The onion november 14

November 2014

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WINTER WEDDINGS INSIDE: THINGS TO MAKE WITH PAINT A TOM KERRIDGE RECIPE

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“…they shimmer with delicacy and perfect control. A dream of a performance!”

The Times

Primavera Ensemble

IncludIng works by

Mozart, Ravel Debussy

St Mildred’s Church, Tenterden Saturday 15th November 7.30pm TICKETS £22

In support of

ONliNe bOOkiNgS (booking fee applies)

primavera-ensemble.co.uk 01233 861 508 www.c-o-t.org.uk

Advertising and Editorial:

Well the clocks have gone back and it’s now time to hunker down for the winter, but I must admit to loving this time of year. I love the bonfire parties and the fireworks (and I’m a traditionalist, for me they only really count on 5th November … and New Year’s Eve). I love the winter food and I’ve been really enjoying Tom Kerridge’s ‘amazing’ series on the television. He has very kindly given us permission to reproduce his lovely Roast Red Pepper Soup recipe in our magazine this month (see page 32) so that we can share it with you.

01797 253668

I also love the fact that I can settle in and find things to do indoors like the painting projects with members of the family.

Publication date: 1st of the month Entries for Noticeboard email: noticeboard@onionpublishing.co.uk To send editorial/advertising material email: carol@onionpublishing.co.uk For advertising sales enquiries email: sales@onionpublishing.co.uk www.onionmagazine.co.uk Twitter: @OnionMag1

The Onion magazine is published by Onion Publishing Limited The Studio at Friars Cote Farm, Crockers Lane, Northiam, East Sussex TN31 6PY. Editor & Publisher: Carol Farley Director & Publisher: Nicholas Farley Contributors: Tom Kerridge, Pam Penfold, Stefan Reynolds Cover: Bonfire © Cristian Gusa Print: Polestar Stones

Designed and produced for Onion Publishing Limited by Vantage Publishing Limited, Godalming, GU7 2AE. November 2014

Also, this year we celebrate our daughter’s first wedding anniversary and I was remembering what a wonderful occasion her wedding was, and it got me thinking about winter weddings generally. We’ve got some very talented people in the area who know a thing or two about weddings so we’ve brought together some of their hints and tips on how to make your special day in winter truly memorable.

However, we can’t ignore the fact that Christmas will be upon us in just a few weeks now and what better way to begin the celebrations than with the Tenterden Christmas Market on 5th December. (see p.6) Thank you everyone for your Sounding Off articles – keep them coming, we love receiving them, or please just write a letter or email. We have been asked to include a ‘Letters’ page; is that a good idea? Do let me know at carol@onionpublishing.co.uk.

Carol Farley, Editor COMPETITION WINNERS The Onion’s September giveaway/competition winners OXO Kitchen Tools: A Fairbrass, Tenterden K Huddle, Rye RHS Flower Postcards: D Baker, Brede I Haywood, Stone-in-Oxney S Pickles, Cranbrook Knole Singers Concert Tickets: E Pucci

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COUNTRY Markets EVERY TUESDAY 09:00 to 11:00 Wittersham Wittersham Village Hall, The Street EVERY WEDNESDAY 10:00 to 13:00 Rye Strand Quay, Rye, East Sussex, TN31 7AY EVERY THURSDAY 09:00 to 12noon Rolvenden Farmers’ Market, St Mary’s Church, Rolvenden, TN18 5PN Rolvenden Village Hall, Maytham Road, Rolvenden, TN17 4ND

Contents 5

Noticeboard What’s on in your local community

6

Christmas begins on December 5th

8

Things to make with Paint

10 Sounding Off! 12 Prepare yourself this winter 16 A Winter Wedding 24 About St Michael’s Hospice

EVERY FRIDAY 10:00 to 12noon Brede Brede Village Hall, Cackle Street, Brede, East Sussex, TN31 6DX

28 Gardening

EVERY FRIDAY 09.30 to 11.30 Tenterden (Formerly the WI Market) St Mildred’s Church Hall, Church Road, Tenterden TN30 7NE

36 Walk

EVERY FRIDAY 07.00 to 15.30 Tenterden Market Square, behind Savannah Coffee Shop, Tenterden & Tenterden High Street from 08:30 to 14.30

32 Tom Kerridge’s Roast Red Pepper Soup 34 The Ostrich

Hartfield, Withyham and Five Hundred Acre Wood

38 Business Cards Small ads for trades and services

39 Win Enter our giveaway competitions

SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER 10:00 to 12:00 Brightling Brightling Village Hall, Brightling, TN32 5HJ SATURDAY 6 DECEMBER 10:00 to 12:00 Robertsbridge Robertsbridge Hall, Station Road, Robertsbridge

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The contents of this magazine are protected by copyright and nothing can be reprinted without prior permission of the publisher. The publisher has tried to ensure that all information is accurate but does not take any responsibility for any mistakes or omissions. We take no responsibility for advertisements printed in the magazine or loose inserts that might be delivered alongside it. © Onion Publishing Limited.

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Noticeboard...

EXHIBITIONS … CONCERTS … FETES & FAIRS … CHARITY EVENTS ... THINGS TO DO

The deadline for you to send information to noticeboard@onionpublishing.co.uk for December’s Noticeboard is 7th November. Don’t forget, it’s FREE to have an entry in this section.

Archery in Icklesham Tom Firth, who is a World Champion archer having shot for England, is continuing to offer his 2-hour archery lessons for just £10 per person. All funds go to the All Saints & St Nicholas Church Tower Restoration Fund. Do call Tom on 07460 190298. The White Cottage, Cuthorne Corner, Main Road, Icklesham, TN36 4BS. Email tomxx10@gmail.com.

Arthur’s War at Scotney Castle Every day until 22 March 2015 11:00 to 17:00 A team of volunteers discovered a black metal box hidden in Scotney Castle’s attic which held a treasure trove of memorabilia from the personal collection of an officer in the First World War. It contained letters, diaries, photographs and battle plans belonging to Brigadier-General Arthur Hussey, Commander, Royal Artillery of the 5th Division in 1917, the son of Edward Hussey III who built the mansion house at Scotney Castle. This is all now on display at Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst, Kent TN3 8JN. The Hawkhurst Village Society is very short of Committee members and would love to enlist new candidates. Please ring Peter Emberson on 01580 753010 to find out how you can make a difference.

Rolvenden Local History Walks Every Sunday 12:30 Every Sunday a ‘local history walk’ takes place starting at 12.30pm from St Mary’s Church, Rolvenden. The guided

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walks take about an hour and cover many historical aspects of the parish, including the history of Kensham Green, ancient routeways, rural industries, wine and watermills and analysis of recent surveys by Cranfield University. Contact Sue Saggers on 01580 241056.

Lecture Lunches at Bateman’s Throughout November 11:00 to 12:00 Monday 3rd – Dylan Thomas Thursday 6th – Women of the Raj Friday 7th – Lest we Forget Tuesday 11th – My Boy Jack Thursday 13th – Edith Cavell Friday 14th – The Darker Side of Dickens Friday 21st – A Sussex Christmas Wednesday 26th – Bernard Shaw Friday 28th November – Mrs Greville: society hostess All are £25 including a two-course lunch. Booking essential 01435 882302. Bateman’s, Burwash, Etchingham.

Power and Parliament at Bodiam Castle Throughout November 11:00 to 15:00 Uncover the power play between the King, his Lords and Knights at Bodiam Castle telephone 01580 830196.

Tenterden Lions Club Wednesday 5 November 19:00 The Tenterden Lions Club meets the first Wednesday of every month at the White Lion, Tenterden High Street.

New members are always welcome. Contact 0845 833 9842.

Lunchtime Concert at University of Kent, Canterbury Wednesday 5 November 13:10

YOUR COMMUNITY NOTICE BOARD IS FOR LOCAL EVENTS AND INFORMATION. TO FEATURE HERE FOR FREE, PLEASE EMAIL US AT NOTICEBOARD@ONIONPUBLISHING.CO.UK

Delivered by the Royal Mail to 22,873 local homes every month in Appledore, Benenden, Brede, Brightling, Broad Oak, Burwash, Camber, Cranbrook, Cripps Corner, Etchingham, Hawkhurst, Hurst Green, Icklesham, John’s Cross, Northiam, Peasmarsh, Robertsbridge, Rye, Salehurst, Sandhurst, Staplecross, Tenterden, Udimore, Winchelsea, Wittersham and surrounding villages.

November 2014

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Christmas begins on December 5th

by Nick Farley

© Stuart Kirk

Each year there are one or two significant little telltales which identify that a certain time of year has been declared open. Take spring for example: spring has not sprung for me until I have heard the first cuckoo; anything before that is a ‘phoney’ spring. Once the cuckoo has declared the show officially open I can safely get on with it.

It’s the same with Christmas. It’s no good Waitrose and Tesco piling mince pies up in September or even in November, come to that, Christmas does not officially start until Tenterden has its Christmas Market and Late Night Shopping on the first Friday in December. It is, so to speak, the first cuckoo of Christmas. That’s how it’s been for many years and so it will be this year too.

Until that moment arrives mince pies will turn to ashes in my mouth.

I realise that you are all going to wave the ‘Christmas-is-too-commercialised’ flag in my face, but I don’t care, I just like the whole atmosphere of Tenterden’s Christmas Market and if you haven’t been before I urge you to give it a go. It’s a jolly place to be and it’s such a good way to get the Christmas ball rolling.

The whole exciting shebang is organised by The Chamber of Commerce doing exactly what such a Chamber should be doing: namely, drumming up a bit of commerce; but that makes it sound venal and mercenary, and it’s definitely not. Of course they want you to spend money, but mostly they want you to have fun.

You are going to spend money at Christmas so why not 6

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© Stuart Kirk

© Lewis Brockway

© Lewis Brockway

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have a good time while you do it and support the local economy as well.

All of the shops in the town will be open until 9pm but the things that give the whole place its market atmosphere are the street stalls – more than fifty of them - selling everything from food to clothes and jewellery. The range of food on offer has to be seen to be believed: cheeses, charcuterie, cakes, chocolates, wild boar and fish; food for taking away and food for eating right there and then as you shop, including a hog roast.

There will be roundabouts and rides for the children, there will be music and dancing, there will be animals too, and of course there will be Father Christmas. And when you are flagging you will find that one of the very best bits is simply sitting down with a glass of mulled wine in St Mildred’s Church while the choir sings carols.

The Chamber of Commerce has ordered one hundred Christmas trees from Hole Park and the lights are waiting to go up. Tenterden will look spectacularly Christmassy and you simply cannot afford not to be there otherwise I’m afraid that Christmas won’t officially start for you. I can’t wait.

