Spotlight Magazine for Sinfin and Stenson Fields Derby April 2016

spotlightOn Sinfin & Stenson Fields

ISSUE 13 April 2016

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mon es and Businesses each Delivered to 6,000 Hom lds and Sinfin in Stenson Fie Inside this issue:

• Spring Has Sprung • April Fool • Spring Break • Check Your Moles • Get The Haircut You Want • Business Focus • Puzzles • Your Community Info • What’s On Guide

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Spotlight Magazine

Contents

So spring has sprung... time to open the shed door for the first time, fight through the cobwebs and start cleaning the lawnmower, barbecue and garden furniture. Happy Days!

Rock Fall 6 April Fool 8 London Marathon 10 Flooded! 12 Soda Bread 14 Spring Break 16 Puzzle Pages 18 A Good Read 20 Spring Has Sprung 22 Check Your Moles 24 Spring Clean 26 The Haircut You Want 28 Index of Advertisers 30

It’s a great time of year when we start to plan for warm summer days and sitting outside in the evenings.

With home and garden maintenance in mind, if you need a service or shop of some kind, please try and use our advertisers where possible and keep it local.

And if you are a local business that would like more customers, we can help with that too!

Spotlight magazine is delivered to 6,000 homes and businesses in the Stenson Fields and Sinfin area each month, with similar magazines going to 3 areas in Nottingham

Published by Spotlight Local Media Ltd Company No. 6841257 Tel: 01332 416121 Suite 104, 1 Hanley Street Nottingham NG1 5BL Graphic Design and Layout: Spotlight Local Media Distributed by Best Distributions Trusted Delivery Partner of the Spotlight Magazine

To Advertise or contribute: T: 01332 416121 E: info@spotlightlocal.co.uk Web: www.spotlightlocal.co.uk



Kitchens | Bathrooms | Extensions | General Home Improvements Improv

       

◊  ◊   ◊  ◊  ◊   ◊  ◊  ◊  ◊   

    

◊   ◊  ◊  ◊  ◊  ◊   ◊     

  

◊  ◊   ◊  ◊   ◊  ◊  ◊  ◊   



please call for details

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To advertise or contribute call •07595 510190 www.spotlightlocal.co.uk • 01332 416 121 info@spotlightlocal.co.uk

Spotlight Magazine

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Spotlight Magazine

Rock Fall Shoes

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As you’d expect they’ve learnt an awful lot in that time! Proudly made in Britain

by long standing employees, some of which have been with the company almost a lifetime.

Comfort, quality and craftsmanship are at the heart of the brand as they always have been.

The brand alignment is as comfortable as two old shoes as Rock Fall, a fellow manufacturer specialising only in Safety Footwear are a second generation family run business that believe in the same core values.”

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Spotlight Magazine

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Spotlight Magazine

April Fool!

Look out; look out there’s a prankster about!

If you asked my late father-in-law what he remembered about 1957 he’d lecture you for an hour about the Russians launching Sputnik 1. If you’d asked my own dad and he would have smiled and said, ‘The great Panorama spaghetti hoax!’

My dad loved documentaries almost as much as he loved a good joke so when the BBC ran their now infamous spoof programme about the spaghetti harvest in Ticino, Switzerland, he was in his element.

Spaghetti was considered an exotic food at the time and my father had never tasted it. He was caught out along with the majority of the British public and laughed along with the joke. The fact that the distinguished broadcaster Richard Dimbleby was in on it tickled him all the more.

It is believed that this was the first time the medium of television had been used to stage an April Fools’ Day joke.

No-one knows the true origin of April Fools’ Day. It might date back to the Roman spring festival of Hilaria, a time of jollity: the most popular theory though is that it crossed the channel from France.

In 1582 Pope Gregory switched the French calendar from the Roman, Julian one to the new, shorter, Gregorian calendar. Under the old calendar New Year was celebrated

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from March 25th to April 1st. The first day of the Gregorian calendar is, if course, January 1st.

