Spotlight Magazine for Mansfield North, Nottingham October 16 by david clark

spotlightOn ISSUE 72 October 2016

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Contents

A Good Read 6 Dyslexia 8 Ghostly Goings On 10 Stretch It Out 12 Mushroom Hunts 14 Toffee Apples 16 Batty About Bats 18 Puzzle Pages 20 Capital Gains Tax 22 24 Edwinstowe Lions Prepare Your Car For Winter 26 Make Your Will Month 28 Index 30

Published by Spotlight Local Media Ltd Company No. 6841257 Tel: 01623 706570 Suite 104, 1 Hanley Street Nottingham NG1 5BL Graphic Design and Layout: Spotlight Local Media Distributed by Best Distributions Trusted Delivery Partner of the Spotlight Magazine

Didn’t we have a good summer! Still seeing some nice sunny days but decidedly cooler. As we say locally, it’s starting to feel a bit Goose Fair-ish! Some good reads in the mags again this month. Don’t forget that we are always open to publishing your local stories too, just email them in to: info@spotlightlocal. co.uk If you are looking to get any work done on your home or garden before the cold weather sets in, please consider giving our supporting advertisers a call. And if you are a local business that would like more customers, we can help with that too! Spotlight magazine is delivered to 6,000 homes and businesses in the North Mansfield area each month, with similar magazines also going to Mansfield South and West Bridgford To Advertise or contribute: T: 01623 706570 E: info@spotlightlocal.co.uk Web:www.spotlightlocal.co.uk

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A Good Read

The Man in the Picture by Susan Hill Susan Hill is best known as the author of Woman in Black and this short novel is in a similar vein. It certainly is short, at just 145 pages, and this makes it a perfect story to occupy a dark evening approaching Halloween. Oliver is a Cambridge graduate who is returning to his old college to visit his old professor, Theo Parmitter. The professor is well into his eighties but still attracts the attention of his old students and the younger fellows at the university. There is just something about him. It is during this visit, sitting in the old man’s college rooms on a dark January night with a fire burning in the grate that Oliver hears a story that will irrevocably change his life. In addition to teaching at the university, Dr Parmitter spent his younger years as an art collector, travelling auction rooms buying known and unknown works. It is on one of these trips that he encounters a mysterious painting of a Venetian carnival, complete with gondoliers and revellers in costume and masks. As soon as he sees it he knows that he must have it. After winning the auction he is approached by a man who insists that he must have the painting and tells Theo to name his price. He turns down the offer and the painting enters his life forever. A chance photograph of the professor in a newspaper brings a mysterious old widow into the story. It is from the widow that Dr Parmitter learns the full horror of the painting: a painting with the power to trap and horrify you. For this is no ordinary painting and Theo will find himself drawn into the story told within it, as others have in the past. Who is the man in the picture and why is he screaming and pleading with the viewer?

Like Woman in Black this story is told in the first-person as Oliver learns about the painting. The narrator switches during the novel to allow us to hear directly from the professor and the Countess. Using the story-within-a-story device, allows the narrative to unfold at a leisurely pace but one which still drives the reader on to learn more. The true horror is revealed at the end and it is guaranteed to leave you wanting more, with so many questions still unanswered. Goosebumps: Be careful what you wish for by RL Stine Keeping with the Halloween theme for the children we have a classic Goosebumps book. Samantha is a bit of a klutz: she trips over, drops things, and despite being tall, can’t manage to shoot on the school’s basketball team. As if that weren’t enough she is picked on by the popular star of the basketball team, Judith. One day Samantha decides that she has had enough and a chance meeting with a strange little woman in the rain gives her the opportunity to get her revenge. Granted three wishes in return for helping the woman Samantha thinks she knows exactly what she wants to wish for. But, as the title says, she learns that you do indeed need to be careful what you wish for as the outcome may not be exactly what you imagined it to be. A great scary read for pre-teen readers this is another instalment of the successful Goosebumps series. The chapters are short with plenty of cliff hangers to keep you reading and a spooky ending that reveals revenge can never be sweet.

