYorkshire Ridings Society
International India Pale Ale Day
International Beer Day
Encyclopaedia Britannica
by Fern Shaw | Jul 29, 2026 | Water, water cooler, Water Coolers
Whether bouncy Tigger, resolute Shere Khan or Calvin’s faithful playmate, Hobbes, was your first introduction to the tiger, these magnificent mammals have captured our imagination for generations. In honour of International Tiger Day, we’re celebrating the real animal behind those unforgettable characters.
We may think they’re wildly exotic creatures, yet we Homo sapiens share more in common with them than you might expect.
Like us, tigers love water. They enjoy a refreshing drink, cool off with a swim when temperatures soar and even play in the water. Unlike many other big cats, they’re remarkably strong swimmers, often crossing rivers and relaxing in lakes to escape the heat.
Of course, our similarities go beyond enjoying a paddle on a warm day. We all depend on clean, reliable sources of fresh water. For tigers, healthy rivers, wetlands and waterholes are every bit as essential as they are for the countless other species that share their habitats.
Sadly, the future of the tiger is far less secure than the stories that made so many of us fall in love with them. Wild tiger numbers have declined by more than 95% since the beginning of the 20th century, and today, it’s estimated that only around 3,900 remain in isolated forests, grasslands and mangrove swamps across Asia. Habitat loss continues to threaten not only the tigers themselves but also the freshwater ecosystems they rely upon.
Fortunately, dedicated conservation projects are protecting habitats, restoring wildlife corridors and helping these magnificent animals reclaim their place in the wild.
So, the next time you enjoy a cool glass of water or head off for a swim, spare a thought for yet another creature who relies on water as much as we do. We may not share their stripes but we certainly share an appreciation for life’s most essential resource. The least we can do is help ensure future generations can continue to be inspired by the real thing.
Sources:
There’s A Day For That – International Tiger Day
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) – Tigers
by Fern Shaw | Apr 15, 2026 | Water, water cooler, water cooler, Water Coolers, water dispenser
April doesn’t so much arrive as burst through the door, arms full of occasions. One minute it’s April Fools’ Day, the next it’s Stress Awareness Month, while National Pet Month reminds us to take the best care of our pets (and probably take that walk you promised yesterday).
Then come the curveballs. International Carrot Day pops up as Easter still lingers – rabbits everywhere, carrots getting their moment. Fair enough. Just maybe don’t start watering a full carrot crop from the office water dispenser … we’re fairly sure that’s not what it’s there for.
And April doesn’t stop there. There’s New Beers Eve for those who like a celebratory sip, Malbec Day for the wine enthusiasts and even International Macaron Day for something a bit sweeter. By the time St. George’s Day rolls around, it’s safe to say your calendar’s had a proper workout.
It’s all good fun – a month packed with plenty of reasons to smile, celebrate or simply take a breather. But with so much going on, it’s surprisingly easy to overlook celebrating our own well-being.
Like drinking enough water.
Between ticking off occasions, juggling work and remembering whether you’ve already fed the pet (you probably have), hydration can slip down the list. A quick refill of your water bottle or topping up your water glass during the day might not be as headline-grabbing as a themed ‘day of’ but it does wonders for keeping you feeling on form – steady, focused and ready for whatever April throws next.
So, by all means, enjoy the macarons, raise a glass if you fancy it and give your pet that well-deserved extra attention (all while making sure they have easy access to drinking water). For yourself though, keep one simple habit ticking along no matter the occasion, observance or event: drink water, refill, repeat.
April will still be just as busy – you’ll just feel a bit better keeping up with it.
by Fern Shaw | Jan 13, 2026 | Water, water cooler, Water Coolers
Just like that, the festive lights are packed away, the last mince pie crumbs have mysteriously disappeared and we’re easing ourselves into another brand-new year. December often feels like a blur of celebrations, cosy moments and perhaps one too many helpings of everything – but we wouldn’t have it any other way. From catchups with friends and family to those quiet, in-between days where time seems to slow down, the festive season has a habit of leaving us both content and slightly disoriented.
We hope you had a joyful festive season, full of laughter, rest and maybe even a little mischief. And we have to ask … did anyone actually decorate their water cooler? We like to imagine a few tinsel-wrapped taps, a stray string of fairy lights and perhaps even the occasional Santa hat making a surprise appearance in the office or kitchen. After all, if you’re going to hydrate, you might as well do it in style.
As we step into brand spanking new year, filled with purpose, clarity, vision and healthy hydration habits, there’s a quiet sense of excitement in the air and, hopefully, a renewed commitment to looking after ourselves. January doesn’t have to be about drastic changes or unrealistic resolutions. Sometimes it’s simply about resetting, refocusing and choosing to do the small things a little better.
