As workplaces across the borough start thinking about venues for this year’s Christmas party the Food Standards Agency are encouraging organisers to ‘look before they book’.
The Agency are urging people to only book restaurants and venues that take food hygiene seriously.
Nina Purcell, Director of Local Delivery at the FSA, said: “You need to consider a lot of things when picking the perfect venue for your Christmas party and you’re usually not short of opinions from work colleagues, but please don’t forget about the food hygiene rating.
“It’s very easy to check on our website or just ask the business. We recommend food businesses with at least a ‘3’ and most food businesses are achieving this.
She added: “There are plenty of potential regrets at the work Christmas party, but you can help to ensure food poisoning isn’t one of them.”
The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is run by local authorities in England, Northern Ireland and Wales and applies to all food businesses including restaurants, pubs, and cafes.
Each business is given their hygiene rating when it is inspected by a food safety officer from the business’s local authority. They will check how well the business is meeting the law by looking at:
how hygienically the food is handled – how it is prepared, cooked, re-heated, cooled and stored;
the condition of the structure of the buildings – the cleanliness, layout, lighting, ventilation, pest control and other facilities;
and how the business manages and records what it does to make sure food is safe.
At the end of the inspection, the business is given one of the six ratings from ‘0-5’. The top rating of ‘5’ means that the business was found to have ‘very good’ hygiene standards. Any business should be able to reach this top rating.
We have all felt shy or under confident in meetings or at social gatherings. Maybe we have dreaded walking into a room full of strangers or just experienced an uncomfortable feeling of nervousness. We all differ in how reserved or outgoing we are and what kind of situation or people we find most difficult to deal with.
Social anxiety is much more than this as it can stop us from enjoying things we take for granted, and for some people it even restricts their use of the phone or leaving the house.
Social anxiety disorder is a persistent and overwhelming fear or anxiety about social situations where we may become embarrassed. This fear or anxiety is way out of proportion to the actual threat posed at that point. We tend to be self-conscious and worried about whether others might be judging us. We will think and dissect past incidents and worry about what we did, who saw us and what that means to everyone else.
This can lead to panic attacks, a fear of shame or humiliation which is too great to deal with or frustration, loneliness and a low mood. All of this stops us from going out or isolates us from support which makes us criticize ourselves even more. This results in our self-esteem dropping and a vicious circle is created.
We develop safety behaviours, such as trying not be noticed, staying in the background, being quiet and not contributing, or maybe drinking to calm ourselves and not making eye contact with anyone else. All of this is stopping us from finding out how we could cope if we faced our fears, as it keeps us distant and we appear stand-offish or look like we are not making an effort.
But, ironically most of us know our social anxiety is irrational, and is not based on fact or experience but we simply cannot make it go away.
All of this distracts us and makes us unable to concentrate, avoid eye contact which makes us look like we are not concentrating or connecting with people. We remain silent and do not contribute. We miss appointments and events that affect our well-being and, if we do speak, we talk excessively to cover up our anxiety.
Physically we are affected by symptoms such as shaking & tremors, dry mouth & closed throat, racing heart, panic attacks, headache, grinding teeth, nervous stomach or even IBS and uncontrollable crying.
All of this makes us really focus on ourselves and our perceived thoughts. We judge ourselves harshly if we are shaking or there is any sign of our anxiety. This of course, makes everything worse, as we become self-conscious, we don’t focus on others around us and eventually we feel we are no good in social situations, thus lowering our self-esteem and increasing our fear.
So what can cause social anxiety? Anything at all, but some key examples are eating in front of others, going to parties, starting a conversation, contributing to a meeting or in a classroom, shopping, talking to authority figures, exercising or simply leaving the house.
There is not a great deal of research into the causes of social anxiety but it is often started by some form of negative experience like abuse, conflict or bullying.
Anxiety can run in families but it’s not thought to be genetic but learnt from parents as a way to deal with situations.
As children we can also develop anxiety if we were brought up in an over protective way or in a very controlled environment. If, as a child, we were shy and under-confident we are at a higher chance of developing social anxiety too. Our brain may play a part too as the amygdala controls the fear response and if this is overactive we may have a heightened fear response, causing increased anxiety. Sadly if we have something about our appearance that draws attention to us, like stuttering or a disfigurement, we again have a higher chance of developing social anxiety.
