In&Around February 2018

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FE B R UARY 201 8 ISSUE 153

Go with the Glow!

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Chinese New Year

We tell you all about it – and how to celebrate it

Is love in the air?

It will be with our Valentine’s Day tips!

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Welcome... to the February issue of IN&AROUND! Can you believe that Valentine’s month has come around again already? It seems to happen faster every year... but no worries if you’re single and simply dreading the 14th, as we’ve got some great tips for how you can make a success of it on page 24 of this magazine.

Now that we’ve got the lovey-mushy stuff out of the way, let’s turn our attentions to the rest of what awaits in IN&AROUND this month... and you can rest assured it’s another cracker of an issue.

ISSUE 153 February 2018 READ ONLINE AT: issuu.com/inandaroundmag DIRECTOR Benjamin Kerry MEDIA SALES Val Atkinson Malcolm Hook DESIGNER Daniel Haley COPYWRITERS Gavin Lenaghan Craig Lenaghan ACCOUNTS Victoria Pilch CONTRIBUTORS I Bird Photography - Front Cover Alex Nelson - Places to Go George Nairn - Remember When DISTRIBUTOR Paul Emmerson

The latest Pixar movie, Coco, for example – it a must-see?

You can find out on pages 40-41. Or maybe you fancy getting out and about this month? If so, we’ve got another few local unsung gems for you to discover on page 34, including Prebends Bridge in Durham and Preston Hall, Eaglescliffe.

Oh, and did you know that it’s also the Chinese New Year from the 16th? Flick to page 38 for the lowdown on everything you need to know about it and – most importantly of all – how you can celebrate it in our region.

As usual this month, our advertisers are our heroes, so we’d like to say a massive “thank you” to you all! Become one of them by giving us a call on 0191 388 2698 or emailing sales@inandaroundmag.co.uk – we’ve got some fabulous discounted three and six-month packages that will help you to spread the word about your business throughout Chesterle-Street, Durham and Derwentside.

That’s it for now – keep your eyes peeled for the next issue of IN&AROUND in March!

The IN&AROUND Team

Spotlight

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Kit Out Your Kitchen With These Impressive Updates

Congratulations to last month’s competition winners, all winners have been notified.

DISCLAIMER - Whilst we take every care to ensure accuracy in this magazine, we regret that we cannot accept responsibility for any incorrect information. All advertisements are accepted in good faith as to their veracity and we are not responsible for views expressed by contributors or other sources. The copying of any material within this publication is strictly forbidden without the publishers or Studio Managers consent.

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Valentines Day: How to make a success of it

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Chinese New Year beckons - and it’s the Year of the Dog

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Expect a wonderland at this month’s Winter Olympics

In the UK, we might now be seeing the last few snowy remnants of the festive season melting away, but there will be no shortage of frost for us to see on the TV this month. That’s because, from 9th to 25th February, the Winter Olympics will be taking place - and we will all be able to watch the action as it unfolds in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Where will it all happen?

Even just the location of the games has provoked much intrigue. This will be only the second occasion on which South Korea has hosted the Olympic Games; the last occasion was in 1988, when the country’s capital city Seoul was the site of the Summer Games.

The athletes will be competing in various venues in the county of Pyeongchang - which in promotional material, is displayed as “PyeongChang” to discourage confusion with neighbouring North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang. The Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium has been especially built to host the opening and closing ceremonies of both these games and the following Paralympics.

What sports can we look forward to watching?

There will be 102 events in total, covering 15 sports. Of course, many familiar favourites - including alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, snowboarding and speed skating - will be well-represented in the schedule of events. However, there will also be four new disciplines: mass start speed skating, big air snowboarding, mixed doubles curling and mixed team alpine skiing.

Which countries will participate?

There are few surprises with many of the countries that have qualified for the games or otherwise confirmed their involvement. We will be able to cheer on many of our own athletes wearing the Union Jack; in fact, we could even be on course for our most successful Winter Olympics yet.

The data analysis company Gracenote has predicted that Britain will pick up five medals in Pyeongchang. That would put us ahead of our previous record of four medals in the Winter Olympics - and we matched that haul in Sochi in 2014, although it could soon be bumped up to five should a doping scandal disqualify Russia from a bronze medal that would then go to us.

