Ipswich24 December 2021

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DECEMBER 2021

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MERRY CHRISTMAS

FmaRgaEE zine

to all our Readers and Advertisers

Picture from RSPB

Ind Tra epend vel Ag ent ent s

The Luxury Travel Specialist

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

Lots of excitement for The Spa Felixstowe’s Spa Pavilion Theatre has announced that Christina Johnston has agreed to become it’s first official Patron. One of the best coloratura sopranos in the world, with an amazing and unique voice, Christina has recently returned to her home county, Suffolk, after a long residency at the State Opera in Prague.

Well known throughout the world of opera and classical music through her many performances and collaborations, Christina has a range and voice which lends itself to almost any type of music and The Spa will be introduced her to their audiences over the weekend of 12th and 13th November with very special ‘cameo’ guest appearances.

The Spa are swinging into December with ‘Rat Pack Live: The Christmas Party’, on Thursday 2nd! This show features all the patter and

razzamatazz of the original Rat Pack’s famous live stage shows. Next up, Friday 3rd December sees the return of Jim Davidson, with his brandnew touring standup show, ‘Unlocked’, which is 18+ only.

Continuing the run of consecutive show nights, ‘The History of Soul’ will be lighting up the stage on Saturday 4th December. Experience iconic soul music brought back to life by exceptional singers, and a nine-piece band!

Brand new on sale, with two performances (3pm and 6pm), it’s ‘Aladdin: The Genie of the Lamp’ on Sunday 5th December. This is a youth theatre production, performed by students from Theatre Arts Academy, in association with The Suzie Lowe School of Performing Arts. Packed with songs, dance, and slapstick comedy, this show has something for everyone to enjoy!

On Friday 10th December, Country music fans are given a taste of Nashville, with ‘Made in Tennessee’. This is the first of the December ‘Christmas Party Package’ shows which still has availability for restaurant tables

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for pre-show dining. Act now to secure your preshow meal by calling 01394 336336. For either £15 or £19 on top of the Adult ticket price, you can add a 2-or-3-Course Meal, AND admission to the afterparty, with late bar and disco!

The very next day (Sat 11th Dec), Jason Manford comes to Felixstowe! ‘Like Me’ is Jason’s latest comic offering set to hit the road, and is sure to be “expert observational comedy” (The Guardian) mixed with “comic gold” (Mail on Sunday). This evening also has a limited number of Christmas Party Package places still available.

On Sunday 12th December, don’t miss the UK’s premier wartime-inspired group, The D-Day Darlings, with their 3PM matinee show: ‘A Christmas to Remember’!

Finally, The Dennis Lowe Theatre Company present a 12-performance run of their Christmas Panto, ‘Cinderella’ – From Friday 17th December through until Monday 3rd January 2022.

Theatre tickets are available from the Spa Box Office: Tuesday to Sunday, 11am-4pm (01394 284962). You can also select seats online, 24/7, at www.fxspa.co.uk The café, bars & restaurant are open every day, 10am-5pm. Breakfast is served 9am-11.45pm 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 DECEMBER Christmas 2021:

Your ultimate guide to keeping you informed this Christmas, including: Shopping ideas, details on a the Christmas day swim, an alternative to the traditional panto and even a prize competition.

12-16 Events Diary

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

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

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Christmas in Woodbridge:

There’s lots going on around Woodbridge this Christmas as well as some great Christmas gifts at the independent stores.

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At Home:

Thirteen jam-packed pages including a threepage guide to online safety, the latest home decor trends and advice on staying green.... and everything for your home, inside and out.

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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The staff of Fizzwig Designs, publishers of Ipswich24 Magazine, would like to wish all our readers and clients a wonderful Christmas and properous New Year. Thank you for your continued support.

Arts:

Abba have lept back into the limelight recently and to celebrate we have tickets for a great Abba themed evening.

Plus details of some of the Christmas concerts and pantos taking to the stage and an interview with comic Ed Byrnes.

Merry Christmas:

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d Come an Look! the New 3

New exhibition discovers

Constable Explore the work of one of Suffolk’s most famous artists in a new exhibition at Christchurch Mansion’s Wolsey Art Gallery.

2021 is a significant year for John Constable, as this year marks the 200th anniversary of The Hay Wain, one of his most famous works. It is also 200 years since the death of Suffolk artist George Frost, who was Constable’s early mentor.

To mark this significant bicentenary, the Creating Constable exhibition will explore Constable’s artistic roots by revealing stories about Suffolk artists, family, friends, and early supporters who provided Constable with the foundations on which to build a career.

As well as works by John Constable, visitors will also be able to view pieces by other notable Suffolk artists, including Thomas Gainsborough, George Frost, John Dunthorne, Elizabeth Cobbold and Thomas Churchyard.

Ipswich holds the largest collection of works by Frost in any public collection with over 300 drawings and paintings. This will be the first time in many years that these collections have been on display.

Key loans from the V&A collections will be included which show Ipswich in the 1800s, as well

as artworks from the East Anglian Traditional Art Centre depicting the influence of Constable.

Four new John Constable works recently acquired by the Ipswich Museums service will also be displayed for the first time. The recently discovered artworks were found in a scrapbook compiled

by Constable’s relations, the Masons in Colchester, containing watercolours, drawings, poems and extensive texts, dating from the 1790s to 1862.

The new artworks include a landscape painted when Constable was aged just seventeen and is among his very earliest surviving works. There are also two portraits, one of which is a work in pencil of his brother, Abram, which is believed to

relate to his 1806 oil painting already housed in the Ipswich collection.

The research behind the exhibition has been supported by the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art and the exhibition is sponsored in part by Kerseys Solicitors.

Creating Constable will be open at Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich from 27th November 2021 to 24th April 2022.

More information can be found at ipswich.cimuseums.org.uk

Creating

27 NOV 2021 – 24 APR 2022 CHRISTCHURCH MANSION

CONSTABLE

Explore the early Suffolk influences and personal friendships that created Constable the artist. Featuring artworks by John Constable, George Frost, Thomas Gainsborough, Elizabeth Cobbold and more.

FREE ADMISSION Visit ipswich.cimuseums.org.uk/events to find out more

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Christmas is coming to town With the countdown to Christmas Day underway, Ipswich Borough Council is making sure the town gets its glad-rags on for the festive season.

The modern Christmas tree on the Waterfront has been installed and the traditional Christmas tree for the Cornhill, provided by Ipswich Central, and the town centre lights will be once again taking pride of place in the town centre.

This year, the public can drive through Ipswich town centre on four evenings in the run up to Christmas to enjoy the lights.

The scheme, which is usually aimed at Disabled Blue Badge Holders, was extended last year to include all members of the public for the first time in 27 years and due to its success the Council have decided to do it again for 2021.

Between 6pm and 9pm on the below dates the public will be able to enter the pedestrianised town centre at Major’s Corner and drive westwards along Carr Street, Tavern Street and Westgate Street, leaving at Museum Street.

Sunday 21 November – general public Sunday 28 November – blue badge only Sunday 5 December – general public Sunday 12 December – blue badge only

Visitors will need to book a free ticket for a timed slot before they visit - only one ticket is needed per vehicle. Tickets will be available to book via the Ipswich Theatres website www.ipswichtheatres.co.uk.

Drivers must stick to a 5mph speed limit and will not be permitted to stop.

Blue Badges must be clearly displayed.

Other Christmas events include a virtual light switch-on from home via the Council’s social media feeds and late-night shopping entertainment on the Cornhill organised by the Council and Ipswich Central.

Fool’s Paradise will be performing their quirky street characters -The Living Lampposts – on Thursday 25th November. The characters will perform three sets during the evening at approximately 4pm, 5:30pm and 7pm.

The incredible light up drummers - Spark! – will also return this year on

WIN: Action DVD

Get ready for a rip-roaring, actionpacked revenge rampage in Every Last One of Them, a high-octane new thriller from the makers of Paydirt and Take Back, starring screen legends Richard Dreyfuss and Michael Madsen.

Jack Hunter’s (Paul Sloan) daughter is missing and he’ll do whatever it takes to find her. His desperate search leads him to a small town in the desert, where she was last seen alive. There he encounters the menacing head of a mob-funded security firm (Jake Weber), who alongside his vicious sister (Taryn Manning), are holding on to a harmful family secret that threatens to derail a billion dollar water deal between his boss and the US government.

Jake finds himself embroiled in a web of corruption and danger, and as the fate of his daughter slowly becomes apparent, it becomes terrifyingly clear that he must take on way more than he bargained for...

With the aid of his former black ops mentor (Richard Dreyfuss) Jack embarks on a merciless quest for vengeance… stopping at nothing to bring those responsible to justice.

Jack is hellbent on getting Every Last One of Them: there will be blood, lots of it.

E PRIZ P COM

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Ipswich24 has got three copies of Every Last One of Them 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: Every Last One of Them 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 Friday 31st December 2021.

Q Who is searching for their missing daughter in the movie Every Last One of Them?

Thursday 16th and 23rd December. The drummers will perform three sets during the evening at approximately 5pm, 6:30pm and 8pm.

Cllr Sarah Barber, Portfolio Holder for the Town Centre said, “When the town gets decked up in lights that’s when the Christmas spirit starts for me and I hope they, along with the two Christmas trees and exciting latenight shopping entertainment, bring some festive cheer to people in the run up to the holidays. We will be releasing a light switch-on video again this year, which will include a special message from the Mayor of Ipswich, Cllr Elizabeth Hughes, so do keep an eye on the Council’s social media feeds so you can celebrate from the comfort of your own home.

“The drive-through events promise to be a success again this year, especially with the extra two dates we have scheduled. I know how popular they were last year and I urge those wanting to attend to get in quick as tickets are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. On the night, please remember to stay in your car and keep moving to ensure that everyone gets a chance to see the Christmas lights.”

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A message from Lee,

Manager at Deben Travel, Woodbridge As a travel industry we will not be sad to see the end of 2021 and as we move in to 2022 overseas travel continues to be made easier.

At the height of the pandemic Deben Travel dealt with hundreds of holiday cancellations, in excess of £2 million of travel arrangements were cancelled and all of our customers were fully refunded.

Although not an easy time I am proud that my team managed rebooking’s, amendments, cancellations and refunds, at times from their spare room, and now we are seeing pre-pandemic booking levels for 2022.

It was not all lows for the team in 2021. We received the accolade of ‘Top Travel Agency in the East of England’ from Travel Trade Gazette, ‘Agency of the Year’ from Travel Weekly and ‘Manager of the Year’ at the Travel Industry Awards.

All testament to the dedication of the team and our focus on delivering exceptional service.

January and February are our busiest months of the year for new bookings.

Being independent we have built relationships with a huge range of small and large tour operators to find you the perfect holiday. We also book ocean and river cruises, tailor-made travel, ski, tours and so much more.

Take a look at our website or Facebook page for inspiration, email, call or pop in and allow us to show you why we are award winning!

I think we all deserve a nice break in 2022!

Lee, Abi, Rebecca, Simone & Tessa 01394 615620 team@debentravel.co.uk 25 The Thoroughfare, Woodbridge www.debentravel.co.uk

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Suffolk’s secret coast celebrates a sell-out Staff and volunteers at the National Trust’s Orford Ness are celebrating their first ever entirely sold-out season. Having remained closed throughout 2020 due to the Covid pandemic, the site on the Suffolk coast reopened on Good Friday 2021 and has been sold out every day it’s been open, until the end of season on Saturday 30th October.

For the first time in its 26-year history of being open to visitors, every single seat, on every single ferry crossing has been sold out.

2020 had planned to be a special year for Orford Ness, marking 25 years since the site opened to the public under the care of the National Trust, and so the disappointment of having to remain closed during that landmark year has been tempered by the success of this year’s visitor season.

An incredibly sensitive and important home for nature and a designated National Nature Reserve, Orford Ness also attracts visitors keen to learn more about its 80-year period as a top-secret military test facility.

Since July 1st, visitors to Orford Ness have also been able to view a major new art exhibition by acclaimed producers Artangel. Afterness features work commissioned by internationally renowned artists inspired by the unique landscape and history of Orford Ness.

Demand for tickets has been strong throughout the season. Featuring in Kate Humble’s Coastal Britain series on Channel 5 gave the property a big boost, with many visitors saying they had been inspired to book after watching the programme.

Glen Pearce, Property Operations Manager for Orford Ness, welcomes the success of the season, “524 days after we closed our doors at the end of our 2019 season, we were delighted to reopen this year.

We’re so pleased to have been able to welcome the number of visitors we’ve had in the last seven months, providing access once more to this unique landscape, nature and history. It’s all thanks to our members and visitors that we’re able to raise the vital funds needed to care for such a special corner of the Suffolk coast.”

Orford Ness is now closed for the winter but reopens at Easter 2022 and more information can be found at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/orfordness.

Further funding boost for Partnership

Voluntary and community groups in the Melton, Woodbridge and Deben Peninsula area are invited to apply for funding to help improve opportunities for young people and community village hubs.

The Melton, Woodbridge and Deben Peninsula Community Partnership is launching a third round of its Small Grant Scheme which offers funding to voluntary and community groups within the Partnership.

The Youth Engagement Grant Scheme offers funding to projects aimed at improving the opportunities and services available to young people. This could include providing new activities centred around life skills, fun or leisure or improving or creating new outdoor spaces or play equipment.

The Village Hubs Grant Scheme offers funding to projects aimed at creating or improving village hubs to the benefit of the wider community. This could include assistance in making premises in the area fit for use as a community hub or supporting mobile services in bringing provisions to a village.

Cllr James Mallinder, Chair of the Partnership, said, “We are really pleased to launch the third round of our Small Grant Scheme to local community and voluntary groups, making sure support is provided exactly where needed. The scheme is aimed at helping these local groups deliver a ranger of projects, activities and services to support our young people and local communities to improve and enhance the lives of local residents.”

The schemes, which will be open for applications until 1st January 2022, will offer grants between £250 and £2,500.

For full details, including how to apply www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/community/community-partnerships/ community-partnership-small-grant-schemes/

…and the winner is…

An Evening with the Author

On Wednesday 1st December the Suffolk novelist Kate Sawyer, author of The Stranding, will be appearing at the Ipswich Institute, a guest of the Suffolk Book League.

Kate Sawyer grew up in Bury St Edmunds and worked as an actor and producer before turning her hand to fiction. She has previously written for theatre and short-film.

Having lived in South London for the best part of two decades Kate recently returned to Suffolk to have her first child as a solo mother by choice.

The Stranding is a novel of loss and hope about a woman who hides from the end of the world in the belly of a whale. Marian Keyes, bestselling author said: ‘THIS BOOK!!!!! It’s gorgeous and original and captivating… Beautiful writing and characters I cared for as if they were my own family.’ It has recently been short-listed for the East Anglian Book Awards.

Felixstowe Photo Competition 2021

Tickets, £4 for Suffolk Book League members, £8 for nonmembers, can be obtained via www.suffolkbookleague.org/

A National demonstrator visits Flower Club Deben Flower Club’s next meeting is Tuesday 14th December at 7.30pm in Kirton Church Hall, Church Lane, Kirton IP10 0PU.

National demonstrator Nick Grounds will be stretching imaginations with a demonstration entitled “Materialists”. Nick always comes up with some unusual ideas and interesting plant material so we will be in for a treat this December.

The Club will be spacing their seating and opening windows for ventilation to help ensure the meeting remains Covid secure.

Please feel free to wear a mask if you can, until you are seated. Hand sanitizer will be available as you enter the hall.

Tea and coffee will be available but please feel free to bring your own refreshments if preferred.

Friends, and new members will always be assured of a warm welcome. Visitors £5.00. email wa@sandlings.co.uk or telephone Sandy on 07910 463158 for further information.

The seaside town of Felixstowe in Suffolk is a unique, exciting and diverse location for photographic opportunities - seaside fun, beautiful gardens, huge container ships, historic buildings and rich wildlife habitats.

This year’s Felixstowe Photo Competition, which is organised and supported by Visit Felixstowe, Felixstowe Town Council and the Landguard Partnership, attracted just under 100 entries from all ages (9 to 81 years) and abilities over three different themes - Architecture, Seashore and Young Photographer.

Following an online public vote, the top eight photos were selected - four from each of the Architecture and Seashore themes. Together with the seven Young Photographer photos, a panel of judges, including the Mayor of Felixstowe then selected the overall “Judge’s Choice” Winner.

We are pleased to announce the winner of the Felixstowe Photo Competition 2021 is Tiago Pereira from Ipswich with his dramatic shot of Cobbold’s Point.

Tiago’s photo was entered into the ‘Seashore’ theme.

Councillor Mark Jepson, Mayor of Felixstowe said, “Once again this year’s entries have been outstanding and really show the rich variety of landmarks and attractions of our seaside town. Congratulations to Tiago, and we would also like to thank everyone else who took the time to enter this year’s competition”.

You can check out the Felixstowe Photo Competition 2021 - Gallery online now at www.visitfelixstowe.org.uk

Magical World of Lights Make the most of the dark winter nights by stepping into a magical world of light, colour and sound, as you explore the grounds of Helmingham Hall adorned with thousands of lights transforming the gardens into an enchanted winter wonderland.

An unmissable event to start off the festive season! Begin the trail by crossing Helmingham Hall’s famous drawbridge (pulled up every night since 1510) and warming up with a complimentary mulled wine within the courtyard steeped in over 500 years of historical charm. Continue through the gardens absorbing the magical sights and sounds, gather around the fire pits to toast marshmallows for s’mores, and end the evening browsing the Stables Shops and pop up stalls where you may be able to find some early Christmas gifts! To book tickets visit www.helmingham.com 7

Hospice launches “Sponsor a Nurse” campaign Every year St Elizabeth Hospice delivers free care to over 3,000 patients and their families throughout East Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

Centered on an individual’s needs, the hospice provides specialist support, whenever and wherever it is needed, whether at home, in the community or at the hospice.

These services cost £12.9m to facilitate each year, with the

independent charity raising 70% of funds via revenue streams and the generosity of the community such as retail shops, donations and fundraising activities.

However, with research showing the demand for palliative care is estimated to grow 25.4% by 2040, the independent Suffolk charity is calling on the local community to join its new Sponsor a Nurse campaign, to meet this demand and enable the hospice to provide more nurses in the local community for years to come.

