Voice Magazines - Alfreton & Villages Edition - November 2022

Dear Readers,

So, in the interests of my own sanity (and I suspect yours as well), I am going to completely ignore the ‘elephant in the room’ pertaining to Rome burning around us and not mention anything! Please don’t take that as ignorance - I think we all just need to take the light reliefs where we can currently!!!

Here at Voice Magazines, we’ve been on a bit of a roadshow!! When I started this magazine 12yrs ago now, it was all about shopping local and supporting the small local businesses, who very often have far more outgoings than incomings financially speaking, especially in the early days! These businesses don’t have huge budgets, so we wanted to give them a ‘Voice’ to get their message out.

The real threat of losing the high street altogether is more real today than at any other time and whilst some people may see no issue with that, it is a life line for so many people in so many ways from employment to accessibility (not everyone has the internet or the ability to use it) to company (it might be the only people that someone sees that day) to what happens to the properties and much, much more. Personally speaking, I love browsing a high street and finding little hidden gems or impulsive items that you think ‘Ooooo, Caron would love that!’, you can’t do that on the internet!

Apart from all of that, it is local business that keeps local communities and small areas going. The better our high streets, the more the money flows around your area to support the local sports team or donate to the local charity for example. So, let’s all pull together this year and try and support our high streets – it’s fair to say that they’ve had

CONTENT

a rough run over the last few years and now is the time for the community to support them! Bezos doesn’t need to be any richer but the local shopkeepers need to survive this difficult time, so please turn to our high street feature and join the ‘shop local’ revolution.

In other news, as we were out and about this month, you can also read all about our foot scan experience at another grassroots, small, Derbyshire based business who do fantastically on the global footwear platform - Rockfall. I may have mentioned earlier this year about a small plantar injury! Anyway, my crikey, that footscanner machine was amazing, I could see where my arch has fallen, and the physio kept saying about getting a supportive insole but I thought she was probably just being overly cautious! Having tried it, insoles are the future!! Only issue is, I need to make sure that they can be inserted into my *small* shoe collection!! #fingerscrossed

See you next month when who knows what alternative reality we will be in then? Perhaps Santa will start wearing blue!!!

Happy Reading,

Tree Huggers Anonymous

As a bona-fide

should I say the founder, of T.H.A. (OK,

made it up!) I was really pleased

an article about National Tree Week which this year runs from 27th November to 5th December.

In a nutshell (acorn cup if you prefer) we NEED trees.

I’m going to chuck in a bit of history now… William the Conqueror took ownership of many of the forests in England, granting hunting rights only to the select few. These woodlands were known as “the Royal Forests” and mere mortals, even land owners, were restricted in their use of forest lands so that the, ahem…”great and good” could “enjoy” a spot of hunting every so often!

Trees nurture and sustain us and the planet we call home in so many ways. From the very air we breathe, to the houses we live in, the furniture we use, and even (some of) the plastic necessary for 21st Century life - trees are essential to our existence.

Without woodlands and forests, land loses integrity and stability. Erosion by wind and water is more extreme without trees acting as wind blocks, and their roots soaking up rainfall. Just look at what happens when forests are cleared in places like the Amazon - biodiversity drops, the soil dries out, there is less rainfall (the Amazon rainforest actually create their own rainfall - did you know that?) and the result is often wildfires.

Trees also soak up carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and when present in towns and cities it has been estimated that they can reduce urban temperatures by up to 7°C. So, not only do trees slow global warming by capturing and containing CO², they also help keep our cities cooler in the summer as they lose moisture and their leaves reflect heat (from tarmac and concrete) upwards and away from the ground.

It’s not only we humans that benefit from trees, one mature oak tree (my favourite species) can be home to as many as 500 different kinds of birds, insects, and small animals. Felling a great old oak will not just kill the tree itself, but will deprive hundreds of other living creatures of their home. Even trees that have died in situ continue to provide both habitats and food sources for other creatures.

These rights were not overturned until The Forest Charter, 1217. Eight hundred years later, in 2017, a new Charter for Trees, Woods and People was launched with the following objectives:

• Sustain landscapes rich in wildlife

• Plant for the future

• Celebrate the power of trees to inspire

• Grow forests of opportunity and innovation

• Protect irreplaceable trees and woods

• Plan greener local landscapes

• Recover health, hope and wellbeing with the help of trees

• Make trees accessible to all

• Combat the threats to our habitats

• Strengthen our landscapes with trees

These articles

What are YOU going to do in National Tree Week to aid these objectives?

