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Honey Dijon Chicken

Look After Your Tools As spring begins it’s time to take stock of our garden tools. Ideally these should have been cleaned, sharpened, polished and carefully stored at the start of winter. If they were you can pat yourself on the back and skip this month’s advice.

Still with us? Oh dear, then you need some help. Tools which are badly stored may develop all manner of problems during their enforced rest period.

First check electric power tools. Are the plugs and flexes in good, safe working order? If not, have them professionally repaired or replaced.

Clean off any dust, then spray the metal surfaces of the tools with some general purpose oil. Turn the tool on so that the oil is worked into all those hard-to-reach areas.

If your mower is petrol-driven the spark-plugs should have been disconnected when the mowing season finished. If it takes unleaded petrol, then this loses ignition quality over time so ideally should have been siphoned off or run down at that point too.

If you didn’t do this, then you’ll need to check the spark plugs and fuel, but before you do that, use a stiff brush to remove all the dust and old grass.

You will then need to apply some grease to the height adjusters, turning them to work it through preventing them from seizing-up.

Electric mowers should have their cable checked, their plastic cover checked, and then be up-ended and any caked grass or dirt cleaned off with a stiff brush. Sharpen or replace the blades.

Take a good look at your hand tools.

Are shovels, forks and trowels looking sharp and clean? Most of us don’t care enough for these hard-working implements and then wonder why they don’t work well.

Find a large bucket and fill it with about 2.5 kilos of rough builders’ sand and a litre of general purpose oil. Mix it all together until the sand is thoroughly moist.

Clean any dried-on soil or rust off the tools using a stiff wire brush, then plunge them into the oily sand and leave them for a day or two. Remove and rub them with a rough cloth.

Finally, sharpen the cutting edges with a fine metal file or sharpening stone. Some DIY stores offer this service if you don’t feel confident yourself.

Bare wooden handles can be returned to smoothness if you give them a good rub with linseed oil.

They’ll be much more comfortable on your hands if you do this.

This is a very simple one baking sheet dinner that’s easy to throw together on those busy weeknights.

You’ve got everything you need for a flavourful dinner — chicken, potatoes and broccoli all marinated and drizzled with a delicious honey Dijon glaze.

Check how quick it is to make this simple dish: Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided 3 tablespoons honey 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 3 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon dried basil 1/2 tsp sea salt plus more to taste 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper, to taste 16 ounces baby red potatoes, halved 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 5-6oz each, pounded to even thickness if necessary so that they cook evenly or you can use legYour portions Local 20 ounces broccoli florets Reliable Instructions: 1. Whisk togetherRoofer 1 Tbsp of the olive oil with the honey, Dijon mustard, garlic,

Finally, remember...all of this should have been done before the winter.

With this new-found knowledge we can be better prepared in 2019

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oregano, basil, salt and pepper.

2. Reserve half of the sauce for later, then marinate the chicken in the rest of the sauce for an hour 3. Preheat the oven to 400F. 4. Toss the potatoes with the second Tbsp of olive oil and a pinch of salt.

Place them on a foil-lined half sheet pan and lay the chicken breasts on top.

Add the broccoli to the pan, then drizzle the reserved sauce over top. *If you prefer your broccoli to still have some crispness to it, don’t add the broccoli to the pan until 15 minutes into the cooking time.

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Crufts 11th - 18th March The world’s biggest dog show is back this month. Here are some facts about our favourite canine competition.

Charles Cruft was a dog-biscuit salesman!

It was originally just for terriers. The inaugural event was billed as the “First Great Terrier Show”. Five years later it was renamed “Cruft’s Greatest Dog Show” and opened to all breeds.

Queen Victoria’s collie Darnley II, and two of her Pomeranians won prizes in 1891.

In 1991, Crufts was officially recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s largest dog show.

There has even been a murder.

In 1974 an Old Bailey jury heard how a man began an affair with a woman he met at Crufts, then was stabbed to death by his wife with the knife he used to cut up their dog’s food.

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Don’t own pedigree? In 2000, the Kennel Club started Scruffts – a show for crossbreeds, which compete for the titles of Most Handsome Dog, Prettiest Bitch, Child’s Best Friend and Golden Oldie.

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Now 27,000 dogs take part each year, with 160,000 human visitors attending.

Around 350kg (or 55st) of canine fur will be cleared from the Birmingham NEC following the show!

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Over the years there have been scandals worthy of an Agatha Christie plot.

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There have been claims of owners slipping rival dogs laxatives, poisoning them or sticking chewing gum in their fur.

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3

St David’s Day

Support Your Local Butcher

March 1st

Once every high street boasted a butcher or two, then along came giant supermarkets and things changed.

St David is the patron saint of Wales and bizarrely also the patron saint of doves (who knew?).

In the early 1990s the number of butchers in Britain was 15000; by the millennium there were just 6000.

In Welsh he is Dewi Sant.

He was born around 500AD and his parents were a Prince, and the daughter of a Chieftain.

He was recognised as a national patron saint at the height of Welsh resistance to the Normans.

David is said to have cured his tutor Paulinus of blindness, by making the sign of the cross.

Realising that his protégé was blessed, Paulinus sent him off as a missionary to convert the pagan people of Britain.

He became a priest and is remembered for helping to spread christianity across the continent.

He is also know for founding 12 monasteries during his lifetime.

These monasteries were known for their extreme asceticism, where monks abstained from worldly pleasures,

But in the past few years things have been looking up for butchery.

Consumers are demanding more locally sourced and sustainable meat. living on a diet of bread, vegetables, water and milk.

At one monastery however the life of austerity was so unpopular that the monks attempted to poison David.

The story goes that David ate the poisoned bread after blessing it, and thus came to no harm.

The horsemeat scandal a few years ago also gave the industry a boost as consumers became more wary about processed food.

One of the main influences though has been the rise in cookery programmes.

We are becoming a nation of cooks.

His best know miracle was raising a hill that he was standing on to deliver a sermon when people at the back couldn’t hear.

Celebrity chefs urge shoppers to try unusual cuts of locally sourced meat and this has prompted a boom for traditional high street butchers.

When Jamie Oliver praises the thrifty tastiness of brisket, viewers are quick to follow his advice and head to their local butcher.

The Meat Trades journal - which organises National Butchers’ Week reports that an “overwhelming number” of people in the UK would prefer to buy from a butcher than a supermarket.

Because it was often a family business, lots of butchers can trace their origins back generations. These businesses take great pride in their work.

A good butcher will be able to advise on portion size and cooking methods, and will do some or all of the meat preparation for you.

It might be a little early in the year to bust out the BBQ but a nice slow-cooked brisket could be the perfect supper dish for a chilly March evening.

In his final sermon he asked his monks to ‘do the little things you’ve seen me doing.’

By Sarah Davey

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A Good Read Very often associated with Biblical times, it may be shocking to people to learn that in Europe as recently as 1957, victims of this disease were sent into isolation.

And how her family’s past is forever linked to this place where the shunned inhabitants tried to maintain some level of normalcy amidst their pain and isolation.

The last known leper colony in Europe was the island of Spinalonga off the coast of Crete. This is the island of the novel’s title.