November 2014

© Lewis Brockway

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Things to make with

Make Snow Paint

PAINT

It is fun to play outside in the snow, and it’s also fun to recreate the snow on pictures using magical puffy paint! To make this snowy picture you will need blue paper, shaving foam, a bowl, some glue and paints.

- Using the paints and a paintbrush, paint a wintry scene on to your blue paper. You might like to paint a reindeer, a wintry tree or a little house (or all three). But don’t paint on any ‘snow’ yet.

- In a bowl, mix together equal parts of shaving foam and glue. Stir the mixture well to create some fluffy snow paint.

- Dip a paintbrush into your snow paint, then use it to blob snow onto your painting. You can add it to the ground, on top of a tree or on the roof of a house. Your snow paint will dry keeping its 3D shapes, making your picture look wintry and snowy.

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Straw Painting

Decorate a mug or plate

This is like blowing out candles on a birthday cake but even more fun. All you need is some white paper, one straw each for everyone playing and watercolour paints.

Put the paper on a tray or cover the table with paper or oilcloth. Start by putting a few drops of watercolour anywhere on the paper, then gently start blowing the drops around using the straws. As the paint moves, it will leave an uneven trail of paint. (Shown in picture left.)

Use different colours and try to blend them to create an even more interesting picture.

Experiment with dark paint to make spooky trees, or colourful paint to make a firework picture.

Hand-painted mugs and plates make fantastic presents.

They are easy to make and will be cherished forever. You need special ceramic paints, a paintbrush and a white mug or plate.

- Wash the mug with some washing-up liquid to remove any dirt or grease. Dry it, then paint a design on to the mug using the ceramic paints. If you are decorating the mug or plate as a gift, you might want to include a person’s name or initial, or draw something which is particular appropriate to you or to them (a favourite pet perhaps).

- Ask an adult to help you place your mug on a baking tray in the oven and then bake according to the instructions on the ceramic paint. Let it cool in the oven before taking it out. And you will have made something personal and unique.

FIND OUT MORE

These projects are extracts from the excellent ‘The Paint Book - loads of things you can make or do with paint’ by Miri Flower.

Published by Frances Lincoln (www.franceslincoln.com).

November 2014

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Soundingoff The French Why does everyone think that the French hate us? Having lived there for nearly ten years (but now safely back in the arms of Kent) I found them to be charming, funny, friendly, polite and welcoming. Of course, they are different, and perhaps therein hides a clue: for instance, they don’t say ‘thank you’ nearly as often as we do, but then, have we gone slightly American? If you say ‘thank you’ to a French person and they didn’t think it was necessary, their response is often a surprised quirk of an eyebrow and a dismissive ‘de rien’ or ‘c’est normale.’ And funny? Yes, their sense of humour is never very far away, but it’s different and a tad old-fashioned compared with English humour. They laugh at much more down-to-earth things; less sophisticated and not trying to be clever. For instance, they are ardent devotees of Benny Hill, even in 2014, and will giggle and clap at all sorts of slapstick. Men with hairy legs dressed up as women racing in and out of bedrooms, in the style of Brian Rix and associated farces, has them laughing in the aisles.

I found them to be sociable and friendly, just not in the same way that the English are. A lot more formal, they will arrange a specific date for an afternoon of cake, wine and coffee. Neighbours rarely pop in without a reason, but are happy to stop for hours when they do. Social gatherings are much more likely to follow a wedding, a funeral or family celebration or, the top favourite: the village fete, where the whole community seem to sit down together at the same time to feast on sausages and chips after watching the walking bands and dancers and floats, and before the firework display at dusk.

Addressing people by their surname is still the accepted polite way in France, and also using ‘vous’ and not ‘tu’ until you are invited to do otherwise, as well as shaking hands when you meet and are introduced.

Nicolas Sarkozy was much critiFrench onion seller 10 The Onion magazine

cised for his over familiarity in calling everyone ‘tu.’ I found this formality quite refreshing, especially when meeting doctors, dentists, insurance representatives and even delivery people. It felt so much more respectful than hearing someone use your first name when you have never met them.

So where has this idea come from, that the French don’t like us? On the road? They drive far too close to everyone; you don’t have to be in a UK car to be cut-up on a bend by a French driver! The language? Yes, they are in love with their own language and they don’t sympathise with anyone who walks into a bar in mid France and orders in English. I don’t think that we would like it either. However, the schools are now teaching English as a second language in primary schools instead of German, recognising the demand for a more widely spoken language.

Is it, perhaps, all those wars down the long paths of history? They are a proud nation and so are we and they remember in their history lessons all the times that a French town was once English. Now that they are fully French and socialist policies are the only ones they respect, they are passionate about keeping France French, much as the Scots showed themselves to be. Maybe we could learn something from them?

Pam Penfold If you would like to Sound Off about anything, then please feel free to do that here. This column is open to everyone to say what they like about anything, provided, of course, that they don’t break the law.

We obviously won’t print anything that is libellous or that is in some other way illegal. It’s your opinions that we’re interested in. If you have something to say about anything at all, and if you can say it in about 500 words, then let us have it. We don’t have to agree with you, but if you have an interesting point of view we will print it. Send your piece to carol@ onionpublishing.co.uk. The article can appear with your name or anonymously, you can choose, but do make sure that you include your name and address when submitting your piece. onionmagazine.co.uk

The gift of a lifetime Kent Community Foundation supports hundreds of local organisations, charities and projects, working to transform the lives of those most in need.

Help make a difference to the future of your local community Leaving a legacy has the power to help support communities in Kent for generations to come. If you would like further information on remembering Kent in your will, please contact us for our legacy pack on 01303 814500 or email development@kentcf.org.uk If you have a smart phone, please scan the QR Reader, Alternatively, please visit www.kentcf.org.uk Registered Charity Number: 1084361

Prepare Yourself this Winter Last Christmas and New Year was a difficult time for a number of people. The rains brought flooding and high winds brought down power lines, leaving many people without power for up to three days. Many were not fully prepared for what happened, so we have compiled a few hints and tips to help should there be a repeat this year.

Power Cuts

Generators Those of us who were without power for three days last Christmas might have appreciated having had a generator to run some of the basics in the house. The panel opposite has some information on generators should you decide to go down this route.

Radio During power cuts, the best way to receive news is often a wind-up or battery powered radio tuned into local news stations. Last year, it was annoying that many utility companies were directing people to their websites for more information or offered a phone number but if there is no power and everyone is telephoning at the same time you may not be able to easily access the information. You can now buy wind-up radios from around £10.

Telephones One of the most common problems during a power cut is being unable to use your telephone. Many people now have cordless telephones and almost all of these require electricity to work. To get around this, all you need is a old fashioned plugin landline telephone which you can use at all times and can be bought for around £5.

If you don’t have one, we would advise you to buy one before you ‘need’ one.

Mobile Phones Make sure you keep your mobile phone fully charged and limit its use to preserve the battery.

If you have a smart phone, remember that it may be the only device that can access the internet.

However, be aware that even mobile phones can stop working properly during a power cut as more people than usual try and use the network at the same time and some phone masts might not have a power back-up or this might run out during a prolonged outage.

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Fridges and Freezers People often ask how long food will last in a fridge or freezer during a power cut. The official advice is that it should be safe as long as power is out no more than four hours, although that seems a bit cautious and others suggest that 15 hours is more realistic as long as you keep the door closed as much as possible.

Thawed or partially thawed food in the freezer may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40 °F or below. Partial thawing and refreezing may affect the quality of some food, but the food will be safe to eat.

TIPS Keep one light on so you know when the power returns.

If your electricity or gas goes off, make a note of the date and time of the disruption, and for how long it lasted. This means you will have a record if you want to claim compensation from the energy company for multiple disruptions.

Have spare charcoal so you can cook on your barbecue if necessary. I know several people who cooked their turkey like this during the Christmas power cut last year.

Remember to have candles, matches, torches and spare batteries available. onionmagazine.co.uk

Flooding

Don’t Get Caught in the Dark!

Hopefully we will not see the return of the flooding that affected quite a lot of people last year, but for those of you that are worried about the risk to your property there are products that you can buy to help protect yourself. Blue Pages is a directory of property flood products and services put together to advise and inform you of the range of products available to help reduce the risk of flooding to your home or business (www.bluepages.org.uk).

In the event of the threat of imminent flooding, your local council may assist by providing sandbags to those at extreme risk.

Are you prepared for another winter of electrical black outs? Ofgem has already warned that mainland Britain could face power shortages in the years ahead due to demand outstripping supply in cold snaps and this along with unforeseen winter storm damage means that power cuts are becoming increasingly common.

Installing a standby generator in your home or small business is the answer and not as costly as you might think.

However it is important that any generator is correctly connected to your house supply through a mains transfer switch by a qualified electrician.

Standby generators range from simple portable units suitable for running basic lighting and small electrical devices to fully fixed and installed generators that will automatically start up during a power cut and provide a full mains supply to your house or business.

Cold and Snow

Choosing the correct type and output of a generator is crucial as the wrong size or type can damage your electrical equipment and generator. You must therefore take advice from a professional supplier and installer to ascertain what is the right solution for you.

Stock up on tinned and frozen foods so you don’t have to go out too much when it’s cold or icy.

One important point to consider is that standby generators are used infrequently but are also relied upon to work efficiently when required. It is therefore very important that the equipment is maintained properly and routinely run and checked.

Have a flu jab - these are free for anyone aged 65 and over, as well as for pregnant women.

Wear lots of thin layers – clothes made from cotton, wool or fleecy fibres are particularly good and maintain body heat.

Fresh snow is easier to clear before it is walked or driven on, and salt is more effective if most of the snow is cleared first and only needs to be spread thinly.

Snow is likely to affect some council services so please contact them for updates.

Check on neighbours, family and friends especially those who live alone.

Something relatively new to this sector of the generator market is remote monitoring. This is where a generator can be remotely started and stopped on a monthly basis and diagnostics undertaken. This information is then relayed back to the owner, supplier or engineer and should a fault be found then the problem can be immediately resolved.

This can be a more cost effective method than maintaining a generator on site.

So it would seem that the need for a standby generator is going to become greater as we are experiencing more and more freak winter weather and national grid outages so it is something to contemplate before the cold weather sets in.

Information has been supplied by Power Sure Limited who provide generators for the home and for small businesses. For more details see www.power-sure.co.uk.

Rother District Council - 01424 787000 - www.rother.gov.uk. Out of Hours: 01424 787868.

Ashford Borough Council - 01233 331111 - www.ashford.gov.uk Tunbridge Wells Borough Council - 01892 526121 - www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk Electricity UK Power Networks - 0800 783 8866 - www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk Flooding Environment Agency - 0845 988 1188 - www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency Water - sewerage issues Southern Water - 0845 278 0845 November 2014

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EXHIBITIONS … CONCERTS … FETES & FAIRS … CHARITY EVENTS ... THINGS TO DO

Three members of the University’s new Ensemble-inresidence – Alexandra Ried on violin, Alex Caldon on trumpet and Matthew King on piano will be offering a programme including music by Bach, Copland and Eric Ewazen. Admission is free with a suggested donation of £3. Held in the University’s Colyer-Fergusson Hall which attracts renowned musicians from around the world due to its state-of-the-art facilities. For more information visit www.kent.ac.uk/music.

