spotlightOn ISSUE 74 December 2016
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Spotlight Magazine
Contents Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you all have a good one.
Wrapping Tips 6 A Good Read 8 Garden View 10 A Hangover From Hell 12 Turkey Magic 14 Only The Lonely 16 Which Xmas Tree 18 Puzzle Pages 20 Oh No It’s Socks 22 Xmas Recipe 24 Food Banks 26 Local Info 28 Index of Advertisers 30
This is a time of year when we all think more about out families and friends, send cards and buy pressies, drink and each too much. Whatever you are doing this season, please stay safe, have a good time, and we will see you in the new year. Please remember that if you are thinking of getting any work done on your home or business this winter season, consider giving our supporting advertisers a call. 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 North Mansfield area each month, with similar magazines also going to Mansfield South and West Bridgford
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MERRY CHRISTMAS from Spotlight Magazine to all our readers and advertisers! 4
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Put your property on the market with us before 31st December 2016 and you will be entered into our prize draw to win your property sale fees for FREE. Quote CGXMAS2016 Ends 31st December 2016. T&C’s apply. Please visit castlegateproperty.co.uk for details
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Spotlight Magazine
Wrapping Tips
Wrapping- tips and techniques for beautiful gifts Are you one of those people who leave all their wrapping until Christmas Eve and end up using a bit of birthday paper because you run out of Christmas wrapping? Why not plan ahead and take a little more time this year. It can be really satisfying to see all your gifts looking beautiful under the tree and receive lots of compliments when you hand them out. There are lots of different types of wrapping available including paper, bags, huge sacks, tubs and boxes. You can also get lots of accessories from craft shops to add a unique twist. Here are some tips and suggestions to help:-. If using wrapping paper, measure it first and trim off the excess. Decide how much you need by wrapping a ribbon around the gift and then laying the ribbon on the paper and cutting it to that size. Alternatively, use a tape or ruler. If you have trouble cutting gift wrap in a straight line, look for brands that have grid lines on the reverse. If you can’t get these, mark the paper where you need to cut it and then fold it and cut along the crease. Keep any off cuts as these may fit smaller gifts. This will also help avoid waste. If your gift consists of a number of boxes try making a tower and wrapping ribbon round the whole. Even if your gifts don’t come in boxes, you could put them in some to make wrapping easier. This is also the art of disguise and can create an element of fun. Even those who think they know what you are buying them will start to wonder.
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When wrapping something soft like a scarf or a jumper, lay the item on a piece of cardboard, This will give you a firm base and mean that you can create clean corners and crisp edges. For oddly shaped presents, you can create a better effect by padding out unusual angles with tissue paper or using a gift bag. Try creating a cracker shape for tubular gifts. If your present has a circular bottom, pleat the paper to get a neat finish. To avoid getting in a tangle, buy tape which is on a dispenser and use double sided tape where it will help. Create a wow factor by colour coordinating your wrapping or using the same design for all of a persons presents. You could also use plain wrapping and be creative with patterned tape, add homemade gift tags or create a pocket effect in which you insert a card or other decoration By Susan Brookes-Morris
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Spotlight Magazine
A Good Read
Wicked by Gregory Maguire We all know what happened when Dorothy arrived in the Land of Oz courtesy of a cyclone. She killed the Wicked Witch of the East and magically acquired her ruby slippers.
Naughty Amelia Jane! by Enid Blyton
Helped by Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, she travelled to the Emerald City with three friends and asked the Wizard to send her back to Kansas. And of course, we know about her green enemy: The Wicked Witch of the West.
At some point in childhood we all wonder what would happen if our toys were alive. Well in this nursery they are.
But do we really know the rest of the story? What DID happen in Oz before this little girl from Kansas carelessly ‘dropped’ in? Wicked, is the story of the witches of Oz as imagined by Gregory Maguire. Familiar to many people these days through the hit West End musical of the same name, this novel is very different in tone to the musical with much more adult themes. It addresses politics, animal rights, outcasts, fate, friendships, and the philosophical question of what makes us bad: are people born wicked or do they become wicked purely by living up to people’s expectations of them? Elphaba Thropp was born with an unfortunate colour skin tone and right from the start felt rejected like an outcast. She feels as if she has no place in the world but all that is set to change when she arrives at Shiz University. Here she meets her total opposite, Glinda, and despite an initial hatred of each other they do become best friends. But where will that friendship take them? They are destined to follow separate paths: one of good and one of evil. The Good Witch and The Wicked Witch. It is how that happens and how they discover their true purpose and destiny that forms the heart of this immersive fantasy novel. Clearly Oz is not just for children.
