Ashbylife jan15 emag by Ashby Life

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this issue 104 Ashby Life Editor Liz Roberts Telephone 01530 417739 Email enquiries Advertising/Accounts info@ashbylife.co.uk Website/What’s On admin@ashbylife.co.uk

Happy New Year… Welcome to our first edition of 2015. The days are getting longer now and it’s time to shake off the winter blues and look forward to an exciting new year. If your list of New Year resolutions includes getting fit (and whose doesn’t?) then turn to page 42 for the first of a series of easy to follow Fitness Tips which we will be running throughout the year. We all celebrate New Year in our own way and on page 66 we take a look at some New Year traditions from around the globe - however you choose to celebrate, I hope you have a good year in 2015.

Liz Roberts

Web www.ashbylife.co.uk

Contents

Facebook www.facebook.com/ ashbylife Twitter @AshbyLife Address Ashby Life Ltd Castle House South Street Ashby de la Zouch LE65 1BR

Front Cover Image by Lesley Hextall Photography

Ashby Life is an independent publication. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior permission of the editor. The use of this magazine for canvassing or direct marketing is strictly prohibited. Information is included on the What’s On and Community Board pages subject to space being available. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, Ashby Life cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions or endorse companies, products or services appearing in this magazine.

06 10 14 18 22 26 30 34 38 42 46 50 54 58 62 66 70 74 78 84 88 92 96 100 104 108 110

Behind the Scenes Fun Quiz Seasonal Recipes Venture Theatre News Puzzle Page Ashby Library News In Your Garden Christadelphian Church Poetry Fitness Tips A Walk in the Forest It’s Local Days Gone By On the Beat Storytime This Month Money Matters Ashby Museum News What’s On Your Wellbeing Community Board All About You Just 4 Fun Ashby Health Centre Book Reviews Puzzle Solutions Business Directory

100

If you would like to advertise in Ashby Life It’s a fantastic way to target potential customers and great value for money

See our website or call Liz on 01530 417739 for details Next issue is February and deadline for copy is Friday 9th January Please note advertising space is limited, pre-booking is recommended 4

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behind the scenes Find out a bit more about some of the people who live and work within the local area – each month we will be interviewing someone from an organisation or business in Ashby or the surrounding areas. This month...

Lorna Titley who helped bring the shop windows of Ashby to life during Ashby’s FABulous Fashion and Beauty week in 2014. How did you become involved with Ashby’s FAB and what did you love about it? I was asked by Sam Hampton if I, along with other volunteers, would be interested in organising an event to promote Fashion and Beauty businesses in Ashby. It was 6 months in the planning and early on we decided it was also an opportunity to celebrate the town as a whole – hence the name Ashby’s FABulous, with the FAB being for Fashion and Beauty. Being part of this has been a joy for two reasons; firstly working with Claire of Georgia May’s Vintage Wardrobe, Mandy of Fair2all, Carol and Martin of K H Hair and Julie of Ashby Image, all of whom put their hearts and souls into the project. Secondly, being able to work with the great number of wonderful businesses, salons and retailers who got involved with Ashby’s FABulous on so many levels and supported it so enthusiastically and wholeheartedly. What is your favourite local restaurant? I love to sit outside Ask, The Mews Restaurant or The Vine with a glass of wine. The tapas menu at The Vine is brilliant. La Zouch is wonderful too and reminds me of little bars and restaurants in France. I have a soft spot for Café 76 too. What is your favourite local shop and why? Ashby has excellent shops. Our charity shops are the best of any town I know and I love the independent clothing and accessory shops we have. North’s is an amazing delicatessen – oh my goodness, the cakes! For sheer delightful quirkiness I think that Just Bikes on The Green and Shellbrook Toys are fantastic. I bought toys from Shellbrook for my children (currently 38 and 36) and am now buying them for my grandchildren.

Where do you like to go for a day out? I spend a lot of my days wandering around Ashby (that’s retirement for you!). We have wonderful coffee shops with great scones and pastries. Occasionally I manage to venture further afield and cycle to Hicks Lodge or Calke. I love film night at The Lyric Rooms – how special to watch films in the original picture house! If you could change one thing about the town what would it be? I love the friendliness of Ashby and its feeling of community; there is always a lot going on in a wide range of wonderful venues. People really care about the town they live and work in. I wish rents on Market Street were not so high; I worry about the length of time some premises remain empty. I wish we could have a dedicated town centre retail space to organise pop-up events on a regular basis. If you didn’t live in this area where would you live and why? I’ve lived in Ashby for almost 30 years and I’ve always said I can’t think of anywhere better to be. If forced to choose somewhere else (and it is just a fantasy!) it would be Mantua in Italy. What is the best thing that has happened to you recently? The most amazing thing to happen to me recently was seeing 30 live models, styled by fashion and beauty businesses in Ashby, in 24 windows. I will smile every time I think of the flash mob finale led up and down the town by saxophonist Lewis Brierly, an Ashby star in the making.

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fun quiz

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seasonal recipes This tart makes a delicious warming winter pud. You can use other fruits if plums are not available.

This filling curry can be made with any mix of vegetables you have to hand.

Plum & Almond Tart

Serves 6 Read 75 miny in s chillin + g

YOU WILL NEED • 175g self-raising flour • 100g unsalted butter, chilled and diced • 50g ground almonds • 3tbsp caster sugar • 1 small egg, beaten

• 50g natural marzipan, chilled and grated • 4 large plums, stones removed and quartered • 2tbsp flaked almonds, roughly chopped • 2tbsp Demerara sugar

GET STARTED 1 Sift the flour into a bowl; add the diced butter and, using your fingertips, rub the fat into the flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir in the ground almonds. Remove ¼ of the mixture and chill in the fridge. 2 Add the caster sugar and beaten egg to the remaining mixture and mix to a soft, slightly sticky dough. Using floured hands press the dough into the base and up the sides of a 28 x 10cm oblong loose-based flan tin (see tip). Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes. 3 Preheat the oven to 180°C, 350°F, Gas Mark 4. Scatter the grated marzipan in the chilled flan case and top with the plum quarters (skin side up). Stir the flaked almonds and Demerara sugar into the reserved breadcrumb mixture and scatter over the plums. 4 Bake the tart in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until crisp and deep golden brown. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes. Remove the tart from the tin, slice and serve. TOP TIP If you don’t have an oblong shaped flan tin use a 20cm round loose based fluted flan tin instead.

Paneer & Vegetable Coconut Curry

Serv es 4 Read 45 m y in ins

YOU WILL NEED • 2 small carrots, peeled and thinly sliced • 100g small cauliflower florets • 100g small broccoli florets • 1tbsp vegetable oil • 225g paneer cheese, cubed • 150g mushrooms, wiped and sliced • 1 large onion, peeled and chopped • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed

• 2cm piece root ginger, peeled and grated • 1 red chilli pepper, deseeded and chopped, plus extra sliced chilli to garnish • 1 tbsp Thai red curry paste • 400ml can coconut milk • 150g frozen peas • 2 tomatoes, roughly chopped • Squeeze of lime juice • Fresh oregano leaves, to garnish

GET STARTED 1 Bring a pan of water to the boil. Add the carrots and boil for 5 minutes until almost tender adding the cauliflower and broccoli florets for the last 2 minutes. Drain well and set aside. 2 Heat the oil in a large deep frying pan over a medium heat. Add the paneer and mushrooms and stir-fry over a high heat for 3-4 minutes until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. 3 Add the onion to the pan and fry very gently for about 10 minutes until soft and golden. Add the garlic, ginger and chilli and fry for a further 2-3 minutes then stir in the Thai paste and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. 4 Pour in the coconut milk and bring to the boil then reduce the heat and return the paneer and mushrooms to the pan along with the drained vegetables, peas and tomatoes. Stir well and simmer gently for 4-5 minutes. Add the lime juice and season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve garnished with sliced red chilli pepper and oregano leaves. TOP TIP Paneer is an Indian vegetarian cheese which has a firm texture and goes particularly well with spices and garlic, chilli and ginger. You can use drained and cubed tofu instead, if preferred.