Black Friday

THERE IS A BETTER WAY TO SPEND YOUR MONEY!

Black Friday, which is November 25th this year, is one of those American imports I question that we really need. Originally coined to mark the Friday after Thanksgiving when traditionally Americans would start their Christmas shopping.

I delved into the history behind the phrase “Black Friday”, and discovered that the first reference in relation to Thanksgiving was in the early 50s when it related to workers calling in sick the day after the celebrations. Around the same time, the terms “Black Friday” and “Black Saturday” came to be used by the police in Philadelphi to describe the crowds and traffic congestion accompanying the start of the Christmas shopping season.

It took a while for the phrase to gain traction, and it only really became a kind of sales vehicle when an alternative derivation of the meaning was suggested in the 80s. This was that retailers traditionally operated at a financial loss January to November and made their profit during the holiday season, beginning on the day after Thanksgiving. In pre computer accounting days it was usual to use red ink to show negative amounts and black to show positive. Black Friday, under this theory, is the beginning of the period when retailers would no longer be “in the red”.

Many large retailers now try to con us Brits out of our hard earned money by promoting “Black Friday Offers”, and it can be quite tempting to spend cash on what look like great deals…but before you part with your dosh, just check to see if the saving is as great as it claims to be!

Even better, ignore the big retailers altogether during the festive shopping period. Instead concentrate on the high streets of our local towns and villages and spend your money with independent small shops, producers, and makers. They are owned and run by people like you and I who are aiming to make a living for themselves and their families. The money we spend in their shops will not go towards funding the pension of a multi-millionaire at the top of a large faceless corporation.

If you’re not a fan of retail therapy and prefer online shopping, look on the likes of Etsy, Not on the High Street, and even Facebook and Instagram for small shops, creatives, and makers. Many local creators will only be selling online or at local craft fairs and events.

We need to support the people in our local economies. We need to prioritise purchasing from independents, be that in a shop or online. Yes, a multinational may appear cheaper, and with the current state of many of our wallets that is appealing, but big corporations seldom help small towns and villages.

Here’s a challenge for you…keep your pre festive spending in your local area. Buy sustainable products. Limit your purchase of plastic toys in favour of books. And if in doubt, buy a gift voucher from a local shop!

ACTIV-STEP FOOTSCAN SERVICE AT ROCK FALL

We’re particularly fortunate at Voice Magazines to get invited to many different events and places but when we were invited to review a foot scanner at Rock Fall by the Managing Director, we were a little surprised! However, I can report that that it was actually one of the most informative, interesting and unexpectedly fun things we have undertaken as a team.

When we arrived, we were greeted by the Factory Shop Manager, Amanda. We received a lovely warm welcome, which continued when we were handed over to the knowledgeable and highly entertaining Dave, who led the demonstration.

The first part of the presentation was really thought provoking, when asked “Do you suffer from back, hip or knee pain? Everyone one of us answered ‘yes’ to one or all of the above and we were surprised to find out that this could be due to our feet.

We were then each invited to stand on the Activ-Step Foot Scanner machine, which assesses the shape, movement and pressure of your specific feet, to be able to identify the pronation and supination of your feet whilst moving.

The foot scanner is so clever and it truly is revealing to identify what kind of foot support you need to alleviate some of these issues. Once you have completed your assessment, you are pointed to 1 of the 3 insoles which best suit your particular feet and when you test the samples, you can really feel the difference in foot support.

This particular technology was originally identified as specifically relevant for tradespeople and people who spend all day on their feet, but the reality is that there is no-one that this isn’t relevant to, who currently, or has in the past, suffered from any back, hip or knee pain. And the best news is, currently Rock Fall have an offer on the insoles, which currently rrp at £32, but you can have the assessment and purchase these insoles for £25 when you purchase a new pair of shoes.

Team Voice can unanimously endorse this gem of a shop on the industrial estate in Somercotes. They provide such a warm welcome, have a great range of products and are highly knowledgeable about such an important subject that few people probably have any experience of. So, if you have any issues with your back, hips or knees – support a local business and help improve your walk – you won’t be disappointed.

Slimming World Recipe

Risotto

1. Spray a large non-stick

with

spray and put over a medium heat. Add the garlic, shallot, leek, carrot, celery and fennel seeds and fry for 10 minutes, adding a little water if anything sticks.

2. Meanwhile, cook the sausages

to the

and cut each one into 6 pieces.

