Stay Connected Magazine UK – Issue 2

• QUARANTINE NEWS • PODCASTS • MUSIC • BUSINESS UPDATES • FITNESS VIDEOS • FUN STUFF

DIGITAL MAGA ZINE

#STAY CONNECTED Issue 2 – 2020

WINNER LAURA AUBREY PHOTOGRAPHY COMPE T I T I ON

ENTERTAINING YOU FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME

WINNER

Thankyou to all who entered our cover photo competition. We chose Laura Aubrey’s photo which was taken from Hengistbury Head in Christchurch, Dorset overlooking Bournemouth and Poole. We love the mystery and calmness extruding from this photo.

WEBSITE NOW LAUNCHED

10% OFF IN JUNE WITH CODE:

JUNE02

www.wearmyleggings.com

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Send your experiences and weblinks to stayconnected@spotgraphics.co.uk

CONTENTS PROPERTY p4 BEAUTY p6 FASHION p8 MUSIC p10 CARS p12 PODCASTS p14 NUTRITION p16 WORKOUTS p18 PRIVATE SCHOOL FEES

p20

BOOKS p22 FUNNIES p24 RECIPES p26 BUSINESS p28 SUPPORT p32

Hello again! I hope you have been enjoying the glorious weather? I wanted to thank our 46,000 followers for you continued support during this lockdown period.

In this issue we offer advice when working from home, private school fee payment dilemas, property advice from professionals plus fitness videos, podcast recommendations car reviews and live music streaming along with social media funnies.

Feel free to share your experiences and recommendations with us...

Linz

Lindsey Legg lindsey@spotgraphics.co.uk

Photo by Danielle MacInnes on Unsplash

Y T R E P O R P M? property

O O B r o DOOM Covid-19 Effect On The Housing Market by PROPERTY EXPERT Maximillian Z De Kment, CEO Lovett Estate Agents, Dorset Why Bournemouth And Poole Is The Place To Invest During Covid-19 by Maximillian Z De Kment, CEO Lovett Estate Agents, Dorset.

There had been pent up demand due to the market pausing, firstly from the government putting up stamp duty from as little as 1% up to 12%. Then, the uncertainty of Brexit and then the General Election. All these factors resulted in the lower market exploding at the start of 2020.

January and February saw record sales and prices rising dramatically at the bottom end of the market only then to be furloughed by the global pandemic lockdown.

It is muted that more than ÂŁ30,000 will be wiped off the average value of a UK home by the coronavirus crisis as the property market is brought to a standstill and incomes fall, the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) has warned.

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Its economists predicted that prices will tumble by 13% by the end of 2020 as transactions dwindle and home buyers are hit by a deep recession. A slump that deep would push the average house price to the brink of falling below ÂŁ200,000.

The CEBR warned that owners of rental properties and home owners in regions with the most vulnerable jobs markets will be the hardest hit

by the fallout of the coronavirus.

However, Bournemouth and Poole derive most of their income from tourism which I believe will explode all be it later than normal in the year. People may be spread among cargo for social distancing on planes.

If flying this summer meant sitting next to a crate full of nappies, would you do it?

Send your experiences and weblinks to stayconnected@spotgraphics.co.uk

PROPERTY CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO>> Due to many less flights ticket prices could well soar. As the UK’s number one holiday destination, this could be a few years of record business for the area, resulting in the property market continuing to surge as it had been pre-lockdown.

With interest rates at an all time low of 0.1% per annum, there is a unique situation that exists in Bournemouth, it is currently cheaper to own a property on a mortgage, than it is to rent it. For example, if you buy a £100,000 property on a mortgage, the payments can be as little as £106 per month on a 25 year interest only mortgage, when the rent on this type of property is typically £600 per month. This is why property prices should not plummet in the Bournemouth area and in fact have the potential to increase substantially. (NOTE: £100,000 mortgage on an interest only mortgage over 25 years can cost anything between £106 - £350 PCM, depending upon your credit rating and amount of deposit used) From my personal standpoint, I have purchased 3 properties during lockdown and I am looking for more to expand my personal portfolio as I believe, that the best time to purchase is always in adversity, not boom.

“ I Believ e, the Best that purchas time to e in adver is always s not Boo ity, m.”

