MANAGE YOUR LIFE

Mortgage Minefields

Buying a house is probably going to be the most expensive thing you ever do in your life, so you need to get it right. Mary chats to Emma O’Neill, owner of Oundle and Stamford Mortgages about how to go about it

BUYING A HOUSE is the ultimate dream for many people, usually after years of saving to be able to afford the deposit. But when do you know if you are in a position to buy one; can you afford it, will you get a mortgage, what can you afford and how on earth do you go about it?

Years ago you would usually go cap in hand to your bank manager and ask for a mortgage. You would need a healthy current and savings account with the bank, probably for many years and then you would just take the mortgage rate you were offered. It certainly wasn’t necessarily the cheapest way of borrowing money, but there was little alternative.

Today thankfully things are different. Yes, you can still go to your bank and ask for a mortgage, and many people still do. But many more of us probably now use a mortgage broker as they will find us the most suitable deal. That won’t necessarily always mean the cheapest interest rates as everyone’s circumstances are different. But a lower interest rate over a 30 year mortgage can save you thousands of pounds. mma O’Neill of Oundle and Stamford

M ANAGE YOUR LIF E

Mortgages knows all about houses and mortgages. She started out as a sales negotiator and when she bought her first property she had a really helpful mortgage advisor. ‘They were so helpful and explained everything to me so I wanted to find out more about the job as obviously it tied in with my role.’ She decided to train as a mortgage advisor, paying for the courses herself and then changed jobs to be a mortgage advisor spending four years in the role.

In 201 she left to set up on her own and now has an o ce in Oundle and two staff. They are all mums ‘women can often be more sympathetic and empathetic so are often easier to talk to,’ says mma.

Today mortgages can be a bit of a minefield as not all of us have ‘normal’ jobs where we are paid a set salary. Some people are paid commission so their salary differs every month, some are on zero hours contracts and, of course, there are the self employed. And those with credit rating anomalies can come up against problems too.

Someone like mma can hold your hand throughout the whole house buying process, from start to finish. She prides herself on her customer service, her clients like her and use her again and recommend friends do too. ‘Word of mouth is the best way to grow

'The best mortgage deals are usually available for those wanting less than 85% of the purchase price. But mortgages are now available up to 95% so don’t think if you don’t have a large deposit that you can’t buy a house.'

our business,’ she says. ‘I’m always delighted when someone comes to me saying that a friend recommended me.’

Emma will even negotiate the house sale for you, or going a step further back, set up appointments for viewings. ‘I’m here throughout the whole process,’ she says. ‘I don’t disappear once the mortgage offer has come through but stay with the client until they have the keys in their hand helping deal with solicitors etc and guiding them through the whole process, and often after that too. The perfect relationship is one that starts with an affordability meeting and continues throughout the life of the mortgage with me doing renewals, remortgages and new purchases.’

Emma recommends that you don’t get a mortgage agreement in principal before finding your house ‘as things change.’ ‘You need to assess your affordability which we can do with you over the phone or in the o ce,’ says mma. ‘In many circumstances we know which mortgage companies will take you on and which criteria you fit. We can do this before a credit check is done, which can help your credit score as too many checks affect it. Most people come under this category so I advise not to get an agreement in principal until you’ve found your house as things do change. You might want to borrow more or less, change your mind completely about what you are buying and, particularly at the moment, new products are coming on to the market all the time so you could get a more competitive offer by the time you’ve found your house.’

It’s not just first time buyers who mma helps. If you have lived in a house for 10-15 years it can come as a shock to be dealing with agents, buyers and solicitors again. ‘Sadly for most people buying or selling a house is not a nice experience,’ says Emma. ‘It can be very stressful and it really doesn’t need to be. Most local agents now know us and know that we are not tied to anyone so will often recommend us to their buyer. We can really educate a buyer and offer great advice.’

