January / February 2021
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Time to Renew
Our guide to wellness & renewal in 2021 ‘What’s On’ guide - Films to watch - Soup with a twist
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Editor’s Letter
Welcome to our last ever Boldmere Pages. We are expanding to cover the whole Vesey Ward and will be renamed the Vesey Pages with the first issue out in March. More on what this means further into the issue.
I hope you had a great Christmas and made it special in whatever way you could under the circumstances. Although we are still battling with COVID 19, I am truly hopeful that very soon we will be turning the corner on this dreadful ordeal. This issue is focussed on wellness and how we can all renew ourselves as we head into a new year. We also have our local news updates from the Neighbourhood Forum, plus our regular features including our What’s On guide, films we’re looking forward to in 2021, and a twist on a classic vegetable soup.
Robin Gray Editor
boldmerepages@grayjonesmedia.com
Nick Moreton Designer
As always, I encourage all of us to play our part in controlling the spread of COVID. Please observe all local restrictions and national health advice. Take care, stay safe, and here’s to a healthy and happy 2021!
Robin In this issue... Wellness & Renewal……. p.8-9 Introducing the Vesey Pages……. p.10 What’s On…… p.12-13 Thai Vegetable Soup…… p.16 Films in 2021…… p.17 Neighbourhood Forum News…… p.18-19 Update from Cllr Rob Pocock…… p.20
nick.moreton@me.com
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Wellness & Renewal The past 12 months have been like no other in living memory. After all we’ve been through, there is a real need take a compassionate look at wellness and renewal, both in terms of our physical and mental health in 2021. New Year’s Resolutions can be dangerous and counterproductive. The temptation to leap into the year chasing a ‘new you’ will lead you down the path of self-criticism and unrealistic expectations. The drive to achieve a more vibrant, healthy, driven, goal smashing, habit breaking, 100 billion new skills acquiring you by December 2021 will leave you feeling overwhelmed and a little disappointed. The Mental Health Foundation advises that instead we should set a theme for 2021. Here’s four themes you could adopt.
Accept who you are Evaluate the relationship you have with yourself. Ask would you speak to somebody else in the way you speak about yourself? The relationship you have with yourself is crucial to your own wellbeing and to creating healthy and happy relationships with others. 5 habits to improve the relationship with you in 2021 • • • • •
Invest in yourself by spending 15-30 minutes each day doing something you enjoy Write down positive things about yourself when your inner critic finds faults Act as if you were your own best friend and be kind and supportive when you stumble or feel you have failed Do something to wind down and relax at the end of each day Take a few minutes each day to appreciate the small wins you have achieved
Nourish your body Resisting the urge to join up to the latest fitness or diet fad as soon as 1 Jan arrives can be hard. But it can be a great idea to try taking a deep breath, pausing and working out in what ways you want to nourish your body and mind in 2021 instead. 4 questions to ask yourself before you dive into new fitness ideas • • • •
What do you want to get out of being active? Would you prefer to be indoors or outdoors? Would you like to be in a group or do an individual activity? Would you like it to be integrated into daily life, such as doing housework, going on a walk, doing gardening (these are physical activities too)
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Bring intention into your actions Bring intention into your actions through mindfulness. That way, you can counter the New Year urgency to sprint when January arrives. Mindfulness is a way of paying attention to the present moment, using techniques like meditation, breathing and yoga. It helps us to become more aware of our thoughts and feelings so that, instead of being overwhelmed by them, we’re better able to manage them. Take a minute a day to bring intent to you – mindfulness doesn’t need to take a lot of effort or time... to be precise it can take just one whole minute • • • •
Breathing – become present with the physical activity of breathing Body scan – check in and bring awareness to the sensations in your body, head to toe Mindful walking - bring awareness to the sensation of walking, how your feet feel when they connect with the ground, how the muscles in your legs feel when they move Mindful listening – bring awareness to tuning in to your environment, listen to the sounds around you