Maximil lian Z De Km

ent

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BEAUTY

putting

AESTHETICS PRACTITIONER AND PHARMACIST SHIKHA RISHI gives us an insight into how her life has changed since the coronavirus pandemic

HEA LTH BEFORE beauty I

’m Shikha Rishi, an aesthetics practitioner and pharmacist working in the Bournemouth and Poole area. My journey into aesthetics began in 2015, when I had been working in community pharmacy for a long time and was looking for something more fulfilling. I’d always been interested in experimenting with make-up and beauty, but found myself drawn to the world of aesthetics, where I could find longer-term solutions for people to look their best. I still loved the consultation element of pharmacy, enjoying the patient interaction that comes with it, so I knew I could offer this same personalised treatment for aesthetics.

I had fantastic mentors from Harley Street in London, who helped me see where I could grow my experience and business.

I then spent 5 years building up a loyal client base, while training in world-class clinics around the UK

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to keep up-to-date on the latest and most promising treatments available. I also spent time working in an A&E department where I learnt invaluable skills regarding complications and infections.

The coronavirus pandemic has completely changed my world of work. As the aesthetics clinics were ordered to shut down, I have been unable to see my clients face-toface, which is the majority of what I do. I had to think outside the box and quickly adapt my business to suit the current climate. My saving grace has been my Independent Prescribing qualification that I completed in 2017. I originally got it so I could provide a much more rounded service to my clients, as I can prescribe medications to complement their treatment.

Now, I have been able to move my business online to concentrate more on the health and pharmaceutical side of my training.

I have started offering online

video health consultations, so I can assist people who are currently unable to get a doctor’s appointment. I can order fingerprick blood tests to be delivered to their house, then use my skills to interpret the results and refer them if needed or prescribe suitable medication that can be delivered direct to their door. I have had an amazing uptake on this service, so it looks like it is really helping the public during this crisis.

My online consultations also cover aesthetics advice about home skin-prep, dermal conditions and product recommendations.

I am selling online the same ranges I keep in-clinic, so people don’t have to worry running out.

Fortunately, these consultations mean that I can make treatment plans in advance for all of my patients, so when it is safe to go back to work I’ll be jumping straight back into a full schedule!

Send your experiences and weblinks to stayconnected@spotgraphics.co.uk

BEAUTY

WWW.ELEGANTAESTHETIC.CO.UK < BACK TO CONTENTS

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C U F

FASHION

ER

F*CK YOU CANC

Hi my name is Charlie and I am a 45 year old mum of 3.

I own and run Wassmuffin Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Boscombe with my brother.

I am a PT and teach Muay Thai and Bootcamp classes.

In August 2017 I was diagnosed with stage 3 estrogen positive breast cancer. Treatment included surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and meds. I refused chemotherapy knowing how awful it was and hoped making a few other changes alongside my medical regime would help. After a lumpectomy and nose clearance, cancer was found in 2 out of the 4 nodes taken so this meant more surgery for a full node clearance as they were afraid it had spread.

4 months later I had just started radiotherapy and found another lump in my scar. My surgeon was sure it was just scar tissue and sent me for a ultrasound ‘just to put my mind at ease’. Unfortunately the exact opposite of that happened.

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A biopsy was taken as the lump looked suspicious. 2 weeks later I was diagnosed with HER2 positive breast cancer and given a new treatment plan which included chemotherapy (and this time I accepted) a double mastectomy (as Gene’s testing discovered I had the BRCA2 gene) and reconstruction plus more meds.

Since then I’ve had 8 surgeries due to the mastectomy going wrong which has led to my most recent surgery which was a full reconstruction made from my own body. I’ve also suffered 2 strokes which after extensive testing they have concluded this was due to the cancer diagnosis.

In between all of this I decided to start my own athleisure company and donate the proceeds to a cancer charity. It’s a great feeling to be able to help people and give back a little.

It honestly helps me to be able to make a difference know matter how small. Its obviously very close to my heart. I know how people feel when

diagnosed or going through chemo.

I know the effect it can have in family and friends. And the charities I support are vital in helping people in so many ways.

This year I am raising money for shine. A charity which supports young adults with a cancer diagnosis.

