Spotlight Magazine for Mansfield South, Nottingham October 2017

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THE LOCAL MAG THAT FITS IN YOUR BAG

Local News and Trusted Traders in....

ISSUE 93 October 2017

Mansfield South

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Spotlight Magazine

Contents

Spider Cupcakes 6 Dog Grooming 8 Pumpkin Carving 10 A Good Read 12 Autumn Colour 14 Penny For The Guy 16 Passive Aggression 18 Puzzle Pages 20 Which Vacuum 22 Autumn Beauty 24 Impetigo 26 Goosebumps 28 Index of Advertisers 30 Published by Spotlight Local Media Ltd Company No. 6841257 Tel: 01623 706570 Suite 104, 1 Hanley Street Nottingham NG1 5BL Graphic Design and Layout: Spotlight Local Media Distributed by Best Distributions Trusted Delivery Partner of the Spotlight Magazine

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Hi everyone and welcome to the October issue of Spotlight Magazines.

The summer holidays seem a lifetime away already. The clocks go back at the end of this month and then it really starts to feel like winter.

Please remember that if you are thinking of getting any work done on your home or business in readiness for the colder weather, consider giving our supporting advertisers a call.

If you are a local business and would like more customers, we can help with that too!

Spotlight magazine is delivered to 6,000 homes and businesses in the Mansfield South area each month, with similar magazines going to Mansfield North and West Bridgford.

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

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

Spotlight Magazine ADVERTISEMENT

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It’s been a crazy few months for Cloudy2Clear Windows.

The company which specialises in repairing windows which are steamed up, broken or damaged by replacing the panes – not the frames has grown rapidly as homeowners take advantage of their services.

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

‘Our product is simple.

If your double glazing is misted up we can replace the glass at a fraction of the cost of a new window, in any type of frame, and with a new 5 year guarantee. But it’s not just about saving people money, although

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Many tradespeople have struggled since last year and I honestly feel that during the good times a minority perhaps didn’t focus on customer care as much as they should have done. We make sure we turn up when we say we will, do the job the customer requires and leave their house as clean as a whistle. I often get comments back from customers on how they really didn’t expect that sort of service which, in a way, is very sad for the service industry as a whole.’

Cloudy2Clear service the Mansfield & Chesterfield areas and John is finding that his approach is a major factor

in his success.‘The truth is that it’s not just the personal satisfaction that I get from doing a good job but also it makes good business sense. I get a huge amount of business from friends and family of people I’ve done work for,

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Spotlight Magazine

Chocolate Spider Cupcakes

Tasty Halloween Themed Treats This recipe makes12 Cupcakes Ingredients 100g Plain flour 20g Cocoa powder 140g caster sugar 1 1/2 tsp baking powder Pinch salt 40g Unsalted butter (room temp) 120ml whole milk 1 egg 1/4 tsp vanilla extract For the icing 300g Icing sugar (sifted) 100g Unsalted butter (room temp) 40g Cocoa powder 40ml Whole milk For decoration Pot of chocolate sprinkles Sweets for eyeballs Black string liquorice - cut into 5cm strips Method Preheat the oven to Gas 3 / 175C Place the flour, cocoa powder, caster sugar,

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baking powder, salt and butter into an electric mixer (or use a handheld whisk) and beat on a slow speed until the mixture looks grainy, like sand.

In a separate jug whisk the milk, egg and vanilla extract together. Pour half into the flour mixture. Beat well to combine and make sure you get rid of any lumps. Add the second half of the egg and milk mixture and beat until the mixture is smooth (about two minutes).

Spoon the mixture into 12 paper cupcake cases and bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes until cooked. Set aside to cool.

To make the icing: Beat the icing sugar, butter and cocoa powder together by hand or in an electric mixer. Add the milk a little at a time then beat well until the mixture is light and fluffy. Use this to cover the cooled cakes.

To finish the spiders: Pour the chocolate sprinkles on to a saucer. Take each iced cake and dip the icing into the sprinkles to make the hairy spider’s body. Place two ‘eyeballs’ on each cupcake.