We often find coping mechanisms for our social anxiety that are destructive, such as alcohol, drugs, and left untreated social anxiety can lead to self-harm or suicide.
There are some things that we can do to help ourselves; and we need to recognise unhelpful or even destructive thoughts –
Mind reading –assuming we know what others are thinking about us and that its negative
What if… thinking or obsessing about what if’s ‘what if I make an idiot of myself?’ ‘What if I can think of anything to say?’
Labels – believing only negative things about ourselves – ‘I am so dull, ‘I am going to be a flop in this interview’
It’s my fault – taking to heart or personally situations that are out of our control e.g. if our friends are quiet today it’s something we have done
Crystal ball – predicting the future especially about all the things that could go wrong before we get to the event/interview etc.
We can learn methods to challenge these thoughts. Firstly we need ask ourselves
Is there evidence that contradicts the thought?
Can we identify what kind of thought it is from the list above?
What are the benefits from thinking like this and what is the cost to us?
Is this my voice saying this or is it something we heard in the past that has become our thought now?
Will it matter in 6 months’ time?
What would those people who care about us say about our thoughts right now?
Using these helps us to come up with a more realistic thought process – e.g. ‘I met my brother’s new girlfriend last week and it went ok, we did not run out of things to say. I f I am a bit quiet meeting the new guy at work its ok. It’s not the end of the world’
Keeping a thought diary for at least a month often helps us to find our triggers, listing the situation, the thoughts and emotions and then afterwards looking at the reality of our thoughts and coming up with new balanced thoughts, which gives us a way of practicing and reforming our thought process.
When we get in to anxiety making social situations there are a few things we can do there and then:
Spend less time focusing on physical sensations
Remember we may be anxious but we can still be performing or appearing ok
Concentrate on the conversations around us
Remember we do not have to fill the silences in conversations , other people can do this too
We do not have to perform perfectly or be the centre of attention, we can just be there and join in and be ok
We should stop replaying what was said or who did what in our heads and just be present in the moment
Of course, this can be difficult and sometimes we need help to challenge our thoughts, our safety behaviours and our fears. CBT is a great place to start as it will help you challenge your thoughts, emotions and behaviours. Also, look for exposure therapy too as this helps us go out and face our fears one step at a time.
Drinks giant Coca-Cola has announced its world-famous Christmas truck will be visiting Netherfield next month.
The touring red truck will stop off at Victoria Retail Park on December 8 between 11am and 7pm.
FESTIVE: The Coca-Cola Christmas trick will visit Victoria Retail Park on December 8
Netherfield is one of 42 towns being visited across the country during the festive tour.
Featuring a whopping 8,772 fairy lights and playing the ‘Holidays are Coming’ jingle, it will attract fans from across the borough.
Those coming out to see the famous festive vehicle will be treated to free 150ml cans of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke or Coca-Cola Classic.
Christmas fans can also get involved with the festive campaign on Twitter using the #HolidaysAreComing emoji throughout December and share a picture on Snapchat or Instagram, using the Coca-Cola festive filters.
A young boxer from Sherwood this week made a name for himself on the national stage while representing local club Arnold School of Boxing in a nationwide tournament.
20-year-old Kyle Birkett, from Sherwood, 20, who is currently the East Midlands champion, recently made it through to the national development semi-finals.
Kyle traveled to Liverpool to take on local boxer David Thompson of Golden Gloves ABC .
Kyle boxed a very composed three rounds using his jab very well.
Thompson, who is a very tall and awkward boxer, boxed on the outside. He was dedicated a point after multiple warnings by the ref for holding.
In the end, Kyle lost on a very close points decision which on another day could have gone to the Arnold boxer.
Kyle has proven himself on a national stage and will be now be pushing for more honours this season.
People in Gedling borough are being urged to be bright sparks this Bonfire Night and take notice of some top safety tips issued by Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service.
The service has issued a video and some simple tips you can follow to make sure that you don’t remember the fifth of November for the wrong reasons:
Here are some of our top Bonfire Night safety tips to help you be a bright spark:
Make sure to keep fireworks in a closed box and only use them one at a time.
