Nene Valley Living January 2014 by Best Local Living

HELPING

YOU

GET

THE

MOST

OUT

LIVING

NENE VALLEY LIVING

d o o F t r o f m Co winter fare FOOD/FASHION/HEALTH

BEAUTY/HOME

LOCALLY

GARDEN/LIFESTYLE

Simple

£1.50 JANUARY 2014

HAPPY FEET DANCE YOURSELF FIT JEAN GENIUS FIND THE PERFECT PAIR NVLNOVCOVER.indd 1

Nene Valley Living

WWW.BESTLOCALLIVING.CO.UK

9 771740 052017 18/12/13 00:31:35

• NVL Jan ADS.indd 2

17/12/2013 11:34

N ENE VA L L EY LIVING

Cover photo: COURTESY OF JOHN LEWIS. ALL PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE FROM JOHN LEWIS.

This Issue JA NUA RY 2014

inding a way of exercising that you actually want to do is easier said than done. Good intentions abound at this time of year, but they do have a tendency to peter out after a few weeks or months at best. For me, the discipline of a weekly class works well, as does finding a great instructor. I’ve been really lucky with my choices over the years. The two teachers who keep me turning up week after week are Angela Bradshaw at A2B Pilates and Sophie Hurford of Zumba with Sophie. I always thought I’d enjoy the slow, stretching discipline of Pilates, but as someone with two left feet, dance-based Zumba has been a complete revelation. It’s fast, it’s huge fun and it involves lots of loud and upbeat world music. In my class of around 70 women, there are all shapes, ages and sizes, and varying degrees of expertise. But it really doesn’t matter whether you are naturally wired to dance or not. Anyone can have a go and get fit trying. Sophie explains more about the Zumba phenomenon on page 15. If you prefer to hibernate over winter, we can help with suggestions for some less strenuous activities. We’ve lots of ideas for comfort food, including a search to find the area’s tastiest sausage. Or why not try involving your children with some hearty winter cooking? There’s a great recipe for Cornish pasties on page 28. Whatever you get up to this month, enjoy it. Happy New Year.

Fion a Cu mberpatch Editor SUBSCRIBE TO Nene Valley Living

5 Editor’s selection

Local artist Sue Shields new exhibition, ‘Landed’

20 The perfect jeans

7 Upfront

23 A sizzlingly good sausage

A day out with Shaws Coaches

8 Upfront

When can you tell if a relative needs help at home?

Our guide to a fashion staple

The region’s best bangers

27 Child’s Play Get your kids cooking

11 Upfront

30 Eat out for less

12 Food News

32 A cautionary tale

15 Happy Feet

34 The Ketton Design Company

Healthy food from Riverford

A new bakery opens in Oundle

Meet Zumba instructor Sophie Hurford

18 Health and beauty notes All the latest on local health and beauty businesses

Cheap deals for New Year’s dining

A guide to a better divorce

Bringing your dream lifestyle to life

37 Diary dates

The pick of this month’s events

Editor Fiona Cumberpatch fiona@bestlocalliving.co.uk Write to Nene Valley Living, PO Box 208, Stamford, PE9 9FY www.nenevalleyliving.co.uk Advertisement Manager Bridget Steele 01733 707538 bridget.neneliving@ntlworld.com Advertisement Director Helen Walton 01780 754801 helen.stamford@btopenworld.com Head of Design Steven Handley steve@locallivingdesign.co.uk Senior Designer Nik Ellis nik@locallivingdesign.co.uk Advertising Copy Rachel Beecroft 01780 765320 rachel@locallivingdesign.co.uk Publisher Nicholas Rudd-Jones 01780 765571 Email: localliving@btopenworld.com Published by Local Living Ltd, PO Box 208, Stamford, Lincs. PE9 9FY www.locallivingltd.co.uk Printed by Warners of Bourne

W W W. B E S T L O C A L L I V I N G . C O . U K

Nene Valley Living

For £20 (UK only) you can subscribe to Nene Valley Living for 12 issues. Please send your name, address and a cheque made out to Local Living Ltd to: NVL Subscriptions, PO Box 208, Stamford, PE9 9FY Or you can subscribe online – go to www.bestlocalliving.co.uk

NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2014

3 CONTENTS.indd 2

18/12/13 11:22:53

Fireplace and Stove Specialist Multi-Fuel and Wood Burning Stoves Range Cookers and Flue Systems Fireplaces, Gas and Electric Fires Hand Crafted Stone Fireplaces Established family run business experienced in offering a complete package from survey through to design and installation with our fully qualified team. Visit us at our diverse showroom where we have an extensive range of fires and fireplaces on display

We promise you the warmest of welcomes! 37 Market Street, Whittlesey, Peterborough, Cambs PE7 1BA Tel/Fax 01733 202220 Email: aspectfires@aol.com Opening Times: Mon – Fri 9am-1pm & 2pm-5pm, Sat 10am-2pm CLOSED Thursdays, Sundays & Bank Holidays

We re-open after the Christmas & New Year holidays on Monday 6th January 2014

As we are a family run business, we would kindly request that you phone our office and check that we are open before making a special journey to our showrooms - Thank you.

Get the holiday deal you deserve

Summer 2014 on sale

pop into your local branch

We promise you open, honest and impartial advice to find the holiday that’s right for you. In fact we can take care of all your holiday needs.

• Tailor made holidays, package holidays in the sun, cruise, ski, city breaks, UK breaks, flight only and coaching holidays • Low deposits available • Holiday insurance • Airport hotels and parking

Beales Department Store Park Road, Peterborough PE1 2TA Telephone: (01733) 891720 travel.peterborough@angliacooperativetravel.co.uk

www.aspectfires.co.uk Stockists of Charnwood, Chesney’s, Dovre, Heta, Jetmaster, Stovax, Stuv and many more...

The Co-operative Travel at Anglia Co-operative Society is a trading name of The Freedom Travel Group Limited, Registered Office: The Thomas Cook Business Park, Coningsby Road, Peterborough, PE3 8SB, Company Registration Number: 03816981 England. The Freedom Travel Group Limited is part of the Thomas Cook group. All offers are subject to availability and certain terms and conditions, please ask for full details.

• Car hire • Attraction tickets • Travel money Earn Co-operative

MEMBERSHIP POINTS with every purchase

Excludes foreign currency

• NVL Jan ADS.indd 4

17/12/2013 11:35

AR T

Editor’s selection

Sue Shields’ exhibition Landed is having a big impact at Peterborough Museum Inspired by the local landscape, artist Sue Shields, currently resident artist at the Langdyke Countryside Trust, is staging a solo exhibition at Peterborough Museum. Sue’s work, a mixture of paintings, copper embossing, prints and textiles, draws on some traditional religious symbols to examine our relationship with nature. “I wanted to celebrate the beauty of nature, but also to tell people, look what we are doing to the landscape,” says Sue. “One of the rooms has work which is crisp and light, while the other is darker, to create a feeling of sacredness.” Landed is on until January 26th. Admission is free.

NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2014

5 EDS PAGE copy.indd 1

18/12/13 11:25:20

Sleep Fairies

Maternity Services & Parent Support Packages

for new and sleep deprived parents

Providing parents with:

Maternity Nurses Sleep Trainers Night Nannies Baby Nannies Baby Consultants We also offer: Sleep Training Packages (with a FREE sleep programme at the end of the initial consultation) CAMBRIDGESHIRE & SURROUNDING COUNTIES

Parent Rescue Online Telephone Consultations Welcome Home Mother & Baby Gift Packages (during the first week of the baby’s arrival)

M: 07517 987182 T: 01733 248101 info@sleepfairies.co.uk

www.sleepfairies.co.uk

• NVL Jan ADS.indd 6

17/12/2013 11:35

W H AT’ S NEW T HIS MONT H

UpFront A DAY OUT WITH SHAWS OF MAXEY

Paul Rogers and his wife Yasmin booked a mini cruise on the River Trent, just one of Shaws varied programme of year round day trips and longer breaks We awoke to a weather forecast which predicted high winds and torrential rain for most of the country. This was the day that my wife had booked our trip, and my natural pessimism raised questions such as: “would our coach actually reach Nottingham?” A benefit of being a pessimist is that, occasionally, one is surprised by happy outcomes: this day proved to be full of ‘happy outcomes.’ Our collection point was in Orton Goldhay and passengers had already boarded in central Peterborough. The coach arrived a few minutes early and was immaculately clean, extremely comfortable and in the hands of a friendly driver. There were further pick up points in Stamford and Oakham and we then proceeded to Nottingham. The journey passed quickly, but the coach had supplies of hot and cold drinks and toilet facilities, should they have been needed. We arrived at the mooring site in good time but although the weather never plummeted to the depths predicted, it was very windy and the captain of the cruise vessel told us that we should have our lunch while still moored, and then see if conditions improved. They never did and a very apologetic captain explained that it would be unsafe for us to leave the bank. But it didn’t matter. Lunch consisted of three courses, with several choices for starters and puddings and excellent roast beef and pork for a main course. Vegetarian and gluten free options were available, as was a bar providing a selection of wines and beers. This was a relaxing day out, and very reasonably priced at £35 per head including lunch. An actual cruise would have been a bonus, but we very much enjoyed our trip. • To find out more, email the reservations team at enquiries@shawscoaches.co.uk or call 01778 342224, or browse the brochures on the web, www.shawscoaches.co.uk

ATTENTION ALL NEW PARENTS!

If you are struggling to get your baby into a sleep routine, Sleep Fairies Maternity could help. Founded by Jacqueline Stubbings, who is a Maternity Nurse Practitioner and Sleep Trainer, it aims to provide a service to new and sleep deprived parents throughout Cambridgeshire and surrounding counties, offering maternity nurses, sleep trainers, night nannies, parent helps and babysitters. Jacqueline says: “We understand that sleep deprivation leaves babies over tired and fractious, leaving parents exhausted and wishing they had that ideal person to guide, support and help them to establish a sleep and feeding routine that works. All our candidates are qualified and experienced maternity nurse practitioners and have been through our strict selection process and hold a current CRB and Paediatric first aid certificate. They can help with breastfeeding, settling your baby to sleep and all other aspects of newborn baby care. They can be booked for just a few hours, days or weeks, or through one of our packages.” An initial £70 sleep training package comes with a free individually tailored sleep programme, which, if followed consistently, along with the techniques taught, should get your baby sleeping better within three days. Welcome Home Mother and Baby Gift packages, from £199, make a special gift to new parents. “Whatever your situation is, we’re here to help to make your baby experience a lot easier,” says Jacqueline. “Whether you need help getting your baby to sleep better through the night, a good night’s sleep yourself, a nanny for other children or general household help, we’ll offer you an exceptional service.” • Contact Jacqui@sleepfairies.co.uk Website: www.sleepfairies.co.uk Tel: 01733 248101/07517987182

PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL’S £2.4 MILLION LOTTERY BOOST It’s the icon of the city, and now Peterborough Cathedral has been awarded a grant of £2,464,300 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for its ‘Peterborough 900: Letting it speak for itself’ project. This is part of the Cathedral’s plans for development as it moves towards its 900th anniversary in 2018, and it should ensure that the Cathedral plays an increasing role in the life of the city and the Diocese. New glazed doors will create a more welcoming entrance at the West Front of the building and the project will also conserve and convert the Knights’ Chamber, a grade I listed building, into a reception area for schools and visiting groups. A new Heritage, Visitor and Education Centre will be created within the Precincts by converting a Grade II listed building. The Very Reverend Charles Taylor, Dean of Peterborough said: “this award is very good news both for Peterborough Cathedral, for the city and for the wider region. It affirms our plans to make our Cathedral more accessible to new visitors, not only physically, but also intellectually and culturally.” It is hoped that the works will take place during 2014 and 2015.

NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2014

7 UPFRONT copy 2.indd 3

18/12/13 11:26:29

W H AT’ S NEW T HIS MONT H

UpFront CARING FOR YOUR PETS When your family pet is unwell, you want them to have the best possible care among familiar faces and surroundings. Oundle and Thrapston Veterinary Surgery is an independent family business which values its trusted place in the community, and delivers the latest medical treatments and preventive health advice for animals. Natalie Sampson has now joined Nick Park as a partner in the business. The vets, together with their team of staff, are keen to offer a gold standard service and the all-important continuity of care, where possible. Services on offer include vaccinations, neutering and laser therapy, which is currently producing excellent results for certain types of wound and pain management. They also offer nurse clinics for nail clipping, micro chipping, senior pets and weight management, and ﬂea and worm treatment. The Veterinary Surgeries in Oundle and Thrapston, offer one late night opening on a Thursday with consulting sessions continuing to 8pm, and Saturday consulting. Oundle Veterinary Surgery Tel: 01832 273521 Thrapston Veterinary Surgery Tel: 01832 732632

TRAVEL IN STYLE Taking a taxi just moved up several notches, as a new luxury travel company opens in Peterborough on January 20. UK Passenger Direct (UKPD) offers a door to door service using state of the art cars, with smartly dressed, discreet drivers who provide a quality service with a smile. Catering for long distance business travel, airport runs at any time of the day or night, weddings or a special day out, the company aims to accommodate all formal occasions. As each driver is PCC licensed and has an enhanced CRB check, the company can also offer a worry-free service if your child needs to travel alone. To book, or for more information, call Freephone 0800 2118636 or email ukpd@hotmail.co.uk

JAZZ SUNDAYS AT THE BULL HOTEL, PETERBOROUGH If you’d like to ease yourself gently into the New Year, why not go along to The Bull Hotel’s Lazy Sunday Brunch and Jazz event? Taking place on January 19, 12 noon to 4pm, the event offers laid back music with a delicious menu. Choose from dishes such as Eggs Benedict, Grasmere Ham, toasted mufﬁn, soft poached hens’ egg and hollandaise sauce (7.95), American style pancakes (5.95), Smoked Haddock Kedgeree (£9.95), or a traditional roast beef dinner (£12.50), relax and enjoy! To book, call 01733 561364 or email events@bull-hotel-peterborough.com

STOP PRESS Book into a local show: Oundle Amateur Theatrical Society is staging Sleeping Beauty, from Wednesday January 22 to Saturday January 25. Tickets are £8 children/concessions, £10 adults. For more info, contact oats.panto@gmail.com or visit oats-uk.com

CARE

matters When should you start to look for support for your loved ones? Amy Kennedy of Home Instead writes: One of the main reasons to start to look for support at home for your family members isn’t an illness or some other crisis. It’s simply that they’re growing older and need a little help. In our experience, planning ahead and introducing some support with things such as shopping, light housekeeping and companionship can help prevent other problems developing. And if more support is needed in the future, it isn’t an alien concept. Your relative has already built up a relationship of trust with the person visiting them. One rule of thumb is that by the time you’re 40, your parents will probably be approaching 70. This is a good time to start raising the topic. Here are some tips to help: • Start observing your loved one with an open mind. Are there tasks or activities they struggle with or have stopped doing? • Talk about it. Have a conversation and discuss your observations. Ask for their opinions. If they acknowledge that certain things are a little harder now, you can discuss resolutions together. • Sooner is best. It’s better to talk before a crisis hits and not know their feelings on the situation. • Maximise independence. Move forward to a solution that maintains and maximises your relative’s independence as much as possible. • Ask for help. Many of the challenges associated with ageing can be resolved with a little help. Ask local community or faith groups, or organisations such as Age Concern, or ourselves. • Home Instead Senior Care, Tel: 01733 333342 or visit www. homeinstead.co.uk/peterborough

NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2014

8 UPFRONT copy.indd 3

18/12/13 11:33:11

Calling all care workers! Are you looking for a new start for the New Year? Do you want to work for an organisation that really cares about you?

VISIT US AT OUR NEW LARGE SHOWROOM We have a large selection of the latest contemporary stoves by all leading manufacturers

Join us for a career that offers: • a starting salary of more than the Living Wage. • regular, contracted hours to suit you. • paid training and development opportunities. • generous paid annual leave entitlement. • on-the-job travel costs and time reimbursed. • the ability to increase hours of work. • free uniform. • 24 hour a day support. If you are an experienced care worker with a full driving licence and a passion for helping people to lead independent lives, who is looking to work for a new type of care service, call us today!

01733 396484 val.stokes@crosskeyshomes.co.uk www.crosskeyshomes.co.uk

Join our team today!

NO CHIMNEY? NO PROBLEM! We supply & install Stovax - Twin wall flue systems

Monday 20th January 2014 Starts off a brand new, quality chauffeured car service, exclusively for; BUSINESS USER, COMMERCIAL CLIENTS & all AIRPORT customers

<< UK Passenger Direct << All vehicles are legally exempt by the LA to operate without ANY displayed signage Approved account facilities warmly welcomed. Credit and debit cards honoured 3rd party transfer, one-way, return journeys & for up to 1 week ‘round robin’ trips Discreet and pleasant Male/Female staff offering a full 24/7 door-to-door service For ultra peace of mind we restrict on-road staff to 50 hours per working week Premium cars only used: E Class / 5-Series / Grand Voyager (+ 8-seater option) Our driving staff are licensed, CRB Enhanced + LA approved to carry children We price honour each & every pre-paid booking for up to 6 months duration We charge; your specific journey, per day, weekly or on a rolling contract Fully English speaking and educated staff, inc; ex-military trained drivers All undertaken bookings are confirmed by return in writing or email

WE ARE HERE

T: FREEPHONE 0800 211 8636 M: 07513 594581 E: UKPD@hotmail.co.uk www. Under construction

01536 410777 Please cut out and retain

Unit 7 Orion Way, The Constellations, Kettering Business Park NN15 6NL Email: admin@colesforfires.co.uk www.colesforfires.co.uk

• NVL Jan ADS.indd 9

17/12/2013 11:35

Anglia Co-operative together we make the difference You can earn membership points in all our businesses The co-operative food part of Anglia Co-operative Society

The co-operative travel at Anglia Co-operative Society

Start enjoying all the benefits that membership brings - dividend points and exclusive offers. Join Anglia Co-operative today.

For more information and to find your nearest store or branch visit our website

www.angliacooperative.co.uk 10

â&#x20AC;˘ NVL Jan ADS.indd 10

17/12/2013 11:36

W H AT’ S NEW T HIS MONT H

UpFront LOOK AFTER YOUR PROPERTY If you’re looking to improve and secure your home in 2014, investing in new garage doors, shutters or blinds is worthwhile. Dave Jellis of Garage Door and Shutter Services has 12 years’ experience in fitting and maintaining all kinds of window treatments and garage doors. He offers a free consultation and quote on all services. As well as new garage doors, he can maintain and repair old ones, including automatic doors. Shutters include security shutters for businesses and private properties, and decorative shutters for within the home. “In 2014, I am expanding my service to include Plantation Shutters, which are adjustable, so you monitor the amount of light you let in,” he says. A full blind service is available, with vertical, Venetian and roller blinds, and an extensive choice of fabrics and colours. This includes blackout fabric and moisture repellent ones. Dave is based in Deeping St James, but is happy to travel within the area. For more details, or to arrange a consultation, call him on 07709 337647.

FROM THE RIVERFORD KITCHEN Purple Sprouting Broccoli, squash and spelt salad Serves two as a main, four as a side dish Ingredients • 1 small red onion, finely diced • 2 tbsp red, sherry or balsamic vinegar • 1 tsp caster sugar • 200g spelt grain • 500g-600g (one small) squash, deseeded & cut into thin wedges • Olive oil for roasting • 250g purple sprouting broccoli • 2 oranges • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard • 1 tbsp capers, soaked in water for 10 mins, drained & roughly chopped • Extra virgin olive oil • Sea salt & ground black pepper • Large handful pitted black olives • Large handful chopped parsley Method: 1. Put the onion in a large bowl with the vinegar and sugar. Leave to macerate. 2. In a pan of boiling water, cook the spelt for 35-40 mins, until just tender.

