Iceni Magazine Norfolk Issue 112 by Iceni Magazine

I C E N I N O R F O L K

ISSUE 112

Focus On: Food

Iceni HQ:

A Fussy With Food Family

Best Of Norfolk

Through The Lens Of Our Readers

When You Lose... What Do You Gain?

Norfolk Open Gardens August 2022

Welcome To Iceni Magazine, “Food brings people together on many different levels. It’s nourishment of the soul and body; it’s truly love.” Giada De Laurentiis Welcome to Issue 112 of Iceni Magazine! This month, we focus on Food. Learn all about our fussy family on Page 49. Trevor Langley dines at The Alchemist in Nottingham and shares his review (Pages 44 & 45). For a wonderful vegetarian burger, check out JustAverageJen’s tasty recipe on Page 48. Tom from See What Mummy Says shares the challenges of Becca’s coeliac disease diagnosis on the family’s eating habits (Pages 46 & 47). Elsewhere, we have been inundated with glorious photos of our stunning county. You can check out the Best of Norfolk images on Pages 29 to 39. Jill Roberson reflects on the devastating impact that the recent heatwaves have had on our region and beyond (Pages 16 & 17). Finally, if you are seeking a new vehicle, check out motoring journalist Tim Barnes-Clay's review of the revamped citycar, the Mazda 2 (Pages 19-21). Until next month, we hope you manage to stay cool and safe. Enjoy!

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CONTRIBUTORS Abbie Storer, Armoured Muscle, Becca Hamling, Jill Roberson, Just Average Jen,Keri Beevis, Matt Porter, Patrick Arundell, Susan Leigh, Tim Barnes-Clay, Thomas Hamling, Trevor Langley, Yellow Mysteries Entertainment.

Front Cover Image Photo by Thirdman

Disclaimer

Copyright © Iceni Magazine Limited. All rights reserved. No articles, adverts, content or design in this magazine may be used or reproduced either in whole or part, online or in print. The views and advice from contributors are not necessarily those of Iceni Magazine Limited. Every effort is made to ensure the contents are accurate, however Iceni Magazine Limited can not assume responsibility for errors, omissions or incorrect information. Iceni Magazine Limited accepts no liability for loss, damage or difficulties resulting from contracts between The Client and their customer. Inclusion within the magazine does not imply a recommendation.

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Contents 58

pages

Full of absolute dynamic

creative content!

WHEN YOU LOSE, WHAT DO YOU GAIN? We’ve All Experienced Loss At One Time Or Another

“You Reap What You Sow”

BEST OF NORFOLK

Through The Lens Of Our Readers

42 IT’S FUN TO SHARE... Your Summer Food

SEE WHAT MUMMY SAYS Living With A Coeliac

The Benjamin Foundation Monthly Update

Gadgetman Review JOBY Wavo POD

See What Mummy Says Living With A Coeliac

Iceni News Norfolk Open Gardens

Armoured Muscle PT Fitness M.O.T.

Just Average Jen Veggie Burgers Recipe

Iceni News Norfolk Open Studios 2022

Nova Silver Gifts For August

Iceni HQ: A Fussy With Food Family

Iceni Columnist Keri Beevis

Best Of Norfolk Readers Images

Abbie Home Bakes One Of Norfolk’s...

When You Lose... What Do You Gain?

Focus On: Food

Iceni Asks... Where’s Your Favourite...

Phew Wot A Scorcher! I Think It’s Fair To Say...

It’s Fun to Share... Your Summer Food

Just For Fun 'The Murderous Meal'

Motoring Review Mazda 2

Dining Out: The Alchemist

Iceni Horoscopes What Do Your Stars Hold?

THE BENJAMIN FOUNDATION

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Issue 112 2022

The Benjamin Foundation For over 25 years, children, young people and families across Norfolk and Suffolk have been supported by The Benjamin Foundation to overcome big challenges in their lives. Each night, we accommodate up to 180 vulnerable young people, equating to over 50,000 safe nights’ sleep a year. They can finally feel safe from youth homelessness. Each week, 150 young people access our emotional wellbeing support improving their mental health, increasing their self-esteem to finally feel understood.

Each year, over 400 young people attend our youth work in the community to gain new life skills, expand their horizons and finally feel confident. Overall, in the region of 2,000 local children and young people every year finally feel hopeful of a better future because of the work of The Benjamin Foundation.

Pre-school places available for local two-year olds

Are you looking for a pre-school place for your little one? Popular pre-school, Town Tots in North Walsham, has spaces for two-year olds from September and is inviting families to get in touch to secure childcare for the term ahead. Located on Manor Road on the site of North Walsham Primary School, and delivered by local charity The Benjamin Foundation, Town Tots has been rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted (September 2018) and has welcomed hundreds of children through their doors over the years. A warm, safe, supportive and welcoming setting, the pre-school applies many principles of the Curiosity Approach® to inspire curiosity, awe and wonder into early childhood to help shape the ‘thinkers and doers of the future.’

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Town Tots Manager Jane Medlar says: “At Town Tots, we cover all areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage with activities planned around the interests of the children. We aim to create an environment which nurtures all children. Our rooms within the pre-school offer invitations to learn which inspire a child’s curiosity. Through our mindful practitioners we promote personal and emotional development to ensure children feel at ease and confident.” Town Tots supports children to learn and develop through fun, play based experiences in natural, neutral rooms with

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THE BENJAMIN FOUNDATION

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Issue 112 2022

natural light which provides a calm, tranquil environment for children to learn and feel relaxed. There is also range of natural resources which offer children a selection of loose parts and textures to enjoy, explore and investigate.

Childcare is provided at Town Tots for children from 2 to 4 years, with session times (term time: 9am to 12pm, 12pm to 3pm, 9am to 3pm.

Jane continues: “We accept 2 and 3 year universal funding along with the childcare 30 hour funding so would encourage parents to contact Norfolk County Council for an eligibility code. We hope to welcome lots of new families this September.” To enquire about a place for your child, please get in touch with Town Tots on 01692 407012 (9am – 3pm weekdays). For information about eligibility codes for places for 2 year olds, please visit: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/children-and-families/childcare-and-early-learning/freechildcare-and-learning/free-childcare-for-2-year-olds

How to make a donation to The Benjamin Foundation

Every single day of the year, local young people need extra help. With your support they can find hope, opportunity, stability and independence and finally feel hopeful of a better future. Make a one-off or a regular donation on our website: https://benjaminfoundation.co.uk/ donate/ Thank you for your support.

Norwich Sleep Out returns! We are pleased to announce the return of our popular fundraising event. Norwich Sleep Out, supporting our work with young people and preventing youth homelessness, will take place this year on Thursday 20th October at Norwich City Football Club. Can you spend one night outside so young people don’t have to? Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ norwich-sleep-out-2022-tickets-382977364607

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ICENI - NEWS Issue 112 2022

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Norfolk Open Gardens August 2022 Summer is truly here, with warmer weather and a wonderful 14 gardens for visitors to enjoy this month. Herbaceous borders, sweeping lawns, scented rose beds, follies and sculptures are all on offer during August. A speciality this month is a collection of 400 Hydrangeas and 100 Hostas at Honeysuckle Walk, Gressenhall. Or if you prefer a trip to the city, there is a slice of Victorian Gothic, a tropical Tiki Hut, exotic planting, and a water garden in the Norwich gardens. Most of the gardens opening this month will accept cashless payments on the gate, but pre-booking is also available online. Please check the www.ngs.org.uk website for availability of refreshments and accessibility. All children are free or permitted admission with a donation, unless otherwise stated. If you can’t make the date for a specific garden opening, remember that many gardens are also open ‘By arrangement’, for you to contact and book a date more suitable for you, your family and friends. Severals Grange

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ICENI - NEWS

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August Wed 3rd Aug 3rd, 5th, 8th, 10th Aug Sun 7th Aug

