Looking to add some cat-themed fun to your Pancake Day? Or would you simply like to give your breakfast some moggy magic? Then have a go at our pawsome pancakes, decorated to look like cute kitties.
You could take inspiration from our designs or style your pancakes to look just like your own cat. Don’t forget to share photos of your creations with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, we’d love to see them!
Remember, these pancakes are for humans only. Don’t feed them to your cat!
Mix together the flour, sugar, vanilla extract, and salt in a bowl.
Gradually pour in the milk, whisking as you go, until a smooth batter forms.
Add 1tbsp of oil to a non-stick pan and put it on medium-low heat.
Add a couple of tablespoons of batter to the pan and shape it into a cat face (alternatively, you could make round pancakes and cut them into cat shapes later).
Cook the pancake for 3-4 minutes, until the surface starts to bubble, then flip it over and cook for a further 2-3 minutes until it’s golden on both sides.
Repeat the process, cooking your pancakes in batches until you’ve used up the batter. You may need to add a little more oil to the pan each time.
Use your toppings to create cat faces on your pancakes. Don’t forget the eyes, nose, mouth, whiskers and ears!
Looking for more cat-themed baking inspiration? Discover our Kitty Bakes series of recipes over on our YouTube channel
Camptoo research shows the most romantic spots for a post-lockdown getaway
Lake District revealed as most popular romantic getaway spot
Loch Lomond offers best place to star-gaze for travellers
New Forest rated as a hidden gem for young couples
Catbells Lakeland Walk in the Lake District could be the most romantic place in the UK to propose, according to a new study.
The region is one of the most popular stargazing spots in the UK and could be the perfect backdrop for loved-up couples in search of a romantic post-lockdown getaway.
Leading Motorhome and campervan rental platform, Camptoo, have also studied the amount of peak star visibility hours to provide the ultimate romantic list for couples to check out post-lockdown:
Catbells Lakeland Walk – Lake District
The Catbells walk is rated as the most popular walk for loved-up duos on TripAdvisor and could be the first place to check out for couples when the travel restrictions are limited, with over 100 available to pitch up with your Camptoo campervan.
The route offers beautiful views of the adjacent Derwentwater Lake and that could be the place to be when the sun sets.
If that’s not enough, a spot of star-gazing (over an hour-and-a-half, subject to time of year, mins of peak time) could further add to the romantic mood or even get down on one knee.
South Stack Lighthouse – Llanddwyn Island
Situated on the Llanddwyn Island on the west coast of Wales, South Stack Lighthouse is another popular location for couples. Standing a wonderfully picturesque figure against the vast Irish sea, it could be the perfect place to be when the sun sets on a wonderful view.
If you’re looking to travel after lockdown, you will have a choice of 20 campsites all with at least 80 minutes of peak star-gazing time throughout the day, meaning you will never have to stray too far from one of the UK’s most romantic spots.
The Cobb – Lyme Regis
Next on the list, we come to The Cobb, Dorset. With well over 1,000 reviews, The Cobb is a highly-rated and popular destination for couples with some of the most romantic beach walks the UK has to offer. Being part of the well-renowned Jurassic Coastline, couples could spend hours exploring the scenic views of Cobb Beach.
Rothiemurchus – Cairngorms
Located in the heart of Scotland’s largest and wonderfully preserved national park, Cairngorms, Rothiemurchus is truly one of the most unique places to visit in the UK. One of the many attractions is a 13th-century island castle, which is still standing strong in the middle of Loch an Eilean.
Rothiemurchus also boasts the most time for stargazing of all of our selections, with 89 peak minutes available to witness the astronomical beauty on February 14 – and that will only increase post-lockdown.
Palladian Bridge – Bath
Sticking with the theme of striking historical architecture, next we come to Palladian Bridge in Bath. The bridge, built in the 18th century, is positioned within Prior Park and owned by the National Trust, meaning its natural beauty will be preserved. Well over 800 TripAdvisor reviews mean this is certainly not a landmark to be missed, and with the stunning scenic environment surrounding, Palladian Bridge provides an excellent option for any couples looking for a late Valentine’s Day getaway.
