Island Magazines November 2021 Sandown and Shanklin area

November 2021 Sandown & Shanklin Area

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ith the clocks going back an hour and the night’s drawing in there is no doubt that Autumn is here. For me I try to keep as busy as I would in the Spring and Summer months and if our unpredictable British weather allows, I will continue being outdoors as much as I can, just this time I will be kitted out in a hat, scarf, and gloves. Even a gentle stroll to a local beauty spot with a flask of warming soup (see our recipe on page 16) will do you good. It is important that we look after our mental health as well as our physical health.

Around this time of year, I try my hand at a new hobby to keep me busy. The list of crafty and non-crafty hobbies is extensive, and I am hoping to jump on the macrame trend and fill my home with macrame plant hangers. For those of a certain age, you will remember when this was a popular craft first time around and you may even have a plant hanger, wall hanging or even a lampshade from back then!!!

Inside this issue you will find news from local councillors, information, editorial, puzzles and adverts from a fantastic range of advertisers offering a variety of services.

As always, please use their services and support these local businesses.

Our ‘Dates for your Dairy’ section lists a variety of events happening both in your local area and across the island and there should be something for everyone to enjoy.

I hope you all have a fantastic November, stay safe and I look forward to catching up with you next month.

Debbie 07880 587 931

taste

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islandmagazines@gmail.com www.islandmagazines.co.uk facebook.com/islandmagazines twitter.com/islandmagazines Island Magazines Mailbox No 6 Store it Self Storage Ryde Unit 1 Nicholson Road Ryde Isle of Wight, PO33 1BE All information is correct at time of printing

Monday - Methodist Church Hall, Regent St, Shanklin 9am, 10am & 5.30pm

NEW MEMBERS WELCOME

Julie 07813 635202 or joolsmarj@btinternet.com ʼn_vì äì ì® ¨àĞ ÑÊ

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Community News for The Bay From Richard & Jon Email. priest.gilbey@live.co.uk Welcome Bay Residents Congratulations to Shanklin Voluntary Youth & Community Centre for securing the Community Green Flag from Keep Britain Tidy in its 25th Anniversary year – this nationally prestigious award coincides with the 25th anniversary of the opening of TC’s at Shanklin VYCC (re-opened in 1996 and building on the foundations laid in the 1960’s and taken forward by former members and new volunteers).

Sandown Green Town Volunteers have also celebrated securing South & South East England in Bloom Gold Standard and be coastal community in its category – a reflection of the work and commitment of a team of dedicated individuals.

Part of their work involves maintenance around the memorials (both Shanklin and Sandown’s Memorials are 100 years old and YouTube videos of Growing Up in The Bay highlight the history of the memorials, as well as the service personnel that served from the Bay).

Plans for an Armistice Display, in Sandown Library, is also in place involving pupils from the Bay CE Primary School and should be in place for 11 November, in advance of Remembrance Day on 14th November.

Congratulations to Lynne James, the school’s Family Liaison Officer, for receiving the Laura Groves Award for her work for families and children from the school, in particular providing a Pop-Up 4

Food Bank and Hampers for Homes, supported by the Town Council.

Shanklin Theatre’s programme includes Beyond the West End finishing on 4th November, Comic Kevin Wilson (7th), Witney Houston (2nd) and Tina Turner (7th) tributes, Pink Floyd (19th) Tribute and Masters of Musicals (20th), Focus 50th Anniversary Tour (22nd), Jaki Graham Jack Up The 80’s (27th), and First Acts Christmas Panto Cinderella (29th and 30th).

SVYCC has secured funding to provide a Beaches, Buildings, Bars and Battles heritage project with support from SWR, with initiatives rolling out over the coming months – the centre has also secured funds to develop its community activities, such as Table Tennis over the winter.

Shanklin Bowls Club have started their indoor winter league and new members are welcome to get involved via the details on the website.

There have also been new shops opening in Sandown and Shanklin, and residents are welcoming the new arrivals, as well as supporting existing shops and businesses.

Funding has been allocated to support Fireworks on New Year’s Day in Sandown, and a charity fundraising dip in the Bay is planned – more details in future magazines.

