Spotlight Magazine for Mansfield North, Nottinghamshire

spotlight On ISSUE 53 March 2015

Mansfield North

mon th in Deli vere d to 18,0 00 Hom es and Busi ness es each d Man sfiel d Nort h, Man sfiel d Sout h & Wes t Brid gfor Inside this issue: • Pass On The Salt • Greenhouse Guide • Wood Burning Stoves • The Art Of Wallpaper • Puzzles • Your Community info. • Local Businesses

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Spotlight Magazine

Contents

Happy March Everybody!

Greenhouse Guide 6 Pass On The Salt 8 Give Me A Bell 10 Flowers and Mother’s Day 12 Eat Healthy 14 Puzzle Pages 18 A Good Read 20 Wood Burning Stoves 22 24 Vegetable Chowder The Art Of Wallpaper 26 Employer A Cleaner 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

So spring has officially sprung, or at least it will have on the 20th when we reach the spring equinox.

So it must be time for spring cleaning, and if that sounds too exhausting, we have an editorial this month with advice on how to hire a cleaner.

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 Mansfield North area each month, with similar magazines going to Mansfield South and West Bridford.

To Advertise or contribute: T: 0115 822 4995 E: info@spotlightlocal.co.uk Web: www.spotlightlocal.co.uk

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Spotlight Magazine

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The Greenhouse Guide

eople often ask me, “Is there something in your garden you couldn’t live without?” My reply is always, “My greenhouse.”

A greenhouse has many benefits, chief of which for me is that it extends the gardening year.

With a greenhouse you can potter in your garden all year round, and grow a range of plants which simply wouldn’t thrive without the extra protection.

Before choosing a greenhouse you will need to check whether your local planning authority imposes any restrictions.

Finally, fit staging along one edge of the greenhouse for your pots, and dig a soil or gravel bed on the other side for things like tomato plants.

Now all you have to do is plant some seeds and invest in a few tender perennials.

Great Greenhouse Tips Fit your greenhouse to level foundations.

Orientation isn’t important , but make sure it isn’t in the shadow of the house, or overhanging trees.

Ventilate well.

While you don’t normally need planning permission, building regulations do have to be adhered to.

Buy the biggest greenhouse you can afford that will fit comfortably on to your plot - you will always fill it! But even if you can only afford a tiny one - my first one had a base of just 4’ by 5.5’ (1.2m by 1.7m) - it will still be a worthwhile investment.

The aluminium- framed types are very sturdy and relatively cheap. Woodenframed constructions are more attractive though, and often better in a small garden where everything has to earn its keep.

Western red cedar is good because it lasts a long time and weathers really well.

Greenhouses are even more useful if they are heated. I started out with paraffin heaters, but found they produced a lot of condensation and were messy and smelly. Electric heating is best, and very economical if you fit a system thermostat so that it only switches on when necessary.

Apart from heat the most important factor is ventilation. In high summer this is vital to prevent your plants from cooking.

Automatic arms which open the vents at a pre-designated temperature are really useful. External blinds are also very good as they prevent sun scorch.

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Any electrical work must be carried out or certified by a qualified electrician to comply with part P of the building regulations.

Don’t be tempted to use a household electric heater. It won’t cope with the damp conditions in a greenhouse.

Fit a water butt to the down pipes at either end of the greenhouse to conserve water.

By Rachel Leverton

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Spotlight Magazine

Pass (on) The Salt

National Salt Awareness Week 16th-22nd March

2015 marks the 16th National Salt Awareness Week. Research tells us that a high dietary salt intake is associated with the development of high blood pressure, and an increased risk of stroke and coronary heart disease. Note the word ‘high’ in the previous statement.

Average salt consumption in this country is about 8.5g per person per day. This is about one and a quarter teaspoons. I know this because I measured it out and believe me, it doesn’t look a lot. So why all the fuss about reducing our intake by what amounts to just about half a teaspoon?

Salt is composed of 40 percent Sodium and 60 percent Chloride. We need Sodium because it regulates water in the body, and helps in the transfer of electrical impulses along our nerve fibre system. But just 1g of salt per day would be sufficient to carry out all these functions. At 950 percent of the required daily amount 9.5g does seem suddenly like a very big number.

Salt raises the blood pressure because Sodium encourages the body to retain more water. This increased volume of water in the blood vessels creates higher pressure. Once you have high blood pressure you are more likely to develop heart disease, which is one of the leading killers in Britain today.

