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Be SMART in 2019

Beat The January Blues It’s hard not to feel a little deflated after all the festive fun. Here are five ways to beat the January blues.

Most resolutions fail because they are too vague. Make your 2019 resoultions SMART. Specific - Rather than, ‘I will lose weight,’ say, ‘I will lose 7lbs by the end of January by cutting out deserts, and walking a mile a day.’ Measurable - What does your success look like? Is it a 15lb weight-loss by the end of March? Is it fitting into a size 12 dresss? An effective goal is easy to visualise. Attainable - By all means be ambitious; aiming to save £2500 during 2019 for your dream holiday in 2020 is fine, but make sure you can break down the goal into attainable steps which can be achieved in a shorter time frame. Can you save £200 per month from your current income? If not can you pick up some bar work or sell some possessions on eBay. Maybe you could save £100 per month over two years and take your dream holiday in 2021. Now your target is attainable. Realistic - If your goal is to win X

Exercise! I can hear your groans but one of the best ways to fight the blues and improve wellbeing is exercise.

Factor but you couldn’t hold a tune in a bucket it’s time for a reality check. If you are 100lbs over your ideal weight, you are never going to be a size ten for your beach holiday in July. But realistic doesn’t just mean ‘able to atttain’, it means ‘willing to attain.’ If you want to retrain as a nurse, will you put in the hours of study and take a pay cut while you’re doing that? Time-limited - Set a goal. Research shows that three months is good as it’s short enough to see the end-point, and long enough for significant change. Whether it’s passing your driving test, or shedding a stone or two before your wedding day; three months is a good time-frame.

January is a great time to join a gym...motivation for change is high and there are lots of introductory deals and taster sessions on offer. But if the gym doesn’t appeal then try walking. A brisk walk in the open air is guaranteed to get your endorphins racing Eat well! I know we’ve all eaten rather too well over Christmas but now is the time to sort out your diet. In a post-festive slump, we are far more likely to continue the cycle of eating junk food for a quick high – only to spiral downwards into feelings of guilt and self-loathing as the sugar rush subsides.

Stock up on fruit and veg, lean meat, nuts and grains, and watch your energy levels rise. Sleep more - Most of us don’t sleep enough over Christmas, and sleepdeprivation is known to contribute to feeling blue. Over the Christmas period our sleep patterns tend to be more irregular, due to late nights, sleeping in unfamiliar surroundings at relatives’ houses, and the consumption of more than usual quantities of alcohol. Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, and ensure you get at least eight-hours sleep for a couple of weeks. See how much your mood and performance increases.

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Great Gardening Books If you didn’t get what you wanted for Christmas now is the perfect time to curl up in front of the fire with a gardening book you’ve brought for yourself. We have a few to recommend. RHS Great British Village Show by Matthew Biggs and Thane Prince The village show is a quintessential British tradition, and for many gardeners it represents the pinnacle of their sowing and growing year. This charming and informative book takes you behind the scenes of this very British institution, offering insights into the worlds of judges and contestants. It’s beautifully illustrated with photographs, and offers wonderful gems of insider information, including how to stage your produce, and what the judges are really looking for.

There are even recipes for prize-worthy jams and preserves. If you’ve never attended a village show this book will make you yearn for a summer of tents and teas; you might even be tempted to become a competitor.

She also stresses the benefits of companion planting and provides ideas. The bite-sized designs (pun totally intended!) allow you to extend by one square metre each season, or to pick your favourites.

If you long to have butterflies and bees in your flowerbeds, birds singing in your trees, and hedgehogs bustling about under your bushes then look no further than this wonderful guide to wildlife gardening

One Magic Square by Lolo Hubein – Following on from the previous book, have you ever wanted to have a go at growing your own vegetables and fruit but feel completely clueless?

The magic of square-metre gardening is in allowing your project to grow in a manageable way, from simple to more complex. There are even designs catering for different tastes and specific diets.

Adrian Thomas explains the intricacies of attracting wildlife to your garden whether you have a small plot or more than an acre. His style is accessible, but rich in detail.

We’re always hearing that the best and cheapest food is the food you grow in your own garden, but it all seems rather complicated to a total novice. In One Magic Square, Lolo Hubein shows how you can start your own productive food garden in ten minutes a day on a single square metre. She provides simple plot designs starting with salads, and gradually expanding to include beans, tomatoes, corn, roots and much more.

RSPB Gardening for Wildlife by Adrian Thomas -

He draws on the latest wildlife research to explain the ecological principles, and to dispel some of the myths which have traditionally prevented gardeners from pursuing a wildlife-friendly approach. There are practical projects to help you create entire habitats, and long lists of suitable plants and trees, and it’s packed to brim with helpful photographs. If you love wildlife and want to encourage more to visit your garden, this inspirational book will help you sow the seeds and reap the rewards.

