From the Editor
Hello Readers!
Has everyone survived the most miserable month in the calendar?! I feel like every Monday in Jan has an adjective attached to it or at least it should – not sure Blue Monday covers it! Maybe it should be something like:
Pretend Monday – i.e., it’s probably a BH.
Same old Monday – i.e., did we even have a break?
Blue Monday – i.e., most miserable and saddest day of the year.
Skint Monday – i.e., it’s been 6 years since the last payday.
Never ending Monday - i.e., how has this month still got another Monday in it!!
Still, we got through it didn’t we! Just about!!
Speaking of getting through, the most unwelcome Birthday came and went – I tried to do nice things and be positive and whatnot but I’m not a fan! It was only about 20 mins ago when I was a whipper snapper and I used to call people of my
age ‘old’. Yet, I’m not quite old enough to forget that this was the case!! I’m also not a ripe cheese or a fine wine! But as my old Grandma used to say – “it’s better than the alternative!” She weren’t wrong! So, I’ll sulk for a little bit longer about it and then I’ll start getting some Botox and all will be well with the world!
Anyhoo, hard to believe we’re in our 13th year of production but we are all hugely looking forward to helping our local businesses this year and we’ve got some good ideas in the pipeline to try and help – so keep your eyes peeled.
I’m off to put my slippers on – yep, gone are the days of bare feet or just socks #sadtimes.
Happy Reading!
PANCAKE DAY!
A quick recap for those who aren’t sure why we feel the need to stuff ourselves with pancakes on that day!
Shrove Tuesday is a moveable feast, its date is tied to whenever Easter falls as it is celebrated on the last Tuesday before the 40-day period of Lent begins. Easter itself is the first Sunday after the full Moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox. If the full Moon falls on a Sunday, then Easter is the next Sunday.
Lent, as you may recall, is the six-week period in the run up to Easter when traditionally Christians would fast - avoiding meat, fish, eggs, and fats until Easter Sunday. These days we are more likely to commit to giving up just one thing for the duration of Lent - is this something you do, or would consider doing?
Anyways, back to Pancake Day/Shrove Tuesday, which this year falls on February 21st.
As the story goes, our forebears would cook up a storm on the day before Lent (aka Shrove Tuesday) in order to use up any eggs, milk, and other perishable foodstuffs, before beginning their prolonged fast period. Quite why pancakes have become synonymous with Shrove Tuesday is somewhat lost on me. I can see that eggs and milk may have needed to be used…but not flour, the other vital ingredient in a pancake batter mix.
I wonder if Yorkshire Pud’s were also consumed on Shrove Tuesday - maybe a first course of meat and gravy in a Yorkshire pudding, followed by pancakes…batter overload.
We may have lost many of the traditions connected with Lent, including that of marking the heads of worshippers with ashes taken after the burning of Palm branches (or crosses made from Palm leaves) from the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebrations, but Pancake Day lives on.
Every household will have their own way of making pancakes.
Some will toss.
Some will flip.
Some organised people will make a stack of pancakes.
Some will operate a one at a time production line.
And some won’t bother making pancakes on Shrove Tuesday at all!
As for what goes on a pancake - well, let’s not open that can of worms and simply say that whatever you want to top your pancakes with is absolutely fine.
Unless it’s chocolate spread, in which case you need to go and have a word with yourself <grin>.
Whatever you do this Pancake Day, it is still worth looking back at some of the older, thriftier ways of cooking. Times when nothing was wasted, leftovers were made into another meal and very little food was thrown away.
In these financially tough times, there are lessons to be learned from the past.
Pancake Day - Shrove Tuesdaywe all know the origins of the day…don’t we?
In 1842 John Needham produced a polishing paste for the cutlery and Sheffield Plate industries from his home and premises in Harvest Lane in Sheffield, assisted by his niece, Harriet Needham.
Harriet then met Joseph Pickering, the son of a silversmith and they wed. The couple eventually inherited the business, changing the name to ‘Joseph Pickering late John Needham’ and built the ‘Polish Works’ just around the corner in Mowbray Street from where they operated.
