Ad Newspaper for West Bridgford Nottingham April 2018 by david clark

West Bridgford ISSUE 108 April 2018

Martin Page

Edwalton &

West Bridgford’s Local Tree Surgeon Have you considered? Just like the rest of your property your trees may need some maintenance from time to time? Are your trees too tall, unsafe or untidy? Are they blocking light from yours, or your neighbour’s property? With o v e r 25 years of experience working with trees in your area I would be pleased to offer you free advice and a free quotation.

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Unusual Phobias 11 of the most unusual phobias 1) Xanthophobia: A fear of the colour yellow... Sufferers of xanthophohia may fear anything yellow, including the sun, daffodils and yellow paint. In its most aggressive form xanthophobic symptoms may include an overwhelming fear of even the phrase yellow. 2) Turophobia: A fear of cheese... Sufferers of Turophobia usually associate cheese with a traumatic memory. From cheddar to mozarella turophobes often have to run away if they so much as see a slice of cheese. Some may fear one type of cheese altogether. 3) Somniphobia: A fear of falling asleep... Somniphobia comprises often irrational and excessive fear of sleep. Somniphobes may fear falling asleep because they associate going to bed with dying. It may also result from a feeling of lack of control or from suffering repeated nightmares. Somniphobics may also fear losing time while sleeping. 4) Coulrophobia: A fear of clowns... Coulrophobia is a relatively common phobia,and usually present in children according to various surveys. Having grown up with films such as “IT” & Chucky it’s no surprise many of us have a slight loathing of clowns. The ‘scary clown’ has often been used in popular culture, for example in the form of the Joker in Batman comics and film adaptations. Coulrophobia has some celebrity sufferers- namely Daniel Radcliffe and Johnny Depp. Depp said of his clown fear.” it’s impossible, thanks to their painted-on smiles, to distinguish if they are happy or if they are about to bite your face off. 5) Hylophobia: A fear of trees... Hylophobia involves an irrational fear of wood, forest or trees. It is often caused by exposure to films and fairy tales which involve scary woods in childhood. Many sufferers don’t grow out of the phobia and any walk in a scenic setting can trigger anxiety. Hylophobes suffer extreme anxiety when they simply think about a wood.

6) Omphalophobia : A fear of the navel.. Omphalophobia is the fear of bullybuttons. Sufferers are afraid to have their bellybuttons touched, or to touch another person’s belly

button. The fear is often linked with the belly button’s association to the umbilical cord and a mother’s womb. Omphalophobes can be repulsed just by seeing or thinking about a belly button. 7) Nomophobia: A fear of being without mobile phone coverage... The name for the phobia of being without mobile phone coverage was coined five years ago after researchers discovered the phenomenon. According to recent surveys, more than half of people in the UK suffer from it. The phobia is brought on by the fear of losing signal, running out of battery or even losing sight of a mobile phone. 8) Ombrophobia: A fear or rain... Ombrophobes have an abnormal fear of rain which can cause severe anxiety attacks. It is thought to be triggered by a number of factors, including the fact that children are often told not to go out in the rain because it will make them ill. Rain is also often associated with depression. 9) Trypophobia: A fear of holes... Sufferers of trypophobia fear objects with small holes. It is not yet considered an official phobia, although thousands of people are reported to suffer from it. According to new research trypophobics associate holes with danger. Examples of feared objects include honeycomb, sponges and any plant with small hole in it . Symptoms of Trypophobia range from nausea and itchy skin to full blown panic attacks. 10) Uranophobia: A fear of heaven... Sufferers of uranophobia fear the sky and the afterlife. It can be triggered in religious believers who fear the idea that they will be Judged after life. 11) Pogonophobia : A fear of beards... The term pogonophobia has been used since the 1850s to describe a strong fear of beards. Jeremy Paxman accused the BBC of suffering from pogonophobia after he was criticised for presenting Newsnight with a beard.

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April Fool! The origins of April Fools’ Day seems to be lost in time but like many traditions probably has a number of historical roots. There was certainly a Roman festival called hilaria around that time of year, to celebrate the vernal equinox. The most popular theory about ‘modern’ April Fools’ Day is that it began to take shape in late 16th century France.

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often the butt of jokes and pranks. They were known as poisson d’avril, or April fish, possibly because a naïve young fish is easily caught. Over the years the custom of prankplaying spread to the general population and eventually to Britain, where schoolboy pranks are still the order of the day. Watch out! By Tom Hancock

At that time, there was a switch to the Gregorian Calendar under Charles IX. Prior to this there had been a New Year’s week (March 25th-April1st) , and under the Gregorian system, New year’s Day fell on January 1st. As with any change there was some resistance, and many people stubbornly refused to accept the new system, continuing to celebrate New Year on April 1st. These people were ridiculed and labelled ‘fools’ by the general populace and were

A secondary school guide to parents’ evening Parents’ evenings - love them or loathe them, they crop up with alarming regularity. They can cause a good deal of stress whether you’re the parent, child or teacher! As a parent this is your chance to speak to the teachers that spend all day with your children and to whom you are entrusting their education.

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They will often ask you if you have any other questions. Which leads to another point – don’t ask in Year 7 what the teacher thinks they will get in their GCSE.

Naturally you want to get the best out of the experience but how exactly do you do that, when you are on what feels like a conveyor belt?

Learning is not a linear process from point A to B. For most children, it is a meandering journey – let your child enjoy that journey without pressure in those early years of secondary school.

And if your child is in Year 7 then you will find this experience very different to what you are used to from their primary school days.

Also, don’t ask how they are doing compared to other students. Instead ask if they are where the teacher wants them to be.

The first thing to remember – and this might sound quite harsh – is that your child’s teacher has a lot of parents to see that night, in a relatively short space of time. This does have implications for what you can discuss.

There is a final point to consider – whether to take your child. Most schools extend the offer to students, but don’t feel compelled to take them.

The bottom line is, don’t be offended if they end the discussion, or if they suggest making an appointment for another time to come and discuss an issue.

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Are there any general dos and don’ts? Do let them know your concerns, but don’t launch in with complaints. Let the teacher explain how they feel your child is doing and respond to that.

It is important to remember that you and the teacher both want your child to do their best and achieve. The teacher will no doubt have points they want to make and they may be good or bad.

For some children, the experience (and the noise) can be very overwhelming and they may prefer to stay at home. Above all remember that the teacher wants what is best for your child. Put your concerns to them but please listen to what they have to say too.

If there are problems then the teacher will most likely be looking for reassurance that you will support the school in whatever behaviour or homework policy they have. They know that students don’t always tell their parents what goes on at school and so parents evening may be their chance to make it clear if they are not meeting expectations.

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How Eggstraordinary! It’s ironic that most of the traditions associated with the principle religious feast of the Christian year have no basis in Christianity at all. The word ‘Easter’ comes from an Anglo-Saxon fertility goddess called Eostre, who was associated with spring and new beginnings. Both Easter and Passover centre around re-birth, and bond neatly with the Anglo-Saxon festival of ‘Eostremonath’ – Eostre’s month. Hot cross buns, traditionally eaten on Good Friday, are linked to the Jewish festival of Passover. Originally they were made from unleavened bread, an important Passover food. Nowadays they are more palatably leavened and marked with a cross to serve as a reminder of the crucifixion.

It’s Hayfever Time Again

The Easter bunny seems to have been a German invention too, though it stems from Eostre again. The original association was the hare but rabbits look similar so they kind of hijacked the show. German children made nests in the garden and good children were left coloured hard-boiled eggs over night as a reward. Egg rolling on Easter Monday is an eccentric British custom. As a child I was told the egg represented the rolling away of the stone blocking Jesus’ tomb, but research shows that the custom predates the arrival of Christianity here. It’s great fun though, whatever the history behind it.

As an aside you may notice they are more expensive this year due to a global shortage of raisins and sultanas! The tradition of eating chocolate eggs stems from Eostre, when eggs were given as gifts to celebrate the end of winter and as a symbol of new life and fertility. Chocolate was an ingenious German addition much later.

