Ad Newspaper for Edwinstowe and Ollerton, Mansfield, Nottingham, October 2018

Edwinstowe & Ollerton

ISSUE 113 October 2018

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2

Lawn Love There are times I threaten to astro-turf my entire garden, but then I remember the smell of freshly mown grass and how lovely it is to walk through the dew with the dogs in the morning, and I relent.

Of all garden tasks I find lawn-care the most tedious. I am not a lawn enthusiast, preferring plants. For me lawns are a necessary evil. I like sitting on them, walking on them, and they make my flowers look good, in much the way a frame enhances a picture.

So, I feel I do have to give my lawn at least a little love and care.

By October lawn growth has slowed so you can raise your mowing height by at least one setting until mid-spring next year.

If like mine your lawn sprouts moss the moment it rains, raise the mowing height even more so that at least 1 to 2cm of grass shows above the moss after grass-cutting.

Damp grass builds up inside the mower so give the mower a good brush, scrape or hose down after every use. This necessary housekeeping prolongs the life of your mower.

After the middle of October there is no point applying weed-killer, so if you haven’t been diligent in weed control the only option will be hand-pulling them. I am rarely diligent about weedkilling, so you are in good company here!

Moss becomes more evident as the weather cools but you’re too late for raking by now. Probably best to embrace the lush greenness: moss lawns are all the rage in Japan anyway.

On the other hand, if the weather is still warm and the ground is dry, apply moss killers, rake it out, reseed and water. You’ll thank me next year.

October is the best time for aerating the lawn. I used a fork for years until I bought a hollow-tine aerator three years ago, and now I’m a convert. You can’t overdo it, insert them every few inches until you’re fed-up. It’s a great work-out.

The hollow tines pull out little cores that look like fat worms. Leave them in place to recycle the nutrients.

Aerating improves drainage and allows air, nutrients and rain to move down to the roots rather than sitting at the surface.

Normally by now there has been enough rain to allow the tines to penetrate the soil making the job easier but who knows what the crazy UK weather will be doing when this article is published.

It’s best to fertilise the lawn after aerating if possible. This month is quite a good month for fertilising the lawn if you haven’t already got around to it.

Not only does fertilisation give you a fantastic lawn ready for the winter but also offers some protection from the ravages of winter temperatures and diseases.

Make sure you collect fallen leaves weekly to discourage moss and disease.

I know some gardeners like to discourage leatherjackets and wormactivity but frankly I like watching starlings poke around for leatherjackets, and I like worms, they are my little garden friends.

So if the odd worm cast is the price I must pay for their help then I’m happy to put up with them.

Happy gardening.

Rachael Leverton

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P Phhoonnee ffoorr yyoouurr R bbrroocchhuuWeb: rree oowww.royalemobility.co.uk rr Freefone FF0800 E: royalemobility@live.co.uk REEEE0286619 Road 26 Patchwork Row ddForest eem oo nnssttrraattiioonn Freefone m New Ollerton NG22 9PL Shirebrook, NG20 8AL Forest New Avenue, Ollerton NG22 9PL 26 Patchwork Row Shirebrook NG20 8AL 1 Road Rufford Ollerton Nottinghamshire NG22 9PN 0800 0286619 Tel: 01623 862839

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3

Top ten ways to prepare your home for winter The days are getting shorter and colder, which means Jack Frost is at your door and he’s looking to freeze your pipes and give you the flu as an early Christmas gift. Fortunately, here are some tips that’ll keep you warm and protect your home from the jaws of winter.

1 – Sort out your home insurance Check to make sure that your home insurance policy is up to scratch and that you’re covered for winter-related damage. If it comes to sorting out water damage to your Christmas presents or fixing a leaky roof, you’ll be glad you had the right cover in place.

2 – Keep your pipes toasty Burst pipes are common during winter due to rapid freezing and thawing, potentially causing massive damage.

The best way to stop this from happening is to keep your pipes warm with their own foam cardigan (called lagging), which will reduce the heat lost and insulate the pipes to stop them from freezing.

3 – Get your boilers looked at A poorly maintained boiler wastes more energy and costs more, and it also runs the risk of leaking carbon monoxide.

Either get your boiler serviced before winter or change your old model for a

condensing unit, which could shave off around £235 a year (according to the Energy Saving Trust).

4 – Insulation – more than just a woolly jumper About a quarter of the heat in your house is lost through the roof, so having good loft and wall cavity insulation could keep the house warm with less energy used. These improvements needn’t cost the earth, as there are a number of government grants and schemes that subsidise insulation installation.

5 – Bleed the radiators If your radiators are colder at the top than they are at the bottom, then your radiators have trapped air inside them that’s stopping the heat from circulating properly. It’s time to grab a towel and your special key and bleed that radiator! Bleeding the radiators releases the air, allowing the radiator to run more efficiently.

6 – Switch energy suppliers If your bills are still high despite these improvements, give your energy supplier a call and see if you can be put onto a more appropriate energy tariff. If that’s not good enough you look for a supplier that’ll offer you a bigger discount. There’s no disruption

in service; all that happens is that your money goes to a different company when you pay your bill.

7 – Guttering As summer draws to a close, the leaves will start falling, and gutters and drainpipes will start to get filled with loose foliage. Once the blockage becomes too much, water will start to back up in the guttering and leak into the roof and down the walls of the house. Make sure your gutters are completely free from grime and dirt to minimise water blockage.

8 – Tree trimming You know who’s to blame for your guttering getting clogged up with leaves? It’s those trees, making a mess of your house and getting away with it. Take a stand against them and get them trimmed away from the house.

This will reduce the amount of foliage that will drop into the guttering, and will also reduce the build-up of snow on the tree that could cause damage from broken branches.

9 – No entry for draughts Those chilly winter breezes are wily things, and they’ll try everything they can to slip through the nooks and

crannies of your home. Check the edges of your doors and windows for draughts, and you can either seal these gaps with self-adhesive draught strips, or get one of those funny draught excluders shaped like a snake or a dog.

10 – Bonus tip Stock up on hot chocolate. It doesn’t matter if it’s pouring down with freezing cold rain, in the middle of a blizzard or gale force winds, sitting down on the sofa with a mug of hot chocolate in winter is one of the best feelings ever.

Jamie Gibbs is the resident blogger for Confused.com home insurance. His winter preparations include a Santa hat with a flashing light, a new pair of Simpsons slippers and a YouTube playlist of the cheesiest Christmas songs of the 80s.

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A Good Read Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Rob the Roman gets eaten by a Lion (nearly)

by Scoular Anderson

Firework Photography Beginner’s Guide to Firework Photography I’m a keen amateur photographer but I always failed at firework photography until last year when I decided to get serious. I’ve put together this short guide.

Kit: camera, torch, tripod, charged battery (and spare), decent memory card, remote shutter release.

preference - try everything from 1-15 seconds

Location: Get to any display early, before the crowds to choose the right spot. You want somewhere which avoids obstacles such as buildings or trees, street lights, car lights, and bright signs.

Most of us live in communities, surrounded by others – be it family, friends, neighbours, or even coworkers. But for some of us, life can be lonely. If you are one of the few who have yet to read this runaway success debut novel, then you are in for a treat.