Always read the instructions to make sure that you are using correctly.
Never return to a firework once it has been lit. Even if it hasn’t gone off, it still could.
Never put fireworks in pockets and never throw them
Make sure that your spectators stand back and that you direct any fireworks away from them
If you are lighting a bonfire, take care to ensure that you do this away from any buildings, trees, sheds or fences to stop them from catching fire.
Sparklers are all part of the fun of bonfire night, but you should never give these to a child under the age of five.
Always make sure that the bonfire is out before leaving, and don’t let children go near to it even if you think the fire is out.
In any emergency, you should always call 999.
Remember to be a bright spark and have a safe and happy Halloween and Bonfire Night.
Police have issued CCTV footage of a man they want to speak to following a number of distraction burglaries in Carlton.
On Saturday (October 28) an 85-year-old man had money taken from him at an address in Carlton.
The following day, also in Carlton, an 87-year-old woman managed to push a man away after he attempted to distract her; a member of the public then gave chase.
The man officers would like to speak to in connection with these incidents is white, aged between 27-40-years-old, 5ft 7ins -5ft 9ins and of a slim build with short dark hair. He is of Eastern European appearance and had an Eastern European accent. He wore a black/dark green jacket and black bottoms.
A police spokesman said: “As well as information, we are also appealing to our communities to ensure that their elderly neighbours or relatives are aware of this type of scam.”
Anyone who witnessed the thefts, or has any information, is asked to call us on 101 quoting incident number 371 of 28 October, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Bonfire Night is fast approaching and the people of Gedling borough are gearing up for a night of thrills and fun with fireworks, sparklers and bonfires.
But whilst Bonfire Night brings happiness to many, if mishandled, what should be a very enjoyable evening can end in arguments between neighbours, or worse!
Who is responsible if someone gets hit by a firework at a party? Are there restrictions on when you can have a bonfire? And what can you do if your neighbour’s Bonfire Night party is keeping you up at night?
Hannah Parsons from DAS Law is here to answer the questions you need to know.
What are the legal ramifications if you are injured by a firework at a friend or family’s party?
An occupier of a land owes a duty to any visitor to take reasonable care to ensure the visitor is safe on the premises. Therefore if someone is hosting a firework party, they should ensure they are purchasing the fireworks from a licensed outlet, that they read the instructions carefully before use and ensure that they light the fireworks from a safe place. If you are injured, you may be able to hold the organiser of the event liable.
Is it true there are restrictions on when you can have a bonfire?
There are no restrictions on when you can have a bonfire.
Can you burn anything?
No you cannot. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, it is an offence to burn any substance that will release harmful fumes causing pollution to the environment or harm to human health (these could include plastic, rubber or painted items).
You need to ensure that the fire is contained and does not escape causing damage or injury to people. It is also an offence if anyone on a public road is “injured, interrupted or endangered” by fire or smoke from your bonfire.
EXPERT: Hannah Parsons
Can you prevent your neighbour from having a bonfire?
It is unlikely that you would be able to prevent your neighbour from having a bonfire if they are doing so occasionally and are not burning hazardous material. Obviously, if the neighbour’s fire is posing a clear risk to the safety of your property this could be reported to the fire service.
What recourse do I have if my neighbour is causing a nuisance?
If your neighbour’s bonfire is affecting you, the first step would be to raise it with the neighbour to make them aware of the impact the bonfire has on you.
If this fails then you may be able to get a court order restricting the neighbour’s ability to have a bonfire. But the occasional bonfire is unlikely to amount to a legal nuisance and legal advice should be sought when considering legal action against your neighbour.
If you neighbour is burning hazardous material you can report the neighbour to the environmental health team within your local authority.
If a neighbour’s bonfire burns your fence or property, who’s insurance should be claimed on?
If the fence was damaged because your neighbour failed to contain the fire and take appropriate steps to prevent the fire from escaping or getting out of control then your neighbour could be liable for the damage caused to the fence.
If it is your neighbour’s fault then they should claim on their insurance but you cannot insist they do so. However, when faced with a potential claim for damages the neighbour may choose to get their insurance company involved instead of dealing with it themselves.
