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Shop Local, Shop Northumberland this Christmas Work to start on Morpeth’s new leisure centre What’s On ...hopefully!
YO U R LO CA L M AG A Z I N E F O R : M O R P E T H
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C H R I ST M A S E V E N TS
WHAT’S ON...hopefully With another lockdown in place, there is understandably a high demand for any form of festive cheer as we all try to end the year with a little bit of fun and escapism. The Christmas season has understandably been decimated due to the virus, and tickets for the few Christmas events still going ahead have been snapped up in double quick time, with the likes of Fenwicks and The Alnwick Garden events programmes selling out as soon as they go on sale. With a limited capacity for hosting events and important social distancing measures and restrictions in place, things are a little more difficult to book this year. As venues do their best to provide some form of festive entertainment this year, families looking for a Christmas event to enjoy with the children can still find Christmas shows and events. Booking early is a must this year, and we apologise if these events have already sold out, it’s very hard to keep up with events this year! On these pages we have six Christmas experiences and events in Newcastle and Gateshead that, at time of going to print, you can still book tickets for, including two fabulous light trails, a Christmas film must-see and (hopefully) some hot tickets to enjoy a bite to eat with Santa himself.
Please note
All details are correct at time of going to print. With recent lockdown restrictions, and the possibility of further changes, please check individual event websites for up to date information
6
IGNITE AT GIBSIDE NATIONAL TRUST, GATESHEAD 11 - 30 December Ignite at Gibside National Trust is new for 2020. The eighteenthcentury Georgian splendour of the gardens at the Gibside form the perfect setting for this new, afterdark experience. Enjoy a magical winter evening following a sparkling illuminated trail lit by lanterns, flickering flames and majestic sculptures as it winds through the eighteenth–century gardens in Gateshead. Families with children of all ages will be enchanted by the joy of illuminations. This is the perfect outdoor event for friends wishing to meet up safely within the rule of six too. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/gibside/ features/ignite-at-gibsideCHRISTMAS LIGHT TRAIL AT THE ALNWICK GARDEN 8 - 31 December (excluding 25 December) The Alnwick Garden are gearing up for a glitzy Christmas! When tickets went on sale for their meet Father Christmas events they were snapped up almost instantaneously. but there are still other ways to experience a magical Christmas at the popular outdoor attraction! See the Garden
come to life like you have never seen it before with fantastic sound and light at this after dark spectacular! Fun for all the family and filling your hearts with festive spirit. For tickets visit www.alnwickgarden. com/christmas-2020-at-the-alnwickgarden SOCIALLY DISTANCED PANTO AT THEATRE ROYAL NEWCASTLE Saturday 19 December 2020 Sunday 10 January 2021 After a really tough year for Theatre Royal Newcastle, including the postponement of their scheduled fabulous Christmas panto, they have managed to bring a glimmer of festive sparkle to end 2020. The Newcastle city centre theatre have announced that they will
be hosting a limited capacity, socially distanced pantomime this Christmas. Join local favourites Danny, Clive and Chris alongside Geordie superstar Joe McElderry for a whole heap of festive laughs and panto fun based on the classic tale Robin Hood. Show times include 12noon, 1pm, 3.30pm, 5pm and 7pm depending on the date. Tickets are expected to be snapped up extremely quickly.
cannot guarantee which events with Father Christmas are still available. Sunday Lunch with Santa and The Grinch in the Grotto at The County Hotel, Newcastle. www.countyhotel.co.uk/christmas
www.theatreroyal.co.uk A CHRISTMAS CARLOL AT TYNE THEATRE AND OPERA HOUSE Saturday 5 December Here's one for the adults! Join local comedian Carl Hutchinson for a night of comedy at Tyne Theatre and Opera House this December. Carl (who recently found himself on BBC One hosting The One Show - fancy) will introduce three fantastic comedy acts doing their best material, with some of his own old and new hilarious stories too. Book your tickets in groups of 2 or 4 (this must be within your household or support bubble) For tickets visit www.eventim.co.uk/ event/13296186
Grab a bite with Santa before he takes to the skies
FATHER CHRISTMAS ON HIS HOLIDAYS IN NEWCASTLE Breakfast, dinner or tea - Father Christmas loves to dine out, and he would love you to join him! A number of hotels have booked the big fella to come for a meal and invite you to join too. Grab a bite with Santa before he takes to the skies at The Vermont or The County Hotel in Newcastle. He's a popular guy, especially so close to the big day – both breakfast and supper club events at the much-loved department store Fenwick Newcastle sold out almost instantly, but there are still other options to dine out with Santa. Many of the hotels require you to call up and book your table, so we
Breakfast in Santa's Workshop at The Vermont Hotel, Newcastle. www.vermont-hotel.com/meetingsand-events/breakfast-in-santasworkshop Afternoon Tea and Breakfast with Santa at The Caledonian Hotel, Jesmond. www.peelhotels.co.uk/caledonianhotel/weddings/festive-season. shtml MORPETH GHOST TOUR Saturday 19 December Meet 7pm in Morpeth Market Place for a two hour tour. Join Cara and Charli for the Morpeth Ghost Tour and a night of ghosts, witches and other dark local history. Morpeth has hauntings that rival York, the spectral capital of northern England. Its tales touch the heart and will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Meet Cara and Charli in the Market Square from 7pm for a 7.30pm start to the tour. The tour lasts an hour and is suitable for the whole family. Tickets available from Eventbrite www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ the-morpeth-ghost-tourtickets-114796904632
7
LO CA L N E W S
SHOP LOCAL, SHOP NORTHUMBERLAND THIS CHRISTMAS N orthumberland County Council is encouraging residents to Shop Local, Shop Northumberland to support the economy in its recovery from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Residents are being encouraged to support shops and small businesses in their communities, rather than travelling further afield or turning to online retail giants. Independent retailers and small businesses need support now more than ever as many have had to close their doors, due to the national lockdown, in what would have been their busiest period in the run up to Christmas.
