ABC Magazine: Wansbeck Edition, April - May 2021

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WANSBECK EDITION | APRIL / MAY 2021

Established

2008

PUZZLES INSIDE

It’s all about the dog at Doggy Days Creche Booking a Staycation?

Try Crawford House

WELCOME ABOARD with United Group Travel A S H I N GTO N | STAKEFORD | PEGSWOOD | & S UR ROUN D I N G A R E A1S

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WELCOME TO ABC MAGAZINE Welcome to the Wansbeck edition of ABC, your bi-monthly local magazine.

ABC is distributed free of charge to thousands of homes in Ashington, Stakeford, Pegswood and surrounding areas. You can also read it online, visit www.yourabc.co.uk for more information.

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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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A D V E RT I S I N G F E AT U R E

WELCOME ABOARD!

INTRODUCING UNITED GROUP TRAVEL LTD Right now we all need something to look forward to, and a UK coach break could be just the ticket!

Local coach tourism experts Graham Wright and John Hindhaugh have started their own coach tour company and are taking bookings now.

Graham explains more...

John and I have worked in the coach tourism industry as drivers for many years, the last few spent as tour drivers for the same local North East coach holiday company, until the Global pandemic had a catastrophic effect on our industry, with many companies going out of business.

Over the years, on our numerous tours both abroad and in the UK, we have built up a fantastic relationship with many of our passengers, and are lucky to call many of them friends. They really appreciated our experience and knowledge of the places we visited, to the extent that a lot of passengers started asking who the driver would be before they actually booked a tour with the company.

It was during a conversation with one of our friends that the question was asked about starting our own company doing our own holidays, so here we are.

We have put all our years’ experience and knowledge to good use while planning our exclusive tours. All the tours are exceptional value for money, and we only select the best-established quality hotels, that are generally either known to us, or we have previously used before.

The specific day trips on each tour are also carefully created, all based on our knowledge as well as any relevant previous customer feedback and suggestions to ensure they are always enjoyed. The trips do not leave the hotel too early, or return too late, so as to allow everyone to make full use of the facilities of the chosen hotel.

Guaranteed free time as well as entertainment are also key factors that we take into account to try and make a tour as pleasurable an experience possible.

In such a short space of time, from the initial concept, we have managed to make massive progress. During this current difficult time we all need something to

John Hindhaugh and Graham Wright

“Book with confidence. We have been granted a COVID-19 Industry Standard Certificate and if your tour is cancelled due to the COVID restrictions you will receive a full refund.” look forward to, and we currently have a wide range of fantastic tours in Great Britain. Our advert on the opposite page shows you what’s on offer, with more to follow!

You can rest assured that you can book with confidence with us. We have been granted a COVID-19 Industry Standard Certificate which shows government and industry COVID-19 guidelines are followed. Plus, if your tour is cancelled due to the COVID restrictions, you will receive a full refund.

We look forward to welcoming you aboard!

■ United Group Travel Ltd Telephone: 01670 632460 / 07957 141654 www.unitedgrouptravel.com Facebook: United Group Travel Ltd E mail: graham.john.unitedgrouptravel@gmail.com Company no. 13052351

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John & Graham

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Delightful Devon 30th June £595pp* Murder Mystery 16th July £225pp* Potters Resort All Inclusive! 17th September £389pp Three Shire’s 16th August £325pp* Lest We Forget 29th October £295pp* Christmas Markets Shopper 19th November £269pp* Turkey and Tinsel 3rd December £275pp* *plus single room supplement

See website or call for more tours / information

www.unitedgrouptravel.com 01670 632 460 \ 07957 141 654

7

LOCAL NEWS

Big Names to Headline Mouth of the Tyne Once Again LIMITED TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE FOR THE POPULAR TYNEMOUTH FESTIVAL After the postponement of last years event, the Mouth of the Tyne Festival is back this summer, and Keane and Lighthouse Family are the first artists officially confirmed for this year’s event.

Both acts were due to perform last year but, due to the pandemic, along with all festivals scheduled in 2020, the event was cancelled.

Multi award-winning British rock band Keane have sold over 13 million records worldwide and are best known for hits including ‘Everybody’s Changing’, ‘Somewhere Only We Know’ and ‘This Is The Last Time’. Their album Hopes and Fears remains one of the best-selling albums in UK chart history. They will play Tynemouth Priory and Castle on Thusday 8 July 2021, plus special guests Cattle & Cane and Eliza Shaddad.

