ABC Magazine: South Edition Sep/Oct 2022

North Shields Cultural Quarter Open For Business

The first phase of the ambitious restoration work to North Shields town centre is now complete.

The project, which is part of North Tyneside Council’s regeneration masterplan for North Shields and the Fish Quay, has seen the redevelopment of the historic Northumberland Square, Howard Street and surrounding area.

Sympathetic to its heritage and roots, works began last September to take the square back to its original Georgian layout of footpaths and a perimeter of trees, enhancing the biodiversity of the park by introducing thousands of new plants.

The project, which was supported and co-founded by Historic England, creates a new Cultural Quarter for North Shields, incorporating Northumberland Square, Howard Street and surrounding area to support sustainable economic and cultural growth to restore and enhance local historic character.

Traditional sandstone paving and cobbled-style paths have been installed throughout the square, with new contemporary lighting and up-lighting to trees. The addition of new plants and shrubs, as well as a native beech hedgerow will help diversify habitats and enhance ecology, creating a biodiversity net-gain to the conservation area.

Howard Street offers a shared highway surface for occasional vehicle use, creating a new pedestrian and cyclist-friendly cultural scene, giving a nod to the original historic footway geometry. An avenue of trees and seating has been installed leading up to the Square from the Fish Quay, as part of our tree planting programme which contributes to the borough’s net-zero 2030 ambitions.

The thoroughfare between Northumberland Square and North Shields retail centre has undergone reinstatement of period curtilage detail, including a bleed of natural materials appropriate to the conservation area and allowing for a good pedestrian link from Bedford Street to the square.

Cllr Carl Johnson, Deputy Mayor of North Tyneside and cabinet member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “It’s fantastic to see the Square complete and already in use and being enjoyed by local residents and visitors, particularly at the first major event on Monday: the multicultural celebration that is North Tyneside Together.

“The reshaping of Northumberland Square and Howard Street creates a

welcoming modern feel and tranquil, pleasant and more flexible space in this historic part of the town for events and leisure activities that everyone can enjoy, adding to the appeal of the town centre and complementing the other North Shields regeneration projects that are now well underway.”

The scheme was developed in partnership with Capita.

Capita’s North Tyneside Partnership Director, Margie Burdis, said: Margie Burdis said: “We’re delighted to be helping North Tyneside Council achieve its exciting vision for North Shields.

“The transformation of Howard Street and Northumberland Square is simply incredible – and it was great to see the park quickly being put to good use during the North Tyneside Together event. Our site team worked closely with the Council to help keep everyone informed about progress and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank residents and businesses for their patience during construction.

“Now, having seen such a great end result, I personally can’t wait for us to work with the Council on a further phase of the masterplan.”

IMAGE: North Tyneside Council

Five Reasons to Visit The Biscuit Factory this Autumn

Newcastle-based art, craft and design gallery, The Biscuit Factory, is celebrating it’s 20th Birthday this November!

If you haven’t visited before, or haven’t been for a while, then this autumn might be the perfect opportunity to make time for your next visit. Here’s five reasons why:

1. Their varied collections of stunning original art

The Biscuit Factory works with hundreds of independent artists, showcasing thousands of pieces of art, each created by hand using a vast array of techniques. Visitors can view everything from original paintings to handcrafted jewellery, sculpture, textiles and furniture.

This autumn, expect to find a new exhibition by Graham Rider whose work focuses on the hinterland between land and sea. Graham’s studies of the sand dunes and marshes often found in coastal locations aim to capture the feeling of standing within the scene itself. Always popular among those who recognise the sandy beaches of the Northumberland coast and hold memories of summer holidays spent there.

2. Affordable gift ideas from jewellery to homewares

If you’re looking for an original gift, The Biscuit Factory should definitely be on your radar. Their craft gallery stocks hundreds of smaller pieces, ideal for Birthday or Christmas gifts to family or friends. Pick up original, handmade pieces from under £25, including handcrafted candle holders, unique mugs and vases, or limited edition art prints.

Looking for something a little more personal? Their jewellery collection hosts over a dozen artists at any time, working in all sorts of materials from recycled plastics to precious stones. All budgets are catered for too, from silver ear studs at £20 to gold diamond rings.

If you don’t want the responsibility of choosing, you can opt for a gift voucher instead from £10, and pop it in one of the quirky greetings cards that they source from independent printers, designers and artists.

3. A roof-top terrace to enjoy the autumn sunshine

Located on the first floor of The Biscuit Factory, The Factory Kitchen’s rooftop garden terrace is a perfect oasis between the City and the Ouseburn Valley.

Even as the weather cools, their partially covered terrace is a popular spot when the sun is shining! Visitors can enjoy their delicious menu of brunch dishes, fresh salads and bakery. Finish up with homemade cakes or ice-cream (or both!) from their deli counter and wash it all down with tea, coffee, cocktails or wine. You’ll even

find local beers in their fridges from nearby Tyne Bank Brewery!Kids aren’t forgotten either, with their own minimenu and colouring activities.

4. Creative workshops to awaken your inner-artist Get in touch with your inner-artist, learn a new skill, or just enjoy a different type of day out with friends. The Biscuit Factory’s range of workshops are a wonderful way to unwind and get your creativity flowing.

Led by professional artists or crafts practitioners, workshops include: embroidery, rug tufting, ceramic mug-making, printing, painting and drawing, and wire sculpture to name a few! All workshops are suitable for beginners, and you’ll always leave with your very own personal creation.

Keep a look out for their children’s Little Biscuits workshops too in the school half term holidays where kids can also learn how to create with clay, basic printing techniques, make masks, and more! Parents, carers or guardians also enjoy 10% discount in the cafe so they can relax while the kids get creative!

5. The Book Hus from Forum Books North East Indie Bookstore legends Forum Books have had their own pop up in The Biscuit Factory for nearly 5 years! Situated on the ground floor of the gallery you’ll find The Book Hus, where you can discover a rotating range of unusual, exciting, and interesting titles alongside well-known publications. It’s an ideal place to pick up your next read, or choose a title to gift to a loved one instead. When you buy a book in The Book Hus you’ll also get a stamp on your Factory Kitchen loyalty card, so you can enjoy your purchase over a cuppa! What’s more, you’ll also find regular book events hosted at the gallery from Forum’s rosta of literary talent.

With free entry seven days a week, and so much to see and do, The Biscuit Factory is an ideal day out for the culture-seeker.

The Biscuit Factory, 16 Stoddart Street, Newcastle, NE2 1AN. Tel: 0191 261 1103 www.thebiscuitfactory.com

Preston Cemetery Gains Prestigious Green Flag Award

Preston Cemetery, in North Shields, is one of eight local parks and green spaces to achieve Green Flag status for 2022/2023, having succeeded in its first ever bid for the award.

Judges were impressed by how clean and wellmaintained the cemetery was, and highlighted its biodiversity, overall management, restored buildings, and community work as key strengths.