I try other things alongside the clothing. My project at the end of last year was a calendar to raise awareness as well as money. It was full of inspirational stories and pictures. Unfortunately due to my last surgery date changing and all events being cancelled thanks to lock down, I have been unable distribute the remaining stock. I would much rather they people were getting use out of them than sat in my front room. So I have decided that anyone who would like one locally can contact me and I will deliver safely with no charge at all! Cancer effects so many of us these days I would much rather they were raising awareness. That’s such a big part if what I do. I’ll be happy to post

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FASHION

further afield too I will just ask for ÂŁ2 to cover postage. This can be paid via PayPal address; charlylowe2@gmail.com. I have no limit on how many you would like all for free but I will accept any donations to FUC clothing. Every single penny helps me on my mission as I am a new business making donations.

I always have such great support that I am forever grateful for so a massive e thank you for those that have helped me in any way whatsoever. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hoping you are all staying safe and happy and look forward to seeing you on the other side... an FUC Clothing party is in the making. < BACK TO CONTENTS

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MUSIC

MUSIC FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS

On this page you will find some great music currently streaming from local to well-known artists in their own homes. Enjoy!

Send in your video links to: stayconnected@spotgraphics.co.uk

RUSS CARR @SomethinGbluband

CALUM SCOTT

Russell Carr, Bournemouth decided to brush up on his piano skills during lockdown and put his own lyrics to this classic song...

VIRGIN EMIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S VIRTUAL FESTIVAL Featuring Calum Scott showing us he is very real and what a voice!

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MUSIC CORONAVISION SONG CONTEST WINNERS FROM CHIRISTCHURCH DORSET!

CORONAVISION 2020 NEWS KLAXON A record label has picked up the Coronavision Song Contest winning track and is releasing ‘Quelle Est La Date’ as a single on the UK/US charts written by Lorna Rees and family from Christchurch in Dorset. This hilariously brilliant track is well worth a watch! Click on this link and presave the track which is released 5th June: http://smarturl.it/lornarees

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MOTORS An expensive performance saloon lives and dies by the way it drives and, in this regard, WHATCAR argue that the Giulia Quadrifoglio is the best performance car you can currently buy

Giulia 12

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MOTORS

Its engine is a real highlight, delivering a razor-sharp throttle response with hardly any lag, despite being heavily turbocharged.

In fact, floor the accelerator from standstill and it’ll both out-sprint a Mercedes-AMG C63 to 62mph and carry on to a higher top speed, too.

The eight-speed automatic gearbox plays a big part in that.

Okay, it dithers and slurs a little at low speeds through town, but it transforms once you start to press on, providing finger-click-fast manual changes when you use the Giulia’s tactile aluminium paddles mounted to the steering column.

The engine and gearbox are at their best when you’ve selected the sportiest Race driving mode (Dynamic, Natural and Advanced Efficiency modes sit below it and offer more relaxed throttle response and gearchange settings).

Race is also the mode in which the Giulia Quadrifoglio sounds its best, barking loudly as the revs rise and cracking violently on changes.

It sounds much more invigorating than the BMW M4 but, many will argue, not as evocative as the C63’s thundering 4.0-litre V8.

Its brakes are a little disappointing. Not in terms of stopping ability – the optional ceramic brakes in particular provide monumental retardation from high speed – but in terms of feel.

Because the Giulia Quadrifoglio’s brakes are initiated via electronics rather than hydraulics, as you press the brake pedal the initial response is a tad vague.

There’s nothing wrong with the way the car handles, though.

Thanks to a bespoke suspension tune, which can be made softer or stiffer to suit the bumpiness of the road independently of the drive mode selected, there’s next to no body roll while cornering at speed. The Giulia Quadrifoglio also has a clever differential on its rear axle that helps better distribute power as either wheel begins to slip. Of course, if you want to break traction at the rear and steer using

the accelerator, that’s possible too – in doing so you’ll discover that, despite its enormous power output, the car’s chassis is so much more forgiving (and considerably less daunting) than the twitchy M4’s.

It’s not just out of corners that the Giulia Quadrifoglio entertains.

It feels light, poised and nimble when you turn in to a bend, and the quick steering is alert but never nervous. And its front tyres grip hard, so you can carry serious speed.