There are lots of ways people can still support their favourite shop from home: Find out if they are offering an online shop Find out if they are offering a click and collect service Ask friends and family for vouchers for Christmas for your favourite local shop, restaurant, bookshop or hotel Support local businesses on social media. Share; Like and Follow their posts and recommend them to others Shop early so you have time to find out what is on offer locally and what their deliveries times are Support independent businesses on the high street as much as possible
·· ·· ·· ·· ·· ··
Cllr Richard Wearmouth, cabinet member for Business and Tourism at the council said: “Our local businesses need our support now more than ever. We know that spending even a small amount locally can have a hugely positive impact on the county’s economy. We have seen many examples of businesses 8
responding to the current situation with innovation and resilience, but as residents of Northumberland we now need to do our bit to ensure our high streets and independent businesses can recover from this challenging time. I would encourage everyone to Shop Local, Shop Northumberland.” Caribe Coffee based in Morpeth is one business which has had to respond quickly to enable them to continue to trade and meet the demands of their customers. Run by husband-and-wife team Wilmer and Ellie Carcamo the business has now developed its online offer, set up a click and collect service, as well as offering free deliveries. Ellie said: “Before Covid our main income came from local markets and that face-to-face selling. So, when that stopped we started looking at other ways of serving our customers. We had planned to develop our online offer at some point in 2020 but Covid meant that we had to do that much earlier and quicker than planned. We have a really loyal customer base who have
supported us through this and have moved to buy online with us. It’s really important for people, if they are buying from local businesses, to spread the word as much as they can, tell your friends and family, share their posts on social media and continue to buy local rather than from the bigger retailers.” Elsewhere a Facebook page has also been set up “Northumberland - Let’s support local businesses this Christmas” and in just a few weeks it already has more than 9k followers. Chrissie Havis, also of Morpeth, set up the group as a way of bringing together shoppers and businesses. She said: “I wanted to create something to help promote the amazing businesses we have in Northumberland, who are having such a difficult time this year, but especially in the run up to Christmas. I can't believe how quickly it has taken off and I'm thrilled by the support people are showing businesses. I would encourage everyone, if they can, to support their local businesses and shop local this Christmas."
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LO CA L N E W S
Have your say now on major rail line plans Local residents can have their say in a major consultation on the reintroduction of a rail passenger service in Northumberland via an online survey up until December 14th by visiting the link mentioned at the bottom of this article. Progress on the scheme has now been welcomed by government, who say the Northumberland Line will transform travel in the area. From Monday, November 16th, residents and other interested parties can look at detailed plans for the Northumberland Line – which will connect Ashington to central Newcastle with a number of stops in between - by going to nland.uk/line and will close on December 14th. With a proposed opening date for passenger services in winter 2023, thousands of residents a day could be transported between Ashington and Newcastle in just over half an hour, while the scheme could boost the local economy by up to £470m. The ambitious scheme includes new stations at Ashington, Bedlington, Blyth Bebside, Newsham, Seaton Delaval and Northumberland Park in North Tyneside, as well as upgrades to the track and changes to level crossings where bridges or underpasses may need to be built.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “It is fantastic to see further progress on this important project, which will transform journeys up the Northumberland coastline and help level up the economy of the North. When I visited Blyth earlier this year I saw for myself the huge potential this line has for restoring connections to communities who have lost out, undoing over half a century of damage following the Beeching Cuts. Through our Restoring your Railway fund we will reopen lost railway lines and stations, revitalising communities, kickstarting business and new housing schemes, and opening opportunities for work and education.” Councillor Richard Wearmouth, Cabinet Member responsible for economic development, said: “There's ever more confidence our long-term aspirations for this project are going to become reality - bringing social and economic benefits to residents, commuters, visitors and businesses both in Northumberland and the wider region. This consultation is a critical stage of the process. We really want everyone to be part of this journey and would appreciate feedback- either on specific elements or the scheme as a whole.”
Visit https://haveyoursay.northumberland.gov.uk/transport/nl to have your say. Hard copies of the consultation documents can be requested via email at rail@northumberland.gov.uk or by calling 0345 600 6400.
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LO C A L N E W S
WORK TO START ON MORPETH’S NEW LEISURE CENTRE A turf cutting ceremony has taken place to officially mark the start of a multi-million pound scheme to transform leisure provision in Morpeth. Work will now commence on Morpeth’s new state of the art £21 million leisure centre and community hub which is being funded by Northumberland County Council and will be built on The Terrace site on Gas House Lane. Willmott Dixon has been appointed as the official contractor for the centre which is expected to be fully complete and open to the public in Summer 2022. Designed by GT3 Architects, the new centre will include a six-lane swimming pool with spectator gallery, a learner pool, spa facilities, a four-court sports hall, a new 100 station fitness suite, a dedicated spinning studio, large fitness studios, a cafe area and soft play. The plans also incorporate a new community services hub which will see the town’s library move back to its former home on Gas House Lane, a customer service centre and a new adult learning facility. Northumberland County Councillor Jeff Watson Cabinet Member for Healthy Lifestyles said: "This significant investment will create outstanding new facilities for the town and surrounding communities. Despite the lockdown restrictions across the country it is heartening to know that building work can continue and that work is starting on this fantastic new development. The new centre will be a real asset for the town and a wonderful place, with great facilities, for residents and visitors to enjoy for many years to come.” Ward Councillor David Bawn said: "It is amazing that despite these difficult times we are all going through, the Council is continuing to act on its commitment to the 12
people of Morpeth and deliver this much needed new facility and we are moving into the delivery stage. On behalf of the people of Morpeth I would like to thank the County Council for keeping this important project on track." The new sports complex will be run by Active Northumberland, the charitable trust that manages leisure services across the county. Mark Warnes, Acting Chief Executive of Active Northumberland said: “One of Active Northumberand’s key aims is to get more people, of all ages involved in physical activity to improve and maintain a healthy lifestyle. This new centre and the facilities within it have been designed with this vision in mind. There will be something for all members of the local community and we hope that it will offer opportunities for more people to be active, more often.” Anthony Dillon, managing director for Willmott Dixon in the north, said: “We are proud to be underway on this exciting project for the people of Morpeth. We know the huge positive impact leisure centres have on the local communities they serve and the Morpeth centre will combine health and wellbeing facilities with a new community services hub, to create a space that really will bring people together. “We believe in delivering brilliant buildings, transforming lives, strengthening communities and enhancing the environment so our world is fit for future generations; Morpeth Leisure Centre is a project that supports every one of those goals and we are committed to investing in local supply chain partners wherever possible as well as creating new local employment opportunities.”