3. Stir the rice and stock cubes into the veg. Add 700ml boiling water a little at a time – letting the rice absorb each addition

The italian style

dish are the perfect

before you add more – and cook for 20 minutes, stirring often.

4. Add the sausages and keep cooking and stirring until the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is cooked to your liking (you might need more water). Remove from the heat and stir in the quark, then scatter over the herbs and season to taste. Serve with salad.

Low-calorie

clove,

leek,

Festive Night to Remember

MANDY’S TRAVEL PAGE

Hi I’m Mandy your Personal Travel Counsellor.

This year has been such a whirlwind that it’s hard to believe that the festivities have circled round again. So this got me thinking, last year my unusual experience gifts received such great feedback that I thought I might send you a few more this year, just to help Santa out! If you want to get organised this year, send me a message, I’d be happy to help.

American Classics Driving Experience for One (Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, North Yorkshire)

From £114.00 per person

Take on three of America’s most legendary classic racers – the sleek Corvette, roaring Mustang, and the powerful Camaro SS – for three miles each and discover just why these cars have earned a place in the motoring hall of fame!

Bombay Sapphire Distillery Discovery Experience with Gin Cocktail for Two (Whitchurch, Hampshire)

From £33.00

If you’re partial to a cheeky G&T, you’ll love this Bombay Sapphire Distillery Discovery Experience for two people. Embark on a gin-tastic journey of discovery, learning all about how this popular brand of gin is made in Hampshire. Start the tour with a refreshing Bombay Sapphire gin cocktail before you see what goes into making your favourite tipple.

Visit to Kew Gardens and Palace for Two (Richmond upon Thames)

From £35.00

A World Heritage Site and a top UK attraction, Kew Gardens is the world’s most famous garden. This experience for two is truly wonderful and will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a completely different world – you’ll also learn about the 250 years of science and history behind this world-famous attraction too!

20 Minute Truck Driving Experience for One (Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Warwickshire and nationwide)

From £47.00 per person

For those who have dreamed of driving a truck, this 20-minute experience could be just the ticket!

Enjoy the opportunity to take control of a mighty race car transporter, measuring an incredible 45 foot – that’ll be tricky around those tight bends! Following an in-cab briefing, get ready to steer this monster around a specially designed track and enjoy plenty of tricky challenges that will test your truck driving skills to the max!

Liverpool FC Anfield Stadium Tour and Museum Entry for One Adult

From £22.00 per person

Liverpool FC’s stadium tour is bigger and better than ever. Experience the magic of an interactive tour behind the scenes at Anfield, one of the most iconic and historic stadiums in the world. Visit the state-of-the-art home team dressing room, the away team dressing room and take the chance to test your interview technique in the press room before you take a spine-tingling walk down the players’ tunnel to the sound of the Anfield roar.

*Other football team experiences and locations available – as well as other sports such as Rugby & Cricket*

Travel Counsellors Gift Vouchers (Worldwide)

If you just don’t know what to give the people in your life, why not give them a travel gift voucher.

MANDY OLDKNOW T: 01773 318 540 mandy.oldknow@travelcounsellors.com www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/mandy.oldknow

advertise please call 01773 549 035

RECOLLECTIONS

One of the most personal items in our collection is a wooden clothes horse made by Paul’s grandad in the 1930’s. Until recently, it was held together by a stocking made by Brettles of Belper which unfortunately disintegrated and fell off. It is now held together with a piece of twine. This simple item of treasured family history is still used in our house today.

Whenever we bring the clothes horse out to show people during our “All Around the Shire” sessions, many people remember it not just for drying laundry, but when placed on its side and covered with a blanket, as a child’s tent. It is generally agreed that you have not had a proper childhood until you have played in a clothes horse tent.

Last week a 96 year old woman came up to me after our session and said that in Yorkshire, it was called a “Winter Hedge”. This was because for the rest of the year, clothes were dried on hedges outside and it was only in the winter that the “Winter Hedge” was used indoors.

When my parents were first married, mum would dry clothes on washing lines strung on hooks high above the picture rail. My dad, being very tall, would complain about being hit in the face by wet nappies as he walked into the room.

As time went on, they had a ceiling rack with a pulley system, sometimes called a “Sheila Maid” What an invention. Dad was able to walk about without a stoop. Precious memories.