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She hates the new regime and the sight of soldiers in her city, but gives very little thought to the treatment of the thousands of Jews living in the Netherlands. There are many books about the horrors of the Holocaust, some fictional, others biographical. This 2018 book is one of the later. Heather Morris had a chance encounter with Holocaust survivor Lale Sokolov in 2003, and over the following three years until his death, he told her the story of his life. Lale was a Slovakian Jew and in 1942, at the age of 25, he was transported to Auschwitz in Poland. Well presented and a bit of a chancer, he managed to get appointed to a job that would allow him to remain alive for the remainder of the war, and give him privileged accommodation and food. He became the Tatowierer whose job it was to scratch indelible numbers into the skin of prisoners. At first glance this might appear to be a depressing story, but it is ultimately not a story of death but a story of love, survival, and determination in the most horrific place on earth. Here the inmates try to maintain some level of existence despite the fear of death every day. Lale meets Gita, a young Jewish woman assigned to work in the camps and they plan for the seemingly unthinkable: a life beyond the camps. What Morris gives us is a story that you won’t be able to put down. A story of hope that will uplift you and reveal the very best of humanity.

The Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse

That is until one of her clients presents her with a rather unusual request. She wants her to find Mirjam – a 15 year old Jewish girl whose family have been killed and who was in hiding until she vanished. This request takes Hanneke into a world of resistance that she never knew existed, and the true horror of the treatment of Jews becomes apparent. Hesse brings 1940s Amsterdam vividly to life and incorporates real stories of individual heroism (such as the resistance workers who saved up to 600 babies by smuggling them out of Amsterdam) among the fictional characters she has created. Inspired by a trip to Holocaust-related sites in and around Amsterdam she draws on the real life accounts of resistance writers during the war and Jews in hiding, to present a story of how simple acts and unwitting betrayal can change lives.

Learn A New Language Want to learn a new language in 2019? It’s not as hard as you think! I learned Spanish alongside my son to encourage him while he was studying for his GCSE. It started as a joke, but I quickly became hooked. Here’s what I learned about language learning. New words? - You may not need to learn as many as you think! In English just 300 words make up 65% of all written material! We use some words a lot, and luckily that’s the case in every other language too. You can buy or make decks of flash cards of these words. There is even a flash card app called Anki which presents words at precisely the right intervals to maximise memorisation. Cognates - These are words which are spelled almost the same in English and which have the same meaning. In French, lots of ‘ion’ words are spelled the same even though they are pronounced differently: action, nation, communication etc. In Spanish the same words end in ‘ción’ and in Italian ‘zione’. Simple right? There are also words such as

hélicoptère (French) or aeropuerto (Spanish) which are similar enough to the English word that you will recognise them immediately. You can google ‘Cognates’ for the language you are learning. Interaction - You need to hear and speak the language consistently. Look up Radio stations, YouTube channels, news websites, and blogs in the language you want to learn. Advertise for someone to practice conversation with. Ask friends on Facebook or in the school playground whether they know a native speaker who would converse with you for half an hour in exchange for coffee and cake! There are groups dedicated to language exchange on Facebook too. By forcing yourself to converse you will improve very quickly. Free Resources – I have passable Spanish thanks to the Duo Lingo app. The BBC has introductory courses to around 40 different languages. Omniglot.com is a great open-source resource to all manner of languages, and I found fluentu.com brilliant for Spanish.

Embrace mistakes – We learn by making mistakes. As children we speak, we’re corrected, and we adapt. Even at aged fifty I still come across new English words and phrases. You can’t ever completely learn a language. Just use everything you know with the emphasis on communication rather than perfection. Native speakers will not be offended by your slips...they will most likely be charmed and fall over themselves to help correct you.

Use SMART goals - SMART means Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timed. A good example is, ‘By the end of January I will be able to hold a simple conversation with a waiter, book a table, order food, and ask for the bill. Or you might aim to complete three lessons per day on Duo Lingo for the whole of a month. You might even set yourself the task of passing an online test, a GCSE. The point is, you have a time frame, and the achievements you make are measurable, so you can see how far you’ve come.

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Make The Most Of The January Sales We all love a bargain, and sales save us so much money, right? Yes...but you need to shop smart to take proper advantage of the discounts, and to avoid buying things you don’t need. So here is our one-stop shopping guide to the January Sales. Do your research - Many retailers market their sales beforehand and some even let you fill your shopping cart before sales officially open. This means you can think and plan, and make sure that your purchases are relevant to your needs. Goodbye postsales regrets! Shop your wardrobe first - Take stock of what you already own. This is important when you’re sales shopping. It’s easy to get caught up in the frenzy of snapping up a great deal only to find that you already own three almost identical items to the bargain you just bought. If you go sales shopping armed with the knowledge that you DON’T need brown boots, or another leather jacket, you are more likely to make wise buying choices. NG HALF DISCOVER OL.pdf

CMY

Also, if you already know what you do own you can think about what each item you purchase will co-ordinate with, and just like that, you’re adding cool-headed calm to the salesshopping mix! Don’t forget postage costs - If you’re shopping online, extra costs like postage, customs and shipping aren’t usually included in discounts. Factor this in and keep checking your cart before you hit the ‘Pay’ button. Force yourself to try things on - If it’s worth queueing for the changing room, and you still love it when it’s on, it’s probably a good find! If you can’t be bothered to queue then put it back, you don’t love it that much. Set a budget - If you don’t start with a limit you’re almost guaranteed to blow your budget. Because...new clothes! Also treat your budget as a limit not a target! Beware of returns policies - Most retailers won’t let you return sale items just because you don’t like them once you get them home but... 06/11/2017

17:12

Know your rights - If a sale item is faulty then your rights as a consumer are exactly the same as if the item was full price. Plan your route - Planning will keep you focused and avoid you being lured into shops you’re better off avoiding. Take a friend - Make sure they are the rational, honest type of friend who will tell you if something doesn’t suit you or doesn’t fit you. to keep you from blowing your budget on things you shouldn’t.