Then there’s the ride. If you think a performance car will be too firm, think again. While you can feel how the Giulia Quadrifoglio’s tyres follow road imperfections, the suspension is so supple and effectively damped that it takes the sting out of sharp ridges and never jars you.

In fact, the only tarnish to how it drives is a bit of wind and road noise at motorway cruising speeds, but its rivals, particularly the C63, suffer from this rather more acutely.

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PODCASTS

H C I H W ?

T S A PODC CLICK THE LINKS BELOW for PODCAstS recommended by our readers 13 Minutes to the Moon

Beatles City

Series 1 of the Apollo 11 mission with Armstrong, Aldrin, one giant step and all that – was gripping and inspiring. Series 2 now follows suit.

It’s the 50th anniversary of the band’s poisonous break-up, but this project from the Liverpool Echo digs back into the very early years of the Beatles.

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Send your experiences and weblinks to stayconnected@spotgraphics.co.uk

PODCASTS I wanted to share with you some of our recommended podcasts which are informative and entertaining.

Let us know what you are listening too: stayconnected@spotgraphics.co.uk

COMEDY – LOCKED TOGETHER

SPORT – EURO 96 re-lived

Recorded during the April 2020 lockdown, each episode sees legendary comedy partners connecting remotely for a catch up during their isolation.

As you might know, ITV is filling the new, cavernous and now constantly expanding gaps in the schedules by rerunning all of the games from Euro ’96.

Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash

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STAY HEALTHY

ABBIE CURTIS personal fitness trainer AND NUTRITIONALIST Hey, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m Abbie and I am just like you!

I am an online personal trainer, but before we get into our similarities let me tell you a little about me so you can get a feeling for why my clients find it easy to work with me.

Sometimes having a connection is what makes the best partnerships.

And in what I do, having a really good vibe with my team is the first things

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that unites us in achieving those body goals.

I have always been athletic, by that I probably mean competitive! As a young girl in Junior School I would thrive on Sports Day, cross county, long jump and anything that meant using my body to achieve results.

I was never much of an academic, bored easily my attention span

would wain, however sports would always have me eager to dig deeper to get a better result every time.

After college aged 18 I ended up using my body for looks rather then ability as I was picked up by a London modelling agency after entering a competition for a magazine to be their next cover girl. I was shy, although desperate

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STAY HEALTHY to be noticed and I challenged my timid nature to make sure I pushed myself to compete against the high competition. I came close to winning, but by this time I had gained much public exposure and my face had been in most newspapers, magazines, music videos and short film roles by the time I had turned 24.

The industry was full of glamour, girls with perfect bodies, big boobs and beautiful smiles.

It wasn’t a place for the shy, you either buckled up or bailed out.

So I hit the gym! I would be cast on a weekly basis for photoshoots, commercials and film, the pressure to look skinny or as I’d say like Jessica Rabbit was intense. That was the look then in the early 2000’s things were different. Online now over 15 years later women embrace being strong, healthy and and more educated on nutrition.

Thank goodness, because todays influencers are not campaigning size zero anymore, but carbs, fitness, rounded shoulders and flat stomach born out of health rather than starvation.

Any way back to London I would travel week after week, knock back after knock back, shoot after shoot. I sailed through my early twenties paying the mortgage based on how my body looked and how cocky I could be to push to the front every time.

I got tired, deflated and constantly questioned my body. I got a breast enlargement, developed an eating disorder and by age 26 I left the modelling industry behind for good.

Inside I sighed with relief, I wouldn’t change any of it as this is what set me up for the rest of my life and many of yours too as I spread my message to the rest of the world along with many other women who promote health and happiness over industry image trends.

This resulted in my need for something challenging - I found fitness! I threw myself into the gym, taking classes in Body Combat, yoga, playing with machines I knew nothing about and trying to figure out what the hell I was supposed to eat. I was lost when it came to nutrition, I didn’t understand a thing about what I needed or why and for another decade I fought with a very bad relationship with food. During this time I needed a new career so I went back to college. I had fallen in love with fitness so much so I embarked on a Gym Instructor course.

As soon as I passed I took my Personal Training qualification, then I went on to take my Teaching in Further Education qualification and alongside working in gyms I taught in colleges while training clients privately and finding happiness in my career.