Drain and leave to cool. 3. Put the squash on a baking tray and toss in just enough olive oil to coat. Roast at 190°C for 30-40 mins, until just tender and starting to colour. 4. In a pan of boiling water, cook the purple spouring broccoli for three minutes. Drain, refresh in cold water, then drain again. 5. Peel the oranges and remove any pith. Cut in between the membrane either side of each segment and remove each orange segment. 6. Squeeze any leftover juice into the bowl with the onion. Add the mustard, capers, 4 tbsp olive oil and season. Mix in the spelt, squash, purple sprouting broccoli, orange segments, olives and parsley. 7. Check the seasoning and drizzle over a little extra olive oil to serve. • To order a Riverford box, call 01803 762059 or visit www.riverford.co.uk

FRESH NEW YEAR HOME

Bring in the New Year with a refreshing Eucalyptus candle, one of a new range by local designer Sophie Allport. The candle is made in the UK, has a 40 hour burning time and costs £22. • Visit www.sophieallport.com or call 0845 1077866

eat well

free

get a free cook book with your vegbox

*Free book on your 2nd delivery when you place a regular vegbox order. New customers only.

in the new year try a seasonal organic vegbox today with free delivery

cook book* (worth £16.99)

call 01780 789700 or visit www.riverford.co.uk/FFB14 NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2014

11 UPFRONT copy 2.indd 3

18/12/13 11:33:55

FOOD & DR INK

Food News All the latest on local food and drink

THE SMALL BREAD COMPANY OPENS IN OUNDLE Fi Smallridge’s passion for baking real bread is infectious. Just a few minutes in her company and you cannot help but want to try the farmhouse loaves, bloomers, boules, ciabatta, sourdoughs and focaccias that she and her small team produce in their bakery at Barnwell. Now Fi has opened a permanent shop to showcase her growing range of breads and pastries. The Small Bread Company Bakery opened its doors in Market Place, Oundle in early December, in former women’s clothing shop, Jacks. “I started the business from home three years ago, and it has grown and grown,” says Fi. “This is a big brave step, but it seemed like a natural progression. We have so much to offer.” New in store is the Oundle loaf, which uses beer from the Nene Valley Brewery and local TitchWincle Honey. “I am keen to use local produce and connect with other artisan makers,” explains Fi. She is stocking cupcakes

made by Woodnewton-based Coco’s Kitchen, and wedding and occasion cakes by Oundle’s talented Emily Harmston Cakes. “Anyone who spends over £15 in the shop will get a ticket and be placed in a draw to win the cake in the window on Farmers Market Saturday,” says Fi. Her popular bread making classes will continue, and the upper floor of the shop will soon be converted into a cookery school with a bank of ovens. So far, the reaction to the bakery has been very positive. Fi’s traditional sugar doughnuts, billowy meringues and loaves baked with only natural ingredients and organic flour are flying off the shelves. “It is really hard work, but I’m enjoying it,” says Fi. “And I have lots more plans to come.” • The Small Bread Company bakery is at 20 Market Place, Oundle, PE8 4BQ. Open Monday – Saturday 8am – 4.30pm www.thesmallbreadcompany.com

RENOVATIONS AT THE RED LION, WARMINGTON Sunday lunch at The Red Lion, Warmington is always a treat, and now even more people will be able to enjoy it as landlords Richard Bright and Tim Stubbs have enlarged the pub to create more space for dining. The renovations, which also include luxurious new loos and a much larger kitchen, will enable Tim and Richard to increase their business by an estimated 30 per cent. “We were constantly having to turn diners away, especially on Sundays,” says Richard. “These improvements mean that we have a second dining room and we’ve also opened up the bar area. The new dining area will also double up as an area for small groups.” The pub has a traditional, cosy style of antique furnishings, and this will be retained in the new areas. “We have the same mix, the same colour schemes,” explains Richard. “Just lots more space!” Outside, the popular marquee will have a larger patio area, and the gardens are being landscaped in the spring. “These are exciting times for us,” says Richard. “We will be glad when the building is complete. We haven’t closed for a single day

during our renovations, so it will be good to get back to normality again!” • The Red Lion, Peterborough Rd, Warmington PE8 6TN Tel: 01832 280362 • See page 30 for details of The Red Lion’s eat out for less options

NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2014

12 FOOD NEWS copy.indd 3

18/12/13 11:53:12

THE RED LION WARMINGTON • • • •

Real Home Produced Food • Freehouse Homemade Desserts • Quality Real Ales Warm friendly welcome The Famous Red Lion Sunday Lunch - Serving 12 noon and 2.30 (booking essential)

LUNCHTIME SPECIALS £8.95 - Tue – Sat Early Doors Buy ONE meal & get another HALF PRICE Tue – Sat (table clear by 8pm but only if required)

Closed Mondays

Peterborough Road, Warmington, PE8 6TN - T: 01832 280362 Email: theredlionwarmington@gmail.com Web: www.theredlionwarmington.co.uk

he Black Horse has all the comforts and amenities you expect from a local country pub. Whether you’re here with us on business, for pleasure, or attending or organising an event, you have access to a range of superb facilities for an effortless, enjoyable experience.

Planning a meeting or event? Our meeting and events facilities are completely separate from the rest of the pub, but share its striking design and impeccable service standards. Our meeting room is fully equipped with LCD projector and screen, plus wifi internet access for up to 30 delegates. You also have a huge choice of freshly prepared food and drink. Ideal for intimate parties and celebrations, our Private Dining Room stylish, spacious and impeccably prepared, can accommodate a small, private party with close friends and family.

Food & Drink Defined by its relaxed, informal setting and glittering chandeliers, The Black Horse serves a menu of European classics with a distinctly British twist. Drop in for a coffee at any hour from lunch to bedtime, join us for lunch or dinner, a cheap pint at Happy Hour between 5pm-7pm or treat yourself to our legendary Sunday Roast. Grab a bargain and join us for our Early Bird menu available Monday – Saturday between 6pm-7pm offering two delicious main meals and a bottle of dangerously drinkable house wine for £25.

To avoid disappointment please contact us to make your reservation: 01832 281222 The Black Horse, 14 Overend, Elton, Peterborough, PE8 6RU 13

• NVL Jan ADS.indd 13

17/12/2013 11:36

• NVL Jan ADS.indd 14

18/12/2013 17:37

HEA LTH & BE AUT Y

Happy Feet “Ditch the work out and join the party.” That’s the message from ﬁtness instructor Sophie Hurford, whose life afﬁrming Zumba® classes are taking Peterborough by storm. Words: Fiona Cumberpatch. Photo: Tim Steele

ow many of us start a New Year exercise regime with good intentions, then fizzle out after a few weeks because it’s unrealistic, too boring, or too expensive? Not the participants in Zumba with Sophie, regular classes which are held throughout the Peterborough area. Sophie currently has around 1200 people on her books, a number which is steadily growing as word spreads. “I think Zumba is so popular because it feels like a celebration,” says Sophie. “The classes are a mix of steps, including salsa, cumbia, reggaeton (which has roots in Latin and Caribbean culture), samba, flamenco and even belly dancing, and the upbeat music is an essential part of what we do.” At the Voyager Academy on Monday and Wednesday evenings, you’ll find Sophie up on stage, dazzling smile at the ready, with around 80 women of all ages (and possibly a couple of men) ready to follow her every move. The session starts with a warm up to lift the heart rate, and progresses through toning exercises, aerobic exercise, and then a cool down and a stretch, all accompanied by an irresistible mash up of loud music. The clever part is that you don’t realise how hard you are working, and the time flies past. “People often say to me, I couldn’t do Zumba because I’m rubbish at learning dance steps, but that really doesn’t matter,” says Sophie. “There is no pressure. All the steps are adaptable and you find your own level. I never shout instructions or call on people by

name, and nobody is looking at what you’re doing because they are all concentrating so hard themselves!” Sophie, who grew up in Peterborough, has always loved sport and dance. She trained as a ski instructor, and it was while she was working in Europe that she became aware of Zumba. “I fell in love with it from day one,” she explains. “I did the training, with the idea that I’d teach it as an après ski class, but once I started, I just thought there would be so many possibilities back home, so I packed up my ski season early and came back to get started.” That was three years ago, and now Sophie’s days are full. “My biggest problem is ﬁnding venues big enough to cope with my classes,” she says. “As well as the regular sessions, I’ve started doing Zumba gold, which is aimed at older or less active people, perhaps those who’ve been ill or have had an injury, and I have done my Zumba kids training, so I’ll be starting new classes with young people in 2014. I would love to take it into children’s wards in hospitals. It is such a morale booster.” This is something she knows from personal experience. “I had TB when I was 21, and I was taking a concoction of drugs. I put on three stone, and experienced some other health issues at the same time. I credit Zumba with helping me out of that, and keeping my moods level and happy.” A guest sports presenter on the Shopping Channel, and a part time model

for sportswear, Sophie lives and breathes her brand, and delivers it with an infectious enthusiasm. She attends regular Zumba conventions in the USA, and works hard to make sure that her music and choreography stay fresh. Above all, she is passionate about helping others to increase their ﬁtness. “The thank yous and emotional stories that I’ve heard are amazing,” she says. “People are dealing with all sorts of situations: grief, illness, depression. They tell me that Zumba is the best part of their week and that means a lot. I really can’t imagine doing anything else now,” she says. “My classes have stuck by me, but I also feel a huge loyalty back to them.” Sophie runs Zumba sessions at Eye, Hampton, Cardea, Walton and Alwalton at various times, daytime and evening. Classes are £5 each, and you can pay as you go, or buy a 10 class pass. For details, email sophie@zumbawithsophie.co.uk or visit her Facebook page.

WHAT IS ZUMBA ? ®

It’s a dance ﬁtness programme created by a Colombian dancer and choreographer called Alberto “Beto” Perez during the 1990s. It involves dance and aerobic elements. Approximately 14 million people currently take Zumba classes in over 140,000 locations in some 150 countries across the world. NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2014

15 H&B NEWS.indd 3

18/12/13 11:53:58

It’s new, it’s exciting and it’s at Asha’s

WHATEVER YOU’RE DREAMING...

I’d like to work from home

ADVICE H E L P, W I T H E X P E R T TE ACXA N H E L P E HCAATN WW EVER YOUR THINKING W STEPHENSON SMART & CO CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS & BUSINESS ADVISORS

For more information call 01733 343 275 Stephenson House, 15 Church Walk, Peterborough PE1 2TP w w w . s t e p h e n s o n s m a r t . c o m

Discover how to make your own Annie Sloan project stand out from the crowd by learning different paint techniques. Asha's 'Introductory Workshop' An ideal workshop for beginners and those who would like to experiment with Annie Sloan Decorative Chalk Paint

BRING OUT YOUR CREATIVE SIDE AND HAVE FUN! Asha’s, The Bazaar, West Street, Oundle, PE8 4EJ Telephone 01832 275605 for further details and for dates of courses beginning in January 2014. Email: barbara@ashas.net - www.ashas.net 16

• NVL Jan ADS.indd 16

17/12/2013 11:36

Our experience makes yours Find your perfect holiday with your local, independent & friendly travel experts

SPOTLIGHT ON MAURITIUS

ast adrift in the Indian Ocean where continents meet, Mauritius is a mar vellous mix of African, Indian, European and Oriental influences. A huge reef surrounds the island sheltering the shallow lagoons, whose waters meet a shoreline of sugar white beaches. The capital Port Louis has an international atmosphere and the coastline is home to a collection of fine hotels, there is a choice of worldclass golf courses and the beaches and lagoons are a haven for water sports. Not least the island is home to some of the friendliest people, so you can expect the very best hospitality. Mauritius makes a marvellously relaxing home for your luxurious holiday or why not use the easy flight connections from east and southern Africa to make a twin centre holiday to somewhere more adventurous. A spell under the vast skies of Africa or a safari in one of the finest game reserves, could be the perfect contrast to lazy island days.