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LOCAL NEWS
Council commits £1.5m to Ashington Academy refurbishment Commitment to invest in Northumberland’s schools continues thanks to Cabinet approval of a £1.5m grant fund to refurbish and remodel part of Ashington Academy. Northumberland County Council’s Cabinet last week agreed the funding as part of the 2020-21 capital works programme. Councillor Guy Renner-Thompson, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Children’s Services said: “It is vital we keep investing in our schools to ensure students across the county have access to excellent education and learning facilities. The council has had a long-term commitment to improve the facilities at Ashington Academy having already invested in the school previously. This funding will allow North East Learning Trust to address a number of issues that will further improve the dining facilities as well as create better spaces for learning.” In 2015 the council funded an extension to the school's facilities which included a drama studio, music room and a post-16 sixth form centre. A multi-use games area
with a 3G all-weather grass pitch, four mini-tennis courts and a full-size netball court were also provided as part of the scheme. Prior to this the council had also funded the replacement of the boiler plant, fire alarm system and refurbishment of the windows. This funding will see a relocation of the kitchen and dining facilities, refurbishment of the gym to become a multi-purpose space, refurbishment of the current kitchen to become a 6th form dining Café and training facility, renovation of the main assembly hall, introduction of staff accommodation and redevelopment of external areas. Councillor Thomas Wilson, Local Ward Member for Ashington Central said: “This is welcome news for the area. It will mean the school will be able to provide better facilities for our children and young people for years to come, enhancing their learning experience and giving them the opportunity to fully embrace their education.” North East Learning Trust have already engaged with a design team to compose the much-needed feasibility studies and to develop refurbishment and remodelling designs. Toni Spoors, Executive Headteacher at Ashington Academy and Deputy CEO of North East Learning Trust said: "We very much welcome this investment which will go a long way in improving the learning environment for our young people. Staff and students are excited at the prospect of the changes and look forward to seeing the transformation of their school take shape over the coming year."
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LOCAL ADVERTISING FE ATURE
A Success Story for Morpeth Maximize Education is a private educational facility providing supportive and alternative education for students funded both privately and via local government. The business was founded in Morpeth by Christine Jamieson, who built up its reputation for delivering bespoke individual tuition for students of all ages, across a full range of academic subjects. She recognised the need to professionalise the private tutorial industry to ensure tutors provided tuition reflecting the national curriculum and examination board specifications while observing the necessary requirements of safeguarding. The intention was always to ensure that parents and students were given access to highly qualified professional educators, across as many subjects as required, in the most cost-effective way. The standards were set high with a determination ensure services continued to be one to one. The development of locally based tuition centres began in 2019, first in Gosforth then Morpeth when a suitable property became available. The onset of the pandemic brought about new challenges, however, Maximize Education adapted and evolved to meet the challenge and invested heavily in the Morpeth Tuition Centre to ensure a Covid safe
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RE CIPE
Parmesan Biscuits MOREISH FESTIVE GOODIES
GREAT FOR GIFTS Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 10-20 mins
Makes about 24+
1.
Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
2.
Place the butter and flour into a bowl or a food processor with the salt, cayenne, mustard powder, and cheeses. Rub the fat into the flour mixture then gradually bring the mixture together to form a dough. Don't add egg or water. Wrap the dough in cling film and leave to chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
Ingredients • • • • • •
✁
•
20
•
100g cold unsalted butter, cut into chunks 100g plain flour, plus extra for flouring pinch salt pinch cayenne pepper 1 heaped tsp mustard powder 50g finely grated mature cheddar 50g finely grated parmesan, or similar vegetarian hard cheese, plus a little extra 1 egg, beaten
festive cutters. Lay them out on a greased baking tray about 2cm apart. You might need two trays.
Method
3.
Lightly flour a work surface and gently roll out the pastry to about 1cm thick. Cut out the biscuits using
4.
Brush the surface of each biscuit with the beaten egg and sprinkle over a little finely grated parmesan. Bake for 10 minutes, or until they are golden-brown. They smell heavenly!
5.
Remove from the oven and carefully lift the biscuits off the tray using a palette knife, then place on a rack to cool. They make lovely gifts and will keep well in a sealed container for a few days.
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C H R I ST M A S
THE SCIENCE OF SNOW Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? By Louise Addison
Have you ever given any thought to the science behind snow? Whether you love frolicking in the white stuff at the first sign of a snowflake, or prefer bundling up and hibernating until the spring thaw, here’s a blizzard of brrillliant snow-driven facts...
SNOW IS NOT WHITE
You can certainly dream of a white Christmas, even if it isn’t strictly accurate. As any good snow pedant will tell you, the ‘white stuff’ isn’t actually white, but rather translucent. It’s the light reflecting off it that makes it appear white with the many sides of the snowflake scattering light in many directions, diffusing the entire colour spectrum.
