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This Month..
The team
4. Does retiring early mean early death 6. Dressing well in your 50’s 8. How to make your home more valuable 12. Tips for staying warm this winter 14. Recipe of the month 16. Prevent windscreen from frosting 18. Recipe of the month 20. New licensing rules for Bristol 22. New campaign harnesses 24. Cool sculpting 26. Top tips 32. CCTV legal requirements 36. Your garden
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Does retiring early mean an early death? The latest research suggests that those ending work younger are more likely to die earlier than those staying in jobs. A spot of gardening, going travelling – who hasn’t daydreamed about early retirement? So damn the latest study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health that shows an early retirement can mean less time to enjoy it. You might assume the effect was caused by sicker people retiring earlier and dying prematurely, but this study really tries to take that into account. The researchers analysed data from 2,956 people who were part of the Healthy Retirement Study funded by the National Institute on Aging in America. People were divided into unhealthy and healthy retirees based on whether they said sickness influenced their decision to stop work: about two-thirds were healthy and a third unhealthy. During the 18 years of the study, 12% of the healthy and 25.6% of the unhealthy group died. After taking into account factors such as the healthy group’s better education and finances, they found that healthy retirees who worked a year longer (over the age of 65) had an 11% lower ‘all-cause mortality risk”. Even the unhealthy group reduced their likelihood of dying by 9% if they delayed retirement. This seems counterintuitive. If anything should kill you, surely it’s dragging yourself into work until your late 60s. 4
There is at least one study showing that people are happier, even if they’re not healthier, after retiring, especially if it was their own decision, but the evidence overall is not clearcut. An Israeli study of 2,374 people found that those who retired earlier had the same lifespan as those who did not. A German study from 2009, Time to Retire – Time to Die?, is one of the few to find that healthier people who retire before the age of 61 may live longer than those who continue to work. But this study, like some others, may not fully account for differences in occupation – heavy manual jobs may take more of a toll than managerial ones. A Swedish study found that women in non-manual jobs who retired had a higher risk of dying from heart disease whenever they left work, compared with those who stayed in jobs. But a Swedish study of army officers found early retirement reduced the likelihood of dying by the age of 70 by 26%. Many people will continue working from financial necessity. But if you can afford to stop working earlier and you’re healthy, you shouldn’t postpone retirement out of fear it could kill you. It maybe what work represents to people that prolongs life – not employment itself. Keeping active and getting involved in voluntary work definitely brings retirees a lot of benefits that would have been brought about by keeping on working.
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Dressing Well in Your 50’s Hitting the milestone of a middle-age marker is no reason to let style fall to the wayside. In fact, it's more of a reason to step up your game and dress sleeker than ever. While you may feel like your body isn't exactly working with you like it used to, there are so many tricks out there for how to dress over 50 and enjoy your sixth decade in style. Confidence levels spike with age, and now that you're well seasoned, let your wardrobe reflect that self-esteem! 1. Choose small prints that work for you
3. Leggings are for the gym
Ladies, a large, bold pattern can unfortunately be your downfall. A smaller print, however, that’s not worn head-to-toe can do wonders for slimming the body and serving as a bold conversation piece.
Fine, you can wear them around your house, too, but that’s it. Leggings are officially no longer appropriate.
2. Go for the chicness of a pocket square
Now that you’re in your 50s, you can likely afford better quality stuff. But just because you’re indulging in more well-known, expensive brands, doesn’t mean that you should be flaunting it across your chest. Choose pieces with subtle branding only–as in the form of a small logo rather than a large print word.
Men, you’ve been waiting your whole life to be mature enough to pull of a pocket square. Now that you’re in your 50s, you’ve aged like fine wine and there’s no better time.
4. Choose subtle branding
5. Keep heels to a minimum Too-high heels sometimes encourage bad posture behavior. And worse: They can create the illusion of saggy boobs, which let’s face it—no woman in her 50s wants! Instead, keep heels age-appropriate and on the lower side.
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6. Embrace your glasses All four of your eyes may have gotten you made fun of in middle school but now, they’re officially your best, most wise-looking accessory. Because if there’s one thing we should embrace with fashion for women over 50, it’s embracing our natural features, and that includes glasses.
9. Say no to ripped or “distressed” anything If you’re wondering how to dress over 50, the first step is going to be eliminating any juvenile fashions from your wardrobe. That includes ripped and distressed jeans (or anything else!). Just say no.
7. Say no to ankle boots Booties are for teenagers (especially when paired with skirts or dresses). Say no to ankle boots unless it’s with a well-tailored trouser that tapers off at the ankle. 8. Build your tie repertoire You should have ditched the novelty tie a long time ago but if you’re still only working with a handful of ties, it’s time to step it up. Wool ties, knitted ties, silk ties–all should be staples in your tie collection. Throw a bow tie in there for good measure, too. For more on what makes a suit look good on anyone.
10. Be wary of cheap denim Inexpensive and inherently poorly-made denim is easy to get away with when you’re young and your body tight and firm. But in your 50s, it’s a dead giveaway. Opt for a bootleg jean, which will lengthen your legs and flatter your tummy in the best way possible. 7
How to make your home more valuable and sell faster Preparing your home for viewers is important. It will not only ensure your property sells faster, and for a higher sale price; can potentially adding thousands of pounds to its value.
1. Declutter – but don’t depersonalise Get rid of excess stuff that has accumulated in every nook and cranny. Put it in storage, sell it, give it away or bin it. Consider removing any bulky furniture that makes the room feel small and replacing it with smaller furniture. People need to be able to envisage what the property would look like if they were living there. People often find this difficult, so make it easy for them to see all the fantastic living space you’re offering them. Don’t make it look like a generic hotel; leave some personality. Apart from anything else it gives unimaginative buyers suggestions as to what they might do. People are often buying into a lifestyle as much as a property. Show them the attractive side of your lifestyle.