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Bless You! Hayfever is on the increase, says the British Allergy Foundation. The most likely explanation for this is that summer is starting earlier and pollution is rising.

In the case of hayfever it triggers runny noses and itchy eyes, but it can also trigger asthma if the response occurs in the airways and eczema if it occurs in the skin. Susceptibility does have a genetic basis. However, scientists also know that the immune system develops very early so early exposure to an allergen may affect the development and number of immune cells present, so later in life an allergic response to a particular allergen is more likely.

Pollution traps pollen in the atmosphere and holds it there. As a result we’re all being exposed to many more allergens, particularly those of us who live in towns in cities. No wonder we’re all sneezing. The body’s immune system is a wonderful creation. It responds to nasty substances such as viruses and bacteria by generating special antibodies which help to neutralise them. These helpful antibodies are actually large protein molecules of a category known as IGG. Unfortunately, there is another set of antibodies from a category known as IGE. These are less helpful because they tend to over react to allergens, which are harmless materials such as grass pollen. The problem lies with our mast cells. These are cells choc full of histamine and other substances capable of producing inflammation. The IGE molecules cling to the mast cells and when an allergen enters the body it sticks to the IGE-coated mast cells and triggers them to explode, whereupon they release all their histamine and cause an inflammatory response. Some of us have high levels of IGE in our bodies and some of us don’t. Those with high IGE levels are more susceptible to allergies.

We can’t yet reduce the number of IGE cells in a body but a few years ago scientists discovered that IGG and IGE molecules have different structures and bind differently to mast cells. Thus new medications are now being developed with the ability to disable the IGE and stop it binding to mast cells in the first place. In the future we may be able to relieve the misery of hayfever altogether. Wouldn’t that be lovely? Current Treatments Anti-histamine tablets Impede the body’s immune response so preventing symptoms. Nasal Sprays Work directly on the affected area and leave the rest of the immune system alone. Injections Offer long term protection but are only used in severe cases because of their ongoing nature. REMEMBER - Do not wait until symptoms start. Ideally begin to take medication 3-4 weeks before the start of the hayfever season.

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A Good Read Notes to my Mother-in-law – Phyllida Law This is one of those deceptive little books that looks like a quick ‘read it and forget it’, but is really much more. At little over a hundred pages, it is indeed a quick read – easily done in one sitting – but the pictures of family life it paints will, justifiably, stay in your memory and affections for some time. The title is a fairly straightforward description of the contents. Law’s mother in law, Annie, shared her family home for seventeen years and ‘was picturebook perfect’. As she was deaf, Law would write her notes with reminders, requests and titbits of gossip every evening before going to bed. In response to her husband’s comment that she could have written and illustrated a book in the time she spent on these notes, she did so, gathering together a series of missives – some

long, some short, some sad and some funny.

Often funny, never sentimental but truly touching – a wonderful read.

The one sided nature of the story – we never hear anything of Annie’s replies – means that we fill in the gaps ourselves. The topics range from the mundane – the availability of pearl barley or dusters – to the profound – the death of a family pet.

How I Live Now – Meg Rosoff

All, however, are tinged with humour, mainly from the chaos of family life and the cast of unseen characters whose many deeds and misdeeds fill the pages.

I’m really not sure whether to describe this as a children’s book, but certainly if you know a teenage girl of 13 upwards, they will be captivated by it. Rosoff’s debut novel is narrated by Daisy, a 15 year old American sent to England by her newly married father for the summer to stay with her cousins.

What raises this above the ordinary, however, is the sense of a bygone age. Annie belonged to a past that is gone, having been in service and maintained many of the disciplines and routines she learnt as a girl.

She is immediately drawn in by this wild and wonderful bunch – Osbert, Isaac, Piper and Edmond – and delighted when Aunt Penn begins to tell her more about the mother she never knew.

The depth of feeling in Law’s relationship with her is palpable, and as Annie becomes increasingly ill the reader cannot help but feel the sense of imminent loss.

But, within days, the world changes. A bomb in London may or may not have started a war, and Aunt Penn is unable to return home.

Left alone, the children attempt to survive in the best way they can, and Daisy and Edmond fall in love. Meanwhile, the mysterious war develops through rumours and shortages and increasing military presence, until the inevitable happens and Daisy and Edmond are separated. In Daisy, Rosoff creates an engaging, realistic and intelligent narrator whose matter of fact style carries us forward. Something like a cross between Holden Caulfield and Esther Greenwood (The Bell Jar), she deserves to be as widely known as both. This is a novel about first love, about war and about being young. If you’re buying it for that teenager, you could do worse than read it yourself before you hand it over. You won’t regret it.

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Historic Bridge Vandalised

Community Garden To Ease Loneliness A new Community Garden has been set up at Mansfield District Council’s Bull Farm allotments in Shaftesbury Avenue to tackle the issue of social isolation among residents.

Historic Clumber Bridge Vandalised The Clumber Park bridge, an historic ornamental bridge, within the country park situated within The Dukeries has been vandalised. It was built circa 1760 and due to the nature of

the vandalism can no longer carry pedestrians or vehicles for the foreseeable future. The vandalism took place on Saturday 3rd March 2018 and estimated repairs are in the region of hundreds

of thousands of pounds. The general manager of Clumber Park, Beth Dawson has said that they have received many messages of support and offers of help and that they greatly appreciate the love and passion for this very special place. Damage to the bridge was caused by a car repeatedly driving into the balustrades, destroying the ornamental look of the bridge. The car was then abandoned and burned out. Police were called to the scene at approximately 8am on Saturday 3rd March 2018 and an investigation is currently underway. Clumber Park is working with its insurers to assess the damage to the bridge, however, if you would like to support their conservation work you are able to make donations at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/appeal/

The scheme is being run in partnership with Feel Good Gardens, a community interest company based at Sherwood Pines, and the council’s Housing department, as part of a wider council strategy to improve the health, wellbeing and lifestyles of its residents, particularly older men who often suffer from loneliness and social isolation. Weekly ‘work parties’ on Wednesdays from 10.30am to 2.30pm began this month guided by Feel Good Gardens and people are being encouraged to turn up and grab a spade. Complete gardening beginners are welcome. Cllr Barry Answer, Portfolio Holder for Housing, said: “What we are hoping is that this community garden will improve the lives of local people, both by providing exercise and the chance to meet new people, and also in healthier eating. What could be better for you than growing your own free organic fruit and vegetables? “Social isolation and loneliness can literally be killers and they are especially common among older men, leading to poor physical and mental health and a higher risk of disability, as well as poor recovery from illness, and even early death. “Men often find it more difficult to talk about their problems and the aim of community gardens are to provide places where people can come together, share skills and develop a sense of purpose and achievement.”

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Clare Heyting, Feel Good Gardens’ Horticultural Ranger, added: “This is therapeutic horticulture in a friendly accessible and supportive space. It has long been known that gardening is a really healthy pastime - both physically and mentally. Just being outside in the fresh air with other people is good for you. “We help bring people together to plant and care for the garden and we can even run occasional cookery demonstrations which help the gardeners learn how to use the produce they have grown. “We hope it will appeal to people who want to develop a new hobby, become healthier, and meet like-minded people. “The advantage of it being communal allotment means it is less daunting than having the responsibility of taking on an entire allotment. It is a fun and easy way to access nature and the green spaces on your doorstep.” The council intends to expand the scheme and open other community gardens in other parts of the district in the future. To find out more, see www.feelgoodgardens.org or call Clare on 07866 364400

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Butterfly Garden This month the days get longer and the sun gets stronger...we hope!

2018 Lady Bay Open Gardens The Open Gardens event, now in its 27th year will run from 2pm to 6pm on Saturday 30 June and Sunday 1 of July in over 20 gardens throughout Lady Bay in West Bridgford.

This Month – Plant a butterfly garden

As well as the many beautiful and varied gardens to view there will be lots of entertainment, activities for children, cake and plant stalls.

