sp tlightOn ISSUE 52 February 2015
Mansfield North
mon th in Deli vere d to 18,0 00 Hom es and Busi ness es each h Wes t Brid gford, Man sfiel d Sout h, & Man sfiel d Nort Inside this issue: • Flipping Pancakes • Lost City Golf • Don’t Worry Be Happy • Feather Their Nest • Sink Or Swim • Puzzles • Your Community info. • Local Businesses
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Contents
Sink Or Swim 6 Flip Pancakes 8 Feather Their Nest 10 Garden View 12 Lost City Golf 14 Puzzle Pages 18 Gifts That Say I Love You 20 A Good Read 22 Don’t Worry Be Happy 24 World Book Day 26 Playing Fair 28 Index 30
Published by Spotlight Local Media Ltd Company No. 6841257 Tel: 01623 706570 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
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Happy February everybody! So February is always a busy month. It’s the shortest for a start, for me has loads of birthdays to deal with, including my own, and probably more importantly my wifes! Then there is Valentines, and on the 21st, everybody try to remember that it is National Sticky Bun Day! (seriously). Thanks to all you readers and advertisers who keep the magazine alive each month. Please try to support our local advertisers whenever you need a service or product. Remember to keep it local! Spotlight magazine is delivered to 6,000 homes and businesses in the West Bridgford area each month, with similar magazines going to Mansfield South and Mansfield North. To Advertise or contribute: T: 0115 822 4995 E: info@spotlightlocal.co.uk Web: www.spotlightlocal.co.uk
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Spotlight Magazine
Sink Or Swim
Learning to swim as an adult
You’ve reached and exceeded the age at which you are legally regarded as an adult. You can drink, vote, drive, get married, pay taxes and get called to war. You have a job, own a home and lead a fulfilling life in lots of ways, but there is just one blot on the horizon – you still can’t swim! The inability to swim is a cause of embarrassment for many adults, and some are reluctant and even ashamed to admit to it. But though you may feel that there is a stigma attached, the first thing to understand is that you are not alone. There are many others just like you, and if you really want to, there is no reason in the world why you can’t master the art! People fail to learn to swim for a number of reasons. Some may have had a traumatic experience – almost drowning for example, after falling into deep water, or being the victim of a prank that got out of hand – whilst others simply may not have had the opportunity. Regardless of the cause, most nonswimming adults are afraid of water, and need to acknowledge the psychological as well as the physical barriers. Fear can keep us safe, but it can also prevent us from moving forward. Many nonswimmers are afraid of putting their face in the water and are scared that they won’t
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be able to float, yet more or less everyone floats. What sometimes gets in the way is fear and tension that causes you to hold yourself stiffly, hunch your head and shoulders, and push your feet towards the bottom of the pool. Most non-swimmers are afraid to take their feet off the bottom and become panicstricken if there is nothing to hold onto, but learning to trust that the water will hold you up rather than the reverse, is key to mastering the art of swimming. Though some people may opt to enlist the help of a friend or relative to teach them to swim, the best course is probably to turn to a professional with the correct training.
But there are things you can do yourself to help boost confidence: Walk around in chest-deep water to get used to how it feels and maintain balance; Repeatedly dip your face and body in and out of the water, holding on to the side for support. Practice floating on your stomach with your face in the water; With the help of a float, lie on your back, gradually introducing kicking movements with your legs. However you decide to proceed, please remember there is no shame in not being able to swim!
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Spotlight Magazine
Flipping Pancakes
How do you eat yours?
Over the years I’ve tried my pancakes with fruit, maple syrup, and a variety of savoury fillings, but I keep coming back to fresh lemon juice and a sprinkling of sugar... irresistible. Here is my own recipe for perfect pancakes. Ingredients 115g (4oz) plain flour Pinch salt 1 large egg 285ml (half a pint of milk) 115g (4oz) butter, melted Juice from 2 lemons, strained Caster or Demerara sugar to taste.