Sun 14th Aug Sat 20th Aug

Sun 21st Aug Sat 27th Aug 27th & 28th Aug Sun 28th Aug

Issue 112 2022

Garden Fiddian’s Folly, Upwood Farm, North Barningham, NR11 7LA Honeysuckle Walk, Litcham Road, Gressenhall, NR20 4AR Guided tours for 15 people from 2pm. Tickets must be pre-booked in advance. Brick Kiln House, Priory Lane, Shotesham, NR15 1UJ 33 Waldemar Avenue Hellesdon, Norwich, NR6 6TB North Lodge, 51 Bowthorpe Road, Norwich, NR2 3TN Kerdiston Manor, Kerdiston, NR10 4RY 68 Elm Grove Lane, Norwich, NR3 3LF Severals Grange, Holt Road B1110, Wood Norton, NR20 5BL 47 Norwich Road, Stoke Holy Cross, NR14 8AB Admissions includes entry to 51 Norwich Road, Stoke Holy Cross, NR14 8AB Tudor Lodgings, Castle Acre, King’s Lynn, PE32 2AN Blickling Lodge, Blickling, Norfolk, NR11 6PS Acre Meadow, New Road, Bradwell, NR31 9DU Cobweb Cottage, 51 Shingham, Swaffham, Norfolk, PE37 8AY

Time

Admission

11:00 - 17:00

Adult £6.00

14:00 - 16:30

Adult £10.00

10:00 - 16:00

Adult £5.00

10:00 - 17:00

Adult £4.00

11:00 - 17:00

Adult £4.00

11:00 - 17:00 11:00 - 16:00 13:00 - 17:00

Adult £6.00 Adult £5.00 Adult £5.00

11:00 - 17:00

Adult £6.00

11:00 - 17:00

Adult £6.00

11:00 - 17:00

Adult £5.00

10:00 - 17:00

Adult £4.00

11:00 - 17:00

Adult £4.00

Inc. afternoon tea!

Blickling Lodge

Brick Kiln House patio PAGE

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ICENI - NEWS

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Issue 112 2022

Norfolk Open Studios 2022 ~ Countywide ~

Swallow by Kate Hodges

Work by Jennifer Williams

Saturday 24 September - Sunday 9 October 10am-5pm (see individual listings for each artist’s opening times) Free Hundreds of artists will open their makers, ceramicists, textile artists and lots more studio doors across Norfolk to share throughout the varied landscapes of Norfolk. their creative processes this autumn. Makers and creators will be at work in their studios, garages, spare rooms, garden rooms, community spaces and schools sharing how and where they work. Visitors can explore the county in early autumn through studio visits and an array of art trails, events and demonstrations. Artists at all stages of their careers will be taking part, from school and college students through to emerging artists and established and professional creators and makers. Visitors will find painters, sculptors, weavers, furniture makers, wood workers, jewellery

Ben Alden, a figurative painter based in Norwich, said: “My studio is at the bottom of the garden, amongst plants and apple trees. I’ve only been working in the space a year, but in that time, it has become a very beautiful and peaceful place to work. “This is my first year taking part in Norfolk Open Studios, and I’m looking forward to inviting visitors to see where I create my paintings and experience the processes I go through; from building and stretching the canvas, seeing works in progress and the final framing.” Textile artist Jennifer Williams is taking part for the first time and is based in Stowbridge in West Norfolk.

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Issue 112 2022

She said: “I’m taking part in Norfolk Open studio to raise awareness of my practice. Working in a niche and understated handcraft that is ultimately fizzling out, I want to inspire and educate people of the exciting possibilities. “Working with unusual and otherwise discarded materials in a contemporary way to tackle the devastating effects of the fashion and textile industry, I hope to spark curiosity in people. I look forward to meeting everyone and inspiring them about the world of weaving. “Visitors to my studio can expect to have full demonstrations of my working practice and you can give any of these things a try with the assistance of myself.” Many artists will be offering additional events, demonstrations and workshops to share their skills and practice. In total there will be 218 studio venues, 19 schools taking part, 11 art trails, 28 events and a preview exhibition at The Forum in Norwich between 16 and 21 August. A school preview exhibition will be held at the Undercroft in Norwich (15-24 September) and

Jennifer Williams Credit: Jennifer Williams

additional preview exhibitions will take place in West Norfolk and at the Greenhouse Gallery in Norwich. Norfolk Open Studios is free to attend and takes place between 24 September and 9 October 2022.

For more information visit: norfolkstudios.org.uk

Benjamin Alden in his Studio Credit: Benjamin S Beauchamp

https://www.facebook.com/NorfolkStudios https://twitter.com/NorfolkStudios https://www.instagram.com/ norfolkopenstudios/

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RUNNING WEBSITE RUNICENIRUN.COM

ICENI - COLUMNISTS

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Issue 112 2022

Hot Summer This summer has certainly been a memorable one, with some high hitting temperatures that have had most of us reaching for the fans.

Above: Keri Beevis

Here at Chateau le Beev, I have been extremely grateful to have my first summer with a garden.

Admittedly everything in it looks dead right now, including the grass, and that’s despite my best attempts at keeping everything watered, but at least I have an outdoor space. While puss no. 1, Lola, is loving this. Puss no. 2, not so much. Ellie is happiest when she is snuggled up under my bed, whatever the weather. Fluffy little weirdo. Warm days have meant open windows and I have learnt my conservatory is sadly a death trap for all things bug related. This summer has seen me turn into a bee and butterfly rescuing superhero, as I chase them around the room with a colander and piece of cardboard, trying to trap them so they can be released to freedom. Some of the conversations I have been having with them as I try to lure them into my temporary trap are quite frankly embarrassing, and if my neighbours are in any doubt that I’m not quite all the ticket, this should cement it. In a bid to keep ourselves cool at the day job, we have been resorting to washing up bowls filled with cold water, sitting these under our desks like a makeshift paddling pool to dunk our feet in. Tip. If you try this in your office, be sure to keep the bowl away from any electrical items. For once I was the sensible one, while my desk buddy, Ness, cleverly sat hers next to her computer tower and nearly fried herself.

everyone was being warned to stay safe in the heat, decided to go to the beach. Brother and I protested, telling her to stay home, but as always she knows best, so off she trotted with my sister to Waxham. Later she smugly told us on the family WhatsApp that it had been lovely with a nice refreshing breeze. Sister then added wryly that after leaving the beach they had decided to wander down to the café for a coffee. At which point my mother had commented, ‘Do you think I should take my fleece?’ Only Mama Beev!

Finally, what would a summer be without a mention of my mother, who on the year’s hottest day, when

My new book ‘With Friends Like These’ is available now on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited and in paperback. Audio coming soon. Follow me on Facebook or Twitter for more information.

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WHEN YOU LOSE...

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Issue 112 2022

When You Lose, What Do You Gain? We’ve all experienced loss at one Some losses may need more time to come to terms with. Losing someone or something is a time or another. Possibly as a child it may have been of especial significance, as in the death of a much-loved grandparent or family pet, or the breakdown of our parents’ relationship, with the ensuing consequences and impact on our life. Or perhaps something seemingly less major, but hurtful nonetheless, like losing a friend, failing an exam or the ending of our first major love interest. Even the loss of something that may be regarded by others as minor may, for us, be hugely momentous. Think about the loss of a special mug; maybe a child made it for you, it was a souvenir from a once in a lifetime trip or was given to you by someone who really mattered to you. It may have been ‘only a mug’ but the way it was lost may have been relevant too; was it broken, by you or by someone else, did it happen accidentally or through carelessness. Has it ‘disappeared’, been stolen? All these factors will influence how we reconcile to the loss, how we recover and move on.

very personal, subjective experience and how we cope depends on how we’re doing at the time, how resilient we’re feeling, how prepared we are, how much support we’re likely to receive in our personal lives. Plus, our experiences prior to the loss will go some way to explain our responses and the relevance that different people, places and possessions all have for us. Life brings with it a gamut of emotions, from the joy of living in the moment, followed by the cycle of pain and grief that accompanies any loss. But, after a loss there are often important gains to be experienced. Patience is an important life lesson. Some events may be outside our control and as such, we’re unable to do anything about them. We have to go with the flow and wait for the situation to start to resolve itself. A little patience and humility may be called for, especially if we have to respect the role of others and wait for them to take their turn and deliver their input.

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WHEN YOU LOSE...

