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So, Mr Emily thinks he can make it to the 2028 Olympics as a Break-dancer... The worst part is
I always had it in my head that August was a quiet month, especially as we don’t have kids to entertain for around 6 weeks (honestly, I take my hat off to you all!). Turns out not to be the case on many levels this August, not helped by myself, who seemed to have booked the diary down
To add insult to injury, in the month of August I had my first Over 40’s Women Health letter from the doctors – and so it begins! Obviously, there was a bureaucratic calamity which involved the surgery not having a diary going 3 weeks into the future and a blood test sheet not being supplied and me turning up at Ripley basically begging them to take blood for whatever, just to get it over with! (In all honesty, the staff were brilliant). Despite the fact that the appointment could have been done online, at home, at my own leisure, I am very thankful that we have an NHS and that these health checks exist. The alternative doesn’t bear thinking about when I consider how many people these routine check-ups have saved over the years.
Anyway, one of the highlights of August was when the Voice team went ‘Mad For It’ in Manchester for our Sarah’s Hen Do. It was a worry as to whether we were still going to be able to go after the week of riots, but after a difficult year for her we wanted to make sure we sent her into her forthcoming nuptials in the ‘right’ way and that we did! From a Steam Train Murder Mystery evening, to a fabulous Ghost Walk around the City, to a couple of nostalgic hours at the Crystal Maze and much more in between, we covered the best that Manchester had to offer in a weekend. We’ve had a turbulent few years like most businesses and had more than our fair share of difficulties for such a small, family run company but we are very fortunate with the team we have and that we are all able to do what we love. So raise a glass to Sarah and her impending doom….ooops, …I mean happiness! We certainly did!!
13th of September is just around the corner, and that means it’s time to celebrate the splendiferous (a very Dahl like word) Roald Dahl. This day honours the author, whose stories have captivated the hearts and minds of children and adults alike, transporting us to strange worlds where anything and everything is possible…like a giant peach that’s bigger than a house.
Roald Dahl is the creator of classics like “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Matilda,” and “James and the Giant Peach,” to name just a few. He has given us stories filled with larger-than-life characters, and extraordinary adventures, all mixed up with more than a sprinkling of mischief and mayhem.
Dahl has also provided us with a litany of inspirational quotes…
“If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”
“We make realities out of our dreams and dreams out of our realities. We are the dreamers of the dream.”
“There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination. Living there, you’ll be free if you truly wish to be.”
Ah…the stuff great memes are made off!
Why do we celebrate him on the 13th of September, you may ask? Because it’s Roald Dahl’s birthday, of course!
Born in Wales in1916 to wealthy Norwegian immigrant parents, his first language was actually Norwegian. His father died when Roald was 3, leaving behind a fortune that today would be the equivalent of over £8mill.
Something I’ve only just discovered is that Dahl attended Repton School in Derbyshire from the age of 13 to 18. Whilst at the school, he was not considered by his teacher to be a particularly talented writer. Ironic, eh?
School did, however, provide inspiration for many of his novels. During his time there, Cadbury would sometimes send boxes of chocolate to the school for testing and Dahl would imagine inventing new flavours… “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” anyone?
After a stint working for the oil company, Shell, where he was assigned first to Mombasa, Kenya, then to Dar es Salaam, he returned to the UK as the war drums began to sound. He served in the Royal Air Force, becoming a fighter pilot and, subsequently, an intelligence officer, rising to the rank of acting wing commander.
Although we now remember Dahl as primarily a children’s author, he did in fact write several very dark adult themed stories and his short story collection, “Tales of the Unexpected”, became a TV show of the same name. He also invented over 500 new words by scribbling down his words before swapping letters around and adopting spoonerisms and malapropisms.
Love his books or not, no one can argue that Roald Dahl was a talented chap and worthy of a day to celebrate his life and works. He was also 6’6” tall – I wonder if this was part of the inspiration behind my favourite of his books,
There’s a burglary - a fire - what do you do? Ring 999 of course, easy. But what if we lived in Bakewell a hundred and fifty years ago, or more. Back then there was no such thing as a police or fire service, no local council to contact. So, what then?