Some refused to accept the new calendar and still celebrated New Year on April 1st.

People called them poisson d’Avril or April fish. ‘Poisson’ is in fact a corruption of the word passion and is a reference to the mocking and tormenting of Jesus by the Romans at his crucifixion. It definitely loses something in translation though!

In England, April Fools’ Day is a bit of a misnomer as we only have until 12 noon to play our pranks; not really fair when the Scots enjoy a full 48 hours of ‘hunting the gowk’ (cuckoo).

It’s always worth watching or reading the news on April 1st as many programmes and newspapers run hoax articles. Previous jokes have included: A full page BMW car advertisement detailing their new ‘cross-channel’ model which could be either right or left hand drive, had pedals on both sides and a moveable steering wheel.

A report on dehydrated water, claiming that a special powder could be converted to water by exposing it to UV light.

A report about the discovered remains of a new dinosaur which apparently had a Roman coin in its stomach.

I always think that the best pranks are those which involve sending someone on a ‘fool’s errand’, for a left handed spanner, striped paint or a long weight.

Try it and see for yourself. Be sure to do it before midday though or you may be told: April Fools’ has been and gone; you’re the fool and I am none.

www.spotlightlocal.co.uk • 01332 416 121 • info@spotlightlocal.co.uk

Spotlight Magazine

www.spotlightlocal.co.uk • 01332 416 121 • info@spotlightlocal.co.uk

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Spotlight Magazine

The London Marathon

The 2016 Virgin Money London Marathon takes place on Sunday 24th April. First held on 29th March 1981 with just 6,255 participants crossing the finishing line, the event now holds the Guinness World Record for being the largest annual fund raising event in the world, and has raised over £450 million for charity since it started.

The race was founded by former Olympic champion Chris Brasher, and athlete John Disley. After competing in the New York City Marathon in November 1979, Brasher felt inspired to organise a similar event in Britain that could bring together people of all races, creeds and backgrounds in a joyful way.

The race is set over a flat course around the River Thames, and covers a distance of 26 miles and 385 yards. Starting at three separate points it ends in The Mall alongside St James’s Park.

The year 2010 saw the biggest field since the race began, with 36,549 crossing the finishing line, and around 38,000 people are expected to take part this year.

There are several ways to apply for a place in the race. The cheapest is by ballot entry. This is done online and last year applications took place over a five day period a week after the marathon was run.

website (www.virginmoneylondonmarathon. com) lists charities that have reserved places on offer, but there are usually more runners than places.

Successful applicants are likely to be selected according to their connection with the charity and the amount of money they have pledged to raise.

Entry can cost up to £100 and you may be expected to raise a four figure sum!

Other admission methods include GoodFor-Age Entry, available to previous entrants who have completed the race within a specified time for their age, and British Athletics Clubs can apply for entries for their members.

A small number of places are also offered through competitions on the Marathon’s Twitter and Facebook sites.

Only participants who complete the race inside eight hours receive a medal and have their finish time published in the official results.

A small number of runners, known as the ‘Ever-Presents’ has completed every London Marathon since 1981. The oldest is aged 82, the youngest 57.

It costs around £35 to enter, and organisers expect nearly a quarter of a million people to apply this year, but only 50,000 will be successful, and it is predicted that 12,000 people will drop out.

The fee can be paid at time of application or later, but if unsuccessful the fee will be forfeited. Many opt to donate it to charity if this happens.

If you are not one of the lucky ones, the next option is via a charity. The Marathon

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www.spotlightlocal.co.uk • 01332 416 121 • info@spotlightlocal.co.uk

Spotlight Magazine

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Spotlight Magazine

Flooded

Flooded – What should you do?

Recently there has been horrendous flooding across parts of the UK. If it happens to you what you need most is information, about what to do, who to contact and anything that might help mitigate potential damage and help you cope.

First contact your local authority or the Environment Agency to find out about the likelihood of flooding. If there’s a possibility you could be affected, sign up for flood warning messages.