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Time for reflection about what really matters can be a gain. It may provide an opportunity to re-evaluate our role, our priorities and our areas of responsibility. What’s important, have we simply been operating on auto-pilot, habitually doing what we’ve always done? A loss can offer time to reflect on how well our situation is serving us now and whether it will continue to do so into the future. It’s a useful time to heal and plan our next steps. An appreciation of other points of view includes an acceptance of how various situations impact on each of us differently. Something that devastates one person may merely warrant a shrug or a raised eyebrow in someone else. Other people may not be as bothered by events that we find daunting. The role of supportive friends, family and colleagues can be a major source of help in our recovery from loss. The tough times are often when we discover who are friends really are. And sometimes a major gain can be when we let others in and accept that we can’t and don’t have to do it all ourselves. Others may have more appropriate knowledge and skills, may have the experience to deal with what’s happening, may be more detached and dispassionate, able to do what’s needed in a calm and rational way. Those times may deliver an opportunity to take our relationships to another level of friendship and commitment. Sometimes things go awry that can’t be planned or budgeted for. Life gets in the way. An unexpected problem, detour, request can throw

Issue 112 2022

the best made plans into disarray, requiring time to explore alternative options, regroup and maybe even stop for a while. The need for time to heal and recover can push some people into denial mode and instead of self-care choose to fill their days with busyness and activity. They may insist they’re fine and deny themselves the opportunity to process their feelings. But sometimes, stopping for a break, maybe taking a retreat, time away can be a useful way to reflect on what really matters and come to terms with how you’ve been affected. It may be useful to appreciate how this experience has changed you and, as such reconsider your wishes, hopes and expectations for the next part of your journey through life. Living life on an even keel can, for a time, be a comfortable and secure way to enjoy our days, but in doing so we miss out on the intermittent challenges and setbacks that enable us to dig deep and grow as a person. Losses are not always easy, but they provide opportunities to evolve and review our lives. Do you recall hearing people as they reflect on their divorce, on being made redundant or on an unexpected loss or event that was devastating at the time? Often, afterwards they’ll say that it brought massive opportunities into their lives. It opened doors for them to do something different, prompted decisions that changed their lives and delivered choices they would never have considered. Gains and an enhanced quality of life can come from loss!

Article By Susan Leigh Susan Leigh, South Manchester counsellor, hypnotherapist, relationship counsellor, writer & media contributor offers help with relationship issues, stress management, assertiveness and confidence. She works with individual clients, couples and provides corporate workshops and support. For more articles, information or to make contact please visit: http://www.lifestyletherapy.net PAGE

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PHEW WHAT A SCORCHER!

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Phew Wot A Scorcher! I think it’s fair to say we’re not surprised when we see images of wild fires and floods in various far flung parts of the world, but the incidents seem to be more intense, frequent and getting alarmingly closer to home. My heart goes out to those in our county and in neighbouring counties, that have lost, their homes, businesses and crops to fires, let alone the loss of natural habitat - it has been truly shocking. The weather conditions experienced in the UK during that last couple of weeks of July were truly unprecedented. Combined with long periods without any meaningful rainfall, it should have really brought home to us the changes that are happening with our weather patterns. As much as it’s pleasant to actually have warm sunny weather in the Summer (rather than grey cool damp days like last year), it’s the extremes

that are difficult to cope with and plan for both as individuals as well as the wider society. A classic example of these new extremes was seen in parts of Northern Ireland where they were experiencing the heatwaves last week, but by the weekend all that had changed. When the weather broke with lightning and heavy rainfall, they received a third of their average monthly total in just 4 hours, resulting in flooded homes, businesses and roads. To a lesser degree this can also be seen in our gardens. Where I live, I’m on heavy clay, so the ground is like a quagmire in the driest of Winters, but then sets like concrete if the hot weather sets in. It’s not often you can find flowers, shrubs or trees, let alone fruit and veg if I want to feed myself from my garden, that can withstand all of those conditions. So, what are we to do. The key phrases to look out for in the future are going to be resilience

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PHEW WHAT A SCORCHER!

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and climate-proofing, particularly in relation to our homes and commercial buildings. According to a recent report published by the Climate Change Committee, the government have taken precious few steps to protect the UK population from the profound effects of climate change, in particular heatwaves and more intense rainfall. Since 2016, over 570,000 new homes have been built that cannot cope with high temps, with a predicted 1.5million homes due to be built in the next 5 years. When you realise that there were more than 2,500 heat related deaths during the last heatwave in 2020, it’s a problem that needs to be addressed. It is always more expensive to retro fit adaptations to buildings, so these issues need to be dealt with now. There are some major steps that can be put into place through our urban planning process, but it will mean some radical changes to how our environment will look. There are many studies now showing that communities that contain large areas of trees and shrubs within them, amongst the buildings, are cooler. For too long, trees have been seen as hazards (granted that can also be an issue with poorly maintained ones combined with storm force winds) but they can really make a difference when planted around homes. In addition to offering shade, they draw up water and release

Issue 112 2022

“ There are many studies now showing that communities that contain large areas of trees and shrubs within them, amongst the buildings, are cooler. ” it through their leaves - a process known as evapotranspiration. Roads and pathways need to become lighter in colour. When dark asphalt heats up, it continues to release its heat long into the evening and night. Ideally the same principles apply to roofing materials which traditionally are black or dark brown. There are some basic changes we can take to help keep our homes cooler when we are experiencing unusually high temperatures, and quite often you can actually start outside. Reduce the amount of hard materials on our drives and in our gardens, such as patios, drives, and walls as they often absorb and then radiate the heat. These could be replaced with gravel or bark chippings which would also improve resilience to excessive rainfall. The terrible images of the wildfires in Norfolk and Suffolk need to act as a prompt to us. We need to challenge the powers that be to start putting in place positive climate policies that will promote building climate resilience, at the same time as we start taking responsibility for our own space. Get planning, people! Article By Jill Roberson @jillecoqueenliving on Facebook and Instagram

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MOTORING REVIEW

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Issue 112 2022

Mazda 2 Review

By Tim Barnes-Clay. Follow on Instagram: @tbarnesclay and Twitter: @carwriteups. The Mazda 2 is the forgotten city car. While the likes of a Volkswagen Polo or SEAT Ibiza spring to mind when talking about small hatchbacks, it is easily overlooked. But should it be? The 2 was facelifted not so long ago, plus Mazdas are generally underrated cars – and often well equipped. I tested the top-of-the-range GT Sport Tech trim. Kit includes a 360-degree camera, adaptive LED headlights and front and rear parking sensors, plus a host of safety technology. This tech comprises rear cross-traffic alert, driver attention alert and pre-crash safety with smart brake support. There are two types of petrol engines - the SkyActiv-G and E-SkyActiv G - the latter

includes mild-hybrid technology. Both are 1.5-litre four-cylinder units, but the amount of power (and whether you get a manual or automatic) depends on the trim you pick, ranging from 75PS in the SE-L up to 115PS in my test car. The Mazda 2 now comes in self-charging form, too, where it’s available with three different trims, but I’m testing the mild hybrid. The 115PS engine isn’t lightning quick, but it is noticeably punchier than the others in the range. For example, zero to 62mph takes 9.1-seconds, which should suffice if you’re driving around town. The Japanese model doesn’t have a vast amount of outright grunt if you’re trying to overtake on a motorway. But then, as a city car, PAGE

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MOTORING REVIEW

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Issue 112 2022

it’s meant more for ring roads and stop-start traffic in town centres. The engine under review here is only available with a manual gearbox. So, if you’re driving around town a lot, the automatic transmission might make your life easier. But then you’ll have to opt for the Sport trim or above. Plus, you’ll have to make do with the non-mild hybrid power units. Somewhat surprisingly for a city car, the handling is reasonably good. Its firmer suspension set-up means the 2 doesn’t lean much when taking a corner at speed. Furthermore, it is relatively zippy on twisty B-roads. The steering is light at lower speeds, but it firms up well when you gather pace. Mind you, there’s not a tremendous amount of feedback, so judging how much grip you’ve got at any given moment is not the easiest.

The model under review will do around mid-50s mpg, which is impressive, while CO2 emissions are limited to 113g/km of CO2. I managed almost 50mpg on my test route, which is still good for a petrol propelled car. Inside, the Mazda 2 is nicely laid out, but there isn’t really much to talk about. There are some round air vents, an infotainment screen - and that’s about it. Nevertheless, at least it looks pleasant, helped by lots of silver touches on the air vent surrounds, the steering wheel, and the middle of the centre console. Some trims, including my test car, get dualcoloured interiors, which look the part. And the infotainment system is a walk in the park thanks to a rotary dial on the centre console. You mainly expect to see this feature in premium cars like BMWs. It makes using the system a lot easier to operate on the move compared with rivals who insist you use the touchscreen.

