Health, Fitness & the Touch Base Walk

My Favourite Walks

by Ted Barker

THE WootTEN WAWEN WALK

Distance: 5 miles

Typical time: 150 mins

Starting at the charming 16th century  Bulls Head Pub, the walk begins with scampering over heathland, meeting all shapes and sizes of our four-legged horse friends on the way up to the banks of the wondrously idyllic River Alne. Crossing a railway track to join the Stratford Canal, takes the walk back up to the oldest church in Warwickshire, St Peter’s and its neighbouring Wootton Hall.

Starting point: There is a large car park to the rear of the Bulls Head Pub found at B95 6BD, or on The Stratford Road/Alcester Road junction in the centre of Wootton Wawen itself. You and your humans can sample the pub delights before getting back into your car.

Hop onto your lead as you spring out of your car and direct your humans across the road into a cul-de- sac, The Dale. Walk to the end of the road,, passing through houses to reach some bollards. Here, direct your pack to walk alongside a wall to reach a stile leading into pasture land. (It may be best to keep saddled up here so as not to upset the many horses roaming the heathland.) Keeping the fence to your right-paw, continue along the edge of this field (ignoring a stile you will pass on your right) to reach the River Alne. (Humans, keep your eyes open for the arrows marking the way, just in case your woofer needs a little help directing the pack.)   Once you reach the river, cross a stile or walk over the broken gate and take a right to reach a fence surrounding a water works. Go through a metal kissing gate and trot alongside the works, keeping the metal fence to your right-paw and the river flowing on your left. Those readers who have a tendency to find water to have a little frolic I’m sure will clock a little pebbled beach on the river bank for a little play or even drinkies!

Leaving this path via a metal gate, jump off your lead for a little bally playtime as you enter another field. Make for the far right-paw corner of the field, with the railway up to your right. Clip back onto the lead as you reach a metal kissing gate on your right. Take a left out of this gate and walk down a quiet driveway, leading onto a lane. Immediately cross the river over the road bridge and take an immediate turn to pass under the railway bridge, making for a metal kissing gate ahead. Humans, here please ignore the arrowed marking as this can become a little confusing. Woofers, bear diagonally left a little, crossing the field following the remains of a fence on your right (where sheep are usually grazing alongside the river bank). Keeping the river always to your right and never too far away, you will see a red farmstead on the opposite bank. (See “tip for humans”, above). Following the river bank until the dilapidated fencing finishes, after passing a house on the opposite bank, proceed a little diagonally left to reach a kissing gate, a metal- railed troll bridge and a metal gate.

Here is where your stickies may come in handy! Cross this sometimes rather wild field, taking the trodden path across the middle – not becoming too distracted by all the long grass and tantalising smells I’m sure you’ll come across! You will eventually reach a dead stile and perhaps the most random thing we have ever seen on our walkies together – a three- pronged, street signpost in amongst the very rough foliage! It’s like the secret garden in here humans! Continue along the trodden path round to the left past a big, old acorn tree to reach a track. Follow the track up to reach a metal gate.

Back on your lead, turn left onto the road. Keeping close to your humans, walk along this road for about a mile. As the road bends to the left, you’ll begin bearing uphill, passing a house on your right. Continue bearing uphill until you reach Wheathill Farm on the left-paw side of the road. A couple of trots after here on the left-paw side of the road, go through a metal gate on the left marked with an arrow, just as the main road begins to twist.

Through the metal gate, cross directly across the field to an opposite metal gate to reach a railed troll bridge and gate, crossing over an old, discarded railway. Again, cross directly across this next field making for a metal kissing gate. Pause here woofers and hop on your lead as your humans will need to remind you to ‘Stop. Look. Listen’ as you cross an active railway line. (No graveyards on this walkies today readers – but another railway line crossing to master!).  After crossing the railway, go through the metal kissing gate to enter a field with newly planted trees, again, continuing across to another metal gate. Through this gate, ask your humans to follow the arrows as you cross the next field, heading gently uphill, keeping the hedge to your left (with Silesbourne Farm to your right).