Bracklinn Falls – Loch Lomond
No romantic destinations list would be complete without Loch Lomond getting a mention and our study shows Bracklinn Falls as the ideal spot. It has a 4.5 rating from 729 reviews and is second only to its Scottish neighbour Rothiemurchus for the number of peak stargazing minutes (in February) on our list.
If you like the sound of bright stars and the tranquillity of the gushing waterfalls, then this is the place for you and your loved one. There are just 11 campsites in the area, meaning Bracklinn Falls offers one of the most remote getaways for couples looking for a late, post-lockdown Valentine’s Day.
Cader Idris – Snowdonia
Standing just shy of 1000m, you’ll need to pack hiking boots for a trip to Calder Idris. However, the stunning scenery, crystal clear lake and views of the stars from the top (with over 80 minutes of peak star-gazing minutes in February) make it well worth the trip. Plus with 123 campsites nearby, there’s no excuse for you and your partner to miss out on a romantic trip once the travel measures have been relaxed.
Rhinefield Ornamental Drive – New Forest
One of the most southern locations on our list, Rhinefield Ornamental Drives wonderful, Tolkien-esque forest landscapes are a sight to behold. Stargazing and forests go hand in hand, so you won’t want to miss out on the astronomical views on offer.
Due to its location, Rhinefield Ornamental Drive is not the best place on the list if you want to star-gaze – it has fewer minutes than anywhere else – but with 46 campsites in the area, you’re never too far away and it could be the perfect spot to take your Camptoo campervan for a post-lockdown break.
Camptoo offers the UK’s largest peer-to-peer motorhome and campervan rental selection direct from vehicle owners in the UK, with plenty of selection for people planning a late Valentine’s getaway – within national lockdown restrictions – and pursuing the UK’s amazing landscapes and natural environment.
YummiCommunity to support parents through lockdown
Scottish eco-friendly toy company, Yummikeys, has launched an online Facebook community to help parents across the UK virtually unite during the pandemic and beyond.
YummiCommunity, an all-inclusive hub which will allow users to share stories, tips, tricks and woes, aims to make times a little less lonely during the third country-wide lockdown.
Hot-button topics related to parenthood, tips for getting through lockdown and activities to keep children occupied at home, will be mixed with light-hearted parenting humour, hubs where you can share your views, questions and worries, as well as the most up to date Yummikeys news and launches.
With a combined social following of almost 30,000 and with the majority of these being Facebook followers, Yummikeys founder Elspeth Fawcett, decided this was the best way to connect parents like her, who may feel they need a little extra support:
“The YummiCommunity is basically a parent and baby club, but virtual, allowing you to ask for advice, share your stories and have your mini parenting breakdowns (surprise, we all have them), in an environment that is all inclusive and completely non-judgemental.
“On a daily basis I get the loveliest messages, emails and comments saying how a set of Yummikeys has cooled sore gums, or a YummiNecklace has transformed feeding time, but I also have people saying they wish they had known about us, as well as the tips and tricks they get from our current socials, sooner.
“he idea of the YummiCommunity has been in my mind for a while, but when we went into lockdown 3, I knew I needed to make it happen. I want this platform to be a resource for new and seasoned parents and carers alike, as well as somewhere to ‘go’ when you need a little extra guidance.”
Lockdown has seen Yummikeys’ best sales months to date, with new parents eager to help sooth babies during a time where support from family and friends is not readily available. The YummiCommunity aims to offer additional encouragement to those parents as well.
The brand’s best-selling Yummikeys, Yummirings and YummiNecklace were joined in 2020 by the East-Lothian company’s new Ultrasound Necklace – a personalised piece of jewellery for mums that sees their ultrasound etched into a disc.
Leading Scottish Event company put their tools to good use by clearing over 34 miles of roads
Good deed enables 160 local residents to attend Covid vaccine appointments and 200 NHS and care workers to travel safely to work
Scottish based events group, 21CC have put their tools to good use this week by taking matters into their own hands and using their work vehicle and snowplough to clear over 34 miles of road across Kirkliston and North Queensferry.
After posting a message on their local community digital noticeboard, the team spent 14 hours over the course of two days clearing main roads, artery roads and the housing estate roads enabling residents’ safe access from their house to the main roads, so that they could travel to get their flu jabs.