So here’s where you and I are

the same. I too was once lost and confused with how to get my body to look a certain way.

Feeling inadequate and always trying diet after diet that never really fulfilled me long enough before I quite and tried something new. A silly shake diet, a zero carb diet or not eating much at all diet. I circled around for a long time and even though I had qualifications that suggested I should know how to overcome my need for knowledge, learning the ropes in real life compared to knowing whats written in a text book is where someone really gains their knowledge.

Ultimately knowledge is power and this is what I want to share with you. The story of how a bad relationship with food turned good and the appreciation I developed for weight training and what it could do for my body. And this is where skinny turned strong!

If you’re looking to get on the right path get in touch with me.

Helping others is what Abbie Curtis Fitness is here for, why not meet the community at Abbie Curtis Fitness https://linktr.ee/ abbie_curtis_swim Abbie Curtis Director info@abbiecurtis.com +44(0)7732 436978 www.abbiecurtis.com

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FITNESS

H C I H W ?

T U O K R WO CLICK THE IMAGES BELOW for TASTER fitness videos LATIN PARTY VIBES

BOXING TIPS

Helen from Fitness Fiesta gives us a 45 minute dance exercise to funky Latino music to beat the lockdown blues...enjoy!

Boxing tips from Precision Striking Common beginner mistakes and considerations to improve your boxing technique.

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Send your experiences and weblinks to stayconnected@spotgraphics.co.uk

FITNESS

HIIT WORKOUT

ABS WORKOUT

The Body Coach shares with us a 15 Minute Fat Burning HIIT Workout. No Equipment needed.

MadFitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 15 Min Abs Routine that you can do anywhere! At home and equipment free.

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FAMILY

PRIVATE

STRUGGLES How to pay the school fees is a major worry for many separating and divorced parents. The current pandemic restrictions will only heighten their concern as they may lose their main source of income, face redundancy or struggle to keep their own business viable.

As a result, many parents are now taking a long, hard look at their finances and assessing if private school fees are affordable and/or sustainable long-term. If not, some hard financial decisions may need to be made.

Discounts and deferred payments for fees Private schools are aware of the impact of COVID-19 on parents’ ability to pay. Many now offer substantial discounts and measures such as deferred payments, fee postponements, staged payments, and future fee freezes. Most also have bursaries and scholarships for parents experiencing genuine hardship. For some, these measures can make school fees affordable again – but not all.

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Struggling with private school fees? Why the pandemic is a good time to assess financial priorities

Rita Gupta

Joint liability for school fees – it’s in your contract If your child is at private school, your contract is usually in joint names,

meaning both parents are jointly liable for the fees. If you are divorced, who pays the school fees will be part of your divorce financial agreement.

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FAMILY

However, if your ex-spouse is in financial difficulties and the fees remain unpaid, you may not even know about it, and still be liable.

So, if you are co-parenting, you need to know how your ex is coping financially. A formal letter carefully written by a family lawyer can help resolve the question without unnecessary antagonism.

Schools Fees Orders In a contentious situation, you can apply to the court for a School Fees Order. This Order can cover school fees plus extras such as music lessons, uniforms, school trips, etc. However, the view of the court has always been that private school fees are a luxury and not a necessity.

Now more than ever, judges are going to take into consideration if one party is reluctant to commit to private school fees, or if payment is not sustainable.

Sorting school fees without the drama The greatest barrier to resolving issues around payment of school fees is silence.

• Talk to your school so they can help you • Talk to your ex so you know their situation • Seek proper legal advice from a family lawyer before taking any action • Choose mediation and a collaborative law approach to resolve any issues out of court < BACK TO CONTENTS

Rita Gupta is co-founder of LGFL Ltd, a boutique family law firm near Reading Berkshire.

She is a Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer and a Chambers Recognised Practitioner. Rita was also Lawyer Monthly’s Family Lawyer of the Year 2017.

Rita offers Stay Connected readers a 1-hour initial online consultation, including 30 minutes free, to discuss your situation. (For qualifying clients, T&Cs apply). b Rita Gupta Director, LGFL Ltd Tel: 01189 735521 www.lgfamilylawyers.co.uk

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BOOK REVIEW

GREAT READS FROM LOCAL AUTHORS the victorian cottage

r e c ip

Dorset Author Leigh Bourne has launched his first recipe book full of th v i cet o delicious recipes cotta rian from his own ge cottage.