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MOTORING REVIEW

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Issue 112 2022

There are a couple of cupholders in the front, and although door bins and a glove box are offered, they don’t provide a great deal of space. Despite being well equipped in other areas, the Mazda 2 has no electric seats. But at least the driver’s seat has manual height adjustment, so finding a comfortable driving position isn’t much of a challenge. There is a surprising amount of headroom for a small car, too. The rear isn’t as accommodating, and if you regularly need to ferry adults about in the back seats, you’re better off looking elsewhere. Most of the Mazda 2’s competitors have a more spacious rear, and it’s only really suitable for a couple of children. The lack of rear space doesn’t translate into bigger boot space, which is disappointing. In fact, the Mazda 2 has one of the most petite boots in its class, comfortably beaten by most of its rivals at 280-litres. But it does increase to 950-litres if you fold down the rear seats in a 60/40 split.

Despite the drawbacks, it handles reasonably well, and the interior is nice. What’s more, if you’re regularly going to be the only occupant, then you may find the Mazda 2 more spacious than you might think.

Overall, the Mazda 2 is a nice little car, but, despite the mid-life facelift, it’s showing its advancing years. Challengers, such as the Ford Fiesta, SEAT Ibiza and Volkswagen Polo, all beat it for comfort and practicality, especially when it comes to rear-seat space and boot capacity.

Fast Facts: Mazda 2 1.5 115PS GT Sport Tech • Max speed: 124mph • 0-62 mph: 9.1 secs • Combined mpg: 56.5mpg (WLTP) • Engine layout: 1496cc four-cylinder petrol (with mild hybrid technology) • Max. power (PS): 115PS • CO2: 113g/km • Price: £21,575 PAGE

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GADGETMAN REVIEW

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Issue 112 2022

JOBY Wavo POD -

USB Microphone With Dual Use

This week, I have been reviewing a new product from JOBY in the guise of a super useful microphone ideal for live streaming audio and podcasting. The Bright Red JOBY Wavo POD is a USBC-connected large diaphragm microphone which is both simple to use and gives great results in either solo or interview recordings. It comes with a ‘pattern’ switch which allows the user to choose between Omnidirectional or Cardioid use. Omnidirectional picks up sound from all directions and Cardioid only picks up sound from the front of the mic. Both work incredibly well and are easily controlled using an onboard switch.

The microphone comes with a stand for resting in on a surface or attaching to a microphone stand; it also comes with a colour-coded ‘pop filter’ which limits the puffs of air from your mouth hitting the microphone during recording. The Wavo POD also comes with a 3.5mm latency-free headphone monitoring port, which is a great way of monitoring your voice level during recording allowing you to make real-time adjustments without that jarring delay you sometimes pick up on other devices. Audio levels are easily managed via a multifunction knob which changes colour when pressed. Headphone volume is blue,

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GADGETMAN REVIEW

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Issue 112 2022

Gain adjustment is purple, and Muting of the microphone is red. It’s easy to follow, once you get used to it. The microphone body is compatible with both 3/8” and 5/8” threads, using the adapter included, to fit most boom arms. So, down to business, setting up is a breeze and the microphone can be plugged into your laptop or PC via the USB-C / USB cable or to your smartphone via the USB-C / USB-C cable (both of which come with the device). Attaching it to a smartphone was a great idea and makes mobile interviews really easy, but it comes into its own when connected to a laptop or PC.

I spent a bit of time ensuring the microphone was in the correct position and distance from my mouth and I was sitting comfortably and calm.

I have been using some special software called Overdub which synthesises your voice and allows you to convert written text into audio files spoken in your own voice.

I began recording the audio and after 10 minutes, I submitted it to Descript for processing.

In order to do this, you need to train the system by reading around 10 minutes of pre-written text and then uploading it to their servers. The voice is only going to be as good as the quality of the recording, so I took the opportunity of recording a new ‘voice’ with the JOBY Wavo POD, to see how it came out.

A couple of days later, I was informed it was ready and was absolutely staggered by how good my synthesized voice sounded! Although credit for this has to be given primarily to the Descript Overdub system, it would only have been able to work with the source audio I provided, so hats off to JOBY for a nice-looking, easy-to-use device. The Joby is available for around £89 at their website https://joby.pxf.io/4e0Z9G or scan the QR Code below

See you next month. Matt www.thegadgetman.org.uk PAGE

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ARMOURED MUSCLE PT

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Issue 112 2022

Fitness M.O.T. Getting to grips with your health & fitness is easy with these 5 tests you can do at home or in the gym. Think of these as a kind of ‘Car M.O.T’ for your health and fitness. Only 5 tests to keep a general eye on how your body is progressing over time. Leaving it to our interpretations of ourselves is subjective and often biased by our mood when we seek to perceive ourselves. Using tests and measurements gives us much more accurate data and objective numbers to prove and establish what truly is going on with our bodies. There’s so much more to health and fitness than weight loss. Yes, fat loss does play a big factor in our health but there’s a good chance you know this already. What a lot of people lose sight of is all the other functional benefits that give you better health and more quality of life. If you were fitter do you think you could lose more weight?

Any new regime should start with baseline fitness tests, otherwise we can’t see and prove how far our new functional training has brought us. Likewise, having the tests and repeating them on a regular basis can show us if the chosen training methods are effective for our goals. Let’s take a look at the tests that will help us build a better understanding of our cardiovascular fitness, risk of developing heart disease as well as basic flexibility. Resting Heart Rate (HR) A very simple test to begin to understand the stresses placed upon your heart. If you own a smart device that records your HR simply be at rest for 5 mins+ such as sitting. With your feet flat on the floor sitting upright, not talking/ eating/drinking, take relaxed breaths for 1 min whilst your device gets you a reading. You can also use your fingers (not thumb) on your Carotid artery or Radial artery to count the

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number of pulses or beats you feel for 1 minute. Try not to count for 30 seconds and double the result as your HR fluctuates slightly. Be sure to count for the full 60 seconds. It doesn’t really matter what result you get, the point is to test again later to see if there has been a difference made, ideally lower/slower HR. However, that being said the average person should expect their resting HR to be between 60 - 100 beats per minute (BPM). Some athletes and fit individuals can expect their BPM to be as low as 40. If you don’t consider yourself fit and your HR is below 40 or above 100 you may need to seek medical advice before beginning any strenuous activity programme.

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To perform the test, measure the circumference around your waist which should be the thinnest point of your abdomen when looking from in front or a point 1 inch (3 cm) above your belly button if there is no obvious dip. You can even go for an inch above the belly button if you can see a dip as this makes the test more repeatable with less variables later on. Now measure the circumference around your hips, which is at a height equating to the deepest part of your buttocks when viewed from side on. Make sure to measure both areas using the same units (inches/centimetres). The less clothing you have to obstruct results the better and having someone on hand is helpful but not essential. To get your score, divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement and round to 1 decimal place. Waist / Hip = W:H (1 d.p). Relative Fat Mass (RFM)

Hip to Waist Ratio For this you will need a tape measure, ideally a sewing tape or specialised body tape. Here we are looking at the circumference of your waist compared to your hips. This can tell us if your body is depositing fat reserves higher up the body around your vital organs or lower down around the buttocks. Lower is better and results in a score of less than 1.0. A high score above 1.0 is an indication that you have more visceral fat pressing in on, and disrupting the functions of your vital organs as well as increased risk of developing a Cardiovascular Disease (CVD). It’s also a handy measurement to help track weight loss in relation to clothing sizes.

Relative Fat Mass is measuring fat deposits across the entire body. of predicting your body

another method of but as an estimation Loosely, an easy way fat percentage (%BF).

This is a good measurement to support Body Mass Index (BMI) testing and is better for women and those carrying more muscle than BMI. The reasons why, and what your score means can be found in our handy PDF guide which you can download here for free. Using your waist measurements you took earlier, plug this number (must be converted to metres) along with your height in metres into one of the following two equations to give you a score:

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You get a number out of this one to see progress rather than estimating how close you are to the ground. To perform the test, sit on the floor with your legs out stretched against a flat but elevated surface. A coffee table, sofa or toolbox will serve this elevated object purpose. With your feet flat against the object and knees locked out, push a pencil/credit card/paper as far as you can along the top of your object then release once you reach as far as you can. Using a ruler or tape measure, identify your result by measuring from the object’s edge to the closest point of your pencil/credit card/ papers edge. Repeat the test 3 times; you should get further with each attempt as your muscles stretch a little more.

