Sarah Gray says…

I am starting a Christmas Stocking Filler Gift for the many residents of Residential/Nursing homes in Grantham.

These lovely residents have been through an enormous test since March of this year and it’s time to put a little sparkle back in their eyes.

It doesn’t have to be much – just a little extra to open on Christmas morning.

I’ll personally deliver them to the Grantham homes on Christmas Day.

Donations can be dropped off  at Kings Court Nursing Home, Swinegate,  preferably wrapped with either male or female written on.

I could also collect if there is a problem.

In the meantime I’m looking for a local supermarket to be a drop off point too.

• Good Move reveals how interiors can drastically affect our mood
• Top tips to ensure our homes are making us happy to help our wellbeing

As we spend more time at home than ever before, it’s never been more important to ensure our homes are making us happy.

Our homes’ interior can significantly affect our mood, with a whole host of things including colour, lighting and furnishings impacting how we feel every day.

Below, experts at regulated property buyers, Good Move, offer top tips to happy-proof your home this lockdown.

1. Choose the right colours

Choosing the right colour throughout your home is one of the easiest ways to happy proof your home. Colours can enhance your emotion and completely change the way we feel. So, which colour is best for your home?

Neutrals:

• Black: makes a statement but should be used sparingly as it can make us feel sad
• White: clean and crisp, great for smaller spaces to make them look larger
• Grey: evokes feelings of relaxation and tranquillity. Good for bathrooms and bedrooms

Cools:

• Blue: fresh and calm, ideal for kitchens and bathrooms
• Purple: evokes feelings of sophistication and luxury, great for bedrooms
• Brown: a neutral and natural shade, best for hallways and dining rooms
• Green: soothing and fresh, ideal for living spaces and kitchens

Bright’s:

• Yellow: Makes us feel happy and cheerful. Great for kitchens or home offices.
• Orange: Helps us feel energised – great for a home office.
• Red: a bold statement, it symbolises passion but can evoke anger. Use sparingly.
• Pink: A calmer alternative to red. Great for bedrooms and living areas.

2. Declutter your home

Decluttering your home is one of the easiest ways to make yourself feel happier at home. A clean and organised space will make you feel calmer and more organised, while clutter and mess will make you feel stressed and anxious in your home. As Marie Kondo says, keep only the things that spark joy and get rid of anything that doesn’t.

And it’s not just physical clutter either. Keep flooring and wall colours neutral to make your room feel bigger and less cramped, and if your room is on the smaller side, strategically placed mirrors can help your room feel more spacious.

3. Bring the outside in

Another great way of making yourself feel happy while at home is to bring the outside in. Keeping blinds and curtains open to allow natural light into your home is a great way of doing this. And as we continue to spend a lot of time at home this year, positioning your home office space or spending time in rooms that have a view to your garden or the outside can really help boost productivity and focus.

If you don’t have the luxury of outdoor space to look onto, perhaps if you live in a flat, you can still bring the outside by bringing plenty of plants and flowers into your space. House plants help to clean the air, improve concentration, and reduce anxiety, so are a great addition to your home.

4. Get the right lighting

Lighting completely influences our mood, with dim lighting making us feel sleepy and unproductive, and bright, natural lighting helping to increase focus and productivity.  A lack of natural light can lead to low moods, so try have as much natural light as you can throughout your home.

5. Fill your home with happy furnishings

It’s always a good idea to fill your home with things that make you happy. And as we spend time away from our loved ones, filling your home with pictures of families and friends will instantly cheer you up, while fresh flowers will also help us feel happier.

 Many of us have bought new things for our homes this year, and a brand new home accessory, whether that be a new cushion or a print for the wall, will help transform your space and breathe a new lease of life into the area. If you’ve had your eye on something for a while, now’s the perfect time to treat yourself!

To conclude, Nima Ghasri, Director at Good Move, says: “We are spending more time than ever before in our homes this year, and it’s vital that our homes continue to be a source of comfort and happiness during this time.

“Our interior choices can drastically impact our mood, so it’s important to be choosing the right interiors to help contribute to a happy mood. From choosing the right colours to decluttering your space, we hope these tips will help everyone feel their happiest while at home.”

For further information on the different colours to incorporate into your home, please visit: https://goodmove.co.uk/blog/how-to-choose-the-right-colour-for-each-room-in-your-home/  

Five years since we lost a great guy,  was much loved and will always  be missed

From Annette

Barry Nash (1952-2015)

Barry played for Grantham United and made occasional appearances for Grantham Town, making his debut against Nuneaton Borough in May 1977.