In a culture where family is everything, how can a family continue when it is ripped apart?

Alexis Fielding is a 25-year-old living in London who knows very little about her background other than the fact that her mother comes from Crete. For whatever reason her mother refuses to discuss her past.

The Island

by Victoria Hislop It is books like this that remind you, in small ways, how fortunate we are to live in the 21st century when illnesses and diseases that were once considered a death sentence are now curable.

One such disease is leprosy which provides the background for this debut novel.

Frustrated by her silence, Alexis decides to take her own journey to her mother’s home village, Plaka, to discover the truth that her mother will not speak of.

Through an old family friend, in the heat of the Cretan sun, Alexis learns of her family history. Of her great grandmother, Eleni, and her two daughters, Maria and Anna.

More crucially she learns of the sad past of the now deserted island, just 1km from Plaka.

The Monster of Shiversands Cove

by Emma Fischel

One night he decides he has had enough. Magnus will not stop talking about the fairy he caught and has called Harry. In a moment of anger, he agrees with Magnus that this may be a hot spot for fairies and elves, but that means it is also a hot spot for monsters!

Magnus is terrified but of course he has no real need to be. Everyone knows that monsters aren’t real. Or are they?

By Willow Coby

Ah, a summer holiday by the beach!

Hot days playing in the sand. Days full of digging and snorkelling. Sounds like bliss! At least it DID. Stan is fed up. For the last four years his family have holidayed with his best friend, Rory’s, family. And this year was supposed to be the same until Rory’s parents both got new jobs and moved away.

Now he is stuck in a cottage by the sea with Magnus, his four-year-old brother who is insistent that he is going to spend the whole holiday searching for fairies. Of course, Stan knows that this is nonsense and that fairies don’t even exist.

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Dr Seuss Day You’re never too old, too wacky or wild, to pick up a book and read to a child…

It’s no understatement to say that he revolutionized children’s literature.

This is taken Prior to Seuss, from the US US children had Fascinating Fact website for been taught to ‘Read Across read using the One of Seuss’s most popular books, America’ Day, rather sterile Green Eggs and Ham, was written as the which takes Dick and Jane result of a bet that he could not write a place on March books. I can book using only 50 words.

2nd - the remember in anniversary the UK, aged The words are, in order of appearance: of Dr. Seuss’s five, being I am Sam; that; do not like; you green eggs and ham; them; would here or death. The taught using there; anywhere; in a house with mouse; slogan caught the English eat box fox; car they; could; may will see my eye when I equivalent, tree; let me be; train on; say the dark; was looking for Peter and Jane. rain; goat; boat; so try may; if; good; something else I remember my thank. entirely because mother rolling it was so her eyes and unmistakeably saying, ‘I’m sure Seuss-ish, and in our family Dr. Seuss we can find something more fun than is worshipped across the generations. this darling,’ before presenting me with The Cat in the Hat. I was hooked.

In spite of being born in Kent, I was brought up on the works of Dr, Seuss. Seuss published more than 40 books My mother was a trainee English during his lifetime and they’ve sold teacher who wrote her dissertation on over half a billion copies, more even him. than JK Rowling.

She adored the way he played with language. My own children could recite The Cat in the Hat word-forword before they could ever read it for themselves.

Like all the best young-children’s authors, Seuss never talked down to them. His work is playful, silly, and anarchic, something which appeals to children the world over, yet he never had any children of his own.

He was born Theodore Seuss Geisel.

He started using Seuss while at university and added the ‘Dr.’ as a joke; because his father always said he wanted him to be a professor!

We don’t celebrate Dr. Seuss in this country as they do in the US, but perhaps we should. Without him we might not have the marvellous works of Julia Donaldson, Lynley Dodd or Lauren Child. So Happy Seuss Day!

He loved to write and draw cartoons, yet his first book, And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street, was rejected by 27 publishers - a lesson to aspiring authors everywhere.

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Ace Your Job Interview You’ve had the letter offering you an interview. Great! Now how do you maximise your chances of landing the job?

Know what to say Use the company’s own words to describe yourself. If the job advert asked for a self-motivated, energetic individual then talk about yourself in words which make it obvious you satisfy those requirements.

Remember to say please and thank you - it’s easy to forget basic manners when we’re nervous.

If a question does catch you off guard don’t say, ‘I don’t know.’ Instead, depending on the type of question say something like, ‘I would need some time to consider that...’, or ‘I wouldn’t want to answer that too hastily, I’d prefer to do some research first...’

Make sure the interviewer knows that you want to work for the company.

It sounds obvious but is often overlooked.

Know what not to say – It’s best not to open with, ‘What does your company do?’ or anything which could be answered with a simple Google search. Make sure you’ve done your homework!

Don’t ask anything which makes you sound lazy or entitled: avoid enquiries about having your own office, making personal calls, or how soon you can take your holiday. You can ask about salary, just make sure it’s not too early in the interview.

Know how to answer *that* question - Someone always asks ‘What is your biggest weakness?’ or a something similar. Don’t pretend you don’t have any weaknesses because we all do.

But avoid the whole, ‘I work too hard,’ humble brag, i.e. ‘My weakness is really my strength’, because it’s a very corny answer which lots of people will give. Instead use this question as a chance to differentiate yourself from the competition.

Prepare an answer authentic to you, one where you show you recognised your weakness in a situation.

Explain how you recognised it, what you did or are doing to overcome it, and how you have turned it to your advantage.

Watch your body language - Shake hands at the start to show confidence and be more memorable. Sit straight and slightly forward in your seat (to indicate interest), and maintain regular eye contact throughout the interview. Smile a few times but try not to grin like a Cheshire cat throughout!

Follow up - Email a thank-you note after the interview. You can get your interviewer’s contact info simply by asking for his or her business card.

If you get a second interview or job offer, respond as quickly as possible.

If you don’t get the job, accept it with grace and send a follow-up message thanking the interviewer for their time anyway.

They may remember you favourably the next time a position becomes available.

By Louise Addison

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Hypnosis: Fact & Fiction We’ve all seen them. Old horror movies where someone is put into a hypnotic trance, adopts a zombie like state and performs all kinds of terrible acts they would never dream of in normal life.

This image of hypnosis might put some of us off, but in reality hypnotherapy (hypnosis used to promote healing or positive development) works very differently.

Contrary to popular belief, hypnosis is not a state of deep sleep and patients cannot be made to do anything they would not ordinarily do. Totally safe, patients stay in control and can terminate the hypnotic state at any time.

In fact, most people can’t tell the difference between a hypnotised and ‘waking’ state.

Different for everybody, a hypnotic trance may feel like daydreaming for some, whilst others may simply experience feelings of relaxation or lethargy.

Weightlessness and a tingling sensation in fingers are other possibilities.

During hypnosis, the analytical lefthand side of the brain is turned off, whilst the non-analytical right-hand side is made more alert.

The conscious mind becomes suppressed, and the sub-conscious mind more aware. In this altered state, positive suggestions for change are accepted readily.

As the subconscious mind is deeperseated and more instinctive than the conscious mind, this is the part which has to change for a person’s behaviour and physical state to alter.