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venture theatre news

Happy New Year! from The Venture Theatre WE all know that New Year is a time for making resolutions so have you made yours? And will you be keeping them? Here’s an idea from us: Why not make 2015 the year you decide to join Ashby Dramatic Society at The Venture Theatre? We are a lively and sociable society and with five productions a year, as well as other events - there’s lots going on to get involved with. Some of the things you can help with have been described in the articles we have written for Ashby Life over the past twelve months but there are more to come. We are always on the lookout for new members who would like to act but if you don’t want to appear on stage yourself there are lots of other things you can do. To put on a full production requires a whole team of people. There are people working behind the scenes as stage crew, someone prompting, people

looking after the props, people up in the lighting box and that’s just on performance nights. Before a play hits the stage there are all sorts of things to be done. Set design, construction and decoration, costumes to be found and perhaps even made, props to be sought, lighting to be designed and lights to be put up and publicity to be done. On performance nights we also need people to help with Front of House and behind the bar. There are more detailed descriptions of the different roles and activities within the theatre on our website at ashbyventuretheatre.org.uk but the best way to find out what it’s all about is to come down on a Monday night after 8.30pm. You’re assured of a warm welcome and friendly faces so come on - that New Year’s resolution is here waiting for you!

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puzzle page Be quiet! (4) A cool treat (8) Organise (7) Clamour, din (5) Corrections (12) Calm (6) Arachnid (6) Self service store (12) Nimble (5) Window covering (7) Best (8) Jewels (4)

DOWN

1 2 4 5 6 7 8 12 14 16 18 19

Weightiest (8) Remove clothes (5) Intelligent (6) Up-to-date (12) Lived (7) Humble (4) Proclamation (12) Gifts (8) Procedure (7) Hits (6) Rub out (5) Long pointed tooth (4)

QUICK CROSSWORD

SUDOKU 22

Solutions on page 108

ACROSS

1 3 9 10 11 13 15 17 20 21 22 23

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3 x 3 box contains the digits 1 through 9, with no repetition. That’s all there is to it. You solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic - there’s no maths involved and no adding up. It’s fun, it’s challenging, it’s additive! Solutions to all puzzles can be found on page 108.

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ashby library news

ou can always expect a warm welcome at Ashby Library. Join for free to use the computers and borrow books, DVDs and talking books. We also do 1-2-1 iPad and computer taster sessions. Come and chat to us and we will be happy to help you or call us on 0116 305 5917.

JUST FOR THE NEW YEAR • Watch out for more news on our big January book sale. There will be a sale of ex-library stock for bargain prices during January.

starting Tuesday 13th January 1pm to 2.30pm. ‘The Life and Times of Richard III’ will be taught by tutor Richard Smith over 9 weeks, contact Mike Wilson for more information on 01509 268636.

FOR FAMILIES • ‘Wriggly Readers’ and ‘Story and Rhymetime’ for children aged 0 to 5 years and their parents and carers. Join us for stories and songs every Friday morning 10.30am to 11am. • After Wriggly Readers, fortnightly 11am to noon, come along to ‘Bumps & Babies’, a meeting place for new and expectant mums: free advice and information sessions run by the National Childbirth Trust. • ‘Tiny Talk’ baby signing classes take place every Thursday 9.30am to 10.30am and another session 11am to noon.

MUSIC • The unusual and popular Ukulele playing group meets every Wednesday 9.30am to 11.30am. £5 per session. Contact Joanna Stevenson on 07415 798134. • Zouch Acoustic and Folk Club meets 8pm every third Thursday of the month. Contact Brian Langtry 01530 416251.

HOBBIES • ‘The friendly ‘Knit and Stitch’ group meets every Monday 2pm to 4pm. Bring your project and come for a chat. • Learn more about Richard III in a new WEA class

HEALTH AND FITNESS • Come and practice Hatha Yoga every Tuesday 7pm to 9pm. Contact British Wheel of Yoga qualified instructor Lorna Kirk for more details: 01530 416135. • To aid flexibility and ease joints try Therapeutic Yoga, every Wednesday 7pm to 9pm. Contact qualified instructor Liz Underwood for more details: 07812 007202 or email liz@puremovementyoga.co.uk.

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in your garden RHS Show Garden Medalist, Francesca Sinclair, looks at how to make the most of your garden and garden jobs for this time of year. Francesca offers a full garden design service - find out more at www.francescasinclair.co.uk

Winter interest & flowers A GARDEN which still holds interest and looks good at this time of the year is strangely hard to find, but it shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be. The best one I have been to is Anglesey Abbey, a National Trust property in Cambridgeshire, where there is a large winter garden area open in January which is colourful scented and structured. A striking feature of this particular garden is a large group planting of Silver Birches. The form of Birch called Betula jacquemontii is clean bright white with the trunk and branches getting whiter and more striking with age. A shock of lipstick red is achieved by groups of Cornus (Dog woods) which look fantastic in the bright low winter sun. The scent comes from the pretty sugar pink flowers of Viburnham. Other plants good for winter scent which you could consider using, include the winter flowering honeysuckle with its combination of crisp white and yellow flowers and Sarcococa confusa grown as individual shrubs or hedging in shady areas. A valuable brighter burst of yellow scented flower can be achieved also by growing Mahonia, which also has a strong architectural evergreen leaf.

cold air. Also valuable are berries on shrubs and trees, any colour from pink to yellow to red or black - berries give a festive decoration and provide food for birds. All such plants are not unusual and are readily available in garden centres.

Winter interest is of course achievable in a small domestic garden. A strong garden structure in the form of a neatly trimmed hedge, particularly an evergreen one, a brick or stone retaining wall and crisply cut lawn edges, all make for focal points transformed into an icy seasonal picture with a hard frost. Choosing a deciduous tree with an attractive pretty bark of cool white or mahogany red will stand out and bring interest in winter months. Similarly if you have placed a section of pretty trellis, an arbour to sit under or a pergola to walk through it will become even more of a feature at this time of year now the perennial and deciduous plants are dormant. Plan thoughtfully, and you can have an interesting garden all year round. A symmetrical garden, potentially with classical lines, topiary, architectural pots will all come into their own at this time of year. Happy gardening!

Francesca

The flowering plants mentioned here are valuable for wildlife, as the scent of the flowers encourages insects which pollinate over the winter out into the

Email info@francescasinclair.co.uk

JOBS TO TEMPT YOU INTO THE GARDEN: 1 2 3 4 5

Repair and reshape lawn edges Buy bare root roses In fishponds keep pumps running to give extra oxygen to fish Plan vegetable crop rotations Order seed catalogues

6 7 8 9 10 11

Store seeds in a cool dry place or air tight containers Sow sweet peas under cover Clear paths of moss and leaves Ventilate greenhouses on warmer sunnier days Dig over vacant plots not done already Feed the birds

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www.ashbychurch.co.uk

Are you ready for

2015?

hristmas somehow seems like a lifetime ago, only leaving the prospect of an overdraft, diet plan and the odd bargain in the January sales. We now stand at the beginning of a new year - new opportunities, new ideals, new challenges and new goals. There’s one question you may like to consider though – are you ready? Are you ready to move on from the past year? For you 2014 may have been the best year in living memory, it might equally have been your worst. Either way, are you ready to leave it behind and embrace the unknown in 2015? That’s the strange thing about the future – we don’t know what’s going to happen, we can’t change it, yet we tend to worry about it anyway. You may have heard of the Serenity Prayer: “God grant me the serenity to

Editorial by Ashby Christadelphian Church, Union Passage, Ashby

www.ashbychurch.co.uk

accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference.” The Bible contains interesting messages about the future. It tells us not to worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. No one can add a single hour to their life by worrying, so if worrying can’t even achieve that, what’s the point in worrying at all? Although it’s difficult to achieve, it’s true isn’t it? The book of Proverbs in the Bible has advice on most subjects. We learn that it’s better not to rely on our own wisdom but rather to trust in God in everything we do. Above all though, each New Year brings the world one year closer to the second coming of Jesus. So, are you ready for whatever 2015 will bring for you? An uncertain future or the bright prospect that this year may see the return of Christ? One thing in life is certain – Jesus is coming, ready or not. Useful passages to look up: 1st Thessalonians 5 vs 1-6

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poetry

e are lucky to be able to share with you some of the entries for the 2014 Poetry Competition from Ashby and Coalville Libraries. The theme of ‘Remember’ was taken from the 2014 National Poetry Competition. Congratulations to the winners, who each received £10 Amazon vouchers.

