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ISSUE 96 January 2018
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Fit Not Thin In 2018 Many people will make a resolution to lose weight in 2018. To be fair lots of us made the same resolution on January 1st 2017...and 2016... What if we’re looking at it all wrong? What if a better resolution was to get fit in 2018? Fit not thin. I’m not saying you shouldn’t aim to lose weight. If your knees buckle when you try to stand up and you have a family history of cardiovascular disease maybe you should.
focussed on being less. That was the main difference for me.” Personally I think that if society paid more attention to fitness rather than weight loss, we’d actually have less obesity. If we (especially women) focussed on how far we could run or cycle, or how many push-ups we can do, we would naturally be more active and less obese because focussing on fitness actually makes weight loss easier.
The fitter you get the more you view food as fuel and the more you want to eat high quality nutritious food because it helps you get fitter. It’s positive reinforcement. And let’s be honest, society is horribly biased against fat people. But if fitness was the Holy Grail we wouldn’t automatically assume that not-thin equates to not-healthy. We need to stop being obsessed with weight-loss and thinness.
If we get involved in more conversations about fitness rather than how to lose extra pounds, our fat-bias would diminish and maybe more overweight people would feel comfortable joining the gym or that exercise class they always fancied. Both fat and thin people would be healthier if they aimed for fitness rather than thinness. Even if overweight people stay overweight weight, they still get all the protective benefits of exercise. And there are many thin people who are terribly unfit and are at risk of cardiovascular disease. Thin does not always or even often equate to healthy, in spite of popular myth.
But maybe that family history of cardiovascular disease should prompt you to think more strategically.
It’s not an either-or situation but if you only aim to end 2018 thinner you might succeed, you might not, but you’ll still be unfit.
Obesity is linked to cardiovascular disease but that’s not the whole story. Lack of fitness also plays a role. Tackle the fitness and a side effect may be that you also tackle the obesity. And seriously, getting fit is way more fun than dieting.
If you aim for fitness you will probably lose weight, gain confidence, friends, a new skill or two, and in the words of my friend be more than you were by the end of the year.
A friend once told me about the shift in her mindset when she decided to focus on fit not thin. “As I got fitter I became more than I was before. Whenever I’d tried to lose weight in the past I’d
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that obviously helps. Many tradespeople have struggled since last year and I honestly feel that during the good times a minority perhaps didn’t focus on customer care as much as they should have done. We make sure we turn up when we say we will, do the job the customer requires and leave their house as clean as a whistle. I often get comments back from customers on how they really didn’t expect that sort of service which, in a way, is very sad for the service industry as a whole.’ Cloudy2Clear service
in his success.‘The truth is that it’s not just the personal satisfaction that I get from doing a good job but also it makes good business sense. I get a huge amount of business from friends and family of people I’ve done work for,
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A Good Read And she daren’t try too hard, because Mam doesn’t like any reminders that Gwenni might not be the same as everyone else. Set in rural Wales in the 1950s, Strachan’s debut novel follows Gwenni as the disappearance of a local man begins a chain of events, which reveal some of the secrets that lie under the surface of everyday life. The novel works in a number of ways. On the one hand, it is at times a darkly comic portrayal of small town Wales. On the other, it is a story about families, their secrets and the after effects of war.
The Earth Hums in B Flat – Mari Strachan Gwenni Morgan is twelve, and every night she flies in her sleep – over the town and the countryside around, looking down on familiar and not so familiar scenes. She thinks she remembers flying while awake as a small child, but somehow she has lost the ability to do so, no matter how hard she tries.
What holds these strands together is Gwenni herself as narrator, who sees more than she understands, and whose innocence is captured perfectly in Strachan’s often understated prose style. The supporting characters are equally well drawn – from highly strung Mam, to kind, patient Tada, from the mysterious Aunty Lol, to Alwenna, Gwenni’s best friend, old beyond her years and ‘with no shame!’
Although the solution to the main mystery of the story is clear to the reader from the outset, Strachan holds back just enough to keep us guessing at the other strands which she brings together for the conclusion – I guarantee she will keep you reading until the end.
No two versions are ever the same, as each child brings to the book their own language and rhythms.
Clown – Quentin Blake
An absolutely marvellous book, which every child should read – and which every adult will enjoy too.
Clown himself is wonderfully expressive, and the pictures are enough to have you laughing out loud in several places.
Can you tell a story without words? Well, Quentin Blake can, and in Clown he does. The book consists entirely of illustrations, in Blake’s well loved and instantly recognisable style. Our hero, Clown, finds himself thrown into the dustbin, along with a number of other toys. He escapes, dusts himself off, and sets out to find someone who can help him to rescue his friends. Along the way he finds himself in a fancy dress competition, entertaining a rather fierce looking dog, and possibly finding himself a home – all without words. The beauty of the story is that while Blake’s illustrations carry the narrative forward, the reader can choose their own way of telling it.
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Forget Brain-Training, Learn an Instrument We are told we need to keep our brains active as we age, to help stave off cognitive decline and the risk of dementia. A whole industry has grown up around this, and we are urged to buy the latest brain-training apps and books. Yet research has thrown doubt on a lot of the hype surrounding these, with many now dismissed as useless gimmicks. But there is robust scientific evidence which shows that learning to play a musical instrument is not just beneficial to children: adults benefit too and it may even be helpful to patients recovering from brain injuries. Playing a musical instrument is a rich and complex experience that involves integrating information from the senses of vision, hearing, and touch, as well as fine movements. Musical training can induce longlasting changes in the brain. Professional musicians are highly skilled individuals who spend years training, so they provide a natural laboratory in which neuroscientists
can study how such changes – called experience-dependent plasticity – occur across their lifespan.
professional musicians usually outperform non-musicians in these areas.