During a hypnotherapy session, the patient remains alert, but experiences a sense of deep relaxation as they focus on the hypnotist’s voice suggesting ideas, concepts and lifestyle changes.

Hypnotherapy aims to re-programme patterns of behaviour within the mind, thus enabling irrational fears, phobias, negative thoughts and suppressed emotions to be overcome.

Amongst other things, it can be used to help people lose weight, overcome addictions and conquer stammers.

It can also help to improve sleep, deal with pain, and release repressed events from the past.

Hypnotherapy is not about being made to do things, in fact it is the opposite - it is about empowerment.

In order for hypnosis to work, the patient must want to change some behaviour or habit and be highly motivated to do so.

The readiness and ability of patients to be hypnotised varies considerably, and hypnotherapy generally requires several sessions in order to achieve meaningful results.

However, the patient can learn the technique of self-hypnosis which can be practised at home, to reinforce the usefulness of formal sessions with the therapist.

In fact, it is common for patients to be given a recording of their hypnotherapy session to listen to at home.

It is generally accepted that all hypnosis is ultimately self-hypnosis

and that a hypnotist merely helps to facilitate the experience.

So, forget all those myths and remember that hypnosis could be your single most effective tool for change!

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Fit Kids Around 30% of British children are overweight, due primarily to an unhealthy diet and not enough exercise.

Experts state that children should engage in 60 minutes of physical activity each day,and encouraging them to become more active now will help them maintain a healthy weight.

It will also improve their general fitness and wellbeing and reduce the risks of serious health problems in the future.

Following are five suggestions to help kids get more active.

Limit the amount of time spent on the TV or computer.

This will free up more time to engage in other more physical activities.

Buy them sports equipment Like a ball, racquet or bike for birthdays, instead of toys or sedentary games. This will get them up and moving!

Exercise with them!

Go swimming, cycle or do some gardening together.

If you incorporate physical activity into your normal routine, you are more likely to keep it up. Good luck!

Walk to school.

Often our kids’ lack of activity is due to OUR busy lifestyle. Factor an extra half hour or so walking to school and back into your daily routine.

Give them chores.

Doing a bit of housework or walking up and down stairs a few times will get the cardiovascular muscles working.

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Look After Your Feet What is the difference between a Chiropodist and a Podiatrist There is no difference. The name Chiropody was changed to podiatry in 1993. Podiatry is the internationally recognised name for the profession.

Podiatry is a constantly evolving profession, the extensive training given to students over the 3 or 4 years of their full time course and the continuing education after graduation ensures that podiatrists skills and knowledge are current.

Podiatrist is the internationally accepted term, but both have the same qualifications and both need to be registered with the Health Professions Council.

What does a chiropodist/podiatrist do?

They treat and advise on all matters relating to feet. Most people think of ingrown toenails, but they also treat Athlete’s foot, fungal nail infections, corns, verrucae and cracked heels.

What about foot pain?

Yes, a good Chiropodist will be able

to advise, diagnose and provide a treatment plan for biomechanical problems of the feet as well as bunions and toe deformities.

I suffer with smelly, sweaty feet.

Could a Chiropodist help me?

Absolutely. In some people the sweat glands of the feet are over active, producing more sweat than they should.

Some people also have greater than normal amounts of bacteria on their skin and it is the reaction of the bacteria with the sweat which causes the unpleasant odour.

A chiropodist will be able to advise on footwear, foot hygiene and any sprays or creams which might help.

By Sarah Davey

National Apprenticeship Week

March 5th-9th

Are you taking your GCSEs or A levels this year? Have you decided what to do afterwards? Many schools champion university or further education colleges but have you considered an apprenticeship?

The 11th National Apprenticeship Week runs from 5th to 9th March 2018.

During the week employers and apprentices from across England will come together to celebrate the success of apprenticeships whilst encouraging even more people to choose apprenticeships as a pathway to a great career.

An apprenticeship is a chance to earn and learn. It allows you to mix working full-time and learning on the job with gaining a qualification. Anyone over 16 can be an apprentice.

Courses last at least a year, and are available in a huge range of industries – there are apprenticeships in everything from accountancy to social media.

It’s not just small companies who offer

them; many of the big players such as Google, IBM, Barclays and Nestle offer excellent apprenticeships with good long-term prospects.

In terms of learning styles, apprenticeships are best-suited to those people who want to get into the workplace straight away, or those who prefer a hands-on approach to learning.

Some people (some teachers even) worry that an apprenticeship might limit a more able student’s options.

This isn’t the case at all, if anything it opens them up. Thanks to the in-depth industry experience apprenticeships provide, many apprentices progress further and faster in their chosen fields.

work. These skills are transferrable whatever path your career ultimately takes.

you need to do your research. Think about what your career ambitions are and look at potential pathways.

One major benefit of an apprenticeship is that you won’t have a student loan to pay off, and on top of this you are earning a salary and building a network of contacts.

Talk to employers at careers fairs and ask what they are looking for, and talk to people who have done an apprenticeship.

About 70% of apprentices are offered a permanent position at the end of their apprenticeship, and 90% remain in employment.

To decide whether or not an apprenticeship is right in your case

Apprenticeships are not right for everyone but they shouldn’t be viewed as a lesser option. Modern apprenticeships are a dynamic, flexible way to launch a career and one might be perfect for you.

By Tracey Anderson.

There are also higher-level apprenticeships and some people choose to move into further education at a later stage, either at a conventional university or through a body like the Open University.

Spending time in workplace as part of your apprenticeship means that you naturally develop important ‘soft skills’, such as communication and team

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Wedding Photographers After you’ve set the date and booked your venue, your choice of photographer is probably one of the most important decisions to make about your wedding. Your photos will shape your memories for years to come, and it’s crucial that they capture the atmosphere of your special day.

Photography is also likely to be one of the biggest costs of your wedding – another reason to get it just right.

To give yourself the widest choice, start researching photographers as soon as you can. Visit wedding fairs, look at websites such as www. findaweddingphotographer.co.uk for ideas, and ask friends and family for recommendations. Your venue may also be able to make suggestions.

Before you meet potential photographers, think carefully about what you want from them. Most will offer prices based on how many venues you need them to attend, how long they stay with you, how many photos they take and how many you have printed.

Get together a list of shots that you’d like to have taken. Your photographer will tell you the traditional groups, but you may want different combinations, family portraits, or pictures of friends visiting from abroad for example.

Look at as much of their work as you can, and if possible ask to see one couple’s full album to see the story it tells, rather than a random selection of the photographer’s best shots.

You will need to decide whether you prefer traditional photographs, or a more informal style, or perhaps a mixture of both. Also consider if you like colour, black and white, sepia or other effects that may be available.

Look carefully at a variety of shots. In the big groups, is everyone looking at the camera? Do the happy couple look relaxed? Do you like the poses and backgrounds used? Can you see the detail in the dress, flowers and cake? How have they coped with bad weather?

It’s very important to find out if photographers have wedding indemnity insurance to cover the cost of retaking your photos if something goes wrong. If not, you will need to take out your own insurance.

