ABC Magazine: Wansbeck Edition - Apr/May 2020

ABC WANSBECK EDITION | APR / MAY 2020

Established

2008

www.yourabc.co.uk

PUZZLES & RECIPES INSIDE

9 COVID-1 zine

This maga ered in has been deliv th the accordance wi t’s social UK Govenmen tructions and distancing ins h England alt He c bli Pu arding guidelines reg Coronavirus

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WELCOME TO ABC MAGAZINE Due to these unprecedented circumstances, many of our local businesses and venues have temporarily closed. As a result, this is a slightly different edition of ABC Magazine.

We have decided to focus on a selection of the fantastic small businesses in the area, and tell you a little bit more about them. We all hope this uncertain time passes quickly and, when things do return to normal, it is vital to the area that we support our small businesses and help keep the local economy going after all, these businesses are the lifeblood of the local area.

Stay safe and best wishes.

Publisher: R Wilson Advertising, PO Box 225, Bedlington, NE63 3FL www.yourabc.co.uk Email: info@yourabc.co.uk Facebook: @yourabc Twitter: @abcmagazines Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher nor the editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other clause. R Wilson Advertising does not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. All Rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of the publisher.

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LOCAL NEWS

A TRADITIONAL TASTE OF THE NORTH-EAST With over 100 recipes across the whole 12-part series, Gilli Davies’ Flavours of England provides a perfect insight into English culinary traditions and covers some of the most important recipes from the North-East of England, such as Craster Kipper Kedgeree and Gateshead floddies.

Image: © Huw Jones

E

ngland’s many culinary traditions and dishes have maintained their popularity for centuries, with recipes handed down from generation to generation and often with a personal twist or secret ingredient. National institutions such as roast meats with seasonal vegetables, a full English breakfast, or afternoon tea each have their place in fond childhood memories.

These dishes have always formed a part of families eating together and using locally sourced ingredients. Ever-popular dishes such as fish and chips are a must-have treat on day trips, never losing sight of the hearty, simple, homemade spirit of their origins, even when adapted for modern trends in gastro pubs and restaurants.

A return to traditional, fresh local fare and the tried, trusted and ever-delicious recipes of the past have naturally accompanied the resurgence of home cooking in recent years. These eight additions to the Flavours of England cookbook series are a celebration of that history and the perfect introduction to the best that the country has to offer today.

Kippers have been part of Northumberland breakfasts for over 100 years. Featured in the English Breakfast book, a part of English cuisine since the early 1300s, they make an ideally healthy and filling alternative to the full English breakfast classic full English of bacon and

sausages from a local butcher with your choice of accompaniments, both time-honoured ways to start the day off right.

Doddington cheese is made on the Maxwell’s farm in the Glendale Valley, Northumberland, where, following traditional cheesemaking techniques, the family produce a cheese similar to cheddar with a firm texture and a nutty taste. Doddington cheese is recommended for the summer vegetable and cheese crumble in the Cheese cookbook.

Singing hinnies are a Geordie classic. Named for the noise they make cooking on the griddle, these sconelike bakes are a perfect sweet treat or afternoon snack,

Gateshead Floddies

A great recipe which can be made with store cupboard staples. Up to the 19th century floddies were a popular breakfast dish in the North East, and particularly in Gateshead. They taste great when cooked in bacon fat and served with eggs and bacon. Plate them up straight from the frying pan, when they are crisp and golden brown.

‘Today England boasts a topdrawer culinary culture with cooks and chefs that celebrate the range and diversity of homegrown ingredients.’ - Gilli Davies

found in the Baking book, served warm, split and spread generously with butter.

If in need of some light refreshment in the afternoon, Afternoon Tea, popular since the nineteenth century, is the ideal combination of finger sandwiches with various delicious fillings along with essential scones with jam and cream and other delicate sweet treats, with step-by-step instructions on brewing the perfect cup of tea and a description of popular blends by Gilli.

For a filling and versatile option on the go or to enjoy as part of a sit-down meal later in the day, look no further than Pies and Pasties or Suppers and Snacks for some sensational regional snacks and lighter meals to savor. Afterwards, and as an ideal end to any of the aforementioned meals, the selection in Puddings has a sweet option to suite any palette.

Finally, the coupling of festivities and food is a perfect one, and England has a variety of days throughout the year at which to come together and share a traditional dish. From pancakes on Shrove Tuesday and distinctive hot cross buns on Good Friday to a classic Christmas pudding, be prepared to mark each celebration with a delicious English accompaniment with Festive.

Flavours of England cookbooks are compact 150 x 150mm, 48-page hardbacks, priced at £6.99 each. Available from www.graffeg.com and all good bookshops.

INGREDIENTS 350g potato, peeled 25g self-raising flour 1 medium free-range egg, beaten Salt and pepper 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or bacon fat Serves 4 METHOD ➊ Coarsely grate the potato and squeeze out any liquid by pressing between kitchen paper. ➋ Place the self-raising flour into a bowl and add the egg. Mix well.

➌ Add the potato mixture to the flour and egg, season and mixwell. ➍ Divide the mixture into 4 and shape into rounds using an 8cm pastry ring. ➎ Heat the oil in a frying pan and, when hot, add the floddies. ➏ Reduce the heat a little and fry, turning until well browned on both sides. ➐ Drain on kitchen paper.

Recipe from Flavours of England

by Gilli Davies. Available from www.graffeg.com and all good bookshops.