Pauline Donkin, Head of Individual Giving and Supporter Care at St Elizabeth Hospice, said, “All our staff are incredible and with the support of local community and our 1,500 volunteers the hospice has been caring for patients and their families throughout Suffolk for over 30 years.

“So many people in the local area have a connection to the hospice, whether it is themselves, a family member or a friend who have received care. Every year we are amazed and humbled by the support the community gives us through raising funds and hosting events in aid of the hospice. Put simply without community support, the hospice would not be what it is today.

“With research showing the need for palliative care is going to increase substantially in the future, we are launching our Sponsor a Nurse campaign to meet this demand.

Through Sponsor a Nurse we are calling on the community to once again show their love for the hospice and help us ensure we can be here today, tomorrow and in years to come to support local people and their families through the most difficult periods of their lives.”

Currently a team of 61 nurses work, both full-time and part-time, for St Elizabeth Hospice. These nurses carry out a variety of roles to provide care to patients and their families.

Whether working at the hospice’s inpatient unit in Ipswich, working for its 24-hour advice line, OneCall, through to providing care at Beccles Hospital or visiting patients in their homes throughout east Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney, hospice nurses regularly go the extra mile to support those who need their case.

From as little as £5 a month over a year, a donation which would fund one 90-minute consultation with a Nurse Consultant, signing up to Sponsor a Nurse will make a difference to St Elizabeth Hospice and its nurses. Helping the hospice to plan for the future and ensure it can continue to evolve and expand its vital services to care for patients and their families in the local community for years to come.

“The support the hospice receives from the local community is absolutely fantastic and means the world to all the staff,” explained Sarah Edwards, who has worked as a registered nurse on St Elizabeth Hospice’s inpatient unit for six years.

“By participating in hospice fundraising events and supporting campaigns, such as Sponsor a Nurse, our supporters make a big difference to the team and to the patients and families we have the privilege of caring for.”

For further information about Sponsor a Nurse visit the website www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/ sponsor-a-nurse/

VOLUNTEERS WANTED Could you spend a couple of hours a week or even a hour a month helping a family with a child who accesses our hospices in their own home?

Caring for a seriously ill child or young person can put a lot of extra demand on a family. The aim of the Help at Home service is to put a caring individual into a family’s home to provide everyday practical support such a cooking, sibling support, cleaning and gardening. EACH provide you with the necessary support and training, all you need to do is provide some of your precious time.

If you would like any more information or to apply then please contact Hugh at hugh.mcelhinney@each.org.uk or call 07714 737139.

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Barking up the right tree Dogs don’t judge, get bored of our jokes or tire of walks along the same route, and for owners of the 9.6 million dogs across the UK, their canine companion proved a life saviour during the pandemic.

Their woof kept us well and now, Vet’s Kitchen has launched a unique award with the same name.

The Woof & Well Award was created in recognition of the contribution dogs have made to our health and wellbeing since March 2020. “We thought it was time to give our dogs recognition for their love and loyalty,” says Laura Shears MD of Vet’s Kitchen. “Humans and their canine companions have always made for a winning team. Whether they are a working dog on a farm, an assistance dog in the home or a companion, our pets very quickly become an important part of the family, and more than ever in recent times, we have relied on them for the emotional support we needed.”

Dogs, like Wilf from Brighton, have changed our outlook on life. Wilf was rescued by owner Lexie Elliot last year. “It sounds a cliché but when I found him I was feeling very lonely. I live on my own and run a small business so often do everything at 100 miles an hour. Wilf has taught me the importance of patience and without that I really wonder whether or not my business would have succeeded during lockdown.”

The Vet’s Kitchen Woof and Well Award is looking for tales of everyday heroism from owners who want to thank their dog for helping them feel better over the past eighteen months. It might be

a shaggy dog story of living and eating well, getting fitter and losing weight or feeling more emotionally resilient through time spent together.

The award is for a special dog and owner duo who’ve shown that living your best life can be as simple as doing it together! All entries will be judged by the expert team at Vet’s Kitchen including Fiona Firth, the Vet’s Kitchen Nutritionist who owns two dogs Theo and Yogi. “At Vet’s Kitchen we recognise that the bond between dog and owner is a powerful one and speaking from experience I wouldn’t be without my dogs. They really are wonderful companions.”

If you have a waggy dog story to tell, then get in touch here: https://vetskitchen.co.uk/pages/ contact or via the @vetskitchen social media accounts with why your dog is a worthy winner and a photo. Don’t forget to tag @vetskitchen and #vetskitchenwoofandwell. The most inspiring dog will receive a trophy, a selection of Vet’s Kitchen products and the winning duo will enjoy a stay for two (plus a dog!) at Enid Blyton’s favourite hotel, Knoll House. This unique, dogfriendly hotel is based in Studland Bay on the beautiful Jurassic Coast, the perfect location for relaxing, enjoying the stunning views of the Isle of Wight and walking with your canine companion.

Who knows, perhaps you could even find some prehistoric fossils on your trip! A second and third prize of runner-up rosettes will also be awarded together with pit pat fitness trackers and a selection of Vet’s Kitchen products.

The Woof & Well Award is open to all dogs resident in the UK who’ve got an inspiring story to tell. The competition closes on 31st December 2021

Christmas Fair in aid of RSPCA The RSPCA Christmas Fair takes place at Stowupland Village Hall, 3 Church Road, Stowupland, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 4BG on Saturday 11th December from 11am until 3pm. Start your Christmas shopping and get yourself in the Christmas mood while helping animals in need in Suffolk. Stalls for all the family to enjoy including crafts, bric-a-brac, homemade jams and chutneys, raffle, tombola, Christmas cards, yummy cakes and more.

Hot and cold refreshments available. Free entry, Large carpark.

SCOUT CHRISTMAS POST

The Scouts Christmas card collection and delivery service is back this year. The delivery area covers Kesgrave, Rushmere, Ipswich Borough and Martlesham i.e. all postcodes IP1 to IP5, together with Felixstowe, The Trimleys and Kirton, and some of the surrounding villages including Claydon, Barham, Gt Blakenham, Westerfield, Witnesham, Henley, Tuddenham and Old Martlesham. Postboxes will be available from 25th November at many collection points across the area. The cost per card will be 30p and the closing date is Tuesday 7th December. All profits are shared between the scout groups taking part in the ratio of the number of cards collected and delivered. Further information about delivery areas and collection points can be found at www.scoutspostipswich.org.uk 9

t a r e b m e c e D s n r a B m a Stonh The Christmas decorations are up, and the shops are busy getting ready for the Christmas rush. Come along to Stonham Barns Park and see what perfect gifts you can find for your loved ones.

There are a large variety of shops to choose from selling gifts, crafts, books, pictures and frames, paddle boards, crystals, clothes, toys, furniture, hair & beauty treatments, homewares, holidays, hot tubs, antiques, sweets, and lots more. There is also a post office to post your cards, convenience store for your essentials and a garden centre for your Christmas plants and pots.

Other gifts ideas include painting your own teapot or purchase a handcrafted Christmas teapot at the Teapot Pottery. For the music lover you could purchase tickets to one of their tribute shows for 2022 or if you are a fan of their annual family shows tickets are available for those too. Check out the website to see what is coming in 2022.

If you fancy a night out in December then book tickets to a Christmas Party Night, there are six nights available with dinner and either disco, live music or a casino theme. Book now to celebrate Christmas in style with your family, friends, or work colleagues, call 01449 711 111 to book or for more information.

Santa is stopping by for a visit to Stonham Barn Park to give your little one’s a treat from 20th to 24th December between 9am-11am. Bring the children and receive a gift from Santa in his grotto, do some craft activities and enjoy a lovely breakfast.

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Whilst you are visiting you could play a round of adventure golf at the golf park or try one of the other golfing activities available. Take a walk round the Owl Sanctuary and see the birds of prey, Meerkats and red squirrels or spend a few relaxing hours fishing.

Take the younger ones in your family to the Tumbledown Soft Play Barn with Sensory room, where they can run, jump, climb, and explore to their hearts content or you could 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. Whether you visit for the day or stay for a holiday, you will find lots to keep you busy.

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

A lonely lovebird who was found lost flying around a park is looking for a soulmate to pair up with.

Iris came into the care of RSPCA Martlesham Animal Centre in Suffolk after she was found flying around Chantry Park, in Ipswich, on 20 August.

Acting centre manager Donna Rich said, “Iris was flying around the park on her own and was clearly lost. A member of the public actually managed to catch her and take her to a local vet who contacted us and asked for help. We were able to take her in but, sadly, no one came forward to claim her and she’s been all alone ever since.

“No lovebird should be lonely but poor Iris is flying solo and we’d love to find her the perfect soulmate to spend her days with.

“Iris is single and ready to mingle, so we’re on the lookout for a new home with one lovebird who is looking to pair up with her.”

Naturally lovebirds live in small flocks and form monogamous relationships within the group. Paired birds spend long periods of time sitting together but poor Iris is all alone.

Iris can’t live with other species of birds so is particularly looking for a lovebird-experienced home. Staff would like to find her owners with a large aviary with plenty of space and lots of enrichment.

“She is a beautiful girl and we really want to see her happy and find her a friend for company,” Donna added. “We don’t want her to travel too far from the centre to her new home as travelling can be quite stressful for these birds so ideally we’d like to find her a local home.

“Lovebirds are cheeky and playful birds who need lots of enrichment and things to do, and they love to destroy things like cardboard tubes, boxes and toys. Iris is very curious and active, and has a wonderful singing voice so is sure to serenade you with beautiful songs. She’d love a pal to harmonise with!”

Contact the team at Martlesham Animal Centre - run by the RSPCA Suffolk East & Ipswich branch - or head to Iris’s online profile to find out more.

Ipswich parks celebrate Green Flags n Three Ipswich parks celebrate success after being awarded Green Flags.

Ipswich Borough Council have raised Green Flag Awards at Bourne, Christchurch and Holywells parks.

This is Bourne’s second consecutive win, while Christchurch has now won 14 flags in succession and Holywells has chalked up 11 in a row.

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for their management across the United Kingdom and around the world.

Ipswich’s three winning parks join more than 2,100 sites across the country collecting awards for 2021, as the scheme marks its Silver Jubilee.

Councillor Philip Smart, Ipswich Borough Council’s Parks & Open Spaces Portfolio Holder, said, “Yet again these Ipswich parks have been recognised for their high standards of horticulture, safety and environmental management and the role they play in improving the mental and physical

wellbeing of local people, providing a place to relax, meet friends, exercise or simply escape for a short time. We are delighted to be raising these flags today in our winning parks, but let’s not forget that the true winners are the dedicated parks staff and volunteers who work tirelessly all year round to make improvements to our parks and maintain them to the standards required – thank you, these awards are for you.”

The Christmas Girls are coming to Baylham!

Farmer Christmas’ granddaughters have again agreed to take time out from looking after Santa’s animals and to visit Baylham House Farm.

On the 4th & 5th, 11th & 12th – and then from 18th to 22nd of December, from 10am to 4pm, Lily and Jasmine Christmas will be in Baylham’s Christmas grotto with their helpers, ready to talk to every boy and girl who wants to tell them their wishes for Christmas.

There is no additional charge to see them and good boys and girls will be given a small gift. It is advisable to book a slot by email info@baylham-house-farm.co.uk While you wait to meet the Christmas girls, or even after you’ve seen them, there will be Christmas games to keep you entertained.

You’ll also be able to see all your old friends, or make new ones, on the farm.

The yard enclosures are filled with pigs and cattle to keep them out of the worst of the winter weather, while the sheep are still out until they’re brought in for lambing.

With entry prices at £8 for adults, £4 for children 4-16, and children under four free, it would be difficult to find a more entertaining and better value attraction in Suffolk.

For more information visit www.baylham-house-farm.co.uk or check out Facebook.

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christmas 2021

Take the plunge this Christmas St Elizabeth Hospice is encouraging the local community to take the plunge for the independent Suffolk charity this Christmas, with the return of its popular Christmas Day Dip for 2021.

After restrictions surrounding Covid-19 saw the cancellation of the annual hospice Christmas Day Dip in 2020, the charity has announced the event will be returning to the seafront at Felixstowe once again this Christmas.

Returning for the 17th time, the event will see hundreds of ‘dippers’ don festive outfits

before plunging into the icy cold North Sea at Felixstowe beach to raise vital funds, through sponsorship, for St Elizabeth Hospice which every year delivers free care to over 3,000 patients and their families throughout East Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

Becky Jedrzejewski, Events and Challenges Fundraiser at St Elizabeth Hospice, said, “We are thrilled to announce the return of our Christmas Day Dip for 2021. After not being able to host The Dip in 2020, we can’t wait to welcome back our supporters as they the plunge for the hospice this Christmas.

“The Christmas Day Dip is always such a popular event full of festive fun and atmosphere and it is the perfect way to start your Christmas morning, all while supporting the hospice.

“With early bird tickets now available there is no better time to register and start encouraging friends and family to sponsor you. Every pound raised really will make a difference to our staff as they care for patients and their families throughout the local community during very difficult times in their lives.”

The St Elizabeth Hospice Christmas Day Dip 2021 will take place on Christmas Day at 10am, opposite Mannings Amusement on Felixstowe seafront. There will be no on the day registration this year so supporters will need to pre-register for the challenge.

Standard registration is £13.00 starting from 1st December through to midday on 23rd December, but early bird tickets for £9 are available until 30th November. Each ticket price includes a medal.

To register for ChristmasDayDip.

tickets

visit

https://register.enthuse.com/ps/event/

Funds raised through the Christmas Day Dip will go towards the hospice’s Christmas fundraising campaign, Be a Star, which helps the hospice support hundreds of patients and their families over the Christmas period.

More information can be found by visiting www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/ event/christmas-day-dip-2021/ and highlights from the Christmas Day Dip 2019, can be viewed at the hospice’s YouTube channel.

12

CHRISTMAS 2021

Old favourites still top toy charts Lego and Monopoly claim the top toy and top game slots in list of nostalgic favourites from the 80s onwards.

Toy chain, The Entertainer, has taken a trip down Memory Lane in celebration of its 40th anniversary, and has revealed its all-time best-selling toys. The UK’s fastest-growing, family-owned high street toy retailer found that it had made more sales of perennial favourite LEGO than any other

Get arty this Christmas

Preparing for the festive season is well underway. A homemade gift or card is always greeted with thanks! Or maybe you are looking for something for yourself or the children to do over this time. Well, Craftability can help…...

They have all manner of kits paint, chalk paint and fabric paint available, sourcing those which as well as enamel, acrylic and craft are good value for money rather spray paints and if you need to paint than a lot of empty packaging. For glass or ceramic there are products even better value take a look at that will do this too. those which they have put together If you like to build your own models themselves.

Craftability have Craftability offer you a good sequin art kits, matchstick kits, and selection of balsa, spruce, obeche and mahogany woods in several thicknesses. There is a selection of modelling tools too. In the same area you will find metal sheets, metal tubes and rods, cork and veneers. If they can find other items that you need, at Craftability they are happy to source them on your behalf.

Are you looking to display your pictures or plates? They have marquetry ones. They can also offer plate stands both freestanding and candle making, glass engraving, wall hanging and a large range of soap making and all sorts of felting accessories to hang your photos and cross stitch kits. There are far and pictures with pride. too many to list here. Starting at If you child still enjoys using loom £3.00 there should be something for bands then Crafta bility are here all tastes and pockets. to help! In store they have a huge Paint! Craftability a huge variety stock of these starting at just 10p a of, good quality types of paint for pack – a perfect stocking filler. all your crafting and artists needs.

The Craftability Christmas workFrom crafters acrylic to artists shops may well be drawing to a quality watercolours, acrylic and close, although do take a look and oils they can help. Do you need check, but there are new ones to paint your model plastic kits or starting in January. See the website ‘Warhammer’ figures? They have or call in for a leaflet!

Humbrol enamel paints that are suitable for this. There is ‘crackle’ See you soon!

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

toy in its four-decade history. Looking specifically at games, the high-flying, property-trading, family favourite Monopoly came out on top.

Breaking down sales by decade, The Entertainer uncovered a list of classics, collectibles, cult favourites and playground crazes. For kids in the 80s, Christmas and birthday presents were likely to include Cabbage Patch Kids, Care Bears and Rubik’s Cubes. Among the list of best-sellers are a handful of toys that have stood the test of time, including Sylvanian Families, My Little Pony, Transformers, and Star Wars Toys – thanks in large part to the release of Episodes 5 and 6 during the decade. Less likely to be recognised by today’s children is the iconic Koosh Ball, the rainbow-coloured rubber pom pom bouncy ball that dominated school playgrounds and appeared in millions of Christmas stockings.

90s kids will remember the furore around the release of Buzz Lightyear, after Toy Story became the smash film of 1995. Furbys, Power Rangers, Tamagotchis and Teletubbies also dominated the decade, alongside Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Thunderbirds Tracy Island and Pogs.

After the Millennium, Bob the Builder ruled supreme. Bratz dolls knocked Barbie off her pedestal, while younger children couldn’t get enough of In The Night Garden toys.

In the 2010s, nostalgia kicked in and a Furby reboot saw them return to the top selling toy list. Loom Bands were the craft craze that that took the world by storm, as fanatics turned the small elastic bands into colour-popping bracelets, necklaces, and even dresses and jackets. Disney’s Frozen stepped into the spotlight, and Elsa, Olaf and the rest of the cast became playtime must haves. The messiest, and most mayhem-packed bestseller in The Entertainer’s history splatted onto the scene in 2016, as Pie Face – the game that sees friends and families cover each other pelt each other in the face with whipped cream – took centre stage at thousands of Christmas celebrations. The game was originally released in the 1960s, but a viral video showcasing the game in action gave it a new lease of life.

• For more info please visit www.thetoyshop.com.

Garden Centre LATE NIGHT CHRISTMAS SHOPPING 1st, 8th & 15th DEC OPEN UNTIL 8pm

Lots of local craft stalls Exclusive Late Night Special Offers Wreath Making Festive Raffle Bluebell Tearoom & Trop Shop also Open All in aid of local mental health charity “Flourish”

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 01473 310604 OR EMAIL US AT

THE GARDENCENTRE@BYPASSNURSERIES.CO.UK

www.craftability-ipswich.co.uk Email: sales@craftability-ipswich.co.uk 13

CHRISTMAS 2021

Father Christmas, or Santa as many know him, has found out there are many good boys and girls in Suffolk, and he has asked Landguard Fort in Felixstowe if he can come and see them on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th December before he brings their presents on Christmas morning.