THE SHAPE OF SNOWFLAKES
Part of the enduring appeal of snowflakes is their intricate appearance and near-infinite variation, meaning that all snowflakes are unique. The number of possibilities of nuances in temperature and humidity as the snowflake falls to the ground is limitless. The ice crystals that make up snowflakes are patterned symmetrically because frozen water molecules arrange themselves in predetermined spaces known as crystallization, to form a six-sided snowflake. If you look closely at a snowflake you will see countless individual features, all having formed ever so slightly differently in direction or shape, owing to the slightest change in the environment in which it formed.
SPEEDY SNOWFLAKES
Most snow falls at a speed of between 1 - 4 mph dependent upon the individual snowflake’s mass and surface area, as well as the environmental conditions surrounding its descent. 22
Snowflakes which collect supercooled water as they fall can fall at up to 9 mph, but snowflakes, as most people recognise them, will tend to float down at around 1.5 mph taking about an hour to reach the ground.
SNOW AFFECTS SOUND
Freshly fallen snow absorbs sound waves, giving everything a seemingly hushed, quieter ambience after a flurry. But if the snow then melts and refreezes, the ice can reflect sound waves making sound travel further and clearer.
SNOW WARMS YOU UP
Because snow is comprised of 90 to 95 percent trapped air, it means it’s a great insulator. This is the reason many animals burrow deep into the snow during winter in order to hibernate. It’s also the reason that igloos, that use only body heat to warm them, can be 100 degrees warmer inside than outside.
SO WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS?
Whilst the vision of a Christmas Day surrounded by snow fills Christmas cards, movies and songs, snow is actually much more likely in January and February than in December. In the UK, snow or sleet falls on an average of 3.9 days in December, compared to 5.3 days in January, 5.6 days in February and 4.2 days in March. There has been a widespread covering of snow (over 40 % of weather stations reporting snow) only four times in the last 51 years. Those hoping for a white Christmas should be heartened to hear that snow has at least fallen on Christmas Day somewhere in the UK 38 times in the last 52 years.
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• Fires & Fireplaces • Fire Surrounds • Gas Fires • Gas Stoves • Electric Fires • Multifuel Stoves • Heating Packages
COME HOME TO A LIVING FIRE 7 Market Place, Bedlington, NE22 5TN Opening Hours: Monday - Friday 10am - 4pm
Dimplex Opti-Myst
Display & Demonstrate Approved Showroom
Tel: 01670 632717 or 07541 697 991 Saturday 10am - 3pm
Sunday Closed 23
A D V E RT I S I N G F E AT U R E
AN EXPERT GUIDE TO
REAL CHRISTMAS TREES T
he focal point of the festive season has to be the Christmas tree. A day out to choose the perfect tree has become a magical highlight of the countdown to Christmas and it quickly becomes the star of the show once home and decorated. The go-to destination for real Christmas trees, the experts at Dobbies Garden Centres, have put together their essential guide, including tips to help you choose the picture-perfect one, keep it looking its best, and finally what to do with it when the time comes to take it down. In a change for 2020, the UK’s leading garden centre retailer is responding to demand and focusing on one type of real tree, the Nordmann Fir. Growing in popularity year-on-year, the traditional real tree has become a firm family favourite and here they explain why. With everything you need to create the perfect Christmas, visit your local store at Gosforth, Morpeth or Ponteland or browse the online range at Dobbies.com.
■ CHOOSING YOUR TREE
Healthy trees will have a shiny, glossy green coating on the needles which feels slightly waxy to touch. A quality tree should have good needle retention and sturdy branches. Avoid bare branches test the needle retention by taking the tree by the trunk and give it a gentle tap on the ground. All evergreen trees lose needles all year round, but any more than a few fallen pine needles then you may want to reconsider your tree choice. There are two main types, Nordmann Fir and Fraser Fir - both available as cut or pot grown. Nordmann Fir With its classic Christmas tree shape, glossy green foliage and fresh pine scent, it’s easy to see why this is by the far the most popular variety for the perfect festive centrepiece. British 24
grown for Dobbies, the Nordmann Fir has good needle retention and the softer foliage makes it the ideal option for families with young children or pets. Fraser Fir This tree is slightly narrower in shape, making it a good alternative for smaller areas, but still with plenty of taller options to make the most of vertical space. Pot-Grown Not just a wonderful choice for Christmas, a pot-grown tree has extra green credentials given that it can planted outside afterwards, providing an environmentally friendly choice. Once inside and decorated, this tree gives off a fresh and festive scent of natural pine, filling your home with the scent of Christmas. They look equally as good outside your home. Wind battery operated outdoor fairy lights for the final finishing touch. Each year, Christmas trees seem to go up earlier and earlier, but to keep your tree looking its best through
to the 25th, the best time to buy is the first or second weekend of December. The busiest day for real Christmas trees, dubbed ‘Bring Your Christmas Tree Home Day’, falls on the second Saturday in December, which falls on the 12th this year.
■ BRINGING YOUR TREE HOME
An important first task - make sure you have emptied the car and have enough space to fit your tree, either inside or on the roof. To get your tree home safely, there are some simple steps to follow. Netting helps protect it for the journey home. Put a blanket down to protect your car’s interior Securely fasten your tree down with rope or cable ties and drive slowly and carefully home. Once you get home, take the tree out of the car and take out of the net as soon as possible. Then, remove a few inches from the base and stand in water. The sawing off of the stump should be done outside. Place it upright against an exterior wall or fence, out of direct sunlight if it is a warm winter’s day, as this will stop it drying out.