Image: © Huw Jones

7

Quick Puzzle Challenge

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Across: 9 Obese, 10 Amazement, 11 Relic, 12 Intrinsic, 13 Own, 14 Nahum, 15 Glassware, 16 Shrub, 18 Eagle, 22 Avalanche, 25 Forgo, 27 Net, 28 Employees, 29 Wrong, 30 Undermine, 31 Aisle. Down: 1 Soprano, 2 Wealth, 3 Newcomer, 4 Saying, 5 Last page, 6 Genius, 7 Persuade, 8 Sticker, 16 Stampede, 17 Bacteria, 19 Gift wrap, 20 Gaseous, 21 Roughen, 23 Aboard, 24 Ensued, 26 Rhoose.

Dingbats

Say-what-you-see with these rebus puzzles. They are often well known phrases or sayings, everyday objects or titles.

Down 1 Highest singing voice in women (7) 2 Affluence (6) 3 Recent arrival (8) 4 Saw (6) 5 Book end, perhaps (4,4) 6 Exceptional intellect (6) 7 Convince (8) 8 Adhesive label (7) 16 Frenzied rush (8) 17 Single-celled organisms (8) 19 Conceal with decorative paper (4,4) 20 Neither solid nor liquid (7) 21 Abrade (7) 23 Part of a group (6) 24 Followed (6) 26 Cardiff International Airport (6)

Equaliser 4

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1 2

1 2

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Place a different arithmetical sign (add, subtract, multiply, divide) in each circle so that the total of each line across and down is the same.

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2 1

1. Pie in the sky 2. Don’t Look Back in Anger 3. Pace up and down 4. A drop in the ocean

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Perform the first calculation in each line first and ignore the mathematical law which says you should always perform division and multiplication before addition and subtraction.

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Across 9 Corpulent (5) 10 Extreme surprise (9) 11 Souvenir (5) 12 Inherent (9) 13 Possess (3) 14 Hebrew minor prophet (5) 15 E.g. wine goblets (9) 16 Bush (5) 18 Double birdie (5) 22 Large mass of sliding snow (9) 25 Renounce (5) 27 Open mesh fabric (3) 28 Staff (9) 29 Mistaken (5) 30 Weaken insidiously (9) 31 Passageway (5)

9

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LOCAL NEWS

HOUSE OF HEARING

Your Team of Hearing Experts in Morpeth

A

t House of Hearing we believe that everyone should have access to high quality audiological facilities at an affordable price that suits them. Not only do we offer free hearing health assessments, (which include a hearing test in addition to a full health check of your ears) in dedicated sound proofed consulting rooms in our Morpeth clinic, we also provide wax removal services with appointments available at short notice.

All of our specialist clinicians are members of the British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists (BSHAA) and each are also registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), giving you and your family the peace of mind that you will only be seen by a fully qualified registered clinician using the latest equipment.

Our recent registration with Healthcare Improvement Scotland for our Edinburgh branch means that we are required to adhere to the highest possible standards in relation to hygiene. We have ensured that these high standards have also been implemented in our other clinics including the Morpeth practice.

Everyone produces ear wax, however if it doesn’t always manage to clear naturally and as a result can make ears feel blocked, itchy, uncomfortable, make it difficult to hear and if left untreated can lead to an ear infection. Although more common in the elderly, wax build-up is becoming a growing concern with the increased use of in-ear headphones which can trap sweat and push wax further into the ear.

It’s important to seek advice and professional assistance from an

SENIOR AUDIOLOGIST - SARAH GREGG audiological expert, such as House of Hearing to safely remove the excess wax.

In our Morpeth clinic we offer the following methods of wax removal: Microsuction – recognised as one of the safest and most effective procedures for the removal of wax, this method employs air suction and a microscope to gently remove ear wax.

Irrigation – we also offer irrigation, if your clinician believes that the wax is too wet to carry out microsuction or if you state that you would prefer this method. A controlled jet of warm water will be used to gently wash the wax out from the ear canal.

At your appointment our Senior Audiologist Sarah Gregg, will examine your ear(s) and advise on the best treatment available for you.

For the vast majority of our patients, the relief from removing the ear wax is instantaneous with

“For the vast majority of our patients, the relief from removing the ear wax is instantaneous with hearing returning to normal levels straight away”

hearing returning to normal levels straight away. Where there is any doubt that any hearing loss remains, we can carry out a screening test in minutes to establish whether you would benefit from a hearing test.

We have invested heavily in the right training and equipment so that we can help you in a safe and clinical environment.

With 50 years in the hearing profession, we really are experts in all things hearing so you can be reassured that you and your loved ones will receive the highest quality of audiological care. Why accept anything less when it comes to the health of your ears and your hearing?

At this time when our NHS is under considerable pressure, we remain open and available for short notice wax removal appointments and hearing health assessments.

To make an appointment at our Morpeth clinic at 55 Bridge Street, call 01670 201 021 or visit houseofhearing.co.uk for further information.

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AVOCADO, SMOKED SALMON & EGG CRUMPETS

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Serves 2 INGREDIENTS ⁕ 2 crumpets ⁕ 1 avocado mashed ⁕ 2 slices smoked salmon (optional) ⁕ 2 eggs poached One of the first things we notice when looking at a house is the garage, particularly the garage door. So why not transform the appearance of your home by investing in a new garage door which incorporates the very latest innovations in design, technology and security.

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METHOD ➊ Lightly toast the crumpets. ➋ Spread avocado onto crumpets and top with smoked salmon and poached eggs. ➌ Season with black pepper.

