BEAUTY

The well-appointed treatment space at Healthy Feet MK in their new premises at The Woodshed, at Pury Hill Business Park

Walking back to happiness

The new year is almost here – and the best resolution you can make is to put your health first, and that includes your foot health. When you are ready to take that first step, Healthy Feet MK are waiting to help...

Let’s be honest, the majority of us don’t afford our feet the respect they deserve. They work hard for us, and in return they get a cursory trim and are plonked inside a heavy boot, or crammed into those ill-fitting heels. We moan when they ache, but in the main don’t really do anything to keep them comfy.

To be fair, I have spent lots of time and money on my feet – over the past four years I have tried a variety of fairly pricey over-the-counter anti-fungal treatments with little or no success, as I tried to take control of an infection which has been present for much longer.

Those nail brushes that promise results ‘in as little as seven days’ haven’t worked even after months of treatment. Painting a liquid onto a massively thickened nail will do nothing – it needs to penetrate the nail plate, and it can’t. It took me years, and a lot of wasted money, to understand that.

My doctor offered oral medication, while warning of the potential for nasty side effects, and limited success. I had to admit defeat; my nasty nails were here to stay.

But a chance glance at a Facebook post back in the summer changed all that.

Those ‘before’ and ‘after’ images you see that look too good to be true (and often are) grabbed my attention.

But this Facebook post was from a local business, so I decided to pick up the phone and inquire about this revolutionary new laser treatment they were promoting. It might make for a good ‘feeture’!

A couple of weeks later, I’d kicked off my flipflops at Healthy Feet MK and my nastiness was on show before business owners, mother and daughter Liz and Kirsty, who have 16 years of shared experience in foot health.

While I cringed at the state of my feet, they spoke about why, no matter how bad the state of yours, you should take steps towards better foot health.

“Your feet are considered to be the foundation of your body, so it’s important to take care of them,” Kirsty said, “Poor foot health can lead to all sorts of problems – and not just for the elderly.

“If you have a build up of hard skin or a painful corn or verruca you might walk in a different way to avoid the pain, which can cause issues with your joints or your back. And complications

Before treatment...

in people with diabetes are common – and can be due to poor blood flow and nerve damage.

“Regular visits allow us to monitor their feet and keep them safe.”

But as anyone struggling with nasty foot issues will agree, getting those tootsies out for a professional assessment isn’t easy. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it.

“We don’t judge,” Liz said, “Fungal and thickened nails, hard skin and verrucae are the most common foot and nail complaints that people come to us with. We pride ourselves on making our clients feel comfortable, and we can promise that whatever you are struggling with, we will have seen it before – and probably much worse!

“We want our clients to leave feeling better about themselves. Our vision with the clinic was to create a space that is ‘in-between’ a doctor’s surgery and a beauty salon.”

This new Lunula Laser treatment that I have signed up for is used specifically for tackling fungal infections, known as onychomycosis, and it seems to make turning nasty nails into nice ones a breeze.

“We were becoming increasingly frustrated with the amount of clients we had with fungal nails who had paid a lot of money for over the counter treatments that weren’t working,” Liz said, “Some had been to the GP and been offered oral medication, but they weren’t happy to take it because of the toxicity on their livers.

“After lots of research, and based on results proven in clinical studies, we decided to invest in the Lunula Laser – we liked the fact that it’s a cold laser with very little risk of side effects and it’s completely pain free.”

The treatment is simple – you slide your foot into the machine and let the laser do its thing while you sit and have a natter. One beam is anti microbial which kills the fungus, and a second redirects blood flow to assist the immune system to beat the bugs. It takes 12 minutes to treat each foot, per session and is completely painless.

As few as four treatments can be enough to banish the infection. The machines aren’t widely available and it’s not cheap; the cost is £150 per treatment. But if, like me, your feet are affecting your confidence, spending £600 to banish the nastiness and regain confidence is absolutely worth every last penny.

The laser tackles the fungus and stimulates new clear nail growth, with no adverse reactions to the nail bed, toe or foot. It can also help to repair and recondition damaged nails, and it works with fingernails too.

Sessions should take place monthly, and it can make a real difference – and it really has for me.

Kirsty took images before each treatment, and the before and after comparisons are quite startling. My disfigured nails, ravaged by infection for so long, are already returning to normal, and as the nails continue to grow out, the results should become even more apparent. But those images (pictured left) tell you everything you need to know right now.

