I’m not sure why in particular – maybe it’s the ladies football, maybe it’s the back to school front covers and articles, maybe I’m just feeling old!
Whichever way, I’m feeling particularly nostalgic at the moment. I follow quite a few history pages on the Book of Face (especially the ones that write for us!) and quite a few of the groups release old school pics as well as pictures of local people and the area in general. I’m terrible for taking pictures (or rather not taking pictures) – maybe I should make it this years’ new years resolution?! Anyhoo, I digress! All this retro stuff got me thinking about new school year prep and specifically my early years pertaining to sports in school.
The school prep was interesting in the 90’s, the attire alone was an ordeal. Clumpy kickers heels (as big as was allowed #eyeroll), paired with some kind of Victorian-esque abomination of a long heavy skirt (that could have just been me though, mother is a big fan of period dramas!! #doubleeyeroll) and a massively over-sized puffa jacket. The obligatory pencil case and new bag shopping was a highlight of the 6 weeks holidays for me but not being able to sleep
but then shamed myself by catching a ball instead of heading it into the goal from a corner – absolutely mortified, not sure I went back after that!! I also remember Mrs Ingram being equally as encouraging to the boys to join in with the Netball team – which was unheard of before her.
These are the things that stick with you in those formative years – tolerance and acceptance - and whilst I can appreciate that this was only my experience, it really bothers me that not everyone has that same experience. When did it change? Why should it be different for girls and women? Don’t even get me started on Mary Earps and Nike and why her shirt isn’t available to purchase!? SHE WON THE GOLDEN GLOVE! Before anyone even thinks it, it is about nothing else other than commercialisation and sales and they didn’t think they’d sell enough of her shirts to warrant production – not so bothered about equality then are you Nike?! And whilst we’re on the outrage train – let’s also take a second to have a think about how all our senior dignitaries have no trouble clearing the diaries for male football events held in recent times, whereas our Lionesses will have to make do with ‘rousing’ PR video….hmmmm! Thank goodness for the Spanish Monarchy putting in an appearance!
I can’t change the world anymore, I probably can’t even change your perception on this, if it’s different to mine but if I had been lucky enough to have a child and they had wanted to set the world alight, they would have had no bigger champion in their corner, regardless of their gender. Afterall, we’re all only guests here for a short while, is it not our duty to ‘do better’ for each generation that follows us?
After 5 years of continued growth Next Generation Home Improvements based on Butterley Hill in Ripley, have now established themselves as the leading installers of resin driveways & patios in The Midlands. They now have over 50 members in their team from the local area, ranging from resin layers, ground workers, surveyors, administrators, customer care staff and sales & marketing operatives, and have just taken on 4 local trainees who are quickly learning their trade.
To ensure their success continues they have invested in an upgraded operations unit in Sutton in Ashfield and as well as a redesigned display unit on the reception of their head office at Butterley Hill, where prospective customers are welcome to go and view different styles of resin driveways & composite fencing available to them. They firmly believe that their success has been due to the quality of their workmanship. Director Lee Goddard points out “We only use our own highly skilled tradesmen to lay each driveway by hand to make sure we get the perfect finish. On top of this, we will only use the highest quality of materials, meaning that our customers will be left
with a glorious driveway or patio that they can be proud of”. Asked why he believes that the company is going from strength to strength, Sales Manager Bradley Stocks explained “Resin driveways are now the fastest growing home improvement in the UK and are getting more & more popular all the time. This is because how attractive they look, the fact they are non slip, and mainly because they require no ongoing maintenance like traditional surfaces. We get a lot of our work from word of mouth & recommendations so because we make sure our customers are happy, we get more work on the back of it. We also now offer composite fencing which is also incredibly popular due to it not needing to be painted or stained”.
Anybody wishing for any help, advice or information is welcomed to call into see their display at 25 Butterley Hill, Ripley or alternatively call on 01773 303181. They are also offer free, no obligation quotations.
The company would be delighted to quote on any customers work involving resin driveways, patios, composite fencing or gates.