SWEET POTATO & COCONUT SOUP Serves 2 (for 2 days, freeze extra portions) INGREDIENTS ⁕ 2 large sweet potatoes ⁕ 500ml vegetable stock ⁕1 tsp red Thai curry paste ⁕ 400ml tin coconut milk

Lunch

METHOD ➊ Peel and chop sweet potatoes and cover with vegetable stock. ➋ Simmer until soft then liquidise adding more water if necessary. ➌ Stir in Thai curry paste and coconut milk and season. ➍ Optional, swirl crème fraiche on top to serve.

COD & PEA CRUSH Serves 2 INGREDIENTS ⁕ 200g frozen garden peas ⁕ butter ⁕ salt & pepper ⁕ 12 cherry tomatoes ⁕ 2 cod fillets

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CLEANING BEHIND THE SCENES IN A DENTAL PRACTICE JOANNE DUGGAN, PRINCIPAL DENTAL SURGEON AT BEDLINGTONSHIRE DENTAL PRACTICE, EXPLAINS HOW THEY KEEP CROSS INFECTION UNDER CONTROL

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ave you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of a dental practice so the dentist can use not just clean, but sterilised instruments in your mouth? Probably not before this horrific COVID-19 pandemic, but now the whole world is aware of how easy it is to spread viruses and bacteria; this is what I would term "cross infection".

"A cross infection is the transfer of harmful microorganisms, usually bacteria and viruses. The spread of infections can occur between people, pieces of equipment, or within the body. These infections can cause many complications. So, medical professionals work hard to ensure equipment safety and a clean environment1."

Although I am a dentist, I know other medical professions go through similar cross infection control measures and decontamination processes as we do in dentistry. With this in mind let me share with you what actually goes on behind the scenes at Bedlingtonshire Dental Practice.

The Holy Grail of cross infection control which dentists must comply with is a document published by the department of health called, (sorry it is a mouth full), "Decontamination Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices2."

This document prescribes the essential requirements and best practice for dentists to operate in "a safe and responsible manner with respect to decontamination of instruments and dental equipment2." Basically this document, (I'm going to call it the Holy Grail from now on), is to ensure we have a clean practice, using clean

and sterilised instruments to ensure you are safe and we are not spreading bacteria and viruses between patients.

I will take you through the journey of the instruments that have been used in your mouth; I will call these "dirty instruments" , all the way to being sterilised and ready to be used again in a new patient's mouth, "clean or sterilised instruments" .

From a patients point of view I am sure your emotion at the end of a dental appointment is a mixture of sheer relief and a want to get out of the surgery as quickly as possible, however, while you are getting out of the dental chair, putting on your coat and receiving advice from your dental professional, the nurse will already have started the decontamination process. All the used instruments are placed in a secure storage container and sealed. The dental nurse will then clean all the exposed surfaces in the surgery so it is clean for the next patient.

At Bedlingtonshire Dental Practice we are fortunate to have two rooms designated for cleaning and sterilising instruments; these are called the decontamination room and the clean room. The Holy Grail2 describes two rooms instead of one as best practice because there is physical segregation of dirty and clean instruments. This is similar to the strategy behind social isolation and shielding of our elderly and vulnerable in the control of Covid-19.

The nurse takes the box of dirty instruments into the decontamination room , washes their hands and dons their personal protective equipment, or PPE, as it is now commonly known. Before the horror of COVID-19 , I'm sure the majority of you would not have known what PPE stood for in the medical world. If you are interested in 23

politics you will know this to mean something completely different; PPE, or its full name of Philosophy, Politics and Economics is a popular degree for budding politicians, especially at Oxford university: here are some high profile names you may recognise with a PPE degree from Oxford University : Matthew Hancock, (the current Secretary of State for Health and Social Care), David and Ed Milliband, David Cameron, Ed Balls, Yvette Cooper, William Hague, Tony Benn, Ed Davey, Edwina Currie, Edward Heath, Lord Mandelson, Michael Foot, Harold Wilson to name just a few as the list is long3. Also another fact from Wikipedia3 is the former U.S. President Bill Clinton initially studied PPE at Oxford University but did not complete this degree as transferred to a different political course at Oxford4.

Boris Johnson studied at Oxford University too but read Classics5. I don't know why the term old school boy network just sprang into my mind when I researched this!

Sorry, I must abide by the rule of no politics or religion, therefore just to be clear, I am not referring to politics, philosophy or economics again when PPE is mentioned.

PPE worn by the dental nurse for the decontamination process includes disposable clinical gloves, household gloves, plastic disposable aprons, face masks, eye protection and adequate footwear2. All our clinical staff wear a set of scrubs, (a new clean set every day), and this clothing is not worn outside the practice. That's why you will never see us coming to work, popping out to the shops at lunch time, or going home in our scrubs, as we always change into our civvies before we leave the building. The only exception is when going on a home visit; we change into a new clean set of scrubs to visit the patient, then change out of them on our return. These scrubs are then classed as contaminated and have to be washed before we can wear them again. All clinical staff also have dedicated footwear which they only wear 24

whilst inside the practice. (Our staff room is full of shoes, clothes and scrubs!)

Once in the decontamination room the dirty instruments are transferred into a washer-disinfector, which is akin to your dishwasher at home. Washerdisinfectors are used to carry out the processes of cleaning and disinfecting the instruments in an automated cycle consisting of 5 stages: Flush – removes “difficult” gross contamination, including blood, tissue debris, bone fragments and other fluid and solid debris, (sorry if you are squeamish).

