Look Local Magazine, February 2019 Edition, Issue 78 by Look Local Magazine

February 2019 Issue 78

Your FREE Local Magazine www.look-localmagazine.co.uk

k Local

cial o s Get ER NT D N W ME U NEGE M

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February 2019

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Welcome

Hello Readers, Welcome to the February 2019 Edition of Look Local Magazine!

24 Contents 06. Editorial Feature: What is the future for aerials. By Shaun Guard of Oxford Aerials. 09. Get the Look: A look at 2019 Bathroom Trends with Coulon Stone. 14/15. News & Events: What’s On in our region. 16/17. The Sound of Music: Simon Markland talks us through this months local music scene. 19. Motoring: Lexus RX450h L Premier Review, by Tim BarnesClay, Motoring Journalist. 21. Health & Wellbeing: Unfreeze your shoulder with Bowen Therapy. 22. Health & Wellbeing: *NEW Fitness Column* with Flawsome Jem. 23. Health & Wellbeing: Try Deep Tissue Massage at Thame Therapy to relieve your pains. 24. Real Life Story: CROUP: Know the dangers.

BOOKING DEADLINE for March 2019 issue:

Friday 15th February

Winter is well and truly upon us and the recent snow fall doesn’t help with motivation levels, especially when your training for a Half Marathon - as I am - more about this shortly! It can be very easy to fall off the health wagon when its so cold outside as snuggling on the sofa with a hot chocolate seems far more appealing than going for a run. So if you’re already struggling with your New Year health goals our new Fitness Column by Flawsome Jem should come in handy. Turn to page 22 for some useful tips to help keep you motivated and on the right path. This issue also features an article I’ve written about a subject very close to my heart - CROUP! Having experienced the most emotionally challenging end to 2018 which saw my 10 month old baby critically ill in Paediatrics Intensive Care due to catching Croup, I have made it my mission to help raise as much awareness as possible about the condition! I also hope to raise money for the ‘Friends of PICU’ as donations to this charity help towards a lot of the equipment used in the PICU as well as helping support the families and children in the unit. This is where the Half Marathon training comes in as on Sunday 5th May my husband and I will be taking part in the 13mile course around Southampton as part of our fundraising efforts. To read about Albert’s story and for the link to our Just Giving page, turn to Page 24. Also, our News & Events page returns this month with local goings on in our area. If you are hosting an event this year, are a local business celebrating a recent achievement or have a community feel-good story to shout about then I want to hear all about it. And until next month, enjoy reading...

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7,100 copies of Look Local Magazine are printed on a monthly basis and delivered to households in, Aston Rowant, Bledlow Ridge, Chalgrove, Chinnor, Crowell, Cuxham, Great Haseley, Great Milton, Henton, Kingston Blount, Kingston Stert, Lewknor, Little Milton, Milton Common, Postcombe, Sydenham, Tetsworth, Towersey and Watlington. In addition, the magazine can also be picked up from businesses in these areas and also Thame & Wheatley.

All material appearing in this publication is reproduced as supplied. Although every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publishers/printers cannot accept responsibility for the content of this publication. All artwork is accepted on the understanding that the description of goods and services are fair and accurate and permission has been given for use in this publication. Inclusion of advertisements does not imply endorsement by the publisher or printer. No part of this publication may be reproduced.

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February 2019

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FOR HOW LONG WILL BRITAIN STILL BE USING TV AERIALS? At Oxford Aerials we are obviously very interested in this question!

