Model pirate ship washed up on beach Eczema sufferer's despair

12 • Visit us @ www.ChampNews.com CMBA The Champion • Wednesday 18 December 2013Still a struggleto find workRegarding the article in the Champion,December 4 edition relating to the drop inthe number of Job Seekers in Sefton.I don’t think this figure is right because Ihad been signing on a long time and thereare still a lot of other people doing the same.I decided to sign off even though I didn’tfind a job because the entire job centre is ajoke and staff look down their noses at us.Even if we find work it will be pittance ofpay or zero hours.We are all struggling to find work and Idispute the 20% drop in the last year.I was at my last job for 25 years before I wasthrown on the scrap heap and since then Ihave been on a few job interviews but noneof them was what I wanted to do or it justwasn’t for me.I think the level of unemployment in Seftonis a disgrace.Anthony Kenny, aged 55,CrosbyDerelict areas are like post warbomb sites and need developingWhen I drive down Hawthorne Road in Bootle/Litherland, I see a lot of old derelict andabandoned factories.Amongst these relics, pockets of new housinghave been developed.I feel for the families who have children in this‘obviously dangerous playground.’In many ways this is reminiscent of the 1940’spost–war Bootle with the bombed out areas.The difference is this is 2013.Perhaps some of our officials were not aroundback then and can’t see the similarities.What’s even more alarming is that some ofthese old sites are not planned to be developedfor a despairingly long time.The council owned peoples site is not due tobe developed for at least another 10 years ormore. According to the council’s own figuresMoney donoted goes to those in needRe: your article on Save the Childrenfundraising.I would like to clarify points made in thearticle.All the monies donated go to SCF headoffice, which then directs the money toareas most in need.The £50,000 which was generouslydonated by a local businesses over twoyears, was sent to SCF head office generalfund which s<strong>up</strong>ports ongoing worldwideprojects, not running costs.Save the Children continue to fund servicesto children in many countries.This year, Crosby Branch has sent £2,850to Syria, £2,000 to Haiti, £2,925 toPhilippines and £1,300 for other projects.Finally, we would like to thank all ourregular s<strong>up</strong>porters for their ongoings<strong>up</strong>port.Crosby Branch Save the ChildrenCommittee,By email248 new dwellings could be built on this sitealone.But it’s just to be left and fenced off.There are many other of these old worksbetween the Leeds and Liverpool Canal andHawthorne Road that will also be just fencedoff for an equally long time.I always understood that developers weres<strong>up</strong>posed to build on brownfield sites in areasin need of urgent regeneration.When new homes are needed all these oldbrownfield sites need developing now.The health and safety of the children requiresno less.Peter Greener,Lydiate.Tell us what you think!editor@champnews.comRe: the Chancellor’s announcement that thestate pension will be increased to 68 in themid–2030s and to 69 in the late 2040s.This is common sense and those people whowant to retire sooner will still be able to.Reports in the media tar all pension policieswith the same brush and this is a real problem.The Chancellor’s announcement about theincrease in the retirement age means it is just asimportant for people to build <strong>up</strong> a retirementfund despite being bombarded with storiesthat make them wary and distrustful. TheWrong to say‘greed is good’One of my favourite films is ‘Scrooge’, starringthe brilliant actor Alistair Sim.Recently I read about a politician who said‘greed is good’. How very wrong.So I thought how can I emulate this Dickensoncharacter ‘Scrooge’?I will give all the money that my wife and Ihave accumulated on our Nectar card over thepast 12 months, plus the £25 I recently won onthe lottery to donate food to the local foodbanks.The ‘Scrooge’ character I admire the most isthe one that believes in the true meaning of thefestive season.Every day I have to battle with pain andthrough the Champion I would like to thank allthe staff at the shops I frequent in Crosby andWaterloo and all the people that have takentime out the last 12 months to laugh and jokewith me.I wish you all a Merry Christmas.Mr DG Seiglow, WaterlooHaving a pension plan makes sensereality is that there is still no better way to build<strong>up</strong> a retirement fund than using a properlymanaged, quality pension plan.The tax relief really makes a difference tooand a properly planned pension contributioncan also be a good way for some clients toprotect their child benefit.Angela Maher, Acumen FinancialPartner<strong>ship</strong>,MaghullCheered by ‘new’ bus servicesFIRST of all I must thank all those kind peoplewho have given me their condolencesfollowing the death of my brother George.I never suspected that there was so muchgoodwill and even