Wash – removes any remaining soil. Mechanical and chemical processes loosen and break up contamination sticking to the instrument surface.

Detergents are used in this process .

Rinse – removes detergent used during the cleaning process.

Thermal disinfection – the temperature in the washer- disinfector is raised to 90oC for 1 minute.

Drying – The chamber of the washer is purged with heated air to remove any moisture.

·· ·· ·· ·· ··

After this cleaning process, which takes about 45 minutes, the instruments are taken out of the washer disinfector and inspected under an illuminated magnifying glass to confirm they are spotlessly clean. Effective cleaning of the dirty instruments before sterilisation is of the utmost importance to reduce the risk of transmission of bacteria and viruses. After the instruments have been though the washer disinfector, although clean, cannot be used on patients just yet. The instruments still need to be sterilised and to do this the nurse passes them through a hatch into the "clean room." The nurse then takes off their PPE in the correct manor. Gloves are removed first

“At Bedlingtonshire Dental Practice we are fortunate to have two rooms designated for cleaning and sterilising instruments”

(so they end up inside out), then the plastic disposable apron, then the face mask and finally the eye protection and disposed of appropriately in the clinical waste. The nurse washes their hands thoroughly before leaving the decontamination room to go into the clean room.

As its name suggests, only cleaned or sterilised instruments are allowed in the clean room. This rule is strictly obeyed; we want no viruses or bacteria to contaminate anything in this room. The nurse on entering this room will wash their hands again and put on new clean PPE. The instruments are placed into an autoclave which will sterilise them; this is like a steam cooker. There are 4 elements needed to sterilise the instruments and these are steam, temperature, pressure and time and their parameters needs to be correct every time. For example to sterilise instruments successfully they need to be in the steam at a temperature of 134oC, under 2 bar of pressure for 3 minutes. The cycle time depends on how quickly the autoclave heats up and cools down, builds pressure and decompresses, but this takes approximately 30 - 40 minutes for our machines. When the autoclave has successfully completed its cycle the sterilised instruments are taken out, allowed to cool down, dried, and inspected again under another magnifying light to ensure they are spotlessly clean.

The sterilised instruments are now placed into pouches that are sealed, signed, dated and stored for up to a year in clean areas of the practice. Once the expiry date (a year from sterilisation), is exceeded, the instruments have to go through the whole process again, ( both the washer - disinfector and autoclave), even if they have not been used.

Only if all the above procedures are correctly followed are instruments allowed back in the surgery to be used on patients.

HOW DO YOU REALLY KNOW YOUR DENTIST IS PERFORMING ALL OF THESE CROSS INFECTION CONTROL MEASURES?

I'm sure you have heard of the Care Quality Commission, or CQC. They are the regulator of dental practices and their role is to protect you as the patient.

Bedlingtonshire

Dental Practice

The CQC inspect dental practices to check whether they meet the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations.

Bedlingtonshire Dental Practice was inspected in January this year, led by a CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser. The CQC inspectors wanted to get to "the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment6", and asked the following five questions: • Are we safe? • Are we effective? • Are we caring? • Are we responsive to people’s needs? • Are we well-led? The inspection lasted approximately 7 hours; to say they were thorough in their inspection is an understatement as no stone was left unturned; staff were interviewed, (or some could say interrogated), resulting in quite a stressful day for all. However I am delighted and very proud to say the CQC confirmed we are doing everything correctly and we received a great report. Now if you really are bored during self-isolation and are looking for something to occupy your time then you can find and read our report at; https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-1386626842.

In this article I have outlined only a minute part of the cross infection control procedures dental practices follow. Apologies to any of you reading this whom are dentally trained, as you will know how much of the Holy Grail2 I have omitted, but the fact is there was just too much to fit into this article without filling the whole magazine and sending the reader to sleep! Infection control includes all aspects of the running of a dental practice: from correct training of staff, attention to personal hygiene, hand hygiene, masks, protective clothing, to the cleaning and sterilization of instruments and the maintenance of the equipment, to validation of all these processes, audits, and record keeping of all the above. The unseen role of the dental nurse behind the scenes of a dental practice is much more critical than you could ever imagine; they display dedication and professionalism to ensure we have vital cross infection control.

30 Front Street East, Bedlington, NE22 5AA Tel: 01670 828402 www.bedlingtonshiredental.co.uk

References: 1. https://www.healthline.com/health/cross-infection 2. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/decontamination-in-primary-care-dental-practices 3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_University_of_Oxford_people_with_PPE_degrees#Broadcasters,_journalists,_media_(UK) 4. “The most successful and famous alumni from each Oxford College”. Business Insider. Retrieved 2017-04-08.

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson 6. https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-1386626842

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bedlingtonshire dental practice AFFORDABLE, HIGH QUALITY PRIVATE DENTISTRY

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If you’re unhappy with your smile or would like a routine check up, then please call us to arrange an appointment

30 Front Street East, Bedlington, Northumberland, NE22 5AA

01670 828402

www.bedlingtonshiredental.co.uk

CHOPPINGTON SOCIAL WELFARE CENTRE

Pilates Class

Every Wednesdays 6pm - 7pm with Gill Glass

Certified Pilates Instructor Pilates, Level 3

Football Coaching

for Year 1 kids - boys & girls We are looking to form some under 7 teams for next season. It will be free of charge at Choppington Social Welfare Centre. Experienced Coaches on hand who are all DBS checked.