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Some books never fail to entertain generation after generation and the Amelia Jane books by Enid Blyton are no exception.
Amelia Jane is a big ragdoll and she is not just big, she is bad. And the other toys are generally scared of her. Hardly surprising when she does things like throwing pints of milk over other toys on a regular basis! These short chapters almost work as individual short stories which makes it a nice transition for readers to proper ‘chapter books’. Each chapter sees Amelia Jane getting into trouble and being naughty but ultimately learning a lesson: one that she seems destined to forget despite her protestations that she ‘will be good from now’. Lessons that demonstrate to the reader why it is important to be kind and considerate towards others. In the words of Enid Blyton: “I do somehow feel perfectly certain that she can’t be good for long.” By Willow Coby
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Spotlight Magazine
Garden View
This month - The Christmas cactus Christmas cacti are splendid plants. They pump out masses of delicate jungle flowers in rosy red, white, orange, pink, and pale yellow, depending on the variety, just in time for the festive season. And although they’re a true cactus, their spines are so tiny and soft that you’ll barely notice them - and never get pricked. Also as each outer leaf produces its own flower the display gets better year on year. They are available in shops and garden centres right now and are just perfect for those hard-to-buy-for souls. Also, according to my neighbour, who grows prize-winning cacti, they can live for 25 years or more so they’re the gift that just keeps on giving. Christmas cactus care! Light Christmas cacti are tropical epiphytes, which grow naturally in rainforest trees. Choose a cool, bright spot, out of direct sun is best. Try an east-facing windowsill, and it won’t know it ever left the jungle. Humidity They love a humid atmosphere so are best grown on a gravel tray. Fill a waterproof bowl with gravel then add water to half way up the gravel. Place the potted plant on top of the gravel.
Repotting Christmas cacti flower best when they’re pot-bound. Every year or so, gently pull the plant out of its container and check the roots. When roots start to mat where they touch the inside of the pot, move the plant into a container that’s an inch larger in diameter. Gently rough up the matted roots with a knife or fork before you repot. After Christmas When flowering is over, keep the plant indoors until the weather warms in late spring. New growth tends to start in March. If you particularly want the plant to flower at Christmas then next November put the cactus in a place where nights are cool (about 10-12C) and there’s no artificial light. After flower buds form, you can stop the cool/dark treatment and start fertilizing for a strong three-week bloom cycle. My neighbour tells me that Christmas cacti are pretty forgiving souls and that even if you’re unsuccessful at inducing Christmas blooms you should be treated to regular flowering displays throughout the year. What could be nicer? By Rachael Leverton
Water As it’s tropical it’s less drought-tolerant than other cacti species. Water thoroughly then allow the top half-inch or inch of soil to dry out before watering again. Fertilizer As new leaves appear or when flower buds start to swell, apply a liquid fertilizer formulated for houseplants every 7 to 10 days until the growth or flowering cycle ends.
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Spotlight Magazine
The Hangover From Hell
Fixing the Hangover from Hell Pounding head … gasping thirst … a vague memory of telling anyone who’d listen how much you love them … Sound familiar? Most of us have woken up to regret that last drink (or five), at least once. If you’re reading this through bleary eyes, while trying to stop the world from spinning, you might want to take heed of these hangover cures: Rehydration sachet Dehydration is the main cause of your hangover symptoms. Drink plenty of water and juice, but if that’s not helping, try a rehydration sachet or isotonic drink. A fry-up A fry-up is a bit of a kill or cure remedy in my opinion. Many people swear by it though. Ideally, go for grilled meat, rather than fried, or you might realise it tastes a lot better going down than it does coming back up. A banana Bananas contain potassium, which you might be lacking after all the booze. If you don’t fancy a banana, try popping a multivitamin. Tomato juice and raw egg Personally, the risk of salmonella is enough to put me off this one. No one seems to be able to explain why the egg needs to be raw, so I’ll stick to my boiled egg and toasted soldiers, with a side of tomato juice.
