November 2018 Middlesbrough by My Local Magazine Middlesbrough & Stockton on Tees

My Local Magazine ®

Issue 89 | November 2018 | The BEST of Middlesbrough’s Business, News, Reviews and To-Do’s

Local Stories | Local Businesses | Gardening | Car Reviews Health & Beauty | Home

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This Winter… STAY WARM, STAY SAFE, STAY WELL As the night is starting to close in and I do believe I had the first frost on my car this week. HomeInstead Senior Care Cleveland would like to share the following tips on how best to say fit and healthy this winter. Get a flu jab. Everyone over the age of 65, living in the UK is eligible for a flu jab and is encouraged to take up this free NHS service to protect themselves from the flu virus, which can be unpredictable and serious. You can get a flu jab at your GP’s surgery or at participating pharmacies. See your pharmacist if you aren’t feeling well. Even if you have just a cough or a cold, your pharmacist might be able to help you prevent it from becoming more serious. If you can’t physically get to a pharmacy, make sure to call them to discuss your symptoms. If you

Keep mobile. Try not to sit still for more than an hour at a time. Even simply standing up to stretch your legs for a few moments can help to increase your body temperature. If you have good mobility, moderate exercise is an excellent way of keeping warm when temperatures are low.

need more urgent advice, ring the NHS helpline on 111. Keep warm. During the cold winter months, it is advisable to wear several layers of clothing, rather than one thick layer. Clothes that are made from cotton, wool or fleecy fibres help to maintain body heat, and are better than silky and thin materials that don’t insulate well.

Drink warm beverages. When you get up to stretch, why not make yourself a hot drink to help keep you warm? It would help if you also tried to eat at least one hot meal a day. Making sure warm foods and drink are going into your system will keep your weight up and contribute to keeping your body temperature up. Keep your medicine cabinet stocked. If you treat early-onset symptoms of illness they are less likely to develop into anything more serious. By keeping your medicine cabinet stocked, you could avoid having to go out in the cold, if you do find yourself unwell. The temperatures were really cold last year, so it’s important to think about what you can do to protect yourself and any vulnerable friends and family from the ill-effects of the cold. At Home Instead Senior Care, our wonderful CAREGivers can help older people to stay well and can help with many of the tips mentioned here. If you or your loved one need help or support, please call us on 01642 309650

To advertise call Jeremy T: 01642 924847 M: 07533 265475

Quality in the materials that we use for all our installations and the fact that all our loft packages are fitted by time served tradesmen so our customers are assured of the best job. Integrity in that we will turn up at the time we The company, based locally, say and make sure the house offers homeowners the opis spotless when we leave, portunity to maximise their and Value in that we offer storage space with a loft our services at a price people ladder, 50 sq ft of boarding can afford. Our business and a light all fully fitted in relies on referrals and we got less than a day from just a huge amount of our calls £277 + VAT. But it’s not just from people who have been the affordability of the pack- referred to us by our existing age the company offers that customers - that simply makes Yorkshire Loft Ladwouldn’t happen if we didn’t ders stand out as manager adhere to our overriding Mark Hodson explains: principles. These days most homeowners suffer from a lack of storage space. So many precious items that need to be kept – but where to store it all? That’s where Yorkshire Loft Ladders come in.

‘Our watchwords are Quality, Integrity and Value.

lead to more happy customers is true and we work hard to make that happen for every installation we carry out!’ So, if you want to make use of your loft space, however

big or small, call Mark on 0800 612 8359 and he’ll be happy to pop round and give you a no obligation quote so you too can make use of your loft!

At the end of the day the old adage that happy customers

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Hiring a Cleaner There has been a long association that it's only the wealthy who hire a cleaner when in reality one in three households hire domestic help of some kind. Free Up Your Time. Most working families are really busy these days.What most people value most is more free time for themselves and their family. Also, the joy of coming home to a clean home after a busy day always makes you feel that it's one task less you have to do. What If You Can't Clean Your Home Some people who require a cleaner are sometimes elderly or maybe in respite. People who are houseproud and can't bear the thought of an untidy house. Not being able to keep on top of things can lead to people feeling unhappy. You can see those little annoyances that you just can't do anymore and it usually leads to frustration or feeling slightly down with yourself. Reliable,Trustworthy and Insured. A good cleaning company will be able to meet your needs. Most cleaning

