Christmas In North Tyneside 2015 by ABC Magazines

Christmas

IN NORTH TYNESIDE 2015

CELEBRATE IN STYLE CHRISTMAS EVENTS

CRAFT IDEAS

LOCAL OFFERS

SEASONAL RECIPES

Festive Gift Guide FA N TA S T I C G I F T I D E A S F R O M L O C A L R E TA I L E R S

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Welcome to Christmas in North Tyneside, a special festive publication brought to you by ABC Magazines. Inside this special edition, which is available free of charge in hundreds of outlets around Whitley Bay, Tynemouth, North Shields and Wallsend, you will find information as to what is on in the region over the festive season, a gift guide featuring many of our local independent retailers, a guide to some of the best Christmas Markets to get you in the mood for the big day, and many more festive related features. We at ABC Magazines would like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and best wishes for a happy a prosperous New Year. www.yourabc.co.uk Interested in advertising? Email info@yourabc.co.uk or call Richard on 07526 522272 Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher nor the editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other clause. All Rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of the publisher.

Christmas 1st, 2nd, 3rd December 11am-4pm Cobalt Central Cobalt Business Park (north of Silverlink)

A Christmas market with a range of stalls selling gifts and produce. There will also be some festive entertainment to enjoy. For further information call (0191) 643 7409 or email events@northtyneside.gov.uk

LIFESTYLE

Eat, Drink & be merry Visiting a Christmas Market is a great way to get you into a festive mood. Here are a selection of the best across the UK.

MANCHESTER

14 November – 21 December Manchester’s award-winning Christmas Markets returns this winter, offering mouth-watering international food, drinks and delicately crafted Yuletide gifts in the heart of this buzzing city. With more than 300 beautifully festooned stalls and chalets spread across the city centre, the Christmas Markets are free and accessible to all. Soak up the atmosphere and follow the market trail as it winds through the city centre, tempting you with gifts, crafts, jewellery, clothes and toys. European and local producers offer everything from fine amber jewellery, hand-crafted leather bags and top-quality bonsai trees, to handmade Belgian kitchenware, 6

framed photo prints and French soaps. And when planning your visit, don’t miss the amazing array of food and drink! Manchester’s Christmas Markets are famous for traditional bratwurst, but you can also treat yourself to Hungarian goulash, Spanish paella or a good old-fashioned hog roast. Spread across the city centre, the Christmas Markets are all located within roughly a quarter of a mile of each other and accessible to all. www.manchester.gov.uk/ info/500241/christmas_markets

LINCOLN

3 – 7 December You'll need to get your skates on if you want to visit Lincoln's market, as it's held over just four days this year, opening at noon on Thursday December 3. Lincoln brought the first traditional German Christmas market to the UK in 1982 as part of its twinning with the German town of Neustadt. Originally there were just 11 stalls in Castle Square, which have now multiplied to more than 200, selling a wide range of craft and food products and set around the city's lovely cathedral and castle. A funfair and big wheel will be installed for the weekend, live bands and theatre groups will provide entertainment and there will be a traditional carol service in Lincoln Cathedral on the evening of December 4. www.lincoln-christmasmarket.co.uk

BIRMINGHAM

13 November – 22 December Birminghams Frankfurt market lays claim to being the biggest German-style Christmas market outside Germany, with over 180 wooden chalets, open from 10am to 9pm, spread across Victoria Square, Centenary Square, Chamberlain Square and New Street. Handmade decorations, traditional wooden toys, leather-work and crystal lamps are among the most popular items on sale, while gingerbread, marzipan, pretzels, schnitzels, bratwursts and mulled wine fuel the shopping. There's an outdoor ice skating rink in front of the Birmingham Repertory Theatre on Broad Street until January 4 and a Craft market alongside the German market sells bags, ethnic handicrafts, musical instruments, organic soaps and cosmetics and locally produced food. www.visitbirmingham.com

WINCHESTER

20 November –21 December Set in the Inner Close of the city’s great Norman cathedral, with an ice rink at its heart, this market is a charmingly festive spectacle -

no wonder people come from all corners of Britain to shop here. The wooden stalls sell a great selection of presents, including decorations, jewellery, paintings and prints, bags, hats and children’s toys. And, just beyond the Close, there is more excellent shopping in The Square and Parchment street. If the usual Christmas market fare of mulled wine, bratwurst, mince pies and stollen isn’t to your taste, Rick Stein and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall have just opened restaurants in the city, or wander down the sideroads and alleys of the compact city centre to find attractive cafés and teashops. And to remind yourself of the spiritual side of Christmas, slip into the cathedral to hear the cherubic choristers sing choral evensong.

BATH

27 November – 14 December Set against the backdrop of the magnificent Abbey and the Pump Room, Bath Christmas Market fills the elegant Georgian streets.

Most of the 175 wooden chalet-like stalls feature gifts from the South West: lavender from Somerset, jewellery made in Bath, honey from Wiltshire, soaps handmade in Gloucestershire. In the spirit of giving, one chalet is dedicated to a different charity each day. Overall, the city is a British delight, from piping-hot bangers to performances of Cinderella at the venerable Theatre Royal. Do pop into the Bath Guildhall Market (bathguildhallmarket.co.uk), which has its own seasonal specials, from chocolate wine and gardening equipment to hats and chutneys. www.bathchristmasmarket.co.uk

EDINBURGH

21 November - 4 January When winter approaches, Scotland’s Capital chooses not to hibernate, but to celebrate, with a festival that lasts through Hogmanay. Fancy some Germanstyle pretzels and glühwein? Head for the 100 stalls of the Europeanstyle Christmas market on East Princes Street Gardens. Funfair attractions range from the carousel and Big Wheel to the nerve-testing Star Flyer. Gentler rides are in the Children’s Market, where finding the Elves’ workshop in the Christmas Tree Maze is rewarded. www.edinburghschristmas.com Continued

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8 OF THE BEST CHRISTMAS JUMPERS Make a statement!

Continued from previous page...

However, if you prefer to stay local, then you can try: NEWCASTLE 4 – 8 December

The Christmas Market takes place between Wednesday 4 December and Sunday 8 December at Grey’s Monument, Grey Street and Grainger Street. There are beers from local microbreweries, home-made jams, delicious cakes and handmade chocolates. And, once you’ve bought something scrumptious to eat, you can find special gifts such as scarves, leather bags, hand thrown pottery, woolly hats and jewellery

3 4

NORTH SHIELDS 12 - 13 December www.victorianmarket.co.uk

The popular Victorian themed Christmas Market gets locals and visitors alike in the festive spirit. There will be around 100 stalls selling a range of ideal gifts for Christmas including jewellery, art, gifts, clothing and accessories. There will also be delicious local produce, including wines, cheeses and confectionery which make great gifts and are perfect for the dinner table on Christmas Day. Many of the stallholders will be wearing Victorian costumes. As well as the stalls there will be Christmas Carols, live music and a fairground and hot refreshments are available.