Price ÂŁ5.99. https://issuu.com/ home/published/recipes_from_the_victorian_cottage-issuu

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es fr om

IMMUNE BOOSTING RECIPES

Natalie Sabih-Stone has selected her very own favourite plant-based recipes to boost your immune system and improve health. We thought this was perfect timing to release this book.

Price ÂŁ4.99 https://www.suestone.com/recipes-for-vitality.html

Send your experiences and weblinks to stayconnected@spotgraphics.co.uk

BOOK REVIEW

SUSPENSE THRILLER Desperate to escape the past, Tom swaps a safe life in London for a spell in the desert of Iraq, providing therapy to the staff of an isolated oil concession. But his new job quickly becomes dangerous, especially when he starts to ask too many questions about a series of deaths.

A lethal attack on the camp sends him back to the UK, but heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s determined to keep investigating. Iraq is coming home with him, in more ways than one.

Price ÂŁ14.99 or free for 30 days with trial.

Click here: https://www.audible. co.uk/pd/Red-Desert-Audiobook/ B086WN4YH7

Let us know your favourite books: stayconnected@spotgraphics.co.uk

< BACK TO CONTENTS

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SOCIAL MEDIA

JUST FOR

FUN WITH SO MANY QUARANTINE SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS GOING ROUND WE COULDNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T RESIST ADDING A FEW TO MAKE US GIGGLE

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Send your experiences and weblinks to stayconnected@spotgraphics.co.uk

Photo by ROBIN WORRALL on Unsplash

SOCIAL MEDIA

Send in your funnies to: stayconnected@spotgraphics.co.uk

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FAMILY MEALS

Leigh Bourne shares a family recipe:

#thevictoriancottage

CHILLI-OUT CHILLI CON CARNE Serves 4 Ingredients • 500g lean minced beef • 1 large onion, chopped • 2 cloves garlic, chopped • 1-2tbsp chilli powder • Half tsp turmeric • 1 tbsp ground cumin • 2 tbsp plain flour • 450ml beef stock • 400 ml tin chopped tomatoes • 400 ml tin red kidney beans – I use Napolina • 400ml tin five bean salsa – I use Napolina • 2 tbsp tomato purée • 1 tbsp oregano • Large pinch of salt, pepper & sugar

m re cip es fro

https://issuu.com/waterside10/docs/ recipes_from_the_victorian_cottage-issuu

th e ri a n v ic toa g e c o tt

Method 1. I n a large sauté pan or frying pan, cook the beef and onions together, once done add the garlic, cook for 2 minutes.

2. S tir in the spices and cook for another 2 minutes, stir in the flour and cook until fully dispersed.

3. S lowly add the beef stock, stirring all the time,

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DOWNLOAD Leigh’s victorian cottage RECIPE BOOK:

then add the tomatoes, all the beans and the tomato purée. Stir throughly.

4. Add the salt, pepper, oregano and sugar, bring to a simmer and cook for an hour and a half over a low heat. Adjust seasoning to taste.

Serve with rice and flat breads.

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PLANT & ALE PIE Ingredients (Serves 6) 1 onion – diced 2 sweet potatoes – cubed 1 butternut squash – cubed 1 suede – cubed 3 celery sticks – chopped chunky 3 carrots – sliced 1 small pack of chestnut mushrooms – halved 1 bottle of real ale 1 tbsp of marmite 2 veg stock pots Gravy granules of your choice – to thicken 3 tbsp of nutritional yeast Soy sauce Tsp dried thyme Jus roll puff pastry sheets x 2 (or one if using a smaller pie dish) Vegan butter

PLANT BASED RECIPE

Method Fry off the onion, sweet potatoes, butternut squash and suede with the celery and carrots in some water with the lid on (I fill the pan to half way up the vegetables with the water) on a medium heat and stir every few minutes for 15 minutes.

Next add a bottle of real ale and simmer for 5 minutes, then add your mushrooms, marmite, veg stock pots, some gravy granules and the nutritional yeast and a dash of soy sauce.