The ‘Polish Works’ were damaged in the Sheffield Flood of 1864 and this gave Joseph the opportunity to start planning the ‘Albyn Works’ on Burton Road – which still exists. In time, the business became Joseph Pickering & Sons, and son John Needham Pickering developed new products, including the famous – ‘Blanco’.
Albyn Works expanded to produce Blanco and employed over 100 workers. By 1875 they had a sickness and benefit club and a row of houses in Percy Street, let to his workers at special rates. Joseph’s sister Hannah married Isaac Truelove and his daughter Mary married Isaac’s brother Arthur Truelove. Arthur provided some of the tin packaging used by Joseph Pickering & Sons and in 1900 Joseph brought together the two companies and they were incorporated as Joseph Pickering & Sons Limited. By this stage Blanco was used through the British Empire in particular by the military to whiten their webbing straps etc.
In Moore Street, a new factory for the production of cartons was built in 1906. Faced with terracotta tiles it was designed by city architect – C & CM Hadfield. For three quarters of a century, ‘Blanco’ was the companies’ major product, sold to the Military in over sixty countries. The changes to Kharki after 1900 gave the company another product and then the new RAF created in 1918 a further type of ‘Blanco’ as they were using a blue colour! However, with the end of conscription production of Blanco and other polish products ended and the cardboard box business become their lifeline.
The business was finally sold by the Pickering family in 2005. By 2009 the business failed and finally closed.
Please get in touch if you have anything you would like to share about these fascinating items. Contact Richard Godley on T: 07854 646 742
Have you got a Will, Power of Attorney or Trust in place to protect and look after your loved ones in the future?
You can arrange an appointment with us by phone, video call or in person at our offices, with one of your local, legal experts.
Our experienced team can help answer your questions to help you get your affairs in order, so you can have peace of mind that your loved ones will be taken care of in the future.
RECRUITING!
We are a friendly, local care company that supports adults in their own homes, helping them to live as independently as possible.
We are looking to add to our caring team, local people with a positive attitude towards care. No experience is required as full training will be provided!
What are the benefits working with us?
◊ A week induction fully paid.
◊ Mileage allowance.
◊ Free DBS
◊ Flexibility around personal/family commitments.
◊ Bank holidays double pay.
◊ Alternative weekend work.
◊ Guaranteed minimum hours paid weekly.
◊ Free NVQ training provided.
Our hourly rate starts from £11.50ph
Overtime pay £13ph
Please contact us on:
T: 07737 188 993 / 01623 360 193
E: info@leymarltd.co.uk
Website: www.leymarhealthcare.co.uk
Guess the words and Fill in the crossword ! Pitcherwits®
Pitcherwits® are crossword puzzles where some of the clues are in pictures. Sound easy? It’s not called “Pit-your-wits” for nothing! The mixture of cryptic and picture clues, combined with Professor Rebus’ unique sense of humour, will keep you entertained for hours.
Across
9 Eats, but not in order to satisfy (4)
10 Acknowledge an outer limit (4)
11 Can is opened up for Peruvians (5)
12 Hang about with a well-licked ice-lolly (4)
14 Maul over salty aluminium? (4)
Down
3 Tree overwhelmingly pollarded (3)
4 Classy way to say goodnight? (3)
6 A get-together? More like a loner! (7)
7 Aim to be listed in ascending order (3)
13 Insect coat made in black (3)
16 A sore head starts with fiery leftovers (3)
17 Be painted as being in opposition (3)
1
ANSWERS FOR LAST MONTHS PITHERWITS
This puzzles has been devised by the brilliant Professor Rebus. For more of his puzzles visit www.pitcherwits.co.uk
World Thinking Day
World Thinking Day - I must confess to never having come across it before. A spot of “Googling” led me to the website of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGS for short) and this headline statement:
“Celebrated since 1926, World Thinking Day is a day of international friendship. It is an opportunity to speak out on issues that affect young women and fundraise for 10 million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 150 countries.”
Who knew? Obviously not menever having even reached the giddy heights of being a Brownie, let alone a Girl Guide. Reading a little further, it transpires that the association like to theme World Thinking Day (this year, it falls on 22nd February). A 2020 poll of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (under the age of 18) from 100 countries asked what issues they were most concerned about and what they wanted to change about the world. The resultant data revealed that the number one worry of the respondents was the environment.