Roof mounted TV aerials have been a feature of the British skyline since the 1950’s and it’s how most of us have received all of our favourite TV channels for all of our lives. However, as Netﬂix and BBC I-player have proved, it’s now possible to receive perfect quality HD channels from your internet feed instead of an aerial. So, the question must arise, why bother having an aerial on your house anymore? Some facts suggest that TV is gradually moving away from off-air broadcasts. Firstly, Ofcom are gradually reducing the amount of the frequency band that is used for TV broadcasts; some of the frequency space has been given over to the mobile phone industry for 4G and 5G mobile data. Also, some countries ARE moving away from aerials altogether. In Switzerland, all the TV transmitters will be turned off in 2019. But research has shown that less than 2% of households use terrestrial TV anyway. This may be because Switzerland being mountainous has lots of poor reception spots for terrestrial TV so many more people have always used Satellite TV instead, so terrestrial TV is less important. Despite all of this, we can find no plans to get rid of TV transmitters and aerials in the UK at all. Ofcom are planning for their next up and coming frequency plan, new aerials are being newly designed for the UK market for this new frequency range, and Freeview are talking enthusiastically about their continued move to HD from standard definition. Although the very long-term future is surely for TV delivered on a fibre optic internet feed straight in to your house with the air-waves left free for mobile phones where it is the only option to deliver data, for now it seems as though we are still very much in the era of terrestrial TV aerials. Oxford Aerials are now busy helping our customers with all methods of receiving their TV pictures - still fitting lots of aerials, installing and servicing dishes for Sky TV and for BBC Freesat but we’re also now doing lots of internet work, connecting customers TV’s directly to the router for perfect and speedy HD downloading.

For advice or to book an appointment call Shaun Guard Tel: 01844 259119 | Website: www.oxfordaerials.co.uk PEARSON INSURANCE SERVICES Local, Experienced Insurance Brokers Friendly, helpful & free advice from award-winning brokers on your doorstep.

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GET THE LOOK

Big Bathroom Trends of 2019.... By Jade Coulon, Coulon Stone Ltd

Bubble bath lovers rejoice, as this month we look at what 2019 will bring for the

world of bathroom design. We can’t shake the industrial trend of recent years, however more attention will be paid to sustainable home design and people looking to upgrade their tubs may be pleased to hear that baths are getting bigger.

Big bath tubs – According to home renovation and design website Houzz, 80% of its users are planning to upgrade their bathtubs, an increase from the year before. People are taking space from hallways and closets to expand their bathrooms creating open, spa-like spaces. And destination tubs are the focal point. Large, free-standing tubs made from concrete or copper in the industrial style we’ve seen creep in to every room over recent years. However, pair the stark, industrial tub with wicker baskets and marble tiles to create that luxury spa experience. Matte black for taps - The 2019 trend of matte black fixtures isn’t reserved for kitchens. A growing number of home owners are looking for alternatives to the long tradition of white bathroom wares. Matte black taps and basins will be particularly popular paired with soothing marble tiles, or “millennial pink” paint for the youths among us. Reclaimed and recycled – With a push for people to make more sustainable choices, home design has embraced the use of recycled and reclaimed materials when redecorating. Unpainted, wooden vanities repurposed from your old chest of drawers and topped with a granite off-cut, not only adds texture, warmth and charm to a bathroom, it’s an environmentally considerate choice. For more information on how to get started updating your bathrom email Coulon Stone on info@coulonstone.com, call us on 01494 484333 or visit our showroom in Stokenchurch.

Home & Garden

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Home & Garden

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Home & Garden

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Home & Garden

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NEWS & EVENTS in our region Crendon Chamber Orchestra – 2019 Season.. Saturday March 2nd, St Mary’s Church Thame, 7.30pm

October 2018 the orchestra celebrated 21 years of music making at St Mary’s Thame with a very special and satisfying concert and an almost sell-out audience of all ages. March 2019 will see the orchestra’s first concert of the year and gives one member the opportunity to actually direct the orchestra. Violinist Chris Nurse, who normally sits next to the leader, has directed many different types of ensemble over the years and on this occasion he will be conducting proceedings from the podium! The programme has variety as always and begins with Mozart’s delightful Divertimento in F. Next is Benjamin Britten’s song cycle Les Illuminations which is written for high voice and strings. On this occasion Simon Walton, tenor, will be soloist. Those who came to the last concert will recognise Simon as the orchestra director on that occasion, we are nothing if not versatile! A little known but very melodic Serenade by Russian composer Vasily Kallinikov is the penultimate work before ending with Dvorak’s tuneful Serenade, always a firm favourite. The orchestra’s second concert of 2019 will be on Saturday May 18th and include Grieg Holberg Suite, Bartok Divertimento, a Lullaby by Gershwin and probably the Charterhouse Suite by Vaughan Williams. Tickets for all concerts: Adults £13.50, Students £5, under 14 free. On the door or from Foregolf, Buttermarket Thame. For queries or additional information contact 07801 591730.