To make the batter: sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl and make a well in the centre. Beat in the egg and a little of the milk until smooth. Gradually beat in the remaining milk and add 4 tablespoons of the melted butter. Cover the bowl and leave to stand for one hour. In a small non-stick frying pan heat some of the butter until sizzling, but taking care not to let it burn. Pour enough batter into the pan to coat the base evenly. Cook over a moderate heat until the pancake is light golden brown underneath and looks dry on top. Flip over (try to do this with style!) and cook the other side until golden. Continue until all the batter is used. The recipe should make 1012 pancakes. You can keep the pancakes warm in the oven (Gas mark 1 / 140C) until they are all cooked. However in our house they’re barely out the frying pan before they’re scoffed. Serve with the lemon juice and sugar...Enjoy! By Sarah Davey
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Feather Their Nest
t’s National Nest Box week this month. Did you know that there is a National Nest Box Week? This year it takes place from 14th-21st February. The event is organised by the British Trust for Ornithology. The idea started in 1997 following fears about birds losing their natural nest sites because of lots of trees being cut down, old buildings disappearing, gardens being ‘tidied’ and old houses being repaired. The Trust wants us to put up nest boxes so that we can protect the wildlife we have, and encourage even more birds to come into our gardens. It is estimated that there are now over 5 million nest boxes in the UK designed to help everything from Robins to Owls.
Different types of nesting box attract different birds. So in a box with small holes, you might get Blue Tit’s, Nuthatches, Redstarts or House Sparrows. Boxes with larger holes may encourage Starlings, Spotted Woodpeckers and perhaps even Little Owls; and in very big boxes you might see Kestrels, Jackdaws, Stock Doves and Tawny Owls. There are also open fronted boxes which appeal to Robins, Spotted Flycatcher and Pied Wagtails.
Do not put nest boxes of the same type close to each other Open fronted boxes should be hidden from view Make sure cats cannot get into the boxes Consider putting a metal plate around the hole to deter squirrels Boxes should be sheltered from the weather Keep the boxes away from bird feeders Place between 1 and 5 metres high Use screws that will not rust
February is an ideal time to put boxes up, because pairs of small birds prosper towards the end of the month. You are also helping however if you put boxes up at any time of year, although 1 August to the 31 January is the time under Bird Protection Law when nests can be cleaned out, and any dead eggs found destroyed. By Susan Brookes-Morris
Imagine how lovely it would be to watch the birds going in and out of your boxes and hopefully some young ones hatching there. If you are careful and quiet, you can even peek inside the box from time to time when the eggs are incubating, as most birds will sit tight. If you want to count the eggs, observe in the early morning and wait until the female bird flies off for a quick meal. You can choose to buy some nest boxes from your local pet store or garden centre, or make some. Instructions for building boxes are available on many internet sites including http://www.bto.org/ the British Trust for Ornithology site. Here are some handy hints for siting your nest boxes:
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Blowsy Begonias
very gardener has at least one guilty secret: mine is begonias. My mother insists they are vulgar and she wouldn’t give them house room. A gardening friend turned up her nose at my begonia baskets last year, but I won’t hear a word against them. They are the cheerful, cockney barrow boys of the plant world and I love them.
Keep the pots at somewhere between 15-18C / 60-75F in the propagator, in a greenhouse, or on a bright windowsill, though not in direct sunlight.
They are pretty easy to grow once you know how, and you can start them off any time now if you have a warm windowsill or a propagator.
Finally, begonias have both male and female flowers. The male ones are far bigger and more showy, so pinch off the female ones, which can be spotted because they possess an embryonic seed pod behind the bud. Doing this will mean that the male flowers last much longer. You may need to stake them to support the heads.
One of the reasons I find them so satisfying to grow is that they start life as a rather unprepossessing tuber, which my husband once described as looking like dried dog poo - he isn’t a gardener. The tubers should feel rock hard when you squeeze them. If they feel spongy, put them back. There is also a right way up and a wrong way up. Take your tuber and examine it. There should be a concave surface - like a little dip - and a convex surface. The dip is the upper surface from which the shoots will grow and the convex surface sprouts the roots.
Water with care, and when the first flowers appear make sure they are well ventilated. High humidity and erratic watering can cause the buds to drop off.
When summer arrives, you will be able to plant up pots and baskets and bask in the flamboyant blowsy beauty of the begonia: Who could resist. By Rachel Leverton
Fill some 12cm/5inch pots with soil-less potting compost so that the surface of the compost is 2.5cm /1 inch below the rim of the pot. This eventually allows for watering, but at this time of year the top of the tuber should be kept dry. Push the tubers – remember concave side up - into the compost so that the top of each tuber is still visible. Do not bury them.