The Rising Sun Country Park, Benton Quarry, Marden Quarry, Killingworth Lakeside Parks, Wallsend Parks, Northumberland Park, and Chirton and Redburn Dene Parks have retained their awards, and continue to be recognised among the best in the UK. The Friends of Brierdene have also retained their Green Flag Community Award.

The award is the international benchmark of quality in a park or open green space, and is given out each year to parks which meet the very highest standards.

Councillor Sandra Graham, Cabinet Member for the Environment, welcomed the news. She said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive a Green Flag Award yet again for so many of our parks and green spaces and to see Preston Cemetery join the list.

“It’s quite an achievement to reach this standard in the first place but to repeat and improve on that success every year is something truly special. The awards are only possible because of the way the council and community work together. The Green Flag is a signal to the public that they can expect the very highest standards when they visit one of our parks or green spaces.

“Preston Cemetery holds a special place in the hearts of local people. It is steeped in local history, a haven for wildlife, and a peaceful sanctuary affording visitors some space and time to reflect. Our bereavement services team carry out their roles with the utmost dedication and I’d like to congratulate them and all of our award-winning venues on another year of success.”

Preston Cemetery opened in 1856, and is the largest in North Tyneside. Within the grounds is Tynemouth Crematorium, a recently renovated Burial Chapel, a Jewish Prayer House, and two War Memorials. The cemetery is a designated wildlife site and is dominated by large areas of woodland.

Funding in 2020/2021 allowed for significant building improvements, while funding in 2022 will enable improvements to the Book of Remembrance room and Garden of Remembrance.

There have been over 110,000 burials (including cremated remains) since the cemetery opened. Notable burials include:

Victor Noble Rainbird, a local painter whose work often depicted the sights of North Shields and other Tyne harbours.

Thomas William Brown GM, one of the youngest people to receive the George Medal. In October 1942, as a NAAFI canteen assistant, he was involved in the action between Petard and U-559, being one of three men to board the sinking submarine in an effort to retrieve vital documents, and was the only one of the three to survive. These documents would later lead the Bletchley Park codebreakers to crack the German Enigma code. After this heroic deed, it was revealed that he was underage to be at sea. He returned home to North Shields. In 1945 he died from injuries sustained while rescuing his sister Maureen from a house fire at their home in North Shields whilst on leave from HMS Belfast. His family were presented with his medal by King George VI in 1945, and later presented it to the NAAFI in 1985.

The inspection report states: “Many interesting graves form part of a Heritage Walk. Buildings have been sensitively restored and contribute greatly to the beauty of the site, particularly the Burial Chapel.

“Management and maintenance of Preston Cemetery by the Operations Manager and her enthusiastic and dedicated team has resulted in a really beautiful site that combines sensitively managed bereavement services with leisure provision for the wider community. Preston Cemetery is a worthy Green Flag winner…well done.”

Keep Britain Tidy’s Accreditation Manager Paul Todd said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making North Tyneside’s parks and green spaces worthy of a Green Flag Award. This award is testament to all the hard work of staff and volunteers, who do so much to ensure that it maintains the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”

Groundbreaking Backworth Ageing Well Village Gains Approval

An innovative new community development, which will support older people to live independently by bringing a range of health, care and housing services into a single place in North Tyneside has been given the green light to go ahead.

Recognising that traditional housing for older people needed to be transformed, Age UK North Tyneside, Northumberland Estates, North Tyneside Council and leading sector experts in health have developed a new concept in senior living that offers independence, freedom and flexibility within a community setting, and close access to health and social care facilities.

The result is the Backworth Ageing Well Village, a ground-breaking community development for people living in later life. The Village will include high-quality residential housing to cater for various lifestyle and care needs, a range of health and care services in a single place, facilities for the local community and a focus on healthy living and well-being.

The provision of 40 intermediate care beds, rehabilitation facilities and a frailty hub on-site aims to reduce the need for hospital admissions and provide longer-term care within the Village complex.

The project is more than health and social care provision. It is also about connecting older people to their local community with well-being and lifestyle opportunities that prioritise independence and inclusivity. The site’s proximity to existing local services along with ample pedestrian, cycle and transport links enables natural integration and connectivity to the wider area making it the ideal location to develop the Ageing Well Village.

The development also acknowledges the importance of intergenerational contact and will include a community hub with a range of facilities including a café, shop, salon,

office space, gym, therapy rooms and small shops.

Age UK North Tyneside’s Chief Executive Dawn McNally said that when the charity consulted on its 2025 strategy, people expressed a need for more housing options in later life.

Ms McNally said: “We believe that by offering housing, as well as our other services, we can provide holistic and truly integrated services for our customers. A very small element of planning of housing is for people in later life so that is why we are making our vision a reality here in North Tyneside.

“Housing is the bed-rock of good health and wellbeing. What makes us unique is that we are a large care provider and large charity with two different types of services in housing and health and social care. What better way for us to be an integrated provider than to be able to offer housing and all that comes with it”.

With the number of over 65s set to increase significantly in the coming years, the project is designed to create an Ageing Well Village for people living in later life that is connected to local services and public transport.

Sustainability will be a key feature. Sustainable and locally sourced materials will be used where possible and the plans also include extensive green infrastructure, landscaping, and useable open green space to encourage residents to use, contribute to and conserve their outdoor environment.

The Backworth Ageing Well Village has received recognition from NHS partners, Councils and other key stakeholders for its modern and innovative approach to senior living, which places the health and well-being of residents at the heart of its design. The development has been designed by P+HS architects, specialists in the residential and healthcare sectors.

Artist’s

North Tyneside Fireworks Displays

Fireworks at the Fort

Saturday 5th November 2022

Segedunum Roman Fort, Buddle Street, Wallsend, NE28 6HR

Hundreds of spectators will gather at the annual Segedunum fireworks display. As well as the firework extravaganza, visitors can explore the museum for free. Entry from 4pm. Display at 6.30pm.

In the event of poor weather conditions the display may be cancelled or rearranged.

Blue Flames Fireworks Display

Saturday 5th November 2022

Blue Flames sporting club, Whitley Road, Benton, NE12 9SF

A family event, with fairground rides, stalls, food and refreshments and entertainment. There will be 3 bars open as well as a variety of food stalls, catering for most dietary needs.

Gates open at 4.30pm. Display is around 7pm Tickets are: Adults £7.50, Children £5.50 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fireworks-tickets-396591354417

North Tyneside Fireworks Display

Sunday 6th November 202

The Links, Whitley Bay, NE26 1TQ

North Tyneside's annual fireworks display attracts thousands of people to see a spectacular show overlooking the North Sea off Whitley Bay.

There are fairground rides and refreshments from 6pm, with the display starting at 7pm and lasting for around 20 minutes.

Traffic in the area will be busy but many people choose to use the Metro. In the event of bad weather, the event will take place the following night.

All information is correct at the time of going to print, but is subject to change. Please check with the individual events to confirm charges.

3A Ilfracombe Gardens Whitley Bay NE263ND

Open 9am to

Today Everyone’s a Photographer

By Anne Watson, a member of Whitley Bay Photographic Society

A Google search found it’s projected that a staggering 1.7 trillion photo’s will be taken around the world in 2022, and we all love to share what we’ve taken by posting our images up on Social Media sites. WhatsApp takes top spot with 6.9 billion images shared each day and, when you add in Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook, the number of images shared each day becomes mind-boggling!