Eleanor Oliphant is nearly thirty years old and lives alone in her apartment in Glasgow. In fact, not only does she live alone but she spends all her time alone – even at work she doesn’t speak to anyone if she can avoid it – and she is completely fine with this.

Nothing is missing from her life. Her carefully planned and ordered life.

Or is it?

Eleanor’s life, it turns out, is not complete. Nor is it as straightforward as it first appears. A friendly offer to hold the door open from a co-worker, Raymond, threatens to bring down her ordered life and reveal the truth of her past.

Sometimes a little kindness can make a world of difference.

Ever wondered what it was like to live in Ancient Rome? This fantastic short book aimed at young readers introduces them to Rob – short for Robur – who lives in Rome with his parents and sister.

Rob doesn’t want to follow in the footsteps of his father who inspects drains, but dreams of being a famous gladiator!

Using a mixture of text and cartoon strips, Rob shows the reader what his life is like, from trips to the Baths, to a trip to the country to visit his Grandpa on his farm.

But the highlight is when his cousin, Illustrious returns from the army and manages to get tickets to see the gladiators fighting in the amphitheater.

Rob is very excited until a turn of events sees him a bit TOO close to the action!

This is a great little read, especially for children who are either interested in history, or who might need a little bit of help with their history homework!

Wind: Stand upwind of the fireworks (wind blowing away from you). If you’re downwind smoke will probably block most of your shots!

Settings: I’ve finally mastered this!

If you have a camera you can set to manual: Turn the flash off; Turn noise reduction on; Set ISO 100; Set Aperture to F11; Focus for landscape (slightly less than infinity - some cameras have a landscape setting); shutter speed - you need to experiment to find your

(NB. this is why you need the tripod and shutter-release cable, to avoid blurry photos) If you only have an automatic (pointand-shoot) camera: Look for a firework setting. If you don’t have one, try the landscape setting and experiment.

I found clicking as soon as I heard the ‘whoosh’ of the firework being launched meant I caught the firework more often than not.

Experiment: Try different settings, different shutter speeds and focal lengths. Use the torch to check and adjust settings. Enjoy the process and don’t forget to share your photos!

By Tom Hancock

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5

Surviving “Doglessness” Doglessness is defined as ‘the state of being without a dog’.

It’s the little things that you miss the most: the soft weight of a head on your lap whilst watching TV, the wagging tail that only your presence can generate, a wet nose as your early morning alarm call.

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Then there’s the loss of the almost telepathic understanding, that only a canine companion is capable of and the complete, unconditional love that dogs bestow upon us.

Without a dog, a thick cloak of silence envelopes your home, a quiet that is inescapable and emotionally empty.

Whether you have previously owned a dog or have always yearned to do so, doglessness can be a miserable state to exist in and has been proven to even have a negative effect on your health.

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Pet ownership has been shown to reduce stress and help a person become more physically and socially active.

If your beloved dog has crossed the Rainbow Bridge, emotions or circumstances can prevent you from wanting the commitment of owning another dog.

Perhaps you have never had your own dog and considerations such as your job and family commitments make dog ownership an impossible dream.

Is doglessness unavoidable in these circumstances?

There is a solution that you may not have even considered. Barking

Mad, the U.K’s leading dog sitting company, organises dog holidays as an alternative to kennels.

They offer the opportunity of becoming a ‘host’ by providing a loving home environment for somebody else’s dog whilst they are away.

Our hosts range from people who are retired and have plenty of free time, to families who love having a dog to stay just for the Summer holidays, as an exciting and educational experience for their school age children.

Everything is set up and organised by your local Barking Mad branch, who take this often informal arrangement and make it fully safe, insured and easy to take part in, without costing a penny.

You provide the regular exercise and companionship and the cost, administration and transport is dealt with by your local representative.

It is up to you to tell us the type of dog you would like to look after and when you are available.

For more information please visit www. barkingmad.uk.com/pet-holidays/ourhosts/ Or call Donna, your local Barking Mad franchisee on 0115 824 6924, who will be happy to explain how the process works and how you might enjoy the company of a visiting dog in your home.

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Bullying What if your child is the bully?

My daughter’s teacher sounded embarrassed, “Tess is bullying another little girl,” she said.

“I couldn’t believe it!” said Amy, “Tess wasn’t the bullying type!” Her teacher explained that the girl had complained of being ostracised.

This was upsetting but fairly normal behaviour among eight-year-old girls.

Then her property started to go missing and was found stuffed in toilets or left outside in the rain.

Finally, the teacher caught Tess redhanded cutting holes in the other girl’s coat with scissors she’d smuggled in from home! Amy felt terrible.

“I was horrified. This is not the way she was brought up. Worse, I hadn’t got a clue how to deal with it.” Amy told her husband, who was naturally furious with Tess, but they decided that simply going off at the deep-end might prove counter-productive. Fortunately, Amy’s sister Sarah is a child-psychologist, so she rang her for advice.

Sarah was great. She told us that while it’s never pleasant to realise your child might be bullying others, it’s behaviour

which needs to be confronted or it can escalate.

What shocked Amy and her husband most was that Tess would not initially admit she’d done wrong. She was what Sarah called ‘a controlling bully’. She was bright, pretty, good at reading social situations, charming to adults and popular with her peers.

‘Victim bullies’, the other type tend to lack self-control and fly off the handle using aggressive behaviour.

‘Controlling bullies’ like Tess often see little downside to their behaviour because adults don’t see the evidence or find it hard to believe.

apologised for our behaviour, demonstrating that we accepted we had not behaved as well as we could.

Then we asked her gently what the other girl had done to offend her so much that destroying her belongings seemed appropriate.”

At that point Tess broke down. She quite liked the other girl she said, but she was angry with her and sad because every Friday the other girl’s mum collected her, and they went for tea and cake at the local cafe and talked about their day.

There were other things too; this girl had great outfits for school dress-up days and brought in cakes that she and

her mum had baked and iced together.

“On the surface these were superficial silly things,” says Amy, “But it became clear Tess wanted more time with me.

She didn’t feel she could ask so all her feelings of anger towards me were being directed towards this other poor child.”

In the end Tess made a card for the girl and apologised to her and her mother.

“We replaced her coat and invited her for tea. Incredibly she accepted,” says Amy, “And they’ve become friends. I am much more aware now of how my own behaviour can affect the behaviour of my children.”

By Louise Addison

“We realised this probably started around the time her brother was born.

Tess suddenly lost most of our attention and was expected to be the perfect older sister, help out and put her needs on hold much of the time. We’d kind of forgotten she was still a little girl, who needed us.”

Sarah’s solution was simple. “Admit, atone, apologise.” Tess needed to acknowledge what happened, to understand that her actions were hurtful and harmful, and to say sorry.

“In the end we sat her down and

Look Great This Summer

7

Garden Champions Hat-trick of wins for garden competition champions Mansfield couple Tony and June Harvey have notched up a hat-trick of wins in Mansfield District Council’s coveted Best Kept Garden competition after scooping the top prize for the third year in a row.

The couple’s colourful floral displays, topiary and environmentally friendly approach to gardening at their home on the Grange Farm Estate impressed the judges who awarded them a Gold Award for the third year. They also won £100 in prize money, sponsored by Mansfield District Council.