Barnardo’s Charity Fair – Benenden Village Hall Thursday 6 November 09:30 to 15:00 Go along and buy all your Christmas presents in one place. There will be over 20 stalls selling a huge variety of goods including toys, clothing, jewellery, specialist foods and beautiful items for homes and gardens. Entrance is £4 to include tea and coffee and lunch is available from 12.30 to 2pm. All profits go to Barnardo’s.

‘Doodlebugs and Rockets’ – in Hawkhurst Thursday 6 November 10:00 to 12:00 We are promised a fascinating talk by Bob Ogley, who is, I’m told, a first-class speaker and an expert on Kent.

His talk is billed as a ‘sideways look at Southern England during the Blitz’. This is held by the Hawkhurst U3A in the Royal British Legion Hall, Hawkhurst. For information contact the Membership Secretary John Read on 01580

753535, www.hawkhurstu3a.org.uk.

The Cranbrook Art Show Thursday 6 November to Saturday 8 November 10:00 to 17:00 (20:00 on Thursday) Over the last twenty years the Cranbrook Art Show has earned much acclaim and is held in high regard. In 2014 there is a tremendous selection of artists, most new to the Show. The Cranbrook Art Show Committee were so impressed by the quality of George Morgan’s work that they have awarded him a special bursary entry into the 2014 event. Free admission. The Vestry Hall, Cranbrook, TN17 3HA. www.cranbrookartshow.org.uk.

Ballet Virtuoso at Queen’s Hall Theatre, Cranbrook Thursday 6 November Directed by Janet Lewis MBE this gem of a ballet company presents the professional principal dancers from the award-winning English Youth Ballet. ‘Virtuoso’ is an exciting and contrasting evening ranging from the romantic ballet era through to Gershwin-Motion Pictures Hollywood musicals. Tickets £10. Box office and enquiries 01580 711856. Book online at www. queenshalltheatre.co.uk.

Playden Poppies (A Tribute) Friday 7 November to Sunday 9 November (times differ) St Michael’s Church, Playden will be decorated with handmade poppies and tributes to World War I. On display on 7 November 1pm to 4.30pm; 8 November 11am to 4.30pm and Sunday 9 November 1pm to 4.30pm. Free admission. Light refreshments and poppy-themed stalls selling gifts. All proceeds in aid of Combat Stress and restoration of the Church spire. For further information contact 01797 224606.

Weald U3A presents ‘The Zambezi River and Victoria Falls’ Friday 7 November 14:30.

Eric Spears will be talking on the above subject at St Andrew’s Parish Church, Turners Avenue, Tenterden, TN30 6LL. Non-members are welcome (£3 entry).

There is tea and coffee from 2pm to meet members and find out about U3A. The Weald U3A is for the dynamic over50s and there are a wide choice of interest groups. These groups aim to provide leisure, creative and educational opportunities in friendly, sociable surroundings. Visit their website www.u3asites.org.uk/ weald or contact Roger Berman on 01233 850859, email rogroger@tiscali.co.uk.

Looking for an event venue?

Peasmarsh Memorial Hall is newly refurbished and has been open for a year. Catering-standard kitchen, large hall, and meeting rooms. Suitable for a variety of events

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EXHIBITIONS … CONCERTS … FETES & FAIRS … CHARITY EVENTS ... THINGS TO DO

and as a registered charity is host to community clubs and fundraising events for charities and also to maintain the upkeep of the Hall so that it can be let at reasonable rates. Visit www.peasmarshmh.org.uk for more information. Peasmarsh Memorial Hall, TN31 6YA. Highbury Hall Craft Market, Tenterden Saturday 8 November 10:00 to 16:00 A wide variety of crafts and produce from local artists, craftsmen, producers and retailers. All the stallholders are from Kent and East Sussex and offer something for everyone. Free admission. All profits from organising this event go to Tenterden Youth Club. Kellys Keepsake Cards also donate 10% of their sales to the Air Ambulance.

Contact 07956 295076.

St Michael’s Coffee Morning and Bric-a-Brac Sale Saturday 8 November 10:30 to 13:00 Held to raise money for St Michael’s Hospice there will be many stalls including home-made cakes, crafts, a grand raffle. Go along to have a cup of coffee and a browse. All donations of bric-a-brac or raffle prizes are welcomed.

Please telephone Eileen on 01797 252871.

Big Breakfast in aid of Sparks – the children’s medical research charity Saturday 8 November 09:00 to 12:00 Back by popular demand, the Wittersham Church breakfast team are back with another community breakfast. The last one was a roaring success apparently, so they have given in to the clamour, and are organising another one to support this charity. Go along and join in. Enjoy full English or Continental breakfast in the company of friends. Adults £5, children £3. Enjoy the morning papers, craft stall, raffle and home-made cake stall. All proceeds to Sparks. For more information contact Rev Judy on 01797 270227.

Bonfire and Firework Spectacular at Kent Life Saturday 8 November from 15:00 The attraction will open from 3pm giving time to explore it all. Then at 7pm a bonfire will be lit by fire-breathers, with a spectacular firework display at 7.45pm set to a themed soundtrack. The attraction will stay open until 9pm so there’ll be time for a drink in the bar or a hot chocolate in Dotty’s Tea Rooms afterwards. Adults £11, Concessions £10, Children (3-15yrs) £9, Under 3s free.

To book tickets visit www.kentlife.org.uk or call 01622 763936. Kent Life is next to the M20 Quiz Night at Peasmarsh Memorial Hall Saturday 8 November 19:30 A quiz to test all abilities. £5.50 to include a ploughman’s supper and bring your own drinks. Join a team or come as a team. For more information telephone Hilary Pankhurst on 01797 230205. Peasmarsh Memorial Hall, November 2014

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TN31 6YA. Bingo at Peasmarsh Memorial Hall Monday 10 November 14:00 A new venture for the community – BINGO – with cash prizes, refreshments and a raffle. Peasmarsh Memorial Hall, TN31 6YA. ‘Lewes and Bonfire Night’ by Andy Thomas Tuesday 11 November 19:30 The Northiam Historical and Literary Society will be hosting a talk by Andy Thomas in Northiam Village Hall. £2 for non-Members. Non-Members always welcome.

The KHoCA charity Gift Fair Wednesday 12 November 10:00 to 15:00 Held at the Weald of Kent Golf Course and Hotel, Maidstone Road, Headcorn, TN27 9PT. You will find carefully selected producers selling gifts for family and friends – from vintage finds to fashion, jewellery, leather goods, toys, cakes and more. Refreshments. Easy parking. £3 entrance donation, under 12s free. www.khoca. co.uk.

21 years of the Jerwood Collection Opens Wednesday 12 November New exhibition of new acquisitions celebrating 21 years of the Jerwood Collection. Including works by John Minton, John Piper and John Tunnard as well as generous donations and additions to the Jerwood Collection from the estates of Alfred Cohen, Edgar Hubert and Alexander Mackenzie. Also on display will be two works by Lucian Freud on long-term loan to the gallery. The Jake and Dinos Chapman: In the Realm of the Unmentionable exhibition will also be running through to January 2015.

Jerwood Gallery, Rock-a-Nore Road, Hastings TN34 3DW. Finland: The Land that inspired Sibelius Wednesday 12 November 14:30 A talk by Graham Albon for the Winchelsea Second Wednesday Society. Venue: New Hall, Winchelsea. For details contact Richard Feast on 01797 222629.

Flower Arranging at Peasmarsh Wednesday 12 November 10:00 to 12:00 This month’s theme is Wood. For more information contact D Bull on 01797 230208. Peasmarsh Memorial Hall, TN31 6YA. Christmas Shopping Event in Biddenden Thursday 13 November 12:00 to 21:00 A wonderful selection of Christmas gifts and decorations.

Tea, coffee, cake, mulled wine and mince pies. 10% of proceeds go to the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

Little Dane, Smarden Road (entrance in Pook Lane), Biddenden, TN27 8JT. If you can’t make it there today, then there’s another one tomorrow – see 14 November.

The Onion magazine 15

A Winter Wedding

by Carol Farley My daughter got married in the winter last year and at the time I thought that it was rather a quirky thing to do, especially as she was getting married in Yorkshire, which to my soft southern mind is actually about 50 miles inside the Arctic Circle. However, as it turned out, she very cleverly used all the elements of the season to her advantage and turned the whole event into a delightful day. And because it was such a triumph, and everyone had a magical time, not only would I thoroughly recommend it, but thought I’d write about some of the advantages and things to think about when planning one for yourself.

There are quite a number of practical advantages to having a winter wedding, but there are also other things that you will definitely have to bear in mind and I thought it was worth passing on a few tips and highlighting some potential pitfalls for anyone thinking about getting married in winter.

One of the biggest and most practical of advantages is that it should be a little bit less expensive, as winter isn’t a peak time to get married, and one of the biggest savings will probably the venue itself. You might also get discounted rates from the photographer, videographer and from any entertainment you may be having, such as a DJ. One area where you probably won’t make any savings, however, is on the flowers: flowers are obviously abundant in summer and much less so in winter.

Sophie Hill from Astilbe & Sorrel says “Prices will be higher for flowers that are out of season. However, you can always make the most of seasonal berries as they add texture as well as colour to a bouquet and it’s a great idea to use Pinterest to gather together and organise some boards for your winter wedding”.

16 The Onion magazine

If you’ve got some great ideas but they’re not quite working as well as you wanted in your head, or you might not even have a clue where to start it can be a good idea, I think, to get a stylist involved; it’s great having someone with a creative brain to bounce your ideas off.

A stylist is not the same as a wedding planner but sometimes they can do both. I spoke to Jenny Sinclair of Bellaboo and Beau, and she told me that winter weddings are getting more and more popular these days. With warm and dry weather not exactly being a guarantee even in the middle of August it seems that quite a lot of people are opting for a winter wedding.

Jenny’s tips for a winter wedding are: • Timing: try to have an early ceremony.

Wedding ceremonies are getting later and later in the day, but with a winter wedding you only have so much light in order to capture the key photos. Try to work to a ceremony around mid-day so that you have a mixture of light and dark.

• With the weather being a potential risk, think about how your guests are going to get there.

As long as you and they are there, nothing else really matters. So, consider a local hotel which can accommodate a large number of onionmagazine.co.uk

your guests and then see about arranging a mini-bus to shuttle people to and from the wedding venue. If the wedding venue is the place where many people are also staying then even better.