Finally, you should think about how you want your photos to be displayed.

An album is traditional, but digital versions on a website are easy to show to friends and family.

Talk through different options with your photographer to make sure what they are offering is right for you.

When you have a shortlist of photographers, arrange to meet each one in person so you can see their work and get an idea of their personality.

You need someone who can get everyone organised, but they must also make you feel at ease.

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10

email usinfo@spotlightlocal.co.uk editor@adnewspaper.co.uk Or - Or 0115 822 4995 Email callcall 0115 822 4995

Care Homes How to choose the right one Care of the elderly is an emotive subject. Whether you are choosing a care home for yourself, or searching on behalf of an elderly relative, you want to make sure you get it right.

First you need to decide on the level of care required.

Residential homes are for people who can no longer cope with daily activities in their home. They may also need help washing, bathing, dressing and going to the toilet.

Nursing homes are for those people who require regular nursing care, by or under the supervision of a qualified nurse. Residents tend to have no mobility or severely limited mobility, mental confusion, and may be faecally incontinent.

As with any home, location is important. You may want to choose a place where family or friends can visit regularly?

Once a location has been decided on, select as many care homes as you can and visit every one of them.

The Care Quality Commission (www. cqc.org.uk) have over 18000 care homes registered with them and publish all their inspection reports online, so this is a good place to start.

Two other excellent sources of information are the websites www. yourcarehome.co.uk and www. carehomesupport.co.uk.

Groundwork is good, but there is no substitute for visiting and assessing the standard of service yourself.

Begin your inspection by ringing to arrange appointments to visit the premises. Ask yourself if the phone was answered in a friendly way. Did the person answering the phone sound stressed or abrupt?

When you visit, what are your first impressions? Is the place bright and clean, comfortable, welcoming and airy? Did the receptionist make eye contact and smile? Were you offered a cup of tea while you waited?

What are the noise levels like? Are there any unpleasant odours? Look at the residents and chat to them if you can. Do they look clean, well-cared for and happy?

Monitor how much interaction there is between the staff and the residents. Is there lots of friendly chatter? Check to see if call lights over doors are on and being left unanswered. This might indicate staffing problems.

Check the floor, especially in corners and under beds. This is a good indicator of whether standards of hygiene and care are high throughout.

When you’ve reached a decision, take good financial and legal advice.

What are the fees and what do they include? Can you afford them on a long-term basis? What happens if funds dry up? What is the protocol for making a complaint? Consult the Office of Fair Trading ‘Fair Terms for Care’ booklet to see whether the contract you’ll be asked to sign is a fair one.

Ask as many questions as you can up front, and you will help ensure that any move you or your elderly relative makes will be the right one.

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We offer (or decorators or garages…) competing forsurin a huge publication where it’s hard to spot and ing in theand AD not and find out about our friendly, flexible approach charities for profit organisations rounded by competition? readers’attention. to business. basis The AD has 24 pages packed with interesting editorial. Thereadvertising space either for free or at a 90 percent of our advertisers see such great results that Julia heavily reduced cost. is never more advertising than editorial. How many of they advertise on an ongoing basis Advertising in the ad works because people chief bottle washer) (editor and our competitors can say that? And there will never be a dozen The ADisisa local a local newspaper a small The AD free free newspaper – a small – business, possibly turn the pages and read it, and competing becausefor readers’ plumbers (or decorators or garages…) just like yours?

Our advertising is carefully priced to be the Just like your business is your ‘baby’, the AD business, possibly just like yours? Our there are never too many adverts for thepeople attention.

Advertising in the ad works because Email: most cost-effective in the area. Because the AD isn’t part of a advertising is carefully priced to be the most turn the pages and read it, and because there are never is my’baby’. editor@adnewspapers.co.uk product or service. huge organisation, and every penny counts for us, we under- same too many adverts for the same product or service. cost-effective in the area. counts forBecause you too. the AD stand that every penny Just like you’ll go over and above the call of isn’t part of a huge organisation, and every Our distribution is accurate and checked. duty to ensure your customers are happy, I’ll penny counts for us, we understand that We don’t say ‘we print 20,000 copies’ then go over and above the call of duty to ensure every penny counts for you too. leave them in shops for people to pick up, Of course, non-surgical procedures are also quicker, ideal for those of us who want to keep my customers are happy… beauty secret! It’s not just surgery. There has been an explosion of interest in male collecting and disposing ofour the bulksecrets of them Your competition advertises. You need to stay grooming products recently. These now make up an £800 million-per-year market and include that are left behind at the end of the month.

Contact us today about advertising in the intensive moisturisers, eye creams and self-tanners. a stepahead, so you need to advertise too.

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Also, researchers at London’s Guildhall University found that taking care of your appearance makes sound financial sense. They discovered, in a survey of 11,000 British 33-year-olds, that the most presentable men enjoyed a 15% higher salary than their less well-groomed colleagues.

They were also more likely to be married; have more confidence; less likely to be kept waiting in bars and even liable to receive lighter sentences from juries if they ended up on trial!

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Male Botox Have you been accused of looking grumpy when nothing is wrong? You might have ‘angry brows’. Dysport smoothes out a male frown while maintaining the heavier, masculine appearance. It lasts one to nine months and side effects can include soreness, mild headache and bruising. Very occasionally a drooping eyelid can result but this wears off as the injection does.

Has your boyfriend been botoxed? No? Are you sure? Well it might be only a matter of time...

We’re far less open about it than women, but a growing number of us blokes are considering a brow-freeze, a jowl-tighten or a love-handle-lift. On the whole we tend to favour non-surgical options and not just because we’re cowards. Male plastic surgery can look a bit unnatural. Due to the nature and thickness of male skin there can be more stretching and scarring.

Carboxy Therapy This is termed the ‘miracle gas’ and is a treatment for sagging jowls.

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Boiled Fruit Cake Fruit cakes don’t have to be tricky. You may be thinking that you need to be a Mary Berry or Julia Childs to make a good fruit cake.

But this one is simple. And you only need to use a teacup for measuring.

Ingredients 1 cup of water 225g / 8oz unsalted butter 1 cup of soft brown sugar ½ cup peel (if you don’t like peel, use chopped ready-to-eat dried apricots) 1 ½ cups raisins 1 ½ cups sultanas ¼ cup chopped glace cherries 1 tsp mixed spice 2 cups plain flour 1 tsp baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) 2 eggs Method Place the first eight ingredients into a large saucepan and bring it to the boil.

Mother’s Day Pain

Reduce the heat and simmer gently for 20 minutes, then set aside to cool.

Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4.

Line a deep 20cm/8inch circular cake tin with greaseproof paper.

Mix the beaten eggs well into the fruit mix. It’s important that the mixture has cooled because if it’s too warm the eggs will cook!

Then sieve the flour and baking soda into the mixture and mix well.

Pour into the cake tin and bake for 1-1½ hours until cooked through (when a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean).

If the cake is browning too quickly reduce the temperature a little.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the tin for fifteen minutes, then turn out on to a rack.

The cake keeps really well if it’s stored in an airtight tin.