Early brain scanning studies revealed significant differences in brain structure between musicians and non-musicians of the same age.
More recently, it has become clear that musical training facilitates the rehabilitation of patients recovering from stroke and other forms of brain damage.
For example, the corpus callosum, a massive bundle of nerve fibres connecting the two sides of the brain, is significantly larger in musicians, and the brain areas involved in movement, hearing, and visuo-spatial abilities also appear to be larger. Longitudinal studies (which track people over time) have shown that young children who undertake 14 months musical training exhibit significant structural and functional brain changes compared to those who do not. Learning to play a musical instrument not only increases grey matter volume in various brain regions, but also strengthens the long-range connections between those regions. Other research shows that musical training enhances verbal memory, spatial reasoning, and literacy skills:
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It also seems to have a protective effect against the onset of dementia. One problem with commercial brain training products is that they only improve performance on the skills involved. Musical training on the other hand has what psychologists refer to as transfer effects. In other words, learning to play a musical instrument seems to have a far broader effect on the brain and mental function, and improves other abilities that are seemingly unrelated, such as working memory and language.
Learning to play an instrument strengthens the brain in a way that nothing else does, so put down the Sudoku and pick up your ukulele. You know it makes sense.
A Dose Of Sunshine Scientists are coming to the conclusion that we are more prone to colds and flu in the winter due to low levels of the “sunshine vitamin”, vitamin D, rather than colder weather, central heating, etc.
pregnant, breastfeeding women and anyone over 65 years old are advised to take a 10mcg supplement, and babies from 6 months 7mcg. Ask at your local NHS clinic about Healthy Start drops.
Vitamin D regulates the immune system, preventing infections and inflammations due to autoimmune conditions.
Vitamin D is best known for its role in calcium metabolism. Back in the mid 1880’s cod liver oil was recognised as a cure for the childhood bone disease rickets, however, not until 1921 did scientists realise that vitamin D was the component that cured the rickets.
Most of our Vitamin D is formed under the skin in reaction to sunlight, but of course we must remember to limit our exposure in order not to burn. It is found only in a small number of foods, mainly oily fish (herring, salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines and cod liver oil), cheese and egg yolks. Margarine, breakfast cereals and powdered milk are often fortified. It is also important to consume raw green leafy vegetables and a handful of nuts and seeds daily, to provide the minerals that support vitamin D absorption. Vitamin D deficiency is a real possibility these days due to low light levels, less time spent outdoors and an excessive use of sunscreens during the summer. Ideally, 15-20 minutes of sun exposure (depending on skin type) between 10am & 3pm twice a week, is recommended during the summer and longer during winter. You may need to take supplements if you work long hours indoors. Take care though, because you can over-dose on this vitamin as it is fat soluble, but scientists believe the recommended levels, 400 international units (IUs) or 10 micrograms (mcg), are too low and 1000 IUs or 25 mcg may be necessary to prevent disease.
The encouraging thing about recent studies is the increasing list of chronic conditions that may be implicated in vitamin D deficiency such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, mental illness, multiple sclerosis, muscle weakness, osteoarthritis and some types of cancer.
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The Vitamin D Council has urged doctors to test the vitamin D levels of patients suffering the above conditions and treat with sunlight and supplementation. In the last century, tuberculosis patients were prescribed sunshine. Are Mediterranean people so healthy due to diet alone, or the extra sunshine they receive? More research is needed, but in the meantime we can begin to make any necessary changes to ensure a happy, healthy New Year! Sue Blain
Others, like Heaney & Holick, recommend 3,000 IUs depending on a person’s bodyweight. In the UK,
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Garden View Sniff! Sniff! No I don’t have a cold but this month I will be sniffing a lot. Mainly because of my winter-flowering shrubs. There’s something especially valuable about shrubs that flower in winter’s short and often dreary days. Seeing these delightful and resilient flowers taking frost, rain and snow in their stride lifts our spirits. Many are fragrant and can be cut for indoor winter posies. Every garden should have a couple of plants which bravely open their petals while winter is doing its worst. Viburnum farreri or Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ or ‘Deben’ are upright shrubs which bear pretty clusters of pink-buds on their bare branches, that open into honeyscented white flowers. They are incredibly tough, withstanding all but the harshest of frost. It’s lovely to cut a few sprigs to stand in a jam jar indoors.
It’s a delightful shuttlecock-shaped bush that explodes with citrus-scented spidery flowers right about now.
I have two in pots on either side of my path for several years. I’ve had people stop in their tracks and return back towards the house sniffing, in search of the source of the amazing sweet, heady scent.
I have the orange ‘Jelena’ in my garden but the pale yellow ‘Pallida’ and the deep red ‘Ruby Glow’ are equally lovely.
And don’t forget that there are scented snowdrops and tiny Iris reticulata which are deliciously perfumed too. Time to get sniffing. Happy gardening.
My dad had a wonderful winterflowering honeysuckle in his garden: Lonicera fragrantissima, which I adored. A few years ago I discovered Lonicera x purpussi and fell in love. It has creamy white flowers and a really strong scent. Even if you have a tiny garden you’ll have room for a Christmas Box Sarcococca confusa. It produces white whiskery flowers from among its dark shiny evergreen foliage.