Just avoid the stately home in the middle of nowhere reached by a narrow country lane. Narrow country lanes in the depths of winter can be treacherous. Make sure your transport has a ‘Plan B’ option too, in cases of confirmed bad weather.

• Importantly try to embrace the season, and this does not necessarily mean having a Christmas-themed wedding. Just think of everything about winter. You could create snow-globe favours for your guests; serve a hot toddy as an aperitif and cocoa as an after-dinner drink. You might decorate your venue with an array of twinkling lights, and perhaps provide a basket with blankets to keep people warm for those outside photos.”

Preparing for the worst-case seems to be important but don’t get all this ‘prepare for the worst’ stuff out of proportion – it’s a wedding you’re planning not a tornado refuge.

One down-side to getting married at this time of year though is that sometimes your guests turn down your invitation. Some elderly guests and out-of-towners may be more likely to decline a winter wedding invitation because of potential icy conditions or transport problems.

Another thing to remember is that you may be planning your winter wedding as you are sitting around in shorts in midsummer; in these circumstances looking at ideas involving snowflakes, frosty branches and ice-blue lighting might seem a little over the top, but when the day comes around it will all seem entirely in keeping.

Many couples opt for a stately home or country house as a venue. Such places often have rooms with great open fireplaces which can look very atmospheric, but sometimes they might not actually be very warming - make sure you find out about heating - you don’t want cold guests. This also applies if you are getting married in a church – old churches can be a bit chilly in December because they are reluctant to put the expensive heating on. Ask about this beforehand. However, if the wedding is close to Christmas, there is a good chance that the venue you have chosen will already be decorated for the festive celebrations and this could save you a huge amount of time and money.

You can always do something a little different at this time of year too by serving warm winter Pimms or heated apple cider, rum punch and even hot chocolate with a dash of Baileys. We had heated apple punch at our daughter’s wedding and it was a huge hit.

November 2014

The Onion magazine 17

One of the special things about winter weddings is that they offer a wonderful opportunity to get creative with your wedding clothing. Gowns that would be too stifling in the summer are perfect for winter weddings, while brides and bridesmaids can accent their dresses with stylish wraps, shrugs or capes.

Sue Kimber of Pastel Shades Bridalwear in Appledore told me that â&#x20AC;&#x153;Many brides will choose their dress in the spring or summer when the weather is sunny and warm but forget that it WILL be cold in the winter. Thought must be given to the

18 The Onion magazine

design and fabric of the dress bearing this in mind. Sleeves are the obvious choice and were made very popular by Kate Middleton. Lots of people still like to wear a strapless dress, but they could consider using velvet for the bodice or perhaps some sort of cover-up such as a faux fur bolero or stylish cape. Capes are also a great way to introduce some colour to gloomy weather, and why not consider muffs for your

onionmagazine.co.uk

bridesmaids to carry the train. Don’t be afraid to wear wellies - you can always change before the big moment. The weather does not have to spoil a wedding, just be prepared.

bridesmaids instead of flowers?

Obviously it is more likely to rain in winter and a bridal umbrella is larger than most and will keep most of the dress dry, but even so it might be wise to choose a dress without a train or have enough

Chiffon bridal gowns are still in vogue but remember that it only takes one gust of wind for all to see the colour of your garter.

Choose a more substantial fabric if you are likely to be outside for your photos. Consider a short veil too.”

My daughter’s reception was in a beautiful cruck barn and, ignoring all of the advice about location above, it was miles and miles from anywhere way out in the beautiful wilds of Yorkshire along the longest, narrowest, muddiest and most treacherous of country lanes, and the weather was simply appalling.

The setting was spectacular and the barn had a magnificent fireplace which was beautifully decorated with winter foliage, other plant material, and candles, and when it rained – and boy did it rain – we were all safe and warm inside eating and drinking and having a marvellous time. So embrace the season and have a splendid day.

FIND OUT MORE With thanks to Sue Kimber of www.pastelshadesbridalwear.com in Appledore; Sophie Hill of Astilbe & Sorrel florists in Hawkhurst, www.astilbeandsorrel. com; and Jenny Sinclair, wedding stylist at www.bellabooandbeau.co.uk and special thanks to Rebecca Douglas Photography for the Bellaboo and Beau styled photographs.

Stuart Kirk Freelance photographer

www.TenterdenPhotography.co.uk Telephone 01580 764899 November 2014

The Onion magazine 19

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EXHIBITIONS … CONCERTS … FETES & FAIRS … CHARITY EVENTS ... THINGS TO DO

‘A Presentation from the Kent & Sussex Air Ambulance’ Thursday 13 November 19:00 The Tenterden and District National Trust Association is holding its Annual General Meeting followed by the above talk. Members £4, non-Members £5. Visitors welcomed.

For further information telephone 01580 764791. Held at Tenterden Junior School, Recreation Ground Road, Tenterden.

in the same place on December 6th and 20th.

St Michael’s Hospice Tea Dance Club Thursday 13 November 14:30 to 17:00 Meet people and make friends by joining the Tea Dance Club in the Arthur Easton Centre, St Michael’s Hospice, 25 Upper Maze Hill, St Leonards. Ticket £3 (including refreshments). All proceeds to St Michael’s Hospice.

If you would like to take over the organisation of this event for 2015 please contact Jodie Cornford on 01424 456380.

Primavera Ensemble at St Mildred’s Church, Tenterden Saturday 15 November 19:30 “… they shimmer with delicacy and perfect control.

A dream of a performance!” – The Times. Their performance at St Mildred’s will include works by Mozart, Ravel and Debussy. Tickets £22 in support of COT. Online bookings from www.primavera-ensemble. co.uk. 01233 861508.

Jazz and Blues in Rye Thursday 13 November 19:300 to 21:30 Local jazz and blues pianist Phil Law joins singer Rebekah Gilbert for a quirky evening of Gershwin, Porter, Kern, Hart, and many more classics of the Rat Pack era, plus Dylan, Domino et al – standards and non-standards. You are invited to go along ‘to eat superlative food, enjoy fabulous drinks’ and listen to their music. At the Globe Inn, Rye. No entrance fee.

Christmas Shopping Event in Biddenden Friday 14 November 10:00 to 17:00 A wonderful selection of Christmas gifts and decorations.

Tea, coffee, cake, mulled wine and mince pies. 10% of proceeds go to the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

Little Dane, Smarden Road (entrance in Pook Lane), Biddenden, TN27 8JT. Private Viewing of Paintings by Heather Stuart in Northiam Saturday 15 November and Sunday 16 November 11:00 to 17:00 There is a private viewing of Heather’s work for just two days. She trained at the Kent Institute of Art & Design and lives and works in Hastings. Heather has illustrated 9 published children’s books and her work has appeared in a wide range of magazines. She is currently Aspire Magazine’s 2014 Illustrator of the Year. The viewing will be held on both days at Rose Cottage, Dixter Road, Northiam, TN31 6LN. For more information telephone 01797 253443. www.heatherstuart.co.uk.

Rye Arts and Crafts Fair Saturday 15 November 11:00 to 17:00 Free entry to this vibrant and lively craft fair. Beautiful, local, artisan-made arts and crafts in the Rye Community Centre, Conduit Hill, Rye, TN31 7LE. This Fair will also be 20 The Onion magazine

1950s Rock ‘n’ Roll Party at Sheffield Park and Garden Saturday 15 November 19:00 to 22:00 Rock ‘n’ Roll to a live band. Celebrating 60 years of the National Trust at Sheffield Park. Ticket price of £35 includes a buffet supper. Booking essential 01825 790302.

Flea and Collector’s Market in Peasmarsh Sunday 16 November 08:00 to 13:00 A Winter alternative to Sunday boot sales. In the dry and warm. Tables £6 if pre-booked and £8 on the day.

For more details contact Trevor on 01797 230568.

Peasmarsh Memorial Hall, TN31 6YA. Winter Birds at the Beach, Rye Harbour (3 miles) Sunday 16 November 10:30 to 13:00 A chance to get to grips with a good variety of Winter visitors: wildfowl, waders, finches and raptors. Meet at Rye Harbour car park. No booking necessary. Donations appreciated. www.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/whatson, email rhnroffice@sussexwt.org.uk, telephone 01797 227784.

‘Remembering the Sacrifice’ Sunday 16 November 16:00 There will be a service at Holy Trinity Church, Hurst Green, for all the family. This will be followed by a bonfire, hot dogs and soup. Please telephone 01580 860649 for more details.

Rye & District U3A Monday 17 November 14:00 The U3A meets on the third Monday of every month at Rye Community Centre, Conduit Hill, Rye. At each meeting there is a catch-up on all U3A news and events, followed by a speaker and then refreshments. Their U3A also has 27 different interest groups meeting at various times throughout the month for educational, creative and leisure activities. New Members are always welcomed. Please contact 01797 224339 or 01797 226380 for more details.

The Circus of Horrors – The Night of the Zombie at The Stag in Sevenoaks Wednesday 19 November 19:30 onionmagazine.co.uk

EXHIBITIONS … CONCERTS … FETES & FAIRS … CHARITY EVENTS ... THINGS TO DO

The show that stormed into the finals of Britain’s Got Talent and now a West End smash is back to mark its 20th anniversary in spectacular style. The latest incarnation ‘The Night of the Zombie’ is set in 2020. The story is interwoven with some of the greatest and most bizarre circus acts on earth. Tickets £26 to £16 plus an admin fee of £2 per sale. Stag Theatre, London Road, Sevenoaks, TN13 1ZZ. Box Office 01732 450175. www. stagsevenoaks.co.uk.

‘A Nice Cup of Tea’ by Russell Bowes Thursday 20 November 14:00 The Rye & District National Trust Association will host a talk by Russell Bowes entitled ‘A Nice Cup of Tea’. Russell is a freelance garden historian and will be explaining where tea came from and why it has become our national drink. For more information contact Marion Brunt on 01424 883566 or email marionbrunt@btinternet.com.

The VI O’Clock Club presents The Cameo Opera at Brede Thursday 20 November 19:00 for 19:30 ‘An indoor Glyndebourne’ - take your own food and picnic in the auditorium. Hear your favourite arias. Book tables of any size. They also have a best-dressed table

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competition – so dig out the epergne. There are also raffles and prizes. Venue: Brede Village Hall. Tickets £12 - available from Penny Dawson 01424 882263.

‘Old Mother Hubbard’ The Pantomime Friday 21 November and Saturday 22 November 19:30 There will also be a Saturday Matinee at 14:30 Acting Up in Rye will be staging the pantomime ‘Old Mother Hubbard’ at the Rye Community Centre. Tickets: £6 Adults and £4 children available from A Pocket Full of Rye, 5a High Street Rye, the Heritage Centre at The Strand, Rye or telephone reservations on 07766 211220.