Remember

Remember : Disenchantment

We ran and played amongst the granite stones.

Kentish Town emerged from the steam train’s murk en route

Our mother rinsed the metal vase

To Cliftonville in an era before ‘Mad Tracey from Margate’

And gently fed new ﬂowers through the holes.

Loitered within tent amid the detritus of lovers and lust.

Crickets sang in compost heaps

Downtown, Petula Clark paraded on seafront posters

Of wreaths beyond the railings.

With top-hatted Frankie Vaughan and fez-bedecked

We crouched to read the golden words out loud.

Tommy Cooper – a melee of mirth and motley tricks.

In long grass grew older graves

Bathing belles chimed with the mood of the times,

Where lichen obscured lineage.

Big dippers like breasts stirred pubescent dreams.

We traced patterns carved beneath the grime

A lifetime later: fragile green doors splintered and cracked;

And spoke the names of people left by time.

Dreamland, a shuttered nightmare; magic gone – just like that.

Kathryn Hellier, Ashby

Terence Stanford, Whitwick

1st Prize Winner, Ashby

1st Prize Winner, Coalville

Remember : MY MAN

I Remember at Margate, 1940

My man. My old man. How I loved him. In the morning I’d

I remember June 2nd, Sunday 1940,

make porridge and tea, then pack up his

All the children in the playground,

Snap in a tin in a bag, and off he’d go for another day’s work

Mothers crying , fathers grim.

in the pit in the dark with his mates. I worried. He’d kiss me on the cheek and smile and say,

Across the channel German troops Stood at Calais, invasion ready.

“See you later, love.” I hoped. He’d close the door, walk past the window,

Our children must be sent away to

through the gate.

Somewhere safe, or so they say, but

I prayed. I knew what could happen, the danger,

No one could say where.

the risks unforeseen. I cried. The day I was told, the explosion, the ﬁre, he’s dead.

But every child had an envelope

My man. I have his photograph, his boots, his children.

Addressed to Mum and Dad.

Days turned into weeks, then months, then years.

Apart from that, no one would know...

I slaved and struggled and starved.

Their whereabouts

My sons now have porridge and tea for breakfast and snap

Remember the sorrows of war.

in a tin in a bag. I still worry and hope and pray. They say, “See you later, Ma.” Betty Vos, Ashby

He would have been proud, my man.

2nd Place, Ashby

Joyce Clarke, Ravenstone 2nd Place, Coalville

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fitness tips

New Year New You! IT may be one of the oldest clichés in the book but there really is no better time to embark on a fitness plan than at the beginning of the year! It is a great time to make new plans, set goals and get the body you have dreamt of! There are many ways to get fit and healthy including working out at home to exercise DVD’s, going out for long walks or even a run. However, joining a gym is often at the forefront of New Year resolutions! There are many things to consider when deciding to join a gym, and I will give you a few great pointers that will hopefully help you make the right decision to suit you. • With consistency of training the number one aspect in getting results from a training plan, it makes good sense to join a gym that is

with Simon Pellecchia of Fitness Republic

www.fitnessrepublic.co.uk

close, say within 10 to 15 minutes from work or home. If it is close you are more likely to attend regularly, helping you in the long term. • Before you join any gym make sure that they offer you a free trial. It is essential that before you commit you are totally happy and feel comfortable within the environment and also with the fitness team. Most gyms will offer this, and some will even offer longer so you get a real chance to sample the atmosphere! • I am a very big believer in the fact that it is not necessarily the equipment in a gym that counts but what you do with it. So friendly instructors that offer help and guidance, correction of techniques and regular programming are worth their weight in gold! Above are just a few points that can make the difference to you maintaining a gym plan throughout the year and getting results. Remember, it can take 12 weeks for exercise to become a habit! In future months I will be tackling some great topics on health and fitness and giving you my very best advice to help you get the best from your training. However, if in the meantime you have any questions you would like me to answer in the next edition, or any points you would like me to discuss please drop me a line at simon@fitnessrepublic.co.uk. Good Luck!

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a walk in the forest

Round the lake at Willesley Woods Willesley Woods is where the first tree of the new National Forest was planted back in 1991 and this was one of the first walks we featured in the magazine. After 9 years it is interesting to see how the area has changed. The most noticeable difference is the memorial wood at the far end of the lake – this was a very newly planted area then and has now matured nicely screening the area around the seat and stone to create a space where those who wish can enjoy a quiet moment. The paths have also been improved in places but wellies or stout boots are still necessary at this time of year. This is a great walk to blow away the cobwebs and it’s not a great distance so is suitable for children as well as adults. If you take binoculars, a flask and snacks you can enjoy a rest and some bird watching at one of the seats positioned around the lake. Allow 30 to 60 minutes depending on whether you want a brisk walk or a slower amble.

Leave Ashby via Tamworth Road and, before reaching the golf club, turn right along Willesley Road. Continue along and the road soon becomes Willesley Lane. After passing the crossroads with Willesley Woodside look out for the brown sign indicating Oakthorpe Colliery picnic area. Turn left at the sign and follow the lane down to a small car park. On leaving the car park take the track that is opposite you (1) to walk past the picnic tables and into the wooded area. Bear left and then right and the path will take you past a wooden barrier. Keeping straight on for a short distance (2) you will soon find yourself at the top of a slope leading down to the lake. Turn right and follow the path down the grassy slope towards the water. On reaching the bottom of the hill turn left and then start to walk around the lake with the water on your right (3) – there are several seats on this section of the walk offering some fine views across the lake (4). There was a pair of swans down by the water’s edge when I went - if you are lucky you may spot a heron waiting in the rushes. On reaching the far ends of the lake leave the obvious path and bear right onto a smaller track following the line of the water’s edge. After a short way you will need to bear left – you will now have the young memorial wood on your left and will soon pass by an opening which reveals the clearing containing the memorial stone. On your right are the older woods and also a stream which feeds into the lake. The stream disappears underground after a while and you need to keep right to reach a wooden barrier leading into the mature woodland. The path splits immediately after you go through the barrier – keep right and follow the narrow but well-marked path through the woods. On emerging from the woods turn immediately right (look out for an interesting sight on your right here (5) – there is an old section of railing in the trees and one tree has grown completely around it so that the railing and tree are now one!). Keep following this path straight on - the lake is off to your right now but not visible although it is noticeable that the land to your right becomes quite marshy in places. Stay on this path until you see a yellow footpath post (6). Turn left at the post, passing by a barrier and onto a track which will lead you through a short section of woods to come out by a grassed area with 2 stone markers showing the positions of the old pit shafts. Bear right here to walk around with the open area on your left and then keep right, joining a wide tarmac path (7) which leads back to the car park.

