WINTER WARMERS

David Copp

This is the time for winter warmers. My preferred choice is for fine, aged, blended or single malts because I worked in the industry for 5 years and learned to appreciate pure malt Scotch whisky.

However, there are many excellent blended, aged Scotch whisky brands, such as Johnnie Walker Black Label, still going strong. But this short article focuses on three of my favourite pure malt Scotch whiskies - Glenmorangie from Ross-shire; The Macallan, from Speyside; and Bowmore, a peaty Islay malt whisky which was the pride and joy of my former employer, Stanley P Morrison, Scotland’s leading whisky broker.

Glenmorangie Original is still my personal favourite for its wonderfully mellow tones, creamy vanilla notes and great delicacy of flavour. Distilled in stills as tall as a giraffe to encourage flavours, it is matured in used bourbon casks and/or used sherry butts for ten years.

I promise anyone new to pure malt Scotch whiskies, they would do well to start with this wonderfully lush and creamy offering.

During my time learning the ropes at Invergordon Distillery I stayed at the Royal Hotel in Tain, directly opposite the Glenmorangie Distillery. Having spent all day ‘nosing’ maturing grain whiskies at Invergordon, I was ready for a glass of good beer when I returned to the hotel after work.

Fortunately for me, the head distiller at Glenmorangie also had the same idea and we soon became good friends. At the weekend he showed me around the distillery and allowed me to ‘nose’ his distillations over the previous 30 years or more, all of which were stored in either used American oak barrels (used for maturing bourbon) or used sherry butts from Spain.

But Glenmorangie was not the first single pure malt: that was made on Speyside where the wonderfully fresh watered Spey tumbled down into the valleys of the region. The local farmers found that by steeping their beautiful barley in the clean, fast-running waters of the Spey and passing it through simple homemade stills they could produce a beverage that not only cheered them on cold, dark nights but made their social gatherings more fun.

Thus, the single malt business started with local farmers providing their own homemade winter warmth. However, it was not long before government officials in London decided that their distillations should be taxed and in 1823 the British parliament passed the Excise Act, insisting that anyone practising distillation should be licensed. You can imagine small farmers’ reaction in central Scotland’s glens to such legislation coming from the deep south of the UK. However, one such farmer, George Smith, did as advised. There were two good reasons for his so doing. His landlord was the Duke of Gordon, an HM Government member. Secondly, Gordon advised Smith that he would be glad to recommend his beverage to London and Edinburgh society if he had a licence.

Smith took the advice of his landlord but became so unpopular with his fellow farmers that the Duke of Gordon provided him with two powerful pistols to protect him from raids on his farm.

However, his fellow farmers soon got the message when they saw the wagons laden with barrels flowing from Smith’s farm to be bottled in Edinburgh and London. They too applied for licences and copied Smith in adding Glenlivet to their own name. The same distilleries such as Glen Grant and The Macallan are today the leading producers of very fine single malt Scotch whiskies that I can heartily recommend on a cold night when the weather turns unfriendly.

Bowmore is a completely different style. Pungent and peaty it is distilled on one of the southernmost of the Hebridean islands, only 25 miles long by 19 wide. It has found a good audience among drinkers who like strongly flavoured liquor.

I prefer to drink such single malts with a little natural water because it opens up the whisky flavours, making them more attractive. I can vouch for sleeping quite well after a small dram on a cold night. Single malt whiskies are not cheap to buy but I am pleased to see that Asda and Tesco have made substantial discounts for the top brands. Glemorangie produce a half bottle of ten-year-old and, if you haven’t already done so, I would recommend a trial.

Hot Topic

The Environmental Considerations of Seasonal Treatments

By now, the daylight should be creeping ahead of the darkness and with March around the corner, the prospect of spring is becoming a reality. The predictable cycle of our seasons provides the basis for the circle of life we experience here in the UK. With our part of the world turning again to the sun, the dormant starts to become active across the great spectrum of life on Earth.

So a great awakening is starting at all levels from bacteria and fungi, to plants, insects, gastropods (slugs and snails) and mammals. Although many of us may not want to influence this rising tide of life, the fact is that we often do, deliberately, with agricultural herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. Obviously, the reason these chemicals are used is not to decimate the natural world but to protect the animals and crops that form the basis of our food supply. Where the balance lies between these conflicting factors is clearly the subject of much ongoing debate.