My mother left home when I was seven. It always struck me as particularly cruel that teachers insisted we made Mother’s Day cards.

I pointed out once that my mother had left us. “Do you know her address?” teacher asked. When I nodded she told me I could post it. The irony of posting a card to ‘The World’s Best Mother’ notable mainly by her absence seemed lost on Miss Marriot.

Three years ago my friend’s mother died from bowel cancer, and she said she would punch the next shop assistant who enquired whether she needed a Mother’s Day card.

Don’t get me wrong, I think Mother’s Day is a lovely tradition but many of us may not realise that Mother’s Day is an emotional time of year for those who have lost their mother; those who can’t conceive, or those who have miscarried or lost a child Perhaps Mother’s Day needs a makeover. Currently it seems to be about wish-lists, hints to spouses about booking the perfect restaurant and a barrage of adverts featuring the perfect nuclear family.

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This grew from the centuries-old tradition of people to returning to their home or ‘mother’ church once a year. The return to the ‘mother’ church became an occasion for family reunions.

As there is no tradition of gift-giving on Mother’s Day we are free to invent our own traditions and I think it’s the perfect chance to inspire kindness, compassion and giving of time rather than possessions.

I would love to see an ‘alternative’ Mother’s Day focussed on less material things. I want to talk to my children about what Motherhood means to me and what having a mother means to them.

I want all of us to think about the people around us, at school, or work, in our social circle and community who might be having a hard time in the midst of Mother’s Day celebrations?

How can we reach out and share a little kindness or hope? With a card?

A note? A phone call?

Last year my kids and I chose to sponsor a child at an orphanage in Uganda. It gives us pleasure to know that someone who has no mother of her own is receiving care and education.

This year my friend and her children made a food parcel for their local food bank and donated it in her mother’s name. Her mother volunteered at a foodbank before she became ill so this seemed a fitting way to remember her.

If you are struggling with Mother’s Day this year, please know that you are not alone. Reach out and talk to a friend; look for others with whom to share.

Be kind to yourself, and if there is no-one you feel you can share your thoughts with consider starting with you and reach out to others who might need support.

By Helen Jones

Beetroot A Brief History... Native to Southern Europe, beetroot and beet leaves have been enjoyed by Mediterranean populations for millennia. Originally, beets evolved from the wild sea beet.

The Babylonians ate the root around 4000 years ago, the Ancient Greeks only ate the leaves, preferring to save the roots for medicine and the Romans began cultivation, eating the leaves and regarding the root as an aphrodisiac.

The Food... A variety of Beta Vulgaris, like chard and spinach, beets are also a member of the poisonous Nightshade family (Solanaceae).

Sometimes called “Blood Turnips” they are commonly red but can also be golden, white or striped.

Delicious and versatile, beetroot and beet leaves can be used in appetisers, soups, main courses, salads desserts and even beverages.

A History Lesson

chemical that is present in chocolate and Aphrodite, the Greek goddess accredited her powers of beauty and love to the beetroot.

For Expectant Mothers... If you’re pregnant, beets should be your new best friend. Beets contain Vitamin B folate which in turn aids in the development of the baby’s spinal column, DNA, and RNA. Vitamin B folate is extremely vital to all normal tissue growth. One cup of beets contains 136 grams of folate, and amaz-ingly only 75 calories.

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Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May.......and still smelled pretty good

by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odour.

Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children.

Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, Don’t throw the baby out with the Bath water..

Houses had thatched roofs, thick straw-piled high, with no wood undemeath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof.

Hence the saying. It’s raining cats and dogs.

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house.. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That’s how canopy beds came into existence.

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had some-thing other than dirt. Hence the saying, Dirt poor. The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance way. Hence the saying a threshhold.

(Getting quite an education, aren’t you?)

In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot.

They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat.

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special.

When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off.

It was a sign of wealth that a man could, bring home the bacon. They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat..

Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the “upper crust” .

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial.

They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake.

England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone house and reuse the grave.

When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found lo have scratch marks on the inside and they realised they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell.

Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be saved by the bell or was considered a dead ringer.

And that’s the truth...Now, whoever said history was boring!

They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day.

Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while.

Hence the rhyme, Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old.

13

Puzzle Page Quick Crossword

Crossword Clues Across 7 Put up for election (8) 8 Strong impulse, desire (4) 9 Small amount of food, a mouthful (6) 10 Snow-block house (5) 11 Diary keeper ____ Frank (4) 12 Accepted, allowed (8) 14 Possible (8) 18 Cloak (4) 20 Nibble, sample (5) 22 Small tower (6) 23 Puddling similar to semolina (4) 24 Gushing streams of water (8)

Down 1 Chrysalis (6) 2 Beatniks, bohemians (8) 3 Pungent bulb used in cooking (6) 4 Hand in your notice (6) 5 Haul, tug (4) 6 Disregard, neglect (6) 13 Happened (8) 15 Non-speaking actors in crowd scenes (6) 16 Gasp, inhale (6) 17 Whole, complete (6) 19 Lots, abundance (6) 21 Excessively studious person (4)

Wordsearch Clues Addition Algebra Area Average Base Binomial Coefficient Cube Denominator Diameter Division Factor Geometry Infinity

14

Inverse Logarithm Numerator Prime Quadratic Radius Set Sine Square Tangent Trigonometry Variable Vector

You can find the answers to the puzzles on Page 17

The Science Of Sleep March is National Bed Month.

We spend about a third of our lives in bed so if we live until 75 we’ll have been asleep for 25 years! We all know that a good night’s sleep is important but how much sleep do we really need and why do we do it?

The question of why we sleep is actually quite mysterious. In simple terms it’s a daily extended bout of rest where we lay down with our eyes closed. But there’s more to sleep than meets the eye.

During this time, our bodies replenish

energy stores and make vital repairs, while our minds organise and store the memories of from day before.

The amount of sleep we need depends on our age, sex, health and other factors, and our sleep cycles change as we grow older.

Most of us know (or think we do) that we should get ‘8 hours sleep a night’ but in fact there is no magic number for how much sleep we should get because we’re all different.

Providing you’re not regularly trying to get through your life on two or three

hours a night (unless you’re a new mother in which case you have my sympathy) it’s important not to get too hung up on the quantity of your sleep but instead focus on the quality.

When we first fall asleep we enter nonrapid eye movement sleep (NREM).

This is divided into three stages, with each becoming progressively deeper.

NREM1 and NREM2 are light phases of sleep, from which we can be easily roused. NREM3 becomes deeper, and if woken up, we can feel disorientated.

Following on from this is rapid eye movement sleep (REM), the stage at which we dream. When scientists study brainwaves during REM sleep they find that the brain behaves similar to when we’re awake, but our muscles are more-or-less inactive.

Each sleep cycle lasts around 90 minutes, and in order to feel fully rested and refreshed when we wake up, we must experience all four stages.

A full night’s sleep will include of five or six cycles, while a disturbed, restless night consists of fewer.

The perfect sleep environment Comfortable temperature (16-18C) Fresh air circulating but no draughts.

Dark - try using blackout blinds or an eye mask.