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Spotlight Magazine
The Lost City Adventure Golf
Just the start of YOUR epic adventure! The Lost City Adventure Golf, at the Cornerhouse in Nottingham boasts two separate 18 hole indoor adventure golf courses - Sacred Skull Pass and Temple Trail!
Why not play Sacred Skull Pass and then relax on thier mezzanine floor overlooking the courses whilst enjoying a soft drink or, as they are licenced, a beer or glass of wine before challenging your friends on the Temple Trail? Play 36 holes with a chance to show your skills to all! Experience the challenge of playing amid a thunder and lightning storm on thier “carpeted” greens, risking a venomous talking snake, talking idols, crumbling walls and crockodiles! Both courses have been designed to be wheelchair user friendly so all adventurers can play!
And if you can keep a steady nerve to the end and satisfy our Sacred Skull or Temple God - much gold will come your way...... The Lost City is the ideal place to have a children’s party with a number of party packages to suit your requirements. Its also a great place to host your Company events, be they teambuilding, a staff night out, customer evening or inter office “get together”. Play 18 or 36 holes of adventure golf or hire one golf course for your private function, they can tailor a package to suit your requirements. They can also assist you with arranging competitions if required. The Lost City Adventure Golf can be found at The Corner House, Nottm NG1 4DB or visit info@lostcityadventuregolf.com Tel. 0115 985 9455
Win a family pass for 18 holes for a family of 4 at lost city golf. Just email us at info@spotlightlocal.co.uk to enter the draw for your free tickets!
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Spotlight Magazine Magazine Spotlight
Puzzle Page
Crossword Clues Across 1 Rosy-cheeked child (6) 5 Sloped style of printing (6) 8 As soon as possible (abbr) (4) 9 Trivial, unimportant (8) 10 Air turbine (8) 11 Currency of Ireland (4) 12 Jewish greeting (6) 14 Undamaged (6) 16 Heroic, majestic (4) 18 Scare, intimidate (8) 20 Wall art or defacement (8) 21 Offer praise to God (4) 22 Official order (6) 23 Sycophants, toadies (3,3)
Quick Crossword
Down 2 Marijuana (7) 3 Swift, speedy (5) 4 Difficult or unpleasant first-time experience (7,2,4) 5 The quality of being totally dependable or foolproof. (13) 6 Illness (7) 7 Situated within (5) 13 The Devil (7) 15 Incinerate, burn (7) 17 Clean-out, purify (5) 19 Aspires, wishes (5)
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Spotlight Magazine
Gifts That Say “I Love You”
What to buy the one you love on Valentine’s Day.
The year was 1969 and they were hopelessly in love. As two of Hollywood’s biggest stars, and arguably the most famous couple in the world, Richard Burton decided to prove his undying passion for his wife Elizabeth Taylor by purchasing a huge 69.42 carat pear shaped diamond with a £1m price tag to match. Though this extravagant act hit the headlines, it is by no means unique. In 1648 emperor Shah Juhan built the Taj Mahal, the “crown of palaces”, in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. More recently, Chelsea football club owner Roman Abramovich gave his girlfriend a bronze sculpture worth $14m one of the most expensive gifts ever made. At the other end of the spectrum, the less rich and famous have earned themselves a place on the Internet if not in the history books, by presenting their loved ones with less salubrious offerings. An empty suitcase, with not a hint of surprise tickets to a romantic destination, a deep fat fryer with left over Christmas chocolate hidden inside, and divorce papers delivered while dining out, are just a sample of these gift-giving gaffs. With Valentine’s Day almost upon us, you may be wondering what to buy your loved one. Apart from the usual flowers, chocolates and jewellery, is there anything else out there a little more unusual that will keep you in their good books, whilst avoiding one of ‘those’ looks?