Use a skewer to poke 4 holes on opposite sides of each cupcake; insert liquorice strips into each hole.

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Spotlight Magazine

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Spotlight Magazine

How To Choose A Dog Groomer Pick A Pro For Your Pooch

Recommendation is everything. Ask friends and family for recommendations.

The chances are if you have a dog-loving friend who is happy with her groomer, you will be too.

The British Dog Groomer’s Association is part of the Pet Care Trade Association (a membership body for pet care specialist businesses).

They have a list of groomers that they have accredited to a set standard, which aims to provide quality assurance to owners. There are written and practical tests that the groomer has to pass to gain this accreditation.

Groomers are not actually required to hold any qualifications, but the BDGA and RSPCA recommend that you only use those that do; the most recognised qualification route for dog groomers in the UK is the City and Guilds qualifications. Ask to see any certificates.

Finding a groomer that belongs to a trade organisation provides extra peace of mind. Groomers can join the British Dog Groomers Association (BDGA), through which they can keep up with trends on safety, health and other issues related to grooming through continued education, training and support.

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Meet the groomer with your dog before employing them. You need to like and trust them and be confident that they will look after your pet.

special needs your pet has, such as sensitive skin, or a nervous disposition, and then ensure that you are happy that the groomer will cater for them.

Ask questions. Do they use reward-based training methods to make the experience positive for the dog? Are the facilities clean and secure? Above all it should be a place where you feel comfortable leaving your pet.

Many dogs don’t like having their paws touched. Ask the groomer how they would handle this.

A good groomer will ask for proof of vaccination before using their services, to stop the spread of contagious diseases between dogs. If it is a large establishment there should be sufficient staff to look after the needs of the animals in their care.

A single groomer running on an appointment-only basis should leave enough time for each grooming session.

Check all references and ask to see a copy of their police check or CRB certificate, to check that they do not have a criminal background. Ask to see evidence they have insurance to cover your pet in case of an emergency.

Finally be realistic about price. A bargain price may not be such a bargain if the job is shoddy or worse, leads to an expensive visit to the vet.

By Louise Addison

Be sure to discuss any

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Spotlight Magazine

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Spotlight Magazine

Carve The Best Pumpkin

Carving Jack O’ Lanterns dates back to an old Celtic holiday, Samhain. People carved scary looking turnip lanterns and lit them with candles to ward off spirits.

When the Irish migrated to America, they found that pumpkins grown there were much easier to carve so adapted their custom.

My children love to carve pumpkins. Oh who am I kidding, my husband and I love it too and over the years our designs have become more ambitious.

Here are a few tips.

Start with the right pumpkin.

It should be fresh with a sturdy stem, no bruises and a flat bottom so it won’t roll.

A smooth one is easier to carve and if you can find one with a flatter ‘face’ so much the better.

Use proper safety pumpkin carving sets. No-one wants to spend Halloween sat in the accident and emergency department dressed as Dracula’s Bride.

Ok that was the one year I did NOT use proper pumpkin saw and I was more at risk at dying from embarrassment than the blood loss but don’t risk it folks.

Cut the lid using the saw angled in towards the stem.

That way the lid won’t drop inside the pumpkin when you replace it.

Scoop out all the pulp and some of the flesh - an ice cream scoop works brilliantly.

You can now download patterns from the internet.

These are terrific if you have limited artistic skills like me. Tape the pattern to the pumpkin (make little cuts around the edge of the pattern if the pumpkin is a bit too round, and that way it will fit better).

Then use a pin or small nail to puncture the paper and the outer skin of the pumpkin at intervals of around 1/4 inch / 0.5 cm,

or even closer for intricate designs.

If it’s difficult to see your poked-out pattern, rub a little corn flour or baby powder into the dots.

The dots will turn bright white and your design will magically appear.

Carve the tiniest sections first. Then carve the areas in the centre of the pattern, and then work outwards.

That way you can rest your hand on the uncut bits of pumpkin, not your carvedout design.