Make a flood plan. This will cover what you will do if the worst should happen and steps you can take in advance. The Environment Agency provides advice about making a plan and has a range of templates you can use. It is also a good idea to prepare a flood kit in case of evacuation.

Include items such as a torch, warm and waterproof clothing, medication, water, food, rubber gloves and boots, relevant documentation, money, toys for children, and food for pets.

Get specialist advice about materials which might help to minimise damage. The Blue Pages is an independent directory which provides details of relevant products, suppliers, builders and insurers.

Whilst such work may seem costly, for most people making their property more resilient to flooding is cheaper than the cost of repairing damage which also has a huge emotional impact, and could mean you have to live away from your home for an extended period.

Preventative work may also lead to a reduced insurance premium or excess.

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The charity The National Flood Forum can help if you are having trouble obtaining insurance.

Photograph your property in detail in case it is necessary to compare the condition before and after flooding.

Place valuable and sentimental items on high shelving and electrical goods at least 1.5 metres above floor level.

If the worst happens and you are flooded, The National Flood Forum information states: Always protect your own and your family’s life. Often this will mean evacuating. Follow the advice of the emergency services. If you are staying in your home, keep safe and warm and move to upper floors.

Do not touch floodwater as it may be contaminated.

Do not approach buildings that are unsafe and be extra vigilant if you are in a building that has been flooded, as hazards may be hidden and items may move suddenly with the water flow.

Do not enter deep or fast flowing water.

Turn off gas and electric supplies.

They also provide useful advice on what to do after you are flooded, including how to make sure it is safe to re-enter your home, and guidance on cleaning up and drying out.

Environment Agency: www.gov.uk/ government/organisations/environmentagency Floodline: 0345 988 1188.

National Flood Forum: 01299 403055. www. nationalfloodforum.org.uk The Blue Pages: www.bluepages.org.uk

www.spotlightlocal.co.uk • 01332 416 121 • info@spotlightlocal.co.uk

Spotlight Magazine

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Spotlight Magazine

Soda Bread

Try this excellent Soda Bread recipe.

Makes 2 loaves Basic Recipe Ingredients 500g plain white flour 10g salt 4 tsp baking powder 300ml buttermilk Flour for dusting Method

Preheat the oven to 200C / Gas mark 6.

Combine all the dry ingredients in a bowl, then add the liquid slowly while mixing to make a dough.

Knead briefly, divide into two and shape into rough rounds. Pat to flatten until about 2-3 inches / 5-8 cm thick. Cut a deep cross in the top of the loaf (cut almost all the way through but not quite) and stab lightly all over.

Bake for 20-25 minutes until the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the base.

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Allow to cool on a wire rack for a few minutes and eat warm with butter.

Variations Thinned yoghurt or half milk to water works instead of buttermilk if you don’t have any.

Experiment with flour mixtures. Spelt flour and rye flour make tasty additions.

Add a couple of large handfuls of dried fruit to the mix. Raisins and sultanas, or chopped dates work very well.

Try a half-and-half mixture of plain and wholemeal flour and add a spoon of black treacle to the mix. It makes a denser, sweeter soda bread which is great with cheese.

Or using half plain and half wholemeal flour, add a couple of handfuls of chopped walnuts and a couple of tablespoons of honey.

Try switching the buttermilk for beer (works best with wholemeal flour) The variations are endless. Enjoy.

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Spotlight Magazine

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15

Spotlight Magazine

Spring Break

Spring is the perfect time to explore a new area, and there are certainly plenty of events planned across the UK this Easter to tempt you on to the road.

For starters, you could head to the Isle of Skye on April 29th for a weekend of live music; more than 30 acts are planned and weekend tickets are a steal at £95.

Or maybe you fancy taking in some truly breathtaking scenery? If so head to the Scottish Highlands on May 21st , for a coast-tocoast classic car tour with The Rotary Club of East Sutherland.

Kids will love to explore the Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall, with its outdoor sculptures, rope bridges and ‘jungle’. Or how about a trip to Escot in Devon, where they can run riot through the maze, see otters being fed, watch wild bird displays and play hide ‘n’ seek in the woods?