Chinnor Craft Evening Wednesday 13th February, Chinnor Pavillion, 8:30pm - 10:30pm

A chance for grown ups to enjoy time being creative! Come along for a relaxing and social evening, and take home lovely crafts made by you.

You don’t need any skill or experience and we provide all the materials and equipment needed. It’s about having a go, having fun and enjoying the peace of mind that time spent creatively brings. Tickets are £20 which includes a drink and nibbles as well as the crafts. Pre-booking is essential as places are limited! Event Theme: A Little Bit of String Two lovely projects made from string! Woven plaques and macrame jars or wine bottles. First you will create fantastic string art designs using nails to weave a string pattern. Then you will try out a simple macrame project full of rustic charm. Two lovely things to keep or give. *Please note participants must be over 18 years to receive an alcoholic drink. Soft drink alternative available.

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News & Events

Annual Snowdrop Walk West Wycombe Park, 10th February, 10:30am - 4:00pm Entry Fees: £3.00 Adult, £2.00 Children Under 16 & Concessions, Children under 3 FREE

he Snowdrop Walk is a special day to remember the babies and children who have died and the children who are bereaved each year. The park is available for you to walk around at your leisure with the addition of a children’s Treasure Hunt where they receive a fun-filled goody bag at the end. Snowdrops are available for purchase on the day and charity staff and volunteers will be on hand to help with the planting at The Temple of Venus within the park. Hot food and refreshments will be available from West Wycombe Village Hall at the end of the walk, where some extra children’s activities will also be taking place including colouring and puzzle building. If you have any questions about the event, please contact Lizee on 01494 569049 or email: lizee.graham@childbereavementuk.org

**NEWS ALERT** Bledlow Waste Centre conﬁrmed as closing Bucks County Council has now announced that, due to finances, Bledlow Waste Site will close at the end of March 2019. Our closest waste site in Oxfordshire is: Oakley Wood Household Waste Recycling Centre, Old Icknield Way, Crowmarsh, Near Wallingford, OX10 6PW. Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday, 8:00am 5:00pm (open until 8:00pm on a Thursday from April to September). Requiring assistance: If you need help unloading your vehicle, please alert a member of staff, either verbally or by sounding your vehicle horn.

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Sound of Music

elcome to our February 2019 Sound of Music feature. Here you will ﬁnd information on local musical events, upcoming concerts and where to ﬁnd the best music tuition in the area.

Thame has a variety of fantastic opportunities for budding musicians who wish to join together with other like-minded people. From bands to choirs to bell ringing! We also host a huge variety of annual musical events. Thame Town Music Festival Songwriter Competition 2019 Entries are now open for the TTMF19 Songwriter Competition which will take place on Friday 12th July, 7:30pm – 10:30pm, Thame Snooker Club, Thame. TTMF is giving a unique opportunity to all songwriters by holding a competition resulting in a ﬁnalist performance. The winner will go on to perform on the main stage at the event! Here are the key messages from TTMF for all songwriters wishing to take part: - As part of their mission to help unsigned musicians and performers bring their music to a wider audience and to showcase and support new talent, TTMF are delighted to be once again running the TTMF songwriters’ competition.

- Songwriters are invited to submit original compositions as YouTube videos of a live performance of the song to the TTMF website. The song can be of any genre but must be able to be performed by no more than 3 people using acoustic instruments (piano/guitar) and should not last longer than 5 minutes. - On 12 June 2019 ten songs will be selected and the finalists will be invited to perform their song in front of a live audience and panel of judges comprising of music industry experts. There will be a short interview with the artist covering the inspiration for the song and then a performance. At the end of the 10 performances, the judges will select a winner based upon: originality, creativity, lyrics, melody and overall “likeability”. - The final will be held on Friday, 12th July 2019 in the Function Room at Thame Snooker Club. - The winner will be given the opportunity to perform the song plus 2 others on the Festival main stage on Saturday 13th July and will also receive promotion and support from the TTMF and its affiliates. There may be an opportunity to have a professional recording of the winning song, a promotional video and introduction to