Rather than always cutting all the way through the pumpkin try just removing some of the skin. The yellow flesh underneath will glow when lit up from inside.

Spread Vaseline on the cut edges to seal in moisture.

If you have to carve it a few days in advance and it shrivels you can revive it with a face-down soak in cold water.

Pumpkin carving is a great activity for all the family. You can make it competitive, or have a theme for your pumpkins, or invite friends over for a pumpkin carving party. Just don’t end up in casualty wearing a wild wig and face paint.

A safe Halloween is a Happy Halloween!

By Louise Addison

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Spotlight Magazine

A Good Read Neither planned to be there and the story of how they got there gradually unfolds, told in the first person by both Roni and Nika.

What ultimately lies at the heart of this is a betrayal that ran so deep it destroyed both friendships and lives.

When I Was Invisible – by Dorothy Koomson We have all felt invisible at times. Whether it is in the staff room at work where everyone else is chatting and you feel left out.

Or waiting to be served somewhere and it seems as if everyone else is being served first.

But what if the one person you feel you should be able to turn to when things go wrong ignores your plight?

This novel tells the story of two girls with the same name. Veronica (Roni) Harper and Veronika (Nika) Harper met when they were eight years old and knew they were immediately destined to become ballerinas.

However, life doesn’t always go as planned and both girls, now in their thirties are living invisible lives: one is a nun and one is living homeless on the streets of Birmingham.

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As Roni leaves the convent overwhelmed by guilt and seeks out Nika to make amends the novel builds to a tense climax as the true nature of the betrayal is revealed and the many layers of their lives are peeled back.

Some choose to be invisible in our busy society, others feel invisible and lost because of the way they are treated. This moving novel reminds us to listen to others and pay attention to their lives.

way to reignite a relationship and so the children plot to raise money to send Mum and Dad to Paris to help them remember why they fell in love.

It becomes known as ‘Operation Eiffel Tower’.

However, before long, Dad moves out and the children fear that they are too late.

This novel deals with the break-up of a family in a realistic way, with humour thrown in.

It shows that relationships don’t always work out as planned, and neither do our hopes and dreams.

Will it have the happy ending that the four siblings want? And if it doesn’t have they failed, or can things still work out okay?

Operation Eiffel Tower by Elen Caldecott This children’s book, aimed at 9-11- year-old readers is a sweet and touching tale of four siblings who live in a seaside resort with their parents. Lauren, Jack, Ruby, and Billy enjoy living by the sea. J ack helps out at the local adventure golf course and plays the odd round when things are quiet. But life isn’t all great and the children are fed up of hearing their parents arguing.

Lauren reads in one of her magazines that a weekend break in Paris is the perfect

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Spotlight Magazine

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Spotlight Magazine

Fall For Autumn Colour Brilliant Seasonal Garden Plants

See what I did there in the title? Terrible pun I know but I couldn’t resist. Back in the Nineties I travelled to the White Mountain region of the USA to experience the Fall firsthand. My husband still jokes that it’s the only time in my life I’ve ever been speechless!

Clear blue skies, golden sun and hyper-saturated foliage colours gave the impression that the whole New Hampshire landscape was on fire. The effect was unutterably beautiful.

Back home in the UK I was a woman on a mission. I had to capture some of that beauty for my own plot.

Through research I discovered that the quality of autumn colour in the New Hampshire region depends on two things: the combination of tree species and the climatic conditions.

The sugar maple, red oak, mespilus and viburnum are the trees responsible for the famous vivid red and purple hues of the Fall but their colourful magic is dependant on warm sunny days followed by cool nights where the temperature doesn’t drop below 7-8°C. So now I had two problems.

No way could I guarantee perfect weather conditions in the UK and then there was the small issue of space... the smallness of the space

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being the issue! I would not be able to shoe-horn a Red Oak or a Sugar Maple into my suburban garden.

you also have the benefit of bright red or yellow whippy stems afterwards, depending on the variety.

So I hit the books and the garden centres and gradually I compiled a list of solid autumn performers which will put on a dazzling display regardless of the British climate.