Wear clothes that are easy to get in and out of - you don’t want to have to spend half an hour in the changing room taking off boots with fiddly catches and tops with twenty buttons multiple times. ‘Nuff said! Eat something first - Food is cheaper and healthier at home. Plus, it’s scientific fact that clothes shopping on an empty stomach causes us to make impulse buys to satisfy hunger cravings! The human brain is quirky like that. Happy shopping. By Sarah Davey

Seeds Of Change

Once Upon A Time

How many seeds have you eaten today? Probably more than you realise. As a nation, we consume tons of them every day and whether they are ground to make our bread, mushed to accompany our chips or sprinkled on our burger bun, seeds play an important role in our diet as well as in our garden!

National Storytelling week runs from January 26th – February 2nd When did you last tell a story? Probably more recently than you think because as humans we tend to think in images and narrative. Think about your favourite anecdote; the one you’re called upon to recount at every family gathering and which gets embellished a little more each time it’s told. That’s story telling in action and it’s the oldest art form in the world. Since man first developed the power of speech, stories have been the traditional medium of communication between generations, used to educate and entertain. There is evidence of storytelling in languages as diverse as Sanskrit, Old German, Latin, Chinese, Greek, Icelandic and Old Slavonic. One of the earliest surviving records is from Egyptian culture. The sons of Cheops (the pyramid builder) are pictured in hieroglyphics on ancient papyrus entertaining him with stories. Specialist storytellers evolved, known as bards. They were also poets and musicians and their job was to entertain by creating and performing poetic oral narrations. These generally chronicled the events of a war or praised the daring deeds and achievements of leaders and their forebears. Bards were also known as minstrels and jongleurs and often enjoyed a high status within their community.

The bardic community preserved many tales from different cultures which are still enjoyed today, including: • The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood (English) • The Iliad and The Odyssey (Greek) • The Tain (Irish) • The Ramayana (Indian) Religious leaders also made use of storytelling to guide and teach their followers. This practice is still used, particularly in Hinduism and Buddhism Ordinary folk also told stories, particularly at festival time and many such folk tales were collected and recorded by writers such as The Brothers Grimm. The Society for Storytelling organises the National Storytelling Week each year to promote the art, value and practice of storytelling. Storytelling events will be taking place in schools, libraries, museums, art galleries and residential homes. Check out what’s in your area. Web Address - The Society for Story Telling www.sfs.org.uk By Lesley Wade

Most of the seed heads that were left over from autumn have now fallen over, disintegrated, or been eaten by hungry birds, so as part of my ‘outdoor housework’ I’m cutting them down to ground level before the new growth begins to emerge next month. The stately seed heads of Stipa gigantea looked fantastic for such a long period of time, as did the erect stems of Calamagrostis ‘Karl Forester’, but even these have been defeated by the wind. It may be cold outside, but now is the perfect time for planning what to grow this year, from seed of course! Over recent years the popularity of growing your own vegetables has meant that veg seed sales have overtaken those of traditional flowers, but you really can’t beat the satisfaction of plants from seed. The first plants I ever grew were Snap Dragons. I was fifteen, and I found the packet in the back of a drawer (presumably they had been stuck to a box of cereal at some stage). I diligently followed the instructions for sowing and placed them on top of my wardrobe (I’m not quite sure why I did that).

I potted them on and they produced the most beautiful range of colours all summer long, and that was the moment I became hooked on gardening. It wasn’t really a surprise that they germinated, as that’s what seeds are designed to do. They can survive in their dormant state for years, and because there are often more seeds per packet than you know what to do with, I always sow just a few more than I need and return the rest to a sealed container in the fridge. Stored like this they keep for years. To give them the best start in life, most seeds require just a tray of compost and some warmth. Large seeds should be covered over with compost, but small seeds left uncovered as they often don’t have enough energy to push new leaves through the soil. Prick out singly once large enough to handle and grow on somewhere frostfree, before gradually hardening off ready for life outdoors.

What happened next really was a miracle. They germinated! It was hard to believe

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Do You Need A Social Detox? to work-related matters and keep the relationship strictly professional. Social media is trickier. Blocking or unfriending can make life awkward if you share mutual friends or work together. I would suggest you unfollow rather than unfriend, and don’t interact with them.

January is the traditional time for a detox after the excesses of the festive period, so how about a social detox? Do I need one? If there is someone in your life who drains your emotional energy, then that person is likely to be toxic and you are better off without them.

The algorithms of most social media sites tend to flag up people you interact with regularly, so by not commenting or responding to them they will gradually disappear from your online world.