Entertainment a network of festival and gig promoters. To apply to take part in the TTMF19 Songwriter competition please visit: www.thametownmusicfestival.org/ songwriters Sing in the Vale Choir - This well established and popular community choir meet on Monday evenings in term-time at 7:45pm for an 8pm start, ending at 9:30 pm. The Choir is run at Cuddington and Dinton Primary School, School Lane, Dinton. All tastes and types of acapella voices in four parts make up the choir with genres including gospel, roots and world music. The group provides and uplifting and fun experience for any ability. Just walking through the door is your audition! For further information please contact: Emily Marshall via Tel: 07696 522368 E-mail: emformusic@outlook.com Thame Concert band - This fantastic local community group meet on Tuesday evenings from 7:30pm – 9:30 pm at Christchurch, Upper High St, Thame. The group regularly perform at local events including Thame Carnival, Carols at Waddesdon Manor, Village Fetes, Large formal concerts in the surrounding area and Civic occasions such as Remembrance Sunday amongst many others. The group have places for new platers and would be very happy to talk to you about joining the band. You are more than welcome to go along to a rehearsal and try it out without any commitment. At the moment TCB are particularly looking for the following: Percussionist, Trumpet, Alto Sax, Clarinet, French Horn & Trombone players.

To find out more please contact the group via e-mail: thameconcertband@ gmail.com

o you love live music?

Thame offers some wonderful open mic events every month, these include: ‘Jack & Alice’ – This excellent local Wine Bar and Restaurant hosts a large variety of local live music on a regular basis, from jazz to acoustic to pop there is something for everyone! To find out more and when the next artists will be performing please search ‘Jack & Alice Loves Thame’ on Facebook or visit www.jackandalice. co.uk. ‘The First Thursday Music Club’ – which takes place on the first Thursday of every month at The James Figg pub, Thame. Come along early to this popular monthly event to book into a slot or just to enjoy the wonderful live music on offer! Check out their Facebook page for further info. The event runs from 8 pm – 11 pm..

‘Sunday Afternoon at the Swan’ – This friendly and relaxed open mic is run by Brian Taylor every 4th Sunday of the month at The Swan Hotel in Thame from 4:00 – 8:00pm. This is a brilliant opportunity for a relaxed musical Sunday afternoon and everyone is welcome to perform! There is also the opportunity to sing some karaoke! For further information please search ‘Sunday Afternoon at The Swan’ via Facebook. Brought to you by Thame Music Academy Tel: 07743 032292 Email: info@thamemusicacademy.com Web page: www.thamemusicacademy.com

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In the spotlight...

MOTORING

Lexus RX450h L Premier 2018 Review

arwriteups Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) seem to be the flavour of the last few years in Britain. They are often as bland as a bowl of watery noodles, but we still buy them. SUVs don’t need to be like this though – and Lexus seems to have unearthed the formula to make them satisfying.

Now, I always try and remain impartial when test-

driving cars – I need to be if my credibility as a motoring journalist is to stay solid. So, it came as a surprise to me how the SUV I was handed the keys to is as far from bland as you can get. This is a sizeable family-friendly machine – and the one I got behind the wheel of is the RX450h L Premier - an extended, seven-seat variant of Lexus’ top SUV, the RX450h. If you want your SUV to give you loads of kit, brilliant quality, superb refinement and oodles of comfort, then this Lexus could be the vehicle for you. Of course, it’s not as engaging as a BMW X5 to pilot, but it will make you happy when at the tiller. Why? Well, if, like me, you have a bunch of kids (I have three), then you will struggle to find a non-German car quite so luxuriously accommodating. What’s more, the Lexus name has cachet, and it has an excellent reputation for reliability. By adding 110mm behind the back wheels and two more leather chairs, Lexus has done a good job when it comes to fitting extra occupants into the RX450h. This third row of seating folds electrically out of the load area’s ﬂoor, while the second tier of chairs slide to allow you access to the rearmost set. And from behind the wheel, other than the more erect rear windscreen being more distant, driving the 7-seater doesn’t feel any different to the regular 5-up model. Visibility is just as good, making the RX L an easy set-of-wheels to live with. The emphasis is on comfort, beginning with the cooled and heated front seats that keep you feeling supported and fatigue-free on long journeys. The ride is correspondingly accommodating over blemished British bitumen, while the muted hybrid powertrain adds a bit of electric power at low speeds. Certainly, the hybrid arrangement, encompassing a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine and a couple of electric motors, helps eﬃciency. In the real world, you can easily achieve 45mpg around town or 35mpg on a motorway commute. That is more