Hair of the dog that bit you Treating a hangover with more alcohol is just delaying the pain. If you can stomach a drink, you may well feel better short-term, but the hangover will come back again, with a vengeance. Fresh air While you may just want to curl up on the sofa with Netflix, a walk outside will usually help to clear your head. Just don the shades so your bloodshot eyes don’t scare any small children. Mongolian cure If all else fails, you could go for a drink that’s said to be popular the morning after the night before in Mongolia – tomato juice with a pickled sheep’s eyeball. Not sure where you’re going to get the eyeball from however. Prevention Of course, prevention is always better than cure. Next time you’re out, try alternating your alcoholic drinks with soft drinks, and downing a pint of water before bed. Suffering from a few too many hangovers? It might be worth visiting www.drinkaware. co.uk. By Kate Duggan
Milk thistle This is my fail-safe remedy. Milk thistle can help to detoxify your liver, so really does seem to help reduce a hangover, or even prevent it in the first place. Ideally, you should take one or two capsules before bed and another first thing in the morning.
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Spotlight Magazine
Turkey Magic
My Gran insisted on soaking her Christmas turkey in brine (or ‘broin’ as she used to call it, being a Birmingham girl). I never really understood why until I tried it for myself. You need 750g salt for a large turkey. Use a large watertight plastic box and dissolve the salt in 4 pints/2 litres of boiling water. Add 9 pints/5.5 litres of cold water and leave to cool. Immerse the turkey in the brine, breast side down. Cover with a lid and put in a cool place like the garage for 24 hours. You might want to seal the lid or weight it down to prevent mice from gaining access! The next day empty the brine and pat the turkey dry and refrigerate overnight. Remove the bird a couple of hours before cooking to allow it to come to room temperature, and prepare in your usual way. So why go to this trouble? Here comes the science bit! Roasted turkey can be dry and tough because it’s lean and we tend to err on the side of caution with cooking times, (no-one wants to serve up a plate of festive salmonella right?). Moisture loss is inevitable when you cook any type of muscle fibre. Heat causes individual coiled proteins in the fibres to unwind (the technical term is denature), then join together with one another, resulting in shrinkage and moisture loss. Meat loses about 30 percent of its weight during cooking but by brining first, you can reduce this moisture loss to as little as 15 percent. The main reason for this is because the dissolved salt causes some of the proteins in muscle fibres to pre-unwind and swell. As they unwind, the bonds that held the protein unit together as a bundle break. Water from the brine binds directly to the proteins, and then gets trapped between them when the meat cooks and the unwound proteins bind together.
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As long as you don’t overcook the meat, the natural juices will be retained. All this ensures moister, juicier results. But what if you don’t have the container or the inclination to soak your bird? Is there an easier way? Yes, you can ‘dry-brine’, that is pre-salt the turkey. This seasons the meat like the wet brine, but does not use any water. Instead, it involves rubbing salt and seasonings directly onto the meat and / or skin, and then letting the meat rest in the refrigerator before cooking. For a 15lb /7Kg turkey you need about 3 tablespoons of salt, ¾ teaspoon of ground black pepper and herbs of your choice. Pat the turkey dry and then rub the salt mixture liberally over the surface. I like to rub about a third of it under the skin but if you don’t want to go to the bother of separating the skin from the meat it’s fine to just rub it over the skin. You need to allow time for the salt to penetrate the meat so allow a day’s brining time per 5lb /2 1/4 Kg of turkey. Dry brining has the advantage of producing extremely crispy skin, and we all know that’s the best bit! Final tip: Make sure you use an unseasoned turkey. Avoid pre-prepared or self-basting turkeys as they have been injected with brine...... Enjoy!