Refreshments Hot & Cold available from on site Café.

Sequence Dance Group

Sunday & Tuesday 7pm - 10pm

Come along & enjoy an evening in the company of a lovely friendly group of people.

Line Dancing

Monday, Friday & Saturday 7pm to 10.30pm

Come along and Line Dance to traditional music or dance to the latest pop music.

Veteran Snooker Teams Players Wanted!

Wansbeck Voices Choir

Meet every Thursday 7.00 till 9.00pm

Carpet Bowls

Wednesdays 7pm to 9.30pm Joyce & Alec are looking for new members to come along & enjoy the company of their bowls group.

For more information on these groups & all the other activities taking place in the Centre

Call Neal on 01670 822028 or email: neal@choppington.org

Fernlea Drive, Scotland Gate, Choppington NE62 5SS www.choppington.org

LOCAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

Interior Inspiration BRIGHTEN UP YOUR HOME WITH THE HELP OF MAPLE TEXTILES

Maple Textiles, based on Wallsend High Street, are a family-run business with over 45 years-worth of experience in the soft furnishings industry.

The name originates from the location of their very first branch, which was based on Maple Street in Ashington.

The original Ashington store closed a few years ago, as has their Whitley Bay branch, as their focus moved to online sales as their flagship store in the heart of Wallsend which is still going strong.

The one common thread throughout their 45 years in business has been their staff. They are still very much a family business, and every member of staff who joins the team at Maple Textiles share their passion for fabrics and soft furnishings. They are all trained in house by experts in the field, and their knowledge and enthusiasm is what sets Maple Textiles apart.

In store and on line you will find a fantastic range of soft furnishings including cushion covers, throws, ready made curtains, swags, cushions, curtain poles, tiebacks, table cloths, window sets, lace blinds and much more.

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hotels, nursing homes, public houses, landlords, schools, local authority, and housing associations and offer a full fitting service.

You can browse their huge range of soft furnishings on line or visit their Wallsend store, where the staff at Maple Textiles are happy to offer their extensive knowledge and advice to help you furnish your beautiful home.

Shop online today at www.mapletextiles.co.uk or, if you have any queries, please don't hesitate to contact the team on 0191 2638424 and they will be happy to help.

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OUR FAMILY RUN BUSINESS, WITH OVER 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, CAN HELP YOU FURNISH A BEAUTIFUL HOME

VISIT US TO VIEW OUR WIDE RANGE OF: READYMADE CURTAINS s VOILES s NETS TIEBACKS s CURTAIN POLES s CUSHION COVERS Our bespoke curtain making service offers a wide range of designs including chenilles, damasks and printed designs to finish your windows beautifully.

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ENJOY YOUR CONSERVATORY ALL YEAR ROUND If you’re fed up with your conservatory being either freezing cold or blistering hot, then Thermos Roof have the answer

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onservatories have become synonymous with the traditional English home.

The first ever Conservatory in the UK was constructed in 1825 and to date there are now approximately 4 million. It is estimated that they can add up to 5% to the value of your property, which makes it a significant asset to your home.

Conservatories are a fantastic space to enjoy whilst looking out onto your garden, they are bright, spacious and give you a great sense of closeness to the outdoors.

However, as most conservatory owners will know that, whilst they bring all of those benefits, it is usually short lived and can only be enjoyed for 2 months of the year, the rest of those months being either freezing cold or blisteringly hot.

Thermosroof have been insulating conservatory roofs since 2005 for two main reasons, the first to increase its insulating performance and secondly to enhance its internal aesthetic appearance.

Experience will have shown you that in the winter as soon as you open the door the heat is sucked out of your room into the conservatory, and during the summer it becomes a dazzling sauna that’s so hot you need a fan to cool you down. At Thermosroof they can transform your conservatory from a room you barely use into a room that you can enjoy all year round because the temperature is comfortable and constant, you will even be able to watch TV or use a Computer without sunglasses.

What is most impressive is that they can do this all in one day! With no mess!

They retain your existing polycarbonate or glass roof and insulate it form the inside, finishing 30

it in an attractive gloss white tongue and groove PVC cladding that matches perfectly with the rest of your conservatory construction. The materials they use are lightweight therefore no roof strengthening is required, no planning application is necessary and no long periods of mess & upheaval in your home. in addition to this the look and finish of your Thermosroof will be as fresh in 10 years as it is now.

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They can install a Thermosroof to conservatories of any size or shape transforming them into a flowing extension of your living space wherein its use is not dictated by the external weather conditions, it will become warm in winter and cool in summer.

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rain, noise and serve to cover up an unsightly dirty roof. The gloss white finish will make it brighter in the evenings by reflecting light and will give your conservatory that WOW factor making it a great place to relax or work.

All installations come with a 5 year warranty and they guarantee that you will be amazed with both the improved appearance and the insulating performance of your new roof.

The team offer a free quotation service for the installation of your Thermosroof and should you require it we can also undertake maintenance works to repair or replace gutters, fascias, soffits, window sills, roof panels and leaking roofs.

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LOCAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

YOU CAN BE HAPPY AT HOME

Introducing ‘Happy at Home’, a service which provides dedicated home support & friendship

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appy at Home specialises in providing a safe, dedicated home support & friendship service. Our lovely team of ‘Happy Pals’ as we like to call them, are hand selected to ensure that our service is delivered in an exceptional way. It’s really important that our Happy Pals are dedicated professionals who are friendly, presentable, reliable, punctual, caring and hard-working, because what we want most of all we is for your dedicated Happy Pal to become your trusted friend.