Which is better?

This series of articles is designed to help you take better images to share with others and it doesn’t matter what kind of camera you have either. As seasoned photographer Chase Jarvis noted when asked what was the best camera for a set of photographic situations ~ his reply was “whatever you happen to have with you at the time”.

92% of the images uploaded to the internet were taken on a smartphone and these have evolved enormously over the last 10 years and have almost as many ‘bells and whistles’ as the camera an amateur photographer might be seen carrying around. No matter what you use to take an image the fundamentals of photography remain the same. Being Subject, Lighting, Composition and Timing.

In future articles I’ll be exploring these and offering tips and techniques on how you can improve both your photography and editing skills to help your images stand out and get noticed. A digital camera, such as the Nikon above, has been designed to be held using both hands to create a stable platform to help reduce camera shake and blurry images. Top Tip for smartphone photographers - try to find a steady surface for the shot e.g., window frames, lamp posts, benches etc to either lean against or use as a rest as it will help reduce images lost to the dreaded camera shake.

They call it a ‘natural instinct’. The story of two innovators of fashion bring a new chapter at Concept where we proudly showcase the new collection by Patty Perreira, who for almost two decades designed for Vera Wang, Prada, Miu Miu and Paul Smith, to Bill Barton an optician and former CEO of the legendary Oliver Peoples. See their intuitive and versatile style, behind the ‘Fear of God’ and celebrated 007 collection, evolve into a whole new world of modern eye wear.

For these two anarchic curators, ‘it’s all about who you are”. Celebrated by Vogue, GQ and style bibles across the world to fashion doyennes and leading boutique retailers, Barton Perreira commands its own lexicon. This luxury eyewear brand was born out of independence, intuition and freedom.

Our eyewear is timeless. Each frame is a work of art that becomes part of who you are.”

- Patty Perreira

At Concept, this is the story of artistic collaboration. Jerry Lorenzo the founder of the American luxury streetwear label creating customised ‘looks’ for Justin Bieber, says of Perreira’s optical frames, they are ‘gorgeous’, designed in such a way that they do not steal

We can show the world a more beautiful view... Introducing Barton Perreira Blending art with fashion.

the show from the wearer. “I love this approach to design, where the subject is the centre of attention and not the object itself. I wanted to give a sense of modernity to the classic frame that I have been wearing for seven years now. Thanks to the design of Fear of God and the craftsmanship of Barton Perreira, I present a modern optical frame that gives off a pure vintage sunglass feeling”.

One can describe the acetate, hinge technology or hand made quality, but holding it in your hands and, of course, trying a pair cannot replace the visceral experience. The sheer pleasure. Don’t take this as gospel. You’re very welcome to browse and see for yourself. Concept Eye Clinic is, after all, the ‘art of the optometrist’ – where luxury and probably the best eye care in the region is attentively affordable.

Did you know that our eye care plans are designed for your lifestyle?

A destination for beautiful eyewear and healthy vision in the heart of Tynemouth, Concept offers an integrative approach to seeing well and looking good. Say goodbye to ‘routine’ and expect more from your eye examination here. With the diagnostic components of an advanced eye exam and contact lens assessment, we can detect, predict and look after your eyes before it’s too late.

If you wear contact lenses, you need to get the best eye care you can. With your bespoke care plan, enjoy discounts on your designer spectacle purchase and the most effective and comfortable lenses customised for your lifestyle. our 0191 6124

North Tyneside's BIG Halloween Pumpkin Trail

This October, spook-seekers in North Tyneside are in for a treat, as a brand new Pumpkin trail, featuring a host of characters, will be weaving it’s way around the region.

The Borough’s Big Halloween Pumpkin Trail features 30 giant pumpkin caricatures on pavements, walls, windows and bins in and around our town centres, and adventurers will be able to track all of them using a free app.

Characters can be found in Tynemouth, Wallsend, Whitley Bay, North Shields, Cullercoats, Killingworth, Forest Hall and more. Each pumpkin is individually named, all with their own character and fun story – like Hermione, who likes to ‘potter’ around the pumpkin patch!

The app is now available for iPhone and Android from the respective app stores and the trail will be in place from Saturday 9 October, running through to the end of the month. Anyone wanting to download the app, developed by North East software house Nebula Labs, should search for ‘North Tyneside Pumpkin Trail’ in the app store’.

North Tyneside’s Big Halloween Pumpkin Trail is organised by North Tyneside Council and supported by

French

WITH LINGUA FORME

the Welcome Back Fund, ERDF action to support town centre recovery and the safe return to our high streets following the pandemic.

BOOK NOW FOR THE FOLLOWING CLASSES:

Mondays at Morpeth 10.15-11.45 am Intermediate 12.25-1.55 pm Improvers/Intermediate

Tuesdays at Whitley Bay 6.30-8.00 pm Beginners

Wednesdays 10.00-11.30 am Improvers at Seaton Sluice 1-2.30pm Intermediate at Whitley Bay 6.30-8.00 pm Improvers/Intermedate at Seaton Sluice

Thursdays at Morpeth 10.15-11.45 am Higher Beginners 1.00-2.30pm Advanced One GCSEA Level My fabulous French lessons are available to anyone. From scratch with beginners, encouraging improvers or polishing up advanced learners, my approach to French and learning remains the same – passionate and fun.

Our Private Day Nurseries are located in North Shields Centre and at the top of Rake Lane (next to Vets 4 Pets). We have access to great outdoor spaces on a daily basis as well as educational outings for all children.

Healthy balanced meals and snacks are on offer as well as ensuring any dietary requirements. Our fees include your child’s personal Learning Journey file with photographs, all meals, snacks, outings, visitors into nurseries etc. We do not have any hidden charges.

If available, we offer full day, half day, hours to suit shift workers, term time only as well as all year round, 51 weeks of the year.

Little Learners was voted as one of the best places to work in the North East for 2 years running and we are an Ofsted Good Early Years Provider. our

Lovaine Place, North Shields NE29 0BU ( 07914 376 434

Open 8.00 am - 5.30 pm (optional early booking of 7.30am)

High and children provided by a fully qualified and experienced team. NE29 (N.E)

North Shields Hosts It’s First Ever World Snooker Tournament

The North East Snooker Centre, based on Queen Alexander Road in North Shields, were delighted to hold the first ever World Snooker Q Tour tournament in the North East. Over 120 entrants from all over the world arrived for a weekend of top quality snooker last month.

The tournament attracted competitors of all ages and standards, as shown in the picture, where you can see the eldest participant Maureen Rowland, along with the youngest Stan Moody. They are joined by MP Alan Campbell and local professionals Gary Wilson, David Lilly and Elliott Slessor, all of whom practice at the venue run by Paul and Alison Rinaldi.