In the veterinary world, there is an equally active debate over very similar issues. The use of anti-bacterial drugs in animals has been a hot topic for a long time, especially for those antibiotics that are most useful in human medicine. The crux of this argument is bacterial resistance develops the more antibiotics are used, to the point where many are now ineffective. So, the more they are used in animals, the more resistance there is out there to make human (and animal) treatment more difficult. This is not a straightforward subject as many of the most serious infections are caused by bacteria that are naturally resistant to most penicillins, due to the structure of their cell walls (we call these Gram negative bacteria). The good news, we have a range of non-penicillin antibiotics that are effective against Gram negative bugs; the bad news is, these bacteria are even better at drug resistance! In short, clinicians in both the human and veterinary world are keen to limit the use of antibiotics to protect our precious drugs from becoming obsolete. The most effective way of doing this is to target antibiotics to specific bacterial infections known to be sensitive to that particular drug. Sounds ideal but it really isn’t that easy for many reasons, not least of which is bacterial infections do not come with a name-tag!

I could go on about bacteria, their contribution to our general health in the form of the vast population in our gut, the so-called microbiome and the damage we do to them through lifestyle and diet (and antibiotics!). But it’s time to move on to parasites, probably our biggest target for preventative medicine. This is where the agricultural and veterinary worlds are starting to meet and maybe not in a good way. The spring rise in parasites is well-known in agriculture and farm animals are treated regularly against worms, similar to our companion pets. Not so many years ago, we would recommend treating your dog and cat against worms just four times a year. Then along came a lungworm! Spread by slugs and snails in their slime trails, we used to see several cases every year in dogs, who, literally had worms in their lungs! In response to this new threat, we changed our recommended wormer to products containing ‘milbemycin’ as many others are ineffective against lungworm. We also increased the number of times these preventative medicines are used as significant lungworm infections can develop within a couple of months.

How about external parasites? Will they be on the rise this spring? For ticks, the answer is definitely yes as they like warm and wet, although parts of our winters can be spring-like so don’t take anything for granted. Nothing will prevent a tick from biting but approved products can kill it within hours, reducing the chances of disease transmission (Lyme and tick-born encephalitis). Historically, we have used spot-on and tablet forms of the most effective drugs to protect against ticks but recent environmental data has shown a worrying trend. Some of the insecticides used against ticks and fleas are being detected in ecosystems across the UK, where their effect on insect life is likely to be harmful. For this reason, we now recommend using tablets rather than spot-ons for dogs, especially those likely to enter water courses. If just a trace of the active ingredient is washed off your dog’s coat and into a stream, the effect on insect life could be devastating. With enough environmental pressure from agricultural insecticides already, the last thing our natural world needs is adding to it.

So the next time you visit your vet, have a chat about the products that suit your pet with the environment in mind. Correct dosing for body weight and use at appropriate times can focus our protection against parasites while at the same time helping the tide of life to rise again this spring.

FEBRUDAIRY!

The dairy industry celebrates all things dairy in February and hence the name Februdairy!

Most of my working time as a vet involves helping dairy farmers to produce milk to the highest welfare standards possible. Healthy, happy animals are always more productive and profitable. At the practice we also have specialist vets who look after milking goats and sheep too.

Humans have been consuming milk and its products for thousands of years. To digest milk, humans have an enzyme called lactase — something we need as babies but need a lot less of as we get older. A genetic mutation, called ‘lactase persistence’ developed in humans which enabled us to digest milk into adulthood. Because of the nutritional advantage this mutation gave people, it rapidly spread through Europe and as a result, more than 90% of Europeans have the ability to digest milk into adulthood.

The reason why this mutation was so beneficial to humans was, quite simply, because not many other single sources of natural food would provide such a wide range of vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients. In the words of Darwin, ‘it was all down to survival of the fittest’. Consuming dairy provided a competitive advantage to those people, surviving longer and being healthier and fitter. friarsmoorvets.co.uk

Of course, there are thousands of different products that are made from milk today including yoghurts, cheeses, creams and butter. These were all aimed at preserving milk for longer before the invention of fridges and freezers.

Cheese-making was a way of preserving milk in hotter climates. No one knows the exact time when humans first started making cheese, but the earliest signs go back about 7,000 years. Humans likely developed cheese and other dairy foods by accident, as a result of storing and transporting milk in bladders made of ruminants’ stomachs, as their inherent supply of rennet would encourage curdling.

In the UK we now have a thriving cheese-making industry. Regional cheeses are now celebrated for their varying tastes and textures, all of which are delicious. British cheese producers often win the prestigious world cheese awards for the best cheeses in the world!