The Lighthouse Family was formed in Newcastle in the early 90s by Tunde Baiyewu and Paul

Tucker who met while studying at university and working at the same bar.

Their debut album Ocean Drive sold more than 1.8 million copies in the UK alone and they are known for huge hits like ‘Lifted’, ‘Ocean Drive’, ‘Raincloud’ and ‘High’. The pop duo will perform at Tynemouth Priory and Castle on Saturday 10 July 2021 along with special guests PP Arnold and Georgie.

The Mouth of the Tyne Festival attracts more than 100,000 visitors each year and, not only plays host to household names, it also gives local artists a platform to showcase their talents.

The festival, now in its 16th year, takes place in Tynemouth and features spectacular outdoor concerts at Tynemouth Priory and Castle, free world-class street entertainment, a jazz stage, children’s pageant, activities in Tynemouth Station and much more.

Tickets purchased for last years event remain valid for the new dates. Limited tickets for Keane and Lighthouse Family are on sale now and cost £49.50. They are available from www.ticketmaster. co.uk and www.seetickets.com.

For further information see www.mouthofthetynefestival.com.

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Holistic Therapies

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We stock a range of candles, wax melts, bath salts, soaps, bath foam, shower gels from Jogaflows Harvyn range. Incense sticks, bath melts, gifts, magic pants, ladies clothes and so much more!

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A wide range of beauty therapies including Brow Treatments, Eyelash Extensions & Nails are available from our two beauty therapists who operate from the studio, as well as a Make-up artist for those long awaited night outs!

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE OR CONTACT US USING THE DETAILS BELOW

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HOME

WHEN NOT TO DIY Some DIY jobs are better done by professionals

You may have no other choice than to call in the professionals to ensure some tricky household jobs are done safely, properly and legally. We tell you what you shouldn’t attempt yourself.

Many homeowners are discovering advantages to buying homes that are in various stages of completion.

Instead of hiring professionals to complete the house, some amateur DIY-ers are discovering basic homebuilding skills. As long as the work meets standard building codes, a homeowner can often see substantial savings over the same work performed by licensed professionals.

But not every task is suitable for a competent but fledgling DIY-er. Due to the specialised skills required to do the job, you may have no other choice but to call in the professionals to make sure the job is done safely, properly and legally.

Here are a few situations where you will most likely need to call in the professionals for a home repair job.

ELECTRICAL WIRING OF ANY KIND Never attempt electrical work yourself as the consequences of a mistake can be incredibly serious.

Rewiring a room, fitting new lighting fixtures, and fitting fuse boards should all be undertaken by a qualified electrician to meet the extremely high standards required by law.

According to the law, most electrical work in homes will need to be carried out by an electrician who is registered under a government approved scheme, such as the National Inspection for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC). The alternative for those doing DIY electrics, is for electrical work to be checked by local authority building control at a cost of around £120.

Despite this tough new law over 70 per cent of householders questioned still felt confident to tackle DIY electrical tasks. If you are one of the majority, you are breaking the law and may come across problems when you come to sell your property.

SUPPORTING BRICKWORK Professionals should do any brickwork that is not merely decorative. At first glance, brickwork may appear to be one of the easiest construction jobs around. But, as any professional bricklayer will tell you, the job can be overloaded with dangers.

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Professionals have the proper tools and techniques to prevent collapse due to improper alignment. If the job involves load-bearing structures, installation procedures must be followed to the letter, which usually means leaving the project in the hands of experienced workers.

INACCESSIBLE PLUMBING JOBS Many DIY-ers discover that simple plumbing repairs are completely within their scope of ability. Replacing a leaky toilet for example, is an involved process but not overly complicated. Pipes for drains and sinks are standard sizes and will come off with traditional wrenches without much effort.

Many drainage problems can be solved with relative ease. But this may lead to a false sense of security.

Flooding and excessive water damage can be two of many problems associated with improper plumbing repairs.

Much like electricity, you can’t always be sure that all the connections are closed before you begin a major repair. Professionals should handle any plumbing job that involves a broken pipe that you can’t see or reach. They have several methods of finding hidden breaks in pipes and know how to repair them with little collateral damage.