The North East Snooker Centre, based on Queen Alexander Road, is the only club in the North East to play host to four Professional Star tables, the same type of table you see on televised events. The centre also has two high quality Riley Aristocrat tables with steel block cushions, and four standard Riley tables, similar to those found in most social clubs, but in tip-top condition.

For those new to the game, or even for experienced players wanting to build their potting confidence, the club has a high quality ¾ table. For ardent 9-ball and 8-ball pool players, the couple have installed tournament quality tables, offering the best

playing surfaces for both sports. Also, be assured you’re in good hands when seeking advice on improving all aspects of your game. Paul Rinaldi himself is a former professional player, and his main advice is always ‘Keep it Simple’. Paul is continually involved with many of the current top professionals and also helps run ‘The Cue Zone’ during the World Championships in Sheffield, as well as other ranking tournaments. If you’d like help from a coach who has made over 1000 century breaks then look no further. Whether you are a beginner looking for basic tips, or an experienced player seeking help with certain aspects of your game, pop in and see how Paul can help improve your game.

Because of the contacts Paul

has built up over the years, the centre has already hosted Professional Snooker Exhibitions and other quality events. In their first year, cue sport legends Dennis Taylor, Steve Davis and Cliff Thorburn, as well as world champions Shaun Murphy and Mark Williams, have all made appearances at the centre. With more events planned for the coming 12 months, keep an eye out for more world class stars coming to the area.

As well as catering for adult enthusiasts of all abilities, the club also provide quality coaching through their Saturday Morning Kids Club. Boys and Girls ages 8 to 16 will truly benefit from attending a fun-packed morning of cue sport activity.

For more details on all of the above, either call the centre on 0191 691 2091 or visit www.northeastsnookercentre.com The centre is open 11am - 11pm, 7 days a week.

Dennis Taylor, Steve Davis and Cliff Thorburn, as well as world champions Shaun Murphy and Mark Williams, have all made appearances at the centre.

Tournament competitors along with Alan Campbell MP and owners Paul and Alison Rinaldi

Festival of Rugby Hits the North East

The Rugby League World Cup is the pinnacle event in international Rugby League. Unlike other sports, where we see frequent international competition, Rugby League is more domestic based, with international competitions few and far between.

Last hosted solely on these shores in 1995, this autumn England will once again play host to the best players in the world. The World Cup was due to be held last autumn however, due to covid restrictions in Australia and New Zealand (the two biggest forces in the sport), it was decided to move the event back 12 months, but still market it as the 2021 World Cup.

This year's World Cup will see more teams than ever compete for the trophy, with four groups of four nations competing in stadiums across England.

Amongst the stadiums chosen are St. James’ Park and Kingston Park, with four fixtures coming to the region, including the prestigious opening ceremony and the first game of the tournament. Along with Old Trafford, St. James’ Park is now seen as a flagship stadium for Rugby League, as shown by the success of the Magic Weekend, which has found its home right here in Newcastle.

Due to this success, St. James’ Park has been chosen to play host to the first fixture of the World Cup, England v Samoa, on Saturday October 15th. The following day Kingston Park will be home to Scotland's opening fixture, when they match up against an up and coming Italian side. The event returns to Kingston Park the following Saturday, when Italy once again feature, this time against the tough Fijian outfit.

Finally, on Saturday 29th October, it will be Scotland's turn to tackle the formidable and tough to beat Fiji in their final group game.

The tournament then continues at stadiums and venues around the country, culminating in the showpiece

final at Old Trafford on Saturday 19th November at 4pm.

The way the World Cup works is that all quarterfinalists from the preceding World Cup (RLWC2017) have automatically qualified to compete. The remaining eight nations were decided by a qualification process based on global regions determined by International Rugby League.

The Rugby League World Cup was first held in France in 1954, and was the first world cup for any form of Rugby football, more than 30 years before the first Rugby Union World Cup.

The first tournament featured only four teams, with Great Britain winning the event, beating hosts France in the final. The event was very sporadic over the next few years, with tournaments being anywhere from 2 to 8 years apart, and regularly featuring only 4 or 5 teams. This changed in 1995 when, with the help of various investments and a new interest in the sport, England hosted a 10 team tournament, filling Wembley stadium for the final. Even though the final didn't go the way of the hosts, they were beaten 16-8 by old rivals Australia, a new era of Rugby League was born and the sport has gone from strength to strength ever since.

This year's event is the sixteenth Rugby League World Cup, and the tournament has only ever been won by three countries. Australia have collected the trophy 11 times, Great Britain 3 times and New Zealand have won it once.

Our nations competed as Great Britain until 1995 and, since then, none of the individual nations have quite managed to lift the trophy. With home advantage, one of the strongest squads ever put together, and a new found confidence, let's hope this year England can finally get their hands on the World Cup trophy - and you cheer them on right here in the North East!

For information on tickets and fixtures, visit www.rlwc2021.com

The Rugby League World Cup is being held in England this autumn, with Newcastle playing host to some vital fixtures.

Film Releases

DON’T WORRY DARLING

Genres: Thriller

Age Rating: 15

Release date: 23rd September

The American dream of the 1950s blackens into a nightmare in Don’t Worry Darling, a psychological thriller that takes up residence under your skin. Alice is a young, happy wife whose marriage to company man Jack comes with just one caveat: never, ever ask him about his work on the secret Victory Project.

While her fellow wives cook and clean, Alice becomes consumed by Jack’s secrets and haunted by hallucinations, the tension builds to a gut-punch climax. Creepy, clever and with standout performances from Flor ence Pugh and Harry Styles.

experience; an audio-visual space odyssey that not only illuminates the enigmatic legacy of David Bowie but also serves as a guide to living a fulfilling and meaningful life in the 21st Century. Moonage Daydream is not a documentary. It is a gen re-defying cinematic experience based on one of the most iconic and global rock stars of all time, destined to be one of the defining cultural moments of the year The film has the full support of Bowie’s estate and features many of his greatest tracks, as well as previously unseen concert footage.

Starring Isabelle Huppert, Jason Isaacs and Lesley Manville and in partnership with the House of Dior, ‘Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris’ tells the story of a widowed cleaning lady in 1950s London who falls madly in love with a couture Dior dress and decides that she must have one of her own. After she works, starves and gambles to raise the funds to pursue her dream, she embarks on an adventure to Paris which will change not only her own outlook, but the very future of the House of Dior.

MOONAGE DAYDREAM

Genres: Documentray, Musical

Age Rating: 15

Release date: 23rd September

From Oscar-nominated film maker Brett Morgen, director of Cobain: Montage of Heck, and featuring never-before-seen concert footage, Moonage Day dream is an immersive cinematic

SMILE

Genres: Horror

Age Rating: 18

Release date: 30th September

After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can’t explain. As an overwhelming terror begins taking over her life, Rose must confront her troubling past in order to survive and escape her horrifying new reality.

AMSTERDAM

Genres: Drama, History Age Rating: TBC

Release date: 7th October

A fascinating and richly intricate tale that brilliantly weaves histor ical fact with fiction for a timely, cinematic experience.