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Spotlight Magazine
Only The Lonely
Christmas can be a particularly difficult time of year if you’re on your own. And, even if you’re surrounded by friends and family, it’s still possible to feel lonely. However, there are lots of charities that might be able to help: Mind can offer advice and useful contacts for people who struggle with loneliness. Visit www.mind.org.uk or call 0300 123 3393. The Red Cross and The Co-op have partnered up to tackle loneliness. They’re aiming to ‘provide vital care and support to help reconnect thousands of isolated and lonely people with their communities.’ Call the Red Cross on 0344 871 11 11. Wavelength provides TVs and radios to people who are on their own and who might struggle to afford them otherwise. Beneficiaries need to be referred, by a friend or housing officer for example. Contact 0800 0182137. Community Christmas believes that no one should be on their own at Christmas, so it helps to direct older people to events and groups that can help. Visit communitychristmas.org.uk or call 0844 443 0662. A pet can offer much needed companionship, but they do take a lot of care. If you’re struggling to look after your pet, The Cinnamon Trust may be able to arrange for a volunteer to help walk your dog, or take your pet to the vet. Contact the trust on 01736 757 900. It can be difficult to meet new people. A community class can help to get you talking to others with similar interests. Your local community college will likely have courses in everything from creative writing to flower arranging. If you’re fit enough, why not consider volunteering? It’s a great way to get out of the house, meet new people and give yourself a sense of purpose. You could volunteer at a local shop, help out at a homeless shelter, or get involved in making your community a greener,
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cleaner place to live. Visit do-it.org for local opportunities. It’s worth contacting your GP if you’re struggling with loneliness or feeling depressed. He or she may be able to point you in the direction of organisations that can help. If you’re not the one who’s lonely, but you’re worried about an elderly friend or neighbour, the Be a Friend campaign has some great tips about how to support them. Visit: www.beafriendtoday.org.uk. It can be difficult if you have a friend or relative who you know is lonely, especially if you’re not able to see them every day. You could try sharing the responsibility with other friends or relations. Maybe set a day for each person to visit or ring. The charities above might also be able to offer you advice. By Kate Duggan
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Spotlight Magazine
M
Party Politics
any of us look forward to celebrating Christmas with our work colleagues. It’s a chance to get out of the office and have a bit of fun. But for some employees the morning after is full of embarrassment and regret. Your behaviour at such events could seriously damage your career. Equally, if handled correctly you can also do a lot of good for your career at the annual festivities. So here are a few tips to help you be remembered for all the right reasons: Always attendwhilst you may think not attending is the safest option, it is best to go along even if it’s for just a short while as this demonstrates your willingness to be part of a team.
Dress appropriately- you may be excited by the opportunity to get out of your work attire but remember that you are still with work colleagues and probably your boss. Where you are going will have an impact on how you dress but whatever the venue its best to avoid clothing that is overtly sexual. At many parties there will be alcohol and it can be tempting to over indulge, especially if the boss is paying. But it’s best to drink in moderation and alternate alcohol with water. If you feel you may be getting a little too relaxed opt for soft drinks. Remember to eat well to soak up the alcohol.
relationships with colleagues from other departments, or those you’d like to impress but don’t usually get chance to speak to, so do circulate. Don’t be boring by talking about nothing but work however. Usually some general conversation about holidays, families and hobbies will suffice and can stand you in good stead when you need to get these people on side for your next work deal. Don’t be tempted to be drawn into gossip or talk about others or the organisations latest ideas in a negative way. You never know who’s standing behind you. Of course don’t swear, be impolite or vulgar. It may be that you have fancied one of your colleagues for months (or they become irresistibly attractive once you’ve had a few drinks), but insisting that they join you under the mistletoe or showing them your best Dirty Dance moves is not advisable. These could lead to public humiliation at the event and years of teasing and having to avoid a ‘certain someone’. It is possible to have fun at an office party, but for your careers sake, remember everything in moderation! By Susan Brookes-Morris
Do socialise and chat to lots of people at the party. It can be a good time to build
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Spotlight Magazine
Puzzle Page
Across 1 Individual, human (6) 4 Fortuitous, blessed (5) 8 Alert, attentive (5) 9 Trap, tangle (7) 10 Young tree (7) 11 Scram, vamoose (4) 12 Devour, ingest (3) 14 Song of praise (4) 15 Bow, curve (4) 18 Leaf-based beverage (3) 21 3D shape (4) 23 Domestic help (7) 25 Story, justification (7) 26 Spine, prickle (5) 27 Molten, liquefied (5) 28 Admired, cherished (6) Down 1 Applaud, appreciate (6) 2 recoat, reattach (7) 3 Compliant, law-abiding (8) 4 Mislay, misplace (4) 5 Teach, explain (5) 6 Cowardly (6) 7 Fend-off, equivocate (5) 13 Accomplished, brilliant (8) 16 Directness, honesty (7) 17 Sweet pastry (6) 19 Keen, sharp (5) 20 Cut-back, sheared (6) 22 Rasher, pancetta (5) 24 Active, engaged (4)
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Quick Crossword
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Spotlight Magazine
Oh No.... It’s Socks!
