How to keep your dogs and cats cosy in winter

As temperatures across the country plummet, Battersea is offering advice to dog and cat owners to help keep their much-loved pets warm this winter.

Keep them warm and dry We don’t like being wet and muddy, and neither do our pets. Dry off your dog or cat if they are wet or muddy to keep them from becoming ill, and make sure you provide somewhere cosy and warm for them to curl up and rest, especially if they are older. Check their paws During winter, it is especially important to check in between your pet’s toes after they’ve been outside. Any salt and grit on the roads and pavements could get stuck in between paws and cause them to become chapped and irritated. Furthermore, if your pet licks grit off their paw, it could make them very unwell. In the event of snow, check your pet’s paws and dry them thoroughly after they’ve been outside. This is especially important with long-haired animals, as they are prone to snow compacting between their toes and turning into ice balls, which can prove very painful. If they are good with handling, you could trim the long hair between your dog’s toes to help prevent this. Playtime Some pets will be content to spend their usual amount of time outdoors, come rain or shine, but others may become more inclined to stay indoors a little more when the weather takes a turn for the worst. A good way to

Anna Hemmings, Centre Manager at Battersea Brands Hatch said: “Just like humans, some of our pets will need a little extra care over the colder months to help keep them feeling their best. Elderly dogs and cats, or those with short coats, may especially struggle during this time. “Owners should also be wary of some risks that come with winter – things such as anti-freeze or freezing weather can be very dangerous for dogs and cats, and it’s vital that we stay alert in order to keep our pets as safe as possible.” Wrap up warm Just as it’s important for humans to wrap up warm on winter walks, it’s also important to make sure that our dogs are dressed appropriately for colder weather. Short-coated breeds, such as Staffies or Greyhounds, and elderly dogs would benefit from a warm, waterproof coat.

If your dog struggles with colder weather, consider taking them on a shorter walk than normal.

keep your pet stimulated when they’re not spending as much time outside is to provide them with toys and games to keep them entertained, such as a play tunnel, scratching post or ball game for cats and chew toys or food puzzles for dogs. Avoid antifreeze One of the biggest and most common dangers that cats face in winter when freezing temperatures hit is coming in to contact with antifreeze, which can result in serious illness or even death. Ethylene glycol, a chemical compound found in antifreeze, is commonly used during the winter to prevent freezing and is frequently used in car radiators, screen washes and de-icers, as well as in garden water features to stop them freezing over. Cats seem to be attracted to the sweet taste of this chemical which can prove deadly if they ingest even a small amount. Leaving antifreeze where cats can get to it not only puts your own pets at risk but also any strays or neighbours’ cats in the area. Owners should be aware of any signs that their cat may have come in to contact with antifreeze and take them to the vet immediately. Symptoms include vomiting, increased thirst, appearing sleepy or disorientated, frequent toilet trips, faster breathing rate and seizures. Check your car Cars can pose several risks to cats, particularly during the cold, dark months. Cats (and other small animals) have a dangerous habit of crawling under car bonnets to enjoy the warmth from the engine so you should always tap the hood of a car before starting the engine. This will hopefully disturb any stowaways and encourage them to move on to a safer spot. For more advice on winter pet care, please visit www.battersea.org.uk

USING THE 7 CHAKRA SYSTEM TO HELP US TO TUNE INTO OUR NEEDS SO WE CAN TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES.

call them that. Using the heart chakra as an example, in moments of great emotion in life we know we can have a visceral, palpable experience in this region of the body. The experience has nothing to do with anything that could be seen on an operating table or anything that could be seen by a scan. Falling in love, infatuation and grief can all bring a felt sense to this location.

Although most people only experience the heart chakra when it is at its loudest, at extreme times of emotion, we can learn to tune in and become aware of the more subtle activations of energy in each area. With practice we become more conscious of our feelings and needs and are then better able to respond and take care of ourselves, giving us the opportunity to live our lives from a stronger, more grounded, more integrated place.

If you are interested and want to know more about the 7 Chakra System, please do get in touch. I’ll be putting the system into practice this year in my online Self-Care course, but apart from that I am always more than happy to talk about yoga 

Take good care of yourself, Clair.

After the year we’ve just had, it would be easy to feel disconnected, to find it hard to know what we feel, what we need, or what to do to feel better. Luckily yoga gives us tools to help us to tune in and become more aware of what we are feeling so we can better take care of ourselves. One of those tools is the 7 Chakra system.

The chakras are often taught in a dogmatic or mysterious way when in actual fact they are a means to help us to sense and recognize how we feel and what our needs are. Chakra is a Sanskrit word that is often defined as wheel but the word can also translate as centre, group, circle or family. As with so many Sanskrit words, to understand the meaning we look at the context in which it’s used and from the ancient yogic texts we can see it’s used to refer to focal points, locations in the body to be focused on, in other words to be paid attention to.

