Plastic Free...

Lucy Siegle's "Ethical Living" from 29th Oct Observer had an excellent article on plastic pollution of our waterways, specifically relating to sanitary products. It highlighted the great work of a Bristol based initiative called City to Sea whose videos are certainly worth watching. Have a look! I will certainly be passing it on to my daughter, and encourage my daughter to pass on to her peers.

the-eco-guide-to-period-dramas

https://www.citytosea.org.uk

https://www.citytosea.org.uk/our-latest-video-tops-1-4-million-views-in-a-week/

Get active!

A very practical accessible article on exercise from last week's Guardian, flagged up by our wonderful osteopath Barbara.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/oct/03/exercise-depression-disease-death-sit-less-move-more

The 5th annual BRISTOL YOGA TRAIL

Move over art trails... The Bristol Yoga Trail is happening this coming Sat 14th October, when six of our city's independent yoga studios open their doors for free sessions, covering many different styles of yoga. From 8am to 7pm, there is a diverse timetable making up 37 classes in BS7 BS6 BS3 and BS2. There is no need to book, so just drop in and enjoy. All the classes are suitable for beginners, so do have a look at the timetable and map on the link below.

https://bristolyogatrail.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/bristol-yoga-trail_flyer_2017-final1.pdf

More classes may be added nearer the time, so visit bristolyogatrail.wordpress.com

"The Shorter you Sleep, the Shorter your Life."

This is one of the most compelling articles (from last Sunday's Observer) I have read in a long time. Slightly unnerving, but nonetheless something that we can all address and do something about.

The line, by neuroscientist Matthew Walker: "Without sleep, there is low energy and disease. With sleep, there is vitality and health" seems to me a mantra we should all have on the fridge, if not our bedroom walls. The argument for quality and quantity of sleep is so well argued and articulated, I may even get my children to take it onboard. Here's hoping...

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/sep/24/why-lack-of-sleep-health-worst-enemy-matthew-walker-why-we-sleep

Bike Racks coming to Chandos Rd?... here's hoping, so please sign the petition to help make it happen!

Many of our patients arrive by bike, but where to lock them up is an on-going problem. Most people use the church railings a few yards down, but this isn't great. Finally, after much badgering of the council, a petition is underway to get some proper bike racks installed on Chandos Rd. Please sign the petition link, and spread the word.

And, if you've ever forgotten your bike lock, we keep one in the clinic, which you are always welcome to use, so just ask Pat or Deb on reception.

http://epetitions.bristol.gov.uk/epetition_core/community/petition/3878

Chandos Road Street Festival this coming Sunday 24th Sept 2017.

We do hope you will be able to come to Chandos Rd this coming Sunday 24th Sept from 12-6pm, for our annual street festival, now firmly established in it's 4th year. This event is completely free to attend so bring friends and family along for a cracking afternoon. For the youngsters (and young at heart) there will be a puppet show and face painting; also an array of stalls, including bric-a-brac, plus two live music stages, one of which will feature the legendary funk combo "Gee Baby I Love You". Of course, there will be loads of foodie offerings at our many cafes restaurants and bars. A highlight will be from our wonderful local neighbour Chums, who is pulling out all the stops over the entire weekend...

CRY!

With thanks to our lovely Barbara for alerting me to this link. A very interesting read...

http://www.islabikes.co.uk/cardiacriskintheyoung?prv=1&dm_i=2QC2,GQQD,8H1RC,1QGOR,1

Diabetes Aid.

A patient visited us yesterday with what looked like a badge stuck on her upper arm. Further enquiry led me to understand that she was wearing a new blood glucose monitoring system called Freestyle-Libre. It was an extraordinary piece of equipment which had transformed her life living with type 1. At the moment, for anyone who is interested, they will need to self-fund (approx £100 month) but she told me there are hopes to get the product released on the NHS. So for any of you who has, or know someone else who has, diabetes, then I hope this link from the central diabetes website will be useful.

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/blood-glucose-meters/abbott-freestyle-libre.html

An Overdue Chandos Clinic Update!