Oundle Travel recommends several hotels, all offering something different…

A honeymoon in Mauritius offers an unforgettable experience and many hotels offer complimentary upgrades and special offers for honeymoon couples. Weddings in Mauritius are very cost effective and hotels will provide a host of discounts and extras for weddings and their families and friends wishing to attend. Easter and the summer months through to September are the perfect time to travel to Mauritius, during the months of December and January the island does experience heavy tropical rains and strong winds.

The Residence is one of the finest hotels in Mauritius, with its gorgeous mile long white sand beach and beautifully appointed rooms together with a stunning choice of dining. From £1979.00 per person – Bed and Breakfast. The Sofitel is situated in a boutique lifestyle resort with an award-winning spa located around a pristine horseshoe coral sand cove. From £1579.00 per person – Half Board. The Tamassa offers a good value, all-inclusive option for families, with a variety of water sports and tennis. From £1539.00 per person – All Inclusive. This is only a small selection of hotels on offer, for personal recommendations, together with up-to-date prices and flight availability, please contact the Oundle Travel team on 01832 273600

01832 273600

Market Place, Oundle, Peterborough, PE8 4EA Email: sales@oundletravel.co.uk Website: www.oundletravel.co.uk

• NVL Jan ADS.indd 17

17/12/2013 11:36

HEA LTH & BE AUT Y

Health & Beauty Notes All the latest on local health and beauty businesses. By Bridget Steele COULD LIGHTERLIFE HELP YOU TO LOSE WEIGHT? The LighterLife approach to dieting is different from the usual weight loss diet. Concentrating on the psychological approach, clients are encouraged to look at eating patterns and the issues underlying them, so weight is lost, yet skills are built to keep it off for good. LighterLife offers various plans depending how much weight you are looking to lose: the plans include attending a weekly support group and nutritious food packs which are recommended to lose weight quickly. Once the weight is lost a unique management programme will help you to maintain your size. The plans are easy to follow and are suitable for people who just need to drop a few pounds using a combination of fast packs a couple of days a week and eating normally the rest of the week, to people who need a higher level of support to reach their goals. The Lighterlife Programme has been established for twenty ﬁve years and is recommended by many GPS and health professionals. • For more information contact: Owen, Tabitha or Julie, Peterborough 01733 246459 Owen.Matthews@lighterlifecounsellor.com lighterlife.com/ owenmatthews

ALL ABOUT MATRIX ENERGETICS

Matrix Energetics is a tool for transformation, healing and change based on quantum physics. The founder of Matrix Energetics, Richard Bartlett explains that everything is just a pattern made up of light, information and resonance. So whether it’s something physical like a painful shoulder or emotional stress, it’s a pattern which can change to something else. The therapy is carried out using a gentle light touch which is applied while standing, sitting or lying down. The client often feels a light wave motion during the session. “It often feels very relaxing and you may even seem to doze off for a moment,” says Nina Heaton, an ME practitioner who is based in Peterborough. She became an ME practitioner 2011 and continues to attend yearly training in this ever evolving area. “It’s a very creative and intuitive process, so each time you have a session it’s a different experience,” says Nina. • You can receive ME in person, by skype or phone. To ﬁnd out more about this interesting therapy, visit www.ninaheaton.co.uk click the Matrix Energetics and testimonial pages, or email nina@ninaheaton.co.uk

ADDRESS YOUR ISSUES AT PETERBOROUGH HYPNOTHERAPY CLINIC The Peterborough Hypnotherapy Clinic has been established in Peterborough since 2005 and due to the high demand for hypnosis and the excellent results achieved, it moved to new premises at 26 Priestgate Peterborough City Centre in 2010. Tim Pinning who runs the Peterborough Hypnotherapy clinic is a highly qualiﬁed and experienced Senior Registered Clinical Hypnotherapist, Psychotherapist, Stress Management Consultant, Hypno-Analyst and NLP Practitioner. Tim has now been invited to join the prestigious Harley Street Hypnotherapy Clinic London, and can now help clients at both the Peterborough and the Harley Street Clinic. The Peterborough Hypnotherapy Clinic can help with many issues such as: weight loss, stopping smoking, stress, fears, phobias, habits, addictions, insomnia, anxiety, low conﬁdence, panic attacks, low self esteem, depression, bereavement, driving test nerves, exam nerves, public speaking, motivation and relaxation. The clinic has developed specialist programmes to help with certain issues, such as the Hypno-Slimming Programme which includes the Hypnotic Gastric Band. Smoking Cessation Programme to help you stop smoking in just one hour. Stress Management Programme bringing back a balance to your life. Fears/Phobias stopping irrational thoughts, Driving Test Nerves, Tim is one of the leading experts in this area. • For More Information Telephone 01733 768839Website: www. curativehypnotherapy.com Free initial consultation.

NEW STAFF AT BEAUX AMIS, WANSFORD Amy Gray has joined Beaux Amis as its new Beauty Therapist. She has over six years experience within the beauty and skincare industry. Her experience of working in large department stores throughout the UK, most notably Selfridges in London as a Clinical consultant for Clinique, has given her access to the best training and knowledge. With her bubbly personality and relaxing touch she is a great asset to Beaux Amis. Chiara Lee is now a Senior Stylist at Beaux Amis. She has spent the past six years as a senior stylist at the prestigious Hob Salon on Baker Street in London. She was selected to be part of Hob Salon’s Young Artistic Team which gave her a great experience assisting the art team backstage at shows and events. “Chiara has decided to further her career with us here at Beaux Amis and we can’t wait to see what she achieves in the future,” says salon owner Stacey Chalkley. A colour and cut costs £50 with Chiara on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in January. • For more information, contact Beaux Amis Hair and Beauty at the Haycock Hotel, Wansford, Tel: 01780 781102

NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2014

18 H&B NEWS.indd 3

18/12/13 11:54:39

• Laser Hair Removal • TITAN Skin Tightening

{Beaux Amis} Hair & Beauty

• Vein Treatments Detox Morning £60.00 per person including lunch

• Skin Rejuvenation • Microdermabrasion

Hopi Ear Candles Indian Head Massage Aromatherapy Warm Stone Massage Decleor Vitamin Glow Facial

• Botox and Fillers • Dermaroller • Age and

Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday mornings in January 10.30am – 2.00pm

Brown Spots • Chemical Peels

Payment required when booking.

The BodyLaser Clinic Peterborough Clinic 60 Broadway, Peterborough, PE1 1SU Tel. (01733) 555200

Cambridge Clinic Essex House, 71 Regent Street, Cambridge, CB2 1AB Tel. (01223) 464171

www.bodylaser.co.uk

01780 781102 hello@beaux-amis.co.uk www.beaux-amis.co.uk The Haycock Hotel, London Road, Wansford

IN n & W o NO ingd ots nt Ne u H St

BEFORE

VANESSA DIX CHESTERFIE ON, LD

N or OW p Ou e W IN nd oo le d &

BEFORE

ELL, JAMES FARRIELD HUDDERSF

Whether you’ve a lot or a little to lose, we have a programme for you.

Call your award winning LighterLife Team 01480 437 772 or 01733 246 459

• NVL Jan ADS.indd 19

17/12/2013 11:37

FA S HIO N

Jean Genie Words & styling: Sally Stillingfleet Photos: Elli Dean

We asked Sarah Sewell, owner of the Energy boutique in Stamford, and her staff members Claire Webb and Matt Giddings, to come up with jeans to suit all shapes and sizes. The Local Living team stepped up to the challenge and volunteered to be models for a day

Sally “I am amazed there are so many I like, could be expensive!”

Helen “They feel like PJs!’

Rachel “Comfy and not too low” Alysia “Lovely on the bottom, I like the fact they are higher at the back”

Nick “Would wear them till they wear out.”

Rachel is not a fan of the skinny jean, so was coaxed into straight ones. In her job, there’s a lot of bending and so she avoids anything low waisted. Maison Scotch-’Bohemienne’ £105 were perfect. Sally struggles to find any jeans long enough, so to find three pairs she loved was magic! Big thighs, small waist, she suited the ‘Replay High Rise Skinny’ £85 but also loved the Levi’s® ‘Straight Demi Fit’, £95, which are great for curves.

Nick (centre) liked the Replay ‘Waitom Regular:’ we all agreed he looked more youthful and we liked the darker denim and leaner cut. £125. Helen loves colour and has super skinny calves, so it’s not always easy to find a skinny with a tight fit. She loved the coated ‘Wet Look Luz’ in Berry by Replay, £140.

NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2014

20 21 FASHION copy 2.indd 2

18/12/13 13:18:32

Claire, Matt and Sarah at Energy

NYDJ Embellished Skinny in Indigo £149.95 from John Lewis, Peterborough A revolutionary concept designed to drop you a size!

arah has been successfully selling premium denim for almost 20 years now and what she doesn’t know about the humble pair of jeans probably isn’t worth knowing. From different washes and added Lycra® and Elastane to the various fashions which have come and gone, one thing’s for sure, everyone loves wearing jeans for all occasions and most people own several pairs. Of course you have to try on quite a few pairs before you find the perfect fit! One thing stood out from our feature is that a trip to Energy will not leave you empty handed. Everyone who took part was amazed to find it was the first pair the dream team at Energy found that eventually proved to be their first choice.