Simply drop them a call on 01773 303181
Thursday 28 September 4 30 pm- 6 30 pm
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online: www.ladymanners.derbyshire.sch.uk
email: info@ladymanners.derbyshire.sch.uk
phone: 01629 812671
"Pupils are proud that they attend Lady Manners School"
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Who can use it? Deposit Unlock is intended for first-time buyers and home movers with a low deposit. It's not available to buy-to-let borrowers. Which homes can it be used on? The offer is available on selected plots only and is subject to conditions. Following the withdrawal or termination of any offer, Wheeldon reserves the right to extend, reintroduce or amend any such offer at any time.
Can it be used in conjunction with other schemes? No, Deposit Unlock cannot be used at the same time as other Wheeldon offers or incentives.
How is affordability calculated? Each mortgage lender using the scheme (currently Nationwide, Newcastle Building Society and Accord Mortgages) will assess affordability in the normal way using their lending criteria.
What do I do next? If you're interested in using the Deposit Unlock scheme on a new Wheeldon home, contact us today… Our friendly sales teams will connect you with a specialist New Build Mortgage Advisor to help arrange your Deposit Unlock application and mortgage. After that, you'll be on your way to moving into a brand-new Wheeldon home with just a 5% deposit.
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As the new school year starts, I thought I’d take a look at what back to school meant in the 1970s/80s when I went to school.
Back to school preparation in the 70s and early 80s always started in the last couple of weeks of the summer holidays with the obligatory trip to Marks and Spencer’s for navy knickers and a selection of socks. For the younger readers, the sturdy navy (or sometimes dark green) knickers were an absolute necessity under the (very) short, pleated skirts we girls had to wear for sports lessons. Their size and construction, being of thick stretch fabric, not only preserved one’s dignity but also kept your bum warm - particularly on those cold, wet days on the hockey pitch!
School uniforms were, for the most part, obligatory, but I don’t recall that schools sold their own branded clothes as seems to be the case now; rather there was a strict code of colours and styles that were purchased from “recommended suppliers”. School ties for both girls and boys were pretty standard (mine was black and gold stripes) and the school badge was available as a sew-on for blazers.
A new school bag, pencil case (or box), and various items of stationery were on the “must buy” list and were the chance for kids to inject a bit of personality into proceedings. I particularly remember things like “troll” pencil toppers, pencil cases that zipped all around and had pens, pencils, protractors, set squares and the like all secured by elastic strips. And those biros with multiple coloured ends… oh, and scented rubbers (erasers) - I can only wonder why we thought they were a good idea!
The only “tech” most 70s and early 80s school kids possessed was a calculator; if you were really fancy, that would be a “scientific calculator”, which enabled you to calculate sines, cosines, and logarithms, And who remembers carefully covering the new exercise books in wallpaper? Often using the
reverse side to hide how hideously garish the “right” side was! I seem to recall woodchip and brown parcel paper were often used because of the lack of pattern. A lack we usually rectified with our own artwork.
Once in the classroom, there were chalkboards and sometimes overhead projectors which used transparent sheets of plastic, often bearing text and images hand drawn by the teacher. Interactive whiteboards, computers, tablets, laptops - in fact, much of the technology now common in schools were still a long way off. Even watching an educational TV programme or video generally involved wheeling in the school’s TV and video player on a custom-built trolley, a TV which was probably shared by a year group, if not the entire school.
If you’ve read this article nodding your head and reminiscing, you are probably of a similar age to me. Our school days are well and truly behind us, and we look back with rose-tinted glasses at our past…even our school days!
Method:
1. Preheat your oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/gas 6.
2. Put the squash, red pepper and onion in a medium-size non-stick roasting tin or ovenproof dish, sprinkle over the garlic granules and spray with low-calorie cooking spray.
3. In a small bowl, mix together the tomato purée and mango chutney. Brush this mixture all over the pork, then sit the pork on top
Juicy sticky pork and tasty roast veg combine to make this delicious, sticky, mouthwatering feast. Enjoy!
of the vegetables and roast for 30-35 minutes or until the pork’s cooked.
4. Take the tin out of the oven and set the pork aside on a plate to rest, loosely covered with foil. Return the veg to the oven for 5-10 minutes or until lightly charred. Slice the pork and return to the tin. Scatter over the watercress and serve with a drizzle of yogurt.
