Health & Family

In praise of napping

“LADIESand gentlemen, your pilot is feeling a bit drowsy and is taking a nap.” Perhaps not an announcement to inspire confidence when you’re whizzing high above the Atlantic in a cylindrical metal tube and not one you’re likely to hear. But it does happen. Pilots on long haul flights often have 40 By DrPHIL HAMMOND winks, but fortunately not at the same time as their copilot. Air traffic controllers even have the odd lie-down and in some companies napping stations are provided for employees who don’t feel alert enough to continue safely on the production line.

So what’s the evidence that napping works? Pretty good, as it happens. A short but intentional period of sleep during the day is not only very pleasant, but produces measurable improvements in mood, alertness and performance... even in those who didn’t feel tired beforehand.

The trick is to limit the nap to an optimal 15 minutes and certainly no more than 30. Go for longer and you’re likely to experience the grogginess of “sleep inertia” (a fancy term for not wanting to wake up at all).

Also long naps can stop you sleeping well at night, whereas a short power nap can do nothing but good (unless you’re behind the wheel of a car or operating heavy machinery). Many high-level athletes, including Usain Bolt, credit their best performances to a pre-race nap.

But do we need to learn how to nap? As patronising as it sounds, there’s an art form to just going under for 15 minutes and you get better with practice. There are people out there who are happy to take money off you for napping training (as opposed to nappy training), but if you practise on your own, you’ll soon get proficient.

I often perform comedy late at night which gets the adrenaline going (particularly if people don’t laugh) and stops me getting to sleep afterwards. It’s considered poor form to nap on stage, but I’ve perfected the art of a quick kip in the back of a cab, plane or train, and have yet to miss a stop.

True, I do occasionally fart, dribble and snore which isn’t terribly pleasant for nearby passengers, but it’s a small price to pay for arriving refreshed. And now at least my Covid mask disguises any top-end public dribbling.

In many workplaces, you’d be seen as a slacker to pop off for a nap but there is evidence of increased productivity in companies that allow naps.

As a junior doctor in the dark days of 120-hour weeks, I was forever nipping back to the on-call room for a lie down, but the introduction of shift work has led to the removal of on-call rooms in just about every hospital. Alas, shift work is terrible for your health.

The Danish government is convinced by the evidence of potential harms of sleep deprivation and has paid compensation to nurses and air hostesses who developed cancer after years of disrupted sleep and stuffed-up body clocks.

Even if your shift is only eight hours, your poor sleep patterns may require you to take a nap and it’s dangerous not to give NHS staff the facilities to do it. Some enlightened hospitals are offering comfy recliner chairs as an alternative to a bed, but most doctors and nurses are having to make do with falling asleep on their feet.

So not much change since my day, and not at all safe for patients. One solution would be for doctors to climb aboard with a patient for a short nap. You’d have to go top to tail, for ethical reasons, and try not to get tangled up in drips, drains and catheters.

But for patients, a napped doctor is much safer than an un-napped one. Just don’t let anyone with restless legs into your bed.

Plop the Raindrop

I EXPECTa lot of you might go out for a walk at Christmas, even if you are reluctant to stop playing with your presents. You might even have a new bike to go rolling over the hills.

The Mendips can sparkle like magic, especially if there’s a frost. I might be out there sunbathing on a brown frond of fern. I’ll watch out for you.

You can see ponies or even deer up there and maybe lots of birds stripping bright red berries from the hawthorn bushes.

What you won’t see much of is water. Some water droplets, like me, might be lying around in some muddy puddles or bubbling away in some boggy bits.

But you won’t find many streams on Mendip unless there’s a flood, when we go rushing down into the combes and gorges.

Normally, after rain, we simply vanish underground. That’s because the hills are made of limestone, which is itself made up of the remains of billions of tiny sea creatures. I was around when these creatures were still alive and when the earth was a very different place and Mendip was under the sea, but that’s a story for another day. Limestone is porous, just like a bath sponge, which means that water can soak through it down into the earth. That’s when it gets exciting. Over millions and millions of years, me and my mates have been busy underground, turning the Mendip Hills into a giant network of caves and tunnels.