BOURNEMOUTH

Marsham Court Hotel

30th Dec 22 - 3rd Jan 23

£525

OF WIGHT

Burlington Hotel - Sandown

Mon 6th - Fri 10th Feb

Mon 13th - Fri 17th Feb

Mon 20th - Fri 24th Feb

days • £199

Channel View Hotel

Mon 6th - Fri 10th March

Mon 13th - Fri 17th March

£250

2nd

MANCHESTER

Mercure Hotel

Sun 5th - Mon 6th March

2 Days • £115

MORECAMBE

Auckland Hotel

Mon 13th – Fri 17th March

Days • £299

LYTHAM ST ANNES - MOTHERS DAY Inn on the Prom

Sun 19th - Mon 20th March

days • £130

MOBILE BOOKING OFFICE LOCATIONS

3rd Tuesday of

3rd Thursday of

3rd Friday of

1pm

Bookings are now open for our Santa Special cruises. On all our Santa Special cruises, there will be a present for every child, and a mince pie and a drink for every adult. The fare is £9 per person. Booking is essential. Schedule as below: -

John Varley ll will be running from Tapton Lock on 26th & 27th November, 3rd & 4th, 10th & 11th, 17th & 18th and 22nd & 23rd December at 10.00, 10.40, 11.20, 12.00, 13.00, 13.40, 14.20 & 15.00.

Madeline will be running from Hollingwood Hub on 3rd & 4th, 10th & 11th and 17th & 18th December at 10.00, 11.00, 12.00, 13.00 & 14.00.

Hugh Henshall will be running from Shireoaks Top Lock on 3rd & 4th, 10th & 11th, 17th & 18th and 22nd & 23rd December at 11.00, 12.00, 13.00 & 14.00.

Seth Ellis will be running from the Chequers Inn at Ranby on 3rd & 4th, 10th & 11th, 17th & 18th and 23rd December at 10.00, 11.00, 12.00, 13.30, 14.30 & 15.30.

Progressive Furnishings is a family run local business established 19 years ago by Jonathan and his brother James. They sold their wares on a stall at Thorsby market for a short while before opening a small (500 square foot) unit in Sutton-in-Ashfield.

After trading for a mere 5 years, Progressive Furnishings made the move to a shop in Forest Town, where they have remained to the present day. The company is a real family affair with Jonathan still at the helm supported by his wife Jo, brother James and son Harley, even the family dog has been known to lend a paw or two on occasion.

Progressive Furnishings pride themselves on providing quality items. When you purchase a sofa from Progressive Furnishings every part of it will be genuine Italian leather including the sides, arms and back. Not only will your new sofa be built with pride but it will also be pocket sprung so it won’t collapse and sag.

There are sofas in stock so, if you want a new leather sofa and they have the colour in stock, it can be delivered to you without the wait.

Progressive Furnishings don’t just do sofas, there is a wide range of lounge, dining room and bedroom furniture so all your furnishing needs can be met in one place.

All items purchased will be delivered and assembled free of charge by the Progressive Furnishings delivery team who also remove all packaging from site. All sofas have removable backs to enable easy access into even the smallest of doorways.

If you order now, you can choose when your purchases are delivered, because Progressive Furnishings carry a wide range of stock, they can even get your purchases to you before Christmas.

Progressive Furnishings, Unit G Sandlands Court, Fulmar Close, Forest Town (opposite Asda)

NG19

MAKING SENSE OF THE NOISE IN OUR HEADS

We ALL have noise going on in our heads to some degree or other.

Often when I see people in the therapy room, they are surprised to discover that this is normal. The reality is that our brain generates innumerable thoughts each day, and the primary difference between those that get overwhelmed, low, or anxious and those that don’t, is the degree to which they are able to challenge or manage that thought noise. If none of it gets challenged, and we act as though it’s all true, we can wind up in a real mess.

The author and Byron Katie suggests four questions (which she calls ‘The Work’) which gives us a road map to challenge thoughts. The simple version consists of beginning by noticing the thought and if it helps say it out loud: “I think that …”

1. Then ask yourself the question, “is this true?”

2. Follow this with, “Can I absolutely KNOW that this is true?”

3. “How do I find myself reacting to that thought?” This might be a feeling or an action.