GAS LINES ARE STRICTLY FOR THE PROS There are no exceptions. Again, installations not fitted by a registered professional are illegal and potentially extremely dangerous. Never consider fitting or repairing a boiler or gas fire yourself and always ensure that you use a Gas Safe Registered Engineer.

ROOFING REPAIR Any repairs to the structure of the roof should be left to those who can accurately measure the proper angles needed for load bearing. You can undertake any routine repair work but professional roofers should handle anything involving the actual frame of the roof.

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ADVERTISING FE ATURE

BOOKING A STAYCATION? TRY CRAWFORD HOUSE With 2021 being labelled the year for staycations in the UK, we have the perfect cosy getaway, Crawford House in Morpeth, Northumberland.

Crawford House is a two bedroom holiday home situated alongside the River Wansbeck.

We are Lisa and Mark and we started up Crawford House in the autumn of 2019, after moving out of the home due to our little family expanding. At the time we decided to keep the house on as a holiday home instead of selling, to see if we enjoyed the experience of being holiday home owners. Fast forward 18 months and, despite the pandemic, we still love the joys Crawford House brings us.

We have spoken to, and met some lovely guests over that time, and have had the pleasure of sharing our home with them.

We strive to ensure our guests have a 5 star experience when they come to stay with us, and the testimonials on our website demonstrate how our guests feel about their stay with us.

Morpeth is a great location to base yourself if you are wishing to explore what the rest of Northumberland has to offer you. Crawford House is perfect for those who want a good mix

of urban and rural experiences on their holiday. Morpeth has some great shops, restaurants, and bars to enjoy.

Crawford House is a 10 minute walk from Morpeth town centre, the train station and bus station. Although we have two bedrooms, we have the option to facilitate up to 6 guests, as we have a sofa bed available in the living space. The bedrooms feature a double bed in the main bedroom with two single beds in the twin room. You will find a smart TV with Netflix and Disney plus subscriptions included as standard for all our guests to enjoy. All linen, towels etc. are provided for our guests at no extra cost. We also have a travel cot and highchair for use by your little ones.

Crawford House is a dog friendly property, as we love to have your canine fiends as our guests too, at no extra charge.

The garden is fully secured so you have confidence in knowing the dogs are safe when you let them out to explore our outdoor space. Morpeth and

Northumberland have some great places to go with your dog, including a few pubs and cafés in the town of Morpeth itself.

We have all been apart from our family and friends for just over a year now and, there is light at the end of the tunnel that we will meet again. When that time comes, and it is safe to do so, think about Crawford House as a place for family and friends to stay if they do not live local to the area.

Our prices start from a £80 per night to book out the whole property and we operate a loyalty scheme where all returning guests get 10% of their next stay as a thank you for choosing us.

You can find us on Instagram and Facebook, @crawfordhousene. We do exclusive discounts for our followers on social media and run regular giveaways, including free stays and vouchers.

Look us up if you want to be in with the chance to win a free night.

For more information, visit www.crawfordhouse.co.uk

READY FOR YOUR UK STAYCATION?

Crawford House is a cosy two bedroom holiday home in Morpeth, Northumberland.

If you are looking for a home from home for a break, we have got you covered.

Morpeth is a great place to stay to explore the rest of Northumberland from, there are great attractions close by and stunning beaches to enjoy all year round.

• • • • • • • • •

Sleeps 6 people: Double Room, Twin Room & Sofa bed available Pets allowed; they stay for free Travel cot and highchair available for the little ones.

Smart TVs with Netflix and Disney Plus as standard Secure Back Garden with BBQ and Patio Furniture All bed linen, towels and kitchen amenities included Free Parking Located 15 minutes from Morpeth Train and Bus Station COVID Secure with enhanced cleaning between guests

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM & FACEBOOK

for a chance to win free night stays at Crawford House as well as exclusive discounts off future stays.

@crawfordhousene

BOOK YOUR NEXT UK BREAK AT CRAWFORD HOUSE Prices start from £80 a night, no minimum night stay required.

10% discount on stays longer than 4 nights and 20% discount on stays longer than 10 nights.

Email: info@crawfordhouse.co.uk Telephone: 01670 516214 Mobile: 07919 332173

www.crawfordhouse.co.uk

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Ashington To Host Antiques Roadshow

All types of brackets available Optional finish, designer trunking, cables hidden FREE site survey and advice given

Improve your digital signal. Upgrade to a Vision Pro Log Periodic Aerial for a balanced signal.