You may have seen modern depictions of the 7 Chakra System and noticed that they are located in a vertical line from the pelvic base to somewhere just above the head. We can probably agree that the most emotional and energetically significant experiences in our lives all happen on this vertical axis - for example, gestation, birth, sexual experiences, gut feelings (butterflies, intuition), emotions of the heart, the throat and vocal chords, being able to express ourselves, singing, feeling a lump in the throat, struggling for words, deep thinking and flashes of insight.

We all experience the chakras at one time or another, we just don’t usually

TRAVEL INSPIRATION:

HOLIDAYS BY TRAIN

By Harden Holidays

Few journeys give you as much of a feel for a place and its unique geography than a journey by train. While all modes of moving passengers from place to place have their definite pros and cons, travel by train offers a welcome change from the hassle and stress these more commonly taken modes of travel can bring.

Imagine stepping off the train and literally being moments away from your hotel in the heart of your destination. Most train stations in Europe are right in the middle of city centres, so getting to your hotel is often as simple as a 5-minute walk. This gains you both time and money - money saved in expensive taxis and transfers, and more time to spend relaxing and enjoying your holiday.

Certainly, the experience of riding the train is a huge reason why people choose to embark on a rail holiday in the first place. The history of the journey and what you will see out the window, the slower pace, and the unprecedented views make for a truly unique and memorable experience. Here are some of the best-known trains and journeys that you should experience at least once:

1. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express - Arguably the world’s most famous train, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is synonymous with prestige, glamour and the Golden Age of Rail Travel. The train now visits a number of Europe’s most enchanting cities. Alongside the traditional, classic journey from London to Venice via Paris (or vice versa), you can now take in everywhere from historic Budapest to luxurious Lake Como. There is also a collection of new routes for 2021, taking in the likes of Geneva, Brussels, Florence, Rome and Amsterdam. Or, for the ultimate luxury rail journey, we

suggest that the most discerning traveller should secure a berth on the very special, once-a-year departure from London to Istanbul, a nine-day journey that recreates the original 1883 route. The sheer romance of this experience is unmatchable.

2. The Rocky Mountaineer – For three decades, Rocky Mountaineer has given guests exclusive access to otherwise inaccessible terrain, all from the comfort of a luxury seat. You can experience Western Canada’s most remarkable attraction as you pass by national parks, natural wonders and tranquil lakes. Wherever you look, each piece of the adventure will take your breath away. There is an incredible range of packages to make your journey as individual as you are. You can spend time in Banff and /or Jasper, visit the Columbia Icefields, spend the day at Lake Louise or go visit a grizzly bear sanctuary to name a few. You can also elevate your experience by combining a week in the Rockies with a week of cruising to Alaska or spending time at Sonora Resort, a 5* luxury resort nestled in British Columbia Discovery Island and only accessible by sea or air. They have recently expanded their family of routes with Rockies to the Red Rocks, an exciting new rail experience, featuring the unforgettable sights of the Colorado Rockies and the desert rock formations of Moab in the United States. Traveling from Denver to Moab over two beautiful days, this new product is sure to impress.

3. The Ghan – This fantastic train takes you on a journey through the heart of Australia. In 2019, The Ghan marked 90 years of outback crossings. Much has changed since 1929, and today The Ghan offers more than transit between Adelaide to Darwin and vice versa. Onboard you will find sumptuous dining, elegant private cabins, attentive service, and the camaraderie of your fellow travellers. And when the train stops, the adventures begin. You can choose from a huge range of included off-train experiences to create your own rich and rewarding personal journey through Australia’s outback and beyond.

4. The TranzAlpine - The TranzAlpine is rated as one of the world’s best train journeys, travelling from one coast of New Zealand to the other, over the spectacular Southern Alps. The TranzAlpine train operates daily between Christchurch, Arthurs Pass and Greymouth - from the east coast to the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island. Travelling west crossing the Canterbury Plains, the train slowly ascends through spectacular gorges and river valleys of the Waimakariri River towards the Southern Alps to the alpine village of Arthurs Pass for a short break before descending through the Otira Tunnel to the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island, through lush alpine beech rain forests to Greymouth - a great base for visits to Punakaiki and the always popular glaciers at Franz Josef and Fox Glacier. You will be treated to a selection of local delicacies and regional wines throughout the journey and hear captivating commentary from the welcoming hosts. There are many more fascinating trains and journeys we can offer a bit closer to home like the Glacier Express - that glides across Switzerland, the Bernina Express with an impressive variety of the vistas along the route - from up high in snow-capped Switzerland, down into more temperate Italy and the Harz Mountains Railway - a genuine thrill for steam enthusiasts, with vintage locomotives puffing their way along a narrow gauge railway through the heart of Germany, against a backdrop of forests and castles. For these and many more please do not hesitate to get in touch with our Harden Holidays team.