4. And then: “who would I be without this thought?”

If you’re still unsure, try considering that the opposite of this thought might be true and then look for evidence to support that alternative thought. A simple scenario may be - the thought that a particular friend hasn’t invited you to something because she doesn’t like you. This method encourages you to look for evidence of this thought. And then for evidence that the reverse might be true. Why don’t you give it a go?

mention Voice Magazines when responding to the

Vintage Rambles with rafaand Flake

Rafa is back!! This walk is nearly as old as he is, having first featured back in September 2013! But like Rafa not too much has changed, except maybe he took it a little slower this time. There are some fantastic views on this walk of Bolsover Castle and Sutton Scarsdale Hall and it’s great for the dogs, with plenty of opportunity to go off lead. However, please be careful, especially if your dogs have a high prey drive, as there are phesants in the woods and sheep protected by electric fences.

5 MILE CIRCULAR FROM BOLSOVER WITH VIEWS OF SUTTON SCARSDALE HALL AND BOLSOVER CASTLE

A moderate walk for you and your dog with some gradualy climbs. This walk should take 2 to 21/2 hours. There are some sections which cross fields, which may be particularly muddy if it has been wet. There is also a section of road to walk along so please take care and make sure you wear appropriate footwear for the conditions. And as always, follow the countryside code!

1. To begin go through the gate opposite the car park entrance. Continue along the path with a metal fence on your left. Keep to the main path to pass a sculpture on the left.

2. Continue to cross a lane and continue along the trail. Then after a short distance pass under a bridge. After some distance you arrive at a crossroads of footpaths.

3. Turn right and pass through a width restrictor and along the path before crossing over a footbridge. In front of you is a large pond. Go diagonally left

WAY, BOLSOVER,

and then skirt around the left-hand edge of the pond. On the opposite side of the pond you will find a marker post and a stile.

4. Cross over the stile and head diagonally left across the field, heading towards ‘Sutton Scarsdale Hall’ on the horizon. After passing underneath a telegraph wire, continue to keep left of some old stone buildings in the field. At the far edge of the field, turn left along a farm track keeping a fence and the motorway on your right. Continue until you reach a road.

5. At the road turn right and go over the motorway. Follow the road round to the left and uphill *At this point, If you wish to take a closer look at Sutton Scarsdale Hall, take the path on the right, half way up the hill*

6. Continue along the road into ‘Sutton Scarsdale’. After the road bends sharp right you will see a footpath to the left sign posted for Heath Village. Take the footpath heading downhill across a field.

7. At the bottom right-hand corner of the field, cross a footbridge and then over a stile into another field. In this field, head straight uphill. At the far end, cross over a stile adjacent to a telegraph pole and onto a lane.

8. Cross straight over the lane through a gate and into another field. Keeping the hedge on your right, go to the bottom of the field to cross another stile.

9. Now you have the hedge on your right and trees on your left. Continue straight ahead to cross another stile onto a lane. Cross over the lane diagonally right, ensuring that in the next field you have the hedge on your left. With the hedge on your left and going gently downhill, go to the bottom left-hand corner of this field.

10. Go through a gap in the fence and cross a footbridge. Go straight ahead, passing through a gap in the boundary of the field, then, at a marker post, turn left. Continue along the edge of the

field, then immediately after a pylon on your left, turn left down a farm track.

11. Continue ahead, keeping the hedge on your right. The path curves left and then right, through a gap into another field and continues downhill with the hedge on the right. When the hedge on the right ends, continue straight towards the motorway crossing an open field.

12. Go over a stile to cross another field, at the far edge of this field turn left keeping the fence on the right. Upon reaching a lane turn right to pass under the motorway.

13. Continue straight to cross an open field heading for a gap in the hedge. After passing through the gap turn left keeping the hedge on your left. Follow the hedge around to the right and after a short distance, go over a stile on your left. Then go over a footbridge and over a second stile into a field.

14. Cross the field diagonally right, keeping Bolsover Castle straight ahead. In the far right-hand corner of the field turn right to cross over a footbridge. Now go diagonally left across a field and then over a stile into a wooded area. After a short distance, go over another stile and into a field.

15. Go diagonally left across the field and then over a stile onto a well laid path (The Stockley Trail). Turn left along the trail, which you can follow, over a road and back to the car park.

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.

Bolsover

Sutton Scarsdale

Carr ValeStockley TRail

Bolsover Castle

It’s Christmas! And we want you to help us spread the festive cheer by joining us at Markeaton Park for the Derby Santa Run! With a BRAND NEW 5K route, the Derby Santa Run is perfect for all ages. Whether you hop, skip, dance or run the route, “yule” be sure to have lots of festive fun. We’re also inviting Santa Paws to get involved, and they can wear their own special ‘pawsome’ festive bandana! Join us at Markeaton Park on Sunday 11 December, run with hundreds of Santas and help spread the Christmas cheer! As a thank you, you’ll receive your very own Santa suit as well as a festival medal and goody bag as you finish.