Festival Foliage Workshops at Sissinghurst Castle Garden Friday 21 November and Sunday 23 November 10:00 to 13:00 Join a festive workshop hosted by Blooming Green. Make garlands on 21 November and wreaths on 23 November.

Refreshments and materials provided. Normal admission charges apply. Tickets £40 per person. Booking essential on 0844 249 1895. Sissinghurst, Cranbrook, TN17 2AB. Get your skates on in Tunbridge Wells Friday 21 November to Sunday 4 January Set in the picturesque natural amphitheatre of Calverley Grounds, the Royal Tunbridge Wells ice rink offers

At this time of year exposure to infection increases: colds and flu are rife.

Normally we are not aware of our immune system as it works intelligently and efficiently in the background, using a range of tailored responses to deal with viruses, bacteria and abnormal cells. This complex and demanding system benefits from the right kind of support to enable it to work at its best.

Diet, exercise and stress affect how our immune system works, but just one of the things you can do to feel better is to focus on an appropriate diet with lots of nutrientdense foods and minimize your sugar intake, as this is known to suppress immune function. At the same time your individual needs may be greater for particular nutrients, so specific supplements may help support this.

One nutrient, which is especially important at this time of year, is vitamin D. Deficiency of vitamin D has been linked to tonsillitis in children, and supplementing it enhances the natural immune response against various infections, especially tuberculosis, flu and upper respiratory tract infections. There is also evidence that Zinc boosts immunity and may shorten the duration of colds by as much as 7 days.

These are just two of numerous nutrients involved in supporting immune function.

If you are interested in learning more about supporting your immune function this winter please contact Fiona Brenninkmeijer MSc Nutritional Therapist and Sports Nutritionist at www.mylifestylemenu.co.uk or call 07980 611668.

British Association of Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy

Learn how to take control of your health

.... and feel well again Fiona Brenninkmeijer MSc BSc Nutritional Therapy MSc Sports Nutrition Master Practitioner NLP

07980 611668 www.mylifestylemenu.co.uk

ADVERTORIAL

November 2014

The Onion magazine 21

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EXHIBITIONS … CONCERTS … FETES & FAIRS … CHARITY EVENTS .. THINGS TO DO

spectacular views of the park. Open seven days a week there are also rink-side traditional wooden chalets selling local and seasonal produce and Christmas gifts. The ice rink will be open throughout the day and evening with advance booking recommended for weekends and late weekday evenings. £9 for adults for one hour’s skating including boot hire, £7 for children. Tickets can be booked online at www.tunbridgewellschristmas.com or telephone 01892 554645.

‘How to Love Weeds’ an illustrated talk by Mrs Katherine Lynn Friday 21 November 14:30 Iden & Playden Garden Society will be hosting this talk at Iden Village Hall. £1.00 for Members and £2 for nonMembers. A cup of tea and a biscuit are available at a nominal cost at the end of the talk.

Lichens of the Rye Area, Winchelsea Beach Community Hall Saturday 22 November 14:30 Part of the Friends’ Winter Talk series. In his talk, local naturalist Keith Palmer will unravel some of the mysteries of these fascinating organisms which thrive on buildings, trees, the ground and even the shingle at Rye Harbour.

No booking necessary. Donations appreciated. www.

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sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/whatson, email rhnroffice@ sussexwt.org.uk, telephone 01797 227784.

Royal British Legion Home – Autumn Fayre Saturday 22 November 14:00 to 16:00 The Autumn Fayre will be held at Mais House – one of the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Homes that is exclusive to ex-Service people and their dependents, providing Residential and Nursing care as well as Day Care/Outreach services. Help them raise funds for their amenities programme. Donations for Raffle or Tombola stalls would be gratefully received. Telephone 01424 215871 for further details. Venue: Mais House, 18 Hastings road, Bexhill on Sea, TN40 2HH. Advent Fair in Staplecross Saturday 22 November 12:00 to 16:00 Grand raffle, tombola, many activities for children, stalls, Christmas presents, mulled wine, light lunches, refreshments. Donations of raffle prizes, home produce and bottles for the tombola would be gratefully received.

Any donations can be given to any member of the Ewhurst PCC. Venue – Staplecross Village Hall.

Nightshift in Sevenoaks Saturday 22 November 20:00 Nightshift is a funky blues, roots and Americana band

Why Winchelsea’s a winner for coast and countryside lovers seeking a second home Second-home buyers torn between a lovely seaside location and a rural escape amid gorgeous countryside can now find a one-stop solution – at Winchelsea Sands holiday park.

holiday caravan, be prepared for a very pleasant surprise, for today’s leisure homes really are in the luxury class.

For at this delightful coastal park, some of East Sussex’s finest beaches are just a stroll away. Whilst inland, gently rolling landscapes and ancient woodlands are all awaiting discovery.

What’s more, you’ll be enjoying your year-round holidays and breaks on a park which boasts a host of facilities and attractions, from a heated outdoor pool to a first-class family entertainment venue.

Not surprisingly, Winchelsea Sands is one of the most popular of the 23 high quality parks in Southern England owned by Park Holidays UK.

You can purchase with your own funds, or take advantage of easy finance terms offered by Park Holidays UK.

Its privileged location means that buyers can enjoy the best of all worlds, yet pay just a fraction of what it would cost to own a nearby holiday cottage.

Alternatively, the company will offer a guaranteed price for a house you are selling, providing funds for both a second-home and a more easily managed permanent property.

It might be hard to believe, but brand new caravan holiday homes at Winchelsea Sands start at under £10,000 – and come fully equipped and furnished.

And if it’s been a while since you stepped inside a

They are light, airy and spacious with two or three good-size bedrooms and at least one bathroom – plus a kitchen fitted-out with all the latest appliances.

Now is a great time to buy with many end-of-season offers available. Take a look at the options at www.

ParkHolidays.com.

ADVERTORIAL

22 The Onion magazine

onionmagazine.co.uk

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Winchelsea Sands, Pett Level Road, Winchelsea Beach, Nr Rye, East Sussex, TN36 4NB

St Michael’s Hospice

by Nick Farley

The Hospice garden

Beautiful windows overlooking the terrace

Day Therapy room 24 The Onion magazine

Do you know exactly what a ‘hospice’ is? I ask this question because although we are all pretty familiar with the word I realised that I wasn’t entirely sure that I knew what it meant; for example, at what point does hospital care morph into hospice care? What’s the difference anyway? I turned to my trusty 1972 edition of Chambers 20th Century dictionary and it said singularly and unequivocally that a hospice is “a house of entertainment for strangers, especially one run by monks.”

Hmmm, not quite what I was expecting.

However, my more up to date Chambers did also say that a hospice was “a home for the care of the terminally ill.” But this difference between the two dictionaries does show how relatively recently the word has come to have the usage which we are familiar with today.

In any case I was about to find out how much more there is to this word ‘hospice’ when I visited St. Michael’s Hospice in St Leonards.

‘Hospice’ is apparently a very big word.

Let’s not beat about the bush, most if not all of St. Michael’s Hospice patients are terminally ill and it would, therefore, be very easy for there to be that relentlessly hearty we-must-be-jollyat-all-times sort of atmosphere in the place, but that isn’t the case at all; St. Michael’s just seemed to me to be a very relaxed and naturally cheery place. This is due in large part to the staff, paid and volunteers, who all onionmagazine.co.uk

obviously love being there and some of whom have been there since the start 27 years ago, but it is also, importantly, due to the building itself; think hotel rather than hospital. This hotel-ly feeling starts from the moment you drive in through the beautiful gardens which are such an important feature of the Hospice, and is reinforced as you enter the reception area.

In this ’hotel’ atmosphere I was to find that most of my pre-conceived ideas about the Hospice were wrong and one of the first things to hit me as I talked to the Matron, Jenny Wratten, and to Fliss Barnet, Community Services Manager, was the sheer size and scale of the operation; it is an enormous undertaking comprising not only the St. Michael’s building in Upper Maze Hill but also ten shops plus the extensive Hospice at Home and Hospice Neighbours services. Upper Maze Hill is where the in-patients stay and where the Day Therapy Centre is, and it is also at the centre of the vital Hospice at Home community services, which are so much a part of St Michael’s and which I had no idea even existed.

Each year the Hospice takes care of around 400 in-patients, but not everyone wants to be or needs to be an in-patient and that is where the Hospice at Home service comes in: this service provides patients with professional medical care at home – not by having someone permanently in their home, of course, but someone who visits them and is only a phone call away if needed. This is care which is available 24 hours a day 365 days a year. St. Michael’s Hospice is one of the very few hospices able to provide that round the clock level of medical home care and it makes about 2,800 Hospice Home visits a year. Linked to that service, but providing a more social contact for patients who are able to be at home, is the Hospice Neighbours scheme. This is a brilliant scheme manned entirely by volunteers who literally act as neighbours to patients who are at home. The ‘neighbour’ visits regularly, perhaps does some odd jobs or runs errands, and provides the November 2014

Coffee on the terrace

important social and ‘chatting‘ contact which supplements and complements the medical help which the Hospice provides.

In the Upper Maze Hill building there are thirty beds available for in-patients, eighteen of which are in individual rooms, and there are sixty nursing staff providing a ratio of roughly one nurse to two patients at any one time. That is a very high level of care. But there is so much more going on here. This is where the very comfortable Day Therapy Centre is (hotel lounge?) where out-patients can come for a day each week to meet their friends, talk, have lunch and take part in various activities. We spoke to Fred, an ex SAS soldier, and now an active builder of large model boats, who had been an in-patient for two weeks and who has cancer of the spine. He is now in remission and comes one day each week to meet friends and as he says “I just thoroughly enjoy being here.”

It’s also in the main building that the administrative offices of the Hospice are housed and a hugely important part of that is the administration of the Hospice volunteers. You won’t believe how many volunteers there are – there are 800. The Hospice runs because there are a huge number of volunteers; it simply couldn’t function without them. Just think about it: there are ten shops and each one requires 18 to 20 volunteers to man it for six days a week; that’s 180 to 200 volunteers, and then there are the Hospice Neighbours, all of whom are volunteers.

The beautiful gardens at St. Michael’s, although overseen by a professional gardener, are largely maintained by volunteers, and the workers at the many fund-raising events held throughout the year are volunteers too. So you see 800 doesn’t seem to be too many, and they always need more. If you want to volunteer, get in touch.

Organising 800 volunteers is clearly an important job and one I confess I hadn’t even considered when I was thinking The Onion magazine 25

about St. Michael’s, but obviously you can’t have 800 people milling about aimlessly and any commercial company with 800 employees would have an HR department the size of the United Nations to take care of them. Indeed it is the sheer size of the whole St. Michael’s Hospice operation which has so astounded me, and remember all of its services and wonderful facilities are provided completely free to anyone who needs them.