Set in the 1930s, ‘Amsterdam’ follows the story of three friends who get entangled in one of the most famous murder cases in American history. Initially witness es of the incident, they somehow become the primary suspects. Now, the three friends — a nurse, a doctor, and an attorney — must follow the case closely and deal with all the proceedings in an uphill struggle to clear themselves from all charges.

MRS HARRIS GOES TO PARIS

Genres: Comedy, Drama

Age Rating: PG

Release date: 30th September

Starring Margot Robbie,Chris tian Bale and John David Wash ington, 20th Century Studios’ and New Regency’s original crime epic is about three close friends who find themselves at the center of one of the most shocking se cret plots in American history.

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: 33 Good; 40 Very Good; 46 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).

Ratatouille

A SUPPER

Serves:

Cooking time: 30 - 60 mins

Preparation

INGREDIENTS

• 2 aubergines

• small courgettes

• red peppers

• large tomatoes

• tbsp olive oil

• onions, chopped

• 2 garlic cloves, crushed

• ½ tsp sugar

• salt and freshly ground black pepper

• small bunch basil, torn

METHOD

1. Chop the aubergines into chunks about 2.5cm square. Cut the courgettes into 2.5cm thick slices. De-seed the peppers and cut these into bite-sized chunks.

2. Peel the tomatoes - score a cross in the base of each tomato and place them in a heatproof bowl. Pour over enough boiling water to cover and set aside for one minute. Drain and, when cool enough to handle, peel away the skins. Roughly chop the flesh.

3. Heat the oil in a flameproof casserole dish and add the chopped onions. Cook gently for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden-brown and tender. Add the aubergines and courgettes and cook for 2-3 minutes. Stir in the peppers, garlic, sugar, some salt and pepper and half the basil and mix well. Cover and cook over a very gentle heat for 20 minutes. Add the tomatoes to the pan and cook for a further 10 minutes.

4. Scatter the ratatouille with the remaining basil and serve with crusty garlic bread or Focaccia.

Fancy a Festive Getaway?

Local coach tourism expert Graham Wright of United Group Travel has worked in the industry as a driver for many years, the last few spent as a tour driver for a local North East coach holiday company, until the pandemic had a catastrophic effect on the industry, with many companies going out of business.

Over the years, on his numerous tours both abroad and in the UK, Graham built up a fantastic relationship with many of his passengers, and he is lucky to call many of them friends. They really appreciated Graham’s vast experience and knowledge of the places he visited, to the extent that a lot of passengers started asking who the driver would be before they actually booked a tour with the company. It was during a conversation with one of his friends that the question was asked about starting his own company and running his own holidays.

Graham has put all his years’ experience and knowledge to good use while planning his exclusive tours. All the tours are exceptional value for money, and he only selects the best-established quality hotels, that are generally either known to him, or he has previously used them before. The specific day trips on each tour are also carefully created, all based on Graham’s knowledge, as well as any relevant previous customer feedback and suggestions to ensure they are always

enjoyed. The trips do not leave the hotel too early, or return too late, so as to allow everyone to make full use of the facilities. Guaranteed free time, as well as entertainment, are also key factors that he takes into account to try and make a tour as pleasurable an experience as possible.

It’s nice to have something to look forward to, so why not book a Christmas shopping trip, some Turkey and Tinsel or go the whole hog and book a trip away for New Year’s Eve? The advert on the opposite page shows you what’s on offer, with more to follow!

Rest assured that you can book with confidence with United Travel. They have been granted a COVID-19 Industry Standard Certificate, which shows that government and industry COVID-19 guidelines are followed. Plus, if your tour is cancelled due to the COVID restrictions, you will receive a full refund.

Graham would like to thank all of his wonderful customers that continued to support him throughout 2021 and 2022 and he’s looking forward to welcoming you onboard! 01670 632460 07957

United Group are taking bookings now for their popular coach tours.

Thoresby Hall Hotel

Queen Hotel, Chester

Once Upon A Time in Northumberland

Ashington Author, Lorna Windham Publishes Magical Book of Children’s Short Stories

A new children’s book set in Northumberland with illustrated stories of fairies, monsters and magical beasts is available to buy now.

Once Upon A Time in Northumberland is a collection of humorous short stories inspired by traditional, Northumberland folk tales such as Queen Mab’s Rothley Mill and Dancing Round the Hurl Stone as well as classic fairy tales such as The Little Match Girl, The Tin Soldier and The Princess and the Pea. Award winning writer Lorna Windham said, “I wanted to create contemporary stories which would stand the test of time and featured Northumberlandia, the River Blyth and the Simonside Hills, landmarks that many children in the North East will recognise. I loved creating the quirky characters and giving each a predicament to solve, particularly when this touched on modern concerns about the environment and wildlife.”

In Once Upon A Time in Northumberland, Queen Mab, struggles to maintain harmony between the magical creatures who live in Enchanted Wood. Lorna said: “This is a kingdom where fairies fly, monsters stalk and wordragons roar. We discover unsettled honeybees, how, Groach, the queen’s half-sister, thinks her beauty is more important than kindness and how two red squirrels, Fluffcoat, and Brighteyes, are concerned about the dangers some humans cause.”

The book starts with the Lady of the North’s Tale where we learn about her childhood, the princes who wished to marry her and why her outline, the world’s biggest Earth art, can be seen at Northumberlandia’s country park. Other magical stories tell of Queen Mab’s thousandth birthday party and the arrival of an unexpected guest, one of King Roarie the Reiver’s crimes and his comeuppance, Cutty Soames, who regrets hiring troublesome troll, Honeydew Krump; Strawberry Parkin, a hapless apprentice tooth fairy in need of the queen’s help, Danny the Deurgar, and his answer to bullies and, Reggie Rabbit, who discovers playing games on his iPad will not teach him everything he needs to know.

As well as Once Upon A Time in Northumberland, Lorna has written three local history books, and three historical romances: The Jacobites’s Daughter, The Rebel and the Redcoat and The Jacobite Affair. Her poetry has been published in several anthologies. She

is also a playwright and has co-written two audio plays with, Lily Moon, Rule 55 and 100 Not Out broadcast on Hive Radio. Lorna’s, commemorative play, The Tenth Bord was performed at St. Hilda’s Pithead, South Shields. In 2008, she won the North Tyneside Short Story Competition with Spirit of the Age and her novel, Toby’s Secret was longlisted in the Times/ Chicken House Children’s Competition.

AUTHOR: Lorna Windham

Lorna’s friend and multi-talented amateur artist, Delphine Blenkinsop, who lives in Northumberland, volunteered to create over 16 brilliant illustrations based on the book’s characters. Lorna and Delphine are members of The Hive Radio Storytellers who recorded several of the characters’ voices. These could be accessed by using QR codes on Enchanted Cramlington’s successful Woodland Audio Trail at Northumberlandia during Jubilee Week. The trail was described by one member of the public as: “an amazing, magical adventure!” New trails will open in early summer and late autumn.

Once upon A Time in Northumberland is on sale for £7.99 at www.summerhillbooks.co.uk and local shops.

How Can We Help You and Your Family?

by Jacqueline Emmerson of Emmersons Solicitors

I am on a mission at the moment to find those folks who are falling through the cracks in society.