WHITLEY BAY 4 - 5 December

Northumbrian stallholders offer a wide range of traditional favourites to complement the celebration of the Feast of St Nicholas. There will also be a lantern parade, carol singing and entertainment. 8

1. Santa Light up £37, M&Co 2. Holly Jolly Sequin £16, George at ASDA 3. Howick Reindeer £65 House of Fraser 4. Scrooge Jumper £19.99 New Look 5. Santa’s No1 Dorothy Perkins £26.00 6. Sequin Reindeer George at ASDA £12 7. Kids Penguin £8 George at ASDA 8. Kids Light up polar bear £14, Primark

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For Her

Gift Guide IN NEED OF INSPIRATION? HERE’S A RANGE OF GIFTS FROM LOCAL AND NATIONAL RETAILERS 4

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1. Sewing Gifts Sets from £20, The Craft Hive, Bedlington 01670 821758 2. Autograph Bra & Knickers Set, M&S 3. Guinot luxurious anti aging face and body gift set £90 (value £182.50) , Hana Beauty Clinic, Whitley Bay 0191 297 1010 4. Personalised Mug £8.99, Gettingpersonal.co.uk 5. Fly London boots £115, Escape Boutique, Whitley Bay 0191 2515535 6. Leather Strap Watch £22, Diva at Miss Selfridge 7. Ted Baker Jewellery Roll £35, GreatGiftCompany.co.uk 8. A5 Diary, Paperchase.co.uk 9. Matrix Total Results Hair Products from £6.99 Envy Hair & Beauty Studios, Shiremoor 0191 251 4773

13 15 16

10. Sony Cybershot W800 £69.99, Fotosnaps Wallsend 0191 234 4606 11. Guinot Lip & Hand Cream Set £15, Hana Beauty Clinic 0191 297 1010 12. Paisie Teddy Jacket £99 Escape Boutique 13. Neon Textured Knitted Boot Slippers £19, Accesorize 14. Range of quality frames, Fotosnaps Wallsend 0191 234 4606 15. Delilah Cosmetics, Kirsha Knowles Hair & Beauty 0191 259 9933 16. Numph fur jacket £99, Escape Boutique Whitley Bay 17. Chamilia Winter Starter Bracelet, £49, Jewellery by Design, Wallsend 18. Pyjamas, House of Fraser 19. TIGI Gift Sets from £20, Kirsha Knowles Hair & Beauty 0191 259 9933 20. Fiorelli Shoulder Bag £65

Continued

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For Him

2 2

1. Weekend Offender Shirt £69, Mitchells Menswear, Whitley Bay 0191 2525277 2. AcuterSport 10X25 Binoculars £16.99, Fotosnaps Wallsend 3. Samsung Galaxy Tab A £339 O2, Wallsend 4. Happy Socks Boxer Briefs £19.95, Mitchells Menswear (as before) 5. Sony Cybershot W800 £69.99 Fotosnaps 6. Farah Jacket £85,Mitchells Menswer, Whitley Bay (as before)

Pets 2 1 1 4

3 1. Range of Kong Dog Toys Carlton’s Feed Merchants Seaton Delaval 0191 2370615 2. Custom Cat or Dog Hamper starting from £10, Kidd n Snore The Pet Store, Whitley Bay 0191 4471331. 3. Pet Jumper £10 Accesorize 4. Gift Voucher, Kidd n Snore (as before) 5. Cat Bowl £6, BHS

Kids

3 5

4 6 1.Space Rocket Playhouse£29.95, DotComGiftShop.com 2. Snow Boots £14, George at ASDA 3. Cat Mittens £339 M&S 4. Disney’s Princess Elsa’s Sparkling Castle £34.99, Lego.com 5. Peppa Pig Theme Park Argos 6. Paint Your Own Plates £10 - £20, Hotpotz, Whitley Bay 0191 280 8181

For Home

5 7

1. Christmas Decorations from £3.99 The Craft Hive, Bedlington 01670 821 758 2. Winter berry Jar Candle, £4 Primark 3. LED Stag Wall Art £25, Wilko 4. Paint your own Christmas figurines assorted sizes £8 - £18, Hotpotz, Whitley Bay 0191 280 8181 5. Handmade Heart Door Wreath Made To Your Specifications £20 Thoughts of You Flowers, North Shields 0191 251 2160 6. Selection Of Festive Cushions Maple Textiles, Wallsend 0191 263 8424 7. Christmas Hampers Riverford Foods 0191 4880900 8. Santa’s Advent Calendar £5 Sainsburys

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Oh Christmas Tree , Oh Christmas Tree

hether it’s a blue spruce, a Nordmann fir, or a potted two-footer, there’s a lot of choice when it comes to buying your tree. Before buying, measure the space you are allocating it indoors, considering both height and spread to ensure a good fit. You can always trim it with a good pair of secateurs, but the less trimming you have to do the better the tree will keep its shape. If budget is your main priority, shop around on the internet for the best prices. Alternatively, seek out reputable growers who are situated away from urban centres but as close as possible to your home. They are less likely to attract a big retail market and you may find a better tree. If you want to save money, go for a home-grown Scots pine or Lodgepole pine, which are likely to cost around £10 less than the same size of Nordmann fir. These trees don’t drop their needles and are bushier than the Nordmann. Some have cones on them and they are wonderfully fragrant. 18

When deciding on a tree, check that the needles are not dull and dried up and that the branches are not brittle. Remember to gently shake the tree to ensure the outer needles are not falling off. If you can bear to, leave it 'til the last minute to buy a tree, especially if you choose something such as a Blue spruce (Picea pungens 'Glauca'), which will drop its needles quicker than other types.

Once you get it home...

Don't put the tree next to a radiator or fire because it will dry out and the needles are more likely to drop. Saw off the bottom 5cm of trunk to open up its pores before you bring the tree inside, and place it in a bucket of water until you are ready to house it. When you bring it in, make sure you can keep it topped up with water as a tree will drink half a litre a day. Most Christmas-tree stands have a space for water, or you could simply wedge it into a bucket.

Some people opt for bare-rooted or root-balled trees if they want to keep the tree for future years. Bare-rooted trees should be planted as soon as possible in moist earth to stop their roots from drying out, while root-balled trees are wrapped in sacking and should be planted in containers. There are pros and cons to each, but bear in mind that live trees with roots may not take kindly to being brought indoors into a warm, dry atmosphere. However, trees that have been cut off at ground level, sharpened to stick into a wooden base and then transported around the country need to be tough to survive and look good. If you buy a bare-rooted tree, soak the roots in water before planting. Keep the compost in containergrown trees moist to prevent the needles from dropping.

Hopefully, your tree will still be looking as festive as ever as you see in the New Year.

Traditional

Dunelm

There's nothing quite like a good old-fashioned Christmas tree. All of your old favourite decorations will work wonderfully alongside quirky new finds from this year's festive collections. Start off by dressing your tree with plenty of bright red baubles in varying sizes, along with some vibrant, green touches too. Next, add in a selection of fun designs - vintage-style vehicles and retro Father Christmas figures are particularly popular this season and will make a lovely talking point. Introduce some miniature tree decorations, snowman shapes and jingle bells, then tie bundles of cinnamon sticks to your branches to infuse your room fragrance. Adorn your mantel with holly garlands, then add a row of flickering tea lights and a few jolly robins to finish your fireplace. Complete this nostalgic scene with stacks of brown paper packages under the tree, warm checked throws to snuggle up in and a large glass of mulled wine.

