SR6 Magazine by The Magazine Production Company

LIFESTYLE BUSINESS COMMUNITY m

march 2010

Delivered free to over 10,000 homes and businesses in Cleadon, Fulwell, Roker, Seaburn & Whitburn

GARDEN VIEW Give veg’ a grow this year

WIN ABBA FOREVER TICKETS The Legend Lives On

BE OUR FOOD CRITIC And eat for free

PLUS WHAT’S ON guide FOR IN AND AROUND THE SR6 postcode AREA

Image for illustrative purposes only.

The 2010 Car of the Year, the new Polo at Pulman Volkswagen available from £9,910. Solutions 3 years, 10,000 miles per annum, example for: The New Polo 1.2 S 3dr 35 Monthly payments of

£109.00

Retail cash price*

£9,910.00

Deposit

£2,891.00

Amount of credit

£7,019.00

Optional final payment

£4,459.00

Total amount payable

£11,241.00

Acceptance fee**

£125.00

Option to purchase fee***

£60.00

Excess mileage

4.23p

Typical 7.9% APR

Pulman Volkswagen

Newcastle Road, Sunderland, SR5 1QE - Tel.: 0191 548 0235

www.pulman.volkswagen.co.uk

*Retail cash price is Recommended Retail Price.. **Payable as first payment. ***Payable with optional final payment. Further charges may be payable if vehicle is returned. Indemnities may be required. Subject to status. Available to over 18s

contents 4

Welcome Note

News Round Up

Theatre Competition

Talking Tax with Steven Tuckwell

Legal Matters

What’s On

Clean and Green

Garden View with Plant Smart

Church Services

Local Services

Garden View

Where Can You Find SR6 Magazine? SR6 Magazine is delivered to 10,000 homes and businesses in Cleadon, Fulwell, Roker, Seaburn & Whitburn. If you fail to get a copy drop us an e-mail and we will post one out to you.

News Round Up

Legal Matters

What’s On

Editorial & advertising enquiries Dave Pinder 07710 813304 dave@SR6.co.uk Production Grant Lucas The Magazine Production Company info@SR6.co.uk

© 2010 SR6 Magazine SR6 Magazine is an independent magazine and does not endorse the products or services that appear in the magazine. Opinions expressed in the magazine do not necessarily represent those of the editor or of SR6 magazine.

SR6 Magazine is published monthly by SR6 Media, St Peter’s Gate, Charles Street, Sunderland SR6 0AN 0191 5481333 : www.SR6.co.uk

mar c h 20 1 0 : w w w. SR 6. c o . u k

welcome!

Welcome! Welcome to the March edition of SR6 magazine. Spring is almost upon us and after such a cold winter let’s hope we can look forward to some sunshine to brighten up our lovely coastline. Again I would like to thank all of our advertisers, as without you we would not have a local community magazine. Thank you also to our readers who have provided us with some very positive feedback. We are looking to create more local features so if you have some interesting news you would like to share with our readers please contact us. Do you fancy yourself as the next AA Gill? Each month from March we will be sending a couple of residents to review a local restaurant. If you would like to be one of our restaurant critics then drop me an e-mail telling me why it should be you?

SUPEREGO IS STAR STRUCK

Restaurants – if you feel you meet the high standards our readers require, then get in touch and you could be our first restaurant review!

Congratulations to Jill and the team at Superego who are based at 55 Sea Road. The fashionable unisex hair salon on Sea Road has been awarded 5 stars by the Good Salon Guide. Well done!

Best wishes

Dave

Editor, SR6 Magazine. 07710 813304 Dave@SR6.co.uk

Healing opportunites in Roker HOPS (Healing Opportunities Provision Scheme) offers a wide range of healing opportunities, including treatments, taster days and training courses.

Private clients are also welcome and their fees help to keep HOPS going - it’s a case of “help yourself whilst helping others”.

The therapies currently available are Shiatsu, Reiki, Spiritual Healing, Aromatherapy, Indian Head Massage, Reflexology , Remedial Yoga and Pet Bereavement Support.

The many interesting courses, like ‘Homeopathic First Aid’, ‘Reflexology for Beginners’ and ‘Energy Workshops’, are open to all. New courses will be starting after Easter and details are available from HOPS .

Based at the lovely, peaceful Quaker House in Roker, it is not a religious organisation and is open to all. HOPS is especially concerned to help people who might otherwise not be able to access complementary healthcare; so it accepts referrals from agencies like the Carers Centre and Victim Support.

For further details on treatments, courses or specially arranged events, please contact the Coordinator at: HOPS, 30 Roker Park Road, SR6 9PG or: lesleybarefoot@btconnect.com or phone 07714 373521 or 0191 528 3722

www.S R6.co.uk : m arch 2010

news roundup

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK A warm welcome to Michelle at Front Room who has opened on Station Road. She is offering a wide range of living room accessories and furniture. The new shop is well worth a browse and I know you will be made very welcome.