Pre covid was bad enough but being isolated and unable to seek help is far worse now. As regular readers will know, I spend a lot of time assisting older clients who simply have no one to support or help them. You may not even know what help is available to you.

Such clients will typically have been only children who never married. Or who were divorced years ago and don’t have siblings or children. Some of my clients have long term mental health problems such as schizophrenia, they can function on a day to day basis but cannot manage all of their affairs.

I am also particularly concerned about older members of the gay community. Especially those who were in the forces and had to spend their working lives hiding the fact that they were gay. This may mean that they were unable to marry, they may have avoided the gay community who would ordinarily have provided some support. I have been trying to highlight the plight of this group of people to various organisations including SSAFA.

I have also noticed that in traditional religious families individuals have spent their lives hiding the fact that they are gay so as not to upset their parents or their religious community. Again they may remain unmarried and without children to help them as they get older.

Over the next few months Emmersons Solicitors will be holding free events to inform and offer help. In the meantime if you need help please don’t hesitate to contact me.

What Type of Help?

There are many things that we attend to on behalf of those who are struggling to manage their affairs. If we have a Lasting Power of Attorney in place then we can mange your money. In the first instance I would make sure that your home is insured. Many clients let this lapse without realising. I would check standing orders and direct debits to make sure that you are only paying out money when you need to do so. I regularly find that huge sums of money are being paid out to charities as one charity after another contacts the vulnerable to seek help. That is fine so long as you can afford to make such payments. And if you are paying to charities do you know how many you send money to and how much per month?

You may be struggling to cope with shopping, cleaning, washing and ironing etc. You may feel that you can’t afford help. But if your finances were under control this may free up money so that you could pay someone to assist you. You may be entitled to state benefits such as Attendance Allowance. This can be

worth circa £4,000 per year. Again, this money could be used to pay for someone to come in and support you even a couple of times a week. And it doesn’t have to be fifteen minutes here and there. There are many private agencies, who are often cheaper than social services, who can offer you a minimum of an hour per visit.

Did you know that there are agencies who will take you out for the day. Do you fancy a trip to the Northumberland Coast or Durham City. Do you want someone to take you to and from your cricket club, or to watch the football? Do you want someone to make meals for you? The choice is yours.

We can also help to sort out your home. Has it all become a bit too much. Have you started to hoard things so that your home is feeling too cluttered? We have a team that will come in and work with us and you to turn things around. We can arrange for a one off deep clean, the removal of items you no longer need or want and weekly cleaning.

We can also get all of your paperwork under control. This might include finding old savings policies that you have forgotten about. We found one recently for a client that was worth over £40,000! We can organise your bank accounts into one place and bring in a financial advisor to ensure that your money is in the correct place for you.

What If You Need to go Into a Care Home?

This can be a huge decision and there will be a lot to think about. I have looked after the homes of clients for years who have not wanted to sell. It is your decision as to when or if you sell a home that may have been the place of years of happy family memories. I have dealt with council tax and council tax rebates. Water rates, which should not be paid when a house is empty. Gas and electricity, care home fees and spending money. Normal house insurance is not enough when a house is empty for more than thirty days. We deal with specialist insurers in order to protect our clients’ property.

To sum up, we can step in and be you. We do all the work so that you don’t have to worry about everything all of the time. If you feel that you are floundering and want a chat about how we can help then you can either email me at je@emmersons-solicitors.co.uk or ring the office on 0191 2846989 and leave your name and telephone number so that I can return your call.

And can I ask, have you noticed a lonely neighbour, have you popped round to see if they are coping? They might have been more in the swing of things before covid but if their day centre closed down or the club they were a member of stopped having meetings then they may have declined quite rapidly in the intervening period. Please look out for your neighbours and friends who live alone or who may be struggling to care for a relative.

Quality, Affordable, Garage Doors

Looking for a new garage door? AI Garage Doors have got just the right solution for you.

Whether you’re looking to enhance the look of your property, replace a worn out garage door or prevent draughts, AI Garage Doors have a door to suit your needs.

Give them a call and they will guide you through the process, ensuring you select the right garage door to meet your requirements.

From Side Hinged to Roller, Sectional to Up and Over, there are many to choose from.

Side Hinged (also known as side opening or ‘swing’ garage doors) are a traditional style of garage door that are exactly what they say they are: garage doors hinged at the sides, nearly always opening outwards. A simple and very effective type of door with the potential to offer great performance in security and insulation and ease of daily use.

Up and Over garage doors consist of a single panel of material. The door has to be pulled out and then pivoted up so it can slide along the roof of the garage. Roller garage doors, on the other hand, are made of a number of horizontal sections which are hinged together for flexibility. Because it rests on rollers, it can be lifted, and rolled into place along the roof of the garage.

Sectional doors are a great option if space on your drive is tight. They also take up less room in the garage since they can be placed higher than a up and over door.

Things to consider…

Insulation - Insulated doors can reduce heat loss due to foam-filled aluminium slats, which can help reduce your energy bills and is particularly good for houses with an integral garage. Their sound-proofing properties also offer acoustic insulation.

Remote control - For ease, convenience and even safety you can’t beat a remote-controlled door. Override - Make sure the remote can be manually overridden in case of power failure.

Security - Automatic door locking mechanisms are useful.

Safety – This one is a top priority. To ensure that an electric garage door is deemed safe for use, it will have to incorporate at least one sufficient safety feature into its mechanism which will prevent personal injury.

AI Garage Doors have been supplying, installing and maintaining garage doors in the Northumberland

and North Tyneside areas for over 15 years. They are Approved by the Guild of Master Craftsmen and have built a reputation as reputable and trusted specialists.

They offer a wide range of garage doors in a variety of colours, materials and features whilst offering excellent service and price without compromising on safety or security.

The doors they fit are all manufactured on a professional production line in the UK by a reputable garage door manufacturer and they conform with the standards expected throughout the industry.

With over 80 positive reviews on Checkatrade.com, they are highly recommended tradesmen who can install your new garage door in no time, transforming the appearance of your home.

The garage door is typically the largest moving part in your home and is probably used every day. With normal use, parts can eventually wear out and break, creating potential safety problems. Therefore AI Garage Doors also offer a full repair and maintenance service to keep your garage door running smoothly, so, whether you have something minor from a broken spring or snapped cable, or require a fully fitted automatic double door, they can help!

■ AI Garage Doors, Tel: 07931 304057 www.aigaragedoors.co.uk

Creating Beautiful Kitchens & Bathrooms

Signature Kitchens, Bathrooms and Tiles offer a unique combination of products, expertise and excellent customer service

Signature Kitchens, Bathrooms and Tiles is a family run business, supplying and creating beautiful bathroom and kitchens from their showroom in Whitley Bay for almost 10 years.

Signature offer supply only or full installation, and the showroom has 3D planning, meaning they can fully project manage your home improvement using fully qualified plumbers, electricians and plasters.