Cook your mix out until the root veggies are soft and adjust flavourings if needed, I now add some dried thyme and season with salt and pepper.

When you are happy with the thickness and taste add the root veg mix to your pie dish and let it cool.

Once cooled add the puff pastry sheets over the mix and lap them over the edges of your pie dish and brush the vegan butter on it to brown. Cook in the oven for 40 minutes on a medium/high heat or until the pastry is browned nicely.

Serve with mash or roast potatoes and green vegetables of your choice.

Benefits

For all you pie lovers this is the ultimate winter warmer with a deep rich flavour that even meat lovers find hard to say no to. This is a much healthier alternative to a traditional meat based pie as it is much lower in saturated fats and contains no cholesterol which can help to lower your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

DOWNLOAD YOUR IMMUNE BOOSTING PLANT-BASED RECIPE BOOK NOW: www.recipesforvitality.com < BACK TO CONTENTS

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BUSINESS

e m o h m o r f g n i k Wor m r o n w e n e h t s i is th W

Joy Bruce collaboraterecruitment.com

hilst a lot of employers have not naturally warmed to the idea of allowing employees to work from home, after being ‘strongly advised’ to only go to work if absolutely essentially, I think there has been some positive that has come from the Corona Virus that we have been unexpectedly hit with.

If nothing else, it has forced / encouraged companies not only to entrust their staff, but to look at remote working set ups in a way that gets the best out of a situation, with everyone in mind. It can be done and moving forward, may become the new norm.... we need to embrace change and consider these new ways of working, in order to keep up with the ever changing world.

Talking from a personal perspective....

When I first started working from home, I must admit, I wasn’t overly convinced that it was the most productive way to get much done. This could have been because I was set up with only my laptop, at my dining room table and the distractions of

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‘home’ around me. In addition, I didn’t feel confident that my employer fully trusted that I was actually doing any work whilst I was at home... I therefore spent a lot of wasted time, proving that I was working - either calling to ‘report in’ or ‘touch base’, emailing updates of tasks achieved or productive conversations had, rather than perhaps focussing my energy on just doing the job at hand and drawing inspiration without the distraction from the outside world or office environment.

I have worked in target driven environments for most of my career, so results speak for themselves. KPI’s aside, if I have ever been given a monetary target, my personal aim has always been to smash it! With this in mind, the only way to achieve the end result, has been to work hard. The day I realised that I didn’t have to work in the ‘traditional’ office environment to achieve my own targets, was the day home working really started to have a positive impact on my work / life balance.

In order to achieve the work

Send your experiences and weblinks to stayconnected@spotgraphics.co.uk

BUSINESS life balance however, I have had to routine the way I work from home, to keep motivated and on top of my game.

Number 1 - Set yourself up with a dedicated office space - whilst not everyone has the benefit of a separate study / office, a dedicated area where you can go to work, away from the distractions of ‘quickly loading the dishwasher’ or ‘doing a load of washing’ is really important.

Number 2 - Stick to a routine, even if you only work from home on the occasion. Try and get up at your normal time and stick to your work routine - this will prevent you from getting into the habit of rolling out of bed onto your chair and not being ready to start your day with the right mindset!

I am not suggesting getting fully ‘office’ dressed, because I am a real advocate of working from home in a tracksuit - comfort over style, when nobody can see!

Number 3 - One of the main benefits to working from home for me, especially as I have a family with a frantic daily school run and a dog walk to incorporate before 9am, is the fact that I can cut out commuting time and of course.... avoid rush hour traffic - one of the

most stressful ways to start a day, is by getting stuck in traffic and then racing against time, to find a car parking space near work, dashing to the office in inappropriately high, uncomfortable shoes, quite possibly in the pouring rain...all before 9am, when work has officially started Apart from starting the day feeling exhausted, there is certainly no chance grabbing a quick cup of tea, after ‘sauntering in’ with no seconds to spare....Need I say more!

Number 4 - Brain space, to be creative and more effective - for some, I can see why working from home full time, may not be an option - I, like many, love interacting with people and if I work with like minded people, the interaction is more often motivating as opposed to distracting. That being said, there are times when working from home can be really useful, especially when you have a piece of work or a project that needs to be focussed on or completed within an agreed time frame. Being able to just focus on your work can often mean that you can get far more done, in a shorter space of time. Think of the distractions that are presented in a work environment....and that is not just when you are saying good morning, or offering someone a cup of tea/coffee!