Opulence

Scandinavian

M&S

Dobbies

Knitted Bauble £3, Next

It's easy to see why a Scandinavian look is such a popular theme for trees. It's a family friendly style that's simple to put together - all you need to do is team shades of crisp red and white with familiar festive motifs. Choose a frosted Christmas tree to enhance the Nordic mood and allow the decorations to stand out brilliantly. Combine pieces in a mix of materials - wood, wool, felt and glass will all work well together. Mix in simple stripes and Fairisle designs to introduce a touch of pattern to the look. Metal pieces are key, so keep an eye out for lanterns and tea light holders with cut-out silhouette shapes that will create interesting shadows when lit. Finish the look with a line of festive stockings above the fireplace.

If you fancy something different this year, you could plump for a sophisticated, glamorous scheme such a this moody opulent look. Focus on a few opulent tones such a royal blue or purple with a splash of gold. Decadent glass and glitter will give this a luxurious look. Add extra drama with peacock motifs and gold feathers.

Peacock decoration £3 for 4, Sainsbury’s

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For all your animal feeds and needs Specialists in feed and accessories for horses, dogs, cats, poultry, wild birds, caged birds, small animals etc. Unit 5c North Tyne Industrial Estate (opp Asda) Whitley Road NE12 9SZ Tel: 0191 270 2238

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

PERFECT FLORAL DESIGNS Award winning florist Thoughts of You Flowers work with you every step of the way to create your bespoke requests.

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Flowers at Christmas are an easy way of continuing the decorations throughout the home — even simple bunches of seasonal blooms can be made to look festive with a sprinkling of glitter or the addition of some battery-powered lights. Poinsettias are a favourite Christmas gift, but can wilt easily. For an elegant, seasonal gift, white Orchids can add a touch of seasonal calm. A spray of Gypsophila can add a snowy white cloud, too. Local award winning florist Thoughts of You Flowers in Marden Estate, North Shields can help you with your seasonal requests. In September this year, they were crowned winners of The North of England Wedding Awards For Outstanding Customer Service 2015 for the wedding flowers category, as voted for by past Brides and Grooms of theirs with a panel of industry professionals deciding on the winners. This award covers the whole of the North of England, and a little up and coming flower shop in North Shields won! They were absolutely thrilled to have won, the first thing they did once the photos were taken and the interviews were given was to post on their facebook page to thank all of their Brides and Grooms for voting for them, after all, without their custom, nominations and votes they wouldn't have been entered into the awards, reached the finals or won. The next day they received an email with the comments which had been provided from their past couples:

"Warm, friendly, creative, a pleasure to work with. Took my vision and created beautiful bouquets that matched the theme perfectly. The whole experience was stress free. I would recommend Thoughts of You Flowers to all brides."

"Extremely friendly and helpful. Flowers very high standard. Beautifully presented."

Of course wedding flowers are only one area of floristry they cover, but this outstanding customer service, creativity, and competitive pricing are paramount in all areas of the business. They can create gift bouquets for any occasion, same day delivery of flowers can be arranged when orders are placed before 2pm, after this time they will do our utmost to deliver the flowers as soon as possible. Final tributes for a dear friend or loved ones funeral can also be created, they can create any design you request, from a superman logo to a pair of Rayban sunglasses, to a salmon fish. Every tribute is personally hand made in the shop, meaning all the small but important details are included. They believe every design they create should reflect the sender or recipient 22

in some way, be it the colour, the style or adding a favourite flower. This personal design means that they can create a very unique and individual design just for you especially at Christmas time. All of their Christmas wreaths are made by the team, meaning that you can choose the shape, size, foliage and decoration. The wreaths are so popular they often start taking orders for them in January! To look after your Christmas bouquets, wreaths, and trees, try not to let the flowers wilt in an overheated room. Check water levels every day, and mist with a water spray too. Always trim the ends before placing in a vase or water container, keep oasis topped up with water — don’t let it dry out, not only will any fresh greenery or flowers soon keel over, a wet oasis is heavy, and keeps the arrangement steady and balanced. Thoughts of You Flowers, 21 Farringdon Road Marden Estate, North Shields, NE30 3ER Tel: 0191 251 2160 www.thoughtsofyouflowers.co.uk

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Style

CELEBRATE IN

Add some glamour and sparkle to your wardrobe for the party season

Little Black Dress £40, BHS

New Look Gold star bag £19.99 Sequin Cami £14, George at ASDA

Embellished toe court £24.99 New Look Black mesh beaded bodycon £79, missselefridge 24

Marks & Spencer Per Una Lace Dress £29

Fashion Embellished Dress £225, Phase Eight Gold sequin premium dress £159, Miss Selfridge Belt £8, Accessorize Metallic gold drape top £22 Very

Glitter Peep Toe Heels £65, Lipsy

fridge Box Clutch £29, Miss Sel

Sequin Clutch Bag £15, Wallis

Textured Shirt £22, Next

J by Jasper Conran £250, Debenhams

Jacket £59, Trousers £30, Shirt £18, Bow Tie £8, Pocket Square £6, BHS 25

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Did You Know?

Present Giving

Father Christmas giving presents to children is thought to come, in part, from the story of St Nicholas. Born into a wealthy family, he used his money to help the poor. Hanging up the Christmas stocking is said to originate from a story about him providing a dowry for three poor girls, which was placed in a shoe or stocking. In many Scandinavian countries children still leave out their shoes to be filled with presents. This tradition has also been adopted in the Philippines, where children leave clean socks and polished shoes on windowsills, in the hope that Santa will fill them with sweets and toys. In some European countries children are given their presents on St Nicholas' Day, which can fall on 6 or 19 December and, in many Scandinavian countries, presents are exchanged on Christmas Eve. Not all countries associate present giving with Father Christmas. In Spain the tradition of giving gifts to children is believed to stem from the three wise men giving gifts to the baby Jesus.

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Turkey Dinner The centrepiece of our Christmas dinner is usually a roast turkey. Around 10 million of these birds are eaten each Christmas in Great Britain. Although it is now commonplace — partly due its large size and the ability to feed a large family gathering — it used to be so expensive that it was only eaten by the wealthy. As recently as the 1950s, chicken or beef was equally popular; however, freezing and farming methods have made the turkey the centrepiece of choice. The turkey's popularity may be relatively recent, but the tradition of some kind of festive fowl is rooted in our history. This is because wildfowl were at their best at this time of year — well-fed and tender. Back in the 18th century, a peacock or goose may have been at the heart of the feast. In many Eastern and Central European countries such as Poland and the Czech Republic, the festive spread centres on fried carp. Denmark prefers duck or pork, and in Iceland it's reindeer, something that may not be popular in the UK, due to our affection for Rudolph!