Being honest, I definitely didn’t expect to see such a marked result. I still don’t like my feet, but I do keep swiping those before and after pictures on my phone, because I love seeing normal nails again. I know that this coming summer, for the first time in years, when I pull on my flip-flops I won’t feel ashamed – and that feeling is priceless.

Liz (left) says, ‘We pride ourselves on making our clients feel comfortable’ ‘Your feet are considered to be the foundation of your body’ says Kirsty (right)

Anyone struggling with onychomycosis is prone to reinfection, and a once a year ‘top up’ under the machine might be necessary.

At Healthy Feet MK, I’m not exceptional – just another Lunula success.

“We have had amazing results so far, and have lots of happy clients who thought they were all out of treatment options,” Kirsty said.

The business has just moved to new premises offering better access for all, and can now be found in The Woodshed, at Pury Hill Business Park – a 10 mile distance from both Milton Keynes and Northampton. Clients also have access to an on-site cafe, and can enjoy trail walks in the beautiful countryside, which is another bonus of booking an appointment – you can enjoy a little ‘me time’, too.

Kirsty and Liz advise clients to visit them every six to eight weeks for treatments or simply to maintain foot health.

“We visit a lot of elderly people who wish they’d looked after their feet more when they were younger, but it’s never too late to start,” Liz encourages, “Regular appointments help us to get on top of any issues before they become too problematic. That said, we’d rather people visit us as much or as little as they are able to, rather than not at all.”

While I’m grateful that Healthy Feet MK were on hand to help me, I still don’t get the attraction of working with feet all day.

“We get asked about this a lot,” Kirsty smiles, “For us, it’s not necessarily about the feet themselves, but more about the positive difference we can make to a client’s confidence and comfort.” Healthy Feet MK also offers a wide range of routine treatments, from dealing with hard skin and diabetic foot care, to corn enucleation, and the following pedicures, reconstructions and treatments...

Medical Pedicures

A relaxing treatment which incorporates a routine foot care treatment with a foot soak, exfoliation, cuticle softener and foot massage.

Nail reconstruction

A popular treatment using a hybrid flexible gem to construct a temporary nail which helps to cover any that the client may feel conscious about – perhaps due to fungus or damage. It’s a great option for a special occasion, such as a holiday.

Plasma verruca treatment

It is virtually pain free and no paddings or dressings are required. The plasma pen works on a verruca by disrupting the virus that hides in the skin. It will evaporate the skin cells around it, which prompts an immune response from the body to fight the virus and clear the verruca.

They’ve succeeded on both counts. For more information about the Lunula Laser treatment and to see how Liz and Kirsty can help you, visit healthyfeetmk.co.uk

From dreary to dewy –

essentials that your skin will love!

As we welcome in a new year, it’s a good time to stop, take check and put yourselves first! Here are some skin essentials to get you off to a flying start...

Farmacy’s Green Clean makeup meltaway cleansing balm is such a hit that Sephora sells a jar every two minutes! It’s an adaptable little tub; perfect for all skin types, its gentle formula delivers high-performing results – stubborn makeup and pollution residue doesn’t stand a chance. Green Clean has sunflower and ginger root oils to cleanse and nourish the skin, moringa extract to refresh and banish impurities and papaya extract to exfoliate. Green Clean – guaranteed to clean up!

RRP: £32 Get it: spacenk.com

Are you suffering with irritating dry skin? Farmacy’s Honey Savior is an all-in-one skin repair salve, capable of tackling nuisances on the face, body, hands and lips, thanks to an intense combination of honey, propolis and royal jelly. Use it to target problem areas, or as a daily part of your skin care routine - and it’s kind on the finances too; a little goes a long way!

RRP: £32 Get it: spacenk.com

If you spend all of your time in an air-conditioned office, work from home with the heating on (less likely now, we know) or have to deal with the great outdoors and all that blows your way, your skin might benefit from a little light misting every once in a while – and Heritage Store’s Rosewater & Glycerin hydrating facial mist is a quick and easy treat. Perfect for dry and combination skin, it helps to hydrate and refresh, while locking in necessary moisture – reach for a spritz and go from drear to dewy!