Geoff Crow, Director of 21CC Group Ltd said, “After the latest snowfall we quickly realised we could put our vehicles to use, and we decided to create a post on the digital community noticeboard, asking if anyone needed help. In a matter of hours, we had received over 160 messages from residents who needed to get out for their Covid-19 jabs, but were now stuck due to the snow!
“We also received just under 200 messages from NHS and care workers, asking for assistance in clearing their roads so they could get to work, so we got to work immediately in clearing all of the roads where people needed our help.
“We also helped three Scottish Fire & Rescue vehicles by digging them out of the snow and clearing their path so that they could respond to call-outs.”
Lance from Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “Geoff was a great help to myself as my street was not passable without his assistance. The road is not adopted by City of Edinburgh council for winter operations as such was covered in 150-200mm of snow.
“It took myself and volunteers from the street 4 hours the day previous to clear the snow, something Geoff managed to do in 15 minutes allowing the crewing levels for South Queensferry to be maintained.”
21CC received hundreds of grateful messages following their rescue mission including:
“Thank you for clearing the road at our wee care home. Our residents loved seeing you hard at work!”
“Thank you for doing this Geoff. It makes such a difference”
“You’re doing a wonderful job for the community. Well done.”.
Geoff concludes: “Being in the right place at the right time and being able to make a difference to all these people was so important to us and we’re just glad we could help to make a difference to a few people’s lives. It was also a lot of fun!”
UK Government awards multi-million-pound funding to phase 1 clinical trial platform to fast-track innovative treatments
NHS patients could receive cutting-edge COVID-19 treatments in months rather than years
Move will bring in the world’s best researchers to trial treatments in the UK
The move marks a landmark development in COVID-19 research that could see results for brand new treatments in months rather than years, and will enable the government to get even more safe and effective treatments to the NHS rapidly through a more streamlined process.
Currently, the government funds phase 2 and 3 trials, such as the RECOVERY trial, which brought life-saving treatments dexamethasone and tocilizumab to the NHS. Phase 1 trials, usually arranged by the researchers, are the earliest stage of human trials that ensure treatments are safe and show a signal of benefit in treating a disease.
The funding has been awarded to expand the AGILE clinical trial platform and will allow for global innovators to progress cutting-edge treatments for COVID-19 through all 3 clinical trial phases in the UK, further protecting our supply chain. This in turn will attract the brightest of researchers and manufacturers from around the world to trial their medicines here in Britain.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Today’s news will ensure all phases of clinical trials for new treatments are done in the UK, protecting our supply chain and securing the world’s best treatments for NHS patients at a much faster rate.
“I am immensely proud of the work that’s been undertaken by the brilliant scientists behind these treatments and the thousands of UK patients who have taken part in the trials.
“Together, we can continue to ensure the UK is one of the best countries in the world for trialling and deploying the most groundbreaking medical advancements for both COVID-19 and for dangerous diseases in the future.”
The funding has been awarded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and co-funded though the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).
A phase 1 trial is the earliest stage of human trials and is an essential first step that ensures treatments are safe. Once they pass phase 1, they then go into larger-scale phase 2 and 3 trials, such as RECOVERY or PRINCIPLE, before being made available on the NHS once proven to be effective.
The UK has proven throughout this pandemic to be a world leader in medical research and life sciences, stepping up quickly to the task of finding effective therapeutics for a completely new virus and supported by millions in funding by the UK government.