Much more than a friendly face Your dedicated Happy Pal will visit you as often as you like to offer support and friendship. A friendly face and companion to support you with daily activities is often what is required to enhance your life and wellbeing. Happy Pals very often become trusted friends with our clients, someone that they can easily chat to, discuss things and share thing with, both at home and when out and about.

Your dedicated Happy Pal will be someone who is genuinely able to share your interests, from card

and puzzle games through to sport, cookery, knitting, shopping and much more besides. Spending time with someone who understands you and is genuinely interested in your life, hobbies, interests and other things that are special to you, is most important.

Flexible one to one support Our service can be tailored to deliver exactly what you want it to, be that a relatively short visit every day, weekly trips for community activities, concentrated care for a short holiday, or a one-off whilst your usual carer has to have a break.

We are here to Help Here are just a few of the typical activities that our Happy Pals can do with you: ·· Go to the shops for you to buy essentials such as food ·· Visit the bank ·· Household chores ·· Walk the dog ·· Food and clothes shopping ·· Crafts & hobbies ·· Visiting the coffee shop or pub ·· Transport and company to

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go to medical and dental appointments Visits to the gym or leisure centre Help with paperwork, emails and TV controls

Peace of Mind Your Happy Pal will be dedicated to you, meaning that you see the same happy face on each and every visit.

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ke o p s be ains curt

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QUALITY, BESPOKE GATES & RAILINGS

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A FAMILY RUN BUSINESS TRADING SINCE 2008

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LOCAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

EnhanceYour View

Whether you’d like shutters, blinds, curtains, or any motorised window covering Contour Blinds and Shutters will have a type and design that is ideal for you.

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ood quality blinds are an investment so it is worth bringing in an expert who can measure your space and give advice on all possible options.

Leading North East window blind supplier and manufacturer Contour Blinds and Shutters offer a no obligation quotation and free measuring and fitting, so you know exactly what to expect.

Established in 1995, Contour Blinds and Shutters are a family run business who pride themselves on their prompt and professional made to measure service as well as their extensive range of high quality and affordable blinds for the home and workplace. As a manufacturer Contour Blinds employ local people ensuring quality and service.

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Vertical blinds are a practical, classic solution appropriate for all rooms. Privacy can be achieved

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whilst still allowing full light control.

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Contour Blinds and Shutters are the leading supplier and fitters of Shutters in the North East and will provide a professional service for all options.

Motorisation makes it even easier to operate your blinds. You can open and close your blinds with the touch

MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH BLINDS & SHUTTERS ASSOCIATION (BBSA)

of a button, and they are completely child safe. Motorised blinds are perfect for skylights and other hard to reach windows in your home or office. Home automation – which is compatible with systems such as Alexa and Google Assistant – improves security and ease of use as well as protecting furnishings.

Pleated and cellular blinds offer great control and insulation and are a popular choice in conservatories, sunrooms and porches where there are lots of windows and doors.

Contour Blinds and Shutters are also the only accredited manufacturer of Perfect Fit™ International roof blinds in the North East.

Contour Blinds and Shutters also offer an extensive selection

“Contour Blinds and Shutters pride themselves on their prompt and professional made to measure service as well as their extensive range of high quality and affordable blinds.” of Roman Blinds, Curtains, Poles, Tracks and accessories. If you’re looking for inspiration to brighten up your home or want to see more of their ranges, why not visit one of their two showrooms in Benton and Whitley Bay or ask them to come to you with free expert advice.

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LOCAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

GIVE SOMEONE POWER OF ATTORNEY… BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE Lasting Powers of Attorney are invaluable documents as part of the overall planning of your estate as managing your financial affairs can become more difficult as you get older. If a person is unable to manage their affairs due to mental incapacity and they have not made a valid Enduring or Lasting Power of Attorney, their assets will be frozen as no one (including their spouse and children) has the authority to deal with them.

At this point someone will need to apply to the Court of Protection to be appointed as the person’s Deputy. The Court will then authorize the Deputy to deal with the person’s affairs in a certain manner. This is a very time consuming (around 6 months) and expensive (in the region of £1,750) process. This situation can be simply avoided through the making of a Lasting Power of Attorney.

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Personal Welfare

This power gives your attorney the authority to make decisions regarding your healthcare and medical treatment.

Property and Affairs

This power enables your attorney to deal with your bank accounts and your property. This includes decisions in relation to selling or renting your property, paying your bills, applying for benefits you are entitled to and all aspects of dealing with your bank accounts, savings and investments.

All work we undertake is at fixed fees: Single Property and Affairs Lasting Power of Attorney: £300 inclusive of VAT Double Property and Affairs Lasting Power of Attorney (suitable for couples): £420 inclusive of VAT Single Will: £120 inclusive of VAT Mirror Will: £180 inclusive of VAT It is imperative that specialist advice is taken in order to ensure that the power given accurately reflects your wishes.

Call Crichton Wills Trusts & Probate on 01670 514772 and speak to a specialist adviser today who will be happy to discuss any concerns you may have and offers a free no obligation appointment in the comfort of your own home.

55 Beaumont Court, Pegswood, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 1BF

Price of Family Trust £1,740 (inc. VAT)

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LOCAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

CREATING BEAUTIFUL KITCHENS & BATHROOMS Signature Kitchens, Bathrooms and Tiles offer a unique combination of products, expertise and excellent customer service

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ignature Kitchens, Bathrooms and Tiles is a family run business, supplying and creating beautiful bathroom and kitchens from their showroom in Whitley Bay for almost seven years.