If you’ve been good this year and would like to tell Santa what you want for Christmas then he, along with his elves and the Fort would love to see you.

Besides seeing Santa there will be a Christmas themed trail (included in the price) for you to do, a post box for any last-minute letters to Santa as well as the chance to explore some of the Fort. Who knows, it might even snow! But there will definitely be hot chocolate, mulled wine, mince pies and Christmas music to make sure everyone is in the Christmas spirit.

The fort will be open 11am until 5pm on both days, with entrance by timed ticket. Please allow one to two hours to enjoy the whole experience.

Admission prices are; - Children: £6.50 in advance, £7.50 on the gate* (includes trail and present).

Children aged one and under free.

- Adults: £2.50 in advance, £3.00 on the gate* - Family ticket for 2 adults & 2 children: £16 in advance, £18 on the gate* (* on the gate tickets are subject to availability) Nicola Barker, Landguard Fort General Manager said, “We can’t wait to sprinkle some Christmas magic and fun at the Fort. Children and their families will love our themed trail that will lead you to visit Father Christmas.

It promises to be a real festive treat”.

Book tickets online now at: www.landguard.com.

Some, but not all, exhibits at the fort will be open for this event – so please do plan to come again during 2022 to see everything else this top visitor attraction has to offer!

• For further details, please email operations@landguard.com or call 01394 675000.

Truly unique gifts!

As Autumn moves into Winter and our thoughts turn to Christmas shopping and gift giving, how many of us just hate the whole commercial vibe, as the shops are stocked high with impersonal gift sets?

This year, when hopefully we can finally celebrate together again, you can’t fail to impress with a gift that has been lovingly hand-made for that special someone at Pennikkity Pots. Grandparents will treasure ceramics created by a beloved grandchild. With such a variety of stock to choose from you can make truly unique presents from practical mugs, plates and bowls, to on-trend homeware or cute decorative figurines. There is also a vast selection of seasonal festive stock including this year’s must have Nordic Gnomes plus traditional tree decorations and baubles made especially for tiny hand and foot prints.

Open seven days a week and ideally located in the centre of Ipswich, Pennikkity Pots is a great place to chill out and get creative. Don’t worry if you haven’t painted pottery before, everyone can enjoy this great activity and the friendly staff will guide you through the process. Prices start from £5 plus a £3 studio fee per painter to cover your time in the studio, paints and glazing. Items are fired on the premises and ready for collection a week later.

Booking is advisable to guarantee your table and ensure all COVID safety measures are kept in place. Don’t forget to cut out and use your discount voucher from Ipswich24.

If going out and mixing is not for you then Pennikkity Pots has it covered as all their fabulous stock can be made up into ‘paint at home’ kits that come complete with everything you need to create your masterpiece from the comfort of your own home. You just need to return your items for glazing and firing.

If you don’t want to paint yourself you can commission one of the talented artists to create a unique gift especially for you, or alternatively, you can buy a ‘paint at home’ gift set or a gift voucher to treat your loved one to a visit in the studio.

Check out the Pennikkity Pots Facebook or Instagram page or call into the studio for up to date information including late night ‘Festive and Fizz’ adults ceramic painting sessions held on Friday evenings the ideal opportunity to gather a group of friends or work colleagues together or even some much needed ‘me time’ to sit back and relax!

£2 off

DEC21

Santa is coming to Landguard Fort

*

When you present this advertisement

* Discount cannot be used against group deals, workshops or café items.

Ipswich IP1 3DJ Telephone 01473 216865 info@pennikkitypots.co.uk Call or email for opening times or visit us on Facebook

www.pennikkitypotsceramicscafe.co.uk 14

CHRISTMAS 2021

Be a Star and support Hospice this Christmas Independent Suffolk charity St Elizabeth Hospice has announced the return of its annual Christmas appeal, Be a Star, for 2021.

On average every Christmas, the hospice provides vital care to more than 865 people living with progressive and life-limiting illnesses and their families across East Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney, for many of whom it will be their last Christmas spent together.

Through Be a Star, the charity is encouraging the community to support the hospice during this very special time of year and help staff ensure patients and families can have the Christmas they deserve.

Pauline Donkin, Head of Individual Giving and Supporter Care at St Elizabeth Hospice, said, “Every year we help families and their loved ones over Christmas, during what for some will sadly be their last.

“This care is delivered at our Inpatient Unit, at Beccles Hospital and in homes throughout the community, across Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney, wherever our support is needed we will be there.

“We are always grateful for the community support we receive throughout the year. But to allow us to help as many people and their families as

Costumes for all occasions Masquerade is based at Church Farm in Earl Stonham and has been enjoying helping people celebrate their parties and events in style for 14 years.

At Masquerade they are now open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays from 10am-2pm and Saturdays from 10am-3pm, when it is fine to arrive without prior booking.

Masquerade are also offering appointments outside of these hours enabling flexibility for those people working during the day, wishing a quieter shop or a chance for Amateur Dramatics groups to select costumes for their Cast.

With a range of over 3000 costumes in many sizes ranging from Soldiers to Superheroes and historical to hysterical we will be pleased to make your party our business.

For further details on our costumes please visit www.masqueradeshop. co.uk or telephone 01449 711109 With thanks to Sugar and Spice Photography for image.

possible this Christmas, we are calling on the public to Be a Star and support St Elizabeth Hospice this festive period and make a difference to the lives of those in their local community, who are living through difficult times in their lives.”

From purchasing items such as Christmas cards, from St Elizabeth Hospice shops or online store, to taking part fundraising events like the Christmas Day Dip or volunteering time to help the hospice as part of a New Year’s resolution.

There are a number of ways to take part in the Be a Star appeal and each one makes a vital contribution to supporting the hospice in making Christmas time a special time for those under its care this year.

One person who is familiar with the support St Elizabeth Hospice provides at Christmas time is Leanne Mann, whose mum, Lorraine Brown, was cared for during the Christmas period in 2019.This support enabled the family to enjoy Christmas together as well as help Lorraine attend Leanne’s wedding before Lorraine’s death in January 2020.

“I really enjoyed our Christmas in the hospice as a family, it really was a home from home,” explained Leanne.

“We knew deep down this would be our last Christmas together so with the hospice’s help we made sure it was a very happy Christmas full of food, presents and lots of time spent together.

“Without St Elizabeth Hospice our Christmas would have been very different but thanks to their support we shared a normal family Christmas. It was made more perfect because of where it was and thanks to their care, Mum had the Christmas she deserved and we were able to have the family feeling we love.”

• Find out how to support the Be a Star appeal by visiting www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/be-a-star/be-a-star-appeal or call 01473 723600.

01449 711109 www.masqueradeshop.co.uk FANCY DRESS & COSTUME HIRE

Masquerade - Where fantasy becomes reality…

Church Farm, Earl Stonham, Suffolk IP14 5EE

Flowers & Gifts at Bedwells Florist

97 Foxhall Road, Ipswich IP3 8JY

Flowers and Gifts for all occasions. Call us on 01473 251133

Follow us on Facebook — www.ipswich-flowers.com

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CHRISTMAS 2021

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panto alternative Be Shaken and Stirred this Christmas as Eastern Angles present their alternative panto From Rushmere With Love!

Eastern Angles return to the stage this Christmas with their highly-anticipated ‘panto alternative’ From Rushmere With Love – and you can join in on the festive fun live in theatre or from the comfort of home.

Follow James Boond (a double-O agent like none before him) as he investigates the mysterious disappearance of a famous nuclear scientist and amateur twitcher on the marshes at Minsmere.

Written by Brendan Murray and directed by Ivan Cutting (the team that brought you Mansfield Park & Ride and Round The Twist) the show is filled with the madcap humour, original live music and interactive family fun audiences know and love about Eastern Angles’ Christmas offerings.

Speaking about his plans for the show, Ivan Cutting said, “Wow, it’s Christmas again just six months after our last Christmas show with Sam Snape...whether people have seen the latest Bond film or not, they’ll love this spoof with car and ski chases, double agents and double Os, villains and spies, as a rare turkey at Minsmere takes an interest in the neighbouring Sizewell A. Is somebody trying to take over the world?”

This fun-filled, action-packed show is being performed at the Eastern Angles Centre’s Sir John Mills Theatre 8th December – 8th January, the schedule includes some performances with mask requirements as well as chances to watch along live from home.

To find out more and book your tickets visit www.easternangles.co.uk.

Soothing all PR IZE the way to COMP Christmas…

It’s used to soothe nappy rash and acne-prone skin, now, the British public are turning to Sudocrem Antiseptic Healing Cream and her little sister My Little Sudocrem as their ultimate winter skincare allrounder as the seasons change once again.

As the weather gets cooler, there are a few common skincare complaints that can rear their ugly heads. Whether it’s patches of flakey, dry skin from exposure to cooler wind and rain, painful chilblains, or even just red irritated skin, Sudocrem Antiseptic Healing Cream can handle the lot. Simply apply some cream to the affected area and let the soothing begin. And if you need to soothe on-the-go, My Little Sudocrem is a cosmetic version of the classic pot that comes in a portable 22g size.

Nicholas Lang, Head of Marketing at Sudocrem says, “Sudocrem is the Swiss Army Knife of skincare able to treat a broad range of skin complaints, making it a perfect fit for any nappy bag, handbag, or first aid kit. We’ve even noticed cyclists using Sudocrem to treat sore bottoms. This winter, if you’re heading out into the cold, remember to grab a pot, just in case!”

It is recommended that Sudocrem is applied as frequently as required, to make the most of its soothing and healing properties, which includes zinc oxide which helps to reduce loss of fluid from the skin and protects against irritants and dry skin. A mild local anesthetic can help calm the pain of minor surface wounds and Lanolin helps to soften the skin.

Now, in celebration of the brand’s 90th Birthday Year, Sudocrem have created a limited-edition candle for some added winter coziness. Set in the glass jar Sudocrem was originally sold in all the way back in 1931, this Sudocrem-scented candle is the perfect homage to 90 years of soothing.

— COMPETITION —

Ipswich24 has got ten sets of My Little Sudocrems and winter hats to giveaway 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: Sudocrem 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 Friday 31st December 2021.

Q What ingredient in Sudocrem helps to reduce loss of fluid from the skin and protects against irritants and dry skin?

7th Felixstowe Scouts

Christmas Post

The scouts spread some Christmas cheer with their special postal service covering Felixstowe, Walton, The Trimleys, Kirton and Falkenham.

Red collecting boxes will be open from Thursday 25th November to Tuesday 7th December at Conkers Garden and Pet Shop, Felixstowe Library, Finickys Hair Design, Goslings Farm Shop, Michael’s Butchers, Morrisons, Roselea Nursery Farm Shop, Co-op, The Bread Basket and The Card Centre.

The cost is 30p per card; post the correct money along with the cards into one of the boxes. Please write the full address with postcode and any special instructions on the envelope clearly.

All cards will be delivered by local scouts and leaders by Christmas Eve. This service helps the 7th Felixstowe Scout Group to not only raise much needed funds but to also raise their profile and to provide a service to the community in which they live.

Note: Felixstowe have officially joined with the Ipswich scheme to provide a link between the towns, so cards can be delivered to locations in Ipswich too.

See www.scoutspostipswich.org.uk for full details on this.

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christmas in Woodbridge

Carols by the waterside Christmas will nearly be upon us when Woodbridge Rotary Club hold their 69th Open Air Carol on Wednesday 22nd December 2021 at 6.30pm for a prompt start at 6.40pm.

Please note this year it will be held at Whisstocks Place at the bottom of Tide Mill Way. Father Christmas will be making his usual visit with sweets for all the children, the 5th Woodbridge Sea Scouts will be selling Hot Dogs, Teas, Coffee, Hot Chocolate and Non-Alcoholic Mulled Wine to keep everyone warmed up.

This will be followed by The Spirit of Christmas ‘Son et Lumiere’ a spectacular and magical world of light and sound on the Tide Mill.

This year’s event will lead us into Christmas, something to brighten us all up and bring back the spirit of Christmas. The event will go ahead whatever the weather, please come prepared.

Tide Mill Way will be closed for normal traffic between 6pm and 10pm, access to residents and those wishing to visit the Tide Mill Yacht Harbour will be allowed, as will those who are disabled and attending the event. Please abide by the rail crossing signals, Rotary Marshals will be in attendance to guide you along your way.

As usual, the event is free, there will be a voluntary collection, with proceeds donated to charities

supported by Woodbridge Rotary Club.

One of which this year will be the NSPCC, helping support young children in their hour of need, so please come prepared to help others and make a small donation to the many charities which Woodbridge Rotary supports.

Woodbridge Rotary Club would like to acknowledge the support of Woodbridge Town Council and Mortimer’s Estate Agents.

Relax and Let Life Sail By

The Boathouse sits on the old site of Whisstock’s Boatyard which dates back to 1926 and was in operation until the 1990s, building dinghies, fishing boats, lifeboats and private yachts over the decades.

The interior draws inspiration from the magnificent nautical history of the site - with the styling and branding designed to be both in keeping with and to celebrate the history of the area. Combining the traditional with the contemporary, the interior has an industrial, rustic feel that references the sites nautical past, with upcycled vintage furniture sitting alongside new contemporary pieces.

At the Boathouse they are proud to serve a cosmopolitan menu with a mix of foods including gourmet and vegan burgers, locally sourced meats fish dishes, with seasonal specials. Most of the menu is adapted to cater for gluten free requirements and they have a selection of vegan and vegetarian dishes for you to enjoy. They’re open for Coffee, cakes, lunch and dinner and they serve hot and cold beverages for you to enjoy in the bar area or overlooking the River Deben on the wonderful outdoor riverside terrace. You can also enjoy a ‘Mediterranean style vibe’ as you enjoy a drink or a bite to eat outside The Boathouse soaking up the Suffolk sunshine in the vibrant Whisstock’s Square.

The Boathouse Team have had a rocky ride! They are proud to say they have ridden the storm over the last year and feel like the wind is behind the sails and taking them further on their journey. The Boathouse look forward to seeing you all over the festive period and they can’t wait to see what new ventures bring in 2022.

The Boathouse Christmas festive menu and New Year’s Eve tasting menu are available to book now! Please visit the website for more information at www.theboathousewoodbridge.co.uk.

Christmas at

— Festive Menu — 2 courses £26 — 3 courses £32

To Start Brie brûlée, boozy cranberries, oat biscuits (GF) Smoked ham hock terrine, quince jam, potato crisps (GF) Balsamic roasted beetroot, candied nuts, mixed leaves (GF) (VG) Soused torched mackerel fillet, crouton, apple gel (GF) To Follow Salt baked celeriac steak, celeriac purée, sweet and sour braised chicory, pomegranate (GF) (VG) Soy braised beef brisket, mashed potatoes, cumin glazed carrots, gravy (GF) Curried monkfish tail, charred cauliflower, bok choi, rice (GF) Confit chicken supreme, dauphinois potatoes, winter greens, cranberry jus (GF) To Finish White chocolate and raspberry blondie, raspberry sorbet (GF) Egg nog panna cotta, gingerbread Coconut and mango rice pudding (GF) (VG) Sticky toffee pudding, vanilla ice cream, spiced toffee sauce All our food is freshly prepared, for any allergy or dietary requirements please speak to a member of staff.

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

Call - 01394 385 200

Web: theboathousewoodbridge.co.uk 17

CHRISTMAS IN WOODBRIDGE

— Advertorial —

Pop in for a refill You’ll receive a warm welcome at Adnams Woodbridge, where you can explore the full range of Adnams’ award-winning beers and spirits, alongside its carefully curated wines and handpicked range of gifts and homewares.

You’ll find Ghost Ship pale ale with its famous citrus flavours, zesty Copper House Dry Gin and refreshing Kobold English Lager, amongst others. Adnams is one of Harpers Wine & Spirits Top 50 independent drinks retailers, with friendly, knowledgeable staff who can offer guidance on the extensive, exciting range. Situated a stone’s throw from the river Deben and Woodbridge Railway station, there’s plenty of car parking available so that you can take your time and browse at your leisure.

If you’re planning a party, Adnams can help. Whether it’s a big celebration or a more intimate get-together, the expert team can assist with a selection to wow your guests, guiding you through food pairings, numbers and serving suggestions.

Our brand new in-store Refills Station offers you the opportunity to purchase a range of Adnams products in a refillable container. We are reducing your waste, not your choice, so this sustainable way of shopping is available on a selection of beers, wines, and spirits.

We are launching the scheme with Copper House Gin, Ghost Ship pale ale, Kobold English lager, and a new Argentinian Malbec and Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, both of which will only be available via the refill scheme in our stores. Simply visit participating Adnams stores with your empty Copper House Gin bottle or purchase our special refillable bottles for wine or growlers for beer and become part of the refill revolution. We will be running an introductory loyalty scheme for the first 100 customers to each store, where you will receive your 10th purchase

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of either our beer, wine, or Copper House Gin free of charge. Refill stations can currently be found in four Adnams stores: Woodbridge, Southwold, Norwich (Unthank Road) and Bury St. Edmunds.

Retail Branch of the Southwold Brewer and Distiller Adnams

Station Road, Woodbridge, IP12 4AU.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Open Mon–Sun, dog friendly, free glass hire (T&Cs apply), Adnams Refills, 01394 386594. www.adnams.co.uk @adnamswoodbridge

CHRISTMAS IN WOODBRIDGE

Gift Idea: Tide Mill Calendar Following on from its popular Photo Competition, Woodbridge Tide Mill has launched its Charity Calendar for 2022 to raise funds for the Tide Mill Charitable Trust.

The high quality, A4, landscape, laminated, calendars feature the Competition’s winning photos as well as the best of the hundreds of entries as selected by a panel of Judges. The spectacular images of the Mill on the Deben capture it during the seasons and remind us of how lucky we are to have had a mill on the site for over 850 years.