Book into nearby Yellingham Farm B&B, or camp at Crealy Meadows Caravan and Camping Park, where you can also take advantage of the adventure park, with its huge indoor play area, sandpits and rides for all the family.

A good day trip can feel like a mini-break in itself. National Trust properties are usually a pretty safe bet. Choose between castles, forts and other historic buildings, or just spend a few hours wandering through the parklands or gardens.

Cliveden in Buckinghamshire is a good choice for garden lovers: its Italianate Long Garden has been planted with some

16

20,000 sweet-smelling hyacinths, while the Water Garden will be awash with cherry blossom, wisteria and magnolias.

Or why not just pack a picnic and head off to the beach or woods? Check out Walking Britain for some inspiration. www. walkingbritain.co.uk If you fancy going a bit further afield, try Morzine in the French Alps. In the winter it is a popular skiing destination, but at this time of year it’s quieter. The scenery is still stunning though, and there’s certainly plenty to keep you busy.

The mountain biking trails are among the best in the world, but there are also plenty of more leisurely sports to enjoy, including golf.

How about nabbing a last minute cruise deal? The Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas starts from just £569 for nine nights, and calls at Naples, Sicily and Malta to name a few destinations.

If you crave the sun, Dubai is a good bet, with temperatures in April reaching 32°C. Wander around the street markets, from the Gold Souk, to Deira Fish Market, and then have a coffee in the Ramada Dubai hotel where you can admire one of the world’s tallest stained glass windows.

You’re pretty spoiled for places to stay in the UAE, but the Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf at Madinat Jumeirah is a great choice, as it’s one of the top rated hotels on Trip Advisor.

By Kate Duggan

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Spotlight Magazine

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Spotlight Magazine Spotlight Magazine Spotlight Spotlight Magazine Magazine

Puzzle Page

Crossword Clues Across 7 Policeman’s beat (6) 8 Yearly (6) 9 Jump (4) 10 Witness statement (8) 11 Shining with light (11) 14 Investor in a business (11) 18 Physical exertion (8) 19 Dull, resonant sound (4) 20 Save (6) 21 Zeal (6)

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19

Spotlight Magazine

A Good Read

The Lie by C L Taylor

Jane Hughes is 30, lives in rural Wales with her boyfriend, and works for a local animal sanctuary.

Reliable and dependable she seems to have a perfect life. Until one day a letter arrives at work and suddenly the secret she has been hiding for the last 5 years threatens everything.

Jane Hughes does not exist.

This is a gripping thriller. It’s a little slow to get going, but as it gathers pace it is almost guaranteed you will not want to put it down.

Taylor manages to capture in great detail the excitement of a holiday with your friends to exotic places where time stands still and you have the freedom to relax: the novelty of travelling without your parents.

In this case Emma and her friends travel to Nepal to a yoga and meditation retreat: a girlie trip to help one of them get over a break-up. But the idyll is soon revealed to be anything but, and before the end of the novel two of the party will be dead.

Exactly how and why is ‘the lie’ of the title.

Or is it? Is ‘the lie’ instead referring to the need to convince ourselves that life is good, and normal? Emma is living ‘the lie’, through her assumed identity of Jane. No one would ever guess what had happened to her which means the letter can only have come from one person.

Beast Quest: Arcta the mountain giant

by Adam Blade This is a short novel, aimed at readers aged 7 and upwards. It belongs to the hugely successful ‘Beast Quest’ series. It follows a somewhat formulaic construction but bear with me.

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In this particular story (the third book in a series which numbers over 100) returns to the mythical kingdom of Avantia where an evil spell has been cast by Malvel the Dark Wizard on six beasts.

An ancient prophecy tells of a young boy, an unlikely hero, who will rise up and defeat the beasts, freeing Avantia from the threat it faces.