The United States has revealed that it will also attend, while North Korea will be sending two figure skaters across the usually impregnable border with its southern neighbour, following successful negotiations made with that country.

How could the Winter Olympics inspire your own sports efforts?

Right now, there isn’t a huge amount of the white stuff over here in Britain; however, you don’t strictly need it if you want to follow examples set by Winter Olympics athletes. Their training begins long before a single snowflake of the winter falls.

Those involved in biathlon spend their summers weight training, cycling and running, French coach Frederic Jean has revealed, while former British Winter Olympian Shelley Rudman recently enthused: “There is never a better time to get into the gym than now.” So, get hold of some gym gear or sports equipment and get active!

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HOME IMPROVEMENTS

KIT OUT YOUR KITCHEN WITH THESE IMPRESSIVE UPDATES If you love spending time regularly improving your home, you could be excused for scrolling through many photos of appealing kitchens on Instagram and Pinterest and feeling a pang of jealousy. After all, your current kitchen might currently look rather outdated or lacking in certain functionality.

However, you also shouldn't delude yourself about the workload with which you would be faced if you decided to go ahead with a major revamp of your kitchen. A lot of hard work, tears and especially punishingly - money could be spent trying to get your kitchen into shape.

Fortunately, there remain many ways of giving this part of your home a visual refresh without excessively depleting your energy or bank balance. Here are some particularly good examples.

Give your kitchen more style with the right tiles You might live with people who are a little reckless in the kitchen and so sometimes need to wipe food or drink from the kitchen walls. With a splashback, you can help to protect those walls from damage that could inadvertently result; thus, you can scale down your maintenance efforts, too.

Still, you might want to forgo stainless steel and glass as possible materials for the splashback; they can be surprisingly expensive.

Instead, you could choose tiles, which offer more for the money and make it easier for you to add a range of colours and patterns on many walls, not just the splashback.

Inspire awe with a good-looking new floor As you continue tweaking your kitchen's appearance, you might notice that the floor no longer visually matches or complements the new additions. Would you need to take up the entire floor?

No, as you have the alternative of laying fresh flooring across it.

You probably have either a distinctively traditional or contemporary look in mind. In the former instance, pre-oiled 8 | IN&AROUND

structural engineered oak would be a good choice of material for that flooring; alternatively, you might consider cushioned vinyl for a more 21stcentury style.

Sink or swim? Actually, just the sink Your sink can't be easily overlooked as part of your kitchen, whether by you or visitors. You therefore might as well make sure it looks good... or more to the point, appropriate. A country-style home, for example, would suit a white butler sink.

If, on the other hand, your home has that sleek, modern look common in new build residences, a stainless steel sink might be a wiser option.

Alternatively, you might be seeking to turn heads and provoke gasps rather than merely make people smile... so, why not opt for a distinctive copper sink?

Let there be light. Yes, even more of it A dull-looking kitchen can be visually enlivened with enough lights. Those lights can include spotlights above the worktops and ambient lighting shining where family members tend to dine.

However, you should always make sure that any complicated lighting is fitted by a qualified electrician. Indeed, various professionals could help you with many other aspects of your kitchen's makeover.

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What’s on February

Chinese New Year 2018, Chinatown, Newcastle upon Tyne Chinese New Year starts on Friday 16th February - and, the following Sunday, you will be able to mark it in style at Newcastle’s Chinatown.

Head to Stowell Street and watch in awe as lion and dragon dances, drumming, Chinese folk dances and colourful flags form part of a vivid parade set to start from the city’s Monument area.

Viking Beer Festival, Spectrum Leisure Centre, Willington Vikings are a pretty big part of County Durham’s history, and you now have an ideal opportunity to drink like one thanks to this new festival. From 12pm until 11:30pm on Saturday 3rd February, you will be able to tuck into beer and bratwurst and even get a souvenir branded two-pint stein.

The focus is very much on having fun rather than stuffy historical accuracy, but arriving dressed as a Viking is encouraged - so, don’t forget your horny helmet!

Charge! The Story of England’s Northern Cavalry, Discovery Museum, Newcastle England’s Northern Cavalry regiments have been around for 300 years - and in that time, have seen action in a range of settings. The Discovery Museum has set up a new permanent exhibition chronicling this exciting history through a display of various intriguing physical remnants of war.