Sit and Reach Test Flexibility and mobility are vital for reducing injuries and protecting form slips and falls into later life and is partly a measure of quality of life being able to move the body without restriction. The more supple your joints and muscles are the more freedom you have to traverse space and time as you see fit rather than being trapped in your own cage of limitations. The Sit and Reach test is a qualitative measure adapted from being able to touch your toes with straight legs.

“ The Sit and Reach test is a qualitative measure adapted from being able to touch your toes with straight legs. ”

Work out the average of the 3 attempts by adding the results together and dividing by 3. This is your score to test against next time. As with all your test results, be sure to write them down or keep a note of them, perhaps in your smartphone so they don’t get lost. Step Test Perform this test last as it will effect the results of other tests such as your resting HR and Sit & Reach test. You’ll need a timer and a competitive attitude to measure your cardiovascular (CV) fitness here. How well you can keep up with the kids, get up stairs without being shattered and walk the dog with ease would be considered your cardiovascular efficiency. There are many ways to measure CV fitness but this is a simple test you can do at home. March on the spot as fast as you can for 2 minutes! Your knee needs to come up to at least a height equal to half way up your other leg and you must have a foot on the floor at all times (no jogging on the spot). Pick a foot and count the number of times that foot touches the floor. Therefore 2 steps is a score of 1.

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Sounds simple but you’ll be out of breath if you try hard enough. If you score more than 140 you may need to look at other tests like the Rockport Walk or Multi Stage Fitness Testing but these require more time and knowledge that can be found in the Ludus Training Area. Variables and Repetition All the tests should be repeated every 6 - 8 weeks if you work out or enter a new training regime. If not, then perhaps more like 3 - 6 months to keep an eye on your health. A vital thing to do is limit the variables as far as possible, use the same tape measure, the same sit and reach surface and the same clothing as before where applicable. That way we can see the difference you have made instead of the difference in the tape measure, for example. Bonus Testing For 2 bonus tests, head over to the full Armoured Muscle blog article here. Now you have a choice of 7 tests to complete, all at once

or over a period of time to help you assess and monitor your heart rate, CVD risk, body fat percentage, flexibility, CV efficiency, BP and upper body strength. Combined, they should give you a decent enough picture of your overall functional fitness and health. Should you want more tests or more in depth tests, don’t hesitate to have a chat with us. Don’t forget to write your results down and repeat the tests with minimal variables in just over a month to 2 months later. Armoured Muscle Personal Training champions beginners to go from underconfident to unstoppable both mentally and physically using proven functional fitness and worthwhile nutrition in as little as 3 weeks. Armoured Muscle Personal Training helping you to live a stronger, healthier more resilient life. Find Us On Facebook Follow Us On Instagram PAGE

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NOVA SILVER

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Nova Silver Gifts For August Those born in August are lucky enough to have multiple gorgeous stones ready to be gifted to them on their special day. Featuring this month’s birthstone of Peridot as well as the zodiac stones Rose Quartz, Smokey Quartz and Chalcedony. August Birthstone: Peridot is August’s gorgeous olive green birthstone coming in a range of different styles for earrings, pendants and bracelets. Peridot was believed to keep away evil spirits and to purify the body and the mind. Not only does this stone show the wearer how to detach themselves from outside influences and release negative patterns, it also cleanses the heart and helps to release burdens and guilt. Zodiac stones for August (Leo) Rose Quartz: Rose Quartz is known as the stone of love and infinite peace as well as being the most important crystal for the heart. This stone gently draws off negative energy to replace with loving energy as well as teaches you how to love yourself. The stone gets its name from the delicate pink colour which is also seen as comforting and gentle. Smokey Quartz: Smokey Quartz is known as one of the most efficient grounding stones and is a super antidote to stress. This stone teaches you how to not only leave behind anything that no longer serves you, but also helps to relieve fear, lift depression and bring emotional calmness. Chalcedony: Chalcedony comes in many different colours and shades. This is known as the birthstone for March however this is also one of the zodiac stones for Leo. Chalcedony is known to bring the mind, body and emotions into harmony. This stone also helps to remove hostile feelings and open the mind to help the acceptance of new situations. In ancient times, this stone was believed to prevent poisoning if a chalice was made from silver and lined with Chalcedony.

Contact Details:

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BEST OF NORFOLK Issue 112 2022

Best Of Norfolk - Through The Lens Of Our Readers Thanks to the wonderful photographs shared by our followers on Facebook, have a look at these marvellous July images of our stunning region.

Dawn Mountain - Lumi The Mammoth At Cart Gap

Charlotte Watlow - I Have No I-Deer PAGE

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Issue 112 2022 Dawn Mountain - The Hottest Day On Mundesley Beach

Charlotte Watlow - Combine Harvester PAGE

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Dawn Mountain - Sunset Ebridge Mill

Dawn Mountain - Sunset At Cromer

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Charlotte Watlow - Something Slightly Different

Fiona Ellis - Old Buckenham Country Park PAGE

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BEST OF NORFOLK

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Breckland Council - Local Businesses Supporting The Arts - Great To See Thetford Priory Being Used For Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

Sheila Denny - Sunset At Bacton Beach

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BEST OF NORFOLK Issue 112 2022 Dawn Mountain - Clouds at Coltishall

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Hannah Marie - Great Yarmouth Sea Glass Stack

Charlotte Watlow

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Nadine Gray - Stow Mill, Paston From The Corn Field

Dawn Mountain - Fantastic Mr Fox

Hannah Marie - Sea Glass Reflections Great Yarmouth

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BEST OF NORFOLK Issue 112 2022

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Dawn Mountain - Fishing At Ebridge Mill

Charlotte Watlow - Harvest

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BEST OF NORFOLK Issue 112 2022

Becca Gibbons - Blickling Estate

Nadine Gray - Mundesley Seafront

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BEST OF NORFOLK

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Issue 112 2022 Matt Coomber Such - Legends Festival At Cromer Hall

Nadine Gray - Mundesley Beach PAGE

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BEST OF NORFOLK Issue 112 2022

Charlotte Watlow - Baling

Dawn Mountain - Mundesley Beach

To be in with a chance of having your own photographs featured in the future, look out for our regular Facebook posts where you can add your images. Alternatively, send an email with your image and caption to: submissions@icenimagazine.co.uk PAGE

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Focus On: Food

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IT'S FUN TO SHARE...

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Issue 112 2022

It’s Fun To Share Your Summer Food

How hospitable are you? Sometimes the thought of asking people round to ours, of agreeing a date, planning a menu which accommodates everyone’s preferences, deciding on who to invite & who’ll get on well together, tidying the house; all of these can add up to a pretty formidable list. It’s a wonder anyone gets invited anywhere! But summer lends itself well to sharing food. Eating outdoors can be a relaxed affair and often people will bring contributions of food and drink, whilst the men typically commandeer the barbecue, enthusiastically cooking anything that comes their way and even happily relocating to the garage should the weather take a turn for the worse! Settling on the time of day is often an easy and uncomplicated process too, from a weekend ‘come over any time after midday’ to a weekday

late afternoon invitation to ‘join us for a bite to eat’. Children often enjoy playing happily together whilst the adults sit wherever they like and chat, dining off a miscellaneous assortment of plates and perhaps even relishing eating with their fingers. These easy-going occasions are often surprisingly successful, reinforcing how much fun can be had from sharing your summer food without the need to make too much of a fuss. Neighbours can be the forgotten gems in our lives, as they quietly collect our parcels, help out in emergencies and notice if something’s awry. Inviting them round for a summer meal can be a relaxed way of thanking them, enhancing those relationships and getting to know each other a little better. Our regular everyday lives may not lend themselves to much more than a quick smile or greeting as we go about our days, tend

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the garden or wash the car. Inviting neighbours round for a few hours over food presents an opportunity to improve those relationships in an informal way. Some family members many not be easy to entertain, especially in these days of extended, eclectic relationships with exes, in-laws, half and step-siblings. Inviting the main ones round together for a summer meal can be a relatively easy way to tick several boxes in one go! Informal alfresco dining is a pleasant way to let guests entertain themselves, chat to whomever they want, eat whenever they’re hungry, come and go as they choose. Friends may have been somewhat neglected of late as many of us have taken a little time to reconnect and resume normal life. Inviting several friends round for a summer meal can provide a great opportunity to catch-up with quite a few at once and may even turn into a mini-party. It may be that one guest volunteers to organise a game or two, whilst another may choose to DJ and play some music. Impromptu get-togethers are often the very best kind. We hear how much networking and business can get done over a game of golf or during a visit to the gym and similarly, inviting someone you like, work with and are keen to get to know better round to yours for some summer food can be a good way to boost that relationship. It may not be the most appropriate time to discuss business facts and figures, but

