The Brockenhurst Guide - August 2023

Forest Park Roofing is your local family roofer in the New Forest. With over 30 years’ experience we undertake all aspects of roofing driven by first class service and highly skilled workmanship that’s fully insured and guaranteed. From a small roof repair to a complete roof renewal or new roof, please contact us for free advice and estimates.

• Pitched roof repair & replacement

• Flat roof repair & replacement

• Single Ply/EPDM - Certified RubberBond FleeceBack Installer

• Roof windows - Certified VELUX Installer

• Chimney repairs, removal, caps

• Leadwork and much more

Forest Park Roofing, Unit 7, Barnes Farm Bus. Park, Barnes Lane, Lymington, SO41 0AP 01590 679074 / 07740 623646

www.forestparkroofing.co.uk

Five Generations Of

The Jose family have been master bakers since the 1890s and here in the New Forest area since 1905.

At The Bakehouse, we hand make our white bread which has been matured for 30 hours and is additive-free, providing a wonderful flavour and long lasting freshness.

To complete the process, the breads are then baked in authentic stone ovens for their traditional taste.

And if the thought of these hand made breads and pastries are making your mouth water, then why not drop in to The Bakehouse today for a made to order mid-morning or lunchtime treat?

Fresh breads and baguettes baked on the premises can be filled with all manner of wonderful fillings ranging from simple salads to fresh hog roast and apple sauce to create the sandwich of your dreams!

45 Brookley Road, Brockenhurst

Welcome...

Dear Residents,

It is with great pleasure that we deliver your July issue of The Brockenhurst Guide. As always, we have reliable trades people and businesses that would love to hear from you. We are here for you to connect with your local business owners and help the local economy thrive. Helping each other has been an intention of mine from a very early age and I love what we do here at Modern Magazines.

There are editorials and articles for you to read which we hope you enjoy, all in the comfort of your own home. We also have a Facebook page, and this magazine can be viewed online at: www.modernmagazines.co.uk

In addition to that we now have a fully interactive Hampshire E-Magazine (only online) and if that is of interest, please email me at: debbie@modernmagazines.co.uk and I will add your details for a free subscription to that magazine which has online games, competitions, local trades and much more.

With the summer holidays about to begin we wish you the best of summers with time to spend outside with family and friends.

Debbie, Stephen & all the team at Modern Magazines

England Expects

After winning the 2022 European Championships – the first major-tournament win in the Three Lions’ history, England go into the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand with confidence, unity and a weight of expectation.

England’s women are on a high. Their sensational Euros success has driven a new wave of British Bulldog belief, and it would be a mistake not to believe our Three Lions can repeat the incredible successes from 2022 and, in the process, continue to inspire a nation of female footballers.

Plus, with England’s Dutch coach Sarina Wiegman recording an 81% win ratio –her team scoring 138 goals in just 31 matches, with only one single defeat in that time, against Australia in a friendly in April – optimism is at an alltime high.

Wiegman’s players will commence their campaign by facing minnows Haiti in Brisbane on July 22nd, with the games against the other sides in Group D seeing them encounter Denmark on July 28th in Sydney and Asian

champions China in Adelaide on August 1st.

Winning Group D, as they should, may well land England a toughlooking second-round game against Canada, who ended Wiegman’s long winning run on a cold night in January 2022, in a 1-1 draw at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough. Beyond that, Germany looks the likely opposition in the quarter-finals.

While the majority of the personnel from the Euros triumph is set to go Down Under, Ellen White and Jill Scott retired on a high after the Euros win, so new heroes will be sought, particularly as the squad will be missing captain Leah Williamson, who was ruled out with an ACL injury in April.

Thankfully, there is much competition for

Williamson’s centre-back berth, and considerable versatility elsewhere with players able to adapt to new positions, something typical of Wiegman’s Dutch ‘Total Football’ roots.

Millie Bright and Lucy Bronze are mainstays, with Maya Le Tissier’s addition to the England fold a huge bonus due to her ability in playing right across the back line. Lotte WubbenMoy is another utility player, as are Lucy Parker, Jess Carter, Esme Morgan and Niamh Charles.

Keira Walsh and Georgia

Stanway look to have cemented their places in midfield, while Jordan Nobbs and Ella Toone are sure to be on the plane. The rest of that part of England’s squad is harder to call.

Alessia Rousso is looking more and more like the number nine, and with Beth England and Ebony Salmon pushing into contention, the squad looks competitive and should go close to that elusive World crown.

Brockenhurst is Awarded ‘Plastic Free Communities’ Status as it Takes Action on Single-Use Plastic.

Brockenhurst has joined a network of communities across the UK who are leading the way to tackle throw away plastic at source. The village has been awarded Plastic Free Community status by marine conservation charity, Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), in recognition of the work it has done to start reducing the impact of single-use plastic on the environment.

As an initiative of Greener Brockenhurst the campaign started last year after the idea was put forward at a community meeting and taken forward as a way of encouraging villagers, community groups and businesses to change habits.