The Calendar will be available from the Tide Mill’s online shop as well as the Mill itself at £9.99 inc. p&p. The online shop allows purchasers to

Woodbridge Regatta

On the 5th of December specially decorated boats, crewed by the Woodbridge Sea Scouts, will accompany Sae Wylfing, The Sutton Hoo Ship’s Company’s own half size replica of an Anglo- Saxon ship, to form a mini Christmas regatta.

Setting off at approximately 12.30pm, and working their way down the River Deben from The Woodbridge Boat Yard, they will lead a parade to be followed by the public, ending at Whisstocks Place on Tide Mill Way. On arrival participants will be met by Santa in his Sleigh, supported by his helpers from the Deben Rotary Club, and live festive music curated by The Spirit Of Woodbridge.

The event will also see local businesses and charities form a mini Christmas Market, open from 11am until 4pm, and supported by the surrounding shops and restaurants. Additionally, The Longshed, Woodbridge Art Club, The Tide Mill and The Woodbridge Museum will be open to visitors and will be hosting an exciting array of exhibitions and activities.

The proposed event offers a fun an excellent opportunity to get in the festive spirit whilst supporting some of the town’s incredible charities and organisations. Please join us at this unique event to showcase Woodbridge which kicks off a calendar of exciting events in the town throughout December.

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

send the Calendars to other addressees as gifts and offers other Tide Mill merchandise, many by local artists. Mill volunteers will also be selling the Calendar, other merchandise and the Mill’s Stoneground flour at local markets in the run up to Christmas. Two already booked are in the Thoroughfare outside boots on Saturday 4th December from 8.30am to 1pm and at the Christmas Regatta at Whisstocks Place on Sunday 5th December from 11am to 4pm.

The Mill will also be open to buy merchandise on both of those two days from 2pm to 5pm with a wheel turning at 3pm.

Woodbridge Tide Mill Trust Chair, John Carrington commented, “The Woodbridge Tide Mill Charity 2022 Calendar is entirely designed to raise much needed funds for the Charity. The Mill costs about £5,000 a month to keep open and running. By buying the calendar people are helping us address issues such as maintenance, fulfilling our role as a museum and helping more people to access the Mill. I would like to thank the headline sponsor Marshall Hatchick Solicitors for helping us to make the most of this fundraising opportunity”.

J. R. Creasey’s have been an integral part of Woodbridge for over 100 years, specialising in providing locally sourced, superior cuts of high welfare beef, lamb, pork, poultry and game.

Our passion is to provide you with the highest quality meats, keeping food miles as low as possible.

Using local suppliers to provide you with the best farm to fork produce.

Turban Centre, Hamblin Walk, Woodbridge, IP12 1DE

Also Stockists of products from

www.jrcreasey.co.uk

Email: Jrcreaseys@gmail.com

Phone: 01394

386739 19

CHRISTMAS IN WOODBRIDGE

Gift ideas from Woodbridge Jewellery Workshop Are you looking for something unique, made by hand, using ethically sourced materials? Do you want to support your local high street, and independent traders?

Then you should come to Woodbridge Jewellery Workshop.

Rick and Maggie design and make all their jewellery to order, by hand, using traditional tools and methods. You can discuss your ideas and requirements with them, and if you want a particular diamond for an engagement ring for example, they are happy to order a selection of stones for you to choose

Seasons Greetings from the Peckers

Why not rest your weary feet after Christmas shopping in the lovely town of Woodbridge at one of the oldest football clubs in Suffolk.

The club house is open from 12noon to 6pm every Saturday and Sunday for both food and drink and who knows you may even get to watch a football match!

It may well be the first team, reserves and even the ladies or the veterans!

The clubhouse is situated in Fynn Road, IP12 4LS, where there is plenty of free parking and a bar area with ample seats in the bar area where you can watch football on the TV if you so wish.

You can even purchase Christmas gifts for that loved one at the clubhouse or via the club shop, please visit our website at www.woodbridgetownfc.com Why not purchase the Football Club’s special Christmas package for only £25, this includes a ticket to the first team against local rivals Whitton United on Monday the 3rd of January!

Have a very merry Christmas & a prosperous New Year # UpThePeckers

from. They remodel pieces that are no longer fashionable or wearable, and also undertake restorations and repairs to quality fine jewellery. The Thoroughfare is the perfect setting for their Grade 2 Listed workshop, being the ideal environment to create unique, high quality pieces. Rick and Maggie also run day courses for couples to make their own wedding rings.

A fantastic experience, this is proving very popular, giving the couple a unique and memorable day. The wedding rings can be made in gold, palladium or platinum. They can be shaped to fit with an existing engagement ring, diamond set, or engraved.

Rick Chapman has been making beautiful pieces of fine jewellery for nearly 50 years, and is very passionate about his craft. There is still time to commission something for that special Christmas present – but you’ll have to be quick!

New opening hours Thursday and Friday, 9am until 5pm. Saturdays and other times are now by appointment.

Please call 01394 647117 or visit www.woodbridgejewelleryworkshop.co.uk Woodbridge Jewellery Workshop, 80 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge IP12 1AL

Haberdashery, Fabrics and Yarns in town centre

Bespoke Craftsman Jeweller All jewellery handmade to order Restorations and repair to fine jewellery

www.woodbridgejewelleryworkshop.co.uk

Fiona’s Fabrics is a delightful store nestled in the heart of the beautiful Suffolk town of Woodbridge.

Fabric Yarn Gifts

Kits Ribbons

11�Gobbitts�Yard,�Woodbridge� Find�us�on: Suffolk��IP12�1DD��Tel:�01394�387593�� www.fionasfabrics.co.uk��Email:�info@fionasfabrics.co.uk 20

They stock a range of fabrics suitable for dressmaking and soft furnishings.

Their yarns include Stylecraft, West Yorkshire Spinners and James Brett.

Fiona’s Fabrics also have a selection of independent sewing patterns include Merchant and Mills, Tilly and the Buttons, Maven and Sew Me Something.

There’s always a warm welcome at Fiona’s Fabrics - a friendly face and a welcoming smile. If you need help or advice then don’t be afraid to ask. If they don’t know the answer - they’re bound to know someone who does!

So next time you’re in Woodbridge, why not pop in?

Fiona’s Fabrics can be found in Gobbitts Yard, Woodbridge. www.fionasfabrics.co.uk

CHRISTMAS IN WOODBRIDGE

Feel the energy and admire the beauty at Crystal Encounters With its ever-expanding selection of crystals and minerals, Crystal Encounters is now in its sixth year of trading at Rendlesham Mews, Rendlesham.

Owner and Advanced Crystal Energy Practitioner Alison had already been operating online and attending local fairs for some years, but realised in 2015 that the level of interest in Crystal Healing justified her establishing a permanent home for Crystal Encounters.

Upon entering Crystal Encounters, one is immediately soothed by the subtle scent of incense and oil, and a calmness descends that leads even the somewhat sceptical to consider that the vast array of crystals on display must be affecting one’s mood for the better.

Crystal Encounters offers items of interest to everyone: carved and natural specimens sought from all over the world, tumble-stones, crystal tools for healers, silver gemstone jewellery, Himalayan salt products including lamps and bath salts, fossils and educational items for children.

New Christmas stock is beginning to arrive at Crystal Encounters and, with gift vouchers also available you’re sure to find that perfect gift.

They supply crystals and minerals for healers and collectors as well as those who have just started on their crystal journey of discovery.

Inside the shop you will also find a very large range of incense, incense holders including back flow burners, palo santo wood, sage bundles and church resins. And, they are a stockist of Amour Natural aromatherapy products.

Crystal Encounters also stock a range of oracle cards.

Looking forward to the new year, Alison is hoping to resume her crystal therapy sessions from the treatment room above the shop, as well as her range of crystal based workshops.

For further information please contact Alison on 01394 547120, email at crystalali@btinternet.com, or www.facebook.com/crystalencountersuk Alternatively, pop into the shop which is open Tuesday to Wednesday 10am until 4pm and Thursday to Saturday 10am to 5pm You can also shop on line through at etsy at www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ CrystalEncounters Alison would like to take this opportunity to thank all of her customers who have continued to support her over the last challenging year.

At Crystal Encounters their main focus is now on sourcing and selling ethically sourced crystals.

They aim to cater for all budgets with items starting from 80p to several hundred pounds.

Christmas party with a difference

The Woodbridge Dance Folkus Christmas Ceilidh is ideal for those people who want something unusual for their annual work celebration event.

Start your Christmas party revelry with a lively, enjoyable barn dance style evening at Woodbridge from 7.30pm. Dances are run through in advance by a caller and making mistakes is half the entertainment. Bring your own booze!

The nationally known festival caller, ‘Sibby’ will be in charge. He is an excellent, experienced, Essex-based caller with an extensive range of dances. The band will be the resident Dance Folkus ‘Come All Ye’ Big Band.

They will be entering into the spirit of the evening by donning Christmas garb and it is hoped many attending will do the same.

The song spot will be filled by ‘Harbour Lights Trio’. who have been the guests at numerous events for local community groups, historical & horticultural societies, folk clubs, village & charity concerts and after dinner entertainment. Their CD ‘Good Company’ describes them well. Don’t miss their short taster spot.

The Woodbridge Dance Folkus Christmas Ceilidh takes place on Friday 6th December at the Woodbridge Community Hall.

New dancers wanting to attend can book a discounted place by emailing Dancefolkus@aol.com (no payment in advance) or you can simply come along on the night (entry £7). Students/children are £3 at the door.

Telephone Rob 01473 610951 if you need further information. Tickets can also be booked and paid for online in advance or paid in cash at the door. https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/woodbridge-dance-folkus/t-donpvp Visitors to Woodbridge and new first-time dancers are always very welcome to attend the dances.

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CHRISTMAS IN WOODBRIDGE

Get creative

Jars of Clay is a friendly place to paint your own pottery or just drop by for a coffee and cake.

Painting is a great way to unwind and relax and with over 200 pieces to choose from, plus more than 60 extra pieces for Christmas, there is something for everyone - design, functionality and budget. Your piece is then hand glazed and fired in the kiln on site ready for collection in about seven days. Posting may be arranged for visitors to the area.

At Jars of Clay they pride themselves on the personal touch and are always on hand to explain the painting process, chat through your ideas and help with capturing those precious memories with baby feet or child handprints or even your dog’s paws.

They always strive to provide a friendly, safe and relaxing environment for a bit of time out.

W h y n o t v i s i t t h e w e b s i t e www.jarsofclayceramics.co.uk now as there is an online shop where you may also purchase any of the ceramics and glazes to paint in the comfort of your own home. These may be collected from the studio, or delivered, and must be returned to Jars of Clay for glazing and firing.

Jars of Clay can be found at Rendlesham Mews, Rendlesham, near Woodbridge.

For more information telephone 01394 460948.

Family Quiz: But can you spot the venue?

Before December becomes too frantic why not bring the family to Woodbridge Library for a Christmas Family Quiz?

It is on Saturday 4th December from 6pm for a couple of hours with refreshments provided and a raffle with some star prizes.

Yes, it is genuinely for all the family.

The quiz questions will be geared to mixed-age teams so, whether your team is made up of two, three or even four generations, you will all be able to help provide the answers.

Teams should be a maximum of six people - and two families could combine. Children will be able to play free of charge; adults pay £5 each. All proceeds will go towards the work of the Friends of Woodbridge Library.

local organisations many of whom actively support the Library as a thriving community centre.

To book your team table just drop in to the Library or phone 01394 330855 and give the staff a contact name and phone number for your

team. A distinctive team name can be decided later!

And to get you in the mood: can you pinpoint the Library in this aerial photo of Woodbridge (courtesy of David Mortimer)?

Perfect Christmas gifts If you are looking for some great Christmas gift ideas then they have plenty of options at Woodbridge Antiques.

During the interval refreshments, which will include mulled wine and mince pies, will be served and raffle prize tickets will be drawn.

Prizes have been donated by

Most of the items they have are perfect for Christmas presents, simply because they are interesting or unusual. At Woodbridge Antiques they have a wide variety of fine jewellery for an extra special gift and vintage costume jewellery is great for adding a bit of sparkle to your Christmas outfit. Then there are the Christmas essentials including cutlery, nutcrackers, candlesticks and sets of glasses to make your Christmas dining table extra special this year.

They also sell a variety of other antique and vintage items, so there’s lots to choose from when looking for that special Christmas gift.

If you are unable to visit them in store you can visit their website at www.woodbridgeantiques.co.uk they are now offering free delivery for pieces purchased online.

The stock at Woodbridge antiques is constantly changing, with fresh pieces being added online and in store every week.

Please do not hesitate to contact the friendly and knowledgeable team who are on hand to assist in store, on the phone 01394 387210 or by email at enquiries@woodbridgeantiques.co.uk Woodbridge Antiques look forward to welcoming you in-store and online.

22

ABBA

MY MY!

ARTS

! k c a b e ar

PRIZE COMP

They have crashed back into the top 10 of the UK singles chart with Don’t Shut Me Down and are destined for a Christmas number one album when Voyage – their first new studio album in 40 years – is released in November. The ABBA phenomenon continues. . .

And, music fans are in for a treat when My My! ABBA the Concert hits town in the coming weeks. The touring production invites concertgoers to experience the thrill of ABBA in their prime.

Woodbridge Christmas Panto

At the christening of a long wished for Princess everyone in the Kingdom is invited. The Good Fairies offer gifts to the princess, such as beauty and health. However, a Wicked Fairy, whose invitation to the christening has been overlooked, places her under a fatal spell as her gift.

A Good Fairy changes the spell so that the Princess will not die but will sleep for a hundred years, until awakened by love’s true kiss. But how do you whiz forward 100 years in a two-hour show? Simple, you need a Time Lord!

In true tradition this family pantomime will incorporate well known songs, great dancing, buffoonery, slapstick and loads of jokes. Written by Simon Dodwell the cast includes Deben Players regulars and newcomers.

Book tickets at www.debenplayers.net

Singers present

“On Christmas Night”

Show producer Mark Halliday says the show performs all the supergroup’s million-selling hits absolutely live on stage, “You can get involved,” promises Mark, “as this critically-acclaimed, five-star spectacular captures Bjorn, Agnetha, Benny and Frida’s incredible on-stage presence in a fun-filled evening of singalong and dance-along magic.”

Described by the critics as “sensational” and a “rip-roaring fun night out”, My, My! brings Dancing Queen, Super Trouper, The Winner Takes it All, Knowing Me Knowing You, Waterloo, Gimme Gimme Gimme, Voulez Vous and many more No1 hits to the stage.”

This show will thrill you with a mix of iconic costumes and a touch of audience participation that only a Veritas Entertainment production can provide.

Guaranteed to have you dancing till dawn, there are ABBA tributes and then there’s My My! To book tickets to see this amazing show contact the Box Office on 01394 284962 or visit www.spapavilion.uk — COMPETITION — Music fans are in for a treat when hit show My, My! ABBA The Concert comes to Spa Pavilion on Saturday 23rd April 2022 and Ipswich24 have a pair of tickets to give away. To be in with a chance of winning this amazing prize just send your answer to the following question, along with your name, address and a daytime telephone number to: ABBA My My! 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 Friday 31st December 2021.

Q. Dancing Queen was a hit for which group?

Gippeswyk Singers are pleased to announce their Christmas 2021 concert on Saturday 11th December, 7.30 pm at St Mary & St Peter Church in Barham conducted by our new musical director, Janette Ruocco.

This will be a concert of beautiful Christmas music and readings to lift everyone’s spirits for the festive season. The programme features Bob Chilcott’s musical celebration of the Christmas story, ‘On Christmas Night’ and there will be carols for the audience to join in with the choir, accompanied by organist Simon Harvey.

Gippeswyk Singers are delighted to introduce Janette Ruocco, a highly experienced choral director and conductor, who brings her own special passion for choral music and performance to the choir. Upon meeting Gippeswyk Singers she was inspired to compose and dedicate ‘A New Year Carol’ especially for us!

Refreshments are included and will be available after the concert.

Tickets £8.00 at the door, but please purchase ahead as the audience will be limited. Covid social distancing will be observed and wearing masks is encouraged to keep everyone safe. Advance tickets are available from Barham Church, choir members or email: liz9261@hotmail.com. By post - please send a SAE with a cheque payable to “Claydon and Barham PCC” to Mrs Stone, 6 Celandine Close, Stowupland, IP14 4DU. You can also purchase tickets in person from Jenny Ablett, 10 Phillipps Road, Barham. www.gippeswyksingers.co.uk Gippeswyk Singers are supporting two local charities this year: Inspire Counselling (Ipswich) and Suffolk Wildlife Trust.

23

ARTS

e n r y B d E

In Conversation with…

A household name teetering on the brink of national treasure status, award-winning comedian Ed Byrne enjoys worldwide acclaim for his stand-up. With 25 years under his belt, Ed has parlayed his on-stage success into a variety of notable television appearances.

But the Irishman is still best-known and best appreciated for his stand-up performances. A quarter of a century at the comedic coal-face has equipped Ed with a highly evolved story-telling ability and a silky mastery of his craft.

Yet his wit, charm and self-deprecatory observational humour is often underpinned by a consistently hilarious vitriol and sense of injustice at a world that seems to be spinning ever more rapidly out of control.

Having recently hit a new peak with shows such as the sublime Spoiler Alert and reflective Outside, Looking In, which explored the minefield that is modern parenting and a generational sense of entitlement, Ed’s new show If I’m Honest digs ever deeper into a father’s sense of responsibility, what it means to be a man in 2019, and whether he possesses any qualities whatsoever worth passing on to his two sons. Occasionally accused of whimsy, If I’m Honest is a show with a seriously steely core.

Gender politics, for example, is something Ed readily engages with – deploying his customary comedic zeal. “I’ll admit that there are things where men get a raw deal,” he says. “We have higher suicide rates, and we tend not to do well in divorces, but representation in action movies is not something we have an issue with. It was Mad Max: Fury Road that kicked it all off, even though nobody complained about Ripley in Alien or Sarah Connor in Terminator 2. Of course, social media means this stuff gets broadcast far and wide in an instant, which emboldens people.

“The problem with men’s rights activists is that it’s not about speaking up for men’s rights, it’s about hating women. If you’re a men’s rights activist, you’re not going to care about the fact that there’s an all-female Ghostbusters remake. That’s nothing to do with men’s rights or female entitlement. That’s everything to do with being, well, a whiny baby.”