impressive than many comparable diesel-driven seven-seater SUVs. The steering isn’t as sharp as you will find in a BMW SUV, but it’s no issue as the Lexus’ whole character doesn’t lend itself to being athletic – it is all about being chilled out in cosy luxury. There’s lots of kit on the Premier version of the RX L, and there is a large infotainment screen that’s controlled via a slightly fiddly mouse. What’s more, this car comes with an audio treat in the form of a Mark Levinson 15-speaker sound system. It feels special in every department – especially the cabin. Plus, you have that bullet-proof Lexus dependability. And that last point is what you need when looking for a plush car that will serve you and your family well.

PRO’s & CON’s Comfort

Space

Reﬁnement

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Efﬁciency

FAST FACTS (2018 Lexus RX450h L Premier - as tested) Max speed: 112mph 0-62 mph: 8.0 secs Combined mpg: 47.1

Engine: 3,456cc 6-cylinder hybrid

Max. power (PS): 313 (full system output)

CO2: 138g/km

Price: £63,635

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February 2019

CASTLE MOTORS Motoring made easy. Family run business, established in 1980

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Melt away the pain of frozen shoulder...

‘Frozen’ Shoulder (nonspecific chronic shoulder pain) is a common problem, and one that results in frustrating debilitation for many suffers. Jen Webster, professional Bowen Therapist explains how this noninvasive treatment can help relieve the pain.

here can be many reasons for the onset of shoulder pain but in many patients the initial complaint leads to a chronic condition with pain, loss of function and resulting stiffness. Many of my clients report diﬃculty sleeping, dressing, reaching up to shelves, reaching to the rear of the car, using a kettle and other limitations of lifestyle, daily activities and work – due to pain and limited range of movement.

How may Bowen Therapy help? Early treatment, with soft tissue therapy is recommended to, in the first instance, relieve the pain and allow greater range of movement. The Bowen Technique is a remedial and holistic form of ‘hands on’ body work, gentle and effective. The careful and precise moves, which stimulate muscles and soft tissue, prompt the body to reset imbalances and start to heal injuries and chronic complaints. The experience of a treatment is gentle, subtle and relaxing. There is no manipulation and no force used. The body normally responds quickly to Bowen, making it a very time and cost effective treatment option. Jen Webster Bowen, Advanced NST practitioner (BSc MBTPA CNHC reg) E: info@jenwebsterbowen.com | W: www.jenwebsterbowen.com T: 07768 188664

Bowen Therapy is not a substitute for medical advice and treatment.

The initial pain could be a result of adhesive capsulitis, bursitis, tendonitis, referred cervical pain etc. The restrictive range of movement can often be self – perpetuating and progressively debilitating. The pain causes a reluctance to use the shoulder, and as a result the shoulder becomes stiff and progressively more inﬂamed. Adhesions continue to form in the joint capsule, the less movement that takes place the more the inﬂammation continues – it’s a vicious circle.

Health & Wellbeing

How to be Flawsome With Jemma Stevens of Flawsome Jem

Welcome

to my monthly column where I aim to share with you motivational advice and fitness tips.

As we are only just entering 2019 I wanted to focus on general well-being for this edition. So here are my TOP TIPS;

1. Eating: Eat high protein meals, use carbs as

fuel for training, fats for ﬂavour and satiety and always add lots of veg and fruit.

2. Sleep: Try to get 7-8 hours’ sleep each night

and go to bed at the same time each evening. It’s so important to repair your body, resets your hormones and balances stress levels.