Euonymus alatus A quirky plant which has corky, winged outgrowths on its stems. This is a quiet plant for most of the year but produces the most brilliant crimson leaves in autumn plus purple - red fruits which split to form four winged lobes with a bright orange seed in the centre. There is also a compact variety which only grows to 1m so is suitable for small gardens.

Now my garden is brim full of glorious, fiery autumn hues and with a little planning and my ‘approved’ list you too can bring a little of the Boston Falls to British suburbia.

Japanese maples Varieties of Acer palmatum - both green and purple colour well and are small enough for most gardens.

They do prefer acid soil so if you live on lime they perform better in a pot. They need shelter from chilly winds, which can scorch their leaves.

Dogwood, Cornus alba The leaves begin to turn pink in late September and

Berberis thunbergii Its varieties are around 2m tall, make a great hedge and take on spectacular hues around October just before the leaves fall.

Coloured leafed heathers These work hard all year but are at their best when burnished by the autumn chill.

By Rachael Leverton

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Spotlight Magazine

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Spotlight Magazine

Penny For The Guy

When I was a child we used to make a guy.

We’d stuff a shirt and an old pair of trousers with newspaper or hay and top it with a papiermâché head or a balloon wearing a mask.

We’d then proudly wheel it in a barrow to the guy competition in our village and the winning one would receive a prize.

Then they would all be burned on the bonfire on November 5th.

My dad remembers as a child wheeling his homemade effigy round the village where he grew up shouting ‘Penny for the Guy.’ Any money he and his friends made was spent on fireworks which they set off either in their gardens or in the local park!

Guy-making is a tradition which seems to have died out...possibly on the grounds of health and safety.

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Nowadays it being eclipsed by Halloween.

Most families prefer to attend a closely controlled public event on the closest weekend to November 5th.

In a few places though the tradition of the guy still continues in a more traditional form with street processions and blazing barrels of tar!

Bonfire Night was once the only day of the year when fireworks were seen in Britain, but firework displays are now commonplace at weddings, big public events and New Year.

The significance of fireworks has been somewhat lost which is a bit of a shame as it’s a part of British folklore. Perhaps this year we should make an effort to bring back the Guy.

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Spotlight Magazine

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Spotlight Magazine

Dealing With Passive Aggression I bumped into a friend in town. “Oh you’ve had your hair cut,” she smiled.

“It’s nice. Usually it looks like a bird’s nest!” Ouch!

That stung. It’s not the first time I’ve been on the receiving end of her barbed comments.

We all know someone who does this. Social media is rife with it. Does anyone recognise the friend who constantly posts vague statuses on Facebook such as, “I can’t believe SOME people.” or my favourite, “Goodbye! I can’t deal with the idiots on here any more.” Nice...am I one of the idiots to which you refer?

If I ignore you, does that make me an idiot? Do you want me to ask what’s wrong? That’s the beauty of passive aggression; it works on lots of levels and like poison gas wounds many in one instant. And then...they don’t leave, someone always persuades them to stay! AAARGH! There isn’t a single cause of passive-aggression. It’s rooted in anger. Often the person grew up in a family that avoided overt conflict, but it’s also a behaviour reinforced by a society that tells us anger isn’t a healthy emotion, we’re taught not to rock the boat.

Very few of us are taught how to deal with anger in a healthy manner and this particularly applies to women, who tend to be the main perpetrators of passive aggression.

It’s an extremely difficult behaviour to deal with

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because it’s so hard to pin down. But here are some tips.

Don’t take the bait - Don’t engage with the drama they try to create. One way to do this is to respond to the content of what they say and not the underlying aggression, so in the case of the hair comment I just said, “Thank you.” in a completely neutral tone and changed the subject, leaving her to wonder if I’d even noticed the barb.

Online it’s even easier...just IGNORE. Stick to the here and now - If you decide to call them out there’s probably a history of similar behaviour.

Stick to the immediate comment though, don’t rant about how she always makes you feel bad.

