Soarvalley febmar15 issuu

Priceless

Issue 35 Feb/March 2015

Your award winning

SOUTH EDITION

30,000 magazines

Deliveries this month to: Barrow upon Soar Mountsorrel Cossington Seagrave Sileby Quorn rothley Cropston Thurcaston Swithland Deliveries next month to Soar valley North: Loughborough Nanpantan Sutton Bonington Long whatton The wolds, Zouch, Hoton Cotes, Hathern Prestwold Normanton Stanford wymeswold and rempstone plus high footfall retail outlets throughout Charnwood

EvErY TwO MONTHS

Cook

Peppered rib Eye Steaks with red wine Glaze

walk

Burrough Hill Country Park

what’s On

In and around the Soar valley

win

GCr First Class Dining Experience for two

“Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight...”

www.soarvalleylife.co.uk

Copy deadline for March Tuesday 24th February

BRAND NEW

®

5,000 square feet Gym NO JOINING FEE

£26.00 per month

fully inclusive membership with unlimited use -

NO CONTRACT

on first floor Barrow Road Business Park Next door to Costcutters

State of the art showers and changing rooms Customer car park

Large cardio vascular equipment studio separate weights studio with more than 20 individual stations.

FREE INDUCTION SESSIONS

See Page 44 for article about Physfit’s move to larger premises

Best equipped gym in the Soar Valley Barrow Road, Sileby LE12 7LP

0773 338 5187

9 til 9 Mon to Thurs, 9 – 7 Fri, 10 – 6 Sat, 10 – 1 Sun physfitgyms@hotmail.com © SVL

www.physfitgyms.co.uk

Soar valley Life Contents

Editors Steve & Mary Johns Photography Bill Allsopp See page 62 Advertising Steve Johns Marketing & Distribution Chris Easom

HOw to ADvErTISE:

Nicky Morgan column Page 12

See page 6 & 7

Telephone 01509 813125 Email enquiries Advertising info@soarvalleylife.co.uk Editorial editor@soarvalleylife.co.uk Web www.soarvalleylife.co.uk Facebook www.facebook.com/ SoarvalleyLife Address 1 Burton road, Sileby LE12 7rU Copyright © Fantastic State Limited trading as Soar Valley Life. The Publisher reserves and controls all rights to the work presented in this magazine. Any application for any use of any of the work, features, advertisements, quotations, photographs, images or other work within this publication must be made directly to the publisher. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Front Cover Photo: © Russ Hamer www.flickr.com/ photos/ russ_hamer “Sunset over Three Counties” Taken from the Soar Bridge Kegworth, Leicestershire 14th November 2008 Kodak Z740 Camera

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Page 15

Planets, Sun, Moon & Meteors Page 28

walking Burrough Hill Page 54

For the over 50s At Loughborough University

Life Coaching with NLP Page 50

Snowdrops 9 Quiz – The Internet 11 Nicky Morgan MP 12 Matthew O’Callaghan, Labour Party Candidate 13 Quick Crossword 15 Stamp Duty Reform 17 Do you deserve a pat on the back?

19 Recipe: Peppered Rib Eye Steaks with Red Wine Glaze 20 Diets Don’t Work 25 Where to Find Us 26 Remember Rice – Rest and ice 27 Everything Under the Sun 28 A Deliciously Different Dream 31 Again the Grass Grows 32 Shouting at the Television 34 New Lenses that Protect your Eyes35 Take a Look at Vision 37 Are you drinking enough?

39 Inspired 39 Life Proof Flooring 40 Resolutions 43 Bigger Better Fitter Stronger 44 Blood Spots 45 And Another Thing – Data Protection 46 Spot the Difference 48 Henry Hedghog’s Puzzle Page 49 Life Coaching for the Over 50s 50 Self Assessment 51 Easy Sudoku 52 Walking – Burrough Hill Country Park 54 The Art and Science of a Beautiful Smile 55 Win a Meal for Two on the GCR 57 Competition Winners 59 What’s On 60 Conveying Movement in Still Pictures 62 Solutions to Puzzles 62

All advertisers appear in our online business directory with a link to their own website – go to www.soarvalleylife.co.uk

Labour Candidate Matthew O’Callaghan Column Page 13

recipe

Peppered rib Eye Steaks with red wine Glaze Page 20

win a meal for two on a GCr First Class Diner Page 57

Bigger, Better, Fitter, Stronger Physfit Gym opens new 5,000 feet facility in Sileby Page 44

Soar Valley Life Different Perspec ves

Valentines S.O.S

12th & 13th February

Fed up with flowers from the petrol station?

We'll be offering free coffee and shopping advice to all baffled boyfriends, frantic fiance's and hopeless husbands. Don't be a Valentine's victim this year!

Free Teas for Mothering Sunday

12th - 15th March

Bring Mum in for a browse and we'll treat her to a free pot of tea!

Easter Egg Hunt

3rd - 6th April

See how many Easter eggs you can spot in our garden, win yummy Easter eggs and drive a special Easter Train on our Garden Railway.

Full details on our website www.suttonboningtongallery.com Open Thursdays - Sundays 11am - 5pm Image © Ruth Gray 2014

A er Christmas we got back to work to an appointment with the secretary of Rushcliffe Golf club ‐ page 14.

As a boy, my Grandparents’ land at Gotham bordered onto this golf course and my brother, cousins and I o en strayed through the hedgerows only to be chased off by angry golfers.

Ever since, I’ve subconsciously thought of this land as out of bounds and I’d never seen my childhood world from this view point. The view is amazing, especially to me knowing the area so well from the other side and now seeing everything anew.

A few days later we got a call from Laurent Gerbert, of Delice Deli Café on Baxter Gate in Loughborough ‐ page 31. A er l le the corporate world in 2007, I enrolled on a part me course at Loughborough University, and in my 50s became a student again. I began to see life from a gentler perspec ve, travelling by bus and catching the No 2 back home from outside what is now the Delice Café. Back then it was empty, sad and unloved. Looking out now from the Café in 2015, drinking tea and reading an old reprinted Loughborough newspaper dated 1941, I wondered again about seeing the world differently; from the angle of local folk in 1941 and from inside the Café to outside where I used to wait for the bus with one of my fellow students.

The following week I was in Su on Bonington, up the hill and past the college. There’s a fantas c view of the Ratcliffe on Soar Power Sta on from there, with it’s majes c cooling towers and cloud‐high steam rising ever upwards into the blue. I hadn’t no ced this view before and it took on a grandeur that somehow emphasised its importance to our region.

And, my final perspec ve, for this short piece, was seeing the world from the viewpoint of one of our compe tors. Looking out of the windows of Physfit’s new Gym on Barrow Road I realised that the Rural Trader had worked here for many years…

Oh, yes, and we now have our Labour candidate with us for another different view ‐ page 13

Steve & Mary Johns

Like us on facebook to further promote your business www.facebook.com/SoarValleyLife

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Soar Valley Life Trades and Services Arts and Cra s Loughborough University Arts Manor An ques The Gallery ‐ Su on Bonington Building and Roofing Charnwood Oaks Roofing & Building Hassall & Son Ltd SR Roofing Solu ons Child Care and Educa on Grace Dieu Manor School Lion Learners Educa onal Experiences Rothley Park Kindergarten Clothing and Accessories Pixie Footwear We Care Clothing Courier Services MyParcelShop.Com Food, Drink and Venues Delice Fine Foods Ltd The Free Trade Inn The Restaurant at The Mountsorrel The Waterside Inn The White Horse Inn Garden A 2 Z Cleaning Services Canopy Tree Services Charnwood Tree Services

30 50 5 27 31 50 64 47 48 58 35 56 31 10 42 19 38 8 10 8

Claire Jones Gardens Green Thumb Lawn Treatment Service Harrison Landscaping Hair Stylists Dignified Hair Design Health Care Ac vity 4all Cancer Self Help Group Loughborough Charnwood Hearing Aid Centre Clare Satchell Reflexology Gareth Hudson – Foot Health Professional Gorse Covert Dental Prac ce Ltd LighterLife Mind Body Movement Pennie Blatchford ‐ Advanced Electrolysis Reed Wellbeing ‐ Complementary Health Visual Answers Op cians / Optometrists Walk‐in Physio Ltd Home A 2 Z Cleaning Services Absolute Window Solu ons Ltd Acacia Curtains and Blinds Ancient & Modern Furniture Restora on Aquafit Bathrooms B.G.I.S. Ltd Bishop's Appliance Care Blacks Plumbers & Property Maintenance Bunny Appliance Warehouse

9 33 9 25 27 39 27 30 25 55 25 56 45 39 35 11 8 36 37 56 30 43 14 58 21

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All prices subject to VAT and based on a six month booking (1 month booking is possible) Full details of all ra Page 6

All adver sers appear in our online business directory with a link to their own website – go to www.soarvalleylife.co.uk

Capable Caroline Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Carpets of Choice C J Hodgkins Ltd ‐ Aga Technician Custom Conservatories & Windows DCI Kitchens Delta Aerials Digital.R.Us Ltd Fab Plumbing Hollydan Plumbing & Hea ng KR Electrical LockXpert & Security Louis Bespoke Kitchens Ocean Designs Conservatory Furniture Richard Watson Painter and Decorator Robert Newbold & Sons Ltd SJS Professional Carpet Cleaner SJS Leather Cleaning and Restora on Soar Valley Aerials The Oven Cleaning Company The Soot Buster Whelband Windows Woodburner Workshop Home Care Services Absolute Care Agency Motoring Arnchem Motorhome & Caravan Vale ng Just Kia Car Hire

56 45 24 59 52 59 52 44 52 12 56 18 53 37 11 41 18 52 12 45 14 63 15 34 13 13

LCC Park and Ride Loughborough Kia Twiggers Motorcycles Ltd Pet Care Petstay Dog Si ng Service Posh Dogs Canine Grooming Woodside Animal Centre Professional Services Baker & Co Accountants Bill Allsopp Photography CP Accountancy Ltd Crea ve io Garre ‐Long Solicitors Life Coaching with NLP Moss Solicitors Sterling Law Solicitors Residen al Care The Abbeyfield Sports and Leisure Cyclops Cycles Great Central Railway Physfit Gyms Rushcliffe Golf Club U li es The U lity Warehouse Discount Club UK Gas Services Ltd Wholesalers Costco Leicester

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ate op ons can be found at www.soarvalleylife.co.uk - Email editor@soarvalleylife.co.uk Call 01509 813125

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Page 7

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Page 8

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Snowdrops No one could fail to love the charm of this late winter beauty and it has long been treasured and cul vated as a result…

The La n name for the common Snowdrop is Galanthus nivalis, Galanthus means ‘with milk white flowers’ and nivalis means ‘snowy’. They enjoy a moist soil where in me they will mul ply into dri s.