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Dyslexia

The official definition of dyslexia is: ‘a form of learning difficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading and spelling.’ Estimates vary but up to 1 in 10 people could be affected. Dyslexia isn’t related to a person’s general level of intelligence and can run in families. The exact cause is unknown, but it is believed that certain genes may be inherited which act together in a way that impacts on how the brain develops in early life. The severity of this lifelong condition varies, and it does present daily challenges. With support to improve reading and writing skills however, most of those with dyslexia can go on to be successful in their education and work. Early diagnosis and intervention is paramount to make sure of the best outcome. Common symptoms of dyslexia include:

reading, writing, vocabulary, logical reasoning, memory and organisational skills, as well as consideration of the speed at which they process visual and auditory information, and their approach to learning. There is much that can be done to assist those with dyslexia in school and in the workplace: specialist teaching, use of a phonic based learning, and technology such as computers and speech recognition software.

Slowness in reading and writing Confusing the order of words Writing letters such as b and d the wrong way round Having poor spelling Understanding information that is given verbally but struggling with written guidance Struggling to carry out a sequence of directions Finding planning and organisation difficult

Employers are required to make reasonable adjustments to assist employees who have dyslexia. This might include allowing them extra time to complete tasks.

Most of the first steps to get help for those with the condition occur following recognition of difficulties during school.

Glasses with specialist coloured filters for those who experience Visual Stress. Symptoms of this include letters and words blurring and shaking.

Additional support will often be available via a school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO).

There is also lots of support available to help those who are affected make good career choices, apply for jobs or start their own business. Other specific types of assistance include:

A formal assessment from a specialist dyslexia teacher or educational psychologist can then be organised.

Adjustments to the format of many types of test including music examinations and the driving test. For example during their practical driving test, the examiner may use hand gestures to accompany verbal directions.

Other examinations are often suggested to rule out other problems such as eyesight or hearing problems.

Specialist charities such as the British Dyslexia Association and About Dyslexia who provide lots of advice and guidance.

An assessment includes analysis of

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Spring Into Action

Planting daffodils is one of my favourite jobs, though it is tinged with a bit of sadness that summer is now truly over.

perfect partner for late snowdrops.

So planting these sunny yellow flowers is a good way of looking forward to the spring.

I love ‘Jenny’, which has pale yellow trumpets that gradually fade to white, and ‘Trevithian’ which is a lovely yellow and quite graceful.

When I had my very first garden I planted loads of daffodils and had a wonderful display the first year. I congratulated myself that all my hard work was worth it because now I would have a fantastic display for years to come.

‘Thalia’ and ‘Pipit’ are both good laterflowering daffs, and I have a soft spot for ‘Hawera’, which is a soft yellow and multiheaded. The latter looks amazing in a blue pot underplanted with white Pulmonaria angustifolia ‘Sissinghurst White’.

The second year however I had loads of foliage but just a few flowers. I learned that I had not planted my bulbs deep enough... classic novice error!

Now it’s your turn to spring into action. Happy bulb-planting!

Bulbs which are too close to the soil surface are subject to drought as soon as the sun begins to shine. They simply don’t get enough moisture or sustenance.

By Rachael Leverton

It’s the leaves, which remain after the flowers, that pass food to the bulbs as they die back, so the bulbs can store enough nutrients to produce flowers again the following year. Daffodil bulbs need to be planted at least 15cm / 6 inches deep, and don’t cut the foliage back after the flowers have died for at least 6 weeks (another novice error!). In order to produce the best possible display the following year, once the foliage has faded sprinkle some general fertiliser around the plants. When planting for the first time, clumps look best in the average suburban garden. I plant eight to ten bulbs in a round group spaced about 8cm / 3 inches apart. I dig a hole wide and deep enough to accommodate the whole group, firm the earth back into place and (really important) label the spot! That way I avoid spearing the bulbs when I’m digging while they are dormant. If you want early flowers then go for short stems as they survive frost better. The bright yellow ‘Tête-à-tête’ is the www.spotlightlocal.co.uk • 01623 706570 • info@spotlightlocal.co.uk

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Ghostly Goings On

A bit of fun for Halloween – an anthology of things that go bump in the night… Boggarts Made famous by Harry Potter, boggarts are shape-shifting spirits. They are said to be placated by families leaving them offerings, but can cause plenty of mischief if they feel slighted! Boggart Hole Clough, a park in Manchester, is said to take its name from the boggart that haunts it. In Harry Potter, boggarts are able to change their shape to whatever the person looking at them fears the most, from spiders to Professor Snape. Will o’ the wisps Ghostly lights seen at night, will o’ the wisps are believed to lure travellers into danger. Resembling a flickering torch, the will o’ the wisps lead people into bogs, swamps and far away from the safety of the path.

the scene is visual, other times it can be auditory – the sound of someone crying for example. The ‘spirit’ seems to have no awareness of the people watching it, and does not interact with them. Intelligent hauntings Intelligent hauntings are very different to residual hauntings. In these cases, the spirit is not merely a ‘recording’. It seems to have consciousness and may try to communicate with people. This type of spirit is believed to be that of a person who has died but not ‘moved on’ either because they have unfinished business, or because they don’t realise they are dead. Berry Pomeroy Castle in Devon is said to be haunted by two intelligent ghosts – known as the Blue Lady and the White Lady.