These include a flag from the 1815 clash of Napoleon’s final military defeat, the Battle of Waterloo, plus a suitcase in which maps were carried at the 1944 D-Day landings.

Fire & Ice InDurham, Durham You can be aflame with excitement at this very “ice” - ahem - weekend event taking place on 16th and 17th February.

Have fun checking out the fire and ice sculptures around the city and stay around for the visually stunning finale in the historic city’s Market Place.

It’s all family-friendly, however, so don’t hesitate to take your little ones along for the thrills.

Wheels and Wellies Walk, Saltwell Park, Gateshead For this sponsored walk, you can take yourself or a friend or relative in a wheelchair or pushchair around Saltwell Park, while raising money for the disabled children’s charity Contact.

There will also be fun games and puzzles to try. Raising £100 will get you a limited edition t-shirt, while there will be a special prize for whoever raises the most sponsorship money in total.

Altered Carbon, Netflix There’s an enticing slice of dark sci-fi premiering on Netflix on 2nd February. It’s called Altered Carbon and based on Richard K Morgan’s 2002 novel of the same name. So, what is it about? Set 300 years from now, it portrays a world in which human personalities can be transferred onto digital implants known as “stacks” and so moved to new bodies, called “sleeves”. The very wealthy regularly upgrade their “sleeves” to give themselves immortality.

At the centre of this series is Takeshi Kovacs, a soldier who, centuries after being imprisoned, wakes up in a body markedly different to the one with which he had been familiar. It turns out that his consciousness has been poured into a new “sleeve” and he can be pardoned for the crimes he committed in his previous life. However, there’s a big catch...

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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT BNI has helped thousands of businesses of all sizes in Durham & Teesside over the years, both trades and professions. BNI’s Referral Marketing System is a proven new business formula with a 20+ year track record. It goes beyond networking by training members to build trust with each other, so that they can refer business to one another with complete confidence.

Tangible Business Benefits There are numerous BNI business benefits including: · New business development opportunities · Referral marketing training · Free Online Training which can benefit · Networking skills workshops · New ideas for 60 second pitches your business via BNI University BNI Centurion meets at the Emirates Cricket Ground in Chester le Street every Thursday at 6.45am until 8.45am and in the last 12 months it’s members have thanked each other for £1 million worth of invoiced business.

Each week between 25-30 quality local businesses meet and pass great business to each other, and spend time educating each other on their businesses to ensure that they can look for business amongst their contacts for their fellow members each week.

If you are serious about growing your business in our area in 2018 then BNI Centurion could be the best business decision you make this year.

We are holding a visitors day on Thursday 15th February at 6.45am and we would love to meet like minded local businesses who wish to grow in 2018.

Please find your invitation on the next page.

Why not come along and bring plenty of business cards – the worst that can happen is that you may get some business!

If you have any questions or queries please ask one of our members or email me at andrew.simpson@ensureinheritance.co.uk I look forward to meeting you on 15th February.

Andrew Simpson President, BNI Centurion Tel: 0191 338 5143 | Mob: 07825 222 611

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Changing the Way the World Does Business

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LOVE YOUR BUSINESS? LOVE BNI! BNI Centurion would like to invite you for a bacon sandwich, a coffee and networking with our members to find out who you are and who you would LOVE to meet! Maybe your dream client is also a client of one of our members! You won't know unless you come along.

Join us on

Thursday 15th February at the Emirates Riverside 6.30am - 9.30am for our visitors day and ďŹ nd out if BNI Centurion and your business are the perfect match.

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JOHN AND JOSÉPHINE BOWES: A REAL-LIFE COUNTY DURHAM LOVE STORY

A Look Back

Given that it’s the month of Valentine’s Day, it make sense that we turn our attention to one of the best-known love stories associated with County Durham. John Bowes, an art collector born into the wealthy Bowes family which counted County Durham’s since-demolished Streatlam Castle among its three principal seats, fell in love with and married a Parisian showgirl, Joséphine Benoîte CoffinChevalier, in the mid-nineteenth century – and they gave County Durham the Bowes Museum.

County Durham man meets Parisian woman In 1811, John Bowes was born into what could be considered a somewhat mixed blessing. Though his father was John Bowes, the 10th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, his mother was his father’s mistress rather than wife.