*Prices subject to change
NORDMANN FIR, STANDARD GRADE CUT (4-7FT) FROM £19.99
■ HOW TO KEEP YOUR TREE LOOKING ITS BEST
Treat your tree with TLC. Un-net your tree and leave it to stand for 24-hours before decorating so that the branches can settle. As exciting as it can be to get the tree instantly up and decorated, it will look much better if you give the branches a chance to drop into place after being unnetted, you’ll then be able to see were best to place hanging decs, lights and baubles. Opt for a stand with a water reservoir to prevent your tree from drying out and cover it with a Christmas tree skirt, which can help to achieve your overall look. Your tree will need approximately 1-2 litres a day, depending on the temperature of the room. Try to avoid putting your tree next to a radiator. Keep the room cool when it’s not in use. If you are bringing a pot-grown tree indoors, be mindful to keep the compost moist but not wet. If you find that your tree is too wide for the space you planned it for, you
FRASER FIR (4-5FT) FROM £29.99
can clip some of the larger branches lower down to make it fit. Save the cuttings, as these can make a lovely decorations, in vases or as part of a homemade wreath.
■ WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR REAL TREE AFTER CHRISTMAS
Traditionally, the 5th or 6th January is when trees should be taken down and decorations packed away for another year, known as ‘Twelfth Night’. Dobbies encourage people to recycle their trees. Christmas tree recycling points are located at your local household waste recycling centres. If you opted for a pot-grown Christmas tree, remember to plant it as soon as possible in January so you can enjoy the following year. Select a spot that has well drained soil, sun, and enough space for the tree to sit comfortably. Then all you need to do is keep the tree watered and protected. Water and feed your pot grown tree regularly in its first year when planted out in the garden.
POT GROWN NORDMANN FIR (1FT-5FT) FROM £14.99
REBECCA STANTON, STYLIST AT DOBBIES GARDEN CENTRES, SHARES HER TOP FOUR CHRISTMAS TREE STYLING TIPS 1. LIGHT IT UP: No tree is complete without the twinkling of fairy lights, you will always need more than you think. Turn the lights on before moving to add baubles and decorations, to make sure you have good coverage all over.
3. LEVEL UP: To make a real
statement, think big. Use extra-large baubles and clusters of smaller baubles together in your tree. Carefully place your larger baubles first to ensure your tree feels balanced then work around to add in smaller baubles and decorations.
4. BAUBLE PACKS: To instantly update your usual Christmas tree style pick up one of our mixed size bauble packs, we have a variety of shades to suit any colour palette. These baubles are great because not only do they instantly set the theme, they help to spread colour throughout your tree, think a base layer for you to build on top with your more special decorations. 5. A LAYER OF NATURE: Decorating your real tree doesn’t need to end at the baubles. Try adding some dried flowers to your tree to give that added layer of nature. You could use dried grasses, heather or eucalyptus to lay on the branches of your tree along with orange slices and cinnamon sticks to bring the smell of Christmas into your home.
■ www.dobbies.com 25
The
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LOCAL NEWS
Winter Wonderland Drive-In Cinema comes to Morpeth Starting on Friday 4th December and ending on 21st December, Morpeth Town Football Club will be showing the most popular festive blockbuster Christmas movies for all ages at Craik Park. Onsite will be outdoor Xmas markets, hot food (including turkey sandwiches & pigs in blankets), licenced bar serving mulled wine, hot drinks/soft drinks and other alcoholic beverages. There will be a group of busy little elves waitering all the cars, delivering refreshments and hot food and Santa will deliver presents to all the under 13 children around the cars, this is included in the price of ticket. There will also be dressed up movie characters and carol singers entertaining the children and adults. There is very limited space keeping it Covid secure with Track and Trace in operation and masks will be needed when going to the toilet and Xmas markets. No vans.
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Fri 4th - Gremlins Gates 6pm Starts 7pm Sat 5th - Polar Express SOLD OUT Sun 6th - Frozen Gates 11am Starts 12noon How the Grinch Stole Christmas Gates 6pm Starts 7pm Fri 11th - Love Actually Gates 6pm Starts 7pm Sat 12th - The Nightmare before Christmas Gates 11am Starts 12noon How the Grinch Stole Christmas SOLD OUT Sun 13th - Arthur Christmas - Gates 11am Starts 12noon The Muppets Christmas Carol - Gates 11am Starts 12noon Elf - Gates 6pm Starts 7pm Thurs 17th - ChrisCrossmas - a very merry Drive-In Magic Show Gates 5:45pm Starts 7pm Fri 18th - Die Hard Gates 6pm Starts 7pm Sat 19th - Frozen 2 Gates 11am Starts 12noon Home Alone 2" SOLD OUT Sun 20th - Polar Express" Gates 11am Starts 12noon Elf SOLD OUT Mon 21st - Home Alone Gates 11am Starts 12noon Home Alone 2 - Gates 3pm Starts 4pm Elf - Gates 6pm Starts 7pm
Tickets available from: www.seetickets.com/event/ morpeth-winter-wonderland-drive-in-cinema/ morpeth-town-afc-craik-park-stadium/1677054 28
NONAGRAM
D O E Y H E W A S How many words of four letters or more can you make from this Nonagram? Each word must use the central letter, and each letter may be used only once. At least one word using all nine letters can be found. Guidelines: 21 Good; 25 Very Good; 30 Excellent. Any word found in the Concise Oxford Dictionary is eligible with the following exceptions: proper nouns; plural nouns, pronouns and possessives; third person singular verbs; hyphenated words; contractions and abbreviations; vulgar slang words; variant spellings of the same word (where another variant is also eligible). SOLUTION: ahoy; ashy; dash; dhow; dosh; eyeshadow; eyewash; hade; hawse; hayseed; head; heady; heed; hewed; hoed; hose; hosed; howdy; howe; hoya; shad; shade; shadow; shadowy; shady; shaw; shea; shed; shew; shewed; shod; shoe; show; showed; showy; wash; washed; washy; whee; whey; whoa; whose; yeah.