2. A fresh lick of paint
Giving your walls a fresh lick of neutral paint will make your home seem lighter and bigger. It will enable the viewers to more easily imagine how they would adapt the rooms to their needs. It will be easier for the buyers to move in and use the rooms immediately than if the walls were still bright purple or lime green.
3. Maximise kerb appeal
Kerb appeal creates a lasting first impression – most buyers make up their minds in the first few minutes of arriving at a property.
4. Fix and clean Make any minor repairs necessary – holes in walls, broken door knobs, cracked tiles, torn or threadbare carpets. Many buyers want to move in without making changes, so allow for this. 8
Clean everything until it sparkles. Get rid of limescale, clean and repair tile grout, wax wooden floors, get rid of all odours, hang up fresh towels. This will make the place more appealing and allow viewers to imagine living there. Tidy up the garden: cut bushes back, clean the patio and furniture of lichen and dirt, and cut the grass. While this doesn’t add much value to your home it makes it more likely to sell as people visualise themselves using the garden. Need to find a tradesman to help spruce up your home? Try our checkatrade tool
5. Update the kitchen The kitchen is the most valuable room in a house. It is worth the most per square foot and can make the difference when buyers are unsure. Consider refacing your kitchen cabinetry. This is much cheaper than installing new cabinetry and often as effective. Upgrading kitchen counter tops is expensive, but can add serious value. Declutter the surfaces and just leave a bowl of fruit out. Take out any bulky appliances.
Consider upgrading the plumbing fixtures and white goods, but keep in mind that while that could make your property sell faster, you will be unlikely to recoup their full value.
6. Light and airy Wall mirrors make a room look much bigger and lighter. Consider putting some up, especially in smaller rooms or hallways. Clean windows inside and out, and replace any broken light bulbs. Making the place feel light and airy makes rooms feel bigger and the property more attractive. Ensure that you have lamps on in any dark corners.
7. Light a fire If it’s a cold evening, or even chilly day, light your fire. This will make your home feel warm and inviting. If you don’t have a fire then ensure the fireplace is clean.
8. Make it look pretty
Make sure the windows are properly dressed with blinds or curtains as naked windows make a place feel impersonal and run down. Buy some cheap ones if necessary.
Plants and flowers bring colour, life and light to a room and also smell wonderful. So does that fruit bowl on your kitchen counter.
9. Get the right smells
Bad smells are the single biggest turn off for prospective buyers. Don’t just cover them up, fix the source of the smell. Clear drains, wash bins, open windows, air the kitchen from old cooking smells, get rid of furniture that is embedded with cigarette smoke, and wash any grimy bed sheets. If you are a smoker, place bowls of vinegar around the house and leave out for three days. Though the vinegar will smell when you open the windows it will disappear quickly taking most of the stale cigarette smell out with it. Conversely, good smells can make a property feel like an alluring home. While it might be impractical to bake fresh bread, cakes or brownies for every viewer that visits your home, you could perhaps brew some fresh coffee.
10. Showing the property Choose a good estate agent and let them conduct viewings. It’s their job to know what things to say, what to highlight and what to downplay. 9
Award Winning Opera Company back with popular Opera Opera in a Box is delighted to be producing their first full scale performance post-pandemic with the ever-enchanting “Carmen” at The Fire Station.
“Opera in a Box have won a new fan. Having never seen opera performed live, I went along not really knowing what to expect - and I was mesmerised!” (The Marriage of Figaro)
As a touring opera company in the South West of the UK aimed at bringing the opera genre to as wide an audience as possible, we encourage you to take all of your preconceptions about opera and throw them out of the window! Join us to explore the themes of desire, love and fate with some of the most famous tunes ever written.
Director Marianne Vivash says, “Every production of ours is unique, and built entirely around the concept sharing our passion for opera with our audience (often those who have never experienced live opera before). I’m excited to bring such a well known piece to new audiences through our new production.”
Opera in a Box has set the standard in the South West of up-close and personal operas in unique settings, helping to smash the pre-conceptions of opera that can put off new audience members. We defy you to watch an opera in the same way again!
Opera in a Box perform opera in intimate settings, up close and in English, allowing the audience to witness the story in a new and exciting way. Please contact us for specific requirements.
"The only place you can see the grit and realism up close. The performances and direction were outstanding” (Macbeth)
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The Station (Broadmead), Silver Street, Bristol, BS1 2AG (duration approximately 2h with interval) Tickets can be purchased from www.operainabox.com
More information on our society can be found on our website: www.bristolgsos.co.uk Or via our facebook page, @BristolGSOS. 11
Seven top tips for staying well this winter As the Met Office has issued a level 2 cold weather alert for severe cold weather in the coming days, healthcare leaders in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire are urging residents to take precautions. As well as getting vaccinated against Covid-19 and flu, stocking up on medication and keeping warm and active, residents are also being advised to look after their own physical and mental health and look out for each other. Dr Jonathan Hayes, chair of Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said: “Exposure to cold weather can adversely affect a person’s immune response, making it harder for the body to fight off infections, so it is especially important for vulnerable people to keep warm. “During our national lockdowns, we saw incredible stories of people pulling together and looking out for each other. This winter we need residents to pull together again. We need everyone to check in on older neighbours, friends and family who may need a bit of extra help this winter. Taking a few minutes to ask if they need any shopping or medicines and making sure they are warm and comfortable can make all the difference “As we face our second winter with coronavirus in circulation, we urge everyone to make sure they not only have their Covid-19 vaccinations and boosters, but also the flu vaccine.” 12
Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire CCG has published seven tips for keeping well in cold weather: • Protect yourself by getting vaccinated against Covid-19 and flu and follow the national Covid-19 guidance. You can find local vaccination details at grabajab.net • Keep warm. Heating your home to at least 18°C, and wearing layers when outside will help prevent colds, flu and other more serious health problems • Get help with heating costs. You may be able to claim financial help with heating your home. See the Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payment • Keep active. Any exercise can bring health benefits, both physical and mental. • Plan ahead. Make sure you have sufficient food and repeat medication so that you can cope if you’re unable to leave the house for a period of time. • Get advice if you feel unwell. If you start to feel unwell, get help from your pharmacist or GP. If you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do, go to 111.nhs. uk or call 111. • Look out for others. Check in on vulnerable neighbours, friends and family. Make sure they’re well, warm and have sufficient stocks of food and medicine so they don’t need to go out during very cold weather.