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TECHNICAL SUPPORT COMMERCIAL INSTALLATIONS

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The BBC’s Antiques Roadshow is heading to Ashington this summer.

The popular programme, hosted by Fiona Bruce, will film an episode of its 44th season at Woodhorn Museum.

The date of the recording and the broadcast date of the episode will be announced soon.

Rowan Brown, chief executive of Museums Northumberland, said ‘I’m delighted that Woodhorn Museum will be the series’ first coalmining location.

We’re really looking forward to working with the Antiques Roadshow Team to showcase Northumberland’s heritage and create opportunities for our communities to get involved. The programme is renowned for its engaging and diverse storytelling, and Museums Northumberland aspires to do the same, so I hope we can learn a lot, and have a great time in the process.’

The episode at Woodhorn Museum will be filmed on a closed set with an invited audience to ensure the safety of guests, production and the wider public during the coronavirus pandemic.

Members of the public interested in taking part in the recording at Woodhorn Museum can apply online by visiting bbc.co.uk/antiquesroadshow.

Successful applicants will be invited to Woodhorn Museum later this summer where they will be able to share their items with a Roadshow expert who will reveal more about the craftsmanship, history and provenance of each piece – as well as the all-important value.

Fiona Bruce has acknowledged the team’s success at recording the show under challenging circumstances in 2020 and is encouraging people to apply to be a part of the programme in 2021. Fiona said ‘We were thrilled that we managed to make a series of the Antiques Roadshow last summer, despite all the difficulties of filming during the pandemic. Hopefully things will be easier this summer though life may not yet be back to normal by the time we start filming.’

For more about Woodhorn Museum, please visit museumsnorthumberland.org.uk/woodhorn-museum More information and frequently asked questions can be found at bbc.co.uk/antiquesroadshow or on the show’s Facebook page.

McGlone New Business Card.i1 1

14/08/2012 11:24:18

LOCAL N E WS

KEEP ASHINGTON TIDY!

The Great British Spring Clean Campaign for 2021, organised

by Keep Britain Tidy, is taking place from the 18th of May til the 13th June

WANSBECK RIVERSI

DE & NORTH SEATON COLLIERY Keep Britain Tidy encourages volunteers, community groups Wednesday 2 June from 10.00am till and businesses to help improve the environment through 11.30am. Meeting at Cambois Rowing Club targeting litter and particularly plastic waste. In 2019, over car park (NE63 8TF) or North Seaton Colliery 560,000 volunteers took part in the campaign with almost Community Centre (NE63 0XQ).

1million bags of rubbish collected. Over the past 12 months our outdoor spaces and places have mattered to us more than ever before.

QEII COUNTRY PARK Thursday 3 June from 10am till 11.30am.

In 2020, as part of the campaign, Ashington Town Council Meeting at the Woodhorn Grange car park organised litter picks, in both the Spring and Autumn, but sadly due to the Covid-19 lockdown, these had to be (NE63 9AT). cancelled. To support the 2021 campaign the Town Council has organised a number of community litter picks across the PEOPLES PARK town, working in partnership with Northumberland County Friday 4 June from 10.00am till 11.30am.

Council.

Meeting at Peoples Park car park (NE63 8HP).

The locations have been selected with Covid-19 in mind to ensure the maximum social distancing possible. Covid-19 PADDOCK WOOD IN NORTH SEATON dependent the Town Council will also look to organise further Saturday 5 June from 10.00am till 11.30am. litter picks later in the year. The four litter picks are planned as Meeting at North Seaton Community Centre listed opposite.

(NE63 9TF).

Litter pickers, bags, gloves and hand sanitises will be provided on the day.

Cllr. Matthew Cuthbert, Leader of Ashington Town Council, said ‘The Town Council is delighted to be taking part in the Keep Britain Tidy 2021 campaign as we know litter annoys many residents as well as endangering young people, wildlife and the environment. The Town Council has recently been encouraged to see the emergence of volunteers wanting to work on clean-up campaigns around the town and we are also pleased to support and fund this work’.

For more information and to register a place on Ashington’s effort for the Keep Britain Tidy campaign, please contact Stephen Humphrey or Sharon Parmley, at Ashington Town Council, on tel: 01670 620 533 / 624 520.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Why choose Doggy Days Creche?

BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT THE DOG!

A

warded a 5 Star Rating from Northumberland County Council and entrusted to care for the region’s canine companions since 2003, Doggy Days is where your dog would choose. Spanning across 200 square metres, with indoor day care, pampering in the grooming salon, and even a doggy boutique, we've got everything your furry friend could wish for all under one roof.

With limited dog numbers and a thorough 20-hour assessment of each dog, (complete with school reports) everyones safety is assured, making us the premier dog day care facility in the area.

Our experienced, professional day care team understand what dogs need for their physical and mental wellbeing. With their considerable experience, the team can read dog body language and know how to provide safe, enjoyable fun for dogs, no matter what their size or age. You can rest assured your dog is in safe hands while they have fun, meaning you can get on with your day without worry.

The salon team handle dogs with patience and kindness, making sure

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that they're comfortable and relaxed while being pampered. After all, a visit to the salon should be about feeling good as well as looking good.

In the salon you can choose from a range of services from a simple bath & brush to our full grooming package, all of which include nail trim and ear cleaning as standard. If you really want to pamper your pooch you can upgrade to our VIP Premium Care Package, this includes teeth cleaning, paw’s waxed, luxury facial, body massage, shine serum, spritz of cologne, all with the use of premium grooming products & a free gift, all for just £10.

Even in the boutique, the team have selected a range of unique products for your dog that you simply won't find on the high street.

High quality toys, indulgent treats and fabulous accessories that your dog will love are all here - in fact, treating your dog to something special has never been easier.

Based in Cramlington, we are easily accessible by road or on public

transport. We also offer a collection and delivery service making it easy for your dog to visit, even if you can't come along yourself.

We know dogs are a big part of family life. As dog owners ourselves, we understand what matters is their safety and happiness. We also know balancing busy lives with a dog’s needs can be difficult. That's why we're here to help you and your dog have a better life together.

So why would you choose Doggy Days? Because it's all about YOUR dog!

■ www.doggy-days.co.uk Call 01670 716666 facebook.com/doggydayscreche Unit 7-8 Hubbway Business Centre, Bassington Lane, Cramlington, Northumberland, NE23 8AD

Boutique - Creche - Salon Call us now on:

01670 716666 Creating a unique experience all under one roof, it truly is 'all about the dog': Creche

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Entrusted to care for the regions canine companions since 2003 and awarded a 5 star rating from Northumberland county council, it truly is 'all about your dog'.

Providing a range of services from a simple bath & brush to our full grooming package, all of which include nail trim and ear cleaning as standard.

Our puppy pamper package is now only £10!!

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

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

H

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

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

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.

The CQC inspect dental practices to check whether

Bedlingtonshire

Dental Practice

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.

■ Bedlingtonshire Dental Practice 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

bedlingtonshire dental practice AFFORDABLE, HIGH QUALITY PRIVATE DENTISTRY

We offer a wide range of treatments including: • Crown and Bridgework

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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

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01670 828402

26

www.bedlingtonshiredental.co.uk

R E CIPE

Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni A CLASSIC ITALIAN SUPPER

INGREDIENTS

250g fresh egg lasagne sheets For the sauce 1 tbsp olive oil 1 onion, peeled and cut in half 1 carrot, cut in half lengthways 1 celery stick, cut in half 800g tinned plum tomatoes 1 small bunch basil Splash of balsamic vinegar For the filling 250g fresh spinach 1 tbsp butter 1 small garlic clove, peeled & crushed 175g fresh ricotta 30g Italian hard cheese, grated Nutmeg

Prep time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 1hr 20 plus cooling Serves: 2 -4

METHOD 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Heat the olive oil in a wide pan over a medium heat, add the onion, carrot and celery, and fry for two minutes, until they start to brown. Add the tomatoes, basil, and balsamic vinegar, bring everything to a simmer, then turn down the heat and cook gently for about 30 minutes, until thick. Remove the vegetables and herbs, then blend the sauce until fairly smooth, and season to taste.

While the sauce is cooking, trim and discard any tough stalks from the spinach and wash the leaves well. Put the still-wet spinach into a saucepan over a medium heat, cover and cook, shaking the pan occasionally, until the spinach is completely wilted, then run under cold water to stop the cooking process. Once it’s cool enough to handle, squeeze until dry, then chop finely.