companies or agencies have already checked and vetted your cleaner before being allowed in your home. Most cleaning companies have liability insurance if the cleaner has an accident in your home, or if something was accidentally damaged. Asking a cleaner to vacuum with a poorly wired vacuum cleaner, leaving toys on stairs or leaving the bar of soap on the shower floor causing an accident, will probably not be covered by an insurance company. Once a cleaner enters your home to do work, then your home becomes their place of work. It is essential that you do a quick check before the cleaner arrives. Work Away One of the significant advantages if you work away, is that not only is your home lovely and clean when you arrive back, but you are also getting someone to check your home as well. Fixing Problems. Do you have areas in your home that you just can't get clean? Professional cleaning companies have seen it all and usually have

professional cleaning products that may solve a problem like taps and shower screens covered in limescale, or mould and mildew build up in bathrooms and en-suites. A task like this can usually take a few hours of your time, but professional cleaners will know professional cleaning products that can solve these problems for you. Hire a Cleaner Most cleaning companies usually offer a minimum of two hours a week or a fortnight.You can request that only specific areas are cleaned, and you can ask that some rooms are out of bounds like a home office for example. If you decide on getting a cleaner for your home, ultimately the decision is yours whether you choose to interview a local cleaner yourself or allow a local agency who have done the interviewing for you. Local agency and franchises have the appropriate accident and liability insurance. Lastly, if a cleaner decides on a different career direction and leaves the agency, the domestic cleaning company or agency will arrange another cleaner for you on your behalf.

To advertise call Jeremy T: 01642 924847 M: 07533 265475

Editor’s Letter

November 2018 Octobers. I do like October. I always look forward to this month, watching Autumn finally settling in and the changing colours of the new season. Halloween is still fun, then looking forward to November 5th and Christmas. If you have got friends and family staying over the festivities, then NOW is the time to start and get those little jobs done. If you haven’t got time to do this yourself, well this little monthly magazine has probably got every service you’ll ever need. If you have been reading or thumbing through the magazine on a regular basis, then you will

The Top 10 of Motoring Contents

The top 10 most expensive motors, according to Features Luxhabitat: RecipeCCXR 7 1. Koenigsegg Trevita: £3.6m 2. Lamborghini Veneno Roadster: £3.4m Home Products 9 3. Lykan Hypersport: £2.6m 4. BugattiHealth Veyron by Mansory Vivere: £2.5m 13 5. Aston Martin Valkryie: £2.4m 6. Ferrari Pets 14 Pininfarina Sergio: £2.3m 7. Pagani Huraya BC: £2.1m Britain 15 8. Ferrari Quirky Laferrari Aperta: £1.7m 9. Zenvo TS1: £1.5m Are you next - The Greatest 10. Mazzanti Evantra Millcavalli: £900K

Showman 19 Confused.com’s top 10 most stolen cars: 1. Mercedes C-class Home Products 20 2. BMW X5 3. Range Beauty Rover Sport 22 4. Mercedes-Benz E-class 5. BMW 3Motoring 24 Series 6. Land Rover Discovery Gardening 26 7. Range Rover Autobiography 8. BMW M3 Trades 27

notice that the advertisers very rarely change. This is because they have gathered a reputation for being good and reliable. This is why they are still in the magazine as well. If you can recommend a business that should be in the magazine, you can always drop me a quick note to: jeremy@ mylocal-magazine.co.uk Until Next Time

@mylocalmag 9. VW Golf /mylocalmagazine 10. Audi RS4

Jeremy Middleton Managing Director T: 01642 924847 M: 07533 265 475 E: jeremy@mylocal-magazine.co.uk W: www.mylocal-magazine.co.uk My Local Magazines Ltd, Office 4, Walker House, 3rd Floor, High Street Stockton on Tees TS18 1BG My Local Magazine does not endorse any advertisement within this publication. My Local Magazine cannot be held responsible for breach of copyright arising from publication artwork supplied. It is the advertiser’s responsibility to ensure conformity with the Trades Description Act 1975 Business Advertisement Disclosure Order 1977 and The Consumer Act 1974. Reproduction of this magazine is in any way is strictly prohibited. If you wish to use any of the advertisements or content within this publication, please contact Jeremy Middleton 01642 924847 While we, the publisher take great care to be accurate, no liability will be accepted under any circumstances should any of the contents of this publication be incorrect.