A large bed - Buy the largest you can accommodate A quality mattress - try out lots and buy the best you can afford.

Ban technology - The blue light emitted by screens is hazardous to good quality sleep.

Quiet - you can buy soft earplugs if noise is a problem though some people sleep better with white noise in the background.

Routine - A regular bedtime routine is an important cue to help us fall asleep.

Think about the bath, book, bed routine we often establish for our children. You can use essential oils, a good book and a warm milky drink.

Avoid caffeine, alcohol and screen use too close to bedtime, and never go to bed on an argument!

By Louise Addison

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16

All About March

March is the third month of the year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. It is the second month to have a length of 31 days.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the meteorological beginning of spring occurs on the first day of March The bloodstone and aquamarine are the birth-stones for March.

Zodiac signs: Pisces and Aries People born in the beginning and middle of March are Pisces. Those born from March 21 on are Aries

Puzzle Solutions

The name March comes from the Roman god of war, Mars.

For many years. March, being the start of spring, was also the start of the New Year. Much of Europe used March as the start of the year. Britain used March 25th as the beginning of the New Year until 1752.

Solutions To Mind Benders

Easter is sometimes celebrated in March.

1. Throw In The Towel 2. Good For Nothing 3. Wet Behind The Ears

March is the only month with three consecutive consonants in its name in English.

March was called Hlyda or Lide in Old English, which is a reference to the loud winds.

MARCH is an acronym for the Medically Aware and Responsible Citizens of Hyderabad.

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17

St Patrick’s Day

17th March...

1. We should really wear blue Saint Patrick himself would have to deal with pinching on his feast day. His colour was “Saint Patrick’s blue,” a light shade.

The colour green only became associated with the big day after it was linked to the Irish independence movement in the late 18th century.

2. Saint Patrick was British Although he made his mark by introducing Christianity to Ireland in the year 432, Patrick wasn’t Irish himself.

He was born to Roman parents in Scotland or Wales in the late fourth century.

3. The Irish take Saint Patrick’s day seriously As you might expect, Saint Patrick’s Day is a huge deal in his old stomping grounds.

Its a national holiday in both Ireland and Northern Ireland.

4. So do New Yorkers New York City’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is one of the world’s largest parades. Since 1762, 250,000 marchers have traipsed up Fifth Avenue on foot — the parade still doesn’t allow floats, cars, or other modem trappings.

5.Chicago feels lucky, too New York may have more manpower, but Chicago has a spectacle all on its own.

The city has been celebrating Saint Patrick by dumping green dye into the Chicago River since 1962. It takes 40 tons of dye to get the river to a suitably festive shade!

6. It used to be a dry holiday For most of the 20th century, Saint Patrick’s Day was considered a strictly religious holiday in Ireland, which meant that the nation’s pubs were closed for business on March 17. (The one exception went to beer vendors at the big national dog show, which was always held on Saint Patrick’s Day.)

In 1970, the day was converted to a national holiday, and the stout resumed flowing.

credit for driving all the snakes out of Ireland.

7. It’s the thought that counts Not every city goes all-out in its celebratory efforts. From 1999 to 2007, the Irish village of Dripsey proudly touted that it hosted the Shortest Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in the World.

The route ran for 26 yards between two pubs. Today, Hot Springs, Arkansas claims the title for brevity — its brief parade runs for 98 feet.

8. There’s a reason for the shamrocks How did the shamrock become associated with Saint Patrick? According to Irish legend, the saint used the three leafed plant as a metaphor for the Holy Trinity when he was first introducing Christianity to Ireland.

9. Cold weather helped Saint Patrick’s legend In Irish lore, Saint Patrick gets

Modem scientists suggest that the job might not have been too hard — according to the fossil record, Ireland has never been home to any snakes.

Through the Ice Age, Ireland was too cold to host any reptiles, and the surrounding seas have staved off serpentine invaders ever since.

known as “corns”.

11. The world runs up quite a bar tab All of the Saint Patrick’s Day revelry around the globe is great news for brewers.

Modern scholars think the “snakes” Saint Patrick drove away were likely metaphorical.

A 2012 estimate pegged the total amount spent on beer for Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations at $245 million.

And that’s before tips to pubs’ bartenders.

10. There’s no corn in that beef Comed beef and cabbage, a traditional Saint Patrick’s Day staple, doesn’t have anything to do with the grain corn. Instead, its a nod to the large grains of salt that were historically used to cure meats, which were also

12. There are no female leprechauns Don’t be fooled by any holiday decorations showing lady leprechauns.

In traditional Irish folk tales, there are no female leprechauns, only nattily attired little guys.

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Did You Know?

1. The pupils of a goat’s eyes are square 2. Van Gogh only sold one painting when he was alive.

3. A standard slinky measures 87 feet when stretched out.

4. The highest per capita Jell-O comsumption in the US is Des Moines.

5. If a rooster can’t fully extend its neck, it can’t crow.

6. There were always 56 curls in Shirley Temple’s hair.

7. The eyes of a donkey are positioned so that it can see all four feet at all times.

8.Worcestershire sauce in essentially an Anchovy Ketchup.

9. Rhode Island is the only state in which the hammer throw is a legal high school sport.

10. The average lifespan of an eyelash is five months.

11. A spider has transparent blood.

12. Every acre of American crops harvested contains 100 pounds of insects.

14. 11% of people are left handed 15. August has the highest percentage of births 16. Unless food is mixed with saliva you can’t taste it 17. The average person falls asleep in 7 minutes 18. Abear has 42 teeth 19. An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain

Choc Facts Chocolate comes from the Aztec word ‘xocolatl’, meaning bitter water.

Originally it was consumed as a drink made from cacao beans, chillies, achiote and cornmeal. Emperor Montezuma drank 50 golden goblets every day!

Hitchcock used chocolate syrup for blood in the famous 45 second shower scene in his movie Psycho.

Over 66 percent of the world’s cacao is produced in Africa. The US consumes the most chocolate per year, but the Swiss consume the most per capita.

Columbus brought the cocoa bean to Europe, but Cortez first realised its commercial value. With the addition of cane sugar the chocolate drink became very popular, but it wasn’t until 1842 that the first chocolate bar was produced by Cadbury.

One unfortunate Bishop was poisoned by chocolate-addicted parishioners because he tried to ban its consumption during church services.

Largest and longest records go to Nestle for creating the largest cup of hot chocolate (2,400 litres) in November 2010, and to Mirco Della Vecchia for producing the longest chocolate bar measuring 15.9m a year later.

Email: sargdec@live.co.uk

Aphrodisiacal qualities are believed by many to be contained in chocolate.

Thorntons produced the world’s biggest chocolate bar (six tonnes of it!) in October 2011 to celebrate its 100th birthday.

Energy-seeking Napoleon always carried chocolate with him to use as a pick-me-up whenever he needed a boost.

20. Lemons contain more sugar than strawberries 21. 8% of people have an extra rib 22. 85% of plant life is found in the ocean

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Australian Wines

As we progress through the year Australia has several climates, because of the size of the country.

Located in the Southern Hemisphere, Australia’s seasons are the reverse of ours. The north of Australia has a tropical climate and the temperate south of the country has warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters.