Ted Baker men’s bootcut £85 from John Lewis, Peterborough

Jeans Directory Energy – 9 Ironmonger St. Stamford Tel. 01780 765633 www.energy-clothing.com Edwin, Replay, Levi’s®, Pepe, Maison Scotch, Scotch & Soda John Lewis – Queensgate Centre, Peterborough. Tel. 01733 344644 For all the major brands of jeans – NYDJ, Collection Weekend, Ted Baker, Levis,® Armani, Gant and Deisel to name but a few! 23/7 NEW SHOP 3 Stamford Walk Stamford. Tel. 01780 238008 www.23seven.co.uk A well researched selection of jeans for him: - Pretty Green, Farah and Joe&Co Sly2 - 4 St. Mary’s Passage, Stamford. Tel. 01780 482870 Pre-owned jeans Attic – 43 St. Mary’s Street, Stamford. Tel.01780 766667 Mac, Esprit, Tommy Hilfiger and Made in Heaven jeans for her. NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2014

20 21 FASHION copy 2.indd 3

18/12/13 13:19:02

• ROMAN BLINDS • VENETIAN, ROLLER & VERTICAL BLINDS

r ta

• WALLCOVERINGS • WOODEN SHUTTERS • AWNINGS

ins ,B

• CONSERVATORY BLIND SPECIALIST

lin

al,

ds ,S

(perfect fit system)

fam

oft

ily-

r un

bu si

• CUSTOM MADE CURTAINS

ish

ing

wit

he xce

lle

(pencil, pinch, eyelets, valances, pelmet boards, swags & tails)

Fa b

ric

ser

vic

ev alu

s fr

Ne Ha w Po rle et qu ic r in Bo is nange o an k a f ow fro d r rec disc ee h in m o sto eiv uss m ea re. you e vi Ha s n r

o-o r re it to Vil lequ q bli la i n ga uire meas No , Pr tio m est va n q ent ure an uo s an d m igiou tat any s, Bl ion d . mo end re! wor th,

Showroom at: 30 Phorpres Close Hampton, Peterborough, PE7 8FZ Email: sales@jandsinteriors.uk.com www.jandsinteriors.uk.com

We would like to thank Mr and Mrs Burborough who kindly allowed us to photograph thier new Hurford & Tebbutt kitchen

Opening times: Mon - Fri 9.30 - 5; Sat 10-4. Free parking Telephone: 01733 558864 - (Behind Dobbies Garden world)

Simple, stylish and great value…

Our new timeless kitchen collections are available in Natural Oak and painted finishes Kitchens are individually designed for you and offer outstanding value

“The work was carefully planned and carried out in a very professional way. Mr Hurford took a keen interest and his fitter was efficient and friendly.” Peterborough client, March 2013

visit our showroom 17-18 Fenlake Business Centre Fengate Peterborough PE1 5BQ 01733 561991 www.hurford-tebbutt.com 22

• NVL Jan ADS.indd 22

17/12/2013 11:40

FOOD & DR INK

A sizzling good sausage Seven Wells manager Chris Jackson shows off sausages

Trendalls

Change the mix? Never!

Sausages are probably the ultimate winter comfort food. And there are still plenty of people in our region dedicated to turning out great British bangers. Jonathan Craymer reports

ull English breakfasts in holiday hotels, bangers and mash laced with lashings of thick gravy in country pubs, scrumptious crispytopped toad-in-the-hole... the list of dishes in which the good old banger is the star goes on and on. No-one really knows when sausages ﬁrst originated, but they go back centuries. They were simply a way of making the most of what meat was available. Thankfully for sausage fans, the Nene Valley and its environs are rich in local shops keeping up a tradition of making and selling great tasting sausages. Take a stroll through the centre of Oundle and you’ll come across Seven Wells and Trendall’s within a few yards of each other. Both offer sausages made to traditional and closely guarded recipes passed down from previous owners of the premises. Seven Wells Family

Butchers (formerly Johnston’s) was re-named by owner Sally Knight, who lives at nearby Stoke Doyle Farm, where their beef is produced and there are – you guessed it – seven wells. In similar fashion when Martin Trendall bought what was Brudenell’s in Market Place some 26 years ago, turning it into Trendall’s Butcher and Delicatessen, the shop inherited the former business’s treasured sausage recipe. Manager Dave Milsom explains: “Ours is a traditional Lincolnshire recipe, heavy on good sage and ground black pepper. We sell lots of them so we must be getting something right. We’ve been asked for the recipe a few times, mainly by passing Americans, but it’s not something we’d ever give out, and staff are sworn to secrecy.”

Have they ever been tempted to tinker with the ingredients? “Yes – a few years back after some customers said they were too peppery, we reduced the amount, but then we had complaints that they weren’t peppery enough, so we switched back! I enjoy eating them myself. Flavour and texture is what I look for in a sausage.” Head off towards Peterborough and into Nassington and you’ll come across J, RG & S Mould butcher’s shop, where Simon Mould the current owner is the third generation to carry on the meat trade. He and his brother Richard (the ‘RG’ above the door who sadly passed away ﬁve years ago) took over from father John (or Jack as he was known). Moulds also uses a carefully guarded sausage recipe created by Simon’s great uncle George, who started the little shop in 1890. Simon says: “There are no preservatives in our sausages and they don’t give off a lot of fat. We’ve kept the recipe exactly the same as laid down by Great Uncle George - shoulder of pork, a few breadcrumbs, English i.e. white, not black pepper and sage. It’s a nice recipe children can eat as well. They start on chipolatas and then progress to the bigger ones.” The sausages are often bought by people who’ve moved away when visiting the area. NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2014

23 24 SAUSAGES.indd 1



18/12/13 11:57:34

FOOD & DR INK Sausage tasting Jonathan Craymer (L) with Stella & David Dixon - Shuckburgh Arms

John Swepstone at Swepstones in holbeach

Simon Mould outside his Nassington shop “One lady goes out to family in the Canary Islands every Christmas and religiously takes our sausages with her. I don’t know what customs must think. We’ve also had people take them out to places such as Dubai and Hong Kong. “When one of our customers moved to southern Italy and wanted to continue buying something similar, we agreed to swap our recipe with the local Italian butcher Enzo. We have slightly changed the recipe for one particular pub – The Angel Inn at Yarwell – as they wanted a bigger sausage, with local cider replacing water to bind it.” Nick Lander at The Angel adds: “We wanted cider in the mix because we’re a cider pub. We sell about 25 different varieties. We call the bigger sausages ‘Fatboys’ on the menu, serve them in a baguette, and explain they’re made to Great Uncle George’s special recipe by Moulds. The sausages have proved very popular since we started serving them four years ago.” Neighbouring Lincolnshire deserves a mention because of its huge influence in the world of sausages. One of the best-known small butcher’s shop-based makers is Swepstones of Holbeach. In 1983, the company’s bangers were declared best in the UK by a panel of celebrities including racing driver Stirling Moss, the late MP Clement Freud and a number of well-known showbiz personalities. Since then Swepstones sausages’ popularity has gone from strength to strength, and although the company still has a shop at Holbeach, for the last 17 years it has had an EU-standard factory near Holbeach producing three quarters of a ton of sausages, or 12,000 units a week, for its shops and to

Great uncle George Mould outside shop supply catering establishments within a 20 mile radius. John Swepstone says: “The main ingredients of a good Lincolnshire sausage, apart from good lean pork, are salt, pepper and sage. Sage is the most important. We get ours dried from a local supplier and I’m still using the recipe my father Eric created in 1958. You don’t change something when it works so well. Customers drive here from as far afield as Sheffield and Kent to buy our sausages.” Sausage hunters - it’s also worth trying the market at Oundle (every Thursday, between 9am and 3pm) and the farmers’ market (second Saturday of each month – see below).

Our taste-test We selected six sausages available in our region (though there are of course plenty of others available). David and Stella Dixon who run the Shuckburgh Arms at Southwick near Oundle, and make a point of searching out good local produce, kindly agreed to act as judges. In no particular order we aimed to test sausages from J. RG & S Mould (Nassington), Trendall’s (Oundle), Seven Wells (Oundle), Waitrose (Peterborough), Frank Brothers (Peterborough), and Swepstones (Holbeach). We awarded marks out of ten, and ended up with a few surprises. In sixth place (five points) was Frank Brothers sausages. David felt they had a nice consistency but were not very flavoursome. Stella thought they were too large. In fifth place were the Waitrose Gourmet sausages, made from 84% pork (six points). I liked them for a flavour which took me back to bonfire-night parties as a child. Stella felt they

were exceptionally good for a supermarket sausage. The legendary Moulds sausages came in fourth (seven points) – though this was hotly contested. David wanted to give eight points, but was over-ruled by Stella. Both like Mould’s sausages meaty taste and texture (after all they serve them in their own pub!). But joint first with eight points apiece were Swepstones, Seven Wells and Trendall’s. Stella loved the taste of Swepstones, but David criticised their “slightly mass produced look”, adding that he also found them delicious. Both the Trendall’s and Seven Wells traditional recipes resulted in them being declared “very flavoursome” by our judges. Where to buy or try: Seven Wells Family butchers 8 West Street, Oundle, PE8 4EF www.sevenwells.co.uk 01832 273522 trendall’s butcher and Delicatessen 22 Market Place, Oundle. PE8 4BQ www.trendalls-butchers.co.uk 01832 273503 J, rG & S Mould, 17 Station Road, Nassington, PE8 6QB 01780 782249 Swepstones, 28 High St, Holbeach, Spalding PE12 7DY 01406 425797 Frank brothers Westgate Arcade, Peterborough PE1 1PY 01733 562939 oundle Farmers’ Market http://www.oundle.gov.uk/oundle-town-councilproperties/weekly-market/ the Shuckburgh Arms Southwick, Nr Oundle PE8 5BL http://www.shuckburghpub.co.uk/ 01832 272044 the Angel Inn at yarwell 59 Main Street, Yarwell, Peterborough, PE8 6PR www.angelinnyarwell.com/index.asp 01780 782582

NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2014

23 24 SAUSAGES.indd 2

18/12/13 11:58:04

The Kings Head Apethorpe

Burns Night

.95es NLY ÂŁ4

JANUARY OFFER

e dish

nd cours

for seco

Saturday 25th January Bag piper, Address to a Haggis + 3 course dinner & Whisky ÂŁ17.95

Quote â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;NVLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to receive a free drink with your meal

+$9,1* $ 3$57<" /HW XV KHOS \RX GHVLJQ \RXU SHUIHFW SDUW\ 5RRPV PHQ XV GULQNV GHFRUDWLRQV DOO VXLWHG WR \RXU QHHGV

Telephone 01780 470627

THE OLD BARN WADENHOE Set in the beautiful village of Wadenhoe â&#x20AC;˘ Light Lunches & Set 2 Course Daily Special â&#x20AC;˘ Afternoon Tea - Home Made Cakes & Preserves â&#x20AC;˘ Gluten free sandwiches, cakes & scones available â&#x20AC;˘ Inside & Outside Seating

Let our Chefs and their second course dishes take your taste buds travelling to the Orient offer includes Mieng Kana, Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Larp Beef or Chicken and Som Tum Mu Yang for ONLY ÂŁ4.95 (enough for two)

East Restaurant, Upper Deck, Charters, Town Bridge, Peterborough PE1 1FP

www.east-restaurant.co.uk

01733 315702

Sale Now On

Visit our website and Facebook for some fantastic offers this January

Luxury Afternoon Tea ÂŁ12pp

GIFTS â&#x20AC;˘ IRONWORK â&#x20AC;˘ CRAFTS â&#x20AC;˘ PLANTS SHRUBS â&#x20AC;˘ BAY TREES â&#x20AC;˘ OLIVE TREES New winter menu available, including our delicious breakfasts

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Thank you to all our customers in 2013. We will re-open at 9.30am on 18th January 2014. Look forward to seeing you all.