RRP: £11.49 Get it: Superdrug branches at centre:mk and Northampton’s Grosvenor Centre When we think of dry skin, we seldom think of that on our head, but our scalp needs TLC, and Aveda’s brand new vegan Scalp Solutions Collection soothes irritations, and fights the look of premature scalp aging using plant power. An overnight scalp renewal serum will get to work while you clock up your Zzzz’s, but the range also includes an Exfoliating Scalp Treatment, balancing shampoo and replenishing conditioner and protective mist, and don’t forget the scalp brush.

RRP: Prices vary per product Get it: Exclusively at Selfridges from January 6, and nationwide from February 7. Also at aveda.co.uk

The winter chill is just as damaging for our skin as the summer sun, and when you add in that none-too-healthy festive diet we’ve all just enjoyed, our skin is possibly showing the effects! Lush’s Catastrophe Cosmetic Face Mask is full of summer goodness; chamomile, seaweed and rose are among the ingredients helping to soothe, cleanse and relax tired skin. As it’s packed with fresh ingredients, it will need to jostle for space in your fridge and be used within 28 days. Instead of reaching for the naughties in the chiller, reach for this tub for a cool way to softer skin.

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New Year New Suit

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*O er available until the end ofJanuary 2023.

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Stand out from the crowd with a bespoke made to measure suit, made for you. All occasions catered for: Business | Weddings | Events 10 years at St Crispin Retail Village

A divorcee’s guide to the ‘Quickie Divorce’

Emily Pope Solicitor - Divorce and Family Law

Neves Solicitors LLP Aurora House Deltic Avenue Rooksley Milton Keynes MK13 8LW

01908 304560 www.nevesllp.co.uk W hen you google ‘Get a Divorce’, the first search returned is the Government website. After that you will see several adverts from services promising you a ‘quick’ and ‘easy’ service –“Get a divorce In Weeks £199 – No courts and no solicitor fees” “Quickie divorce” “24 hour service – start your fast divorce today” Almost too good to be true, right? Right! There is no such thing as a ‘quickie divorce’. This article explains the current divorce process to illustrate why the reality is that currently in England and Wales divorces are taking a minimum of 6 months from start to finish.

The process 1. Application for divorce submitted (either jointly, or with one party doing their own application)

2. Application is sent to your spouse to approve (in joint applications) or to acknowledge service (sole applications).

3. Once approved/acknowledged, the application goes back to the court to check thoroughly and issue.

This usually takes a few days, but if there are errors or if you have applied for help with fees, it can take some weeks. The court fee is £593.

4. Application issued by the courts once checked.

This starts the 20 week ‘waiting period’ before the divorce can be progressed further. The government introduced this waiting period to ensure that couples took time to think about their divorce and avoided hasty decision making. It is a time for reflection and for many couples a time to negotiate and try to reach agreement regarding their finances.

5. After 20 weeks, the conditional order can be applied for. Again, the court checks the application and sets down a date (usually a couple of weeks away) to pronounce the conditional order.

6. Conditional order made. At this point, it is vital that parties ensure an agreement is in place and lodged with the court in relation to their finances. You cannot assume that your financial claims will be dismissed automatically on divorce. 7. There is a further 6 week waiting period after the conditional order is made before either party can apply for the conditional order to be made ‘final’.

8. Final order application submitted. The final order is made relatively quickly once the application has been made.

What does this mean for you? Well, as far as fees are concerned, unless you are eligible for help with fees (e.g. because you are in receipt of certain benefits) then a divorce is going to cost you a minimum of £593.

Timings wise, there is a minimum 20 week wait and 6 week wait within the divorce process. This means that a divorce is going to take a minimum of 26 weeks even if all parties (including the court) action everything within seconds of receiving it.

The reality for prospective divorcees is that there is no such thing as a quickie divorce. You could pay any solicitor or online service any amount of money to assist you, but the reality is that you will be waiting over 6 months for a divorce.

What else can you be doing during the 6 months? Those 6 months do not need to be wasted. You can use the 6 month period to reach agreement between you in relation to arrangements for children and your finances.

By seeking advice at the outset, you can ensure that you are using the time as productively as possible, so that once your divorce is finalised, you can rest easy knowing that everything has been dealt with.

The eye in the MK sky

It’s never normally good to admit that you look down on others, but Chris Read is the exception. His pastime has helped him in a personal capacity and is giving pleasure to city residents who are seeing things quite differently, too. It’s fair to say that things are well and truly on the up, as he told Pulse’s Sammy Jones.

There was a time not so long ago when a mention of the word drone would conjure up images of male honey bees, and it was our under threat pollinators who influenced the naming of the UAVs (unmanned aircraft systems) that we are all now very familiar with.

