Loop Mag : East Belfast September 2017

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ISSUE #32

East Belfast Edition 42,000 COPIES EVERY MONTH

MAGAZI N E

SEP 2017

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Local News

Food & Drink

Greenway Commute

Local History

HEADLINES • PAGE 4

BEST BUDS • PAGE 20

SUSTRANS • PAGE 22

LOOKING BACK • PAGE 32

Latest news and happenings in and around East Belfast and beyond

A selectionof recipes from one of Ireland’s best cookery schools

Meet Nicola who has a magical commute by cycling to work every day

Aidan Campbell is back with an updated copy of his Castlereagh book

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#32 SEP 17 Sustrans is delivering the Community Active Travel Programme over the next three years in partnership with communities from twelve Council wards across the city ---------L-R Gerald Murphy, James Mawhinney, Tom O’Dowd (Sustrans), Sarah Mawhinney (Sustrans), Mervyn Cleland, David Stewart ----------

East Belfast Men’s Shed Group Get Back On Their Bikes The East Belfast Wise Men’s Shed, based at Connswater Shopping Centre, has been taking part in the Public Health Agency’s (PHA) new Community Active Travel Programme.

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people returning to cycling, especially after decades of not getting on a bike.

Our work with the men demonstrates that people can be part of the growing trend in active travel in Belfast, regardless of age.”

David Tumilty, Health Improvement Manager at the PHA said: “Physical activity is a great way to improve your health and wellbeing. Not only does it reduce your risk of developing chronic conditions including heart disease, stroke, some forms of cancer and type 2 diabetes, it also increases energy levels, helps maintain a healthy weight and benefits your mental health, reducing stress and anxiety. This Community Active Travel Programme is a great way to help individuals get active and work towards the Chief Medical Officer’s guidelines of 150 minutes moderate intensity physical activity each week. For advice on getting more active, visit the PHA’s website www. choosetolivebetter.com which also has tips on setting targets and more ways to move more and move more often.”

Community organisations : Find out more: 9043 4569 sustrans.org.uk/NIcommunity

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elivered by Sustrans, the programme is designed to encourage everyone across Belfast to walk and cycle more as part of everyday life. Members of the East Belfast Wise Men’s shed, who are all aged 50+, have received their National Standard Cycling Skills training and certificates from Sustrans, and the group has also benefitted from a set of ‘red rider’ bikes supplied to help them get more active. Mervyn Cleland from the Wise Men’s Shed was delighted with the impact. He said: “Sustrans programme has been great for us. It’s wonderful to see the men, some in their 80’s getting used to cycling again.

Riding a bicycle is a skill that lasts a lifetime, which I think the men are proving by getting out on the red bikes and exploring their community.”

Presenting the certificates on behalf of Sustrans, Active Travel Officer, Tom O’Dowd said: “Working with the Wise Men’s Shed is a great pleasure for Sustrans. It is very encouraging to see

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Contents WELCOME TO LOOP

04

WEB www.loopmag.net

PUBLISHED IN ASSOCIATION WITH:

Any views expressed within are not necessarily endorsed by Loop Publications Ltd. Reference to any specific product, service or organisation does not constitute or imply its endorsement or recommendation by Loop Publications Ltd. Links and contacts are provided for reader convenience and do not constitute or imply endorsement or recommendation by Loop Publications Ltd. Any reproduction without permission is prohibited.

18

LOCAL NEWS Headlines

COMMUNITY Local Initiatives

20

COOKBOOK

A round up of local community groups, events and advice

22

24

26

Magical Commute

Help at Hand

All About You

SUSTRANS

ALZHEIMERS

HEALTH

Some news on some fantastic events coming up this month

28

30

32

On the Scene

Aidan Campbell

THE ARTS

Jill at Refound has a cocktail ready and Christine is on the road!

There are more fantastic exhibitions happening this month

SPORT

EVENT GUIDE

A round up of all the latest sports news and results locally

Check out our handy guide to September’s events near you

Party Time

34

On Track

#32 SEP 17

A host of recipes from one of Ireland’s leading cookery schools

We meet Nicola who cycles to work on one of our greenways

HOME

03

Recipes

News, headlines and views from in and around East Belfast and beyond

SEPT 17

MAGAZINE

With a difference _

Fitness advice, the perfect gym bag, head lice info and eye care

LOOKING BACK Aidan is back with a revised version of his Castlereagh book

36

38

Planner

Plan Your Month

WHAT’S ON

We have compiled all the regular and groups in the east into one handy guide

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Your Local Monthly _

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Each bike seats 15, 10 pedal and 5 rest. At least 8 keen cyclists are required for the tour. Our bike tour includes a driver and barista to guide the tour and serve you. If you want to use our barrel and tap system, you can pre-order a keg of beer or Prosecco.