My favourite winter flowering shrub is the witch hazel plant Hamamelis mollis. F_BAR_15642 Spotlight Mansfield - Forest Care Home - 166 x 258mm (January Creative).qxp_Layout 1
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Are you thinking about care for a loved one this winter? The festive season can be a joyous time, but can also be a time for reflection – the realisation that an older person close to you may be struggling to cope at home. Whether it’s the challenges of age, the feeling of loneliness or the pressures of winter, Forest Care Home could be the new beginning that’s needed.
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Have you made healthier eating a part of your New Year plan? If so you should definitely try this healthy, hearty breakfast. A friend introduced me to overnight oats and I have to say I’m hooked. First, it’s the easiest breakfast ever. There’s nothing to cook; you make it the night before in under 5 minutes, and when you wake up, it’s there waiting. All you have to do is eat it!
Overnight Oats
Oats help to reduce cholesterol and are a whole, unprocessed source of carbohydrates, which release energy slowly so are a great start to the day. Basic Overnight Oats Ingredients 1/2 cup dry oats (the actual cup size doesn’t really matter. It’s about proportions…just use a bigger cup if you have a bigger appetite)
plain yoghurt or a mix of yoghurt and milk is all good) Fruit of choice (fresh, frozen or even tinned) 1 tbsp chia seeds or flax seeds (optional but good for healthy omega 3 fats) Nuts (optional)
1 cup of unsweetened milk (I like almond milk but cows’ milk, soya milk,
Method 1. Combine everything into an airtight bowl or jar (I leave nuts out as I like them crunchy) 2. Leave in the fridge overnight 3. Eat in the morning! You can heat them if you like. Variations: Fruit: apples, banana, nectarines, blueberries, strawberries, figs, redcurrants (most fruits taste great).
The basic recipe is very adaptable; you can do so many different things with it.
Flavourings: flaked or desiccated coconut, ground almonds.
Making breakfast during a hurried morning just doesn’t make sense. And while there are lots of make-ahead breakfast options, none of them are quite as easy and stress-free as overnight oats.
Sweeteners: If you have a sweet tooth you can add maple syrup, honey or jam. My kids experimented with chocolate milk too – lovely with bananas.
This dish takes just minutes to prep, a handful of ingredients are mixed together and stored in a jar, and the oats “make” themselves with an overnight rest in the fridge.
Healthy fats: flax, nuts, nut butters Toppings to add in the morning: granola, nuts, raisins, sour cherries, additional fruit, chocolate chunks
I tend to eat mine cold but if you like things hot, heat them up in the microwave
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RNLI SOS Fundraising for coastal safety Last year while holidaying near Salcombe I witnessed real-life lifeboat rescue. I was humbled by the professionalism of the crew and realised that living inland I had never really thought about lifeboats before. Afterwards I spoke to a crew member. He told me that countrywide on average there are 24 call-outs per day so there is a good chance that while you are reading this a lifeboat crew is in action somewhere on our coast.
of air in watertight bulkheads, used cork and other lightweight materials in the structure, and included a false iron keel for additional weight to help keep the boat upright. In 1786 Lukin was commissioned to convert a coble - a type of fishing boat - into an ‘unimmergible’ lifeboat for Bamburgh. The result was the first known ‘lifeboat’, and Bamburgh Castle thus became the first lifeboat station. In 1789 a ship named Adventure ran aground at the mouth of The River Tyne during a violent storm. The sea
British and Irish coastal waters can be treacherous. During the 18th century around 1,800 ships were wrecked around the coasts of Britain and Ireland – everyone who put to sea accepted the risk and assumed there was little anybody could do to save lives.
South Shield’s private Law House committee launched a lifeboat design competition with a reward of 2 guineas (around £2.10) for the best design. A parish clerk called William Wouldhave and a boat-builder called Henry Francis Greathead both entered. Wouldhave’s design was for a boat
made out of copper and cork that would right itself in stormy seas. Greathead’s model was built out of wood and was an excellent design, though it didn’t self-right. As neither design was an outright winner the committee blended ideas from both to produce a final lifeboat design. The entrants were offered half the prize money each. William Wouldhave took offence and rejected the offer. So Henry Greathead was asked to build the lifeboat from the final design and went on to become known as the inventor of the first lifeboat. It was called The Original, measured 9m by 3m (around 29 feet by 10 feet) and could carry 20 people including a crew of 12.
A London coachbuilder, Lionel Lukin, paved the way for the first purposebuilt lifeboat when he designed the world’s first unsinkable boat in 1785.
Henry Greathead went on to build 31 Original type lifeboats over the next 2 decades for communities around the British coasts, and also abroad.
Lukin wanted to improve boat-safety and experimented with a Norwegian yawl (a sailing dinghy) on the River Thames. Lukin incorporated pockets
He never took out a patent on his invention, preferring to share his plans for the good of others and lifesaving at sea.
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was too rough for the local men and their boats, so people had to stand by helplessly as Adventure’s crew drowned.