ROTARY CORNER Music, Song and Dance for Charity

Male Voice Choir concert—more details next month. If you wish to know more about Rotary, please telephone Keith Higgin on 536 0102.

More than 250 budding young entertainers appeared in a Youth Musical Spectacular at Sunderland Empire in January. Seaburn was one of five Rotary clubs sponsoring and organising this event, which was watched by an audience of over 500. The youngsters were between 7 and 18, including Emile Fleming, a Sunderland girl who has appeared on a London stage.

Rotary President Has a Ball

Under the guidance of Ernie Young, Musical Director and Ron Monaghan, Producer, the youngsters put on a grand performance of their favourite music and dance. The charities benefitting from the occasion are the Riding Centre for the Disabled and Tyne and Wear Autistic Society.

The guests danced the night away to the Ian Lawrence Band and a disco having enjoyed a three course dinner.

In April Seaburn Rotary members are arranging a

Nearly 200 guests got together for a great night’s entertainment at the Roker Hotel on Saturday 6th February. They joined David Whitehead, this year’s President of the Rotary Club of Cleadon & District, and his wife, Edith, at the club’s annual President’s Ball.

David, who had only returned from a business trip to India on the Thursday afternoon, fought off the jet lag to comment; ‘This is the club’s premier social event of the year and I’m delighted that so many of our friends and supporters could join us for what has been a fabulous night’. The Rotary club always welcomes potential new members and guests when it meets on a Monday at 7:15pm at The Little Haven Hotel in South Shields. The picture shows members of the club dressed in their finery at the event.

TO A DV E RTI S E H ERE CA LL 0 1 9 1 5 4 8 1 3 3 3 or email i nfo@sr6.co.uk

Is your mum a Star

....MOTHER’S DAY 22ND MARCH 2010

Show your mum just how very special she is this Mothers Day with a Gift voucher from Pure Bliss starting at just £10...a gift that will be appreciated and remembered. We can even post your voucher out to you or your mum!

Pamper me please! Pure pampering at Pure Bliss ...the perfect mothers day gift

a Decleor prescription facial a Aroma back relief a O.P.I ﬁle and polish on hands or toes a Glass of bubbly or hot chocolate with marshmallows ...served with chocolate trufﬂes a Decleor neroli candle to take home. ONLY £50 saving £15

DECLEOR REGIONAL SALON OF THE YEAR 2008 & 2009

Beauty Bouquets’ ...STARTING FROM JUST £20 Beautifully wrapped you can choose your own products or choose from our gifts packed with goodies from Decleor, Bare Minerals, MD formulations, O.P.I, St Tropez, Fake Bake, Neom, Vani-T.

Complete bliss candle from NEOM This 100 % organic treatment candle comes specially wrapped in pink for mothers day...with moroccan blush rose this candle will burn blissfully for 50-70 hours! Special Offer Spend £40 on NEOM and receive a ‘real luxury’ organic body wash and body lotion.

New from Caci ‘HYDRATONE’ Hydratone combines active micro current rollers with a unique, electrically conductive gel mask that has been infused with powerful hydrating properties. (Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin E) The rollers gently massage the face causing the mask to become ‘’charged’’ so that the whole face is bathed with rejuvenating energy. Launch offer Hydratone facial £25 or combined with a caci non surgical face lift for ONLY £15.

Tel: 0191 549 9999 • 58 SEA ROAD • FULWELL • SUNDERLAND • SR6 9BX • www.pureblissspa.co.uk

theatre

It’s All Change at

New Theatre Restaurant First of all we’re building a new bar on the ground floor which should be completed in March—we will be serving good home cooked traditional English meals, lunch and evening. Upstairs in the fabulous Show Room we are bringing in top class entertainment hosting different events every weekend - Comedy Club, Tribute Artists, Sensational Singers, Hilarious Comedians, Drag Cabaret, Burlesque, Bands, Hypnotists as well as our own plays and shows– you name it. In fact let us know if we are missing something and we’ll see what we can do…. A complete evenings entertainment in comfortable, relaxed surroundings, who could ask for anything more! Superb entertainment– fabulous venue – why go anywhere else?

Full details of all our performances available on our website www.theatrerestaurant.co.uk or give us a call on 0191 5670611 1-2 John Street, High Street West, Sunniside, Sunderland SR1 1TE

www.S R6.co.uk : m arch 2010

Glamour 4 Girlz Where you can shop for affordable luxury

Glamour 4 Girlz is situated just off Sea Road in Bower Street, Fulwell. We are a fashion and accessories shop selling a vast range of top quality items. We understand that fashion is about more than just clothes. We aim to help you ﬁnd the perfect outﬁt or garment to suit you. We also stock individual jewellery, handbags, hats and scarves. As a local, independent retailer, we can offer our customers a friendly and personal service, individual styling, and just that little bit extra!

Party Planning If you are interested in booking yourself a house or shop party, please contact us. The Hostess will get a handbag and piece of jewellery of their choice if the order is £100 or more. So don’t delay book today.