All walks are checked shortly before publication but please be aware that paths may change over time and with the seasons.

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it’s local Local fundraiser Matt Yates has completed some outstanding challenges to raise money for charity over the past few years including running several marathons but rather than rest on his laurels, he decided to get his friends involved and together they’ve come up with this cheeky charity calendar.

Smile – you’re on a charity calendar! MATT has set himself a target of generating over £3,000 for local charity, Hospice Hope. In April this year he will be again running the London Marathon but, as well as asking for donations, he wanted to come up with a way of giving something back to those who support his appeal. With the support of local photographer, Dean O’Shea and help from Ashby’s Rugby and Cricket clubs, plus some other familiar faces, he has produced this fun calendar in the true ‘Calendar Girls’ tradition (or should we say ‘Calendar Boys’?).

“The lads have been tremendous,” explained Matt, “what started as a jokey conversation has become reality in the space of a couple of months. We’re more than happy with the pictures and it’s been great fun coming up with the themes. Because everyone gave their time for free we will be able to donate £6.22 to Hospice Hope for every calendar we sell.” Copies of the calendar will be available for £10 in Toxic Cherry, Dean & Smedley, SOUK de la Zouch, Pet Deli and Ashby Fancy Dress. Matt would like to thank all the willing models for their time, Dean O'Shea and Toby Reeve for the

fantastic photos, Jim Turner at Crestline for printing the calendars and The Vine for providing a venue for the launch. Hospice Hope is a locally based charity that provides support to people affected by life limiting illness, including family members and carers. It is the charities aim to open a Day Care Centre to provide the services local people need and deserve. Donations can also be made at www.virginmoneygiving.com/matt yates and more information about Hospice Hope is available online at www.hospicehope.org.uk.

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days gone by

What happened in...

7th: The UK was blanketed in snow, with temperatures in Oxfordshire plummeting to minus 18° centigrade.

illegally. He was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison.

8th: An express train heading for Amsterdam collided with a commuter train from Rotterdam in thick fog, killing 91 people. 10th: An avalanche on Mount Huascaran in Peru killed 4,000 people.

On 1st January 1962 The Beatles, comprising John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Pete Best and George Harrison, arrived at Decca’s London office for an audition. They were a day late after their road manager, Neil Aspinall, lost his way. They performed fifteen songs in just under an hour, starting with a Lennon/McCartney composition – Like Dreamers Do. Decca eventually rejected the group, commenting: ‘The Beatles have no future in show business.’

Petrol was about 23p a gallon. The average price of a house was £2,900

11th: The Soviet submarine B-37 was moored at Polyarny naval base, undergoing maintenance, just nine days before it was due to be sent to Cuba. At 8:20am a fire in the torpedo compartment detonated all twelve torpedoes, destroying the vessel. Captain Begeba, who was making an external inspection of the submarine at the time, survived but the rest of the crew drowned as it sank to the bottom of the Borents Sea. The blast also killed men on nearby ships and docksides; 122 people perished. The explosion hurled the submarine’s anchor over a mile.

15th: The Meteorological Office started giving the temperature in centigrade after mentioning Fahrenheit temperatures. By October it was the other way round.

Nelson Mandela secretly left South Africa for the first time, touring Europe for six months. On his return, the future president was arrested and charged with leaving the country

I’ll Never Find Another You, Billy Fury

26th: The US launched Ranger 3 with the aim of sending back images of the lunar surface. Unfortunately it missed the moon by 22,000 miles and went into orbit around the sun (and you thought your satnav was bad). It did, however, provide the first measurements of interplanetary gamma-ray flux. Three best-selling singles were:

The Young Ones, Cliff Richard Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen, Neil Sedaka

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on the beat

Hello everyone... HOMES, churches, schools, business premises and public buildings can all be targets of metal thefts. Members of the public who live around or near vulnerable buildings such as churches and schools, should keep a special lookout for suspicious activity and report it immediately. For example, this could involve checking adjacent buildings if you get up in the night, or as you walk your dog, or drive past, or noting and reporting suspicious vehicles. Owners of vulnerable premises can also take steps to tackle the problem and may consider installing a range of additional crime prevention measures and systems. • Identify where your lead is; • Check if you are overlooked by any other buildings; • Check whether any roof work is planned and inform the local community whether it is or isn't; • Organise a letter drop or visits to local residents to enlist their support; • Link in with your local Neighbourhood Watch group; • Organise publicity through your newsletter or parish magazine;

• Identify a point of contact and make sure people know who it is; • Publicise the police telephone number - 101; • Use existing floodlighting to light the risk area (tell people when it will be on); • Make sure external lighting is in good working order; • Look out for people ‘casing' the property; • Protect easy-to-access metal; • Consider removing bushes or other hiding places; • Use anti-vandal paint above two metres high (include a sign warning people of its presence); • Remove ladders and other items that could be used to gain access; • Restrict vehicle access to the property; • Ask your local police for crime prevention advice. Information from vigilant members of the public is vital if the police are to successfully target those responsible for metal thefts. These crimes are damaging to society and affecting people's livelihoods. People need to be alert to any suspicious activity and to report it to the police.

PC MARK ARJOO telephone: 101 voicemail ID: 1667 email: mark.arjoo@leicestershire.pnn.police.uk

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storytime

Percy comes for

By Jackie Brewster

Dinner

Marjorie daydreamed as she stirred the bubbling pan full of her New Year’s Day casserole. The family were out watching the local rugby match, but would soon be home, cold and famished. She paused at the sound of Great Aunt Sophia making her way downstairs. This year Marjorie had drawn the short straw to have Sophia over for the New Year. She had arrived by train on New Year’s Eve carrying her musty handbag full of mystery false teeth, hairnets and used tissues. Last, but by no means least, in that cavernous bag was the black ceramic pot containing the cremated remains of Percy, her deceased husband. He was her constant companion. There were members of the family who had only ever known Percy as a black ceramic pot. He’d been dead for over twenty years and yet never missed a family occasion. Sophia, besides being rather absentminded, wasn’t really much trouble, and in many ways she tried to be helpful. She always offered to pop the kettle on or butter some bread, and Marjorie knew she should be grateful, but the kitchen was her domain and it felt uncomfortable to have another woman invading it. She was putting the plates in the oven to warm when Sophia came in carrying Percy. “Something smells nice”. She said, “Do you want a hand with it?”. She lifted the casserole dish lid and sniffed. “It’s all sorted Sophia, but thanks anyway”. “Would you mind if I make myself a cup of tea?”. “Let me do it for you Sophia, the kettle’s just boiled”. “I won’t hear of it, you’ve done enough, go and put your feet up”. Sophia began opening and closing cupboards so Marjorie decided to grab a handful of cutlery and beat a retreat to the dining room. Calmly she began to lay out each place setting. “I hope you don’t mind but I’ve added a bit of Percy to your stew dear”. Sophia called through the kitchen door, “It just needed a little something”. “Thank you Sophia”. Marjorie called back. She was slightly annoyed. It wasn’t a stew, it was a casserole, and, interfering with another woman’s recipe was really going too far. She took a deep breath and folded a napkin. Then she stopped. What had Sophia just said? She flew back into the kitchen, to find Sophia happily stirring the casserole. Next to the stove was Percy’s pot with the lid askew.