For more information visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk
Ingredients:
• 500g frozen butternut squash chunks (or ½ large squash, if you want to prepare it yourself)
• 1 large red pepper, deseeded and cut into chunks
• 1 large red onion, roughly chopped
• 1 tsp garlic granules
• Low-calorie cooking spray
• 2 tbsp tomato purée
• 2 level tbsp mango chutney
• 1 lean pork tenderloin (about 300-400g), visible fat removed
• Small bag of watercress, to serve
• Fat-free natural Greek yogurt sprinkled with black pepper, to serve
Serves: 2
Ready in: 50 mins
Syns per serving: 1.5
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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
5 Acquire music from non-flyer (3)
6 Pinch a bit of drink (3)
10 Adjudicator borrowed to host ball (3)
11 Member joining the queue-jumpers club? (5,2)
12 Allow wallet to be thinned down (3)
16 Have some Brownie points for this answer! (3)
17 Go wrong with cherry pip (3)
Down
2 Carefully sizes up, but it’s no use for fasteners (4)
3 She’s well into reform! (4)
8 Basic, low nature of a fool (5)
14 That wink you have, it’s somewhat dark (4)
1 “But I’m zany!” he blurted out in old Istanbul (9)
7 Crises the bottleopener precipitates for journalists (7)
13 Allots, like signals? (7)
Down
1 The perfect places for children’s sleepovers? (8)
4 Tom to persist in trying to see Beatrix film (4,6)
5 Rioting bandoleers can be supported (10)
18 Acres of hay I made from a lounge seat (4,5)
9 Berlin in trouble? Rubbish, that’s what it’s for! (8)
15 Ice cream follower in cowboy’s lasso dance (4) ANSWERS
This puzzles has been devised by the brilliant Professor Rebus. For more of his puzzles visit www.pitcherwits.co.uk
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September is the time of year that signals the end of the freedom of summer holidays and the start of a new school year.
I remember as a child when children trudged to their new classrooms in squeaky shoes and blazers several sizes too big because they would “grow into it”.
Milk arrived during the morning in a crate outside the school entrance in small bottles that held a third of a pint. It was at the mercy of the elements so in winter it froze, and the silver tops lifted off as the milk expanded upwards from the bottle. The crate had to be put next to the radiator to defrost. Worse was in summer when the milk became tepid sometimes with curdled cream. Occasionally you might find holes in the silver tops which had been pecked by blue tits getting at the cream. I was never a milk monitor, or any other sort of monitor, but their job was to distribute a bottle to each child in the class at morning break, together with a small straw. School milk continued until 1971 when Margaret Thatcher earned the nickname of “Thatcher, Thatcher, milk snatcher” by ending the provision of free school milk.
School dinners were again contentious. Free for poorer children, subsidised for others. I remember the large aluminium serving dishes and the water jugs. Chocolate concrete and pink custard, Manchester tart and frog spawn tapioca. Lumpy mashed potato, stringy beans and globby gravy. I rather enjoyed them.
The food was served by kindly dinner ladies who smelled like cigarette smoke and mint imperials and supervised after lunch in the playground and nap time for little ones in put-up beds in the hall.
When we do our “Mealtime Memories” session with All Around the Shire, we often hear reminiscence about back-toschool memories. Invariably milk and school dinners feature frequently. What do you remember?
Janet and Paul Barrass are All Around the Shire. Find us on or email: oldfield512@btinternet.com for more information. Janet
I was sitting with my Oncologist in 2020 exploring what we could try next for my Hot Flushes. I had hormonal Breast Cancer, meaning not only did I have to stop my HRT, but I was also taking an inhibitor to knock out the last bits of oestrogen in my body. I would have tried pretty much anything. He explained that most of the UK Breast Cancer and Prostrate Cancer Charities offer this to people needing support with Hot Flushes.