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Big Garden Birdwatch
The Big Garden Birdwatch is world’s largest garden wildlife survey, and 2018 will mark its 39th year. It is run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and will take place on 27th , 28th and 29th January 2018. All we have to do is spend just one hour watching and recording the birds in our garden or a local green space. Then we send our results to the RSPB. Close to half-a- million people joined in last year counting more than eight million birds and providing valuable information about the wildlife using our gardens in winter. We’re all familiar with the sight of bluetits on a bird feeder or a cheery robin hunting for grubs but it might come as a shock to know that some of our most-loved species are in desperate need of our help because their numbers have dropped dramatically. Species such as starlings and greenfinches have seen their numbers decline by 79 and 59 per cent respectively since the first Birdwatch in 1979. 40 years worth of data allows the RSPB to monitor trends and helps us understand how birds are faring, and what potential issues they might be facing. With results from so many gardens, they are able to create a snapshot of the visiting birds at this time of year across the UK. So even if you see nothing at all during your Big Garden Birdwatch hour, that’s important information too! The RSPB also asks participants to log some of the other wildlife they have seen throughout the year.
In 2018 people are being asked to look out for badgers, foxes, grey squirrels, red squirrels, muntjac deer, roe deer, frogs and toads. To take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch 2018, participants should watch the birds in the garden or local park for one hour at some point over the three allocated days. Only the birds that land in the garden or local park should be counted, don’t count those just flying over. There is also a parallel event; Big Schools’ Birdwatch takes place which takes place during the period 2nd January-23rd February 2018. Further information about this can be found at www.rspb.org.uk/schoolswatch Both the Big Garden Birdwatch and the Big Schools’ Birdwatch are part of the RSPB Giving Nature a Home campaign. This is aimed at tackling the habitatcrisis facing the UK’s wildlife. The charity is asking people to provide a place for wildlife in their gardens or outdoor spaces. This could involve putting up a nest box for birds, creating a pond for frogs, or building a home for hedgehogs. There is a free Big Garden Birdwatch pack, which includes a bird identification chart, plus advice to help you attract wildlife to your garden. Text BIRD to 70030 or visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch. Registration opens on 13th December 2017. By Tom Hancock
World Braille Day
World Braille Day January 4th Louis Braille was born in France on January 4th, 1809. When he was three he lost the sight in one eye due to an accident. Unfortunately the damaged eye became infected and this spread to the other eye, leaving him without sight. Louis worked hard to master his disability and despite being unable to see he excelled in his education and received a scholarship to France’s Royal Institute for Blind Youth. During his studies he was inspired by the military cryptography of Charles Barbier of the French Army. As a result of this Louis developed a system of tactile code that allowed the blind to read and write as efficiently as their sighted counterparts. Braille presented the results of his hard work to his peers when he was just fifteen years old in 1824. Five years later he published his first book about the system he had created, called “Method of Writing Words, Music, and Plain Songs by
• • • • • • • •
Means of Dots, for Use by the Blind and Arranged for Them”. The Braille system works by representing the alphabet letters (and numbers) in a series of 6 dots paired up in 3 rows. Braille is read by moving the hand or hands from left to right along each line. Both hands are usually involved in the reading process, and reading is generally done with the index fingers. The average reading speed is about 125 words per minute, but greater speeds of up to 200 words per minute are possible. The idea was simple, yet genius and allowed books to be produced on a large scale in a format that thousands of blind people could read by running their fingertips over the dots. It is thanks to Louis Braille that blind students have the opportunity to be educated and work alongside their sighted peers, as well as read for pleasure just as easily as any seeing person can. By Sarah Davey
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Wedding Plans Many say their wedding was the best day of their lives! For others, the stress of planning the event turned the whole thing into a nightmare. So, whether your dream wedding is big and grand, or small and simple, here are some tips to help you have your perfect wedding day. Some couples will pick their wedding date first, whilst others will choose their venue. If you have a strong preference for a particular date, then do try and book at least 12 months in advance as the most popular venues soon become booked for prime dates. Whilst a Saturday Summer wedding remains the most popular choice, some couples are increasingly taking advantage of discounted off peak and last minute wedding packages.
The Ceremony To become legally married, you can choose a religious service, a civil ceremony, or get married abroad. Churches may require you to attend regularly, be baptised and /or live in the parish, so check this in plenty of time to avoid disappointment. Whilst many feel a civil ceremony can be more personal with a greater opportunity to choose vows, readings and music which suits the individuals, all weddings have strict legal requirements. Your eligibility to marry will be checked, and your service must fulfil established criteria. If you wish to marry abroad, you must meet your destination’s wedding requirements as well as UK law. You will usually require a ring or rings as part of the ceremony.
The Catering Once you’ve arranged your wedding ceremony, you can think about your celebrations. As well as thinking about how you will get to your wedding, if your day includes several venues, you will need to provide your guests with directions or could choose to provide transport for them during the event. You will also need to decide where you want your photographs taken at a multi-venue wedding. Most newlyweds provide their guests with food and drink. Catering can be a large part of the wedding budget, so you should make sure you know what’s included in any packages offered. The timing of a wedding can be important in determining how many meals you will need to provide for guests. Lots of couples choose a theme for their wedding. This may be a colour based theme, or a genre such as Victorian or Hollywood. This theme can be facilitated through the clothing, flowers, invitations and table settings that are chosen.
The Cake The wedding cake is a traditional part of many weddings. Increasingly modern designs and cakes with various flavourings are featured instead of tiered iced fruit cakes. The cake offers a further opportunity for the bride and groom to stamp their personality on proceedings, and some also choose to use the cake as a dessert for their guests to save on costs.