Sara Blackmore, South Gloucestershire Director of Public Health, said: “This year, it is more important than ever that we keep well by helping each other during periods of cold weather and protecting ourselves from Covid-19 and flu. “As well as checking whether family members and neighbours need help to access shopping and medicines, it is also vitally important that we think about each other’s mental health and wellbeing. This time of year can be difficult, particularly for those who are vulnerable and isolated, so reaching out to a family member or neighbour can have a huge impact on their mental wellbeing, whilst of course remaining mindful of Covid-19 guidance.” Residents who are worried about a relative or elderly neighbour, can contact their local council or call the Age UK helpline on 0800 678 1602 (8am to 7pm every day). More information about how to stay well in the winter is available on the NHS website.
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GREEN LIVING IMPORTANT FOR RETIREES
A new report has revealed that green credentials are important for more than 80 per cent of those interested in living in a retirement development. National law firm Clarke Willmott LLP’s Retirement Living Survey 2021 reveals ‘it is not all about gyms, socialising and a party retirement, the future of the planet also matters.’ Dale Edwards, a green energy specialist at Clarke Willmott, said: “Over the last 18 months there has been a significant shift in people appreciating and valuing the importance of environmental matters, which is reflected by government objectives to make the places we live in more sustainable and energy efficient. “More developers are becoming more socially responsible in their approach incorporating new green technologies for new properties and re-furbishing existing stock. “Today’s baby boomer retirees are savvy when it comes to the need to make the planet greener, but we were surprised with the percentage of survey respondents who said sustainability was quite important (54.69%) or very important (28.65%). “We will be using this information and other data gathered by the survey to help advise our clients in the months to come.” 14
Clarke Willmott commissioned the survey after seeing an uptick in demand for residential developments designed for retirees and older clientele. More than 12 million over 65s live in the UK, a figure expected to increase by 41 per cent by 2040. The survey was completed by more than 300 private individuals from across the UK. Simone Protheroe, an associate in the construction team at the firm, looks at what this means for developers. She said: “Developers in the sector will want to consider the green credentials of the building contractors and consultants appointed with particular sharp focus on the designs and specification document being forward-thinking in terms of sustainability requirements. “From a contractual point of view, due thought should be given to ensuring there is express obligation to comply with any relevant sustainability standards or performance thresholds and to refer to the relevant operating procedures.” Clarke Willmott has extensive expertise in the later living sector acting for developers, including Retirement Villages, Blue Cedar Homes and LifeStory Group, and advising a range of later living care providers.
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Prevent windscreen frost build up using common household objects Drivers are being urged to follow certain tips to prevent frost from building up on their cars as the temperatures fall below freezing.
Windshield wiper blades?
With winter in full swing, experts are urging motorists to take action to prevent frost from forming on their windscreen after a cold night.
Finally, if you don’t have special windshield wiper fluid for colder seasons, you can adapt it.
Drivers can cover their windscreen with rubber bath mats or a folded sheet to prevent frost from building up before a chilly night.
Just add five tablespoons of rubbing alcohol to your wiper fluid tank to keep it from freezing inside your car.
The windshield wipers can be used to keep it in place.
Wipe them down with a soft cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol to keep them from sticking to your windshield.
You could also use this mix as a car de-icer. Just activate the wiper fluid and you’ll be clearing your windshield in a cinch.”
Do not to use newspaper as it is too thin and To make life a bit easier, the side mirrors can can freeze onto the windscreen. be covered with carrier bags and secured with Some could also make at home remedies rubber bands to stop them freezing. to keep their car windows from freezing, by making different solutions, including mixing Experts at Kwik Fit also provided some advice three parts vinegar to one part water. for drivers looking for an easy getaway in the mornings. These solutions have a lower freezing temperature than water and therefore only freeze over at much lower temperatures. Experts have advised drivers to use household items to prevent frost from building Drivers are being warned of the potential up. fines they face if they do not clear their vision properly before setting off. They advise: “Should temperatures fall even below the freezing point of our economical It’s annoying to wait until the windscreen de-icers, and you don’t have a car windscreen clears when you’re in a hurry, it’s freezing frost cover at hand, there’s no need to worry. cold and the glass is frosted over. You can also use a towel, a piece of carpet, cardboard or even a shower curtain to protect your windshield from freezing over. Another trick is to park in the right direction: Just have your car front window point east – that’s where the sun rises. Especially if you don’t have to head out before sunrise and nothing blocks the sun, you can just let nature do all the work for you. 16
But it is an offence to drive without properly defrosting or demisting your vehicle and the police can fine you for relying on ‘porthole vision’ - where drivers leave a gap big enough to see out of but not the whole windscreen. Using a vehicle with parts or accessories in a ‘dangerous condition’ could result in a fine of £60 and three penalty points. Though the offences and consequences could be greater if you cause an accident.