Take time for yourself Sometimes life can become a little overwhelming, and especially when you’ve got an expectation as well as the exciting opportunities that come with having a whole new year ahead of you. When you feel the balance isn’t quite right, pause, be your friend and ask yourself: Is this level of stress causing me a problem? Can I identify the causes? What small changes can I make to my lifestyle? Could I … eat healthier, exercise, take time out, be mindful, get some rest and sleep, and most of all be kind to myself. Top tips for self-care: • • • • • •
Take a walk-in nature Paint, draw or doodle Unplug the phone and journal Spend time with positive people Get a hot cup of something Cheer up someone who is feeling down
Did you know that regular yoga practice creates mental clarity and calmness, increases body awareness and can also relieves chronic stress patterns, relaxes the mind, centres attention, and can sharpen concentration? Discover yoga with Sandstone Yoga. Check out their ad on page 4 for more information and join them for a free no obligation session. 9
Boldmere Pages becomes the
Since the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic, local news and updates have become a lifeline for both residents and local businesses. It is vital that residents are kept up to date with the latest health updates and local news. Social isolation and loneliness are likely to be one of the most significant long term health outcomes of COVID-19. It is also vital that local businesses are able to attract in customers who want to stay local and support nearby businesses. As COVID-19 has led to a number of restrictions being put on businesses across all sectors, as well as restrictions on travel, businesses are in desperate need of positive to promotion to demonstrate to potential customers that they are open for business either safely in person or online. Now, thanks to a grant from the National Lottery Community Fund, we are redeveloping the Boldmere Pages to become an even bigger part of the local community. Starting with our March/April issue, we will be rebranding as the Vesey Pages and will be delivered through the door of every home in the Vesey Ward. That’s over 8000 homes in the local area being served our signature local features, news and promotion of local businesses. On top of our bimonthly issue, our online presence will be growing to become the true digital heart of the local area. A new website veseypages.co.uk will be launched to accompany the magazine and will feature regular news updates, features and more! Plus, there will be a directory of local businesses and a community events calendar. All this will ensure that every resident of our area, young and old, will be able to access timely local news and updates, and every business in our area will be able to raise their profile to local customers. Social isolation and loneliness are likely to be some of the most significant long term health outcomes of COVID-19. Combined with a lack of accessible information for elderly people in society, our bid is focussed on ensuring that key information and news updates will be accessible to everyone in multiple formats. We will be supporting this work with I.T. support/ training which will include reference leaflets on how to use the relevant equipment/software and obvious issues to look out for, a series of instructional YouTube videos, and face-to-face socially distanced training sessions. Thank you for all your support over this past year and we look forward to growing together into a bright new future! 10
SHOW SUITES NOW OPEN FOR PRIVATE TOURS
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What’s on
Sights of Wonder: Photographs from the 1862 Royal Tour
Details correct at time of publishing – please check with organisers for any updates and amendments as a result of any changes to Coronavirus restrictions. Please observe all event rules, public health advice and common sense
Now thru 12th June 2021, Barber Institute of Fine Arts
Pyramids, sphinxes, temples and shrines: breath-taking views of these ancient and often iconic landmarks, captured by pioneering Victorian photographer Francis Bedford, feature in the Barber’s first ever online-only exhibition, Sights of Wonder. Admission: Free Visit now: www.sightsofwonder.barber.org.uk
Van Gogh Alive Now thru 31st January 2021 Birmingham Hippodrome
Don’t just admire Van Gogh’s paintings – immerse yourself in them in the most visited multi-sensory experience in the world. This is no ordinary art exhibition. Van Gogh’s works have been exhibited and admired for over a century – but never like this. Van Gogh Alive is a digital art experience using stunning projections, classical music and scent gives you the unique opportunity to step on to the Hippodrome’s main stage and truly venture into Van Gogh’s world. Admission: Adult £15, children £12.50 and free for under 5s Book: www.birminghamhippodrome.com/van-gogh-alivethe-experience