He played twice for The Gingerbreads the following season and returned to help out Barry Shaw at the end of the 1985/86 campaign, with his last appearance for the club at VS Rugby.

His playing career ended due to an injury while with Mirlees Blackstone (Stamford) during the 1988/89 season, which led to his return to London Road as the club’s Reserves Team Manager. Following this, Barry went on to take over the helm at Harrowby United.

He worked for BT when it was on Earlesfield Lane, at Grantham and District Hospital as a porter and spent his last few years at PWG Barracks before taking early retirement.

He died following a long illness on 22 November 2015

A Grantham lad, he moved to Osbournby, but returned to Barrowby Gate, Grantham.

Char Elizabeth is feeling furious.

BEWARE GUYS!!

Just walking down Harlaxton Road 20 mins ago on my own with my puppy no bigger than a size of a cat who is 9 months old and someone jumps out transit van and asked me where McDonald was.

So I gave them directions then left but little did I know they were behind me but I caught their shadow!

My dog was on extended lead but was luckily walking by my feet.

They tried to grab my puppy, I scooped him up just before they did and they still then tried to grab him from my arms with their hands tightly right my dogs neck and I had to wrestle them for my puppy.

I still wasn’t letting go.

I have never ever been so scared for my life, so angry or shaken!!

My puppy’s luckily okay just little shaken and they never succeeded as someone walking past spooked them thank god els.

I’m not sure I’ll have my baby now!!

Please be careful guys I normally walk my dog at night and one time I did this has spooked me.

Wickes store on Gonerby Road, is raising money this weekend only for the homeless.

The store is also a are drop-in location for the Mission Christmas.

Operations manager Carl Allen said: “We are hoping for great people of Grantham to be generous with there donations if they can.”

“This second wave is far, far worse than the first, because we now know what is coming”, anonymous health worker, who along with her team, and thousands of other NHS workers are questioning if they can do it again.

When friends and family on the NHS frontline began suffering severely with COVID-related stress and trauma earlier in the year, a group of over 30 professional complementary practitioners came together to set up FAST (Frontline Assistance for Stress and Trauma).

This voluntary team have worked selflessly through lockdown and now beyond into the second wave, providing a free, online support service to help all UK based healthcare and emergency workers overcome pandemic stress. Their confidential service uses EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) ‘tapping’ therapy – a powerful, cutting edge tool you can use anywhere, at any time.

For many of the healthcare workers, it was the first time they had tried any complementary therapy, but the results with EFT have been transformative (and eye-opening for many of the nurses and doctors). So far, FAST has provided over 300 sessions across the UK, with wholly positive results. 

Up to now the FAST team have volunteered their time, skills, and expertise, raising simply for their basic set up and ongoing running costs.  However, now FAST needs to fundraise so they can continue to offer their free service to every UK healthcare worker who needs their support.

As an anonymous hospital GP explains,

“Before my FAST experience I was off the rating out of 10. It was 1000. In my first session I saw a change down to 3/10 and it has not gone back up. I find the techniques very functional, with real life relevance and applicable, which results in a positive impact in my ability to cope. I wanted to thank you for your incredible compassion and professionalism with me. All of you are so kind to donate your time and expertise to people like us and of course we can never thank you enough for this”.

EFT is not offered on the NHS – yet. Once considered a fringe therapy, EFT now has an impressive amount of scientific research to back it up. FAST believes it’s a matter of time until EFT is NICE recognised, but until then the team is committed to making EFT accessible by continuing to offer their service free of charge to our selfless front-liners for as long as they need to reach out to access  support.

“We are now seeing evidence of ongoing mental health challenges, including emerging signs of PTSD amongst NHS workers, and demand for our FAST service is growing. With the predicted second wave upon us, the impact of COVID on our brilliant healthcare workers is only going to increase” says Wendy Power Stoten, founder of FAST.

“For 6 months FAST has proven its super efficiency, EFTs incredible effectiveness, and we, the voluntary FAST team, have grown our expertise in Covid-19 related issues”, continues Wendy.

FAST needs to be here for as long as the devastation and destruction to mental health that Covid-19 has created remains and has launched a fundraising campaign to raise £8000 to keep this vital service going.