Unlike other bulbs that are planted dry, Snowdrops are best planted ‘in the green’ just a er flowering, these are readily available by mail order or alterna vely you can divide exis ng colonies when the foliage is just dying back in the spring.

Tradi onally Snowdrops are seen to herald the end of winter ‐ that may be a bit ambi ous but they are certainly an assurance that the brighter days of spring are not far off!

Claire Jones

THE FREE TRADE INN

Leicestershire Northants & Rutland pub of the year 2014 Live Music Monthly

6 Real Ales, Real Ciders and Real Perry always available

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Dog friendly

Traditional pub games: Darts, Cribbage, Dominoes REGULAR PUB QUIZ NIGHTS

© SVL

16TH CENTURY thatched roof village pub

27 Cossington Road, Sileby, Leicestershire. LE12 7RW

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Felling, pruning, hedge cutting, planting, stump grinding to BS3998 Tree hazard surveys, mortgage reports and BS5837 surveys undertaken

FREE QUOTES - FULLY INSURED AND QUALIFIED Trading since 2004

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Page 10

All adver sers appear in our online business directory with a link to their own website – go to www.soarvalleylife.co.uk

© SVL

Quiz - The Internet 1.

Inspired by a Monty Python sketch, what term is used to refer to unsolicited email that is normally sent in bulk?

2. What colour is the le er “e” in the eBay logo?

3. In 2012, the music video for which song became the first YouTube video to achieve one billion views?

4. Named by removing the le er “v” from a word that means “a collec on of historical documents or records providing informa on about a place, ins tu on, or group of people”, what was the first ever internet search engine?

5. The 2010 film The Social Network is centred around which website?

6. What does “AFK” normally stand for when used in an internet chat room?

7. Who invented the world wide web and, in 2004, who was knighted “for services to the global development of the internet”?

8. What name is given to a file that a website sends to your computer to store informa on such as your user name, personalised se ngs or shopping cart contents, and that can be used when you return to that website to present you with custom content?

9. In 2013, Martha Lane Fox became the youngest female member of the House of Lords. Which website is she best known for founding in 1998?

Answers on page 62 10. Increasing difficult to find, what is a Googlewhack?

Richard Watson Professional Painter and Decorator from internal to external

Thirty years experience in the trade - Sileby based

Better value by far! • Free Estimates • No VAT For a full personal service call

T: 01509 815753 M: 07880 754011

For appointments call or text: Physiotherapy & Acupuncture

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Page 11

Nicky Morgan MP

I would like to wish you and your family and loved ones all the very best for a happy, healthy and successful 2015 It was a huge pleasure to drop in to Loughborough Rugby Club one Sunday recently as well as joining the Pa ent Par cipa on Group at Rosebery Medical Centre for one of their mee ngs. I also opened the Local Policing Conference held at Holywell Park and joined the Mayor and Mayoress and Polish Ambassador for the opening of the Polish Heritage exhibi on at John Storer House.

I enjoyed a wonderful performance of Yeoman of the Guard by the Christchurch Gilbert & Sullivan Society at Hind Leys, Shepshed and a fabulous concert at All Saints in Loughborough organised to mark the re‐posi oning of the War Memorials at the Church. I have also had the pleasure of visi ng various primary schools including Cobden, Outwoods Edge and St Winefride’s and Ashmount Special School too.

I know that planning applica ons con nue to be a major concern locally, par cularly the Charnwood plans commi ee mee ng in which many applica ons were to be considered at the same me. I did contact the Secretary of State for Communi es and Local Government before the mee ng to ask him to “call‐in” the Shepshed and Barrow upon Soar applica ons. If he agreed this would mean that if they were approved by the commi ee he could then decide on them rather than the commi ee.

One applica on will be determined by the Secretary of State anyway because it has not been determined by the council in the me allowed, three were refused by the commi ee and, at the me of wri ng, I am wai ng to hear his decision on the other three.

As a en on now turns to 2015 and New Year’s Resolu ons I con nue to work on a community mental health café hub in Loughborough with a great team of volunteers and look forward to welcoming a new vicar at the town’s Parish Church, All Saints, in the Spring.

If you live in the Loughborough cons tuency and need assistance please e‐mail me nicky.morgan.mp@parliament.uk or call 01509 262723 or you can write to me at or visit my office at 3/3a No ngham Road, Loughborough LE11 1ER.

Page 12

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Anything of interest you’d like to see in the next issue?

Call 01509 813 125 or email editor@soarvalleylife.co.uk

567337

Ma hew O’Callaghan – Labour Parliamentary Candidate I’m about as local as you can get. I went to school in Ashby, worked for Fisons in Loughborough and lived in Wymeswold.

A leaflet called ‘My Plan for Sileby’ was recently distributed in Sileby. Another with exactly the same wording (apart from the word ‘Barrow’) was then distributed in Barrow. Similar leaflets have been circulated in other villages in the area.

No two villages are the same; the problems in Sileby are dis nct from those of Barrow and elsewhere. My latest canvassing in Sileby before Christmas and in January raised issues not addressed by those leaflets; flooding, lack of provision for young people, conges on and parking, policing, poten al loss of the library, schooling, buses, shopping, local jobs, the GP surgery and access to health care, too many new houses and li le contribu on to infrastructure etc.

That’s why for the last three and a half years I have been knocking on doors in Loughborough, Shepshed and the villages to find out the real issues that affect local people. I’ll have spoken to around 10,000 by the me of the General Elec on. What does impress me is how much ac vity goes on in our villages – the whole range of community groups and socie es that relies on volunteers – the unsung heroes of village life. I helped out on a stall during the Barrow Christmas Street Market and decorated a tree for the tree fes val in the Church. It was wonderful to see the whole range of ac vi es represented in the street stalls and trees on display in the village.

I’ve recently been involved in inquiry into the Core Strategy, the Council’s plan for where all future housing and development should go in the Borough, arguing for example how it is important to keep the separa on between Quorn and Loughborough and to ensure that Mountsorrel retains its own iden ty. An issue that will affect both these villages is the proposal to expand the ac vi es of the local quarry unfortunately not discussed in the inquiry.

If you want to raise your own issues with me call 07894 229499, email ma hewocall@gmail.com or write to 21 Fennel Street, Loughborough. LE11 1UQ www.ma hewocallaghan.co.uk

Adver se in Soar Valley Life from £31 per month plus VAT – See page 5

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RUSHCLIFFE GOLF CLUB SPECIAL SPRING OFFER:

Limited Membership Offer for New Playing Members

Join from 1st March and receive 13 months membership for the price of 12

One free lesson with a professional • Free social membership for your partner Junior membership incentives also available Contact Colin Bee, Golf Club Manager on 01509 852 959 Email: secretary@rushcliffegolfclub.co.uk Stocking Lane, East Leake, LE12 5RL www.rushcliffegolfclub.co.uk

© SVL

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Page 14

Registered Stove Installer

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Feature your business in Soar Valley Life – contact steve@soarvalleylife.co.uk

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Just 2 minutes from J20 on the M1, our Lutterworth showroom has over 40 fires on display including 2 live Clearviews and 4 beautiful DRU gas fires

We have the entire range of MORSO stoves in stock Cut out our logo to receive 10% off all MORSO products

Agents for Clearview, MORSO, Aarrow, DRU, Hunter and many more leading brands.

Please quote Soar Valley Life when replying to us

Telephone: 01455 552552 email: info@woodburnerworkshop.co.uk www.woodburnerworkshop.co.uk 31 Market St, Lutterworth, Leicestershire LE17 4EJ

Open Monday to Saturday 9am – 5pm • Large car park to the rear of our showroom

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Page 15

Quick, hassle free travel to Leicester city centre

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Stamp Duty Reform According to George Osborne, Stamp Duty Land Tax, or SDLT, has now been cut for 98% of people who pay it...

Since 4 December, those buying a home for less than £937,500 will pay less stamp duty, or the same. For a number of years it has been shown that those with proper es worth over £250,000 (for example) have been penalised by the Stamp Duty system where stamp duty increased from just 1% to 3%.

The new rules are much fairer and this should encourage many homeowners in the £250,000 ‐ £285,000 bracket to put their proper es on the market for

their true value thus helping to bolster the housing market.

Under the old rules, a purchase at £185,000 would have resulted in duty of £1,850 (1%).

Now for the same property, nothing is payable on the first £125,000 and 2% is payable on the remaining £60,000 i.e. £1200 resul ng in a saving of £650.

An average family home purchased for £275,000 under the old rules would have resulted in SDLT of £7,250. The effec ve tax rate under the new rules means SDLT due of £3,750 resul ng in a saving of £4,500.

Now, a er a reform of the system, rates are payable on that part of the purchase price falling within each band: 0% on the first £125,000, then 2% on the por on up to £250,000, then 5% up to £925,000, then 10% up to £1.5m, and 12% on anything above that.

We would like to advise our customers that Moss Solicitors’ quotes were updated immediately following the change to take effect of the new rates. If you wish to discuss selling or purchasing, please contact a member of our Residen al Conveyancing Department on 01509 217770.

MOSS SOLICITORS LLP Twice awarded Leicestershire Law Society County Law Firm of the Year 80-81 Woodgate, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 2XE

01509 217770 and Whitwick Business Centre, Stenson Road, Coalville, Leicestershire LE67 4JP

01530 815747

www.moss-solicitors.co.uk Adver se in Soar Valley Life from £31 per month plus VAT – See page 5

Page 17

RAPID RESPONSE

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Page 18

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Do you deserve a pat on the back?

Well done to all of you who submi ed your 2013/14 Self Assessment income tax return by the 31 January deadline; just sit back and enjoy that feeling of the weight being li ed off your shoulders.

To those of you who s ll haven’t submi ed their return, you really do need to act now! If you missed the deadline then you will have already incurred a £100 penalty together with interest charges on any outstanding tax due. I would strongly advise you take ac on now to prevent further penal es and interest being charged. If your tax return is s ll outstanding on 1 May 2015 you will be charged a penalty of £10 per day up to a maximum of £900 and the penal es will con nue to increase un l you file your return. This is in addi on to interest charges being added daily to any outstanding tax payable.

If you are having difficul es preparing your tax return yourself please don’t bury your head in the sand, speak to an accountant who will be more than happy to help you.

Caroline Dinsmore

CP Accountancy Ltd End of year accounts, Bookkeeping, VAT, PAYE, CIS, and Tax Returns for Sole-traders, Partnerships and small Limited Companies Office 9 Lazarus Court, Woodgate Rothley, Leicestershire LE7 7NR Tel: 01162 303 973 Mobile: 07749 650129 Email: info@cpaccountancyltd.co.uk

Caroline Dinsmore is licensed and regulated by the AAT under license number 5865

THE

WAT E R S I D E INN

Great Food, Great Beer, Great Company

New for 2015 The Friday Social – Meat Raffle, complimentary nibbles, Prosecco by the glass 5pm til 7.45 pm Tuesday Steak nights – E.g. 2 sirloins and a bottle of Merlot £27.99 Pub opening times Monday to Friday 11am til 3pm and 5pm til close Saturday and Sunday 11am til close Food served Monday to Friday noon til 2.30pm and 6pm til 8.30pm Saturday 12 til 3 and 5 til 9 Sunday noon til 4pm

© SVL

Right on the River Soar.