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The Venue Make sure your venue has the capacity to deal with all your guests, check the access arrangements for less mobile attendees, and if you have guests who want to stay overnight , ensure the venue has bedrooms or that there are hotels close by. If you want to celebrate until the early hours, check the venue’s licensing hours, and as some venues do not allow fireworks if they are high on your wish list, remember to ask about this before parting with a deposit.
The Entertainment Many couples choose to have singers, musicians or entertainers as part of their wedding day. There may be a choir or other performers during the ceremony, an opportunity for music in the background at the Reception and to accompany evening dancing. Or you may choose to provide acts such as waiters who become opera singers, children’s’ entertainers, magicians, or a live band.
The Dress Of course, no wedding would be complete without the outfits. Many wedding dresses can take several months to arrive at UK shops, so be sure to order in plenty of time. You may also be surprised, and disappointed to find, that the dream dress you chose from a magazine or in a shop window does not suit you, so allow sufficient time to try on enough dresses to be sure you’ve found the perfect one.
Think about your size, height and perhaps the theme of your wedding to determine whether an A line dress, Empire, Sheath, strapless, long or short dress will be the one for you. Do remember that you might require help to get into your dress on the day, particularly if it has a lace up back or small buttons. Set yourself a realistic budget, and remember that you need to pay for accessories too. Once the bride’s dress is chosen you can focus on the bridesmaids, other attendants and the bridegroom. Usually the style and formality of these will follow the brides outfit. Many of the guests, including the Mother of the Bride, will also want to take care to ensure they have the perfect clothing and accessories, so do encourage them to shop well ahead. And if there is a theme let them know, so that they can enjoy feeling a special part of your wonderful wedding day. Congratulations and enjoy planning your wedding! By Sue Brookes
Burns Night Robert Burns was a Scottish bard, born in 1759 who wrote many poems and lyrics during his life. His most famous work is probably Auld Lang Syne, sang at New Year and which translates as ‘times long past’. Burns is one of Scotland’s most important cultural icons as many of his works addressed the political and civil issues of the time. Robert Burns’ friends and acquaintances held the first Burns supper on July 21, the anniversary of his death, in the late 1700s. This date was later changed to January 25th, which marks his birthday. Burns suppers gradually became a tradition and are now held by people and organizations with Scottish origins worldwide. At Burns Night events, many men and women wear kilts or other clothes made from their family tartan. At the centre of the supper is the haggis, which brought to the table to the tune of bagpipes. For the uninitiated haggis is a savoury pudding containing ‘sheep’s pluck’ (the heart, liver, and lungs of the
animal) which are minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, stock and salt, then encased in the animal’s stomach - though artificial casings are more commonly used now. It can be baked or boiled and although it sounds quite revolting is surprisingly delicious, at least to this author! It’s served with a whisky sauce and some neeps and tatties - a mixture of swede and potato which works beautifully with the rough, oaty haggis. Cranachan is the traditional desert of cream, raspberries and oatmeal. It should all be washed down with a good whisky. Have a great Burns night. Gun cuireadh do chupa thairis le slainte agus sonas. (Translation: May your cup overflow with health and happiness)
Epiphany In the Western World Epiphany marks the 12th day of Christmas, and falls on January 6th.
According to the Gospel of Matthew, they found the baby by following a star across the desert to Bethlehem.
The six Sundays which follow Epiphany are known as ‘the time of manifestation’ and Epiphany marks the official end to the festive season for many Christians.
The three men - named in the Bible as Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar offered symbolic gifts of gold, frankincense and myrr.
Traditionally it was a Christian feast day and was a celebration of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, as well as a more general celebration of his birth. Epiphany is also known as the Twelfth Night, and marks a visit to the baby Jesus by three Magi. They were most likely learned students of the stars, hence their alternative name The Wise Men, but they are also associated with royalty so are also known as The Three Kings.
The gold represented his royal standing; frankincense his divine birth; and myrrh his mortality. During the medieval period, Christmas was celebrated for the 12 days from Christmas Eve on December 24, until the Epiphany. Even up until the 19th century, January 6 was as big a celebration as Christmas Day. By Tracey Anderson
The word ‘Epiphany’ actually derives from Greek and means ‘to show’, referring to Jesus being revealed to the world. In the West, Christians began celebrating the Epiphany in the 4th century, associating it with the visit of The Wise Men to Jesus.