Registering with the SAS Plastic Free Communities movement the group pulled together key organisations and businesses in the village to put in place a five-point plan. The objectives included; setting up a community led steering group, instigating the SAS Plastic Free Schools education programme, getting local council commitment and working with local businesses, organisations and community groups to spread the word and minimise the amount of disposable plastics they use.

The group have had fantastic backing for the campaign particularly from the community groups in the village who have all shown great commitment and support for the campaign. We now have in excess of 12 Community groups who have signed their pledge to become community allies and consider ways to cut down on the amount of plastic they use in their activities. They have also pledged to communicate the aims of the campaign to their members. These include St Saviours Church, the Scouts , Brownies, Mothers Union ,Allotment Association The Village Hall Brockenhurst Business Association and the W I.

Businesses have also played their part in winning the accreditation and made pledges on initiatives they will take to cut down on the plastic they use. Businesses who become Plastic Free Champions will display a badge of accreditation, so please look out for them around the village. The group are looking forward to more businesses taking the pledge to become champions as there are many that share the same ideals …so businesses please step forward and sign up at plasticfreebrockenhursf@gmail. com and we will guide you through and more information at plasticfree.org.uk/get-involved/ business

Community events to raise awareness have included a stall at the Queen’s Jubilee Fete last year, the village’s Christmas evening and litter picks around the Brockenhurst with more events being planned for the year to grow the group in the village.

Plastic Free Community status is not easily won and is a great achievement for the village and illustrates that there is a want and a wish to do more to reduce the amount of plastic used given the right encouragement. Camilla Pearce from the campaign said ” it has taken a lot of effort to get the accreditation but it great to see Brockenhurst join the many other communities committed to driving down their use of disposable plastic. Of course, the village is not plastic free but this is just the start of the journey. “

Follow our Journey on Facebook and our website www.facebook.com/profile. php?id=100086949344434 or contact us at plasticfreebrockenhursf@gmail.com

Puzzle Page Quick Crossword

2. Inn (3)

5. Relating to nature (6)

7. Associate (6)

9. Situation (11)

10. Scramble (6)

11. Comfortable position (6)

13. Take off (6)

Down Clues:

1. Frédéric (6)

2. Upper part of a woman’s dress (6)

3. Recover (6)

4. Relating to a state (6)

6. Writing in shorthand (11)

8. Not necessary (11)

16. Republic in Central America (6)

18. Rich country controls others (11)

19. Colour again (6)

20. Empty (6)

21. Humid (3)

10. Large Australian bird (3)

12. Seventh letter in the Greek alphabet (3)

14. Unpleasant sound (6)

15. Die (6)

16. Small nuts, under the ground (6)

17. Animals (6)

Word Ladder

Make

History Quiz

1. What year was the Battle of Hastings?

2. In which year did World War 2 start?

3. When was the Great Pyramid built?

4. What year was the Declaration of American Independence?

5. When was the formation of the League of Nations?

6. In which year was the Twin Towers attack?

7. What year was the crucifixion of Jesus Christ?

8. In what year did the Black Death outbreak start?

9. What year was the invention of the phone?

10. When did the Coronavirus pandemic occur?

Doreen’s pledge to Oakhaven

Doreen fundraised for the hospice for 15 years, making and selling her homemade pies, chutneys and marmalade. Inspired by the care a friend of hers had received from Oakhaven, Doreen decided to fundraise for us for a few months, which went into years, which resulted in raising a staggering £100,000. Doreen loves fundraising, loves the hospice, she has seen it grow and develop over the years and appreciates all that we do for our community.

As a way of helping Oakhaven be here for those who need us in the future, Doreen has pledged a gift in her will as a continuation of her fundraising for us. Doreen’s generosity will help us to make every moment matter for those who need us at a time of great uncertainty.

Gifts in Wills allows us to care for one in four patients.

Leaving a lasting legacy to Oakhaven in this way ensures we will be able to continue caring for those in our community when they need us most, helping us to make every moment matter.

my way of saying

Could you help us with a gift in your Will?

A pledge of any size really will make a difference to our future. Visit oakhavenhospice.co.uk/legacy for more information.

We also offer a free and confidential online Will writing service in partnership with Guardian Angel.

‘Fundraising is

“thank you” ’

Everything, Everywhere...but not all at once

Even at the age of 60, the 2023 Academy Award win may be the start of something big for Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh.

Multiverse sci-fi brain-wrecker Everything Everywhere, All At Once, starring Academy Award-winner Michelle Yeoh – who scooped the coveted Best Actress gong – is a movie that’s divided opinion. There are those who enjoyed it for what it is and how it was intended… a far-reaching film about love and acceptance, fun, creative, hilarious and unique; while others found it difficult to locate that necessary suspension of disbelief required for such a complex piece of theatre.

Either way, the main star of the mindbender, Michelle Yeoh, gave a virtuoso performance, deservedly won her nominated category (one of seven awards the film scooped at the prestigious event), in the process becoming the first Asian and only the second woman of colour to do so.