Hello Good Folks

Sorry for the recent lull, we have been switching systems but I can now connect with you once again. We do hope this finds you all well and enjoying a good summer. Various of our practitioners are on holiday, but there will always be someone or ones here at the Chandos Clinic should you need our care. Be advised that if you especially want to see Giles, he is booking into early September so don't leave it too long. Remember you can always book in as a "safety net appointment" and cancel it with 24 hrs notice if you find you no longer need it.

Many of the buildings in close proximity to us are being renovated, which means builders vans, so parking may sometimes be a little harder than usual. For the foreseeable future, we advise that you allow yourselves good time to get to us and park.

I recently discovered this excellent range of skin products, devised by the NHS, with all profits going back to the NHS. It is not an extensive range, but simple, affordable, of exceptional quality and easy to purchase online.  https://mytrustyskincare.co.uk/about-us

Happy Holidays All!

Sweet Pea Vine of Kindness campaign.

The Foundation for Paediatric Osteopathy (FPO), and the Osteopathic Centre for Children (OCC), are marking twenty years since they launched their Sweet Pea Appeal, supported by Princess Diana, Princess of Wales. Her kindness and subsequent Memorial Funds ensured that babies, children and mums-to-be received treatment regardless of their ability to pay. 

This year the campaign is asking staff, osteopaths, patients, supporters and friends to send their thoughts on what kindness means, why it is important generally, how it’s important in osteopathy, plus any memories of those who may have benefited from FPO/OCC. These messages will then be delivered to Kensington Palace. 

Please send your thoughts to stories@fpo.org.uk by the end of August, including your name, and what experience, if any, you have of FPO and OCC. 

June 22nd: World Osteopathy Day. Did you know that 22nd June is World Osteopathy Day? We would so appreciate it if people who have benefited from our services can use their social media to help raise the profile of osteopathy on the day, using the #OsteopathyWorks hashtag, to promote the profession and increase the awareness of the benefits of osteopathy.  With appreciative thanks from all at The Chandos Clinic

A port in the storm.

Last week was National Mental Health Awareness Week. The airwaves were overwhelmed with so many people, from all walks of life, including many public figures, talking openly about their struggles with mental health issues. It is encouraging that mental health can now, on the whole, be discussed openly, without stigma, and received with kindness and understanding. There are many resourses available, but the Mental Health Foundation seems to be especially knowledgeable and engaged. Here is a link to their site.
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work

What it is to be Human.

If you can remember the exhibition of astonishing ariel photographs that radiated out from Millenium Square many years ago, you will already know the artist Yann Arthus-Bertrand. I was lucky to get a ticket to see his film "Human" at The Watershed this Sunday, as part of the Festival of Ideas. Three years in the making, involving thousands of participants from 60 countries, it was a powerful documentation of the bitter-sweet experience of what it is to be Human. The one-off showing was so over-subscribed that Mark Cosgrove at Watershed wants to bring it back for further screenings this month, so keep your eye on the Watershed website. I cannot recommend this film more highly, as witness to humanity way beyond our tiny local interactions. Arthus-Bertrand is now 6 months in to his next project "Woman". Expect it to be another thing of wonder.
http://www.watershed.co.uk/whatson/7990/human

Dear Residents of the Chandos Road area,

Spring is with us, and so it is time for the Great Chandos Sunflower Measure Off. Kits are  available from Mabel's Greengrocer , Chandos Rd, from Saturday 8 April for 50p, with details of the judging dates in June and July.
Links to handy hints for us less green--fingered can be found on our Facebook Page, search Chandos Neighbourhood Association.

 All you need to do is buy a kit, plant the seed provided and get growing. Everything is provided except a bit of water and a bit of time and patience!

 We have 50 kits ready and waiting to go, so why not give it a go? Let's get the area a-glow with sunflowers this summer!

With Best wishes,

Diana Swain (Chair)

Just what's waiting to come and bite us on our (sedentary) behinds.