So, where do that leave us? Just that buying a farEastern made, mid-priced, security equipped car, won’t get you onto any of these top-10s. Happy Motoring! By Iain Betson

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POTTED SMOKED SALMON This is the perfect starter for the lunch on the big day â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you can make it the night before and the recipe will easily double up if you are feeding a crowd at Christmas! Serves 6 Ready in 30 minutes, plus chilling time 275g honey roast salmon flakes 250g smoked salmon slices, chopped 100g unsalted butter, softened 125g full-fat soft cheese 2 tsp creamed horseradish 1 tbsp lemon juice Salt and freshly ground black pepper Fresh dill sprigs and green peppercorns, to garnish Slices of toasted brown or granary bread, to serve

flakes for garnish (cover and chill in the fridge until required).

flakes in a food processor with the

Method 1 Reserve about 25g of the salmon

2 Place the rest of the salmon

horseradish and lemon juice. Process

smoked salmon, butter, soft cheese, until smooth and creamy. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper and process for a further few seconds. 3 Divide the mixture between 6 small ramekin dishes and level the surface. Cover and chill in the fridge until required. Garnish with the rest of the salmon flakes, dill sprigs and green peppercorns. Serve with toasted brown or granary bread. TIP Most supermarkets sell packs of ready-flaked honey roast salmon but if unavailable just buy readycooked smoked salmon fillets and roughly flake the fish, discarding any skin and fine bones.

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Great beds for guests Not enough bedrooms? A sofa bed – or other type of informal guest bed – is your answer. Make sure you invest in one that combines both comfort and style, says Katherine Sorrell. Choose the right occasional bed • Whether you are choosing a sofa, a day bed or a bed-in-a-box, your first consideration is that it should be well made, comfortable to sit on (seats are often firmer than on conventional sofas), and suits the size, shape and style of your room when closed. • Look for a mechanism that is easy to open and doesn’t squeak, stick or feel overly loose. A lock-down bar is an asset, ensuring that the bed is properly closed.The inner workings should be smooth, with no parts sticking out that might catch on your sheets. • For a sofa bed to be really comfortable to sleep on, wooden slats with webbing offer the best support, while a proper sprung mattress is much better than a thin foam one, though similarly more expensive. Always test before you buy! • Size matters. A two-seater sofa will open out into a great bed for one

person, but a couple will struggle for space unless you invest in a three-seater.That said, a large sofa does not inevitably transform into a large sleeping space, so always check dimensions. • If storage is an issue, look for a style that contains space for tucking away bedding. CAPTIONS 1 Add cushions to turn this day bed into a sofa, pop on some bedding and it’s a single sleep space, or pull out the base and it transforms into a double bed. Hemnes day bed frame with three drawers, £239, Ikea. 2 Sofa beds come in all shapes and sizes, including this sleek leather version with deep seating, wooden slats and a five-inch deep, fully sprung mattress. Sloane three-seater sofa bed in Old English Hazel, £1,861.50, Darlings of Chelsea. 3 Get some bling on with this affordable, modern sofa bed with a sprung foam seat and back upholstered in hard-wearing PU leather.Vinci sofa bed in gold, £259, made.com. Words Katherine Sorrell

how to save £1,000s and get a new kitchen in just 48 hours Buying a new kitchen can be a

Buying a new kitchen can be a stressful experience. stressful experience.Highpressure Highsales are lengthy by pressure followed sales areby followed delays, then onethen of the most used lengthy delays, one of the roomsused in the homeinisthe totally out most rooms home is of bounds forbounds a weekfor or amore. totally out of week or more.

But customers in the north east

But in the Anorth east havecustomers another option. welcome have another welcome alternative thatoption. is halfAthe cost of alternative half the cost an average that new is kitchen, can be of an average new the kitchen, can be delivered within month, and delivered thea month, fitted in aswithin little as day. and fitted in as little as a day.

From its showroom in Yarm,

From its showroom in Yarm, Dream Doors DoorsTeeside Teeside supplies Dream supplies time and money-saving time and money-savingkitchen kitchen makeovers –– as makeovers aswell wellas asappliances

and complete kitchens if required

appliances and complete kitchens all fitted –byallapproved if–required fitted by local approved installers. It is also part of a local installers. A family-run national franchised of business owned by network Kevin and Dream Clarke, Doors showrooms that Katrina it is also part of a national stretchesfranchised all the waynetwork down toof Dream Doors showrooms that Cornwall. stretches all the way down to “Major home improvement Cornwall.

projects always seem daunting. But

“Major home improvement there's far less upheaval with our projects always seem daunting,” kitchen makeovers. For afar door says Kevin. “But there's less swap we're in and out in a upheaval with our kitchen day, and for a facelift,For witha new makeovers. doorworktops swap and a in sink, an we're andwe'll out probably in a day, need and for aextra facelift, day.with new worktops and a sink, we'll probably need an Dream Doors asks for just a 50 extra day.

percent deposit from customers

Dream Doors asks for just a 50 on order, and guarantees all its percent deposit from customers doors and work free of charge. on order, and guarantees all its doors and work oftcharge. Customers alsofree benefi from Customers also benefit from dealing with local business owners dealing with local business who arewho alsoare part of apart national owners also of a brand. “Dream the is national brand. Doors “DreamisDoors UK's biggest name in kitchen the UK's biggest name in kitchen facelifts. But unlikesays. other national facelifts,” Katrina “But unlike companies, customers buy from other national companies, customers buy from us – the us – the business owners – and business – andthe webest know we knowowners we'll deliver we'll deliverservice.” the best customer customer service.”