As ever, Ed manages to provoke without being overly polemical, a balancing act that only someone of his huge experience can really pull off.

Sat 4th December

Jeff Gallant

Sat 11th December

The

s Ticket h c a e 6 £

Stephen Smyth Band

s Ticket ch £15 ea

All performances commence 7:30pm • Doors 6:30pm FOR BOOKINGS & MORE INFORMATION

Tel 01473 912626 or 07591 099519

“I did stuff about Trump and the Pizzagate right wing conspiracy,” he says, “And a couple of the reviewers said, ‘Oh, I would have liked to have watched a whole show of this.’

And I think, ‘well you might have, but the average person who comes to see me would not like to see that’. I like to make a point or get something off my chest, or perhaps I’m talking about something that’s been on my mind, but the majority of stuff is just to get laughs.

“People who come to see me are not political activists necessarily, they’re regular folk. If you can make a point to them, in between talking about your struggles with aging, or discussing your hernia operation or whatever it is, you can toss in something that does give people pause as regards to how men should share the household chores.”

Ed, who broke through in the mid-1990s when the New Lad became a genuine cultural phenomenon, doesn’t want to submit to any unnecessary revisionism, but admits that if the times have changed, he has changed with them. He reflects a little ruefully on one of his most famous jokes. “There’s an attitude towards Alanis Morrisette in the opening of that routine that I’m no longer comfortable with, where I call her a moaning cow and a whiny bint… slagging off the lyrics of the song is fine, but there’s a tone in the preamble that I wouldn’t write today.”

The new show also takes his natural tendency towards self-deprecation to unexpected extremes. “I do genuinely annoy myself,” Ed concedes. “But the thing of your children being a reflection of you, gives you an opportunity to build something out of the best of yourself only for you to then see flashes of the worst of yourself in them. It’s a wake-up call about your own behaviour.”

When I challenge him over the degree of self-loathing he displays, he disagrees. “Self-aggrandising humour is a lot harder to pull off than selfdeprecating humour,” he insists. “A lot of people get really annoyed when Ricky Gervais is self-congratulatory. I always find it very funny when he accepts awards and does so in the most big-headed way possible. I think it’s a trickier type of humour to pull off, talking yourself up in that way.

“So no, I don’t think I’m being massively hard on myself. The fact is when you’re the bloke who is standing on the stage with the microphone, commanding an audience’s attention, you’re in a very elevated position anyway.”

That said, If I’m Honest brilliantly elucidates the frustration that arrives in middle age – and lives up to its title. “I’m bored looking for things, I’m bored of trying to find stuff, because I can never find it, and it is entirely my fault,” Ed says. “Nobody’s hiding my stuff from me. Although my wife did actually move my passport on one occasion.”

He insists that, while the show might have mordant and occasionally morbid aspects, it’s also not without its quietly triumphant moments. “I thought I was being quite upbeat talking about the small victories, he says. “You know, finding positivity in being able to spot when a cramp was about to happen in your leg and dealing with it before it does. I was very happy with myself about that.”

Age, it seems, has not withered him. Especially now that he’s figured out how to head off ailments before they become a problem. “You see comics who are my age and older but are still retaining a level of ‘cool’ and drawing a young crowd. I can’t deny that I’m quite envious of that. But there’s also something very satisfying about your audience growing old with you.”

Since the pandemic hit and live comedy as we know it temporarily ceased to be, Ed has done a few socially-distanced gigs as well as some on Zoom and he cannot wait to get back on the road properly. It will have been 18 months since he last performed a tour date. “I’ll have to see what still works and what doesn’t. I’ve missed doing stand-up the most during this lockdown.

No-one told me ‘you’re not going to be touring for 18 months’ or I would have planned it better”.

For more information, please visit http://edbyrne.com/ • Ed Byrne is performing at the Ipswich Regent Theatre on Sunday 5th December. To book tickets contact the Box Office on 01473 433100 or visit www.ipswichtheatres.co.uk

24

ARTS

December Events at Two Sister Arts Centre Lots of really exciting seasonal events coming up at Two Sisters in December including the regular jazz night on Thursday 2nd at 7.30pm with The Cole Parker Quartet featuring the soulful voice of Janice Oliver.

On Friday 3rd join the students from the last 10 weeks dramatic improve course for a showcase event, then on Wed 8th there will be a screening of local film The Dig – the story of Sutton Hoo & The Pretty family featuring Ralph Fiennes as archaeologist Basil Brown.

On Saturday 11th its drama with Pantaloons touring show Humbugged a sequel to Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and then from Tuesday 14th until

Saturday 18th popular local theatre company Black & White Productions will perform a seasonal themed ‘Harrys Bar’ – The Christmas Spirit(s), written

by Suzanne Hawkes.

On Wednesday 22nd, there will be a Christmas film night featuring ‘The Personal History of David Copperfield’ – much of it filmed locally at Bury St Edmunds, and then a special performance of puppet based A Snow Dancer suitable for all the family on Thursday 30th finishes off the season.

• All info and tickets available from Box Office 01394 279613 or www.ticketsource.co.uk/two-sisters-arts-centre

Hop aboard for a Giant sized panto magical carpet ride Journey with us to distant shores where the penniless Aladdin dreams of winning the heart of the rebellious Princess Jasmine.

When he is tempted by an evil sorceress with the promise of untold riches, our young hero finds himself trapped in the Cave of Wonders with nothing but his wits and a battered old lamp. Little does he know that its contents will change his life for ever.

Will Aladdin defeat the wicked sorceress? Will the Princess Jasmine ever notice him? And will the Genie of the Lamp make all his wishes come true?

Hop aboard your magic carpet for a hilarious, fun packed adventure full of song, dance and all the usual Mercury magical mayhem!

Creative Director of Mercury Theatre Ryan McBryde said today “This will be our first pantomime in the new building after a three-year hiatus and we just can’t wait to welcome audiences back. Pantomime is our biggest, brightest show of the year, where our local community comes together to experience the magic collectively. This Christmas we’re presenting Aladdin, a story of joy and transformation to delight and warm the hearts of our audiences at this festive time of year. In this version of the story, Aladdin is a street busker with aspirations to be a rock star so there’ll be music from Queen, Journey, Bon Jovi and The Script!”

• ALADDIN is at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester from 27th November until 16th January. To book tickets contact the Box Office at www.mercurytheatre.co.uk or telephone 01206 573948.

Christmas sparkle

Last year the New Wolsey Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto was (Snow) Queen size.

This year it’s GIANT size!

The famous New Wolsey rock ‘n’ roll panto is back better than ever before with live-streaming as an option. Peter Rowe’s ingenious script will once again include interactions with audiences at home, participation and shoutouts, and the chance to supply a prop during the show!

Join Jack’s adventure as we find that Dame Dolly Durden’s family farm has fallen on hard times - Squire Snuffbox is demanding the rent and Giant Blunderbore, with his wicked sidekick, Fleshcreep, is terrorising the land.

There’s only one thing for it – Jack will have to sell their last remaining cow, Bessie.

But when Jack comes back from the market with nothing more than a bag of beans it looks like the Durdens are done for. Then up pops Fairy Aubergine, up jumps a gigantic beanstalk and Jack is soon on his way up too, battling giants, rescuing the family farm and romancing the Squire’s spirited daughter, Jill.

Brought to you by the famous New Wolsey company of multi-skilled actor musicians, it’s the best of pantomime mixed with the best songs from the classic rock and pop playlist, all played live before your eyes, including Hit The Road Jack, Lady Marmalade, Get Offa My Cloud, Go Your Own Way and many, many more.

This glorious mash up of pantomime and pop concert is a festive treat for all the family. Tickets for in person audiences begin from £12 with livestream tickets at £25. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.wolseytheatre.co.uk/

DECEMBER EVENTS Thursday 2nd – 7.30pm (£10)

Jazz with COLE PARKER QUARTET Friday 3rd – 7.30pm (£5 on the door)

DRAMATIC IMPROV SHOWCASE The UK’s largest youth musical theatre group with a cast of almost 100 are ready to raise the roof of the world-famous venue with their unique blend of high energy music and dance backed by a live orchestra.

This year introduces a specially designed new stage set and over 800 costumes. Audiences are in for a treat with a traditional family show that has become a fixture in Suffolk’s Christmas calendar. Coaches travel from all over East Anglia to bring people to Snape Malting Concert Hall.

The Co-op Juniors’ creative team have been working on this new show for over a year, with the cast starting rehearsals during the summer. New musical arrangements have been created by musical director Joanne King, with professional designers in lighting, sound, stage and costumes worthy of a West End production.

The show has 12 performances and runs until Sunday 12th December.

• Tickets: coopjuniors.co.uk/spectacular or call 01728 687110.

Seats from £15, £22 & £29. Special offer on 3rd &10th Dec for groups of 10+, seniors and under 16: all seats £15. Group bookings discount on all performances: call 01728 687110

Wednesday 8th – 7.30pm (£7)

Film Night: THE DIG

Saturday 11th – 7.30pm (£14/£12)

PANTALOONS – HUMBUGGED

Tuesday 14th-Saturday 18th (£14/£12) All 7.30pm EXCEPT Sat only 4pm

Black & White Productions HARRY’S BAR – THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT(S) Wednesday 22nd – 7.30pm (£7)

Film Night: DAVID COPPERFIELD Thursday 30th – 4pm (£10/£5)

SNOW DANCER

BOX OFFICE: 01394 279613

Tickets: www.ticketsource.co.uk/two-sisters-arts-centre 25

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

Every Wednesday

Beginners Social Dance Class, 7-8pm, at Sidegate Lane Community Centre, Ipswich IP4 4HZ. £4.00 per member. Contact 01473 422427/ 01473 723070.

Every Thursday

Kurling and Boccia. Ipswich Oddfellows 37 High St Ipswich, 10.30am, £2.50 members, £3 guests. 01473 251867

Every Friday

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

Sequence Dancing, Sidegate Lane Com. Centre, Ipswich. 7.30-9.30pm. Members £3 each

Every Saturday

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

Every Sunday

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

Fri 3rd, 10th & 17th Dec

Christmas Parties, Stonham Barns Park, Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspal, IP14 6AT. More info go to www.stonhambarns.co.uk or call 01449 711111

Sat 4th, 11th & 18th Dec

Christmas Parties, Stonham Barns Park, Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspal, IP14 6AT. More info go to www.stonhambarns.co.uk or call 01449 711111

Until Tues 7th Dec

Christmas Post, 7th Felixstowe Scouts. Red collecting boxes at various locations throughout the town inc. Conkers, Felixstowe Library, Finickys Hair, Goslings Farm Shop, Michael’s Butchers, Morrisons, Roselea Nursery Farm Shop, Co-op, The Bread Basket and The Card Centre. Cost 30p per card. www.scoutspostipswich.org.uk

Thurs 2nd Dec

Rat Pack Live! Christmas Party. The Spa Pavilion, 7.30pm

Fri 3rd-Sun12th Dec

Co-op Juniors Christmas Spectacular.

A cast of 100, plus a live orchestra and some Christmas magic. Snape Maltings, book tickets www.cooppjuniors.co.uk

Fri 3rd-Thurs 23rd Dec

Christmas Bazaar, quirky variety of Christmas presents and stocking fillers. Kingfishers at Cretingham Country Park. Open Tues-Sun, with late night shopping Thurs until 8.30pm. Swan Lane, Cretingham, IP13 7BA.

Fri 3rd Dec

Felixstowe Country Market, Triangle Canopy, Town Centre, 9-11.30am Walk towards Felixstowe Ferry and back. Meet at the Golf Road car park IP11 7NB, 10.45am-12.15pm Festive Singalong with Ipswich Signing Choir at 2pm. £3 includes refreshments. Ipswich Oddfellows, 37 High Street Ipswich. Contact 01473 251867 or email ipswich.branch@oddfellows.co.uk Woodbridge Dance Folkus Xmas Barn Dance, Christmas dance with a difference. Woodbridge Community Centre from 7.30pm. Call 01473 610951 or email Dancefolkus@aol.com Talk “15 years of Bush Flying in Africa”. Martlesham Heath Community Centre, 7.30pm. No need to book, pay on door £4 (MHAS members £3).

Sat 4th Dec

Record Fair, Trinity Methodist Church Hall, Orwell Rd, 9am-4pm A Very Vegan Christmas Market. Beach Street Felixstowe, 10am-3pm Christmas Market, Trinity Park, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich, iao Helen Rollason Cancer Charity. Adults £6, Concs £5, U16s £1. Free parking. More info call 01254 380719 Evening of Swing + Xmas tunes with Mr Smooth Swing Singer. Crowfield Rose 8.30-11pm Christmas Fair, 10am-3pm, Village Hall, Polstead Green Live Music: Jeff Gallant, Gt Blakenham VH see page 24 or call 01473 912626

Sun 5th Dec

Jack and the Beanstalk - The Rock n Roll Panto. New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich. Option of watching in person at the theatre or from home. Details and booking www.wolseytheatre.co.uk

Woodbridge Christmas Regatta and Market, 11am4pm. Follow the boat parade from Woodbridge Boatyard at 12.30am. Stalls & Music Table Top Sale & Live Music with Mr Smooth, Swin Singer + Christmas Tunes, Needham Market Community Centre, School St, 10am-3.30pm

Until 24th April ‘22

Tues 7th Dec

Until Sat 8th January ‘22

Creating Constable. Celebrating John Constable and his work, exhibition at Christchurch Mansion. Visit ipswich.cimuseums.org.uk/ to find out more.

Wed 1st Dec

Talk: “The Soil Cinderellas” (better known as the Women’s Land Army. Salvation Army Citadel, Woodbridge Rd, Ipswich, 7.30pm. Organised by Ipswich Suffolk Family History Soc. Pay on door, members £2, others £3 Who are the Oddfellows? Find out more over Christmas drinks and nibbles. 1-3pm at 39 High Street Ipswich. Please book 01473 251867 or email ipswich.branch@oddfellows.co.uk

Thur 2nd until Wed 8th Dec

Christmas Tree Festival St Mary le Tower Church, over 115 Christchurch trees. Entry free but donations welcome. www.stmaryletower.org.uk 26

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

Wed 8th Dec-Sat 8th Jan

EVENTS

guide

Sat 11th Dec

RSPCA Christmas Fair at Stowupland Village Hall (IP14 4BQ) - 11am - 3pm. Free admission. Craft stalls, pet accessories, raffle and tombola. Hot and cold refreshments.

Jason Manford – Like Me!. The Spa Pavilion, 7.30pm Stephen Smyth Band, Gt Blakenham VH see page 24 or call 01473 912626 Christmas Market and Santa’s Grotto, Beach Street Felixstowe, IP11 2GN. 10am-4pm. Christmas family fun day with craft producers, showcasing their favourite Christmas wares, and some great food and drink.

The Glory of Christmas, The Dorian Singers, United Reformed Church, Tomline Rd, Felixstowe, 7.30pm.

Tickets from The Card Centre, Felixstowe 01394 283170 and on the door. www.thedoriansingers.org.uk Pat & Bo, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and C&W music. Licensed bar, cooked food 78-9pm, £3 Members, £4 Nonmembers. Rosary Conservative Club, Bramford Road, Ipswich, IP1 4AB, 8-11pm.

Sun 12th Dec

D-Day Darlings - A Christmas to Remember, The Spa Pavilion, 3pm

Mon 13th Dec

Felixstowe Seafront Walk. Meet outside the Felixstowe Leisure Centre entrance, Undercliff Road West, 10.4511.45pm. A refreshing walk along the Promenade

Thurs 16th Dec

The Incredible Light-up Spark Drummers. Cornhill Square for three bright drumming performances during late night shopping. The drummers will perform three sets during the evening at approximately 5pm, 6.30pm and 8pm

Fri 17th Dec - Mon 3rd Jan

Cinderella, The Dennis Lowe Panto, The Spa Pavilion, see Spa website (or page 2 of this magazine) for times

Sat 18th Dec

Live Music: The Swiftbeats, 60s tribute band. California Social Club, 9pm-midnight Live Music: Swing evening + Xmas tunes with Mr Smooth Swing Singer. The Greyhound, Claydon.8.30pm.

Mon 20th-Fri 24th Dec

Breakfast with Santa, Stonham Barns Park, Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspal, IP14 6AT. www.stonhambarns.co.uk for more info or call 01449 711111

Thurs 23rd Dec

The Incredible Light-up Spark Drummers. Cornhill Square for three bright drumming performances during late night shopping. The drummers will perform three sets during the evening at approximately 5pm, 6.30pm and 8pm

Fri 24th Dec

From Rushmere With Love - Eastern Angles Christmas offering with a James Bond twist. Eastern Angles Centre, Gatacre Rd, book 01473 211498 or easternangles.co.uk

Country & Western Evening: “Brian Mann”, £5 Members, £6 Non-members. Rosary Conservative Club, Bramford Road, Ipswich, IP1 4AB, 8-11pm, licensed bar. Food available 7-9.30pm

Fri 10th Dec

Thurs 30th Dec-Sun 2nd Jan

Felixstowe Country Market, Triangle Canopy, Town Centre, 9-11.30am Made in Tennessee. The soundtrack of American Country. The Spa Pavilion, 7.30pm Country & Western Evening: “Martin Jaye” - includes buffet, £9.50 Members, £10.50 Non-members. Rosary Conservative Club, Bramford Road, Ipswich, IP1 4AB, 8-11pm, licensed bar.

ELF - The Musical. A CTC production at The Apex, Bury St Edmunds. www.theapex.co.uk/

Fri 31st Dec

Andy Miller Roadshow, licensed bar (bring your own nibbles). £8 Members, £9 Non-members. Rosary Conservative Club, Bramford Road, Ipswich, IP1 4AB, 8pm-12.30am.

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

Have your Event or Gig Listed Free!!* Email: listings@ipswich24.co.uk Post: 12A Britannia Road, Ipswich IP4 4PE

athome LIFESTYLE INTERIORS EXTERIORS GARDENS

Instagram-worthy Christmas decor ideas Turn the home into a stand out Christmas interior by mixing modern accents with traditional elements.

Rebecca Snowden, Interior Style Advisor at Furniture And Choice shares four clever tips to get a stylish Christmas look.

1. Add a stylish, contemporary twist to traditional elements Going for a modern look does not mean letting go of the elements that make Christmas feel like Christmas.