As a result, the younger John’s chances of inheriting the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne title were imperilled – and, though his parents did marry at the eleventh hour in a bid to rectify this, this attempt failed; courts ruled that their son was illegitimate.

Despite serving for years as a local politician in County Durham, John later emigrated to France, a move allegedly influenced by the dim view that Victorian society took of his illegitimacy. While in France, he bought the Théâtre des Variétés – the Paris venue where, in the late 1840s, he first saw his future wife performing. She was just 22 – and it wasn’t long before the two were introduced.

“The way to get power as a woman in Paris was to become the mistress of a powerful man,” Judith Phillips, a Bowes Museum archivist, told the BBC last May. “You would get 20 | IN&AROUND

bought a house and be well looked after and even respected.

Having a mistress was a common thing, but marrying them was rarely heard of.” This apparently didn’t deter John from bucking the trend – as, after five years as unmarried lovers, the two wed.

He didn’t skimp on the wedding present, either…

In search of an artistic legacy that would long endure That wedding present was the Château du Barry – an extravagant building in Louveciennes near Paris. The château’s name was derived from Madame du Barry, a mistress of Louis XV. The building was offered to her by that French king in 1769, but was also where she was arrested in 1793, shortly before her execution during the French Revolution.

The château was very much the Bowes’ home, but the couple still regularly visited John’s County Durham estates. At that time, the county was largely populated by farmers and coal-miners, to whom John and Josephine wanted to bring art and culture. Bankrolled by her

husband, Joséphine leveraged her Parisian connections to buy great artworks for what would be the Bowes Museum.

One of its curators, Joanna Hashagen, remarked to the BBC last year that, even today, there remains evidence of the love that John truly felt for Joséphine.

Hashagen commented that, as can be judged from letters he wrote to people other than Joséphine, John “cared for her deeply”, adding: “It is clear they did genuinely love each other”. Ahh…

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LOVE IS IN THE AIR

VALENTINE’S DAY:

Yes, it’s the month of Valentine’s Day! Okay, so how excited you are probably depends on how much of a romantic you are – or whether or not you are in a happy relationship. However, whether you are single, happily married with kids or something in-between, Valentine’s Day can still be fun. Yes, for everyone! Here are some tips for how you can best prepare for and spend the special day.

have previously repeatedly postponed.

All the single ladies… and men

Have a significant other? Here’s how to treat them

When you are single but surrounded by coupled-up people, it can be too easy to wallow in self-pity. However, in the wait for your own special someone to turn up, now is a time to express your appreciation for yourself – and you can do that by writing a love letter to yourself.

In writing the letter, keep in mind why you are, quite simply, awesome. You could quickly feel much more empowered. Then, regularly re-read the letter to revive the feel-good vibes. You could go even further and get yourself a special present. Maybe that could be a piece of jewellery you have long been eyeing, or a holiday you 24 | IN&AROUND

There are many other ways in which you can look after yourself on Valentine’s Day.Perhaps a particularly hectic work week has left you stressed – in which case, a longer sleep or soothing lavender bath wouldn’t go amiss. A nice glass of wine could also help save you a… whine.

If you are a love bird, Valentine’s Day presents an ideal opportunity for you to put the stresses of everyday life behind you and set aside special time to spend with your partner. How much time exactly? Two hours would be a good amount, but the nature of the date itself is largely up to you.

It could be a luxurious meal at a posh restaurant, a trip to the cinema, or just a casual and quiet stroll in the park. There would also be nothing wrong with getting your other half a gift, whether it is a bunch of flowers, box of chocolates or something less conventional.

A thoughtful gift would certainly be worthier of your focus on Valentine’s Day than your phone or laptop, to which you are probably already routinely glued; leave those gadgets alone on the day.

Going on a date? Tips for making it extra special Maybe you are actually somewhere between attached and single; for example, because you’ve spotted someone you really like and want to ask them out on a date.

When asking them out, give them options; after all, you are probably both already pretty busy. Offer several days on which you could date. You could also suggest a number of vague ideas for what the two of you could do on that date.

On the date itself, routinely pay attention to the other person by listening to their words and keeping your conversation with them meaningful. With your love interest, you could also discuss ideas for further dates with them.