Thanks to the Pandemic I missed out on receiving this treatment. Instead, I went to London to train myself. I still thought that it was only about treating this issue and so I was surprised to find myself alongside people from the Prison Service and the Drug & Alcohol Service. I learned the history of NADA. Its origins are in post-surgical pain care in Hong Kong in the 1920’s, when it was noticed that this protocol had an additional benefit of reducing cravings for opiates (Opium addiction being rife at that time). Its modern-day usage was developed in New York, in the war against Heroin in the 1970’s. It’s flexibility in supporting a wide range of nervous system disorders has since been explored. Now it’s an evidence-based
treatment for Detox & Behavioural Health, Anxiety, Insomnia and Hot Flushes. Used around the globe at mass trauma sites, to relieve PTSD in the US military, is in Scandinavian trials in Psychiatric Hospitals. And, in my own experience, can offer support for Tinnitus and stroke rehabilitation.
Beginning 4th September in Chesterfield, I am offering an opportunity to experience NADA in a group setting with the additional benefit of guided relaxation as the acupuncture does its work. Based on my own history of Hot Flushes I’ve called it The Hot Ladies Club. Not that I am in fact a Hot Lady anymore, thanks to NADA!
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Fill in all the numbers! This is a sudoku
square grid
cells
3x3 blocks 1 simple rule: Use all the numbers 1-9, with no duplicates allowed, in any row, column, or block.
This puzzles has been devised by the brilliant Professor Rebus. For more of his puzzles visit www.pitcherwits.co.uk
I have to admit to loving the slide into Autumn September brings - although ironically, the month often seems to be drier and sunnier than August, just in time for the kids to go back to school!
The vernal equinoxes - when we experience equal lengths of daylight and nighttimeoccur in March and September, the Spring and Autumn equinoxes. This year the Autumn equinox occurs on 23rd September marking the “official” start of Autumn here in the Northern Hemisphere.
What else is September known for?
There are several “awareness days” in the month, but I’m going to take a look backwards in time.
Let’s start with the name: September - it sounds like it should be the seventh month in the calendar, “septem” being Latin for seven. And in Roman times, it was indeed the seventh month of the year, until in 153 BCE, they decided to add two extra months at the beginning of the calendar, thus relegating September to ninth place.
I wonder why they didn’t choose to insert the extra months AFTER the numerically named September, October, November and December. OK, it would mean that January would be the 11th month and February the 12th, but it wouldn’t matter - would it?
According to one online source, 24th September was the day harvesting began in Medieval England - that sounds a little late to me, but I’m not a farmer, so what do I know?
September also sees St Michael’s Day (no, NOT the shop!), otherwise known as Michaelmas. Saint Michael is the patron saint of banking as well as of grocers and the police and is supposed to protect us all from evil…I leave you to draw your own conclusions!
Here are some events that have taken place during Septembers in the past:
➤ 2nd September 1666 - The Great Fire of London began in Pudding Lane
➤ 3rd September 1939 - Britain and France declared war on Germany.
➤ 4th September 1962 - The Beatles started their first recording session at EMI’s Abbey Road Studios, London
➤ 7th September 1533 - Birth of Queen Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.
➤ 11th September 1915 - Britain’s first Women’s Institute opened in Wales.
➤ 13th September 1902 - Harry Jackson became the first person in Britain to be convicted on fingerprint evidence.
➤ 19th September 1839 - George Cadbury (he who founded the chocolate empire) was born in Birmingham.
➤ 23rd September 1848 - Chewing gum produced commercially for the first time.
➤ 25th September 1818 - First transfusion of human blood performed at Guy’s Hospital, London.
➤ 28th September 1745 - ‘God Save the King’ sung for the first time at London’s Drury Lane Theatre.
My eldest was born 19th September and is something of a chocoholic; I wonder if it is pure coincidence that Mr Cadbury was born on the same day 153 years previously - tee hee!
Have a great September folks, remember, only three months until Christmas.
You don’t have to be a cat person to fall for the million-plus selling The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa. Anyone who has loved an animal will recognise the warmth of this story of that relationship and what it gives us. The Travelling Cat is funny and heart-breaking and generally makes you feel good. Plus it’s set in Japan, a fascinating country. And oddly like the brilliant Studio Ghibli films gives you a real feeling for the culture and people and countryside.
