< Previous50 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYHAIR & BEAUTYThanks to Lincolnshire’s top stylists andbeauticians, you can banish the dullnessof the season and pile on the romancefor your Valentine’s soirees.However, your hair can suffer in thecolder months, and it’s unlikely a bobblehat will be the best accessory for yourromantic night out. Winter weather canoften leave hair feeling dull andlacklustre, so how do you keep your lockslooking healthy for the ultimateglamorous look?Maximising the shine potential of hairwith an intense moisturising shampooand conditioner, followed by a leave-inconditioner, can help to combat thewinter chill. As a little cheat, washing hairwith cold water after you’ve finishedmakes the hair lay flat – increasing thereflection of light. Shine, volume and bounce are the keysto the hair trends this season. Feminine,carefully-curled coifs cascading with milesof style have long been a hugelyromantic look – think back to VeronicaLake and the other film stars of theforties, whose looks remain perhaps theultimate in glamour. The latest trendsmimic this, but the difference is theyhave substantially more body, volumeand bounce – it won’t require a helmetof hairspray and reduce your peripheralvision.The blow-dry has been around sincethe sixties but it’s enjoying renewedpopularity at the moment thanks to itsability to provide volume and body tothe hair quickly and effectively.Nowadays you can replicate the effect athome too, thanks to the latest hairproducts that can give you extra volume,but many enjoy the pampering andrelaxation you can get from a sessionwith a stylist.As well as adding gloss to your hair,you can add a bit of sunshine to a grimFebruary by adding glow and shine toyour skin. Oil-based moisturisers mightbe more suitable to the cold weatherthan a water-based one. Oil productscreate a protective barrier which locks inmoisture. Oils can penetrate deeper intothe skin so are ideal for giving skin addedhydration. A common way to make your skin lookclearer and brighter is exfoliation. It’spossible to do this at home as well butmany can be over-zealous withexfoliators, and you can sometimesoveruse them in the problems areas, endup making the skin over-sensitive, redand shiny. Over-exfoliating can also makethe area thicker and as a result you canend up exfoliating every day.The treatment available in a salon usesa vacuum action, where crystals tumbleacross the skin, chip off the dead skinand then are lifted away. This gives acrossMaking astatement forFebruaryComing as it does in the depths of winter, Valentine’s Day brings with it its own challengesfor those who want to look their most glamorous.As well as adding gloss to your hair, you canadd a bit of sunshine to a grim February byadding glow and shine to your skin.50-51_Layout 1 25/01/2016 12:28 Page 1a sense of brightness and rejuvenation.Microdermabrasion is a particularlypopular salon treatment that offersinstant, visible results. A course of fortyminute treatments will dramatically andvisibly improve the texture andappearance of the skin, reducing andsmoothing fine lines and producing asmoother more rejuvenated skin. It workswell on acne, especially with oxygentherapy treatments.The eyes often have it when you’retrying to emphasise the romance andthere are also options to make the mostout of what you have – offeringminimum fuss but withmaximum effect. LVL lashesare an alternative to lashextensions which provide astunning wide-eyed lookwhile being natural to lookat. By straightening ratherthan curling eyelashes, youget an amazing look that iscompletely natural and allyour own lashes. LVL lashes –it stands for length, volumeand lift – will give you thesame effect you’d get fromeyelash curlers, but lasting upto six weeks. The result islonger looking eyelashes.Valentine’s Day is all aboutthe romance and Lincolnshire’shair and beauty specialists canmake the most of your naturalassets so you really sparkle.Best of all, you get to sit backand relax while you’repampered to perfection.LINCOLNSHIRETODAY51PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/SUBBOTINA ANNAPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/SYDA PRODUCTIONS50-51_Layout 1 25/01/2016 12:28 Page 2HEALTH & FITNESSFrom primary school age I’ve alwaysenjoyed keeping fit and taking part insports, but nine years ago that changed.I got back off holiday and my visionstarted going blurry, thinking it was achange in my eyesight I ignored it andgot my eyes checked. Then I startedgetting really thirsty, weeing a lot andlost about a stone in weight.Remembering from biology lessonsthese were all symptoms of diabetes, Ireluctantly went to the doctors. I hadglucose in my urine and a finger pricktest showed my blood glucose levelswere also high. One 24 hour admissionto hospital later and I was dischargedwith Type 1 diabetes, insulin pens,needles