Ipswich24 Magazine - February 2022

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INSIDE THIS MONTH:

Pull-out Wedding Guide Entertainment Lifestyle Wellbeing + Much More

E E FmRagazine Ind Tra epend vel Ag ent ent s

10th Anniversary Year

Visit us online at www.ipswich24.co.uk for more information and events

Let the Spa brighten your February First up at Felixstowe Spa Pavilion Theatre this February is ‘Come What May: The Ultimate Tribute to Moulin Rouge’, 7.30pm on Saturday 12th February. Starring Robin Windsor, of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ fame, this show will be a “Spectacular, Spectacular” evening of unforgettable dancing, dreams, adventure ... and, above all… love, perfect for a Valentine’s treat!

The following Saturday (19th February) sees the welcome return of ‘Mercury: The Ultimate Queen Tribute’. Celebrating over 20 years on the road, Mercury are well established as one of the world’s most authentic tributes to the legend that is Freddie Mercury and Queen. They will rock you!

On Tuesday 22nd February, British music legends ‘The Zombies’ come to Felixstowe, on their ‘Life is a Merry-Go-Round’ Tour. The band is still led by its founding members, vocalist Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent on keyboards - alongside Steve Rodford on drums, guitarist Tom Toomey, and Søren Koch on bass.

For a marvellous matinee performance, on Thursday 24th February (3pm), it’s ‘Circus Spectacular’! This show is sure to be the perfect half-term treat – with international circus acts, astounding magic tricks, and lots of laughs.

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On Friday 25th February (3pm), go down the rabbit hole with ‘Wonderland: The Magical Journey’. With a colourful cast comprising talented singers, dancers and actors this incredibly mad tea party is guaranteed to have you grinning like a Cheshire Cat. To round off the month, don’t miss ‘MJ: The Legacy’, on Saturday 26th February. This is an exceptionally authentic, world class homage to Michael Jackson – starring the supremely talented CJ along with his incredible live band and dancers.

Tickets are available from the Spa Box Office: Tuesday to Sunday, 11am-4pm, telephone: 01394 284962. You can also select seats and buy tickets online, 24/7, at www.fxspa.co.uk.

To protect you when buying tickets, the Spa has an industry-leading covid ‘total’ guarantee in place for ticketholders which not only covers postponed

or cancelled performances, but also covers you if you’re unable to attend due to illness or isolation.

In short, if you can’t attend due to covid or a show is postponed, you can choose from: a gift voucher for the full amount of your purchase valid for two years against both restaurant and ticket purchases; or tickets for the alternative date or for any alternative show of equivalent value (with a balancing payment either way if required); or a refund less booking fees. If a show is cancelled, you’re entitled to a gift voucher or an alternative show of equivalent value or a full, no quibble refund including booking fees.

The café, bars and restaurant are open every day, 10am-5pm. Breakfast is served 9-11.45am and main meals, from 12pm. Food is always served for two hours before every performance, with reservation advised on 01394 336336.You can follow the Spa Pavilion on Facebook/Instagram/ Twitter, for all the latest news and show updates.

Alternatively, sign up to their email newsletter at www.fxspa.co.uk

INSIDE THIS MONTH FEBRUARY Arts:

News on a visit to Ipswich by funnyman Harry Hill, half-term musical entertainment in the shape of Matilda, a great DVD competition and music.

8&9 Events Diary

Your day-by-day guide to the month of February, including weekly classes, live music, farmers’ markets and theatre.

To get your event listed for FREE email us at listings@ipswich24.co.uk

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In Later Life:

Helping you make the most of your retirement. We find out why grandchildren love time with their grandparents, plus help with Tech and mobility.

12-16 Weddings Guide:

You’ve made the decision, you may have even set the date....

Now’s the time to start the preparations and our 8 page guide has everything you need to make it a success.

Show your home some love this February with a spruce up or makeover. Discovering the latest trend in paint colour, plus gardening, finances and much more.

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CENTRE 28&29

Motors24:

Why do electric cars really breakdown? It’s actually not lack of charge. Plus Smart Motorways and why drivers are cutting their spending on everyday items to keep their car.

Ipswich24 is published on the last Thursday of every month by Fizzwig Designs Ltd. Available Free from numerous outlets across Ipswich, Woodbridge, Felixstowe, Hadleigh, Stowmarket and surrounding villages, including leading supermarkets, libraries etc.

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Is your work impacting your mental health?

Read Prettys’ Guide to workplace stress Research indicates around one in four of us suffer a mental health problem each year, with one in six experiencing issues at work, which could be caused by a number of potential factors including: risk; and - Too high or too low a workload - Your employer was made aware - A lack of support of your problems AND that your - Inadequate training or health was suffering. experience If all these conditions are met, - Bullying or abuse from then it’s possible to bring a claim colleagues for compensation against your - Bad management employer. There are numerous - A physically uncomfortable things you can do to assist any working environment The majority of employers are potential claim: - Tell your employer supportive and will help their - Keep a diary of your ill health employees if they are struggling. and a timeline of events at your In instances where this is not the workplace case, it is important to understand - Get a medical diagnosis from your rights in order to make a your GP claim. This must meet certain - Record any impact on your conditions to succeed: life and finances. Such as loss - There must be a foreseeable risk of earnings and medication of psychiatric injury arising from purchases. the work you were required to do Due to the complex nature of mental or from the conditions in which health conditions, both personal you were working; and and workplace based, it can be - Insufficient or inappropriate difficult to make successful claims. steps were taken to address this

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Prettys’ team of experts are on hand to help. Experienced in a whole host of personal injury claims, your peace of mind is their number one priority.

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For a free consultation or for more information contact their team of experts on 01473 232121.

If you’d like to cuddle a lamb February is fast approaching and life on the farm is getting quite hectic.

Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm opens it’s doors on Saturday February 19th and they will be starting the new season with lambing, hopefully a litter of piglets and maybe even some Highland calves.

The new lambs love to sit on your lap and, if you are very lucky, you may even see more being born. As well as cuddling a lamb you can also meet the bunnies in the bunny barn, help Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm to groom their goats, pigs, donkeys and ponies, or even have a go at building a den in the wood. All this and all the other animals that always look forward to meeting someone who’ll feed them! When you’re done wandering, the children’s play area means they can keep busy while you can relax with a cup of coffee and a delicious cake.

Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm is six miles north west of Ipswich, off the B1113 between Great Blakenham and Needham Market. They are open all week 10am – 5pm. With entry prices at £8 for adults, £7 for concessions, £4 for children (aged 4-16) and free entry for under fours, it would be difficult to find a more diverting and better value attraction in Suffolk.

Family tickets are also available.

For more information visit www.baylham-house-farm.co.uk or www.facebook.com/BaylhamFarm or call 01473 830264.

Once in a decade Make a visit to the Aspal Theatre events in 2022 Are you looking for a gift for a loved one or do you want to treat yourself to a night out in 2022? Why not book tickets to one or more of eight tribute nights being hosted throughout the year at Stonham Barns Park.

Starting on Saturday 19th March, Other attractions include the Owl Jimmy Jemain is Cliff Richard with Sanctuary, with over 90 different the Knight Shadows taking you birds of prey. The Teapot Pottery back to the early swinging 60’s offering paint your own teapot, with the very best of Cliff and the or you can purchase a beautiful

Shadows. Then on Saturday 26th March and Saturday 22nd October are The Glamtastics, East Anglia’s top cover band taking you back to the sounds of the 70’s. On Friday 8th April, one of the UK’s premier Abba Tribute Bands Abba’s Angels will be performing all the bestknown Abba songs. Queen Alive, a 5-piece live Queen Tribute Band will be performing on Saturday 7th May. Making two visits this year is Andy Ottley as Elvis, taking you on a journey through time with the greatest hits from the King of Rock and Roll. His first visit is on Friday 24th June and his second visit on Friday 19th August where he will bring his live band along to perform. Then finally on Friday 16th September is Simply Jackson, one of the finest Michael Jackson Tributes singing all the greatest hits.

Pre-show dinners are available in the Bistro. Call 01449 711 257 to pre-book your table.

There are many other events and shows during the year, visit the events page on the website to find out what else there is in 2022.

Also, at Stonham Barns Park you can visit the shopping village with over 40 shops and businesses selling gifts, crafts, books, pictures & frames, paddle boards, crystals, clothes, toys, furniture, hair & beauty treatments, homewares, holidays, hot tubs, holistic therapies, trading cards, antiques, and sweets. Plus, a post office, convenience store, garden centre, and an Escape Room.

hand-crafted teapot. Play a round of adventure golf or try the golf simulators in the Golf Park or spend a few hours fishing in one of the fully stocked lakes.

For the younger ones in your family take a visit to Tumbledown Soft Play Barn with Sensory room or let them jump and play on the FREE bouncy pillow.

If you are feeling hungry during your visit there are two great places to eat, the Bistro with its fabulous home cooked food and the Teapot Tea Room with speciality tea and coffee and delicious homemade cakes and pastries.

This is a ‘dog friendly’ site and open seven days a week.

For more information visit their website: www.stonhambarns.co.uk or their social media pages.

At Deben Travel Woodbridge they are celebrating their 10 year anniversary!

2022 promises to be the year where many of us will restart travelling and tick many experiences off our ‘bucket list’.

Deben Travel have seen many new bookings for two major events that only take place once every 10 years.

Floraide – The International Horticultural Expedition – 14th April to 9th October Held in Almere, The Netherlands this large-scale green event covers 148 acres and is the perfect place to enjoy flowers, plants, vegetables and fruits in park-like surroundings. Explore fascinating and inspirational areas created by 40 countries from around the world.

It is possible to enjoy Floraide from the UK by coach, rail or flying in to Amsterdam. It is also possible to take a river cruise with an included full day at the exhibition.

Deben Travel can offer a 5 star river cruise with all meals and drinks included, Eurostar from London with a door to door service from £1795 per person departing 15th June.

Oberammergau Passion Play – 14th May to 2nd October The famous Oberammergau Passion Play, which tells the story of the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ, is widely regarded as the most important passion play in the world. The almost uninterrupted tradition of putting on the play has been carried throughout the years, with the play being performed once every 10 years since 1634.

Held in Bavaria, Germany close to the Austrian border the play has been delayed for two years with popularity greater than ever. The play can be combined with holidays in Germany, Austria and Italy.

Deben Travel can offer a luxury 8 night coach holiday departing Ipswich on 10th September. During the 8 night tour you can also experience Cologne, the Rhine Valley and the cities of Innsbruck and Salzburg in Austria along with Lake Achensee. The cost is £1579 per person which includes tickets for the play and 6 evening meals. Flight and rail packages are also available.

For more information pop in and see them on the Thoroughfare Woodbridge, call 01394 615620 or email us: team@debentravel.co.uk

GET YOUR DANCING SHOES ON AND PARTY IN 2022 BOOK TICKETS TO A

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Save the date for the East Suffolk Digital Business Festival 2022

East Suffolk’s annual business festival returns, with an online programme of events and seminars designed to support local businesses.

The East Suffolk Digital Business Festival begins on Monday 7th February and runs for two weeks until Friday 18th February 2022.

The festival will feature a range of easily accessible, ‘bite sized’ events which will provide an opportunity for local businesses to learn something new, find out what’s happening in their area and learn where they can access local support programmes.

This year, the theme for the business festival is ‘all things digital’ and it will include the launch of new digital business support programmes, digital tech demos, business support and advice, information on local digital projects and a wide range of workshops, webinars and learning seminars.

All events will be held online which means local businesses can access the support and information they need more conveniently

and can just ‘pop in’ during their working day. Recorded events, podcasts and pre-recorded webinars will be made available throughout the two-week period at eastsuffolkmeansbusiness.co.uk.

East Suffolk Council’s Economic Development Team are working with key local partners including MENTA, NWES, Screen Suffolk, New Anglia Growth Hub, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, Innovation Martlesham and many more to provide a full and comprehensive events schedule.

Councillor Craig Rivett, cabinet member for Economic Development and Deputy Leader of the Council, said, “We are excited to announce the East Suffolk Digital Business Festival in which we will be launching our new digital support programme, soft launching new digital products which the Council is investing in, including digital

trails, free-to-use town Wi-Fi, Click It Local and many more. There will also be plenty of business training and support events delivered by our local partners.”

Businesses can pre-register now – a full programme of events is available at eastsuffolkmeansbusiness.co.uk/ east-suffolk-digital-business-festival

National award for craft shop

We are delighted to announce that Craftability are the winners of the ‘Best Independent Craft Shop in East Anglia’ section of the National Craft awards.

Nominated and voted for by readers of ‘Crafts Beautiful’ and ‘Papercrafter’ published

by Aceville it is a fantastic honour to be amongst the top shops in the country.

Craftability have been trading in the centre of Ipswich since 2006 and have established themselves as the leading craft supplies shop in the area. Products stocked are very diverse with most crafts catered for. This ranges from fabric, haberdashery, wool and cross stitch and tapestry kits to paint, wood, metal, and tools for model making.

There is a section for artists and card makers too. Jewellery making and scrapbooking are covered along with a small selection of cake decorating products and floristry requirements. The list is so vast that a visit will reveal much more in this ‘Aladdin‘s Cave’ tucked away in St Lawrence Street.

Craftability have been running extremely successful and popular workshops for a number of years and are already planning those for 2022. Regular topics include card making, scrapbooking, beading and crochet. They also have seasonal projects as well as canal art painting and felting. The children’s workshops are resuming this month too.

If you are unable to attend a workshop Craftabiliy have a selection of kits, put together by them, to enable you to complete a project at home.

They pride themselves on their customer service and product knowledge, and they are always happy to source items for customers or demonstrate how something is used.

If you haven’t already visited the shop do go and see them…you will be amazed at what they have to offer. This is yet another example of the wonderful independent shops that we have in Ipswich.

for all your crafting needs Crafts, Gifts, Dolls Houses and Accessories 4 St. Lawrence Street, Ipswich IP1 1DN Monday-Saturday 9.30am-5.00pm

Tel: 01473 257550

www.craftability-ipswich.co.uk Email: sales@craftability-ipswich.co.uk 6

e c n a m o r e n i f A y a D s ’ e n i t n ale V t e g r o f t ’ n Do

Valentine’s Day, With the most romantic day of the year, buy flowers to will n natio the of cent per 42 , just days away their wife, treat show loved ones we care. 16 per cent will mum. their cent per eight 11 per cent their girlfriend and ands husb of cent per five – out left t However, men aren’ bouquet of a ve recei will iends boyfr of nt perce and four friend. blooms. Five per cent will buy them for a

lisms. Developed by But many flowers have unexpected symbo to convey secret used only comm the Victorians, ‘floriography’ was unacceptable to share ed deem day the of tte etique that ges messa ing of flower symbolisms openly. Over time, opinion and understand interesting to look back ibly has changed and developed, but it’s incred trying to give through were tors ances our ges messa at some of the their bouquets.

2,000 Brits whether To mark Valentine’s Day, Waitrose Florist asked nation understand the help to s, bloom of ing they can identify the mean rites. Here’s what they the original symbolisms of some of our favou found:

Red Roses

flower of choice, 70 per Perhaps predictably, as the go-to romantic lism of red roses as symbo al origin the ied identif cent of people rightly had no idea what still cent) being ‘love’. However, one in ten (10 per are unaware that e peopl many And . ented repres bloom this colour of – pink blooms ings mean ative altern different colours of roses have ation’, burgundy signify ‘fascin mean e orang ’, ‘grace lise symbo ‘unconscious beauty’.

