Springform Cake Tins

Springform cake tins have a detachable base. Because of their structure, they are not easy to line in the traditional way, so try the following.

Remove the outside ring. Cover the base section with baking parchment or greaseproof paper, leaving a wide margin around the edge. Then clip on the outside ring. Next  trim off the excess paper from the outside. Finally, line the sides of the tin in the usual way with parchment or greaseproof paper.

Dry Cleaning

More and more garments are labelled 'dry clean' on the care instruction label, but not because more fabrics actually need to be dry cleaned.

Manufacturers are labelling clothes as 'dry clean' because they haven't tested them in washing machines. So have a look at the fibres listed on the label.

Plain, unlined cottons: should be safe to wash at a low temperature with a slow spin speed, but always check first for colour fasness and be aware they may shrink.

Polyester and mixed fibres should be ok too.

Good Housekeeping

Sports Supplements - Protein

Protein supplements (shakes, powders and confectionery bars). Unless you are an elite athlete or seriously mal-nourished, a protein supplement is unlikely to give you any kind of boost. Why? Whenever we exercise, we are triggering our body to adapt to the strains we place on it. Our body builds muscle, improves heart strength and circulation and enhances lung capacity over many weeks and months. Between workouts, the body repairs and strengthens muscles, using nutrients, especially the protein, in our diet to do so.

For many years it was thought that eating high levels of protein would enhance such muscle development, but new research shows this is not true and eating too much protein simply overloads the system. Eating more protein than needed forces the body to expel the excess in our urine. Research also shows that too mcuh protein could increase cancer risk and lower life expectancy.

All we need is a balanced diet. A male athlete needs 90g of protein a day (slightly less for a woman): easily achieved in a normal diet with a cup of yoghurt at breakfast, some tuna at lunchtime and a chicken fillet for dinner.

As well as being unnecessary, pre-made protein bars and drinks often have sugar added, so adding unwanted calories to your day's energy intake. So you easily end up piling on the pounds.


Dr Stuart Farrimond in Wiltshire Times, March 2014

Wasps

Wasps can be a nuisance, especially if you are eating outside.

If you find a nest or want to keep them away from you while eating outside, try placing a 2 litre bottle a quarter full of ginger beer with the lid off in a nearby location. They will be attracted to the sugar in the drink and will investigate, and some will drown.

If you notice wasps settling somewhere, try a wasp killer based on bendiocarb (not on pyrethrum). Wasps will get this powder on themselves and take it back to the queen. Once she dies, the whole of the nest will also die soon afterwards.

Plants that act as wasp repellants

• Wormwood, also called Artemisia, is a boxy shrub that was used as a medicine until people found out that it was poisonous. It can grow in full sun or partial shade. However, it contains a natural form of absinthe (an intoxicating and poisonous substance) which is water-soluble and can wash off the leaves in dew or rain, killing small surrounding plants and flowers. This plant can also make humans sick if it is ingested.
• Mint and mint oil both repel wasps. Mint is ideal for this because it not only looks nice and smells pleasant, but it is also used in cooking. However, mint will take over your entire garden if you let it, so either keep it in pots or prune it back often. Mint likes sunshine but will grow in almost any environment.

Various sources

Medical Testing

There are so many tests and screening programmes these days for medical conditions and diseases, so it can be helpful to know what each involves, and what information it can give.

Lab Tests Online-UK is written by practising laboratory doctors and scientists to help you understand the many clinical laboratory tests that are used in diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of disease. The 'about this site' page describes how the site can help you. Search under conditions and diseases and find information on laboratory tests used for particular diagnosis and/or management or alternatively, if you know the test name, just search under test.