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Number 5 - Lastly, from an employers point of view - running a business comes with such financial commitments, that if you could cut back on even a proportion of the running costs of an office, this could mean shifting some of the pressure away from ‘getting results’ to pay the bills and more towards getting the most out of your teams, for everyone’s benefit.

Office overheads can be reduced if not everyone needs to have a desk at all times, thus saving space. hot desking set ups and shared office space is becoming a more popular way to work - not only for small businesses, but for larger businesses to reduce their overheads whilst still providing a vibrant, dedicated space for staff to come together to work.

From a recruitment perspective - I have spent the past 18 months encouraging my clients to recruit with a more open minded approach, in order to attract the best talent available. Flexible working hours and remote working to name just a few cost effective incentives, certainly enables employers to attract the best talent available out there....My advice is to accept and get on with it, before it becomes the expectation.

If nothing else, it will help make you stand out above your competitors, who are still set in the traditional working ways.

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Engage: How would you like your target audience to be engaged and interact with your brand? What does your business do and why should a prospective client use your business?

T: 01392 241653 E: hello@gleavemedia.co.uk

www.gleavemedia.co.uk

BUSINESS

Many businesses have now changed the way they work from online conference calls on Zoom to Fitness Videos. We at Spot Graphics are keeping up with the change in technology and are now producing online publications and brochures which are interactive with video and have analytics attached to monitor statistics.

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We feel the work-from-home trend will continue way after the Coronavirus is over and more people will be spending more time online with interactive reading as well as interactive brochures. We are forced into thinking and behaving differently and need to keep up with the current times. Please call us if you want more information on how we can help your business.

LOOKING FOR WORK? let's Connect JOY BRUCE Recruiter

07585 744642 joy@collaboraterec.com collaboraterecruitment.com

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let's Connect

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07585 744642 joy@collaboraterec.com collaboraterecruitment.com

10/06/2019 21:39

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CANCER SUPPORT

Wessex Cancer trust Since we had to close the Centre due to corona virus, we have working really hard to find new ways of helping as many existing and new clients as possible We are pleased so many clients have been using our telephone and online support services and have been finding these helpful.

We provide a telephone support helpline, and email support, Monday to Friday, between 10 and 4, on 01202 315 824, as well as telephone counselling, coffee break zoom catch up groups, on line Tai Chi, Qigong, Meditation and distance Reiki.

Please ring, or email https://www. wessexcancer.org.uk if you want to access any of these services.

We have lots of support ideas on our website, https://www.wessexcancer.org.uk and have a designated support facebook page, Wessex cancer trust support Like many charities, we are not able to fundraise in the usual way,

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Bournemouth Cancer Support CentrE reaches out to offer their support during this lockdown period

and would really value any support you are able to offer. You can see fundraising ideas on the Wessex Cancer trust website, and can donate on our â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;just givingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; page.

Send your experiences and weblinks to stayconnected@spotgraphics.co.uk

Photography courtesy of Emily Carr, Bridport

SAMARITANS

SAMARITANS You may be feeling more worried or unsettled by what’s going on in the world. It might feel like things are changing, and there is a lot that’s outside of our control. Because of coronavirus, there are a lot of unknowns about the immediate and long-term future, and it’s becoming clearer that we are going to have to do things a little differently, particularly in the way we live our day-to-day lives. It’s natural that this uncertainty and change will affect people’s mental wellbeing.

At Samaritans, we’re committed to helping those who are struggling, however we can.

You may not be aware that there is a local Bournemouth Branch of the Samaritans, based in Durrant Road.

Our branch, run purely by volunteers, remains open 7 days a week close to 24 hours per day.

We usually go into the community, such as schools, residential care homes and the Bournemouth Police Custody suite – and even

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supermarkets. At this time, we are not able and that is why we are reaching out using social media and other formats.

The Samaritans have a website, which is updated daily. You can access the site on www.samaritans.org Our own twitter site is https://twitter.com/ SamsBournemouth You can call us free on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

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Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s keep in touch

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Send your experiences and weblinks to stayconnected@spotgraphics.co.uk