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LOCAL ADVERTISING FE ATURE
Luxury Living in Stannington
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON EXECUTIVE BUNGALOW DEVELOPMENT
H
usband and wife team Alan and Victoria, of Altoria Development, are returning to Stannington Station to build more of their stunning, executive bungalows. The couple began their development venture in 2016 with a passion to build bespoke bungalows in the North-East. From Morpeth themselves, they found their first development in Stannington Station and obtained planning permission for fourteen bungalows at Furrow Grove, all of which were snapped up and sold off-plan. Since then they have expanded their portfolio to Oakfield Grove, Blyth, an intimate development of four bungalows. Alan said “We are delighted to be returning to Stannington Station to build a sister site to Furrow Grove. Ridge Grove will maintain the high quality and executive specification that is expected of Altoria Development. This development has three different bungalow types and are all three-bedroom homes; each home is fully adaptable and provides all of the benefits of one-storey living.” Ridge Grove offers each buyer the opportunity to design their new home without the responsibility of 30
“Ridge Grove will be a gated private development and offer luxury before you even step into one of the exceptional homes. ” managing a self-build. With bespoke Kitchens including choice of stone worktop, co-ordinated cabinetry and all integrated appliances included as standard. Villeroy and Boch bathroom and ensuite both fully tiled. Flooring is included throughout and there is a choice of internal oak doors and finishings. Farrow and Ball colours throughout and all offering double garages with electric doors. Victoria explained “Ridge Grove will be a gated private development and offer luxury before you even step into one of our exceptional homes. The bungalow’s have been designed to compliment the nearby surroundings of the Northumberland countryside and has been placed delicately into the heart of the wonderful community that is Stannington Station.” Stannington Station has the luxury of a wonderful Farm Shop and cafe with facilities for young children to
play, garage and convenience store all a few minutes walk from Ridge Grove. Slightly further afield is the village of Stannington with a quaint pub and village hall. The historic market town of Morpeth is only a few miles away which provides an abundance of shops, boutiques, excellent schools, doctors and dentists. Alan and Victoria have begun the initial construction of what will become a beautiful development, with completions taking place from early 2021. Prices from £445,000 onwards. To request the sales literature please contact Altoria Development on 01670 432603 alternatively email info@altoriadevelopment.co.uk
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ADVERTISING FEATURE
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All work we undertake is at fixed fees: Single Property and Affairs Lasting Power of Attorney: £300 inclusive of VAT Double Property and Affairs Lasting Power of Attorney (suitable for couples): £420 inclusive of VAT Single Will: £180 inclusive of VAT Mirror Will: £240 inclusive of VAT It is imperative that specialist advice is taken in order to ensure that the power given accurately reflects your wishes. Call Crichton Wills Trusts & Probate on 01670 514772 and speak to a specialist adviser today who will be happy to discuss any concerns you may have and offers a free no obligation appointment in the comfort of your own home.
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CHRISTMAS
Robin Redbreast
HOW THE ROBIN CAME TO SYMBOLISE CHRISTMAS By Tracey Anderson
Think of winter in the garden and you'll most likely think of a robin. Think of Christmas cards and you'll probably think of the same. Why do robins have such a strong association with winter? There is actually an increase in robin numbers during the winter months. They migrate from Scandinavia, Russia and Europe swelling the ranks of our resident robins when the days become too cold and food becomes scarce in their own countries. There are several legends relating robins to winter and Christmas in particular. The first legend hails from Victorian times, when the tradition of sending Christmas cards started. Royal Mail postmen of the time wore bright red uniforms, which earned them the nickname of ‘robin’ or ‘redbreast’. Victorian artists usually illustrated Christmas cards with pictures relating to the delivery of letters, such as post-boxes and postmen. Eventually artists began to play on this word association and postman 'robin' was exchanged for the familiar little brown and red bird, who began to appear in illustrations, sometimes delivering the letters. Middle class Victorians loved all things sentimental and charming, so the trend caught on and continues to this day, with the robin adorning everything from wrapping paper to Christmas jumpers. Even before the Victorian era, robins had a strong association 34
with the traditional Christmas story and Christianity. In one tale, it is said that when Mary was giving birth to baby Jesus in the stable, she noticed the fire Joseph had lit was in danger of going out. Suddenly, a small brown bird appeared and started flapping its wings in front of the fire, fanning the embers, and causing it to roar back to life. As the bird flew around tending to the fire, a stray ember made its way towards the tiny creature, scorching its breast bright red. Mary declared that the red breast was a sign of the bird’s kind heart, which would be passed on to its descendants to wear proudly ever after. There are also Celtic-based tales which link the robin with wintertime. One tells of the feud between the wren, known as
the Holly King of Winter, and the robin who was known as the Oak King of Summer. The Holly King was driven away by the Oak King on the Winter Solstice, and the robin took his rightful place. However, on the Summer Solstice, the Holly King gets to take his revenge, and the wren replaces the robin. This story repeats every year and represents the changing of the seasons. It was probably told by way of explaining why we see more robins during the winter months. Whatever the truth, the robin is a beautiful cheery symbol of this time of year and, if you can spare a little food, particularly meal worms, and some water, he will reward you by visiting your garden daily. Happy Christmas.