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Valentine’s Day isn’t just for couples. Why not get a portrait of someone you really love?

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Places To Go...

PITLOCHRY, Perthshire For a winter break in February, before winter turns gradually into spring, consider the Scottish Highlands, and particularly the Perthshire town of Pitlochry which welcomes visitors all year round.

There is a direct train from Newcastle every day, the Highland Chieftain to Inverness, which calls at Pitlochry but it leaves mid-afternoon and returns in the morning, which rather eats into your days away.

I changed in Edinburgh and travelled with Virgin Trains East Coast and Scotrail for £45 each way first class, cheaper still in standard.

It was icy underfoot when I arrived, so I was pleased to see the McKay’s hotel clearly at the end of the road from the station. Check in was friendly and efficient, and the barman took me over the road to the annexe (in his shirtsleeves no less). I would have stayed in the grander Atholl Palace Hotel but they wanted £516 for two nights as opposed to £92 in McKays. But I went to the AP for a Christmas concert on my night of arrival.

On the Monday I had a walk around the Pitlochry Festival Theatre, which was busy, and walked past the fish ladder to the hydro power station and new café and exhibition centre. There was little snow in Pitlochry – in fact I saw more in Stevenage later the same week – so I elected for a train trip to Dalwhinnie which has a remote distillery off the A9 and a brisk walk from the tiny railway station which boasts only a few trains each day, including a Sleeper to/from London.

The journey from Pitlochry to Dalwhinnie crosses the Drumochter Pass, and because my train was cancelled owing to a signalling problem, I got to

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travel by taxi along the road in one direction and by rail on the way back. En route, the railway reaches the greatest height of any line in the UK at Drumochter Pass (as the highway authority calls it) and Druimauchdar (in railway parlance) at 452m (1484 ft). Purists will be interested to know that the highest STATION is Corrour on the West Highland Line, but the pass is higher than Corrour station.

I was provided with a taxi, incredibly, from Perth which arrived at Pitlochry nearly an hour later.

I was on the point of abandoning my trip, but I knew Dalwhinnie had recently won an award for their distillery tours, and, to celebrate, they were offering a FREE distillery tour which beckoned, and the advantage of the taxi arriving 75 minutes late was that I get a full refund of the train fare. The tour was good, and so I could catch the train back they allowed me to do the tasting before the tour and absent myself at the end. I bought a bottle of Winter’s Gold single malt, a product of Scotland’s coldest distillery.

On the Tuesday I was visiting the Blair Athol distillery in Pitlochry and decided to walk up to the AP for lunch, although the two courses for £17.95 was rather more than I wanted. I therefore enjoyed the signature Cullen Skink with fresh bread and a large glass of wine in the otherwise deserted restaurant, overlooking rural Perthshire. I enjoyed the grounds, the museum, the ambience of the Stags Head bar, my lunch and (two nights before) the concert.

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TRAVEL

There was snow on the ground at home tonight.

A great opportunity to open up my Dalwhinnnie distillery bottle of Winter’s Gold in a lovely icy blue bottle. The bottle was a pleasure to open and savour the undiluted spirit first, and a bit of fresh snow dropped into the glass revived it into something else.

Alex Nelson, Stationmaster pitlochry.org athollpalace.com

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WIN! THE RAT PACK LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS SET TO SWING INTO SUNDERLAND EMPIRE

Hit follows hit including pack favourites The Lady is a Tramp, Mr Bojangles, That’s Amore, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, What Kind of fool Am I, Volare, My Way, Candyman, Everybody Loves Somebody and many more.

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CHESTER-LE-STREET The Council have plans for opening up part of the burn again. This Clarke’s series of Postcards shows a snowy Shrove Tuesday looking over.

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GREENTHUMB SOWS SEEDS OF SUCCESS GreenThumb lawn treatment service continues to grow across the region.

Fusarium, as well as pests such as leatherjackets and chafer grubs.

Since GreenThumb Durham started in May 2000, the family-run business has proved to be a great success.

Water conserver and growth regulator treatments are also available. These services by GreenThumb professionals costs less than some D.I.Y products on the market.

Owners Adrian Russell, wife Janet and daughter Lisa expanded the business in 2013 by launching a neighbouring franchise in Tyne Tees, and now the company has thousands of customers throughout the area.

