Voice Magazines - Alfreton & Villages Edition - January 2023

Dear Readers, “Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot and auld lang syne?”

If you didn’t sing this whilst smashing a prosecco with Jools Holland on the tellybox – how do you even know it is New Year!?

I’m embracing the year of the Rabbit and going for a year of hope! With that in mind, I’d thought I’d have a bit of fun and make some predictions for 2023 – channelling my inner Nostradamus.

• We will have fewer Prime Ministers than in 2022

• Everyone will own an Oodie as a replacement for our central heating

• Elon Musk will propose a duel to Mark Zuckerberg for Facebook & the whole of the Metaverse

• David Beckham (the National Labrador) will join another queue and he will finally be granted his long-solicited Knighthood

• Donald Trump has a DNA test and it is discovered that whilst he is a descendent of an actual orange from Spain his hair is in fact actually one of those really furry caterpillars. And yet he is still on the Republican ballot for POTUS nominees

• Having had the coldest winter on record, we follow the summer with the hottest year on record again and Britain went into meltdown – literally.

• These seasonal record temps are attributed to global warming and, after the success of the covid rules, the govt panic and introduce a national mandate for ‘us’ (not ‘them’) to stop travelling, stop eating Beef specifically and trying to only breathe outwards on every other breath.

• Kanye West moves to Qatar to “become at one with his personal values”

Just a few of my thoughts for this coming year. If you have a mind to, send me over some of your predictions for next year. Only tongue in cheeks ones though –our inbox now has a filter that removes emails that sound too grumpy!!!!

Anyhoo, I’m off to drown my sorrows as 2023 brings a most

CONTENT

I am, of course, referring to Chinese Zodiac signs and their twelve-year cycle.

This year the Chinese New Year is 22 January, and we are moving into the “year of the rabbit” … actually, the full title is Year of the Water Rabbit, as Chinese astrology is based on five elements - Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth - as well as the twelve animal signs.

The sign of Rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity in Chinese culture and 2023 is predicted to be a year of hope (not before time!).

Yours truly was born in the Year of the Water Rabbit several decades ago, so I was hoping that the predictions would say 2023 is going to be a banger of a year for me.

Sadly, even though “people born in the year of the Water Rabbit year are predicted to enjoy good fortune and have a peaceful mind throughout their lives”, I also spotted a warning, “you are predicted many challenges with frequent life changes. You’re advised to be more careful about all aspects of your lives in 2023.”

Ho hum…another year of upheaval on the cards then?!

The web page with that slightly confusing information for us rabbits, did suggest a way to mitigate the less pleasant possibilities of 2023 - namely, to “wear red underwear and carry or wear lucky dog trinkets”!

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

That’s me off to M&S for some sale price red undies then, although I’m not sure they stock “lucky dog trinkets” …I’m not even sure what they are.

Some other things said to bring good luck to us rabbits are…

• Lucky numbers: 3, 4, 6, and numbers containing them (like 34 and 46)

• Lucky colours: red, pink, purple, blue

• Lucky flowers: plantain lily, jasmine

• Lucky directions: east, south and northwest

• Of course, there are also some unlucky things (everything in balance, eh?)

• Unlucky numbers: 1, 7, and 8

• Unlucky colours: dark brown, dark yellow, white

• Unlucky directions: north, west, and southwest

I have to admit to being more than a little confused by some of this “advice”, particularly the directions. If northwest is lucky…how can north and west be unlucky?

Fortunately, I like lilies and jasmine and can deal with red, purple and blue (though not fond of pink) so maybe I’ll have to surround myself with flowers and start dressing in more flamboyant colours to keep my luck alive in 2023.

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

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Are you a rat, ox, monkey, goat, or pig…?

Do you even know what I’m talking about?

Slimming World Recipe

Smoky pork and pepper casserole with carrot and parsnip mash

1. Start by making the mash. Bring a saucepan of water to the boil over a high heat and cook the carrots and parsnips for 20 minutes or until tender.

2. Meanwhile, spray a large nonstick casserole pan or frying pan with low-calorie cooking spray and place over a high heat. Add the pork, peppers and onion and season lightly. Cook for 5 minutes or until the meat begins to brown, then cover, turn the heat down a little and cook for a further 10 minutes.

3. At the same time, cook the barbecue sauce according to the pack instructions.

4. Add the barbecue sauce to the pork along with 300ml boiling water, cover and simmer gently for 5 minutes or until the meat is cooked and tender.

5. Drain the carrot and parsnips, reserving 6 tbsp cooking water, and return to the pan. Mash the carrots and parsnips with the reserved cooking water and season with plenty of freshly ground black pepper and a little salt.