Tulips

being brought to Europe Tulips originated in the Middle East, before of Brits don’t know cent per 39 ver, in the sixteenth century. Howe cent think they symbolise per 20 r furthe a and lise symbo tulips what ied their true meaning – nothing. Only five per cent of romantics identif ‘a declaration of love’.

Freesias

doctor Friedrich Freese Freesias are named after German botanist and home of southern Africa, native their from e Europ to ht broug were and respondents don’t know in the eighteenth century. 34 per cent of nt think they have no what freesias symbolise and a further 19 perce rightly chose the cent) per (nine 10 in one nearly ver, meaning. Howe meaning of ‘lasting friendship’.

Be Your Own Vale ntine

Valentine’s Da y, while tradi tionally for sw day to show eethearts, is the ones you really just a love how muc family routin h you care. ely send Va Friends and lentine’s Da valentines fo y cards; even r their own ch mothers get ildren.

This Valentin e’s Day, why not take the who rarely ge time to apprec ts your attentio iate someone n; someone wh and a few kin o deserves a d words? So thoughtful gift m eone like – yo or attached, Va u! Whether yo lentine’s Day u are single is the perfect of thanks and day to send yo appreciation.

This year, wh urself a gift In your list of th y no t be your own ings to do each valentine? day, where do focus on mee you factor in? ting the needs Most women of others befo Over time, de re taking care priving yourse of themselves. lf of a much-ne can cause yo eded break or u to feel wear y, even a little indulgence some self-care sad. Still, a sp can be just th ecial gift and e pick-me-up Start thinking you need. of Valentine’s Day as a time treat yourself to celebrate yo in the same wa u. Prepare to y you prepare or special frien to send a gift d. Be as thou to your partner gh tful for yourse important peop lf le in your life . Carefully plan as you would be for the among the la ned gifts alwa st minute trink ys stand out ets and cand what you woul ies. Take the d love to rece time to consid ive.

Perhaps you er have resisted buying a spec beautiful dres ial piece of je s. Maybe you wellery, or a would love to have put it of have a day at f due to time the spa, but constraints. Ev there are sm en if you are all in on a budget, box of posh ch dulgences that would mak e ocolates, a ne a perfect gift w pair of shoe to you. A subscription. s, or perhaps a magazine Being your ow n Valentine al so means ta Take a two-ho king the time ur lunch brea to celebrate. k from work an nice restaura d treat yourse nt. Snuggle up lf to a meal at to watch your snacks. Have a favourite mov a long soak in ie with yumm a bubble bath Spend the da y with a glass of y meandering champagne. through the cu meant to chec te antiq k ou Make being yo t, but never got around to fin ue shops you always ur ding the time to explore. okay to take tim own Valentine an annual tradition, a tim e off to take ca e when it’s re of you. It’s pay extra spec the perfect tim ial attention to e of year to your own need kind of fun yo s and desires u like to have , and to notice , to have the your unique lo veliness.

Pat Brill

February Feel Good Festival @ The Boathouse Valentine’s Evening and the chance to propose or send a message to your love one by projecting your message on a famous landmark FEEL THE LOVE PARTY NIGHT NEW BOOK CLUB

Orchids

era, when almost 2,000 Orchids were well known in the Victorian e from Central America, species were in existence – coming to Europ of people are unaware cent per 31 East.

Far the and Africa, India guessed ‘refined rightly cent per 14 of what orchids symbolise, but ative to red roses as a altern an as t perfec – ing mean their as y’ beaut Valentine’s choice.

Whisstocks Place, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1FP Email - theboathousewoodbridge@gmail.com

Call - 01394 385 200

Web: theboathousewoodbridge.co.uk

Lilies

in cultivation and was The white Madonna lily is one of the oldest e by Roman soldiers.

Europ hout throug thought to have been dispersed when in fact, their athy’, ‘symp mean lilies think e peopl of cent 39 per as ‘impressive ibed descr best is which ty’, original meaning is ‘majes this and a further 17 per beauty’. Only five per cent correctly identified the bloom. cent had no idea of the symbolic meaning of

Pink Carnations

ern Europe and the Carnations originated as a plant from south be a choice for a could tions carna Pink fans.

Victorians were particular is ‘I will never ing mean true lost love, or the one that got away – their identified. rightly nation the of cent per eight only forget you’, which

Half Term Happiness @ More…

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Irises

century. They have an Irises have been in Britain since the sixteenth cent of people rightly per 4 only which age’ ‘mess – ing unusual mean compliments. I have ‘My to ated transl this guessed. In Victorian times, couldn’t identify what they e peopl of cent per 38 you.’ for ge messa a no meaning. symbolised and 17 per cent thought they had

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ARTS

Half-term musical

This February half-term, the National award-winning CTC return to The Seckford Theatre, Woodbridge with the musical smash it, MATILDA JR! Rebellion is nigh in Matilda JR, a gleefully witty ode to the anarchy of childhood and the power of imagination!

Matilda has astonishing wit, intelligence... and special powers! Packed with high-energy dance numbers and catchy songs, Matilda JR is a joyous girl power romp. Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination.

Stowmarket Chorale Singing Day & Concert

Members of Stowmarket Chorale hope that you can join them for two new upcoming events. Their Singing Day on 12th February 2022 at the John Peel Centre, Stowmarket will be open to all; they’re extending a warm welcome to visitors, as well as members.

Featuring all the hit songs from MATILDA The Musical including ‘Revolting Children’, ‘When I Grow Up’, ‘Naughty’ and many more!

The CTC was founded by Bridie Horne in 2009 and began its journey by offering summer workshops in a local school hall. Now offering full-time provision (CTC Foundation); a part-time training platform (CTC Academy); an in-house Agency (CTC Management); and awardwinning full-scale productions (CTC Events), the CTC has earned its reputation as one of the finest training centres in the East of England.

The CTC now have their own studios based in Needham Market providing a modern, vibrant and professional training hub fully equipped for the specific needs of the Performing Arts. With sprung flooring, Sonos surround sound, costume and props store, a scenic workshop, floor to ceiling mirrors and windows, the space is uniquely fresh and inviting.

MATILDA JR! will be at theSeckford Theatre, Woodbridge on 25th and 26th February, performances at 2pm and 6pm. To book tickets contact the Box Office at www.wolseytheatre.co.uk or telephone 01473 295900 PLEASE NOTE: The New Wolsey Theatre is acting as a ticketing agency for this event. Please check the venue and event details carefully.

Suitable for ages 3+ years

The Stowmarket Chorale will be marking the 150th birthday of Ralph Vaughan Williams with his ‘Five Mystical Songs’. Other repertoire will include Bach ‘O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht’ and Monteverdi ‘Cantate Domino’ from European Sacred Music and on the lighter side, some Gershwin arrangements by Benedict Collins Rice, our music director.

The day will begin at 10.30am with regular breaks in between the singing sessions and a lunch break. They will have an urn for hot drinks. Participants should bring their own food or make use of the town centre hostelries. The singing will conclude with an informal sing through at 4pm to which family and friends will be most welcome (space permitting). The cost will be £15 and music will be provided.

The Stowmarket Chorale’s second event is their performance of Ethel Smyth’s Mass in D which will take place at 7.30pm on 19th March at the United Reformed Church, Stowmarket. The work was premiered at the Royal Albert Hall in 1893. A review by the Guardian describes the opening Kyrie as a scene full of tension “but there’s a hint of consolation towards the end of the movement, and the Credo bursts on in an eruption of joy – the most striking of several dramatic plays of light and shade”. Again the cost will be £15.

To book for the Singing Day or the Concert please contact Aileen on 07972 668180 or email info@stowmarketchorale.org.uk for details of how to pay.

If you are interested in joining the choir please contact Adrienne Marriott, Membership Secretary at membership@stowmarketchorale.org.uk ALL CURRENT COVID GUIDELINES WILL BE OBSERVED

The Women of Sutton Hoo

The story of Sutton Hoo seems to be about one man and one woman more than a thousand years apart. Or is it more accurately really about the treasure buried with one man unearthed at the request of one woman?

How much do we know about Edith Pretty, the woman on whose land the treasure was uncovered? And how much is known about the society ruled over by the man, Redwald?

In February Woodbridge Library hosts a talk about the women of Sutton Hoo. Join Sally Sibley, a National Trust volunteer who leads guided walks at Sutton Hoo, as she unfolds the story of some of the women involved with this enigmatic Anglo-Saxon royal burial site. Using a combination of words, images and replica artefacts, Sally will describe something of the culture of the people who lived close to Sutton Hoo in the 7th century. She will talk about the roles and responsibilities of the women of the time and also about the significant achievements by women working there in the 20th century.

Sally’s talk is entitled Holding the Line: The Women of Sutton Hoo and takes place at Woodbridge Library on Thursday 17th February at 7.30pm. It is part of the programme of events organised by the Friends of Woodbridge Library (FOWL). Tickets cost £5 and can be booked at the Library or on 01394 330855. Proceeds will go partly to the National Trust and partly to the work of FOWL. 8

Harry Hill is coming to the Ipswich Regent Theatre in Ipswich in 2022 and tickets are on sale now.Multi-award-winning comedian Harry Hill has announced a brand new tour for 2022, Pedigree Fun. The tour will see Harry triumphantly return with his first solo tour since the critically acclaimed sell-out tour Sausage Time in 2013, with brand new jokes in an all-singing, all-dancing, one-man-spectacular. Audiences will meet Harry’s new baby elephant, Sarah, and Ian, The Information Worm.

Harry Hill says, “I hadn’t realised how much I missed performing live until lockdown stopped me from doing it. It’s great to be going back on stage and the good news is I am planning a very silly show.”

• Harry visits Ipswich Regent Theatre on Saturday 5th November 2022 and tickets are obtainable via www.ipswichtheatres.co.uk

Following its successful UK theatrical release earlier this year, this gripping BIFA nominated film features captivating central performances from Law and Coon who play a couple whose seemingly perfect marriage is pushed to breaking point in their search for a happier new life. THE NEST will be released on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital on Monday 24th January courtesy of Picturehouse Entertainment..

Rory (Jude Law - The Talented Mr Ripley, The Grand Budapest Hotel) an ambitious entrepreneur, persuades his wife (Carrie Coon – Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Gone Girl), and their children to leave America and return to his native England during the 1980s. Sensing opportunity, Rory rejoins his former firm and leases a centuries-old country manor.

However, all is not as it seems and soon the promise of a lucrative new beginning starts to unravel and the couple have to face the secrets and unwelcome truths that lie beneath the surface of their marriage.

HARRY

Starring Jude Law and Carrie Coon, THE NEST is the critically acclaimed new film from Sean Durkin, the acclaimed director of Martha Marcy May Marlene.

HILL

WIN: New movie release

ARTS

PRIZE COMP

With an outstanding cast that also includes Adeel Akhtar (Four Lions, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) and Anne Reid (Last Tango in Halifax, Sanditon) THE NEST is an outstanding new film not to be missed.

— COMPETITION — Ipswich24 has got three copies of THE NEST on DVD to give away to lucky readers. To be in with a chance of winning this great prize just send your answer to the following question, along with your name, address and a daytime telephone number to: THE NEST Competition, Ipswich24 Magazine, 12A Britannia Road, Ipswich, IP4 4PE or you can enter online at www.ipswich24.co.uk. The closing date for entries is Monday 28th February 2022.

Q: Name the main two stars of the movie

Panto cancelled

In early February 2020, The Company of Four were busy putting the final touches to their annual family pantomime ‘Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood’.

With a whole host of productions cancelled during 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid Pandemic, the Woodbridge based theatre group who are celebrating their 50th Anniversary Year this year, were really looking forward to treading the boards again with their brand new 2022 production of ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’.

Unfortunately, due to the current situation and the rising cases of this latest variant the Company has been forced to make the difficult decision to cancel their forthcoming production.

Lily Griffiths, Chair of the Company of Four said, “It was not an easy decision for us to make but we feel that given the current situation it is in everyone’s best interests not to continue. This is a massive blow for everyone involved especially given the enormous amount of work that has gone into the production so far with rehearsals, music, costumes, publicity and technical aspects and we thank everyone for their efforts and our patrons for their continued support.

Our fingers are certainly crossed that we will be back all singing and all dancing with our 50th Anniversary Celebration Summer Show in June!”.

For those that have purchased tickets, refunds are available from The Riverside Theatre, either in person or by calling 01394 382174 between 2pm and 8pm.

To keep up with the latest news follow The Company of Four on Facebook or visit their website at Cof4.co.uk

Sat 5th February s Ticket 0 .5 7 £1 each

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Mark James and

Roots & Wings

Performance commences 3.00pm • Doors 2.00pm

Sat 5th March s Ticket £15.00 each

Pat Jordan & Finians Rainbow

Performance commences 7.30pm • Doors 6.45pm

FOR BOOKINGS & MORE INFORMATION

Tel 01473 912626 or 07591 099519

9

WELLBEING

— Advertorial —

As we welcomed in the New Year, you may have considered setting goals which would see you becoming more active in 2022, however knowing where to start probably felt overwhelming!

Chris Lawson, the Physical Activity Advisor for this area says: “We are excited to welcome local people to the Whitton Unity Centre Hub. I will be offering free, friendly, personalised advice, helping you to set and achieve your goals and become active in whatever way suits you!

It is likely you would have been presented with several New Year fitness challenges or ideas on how you can be more active from home, but perhaps you are living with a long-term health condition or are simply lacking confidence?

It is hoped that this support will help to improve your physical health, although 91% of our clients who accessed the service last year said the support resulted in improved mental health too!”

The friendly team at Active Suffolk understand that there can be a number of barriers stopping us from being more active, which is why they are delivering their Active Wellbeing service in a number of locations across the county.

The Active Wellbeing service is free and offers you the opportunity to learn about the importance of increased movement, discuss your reasons for wanting to be more active, overcome barriers, issues or concerns, as well as discovering local and safe ways you can be more active and meet like-minded people. With thanks to the Community Ambition Fund, Active Suffolk are

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As well as offering the service to residents in the IP1/2 area of Ipswich, the service is also available to people registered with GP surgeries in the following areas: Shotley and Holbrook, Hadleigh, Bildeston, Needham Market, East Bergholt and Capel.

now delivering the Active Wellbeing service for residents living in IP1 and IP2, from the Whitton Unity Centre Hub on Meredith Road in Ipswich.

• For more information about the service and to book a consultation with your local physical activity advisor call Active Suffolk on 01394 444605 or visit www.activesuffolk.org/ the-active-wellbeing-service

WELLBEING

Weight loss tips for 2022 4. Do you snack throughout the day?

I believe snacking is a major culprit for creeping weight gain. It creates a greater release of insulin that can cause blood glucose to be stored as abdominal fat. And raised insulin inhibits fat breakdown.

If you snack because you are hungry between meals, then read Caroline Peyton of Peyton on!

1. Are you skimping on sleep?

Principles offers some 5. Are your meals Weight gain, or inability to lose weight, may be directly practical weight loss tips. balanced? linked to a lack of sleep.