Signature offer supply only or full installation, and the showroom has 3D planning, meaning they can fully project manage your home improvement using fully qualified plumbers, electricians and plasters.

Their experienced team of fitters work alongside apprentices. Signature feel strongly about giving local apprentices on the job training and development on all aspects of fitting bathrooms and kitchens so they can go on to become first class fitters in the future. As a small business they feel it’s important to give opportunity’s to apprentices and create jobs and support the local economy.

They have recently updated their showroom to include Bedrooms, which are of the same high quality as the kitchens and bathrooms Signature has become synonymous with.

They offer a range of finishes and a

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great choice of some of the latest trends and designs, as well as expert adviceto ensure you make the right choices for you project.

Signature like to think that when customers choose them it’s not only their unique combination of products and expertise, it is also because of their excellent customer service, which helps to make your dream bathroom, kitchen or bedroom transformation a painless process. Their friendly team are always on hand to give advice and help when needed. By visiting their showroom, you can see a huge range of displays with something for everyone and every budget. They also take the hassle out of your home improvements by offering not only the goods but a second to none fitting service. So, by coming to Signature Kitchens, bathrooms and tiles you can get a service from start

KITCHEN • BATHROOM • TILE

to finish or simply let them supply your goods and you can fit them yourself. The decision is yours.

During the current climate they are still here offering their services. They also take on smaller projects so, if you’re in need of assistance, just give them a call on 0191 2535111 and one of the friendly team will help.

1a Burnside Road, Whitley Bay, NE25 8PW Tel: 0191 253 5111 www.signaturekitchensbathroomsandtiles.co.uk

NOW R C EATING YOUR E P RFECT BEDROOM

KITCHEN • BATHROOM • TILE

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LOCAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

PARLEZ VOUS FRANÇAIS? If you fancy learning a new language, Barbara from Lingua Forme is on hand to help, explains Margery Wilson Do you set off on holiday to sunnier climes hoping that the hotel staff, waiters, shop assistants, bar staff, etc. all speak English?

I always promise myself that I’ll learn a few words, even if it’s just ‘please’ and ‘thank you’, but I never seem to get round to it (and anyway I’m too old to go back to school I tell myself!)

Yes, I’m one of the vast army of tourists who use the excuses ‘learning a language is too hard; learning a language will take too long; everyone speaks English don’t they’ to justify my lack of positive action!

Learning a new language can be a very fulfilling experience, whether it is something you want to do as a family, are a regular traveler looking to increase your language range, a mature couple retiring abroad, or if you are simply keen to learn.

Another myth is that everyone speaks English – I had a comical experience whilst on holiday abroad trying to buy an ankle support in a pharmacy. Believe me, there is only so much you can indicate with hand gestures!! If you like to visit destinations which are somewhat off the beaten track, you may discover few or no English speakers.

With this in mind, let us introduce you to Barbara, owner of Lingua Forme, a French conversation classes for Adults business. Barbara is a fully qualified teacher of French with has several years’ experience.

She has lived and taught in France, in Metz situated in the beautiful Lorraine region. There are about 220 million French-speakers worldwide, so French really can be a ‘Lingua Franca’.

If you were taught French at school, you may remember it as a less than enjoyable time, sitting in rows chanting phrases and declining verbs on end. If you have been away from school for a number of 42

“Barbara runs classes in Morpeth and Seaton Sluice, covering all levels from beginners to advanced.” years you may feel embarrassed to be back in a learning situation and unwilling to take the first step. It can take a lot of courage to go through the door for the first time but the effort will be well worth while. For these reasons, let her explain how she runs her sessions.

“We sit round a table in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere and share knowledge, chat and exchange news. Learning is not confined to any one method but encompasses books, handouts, videos and CD’s.

We also play games and learn in a supportive atmosphere where NO question is a stupid question (often the question YOU ask is what other people wanted to know but couldn’t pluck up the courage to ask.) So, all you need to become a proficient French speaker is dedication, hard work and a willingness to learn (and with a lot of laughs sprinkled through the sessions).”

Barbara also runs extra classes for A level, GCSE and one-to-one

tuition, just call her to discuss availability and times.

Barbara is presently running classes in Seaton Sluice, Whitley Bay and Morpeth, covering all levels from beginners to advanced, so please get in touch if you are interested. At the classes you watch videos, listen to CDs and play games, all aimed at making learning fun. The classes are all aimed at putting you at ease and making you want to learn. At Linga Forme no question is a stupid question.

Learning a new language increases your knowledge, challenges you, helps you develop new skills, as well as increasing your confidence and self-esteem.

So, why not impress your friends, family and the hotel and restaurant staff on your next visit to the country – it is never too late to learn French!

For more information contact: Barbara on 07946115256, email barbara@linguaforme.co.uk or visit www.linguaforme.co.uk

Northumbria

Flooring & Furniture

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www.northumbriaflooring.co.uk

01670 368811

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FREE MEASURING & ADVICE · EXPERT IN HOUSE FITTING SERVICE

Winner of Flooring Retailer of the Year 2019 North East Division

LOCAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

BUY THE KILO

Tynemouth’s first zero waste, plastic-free food and household products store celebrates it’s first anniversary

L

ocated in the heart of the community, in units on Platform 1 at Tynemouth Metro Station, Buy The Kilo is is Tynemouth’s first zero waste, plastic-free dried foods and household products store. Having recently celebrated their first-year anniversary, Jackie, Rachael, recently back from maternity leave, and their super team are looking forward to continuing their mission throughout 2020 and beyond.