Fortunately, our seven-step plan will free you from social toxicity in 2019 Identify – Toxic people are manipulative and selfish. They are impossible to work with. They rarely apologise for or own their mistakes. If you dread spending time with a person, they are probably toxic and it’s time to move on. If it’s a colleague or a boss start looking for another job. Be determined - The person might be part of your social circle, or your immediate superior, or they might recognise that you are distancing yourself and try to claw back the friendship. You need to be clear in your own mind and create a mental separation, even if you can’t create a physical one right now. Set boundaries – Don’t respond to texts, block their number if you can. If it’s a work colleague, only respond

Stick to your boundaries because toxic people exploit weakness. Be less ‘nice’ - Not to everyone, just to toxic people. Toxic people take advantage of kind people. They thrive by draining your good energy. There is no need to be nasty, simply stop being overly accommodating.

problem is not your responsibility. Family matters - Toxic family members are particularly difficult to deal with as a clean break is often impossible. But you can still establish clear boundaries, even if they are in your head. Limit interactions, perhaps only phone a toxic parent once a month for 20 minutes, or restrict visits to three times per year, whatever works for you. The point is, take control, visualise your boundaries clearly then stick to them. Treat it like a relationship break- up - Be kind to yourself. We are primed as humans to need relationships, but we don’t need unhealthy relationships.

The more time you spend away from toxic people, with positive, loving people who bring joy to your life, the more uplifted you will feel. Make time for people who bring you happiness and let go of those who bring you anything less. IMPORTANT - Please note that there is a difference between people who are truly toxic and people who have a negative outlook because they struggle with depression. Most of us can tell the difference between toxicity and depression. If your friend or family member suffers from clinical depression let them know that you love and support them. Don’t cut them out of your life. By Louise Addison

Accept you can’t save them - Toxic people show up when they need something: attention, money; a shoulder to cry on. They want a way back into your life. Be determined and maintain your boundaries. If they are in real straits direct them to resources that specialise in the help they currently require. Solving their

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Are You Sweet Enough? It’s January again, when many of us are feeling more than a little guilty about all the over-indulgence. We’re making resolutions to cut-down and shape-up. This article is not exactly good news for cake, biscuits, and chocolatelovers, but the latest statistics for the growing crisis of type 2 diabetes, makes far worse reading! Baroness Young, chief executive of Diabetes UK, is determined to spread the word as some 2.8 million people in the UK have been diagnosed with it, and an estimated 850,000 more probably have it, but don’t yet know it. All carbohydrates are converted to glucose in the body and our cells use this as their primary source of fuel. Glucose enters our cells using insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. Type 2 diabetes develops when the body does not produce enough insulin to maintain a normal blood glucose level, or when the body is unable to effectively use the insulin that is being

produced, resulting in high glucose levels in the blood. The biggest risk factors are: having a family member with the problem, being overweight, especially around the waist, and being over 40 years of age. People of South Asian or African descent are at higher risk at a younger age. These ethnic groups are generally less able to digest lactose (milk sugar). Research is also beginning into the growing evidence of a link between diabetes and milk intolerance. Excess calories are stored as fat, and an accumulation of excess fat around the liver and the pancreas is thought to be a key cause of type 2 diabetes. Check your own risk score on Diabetes UK’s own website, www. diabetes.org.uk. You should consult your GP if you’re already experiencing increased thirst, blurred vision, tiredness and urinating more than usual.

Fortunately, eating less sugar, salt and fat and exercising more regularly will help to reduce the risk. You may need to consider diluting fruit juices and limiting dried fruits, such as figs and raisins, and sweeter fruits like ripe bananas and grapes which although packed with nutrients, do contain high sugar levels. White bread, pastry and white rice also create a sugar rush compared to the wholegrain version. The New Year is a good time to start making changes. A chromium

supplement may help if sugar cravings become a problem. Small regular meals, containing protein with vegetables, and healthy snacks, such as nuts and berries in between meals, will help to stabilise blood glucose levels and stop between-meal hunger pangs. These days it is easier to cut down on fats rather than sugars. When offered sweet treats just decline politely, explaining that you’re sweet enough! Sue Blain Naturopath

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Best Diet Changes A new year - a new start. How can you start improving your diet and your chances of leading a healthier lifestyle? First – eat breakfast! After many hours without food our bodies need refuelling to bring the blood sugar back up and ensure the brain and muscles are functioning properly. Eating breakfast aids concentration and creates energy. Drink more water We lose on average 2-4 litres of water a day, which needs to be replaced. Current advice is to drink 6-8 glasses daily to ensure that our brain, blood and muscles are able to function at their best. Eat more fruit and vegetables. Their vitamins and minerals boost the immune system, whilst antioxidants fight cancer and disease, and fibre cleanses the gut. We should eat five portions per day. Eat less red meat Reduce the risk of bowel and other cancers. Health experts suggest 500g per week (the equivalent of one steak, one pork chop, 2 sausages and a portion of Bolognese sauce) or 70g per day (three rashes of bacon). Eat more consciously Take time to really taste and savour the food in your mouth. Be aware of the textures and flavours - and chances are you will enjoy your food more whilst eating less of it! Remember, you are what you eat. Eat healthy, be healthy!