Caroline is a qualified I find many people eat meals Research has shown a lack of sleep affects hormones which contain too many nutritional therapist and that are linked to hunger and satiety. Poor sleep increases starchy carbohydrates (like naturopath with clinics levels of the hormone ghrelin that makes us feel hungry bread, pasta, potatoes) with and decreases levels of leptin that creates feelings of in Wiltshire and The insufficient protein and good fullness. So it can lead to an increase in hunger during Cotswolds. She also offers fats. These starchy foods can the day. Do try to get a consistent seven to eight hours support online and is a gut quickly raise blood glucose sleep every night. If you struggle with sleep, try to follow health and menopause levels leading to raised insulin/ a night-time calming routine and avoid blue light gadgets. specialist fat storage described above.

2. Have you considered time-restricted eating?

The solution is to reduce portions This is linked to healthy ageing but also achieves a steady of starchy carbohydrates and to weight reduction. I do not focus on calorie counting but eating in an eightalways eat protein and fats with a meal as these hour window (for example midday to 8pm). Build up to this slowly adding an foods slow the release of the sugars. hour every few days. It does not have to be followed every day.

6. Are you eating fats?

3. Have you checked in with your emotions?

Fats have been demonised as the culprit for weight Emotional eating can cause over-eating 88 per cent of the time. The past gain but it is sugar not fat that is largely to blame. We two years has heightened anxiety and stress. So what actions can you take? need fats in our diet but focus mainly on essential fats Before reaching for food, quickly check in with yourself and ask is it real from foods like oily fish, nuts, seeds and other hunger or are your emotions taking over? That pause alone can start to good fats like avocados and olive oil. These change your behaviour. fats have been shown to help mobilise our fat stores and lead to better blood sugar Try and call on your stress relieving techniques. My favourites are deep balance. They also keep you fuller for abdominal breathing, going for a walk, doing some yoga or chatting to longer helping to avoid those pesky snacks. friends or family.

There is nothing worse than starting the New Year with an intense focus on weight loss and thinking the only way to achieve this is with a restrictive diet. It is often a complete waste of time as study after study show diets fail and often result in an increase in weight.

Would it not be better to focus on health above weight? In my many years of experience both for myself and working with clients, weight loss is achieved by making healthy choices and never going hungry.

Here are my six top health focused weight loss tips to get you started in 2022.

Citizens Advice Outreach Service

Citizens Advice Ipswich is very excited to announce the re-opening of the outreach service at Gainsborough Library.

Life is complicated, especially in these worrying times of the pandemic.

Sometimes people encounter challenges and problems that they don’t know how to deal with, and they need help to overcome.

Citizens Advice believe individuals should be able to get help in the way that works for them and meets their needs. They aim to help people find a way forward.

The services need to be able to reach the people that need them and be accessible as possible to everyone. Therefore, anyone needing help and support can now drop in to the library and meet with a trained Adviser to talk through their issue. The service will be open every Wednesday morning from 9.30am through to 12.30pm. There is no need to book an appointment, just come along during the morning. The library has a café where you can sit and wait your turn with a nice cuppa!

The Citizens Advice Outreach Service look forward to welcoming clients to our outreach service in 2022.

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IN LATER LIFE

Elderly feel left out over tech

Millions of elderly people feel cut off due to a lack of tech knowledge - and would even avoid a GP appointment if it was over a video call, a study has found.

A poll of 1,000 adults who have a relative aged over 70 found more than half believe their loved one would wait for an appointment in person rather than trying an online alternative. And 53 per cent said their relation has already struggled to adjust to an altered lifestyle due to coronavirus.

The study, commissioned by BT Skills for Tomorrow, also found six in 10 said their elderly relatives have felt more isolated than ever before as a result of the global pandemic. And half think it would be life-changing for their vulnerable relatives if they were able to order their own food shop online. But more than half worry they’re not capable of picking up new skills when it comes to using technology effectively.

Professor Kerensa Jennings, BT group director of digital impact, said, “Technology has become an essential lifeline for millions of people right now.

“But to combat loneliness, we must ensure that older people can take advantage of the benefits that technology provides, from accessing vital services to staying in touch with family and friends.

“We know that even picking up some relatively simple digital skills can make a huge difference to the lives of older people and those that care for them during lockdown – whether it’s doing their own online shopping, accessing health services or enjoying face-to-face calls with loved ones.

“That’s why we are working closely with leading social change charity, Good Things Foundation, to ensure people can get the skills they need to stay connected.”

The study also found those polled feel email and WhatsApp are the digital platforms their elderly relations would be most capable of using, with one in five over 70s able to stream through Amazon Prime or Netflix. But half also worry their kin is reluctant to learn vital new digital skills - with three quarters suspecting they would see it as ‘too complicated’.

A quarter think their loved ones see the internet as unsafe, while 29 per cent said they haven’t got anyone to teach them and 35 per cent aren’t sure where they would go to learn the skills.

Three quarters of adults said their family member usually consumes their information from the television, with only one in five going online and a third

relying on other people to update them on current events. Interestingly, 41 per cent also suspected their loved one has never made an online purchase.

Only one in 10 are attempting to teach them new digital skills, although 39 per cent have been able to successfully have a video call with their elderly loved ones. And 38 per cent of those polled, via OnePoll, think their family members would be more open to improving their digital skills due to recent events - but don’t know where to start.

Helen Milner, chief executive of Good Things Foundation, added, “The research supports what we’re hearing from our network partners and our wider findings on the issue of digital isolation.

“The people left behind are disproportionately older, often with existing health issues that are being compounded by a lack of confidence in digital technology.

“This is a deeply shocking societal problem we must all address urgently.

“We know that more people are willing to try new things online and improve their digital skills, so this is the perfect time to give them the tools and guidance to do so.”

BT Skills for Tomorrow aims to give 10 million people the skills they need to make the most of life in today’s digital world.

BT is working in partnership with leading digital skills organisations to collate the best courses, webinars and information in one easy to navigate place.

To find out more, head to bt.com/skillsfortomorrow

Would you like to enjoy your retirement without having to worry about your finances?

To claim your free financial health check with one of our expert independent financial advisers contact us today.

www.woodwardmarkwell.co.uk ifa@wmibl.co.uk 01473 408408 Woodward Markwell is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. No. 146449. Registered address Friars House, 2 Falcon Strret, Ipswich. Suffolk. IP1 1SL. 12

Tree planting initiative Community raises over £100,000 for Hospice Avocet Court Care Home are delighted to introduce their new tree planting scheme. They have pledged to plant five trees for each new resident who moves into their home.

While the company has been focused on sustainability for some time; having implemented energy efficiency measures, microgeneration from solar panels, composting, growing initiatives and much more, they wanted to take this further.

Managing Director, Mala Agarwal, explained, “We want our company to have a lasting legacy, not just through great quality of care and the improved quality of life we can offer our residents, but by also reducing our impact on our planet. That’s why we’ve partnered with Ecologi to plant five trees for every resident who moves in to our homes.”

The Athena Forest will be planted across the UK, Madagascar, Nicaragua, Mozambique and many other destinations around the world.

Marketing Manager, James Eley, added, “We want to bring our company visions and values to life and making this long-term commitment shows we’re leading by example, thinking differently and helping to create a legacy for our company and residents.”

You can learn more about each of our home’s sustainability efforts on our new, interactive brochures. An example of which can be found here: https://athenacarehomes.foleon.com/brochures/avocet-court-brochure/ our-sustainability/

Oddfellows helping people to greater happiness in later life The Oddfellows has more than 200 years’ experience in helping people to get more out of life and to form lasting friendship, so we thought we’d share our five steps to help you along the way.

Step 1 – Keep your brain busy! Research shows that staying mentally active can increase your brain vitality. At Ipswich Oddfellows we offer a monthly Scrabble/board games afternoon; interesting speakers, quizzes, and plenty of opportunities for conversation. Some events are online, so don’t worry if you’re unable to travel to our meeting venue at 37 High Street Ipswich.

Step 2 – Helping others – volunteering offers a new perspective to one’s own life while enhancing that of others. Ipswich Oddfellows relies on its volunteers to manage the business of the Branch, help run events and to support members who are lonely or ill.

Step 3 – Join a local club of society. Being part of a group and making regular contact with those who share similar interests will result in meaningful friendships. Generally, people in mature years with a wide circle of friends tend to be happier and healthier. Ipswich Oddfellows’ social programme offers a variety of events to enjoy, from coffee mornings to cruises!

Step 4 – Get physical! (Don’t panic, we’re not suggesting the Olympics!)

There are so many benefits to regular exercise. It gives your mental health a boost, helping to combat stress, anxiety and depression. So “ditch the slippers” and join the Kurling and Boccia session at Ipswich Oddfellows on Thursday mornings.

Step 5 – Seize the day and make the most of every minute of every hour of every day. Forget routine and do more of what you love – meet friends for lunch; take a walk together; use your bus pass to visit new places; visit the cinema/theatre together or book a holiday.

All YOU have to do is take the first step and you’ll soon be on the road to getting more out of life. Contact Ipswich Oddfellows on 01473 251867; email lynne.wyatt@oddfellows.co.uk or check out www.facebook.com/ oddfellowsipswich. Membership is from £25 per year

IN LATER LIFE

n Pauline Donkin

St Elizabeth Hospice is thanking the local community for helping its Christmas campaign, Be a Star, raise more than £100,000 for the independent Suffolk charity.

From the Be a Star Matched Giving Week and the hospice’s popular Light up a Life remembrance event through to purchasing items from St Elizabeth Hospice shops or online store, as well as individual fundraisers taking on challenges in aid of the hospice, supporters across East Suffolk through to Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft, joined with St Elizabeth Hospice to raise this fantastic amount.

With donations still coming in, this year’s Be a Star appeal has already surpassed the £77,000 raised by 2020’s Be a Star appeal, with the 2021 Matched Giving Week raising over £25,000 as local businesses matched every £1 raised by the local community for Be a Star between 30th November and 7th December.

Pauline Donkin, Head of Individual Giving and Supporter Care at St Elizabeth Hospice, said, “A massive thank you to all our supporters and local businesses who got behind the Be a Star appeal and helped raise such a phenomenal total for the hospice.

“Christmas is such a special time for all families and the funds raised by Be Star have made a huge difference and helped patients and families under our care be together this Christmas, while still receiving the support they needed, from our team, during very difficult times in their lives.”

The funds raised by the Be a Star appeal will support the hospice’s vital work in providing free services to improve life for people living with a progressive or life limiting illness throughout East Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney For more information about the Be a Star appeal you can visit www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/be-a-star/be-a-star-appeal.

To find out more about St Elizabeth Hospice call 01473 723600 or visit www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk.

Loo for a king frien local d gro ship up?

Give your local Oddfellows a try We get together, chat and enjoy friendship Ann’s all Contact on 01473 251867 aboutLynne making lynne.wyatt@oddfellows.co.uk friends...

OddfellowsIpswich

The Oddfellows is the trading name of The Independent Order of Odd Fellows Manchester Unity Friendly Society Limited, incorporated and registered in England and Wales No. 223F. Registered Office: Oddfellows House, 184-186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB Ref 1983

13

IN LATER LIFE

NBR MOBILITY recognised in national customer service award “Highly commended for delivery of the Motability Scheme”

NBR Mobility is celebrating being named one of the UK’s leading scooter and powered wheelchair dealerships in a national award that recognises outstanding service to customers of the Motability Scheme.

The awards are based on direct customer feedback, and NBR Mobility achieved highly commended status in the small dealer category.

The awards recognise commitment to going above and beyond to deliver high standards of care and achieving phenomenal feedback from Motability Scheme customers. Across three categories – large with a fleet size over 200, medium with a fleet size between 100 and 200, and small for those with a fleet between 35 and 100 – both a winner and a highly commended accolade was awarded.

Nigel Rosenfeld, Director, NBR Mobility, commented, “We are so proud to be highly commended in these awards, especially as providing excellent customer service for our Motability Scheme customers is something our fantastic team takes very seriously. A huge thank you to all of our customers for their great feedback, it really means a lot that our customer service has made a positive difference to their experience.”

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With over 16,000 scooter and powered wheelchair customers throughout the UK, the Motability Scheme offers a worry-free leasing option to disabled people with insurance, breakdown assistance and servicing included.

Ian Goswell, Commercial Services Director, Motability Operations Ltd, added, “The Motability Powered Wheelchair and Scooter Scheme dealership awards recognise those dealerships who consistently deliver excellent standards of customer service. It’s fantastic to see such high levels of customer feedback for NBR Mobility, especially given the difficulties 2020 brought. It’s a genuine pleasure to congratulate you on this highly commended award.”

Anyone who receives the Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment, the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance, War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement or Armed Forces Independence Payment can exchange part of their weekly payment to lease a new scooter or powered wheelchair through the Motability Scheme.

For more information please visit www.nbrmobility.co.uk or call 01379 651 600

IN LATER LIFE

Millions provide care without being credited Researchers who polled 1,000 of Britain’s estimated 13.6 million unpaid carers found 73 per cent do not describe themselves as ‘carers’ at all, with many considering it their duty. More than half believe looking after a loved one has essentially left them with two full-time jobs. But nine in 10 consider it a moral obligation to ensure bills are paid, homes are clean and shopping gets done for the person they look after.

DJ and campaigner Jo Whiley, who champions support for those who give and receive care, has teamed up with Carers UK and Smart Energy GB, which commissioned the research, to highlight a series of time-saving hacks to make things a little bit easier for carers.

The list of hacks identifies simple things like getting a smart meter installed for the person you look after to make energy management easier, planning meals or installing video doorbells.

Ease the burden with a pre-paid funeral plan For some of us, the topic of what happens when we die is an uncomfortable one. But for many more, the peace of mind that taking out a pre-paid funeral plan brings is exactly what gives them a new zest for life and a determination to make the most of every day.

There’s no doubt about it, funerals can be expensive. The Sun Life Cost of Dying Report 2021 estimates that a standard traditional funeral, including professional fees for burial or cremation, the funeral director, the minister and celebrant, now comes to around £4,184. This, they tell us, represents an increase of 128% since 2004. Over less than 20 years, the cost has more than doubled.

Taking out a funeral plan now allows you to fix most of the costs of your funeral at today’s prices, so that your family or friends only need to find a small amount to cover any third-party fees which fall outside the funeral director’s control. Even if you live for another couple of decades after taking out your plan, your family will not be faced with a huge bill at a time when they are already grieving your loss.

Arranging a funeral can be stressful, especially when it involves guesswork as to what the deceased would have wanted. A pre-paid funeral plan allows you to have as much choice as you wish over the various elements of your funeral, so you can be sure how your life will be celebrated by those who love and admire you. You can leave a broad outline of what you would like, choose each detail with care – or settle somewhere in between.

Planning and paying for your funeral well in advance not only lifts a large potential financial burden from your friends’ or your family’s shoulders, it also provides a plan that they can follow, when the time eventually comes.

There’s no better time to find out if a pre-paid plan is right for you. www.hunnaball.co.uk

St Elizabeth Care Agency is a Domiciliary Care Agency which offers a range of services to support people living in their own homes. a Visits can be arranged for any adult needing help or support and can include short visit welfare/medication checks, personal care visits to meet individual needs, day support, sitting in, sleep-in, waking nights.