Treasure Hunt Birmingham Live now, Birmingham City Centre Want to try something different and have fun exploring the city without wandering aimlessly? Treasure Hunt Birmingham will take you on a beautiful route, and send you to fab places, all at your own pace. Solve satisfying clues and follow beautiful maps sent to your phones. Play with your own group of up to six people – the fun lasts between 1½ to 2½ hours. Admission: £9.99 per person – under 15s are free Visit now: www.treasurehuntbirmingham.com
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best e h t f ick o Our p o do in and t things Boldmere. d aroun
Faster Than Ever Now thru 14th February, Ikon Gallery Faster Than Ever is an exhibition invented out of necessity in response to the challenges arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. Involving more than 20 artists from across the world, Faster Than Ever is an exercise in capitalising on chance, making the most of incongruity and happy accidents. In light of logistical difficulties in the current landscape, Ikon has departed from the advertised programme to curate a group exhibition from artworks it has accumulated over time. Admission: Free More info: www.ikon-gallery.org
The Coffin Works Virtual Tour Live now - online The shelves and workbenches at Newman Brothers are full of original stock and tools of the trade. With the original machinery working again, you can truly experience how this old Jewellery Quarter firm once operated on a day-to-day basis, producing some of the world’s finest coffin furniture, including the fittings for the funerals of Churchill, Chamberlain and the Queen Mother. Travel back in time to experience how Newman Brothers operated during its heyday, entering a 1960s time capsule where the sounds of the day mingled with the industrial sounds of a working factory.
Aston Hall Virtual Tour Live now - online Aston Hall is a magnificent seventeenth century red-brick mansion and is one of the last great houses built in the Jacobean style. Explore its interiors and see inside the home that received royalty, was besieged during the English Civil War and inspired an author.
Take the tour: www.coffinworks.org/coffin-works-360video-taster-tour
Take the tour: www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/aston/ see-inside/the-ground-floor
SUBMIT YOUR LISTING HERE FOR FREE! For consideration, please send info to boldmerepages@grayjonesmedia.com 13
www.shopport.co.uk QUOTE ‘BOLDMERE’ AT THE CHECKOUT TO GET A FREE CARD WHEN YOU BUY A VALENTINES CARD AND A SECOND CARD*
Everyone has a special someone. Whoever that is, show them you care with a card on Valentines Day. * Subject to availability. Minimum spend £1.98, Exclusing P & P charges. 14
Setting a gold standard for care homes Sutton Park Grange, a luxury new care home opening in early spring 2021 in Sutton Coldfield, will set a gold standard for senior care in the West Midlands. The on-site show suite in Birmingham Road enables prospective residents and their families to view the elegant, high-end facilities first-hand. Sutton Park Grange will offer 56 large ensuite bedrooms and four one-bedroom care suites, all beautifully furnished. The care suites include an en-suite bedroom, lounge and kitchenette and although developed with couples in mind, are ideal for those who are looking for more space and privacy than a traditional care bedroom. The luxurious facilities will include a restaurant with a head chef preparing delicious and nutritious meals and an option for residents to celebrate a special occasion in a delightful private dining room. There will be vibrant lounges, a cafĂŠ and a bar for socialising over morning coffee, afternoon tea or predinner drinks. Residents will be encouraged to enjoy pamper sessions at the professional in-house hair and beauty salon and can watch a film or the big match in the purpose- built cinema room. “We are passionate about delivering first class care and creating a stimulating environment to help older people to live happier, healthier and more fulfilled lives. We are welcoming people to our show-suite but under the current circumstances, prior booking is essential.â€? says Kiran Chaggar, Sutton Park Grange, Home Admissions Advisor. Every aspect of Sutton Park Grange has been meticulously planned to enhance the living experience for residents. In addition to the impressive facilities, there will be an outstanding level of individual care; for example, a dedicated Events & Activities team at the care home will be responsible for arranging a variety of social activities to mirror the interests and hobbies of the residents. This new care home is part of the award-winning Cinnamon Care Collection which has been voted Top 20 Care Home Group for the last three consecutive years. For more information visit www.cinnamoncc.com or to book a show suite visit, please email Kiran at sutton. haa@cinnamoncccom or please call 0121 397 7927.