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Vegan coconut curry
Ingredients
Method
1 tbsp olive oil
Heat the oil in a large saucepan and cook the onion for 3-4 mins, until just softened
1 onion, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 5cm ginger, grated 1 red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped (optional) 1 tsp each of ground cumin, turmeric and coriander 1 large aubergine, cubed 400ml can reduced fat coconut milk 250g pack ready cooked green lentils 100g frozen peas ½ x 25g pack coriander, roughly chopped 250g pack basmati rice
Add the garlic, ginger and chilli, if using, then cook for another 2 mins Stir in the spices, then cook for 1 minute more Add the aubergine and cook for 2-3 mins, until just starting to soften Stir in the coconut milk and lentils, and season well Simmer gently for 10 mins, until slightly thickened Add the peas and most of the coriander, then cook for 2 mins, to heat the peas Cook the rice according to the pack instructions Divide the rice between 2 plates, then top with the curry and scatter over the remaining coriander to serve
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NEW LICENSING PLANS FOR BRISTOL Proposals approved for new Additional and Selective Licensing in Bristol. Bristol City Council have just informed us, that they reported to the Council’s Cabinet, in the second week of December of last year (4 December 2021), asking for approval to bring into force new licensing schemes, in three wards across the city of Bristol. The new proposals were for Additional Licensing of Private Rented Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in Bedminster, Brislington West and Horfield wards and a Selective licensing scheme of most other privately rented properties in Bedminster and Brislington West wards. Both of these proposals were approved by the Council’s Cabinet and the scheme will come into force on 6 April 2022. The scheme will be in operation for five years. You can find a copy of the official Public Notice on the Council’s website.
In a recent blog, we talked about HMO compliance and licensing, and you may remember that: The Housing Act 2014 states that a house in multiple occupation (HMO) is a property rented out by 3 or more people from 2 or more households, who share facilities such as a kitchen and/or a bathroom. If an HMO is tenanted by 5 people or more, it will require a mandatory licence but, in addition to mandatory licences, any council, at their own discretion, can apply additional licensing to an area of their choosing. If they do this then you will need an additional licence for a “small HMO” of 3-4 people from 2+ households.
HMOs that require an additional licence will need to follow the licence criteria as laid out on the council website, for the appropriate number of people. When a Council brings into force Selective Licensing, this means that you will need a Licence for most other privately rented properties in that area. It is a legal Most privately rented properties (including requirement for landlords to make a licence HMOs) in Bedminster and Brislington West application for each property that they let in and HMOs in Horfield, will require a licence the area that needs a licence. Failure to do so from 6 April 2022 and the Council have stated could result in enforcement action and that each property will be inspected at least prosecution. Landlords can also be ordered once during the lifetime of the scheme, to to pay back up to 12 months’ rent if they don’t ensure that they meet licensing standards. apply for a licence when they are required to do so.
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In the eyes of the council, there is no excuse for not licencing an HMO and the rent repayment orders can be very expensive, in September 2021 the council fined a landlord £48,000… not only that but if you have your “fit and proper person” status revoked, all of your HMO licences will be taken away, which could be very destructive for your portfolio! We are waiting to receive confirmation on the pricing structure for these new areas of the city but, currently, an Additional Licence costs £1000 in Bristol. In addition to being an expensive piece of compliance, it can also be confusing. We regularly handle licensing applications for our clients, so feel free to contact us if we can help in any way.
If we can add value for you, with a truly passive property management solution, finding your next perfect tenant or you want to talk about compliance in your property, then give us a call on 0117 440 6789 or email us here 21
New campaign harnesses "people power" to fuel growth of green energy in the South West Bristol Energy Cooperative (BEC) has launched a new share offer campaign to help tackle the climate emergency. The not-forprofit aims to raise £1million in just 12 weeks, to develop more green, clean energy projects across the region, at speed. "The imperfect outcome from COP26 makes bottom-up action on the climate emergency even more vital" comments Andy O'Brien, co-founder and director at Bristol Energy Cooperative. "By using people power, we can raise money quickly, install more low carbon technologies, and drive a green recovery for the region where locals feel the benefits." The money raised will go towards a range of renewable projects in Bristol and the South West. This includes a rooftop solar array on the renowned Bristol Beacon music venue, which is currently under major refurbishment. Re-opening in 2023, Bristol Beacon aims to be the UK's first carbon neutral concert hall, providing Bristol and the South West with one of the best performance and music learning spaces in Europe. The share offer will also help fund a microgrid scheme at an affordable community housing development in Bridport, Dorset. The largest of its kind in the UK, this co-housing project will use best-in-class practices for energy efficiency and renewable energy. This avoids the need for gas boilers or fossil fuels. The share offer aims to fund solar panels and battery storage for the microgrid.
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BEC's business model of raising funds has proved successful so far. Set up in 2011, the co-op has raised over £14 million, and developed over 9MWp of solar and battery assets, enough to power roughly 3000 homes. The organisation is an important contributor of renewable energy in the South West, generating roughly the equivalent of 30% of Bristol's solar energy. Katharine Wilkinson, Finance Director at BEC, said: “Our mission is to invest in renewables, and cut carbon, whilst putting ownership into the hands of locals so they can feel the benefits." It's not only BEC’s members that gain from a return on investment. Over the past 10 years, the cooperative has channelled over £300,000 of community benefit payments into local sustainability initiatives, such as community gardens, education and biodiversity programmes. Also, community spaces such as Easton Community Centre and Knowle West Media Centre have benefitted from cheaper energy rates thanks to the solar installations by BEC, meaning they have more funds to spend on their vital services. Anyone can invest in BEC’s withdrawable shares, from as little as £100. Investors are projected to receive a 3.5% annual return. The share offer is open until 31st March 2022. For more information click here.