affection for either me orGeorge – the response both in cards and fromfolk simply stopping me on the street has beentruly heart–warming.But back to business...Although not feeling particularly festive at themoment, I was cheered by the announcementthat Merseytravel has at last been persuaded toprovide buses on Boxing Day and New Year’sDay to my neck of the woods (Maghull) for thefirst time in donkey’s years. At last I, and otherswithout access to a motor car, will be able toget out and about to some extent.Mind you, these services are being touted as‘new’. Well, new indeed for Merseytravel whoare providing them, but back in the days of mychildhood there were ‘normal’ bus services onboth these days and a skeleton service at leaston Christmas Day as well.Now I know what you will be thinking. Busdrivers too want to spend Christmas withfamily and friends. Of course they do. But then,we all expect the TV to function normally,many will be popping down to the pub forfestive drinks or indeed their Christmas dinner.And we would be a little put out if the lightsdidn’t work.For all these things men and women have toforego at least part of their own Christmascelebrations. But more to the point, I do notthink there would be any great difficulty infinding enough volunteers to drive a bus onChristmas Day. There must be several who, likeme this year, have precious little reason to bemerry. People who would probably quite liketo have something to fill their time and earn afew bob on the way.In fact, I reckon the real reason that so fewmake any fuss about the lack of any means ofgetting about, short of horrendously pricedtaxis, is that since the majority now have a car,or easy access to one, lone voices crying in thewilderness can safely be disregarded.And, for once at least, I’m not thinking aboutmy own situation. The two dogs, Tina andCinders, will need good walks anyway, sothat’ll fill quite a bit of time.I have been very kindly invited round to oneperson’s home for my Christmas dinner – aninvite I feel I can’t really take <strong>up</strong> because itwould mean abandoning said dogs.Instead I have decided on starting a newtradition for the three of us, with Christmasdinner (including Christmas pud) and a goodsit–down to watch the repeats on telly. Andthere’s Dr Who to look forward too as well.Then, on Boxing Day, just to show willing Ican catch the ‘new’ 250 bus into town and dosomething or other quickly before catchinganother back to relax with the hounds.Now if only Merseyrail could be persuaded tobring back local Boxing Day trains my c<strong>up</strong>could indeed run over and the dogs and I couldhave a good long ramble along the lanesbetween Ormskirk and Maghull.Sorry if all this seems a tad sorry for myself –as I said at the beginning of this column, I’mgenuinely chuffed at the number of folk who docare – and would no doubt do so no matterwhat the time of year.And so to all readers of this column, aheartfelt Happy Christmas. Make it a time ofgoodwill to everyone.Coconut Oil – What isit and how do I use it?Everybody seems to be talking aboutcoconut oil at the moment.So is it just a fad or does it really havehealth giving properties?Coconut oil contains a high concentrationof ‘healthy fat’ known as medium chainfatty acids.Unlike ‘bad fats’ (long chain fatty acids)which are difficult for the body to digest andtypically stored as fat, healthy dietary fatsare used as a source of quick energy for thebody.Regular consumption of coconuts and itsoil (alongside a healthy diet) can in fact helpyou lose weight by increasing your energyexpenditure.Coconut oil also contains the highestconcentration of lauric acid which whenconverted by the body is known to haveanti–bacterial properties which helpdestroy viruses such as measles, herpes andflu.There are many different ways that you canuse coconut oil, some of which aren’t justlimited to the kitchen:• Add a teaspoon to hot water for anutritious, scented drink that will boostyour immune system. Aim to consume twotablespoons per day either in water or inyour cooking.• Put it in smoothies, tea and hot cacao toadd sweetness.• When cooking, baking and frying, use itas a substitute for butter – it has a lightnessand sweetness that butter lacks.• Unlike olive and other vegetable oils,Coconut oil can be heated withoutdamaging or changing its structure. Use itinstead of olive oil to stir fry or roast meatand vegetables.• Rub it into your skin to leave it soft andmoisturised. Use it daily for dry skin andeven spot outbreaks as it has anti bacterialand anti fungal properties. It’s great forsensitive skin as it has no additives orchemicals.• Give yourself soft and silky hair bymassaging oil into your clean hair and scalpthen leaving the oil to absorb under a warmtowel or shower cap for ½ hour beforeshampooing and rinsing.The verdict!All in all coconuts are definitely somethingthat you should be including in your diet orbeauty regime. If you don’t like the taste,try out its moisturising properties instead.Whatever you do with it, enjoy.