Marjorie gasped as Sophia raised the wooden spoon to her lips. “Aunt Sophia stop!”. She shrieked. But it was too late, Sophia slurped down the casserole greedily. “Mmm, just what it needed”. She licked her lips, then noticed Marjorie, “What on earth’s wrong dear?”. “Tell me you haven’t put Percy in the casserole?”. “Not Percy”. Sophia seemed bewildered. “Why on earth would I do that, dear?”. She held up a glass jar that Marjorie recognised from the back of the spice rack. “It was parsley, and just a teaspoon. Here, have a taste”. Sophia thrust the same spoon into Marjorie’s open mouth. The casserole now had a distinctly different tang, Marjorie thought, but wasn’t completely ruined. She made a mental note to throw that jar away, judging by the fusty taste it must by months out of date. She heard the front door open and the sound of six pairs of boots in the hall. “We’d better start dishing up Sophia”, she said. “Take Percy out of the way”. And it was probably for the best that neither lady noticed the seal on the lid of the parsley jar. It had never once been opened.

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this month

New Year traditions

singing.’ He set these words to the tune of a traditional Scottish ditty ‘Can Ye Labour Lea.’ In Denmark traditions involve smashing plates. People throw broken plates on to friends’ doorsteps. This symbolises good wishes for the year ahead. Another tradition involves leaping from chairs on the strike of midnight.

AMAZING firework displays from around the world have become a familiar sight on New Year’s news programmes. Many countries also have traditional forms of celebration dating back hundreds of years.

In Austria, New Year’s Eve is called Sylvesterabend which means Eve of Saint Sylvester. Suckling pig and peppermint ice cream are traditional food for New Year celebrations. Tables are often decorated with marzipan pigs, and good luck symbols made out of chocolate or marzipan in shapes such as chimney sweeps, coins, or horseshoes are exchanged.

In the UK many people observe first-footing. This is traditionally done by a young, healthy, good looking male with dark hair. He carries gifts which include a piece of coal, money, bread and salt, and should be the first person through the front door after the New Year begins. This is believed to bring good luck.

Lead is considered to be auspicious in Germany so at New Year, they pour molten lead into cold water and see what shape develops. It is believed that this predicts the future, so: heart shapes symbolize marriage, round shapes denote good luck, and a ship means a journey. People also leave a bit of every food eaten on New Year's Eve on their plate until after midnight, as a way of ensuring a well-stocked larder.

Auld Lang Syne is the familiar tune that many of us sing. This represents remembrance of old friends and times spent with them. Generally credited to Robert Burns, he actually said he was merely noting the words of an ‘old man’s

In Greece, 1st January is also St Basil’s Day. He is remembered for his kindness and generosity to the poor. Vassilopitta, or St Basil's cake, is one of the special dishes that is prepared and contains a silver or gold coin. Whoever finds the coin will be lucky for the next year.

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money matters Do a search on Google for the specific term “work from home UK” and it will return around 857 million results. It’s clearly a popular subject and since broadband became widely available in 2004, the growth in this market has been phenomenal. Indeed it is estimated that 2.8 million businesses now operate full time from home; that 1400 people start a business every week; and that home businesses contribute £284 billion to the economy each year.

WORKING FROM HOME Is it for you... rather than trying to create the market from scratch.

MANY businesses operate successfully from a spare room; but sadly too many others fail. So before you take the plunge and give up the day job, consider if your business passes these sanity checks. Don’t overestimate the growth All businesses start from £0 revenue, and most from a negative figure by the time they’ve paid their startup costs. You might have a startup fund from redundancy or inheritance, or you might actually need the money straight away. Setting up your own business is hard work so make sure it’s going to return a profit before your personal costs overtake you. Watch your overheads Overheads have to be paid regardless of whether you have any business. If you are paying for stock, leases, loans, equipment rental or staff before you really need to, you can easily find you are working for nothing. Is there a market for what you want to sell? A classic mistake is to think ‘there must be a huge market for this because nobody else does it/makes it’. Possibly, but it’s more likely that there isn’t a demand in the first place. For your first business you really are better to go into a market where you know money is being spent

How many customers do you need? There are so many tales of people who start a business, win one big profitable customer who brings in 80% of the revenue month after month, only for it to go horribly wrong when the big customer changes supplier. Far better to have lots of customers on your list. If you have fifty customers, even a loss of five of them won’t seriously impact you. Will your customers buy again? When you get the first few people buying from you, the ideal business model says that sooner or later they’ll want to use you again. For your work from home ’lifestyle’ business, it’s best to have some customers who come back again and again. How will people find out about you? Treat this as a launch and do as much initial marketing as you can find the time for and can afford. Advertising in this magazine (of course!), notice boards, Google adwords, social media, emailing, networking, the school gates… anything and everything you can think of. Do you have the space? Try not to let your business spill into the general living space. Not only is this encroaching on your family’s home, but it’ll mean you’ll feel you can’t ever get away from work. A spare room is ideal of course, but if not, then a filing cabinet where you can tuck everything away at the end of the day does at least mark out the boundaries. Finally, a word of warning. If you do start your own business, it’s a legal requirement to register with HMRC as self-employed – make it top of your action list.

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ashby museum news

ur closure for the Christmas period runs until Monday 5th January 2015. The Great War display will remain in place up to the end of February. We have had many visitors to this impressive display so if you haven’t yet been, do come along while there is still chance. We are grateful to Ashby Rotary Club for donating its archives, from the foundation to the present day, and Museum volunteers are now busy cataloguing everything. We are also pleased to have received recently, individual loans and donations to enhance our collections. Peter Liddle is continuing his successful series of talks with ‘The Archaeology of Medieval Leicestershire and Rutland’. The next course will begin on Tuesday February 3rd and continue on successive Tuesdays (with a break for half term), from 11am to 1pm, until March 17th. Feb 3rd

Medieval villages and fields

Feb 10th

Medieval Leicester, market towns and industry

Feb 17th

Half term – no lecture

Feb 24th

Castles and Manor Houses

Mar 3rd

The Church: Parish churches and chapels

Mar 10th

The Church – Religious Houses and Pilgrimage

Mar 17th

The Battle of Bosworth and the end of the Medieval period

You can attend the whole course or come to individual lectures; £6 per lecture or £30 for the whole course. If you would like to book a place please contact the Museum on 01530 560090, email Peter on peter.liddle@gmail.com or call 0116 221 4508. The next Kids’ Club is 7th February and is at the new time of 11am till 2pm. ‘From the Romans to the Renaissance and from the Suffragettes to the Stone age.’ Come join us at the Kids' History Club it’s free to all primary school children, who must be accompanied by a parent or carer. We are always happy to welcome new volunteers, if you would like to help out please get in touch with us on on 01530 560090.

FRIENDS OF ASHBY MUSEUM The Friends of Ashby Museum would like to invite you to a folk entertainment evening at Packington Memorial Hall on Saturday 14th February at 7.30pm. Music by the well-known group, The Travelling People. Light supper. Licensed bar available. Tickets £10 from the museum. All proceeds to support the museum.

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what’s on... January into February 6th January

Blackfordby WI – Members social evening. Blackfordby Village Hall, 7pm, visitors welcome. For details call Gill Massey 01238 212 380.

8th January

’A walking holiday in the Himalayas’ A talk on what became ‘a matter of life and death’ due to raging streams, and how their guide led them to safety. National Trust group, for more information call 01530 243 051.

9th January

Pride (15) - True story of a group of gay and lesbian activists who supported a Welsh mining village in the 1984 strike. A heart-warming, hugely successful British comedy starring Bill Nighy. Century Theatre at Snibston, starts 7.30pm, tickets £3.50, pay on the door or call 01530 278 444.

10th January

Spats Langham's Hot Combination – Venture Jazz Club at 8pm. Tickets available from Ashby TIC, call 01530 411 767.

12th January

Ashby History Society - Deborah Russell talks on the restoration of decorative surfaces including water colours, oil paintings and frescoes. Ashby Methodist Church, Burton Road, commencing at 7.30pm. Visitors welcome. For further details call 01530 415 654.