The winners of the annual competition were announced at the Mansfield BID Garden Festival in the Market Place on Sunday 2 September.

The couple’s garden was described as “absolutely fantastic”.

The judges added: “The planting throughout was a pleasure to see.

From the topiary on the front, to the plants as you walk through the tropically planted carport into the back garden were all truly excellent. Every nook and cranny is planted, creating interest throughout the garden.”

The competition is held annually to encourage people in the district to care for their gardens and help to make Mansfield a greener and more pleasant place to live.

Cllr Andrew Tristram, Portfolio Holder for the Environment and Wellbeing, said: “Well done to all those who took part in this year’s competition - there were some truly impressive entries which gave the judges a difficult job.

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“We had two very worthy

winners in Mr and Mrs Harvey, who have shown for three years now that their dedication and green fingers really are the seeds of their success.”

Silver Gilt Award, sponsored by Mansfield District Council Jean Goodall (second place) The judges said of Jean’s garden: “The back garden was an array of colour from annuals and perennials and the added water feature and pond were impressive. Climbing plants complemented the excellent hanging baskets and planters, all grown by Jean.”

Silver Awards Deb Haslam (third place), Paula Barrett, John Ager, and Corinna Brown The judges said of Deb’s garden: “A superb effort in Deb’s first year of entering and full credit goes to her for her hard work keeping the garden clean and tidy and interesting. A combination of shrubs, perennials and annuals were planted throughout and were colourful and healthy.”

The judges said of wheelchair-user Paula’s garden: “The garden is paved and with a large number of colourful raised sleeper beds. The entire garden was well presented and well maintained, planted with perennials, grasses, annuals and the odd shrub, adding additional interest.”

The judges said of first-time entrant John’s balcony garden: “The colour and attention to detail were impressive. The garden showcased planted containers with various plants, including lavenders, begonias, petunias, herbs and two stunning bougainvillea, as well as some topiary and alpines. It was a superb effort

by John in such a small area to work with.”

The judges said of Corinna’s cottage garden style plot: “This is the second year Corinna has entered the competition and it was looking very colourful, with a vegetable area, lawn and borders, leading to paving with planters and clematis in full colour. An excellent effort!”

Bronze Awards Maxine Chapman and Zoe Haslam The judges said of first-time entrant Maxine’s garden: “A lovely front garden meets you on entering the driveway with a good variation of plants, colours and garden ornaments.

A superb effort!”

The judges said of Zoe’s garden: “This was Zoe’s first time entering her garden and full credit goes to Zoe for her hard work keeping the garden clean and tidy and interesting. A combination of shrubs, perennials and annuals were planted throughout and were colourful and heathy during the judging.”

Halloween Stuffed Peppers A cute and seasonal supper Serves: 4 Preparation time: 20 mins Cooking time: 25 mins Ingredients 4 Orange peppers 200g Cooked brown rice 1 tbsp Sunflower oil 450g Minced beef or turkey 1 Medium onion finely chopped 225g Mixed mushrooms, chopped 350g jar roasted red pepper sauce 1 tsp Dried oregano ¼ tsp Chilli flakes Salt and pepper to taste Method For the pepper lanterns Preheat the oven to 180C / Gas Mark 4. Use a sharp knife to slice the top off each pepper horizontally. Don’t discard these tops as they will ne the little hats for the pepper lanterns.

Deseed the peppers. Rinse and pat dry with kitchen towel.

Use a small paring knife to cut holes into the exterior of the peppers to make pumpkin-lantern style faces. If

the peppers don’t stand upright, slice a small amount from the bottom to flatten the surface.

Cook rice according to package directions. Lightly oil a baking tray.

Arrange the peppers and their tops on the tray and cook in the oven for 20 minutes, or until peppers are cooked, but still are still firm. They mustn’t collapse! Remove peppers from oven and allow to cool while you make the filling.

For the filling Heat 1 tbsp oil in large frying pan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and mushrooms and sauté for 3-4 minutes, until the mushrooms have softened and reduced in size.

Increase the heat to medium-high.

Add mince, herbs and chilli flakes and continue to cook, stirring occasionally until browned.

Drain the excess oil. Reduce heat to low, then add the pepper sauce and cooked rice. Stir to combine and cook for 2-3 more minutes, or until mixture is heated through.

Fill each pepper to the brim, allow the mixture to spill over slightly. Place a top on to each stuffed pepper and serve with green salad.

Lighting Up Mansfield Lighting up Mansfield in style this Christmas This year’s Christmas celebrations in Mansfield will begin on Sunday 18 November with the Big Switch On event.

Attracting thousands of spectators every year, The Big Switch On will again feature a variety of music acts, children’s entertainment, panto stars and Santa himself before a spectacular laser show and fireworks display.

The day also marks the opening of a month-long Christmas Market, and includes a marching band and a host of festive activities in the Four Seasons Shopping Centre.

The event is just the beginning of a packed programme of festive entertainment with brand new attractions to wow residents and visitors.

Following approval at Full Council last week, Mansfield District Council will for the first time ever, host an ice rink in the Market Place during December.

All this takes place alongside Mansfield Palace Theatre’s pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Christmas Artisan markets, late night shopping, the Four Season’s Grotto and more.

to homes across the district from 5 November.

Executive Mayor of Mansfield Kate Allsop said: “The Christmas lights switch on event is well known for being a spectacular family show which never fails to get everyone into the festive spirit.

“I’m really excited about this year as it marks the start of an even bigger programme of Christmas entertainment. The ice rink will be a real spectacle and I hope as many people as possible from Mansfield and the surrounding areas are able to come along and have a go.”

The month-long Christmas market is organised by Mansfield BID with financial support from MDC. The Switch On event is organised and funded by MDC with support from Mansfield 103.2 and Four Seasons.

If your business would like to contribute towards the month-long Christmas celebrations in Mansfield, a range of sponsorship packages are available - from town centre banners to naming rights of the ice rink.

Please contact 01623 463199 or email marketingandcommunications@ mansfield.gov.uk.

Further details about The Big Switch On and the ice rink will be announced over the coming weeks with the full Christmas programme available inside the next edition of My Mansfield, which will be delivered

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Stay Safe Online Use the latest OS (Operating System) - The most recent OS is generally the safest. Microsoft’s Windows 10 is their most up-to-date OS, and anything earlier should really be upgraded.

Don’t forget that free software updates are issued all the time. Take advantage of these and update regularly.

way for people to eavesdrop on your PC. Because they use radio waves, anyone within range can pick up the signal, making them a target for hackers who could be after your financial details, as well as freeloading unauthorised users who might piggyback your signal to access your broadband connection.

Install security software - The main threats to your online security are hackers, viruses and spyware, (this last one is a programme that may be used to log your credit card details).

Use an up-to-date router. Make sure you rename your network to make it more difficult to find, create a unique password and always turn on the encryption.

Ideally you should have a firewall, plus antivirus and anti-spyware software as an absolute minimum. You really need all three, because individually they won’t protect you against every attack.

Be sure to update them regularly.

Backup! Backup! Backup! Just in case. Back all your data up regularly, and from time to time check the backups.