To find out more about Care Agency services: St Elizabeth Ca Call the Care Agency office on 01473 707900 or email homecare@stelizcare.co.uk

Jo said, “Caring for someone can be simultaneously one of the most fulfilling things you could ever do, but also one of the most challenging.

“We have highlighted some quick and easy ways to save time and effort, so carers can worry less about their to do list and spend more time doing what really matters – enjoying being with the ones they love.”

On average, adults in the position of unpaid carer put in 27 hours per week on top of their own work or family commitments. But one in 10 puts in a staggering 66 hours or longer.

Despite the challenges they face, three quarters believe caring for someone has been the most rewarding thing they’ve ever done. One in three respondents are looking after someone who is elderly, while 26 per cent care for a person with a physical disability.

Their main ‘jobs’ are to go shopping, clean homes and simply provide companionship. Just under half help with transport and one in three manage bills and other payments.

Phillippa Brown from Smart Energy GB added, “Whether you consider yourself a carer or not, anyone who is regularly taking time out of their day to help someone else is doing an absolutely vital job and one it’s important to make as easy as possible.

“Getting a smart meter installed at the home of someone you look after can help you both as it means you no longer have to remember to submit meter readings and ensures that bills are accurate.

“This lets you cross energy management off the list for good and makes dealing with bills easier for everyone.”

If you would like to find out about working for us Please call the office or email gemma.clover@stelizcare.co.uk

Full and Part-time positions currently available All profits p made from the agency are gifted to ST ELIZABETH HOSPICE.

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et h om

IN LATER LIFE

Kids reveal why they love spending time with their grandparents n It is no secret that grandparents and their grandchildren have a special bond and it turns out there’s a very good reason why they enjoy spending so much time together.

A survey of 1,000 children aged five to seven from dolls’ pram expert Play Like Mum, has revealed that the reason 47% of little ones love spending time with their grandparents is because they make them smile.

Another reason children say they love to spend so much time with their grandparents – to the point they prefer them over other family members – is because they have fun together, with 40% saying they enjoy spending time with grandparents because they play games with them. 35% of children say that grandparents give them more treats than when they are looked after by parents and that’s why they like spending so much time with them.

38% of children sweetly say they love spending time with their grandparents, highlighting the importance of time together, whilst 25% of kids actually went on to confess that they prefer spending time with their grandparents over any other family member.

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Heart warmingly, those warm and fuzzy feelings of love and adoration are reciprocated as 37% of grandparents say they are happy to spend as much money or time on their grandchildren when they look after them.

31% of Grandparents then go onto say that caring for their grandchildren is the highlight of their week.

Grandchildren’s preference of having fun and getting active with grandparents is also mutual, as 75% of grandparents cited playtime as their favourite thing to do when looking after little ones.

Andrew Coplestone, founder of the specialist dolls pram maker Play Like Mum, comments, “It’s great to see that little ones are so keen to spend time with their grandparents. Grandparents have so much to offer, telling stories of when they were younger and finding their inner child again when playing with grandchildren. They also have a key role to play in helping their grandchildren to enhance their imagination whilst developing their nurturing skills through play.

“Grandparents tend to have a lot more time on their hands to play with their grandchildren than parents and take them out on adventures – which will often see grandchildren looking forward to spending time with their grandparents as they associate it with a time when they are doted upon and get to play with their loved ones.”

Laura Amies, Child Behavioural Expert, comments, “It’s wonderful to see research that confirms what so many of us believe, that children love to spend time with their grandparents and vice versa!

“This reinforces so many theories about the true requirements of a child in terms of both their physical and emotional development. Children benefit hugely from high quality interaction, eye contact, positive attention and free flowing play without the presence of mobile devices, screens, TVs and computer consoles.

“Whilst there is of course a place for these items and a need for all children to become somewhat computer savvy, first and foremost a child must be able to navigate the world around them and those within it. Grandparents anchor their grandchildren to times gone by and therefore promote the most important aspects of childhood!”

TOP 8 REASONS KIDS LOVE SPEN DING TIME WITH GRANDPAR ENTS: 1. They make me

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Weddings 2022

Planning YOUR Dream Wedding Day? Are you recently engaged? so exciting!

Kick start planning YOUR Wedding with THE Wedding Fayre…!

“This Spring you can choose from two fabulous fayres at venues in the Ipswich area.” says owner Sharon Donaldson.

Lots of couples became engaged over Christmas and New Year and of course February is traditionally a very exciting time with many brides saying “Yes!” to Valentine proposals.

The key is to GET organised, decide your budget and number of guests, then let us help you get totally ready for YOUR Big Day…… Come to our fayres and gather ideas, meet people you’d like to be part of your vision of your dream day and start ticking things off your wedding list.

On the 6th February Trinity Park (Suffolk Showground ) we host one of

THE biggest & best wedding fayres in Suffolk - our 15th fantastic year, it has a great reputation! We have 60 superb stands including seven wedding venues in this great contemporary space, everything you need for YOUR Wedding!

This is one of THE Best shows to visit – don’t miss it!

On 20th March we will be at Copdock Hall Barn. This unique Elizabethan barn is set in delightful grounds adjacent to its own vineyard and the village church. This is a boutique show with 30 wedding suppliers plus bridal tours round this beautiful venue.

To keep visitors as safe as possible during COVID we suggest that you

THE Wedding Fayre…!

TRINITY PARK Ipswich IP3 8UH

Sun 6th Feb 2022

11am-3.30pm One of THE Biggest & Best Shows in Suffolk.

60 Fabulous Wedding Suppliers incl. Venues.

Great inspiration for YOUR Dream Wedding *****

COPDOCK HALL BARN Copdock Nr Ipswich IP8 3JZ

Sun 20 Mar 2022 th

FREE Gifts on arrival, 11am-3.30pm magazines & show guide.

Gorgeous Elizabethan barn next to Fast track your arrival Get your tickets in advance its own vineyard.

Entry £2 Children FREE Walk in guests welcome Excellent boutique show with up to 30 exhibitors plus bridal tours on the day

THE Fayres in THE Best Venues www.theweddingfayre.net 01787 269030

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book your tickets in advance (just £2 children FREE) plus register and organise your arrival time too – that way we can stagger arrival times so that visitors can socially distance more easily.

To fast track your arrival register on the website, book your tickets and arrival time. www.theweddingfayre.net Of course you can just turn up on the day too (register and pay on the door) There will be hand sanitising stations throughout the shows.

Every couple attending receive a great selection of FREE gifts on arrival THE Wedding Fayre...! has 20 years’ experience & all the ingredients for a truly enchanting wedding.

Come and be inspired!

Choosing a Wedding Dress for Your Body Shape

Choosing a wedding dress is one of the most important steps of your big day discover what works with your shape best.

Few dresses are ideal for everyone - and there are obviously assets you would like to emphasise and others you’d prefer to downplay.The following guidelines on choosing a wedding dress are designed to help you stick to the right style for you.

Hourglass: This shape is considered the ideal of feminine beauty. Ball gowns are perfect for those with smaller waistlines, while form-fitting gowns work just as well and cleverly show off your curves. Choosing a wedding dress like a dropped waist wedding gown, an updated look from the 1920s that’s becoming very popular, works well for those with longer torsos and some height to them. Hourglass-shaped women are usually on the bustier side, so you’ll want to avoid the harsh straight lines of some strapless gowns, opt for sweetheart necklines or something with a little twist.

Rectangular: Finding a dress for your wedding day is all about knowing your body shape. The idea here is to look for gowns that create curves even if you don’t have them. Elegant sheath dresses cut on the bias or bust-enhancing necklines create curves where none exist. A cinched waist dress on your wedding day, one with slightly puffier skirts, will similarly capitalise on your small waist and create volume.

Slim: A mermaid or trumpet dress for your wedding day is perfect for the slimmer bride with smaller hips, or anyone on the slender side. A ruched bodice will create the appearance of a larger bust line, and, again, add curves where needed. Modified A-line gowns with slightly higher waistlines will make you appear taller as well.

Oval: Oval-shaped and plus-sized brides benefit from the classic lines of empire dresses; whether simple or jazzed up with some embellishments, this dress hides numerous figure flaws and enhances the bust line. When choosing a wedding dress in the empire style, remember that it should be somewhat fitted, since a gown that’s too loose can become billowy.

Show Off Your Wedding Day Style As a last note, an A-line dress on your wedding day is more often than not universally flattering. Tall brides should keep the lines, detailing, and fabric simple, though smaller brides can pull off fabrics with high sheen; however, they, too, should avoid decked-out gowns, opting instead for nice touches at the neckline or the bust line to draw the eye up.

Cherie Johnson

Charlotte’s OUTSIDE CATERERS

(AN ALROUND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE)

Weddings, Parties, Events, Wakes For a Free Quotation and informal chat call:

O ve r RS 20 YEA ce n ie r e p Ex

01473 871953

34 Queen Street, Ipswich IP1 1SS

(in conjunction with Charlotte’s Coffee House & Sandwich Bar)

Happy Ever Ufford…

Just the beginning The hard part is over – they said yes! So now it’s time for the hard work to kick in and the preparation begin.

Did you know, the very first thing a couple look to book once newly engaged is their chosen wedding venue? With so many venues now available to choose from, this decision has been made harder.

Securing your dream venue can determine so much to the rest of your wedding day, from how many people you can invite, to the style and location setting for photographs, so it’s no wonder it is the main priority for most couples.

Here at Ufford Park Woodbridge, we believe that there is something on offer for everyone; there are not many venues that include views across 120 acres of historic Suffolk parkland and also have their own hairdressers and beauty therapists onsite to help with your pre-wedding preparation.

Weddings & Honeymoons

by Deben Travel

Planning a wedding can be stressful and many couples now decide to tie the knot overseas.

At Deben Travel they can help you chose the perfect destination from the Caribbean Islands, Mexico, Italian Lakes, Greek islands, Turkey, Indian Ocean or on-board a Cruise Ship. The weddings can be just for two or as many guests as you care to invite and will be tailored to suit your requirements.

They will also guide you through the legalities of getting married abroad and make sure all documentation is processed in a timely manner this should make for a smooth start to married life.

Honeymoons are the perfect time to unwind after the wedding and at Deben Travel they offer a complimentary ‘Honeymoon Gift Fund’ service. They will supply you with small cards to place in your wedding invitations, inviting guests to donate to your honeymoon as way of a wedding gift.

This is a lovely way for your close friends and family to help contribute to your trip, perhaps enabling you to upgrade certain elements such as your flights or hotel room or even add memorable excursions - making your experience even more special.

TOP 5 HONEYMOON DESTINATIONS: Maldives Thailand Italy Mauritius Caribbean Islands • At Deben Travel they are there to help so get in touch via email: team@debentravel.co.uk call 01394 615620 or pop in for a chat Deben Travel, The Thoroughfare, Woodbridge.

We are able to cater for all budgets for a wedding of just 12 people up to 190 guests for a wedding breakfast, with further guests able to be invited to the evening reception. We hold a license to hold civil ceremonies in all of our function rooms.

With an onsite award-winning 18-hole golf course and Thermal Suite Spa, we are also the perfect place to be able to hold your hen and stag do’s. Hens can enjoy a glass of Prosecco on arrival whilst a dedicated therapist explains the facilities and treatments we have available – you can even book out our Thermal Suite Spa for exclusive use for your family and friends (minimum of 18 guests).

Stags are able to start their day with a bacon bap followed by a warm-up in Suffolk’s only 2-tier floodlit driving range, then onto our award-winning 18-hole, par 71 golf course.

Or, why not stay over in our 90-bedroom hotel and do both of these activities with your family, the day after your big day!

For more information, please contact our Wedding Team on 01394 383555 ext. 300 2022 01 Ipswich24 Weddings.qxp_135mm h x 93mm w 06/01/2022 14:45 Pa or email weddings@uffordpark.co.uk

Happy Ever Ufford

A warm welcome and fantastic views await you.

Perfect for intimate or larger weddings.

90 en-suite bedrooms - ideal for guests from afar. t 01394 383555 ext. 300

w www.uffordpark.co.uk

Yarmouth Road |Woodbridge |Suffolk| IP12 1QW iii

Your Wedding, Your Way with The Savvy Wedding Planner, Celebrant & Wellbeing Coach

Congratulations on your engagement!

Wedding Day Survival Kit

How is your wedding planning going?

Are you in control or busy pleasing everyone else and putting yourself last?

Do you feel calm or have the wedding nerves already hit?

Are your family and friends supporting you or making you tear your hair out?

If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to any of the above and would like a new wedding best friend who will share in your excitement, give you great ideas and guidance and a safe place to share any wedding worries, then read on!

“I’m here to take your stress away and help you celebrate your special day.” Says Katherine. “As a Wedding Planner, Celebrant and Wellbeing Coach I can help you feel calm, confident and in control.

“From the moment you say YES! To walking up the aisle, I will be there with a smile.

No more worries, no more fear, The Savvy Wedding Planner is here!

“With me as a celebrant you have the freedom to choose, where you celebrate your marriage and the words to use. For bespoke ceremonies tailored especially for you, sharing your love story before you say I do.

“I work with you both to bring out your best, making your day extra special for you and your guests”.

Get in touch with The Savvy Wedding Planner, Celebrant and Wellbeing Coach to find out more, you’ll be so much happier than before!

Call 07453 571 541

Email savvyweddingplanner@outlook.com Facebook www.facebook.com/ savvyweddingplanner

A

s your big day draws near you need to know what essentials to have ready to avoid last minute stress and rectify any problems. Here is a list of the items essential for your wedding day survival kit. Then you can relax and enjoy your day knowing that you have everything covered.

1. Tissues – Your wedding day is one of the most emotional days of your life, so have some tissues to hand. Make sure your mum has a supply too!

2. White Chalk – If you were to stain your wedding dress (and this does happen a lot) you can use white chalk to conceal it. For other colours and bridesmaids dresses take a mixed pack with you.

3. Plasters – Always a good idea to have some to hand, and they provide relief if new shoes are rubbing. Although we would advise wearing new shoes in beforehand.

Visit my website at www.savvyweddingplanner.co.uk

4. Your Wedding suppliers mobile numbers – Just in case there are any problems have these to hand so that they can be quickly dealt with.

5. Scissors – Take a small pair of scissors in your kit so that you don’t break a nail (or a tooth) trying to rip any packages open, remove labels, tags etc.

6. Wet Wipes – Easy and effective for dealing with spills and cleaning or refreshing hands. There will no doubt be a lot of congratulatory hand shaking going on so these are a quick way to keep fresh.

7. Safety Pins – These are a must so that if there were to be any problems with the suits or dresses they can be quickly rectified. Likewise hairpins will come in handy unless your hairdresser leaves you a supply.

8. Make Up – Don’t forget your essential concealer and lipstick, along with make up remover and cotton wool.

9. Umbrella and Sunblock – With Britain’s changeable weather best to have both options covered!

There is only one other thing to recommend having with you – a big smile!