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spending a few hours together in a relaxed setting can be a positive way to improve the relationship’s level of significance. Summer and picnics often go well together. A walk in the countryside or along the beach followed by a picnic lunch in a beauty spot can be a lovely, inexpensive way to spend a day. Though often the dream is better than the reality, as eating sandy sandwiches, fending off insects, finding a field free from cows and avoiding the rain often make for fun stories once you’ve arrived home, rather than on the actual day itself! Children often love the thought of a picnic, so letting them help in the preparation, make the sandwiches and bake a few fairy cakes can all add to the fun of the day for them. And if it’s raining on the actual day why not put a blanket down on your kitchen floor and pretend that you’re somewhere else, in a forest or somewhere magical, as you encourage the children to use their imaginations and share stories about the day’s fantasy adventures. When we think of summertime food it often includes salads and light dishes. Adding a sociable element can turn your summer mealtimes into a pleasant experience for the whole family. It can be a chance to connect and celebrate your relationships in a relaxed, amiable atmosphere, whilst enjoying the weather and a little fresh air. Share your summer food and make the most of this lovely time of the year.

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DINING OUT

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Dining Out: The Alchemist

The city of Nottingham is famous around the world for its Castle and also for its lace. Historically, lace was made in the Lace Market area of Nottingham. Other numerous, notable recognitions of Nottingham include the legendary Robin Hood, the tobacco industry, plus bicycle manufacturing. The multi awardwinning University of Nottingham is renowned globally. World-class entertainment attracts large numbers of devotees, visitors and tourists, as do sports facilities and more. Businesses and retail outlets provide goods and services, with bars, hotels and restaurants fulfilling the requirements and desires of many.

The multi award-winning Alchemist Bar & Restaurant is located in one of the most iconic buildings in Nottingham, dating from Victorian times. Several years ago, the building was occupied by the Hard Rock Café chain. Prior to that, the Prudential Assurance Company occupied it. Today, the reputation of the Alchemist Cocktail Bar needs little introduction. The bar staff transform beverages, utilising bubbles, flames and smokiness, amazingly. Head Chef, Brody, is passionate about cuisine and makes certain, with his brigade, that all dishes are very memorable. To commence the dining occasion, I opted for Crispy Curried Fish (Seasonal fish, coconut curry sauce, herb oil, snap peas, samphire,

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DINING OUT

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crispy noodles, jasmine rice). Splendid - tasty, succulent and with complementing flavours. Compliments to Chef. Other popular dishes include Rib-Eye Steak, Surf ‘n Turf, Alchemist Fried Chicken Wrap and ‘The Full Alchemist’. Desserts have many temptations too, including Yakitori Caramelised Pineapple, Chocolate creations and several others. I selected Cotton Candy Baked Alaska (Waffle, blood orange gelato, meringue, Grand Marnier). Great photo opportunity. Watch for flames. Sensational!

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I chose 3.5 oz of Happiness for my cocktail delectation. With Cambridge Dry Gin, Chambord and other additions, this comes in a hipflask to keep - Exceptional! Parties and occasions are regularly accommodated. Booking is advisable, particularly for popular times. Please view the website for other Alchemist locations. Thank you to Mollie, for her genuine welcome and Hana, for excellent service throughout. Collections and gift vouchers are available now, there’s a thought! Highly recommended. The Alchemist Bar & Restaurant, 11 King Street, Nottingham, NG1 2AY. Tel: 0115 950 9416 E-mail: mollielippett@thealchemist.uk.com www.thealchemist.uk.com Social: TheAlchemistUK As always, Enjoy! Review By Trevor Langley

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SEEWHATMUMMYSAYS

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Living With A Coeliac Three years ago, Becca was diagnosed and therefore would be absolutely fine eating gluten free. It turns out there’s a bit more to it with Coeliac disease. than that!

This came quite as a shock as she didn’t have any symptoms and the diagnosis only appeared whilst undergoing tests at the hospital for something completely unrelated.

Did you know there’s gluten in soy sauce? Chocolate? Sausages? And there’s a risk of cross contamination from products containing oats??! Suddenly, it didn’t seem as easy.

The previous twenty-nine years’ eating habits were to be irrelevant, and she should now only eat a gluten-free diet.

As Becca doesn’t get any symptoms, I think it’s harder for her to be as strict with herself, but ultimately she knows that it’s not doing her any favours inside. We eat a lot of pasta, so that was quite an easy swap for our day to day eating. However, you will definitely want to experiment with different supermarkets to find which you prefer.

At first glance, it seemed like the change wouldn’t be too horrendous (This was my perspective, not Becca’s!) My initial thought was about bread. Becca didn’t eat a lot of bread, PAGE

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SEEWHATMUMMYSAYS

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Issue 112 2022

When you first embark on a gluten-free journey, there’s a lot of looking at the back of packets in supermarkets to check the ingredients. Here are a few thoughts on living with a coeliac...

Gluten-free spaghetti, no matter what the brand is tricky to cook... avoid it if you can! (Adding oil to the water helps, but I’ll leave that meal for Becca to cook!)

If someone invented a gluten-free bread that tasted like bread and was the size of a regular loaf they would be an overnight success. We are yet to find a tasty bread. Thankfully as I mentioned, Becca doesn’t eat much of it so the rest of the family eat our normal choice containing gluten.

Eating out can be awkward, especially when you’re abroad. You can get little travel cards that explain your dietary requirements in the appropriate language that you can show a waiter.

You have to be really careful when you buy gluten-free products. There is a particular Mexican themed brand that produce taco, enchilada and fajita kits. The only difference in the fajita kit is the wraps, but the price is ridiculous compared to the standard box. Tip: It’s actually cheaper to buy glutenfree wraps separately and the regular fajita box and then simply give the other wraps away! Kettle chips are gluten free! Personally I think they need to shout about this more, but it’s an easy choice for any crisp fan that is a coeliac.

In the UK, the best range of gluten-free offerings we’ve found in a high street restaurant has been Middletons. The difficulty is relying upon the restaurants to keep fryers and utensils separate, so there isn’t any cross contamination. Things could be a lot worse. People with any kind of intolerance or food allergy do not have it easy and this isn’t their choice to be restricted. I think that’s why I’m saddened and disappointed that such emphasis is given to other food choices in restaurants in the UK. For example, gluten-free McDonald’s buns are available in other countries, but not the UK. If you want to order a burger here, its bunless I’m afraid! However, if you want to eat vegan, EVERY fast food chain has you well catered for. I’m not against eating a vegan diet in any way but ultimately, it is a choice. The easiest way we’ve found to eat gluten free is to cook from scratch wherever possible. Various online community groups have also been very helpful with tips on ingredients to use at home and where to eat out. Thanks for reading! Tom www.seewhatmummysays.com @whatmummysaysuk

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VEGGIE BURGERS

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Veggie Burgers It’s barbecue season, and for many people, it’s an excuse to ditch the diet and gorge excessively. However, it really doesn’t have to be this way. There are so many swaps you can make to ensure you maintain a healthy lifestyle. Choosing a vegetarian burger over a meaty one can help, as can simple swaps, such as light mayo or a wholemeal bun (or no bun at all). My butternut squash burger recipe should tantalise your taste buds as well as helping you to keep your calories under control.