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New Year Traditions

New Year Traditions From Around the Globe Amazing firework displays from around the world have become a familiar sight on New Year’s news programmes. Many countries also have traditional forms of celebration dating back hundreds of years. In the UK many people observe firstfooting. This is traditionally done by a young, healthy, good looking male with dark hair. He carries gifts which include a piece of coal, money, bread and salt, and should be the first person through the front door after the New Year begins. This is believed to bring good luck. Auld Lang Syne is the familiar tune that many of us sing. This represents remembrance of old friends and times spent with them. Generally credited to Robert Burns, he actually said he was merely noting the words of an ‘old man’s singing.’ He set these words to the tune of a traditional Scottish ditty ‘Can Ye Labour Lea.’ In Denmark traditions involve smashing plates. People throw broken plates on to friends’ doorsteps. This symbolises good wishes for the year ahead. Another tradition involves leaping from chairs on the strike of midnight. In Austria, New Years Eve is called Sylvesterabend which means Eve of Saint Sylvester. Suckling pig and peppermint ice cream are traditional food for New Year celebrations. Tables

are often decorated with marzipan pigs, and good luck symbols made out of chocolate or marzipan in shapes such as chimney sweeps, coins, or horseshoes are exchanged. Lead is considered to be auspicious in Germany so at New Year, they pour molten lead into cold water and see what shape develops. It is believed that this predicts the future, so: heart shapes symbolize marriage, round shapes denote good luck, and a ship means a journey. People also leave a bit of every food eaten on New Year’s Eve on their plate until after Midnight, as a way of ensuring a well-stocked larder. Carp is also included, as it is thought to bring wealth. Whereas in Brazil, lentils are seen as a symbol of wealth and prosperity and thus are traditionally part of a New Year’s meal. Other customs include priestesses of the local macumba voodoo cult, dressing up in blue and white for a ceremony dedicated to the god of water Yemanja. In addition, a sacrificial boat laden with jewellery, candles and flowers is pushed out from Ipenama beach in a bid to bring health, wealth and happiness. In Greece, 1st January is also St Basil’s Day. He is remembered for his kindness and generosity to the poor. Vassilopitta, or St Basil’s cake, is one of the special dishes that is prepared and contains a silver or gold coin. Whoever finds the coin will be lucky for the next year.

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Get a Life, Get a Life Coach! Several years ago I was making my way through the supermarket checkout, when a sign on the community notice board caught my eye: “A New You For 2012”.

Differing from both counseling and therapy, the emphasis in coaching is not on examining or diagnosing the past, but is more about planning for the future.

Intrigued, I stopped to find out more and ended up signing up for a year’s life coaching.

Rather than focusing on how bad a problem is, the client is encouraged to consider instead the best solution for the problem.

The basic aim of a life coach is to help a person realise their individual potential. Through a series of coaching sessions that usually take place weekly and often over the phone, the coach helps the client assess their current situation. They help to identify changes or improvements they would like to make, and then helps devise strategies, tools and techniques to achieve their goals. Key to the success of this process is the special relationship of trust that develops between the coach and the client. Coaching is offered in confidence and is totally nonjudgmental and impartial.

The support offered through life coaching is often holistic in nature, and is aimed at helping the individual achieve overall wellbeing by setting in balance all aspects of their life. For example, they will be encouraged to evaluate their work and home life, health, finances and social life - thus helping them to achieve a fulfilling, successful and stress-free life. The personalised support structure offered by life coaching helps the client deal with human factors like fear, doubt, or a loss of stamina. Negative thoughts and mental blocks that might otherwise get in the way of them achieving the results they desire.

One ‘tool’ that might help change feelings of doubt and fear to ones of confidence and optimism, is the ability to recall happy, positive memories from the past.

So, take a look at your life as it is today, as it will be in the months and years to come.

By engaging in regular coaching sessions, an individual is able to take time out each week to look objectively at their life.

See if there are things you’d like to change to make your life run better, to realise ambitions, fulfill potential, be happier, less stressed, more profitable, more peaceful, sociable, or fun.

Without this discipline, many would not find the time to do it.

Maybe life coaching is the way forward for you!

Similarly, having someone to talk to and plan with each week, helps to keep them focused and motivated.

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A Happy New Year

Even in a digital age diaries are surprisingly popular Christmas gifts. Perhaps you found yourself sitting pen-poised on January 1st.

On January 1st, 1660 Samuel Pepys was in the same position. That was the day he began his diary. He could have had no idea what an important document it would become.

In the UK many people observe firstfooting. This is traditionally done by a young, healthy, good looking male with dark hair. He carries gifts which include a piece of coal, money, bread and salt, and should be the first person through the front door after the New Year begins. This is believed to bring good luck. Auld Lang Syne is the familiar tune that many of us sing. This represents remembrance of old friends and times spent with them. Generally credited to Robert Burns, he actually said he was merely noting the words of an ‘old man’s singing.’ He set these words to the tune of a traditional Scottish ditty ‘Can Ye Labour Lea.’ In Denmark traditions involve smashing plates. People throw broken plates on to friends’ doorsteps. This symbolises good wishes for the year ahead. Another tradition involves leaping from chairs on the strike of midnight. In Austria, New Years Eve is called Sylvesterabend which means Eve of Saint Sylvester. Suckling pig and peppermint ice cream are traditional food for New Year celebrations. Tables are often decorated with marzipan pigs, and good luck symbols made out of chocolate or marzipan in shapes such as chimney sweeps, coins, or horseshoes are exchanged. Lead is considered to be auspicious in Germany so at New Year, they pour molten lead into cold water and see