Once again, the perils of a sedentary lifestyle have hit the headlines, and rightly so. According to the British Heart Foundation, the average person will spend a fifth of his or her lifetime, that's over 70 days a year, sat down! This is a staggering figure, and we are setting ouselves up for a whole lot of trouble unless we get up and get moving. This article from the BBC gives us some sage advice. For all too many of us, it's not going to be old age that gets us, but being static.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-39457993

Chandos Friends & Neighbours... a round of applause!

Woo-hoo, look who Jay Rayner reviwed and praised so highly in yesterday's Observer. None other than our very own truly wonderful "Wilsons", 24 Chandos Rd, so close I can almost lean out the door and high-five them! As many of you have commented, Chandos Rd seems to be in a state of flux of late, keeping the builders and refurbishers happy, but leaving the rest of us a bit combobulated. So it's just great when we have neighbours who are so fine and garnering such rave reviews that they are hopefully here for keeps. We Chandos Clinic folk enjoyed our works Christmas meal there and it was exceptional. Jan the chef always waves when he walks passed our window on his way to grab something from the equally wonderful Mabel's www.mabelsgreengrocer.co.uk So if you haven't yet visited Wilsons, I recommend you do, and soon; you're in for a treat. And remember to wave at us as you walk passed our window!

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/mar/26/wilsons-bristol-restaurant-review

"Embrace"... showing at a cinema near you.

Just a few hours ago the winners of the 2017 Oscars were announced and the red carpet will have been adorned with bodies unimaginably, dazzlingly beautiful. For the majority of us meer mortals, those lovlies bear no resemblance to who we see looking back at us from the mirror. For young girls especially, this display of unrealisic perfction and glamour can be a daily battering on their self confidence and self worth.

In an attempt to counteract this and celebrate the real and rich diversity of being female, there is a wonderful new film out called "Embrace". Barbara has already seen it, and said it is absolutely brilliant, a must-see, especially for teenage girls. It is being re-shown in Bristol again on Weds 8th March at The Odeon at 6.45pm, which is International Women's Day. Scroll down on the link below, watch the trailer, and find details for tickets.

https://uk.demand.film/embrace/?gclid=CjwKEAiAuc_FBRD7_JCM3NSY92wSJABbVoxB8kBrktmWCE8S8SwhRjGI3sNLcZWBZleB9hhAW8OrNBoCvKvw_wcB

Time to dim the lights!

I do think that some of us are naturally night owls or morning larks; my family has a very definite split (3 owls v 2 larks) so that the heads and tails of our clocks are often several hours out of synch. Although this doesnt really matter, when conventional working hours and school timetables are ruling the day, we can all do with some help to get a good nights sleep that enables us to rise at an hour compatible with our schedules. This article from The Guardian has many useful hints, so read beyond "going camping" and see what you can do day-to-day within your home to aid top quality shut-eye.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/feb/02/having-trouble-sleeping-grab-a-tent-and-go-camping-suggest-researchers

Eat your way to a healthier gut.

I know I've written about healthy gut bacteria before, but here's another interesting article from BBC News on the benefits of some, but not all, fermented foodstuffs. The accompanying programme on BBC2 tomorrow 1st Feb at 8pm could well be worth watching.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38800977

"Golden Brown" sadly not as welcome as it sounds.

As I was getting ready to leave for work this morning, I heard an article on the "Today" programme which advised the public not to fluff up their roasties, and keep them, (and toast, among other things) to a pale, as opposed to golden, brown.

Apparently the levels of a potential cancer-causing chemical called Acrylamide is increased in high-starch foodstuffs, when they are cooked above 120C.

Here's a detailed report from the BBC. It does feel a sad start to the week when even our roast potatoes carry a threat!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38680622

New thoughts on stress.

Sadly I am looking out the clinic window at grey rain and not "Thundersnow!" as the radio delightfully announced this morning.

Now the festive season is behind us and most of us will have returned to our daily routines and all that entails. As stress seems to be a sadly common state for so many people, researchers are beginning to understand the significant physical impact this 21st century phenomenom has on our bodies. Do read this interesting BBC article explaining how stress is putting our hearts under severe, well, stress.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38584975