TOUR • 1 Hour City Centre Tour • 2 Hour City Centre & Cathedral Quarter Tour TICKETS You can book Single Seats or the Full Bike (private tour). Book your tickets online: weetoasttours.com CONTACT Ron, Customer Service: 075 9159 3441 Jennifer, Corporate Events, Marketing & PR: 077 1784 3380 email us: info@weetoasttours.com Tours depart from the corner of College & Queen’s Streets. Just steps away from our address.

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26/05/2017 12:04

04 NEWS

Beat the Street – the hugely popular physical activity initiative ---------It had more than 300,000 walking and cycling in 2016 ----------

#32 SEP 17

“

Beat the Street is a fun game that brings whole communities together

LOOPMAG.NET

Beat The Street Is Back And Set To Be Bigger Than Ever In Northern Ireland People living, working and going to School throughout Belfast, Lisburn, Newtownabbey and Holywood are invited to take part in this FREE, fun street game which aims to improve health and raise awareness of the importance of moving.

O

nce again, for seven weeks from Wednesday 13 September, Beat the Street will transform Belfast, Lisburn, Newtownabbey and Holywood into an interactive game with local people rewarded with points and prizes for getting moving across their community.

More than 370 beeping and flashing sensors called Beat Boxes will be dotted across the area which people can tap with cards to track their journey. In doing so, they will receive points and win prizes either for their chosen school, community group or as individuals.

Beat the Street is being brought to Northern Ireland by the National Charity Partnership, a partnership

between Diabetes UK, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and Tesco who are working together to help millions of people improve their health through physical activity and health eating programmes.

Jenna Hall, programme director for the National Charity Partnership, said: “Beat the Street is a fun game that brings whole communities together. It encourages families to get involved in active travel and we hope these changes will continue long after the game has finished.”

In 2016, the seven-week game saw more than 30,000 local people from Belfast, Lisburn, Newtownabbey and Holywood join in with Beat the Street, walking and cycling 157,000 miles – more than 30 times the

INFO

The National Charity Partnership is funding Beat the Street in Northern Ireland as part of its Let’s Do This campaign. For more info: www.lets-dothis.org.uk

length of The Great Wall of China.

People living, working or going to school in Northern Ireland are being challenged to beat last year’s distance and go even further in 2017.

Beat the Street helped get thousands of people active in Northern Ireland last year including Janet Fitchie who found the game helped her recover from back surgery. Janet is one of thousands of players eager for the return of the game: “I would encourage everyone to take part in

Beat the Street, either as a group or by yourself. No equipment is needed, it’s free, it improves fitness and is a great way to discover local areas and meet people.

“This year having had further back surgery, I am looking forward to setting myself daily goals to push and motivate myself with my rehab.

Being able to track my journeys is encouraging and gaining points to pass on to the group of my choice is fun. Roll on 13 September!”

Follow Beat the Street Northern Ireland on Facebook or on Twitter (@BTS_NI) to find out more about the game.

IN MEMORY

“

M&S staff took to the road in June for a commemorative walk in memory of Matthew Thompson (39) ----------

M&S STAFF WALK TO REMEMBER MATTHEW

Matthew, M&S Newtownbreda Food Commercial Manager tragically died whilst jogging on the Lagan Towpath in June last year

S

ince his passing, M&S has installed defibs in all local stores, and Matthew’s colleagues have fundraised for staff heart screening for those who fall within Matthew’s age category. Pictured at a walk from M&S Newtownbreda to the Lagan Towpath in memory of Matthew are his friends and colleagues Ryan Lemon (M&S Northern Ireland Head of Region), Lauren McCaughtry (Matthew’s partner and Commercial Manager M&S Lisburn), Killian Connolly (M&S Lisburn Commercial Operations Manager) and Lynsey Beatty (M&S 50 Years Project Manager).

