Spotlight Magazine for Mansfield South, Nottinghamshire February 2015

sp tlightOn ISSUE 61 February 2015

Mansfield South

th in Delivered to 18,000 Homes and Businesses each mon h Nort sfield Man West Bridgford, Mansfield South, & Inside this issue: • Sink Or Swim • Playing Fair • Flipping Pancakes • Modern Kitchen Designs • Business Focus • Puzzles • Recipe • Garden View

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Managing Director John Kendall feels that it’s all about service.

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Spotlight Magazine

Contents

Feather Their Nest 6 Playing Fair 8 Sink Or Swim 10 Winter Skin Problems 12 While You Were Sleeping 14 Lost City Golf 16 Garden View 18 Puzzle Pages 20 Don’t Worry Be Happy 22 World Book Day 24 Modern Kitchen Designs 26 Lemon Almond Cake 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

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

Open Monday to Thursday 8am - 5pm Fridays 8am - 4pm Saturdays 8am-1pm (October to March)

Come & collect from our yard

from 7.30 collected

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We Design, manufacture and install the fitted bedroom of your dreams proudly made right here in Nottinghamshire.

Have a look on our website for ideas and pictures of some recent installations.

P.S. We Make Great KitchensToo!

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Spotlight Magazine

I

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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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

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

While You Were Sleeping

P

ut the ‘beauty’ back into beauty sleep with the latest in overnight facial products…

A quick look in the consumer magazines and on the shelves of the High Street beauty stores will tell you that the popularity of overnight facial products is at an all-time high.

From plumping night serums to restorative face creams, there’s a plethora of products that have been designed to specifically take advantage of the twilight hours and help you make the most of your skin whilst you are sleeping. The question is what are you doing to help?

Nocturnal skin care plays an important part in a daily skin care routine. Skin does most of its regenerating at night, so it’s important to give it as much of a helping hand as possible.

Another reason that skin does a good job of healing at night is that you don’t touch

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it when you’re sleeping. It stays fresh and clear, and doesn’t come into contact with make-up, dirt, debris, pollution or bacteria from your fingers.

Sleep is when the skin empties out and replenishes. Skin renewal peaks between 11pm and 3am. It’s important to use a vitamin-packed night cream to coincide with those hours as night creams are designed to replenish, nourish and top up skin with any vitamins lost during the day. While the skin is resting, we have maximum skin cell respiration which makes night time a key time for skin renewal.

Call the Alexsa salon on 01623 439394 to request some ‘sleep samples’ of both Elemis and Dermalogica night creams and to take advantage of our fabulous Elemis Facials on offer this month to celebrate their 25 years of excellence!

Jenny Dunville

THE BODY

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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

E

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

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

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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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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‘

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

Modern Kitchen Design Ideas

hen discovering kitchen remodeling ideas for your kitchen, there are W several different aspects to consider.

Overall, a functional space is key — after all, you want your kitchen layout to work well for you.

You should carefully consider where to place your oven, refrigerator, island and cabinets to ensure plenty of space to cook, eat and entertain.

Next, you should keep storage in mind. Kitchens contain a lot of utensils, pots, pans and small appliances, so be sure to have enough space to store all your favorites nearby.

Finally, your modern space should look nice and welcoming to guests who visit.

Using high-quality, colorful materials will help bring personality and vibrancy to your space, which is important when trying to avoid a cookie-cutter look.

If you’re starting a kitchen renovation, now is a great time to create exactly what you want. With the help of a kitchen designer, even a small space can have spacious storage and a nice flow.

• •

For small spaces, a galley layout is a great option. Since horizontal space is limited, think vertical; stack worktops and shelves high up on the walls, and try to find innovative storage containers and double-duty pieces.

For larger layouts, try an L-shaped or U-shaped kitchen with a large centre island or peninsular. It provides plenty of cabinet and worktop space, and you can add a bar-height worktop to the island for an instant eat-in space.

In the end, it’s important to think about what your family uses the room for and then cater to those needs when you start implementing your kitchen remodeling ideas.

Local family run company Interior Design Bureau has more than 25 years experience in the design and installation of quality kitchens and bathrooms. Call them on 01623 407301 to arrange a free consultation in the comfort of your own home, or view the website at: www.interiordesignbureau.co.uk.