3. Water: Staying hydrated is so important for optimal overall health, ﬂush the body of toxins, help give you more energy and clearer skin. 5. Keep Active: Increase your steps, move around more, get up every hour. You don’t have to increase your calories, just increase activity levels. Get out for a 10-minute walk in your lunch break, take the kids/dog for a walk, etc. 6. Journalising: Just take a few minutes each day for yourself to work on you, write down feelings, achievements, goals, things that didn’t go so well, anything to off load your mind. Check out my ‘90 Day Journal’ on my website to support you. You can also use this to help track what you are eating which allowing more ﬂexibility when it comes to eating out, treats and alcohol. 7. Be stricter in the week: Simply by being stricter in the week, allows you to enjoy yourself a little bit more on the weekends. 8. Put any extra calories to good use: If

you do eat too much or the ‘wrong’ thing. Don’t feel guilty, use these extra calories as fuel for your training. More energy consumed = more energy in your workouts. For daily inspiration and motivation, from Flawsome Jem visit Instagram and Facebook: @Flawsomejem or www.ﬂawsomejem.com

Personal Care Services We are a group of qualiﬁed, caring, experienced personal assistants who provide personal and unique care services to our clients at home in the community . We are registered with Social Services and provide reasonably priced tailored care services from 7:00am to 9:00pm daily, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. We can provide you with useful information to help you put a Care Service in place for a family member if you need advice or support just contact us for a chat. We work in and around Chalgrove, the Milton’s Watlington, Chinnor, Thame and surrounding villages. We provide a valuable service to younger adults with learning diﬃculties/mental health support or older people with physical/mental disabilities. We have a wealth of experience provide support services for young and old to live a happy and productive life. For more information on the services we provide, please contact Julia:

01865 400227 or 07769 331492

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Health & Wellbeing

WHY AM I IN SUCH PAIN? Deep Tissue Massage could hold the key Our physical bodies sometimes take a hit and go into pain. Often the cause is recent and clear, for example a fall, an accident, or lifting something heavy. But what about the times when we experience body pain and there is no obvious cause? Here, Mick Mcleary, bodyworker at Thame Therapy Clinic explains why Deep Tissue Massage is an essential part of unlocking pain caused by old scar tissue. www.thametherapyclinic.co.uk

It can often be very frustrating when you’re presented with a great deal of pain without an obvious cause for your discomfort. I regulary see clients who often make comments suchas, ‘I picked up a pencil and my back went’ or ‘my elbow started hurting for no reason’, or “I get sciatica when I drive the car’ and so forth. These pains invariably come from a longer standing imbalance in the musculo-skeletal system which is now a chronic weakness in one part of the body. This weakness has forced the body to over-compensate elsewhere, and now pains are appearing for no reason and movement is stiffer, harder work or painful. The underlying problem is often deep scaring of the myofascia and this is where deep tissue massage can be so useful. The myofascia or fascia are the tough muscle sheaths which connect all our muscles to the skeleton and allow muscles to glide smoothly over each other. When we take a hit, collagen is laid down by the body and this combines with the fascia to create a super hard scar that behaves like hardened steel and effectively shuts down movement and ﬂexibility. Modern science has shown that fascial scar tissue can withstand up to 2000lbs/psi of pressure and is implicated in 85% of all musculo-skeletal pain! I have learnt a massage technique which uses a tool that is tipped with two gemstones (Quartz and Greenstone/

Jade). This tool allows me to scan and treat old scar injuries with more ease, greater depth and precision. Old hard scar tissue starts to soften and once again your body moves better. For further information on this subject Mick can be contacted on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at the clinic.

To book and appointment for Deep Tissue Massage with Mick Mcleary call 01844 215555 or email info@thametherapyclinic.co.uk

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Real Life Story

CROUP Know the danger signs

Croup is a relatively common respiratory infection, usually caused by a virus, that affects around 15% of children at some point during childhood. The infection leads to swelling inside the trachea, which interferes with normal breathing and produces the classic symptoms of “barking” cough, stridor and a hoarse voice. Fever and runny nose may also be present. In many case these symptoms are mild to moderate and will usually pass on their own within 48 hours*. However in some instances is can be very serious and even life threatening which, terrifyingly, was the case for our baby boy. Here is Albert’s story…