13th January

Ashby Civic Society – ‘Five Derbyshire Landscapes’, heritage officer Philip Heath talks about local landscapes created by country houses. For more details call Suzanne on 01530 415 654. 8pm at Legion House, 27a South Street, LE65 1BQ. Visitors welcome, cost £3. See ashbydelazouchcivic society.webs.com.

14th January

Ashby Ivanhoe Travel Club – ‘USA Red Rock Country’, a talk by Mr B Bryan. Pithivers Room of Ivanhoe College, Ashby at 7.30pm prompt. All are welcome for any or all of the meetings. No joining fee or subscription, just £1.50 per talk. For details contact Julie Nelson on 01530 588 197 or email juliesportsfan@yahoo.co.uk.

15th January

The Zouch Acoustic and Folk Club Ashby Library at 8pm on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Go along and

sing, read a poem, juggle or just have a good night with music. Bring your own drink and glasses. Ashby Castle WI – Monthly meeting. If you are interested in joining them, please go to the Congregational Church, Kilwardby Street at 2pm. There is a small fee for visitors. Call Lesley on 01530 455 957 for details.

16th January

LRWT North West group – Talk with Geoff Pursglove of Ashby Canal Trust. The Trust traces the development of the canal and outlines current opportunities for all on this local waterway. Ashby Methodist Chapel, Burton Road, Ashby at 7.30pm. Entry £2. For more details please call David Maltby on 01530 222 934 or Jim Footitt on 01530 262 389. Paul Jones & Dave Kelly - Long standing members of The Blues Band, Paul Jones (Manfred Mann) and Dave Kelly return with a dynamic and exhilarating set of Country Blues. Century Theatre at Snibston, starts at 8pm, tickets £18 advance, £19 on the door. For more details call 01530 278 444.

17th January

Ashby Farmers Market – 9am to 2pm at Manor House South Street. Bringing you the finest foods from the region and specialist stalls. Free parking.

21st January

Ashby Wine Circle – ‘Burns Night’ members meeting, food and wine provided. Meeting held at Brown Court, Atkinson Road, Westfields, Ashby de la Zouch, 7.30pm. Ashby Spa WI – ‘Women’s Health’ with Dawn Sumner. Manor House School, South Street at 7.30pm. Please note that you do not have to be a WI member to attend, you are welcome to join them as a visitor for three sessions per year at a cost of £3 a session.

23rd January

Fun Quiz followed by a hot supper of fish and chips to chase away the January blues. National Trust Group. For more information or to join. Please call on 01530 243 051. The Acoustic Collection 2015 - Talon perform a selection of their favourite acoustic contemporary classic songs. Century Theatre at Snibston, starts 7.30pm. Tickets £15 advance, £16 on the door or call 01530 278 444.

24th January

The Elvis Presley Tribute Show – A Rockzone production featuring Darren Jackson. Lyric rooms, Ashby De La Zouch. Doors open 7pm, show starts 7.30pm. Tickets £8 in advance or £10 on the door. Tickets available from Ashby TIC. For more information call 07891 947 359. Charity Barn Dance - The Rotary Club of Ashby Castle annual Barn Dance at Measham Leisure Centre, starting at 7.30pm. The Derbyshire Ranters provide music and entertainment. Ticket prices are £12.50 for adults and £5 for children, includes a buffet. Licensed bar. Tickets from Measham Leisure Centre, call Alan Oakes on 01530 416 145 or by email to dalewarren1982@btinternet.com. Quiz Evening - Town Twinning Association quiz evening at Smisby Village Hall, 7.30pm. Soup and sandwich supper, please bring your own drink and glass. A bottle of Pithiviers wine is the usual valued prize. Cost £8, please book no later than Monday, 12th January. See www.ashbydelazouchtwinning.co.uk.

25th January

Market Bosworth Farmers Market – Every fourth Sunday of the month from 9am to 2.30pm at Market Square, Market Bosworth, CV13 0LJ. Bringing you the finest foods from the region and specialist stalls. ‘Dracula’ - A Rabbit Theatre production featuring David Mynne. This monstrous, disturbing (and completely batty) tale of dark deeds and the undead will thrill and seduce you. Century Theatre, Snibston at 7.30pm. For more details call 01530 278 444 or see www.mynne.com. Age 12+.

27th January

‘Double Trouble - or is it?’ – With speaker Michelle Scott-Worthington. Ashby U3a meeting. Congregational Church, Kilwardby Street, Ashby at 2pm. All welcome, visitors £1.

28th January

Ashby Ivanhoe Travel Club – ‘Norway In search of the midnight sun’, a talk by Mr S Howe. Pithivers Room of Ivanhoe College, Ashby at 7.30pm. All welcome. No joining fee just £1.50 per talk. For details contact Julie Nelson on 01530 588 197 or email juliesportsfan@yahoo.co.uk.

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continued on p80

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what’s on... January into February 28th January ‘Northern Soul’ (15) – Feel good movie, for the dark nights of January, about two Lancashire lads who change forever after they discover the sounds of rare American soul music. Ashby Film Nights at The Lyric Rooms, Ashby de la Zouch. Film starts at 7.30pm, doors and bar open at 7pm, tickets £5 available on the door. See ashbyfilmnights.wordpress.com.

31st January ‘It’s Your Round’ - If you love a pub style quiz and fancy a performance to boot, join quiz mistress and pub land lady Pat Pinch and her lively bar girl Liberty Belle. ‘Scary Little Girls’ bring their inimitable style of anarchic fun to the county and Pat and Libby are waiting to treat you to six of the best pub quiz rounds ever. The Palace, Ibstock at 7.30pm. For more information call 01530 262 400 or see www.scarylittlegirls.co.uk. Age 14+.

Inspired by Spirit - Colin Fry, spiritualist medium and star of the TV series, ‘6ixth Sense’. Century Theatre Snibston, shows at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Tickets £18.50, call 01530 278 444. The January Dance - Blackfordby Village Hall from 8pm till 11pm with organist Chris Johnson. Admission £3, raffle, bar and refreshments. For details phone 01283 213 481 or 01283 819 447.

3rd February Ashby Royal British Legion meeting at Ivanhoe Social Club, 1, Wilfred Place, Ashby LE65 2GW at 7pm. Visitors welcome, for more information call 01530 417747 or email ashby.royalbritishlegion@gmail.com. Blackfordby WI – ‘A-Z of Swadlincote’. Blackfordby Village Hall, 7pm. Visitors welcome. For more information contact Gill Massey 01238 212 380.

Did you know it’s FREE to put community info on this page? Email the details and contact number to admin@ashbylife. co.uk. Deadline for submissions for the Community Board or What’s On pages of the February 2015 issue is Friday 9th January. Information is published subject to space being available. Ashby Life cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions or endorse companies, products or services appearing in the magazine.

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your wellbeing

B E R E AV E M E N T DEATH is inevitable for all of us and for most it comes after a full and happy life. For others it might be premature due to illness or accident, expected or sudden. However death occurs it leaves behind families and friends to deal with their emotions and to navigate the grieving cycle. Bereavement is a process that cannot be rushed but has to be accepted, understood and respected. Grieving has several stages which can occur at any time after bereavement and in any order: • Denial - a belief that the person will walk through the door or a terrible mistake has been made. • Refusal to accept change - a strong desire that life will continue as normal and nothing has changed, compelling you to continue to do what you have always done (including refusing to have time to grieve). • Anger - at everyone and anyone, a feeling of injustice, questioning decisions and care of the person. • Guilt - feelings of ‘I should have done’, ‘I should have noticed’.

with Futureminds

www.futureminds.co.uk

• Sadness - a terrible feeling of hopelessness, crying, inconsolable, ‘I will never feel happy again’. • Blame - blaming yourself and others for no good reason. These emotions don’t follow a logical order but can change from day to day. Bereavement leads us to feel temporarily insecure, makes us face our own eventual demise and forces us into a time of change which is uncomfortable. However, eventually, there does come a feeling of acceptance of the situation and finally accommodation that changes have been made and become a normal part of life. Life continues - you will remember the good times and memories will inspire you and maybe make you laugh. If however, grief doesn’t feel as if it is easing after 12 months, if you are feeling stuck and unable to adapt, then psychological help might be beneficial. Futureminds may be able to help those who feel they are not managing their grief reaction and enable them to move on with their lives.