Wayne at ESP, of Westgate Grantham, warns…

SEISS Grant claim at risk
This information has only just come to my notice. But, because of the fast approaching deadline, i.e. today, I thought I ought to make you aware of it. I accept that this may apply in only limited cases, but please check so that it isn’t you who misses out.

What is the problem?

• In October HMRC contacted just over 24,000 self-employed individuals direct by email, who had claimed either one or both of the SEISS grants rolled out to date. Agents would not have received it.
• The email asked them to confirm, through a completion of an online form, whether or not they had ceased trading.
• A large percentage of the ’24,000’ have  not responded to the email. This could be fear of it being a ‘hacking’ email or it has gone into spam for example.
• Where a business has not responded to the email by the end of today (20th November 2020), they will not be eligible to make a SEISS claim when the portal opens for the third time on 30th November 2020

Why were the 24,000 selected?

• HMRC noted on the 2019/20 SA Return that the trade had ceased during the course of that tax year. If that is the case HMRC will ask for the grant to be paid back and penalties may arise.
• Third Party information that the trade had ceased. However, that Third Party information could be incorrect and the business is still holding itself out to trade.
• Businesses had deregistered for VAT. However, many of these businesses will have deregistered on the basis that their turnover had fallen due to the pandemic but they are continuing to hold themselves out to trade.

What are your options?

• Don’t do anything as the deadline is too tight to respond or I am certain that I replied to everything I should have from HMRC
• Just to play safe, as I don’t want to miss out and check my spam just in case.

I apologise for making you aware of this so late in the day but it has only just come to my notice.

Garden Centres are able to stay open so during lockdown Easton Walled Gardens shop is open Wednesday – Sunday 10.00 – 4.00.

You can visit the shop for seeds, bulbs, pots, tools, twine and everything you need to make next year in your garden a great success. Everything is sourced by us to be beautiful and good quality and you are supporting a rural business where your money stays in the community.

Please note: The gardens are now closed, and will reopen for Snowdrops on Friday 12th February 2021.

The shop is open from 14th October – 20th December, 10am – 4pm.

OPENING TIMES

• A new report by Wren Kitchens reveals the best houseplants to boost your mood this winter
• Indoor plants can reduce 87% of toxins in the air, reduce blood pressure and make you feel calmer

It’s a well-known fact that spending time in nature is good for your wellbeing, so what better way to boost your mood than to bring nature inside. With search volumes for “house plants delivered” increasing by 400%, and “buy houseplants online” by 200% since lockdown, Wren Kitchens have revealed the best houseplants to have in your home to help boost your mood:

1. Aloe vera

The gel from aloe vera can help to soothe acne, burns and dry skin, helping you both physically and mentally. To allow your aloe vera plant to thrive, place it in bright but indirect sunlight, and let it dry in between watering.

2. Lavender

Place your lavender plant in the bedroom, and the scent will help to reduce your stress levels, enabling you to sleep better. To let it grow, water it regularly and leave it in a place that gets a lot of light.

3. Snake plant

Had issues in the past with keeping plants alive? Try a snake plant – they need minimal care, but can really help to improve your wellbeing as they add moisture to the air and release oxygen. They’re particularly ideal for people who suffer from allergies – and interestingly, they were the most Googled plant in lockdown!

4. Peace lily

Peace lilies are great houseplants to have. Not only do they soak up mould spores in the air; they also absorb their water before releasing it back into their environment – so place your peace lily in a dry room.

5. Monstera plant

You’ve likely seen the Monstera (also referred to as a Swiss cheese plant) clogging up your Insta feed, but they can actually boost your mood. They purify the air, making your home healthier – plus, you can grow new plants from their cuttings.

6. English ivy

Like peace lilies, English ivy absorbs mould in the air, helping to purify your home; and it also has properties that help you to stop being restless, meaning you can enjoy a better night’s sleep.

For more plants to boost your mood, please go to https://www.wrenkitchens.com/blog/top-10-mood-boosting-houseplants-wren-kitchens 

Greetings card company thortful.com create the Ultimate Christmas Cracker Jokes Index

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without some truly beloved traditions – like getting overstuffed on dinner with all the trimmings, jamming a novelty paper hat on your head, and enjoying a classic Christmas cracker, complete with some truly lame jokes.

Corny Christmas cracker jokes might be groan-worthy, but there’s nothing to bring people together like a truly tragic one-liner – so to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year, thortful are on the hunt for the best (or should that be worst?) Christmas cracker jokes.