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Recipe Thai Vegetable Soup What better way of warming up after a cold winter’s day then with a hearty soup with an Asian twist! Plus, it’s a great way to use up some of those leftover root vegetables from Christmas.
Ingredients • • • • • • • • •
1 onion, leek or a few spring onions A splash of olive oil 4 mugs chopped carrots, squash or sweet potato (or use a combination) A few slivers of a fresh green or red chilli 2-3cm piece fresh ginger root, peeled and finely grated 2 limes 1-2 mugs veg or chicken stock 1 tin of coconut milk A good handful fresh coriander
Method Finely chop your onion or leek. Add a splash of oil to a deep pan or pot. Add the onion/leek and cook gently until softened, 5-10 minutes. Chop your carrots or squash into smallish pieces (the smaller you cut them the faster they’ll cook). Add them to the onion/leek. Pop a lid on and cook over medium-low heat until very tender, about 20 minutes. Take the lid off. Add a splash of oil. Fold the ginger and chilli through. Let it sizzle for a moment. Squeeze in the juice from the limes. Add the stock and let it bubble up for a few minutes. Fold in the coconut milk. Warm through. Add a handful of coriander and blend everything together until smooth. Taste. Season, as needed. Pass through a sieve to make the soup even smoother, if you fancy. Garnish with a bit more coriander or some chopped spring onions and serve.
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Six films you need to see in 2021
While the movie-landscape is all a bit shook up, we look ahead to pick six films we’re excited to see in 2021 Death on the Nile
The King’s Man
While on vacation on the Nile, Hercule Poirot must investigate the murder of a young heiress. Kenneth Branagh returns as the moustachioed detective to lead an all-star cast.
In the early years of the 20th century, the Kingsman agency is formed to stand against a cabal plotting a war to wipe out millions.
Top Gun: Maverick
Last Night in Soho
After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete Mitchell is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him.
A young girl, passionate about fashion design, is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s where she encounters her idol, a dazzling wannabe singer. But 1960s London is not what it seems, and time seems to fall apart with shady consequences.
West Side Story Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of the 1957 musical, West Side Story explores forbidden love and the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds.
No Time To Die James Bond has left active service. His peace is short-lived when Felix Leiter, an old friend from the CIA, turns up asking for help, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.
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Boldmere Neighbourhood Forum News Dear Residents, Welcome to this issue of Neighbourhood Forum News and happy new year! Funding for this has come from “The National Lottery Community Fund� for which we are very grateful. Local groups and individuals are welcome to contribute to future issues, contact the editor at boldmere.forum@talktalk.net
Sutton Coldfield Food Bank Collections continue to be made at the Deli in Boldmere Road for the local foodbank. Non-perishable food and toiletries are always needed, and items donated are taken to the Town Hall for distribution. This is all run by volunteers who care about those in our area that are struggling to feed and look after their families in these uncertain times.
Friends of Wylde Green Station Well, the friends of the station have really made an impact! The display of poppies for the time of Remembrance in November was very well received. Then they continued with a Christmas display to which local school children again contributed. This must have raised a smile from those who saw it in these depressing times!
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Report Those Potholes! The procedure to get a pothole reported and fixed is outlined in the response from the City Council Highway Engineer as follows. Firstly, if you wish to report a pothole or pavement defect, the quickest way to go about this is to go online at birmingham. gov.uk The website is not the easiest to navigate as you will need to highlight where the problem is on a map. Once you have achieved that it gets easier. If you wish to include a picture of the problem, make sure that you have it to hand and ready to upload. If it’s an urgent pothole known as a Category 1 that needs to be made safe, then the response time is 35 Days (allowing for application to BCC to book the road space if applicable). If it’s been assessed as a Category 2 pothole then the response time is 6 months (deemed non dangerous but in need of repair). If it’s a Category 2 pothole that was raised under Amey/legacy works then these are being audited to check if they meet the Kier intervention levels as determined between Kier and BCC. If they are deemed under the “new” intervention level safety critical then the Amey legacy pothole will have a new Kier Job number assigned to it for repair. Again, this will be a 6-month repair to be undertaken.