Seven Steps to the Perfect Pumpkin Lantern

By Sarah Davey

Ditch the SPAM! - As far as possible don’t open anything you think is SPAM. Use ‘disposable’ email addresses for registrations on sites with which you’re unfamiliar and use SPAM filter

1. Choose a decent sized, rounded pumpkin. Fresh unblemished ones are best. Work on newspaper as pumpkin carving is messy!

2. Use a serrated blade to cut a lid.

Make sure the hole is big enough so that you can scoop out the flesh inside.

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5. A sharp, serrated knife will work best to cut out your design. Start at the centre and work outwards using short saw-like strokes for better control.

6. Rub some petroleum jelly on to the exposed parts of the pumpkin. This stops those areas turning brown.

7. If you’re using a real candle, put it in a small glass. Cut holes in the lid to allow heat and smoke to escape.

3. Use a large spoon or ice cream scoop to remove the pulp and seeds.

Thin the walls a little too by scraping away some of the flesh. This makes carving easier and allows more light through.

Fairy lights and battery-operated candles are the safest and best options for lighting.

4. It’s best to draw your design in marker first. Bold shapes are easiest.

For a professional finish use a paper template.

By Sarah Davey

Visit www.pumpkinpile.com for some great stencils and ideas.

You can draw your own or download one; tape it to the pumpkin then use a sharp pointed tool, like a knitting needle or nail, to poke holes around the design.

When you remove the paper, the design will be left on the pumpkin.

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The Cool One Is there a perfect leather jacket?

If there’s an international symbol for cool, it must be the leather jacket. It doesn’t matter how old you are either; Emma Watson and Helen Mirren both look fantastic in one.

The right one will take you from weekend walk in the country to dinner at the swankiest hot-spot.

But choosing one can be tricky, I’ve bought a few duds in my time.

Here are my tips to help you find ‘The One.’ Real or fake: There are pros and cons to both. Many people feel as uncomfortable about leather as they do about fur.

But faux leather has come a long way in recent years, and while it isn’t as durable as the real thing it can look and feel almost as luxurious. As a bonus it’s much cheaper.

There’s no doubt that the real deal is expensive, but a well-chosen leather jacket will still look amazing in thirty years. That’s unlikely to be the case with its faux counterpart.

New or vintage: A previously-loved jacket can be a great find. You could stumble on a true gem, like the buttersoft tan Armani jacket my friend

Debbie spotted in her local Oxfam shop for just £30. It had a few marks on it, and the local dry-cleaner was loathed to risk cleaning it, so she used a soft art eraser!

It worked, and she now sports a jacket which would have set her back £500 new!

Of course, the advantage of buying new is that you increase the odds of finding one in the exact cut, colour and size you want.

Detailing is important but keep it understated and avoid anything too ‘on trend’ so that your investment item doesn’t date.

Colour: If you are going to buy only one leather jacket make it black. A French friend told me that the only colour leather jacket a French woman will contemplate is black. ‘But I look ghastly in black,’ I countered. ‘Then buy a colour that makes you look fabulous,’ she said with a Gallic shrug.

A French woman will break any rule which means she doesn’t look fabulous.

So, with her blessing I tried on every colour and found that the most useful shade for anyone who can’t wear black is ox-blood, or deep burgundy, or as my French friend would say, ‘Cognac’.

It goes with every other colour and is more flattering to a British complexion.

But if navy, grey or dark brown does it for you then go with that. This is your investment and I won’t tell anyone.

Happy hunting!

By Angie Taylor-Gray

Fit: Try, try, try. Although it’s technically the correct size you might find it looks better in a looser or snugger fit. Do you like a smooth soft finish, or do you prefer a coarser texture? Does it fit neatly at your hips and zip up over your boobs!

Fashion vs Function: What do you expect from your jacket? If you want to ride your Harley in all weather, you and I will have very different expectations!

For this article I assume you want to buy one leather jacket which you can wear in the maximum number of settings, so go for a mid-weight jacket that you can layer thin jumpers under and scarves over in winter, or wear open over a light dress on a cool summer evening.

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We pride ourselves on the slightly more bespoke service that we offer, gone are the pushy sales reps with double glazing salesman style offers.

When our surveyor visits they will normally discuss your individual requirements and carry out a survey of your property, explain how the product works and how it might benefit your home, measure and price.

On occasion you may be offered the opportunity to take part in a group booking which can greatly reduce the cost!

If we are successful in acquiring your much valued custom, your installation is carried out by our local fitting teams and is overseen from start to finish by your own personal advisor, who is on hand to answer any questions or queries as and when they arise.

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The Day Of The Dead

food, family photos, and a candle for each dead relative. The altars are decorated with marigolds which are scattered in a pathway to the grave-site, to guide wandering souls back to their place of rest.

skull is seen everywhere during the festival, especially in the beautiful make-up and costumes worn by revellers. People of all ages have their faces artfully painted to resemble skulls, and wear fancy suits and dresses.

The smoke from copal incense, made from tree resin, transmits praise and prayers and purifies the whole area.

Foods eaten included pan de muerto, or bread of the dead, which is a typical sweet bread containing anise seeds, and decorated with bones and skulls made from dough.

In the 18th Century the term Calavera (which means ‘skull’) was used to describe short, humorous poems, often sarcastic tombstone epitaphs that poked fun at the living. In the early 20th century, Mexican political cartoonist and lithographer José Guadalupe Posada illustrated a calavera by drawing ‘Death’ dressed in fancy French clothes.

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is not a Mexican version of Halloween.

The two annual events differ in traditions and tone. While Halloween is a dark night of terror and mischief, the Day of the Dead festivities honour deceased family members.

Revellers don amazing makeup and costumes, hold parades and parties, sing and dance, and make offerings to lost loved ones. It actually takes place over two days: November 1st and 2nd All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. Day of the Dead originated several thousand years ago with the Aztec, Toltec, and other Nahua people. These

pre-Hispanic cultures considered death to be one part of life’s long continuum.

The dead were still members of the community, kept alive in memory and spirit, and during Día de los Muertos they temporarily returned to Earth. Over the years these traditions blended with Christian traditions.

At the centre of the celebration is an altar, or ‘ofrenda’, built in homes and cemeteries. These are designed to welcome spirits back to the realm of the living.

They are loaded with offerings: water to quench thirst after the long journey,

It was a social commentary about the way Mexican society copied so-called European sophistication. He captioned it, “Todos somos calaveras,” which translates as, “We are all skeletons.” He meant that underneath all our manmade finery, we are all the same.

His stylised personification of Death was appropriated by the artist Diego Rivera in 1947, in his most famous piece of artwork - Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Almeda Park. He painted Death wearing a large feminine hat, and named her Catrina, slang for ‘the rich’.

She was adopted as a symbol of the day of the Dead and today this elegant

There are also sugar skulls, in the style of the Catrina Calavera. These are part of a sugar art tradition brought by 17thcentury Italian missionaries. They can be incredibly beautiful and complex.

To drink there is often pulque, a sweet fermented beverage made from agave sap, the same sap from which tequila is produced.