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Love your home, inside and out, the Stormshield Way! · GENUINE FAMILY BUSINESS · NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED · PRICES OVER PHONE IF REQUIRED
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GARDENING
GARDEN VIEW
HARD-WORKING IVY By Rachael Leverton
Holly is a much coveted festive greenery, but what about ivy, or Hedera to give it the botanical name? It makes up the trio of festive plants, the other being mistletoe, and frankly it’s usually seen as a bit of a poor relation, misunderstood and mostly unloved. Yet ivy is a great workhorse in the garden. It’s evergreen, it attracts wildlife and is excellent on those north-facing walls and fences where nothing else seems to grow. It’s not just a dark green cloak either; there are many cultivars with different leaf shapes and variegated foliage. The variegated varieties are great in those areas that catch just a little sunlight during part of the day as they suddenly seem to illuminate a usually dull spot. Ivy is great for disguising an ugly wall, a bare fence, or an old tree stump. It’s a reliable and selfclinging climber if you choose the right variety and remember to prune it correctly. The young climbing stems are slender and flexible with small aerial roots that fix the shoot to a surface. Adult stems are thicker, self-supporting and do not have roots. Unlike mistletoe ivy isn’t parasitic so won’t harm trees but be careful about letting it grow on the walls of your house as it will damage weak mortar and pebbledash. If growing on a property it needs to be clipped
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back in spring and summer, so it doesn’t do any damage to structure underneath. Don’t let it get into gutters because it will clog them then infiltrate under tiles or slates. Ivy is excellent ground cover. It will scramble over areas of poor soil and brighten the ground between shrubs during the dark winter months. Persian ivy, Hedera colchica ‘Dentata Variegata’, is lovely because of its large, yellowedged leaves. Hedera canariensis ‘Gloire de Marengo’ is also good. Its red stems and large leaves with splashes of yellow looks rather splendid. If you need an
area covered quickly try Hedera Hibernica, which is a vigorous native ivy. Hedera helix is the other native ivy and this one has numerous cultivars including Goldheart, which has yellow-centred leaves, Green Ripple, with frilly edged leaves and ‘Buttercup’ which is bright yellow. If you love to support the wildlife in your garden, then ivy is a terrific plant. During autumn and early winter adult ivies produce small greenish-yellow flowers. These are especially rich in nectar so attract bees, butterflies, hoverflies, and other insects, providing them with a place to overwinter. Birds like thrushes, blackbirds and robins enjoy the purple black berries which ripen from late winter to midspring, providing a much-needed winter food source. I hope I’ve made a good case for growing ivy in your garden. Holly might bear the crown, but I reckon ivy deserves a tiara at the very least! Happy gardening and Merry Christmas.
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ADVERTISING FEATURE
ENJOY YOUR CONSERVATORY ALL YEAR ROUND
If you’re fed up with your conservatory being either freezing cold or blistering hot, then Thermos Roof have the answer
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onservatories have become synonymous with the traditional English home. The first ever Conservatory in the UK was constructed in 1825 and to date there are now approximately 4 million. It is estimated that they can add up to 5% to the value of your property, which makes it a significant asset to your home. Conservatories are a fantastic space to enjoy whilst looking out onto your garden, they are bright, spacious and give you a great sense of closeness to the outdoors. However, as most conservatory owners will know that, whilst they bring all of those benefits, it is usually short lived and can only be enjoyed for 2 months of the year, the rest of those months being either freezing cold or blisteringly hot. Thermosroof have been insulating conservatory roofs since 2005 for two main reasons, the first to increase its insulating performance and secondly to enhance its internal aesthetic appearance. Experience will have shown you that in the winter as soon as you open the door the heat is sucked out of your room into the conservatory, and during the summer it becomes a dazzling sauna that’s so hot you need a fan to cool you down. At Thermosroof they can transform your conservatory from a room you barely use into a room that you can enjoy all year round because the temperature is comfortable and constant, you will even be able to watch TV or use a Computer without sunglasses. What is most impressive is that they can do this all in one day! With no mess! They retain your existing polycarbonate or glass roof and insulate it form the inside, finishing
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it in an attractive gloss white tongue and groove PVC cladding that matches perfectly with the rest of your conservatory construction. The materials they use are lightweight therefore no roof strengthening is required, no planning application is necessary and no long periods of mess & upheaval in your home. in addition to this the look and finish of your Thermosroof will be as fresh in 10 years as it is now. The performance of their lightweight insulation system will equal that of vastly more expensive options, with less mess and waste, and less time to install saving you thousands of pounds and allowing you to enjoy your conservatory immediately. They can install a Thermosroof to conservatories of any size or shape transforming them into a flowing extension of your living space wherein its use is not dictated by the external weather conditions, it will become warm in winter and cool in summer. In addition to the above benefits the Thermosroof team will eliminate mould and condensation, reduce
rain, noise and serve to cover up an unsightly dirty roof. The gloss white finish will make it brighter in the evenings by reflecting light and will give your conservatory that WOW factor making it a great place to relax or work. All installations come with a 5 year warranty and they guarantee that you will be amazed with both the improved appearance and the insulating performance of your new roof. The team offer a free quotation service for the installation of your Thermosroof and should you require it we can also undertake maintenance works to repair or replace gutters, fascias, soffits, window sills, roof panels and leaking roofs. Please give them a call today and ask for Steve to start the ball rolling to making full use of your Conservatory! Call 01670828695 www.thermosroof.co.uk
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Brilliantly Simple...Simply Brilliant Signature Kitchens, Bathrooms & Tiles have been providing customers with quality kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, flooring and tiles for over ten years.