From punishable puns to jokes that are cheesier than a post-dinner cheese board, thortful want you to vote for your favourite Christmas cracker jokes – or submit your own, and see if you can out-joke the classics.

So, do you think you’ve got what it takes to be crowned King or Queen of the Christmas Cracker Jokes? Then head over to the Christmas Cracker Joke index and submit your cheesiest jokes.

Don’t worry if you’re not an avid user of bad jokes, you can still cast your vote on all entries and review the index for a few lols.

The Christmas Cracker Joke index can be seen at: https://www.thortful.com/christmas-cracker-jokes

I would like to thank my family especially my son David and Grandson Carl for putting up such a wonderful display, and for helping me bring all my idears to fruition Remembrance.

This is what I like to do

Writing a little poem for you

Just to say thanks a lot

To everyone who put money in the box

It was very good of you to support my display

It realy has made my day.

We have taken £450 pounds

I’m sure we have done our heroes proud.

All the money is going to the Royal British Legion you know

I’m sure they will be very pleased with this also.

Kind regards

Gertie Garner

Belton Lane

Grantham.

Anonimous lady says…

I was driving down Barrowby Gate on Thursday night around 8:30pm when a man walked in front my car to which I obviously stopped.

He then ran to my car door and attempted to open it as a man approached from behind in all black with his hood up.

This may just be a one off incident but it may be worth warning people in case not.

• Moggie cat crowned as the most disastrous pet breed
• Labrador takes top spot as the naughtiest dog breed
• Hilarious (but super cute) pictures of pets caught in the act

There’s no denying that a pet makes a house a home, and nearly half (44%) of households agree¹. But, as sweet as they are, they can wreak absolute havoc on your home – as new research by regulated property buyers, Good Move reveals².

Good Move spoke with pet owners across the country to determine the pets that are causing the most damage in their home.  According to owners, the ten most destructive pet breeds are:

1. Moggie cat (9.3%)
2. Labrador dog (8.0%)
3. British Shorthair cat (6.3%)
4. Border Collie dog (3.0%)
5. Parrot (2.8%)
6. Beagle dog (2.7%)
7. Cocker Spaniel dog (2.6%)
8. Staffordshire Bull Terrier dog (2.6%)
9. English Springer Spaniel dog (2.4%)
10. Bengal cat (2.3%)

And the damage these little rascals have caused is as followed:

1. Dug up flowers/grass in the garden (35%)
2. Ripped furnishings including sofas, chairs, and cushions (29%)
3. Urinated/pooed on furnishings including sofas, beds, and carpets (28%)
4. Scratched furnishings including doors and cabinets (28%)
5. Chewed their owners favourite shoes and clothes (26%)

Some owners even revealed that their furry friends had ripped wallpaper off walls, chewed wood panelling and opened the kiddies Christmas presents. What’s more, some little devils have even left rodent entrails on carpets!

Considering the research findings, Good Move also put a call out for pet owners to name and shame their naughty four-legged friends. Here are some caught in the act:

Caption: Mario, Cavachon, destroyed his mum’s plants and got mucky paw prints everywhere.

Caption: Miya, British Shorthair cat, pleased with herself after destroying the Christmas tree.

Caption: Darcy, Boxer dog, stole her human sisters bedding off her bed and made a snowstorm. 

Caption: Bear, Malinois dog, literally tearing apart everything he can get his paws on.

Caption: Magic, Dwarf Lop rabbit, chewed through her owner’s Apple MacBook laptop wire whilst it was still on charge (now that could have been fatal!).

Commenting on the research findings, Nima Ghasri, Director at Good Move, says: “It’s no secret that we all love our furry companions, but the little devils can cause damage to our household contents, as our research has revealed.

“If you’re looking to purchase one of the slightly “naughtier” pet breeds, be sure to keep valuable items out of their way to ensure nothing gets damaged. A lot of the time, when a pet acts out, it’s usually because they’re bored. So, take them for a walk, or grab their favourite toy to play with. After all, you don’t want your brand-new sofa, or freshly laid carpet to bear the brunt of their mischievous behaviour!”

Glynn Cartwright says…

Please would you be willing to support our campaign to Save St Mary’s Birth Centre?

Here are the details and a link to our petition:

If you would like to support the campaign to Save St Mary’s Birth Centre (Melton Mowbray) please sign our online petition:

http://chng.it/bHxmQBFV

Save Our Services
Save St Mary’s Birth Centre
Melton Matters

Once again our local birth centre is threatened with permanent closure, with an expanding town we need to retain important local services such as this one so that pre and post natal care remains accessible for all expectant mothers across our borough.