Scam busters Action Fraud are warning people in Gedling borough about an email scam that uses the name of a legitimate parking control firm to con people into believing they have a parking ticket.
The convincing looking emails – entitled “Parking Charge Reminder” – claim to come from UK Parking Control Ltd (UKPC) and tell recipients they have parked on private land belonging to one of UKPC’s clients.
They then ask victims to click on “payment options and photos” for more information – a link that is likely to contain malware.
The emails contain randomly generated reference numbers and quote a charge of £90.
SCAM: A screenshot of one of the fake emails
A spokesman for Action Fraud said: ” We are aware that there is a fresh wave of scam UKPC emails have been sent by fraudsters this month which are loaded with malware
“UKPC have received hundreds of calls from worried recipients and have confirmed that they would never contact people in this way.
Every place has its secrets, legends and spooky ghost stories.
Hallowe’en is a time when people grow curious about the paranormal activity in their area, and want to know more about the ghosts who have haunt the familiar places.
See below for some spooky tales surrounding the most haunted places in the borough.
RHM Factory, part of which was Daybrook Railway Station
Back in the late 70s and early 80s workers at the factory often reported seeing a phantom woman in one of the mixing rooms, which was once Daybrook Station. After improvements were made to this part of the plant, ‘Mabel’ as they called her, never returned.
Mapperley Tunnel, southern end
In the 1970s two school children playing in the tunnel heard a steam engine rapidly approaching them – terrified they ran out into the fresh air. A few seconds after their escape they realised that the train could not have existed as the north end of the tunnel was…barricaded!
George’s Hill, Calverton
Since the 1930s, there have been many sightings of a strange ghostly figure dressed in black and wearing a large broad-brimmed hat roaming about on George’s Hill. As well as travelling on foot, this ghostly figure is also keen on hitching a ride with those driving alone on the hill at night. Many drivers have narrowly avoided crashing their vehicle after spotting they’ve picked up an unwanted passenger in the rear view mirror.
Many walkers venturing up the hill after midnight also claim to have been chased away by this menacing figure dressed all in black. Taxi drivers are said to still avoid this route into Calverton after dark, preferring to go into the village via Woodborough instead because of the amount of reported sightings.
Mapperley Hospital, Porchester Road
Since closing down back in 1994, the ghosts of this former asylum have found their voice. Workers on the site have heard their names being called by an unknown voice, and disembodied footsteps also heard. A woman dressed in old fashiond clothing has been observed several times walking down corridors, and a man has been heard to call out “hello”, though he can never be found.
Colwick Hall, Colwick
One of two ghosts are said to visibly manifest in and around the building…
Mrs Chaworth Musters reputedly hides behind trees on the land, concealing herself from the angry mob of Luddites that stormed the hall back in 1832. The second phantom is named as Mary Ann Chaworth, and she quietly haunts the corridors.
Less quietly though are the sounds of footsteps, childrens’ laughter and voices have all been heard from the servants’ quarters by members of staff now working at the hall.
Redhill Cemetery, Arnold
There have been many reports of the ghost of a man waiting outside the cemetery who has been known to catch one of the late night buses that go past there. Many years ago he was said to have boarded a bus, walked past the conductor and taken the stairs to the top deck. When the conductor climbed the stairs after him, the man vanished.
Bonington House, Arnold
Many visitors to the house have often mentioned they had experienced ‘cold spots’ as they moved around the property. A builder working in the cellar was astonished to come back from a break to discover the imprint of a child’s foot in some newly-laid cement. The cellar had remained locked while the builder had been out on his break.
Small copse known as Bendigo’s Ring, Bestwood Estate
This area is thought to be haunted by the legendary Nottingham boxer William Bendigo Thompson. Bendigo was often found drunk in this copse and many of the local children would turn up to taunt the drunken boxer. It is believed locally that Bendigo’s spirit now returns to exact revenge on any children visiting the area in the present day.
A resident who contacted Gedling Eye via Facebook said: “I knew that when I was little you shouldn’t go anywhere near the place. One of the lads at the local school and his gang was chased away by a dark angry shadow. It terrified the life out of him.”