Ingredients

• 350g diced butternut and sweet potato • 250g pack Merchant Gourmet smoky Spanish-style grains and rice • 2 tsp smoked paprika • 25g pack flat leaf parsley roughly chopped • 1 lemon, zest plus juice to serve • 1 tsp plain flour, plus extra for dusting • 2 tsp frylight • 4 brioche burger buns • 2 garlic cloves, crushed • 4 heaped tbsp mayonnaise with a sprinkle of pepper to add a bit of flavour • 120g peppery salad or any salad you would like

Method Instructions 1. Simmer the squash and sweet potato in salt water for 8- 10 minutes until tender, then drain and mash. Let it cool then, mix with the grains and rice, 2 teaspoons of paprika, chopped parsley, lemon zest and 1 teaspoon of flour. Season well to your tastes. Shape into 4 burgers, dusting your hands with a little flour to help. 2. Heat the frylight in a non-stick griddle pan and cook the burgers over a medium heat for 5 minutes on each side until darkened and golden. Stir the garlic into the mayo (my son Ben had the idea of putting in a little parsley too; I thought he was mad but I was wrong!) and mix well. 3. Put a handful of salad leaves on each bun bottom and sit a burger on top. Add a good dollop of garlic mayo (we put in pepper to taste as well). Put each on a plate and add the bun top and garnish with the salad and take a bite! Enjoy! Recipe by JustAverageJen www.justaveragejen.com

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ICENI - HQ

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Issue 112 2022

Iceni HQ: A Fussy With Food Family With five children in our household sometimes, it’s inevitable that I cook two versions of the same type of meal at times. When I was a child, I was told to eat what I got, and that was that. However, I take a different approach to parenting and living in general, and that’s ok. Child 1 will not eat vegetables. So, if we have a roast dinner, he will eat mashed potato or roasties, but the sight of a pea or carrot will not end well. However, he has surprised us over the past few years and knowingly eats some forms of veg when it’s disguised in other dishes, such as grated carrot and courgette in minced beef (Bolognese or cottage pie) and also red, orange or yellow pepper and onion in chicken fajitas. We’ve definitely had a few breakthroughs and his choices are now less limited. Child 2 is a pretty good eater, though lately has declared that certain foods taste funny. However, on the whole, he is pretty easy to satisfy, though he will criticise the cooking and draw comparisons with previous versions of the same dish. He’s taken to wanting to help me cook recently and trying everything every two minutes to adjust the seasoning - both sweet and frustrating! Child 3 is funny with the texture of foods, so she won’t eat mashed potato - which everyone else loves. I will reserve a couple of potatoes and keep them as boiled ones when we have a roast. Minced beef is a texture she struggles with as well. She loves spicy food though, and curry is one of her favourites. Child 4 is fairly good with most things, though I swear blind I cannot have given birth to her as she doesn’t like gravy. A Yorkshire woman with a non-gravy-liking child? What?!?

Child 5 is probably the best eater of the lot and scoffs down most food given to her. However, she comes out in rosy-red cheeks and struggles to breathe when she has tomatoes, so we don’t allow her those. Therefore, mealtimes can be a challenge. Mr Iceni is a big eater, and he will eat pretty much anything BUT he doesn’t like cheese. Ok, so he eats it on pizza and likes cheese and onion crisps, but no lasagne or cheese-topped cottage pie for him. The first time I cooked for him, I remember being horrified when I asked him what he wanted me to make; he said cottage pie. There was me preparing to make something attractive and tasty, but he preferred something traditionally tasty. I’ve got used to this now... just about! Soon-to-be Mrs Iceni - I LOVE food as well, but it doesn’t always love me. In fact, dairy and gluten are two things I limit. There are very few things I don’t eat: olives and offal are the main two that spring to mind. With all these dietary requirements to cater for, it’s a good job I enjoy being in the kitchen, isn’t it? And if all else fails, it can be Yorkshire Puddings all round! PAGE

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ABBIE HOME BAKES

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Issue 112 2022

Abbie Home Bakes

One of Norfolk’s most talented young bakers, Abbie Storer from Abbie Home Bakes, shares her story with Iceni Magazine this month. If your mouth isn’t watering by the time you’ve reached the end of this article, there’s definitely something wrong with your tastebuds or eyesight - we can vouch for both the taste and appearance of Abbie’s bakes being out of this world! What inspired me to bake? Growing up, I used to visit my grandparents. My nan was a huge part in sparking my love for baking. I have very fond memories of my nan always pulling a chair to the counter so I could stand on it and help her bake cakes, cupcakes - and

my favourite - fairy cakes! The only help I really was back then was licking the bowl after the mixture was used. I didn’t bake for a long time as I got older. Studies got in the way, and then working full-time. It was only when lockdown hit that I had this desire to teach myself to bake again! It was definitely a struggle at first, a few burnt tins and undercooked bakes, but all the time spent at home allowed me to put the time in. Lockdown was a huge inspiration to me - I felt inspired to do more of what I love with all the time I had. I wanted to document my progression as time was going by, so that’s when I first created my Instagram page ‘Abbie Home Bakes’ which I blog about my bakes. Through social media, I also found amazing bakers that made me realise what I could achieve! ‘Jane’s Patisserie’ is my baking role model and remains so.

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ABBIE HOME BAKES

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Issue 112 2022

Surprisingly too, being lucky enough to be born and raised here in Norfolk has also inspired me to bake. I’m a big believer in supporting the local economy and my current aspiration is to be able to use local produce for my bakes as I continue this journey. Living in a county which is huge on fresh produce and ‘farm shops’, this has inspired me to hopefully one day be able to make this a huge part of my baking and the reputation I create for my baking. My favourite things to bake (& my nemesis) Since starting my baking journey, I have baked so many different things. I still strive to find new things to bake and new ideas. My favourite thing to bake has to be Chunky Choc Chip cookies! They are so simple yet so satisfying to bake. I love how you can take a simple cookie and make it into whatever you wish it to be. Whether that’s filling them with spreads, biscuits, various chocolate pieces, etc. My favourite has to be Oreo Nutellas stuffed cookies.

My other thing to bake are cakes! I’ve been cakes for all sorts of occasions for family, friends, and friends of friends. Decorating them is somewhat therapeutic, from arranging dried flower assortments as cake toppers, to creating a tree stump! I love the creativity that comes from decorating cakes, and having to experiment. Although I love all the challenges that baking brings to me, I do have my baking nemesis. Caramel. Nothing beats homemade caramel, and how “simple” it is to make! From my experience with caramel, a simple recipe does not always mean ‘easy’ or ‘straightforward’. My first ever attempt at making caramel had me searching tutorials on how to clean a completely charred and burnt saucepan. And since that moment, I have yet to avoid at least a small bit of charring on my saucepans. Caramel is slowly going up in my good books, but there is still a way to go in terms of perfecting the process of making it. For more information visit: Instagram: @abbiehomebakes Facebook: Abbie Home Bakes

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ICENI ASKS

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Issue 112 2022

Where’s your favourite place to dine in Norfolk? “Definitely Nelson's Head, Horsey. Walking distance to beach, serves wide range of craft beers and ciders. Fab food. Inside and outside dining.” Helen

“The White Hart in Roydon is a favourite. Never had a bad meal. Delicious food and huge portions!” Rianna

“Griston’s Waggon and Horses. The food has always been amazing, super friendly atmosphere and the pub is a beautiful place.” Martin

“The Queen’s Head in Hethersett - lovely staff, good choice of menu, large portions, good value. Excellent Sunday carvery: they have two sittings, and everything cooked fresh for each sitting so no dried out veg!” Liz

“We went to the Mulberry Tree (Attleborough) recently and it was amazing. Even got a ‘superb’ from my ex chef fussy husband!” Fiona

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JUST FOR FUN Issue 112 2022

Think you know the answer? Let us know via our Facebook page and we will reveal the answer at the end of the month. PAGE

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ICENI - HOROSCOPES

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Issue 112 2022

Horoscopes For August Aries 21 March - 20 April

Expansive Jupiter, now retrograde in your sign, forges a potentially lucky link to Venus in Leo on the 18th. If you’re single and looking, this brings opportunities for some fun and romance. Indeed, the planet of hope is giving you a taste of how life will be in 2023. But before that, his rewind to your 12th house, will also offer potential for inner reflection. So, do relax and bask in the healing energies of Chiron, our wounded healer, who is also blessed by a harmonious angle from Venus in Leo on the 24th, helping to soothe your senses, and especially if you feel you deserve or need some “Me Time”. The Full Moon on the 12th, squares you up to choose which of the exciting projects you have in mind. Mars, arrives in Gemini on the 20th, giving you a chance to grapple with your ideas, everyday fitness and interactions with people more locally, and energy can rise as the month winds down.