“When I was young back home in Malaysia, I never ever dreamt of being where I am today,” says the actress, who is now in her fifth decade of performing.

“There wasn’t a huge movie industry there and when I looked up at the screen to see stars mainly from the Western Hemisphere up there, shining

bright and looking so amazing, it was never

in my mind to think I could emulate them or.

“I appeared in an advert with Jackie Chan for Guy Laroche watches, but even then I thought that was the furthest I would venture, and that my life and my career was destined to remain back at home.”

Quickly though, Yeoh began to realise she had much more in common with the martial arts legend Chan than a simple timepiece, given she performed most of her own stunts in films such as Yes, Madam and Magnificent Warriors, as her career began to blossom.

she soon

The actress worked hard at refining the way she went about acting, and soon global acclaim arrived when she appeared alongside Pierce Brosnan in the Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies.

Big projects arrived in the form of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, then a slew of Hollywood projects, including Memoirs of a Geisha, Reign of Assassins, The Lady and Last Christmas.

“My biggest piece of advice is to listen to everyone and anyone!” she laughs. “It’s sometimes very easy to be precious about who you are and to what extent you want to bend and flip for the industry.

“We all go in with ideas of people loving us for being us, where really we are all products of everyone else’s influence, and we should be proud of that. You can never stop taking in the enrichment of others, no matter where you are in your career.”

Microblading, Ombre and Powder Brows

Who is this treatment suitable for?

• Naturally Thin Brows

• Alopecia

• Overplucked Brows

• Before Chemotherapy

• 6 Months After Chemotherapy

• Asymmetrical Brows

• Adding Extra Volume

……and anybody who would like beautiful, distinctive and attractive eyebrows

MICROBLADING is the latest cosmetic trend using a semi-permanent tattoo make-up technique, where the well-trained specialist uses hand-tools to apply pigment into the skin by creating thin strokes that imitates natural eyebrow hair. Generally, the results can last 12-18 months depending on the skin type and your lifestyle. The treatment gives fuller, more beautiful eyebrows shaped perfectly to suit each individual and unique face type.

We offer a FREE, pre-assessment consultation, where we discuss the procedure, the after care, and we carry out the eyebrow mapping to find the perfect shape and colour just for you. Thanks to pre-drawing the eyebrow shape with a thin pencil, the client can see the potential results before starting.

Please call for your consultation

Be ready for Summer with waterproof and natural looking eyebrows!

Image by halayalex on Freepik

tax and help protect their share from care fees

The Property Protection Trust Will package is based around how you hold the ownership of your home. All good estate planning nowadays considers the difference between owning your home as joint tenants or as tenants in common.

If you own your home as Joint Tenants; when one of you dies the ownership of the home passes by the Law of Survivorship and not by your Will. Therefore, the surviving partner will automatically own 100% of the property. This sounds right to most people. BUT should the surviving partner need care in the future, the Local Authority can take everything they own (including their home) to pay for the care fees, leaving just £14,250 to be inherited by children and grandchildren.

There is an alternative.

Nowadays many couples choose to own their home as Tenants in Common where each partner will own 50% of the family home. This provides for many benefits.

Firstly, it allows you to legally leave your share of the property in your Will to whoever you wish. A properly written Will can ensure that your half of your house will eventually pass to your children even if your widow re-marries.

Unmarried cohabiting couples or relatives living together can also use this means of ownership as a way of minimising their Inheritance Tax exposure.

It can also help with long-term care costs. If one of you is still living in your home the Local Authority can’t include its value in the means test if one of you has to go in to long-term care. This also applies if the husband or wife still living at home dies while the other is in care as their share will go into the trust.

Dorset and Wight are your local experts in Property Protection Trust Wills.

Increasing numbers of homeowners are choosing to hold their properties as tenants in common to reduce inheritance

Driven to Distraction

Here’s a

rundown

of the most common driving faux pas you need to steer clear of if you’re to retain a clean licence.

Not adhering to the speed limit

The biggest cause of accidents on the road is, of course, excessive speed. One in five drivers admits to speeding, though the overall figure is much higher, and if convicted, can lead to a hefty fine, points on your licence and a ban.

It’s not just about going too fast, either. Not keeping up with the speed of the road causes impatience in other drivers, which can also lead to accidents.

Distracted driving

Driving distractions include use of a phone, eating or drinking, adjusting dashboard controls, being engaged in conversation or even having music too loud.

While using a handheld phone is the only illegal act on the list – something that will land you a £200 fine and six points on your licence – the others still carry a points penalty if it’s found

they have played a part in an accident or infringement.

Tailgating

Tailgating occurs when following the vehicle in front too closely, something that significantly increases the risk of accidents – notably shunts and rear-end collisions.

Tailgating also strays into the field of aggressive driving behaviour, which opens up the possibility of road rage incidents.

Running a red light

Many drivers have seen the opportunity to accelerate through an amber light so as to save valuable time at a traffic junction, yet the practice is dangerous.