Keep hallmarks like the tree and gifts that make the home feel festive and seasonal. It is a balancing act between the fresh and the classic look for ways to add a contemporary touch without diminishing the festive feel.

“The key here is in restraint,” advises Rebecca. “For instance, candles are a staple of the season, but rather than going all out with white or metallic candles, swap them out for an elegant dark hue.

Snowflakes are also a popular choice during Christmas, but a star motif offers an updated take on the look.”

“And a Christmas tree is a must-have, so keep it modern by leaving out the tinsel and opting instead for minimal, metallic baubles - this allows you to have the best of both worlds: the tradition of a Christmas tree, with a fresh look.”

Consider the gifts that are displayed under the tree as well. Colour-

coordinate them to match the rest of the home as an easy way to get a chic, coherent look.

2. Build upon the existing colour palette for a fresh and cohesive feel Instead of piling on red, green and gold accents, work with the existing colour palette of the home.

Develop the look from there to get a seamless, designer-led approach.

“Maintaining a similar colour theme allows you to create a look that feels personal and specific to your style and home,” says Rebecca. “And being comfortable with the colours also means you can go bolder with your decorations while still feeling like you. For instance, hanging stars and gold cushions add a lot of festive glamour, and in hues like black and silver, they also fit wonderfully into the rest of this modern industrial space.”

3. Combine cosy textures and polished accessories for an elegant look Create a Christmas atmosphere through soft materials, warm lighting and hints of shine.

“A designer trick to getting this look is to layer in a variety of textures,” says Rebecca. “In this Christmasready dining room, knits and fur throws give a soft, cosy feel while

rattan and oak furniture add warm tones. Lighting is hugely important too, and for a polished alternative to fairy lights, consider lights encased in a string of stars for a diffused, twinkly glow that maintains the look of your interior.”

Gold also adds a layer of sophistication and luxurious warmth to Christmas decor. “Gold and brass are great additions to a modern Christmas interior,” advises Rebecca. “But rather than going for the glitz and sparkle of glitter, opt for matte tones instead - you still get the extra shine and polish, but in a more subtle, elegant way.”

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AT HOME

Don’t get targetted Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are the main ‘hunting grounds’ for trolls — and almost nine in 10 users don’t think the social media giants are doing enough to police violent or anti-social behaviour online, according to research.

A study of 1,000 adults who have experienced trolling found 87 per cent think these are the main platforms responsible for facilitating such abuse.

Nearly four in 10 say they are mocked every time they go online, with a third targeted for their physical appearance. Eight in 10 think the inability to work out the identity of offenders is a major issue that needs addressing.

Three quarters said they want to feel a stronger sense of protection from the platforms they use, while 67 per cent would like to see stricter rules and consequences in place. And 63 per cent would like there to see more security to prevent strangers from being able to make contact.

Peter Alfred-Adekeye, founder of secure messaging platform LetterBox , which commissioned the research, said, “The research clearly shows people want to see action while feeling safe online when connecting with others.

The results of this survey have also shown people actually want change and are tired of where things currently stand in the social media landscape.

Evidently, enough is enough and things need to change.”

Other common trolling themes are continuous negative comments on posts and insistence the victim’s point of view was wrong. And more severe experiences cited by some respondents include threats of death, rape and even being mocked over the passing of a loved one.

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It also emerged a quarter of users have witnessed racially motivated messages – and 24 per cent have seen homophobic messages.

The official definition of trolling centres around ‘deliberately offensive or provocative online posting with the aim of upsetting someone or eliciting an angry response from them’ – with nearly a third also admitting they’ve done the same to someone else. While 46 per cent reckon they have unintentionally trolled someone online before.

Upon witnessing such behaviour either themselves or to others, 68 per cent of those polled via OnePoll had reported trolling – although 59 per cent admit they’ve turned a blind eye in the past. And 56 per cent have quit social media because of trolling, though 19 per cent have since returned.

Peter Alfred-Adekeye added, “Social media users deserve a safe space online where they can engage with their peers and the content they enjoy and this is exactly why I founded LetterBox. “Sadly, prior to our platform, all existing social media platforms are founded upon pseudonymity, which makes it impossible for them to identify and root out abusers “We’ve tried to introduce trust into social media by tying user profiles to their legal names and postal addresses and verifying these by requiring all users to provide a legal proof-of-address at signup for account activation.”

To read the platform’s blog, head to https://www.letterbox.world/about

AT HOME

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However, some people still lack access to a quality internet connection, and this is something we at CityFibre want to change, as we work to deliver

learning, playing games, and watching videos. Children are using technology from an early age, with Ofcom reporting that half of ten-year-olds in the UK own a smartphone. While this brings with it many benefits, it is vital that children are equipped with the knowledge of how to protect themselves online.

There are lots of resources and information available to support this. The UK Safer Internet Centre, for instance, has developed its SMART rules for children going online, including: • Don’t share personal information • Don’t accept emails, messages, or calls from someone you don’t know • Tell a parent or carer if something online makes you uncomfortable The NSPCC offers practical advice to parents and carers, such as guides on setting up parental controls on a range of technologies including games consoles, search engines and Wi-Fi. We must all do our bit to stay safe online, and to make sure we keep others safe by reporting harmful content. If something doesn’t feel right it probably isn’t. Always make sure a request is from a legitimate source before providing personal information. If you do think you have fallen victim to a crime online, you can report it to the police or log it with Action Fraud.

our world-class digital infrastructure across the UK. We’re investing £4bn to bring full fibre network access to up to eight million homes and 800,000 businesses in towns and cities across the country, including here in Ipswich.

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Access to the internet brings with it a massive amount of benefits but, a word of caution that there are potential pitfalls with things like online fraud. With that in mind, it is important people make sure they protect themselves online.

There are many things we can do to stay safe, and lots of organisations exist to support this. For example, the National Cyber Security Centre has a number of top tips for staying secure online, including protecting your email with a strong, unique password, securing smartphones and tablets with a screen lock, and backing-up important data.

For those who regularly use technology, this advice is easy to follow, however for those just learning how to use the internet it can be daunting. At CityFibre we recognise the importance of equipping people with the knowledge to stay safe online, and we have worked with groups such as the Silver City Surfers in Aberdeen, who help over 55s navigate the digital world and access advice on anything they need help with, including online safety.

Increasingly children are taking advantage of the opportunities which the internet provides, including

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AT HOME

Be less trackable

n Accepting cookies, using public Wi-Fi and even having a smart washing machine are just some of the ways people are making themselves ‘trackable’, according to experts.

Others are also guilty of signing up to mailing lists, sharing fitness achievements via apps and using Wi-Fi when out, which can result in personal details being accessed by others.

Experts revealed people can be tracked by almost all devices connected to the internet, due to being embedded with technology such as processing chips, software and sensors which collect data. All objects connected via the internet are typically monitored and controlled remotely, including smart watches, tablets, laptops and even doorbells. And devices which are equipped with voice command capabilities can listen to and record conversations.

NordVPN’s digital privacy expert Daniel Markuson also revealed how dangerous public Wi-Fi is – which essentially gets people online in exchange for valuable sign-on data such as email addresses, social media profiles and phone numbers.

The insights come after a study of 2,000 adults found one in eight use public Wi-Fi as often as once a day, while 15 per cent do so several times a week.

Almost four in 10 have used social media channels with auto log in while connected to public Wi-Fi and 37 per cent have logged into their personal emails. More than a quarter have also filled in a form with personal details such as their name, address or phone number, and have used an online banking app via public Wi-Fi. The most popular places to log on were found to be hotels, eateries and airports. Worryingly, 24 per cent feel their data is generally secure when using public Wi-Fi.

Daniel said, “When you use ‘free’ Wi-Fi there’s a good chance it’s managed by a third-party provider which gets you online in exchange for your valuable sign-on data.

The study also found 22 per cent ‘always’ accept cookies and 35 per cent do so ‘unless it looks suspicious’ – only four per cent ‘never’ accept. Almost two thirds trust their internet service provider to keep their information safe but 84 per cent are worried about being tracked online.

People believe it’s possible to be tracked by their mobile phone (73 per cent), laptop (69 per cent) and desktop computer (67 per cent) but are less convinced that their smart home devices can do so.

But Daniel warned information about when various appliances are used such as lights being switched on and off, doors being opened and energy consumption fluctuating can be a real treasure trove to a potential attacker.

The survey also found people are most afraid of their banking information, passwords and address being hacked from their devices, yet 38 per cent admitted to using the same password across their devices and accounts.

And more than a third have their bank login details saved to their phone or computer while 23 per cent share their fitness achievements via apps.

Almost half believe apps ask for more information than should be required and 46 per cent think devices listen to them. Worryingly, 31 per cent of those polled via OnePoll have been hacked in the past.

Daniel added, “The study shows how many people are oblivious to the ways they can be tracked and hacked online. Using public Wi-Fi, accepting cookies and owning wearable smart devices are things we all do in life without necessarily thinking of the consequences. We’re keen to educate people on the dangers and how they can protect themselves with a VPN.” To find out how you could be getting tracked and top tips on how to stay safe, click here - https://nordvpn.com/tracked-down/

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AT HOME

Top Interior Trends for ’22 From nature-inspired trends to fresh colour schemes, 2022 is shaping up to be an exciting year for interior design. Rebecca Snowden, Interior Style Advisor at Furniture And Choice shares the top five trends and how to get the look at home.

Japandi A hybrid of Scandinavian design and Japanese interiors, Japandi is an east-meets-west trend that combines relaxing, minimalist décor with a neutral palette and natural materials.

“Japandi’s calming interior style encourages slow living,” Rebecca says. “With a huge shift in lifestyles, many of us have been looking for ways to lead a more balanced life.”

Feature walls and textured wallpaper With a new year upon us, a lot of interior trends for 2022 are inspired by hope and optimism. One such trend is bold and colourful feature wall patterns.

“A geometric wall with a colour block effect perks up a child’s bedroom with a big dose of personality,” Rebecca says. “Keep the rest of the room simple with a fresh white wooden bed for a light and airy feel.”

If a geometric feature wall seems over the top, textured wallpaper is a toned-down option and brings just as much impact. “Choose textured wallpaper with a tactile effect as it mimics the look and feel of real materials and adds dimension to your room. For example, pick wallpaper with a wood effect to give your space an elegant look.”

Earthy clay tones Calming and comforting earthy tones like terracotta have proven to be popular searches online as revealed by sites like Pinterest. “The term ‘terracotta walls’ has increased

by 86 per cent in the UK over the past year,” Rebecca reports. “These reddish-brown and tan hues colours will be a top pick for autumn and winter trends and sets the scene for elegant layering.”

“In the bedroom, match a reddish clay backdrop with a grey velvet bed and cosy linen bedding for a calming (and grounding) feel. As a finishing touch, decorate with colourful flowers and chic ceramic accessories.”

Bold yellow To kickstart the year 2022, expect to see bright and bold colour trends such as Farrow & Ball’s ‘Babouche No. 223’. “This cheerful and uplifting yellow hue gives any space a welcoming touch,” Rebecca says.

Use it as an accent colour to liven up a room. “Introduce a yellow staircase to give the living room an unexpected twist,” Rebecca says.

“Choose a neutral base of white walls and a grey sofa to anchor the room and to highlight the burst of yellow. Complement the staircase through colourful artwork and cushions.”

Cottage core Taking inspiration from idyllic pastoral fantasies, cottage core embraces country-style living and a whimsical aesthetic. “Cottage core is a trend that has quickly gained attention from social media and tapped into interiors and fashion,” Rebecca explains.

Adopt this style in the bedroom with the help of a muted palette and touches of foliage. “Layer a warm white or cream backdrop with green accents to create an English country cottage feel,” Rebecca says. “A white wooden bed instantly adds a rustic touch alongside accessories such as a rattan basket and pampas grass.”

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AT HOME

Top tips for a Greener Christmas As the festive season approaches, the RSPB, the UK’s largest nature conservation charity, share their top tips on how to have a Christmas that’s kinder to wildlife and the planet too.

While the festive period is wonderful, it can create tonnes of unnecessary waste each year. Wondering what you can do to help reduce your waste and impact, gift more sustainably or looking to find a new use for those items that would usually end up in the bin? The good news is, it’s easy and often cheaper to go environmentally friendly. So, with no sacrifices needed, read on for the RSPB’s top five small changes that make all the difference.

1: Oh Christmas Tree While the plastic vs real Christmas tree debate rages on with no clear ‘green’ winner, there are thankfully options for disposing of your real tree that can help to make you a responsible Christmas tree owner.

The RSPB recommend checking if your local council is offering a tree recycling service for a cut tree, or you could consider renting a tree from a Christmas tree farm that will re-use the tree year after year. Potted trees can also be planted in your garden or re-potted in a larger tub ready for next year.

If you’re still struggling to get rid of a cut tree, cutting it up and stacking the logs in the garden can provide a home for wildlife too.

2: Give the gift of togetherness Giving a gift that focuses on shared experiences often creates warmer memories and is more appreciated than a purchased gift. Getting out to a nature reserve is a great way to reconnect, and thankfully the RSPB has a great range of over 200 reserves across the UK to visit.

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RSPB family membership can cost as little as £6 a month, and if you take a homemade cake and a picnic you’ve got the most wonderful day out.

3: Under the tree Supporting a charity doesn’t mean you have to set up a rolling monthly donation; the RSPB has some fantastic shops on their sites across the country stocked with unique, wildlife inspired and ethically sourced treats inside. The charity have so much more on offer than bird care products - think homeware, food and drink, cosmetics and toys and books galore – shop online at shopping.rspb.org.uk.

For the wildlife lover in your life, a pair of binoculars or telescope can make the perfect gift. The RSPB have a fantastic range suitable not just for wildlife experts, but beginners too. Whether it’s a pair of binoculars for the family to spot nature in your own garden, a telescope to use out birding, or compacts that make seeing wildlife on your summer hikes that little bit extra special, the charity have something for everyone. With friendly experts on hand at a range of RSPB stores on reserves across the country, head out for a lovely day out and a spot of Christmas shopping all at the same time!

If you can’t decide from the RSPB’s extensive range of gifts and treats, wrap up an RSPB gift card this year instead. What’s more, when you purchase any gift through the RSPB, there’s the added benefit that the income raised helps fund the RSPB’s conservation work too.

4: All wrapped up There might be a lot of glitter round at Christmas time, but do you know the effect it has on the environment? Glitter is becoming a growing problem due to the microplastics used that then make their way into our oceans.

Thankfully, cutting down on glitter doesn’t need to mean cutting out little touches such as Christmas crackers and decorations, as sustainable options are becoming easily available. There are great alternatives out there – think recyclable wrapping paper, sustainable crackers, and responsible table ware and decorations.

5: Lessen the bin load If you’re bins looking a bit full, why not upcycle? The RSPB has some crafty ways to repurpose your sweet wrappers, cardboard tubes or bottle tops while keeping the kids entertained.

According to the RSPB, winter is also the perfect time to be feeding your garden birds. You don’t need a fancy feeder – check out the charity’s handy video guide to making a window feeder from a recycled milk bottle at https:// rb.gy/uchezv. Don’t forget that some kitchen scraps, like cheese, cooked rice and potatoes provide a great energy source for birds.

For more information visit www.rspb.org.uk

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Wake up and smell the coffee

Sleepy Brits hit the alarm snooze button for at least 15 minutes each morning and function on ‘autopilot’ until they feel fully awake half an hour after starting work

A study of 2,000 adults found the average alarm is set for 6.54am, before they actually get out of bed at 7.12am. But it’s another 29 minutes before people feel awake and ready to start the day – although men need an extra five minutes longer than women to get going (31 minutes compared to 26 minutes).

It also emerged one in five often arrive at work still feeling sleepy, with 17 per cent admitting they aren’t completely awake during the commute and a third are functioning on autopilot. As a result, those workers spend the first 35 minutes of their morning at work trying to fully wake up so they can face the day ahead.

But a quarter of adults polled by supplement firm Healthspan claim to have whole days where it feels like they never really feel completely awake and alert.

Dr Kat Lederle, a sleep therapist and body clock expert, who is working with Healthspan, said, “While some early birds are able to jump straight out of bed, awake and refreshed and ready for whatever they face that day, others need to take their time to fully wake up.

“Whether that’s because they’ve had a bad night’s sleep or due to being a night owl, some can feel like they are wondering around in a bit of a daze for a while before they feel ready to start the day if they have woken up with an alarm clock.

“Many will find they have a natural sleep pattern and you get the best sleep if you follow this pattern. This is turn will make waking up in the morning easier.”

But the study found that not feeling properly awake has seen 36 per cent make a mistake at work, while 30 per cent have snapped at someone.

Others admitted it led them to eat unhealthy food (30 per cent), arrive late to work (18 per cent) or even have a road accident (five per cent).

It also emerged three in 10 believe they are finding it harder to wake up in the mornings as they get older, while 55 per cent struggle more in the winter than at any other time of the year. And nearly two fifths of those in the study claimed their mood is lower in the winter, with experts believing some people are more predisposed to SAD. Dr Meg Arroll, psychologist at Healthspan said, “For some people, the darker winter months trigger Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

“One potential reason for this is that the lack of daylight affects the production of hormones which regulate our natural sleep-wake cycle.

AT HOME

“Levels of melatonin and serotonin, which are also important for mood regulation, can become imbalanced and this can have a negative effect on how we feel, leading to depressed mood, lack of energy and a general desire to hibernate.

“Even though there may not be a firm consensus over the precise cause of mood changes that occur in the winter, we do know that vitamin D deficiency is associated with low mood.

“So, it may be helpful to invest in a good quality 10mcg vitamin D product this winter, as per government guidelines.”

The study also found that nearly two thirds of those polled believe their body has a natural inclination to sleep at a certain time.

Although 25 per cent think their sleeping pattern has changed in the last six months as life has started to return to normal post-lockdowns.

In a bid to feel more awake in the mornings, 36 per cent turn to a strong coffee and 24 per cent rely on a hot shower.

Stretching (22 per cent), a walk or exercise (16 per cent) and playing loud music (12 per cent) are also common tactics.

The study, carried out via OnePoll, also found 36 per cent of adult consider themselves to be a night owl, while 33 per cent think they are early birds.