Colwick Woods, Colwick
KILLER: William Saville
The ghosts of two children are said to haunt this wooded area. These young spirits are thought to be the children of William Saville, who murdered them, and also his wife Anne, under a tree in a spinney in Colwick Wood back in 1844. He was hanged for the crime in the same year. The sound of horses has also been reported.
Railway Bridge, Wood Lane, Gedling
A phantom woman is said to peer over the edge of the bridge and watch passers-by. Many believe she is the same woman who has been spotted haunting the site of the former railway station in the village.
Gedling House, Gedling
A small white dog has been spotted on numerous occasions over the years roaming about in the woods around Gedling House. On occasion, the dog is accompanied by an elderly woman dressed in white who has been seen using a walking stick.
Witnesses who have seen her claim she could have been blind during her former life as she has been seen tapping her stick on the ground as she moves slowly around the site. A nun has also been spotted roaming the woods and disembodied screaming has been heard.
Disused railway sidings, Netherfield
Many residents living near the disused railway sidings at the back of Jackie Bells Playing Fields have reported hearing strange noises at night. One family attempting to capture evidence of vandals damaging nearby property using CCTV were taken by surprise when reviewing footage from the night before. Instead of footage showing criminals being caught in the act, they instead captured noise of muffled voices, mostly European, and music too. When one of the family looked into the local history they discovered Italian prisoners would be escorted up the railway track a nearby World War II POW camp.
Hodgkinson Street, Netherfield
A family were said to have fled from their home in Hodgkinson Street, Netherfield, on Hallowe’en, 1993, after cupboards allegedly began opening and closing on their own. Footsteps were also heard inexplicably crossing their unoccupied attic. Family members were left terrified, reporting “an evil presence” in the words of one and a “powerful force” in the words of another.”
A Gedling Eye reader told us of similar incidents taking place in her house on the same street a couple of years ago. She said: “I also lived in a house in Netherfield with lots of ‘goings on’, “There was a horrible atmosphere and my first born was left terrified on a number of occasions. Things where thrown, lights switched on and off and a man was seen in the house by several people.
“When I was on the internet, I had found a story of a house on the same street with reports of similar things. I’ve never been a big believer myself, but this changed my thoughts completely!”
Friday: There will be no extra trains from Carlton. The 08.19 is the last through train until 17.27, but you can travel to Nottingham on the hourly Matlock trains and catch a direct train from Nottingham to Lincoln at no extra cost, and the same on return. However, commencing with the 16.34 departure from Lincoln, all trains call at Carlton. Fares are £11.50 off peak return. The 08.19 on Friday is peak fare of £12.70.
Saturday: The following direct 7-car extra trains will call at Carlton:-Carlton dep: 09.07am, 11.12am, 12.39pm, 13.55pm. Lincoln dep: 14.58pm 17.14pm *19.06. Lincoln arr: 09.59am 12.13pm, 13.32pm, 14.52pm. Carlton arr: 15.50pm, 18.01pm *19.59 *Usually a 3-car train. Last train from Lincoln to Nottingham leaves at 20.45pm. The 13.55 Newark train will be re-timed to follow the special. There should be two trains each hour during the day from Nottingham to Lincoln, the same as last year, and this worked very well to minimise overcrowding. The 09.29 is also direct to Lincoln, but is the usual Leicester to Lincoln service so could be ‘quite busy’. 2 of the 3 extra trains from Lincoln are 7 coaches, so you should travel in the front 3 coaches as those at the back will not fit on the platform.
Sunday: It appears there will be a normal service on Sunday with direct trains from Carlton at 09.36am – and 11.36am. This is the first year of trains on Sundays, but whether they will have extra coaches or not I don’t know. I think the market closes at teatime on Sunday. Children half fare. Railcards can be used, but Group Travel will be suspended.
Christmas and New Year trains
Sunday, December 24: Last train to Lincoln 17.32pm; last train to Nottingham 19.01pm. However the 19.01 connects with a Nottingham to Lincoln service. Normal service at Netherfield.
Monday, December 25 and Tuesday 26: No trains.
Wednesday, December 27: First to Lincoln 06.59am. First to Nottingham 08.08am then a normal weekday service. At Netherfield the 07.42am to Nottingham runs on 27th and a normal weekday service for the rest of the week from both stations.
Sunday, December 31: Same as on December 24.