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How to make your Conservatory Feel like a Proper Room If you’ve ever tried to use your conservatory in the winter, you’ll know that it can feel like a cold, damp and dismal part of the house. In all the glossy conservatory sales catalogues, the sun is always shining, the garden is blooming and everyone is having fun being in the bright and clean ‘new room’. The reality is that most conservatories are too hot to use in comfort in the summer, and certainly too cold to use in the winter. Condensation can be a problem in the winter, and it’s too bright to watch a tv in there in the summer. And when it rains, the noise can be deafening! Most conservatories have been built as temporary structures and usually as a less expensive alternative to an extension. This means that they don’t comply with the building regulations that an extension would have to do especially in terms of the thermal efficiency. The team at local specialists Inceil talk to homeowners every day

who want to be able to use their conservatory all year round and not on the handful of days when the temperature is just right! Their cost-effective solution is to fit an insulated ceiling fitted to the existing roof structure in just 1 or 2 days. The new plastered ceiling follows the contours of the existing roof and uses the most thermally dynamic insulation available. Your conservatory will feel like a proper room with a better temperature year round. And you don’t have to do anything to the external roof. It’s important when having any works done that you are happy with the people working in your home. Customers frequently comment on how polite and friendly everyone is in the Inceil team – and that they cleaned up when they had finished! On the Inceil informative website www.inceil.co.uk you can watch

an installation video which shows exactly how the process works, and request a free survey and quote. Or give them a call on 01904 891936. In just one or two days, your conservatory can be transformed into a comfortable and usable part of your home.

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Healthier Festive Food Swaps After weeks of festive foodie temptations, it’s easy to start the new Year a few pounds heavier and feeling far from fit. But the alternative isn’t avoiding treats altogether: it’s choosing the swaps you can live with.

fat yogurt.

Better Breakfasts

• A small prawn cocktail with fresh lettuce and a little low-fat dressing (if you must add bread, stick to half a slice of wholemeal).

SWAP a full English fried breakfast for the healthy version. Grill mushrooms, tomatoes and bacon, poach eggs, and choose low-sugar baked beans and a slice of wholemeal toast rather than hash browns. SWAP sugary cereals for a small portion of healthier cereals and add fresh berries and/or a dollop of low-

Start as You Mean to Go on If you must have a starter, keep it small and light. SWAP creamy soups or cheese laden dishes for:

• A small fresh fruit cocktail – berries or a tropical mix. • A small bowl of cream-free soup. The Main Event SWAP

• Duck or goose for turkey or a lean cut of red meat. • Butter-basting your turkey for removing the skin (reducing the calories by nearly a third and fat by more than half). • Sausage meat for vegetarian sausage mix in stuffing. • Goose fat or lard etc. for a low-fat vegetable-based oil or spray oil. • Some of your roast potatoes for crispy jacket potatoes (not mash: the added milk and butter is its downfall). • Roasted vegetables for steamed or microwaved ones. Your Just Desserts 113g (a quarter) of a standard Christmas pud usually has 375-400 calories and 40-50g of sugar, although they are relatively low in fat. Fancy something healthier? Try 113g of: • Morrison’s Very Berry Strudel (287 calories, 18g sugar, 13g fat) • Asda Raspberry Tiramisu (257 calories, 25g sugar, 10g fat)

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• Sainsbury’s Mixed Berry Trifle Desert (171 calories, 21g sugar, 7g fat) SWAP • Ambrosia custard (98 calories, 11g sugar, 3g fat per 100g) • Elmlea double cream (351 calories, 4g sugar, 36g fat per 100ml) for