Stay safe and enjoy the Autumn Richard and Jon

November Facts November actually translates into “ninth month” in Latin. It was the ninth month of the year before January and February were added to the Roman Calendar. Despite its change to 11th position, November was never renamed.

50+ Health & Fun Club

“wants

November begins on the same day of the week as March every year and also February except in leap years.

November is the only month used to represent a letter in the phonetic alphabet.

November 1st is National Cook for Your Pets Day. (I don’t think I need to add anything more to this) The fifth of November marks the day in 1605, a group of Roman Catholics plotted to blow up Parliament while King James I was inside. Fortunately, the plot was foiled.

YOU” If you are over 50 and looking for new friends and activities such as Table Tennis and Short Mat Bowls in Shanklin, please call John or Jan on 01983 404443 or 07541 098 982

The Anglo-Saxons had quite the fitting name for November. It’s usually at this time of the year in the northern hemisphere that cold winds start to chill you to the bone, and as such, they called it “Wind Monath”, or wind month.

The November birth flower is the chrysanthemum. One of the world’s most popular cut flowers because of its variety. Available in a huge spectrum of colours these flowers are thought to bring good luck and joy into any home Those born in November can be born under one of two very different star signs. If you’re born before November 23rd then you have the sign of Scorpio. Those born on November 23rd or later have the sign of Sagittarius. Scorpios are said to value trust and honesty above other things, as well as being quite intense yet imaginative people. Those born under the sign of Sagittarius are quite different, being energetic and idealistic, while also generous and open-minded.

According to research published in 2008, serial killers are more likely to be born in November than any other month.

Happy Birthday to all those celebrating this month.

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Report from Sandown Town & County Councillor Debbie Andre T:- 400744/07948 757977 E:- debbieandre4sandown@gmail.com Facebook:- debbieandre4sandown As we head towards winter, we need to be ever more mindful to keep ourselves and our community as safe as possible. Don’t forget to look out for your invitation to have the Covid19 booster. We must also be mindful to keep to the Covid19 guidance that may change and is updated as infection rates change. Help and support is still available through a variety of sources. Local information for our island can be found at www.islehelp.me or by calling the Free Advice Line: 0800 144 8848 – Mon to Fri 9am – 5pm. This is for a wide range of issues and not just those related to Covid19. www.keeptheislandsafe.org I’m grateful to everyone who has contacted me regarding trespass and potential vandalism of our derelict buildings.

I have escalated this issue to Cllr Ian Stephens who, as the Cabinet Member for Community Safety, is leading a multiagency taskforce to engage with our MP, Bob Seely, to lobby Government ministers for primary legislation that will give us the tools we need to bring these properties back into use. Our local policing team have been working hard to regularly patrol the areas of concern to deter anyone from trespassing on these properties with the intent to cause damage. I continue to work closely with our local policing team and regularly go out on patrols with them.

to ensure that this whole area is regenerated sensitively with regard to our highly valued heritage and in line with our Biosphere status, enhancing the natural environment that already exists.

Your IOW Council Administration has issued its Corporate Plan with our priorities for our island. Our key priorities are affordable housing, economic growth and climate change. The plan features a list of 50 corporate aims which will sit at the very heart of the authority, providing a blueprint for the direction of staff, priorities and core values of the new Alliance Administration.

The pressures on our community caused by the lack of affordable housing and the seasonal and low wage nature of our economy also need to be tackled, as must the council’s long-term funding position which continues to be concerning in the absence of the long promised but still undelivered Island Deal from government.

To read the full version of the Corporate Plan please go to: iow.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s5018/ Appendix%201.pdf

As always, I’m available if you wish to raise and discuss any issues. Please contact me on the above details and don’t forget my monthly Councillor surgery, come rain or shine, sometimes in conjunction with our local policing team, on the first Saturday It’s wonderful to see Brown’s coming back of every month at Yaverland Sailing Club to life and I see them as an essential part from 11am. Cllr Heather Humby has of our public realm offer for the area. My thanks to Kate and her team for investing so resumed her weekly surgery at Sandown much energy and hard work into providing Library and is available every Thursday from 11am to midday and also on 402024 such a great facility for our community to enjoy. I am working with Cabinet colleagues or heatherhumby@sandowntowncouncil. gov.uk 6

subscribe Never miss out on reading a copy of Island Magazines.