Finishing touches for your table...

DRESS YOUR TABLE TO IMPRESS...

Christmas lunch is the one meal a year everyone looks forward to, so make sure your table is dressed to impress this year. When your family and friends sit down together on 25 December to eat the delicious feast you’ve prepared, you want to make sure everything is absolutely perfect. That includes how your table looks, so it’s worth giving this aspect of your Christmas celebrations some advance thought. Start with your overall colour scheme. Will you go for traditional red, golds and greens, or opt for more contemporary blues and silvers? Think about what will work best in your room, and with your existing crockery or table decorations. Then build up accessories, starting with a centrepiece and working out to individual place settings. Do you want to decide ahead of time where everyone will sit? If so, place names will help with this, and can also make the table look extra special. They can be as simple as squares of coloured card with names written in

silver pen – or go to town and have personalised baubles with your guests names - a wonderful keepsake! Consider a small table gift for children too - one that will keep them entertained between courses. Make sure you’ve got enough cutlery for the whole meal, as the last thing you want is to have to wash up knives and forks between courses. And put serving spoons on the table from the start – it’s easy to forget about them once you start bringing the food to the table. Finally, decide whether you’re going to carve the turkey at the table – if so, you’ll need a lovely platter to bring it out on ceremoniously! So now the table’s beautifully laid, the food is cooked and smells delicious – all you have to do now is sit down, relax and enjoy your fabulous festive feast!

1 M&S 4 Placemats £15 2 BHS Tree Platter £8 3 Oliver Bonas Christmas Toothpicks £8 4 Dotcomgiftshop Place cards £2.95 5 Sainsbury’s Reindeer Tealight Holder £12 6 Sainsbury’s Table Runner £12 7 Wilko Champagne Flutes set of 4 £10

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Festive Events NOVEMBER MONDAY 16TH

Christmas Shopping Evening

Percy Park Rugby Club in North Shields from 7pm Come along to help raise funds for the new changing room facilities at the club. Tickets are priced at only £5, which includes a drink and mince pie, with over 15 fabulous shopping stalls.

FRIDAY 20TH – SATURDAY 21TH

SATURDAY 28TH – SUNDAY 29TH

Wallsend Town Centre Lots of stalls and festive entertainment to enjoy, with a chance to meet real reindeer on the 21st.

Tynemouth Station Come along for a festive treat, with Christmas rides, window displays, Tynemouth Station Christmas Market, street performers and more. There will also be free film screenings at Kings Priory School on 28 November -10.30am Frozen, with a special princess appearance, and 2pm Elf. No ticket required, just turn up! Tynemouth also has a special late night shopping event on Thursday 19 November.

Christmas Market

TUESDAY 24TH

Whitley Lodge Christmas Lights Switch-On The annual event will take place at the Whitley Lodge Shopping Centre, with the choir from Whitley Lodge First School singing. Make sure you check out the range of shops at the centre too, there are a few new editions since last year! From 3.30pm SATURDAY 28TH

Christmas Lights turn on at Whitley Bay Station MONDAY 16TH Tyne Idols Tours Presents: NewcastleGateshead Music, Theatre & TV Heritage Tour 7pm - with the return of Ray Laidlaw in the hot seat. tyneidols.com FRIDAY 20TH

Wallsend Christmas Light Switch-On Taking place outside Forum Shopping Centre in the Town Centre, the annual switching on of the winning light designed by a local school pupil. Get there early to get a good view! From 4.30pm

WHAT’S ON IN NORTH TYNESIDE THIS CHRISTMAS

Come along to Whitley Bay Station, on Station Road, on the 28th November at 3pm for the Christmas Light turn on – and a warm welcome from Olives at the Station!

Tynemouth Christmas Festival

SATURDAY 28TH – SUNDAY 29TH

Yulefest

Old Low Light, North Shields Revealing the best artisan crafts people in a new light. This year Clifford’s Fort will be transformed with the sights, sounds and smells of a traditional Yuleltide Market. Wander through food, craft and gift stalls in search of the perfect Christmas gift. 0191 257 4506 www.oldlowlight.co.uk

SATURDAY 28TH

Sams Christmas Workshop Seaton Sluice Community Centre 10am – 2pm Cost £15 (£10 non refundable deposit is required at booking) Learn and make bows and personalised tags to embellish your presents. Adorn your tree with felted beauty and dress your door with a magical wreath. All these can be made on the day with expert help on hand. Contact Claire or Liz on 0191 2980323 or email seatonsluiceca@ yahoo.co.uk for booking.

8 SATURDAY 12TH

Family Pantomime - Into the Woods

DECEMBER TUESDAY 1ST - THURSDAY 3RD

Cobalt Christmas Market

Time: 11am - 4pm Cobalt Central (Cobalt Business Park, north of Silverlink) A selection of stalls will be selling festive gifts, produce and a range of hot food. There will also be festive entertainment to enjoy. THURSDAY 3RD

Christmas Fayre

Howdon Community Centre 11am-1pm There’s loads for you to do including face painting, carol singing and arts and crafts. FRIDAY 4

– SATURDAY 5

St Nicholas Festival

Whitley Bay Town Centre will host the annual event in celebration of the Feast of St Nicholas. There will be a lantern parade on Friday, with a market in the town centre and Metro station on Saturday. SATURDAY 5TH

Santa’s Grotto

Park View Shopping Centre, Whitley Bay, 10am - 3.30pm 0191 253 5474 Come along and meet Santa Claus in his grotto in Park View Shopping Centre.

SATURDAY 5TH

North Shields Live At Home Scheme Christmas Market

North Shields Methodist Church, Hawkeys Lane Entry £2 inc mulled wine, tea, coffee and minced pies. The Live at Home Scheme again host their ever popular annual Christmas Market the first Saturday in December. This is a fundraising event for the Scheme, and stalls include Christmas Crafts, handmade cards, cakes, wooden gifts, jewellery, tombola, raffle and a clothes sale!! For more details call (0191) 2728368 and join in the fun, festivities and most of all friendship, you never know until you try!! SATURDAY 12TH

Real Ale Mystery Xmas Party Tour

Tyne Idols and Cheers Magazine have teamed up to bring you monthly Real Ale Mystery Tours aboard our retro double decker bus, the one you went to school on! Visit a local brewery followed by some ale tasting in award-winning real ale pubs along the way, accompanied by ‘expert’ special guests.....it’s a great night out!! From 7pm tyneidols.com

11am - North Shields 2pm John Willie Sams Centre Price: £2 booking essential 0191 643 5270 (North Shields) 0191 643 2030 (John Willie Sams) Little Red Riding Hood skips into the woods and down the dell to bring some bread to Granny who is sick in bed. What will happen next?” Family event, children must be accompanied by an adult. SATURDAY 12TH – SUNDAY 13TH

North Shields Victorian Christmas Market

Northumberland Square, North Shields The square will come alive with over 100 stalls selling a huge range of festive gifts, crafts and food. FRIDAY 18TH - SATURDAY 19TH

Saturnalia: ‘A Feast of Fools’

The Net, North Shields Fish Quay 7.30pm Cost £8.00 – tickets available from Old Low Light. (This is not a pantomime!) Come along for the Yuletide performance of the year. In collaboration with Cloud Nine Productions, they will transport you back in time with music, laughter and life’s parodies. Licenced Bar is available. Contact admin@oldlowlight.co.uk or call 0191 257 4506 TUESDAY 29TH

Mouth of the Tyne Tour with Ray Laidlaw - Looking

for something special for the visiting ‘outlaws’? Well this is just the ticket to work off all that turkey and advocaat!! From 1pm tyneidols.com 33

Food

Cranberries

Seasonal & Versatile They are the winter berry that has become synonymous with the Christmas table. Packed full of vitamin C and fibre, you can count of the Cranberry for a tangy sauce and sparkling drink!