*pricesincludetheSantasuit–onesizefitsall **pricesincludetheSantasuit–suitsizesare 5-8yearsoldand9-14yearsold

In 1993, members of the Mansfield Lioness Club came up with a new fundraising initiative for the Hospice. With the help of donations from local companies, the first “Tree of Light” was erected and dressed in the Hospice Grounds, raising an amazing £1840.00.

The Mansfield Lioness Club disbanded after several years and some members decided to continue dedicated fundraising for the Hospice, they became appropriately known as SHINE.

The lighting ceremony has changed considerably over the years, developing from a small group of people attending a chaplain led service at the hospice to a very busy event at Queen Elizabeth ’s School hall and after that at the Eastwood Suite at Portland College. Some years ago we created a Tree of Remembrance which enables sponsors to write a personal message on a tag and attach it to our symbolic tree, which stands in the Hospice reception. This proves very popular with bereaved families.

The tree of Light began as a fundraising event and has raised almost £220,000, however it has become much more. It is a way of remembering those we have loved and lost at a special time of the year. We hope the tree will remain a symbol of light and hope for many years to come and that it continues to bring comfort to us all.

We are very grateful to Collis Engineering who arrange delivery of the tree and erect and dress it for us.

To find out more or to sponsor a light, please contact us by the methods below.

John Eastwood Hospice Trust, Mansfield Road, Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, NG17 4HJ Web: www.johneastwoodhospice.org.uk Email: contact@johneastwoodhospice.org.uk Tel: 01623 622626

Pitcherwits®

Across

7 Kidney stuff is hard to learn (5)

11 Thing is, it’s kind of a

(5)

13 A mark taken as effect of actions (5)

16 Chine set up in alcove (5)

2 Vase produced in blast-furnace (3)

4 Greeting, if included, is a

system (2-2)

10 It’s an approach to earn, roughly (4)

12 Disgusting? Bit of a blast! (4)

15 Strung out axis (shorter for a cab) (4)

17 Bit of barbecue sauce for the potter, please? (3)

ALFRETON & DISTRICT HERITAGE TRUST

A CHILDHOOD CHRISTMAS GROWING UP IN THE 1950’S

Looking now at the array of toys and gadgets available for the current generation of children I often think back to how we, the 1950’s generation, fared in the days of post-war austerity and hardship. How did we survive without the need to have parents build our toys or invest a fortune in batteries.

Simply put, we counted ourselves fortunate to have one main present, perhaps an apple and orange or even some nuts. Chocolate if you were lucky and if you were unlucky, a box of dates in those funny sorts of oval shaped boxes!

You always hoped Santa might drop in and obviously he did because the glass of sherry and the mince pies left for him were always gone by Christmas Morning! How Rudolph and the other reindeer ate all those carrots and still managed to deliver all those presents on time is a minor mystery, none of this leaving stuff behind the wheely bin and running off like we see with deliveries today.

What of the toys in the 1950s then?

Well, we had Bayko building sets and of course Meccano, along with Dinky toys all of which originated in the 1930s. 1953 brought the advent of Matchbox toys produced by Lesney products and available for 1s-6d. A box of paints was always welcome or toy soldiers and of course, dolls were ever popular for the girls, as was a dolls house if you were really lucky.

Play Doh arrived on the scene in 1956, hard to believe it was originally marketed as a cleaning product before becoming so popular as a toy and indeed still around to this day.

Hula Hoops became popular in 1958 and in 1959, Barbie dolls appeared on the market and they also remain popular to this day. An Annual, be it Dandy, Beano or any other, was always welcomed.

Certainly, at our house Christmas always involved making some of our own decorations with paper chains being a popular choice. There were of course paper bells and concertina type garlands you could buy along with the glass Christmas Tree baubles and many other things.

The 1950s was not an easy time for many but perhaps life was rather more simple then and we just got on with it.

FLAMECARE – CUSTOMER FOCUSED, CARING, AND CHARITABLE!

What makes any business stand out from the rest? The answer can be as simple as the level of care and service offered to its customers and the broader community.