Fascinating fact…Winston Churchill loved butterflies so much he had a garden designed specifically to attract them. His family home was the beautiful Chartwell, but you really don’t need a grand estate to attract butterflies because they will happily flock to the tiniest plot if the planting is right. When planting for butterflies we need to consider their life-cycle, and of course they start life as caterpillars. Butterflies choose to lay their eggs where there is a good food supply for their hungry offspring. A patch of nettles in a sunny spot is all you need to attract the red admiral, the small tortoiseshell, the painted lady and the peacock. If you want the common blue (though sadly these are not that common now) plant some birdsfoot trefoil, also known as lady’s fingers and properly named lotus corniculatus. A packet of sweet rocket seeds (hesperis matronalis) is a good investment. One pack produces flowers in all shades of lilac. They have a sweet scent, which is more powerful in the evening, and as a bonus they attract the orange tip butterfly. So, having satiated the caterpillars, we need to address the feeding requirements of the adult butterfly. The most famous butterfly-attracting plant is probably Buddleia davidii, hence its other name, the butterfly bush. It grows well in most soils but needs to be pruned back hard every

year so the flowers, and hence the butterflies, are kept at eye level. Don’t worry too much if you know very little about pruning, Buddleias are hard to kill! Sedum spectabile must be one of the easiest plants ever to grow and even thrives in my poor soil. Its dusky pink flowers are always smothered in butterflies and bees when they open in late summer. Caryopteris clandonensis, or to use its more romantic name, blue mist spirea is also a wonderful butterfly magnet and very easy to grow. You can now buy packets of wild flower seeds and butterfly mixes. Try some among your borders and you’ll be rewarded with fluttering, jewel-like visitors all summer. Butterfly Essentials Sunshine - plant butterfly-attracting plants in the sunniest spots Shelter - the site needs to be out of the wind

All money raised over the weekend will be donated to Lady Bay Community Fund and various charities nominated by garden owners.

Free car parking is available at the Nottingham Rugby Club on Holme Road. For further information or if you would like to get involved contact the Open Gardens Chairman Tony on papthepole@googlemail.com or by calling 0115 9143006. The deadline for garden entries is 7 May. facebook.com/ladybayopengardens www.ladybayopengardens.org.uk.

Visitors can buy an Open Gardens entry programme for £3 from any participating garden, look out for the various signs throughout Lady Bay over the event weekend. An Open Gardens map will be situated outside the Post Office on Trent Boulevard.

Arnold Art Society Are having their annual spring exhibition at Pond Hills centre Saturday 26th May and Sunday 27th May from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm. Free Entry Lots of lovely pictures to look at or buy Tea, coffee and home-made cakes. Raffles. Hand made cards. Good car parking and disabled access We donate to the Mayor’s Charity each year.

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Roosting spots Butterflies need somewhere to sleep. They prefer to be high so plant climbers like honeysuckles and clematis. Nettles and wildflowers if space is at a premium try growing them in pots. It works really well. By Rachael Leverton

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National Pet Month

The chimney, the drive, the oven: We couldn’t do without them, but many of us do try and get away without cleaning them!

Use National Pet Month as a reminder to make sure your animals are properly vaccinated This year’s National Pet Month runs from 1 April to 7 May. The campaign aims to tell people about the benefits of having a pet and create awareness of how we should care for them. It also highlights the role and value of working companion animals, such as guide dogs.

So why not call in a professional and save yourself some blood, sweat and tears! A chimney that serves an open fire should be swept annually to keep the fire burning efficiently and safely, and for around £40 it can be done quickly and competently by a trained professional.

There will be pet-themed events all over the country during the month, including open days, fundraising events, shows and fun competitions. Last year’s campaign raised around £12,000 for local charities. You can find out what’s happening near you at www.nationalpetmonth. org.uk. A free pack for event organisers and lots of useful tips are also available from the website. Of course, one of the main ways we can keep our furry friends healthy and happy is by getting them regularly vaccinated against infectious diseases. For the first few weeks of their lives, puppies and kittens will be protected from infections by their mother’s milk, as long as she has been regularly vaccinated. However, after this time they will need regular vaccinations.

During a sweep, which takes around 45 minutes, brushes inserted into the flue dislodge soot deposits which are removed by vacuuming.

need a kennel cough vaccine if they will be spending some time in kennels. This protects against parainfluenza virus and bordetella bronchiseptica. If you are taking your dog abroad, they may also need to be vaccinated against rabies. Cats – feline infectious enteritis, feline herpes virus, feline calicivirus and feline leukaemia virus (if they are at risk). Rabbits – myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD).

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Puppies are normally vaccinated at eight and 10 weeks, and kittens at nine and 12 weeks, with an initial course of two injections. They will then need to be given a booster 12 months after their first vaccination, and regularly throughout their lives. Older pets may need additional vaccinations as their immunity can decline. Here are the main diseases that pets are routinely vaccinated against: Dogs – canine parvovirus, canine distemper virus, leptospirosis and infectious canine hepatitis. Dogs may

Spring Cleaning

Many of these diseases are now thankfully very rare, but if an animal does catch one, they can be difficult and expensive to cure, or even fatal. Some can also be transmitted to humans.

Your vet will give you a card to record when vaccinations are given. They should also remind you when boosters are due. Going to the vet on a regular basis, also means that they can keep an eye on your pet’s general health and spot any potential problems early on. Remember – prevention is better than cure!

Most chimney sweeps will also inspect your chimney from the roof for potential problems. Soot deposits can build up and obstruct the chimney, making the fireplace inefficient and potentially unsafe. Flammable creosote, found in soot, can also ignite and cause the chimney to catch fire. Members of The National Association of Chimney Sweeps are fully qualified and experienced, have full public liability insurance and issue certificates on completion of their work. The Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps trains, assesses and monitors its members to ensure that customers receive the best service. Cleaning your own oven is hard work, time consuming and dirty, but if you choose a professional instead, you’ll get a trained individual who can generally do a much better job in a fraction of the time! A typical clean takes 1 to 1.5 hours which will include the racks, shelves and pans as well as the interior and outside of the

oven. It costs around £50, but do check exactly what is included in the price as many companies charge extra for items like grill pans. Members of The Association of Approved Oven Cleaners have completed training in Health and Safety and employment law, and do not use caustic or toxic products within your home. Weeds, moss and dirt are all too common additions to driveways and patios once they have been laid for a while. DIY jet washing can remove them but it is a messy, dirty job and can leave behind zebra striping and unsightly lines. A professional drive cleaning company will eliminate that problem by blasting the surface with high pressure water from rotary head cleaning equipment. The process removes weeds, surface PAGE grime, moss and algaeThe and AD restores colour to once dull slabs and tiles.

The job is finished by re-sanding the joints and a sealant can also be applied which will protect the surface and discourage weeds from re-growing. Cost depends on size and it is always a good idea to get more than one quote and to ask for references if available. So, spring into action and get those problem areas spruced up and gleaming!

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De-Clutter Your Life a point. Most of us probably put far too much time, effort and money into acquiring, keeping and storing possessions, and sometimes it’s good to let go.

Sort and label - Place the remaining items in clearly labelled boxes. Make sure there is one temporary box to house items which really belong in another room.

If you’re ready to de-clutter, then we have a few simple tips. If you feel you need help, there are experts in decluttering who will guide you through the process of letting go.

As each room is sorted those items can be replaced, and other misplaced items can be housed there while the de-cluttering process continues.

De-cluttering Tips Deal with one room at a time the task will seem less daunting. Stick with that room until it’s finished.

It’s that time of year when we get the urge to Spring Clean If you can’t lay your hands on items you need because they’re buried under piles of junk; if you’re constantly moving items from one pile to a new ‘temporary’ pile; if you find yourself thinking, “I can’t throw this away, it might come in useful one day,” you’re probably a clutter-victim.

Californian blogger Dave Bruno wrote The 100 Thing Challenge. He set himself a year-long experimental task of reducing his belongings to 100 items. Although it started as a challenge he actually chose to keep living by his new rules afterwards, saying he prefers the simplicity. It would be tough for most of us to emulate Bruno exactly, but he has

Choose a nice day - Take the room contents outside. Psychologically it’s easier to sort and let go if you’re one step removed. It’s also less likely that the clutter will make it back inside. Sort everything into three piles - Label them dump, donate and keep. Be realistic: if the item in question hasn’t been used for over a year it is unlikely you will ever use it. Deal with the dump and donate piles Do this before anything comes back into the house. It’s much harder to mess up your good work if the stuff is physically gone.