£5

GLAMOUR 4 GIRLZ

OFF COUPON*

*when customers spend £30 or more in shop valid until Dec 2010. Can not be used with any other offer.

2/3a Bower Street, just off Sea Road, Fulwell, Sunderland SR6 8JA

For more information Telephone 07999 105 916 www.glamour4girlz.com

talking tax by steven tuck well Following on from last months tax tip’s we have continued the series with 10 great tax myths.

tax (20%) on all of your income and that you aren’t getting any benefit for the personal allowance mentioned above.

Money kept overseas is not taxable Actually, for most people living in the UK it is taxable. It doesn’t matter if you leave the money in Jersey, for example, and never touch it, you must still pay income tax on any interest. However, if you are not both resident and domiciled in the UK the position may be different and you may need to seek further professional advice. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) are taking a much closer interest in overseas bank accounts than ever before, so don’t overlook the interest – they won’t.

If you have overpaid tax you can always rely on HMRC to pay it back This can’t happen by magic. If you have overpaid tax under the PAYE system and have no other income, then you should be refunded automatically. Often though the position will be more complicated and you will have to ask for the tax back, either by completing a Tax Return or a Repayment Claim (R40). Investment income could be taxed at a different rate to earnings, so it is always worth checking the tax you have paid at the end of the year. Pensioners are particularly liable to be caught out and overpay tax as they may have several sources of small amounts of pensions and interest income.

Children are not taxable It doesn’t matter how old you are, even babies are taxable if they have income. For most children, there won’t be any tax to pay since the personal allowance of £6475 for 2009/10 and 2010/11, allows each person this much income before they start paying tax. Give money to your children and escape tax on the interest it earns If a parent gives money to a child (broadly speaking this means unmarried and under age 18), then if the interest earned exceeds £100, it is treated as being the parent’s income and not the child’s. Interestingly though, a grandparent can give away money without the same problem occurring. Watch out for inheritance tax (IHT) though; some gifts will be exempt, but larger amounts may create an IHT problem. Students are not taxable in their first year at university Just like children, students who earn more than the personal allowance will have to pay tax. Employers will usually ask student employees working just in the holidays to sign a form P38S so they can pay their wages gross. The HMRC always get your tax code right Certainly not. Even assuming that information you have given is correct it can be easily lost amongst the millions of other PAYE codes. Make sure that any benefits that you get from your employer have been valued correctly (look at the Form P11D given to you before 6 July this summer). Check that the suffix (the letter after your numerical code number) is right for your circumstances (look at the leaflet which came with it); the letters BR for someone who only has one job should ring alarm bells since this may mean that you are paying basic rate 10

If you let a room to a lodger income is not taxable All income from letting property is taxable, but to encourage people to let a room in their home, income of up to £4,250 is exempt under the Rent-a-Room scheme.



State pension is not taxable The State pension is taxable, but is always paid gross. If you have no other income, then since the State pension for a single person is below the level of the personal allowance, no tax is due. If you do have other income, such as an occupational pension, then you will probably find that your tax code has been adjusted for the state pension - if not, you may not have paid the correct amount of tax. No one need pay tax if they have a good accountant Certainly you are likely to pay less tax than if you try to do it yourself. This is because the system is peppered with relief’s and deductions which need to be claimed. It takes years of practice to have recall of these and, in any case, the Chancellor changes the rules every year in the Budget. If you only ever work for cash you don’t need to pay tax HMRC devote significant resources to tracking money in the black economy and even the little guys are interesting to them. It is your responsibility to keep records of your financial affairs and to declare your income. There are penalties for cheating and you may even go to prison. If you have made a mistake then you should seek proper professional advice to minimise the consequences. So please don’t take advice from “the bloke down the pub” and ensure you call us for your tax advice. www.S R6.co.uk : m arch 2010

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So what is a Lasting Have you made your willofyet? Power Attorney? Contact

0191 567 By Jacqueline Emmerson

6667

52 John Street, Sunderland www.emmersons-solicitors.co.uk probate

residential/commercial conveyancing

divorce

motoring offences

Lasting Powers of Attorney allow individuals to appoint someone else to act on their behalf. There are two types, Property and Financial Affairs and Health and Welfare. Everyone knows that they should make a will to ensure that their loved ones are provided for when they die, but what happens if you are left mentally incapable of making any decisions because of accident or illness? With an ageing population this is becoming an increasing problem. Consider the example of Betty. Her husband is now in a care home suffering from dementia and yet the matrimonial home is owned by the two of them. 12

www.S R6.co.uk : m arch 2010

legal matters Unfortunately there was no Power of Attorney made in respect of her husband Fred before he became ill. Now it is impossible to make one because he can’t give instructions. Therefore in order to deal with his assets an application must be made to The Court of Protection. This is a fairly lengthy process and quite costly.