So, is it just a matter of leaving the salt cellar in the cupboard when we lay the

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table? Well no: about 75 percent of salt is hidden in processed foods. Brits eat more crisps than the rest of Europe combined, and with each packet, up to 1g of salt!

Processed meats, cheese, cereals, bread and ready meals are also high in salt.

That’s the bad news – so what can we do about it?

Well, we can read the labels and choose foods with the lowest amount of salt.

Studies have shown that by reducing our salt intake along with saturated fat, and by increasing our intake of fruit, vegetables and low fat dairy foods like yoghurt, we can reduce our blood pressure.

Ideally, this should be combined with maintaining a healthy weight, limiting our alcohol consumption, and increasing our physical activity levels.

It sounds straightforward, but in reality we all need a little push sometimes. Why not take advantage of a health MOT at your local Fitness club or Health Spa. Most have facilities for measuring blood pressure and body fat, and many have staff qualified to advise on nutrition. You might be inspired to change your lifestyle.

Who’d have imagined that reducing salt intake by just half a teaspoon per day would reap such big rewards. Now that’s got to be food for thought...just don’t add salt!

By Louise Addison

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Spotlight Magazine

Give Me A Bell

Who was Alexander Graham Bell?

Earlier this week I witnessed a remarkable thing – a room full of people who not once during the three hours they were together, took out a mobile phone to check emails, send texts, play games – or even make a call!

It was remarkable because for most of us, the telephone is an integral part of modern life, an extension of ‘us’. The humble phone has come a long way since its creation nearly 140 years ago. I wonder what its inventor would make of it now?!

Alexander Graham Bell was born in Scotland on 3 March 1847, and subsequently moved to Canada with his parents at the age of 23. With his father, grandfather, uncle and brothers all working in elocution and speech, and with a mother and wife who were both deaf, Alexander developed an interest in acoustics.

Initially teaching the deaf how to speak, he finally decided to concentrate on experimenting with hearing devices and the transmission of sound via electricity, which culminated in the invention of the first practical telephone.

1876 – the same day as rival inventor Elisha Gray.

Even now, there is controversy about who got there first – the Scotsman or the American – but generally it is accredited to Bell. Three days after the patent was issued on 7 March 1876, Alexander got his telephone to work for the first time.

He made a call to his assistant in an adjoining room, uttering the words, “Mr Watson, come here. I want to see you.” Later that year, he and Watson had a conversation 2 miles apart and as development continued, they were ultimately able to make a transcontinental call in January 1915 which spanned 3,400 miles.

By 1886, more than 150,000 people in the United States owned telephones. Today, over 90% of American adults own a mobile phone, bringing the total in operation to more than 327 million! Now, that’s what I call a success story!

By Debbie Singh-Bhatti

His innovative streak brought about some interesting results along the way! At the age of 16, he and his brother built a robotic head which they got to ‘speak’ a few words.

Alexander then taught the family dog how to ‘talk’ by manipulating its lips and vocal cords to form a crude sounding “Ow ah oo ga ma ma” (How are you grandmama?”)!

He’s also famous for inventing the metal detector, quickly put together following the assassination of US President James Garfield, in order to locate in his body the bullet that killed him.

But back to the telephone...Bell filed for a US patent to cover the transmission of sounds telegraphically on 14 February

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Flowers and Mother’s Day

other’s Day began in 1908 after an American lady, Ann Jarvis, asked the local church if they would set aside a day to commemorate her mother’s death. From this grew the idea to create a holiday on which all mothers – alive or dead – could be remembered, parents respected, and family bonds strengthened.

Ann started a campaign to have Mother’s Day recognised as a holiday.

In 1914 she succeeded when US President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day, celebrated in May, an annual holiday. The practice has spread throughout the world!

During her campaign, Ann posted or handed out white carnations, and this flower became a symbol for the day.

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Mothers would wear a white carnation if their mother was dead, and a coloured one if she was still living.

In the UK, Mother’s Day is celebrated in March on the fourth Sunday of Lent. Traditionally, this was a time when all family members were granted time off work and could gather together to worship.

The day became known as Mothering Sunday – or Rose Sunday – because roses were handed out to all women present at church.

Flowers symbolise purity, beauty and life – all attributes possessed by mothers - and gradually the tradition of giving flowers grew. But above all, flowers are given because our mothers like them!

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Spotlight Magazine

Does What We Eat Make A Difference S

pring at last, with more incentives for healthier eating. Salads somehow become more appetising and we can grow our own with longer, warmer days and so much cheaper too. Try growing cut and come again salad leaves in window boxes, or sprouting seeds, if you have no garden.