Sileby Road, Mountsorrel LE12 7BB 0116 230 2758 www.watersidemountsorrel.co.uk Email: food@thewatersidemountsorrel.com

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Page 19

Recipe This month’s recipe sponsored by

Bunny Appliance Warehouse

Peppered

Rib Eye Steaks with Red Wine Glaze

Serves 2 Ready in 20 minutes

Treat the one you love to succulent pan-fried steak with a luxurious sweet red wine sauce.

1

Cook the baby new potatoes in a pan of lightly salted water for 10‐15 minutes un l just tender.

2

Meanwhile, crush the peppercorns coarsely using a pestle and mortar or the end of a rolling pin. Press firmly over both sides of the steaks. Set a griddle pan over a medium heat to preheat.

3

Brush both sides of the steaks with oil. Place the steaks on the hot griddle pan and cook over a high heat for 1 minute on each side un l seared. Reduce the heat and con nue cooking for a further 2‐4 minutes on each side un l the steaks are cooked to your liking.

Remove the steaks and cover and leave to rest for 2‐3 minutes.

4

5

Tip

Place the redcurrant jelly and red wine in a small pan and heat gently un l the jelly has completely dissolved. S r in the cornflour mixture and simmer for a further minute un l slightly syrupy.

Drain the potatoes, toss with the bu er and parsley and season to taste. Transfer the steaks to warmed plates and spoon over the sauce. Serve with the potatoes and steamed vegetables.

Sirloin, fillet or rump steak can be used in place of the rib eye. Make sure both steaks are an even thickness and always bring the steaks to room temperature for about 15 minutes before cooking. Res ng the steaks for a few minutes a er cooking will also help to ensure they are mel ngly tender.

Page 20

Ingredients: • 150g baby new potatoes • 2 tsp black peppercorns • 2 x 250g rib eye steaks, trimmed of excess fat • 2 tsp olive oil • 3 tbsp redcurrant jelly • 3 tbsp red wine • 1 tsp cornflour blended with 1tbsp cold water • 15g bu er • 2 tsp fresh chopped parsley • Steamed baby carrots, mange tout and peas, to serve

Recipe sponsored by Bunny Appliance Warehouse See their full range of fabulous cooking appliances at www.appliancecity.co.uk

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Diets Just Don’t Work Why don’t they? Because they fixate on weight loss and achieving your “goal weight” as being the most important thing and that once you reach that magical “goal weight” you’ve finished...

At LighterLife we see this as just the start. Any reduc on in calorie intake will enable you to lose weight; it is what happens once you’ve lost it that is important. At LighterLife we help you lose the weight swi ly and then, together with counselling, educa on on nutri on and how to keep a balanced intake of food, we aim to help you keep the weight off. It’s not magic – it’s about you working with us to get the long term result you want. To find out more, book a free, no obliga on to join, mee ng with me, Debbie Ford.

Call 01509 234433 or email debbie.ford@lighterlifecounsellor.com Or text 07860 017700 (text only, not a mobile phone)

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Adver se in Soar Valley Life from £31 per month plus VAT – See page 5

Page 25

Loughborough

Specialist Dementia care home The Abbeyfield Society offers a range of care and support solutions which reflect the changing expectations of older people; that we all deserve to enjoy our later years and get the most out of life - whatever our individual circumstances.

As a not for profit organisation we welcome the support of volunteers especially in the following areas: Gardening, Befriending, Craft workshops/demonstrations, Baking, Flower arranging, Christmas Decorations, Fundraising, manning our Christmas Market stall

The Abbeyfield Loughborough Society, 44 Westfield Drive, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3QL 01509 266605 www.abbeyfieldloughborough.co.uk

Soar Valley Life is now available at the following outlets

Please take one

If you don’t get one delivered through your door, because you’re just outside our main delivery area, you can now pick up a copy from one of the following retailers:

Anstey

Charnwood Hearing Aid Centre 5 Stadon Road, Anstey LE7 7A Roy Green Estate Agent First Floor 15 The Nook, Anstey LE7 7AZ Flower Potz Florist 19 The Nook Anstey LE7 7AZ Keith Smith (Anstey) Ltd 4 ‐ 6 ‐ 8 Stadon Road, Anstey LE7 7AY

Thurmaston

Costco 3 Westmoreland Avenue, Thurmaston, LE4 8PH

Syston

George Walkers Timber merchants Fosseway Sawmills, Syston LE7 1NH The Wedding Café 8a High Street, Syston LE7 1GP Cyclops cycle shop 1120 Melton Road, Syston LE7 2HA

Page 26

Sileby

The Free Trade Inn 27 Cossington Road, Sileby, LE12 7RW

Loughborough

Tesco Extra Park Road, Shelthorpe ‐ Loughborough LE11 2EX Great Central Railway Sta ons: Great Central Road, Loughborough LE11 1SL Quorn Sta on LE12 8AW Rothley LE7 7LD Leicester North LE4 3BR Gorse Covert Dental Prac ce 34 Maxwell Drive, Gorse Covert Loughborough LE11 4RZ

Su on Bonington

The Gallery 119 Main Street, Su on Bonington LE12 5PE

Shepshed

Low Woods Furnishings 125 Low Woods Lane, Belton LE12 9TR Newbold Flooring 15 Market Place, Shepshed LE12 9RT Jays Self Drive Ashby Road, Shepshed, LE12 9EE

East Leake No s

Rushcliffe Golf Club Stocking Lane, East Leake, LE12 5RL

Bunny, No nghamshire

Bunny Appliance Warehouse Bunny NG11 6QJ

No ngham

John A Stephens Ltd. Castle Meadow Road No ngham NG2 1AG

Feature your business in Soar Valley Life – contact steve@soarvalleylife.co.uk

Remember ‘Rice’ – Rest and ice Sports injuries, strains, sprains and even flare ups of arthri c joints o en respond well to self care by res ng the injured muscle or joint whilst using ice to keep swelling to a minimum.

A firm support bandage can reduce swelling but shouldn't cause bulging above or below the bandage; if this happens it is too ght and should be removed.

Keep the injured part elevated; an ankle should be propped higher than the knee and hip and a hand supported up to the shoulder. Also keep moving the joint gently with pain free movement.

People o en ask if it's ice or heat they should use. The general rule is to use ice (if tolerated) for the first 72 hours or if the area feels hot and inflamed. A er that, or for more chronic injuries, heat can help reduce muscle spasm and give more relief.

If within five to seven days things are not returning to normal, you may require an assessment to see if any hands on treatment or exercises are needed.

Some mes an injury gets stuck during the healing process and the sooner it is assessed the be er.

Claire Lidstone

Charnwood Hearing Aid Centre Ltd Lynne Leeming, MSc RHAD MSHAA

Your local hearing specialist 5 Stadon Road, Anstey Leicester, LE7 7AY Existing hearing aid users welcome Hearing protection for both children and adults Friendly and professional service

Telephone: 0116 236 6633 Email: charnwoodhearing@btconnect.com www.charnwoodhearing.co.uk

For people who care about their hearing Mon, Tue, Thu & Fri 9.30am - 4.30pm Wed & Sat 9.30am - 12.30pm

Feature your business in Soar Valley Life – contact steve@soarvalleylife.co.uk

Page 27

Everything under the sun ...and then some!

Sunrise & Sunset mes and Phases of the Moon Date

Sun Rise

Sun Set

Hours of Daylight

09‐Feb ‐15

07:33

17:05

9h 31m 29s

16‐Feb‐15

07:20

17:18

9h 58m 27s

23‐Feb‐15

07:05

17:33

10h 26m 18s

02‐Mar‐15

06:50

17:45

10h 54m 44s

09‐Mar‐15

06:34

17:57

11h 23m 29s

16‐Mar‐15

06:18

18:10

11h 52m 25s

23‐Mar‐15

06:01

18:22

12h 21m 24s

Note: hours shi because clocks change forward 1 hour 30‐Mar‐15 Date

06:44

Moonrise Moonset

19:33

12h 50m 17s

Phase

12‐Feb‐15

01:21

10:49

Last Quarter @03:50

18‐Feb‐15

06:35

17:06

New Moon @23:47

25‐Feb‐15

10:20

00:59

First Quarter @17:14

05‐Mar‐15

17:52

06:22

Full Moon @ 18:05

13‐Mar‐15

01:15

10:12

Last Quarter @ 17.:48

20‐Mar‐15

06:04

18:43

New Moon @ 09:36

27‐Mar‐15

10:40

01:42

First Quarter @ 07:42

Note: Clocks change forward 1 hour on 28th March

The Planets February: Jupiter is resplendent all night long between Cancer and Leo at Mag ‐ 2.3 domina ng the night sky as it comes its closest to Earth this year on February 6th. But even more brilliant is Venus at mag ‐ 3.8 and is steaming upwards in the evening twilight, se ng some 3 hours a er the Sun. Mars has a tryst with Venus on 21st & 22nd of this month as they have a brief encounter as our two closest neighbours pass within 1 degree of each other. Mars at mag + 1.2 is a hundred mes fainter than Venus.

March: s ll ruling the evening sky Venus is blazing at ‐ 3.9 slipping away

© SVL

Meteor Showers

Debris from long ago...

Major Meteor Showers in 2015

LYRIDS 22 - 23 APRIL Radia ng from the constella on of Lyra, peaking on St George’s day but only at about 20 to 30 per hour.

ETA AQUARIDS 5 - 6 - 7 MAY This debris is le over from Halley’s comet and falls to earth at the rate of between 20 and 60 par cles per hour. Alas the full moon again hampers good viewing.

PERSEIDS 12 - 13 AUGUST Perseus fires these to earth at a rate of 60 to 80 per hour and some years gives rise to spectacular displays.

Comet Swi ‐ Tu le le these behind.

ORIONIDS 22 OCTOBER Halley’s 2nd disposal of the year as we pass through the other side of the comets orbit. This me it’s a shallower trajectory and gives rise to only 10 to 20 per hour.

LEONIDS 18 NOVEMBER Here’s another Tu le found comet appearing from the constella on of Leo at 10 to 20 per hour GEMINIDS 14 DECEMBER Saving the best un l last these meteors from Gemini average about 100 an hour. This debris once belonged to an asteroid that circles the Sun every 3.3 years. Its name is 3200 Phaethon and was discovered by astronomers in 1983. Think about this for a moment.

We pass exactly where a billion tons or more of rock and ice speeds by every three years and four months!

at 8.30pm at the beginning of March but staying up un l 11pm by the month’s end. Mars at ‐ 1.3 lies just below Venus in Pisces and sets just a er 8pm.