We have heard so many stories that a much more personal service is received by those that use St Mary’s, you feel like a person there rather than a number at the bigger hospital maternity units! yet expectant mothers are pushed to use the LRI or QMC not our local birthing unit and they wonder why our birth centre has such low usage.

Do we really want to be in a situation like we are now with King Edwards VII school? closed in 2011 as apparently there wasn’t enough pupils, now we have Long Field and John Ferneley at maximum capacity!

Please sign this petition before we lose another vital service that will be needed years down the line.

Also make you feeling known here:

https://www.meltontimes.co.uk/health/have-your-say-proposed-closure-melton-birth-unit-2985205

Petition organised by Cllrs Fisher, Pearson and Smedley, Glynn Cartwright (Melton Matters).

​

Following the government’s decision to place the UK under a second lockdown, prospective homebuyers can look to advice from conveyancing experts to help them get moving in the current property market.

From the stamp duty holiday, to the fact that you could be settled in by the new year, there are plenty of reasons why now is a good time to move – whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, a homeowner looking for your next property or a buy to let investor.

With the property market remaining buoyant, the conveyancing experts at JMP Solicitors have highlighted the top reasons to continue your property search now.

Jacqui Harley, head of conveyancing at JMP Solicitors, said: “Since the easing of COVID-19 restrictions over the summer, the housing market has enjoyed a period of buoyancy, which is still continuing despite the second lockdown.

“Whether you’re looking to get on the property ladder, move home, buy an additional property or add to your investor portfolio, now is a good time to purchase a property in this current climate, as the market is particularly strong.

“We have compiled a list of top reasons to move now, so those who act swiftly can make the most of this window of opportunity.”

Here is the list of five reasons to move now:

1. Buying and selling property is not restricted during lockdown

Despite the recent re-closure of non-essential shops and businesses following the second lockdown, property transactions are still permitted by the government, and solicitors and estate agent firms are allowed to remain open to the public during this time.

This means that the buying and selling of properties is not restricted, and there are plenty of opportunities available on the market, should you be looking for your first home or wanting to add to your property portfolio.

Many solicitors and estate agents are operating seamlessly between working from home and still welcoming clients to their offices, and with COVID-safe measures in place, property viewings are still going ahead, so you can carry on your search.

2. Housing market is buoyant

Since the easing of COVID-19 lockdown measures over the summer, the housing market has enjoyed a reboot and that growth has continued. The housing market remains strong with homes selling quickly, even before property particulars and brochures have been prepared.

Local authorities and the HM Land Registry are also speeding up their activity and clearing backlogs from recent months, which is preventing delays.

It is worth speaking to a trusted advisor to work through the different options open to you at this time, so that you can navigate the routes best for you.

3. Stamp duty holiday is in place until March

The stamp duty holiday remains in place until March 2021, for homes up to £500,000. This makes now a great time to move, buy and put properties on the market without incurring extra costs. It is a good opportunity to get yourself on the housing market with this added incentive.

4. You could be settled by the new year

Planning your property move now means you could be settled into your home by the new year, or at least by next spring. Getting started as soon as possible ensures the festive holiday period will not delay the process any more than necessary, especially as solicitors are remaining open to streamline transactions at this time.

Buying and selling properties in a chain can often incur delays, but with the market moving rapidly thanks to increased demand, purchasing your next property may mean completion sooner than usual.

5. It is a great time to invest

The government remains keen to support the housing market as much as possible during COVID-19 restrictions, and is actively encouraging lenders to offer favourable terms, to help homebuyers and property investors secure their purchases.

As the market continues to boom house prices are going up due to demand, so if you’re considering selling your property, there is an opportunity to get more money out of it than normal, making it an excellent time to cash in on your investment and search for your next home.

Jacqui Harley is a licensed conveyancing technician and a conveyancing executive at JMP Solicitors, heading up the Residential Conveyancing department. For further advice please call Jacqui on 0800 085 9966 or email jharley@jmp-solicitors.com.

Leigh Biddles says…

Absolutely sick to death of people letting their dogs foul outside at St Sebastian School, Great Gonerby.

This time it’s been trodden in and walked down to the school gates

Sylvia Potts says….

I found this single key in Asda car park this morning,handed it in at the kiosk