AGILE is a UK phase 1 and 2a clinical trial platform designed for rapid clinical evaluation of potential COVID-19 treatments
It is a collaboration between the University of Liverpool, the University of Southampton Research Unit, and other external partners
The innovative design of the trial means that multiple potential treatments can be evaluated in parallel and important testing stages can be completed in months rather than years, while maintaining a high level of safety at all times
Patients in early stages of COVID-19 infection will be recruited to AGILE from the community, in addition to patients who have been hospitalised with COVID-19
Treatments that show a signal of benefit in AGILE will be rapidly considered for advancement into later phase clinical trial platforms, such as PRINCIPLE and RECOVERY, where the effectiveness of treatments can be proven in greater patient numbers
The Therapeutics Taskforce will work with innovators to support them to progress their promising treatments through clinical trial phases
4 treatments have so far been selected for AGILE:
EIDD-2801 (Molnupiravir), an antiviral
VIR-7831 and VIR-7832, both monoclonal antibodies
Niclosamide, an anthelminthic
Future treatments to enter AGILE will be selected by the UK COVID-19 Therapeutics Advisory Panel (UK-CTAP), who lead the process of reviewing and evaluating proposals for treatments to enter UK national trial platforms – read more about UK-CTAP and how drug proposals can be made
The UK was the first in the world to find a treatment which was proven to significantly reduce the risk of death: dexamethasone, found through the government-funded RECOVERY trial
On Thursday 11 February, RECOVERY also found the drug tocilizumab, when administered to hospitalised patients on oxygen with dexamethasone, further reduces the risk of death by 14% and length of hospital stay for patients by 5 whole days, on top of the benefits of dexamethasone – which will mean once rolled out to patients will significantly reduce pressures on the NHS
REMAP-CAP, which also received government funding, last month published results showing tocilizumab reduced the length of time in hospital by 10 days when administered to patients with 24 hours of being admitted to intensive care
The Scottish SPCA was alerted to the young otters by members of the public after they had been spotted wandering the streets of Inverkeithing last week.
The cubs are now in the care of our National Wildlife Rescue Centre.
Centre manager Steven Gray said, “The cubs are around three to four-months-old. Otters will stay with their mothers in the wild until they are over a year old.
“We suspect their mum was involved in a road traffic accident or some form of disturbance and didn’t return to her cubs so they have gone looking for her. They were seen wandering down the road in Inverkeithing on Saturday night.
“The female cub was spotted by someone taking their bins out. She was making very loud peeping noises which was probably her trying to call for her mum. The members of the public followed at a safe distance to a nearby field where they were able to monitor her until we arrived.
“The pair wouldn’t have survived on their own as they rely on mum so we are thankful the members of the public contacted us.
“One cub is male and the other is female. The female has been named Inver and the male has been called Forth.
“They will stay with us until they are around 12 to 14-months-old, just like with mum in the wild. We will teach them how to feed and take care of themselves and will release them when they are ready.
“Otters are very agile and can have a nasty bite so we would ask members of the public not to approach them as they can react negatively out of fear. They can see humans as a threat, especially when they are feeling vulnerable, so we would advise monitoring the animal and contacting us.
“We have the necessary safety equipment to carefully contain otters and we are experienced in doing so. We wouldn’t want anyone getting hurt or an animal to be caused undue stress.
“If anyone spots a wild animal in need of our help, please call our animal helpline on 03000 999 999.”
Hospitality entrepreneur BRADLEY GOUGH believes the high street isn’t dying, instead it is in state of transition, and pictures a new high street reinvigorated by hospitality and cultural experiences:
Spending habits in the UK have transformed significantly and the high street has been particularly hard hit in 2020. There are no signs of this downward trend slowing, after a year of city-wide lockdowns and non-essential retailers being closed.
Bradley Gough, is the founder of Groubook, and his team had spent months planning the launch of their new app that helps friends to organise and book group events, only to have their plans put on hold due to Covid-19. He is hoping that the hospitality sector will have a massive resurgence in the future and has some interesting ideas on how this will happen.
Chains and big brands have shifted away from physical stores and many businesses have been unable to reopen – leaving the question of what to do with all the empty space in the hearts of our communities.
Bradley Gough said: “I am hopeful about the future of our high streets, we would love to see hospitality and culture could play a major part in reinvigorating these areas.
“The departure of high street favourites like Debenhams, Top Shop, Burtons and Dorothy Perkins has led to thousands of job losses and a gaping hole in the high streets offering.
“But the high street isn’t dying, instead it is in state of transition away from the traditional one we have had for the last 50 years. Even before the pandemic, there was closures and a declining demand for retail space. Shopping online has been steadily on the rise for a decade, but lockdown has accelerated our use of it.
“We would like to see the disused retail spaces transformed into something new, ready for all of the fun to be had post-pandemic. Throughout history, high streets have been the centres of communities, playing important roles in commerce, business but also for social gatherings and events.”
The office buildings that have been forced to close could become revolutionary socially distanced, flexible working spaces. Easy to convert quickly and cheaply, they could become a haven for those sick of working from home as our attitudes towards flexible employee options evolve in the future.