Jupiter is visible all night long and outshines all the stars at magnitude ‐ 2.3. The solar system’s largest planet can be found in the constella on of Cancer. With binoculars held steady (on a tripod) you can observe Jupiter's 4 largest moons ‐ Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. First seen by Gallilo in 1610. You’ll have to wait up un l a er 1am to get a glimpse of Saturn, which rises in the South‐East at magnitude + 0.5 in Scorpius. Mercury

is now lost in the Sun’s glare but reappears in April at a splendid ‐ 1.1.

April: Venus is speeding upwards through Taurus, passing the Pleiades (Seven Sisters) on 11th April. The Evening Star grows steadily brighter to reach mag ‐ 4.0 by the end of April, when it’s se ng a er midnight.

Jupiter is pu ng on a rival show in the south although fainter at mag ‐ 2.1.

Mars slips away at dusk and is gone by April’s end. Mercury is at mag ‐ 1.1 by 22nd of the month and is easy to spot next to Pleiades by the 30th. Saturn rises at 11.30 pm and is the brightest object (pale yellow) in the constella on of Scorpius.

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LU ARTS Fred Pearce: The Landgrabbers

Tuesday 10 February 5:45pm LU Arts project space Free event, booking required

Endellion String Quartet Wednesday 18 February 7.30pm Martin Hall Theatre £12 / £10 Conc / £5 Students

Tom Kitching

Wednesday 18 March 1:15pm Cope Auditorium Free lunchtime concert

NT Live – Behind the Beautiful Forevers Thursday 12 March 7:00pm Cope Auditorium – £10

Lisa Knapp & band PROFESSIONAL REFLEXOLOGY

Wednesday 25 March 7:30pm Martin Hall Theatre £10/£8 conc./£5 students

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New display NOW OPEN at NS Heating & Plumbing, Vulcan Way, Hermitage Ind Est Coalville LE67 3FW

Page 30

Anything of interest you’d like to see in the next issue?

Call 01509 813 125 or email editor@soarvalleylife.co.uk

A Deliciously Different Dream So, this was the dream: To own a deli, selling good quality local produce and the finest imported foods from across Europe and a chill-out café where people could drop in to drink coffee, read newspapers, watch the world go by or tuck into a reasonably priced lunch cooked by himself - Laurent, the resident French chef…

With 30 minutes to kill at a li le a er 1 pm, I found myself outside the Delice Deli Café on Baxter Gate, Loughborough. It was almost full, but not crowded.

Amidst a happy buzz of cha er I sat down at the last available table and began to read a broadsheet ‐ yes, there’s room enough for that.

My bague e arrived in minutes. So in the middle, slightly crunchy on the surface, with succulent ham and delicious freshly made coleslaw and salad, my lunch had that ‐ should I say ‐ je ne sais quoi?

Complete with a cup of English Breakfast tea. Perfect.

My dream? A Soar Valley Life networking group in a venue with a difference. Laurent showed me Delice Deli’s upstairs func on room.

“Will this do?” he asked.

“That’ll do nicely!” Watch this space...

Fine French & local foods, charcuterie, artisan cheese, oils & olives, local honey & beer, homemade gluten-free bread and French specialities like raclette.

Private function room available.

Hampers, cheese and pork pie wedding cakes.

Home cooked meats and pates.

Delice Deli & Cafe, 7 & 8 Baxter Gate Loughborough LE11 1TG

t: 01509 210013

e: info@delicefinefoods.co.uk www.facebook.com/DeliceDeliCafe @delicefinefoods www.delicefinefoods.co.uk Mon-Fri: 08:30 - 17:00 • Sat: 09:00 - 17:00

© SVL

HASSALL & SON LTD EST 1963 Building & Roofing Contractors

Tel Quorn 01509 412446

• Re-roofing • Slating & Tiling (Swithland slates) • House pointing & Chimney rebuilding • Guttering • Soffits & Fascias

• Extensions & Alterations • General building repairs • Small building work projects • Flat roof replacement Contact Chris Hassall

© SVL

Mobile: 0780 3135382

www.hassallandsonltd.co.uk Adver se in Soar Valley Life from £31 per month plus VAT – See page 5

Page 31

Again the Grass Grows Mar n and Michelle Williams have been running their award winning GreenThumb Lawn Service franchise for over 15 years...

They now have over 7,000 sa sfied customers and a team of highly trained and friendly opera ves who visit customers on a regular basis to apply seasonal treatments to their lawns.

Prices start from only £15 per treatment. New customers are surprised at how li le GreenThumb lawn treatments cost – o en less than trea ng the lawn themselves.

Many customers opt for lawn treatment packages, payable by monthly direct debit. These programmes offer greater service and flexibility which rivals are unable to provide.

The Bri sh weather will remain unpredictable, but what we can say for sure is that many lawns will be ready for some TLC come the Spring.

A er a Winter of mixed weather, lawns will soon start to look

A lush green lawn is a lot easier when you know how yellow, sparse and very mossy.

GreenThumb’s treatments provide the lush, green, weed‐ free lawn that you have always wanted.

• When the grass growing season is properly underway, mow the lawn at least once an week.

Spring Lawn Care Tips:

• NEVER cut the grass shorter than one inch.

• Make sure that your mower has been serviced and that the blades are sharp.

• Apply a Spring blend, nitrogen rich feed to the lawns.

• When you give your lawn the first cut of the season aim to remove only the top third of growth. Remove too much all in one go and the grass will look very yellow.

• Spray weeds with a product which is recommended for use on grass – some weed killers will get rid of everything – including your lawn!

If you would like GreenThumb to take care of feeding, weeding and moss control for you, then why not contact them for a no obliga on, FREE lawn analysis?

Phone: 0116 269 4019 Freefone 0800 0111 222 Email: leicswest@greenthumb.co.uk Facebook: GreenThumb Leicestershire West

Mar n and Michelle Williams ­ GreenThumb franchisees for West Leicestershire Check out the website: www.greenthumb.co.uk

Page 32

Feature your business in Soar Valley Life – contact steve@soarvalleylife.co.uk

Shou ng at the Television I don’t usually do this but watching EastEnders lately I find myself ge ng increasingly frustrated at the plight of Patrick and Denise...

FREE,

no obligation homecare needs assessment in your own home

Patrick is partly paralysed a er a stroke and Denise has been struggling to cope with looking a er him. She is now so exhausted that there is talk of Patrick going into a residen al home.

Okay, I know EastEnders is just a soap opera but the storyline has frustrated me so much that it’s had me shou ng at the TV: “Denise, why aren’t you ge ng any help at home? You really don’t need to be struggling alone!”

It’s easy for me to shout because I know what help is out there and more importantly I know how to access that help. I own and run a company that provides excellent care for people just like Patrick. Help and support which would probably ensure Patrick could remain at home.

EastEnders isn’t real, but there are lots of people who find themselves in very similar situa ons. If this is you, call me, Wendy Pears, or one of my team, and see if we can help: 01509 881 595

Find out how our local, family run Home Care Agency can help you

Meanwhile I’ll just keep shou ng at the TV!

KATHRYN DOWDING AT Full range of legal services provided including: • • • •

Wills and Probate Lasting Power of Attorney Divorce and Separation Buying and Selling Property

Free Home visits available • Free Initial Advice • Fixed Costs

Call

01509 410388

Email: kathryn@garrettlongsolicitors.co.uk © SVL

35-37 High Street, Barrow-upon-Soar, Leicestershire LE12 8PY

New Lenses that Protect your Eyes from the Blue-Light Threat of Digital Devices New US research shows that nearly 95% of us spend over 2 hours per day on digital devices. Evidence points to a link between exposure to blue light and macular degenera on and cataracts. Findings show people are vulnerable to exposure to dangerous blue-light from back-lit displays of smart phones, screens, LED and fluorescent lights and sunlight.

‘On average we look at our phones over 100 mes a day. 1 in 4 children use digital devices more than 3 hours a day, yet most of us are not aware how the constant use of technology impacts on eye comfort, headaches & even sleep quality,’ says Mohammed Bhojani, Optometrist at Visual Answers. ‘Fortunately, lens technology can now reduce eyestrain from digital devices. French research found these lenses block 20% of bad blue­light, reducing cell death at the back of the eyes by 25% preven ng premature eye ageing; they also affect sleep pa erns too.’

Blue‐light blocking lenses are now available at Visual Answers & cost an addi onal £70 per pair.

They also come with an ‐glare, UV protec on & 2 year an ‐scratch guarantee as standard.

For more informa on call Visual Answers on Quorn (01509) 414151 or Barrow (01509) 416800.

Show them you care, with unique clothing that’s both easy and fashionable Older people need clothing that’s easy and practical.

But they also want to look their best in clothes that are fashionable and up-to-date.

We Care Clothing, a new local businss, has a mission to supply clothing that helps the elderly be comfortable and look as young as they feel.

Our easy-to-use website lets you browse our collections for both ladies and gentlemen, whenever and wherever it suits you. Items can be sent to people in their own homes or wherever they are being cared for.

10% OFF

Visit our website at www.wecareclothing.com or call us on 01509 7321478 © SVL

Something you can do to help them to help themselves…

your first order when you quote Soar Valley Life.

Take a Look at Vision

A striking new blind for the modern home contemporary, stylish and prac cal best describes Vision blinds...

Two layers of translucent and opaque horizontal striped fabric create an open and closed effect, giving limitless light control.

Operated by a chain like a classic roller blind, the fabric rotates into a closed posi on for full privacy and allows varying amounts of light into the room in the open posi ons. When the blind is not in use it can be drawn up fully into its smart head rail casse e allowing uninterrupted views to the outside.

Vision comes in a selec on of contemporary greys, blacks and cool neutral shades.

To find out more, please give us a call for a home visit and a no obliga on quota on.

Acacia Curtains and Blinds, Tel 01509 821016

Adver se in Soar Valley Life from £31 per month plus VAT – See page 5

Page 37

Take Part in Something Amazing...

Duathlon Event Supporting Hope Against Cancer and Seagrave School

SUNDAY 1ST MARCH 2015 Details of event:

Entry: Individual entry non BTF £35.00.

Individual entry BTF Member £30.00.

Team Relay up to 3 members £65.00.

Registration opens 07:30 Group start 09:00 Prizes for 1st 2nd 3rd place Mens and Womens and overall.

Seagrave charity Duathlon, Sprint distance.

5k run/23k bike/5k run.

Undulating bike course along North Leicestershire’s Charnwood hills.

It’s a Charity event and all profits made after costs go to Hope Against Cancer and Seagrave School (for sports equipment).

Goody bag for all starters and finishers + T shirt.

Indoor changing area, toilets and refreshments.

Enter online at http://www.endurocharity.com

© SVL

The White Horse Inn, 6 Church Street, Seagrave, Leicestershire, LE12 7LT

01509 814715

£5.95 lunches!