Instead focus on how her comment made you feel in that moment, and use a neutral tone of voice. I could have said, “That was unkind and unnecessary and I’d prefer it if you didn’t say things like that.”

Instigate consequences - Make them clear and proportional... try not to lead with a punch in the throat while screaming, “I’m never talking to you again!” no matter how tempting. Let’s say that in spite of my request my friend had followed up her comment with another, “You sit in the armchair, it’s wider and

you need the space.” (she actually said that to me once and no I wasn’t pregnant at the time!).

I could have said, “I feel disrespected when you comment on my size in that way. It makes me not want to be around you so if you continue I will leave.” (You can throw in an imaginary throat punch if you like!)

Do a cost-benefit analysis - The bad news is that most passive aggressive people will not change their behaviour just because you are bothered by it. If it’s your friend indulging in the behaviour and it annoys or upsets you, maybe call them on it, cool the friendship and find new, nicer companions. If it’s your boss, maybe put up with it in the short term while you look for other employment.

Ultimately no-one can be passive aggressive without an audience, so don’t give them one.

By Sarah Davey

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Spotlight Magazine

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Spotlight Magazine

Puzzle Page

October Crossword Clues Across 7 Remy Martin, Hennessy, Korbel (8) 8 Hand held tablet (4) 9 Totalling-up (6) 10 Item written in a diary or leger (5) 11 We stand on them (4) 12 Experiencing again (8) 14 Undergraduates (8) 18 Bedside light source (4) 20 Sound 15 down might make (5) 22 Removed the lid (6) 23 Body powder (4) 24 In a secretive manner (2, 3, 3)

Quick Crossword

Down 1 Walk laboriously (6) 2 Joined the armed services (8) 3 Vocalist (6) 4 Also (2, 4) 5 Present (4) 6 Deep ravine (6) 13 Hit back before the ball bounced (8) 15 Male feline (6) 16 Unit of force (6) 17 Knee-length trousers (6) 19 Cereal with oats, fruit and nuts (6) 21 Curved structure (4)

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Spotlight Magazine

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Spotlight Magazine

Which Vacuum

With a bang and a puff of dust my trusty vacuum cleaner finally headed to the big Argos catalogue in the sky.

The next day I popped out to buy a new one and returned home several hours later with glazed eyes, a brain that felt like it had been through the cyclone system of one of Mr. Dyson’s now famous machines and NO new cleaner. So much choice: Upright or cylinder? Bag or bagless? Cordless?

Carpet-washing capabilities? Robot?!

Vacuums these days come in many forms with a bewildering variety of features.

Upright vacuums are perennially popular as they’re easy to use and control and are pretty effective when it comes to cleaning carpeted areas in the home.

Cylinder vacuums are lighter and take up less space. They are particularly useful for cleaning stairs, upholstery, and small spaces. Some uprights now have detachable units which provide the same versatility.

Bag models have a dust-bag inside the main compartment of the vacuum to store the dust, dirt, hair, and everything else you might pick up as you clean. These are then disposed of and replaced with another bag.

As all the dust and dirt is stored inside a sealed bag they are particularly helpful for asthma sufferers as you won’t have to worry about the dust spilling out when emptying the cleaner. Replacement bags can prove expensive over time and there is generally a drop in sucking performance as the bag fills

And of course you can see when it needs emptying. They can be messy when cleaning out the canister though, and the escaped dust might irritate asthma sufferers.

Some vacuums come with extra filters specialised for pet-owners or asthma sufferers.

There are also cordless rechargeable versions which can be very convenient if plug sockets are widely spaced or in difficult-to-access places in your home.

There are even vacuums which with an extra attachment allow you to wash your carpets.

One of the most interesting models I came across was a rechargeable robot vac which is self-guided and roams the floors. It can even be programmed to work at night while you sleep, or while you’re out of the house at work.

It seems these are not designed as a replacement for a main vacuum but are good for keeping the floor clear between big cleans, and they work better on wooden floors.