The Boldmere Neighbourhood Forum column is made possible by a grant from the National Lottery Community Fund 19
Community Action Update Councillor Rob Pocock
BOLDMERE GENEROSITY - KNOWS NO BOUNDS! As we enter a new and hopefully better New Year, it’s tempting to blot out the horrors of 2020. But there were some heart-warming positives amidst the tragedies. I’ve paid tribute to our Boldmere businesses before, but another plus was the amazing generosity of our Boldmere and Sutton Vesey community. Neighbour has helped neighbour, street by street. Example are too numerous to mention but one ‘stand-out’ scheme has been the regular food collections that have been organised by residents in Maxstoke Road/Close, Haselor Rd, Kineton Road and Welford Road. People have donated food items consistently during the pandemic for local food banks. Just why our nation, the 5th most prosperous in the world, has ended up with people needing food banks is another story. I’m just immensely grateful that we have residents in our Ward who give so generously with their actions not just words.
NEW ROAD SAFETY SCHEMES As your City Councillors for the Boldmere and Sutton Vesey area, Kath and I have managed to secure another block of funds from the City Council to improve road safety. Currently we’re working with the City Highways Engineers to get the 20mph zone implemented on the residential roads around Boldmere School. We’re also working with the Neighbourhood Police to get ‘slow’ warning signs on Highbridge Road, Melrose Ave, Station Road, Jockey Road as you approach Melrose island, plus speed checks on Halton Road. On the Town Council, my colleague Manish and I have had a petition in the bag for some time, requesting a proper pedestrian crossing on Monmouth Drive close to Stonehouse Road, so you can get across to the Park more safely. Firstly we were told that petitions were not allowed, but recently the Town Council have lifted this restriction. So hopefully, the petition can now go ahead and the funding released for this.
PARKING IMPROVEMENTS AT ‘BOLDMERE GATE’ PARK ENTRANCE Speaking of Sutton Park, it’s great news that the City Council is planning to upgrade the car park area at Boldmere Gate, on the existing ‘mud patch’ car park area up from Miller and Carter’s. This is using money from the Commonwealth Games fund. Residents probably know that the Triathlon event in the Games is due to take place in and around Powell’s Pool and the upgrade is a ‘legacy’ we will all inherit from this. The new surface will also allow disabled parking and better access for wheelchairs and child buggies. The improvement work is due to be done later this summer, prior to the Games itself in summer 2022. SUPPORTING BOLDMERE POST OFFICE Finally, we are all great supporters of our local Boldmere Post Office and our friendly postmaster Jitesh and his family. If you’ve not been in for a while please pay them a visit, it’s a great shop. Unfortunately, the Post Office nationally have told them the ATM cash machine is due to be withdrawn. That would be a big loss, so I’ve been trying to help our Boldmere Post Office get this overturned. As with all our valuable local traders, the message for us all is – use it or lose it! 20
Adult Classes
Sutton Stage School
Want to improve strength and flexibility whilst learning a variety of dance styles?
Classes at Bishop Walsh School on Saturday mornings, Tap, Modern Jazz, Theatre Craft, Gymnastic Dance. Shows, exams and festivals.
Ballet Barre Conditioning plus Contemporary & Jazz Dance
Class on Thursdays Thu at Wylde Green United Reformed Church 6.40 until 7.20.
Ballet Classes
Beat the blues every Monday morning, 10am at Wylde Green United Reformed Church
Boldmere Ballet School Catering for children of all ages plus gymnastic dance on Fridays for the younger student.
Tap Classes
Toe-tapping fun on Saturday afternoons, 1pm at Bishop Walsh School. Call now to reserve your space!
Confetti Choreography Wedding dances with a difference Need a great g first dance but don’t want to commit to a programme of ballroom lessons? Confetti Choreography is a wedding dance service creating special first dances tailor made for you and your partner.
Contact: Jane Cooke: 07932 065 949 | jane@theatredance.co.uk janecooke_sssbbs@hotmail.com | www.theatredance.co.uk
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