VE E RI AR STYL IN

Professional Dry Cleaners

Repairs & Alterations Curtains, Duvets & Soft Furnishings Leather & Suede • Hand Finish Service Shirt Service Laundry Service Heirlooming & Preservation Service

115 Felixstowe Road, Ipswich Suffolk IP3 8EA

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Bridal Chest

Specialists in Wedding Dresses and Evening Wear

01473 279804

C OF HOIC VE HIC E LES

Chauffeur Driven • Weddings • Hen & Stag Nights • Proms Council Registered • Multi-Award Winning

_ Call: 01473 830891 _ www.bkplimousines.co.uk

New ideas for wedding pictures

A pair of newlyweds ditched the professional cameras and had their entire wedding day shot exclusively on a smartphone.

Holly Eeles, 26, and James Sherris, 34, were married on 16th November, at Low Wood Bay Resort and Spa, in Windermere in the Lake District, and had an intimate and classic winter wedding with 70 close guests. But rather than using a professional DSLR camera on their big day, photographer Ian Weldon turned to a smart phone instead.

Weldon, dubbed ‘the coolest wedding photographer in the world’, was challenged by technology company Huawei, to create wedding-ready images which showed the real story of the couple’s day using only a P30 Pro smartphone.

He said, “In most instances, photographers would have at least two cameras, multiple lenses, and lighting equipment. But having shot Holly and James’s wedding exclusively on the P30 Pro, I can safely say it is also possible to capture an entire wedding on a smartphone.

“My usual photography style is capturing candid moments, and using a mobile allowed me to move around and capture moments that would have been more difficult if using a traditional DSLR.” On having their entire wedding day shot on a camera phone, Holly and James said, “We were nervous about swapping a professional camera for a smartphone to capture our wedding. But we were totally blown away by the quality of the photos - we couldn’t be happier with how they turned out.

“Being photographed by a smartphone also felt so natural. We barely even noticed Ian was there, capturing so many of the small, candid moments which are so special to look back on.”

The wedding followed research by Huawei which found 35 per cent of married Brits have regrets about how their traditional wedding photos turned out. And 39 per cent of married Brits said they prefer the images taken on guests’ smartphones to the professional photos. Nearly 30 per cent also believe their favourite wedding photo was a ‘candid’ or ‘unstaged’ shot.

More than a third (35 per cent) felt their wedding photos were too staged, and 13 per cent reckon it looks like none of their guests were having any fun in the snaps. As a result, 46 per cent of betrothed Brits wish they’d asked friends and family to take more candid shots on the day. And one in three remember magical moments from their wedding which they wish had been caught on camera, which weren’t.

Another 35 per cent of married Brits, polled via OnePoll, also admit they actually feel more comfortable having their pictures taken on a smartphone, as opposed to a professional camera.

It also emerged newly married couples will pose for around an hour on their wedding day, while a tenth will smile for the camera for two hours or more.

Justin Costello, from Huawei UK & Ireland, said, “What better way to showcase the unparalleled photography capabilities of our P30 Pro than put it to the ultimate test - a real life wedding. The resulting images are a testament to the handset’s revolutionary technology and Leica Quad Camera System, that allows you to capture every detail and colour of life’s most precious moments.”

Weddings at Stonham Barns Park

A unique and beautiful country escape wedding venue nestled in the heart of the Suffolk countryside just off the A1120 at Stonham Aspal, surrounded by unspoilt scenery, yet conveniently located for the A14 and M25, making it the perfect setting for your wedding.

The friendly and professional team are always available to organise a personal package to make your dream wedding perfect and will be on hand to turn any ideas you have into reality.

The Barn wedding venue is fully licensed to hold civil ceremonies, partnerships and wedding receptions and can cater from 50 to 200 people. It is fully heated with a licenced bar, modern kitchen, stage and dance floor. Male/female facilities and separate disabled access and facilities.

Outside has an area designated for outdoor catering with ample seating and 5 acres of grass, giving the children plenty of room to run around and play.

Food packages are created by in-house caterers, many options are available but if these are not to your liking or you need special dietary requirements, something more suitable can be created.

Beautiful bridal gowns can be purchased onsite at the Suffolk Bridal Outlet and there are beauty packages at The Beauty Barn and Elegant Hair & Beauty.

Onsite accommodation is available for you and your guests to stay after your wedding.

There are also facilities for stag and hen parties, which include golf, fishing and hair and beauty packages for that pre-wedding pampering.

At Stonham Barns they want you to have a magical day, so they would like to get to know you and understand exactly what you are looking for, please feel free to get in touch to arrange to have a look around and discuss what they can do for you.

For more information go to www.stonhambarns.co.uk, telephone 01449 711111 or email weddings@stonhambarns.co.uk

The Perfect Wedding Venue If you’re looking for a romantic, country wedding venue then Stonham Barns Park may be just the thing, either for your civil ceremony or for your reception we can create that perfect day just for you.

• Located in the stunning Suffolk countryside • Excellent onsite catering • Friendly helpful team • Fully licensed bar and entertainment • Bespoke packages to suit all your needs • Onsite accommodation • Onsite wedding dress shop & beauty salons • Special rates for midweek bookings

THE TOP 10 WEDDING PHOTO REGRETS

1. Not enough photos with family 2. There weren’t enough photos taken 3. Bad lighting 4. Not enough photos with friends 5. Wrong photographer 6. Bad weather 7. Bad backdrop (I regret the choice of church/venue) 8. The pictures looked staged 9. Everyone looking awkward / making awkward poses 10. People I no longer speak to are in the photos

01449 711111 weddings@stonhambarns.co.uk

www.stonhambarns.co.uk

Pettaugh Road Stonham Aspal Suffolk IP14 6AT

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Wedding Dress Shopping Do’s and Don’ts — Advertorial —

Abi Neill - Bridal Industry Influencer and Colchester based, multi award winning Wedding Dress and Menswear Boutique Owner gives us the inside scoop on how to stress less and LOVE bridal dress shopping more with these must do’s and don’ts ....

Don’t let stress and panic about the wedding dress set in. Keep it in perspective. There is a beautiful dress out there waiting, you will find it! You will look stunning! Breathe! Sometimes it can all feel totally overwhelming, this is normal, don’t worry.

Don’t fret about losing baby weight or having a facelift before embarking upon shopping! Find a dress you shine in now and you will feel a million dollars on the wedding day itself. Please don’t put heaps of pressure on yourself before you come and see us. They’ll be gorgeous dresses that you feel amazing in we promise.

In our 17 years of dressing brides and helping to find ‘the one’, it has been exceptionally rare for a bride to simply not like anything or feel good during a fitting with us.

Don’t forget many wedding dress shops will carry stunning gowns from as little as £499. If you’re a bride who doesn’t want to break the bank remember there are many bargains and sample sales to be found at local boutiques, just let us know what your budget is and we’ll work within it, no problem!

Don’t risk going dress blind by booking four plus appointments! Start with one or two shops and book more afterwards if you need to. It’s so tempting to book heaps of appointments but we warn against this, it can become really confusing and you’ll lose the magic (and probably your mind on the way).

Don’t try on more dresses after you’ve found the one!

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bestie and Co is by your side. Be warned that taking more than 1,2 or 3 shopping companions can often cause unnecessary stress and confusion. You might think it will be great fun but actually most brides just find the always varied opinions of a larger group hard to manage and stressful.

Do keep an open mind! Sometimes it’s the one you least like on the hanger or sometimes you will fall in love with a style that’s entirely different to your preliminary ideas.

Do check out our website to see our incredible gowns www.abigailscollection.co.uk and book an appointment with us for a gorgeous and special experience to remember!

Keep the magic! When you fall in love - stop looking, just as you did (or should have done) when you agreed to marry your loved one.

Do crucial pre appointment shop research - Check out a shop’s styles, service and reviews! Decide where to visit and avoid bridal burn out by scheduling too many appointments in one day.

Do consider visiting bridal boutiques during the week.

There’s often more time and flexibility to relax. Also don’t forget for an extra special day schedule a lunch or nibbles pit stop somewhere in-between.

Do remember that you never know when you’ll find the one. Often it’s a special moment so ensure your

Do download our free wedding dress shopping app called ‘Wedding Dress Pro’ (available on the app store) for lots more useful advice and wedding dress shopping tips and video guides.

Do ensure that you empower yourself to lead on the dress decision and tell your #bridetribe HOW YOU FEEL emotionally. Remember this is your day! Your dress! Your celebration! YOU’VE got this! Have fun, enjoy, we’re right with you xx.

Follow Abi and the Abigails Collection & The Grooms Room Team on insta accounts: @AbiNeill @abigailscollection @thegroomsroomessex or call 01206 574575

Why you should have a bridal hairdresser for your wedding

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ONGRATULATIONS, you’ve got engaged and you’re planning your big day, venue, photographer, dress, guest list, but what about your hair and makeup?

How you feel on the morning of your Wedding Day can make all the difference to how you feel about the rest of the day. If you want a stress free, organised morning then hiring a ‘glam squad’ should definitely be included in your budget.

How does a bridal hairdresser differ from your regular hairdresser? “Speaking as a fully qualified hairdresser myself, I can assure you there is a difference.” Says Gemma from Beautiful Hair By Gemma. “It’s all in the prep: whilst I am certain that some hairdressers can offer excellent updos, most will not have the time or be prepared to get up as early as required to begin the preparation, if you want a style to last, especially in our wonderful unpredictable weather, this part of the job is essential!

“Trials, if you come to me for a trial, this is where we will ultimately decide on your overall look, I will try to get to know you so I can establish what styles will make you feel comfortable, look at the dress and decide which looks will compliment the neck line and detailing, I can advise on accessories or flowers and discuss bridesmaids looks also.

“Here at the trial, we will draw up together a schedule of your morning, considering also the photographer’s needs, and make-up artist.

This helps you to organise your bridal party so little ones don’t need to arrive quite so early if possible, allowing you more time to relax and be pampered.

• Pic: Ayshea Goldberg

on many occasions help do up the dress, pin on flowers, tighten straps, do up jewellery, whatever is needed, I have even been known to sew up a bridesmaid’s dress once that had completely split!

‘Tweak time’ is especially important, that last curl that may have dropped, that piece of hair that worked it’s way loose whilst getting dressed, all back into place, once the photographer takes over, and you are happy with everything, that’s when I’ll leave”.

• Pic: Sally Rawlins Photography

You can now enjoy your day after a relaxing pampered morning, safe in the knowledge that you look gorgeous with a hairstyle ready to last into the evening.

• Get in touch to book your bridal hairdresser at www.beautifulhairbygemma.co.uk

Beautiful Hair

07894 097444

beautifulhairbygemma.co.uk

“I like to work in ‘tweaking time’ also, I’ll stay until you are in your dress, and

A family run business based in the beautiful market town of Woodbridge, we are retailers of quality Sterling Silver, precious and semi precious Jewellery. gemstone Jeweller 53A The Thoroughfare, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1AH www.silversunjewellery.co.uk Telephone: 01394 382114 Email: Silversunjewellery@gmail.com Open: Monday - Saturday 10:00am – 5:00pm Sundays – Please phone in advance

Picture: Sally Rawlins

Picture: Alex Rose Photography

Picture: Awaken Images

Picture: Alex Rose Photography

beautifulhairbygemma@outlook.com

/GemsHair2

@gemmam2412 vii

Wedding Top of the Pops The King’s Can’t Help Falling in Love ballad from 1961 movie Blue Hawaii was number one in the chart, ahead of modern hits including Sheeran’s multi-platinum selling Thinking Out Loud, Adele’s Make You Feel My Love and Legend’s All of Me. All but one track in the list’s top five were sentimental 1960s’ classics regularly rolled out as newlyweds’ sway together after saying “I do”.

Frankie Valli’s version of Can’t Take My Eyes Off You was second, Frank Sinatra’s The Way You Look Tonight was third and The Righteous Brothers’ Unchained Melody came in at number five.

The research of 2,000 adults also revealed Legend’s All Of Me was in fourth place – followed by Sir Elton John’s Your Song, released in 1970.

Gordon Harrison, chief audiologist at Specsavers, which commissioned the research to highlight the importance of hearing when it comes to our relationship with music, said, “It’s apparent that music plays a huge part in our lives and is something we associate with key moments and memories.

“This is why it is absolutely essential we’re doing all we can to protect our hearing, so we can keep enjoying this passion of ours for years to come.”

The study asked people to vote for their dream playlists to accompany some of life’s most major milestones, including a painful break-up, falling in love, moving away from home for the first time and landing a job.

The break-up playlist was topped by R.E.M.’s Everybody Hurts – with Adele’s Someone Like You and Sinead O’Connor’s Nothing Compares 2U in second and third place respectively.

Respondents said Walking on Sunshine was the ultimate feelgood track to accompany falling in love.

Fleetwood Mac’s Go Your Own Way was rated the best tune to play when celebrating moving away from home for the first time – and Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen was the number one choice to mark getting a job.

Such is the emotional impact of music on people’s lives that seven in 10 are transported back to key moments when they hear a particular song. And 79 per cent admit it has the power to change their mood at a moment’s notice, according to the findings via OnePoll.

While more than three quarters associate particular songs with key milestones in their lives, 78 per cent would expect to feel devastated if their ability to listen to the music was stolen away from them.

Despite this, more than half admit they listen to music at a volume they expect could damage their hearing, while nearly a third ignore the volume warning when listening through headphones on their phone.

What’s more, 58 per cent say they have never had a hearing test.

Musician Gareth Malone, who is working with Specsavers to encourage people to protect their hearing so they can continue to enjoy their relationship with music, said, “After being diagnosed with tinnitus I have been fastidious with wearing hearing protection. There’s the perception that louder equals better, but that isn’t the case.

“We all have our own thresholds and if you are perceiving something to be loud then it probably is, and you need to consider how long you want your hearing for.”

Gordon added, “While many enjoy the benefits of hearing when it comes to music, it’s apparent that many aren’t taking the necessary measures to look after it and could be causing irreversible damage that cannot be restored.

“It’s so important to protect your ears if you are exposed to high levels of noise. Not only can loud noise cause pain, tinnitus and a temporary loss of hearing, long-term exposure to noise can cause permanent, irreparable nerve damage, that may not show up for a number of years.

“This research has highlighted to us the true importance of music as a whole – and the need to encourage people to listen appropriately and get their hearing tested to ensure they avoid losing such enjoyment.”

THE UK’S TOP 30 WEDDING FIRST DANCE SONGS 1. Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley 2. Can’t Take My Eyes off You – Frankie Valli 3. The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra 4. All of Me – John Legend 5. Unchained Melody – The Righ teous Brothers 6. Your Song – Elton John 7. I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith 8. Make You Feel My Love – Ade le 9. Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran 10. At Last – Etta James 11. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic – The Police 12. A Thousand Years – Christina Perri 13. You Are – Lionel Richie 14. Happy – Pharrell 15. Kiss Me – Ed Sheeran 16. Never Let Me Go – Florence + The Machine 17. Perfect Duet – Ed Sheeran & Beyoncé 18. Hold Me – Stevie Wonder 19. Have You Ever Been In Love – Céline Dion 20. Marry Me – Train 21. Give Me Love – Ed Sheeran 22. You & I (Nobody in The World) – John Legend 23. Amazed – Lonestar 24. Better Together – Jack Johnson 25. First Day of My Life – Bright Eyes 26. This Kiss – Faith Hill 27. That’s When I Knew – Alicia Keys 28. Falling Like the Stars – James Arthur 29. I Won’t Give Up – Jason Mraz 30. There Will Be Time – Mumford & Sons Feat. Baaba Maal

Say it all with a ring from Carats We hand-make custom bespoke wedding rings to t around any engagement ring, and we also have a large range of engagement and wedding rings in stock.