A team of five lawn operatives work hard to keep the region’s lawns looking lush, covering the following areas: Durham, Consett, Chester-leStreet, Birtley, Washington, Sunderland, Peterlee, Seaham, Gateshead, South Northumberland, Hexham and Derwentside.

Services include: fertilizing, weed spraying, moss control, hollow-tine aeration and scarification.

The team also tackle other common problems such as Red Thread and 34 | IN&AROUND

Adrian said: “Our aim is to continue to expand with an order book full of satisfied customers.”

GreenThumb Durham and Tyne Tees also run a recommend a friend scheme.

If you are satisfied with their service, why not recommend a friend or family member and receive £10 off your next appointment.

Direct Debit payment is accepted and there’s discount available on various gardening packages. Gift vouchers are also available

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If you’ve been thinking about creating a great lawn - lush, green and weed-free, contact GreenThumb and let us bring your lawn to life.

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Easy to Overlook Gems

Prebends Bridge, Durham If you fancy a romantic stroll with your significant other this Valentine’s Day, we couldn’t think of a more appropriate place for it locally than the city of Durham. Its cathedral and castle are especially beautiful – and you and your partner can enjoy a great view of them from Prebends Bridge, which very much reflects the fashions of the eighteenth century during which it was built.

It’d be understandable if you initially struggled to locate Prebends Bridge with certainty, as it is just one of the city’s three stone-arch bridges; the others are Framwellgate Bridge and Elvet Bridge. Prebends Bridge was built in the 1770s to a design by George Nicholson. Though there had previously been

a bridge here, the new one was positioned slightly further north, where the river was broader, to allow better views. You are likely to appreciate that as you gaze from this bridge.

If you do have difficulty finding the bridge, keep in mind that it is beneath the Watergate at South Bailey’s end. The bridge could readily come into your view after you pass St Cuthbert’s Society, a Durham University college on the city’s peninsula. One particularly notable feature of the bridge is a plaque displaying words written by the Scottish poet Sir Walter Scott in praise of Durham. He writes: “I love thy mixed and massive piles” – who are we not to love them as well?

Preston Hall, Eaglescliffe Visited Preston Park Museum & Grounds? If so, you’ve likely also been in Preston Hall, as this early nineteenth-century mansion house forms the museum’s main building. Though the museum is largely Victorian-themed, Preston Hall gives it tenuous roots in the Georgian period, as that building was constructed in 1825 – only five years before George IV’s death.

Ropner had, in 1838, been born in what was then the city of Magdeburg in the German state of Prussia.

However, he later emigrated to England – where, in 1874, he founded the Ropner Shipping Company in Hartlepool. He also, six years after obtaining Preston Hall, acquired a Stockton shipyard where he would have a thriving shipbuilding firm responsible for many trunk deck ships.

That construction work happened on the initiative of David Burton Fowler – who, in 1820, had purchased the Preston-on-Tees estate where the building would be sited. From the start, Preston Hall was just a twostorey, three-bayed rectangular building including a service wing. However, the property was substantially extended after the estate fell into the ownership of the shipping merchant and shipbuilder Robert Ropner in 1882.

It wasn’t just ships that he built to impressive effect; he also gave Preston Hall new wing blocks and a large winter garden or conservatory. Robert was the first of the Ropner baronets who lived at Preston Hall until 1937. The building was handed over to Stockton-onTees District Council ten years later – and, in 1953, saw its official opening as a public museum. Today, many people can visit the building and enjoy fruits of Fowler and Ropner’s construction endeavours.

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Chinese New Year beckons and it’s the Year of the Dog Your memories of celebrating the New Year might still be fairly fresh in your mind; however, there’s another New Year fast approaching, and no, it isn’t 2019. Instead, it’s the Chinese New Year - which in 2018, will start on Friday 16th February.

Every Chinese New Year is represented by an animal from the Chinese zodiac - and this time around, we are looking at the Year of the Dog. Far from just a Chinese tradition, Chinese New Year is celebrated around the world - and our own corner of England alone provides plenty of enticing opportunities for you to join in with the celebrations. We canine believe the options!

What is the Chinese New Year all about?