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For DIGITAL subscriptions please email shanklinmagazine@gmail.com and include the words ‘subscribe digital’ in the email, then sit back, relax and wait for the next issue to drop into your email inbox.

For PRINTED subscriptions there will be a small charge of £1.20 per month payable 6 months in advance. Email islandmagazines@gmail.com with your name, address and which area you would like or call us on 07880 587931.

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Report from IW Councillor Ian Ward for Sandown South Email: ian.ward@iow.gov.uk Telephone: 01983 403193 Mobile: 07772559093 Facebook: Cllr Ian Ward BEM – Sandown South A GREAT SUMMER SEASON FOR THE ISLAND – BUT WHAT OF THE FUTURE? 2021 was the best summer season for the Island and Sandown in particular for many, many years. The difficulty for tourists wishing to go abroad persuaded many of them to holiday in the UK instead, much to our benefit. Unfortunately, most of the restrictions have now been removed and people are already traveling back abroad. While some will continue to holiday in the UK clearly numbers will diminish. The simple facts are that several of our hotels closed because UK and Island tourism diminished over the last 20 to 30 years or so.

If Sandown is to regenerate our tourist economy, we must provide attractions that will appeal to a national market and encourage tourists to come here. We will shortly have to make a decision about the future of the Sandham/Dinosaur area. Let’s be adventurous and open-minded about the opportunities we could embrace. Keeping the status quo will not boost our tourism, the towns economy, or our dilapidated hotels!!

REGENERATION UPDATES White Corner Building – Station Avenue/Fitzroy Street – Action Underway The new owners of the building have contacted Council Officers to discuss their plans. As there were no drawing plans for the building a measurement survey was conducted on the 8th Oct. Their architect will now draw up some option proposals which will be submitted to the Planning Dept. They have the previous planning application, which was to demolish and rebuild, but the architect’s preferred option is to renovate the building. The new owner’s details have been passed to the planning enforcement team and they will take the matter of the site condition up with them.

The Ocean Hotel – Slowly Moving Forward I have been in contact with the new owners of the Ocean Hotel. They told me that they are making progress in the resolution of the outstanding legal issues and when resolved they will start on the plans they have for the Hotel. They also told me their administrators had several delays getting the site registered with the Land Registry.

(Which prevents the IW Council from issuing the Sec 215 Clean Up Order) I have passed this information onto the IW Councils planning enforcement officer.

10

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Right at Home Isle of Wight, is a local business owned by Vicky and Paul Butler and supported by their Registered Manager, Katie Meadows, along with a team of Care Givers who are professional, caring, and enthusiastic. The team have been hand-picked for their knowledge, values, and experience and one question that overrode everything, and which Vicky and Paul asked themselves was – ‘would we trust this person to look after our own mum and dad in their home?’

Right at Home Isle of Wight, offer a range of services which is dependent on each client’s needs. You may need help with meal preparation, medication support, personal care, respite, or companionship.

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They are based locally in Bembridge at 7 High Street, and their office is open from 8.30am – 5pm weekdays and they encourage the local community to pop in for a cuppa and ask them any questions you may have relating to care requirements or recruitment opportunities.

The office is on the first floor so if you have any mobility issues, they can arrange to visit you instead for a chat.

Vicky and Paul understand that their Care Givers are important too and ensure they are receiving the best working conditions, benefits and are being supported so they never feel alone.

If you feel like you would benefit from some support and help or have a family member you are concerned about, give Vicky or Katie a call on 01983 218318 and see their main advert.

Contact Lui Tel: 520522 Mob: 07795 363 534 www.primotechnical.co.uk primotechnical@gmail.com

Gatten and Lake Primary School Oaklyn Gardens, Shanklin, PO37 7DG Tel: 01983 869910 | Email: clerk@gattenlakepri.iow.sch.uk

Have you ever considered becoming a School Governor? Gatten & Lake Primary School is looking to recruit a new co-opted member of the governing body.