Receive 15% discount with the purchase of any two gold or platinum wedding rings

11 The Buttermarket, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 1BQ (01473) 255488 viii

www.caratsjewellers.co.uk

Every Monday

Woodbridge Citizen’s Advice, Woodbridge Library, 10am-noon. Independent and provides free, confidential and impartial advice to everybody.

Every Tuesday

Arts & Crafts Group, Castlehill Community Centre, 1.30-3.30pm. Everyone welcome, £2 per session. For more information call Lois on 07951 779271 Short Mat Bowls in a friendly and local location at the Pinewood Community Centre, Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich IP8 3SL, 10am-12pm £4.00 members £3.00 guests. Contact 07785 236726 or 07808 628945

Every Wednesday

Beginners Dance Class, (Ballroom and Latin) 7-8pm, at Sidegate Lane Community Centre, Ipswich IP4 4HZ. £4.00 per member. Contact 01473 422427/ 01473 723070 or email sidegatelanecc@gmail.com

Every Thursday

Kurling and Boccia. Ipswich Oddfellows 37 High St Ipswich, 10m, £2.50 members. 01473 251867

Every Friday

Knitting Group, Woodbridge Library, 2pm 4pm. For all types of knitters from expert to beginners, sewing to crochet, come and share your knowledge or pick up some tips.

Carpet Bowls in a friendly atmosphere at Sidegate Lane Community Centre, Ipswich IP4 4HZ, 2.30-5pm. £2.50 per session. More details 01473 410 740.

Friends Round Friday - Rushmere Good Neighbour Scheme. Dumbarton Rd Scout Hall, Ipswich. Free refreshments, all ages, toddler corner. Books, games, puzzles, chat, companionship and a cuppa. More info Michelle on 07570 093097 Short Mat Bowls in a friendly and local location at the Pinewood Community Centre, Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich IP8 3SL, 10am-12pm £4.00 members £3.00 guests. Contact 07785 236726 or 07808 628945 Sequence Dancing at Sidegate Lane Community Centre, Ipswich. IP4 4HZ. 7.30 - 9.30. Members £3 each

Every Saturday

Mannings Weekend Market, Felixstowe Seafront, 10-4pm.

Every Sunday

Mannings Weekend Market, Felixstowe Seafront, 9-5pm.

Fri 4th Feb

Live Music: Warren De Witt - Country & Western, 8-11pm. Licensed bar, cooked food 7-9.30pm, £5 Members, £6 Non-members.

Rosary Conservative Club, Bramford Road, Ipswich, IP1 4AB Martlesham Heath Aviation Soc. Monthly Meeting, 7.30pm, Martlesham Heath Community Centre, Felixstowe Road, Martlesham Heath IP12 4PB

Sat 5th Feb

Live Music: Julie Dawn - Country & Western, performance commences 3pm, doors 2pm.

Great Blakenham Village Hall, Mill Lane. Bring your own food, bar. Bookings 01473 912626 or 07591 099519 Winter Bird Photography hone your existing existing skills and learn new ones, with awardwinning photographer Kevin Sawford. 11amdusk, Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve, Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk. Tel: 01473 890 089.

Organising an Event?

Get it listed in the Events Guide for Free Email your event by the 5th of the month to: listings@ipswich24.co.uk All listings subject to space and no guarantee is given of inclusion

Mon 7th Feb

Mannings,

Guided Walk: Happy Birthday Mr Dickens.

Meet 2pm at Suffolk Archives, The Hold (near the University on the Waterfront). Further details including booking info ipswichtourguides.org.uk/ tea-walks

Mannings,

Sat 12th Feb

Wed 2nd Feb

Talk: Ipswich War Memorial Project by Andrew Beal. The Salvation Army Citadel, Woodbridge Road, Ipswich IP4 4PH, 7.30pm. Entrance at the rear of building. Entry £3, members £2, pay on door. For more information call Howard on 01473 274300 Illustrated talk by Patrick Craig entitled “La Serenissima: The Golden Era of Music in Venice” At Tower Hall, Rushmere St Andrew IP4 5SU, 2.15pm. All welcome. Visit orwelldfas.org.uk for further information.

Wild Tots at Lackford Lakes. Fun morning at wild tots outdoor play group. 10-11.30am, Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve, Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk

Thurs 3rd Feb

movie based on the Sutton Hoo discovery. Quay Church, Quay Street, Woodbridge, 7.30pm. www.woodbridgesociety.org.uk.

Talk: Charlie and The Dig - Charlie Haylock speaks about his involvement with the Netflix

Live Music: Tricks of the Trade, 8-11pm. Licensed bar, cooked food 7-9.30pm, £5 Members, £6 Non-members. Rosary Conservative Club, Bramford Road, Ipswich, IP1 4AB Singing Day with Stowmarket Chorale, John Peel Centre, Stowmarket, 10.30am concludes with sing through at 4pm. Book 07972 668180 Come What May, an evening of dance with Robin Windsor. 7.30pm, Felixstowe Spa, www.fxspa.co.uk or 01394 284962

Tues 15th Feb

East Ipswich Camera Club meet at The Tower Hall, Broadlands Way, Rushmere St Andrew, Ipswich, IP4 5SU. Meetings 7.30-10pm.

New members are always welcome. More info www.eastipswichcameraclub.co.uk

Thurs 17th Feb

The Women of Sutton Hoo Woodbridge Library, 7.30pm. £5 for tickets booked on 01394 330855.

EVENTS

guide

Fri 18th Feb

Guided Walk: Right Royal Connections. Meet 2pm at Suffolk Archives, The Hold (near the University on the Waterfront). Further details including booking info ipswichtourguides.org.uk/ tea-walks Live Music: Dave Lesley - Country & Western, 8-11pm. Licensed bar, cooked food 7-9.30pm, £5 Members, £6 Non-members. Rosary Conservative Club, Bramford Road, Ipswich, IP1 4AB.

Sat 19th Mar

Jimmy Jermain is Cliff Richard, Aspal Theatre, Stonham Barns Park, Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspal, IP14 6AT. More info go to www.stonhambarns.co.uk or call 01449 711257 Mercury, the ultimate Queen Tribute. 7.30pm, Felixstowe Spa, www.fxspa.co.uk or 01394 284962

Mon 21st Feb

Ipswich Transport Society AGM and Talk on Harwich for the Continent (The Rail Ferries).

7.30pm. Further info 01473 405116

Tue 22nd Feb

The Zombies, 7.30pm, Felixstowe www.fxspa.co.uk or 01394 284962

Spa,

Wed 23rd Feb

Talk: Hedgerows, Herbs & Medicines with Martin Sanford. 7.30pm at the Village Hall, Stowupland, IP14 4BQ. Suffolk Wildlife Trust.

Info 01449 676471 - swtstowmarket@gmail.com

Thur 24th Feb

Circus Spectacular, 3pm, Felixstowe Spa, www.fxspa.co.uk or 01394 284962

Fri 25th-Sat 26th Feb

Matilda Jr. The Musical - The CTC at Seckford Theatre, Woodbridge. Book tickets with New Wolsey Theatre Box Office 01473 295900 or www.wolseytheatre.co.uk

Fri 25th Feb

Live Music: Bob Keeley - Country & Western.

Licensed bar, cooked food 7-9.30pm, £5 Members, £6 Non-members. Rosary Conservative Club, Bramford Road, Ipswich, IP1 4AB, 8-11pm.

Wonderland, 3pm, Felixstowe Spa, www.fxspa.co.uk or 01394 284962

Sat 26th Feb

M.J. The Legacy - Tribute to Michael Jackson! Felixstowe Spa Theatre, 7.30pm, www.fxspa.co.uk Coffee Morning, St Mary’s Church Room, Bramfrd, 10am-noon. Bacon rolls, hot dogs, cakes and sandwiches also available. Sale of cakes, books, jigsaws, brice-a-brac and a raffle. iao Bramford Church.

Glamtastics, Aspal Theatre, Stonham Barns Park, Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspal, IP14 6AT. More info go to www.stonhambarns.co.uk or call 01449 711257 Ghost Hunt experience a night of ghost hunting at Landguard Fort, Felixstowe with Ghost Hunt Events, ickets £49 per person. Over 18s only.

Start time: 8pm until 2am. Event includes tea/ coffee throughout the night 03333 396373

Mon 28th Feb

In Conversation with Stacey Dooley at Regent Theatre, www.ipswichtheatres.co.uk 17

*Submissions listed subject to space availability. – No responsibility can be accepted for cancellation of events, if in doubt contact the event organiser before travelling.

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The ‘Tracker Generation’ The study of 2,000 adults revealed three quarters use technology to keep tabs on things like their exercise, what they eat and daily activities.

But Brits’ competitive nature is helping to keep them fighting fit, with 53 per cent of those with tracker apps admitting to keeping tabs on how active friends and family are.

Nearly six in 10 claim they regularly compare their activity levels to keep motivated while 42 per cent who track their wellbeing get more competitive with fitness when they see others ‘beating’ them on apps.

It also emerged that of the adults who use technology to track aspects of their health, activity, 39 per cent do so every single day. And 73 per cent think the gadgets are responsible for keeping them healthy, while 61 per cent reckon it would help them to spot health issues faster.

Nury Moreira, Healthcare Lead at the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) which commissioned the research, said, “Now we can track data on all elements of our lives, it is easy to see how active – or inactive – we really are.

“While it’s great that technology can help keep you on top of your goals, it is important to ensure that fitness trackers are not changing behaviour for the worse – such as becoming fixed on reaching certain everyday targets.”

A quarter have even been annoyed if they don’t reach their fitness goals each day and 29 per cent have gone out for an extra walk to make sure they reach their step count. More than four in 10 have also achieved some kind of fitness challenge or health goal thanks to their tracking device. Of those, 41 per cent have hit 10,000 steps a day, the same number have lost weight and 32 per cent have increased their sleep.

It also emerged that 25–34-yearolds are most likely to keep an eye on their weight, spending habits and sleep the most but those aged 35-44 are more likely to track their working hours, what they eat and blood pressure. But of those who track

areas of their lives, 42 per cent didn’t realise how unfit they were until they started downloading tracking apps

or owned a smart watch or fitness tracker. And now they track their health and wellbeing, more than half believe they are more likely to notice issues around their heart rate, fertility and sleep faster.

Nury Moreira added, “Technology has become a big part of our lives and there is pretty much nothing you can’t do when it comes to your phone.

“Wearable tech in particular has become so popular that there are not many people that don’t track some element of their lives. Our research has shown that sharable data has now also driven some friendly competitiveness between adults.

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“As long as this continues to make us all more aware of our health and wellbeing then it is great to see. However, given the pervasive yet nearly imperceptible potential for surveillance, the need for transparency and security has never been greater.

“It’s also important to remember that trackable devices give an overall picture of health and wellbeing but can’t replace health professionals.”

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

20 THINGS BRITS ACTIVELY TRACK

Weight How many steps they do Spending habits Exercise Sleep Working hours What they eat Blood pressure Heart rate Calories consumed Water intake Menstrual cycle / ovulation Calories burnt How many books they read Alcohol consumption How much overtime they do How much screen time they have Time spent on social media Running routes Chocolate intake

athome LIFESTYLE INTERIORS EXTERIORS GARDENS

Show your home some love this Valentine’s Being a home owner is one of the biggest investments that you are likely to make, but are you still in ‘love’ with your home?

Overtime, and with the wear and tear of daily life, that once beautifully decorated room starts to look dull and shabby. And, with Spring on it’s way, the sunlight streaming through your windows only highlights those areas that you try to ignore.

It’s amazing how just how much a fresh coat of paint or a few rolls of wallpaper can completely change the way you feel about your home.

Sounds like a brilliant idea, but then there’s finding the time to do it, the hassle of the prep work and of course the cleaning up afterwards, wouldn’t it be so much easier if there was someone who could come and do it for you?

Pantone Colour of the Year 2022: Very Peri in the home

A red violet infused periwinkle, Very Peri is a carefree, confident colour that encourages creativity and expression. coral and turquoise and plenty of Rebecca Snowden, Interior Style white to get a bright and creative Advisor at Furniture And Choice space,” she adds.

(FurnitureChoice.co.uk), shares 2. Create a cosy, cocooning how to introduce this dynamic colour effect with Very Peri walls into your home for a stylish update.

“Very Peri possesses the calming 1. Add pops of Very Peri to a qualities of blues with a hint of living room “Just as Pantone created Very Peri excitement from its red violet undertone - resulting in a colour that’s specially for the year ahead, channel that same spirit of discovery in your soothing yet not flat or boring which makes it great for a wall update.” home for a lively start to 2022,” says Identify a quiet space in the home Rebecca.

In the living room, use a light grey like a reading nook or relaxation corner and paint Very Peri on sofa as a chic yet grounding base the walls. “Choose a comfy grey for layering colours. Then introduce armchair to complement this pops of carefree Very Peri through imaginative purple hue, and accent soft furnishings like cushions, artwork or pendant lights. “Match with metallic finishes to brighten the space.”

Very Peri with bright pastels like

Well, there is… Steve Shaw Painter & Decorator!

From a small freshen up to a complete new colour scheme for your whole home inside and out, Steve has got a wealth of knowledge and experience to transform and more importantly protect your investment.

Having started in the painting and decorating trade in 1998, Steve puts as much love into completing work in your home, as you would yourself. He is fully insured and all work is carried out to high standards. Steve is available for domestic, commercial, rental, interior and exterior work and is happy to work unsociable hours to suit your needs.

Does your en-suite need a quick freshen up, or the outside of your house need some TLC? As they say, ‘no job too big or small!’

So, if your home is needing a little love be sure to call Steve Shaw Painter & Decorator on 07874 263889 to discuss your requirements and for your free no obligation quotation.

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AT HOME

Beach hut village project to be delayed In consultation with local stakeholders and to avoid disruption during the summer season, construction of the new Felixstowe beach hut village will now get under way in September.

Having been granted planning permission for a new beach

hut village on Felixstowe’s South Seafront in October 2021, East Suffolk Council had originally intended to begin construction during the following few weeks. This would have enabled it to be ready ahead of the summer season.

However, with further permissions required before construction could proceed, the project has been delayed by approximately three months. This means that it would not be ready in time for the summer season as hoped and, as a result, we

have therefore decided that construction will now get underway in September 2022.

Cllr Craig Rivett, East Suffolk Council’s Deputy Leader and cabinet member for Economic Development, said, “Tourism is incredibly important to East Suffolk and once completed, this new beach village will

attract visitors from across the country, increasing footfall in the town centre, boosting the local economy and enhancing the lives of local residents. However, we must get the timing exactly right and there would be no benefit in commencing a scheme which would be ready out of season.”

Garolla: Unbeatable on Price, Unmatched in Quality Garolla is revolutionising the roller garage door industry.

With impeccable products and outstanding customer service, upgrading your home has never been easier.

The UK’s largest nationwide Roller Garage Door installers, Garolla has local installers across the country eager to transform your home and give it a new lease of life.

Handcrafted at the Garolla head office in Yorkshire, every roller garage door is put through rigorous quality control checks before being fitted by a skilful professional. Utilising over 20-years of manufacturing experience, these doors are of the highest standard and come fully guaranteed for complete peace of mind.