PROPERTY NEWS

Overall average house price decreased slightly in the second quarter ----------

Even though the number of transactions was at the highest recorded level since the property crash ten years ago, according to Ulster University’s latest Quarterly House Price Index report.

House Prices Drop Despite Sales Increase Ulster University’s research is produced in partnership with the NI Housing Executive and Progressive Building Society. Analysing the performance of the east Belfast housing market between April - June 2017, the report reveals overall average house price of £162,364 down from £168,119 in Q1.

T

he volume of transactions in the survey in Northern Ireland is 2,372. The research showed a number of factors could be behind this outcome including the mix of properties by type and age in this survey and wider macroeconomic and political factors. Uncertainty arising from Brexit, the outcomes of the UK general election, the present lack of agreement on the formation of the Northern Ireland Executive, slower growth rates in the

national and local economy and a number of pessimistic economic forecasts over the short to medium term are all recorded as contributing factors. Lead researcher, Professor Stanley McGreal from Ulster University said: “This latest survey has mixed messages regarding the health of the Northern Ireland housing market - transaction levels are high suggesting a strong market in the second quarter of 2017 however this optimism is not reflected in average prices which are

generally more subdued.”

Michael Boyd, Progressive Deputy Chief Executive and Finance Director added: “This report reflects a mixed picture for the Northern Ireland Housing sector with the strongest volume of transactions for over a decade but a weighted decrease in the average sale price falling by 1.1% over the quarter.

There is no doubt that wider economic and political factors are having an impact including uncertainty following the triggering of Article 50, wage

growth lagging behind inflation and the potential for the rise in interest rates.

“However as one of the most affordable regions of the UK, confidence remains within the sector and this is supported by affordability, a stable local labour market and economic growth of 0.3% in the early part of 2017. Just how the external political and macroeconomic issues play out remains to be seen but it is clear that these will be reflected in the level of growth of the local housing market in the months ahead.”

HELP FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY FIRST TRUST BANK BRANCH CLOSURE AT KNOCK, UPPER NEWTOWNARDS RD The Consumer Council has produced a series of online resources that will help consumers affected. These include a current account price comparison table and regional maps highlighting alternative financial services available in towns experiencing branch closures. Maeve Holly, Senior Consumer Policy Officer at The Consumer Council, advises: “Consumers should shop around to make sure they get the best overall deal and service from their bank. Our support tools will help consumers explore alternative options, if their existing bank cannot give them the services they need. We have worked with Ordnance Survey to produce a series of maps highlighting the financial services that remain in areas affected by branch closures.

These include Post Offices, cash machines, credit unions and other banks.” Maeve added; “The Consumer Council understood that First Trust Bank had written to customers affected by the branch closure and held a public information evening in the Magherafelt branch.

Customers who have not yet considered making alternative arrangements should contact First Trust directly to discuss their options, and raise any concerns they may have, before the branch closes.”

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To access The Consumer Council’s online resources visit www.consumercouncil.org.uk or contact 0800 121 6022 to receive a printed copy of any of our resources.

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PICTURED LEFT: Maureen Greenaway and Candy RIGHT: Rachael Anderson

NEWS

Pressure on social care – NI’s biggest growing issue – and economic inactivity are being taken on together ---------Thanks to ingenious planning from NI voluntary organisation ----------

#32 SEP 17

“

They take me to the hospital or any other places I want to go. I’ve only to ask.

“

Awaken your senses and make memories with family and friends in Ards and North Down, where the seaside and countryside meet.

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Two Massive Social Problems Tackled At The Same Time Maureen Greenaway is 89 years old and she says her life has been transformed by CLARE.

C

LARE staff and Community Champion volunteers keep in regular contact with her, help her organise and get to medical appointments, and generally keep her connected to the local community.

Until recently Maureen relied on her hearing dog for the deaf, Candy, but has been devastated by Candy’s recent death. Maureen said: “It seems to be very lonely and there are things you need and things you need to have done and, I just

have to ask CLARE and they will do those things for me. it is a wonderful project. They take me to the hospital or any other places I want to go. I’ve only to ask.”

CLARE have also connected Maureen to the Volunteer Now Befriending Scheme to organise a regular volunteer visit to her north Belfast home and keep her company.