In the past few years local councils have installed thousands of cameras at traffic lights in order to catch drivers keen to accelerate through rather than bring their vehicle to a halt.

Failing to indicate and improper lane changes

Sensible use of indicators and respectful lane changes relative to other traffic on

the road are some of the first things drivers will learn… and then subsequently one of the first things dropped when they become overly comfortable on the roads.

Intoxication

As far as having a tipple goes, the recommendation now is that a driver should remain entirely alcohol free, rather than subscribe to the long-time rule of being allowed a single drink.

Stimulants and suppressants, even in small quantities, can impair a driver’s judgment and reaction time, so while drink and drug convictions have fallen over recent years, the threat to safe driving is as prevalent as it’s ever been.

Top tips for a sustainable summer from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

From barbecues to ball games, every outdoor summer activity can impact the environment in some way. Here are some easy ways from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to help you, help nature this summer.

Using reusable or recyclable plates and cutlery

Everyone loves a good picnic or barbecue –little brings more joy than a delicious meal accompanied by the sounds and sights of nature. Disposable plates and cutlery are an attractive option compared to lugging your entire dinner set to your desired dining spot. However, these items are often designed for single usage, a fact which does not do the environment justice given the contribution of trees and fossil fuels to their manufacture. Instead, try using reusable, lightweight alternatives such as travel-friendly cutlery and bamboo plates. These last much longer than their disposable counterparts, meaning you save money and the environment!

Eco-friendly cooking

Whether big or small, barbecues are what make summer great. However, some outdoor cooking methods can release harmful pollutants into the fresh surrounding air and damage nearby wildlife. Charcoal, though seemingly a natural and sustainable fuel for barbecues, is often made from hardwood of tropical rainforests which are already vanishing at an alarming rate. The solution? British lumpwood charcoal from sustainable sources such as coppiced trees or managed forests.

Reduce your electricity consumption

Summer days are brighter, hence we can use less electricity for lighting. Not only will this reduce our reliance on unsustainable fossil

fuels, you can also save a great deal on your energy bills! You can also save energy by opening windows to ventilate your house or workplace instead of blasting the air conditioners at full power. Window shutters or blinds also help block strong sunbeams from blazing through windows and intensifying the summer heat.

Ditch the car

With summer comes sunshine. This means that travelling between places offers the perfect opportunity to get some vitamin D and muchneeded fresh air by walking or cycling. It’s been proven that exercise and being outside can both boost physical and mental wellbeing. On top of that, walking and cycling are safer for wildlife and have a much less detrimental effect on the environment than cars.

There’s a plethora of simple actions we can take to reduce our impact on the environment. While reducing waste production and saving energy are important throughout the year, our connection with nature through summer walks, seaside visits, or evenings lounging in the garden is particularly evident during summer, strengthening the motivation to do everything we can to protect the irreplaceable beauty of nature.

Photo: Go green with eco-friendly and re-usable alternatives on your next summer picnic © John Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography

The Brockenhurst Guide is on Facebook!

Follow us today, at:

facebook.com/BrockenhurstGuide

Looking for even more ways to stay connected with the latest news, features, and stories from your favourite magazine? Look no further than our Facebook page!

By following our page, you'll get access to even more content, including additional articles and features that you won't find in print.

But that's not all – following us on Facebook also means you'll be the first to know about exciting giveaways, promotions, and events happening in your area. Plus, you'll have the opportunity to join a thriving community of like-minded readers who share your love of our magazine.

So what are you waiting for? Head to our Facebook page now and hit that "follow" button – we can't wait to connect with you!

Scan the QR code with your phone camera to be taken straight to our Facebook page. Or you can type the link at the top of this page directly into your web browser

A Design for Life… e Kevin McCloud Column

Designer, writer and television presenter, Kevin McCloud leapt into our consciousness with his vastly successful Grand Designs show on Channel 4. This month, the affable architectural business owner talks about getting back to the basic elements of how a home should make us feel.

I was in conversation with someone the other day and they asked me what sort of feeling I thought they should give to a new home interiors project of theirs.

What I found interesting about the question is the fact it’s an almost impossible one to answer, for the main reason that you can’t force anyone to feel any way about something that they don’t naturally, instinctively, unintentionally feel themselves.

If a person dislikes something with a passion, it’s very likely

there is no positive slant you can put on things that will encourage them to change their mind. This is just who we are.

My answer was instead to think about stimulating positive feelings in the way the house was designed. In essence, to realise the things we want to feel, then style and create in order to fulfil those emotions. So, for example, it’s always important to create a sense of place and belonging in our homes. These homes are not just physical structures, but also repositories of our memories, emotions and personal identities, and should be designed to reflect our values, personalities and lifestyles.

Most people know I am a big fan of authenticity in home

design, so that comes into it; and I also believe in the importance of creating space that is functional and practical, rather than simply beautiful, perhaps with references given to the environment or sustainability.