Made from strong aluminium a Garolla roller garage door is easy to use and saves valuable space within your garage. The door neatly tucks away, allowing you to use every inch of your garage as there are no large swinging doors to worry about. Once installed, these roller garage doors are operated using a wireless remote control so you can access your garage from the comfort of your car.

Thanks to Garolla’s transparent costs it’s never been easier to price up a new home improvement project. Available to view on the company’s website the price includes measuring, fitting and VAT. Your local installer will even dispose of your old door completely free of charge.

Customisable, with 18 different colour options, Garolla roller garage doors make a stylish statement that will make your neighbours green with envy.

With the power to modernise your home’s exterior appearance, the time to invest in a Garolla roller garage door is now.

For more information visit www.garolla.co.uk, or call their friendly customer enquiries team on 01473 396 177.

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AT HOME

Eight Feng Shui tips to welcome love into the bedroom this Valentine’s Day From facilitating romance to encouraging intimacy, the bedroom is the key location for couples to have the opportunity to unwind and connect with each other.

And so, once the dinner has been served and the wine has been poured this Valentine’s Day, it’s important for individuals to feel they can carry on the magical night elsewhere.

With this in mind, the interior experts at Essential Living have listed some useful feng shui tips to welcome love into the bedroom.

Place the bed in the centre The bed is the heart of the bedroom, and it’s therefore important to ensure it is placed in the correct position. To avoid you and your partner feeling trapped, make sure the bed is placed in the centre rather than the corner of the room. This will create accessibility as one won’t be climbing on top of the other to get out. More importantly, any activity will just feel so much more intimate when the bed is placed in the centre, rather than hidden away.

Declutter and tidy No one wants to end the night by going into an untidy room, and not to mention a messy room will increase stress levels. That said, it’s important to ensure that the bedroom is nice and tidy in the run up to Valentine’s Day. To create a romantic atmosphere that is focused on the pair of you, remove any furniture or items that will have the potential to distract one another. This includes TVs, laptops and anything work-related.

Red accents As red is the signature colour of Valentine’s Day, try to incorporate accents of this shade into the bedroom wherever possible. Think rose petals on the bed, a red rug, or even a red lampshade. However, don’t go too heavy on the red, as you may end up creating too much of a bold and intense atmosphere.

Feature couples photographs On a day that is dedicated to celebrating the love you and your partner have for each other, don’t be afraid to get the memorabilia out. For example, you could have a cute couples photograph nestled on your bedside table.

On a more psychological level, it might be a good idea to remove photographs of friends and family from your room for the night, as having these displayed might make you feel like your privacy is being invaded.

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Close the curtains When it comes to intimacy in the bedroom, it’s important for couples to feel that they can really switch off from the outside world and focus on one another. Closing the curtains in the bedroom can be a helpful way to achieve this and will help to focus the attention on each other.

Ensure the mirror isn’t facing the bed Following on from the notion of privacy, one of the golden rules of bedroom Feng Shui is to never have the mirror facing the bed. When it comes to intimate relations in bed, seeing the reflection of you and your partner can make it seem like there is a third party watching. More generally speaking, giant mirrors can be particularly overwhelming, so it’s important to ensure they are not the focal point of any room.

Welcome in houseplants From purifying the air to promoting calmness, plants provide great energy for living spaces. What’s more, there are many plants that exude vibes of love and romance - from the String of Hearts to Anthuriums. Having these displayed on the bedside table or in the corner of the room would fuel the atmosphere and get the pair of you in the romantic mood.

Incorporate the ‘Yin’ energy Last but not least, don’t forget to incorporate the ‘Yin’ energy. This type of energy nurtures sensuality and relaxation - something the bedroom needs this Valentine’s Day. From candles to soft, plump pillows and even soothing music, there are so many things that you can feature in the bedroom to promote Yin energies. Not to mention, when you and your partner are both feeling relaxed, this will naturally open up the doors for intimacy.

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AT HOME

Tips on coping with post Christmas Debt Holly Andrews, Managing Director at KIS Finance and finance expert, outlines her tips for people who are struggling with debt after relying on credit over Christmas.

Get organised and keep track The first thing you need to do to get on top of your debt is to sit down and work out exactly how much you owe and to who.

You may find it beneficial to create a spreadsheet so you can list each loan/credit card/BNPL, the total balance, and either the minimum payment amount or any set monthly repayments. Set monthly repayments would be applicable if you’ve used one of Klarna’s instalments or financing options, for example.

Again, it may be difficult to look at your debts in black and white, and this might make you feel more stressed in the short term if the total is more than you thought.

Start by focusing on minimum payments If you have a considerable number of loans and credit cards, then it can be quite daunting to look at the total amount you owe.

To make things feel more manageable, start by just looking at the minimum payment amount on each debt. This is the amount that you have to pay each month to avoid missed payment fees being added. It’s important that you avoid these fees if you want to prevent the debt from building up more quickly, and missing payments can also have a lasting negative impact on your credit score.

You should also set up a direct debit for the minimum amount each month for each credit card/ loan that gives you this option. Doing this means you will never be charged missed payment fees

even if you forget one month as the minimum payment will be made every month automatically.

Once the minimum amount is paid, you can then pay whatever you can afford on top. Only paying the minimum amount each month means it will take a long time to repay the debt, so you really need to pay as much as you can over this.

Prioritise When you’re working out your debt repayment strategy, you need to organise and prioritise which debts are the most important to repay.

These may be the loans or credit cards with the biggest balances, or the ones that charge the highest interest rate.

Then you need to decide whether you want to try and pay off everything together, or to focus one debt at a time until each one is repaid. If you choose this method then you should start with the loan/credit card that you’ve put at the top of your priority list, putting as much as you can towards this each month, and then work down the list after each one is cleared.

Remember though to keep paying at least the minimum amount on each other loan/credit card

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to avoid missed payment fees. You will also still need to keep paying any set monthly repayments if you’ve used Buy Now Pay Later services.

Consolidate If you’re struggling to manage your debts, then it might be worth looking into a consolidation loan or credit card. Consolidating your debts means paying off all of your loans and credit cards with one single credit facility. This will make managing your debts much easier as you’ll only have one loan, and one monthly payment, to think about.

If you can find a lender that is offering a loan or credit card with 0% APR introductory period, then you could save a lot of money on interest too. This means that if you pay off the full amount within the offer period, you won’t pay any interest.

Just make sure you know what the APR will be after the offer period though, as you need to ensure that this is better than the interest you’re currently paying.

Seek help Admitting you’re in debt can be difficult, but there’s no need to struggle in silence. The past couple of years have been very difficult and financially demanding for many, and you are definitely not alone.

If you can’t speak to close family members or trusted friends about your problems, then there are organisations and charities that can help if your situation is particularly bad and you don’t know what to do. This may be if you are consistently in debt and struggling to meet repayments.

These are some organisations available: -Citizens Advice -StepChange Debt Charity -National Debtline

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Don’t miss out on Free Emergency help Residents in Ipswich currently risk missing out on free support from the Priority Services Register in electricity emergencies, according to data from UK Power Networks.

The UK’s largest electricity distributor is urging people in Ipswich to check if they or someone they know can join its Priority Services Register which provides those in vulnerable circumstances with extra support in the event of a power cut.

In the East, Ipswich is under-represented on the company’s Priority Services Register with only 58% of eligible households registered.

Those in Ipswich most likely to miss out include families with children under five, those of pensionable age and households who cannot communicate easily in English.

Giulia Privitera, social sustainability manager at UK Power Networks, said, “Emergencies on the electricity network do not happen often, but we know they can be an especially worrying time for households in vulnerable circumstances, whether they are ongoing or temporary situations that need a little bit of extra help. The register allows us to direct support where it’s needed.

“Joining the register does not always mean we can restore electricity supplies quicker but helps us target updates and offer additional support if needed, so people can plan their lives while our engineers work on the issue. We can also put them in touch with an expert who can offer free independent advice on energy if they are worried about paying their fuel bills or need help to keep their home warm this winter.

“Our message to people in Ipswich is that helping someone you care about join the register takes minutes. Being without power can be cold, uncomfortable and isolating and all of us can take an easy step to help our

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friends and neighbours, family and loved ones before they find themselves in this situation.”

In the past year, users of the Priority Services Register gave UK Power Networks’ service a 94% customer satisfaction rating and the company has spent around £40,000 on meals and hotel stays provided to registered households. The independent energy advice and support UK Power Networks provide to their customers in collaboration with community partners has saved up to £8.4 million collectively over one year alone.

Over 65s, families with children under five, those who rely on medical equipment or with a disability, people who are hearing, sight or speech impaired, patients leaving hospital and people with any physical or mental health condition are all entitled to join the two million households already registered in London, the South East and East of England.

The company provides bespoke vulnerability training for its customer service team so they know how best to respond to a variety of different needs. The company has also partnered with experts like Scope and AgilityEco to expand the range of tailored support services available.

To find out more and register for the free service visit the website at www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/priorityservices Water companies also provide free extra support to vulnerable households and UK Power Networks is urging residents to register with them at the same time.

To sign up for Essex and Suffolk Water’s Register please see www.eswater.co.uk/priority or ring 0345 782 0111.

Sign up for Anglian Water’s Register visit anglianwater.co.uk/priority, or ring 0800 141 2934, or email priorityservices@anglianwater.co.uk

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AT HOME

Do not panic about rising interest rates Independent mortgage adviser Tom Brennan urges homeowners not to panic over a recent small rise to the Bank of England base rate. He says take advice about whether or not your mortgage is right for you and your circumstances and then take action.

on a standard variable rate should review their mortgage anyway to ensure they have the best deal. This can be done without moving house.

- People moving up the ladder for more space, either for more indoor space to create an office, or outdoor space to create an office in their garden.

“Anyone on a standard variable rate should be reviewing this and seeking professional advice

- People making home improvements.

- Moving closer to their family - people who moved to cities or big towns for work are now moving back because they can work flexibly.

Independent adviser Tom Brennan, who is a director of TED Mortgages, is urging homeowners not to panic and jump the gun about the recent rise in the base rate of interest - just do some research about whether or not their mortgage is the best for their circumstances.

Tom said, “We are expecting that during 2022 the property market will remain incredibly active. The desire to move is as high as it has ever been and the housing price levels are expected to either maintain or slightly increase according to leading high street banks.

In December the Bank of England raised interest rates from 0.1 to 0.25 per cent - a rise of 0.15 per cent. It was the first such rise in three years.

Since then there has been talk of further rises.

“We are expecting people to make use of the incredibly low interest rates that are available and utilise them to finance their aspirations, be it moving home, saving money or enhancing properties they already own.

Tom Brennan, who runs TED Mortgages from Swindon, Wiltshire and the Cotswolds, said, “This is still the second lowest base rate we’ve ever had. With Omicron, the lingering possibility of another lockdown and inflation so high, bumping the base rate up further will only cause more unnecessary financial strains for households.

“A knee-jerk reaction for the sake of base rate increasing 0.15 per cent isn’t necessarily the right thing to do. We only have to go back to March 2020 when the base rate was 0.75 per cent and the rates available by mortgage lenders then wasn’t too dissimilar to what’s available now.”

His business partner Chris Blackwell agrees and suggests that those homeowners who are

- First-time buyers taking the plunge as many banks are now offering 95 per cent mortgages.

“We’re also hoping to see more support for first time buyers with improved affordability assessments and bespoke products from lenders helping first time buyers to have a better chance of getting on the ladder.” rather than panicking and fixing a deal that might not be right,” he said.

According to TED Mortgages, which operates mainly in Swindon, Wiltshire and the Cotswolds, there are continuing trends which have come about during the pandemic:

TED Mortgages is an independent, fee-free, certified mortgage broker that will work with its customers with a ‘whole of market’ approach tailored to each person’s circumstances in order to help its customers understand all their mortgage and protection options.

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AT HOME

Best Space Saving Tips for Parents A decluttering expert has revealed the best space saving tips for parents, including getting rid of toys one at a time, involving kids in the process of donating – and a tidy up before bedtime.

Kate Ibbotson has created a guide on how to get children to look after existing toys, as well as recycle old favourites. The tips have been created to help parents declutter bedrooms, make space for this year’s toy haul and move on old toys sustainably – without tantrums.

Kate’s tips come after toy company Mattel, makers of Barbie and others, commissioned research of 2,000 parents with children aged three and over, which revealed kids received an average of 10 new toys last Christmas. But 57 per cent of mums and dads now worry about what will happen to their old toys after the big day.

The survey also found six in 10 wish they knew of more ways to recycle their kids’ toys, and three quarters will go on a decluttering spree after the festive season. While a third claim it is difficult to know how to dispose of toys sustainably.

But Ibbotson believes involving kids in the donation and recycling process helps them to develop a greater sense of empathy. She said, “It’s never too early to start getting kids used to the idea of passing toys on.

“Kids actually like growing out of toys because it makes them feel more mature, especially if you talk about things like passing on toys to children who are in need.”

These tips follow the launch of Mattel Playback earlier this year, a toy takeback programme that recovers and reuses materials from old Mattel toys that are at the end of their life.

The research found most parents Boat & Caravan will try and get children to have a Upholstery big sort-out of their bedrooms twice a year. Although more than one in Cushion refilling 10 will do it less often – as four in service 10 claim it’s difficult to find the time Foam cut to size to dedicate to the task. But this is Furniture repairs one of the key reasons parents find & re-covering it so difficult, according to Ibbotson, who advocates a ‘little and often’ Fabric & DIY supplies approach.

Currently, one in five parents recycle 2 Montana Road, the toys their children have outgrown, Kesgrave IP5 1ER according to the data gathered 01473 624034 through OnePoll.com.

Shop online at: Pamela Gill-Alabaster, global head of www.foamshop.co.uk sustainability, at Mattel added, “We

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“The Mattel PlayBack program helps parents and caregivers ensure that materials stay in play, and out of landfills, with the aim to repurpose these materials as recycled content in new products.

“It is one important step we’re taking to address the growing global waste challenge.”

Mattel PlayBack either downcycles materials or converts them from waste to energy. Presently, the programme will accept Barbie, Matchbox and MEGA toys for recycling with other brands to be added in the future.

KATE IBBOTSON’S 10 TIPS TO HELP DECLUTTER 1. Make space for the toys that come in – encourage children to donate toys which they don’t use or have outgrown.

2. To avoid getting overwhelmed, declutter in small bite size chunks, i.e. one drawer or shelf at a time, and by category is ideal.

3. Be prepared with donation bags, tape for broken boxes, paper bags for cards and other little toys, elastic bands and bin bags for anything which can’t be re-used or recycled.

4. Keep a box to hand for random pieces which you find which belong to a game or toy you can’t locate right away.

5. Involve your children in the process of donating to charity or recycling.

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AT HOME

Let Suffolk’s Nature be your Valentine’s this year Morwenna Alldis, spokesperson for the RSPB describes, “Last year many of us probably missed out on our Valentine’s hearts and flowers because it was difficult to spend time with the people we love and care for during lockdown.

“Relationships of all forms - friends, family, partners and even with ourselves,

have really been challenged. So, this February the RSPB are encouraging everyone in Suffolk to let nature be their Valentine – because we think by taking some time to reconnect with nature, you can help your physical and mental wellbeing and show yourself some much-needed love too.”