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Making A Lasting Power of Attorney now can help your family and friends to help you later

However, we have been able to draw up A Lasting Power Of Attorney on behalf of Betty. One of her daughters will manage her financial affairs. If that daughter is permanently unable to act then her son will step in as a substitute. We have placed restrictions on its use, e.g. it must not be used unless Betty becomes incapable of managing her affairs, a doctor would be the person to determine this. Betty’s house is not to be sold unless, in the opinion of her GP she is no longer capable of living independently.

If Betty can’t manage her affairs at a later date it will be much easier for her daughter to step in and sort out her bank accounts and investments. This can be attended to immediately instead of having to wait months if The court of Protection had to be involved. The other advantage of arranging things this way is that Betty is able to choose now who she wants to look after her affairs. She could have chosen anyone she liked. Also whilst she is still mentally capable of doing so she can revoke this Power of Attorney. This would become important if she no longer felt comfortable with a particular attorney managing her affairs. There is even a built in safeguard, we have had to notify Betty’s neighbour of her intention to appoint her adult children as attorneys. If the neighbour felt that they were unsuitable he could object and the matter would have to be investigated further. Making A Lasting Power of Attorney now can help your family and friends to help you later.

Have you made your will yet? Contact

0191 567 6667 52 John Street, Sunderland www.emmersons-solicitors.co.uk probate

residential/commercial conveyancing

divorce

TO A DV E RTI S E H ERE CA LL 0 1 9 1 5 4 8 1 3 3 3 or email i nfo@sr6.co.uk

motoring offences 13

Wh at ’ on

What’s On

SR6 Whats’On page is a great way to publicise an event. Charitable and not for profit events are listed free of charge. A small charge applies for commercial listings BEDE’S WORLD Sunday 14th March Mothering Sunday Make a decorated ‘plant a flower seed kit’ for your Mum. In celebration of Mother’s Day, mums can enjoy free admission to the museum. 12noon-4pm Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st March National science week: Dye another day? Demonstrating the science of colour. Discover how the Anglo-Saxons brought colour into their lives! How did they dye their clothes? See Anglo-Saxon dyeing in action and select Anglo-Saxon colours to make your own handicraft to take home. Saturday: 10am-4.30pm & Sunday 12noon-4.30pm WHITBURN & CLEADON HEALTH WALKS Whitburn Evening Walk - Mondays Enjoy a friendly chat and a one hour walk around beautiful Whitburn. Meet: Whitburn Cricket Club at 6.00pm Gordon Moralee is your Walk Leader Cleadon - Tuesdays This is a one hour stroll around the surrounding area Meet: Britannia Pub 10.00am Gordon Moralee is your Walk Leader Whitburn Discovery - Thursdays Discover the fantastic sites of Whitburn on this two hour health walk (on the last Thursday of the month this walk joins walkers on the monthly health walk from the Amphitheatre). Meet: Barnes Institute, Whitburn at 10.00am. Tony Hawksworth is your Walk Leader NATIONAL GLASS CENTRE Exhibitions: Black Cats Forever: until 7 March 2010 Black Cats Forever celebrates Sunderland AFC and continues the Life of Sunderland series, presented by Sunderland Echo Photo Archive and National Glass Centre. This is part of a programme of exhibitions curated by NGC looking back at the history, future and community of Sunderland. Work Force: 5 March - 2 May 2010 ‘Work Force’ draws together historical representations of labour in the industry of glass-making through films from the 1970s to present day. Kosta Boda: 7 January - 19 April 2010 Explore the 14

glass masters in NGC’s shop showcase. Kosta Boda is Sweden’s oldest glassworks founded in 1742 Workshops: Little Artists (under 5s) Friday 5 March 2010, 10.45am -12 noon. £4 Price includes tea & coffee for parent/guardian & juice for the kids. Join the NGC education team every month for fun activities encouraging children to explore their creative side. Please note BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL FOR ALL WORKSHOPS. TEL: 0191 515 5555 SOUTER LIGHTHOUSE Make Stuff at Souter Weekends: Sat 6th & Sun 7th March 11am – 3pm - Ship Wrecks Sat 13th & Sun 14th March 11am – 4pm Celebrating Science & Engineering Week 2010 Sat 20th & Sun 21st March 11am – 4pm Celebrating Science & Engineering Week 2010 Sat 27th & Sun 28th March 11am – 4pm - Easter Come along to the Family Room and spend some time together with our great collection of books, games and art & craft activities. Enjoy a takeaway tea or coffee from The Galley whilst you relax with the children. Children must be supervised by an adult at all times. (Free, donations welcomed) Sun 14th March Mother’s Day All mum’s get into the Lighthouse for free today Sunday 14th March Simnel Sunday Come and enjoy Simnel Sunday in the Tearoom and The Galley with some homemade Simnel cake Sat 13th & Sun 14th March 12pm - 12.45pm - Discover the Engineering side of Souter. Talk by chief engineering volunteer Mike Ennis. (Normal admission prices apply) Mon 15th – Thurs 18th March 11am – 3pm Foghorn demonstrations on the hour Sat 20th & Sun 21st March 12pm - 12.45pm Discover the Engineering side of Souter. Talk by chief engineering volunteer Mike Ennis. (Normal admission prices apply) QUAKERS The Sunderland Society of Friends (Quakers) meet every Sunday at 11.00 am. Everyone welcome. BLOOD DONOR SESSIONS Fulwell Methodist Church, Dovedale Road, Fulwell Wed 24th March 14.30 – 19.00 For more information visit www.blood.co.uk Please e-mail Ann@sr6.co.uk if you want your event to appear on our What’s On page. www.S R6.co.uk : m arch 2010