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If togetherness is your thing, you can buy a pair of love gloves for around £20, but if you fancy something more thrilling, how about a lovers leap bungee jump at around £120? That will certainly add some excitement to a relationship! If adrenalin rushes are your lover’s thing, why not consider indoor sky diving, flying lessons, dumper truck racing, and a super car thrill experience where you get to drive a real sports car? Cricket, snooker and other sports coaching lessons can also be purchased for around £150 a time. If pampering is more palatable, how about a spa package, or a make-over followed by a photo shoot, or for around £25 a “design your own perfume” set? If food is the way to a man’s heart, then chocolate is definitely the entry to a woman’s! For something different, why not get her a pizza made entirely of chocolate, or chocolate-shaped spoons that melt in hot milk making a deliciously smooth drink? Finally, what could be more romantic than naming a star after your loved one, or giving them the chance to name one themselves? You can purchase this privilege for around £20. If you haven’t found an idea here to suit your taste or your pocket, try searching some for yourself. The following websites are a good place to start: thepresentfinder.co.uk; prezzybox. com; notonthehighstreet.com.
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Spotlight Magazine
A Good Read
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry By Rachel Joyce Retirement is meant to be relaxing, isn’t it? You do what you love doing, and enjoy yourself. But what if you suddenly receive a letter out of the blue? A woman who worked in your office many years ago has cancer and is dying. She just wants you to know. This touches you for reasons you can’t quite explain, so you write her a note to say that you are sorry to hear that. Putting on your coat and your yacht shoes you leave with the note. Your destination? The post box. Just as far as the end of the road. And so starts Harold Fry’s extraordinary journey: 627 miles in 87 days. With no plan, other than to reach Queenie, he sets off on a journey of faith. Scribbling on the note he tells her to wait for him. This debut novel from radio and TV writer, Rachel Joyce, will take you on a gentle journey with Harold and the various people he meets along the way. Totally unprepared for what he will encounter, his faith in positive thinking keeps him going as he learns more about his life and relationships with his wife and son.
In this, the second book in the series, Toby, a mischievous young gargoyle with the ability to fly, manages to create havoc at the school, much to the disgust of Mrs Hogsbottom who, after an incident with a skateboard, reminds pupils of school rule number 27: the head teacher must not be run over without permission. Max spends most of his time trying to keep Toby and the other gargoylz under control: not easy when they can make themselves invisible and so avoid all the blame! When he suggests that Toby runs a bath to clean himself up after eating a packet of chocolate biscuits, it’s not difficult to imagine the rather wet chaos that ensues. Written for readers age 6+, with an interactive website to explore the stories and characters more, this is sure to keep both boys and girls engrossed, with the added bonus of many more books to enjoy. By Willow Coby
Gargoylz: Get up to Mischief By Burchett and Vogler If you thought your time at primary school was exciting, then you have nothing on nine-year-old Max and his best friend Ben. Their school is next to an old church and to their delight, they discover that the stone figures on the church come to life.
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Spotlight Magazine
Dont Worry, Be Happy
When the weather is bleak and grey, how can we lift our mood? Exercise - When we exercise our brain releases feel-good endorphins, making us happier. Even a short 5 minute stroll round the block can boost your mood. Think how you might add just a little more movement into your daily life: Maybe a few morning yoga poses, or an evening walk.
Get Immersed - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, renowned psychologist found that immersing ourselves in an activity we love, which also requires skill, makes us happy. Try reading, playing the guitar, writing a blog, or cooking, immerse yourself in a hobby and your mood will brighten. Laugh - Laughter changes the energy of a situation immediately and lightens our
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mood. Try watching a DVD of your favourite comedian. Better still, visit a comedy club and give yourself permission to laugh-out-loud. Meditate - Scientific studies have proved that emotions, and happiness in particular, can be trained. Even a few minutes of meditation per day have a positive impact our brain and sense of well-being. Be part of a community Research shows that people involved in their community are happier. Communities foster emotional support and a connection with others, which leads to a greater sense of well-being. The community could be a group of likeminded people such as a choir, or artgroup. By Sarah Davey
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Spotlight Magazine
World Book Day
‘There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all.’ So said Jackie Kennedy Onassis, and in support of this philosophy, more than 100 countries worldwide will be commemorating World Book Day on Thursday 5th March. This year marks the eighteenth anniversary of the event, which is designed to encourage children to explore the pleasure of books and reading.
How exactly the occasion is celebrated is up to the individual school or library, with ideas and resources for activities available from the website www.worldbookday.com, but regardless of the outcome, every child in participating schools will receive a book token that can be exchanged for a free book.