Here are three ways in which nature will win your heart this February:

A walk hand-in-hand

Winter’s cold can make us want to hibernate under a blanket with our favourite boxset or a good book. But February brings the promise of spring and beckons us to shed some layers and explore local parks and nature reserves, such as RSPB Lakenheath Fen, Minsmere, and other nature reserves, right here in Suffolk.

How many first signs of new life can you find? Look out for drifts of snowdrops, the first yellow flashes of primroses, and hazel catkins, which are the male flower of the tree. With a shift to home working, gifting yourself just 20 minutes away from the kitchen table office to loop around the block and investigate the nature on your doorstep can give you the physical and mental breath of fresh air that you deserve. Find your nearest RSPB nature reserve, here: rspb.org.uk/reserves A Valentine’s Day in nature isn’t just for couples: families can also enjoy coming together to have fun with the RSPB’s Wild Challenge. Who will shout “Springo-Bingo” first when taking the Signs of Spring adventure?

Sweet serenade

Since medieval times, folklore has suggested that Valentine’s Day is the date when birds start to sing and attract a mate. By the end of February, the volume is amplified in the bird world as they start to defend their territories and pair up. Listening to birdsong can be incredibly uplifting, it can cut through the

26

noise in our heads and ground us in a special connection with nature. It’s a chance to pause, take a deep breath, and savour a moment just for you.

Listen out for: - Robin - gurgles and trickles, with a watery feel - Great Tit – sounds like ‘teacher teacher teacher’, see-sawing between two notes of the same pitch - Chaffinch - 10 notes dropping down the scale and finishing with a theatrical flourish - Song Thrush – Loud and confident, with a ‘repeat and move on’ structure that is so different from any other common bird Because the trees are bare at this time of year it’s easier to identify the different songsters, so it’s a great opportunity to start learning birdsong. Pick up a copy of the RSPB’s Guide to Birdsong book and CD at a nature reserve shop near you.

A cosy home for two

After nature has put all this effort into wooing you – long walks, live music, even flowers, show some green love in return and make a little space for nature in your heart and home by installing a nestbox.

National Nestbox Weeks runs from 14th to 21st February and it’s a fantastic way to help your garden birds as they gear up for a busy breeding season in March. A rough idea of which species visit your patch is useful, as different birds need different types of holes in their nestboxes. You don’t need a lot of outdoor space or even a garden, just the right positioning and clear flight paths to the nestbox.

Morwenna continues, “Happy Valentine’s Day from the RSPB. We hope this is the start of a beautiful relationship between yourself and nature, which lasts a lifetime.”

AT HOME

‘Snow White’ Apples and confident colour will abound this year The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has published its gardening predictions for the year ahead, forecasting how and what the nation’s 30million gardeners will be growing in their homes and gardens in 2022.

Based on gardener enquiries and horticultural trends, the charity sees a return to bolder planting choices with deeper shades replacing more muted colour schemes. This is reflected in the trend for red-fleshed fruit, with apples, pomegranates and chokeberries proving popular choices. Planet Friendly Gardening also continues to dominate gardeners’ approach to their plots with scything, fermenting and cut flower growing set to take off.

2022 Gardening Prediction Highlights:

Confident colour: As public confidence returns so has a taste for more daring plant colours such as reds, oranges and purples with crocosmia, salvia and canna set to prove popular in 2022 as a result. This colour trend is also reflected in new releases from growers such as everlasting flower ‘Granvia Gold’ and echinacea ‘SunMagic’ series while low maintenance houseplants in brighter hues are also predicted to overtake sales of green-leafed plants, such as the new red succulent x Semporium‘Sienna’.

‘Snow White’ apples: Red-fleshed apples, high in anthocyanins which are thought to be antiinflammatory and anti-viral, will become more prevalent in gardens and follow the success of

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newly introduced varieties ‘Tickled Pink’ and ‘Surprise’. An explosion in fruit training adds to the allure. Continuing the trend for red produce, gardeners will also experiment with more exotic fruits such as pomegranates, chokeberries and serviceberries.

Fast-track gardens: With the nationwide return to office working, time spent tending the garden is feeling the squeeze. As a result, labour-saving activities and products that offer speedy results are on the rise such as growing kits, pre-planted baskets and troughs, self-watering pots and battery-powered pruners. These provide more opportunity to sit back and enjoy the garden with all-weather outdoor socialising set to continue.

Upskilling: For those with time to spare, learning a new skill is top of the agenda, with the majority keen to lessen their impact on the environment. This is set to spur a resurgence in home composting techniques – such as Bokashi which breaks down even meat and dairy - as gardeners look to reduce their reliance on shop bought products and scything which is easier than a mower on wildflower patches and minimises the need for petrol or diesel powered tools. In response to environmental need and demand, sustainability will underpin school, adult

Home-grown bouquets: Edibles and flowers will share space on the veg patch as people respond to the carbon footprint of shop bought flowers and turn to growing their own. Repeat flowering plants such as alstromeria, cosmos, dahlias, and zinnia will be favoured for their ease of growing and reliability during the summer months while sea lavender and everlasting flower serve as dried decoration for winter displays.

Guy Barter, RHS Chief Horticulturist, says, “With a return to more normal weekday patterns in 2022, the UK’s gardeners are adapting their approach to tending their plants; drawing on quick fixes where necessary but all the time working to ensure their plots are planet friendly and an inspiring place to work and play.”

• For more information about the RHS and its 2022 predictions visit: rhs.org.uk/ gardening2022

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4-in-10 drivers cut spending due to rising fuel costs More than four-in-10 drivers say they’ll be forced to cut other household spending as a result of petrol and diesel prices continuing to rise beyond their current record high levels while a third (33%) are already driving less because of the high costs at forecourts, new RAC research has found.

The survey of nearly 2,500 UK drivers also shows that 61% are worried about the high prices as they depend on their vehicles so heavily, while half are concerned because the rising costs are coming at a time when household gas and electricity bills are also increasing.

A third already say they are driving less because of the record petrol and diesel prices, with a further quarter saying they’ll be forced to if prices keep going up. And while just under a fifth say they’ll get about by other means such as walking or cycling as the car becomes less affordable, a much greater proportion say they’ll simply suffer the higher fuel prices and drive just as much as before. Alarmingly, 5% of drivers are worried they’ll be unable to keep running a car at all if prices keep heading north.

With one-in-four respondents stating that the cost of driving accounts for a large proportion of their monthly spending, the research paints a chilling picture of the impact of the current record petrol and diesel prices on UK households. Both fuels hit all-time high levels as of the end of last month and have risen still further since the start of November, with petrol already up more than 2p a litre.

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Perhaps unsurprisingly, nearly seven-in-10 drivers want to see the Government intervene over high prices although the prospect of this happening seems unlikely. A cut to fuel duty – which currently makes up nearly 58p of the cost of every litre of petrol or diesel sold – is most popular among drivers, followed by a pump price cap akin to that which already applies in the domestic energy market. Half would like to see a reduction in VAT applied to fuel, currently around 24p of the cost of a litre.

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said, “These figures throw a light on the chilling impact the current record high petrol and diesel prices are having on drivers every time they fill up. And there’s seemingly no end in sight – the price of unleaded is already rising and this, combined with the fact domestic energy costs are also spiking, means households need to brace themselves for what could turn out to be a particularly expensive winter.

“If the high prices are encouraging drivers to swap the car for walking or cycling on short trips that’s no bad thing, but the simple fact remains that the car is a lifeline for many people and remains the only feasible way for them to complete so many of the journeys they need to make. For example, as our latest Report on Motoring shows, when it comes to visiting or caring for friends and family, for 68% of drivers the distance they have to travel is too far to go on foot or by bike. When it comes to grocery shopping, 78% said they relied on the car as they had too much to carry by any other means.

“This reliance on cars, coupled with the fact the cost of fuel represents such a large proportion of many households’ spending, should be ringing alarm bells in government, but it’s not obvious the message is getting through. The Chancellor had the perfect opportunity during the last Budget to show his support for drivers who are struggling with the increasing fuel prices – which is happening at a time when domestic energy bills are also rising – by temporarily cutting VAT on motor fuel or reducing fuel duty. We’re disappointed he chose to do neither, but a commitment to freeze fuel duty for another year was at least some consolation. However, we fear that rocketing prices risk storing up all kinds of problems for drivers as we go into the winter.

“The high oil price is the root cause of the costs motorists are suffering at the pumps with a barrel having quadrupled in price since last spring as demand for fuel across the world returns to a more normal level after the worst of the pandemic. Economically, this could create real problems for the UK in terms of higher inflation and perhaps even a drop in GDP, with the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) having previously cited research that shows even a fairly modest 10% increase in oil prices can cause UK output to fall by 0.5%.”

Anyone who drives 9,000 miles a year and is in a position to switch to an electric car could save themselves around £1,500. The RAC is helping to make the switch easier with its leasing service which helps drivers to get into an EV from around £230 a month.

Electric car breakdowns less likely to be due to out of charge Potential new electric car owners are often put off making the switch because of range anxiety and the concern of running out of charge, but new research from LV= Britannia Rescue, one of the UK’s leading breakdown providers, shows that they are actually three times more likely to break down because of wheel or tyre problems, rather than anything to do with the battery.

Analysis of breakdown call outs over the last three years shows that 37% of the time drivers are ringing up because they’ve suffered wheel or tyre problems, compared to just 11% for running out of charge. This is also more than twice as often as petrol or diesel cars, where on average just 16% cite wheel or tyre issues as the cause of breakdown.

Wheel or tyre problems are often attributed to the excess weight of the car, caused by the battery, which can make it up to 50% heavier than a traditional petrol or diesel car. Wheel issues are sometimes made more complicated by the fact that most manufacturers no longer fit a spare wheel as standard, so drivers caught mid-journey with a flat tyre or wheel issue can’t fix the problem themselves and need towing to a local garage.

Drivers being unable to start their electric car, often at home, accounts for 21% of calls – otherwise known as ‘dead on key’. There are a variety of reasons this could happen, such as a flat battery, a battery not holding its charge or the vehicle not being driven for a length of time, but it is more prevalent in the winter months with cars taking that bit longer to warm up.

The ‘dead on key’ issue for electric car drivers happens little more than half as often it does for petrol or diesel cars, which features as the breakdown reason in 41% of calls to LV= Britannia Rescue.

Henry Topham, Managing Director of LV= Britannia Rescue, commented, “Range anxiety has been built up to be a thing for people to be concerned about when it comes to going green, but our data shows that in reality it’s a very rare issue for electric car drivers. Generally electric cars perform very well and aren’t susceptible to suffering nearly as many issues as petrol or diesel models, but if you do have a problem it’s more likely to be wheel or tyre related, or dead on key. And as we get into the cold, dark winter months it’s good for drivers to be aware of these potential issues and make sure their car is regularly being checked and looked after.”

Half of Brits do not like the idea of their family and friends driving on smart motorways, according to new research from GoCompare Car Insurance.

Almost a third also said they themselves would not drive on a smart motorway, with the number increasing to 40% for those aged 65 and over. Perhaps surprisingly, nearly the same number of 18 to 24-yearolds also said they would not drive on smart motorways either.

The GoCompare research also found that nearly half of those questioned admitted they weren’t sure what do to if they broke down on a smart motorway – many of which have dynamic, digitally managed hard shoulders that are turned on and off to help with traffic flow.

Ryan Fulthorpe, car insurance expert at GoCompare said, “Our research shows that there is clearly a need for further education about the smart motorway system for all ages.

“The fact that more experienced drivers are reluctant to use these new road systems would come as no surprise, but that nearly the same number of young drivers are also keen to avoid using smart motorways just shows that British motorists don’t know enough about them to feel confident when driving on these new kinds of roads.”

“Even more concerning is the fact that nearly half of those we questioned would not know what to do if they broke down on a smart motorway,” Ryan added.

“This is a clear demonstration that, before a further roll out of these road networks across the UK can begin, a clear and simple driver education campaign must be carried out to ensure British motorists are taking to these roads knowing how they work, and most importantly, how to navigate them safely.”

Winter and a spate of colder weather is traditionally a time when electric vehicles can run into tyre and battery problems. With that in mind here are some tips to keep your vehicle in working order: 1. Check your tyres regularly – when electric cars do break down, it’s often because of wheel/tyre problems. And because almost all electric cars don’t have a spare wheel fitted as standard, it’s definitely worth checking your tyre pressure and the condition and alignment of your tyres on a regular basis, especially in winter months. If you’re not sure how frequently to do it, refer to your manufacturer’s manual, as some recommend more frequent checks 2. Check the weather forecast(!) – electric cars are most likely to run out of charge in cold or wet weather conditions, with low temperatures and rain sometimes compromising the performance of the battery. It’s worth checking the weather forecast so you know when to potentially expect a bit less range, which can dip, particularly in winter months. It’s worth keeping your battery level at around 80 per cent, to keep its health in good condition 3. Don’t spend too long warming up the car in cold weather – use the pre-heat function to warm up your car. With most electric cars you can use an app to set the car to pre-heat and defrost the vehicle. This avoids the need to get the ice scraper out, and means the car is warm when you’re ready to set off LV= Britannia Rescue has over 4,000 breakdown professionals and an average response time of just 47 minutes. For more information visit https://www.lv.com/ breakdown-cover

• For more information on electric cars, from the basics to charging and costs, visit https://www.lvelectrix.co.uk/

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n Ford's Focus with Daniel Ford

I wrote an article a few months ago about how much I was in support of Ipswich manager Paul Cook and how I was deeply emotionally invested in him as a coach and a person. Well as most of you will know that journey was brought to an abrupt end when he was sacked a few months ago, a decision which certainly split the fan base. So for this month’s article I want to weigh in on this decision and give my opinions on the man that the Ipswich board has chosen to replace him.

I can certainly see the argument behind the decision to relive the lively scouser of his role in the dugout, at the time of his sacking Town were floundering in the middle of the table with a charge for the play-offs seemingly highly unlikely.

Given the vast amounts of money that were invested in preseason in purchasing an entirely new squad success was almost certainly expected and Cook was allowed to assemble what was arguably the most talented and expensive squad in the league.

The previous sentence though also provides some of the fuel for the argument suggesting that Cook should not have been fired. own bought an unprecedented 18 new players in the summer and these needed plenty of time to settle in and gel as a unit.

After a really poor start they showed signs that things were beginning to click with emphatic away wins against promotion challenging Portsmouth and Wycombe and a six goal thumping of Doncaster at home. The problem was that Town were never able to follow these up, the prime example being that they followed the Doncaster destruction with a miserable defeat away at Accrington.

I can understand why this inconsistency frustrated the board and led to them taking decisive action, they are set on Town getting promotion this season and that didn’t look likely. This for me though is where the thinking begins to unravel, because Paul Cook was replaced by a manager who had never managed a professional game before and therefore has no track record of getting clubs promoted.

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Effectively the club have abandoned the project under Paul Cook to start a new project under Kieran McKenna. This makes no sense to me as the sacking suggested that they would bring in someone with lots of promotions given that was the aim.

Personally, I would have given Cook the season and then gone for a young manager like McKenna.

Having said all this, I can certainly say one thing about Town, it is never boring! *

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