Once associated with military use, over the past decade or so they have become useful tools, assisting with everything from surveillance and traffic monitoring to firefighting. They are even employed to make deliveries!

Earlier this year, we looked up to find one looking down on us at a gig in the new city.

Like our army of delivery robots, they are appreciated and used by many, but they raise the hackles in others.

Whether you love them, hate them or are indifferent the numbers of people using drones for personal use has gone sky high, if you take our meaning.

Newport Pagnell man Chris Read is one of those invested in the technology – and his striking images from across Milton Keynes brought him to our attention.

“I’ve always enjoyed taking nice photos and using different angles, and the technology of drones interested me,” he said, “To be able to combine the two was a huge attraction. There aren’t many methods of photography that can capture from the angles a drone can!”

Working with drones gives a different perspective, and that is something that even helped Chris with his own mental health journey.

“Mental health, particularly men’s mental health, is still an area that is still not talked about enough. Mental and physical health is something that we all have, after all.

Chris with his trusty drone camera and (main image) a stunning view of Willen Lake

“Anxiety and overthinking has been an issue for me for some years, and I’ve never really found the solution,” Chris said, “People would tell me to ‘look at it differently’ when referring to an anxious subject, but I would always say that I didn’t get it, because I can only see what I can see.

“What photography showed me is that you can take an object or a building and look at it from different angles and see a different image. It helped me to understand that in a mental capacity - just because I’ve seen something one way immediately, it doesn’t mean I can’t change my angle and see something a bit differently!”

Chris only discovered his new hobby in August but, thrilled by some fantastic bird’s eye views of the area, he decided to share his results online. He set up an Instagram page which is currently nudging 750 followers and his images are causing a stir on social media with 1000s of likes.

“I enjoy people’s reactions and interactions with the posts, but I find it quite overwhelming to think so many people are interested in what I capture!” he admitted.

Chris is often met by intrigued members of the public when he is out with the drone, but he hasn’t encountered much in the way of negativity – people are more interested in the laws of flying these clever little machines.

“I’m always open and explain the laws for the category of drone that I am flying – you can’t just buy and fly a drone, there are qualifications required and I find that once people hear you are qualified and authorised they feel more comfortable.”

To date, Chris has provided unique views of some of MK’s most popular places and landmarks: from the Dons Stadium to Campbell Park, and the green splendour afforded by Salcey Forest.

Chris has captured Christmas light parades and secret rooftop gardens and all sorts of dramatic alternative shots. And if you think you’ve seen enough roundabouts to last you a lifetime, think again – they are quite beautiful when viewed from the air. Honestly!

It will come as absolutely no surprise to know that Chris is a one-man PR machine for UAVs

“They are certainly necessary,” he says, resolutely, “The amount of work they can save a person having to do, and the height risks they rule out, make them an asset.

“A prime example is roof inspections where hours of erecting scaffolding and sending people up can be eliminated by a drone taking images in a much smaller time frame.”

But what about those people who do see them as another invasion of privacy?

“Recreationally, I think the first thing I’d say is if a drone is above, it is likely to be photographing something a fair distance away from its actual location. A drone sees nothing that the Google plane, Google earth or hot air balloons or helicopters haven’t already seen!”

Chris and his flying ‘bot’ were on hand at the annual firework displays in Newport Pagnell and Olney – which is definitely ‘up there’ when it comes to his favourite captures so far.

“It was something I’d not tried before and certainly took some work to get it just right. CMK is always a pleasure to capture from above too, and at night time the reflections and lights look fantastic.”

While his drone time is for pleasure just now, the motor trade worker would certainly hope to combine business with pleasure in the future.

Chris has captured the essence of the city from the sky, (above) looking down on Christ the Cornerstone and (left) Central Milton Keynes with the striking Hotel La Tour in the foreground

“It’s definitely something I’d like to turn into a business, while also keeping the recreational element to share with others. I have already been asked to assist by estate agents, and for the roof inspections I mentioned!

“I want to continue shooting things from a perspective that others don’t generally get to see, and grow my online platform while continuing to enjoy my hobby.

“I will put myself forward for charitable causes too, and have recently established a relationship with Willen Hospice to support them as much as possible; everyone around MK has some connection with them and I am happy to give them my time.

“I also see it as a way of giving back to the local community who have got my pages out there!”