With our busy lives it’s easy to forget we need to eat for nourishment, not just because we’re hungry. We know healthy eating goes towards preventing illness, but what if it may help to cure it as it appears, or even before we’re aware of it? As Chris Woollams writes in www.canceractive. com, a holistic charity website, “…how wonderful if a good diet could be like having your own personal mechanic on site 24/7 to ensure you never breakdown!”

Whilst acknowledging that an accumulation of things such as genetics, stress, smoking, pathogens and poisonous chemicals can lead to cancer, in his book ‘The Rainbow Diet’, he describes dietary changes he believes will help make a difference, such as using super nutrients like, “…resveratrol from grape skins, polyphenols in olive oil, allicin in garlic, ellagic acid in berries, quercitin in onions and apples, vitamin K and indole3-carbinol released by beneficial bacteria from ‘greens’ and broccoli, anthocyanins from deep purple foods”.

a traditional Mediterranean diet, including more salads, fruit, fish and olive oil, were overall less likely to develop cancer. Just using olive oil in baking, as well as in cooking and on salads, had the greatest effect, reducing cancer risk by 9%. It also showed that making any two changes to your diet, such as eating more peas, beans and lentils and less meat, could cut cancer risk by 12%.

Balance, moderation and variety are key factors. Vary your dairy. Try goat’s cheese or manchego, a popular Spanish sheep cheese, and soya, coconut or almond milk on your cereal. Add quinoa (keenwa) or millet flakes and linseeds to your porridge.

Eat the full spectrum of colours, yes even blue, blueberries! Try using xylitol instead of sugar. Keep drinking your usual tea, but also try green or white tea, both naturally sweet and even better for you. The odd glass of red wine is good too, but not the whole bottle of course. No excuses, the polyphenols are not just at the bottom!

Sue Blain

A recent study, published in the British Journal of Cancer, has produced quite surprising results. Putting on too much weight was found to be a greater risk for breast cancer in women than drinking alcohol, and a lack of fruit, vegetables and fibre, high salt and excessive red meat consumption, together accounted for 9.2% of all cancers.

At Harvard University, of 26,000 people they studied, those who closely followed

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Spotlight Spotlight Magazine Magazine

Puzzle Page

Across 1 Contribute, give (6) 4 Demise, end (5) 8 Jeopardy (5) 9 Sank the Titanic (7) 10 Certainly, distinctly (7) 11 Indian dress (4) 12 Deceive (3) 14 Sung in church (4) 15 Reveal, display (4) 18 Fasten, attach (3) 21 Idol, venerated image (4) 23 Wander aimlessly (7) 25 Gift (7) 26 Acclimatise, modify (5) 27 Appoint, nominate (5) 28 Affluence, riches (6)

Quick Crossword

Down 1 Portray, illustrate (6) 2 Baby’s room (7) 3 Forgiving, lenient (8) 4 Means of losing weight (4) 5 Stadium, amphitheatre (5) 6 Scottish meat pudding (6) 7 Resin for 78rpm records (5) 13 Heighten, intensify (8) 16 Weirdo, eccentric (7) 17 Small alcoholic drink (6) 19 Barren, deserted (5) 20 Walking aid (6) 22 Very overweight (5) 24 Loaned (4)

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Spotlight Magazine

A Good Read Delphi and the Glass Slippers Darcey Bussell

The Secret of Crickley Hall James Herbert At over 600 pages, this novel from the master of horror does not disappoint as the pages fly by.

Gabe and Eve Caleigh have moved with their two daughters from their London home to the West Country to escape the memories of their five year old son who disappeared without trace from a playground a year ago.

Their new home is Crickley Hall, a large house with a checkered past, but it has been empty for many years. It seems a bargain price.

As they settle into the community they learn more about the village, and Crickley Hall.

Tragedy occurred during the Great Flood of 1943, when the hall was being used to house orphans evacuated from London due to the Blitz. The children and their guardians all perished in the flood, and it would appear that the young victims are not content to remain quiet.

For most young readers, Darcey Bussell will be familiar through the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. What they may not be aware of is her career with the Royal Ballet, and she has poured this love and knowledge of ballet into her series of books for young ballet obsessed girls.

The Magic Ballerina books follow the adventures of Delphie, a young girl who attends a ballet school. She is given a pair of red ballet shoes which turn out to be magical, and are able to whisk her away to the land of Enchantia where characters from famous ballets live.