Thanks to recognition by UNESCO and the global sharing of information, Día de los Muertos is more popular than ever—in Mexico, and increasingly abroad. It’s possible to find Day of the Dead celebrations in America and even in the UK. Last year there was festivals in London, Leeds, Bristol and Bournemouth. Look around your local area and see if anything is happening near you.

By Tracey Anderson

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Puzzle Page Quick Crossword

Crossword Clues Across 1 Hypothesis, notion (6) 4 Happen (5) 8 Melody, tune (5) 9 Progress, develop (7) 10 Flyer (7) 11 Threesome (4) 12 Affirmative response (3) 14 Sparkly stones (4) 15 Part of the foot (4) 18 Ocean (3) 21 Simple (4) 23 Robert _______ , stage and TV Actor (7) 25 Pointier, more acute (7) 26 Eskimo dwelling (5) 27 Ate, consumed (5) 28 Festive drink (6)

Wordsearch Clues black cat blood costume frighten ghost ghoul goblin gruesome Halloween haunted lantern magic mask monster mummy

pumpkin scary scream skeleton spider spirit sweets trick or treat vampire warlock werewolf witch wizard zombie

Down 1 Place of worship (6) 2 Bushwhack, trap (7) 3 Foolhardy (8) 4 Expression of mild dismay (4) 5 Singing group (5) 6 Sports Brand (6) 7 Filthy (5) 13 Neglecting, rejecting (8) 16 Fifth letter of the Greek alphabet (7) 17 Stopped (6) 19 Panic, terror (5) 20 Fictional being, part human, part machine (6) 22 Killed (5) 24 Slang for potato (4)

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Better Posture Do you look at your posture?

Others Do!!

When you see someone with good posture, standing or sitting up straight, chest out, shoulders back you are automatically attracted to that person as they seem happy and healthy, kind and caring, honest and even successful.

The reverse is also true, that when you see someone who slouches or has poor posture they give off a vibe that suggests they are unhappy with their lot in life, their job, money, love.

They tend to get all the illnesses going round too.

Poor posture is a sign that your spine is out of line. The stresses that we suffer on a day to day basis, physical, chemical or emotional can make us change our posture and cause the spine and other joints to become misaligned.

Our body is designed to heal and regulate itself. It manages this by sending messages from the brain through the nervous system to all organs and systems of the body and then back again, the brain can then decide what it needs to function correctly. The nerves travel through the spinal column before branching out. Misaligned joints can impinge on these nerves and cause interference to the messages. This can prevent the body from functioning at its’ fullest potential or healing properly.

Chiropractors are trained to detect these misalignments (subluxations) and correct them. The messages can then flow freely through the nervous system and back to the brain and allow your body to function more fully.

Whether you are a sports athlete like Tiger Woods or Chris Hoy (who have regular chiropractic care), an occupational athlete (police officer or fire fighter) who rely heavily on their

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senses functioning at a high level, a parent or grandparent who wants to do the gardening or play with the kids or most important of all, babies or children who don’t want to grow up with the health issues their parents have, a Chiropractic check up could be the most important thing you choose to do.

How do you look after your health, wait until something goes wrong or do things to maintain your health at a higher level? Lack of symptoms are not necessarily a sign of good health in the same way that vomiting is not necessarily a sign of sickness (it can be your body’s way of removing a bug from your system), exactly as it was designed to do.

If health comes from a bottle of pills, does that mean that the person taking the most pills is the healthiest? Is your headache caused by a lack of paracetamol in your body? Many people say they are healthy because they eat well and exercise, which is great but if your spine is subluxated you are likely to be using the wrong muscles or using them in an unbalanced way.

Chiropractic care is safe and gentle; it can enhance the health of people of all ages and could improve the effectiveness of the health care already provided to them.

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The Best Pets For Kids The 5 worst (and 3 best!) pets for small kids that aren’t cats or dogs Dogs and cats are at the top of the human-pet love pyramid for a reason – they like people, they’ll willingly live with you, and they’re relatively easy to care for. But if you can’t or don’t want to have a dog or a cat, and have a young child who desperately wants a pet, you may be wondering what other pets might work. Here are some great – and terrible – options.

The worst pets for young children Mice, gerbils, chinchillas, and hamsters These sort of “pocket pets” are fuzzy and small, so you might think they’ll be great for your children, who are also small. But these rodents are generally terrified of humans – you can train them to appreciate human touch if they’re handled gently and frequently as babies, but they’re often sold full-grown at pet stores, and parents can’t trust that young children won’t squeeze them too hard – or accidentally let them out of their cage, never to be seen again.

Small rodents also require a surprising amount of care. They need a special cage, food that’s not sold at the grocery store, a water dispenser, something to exercise on, and “bedding” – i.e. wood chips, that the rodents pee on, and you’ll have to change weekly or even more often.

Wait, you say you didn’t want a small box of peed-on wood chips in your child’s bedroom? Finally, many of these rodents are actually nocturnal. When you want to pet them during the day, they’ll be asleep; at night, when you’re trying to sleep, they’re squeaking and running on their exer-wheel.

Ferrets Aren’t ferrets rodents? Why aren’t they included above? Because ferrets aren’t rodents – they’re weasels. And though

16

they are often clever, inquisitive, and playful, they can also be mean. They bite if you don’t handle them just right – and small children will make mistakes.

They’re also escape artists and will make a beeline for any open door, and if not neutered, the males spray stinky pee all over your house.

Ferrets also need both a cage and a litter box, hours of attention/training daily, and have one of the weirdest pet habits out there – they form attachments to particular objects in your house, and make little caches of them. So if you wonder “Where are all my socks?” or “Why do my hair ties keep disappearing?” you’ll probably come across a pile of them in a closet in some point.

Birds Birds are a popular pet because they’re small, relatively easy to care for, and can be friendly to humans. So why are they on this list? Because small kids can’t be trusted to pet birds gently, or close the cage properly so birds won’t fly away. Young children may squeeze small birds, like baby chicks or parakeets, to death, or otherwise injure them.

Birds also make a lot of noise. Even a small bird like a parakeet makes small chirps all day long, and large birds like parrots sing, talk, and screech whenever they’re not sleeping. Perhaps worst of all, birds can carry bacteria, viruses, and diseases that can be spread to humans – and since their cages need daily maintenance, they require a lot of care, too.

Turtles, snakes, iguanas, frogs, and other reptiles and amphibians They’re cute, they’re small, they don’t have allergy-causing fur, and they can live peacefully in a cage in your house.

So why are they a bad choice? Because though cold-blooded reptiles and amphibians may enjoy sitting on you – or a hot rock – they don’t take to being cuddled or hugged, which may frustrate small children. Many reptiles are also small, and can be hurt by children who run around and step on them, or squeeze too hard.

Snakes have to be fed creepy things, like crickets and live mice; iguanas can grow up to 6 feet long and get mean if not expertly handled; many frogs are so sedentary that you’ve basically bought yourself a frog statue with a tank that needs constant cleaning.

But the biggest reason of all to avoid reptiles and amphibians: salmonella.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends that children under age 5 or people with a weakened immune system should avoid handling reptiles, amphibians, and their environment.

Young children: known for handling things even when someone says not to.