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Puzzle Page Quick Crossword
Crossword Clues Across 6 Trailblazer, trendsetter (7) 7 Sacked, given P45 (5) 9 Wooden shoe (4) 10 Measuring rod, inept person (8) 11 Belongs to a club (6) 13 Jab, prod (4) 15 Cat (informal) (4) 16 Glace, sour, Morello (6) 18 Valve in the loo cistern (8) 21 Did not tell the truth (4) 22 Oozy goo! (5) 23 High military rank (7)
Down 1 Undulating landscape (5) 2 Chortle, titter (8) 3 Imprisoned, incarcerated (4) 4 Perfect, spanking-new (4) 5 Toasted fruit-bun (7) 8 Thinly dispersed (6) 12 Call forward with a gesture (6) 13 Adjacent lines indefinitely equidistant are said to be ________ (8) 14 Responsive to medical treatment (7) 17 Turkish meat dish cooked on a skewer (5) 19 Floppy (4) 20 Part of the underside of a boat used for stability (4)
Wordsearch Clues Andrew Anne Autumn Beatrice Camilla Charles Charlotte Diana Edward Eugenie George Harry Isla James
14
Kate Louise Mark Mia Peter Philip Queen Sarah Savannah Sophie Timothy William Zara
You can find the answers to the puzzles on Page 17
Be A Quitter Each New Year countless people plan to stop smoking and discover just how difficult it is. Smoking is not just a habit but a full-blown addiction and quitting may require outside help. To give up smoking requires dedication and a plan. Your chances of success are increased if you employ all the extra resources you can. Some people can stop smoking instantly, but most need help in the form of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). The NRT you choose depends on your lifestyle, habits and the extent of your addiction, so seek advice from your GP or pharmacist. There are also new prescription medicines available to help you quit. The NHS runs nationwide Stop Smoking Services and their website http://smokefree.nhs.uk is particularly useful to help you on your way to a smoke-free life. Enter your postcode to find the nearest service to you. Also included on the site are applications (apps) for download onto
your computer, iPod or iPhone, to help keep track of your success. Alternative therapies provide excellent support in a quest for a non-smoking life. They include hypnotherapy, acupuncture and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Yoga and meditation are also recommended as a way of increasing mental stamina, to help cope with the effects of nicotine withdrawal. Tell friends and family that you are quitting - their support is vital. You are far more likely to quit for good if you have your very own team of supporters cheering you on. Be prepared for the withdrawal symptoms but understand that they will almost disappear after about two weeks. Withdrawals can range from anger, anxiety, insomnia and mild depression, but by month one these feelings should have subsided. If not, a trip to the GP is recommended. Quitters who make it to four weeks smoke-free are five times more likely to stay smoke-free for good.
Many people are put off giving up smoking for fear of gaining weight. Ex-smokers can miss the comfort of having something in their mouth and often turn to sweets, which can cause the pounds to pile on. This need for oral comfort can be alleviated by CBT, hypnotherapy or sugar-free gum. Take it one day at a time and consider each day you don’t smoke as a major achievement. The human body is an amazing thing. Just 20 minutes after that last cigarette, it begins to recover. My friend had a novel way of successfully stopping: she emptied the contents of her last ashtray into a plastic bag and each time she wanted to light up, she took the bag out and sniffed it.
It can take a while, but if you’re committed to quitting, you can do it. Just keep trying and remain positive. As well as the many well-publicised health benefits you’ll gain from giving up smoking, the amount of money you’ll save is astounding. Many smokers spend over £2000 a year on cigarettes, think of the holiday you could take! Whatever your personal reasons for wanting to quit, there’s a wealth of help and support out there to help you. So make 2011 the year you become a quitter. Suki North
It worked for her! Find a method that works for you. Don’t give up hope if you relapse. Most people who permanently quit smoking have made the attempt several times. If at first you don’t succeed, try - again and again.
Martin Page
Edwalton &
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Make Do And Mend
Puzzle Solutions
Country Needs You. Seriously though, we all need to think hard about how we’ll get through the next round of cuts. I browsed through the list of evening classes at our local college recently. There were dress-making classes, basic cookery courses, engine maintenance and one enigmatically entitled ‘up-cycling: make do and mend for modern times’. Perhaps these classes would be a good place to start for those of us looking to do our bit while we save a bit!
Solutions To Mind Benders
According to a recent article in the Daily Mail, there has been an increase in sales of brisket and fish paste!
It can’t have escaped your notice that Britain has been in a time of austerity. On TV, on the radio and in every newspaper the talk is all about cuts, budget deficits and us all ‘being in this together’. Whether or not we really are all in this together is up for debate, but setting aside the political rights and wrongs of our current precarious financial situation, I wondered whether we could learn anything from our Grandparents or GreatGrandparents.
Other staples such as custard powder and corned beef are also enjoying an upsurge in popularity. It seems we’re forgoing those expensive deli sandwiches in favour of a packed lunch, before we return home to tuck into a cheap and cheerful casserole followed by pud and custard. Certainly cheaper cuts of meat are more popular at the moment as households try to manage on less income. More of us are hitting the markets in search of bargains too.
Perhaps the time is right to reexamine how they coped with the austerity years during and just after the Second World War.
Veg boxes from local greengrocers are better value than pre-packed supermarket produce.
In the 1940s everyone had to take responsibility for economising, saving and salvaging - or recycling as it is known today.
Charity shops and dress agencies may be the beneficiaries of our new state of penury as we rummage through the rails in search of bargains.
It bound people together as they found ways to cope. Ooer...this sounds rather like ‘The Big Society’ idea of today’s coalition!
We’ve had geek chic, now it’s the turn of ration fashion. Remember, you heard it here first folks.
There was a lot of Government propaganda then too. Perhaps you have seen leaflets similar to those issued during the 1940s. They urged us to make-do and mend; offering hints about washing, re-using and patching; maybe we’ll even see one urging us to be creative with potatoes...perhaps adorned with a photo of Jamie Oliver pointing outwards and with the strap line Your
1. Middlemarch 2. The Tiger Who Came To Tea 3. A Man For All Seasons
So perhaps the news isn’t all bad. We’re a creative and resourceful lot us Brits and few other people are better in a crisis. Like the shrub pruned back for the winter, we may even come back stronger and more beautiful than before.