A very diverse landscape is found in Australia, with beautiful beaches, very busy cities and coral reefs Yalumba, founded in 1849, is reputed to be Australia’s oldest family-owned winery, and too, has a commitment to quality.

Producing full-bodied reds, superb whites and desseil wines, that most definitely will not disappoint, from varietals such as Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Viognier and Cabernet Sauvignon, to name just some, this company has an environmental management plan, which looks ahead, ensuring a sustainable business. www.yalumba.com Several superb grape varieties are grown in the wine areas and wonderful wines can be located, from Australia, which has more than 60 wine regions.

With crisp, fresh, elegant and rich, plus sparkling and sweet wines, I found many excellent ranges, from really great wineries.

Their Art Series, Chardonnay, has been hailed as Australia’s finest example, and the Prelude Vineyards Chardonnay, is another superb production from Leeuwin Estate, which has large plantings of vines.

The cool climate, gravel soils, knowledge and expertise, all coming to fruition, in really remarkable wines Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc are further varietals used to produce a wonderful range of wines, from an outstanding company. www.leeuwinestate.com.au De Bortoli Wines, established in 1928, has a philosophy that ‘great wine begins in the vineyard and sustainable vineyard practices will deliver exceptional fruit quality, as well as real environmental benefits’.

De Bolton has something for everyone and every occasion. Superb Chardonnays, Shiraz, Merlots and Moscato, can be found, amongst their range, plus the renowned Botrytis Semillon, Noble One. The sites and seasons show through, in their productions of some very appealing styles of wines. www.debortoli.com.au Australian wines are widely available, with many excellent wineries exporting from Australia to the UK and worldwide I found the regional wine styles very interesting and some of the wineries’ stories, fascinating. www.wineaustralia.com

There are wonderful qualities in the wines from Australia, with some of the wineries having several generations of families working in the trade, for many years.

The Leeuwin Estate, situated in the Margaret River region of the South West of Western Australia, has an outstanding vineyard, producing superb quality grapes, and winery.

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Grape Facts

reaching over 38,000 homes every month in Nottinghamshire

If you talk about grapes, most people instantly think of wine... But grapes themselves are loaded with nutrients and provide many of the same health benefits of wine - without the alcohol.

In research resveratrol demonstrated the ability to improve the dilation of blood vessels, which may allow blood to flow more easily through blood vessels.

Phytonutrients - plant chemicals that contain protective, diseasepreventing compounds -are bioactive compounds that are not designated as traditional nutrients, but have been shown to have health benefits in humans. Grapes are loaded with them, particularly in the skin.

It has also been shown to relax the walls of the blood vessels, making their diameter larger, thereby lowering blood pressure, and allowing a higher volume of blood to flow through all areas of the body, delivering increased oxygen and nutrients to the body’s cells.

Resveratrol is a polyphenol antioxidant synthesized by the grape plant for antifungal and defensive properties. Numerous research studies have demonstrated the health benefits of resveratrol. It lowers risk of cardiovascular disease by preventing lipid oxidation and it modulates levels of lipids and lipoproteins in the body.

Another study found that just 10 mg of supplementary resveratrol resulted in a dramatic reduction in heart-attack risk factors.

Resveratrol is also a potent antioxidant, which not only reduces oxidation, but also helps to strengthen other antioxidant substances in the body.

Exciting research led by MaryAnne DellaFera, PhD at the University of Georgia found that resveratrol (particularly when combined with soy isoflavones) works on the body in two ways to significantly assist with weight loss efforts: 1. it dramatically reduces cells’ ability to store fat by about 130 percent; and 2. causes fat cells to disintegrate at a rate 246 percent higher than normal.

Studies at the University of Switzerland proved resveratrol’s brain-protecting ability. They found that resveratrol mopped up brain damaging plaques and free radicals, which have been linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

So powerful is this important nutrient that it has even been referred to as “Reverse-it-all” by many health practitioners.

In numerous studies, resveratrol has3 The AD PAGE had a positive effect on cancer.

Research also shows that resveratrol protects the skin from damaging UVB rays of the sun, thereby protecting it against skin cancer.

Grapes are also an excellent source of manganese and a good source of vitamin B6, thiamin, potassium. and vitamin C.

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21

What’s Happening In Our Area This is a free page to publicise your local events and information.

We would love to hear from you if you know of any event in or around the West Bridgford area; copy deadline is the 20th of each month.

Please email: info@spotlightlocal.co.uk West Bridgford Shopmobility is a charity which helps people with mobility problems to move easily around the shops and attractions of West Bridgford.

Not only that, but we also have a short –term hire scheme so that you can take a scooter or wheelchair away on a UK holiday, or help you if you are poorly, or just discharged from hospital, or if you have a guest with mobility problems.

Call us on 0115 981 5451, find us on Facebook, or at www.wbshopmobility - or visit us behind West Bridgford library on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Insanity - West Bridgford every Friday night from 6.30pm - 7.30pm in West Bridgford Baptist Church. All levels of fitness welcome. For more information, please contact Caroline on 07849 753300, email: carolinequarmby@hotmail.co.uk or Facebook: Insanity – West Bridgford.

Kickers and Stompers line dancing groups. Meet regularly each week in West Bridgford, Plumtree and Radcliffe on Trent. Suitable classes for all levels of dance. Come and have fun with us. Tel 01159140673 or e.mail p.brown633@ ntlworld.com The Poppy Folk Club Sunday 25th March is the annual Poppy Folk Day when we have a whole day of marvellous live music for you. It is only £18 for the whole day, or individual tickets for the separate events are also available.

See the website for more details www.poppyfolkclub.co.uk.

Telephone Juliet 0115 9231513, Dave 07790 943893, or email juliet@ poppyfolkclub.co.uk.

The next meeting of the club will be on Sunday 15th April for a songs and music session.

Just Friends West Bridgford is a very friendly group for single, local people aged 55+.

25+ events each month including theatre, coach trips, holidays, pub nights, meals out, walks, darts, snooker, card/ board games. Monthly club coffee morning.

Call Lillian 0115 8462225 or Irene 0115 8781905 or visit our website justfriendswestbridgford.wordpress.com for further information.

Nottingham Leander Swimming Club We welcome all swimmers but especially those who want to race ! Confident swimmers from age 6 upwards. All qualified coaches. Friendly and supportive ethos. Water Polo. Learn to swim classes for non-swimmers. ‘Masters’ swimming for all abilities.

See our website leandersc.com or contact our Secretary Sue at suedavis78@gmail. com Claire Mockridge Fitness/Pilates Mother and Baby Postnatal Fitness Classes Wednesdays 11am-12pm All Hallows Church Hall, Pierrepont Road, Lady Bay/ West Bridgford - Come along from 6-10 weeks after birth.

Phone Claire on 07747 656550, email claire@mummiesandbuggies.co.uk or see www.clairemockridge.com/postnatal The South Notts Flower Club meets on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at Edwalton Church Hall, Edwalton. All visitors are welcome. £6.00 The Edwalton, Gamston and District U3A is going from strength to strength. it has a steadily growing number with new members at every meeting.