At the top of the hill, go through a metal gate and continue along the path between two fences to another metal kissing gate. Continue straight, passing a white house a little distance away on your left.  In the hedge on your right, go through a metal kissing gate and take an immediate left into the next field.  A couple of trots along (with the hedge on your left), you’ll reach a metal kissing gate. Through the gate, turn right to cross a bridge over the Stratford Canal. On the other side, take the steps down to the left to join the canal tow path. Walking away from bridge 56 (not passing under it), continue along the quiet tow path to reach an old split footbridge, 55. Cross here and proceed along the canal, now with the water on your right. Leave the canal at bridge 54 (hopping back on your lead), turning left along a track, passing houses on your right and horse- training fields to your left

Turn left at the bottom of the track onto Penny Lane (with Field Farm directly ahead). Humans, 100 yards or so down this lane, go through a metal gate on your right signed ‘Friends of Champ Rescue Centre’. Woofers, please be on your best behaviour as you walk alongside the right of some pens, with the farm on your right and through a green gate, as here is a sanctuary for horses. Passing the horse’s houses (stables to humans) on the right, proceed through a wooden kissing gate, passing what my human named as ‘Riley’ (a very old car!) and through a second wooden kissing gate. Bear diagonally right to reach another kissing gate, passing a rather sorry- looking blue Morris Minor and a dilapidated house on the right, to reach a railed bridge crossing back over the River Alne.

Across this bridge, take the path to the right, heading towards St Peter’s Church in the distance, walking along an old earthworks. Go through a wooden kissing gate, past a charming house on the left, to a large gate leading to the main road where you’ll find the beautiful Saxon Church and Wootton Hall to its right. Either take a little time to view these beautiful pieces of architecture and history, or turn left along the road. You may fancy a cheeky ice cream from the shop on the left or follow the road down to reach the Bulls Head for a much deserved bowl of drinkies and a treat!

Well woofers, our next walkies will be in the depths of winter! Get your skating booties ready as we brave the crisp air and crunchy, ice- laced fields in our December/January issue! If your pack or any other woofer friends have any walkies suggestions or pictures, please send them to my human at: alex@touchbasemagazine.com Enjoy your autumnal walkies woofers!

Until next time, Ted x

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Arden House Dental Practice

Children’s tooth stem cells can be preserved, thanks to Arden House Dental Practice  A dental practice in Cheltenham can now collect children’s living tooth cells, which could be used to help treat diseases and injuries they may suffer in the future.

Arden House Dental Practice in London Road, Cheltenham, has become a registered referral practice for BioEDEN, the world’s first international private stem cell storage bank.

It means when your child’s front baby teeth fall out naturally, they can be quickly preserved and sent to BioEDEN, where the stem cells are cultured and stored.

Stem cells from teeth are different from those found in cord blood. These can be used to grow a range of tissues including bone, nerve, fat, muscle and cartilage and may one day be used to grow entire organs. It is believed that stem cells will be used to treat a wide variety of diseases and injuries within the next decade.

It is a completely non-invasive method of collecting and preserving stem cells that could be used to treat diseases in later years.

Ian Hazlem, founder of Arden House Dental, says: “We are passionate about this valuable resource and the good that can come from this service. So often you hear terribly sad stories of children needing bone marrow transplants. What better investment is there for your child’s future?”

Arden House Dental is a tried and trusted name in the region. Run for the last 18 years by Ian Hazlem, it offers a number of unique services to clients including same day dental crowns, which are created with the aid of the Cerec 3D system.

It prides itself on a homely and “undentist-like” atmosphere within the practice. In fact, Ian’s five dogs also accompany him to work and they have built up their own fan base among the patients over the years.

While Ian works, patients can sit in the waiting room and enjoy watching the dogs play outside.

Ian said he is delighted to offer this new service to his younger patients, which enables them to build up a personal cell bank for future use.