What’s On At The White Horse?

Weds – Sat 12pm to 1.45pm

The White Horse is a great pub to visit all year round, whether you choose to enjoy the delightful views in our garden in the summer or relax by the fire with a newspaper during the winter.

Whenever you come to visit, you will always find friendly staff, excellent food and drink and a great atmosphere.

The Stables Shop

Selling a wide range of gifts, tea and coffee, homemade produce and everyday essentials.

Open Tuesdays-Fridays (3pm-6pm), Saturdays (10am-12pm & 3pm-6pm) and Sundays (10am-12pm)

The Stables Function Room

Available to hire for parties of up to 60 people (standing) or 30 (seated). Catering and bar also available.

Tuesdays, 6pm-8.45pm – £5.95 Menu

Choose from a range of fantastic £5.95 specials!

Wednesdays, 6pm-8.45pm – Double Deal Night

Enjoy two courses (main and dessert) for two people for just £16!

Thursdays, 6pm-8.45pm – Steak Night

Two rump steaks or specials with a bottle of house wine for just £27.50! Individual deal for just £14!

Fridays, 6pm-8.45pm – Normal Menu Choose from a wide range of delicious home-cooked meals and daily specials.

Saturdays, 6pm-8.45pm – Specials Night

Buy any two specials and a bottle of house wine for just £27.50!

Sundays, 12pm-2.15pm – Sunday Lunch

Enjoy a free bottle of house wine with your Sunday lunch for any table of 4 or more! (Must include at least 2 adults.)

The Stables Shop and Function Room at The White Horse are now open!

Visit www.whitehorseseagrave.co.uk for more details.

Page 38

Feature your business in Soar Valley Life – contact steve@soarvalleylife.co.uk

© SVL

Are you drinking enough?

Did you know that one of the first signs of dehydra on is feeling red or exhausted?

That’s right – not drinking enough water could be the reason your energy levels are low and you feel exhausted. Because our bodies are made up of mostly water, even small dips in H2O levels are enough to affect your metabolism. Other symptoms include dizziness or light‐headedness, headaches, dry mouth, lips, eyes and skin. If dehydra on is ongoing (chronic) it can affect your kidney func on and cause kidney stones to develop. It can also lead to liver, joint and muscle damage, cholesterol problems and cons pa on.

Stay hydrated by making sure you’re drinking enough water and other fluids throughout the day. The Ins tute of Medicine suggests about 9 cups of fluids a day for women and 13 cups for men. You will need to increase this if you are on a strenuous exercise regime. If that sounds like a lot, remember that many foods, like fruits and vegetables, contain water as well.

Why not try drinking more water for a week and see how much be er you feel?

Paula Reed

A Wide Variety of Complementary Therapies are Available

NEW VOLUNTEERS needed for a range of activities.

Relaxation Positive Thinking EFT • Chat Information Visiting Speakers We Keep Up To Date on Conventional and Complementary Therapies We Have an Interesting Programme of Speakers, Workshops and Outings

John Storer House, Wards End Loughborough LE11 8HE

Tel: 01509 631750

Come and Join Us, First Visit Free © SVL

Complementary Health Practitioner REFLEXOLOGY Relieving stress using gentle pressure strategically applied to your hands and feet, helping to alleviate symptoms and improve overall health - especially where conventional medicine has failed.

REIKI Holistic healing helping to integrate your body’s physical, emotional, mental and spiritual components by balancing your energy centres, stimulating natural immunity and promoting relaxation.

HOPI EAR CANDLING Reduces congestion in the ear and sinus area inducing a feeling of general tranquillity, composure and comfort.

EFT ‘Acupuncture without needles’ creating balance within your body’s energy system, particularly successful with addictions, weight, pain, anger management, severe trauma, stress and phobias.

Paula Reed is a member of the NHS Directory of Complementary and Alternative Practitioners All treatments delivered in my professionally appointed clinic in Barrow-upon-Soar

Telephone: 01509 415125 Email: info@reedwellbeing.co.uk Website: www.reedwellbeing.co.uk

Inspired

Cancer Self Help Group Loughborough Now in our 33rd year, Nutrition Cancer Self Help Massage Group Loughborough Reiki helps people with Supplements cancer and their Complementary families and friends to Therapies learn how to help Meditation themselves.

Nutritional We meet every Recommendations Monday evening at Can 7pm at John Be Tailored to Storer House.

Individual Needs

by The Group’s Everyone welcome.

Nutritionist

For physical and emotional wellbeing

£1.00 Per Visit thereafter

Helping Others to Help Themselves

This group is inspired by life and the focus afforded it, because their lives, or the lives of loved ones, have had their very existence challenged by what is perhaps the biggest threat to health a human being has to face...

As we get older many of us have to face the prospect of cancer and either oneself or someone close to us will hear those dreaded words.

Today’s message from the media tells us that we are bea ng it with more of us surviving longer a er cancer.

Paula Reed of Reed Wellbeing, who helps with the Cancer Self Help Group Loughborough, told me how they help everyone and anyone who comes to them.

The group is formed from, and run by, cancer survivors. The founder herself has survived more than thirty years since first diagnosis and is now in her 80s.

Is it me to really believe that a posi ve mind can make a difference? Maybe it is this that makes the difference for those who survive this curse of our mes. For more informa on, get in touch using the contact details on the le …

Adver se in Soar Valley Life from £31 per month plus VAT – See page 5

Page 39

Life Proof Flooring

Where ever we walk we leave our mark, but when we consider floor coverings inside our homes and work places we have to balance hard wearing with comfort...

Mary and I first met Robert Newbold, Director of Robert Newbold and Sons of Shepshed, at the Abbeyfield Wes ield House Care Home Open Day back in March of last year. Also among the many guests were Soar Valley Life’s photographer Bill Allsopp, Judy Andrews and Caroline Thompson of Acacia Curtains and Blinds and the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire Lady Jennifer Gre on JP. Abbeyfield had been extended and refurbished and everyone involved had been invited to see the finished results and to celebrate the work of this excellent, charity funded, flagship demen a care home.

Now, the floor covering in a place such as this really has to be absolutely fit for purpose, as I expect you can imagine.

Robert’s team of expert fi ers had laid more than 2,000 square feet of Karndean flooring in me for the Open Day.

Page 40

Robert explained, “For a job like the one we did at Abbeyfield you need to know just what you are doing and have enough people to get it done. We had to work around the daily running of this busy home, which is o en the case, domes c or commercial. But it’s very sa sfying to see it when it’s finished.

firm is Charlo e, Robert’s busy wife, keeping everything ship shape and in order back at the shop.

“My Dad started the company, working from home, nearly thirty years ago. We used to have rolls of carpet leaning against the stairs and my brother James and I would slide down them.

“I worked with my Dad since leaving school and my 17 year old son Jack works for us now too, so we really are a family business.

Sadly my Dad passed away a couple of years ago and we had to take over. But luckily, having grown up with the business, James and I knew what to do and Dad le the business in great shape.”

The brothers also employ 3 other skilled fi ers full me, Ashley Fisher, Brian Burns and Damien Rush, so they can cope with any job that comes in, no ma er how large or small. And the last, but not least, member of the family

Fit for Purpose The Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire Lady Jennifer Gre on JP cuts the ribbon at the Abbeyfield open day, photographed by Bill Allsopp and Jane Archer. Karndean floors supplied by Newbolds Flooring of Shepshed.

Feature your business in Soar Valley Life – contact steve@soarvalleylife.co.uk

ROBERT NEWBOLD & SONS LTD Established thirty years

FLOOR COVERING SPECIALISTS Suppliers and fitters of the finest carpets and floors for domestic, commercial and industrial use.

Widest Choice available

Extensive stock available at our Shepshed Showroom 15 Market Place, Shepshed, Leicestershire, LE12 9RT T: 01509 507456 M: 07900 266749 E: shop@newboldflooring.co.uk W: www.newboldflooring.co.uk

Š SVL

INDEPENDENT FLOORING SPECIALISTS

Bookings now been taken for:

Valentine’s Day - Saturday 14th February Mothers Day - Sunday 15th March You can view our menus online at www.mountsorrel-guesthouse.co.uk

Open Monday to Saturday from 6pm Last orders 9pm

01509 552 789

217 Loughborough Road, Mountsorrel, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE12 7AR

info@mountsorrel-guesthouse.co.uk www.mountsorrel-guesthouse.co.uk All major credit and debit cards accepted

© SVL

High Street Chambers 22 High Street Loughborough Leicestershire T: 01509 393 007

“ ”

New Brook House 385 Alfreton Road Nottingham NG7 5LR T: 0115 740 1177

Never quite made it to 100 years?

Don’t worry, we can help you get back on your feet again.

Page 42

Feature your business in Soar Valley Life – contact steve@soarvalleylife.co.uk

© SVL

Resolu ons

As we welcomed in 2015, I wondered what resolu ons were being set across the country...

100% free to find out what savings you qualify for.

A new year brings a fresh start for many ‐ anything from a new kitchen, taking a well earned holiday, ge ng free of debt or finally ge ng to grips with the household budget.

Maybe even a new job or finding ways of earning more money than you did last year?

As Moneywise's 2014 most trusted provider and recommended Which? Best Buy, there really is nothing to lose. Just invest 30 minutes of your me with Clare – call 07989 932871 to find out Howe!

Whilst I might not be much good at fi ng cupboards or picking out wallpaper, I can certainly help you earn or save money and it's

For more informa on go to www.u litywarehouse.org.uk/clareadele/jointheclub Clare Adele Howe

Slash your household costs and get all your utilities on one bill

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Affordable Luxury Bathrooms, Wetrooms & Home Improvements 23 Souters Lane, Burton on the Wolds, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE12 5AL

Tel: 01509 881713 Mob: 07944 798 588 chbgis@aol.com www.bgis.co.uk

Adver se in Soar Valley Life from £31 per month plus VAT – See page 5

Page 43

There is no such thing as a digital aerial!

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Bigger Be er, Stronger Fi er

In 2012 we featured Physfit Gyms on Brook Street in Sileby just a er they had completed refurbishment and installa on of new equipment...

The gym has now moved to larger and more suitable premises on the first floor of the main building in Barrow Road Business Park, Sileby, next door to Costcu ers supermarket. The advantages are already evident with over 5,000 square feet of floor space allowing for more room between work sta ons, separate cardio vascular and weight studios and brand new state of the art showers and changing rooms.

There is also off‐road car parking.

Physfit’s new recep on area

More facili es are to be installed over the next few months and by the summer it is hoped to have a new sauna suite together with consulta on rooms for sports related treatments and therapies.

As I looked around the new premises there was work in progress everywhere preparing for the opening day ‐ carpets with cushion underlay being fi ed, last minute plumbing and fixtures in the changing rooms and picture hanging in the recep on area.