The best mortgage deals are usually available for those wanting less than 85% of the purchase price. But mortgages are now available up to 95% so don’t think if you don’t have a large deposit that you can’t buy a house. Talking to someone like Emma who will go through an affordability check with you can help make things much clearer.

Once you have bought your house and your mortgage has gone through don’t just forget about it. Emma won’t be letting you! Fixed rates are normally for two, three or five years so six months before the end of your rate Emma or Jess will be in touch wanting to know if you are going to remortgage, move or stick with your original loan. They will offer advice and once again find you the best deal; as I said they are with you for life and you will most likely become firm friends.

Talking of life, buying a house is a big life step as well as financial commitment and with that comes the need to plan accordingly. Emma and her team will always talk to you about insurance to run alongside your mortgage. Life insurance is probably vital if you are buying with someone else; buildings and contents insurance too. And critical illness and income protection are something to really consider as who knows what is around the corner. Once you’ve bought your most expensive asset you need to be able to keep hold of it and insurance could provide a lifeline.

www.oundleandstamfordmortgages.com

WILL’S WALK

Cold Overton and Knossington

Rolling hills and Rutland’s highest point make for splendid views on this route. By Will Hetherington

There are plenty of open fields on this walk.

Difficulty rating

Park somewhere convenient on Main Street near the church in Cold Overton and head south to Cold Overton oad where you will find the footpath heading off to the left very shortly after the junction. Walk over the fields for one kilometre until you reach Oakham oad. Cross over here and walk across the grass field keeping the pond to your left. ejoin Cold Overton oad and turn left and then left again on to The Hollow for about 100 metres before turning right on to the driveway for Bleak House. Follow the footpath signs past the grand house and you will soon be out in open country passing through a series of small fields and some tricky stiles until you come to a field with Lady Wood Lodge farm in the north east corner. Head to the farm and walk straight through – when I did this walk there was no footpath sign at the farm gate but there was a small one on the side of a barn on the way through. After the farmyard you will cross from Leicestershire into Rutland and walk along the southern edge of Cold Overton Park Wood for about 250 metres, but don’t follow the edge of the wood when you reach the southeast corner – instead keep going east. The next field gate has a nameplate on it saying

ACTIVE INFO Wilson’s Field so you will know you are in the right The conservation village of place when you see that. Walk across Wilson’s Field Cold Overton sits on a ridge and you will see the trig point marking Rutland’s hence the ‘Cold’ prefix and highest point in the field to the left before you reach the church originates the field boundary. o through the next gateway and from the 12th century. enjoy some of the best views of utland to the east before turning left and walking through lebe Farm to get to Cold Overton Road (not the same as the previous one). Turn left here and walk downhill along the road for 500 metres until you see the footpath off to the right in a bit of woodland in the small valley bottom. At this point you are crossing back into Leicestershire and the path heads northwest for a mile back to Cold Overton. There are a couple of short footpaths back into the village or you can just walk around on the road.

Bleak house on the edge of Knossington really isn’t that bleak.

Essential information

WHERE TO PARK Somewhere convenient on Main Street near the church in Cold Overton.

DISTANCE AND TIME Four and a half miles/an hour and 45 minutes.

HIGHLIGHTS The highest point in Rutland with corresponding panoramic views. Rolling countryside and two attractive villages.

LOWLIGHTS There’s 10 minutes on Cold Overton road but it’s a quiet country lane.

REFRESHMENTS The Wheatsheaf in Langham just down the road or the Blue Ball in nearby Braunston, or head into Oakham.

DIFFICULTY RATING Three paws. There are no particularly steep climbs but lots of undulations and plenty of stiles and gates.

THE POOCH PERSPECTIVE You may encounter some cattle and sheep on the way round and there’s not much in the way of fresh water.

For your own safety and navigation make sure you have an OS map with you when you go out walking. You won’t regret it. START/ FINISH

Knossington is perched on top of a hill.

The church of St Mary the Virgin in Castor.