6. Divide the mash between plates or bowls and top with the pork casserole. Scatter over the parsley and serve hot with Speed vegetables.

Low-calorie cooking spray 600g lean pork tenderloin, visible fat removed, cut into chunks

2 large red peppers, deseeded and cut into chunks

1 large red onion, cut into chunks 350g

BEHIND THE SCENES AT ALFRETON & DISTRICT HERITAGE TRUST

A New Year is with us, so may I on behalf of everyone connected with The Alfreton & District Trust, wish you all a very Happy 2023.

I thought I’d begin the year by perhaps telling you a little of what goes on behind the scenes at the Heritage Trust. Many of you will be familiar with the Heritage Centre. Our centre in the Cemetery Chapel in Rodgers Lane Alfreton has been open since July 3rd, 1993. The Chapel, built by Alfreton Burial Board in 1891, is substantially in its original form. The centre houses an extensive collection of local artefacts, documents and photographs and is open on Sundays from 1.30pm until 3.30pm during the Winter and from 2pm until 4pm during the lighter months. The Centre has an extensive collection of artifacts and associated documents. If you haven’t been, please add a visit to any New Year resolutions you may have made! Admission is free and we may even have a Jaffa Cake for you along with books etc to purchase!

The work for the Heritage volunteers doesn’t end there though. We are adding to our document and photo collections all the time. Documents need indexing or digitising and new photographs need scanning or old ones repairing. If you fancy helping us out in any capacity, please pop along and see us.

We receive many enquiries from people seeking assistance with matters Alfreton related and these come from all over the world. One recent enquiry was from someone in Victoria, Australia

and concerned a watch they’d purchased which was engraved “N. Wray, Alfreton.” No other clues of course. Case then of putting on the History Detective hat and doing some digging. No trace of an N Wray in Census Records at all, eventually sorted when I found out N was Nellie and she had been a teacher at the Church of England School on Chesterfield Road. Except her name wasn’t really Nellie, it was Ellen. No wonder I couldn’t find her!

Just to add another twist to the Wray story. In December 1920 Mr. W H Carter of Needham, Massachusetts, visited Alfreton staying with the Misses Wray and Mrs. Ellen Wray on High Street. William Henry Carter was the son of William Carter from Alfreton, who made his fortune in America and sadly is largely unknown here. But what is the connection between the two families?

If you know please get in touch!

One further twist was to come when, in December 2022 a photo album was donated to the Heritage Trust, there were no real clues as to the identity of those shown except one address on Cressy Road. Some photos in the album were simply marked G and K and they have been identified as George and Kathleen Dagmar Eyre nee Abbott. George’s father was Thomas Eyre of Stanley House, Hall Street, Alfreton and Kathleen’s as Samuel Abbott, Auctioneer and Valuer on High Street. Where’s the Wray connection then? Well Kathleen’s mother was Mary A. Abbott nee Wray. Odd then that these enquiries should turn out to be inter-related but interesting all the same.

Interested in becoming a member of the Trust?

MANDY’S TRAVEL PAGE

Hi I’m Mandy your Personal Travel Counsellor.

As it’s the new year I thought I would take a moment and reintroduce myself to you all.

I’m sure I am a familiar face to many of you, some because you see me in the Voice each month and others because I’ve always lived in Alfreton.

I’ve worked in travel since I was 17 years old starting as a YTS for an independent agency moving on to Bolsover Cruise and then the Co-op before finding my dream job and becoming a Travel Counsellor back in September 2000. As you can see, I’ve been doing this for a long time, so I’m a safe pair of hands for your next adventure. My aim in my business and my article each month is to bring you the best holidays and the best travel experiences you can get.

Holidays are such a personal thing and something you save hard for, so it has to be perfect, that’s where I come in. As a Travel Counsellor I look after every detail of you holiday from beginning to end.

Don’t take my word for it, just look at what my clients have to say:

Mandy has always done a terrific job for us, from suggestions about possible holidays, to being really responsive to our ideas and requirements. It makes travelling fun and takes away all the hassle. Great service.

I have already recommended Mandy to friends and family who got the same excellent service that I continue to receive.

Mandy has been great - really helpful and very quick - especially when we completely changed our minds about which cruise, we were interested in. Would definitely recommend. Thanks.

Always excellent service from Mandy.

I’m really looking forward to helping you plan your next trip.

Mandy did all the hard work in organising my holiday and sorting out all the paperwork. Nothing was too much trouble for her, and she always went that extra mile even to the welcome home pack which was much appreciated. She has found me a brilliant holiday for next year and I have recommended her to all my friends.

Brilliant, fab holiday booked, so straight forward

Mandy has helped us to arrange a special holiday, joining our friends. She has kept us updated with what we need to do and it was good to introduce each other via a phone call.