A thought came to mind that the buildings Physfit have chosen to start up in, then to grow and expand into, are both workplaces of yesteryear.

The building on Brook Street originally housed a boot manufacturer which started up at the end of the 19th century and this new place of business is another Victorian example of rural industry.

Considering it’s posi on and size it must once have been a major source of employment bringing with it a be er livelihood for local folk.

Registered Installer IDENTIFICATION: 18267313

Tel: 0116 2760647 Mob: 07790 415 259 100 Woodland Road, Leicester

Then and now…

Barrow Road Business Park main building in the la er half of the 1800s Note the un­surfaced road and lack of traffic.

Fast forward a hundred years or so and it is now a major source of healthy leisure ac vity, helping people to become stronger and fi er.

See Physfit on page 3 Special thanks to Sileby Village website and to Mr John Whi ngton & Mr Paul Ellio who were kind enough to let us use the above photograph from www.sileby­village.co.uk

Barrow Road Business Park on 26th January 2015 as Physfit Gyms moves in

Blood Spots These bright red blemishes, also known as Cherry Angioma or Campbell de Morgan Spots, do not blanch when pressure is applied. They are caused by leaking blood vessels under the skin and while most are flat to the surface of the skin, larger ones can be domed and can even feel quite fibrous to the touch.

More common in men than women and tending to increase with age, they can occur anywhere on the body though

they are most commonly found on the torso. Younger people can also have them and teenagers may find them par cularly embarrassing as they can be very obvious on younger, fairer skin.

Small ones can be amazingly easy to remove, using advanced electrolysis, as a single leaking capillary can be treated in a ma er of seconds. Larger ones can take a li le longer but the blemish is normally completely removed with a single treatment.

Pennie Blatchford

Large Campbell de Morgan Spots

Pennie Blatchford

- Advanced Cosmetic Procedures

Effective removal of benign skin blemishes for men and women

Pennie Blatchford B.Sc.(Hons), ITEC, IBSD, BABTAC

Skin tags, blood spots, warts, seborrhoeic keratosis, age spots, thread veins, spider naevi, milia, and other benign skin defects and blemishes can be removed using advanced electrolysis.

This is an inexpensive, quick and safe procedure. Free initial consultation by fully qualified, insured and licenced practitioner.

Please see website:

www.pennieblatchford.co.uk Email: pennieblatchford@hotmail.co.uk or phone on:

© SVL

Seborrhoeic Keratosis before and after treatment

01509 646506 or 07887 865419 Hailey Avenue, Loughborough, Leics. LE11 4QW

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This advert must be produced to qualify.

© SVL

Epidermoid cyst before and after treatment

Call now for a free quotation

07969 135210 or 0800 043 7861 © SVL

info@theovencleaningcompanyleicester.com

www.theovencleaningcompanyleicester.com

All adver sers appear in our online business directory with a link to their own website – go to www.soarvalleylife.co.uk

Page 45

And Another Thing...

Data Protec on

by Tom Hughes

My ques on is this: how do you get your number removed from the phone book when the phone book no longer exists?

For us it’s too late, our number must now be on every data base in the world judging by the frequency of the nuisance calls that ring our line every night.

You can always tell it’s a sales call because of the opening line: “Don’t worry Sir, this isn’t a sales call.” I usually put the receiver next to the radio and return to scooping out my bu ernut squash.

But I don’t want to dwell on the things I don’t want, rather I’d like to relay the story of how I went to get something I actually needed – a loan from the bank. My beloved Mondeo (half leather heated seats, 6 CD changer) was on her last legs so a new chariot was required.

Clive, my loan adviser at my local branch was more than helpful.

Fresh faced and eager to please, he guided me to a booth designed in such a way as to guarantee the queue behind could eavesdrop on me disclosing all my personal informa on.

Clive began tapping away on his keyboard. I decided to put him at his ease.

“Oh you use a computer to do this now do you?”

“Oh yes, we use computers for everything.”

“Well, who’d have thought it?”

Clive gave me a funny look then started the inquisi on.

Ques ons about my income I expected. Ques ons about my haircuts and gambling habits I did

Page 46

not. Then, fatally for loan applicants and indeed bank robbers, I got the giggles.

I wanted to share with him my concerns about barber costs rising if ever the Kevin Keegan perm came back into vogue, but I couldn’t form the words because of the accursed sniggers.

Somehow I remained calm enough to complete the applica on. At the end of the process Clive was prompted to ask me if I had any ques ons.

“Clive, are you sure you don’t want to know what I had for breakfast?”

“It’s OK Mr Hughes, that ques on was not on my form.”

“It’s just that I had maple syrup on my bacon, and maple syrup is very expensive, so –“ “You had maple syrup on your bacon for breakfast?”

“Yes. And pancakes.”

“Pancakes, bacon and syrup?”

“It’s called a Canadian breakfast.”

Clive gave me a look that suggested I had placed my applica on in jeopardy. His countenance seemed to s ffen.

Curtly he announced, “I’m a porridge man myself.”

An image of Clive lumbering down his street covered in oats flicked into my mind. Clive brought me back in the room with the words every bank customer dreads.

“Ok Mr Hughes, before I put this applica on through I have to read to you this declara on. Is that OK?” Clive produced an A4 sheet of paper with text so minuscule only The Borrowers could read it. He took a deep breath and commenced. The meaningless phrases came zinging towards me like tracer fire from across no man’s land. I leaned forward wincing, trying to catch his dri .

Eventually I gave up and resorted to a half smile and my “I’m not listening” nod.

A er he’d finished neither of us were any the wiser but the reading of the declara on signalled an imminent decision. In my head I heard a drum roll of expecta on as the li le hourglass on the screen nervously flipped over and over.

The tension was unbearable. Clive made a polite request.

All adver sers appear in our online business directory with a link to their own website – go to www.soarvalleylife.co.uk

“Mr Hughes, can you stop banging on my desk please?”

“I’m not banging, I’m drumming.”

Clive glanced at me from over his specs. I desisted.

Eventually, the computer came up with an answer. Clive stared at the screen and then gave me a smile so insincere that for a moment I thought I was talking to Dale Winton.

“Unfortunately, on this occasion, the bank has decided not to proceed with your applica on.”

“You mean I’ve been refused?”

“You failed on your credit score.”

My giggling ceased. I leaned

forward to see what injus ce was now displayed on his screen. Clive swung the monitor out of view, as though I was trying to pry into his personal browsing history.

“Why? What’s wrong with my credit score?”

“I’m sorry I can’t tell you.”

“Why not?”

“Data protec on. Your data is confiden al and we are fully commi ed to protec ng it.”

“From who?”

“Well, you.”

“You are protec ng me from my own data?”

“Yes.”

Dog Sitting Service

Do you love dogs and are at home during the day? Do you have a secure garden and no young children?

I le the bank as impecunious as when I entered. On the way out my phone rang.

“Hello?

“Mr Hughes? Don’t worry this isn’t a sales call. Tell me, have you ever been mis‐sold a personal loan?”

And so the big joke we call life staggers on….

Follow Tom’s family life at groomsdaybook.com

We don’t ever want to turn an animal away please help us

Woodside’s 40th anniversary in 2015

© SVL

More details contact

To Donate, please visit www.care4pawsappeal.org.uk

jane@petstay.net

Or ring the Woodside Animal Centre on 0116 232 4932

01530 542142/07825 325583 © SVL

“I’m sorry?”

RSPCA Leicester Crisis Appeal

PetStay Dog lovers wanted as carers, earn up to £112 per week.

“Have you read 1984?”

Text C4P to 70300 to make a £3 dona on

Canine Grooming and Spa • Safe, clean and friendly environment • Hydro bathing • Teacup to large breeds catered for • City and Guilds Certificate Qualified Mon - Fri 9.00am to 5.00pm • Sat 9.30am to 5.00pm

Lion Learners offer fun and educational animal handling experiences for schools, care homes, parties, events and anywhere else you can think of!

Please call Kristan on

07873 796379

41 Swan Street, Sileby LE12 7NN

Call 01509 767420 / 07592 594000 bethklg@hotmail.co.uk

© SVL

www.poshdogsgrooming.com

Kristan@lionlearners.co.uk

www.lionlearners.co.uk

© SVL

Adver se in Soar Valley Life from £31 per month plus VAT – See page 5

Page 47

Spot Ten Differences

Answers on page 62

Open: Open: 8am 8am - 6pm Mon - Fri 51 Weeks of the year Rothely Park Rothley Park Kindergarten is a well established private day care nursery Kindergarten is a very well established celebrating 11 years of success.

Ourprivate bright, spacious, air-conditioned day care nursery celebrating 10 years of classrooms are designed and equipped to provide quality childcare in a success and continuing to deliver an stimulatingenvironment and enjoyable environment.

We offer 113 childcare places enhancing to alllearning the children and for children thequality ages of 6 weeks standards to 5 years.of such high calibre within the their parents.between We provide maintained provision.

Nursery manager Narinder Kaur and her team of professional nursery

Our bright spacious and air conditioned classrooms designed and to equipped to practitioners deliver a second-to-none childcare are service tailored your child’s provide a quality child care provision, delivering a stimulating and enjoyable learning individual requirements. environment. We offer 113 childcare places between the ages of 6 weeks to 5 years.

Limited Government funding is available for 3 and 4 year-olds. We also offer full

From the beginning Narinder Kaur, the nursery manager togetherfor with or part-time sessions as required, depending on availability, allher children professional nursery practitioners continue to deliver a quality childcare service, under the age of 5 years throughout the year and during school holidays. tailoring to your child’s individual requirements.

A warmGovernment welcome awaits you no appointments necessary as all new Limited Funding is–available for 3 and 4are Year olds. We also offer fulland and prospective parents are invited to visit us at their own part time sessions as required depending on availability forconvenience. all children under the age

www.rothleyparkkindergarten.co.uk | tel: 0116 230 3888 info@rothleyparkkindergarten.co.uk | mob: 07813 021410 Rothley Park Kindergarten, Loughborough Road, Rothley, Leicestershire LE7 7NL © SVL

Page 48

Feature your business in Soar Valley Life – contact steve@soarvalleylife.co.uk

Answers on page 62

One Day Workshops starting Spring 2015

For the over 50s At Loughborough University

Call

01509 813125

or email info@soarvalleylife.co.uk For booking form and information pack

Are you facing

Do you want

Looking for

Are you ready to

• Re rement • Redundancy • Part me • Downsizing • Life alone

• A new challenge • To start a business • Life change • To realise an ambi on • To make amends

• More confidence • More mo va on • Place to start • Guidance • A way forward

• Change your life • Find yourself • Change direc on • Fulfil your dream • Plan your future

Page 50

Feature your business in Soar Valley Life – contact steve@soarvalleylife.co.uk

Self Assessment Did you need to complete a Self Assessment Tax Return for 2013/14? We are losing count of the number of people we meet who are failing to account for all their income. If you are one of those people it is not too late to divulge your income to HMRC. Although ini ally you will incur a penalty of £100 for late submission of the return HMRC do look favourably upon voluntary disclosure and even for older years o en reduce penal es if you contact them BEFORE they contact you...