Poltergeists German for ‘noisy ghost’ a poltergeist moves objects around a home, creates loud noises, and generally makes a bit of a nuisance of itself.

The Blue Lady is believed to be a portent of death, who tries to get people lost within the castle. The While Lady is thought to be Margaret Pomeroy, who starved to death in the dungeons.

From smashing plates to levitating beds, its main aim seems to be to get noticed, rather than to cause harm. Poltergeists are believed to haunt people, rather than houses.

Visitors have reported tales of the White Lady waving to them in the dungeons. Have a spooky Halloween! By Kate Duggan

Lemures Not the cute fluffy animals you might be expecting, lemures are restless or vengeful spirits. They are often found in Roman mythology, and may have lent their name to the primate lemurs. Residual hauntings Residual hauntings aren’t spirits as much as they are imprints. Believed to be impressions left by emotional events, they are characterised by their repetition. The same scene is played, and witnessed, over and over again, sometimes years after it actually happened. Sometimes

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Mushroom Hunts

Picking your own food can be a very enjoyable way to spend a day. Wild mushrooms are in plentiful supply right now and many are much tastier than any you can buy in a supermarket. First off a warning – some mushrooms can be deadly, so I certainly don’t advice picking any to eat without being absolutely certain what they are. Before trying to identify mushrooms by yourself, it’s a good idea to book onto a foraging course. While some species of mushrooms grow all year around, September to November is generally the best time for foraging, particularly straight after a rainy patch. So where to find them? Well, different species like different habitats, so there’s no quick answer. Some grow in fields, others on trees. You don’t need any specialist equipment for mushroom foraging, just a sharp knife*, suitable containers and clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. A wicker basket is ideal for most mushrooms, but it’s a good idea to carry some extra containers to keep any ‘suspect’ mushrooms safely apart, as well as wipes to clean your hands. When it comes to identifying any mushrooms that you find, you’ll need a good reference book, and possibly a magnifying lens. You’ll be looking for the shape of the cap (the main part of the mushroom), as well as the colour, texture, gills, shape of the stem and so on.

name, as the giant puffball resembles a foot wide ball. Hedgehog fungus is also quite easy to identify, as it has hedgehog like white spikes underneath the cap. Do check a reference guide to make sure you know what you’re looking for though and the safest way to forage is with an expert. October 9th is UK Fungus Day. There’ll be events taking place across the UK, including guided forays. Visit: www. ukfungusday.co.uk for more information. Useful sites Wild Food UK has photos of lots of the most common mushrooms you might find. They also organise foraging events and courses across the country: www. wildfooduk.com The Mushroom Diary has information on everything from varieties of mushrooms to laws around picking them: www. mushroomdiary.co.uk The Fungus Conservation Trust is a hive of information, and can point you in the direction of a local foraging group: www. abfg.org *There are laws about carrying knives, so do your research to check that you’re not breaking them! By Kate Duggan

Some mushrooms are fairly easy to identify, others less so. If in any doubt, don’t risk it! There are some 15,000 species of mushroom in the UK; some of which are edible (though not all taste good); some of which are poisonous. One of the safest mushrooms for beginner foragers is the giant puffball, as it’s pretty easy to identify. The clue is in the

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Bats About Bats

Bats are strongly associated with spooky castles, witches brews and all things Halloween. But there is so much more to this mammal. One fifth of all living mammals is a bat! They’ve been around for some 64 million years. They are the only mammals which can truly fly (other ‘flying’ mammals such as flying squirrels actually use skin flaps to glide short distances). Most bats navigate by emitting a sound from their larynx out through their mouth and nose. The projected sound wave is reflected off objects in their environment. A bat hears the echo and forms an acoustic image of its surroundings. Because of this a bat can navigate in complete darkness. They are perfectly developed for this type of navigation, with huge ears, nose flaps and tiny eyes. The small subset of bats known as flying foxes navigate by sight and have large eyes and much smaller ears accordingly. In the West bats have been demonised in the form of Dracula, most likely because they are nocturnal creatures and humans are not generally creatures of the night. In ancient history darkness was scary and potentially dangerous. Historically demons are characteristically pictured with bat wings while angels are depicted with bird wings. Not all cultures treat bats in this way though. They are considered auspicious creatures in China, possibly because the Chinese words for ‘bat’ and ‘happiness’ are very similar. Bats play an important role in the ecosystem. Some pollinate plants. Others eat fruit and disperse seeds. Most eat insects. An ordinary brown bat can consume up to 100% of its bodyweight in insects in a single night.