Cranberry Vodka Punch

Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry Cocktail

Ingredients Half bottle of vodka 1 & ½ cups of soda 1 litre cranberry juice 1 & ½ cups of ginger ale

Ingredients 100g light brown caster sugar 100ml orange juice 250g frozen cranberries ½ teaspoon of cinnamon

Ingredients 50ml vodka 50ml cranberry juice 50ml lime juice Lime

Directions Make sure all ingredients are chilled before mixing. Mix vodka and cranberry juice in a large jug. Add ice cubes Pour over ginger ale and soda Add slices of orange

Directions Put sugar and juice into a pan and bring to the boil. Add cranberries and cinnamon and simmer gently for 9 minutes Let the sauce cool (it will thicken) and store in the fridge for a few days before serving.

Serve

Serve at room temperature

Directions Chill cocktail glasses In a cocktail shaker mix ice with vodka, cranberry juice and lime juice Shake Pour into cocktail glasses with a thin slice of lime Serve

Autumn/Winter is certainly in the air, and that means warm cosy nights, crisp fresh mornings, lashings of hot chocolate, chestnut mochas, eggnog lattes and many more Winter warmers for you to enjoy at Mister Woods. We make the most delicious hot chocolate, but its always nicer when its cold outside and your inside hugging your cup of pure indulgence. At our Broadway and Tynemouth shops we are open all throughout the Festive Holiday Season (except Christmas Day), so whether its a stroll on the beach on New Years Day, or walking off your Christmas Dinner along the sea front on Boxing Day, we’ll be open for your festive favourites at Mister Woods. Don’t forget our licensed Broadway coffee shop, where you can enjoy a cold beer or glass of Pinot Grigio, and listen to live acoustic music every Saturday evening, (please check for Christmas line ups) - bring the family all ages are welcome. At Tynemouth we have lots of outside seating too, where we will supply you with a cushion and blanket for those extra chilly days. Our Wallsend shop in the Forum Shopping Centre has lots going on this Christmas, including a traditional Christmas market, please check with The Forum for more details. Christmas in North Shields is always that extra bit special, everyone gets into the festive spirit and the town plays host to the most amazing Christmas Market. The 2015 North Shields Victorian Christmas Market will take place over the weekend of 12th – 13th December, in North Shields’ famous Victorian Northumberland Square. Please check in store at our Wallsend and North Shields shops, as they have a more restricted opening times over the Christmas period. So make sure you pop in to Mister Woods offer the festive period, we like to offer something for everyone - whether its a beer after work, ﬂat white for the coffee connoisseur. or the perfect dairy ice cream milkshake, we’ve got the lot...

TYNEMOUTH Front Street Tel: 0191 257 5556

NORTH SHIELDS Railway Street Tel: 0191 259 2559

WALLSEND The Forum Tel: 0191 2954268

TYNEMOUTH Broadway Tel: 0191 2964412

Food

Make the most of your leftovers!

Sweet Potato, Turkey & Vegetable Cottage Pie Do something different with your leftovers this year with this hearty, warming recipe. The turkey can be replaced with any other meat and cranberry sauce can be replaced accordingly to the meat you are using.

Serves 4-6 15 mins preparation 25-30 mins cooking time Ingredients 500g (leftover) cooked turkey, cut into chunks 400g (leftover) cooked mixed vegetable, cut into chunks 3-4 large sweet potatoes, cooked and mashed 100g (leftover) cheese, grated 50g flour 350ml stock approx Honey 2tbsp cranberry sauce Nutmeg Spinach, watercress, cabbage (any or all of them optional) Cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, curry powder (any or all of them optional) Cracked black pepper 3- 4 garlic cloves crushed 5 sprigs of thyme 38

Preparation Over a medium heat, place the flour in a pan, add a little of lukewarm stock and mix well. Pour over Â˝ of the boiling stock and stir well until all the lumps have disappeared. Carry on adding more stock and cooking until the desired thickness is reached. Add the cranberry sauce, nutmeg and a little honey, adjust the seasoning. Add the sauce to the turkey and vegetables and gently mix. At this stage you can add spinach, cabbage and/or watercress. Pour in an oven-proof dish. Season the sweet potatoes with the spices of your choice add the cheese if used and place over your pie. Decorate with the garlic and thyme before cooking in a preheated oven 160Â°C for 2530 minutes or until the pie is piping hot and the topping is light golden.

Whitley Bay Metro Station 0191 4471313 Facebook/Twitter/Instagram

The nights are drawing in...the weather is turning cold…food needs to be comforting and nutritious. Vegetables with darker colours are known to be better for us, especially reds...So the darker the food the better it is for us. This is a great soup to make on a winters day as it will fill the house full of the smells of roasting sweetness.

INGREDIENTS Pumpkin Sweet Potato Red Onion Carrot Whole Garlic Red Pepper

Roasted Pumpkin Soup

METHOD 1. Using a large roasting pan, gather all the ingredients. 2. Prepare as necessary, removing skin and seeds (keep & roast pumpkin seeds separately for garnish). 3. The peelings can be popped on the compost heap for next spring! 4. Place all your ingredients in a roasting pan and add a few mixed herbs from your garden...rosemary, thyme, marjoram or sage or a mixture of all. 5. A good splash of olive oil and salt and pepper and give them another mix. 6. Place them all on a moderately high temperature in the oven and roast until they are coloured and tender. This can be left to roast all afternoon and until you are ready to blend if you wish. 7. Blend the ingredients in a large pan and add water to preferred consistency. You may need to season extra to taste. 8. Serve with your favourite freshly cooked bread, with a dollop of crème fraiche or soured cream on top and enjoy by the fire with friends….perfect for the winter season!

DID YOU KNOW ? - There's more Vitamin C in a Kiwi than an Orange? - We get the most of our Vitamin D from Sunshine? - Iron helps to feel less sluggish through the winter months...think pumpkin seeds, spinach & seafood

Whitley Bay Metro Station 0191 4471313 Facebook/Twitter/Instagram

Chritmas Eve

exciting

The most

day of the year

A lot of people now think, even more than Christmas Day itself, Christmas Eve is the most exciting day of the year. Anticipation hangs heavy, and last-minute deliveries and packages are rustled together. Because Christmas Day is more about the presents, and often descends in to chaos, a lot of households now try to use Christmas Eve as a day to spend as a family, to focus on doing things together. Here are some ideas to make December 24th the best day of the year...