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The Art Of Pruning One job which lots of gardeners are reluctant to tackle is pruning. They are afraid that if they make a mess of it they will spoil, or worse still, kill the plant. But pruning is essential to the health and wellbeing of landscape plants. Any overgrown or struggling plant will benefit from a bit of cutting back and even a healthy plant benefits from a trim occasionally. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a tree or a shrub, a bush, flowers or your vegetable plants. They all benefit by pruning and trimming. Pruning makes your plant look better and feel better too. It allows the plants support system to send vital energy and nutrients to a smaller area and to prompt newer, more vigorous growth. The result will be a lusher, healthier and better-looking plant. Pruning is used to do the following: remove dead, weak, or unsightly branches; re-invigorate plant growth so that new leaves and branches grow faster; reshape the plant into a more desirable shape; produce a denser, bushier appearance; thin out growth, providing more air circulation and light; limit plant size.
Autumn and winter are the best time to prune, as most species are dormant then. If you don’t prune them when they need it, some plants will get very ugly. Pruning a plant badly is not likely to ruin it forever. It’s a bit like a bad haircut, it may not look too good right now, but it will grow out. Rose pruning probably causes the most panic for most people. Begin by cutting out all the dead wood. Then open out the centre of the plant, removing any tangled or branches that cross over. This allows air to circulate, thus reducing bug and disease problems. You should reduce the remaining stems by at least one third. Using a pair of good quality, sharp secateurs, make a clean cut on an
outward facing bud located between the leaf axle and the stem of the plant. Next remove the suckers which grow below ground from the original base rose that your variety has been grafted on to. Pull these suckers off rather than cutting them. If you don’t bother to do this, your rose will revert and become a little wild. Finally rake up and remove any old leaves to prevent the spread of diseases. If you have trees which need pruning and you think the job is too big to tackle yourself, the best thing to do is call in a tree surgeon. If nothing else, this expert can give you advice
on how to go about your project and whether or not the tree is actually worth saving. For example, many flowering cherries have a finite life of about 25 to 30 years. After that they succumb to disease and the only solution is to dig up the tree and plant another one, replacing a large part of the surrounding soil at the same time. Before you start pruning make sure you have the correct equipment, as a bog standard pair of kitchen scissors just won’t cut it for this garden task. The following guide should give an idea. Hand pruners: commonly called pruners, these tools resemble a pair of pliers and come in three main types. An anvil pruner features a single, straight-edged cutting blade that closes against an anvil of softer metal. A ratchet pruner also has a straight cutting edge but it has a ratchet mechanism that cuts through the branch in stages. Bypass pruners, the most popular type, cut with two curved blades that bypass each other in the manner of scissor blades.
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An Astronomical Evening
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Gaze into our glorious galaxy and beyond with members of the Mansfield and Sutton Astronomical Society, Coxmoor Road Sutton in Ashfield NG17 5LF, at our public open evening on Saturday 27 January 2018. The event commences at 6.45pm. Our main computer guided 61cm Newtonian Reflector telescope will be scanning the heavens backed up by a number of smaller portable telescopes and binoculars on the external pad. Our radio astronomy equipment will also be switched on, tracking incoming meteors, and “listening to the sounds of space.” Society members will be on hand guiding you around the wonders of the night sky, pointing out the various stars, constellations, and other celestial treasures. There will be a rolling programme of talks on an astronomy based subject throughout the evening, and children will have fun with our space shuttle game and a “crater creator.” You could also win a prize in our “astrodraw.” Come and look at the exciting plans we are developing to build the first 100 seater planetarium in the area, which we hope to have operational by 2020.
At the end of the night, you will be issued with a free sky map and/or an astronomy factsheet to take way. Refreshments and merchandise will be on sale. Free onsite parking. Booking is not required. Disabled access to all areas (but please be aware that the main telescope is housed in our dome situated at the top of a spiral staircase). It’s important to wrap up warm as the majority of time will be spent outside, and astronomy can be a very cold science. Admission prices – Adults (over 16) £5, under 16’s £1 (under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult). In case of poor weather and viewing, the telescopes may be restricted to terrestrial objects, and members will demonstrate their use. All other activities will run as normal.
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For more information about this open evening, future open evenings, and our forthcoming night school course, please log onto our website: www.sherwood-observatory.org.uk And you can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter too.
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New Year New Hobby Eat healthily, start exercising, get more sleep… As you list your usual New Year resolutions, why not add in something fun for once? January is the perfect time to lift your spirits out of a winter slump by starting a new hobby, and there have never been so many activities to try. To narrow down your choice, think about what you’d like to add your life. Do you want to meet more
people? Be more active? Learn a skill? Get creative? You may want to develop something that you are already interested in, or try something completely new. Look around to find out what’s going on. Your adult education centre and library will be able to help, and you’ll find information in cafés, newsagents, community centres and local magazines.
You could try a new sport or exercise class, but getting fit doesn’t have to mean sport. Why not follow the Strictly contestants and sample the benefits of ballroom dancing or Zumba, or simply aim to get out more and enjoy the countryside? Geocaching is an exciting new outdoor activity that the whole family can enjoy. It’s essentially a high-tech treasure hunt.
with knitting and sewing groups setting up all over the country. Jewellery and card-making are also satisfying. You can get started quite cheaply and pick up the basics quickly. The bonus is that you get to keep the end result, or give it as a gift. You also have the potential to earn money by selling your creations. Increased access to computers means that we can get involved in a whole host of new communities without even leaving the house.
Another new trend is roller derby – a fast-paced contact sport where teams race to lap the opposition as they skate around the track.
Many of us enjoy researching our family trees and finding the facts behind our memories. It’s also easy to use social networks to track down old school friends and colleagues that we’ve lost touch with.