“We think BioEDEN provides a valuable resource for parents who want such reassurance for their children’s future,” he says. “BioEDEN do pay us a referral fee but we undertake to pass any fees we receive to charities helping sick children.”

BioEDEN is the global leader in the collection and preservation of stem cells taken from children’s

milk teeth and from wisdom teeth.

Established in 2006, with its headquarters in the UK, it has facilities across the UK and US and markets its services to more than 20 countries in Europe, America and Asia.

With official accreditation by the regulatory authorities, it means that the groundbreaking work by BioEDEN must adhere to the highest quality standards in all processes.

In the UK, it is regulated by the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) and holds a full licence. It is also ISO 9001:2008 accredited by the British Assessment Bureau. In the USA, it is registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

For further information on Arden House DENTAL Centre for Excellence,  please visit  www.ardenhouse.co.uk

232 London Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL52 6HW

Telephone: 01242 512444

Arden House DENTAL come 2nd in UK’s Elite Dental Practice Awards 2011

Arden House DENTAL based in Charlton Kings is delighted to announce that they came second in the UK’s Elite Dental Practice Awards 2011.  Arden House DENTAL was one of three finalists who have made it through the vigorous judging process in the large town/small city category.  Over 60 dental practices entered the competition from the UK and Northern Ireland, the overall winner was from Arden House’s category.

The Elite Practice Awards measure across the board excellence in every aspect of running a Dental Practice.  Those considered to be practising to the highest standard, with excellent patient care are invited to enter the awards.

The final took place in London where the team had to present to the judges and fellow finalists, followed by dinner, a trip on the Thames and then the announcements of the winners.  It was also a networking opportunity to share ideas and learn from other contestants the ways to make their Practices even better.

One of the Judges commented; “Our finalists are clearly that special breed of individuals that reach for a newer spirit and aim at a higher goal; they have been courageous and determined, unafraid and bold. There may have been only a few winners, but all finalists can go away safe in the knowledge that the true winners are their lucky patients whom they strive to serve and impress so well.”

Ian Hazlem, founder of Arden House DENTAL said; “It is a great tribute to my team that we came second.  We have all worked very hard to make this Practice one of the best and I am very pleased that this has been recognised. The fact that the overall winner was in our category, means that we were up against some serious competition!”

For further information on Arden House DENTAL centre for excellence,  please visit http://www.ardenhouse.co.uk/, the Practice is located at 232 London Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL52 6HW Telephone: 01242 512444.

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Arden House DENTAL launch new software to explain treatment via video

Arden House DENTAL is launching an innovative new software package called GURU for patients. The package visually shows them what treatment work needs doing, how it will happen and what the end result will look like all in video format that can also be emailed to their home computer.

GURU is a software package, fully integrated with existing systems in the practice so that treatment plans can be personalised to the individual patient.  Images, x-rays can be dropped into the software to explain what is required, allowing the dentist to create presentations showing the best possible treatments and options.  This all takes place whilst the patient is sat in the dentist chair.  The presentation can then be emailed to their home computer so that they can research the recommendations and share treatment decisions.

Ian Hazlem, founder of the Practice said: “This new system is a great way to show patients what needs doing and the potential end results. There are often a few options with dental treatment and for them to be able to visualise each one makes it so much easier to explain.  Then within the comfort of their own home they can make those all important decisions.  Patients have given us some great feedback on this new system.”

Patient Mr Kevin C from Cheltenham said; “Following  x-rays and consultation it was decided that I would have a tooth out and have an implant to replace it. Ian described the whole process and answered every question, often with an illustration from the many implants he has carried out. We hit several unforeseen issues but, throughout, Ian responded with a caring, methodical approach which reassured me and gave me confidence. My implant is now in place and is impossible to tell from a real tooth.”

Arden House DENTAL has always been a quality practice well known for being up to date and investing in the latest technology for the benefit of their patients.  They currently offer a number of services unique to the region such as same day crowns.