Rabbits They’re soft and fluffy like long-eared cats. But unless your rabbit has been carefully handled all his life, he’ll be scared of people. Even rabbits who aren’t terrified of your family members generally can’t be picked up – as prey animals, they’ll bolt if you try to hold them. Explaining to a 3-year-old that he can’t pick up the adorable bunny will never work – choose an easier-tohandle pet instead for small kids.

The best pets for small kids Fish Huh? Fish can’t be cuddled. True, but fish are remarkably calming and beautiful to watch, and they’re a great first taking-care-of-something experience for young kids, because they need to be fed daily, and it’s relatively easy to teach a child age 3 and up how to sprinkle the food delicately on the fish’s water. Explain to your child that too much food can hurt the fish, and keep the fish food up high so your child won’t accidentally overfeed the fish.

You’ll also be the one cleaning the fish tank. And though fish do carry germs and diseases, like salmonella, that can be spread to people, transmission is rare. Think carefully about where you’ll put your tank – you want your child to be able to watch the fish, but not to reach into the water and bother/hurt the fish. Finally, consider that fish do tend to die more frequently than other types of pets. You’ll probably have more than one elaborate fish funeral if this is your pet of choice.

Rats Yes. Rats! Rats have many of the disadvantages of other pet rodents: they’re nocturnal, their cages need a lot of maintenance, they don’t live a long time (1-3 years). But unlike other rodents, they’re fantastically friendly and smart if they grow up being lovingly handled by human companions. Many rat enthusiasts liken their friendliness to cats – they may sit on your shoulder, let you pick them up and hold them, respond enthusiastically to petting and attention. They play, they can learn tricks, and they’re very fun to feed – they’ll eat many of the foods kids eat (though there are many human foods to avoid), so kids love saving

a small strawberry or a spoonful of (unsweetened) yogurt for their little friends.

All that said, rats are very social, so they’re happiest if you get them in pairs, which adds to the work you’ll have to do. Make sure the pairs are samegender, if you don’t want to wake up to a horde of squeaking ratlings. And since they’re small, watch carefully when rats are being handled by young children to make sure they’re not being squeezed or handled too roughly.

Guinea pigs They’re as fuzzy as rabbits, and nearly as tiny as other pocket pets like gerbils and hamsters. So they are they on the best list? Because they’re a lot friendlier than these other small guys. They tolerate, often even enjoy, being held and petted by their human companions.

They also live longer than rats or hamsters: a healthy guinea pig typically lives 5-7 years, sometimes even longer, so you won’t be saying goodbye to your beloved pet as soon.

They also have a few unique and completely adorable habits. They make a noise similar to purring when they are being held and petted, they make a sweet squealing noise when running and playing, and they do a curious kind of hop called “popcorning” when they’re happy and excited. Here’s what it looks like: Guinea pigs are so known for their jumping that many people teach them to run courses with hurdles or to jump up stairs. Guinea pigs can also learn tricks – look up “guinea pig tricks” on YouTube for many squee-inducing examples.

Who could resist? Guinea pigs are a go!

Of course, like all cage-based animals, the cage needs frequently cleaning, and you’ll be the one doing it unless your child is remarkably responsible or responds well to nagging. They’re also l’il so watch young kids carefully while they enjoy their new friend.

Joyce Slayton

Joyce Slaton is a Child Passenger Safety Technician and can be found on Twitter and Pinterest;

Prevention Is Better Than Cure

Puzzle Solutions

Naturopathy simply means ‘nature cure’. It is based on the principle that the body has an innate power to heal itself, often referred to as the vital force or chi, as in Chinese medicine.

As Hippocrates, one of the early Naturopaths, said ‘The natural force within each one of us is the greatest healer of disease’. I also like the description of our bodies as being ‘self-cleansing, self-regulating and selfrepairing for self-preservation!’

If your life-style lacks the appropriate nutrition, fluids, exercise, relaxation, sleep, sunshine, fresh air and positive mental attitudes, then toxins build up, mainly due to overburdened digestive and elimination systems. Couple this with the stresses and strains of modern life and blockages are created in what should be the free-flowing vital force, and self-healing is inhibited.

What we often call illness: fevers, coughing, sneezing, diarrhoea, sickness, acne, eczema, rashes, are just the body’s way of eliminating toxins and germs. If these acute symptoms are suppressed with too many medicines they don’t run their natural course and chronic illness may develop. It is surely better to discover the cause of the problem and treat that rather than just relieve the symptoms.

The principles of Naturopathy go back thousands of years to Ancient Egypt, China and India when cleansing diets, baths, enemas, fasts and herbs were used to promote healing.

In the 19th Century the wealthy fled the crowded, polluted towns to recuperate in Swiss mountain clinics with their streams, fresh air, sunshine and healthy diets. In this country visits were made to spa towns to take the waters and later sea-bathing became fashionable.

Now modern Naturopaths, like myself, use homeopathy, flower remedies, tissue salts and herbs, as well as dietary and lifestyle advice to assist the body in its self-healing role.

It is considered an holistic therapy because the whole body is treated; the physical, mental and emotional aspects and the underlying causes of the symptoms are sought.

For this reason chronic illnesses, such as asthma, eczema, arthritis, fatigue, depression, digestive and circulatory problems, benefit from Naturopathy.

We now know there is no quick fix to solve all our health problems, as was first thought when antibiotics were invented. So we need to be more aware of what is happening to our body and how it responds to our treatment of it.

Perhaps we should follow the example of the gardeners who work hard all year preparing the soil and tending to the needs of their plants. They provide the best conditions for growth and so reap a bountiful harvest.

If we provide the optimal conditions for our body to replenish itself then we’ll also have the perfect harvest, a harvest of health.

Sue Blain

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Prepare Your Car For Winter

2. Pump up your tyres At this time of year, heavy rain, snow and ice can make the roads lethal for motorists.

To help lower the risk of skidding, check both your car’s tyre condition and pressure are correct before you drive.

The current legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm, but during the winter months it is a sensible idea to ensure your tyres have at least 3mm of tread depth.

This should also help increase your car’s fuel efficiency and lower your petrol costs as you won’t have to put your foot down as hard on the accelerator.

During the winter months, dark evenings and wet, windy weather can make driving very dangerous.

Following these seven steps should help ensure your stay safe on the roads this season.

Winter weather conditions can cause havoc on the roads for motorists. As a result the number of car insurance claims made tend to increase around this time of year.

To help ensure both you and your car stay out of harm’s way this winter, here

18

are seven safety steps you should carry out before you set off.

1. Get your car serviced The peace of mind a professional check could offer is well worth paying for.

3. Look after your lights Dark mornings and dark evenings can make driving extremely dangerous. It is therefore crucial to ensure all your lights are clean and working properly.

Always replace any broken bulbs immediately.

Therefore before the winter weather gets any worse, it’s a good idea to book your car into a garage and have it looked over by a mechanic.

If you don’t, you will not only find it difficult to see the road clearly, you run the risk of not being seen by other drivers. Make sure you know where your front and back fog lights are.

Fixing any mechanical problems now will hopefully reduce the risk you will break down at a later date.

4. Ensure you can see Winter weather can make it more difficult to see clearly when driving.

To help lower the risk of having an accident always make sure the windscreen is clean and clear, you have plenty of screenwash and your wiper blades are in good condition.