I have never understood why socks get such a bad press as Christmas gifts. I am a sock-lover. ‘So many sock designs, so little time,’ could be my motto. I love to receive them and I love to give them. The trick with socks is finding the perfect pair for the recipient. Think luxurious – Most people buy their own socks as a utility item. So surprise them with a pair of fine-knitted Scottish lisle cotton socks, or a silk mix, or a pair of super-soft cashmere bed socks.
Think high-tech – Know someone with permanently cold feet? Heattech is an innovative Japanese fabric which allows socks to be comfortably thin while trapping body heat in air pockets situated deep in the fibres. Think slipper-socks! – Lots of people don’t like slippers so a pair of snugly slipper-socks with grippy soles might be the perfect gift. So think socks this Christmas. They are most definitely not boring!
Think bright – Find the funkiest designs you can which reflect the interests of the recipient. Are they a dog or cat-lover? Do they love gardening, or cooking, or a particular TV series? There are sock designs out there for everyone! Someone gave me a set of fine-art socks last year which included Van Gogh’s Sunflowers and Munch’s The Scream! I loved them.
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Spotlight Magazine
Christmas Recipe
Cranberry Bread and Butter Pudding
of bread then sprinkle a few cranberries over the top.
Serves 4 Preparation time: 20 minutes (plus resting time)
Pour the egg mixture over everything and let the pudding rest for at least 2 hours (or overnight in the fridge).
Cooking Time: 45 minutes
Preheat the oven to 180C or gas mark 4. Sprinkle the finished pudding with soft brown sugar and place in the oven for 45 minutes.
Ingredients 1oz / 25 g dried cranberries 100ml Cranberry juice 2 tsp sugar 4 eggs 450ml / 16floz milk 450ml / 16floz single cream (you can use all milk if you prefer) 2oz / 50g sugar grated rind of 1 orange 2oz / 50 g butter 1 loaf bread (at least a day old, sliced into thick cubes) Soft brown sugar for sprinkling over
This is lovely served with crème fraîche or custard. The perfect sweet for any time over the festive period.
Method Poach the dried cranberries in the cranberry juice with 2 tsp sugar. Reduce the mixture down until it thickens and becomes a little jammy. Place it on one side to cool. In a separate dish beat together the milk, cream (if using) and eggs, and then stir in the sugar and grated orange rind. Butter the bread on both sides and place into a buttered dish, alternating layers of bread with layers of cranberry. Finish with a layer
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Spotlight Magazine
Keeping It Real
I
live in a house that is divided. My husband loves real Christmas trees but in recent years I’ve talked him around to the artificial option, believing – incorrectly as it turns out – that a reusable tree is better for the planet than one that is chopped down and discarded after a few weeks. Most artificial trees are made from PVC – one of the most non-renewable, polluting, unrecyclable materials around - and consequently their carbon footprint is ten times greater than that of real ones. Shocked into realising that my fake tree is not the morally correct choice I thought, I’m now keen to join the six million Brits who opt for a real tree at Christmas. Christmas trees spring up all over the place from late November and the quality varies greatly. Before you make your choice, do a bit of fact finding about its freshness. Ask where it was grown (UK produced trees are likely to be fresher), how long it has been in stock and when it was cut. You can carry out a couple of tests yourself. Give the tree a firm tap on the ground or run a closed hand over its branches. If lots of needles fall off, chances are it’s not that fresh. You can also try bending the outer branches. They should be pliable - not brittle and dry – without discoloration.