For further information on Arden House DENTAL centre for excellence, please visit www.ardenhouse.co.uk, the practice is located at 232 London Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL52 6HW Telephone: 01242 512444.

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A Walk Through the English Countryside

Distance: 5 miles

Typical time: 150 mins

From trotting along the charming and quintessentially English high street of Chipping Campden, up to Dover’s Hill’s expansive, panoramic views, to exploring dense woodland and crossing prime English countryside, this is the perfect walkies for a beautiful, summer’s day.

Starting point: The parking for this walkies will be wherever your humans can find a space on Chipping Campden High Street. I will, however, will direct your pack from outside the Noel Arms on the High Street, which has a postcode of GL55 6AT for the human navigation systems.

Once saddled up and raring to go, position yourself with the Noel Arms behind you, and take a left along the High Street up to the Catholic Church. Once at Saint Catherine’s, take a right onto West End Terrace. As this begins to bear right, take the road straight ahead called Hoo Lane. Follow this road as it leads up through the renowned Cotswold-stone, chocolate-box houses. The road will shortly become more of a track than a road as it ascends to reach farm buildings on the left. Continue past these buildings and past a metal gate on the right, heading uphill to reach a wooden gate and a road. Humans, take a moment to look back over the stone wall to see the handsome view back over the delightful Cotswold village.

Taking a left along the road for a few trots, cross the road to join the footpath on your right. Continue along the path following the field’s edge to a kissing gate. Turning left out of the gate you reach Dover’s Hill (keep on your leads here woofers as our four-legged sheep friends may be grazing). The beautiful expanses looking out across the captivating countryside are well-worth a little rest, taking in the panoramic views from the benches. Keeping the hedge to your left, and the escarpment edge to your right, passing the National Trust trig point, continue to what your humans will identify as a topograph. Here, take a right path down the hill to a kissing gate on your left, leading onto a road.

Turn right onto the road and ask your humans in 150 yards to direct the pack left into a field. Cross the stile and make for another stile in the bottom right corner of the field. Head straight down the next field with a house to your left, to another stile on the right leading into a field where on our walkies lived a family of very vocal sheep! Continue straight across this field (humans keep your colour-seeing eyes open for the yellow arrow to help with the directions), bearing downhill to a stile. Head straight down the next field, keeping the wooden fence to your right-paw as the views across the luscious green, full- bodied woodland unfold along the horizon. Cross the next stile as you descend the hill to reach a track (leading to some houses on your left). Crossing the track, make for the bottom left corner of the field to reach two adjacent stiles.

Cross the first stile over a bridge and proceed along the bottom edge of the field, keeping the fence and trees to your right as you pass a rather dead looking tree! Woofers, here you are making for the far right corner of this field where you will find a stile (– not the gate on your right just past the big dead old tree). Cross the stile, go over a little troll bridge over a stream and take a left to follow the rising woodland path. Now woofers, the smells here are out of this world which makes me wonder- what other friends could live in this beautiful dense woodland? Keeping the stream to your left, continue heading up hill until you reach a gate to enter a field. Proceed along the field’s edge, keeping the wooded area to you left (a perfect ballie field here my fellow woofer readers-nudge nudge humans!). The path will lead under some trees, still with the stream to your left until your walkies challenge arrives – you must help your humans over stepping-stones across the tiny stream - as they can’t plough through the water like I know you will! The path will then continue uphill to reach a stile (with a picturesque, Cotswold house to your right). Follow this path up past an old gatepost and up through another two gateposts (where you will need to hop back on your lead), to reach a country lane.

Take a left onto the quiet country lane, passing a farm on your right as you approach a busier main road. Here, take a left along this road for around 450 yards (humans, be sure to walk on the grass verge and keep us reigned in close here). As the road bends left, cross the road (remember woofers to look right, left and then right again!) to join a field path on the right. Cross the fence and turn immediately right over a wall which can be concealed a little behind some foliage (humans notice the yellow arrow). Follow the path as it runs parallel to the road for about 200 yards before the end of the path, taking a diagonal right across the field along the pathway cleared between the crops. Hop back on your lead as you reach a road, down two little steps.