Replace everything that remains - The maxim ‘A place for everything and everything in its place’ is a good one. Keep small items in clear plastic boxes and store them in cupboards or wardrobes. When you’re done instigate a ‘one thing in: one thing out’ rule. It will make you think twice about acquiring something if you know something else must go. Finally, once a week, take two bags and go through your home. One bag is for rubbish, the other for items in the wrong place. When you’ve finished throw the rubbish away and replace the misplaced items. Follow these small steps and you too can de-clutter your life.

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Best Foot Forward London Marathon 22nd April 2018 What do Paula Radcliffe, SpongeBob SquarePants and a man in a diving suit have in common? Answer: They’ve all run, or in the last case walked, the London Marathon

It’s that wonderful time of year again Iwhen the evenings are finally starting to get lighter after months of being stuck in dreary darkness and the flowers are beginning to push their little heads out of the ground in search of sunshine to start to bloom.

I was thirteen years old in 1981, when the first London Marathon took place. I remember being awestruck at the sheer number of people willing to put themselves through the agony of running twenty-six miles, for charity, for themselves or for their country.

• To step out of their ordinary existence and chase a momentous goal. Will Dillard, a professional coach from Atlanta thinks it’s down to instinct. “Our lives have become more comfortable,” he says, “We don’t have to worry about where our next meal is coming from; but something inside of us still wants to know if we can survive if confronted with that kind of challenge: it wants to find out.”

I cried when Norwegian Inge Simonsen and Dick Beardsley from the USA linked hands to finish in a dead heat. It is an amazing achievement to run a marathon but why do people do it? The reasons given include: • A get fit challenge • The buzz of taking part in a massive organised event

The fact that I seem to lack this instinct does not stop me admiring anyone who has a go, so if you’re running on April 22nd, I wish you luck: I am unworthy.

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To celebrate the efforts of the little flowers braving the cold, spring summer fashion yet again pays homage to the lovely floral print. Both Dior and Chanel have featured florals in their spring summer shows. Dior teamed their cheery flowery creations with simple plain black and dark blue pieces to create sophisticated demure outfits. Chanel opted for a more in-your-face floral parade featuring bold flowers printed all over the dresses in bright colours. They’re also really easy to find as almost every clothes shop will stock at least one garment patterned with pretty little flowers so there’s no excuse not to be fashionable this season.

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Or if subtlety is more your thing, make a nod to the floral trend with a pretty silk scarf or floral pumps. But florals aren’t just for the ladies. Men can get in on the trend too with several ties featuring the print but in

Floral prints are great. They cheer up any outfit and they’re an easy print to wear So if you can’t afford to be lining up for your Dior or Chanel florals then hit the high street to find some fabulous affordable alternatives. To achieve the perfect floral look it’s very simple. For all out flower power go for a floral maxi dress and finish off with a big flower in your hair or a flowery hairband. For a more casual floral look, try pairing a plain blouse with a floral skirt or opt for a floral cardigan that goes with anything so that you can flowerup any outfit instantly.

masculine colours for a manlier take on the flowery trend. Of course if you’re feeling more daring then go for a floral print shirt or even trousers. Stereotypically girly prints are really in this season for men so if you’re brave enough to go bold, there’s plenty of high street shops that can accommodate. Just remember to not go too over the top with double florals otherwise you’ll look like you’ve just stumbled through a summer meadow and got covered in petals. What’s great about florals is that they’re nearly always at the height of fashion. If you invest in a stunning floral garment, the chances are you’ll still be wearing it for years to come and you’ll always look up to date and stylish. With that in mind, get down to your nearest high street and take a look around for a fantastic floral piece. Not only will you be bang on trend, you’ll also brighten up any dull day with your fabulous flowery-ness, and be one step closer to the hopefully sunny summer ahead. Rhiannon Chown

Hot Cross Buns Preparation time: 40 mins Cooking time: 20 mins - 25 mins Makes 12 buns Ingredients Zest and juice 1 large orange Sunflower oil for greasing For the dough and crosses 225ml semi-skimmed milk 50g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing 1 large egg 450g strong white bread flour, plus extra for dusting 2 tsp fast-action yeast 50g golden caster sugar For the flavouring, crosses and glaze 200g raisins 1 tsp ground cinnamon 4 tbsp golden caster sugar 100g plain flour Method To make the dough: Heat the milk in a pan until hot but not boiling. Remove from the heat. Add the butter stir until melted. When the liquid has cooled to tepid, beat in the egg and half the orange zest. Mix the strong flour, yeast, 1/2-1 tsp salt (depending on taste) and the sugar in a large bowl. Pour in the liquid and stir to make a soft dough. Knead the dough for 5-10 mins on a floured surface until smooth and elastic. (you can use a mixer with a dough attachment if you have one).

well for a few mins until the fruit and spices are evenly spread. Grease and line a large baking sheet with baking parchment. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a bun making the top as smooth as possible. Place the buns, smooth-side up, on the baking sheet, leaving room for rising. Cover loosely with oiled cling film and leave in a warm place for 30-45 mins or until the dough has risen and doesn’t spring back quickly when prodded gently. Meanwhile preheat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Make the paste for the crosses by gradually stirring 6-7 tbsp water into the plain flour to make a smooth, thick paste, then put in an icing bag or small plastic food bag then snip off the corner to about 5mm. Pipe the crosses, then bake for 20-25 mins until the buns are risen and dark golden brown. Mix the remaining orange juice with the remaining sugar and let it dissolve.

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Brush the syrup over the buns while they are still hot, then leave to cool. Eat on the day of baking or serve toasted the next day.

Oil a large bowl and place the kneaded dough inside it, then cover with oiled cling film. Leave in a warm place for about 1 hr or until the dough has doubled in size. Place the raisins and half the orange juice in a small pan and simmer gently for a few minutes. Allow to cool completely. Mix the cinnamon with 2 tbsp sugar and the remaining zest. Turn the risen dough onto a floured surface and press it out to a large rectangle, a little bigger than A4 paper size. Scatter it evenly with the drained raisins, and cinnamon-sugar mix. Roll the dough around the filling, then knead it

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Through The Pinhole! Through the Pinhole! Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day (WPPD) takes place on Sunday 29th April. With the advent of the smart phone we have happily turned into a nation of photographers, capturing images wherever and whenever we please. We add filters and create digital art so easily that we’ve almost forgotten a world where this wasn’t possible… where photography was more of a dark art. Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day aims to get us back in touch with that magic. Pinhole photography is photography without a lens. We know that people have been making images using pinholes since the 5th century AD because references to the process have been found in ancient Chinese texts. They knew that objects reflect light in straight lines and that rays from the top of an object, travelling through a pinhole, will appear in the lower half of an image...in other words the image will be upside down. Greek philosophers and Arabian physicists studied the phenomenon. It was used in astronomy to study the movement of planets and solar eclipses while artists used it to help them paint landscapes. Sir David Brewster, a Scottish scientist, was one of the first to make pinhole photographs in the 1850s.

Nowadays the pinhole camera is still popular. It is another tool at a photographer’s disposal. Like any tool it has advantages and limitations. One big advantage is that a pinhole camera is very easy to make. It’s basically a light box, with a tiny hole in one end and film or photographic paper in the other. Designing and building your own camera is great fun and taking pictures with it is a very satisfying and pleasurable experience. There are helpful videos on You Tube and even ready-made pinhole camera kits. Pinhole cameras can - and have been - made from almost anything: drinks cans, cereal boxes, biscuit tins, shells and even an old refrigerator. A cardboard kit is probably the best material for a beginner, but the only limit is your imagination. Photographic paper and developing fluids can be purchased very cheaply from camera shops and some good art retailers. Check out the link here to the Worldwide Pinhole Camera Website, where you can find instructions to build your own pinhole camera. You could even upload your efforts to the WPPD web gallery. Have fun.