Mostly though, above all those things, a home should be a place that feels safe, comfortable, and happy. Only then will it feel ’right’, and it may take several failed attempts along the way to finally get to that place where you are content.

And then prepare for the point a decade down the line when your evolving tastes talk you into ripping it all up and starting again!

Rick Stein’s Butter ied Lamb

Introduction

This leg of lamb comes with herby lemon and paprika marinade, and really enriches the senses for al fresco dining for what is a very special time of the year.

It can be cooked on the barbecue or in the oven. Serve simply with potato wedges and greens for a laid-back meal with friends. Reduce the dried red chilli flakes if you prefer a milder marinade.

Ingredients

(serves 4-6)

• 1 x 2.5kg leg of lamb

• 1 large garlic clove, finely chopped

• 1 tsp dried red chilli flakes

• 6 tsp chopped rosemary

• 6 sprigs thyme, leaves picked

• 1 fresh bay leaf, finely chopped

• 1 lemon, juice only

• 2 tbsp Thai fish sauce

• 2 tbsp Spanish sweet smoked paprika

• 6 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tsp flaky sea salt

• ½ tsp coarsely ground or crushed black pepper

Method

1. To prepare the lamb, turn the leg over to the point where the bone runs closest to the surface. Using a sharp knife, split the meat along the bone and ease it away from the bone

along both sides, leaving the bone as clean as possible. At the fatter end of the joint, there is a group of smaller bones, so continue to cut around them too until you can lift all the bones from the meat and are left with a butterfly shaped, bone-free joint. Trim away any excess fat and sinew. Lay a piece of cling film over the meat and bash the surface with a rolling pin to flatten the thick sections lightly. The meat should be an even thickness throughout.

2. Mix the marinade ingredients together. Rub the marinade all over the lamb and set aside in a roasting tin, skin-side up, for about 30 minutes.

3. Preheat the oven to 220°C/200°C Fan/Gas mark 7.

4. Roast the lamb for 15 minutes, reduce the

temperature to 180°C/160°C Fan/Gas mark 4 and roast for a further 15 minutes. This will give you pink lamb, if you would rather it slightly less so, cook for a further 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and cover with foil. Rest for at least 15 minutes. Place on a board before carving into thick slices.

5. Serve with potato wedges, your choice of vegetables and some of the meat juices.

Top Tip

• To cook on the barbecue, preheat the barbecue (10 minutes for gas and up to 40 minutes for charcoal). When hot, grill the lamb for about 10–12 minutes on each side. Rest for 5 minutes on a board covered with kitchen foil before carving into thick slices.

Top Tip

You can buy a readyboned or a butterflied leg of lamb, or ask your butcher to bone it for you.

SILENT WATERS

By L.V. Matthews

14th September 2023 | Welbeck | £8.99 | Paperback Original

For fans of Gillian McAllister and Lisa Jewell, a powerful haunting novel exploring family bonds, dark secrets and murder featuring a female police diver – a woman in a man’s world. At 5am one summer morning, police diver Jen Harper wakes to find herself submerged in the silt of a river with no memory of how she got there. Forty-eight hours later, she’s called to dive in the same river to search for a missing woman, Claudia Franklin. But for Jen, this is no ordinary job. She and Claudia were childhood friends and their families were entangled for decades. But Jen hasn’t seen Claudia for twelve years. Or has she?

Praise for Silent Waters

“A thrillingly murky tale of tainted love and betrayal, an edge-of-the-jetty read. I dare you to jump in!”

Janice Hallett, author of The Twyford Code

“Terrific, memorable suspense writing that draws you in. Silent Waters is a real up-all-night thriller.” BP Walter, author of The Dinner Guest

“Silent Waters is a brilliant, beautifully written thriller with an unusual premise and shocking twists. I loved it! Her best yet!”

Claire Douglas, author of The Couple at Number 9

“Brilliantly plotted, utterly compelling and where nothing is as it seems. Add to that some whip-smart dialogue and you have everything you could possibly want in a thriller.”

John Marrs, author of The Marriage Act

About the Author

L.V. Matthews was born in rural Essex but now lives in Winchester. She is the author of The Prank and The Twins, a Richard & Judy Book Club pick (Spring 2022.) Before pursuing a career in writing she worked in domestic and international sales for major UK publishing houses. As research for the book, she undertook extensive research into the little-known world of police divers.