In the end I settled on a cylinder with a bag and an extra filter, as I have asthma. But I have put a robot vac on my Christmas list because...you know...it’s a robot, how cool is that?

Bagless cleaners tend to operate either by having a filter within the dust canister to trap any dirt, dust and hair, or by using “cyclonic action” to separate the dust from the air and trap it inside the canister.

Obviously the main benefit is no bag replacements, but also you can actually see what you’ve picked up which makes it useful if you think you might have sucked up an earring or vital Lego piece.

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23

Spotlight Magazine

Falling For Beauty

It’s that time of year again - we’re swapping our light and fresh summer make-up for something a little heavier, making way for deep berry lips and smoky eyes galore in a seasonal beauty refresh.

Deep and dark lip hues dominate the cat walks this season, in particular, a lacquered high shine blackberry pout.

Lips that had been stained with the deepest, darkest berry shades, are the stand out beauty trend of the season.

Keep lips as the main focus for easy day time wear, adding a deeper, sultry look to the eyes when switching up for the evening.

Another top trend of the autumn season was that of shimmer and glitter.

Use the glitter to highlight the inner and outer corners of the eye, making for a glamorous look that can be carried on through to the Christmas party season.

It draws light to the eyes, making them appear fresher and brighter without the glitter being too noticeable.

Metallics and shimmers will also be popular trends this season, particularly for eye shadow shades.

Iridescent powder on the cheek bones, eye lids and cupids bow, give the skin a not so subtle shimmer.

Avoid gel or liquid products to recreate the shimmer as these tend to be less subtle and can often make skin appear greasy or sweaty.

A peach toned blusher on the apples of the cheeks will complete the glow.

Enjoy the season!

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Spotlight Magazine

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25

Spotlight Magazine

Impetigo

The first time I came across impetigo my son was in nursery school.

I hadn’t got a clue what it was. I was most embarrassed when a member of staff phoned me to ask me to collect him.

immune systems.

What is it?

Impetigo is an extremely common skin disease, generally caused by staphylococcus bacteria.

What does it look like?

It appears as a small, itchy red spot, often on the face around the mouth or nose. It quickly develops into a blister, containing yellow-gold fluid. The blister becomes crusty and weeps, and smaller itchy patches often develop around the first one as the infection spreads outwards.

Who is likely to get it?

Children, or those who work with them, particularly in nursery or school settings, and especially if they have eczema. Also people with diabetes or compromised

How is it treated?

GPs generally give antibiotic cream, or in severe cases, oral antibiotics. Remove the scabs and clean the skin and allow to air-dry before applying any cream.

Can my child still go to school?

As impetigo is highly contagious keep them of school until the scabs have fallen off and the sores are no longer weeping. If they are on oral antibiotics they are generally considered non-infectious after two days of treatment.

Is impetigo dangerous?

No, generally it’s just a nuisance, but there is a rare side effect called glomerulonephritis. This is a kidney disease.

Seek medical advice if the sufferer experiences severe headaches or browncoloured urine.

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Spotlight Magazine

Goosebumps

Goosebumps are part of Halloween spookiness but what are they and what causes them?

Interestingly we sometimes get the same effect when we hear beautiful music or look at an evocative work of art.

Goosebumps are actually left over from our evolutionary past

Scientists have discovered that when we experience an intense emotional feeling in response to music a chemical called dopamine is released.

They occur when tiny muscles around the base of each hair tense, pulling the hair more erect.

If we had a good covering of fur, like a cat, this would fluff up our coat and allow it to trap more air, providing better insulation.

But with our thin body hair, it just makes our skin look strange and pimply!

Dopamine is a factor in both intense fear and intense pleasure (though in different parts of the brain) but one of its universal effects is to produce goosebumps! So now you know.

We feel our hair bristle when we are frightened. Many mammals fluff up their fur when threatened because it makes them look bigger and more dangerous.

Humans used to have a similar defence mechanism but now that we have so little body hair it doesn’t work in the same way.

But evolution has left us with the sensation of the hairs we do have standing on end.

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Spotlight Magazine

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