They sell everyday food staples like flour, pasta and cereals as well as a large range of herbs and spices. With over 300 products available, Buy The Kilo allows customers to do the bulk of their weekly shop plastic-free.

They encourage customers to bring their own clean containers to refill what they need rather than over-buying and potentially creating unnecessary food waste.

With a range of refillable cleaning products including multi-surface cleaner, liquid hand soap and washing up liquid, customers are reusing plastic containers that would otherwise go in the recycling bin or to landfill. They have a large range of plastic-free toiletries such as soap, razors and dental products to start making those small changes that will help reduce single-use plastic.

The store’s art gallery shows artists’ work that highlights the blight of plastic waste on the environment. With interesting work always on show, it is another reason to pay a visit.

Jackie Sewell, co-founder, is an established artist that has worked in this area for a number of years.

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“WITH OVER 300 PRODUCTS AVAILABLE, BUY THE KILO ALLOWS CUSTOMERS TO DO THE BULK OF THEIR WEEKLY SHOP PLASTIC-FREE” Her ‘Retail Mat’ is on permanent display: a ‘clippy’ or ‘proggy’ mat made with colourful plastic bags recycled from previous artworks.

The work highlights an old form of recycling: repurposing unusable textiles into beautiful household mats.

The store is also a weekly collection point for The Paddock’s organic veg boxes.

Pick your own or select one of their seasonal boxes, their goods come in paper bags.

Buy The Kilo’s customers have saved tens of thousands of pieces of plastic being disposed of. The team hopes that more and more locals will use the store to reduce their plastic footprint.

Unit 3 The Sidings, Platform 1, Tynemouth Metro Station, Tynemouth, NE30 2TF * hello@buy-the-kilo.com

buy_the_kilo @buythekilo

Dawn Lang Funeral Services YOUR LOCAL INDEPENDENT FUNERAL DIRECTOR • 24 HOUR SERVICE

Covering Ashington, Morpeth and Bedlington areas You can tailor any of our funeral packages. You can also pre-pay for peace of mind.

Either pay now or in 12 monthly instalments with no additional instalment costs. Longer terms are available.

POPULAR CHOICE FUNERAL

£2,295

• Professional Fees • Doctors Fees • Care of Deceased • Hearse • Crematorium Fees • Humanist • Classic Coffin & Nameplate • Pall Bearers • Ashes Tube or Casket Limousine can be added for an additional £150

Also available: Direct to Crematorium package £1,495

• Professional fees • Doctors Fees

TRADITIONAL • Care of Deceased • Chapel of Rest • Crematorium Fees • Pall Bearers FUNERAL

£2,895

• Traditional Coffin & Nameplate • Humanist/Minister • Order of Service • Hearse & 1 x Limousine

Also available: Horse Drawn Hearse package £3,595

£100 DISCOUNT ON ALL FUNERALS if accounts are settled prior to the funeral

We provide prepaid Funeral Plans

Call 01670 457 575 for help or advice at any time 73 Station Road, Ashington, NE63 8RS www.dawnlangfuneralservices.co.uk

NewSpace

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Tel: 0797 3957 481 or 07931 801 472

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LOCAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

LOOKING AFTER RESIDENTS & EMPLOYEES ALIKE Eothen Homes are of the firm belief that if they look after their staff then, in turn, the staff will provide the best quality care for the residents at each of their homes.

E

othen Homes is a Christian organisation focused on providing a very personalised and flexible care since 1950. Residents’ needs are of the utmost importance to them, with the team striving to provide the very best lifestyle based on each person’s abilities, interests and background.

As well as providing exceptional care for their residents, the needs of their employees are also vitally important to Eothen Homes. They look to recruit the best possible staff members and, by being part of the Real Living Wage Scheme, they let all potential new recruits know that they are as passionate about their workforce as they are about their residents.

Eothen Homes are of the firm belief that if they look after their staff then, in turn, the staff will provide the best quality care for the residents at each of their homes.

The Real Living Wage is set by an independent organisation which bases its hourly rate on the actual cost of living – in the North East this is currently £9.30 per hour.

As a registered charity, committing to the real living wage was a significant business decision for the company, but one they were keen to make so they could invest in their staff and give them the financial reward they deserve.

Care workers are often portrayed as low skilled, which determines the pay across the sector. Eothen Homes

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can’t change this as it is set by the government. But they can ensure they show how much they value their staff’s skills and commitment by paying them this real living wage.

Due to an ageing population, residents come to Eothen later in life or stay with them for longer, and their health often deteriorates physically and mentally. This means their staff have to be fully trained and competent to deal with individual needs right through to end of life, and this brings with it a series of physical and emotional challenges.

The amazing staff tackle these challenges head-on, and show an incredible amount of passion for their job.

They care for their residents like they were their own family. Their work deserves to be rewarded with a decent rate of pay.

Being a Real Living Wage employer has given them a platform to stand out in the health & social care sector, and has helped us them attract and retain a wonderful workforce, making Eothen Homes an employer of choice.

If you are interested in finding our more about a career with Eothen Homes, use any of the contact details below.

Tel: 0191 2390041 recruitment@eothenhomes.org.uk www.eothenhomes.org.uk

PODIATRY PODIATRY

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