Open 7 days a week 9.30am - 5.30pm

All enquires welcome, please call:

01832 721129

Great atmosphere below deck UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest ďŹ&#x201A;oating real ale emporium 12 hand pumps inc award-winning brews from Oakham Ales

Lower Deck, Charters, Town Bridge, Peterborough PE1 1FP

www.charters-bar.co.uk

01733 315700

â&#x20AC;˘ NVL Jan ADS.indd 25

17/12/2013 11:40

qu A ot at W rea’ io e s b ns w e fo ill st p r S b e ri he at ces ra an . to y n Ki tc he ns

Private Psychological Therapy Service

Johan Truter

Chartered Clinical Psychologist

January Sale Now On

30 room settings on show

The areas

NEW

Specialised in treating the following areas: • Low self esteem and loss of confidence • • Anxiety, panic and stress • • Depression, low mood and despair • • Phobias, obsessions and ruminations •

www.psychologistuk.co.uk

For further information please contact

01780 758556

Orion House, 14 Barn Hill, Stamford, PE9 2AE

displays now ﬁtted

LARGEST Kitchen Showroom We will beat any like for like quote

cal Compa ny t Lo

Est

1981 - 32 Years

The Maltings, Barnack Road, Stamford, PE9 2NA T: 01780 756514 or 755855 E: sales@qksstamford.co.uk www.qksstamford.co.uk 26

• NVL Jan ADS.indd 26

17/12/2013 11:40

FOOD A ND DR INK

Child’s play! A new Woodnewton-based business called Coco’s Kitchen helps young children to learn to cook fresh food from scratch. Words: Lucy Banwell. Photos: Fiona Cumberpatch

any parents dread the thought of cooking with young children. All that mess, flour everywhere and sticky fingers! But mumof-three Lyndsay Sadler positively relishes the idea. “My children have always helped to prepare food in my house,” says Lyndsay. “Lexa, my two-year-old, can already make her own pasta! My eldest son, who’s six, tends to make up the dough and then Lexa winds the handle of the pasta machine and watches it come out. She loves it!” ‘She also helps me cut up very soft fruit and she likes to make her own sandwiches. Of course it takes a bit longer than if I were to do it myself, but I see it as spending quality time with the children, as well as preparing a meal.” Food features significantly in Lyndsay’s own childhood memories. She spent hours poring over cookery books and learnt most of her basic cooking skills from watching her own mother. “The concept of a ready meal just didn’t exist in my house when I was growing up,” says Lyndsay. “My mum’s nearly 80 now and she still cooks from fresh every day.” So when the time came for Lyndsay to think about returning to work just over a year ago, it seemed natural for her to come up with a business idea which combined both her love of cookery and her affinity with children. “I wanted to do something which I was absolutely passionate about,” explains Lyndsay, who lives in Woodnewton. “I also wanted to use my skills in a commercial way and offer something a little bit different from what I’ve seen in this area.” And so Coco’s Kitchen was born. As well as making bespoke celebration cakes, Lyndsay also runs hugely popular kids’ cookery courses.

Lyndsay Sadler with her young students at Glapthorn School Glapthorn School currently hosts a ‘Cookery Club’ on a Monday afternoon which sees Lyndsay putting up to 10 children through their culinary paces. The idea is that each week the kids can prepare and assemble a dish which can then be taken home and popped straight into the oven. “The children are so proud to take their dishes home and share them with their families,” says Lyndsay. ‘I think that’s what they love most about it - they get a real sense of achievement.” When we visited a Cookery Club session, it was clear that the 10 budding chefs aged between six and nine were thoroughly enjoying their lesson. On this occasion they were hard at work on a traditional favourite, the Cornish pasty. Lyndsay remained admirably calm despite the high excitement levels, the amount of flour on the floor and the shrieks at the sight of blood on the raw beef! “For a lot of people, the thought of cooking with children terrifies them,” says Lindsay, who has a City and Guilds qualification in Professional Cookery. ‘There’s very little Home Economics taught at school now, so some people don’t know what they’re doing themselves in the kitchen, let alone how to teach their kids to cook. But I love helping children to learn about food.” “I keep it fun, but it’s also really educational. We look at different food groups and we also cover a bit of maths when we’re weighing out our ingredients.” Recent items on the Cookery Club menu have included meatballs, gnocchi, samosas and ravioli. “I try to come up with recipes which you wouldn’t normally find in a children’s cookery book,” says Lyndsay. ‘And in general I find that if children cook something themselves they’re more likely to want to try a new food.” It’s not just the kids who are getting in on the act. Lyndsay’s pasta making session at Cookery Club went down so well she soon had parents clamouring for their own class. The result is a pasta workshop for adults which will be held at Glapthorn School in February with all proceeds going to the school. Lyndsay hopes to expand the business to cover children’s parties, cookery sessions for preschoolers and cake decorating classes for adults. A new collaboration with Oundle’s newest bakery - The Small Bread Company – is proving particularly successful. Coco’s Kitchen is providing cakes for the shop on Oundle’s Market Place, and Lyndsay also has plans to run cookery courses from the bakery’s upstairs workshop facility. “Once you’ve demystified cooking it’s so easy,” insists Lyndsay. ‘That’s what I really want to get across to people. Cooking at home and cooking with children isn’t difficult, but sometimes you just need a prod in the right direction.’ NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2014

27 28 KITCHEN.indd 1

17/12/2013 18:04

FOOD A ND DR INK

Cornish Pasty

Cheese and Ham Mini Quiches

(makes two) For the pastry: • 200g plain flour • 50g hard margarine • 50g lard • 40ml (approx) cold water • A pinch of salt

(makes 12)

For the filling: • 20g chopped onion • 60g waxy potatoes diced • 60g swede diced • 60g carrot diced • 60g beef skirt cut into small pieces • Salt & pepper • A knob of butter/margarine Method: 1 Put the flour and salt into a mixing bowl. 2 Cut the margarine and lard into small pieces, add to the flour and rub in with your fingertips. 3 Add enough cold water to make a soft dough. 4 Wrap the dough in cling film and put it in the fridge for 30 minutes. 5 Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C. 6 Place the meat and vegetables in a bowl and add plenty of seasoning. 7 Roll out your pastry on a lightly floured surface and cut out 2 circles using a small plate approx 15cm in diameter. 8 Place half the filling in the middle of each pastry circle and top with a knob of butter or margarine. 9 Dampen the edges of the pastry circles with water or beaten egg. 10 Bring the pastry sides together in the middle pressing firmly as you go. Continue around the edges until you have sealed your pouch into a half moon shape with the join along the top. 11 Place the pasties onto a baking sheet with the join facing upwards and brush all over with beaten egg. 12 Place in the oven for 20 minutes at 200 degrees C, then turn heat down to 160 degrees C. Cook for 20 minutes more.

• 250g savoury shortcrust pastry • 2 medium eggs • 50ml double cream • 150ml full fat milk • 120g grated cheese • 4 slices ham • 2 spring onions Method: 1 Preheat oven to 200 degrees C 2 Roll out pastry to ½ cm thickness 3 Using a large cutter, cut out 12 circles of pastry. Line each hole of a well-greased muffin tin with a circle of pastry and make 3 small holes in the base using a fork. 4 Mix eggs, cream, milk and a pinch of salt together in a bowl. 5 Snip up ham and spring onion into small pieces with scissors. 6 Place a teaspoon of grated cheese into each pastry cup. Then add a few pieces of ham and spring onion to each one. 7 Pour the egg mixture into each pastry hole, filling each one to the top. 8 Bake in the oven for 20 minutes. • Contact Coco’s Kitchen on: 01780 470581

NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2014

27 28 KITCHEN.indd 2

17/12/2013 18:05

Orangeries | Conservatories | Contemporary Extensions | Verandas

Visit our show home Ketton Design House, 63 High Street, Ketton, Rutland, PE9 3TE

Opening hours Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm, Saturday 10am - 4pm, Sunday by appointment only

01780 400 500 | www.breckenridgeconservatories.co.uk

â&#x20AC;˘ NVL Jan ADS.indd 29

17/12/2013 11:40

FOOD & DR INK

Eat out for less Purse strings may be tightened but you can still eat out or have a drink with these good value January details The Black Horse, Elton It’s Happy Hour between 5pm and 7pm, with pints for less. Or why not try the Early Bird menu, Monday – Saturday, 6pm -7pm, which offers two main meals and a bottle of wine for £25. To book, call 01832 281222. 14 Overend, Elton, Peterborough PE8 6RU

The Black Horse, Elton

East, Peterborough In January, you only pay £4.95 for second course dishes at this consistently good restaurant on the river. The offer includes Mieng Kana, Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Larp Beef, or Chicken and Som Tum Mu Yang for £4.95. Check the website and Facebook page for some other great deals. www.charters-bar.co.uk Lower Deck, Charters, Town Bridge, Peterborough PE1 1FP Tel: 01733 315700 The King’s Head, Apethorpe In January, you can enjoy Happy Hour seven days a week, 6 -7pm. On Tuesdays, there is 25 per cent off the menu for senior citizens (excluding steak). A good value night out is Burns Night on Saturday January 25. Enjoy listening to a live piper, while tucking into three courses with whiskey, all for £17.95. Kings Cliffe Rd, Apethorpe PE8 5DG Tel: 01780 470627 Oundle Mill It was voted Restaurant of the Year in the 2013/14 Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards, so it’s not surprising that Oundle Mill’s special deal is so popular. On Thursdays from January 2 you can eat for £18.95 for a three course dinner. During lunchtimes only, you can enjoy two courses for £15.95. It’s best to book, as lots of people come to try chef Gavin Austin’s great cooking. Barnwell Rd, Oundle, Northants, PE8 5PB Tel: 01832 272621 www.oundlemill.co.uk Dexters, Oundle On Mondays – Saturdays, buy a two course lunch for £10 at this popular Oundle restaurant. On Monday nights, get a Dexters burger and a pint (or glass of wine) for £10. Tuesday is Tapas evening, and if you buy four, you get the fifth free. On Wednesdays, for two people, two courses and a bottle of wine, you pay just £35. 1-3 Market Place, Oundle PE8 4BQ Tel: 01832 273366 The Red Lion, Warmington Lunch for less at this welcoming village pub, now with extra dining space and new toilets,

William Cecil Hotel, Stamford

following recent renovations. Lunches are £8.95 for a main course, or two courses for £11.95. For the Early Doors deal, buy one meal and get the second half price (Tuesday to Saturday, table clear by 8pm but only if required). Peterborough Rd, Warmington, PE8 6TN Tel: 01832 280362 Embe Restaurant Eat completely free on your birthday at this Peterborough restaurant which serves African and Caribbean food. To claim the offer, just book a table for two or more in advance, and mention your celebration. 2 Burghley Rd, Peterborough PE1 2QB Tel: 01733 873003

Garden House Hotel, Stamford New head chef Timothy Slack is doing great things at this lovely little hotel in Stamford. Try the lunch menu at the very attractive price of £12.95 for two courses. High St, St Martins, Stamford PE9 2LP Tel: 01780 763359 William Cecil Hotel, Stamford A great place to meet friends, or for an informal business meeting. We love the sound of the Lazy Log Fire Lunches, served 12 noon to 2.30, Monday to Saturday. Two courses are £14.95, three courses costs £17.95. St Martins, Stamford PE9 2LJ. Tel: 01780 750070

NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2014

30 EATING OUT.indd 3

18/12/13 12:04:28

OW N LE SA

THE LAMPSHADE WAREHOUSE LIGHTING OUTLET Est.1986

The Largest Independent Lighting Showroom in Cambridgeshire

Opening Hours - Tues-Fri 9-5 Sat 9-4 The Lampshade Warehouse 10 Saville Road, Westwood, Peterborough, PE3 7PR

0 1 7 3 3 2 6 4 3 9 1 - w w w. t h e l a m p s h a d e w a r e h o u s e . c o . u k

Shutting it in or shutting it out - Whatever you need we have the solution... Garage Doors

New, Repairs & Servicing. All types supplied including Roller & Sectional. Automate existing doors.