* 40

Bake some biscuits for Santa!

Do Something Physical Knowing that Christmas Day is all about indulgence and resting up, it's always a good idea to get out and about on Christmas Eve and blow off some steam. Go to a park with the children, take the dog on an extra long walk, take a family stroll along our wonderful coastline, or even just walk to the local shops instead of taking the car - all great ways to burn off some calories in preparation of the Christmas Day feast that awaits. Or how about a Festive Treasure Hunt? With some chocolate coins and a little imagination, you can turn any house into a fun-filled treasure hunt. Follow the clues to win a mystery piece of treasure. Hours of fun! Help Kids with Last-minute Handmade Items Try and encourage your children

G to make handmade presents for family members visiting on the big day. It is such fun to see what they come up with: books, popsicle sticks glued together, creations of air-hardened clay or a quick pillow sewed on the sewing machine. Christmas Eve is a great time to assist with these last-minute inspirations, which of course always strike at the eleventh hour. Bake Biscuits Santa Claus needs something on that Christmas plate when he comes down the chimney. Try rolling out some gingerbread or sugar cookie dough, and decorate cookies together as a family. Some of the most cherished family times are when everyone is together, baking in the kitchen. Go Out To Eat Going out for a meal on Christmas Eve is always helpful when there is so much else going on. It allows you to take a bit of time out from what is always such a hectic day and, more importantly, spend some quality time as a family and build precious memories. It also means you can keep the kitchen and lounge nice and tidy, ahead of the feast you will be having on the big day. Read Or Act Out The Christmas Story This is an absolute must, and I imagine most families already do this type of thing. However, you can vary it up according to changing family circumstances. With younger children you could use puppets, or even "play"

Burn off some calories in preparation of the Christmas Day feast

out the story with the nativity pieces. When they get a little older you could even try dressing them in costumes for the big performance. Watch a Christmas Classic There are so many great movies out there, religious or not, that display the true spirit of Christmas: "A Charlie Brown Christmas"; "It's a Wonderful Life"; "Miracle on 34th Street"; and "The Grinch," not to mention the excellent church movies: "Mr. Kruger's Christmas"; "Nora's Christmas"; and "Joy to the World." Watch one of these as a family and you are sure to be in the Christmas spirit. Pass Around Family Gifts This is something to wet the appetite for the next day. You could open presents from auntie & uncles, or grandparents on Christmas Eve, so they didn't get lost in the shuffle of the following day. This is also a fun time to start a tradition of receiving gifts that can be put to use on Christmas Eve, such as new pyjamas to wear, a book to read in the evening, or an ornament to hang on the tree.

So enjoy the day, ideally as a family, because blink and it will be Boxing Day!

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Christmas Tips

Save as you Spend

Presents, food, decoration, entertaining - it all adds up. And while most of us love the festivities of Christmas, the extra cost can cause headaches. Our tip - Set a a budget and sticking to it! That way you'll have everything you need without the stress of overloaded credit cards once January rolls in. It might sound like a horrible task, but making a budget plan is actually quite easy. Just decide what you're going to buy, make a list, and stick to it. Don't be tempted by those goodies on offer, that sale rack you're walking past or the tasty little treats at the checkout. And don't try to keep up with the neighbours, either. You'll only end up spending too much. Shopping online, can work wonders for your stress levels, as you'll avoid all the busy, bustling shops and whether or not that must-have toy will actually be in stock or not. It also helps you to avoid temptation so that sale bargain simply can't fall into your basket unless you really want it to!

All the trimmings Ask yourself how big the turkey really needs to be. You just need enough to feed the family and friends around your Christmas table, with a little left over for sandwiches on Boxing Day. Don’t go mad with luxury range Christmas items such as puds. People won’t be that bothered if they don’t see the wrapper. 46

It’s worth keeping an eye out for special offers and stocking up as and when you see the deals. Go shopping with a friend for things like big tins of chocolates. They’re often on ‘buy one get one free’ offers so you can split the cost and share the savings. It’s a good idea to buy wine in bulk as well. Lots of supermarkets offer extra discount if you buy six bottles. Look out for voucher codes when buying online to save extra money - and don’t be afraid to ask anyone joining you for lunch to be in charge of one part of the meal. They’ll enjoy feeling like they’ve helped and you’ll save some pennies in the process.

Thrifty presents Those with toddlers should explore charity shops for quality second-hand toys in good condition. Clean them up, wrap them in Christmas paper, and they’ll never notice the difference. Toddlers are often far more interested in the wrapping paper anyway! For older children, splash out on a board game. It’ll keep them entertained over the winter and will also occupy the whole family on Christmas Day. And if that Christmas card list is making you feel guilty, send e-cards instead. It’s more eco-friendly and you’ll save money on cards and stamps. Or alternatively you could get the kids involved in making some.

Edible Decorations

Let the little ones help make your own edible decorations, such as gingerbread Santas or star-shaped biscuits decorated with edible silver beads. They’ll look fantastically festive and will keep children happy when they’re in need of a sweet treat!

It’s also worth taking advantage of the ‘three for two’ deals on offer in many shops. Marks & Spencer and Boots have an enormous range suitable for the whole family - you’ll be amazed how the savings can add up. Speak to friends and relatives, and agree a limit as to how much you’re going to spend on each other and each other’s kids. If you have a big family, maybe only buy for the children - adults aren’t going to mind when money’s tight. You can save even more by making your own presents - and friends and family will love the personal touch. Try knitting a scarf, cook or bake something delicious and tie it up with a beautiful bow, or ask one of the children to paint a masterpiece and have it framed.

Deck the halls Get the kids involved with making the Christmas decorations this year. Dig out glitter and shiny paper from old craft boxes in the toy cupboard or stock up on tinsel, glue and paper chains. Try sewing popcorn on to thread for a rustic mantelpiece decoration or scour your local park for pine cones and use them as decorations at the base of candles or in pot pourri - you can even jazz them up with gold or silver spray.

Be eco with energy You may have splashed out on festive outdoor lights - but don’t leave them on all night! Just a couple of hours in the evening will do, to get everyone in the mood. Inside, replace regular lights with energy saving ones. LED lights use less energy than conventional Christmas ones. Try not to let your heating bill blow the budget: Turn your thermostat down by one degree. It may not sound like much but could cut your heating bills by up to 10 per cent. Keep the curtains closed when you go to bed to keep the heat in and use draught excluder by the front door to keep the cold air out.