By Tom Hancock

Yellow carrots, were preferred in Northern Europe until the development of orange carrots in The Netherlands in the 18th century It is believed that Egyptian Pharaohs used carrots for medicinal purposes.

The Food Deliciously crunchy and bitter/ sweet in taste, carrots are a root vegetable containing carotenoids, flavonoids, polyacetylenes, vitamins and minerals, all of which possess numerous nutritional and health beneﬁts.

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Carrots (Daucus carota L), originally yellow and purple in colour, were ﬁrst documented in Persia and Northern Arabia in the 10th century and by the mid-15th century they were known across the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and China.

The early Native Americans used carrot roots for food and also utilised an infusion of the blossoms to treat diabetes.

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Besides lending truth to the old adage that carrots are good for eyes, the phytonutrients present in carrots also act as an antioxidants anticarcinogens, and immunoenhancers The Medicine Carrots help repair damaged cells and they are a great food for liver health. They are a quality source of beta-carotene that our body uses to create the Vitamin A that is so vital for the health of our eyes, bones, teeth and skin. They are also rich in lutein and zeaxanthin which are also important for eye health. The leaves are highly antiseptic and can be used to heal

mouth ulcers, bleeding gums and can be used as a mouthwash to neutralise bad breath. Containing vitamin A, B,C, E and K, biotin and dietary fibre, carrots also provide us with; potassium, calcium, sulphur, sodiurm, phosphorus and manganese. Carrots can be used in the treatment of: Falling eyesight/ Lung and pancreatic cancer / Colds / Anemia / Deferiorating complexion Unhealthy nails, skin and hair / Diarrhoea / Ulcers / Haemorrhoids The Side Effects Improves eyesight / Boosts heart health. Reduces blood pressure / Aids digestion / Stimulates gums. Did you Know Carrots are made up of approximately 80% water While the availability of the antioxidants in carrots increases when cooked, most of the vitamins and minerals are destroyed. Carrots were originally grown as medicine for variety of ailments but were not used as food. Our absorption of Vitamin A is significantly enhanced when we eat raw carrots together with fresh avocao. Holtville, California with the motto, “we dig carrots” calls itself the carrot capital of the world and holds an annual carrot festival.

All About April

Chocolate

April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar, the ﬁfth in the early Julian and the first month to have the length of 30 days.

April was the 233rd most popular name given to a girl baby in the UK in 2012, just ahead of Josephine but behind Natalie.

Tis the season to eat choccies

And it is spring in the northern hemisphere and autumn in southern hemisphere

In England there are many cuckoo festivals. The arrival of the cuckoo bird in April is a signal that spring has arrived.

It takes 400 cocoa beans to make one pound of chocolate.

The birthstone for April is the diamond. The zodiac signs for April are Aries (March 21-Aril 19) and Taurus (April 20 - May 20). The birth flower of April is typically the Sweet Pea or the Daisy. The Revolutionary War in America began on Apr. 19, 1775 April 23rd is known as the Feast day of the Patron Saint of England.

William Shakespeare, the playwright, was born April 23, 1564. He also died in England in 1616. The Vietnam War ended on Apill 30, 1975, when South Vietnam surrendered. And last of all it’s my Dad’s birthday on the 17th April. Happy 90th Birthday Eric Clark!

Good Friday is the Friday before Easter Sunday April 1 is April Fools‘ Day (Don’t get caught out)!

Chocolate comes from a fruit tree; it’s made from a seed.

Each cacao tree produces approximately 2500 beans. Research to date supports that chocolate can be enjoyed as part of a balanced, heart-healthy diet and lifestyle. The average serving of milk chocolate has about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of decaf coffee. Because cacao trees are so delicate, farmers lose, on average, 30 percent of their crop each year.

Studies have demonstrated that one of the major saturated fats in chocolate does not raise cholesterol like other hard fats-meaning chocolate can be enjoyed in moderation. Theobroma Cacao is the tree that produces cocoa beans and it means “food of the gods Approximately 3 million tons of cocoa beans are turned into chocolate products each year. Rudolph Lindt designed the first conching machine, its bed curved like a conch shell. Cote d‘ivoire is the single largest producer of cocoa, providing roughly 40 percent of the world‘s supply.

U.S. chocolate manufacturers use about 3.5 million pounds of whole milk every day to make milk chocolate

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7 Take away from (8) 8 Grows old (4) 9 Small dash between words (6) 10 Mystery, conundrum (6) 11 Disappoint, fail to satisfy (3,4) 13 Toy bear (5) 15 Coniferous tree (5) 17 Ill-prepared, off guard (7) 19 In danger (2, 4) 21 Enclosed by (6) 23 Type of sound system (2-2) 24 Had faith in (6, 2)

1 Compulsory task (4) 2 Inscribed in metal (6) 3 Beautiful nocturnal bird (4, 3) 4 Cease (4) 5 Blind with light (6) 6 Quiet and sheltered from view (8) 12 Uses mains power or a battery (8) 14 Clever-clogs (4-3) 16 Sour, astringent (6) 18 Respect and admiration (6) 20 Stone edge to a path (4) 22 Chemical symbol is Fe (4)

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15 Weird Ways To Cure Hiccupps Everyone gets hiccups at some point in their lives, It’s totally normal. But if you get them too often, or find them the most annoying things to ever leave your body, you should probably check out these top 15 most bizarre cures for hiccups!

4) Hold your breath while stopping your ear with your fingers First of all, you must inhale and exhale the air out once. When exhaling the air, you should force out as much air as possible until you feel like you need to breath in some air again.

1) Pinch your nose and drink a glass of water: An effective method to cure hiccups is to pinch your nose and hold your breath while gulping down a glass of water. It also works if you swallow a large amount of food at one time such as rice.

The next step is to hold your breath while using your fingers to block your ear and stick your tongue out

If you still have hiccups after the first attempt, you should repeat the steps again. Usually, the hiccups will disappear with 2 - 3 attempts at most 2) Eat one teaspoon of honey: Add one teaspoon of honey into a glass of water. Before drinking it, make sure you have already stirred it thoroughly. Honey has the ability to tickle the vagus nerve and put an end to your hiccups. 3) Sip a teaspoon of spicy sauce. Some people manage to stop their hiccups by sipping some spicy sauce such as chilli sauce. The sauce will be so hot that it will distract you away to focus on the burning effect on your tongue.

5) Eat dry cocoa powder: Swallowing a spoonful of cocoa powder may also help you to eliminate your hiccups. Any chocolate drink power will work such as Milo. 6) Sniffing strong smells: Sniffing strong scented smells can cure your hiccups. For example, sniffing the smelling salt can make changes to your breathing pattern. Smelling the lemon wedges and vinegar can also help you to stop your hiccups. 7) Gulp down water without holding the cup: Put a cup of water on the table and drink from it without using your hand to hold it. You are to gulp down as much water as possible when bending down to drink from the glass.

8) Eat sweet food: You can eat something that is very sweet to get rid of the hiccups. For example, you can swallow a teaspoon of sugar. Sugar will irritate the oesophagus of your throat When the oesophagus is irritated, the phrenic nerve will reset, and the hiccups will stop. 9) Use two straws to drink a glass of water: Fill a glass with water and put two straws in it with one of the straws pressing against the side of the glass. After that, you are to drink the water with the two straws. When drinking the water, make sure you gulp down as much water as possible. 10) Cough and burp: You can try to cough or burp to stop the hiccups. When you cough or burp, your diaphragm will become constricted and interrupt the hiccup process. 11) Eat peanut butter: One traditional remedy for eliminating hiccups is to eat a spoonful of peanut butter. Eating peanut butter requires a lot of chewing. Chewing the peanut butter will interrupt your breathing pattern and stop the hiccups. 12) Breathe in and out of a paper bag: You can also stop your hiccups by breathing in and out of a paper bag. The paper bag must be put close to your mouth and seal around it.