M ercedes- B enz of Sunderl and

s Mercedes-Benz of Sunderland approached the anniversary of its refurbishment it also received news that it was recognised by MercedesBenz as one of its top performing Dealers in Customer Satisfaction. Dealer Principal Nick Park said, “The retailer is firmly established as having the most state of the art facilities in Sunderland and is always a comfortable and friendly place to visit. Achieving such a high standing in customer satisfaction is one of the greatest achievements for Mercedes-Benz of Sunderland and thanks must go out to all the team for their hard work. Based on current national customer satisfaction scores, 94% of our customers would recommend MercedesBenz of Sunderland to a family member or friend”

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The Best or Nothing

Leading the way in delivering class leading customer service is Nigel Petite, Aftersales Manager, who ensuring we develop further the already world-class facilities in answer to evolving needs and requests from customers. Having your car serviced at Mercedes-Benz of Sunderland is a co-ordinated, well-structured experience. Upon arranging an appointment for your car to be serviced you will be looked after by our experienced Service Advisors, Rebecca Lloyd and Helen Rackstraw, who will be your contact for the duration of your cars visit. If necessary one of our factory trained technicians will talk to you directly.

M O Nigel said, “There is no Mercedes-Benz service and official workshop facility to match ours in the Sunderland area. Having the best working environment means we retain the very best technicians and administrative support staff, who receive continuous training and enjoy their role in the flagship business. The people who work here are key to the commercial success of our business. We have easy access and plenty of parking spaces, a state of the art workshop facility, which is a great confidence boost for our customers. Only by being a Mercedes-Benz Official Workshop can we gain access to all manufacturer computers and tooling updates.”

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When visiting Mercedes-Benz of Sunderland never have Gottlieb Daimlers famous words rang so true “Das Beste oder nichts”, “The Best or Nothing”. You can always trust us to have a complete focus on maintaining your investment, in first class facilities, in the most competitive and cost effective way possible.

During your Mercedes-Benz ownership you will be pleased to see the same people welcoming you back at each visit. The team is well motivated and inspired to take a real interest in customer needs, many are long serving employees and they all take pride in delivering excellent customer service.

S M www.S R6.co.uk : m arch 2010

†QUOTES SERVICE F

Mercedes-Benz of Sunderland Official Workshop. It may be more affordable than you first thought. Mercedes-Benz of Sunderland are taking steps to make looking after your Mercedes-Benz more affordable, for example our fixed price servicing. By using Mercedes-Benz of Sunderland Official Workshop not only will you get value for money but you will benefit from the following: • We will match any like for like quotation† • Maintain MobiloLife cover • 2 year warranty on parts • Mercedes-Benz trained technicians • Courtesy cars* • Bodyshop facilities

We will match any like for like quote†. Call for details. Official Workshop

% Customer

Recommendation††

Mercedes-Benz

Sytner Group Mercedes-Benz of Sunderland Hylton Grange, Wessington Way, Sunderland SR5 3HR. 0191 597 8216 www.mercedes-benzofsunderland.co.uk

†QUOTES MUST BE WRITTEN AND BE LIKE-FOR-LIKE USING MERCEDES-BENZ PARTS AND FLUIDS. OFFERS END 31ST MARCH 2010. *COURTESY CARS CAN BE BOOKED AT TIME OF APPOINTMENT SCHEDULES FOR A NOMINAL COST. ††AVERAGE BASED ON CUSTOMER SERVICE FEEDBACK FROM SERVICE EVENTS HELD AT MERCEDES-BENZ OF SUNDERLAND OFFICIAL WORKSHOP BETWEEN 1 JULY 2009 AND 31 DECEMBER 2009.

feature

Detergents,

Clean and Green

bleaches an d degreasers have turned our homes in to miniature chemical fa ctories

This time of year I get bitten by the cleaning bug. All of a sudden an urge to scrub, dust and polish overwhelms me and I’m a woman on a mission.

Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) is corrosive and an eye, skin and respiratory irritant. It is especially toxic to people with heart conditions or asthma.

This year though I found myself wondering about the active ingredients in my cleaning products. Just how much damage is the chemical cocktail of my annual spring-clean-fest doing to the planet?

D-limonene is a degreasant found in citrus and orange cleaners. It is also a neurotoxin, an irritant and can cause respiratory distress.