The school stands out as a beacon of good practice and a destination of choice for many of our local children. The school has responded magnificently to the challenges and disruption caused by the pandemic and I am always impressed with the dedication of staff and all of the work undertaken.

As school governors, we work closely with the Headteacher, the Deputy Headteacher and all school staff, providing a system of checks and balances that supports, challenges and contributes to the school’s aims, objectives and vision. We work in partnership with the school and are not involved in the day-to-day management of the school. This is the responsibility of the Headteacher and her team. We are here to support, offer guidance where appropriate, and to draw upon our own professional expertise, to assist the school and its staff in shaping school improvement plans, advice and monitoring financial planning, and most importantly; supporting the Headteacher as she leads the school, shapes its future direction and instigates new systems and procedures where appropriate.

We are looking for an individual who will have a combination of relevant, transferable skills, in order to strengthen the collective skills of the current governors. We are not expecting one person to have all these skills, however someone who has experience in data and finance would be ideal.

If you are interested in joining us and want to find out more about what the role involves or to visit the school please get in touch, with Rebecca Day (Headteacher), Andy Creed (Clerk to the Governing Body), or me via the school. We would be delighted to tell you all about it!

I hope to hear from you soon – the children deserve the best we can give them.

Yours sincerely, Rob Woodley-Thompson Chair – Gatten & Lake Primary School Governing Body

Dates for your Diary Saturday 6th November – Spectacular Firework Display at the Isle of Wight Community Club, Cowes. Family disco will be starting at 7pm with fireworks at 8pm.

Club open until midnight. Free entry but donations will be welcome.

and entertainment from Sandown & Shanklin Military Band, Steve Love, Balloon Modelling, Vectis Brass Band, The Combined School Choir, Medina Marching Bank, Magic from Huxley and much more.

Christmas light switch on at 6pm

Friday 12th November – Medina Marching Band Presents a Festival of Remembrance in aid of The Royal British Legion at 7.30pm at Christ the King College, Newport, PO30 5QT. For more information email medinamarchingband@gmail.com Ticket entry £5

Sunday 21st November - Winter Market at Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary. 10am – 4.30pm There will be lots of stalls selling a variety of items and gifts plus plenty of Christmas themed things going on at the same time too. Free entry and parking – donations to the sanctuary gratefully accepted

Friday 12th November – Fund Raising Quiz night for Vectis Radio at the College restaurant. £12 per ticket to include your meal. There will be a raffle. 7pm start. Free parking, contact kelvin.currie@vectisradio. fm for tickets.

Sunday 14th November – Fundraiser & Open Day at Gem Ink Hair & Aesthetics from 12 – 6pm. All money raised will go to Mastectomy Tattooing Alliance. Pop up mini massage, magic, cake sale, food and drink, raffle, tattoo pop up shop, tombola and more. 13 High Street, Ryde, PO33 2HW Friday 19th November - Thursday 23rd December – I love Wight Artisan Christmas Shop from 9.30 – 4.30pm at The Garlic Farm, Mersley Lane, Newchurch.

Saturday 20th November – Day of Christmas, family fun day for all ages.

FREE outdoor ice-skating rink and disco from 10am – 7pm on the Quay, Newport. At St Thomas’ Square and St James’s square, Newport there will be music, performances 14

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15

Soup Glorious Soup...

It’s soup season and nothing tastes better than homemade.

The recipe below for butternut squash soup also uses coconut milk which adds a mild, creamy flavour and takes it from good to fabulous.

This recipe is perfect for lunch or dinner with some fresh bread to dip or why not have a steaming bowl of it while sitting round the fire pit, followed by some toasted marshmallows.

Ingredients • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 1 onion diced • 1 butternut squash (approx. 1kg/2lb), peeled and chopped into smallish cubes • ½ teaspoon chilli flakes or to taste • 2 cloves garlic grated or crushed • 1 inch ginger grated • Salt and pepper to taste • 400ml coconut milk • 450ml Chicken or vegetable stock cube • 2 tablespoons coriander chopped (leave some back for garnish) • Pumpkin seeds for garnish (optional) Instructions 1.

Put the olive oil in a large saucepan and add the diced onion. Fry on a gentle heat with the lid on for 5 minutes until softened but not brown. Stir occasionally.