Next, you must deep breathe in and out for at least 10 times. The faster you breathe, the more effective it will be. 13) Gargling with Ice water: There are many doctors that recommend gargling with ice water to stop the hiccups. You can add some ice cubes into the water to make it cold. When gargling make sure you don’t swallow the ice cubes, or you’ll have a bigger problem than hiccups! 14) Massaging the roof of your mouth: Massaging your mouth roof can help to stimulate the vagus nerve and put the spasm on your diaphragm to an end. A cotton swab can be used to massage your mouth. 15) Hold your breath as you spin around: As you hold your breath and pinch your nose, spin around in counterclockwise direction. You can sing a rhyme to help you get through the rotation. Also, don’t fall over, or again, hiccups will be the least of your worries! The above are some easy, but strange ways you can try to eliminate your hiccups, in the comfort of your own home. However, hiccups can be caused by an underlying medical condition if it happens over a prolonged period, check with your doctor.

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and Xbox get theirTheir game on.Game On MicrosoftMicrosoft and Xbox Get Microsoft are having a resurgence of late with a recent announcement that could well be a game changer, if you will excuse the pun. This generation of consoles has the Xbox in second place in sales by some margin to Sony’s all conquering Playstation 4, but could this be about to change? Last year

Sea of Thieves Xbox One (Out Now) Sea of Thieves from Rare, an Xbox One exclusive is out now and we have had the pleasure of being able to spend some time with it. We tested the game on the mighty Xbox One X, Microsoft’s super powered Xbox capable of 4k graphics, faster gameplay and HDR (High dynamic range) lighting systems and it truly is a beautiful looking game. Have you ever fancied being a pirate? Sea of Thieves allows you to do just that. A vast ocean

Microsoft announced Game Pass for the Xbox One which is effectively a Netflix style service for games. With 100 games and more being added to the library each month gamers can download and play as many titles as they like for just £7.99 per month! Game Pass offers some truly AAA games and has

awaits with beautiful coves, islands and forts to be explored and plundered. You can play the game solo, or with up to 3 other people all aboard a Galleon ship or smaller Sloop. There are sails to adjust, anchors to raise (or lower), maps to read and navigation to experience and that is all before you set sail! You and your friends then set about obtaining bounty for the 3 factions that offer quests (voyages) and start earning some gold and status on the seas. The sea itself deserves special mention, an undulating, powerful and stunningly beautiful representation of the

recently attracted ALL Microsoft studio games to be released on the service day one, meaning all upcoming titles will be available to users of the game pass service as soon as they are released. With big hitters like Gears of War 4 and Rise of the Tomb Raider already available to download and play its hard to argue against it. March saw the release of Sea of Thieves, an open world multiplayer pirate adventure from Rare studios, the first title to benefit from simultaneous release in stores and game pass alike. Upcoming games that will be released

raging torrent the ocean can be, from tranquil turquoise waters to rain lashed, windy stormy waters you will not tire easily of sailing your ship. Whilst going about your pirate duties you will undoubtedly come across other ships occupied by other players, do you wave, play music to them in the hope to become friends or load the canons, fire and hope to sink their ship and steal their bounty? In our experience the latter is normally the case, but the fun doing so is immense. You make your own story in this game and the fun you

on Microsoft’s Game Pass service are Sea of Thieves (March 2018), Crackdown 3, State of Decay 2 not to mention all new Forza games, Gears of War and Halo. Quite a library to keep you fully occupied. Having personally tried the service I can quite honestly say it is exceptional and I can fully recommend especially if you would normally purchase the new Forza or Gears games. Both titles would normally retail at between £45 - £60 each, game pass would give you these games included within its library and save you money. Over to you, Sony.

will have with like-minded players will stay with you for a long time to come. The only criticism so far is that more content needs to be added, but Rare assured that this is being address and it will evolve with the players and become even more vast. A special mention should go out to the amazing HDR effects on the Xbox one X and compatible Tv’s. Available now in store and on Game Pass, we hope to see you on high seas, until then its time to raise anchor and set sail! Rating 9/10 - Excellent!

Hidden Sugars We hear a lot of people talking about cutting down on alcohol consumption. But it’s also important to consider what other manufactured chemicals and non-natural ingredients you are consuming in soft drinks that may be having a significant impact on your diet. Consider for a second that it’s easy. quick and cheap to overshoot your day sugar intake just through casual beverages that you may not even be counting towards your dietary health. Here’s just a few examples of high sugar soft drinks many people consume every day. Keep in mind daily recommended sugar levels ore 37.5g for men. and 25g for women. COCA COLA CLASSIC (330ml) 35g of sugar LUCOZADE ORANGE (500ml) 46g of sugar VOLVIC FLAVOURED WATER(500ml) 20g of sugar

diet drinks. or so called ‘no sugar’ beverages, use official sweeteners or modified sugar molecules to create that sweet kick. Whilst sill labeling them ‘sugar free.

Puzzle Solutions

The most popular alternative is Aspartame. You’ll find it everywhere sugar is said not to be. but it’s a sweetener closely linked to weight gain, and a list of ailments and illnesses too long to mention. I always encourage people to add their own actual fruit to water to give it some flavour. An infuser water bottle is a handy device to pick up, and green/herbal/ fruit teas are in an abundance in every supermarket and are cheap!

Solutions To Mind Benders

Sparking water will give you a refreshing fizz fix should you require one too. If you’re hitting your daily water intake targets (3 litres for men, 2.2 litres for women), you may find you simply don’t want or need anything else.

1. The only way is up 2. Over to you 3. Between a rock and a hard place

As a reference point. 10 Maryland Cookies contain 35g of sugar. Fruit Mops, what many people start their day with, contain comparable levels of sugar, although these sugars are more naturally occurring. But without the actual fibre provided by the body of the fruit, the sugar can not be absorbed into the blood and put to effective use, often ending up as unwanted fat. ‘I only drink diet drinks!’ I hear you cry. the unfortunate news is that

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Just Think About it

The man placed an order for one hamburger, French fries and a drink. He unwrapped the plain hamburger and carefully cut it in half placing one half in front of his wife.

He then caretully counted out the French fries, dividing them into two piles and neatly placed one pile in front of his wife. He took a sip of the drink, his wife look a sip and then set the cup down between them. As he began to eat his few bites of the hamburger, the people around them were looking over and whispering. Obviously they were thinking. The poor old couple all they can afford is one meal for the two of them.’ As the man began to eat his fries a young man came to the table and politely offered to buy another meal for the old couple. The old man said, they were just fine - they were used to sharing everything.

face neatly with the napkin, the young man again came over to the little old lady who had yet to eat a single bite of food and asked ‘What is it you are waiting for?’ She answered “The teeth”.

Technology has come on so far recently. Just today a policeman told me about a jumper that you can actually use as a phone. After stopping me in my car he said. “If you insist on making calls when you‘re driving at least use a hands free set or pull over”. “Wow! what an age we live in.”I said. When one door closes, another one opens. These Argos wardrobes are rubbish! A man goes into a library and asks the librarian, “Have you got a book about the surgical removal of non vital organs?” The librarian replies, “Yes, its that one over there without an appendix.”

People closer to the table noticed the little old lady hadn’t eaten a bite. She sat there watching her husband eat and occassionally taking turns sipping the drink.

Frank Carson. God invites Frank to break bread with him. Frank said ‘Lord, I don‘t wish to complain but, I think this bread is stale?’ God said, it‘s a cracker’!

Again the young man came over and begged them to let him buy another meal for them. This time the old woman said ‘No, thank you, we are used to sharing everything.

I bought a train ticket to France and the ticket seller said, ‘Eurostar?’ I said ‘Well I‘ve sung on the radio but I’m no Elvis Presley.’

Finally, as the old man finished and was wiping his

I’ve just found out that I’m on the government watch list. I hope they get me a Rolex!!