and testing equipment. I have to test my blood glucose levelsthrough finger prick tests and self-administer my insulin injections 4 timesa day on average (more if I eat extrasnacks) to try and maintain a bloodglucose level of between 4.5 and 8.0mmol/l. There are several factors thataffect blood sugar levels, the main beingfood and exercise. In general, foodmakes it higher and exercise lowers it.Sometimes my body gets confused andmakes it higher if it is too high before Istart exercising.This ‘thing’ now made exercise hardfor me. It wasn’t enjoyable anymore andtrying to get the optimal level forexercise was really hard. I became scaredto exercise in case my blood sugarWalk into any CrossFit gym and you’ll find people from all backgroundsworking through various challenges that life has thrown at them. HereCrossFit Witham member Sally shares her experiences of how she hasused exercise to manage her diabetes.CrossFit -What’s your excuse?There are several factors that affect blood sugarlevels, the main being food and exercisedropped too low and I becamehypoglycemic and went into a coma.Too high and I didn’t have the insulin inmy body needed to convert the glucoseinto energy, making me tired, lethargicand exercise really difficult. In turn thislead to emotional highs and lows. In February this year I joined CrossFitWitham and it has really helped manageall aspects of my battle with diabetes. Itold coaches Adam and George when Istarted that I was Type 1. This is alwayshard for me as I find it a bitembarrassing, but they were reallyunderstanding and supportive and said52-53_Layout 1 25/01/2016 12:27 Page 1HEALTH & FITNESSif I was having any problems just to stop– it wasn’t an issue. Doing CrossFit I getthe benefits of doing regular exercise tohelp manage my blood glucose andphysical health as well as training with abunch of likeminded people whichbenefits my emotional health too. Theworkouts are always varied so if we’redoing something cardio and I go a bithigh or low I can stop and do analternative. The advantage of CrossFit, it is varied andeverything is always scaleable. I still struggle with getting the balance right, but now I feelthat I can exercise in a safe environment with a reallysupportive group. There is a great atmosphere and everyonealways looks out for each other. So much so, that I competed inmy first two team competitions last year. One of them was overa weekend on a beach in Dorset and involved lots of runningon sand and sea swimming (not good for my glucose levels). Iwas doing fine until the last event – 6 of us running with a logto the sea, then swimming with it and then carrying it back upthe beach. After the first lap I felt drained so had to test midworkout. I was too low to carry on so had to stop. I felt bad forletting the team down but everybody was just concerned that Iwas OK and not bothered about having to stop. I couldn’t havehoped for a more supportive team. If you think you may havediabetes or at risk of it visit your doctor or a pharmacy who cancheck.I am by no means the only person at our gym whofaces their own hurdles. Everyday I’m surrounded bypeople from all walks of life all tackling their ownchallenges. There are others who have never exercisedbefore, new mums and mums to be, people getting overinjuries or ailments and people who work ridiculous hours.There is nothing we do that can’t be scaled or changed tosuit everyone so sticking at it when things don’t go yourway is the only real challenge. Now I feel that Ican exercise in asafe environmentwith a reallysupportive groupFancy giving CrossFit a go? They invite anyone to come for a look round or to try afree taster session by visiting the gym Monday toFriday, or contacting the team via Facebook, email hello@crossfitwitham.co.uk orby calling 07725 124535. For more information see www.crossfitwitham.co.uk52-53_Layout 1 25/01/2016 12:27 Page 254 LINCOLNSHIRETODAY“You’re not made of sugar and you won’t melt in the rain,”was a favourite saying of my mother’s. The same goes forhorses. But the recent atrocious wet weather and floods havecertainly got equestrian forums awash with thoughts on whatto do and whether a re-think in horse welfare is needed.In most people’s ideal world, even in winter, horses wouldhave 24 hour turnout on grass available, with shelters to use,stabling if required, ad lib forage and a wardrobe of goodquality rugs. The reality is often mud, mud and more mud,limited or no turnout at all, constantly wet rugs, trampled andwasted hay, tracks too wet to ride on, horses squabbling tocome in off thick clay, or door kicking in stables, bored andwanting to go out, lost shoes and mud fever. We don’t mind abit of bad weather, but horse owning in these conditions is justno pleasure at all, to say nothing of the cost. Sometimes it justdoesn’t seem worth it. So should we adapt and stop trying to seek the impossible?One suggestion was that we stop equating “turn-out” withfields and grass and instead, invest in an all-weather, all yeararea or a horse walker? Perhaps livery yards should be licensed,Comerain orshineBrenda Gilligan from Wilkin Chapman Solicitorsconsiders what methods horse owners can taketo manage the damage the recent weather andflooding has caused. 