2.

When the onions are softened, add the butternut squash, garlic, chilli flakes and ginger and fry on a low heat for 2 minutes.

3.

Add the stock and the coconut milk and bring to the boil then simmer for 1520 minutes until the butternut squash is soft.

4.

Turn the heat off and add the chopped coriander and blitz with a blender until smooth.

5.

Serve the soup decorated with coriander leaves and pumpkin seeds.

16

Not too many scams to warn you about this month although the scammers won’t have taken time off so please be really vigilant with any unsolicited communications.

• We have received a report from a resident who received a call from a funeral plan company offering to carry out her funeral much cheaper than her existing plan.

She engaged with them initially but then realised that they might not be genuine and on speaking to a local funeral directors she realised that the offer they were making was unrealistic and it was probably an attempt to get her details – a phishing scam. When checking the number they called from online she realised that there were a lot of negative reports about them so instructed her bank not to allow payments to be taken.

Lake Green Christian Mission Percy Road, Lake PO36 9HS All-age service followed by tea: 4:30 pm 7th November Find us online at:

www.lakegreenchristianmission.org.uk

• We would like to make you aware of a new service recently launched. The scheme is urging people to “stop, hang up and call 159” to check that calls purporting THIS SIZE ADVERT to be from your bank are for real. The idea is to help those who believe they have been COULD BE YOURS contacted by scammers claiming to be their FOR JUST £16 bank, or by fraudsters who encourage them to transfer money. According to Stop Scams For more info email UK, criminal gangs stole over £470 million islandmagazines@gmail.com from individuals and small businesses last or call 07880 587931 year by pretending to be a bank or other service provider, encouraging consumers to falsely make a payment or transfer money.

When calling 159, you’ll be taken through an option menu in which each bank that has signed up to the service is read aloud. Customers are then able to use their telephone keypad to be put through to their bank. You’ll then be directed through to your bank’s customer service department. Note that calling the service will cost the same as making a national rate call, which means if you’ve got inclusive minutes it’ll be taken from those. For those who bank with firms not yet involved in the 159 pilot – you should continue to contact your bank by using the number on the back of your debit or credit card.

Remember Scam emails can be forwarded to report@phishing.gov.uk and scam texts to 7726.

17

News report from Chris Quirk & Michael Beston IOW & Shanklin Town Councillors. christopher.quirk@iow.gov.uk or michael.beston@iow.gov.uk Chris 07802 705831 and Michael 07885 644426 Shanklin Performing Arts Centre Update - The removal of the old carpet flooring has now been completed. To say this was an easy task would be an understatement. The old carpet had been glued directly to plywood that has been affixed to the original floorboards.

We hired a professional mechanical carpet cutting machine to separate the carpet from the glue.

Progress was slow but all the old flooring had to be removed before the new sprung dance floor could be laid. Stage two of this project will see a new sprung practice floor being installed on the newly formed floor space. Dancing on a dance specific sprung floor is essential to protect the growing bodies of young dancers from lifelong injuries. The intention of acquiring this building by the Shanklin Theatre Trustee’s is the need to expand professional shows at the Theatre, but also the need for community use. We will keep you updated as our work progresses. Our thanks go to Shanklin Green Towns Group for attending and pruning the front garden shrubs and bushes. Our thanks also go to Shanklin Men in Sheds for renovating the wooden seating bench.

Island Roads Update - Increased Leaf Cleaning - Island Roads has begun an intensive period of street cleaning aimed at removing autumn leaves from the highway.

Over the next ten weeks, additional mechanical sweepers and extra shifts will be used to remove tonnes of leaves from the network ahead of winter. Areas with known

high leaf fall will be targeted in particular.

The leaves themselves - and also additional material collected during the sweeping - will be sorted and recycled. It is important to remove leaves from the road and footway network. Not only can leaves become slippery to cars and pedestrians if left uncollected, heavy leaf-fall can also obscure road markings and compromise the highway drainage system. Island Roads are aware of when and where leaf-fall has been an issue and will focus their efforts on these areas during the coming ten weeks.