2022 saw the start of a three year period of encouraging Girl Guides and Girl Scouts to become environmentally conscious leaders. Via a free to download activity pack, girls from around the world will discover the link between Climate Change and Gender Equality and find out why girls and young women are disproportionately affected by environmental issues.
We can help by making a donation to WAGGS via https://www.wagggs. org/en/what-we-do/world-thinkingday/world-thinking-day-fund/, but we can also take some time out and do a spot of thinking ourselves…in our comfortable Western homes, it is
easy to forget the struggles that girls and young women experience in other parts of the world.
See if you can come up with some ideas to help the environment, from simple things like only filling up the kettle with the amount of water to make that one cup (or pot) of tea; to more elaborate plans to install solar panels and ground source heat pumps. Perhaps you could try growing some of your own fruit and veg; walking more often instead of automatically jumping into the car; recycling more; only buying new clothes when you absolutely have to…there are so many simple ways to start making an impact, and in the words of a famous retailer“every little helps”.
On February 22nd this year, pause for thought; take 10 mins to sit quietly and engage your brain. You may not be a Girl Guide or a Girl Scout; you may not even be female…but each and every one of us can make an effort to be more thoughtful about the environment and the world we live in. We owe it to the generations after us to clean up our act and leave them a healthy planet.
These articles are researched and written by Laura Billingham, a local content writer and author. Laura moved to the Peak District several years ago to pursue her passion for writing. To find out more visit www. landgassociates.co.uk or contact Laura on 07736 351 341
THE LITTLE RED HEN HOUSE NORTHUMBERLAND
STUNNING HOLIDAY COTTAGE IN WARKWORTH, NORTHUMBERLAND
Enjoy your next family holiday with a stay at the delightful Little Red Hen House. An elegant and cosy holiday home just a 7 minute drive from award-winning and dog-friendly Warkworth beach.
✽ 2 spacious en-suite bedrooms
✽ A fully enclosed garden
✽ 3 small to medium dogs welcome upon request
✽ Fully equipped kitchen including an American style fridge freezer
✽ Perfect for exploring the stunning Northumbrian Heritage Coastline
✽ Walking distance to a range of dog friendly pubs, cafes and restaurants
✽ We have fast fibre Wi-Fi and smart TV’s
Search ‘The Little Red Hen House’ at:
Lunchtime Treat
It is a beautiful, large café with plenty of seating and so bright and welcoming with plenty of friendly staff to take your orders effortlessly. Once we were seated, we were greeted by the fabulous Ajay who is not only the owner but was also our chef for the day – a man of many talents! We asked what he would recommend and with the absence of the carvery, which has been reserved especially for weekends, Ajay answered “The all-day breakfasts” without hesitation! So, half the team took his advice, and they weren’t disappointed! It was value for money, really good quality and we didn’t go away hungry (we didn’t with any of the dishes in all honesty).
Those of us who sampled other items off the menu were equally as satisfied and we can only speculate that the carvery will meet the same high standards.
We think that everyone should pay a visit to AK’s, we were really well looked after, enjoyed the food and can’t wait for our next visit.
Sharing
Homemade Tomato Soup
Chicken Goujons - served with a garnish salad
MAINS
Sirloin Steak - served with onion rings, mushrooms & peppercorn sauce
Chicken Parcel - stuffed with brie cheese, served with chips
Pizza Calzone, meat feast
Salmon - served with asparagus and chips
Another month, another food review, we are lucky duckies getting invited to all these wonderful places in our local area!
Vintage Rambles with rafaand Flake
We first featured this walk back in 2019. I’ve had it in my mind to redo this walk as it is such a good walk for this time of year. The wet and wild weather can make walking your dog an extreme sport!
This walk makes use of some good paths before returning on the Trans Pennine Trail. Having said this, we appear to have picked the wettest and hence muddiest day we could find! The boys loved it, well apart from the bath when we got them home!
4.5 MILE CIRCULAR WALK FROM RENISHAW VIA THE TRANS PENNINE TRAIL
A gentle walk which should take you and your dog around 2 – 2.5 hours to complete. There is one road to cross so please take care, however most of the walk is on paths and trails. Please wear appropriate footwear, especially if it has been wet! And, as always, follow the countryside code.