But although free to the patients, somehow those services do have to be paid for. What does it all cost? That’s the key question and obviously the engine room of this machine is the fund-raising department. Even if there are a large number of people volunteering and working for nothing the other costs are real and huge: the professional staff, the building, the utilities, and, most important, the medical equipment and drugs. In fact it costs about £5m a year to fund the Hospice and that is £13,000 a day! It’s true that the NHS does fund just under 30% of that - and so it should because it couldn’t cope without the Hospice - but it still means that the Hospice has to find £10,000 a day, every single day of the year including Sundays. That’s why there are ten shops; that’s why there is a St. Michael’s Hospice Lottery and scratch cards; that’s why there is such a varied and long list of fund-raising events. And that’s why if you can do anything to spend your money in the shops or at the events, or if you can organise an event yourself – perhaps opening your garden one day a year – it would be so welcome and so worthwhile.

We’ve only been able to scratch the surface of the work of the Hospice here: I haven’t mentioned, for example, its vital Bereavement Services and the Chaplaincy Service which offers spiritual support to those of any faith and to those who have no religious beliefs, but perhaps it is appropriate to finish on the experience of a family who know what St. Michael’s Hospice help means first hand. Two months ago Margaret Kett died of cancer at home in Rye and I spoke to her daughter-in-law, Amy. Margaret was very ill in The Conquest but she wanted to be at home. The hospital and the Hospice acted quickly and she was moved home where the family were supported by St. Michael’s Hospice and were able to look after her for her last few days. Amy told me how someone from the Hospice sat with her mother-in-law through the night and how the Hospice was constantly in touch and on hand to help the family and Margaret through this difficult time. Until all this happened Amy and her family had no idea what St. Michael’s Hospice did and then suddenly and miraculously there it was providing the help and support that was needed. She said “In the final days we would have been lost without Hospice at Home. You don’t realise who you need until you need them.”

26 The Onion magazine

Driving into St. Michael’s ‘Hotel’

Forthcoming Events Sinatra Night with Pete Prescott’s Sounds Quintet 7th November Christmas Markets: Sedlescombe 15th November Robertsbridge 22nd November Cooden Beach Hotel, Bexhill 29th November Lights of Love Services 7th December (six locations) Christmas Concert 13th December ‘Soul Express’ Christmas Party 13th December Santa Fun Run 14th December For full details of all events and for any other information about St. Michael’s Hospice go to www.stmichaelshospice.org or telephone 01424 445177. onionmagazine.co.uk

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EXHIBITIONS … CONCERTS … FETES & FAIRS … CHARITY EVENTS .. THINGS TO DO

comprising some very experienced and accomplished musicians playing traditional blues as well as their own material. With Jem Turpin (vocals, harmonica), John Ballard (rhythm guitar, vocals), Simon Shaw (lead guitar, vocals), Colin Gibson (bass, vocals) and Liam Genockey (Steeleye Span) on drums, this is likely to be a night of footstomping blues and more. £13.50 per ticket plus an admin fee of £2 per sale. At the Stag Plaza. Box Office 01732 450175.

Busch Piano Ensemble – an International Classical Concert at Vinehall Saturday 22 November 19:30 This talented trio had their Purcell Room debut this year following their major award from the Philharmonia Orchestra and a second Wigmore Hall performance which was received to critical acclaim. They will be performing a programme of works by Schubert, Beethoven and Dvorak. As soloists they have been recognised for their achievements and playing of ‘incredible verve’. Vinehall School, Robertsbridge, TN32 5JL. Contact Geoffrey Whitehead 01580 883092, geoffreywhitehead@ vinehallschool.com.

Christmas Fayre Saturday 22 November 10:00 to 16:00 The Martha Trust is holding its Christmas Fayre at the magnificent Guildhall in Sandwich. There will be a huge array of seasonal treats, gift ideas, arts and crafts. Browse the stalls, enjoy a cup of coffee and some home-made cake and sing along to your favourite Christmas Carols to get you in the mood for Christmas. Free entry. To book a stall visit www.marthatrust.org.uk/christmasfayre.

Cranbrook Choral presents Handel’s Judas Maccabeus Saturday 22 November 19:30 At St Dunstan’s Church, Cranbrook. Tickets £12.50.

Telephone Grace Travel on 01580 714411 to reserve. www.cranbrookchoral.org.uk.

‘Doodlebugs and Rockets’ by Bob Ogley Tuesday 25 November 19:30 The Northiam Historical and Literary Society will be hosting a talk by Bob Ogley in Northiam Village Hall. If you missed him on 6th November in Hawkhurst – here’s another chance to catch his talk.

Quiz, Cheese & Wine Buffet and AGM in Biddenden Wednesday 26 November 19:15 to 19:30 The Biddenden Horticultural Society meets in the Village Hall for the last event of the year. The evening will start with the AGM followed by the Quiz and cheese & wine buffet. Non-Member tickets £5. Available by contacting Irene Orsborne on 01580 291777 or Lesley Lidgett on 01580 291931 before 23rd November.

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‘The Garden as Art?’ by Edward Flint Thursday 27 November 19:30 Popular lecturer and Head Gardener at Tidebrook Manor discusses the intriguing question of whether our gardens can be viewed as a work of art. Venue: Upstairs at The Ostrich, Station Road, Robertsbridge. Tickets £5 from Judge’s Bakery, Robertsbridge or jane.tritton@ btinternet.com.

Sole Traders of the Weald Thursday 27 November 09:15 for about an hour Are you self-employed or a sole trader? This is an informal and friendly networking group for any self-employed/ sole traders who would like to get more clients (and to have a cup of coffee and some support). They meet up on the last Thursday of every month. Any trade or profession welcome. (I have been along to this and they are an extremely friendly group, Ed.) Venue: Lunch Belles Café, Highbanks Nursery, Cranbrook Road, Gills Green. For more information contact Ali 07970 952199, soletradersoftheweald@gmail.com.

A Kipling family Christmas at Bateman’s Saturday 29 November daily to Wednesday 31 December 11:30 to 15:00 The 17th century home of Rudyard Kipling is decorated for an Edwardian Christmas with all the sights, sounds “Life is not about waiting for storms to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.....” (Vivian Greene)

Justine Skeet Counselling and Psychotherapy Ad.Dip PC, SAC Dip, MNCS(Acc), MNCP Tel: 07748 638797 Email: justineskeetcounselling@gmail.com

CONFIDENTIAL SUPPORT FOR YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES * Justine will be running Assertiveness Workshops in Tenterden during the autumn, promoting confidence, self-esteem and emotional freedom. Please contact her on the above number or Email address for workshop and appointment details*

photo by Santanadiana.blogspot.com.

November 2014

The Onion magazine 27

NOVEMBER GARDENING

by Nick Farley (Jack Hebden is away)

Look after your mower

Earlier in the year I was getting ready for the first mow of the season and without a care in the world I trundled out my two ill-treated but trusty mowers, just as I have done every March for the last umpteen years, but, this year, within minutes they had both taken their revenge on me for their years of ill-treatment: they both broke down almost at once and left me mowerless. I swore. It helped a bit.

I urge you, eager as you are to put the wretched thing away and to get inside for a cup or glass of something soothing after the last mow, to at the very least clean the poor old mower. Brush, scrape and hose off the accumulated gunge and rubbish of the season. Wipe an oily rag over the blades. If it’s a motor mower I would drain the tank and run the engine so that there’s no fuel left in the carburettor over the winter.

These two poor mowers had both wintered, as usual, clogged with mud and wet grass, in a dank corner of the garage and this year they decided to show their not unreasonable displeasure at this annual cruelty and stopped working. In both cases the problem was terminal. As I stared helplessly at them all the good advice which I had smugly dished out over many years in books and magazines and which I had so often ignored myself, came back to haunt me: look after your garden tools and machinery; oil it, clean it, service it.

Advice I gave, but advice I ignored myself with painful results this year.

The problem is that modern petrol has a 5% ethanol content and, for a whole variety of boring reasons, the ethanol makes it unwise to leave petrol in the mower’s tank, and unused in its fuel systems, over winter because it can do damage and will possibly, even probably, hinder starting next spring. I have a Honda cultivator, a power leaf blower and a chainsaw, all of which require carburettor attention because of modern ethanol fuel being left in their tanks and carburettors for too long. Older machinery is more likely to be susceptible to damage than newer equipment which will have been built allowing for ethanol fuel. But it is not wise to leave any machinery standing for several months with modern petrol /ethanol in it. In any case the rest of the mower needs attention too: the blades, the belts, the rollers, the wheels, the cables…the list is endless.

Well, now it’s the end of the season and shortly, if you have not already done so, you will be doing the last mow of the year and at the end of it you will consign the poor old mower to its damp winter sojourn in the shed or garage, and you will ignore it until next spring when you will expect it to start uncomplainingly and to once again put in a full season at the mowing coalface, so to speak.

28 The Onion magazine

The very best advice I can give myself and you is to take your machinery to the dealer to get it serviced, perhaps not every year, it’s not a religion, but certainly every two or three years depending on the use it gets. I onionmagazine.co.uk

know that that goes against the grain, but you wouldn’t dream of not bothering to service your car would you?

Yet we all think that having garden equipment serviced is either unnecessary or, frankly, if we are men, we regard it as a bit cissy: we think we can do it ourselves, and we probably could, but the fact is we simply don’t.

Instead we wait until the machine doesn’t work and then we want it all fixed instantly at the very time when the workshops are full of similarly careless people screaming for their mowers at the beginning of the season. So take it to the experts in the first place and let them sort it out; and don’t wait until next spring when the dealer is stacked up with work and you are desperate for your machine, be cool and book it in now when you don’t need it. Good advice which I shall take myself this year. Right now, in fact.

And don’t ignore all your simple hand tools either. They too will benefit from being put away clean and wiped over with an oily rag. Good tools are a joy to use they deserve looking after, and in the coming months we shall look at some of the best ones which are available.

Hose off all the season’s crud

Learn how to make Animal Sculptures with Willow or Make a Rustic Basket Stefan Jennings will be running workshops at Dunks Hall, Hawkhurst for two days only.

Come and make a dog, a deer, a fox, sheep or perhaps a goose on the Willow Sculpture day on 14th November. £70 for the day

... until it is completely clean underneath

Make a practical and good looking Rustic Basket using a variety of hedgerow material on 15th November. £50 for the day Sadly, this beautiful mower has been neglected and not cleaned for several seasons. This big hole renders the mower useless and a replacement deck costs £391.

Don’t let this happen to your mower.

November 2014

The day starts at 9.15am and finishes at 4.30pm.