Easy entertaining If you want to go out, head for the nearest green space or beach to blow the cobwebs away on Christmas Day. Your library should list local walks and other events to keep the family amused. Look for budget family days out with English Heritage (english- heritage.org.uk) too, where kids can listen to storytellers or take part in Christmas craft making. Alternatively, if you can’t stand the thought of cooking, find a half-price restaurant meal deal from toptable.co.uk and let someone else worry about the washing up! 47

Sales

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Henley Grange

Wallsend

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Offers around £159,950

Price £159,950

Walker

Wallsend

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Northumberland Park

Offers over £49,950

Offers over £89,950

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Offers around £249,950

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Hadrian Lodge

Hadrian Park

Price £65,000 to £75,000

Offers over £99,950

Offers around £124,950

Asking price £279,950

Hadrian Lodge

Walker

Redesdale Park

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Price £150,000 to £160,000

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Ideal material for adding natural beauty to festive scenes indoors include crab apples, hazel, dogwood, berried ivy, holly, silver birch stems, as well as a variety of seedheads and pine cones.

Rentals

By eye, make sure the foliage is even and fill in any gaps with other evergreens. Thuja ‘Rheingold’ is a great ornamental golden conifer to stick between the holly sprigs. You can also use ivy with clusters of berries, leaving the last two leaves of the ivy and the berries, Howdon The Green Walkerdene Hadrian Park Pre-lit man-made ChristmasTerrace paper trees• are allHouse the which will fill it out Road and give the sphere a different • Northumberland Dene • Ennerdale • Hickstead Close Semi-Detached House a similar • Ground • Semi-Detached House • Link Detached House rage this year,• but you can create pretty Floor Apartment dimension. • Three Bedrooms • Two Bedrooms • Three Bedrooms • Three Bedrooms adornment at• aAllocated fraction of theBays cost with •half a dozen and pieces canSize also be added including Parking Allocated Parking Other bits • Extended Good Plot • Westerly Aspect Garden • South Facing Rear Garden • Contemporary Design • Southerly Aspect Rearmay be better • Driveway & Garage thick stems of willow or birch, tied together with seedheads and cones, which glued on. Dining Kitchen • The Green • Stylish 4 Piece Bathroom • Dining Kitchen florist’s wire ••and festive ribbon or raffia and placed in Tie a bow at the top of the sphere with the remaining Great Transport Links • *** Chain Free *** • Driveway & Garage • Cul De Sac Position a large indoor troughRating or pot compost ribbon and then suspend basket • Energy B filled with moist • Energy Rating D • Energy Rating D it from your • hanging Energy Rating B and decorative stones as a mulch on the top. bracket. Price £114,950 Offers over £149,950 Price £164,950 Offers over £169,950 Festive natural baubles can be hung off shelves and Wind a selection of Christmas lights around the door handles by making a ball out of chicken wire and branches, which will give any corner a focal point and then covering it with moss from the garden, secured takes up less room than a regular tree in a smaller with florist’s wire, and then adding either sprigs of space, or will add a festive glow in another room away berries or decorative seedheads. If you want a bit of from your main tree. If you’re using Christmas lights, sparkle, add a spray of glitter to the berries or a little don’t add extra water to your pots. fake snow on to the moss. Hadrian Park Rosehill And at the Christmas table, create your own festive • Lancaster Drive • Horsley View • Detached House • Detached Clippings from your Christmas tree can make the base place settings with dried fruits or small bundlesFamily of Home • Four Bedrooms • Three Bedrooms of a fabulous• wreath, using a wire frame wrapped in cinnamon sticks, gluing small cones •toSouth the base soRear Garden Three Bathrooms Facing • Open Plan Living Driveway Parking moss, secured by florist’s wire.Area Take the tree clippings they can stand upright, to take florist• card holders. • Ample Off Street Room and feed them into the frameParking from their stems, making The same natural materials can then ••beFamily added to your • No Onward Chain Freehold sure all the sprigs faceRating the same way. Again secure with Christmas crackers to match. • Energy C • Energy Rating C thin wire, circling it all the way around the frame, and Price £199,950 Price £170,000 to £180,000 then add holly or other evergreen additions, along with pine cones which you can secure with wire or glue, baubles and colourful ribbon for a bow at the top or bottom. The colourful stems of dogwood also make an easy indoor or outdoor wreath. Weave the most colourful Hadrian Lodge West stems together, wiring the first one to create the frame • Ryedale • Semisubsequent Detached House and then weaving stems around it. • Three Bedrooms Holly spheres• are also Garage &easy Driveto make, using a dry oasis • Recentribbon Kitchenor raffia and florist’s wire. ball, strong curling • Gardens & Courtyard When you are picking your holly, use end pieces, • **** Chain Free **** allowing for •two to three of leaves and then trim Energy Ratingpairs D £130,000 the bottomOffers pair ofover leaves off so you have an inch of clear stem. Pierce the ribbon with a piece of wire so you can thread the wire and ribbon right through the centre of the oasis ball, knotting the ribbon or making it into a loop at the bottom and securing it further by threading more wire through the loop and into the oasis, to Wallsend Howdon secure the decoration when it is suspended. • Hunters Court • Amberley Close Midball, Link wind House the ribbon up • to Semi Detached House At the top of•the stop it • Three Bedrooms Three Bedrooms becoming too creased and secure with a ••paperclip, • En-Suite Shower Room Garden & Parking which you can hold with one hand while• inserting • Unfurnished Unfurnished • Available • Available October 2015 foliage with the other. November 2015 • Set Up Fee £390.00 • Set Up Fee £375 Starting at the top of Rating the sphere, put in pieces of Rating holly C • Energy C • Energy around 2.5-3in conifer £650 long, PCM adding small bits of £650 PCM as you go, working around the ball until it is all covered.

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rds

GET CRAFTY - Make your own ca

Button Tree Card

What You Need: 6 x 6in kraft card blank 12 x 12in Christmas paper 10 White buttons Gold bow PVA Glue 1. Layer the card with 2 square pieces of different Christmas papers in contrasting colours. 2. Arrange the buttons on the card in a triangular tree shape and glue in place. 3. Add a gold bow beneath the button tree.

Christmas Tree Card

What you need: Card stock Scissors Art paper Glue 1. Fold a piece of card in half. 2. Cut art paper into rectangles of graduated lengths and widths (adding about 1/4 inch to widths and 1 to 2 inches to lengths). 3. Pleat each rectangle accordion-style, making same-size folds in each; score folds. Open card, and centre rectangles in spine of card. Glue down end folds to form a pop-up tree that expands as you open card. If you wish, make a star for top of tree. Fold star at the centre, and glue both sides to card.

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Crafts

Make Your Own

Christmas Crackers

CRACKING CHRISTMAS JOKES

It wouldn't be Christmas without some bad jokes inside your crackers. Here are some of the best (or worst)… What did the dog get for Christmas? A mobile bone What do you call a penguin in the Sahara Desert? Lost Why don't you see penguins in Britain? Because they're afraid of Wales

The first Christmas crackers were created by London confectioner Thomas Smith in 1847. He had spotted the design of French bon-bons wrapped in tissue paper on a trip to Paris and added a motto or simple love poem to the package, which by the 1930s were replaced by jokes. If you want to add a personal touch to the Christmas dinner table or at a party, get crafty and make your own traditional Christmas Crackers! They’re so easy to make and will take you no time at all. Choose whatever colours you like- bright or traditional- and fill your crackers with all sorts of little trinkets to make your guest’s day go with a bang!