During the 1800s Bakewell and the surrounding area prospered. Management in rural areas of England lay mainly in the hands of minor gentry, clergymen, squires and the Parish Vestries. Parish Vestries were formed to look after the spiritual and physical welfare of parishioners, to oversee the parish’s financial health and to uphold law and order.
From 1796, a local deterrent called the Society for the Prosecution of Felons had been in operation. This scheme offered cash rewards for assistance in apprehending villains. Apparently, it worked well in Bakewell.
Don’t
By 1829, Robert Peel had established London’s Metropolitan Police, with policemen known affectionately (or not) as Bobbies or Peelers. Derbyshire was slow to take up this initiative. But eventually, in 1844, Bakewell’s first policeman, a chap called James Dove, was appointed. The ‘newly built’ police station in Granby Road was equipped with cells and living accommodation, this became his home. The building still remains, sadly, now empty and its future uncertain.
Though the Parish Vestry still held much responsibility for the town, in March 1863 a meeting was held which saw Bakewell’s ratepayers take the decision to set up a Local Board. The new Local Board would assume many of the duties previously run by the Vestry. The new board consisted of the Duke of Rutland’s agent, a general practitioner, a bookseller, a banker, a farmer, a grocer and a landlord.
As far as Bakewell was concerned, one of the most urgent issues raised was fire prevention. For many years a small four-wheeled pump had been kept a Lumford Mill, it had proved utterly ineffective in tackling a large blaze. The new Local Board decided to address the problem. Hose-pipes and ladders were purchased, then a handcart. By 1881 Charles Glossop, a bank clerk, had taken charge of a uniformed volunteer fire brigade. The Board then purchased a new (handpump) fire engine for the grand sum of £100. The carriage was housed beneath the old Town Hall on King Street. Pulled by two horses, the carriage remained in service in the town until 1912.
Bakewell Old House has a wonderful display of the original equipment used all those years ago along with a picture of the first brave volunteer firemen in their uniforms, proudly posing for a photograph.
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1. Soak the gelatine in a bowl of cold water for 10 minutes until softened. Spray a 20cm springform or loose-bottomed square cake tin with low-calorie cooking spray, then line it with cling film, leaving some overhang.
2. Put the vanilla yogurt, Greek-style yogurt, quark and vanilla extract in your food processor. Set aside 1 level tsp sweetener for the topping, then add the rest to the food processor. Pour 100ml boiling water into a jug. Squeeze the excess water from the soaked gelatine and stir the gelatine into the hot water until it completely dissolves. Add to the food processor, then pulse until smooth and well blended. Scrape the mixture into the tin and chill for 2 hours.
Cheesecake was recently voted the UK’s favourite dessert. With this recipe, swapping the biscuit base for a yummy cinnamon crumb means you can indulge whilst still staying on plan.
3. Dissolve the jelly crystals in 150ml boiling water, add the lemon juice, then leave to cool. Scatter the blueberries over the cheesecake then pour over the cooled jelly and chill for a further 1-2 hours until set.
4. Preheat your oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/gas 6. Put the flour, oats, cinnamon, egg and remaining 1 tsp sweetener in a bowl and rub together using your fingers to make a crumble mixture. Spread this out on a baking tray lined with baking paper and bake for 10-15 minutes until crisp.
5. Remove the cheesecake from the tin, discard the cling film and evenly scatter the crumble mixture over the top. Slice into 9 equal portions to serve.
• 6 sheets leaf gelatine
• Low-calorie cooking spray
• 350g any no-addedsugar, fat-free vanilla yogurt
• 200g fat-free natural Greek-style yogurt
• 250g plain quark
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 level tbsp sweetener granules
in:
• 11.5g sachet blackcurrant sugarfree jelly crystals
• Good squeeze of lemon juice
• 225g fresh blueberries
• 25g plain flour
• 10g plain porridge oats
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 large egg yolk, plus 2 tsp egg white
mins, plus 3 hours 10 mins cooling and chilling time
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This
Born in the quaint town of Wirksworth on New Year’s Eve in 1877, Lawrence Beesley embarked on a life marked by intellectual curiosity and extraordinary events. His early education at Wirksworth Grammar School, now known as Anthony Gell School, paved the way for his later studies in Natural Science at Cambridge University. It was during these formative years that Beesley made a significant scientific contribution by identifying a rare species of algae, Ulvella Beesley, found in Fleam Dyke, forever etching his name in the annals of botanical history.