If you fancy using your mind more than your body, you could learn a new language in preparation for a foreign holiday perhaps. Or build on an existing interest by joining a photography class or book group.
And if none of these is for you, how about foraging, meditation, winetasting, line-dancing, magic tricks, bee-keeping, historical re-enactments, home baking…the list really is endless!
Music can reduce stress and improve your mood, so why not dust off that instrument you haven’t touched for years and join an amateur orchestra? Choirs are increasingly popular and you’re sure to find a range of musical styles available. Crafts have had a real boost lately,
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Resolutions
Life Coaches
At the end of the year, most of us tend to take stock and decide to make some changes: lose weight, spend less, stop smoking. These are the most popular resolutions: Stay fit and healthy 37% Lose weight 32% Enjoy life to the fullest 28% Spend less, save more 25% Spend more time with family and friends 19% The thing is, we are creatures of habit, and it’s difficult to change things, especially when we see them as a sacrifice. Several years ago I was making my way through the supermarket checkout, when a sign on the community notice board caught my eye: “A New You For 2002”. Intrigued, I stopped to find out more and ended up signing up for a year’s life coaching. The basic aim of a life coach is to help a person realise their individual potential. Through a series of coaching sessions that usually take place weekly and often over the phone, the coach helps the client assess their current situation, identify changes or improvements they would like to make. They then helps devise strategies, tools and techniques to achieve their goals. Key to the success of this process is the special relationship of trust that develops between the coach and the client. Coaching is offered in confidence and is totally nonjudgmental and impartial. Differing from both counseling and therapy, the emphasis in coaching is not on examining or diagnosing the past, but is more about planning for the future.
Rather than focusing on how bad a problem is, the client is encouraged to consider instead the best solution for the problem. The support offered through life coaching is often holistic in nature, and is aimed at helping the individual achieve overall wellbeing by setting in balance all aspects of their life. For example, they will be encouraged to evaluate their work and home life, health, finances and social life - thus helping them to achieve a fulfilling, successful and stress-free life. The personalised support structure offered by life coaching helps the client deal with human factors like fear, doubt, a loss of stamina, negative thoughts and mental blocks that might otherwise get in the way of them achieving the results they desire. One ‘tool’ that might help change feelings of doubt and fear to ones of confidence and optimism, is the ability
to recall happy, positive memories from the past. By engaging in regular coaching sessions, an individual is able to take time out each week to look objectively at their life. Without this discipline, many would not find the time to do it. Similarly, having someone to talk to and plan with each week, helps to keep them focused and motivated.
So instead of a long list of things that we may never get round to, here are my top 3 resolutions that you should definitely make. Smile more!
Change one thing. Just one thing might be all you need to make a difference. Drink an extra glass of water daily. Buy blue eye shadow instead of brown. What one thing can you think of that will shake things up? And finally, the most important of all:Don’t make any resolutions! Save yourself untold stress and just forget about it. When you are ready to make a change, you will do it, no matter what time of year it is. So, keep in mind your general goals, to be healthier, wealthier and wiser, but do it when you’re ready, not when the calendar tells you to. Happy New Year!
It’s amazing how much brighter the world looks when you smile. The more you smile, the more people will smile back at you. Spread a little happiness to be happier, and it’s free!
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Look Great This Winter
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More Distraction Burglaries In Ashfield and Mansfield
Winter Skin Problems For skin, Winter can be sheer torture with harsh weather, drying indoor heat and layer-after-layer of clothing.
Officers investigating a number of distraction burglaries in the Ashfield and Mansfield areas are offering advice to residents.
It should come as no surprise that many recurrent skin problems are also at their worst at this time of year. Our skin is our largest organ of elimination; the average adult skin weighs 10 to 15 lbs and measures 20 sq.ft, when stretched out. That’s why weather conditions and indoor heating often make us feel dehydrated and tired. Central heating literally leeches the moisture from the air, leading to dry skin, chapping and sensitivity, meaning your skin requires extra attention. Left untreated, the effects of dehydration can cause conditions including fine lines; the release of inflammatory mediators; disturbed epidermal differentiation, flaky skin due to reduced enzyme activities, and, in extreme cases cracking will result. Fortunately, with a little extra attention, you can keep skin in its best health during Winter and throughout the year.
•During dry weather, the most important consideration is to step up moisturisation… •Upgrade your moisturiser for an extra moisture boost. •Apply a hydrating masque regularly. •Drink extra water. •A humidifier in the home and place at work will also help prevent dehydration. •Avoid soap and use a creamy formula to cleanse. •Knock skin out of its hibernation with a professional exfoliation treatment. Call the Alexsa salon on 01623 439394 any time for advice on treatments that can help your skin cope with the winter climate. We look forward to helping you put a freeze on winter skin problems!
Over the past two weeks, five homes have been approached by people pretending to be either from the water board, electricity company or police officers. All five incidents have happened during the day and elderly people have been targeted. The incidents happened in: · Roosevelt Road, Sutton · Old Mill Lane, Mansfield · Sotheby Avenue, Sutton · Chesterfield Road Huthwaite · Alfreton Road, Underwood Inspector Nick Butler said: "We’re urging residents to stay vigilant when answering the door to unknown callers. We’d always recommend using a spyhole or door chain and, if you’re not expecting someone, don’t open the door.
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“If you see someone approaching a property and are suspicious about it, please report this to us on 101 and where possible, note any descriptive details.” More advice and information can be found on the website: www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/ advice/prevention/distraction
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