Melt the butter in a frying pan over a medium heat, add the garlic, cook for one minute, then add the spinach. Sauté to coat everything with the butter, then remove from the heat and leave to cool.

Heat the oven to 200C (180C fan) / gas mark 6. Mix the ricotta and spinach and add most of the grated cheese, reserving some for the top, season the mixture well with nutmeg and salt.

Pour a thick layer of tomato sauce into the bottom of a medium baking tin. Make a sausage shape of filling on the short end of one of the pasta squares and roll it up, until you have slight overlap.

Put the filled tube seam side down in the baking dish, then repeat with the remaining pasta and filling; pour the remaining sauce on top. Bake for 30 minutes. Scatter the remaining grated cheese over the dish before serving and place under the grill until it bubbles.

The

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CROSSWORD Clues Across 1. Rip-off, hoax (4) 4. Twirling (8) 8. Foetus (6) 9. Be angry about (6) 10. Circle (4) 11. Striped feline (5,3) 13. Monty Python’s, ____ __ Brian (4,2) 15. Native American home (6) 17. Another word for aubergine (8) 20. Small round salty cracker (4) 21. Cavern, den (6) 23. Womb (6) 24. Supply, material (8) 25. Seize, grab (4) Clues Down 2. Mixing (9) 3. Phenomenon (7) 4. Crow, flaunt (5) 5. Welsh_______, cheese on toast (7) 6. Delicious (5) 7. Female member of religious order (3) 12. Dumbfounded (9) 14. The essence of a food (7) 16. Ardent, impassioned (7) 18. Paved garden area (5) 19. Accord, amnesty (5) 22. Fish eggs (3)

SOLUTIONS

SUDOKU Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box,contains the numbers 1 through to 9 with no repetition.

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A D V E RT I S I N G F E AT U R E

Davidsons of Morpeth add Volkswagen brand to their dealership Davidsons of Morpeth, located at Coopies Way, are proud to announce they have recently added the Volkswagen brand to the dealership and are delighted to be an authorised service dealer undertaking any service, repair or warranty work on all Volkswagen vehicles.

Colin Davidson, Business Manager, explains “For us this is an exciting addition to our business. Volkswagen is a quality brand that we are very proud to represent alongside Vauxhall’”.

The management team at Davidsons have attributed the continual success to great customer service and strong values. “We treat all our customers like family. The second they come into the garage we ask ourselves – if this was our mother or father how would we treat them?”

Colin Davidson states “This approach, as well as a relentless strive for a flawless experience, has allowed us to maintain and grow a loyal customer base as they trust our ethical approach.”

He feels that the business is well positioned locally for Volkswagen drivers to enable customers to frequent the dealership without the need to

“Davidsons are well positioned locally for Volkswagen drivers to enable customers to frequent the dealership without the need to travel unnecessarily” travel unnecessarily, especially given the difficult times we currently face with the pandemic.

Davidsons have robust and exemplary measures in place to reassure customers from a COVID perspective. They provide a contactless service throughout, in both the Sales and Service departments. The premises are methodically and regularly deep cleaned and sanitised. Likewise, each and every car is thoroughly cleaned and sanitised before customers come in to contact with them.

Tony Waite who heads up the Service Department says “We have really worked hard to stand out from the crowd with the standards we offer to our customers. They are the lifeblood of the business. We receive endless thanks and compliments from our customers which really does delight and drive us. “ Colin and the team at Davidsons say “We’re excited to see what the future holds for us and our customers.”

■ To book call 01670512115

www.volkswagen.co.uk/retailers/75007/davidsons-of-morpeth-morpeth 32

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

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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.

By making a Lasting Power of Attorney you can decide whom you would like to manage your affairs in the event that you are unable to do so either due to physical or mental incapacity.

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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.

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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: £180 inclusive of VAT Mirror Will: £240 inclusive of VAT It is imperative that specialist advice is taken in order to ensure that the power given accurately reflects your wishes.

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WORD SEARCH Can you find all of the greek and roman gods hidden in the grid?

Aphrodite Apollo Ares Artemis Athena Ceres Demeter Diana Dionysos Hephaestos Hera Hermes Juno Jupiter Mars Mercury Minerva Neptune Poseidon Venus Vesta Vulcan Zeus

EQUALIZER

SUDOKU

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. 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.