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community board Get Computer Savvy

Well Families Clinic

Ashby Hastings Rotary Club, in partnership with Ivanhoe College, invite you to drop in sessions where you can learn more about the latest technology such as ipads, iphones and tablets. They can show you how to use Facebook and Twitter, buy items on line, send emails and search the web for information. There are sessions at Ivanhoe College every Thursday from the 8th January from 4pm to 5pm. For more information contact Lyn Price 01530 411 030 or John Roth 07971 448 406. There is no charge and no regular commitment.

The North West Leics District Council Well families clinic will be holding drop in sessions at Moira village hall, Ashby Road, Moira on Tuesday 3rd February from 2pm till 6pm. You can get your posture, cholesterol or blood pressure checked. There will be advice on how to quit smoking, exercise advice and fun challenges with prizes. Free fruit juice, snacks, games and activities for children. A free pedometer for everyone who attends. For more information contact Julie Summerton on 01530 454 541 or email juliesummerton@nwldc.gov.uk.

Ashby Royal British Legion

Coleorton and New Lount Volunteer Group

Please note that there will be no meeting on 6th January. Branch meetings normally take place on the first Tuesday of the month omitting January, August and November. The Royal British Legion tombola in Market Street on the 6th December raised £409.70, the organisers would like to send a big thank you to all those who made a donation. Website: www.british legion.org.uk/branches/ashby-de-la-zouch.

Dates for January are: Coleorton Wood 6th and 10th, New Lount 20th and 24th. Work sessions start at 10am and usually last 4 hours. Volunteers are welcome to go along for all or part of the sessions. For more information call 01530 223 456 or email coleorton11@gmail.com.

Ashby de la Zouch Relief in Sickness Fund The Ashby de la Zouch Relief in Sickness Fund is a local charity helping people in Ashby and Blackfordby who may be struggling as a result of sickness, disability or infirmity. The charity has an interesting history: Before the NHS came into being in 1948, medicine was often a shoestring operation, with the local cottage hospital being largely supported by local volunteer fundraisers. When accommodation was desperately required for the local district nurses, a piece of land on Leicester Road was generously donated by the hospital trustees. After some serious effort, enough money was raised to build a house on the land, which remained the nurses residence until the seventies, when it was sold. Since all the money used to build the house had been raised by volunteers and donated by the local community, it was decided to use the proceeds of the sale to start a local health-based charity. The present day trustees of the charity come from various walks of life: medical, legal and religious. Grants from the fund are not means-tested, and each application is taken entirely on its merit. Recent donations include a payment to assist with a respite care break, help with the cost of petrol to enable a man to visit his wife in hospital and a donation towards an electric powered chair to help someone with a severe stroke to move from sitting to standing. If you know of anyone in Ashby or Blackfordby whom the trustees might be able to help, please contact the Clerk of the fund, Leanne Cooper, on 01530 414111 or email leannecooper@crane andwalton.co.uk.

Ashby Theatre-Goers’ Club The Ashby Theatre-Goers’ club organise a varied programme throughout the year, visiting theatres in Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, Coventry and Birmingham. This includes musicals, drama and comedy, there is something for every taste. Coaches leave from North Street, Ashby so you don’t need to worry about parking at the venue. Annual subscription is £3 per household. If you would like to be a member, contact Valerie Gale on 01530 417 087.

Tara Kadampa Meditation Centre Relaxing meditation and practical advice to help in daily life, at Legion House, South Street, Ashby, LE65 1BQ. Classes, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm, are running on Thursday’s 15th, 22nd and 29th January and February 5th. There is no need to book - just turn up. Seating is on chairs. Classes cost £6, for details or further information contact 01283 732338 or e mail meditate@tarakmc.org.

Ashby Forum for Active Retirement The Ashby Forum for Active Retirement meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 2.15pm in Prior Park Community Centre.

Ashby de la Zouch Town Council Calendar of Meetings The Town Council and the Licensing Committee are meeting on Monday 26th January. Members of the public are welcome to attend and there is a slot for public questions. Meetings take place at Legion House, South Street and start at 6.30pm.

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all about you

Sale

EVERYONE loves a bargain, and at this time of year there are plenty of them around, but it can be easy to get carried away. Here are some tips on how to stay in control of what ends up in your shopping basket and make the most of the winter sales!

Decide what you need first. Go through your wardrobe to check for gaps, scout through your cupboards, and think about what you actually use. There’s no point filling up with stuff just because there’s 70% off! Do your research. Take a stroll down the high street or browse on line to see what catches your eye. Try on where appropriate and make a list of everything you really want so that when the doors open you can make a beeline for it. Go early – or go late. To be sure of getting what you really want, visit the sale in the first couple of days, but if you want the cheapest prices, wait until the end. Stick to a budget. It’s easy to get carried away in the heat of the moment and compromise on what you are willing to pay. If you are too weak to say no in the face of temptation, take cash and only spend what you have. Take a sale buddy. They could be the head of reason when you choose to ignore all the above advice!

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just 4 fun

Solutions on page 108

CODEWORD Each letter in this puzzle is represented by a number between 1 and 26. The codes for three letters are shown. As you find the letters enter them in the box below.

Solutions on page 108

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ashby health centre

MONTHLY UPDATE Patient Feedback and Suggestions We have now implemented the NHS Friends and Family feedback system. This involves asking patients the following question (which has been set by NHS England): We would like you to think about your recent experience of our service. How likely are you to recommend our GP practice to friends and family if they need similar care or treatment? • Extremely likely • Likely • Neither likely nor unlikely • Unlikely • Extremely unlikely • Don’t Know There is also a second question which may change from time to time as we can choose this question ourselves. It is likely to depend on things happening in the

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practice or may be something suggested by our Patient Participation group. Patients are welcome to fill in one of these surveys every time they visit the Health Centre for an appointment of any type. The clinicians have copies in their rooms and they are available in reception. There is a box for completed surveys in reception. The survey will be available via our website very soon. The feedback can be given anonymously or you can add your name and address so that if we need further information we can contact you. However this may not always be possible due to the volume of responses. We would like to thank our patients in advance for taking part in this survey and look forward to seeing the results and using them to improve our service to all patients.

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book reviews

Land When it’s cold and frosty outside, there’s no better time to get reacquainted with our antipodean friends as they celebrate Australia Day on January the 26th. It’s a ripper opportunity to throw a few shrimp on the barbie, and while you’re cooking up a storm on the beach, you can sit back and read some bonza books about the land Down Under.

Everybody Jam...

Ali Lewis

This is the story of Danny, who lives on a remote cattle station in the outback, and his brother who has died, his teenage sister who’s pregnant and the rather green English backpacker who’s the latest hired help. Everybody Jam refers to strawberry jam, that’s universally loved by one and all, no matter what their background or status. In Danny’s world, everyone’s gearing up for the great annual muster and it’s a make or break business, with the family pushed to its limits and fighting to survive under the intense heat of the blazing sun. It was written for young adults but if you’ve ever been a gap year student, or you fancy a true Aussie experience, then Everybody Jam could give you a real flavour of what to expect.

A Town like Alice...