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What foods should you avoid feeding your dog this Christmas? As tempting as it is to share your favourite festive treats with your dog, there are certain foods they shouldn’t eat – and some are potentially deadly. So which ones should you avoid giving to your dog this Christmas? Turkey Turkey is a rich meat that can disturb a dog’s digestive system, potentially to the point of serious illness. Some dogs may be fine with a tiny amount of white boneless turkey meat, but the skin is very fatty and the bones are a choking hazard. Chocolate Chocolate is one Christmas treat that needs to be avoided at all costs, unless you

buy doggy chocs for your pet. Chocolate contains a compound that’s poisonous to dogs – in fact, chocolate poisoning is so serious that if they eat too much they’ll need

to have their stomach pumped. Mince pies, Christmas pudding, and Christmas cake Raisins are severely toxic to dogs, with grape and raisin poisoning being a common problem often requiring veterinary intervention to prevent further serious health issues – one of these being kidney failure. nuts Nuts can cause severe gastrointestinal problems for your dog, with obstruction of the bowel being a particular issue. Some varieties of nut, including pecans and walnuts, can bring on seizures and should be avoided at all costs. Clearly there’s a case for watching your dog very carefully over Christmas. It’s all too easy to leave chocolate or nuts lying around, and they’re only too quick to take advantage of the fact. https://www.petmd.com/dog/ emergency/digestive/e_dg_grape_ raisin_toxicity https://www.wagthedoguk. com/2014/08/22/bad-nuts-for-dogs/

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Lost in Austen: why Jane’s superfans are still going strong Around the middle of the 19th century, one of Winchester Cathedral’s vergers asked why so many people were asking to see the grave of Jane Austen. “Was there”, he enquired, “anything particular about the lady?” These days Jane Austen is such a household name it’s hard to imagine anyone having to ask what was special about her. However, when Jane died in Winchester on 18th July 1817, she was far from being famous. It wasn’t until 1870 – when her nephew wrote a “Memoir of Jane Austen” – that the wider public was introduced to her work. Everything Austen The genteel world of bonnets, barouches and blushing heroines that Austen conjured up so effectively in her novels continues to attract new fans all the time, and now a niche industry has grown up to support those who want to take part in Austen-themed events.

opportunity for over 500 costumed participants to parade their finery. Meet the superfans Sometimes referred to as ‘Janeites’, Austen superfans love to embrace the whole sweep of Regency culture and history. ClareViolet Hanley from Southampton enjoys linking up with other fans to immerse herself completely in Austen’s world. “We talk to each other and write letters in Regency-style language [and] bake traditional Regency food for our picnics by the river,” she told the Daily Echo. “Though sometimes I do cheat and just stick something from M&S on a Regency plate and hide the bag”. Finance Director Roland Anderson, now in his mid-forties, has been an Austen fan for over twenty years. “After I started posting at the Austen

messageboard pemberley.com, I met other fans”, he told the Guardian newspaper. “We visited Bath and other locations, and spent the afternoons drinking tea and talking about Austen.” One of Jane Austen’s youngest superfans is Sophie Andrews, who started her blog ‘Laughing with Lizzie’ – inspired by Elizabeth Bennet’s line “I dearly love a laugh” in Pride and Prejudice – when she was just 16. Sophie, who has suffered from ill-health, is frank about the way Jane Austen’s novels have helped her: “The books have been my lifeline; when things are tough in the real world, I can just dive into hers. It sounds melodramatic but, in a way, she’s saved me.” Over 150 years on, there’s no doubt that there was something ‘particular’ about Jane Austen. And thanks to the enduring popularity of her work, it seems that her novels will go on attracting superfans for centuries to come. By Kate McLelland

One of the key dates in the Austen calendar is the Jane Austen Festival, which takes place in Bath every September. Here you can take part in more than 70 activities over ten days, including writing workshops, city tours, dramatised readings and Regency dance lessons. Talks offered this year included “Rummaging through the reticule” and “Underwear in Georgian England”, and, as usual, the Regency Costumed Masked Ball held at Bath’s historic Pump Rooms offered “a marvellous opportunity to wear your very best Regency gown or breeches, complete with glittering accessories and a mask in the Venetian style.” The Grand Regency Costumed Charity Parade provided a further www.mylocal-magazine.co.uk | E: jeremy@mylocal-magazine.co.uk