It’s a watery paradise down there, a crystal world of hissing rivulets and amazing formations. And mud; lots and lots of mud.

I can’t count how many Christmases I’ve been trapped in the dark down there with an occasional bat for company. Smelly creatures.

The lower down we drip, our rivulets become streams, which then turn into rivers. Eventually you can see us emerging from caves, like those in Cheddar Gorge or Wookey.

We even travel underground to emerge in giant springs behind the cathedral in Wells, in the Bishop’s Palace gardens. Can you guess how Wells got its name?

It might seem quite a feat to travel all the way from the hills down to Wells. But did you know that water from the Mendips also comes up into the Roman Baths in Bath? Can you guess how Bath got its name?

I’ve done that trip many times. It involves sinking deep down into the earth for about 10,000 years before emerging warm enough for human beans to have a bath.

Of course, dinosaurs, mammoths and all kinds of creatures enjoyed a dip there before you lot arrived. But that’s yet another story.

Have a good Christmas,

Giving a helping hand Remembering loved ones

A MENTALhealth support group in Peasedown St John has received a grant from the village’s Community Trust.

The Peasedown Social & Wellbeing Group provides a safe and welcoming space for members of the community who are dealing with loneliness and depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. They meet weekly at the new Hive Community Centre. The trust has awarded them a £100 grant. Chairman of the trust, Gavin Heathcote, said: “The trustees were impressed by the work that the Wellbeing Group does to support those in need.”

Details: email peasedowncommunitytrust@gmail.com or call 07557 683834

THE Forever Friends Appeal, the charity for the Royal United Hospitals Bath, is inviting the local community to come together to be part of its annual remembrance service. The virtual ceremony will take place on Monday, December 6th and will be streamed through The Forever Friends Appeal website between 11am and 6pm.

The event will also help support the hospital’s RUH Palliative Care and End of Life Butterfly Fund and there will be an opportunity to remember loved ones’ names on a compassionate heart or star that will be placed on a tree of Light and Love and displayed throughout the month of December.

Philip Turner, deputy team chaplain at the RUH said: “The loss we feel is personal, but by coming together with others who are also wrestling with their grief, we can feel less alone.

“While restrictions at the hospital still prevent us from being in the same place, together we can create a similar space in our hearts. Wherever you are, you are invited to join together with others for our Light and Love live event.”

Details: www.foreverfriendsappeal.co.uk/light-and-love

Winter fuel campaign launched

SOMERSET Community Foundation (SCF) has launched this year’s Surviving Winter appeal, which encourages people who can afford it to donate some or all of their Winter Fuel Payment to help vulnerable older people to stay warm and well.

It says as we head into winter, rising energy costs mean more of our older neighbours are forced to choose between heating and eating.

This winter will continue to be difficult and worrying for many in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, as many pensioners will need to stay at home to keep themselves safe.

Chief executive, Justin Sargent, said: “We estimate that at least 9,000 older people households in Somerset will not have enough money to afford to heat their homes sufficiently this winter. Cold weather is a prime cause of around 500 preventable deaths a year, with older people and those living in older or isolated rural homes most likely to experience the largest degree of fuel poverty.

“Thanks to the bright idea of one generous pensioner, we can make sure that hundreds of older people in Somerset are being supported to stay warm, safe and well every winter through our Surviving Winter campaign.”

Every year the campaign helps around 500 elderly people locally through the cold winter months, thanks to generous local donors who, last year, donated over £150,000 to the appeal. This year, the first £15,000 of donations will be boosted by 50 percent thanks to matched funding from the Field House Trust.

Glastonbury Festival organiser and long-time Surviving Winter supporter Michael Eavis is supporting Surviving Winter for another year.

He said: “I’m very pleased to be donating to Surviving Winter again this year. We would be so pleased if you would consider giving some or all of your Winter Fuel Payment to the appeal. It is a simple and easy way to help people in our community who will be struggling to stay warm and healthy this winter.”

Details: www.somersetcf.org.uk/winter or call 01749 344949

OUR HIGHLY SKILLED CLINICIANS ARE ABLE TO USE THE MOST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY TO INVESTIGATE THE HEALTH OF YOUR EYES!