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What to know about CoolSculpting
Sometimes it can feel like no matter what you do, how much you exercise and how religiously you log every morsel that goes in your mouth into calorie-counting software, the body composition just does not seem to shift. Of course, if you’ve made significant lifestyle changes – and an effort to commit to them – it’s very unlikely that your journey feels completely pointless. However, what about those stubborn fat deposits that just won’t go away? Upper arms, “muffin tops”, stomach rolls…they can be a major annoyance for many of us even at or close to ideal body weight. Of course, some people will tell you getting a liposuction will solve all your problems. However, although highly effective when performed appropriately by an experienced surgeon, liposuction is not exactly a walk in the park. This highly invasive procedure is associated with substantial downtime, possible side effects ranging from minor to very serious, and significant costs involved due to the level of expertise and care required. Besides, not everyone is comfortable with the idea of going under a knife for purely appearance-driven reasons. What if there was a non-surgical procedure that could melt away fat with no downtime and minimal complications… 24
But what if we was to say that this safe, affordable cosmetic treatment already exists – except instead of melting fat, it freezes it? The name is cryolipolysis, also known as CoolSculpting or “fat freezing” – and today, we’ll reveal all you need to know about this procedure, and if it’s safe after all. What is “fat freezing”? In a nutshell, cryolipolysis, or “fat freezing”, works by exposing fat cells in the chosen area of the body (e.g. stomach, flanks, thighs – or any other stubborn fat tissue deposits) to very low temperatures. As a result, fat cells are frozen to death – and subsequently eliminated by the body just like any other waste would. Best of all, the surrounding tissues remain intact and undamaged, unlike after liposuction which inevitably promotes scarring! There is not much discomfort involved, either. During your appointment, which typically lasts for 35 mins or under, the operator will apply a suction cup applicator to the treated area. Not going to lie, it feels a little unusual, and you may feel cold while the device is in operation (it’s called freezing for a reason). However, mild discomfort related to the cooling sensation is about as bad as it gets. No pain, no downtime!
Sometimes, multiple areas can be treated within the same appointment, but it’s not always possible. In addition, multiple sessions are often required to achieve the desired results – the exact timeline will depend on your body composition and goals. Treatment usually start from around £1600 but typically cost between £3000 and £6000 depending on how many areas and if you have treatments repeated and even though it’s cheaper compared to surgical interventions, make sure you can afford repeated treatments if need be, or hold off until you can. Speaking of repeated procedures, don’t make appointments too close to each other unless specifically advised by your nurse specialist, as it takes a while for your lymphatic system to get rid of the dead fat cells.If you are going to need two rounds of treatments, the second round can be done four weeks after your first. As such, you can expect to see full results at approximately 12 weeks post treatment, so wait until then to decide if you need more freezy work done. As a general guide, you can expect to lose approximately an inch per treatment – but this obviously does vary due to factors such as body part treated, your metabolism, how large your fat deposits are to start with, and so on.
Is “fat freezing” safe? In general, most health practitioners and scientists agree that cryolipolysis is a safe and effective treatment to reduce fat deposits in most areas. Over 5 million treatments have been performed world wide, with hundreds of studies, and providing you don't overeat and put weight on, your results will be long lasting. To minimise the chance of unexpected results, make sure you’re the right candidate for the “fat freezing” procedure. Some of the criteria, for both men and women, include: •
Being within 6-12 kg of your ideal body weight (less is even better). CoolSculpting is not supposed to be a dramatic, 50 kg of weight off kind of procedure. Instead, it works best and smoothest when only reasonable “polishing” of desired areas is required.
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Being generally healthy and not taking any medications that can promote uncontrolled weight gain
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Maintaining a good exercise and nutrition regimen
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Being prepared to undergo multiple procedures to achieve optimal results (those may or may not be required).
Conclusion Cryolipolysis is a safe, effective procedure that helps get rid of stubborn unwanted fat in most areas of the body, such as thighs, upper arms, abdomen, chin, flanks, and everything in between. However, if you’re still in the early days of your health journey and carry over 15 kg of excess weight, you may need to wait a bit before committing to “fat freezing” sessions, as the results won’t be as dramatic as they could be, and you might also get unwanted lumps and bumps. Otherwise, go for it – and you won’t ever regret getting the procedure done, as the results are truly amazing, and there is virtually no downtime. Just be sure to use a reputable company to the correct credentials. 25
Top Tips for Saving Time in the Office Managing your time in the home office is difficult With a huge list of things to do and so little time, it’s not unusual to sometimes feel a little out of your depth. So, what can you do to make the most of the hours you spend sat at your desk? Well, thanks to digital
Capture all of your thoughts in one place Writing down your thoughts and ideas is all well and good, until you spill a glass of water on your notepad, or the cleaner throws your vital Post-It note in the bin. Not to mention that you’ll end up with a chaotic pile of paper on your desk.