Detergents, bleaches and degreasers have turned our homes into miniature chemical factories, full of potentially hazardous substances which can find their way into groundwater and contaminate the lakes and the oceans. Some of the main culprits are phosphates, common in laundry detergents and some cleaning products. An average consumer uses the equivalent of 30lbs of detergent a year. High phosphate levels in water cause ‘algae blooms’ which contribute to the death of fish and other water-dwelling creatures. The combination of pollutants and global warming mean these algae blooms are becoming more common.

Hmmm...perhaps it’s time to familiarise ourselves with some greener alternatives; Bicarbonate of Soda is a great all round degreaser, scourer and deodoriser. Use it to clean hobs and work surfaces, deodorise the fridge and even freshen drains. Lemon juice is a useful, natural bleach. It inhibits mould growth and can be mixed with Bicarbonate of Soda to make a paste which tackles limescale. Salt is a natural disinfectant and scourer, very useful for cleaning pans. Distilled white vinegar can be used to clean toilets, windows and is great at removing limescale and general bathroom scum.

In addition to the environmental impact of our cleaning products I also discovered that they can have an adverse affect on our health.

Washing soda or soda crystals can be used to soften water, remove stains and clean drains.

For example, household ammonia is often found in window or general glass cleaners. It is a skin and eye irritant and deadly to fish, even in low concentrations, so it’s not really ideal to be flushing it down our drains.

I like my modern cleaning products. They do an excellent job and I couldn’t manage without them but this year, where I can, I’m going to use more ecofriendly alternatives and make my spring clean a bit more green!

www.S R6.co.uk : m arch 2010

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Get more out of life with the Oddfellows Want to make new friends in the local area? Seeking advice and wondering who to ask for help? Then the Oddfellows could be for you. For £25 a year (or £20.10 by direct debit*) you can receive all this: • Local social events • Friendship and support • Help towards your dental and optical costs* • Care Service • Advice Service • Active Travel Club • Plus much more… Why not find out more about your local Oddfellows Branch? Everyone is made to feel very welcome at all our events. For more information call Malcolm Dixon on

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1810-2010 w w w. o d d f e l l o w s . c o . u k www.S R6.co.uk : m arch 2010

gardening feature

Give veg’ a grow this year

ith the ongoing issue of food miles what could carry less of a carbon foot print than growing it your self a couple of meters from where you’ll be cooking it? If you have never tried growing any edibles and find the thought of it daunting don’t worry, growing a little food for your family need not be neither technical nor time or space consuming. Don’t let your self get bogged down with issues of crop rotation and thinking you have to dig up half your lawn to give growing veg a go. There are veg and salad crops which will grow happily in containers or amongst existing plants in your garden one of the easiest places to start is with on of the most widely used vegetables in the world – Potatoes. Potatoes are able to grow well in most soils and can be grown in containers or specially designed potato grow bags which can be placed out side your backdoor for the ultimate in locally produced fresh food. There are numerous varieties ranging from little salad potatoes to big bakers, but there are three main types as far as harvesting is concerned first early second early and main crops. If this will be your first attempt at potatoes or you are limited for space start with ‘International Kidney’ popular due to the similarities to the trade marked ‘Jersey Royals’ perfect for salads in early summer.

Purchased in the form of seed potatoes are then left in a frost free light position to ‘chit’ (sprout) then planted out once the sprouts are about 2cm long. Once the stems reach 20cm earth the plants up to block out the sunlight from the tubers which form the potatoes continue earthing up as plants grow and you’ll be able to harvest your crop from early summer onwards dependant on variety. Don’t just stop with potatoes though as the weather warms you can grow little tumbler tomatoes in hanging baskets, cut and come again salad grow happily and look attractive in pots, Peas are low maintenance and take up little space grown up canes between your border plants and chilies crop heavily when grown in a pot on a window ledge. • • • •

Have-a-Grow packs of potatoes £1.95 each Packs of 75 Onion sets £1.95 each Packs of 10 Shallot sets and Garlic bulbs £1.95 each. 2.5kg Bags of Potatoes £3.95

Plant Smart, The Grange Garden Centre, Thompsons Road, Sunderland

Plant Smart, The Grange Garden Centre, Thompsons Road, Sunderland TO A DV E RTI S E H ERE CA LL 0 1 9 1 5 4 8 1 3 3 3 or email i nfo@sr6.co.uk

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church services and activities