There is a very fine line between selling goods on sites such as eBay or at car boot sales and actually trading. HMRC do in fact look at various websites and then request details of the seller to ensure they are declaring any profits they may make. To sell the odd ornament from your home is fine but buying

and reselling becomes a business.

A er expenses have been taken into account the liability for tax is very o en nil but it must be declared.

Then there are people who think they’re not making a profit on buy to let proper es because the income covers the mortgage repayments. It must be remembered that only the interest on any loan is allowable against profits. HMRC has access to HM Land Registry records and we are led to believe they are trawling through them.

How many people do you know who do “cash in hand” jobs?

Remember the penal es and interest charged when they are traced will o en outweigh any gain made and it could be said that the person who pays is as much at fault as the receiver. Not many people realise that failure to disclose your total income, for whatever reason,

Baker & Co Accountants & Bookkeepers 6 Brookbridge Court Syston Leicestershire LE7 2JT

Telephone

0116 2640889 (also fax) 0116 2695236 Email bakerandcoaccountants@btconnect.com Free initial consultation, and Home/workplace visits if desired Over 65 year experience within the practice Established in Syston for over 27 years

could be considered as fraud by your local friendly County Court!

HMRC are normally prepared to assist you and se le for the tax due, plus interest and a reasonable penalty, dependant on the gravity of the case. Despite the fact you may be submi ng your return late HMRC will always deal with you preferen ally as you have decided to contact them before they find you. The Self Assessment Return may look frightening at first but believe me it is not; you can get free assistance from HMRC or if you wish you can obtain the services of an accountant.

A final point to mull over is the fact that maybe the Na onal Debt could be repaid in a very short me if everyone declared their income as the law requires...

David Baker – Partner, Baker & Co. Accountants

Accountancy headaches??

For a personal and jargon free service: SELF-ASSESSMENT TAX RETURNS ACCOUNTS FOR SOLE PROPRIETOR, PARTNERSHIPS, LIMITED COMPANIES, LLP'S. RENTAL INCOME ACCOUNTS, MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTS etc VAT PREPARATION AND FILING VAT AND TAX ENQUIRIES PAYROLL BUREAU AND CIS PERSONAL AND CORPORATE TAXATION

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© SVL

Page 51

Plumbing or Heating Problem?

A local professional service for all your gas, plumbing and heating requirements Boiler breakdown and upgrade specialists Full range of work undertaken (free quotes) Installations • Breakdowns • Repairs • Service Fully insured • Qualified Engineers Part L • Part P • WRAS • City & Guilds Vented and Unvented heating systems Safety certificates/checks • Power flushing

24 HOUR EMERGENCY CALL OUT Contact Darryl now for obligation free assistance

info@fabplumbing.co.uk

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0333 456 7080 07867 301862

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In business since 1983 5 year warranty We’ll beat any like for like quote High Quality Digital TV, DAB & FM Aerials • LCD/Plasma Wall Mounts • OAP Discounts • Tune-in & System set ups

Easy Sudoku

133 Highgate Road, Sileby LE12 7PW www.deltaaerials.co.uk

Answers on page 62

For how to play go to h p://www.sudoku.name/rules/en Page 52

Interested in sponsoring this page? Email steve@soarvalleylife.co.uk

Thinking of a new kitchen? ...then come and see the louis difference* louis kitchens are different - they are simple, they are unpretentious and they have ‘timelessness’ at the heart of their design and creation.

*louis kitchens have painted cabinets, tiled plinths, solid surface

worktops and stone floors - a ‘design mix’ that largely eliminates synthetic materials and offers lasting quality and easy maintenance.

Find out the true potential for your kitchen - call 01530 215034 to arrange a free design consultation.

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Unit 7 Stephenson Court, Brindley Road, Stephenson Industrial Estate, Coalville LE67 3HG Open 10am to 5pm. Saturdays 10am to 3pm. Closed Sundays

logical

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-

original

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sustainable

Walking - Burrough Hill Country Park Walk instruc ons 3 1/2 Miles

1 3/4 Hours

Use the car park at Burrough Hill Country Park, north east of Burrough on the Hill village. Toilets and picnic area.

1 Walk away from the entrance, past the welcome sign and up the hardcore track, go through the kissing gate to the yellow top marker post on the right.

2 Go through the narrow metal gate and cross the field to the le of the farm. Con nue through the right hand gate marked by a yellow top post and up the gentle slope of the field to the wooden gate at the far right. Carry on through the next marked gate ahead.

3 Bear slight le down slope to the marker post and go through the double gates, slight right, at the le hand end of the trees.

Cross the field ahead which may be under cul va on, although a path should be well marked within any crop, to the road close to Home Farm.

4 Take this not very busy road to the le and follow it le at Moscow Farm, keep le /straight on at the junc on and carry on to the second signpost on the le .

5 Turn le , through the gateway and along the le hand field edge with the hedge to the le . Bear right at the end and go through the gates at the yellow top marker post. Con nue on the track with the slope of the fort to the le , up the slope and bear right along the wide track to the car park. © Clive Brown ‐ All our walks are compiled by Clive Brown who holds the copyright. You can order any of his 74 walking guides at: www.walkingcloseto.com. Or email Clive directly at walkingcloseto@yahoo.co.uk

Page 54

Email page? this Life Interested per month plus VAT – See page 5 £28steve@soarvalleylife.co.uk from in Soar Valley Adver insesponsoring

The Art and Science of a Beau ful Smile A visit to the den st is not high on the list of preferred ac vi es for many people; in my day it was remedial, only there when needed if you had a toothache...

Then, some me in the 1970s I guess, den stry became more than just fillings or extrac ons ‐ kids began wearing braces, crowns and implants became readily available as alterna ves to false teeth, and a six monthly check up included a hygienist appointment too. Which leads me to believe that oral health and the state of the na on’s teeth is far be er now than at any me in human history; fluoride in our water for more than 50 years along with advancements in toothpaste and technology must surely have had a drama c effect on the health of our mouths and their contents? Not according to Nilesh, principle den st at Gorse Covert Dental Prac ce. “The modern diet reverses many of the posi ve advances in oral health. High sugar foods, processed meals and increased snacking are the main culprits. The idea of three square meals a day is long gone for many people. And now, with half the popula on not going to the den st regularly, oral health is much worse today than it was twenty years ago!”

Running my tongue over my teeth I felt a twinge of guilt followed by a pulse of toothache, but it passed as quickly as it came. “Sounds like all doom and gloom

then?” I asked. “Of course not,” con nued Nilesh, “We believe that oral health is the key to your overall health and we treat our pa ents with this general principle foremost in our minds. We call it a holis c approach to den stry ‐ we view the pa ent completely, not just as a set of teeth. We look at all the aspects that go into crea ng the best possible condi ons to achieve ul mate oral health. We like to treat our pa ents as friends and of course we want the best for them; we view this rela onship as a two way process from the very start. A new pa ent will be offered an ini al free consulta on, where we can discuss together what op ons are available and the likely costs of various forms of treatment.

This is followed by a longer appointment where we make a full examina on las ng between one and one and a half hours including oral x‐rays. This gives the pa ent a full 30 page document covering

everything that’s possible to provide, together with costs and payment plans where necessary.”

By now I was wondering why I had not experienced this style of den stry before. I was stuck in the remedial way of considering my teeth and oral health. I asked Nilesh how he came to adopt this approach.

“A er studying den stry at medical college I undertook further study and training in the United States at the Pankey Ins tute of Advanced Den stry. There I learned to really treasure teeth and just how important they are for each and every one of us. The key to crea ng and maintaining a beau ful and confident smile is through the applica on of both the art and science of den stry. And that is really what we’re all about, here at Gorse Covert Dental.”

Nilesh Shah on the le with his team at Gorse Dental Prac ce.

FINALIST

Friendly, high quality dental care for all the family Established in 1984, we are proud of our reputation for friendly, caring and high quality dentistry that our patients can rely on at all times.

Our main aim is to help each of our valued patients look after and make the most of their smile through a wide choice of dental treatments delivered in an affordable, professional and convenient way.

Routine Dentistry • Cosmetic Dentistry • Dental Implants • Invisible Braces Email us or call our friendly reception team on

01509 844118 or info@gorsecovertdental.co.uk if you would like to request an appointment

© SVL

Appointments available late evenings and Saturdays

Yoga - Pilates - Somatics 1:1 - Workshops - Classes Cheryl Lee

GP Referral Back Pain Specialist and Neuromuscular Educator

Thorough postural and movement assessments with bespoke, holistic and progressive programmes to treat chronic muscle tension, postural issues and back pain

Somatics Workshop, Saturday 7th March in Nanpantan, Loughborough

07949 895170

cheryljustinelee@gmail.co.uk www.mind-body-movement.co.uk © SVL

@mindbodymoveuk mindbodymovementuk

ancient M

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Furniture Restoration and Bespoke Cabinet Making

Home & Household PA Caroline can help you create the balance in your home and household • House si ng • Child si ng (CRB Checked)

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CALL Caroline on

07887 373872

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www.amfurniturerestoration.co.uk Restoration and renovation of antique furniture Bespoke cabinet making & furniture reproduction Re-lacquering of modern furniture (i.e. Ercol, G-Plan, Old Charm etc) & French Polishing General repairs Est. 1995 © SVL If you would like to enquire further please contact David Nash on 07976 571 679 or 01530 587 537

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Page 56

Feature your business in Soar Valley Life – contact steve@soarvalleylife.co.uk

WIN!

First Class Dining Experience on the Great Central Railway for Two Railway travel offers countless pleasures, but best of all must be dining aboard a steam train.

You and a friend could enjoy a four course Saturday or a Sunday luncheon on the Great Central Railway - the UK’s Only Mainline Heritage Railway.

HOW TO ENTER

Complete our Restaurant Wordsearch below and send Competition entries your answer, which is a six word phrase, together with your name,accepted address and telephone fromnumber, to editor@soarvalleylife.co.uk hard copy readers only or by post to Soar Valley Life,1 Burton Road, Sileby, Leicestershire LE12 7RU. The first correct answer out of the hat a�er the closing date of 24th February 2014 will win. Prize must be taken by 31st March ‐ excluding Mothering Sunday 15th March. Editor’s decision is final. Terms and condi�ons apply.

e l b a il a v y a ers l n h o read c r a y e p s o d c r Wo hard to

Feature your business in Soar Valley Life – contact steve@soarvalleylife.co.uk

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PixieFootwear would like to offer Soar Valley Life readers a 30% discount on our Winter 2014 collec on.

Please visit www.pixiefootwear.com and enter the discount code SVL14 at checkout.

Pixie Footwear are a local Leicestershire company with their offices in the Soar Valley.