After his academic achievements, Beesley returned to his roots in Wirksworth, taking on the role of a teacher at his alma mater. His passion for education eventually led him to the position of Science Master at Dulwich College, where he inspired countless students with his knowledge and enthusiasm.
In April 1912, seeking to reunite with his brother in the Americas, Beesley boarded the RMS Titanic. The journey that began with high hopes soon turned into a fight for survival. On the night of April 16th, as the Titanic met its fateful encounter with an iceberg, Beesley was resting in his cabin. The ensuing chaos saw him rush to the deck, where he was fortunate enough to secure a spot in lifeboat 13, one of the few lifeboats that would save just 710 of the 2,224 passengers and crew on board.
Upon reaching New York, Beesley channelled his harrowing experience into writing. He produced a vivid and compelling account titled “The Loss of the Titanic, Its Story and Its Lessons” of his time aboard the ship and the tragedy which befell him and his fellow passengers. Published a mere nine weeks after the disaster, the book quickly became one of the definitive stories of the sinking, offering a unique perspective on the event that captivated the world.
Beesley’s connection to the Titanic did not end with his book. Decades later, he served as an advisor for the 1958 film “A Night to Remember,” which sought to bring the story of the Titanic to the silver screen. His involvement took an unexpected turn when, driven by a mix of nostalgia and perhaps a desire to relive his past, he attempted to blend in with the extras during the filming of the sinking scene. This spirited act led to his removal from the set.
Lawrence Beesley passed away in 1967, leaving behind a legacy that extends far beyond his survival of the sinking of the Titanic. His life was a testament to resilience, intellectual pursuit, and an enduring will to share his experiences for the benefit of future generations. Beesley’s story reminds us that history is shaped not just by events but by the individuals who live through them and choose to tell their tales.
Newspaper: “Wirksworth’s survivor’s Thrilling Narrative”
The lowering of Lifeboat 13 and 15:
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.
Soapy rucksack?
a pain to open! (6,4)
Sounds signally a must for Ada to take in the Loire air (5,6)
Stall, to compose a poem about frailty (4,3,4) 16 Sets in place plans to omit fluids from diet (4,6)
Across
7 Dragonfly, not any more in Indiana, sadly (5)
8 Bush is just the sort to push rubbish out! (5)
14 ‘twill, say, be in much inorganic stuff (5)
15 It rankles a bit as a leg joint (5)
Down
2 A curtain to tie round a long lead? (5)
3 Boy, that’s some accolade! (3)
5 Criteria to eat out and about in the clouds? (5)
12 A reason for absence from central Ibiza (5)
13 Irritated by dire mess around the weekend (5)
15 Back on board with a bit of craftmanship (3)
Crank put out by being flat broke (10)
Old French milkman following Louis? (7)
My early memories of telephones were of using a red telephone box two streets away which contained dusty books giving people’s phone numbers and addresses and always had a peculiar smell. You had to press button A or button B to make a call.
As children, we were drilled in how to make an emergency call and always had to carry a tuppenny piece “just in case”. I kept mine in my sock.
When we finally got one in our home, it had a party line where you could hear neighbours’ conversations. We had fun ringing the speaking clock and dialling prank calls. There was always a money box next to it in the hallway to collect coins for National Children’s homes and an egg timer so you could tell how long your call was.
We now own a 1938 Bakelite telephone which was in use until the 1960s and has been converted to modern use. It has been interesting trying it out on young people. They can work out how to use the dial but cannot grasp the notion of putting the handset to their ear.