This year, how about we focus on creating small habits that make a big difference. Taking a moment to pause during a busy day. Remembering to refill your water glass before it’s empty. Choosing progress over perfection and feeling good about the direction we’re heading in, even if it’s one sip at a time. However you prefer to refresh your drinking water – hot, cold or ambient, remember, you’ll find the perfect solution among AquAid’s range of high-quality water dispensers.
There’s something refreshing about a new year – a chance to bring intention into our routines and clarity into our goals, while keeping things light-hearted and achievable. Healthy routines don’t have to be complicated; often, they start with the simplest choices.
Here’s to a year of clear minds, steady momentum and well-hydrated days ahead. We’re looking forward to every moment of it – and we’re glad you’re coming along for the journey.
Cheers to the year ahead!
by Fern Shaw | Dec 10, 2025 | aquaid, Water, water cooler
Did you catch the double meaning? Clever you if so. If not: real fir trees need you to water them … and then there are Christmas trees actually made of water. Granted, those involve more plumbing, jets and fountains than most of us have lying around, but you get the picture.
It’s fairly obvious that I love Christmas. Not the commercial chaos that pops up in shops from early October (or, in one horrifying case, late September), but everything else? Count me in. For me – and millions of other festive humanoids – Christmas doesn’t begin until the tree is up.
A couple of years ago I went slightly off piste. I rescued a branch from the local garden refuse tip, stripped it (yes, de-leafed is absolutely a word), left a few dramatic leaves for effect, spray-painted it white, planted it in a pot, wound some lights round it and voilà – Christmas achieved.
This year, I’m eyeing a wire-art Baobab tree. If that fails, I’m heading to a Christmas tree farm to rent a real fir for a few weeks.
Yes, renting a Christmas tree is genuinely a thing. Across the UK you can now rent a gorgeous potted fir from November to January. They deliver it, collect it and all you need to do is keep it watered while it’s visiting your space.*
There’s even a company offering fully decorated real trees, though that feels a bit like skipping the whole tree-decorating magic – unless, of course, you’ve endured one pine-needle prick too many.
If the thought of watering, sweeping or wrangling with branches fills you with dread, there are brilliant alternative Christmas tree ideas – many eco-friendly and none involving plastic stand-ins. Driftwood arranged as branches against a wall; bright paper designs wrapped around a frame; stacked gold cushions; or even a wall-mounted arrangement of baubles shaped like a tree. The only limit is your imagination.
Granted, some alternatives make traditional dancing-round-the-tree tricky, as one bah-humbug soul pointed out. But if that doesn’t bother you, then hang that tree, frame that shape, glue those baubles.
Whatever tree brightens your space this season, here’s wishing you a blessed and merry Christmas from all of us at AquAid.
*Psst – using your water cooler water to water your Christmas tree is not recommended.
by Fern Shaw | Nov 19, 2025 | Africa Trust, aquaid, Water, water cooler, Water Coolers
In the UK, it’s easy to take toilets and clean water for granted. Most of us rarely stop to think about what life would look like without the privacy, hygiene and safety that proper sanitation provides. But for billions of people around the world, a reliable toilet is far from guaranteed. That’s exactly why World Toilet Day continues to be so important.
This year’s theme, Sanitation for Peace, reminds us that safe sanitation is closely tied to stability, health and equality. When people don’t have access to hygienic facilities, the results can be devastating: increased disease, contaminated water sources and a loss of safety and dignity – particularly for women and children. Diarrhoea remains one of the leading causes of death for children under five in developing countries, largely due to poor sanitation and hygiene. And around 1 in 8 people worldwide still practise open defecation every day.
But progress doesn’t always require complex technology. Sometimes, the most effective solutions are simple, well-designed and community driven. One example is the Elephant Toilet, created by The Africa Trust, an AquAid founded charity working across sub-Saharan Africa. This eco-friendly VIP (Ventilated Improved Pit) latrine uses minimal water, is built with local materials and skills, and provides a safe, clean and long-lasting sanitation option for rural communities. The design was recognised with the St Andrews Prize for the Environment for its ingenuity and effectiveness.
What makes the Elephant Toilet especially powerful is the way communities are involved. The Africa Trust provides training and materials – such as cement for the slabs – so local people can build and maintain their own facilities. This creates ownership, resilience and long-term benefits long after the initial construction is complete.
World Toilet Day is a reminder that sanitation is a foundation for health, dignity and opportunity. By supporting practical solutions and investing in sustainable systems, we can help ensure that everyone, everywhere, has access to something as basic – and as vital – as a safe toilet.
These are just a few reasons why AquAid is proud to support The Africa Trust. To date, over 1000,000 Elephant Toilets have been built, benefitting more than two million people. Since the beginning, The Africa Trust, along with AquAid, have understood how essential good sanitation is – not just for health, but for creating safer, stronger and more resilient communities.