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Are You Next? - The Greatest Showman Circus has been a hot topic in recent times following the massive global success of The Greatest Showman, and the release coincided with the launch of Circus250 – a UK wide celebration of 250 years of circus. While the film is internationallyrenowned, what is less known is that Teesside is home to a thriving circus club where budding performers can learn the skills and gain the confidence to run away to the circus – and without a bearded lady in sight! JUST – Juggling and Unicycling Stockton on Tees – is based at Marsh House Sports and Community Centre in Billingham and was founded in 2000 as part of a Stockton International Riverside Festival (SIRF) initiative, Circus 2000. From the early days, it has grown into a thriving, family-orientated club offering a massive range of skills including unicycling, juggling, slacklining, hula-hooping, Diablo, poitwirling and much more! JUST even holds the accolade of being the largest unicycling club in the country and members regularly take part in all sorts of internal and external activities including Muni – mountain unicycling - rides where they decide to off-road routes on one wheel including Guisborough Forest and Roseberry Topping! Regardless of ability and age, everyone is made to feel welcome at JUST. Even if you’ve never held a juggling ball or been in the same room as a unicycle, and whether you’re 5 or 85, JUST offers a friendly welcome and a vast range of activities and workshops. The benefits of circus skills are multiple and invaluable and cross a whole range of factors including building confidence, improving physical health, supporting good mental health and encouraging social interaction.

For children, there are proven results including improving hand-eye coordination, reflexes and concentration, along with encouraging patience and perseverance. Improvement is often seen in social skills and selfconfidence, and as the activities are physical but non-competitive, circus skills are perfect for those who don’t enjoy competitive sports. If you or your child are looking for opportunities to go further with your circus skills, JUST offer a variety of opportunities to take part in events, having been regular features in the SIRF over the last 18 years along with the Festival of Thrift 2018 opening parade, Hardwick Live and even the Tour de Yorkshire Grand Depart in Middlesbrough in 2016. Also, JUST are frequently found at local events giving people the chance to have a go! Everyone involved in the club is a volunteer, and for young people looking to achieve a Duke of Edinburgh Award, the club offers many opportunities to work

towards the award including through volunteering and skill building. Chairman Doug Harris says, “Circus skills are just that bit different and offer a range of benefits to participants, the most important being that they are immense fun! We are very proud to offer an all-inclusive, friendly club where, no matter your age, ability or background, you are made to feel welcome and given the support and encouragement to grow your skills and your confidence.” If you’d like to find out more about the things on offer at JUST or want to give it a go, JUST would be delighted to welcome you. Sessions at JUST cost only £3 for a weekly session which runs 6:30-9: 00 pm every Thursday and the fee includes all equipment and regular workshops. For more information about the club, visit http://justonline.org.uk/ or search for JUST – Juggling and Unicycling Stockton on Tees on Facebook.

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Create a comfortable guest room Is your spare room ready for Christmas? our guide to setting up a cosy and welcoming space will help you ensure your guests feel completely at home. Hosting family or friends during the festive season can be as stressful as it is heart-warming.The best way to make sure everyone is relaxed is to start preparations well in advance.Your first task is to check the spare bedroom. Is it full of the clutter that inevitably accumulates over time? This is a good opportunity to have a clear-out and to sell, give or tidy away as much as possible. Create enough space in wardrobes and drawers for guests to unpack their clothes – or at least store your stuff neatly and leave them a few hangers on a hook on the back of the door. In general, is the room too hot or too cold? Address issues such as windows that are stuck or radiators that don’t work – if necessary, plug in a small standalone heater, which may be a welcome boost during a cold December evening. Another task, while checking out the room, is to draw the curtains during daylight hours to check whether they will adequately block early-morning light. Given enough

planning time, you may even wish to upgrade your spare room window treatments by adding blackout lining for curtains or fitted blackout blinds. While it goes without saying that the room should be sparklingly clean and as clutter-free as possible, there are some key elements that will really enhance your guests’ comfort. First, test out the bed. How is the mattress? If it has seen better days, a topper or enhancer will probably help, at least

in the short term. Now is also the time to have duvets and pillows dry cleaned, and to check that you have the necessary bed linen at the ready. Small tables either side of the bed are incredibly useful for guests to store a book, a glass of water, a phone and a pair of glasses.They need not be expensive – a folding tray table, a small chair, a stool or just an upturned wooden crate will all be fine (since this is not a full-time bedroom, a great deal of bedside storage space is

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not necessary).Though not essential, soft rugs beside the bed and some pretty prints on the walls are a lovely enhancement if you can manage it. Some additional pillows and a snuggly blanket or two will always be welcome, as will a hair dryer, a full-length mirror and a waste paper basket.You could hang a spare dressing gown on the back of the door, too – especially useful if the room doesn’t have an en suite bathroom. Older bedrooms are often lacking in plug sockets, so add an extension lead or an adaptor, just in case. After all, everyone needs to charge their phone regularly, and some guests might also bring a tablet, laptop or other device. Speaking of which, another thoughtful touch would be to write out your router’s name and password on a small card and leave it somewhere obvious.

as much as possible so your guests have room to put down their luggage, and place a small lamp near the head of their ‘bed’ and a spare throw or blanket nearby. A box, bag or basket into which they can stow bedding during the day will also help keep things tidy, while a note on the door will make sure they are not interrupted before they get up in the morning.

