< Previous40 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HAIR & BEAUTY We’re finally allowed back out to socialise (unless the Government changes their mind between this being written and published) and for many of us it’s been a year of grimy clothes, negligent beauty routines and bed hair. It’s been all too easy to let good habits slip when the only ones who can see you are immediate family, and for many people stuck indoors for long periods of time, the lack of With lockdown at an end, we finally have a chance to be out in public, but for many it’s been a full year indoors, and the impact on our skin cannot be overstated. sunlight and good, fresh air may have also affected our skin. As everyone knows, good skincare isn’t about a one time fix. It’s a constant struggle of balancing vitamins with nutrients, face cream with moisturiser, over a long period of time. Good skin has to be maintained, and that’s something many of us have let drop a little over a yearlong lockdown. With that finally at an end and the county opening up before us again, why not jumpstart your beauty regime with a visit to one of Lincolnshire’s many spa or beauty parlours. Not only is this a great way to get a head start on looking your best, but it might be worth having a beauty check-up and getting a professional opinion on what damage isolation has done and how to treat it. There’s never been a better time as most of these local businesses have been forced into furlough during the lockdown, so not only are you supporting your local community but they’re likely to have plenty of back-to-work offers on. Treatments can be as light or as heavy as desired, ranging from massages and lashes/pedicures to ultrasonic © Shutterstock /Basyn Revitalising after lockdown Revitalising after lockdown 40-41.qxp_Layout 1 26/04/2021 08:43 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 41 HAIR & BEAUTY © Shutterstock /InnerV isionPRO peels and cosmetic surgery. We personally recommend trying a massage, since we’ve all come out of lockdown a little more stressed than we need to be, and a good massage and salt scrub just washes all of that away. It’s also a great opportunity to visit a proper salon. No more DIY haircuts – we’ve all seen those disaster Instagram pictures of people trying to cut their own hair. We’re approaching summer so highlights and bright colours are in, while soft curls are making something of a comeback on the fashion scene. Again, and in the same vein as skin treatment, it’s worth taking a little time with your hair to nourish and revitalise it. Even if you’ve kept on top of your treatments during lockdown, the lack of sunlight and air will have caused some damage. If you have time off, consider booking yourself in for a full day skin and hair treatment and get it all done in one go. Not only is this good for your skin and hair, but it could be good for your mental health as well. Studies abound have noted the decline in mental health and quality of life during lockdown, and even thought we’ve come out of that now there’s bound to be lingering effects of that isolation. We often look as good as we feel, and for many of us looking good is a boost to our confidence that makes us feel good as well. Therefore a day of relaxing treatments can help boost confidence, elevate the mood and release all those frustrations in one go. Take the time to treat yourself. You’ve earned it for getting through lockdown. © Shutterstock /UfaBizPhoto 40-41.qxp_Layout 1 26/04/2021 08:44 Page 242 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HEALTH & FINTESS After a long period waiting for the government go- ahead, gyms have now reopened, expanding our workout options past the living room and park. While some may never go back to gyms - indeed a 12-month survey of 11,000 gym members showed 27% wouldn’t be returning after the COVID-19 vaccine rollout - there is an enthusiastic group ready to do so, with home fitness simply not cutting it, unable to replace the atmosphere and routine a gym can provide. With new rules implemented to avoid coronavirus transmission - hand sanitiser stations, booking systems to limit capacity, frequent cleaning, a requirement to wipe down equipment once used, one-way systems and increased spacing for social distancing - the gym may well appear different to what we remember. Some might even check temperature on arrival. There are also measures to personally take to reduce risk of being exposed to or passing on the virus oneself, including going to the gym with your kit on to minimise time spent in changing rooms (which will be limited or may even be closed), carrying only what you need, bringing your own towel and yoga mat, and bringing your own water bottle rather than using water fountains, which could be out of use anyway. One should also maintain good personal hygiene with hand washing and sanitiser, use provided wipes and sprays to clean everything you touch before and after use, and simply not attend the gym if you feel unwell. While gyms and their users make changes to ensure the venues are safe for use, to protect members and staff from COVID-19, staying safe in the gym upon your return does not only relate to the virus. When returning you will need to make adjustments to how you workout and set realistic goals. It will be vital to be careful when re-establishing