Turn right down the road until you reach a delightful, picture-postcard cottage on your right. Here, cross the road to join a field on the left. Direct the pack diagonally right along a trodden path across the field, making for the houses on the horizon. Pass a gate in the corner of the field, crossing a road and down a path alongside the back of some houses. Exiting the narrow pathway, take a right to return back onto West End Terrace to begin re-tracing your paw-steps back to the High Street, for a much deserved lick of your humans ice-cream as you stroll past a delicious ice-cream shop on your left!

If you do manage to have a cheeky seasonal treat, send me a pic and any other walkies suggestions you or any of your woofer friends may have for our next walkies as we approach the beautiful, late- summer/ autumnal walkies season in our next edition!  alex@touchbasemagazine.com

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The Importance of A Good Night’s Sleep by Matt Kendrick

I decided to write an article on how to address sleep issues, after finding it increasingly common with the patients and clients we work with at MK Lifefit. Sadly it seems to be a major and ever growing problem in todays technology obsessed world.

The trouble started with the invention of the light bulb. We no longer sleep in sync with seasonal light, which alters rhythms that control our hormones, affecting appetite, fertility and both mental and physical health.

Artificial light extends our days, but fools our bodies into living in a continuous summer. This creates a big problem as our bodies prepare for a scarce food supply and months of winter inactivity, creating fat storage and a sluggish metabolism to cope with a hunger that never arrives.

Working late in bright lights after dark, watching TV, or checking a late night email for as little as half an hour all register as long summer days to your inner environmental controls.  This in turn means your brain will force you to seek energy for storage by eating sugar and the vicious circle has begun.

Firstly it is important to understand that chronic insomnia is a symptom caused by a wider array of issues. People suffering with health problems, taking medication, alcohol, under chronic stress or shift workers can all suffer from insomnia.

As we age the problem grows and by midlife can become overbearing. Experts divide night rest into various stages, the most important being slow-wave sleep (deep sleep) and REM sleep (rapid eye movement or dream sleep). On average the amount of time we spend awake in the middle of the night increases by 30 minutes and the amount of time spent in REM declines by 10 minutes every decade, starting at middle age.

Insomnia is more common in women, possible related to shifts in female hormones, linked to onset of the menopause. Low progesterone levels are associated with chronic insomnia and replacement can often restore normal sleep patterns.

Psychological issues such as anxiety, stress and depression are very commonly linked to poor sleep. While it is widely believed these conditions lead to insomnia, recent studies indicate in most cases the insomnia develops first.

In one study, researchers carefully examined 1801 men and women over the age of 65 who suffered from chronic depression. They found that insomnia prolonged their bouts of sadness, helplessness and loss of interest in life.

These depressed insomnia patients were 17 times more likely to have their depression last longer than a year compared to those not suffering from sleep problems.

In our hectic modern society, people are so busy that they put aside less time to sleep. During the first half of the twentieth century, people hit the sack for about 9 hours every night compared with 7.6 hours today and for many 6 or less. Sleep is vital to our well being.

Here are some simple tips to help you sleep:

Try to go to bed by 10.30pm

Keep the room pitch black (no LCD’s, phones, TV’s)

Avoid TV’s and computers an hour before bed

Avoid caffeine and sugar foods in the evening

Try taking 200 mg of magnesium at bedtime

For further help and information:

Visit us at: www.mklifefit.co.uk

Email us at: info@mklifefit.co.uk

Call us on: 0121 744 2777

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August/September Issues always make me think. All other issues - December/Jan, April/May are all OK, they make sense, the months are relevant to each other, Dec/Jan combine Christmas and New Year a 2 week ‘bridge’ from this year to last, both cold and dark, April/May spring is in the air, green shoots showing… October/November, well, they’re Ok, both crisp and cold, Halloween meets Bonfire night…..