11 4

4 5

2 6

5 2

1 36

10 3 1

Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the numbers 1 through to 9 with no repetition.

CROSSWORD Clues Across 1. Female sovereign (7) 5. Portents (5) 8. Gratuity (3) 9. Sweet roll (7) 10. Fit out (5) 11. Vital liquid (5) 13. Appease (7) 15. Woody plant (4) 17. Bewilder (6) 19. Orb (6) 22. As well (4) 24. Armed conflict (7) 26. Problem (5) 29. Hackneyed (5) 30. Chivalrous (7) 31. Furrow (3) 32. Lifting apparatus (5) 33. ------- Nelson (7)

1

Clues Down 1. Arm joint (5) 2. Artist's material (5) 3. Accompanies (7) 4. Treeless plain (6) 5. Musical drama (5) 6. Teach (7) 7. Presume (anag.) (7) 12. Primate (3) 14. In smaller quantity (4) 16. Back end (4) 17. Captivate (7) 18. Cocktail (7) 20. Well-liked (7) 21. Fish eggs (3) 23. Linear extent (6) 25. Watchful (5) 27. Vertical passage (5) 28. Proportion (5)

29

2

3

4

5

7

8 9

11

10

12

13 15

17

14

16

18

19 22

24

20

21

23

25

26

27

28

30 31

32

33

KAKURO Fill in the blank squares in the grid with numbers so that each horizontal or vertical line adds up to the total given in the box either to the left or above it.

20

3 4

9 12 21

Horizontal totals are given in the top right corners of the shaded boxes; vertical totals in the bottom left corners.

12 11 4 5

You can use the numbers 1 to 9, but may not use the same number more than once in any run. The number may be used again, however, in the same row or column but as part of another run.

10

2 1

2

14

7

9

16

11

10

8

5

1

4

4

11

7

21

12

2

12

3

9

1

3 4

3 3

6 20

C

T R I

E

9 2

H O

I

N I

T

S T

H O R A T

R U T

T E

A

1 4

A

N

U

P

B R L

N I

A

O

1

I

A

O

T

M

P L A C A T E P

O C H E S

O

6

T

E M P R E S S

R

I

C

E Q U

P

D

I

R P

U

O M E N S

÷

1

2

2

S P H E R E

T R E E

W A T E R

I

H

P O S E R

A L S O

B E M U S E O

F

G A L L A N T

L

W A R F A R E

4

11

x

3

5 5

+ 10 4

SOLUTIONS

KAKURO 9

CROSSWORD

5

EQUALIZER

14

SUDOKU

3

WORDSEARCH

1

6

4

14

6

4

8

21

2

10

4

14

1

16

15

10

9

11

21

4

15

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A D V E RT I S I N G F E AT U R E

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If you’re fed up with your conservatory being either freezing cold or blistering hot. Here, Thermos Roof explain how they have the answer

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43

GARDENING

GARDEN VIEW

Purple sprouting broccoli

By Rachael Leverton

P

urple Sprouting Broccoli is a beautiful, tasty addition to the dinner table, and the garden. It has a great flavour, a long harvesting season and is nutritionally beneficial.

A single portion provides half your daily requirement of carotenoids, plus high levels of folic acid and vitamins A and C. It’s definitely a ‘plan-ahead’ crop though. If you start planting now you will give yourself something to look forward to next January, and as it is a ‘cut and come again’ crop, that long season should keep you going until April or May! Purple-sprouting broccoli is extremely hardy, tolerating temperatures as low as -12°C. You can actually start raising seeds in March, for even earlier crops. I usually start the new year with good intentions of staggering my planting like this (because it is one of my favourites veg), then forget and end up planting in April or May. One of the reasons I love it is that I garden on fairly alkaline soil, in which it thrives. It prefers a heavier soil than mine ideally but seems to do well enough in my garden. I dig in a fair amount of leaf mould and well-rotted manure to bulk it up.

Purple sprouting broccoli doesn’t like exposed sites, because the wind buffets the stems, so if your garden is more open it will need a bit of protection.

Sow seeds into small pots or multi-cell trays, using a good quality multi-purpose seed and cuttings compost. When the little plants are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out and transplant them into single 9cm pots. Watering them in well.