Nevil Shute

For many, Nevil Shute’s novel is the first they read that really gives them a drive to travel to Australia. It’s a compelling tale of love and war which sees Englishwoman Jean Paget captured by the Japanese in the heart of the Malaysian jungle and then forced to endure a death march lasting many months. From Malaysia, Jean returns home, but not for long as she then returns to the Far East to give something back to those who helped save her life. Where she ends up is in a remote part of Oz which challenges her resolve once again. She may not be a bona fide ‘Sheila’, but given what she’s been through, Jean’s got the resilience of a real Aussie battler.

Marlo Morgan For many, the idea of ‘going walkabout’ with an aboriginal tribe would be like having a dream come true; to be permitted such a rare insight into an ancient civilisation. This is the fictional account of an American woman ‘summoned’ to do just that. Often referred to as a ‘spiritual odyssey’, the book explores the way in which the nomads live in harmony with nature for as long as they are on this earth, and what we can take from that message. There are physical challenges as well as spiritual, ecological and theological for Morgan to overcome and it makes for incredible reading as she takes her four month-long journey of discovery.

Eucalyptus...

Murray Bail

Murray Bail has written an unusual and touching love story which has grown straight from the craggy Aussie soil itself. Widower Holland has two things he is proud of: his daughter Ellen, and his impressive collection of eucalyptus trees. He has grown every single variety of the gums and it’s the inspiration for a challenge to any of Ellen’s suitors. Holland decrees that Ellen may only marry the man who can correctly identify all of them. While many come by to try and subsequently fail, Ellen spends her days being entertained by a stranger who appears under the shadow of a tree one day. Enchanted and intrigued by his stories of distant lands, Ellen begins to fall in love. It’s a beautiful story that will capture your heart and nurture a longing for romance and travel.

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PUZZLE SOLUTIONS - CROSSWORD - SUDOKU - CODEWORD & MORE... WORD LADDER Foot, hoot, hood, hoed, heed, herd, hard, yard.

WORD WHEEL TARGET:

Answer:

Excellent: 28 or more words Good: 22 words Fair: 17 words Backdate

FUN QUIZ - 1. Monty Python; 2. You only live once; 3. Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin; 4. England; 5. Russia; 6. Ellen DeGeneres; 7. 45%; 8. Latvia; 9. The X Factor; 10. They reduced the price by 50 cents for every goal Germany scored in the World Cup match against Brazil.

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business directory Accountants & Payroll Adamroyal Sage Accountants 67 Ashby Payroll Bureau 35 Baldwins 20 Darcey & Bate Accountants 44 Haines Watts 9 & 111 JAWS Accountancy Services Ltd 99 Aerials & Satellite AB Aerials & Satellites 91 Architects DCI Architecture 65 Arts, Crafts, Gifts, Jewellery, Toys Souk de la Zouch 71 Business Services Elite Training Solutions 59 Eternal Rainbow 25 Carpenters & Joiners Derek Verey 74 S S Joinery 36 Carpets & Interiors Agadon 3 Ashby Carpets 5 Ashby Stoves 65 Boundary Carpets and Floorings 26 Coalville Furniture Superstore 19 Fairweathers Carpets 53 Roger James Furnishers 80 The Bed Shop 29 The Wooden Spoon 10 Toons 51 Wendy's Courtyard Interiors 97 Cleaning, Ironing, Laundry Services Breedon Carpet Care 103 Deanclean 67 Extreme Clean 13 Karen’s Ovengleam 99 Roughly Refined 49 Safeclean 97 Spotless Cleaning 81 The Bee’s Knees 49 Toni's Ironing Angels 28 Clothing Brides of Ibstock 87 Just for You 71 The Shoe Box 60 Country Stores/ General Stores Ivanhoe Countrystore 47 Domestic Appliances Contracool 8 Contract & Domestic Services 37 Ray Pittam Engineers 107 Driving Schools Bardon School of Motoring 13 RDT School of Motoring 69 Electricians A & J Bartlett Ltd 105 Bright Sparks 72 Burton Alarm Systems 21 D & B Electrical 15 Estate Agents John German 32 Events/Event Services Elvis Presley Tribute Show 98 Funhouse Comedy 27 Ivanhoe Way Challenge 69 Leicestershire County Council 79 Wellbeing Clinic 92

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Financial Services Bleathwood Ian Goodship, IFA Independent Insurance Bureau Florist Indigo Acre Flowers Food & Groceries Ashby Farmers Market Conibears Kitchen Smithards Bakery Funeral Services A E Grice Funeral Directors Art Stone Memorials Furniture Repairs & Restoration Ancient & Modern Garden Artisan of Ashby Ltd Charnwood Tree Services Eden Tree Care F G Gardens Francesca Sinclair & Associates GDR Landscapes Green Thumb (Ashby) Roughly Refined Garden Service Stone Drives & Landscapes The Ten Mile Timber Company Hair & Beauty Trendset Hair Vanilla Funk Healthcare Ashby Chiropody/Podiatry Clinic Ashby Dental Ashby Osteopathic Clinic Candor Care Ltd Crossroads Stress Clinic Dr Jin Future Minds Juliet Brooke Chiropody Leicestershire Hypnotherapy Nustop Ltd Prestige Nursing ProPhysio Ashby Traditional Acupuncture IT Services Ashby Web Design Midland IT The PC Clinic UK Bits Kitchens & Bathrooms Ashby Tile & Bathrooms Holmetree Kitchens Kingswood Design & Interiors Provencale Kitchens Tiles 4 Less Victory Kitchens Locksmiths Hazlewood Locksmiths The Lockie Motor Services A D Car Cosmetics Castle Garage (Ashby) Ltd Chips Away Music, Dance & Drama Ashby School of Music Painters & Decorators Ace Decorating Holywell Painting & Decorating John Clark

85 71 72 45 16 68 93 108 25 65 105 18 40 107 91 69 31 68 77 21 76 49 72 8 33 102 11 42 84 16 11 13 69 94 66 35 50 82 77 2 23 58 67 48 91 23 81 64 24 109 33 41 8 49

Pet Services Ash Farm Boarding Kennels 37 Pet Deli 75 Pet Stay 16 Woodward Veterinary Practice 99 Places of Worship Ashby Baptist Church 100 Ashby Christadelphian Church 34 Plasterers A C Ellison Plastering & Tiling 33 Matt Charles Plastering Services 103 R & H Plastering 21 TCL Plastering & Property Maint. 108 Plumbers & Gas Services Adrian Dunstan Plumbing & Heating 95 Batemans Plumbing & Heating 101 Burn & Bishop Plumbing & Heating 33 CCA Gas Plumbing 41 D B Plumbing 21 James Pepper Property Solutions 97 S D Hill (Plumbers) 7 Therm Heating 28 Property Repairs & Maintenance Absolute Window Solutions 63 Ashby Glass 12 Ashbyhandyman.co.uk 8 AW Plastering and Building 17 Can’t Get One 15 Cloudy 2 Clear 83 D H Phillips (Flat Roofing) 25 G & D Property Services Ltd 39 Handyman Maintenance 55 James Pepper Property Solutions 25 Michael Brooks Home Improvements 87 Roof Tech 37 RSJ Roofing 52 TS Roofing 107 Window Mate 77 Pubs, Restaurants & Take Aways La Spezia Pizzeria 68 Link Measham Cantonese Restaurant 61 The Blue Bell 64 The Lyric Rooms 95 The Vine 90 Wong Kwei 106 Zamani's 56 & 57 Recruitment A & A Recruitment 95 Schools and Tuition Manor House School 28 Solicitors & Will Writers Crane & Walton 52 Fishers 86 & 87 Martin Hall 103 Simpson Jones Solicitors 82 Sports & Fitness Anthony Pullen Personal Training 73 Breedon Priory Health Club Ltd 112 Fitness Republic 43 Fitsteps 45 Hood Park Leisure Centre 89 Pure Movement Yoga 11 Tony Hough Personal Training 41 & 60

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