But August/September? They couldn’t be more different. August says heat, Summer holidays and barbecue, the middle of the year, the NOW! So enjoy it while we can….

September? Well that’s a whole different thought, it’s going back to school or work, traffic building up in the mornings, its dark nights and weather drawing in, it’s the home run to Christmas, new blazers and getting down to serious work, it’s the heating going on..

August/September is the axis of the year, the point of change where we tip from getting there to going there, from past to present and on to the future. August/September time is the time I am most mindful of my age! No birthday, but simply the knowledge that we have reached this ‘turning point’ in the year already. It seems the months pass so quickly that we will be here again before we know it, galloping towards the Summer and then brakes on full to avoid the Winter leading unavoidably to ‘the end of another year’

So! past, present and future…….be Mindful, enjoy the memories and plan new memories, stay in the moment and create new moments. Mindfulness makes us aware of ourselves and our surroundings and makes us appreciate things much more.

Mindfulness makes us a ‘participant’ which is much more fulfilling than being just a passenger.

Mindfulness is like a meditation, focussing on something relevant and personal and replenishing ourselves on good memories. Sorting out the present ‘stuff’ is like de cluttering or detoxing your life – not to mention the satisfaction of ‘finally getting round to sorting it! Then be mindful of your future, plan something uncomplicated, enjoy the anticipation and then cherish the experience.

Past, find something ‘past’, like your piles of photos that never made it to an album and are still in a shoe box. Like letters from your Grandparents that are in the back of the draw, like old footage of the kids when they were young or a holiday you enjoyed 20 years ago….route through old boxes and see what has been gathering dust and has value for your thoughts.

Then find a way to make them present, to make the past come alive and be there for you to dip into whenever you wish. Put the photos in an album or get one of those glossy photo books done and keep it on your coffee table. Pour a large glass of wine or make a nice cup of tea and read the letters, dip into your history and see the similarities and the huge differences or embarrass your kids by presenting them with a DVD of them growing up

Then look to your future, plan something that you would like to do, something that you will look forward to and get excited about, something that will be the contents of your future photo album – actual pictures or online files or write a letter or card to someone that means something to both of you, something that they will wish to keep, or put in a draw to read again.

Value your past, enjoy the present moment and create your future memories – August/September issues have a lot to answer for….

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Health & Wellness at The Belfry is offering one lucky reader the opportunity to win a year’s free membership.

To celebrate Ian Bell’s Benefit Year, the talented England and Warwickshire batsman has teamed up with The Belfry in Wishaw, Sutton Coldfield, and Touch Base to give away this fantastic prize.

The resort has been supporting Ian’s Benefit Year and its Health & Wellness members were given the chance to take a guest for free during the Bell-Free event earlier this summer in return for a donation, with a percentage going to Acorn’s Children’s Hospice.

The winning entry will enjoy complimentary membership for 12 months at the new facilities which will entitle you to full use of the state-of-the-art gym that features the latest Teca equipment.

There is a mixture of the traditional treadmills, bikes and cross trainers featuring individual televisions to take your mind off the pain as well as innovative Switching standing circuits.

There is also a wide range of 39 weekly fitness classes during the day and evening ranging from Zumba to Pilates or shorter 20-minute classes to try and see whether you like a different form of exercise or not.

A dedicated suite for the ever-popular spinning classes and a functional training area complete the new-look gym area.

An improved heated indoor swimming pool with new poolside furniture has been created and there is also new changing rooms and a café bar.

Monthly memberships to join Health & Wellness at The Belfry start from £29 with no contract and no joining fee. More information is available by contacting the membership department on 01675 470301. Standard Belfry terms and conditions apply.

To be in with a chance of winning this prize, all you need to do is name the ground where Ian scored his first Ashes century in Australia last winter as England retained the Ashes and visit www.tiny.cc/uk7vo to enter your answer by September 30.

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