Cleadon Methodist Church Sunday Morning Worship 10.45am also Junior Church - children of all ages are welcome into our congregation before they leave for their own Groups. They are divided into under 5s’ and over 5s’. Parents are welcome to accompany under 5’ into their own Group. Children are welcomed back into Church at end of Service and then Coffee and Juice is served in the Church Hall. Sunday Evening 6.00pm (every fourth Sunday Ecumenical Service) Monday Morning 10.00am - 11.45am Toddler Group where Babies and Toddlers are most welcome. Mums, Dads, & Grandparents enjoy Coffee and a chat while little ones play. Beavers Monday 5.30p.m - 6.30p.m term time for boys 6 – 8 years Junior Club Alternate Tuesday Evenings in term time from 6.30p.m – 8.00pm for children in year 3 up to year 6 in Primary School. Jarnal Club Second Tuesday in the Month in term time from 8.00pm - 9.30pm for young people 11 years to 14 years. Brownies Wednesday 6.00pm – 7.00pm term time for girls 7 years – 10 years Coffee Morning First Saturday of every month 10.00am – 12noon All Welcome Saturday 6th March Messy Church event from 3pm-6pm the theme will be Mother’s Day and there will be crafts and activities suitable for all ages culminating in a short act of worship followed by a shared tea. Everyone welcome. Additional Services for Holy Week: Maundy Thursday service 1st April at 7.30p.m. Good Friday. We join with All Saints Parish Church in Cleadon Village for our Good Friday walk of witness commencing at Cleadon Methodist at 12noon followed by famine lunch at All Saints at 1p.m. and Service at All Saints at 2p.m. All Saints’ Church, Cleadon WEEKLY SERVICES Sunday Holy Communion 8.00 am Sung Eucharist (All Ages Together on 2nd Sunday) 10.00 am

Wednesday Toddlers Group in Parish Hall (Term Time) 1.15 pm Thursday Holy Communion 10.00 am Additional Services during Holy Week: Good Friday Prayer Walk 12.00 noon Famine Lunch 1.00 pm Final Hour Service 2.00 pm Second Saturday Monthly 10.30 am Coffee Morning in Parish Hall Monday to Friday Weekly 10.00 am to 12.00 noon Coffee & Chat in Old School Room St. Vincent’s Church, Whitburn Sundays Holy Mass Vigil Sat 7.00pm Holydays Holy Mass Vigil 7.00pm Weekdays Holy Mass Thurs 10.00am Good Friday Stations of the Cross 10.00am Whitburn Methodist Church Sundays 10.45am Morning Worship 6.00pm Service Weekly coffee mornings recommence from Saturday 6th March 10.00am till 11.30 am. Good Friday 10.00am Service at the chapel followed by a short act of witness on the Village Green and then a walk back around to the chapel where refreshments are served. Seaburn Dene New Church Wednesday 3rd 9.00 Prayer Fellowship Sunday 7th 10.30 Family Worship and Sacrament of Holy Supper - Revd Bruce Jarvis Sunday 14th 10.30 Mothering Sunday Family Service - Revd Bruce Jarvis Sunday 21st 10.30 Family Worship Revd Kathleen Gilhooly Sunday 28th 10.30 Palm Sunday Family Worship Mr Peter Schofield The regular activities are as follows: Yoga Group Mondays 1.30pm Cardmakers Group Mondays 7.00pm Brownies and Guides Tuesday evenings Rainbows Wednesdays 5.00pm Ladies Fellowship Wednesdays 7.30pm

www.S R6.co.uk : m arch 2010

church services and activities

Club 87 - exercise and fellowship- Thursdays 8.00pm Bible Study Group - once a month by arrangement Fulwell Methodist Church Sundays 10.30am Also 3rd Sunday of month is worship designed for all ages. There will be a communion service at least once a quarter. For other communion services, please see the Newsletter. The remaining Sundays of the month are reflective preaching services led by members of the circuit preaching team. Sunday Club 10.30am A programme of activities designed for ages 5—15yrs. Contact: Dorothy on 522 6294 Sunday 14th March - 10.30am - Mothering Sunday service led by Mrs. Janice Trimble Friday 19th March - 7.00pm Girl’s Brigade Coffee evening for parents/ friends, including presentation of awards. Everyone welcome to join us for a special evening to celebrate all the activities of the GB. Sunday 21st March - 10.30am - All Age Worship to include dedication and enrolment of members and leaders of the Girl’s Brigade. Palm Sunday 28th March - 10.30am Morning worship Maunday Thursday, 1st April & Good Friday 2nd April - Joint district Communion service to be held at High Southwick Methodist Church at 7.30pm Good Friday, 2nd April - Service at 10.30am St. Andrew’s Church, Roker Sundays 8.00 am Holy Communion and short Sermon (BCP 2nd & 5th) 9.30 am Holy Eucharist and Sermon. Also Living Stones, and active group for children meets at 9.20 a.m. in the Priestman Hall, then join the rest of the congregation during the offertory. 6.00 pm Evensong & Sermon (BCP 2nd & 5th) Wednesday 10.00 am Holy Communion Palm Sunday Reading of the Passion according to Luke and the Blessing of Palms Wed 31st March 7.00pm Holy Eucharist and Sermon