Has that hero been found? A good wizard Aduro believes so, and he is a boy called Tom. And so Tom is sent out to try to destroy the beasts. We meet him at the start of this book, having already destroyed Ferno the Fire Dragon and Sepron the Sea Serpent, as he continues on his travels with his horse, Storm.

He is joined by his best friend Elenna and her wolf, Silver. As the story opens a strange rock avalanche breaks up a convoy of caravans. Tom encounters Jack, a young child out with his father who is a trader and is told that the avalanche was not cause by any natural source, but by a Giant who lives in the mountain.

Can Tom and Elenna complete their quest or will Avantia remain doomed and cursed?

I recommend this novel as it only 112 pages long, and is perfect for encouraging reluctant readers, (it is aimed particularly at boys) to read. The setting is typical of older boys’ books, with set pieces which will be familiar to readers of Tolkien and other fantasy adventure stories.

Short chapters and a certain poetic style of language make this an easy read for young children. It’s a great introduction to this extensive genre of novels.

So if you have a boy who could be described as a ‘reluctant reader’ then this could be the perfect book series for him.

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Spotlight Magazine

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21

Spotlight Magazine

Spring Has Sprung

Digging is really only something I do with ground that is being cultivated for the first time. Mostly I use a fork and work in fertiliser as I go along.

I like to use an organic fertiliser and tend to go for poultry manure pellets. I sprinkle them round shrubs, roses and perennials.

The application instructions will vary but generally it’s about three handfuls to the square metre.

It’s magical stuff when lightly forked in. It gives the plants a boost and builds up the levels of beneficial soil bacteria.

Now is the time I dig up my overcrowded border plants and split them into smaller clumps. These can be used to plug the gaps elsewhere in my garden, or given to friends to help plug the gaps in theirs!

Make sure you use a bit of fertiliser and water them in if the ground is dry.

I spread a good 3 inch / 8cm layer of mulch around my border, between the plants.

Choose from well-rotted manure or garden compost, chipped bark or cocoa shells.

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This seals in moisture and keeps the weeds down, essential at this time of year when they start growing like...well...weeds!

If you haven’t already done so give your roses a prune taking care to remove any dead or diseased stems completely.

How to…

Plant a container-grown shrub.

Soak the compost for an hour before planting. Make sure the rootball of the shrub is sufficiently moist.

Check to shrub is suitable for the site.

Dig a hole that is larger than the rootball.

Work well-rotted garden-compost or planting mixture into the bottom of the hole and mix it with the soil you removed when you dug the hole.

Plant the shrub o that the top of the rootball is just fractionally below the finished soil level. Firm the earth around with your boot.

Water the plant in and spread an organic mulch on top.

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Spotlight Magazine

Covering the Martin Page StensonEdwalton Fields & & Sinfin Areas

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?

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23

Spotlight Magazine

Moles

Moles are small coloured spots on the skin, most often brownish in colour, which can be flat or raised, rough or smooth and circular or oval with a smooth edge.

Some moles are present at birth but most develop during the first thirty years of life, with fair skinned people having more moles than those with darker skin.

Most moles are completely harmless and it is common for them to change in number and appearance. However, in rare cases they can develop into melanoma - a serious and aggressive form of skin cancer.

Melanomas usually appear as a dark, fast-growing spot that was not there before, or as a pre-existing mole that changes shape, size or colour and bleeds, itches or reddens.

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You should check your skin every few months for new moles that develop (especially after the teenage years) and for changes to existing moles. These are things to look for: Moles with uneven colouring or lots of different shades Moles with an uneven or ragged edge Bleeding, itchy, red, inflamed or crusty moles Moles which grow – particularly if they are more than 0.5cm diameter (about the width of the end of a pencil).

If you are concerned about any of the above, visit your GP immediately. The main treatment for melanoma is surgery, and if diagnosed and treated early, it is usually successful.

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Spotlight Magazine

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25

Spotlight Magazine

Spring Clean

If you’re planning a good old spring clean, the first thing you’ll want to do is declutter.

If you don’t love it or use it, get rid of it.