So, in FebruDairy, support your local dairy farmers by drinking a glass of milk or enjoying a new local cheese you haven’t tried before.

Pet, Equine & Farm Animals

• Operating theatres • Digital x-ray • Nurse clinics

• Separate dog and cat wards • Laboratory

Kingston House Veterinary Clinic Long Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3DB

Mon-Fri 9.00-10.30, 16.30-18.00

Sat 9.00-10.30

Tel: 01935 813288 (24 hours)

Email: sherborne@kingstonvets.co.uk

Grove Dene Veterinary Clinic

The Forum, Abbey Manor Park, Yeovil, Somerset BA21 3TL

Mon-Fri 8.30-12.00, 14.00-18.30

Sat 9.00-12.00

Tel: 01935 421177 (24 hours)

Email: yeovil@kingstonvets.co.uk

This winter many people experienced mental or physical health challenges which disrupted their routines. During colder months, it can be difficult to manage feelings of depression, anxiety, or loneliness amongst other mental health challenges. These past months have highlighted the importance of routine for wellbeing.

Practice self-care

As a result of being unwell with the flu, I experienced burnout this winter. After being bed-bound for a couple of weeks, I struggled to get back to my normal routine. I quickly realised I needed to adjust my schedule, reduce my commitments, and most importantly rest.

Initially, this caused feelings of guilt, not being able to complete set goals and activities at work and in my personal life. Adjusting my routine helped me get back to a sense of ‘normal’, restarting back to basics. Previously, I have struggled to manage my mental health and have found self-care to be vital when taking care of my wellbeing, especially during periods of change such as the beginning of a new year.

Getting Back Into A Routine

My advice is to determine your priorities (what you must do), what’s important to you (what you value) within your routine, and what things can wait. Can you create a compromise in your routine? i.e. Going to the gym for 30 mins instead of 1 hour or finishing work earlier to allow more time for sleep. Consider your time and energy. Be kind to yourself.

Schedule habits

Creating a schedule and blocking time in your calendar can help organise your routine. If an activity doesn’t fit into a specific time frame, simply allotting a day can help act as a reminder. This can also help identify your to-do tasks and assign time to complete them. Keeping a calendar helps reduce my stress by having focused activities each day.

Reset day

Book a weekday off work or set aside a day dedicated to having a weekday reset. Activities such as cleaning your living space and setting goals/plans (things to look forward to!) may help you to get back on track. During, my period of burnout, writing helped motivate me. I reflected on my highlights from 2022, acknowledging the small things which brought me moments of joy such as taking my dog Wilf to Swanage for a walk.

If you need encouragement, I recommend setting aside time in your schedule to think about things you would like to do in 2023 as a motivator to help you get back on your feet. What are you looking forward to this year?

Ask for help

Friends and family may be able to offer words of encouragement. After breaking from my routine, and feeling in quite a low place, simply having someone encourage me to get out of the door for a 30 min walk for a couple of days, helped me regain some energy. Their company, patience and love helped motivate me to get out of bed. Support systems are so important – sometimes it takes two minds.

Befriending at Dorset Mind

If you would like further support with goal-setting, Dorset Mind provides a Befriending service which provides one-to-one support for those aged 18+ via check-in phone calls. This service supports people, helping reduce social isolation and improve self-esteem.

Exercise

The charity also encourages regular physical activity as part of the ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’ initiative. The motion of exercise gives your mind focus, and your body the routine it needs to help tackle tasks within your day.

Joining a local group may be beneficial in making new friends and socialising with others. You can find many groups on Facebook or search for gyms in your local area to find available classes. Alternatively, exercising outdoors is a free and great way of connecting with nature.

We hope you feel motivated going into spring to establish a routine which works best for you.

Dorset Mind Ambassadors had conversations with local personal trainers who shared with us the importance of resilience and keeping active in maintaining their mental health and wellbeing:

‘Wellbeing is all aspects of health. You can’t have a healthy body without a healthy mind.’

Tom Taylor, Nutrition and Lifestyle Coach

‘In my early twenties, I was a very unhappy person and I think finding running and weight training and pushing my body to different limits has helped me believe I can do so much more than a 9-5 job.’ Sophie Hayes, Personal Trainer, Sweat with Sophie Weymouth

‘It ’s about taking that first step. There is never going to be a right time…the moment you feel you need to make a change go ahead and do it. Reach out to a friend, join a gym. Whatever it is, start!’