No one could have foreseen the way that telephones have developed so rapidly over the past century. From the cup and string through the switchboards and “hello girls” (who were not completely phased out until 1960), to the ubiquitous mobile phone. Telephone boxes have become repositories for unwanted books and defibrillators.
I will pose a question: have our lives been made any better by this instant communication? I do hope so. But for now, I will enjoy the feel of my Bakelite telephone and treasure the memories it evokes.
Whether
Although the birdsong across the countryside and in or around gardens has largely ended, the bird activity has not. Across the Peak District and beyond, there is a host of baby and juvenile birds roaming around and seeking out bird-feeders in wildlife gardens. The young blue tits, coal tits, and great tits are especially noticeable at present, with numbers building over recent weeks. In my own garden the flocks are growing to twenty or thirty birds, mostly juveniles. Adults with childcare duties completed, are now trying to re-gain strength and condition for the winter ahead, though not all have survived. Rearing a brood of demanding blue tits for instance, is a stressful and exhausting business, and potentially fatal.
The local blackbirds are probably on their third or fourth brood of youngsters and the offspring can be seen in the garden and also in woodlands around the area too. Their dark plumage is rather like the adult female blackbird but with neck, belly, and breast somewhat speckled almost like a thrush, (and of course the blackbird is one of the thrush family). Young robins, also closely related, also sport speckled plumage and lack the red breast of the adults. The reason for the latter is that if the juveniles did have the red breast, it would trigger the adults’ aggressive reactions to an intruder. Indeed, simply placing a red sphere in a robin’s territory will often make it go into attack mode! Anyway, going back to the blackbirds, one of my youngsters appeared this week and seemed to be a newly-fledged bird. Its behaviour was completely different from
that of the older juveniles, which now seem quite independent, and was pursuing the female parent around the garden and ceaselessly demanding to be fed. Calling, gaping, and fluttering all at once, I wonder how long this will continue before the adult sends the baby on its way. Very soon these birds will be flocking up and heading for hedgerows and the woodland edges of the wider countryside were they will feast on hawthorn berries and blackberries, or perhaps the rowan trees of the moorland fringes with their rich pickings of bright red berries. Then, once these are exhausted, the birds will return to gardens for pyracanthas and cotoneasters, and by November into December they will be joined once again by wintering flocks of European blackbirds, along with redwings, and fieldfares too. The hedges along disused railway lines, now access trails, are rich hunting grounds for these wintering birds, and I wonder if we will experience another wonderful influx of waxwings as we did last year. The Monsal Trail at Hassop was definitely the place to be last winter!
Tawny owls have been very vocal in recent weeks, and it is the newly-fledged young owlets that are causing all the fuss. The parents will have two or maybe three young birds stationed in the treetops and calling to each other and to the adult birds as they learn how to survive and to fend for themselves. But it will be a good while before the juveniles are able to cope alone in the big, wide world. In the meantime, the parents will be kept busy feeding themselves and their growing youngsters.
Top Tip:
Divide perennials which form in clumps – unless it’s been very wet in the last few weeks in which case leave till spring.
Lift plants with a garden fork and shake off soil. With big clump plants you often need two garden forks back-to-back to split them and they can then be pulled into smaller chunks of root and re-homed elsewhere in the garden. Smaller plants can usually just be teased apart. If you’re going to plant some roots back into the same soil add some compost to improve the nutrient value and help them recover from the shock. Make sure to continue watering after replanting.
Pick seed pods of any flowers you want to grow again next spring. Wait for a dry day and make sure the seeds are dry. Shake the seed head onto a piece of paper and remove any detritus. Empty seeds into a paper bag, label and store in cool dry place. Dividing perennials and collecting seed equals new plants for nowt!
Keep feeding and deadheading containers and bedding. They’ll keep going till the autumn frosts.
Hardy annuals like calendula, love in a mist and any of the lovely starry ammis can be sown directly into prepared weed-free fine soil now to give them a head start for earlier flowering next summer.
Pot up strawberry runners to make more plants for next year’s crop. Again, more for nothing.