Well, thanks to digital technology, it’s easier than ever to save time. That’s right, you can Having your to-do list, notes and saved web use the devices most of us waste hours scroll- pages in one place is a great way to get ing on to actually save time. organised, and being able to access them from wherever you are will boost your Get into a routine productivity in the long run. Starting a ‘work’ Most of us have a short list of mundane daily page in Notes on your phone is a good place tasks that need to be done while we’re in the to start, and ensuring that the page is synced office. Whether they help you get set up for to your laptop means that you won’t have to the day, are an important part of your to-do list worry too much when you leave your mobile or mean you can log out on time, they’re all at home. incredibly important when it comes to maintaining productivity. Organisation is the key to productivity. Finding a routine that suits you is a great way Without it, you’ll constantly be stretched, thinking about what needs to come next, to make sure that you get everything done. Getting your daily tasks out of the way before rather than doing it. Collecting your thoughts you crack on with the bigger, more important in one place allows you to see exactly what jobs is a good idea, and setting reminders will needs doing, helping you prioritise your to-do list and get everything done. keep you on track. Setting a reminder or blocking out some time in your calendar will help you stay on top of what’s next, making sure you get everything done. 26
Track your time in the office Wasting hours on end by procrastinating is easy, but tracking your time is a good way to stay accountable. Why not set a timer up on your phone whilst you work through your to-do list? Making a note of how long you spend on different tasks throughout the day can help you stay on track and will show you whether you’re dedicating the right attention to your most important tasks. Control the music from your desk Bringing your office to life with a little of music in the afternoons is a great way to boost morale but getting up to change a song sometimes or deciding what everyone wants to listen to can take more time out of your day than you might expect. There are some great music streaming services that are licensed for businesses to use, and with a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi speaker, everyone in the office can add their own choice to the queue. That way, everyone gets to hear what they want, and you don’t need to worry about time-wasting tune debates. To save even more time, some services allow you to schedule tracks in advance for certain times of the day, so you can have a motivational Monday morning playlist cued up for when you arrive at work.
Schedule your social media posts If your job includes posting on social media, here’s hoping that you already schedule all your posts in advance. If not, there are a whole hosts of tools which could save you a lot of time wasted on uploading posts throughout the week. On most platforms you can schedule Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook posts from the same place. There is no point spending time logging onto each social media site every day and copying content from your plan to upload live. Instead, uploading your weeks’ worth of posts in advance can save you from switching between tasks every day, saving you time in the long run – especially if you’re posting regularly! Just make sure you cast your eye over them in case anything has changed which means you might want to tweak any of the posts. Remember, getting a little help from apps and technology during your working day is not ‘cheating’; getting into the routine of using everyday tech saves time in the office and can really boost your overall productivity. Subscribe to or weekly newsletter for more up to date business news. HERE
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How To Increase Your PC Performance 1. Delete Old Programs If you have an older computer, you might be surprised at the old, unused programs that are hiding on your hard drive. Visit your “Programs and Features” menu to see a full list and uninstall anything you don’t use regularly. 2. Limit Programs That Startup Automatically Programs like Spotify or Skype will automatically start whenever you turn on your computer. You can change the default settings so that these programs won’t take up valuable RAM on startup. 3. Clean & Delete Old Files Are you still storing old pictures from your high school prom or camping trip from 15 years ago? If there are old documents or files you don’t need, simply delete them. If you want to keep your old files, consider moving them to cloud storage such as Google Drive or One Note. 4. Upgrade Your RAM One of the most straightforward ways to improve the speed of your computer is to upgrade your RAM. Adding an extra 2 to 4 gigs of RAM space is often enough to make a noticeable difference. 5. Get a Solid State Drive Another hardware upgrade you can make to your computer is to install a solid-state drive. This will greatly improve the performance of your computer including starting up and regular tasks. 6. Run a Cleaner Tool In addition to manually cleaning off your files, you should regularly clear your temporary and cached files. Using a free tool such as CCleaner or Malwarebytes, you can keep the hidden files of your computer clear and organized.
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7. Clear Your Browsing History & Cookies If your browser seems to be running slow it might be time to clear your history and cookies. Your browser saves all of your visits and collects cookies. These small cookies and files can add up quickly and slow down your browsing. Clearing these out regularly is essential in learning how to increase your PC performance and keep things running smoothly if you start to notice any lag in speed. 8. Check for Viruses A common cause of slow computers is a hidden virus or ransomware file. Make sure you have current anti-virus software that is activated and be sure you are following good digital security practices while online. This will help avoid getting a virus in the first place. 9. Keep it Cool Anytime your computer gets too warm it will, in turn, start to slow down. This is especially true of laptops. As we approach the summer season, make sure your computer is in a well-ventilated area and doesn’t overheat. 10. Don’t Forget to Shut Down It sounds silly, but turning off your computer and turning it back on again can work wonders to increase your computer’s performance. If you’re running into lag on your computer, simply try turning it off, unplugging it and then reconnecting and turning it back on again.
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mess in the kitchen can be demoralising. I can’t cook in a dirty kitchen, and having A to clean it up before I can even get started
1. Clean as you go. The concept of cleaning as you go is fundamental to maintaining a clean kitchen. It means that you clean up as you’re cooking or using the kitchen. Examples of this idea in action include wiping up spills on the counter right away, putting ingredients back when you’re done with them, and washing dirty dishes while dinner is in the oven.
Here are some of the best ways to keep your kitchen in perpetual tip-top shape.
2. Do a nightly counter sweep. Paper and other clutter tends to collect on kitchen counters. When it’s left out, it multiplies. Make sure this doesn’t happen by clearing off your counters and putting things where they belong every night as part of your “kitchen shut down” routine.
drains my energy. So the kitchen needs to stay in a basic and general state of cleanliness and order. As the hardestworking room in the house, and the place where the messiest messes are often made, this is a feat that’s best accomplished with some principles that are kept firmly in place.
3. Wash these three tools immediately after using them. Don’t let cheese graters, strainers, or chef’s knives sit before being cleaned. Cleaning them right away means you won’t have to deal with the arduous task of scrubbing dried-on food from these tricky items.