Difficulty rating

THE ROUTE

ACTIVE INFO

Start by walking down Church Walk in Marholm past the sign that says ‘car access to church on Castor Road.’ You will very quickly come to the church which sits apart from the rest of the village, guarded by a stand of giant cedars of Lebanon; an impressive setting. Stay on the path as it heads south from the church with Marholm Brook on the immediate left. After three field boundaries you will come to the access road for Belsize Farm. Turn right here and then take the left fork to walk past the farm on your right hand side. From here the path enters pretty Belsize Wood for about

Marholm Church sits alone 100 metres. Turn right at the southern edge of the wood and in a field on the southern edge keep following the footpath signs as the path heads west for of the village, and is shaded by nearly a kilometre, with a couple of 90 degree turns thrown giant cedars of Lebanon that in to follow a field perimeter. date from the 18th Century. You will then cross a small wooden bridge at the edge of a

One of the finest sights in wood and turn right immediately. After another 250 metres the area. look out for the right turn to then head north along a path between two large fields. eep heading north and when you reach White’s Spinney and Brakes Wood stay on the path as it sticks to the eastern edge of the woodland. After the top of Brakes Wood bear left along the bottom of Bushy Wood and then stay on the track as it heads northwest to the road. When you get to the road turn right and head north for just under one kilometre until you reach the crossroads. Turn right and very soon you will see the footpath on the right between the hedgerows. Take this path and enjoy nature’s corridor until you are out into the open fields again. The path then winds through this peaceful landscape of arable fields and woodland for a mile, passing Foster’s Coppice (where you join the Torpel Way) and going through the bottom of Burmer Wood along the way. Turn left 100 metres after Burmer Wood and you will be back on the path to the church and Marholm beyond.

Take the left hand fork past Belsize Farm and into Belsize Wood.

Essential information

WHERE TO PARK Parking is hard to come by in Marholm but anywhere considerate in the village will work fi ne.

DISTANCE AND TIME Six miles/two hours.

HIGHLIGHTS Peaceful open countryside, lots of woodland and a striking church.

LOWLIGHTS There’s a stretch on the road but there’s not much traffi c down there.

REFRESHMENTS The Fitzwilliam Arms in Marholm.

DIFFICULTY RATING Two paws. It might be six miles but it’s almost fl at but could be muddy in parts in the winter.

THE POOCH PERSPECTIVE There are often cattle in the fi eld around the church but other than that it’s pretty much arable all the way around, but not a lot of fresh water.

For your own safety and navigation make sure you have an OS map with you when you go out walking. You won’t regret it. START/ FINISH

ActiveBody

EDITED BY KATE MAXIM

Parasi-tick creatures

GP Dr Hemal Shah explains how to prevent, identify and treat tick bites to avoid Lyme disease

TICK NUMBERS IN the UK are highest during spring and autumn. They are usually found in woodland and forests but can live anywhere damp and shady. These small parasites are members of the spider family that attach to the skin and bite. They can’t jump or y, but it’s easy to pick one up if you are walking through long grass or greenery.

Though rare, tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease can be serious. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks. If left untreated, Lyme disease can progress to more serious symptoms including persistent fatigue, neurological symptoms and in ammatory arthritis. Lyme disease is usually easier to treat if it’s diagnosed early, so identifying symptoms uickly is crucial.

Symptoms of Lyme disease

• Circular or oval shaped rash around a tick bite • Fever • Headache • Fatigue • Joint or muscle pain

GP Dr Hemal Shah explains: ‘There is nothing better than enjoying the great outdoors with your family, but if you are visiting high-risk areas such as forests, heathland, moorland, or areas occupied by sheep and deer, it’s important to check for ticks regularly. The sooner ticks are removed, the lower the risk of developing tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease, Babesiosis and hrlichiosis. Although these tick-borne diseases are rare in Britain, you should seek immediate medical attention if you begin to feel unwell after being bitten by a tick.’