your tree. The three main species – spruce, fir and pine – all have their own characteristics. Spruces and firs have short needles whilst a pine’s are long. Pine branches tend to bend, making them unsuitable for heavier ornaments. Firs have lush branches and ornaments sometimes get lost in them. The traditional British Christmas tree, the Norway spruce, is attractive but tends to drop its needles. An alternative is a “nondrop” variety like the popular Nordmann fir, which will last longer but is more expensive. To care for your tree, cut off half an inch from the base of the trunk and place in a water-holding stand. Position the tree away from sources of heat and keep it topped up with fresh water. At present, 90% of real trees end up in landfill, so after Christmas is over try and recycle! By turning your tree into wood chippings or compost you will continue to do your bit for the environment. Hopefully with this guide choosing the family tree will be a holiday highlight, not a headache! By Debbie Singh-Bhatti
Before leaving to make your purchase, measure the height and width of your space and take a tape measure with you to check your tree. Most are trimmed to an 80% taper, which means that a 10 foot tall tree will measure 8 feet at the bottom. You should also consider how you plan on decorating
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Spotlight Magazine
Estate Administration
When you have lost a loved one, the last thing on your mind is who is going to sort all the paperwork out and how do you go about doing this? Administration of an Estate is the legal procedure that has to be gone through for assets to be released to the family. Many people are not aware of how this works and worry about where they are to start. Here are our top five tips on what to do. Firstly deal with arranging and sorting out the funeral. What were the wishes of the deceased? Did they want to be buried or cremated? Speak with the close family and ensure you all agree on the type of service you are arranging. Secondly, secure the deceased house especially if it is owned by them and ensure all confidential information i.e. passports and utility bills and bank statements are removed from the property and kept somewhere safe and ensure you notify the buildings and contents insurance that the property may now become empty. This is to ensure the estate does not become a victim of fraud or theft.
Thirdly, try and locate any legal documents belonging to the deceased, did they leave a will, was there a Power of Attorney in place, did the deceased set up any trusts either during their lifetime or on death. Fourthly, once you have removed all the confidential information away from the deceased home, go over these and try to establish who the next of kin is or the Executor of the will, these are the people who are now responsible for dealing with things. The next of kin or Executor now needs to prepare a list of assets and values of the deceaseds estate so this information can be used to administer the estate of the deceased. Lastly, the next of kin or Executor needs to decide whether they want to administer the estate of the deceased on their own or whether they require professional help or advice with this. It is very common for people not to know where to start with this or know what to do, J M Wills and Legal Services are happy to speak with anyone in this position and either point them in the right direction or offer our advice where required.
Why YOU should make a will? To appoint guardians To arrange your funeral wishes To simplify probate To pay less tax JM Wills offer a calm, easy to understand and reassuring service from the comfort of your own home with your best interest at heart.
Plan for the inevitable.
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Spotlight Magazine
Index Of Advertisers
Aerials Astral Aerials.......................15
Estate & Letting Agents Castlegate Estates...............5
Plasterers Quality Plastering..............29
Beauty East Midlands Laser..............7
Fascias & Soffits Nottm Soffits.......................25
Property Services Key Building Supplies....................11
Bedrooms Sliding Door Wardrobes.......17
Food and Drink South Forest.......................19
Blinds and Shutters Just Shutters........................15
Funeral Directors W S Ingham........................31
Roofing Services Loco Soffits........................25 Quality Roofing..................27
Carpets & Flooring Carpet Bargain Ctr.................1 Red Carpet Cleaning...........29
Kitchens & Bedrooms Quality Kitchen Doors........21
Chimney Sweeps Home-Sweep.......................19 Computer Services Ian Stendall.........................19 Electrical Services RS Electrical.......................19
Stairlifts & Mobility Royale Mobility...................17 Liftec..................................13
Motoring Pentagon..............................2
Will Writing Services J M Wills.............................28
Pets The Pet Shop.....................13
Windows & Doors Cloudy2Clear.........................32 Loco Windows.......................23
Plumbing & Heating Gas Care................................15 T&S Heating.............................3
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