Not all of us are fortunate enough to have a spare bedroom, but no problem – a sofa bed, day bed, futon, bed-in-a-box or good quality airbed in the living room will all be fine, provided there is enough space to set them up without colliding with other items of furniture. If your living room is acting as a temporary bedroom, clear away

Finally, think about the little extras that will make your guests’ stay a five-star experience.You might leave out for them a small alarm clock, a pen and paper, a carafe of water with matching glass, a few books or magazines, a hot water bottle, a sprig of flowers in a bud vase and a scented candle or diffuser. With such care and forethought, your

guests are sure to be delighted – and will soon be back to stay again. CAPTIONS Left to right Flamingo knitted hot water bottle, £25, Sophie Allport: 01778 560 256; www. sophieallport.com. Spare room mattress, £345, Loaf: 020 3141 8300; www.loaf.com. Custom-made blackout roller blinds, £28.98, English Blinds: 0121 439 6770; www.englishblinds.co.uk.

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Gifted Inspiration For your best friend Origins’ Best of the Best collection is a celebration of their most popular products. There’s the Mega-Mushroom™ Skin Relief Soothing Treatment Lotion, Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream, Ginzing Energy-Boosting Gel Moisturizer, Modern Friction™ Nature’s Gentle Dermabrasion, Clear Improvement™ Active Charcoal Mask, Checks and Balances™ Frothy Face Wash and Spot Remover Blemish Treatment Gel. Most are travel-sized. You’re getting over £58 worth of products for £32 so it’s fantastic value for money. For fragrance fans If you’re looking to surprise someone with a new fragrance, Angel Muse could be a good choice. It might be Angel’s little sister, but it’s lighter, warmer and a bit more grown-up. The freshness of grapefruit and pink berries is combined with the warmth of hazelnut and the earthiness of patchouli and vetiver. The giftset is priced at £65, which gets you the full 50ml eau de parfum plus a handbagfriendly 9ml bottle. For a Secret Santa gift Clarins Festive Treats crackers are just

£10 each. The Eyes & Lips one is particularly good value for money as its contents (a mini Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector and Supra Volume Mascara) are worth a total of £17.33. For stockings Some giftsets are just made for splitting up and adding to stockings. Korres’ The Greatest Mini Shower Collection is a case in point. Six gorgeous smelling 40ml shower gels are just waiting to be popped into individual stockings. Add Kneipp’s Herbal Bath Collection (£9.95) to your basket for another six stocking fillers. Both sets are available from www.biggreensmile.com. For crackers Planning to swap the plastic fish and silver keyrings for luxe cracker gifts? Bobbi Brown’s Lip Crush Kit (£39.50) might be the answer. There are five mini lipsticks in a range of wearable shades. They’re pretty generously sized so are good value if you consider that one full-size lippy is £24.50. For chocoholics Chocolate lovers will adore Akamuti’s Chocolate Marshmallow Face Mask. Organic cacao, crushed rose petals, gentle

marshmallow, warming vanilla and detoxifying pink clay combine to make this mask a real treat for skin and senses. Add a bar of Green & Blacks to the gift and you’ll really make their day. £7.96 from www.akamuti.co.uk. For teachers Teachers often need to wash their hands several times a day, so a soothing hand cream is likely to be gratefully received. Dr. Organic’s Shea Butter Hand & Nail Cream is full of natural ingredients, including shea butter, aloe vera, coconut oil and rose oil. It provides instant relief for sore hands and feels lovely and rich. £7.99 from Holland and Barratt. Kate Duggan:

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£1.5m vantra Millcavalli: £900K

s top 10 most stolen cars: class

So, where do that leave us? Just that buying a farEastern made, mid-priced, security equipped car, won’t get you onto any of these top-10s. Happy Motoring! By Iain Betson

The Top 10 of Motoring

r Sport The top 10 most expensive enz motors, E-classaccording to es Luxhabitat: 1. Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita: £3.6m Discovery 2. Lamborghini Veneno Roadster: r Autobiography

£3.4m 3. Lykan Hypersport: £2.6m 4. Bugatti Veyron by Mansory Vivere: £2.5m 5. Aston Martin Valkryie: £2.4m 6. Ferrari Pininfarina Sergio: £2.3m 7. Pagani Huraya BC: £2.1m 8. Ferrari Laferrari Aperta: £1.7m 9. Zenvo TS1: £1.5m 10. Mazzanti Evantra Millcavalli: £900K