Taurus 21 April - 21 May

You’ll likely be firing on all cylinders this month, Taurus. Your enthusiasm is commendable, but don’t allow yourself to become psychologically overwhelmed. Take advantage of Saturn’s slowdown in your career sector, to take your time with new opportunities, as by the Full Moon on the 12th, you’ll be clearer about streamlining your workload. Retrograde Jupiter makes a harmonious angle to your ruler Venus in Leo midmonth. So, you may be creatively looking at how you can make your living space more colourful. And even with Mars arriving in your financial sector,for a lengthy stay in week three, bringing opportunities to energise your income, you can still enjoy some relaxing fun times at home and toreflect on how much you’ve achieved. Your social life will likely be busier from the 23rd, as the Sun enters Virgo Season, your sister Earth Sign. PAGE

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ICENI - HOROSCOPES

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Issue 112 2022

Gemini 22 May - 21 June

You can be full of creative ideas as the month starts, and happily expressing them to people in your local community or online too. Innovative Uranus’s slowdown from later this month, is set to give you the opportunity to go within, to look at what you have learnt about yourself, and how you can assertively discover a more energetic way to achieve your goals and especially longer-term hopes. You have a gift for communication Gemini, and that can see a sparkling encounter midmonth, and a writing project may get the green light or go from strength to strength. A very important development occurs on the 20th, when the active energies of Mars arrives in your sign for an extended stay to March 2023, and you’ll find your thoughts and ideas have an edge to them. Just be careful you’re not too assertive! Mind, Steady Eddie Saturn is slowing down certain plans to travel, so use the time delays to sign up for an online course, to improve or share your knowledge. Later in the month, home, family and emotional strands, hold more sway.

Cancer 22 June - 23 July

Money has been a hot topic for many of us this year, and your finances are under the spotlight as the month begins, with beneficial Jupiter, bringing opportunities in your career to increase your income and fire up your energy, as you begin to see how some of your innovative ideas can become money-spinners. Another moment of serendipity can present itself midmonth, and your natural warmth may draw this opportunity to you. Dreamy Neptune continues to see you think of how your life can open up. Whilst the Full Moon on the 12th, is making you take a realistic look at where you closely interact with others, the energy of this Lunation can also bring about creative outcomes. With the assertive energies of Mars arriving in your sector of inner reflection for a lengthy stay, it may make you feel restricted in the way you express yourself. But use this time to find ways to understand your most deeply held frustrations. But equally, don’t forget to enjoy yourself too, Cancer.

Leo 24 July - 23 August

With so many changes happening with your career and public profile and standing, do try to pace yourself. And with a Full Moon on the 12th in your relationship sector, combined with the boundaries of Saturn slowing down, this can be an opportunity to reflect on the ties that work, and let go of those

involvements you’ve outgrown. Mars arrives in Gemini on the 20th, and brings a boost of energy to ideas you have for your future, and how to bring them to the collective, whilst Jupiter’s bountiful energy can bring travel opportunities, especially when retrograde Jupiter links to Venus in your sign on the 18th, and can create a delightful frisson of energy you’ve been waiting for. The Virgo New Moon on the 27th can bring tangible benefits. And if it does, believe you deserve them, Leo.

Virgo 24 August - 23 September

Inner reflection will help you cope with the unexpected changes to travel plans or where you are most emotionally invested, and if so, see such changes as being for a reason. Retrograde Jupiter is making a wonderful aspect to Venus in Leo on the 18th, this could stimulate your psyche, creatively encouraging you to embrace inner transformation, and with strict Saturn’s help, see you marshal your time and energies more keenly. Indeed, why not take advantage of the Full Moon on the 12th, to prune your working life or every day demands to a more manageable level. Mars, arriving in Gemini from the 20th, for a very long occupation, is going to give a boost to your career this month and right into 2023, so prepare for greater acclaim! The New Moon on the 27th, is in your sign Virgo, perfect for refocusing and re-energizing current strands or firing up new beginnings.

Libra 24 September - 23 October

As you step into August, try to take any fluctuations in joint finances and investments in your incomparable stride. If Uranus springs some surprises, it’s nothing your fair-minded Libra energy can’t balance out. With fortunate Jupiter in your relationship sector, you’ll still be basking in the experience of lucky opportunities for love, and a journey or connection with someone very special around the 18th may be telling. But equally, you may find opportunities to kick back and relax and have some fun with friends. You’ll notice a slowdown this month in many areas of your life, which you’ll likely find welcome, as by the Full Moon on the 12th, decisions about how much entertaining you’re going to do, as opposed to having some quieter ‘me’ time, will be necessary. Mars arrives in your travel sector, for an extended period of time, bringing exciting ideas for future travel or to learn new ideas, or share some of your special knowledge and experiences too. What’s not to like!

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ICENI - HOROSCOPES

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Scorpio 24 October - 22 November

Restless Uranus in your relationship sector has seen lots of excitement, and possibly extraordinary twists and turns around personal relationships. But it’s also giving you an insight into your authentic needs, and this can continue this August. The planet of restrictions, Saturn, is retracing his steps, and giving you celestial food for thought at home and around your need for security and stability. These two planets are in conflict, and finding the balance in these two vital areas of your world, can be the key. By the Full Moon on the 12th, you have an opportunity to gain greater insights around all this. But then, this can give you time to enjoy some dreamy creative pleasures, thanks to mystical Neptune’s slowdown. The helpful angle from retrograde Jupiter to Venus in Leo, on the 18th, brings opportunities to advance your career. Mars is going to activate joint resources over the next few months, and transformative Pluto’s slowdown is helping you communicate clearly, so that by the New Moon on the 27th, you’ll be ready to launch a new project.

Sagittarius 23 November - 21 December

Foreign climes may beckon, or at the very least a change of scene. If you do stay closer to home, fun opportunities are possible to relax and enjoy friendships. Your wonderful ruler Jupiter, lines up with Venus in Leo on the 18th, bringing an opportunity for a visitor from a distance. And Mars is going to spice up your significant relationship over the next few months, so you’re in for an exciting time with your other half. While transformational Pluto is working hard to help you find new income sources. And news mid-month on the career front, sees the possibilities unfolding for launching a project you’ve been working on. The New Moon on the 27th invigorates your career hopes, as long as relationships are harmonious.

Capricorn 22 December - 20 January

If a house move or planned alterations are taking longer than you thought, turn it into a positive. With the wise help of your ruling planet, Saturn’s constructive energies, helping to restructure your finances, which could save you money. There are certainly a lot of unexpected fun developments in your social life, which could even include some passionate encounters for some lucky Goats.

Issue 112 2022

The Full Moon on the 12th, can be a springboard to greater financial understanding, and whilst Jupiter, the planet of luck, now retrograde, forges a lovely link to Venus, midmonth a stroke of luck helps you make a positive decision about your living space. Mars will energise your daily working routine, but watch out you don’t overextend yourself, as you’ve got this active energy here for several months. Whilst the Virgo New Moon on the 27th in your fellow earth sign, gives you an appetite for spontaneity.

Aquarius 21 January - 19 February

Your significant relationship is under the spotlight this month, as you both deal with upheavals at home, and the surprising changes you are currently experiencing. The Full Moon in your sign on the 12th, shows how much you’re being urged by transformative Pluto, to allow your inner self to be reborn. And new birth is always painful, but the rewards can be worth it. Jupiter, our planet of opportunity and luck, is now retrograde in Aries, and makes a lovely link to Venus in Leo on the 18th. Could you be receiving the news you’ve been waiting for from your other half? If you’re single and looking, you may not have to go far from home, as love could be literally around the corner. And Mars brings you opportunities for fun, exciting opportunities, and maybe some excitement in your romantic life, when things could get quite raunchy for some lucky Water Bearers. This active energy is here for several months, so pace yourself! And don’t forget, the universe always has your back.

Pisces 20 February - 20 March

Relax Pisces! Our teacher planet Saturn, wants you to take time for inner reflection this month, and link up with more sincere friends. The Full Moon on the 12th, will bring you awareness of what needs to change in your inner life. So take advantage of life slowing down a bit this month before it starts to speed up later this year. With Mars taking up residence in your home sector for an extended period, from the 20th, you may find yourself thinking more about actively making lots of changes to your living space, moving, or working from home. Whilst bountiful retrograde Jupiter is working hard to increase your finances, which can work into the year ahead, helped by a lovely link to Venus in Leo on the 18th. Your other half may come up with a great idea around this time. The New Moon on the 27th, brings an opportunity to start anew in a current relationship, or connect in a new involvement.

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