If you would like to join please contact Christine Shaw email : chrisshaw20038@ hotmail.com or telephone 0115 974 5512.

We meet every 2nd Thursday in the month from 2 to 4 p.m. at Gamston Community Hall.

Interested in learning bridge? Or want to return? West Bridgford Bridge Club meets at Edwalton Golf Centre 7pm every Monday night, for duplicate bridge. For more details, contact Shiona Dawson at shionadawson@gmail.com

Are you a memeber of a Club, Society, Group or Charity?

Do you have events or fundraisers that you would like to publicise?

Do you have something planned that would benefit the community?

If so let us know and we can include it in the next issue.

Send us images and a write up about your latest sports presentation, or your upcoming play or fundraiser.

We would love to help!

22

Email us: info@spotlightlocal.co.uk

Trent Valley Sailing Club has an active junior fleet. Sailing takes place on Friday evenings between April and September for children aged 7 to 16.

We have several places available this year for new junior sailors. Come and have a go on the water. All enquiries to Angela Clark@trentvalleysc.org Wilford Racquets Badminton Club welcomes new members. We play on Wednesday evenings in West Bridgford.

For further information please contact Hazel on 0115 981 5184 or Richard on 0739 884 2647 The Nottingham Astronomical Society are a friendly group of amateur astronomers from all walks of life. Whilst providing regular guest-speaker events, we encourage active observing. The Society owns and operates an observatory near Cotgrave, which houses our 24-inch large reflector telescope.

If you are interested in astronomy, you are welcome to come along to our meetings.

Most meetings include an illustrated talk by a guest speaker, and admission is free to occasional visitors. More information on the website at www. nottinghamastro.org.uk Radcliffe Sword Club Learn the exciting modern Olympic sport of fencing with Radcliffe Sword Club, meeting at the main sports hall, Clifton Leisure Centre, Southchurch Drive, Clifton, NG11 8AB.Juniors (aged 9-14): Tuesday 18:3020:00; Adults (15+) : Tuesday 20:0022:00 and Wednesday 20:00-22:00 Trent Karate Club @ Rushcliffe leisure centre Come and train with Trent Karate Club Every Monday and Thursday 7.00 - 8.30 First lesson is free, for all ages.

Contact John Dornan on 01159 374706 Notts Orienteering Club is a not-for-profit community sports club run by volunteers.

We offer beginners orienteering sessions in the community for people to learn how to read maps and get a bit of gentle exercise at the same time.

We have three evening sessions available in Worksop, West Bridgford and Mansfield on Tues and Wed evenings. For more information call Catherine on 07940575758 or e mail hubclob@noc-uk.org

Modern Line Dancing Classes Daytime and Evenings Held in West Bridgford, Radcliffe on Trent, Plumtree (also Bakersfield and Stapleford) Suitable for Beginners, Improvers and Intermediate Levels. For further information please contact Pat on 0115 9140673.

Friends of Bridgford Park need volunteers of all ages to help keep our truly beautiful amenity in really good condition.

The Friends plant, clear wooded areas, help all wildlife survive and increase. So we need people from all walks of life to join us Interested? Please contact Linda on 9819146 or Lorraine on 9816646 WEST BRIDGFORD ADVICE CENTRE is open every Wednesday morning from 9-30am to 12-30pm. at St Giles’ Church Hall, Stratford Rd, West Bridgford NG2 6AZ. Tel: 0115 9821475. No appointment necessary – we operate a drop in system.

We can help with benefit claims, form filling, consumer, debt, and housing issues etc.

THE ROTARY CLUB OF WEST BRIDGFORD meets every Wednesday 6.30pm for 7pm at the Country Cottage Hotel Ruddington. Enquiries for membership from both professional men and women of all ages are very welcome. Please contact webmasterwbd@rotary1220.com for more information.

THEATRE ARTS WORKSHOP ...offers you the chance to have a go, whatever your age, abilty or experience!

Drama Workshops, Youth Theatre and GCSE Drama Saturday classes held at Jesse Gray School, Musters Road, West Bridgford. NG2 7DD. 0115 8549175 lisa.goodlass@ntlworld.com BRIDGFORD BEADERS meet once a month at Rushcliffe Arena from 10am to 1pm. We are a very friendly group of ladies of varied ages and abilities and we are always willing to help each other.

We tend to have a project each month but you are always able to do your own thing.

For further info please contact Lynn 0115 9140927 .

The West Bridgford Dramatic Society Why not come along on Tuesday evenings and have a good time. Get to know other members before accidentally covering them in paint during set building. Check out the events page on the web site which has the latest programme!! www.wbds.org.uk

Groan!

My wife said she’s leaving me over my obsession with Take That. I’m so gutted. Whatever I said, whatever I did, I didn’t mean it.

The in-laws bought me a pair of roller blades from Poundland for my birthday. - Cheapskates!

Burglars broke into my local corner shop last week and stole all the Red Bull.

I don’t know how they can sleep at night.

My mum said “You treat this place like a hotel!” She will regret that when I give her a low score on TripAdvisor for ‘rude staff.

Garden View

My wife has left a note on the kitchen table saying that that she’s leaving me because of my obsession with online poker.

I think she’s bluffing, so I’m going to call her.

I was assaulted last night by some guy who hit me over the head with a power tool.

I was minding my own business when ‘Bosch’.

My son has just come home carrying a sofa and an arm chair.

He said, “Someone has just given me these.” So I’ve grounded him. I’ve warned him about accepting suites from strangers.

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This month the days get longer and the sun gets stronger...we hope!

However March is famously temperamental and if the soil where you are is still wet and cold then it’s wise to delay planting and sowing until the temperature rises.

Plant nutrient reserves are low at this time of year so, as the soil warms up, it’s time to think about fertiliser.

Many gardeners are a bit frightened of fertiliser.

All those chemical symbols on the side of the packet are rather reminiscent of school chemistry lessons. In fact the basics are quite simple.

NPK - This can be observed on the side of most fertiliser packages. The letters stand for: N - Nitrogen P - Phosphorous K - Potassium Together these are known as the macro-nutrients and each of them has its own use.

Nitrogen primarily feeds the leafy above-the-ground parts of the plants.

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Phosphorous promotes strong roots.

Potassium makes grass hardier, promotes germination and improves

The proportions of each macro-nutrient will be printed on the packet. Equal amounts of each nutrient make for a good general purpose fertiliser.

A lawn will need a good balance of nitrogen and phosphorus to guarantee lush green grass with a healthy root system capable of withstanding dry spells. Fruiting plants need higher proportions of potassium.

There are other macro-nutrients: Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen, which plants obtain freely from the air and water; and calcium, magnesium and sulphur, which should be present in any good general purpose fertiliser.

Plants also need micro-nutrients: Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Boron and Molybdenum.

Plants take all these nutrients and build everything they need from scratch, including vitamins.

What plants cannot do is absorb vitamins directly from things such as pet food, milk or so-called fertilisers which contain vitamins, proteins and fats.

So don’t be intimidated by fertiliser.

Decide what your plants need then read the label. It’s easy as ABC..or rather NPK!

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