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Diary Like Pepys

It is one of the most important documents for historians studying the English Restoration period, which coincidentally also began in 1660. what shape develops. It is believed that this predicts the future, so: heart shapes symbolize marriage, round shapes denote good luck, and a ship means a journey. People also leave a bit of every food eaten on New Year’s Eve on their plate until after Midnight, as a way of ensuring a well-stocked larder. Carp is also included, as it is thought to bring wealth. Whereas in Brazil, lentils are seen as a symbol of wealth and prosperity and thus are traditionally part of a New Year’s meal. Other customs include priestesses of the local macumba voodoo cult, dressing up in blue and white for a ceremony dedicated to the god of water Yemanja.

Pepys’ diaries are special because for just under a decade he recorded the minutiae of his everyday life. It helped that he was quite well-connected. His cousin, Edward Montagu, was a high-ranking naval officer who found a position for Pepys at the Navy Office in the City of London. His hard work and talent saw Pepys promoted through the ranks very quickly.

of the ships which sailed to Holland to bring Charles II back to England. He attended King Charles II’s coronation, and he was also President of the Royal Society for a while. Pepys recorded everything. He gave vivid accounts of the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London. It is from him that we are able to relive the theatre of the period, as well as fashion and popular food and drink. His diary has been of invaluable assistance to historians and has given much pleasure to its many readers.

His cousin’s position also meant that Pepys was present at many important events, all of which he recorded in his meticulous shorthand.

We are in turbulent times right now, and about to enter an extraordinary year for our country. Who knows…the historians of the future might be reading your entries on the aftermath of Brexit!

For example, Pepys was aboard one

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In addition, a sacrificial boat laden with jewellery, candles and flowers is pushed out from Ipenama beach in a bid to bring health, wealth and happiness. In Greece, 1st January is also St Basil’s Day. He is remembered for his kindness and generosity to the poor. Vassilopitta, or St Basil’s cake, is one of the special dishes that is prepared and contains a silver or gold coin. Whoever finds the coin will be lucky for the next year.

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Wedding Plans Whilst a Saturday Summer wedding remains the most popular choice, some couples are increasingly taking advantage of discounted off peak and last minute wedding packages. The Ceremony

Many say their wedding was the best day of their lives! For others, the stress of planning the event turned the whole thing into a nightmare. So, whether your dream wedding is big and grand, or small and simple, here are some tips to help you have your perfect wedding day. Some couples will pick their wedding date first, whilst others will choose their venue. If you have a strong preference for a particular date, then do try and book at least 12 months in advance as the most popular venues soon become booked for prime dates.

To become legally married, you can choose a religious service, a civil ceremony, or get married abroad. Churches may require you to attend regularly, be baptised and / or live in the parish, so check this in plenty of time to avoid disappointment. Whilst many feel a civil ceremony can be more personal with a greater opportunity to choose vows, readings and music which suits the individuals, all weddings have strict legal requirements. Your eligibility to marry will be checked, and your service must fulfil established criteria. If you wish to marry abroad, you must meet your destination’s wedding requirements as well as UK law. You will usually require a ring or rings as part of the ceremony.

The Catering Once you’ve arranged your wedding ceremony, you can think about your celebrations. As well as thinking about how you will get to your wedding, if your day includes several venues, you will need to provide your guests with directions or could choose to provide transport for them during the event. You will also need to decide where you want your photographs taken at a multi-venue wedding. Most newlyweds provide their guests with food and drink. Catering can be a large part of the wedding budget, so you should make sure you know what’s included in any packages offered. The timing of a wedding can be important in determining how many meals you will need to provide for guests. Lots of couples choose a theme for their wedding. This may be a colour based theme, or a genre such as Victorian or Hollywood. This theme can be facilitated through the clothing, flowers, invitations and table settings that are chosen. The Cake The wedding cake is a traditional part of many weddings. Increasingly modern designs and cakes with

various flavourings are featured instead of tiered iced fruit cakes. The cake offers a further opportunity for the bride and groom to stamp their personality on proceedings, and some also choose to use the cake as a dessert for their guests to save on costs. The Venue Make sure your venue has the capacity to deal with all your guests, check the access arrangements for less mobile attendees, and if you have guests who want to stay overnight , ensure the venue has bedrooms or that there are hotels close by. If you want to celebrate until the early hours, check the venue’s licensing hours, and as some venues do not allow fireworks if they are high on your wish list, remember to ask about this before parting with a deposit. The Entertainment Many couples choose to have singers, musicians or entertainers as part of their wedding day. There may be a choir or other performers during the ceremony, an opportunity for music in the background at the Reception and to accompany evening dancing.

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Or you may choose to provide acts such as waiters who become opera singers, children’s’ entertainers, magicians, or a live band.

Keep Warm This Winter In the dark, dank days of January, it’s vital that we keep ourselves warm.