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Spotlight Magazine

L Clay’s Chimney Sweeping Services Professionally trained by the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps *Aerial Installations *Satellite Installations *Phone Line *CCTV Call: 01623

272036 or Freephone 0800 0132341

For excellent before and after care

call 01623 411037 or 07900 326246

*Aerial Installations *Satellite Installations *Phone Line *CCTV Call: 01623

272036 or Freephone 0800 0132341

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27

Spotlight Magazine

Lemon Almond Cake

Yummy...this one’s a family favourite.

Cake Ingredients 200g unsalted butter 200g Demerara sugar 90g plain flour 90g ground almonds Half tsp baking powder Zest of 1 large, unwaxed lemon 4 large eggs Syrup 2tbsps Demerara sugar Juice 1 large unwaxed lemon Set oven to 160C / Gas Mark 3 Line a loaf tin (25cm x 11cm x 7cm) with greaseproof paper.

Method Sieve the flour with the baking powder and mix in the ground almonds. Grate the lemon zest and add this to the mix too.

Beat the eggs lightly then add to the

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creamed butter and sugar, a little at a time.

Don’t worry if it curdles a little.

Gently fold in the flour, almonds and baking powder with a large metal spoon.

Dollop the cake mixture into the lined tin.

Bake for 45 minutes until golden. To test it, insert a metal skewer. If the skewer comes out clean, the cake is cooked. If not, the cake needs a few minutes more.

Remove from the oven.

For the syrup, stir the Demerara sugar into the lemon juice...it will only partially dissolve, but there is no need to heat it.

Prick the top of the cake with the skewer or a sharp knife and spoon the syrup over the cake. Leave to cool.

Try this cake with a scoop of crème fraîche and some fruit compote.

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Spotlight Magazine

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Spotlight Magazine

Index Of Advertisers

Aerial Services ADI............................................27 Attractions White Post.................................13 Bathrooms Takeaway Bathrooms................14 Beauty Alexsa.......................................12 East Midlands Laser...................2 Mansfield Electrolysis & Laser......25 Blinds R S Blinds.................................25 Carpets & Flooring Safeclean..................................19 Chiropodists The Foot Guy.............................27 Chimney Services L Clay........................................27 Driveways Resin Driveways.......................32 Electricians Gibbec......................................21 Estate & Letting Agents John Sankey.............................15 Castlegate Estates...................17

Fencing Steve Horsnall........................27 Funeral Directors W S Ingham...........................11 Hutchinson Funeral Svce......29 Furniture Sliding Door Wardrobes..........7 Gardening Services Four Seasons Lawncare...........23 Golf Lost City Golf............................14 Handyman Services Home Trades 4 You....................4 Insurance Park Hall....................................31 Kitchens & Bathrooms Interior Design Bureau.........26 That Kitchen Company...........5 Impressions..........................21 Takeaway Bathrooms...........22 Leather Repair Leather Better...........................27 Logs Notts Logs..................................4

Puzzle Solutions

Motoring Tyre Shop.................................27 Painting & Decorating Mark1 Painting.........................23 Pets Dial A Dog Wash......................27 Plastering Quality Plastering.....................31 Plumbing Gas Care..............................25 C F Plumbing.......................23 ASAP Plastics......................15 Roofing Services Quality Roofing Svcs..................1 Sign Makers City Signs...............................9

Soft Furnishings Complete Curtains...................27 Stairlifts Stairlift Nottingham...................30 Tailoring Services ADI...........................................29 Windows and Doors Cloudy2Clear.........................3

WANTED Part Time Sales Person for Spotlight Magazines Part time, self employed, commission only position Call for more information

0115 822 4995

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www.spotlightlocal.co.uk • 01623 706570 info@spotlightlocal.co.uk To advertise or contribute call •07595 510190

Spotlight Magazine

The face to face insurance specialists.

Is your home insured properly against

Subsidence?

Many people living in ex-mining communities, like this one, aren’t aware that their current home insurance policy may not pay out for a subsidence claim... until they need it.

Picture: Darren Bown http://j.mp/molesworth11

Speak to one of our insurance specialists today or telephone on:

01623 651773 Park Hall Financial Services Limited 19 High Street, Mansfield Woodhouse NG19 8BB

www.parkhall.co.uk Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

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31

e l y t s e R

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That’s simple; our product naturally drains water through the finished surface which means no more puddles.

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