On Tuesday 23rd October (our 7th Wedding Anniversary) our world shattered around us when our beautiful 10 month old baby boy Albert became desperately ill ending up in Southampton’s specialist PICU (Paediatric Intensive Care Unit), intubated and on a ventilator. Having been under the weather over the weekend we took Albert to the doctors who after checking him over told us it was nothing than a cold virus. That evening he went down hill; he was vomiting a lot and then began making a harsh sound (the Stridor) and struggling to breath. We called an ambulance and he was taken to CAU (Children’s Assessment Unit). There we were told it was Croup and he was given a dose of Dexamethasone, which helps to widen the airways, and asked to wait for 4 hours to make sure the drug worked. It did and we were sent home with a leaﬂet about Croup. However the following day Albert’s condition worsened, his breathing became laboured, his tummy was sucking in under his ribs and it was clear that he was really struggling. We drove him back to CAU where we were told his oxygen levels had dropped down to 90 and that he needed support. We were rushed into RESUS where they gave him “blow-by” administration oxygen (waving the oxygen source near his face). When this did nothing they tried adrenaline, to no avail. What happened next is a bit of a blur as doctor after doctor came in and out of the room. They started talking about anaesthetic and intensive care and a whole load of other medical jargon. Chest X-rays where taken which confirmed our worst fear, he was in respiratory failure due to a collapsed lung. He also had pneumonia and was a very sick little boy so therefore required intubation (placement of a plastic tube into the trachea to aid breathing) a procedure performed under general anaesthetic, to give his little lungs the best chance of recovery.

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Health & Wellbeing Albert was then transferred to PICU where he spent the next three days under sedation on the ventilator being cared for 24-7 by the most amazing team of nurses and doctors. Thankfully he made a remarkable recovery and after 6 days Albert was discharged home. The reason for me sharing our story is to help raise awareness of Croup as we had no idea just how serious it can be. The main symptoms, which are usually worse at night, can include: • Barking cough that sounds like a seal • Hoarse voice • Diﬃculty breathing

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• Rasping sound when breathing in However the best advice I can give is, trust your instinct. You’re the parent and you know your own child. As the old saying goes ‘Mother knows best’. As a way to give back to the hospital that saved Albert, my husband and I are taking part in the Southampton Half Marathon on Sunday 5th May to help raise funds for ‘Friends of PICU’. Donations can be made via

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Your support would be eternally appreciated. For further information about the charity please visit:

www.friendsofpicu.org.uk * Source: NHS and Wikepedia

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WHAT IS TIN�ITUS AND WAYS TO COPE Tinnitus is a common condition and is characterised by a ringing, hissing or other unwanted sounds that appear to originate in the head or body. Tinnitus is not a disease itself but is usually a symptom of some other underlying condition or as a result of damage to the inner ear. It affects many people and can be a great cause of distress and anxiety.

IS IT IN THE EAR OR THE BRAIN Our brain is updated constantly with new information. Neurons or nerve cells in the brain receive signals from our ears about what is happening in our environment and process this information. When there is a hearing loss, these electrical signals from the ear diminish, but the brain is still on alert and waiting for information. In its efforts to make sense of this lack of sound input the brain becomes more aware of previously ignored electrical signals and these are perceived as new sounds, or tinnitus.

CAUSES OF TINNITUS The most common cause is damage to the inner ear, the cochlea, as a result of exposure to very loud noise, a side effect of certain prescription drugs, or even if your ear is blocked with wax. Changes in blood pressure can also trigger tinnitus which means it can actually be a useful ‘early warning sign’ of a more serious condition. Any sudden drop in hearing often accompanied by tinnitus should be assessed urgently as this could be due to Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss which is a medical emergency.

HOW TO DEAL WITH TINNITUS • Seek specialist audiological help either through your GP or privately. You may be referred to an ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) clinic to be assessed to rule out any serious medical condition. • Counselling can help to reduce stress and the fatigue caused by tinnitus. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), mindfulness and relaxation techniques have all become popular techniques to treat tinnitus by having a calming effect. • Hearing devices can help especially as approximately 80% of tinnitus cases are associated with some degree of hearing loss. Hearing aids enhance the sounds you want to hear, such as voices and music, and thereby lessen the noises associated with tinnitus. • Sound therapy is useful for some people and many hearing aids now have specialised tinnitus programmes which serve as a distraction from the tinnitus, especially in quiet settings. • Speak to someone who understands what it is like to live with tinnitus. You can share experiences and get advice at one of our Hear Today free events or coffee mornings. See our website for details.

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