The Dress Of course, no wedding would be complete without the outfits. Many wedding dresses can take several months to arrive at UK shops, so be sure to order in plenty of time. You may also be surprised, and disappointed to find, that the dream dress you chose from a magazine or in a shop window does not suit you, so allow sufficient time to try on enough dresses to be sure you’ve found the perfect one. Think about your size, height and perhaps the theme of your wedding to determine whether an A line dress, Empire, Sheath, strapless, long or short dress will be the one for you. Do remember that you might require help to get into your dress on the day, particularly if it has a lace up back or small buttons. Set yourself a realistic budget, and remember that you need to pay for accessories too. Once the bride’s dress is chosen you can focus on the bridesmaids,

For older people particularly, cold weather can lead to health problems such as chest infections, heart attacks and strokes.

other attendants and the bridegroom. Usually the style and formality of these will follow the brides outfit. Many of the guests, including the Mother of the Bride, will also want to take care to ensure they have the perfect clothing and accessories, so do encourage them to shop well ahead. And if there is a theme let them know, so that they can enjoy feeling a special part of your wonderful wedding day. Congratulations and enjoy planning your wedding! By Sue Brookes

The Government recommends that we keep our main living room between 18 and 21°C, and the rest of the house at a minimum of 16°C.

There’s nothing worse than being cold in bed, so use an electric blanket or hot water bottle before you get in, and wear bed socks. Eat plenty of warming stews and soups, and have regular hot drinks. Spices such as chilli, cayenne pepper, cinnamon and ginger will warm you up from the inside! It is also important to keep active – try to move around at least once an hour.

You may be eligible for Winter Fuel Payments of up to £400 if you were born on or before 5 July 1950 – call 08459 151515 for details. Also, the Warm Front Scheme (0800 316 2805) offers grants for heating and insulation improvements. Make sure you wrap up warm when you’re indoors and out, at daytime and night. Several thinner layers are more effective at trapping heat than one thick layer. Thermal underwear is a great investment, and a hat, scarf and gloves will stop you losing body heat.

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Sale Savvy SALE! No matter where you look or where you go, the message at this time of the year is the same: now is the time to bag yourself a bargain. Yet even though buying items in the sales can make your hard earned cash go further, please remember that you are still spending money, not saving it! Here are a few tips for getting the best possible deals without ending up with buyer’s remorse! First of all, do your homework before the sales start. Visit your favourite shops and pick out the items that you really want to buy, and even try them on beforehand. Make a list and stick to it, then when the shops open you can make a beeline for the items you want without wasting time, and risking life and limb battling with a hundred other shoppers who are elbowing their way through the pile of reduced items! Alternatively, why not shop online? Still do the research, but buy in the comfort of your home without having to wrestle your way through a busy store. Online shops usually give some indication of stock levels. If they only have a few items left then make your purchase at the beginning of the sale, but if there are plenty, why not wait a week or so to see if the price drops further? When deciding what to buy in the sales, don’t choose anything that you wouldn’t be tempted to pay full price for. If you don’t love it, don’t buy it – or you could end up with something you won’t wear and it will end up being a complete waste of money – no matter how much you ‘saved’ compared with the usual price!

New Year New Hobby

When tempted to buy something, ask yourself whether you already have something like it in your wardrobe at home. If you do, it begs the question, do you really need it? You might have a penchant for a particular style or colour, but honestly, how many black pencil skirts do you really need?! That said, it is much better to buy items that

you can add to your capsule wardrobe than it is to snap up a statement jacket, or bizarre shirt, that will only team up with one or two pieces in your clothing collection - even if does have 70% off! Stick with classic, timeless designs in tonal colours that suit your skin type, and in styles that flatter your body shape. Choose neutral colours which can be dressed up or down with colourful accessories and your clothes will go much further! So, armed with this guide to savvy sales shopping, go grab yourself a bag and bag yourself a bargain! Debbie Singh-Bhatti

Eat healthily, start exercising, get more sleep… As you list your usual New Year resolutions, why not add in something fun for once? January is the perfect time to lift your spirits out of a winter slump by starting a new hobby, and there have never been so many activities to try. To narrow down your choice, think about what you’d like to add your life. Do you want to meet more people? Be more active? Learn a skill? Get creative? You may want to develop something that you are already interested in, or try something completely new. Look around to find out what’s going on. Your adult education centre and library will be able to help, and you’ll find information in cafés, newsagents, community centres and local magazines. If you were inspired by the 2012 Olympics, you could try a new sport or exercise class, but getting fit doesn’t have to mean sport. Why not follow the Strictly contestants and sample the benefits of ballroom dancing or Zumba, or simply aim to get out more and enjoy the countryside? Geocaching is an exciting new outdoor activity that the whole family can enjoy. It’s essentially a high-tech treasure hunt. Another new trend is roller derby – a fast-paced contact sport where teams race to lap the opposition as they skate around the track.