General Knowledge

Across Clues:

5. Changing to a new situation (11)

9. Indiscernable (9)

10. Speed (5)

11. Creativity (3)

12. Prize or certificate (5)

13. Small brown animal (5)

15. A nuclide that exhibits isomerism (6)

17. The upper surface (6)

19. Idea (5)

20. Stove producing strong heat (5)

21. A poem (3)

23. Finding pleasure (5)

24. Unaware (9)

26. Disruption (11)

Down Clues:

1. Strong fabric, used for upholstery (5)

2. Simple needlework (9)

3. Pigsty (3)

4. Grey material that does not burn (8)

6. Large flat teeth (6)

7. Final version of a legal document (11)

8. Obsolete form of brilliant (11)

14. Teams fighting against each other (9)

16. Tree with pink, yellow or purple flowers (8)

18. Middle Eastern language (6)

22. Trained to fly (5)

25. Bombard (3)

8. Splendidous, 14. Duellists, 16. Magnolia, 18. Arabic, 22. Pilot, 25. Ply.

Down: 1. Scrim, 2. Plainwork, 3. Sty, 4. Asbestos, 6. Molars, 7. Engrossment,

24. Oblivious, 26. Dislocation.

13. Otter, 15. Isomer, 17. Upside, 19. Image, 20. Grill, 21. Ode, 23. Enjoy,

Across: 5. Acclimatise, 9. Invisible, 10. Tempo, 11. Art, 12. Award,

Answers:

The Adventures of Daichi

The Modern Magazines Camper Van

Making the most of where we live…. Young, old, history, contemporary. Daichi loves them all. Wherever we look around us there is history alongside new, contemporary and sometimes controversial. Have you ever taken a look to see where new meets old and bygone days live next to the future, where you live? Are you a philosopher who prefers the distant past and long-lost customs, or are you a person of state-of-theart décor and new ways?

For Daichi, living here in Weymouth, a seaside town dating back to the 12th Century, it is easy to see the many shifts in time. Punch and Judy came back to our beach this year. Apparently, the original shows first appeared in Italy in the 16th Century where the characters were marionettes. Then in 1662 on May 9th the very first performance in England was enacted. It is a more modern feature of the

show today, that the audience is encouraged to shout out and warn the characters in the ‘box’ of the dangers. Certainly, watching the excited children on the beach recently, the eager spectators really enjoyed screaming out, “he’s there!” at the top of their voices. What fun. Some characters like the ghost, the hangman (probably a blessing) and Pretty Polly may have disappeared, but the show remains to entertain its guests, centuries after it began.

A few weeks ago, “El Galeon”, a replica of a 17th century Spanish Galleon glided into our waters here on the Jurassic coast and opened its decks to the general public, for around a week on Weymouth Harbour. These Galleons were used to transport cargo from America, Spain and the Phillipines between the 16th and 18th Centuries. Walking on board now I almost felt the rocking of the ship and the huge waves sweeping over the high ship sides. I could almost feel sea-sick… and we were in very flat waters! Impressive indeed is this

Debbie & Stephen by El Galeon

Traditional Punch & Judy on the beach

ocean sailing vessel. Built between 2009 and 2010 it has now sailed to hundreds of ports worldwide and had thousands and thousands of visitor gaze in awe at its miles of rope, and its magnificent decks. Daichi loves history, and imagining sailing across massive expanses of sea surrounded by scores of people, some running up and down all of those extremely high poles, was quite an experience. In the 1600’s many did not make the journey, with scurvy and other untreatable diseases in abundance due to the lack of hygiene. There were less bottles of hand sanitizer in those days! It would have been very different to any cruises we sail on today.

That brings me to the subject of seaweed which has attracted so much attention and controversy recently. Our Blue Flag Beach with its wonderful fine sand has been encroached in certain parts, by sea kelp driven in by storms and heavy winds. Daichi’s first reaction was indeed one of “Oh No! Our beautiful beach has been destroyed…” However, he has had a change of heart. Our ecosystem on this planet has had much interference from us, the ‘intelligent species’ on this planet, and we may not have always got it right. Nature has a profound way of correcting itself, and in fact creating certain situations in order to survive. So, we

have continued to go to the beach, lie on the gorgeous fine sand of which there is a huge abundance and swim in our amazing ocean. Rubber shoes protect the feet if needed, but there is a lot of space and much enjoyment to be had, despite a little natural interruption. One of Daichi’s bug bears is the press and its sensationalism.

So, what about what’s new? We live in a ‘coffee culture’ where having a coffee and cake (or even a waffle and ice-cream…) have become part of our daily lives. Daichi loves this and will go for a coffee at the drop of a hat, especially with a friend for a good old chat. The Theatre is also still popular, centuries later and we believe we should make more of this. The atmosphere is great, the entertainment can lift the soul and we get to go out with family and friends. Similarly, the cinema. What great block busters there are! “Top Gun” with Tom Cruise was a must for us. Hayden loves ‘Dungeons and Dragons’, so we all went to see “Honour Amongst Thieves” recently with Hugh Grant, Chris Pine and John Francis Daley. Myself, being of the older generation and Hayden being nearly forty years younger, yet we all enjoyed it and had a great evening out!

So, whether it is an old tradition, history to soak in, or a coffee and waffle with a friend, there is so much to do right on our doorsteps. Daichi would love to know what you like best about your area. You can write to him at:

daichi@modernmagaiznes.co.uk

By Debbie Corney

Weymouth’s beautiful beach, winner of both the Blue Flag and Seaside Award

Family & friends having a “waffle”

Green ngers… the Alan Titchmarsh column

He’s a brilliant presenter, accomplished gardener, talented novelist, and all-round horticultural inspiration. This month, Alan Titchmarsh discusses the holy grail of ensuring flowers and plants flourish to their full potential – soil quality!