The future high street might be a slightly different scape, but many have already seen an influx of independent businesses including bars, restaurants, community businesses and cultural venues.
Local people will still need access to service-led industries like the dry cleaners, key cutters, nail bar, bank and even the Post Office, but the high street could become dictated by the local populations requirements, their lifestyle patterns, and choices for recreation.
Bradley can picture the high street reinvigorated post-pandemic by hospitality and recreational experiences. Empty department stores could be transformed into hubs for leisure, a bowling alley on one floor, adult soft play on another and a laser tag course in the basement.
Despite the growth of an ‘armchair economy’ due to the pandemic, people will be keen to get out as soon as it is safe, ready to have fun and make new memories with their friends and family.
The next craze to sweep the nation could be a boozy ball pit-based night out, or themed restaurants which emerge you in beach or rainforest surroundings, from the comfort of your town centre.
The shops you spent hours looking around for your parents as a kid, could become city centre mazes instead. Bars could be tucked away, hidden in the basement of retail units, whilst the stores above become experience centres, where customers browse and try products on, before ordering online for delivery to their door.
Technology is the main tool to enhance a community hub and create a high street that meets a range of different consumer needs. A shift towards free Wi-Fi in shared spaces, improvements in eco transport links and more electric car charging points could drive people to their centres and high street to enjoy the post pandemic climate.
Groubook lets groups book, organise and arrange nights out online and take advantage of a wide range of discounts and rewards. Bradley believes the app can give independent bars and restaurants a head start when they’re finally able to open for business and help them recoup some of the losses from the pandemic.
The app was launched in Nottingham in August just after the first lockdown restrictions began to ease and saw rapid initial take-up with numbers growing by 250% in the first six weeks.
Bradley said: “Our plans for growth are ambitious and despite everything that’s happened this year, we’re confident we’ll achieve them.
“Once restrictions begin to ease, we’re ready to go full steam ahead and support the hospitality sector as it starts to rebuild.”
Raynaud’s symptoms despite it affecting 1 in 6 people in the UK.
The charity also found that many Scots are likely to dismiss common symptoms rather than visit their GP.
Raynaud’s is a painful and incurable condition. For some, it can be also be a sign of other serious health problems, including the potentially life-threatening condition, Scleroderma.
SRUK is calling on people across Scotland to visit its website to find out the signs and take its online diagnosis test.
More than 24 million people in the UK – nearly one in two adults – cannot name any of the symptoms of Raynaud’s, an incurable and painful condition that affects as many people as hay fever, according to new figures released this week.
The charity Scleroderma and Raynaud’s UK (SRUK), which commissioned the research, says the data highlights a ‘shocking’ lack of awareness across the UK with millions more likely to dismiss symptoms and avoid their GP.
In Scotland, 49 percent of those surveyed said they could not name any of the signs of Raynaud’s.
Raynaud’s is a chronic condition that affects around 10 million people in the UK – around one in six – and has no cure. Cold temperatures and stress can trigger ‘attacks’, which causes blood vessels to constrict and temporarily stop blood flow, most commonly to the hands and feet. During an attack, affected areas turn white and blue, and become numb. As the blood begins to return, limbs turn red and become painful.
For around 300,000 people it could also be a sign of a serious underlying condition, including the potentially life-threatening autoimmune condition, Scleroderma. The charity says early detection is vital to manage Raynaud’s symptoms effectively, minimise attacks and diagnose any underlying illnesses.
Common signs of Raynaud’s are extremely cold hands and feet, chilblain-like inflammation and colour changes to the skin. However, SRUK has found that many people do not think these would warrant a GP visit.
In Scotland, around one in four of those surveyed (24 percent) reported experiencing extremely cold fingers and/or toes more than once, but 47 percent said they would not see their doctor if they experienced this regularly.
Likewise, more than four in 10 (43 percent) said they would not visit their GP over frequent colour changes in the skin, despite nearly one in five (19 percent) reporting this as something they have experienced more than once. Meanwhile, one in two people (50 percent) said they would not book a GP appointment for frequent chilblains on their hands and feet.
Sue Farrington, SRUK Chief Executive, said:“Raynaud’s is as common as hay fever or arthritis and can have just as big an impact on daily life if not more so, but these figures highlight just how woefully unaware most of us are.