Their experienced team of fitters work alongside apprentices. Signature feel strongly about giving local apprentices on the job training and development on all aspects of fitting bathrooms and kitchens so they can go on to become first class fitters in the future. As a small business they feel it’s important to give opportunity’s to apprentices and create jobs and support the local economy.

They have recently updated their showroom to include Bedrooms, which are of the same high quality as the kitchens and bathrooms Signature has become synonymous with. They offer a range of finishes and a

great choice of some of the latest trends and designs, as well as expert adviceto ensure you make the right choices for you project.

Signature like to think that when customers choose them it’s not only their unique combination of products and expertise, it is also because of their excellent customer service, which helps to make your dream bathroom, kitchen or bedroom transformation a painless process. Their friendly team are always on hand to give advice and help when needed. By visiting their showroom, you can see a huge range of displays with something for everyone and every budget. They also take the hassle out of your home improvements by offering not only the goods but a second to none fitting service. So, by coming to Signature Kitchens, bathrooms and tiles you can get a service from start

to finish or simply let them supply your goods and you can fit them yourself. The decision is yours.

During the current climate they are still here offering their services. They also take on smaller projects so, if you’re in need of assistance, just give them a call on 0191 2535111 and one of the friendly team will help.

Signature Kitchens, Bathrooms and Tiles, 1a Burnside Road, Whitley Bay, NE25 8PW. Tel: 0191 253 5111 www.signaturekitchensbathroomsandtiles.co.uk

Autumn Gardening

By Rachael Leverton

There is something rather lovely about autumn. The days are cooler but often sunny, yet the ground is more moist and so easier to dig. It’s the perfect time of year for gardening.

It’s tempting to tidy up all the browning plant stems but try not to get carried away. Leave some standing because they provide important habitats for wildlife. I do harvest a few seedheads each year: poppies, nigella, and alliums are my favourites. I cut them, leaving their long stems intact and put the heads inside a paper bag, then hang the bunches inside to dry. The ripe seeds fall into the bag and can be labelled and kept for sowing next year’s free plants! The decorative heads look nice in a vase too.

My neighbour (who is retired) makes fabulous leaf mould in meshed cages he’s constructed himself. I take a ‘busy mum’ approach to fallen leaves. I run them over with a mower then rake the resulting confetti off my lawn into the flower beds and borders and let them rot naturally. They soon break down and are incorporated into the soil by worms. I still hanker after my own leaf mould crates though.

Now is the time to remove moss and dead grass from your lawn with a wire rake or electric scarifier and use an aerator to take out old soil and allow better movement of air and water. Apply an autumn lawn feed to strengthen grass and roots for winter. Autumn sown grass seed will germinate ahead of winter and help fill in any sparse areas ahead of the first frost. Use a peat-free lawn dressing too to refresh the soil.

When leaves begin to fall, make sure you remove them from your lawn as soon as possible, as they will block air and sunlight; two essential things that grass needs to survive.

If you planted any perennials a few years ago they might need to be divided. Take a look at your plants. If they are dying off in the middle but have good growth around the edges, it’s time to lift and divide. Dig up the root ball of the plant, brush and pull off excess soil and set on to a plastic ground sheet. Pull (or use a garden fork to prise) apart the root ball into three or four clumps, each with a section of healthy shoots and roots. Replant the ’new’ plants elsewhere in the garden or try swapping plants with friends. Don’t forget to keep them well-watered until they have become established.

If you feel that your garden needs a little more colour heading into winter add a couple of dogwood shrubs into your borders. There are striking red and yellow varieties available. You can also plant sedum, Japanese anemones (Liriope) and Michaelmas daises (Aster). These flower well into

AUTUMN GARDENING ESSENTIALS

1. Stainless Steel Rake, £29.99, Dobbies

2. Soft Touch Winter Gardening Gloves, £29.99

3. Secateurs, £9.00, Wilko

4. Peat Free Compost, £5.99, Dobbies

5. Ferrex 2-In-1 Electric Scarifier, £79.99, aldi.co.uk

late autumn and early winter.

Finally, a little planning for next year goes a long way. October is the perfect time to plant daffodil, crocus, hyacinth and allium bulbs for next spring.

Happy gardening.

Making Magic Happen with Enchanted Cramlington Trails

Hundreds of children and their families have enjoyed exploring the Enchanted Cramlington trails at Northumberlandia this year. Thanks to the goodwill of the Northumberland Wildlife Trust (NWT), and in response to public demand, the trail remained open throughout the summer holidays.

How the trails came about is quite a story. The idea came from several Cramlington residents who wanted to support the Arts with the encouragement of Cramlington Town Council. By using Northumbrian folk tales with their fairies and monsters they wished to create a trail which linked the town’s wild spaces. So, Enchanted Cramlington, a community group was formed.

Lorna Windham, a professional writer, was invited to join the group, and create original characters and stories for a Woodland Audio Trail. Lorna said, ‘I just couldn’t resist such a magical offer.’

Characters were created and their stories written. Volunteers from The Hive Radio Storytellers, with members from all over the North East, took on the roles of numerous characters. Students from Cramlington’s Hareside School and local children also provided many of the voices and drawings for the trails. Northern musicians Iain Gelston and Ben Hudson provided introductory and concluding traditional Northumbrian tune ‘Bywell Bridge’.

Local artists Lesley Scott, Stuart Laverick and Delphine Blenkinsop volunteered their services. Their

artwork can be seen on Enchanted Cramlington’s trails, Facebook Page and at The Hub in Cramlington.

The Hub invited Enchanted Cramlington to decorate a window over the Christmas period in 2021. Cramlington Craft Club did this so well that the window, became two, then three for an extended period. Two windows are being dressed for autumn 2022.

To encourage further community involvement, Enchanted Cramlington has introduced a free competition for amateur artists which ends in February 2023. Winning entrants will have the opportunity to exhibit their work in Cramlington.

In early 2022, Enchanted Cramlington pitched their trail idea to the Northumberland Wildlife Trust, who manage Northumberlandia. ‘Blown away’ by Enchanted Cramlington’s vision they offered to host trails in: Jubilee Week, the first week of August and November the 12th,13th,19th and 20th. Their only stipulation was that they wanted some wildlife characters too. So, Mr. Prickles, a grumpy hedgehog, The Honourable Mr. Fox and Squiff the red squirrel, amongst others, came into being. Fiona Mitford and Northern Butterflies constructed and decorated the characters’ doors and houses.

If you would like to experience future trails, and kept updated about further developments, you can follow Enchanted Cramlington on Facebook or Twitter. Their next trail is in November at Northumberlandia. Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite where a map with a QR code can be downloaded. This gives access to twelve or more characters’ pictures, stories, a quiz and a word puzzle. On the trail, children can hunt for the creature’s doors and houses as well as pebbles created by Pretty Pebbles N.E.

Students from Cramlington’s Hareside School and local children also provided many of the voices and drawings for the trails.

“

Password

By Tom Hancock

Almost every week this year, one of my friends or acquaintances has been hacked. Cyberattacks have increased in 2022 and mostly revolve around password breaches because we still don't take our passwords seriously.