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AT HOME Top 30 most bizarre fears in the UK include buttons, balloons - and the colour yellow

What are you frightened of? n Brits have revealed their most bizarre fears - with buttons, balloons, and the colour yellow making the list.

Researchers who polled 2,000 adults to reveal the nation’s eclectic mix of phobias with trypophobia

- the fear of small holes – and nlaiguphobia – the fear of tin openers both featuring.

phone top the UK’s list of fears really is revealing as to what we now find scary.”

Nomophobia – the fear of being without your mobile phone – is also a ‘popular’ phobia – as is arachibutyrophobia – the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth.

Other obscure phobias included the fear of belly buttons – omphalophobia, trees – dendrophobia, and the colour red – erythrophobia.

Heights, spiders, snakes and enclosed spaces topped the list of most common fears, along with dentists, ghosts and the dark.

It also emerged that 77 per cent of adults have a phobia of something – with 15 per cent admitting to having what might be considered an unusual fear.

A spokesperson for craft beer makers, Beavertown, which commissioned the research, said, “It’s no secret that fears like spiders and heights are common.

“But knowing that things like peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth and being without your

34

The study also identified some of the challenges of living with a fear, with 35 per cent worried their phobia makes them appear too weak to others. Which might explain why 24 per cent of those with a phobia have attempted to keep it secret from loved ones. For more than a third (36 per cent) it has also hindered their ability to socialise.

But 23 per cent have sought professional help to overcome a fear.

COMMON FEARS IN THE UK

1. Heights 2. Spiders 3. Snakes 4. Enclosed spaces 5. Dentists 6. Ghosts 7. The Dark 8. Needles 9. Clowns 10. Flying 11. Blood 12. The devil 13. Water 14. Being home alone 15. Old houses 16. Birds 17. Small holes 18. Halloween 19. Being without your mobile phone 20. Aliens 21. Balloons 22. Large/ open spaces 23. Tin opener 24. Belly buttons 25. Numbers 26. The colour yellow 27. Buttons 28. Peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth 29. Trees 30. The colour red

AT HOME

Garolla: Unbeatable Garage Doors at Impressive Prices

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Handcrafted, using high quality materials, every Garolla garage door is designed with your home in mind. This allows you to create a sleek and elegant façade that will make you the envy of your neighbours. A Garolla Roller Garage Door is the stylish and convenient alternative to clunky up and over garage doors, providing your home with improved security, thermal efficiency and floor space.

And with Garolla you avoid the pushy salesmen and hard sell as you deal directly with your very own local installer. Your local installer is on hand throughout the entire process and will help guide you to make the best decision for your home.

On the day of your installation, your local installer will remove your old Garage Door and replace it with your custom made Garolla Garage Door. All within a matter of hours. After the installation is complete your new Garage Door will be ready to use immediately, simply press the button and enjoy.

With a no-nonsense approach to pricing, it couldn’t be easier to cost up a new Garage Door with Garolla. Based on your measurements, colour and slat choice a quote from Garolla is inclusive of measuring, fitting and VAT. This lets you buy with confidence as there are no hidden charges – just upfront, honest prices.

For a free, no-strings-attached quote head over to www.garolla.co.uk or call their friendly customer care team on 01473 396 177 for more information.

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Home finances

Half of British homeowners have never remortgaged– even though one in three know it could probably save them money.

A survey of 2,000 people with a mortgage found they still have an average of 45 per cent of it left to pay. But just under one in 10 (nine per cent) admit they have no idea exactly how much they still owe on their home. And 49 per cent believe the hassle and paperwork of remortgaging simply wouldn’t be worth the financial savings.

Another 46 per cent don’t believe they really know enough about the matter to make their own decisions – and simply ‘do whatever the mortgage advisor tells them’. While six in 10 can’t face the hassle of trying to change their rate, considering their financial situation to be ‘just fine’.

A spokesperson for Barclays Mortgages, which commissioned the research, said, “It’s clear from our research that many find remortgaging a tricky subject to understand, even though UK adults have been on the mortgage payment ladder for an average of 13 years and five months.

“As a result of lacking knowledge in the subject, homeowners are sticking with what they know and not exploring new options when it comes to remortgaging.”

“With the average amount left to pay on a mortgage at 45 per cent, remortgaging sooner could end up saving them money not only month to month, but over the whole of their mortgagepaying life.”

It also emerged that the average monthly cost of a British mortgage is £560, and one in five hope to be mortgagefree by the time they’re just 50 years old.

Sixty per cent of homeowners are on a fixed-rate mortgage, but just 17 per cent are on a tracker offering and 10 per cent have an interest-only deal in place.

However, just under one in 10 are happy to admit they don’t even know what kind of mortgage they have.

While 21 per cent have no idea when they’ll even be eligible to apply for a new mortgage, according to the OnePoll figures.

A spokesman from Barclays Mortgages, added, “Whatever the reason for remortgaging, doing research and exploring the options available to you could pay dividends.”

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AT HOME

The most searched recipes The most searched for recipes online are pancakes, fish and chips - and banana bread.

Statistics from Google search figures show that people in the UK searched for a simple pancake recipe up to 368,000 times a month in the past four years, with that number rising to 522,000 times a month on average in 2021.

Other popular recipes people are keen to learn via the internet are chicken curry, fajitas and carbonara – with 49,500 searches each on average each month since 2017.

And research of 2,000 adults found 62 per cent regularly turn to the internet when they’re trying to find a recipe - as only eight per cent have NEVER used the worldwide web for cookery help.

The research, commissioned by Birds Eye also found despite the average household owning seven cookery books, half of those polled find it easier to use an online recipe. While one in twenty even admitted to using cookery books for display purposes only. But 43 per cent have been inspired

Top 20 most searched recipes and average monthly searches 1. Recipe for pancakes………………368,000 2. Fish and chips………………………201,000 3. Recipe for banana bread…………135,000 4. Recipe for scones…………………135,000 5. Recipe for Yorkshire pudding………135,000 6. Recipe pizza dough………………… 90,500 7. Fish pie……………………………… 74,000 8. Chicken breast recipes…………… 60,500 9. Chicken curry……………………… 49,500 10. Chicken thigh recipes…………… 49,500

11. Fajitas………………………………

12. Thai green curry……………………

13. Recipe American pancakes………

14. Recipe carbonara…………………

15. Recipe for chilli con carne………

16. Recipe hummus……………………

17. Recipe paella………………………

18. Chicken casserole…………………

19. Chicken tikka masala……………

20. Katsu curry…………………………

by social media to try out a new recipe, with Facebook and Instagram being the most popular.

A spokesperson from Birds Eye said, “After the challenges and changes to our daily habits we’ve all encountered over the last 18 months, it’s incredibly interesting to understand what meals the nation is now searching for and how they’re searching for them.

“Chicken breast recipes have been a midweek staple for many years, being a great option for a meal-for-one to catering for a dinner party, but the huge increase in searches for these following lockdown suggests how we are now more eager than ever to experiment with new recipes.”

There have also been shifts in recipe searches during the pandemic, with ‘simple chicken breast recipes for dinner’ seeing a 4,900 per cent increase in searches when comparing data from August 2019 to July 2020, with August 2020 to July 2021 - while searches for ‘chicken pasta recipes for dinner’ have also risen by 1,106 per cent.

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The average adult estimates they search for seven recipes online each month, and that they would be ‘lost’ without the Internet when it comes to cooking.

A quarter were also guilty of using the internet to search for really simple instructions, such as how to boil an egg. And 38 per cent of those polled via OnePoll said they have discovered their favourite recipes on the internet.

The spokesperson added, “Social media has been a great way for us to reach a new audience with exciting and delicious chicken grills recipes.”

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AT HOME

The importance of feeding the birds this winter Over the past year, we’ve seen how important the natural world is to our mental health and wellbeing. There has been a surge in interest in the nature on our doorsteps and many people have come to rely on garden birds to bring joy and comfort in these unsettling times.

Taking the time to watch which feathered friends make use of your bird table or window feeder can often help to reduce stress and restore calm. Not only does it benefit humans, but with over 60% of the UK population regularly feeding their garden birds, research suggests that this helps around 196 million birds a year.

According to the RSPB, keeping your feeders and water trays topped up is important at this time of year to help your garden birds survive through the winter as natural food sources run low. Providing high-energy food will help your local birds build up the fat reserves they need to keep warm, and as a result your garden could soon become a hive of activity. What’s more, for those without a garden, window feeders can prove just as popular with your feathered friends.

Thankfully, if your bird feed supplies are running low, your cupboards can hold the answer to attracting our feathered friends to your garden. According to the RSPB, fruits like apples and pears, even when they’re past their best, can be snapped up by blackbirds and thrushes, while grated mild cheese can be a fantastic source of energy and protein for a range of birds. Cooked pastry, defrosted peas or unsalted bacon leftovers are also great options, as well as cooked rice, pasta and the inside of potatoes providing a great energy source.

With a range of options to help tempt your local birds into your garden, the RSPB is urging people across the country to stock up their feeders and ensure fresh water is available as winter brings the toughest and coldest months for birds.

The charity, who have been monitoring trends in garden bird numbers for over 40 years, are on hand to provide top tips on how to attract wildlife to your garden as part of their popular Big Garden Birdwatch survey.

To take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch, which runs from 29th until 31st January, visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch or text BIRD to 70030 for your FREE guide, which includes a bird identification chart, top tips for your birdwatch and RSPB shop voucher.

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AT HOME

Most satisfying gardening jobs Mowing the lawn, watering plants and sowing seeds are the most satisfying gardening jobs, research suggests.

The top 45 best garden tasks also featured deadheading roses and growing and picking homegrown produce. Working with power tools,

using a laser spirit level and laying grass turf also appeared in the list.

The survey of over 1,500 people who garden revealed they love raking up fallen leaves, and ‘scarifying’ the lawn – which means removing old grass and debris. This comes as 73 per cent admitted to finding particular gardening task strangely fulfilling - and standing back to see what you’ve done is the most satisfying aspect.

But more than seven in 10 said some gardening tasks – like mowing the lawn or weeding – are satisfying and frustrating in equal measures because they know they’ll need to do them again within days.

Kate Turner from Miracle Gro, which commissioned the research, said, “Brits’ love of strangely satisfying gardening jobs shows how good they can for our mental health.

“Even during autumn and winter, there are lots of little jobs that you

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can take care of to keep your garden in the best shape.

“From deadheading roses to mowing the lawn, it’s always nice to take a step back to see your handiwork, no matter if it will need re-doing in the next few days.”

The survey went on to reveal those polled spend 11 minutes a day thinking about gardening and take as many as four days off work in a year just to work in their garden.

The colder months are a great time to start a gardening project, according to 68 per cent and half of adults are expecting to learn a new skill in the garden this winter.

As many as 65 per cent would like their garden to look as nice in the autumn and winter as it does in the summer, but 23 per cent have no idea how to maintain the same standards as the seasons change.

But 57 per cent read gardening books and magazines, and typically spend more than two hours a week watching gardening programmes, to learn more about the hobby. And 63 per cent of these find gardening programmes specifically relaxing.

When it comes to de-stressing, almost seven in 10 adults surveyed via OnePoll would recommend gardening as a great way to switch off. Furthermore, 46 per cent said that if they didn’t do any gardening, their mental health would struggle.

Actor, TV personality and keen gardener, Catherine Tyldesley has teamed up with Miracle Gro to help inspire people to get out in their garden this autumn with tips and ideas of what can be done to ensure your garden looks as good this season as in summer.

Catherine said, “Gardening is a great way to detach yourself from daily life as it provides a new focus. It doesn’t surprise me that people don’t know how to spruce up their gardens when it gets chilly, gardening is widely considered a ‘summer job’ It can be really rewarding tidying up your outside area, especially during the autumn and winter periods when the leaves fall from the trees.”

Top 10 satisfying gardening tasks: 1. Planting seeds / bulbs / plants 2. Watering all your plants 3. Mowing the lawn 4. Weeding 5. Pruning around the garden 6. Seeing birds use your feeders/ birdbaths 7. Deadheading flowers 8. Finally getting out the last weed 9. Growing and picking homegrown produce 10. Repotting your plants

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AT HOME

New beach village gets the go-ahead • Plan for illus trative purpos es and

As part of ongoing investment, a new beach village is set to be built on Felixstowe’s South Seafront to improve the beach hut experience for locals and visitors.

At a recent meeting of East Suffolk Council’s Planning Committee South approval was given for a new beach village on Felixstowe’s South Seafront.

The beach village will include five accessible, purpose-built pods, 27 traditional huts and a new public convenience block with Changing Places facilities. The existing trim trial has been moved to Langer Park and the current volleyball site will be re-landscaped and made into an activity park. As part of this, new outdoor gym equipment will be installed, along with additional facilities, including concrete table tennis tables, a climbing wall, petanque pistes, accessible picnic benches, chess tables and outdoor space for workouts.

The aim of the project is to create accessible facilities that enables families and groups to enjoy everything the beach and town has to offer by hiring a beach pod for a day, or longer, as well as improving facilities for local people and visitors alike with the addition of new public conveniences and an activity park.

subject to cha nge

Cllr Craig Rivett, East Suffolk’s Deputy Leader and cabinet member for Economic Development said, “Beach huts are an important part of the seaside experience and East Suffolk Council is committed to making this experience more accessible to a wider range of people, allowing families and groups to access and enjoy the beach and resort for a day, or longer.

“Tourism is incredibly important to East Suffolk and 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.

“The South Seafront has undergone significant redevelopment in recent years and East Suffolk Council has invested a lot in revitalising the area.

We believe it is vital that we continue to build on this investment and create developments that benefits local businesses and people as well as visitors to the area.”

Furthermore, a new name for the site has now been decided after East Suffolk Council ran a recent survey in which local people were asked to vote for their favourite names from a top

five. Nearby 500 people took part and with over 30% of the votes, the new site will be named the Seashore Village.

The development is part of a bigger project of ongoing investments in the South Seafront area, where the Martello Park has already delivered new homes, a play area and new car parking facilities. The Council has also invested in the development of a new iconic café, the refurbishment of two public shelters on the South Seafront and the long-term maintenance of its historic Martello Tower.

Construction is expected to begin in early 2022 with completion scheduled for later in the year.

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IN LATER LIFE

Help Age UK make Christmas brighter for a lonely older person Age UK is getting ready to launch its annual loneliness campaign to help older people who are facing another Christmas alone this year.

Although it may seem like the worst of the pandemic is now behind us and many of us are looking forward to a first Christmas spent with friends and family in almost two years, sadly there will be half a million older people who are not looking forward to Christmas because they will be alone or they don’t really have anyone to spend it with Winter can be one of the toughest and most challenging times of year for older people, and with many routine services scaled back over the holiday period and the colder weather making it harder to get out and about it can feel even lonelier than usual, with almost 1.5 million older people feeling more lonely at Christmas than any other time of year.

Recent research from Age UK highlights just how painful and lonely Christmas this year will be for so many older people. Key stats of people aged 65 & over in the UK show: - Around 1 million people say that they will be eating dinner alone on Christmas Day - Almost 3.5 million people say they are not looking forward Christmas, and of these half a million people say that they are not looking forward to Christmas because they will be alone or do not have anyone to spend Christmas with - Almost 1.5 million people say that they often feel more lonely at Christmas than any other time of year.

At what can be a difficult time, Age UK’s support services become invaluable lifelines for the most vulnerable older people who need it most. Since the pandemic the Charity has seen an increased reliance on its telephone support services, with 31,471 calls made to the Age UK advice line last Christmas alone.

Age UK believes no one should have no one, especially at Christmas. That’s why the Charity is urging people to help make this Christmas a little brighter for a lonely older person and donate to Age UK so it can continue to run its vital friendship and advice services, which are a lifeline for so many older people

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at Christmas time. Age UK’s advice line is open every single day, including Christmas Day. To donate please visit:www.ageuk.org.uk/brighterchristmas Donating to Age UK will help the Charity to: - Continue to provide its invaluable friendship calls, giving lonely older people what in many cases will be their one chance of regular contact and friendly conversation - Maintain its vital advice services to older people who are in financial distress and anxious about staying well and warm this winter, providing comfort and reassurance to those who have no one else to turn to for help.

Age UK is also calling on everyone to come together this Christmas season and reach out to older relatives and friends, and other older people who live nearby.

There are plenty of simple and very practical things we can all to do to help older people feel included and supported over the festive season, such as:

1. Sharing time together: Check in regularly with your older relatives, friends and neighbours to see how they’re feeling, and find out if there’s anything they need. Invite them round for a coffee or lunch or if you’re unable to visit in person there’s still plenty you can do to show you care – a phone or video call, making homemade cards, letters or even small gifts.

2. Lending a hand: if you’re able to, be a good neighbour by offering simple, immediate assistance to older people nearby, such as offering to pick up shopping or run errands – ensuring you’re following all the relevant COVID guidance and advice that might be in place.

3. Giving out these useful numbers: for practical information and advice, Age UK Advice: 0800 169 65 65. For a cheerful chat, day or night, The Silver Line Helpline: 0800 4 70 80 90.

4. Fundraising for Age UK: Now’s a great time to get involved and raise much-needed money and support for older people. From a physical activity challenge to a virtual supper club, fundraising ideas and resources are available at www.ageuk.org.uk/fundraise

IN LATER LIFE

Brits suffering Name a Star Covid hangover Despite restrictions easing and services returning to normal, 62% of Britons are continuing to suffer from the consequences of routines created during the pandemic.

Christmas is traditionally a time for family and fun, but it’s also the time of year when we particularly miss the people we love who are no longer with us.

They leave a gap in our festivities, perhaps even more after the last couple of years of pandemic. But life goes on and we will raise a glass, shed a brief tear, and give thanks for the people we cannot see. They remain at the heart of our families.

Research from leading health and wellbeing charity, Royal Voluntary Service and Yakult, has revealed how enduring behaviours created by pandemic restrictions mean that many people continue to put off acts of self-care such as visiting health professionals or taking exercise.

The Hunnaball Family Funeral Group, a truly family funeral director, understand that Christmas doesn’t stop because we miss our loved ones.

It’s the reason why the Name a Star Christmas trees are in every branch in the lead up to Christmas.

Even though restrictions have been lifted it appears we are still nervous to resume positive pre-pandemic routines. Some have delayed seeing their GP, optician or dentist.