For more information or to book contact Stefan on 01823 665342 or email stefan.a.jennings@gmail.com The Onion magazine 29

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and scents of the festive period. A special Christmas trail for the children leads to the Elves Workshop where the elves can be found making toys and having a party in their candlelit watermill at the bottom of the garden. Normal admission charges apply. Bateman’s, Burwash, TN19 7DS. Mummers plays at Bateman’s Saturday 29 November and Sunday 30 November Outdoor seasonal plays performed by the Tonbridge Mummers at intervals during the day. Normal admission charges apply. Bateman’s, Burwash, TN19 7DS. Newenden’s Fabulous Christmas Fair Saturday 29 November 10:00 to 15:30 A feast of hand-made, artisan and vintage gifts for a special present. Festive lunches. Artisan beer. Mulled wine. Grand raffle – win a £100 hamper. Free entry and parking. Venue – St Peter’s Church, Newenden and Newenden Village Hall. For details call 01797 252536 or visit www.newenden.org/market.php.

Wreath-making at Sheffield Park Saturday 29 November 11:00 to 13:00 Join an informal Christmas wreath making session over a cup of coffee and a slice of cake. Expert on hand with advice and all the materials you need to create a

30 The Onion magazine

masterpiece for your front door. Tickets £30 per person, booking essential on 01825 790302. Sheffield Park and Garden, Uckfield, TN22 3QX. Christmas Show at the Avocet Tea Rooms & Gallery Saturday 29 November It’s never too early to plan your present-buying. They promise to have over 50 local artists’ work with masses of gift ideas.

John Hunt’s Photographic Exhibition Saturday 29 November 10:00 to 16:00 John’s exhibition will also include the sale of prints, cards, the 2015 Hawkhurst Village Calendars and paintings.

Dunks Hall, Hawkhurst.

Poppinghole Christmas Fair Saturday 29 November 10:00 to 16:00 High quality crafted giftware – including silverware, pottery, scarves and cushions. Beautiful Christmas gifts for all the family. There will also be a barbeque with local sausages and burgers and Father Christmas may make an appearance. They are raising funds for Multiple Sclerosis Society. Poppinghole Farm, Poppinghole Lane, Robertsbridge. http://www.facebook.com/ poppingholecraft

onionmagazine.co.uk

EXHIBITIONS … CONCERTS … FETES & FAIRS … CHARITY EVENTS .. THINGS TO DO

Visit Father Christmas & the Elves at the Hop Farm Paddock Wood Saturday 29 November to Wednesday 24 December – opening times vary Booking a family visit includes meeting Mother Christmas and the elves, spending a magical time talking to Father Christmas about the children’s Christmas wishes before receiving an age-appropriate quality gift. Also included in the ticket price is one professional glassframed photograph of the family with Father Christmas (one per family). The ticket price is £10.50 per child (adults are free). To pre-book tickets visit www. fatherchristmasinkent.co.uk. The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, TN12 6PY. Telephone 01622 872068.

Christmas Fair in Winchelsea Saturday 29 November 10:00 to 13:00 Start the Christmas season with coffee, tea, mulled wine and mince pies and browse the numerous stalls featuring pottery, jewellery, handicrafts, home-made produce, Christmas decorations, glassware, woodcraft and ceramics. At New Hall, Winchelsea (beside the Cricket field on the A259).

Festive Market at Sissinghurst Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 November 10:30 to 15:30 Browse the selection of local products, festive goods, gifts and tasty food at Sissinghurst’s annual food market. Free entry, normal admission charges apply to the garden.

Sissinghurst, Cranbook, TN17 2AB. Wild Woodland Weekend Club Saturday 29 November 10:00 to 13:00 Forest School activities for children aged 6 to 11, held in a private woodland in Beckley, just outside of Rye. The Wild Things get together on the last Saturday of each month and activities may include campfire cooking, woodland crafts, games, den building. Parents/carers do not accompany children.

Meet at Swallowtail Hill Farm, Hobbs Lane, Beckley TN31 6TT. Booking is essential. Charge £10 per child. www.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/whatson, email

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rhnroffice@sussexwt.org.uk, telephone 01797 227784.

Tenterden Book Fair Saturday 29 November 09:00 to 15:00 Free admission to this Fair now in its 32nd year with nearly £6,500 having been donated to Cancer Research.

A wide selection of books for sale from a number of book dealers. Refreshments available all day from the Highbury Hall Café. Highbury Hall, Highbury Lane, Tenterden, TN30 6LE. Great Dixter Christmas Fair Saturday 29 November and Sunday 30 November 10:00 to 16:00 The annual Christmas Fair at Great Dixter where local traders, ‘purveyors of fine goods’, artisans and artists will be selling their wares in Great Dixter’s Medieval halls, Great Barn, gardens and outbuildings. £5 per person (under 16s free). Great Dixter, Northiam, TN31 6PH. www.greatdixter.co.uk.

Quiz Night – Northiam Bonfire Society Saturday 29 November 19:30 Join in Northiam Bonfire Society’s next Quiz Night in Northiam Village Hall. Tables of 8 players. Entry fee £7.50 a head includes ploughman’s at half time and wine on the table. Beer and wine on sale. Raffle.

For information and to book your place, please call 01797 253375, Karen@terenceayling.co.uk, www. northiambonfiresociety.co.uk.

Ross Hardman in Concert, St Mildred’s Church, Tenterden Saturday 29 November 19:30 The Friends of St. Mildred’s are privileged to present an unmissable evening of beautiful classical music featuring the amazing voice of Ross Hardman who will be making a live recording on the night. Ross is a bass baritone specializing in Italian Arias and classical pieces. He is an active member of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain and has performed in the BBC Proms at the Royal

Shirley Saeed’s Authentic Curries Shirley runs small group cookery workshops in Hastings - a unique gift idea

Plus sells a variety of delicious curries made for heating and eating or for the freezer. All natural ingredients.

Available from Shirley direct and at Robertsbridge market.

Shirley Saeed Shirley@ShirleySaeed.com Facebook: Authenticcurriesathome Tel 07952 173748 November 2014

The Onion magazine 31

Tom Kerridge’s

Roast red pepper soup with anchovy salsa A tasty nod to the warmth of Spain, this soup is layered with sweet and salty flavours and it could easily be used as a cooking sauce for fish or white meat. The recipe makes more salsa than you need but any leftovers are delicious spread on a bit of chargrilled bread or toast.

Ingredients: Extra virgin olive oil, for cooking 6 red peppers, cored, deseeded and cut into quarters 2 onions, diced 6 garlic cloves, grated 2 red chillies, stems removed, chopped – seeds and all 50g caster sugar Generous pinch of saffron threads 3½ tablespoons pastis (anise-flavoured liqueur) 100ml red wine vinegar 500ml chicken or vegetable stock 100ml double cream

Cayenne pepper, to taste Salt and freshly ground black pepper For the salsa: 1 red onion, finely diced 1 red pepper, cored, deseeded and finely diced 2 banana shallots, finely diced 75g salted anchovies, the best you can find, roughly chopped Finely grated zest of 2 lemons 2 garlic cloves, grated 1 tablespoon finely chopped sage 1 teaspoon finely chopped rosemary leaves Serves 6

Method: Preheat the oven to 190°C/Gas Mark 5. Lay a wide strip of tin foil on a baking tray. Drizzle it with olive oil. Place the red peppers on top of the foil and season. Cover with a second strip of tin foil and then seal tightly around the edges to form a bag. Roast for 45 minutes, remove from the oven and let the peppers cool in the bag. The peppers will steam a little and create some condensation that is all flavour.

Warm a splash of olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over a medium heat. Add the onions and cook for about 15 minutes, until soft, stirring from time to time. Add the garlic and cook for 2–3 minutes, then add the chillies and stir. Throw in the sugar and saffron, then the pastis and vinegar, and cook on a medium heat until the liquid has evaporated and you have a pan full of lovely saffroncoloured onions.

Empty the bag of red peppers into the pan, along with all the steamed juices. Cover with the stock, bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer very gently for 25–30 minutes. Add the double cream, bring to the boil, then remove from the heat.

Cool slightly then whizz in a blender or food processor until smooth. Pass through a fine sieve into a container and season to taste with salt and cayenne pepper. At this stage, you can refrigerate the soup for up to a couple of days and heat it up when needed.

When you are ready to serve, mix together all of the ingredients for the salsa in a bowl. Taste and season. Bring the soup to the boil and ladle it into warmed serving bowls. Spoon some salsa into each bowl and trickle on some olive oil just before serving.

Extract taken from Tom Kerridge’s Best Ever Dishes published by Absolute Press, £25.00, Hardback Photography © Cristian Barnett. Tom Kerridge’s Best Ever Dishes is on BBC2 this Autumn.

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onionmagazine.co.uk

FOOD

November 2014

The Onion magazine 33

EAT

The Ostrich at Robertsbridge

BY NICK FARLEY

There wasn’t an ‘Eat’ column last month because, frankly, we didn’t find anywhere to recommend. You may find that hard to believe when the whole of the South East these days is simply one big joined-up restaurant, but it’s true. You probably think that we spend most of our days swanning about the countryside stuffing our faces in the pursuit of a page of editorial, but that’s not quite how it works: we usually aim for places that have been recommended to us by reliable foodsters that we trust, or we go to places we know of ourselves, and it’s worth saying here that despite the profusion of eateries there are very few which people actually seem prepared to recommend. Anyway, the Eat adventure is usually one of the very last things we do before the magazine goes to press and therein lies the problem: when the destination eatery doesn’t cut the mustard we are left with no report and not much time to find an alternative. That’s what happened last month: first we had a restaurant that served disgusting food at an extortionate price and then one that was closed when we turned up. How somewhere can be closed on The Pantiles on a hot Summer day beats me, but it was.

This month we got the job (job?) done early in case we needed a back-up, but we needn’t have worried because we holed-inone at the Ostrich Hotel in Robertsbridge.

It was a beautiful Indian Summer Day in mid-September with the temperature at 21⁰C and not a breath of wind, so we ate in the garden. The garden at The Ostrich is itself interesting and is billed as “tropical” which, with its banana trees and the bright sun on our visit, it certainly was. A delightful spot.

At lunchtime I am not usually seeking the hautest of cuisine and I thought a pint of beer, a sirloin steak and decent chips followed by summer pudding and ice cream seemed about right. And so it proved: excellent steak cooked exactly as I had asked for it with good chips and vegetables. Simple. The Editor’s lasagne also struck exactly the right note and she, her virtue overflowing, opted to have a salad accompaniment, a salad which even included grapes from the vine growing against The Ostrich’s back wall. No food miles there.

A summer pudding is not going to get the gastro-pubbist’s pulse racing but it works for me every time and The Ostrich version 34 The Onion magazine

was well up to the mark. Silly, of course, not to have ice cream and cream with it, and so, in the interests of research, I did. A tarte citron for the Ed and coffee to follow, all charmingly served, left us feeling that life wasn’t half bad and that’s exactly what a good pub/restaurant should do to you. First impressions count for a lot and The Ostrich just felt ‘right’ from the outset. We were warmly welcomed, well served and made to feel at home.