Once the plants have matured, fork the soil over. Remove large stones and perennial weeds. Even if your soil is heavier it’s worth digging in some organic matter to improve texture and moisture retention. I

don’t need to add lime to my soil but if you garden on neutral or acid soil, you’d be advised to work some in. Transplant when the broccoli plants are 7-9cm tall. Water them well before removing from their pots, and plant them 50-60cm apart, with a similar distance between the rows.

Brassicas dislike loose soil, so make sure you firm around the plants lightly with your foot. Water again after planting. Six plants will produce enough broccoli to feed a family of four. I grow more because I love it.

Harvest when the flower shoots

are well developed but before the flowers have actually opened. Cut the central spears with a sharp knife first, as this encourages the side shoots to develop quickly. Then crop the side shoots regularly to extend the cropping time.

January seems a long way away right now, but a little planning and preparation will ensure that deliciousness will await when we get there.

Happy gardening,

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HEALTH

Kids and Uncertainty HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE COPE IN UNCERTAIN TIMES

By Kate McCarthy

The COVID-19 pandemic turned out lives upside down. As adults we’ve had too many questions and too few answers, and many of us felt overwhelmed in the face of so much uncertainty.

Now imagine what it’s like to be a child or teenager in this environment.

Young people don’t have the cognitive development, life experience, and coping skills to deal with all the uncertainties we face. So even though we may be struggling, it’s up to us as the adults to help them manage these feelings.

It’s not unusual for young people to be anxious about the future, especially as they near the end of school, or transition from one school to another. They might be stressed about the uncertainty surrounding exams, or what might happen about their university place. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has created more uncertainty than usual. As a parent, it’s hard not to have answers and reassurances.

If your child or teen is anxious it can help give them the sense of some control.

Help them to develop a plan A and a Plan B Plan A - The ideal plan they would have followed in normal times.

Plan B - An alternative if plan A isn’t viable right now.

Plan A may have involved taking a year out to travel overseas.

Plan B may be to complete some online training then volunteer for a charity, with the intention of switching to Plan A several months down the line.

The idea of Plan B is NOT to give up on Plan A, but rather to postpone it, while still moving forward in other areas.

·· ·· ·· ·· ··

Show your child how to be okay with uncertainty Tolerating uncertainty is a skill that can be learned by practising how to respond in the best way we can to what’s happening in the present. Try doing small things

WHAT IS TELEPHOBIA?

By Louise Addison

I would do almost ANYTHING to avoid speaking on the phone. For many people, 'telephobia' as it’s known, is real and is particularly common among those of us with social anxiety.

Lots of people dislike speaking on the phone, but it’s a real problem if it causes us to delay important calls, affects our ability to work or causes physical symptoms such as nausea, increased heart rate, and shortness of breath.

Humans are social creatures so speaking on the phone is daunting because we’re denied all social cues: gestures, body language, and eye contact. We rely solely on the voice and this can make us hyperaware of our own voice and choice of words.

Anxious people often rate texting as a superior form of 46

together differently, such as preparing a meal without a recipe using only what’s in the cupboard or picking a random film to watch or podcast to listen to without knowing anything about it.

Validate your child’s feelings and concerns.

Accept how they feel and resist the urge to “fix” them by minimizing their worries or making promises that are not within your control to keep. Instead encourage them to be kind to themselves and realistic in their thinking.

Listen to them and remind them that this is a very unusual situation; it would be weirder if they weren’t anxious!

Talk about the things they value It’s usually possible to find something, even a small thing that they value or appreciate. Help them to refocus on the good things in their life. Share some of the things you are grateful for.

It’s difficult for most of us to remain calm and focused at the moment, and we all have to accept that we can’t predict the future. It helps our kids to see us focus on the things we can control. We can model strategies and show them that whatever happens, we can cope with it together. communication. It allows time to think about responses, which takes the pressure off interactions. It also means we are not the sole focus of someone’s attention, which can feel unnerving, and pauses in the conversation can feel hostile and interminable.

Speaking on the phone though is a skill, and like any skill we improve the more we do it. The more practice you have, the less anxious and more confident you’ll feel. Start by making a list of the people or organisations you need to call and articulate what it is about the call that provokes anxiety. When you hang up, articulate what went well so you acknowledge your successes.

If telephobia is interfering with your life or threatening your job then consider seeking cognitive behavioural therapy. This is a highly effective treatment for social anxiety. Don’t suffer in silence.

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