In this book Delphie has to help Cinderella.

Something strange is happening and, as the clock chimes seven o’clock, time jumps and she never gets to attend the ball.

Along the way, Delphie also encounters a mysterious cloaked figure who tries to keep the Prince from finding Cinderella.

Guaranteed to delight any budding ballerina, this book is exciting and full of little glimpses into the world of ballet and dancing.

By Willow Coby

Soon Eve starts seeing her missing son and, like an unstoppable wall of water, the horrors that lie lurking in Crickley Hall flood to the surface, and Gabe must fight to save his family as the truth of that night in 1943 emerges: a truth that it is worse than any nightmare.

Read it if you dare.

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Spotlight Magazine

How To Buy A Wood Burning Stove

wood burning stove can be a great A focal point in your living room, creating a warm, cosy feel. It can also be a practical way to cut or avoid rising heating bills.

Whatever your reasons for getting a stove, the guide below will help you to choose whether a stove is right for you and what things you need to think about before spending your money – stoves can range in price from £500 to well over £2,000, depending on the type.

There are a few key things you should think about before you buy a stove, which will save you money and make using the stove easier.

Do you want to heat one room in the house or the whole property?

Stoves are generally used to heat one room, but you can attach it to the central heating system to heat other parts of the house.

Do you live in a smoke controlled area?

A lot of towns and cities are smoke controlled areas. Check the Defra website for more information.

How often will you be home and able to light the fire and clean the ash away?

Keep in mind that stoves can take time to light and some need the ash cleaned out every time you start the fire. However, you can get stoves that will light automatically, usually pellet stoves, although these are more expensive.

What type of fuel do you want to burn?

Your choice on what fuel to burn may depend on what supply you have locally.

How much space do you have to store fuel?

You’ll need plenty of room to store fuel, especially if you will be burning logs – based on the average amount people use per year, you need about three to four cubic metres of space.

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Will you be able to comply with building regulations?

All stoves must meet UK building regulations. Make sure you speak to an installer before buying.

Buying a stove Always make sure you buy a stove with the CE mark so you’re assured that it meets the right European safety and efficiency standards for stoves in the UK. A key part of choosing the right stove for your home is getting the right size and heat output, which is measured in kilowatts (kW) and ranges from 3kW to over 15kW.

If you get a stove that has too high an output for your home, you may end up having the windows open all the time to cool it down.

Stove features to consider • Air wash systems help to keep the glass cleaner by drawing cool air through the system and over the glass • Controllable vents or fans allow you to regulate the amount of air in the stove to regulate the heat output.

• Some stoves swivel, so can direct the heat to certain parts of the room.

• The size of the ash pan can impact on how easy it is to clean, so look for a larger one.

• A riddle plate, which allows you to break the ash off easier, will help you clean the stove.

• A removable ash pan or one that swings out for easier cleaning.

• Cool Stoves. Some stoves and handles, don’t get hot and remain cool to touch.

Buy Quality Fuel Buying cheap normally means buying twice. Always be sure to check the moisture content on any fuel you buy, and try to obtain UK sourced, certified fuelwood that carries the Woodsure Plus Logo.

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Vegetable Chowder

his vegetable chowder is adapted from an American recipe. In the U.S. they use cups for measuring.

It’s quite a liberating way to cook. Don’t worry if you don’t have a proper set of measuring cups. Simply use any large cup or mug.

The proportions will stay the same, you’ll simply have slightly more or less broth!

Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 25 minutes Serves 2 (approximately) Ingredients 1/2 cup chopped red or green pepper 1/2 cup chopped onions 1/4 cup butter or margarine 1 cup chopped celery 1 cup diced cauliflower 1 cup diced carrot 1 cup diced broccoli 3 cups fresh chicken stock Salt to taste

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Ground black pepper to taste 1/2 cup plain flour 1-2 cups milk 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley 3 cups grated cheddar cheese Method Sauté the peppers and onions in butter until tender.

Add remaining vegetables, stock, salt and black pepper; bring to a boil.

Reduce heat: simmer covered for 20 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.

Combine flour and milk until smooth; stir into pan.

Bring soup to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Mix in the parsley.

Just before serving, stir in the cheese until melted.

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The Art Of Wallpaper

o along to any DIY store or specialist decorating shop and you will see lots of different types of wall coverings, but how did they originate?

The first type of paper was introduced in Egypt around 4000 BC and was called papyrus. It was from about 200 BC that the Chinese started to put glued rice paper onto their walls, and around 105AD that they began to make paper from textile waste.