The date of the Chinese New Year isn’t static; it changes from year to year, as it is decided on account of the Lunar calendar. In other words, the Chinese New Year always starts on the same day as the new moon, which is in late January or February.

The actual celebrations, meanwhile, tend to last for about 15 days, as they end on the day that the full moon finally emerges. Although the nature of the celebrations can vary, they are typically deemed a time for families to gather and send wishes for a peaceful and prosperous year ahead.

For example, Chinese families tend to spend New Year’s Eve having a reunion dinner, while New Year’s Day is when they clean their homes as a way of warding off bad luck. Another tradition on the same day is for children to be handed red envelopes including good wishes and “lucky money”.

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The significance of the Year of the Dog

Given the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac, this year is the first Year of the Dog since 2006. People born during the Year of the Dog will have the dog as their Chinese zodiac sign; however, each of the 12 signs of this zodiac also has different varieties.

Therefore, 2018 is set to be represented by not just the dog, but more specifically, the earth dog. 1958 was the last earth dog year in which people born grow up to be serious, communicative and - in their work endeavours - responsible.

Where can you celebrate Chinese New Year in the North East?

2018 will be an even more special year than usual for Chinese New Year celebrations in Newcastle. Those celebrations will be on the broadest scale yet and, for the first time, start very much in the city centre. That’s where you will be able to enjoy the showpiece parade, although there will be no saying goodbye to the usual tradition of colourful celebrations at Chinatown on the city’s Stowell Street.

You can expect to see parades, lanterns, and lion and dragon dances - and the North East is also well-served with great Chinese takeaways. Newcastle’s major launch event for Chinese New Year will happen on Sunday 18th February, and you can expect more spectators than ever before.

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FILM REVIEW IN ASSOCIATION WITH VUE GATESHEAD

T

here was once a time when it seemed you could discern whether an animated film was an enduring classic or a so-so distraction by seeing if the esteemed studio Pixar had made it. Those days are largely gone now, thanks to competing animation studios upping their game (resulting in such beauties as the Kung Fu Panda and Lego films) and a series of passable sequels by Pixar itself. The studio has, however, returned to form with Coco – even if the experience is somewhat bittersweet…

A story of a tussle between family and music In the rather exposition-heavy opening scenes of Coco, we are brought to the colourful culture of Mexico and learn of the distress suffered by the Santa Cecilia woman Imelda Rivera when her husband walks out on her and her daughter, Coco, to become a musician. Imelda places a household ban on music that lasts through several more generations of her family, which becomes betterknown for its prowess in shoemaking. However, there soon looks set to be a rupture in this ancient ban…

That’s once the film has brought us up to the present day, when the 12-year-old Miguel Rivera – the great-grandson of the now very elderly Coco, who still lives with him and their family – dares to break from the fold. He is eager to follow in the footsteps of Ernesto de la Cruz, a big music star of Imelda’s day. To that end, he decides to break into Ernesto’s mausoleum to steal his guitar. However, as soon as he starts playing it, he is sent onto a path into a new and fantastical world.

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That world is… the afterlife. Known in this film as the Land of the Dead, it is where Miguel’s deceased ancestors appear as friendly and eccentriclooking… skeletons. They explain to Miguel that, for having stolen from a dead person, he is suffering a curse that can only be lifted if one of his dead relatives uses an Aztec marigold petal to give him their blessing. However, there seems to be only one relative who can do this without insisting that Miguel abandons music…

A careful approach to an uncomfortable subject If you’ve been paying close attention so far, then you probably won’t be too surprised to learn that, yes, Miguel has to spend much of the film looking for that musician who his own family treats as an outcast. However, once you’ve digested the complexity of the setup, you can look forward to a tale that faithfully incorporates many elements of Mexican culture while thoughtfully tackling the subject of death in a manner that doesn’t pile on the morbidity. There’s also a heart-warming lesson: embrace your passion, but don’t leave your loving family behind along the way.

Craig Lenaghan Copywriter

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DURHAM CONSTABULARY LAUNCHES POLICE COMMUNITY SUPPORT VOLUNTEER SCHEME COULD you make a real difference to your community?

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Are you looking for a unique and rewarding volunteer role where no two days are the same? One where you’ll help solve basic crime enquiries, assist in local incidents and get to the heart of neighbourhood issues?