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C. J. Hodgkins Ltd INDEPENDENT TECHNICIAN IN AGA COOKERS Over 25 years of experience in the service / repair / installation of Aga cookers Aga cooker maintenance, re-enamelling, reconditioning, installing and stripping down.

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Ragdale Spa Day for Two Winner Congratula ons to Felicity Skipper of Sileby whose entry in the above compe on was the first correct answer to be drawn out of the hat a er the closing date. The six word phrase to be found in our Christmas Wordsearch was: “Christmas is a me for families” Felicity wins a Ragdale Experience Day for two people at award winning Ragdale Hall Health Hydro and Thermal Spa worth £180 See page 57 to win a meal for two in our Restaurant Wordsearch

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GCR Calendar Winners Congratula ons to Carol Brown of Quorn and Andy Lester of Sileby whose entries in the above compe on were the first two to be drawn on December 1st.

Carol and Andy each receive a limited edi on Bridge to the Future 2015 Calendar showcasing the incredibly atmospheric photography of Andrew Rapacz.

Adver se in Soar Valley Life from £31 per month plus VAT – See page 5

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What’s On in and around The Soar Valley: Compiled by Chris Easom of ‘Things to do Leicester’ See www.thingstodoleicester.co.uk

Organ Recital by David Bristow Sunday 15th February - 7.30pm for 8.00pm David Bristow, Director of Music at Trinity Methodist Church, Loughborough, will be performing an Organ Recital, which is the second in the fourteenth series.

Everyone is invited and a Buffet Supper will be served from 7.30pm. Performance commences 8.00pm. Admission is FREE although a retiring collection will be taken to support the church's Development Fund.

Mountsorrel Methodist Church, Church Hill Road, Mountsorrel, Loughborough, Leics. LE12 7JB. Rev. E. Adam Wells ‐ Tel. 01509 219804 www.loughboroughmethodistcircuit.org/churches/ mountsorrel Splish Splash, Bathing Belles and Boys (Age 3 years+) Wednesday 18th February - 10.15-11.15am and 11.45am-12.45pm Craft workshop ‐ Design your own Splish Splash swimmers and send them swimming in a paper pool!

Take one home and display one in the museum.

Cost: 3 years + £2.50 Pre‐booking is advisable Charnwood Museum, Granby Street, Loughborough LE11 3DU Tel: 01509 233754 Email: museum@charnwood.gov.uk www.leics.gov.uk/charnwoodmuseum Model Railway Show February 21st & 22nd 10:00am - 4:30pm Sileby Community Centre, High Street, Sileby LE12 7RX (2mins from Sileby Station ‐ Saturday only) Adults ‐ £3.50 (14+) Concessions + unaccompanied

What’s on at

The Great Central Railway Visit www.gcrailway.co.uk for more informa on

February to April 2015: Dining trains

St Valen ne’s Luncheon & Dinner Saturday 14th Feb (Lunch) & Sunday 15th Feb (Dinner) These special Valen ne’s trains run on Saturday lunch and Sunday evening.

Mothering Sunday Luncheon 15th March £48 adult / £38 child – Includes a complimentary rose for mothers.

Charnwood Forester every Saturday evening from Mid February. Sumptuous 6 course dinner served aboard first class restaurant cars hauled by historic

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children ‐ £3.00 Accompanied children go FREE!!!

(Under 14s) Info ‐ Tel: 0116 2605760 E‐mail: systonmodelrailway@gmx.co.uk Antique, Vintage and Collectors Fair Sunday 22nd February - 9.00am to 3.30pm A vast and varied mix of traders will be showcasing their wares for you to browse. A warm and welcoming atmosphere will enable both buyers and sellers to find treasures and share interests with others. Brittany's tearoom will be serving home baked treats. Substantial free parking is available.

Radmoor Centre, Epinal Way, Loughborough LE11 3EH All their fair dates are listed in the UK Antique Fairs Diary at www.antiques‐atlas.com Tel: 0116 2872011 or 07583 410862 Email: guildhall.antique.fairs@gmail.com www.guildhallantiquefairs.co.uk Liz Cooper Jazz Band Night Tuesday 24th February - 8.00pm A great evening of live jazz covering well known standards including blues, bossas and ballads from Liz's extensive repertoire, performed in the relaxed and intimate surroundings of the venue's Sock Gallery. Liz was born and grew up in Loughborough and continues to live locally. A graduate in Music from Bath Spa University, she has recently released her new CD entitled You Don't Know What Love Is. Cost: £7.00 Pre‐booking is essential Loughborough Town Hall, Market Place, Loughborough LE11 3EB Box Office: 01509 231914Email: box.office@charnwood.gov.uk steam loco. Booking essen al. £49 per person.

The South Yorkshireman Every Saturday Lunch me from Saturday 21st February. 4 course luncheon served aboard first class restaurant cars steam hauled. Booking advised. £30 per person The Elizabethan Every Sunday lunch me from 1:15pm except Mothering Sunday and Easter Sunday. Sumptuous 4 course lunch, steam hauled in first class Restaurant cars.

Booking essen al ‐ £40 per person

Villains & Superheroes

Half Term Week Tues 17th - 19th February Watch out for villains and superheroes on the pla orm. Catch a steam train for the opportunity to meet a character depar ng Loughborough at 10.15, 12.15 & 14.15 See www.gcrailway.co.uk/specialevents

Feature your business in Soar Valley Life – contact steve@soarvalleylife.co.uk

What’s On in and around The Soar Valley: Compiled by Chris Easom of ‘Things to do Leicester’ See www.thingstodoleicester.co.uk

The Shannon Reilly Trio in Concert Friday 27th February - 7.00pm for 7.30pm Enjoy an intimate evening of popular jazz with a dazzling selection of songs from the 1930s to the present day. Shannon Reilly is a vocalist of exceptional quality and her spellbinding performances have captivated audiences across the UK. Pat McCarthy on guitar has performed with countless British jazz artistes and Warren Jolly on double bass has been in constant demand as a session player and side man with some of the best known names in jazz and pop.

Tickets: £10.00 / Family £25 (age 10+) Available from 01509 881000 wmh@coxies.freeserve.co.uk or Wymeswold Pharmacy Wymeswold Memorial Hall, Clay Street, Wymeswold, Loughborough LE12 6TY Contact Howard Cox on 01509 881000 Email: wmh@coxies.freeserve.co.uk www.wymeswold.com/village‐information/ village‐hall Panto Performance of Aladdin Friday 6th March - Evening only 7.00pm Saturday 7th March - Matinee 2.00pm and Evening 7.00pm Tickets: Adults £8.00 / Concessions £6.00 (60+, In full time education, unwaged) / Family £24.00 (2 adults + 2 children) /

Villains & Superheroes HALF TERM FAMILY FUN

Great Central Railway Tuesday 17th, Wednesday 18th & Thursday 19th February 2015 Loughborough - Leicester • Meet the Villains and Superheroes who will be travelling on the steam trains throughout the day • Dress up as your favourite character and receive free sweets • Competition for the best dressed • Mini funfair at Rothley • Face painting @ Loughborough • Themed activities at the Platform Café, Leicester North • Refreshments available at all 4 cafes • All attractions appear subject to availability

Just £25 for a family of 5

Under 3 FREE ‐ Available from the Paper Shop or by email: judithrodgers155@gmail.com or by phoning 07718 153117 or visit the BUSCA website www.busca.org.uk and click on the events tab.

Humphrey Perkins Community Centre, 74­78 Cotes Road, Barrow upon Soar, Leics. LE12 8JU Contact Details: 01509 412385 Email: office@humphreyperkins.leics.sch.uk www.busca.org.uk www.humphreyperkins.leics.sch.uk Sock Fair 2015 A Celebration of quality Artists and Makers.

Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd March 10.00am until 4.00pm Every March Loughborough Town Hall hosts this event showcasing and selling a diverse range of work by over 35 pre‐selected artists and makers. SOCK Gallery hosts a range of inspiring and thoughtprovoking exhibitions throughout the year, together with creative workshops and Meet the Artist events. Most of the artwork is available for purchase, alongside a range of unique cards and quality, handmade British items in SOCK Gallery's craft cabinets. Admittance is FREE. Sock Gallery, Loughborough Town Hall, Market Place, Loughborough, Leics. LE11 3EB Box Office: 01509 231914 www.loughboroughtownhall.co.uk

Easter Bunny Express -

Tues 31st March, Wed 1st & Thurs 2nd April Meet the Easter Bunny down at the Great Central, there’s lots of fun for the whole family it’s eggstraordinary value too at just £25 for 2 adults and up to 3 children!

Events and fun ac vi es at every sta on along the way ‐ Easter egg hunts, meet the Easter Bunny, mini fun fair & cra corner.

Adver se in Soar Valley Life from £31 per month plus VAT – See page 5

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Conveying Movement in S ll Pictures There are many ways of conveying movement, here are just three example shots taken over two days...

Picture 1 was taken with a focal length of 320mm and a shu er speed of 1/640 sec. The fast shu er speed freezes the horses and the splash shows how fast they were moving.

Landscape photographer available for commissions.

For picture 2 the focal length was 210mm but the shu er speed only 1/25 sec. With a slow shu er speed it is necessary to pan the camera to follow the moving object. The blurred legs of the horses and the less defined background convey movement well here.

Beautiful pictures of Britain to decorate your home or as gifts.

Available online or from Gallery 18, Churchgate, Loughborough.

For the third picture I had to be really quick to catch it before he disappeared!

The focal length was 500 mm and the shu er speed was 1/500 sec to prevent camera shake with the long lens. The "footprints" s ll clearly suggest movement.

www.billallsopp.co.uk

May the light be with you…

01530 230 360

Bill Allsopp

Solu ons

The Internet Quiz Answers

1.

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3.

4.

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10.

Spam Red Gangnam Style Archie ‐ named a er the word "archive" Facebook Away from keyboard Tim Berners‐Lee A cookie Lastminute.com A google search on two valid words that results in just one result

Spot the Difference Answers 1. Arrow reversed 2. Three birds top right 3. Three birds top le 4. Cloud shape top le 5. Cloud shape behind wing 6. Bracelet on wrist 7. Colour of sash 8. Colour of wings

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9. Colour of arrow carrier 10. Shape of the bow at top Valen ne Cards Solu on A. Lauren B. Tania C. Simone D. Jessica E. Sophie F. Fiona

Quick Crossword Across: 7 Vacant, 8 Operas, 9 Taxi, 10 Contrary, 11 Lighter, 13 Groat, 15 O en, 17 Parsley, 20 Freezing, 21 Rest, 23 Ba le, 24 Impede.

Down: 1 Mama, 2 Vanish, 3 Stacked, 4 Joins, 5 Nearer, 6 Carriage, 12 Informal, 14 Bargain, 16 Elects, 18 Scrape, 19 Fixes, 22 Soda.

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