It’s hard to overestimate the importance of bats in controlling the insect population and thus protecting food crops. The U.S. bat population is currently under threat from disease and scientists estimate the number of extra insects in the environment as a result of this is around 1500 tonnes! In order to control so many more insects we will be forced to use vast quantities of insecticides> far better to take care of the bats, who do it naturally. Scientists studying deafness and blindness have found studying the genetic code of bats incredibly useful, giving them insights into which areas of the human genome to monitor when looking to prevent disease. One of the most interesting things about bats is that for their size they live an incredibly long time. Most small mammals tend to live fast and die young. Mice live only a year or two and voles a matter of months. Some species of bats can live nine times longer than expected, sometimes more than forty years! Of the 19 species of mammal who live extraordinarily long lives for their size, 18 are bats, so scientists how that by studying they may be able to unlock the mysteries of age-related diseases, such as cancer and dementia. Maybe they hold the key to everlasting youth! I hope I’ve given you an insight into these amazing little creatures and shown you that there’s so much more to them than Halloween! By Louise Addison

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Puzzle Page

Crossword Clues Across 7 Nocturnal black and white mammal (6) 8 Our nearest continental neighbour (6) 9 Deceased (4) 10 Alumnus, former student (8) 11 Entertainment with music and dance 13 Tickly, needs a scratch (5) 15 Cheat, deceive (5) 17 Lack of belief in God (7) 20 Non-acceptance, repudiation (8) 21 Playthings (4) 22 Lowest position (6) 23 ______ Christie, mystery writer (6)

Quick Crossword

Down 1 Yellow curved fruit (6) 2 Fictional man-eating giant (4) 3 Activate, generate (7) 4 Edible internal organs (5) 5 French bread (8) 6 Whisky (6) 12 Financial records (8) 14 Language descended from Latin (7) 16 Global sportswear brand (6) 18 Long curved agricultural blade (6) 19 Means of paying for postage (5) 21 Capture, ambush (4)

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Capital Gains Tax Step 2 – Work out the lettings relief In your case, the remainder of the gain, that does not qualify for PPR will qualify for lettings relief, however, this is limited to the lower of;

Will I pay Capital Gains Tax on my second house? By Karl Watts BSc(Hons) CPFA CTA ATT Q I am thinking of selling the house I used to live in but turned into a buy to let when I upsized a few years ago, will I have to pay capital gains tax on this and is the rate now 8%? PM A We are receiving lots of enquiries in this area recently, no doubt due to the upcoming changes to mortgage costs relief and the already in effect changes to stamp duty on second properties. Because you actually lived in the property for a period of time, you will be able to claim lettings relief as well as principal private residence relief. Step 1 – Work out the principal private residence relief (PPR) Most people are familiar with the concept that their main residence is free from capital gains tax so we first apportion the gain by reference to the period it was used as your main residence. Tip: Don’t forget you can treat the final 18 months of ownership as if it was your main residence

• The amount of PPR you are claiming • The gain attributable to letting • £40,000 The 8% / 18% CGT rates announced in the 2016 budget specifically exempt gains made on residential property. Space constraints ensures we cannot work through an example but the main points of this article were to remind readers that lettings relief is a valuable, relatively unknown relief. It is capable of relieving £40,000 of a gain and that living in a second property as your main residence for a period of time can be very worthwhile from a tax viewpoint. Karl Watts is a Chartered Tax Adviser who operates his own tax consultancy and accountancy business, Sunny Accountancy Services. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation and is also a Chartered Public Finance Accountant. Sunny Accountancy Services are offering a FREE tax consultation and an opening year discount of 10% to new clients quoting SMDISC. Call 01623 559362 or email enquiries@sunnyaccs.co.uk to book an appointment.

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Prepare Your Car For Winter

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

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. 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.

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

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.

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

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

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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.

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.

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

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

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