5. Make the refrigerator clean-out a regular task. Yes, you’ll still have to deep clean your fridge every once in a while, but if you want to maintain a clean kitchen, you’ll need to regularly check for produce that’s going bad and leftovers that need to be tossed. Tying this inventory-taking to your grocery shopping trips will remind you to do it and will also help cut down on wasted food and unnecessary spending.
4. Organise the cabinet beneath your sink. Having your cleaning tools and products accessible is key to maintaining a pristine kitchen. You probably store a majority of them in the cabinet under your sink. And that’s great — you just need to make sure it’s organized, so that you can easily grab what you need, when you need it. 6. Create kitchen worktop zones. If you designate counter areas for specific tasks, you prevent all the worktops from getting dirty when you’re working in the kitchen. For instance, if you bake only in the corner where your stand mixer lives, you know you only have to wipe down that counter (and the area around the sink) when you’re done whipping up your cookies. 7. Run the dishwasher before it’s too full. Chances are, you need to run your dishwasher more often than you think you do. If you put it off too long, and you can’t fit anything else in it, it no longer becomes useful and then dirty dishes have to sit (or get hand-washed!). Try to get in the habit of running it every night after dinner. 8. And empty it right away. If you run the dishwasher at night, you can unload in the morning while you wait for the tea to brew. This way, you start the day with an empty dishwasher that can be loaded as dishes get dirtied.
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9. Be extremely selective about what stays out on your worktops. Crowded spaces tend to harbor messes more easily than empty ones. Counters that are kept clear offer no place for clutter and dirty dishes to hide. This means everyone in the house might be more likely to put their stuff away.
10. “Shut down” the kitchen every night. Essentially, this means you never go to bed with a dirty kitchen. Ever. It’s most straightforward to shut down your kitchen as you clean it up after dinner, but sometimes you may make the next day’s lunches after dinner or prepare an evening snack, so take that into account if you need to. Shutting down the kitchen means that all your daily kitchen must-do tasks are completed, including running the dishwasher and emptying the trash, for instance.
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CCTV LEGAL REQUIREMENTS AND LAWS EXPLAINED FOR DOMESTIC USE More and more people are starting to invest in CCTV cameras, both for domestic use. They help protect homes from criminal activity, as well as inadvertently recording other occurrences, such as road traffic collisions, for example. There’s no doubting that CCTV cameras are incredibly useful and worth investing the time and money in. However, there are legalities which must be adhered to with regards to Can I install CCTV at home? The short answer to this is yes, you have the right to protect your property and CCTV will do just that. Before buying and installing your CCTV system, ensure you have a definitive answer to the following questions: •
Why do I need CCTV?
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What do I want the CCTV cameras to record?
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Are there any other measures I can take
How do I comply with the DPA? Simply, you must follow the guidelines that have been set by the ICO. Different rules and regulations must be adhered to depending on whether you plan to use it for domestic or commercial purposes. Domestic CCTV can be controversial, as a result, there are guidelines which must be followed: •
You must have a valid reason for installing CCTV on your premises.
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You need to know the designated areas in which the recording will take place and subsequently notify your neighbours.
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A sign must be visible, stating that surveillance is taking place.
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Ensure your camera is positioned away from your neighbours property. If this isn’t feasible, you can use privacy masking.
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If you wish to operate CCTV outside of your property boundary and do not wish to use privacy masking, you must register as a CCTV operator with the ICO.
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You’re not allowed to record conversations between members of the public.
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You cannot keep recordings for longer than necessary (31 days is standard).
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Ensure the date and time is set correctly.
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Only use collected footage for the purpose of protecting your property.
to help increase the protection of my property? Do you need permission to install CCTV? To install CCTV on a domestic property, permission isn’t normally required. If you live in a listed building or in a conservation area, there may be some restrictions with regard to the installation of security cameras. To check, speak to your local planning authority before purchasing equipment. Prior to the installation of CCTV on commercial premises, register with the ICO and a Privacy Impact Assessment must be conducted. Subsequently, strict guidelines must be followed. Is CCTV covered under the Data Protection Act (DPA)? CCTV of any kind, whether being used for domestic or commercial purposes, is included under the DPA and the ICO. It is highly recommended that anyone using CCTV must conduct a Data Privacy Impact Assessment, ensuring that you’re not reducing the privacy of data subjects. 32
WHATS ON AT THE CINEMA THIS WEEK
SING 2 his January, the new chapter in Illumination’s smash animated franchise returns with big dreams and spectacular hit songs as can-do koala Buster Moon and his all-star cast of animal performers prepare to launch their most dazzling stage extravaganza yet …in the glittering entertainment capital of the world. There’s just one hitch: They first have to persuade the world’s most reclusive rock star—played by legendary music icon Bono, making his animated film debut—to join them. Buster (Oscar® winner Matthew McConaughey) and his cast have turned the New Moon Theater into a local hit, but Buster has his eyes on a bigger prize: Debuting a new show at the Crystal Tower Theater in glamorous Redshore City.
NIGHTMARE ALLEY Director Guillermo del Toro returns to the big screen! An ambitious young carny with a talent for manipulating people with a few well-chosen words hooks up with a female psychiatrist who is even more dangerous than he is. Sign up to our newsletter https://scottcinemas.co.uk/newsletter
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Take a break and try to solve theses puzzles Here are this weeks puzzles designed to test your mental skills during your lunch break or after tea. Click the NEW download symbol below to download our puzzles to your phone or computer and complete at your own leisure. The answers will be published on our website every Thursday afternoon.