The research further highlights the behaviours that have taken a dip, with diet and exercise being the areas most neglected – 28% of respondents admitting to exercising less and ordering more takeaways than usual.

Among some of the most common reasons mentioned were seeing fewer people and not prioritising these activities anymore being less concerned with one’s appearance, worrying healthcare professionals will be too busy, not wanting to be a burden and still limiting interactions.

Name a Star has become a valued tradition, not just in the life of the Hunnaball Family Funeral Group, but also for many families. In each Hunnaball branch there’s a special Christmas tree and some silver stars. Visitors are invited to remember a family member or friend at Christmas by dropping by, dedicating a star, and hanging it on the tree. It’s free to everyone, whether your funeral director was a Hunnaball branch or not.

Melanie Hunnaball said, “Each member of our family dedicates their own star every year. We hang it on the tree because it’s at Christmas that we miss the ones who are no longer with us the most. We believe that Name a Star is an appropriate way to give thanks and celebrate the part that they continue to play in our lives and we want to encourage people to take a few minutes to drop in to a branch and name a star for themselves.”

Find your nearest branch at https://www.hunnaball.co.uk/our-branches/

As a result, more than a third of respondents feel more anxious, less fit, as well as less healthy and less good about themselves. 41% said a physical or a mental health condition has developed or got worse.

Sam Ward, Deputy CEO and Director of Services at Royal Voluntary Service said, “The pandemic and subsequent isolation periods forced us into routines and behaviours that are unnatural to us and are bound to have some residual effects. That’s why this winter it is all the more important to look after our own wellbeing and the wellbeing of those around us.”

To help people look after themselves throughout the difficult winter ahead, Royal Voluntary Service and Yakult have produced the Safe, Warm and Well guide which includes vital information such as how to keep active and eat a healthy diet, how to ensure your home is gas safe, who to call in a power emergency, as well as contacts for mental health support, and where to find essential NHS contact details. By following the advice in the guide, people will be able to better manage the risks that are elevated by cold weather.

• The guide can be downloaded and the informative video can be viewed at shorturl.at/jrPX0

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www.hunnaball.co.uk 41

IN LATER LIFE

— Advertorial —

Get crafty with the Oddfellows for Christmas!

Ipswich Oddfellows are delighted to team up with My Weekly magazine to bring to you a festive evening of fun and friendship.

We all love getting in the Christmas spirit and this year we’re joining together online to enjoy the warmth and joy of the season. This free virtual event will be two hours of Yuletide magic.

My Weekly Get Set For Christmas, 26th November at 6pm

My Weekly is famous for its food and recipes – especially at Christmas – watch their food stylists weave culinary magic and share expert tips. Plus, they’ll be rustling up cocktails (and mocktails) to keep our spirits even higher!

Ipswich Oddfellows will be showing you how to make some simple decorations to add a touch of pizzaz to your home!

Fashion and beauty experts will be on hand with demonstrations and advice that will have you looking fab. And of course, the My Weekly team will be there to chat about books, festive reads and ideas for gifts.

Join in for an evening of fun and get set for the Christmas period!

To register, simply visit www.bit.ly/getsetforchristmas

Your local Oddfellows

Since 1810, the Oddfellows has been bringing people together from all walks of life and has an active branch right here in Ipswich. A national nonprofit society run by members for their members, they aim to improve lives through friendships fostered over regular social and fundraising events.

Ipswich Oddfellows offer a wide range of events, from walks to crafts, scrabble, quizzes and talks to trips out - and anyone can join in. You’re welcome to bring along someone you know, or come by yourself and make friends there. Their regular online events give you the chance to get to know local members and experience friendship from the comfort of your own home.

Along with friendship and the chance to get together for a chat and a bit of fun, their annual membership fee starts from £25 and includes access to financial benefits and welfare support, a dedicated helpline, citizens advice team and volunteering opportunities.* Branch Secretary Lynne Wyatt says, “We’ve spent much of the past 18 months ensuring our members have been supported emotionally and physically, but it’s now time to help even more people make new friends, reconnect with old ones, and build up any social confidence that may have been lost during these difficult times. That’s why we’re delighted to support My Weekly by hosting the craft session at their Get Set For Christmas event, and share some Christmas spirit.”

We’d love you to join us, either at the My Weekly Get Set For Christmas, or at one of our other events.

December events:

Weds 1st, 1-3pm - Christmas drinks and nibbles to find out

more about us Fri 3rd, 2pm - Festive Sing Along with the Ipswich Signing Choir Tues 14th, 10am - Zoom-in for Busy Fingers crafts Tues 14th, 4pm - Zoom-in for a game of beetle To book Ipswich events or for a free information pack, call 01473 251867 or email lynne.wyatt@oddfellows.co.uk. *Terms and conditions apply to all member benefits and services. For details, visit www.oddfellows.co.uk/terms-conditions, or call 0800 028 1810.

Craft session as part of

Get crafty

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Sign up for free here: bit.ly/getsetforchristmas

For information about the Oddfellows call 01473 251867

Ipswich Oddfellows

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.

42

IN LATER LIFE

Fears of getting older TO

P 40 FEARS OF 1. Failing memo GETTING OLD: ry / onset of 15. Unable to wa dementia lk fast 29. Not seeing rel 16. Unable to ex 2. Becoming les atives as ercise s mobile often as you’d like 3. Deteriorating 17 .

People seeing yo eyesight u as ‘old’ 30. The fact you 4. Getting certa can’t eat 18. Being seen as in illnesses vulnerable as much as you diseases related used to 19 . Losing hair to getting wit hout putting on we older ight 20. Saggy skin ev 31. Not fully unde erywhere 5. Becoming for rstanding getful 21. A tummy tha tec hn olo t wil gy l never be 6. Losing life-lo ng friends/ flat ever again 32. Grey hair family members 22. People assu 33. Finding it ha ming you are 7. Hearing loss rder to get a past it job, if you want on 8. Losing your e teeth 23. Wrinkly neck 34. Younger peop skin 9. Being lonely le thinking 24 . Wrinkles you can’t relate to 10. Struggling fin them ancially 35. No one will fan 25. Not feeling att 11. Having to ha cy you/think rac tiv e in ve a carer yo u’r yo e attractive any mo urself any more 12. Brittle bones re 36. Menopause 26. Unable to ea 13. Not being ab t/drink what le to drive 37 .

No t yo livi u ng wa lon nt g enough to 14. Not being ab le to do some meet grandkids 27. People lookin of the more phys g past you ical 38 .

Bingo wings like you don’t exist exercises you us ed to do 39. Still paying off 28. Getting a hu a mortgage nch back 40. Turning into your parents The biggest fears of getting old include failing memory, becoming less mobile and suffering from deteriorating eyesight, research has revealed.

A study of 2,000 adults found other major concerns about the ageing process are becoming forgetful, hearing loss and being lonely. Struggling financially, not being able to drive and losing life-long friends and family members were also among the fears. While others hate the idea of others seeing them as old (26 per cent) or being seen as vulnerable (25 per cent). However, more than two in five adults are doing everything they can to try and prevent the signs of ageing.

Eating more healthily, doing more exercise and dyeing their hair were amongst the most popular things to ward off the ravages of time.

A spokesperson for Scrivens Opticians and Hearing Care, which commissioned the study, said, “Everyone is bound to have their fears around getting old, but it doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. We need to embrace getting older rather than fearing the inevitable and be thankful that we are alive to experience it. If you really want to hold off getting older, then it’s best to introduce certain regimes before the tell-tale signs even happen.

Deteriorating eyesight and hearing can both be helped with if picked up early enough.”

The study found feeling unattractive (21 per cent), getting a hunchback (20 per cent) and no longer fully understanding technology (17 per cent) also worry Brits. While almost one in six fear they’ll still be paying off their mortgage when they’re a pensioner.

However, 36 per cent of adults polled via OnePoll admit to being in denial about getting older while just under a third already consider themselves as ‘old’.

Despite being the youngest age bracket to take part in the survey, more than half of those aged between 18 and 24 claimed to have already taken steps to prevent the signs of ageing (55 per cent).

Surgery, Botox and lip fillers were among the most extreme procedures these young adults have taken.

While those aged between 45 and 54 were found to be more likely to go to the measures of moisturising, wearing new clothes and doing yoga and stretches to prevent ageing.

Furthermore, it was found that 62 per cent of respondents see eating healthily as you age crucial to maintaining a youthful appearance, while 51 per cent believe regular eye tests are important.

Frequent hearing tests were voted less important to eye tests by just over a third of respondents, with 42 per cent of them believing hearing aids will make them look older, even though half believed they would improve their quality of life.

Hearing (37 per cent) and eyesight (60 per cent) were two signs of ageing that respondents claim to have worsened as they’ve got older.

The study found 64 per cent of respondents are not aware of a connection between hearing loss and dementia, although failing memory and dementia is their number one fear of getting old.

Regardless of the worries of getting old, more than a third are looking forward to not working when they get older and a quarter are looking forward to the free eye and hearing tests (26 per cent).

Scrivens’ spokesperson added, “Deteriorating eyesight and hearing loss both feature in the top 10 concerns that people have about getting old, yet

so many of us still choose to ignore these obvious signs, because we associate them with ageing.

“There is still a significant stigma around wearing a hearing aid, yet the earlier people seek help for hearing loss the better.

“There is no cure but hearing loss can be treated. If people need hearing aids they will be amazed at how far technology has advanced and how they can make a big difference to their quality of life.”

If you have concerns about your hearing (or even if you don’t) take the Scrivens online hearing check challenge. www.scrivens.com/hearing/ online-hearing-test/.

Would you like help on hand 24 hours a day?

Our friendly and fully trained live-in carers enable you to stay at home with care available as you need it.

When Muriel became forgetful her daughter arranged live-in care with Purely Care. A 24 hour carer has allowed Muriel to retain her independence and remain safe. Muriel can still decide where she goes and when, the carer helps her choose an outfit and makes sure she gets to her appointments on time and finds her way back home safely. Muriel loves having someone to chat to and remind her when to put the TV on to watch her favourite programmes.

43

Warning of an increased risk of deer collisions There is a substantial increase in deer vehicle collisions from October to December.

Poorer driving conditions and fewer hours of daylight, coupled with the annual breeding season (the rut) for red, sika and fallow deer make this a high-risk time of year.

Research over the years by the DeerAware campaign has also found that the risk increases after the clocks change. This is because drivers find themselves more likely to be on the road when deer are most active from sunset to midnight and the hours shortly before and after sunrise.

National Highways Head of Road User Safety Jeremy Phillips said, “This time of year we see an increase in the number of deer collisions and our advice is to take care while driving and look out for deer.”

Drivers may easily be caught unaware on roads they travel every day by the sudden appearance of deer in their path, but there are some simple tips they can use to help reduce the risk.

The advice to drivers is:

1. When you see deer warning signs or are travelling through a heavily wooded or forested stretch of road, check your speed and stay alert 2. If your headlights are on, use full-beams when you can, but dip them if you see deer as they may ‘freeze’ on the spot instead of leaving the road 3. If you see a deer, look for another. They often gather in herds and follow each other as they move through the landscape.

4. Only brake sharply and stop if there is no danger of being hit by following traffic, use your hazard lights.

Try to come to a stop as far away from an animal as possible to enable it to leave the roadside without panic. Try not to suddenly swerve to avoid a deer. Hitting oncoming traffic or another obstacle could lead to a more serious collision 5. If you must stop, use your hazard warning lights.

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Many drivers have said that being aware of the risk of a deer collision has helped them avoid a collision. However, if you do find yourself involved in a collision: - Keep yourself and anyone with you as safe as you can - Park your car in the safest place with hazard lights on. Consider using it to also warn other road users - Call an ambulance if human injuries warrant it - Call the police The police can also contact specialists to deal with injured deer. Never try to move deer off the road yourself as this will put you at great risk of injury.

Visit https://www.deeraware.com/ for more information.

Motoring expert wa recession and loom Car prices in the UK are set to dramatically plunge in the new year, according to car finance experts ChooseMyCar. The experts are advising those who are considering purchasing a car to be aware of the predicted drop in value before splashing the cash.

The second-hand car market has seen record prices in 2021, due to a huge downturn in the availability of new cars caused by the global pandemic and delivery issues. New car sales are 44.7% down compared to the ten-year average (the weakest September since 1998, a year before the two-plate system was introduced).

But now, the combined effect of a potential winter lockdown and the impact this may have on jobs and disposable cash, alongside mounting fuel prices, means that many consumers are holding back on car purchasing decisions.

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Automotive expert ChooseMyCar is predicting a market correction of second hand prices that will see prices plunge dramatically in the new year.

Nick Zapolski, founder of ChooseMyCar.com said that various factors are in place that creates the perfect storm for drastically falling values of second-hand cars. Soaring fuel prices are eclipsed by huge energy hikes - predicted to continue to rise more than 30% in 2022, warn analysts - are causing people to think twice about major spends.

On top of this, the holiday season is approaching and with so much uncertainty around the pandemic and delivery issues in the UK, many people will choose to prioritise Christmas over car buying.

“In my opinion, we’re smack bang in the middle of an automotive

Belt Up! or risk the fine Driving without wearing a seatbelt currently results in drivers facing a fine of up to £500.

However, following the number of drivers and passengers killed in road accidents as a result of not wearing seatbelts rising from 19% in 2015 to 23% in 2019, new road safety measures have been put forward by the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS).

These proposals anticipate that the law will be changed so that drivers should automatically get points on their licence if they are caught not wearing a seatbelt, and possibly be banned from driving if they are repeat offenders. The proposals also include a provision for drivers to also receive points if passengers are not wearing a seatbelt.

So if: - I were involved in a road traffic accident that wasn’t my fault; and - I sustained personal injury and loss; but - I wasn’t wearing my seatbelt

and I wanted to claim for compensation for personal injury and loss, how does this situation affect my claim?

The general rule is that your level of compensation can be reduced by a percentage to reflect the fact that the injured person may be partly responsible for the extent of the injuries that they have suffered because of their failure to wear a seatbelt – this is referred to as contributory negligence.

In road traffic accidents where an injured person has failed to wear a seatbelt, generally the rule of thumb that applies which allocates the appropriate percentage reduction is as follows: 1. Where a person is injured in an accident, but they wold have escaped injury completely had they been wearing a seatbelt, then the compensation that they receive can be reduced by 25% i.e. they get 75% of the full value of their claim.

2. Where a person is injured in an accident, but they would have

arns of mini car ming car price crash mini-recession! The threat of yet another lockdown and potential job losses, combined with huge increases in not only car fuel but energy bills, means that many people are taking a pause on making the decision to buy a car. Even when they do decide, vehicle pricing sites like Glasses Guide and CAP-HPI are behind the curve when calculating residual values, meaning consumers are finding it harder to finance cars without having to contribute bigger deposits.

“Used cars prices are artificially high due to lack of stock filtering through new car sales, due to shortages of the semiconductor chips.

Just yesterday Volkswagen owned Skoda said it will make about a quarter of a million fewer cars this year due to a shortage of chips. It said it expected the chip shortage to stabilise in the next few months and gradually ease in the second half of 2022. Last week Jaguar Land Rover was forced to shut down car production at Halewood amid a chip shortage. When chip production gets back on track, we will see the return of new cars entering back into the market and this will refresh used car stock levels.

“The ridiculous fuel prices are also convincing many people to look at electric vehicles. We’re seeing an increase of 37% on searches for electric cars on Choosemycar.com with our recent research showing that 25% of people are more likely to look to buy an electric car as their next car due to fuel costs.

“All of this together leaves consumers very confused and uncertain as to what to do. The result is less purchasing, less demand, and therefore less value on used vehicles. We’re predicting a huge drop in prices next year - so consumers should be aware of this before getting their wallets out.”

been injured anyway, even if they had been wearing a seat belt, but perhaps less seriously, then their damages are reduced by 15% i.e. they get 85% of the full value of their claim.

3. Where a person is injured in an accident, but they would still have suffered the same injuries even if they were wearing a seatbelt, then the compensation will not be reduced at all i.e. they will get 100% of the full value of their claim.

There can be exceptions to the above rules on a case by case basis, but these are rare and therefore if you are not wearing a seat belt and you are involved in a road traffic accident that wasn’t your fault, you are likely to receive some degree of reduction to your claim for compensation.

It therefore goes without saying that seatbelts not only save lives, but can dramatically reduce the extent of any injury that you may sustain whilst out travelling on the roads.

For more information or advice on how to make a claim if you have been involved in a road traffic accident, get in touch with Prettys’ Personal Injury team.

Contact Louise Plant by calling 01473 298293 or email lplant@prettys.co.uk.

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45

n Ford's Focus with Daniel Ford

Before I get into the meat of this month’s article, I would just like to wish a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all my readers. And what a year it has been in terms of sport with the Euros (let’s not mention the final) the Olympics and the cricket world cup too.

I’m not going to write about any of these though instead I am going to focus on what promises to be a thrilling culmination to 2021, the Ashes! So, let us delve into the details of this upcoming series, where is it going to be won and lost?

Undoubtedly one of the key factors that will determine the outcome of the series will be the relative successes of the top order batting of both sides. England quite frankly have had a nightmare trying to find a productive opening partnership in the last few years, they now seem to have finally settled on the pair of Haseeb Hameed and Rory Burns, however, both of these are relatively unproven and may struggle in Australian conditions.

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The next key battle is that of the star batsman, England’s Joe Root against Australia’s Steve Smith. Root has effectively carried England so far this year and Smith has often played a similar role for the Aussies. In order for England to have any chance of success you feel that England’s captain will need to win this particular battle.

Finally, of course a key battle will be that between the two bowling line-ups. England will undoubtedly be hurt by the loss of star pace bowler Jofra Archer whose express pace would definitely have caused the Australians problems. Instead England will have to rely on the old guard, James Anderson is on the verge of 40 and Stuart Broad is also a veteran of the game, these two have had limited success down under before, this will obviously need to change. In contrast, the Aussie bowlers such as Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins have had significant success against us in the past, hopefully we have learnt from our past failures.

If I’m honest I don’t think many England fans go into this series with a lot of hope, however, the most dangerous team is one that is playing under no pressure. Plus, England have Ben Stokes back and that man can do absolutely anything on his day, the Aussies no all too well about that.

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