Had it been dinner rather than lunch we might indeed have settled down and gone through the card in a much more adventurous style, sitting in the very comfortable-looking dining area which is part of the bar. It looked really inviting and I can imagine that in darker, colder days – the November days when you are perhaps reading this ̶ and with the fire alight, eating or simply drinking and reading the paper in this quaintly furnished bar would be a very pleasant experience. The Ostrich is not going to put Michel Roux out of business, but it’s not trying to; it’s simply a jolly nice place to be and to eat and to drink.

The meal for two as described including a pint of Harvey’s and a glass of wine and coffees came to £39. www.ostrichhotel.co.uk Tel: 01580 881737 The Ostrich Hotel, Station Road, Robertsbridge, TN32 5DG onionmagazine.co.uk

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Albert Hall and at the Concert Hall in Birmingham. It is strongly recommended to book your tickets for this event to avoid disappointment. Tickets £10 available from Gateway Tenterden or from Stuart Kirk on 01580 764899. This is a charity event to preserve the fabric of St. Mildred’s Church.

Benedicte Maurseth explore the Renaissance, Baroque and traditional Norwegian music with some rousing Hardanger fiddles, viol d’amore, hurdy gurdy, nykelharpa and medieval Vielle. Admission is free with a suggested donation of £3. Held in the University’s Colyer-Fergusson Hall. For more information visit www.kent.ac.uk/music.

Christmas Fair at Beckley Village Centre Sunday 30 November 10:00 to 14:00 Beckley Preschool and Northiam Nursery’s annual charity Christmas Fair is back, so go along and get into the festive spirit. There will be a wide selection of locally produced crafts and gifts. There will be raffle prizes and fun for all the children. The ever-popular children’s room includes a Santa’s Grotto, face painting, teddy tombola and games. Refreshments will be available on the day. Free parking. Entry is 50p per adult, children are free. Beckley Village Centre, Beckley (nr Rye), TN31 6RN. Contact events4BPNN@outlook.com.

The December Art Show Friday 5, Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 December 10:00 to 16:00 An exciting and varied selection of affordable art is being displayed by six talented artists. The work, in various mediums, sizes and styles will be for sale. Gifts and cards will also be for sale. Venue: The PowderMills Hotel, Powdermills Lane, Battle, TN33 0SP.

Rye & District Lions Club Annual Sponsored Swimarathon Sunday 30 November Raise funds for your chosen charity or good cause, and have fun doing it. Taking place at the Freedom Leisure Swimming Pool in Rye. All funds raised will support your team’s nominated charities and the Lions’ local provision of defibrillators. For full details and entry forms telephone Bob Harvey on 01424 751059 or 0845 833 2825.

St George’s Church, Brede, Bell Ringers will have their Lights of Love Tree switched on outside the church during December and into the New Year.

If you would like to donate a light in memory of a loved one you can do so throughout the Festival weekend of 6, 7, 8 December or contact Andrew Burchett on 01424 882727.

Silver – A Winter Experience at Smallhythe Studio Tuesday 2 December to Saturday 20 December 11:00 to 17:00 New exhibition featuring a varied collection of works by twenty artists. Closed Sundays and Mondays unless by appointment. They also run art classes for all levels. For more information visit the website www. smallhythestudio.com, email art@smallhythestudio. com.

The Society of Strange and Ancient Instruments at University of Kent, Canterbury Wednesday 3 December 13:10 The Society was founded to explore a repertoire from folk songs, earthy dances to high art music from the 18th century and before, as well as newly composed pieces. For this performance Clare Salaman and November 2014

Christmas Concert, St George’s Church, Brede Friday 5 December 19:00 This concert will include a performance by Mad Jack’s Mummers and a contemporary Nativity by the students from Bexhill High, followed by carols. Tickets, including a drink and mince pie/sausage roll are £7.50 Adult, £3 primary school child. Available from The Rectory (Brede 01424 883408), or the Friday Country Market in Brede.

Robertsbridge Village Market Saturday 6 December 10:00 to 13:00 Held on the first Saturday of each month in Robertsbridge Village Hall. The December Christmas market offers a large selection of local fresh foods, jams and preserves, festive treats, as well as many crafts, plants, pet food and refurbished furniture. Light refreshments provided

by Robertsbridge WI, plus a Christmas Raffle. They have extended this Christmas market by an extra hour.

For more information contact Sally Pitman on 01580 881944. www.facebook.com/robertsbridgemarket.

Christmas Tree Festival, St. George’s Church, Brede Saturday 6 December, Sunday 7 and Monday 8 December If you would like to submit a Christmas tree decorated in the theme of ‘Christmas Round the World’ please contact Vicki at The Rectory on 01424 883408. Should you feel daunted by the task of decorating a tree then why not make an evergreen wreath to decorate the pillars of the church?

Christmas Festival, Brede Saturday 7 December 10:00 to 16:00 There will the opportunity to buy presents from Christmas stalls and seasonal refreshments will be available all day.

At 2.15pm St Nicholas will process through the village arriving at St George’s Church for an hour of festive fun.

All are welcome to go along.

The Onion magazine 35

Hartfield, Withyham and Five Hundred Acre Wood For November we have chosen a walk which is a little ‘woody’ and what better than to choose Five Hundred Acre Wood. AA Milne, the author of the Winnie the Pooh books, lived near Hartfield, and this part of Ashdown Forest is the setting for many of his stories. The walk takes you through a quiet and undulating part of the forest that lies below the open heathland plateau, an attractive mixture of woodland and pasture with fine views over both the forest and the Weald. It includes two interesting village churches and crosses ‘Pooh Bridge’, a delightful spot in Posingford Wood where Pooh and his friends played ‘Poohsticks’.

The walk Hartfield is on the edge of Ashdown Forest, an attractive collection of houses and cottages with a fine medieval church dominated by a 15th century tower and broach spire. GPS waypoints are bracketed.

(TQ 478 359) Walk along Church Street, passing the unusual lychgate to the churchyard on the left. Fifty yards beyond the lychgate, directly opposite the church porch, there is a stile on the right. Climb this and turn left along the edge of the field to another stile by a metal gate. Climb the stile and continue in the same direction to climb a third stile at the far end of the field.

After this the path divides. Take the left fork to cross the field to a point where a line of oak trees – the remnants of an old hedge line – meets the left-hand edge of the field.

The waymarked path leads over the next field diagonally, heading for a point to the left of Withyham church. Skirt the right-hand edge of a narrow belt of woodland and continue gently downhill to climb a stile on to a road. Turn right and cross a bridge over a stream. The village with its pub (Dorset Arms) is just ahead but the route immediately turns right (TQ 492 356) on to a tarmac drive – signposted for Withyham church – that leads uphill, passing to the right of the church and a large house.

Withyham’s 14th century church was largely rebuilt following destruction by lightning in 1663. Inside there are beautiful monuments to the Sackville family, earls and dukes of Dorset, formerly the keepers, and later the owners, of Ashdown Forest.

Continue along the tarmac drive, part of the Wealdway, for the next 1.25 miles, enjoying the fine views to the right across the Weald and ahead towards the wooded heights of the forest. Just after passing a row of houses on the right, turn left (TQ 490 338) over a stile in front of a white gate and follow the path beside a wire fence, bearing right and continuing into Five Hundred Acre Wood, the 36 The Onion magazine

‘One Hundred Acre Wood’ in the Winnie the Pooh stories. This large area of woodland, an attractive mixture of oak, beech and conifers, was enclosed from the forest in 1693.

Cross a drive on the edge of the wood, keep ahead along another drive, bear right at a T-junction, and at a fork a little way ahead, continue along the right-hand track. At a junction of three tracks take the right-hand one (still following the Wealdway) which curves right and heads downhill following the inside edge of the wood. Bear right at the bottom and continue gently uphill to a fork. Here the Wealdway continues to the left but you keep ahead along the right-hand track, still by the edge of Five Hundred Acre Wood, a most attractive part of the walk.

Eventually, the track heads uphill between embankments to a road (TQ 476 335).

Turn left along the road and at a footpath diversion sign and public footpath stone turn right over a stile. Either follow the footpath arrows across the riding track and exercise area, or onionmagazine.co.uk

turn right and follow the path around the perimeter of a horse exercise area, eventually reaching a stile on the far side. Climb the stile on to a track, soon to take the arrowed path left into a field.

Follow the field edge around to the left and keep ahead to climb a waymarked stile into Posingford Wood. Continue through the wood, go through a gate and then climb a stile on the edge of the trees and bear left. Walk across a field and climb another stile, at a public footpath stone, to re-enter woodland.

A few yards ahead the path meets a track, turn right along it and continue through a beautiful stretch of woodland to join a lane at a bend. Keep along this lane for about 100 yards and, at a sign for Pooh Bridge and a public bridleway stone, turn right (TQ 468 333) along a track between a fence on the left and trees on the right. The path heads downhill along the edge of woodland to Pooh Bridge where it surely is obligatory to play ‘Poohsticks’ by dropping sticks into the stream and watching them float under the bridge.

Cross the bridge and continue uphill to join a tarmac drive.

Keep ahead and at a public footpath sign turn right over a stile.

Walk along the left-hand edge of a field, by a hedge on the left, and follow the field edge round to the right to climb another stile. Continue in the same direction diagonally across the next field, climbing a stile in front of a house. Bear right over the next stile, at a public footpath sign, and bear left to keep along the left-hand edge of a field along an enclosed path. Towards the edge of the field turn left through a gate (TQ 474 348) and follow the path ahead across rough grassland, keeping parallel to the edge of woodland on the left. Cross a stile and continue – ahead is a grand view over the Medway Valley and the Weald, with the spire of Hartfield church prominent – eventually crossing a stile on to a road (TQ 474 352). Turn right and after a quarter of a mile bear left at a junction into Hartfield.

DISTANCE: 6 miles (9.7km) OS MAPS: Landranger 188 (Maidstone & Royal Tunbridge Wells), Explorer 135 (Ashdown Forest) ROUTE TERRAIN: Field and woodland paths; metalled tracks STARTING POINT: Church Street, Hartfield (there is roadside parking in the village centre) This is Walk 13 from the Pathfinder Guides No.67: East Sussex & the South Downs book, published by Crimson Publishing (www.crimsonpublishing.co.uk). OS maps available (Landranger 188; Explorer 135).

Map above © Crown copyright November 2014 Ordnance Survey Media 074/14.

Neither the publisher nor the author can accept any responsibility for any changes, errors or omissions in this route. Diversion orders can be made and permissions withdrawn at any time.

November 2014

The Onion magazine 37

BUSINESS CARDS

T.A. Lawrence

Hedge Cutting & Lawn Mowing Penny ad_Layout 1 14/08/2012 Fully insured16:23 Page 1

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Postal entries can also be sent to us at the address given on page three.

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