Call: 07709 337647

Blinds

Made to Measure.

Insect Screens

Shutters

Compact design.

Security or Decorative.

Roller Venetian & Vertical.

Internally or externally fitted. Lets air & light in, keeps insects out.

28 Cowslip Drive, Deeping St James, Peterborough PE6 8TE

Securing your property in style!

Commercial, Industrial & domestic.

sale 50% OFF ALL TREND KITCHENS & 30% OFF ALL GERMAN KITCHENS BOUGHT IN JANUARY

Professional, friendly & personal service. No obligation Free quotations

Visit us on Facebook

HIGH QUALITY, BESPOKE FITTED KITCHEN AND BATHROOMS AT AFFORDABLE PRICES • Free Planning

• Full installation

• Full Project management • Family owned

THE LARGEST KITCHEN & BATHROOM STUDIO IN THE AREA Waterland House, 81 West Street, Oundle, Peterborough PE8 4EJ EMAIL: INFO@KUCHENKRAFT.CO.UK CALL US NOW ON 01832 270300

Küchen Kraft w w w. k u c h e n k r a f t . c o . u k 31

• NVL Jan ADS.indd 31

17/12/2013 11:41

PE R SPE CT IVE S

A cautionary tale for divorcees Dealing with your matrimonial finances at the time of your divorce is the only way to avoid unforeseen hassles in the future, advises Chris Brown at Hegarty LLP Solicitors

ntil such time as the Court makes an Order in relation to matrimonial finances severing all ties, a divorced spouse can bring a claim against the other spouse for a wide array of Financial Orders, even many years after a divorce. This is a lesson which the ‘Ecotricity Millionaire’ Dale Vince had to learn the hard way. Dale Vince and Kathleen Wyatt met as undergraduates when he was 20 and she was 22. In 1981 they got married. They finished their degrees and lived in what a Judge later described as the “New Age or Traveller creed and lifestyle.” Mrs Wyatt had a daughter from a previous relationship, and the couple had a son together during the marriage. Then, in around 1984, the parties separated and, just as at the beginning of the marriage, they had no real assets or income. Mrs Wyatt moved to Lowestoft and lived on benefits, and Mr Vince went to live in Bath, in an old Ambulance. They were divorced by 1992. Mr Vince made a small wind turbine out of recycled materials to produce electricity for his caravan, and in 1995, on the back of his invention, he launched himself as a businessman. In 2006 he remarried and he later had a child with his new wife. Mr Vince became hugely successful and by 2010 his company ‘Ecotricity’ was worth millions. In December of 2010 Mrs Wyatt instructed Solicitors who took her case on a type of ‘no win no fee’ agreement, and in 2011 they issued an application at Court for Financial Orders in relation to the Mr Vince’s fortune. Mr Vince’s legal team sought to rely upon the then relatively new Family Procedure Rules 2010, to strike out Mrs Wyatt’s case. The Judge not only refused to strike it out, but he also ordered Mr Vince to pay to Mrs Wyatt the sum of £125,000 towards her Solicitors’ fees, so that she could pursue her claim. Mr Vince’s legal team appealed against the Judge’s decision and the case was considered by the Court of Appeal. Much to Mr Vince’s relief the Court of Appeal upheld the appeal and overturned the previous Judge’s decisions. Mrs Wyatt’s application was struck out and the husband did not have to pay the £125,000 towards her legal fees. Whilst this decision may offer comfort to those divorcees who chose not deal with the matrimonial finances at the time they got divorced, the Court of Appeal noted that the facts in the case of Vince v Wyatt were extreme. It was a very short marriage and the parties had nothing when they married and nothing when they separated. Furthermore the Court noted that both Mr Vince and the other man who had been in Mrs Wyatt’s life were ‘impecunious’ and that Mr Vince was “the most improbable candidate for affluence”. It is likely that Mr Vince’s legal bill was ‘eyewatering’ even to a person with substantial

32.indd 1

Safeguard your future by dealing with your finances properly at the time of a divorce

through, your estate - or a substantial part of it means, and no doubt there were many - could pass to your soon to be ex-spouse either sleepless nights when he wished that he under the terms of your current will (if you had instructed Solicitors to deal with the named them as your main beneficiary whilst matrimonial finances at the time of his divorce. you were happily married) or the Intestacy The moral of the story is to sort out the Rules if you do not have a Will. This is often not matrimonial finances at the time of the what you would intend. A Solicitor can advise divorce even if you have no real assets or either about the terms of your new will to income. Whilst you, like Mr Vince, may be “the accommodate any most improbable financial candidate for arrangements affluence,” you made concerning never know what is inheritances after around the corner. your divorce, or A Solicitor can planning outside of help you negotiate your will to avoid an agreement with the likelihood of your spouse and claims being made can draft an Order against your estate which can be made by your ex-spouse by Consent which, if suitable provision when approved has not been made by the Court, can for them. sever any claims between you and • Chris Brown your spouse. This Successful businessman Dale Vince is a solicitor is the only way to specialising in guarantee that family law and is based at the Stamford they will be unable to bring an application office, he can be contacted on 01780 against you in relation to the matrimonial 750963 or by email: chris.brown@hegarty. finances at some time in the future. You should co.uk also ensure that you contact a Solicitor about For information about the importance of wills either updating your existing will or making in changing family circumstances contact a will for the first time, so that in the event Jo Wild on 01780 750952 or email: jo.wild@ of your death your estate does pass where hegarty.co.uk you wish. Until your Decree Absolute comes

NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2014

17/12/2013 18:05

BIG WINTER SALE

HURRY

UP TO

6ft Superking Linking Bed Over 1500 Pocket Springs FREE 4 drawers

3ft Electric Adjustable Bed FREE assembly & testing Ask about our home demo

Now £699.95

Now £499.95

Was £1399.95

Wa s £ 9 9 9 . 9 5

50% OFF

5 f t f o r t h e 4 ’ 6 ’’ p r i c e Slumberland 2300 Pocket Spring Sprung Edge Drawer Set Wa s £ 1 5 9 9 . 9 5

Now £799.95

Disposal of O

LD BED

Phorpres Close, Cygnet Park, Hampton, Peterborough. PE7 8FZ (behind Dobbies Garden Centre) 4’6’’ Traditional Bedstead Available in Black or White Many more design available

4 ’ 6 ’’ S i l e n t n i g h t Mira-coil Set FREE 4 Drawers

4’6’’ Leather Style Otterman FREE mattress Hurry Limited Stocks

Now £199.95

Now £399.95

Now £299.95

Wa s £ 3 9 9 . 9 5

Wa s £ 7 9 9 . 9 5

FREE Immediate Delivery -

Wa s £ 5 9 9 . 9 5

01733 891568

ALSO STORES IN Bourne, Spalding and Stamford

www.ﬁtzgeraldsbeds.co.uk

Vi-Spring | Myers | Silentnight | Staples & many more…

• NVL Jan ADS.indd 33

17/12/2013 11:41

D E SI G N I N T ER IOR S

Bringing your Dream Lifestyle to Life: The Ketton Design Company Breckenridge, a nationally established business offering bespoke building solutions, has recently opened brand new premises in Ketton. Nicholas Rudd-Jones went along to have a look

The new Breckenridge showroom What better way to imagine the impact of adding space to your house – be it a conservatory, orangery or other extension – than being able to visit a showroom that has had several of these structures added so that you can see exactly how they look with an existing property? Lee Vaughan, the Managing Director, told us: “We wanted a location that was appropriate for our company and brand – and we were struck by the beauty of Ketton, its mellow stone and proximity to Stamford, voted the best place to live in Britain. At the same time we wanted to offer a new concept in how to bring your dream lifestyle to life – what better way to envision it than to actually see a physical example in a typical local village?” The Breckenridge team has been welcomed by the village, and have tried to source locally wherever possible. The signage, for example, was created by Barker Signs of Great Casterton. The core Breckenridge offering Breckenridge offers turnkey project management from inspiration through design

to installation. They are experts in building and construction, and offer state of the art solutions in hardwood, engineered metal and high-end glazing. They listen carefully to a customer’s ideas and preferences (how will it benefit your lifestyle?) and are keen to restore rather than replace; embracing what is good, restoring sympathetically. Ketton Design House But the new location is also about much more; as well as offering Breckenridge’s core services, Lee is bringing together a group of top suppliers from the region in order to offer customers complete lifestyle solutions, which means that they can have everything sorted in an integrated fashion rather than have to shop around and pull the stuff together themselves,

often involving considerable time and hassle. To that end he has formed partnerships with Hunter’s Interiors and Creation Audio Visual. He is also close to bringing into the Design House a top kitchen supplier and a stove installer. Hunter’s Interiors Hunter’s Interiors has been established for twelve years and has consistently made a design difference in the best homes throughout Hunter’s Interiors the UK. They have a wealth of experience and are delighted to deal with your design needs whatever the size and scope of your project. Hunter’s commissions have included overseas clients with holiday homes in the UK, country cottages, historic country and town houses, London and Home Counties properties, Golf Clubs to name a few.

NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2014

34 35 BRECK copy.indd 2

18/12/13 12:05:21

Candida Smith and Georgie Teesdale can work alongside you, looking with fresh eyes at your project. They will use their expertise in suggesting the most suitable type of lighting, effective window treatments, the most appropriate type of fabrics to use, along with suggestions for furniture and layout. They will also discuss who uses the space and for what, consider how the room breaks down into zones for various tasks and how to make the room work for you. These are the small details which makes it so useful to have a professional designers input. Teaming up with Breckenridge will mean that projects can be seamlessly managed from inception through structural design and building works to interior design and finishing touches. There need only be one point of contact, thereby reducing the risk of delays or miscommunication between suppliers – thereby saving clients time and hassle. Creation Audio Visual Creation AV is a custom design and installation audio visual company. They deliver cutting edge automation and entertainment systems that

Creation Audio Visual gives you the power to control your entire home at the touch of a screen. They work as part of the team to provide a truly bespoke solution to meet your requirements. From home cinema systems or multi-room audio right through to a fully integrated home to control your AV, manage your lighting, curtains, entrance gates, heating and security systems. All of which can be controlled from a single device such as an iPod or an iPhone. Creation AV has a wealth of technical experience and will custom design, supply and install tailored solutions with the minimum of fuss to make the complicated simple, whatever

the size and scope of your project. So whether you are looking to integrate a system into an existing room, start from scratch for a new build or undergo a whole house refurbishment, Creation will be there every step of the way. There will be a range of the latest audio visual technologies on display and home cinema at its best so you will get a good idea of how it might work in your home. Demonstrations can be arranged by the knowledgeable and friendly team. In a nutshell, said Lee Vaughan, “We want to enable people to be able to embark on a home development project and not pull their hair out. We and our partners will do the legwork, saving you all the time required for co-ordination and cutting down the chances of mis-communication between specialities.”

• Breckenridge, Ketton Design House, 63 High Street, Ketton, Rutland, PE9 3TE Tel: 01780 400500 www.breckenridgeconservatories.co.uk Opening Hours Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Sat 10am-4pm Sunday by appointment only NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2014

34 35 BRECK copy.indd 3

18/12/13 12:05:39

RIDGEWAY GARAGE DOORS Local family run business specialising in the supply and installation of manual & automatic garage doors.

â&#x20AC;˘ Steel, Timber and Glass Reinforced Plastic Doors Also available Security Shutters, Spare Parts & Repair Service

Tel: 01733 772934 Email: info@ ridgewaygaragedoors. co.uk

We pride ourselves on great customer service

â&#x20AC;˘ NVL Jan ADS.indd 36

17/12/2013 11:41

D IA RY DAT E S

JANUARY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

Friday 24 January Oundle LitFest presents Stephen Cooper: The Final Whistle 7.30pm The pivotal role of rugby in the Great War told through the poignant stories of fifteen Rosslyn Park players. Rugby Book of the Year Award 2013. £7 (£5) Oundle Box Office, 4 New Street, Oundle, PE8 4ED. St Peters Church, North Street, Oundle, PE8 4AL. www. oundlefestival.org. uk. 01832 274134. oundlelitfestival@ hotmail.co.uk

What’s On

Great events for the New Year. Compiled by Yasmin Bradley Until Sunday 5 January Cinderella – The Panto The ever-popular holiday family day out! £9 - £17. 01733 207239. www.vivacity-peterborough.com. Key Theatre, Embankment Road, Peterborough, PE1 1EF. key.theatre@vivacity-peterborough.com Until Sunday 12 January Forty Years On Exhibition 10am - 5pm Tuesdays - Sundays Your last chance for a fascinating look at Peterborough’s rapid recent expansion. Until 26 January ‘Landed’ Art Exhibition by Sue Shields View sacred and beautiful landscapes struggling for survival in paintings, prints and textiles. Until Sunday 2 February Rain, Snow 2013 Changeable, stormy winter days in the Fens evoked by local artist Ruth Robotham. Free. Peterborough Museum, Priestgate, Peterborough PE11. 01733 864663. museum@vivacity-peterborough. com. www.vivacity-peterborough.com. Monday 6 - Saturday 11 January Blood Brothers – The Musical 7.45pm The captivating tale of separated twins who grow up on opposite sides of the tracks only to meet again …with fateful consequences. £20 - £55. Broadway Theatre, 46, Broadway, Peterborough, PE1 1RT. 01733 305878. www. kenwright.com. Friday 10 - Sunday 12 January The Whittlesey Straw Bear Festival Various times A celebration of the Fenland January plough custom of parading straw bears with folk dancing, workshops, poetry and music. 01733 204055. 4 Delph Street, Whittlesey, PE7 1QQ. boxoffice@ strawbear.org.uk. www. strawbear.org.uk. Thursday 16 January Crime & Punishment Walk 7.30pm Delve into Peterborough’s dark past of execution,

prisons and grisly deeds… £5 (£3). Meet at Peterborough Museum, Priestgate, Peterborough, PE11. 01733 864663. museum@vivacitypeterborough.com. www.vivacity-peterborough.com. Saturday 18 January Sporting Saturday 10 am - late The Mayor and Stewart Jackson MP open a day of fabulous sporting activities!. Free. Fashion Show and Disco - £5. The Cresset, Bretton, Peterborough, PE3 8DX. 01733 265551. bryan@inspirepeterborough.com. www.inspirepeterborough.co.uk Wednesday 22 January 10.00 am -12.00 Garden Birds for Beginners Identify winter garden birds ready for the weekend’s Big Garden Birdwatch. Free. Booking essential. Discovery Den, Ferry Meadows, Peterborough, PE2 5UU http://www. neneparktrust.org.uk/media/97085/ferry_meadows_ map_2013_compressed.pdf, 01733 234193. visitor. services@neneparktrust.org.uk Wednesday 22 - Saturday 25 January OATS presents Sleeping Beauty 7.30pm (Saturday: 3pm & 7pm) Beat the post Christmas blues with this traditional family panto. £10 (£8) from Greetings, 6 West St, Oundle, PE8 4EF. 01832 280198. oats.panto@gmail.com. Victoria Hall, 7 West Street, Oundle, PE8 4EJ Saturday 25 January – Saturday 1 February. Celebrate Chinese New Year! Various libraries and times Fun-filled events with stories, games and crafts and puppetmaking. £3 (6+ accompanied by an adult). Peterborough Central Library, Broadway, Peterborough, PE1 1RX. 01733 864 280. centrallibrary@ vivacity-peterborough.com. BOO www.vivacity-peterborough.com. K

NOW !

Tuesday 28 January – Saturday 1 February Eastern Angles present The Brontës of Dunwich Heath…and Cliff 2.45pm/7.45pm Meet the lesser known Brontë cousins, Mad Cath and Plain Jane: confusion, crumbling coastlines, laughs and live music! £10 - £14. 01733 207239. www. vivacity-peterborough.com. Key Theatre, Embankment Road, Peterborough, PE1 1EF. key.theatre@ vivacity-peterborough.com.

NENE VALLEY LIVING JANUARY 2014

37 DIARY DATES.indd 1

17/12/2013 14:34

Elli Dean

PHOTOGRAPHY “Combining a natural and relaxed approach with attention to the smallest details, resulting in beautiful photos that capture the essence of your day as it was.”

www.rutlandphotographer.co.uk For full information about rates and packages or to see more of my work, call me on 07932 055548 or email: yael.dean@gmail.com 38

• NVL Jan ADS.indd 38

17/12/2013 15:24

TEL: TOM 402555 WE COME TO YOU07538 7 DAYS A WEEK WE COME TO YOU 7 DAYS A WEEK

YOUR CAR VALETED TO SHOWROOM

YOUR CAR VALETED TO SHOWROOM CONDITION FROM CONDITION FROM JUSTJUST £20 £20

Creating opportunities for change Lote Tree Counselling

Depression • Anxiety • Relationship issues • Work Stress • Bereavement Bullying • Self Conﬁdence Issues Sexual Abuse • Anger

Helpful therapy at an affordable price

RING FOR FULL DETAILS. CRB CHECKED

Contact Rabina on 07533 188662

CLEANING

TO PLACE AN

NINA HEATON

20 POINT CHECK LIST REPORT 20 POINT CHECK LISTALL REPORTVALETS WITH ALL VALETS WITH

RING FOR FULL DETAILS. CRB CHECKED

YOGA

ADVERT IN

* Holistic Therapies * Matrix Energetics

NEXT MONTHS

* 1st Degree Reiki Course 25.1.14 * Yoga & Well-being Days * Art/prints/T-shirts * Gift Vouchers

MAGAZINE

PLEASE CALL

01733 236476

BRIDGET ON

www.ninaheaton.co.uk

info@lotetreecounselling.com www.lotetreecounselling.com Facebook/lotetreecounselling

01733 707538

ITEC IA IIHHT IHBC FHT Member

The Great Little Cleaning Company. Professional Cleaning Services

One Offs, Weekly, Monthly, Key Holding Service. Domestic & Business Cleaning.

Exceptional staff required

01780 756098

www.greatlittlecleaningcompany.co.uk

DECORATING

Nigel Paul Cook Painter & Decorator • Reliable and friendly • Free quotes 01733 719622 07543796971

HEALTH

HOME VISITS FOR:* Removal of Corns and Calluses * Ingrowning Toenails * Toenails clipped * Fungal Nail Treatments * Specialising in the Diabetic and Neurovascular patient * competitive rates Telephone 07931 624325 email: hollywright18@yahoo.co.uk

Quince

2014 ESSENTIAL WEDDINGS

PA SERVICES

2014

ESSENTIAL

WEDDINGS FA S H I O N / B E A U T Y / L I F

ESTYLE/FOOD/PHOTO

GRAPHY/VENUES

ONLY

Professional PA Service

£3.50

Discreet, trusted and cost effective way to organise your life

Everything you need to plan your dream wedding

Flexible administration service to work around you, your business or family

edition out now!

Write to Essential Weddings. PO Box 208, Stamford, PE9 9FY

Enclosing a cheque made payable to Local Living Ltd for £3.50, along with your address

Call now –

Or Visit our website:

www.quincepa.com nikkita@quincepa.com | 07764 562852

£3.50 where sold 29/10/13 18:58:13

www.bestlocalliving.co.uk

EWCOVER2014 copy.indd 1

PHYSIOTHERAPY

Physiotherapy Appointments

now available in Oundle For more information, call our main clinic in Peterborough on

01733 565911 or visit www.prestonsphysio.com “Caring for the people of Peterborough and beyond for over 40 years”

Best Local Walks and Best Local Bike Rides are stunningly produced A5 guidebooks describing 20 spectacular walks or bike rides in detail with maps, pictures and directions. They also describe points of interest on each route and the best places to ﬁnd refreshments.

rides

20 best

20 Best Local Bike Rides In association with Rutland Cycling

BIKE

PROFESSIONAL MOBILE CAR VALETING PROFESSIONAL MOBILE CAR TEL: TOM 07538 VALETING 402555

HEALTH

local

Spectacular rides around cycle Stamford, Rutla nd, Harborough and the Nene Valley

£3.50

CAR VALETING

ISSN 175 7-747