When you’re warming up your car, never leave your car unattended with the keys in the ignition and the doors unlocked.

You only need to turn your back for a second and an opportunist thief could jump in and drive off.

5.Check your car battery You can get a home battery tester, but it’s easier to see a specialist.

Assuming you can start the car, you can drive to your local dealer or car spares shop to buy a new one. Most car battery stockists will even fit it for you.

6. Drive safely Finally, make sure you take extra care on the roads.

Allow more time for journeys and try to avoid rushing. Keep a safe distance from the car in front, and leave more time to brake and accelerate in wet or icy conditions.

Be aware that not everyone on the road will be experienced in driving in these types of conditions so remain alert at all times.

Autumn Colour

before the leaves fall off. They give leaves bright red, purple and crimson colours.

You’ll see more vibrant reds in years where there’s lots of sunlight and dry weather. You’ll also see more reds in near-freezing weather when low nutrient levels, and other plant stressors also seem to trigger increased levels of anthocyanins.

Arboretums are great places to view the best displays of fiery foliage: The National Arboretum at Westonbirt, Gloucestershire has a particularly grand display of Japanese Maples.

Have you ever wondered why leaves change colour in Autumn? Here’s a simple explanation: Leaves convert carbon dioxide, water and sunlight into energy in a process called photosynthesis. The special ingredient for this is the chemical pigment chlorophyll, which gives leaves their bright green colour.

But leaves also contain other pigments - carotene and xanthophylls, which are yellow and orange based.

These help absorb sunlight, which they transfer to chlorophyll for

photosynthesis, but, as Summer comes to an end, leaves can’t continue photosynthesising because of the dry air and lack of sunlight.

They stop producing chlorophyll, and the yellow and orange pigments get a chance to shine.

Red hues come from pigments called anthocyanins. Not all trees produce anthocyanins, and even those that do, need exactly the right conditions.

Anthocyanins protect the leaves from excess sunlight and enable the trees to recover any last remaining nutrients

They are ablaze with colour from September to November. Batsford in Gloucestershire, Bodenham in Worcestershire, Thorp Perrow in North Yorkshire, and Winkworth in Surrey are also highly recommended.

Several of the National Trust’s gardens also have great Autumn colours, including Sheffield Park, Stourhead, Arlington Court, Hidcote Manor, Anglesey Abbey, Calke Abbey and Clumber Park.

There are also vibrant Autumn displays at many Forestry Commission sites. Mauldon Woods in Bedfordshire for example has over twenty different tree species.

At Bedgebury in Kent’s High Weald

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a walk down Dallimore Valley passes the liquid amber, tulip trees, ginkos, oaks, black birch and the nyssas, all of which were chosen for their spectacular autumn colour.

Many of these attractions have special Autumn events including guided tours, special trails and explanatory talks.

Outside the UK, the world renowned places to see amazing Autumn colours include: U.S.A. – Vermont, White Mountains in New Hampshire, Rocky Mountains in Colorado, Shenandoah Park in Virginia and Acadia National Park in Maine.

China Fragrant Hill in Beijing, The Yellow Mountains, Tauchuan Huangshan, Kanas Urumqui , Miyaluo Chengdu.

Elsewhere Kyoto in Japan, Alberta in Canada, the Loire Valley in France and Ahornboden in Austria.

So whether you are in your back garden or half way across the world, enjoy nature’s magnificent Autumn colours.

By Susan Brookes

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Instruments In School Why Children Should Learn an Instrument Music is an important part of life – nearly everyone enjoys listening to it.

Yet relatively few of us have the ability to create it.

Scientists say that children who play an instrument do better academically than those who don’t. It can benefit their reading age because it enhances comprehension skills.

Learning to understand beat, rhythm and scales improves their maths skills as children learn how to divide, create fractions and recognise patterns.

Listening to pitch, rhythm and tempo helps to sharpen their concentration and using mnemonic devices to learn musical patterns can improve memory.

Co-ordination and motor skills are also developed as a child learns to convert written notes to movement of hands, arms and feet. This improved co-ordination and timing can benefit children in other hobbies such as dance and sports.

Children who learn as part of a group cultivate social skills as they interact with other class members. They learn to wait patiently for their turn, and show respect for others. It’s also a chance to make friends, especially if they play in a band or orchestra.

Mastering an instrument and achieving goals takes months or even years.

Perseverance and patience are useful qualities developed along the way, as is selfconfidence which grows further if they go on to perform in public.

managing their time to ensure that practice is done regularly helps them develop organisational skills.

Finally, learning about and playing a musical instrument can help children discover the role of music in other cultures, and this familiarity from an early age helps foster openmindedness about worlds and traditions beyond the ones they know.

If your child shows an interest in learning an instrument, be sure to choose one that excites them (my daughter was horrified to be presented with a cello when what she coveted was a clarinet).

Select an instrument that suits their ability and temperament, and make sure it produces a sound that you can tolerate for hours as you listen to them practise (I have memories of my mum banishing me to the furthest corner of the house because she couldn’t bear the sound of me screeching on the violin!).

I was nine when my parents found me a piano teacher, and even though the road has not always been smooth, I am forever grateful to them for taking this decision, as I consider myself amongst the privileged few who have had the opportunity to learn an instrument and enjoy the benefits this brings.

The Status Symbol On Your Wrist For many, watches are functional items, held solely to help us tell the time. For others though they fulfil another purpose- as a status symbol.

History shows that this is not a new phenomenon. People have always enjoyed wearing expensive and elegant objects or jewellery.

Owning a beautiful expensive watch has long portrayed a sense of status whether in the 1750’s when owning a pocket watch gained admiring glances or today when certain luxury time pieces are said to symbolise your education level, taste and wealth.

Specialists even suggest that certain brands and designs fit best with certain intentions i.e. to impress business colleagues, in laws or just simply to demonstrate your wealth.

precision, or even the investment value of their watches.

High end watches are always mechanical with quality movements, usually available in limited numbers and having taken several months to craft.

Swiss watches remain highly regarded and a long sense of history and tradition are often attractive ingredients. Celebrity endorsement can add influence too.

Whilst digital may have been a technological break-through, and smart watches offer further functionality, it seems a watch with a sense of history, style and luxury will continue to impress.

Whilst the more cynical will say we can all use our phones these days to see what time it is, connoisseurs will comment on the elegance, the

By Debbie Singh-Bhatti

Caring for their instrument teaches a child responsibility, while

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School Phobia sufferers have temper tantrums and scream and kick if forced to attend.

Forty six percent of those referred to in the study also became ill with genuine stress related conditions such as headaches and stomach aches. Many had difficulty sleeping.

There seems to be growing evidence of a condition known as School Phobia. It was first recorded in America around 1941, then gained further attention in the 1960’s, and has become more commonly diagnosed in recent years.

Kay Mawson, the mother of sufferer Andrew, describes School Phobia as the ‘fear of school,’ which brings on debilitating symptoms. She says that to avoid the fear, children exhibit behaviour often called School Refusal.

For her son the causes were a sensation of feeling trapped and out of control in school and therefore feeling insecure and unsafe.