You Will Need • • • • • •

Cardboard cracker cores Crepe paper Selection of twine Selection of toppers & ribbons Double-sided tape Pinking shears or scissors

How to Make

1. Take one sheet of crepe paper, and secure it centrally to the cracker core along the long edge using double sided tape. 2. Roll the core along the crepe paper so that it wraps around evenly. 3. Secure the end of the crepe paper using double sided tape. 4. Loop twine or ribbon around one end of the cracker core and secure in place with a bow. 5. Leave between six centimetres and eight centimetres of crepe paper at the end and cut off any excess paper using pinking shears or scissors. 6. Add your filling so that it sits inside the cracker core, and then repeat step four to secure the open end - don’t forget to add a joke! 7. Decorate the cracker using ribbons and embellishment toppers. 54

What did Adam say on the day before Christmas? 'It's Christmas Eve!' Why did Santa’s helper see the doctor? Because he had a low ‘elf’ esteem! What do you call a blind reindeer? No eye deer. What do you get when you cross a vampire with a snowman? Frostbite. Why couldn’t the skeleton go to the Christmas party? He had no body to go with. What does Father Christmas do when his elves misbehave? He gives them the sack. Where does Santa go to recover after Christmas? An elf farm.

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Christmas Tips

Staying Safe

Christmas trees decked with baubles and laden with presents are a lovely sight, especially for burglars, so it is more important than ever to make sure your home is secure at this time of year. During the whirlwind of Christmas shopping trips, festive activities and frequent visitors, home security can slip and burglaries increase over the Winter months. With this in mind, here are some seasonal tips to stop the Grinch stealing your Christmas.

Who’s at the door?

‘Tis the season to be jolly, and with more frequent visits from family and friends, as well as the odd carol singer, look through your front door ‘spy hole’ and enable the door chain before swinging it open. Only release the chain if you are satisfied that the person at the door is really who they say they are, and have identification to prove the purpose of their visit – if you are unsure, keep them out.

Locks are also available for all types of windows, including wooden, aluminium and PVCu, as well as French doors and patio doors.

The Great Outdoors

For the latest in security technology, digital door viewers are now available, which have a built in camera so you can take still pictures of anyone who is at the door if you are unsure of their motives.

Outdoor thefts are almost 20% higher compared with five years ago, and at this time of year sheds are often used to store Christmas presents such as bicycles and power tools. You can secure your outbuildings with a weather-proof padlock to help deter wouldbe thieves and protect against unwanted intruders. Anchor locks and cables can also be used to secure high value individual items inside an outbuilding.

Raise the alarm

Don’t Advertise Presents

Alarms act as visual deterrents to potential burglars and are vital for alerting neighbours in the event of a break-in. Make sure all doors and windows are fitted with secure locks in line with British standards, look for the Kitemark on lock packs and on the lock itself.

You should also resist the urge to advertise your new Christmas gifts to everyone on Facebook. You don’t want to create a catalogue for burglars to choose from – especially if you tag yourself at an airport three days later!

As well as visiting loved ones at Christmas, more of us are enjoying Winter breaks, so it’s important to make sure your home is protected while you’re away. Home alarms act as the perfect ‘security guard’, watching over your property while you’re not there.

Be careful to dispose of gift packaging carefully. Rubbish collections over the Christmas and New Year period are often at different times, so remember to take note of any changes. Make sure you put your rubbish out just before the collection and shred any details you wouldn’t want people to see.

Identity Theft

During winter, and especially around Christmas, you are more susceptible to fraud, as the increase in larger purchases, internet shopping and a busy social calendar means you are less likely to notice unusual activity on your account. To protect yourself, keep your gift receipts in a home safe that’s bolted securely to the floor or wall and invest in a cross cutting shredder before binning those bank statements and personal documents.

Christmas Party Safety

It’s easy to let your hair down and enjoy your Christmas party if your follow a few golden rules. Plan your journey home and use a reputable taxi company. If you’re left in a position where you are on your own try to stick to well lit areas, carry a personal attack alarm for peace of mind and try to contact a friend or family member to see if they can pick you up or at least tell them where you are. By following these simple tips you can help protect your belongings, homes and families over the festive period, ensuring every one has a very merry– and safe–Christmas.

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New Years

Resolutions Quick tips for a more successful new year

New Years Eve is often highly anticipated and a massive anticlimax. Bars and restaurants are suddenly triple the price, the best laid plans often go awry and New Years Day is not only accompanied by a hangover, but a big list of things you decided the day before would suddenly be your primary life focus. New Years resolutions are part and parcel of the holiday season, we’ve all got to the end of the year reflecting of the twelve months that have past and we wonder if we are where we wanted to be.

1. Find your end goal and make suitable landmarks. If you want to lose two stone that’s great but why not start off with the aim to lose 5lbs in a month? By showing yourself you can do it in smaller steps, those little chunks will soon add up, and you’ll look back and realise how far you’ve come.

The most common resolutions are to quit smoking, lose weight and gain better employment/ promotion or change your job. These are three rather massive life changes, you go to work nearly every day, your weight is directly linked (in the most part) to your daily diet and exercise regime and if you’re a smoker, you smoke every day. To change such ingrained habits are not easy.

3. Be realistic. Do you enjoy running? If not, you probably won’t succeed at it and then you’ll feel you’ve failed, think about what you enjoy, why not check out a local netball team or inline skating club, by thinking about what you’d have fun doing and starting from there, in a few months you may find you’re exercising more without having to force yourself to do so, and you’ve found yourself a new hobby!

5. And finally, why not also use the end of this year to celebrate the positive things in your life. It’s very easy to say, I’m still not in a size 12, I’m not yet a marathon runner or I’ll never save money. Realise your successes however small, ‘this year I finished reading that book I wanted to’, ‘I finally sorted out the shed’. Change your thinking and you’ll be amazed what a boost it’ll give you.

However, it’s not all bad news, we can give ourselves a better chance of success and this year we can take control of how we tackle New Years resolutions. here are some quick tips for a more successful New Year.

TOP RESOLUTIONS 1. Lose Weight and Get Fit 2. Quit Smoking 3. Learn Something New 4. Eat Healthier and Diet 5. Get Out of Debt and Save Money 6. Spend More Time with Family 7. Travel to New Places 8. Be Less Stressed

It can be difficult to persevere when it feels like a losing battle. So by all means make a list but don’t set it in stone, or curse yourself for any slip ups, if you really want to, you will get there and in the meantime, have a very very happy New Year!

2. Make your goals more specific. ‘Exercise more’ is a very wide aim, but if for example you specify that you’d like to exercise for 30 mins extra a week, you’ll have more direction.

4. Give yourself a break. Big changes take time, one year might not be long enough, but the important thing is you’re committing to improve things for yourself, you’re not a failure, you just haven’t finished working on it. By alleviating the pressure you’ll have a much bigger chance of success.

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