It’s a quirky tale following Nana, the cat, who is taking a road trip sitting at the side of his much loved owner Satoru who is keen to visit some old friends. Nana is not sure where he’s going but who cares, if it means he gets to sit in the front seat of Satoru’s silver van. It’s a gentle book and says a lot about people and their need for friends and also solitude and generally what makes them tick. It will definitely tug at your heartstrings but not in a cheesy way.
It’s obvious Arikawa knows a lot about cats – but he’s pretty fine on human beings too. Different, but good.
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Top Tip:
Lots of this year’s planting will keep going right up till the first frosts, so it’s always worth continuing to deadhead and feed your pots and baskets until then.
for some autumn colour to fill bare patches, heleniums come in a gorgeous range of reds, yellows and oranges. Keep them well watered and add some garden compost to the soil. Sedums are also lovely and bright and both should survive over the winter. Autumn heathers provide good value – but do remember they need ericaceous compost.
But if you’re looking
As the weather starts to cool, cut off remaining trusses from tomatoes and bring them indoors to ripen.
Pot up tender perennials such as fuchsias and osteospermum which you want to keep and bring them indoors into cool rooms to overwinter. You can also take cuttings, taking about 3 to 4 inches, cutting below a joint and taking off all but the top leaves, dip in rooting compound and push into potting compost around the edge of a small pot. Again you can leave outdoors until the frosts threaten but then bring in for winter.
Rake the thatch from lawns, aerate with a garden fork and re-seed while there is still warmth in the ground to help the seed take.
Plant bare root wallflowers now – it gives them a head start for next year
very so often to feed on nectar at ground level. Generally, quite rare they seem to have increased. However, both species are hard to spot until you get your eye in, and so are certainly worth watching out for.
The Comma is a member of the spectacular Vanessid butterflies, which include red admiral, peacock, and painted lady, and this is a species which is much increased in recent decades. All this group routinely feed on Buddleia which again makes them easy to spot and to count. Other less commonly seen butterflies are the moth-like skippers and whilst there are several species, the most likely to be seen are small skipper, large skipper, and the relatively recent arrival, the Essex skipper. Another stunning species also increasing, is the bright sulphur-yellow brimstone. However, this insect may be restricted by its larval foodplants, the alder buckthorn and buckthorn. Because of this, many butterfly enthusiasts are now actively planting these shrubs in suitable places such as parks and gardens.
I suspect that 2023 will go down as a remarkable year for our region’s butterflies. Whilst the weather has frequently been wet and cool, there have been some hot sunny periods too. Whatever the cause, the conditions have triggered the spread of many of our butterfly species. Some of these changes, such as the now commonplace speckled wood, are clearly long-term movements northwards. The holly blue is another formerly uncommon insect that is now one of our most frequent fliers in woods, parks, and gardens. Other changes see one species (like wall brown) drop and another close relative (say, hedge brown) increase. The reasons are not always obvious and may relate to weather and climate, to habitat loss or condition, or even to parasites and diseases. The ringlet is a grassland species that has increased in numbers dramatically. But this year has witnessed some remarkable occurrences with for example, fritillary butterflies doing well across the region. One stunning species, the silver-washed fritillary, has done well in wooded parts of the Peak, such as the Dales, but also in the eastern parts of North Derbyshire like Whitwell Wood.
Records have come in north to Sheffield’s southern fringe. This is a very large, orangebrown butterfly and a strong flier, and so is very noticeable, and worth recording. Less so, but also doing very well are two species of the upper tree canopy, the purple hairstreak on oaks, and the white-letter hairstreak on elms. These rather small butterflies flit around the high treetops where the males hold territories and await their females but descend
Whilst planting foodplants in suitable places helps species to spread naturally, there is also a movement of ‘guerrilla lepidopterists’ now actively introducing rare butterflies to new sites. These places are generally sites that once held them or at least where the enthusiasts think they should be (which is not always the same thing!) Most introductions simply fail and some, like speckled wood, probably get ‘lost’ within the natural spread that is occurring. However, the actively remains contentious with some experts resigned to it happening and others pretty much opposed. There are also, of course, officially sanctioned introduction programmes which are formally planned, funded, and monitored. The guerrilla lepidopterists say these are too little and too slow. I will leave you to make up your own minds!