James Isaac, Head Coach and Co-Founder, E-Motion Fitness Hub

You can watch the full interviews on our Dorset Mind YouTube channel youtube.com/@dorsetmind3279

If you need mental health support, visit dorsetmind.uk

Reiki is a Japanese energy healing modality that is natural and holistic.

Reiki can help relieve stress, anxiety and depression. Book your appointment today at Reiki Wellness and begin your journey to inner joy and peace.

Milborne Port

07966 720007

Stand Tall

Mountain Pose (Tadasana)

Dawn Hart, YogaSherborne

Ihave talked about how hard it is to just stop and lay down in Savasana - Relaxation Pose. I’m now going to add standing still on both feet to the list of surprisingly challenging postures.

Yoga teaches us to recognise body, mind and emotions, understanding that they are all part of us and shouldn’t be treated in isolation. For example, when we are emotionally tense we will hold that tension somewhere physically in the body. When we are mentally distracted we will find it harder to physically balance the body as well as our emotions. Mountain Pose grounds body and mind and is a simple posture we can practise virtually any time, any place.

Tadasana is the foundation for all standing yoga postures. Most obviously it brings an awareness of our physical posture, ensuring we are aligned and strong for the following movement. Practising regularly can improve overall posture and reduce or prevent backache. Tadasana also offers an active resting posture between poses or flows by allowing open, full breathing. It gives time to scan through the body recognising any areas of tightness or strain we need to be aware of before we move again.

How to bring your body into Tadasana:

• Stand with your feet an inch or so apart or, at most, hip-width apart. Check your toes and knees and hips are facing forwards.

• Feel your body weight distributed evenly through both feet and through the 3 parts of the foot; heel, ball pads and toe pads. I like to give the toes a wriggle here and then feel each one as they plant firmly down into the ground.

• Scan up through the ankles, calves and knees – if they have locked back, gently soften them.

• Continue to scan up through the thighs, feeling the muscles gently engage as you reach the pelvis. Rock the pelvis a little as if you were trying to straighten out the lower back a little. There is a slight lift to the top of your sternum without pushing out the rib cage.

• In your mind picture yourself lengthening, lifting taller. It can help to run your attention up your spine as you do this.

• When you reach the shoulders, loosen and lower them. Draw the shoulder blades back, just a small movement avoiding pushing out the chest.

• Let your arms relax and rest by your side. Palms may be facing inwards or forward as long as you are comfortable.

• Have your head centred and your chin drawn back. Often we are told to stand up straight, we lift the chin looking upwards. Think of a tortoise drawing its head back into its shell. Now feel the back of your neck lengthen. Let your gaze rest gently on something just ahead of you or, if it doesn’t make you wobble, close your eyes.

• Relax your face and jaw and rest your tongue on the floor of your mouth.

From the side you are aiming to bring your ear, shoulder, hip and ankle bone in line. It can help to have someone watch you a few times to find this. There are many tiny adjustments to find the correct posture and we all have different body shapes and body histories that may affect what we need to do. If you aren’t sure ask your yoga teacher, health practitioner or fitness instructor to take you through the steps.

How to bring your mind into Tadasana:

The body scan we just went through is itself a mindful practice. We let go, if only briefly, of all other thoughts as we focus on each part of the body and the sensations we feel as we come into the pose. As this happens your breathing slows and deepens and your heart rate slows. If visualisation works for you this may also help:

Art of Confidence

• Picture yourself like a mountain: grounded and strong. Taking up your space, fully part of the world around you and with a right to be here.

• Now feel expansive like a mountain as you feel your rib cage open up, expanding your chest and upper back. Breathe deeply and comfortably here.

• As you exhale, relax your shoulders, let stress and worries slip off them and away – see it happening.

• As you stand with your head held high, feel yourself stretching up towards the sky like the peak of a mountain.

When you experience strong emotions and need to find balance, this posture can bring it.

When you can’t focus and need clarity, this posture gives you a calm space.

When you need energy, be it physical, mental or emotional, this posture allows you to find it.

When you want confidence, coming into Tadasana physically will help your mind and emotions feel it.

Don’t save this for the class or even for your mat. Tadasana can be practised virtually anywhere… cooking, brushing teeth, waiting in line and showering are all moments where we are already standing and we can bring ourselves into Tadasana. You could also look for opportunities to stop and stand where usually we would keep going; as we close the front door behind us, reaching the bottom of the staircase and walking from one place to the next.

Introducing those few seconds where we stop and feel our feet, feel ourselves in our body standing tall, breathing deeply, can reset our body and mind; creating a foundation for the next step we take.

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