your gym routine to prevent injury, especially if during lockdown you haven’t been very active. It is important to ease into a routine, even though it may be tempting to try to keep up with pre- lockdown workouts and personal records. You have probably not been using proper gym equipment during lockdown, and by jumping straight in at the deep end, it is likely you will hurt yourself, so manage your expectations - your body awareness, balance, cardiovascular fitness, and resilience of muscles, ligaments, joints, and tendons will have decreased. You will need to build back your strength and increase intensity of workouts gradually to allow the body to adjust. One should therefore begin with easier workouts, for instance with a reduced number of reps in comparison to what you used to complete, or by lifting less weight, taking a slower pace on the treadmill, and planning more rest time between sets. Take the first sessions slow, see how you feel in the days following and adjust from there. Though there will be aches and pains when taking back up exercise routines, these should be mild. After being away from the gym for so long there are some key things to remember to support your fitness such as the importance of hydrating, with the new rush in exercise seeing you sweat more, and sleeping 7-9 hours. Nutrition is critical too, to provide the energy required to perform in the gym - when exercising there is increased demand for foods rich in vitamins and minerals. Furthermore, remember to complete a good warm up before your work out, and a cool down after - if your gym has strict time slots which may not accommodate a full session with a warm up and cool down, consider doing this at home, and/or walking to and from the gym. With time limits it is also essential to plan your workout in advance, as well as the time of day you visit the gym based on when it will be busiest, leaving you waiting to use equipment. If your only option is to go during busier times, plan some alternative exercises so you are not waiting around. One will also need to check over kit when returning to the gym. Ensure trainers are not too worn so that you have the grip and support required and can avoid foot, ankle, knee, and back pain associated with poor trainers. Returning to the gym Gyms are open once again, but how can you ensure a safe return? 42-43.qxp_Layout 1 26/04/2021 08:45 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 43 HEALTH & FITNESS © Shutterstock /DuxX 42-43.qxp_Layout 1 26/04/2021 08:46 Page 244 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FOOD & DINING living Although we can once again enjoy the pleasures of outdoor dining and pub gardens, there’s still plenty to be said for spending time with friends and family on your own lawn, patio or decking. Armed with these recipes, you’ll be able to show everybody how much you love them. Crisp, crunchy salad and moreish griddled halloumi makes a great filling for wraps. Enjoy with friends and family, al fresco if you can! Serves: 3 Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes You’ll need: For the dressing 3 tbsp sweet chilli sauce Juice of 1 lime 1 tbsp olive oil For the salad 250g Halloumi 1 Little Gem lettuce, leaves separated 2 sticks of celery, sliced diagonally, keep any leaves to add to the salad 4 spring onions, sliced diagonally 6 radishes, quartered 3 wraps or flatbreads What to do: Combine all of the dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Cut the halloumi into 9 slices and toss in half of the dressing. Cook on a BBQ, griddle or in a frying pan for 5 minutes, turning halfway through until they’re crisp and browned on the outside. While the halloumi is cooking put the leaves, celery, spring onion and radishes into a bowl, drizzle with the remaining dressing and mix it through. Divide the salad between the wraps, lay the halloumi slices on top of each and serve immediately. Recipe: www.lovethecrunch.com Al fresco Sweet chilli Halloumi crunch wrap 44-47.qxp_Layout 1 26/04/2021 08:48 Page 1Spinach, Sweet Potato and Raisin Biriyani Serves 4 Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 35 minutes You’ll need: 500g sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into small chunks 1 large red onion, sliced into thin wedges 2tbsp olive or vegetable oil 150g basmati rice 1tsp cumin seeds 30g pine nuts Generous pinch garlic salt (or regular salt) Freshly ground black pepper 80g South African raisins 400g can green lentils in water, rinsed and drained 2tsp medium curry powder 50g young spinach leaves To garnish: 4tbsp dairy-free yogurt Fresh coriander sprigs Thinly sliced red chilli What to do: 1 Preheat the oven to 200°C, fan oven 180°C, Gas Mark 6. 2 Put the sweet potatoes and red onion into a large, deep roasting tin. Add the oil and toss to coat. Transfer to the oven and roast for 20 minutes, or until the sweet potato is just tender. 3 Meanwhile, cook the rice in lightly salted simmering water for 10-12 minutes, until tender. Rinse with cold water and drain well. 4 Add the cumin seeds, pine nuts and garlic salt to the sweet potato mixture. Season with black pepper and return to the oven for 5 minutes. 