Offering a unique combination of superb products, expertise and unmatched customer service, we bring you the home of your dreams, whilst making the transformation a painless process. For every project, we have an experienced team and a generation of experience; this successful formula shows in the results. ● FAMILY RUN BUSINESS ● FREE 3D PLANNING & DESIGN ● TILING, ELECTRICS & PLASTERING ● SUPPLY OR INSTALLATION ● FULL PROJECT MANAGEMENT OF YOUR DREAM KITCHEN OR BATHROOM
1a Burnside Road, Whitley Bay, NE25 8PW Tel: 0191 253 5111 www.signaturekitchensbathroomsandtiles.co.uk SHOWROOM OPEN: Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm & Saturday 10am - 4pm
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35 36 Across 1. Surgical tongs (7) 10. Removal (11) 11. Aping (7) 12. Voluntary fees paid (9) 13. Norse god of thunder (4) 14. Greek B (4) 16. Disfigure (6) 18. Perform duties (9) 20. Hold dear (7) 22. Soil (5) 23. Cord worn around the neck (7) 24. Acquiring (9) 26. Short of money (4,2) 29. Son of Noah (4) 30. Examined by touching (4) 31. Ephemeral (9) 34. I'm bored (anag.) (7) 35. Becoming slower (mus.) (11) 36. Spanish inquisitor (7)
Down 1. Jokingly (11) 2. Censure (7) 3. Give out (4) 4. Isolated from others (10) 5. Unfeelingly (4,1,5,2,5) 6. Erred (6) 7. So-so (4) 8. Minute piece of silicon (9) 9. Embed (5) 15. Northern European country (7) 17. Plant of the iris family (7) 19. Inconsiderate (11) 20. Talkative person (inf.) (10) 21. Helplessly drunk (9) 25. Spanish or Portuguese (7) 27. Nice (6) 28. Harsh, unadorned (5) 32. Hut (4) 33. Shape (4)
SOLUTION: Across — 1 Forceps; 10 Elimination; 11 Copying; 12 Honoraria; 13 Thor; 14 Beta; 16 Deface; 18 Officiate; 20 Cherish; 22 Earth; 23 Lanyard; 24 Obtaining; 26 Hard up; 29 Shem; 30 Felt; 31 Transient; 34 Bromide; 35 Rallentando; 36 Ximenes. Down — 1 Facetiously; 2 Reproof; 3 Emit; 4 Segregated; 5 With a heart of stone; 6 Sinned; 7 Fair; 8 Microchip; 9 Inlay; 15 Iceland; 17 Freesia; 19 Thoughtless; 20 Chatterbox; 21 Incapable; 25 Iberian; 27 Pretty; 28 Stark; 32 Shed; 33 Form.
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BOOKS
A GOOD READ
the two worlds that Patsy herself occupies. Will she ever be reunited with her daughter and how does a decision taken so long ago affect the two of them as life moves on around them in two vastly different countries?
By Willow Coby
FOUND
by Erin Kingsley It’s a parent’s worst nightmare: you are waiting for your child to come home from school and they don’t. This is the situation that Claire and Matt found themselves in when their 11-year-old son, Evan, did not come home from school after football practice. The police are called, and the search is on. Claire and Matt are torn apart by the events and as the months drift on they give up all hope of Evan coming home. But, as the title suggests, Evan is indeed found. But the boy that returns to them is not the same boy that went missing. Refusing to talk to anyone he is withdrawn, only finding short moments of happiness and peace when visiting his grandparents on their farm. The police try to ascertain what happened but to no avail. Until another boy goes missing. What drew me to this book is the fact that the focus is on what happened AFTERWARDS. We all watch news reports of children who are abducted and sometimes there is a happy ending. For us, as onlookers, that is where the story ends. But is it possible for a family just pick up and carry on as if nothing happened? How on earth do you rebuild those lost moments with your child?
PATSY
by Nicole Dennis-Benn Patsy grew up in an impoverished town in Jamaica and struggles to make ends meet, raising her 5-yearold daughter, Tru. But she has a dream. A dream that lies across the ocean in a city that never sleeps, watched over by Lady Liberty. She isn’t the only one. Many have left Jamaica for America, sending home details of their new lives. But you can’t just leave Jamaica and head to the US. When Patsy is finally granted a visa, it is only a visitor one. And just for her, not Tru. And so, leaving her daughter behind with her previously absent father, she begins her life as an undocumented migrant. It soon becomes clear that life in New York is not what she thought it would be. Dennis-Benn has created an engrossing novel showing the reality of the plight of migrants. Spanning a decade, it switches between Patsy and her new life and Tru’s childhood as she grows up without her mother. It says something about her skills as a writer that she has created a central character that is so flawed and yet likeable at the same time. The dialogue switches effortlessly between English and Jamaican Patois, leaving you, the reader, as an inhabitant of 46
THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green
The Fault in Our Stars is the hugely successful teen novel exploring the impact of teenage cancer on the lives of two individuals. 16-year-old Hazel has cancer and is, reluctantly, convinced by her parents to attend a support group for others in her situation. Amongst the other patients there is Augustus, a 17-year-old boy who lost a leg to cancer. The two begin talking and agree to read each other’s favourite books. Hazel’s book is a novel by a Dutch writer about a young girl with cancer: Hazel sees many parallels to her own life here. Augustus is angry after reading the book and discovering that it doesn’t have a nicely wrapped up ending. There is no conclusion, no neat package, no ending: happy or otherwise. Of course, life has an ending, but it often isn’t happy or neatly wrapped up. Hazel becomes aware of her fears about getting close to others. She is afraid that when she dies it will hurt them, and this naturally affects her relationship with Augustus. This moving novel deals with issues that most of its teen readers won’t have yet faced in their lives. As a teenager you often feel immortal. You feel as if life is stretching out ahead of you. Hazel and Augustus, along with the other young people at the support group view life differently. There is no expectation that everyone will make it to the next meeting. No one is immortal.
HOPSCOTCH & HANDBAGS
By Lucy Mangan
Subtitled ‘The truth about being a girl’, this book is essential reading for grown up girls of all ages. In it, Lucy Mangan explores the subtleties of female life from school onwards – or, as the title has it, from Hopscotch to Handbags. The tone is always light-hearted. This is no self help book – instead it’s a mixture of reminiscences, cautionary tales and laugh out loud moments. Packed with lists, diary entries, jokes and quizzes that are pure 1970’s Jackie magazine, the beauty of the book is how quickly you can place yourself within it. What girl doesn’t remember the intricate rules of teenage friendship, or the range of helpful excuses to get out of the dreaded PE lesson twice a week? And while lists may be something you would expect in a boy’s book, here they serve as a checklist and a reminder - I guarantee that you will measure your teenage self against the ‘cool and uncool’ list, and the Top Ten Beloved Books will send you back to your old childhood favourites (Malory Towers, anyone?) Mangan’s style is chatty, confidential and inclusive – and her points hit home.
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