Charity shops are always happy to take clean clothes, ornaments, books and toys off your hands, or you could earn a bit of cash by selling on eBay, or through your local Facebook selling group.

If the thought of decluttering feels a bit daunting, try to tackle one area at a time.

You can start small, with the ‘drawer of doom’ for instance.

packing it away for six months, then seeing whether you’ve missed it. Just remember to clearly mark the box and set yourself a calendar reminder to go through it again.

You may also want to invest in some better storage.

Make the most of unused alcoves and other wasted spaces, and look for multipurpose storage solutions, such as chests that can double up as tables.

When it comes to the cleaning itself, remember to clean from top to bottom, so you don’t knock dirt or debris onto clean surfaces.

Working your way up to the main living areas and your bulging wardrobes. Separate items into store, sell, donate and recycle piles.

All that’s left is to revel in your cleaner, brighter home. Enjoy!

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To advertise or contribute call •07595 510190 www.spotlightlocal.co.uk • 01332 416 121 info@spotlightlocal.co.uk

Spotlight Magazine

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YOU HAVE THE SKILLS WE NEED Volunteers needed Are you friendly and outgoing? We’re looking for volunteers to join our team to visit shops, pubs and leisure centres in your local community. We need volunteers to find homes for our iconic boxes and empty boxes already placed to help raise money to support people with sight loss.

Interested in fostering?

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27

Spotlight Magazine

Get The Haircut You Want

Make sure the stylist sees and touches your hair before they pick up the scissors.

It is important for the stylist to see how your hair looks currently, how you style it now and to check out your hair’s growth patterns. If someone offers to shampoo before the stylist sees you, ask to talk with the stylist first.

Use the right language Be specific about what you want. The best way is to talk in terms of problems. List the problems have with your hair. If it’s dry or fly-away or lank and doesn’t hold a style, let the stylist know. Tell them about previous colour or chemical problems. This is a very effective way to communicate because the hairdresser will go into problemsolving mode and allows them to make suggestions you might not have thought of.

Bring in a hairstyle scrapbook Photographs are a terrific starting point.

Take in images of styles and colours you love. But be prepared for some ideas to be shelved. Your dream hairstyle might

28

not work with the hair you have and a good stylist won’t try to do the impossible.

But they will use it as a tool to open a discussion on which aspects will work for you.

Are you high or low-maintenance?

If you’re a ponytail-n-go kind of girl, don’t ask for a hairstyle which requires lots of work to get right. It’ll only frustrate you on a day-to-day basis.

Ask about products Part of the reason your hair looks so good when you leave the salon is because stylists use the right products. While you’re sitting in your chair ask about what they are using and why. Do they have any tips to help you recreate the styling when you get home?

Hairdressers are professionals. They are full of knowledge and will be happy to share it because they want a happy client who will return regularly.

By Louise Addison

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Spotlight Magazine

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Spotlight Magazine

Index Of Advertisers

Bedrooms

Estate Agents

Painting & Decorating

That Furniture Company..............21

Our House Estate Agents..........32

Premier Decorators....................25

Sliding Door Wardrobes..............15

Fostering Services

Plastering

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Garden Services

Plumbing & Heating

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Charnwood Tree Surgeon...........23

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Building Services

Four Seasons Lawncare.............23

Restaurants

CB Building Services..................23

Garage Doors

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Red Brick Building Svcs.............11

Ockbrook Garage Doors............25

Roofing

Executive Developments..............4

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Quality Roofing...........................31

Care For The Elderly

Kitchens & Bathrooms

Thermogreen................................1

Right At Home............................19

AHM...........................................15

Stairlifts

Driveways

Quality Kitchen Doors..................1

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Block Pave It...............................21

Inspirational Design.....................6

Will Writing Services

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Kitchen & Bedroom Whse............9

J M Wills & Legal .......................25

Redback Kitchens......................27

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Spotlight Magazine

Every 25 seconds a child contacts ChildLine.

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By training as a ChildLine volunteer counsellor you’ll play a vital role in helping us give children a voice when they feel no one else will listen.

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