Are you a memeber of a Club, Society, Group or Charity? Do you have events or fundraisers that you would like to publicise? Do you have something planned that would beneﬁt the community? If so let us know and we can include it in the next issue. Send us images and a write up about your latest sports presentation, or your upcoming play or fundraiser. We would love to help! Email us: info@spotlightlocal.co.uk

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A friend of mine just invited me to join a Face book group about gettting rid of graffiti in town. So l wrote on his wall. I’m learning the hokey cokey. I don’t know all of it. But I’ve got the ins and outs.” Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavour while dishwashing liquid is made with real lemons? Why is the man who invests all your money called a “Broker”? Why isn‘t there a mouse flavoured cat food? Why do they call the airport ‘the terminal‘ if flying is so safe? If people from Poland are called ‘Poles’ why aren‘t people from Holland called ‘Holes’? You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. Why is a wise man and wise guy opposites? Why do overlook and oversee mean opposite things? Wny isn‘t 11 pronounced onety one?

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Food Can Make You Happy

And we never had a whole Mars bar until 1993”! For everyone born in the 1930‘s 40’s, and 50’s.

From bananas and avocado to brown rice and spinach, some things you eat just make you happy... OK, so a spoonful (or five) of chocolate ice cream really can’t be beaten or that first bite of yummy cheese laden pizza.

First we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank Sherry while they carried us and lived in houses made of asbestos...

But there’s actually a science to why these foods, and a number of others, can boost our moods and instantly make our days feel brighter. The foods range from dinner staples like oily fish, to the transporting powers that can come with a whiff of coconut. AVOCADOS... Avocados also contain more folic acid than any other fruit. The B vitamin is not only especially beneficial to pregnant women, but helps reduce homocysteine, an amino acid linked to anxiety and depression, in the body. Avocados are also packed with Omega-3, which have long been tied to improving eyesight and heart health. But the fatty acids have also been linked to anxiety. These days, the avocado has become an incredibly popular food among health conscious individuals. It is often referred to as a super food... which is not surprising given its health properties. There are many kinds of avocados, and the shape (from pear-shaped to round) and color (from green to black) can vary between them. They can also weigh anywhere from 8 ounces (220 grams) to 3 pounds (1.4 kg). DARK CHOCOLATE... Dark chocolate has actually been linked to reducing stress hormones, such as cortisol, as well as lowering blood pressure. One study found that men who consumed dark chocolate and then had to undergo a stressful situation two hours later had significantly lower stress hormones compared to the placebo group. Aanother US study concluded that the daily consumption of 40 grams of dark and milk chocolate was an

We Was Brung Up Proper

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese, bread and dripping, raw egg products, loads of bacon and processed meat, tuna from a can, and didn’t get tested for diabetes or cervical cancer. effective way to reduce stress in females.

Then after that trauma our baby cots were covered with bright coloured lead-based paints.

Looking for a super mood-spiking snack? Bananas dipped in chocolate will not only satisfy your sweet tooth, but give you that much needed afternoon boost.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets or shoes, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.

OILY FISH... Oily fish is full of the fatty acids which our bodies are unable to naturally produce, and help increase both dopamine and serotonin in the body. Adding a side of brown rice or another healthy carb to your fish is the key to creating a mood-boosting dish.

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags. We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.

Research has linked carbohydrates to the production of serotonin, a natural mood stabiliser linked to low levels of depression.

Take away food was limited to fish and chips,no pizza shops, McDonalds, KFC, Subway or Nandos. Even though all the shops closed at 6:00pm and didn’t open on a Sunday, somehow we didn‘t starve to death! We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and no one actually died from this.

We could collect old drink bottles and cash them in at the corner store and buy Toffees, Gobstoppers and Bubble Gum. We were given air guns and catapults for our 10th birthdays. We rode bikes or walked to a friend’s house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them! Mum didn’t have to go to work to help dad make ends meet because we didn’t need to keep up with the Jones’s! Not everyone made it to the rugby, football, cricket, netball team. Those who didn’t had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!! Getting into the team was based on merit. Our teachers used to hit us with canes and gym shoes and throw the blackboard rubber at us if they thought we weren’t concentrating..... We can string sentences together and spell and have proper conversations because of a good, solid three R’s education. Our parents would tell us to ask a stranger to help us cross the road. The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law. And if YOU are one of them! CONGRATULATIONS!

Carbs have long been seen as the devil when it comes to weight loss, but there’s nothing healthy about cutting out these energy boosters. BANANAS... Bananas are packed with the amino acid tryptophan, which the body uses to create serotonin. But if bananas don’t top your list of favourite foods, there‘s still plenty of other produce that will help boost your mood. Fruits and vegetables are packed with the antioxidants that are essential to fighting against anxiety and stress. Spinach is not only packed with serotonin-boosting magnesium, but is also full of zinc and the aforementioned folic acid, both of which help combat depression. New research has also revealed that taste isn’t the only sense associated with a mood boost when it comes to food. The scent of coconut has been tied to reducing stress, helping people slow their heart rate and stabilise their blood pressure after a stressful task.

Oxo Surprise You’ve been sprinkling OXO cubes wrong your whole life - and here’s why A British family roast stalwart, the OXO cube’s iconic appearance is known in kitchens up and down tne country. But it turns out that those little foil cuboids have been hiding a handy secret. Wrapped up tightly in red and silver, the cube is commonly unwrapped before use. Then, home chefs will be familiar with the crumbling of the cube into a pan, bowl or jug to stir into boiling water. Being left with beefy-smelling fingers has long been an occupational hazard of the Sunday roast, but it turns out tne manufacturer never intended it that way, as one popular life hack is showing. On Facebook, Kasie Riley pointed out that if you look carefully at the wrapped cube, you’ll see that it has folded flaps on the sides.

And, astonishingly, they are for opening out - but not tearing into. Once they‘re released, crush the cube in the foil. The cube wlll transform into a flat packet with its contents in their cooking-ready crumbled form. And there’s no staining or unpleasant meaty digits for you. The incredibly simple measure has gone viral online,with many claiming they had no idea this was what the pack was intended for. Ken Mayor wrote: “I didn’t know that either and yes I have probably used hundreds of them over the years.” Angela Gibson added: ”Well cant believe it. I’m gobsmacked just tried it and it really works. I wlll never get OXO all over my fingers again.”

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What’s Happening In Our Area This is a free page to publicise your local events and information. We would love to hear from you if you know of any event in or around the West Bridgford area; copy deadline is the 20th of each month. Please email: editor@adnewspaper.co.uk West Bridgford Shopmobility is a charity which helps people with mobility problems to move easily around the shops and attractions of West Bridgford. Not only that, but we also have a short –term hire scheme so that you can take a scooter or wheelchair away on a UK holiday, or help you if you are poorly, or just discharged from hospital, or if you have a guest with mobility problems. Call us on 0115 981 5451, find us on Facebook, or at www.wbshopmobility - or visit us behind West Bridgford library on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Insanity - West Bridgford every Friday night from 6.30pm - 7.30pm in West Bridgford Baptist Church. All levels of fitness welcome. For more information, please contact Caroline on 07849 753300, email: carolinequarmby@hotmail.co.uk or Facebook: Insanity – West Bridgford. Kickers and Stompers line dancing groups. Meet regularly each week in West Bridgford, Plumtree and Radcliffe on Trent. Suitable classes for all levels of dance. Come and have fun with us. Tel 01159140673 or e.mail p.brown633@ ntlworld.com The Poppy Folk Club Sunday 15th April we meet in the upstairs room at The Poppy & Pint for a songs and music session. Sunday 20th May we have a double bill concert night with Nick Dow and Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne. See the website for more details www. poppyfolkclub.co.uk. Tickets only £8. Telephone Juliet 0115 9231513, Dave 07790 943893, or email juliet@ poppyfolkclub.co.uk. The next meeting of the club will be on Sunday 15th April for a songs and music session.