I get asked a lot what the best way to bolster soil quality is, and the truth is there are a variety of methods. Naturally, keeping soil well-watered is important, but not overwatered. Instead, water deeply and less frequently than you would expect. To water deeply you need to keep the soil light and uncompacted too. I’ve even gone to the extent of walking on wood planks if I need to cross over soil, as this spreads the weight and avoids interrupting good soil structure with big clumsy boots.

To actually enrich the soil, I try to regularly add organic matter. Compost, obviously, is key, with well-rotted manure. This helps with boosting drainage, adding fertility, and encouraging beneficial microorganisms.

In a similar way, if you’re looking to capitalise on what’s already in the soil, consider the benefit of crop rotation, and the fact that plants or flowers can feed o the nutrients left behind from whatever was present before.

Changing the location of specific plant families each year also helps to prevent the build-up of pests and diseases, and maintains soil fertility. Finally, it’s always worth applying a layer of mulch – such as wood chips or straw – around plants. It helps to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, regulates soil temperature, and adds organic matter to the soil. It also looks good!

To determine how good your soil is, or isn’t, why not invest in a soil-testing kit? This will help you determine the soil’s pH and nutrient levels, and with that information you can construct an accurate plan for amendments to improvements to your soil quality.

Ultimately, don’t expect change overnight, as good things come to those who wait; but do take comfort in the fact you are doing all you can to move forward the health of your garden.

STAR GAZING

WRITTEN BY KATE EARL kateearlastro@gmail.com

Welcome to the July Stargazing Page. Highlights this month include seeing Venus at its brightest before it moves to our morning skies, and the hunt for noctilucent clouds.

International Space Station

The ISS is visible daily until the 28th, with overhead passes starting in the early morning, gradually switching to the late evening by month end. To establish exact timings please refer to www.heavens-above.com or a similar webpage for up-to-date information, remembering to set the location to your observing area.

Events

The Earth is furthest from the Sun on the 6th, a distance of 152,000,000 km away. This is called aphelion (Greek for ‘from the Sun’).

Mercury

The innermost planet can be seen low in the southwest just after sunset from the 15th, but it will be really tough to spot in the evening twilight.

Venus

Venus is dazzling away low in the west, and although at its brightest, it will rapidly drop out of our evening skies, only to return as the ‘morning star’ in late August. If you have a small telescope it is worth taking a look at Venus this month, as it will appear as a beautiful, tiny crescent. Another challenge is to try and spot your shadow by Venusian light. You need a really dark sky with no moon or light pollution. Use a sheet or white card to help see the shadow cast, as the planet is too faint a source of light to be able to easily detect your shadow on the ground. It’ll be tough, but worth it if you manage it!

Mars

Mars continues to get dimmer each night. During July it moves towards and then passes Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation of Leo the Lion (see figure). It is now quite far away from the Earth, a consequence of which is that it has become very faint, and its red colour is hard to distinguish.

Jupiter & Saturn

Jupiter is visible from around 1am low in the east, but is dazzlingly bright and for early risers it cannot be mistaken for anything else. Saturn appears earlier, around 11pm.

Moon

July’s full moon occurs on the 3rd.

Try to spot...

The early summer months are the best time to try and spot a rare and beautiful cloudtype: noctilucent clouds. If conditions are favourable, these blue-white illuminated clouds are visible an hour or so after sunset in our northern skies (if you’re up early, they can sometimes be seen an hour or so before sunrise, too). Although the exact cause of their formation is unknown, we know they are composed of tiny water-ice crystals and form about 80km up in the atmosphere.

Noctilucent clouds

The History of the Women’s World Cup

As we approach the ninth edition of the official Women’s World Cup, we chart the rapid evolution of one of football’s most loved competitions.

The first official Women’s World Cup took place in China, in 1991, with the United States beating Norway 2-1 in the Guangzhou final. It’s apt that the Americans won the first competition, as they have dominated the women’s game since.

However, the Norwegian side would take the plaudits in Sweden in the second edition. Their hugely talented squad of players beat Germany 2-0 at the Råsunda Stadium in Stockholm, with goals from Hege Riise and Marianne Pettersen, as the Lionesses debut ended at the quarterfinal stage.

The ‘Stars and Stripes’ would regain the title on home soil in 1999 against China, as Brandi Chastain netted the winning penalty in the 5-4 shootout victory for the United States.

That World Cup was built on the success of the first Olympic women’s football tournament held during the 1996 Atlanta Games, with the 1999 World Cup played in front of an average of 37,000 spectators per match.

The event in 2003 was also held in the US, who stepped in after planned hosts China had to relinquish duties after an outbreak of SARS. Yet there was to be no back-to-back success for the Yanks, as they crashed out in the semi-final to a Germany side who went on to defeat Sweden for their first title.