Once the leaves have been collected, they are taken to the Island Roads’ depot at Stag Lane. The leaf pile is then drained and released water captured and filtered before being discharged back into the sewer system. The leaf litter is then sorted so material such as sand and grit can be reused as building materials. The leaf pile itself is then used for compost and soil.

Around 95% of material gathered during the leaf sweeping and collection is recycled in some form. This is very much in line with the aim of providing the island’s road maintenance service in the most efficient and environmentally friendly way they can. For further information, please contact info@ islandroads.com or visit www. islandroads.com continued over the page

News report from Chris Quirk & Michael Beston continued Contactless Card Advice from Hampshire Constabulary - Keep your contactless card safe - From 15th October the spending limit for contactless cards was increased from £45 to £100. Whilst it will take time to update all the card payment terminals the increase does make bank card theft more attractive to offenders. It will be easier for a thief to use a lost or stolen card to make larger purchases, especially if the victim has not noticed that the card is missing. You can limit the risk of contactless fraud by following some simple steps: • Invest in a purse chain with bells which attaches your wallet to your bag or pocket • Remove all valuables including bags with bank cards from your car • Check bank statements regularly, if you see unexpected payments contact your bank immediately • Don’t let anyone take your card out of sight to make a payment and always ask for a receipt • If you think your card is lost or stolen, contact your bank straight away to cancel it. Many mobile banking apps have the facility to pause or cancel a card immediately • If you have been a victim of fraud, report it to Action Fraud using their online tool, or by calling 0800 123 0240

Shanklin Town Mayor’s update

by Cllr Chris Quirk The Town Council continues to seek a long-term solution to the pond by St. Blasius Church on Big Mead. We are in discussion with Isle of Wight Council Officers who will be attending our next Council Meeting, considering the need for dredging and

and restoring the integrity of the pond, dealing with the ongoing rat infestation, and ensuring that the feeder stream is flowing and not redirected.

A number of residents have raised concerns over the felling of a few trees along the boundaries of Big Mead; one of these was removed because it had become dangerous, the others were ash trees suffering from ash die-back disease which is having a similar impact on ash trees that Dutch elm disease had on elms a number of years ago. The trees that have been removed are being replaced with saplings.

Other issues of concern to residents are the historic pathways and steps that link Shanklin and Luccombe to the beach, and we continue to press the Isle of Wight Council and Island Roads for the restoration and reopening of Luccombe and Appley Steps and securing the retaining walls to ensure the ongoing viability of Osborne Steps.

Our thanks to Shanklin Men in Sheds, who operate out of Winchester House, for refurbishing two park benches owned by the Town Council. One has been installed in the small garden at the front of the Old Library building on Victoria Avenue; if you have thoughts on where the other might be sighted, please pass suggestions on to the Town Clerk or myself.

The Old Library is in advanced stages of being converted into a bespoke Performing Arts Centre, and Shanklin Theatre and Community Trust who already have a long lease on the site are in the advanced stages of purchasing the building from the Isle of Wight Council.

Our story so far…

We emerged from the latest COVID-19 lockdown with a totally new street facing façade with 14 specialist shops and Post Office on the High Street.

From this in 1970 to this today.

The newest shopping attraction on the island is a place to visit, to engage, to meet friends, have a drink and find the latest exciting new things...

So come on down and when asked by your friends where to catch up… the answer is ‘meet me at the CTC’ for an eclectic mix of fantastic gift ideas and everyday needs.

THE WIGHT STYLE

THE GIN JOINT Over 300 gins in store

ideas WIGHT GIFTS & JEWELLERY

collectables

THE HOLE IN THE WALL SWEET SHOP

STAR WARS SPACEPORT HARRY POTTER’s cupboard under the stairs 14shops

AQUAZEN

bath & body

steampunk

TASTES OF BRITAIN MARVEL

MOVIES & MUSIC GEAR

60’S

S.O.C SOCKS OF COWES THAT UMBRELLA SHOP mystical & magical

VITAL SPARK dragons GIFTS

THEMED SHOPPING STREET

COWES TOWN CENTRAL SHOPPING ARCADE 104 High St, Cowes

OPEN 10 am til 5:15 pm Monday to Saturday (10 til 4pm on Sundays)