FAMILY-RUN, independent and local, FlameCare certainly ticks all the boxes in terms of ‘going over and beyond’ the call of duty. In terms of local charities, the commitment is as strong and wholehearted as ever. For instance, for any new customer signing up to a central heating maintenance plan, FlameCare is donating the first month’s subscription to Ashgate Hospice. FlameCare is also sponsoring Marcella Kirk, owner of Maison Mes Amis restaurant on Chatsworth Road, on a gruelling desert challenge. Marcella, and her friend, Helen Tait Wright, will be faced with

2,200km of extreme off-roading in their 4x4 Land Rover ‘Precilla’. The challenge entails travelling 2,200km across Morocco through all-terrain, desert, mountains, and ocean.

The charitable and warmhearted approach, which is synonymous with FlameCare, is also, of course, extended to its loyal customer base. “Our customers really deserve our support during these challenging times of everincreasing energy bills,” said Managing Director, Simon Fletcher. “That’s why we’ve initiated a price freeze on our central heating and maintenance plans for the next 12 months – starting immediately –from 1st September. This applies to both existing and new customers.” FlameCare’s diversification into bathrooms and bathroom adaptations has been an overwhelming success. Indeed, fitting dates before Christmas are running out fast, so booking early is essential for installations wanted prior to the festive season.

THIS IS WHAT A CUSTOMER HAD TO SAY ABOUT FLAMECARE’S BATHROOM INSTALLATIONS:

“I contacted FlameCare regarding a bathroom adaptation at my dad’s house, as he was starting to feel unsafe.

From initial visit to final completion, the professionalism from FlameCare shone through every step of the way. The communication and project management were excellent throughout. Every member of staff was sincere, honest, and full of integrity.

The new walk-in shower with grab rails and water-proof boarding has given my dad confidence and me complete peace of mind. I would wholeheartedly recommend” Shaun Bennett

FLAMECARE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT ASHGATE HOSPICE

Mike’sMusings

I think he might be having us on you know

Mike is always glad to hear from you at : mike.musings@outlook.com

Grrrr!

Whilst I’ve no objections to my grandsons cheerily calling me Grumps, it is a bit of a misnomer. As my wife can testify, I’ve always been a happy-go-lucky and philosophical kind of a guy, who never lets things get on top of him and who has consistently smiled through every crisis or challenge during our many years together.

NB – whilst typing that paragraph, I’ve had the fingers of both hands very tightly crossed behind my back. It’s not easy hitting the correct keys with your nose. Took me nearly an hour!

There are however, some things in the modern world that are guaranteed to wind me up. They’re mostly little things like not being offered a knife & fork at a McDonald’s restaurant or the fact that, according to much of the media, football in this country only began in 1992. I accept that in the grand scheme of things, these are relatively minor grumbles. However, don’t get me started on poor use of English.

I’m not talking about basic punctuation errors like misplaced apostrophes etc. Examples include the café offering Tea’s, Coffee’s & Snack’s or the classic notice outside school, Parent’s – please dont park on the yellow line’s.

No, I’m more concerned about the use of language which is either irrelevant, superfluous or just plain nonsense.

How many times have you heard (or perhaps used yourself) the phrase, ‘I just can’t wait for..... etc.’ Of course we all know what it means. The person uttering those words is clearly excited, and eagerly looking forward to something. However, if they can’t wait, just what are they going to do? Top themselves?

What about the athlete suggesting that they’re going to put 110% effort into whatever event they’re taking part in. Surely a more realistic 100% would be sufficient.

When a politician (or just Joe Bloggs on the street) is asked a question and they begin the reply with ‘At this moment in time....’ why not simply say ‘Now’, or if they want a sense of urgency, ‘Right now’?

The word ‘literally’ is used so freely that it is beginning to lose its meaning. Here’s a few examples:-

“He puts in good crosses from the left. He literally doesn’t have a right foot.”

“It was so cold, I literally froze to death!”

“Usain Bolt was so quick out of the blocks, he literally left the rest of the field for dead.”

Text and email use doesn’t help of course with acronyms like BTW, LMK, ROFL, TBH and made up abbreviations like Gr8, G2G & Tnit etc., now widely used in prose.

Language evolves - I accept that – but every time I see, in whatever print format, ‘could of’, ‘would of’, ‘should of’, ‘gotten’ or ‘utilise’ when ‘use’ is more than adequate, I sigh inwardly and just think standards have dropped so far that ‘Pa’ Good, my old English teacher, would have self-combusted had he been teaching today.

Well, if nothing else, having typed this, I suddenly feel a whole lot better – just in time for my ‘copy’ for the Pre-Christmas edition of your Voice Magazine!!