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.

Vintage Rambles with rafaand Flake

It has been over 3 years since we first did this walk. It is well suited to this time of year as it makes use of some good tracks and trails. This walk also boasts some great views and varied terrain. For these reasons we have been back along this route a few times, making sure we stop at a nice pub nearby for a well earned warm and some refreshments.

5-MILE CIRCULAR WALK FROM WATCHWOOD VIA CALVERTON COLLIERY AND SANSOM WOOD

A mid-length walk which should take you and your dog around 2½ hours to complete. There are a couple of roads to walk alongside and cross so please take care, especially crossing the A614. Most of the walk is on paths and trails, so it may be muddy and will require appropriate footwear. And, as always, please follow the countryside code.

1. Exit the car park onto the road and turn left along the road. After a short distance turn left to pass through a gap and then, ignoring a marked footpath on your right, continue with woodland on your left and open views on your right.

2. After a short distance you will begin to climb gently uphill. Keep ahead with woodland to your left and open views to your right and then at the top of the hill continue straight ahead on the same level for a short distance. After the footpath begins to descend you will reach a T junction of paths. At this point turn right and now continue downhill with a

few trees and open views on your right and woodland on your left.

3. Continue for some distance, then follow the footpath around to the left, staying on the edge of the woodland with a fence on your right. Upon reaching a T junction of footpaths ignore the footpath diagonal right, and turn sharp right to pass a telegraph pole on your left. Continue ahead, away from the woodland and keeping a fence on your right.

4. When the fence ends cross straight over a tarmac lane and continue along a footpath around to the left passing through some bushes. After you clear the

bushes continue straight ahead to cross a wide-open space. Eventually you will reach a tarmac lane. Cross the lane diagonal right and then continue straight ahead with a fence over to your left.

5. After a short distance turn left onto a footpath, just prior to reaching a signboard on your left that reads ‘Calverton Colliery Tip’. Pass the ‘Calverton’ signboard on your right to continue along the footpath going uphill. After a short distance the footpath widens to a track then, near the top of the hill, pass through a open wooden gate. At the top of the hill you will reach a T junction of tracks. Turn right along the track going gently downhill, with views to your right.

6. Pass by a large wooden gate and then continue straight ahead for some distance until passing by a 2nd large wooden gate. Continue straight ahead for a long distance staying on the track to pass 3 more large wooden gates. After the 5th of these gates after some distance and when the track begins to curl to the left, turn right along a track going downhill.

7. At the bottom of the hill pass a sign board on your left and by a large metal gate. After a short distance, upon reaching a T junction of tracks with woodland directly ahead of you turn right to walk along a well laid track. After a short distance the track curls around to the right. Ignore two footpaths to your left to continue along the track going downhill. At the bottom of the hill and just before the track begins to climb again, turn left onto a footpath going downhill.

8. Continue walking along this path until you pass by a metal gate and to a road. Cross straight over the road and then turn left. Walk along the road for a short distance and then turn right onto a footpath marked for ‘Papplewick’. Continue ahead with a hedge on your right and a fence and open views on your left. When the fence ends continue ahead with a hedge on your right.

9. Walk ahead until reaching some woodland. Now continue along the edge of the woodland, keeping a fence on your left. Continue until you can go no further and follow the footpath to the right, away from the fence and towards the trees. Immediately you will come to a T junction of paths. Turn left and now continue straight ahead along a footpath through woodland. Ignore a fork to the left and keep ahead to pass under some power lines.

10. Continue until reaching a track. Ignore the path to the left and continue ahead along the track going downhill. After some distance pass by a metal gate and to a road. Turn left along the road for a very short distance and then turn left again to continue along a track going through woodland. Continue along the track as it turns into a tarmac lane until reaching a road.

11. Turn left along the road and after a short distance cross over the road to continue on the footpath on the opposite side. Continue until reaching a T junction with a main road. Cross straight over the main road to pass through a gap in a fence and make your way around to the left to a tarmac road. Walk along the tarmac road until reaching the car park on your left.

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.

Gravely Hollow

Samsom Wood

Mike’sMusings

Let me know what you think If favourable, I’ll reproduce another in Februar y, and provide details on how YOU can help Julie’s fund raising effor ts.

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

If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll remember that in the October edition of Voice Magazine, I gave some advice on how best to deal with nuisance phone calls. This generated a bit of interest.

Julie Sheldon, in particular, who unfortunately lives just outside the magazine’s distribution area, happened to read a copy whilst having lunch in Pauline’s Pantry in Jacksdale, and my musings struck a chord. So much so, that she sent me a copy of a poem, taken from a series of three books that she has self-published and is selling to raise funds for a worthy cause. I was so impressed, that I felt it deserved a wider readership. See what you think.