Confused.com’s top 10 most stolen cars:

9.VW Golf 10. Audi RS4

1. Mercedes C-class 2. BMW X5 3. Range Rover Sport 4. Mercedes-Benz E-class 5. BMW 3 Series 6. Land Rover Discovery 7. Range Rover Autobiography 8. BMW M3

From the Honest John website, we come to a rogue’s gallery top 10 of cars that gave the least overall owner satisfaction. 1. Ford Ka 2. Citroen C1 3.VW Touran 4. Fiat 500 5. Renault Laguna 6. Renault Megane 7. Peugeot 407 8. BMW Z4 9. Citroen C3 10.Vauxhall Vectra So, where do that leave us? Just that buying a far-Eastern made, midpriced, security equipped car, won’t get you onto any of these top-10s. Happy Motoring!

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Get Fit And Garden! It’s been great to have a bit of a slowdown , but if, like me, you’ve done a bit too much slowing down, have been lazing about and perhaps eaten a little more than you should, then now’s the time to jump into action! There’s nothing like some time in the garden to clear your head, get the blood moving around your body and wear off a bit of the seasonal excesses. Fresh, cool air will wake you up and get you thinking positively, and your garden will appreciate what you do – plus you may also manage to escape from anyone who’s driving you round the bend. So jump to it and get out in the garden or down to the allotment. Limber Up! After a bit too much time inside, and especially when the weather is cold, it’s easy to do yourself a bit of damage when you suddenly spring into action. Make sure you: • Wear plenty of clothing when you go outside – have lots of layers and remove them gradually as you warm up. • Do a few gentle limbering-up exercises before you start work to slowly loosen up your arms, legs

and especially your back. • Don’t do any single task for too long – instead rotate the jobs, perhaps spending ten minutes on one thing, ten minutes on another, then ten on a third, and then go back to the first.This way you won’t put any one area of your body under too much strain. • Give yourself regular, short breaks and don’t forget to drink enough, especially once you start warming up! • Don’t forget to bend your knees when lifting and if in doubt call on a friend, relative or neighbour to give you a hand.You can always return the favour another time. A rake over with a spring-tined rake will be just what the lawn needs to remove damp, clogged-up leaves that, if left in place, will cause patches of faded, miserable grass. It’ll be good for the upper arm muscles too! Make sure that you collect and bag up all the leaves, and allow them to rot down and make leaf mould, a brilliant and free soil conditioner. If the soil in cleared areas is sufficiently dry, take the opportunity to fork it

over – this will help the frosts to break up heavier clay soils. It will also expose lurking grubs and other soil pests, giving the birds a useful snack and helping you to minimise pest problems next year. If the soil is not too wet, you can get some digging done too, but make sure you limber up well before you start. Keeping your back straight and your knees bent helps to reduce the risk of back injury and strains – but take it gently! Winter is a good time to carry out pruning of apple and pear trees. Make sure your secateurs are good and sharp and start by removing dead, dying and diseased branches, as well as those that are causing the crown of the tree to be too congested. While the garden is not being used that much, take the opportunity to re-set any loose brick or similar edging around paths, beds and steps, replacing any stones, pavers or bricks that have broken or cracked. Carefully clear debris, dead foliage and stems from flower beds. Some plants that were still living when you did an

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autumn tidy may now have died back, so a simple clear up will make the bed look so much better. Remember not to go too far, and do leave some dry foliage and stems over the bases or crowns of plants, especially those of the more tender perennials such as penstemons. Smooth, hard surfaces in the garden such as patios, paths and steps can become really dangerous if algae and debris are allowed to build up on them over the winter.This layer may look insignificant but can become seriously slippery, especially when wet. A stiff brush or yard broom and plenty of elbow grease is the best solution I know. The combination of wet weather and extreme winds can cause a lot of shrubs and trees to become loosened in the soil. Use the heel of your foot to re-firm the soil around the root area, checking that the plant is still in the soil at the right level, adjusting if necessary. You’re bound to feel better after all that air and exercise in your plot, but do take time to wrap up warm again and reward yourself with a nice cuppa while you sit and admire your

handiwork – before heading inside for a nice hot bath! Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com and you’ll ﬁnd some great gardening items and perfect Christmas gifts for gardeners: a ‘Grow

Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ gift card (great vegetable plants and weekly advice from Pippa), stylish cloches, the fantastic SpeedHoe, raised bed kits, gardening tools, Grower Frames, signed books and more! Or why not book Pippa for a gardening talk at your gardening club?

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