START: TRANS PENNINE TRAIL CAR PARK, ADJACENT TO SITWELL ARMS, 39 STATION ROAD, RENISHAW. SHEFFIELD. S21 3WF
1. With your back to the car park entrance, walk straight ahead to pass by a large metal gate to a finger board sign. Turn right to ‘Chesterfield’. Follow the path going uphill, then just prior to going under a bridge, turn left along a footpath, with houses over to your right.
2. Follow the path for some distance passing beneath a footbridge then continue with a fence and a pond on your left and houses over to your right. After some distance, when the houses on your right end, continue straight ahead through some trees until reaching a road. Cross the road and continue ahead along a marked footpath.
3. After some distance pass through a gap and down a slope onto a trail. Passing a bench seat on your left cross straight over the trail, pass through a gap and bear around to the right along a footpath. After a short distance the path joins with a lane going uphill for a short distance and then turn right onto a path marked for ‘Westhorpe Hills’.
9. When the fence ends the path gives way to a lane. Continue for a short distance, then just prior to reaching an incline in the lane look for 2 paths on the left. Ignore the 1st path going steep downhill and take the 2nd path which bears to the left but stays at the same level.
10. Walk along this path with a bank on your right and the odd glimpse of the Pennine Trail running parallel down to your left. After some distance pass a large metal gate on your left. and shortly you will come to a road. Follow a sign for ‘Trans Pennine Way’ going downhill along the road.
4. After a very short distance, cross a footbridge and keep ahead going gently uphill. After a short distance pass by a pylon on your right before turning left onto a lane. Now continue with a hedge on your right. Shortly, the lane begins to drop gently downhill. At the bottom continue through some trees to cross over a stream.
5. Now continue uphill with a hedge on your left and after a short distance bear right away from the hedge to cross an open field. At the far side pass through a gap and continue with a hedge on your left. When the hedge on the left ends keep ahead to cross an open field.
6. At the far side continue onto a lane. Follow the lane around to the left and then uphill. At the top of the hill ignore a path on the right and continue straight ahead to follow a sign for ‘Trans Pennine Way N’. After a short distance pass through a gap and onto a tarmac lane.
7. Turn left, cross a bridge and then in a short distance, after a building on your right, turn right onto a footpath. After a short distance stay to the right of a metal gate to continue along the path going downhill with a fence on your left. At the bottom and before reaching a metal width restrictor, turn right, to cross a stile onto a footpath marked ‘Cuckoo Way’.
8. Continue along the footpath with ponds on your right. Pass over a crossroads of paths and keep ahead with the ponds on your right for some distance. When the ponds end continue with a fence on your right.
11. After a short distance turn left onto a footpath signposted for ‘Killamarsh Greenway’ and Trans Pennine Way’. Pass through a metal width restrictor, cross over a bridge and then immediately after the bridge turn left onto a lane. After a short distance bear left off the lane to continue downhill along a footpath.
12. At the bottom of the hill pass a width restrictor on your left and continue straight ahead to join the Pennine Trail heading in the direction signposted for ‘Chesterfield’. Continue along the trail for 1.8miles, until reaching the car park and starting point.
This walk is for illustrative purposes only. Voice Magazines Ltd takes no responsibility for anyone who chooses to follow this route and encourages all walkers to obey all byelaws and signs and to respect the area they are walking in, ensuring they pick up all dog mess and obey the countryside code at all times.
To advertise please call the team on 01773 549 035
Book Review
Kindred by Octavia E Butler can be classed as science fiction. But like Margaret Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale it explores big ideas in a brilliantly clear and riveting piece of fantasy.
If the idea of reading about time travelling puts you off, don’t let it. The main character, Dana, travels backwards and forwards between 1970s California and the American south in the early 1800s. But this tale doesn’t feel like normal sci fi – more a way of comparing the two periods. What seems right and accepted at one time is shocking seen through modern eyes.
This is powerful and sometimes very graphic stuff. But it’s not simple good guy, bad guy and the complex human understanding is what makes this such a good read.
And it certainly is readable. Once you’re past the first few pages, it’s almost unputdownable. It’s not a new book, but it’s easily available in paperback and it is one that’s very relevant in these times of All Lives Matter.