Maundy Thursday 7.00pm Holy Eucharist and Sermon, Stripping of the Altars Good Friday 10.00am Family Service, followed by Hot Cross buns in the Hall 2.00pm Good Friday Liturgy with Sermon and hymns St. Peter’s Church, Monkwearmouth Sundays 11.00 am Sung Eucharist Wednesday 10.45 am Holy Eucharist (BCP) Palm Sunday Reading of the Passion according to Luke and the Blessing of Palms Mon 29th March 7.00pm Holy Eucharist and Sermon Maundy Thursday 7.00pm Holy Eucharist, Foot and Hand Washing and Sermon Good Friday 10.00am Stations of the Cross 2.00pm Veneration of the Cross All Saints’ Church, Fulwell Sundays 10.30 am Holy Communion (Family Worship 2nd Sunday) Sunday School: children join the adults in church towards the end of the Communion Service Last Sunday of month at 4.00 p.m. Fun @ 4 is a special service held for families with smaller children Wednesday 10.00 am Holy Communion Palm Sunday Reading of the Passion according to Luke and the Blessing of Palms Tues 30th March 7.00pm Holy Eucharist and Sermon Maundy Thursday 7.00pm Holy Eucharist, Foot Washing, and Sermon, Stripping of Altars Good Friday 2.00pm An Hour’s Devotion with hymns Lenten Groups – Living the Christian Way: in the footsteps of the founders of our traditions Thursdays 7.30 – 9.00 p.m. at All Saints’ Vestry Meeting Room, Fulwell Road 4th March William Booth 11th Stephen & George Jeffreys 18th John Wesley Anglican Divines 25th

TO A DV E RTI S E H ERE CA LL 0 1 9 1 5 4 8 1 3 3 3 or email i nfo@sr6.co.uk

Debra Darke has been established as the Chiropodist on Fulwell Road for over 22 years. Over the years the Practice has developed in response to the needs of the patient together with scientific advances in foot conditions and treatments. Debra decided to change the name of her practice from Fulwell Foot Health to “Body In Balance” to incorporate advances and convey to the public the comprehensive nature of the business, as well as well as the usual chiropody/podiatry. We now offer holistic therapies such as Reiki, Massage, Bowen, Homeopathy and Reflexology and have a range of items for sale to help you look after your feet yourself. However it has come to Debra’s attention that some people think she is no longer here and may be getting us confused with another practice! It is true that Debra has recently taken time off to deal with personal and health circumstances but the practice is being carefully looked after by another Chiropodist/podiatrist ‘Karen Foster’ who has worked with Debra for nearly 19 years. The name of the practice has been ‘Body In Balance’ for nearly two years now. The name ‘Podiatrist’ is just another name for Chiropodist. Some people are confused by the name. This is because some Chiropodists, who do not want to treat toenails, corns and hard skin and only want to treat biomechanical problems and sports injuries call themselves Podiatrists. At Body In Balance we treat all lower limb problems. We have Chiropody and a Podiatry department here so we can allocate the correct amount of time to your problem. We are a caring, understanding, friendly team doing our best to “Keep your feet fit for life.”

reti rem en t

Willow Bank Court: the perfect location for your retirement All but six apartments at Willow Bank Court, McCarthy & Stone’s retirement development in Beckenham Close, East Boldon, are now sold and according to House Manager Jacqueline Sweet, a real community has taken shape. Jacqueline said: “We’ve got a very active group of residents here at Willow Bank Court. We have coffee mornings and afternoon teas in the communal lounge and in addition to socialising within the development itself, the residents all belong to clubs in the area. We’re lucky to have a location which is so handy for public transport and for walking to the shops.” Within 70 metres of Willow Bank Court is a wide range of local shops including a florist/ fruit and vegetable store, a newsagent, a pharmacy, a delicatessen and a hairdresser. To make using these amenities even easier, McCarthy & Stone has provided a mobility scooter store on the premises of Willow Bank Court. There are two bus stops nearby, with services to Asda in Boldon and also to Seaburn and Cleadon, and the metro station is within walking distance, opening up access to the

whole of the north east. Willow Bank Court is a development of one and two bedroom apartments, each one a self-contained home in its own right. Purchasers also have the benefit of being part of a community in which residents also have use of communal lounge with adjoining kitchen, laundry room, a garden seating area, and a guest suite for friends and family who stay overnight. Reflecting the concerns of many older people, security is a top priority at Willow Bank Court, as at all McCarthy & Stone developments. Each apartment is connected to camera surveillance at the main entrance, which allows residents to use their own TV sets to see who’s calling before they let them in. In addition, a 24-hour personal emergency system is installed in each apartment, enabling residents to summon help at any time of the day or night. Prices for the remaining apartments at Willow Bank Court start at just £129,950. To find out more and to view the show apartments call Catherine or Julia on 0191 519 4408.

retirement living Security and independence

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Retirement Living from £129,950 All our purpose built retirement apartments include 24-hour Careline plus a camera entry system for use with your TV for added peace of mind. And with economical heating and double glazing you’ll be amazed how little your new home will cost to run.

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www.mccarthyandstone.co.uk 30

www.SR6 .co.uk : m arch 2010

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TO A DV E RTI S E H ERE CA LL 0 1 9 1 5 4 8 1 3 3 3 or email i nfo@sr6.co.uk

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