5 Tip the raisins, cooked rice and lentils into the roasting tin and stir in the curry powder. Add the spinach leaves and stir them through the mixture. Return to the oven for a further 10 minutes until heated through. Share between 4 serving plates and serve topped with yogurt, coriander sprigs and red chilli. Recipe courtesy of South African raisins Cook’s tips: *If you’re not vegan use regular dairy yogurt – Greek-style is good. *Like it hotter? Add a deseeded and thinly sliced red chilli with the onion. *You could use ground cumin instead of seeds, adding it with the curry powder. Try using a can of chickpeas instead of green lentils. This vegan-friendly Indian-style rice dish is bursting with flavours – so good that everyone will enjoy it – vegan, vegetarian or otherwise! 44-47.qxp_Layout 1 26/04/2021 08:48 Page 2Pink Lady Apple Pancakes with Butterscotch Sauce You’ll need: Pancakes: 120g plain flour Pinch of salt 1 large egg 300ml milk 2-3tsp vegetable oil 20g butter 2 South African Pink Lady apples, cored and thinly sliced 1tbsp caster sugar What to do: 1 For the butterscotch sauce, put the butter, brown sugar and syrup into a heavy-based saucepan and heat very gently until melted and smooth, though do not boil. Stir in the cream and set aside. 2 For the pancakes, beat together the flour, salt, egg and milk with a wire whisk or stick blender to make a smooth batter. 3 Heat a large non-stick frying pan and add a few drops of oil. Pour in a quarter of the batter, tilting the pan so that the batter flows over the surface. Cook over a medium heat for 1-2 minutes until set on the surface, then flip over to cook the other side. Make 4 pancakes in total, keeping them in a warm place. 4 Heat the butter in the frying pan and cook the apples for 3-4 minutes, turning often. Add the sugar and cook until lightly browned. Serve with the pancakes, drizzled with butterscotch sauce. Recipe courtesy of South African Fruit Cook’s tips: Feeling hungry? Make two pancakes each by doubling the batter quantity to 240g plain flour, a large pinch of salt, 2 large eggs and 600ml milk. Lush is the word for these amazing South African Pink Lady Apple pancakes! Butterscotch sauce: 50g butter 50g soft brown sugar 2tbsp golden syrup 2tbsp single or double cream Serves 4 • Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes 44-47.qxp_Layout 1 26/04/2021 08:48 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 47 Roasted spicy squash salad FOOD & DINING Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes Serves: 4 You’ll need: 1 kg butternut squash - peeled, deseeded and cut into 2cm dice 3 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp crushed chilli flakes 1 tsp paprika 50g pumpkin seeds 1 tbsp dark soy sauce 1 tbsp white wine vinegar 1 tbsp honey 140g bag Watercress, Rocket & Spinach Salad What to do: Preheat the oven to 200°C, gas mark 6. Place squash in a large roasting tin, toss in 2 tbsp oil, chilli flakes, paprika and pumpkin seeds, season and roast for 20 minutes until tender. Whisk together the soy, vinegar, honey and remaining oil. Place the leaves in a bowl and toss the dressing into the salad leaves. Gently mix in the warm squash and serve immediately. 44-47.qxp_Layout 1 26/04/2021 08:49 Page 448 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY CARING The pandemic has led to a heightened awareness of deathcare and dying. With social distancing and other stringent safety measures, many people have had to die apart from their families, alone or surrounded by staff decked out in full PPE. But, now more than ever, there’s a greater emphasis on how and where we die. We crave social interaction down to the depths of our bones, and so to have to die alone isn’t only a heart-breaking end to a life well lived, but against our very nature. Therefore, initiatives like Dying Matters Awareness Week are crucial now more than ever. The initiative – running from 10 - 16 May 2021 – is a chance for coalition partners, organisations and individuals to come together and open up the conversation around death, dying and bereavement. This year, the week will focus on the importance of being in a good place to die. Where people die is changing. More people than Never alone 48-51.qxp_Layout 1 26/04/2021 08:51 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 49 CARING © Shutterstock /ALP A PROD ever are dying at home in recent years, and the pandemic has seen this number leap by tens of thousands. We have very little evidence about the quality of these deaths, and whether the right care and support was in place. There is no right or wrong place to die; it will be different for everyone. But it is important for families to think about it, to talk about it and to plan for it. Dying Matters, the national coalition behind the initiative, want people of all ages to be in a good place when they die - physically, emotionally and with Proudly serving the families of Gainsborough and the surrounding areas for over 5 years With sincere empathy and understanding, your loved ones as if they were our own. As your local family run and owned funeral directors, we have dedicated our lives to guiding those in our community through the difficult times of bereavement. 41 Heaton Street, Gainsborough DN21 2EA39 High Street, Saxilby, LN1 2HA www.cliffbradley.co.uk info@cliffbradley.co.uk Funeral Plans from £2,785 Private Chapel of Rest Day and Night Service Pre-paid funeral plans 01427 81061901522 708888 51 Á © Shutterstock /sfam_photo 48-51.qxp_Layout 1 26/04/2021 08:51 Page 2Next >