China belatedly hosted the tournament four years later, and Germany were able to defend their 2003 title with a 2-0 victory over Brazil in the Hongkou Stadium. England were knocked out by the USA in the quarterfinals.

A new name would be on the trophy in 2011 as Japan took this instalment by storm, beating the hosts and hat-

trick-seeking Germans in the quarters, the Swedes in the last four, before coming from behind to see off the mighty Americans on penalties in the final.

an

Canada 2015 saw an increase to 24 teams from 16, and offered revenge for the USA as they beat Japan 5-2 in the Vancouver final. The tournament was controversial for being played on artificial turf in sweltering conditions.

France 2019 attracted a global television audience of over 1.1 billion, with the United States winning again, this time 2-0 against Sarina Wiegman’s European champions, Netherlands.

With England having trodden that same familiar path under the talented Dutch coach by securing their first international title win in the form of the 2022 Euros victory against Germany, could they add a World Cup final to their resume in Australia and New Zealand?

Spot the difference solutions

Puzzle Page Answers

Quick Crossword Solution #029

Answers:

Across: 2. Bar, 5. Physio, 7. Equate, 9. Predicament, 10. Encode, 11. Nestle, 13. Unwrap, 16. Panama, 18. Imperialism, 19. Redyes, 20. Unload, 21. Hot. Down: 1. Chopin, 2. Bodice, 3. Regain, 4. Statal, 6. Stenography, 8. Unessential, 10. Emu, 12. Eta, 14. Noises, 15. Perish, 16. Peanut, 17. Mammal.

History Quiz Answers

1. 1066

2. 1939 3. 3000 BC 4. 1776

5. 1920

6. 2001

7. 29 AD

8. 1346

9. 1876 10. 2020

Rachel Khoo’s Ice Box Cake

When summer comes around, it feels somewhat incongruous to be putting the oven on; yet baking isn’t all about putting up the heat and expecting something to prove or rise. And who in this weather wants to build up a sweat in the kitchen?! Instead, why not whip up this delicious ice box cake with just a stove top and a freezer. This decadent dessert with a crunchy hazelnut praline rippled through it makes a crowd-pleasing finale.

Ingredients

(10 to 12 servings)

• 35g dark chocolate, cut into small pieces

• 50g unsalted butter

• 100g digestive biscuits, crushed to crumbs

• 3 medium eggs

• 2 medium egg yolks

• 1 tsp vanilla essence

• 180g sugar

• 500ml double cream

• Hazelnut praline

• 50g blanched hazelnuts

• 75g sugar

• 2 tbsp water

Method

1. Prepare a 20cm cake tin by lining with baking paper.

2. To make the praline, line a baking tray with baking paper. Toast the hazelnuts in a dry saucepan until they are golden. Remove from the pan and set aside.

3. Put the sugar and water in the pan and heat gently

until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat to high (avoid the temptation to stir it). When the caramel begins to turn a dark golden brown, remove from the heat and quickly stir in the hazelnuts. Pour immediately on to the lined baking tray and spread out evenly. Leave to cool. Once the caramel is cool and hard, blitz to a fine powder in a food processor.

4. Make the biscuit base by melting the butter and chocolate together in a medium heatproof bowl over a pan of just-simmering water. Add the crushed biscuits and stir to combine. Press into the prepared cake tin to form a crust and place in the freezer.

5. Place the eggs, extra yolks, vanilla and sugar in a large heatproof bowl. Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. You want the bowl to just be resting over the

saucepan – don’t let the bowl touch the water. Whisk the mixture continuously for six to eight minutes or until it becomes thick and pale. If you have a handheld electric whisk, opt for that. When the whisk leaves a ribbony trail in the mixture when you lift it up, it is ready. Remove from the heat and allow mixture to cool slightly.

6. Whip the cream in a medium bowl until stiff peaks form. Gently fold through the cooled egg mixture until well combined.

7. Stir two-thirds of the praline into the ice-cream mixture and pour into the cake tin over the crumb base. Scatter the top with the remaining praline and leave to chill until frozen (at least four hours). Slice and serve.

Kitchens design, supplied & fitted • Outdoor decking Fitted bedroom furniture • Bespoke made units

Staircases & Bannisters • Internal & external doors

Timber framed structures • Traditional cut roofs For all your carpentry requirements in the New Forest and surrounding areas in Dorset & Hampshire. Fully insured, qualified craftsmen with over 25 years experience.

Call Richard on 01425 627337 or 07780 695565 for a free, no obligation quote or advice www.rjw-carpentry.co.uk

PARKING SENSORS WITH AUDIBLE WARNING FIT TED

Rear set colour coded: from £160

Front set colour coded: from £190

Both Front & Rear Sensors: from £280 CRUISE CONTROL FOR MOST VEHICLES £425 FIT TED PRICE.

Metatrak insurance approved vehicle £330

Rear view cameras for Cars £190, Vans from £225 & Motorhomes from £245

Dash cameras starting at £145 or FRONT & REAR cameras for just £245 Mobile