Knowledge spread from the Chinese to the Middle East via prisoners in the eighth century. It took until the twelfth century for papermaking to reach Europe.

English manufacturing methods became world famous, and in the eighteenth century wallpapers from London workshops were highly sought after. Initially, hand painted papers imitated architectural details or materials like marble and stucco, but eventually other patterns emerged.

The 1920’s are known as the Golden Age of Wallpaper as some 400 million rolls were sold during that period. The industry was revolutionized after WW2 when plastic resins were added to make wallpapers stain resistant, washable, and more durable.

over dark paint or wallpaper. It won’t be as noticeable if the wallpaper fails to align exactly at the top.

4. Use a special plumb bob to get paper straight.

5. Your first strip should be about four inches longer than the height of the wall.

Strips after that should be at least two inches longer top and bottom and may need to be more to ensure a pattern match.

6. Turn off the power before papering around switches and receptacles. Remove cover plates and paper over them. Then make a diagonal slit from opposite corners.

Trim away the triangular flaps and replace the cover plate.

7. Double check newly hung strips for bubbles and seam matches.

8. Use a sponge to wipe excess adhesive and rinse the sponge often.

9. Use a sharp utility knife to trim paper 10. A special paste is needed to hang a border on top of wallpaper.

Whilst the popularity of wallpaper has ebbed and flowed in the intervening years, there is now more variety than ever and a wide price range. The choice of wallpaper can affect the mood and style of a room and can influences the selection of furnishing.

To get the best effect from any paper however, it is important to hang it correctly, so we have ‘pasted’ some great tips below.

Ten Top Wallpaper Tips 1. Make sure all your paper has the same lot number so that it matches.

2. Use a lining paper to prevent the top paper from creasing or stretching and help the paste to dry faster.

3. Apply a one-inch stripe of white paint along the top of the wall before papering

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Tax Refund Specialist for Working People.......

PRACTICAL HELP TO RECOVER TAX PAID ON WORK RELATED EXPENSES...

Have you bought a tool box or tools?

Do you wear a uniform or overalls?

Do you use your own car for work?

Do you have to wear a top with your works logo on?

Simply call or text and speak to us directly about your about your work expense NOW. Remember, if you don’t make your claim, you won’t get back what you’re owed.

CALL 0115 981 3421 OR TEXT 07735 439700 www.taxrefundassist.co.uk info@taxrefundassist.co.uk www.spotlightlocal.co.uk • 01623 706570 • info@spotlightlocal.co.uk

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Employing A Cleaner

fter years of struggling to raise four children, work full time and care for a larger than average home, I eventually overcame feelings of guilt and shame at not being able to keep a clean and tidy house, and employed a company to do it instead.

It felt like a load had been lifted! No more nagging feelings. No more panic. No more dread. Suddenly my house felt clean, loved and well cared for – and I wondered what all the fuss had been about!

The number of people employing cleaners is on the increase. Some take this option because they don’t like housework, whilst others don’t have time or else prefer to be doing other things. Yet others are too elderly, ill or infirm to clean for themselves.

Whatever your reason, it is important to find a company you trust to care for your home and your valued possessions.

The best way to find a cleaner is by personal recommendation, but if that isn’t possible, one of your first priorities should be to check out references and testimonials. If the company can prove they’ve done a good job for others, chances are they will serve you well too.

Next, check out what insurance cover is in place. As a minimum there should be £5m Employers Liability and £1m Public/ Products Liability insurance cover. Also, find out what procedures will be followed if your property gets damaged or broken during cleaning.

Be sure to find out what vetting procedures are employed, and whether DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks are made. Also, enquire about training and qualifications.

Don’t forget to ask about temporary relief during holidays or periods of illness. Will the company provide a replacement, or are you expected to make alternative arrangements?

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Finally, find out how flexible your cleaning company is. Do they work to a fixed template, or are they happy to comply with your individual requirements? When I employed my cleaner, I was encouraged to state clearly what I wanted doing and how.

A good cleaner is many things – but mind reader is not one of them!

Before making your decision, do meet your cleaning representative first. A look around the house and a discussion about what you would like doing, should result in an estimate of how long it will take and how much it is going to cost.

Most companies charge by the hour. I couldn’t afford to have my entire house cleaned every week, so I decided on the most important areas and then selected additional chores to be done on a fortnightly or monthly basis.

If you are still undecided about whether to employ a cleaner or not, take advice from someone who knows and go for it! You’ll never look back!

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