54-55_Layout 1 25/01/2016 12:26 Page 1Call Lincoln 01522 512345 or visit wilkinchapman.co.uk^jnbg^eZplghm\abe]lieZrUnderstanding equine law means understanding horses and their owners. Our specialists have the ^qi^kb^g\^mh^glnk^rhnk^covered for all the ups and downs. There for you for business, for lifeLINCOLNSHIRETODAY55EQUINEwith a licence refused if there are more than a certain numberof horses per acre? Should stables by law be a minimum sizefor size of horse to allow for more mobility if stabling most ofthe time is the only option? Perhaps open plan American barnsunder cover will be the only stabling to receive planningpermission?However, there are those who point to racehorses andcompetition horses who rarely get turned out, plus those inother countries where grazing is very limited and yet theyseem healthy enough. But is physical health enough thoughand should we be considering mental health as well? TheAnimal Welfare Act 2006 does make provision for horses beingable to exhibit natural behaviour - the problem being thatsometimes horses themselves don’t conform to our idea of“natural”! There are also dedicated owners doing their verybest in extremely trying conditions, not only in this badweather but all year round to keep their horses happy andhealthy. If they are willing to do it, should we stop them?Should horse owning be forced to revert to being the provinceof the rich land owner with every facility when horse owningPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/MIKADUNPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/LOLOSTOCKand riding has so many benefits for all? As long as our horsesare healthy, should we be so critical?But it certainly is worth trying to think ahead and doing whatyou can. Invest in drainage, an area of hard standing, fieldshelters, a small sacrificial paddock with some sort of base if youcan, tracks with hard core to a make transporting hay to fieldseasier, non-electric lighting, quality coats and footwear -and agood memory for summer!54-55_Layout 1 25/01/2016 12:26 Page 256 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYCOUNTY MOTORINGThere was a time when those of us whochose to drive all terrain vehicles wereostracised by society and would feareco-warriors chasing us down the roadwith burning torches and pitchforks.Thankfully, that’s not longer the case!Those of us who live in the countryside or travel towork when roads are icy or covered in snow need acar that can cope. Thankfully, in addition to 4x4sthere’s also a choice of country SUV’s many of whichoffer good ground clearance and strong hauling abilityfor trailers. We’ve been out and about testing a fewmodels which you might want to consider before thewhite stuff starts to fall.Wintermotoring Land Rover’s Discovery SportMitsubishi Outlander PHEV56-59_Layout 1 25/01/2016 12:50 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY57COUNTY MOTORINGFirst up has to be Land Rover’s newDiscovery Sport seven-seater. It’s a‘proper’ 4x4 go-anywhere family vehiclethat’s replaced the Freelander.What we love about this car is howlight and easy it is to drive, plus the twoadditional seats in the back help theDiscovery Sport stand out from its rivals.It handles twisty roads extremely welland has a great four-wheel-drive system,making it one of the best off-roaders inits class. Our test car came with partial leatherheated seats and a touch-screeninfotainment system and ticked all theboxes but, like many of the top marques,you do have to pay extra for sat nav.There are a number of models to try:the most popular model by far is the 2.2-litre SE Tech Diesel although we preferthe 2.2-litre HSE Luxury Diesel. The entrylevel model is the 2.2-litre SE Diesel whilethe most inexpensive to run is the 2.2-litre HSE Diesel.The BMW X3 is another that’s high upon our list – in fact the newer models area further improvement on the previousmodels which were already good. Classyand practical, the engines are efficientand even the entry level versions comewith a pretty good equipment level asstandard.The cabin is large and comfortable andyou can expect: automatic air con,leather seats, cruise control, PDC and achoice of 3 driving modes, Eco-Pro, Sportand Comfort. Such a shame the heatedseats and folding and dimming exteriormirrors don’t come as standard too. Handling is very nimble for a 4x4 SUVwith far less body roll than you wouldexpect. The two 2.0-litre four-cylinderengines have either 148bhp or 188bhpunits matched to six speed manualgearboxes. The latter