Durham Constabulary are recruiting Police Community Support Volunteers (PCSVs) to provide a new uniformed presence to patrol in communities and focus on local priorities.

This is a brand new role which will see successful applicants support frontline policing in neighbourhoods across County Durham and Darlington, where they will be mentored by fulltime officers.

PCSVs will be involved in neighbourhood policing and will take part in foot patrol and solving basic problems. They will build positive relationships with the local community and support local initiatives, like Community Speed Watch and PACT priorities (Police and Communities Together).

“We’re looking for positive, public-spirited people to volunteer in the heart of their local communities and build relationships with those who live and work there.

“Successful candidates will be given support and training within neighbourhood teams to strengthen community links providing additional visibility, reassurance and familiarity.

“This non-confrontational role is a great opportunity for people to give something back to their community, while making friends and developing life skills.”

Applicants must be able to commit a minimum of four hours a week for at least 18 months. Candidates will also be subject to a selection procedure and vetting process.

They will also support police during planned operations, local events and other initiatives, and will work with victims and witnesses where appropriate.

Ron Hogg, Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner for County Durham and Darlington, said: “I am very excited about this innovative initiative. It will give people the opportunity to make a real difference by working alongside front line officers and providing valuable reassurance and visibility within our communities.”

Inspector Kevin Tuck, from Durham Constabulary, said: “This is a brand new volunteering role which will give ordinary people the chance to do something extraordinary in their communities.

Successful applicants will be based within a neighbourhood beat team and will be supported by fulltime officers.

Travel expenses, uniform and training is provided.

For more information, visit durham.police.uk

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Painters & Decorators

PROFESSIONAL BLOCK PAVING Driveway & patio paving specialists. All cleaning & sealing services, competitive rates & all work guaranteed - www.professionalblockpaving.co.uk Call Richard on: 0191 312 0224

ROBBIE ELECTRICAL SERVICES LTD With over 20 years experience we undertake all aspects of electrical work from re-wires, alarms & showers to fuse boards, fault finding & much more Please call: 0191 312 0233 - www.res-ltd.info

SEYMOUR DECORATORS Specialist in paper hanging including ceilings coving work all interior and exterior work undertaken 35 yrs experience contact Ken 0191 312 0213

Landscapers

Electricians

Roofing Services

DURHAM CITY LANDSCAPES Specialising in all aspects of landscaping work Our services include fencing, driveways, patios, paving, decking, hedge trimming & much more Please call: 0191 312 0225

BARR TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS LTD All aspects of electrical works from complete re-wires to an additional socket & light. Intruder alarms, security lighting, CCTV & access control Call: 0191 312 0232 NAPIT Reg. & Part P approved

A1 ROOFING SERVICES (NE) LTD All aspects of roofing work undertaken Family firm with over 40 years experience 10% OAP discount and free quotes available Call: 0191 312 0221 24 hr Emergency call out

Builders - General

Gas Services

KR EMMERSON BUILDING SERVICES 25 years experience, Crook based family builder From repairs, extensions, conversions to new builds - www.kremmerson.co.uk Call Kevin: 0191 312 0228 for a free quote

ENCOMPASS GAS & PROPERTY SERVICES LTD We provide high quality property services from leaky taps to boiler breakdowns, general property repairs & maintenance. Gas safe registered.

Call: 0191 312 0227 www.encompassgasps.co.uk

Burglar Alarms

Handyman

CHJ SECURITY SYSTEMS With over 17 years experience we offer complete security systems from CCTV & high quality burglar alarms to access control, door entry & much more Please call: 0191 312 0219 for a free quotation

HOMEWORKS Handyman service & fly screen installer No job too small, routine maintenance & repairs to home & garden - www.homeworks-handyman.co.uk Call Neil on: 0191 312 0229

Burglar Alarms

Home Improvements

ARMOURED ALARMS Providing a wide range of professionally installed security systems. With over 15 years experience we can build a system to meet all budgets!

Call on 0191 312 0223

BIPS REFURBS Specialist in all property refurbishments Joinery, kitchens, tiling, flooring & much more Punctual, professional & hard working service Please call: 0191 312 0237 for a free quote

Tradefinder Hotline: 0191 65 111 65 Official Sponsors of The Sports Bulletin on ITV Tyne Tees 44 | IN&AROUND