If you fancy using your mind more than your body, you could learn a new language in preparation for a foreign holiday perhaps. Or build on an existing interest by joining a photography class or book group. Music can reduce stress and improve your mood, so why not dust off that instrument you haven’t touched for years and join an amateur orchestra? Choirs are increasingly popular and you’re sure to find a range of musical styles available. Crafts have had a real boost lately, with knitting and sewing groups setting up all over the country. Jewellery and card-making are also satisfying. You can get started quite cheaply and pick up the basics quickly. The bonus is that you get to keep the end result, or give it as a gift. You also have the potential to earn money by selling your creations. Increased access to computers means that we can get involved in a whole host of new communities without even leaving the house. Many of us enjoy researching our family trees and finding the facts behind our memories. It’s also easy to use social networks to track down old school friends and colleagues that we’ve lost touch with. And if none of these is for you, how about foraging, meditation, wine-tasting, line-dancing, magic tricks, bee-keeping, historical reenactments, home baking…the list really is endless!

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In The Groove

Mobile Safety Phone security is a serious issue! Nowadays it’s probably more worrying if someone steals your phone than your purse because of the amount of data stored on it: bank, Facebook, Twitter, and Amazon accounts, are the tip of the iceberg. Your first line of defence is to make it hard for thieves to get into the phone. Make sure you’ve got your phone lock turned on so that they have to enter your password. If you’re using a pattern or pin code to unlock the phone make sure it’s not something simple like 1234 or a rectangle.

Records are enjoying a revival “Mum this stuff is awesome! You should totally listen to it!” That was my teenage son ‘discovering’ my 80’s vinyl collection and my father’s collection of 78s. Because of course my dad and I know nothing about music while he and his friends are experts. In the age of the strangely invisible digital sound file, I watched his burgeoning love affair with these solid pieces of sound history with some amusement. 78s in particular are very tactile: the thick, heavy shellac, the dust, the stiff card cover. There’s a richness about them which time hasn’t dulled. In the way of teens, Charlie began to google his latest obsession. “Mum, did you know that in the early days they discovered that recording a piano while it was on the floor made it sound too tinny, so they suspended pianos in the air and made the pianist perch on an elevated platform? Cool?” I had to concede that I did not know this! Over the coming weeks I also learned that because there was no sound equipment early on, there was no way of modulating the volume of a singer to prevent distortion when recording. To get round this, someone stood behind the singer reading the score, and when a particularly high note or loud phrase was imminent they pulled the singer away from the mic! Wonder what Mariah Carey would make of being manhandled like that? Our language even evolved to reflect our love of records. The phrase ‘In the

groove’, ‘Groovy’, ‘To groove,’ all relate to the grooves on a 78, LP or single. In spite of all the studio shortcomings, collectors of old records swear the sound quality of 78s in particular has never been surpassed. The hiss and scratch caused by the patina and deterioration of old shellac discs appeals to them. As Charlie’s interest deepened, he spent a lot of time in specialist record stores and at collectors’ fairs. A surprising number of people deal in vinyl or 78s or both, and most of them are friendly individuals with a wealth of knowledge they are happy to share. It’s a curious fact that in the age of huge TVs and surround-sound, the sound quality of the music many of us listen to is going backwards, because often we listen through tiny earbuds or mobile phone speakers. It is also curious that many young musicians, steeped in electronics, are rediscovering the joy of playing with sound on vinyl and shellac, in much the same way that the scratch and mix DJs of the seventies, eighties and nineties did. Lots of us must have an old record player stashed in the attic along with our old vinyl LPs. We may even own a few 78s, inherited from our parents. The heyday of CDs lasted a mere 15 years, but there is more than 60 years’ of music recorded on to these older formats. Think about that. Perhaps it’s time to get them out, dust them off, and introduce a new generation to the joy of tangible sound.

SIM cards can be switched to another phone and used to run up bills of thousands of pounds. Notify your provider as soon as you realise your phone is missing. A delay may mean that you incur unnecessary charges. Although phone companies are being exhorted to cap the amount of liability a customer incurs if their phone is misused, at the time of writing this is not commonplace. Make sure your SIM is locked, as well as your handset, and check with your provider to see if you can voluntarily place a cap on your usage; that way, the phone will cut out once the limit is reached. Switch your location service on. Your phone will then be able to tell you where it is. Apple, Android and other major systems all have online phone location websites. You can locate and lock the phone, make it ring or even wipe it. Mobile phones, like laptops are open to hackers. In general phones are more secure from virus attacks, but you still need to be wary of criminals. Virus attacks on phones mostly occur via dodgy apps. Apple are very strict about what is allowed into iTunes so virus protection isn’t an issue. On Android devices you need to be

more careful. Read reviews carefully and check the permissions the app requests when you install it. If it’s a simple app asking for full access to your phone, it should ring alarm bells. If in doubt don’t install. Most of the major security companies produce Android apps to give you an extra level of security. Install one of these to give you extra peace of mind. Remember, when your phone connects to a Wi-Fi hotspot all the information it sends and receives passes through the computer controlling that hotspot. Always be aware of who owns the hotspot and how much you trust them. Most data, like bank logins and other major services, are highly encrypted so they can’t be stolen. However, other websites you use will not be as secure and may allow your login details to be hi-jacked. Check that the website or app you are using is secure (look for a little padlock icon) before you type in your details, especially card details. If in any doubt, don’t use it. Phone security is mostly about being aware of the problem and using common sense. If you follow the steps above, then even if you do lose your phone, it shouldn’t cause you any serious issues.

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