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YOUR GARDEN IN February If you’re a keen gardener February is a month filled with anticipation. The first signs of life are beginning to emerge as plants shake off their winter dormancy and wildlife begins to wake. Light levels are increasing, temperatures are rising and splashes of colour are beginning to creep back into the garden. Spring is on its way and there is plenty of preparation to do.
3 ESSENTIAL GARDENING JOBS FOR FEBRUARY Prune plants
Prune late flowering shrubs such as fuchsia, hydrangea, buddleja and ceanothus. Using sharp secateurs, cut just above an outward pointing bud. Aim to remove about a third of the height of the shrub and try to maintain an even shape. Check other shrubs and remove any dead, diseased or damaged branches to keep the plant healthy. Try to avoid pruning early flowering shrubs until after they have flowered.
Give the lawn a light mow
If the weather is warm you may need to start mowing. Set the cutting height on your mower to its maximum and only mow when it’s dry. Re-cutting lawn edges will also give an instant lift to the appearance of the garden. 36
Plant shrubs and trees
February is the ideal time to plant new shrubs and trees while they are still in their dormant state. Make sure the ground is not frozen or water logged before planting. Stakes and rabbit guards should be put in place at the time of planting to prevent damage to the root ball or bark. It’s also a good idea to check ties and stakes on existing plants and replace, tighten or slacken where necessary.
Plant of the month: Camellias Why should you plant them?
Welcome in the spring with Camellias-these hardy shrubs have glossy evergreen leaves and display flowers that brighten up your winter. An early riser in terms of plants waking up from the winter snooze. Camellias burst into flower in February just as the rest of the garden is starting to blink its eyes at the sunshine.
Camellias like to grow in acidic soil so need planting with ericaceous compost. feed with ericaceous plant food to keep the leaves glossy and green and water well once the flower buds appear-although the flowers wont break until February. The buds will begin to develop in autumn.
How should you plant them?
Camellias are easy to grow and flower relliably-the most important thing is choosing the right spot. Although a hardy shrub their flower buds are susceptible to frost once they start to develop so plant in a sheltered spot and wrap with fleece when frost is forecast.
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Aquarius Jan 20 - Feb 18
Taurus Apr 20 - May 20
Although things aren’t moving very much for you at the moment, this will change. New ideas, new interests, are very much on their way for you. You are very strong and independent person, and sometimes find people difficult, try and be aware of being sensitive to other’s needs, and occasionally A little more flexible and possibly tolerant with others. Keywords. New things on wait, sensitivity and flexibility.
If you are feeling a bit held up and stuck, be aware that things will begin to change for you. Patience could be your best friend at the moment, and look out for ways to work with achieving your goals, and working with change. It may be a good time to do a reflective overview of your ideas and goals. Keywords. Overview and changes
Pisces Feb 19 - Mar 20
Our current situation is very challenging, and it is very likely you are feeling stuck and lightly stressed, so try and make some time for yourself as well as looking after everyone else. Look for opportunities to find laughter, this is a great stress reliever, and brings positive energy to those around you too. Keywords look after you as well as others.
Aries Mar 21 - April 19
This could be a good time to learn something new, or revisit something you learn’t a while ago. Your intuition would be good work with at this time, so as you don’t miss out on any useful information, knowledge, or finding opportunities for new things. Keywords. Intuition and opportunities 38
Gemini May 21 - June 20
If you are feeling a bit fed up and things are repetitive, remember nothing stays the same. Try and find the positives about being at home. Find a new hobby or maybe fixing things that have been forgotten. Look after yourself, and maybe try some new things maybe new foods, or new TV programmes, et cetera. Keywords. Be positive, and look after yourself
Cancer June 21 - July 22 If you’re finding it hard going at present, due to current circumstances, Give yourself some time to look for new interests, hobbies, or sorting out things that have been put on hold. You are not alone in this situation, try and make the most of Being indoors, and being able to sort or change things in your home environment, or get on with new interests or resume old ones. Keywords. Look for opportunities, and new ideas.
Leo Jul 23 - Aug 22
Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21
If you feel your inspirations have left you, it won’t be for long. Try not to over think things, and you may find you have one of those light bulb moments, which will give you a new zest for things and help relieve some obstacles. When conversing with people, try to keep aware of their feelings as well as you are having your own opinions. Keywords. Inspiration and communication.
Your home environment and friends and family are highlighted at this time, and it does feel very much like the obstacles can be a bit more difficult than usual, try and find ways to stay in touch with your friends and family. In regards to things for your home environment, as with most things follow your intuition. Also try to be aware of the needs of others at this time. Keywords communication and intuition.
Virgo Aug 23 - Sept 22
If things seem to be getting to you of late, remember you have a character that is strong and resilient in many circumstances. You are very good at overcoming adversity. So take a step back, and give yourself some you time, and begin to look after yourself more. Keywords. Overcoming difficulties and you time
Libra Sept 23 - Oct 22
We are all in challenging times at the moment, but some things seem to be weighing heavily. Remember nothing stays the same, and things will soon change, so make the most of being able to put your attention on sorting things through. Keywords. Clearing and renewing.
Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21 You may have felt very stuck, both physically and emotionally. Try and go with the flow and be aware that nothing stays the same, and things will soon begin to move. There may be a few things that will change for you, this may have been on your mind for a while, and the time this year may be the right time to bring changes to fruition. Keywords. Obstacles, Patience and changes.
Capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 19
Have you been putting off sorting some things out? If so now could be a good time to start to clear stuff this will help things to start shifting in more ways than one.You may find also by doing some sorting and clearing, that it clears your mind too. keywords: Listen and sensitivity 39
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