Who’s calling please?

When I was so much younger ..... and the phone rang in the hall We all got so excited! ..... couldn’t wait to take the call We’d answer with our number ..... polite and clear in tone To confirm to the caller that ..... indeed, we were at home

The caller could be our best friend ..... or someone else we knew Perhaps the operator with ..... “long distance call for you” We might get calls from doctors or ..... the dentist, or the bank Or someone phoning for a chat ..... or just to tell us ‘thanks’

We’d ring the ‘Speaking Clock’ for fun ..... or even ‘Dial a Disc’ If we were on a ‘party line’ ..... we had to take the risk ..... That neighbours might hear something that ..... we’d rather they did not So for those ‘lovey dovey’ calls ..... to the phone box ..... off we’d trot

Fast forward half a century ..... the phone rings in the hall ‘Well who the bl**dy hell is that?’ .....we don’t want to take the call “HELLO!” We shout out loudly... “I can’t hear you very well!”

‘No I DON’T want life insurance! ..... and you can go to Hell!

Have I had any accidents? ....”YES! ..... I’ve had twenty nine!”

“And I DON’T need a new boiler ..... ‘cause the old one works just fine!”

“My broadband’s been hacked into? ..... well go on then ..... cut me off!” “And NO .....I don’t want PPI! ..... so why don’t you get lost?”

“I can’t tell what you’re saying! ..... where are you ringing from?”

“However can you do this job? ..... it really can’t be fun!”

So ..... do I want a funeral plan? “well NO ..... I bloomin’ DON’T!”

“And if you phone me back again ..... I’ll have you by the throat!”

However did we get to this? ..... with all these nuisance calls? We don’t seem to have privacy ..... within our own four walls I wish it was like olden days ..... when phones were used to chat Instead of thinking every time ..... ‘just who the Hell is that?’

44

Winter birds in the gardens

Colder weather has brought lots of small birds into wildlife garden across the region. From a period of marked quiet in October and November, December saw a big increase with blue tits, great tits, coal tits and long-tailed tits in abundance. The robins and dunnocks remained throughout, and they are territorial in winter as well as summer, they even manage to sing a little too. Blackbirds have also returned to the garden with local birds back from foraging in hedgerows and woodlands across the area joined by migrants from Europe. The local birds are quite aggressively territorial and object strongly to intruders, the continental birds perhaps having travelled together for hundreds of miles, seem happy to flock. The locals take a dim view!

Finches have also arrived in good numbers with chaffinches, greenfinches (now seemingly recovering from the devastating ‘fat finch disease’), goldfinches, and bullfinches. The smaller siskin and redpoll are also in flocks across the Peak District and nearby areas and will come to gardens as the winter draws on. Feeders of peanuts, fat-balls, and sunflower seeds provide a mix of food sources to suit all tastes, but interestingly, whereas at one time niger seed were guaranteed tract goldfinches, they are now totally ignored. Instead, the goldfinches only take sunflower hearts, which a of course are the most expensive too! Dried mealworms are good for the robins although, being short-lived, my favourite birds which used to come down and ‘talk’ to me, I think has passed on. I am now trying to gain the trust of a new bird.

Along with the smaller birds, my great spotted woodpeckers, male and female, are now regular visitors. I have heard nuthatches calling nearby but not seen them in the garden so far. Overhead, small groups of black-headed gulls and lesser black-backed gulls are now regular as are flocks of woodpigeons moving through. There don’t yet seem to be any big flocks of the corvids (crows) heading to afternoon roosts, but perhaps that will come with colder conditions. Several big flocks of pink-footed geese passed over and were heading south-east in late November. By February and March, these birds will be on their return migration heading north-west across the Peak and back to the Arctic via Britain’s west coast. Nature’s annual cycle goes around again and the birds reflect this with some staying put, others moving locally, and then many more covering hundreds if not thousands of miles.

Watching and recording birds in, over, and around the garden provides a remarkable insight into the bigger patterns throughout the seasons. You can also witness how bird behaviour gradually changes and evolves as well. So, the goldfinches abandon one seed to feed preferentially on a different one. Robins and chaffinches for example, have taken to feeding on hanging foods such as seed holders and fat-balls, which they never did before. Even magpies now try to feed on peanut holders, and magpies, carrion crows and jackdaws all feast on the fat-balls. The magpies also chase my robin off the mealworms.

Professor Ian D. Rotherham is a researcher, writer and broadcaster on wildlife and environmental issues. He is contactable on info@hallamec.plus.com and you can follow his website and blog: www.ukeconet.org & https://ianswalkonthewildside.wordpress.com/ and he can be followed on Twitter @IanThewildside

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