Just Friends West Bridgford is a very friendly group for single, local people aged 55+. 25+ events each month including theatre, coach trips, holidays, pub nights, meals out, walks, darts, snooker, card/ board games. Monthly club coffee morning. Call Lillian 0115 8462225 or Irene 0115 8781905 or visit our website justfriendswestbridgford.wordpress.com for further information. Nottingham Leander Swimming Club We welcome all swimmers but especially those who want to race ! Confident swimmers from age 6 upwards. All qualified coaches. Friendly and supportive ethos. Water Polo. Learn to swim classes for non-swimmers. ‘Masters’ swimming for all abilities. See our website leandersc.com or contact our Secretary Sue at suedavis78@gmail. com Claire Mockridge Fitness/Pilates Mother and Baby Postnatal Fitness Classes Wednesdays 11am-12pm All Hallows Church Hall, Pierrepont Road, Lady Bay/ West Bridgford - Come along from 6-10 weeks after birth. Phone Claire on 07747 656550, email claire@mummiesandbuggies.co.uk or see www.clairemockridge.com/postnatal The South Notts Flower Club meets on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at Edwalton Church Hall, Edwalton. All visitors are welcome. £6.00 The Edwalton, Gamston and District U3A is going from strength to strength. it has a steadily growing number with new members at every meeting. If you would like to join please contact Christine Shaw email : chrisshaw20038@ hotmail.com or telephone 0115 974 5512. We meet every 2nd Thursday in the month from 2 to 4 p.m. at Gamston Community Hall. Interested in learning bridge? Or want to return? West Bridgford Bridge Club meets at Edwalton Golf Centre 7pm every Monday night, for duplicate bridge. For more details, contact Shiona Dawson at shionadawson@gmail.com

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Trent Valley Sailing Club has an active junior fleet. Sailing takes place on Friday evenings between April and September for children aged 7 to 16. We have several places available this year for new junior sailors. Come and have a go on the water. All enquiries to Angela Clark@trentvalleysc.org Wilford Racquets Badminton Club welcomes new members. We play on Wednesday evenings in West Bridgford. For further information please contact Hazel on 0115 981 5184 or Richard on 0739 884 2647 The Nottingham Astronomical Society are a friendly group of amateur astronomers from all walks of life. Whilst providing regular guest-speaker events, we encourage active observing. The Society owns and operates an observatory near Cotgrave, which houses our 24-inch large reflector telescope. If you are interested in astronomy, you are welcome to come along to our meetings. Most meetings include an illustrated talk by a guest speaker, and admission is free to occasional visitors. More information on the website at www. nottinghamastro.org.uk Radcliffe Sword Club Learn the exciting modern Olympic sport of fencing with Radcliffe Sword Club, meeting at the main sports hall, Clifton Leisure Centre, Southchurch Drive, Clifton, NG11 8AB.Juniors (aged 9-14): Tuesday 18:3020:00; Adults (15+) : Tuesday 20:0022:00 and Wednesday 20:00-22:00 Trent Karate Club @ Rushcliffe leisure centre Come and train with Trent Karate Club Every Monday and Thursday 7.00 - 8.30 First lesson is free, for all ages. Contact John Dornan on 01159 374706 Notts Orienteering Club is a not-for-profit community sports club run by volunteers. We offer beginners orienteering sessions in the community for people to learn how to read maps and get a bit of gentle exercise at the same time. We have three evening sessions available in Worksop, West Bridgford and Mansfield on Tues and Wed evenings. For more information call Catherine on 07940575758 or e mail hubclob@noc-uk.org

Modern Line Dancing Classes Daytime and Evenings Held in West Bridgford, Radcliffe on Trent, Plumtree (also Bakersfield and Stapleford) Suitable for Beginners, Improvers and Intermediate Levels. For further information please contact Pat on 0115 9140673. Friends of Bridgford Park need volunteers of all ages to help keep our truly beautiful amenity in really good condition. The Friends plant, clear wooded areas, help all wildlife survive and increase. So we need people from all walks of life to join us Interested? Please contact Linda on 9819146 or Lorraine on 9816646 WEST BRIDGFORD ADVICE CENTRE is open every Wednesday morning from 9-30am to 12-30pm. at St Giles’ Church Hall, Stratford Rd, West Bridgford NG2 6AZ. Tel: 0115 9821475. No appointment necessary – we operate a drop in system. We can help with benefit claims, form filling, consumer, debt, and housing issues etc. THE ROTARY CLUB OF WEST BRIDGFORD meets every Wednesday 6.30pm for 7pm at the Country Cottage Hotel Ruddington. Enquiries for membership from both professional men and women of all ages are very welcome. Please contact webmasterwbd@rotary1220.com for more information. THEATRE ARTS WORKSHOP ...offers you the chance to have a go, whatever your age, abilty or experience! Drama Workshops, Youth Theatre and GCSE Drama Saturday classes held at Jesse Gray School, Musters Road, West Bridgford. NG2 7DD. 0115 8549175 lisa.goodlass@ntlworld.com BRIDGFORD BEADERS meet once a month at Rushcliffe Arena from 10am to 1pm. We are a very friendly group of ladies of varied ages and abilities and we are always willing to help each other. We tend to have a project each month but you are always able to do your own thing. For further info please contact Lynn 0115 9140927 . The West Bridgford Dramatic Society Why not come along on Tuesday evenings and have a good time. Get to know other members before accidentally covering them in paint during set building. Check out the events page on the web site which has the latest programme!! www.wbds.org.uk

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Spring Into Spring

Here Comes The Bride Every bride wants to look beautiful on their wedding day and this means that as well as choosing the perfect dress, you need to pay attention to hair and make-up.

The vernal equinox is the first day of the year when we have twelve hours of daylight and twelve hours of night. If you stand at the equator on the first day of spring, you will see the sun pass directly overhead. This only happens twice a year; first day of spring and the first day of autumn. Baby birds learn to sing during spring. Although they are born with the ability to sing, they must learn the specific songs of their species. They often learn their songs within two months of being born. You may have heard that today is the only day you can stand a raw egg on its end. It’s not true Balancing an egg on its end is possible, but it works equally well any day of the year.

Arizona and Hawaii do not follow daylight savings. They already have enough sunlight and hot weather, so it doesn‘t make sense to confuse the sleeping cycle of their residents. The Great Sphinx in Egypt points directly East towards the sunrise on the vernal equinox. Spring fever is a real syndrome. When the temperature rises during the warm spell after a long winter, there is a dilation of the blood vessels so blood can be carried to the body surface where heat can be lost quickly. People experience an energetic feeling when this happens. Anyway, we are happy that it is here, let’s all get out and enjoy it while we can.

These should reflect your personality and be worn with ease. A bride who rarely wears make-up is unlikely to be comfortable with a heavy application, and if you are used to a neat hairstyle a looser style may irritate. Go for make-up and hair trials. These will allow you to try out a number of ideas. Take along images of hairstyles and make up looks that you like, and take their professional advice as they will know what will work best. Specialists will also understand photographers’ requirements Weddings are often long events, so it is important that your make up has staying power. Some professionals use special fixing sprays. Creating the perfect base is an important element for longevity. The right shade of foundation is essential, especially when wearing a strapless gown. Matching foundation to your collarbone rather than your face provides consistent colour on body, face and neck. It’s probably best to highlight either your eyes, or your lips. Highlighting both can look too heavy. Eyebrows need definition and you should choose waterproof mascara. Flash photography can annihilate your blusher and make you look washed out, so take test shots before your wedding day to find out what works best.

Your choice of hairstyle will be affected by your dress shape, and the length and texture of your hair. If you are worried about appearing taller than your groom, you may prefer not to choose a style that’s too high on top. A good hairdresser will want to know about your dress style, colour, and any accessories that you wish to wear in your hair in order to get a look that is totally complimentary. In addition to traditional veils and tiaras, sparkly clips and bands are available, or you may choose flowers to decorate your hair. If your hair is coloured, try your dress on with it to make sure the contrast is not too stark, unless you are seeking a dramatic look. Your final colour should be applied one to two weeks before. Conditioner is not recommended for your wedding day as it can make hair unmanageable. Products can be used to fix the style and add shine. Finally, when booking a hairdresser or a make-up artist, you should consider their personality. You may be feeling quite stressed or excitable during your preparations, so choose someone who can help create a relaxing, calm and fun atmosphere, so that you enjoy getting ready for your wedding day. By Susan Brookes-Morris

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