Plus Open Sack & Loose Housecoal
PICK UP A LOYALTY CARD TODAY TO START COLLECTING FOR FREE FUEL!
SCAN THIS CODE TO DOWNLOAD OUR APP FOR MOBILES & TABLETS
SUTTON HERITAGE SOCIETY THE DESPICABLE MURDER OF MRS DODSLEY
Near Buttery Lane, Skegby on the Mansfield Road is Kruck Cottage which, on 16 December 1954 was the scene of a most despicable murder. Mrs Dodsley, who was in her eighties, was found suffocated and with broken ribs under a mattress. Mrs Dodsley had had tea with her cousin that afternoon, obviously enjoying a good social life and probably looking forward to Christmas.
Opposite Kruck Cottage, which I believe was then called The Hollies, were some stone houses which have now disappeared under alterations to the road. One of the occupants of these houses, who had lived there since 1911, had a good view of Mrs Dodsley’s cottage and said she had never seen a small window which she could observe from her house, open until 16 December. She alerted Mr Tomlinson, a farmer, who tried to contact Mrs Dodsley. When he was unsuccessful he called PC Talbot who entered the cottage and discovered the heinous crime.
At the time, for such a serious offence help was requested from Scotland Yard. Finger and palm prints were found. These made criminal history by being the first case in which a conviction was made from a palm print. The prints were found to belong to a 27 year old labourer name James Robinson who lived in nearby Sylvan Crescent, Skegby. On the evening of 16 December he had been drinking in the Rifle Volunteer between 8 and 10 pm.
He was identified by bar staff which put him within half a mile of the scene of the crime on the day it occurred. According to the newspapers he seems to have aroused suspicion by his actions and was duly arrested and charged at Sutton Police Station on 10 January 1955 in the presence of local and Scotland Yard detectives who had been called in to help the local force.
He was tried at Birmingham. The jury took six and a half hours to bring in a strange verdict of “guilty of murder committed unintentionally during a crime of violence” – namely rape. He was sentenced to death. Lord Goddard heard his appeal which was dismissed and he was duly hanged at Lincoln Prison on 25 May 1955. The hangman was the famous Albert Pierrepoint who, 8 years earlier had flown to Germany to hang war criminals.
Article written by Angela MorrisFrom supply only to full installation we offer the full package. Our experienced and knowledgeable design teams are here for you, offering a full, free of charge planning and design service. If you’re after a bathroom or kitchen we are serious about creating the best design possible to suit your budget.
FLAMECARE
Also
WELCOME TO THE TEAM LEE
After leaving British Army in 2022 having served 14 years with the Royal Signals I decided it was time for a change. I wanted to still live by the values and standards I had been driven by throughout my time serving. I always wanted to pursue a career that was practical and hands on and after spending some time searching and attending a few career fairs, I came across Deluxe Window Cleaning.
I wanted to be my own boss, work outdoors and get to meet new people along the way. I sat down and spoke to Andy the franchisor of Deluxe Window Cleaning and realised the business really appealed to me. I quickly realised that this suited me and soon enough I made the leap to become part of a great brand. This new journey wasn’t going to be easy, and the change of role and pace would be completely different to what I had been used to, but I was ready for the challenge. So, I threw myself straight in and from the second I got involved, I realised that this was the right decision.
I am now in control of my day to day life and being able to work my family time around a job that allows me to do so has been a great success.
Building up custom and getting my name out there, “the new kid on the block” meant I needed to spend time promoting myself to the local community and wider areas including local businesses.
I am loyal both to the job and my customers, I have the upmost respect for the job and those that have entrusted me with their homes and I have high levels of discipline both
for myself and when out working.
Humans are natural team players, we all seek the company of others and like to share our experiences, I find that I do this day in and day out with the custom I have built up so far. I get to see the same faces on my rounds but also give them that personable touch. My values are more than just words I live by them both in everything I do, in the way I behave and conduct myself to the highest standards.
I am very much looking forward to meeting new customers to whom will receive a very reliable, friendly and professional service.