How to safely remove a tick

se tweezers or a specially designed tick-removal tool available at most pharmacies • Grasp the tick as closely as possible to the skin Pull upwards, with a steady even pressure • Never twist or jerk the tick as this can risk leaving the mouthparts behind • Clean the bite with antiseptic or soapy water

How to prevent tick bites

• When visiting tick infested habitats wear long sleeved tops and long trousers, tucked into boots se an insect-repellent for ticks which contains 20-30 T or 20 Picaridin. Apply this repellent to any exposed skin and reapply it regularly as you would a sunscreen • Keep to the centre of paths and trails and try not to brush up against greenery Carry tweezers or a tick removal tool in your first-aid kit to remove ticks as uickly as possible

When to see a doctor

If you develop any symptoms of Lyme disease, consult your doctor immediately to let them know that you have been bitten, or think you might have been. Your doctor will likely prescribe a course of antibiotics if you have suspected or confirmed Lyme disease to kill the bacteria that transmit the disease.

For more information on tick bites and Lyme disease, you can learn more here:

www.livi.co.uk/your-health/tick-bites-what-you-needto-know/

The air that we breathe

Breathing, it’s what we all do to keep alive. Physio Sarah Babbs goes into more detail

BREATHING, IT SEEMS so simple, we do it without thinking. We may be aware of it after we run or exert ourselves, if we walk at high altitude or swim underwater otherwise it’s just something that happens without thought or effort. We breathe in to draw oxygen into the body to aid the cells in breaking down food for energy. This produces carbon dioxide which we expel as we breathe out. The whole system is regulated by the brain which senses when we have too much carbon dioxide on board (rather than too little oxygen as often thought).

Breathing is brought about mechanically the body is in some sort of stress. For instance you may see someone with lung disease leaning against a table if they are out of breath. This means that the small muscles around the neck and ribcage, usually used for movement of the body, can be fixed to help them assist the ribcage, thus opening up for air to enter more easily.

The other role of the diaphragm is aiding the core stability, partly supporting the spine through its coordination with the abdominal muscles and the pelvic oor muscles. These form a cylinder with a top and bottom, rather like a drinks can. Together these regulate the intra-abdominal pressure and almost work like a balloon gently supporting the spine. If the breath is held then this alters the mechanics through the central zone of the body and can affect our movements, whether it is running, reaching up to a cupboard or even just resting and trying to sit comfortably. If the pressure is too great it can cause pelvic oor problems such as incontinence when coughing or sneezing.

Sometimes when someone is in pain, especially back pain, they may find themselves using these muscles differently and often hold their breath in a bracing action. This limits the normal movement around the spine and continues a cycle of pain. You can demonstrate this by holding your breath, leaning forward and you may find that you are unable to lean far. If you then release your breath, or start again with a relaxed breath, you will be able to reach further.

We can assess how we use our breathing by placing one hand on the top of the chest and the other on the belly above the tummy button. This can be done sitting but is best done while lying comfortably on our backs. Continue to breathe normally and feel where the movement is. Is it under the top or bottom hand? See if you can make the movement equal under each hand or more into the belly than the upper chest giving you the best oxygenation and best support though the body.

Learning to breathe using the diaphragm, sometimes in a specific timing pattern, sometimes just gently breathing, can help change pain. I find I teach more about breathing than pretty much anything in clinic. Patients may find this surprising as they often expect, especially with back pain, some hands on work and movement and active exercises, but breathing is the foundation and getting the foundations right is always key.

by the muscles around our ribcage. The diaphragm is the largest muscle in the body, a thin dome shape that sits below the ribs. It attaches to the lower part of the sternum or breastbone, the lower six ribs, and the lumbar (low back) vertebrae of the spine. As we breathe in, the diaphragm attens, the ribs move outwards and the belly rises. This draws air in to the lungs as the pressure is then lower inside the ribcage than outside. Smaller muscles between the ribs, the intercostal muscles, help draw the ribs out at the same time.

There are other smaller muscles which aid respiration but these tend to be used when To contact Sarah ring 07780 900201.