Dartford Town Centre

www.hardenholidays.co.uk 0800 023 8974

Sleep. We all do it, but many of us don’t do it well.

Most mattress materials can be susceptible to this. Fibre and foam break down over time, and springs can break down and sag. Springs that squeak when you move is a sign that coils are worn and no longer provide sufficient support.

3. Is your mattress uncomfortable? Waking up sore and stiff suggests that your body is no longer being supported properly by your mattress, particularly if your stiffness subsides after you get up and move around. It is very easy to become accustomed to how uncomfortable your mattress is. Do you notice that you sleep better in a hotel bed for example?

4. Allergies have worsened Mattresses can be a major source of dust mites and allergens. Vacuuming and regular airing of your mattress can ease your symptoms, but if this doesn’t help, a new mattress may be the answer.

5. Partner is keeping you awake A worn mattress may mean you become more aware of your partner tossing and turning, as the ability of the mattress to reduce motion transfer is lessened.

6. You are putting more weight on the mattress. Whether piling on the

Quite often a mattress has worn out long before you realise. That’s why The National Bed Federation and The Bed Post recommend replacing your mattress about every seven years. After seven years a mattress has been subjected to over 20,000 hours of wear and tear! But this may not always be the ideal time. Not all mattresses are created equal. Mattresses may last a little longer, or need replacing sooner, depending on their construction, how they have been used, and the quality of their components. Signs you should replace your mattress

1. Your mattress is over 7 years old. All mattresses have a natural life span, which varies by manufacturer, mattress type, how you use it, and how heavy you are. No mattresses are designed to last for ever. Inferior products don’t last as long, but even a premium quality mattress will eventually need replacing.

2. Wear and Tear. If your mattress is sagging or lumpy, has excessive body-shaped indentations, or you can feel the coils through the fabric, that’s a sign that your mattress needs replacing.

pounds or getting a new partner, if your mattress needs to support more weight than it used to, it may no longer be capable of meeting the extra demand. Pay particular attention to this with children’s mattresses as they grow. A bed with the correct support, comfort and space will ensure you wake less, move about less, are less disturbed by your partner and are less likely to wake up feeling tired or aching.

But what is the right mattress?

Coil spring or open coil units are the most commonly used in mattresses, as they can be mass-produced and cost-effective.

They consist of larger springs all linked together. There is no fabric around them hence ‘open coil’. A double size would typically contain around 300 springs. Fillings used tend to be fiber pads or standard foam, although more luxurious models could include a layer of memory foam or latex foam.

Pressure and movement is transferred over the entire surface meaning less independent support so when one person turns over, the other feels it.

They generally feel firmer than pocket springs with more bounce and some side-to-side movement. On the plus side they are less expensive than pocket springs and much lighter to carry or turn.

Pocket Springs are individual springs housed in a fabric pocket.

Higher quality mattresses use a natural calico or cotton fabric for better ventilation. They are also hand tied or stitched to each other making then highly responsive. They work independently of each other and conform well to body shape. They are ideal for couples with significant weight differences, as when one person moves, the other isn’t disturbed.

They tend to be more expensive as they take longer to build and generally have better quality fillings over the springs – including natural ones such as wool, silk and cashmere.

The number of pocket springs in a king sized mattress starts with 800 pocket springs for a basic model. The more springs the better the individual support. Anything over 2000 is achieved by stacking smaller springs on top.

If you’re in the market for a new mattress then why not visit www.the-bedpost.co.uk, we have experts on hand to help and guide you in selecting the right mattress.

Full-time, experienced, qualified yoga teacher, teaching practical yoga and meditation classes in the local community and now online. When Government advice allows, the regular schedule of in person group classes in Hextable, Swanley, Sidcup and Bexleyheath will resume. For now, all regular group classes are being held online.

Yoga Alliance Professionals Senior Yoga Teacher and British Wheel of Yoga Foundation Course Tutor, I am qualified and experienced in making yoga accessible.

I teach an embodied and practical approach to yoga, breath work and meditation, appropriate for all ages and abilities. You don’t need to be flexible to start!

My classes are friendly, everybody is welcome, so come and see how it feels to tune in and connect yourself and feel better. Please visit my website for more information or email me at clair.crestyoga@gmail.com.

I look forward to hearing from you.