Join our Eyecare Plan:

•Unlimited advice on all your eye care needs •Great discounts on all your spectacle requirements •Repairs and adjustments to spectacles •We offer a range of contact lenses, dry eye lubricants, solutions and myopia (Short-sightedness) management options. As predictions indicate that by 2050 half of the world’s population will be myopic •OCT scans and Optomap imaging of the health of your eyes

Orriss and Low Optometrists, Corner House, Woodborough Road, Winscombe, BS25 1AQ 01934 843713 • www.orrissandlow.co.uk

Place your holiday orders

PISCES Wedmore will be taking orders for the Christmas holiday weekend as normal. With 30 years’ experience Dean Downer knows that to secure the best fish or produce for his customers early planning is essential.

Customers are urged to order their fish requirements by Saturday, December 18th. He says please remember that there are no fish markets until early January so ordering and freezing fish for after December 24th is the only way to have that special dinner party dish at New Year. With “logistics” the buzz word this year, Dean will be at The Wholesale Produce Market all week. He wishes customers old and new a very happy Christmas.

PISCES

FISHMONGER & GREENGROCER

Direct supply of Cornish Sea Food. Loch Fyne Smokehouse stockist. Northern Water and Continental seafood specialists. Fruit and vegetables personally selected at market, exotics and the unusual, fresh herbs and the best local produce. Selection of culinary ingredients. Open all day Tuesday to Friday plus Monday and Saturday mornings. 5 The Borough Mall, The Borough Wedmore, Somerset BS28 4EB Tel: 01934 710318

Bronze and Traditional Turkeys All types of poultry, meats, games and Christmas Fayre Orders taken for Christmas now!!

Orders, telephone or email:–01934 712384 Shop

Alan, James and Mike would like to thank all our customers who have supported us through 2021

WE HAVE MOVED! MORE ROOM, MORE STOCK!

Come and see our Organic Cotton range

4, The Borough Mall, Wedmore, Somerset BS28 4EB • 01934 708181

Christmas in Wedmore

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WEDMOREby Lamplight returns on Wednesday, December 8th. After a service in the village church and carols around the Christmas tree in the churchyard, the village gets into full festive mode. The Borough is closed for the evening for a range of stalls to be set up. The village’s various shops and business are open late offering hospitality and Christmas gifts and there’s a range of music, food and entertainment.

December

Village Xmas card

WEDMORE’S village Christmas card has been produced by the Friends of St Mary's, based on an original idea and painting by village amateur artist Sue Smith.

It was Sue's idea to use the finger post at the Heath House crossroads to encompass most of the parish, rather than just Wedmore.

Biggest ever “Big Drop”

THE Wedmore Friends of Weston Hospicecare say their “Big Drop” in November was their biggest ever! Chair, Shirley Wederell, said: “We never know how much we raise because the The school hall was full of donated donated items are taken items to the hospice hub for distribution to the shops, so unfortunately we never know.

“We did sell some items, which raised £100, and have two beautiful antique GWR station seats which we are hoping to sell to GWR.

“We always get a good response from Mendip Times readers. We’ve done three Big Drops now and each time they have become bigger. The hospice vans were full to capacity and had to make two journeys to the hub. We also engage people with the possibility of gift aiding their donations and we signed up 33 new gift aiders.”

She said she wants to thank everyone who donated goods to the drop and also to thank Wedmore First School Academy for the use their hall.

The Friends next event will be a fashion show, planned for April 9th. They’ve given this phone number for the Hospicecare hub van collection for those items that were too large for them to take on the day: 01934 642694.

Recruiting now

IMAGINEworking on your own terms and being in control of your monthly finances? I’ve worked as a consultant for the 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan for ten years now and can wholeheartedly say that I have never been in such a rewarding role. There is literally no better time to join me! Do the learning and groundwork now and get ready to kick-start January with a bang. • Do you want 2022 to be your year? • Do you want to be in control of what you earn? • Do you want to carry on working from home? • Do you want a side hustle to work around your current commitments? • Do you want to completely change people’s lives every single day? • Do you want to be your own boss?