of these would bemy personal choice although it might beworth opting for the excellent eight-speed automatic available as an option. The 3.0-litre six-cylinder engineswhich produce 255bhp and 308bhprespectively come with automatictransmission as standard. These certainlydon’t disappoint and, if you have a largerbudget, then you’ve just got to try thexline and M sport models. Another car worthy of mention is theMitsubishi Outlander PHEV. When wefirst tested it back in the spring of 2014,we couldn’t help wondering why noother manufacturer had come up withsomething that matched its blend of lowrunning costs, affordable price and sucha practical interior. Sales took off and to date they’ve soldover 8,000 units (that’s eight times thenumber of Hybrids sold in 2014 alone)The PHEV was a little basic though, inthe early days, but Mitsubishi’s designershave breathed on it since and introduceda number of improvements which has all58 ÁBMW X356-59_Layout 1 25/01/2016 12:50 Page 258 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYCOUNTY MOTORINGbut blown away the likes of Nissan withits Qashqai, Mazda with its CX-5 andHonda’s CR-V. The latest PHEV’s coming off theproduction line are quicker off the markand much quieter to drive. They’re moredistinctive too thanks to new wheels, arevised range of colours including gloss-black touches, and those piercingheadlights with LED daytime runninglights to name but a few. Standard spec has always been upthere with the best so you can expect:rear parking sensors, cruise control,automatic lights and wipers, andBluetooth phone connectivity.again, plenty of choices - the entrylevel model is the 2.0 GX3H Auto 5dr,although we prefer the quicker and morepopular model, the 2.0 GX4HS Auto 5dr–which is also the most economicalmodel to run. If you’re hoping to getthat government plug-in subsidy of£5,000 though you’ll have to be quick, asthat’s about to be halved (so much forthe government encouraging us to driveplug ins)Next up is the Jaguar F-Pace – a sportycrossover with great looks. It’s also theBritish carmaker’s first attempt at enteringthe increasingly popular, small SUVmarket. The F-Pace offers sufficient interiorspace for four adults and the boot is oneof the biggest in its class. But what reallysets it apart is the opulence inside, thanksto a leather-wrapped dashboard highspec materials for the trim and decentequipment levels. Engine wise, there’s not what youcould call a bewildering array of choices –in fact quite the opposite. There’s onepetrol and two diesel units to power thecar. All three drive well and kudos toJaguar for the way it takes bends – this isan SUV that can be driven drive like asports car and, using the latesttechnology in traction controltechnology, makes sure you have grip inany road conditions.Our next model is a Swede – the XC60is one of the safest small SUV’s on themarket thanks to its standard spec. Allmodels for instance, come withautomatic emergency braking – a systemVolvo pioneered in affordable family cars.The car also has a premium feel to it.There’s good space inside for a familyof five, and the boot will swallow 655litres of luggage. It’s refined and quiet,with little wind or road noise to disturband you get a great view of the roadahead thanks to a slightly raised rear seat,which, by the way, we found incrediblycomfortable, even on a long journey.Creature comforts are good too - inaddition to automatic emergencybraking, drivers get: sat-nav, Bluetoothand lane departure warning, as well as ablind spot information systemThe cheapest to buy and run is the D4SE, while the quickest model by far is theD5 AWD R – Design Lux. Generallyspeaking, the most popular model sold isthe D4 SE Lux automatic.Last, but by no means least, if youwant a car that Looks like an SUV butdrives like a normal car, then there’sJaguar F-Pace56-59_Layout 1 25/01/2016 12:50 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRETODAY59COUNTY MOTORINGalways the Mercedes GLA. The germanmarques small SUV that’s based on theMercedes A-Class, but with more spaceand comfort inside.Mercedes have gone all out, wellalmost, to give this model a trulypremium feel inside and we love thesilver and gloss piano black trims. Lessso the artificial leather seats, but atleast DAB digital radio and emergencycity braking are standard on allmodels.The GLA offers a decent enoughdrive on Lincolnshire’s A and B roads,but on twistier routes we found it has alittle more body roll than the A class.Engine wise, there aren’t too many tochoose from – we’d recommendskipping the humble GLA 200d SE andopt for the GLA250 but, if you’relooking to extend stops at fuel pumpsyou’ll be better suited to the GLA220d. Again if you’re looking forsomething with performance to boot,then the GLA250 AMG Line petrol hasto be the natural choice.Volvo XC60Mercedes GLA56-59_Layout 1 25/01/2016 12:50 Page 4Next >