He also suffered from separation anxiety resulting from being apart and out of contact with those he cared about, and being fearful that something might happen to them.

Kay feels it is important to raise awareness of the condition because it is commonly misunderstood, and often remains untreated. Many parents become distressed at finding themselves struggling with courts, schools and truancy issues.

Last years Netmums and the TV programme This Morning carried out a poll of 1,054 parents. This suggested that one in five British children suffer from School Phobia but only half of parents are aware of it. Children aged five to six and 10 and 11 were the most frequent suffers.

Whilst in some cases the factors were not related to specific instances at school, the parents of other sufferers felt the condition had been triggered by bullying, under-performance or a general sense of being overwhelmed by school expectations.

The study suggests that many parents struggled to get help; indeed some experts claim that parental behaviour has sometimes made cases worse.

Some parents have been able to get their children medically diagnosed with School Phobia, and pupils in the UK have obtained places at special units for anxious and school phobic children.

There remain differences of opinion on the best way to handle the condition. Some feel that getting the child into school is crucial even if it involves parental accompaniment and perhaps arranging special acclimatisation sessions.

Some parents have found that moving their child to a more supportive school helped tremendously, while others believe that home schooling provides the solution.

Kay Mawson advises parents to research all of the available options and discuss them with their child and perhaps an educational psychologist.

That way there is a consensus on the best way to move forward, though arrangements should be reviewed on a regular basis.

By Susan Brookes- Morris

Common behaviours include faking illness to try to avoid school, or going for registration and then leaving. Many

Does going to the gym sound as appealing as root canal surgery? Does the thought of going for a run make you want to hide under the duvet for the rest of your life?

If you’ve tried aerobics, spinning and swimming and still can’t get into your exercise groove, what about these more unusual ways to get fit and burn fat?

Bounce Baby!

While a trampoline gives you some bounce and helps you to become airborne, you need to use your muscles to push yourself into the air and to control your movements so you stay upright. If you’ve ever spent time on a trampoline with your kids, you know it’s a great workout!

Invest in a good trampoline for your garden and use it regularly. It’s fun and will get you outdoors into the fresh air, as well as help you to build muscle and burn calories.

Dance like there’s no-one watching!

Salsa dancing is a great way to get your legs and bum toned and firm, and it’s also a fun way to spend time with someone you love! You can dance on your own or visit a dance club and join the group. You’ll make friends and have the most fun you’ve ever had getting into shape!

Be the daring young man or woman on the flying trapeze!

When you use a trapeze you need to control all your muscles for proper balance and stretching, and it’s a great way to burn calories at the same time.

More gyms are offering classes now.

Look for a beginner class near you and don’t worry about heights. Initially you start very close to the ground as you learn how to get comfortable in the harnesses and about the mechanics of swinging. Only then will you move on to more advanced moves.

Pole is good for the soul!

Pole dancers need to be in great shape, since they swing themselves around a pole to get into a variety of positions for the best routine. It’s a fun and effective way to get into shape, and can also be very sexy!

Remember that there is a HUGE difference between pole dancing and stripping, so don’t be shy about checking out a class near you.

You may find it’s one of the most enjoyable ways to burn calories, trim your waistline, and build long, lean muscles.

Surfing USA...but indoors!

Surfers usually have great leg muscles toned bottoms, since they’re using all these muscles to keep themselves on their boards and to guide and direct themselves in the water.

Today, indoor surfing classes are popping up in gyms everywhere because this is such a fun way to stay in shape. These classes use short boards that work much like surfboards and which tone all the lower body muscles. They’re a fun and inventive way to work out and may even turn you into a serious surfer!

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Do I Need A Flue Jab? Most of us know by now that certain groups of people should visit the GP for a flu jab: the elderly, diabetics, asthmatics etc.

A bad bout of flu is much worse than a heavy cold. Flu symptoms come on suddenly and sometimes severely.

They include fever, chills, headaches and aching muscles, as well as a cough and sore throat.

You’re likely to spend 2 or 3 days in bed. If you get complications caused by flu, you could become seriously ill and have to go to hospital.

But pharmacists will tell you that even if you don’t fall into one of the categories above a flu jab is still a sensible precaution.

But why would a healthy person request a flu vaccine? Well, seasonal flu is a deeply unpleasant illness.

It generally requires a week or so off work to recover and can trigger other conditions like bronchitis or pneumonia.

The average person with flu infects one or two other people through sneezing, coughing and touch.

If you work with the general public, in a shop for example, you are more at risk of being exposed to the virus so you might consider a flu jab a worthwhile investment.

A business owner may consider the impact a week off sick would have on his business and opt to protect himself or herself for that reason.

Children are much more likely to pick up and pass on bugs as they are in such close proximity to each other all day. For this reason teachers and parents might think it wise to have a jab.

Unless you fall into one of the atrisk categories you will have to be vaccinated, but it’s inexpensive (generally under £15) and many pharmacists administer the vaccine on their premises so you won’t have to book an appointment with your GP or take time off work.

Flu jabs are generally safe unless you have an allergy to eggs or have had a previous allergic reaction to a shot.

So discuss protecting yourself with your pharmacist today.

History of British Cinemas On a recent trip to Kent, I visited a quaint little cinema in Westgate-onSea. Tucked between shops on the high street, you pass through its arched entrance into a dark foyer with an old fashioned counter where you buy tickets at yesterday’s prices. The Carlton brought back fond memories of my visits to the cinema as a child.

Typically in the 1960s, several cinemas were located in town centres, each showing a different film. Multi screen cinemas had yet to be invented and 2 for 1 deals or cinema cards offering unlimited visits were a thing of the future!

Visiting the cinema was a real treat, and I remember queuing to see favourites like Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music.

Often, more than one film would be shown with an interval in between, when an usherette would wander down the aisle with a tray full of goodies and stand at the front while we queued to purchase ice cream or popcorn.

There were no fixed start and end times for programmes. You turned up and left when you liked as the films were screened continuously throughout the day. At the close I remember standing quietly while the national anthem was played!

The first British picture house was the Regent Street Cinema in Oxford Circus. It first screened footage in 1896, when 54 people paid a shilling to watch several silent, grainy, 40-second scenes of ordinary life.

The audience was astounded at footage of a train entering a station, believing it to be heading towards them!

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Early silent movies films were accompanied by live orchestras, but from the mid 1910s organists provided the musical score. Cinemas were ornate with balconies and staggered rows for easier viewing.

Over time this evolved into the tiered, stadium style seating we have today.

Thick, heavy curtains covered the screen, which were drawn back when the film was due to start.

In 1927 The Jazz Singer was released. The first feature length film to include sound, it heralded the Golden Age of Hollywood with alltalking, all-singing movies. Going to the cinema became hugely popular, with newsreels, short comedy films, documentaries or cartoons being screened before the main feature film. Many classic cartoons like Loony Tunes and Mickey Mouse were created for this purpose.

Cinema faced a decline during the 1980s when films became readily available on video. With this trend continuing, new innovations have been introduced to make visiting the cinema more attractive.

Stereo sound, 3D films, luxury seating and live broadcasts of theatre productions are amongst them. Visiting the cinema today is very different from my experience as a child, and I can’t help wondering what it will be like in fifty years from now!

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