I am looking for dynamic, friendly and caring consultants to join my team. The role is flexible and can be part-time, full-time or even one day a week. As long as you have a positive mindset, have a high regard for customer service and be passionate about changing people’s lives –then I’m here for you

You would continue to have my one-to-one training and support as well as be a part of a multi-award team.

FRAN FOUNTAIN

Green Wedmore’s plans

GREENWedmore’s new chair Steve Mewes has challenged the group to look at longer term ambitious projects that will help keep the village on track to a carbon free future.

One suggestion is a Wedmore community supported agriculture scheme envisaging village scale fruit, vegetable, and fish production for an on-site farm shop and for existing shops, restaurants and pubs.

He’s also suggesting a village heat pump scheme to create a good value, easy-to-buy-into option for Wedmore residents like the Solar 1000, which has now seen 175 photovoltaic installations in the village, with many more in the pipeline. Also up for discussion is a project to encourage walking and cycling in the village. Their next meeting is at The Swan on Monday, November 29th, at 7.30pm. For details, visit: www.greenwedmore.co.uk

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There has never been a more exciting time to become a consultant for The 1:1 Diet Flexible working hours to fit around your current commitments Full training and ongoing support provided AND incentives to WIN free holidays

LIME SALE

starts Tuesday 28th December at 10 a.m.

A new outfit for the festive time, beautiful gift ideas of jewellery, scarves, socks, belts and more!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Football result for Wedmore

FOOTBALL facilities have received a big boost in Wedmore.

The village has been awarded a £141,937 grant from the Premier League, The FA and the Government’s Football Foundation to upgrade their multi-use games area.

The Isle of Wedmore Football Club, who play at Wedmore playing fields, give over 300 individuals a chance to play football each week.

This grant will enable the club to improve their games area with a new 3G surface, fencing, lighting and storage facilities.

Wedmore Playing Fields Management Committee and the football club worked with the Football Foundation and the Somerset FA to secure the grant towards the project.

Football club chairman, Nick Beason, said: “This amazing grant will enable us to complete a much-needed renovation of a well-used facility”.

Christmas parties at The Swan, Wedmore

THIS year we’re all looking forward to a proper Christmas. Friendly and relaxed, The Swan in Wedmore is the perfect spot for a seasonal celebration. It has it all with cosy corners, stoneflagged floors, gorgeous decorations, warming winter cocktails and delicious food.

Head chef Sam Sperring-Trendl has cooked up the ultimate winter feast with his three-course party menu with local Orchard Farm pork belly from Jim Baker’s Gloucester Old Spot pigs, traditional turkey, and a vegan marinated and pan roasted cauliflower with winter truffle.

There are, of course, glorious roast potatoes and a divine Christmas pudding with milk ice-cream and spiced clementine jam to delve into. If you’re a large group, then opt for your own exclusive party and kick-up your heels and celebrate in The Club Room.

Outside the covered terrace festooned with lights, heaters, and sheepskin rugs, makes a stylish and comfortable setting. The Swan’s warm welcome and eat anywhere ethos, makes it a haven for families with young children and dogs.

Wedmore glitters and sparkles at Christmas and conjures up a magical festive atmosphere, especially on December 8th for Wedmore by Lamplight. Then the whole village is alive with light, music, market stalls and late-night shopping in the wide range of independent shops and boutiques.

Pop into The Swan for a fireside fortifying boozy hot chocolate or Harry’s mulled cider. Or else the Orchard Shrub cocktail with cider brandy, crème de figue and ginger ale is a serious winter warmer.

Around the bustling and historic village there are bracing walks on the nearby Avalon Marshes. Stride out and see the spectacular starling murmurations before heading back to The Swan to hatch a plan to keep the party going and celebrate the New Year.

The Swan aims to see out the old and bring in the new in great style. Gather your nearest and dearest, raise a glass (or two) of fizz and indulge in Sam’s outstanding New Year’s Eve menu with maple cured sea trout, dry aged rump steak and dark chocolate tart. A joyous journey into 2022.

Details: theswanwedmore.com 01934 710337