Amazing Turkey-tail fungus in our local woods
A long hot, dry summer has led onwards to a cool and often very wet autumn and winter. This means good times for fungi which have appeared in many places and in a diversity of colours, forms and habitats. When we talk of fungi most people immediately think of typical mushroom-like structures which we see in fields, roadsides, and woodlands across the region. Of course, these mushrooms are merely the fruiting bodies whereas the ‘business’ part of the fungus is made up extensive hyphae that run throughout the soil or perhaps in the deadwood of tree-trunks, stumps, and branches. Indeed, these latter habitats of deadwood, either fallen on the ground or still on the tree, can be rich sites for a variety of fungi. These fungal colonies thrive during periods of cold and drought for example, which kill off most ‘mushrooms’, and furthermore they are often overlooked.
This year, plenty of damp weather and often quite mild temperatures in recent months mean some of our fungi have done remarkably well. When you walk in woods, parks, or along the moorland fringe, you will find tree stumps and rotting trunks covered in fungal fruiting bodies. Even in your own back garden, the autumn and winter can trigger massive growths of fungal bodies. A particularly distinctive species is the Basidiomycete fungus, called the ‘Turkey Tail’ or, to give it the scientific name, Trametes versicolor (formerly Coriolus versicolor or Polyporus versicolor). The upper fungal cap has concentric zones of different colours with the margin always the lightest and nearly pure white. The name ‘versicolor’ means many coloured and overall, this fungus looks like an American turkey’s tail. There is more to this fungus than
meets the eye, and having been used in China for its medical properties for over two thousand years, it is presently under investigation for its potentially useful properties. This common and widespread fungus has a global distribution and is especially stunning when at its peak of growth. The dramatic looking fungus is used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with health issues. Similar but unrelated fungi include False Turkey Tail or Golden Curtain Crust (Stereum ostrea), and Gilled Polypore, Birch Mazegill or Multicolour Gill Polypore (Trametes betulina).
Uses vary from being a general health improving tonic, to treating cancer, and boosting the body’s immune systems. As a drug it is taken as pills or powders in various dietary supplements and contains powerful antioxidants. Research suggests extracts of the fungus have immuno-stimulant and antitumour properties. There is a polysaccharide-K (PSK), as a proprietary product based on Turkeytail, and developed for cancer treatment in Japan. Some Coriolus extracts such as polysaccharidepeptide (PSP) and VPS are available as dietary supplements. It seems the extracts are ‘biological response modifiers’ boosting the body’s immune system, and slowing growth and reproduction of tumour cells. They may also reduce side-effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Clinical use of extracts is being investigated, but whilst available for Chinese medicine, they are not yet fully licenced for other medical usage. Amazing stuff, but of course don’t try it at home.
Gardener’s Calendar
but if you want to bulk up next year’s display, you can lift and divide this year’s clumps while they are still “in the green” – meaning you don’t have to wait for the leafy part of the plant to die back. Just lift the clump out of the ground, divide into several little clumps and plant with the white part of the stem under the soil and the leaves and flowers above. The advantage of doing this now is that you can see where the spaces you want to fill are!
The bright yellow of the Mahonia bush is beautiful during the winter, but it should be pruned once it has finished flowering. Take the flower spears out and prune out any long shoots. It’s also a good time to lightly trim winter heathers, but make sure you don’t cut back into old wood.
Top Tip:
Grey mould can be a problem in greenhouses this time of year. Cold and damp is the cause, the worst being damp which is why you shouldn’t start watering again unless the soil in your overwintered pots is properly dry. On warmer days open windows and doors to allow fresh air to circulate. If you do get mould, take off the affected leaves and if it is bad, remove the plant from the greenhouse to avoid the rot spreading.
Roses will benefit from an application of slow release fertiliser around the roots round about now.
Managing your personal affairs is
important
It’s all about finding a local expert that you can trust, that will keep your best interests at heart, whilst giving you straightforward advice.
No matter what twists and turns life throws at you, our legal team are here to help. But we are more than legal experts, we love to help to help people.
> Wills & Property Trust Wills
> Lasting Powers of Attorney
> Injury or Illness Claims
> Divorce or Children Matters
> Employment Advice
> Financial Disputes
Appointments by voice-call, video-call, in-person at one of our office or if you are unable to leave the hospital our staff are happy to visit you at your bedside.