“Raynaud’s itself is not life-threatening, but it can be very painful and have a huge impact on everyday life – during an attack, simple things like buttoning a coat, turning a key in a front door or handling bank cards can become virtually impossible.
“Around 3 million people with the condition have to live with this all year round and attacks can be difficult to manage, particularly without any expert health advice. It may also be a sign of something more serious, so it’s not something to be swept under the carpet and ignored – it’s vital people know the signs and visit their GP.”
In Scotland, around one in four people surveyed (24 percent) reported that they would be less likely to visit their GP if they were to experience extremely cold hands and feet or chilblain-like inflammation because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Claire, 46, who lives near Glasgow in Scotland, has been living with Raynaud’s since her twenties. Initially dismissing the symptoms, she was formally diagnosed at the age of 40.
Claire said: “Even just opening the fridge and taking something out like the milk carton can affect my fingers. When I’m making dinner, if I take a plate out of the cupboard, the coldness of the plate – or even the cutlery – can start a Raynaud’s attack. It’s horrendous. It takes about half an hour to get the feeling back into my fingers.”
Claire says she regrets not seeing her GP earlier: “I do wonder if I had been diagnosed earlier whether my Raynaud’s have become this severe, but I didn’t want to bother them with what I thought was a little nerve damage.
This February, Raynaud’s Awareness Month, SRUK is calling on adults to make time to understand the signs of Raynaud’s and for those who may be experiencing symptoms to take the charity’s simple online test.
The test, which has been developed in conjunction with clinical experts and delivers results in around 60 seconds, will allow people to find out more about Raynaud’s, how to manage it and advise if a GP visit is required.
For more information about Raynaud’s, the signs to look out for and how to manage symptoms, or take SRUK’s online test, visit www.sruk.co.uk/testme
Heart of Newhaven Community’s Crowdfunding campaign goes live today, St Valentine’s day. What better day to launch what we hope will help us all fulfil our ambition of creating a vibrant Heart, full of life and vitality and shared and used by the wide, ever-growing community?
You can help us bring the Heart to life as soon as possible, by making a donation.
You can find out all about it on our website and following the link, or by going direct to the Crowdfunding website. You’ll find FAQs and get some idea of what the first funds are needed for.
You can remain anonymous or choose one of our rewards depending on the amount you give, but remember that it doesn’t matter how small or how large it is. It all adds up.
You know all about the ambition, now help fund the reality as we move closer and closer to creating the living, beating heart of the community.
Please look at the poster button at the bottom of this newsletter. They are the posters that will soon be appearing in the area. If you can possibly print out one or two of your favourites, and put them in your windows or send them to friends or colleagues that would be wonderful.
The better the coverage, the better the response and the quicker we can get the Heart beating.
Applications for additional support open this week
Two funds, worth £1 million each, will open this week to support grassroots, community and residential organisations to improve drugs services.
A £1 million Grassroots Fund will provide resources to third sector organisations to enable them to increase capacity and provide further reach into the community. Eligible organisations must have an annual income under £1 million and can apply for grants up to £50,000.
A £1 million Improvement Fund will support service development and increases to capacity across residential and community services. It will consider applications for grants up to £100,000.
The funding is part of the £5 million support package announced by the First Minister last month to ensure immediate action on addressing Scotland’s drug deaths emergency before the end of this financial year.
Minister for Drugs Policy Angela Constance said: “I am delighted to support grassroots and third sector organisations to extend their services.
“The Grassroots Fund will help organisations working on the frontline that do vital and invaluable work. They often exist on shoestring budgets and this extra funding can help provide more security so they can stabilise or increase capacity and extend services to provide further reach into the community for people who experience problem drug use and their families.
“The Improvement Fund will help us get more people into treatment. We know the number of individuals who drop out of support and treatment services is too high. This funding will support activities which lead to quick access to treatment and support for families. It can also be used for residential rehabilitation and collaborative approaches which help people address all the underlying challenges that they face.
“A national mission is needed – those whose life is blighted by drugs are our relatives, our friends, our neighbours. Our vision is for a culture of change: a culture of compassion devoid of stigma in which people are given a real chance of recovery.”
The Corra Foundation will administer both funds. Both will open to bids on 18 February 2021. All allocations will be made before 31 March 2021.