As Autumn draws in the spiders emerge…..

Very few British spiders will bite you, and of those which do, most don’t draw blood. With one possible exception, they are not effectively venomous. The exception I write of is the ‘False Widow’, a species spreading since its arrival into southwest England from the Canary Islands back in the 1800s. This can bite and for some people, it does produce a very nasty toxic shock. Other species are perfectly harmless, and even the big ones such as the ‘Cardinal Spider’ (the really big leggy House Spider) is probably more afraid of you than you should be of it. However, it is very large, and those long legs make it look intimidating. The big, fat-bodied ‘Garden Spiders’ which live in circular orb-webs are totally benign, though I recall a local Junior School being closed because parents thought these big spiders were False Widows. This said, I have had False Widows reported from a local allotment garden where someone had suffered a bad reaction to a bite from a big dark-bodied spider in his shed.

However, not everyone likes spiders and yet with autumn creeping in, there is no getting away from them. Once we are into November, then bushes, hedgerows, and even windows are well covered in spiders’ webs of various shapes and sizes. Not all spiders make webs and some such as Wolf Spiders actively run down their prey. However, of those species which are web-makers there are two main types. These are the ‘blanket’ or ‘sheet webs’, and, as mentioned earlier, the orb webs. Sheet webs are constructed by spiders called the ‘Linyphiidae’ and there are 280 British species from tiny ‘Money Spiders’ said to bring good luck if you find one on you. These

spiders hang around under their webs waiting for dinner to just drop in. Some small Linyphids make sheet webs in depressions on the ground, on low vegetation, or on tree bark. Autumn fog or dew highlights these shimmering webs across hedges, herbaceous plants, and on trees or shrubs.

The second big spider group is made up of the ‘orb-web’ spiders, the spider family ‘Araneidae’, and this includes the most common orb (i.e., circular) web builders. These inhabit gardens, hedgerows, fields, and woodlands. They are spiders with eight similar eyes, and eight legs with hairs or spines, and with which incidentally they ‘hear’. The webs are particularly distinctive because they are characteristically constructed to form a framework of non-sticky silk to which the spider adds a final spiral of droplet-covered sticky silk. These webs are natural works of art and engineering and begin with the spider floating a line on air currents to a nearby surface. This first line secured, another dropped from the centre makes ‘Y’ shape, and scaffolding follows. Radii of non-sticky silk are secreted before the final spiral of sticky ‘capture silk’ is in place. These little beasties have specially designed extra claws on each foot to help them manipulate silk whilst they spin and to move across the non-sticky parts of their webs. You often see the big-bodied females with their large spherical abdomens sat at the centre of their web. They are generally much larger than the males. The most handsome of these is the Garden Spider and I used to collect handfuls of these on my way to Junior School where I presented them to our class mistress for the nature table. I’m not sure she was impressed!

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Professor Ian D. Rotherham, researcher, writer, broadcaster on wildlife and environmental issues in the Peak District and elsewhere, is contactable on info@hallamec.plus.com. Follow his website www.ukeconet.org, blog ianswalkonthewildside, & Twitter @IanThewildside

Gardener’s Calendar

Also you don’t want plants in containers sitting in water as it will rot the roots so remove

Top Tip:

and raise off the ground if possible. You can buy little “feet” to do the job, or bricks, stones or wood will work just as well. Even in winter,

from under the

planted with the likes of winter pansies can dry out. But don’t water if it looks like

Bubble wrap is also handy for helping to insulate greenhouses.

It’s a good time now for pruning fruit trees such as apples and pears as the trees are less likely to bleed and weaken now the sap has retreated down their trunks. The idea is to take out any damaged branches and cut away those which are crossing and rubbing against each other. Ideally you’re looking for a goblet shape so there is good ventilation in the middle of the tree. Shorten growth from this year by a third and go back to a bud facing the direction you want the branch to grow. But don’t prune cherries or plums –leave them for the summer.

And if you’re tempted in this mood of chopping and lopping, to cut back flowering cherry or forsythia, which suddenly look very leggy around now, be aware that you’ll be removing next year’s blossom branches. They really need to be pruned after flowering...

Clear debris, moss and algae from drives, flagstones and patios. Not only can it become slippery, it also breeds fungus and pests.

GreenhousesRus

Recycling

Terracotta pots are not always winter hardy so if you’re not sure, wrap in bubble wrap to stop them cracking.