Monday, January 1, 2018: Normal weekday service with first trains probably the same as on December 27. Check before you travel.
Tuesday, January 2: Fares will be increased, information will be online now. Between Christmas and New Year some train companies have special offers.
Picture courtesy of East Midlands Trains
11.24 Saturdays Carlton to Leicester
This is always a busy service, so best to travel on the 11.08 to Nottingham and catch the 11.32 London train to Leicester, or the 11.36 for local stations. There have been occasions when there was no room left and December will be bad, especially on the 16th when Grimsby travel to Notts County. Our hourly Matlock/Newark services are ok. Incidentally in January, apart from 13th, there should be no problem.
No changes are expected to local services expected when the new timetable commences on December 10.
Oct 29. Just heard that work is planned on Carlton station car park with a new exit! Subject to permission from residents of Midland Road.
Station Adopters Conference Update
We learned that the current EMT franchise has been extended to August 2019. Major projects ongoing include an extensive reconstruction of Market Harborough station to allow trains to pass through at higher speeds. Electrification between Bedford (current limit of electric trains from London) and Corby, with additional track capacity and other infrastructure work taking place. Derby station upgrade in Summer 2018, with revised timetables available in the new year. Redevelopment at Lincoln station with improved pedestrian access to the city, a new bus station just outside the station and other work. New cafe at Newark Castle station.
Questions were raised about the current poor state of.Carlton car park. Work is scheduled some time in the future: Also the lack of station platform number signs. This item has since been addressed and we have 3 signs on the Lincoln side oplatform and 2 on the Nottingham side. Two signs are temporarily on fences, pending fixing to lighting columns. Platform 2 sign can also be clearly seen when ovou are waiting on the Nottingham side (Platform 1), so this should solve the problem of new passengers not knowing which platform they are on.
New franchise update
All responses submitted to the Department for Transport for the future shape and priorities for the new EMT franchise had to be in by October 11th. Transport user watchdog Transport Focus has published its research on what EMT passengers want from the new franchise.
These are the key points regarding local services as reported in TODAY’S RAILWAYS UK magazine:
The current franchise largely meets passengers needs and offers value for money compared to the cost of driving or using the bus for local journeys.
Longer distance fares were perceived to be ex-pensive, unless you are aware of the bargains to be had by booking in advance. Overcrowding, particularly on the Nottingham-Lincoln-Skegness route at holiday times.
Regional services running only hourly or less frequently, is seen as in-adequate, particularly at peak times. Services on some routes ending at 21.00 is seen as unsatisfactory for people wanting to use the train for an evening out.
Trains to Lincoln from Nottingham and Leicester (Carlton also!) were seen as arriving at Lincoln either too early or too late in the morning for commuters.
Some passengers said they would like text message updates on delays. It was found that ‘Very few passengers still used traditional methods to plan their journey (paper timetables, ‘phoning National Rail Enquiries, or using ticket offices), those who did so were older and/or from rural areas’. Oh yes, and some of us still use typewriters!
Other suggestions/aspirations by user groups include extending the Robin Hood Line trains from Worksop to Cleethorpes via Gainsborough and Kirton Lindsey every 2 hours. The other extension of the Robin Hood line to Ollerton has been raised again by Mark Spencer, MP for Sherwood, with a meeting taking place with the Secretary of State for Transport in September, which ‘was a positive session where we were able to ensure that the line stays on the departments agenda’.
News in brief
Events on the Poacher Line (Nottingham-Netherfield-Skegness): Wednesday, Dec 20. ‘The Polar Express’ Nottingham to Boston. For this and other events visit poacherline.org.uk
Nottingham Station is included in Britain’s 100 Best Railway Stations, an appreciation of railway architecture. It is in the top 18 with 4 stars. The book has just been published. However for ease of use by customers it isn’t good, with a long trek from the entrance to platforms 2 and 4 from where Skegness and many Newark services arrive and depart
Problems with level crossings on the Lincoln line has led Network Rail to have a dedicated team giving full shift cover in Newark. The priority is to sort out and fix what is causing the problems.
Dec. 17th is Gentleman’s Day at Southwell Racecourse
Refurbished diesel unit 158854 has been named ‘THE STATION VOLUNTEER’