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There are ten specially selected titles on offer, with the option to use the token to receive a £1 discount on an alternative book if you prefer to choose your own. There are many benefits to encouraging a healthy attitude towards reading from an early age. The main one is that it exercises the brain. “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body,” stated Joseph Addison. It improves concentration, builds vocabulary, develops imagination, teaches about the wider world, is a great form of entertainment and helps relax and calm the body and mind. So, enlarge not only your child’s world but your own too, by discovering the joy of books!
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Spotlight Magazine
Playing Fair
What is Fairtrade Fortnight and why do we need it?
Fairtrade fortnight takes place this year between 23 February and 8 March 2015, and aims to continue to raise awareness and change behaviour around this important topic. Research shows that whilst 78% of the UK population recognise the Fairtrade Mark, over 50% still do not actively choose Fairtrade products. Fairtrade is about getting better prices, working conditions and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers. It’s about supporting the development of thriving farming and worker communities, so that they have more control over their futures and protecting the environment in which they live and work. It is now possible to buy around over 4,500 products officially branded Fairtrade including: Tea, Coffee, Bananas, Chocolate, Gold, Flowers, Cotton and Sugar. Sadly however, only 1.2% of cocoa and 10% of tea globally are traded on Fairtrade terms. Did you check the packaging for the Fairtrade logo when you last bought some tea? The Fairtrade mark means that the Fairtrade ingredients in the product have been produced by small scale farmer organisations or plantations that meet social, environmental and economic Fairtrade standards. These standards help to protect workers’ rights and environment. They also ensure payment of the Fairtrade Minimum Price for the commodity, and an additional Fairtrade Premium which is invested into the business or community projects.
Fairtrade only certifies small scale farmer organisations for products such as cocoa, cotton and rice, but does certify plantations with larger numbers of employees for goods such as tea, bananas and flowers. The standards required for larger organisations include allowing them freedom of association and collective bargaining, and prevention of discrimination and child labour. The producers decide how the Fairtrade premium is invested. Often this will be in schools, transport, health care and better business equipment and practices. There are over 1.4 million farmers and workers in 1,140 producer organisations within the Fairtrade System. These are across 74 different countries and four continents. Fairtrade.org.uk would love people to get involved during Fairtrade fortnight. Here are some suggested activities to increase awareness and raise money. Create a Fairtrade Trail around your local area highlighting those selling Fairtrade products. Build a model of something funded from Fairtrade premium such as a school or health centre, and display this in a prominent place to make it a talking point. Have some fun creating a special event. This could be a film evening showing the Fairtrade film, or something more elaborate such as a Come Dine With Me experience. Tasting events featuring Fairtrade produce are also popular. By Susan Brookes-Morris
Small scale farmers and workers are amongst the most marginalized globally, and Fairtrade helps them through trade, not aid, providing stable income to help them plan.
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Spotlight Magazine
Index Of Advertisers
Aerial Services ADI.......................................21
Estate & Letting Agents John Sankey.......................15 Castlegate Estates.............16
Plumbing Gas Care.................................21 C F Plumbing..........................13
Funeral Directors W S Ingham..........................2
Painting & Decorating Mark 1 Painting..................21
Furniture Sliding Door Wardrobes......7
Plastering Quality Plastering...............27
Blinds R S Blinds............................21
Golf Lost City Golf.....................14
Property Maintenance Key Building Supplies....................11
Carpets & Flooring Cleaner Carpets..................25
Handyman Services HomeTrades 4U.................29
Roofing Quality Roofing...................23
Chimney Sweeps Home-Sweep.......................17 L Clay...................................28
Kitchens & Bathrooms That Kitchen Company.......17
Solid Fuel Stoves...............26
Attractions White Post Farm...................31 Beauty East Midlands Laser..............9 Alexsa..................................13
Chiropodists The Foot Guy.......................21 Driveways Resin Drives.......................32
Leather Repair Leather Better.....................21 Nottingham Logs ADI.....................................19
Electrical Services RS Electrical.......................21
Puzzle Solutions
Signs City Signs................................5 Stairlifts Stairlift Nottingham............29 Windows & Doors Cloudy2Clear..........................3
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e l y t s e R
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