Almost 70% of people use one password over multiple websites and accounts. This means that if you experience a breach, all your accounts (including those you may have forgotten about) can be at risk.

If you think replacing some letters with numbers or adding extra characters will keep you safe, think again. Hackers use sophisticated software to quickly guess variations on a basic password.

The only way to increase security is to use random unique passwords for each account. This can seem intimidating, but password managers exist to create and protect your passwords.

Lots of people create a random unique password for their bank or work account and stick with a single password for accounts they deem lower risk. Unfortunately, to a hacker, even the basic information such as an email address or phone number is valuable data they can use to impersonate you. It's a bore but use random unique passwords for ALL accounts.

I have tried to persuade friends of mine to invest in password manager software (NOT a free download from the internet). A password manager will create unique, single-use passwords AND autofill them as long as they are tied to that account. This means that even if you accidentally click on a phishing link, the password manager should recognise that it's not the legitimate account and flag up a warning or refuse to autofill.

RoboForm, Dashlane and LastPass are three password managers (there are many others), and costs vary. Mine is an annual subscription and works across my phone, tablet, and laptop.

If you don't have a password manager (and you should have one...really...get one now), then create passwords that are hard to guess by choosing words that are personal to you but not personal information such as name or birth date. Think of song lyrics, or your primary teachers, or your favourite shade of nail polish! Three unconnected words with some numbers and symbols are a good start. Passwords should be at least 12 characters long. And don't be tempted by Facebook and Twitter 'fill in the blank quizzes' of the 'My first car was a...' or 'My first pet was named...' variety. They are generally exercises in data mining.

We've all been asked to sign up for multi-factor authentication systems for bank accounts, PayPal, eBay etc. There is usually an opt-out button but don't. Even the most complex passwords can be compromised. A multi-factor authentication creates an extra layer of protection between you and a potential hacker by requiring verification in excess of your password when you log in.

Generally, this involves a one-time password sent to you via SMS or email. It’s an extra step but one worth having, so turn it on whenever it's offered.

It's tempting to think that you won’t be hacked, but every time you use the internet, you are a potential target. Stay Safe!

Help Reduce Energy Costs with Thermos Roof

With most of us facing rising energy bills, why not reduce these costs and save money instantly with a Thermos Roof insulation system in your conservatory. Here they explain more.

Conservatories are a great 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, whilst they bring all of those benefits, it is usually shortlived and can only be enjoyed for two or three months of the year, the rest of those months being either freezing cold or blisteringly hot.

At Thermos Roof, we have been insulating conservatory roofs since 2005 for two main reasons: to increase its insulating performance and enhance its internal aesthetic appearance.

Experience will have shown you that in winter, heat is sucked out of your room and into the conservatory as soon as you open the door. During the summer, it becomes a dazzling sauna that’s so hot you need a fan to cool you down. At Thermos Roof, we can transform your conservatory from a room you barely use, into a space you can enjoy all year round as 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 we can do this all in one day! With no mess!

We retain your existing polycarbonate or glass roof and insulate it from the inside, finishing it in an attractive gloss white tongue and groove PVC cladding that matches the rest of your conservatory construction. The materials we use are lightweight;

therefore, no roof strengthening is required, no planning application is necessary and no long periods of mess and upheaval in your home. In addition to this, the look and finish of your Thermos Roof will be as fresh in 10 years as it is today.

The performance of the 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.

We can install a Thermos Roof to conservatories of any size or shape, transforming them into a flowing extension of your living space wherein the external weather conditions do not dictate its use; it will become warm in winter and cool in summer.

In addition to the above benefits, our 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 five-year warranty. We guarantee that you will be amazed by both the improved appearance and the insulating performance of your new roof.

We offer a free quotation service for the installation of your Thermos Roof 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 us a call today on 01670 828 695 to start the ball rolling to making full use of your Conservatory!

A GOOD READ

NEVER by Ken Follett

Never is more than just a thriller, it touches on a scenario that is close to the bone and one that we all hope never comes true.

A complex web ensues as a US army drone is stolen and what starts as a terrible mistake, snowballs into a cataclysmic event. Meanwhile, the country of Chad is at the heart of a political situation involving two intelligence agents who are seeking to rid the region of a ruthless terrorist group and China is keeping its eye on what has been going on, including a senior government official who hopes to climb the ranks of the Communist Party.

As China is left feeling vulnerable by the situation in Chad retaliation talks against America begins with North Korea which is more than happy to be part of the action.

All eyes are on the American president as the two superpowers jostle and use their proxies to lay the groundwork for what could be a third and cataclysmic world war. Events domino, leaving both sides unwilling to back down.

This book will have you up till 2am wondering where the hours went! A gasp-out-loud kind of read, not to be missed!

ORPHANS OF THE STORM

by Celia Imrie

Investigator Lacy Stoltz is tired of her work and ready for a change.

Then she meets a mysterious woman who is so frightened she uses a number of aliases. Jeri Crosby’s father was murdered twenty years earlier in a case that remains unsolved and that has grown stone cold. But Jeri has a suspect whom she has become obsessed with and has stalked for two decades. Along the way, she has discovered other victims.

Suspicions are easy enough, but proof seems impossible. The man is brilliant, patient, and always one step ahead of law enforcement. He is the most cunning of all serial killers. He knows forensics, police procedure, and most important: he knows the law. He is a judge, in Florida - under Lacy’s jurisdiction. He has a list, with the names of his victims and targets, all unsuspecting people unlucky enough to have crossed his path and wronged him in some way. How can Lacy pursue him, without becoming the next name on his list?

A SLOW BURNING FIRE by Paula Hawkins

Laura has spent most of her life being judged. She’s seen as hot-tempered, troubled, a loner. Some even call her dangerous.

Miriam knows that just because Laura is witnessed leaving the scene of a horrific murder with blood on her clothes, that doesn’t mean she’s a killer. Bitter experience has taught her how easy it is to get caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Carla is reeling from the brutal murder of her nephew. She trusts no one: good people are capable of terrible deeds. But how far will she go to find peace?

Innocent or guilty, everyone is damaged. Some are damaged enough to kill.

ONE OF THE GIRLS by Lucy Clarke

It’s Lexi Lowe’s long-awaited hen do and she is jetting off with her five friends to the Greek Island Aegos for four nights of sun, sand, sea, food and wine before she says I do to the love of her life Ed. She is under strict instructions not to contact him throughout the trip but with lots of differing personalities at play, she feels a sense of unease from the very off - not the ideal start!

The group consists of 6 women all with a secret they have kept locked away. The scene is set for four days of fun in the sun but each of the women has their own agenda and reason for being there. They are all harbouring dark secrets and as the booze-fuelled nights begin, they begin to rise to the surface.

Someone doesn’t want this wedding to go ahead and someone won’t leave this island alive but who? Lucy Clarke’s, One of the Girls will keep you guessing until the very end.

Picturesque scenery and azure blue water so stunning that you’ll feel as if you were on an exotic vacation while reading this.

To buy these books online while supporting your local independent bookshop, visit: uk.bookshop.org/shop/abcmagazines