At the same time, Rachael Anderson, 21, has just been accepted into Queen’s University to do a degree

Where The Seaside Meets The Countryside And It’s On Belfast’s Doorstep

in nursing, after volunteering with CLARE. She had previously applied but was unsuccessful in gaining a place. Rachael said: “Getting turned down when I first applied didn’t stop me wanting to become a nurse.

Volunteering with CLARE seemed like a great idea because I like helping people, but I’m also delighted that it has helped me get into Queen’s – CLARE played a really important role in me getting to where I want to go.”

CLARE (Creative Local Action, Responses & Engagement) uses a deceptively simple model: it helps older and vulnerable people maintain their independence and remain part of the community by matching them to volunteers – community champions who in turn develop skills that can help them find work. The volunteers gain experience by helping local people with practical things, like accompanying them to appointments or collecting prescriptions, and several have been supported through qualifications or gone on to gain employment, particularly in the care sector.

CLARE is looking to expand beyond North Belfast and this week published an initial report exploring how it could roll out across Belfast.

The CLARE report found huge

support among potential partner organisations in each area of Belfast, with the vast majority keen to work with the organisation.

The community-led voluntary organisation was able to build its services thanks to the Accelerator Programme from Amplify NI, an organisation powered by the Young Foundation and supported by the Big Lottery Fund that is dedicated to tackling inequalities by helping local people develop ideas to beat social problems. Amplify NI has helped several organisations across Northern Ireland take great ideas and make them a reality, taking on all sorts of local issues in the process.

Mandy Cowden, Programme Manager at CLARE, said: “We started off in Mount Vernon and, with the help and dedication of our volunteers, our project is demonstrating real success. We have since moved into other areas of North Belfast and are now looking for support and funding to scale this model across Belfast so that other communities can benefit. It is about changing the way isolated people are connected into the community and valuing the resources already existing in communities in the form of local groups and volunteers.”

PICTURED CLOCKWISE Exploris, Cockle Row, Mount Stewart

Escape from everyday life and breathe in the fresh sea air, enjoy wonderful scenery and taste the delicious local flavours and all right on Belfast’s doorstep.

B

e sure to pick up our NEW autumn/winter Experiences AND Events Visitor Guide to help you plan your visit, whether it be a short break, a couple of nights away or day trip. The guide is packed to the brim with so much to do, inspirational ideas and the latest events - available at Visitor Information Centres throughout N.I. Our website, visitardsandnorthdown. com, gives all the information you

could ever need to know from things to do to places to stay. If you prefer to chat, our local expert staff in Bangor and Newtownards Visitor Information Centres will be more than happy to offer knowledgeable advice to make your visit all the more worthwhile. We are keen to share our little piece of the world with you as the area is sure to capture at little bit of your heart, from miles of coastline to historic castles and Abbeys, rolling drumlins

and parklands or award winning attractions and museums we have it all! Quench your taste buds with our vast array of charming eateries and award winning restaurants and with a superb choice of accommodation we encourage you to spend a little time our way. From the autumn colours of

the exquisite gardens, to the spectacle of 1000s of wintering geese arriving on Strangford Lough, a visit to Northern Irelands only Aquarium, Exploris, home grown craft makers and an eclectic mix of seasonal events, we have the ingredients for a perfect change of scene and leaving you wanting more.

visitardsandnorthdown | 028 9127 0069 or 028 9182 6846

WINNER OF DAWN BANDANAS FOR THE BRAVE CROTHERS ARTWORK GALA BALL & CASINO NIGHT We recently ran a competition to be in with a chance of winning your very own Birthstone Snail Ltd Edition worth £195. We’re delighted to announce the winner is Laura Cream from Belfast! Congratulations. You can check out Dawn’s Birthstone Snail pieces along with the rest of her work and much more at Whalley Fine Art & Framing. The Courtyard, 378a Belmont Road, Belfast, BT4 2NF, Tel No 02895 430 340 whalleyfineart.com

“This will be our First Ever Black Tie Charity Ball.... and we cant wait for you all to join us and #supportthebrave. We will be joined by our Ambassador Rodd Hogg the Irish Magician, whom if you havent seen, you will be in for a real treat.... as Magic is in the air we are having a Gala Ball & Casino Night.

Ticket Price is £45.00 which includes,

Drinks and Music from Adam Grant on arrival and 3 Course Meal After Dinner you can join us on the dance floor or take to the Casino Tables. Come join us on this amazing night so we can help more Children and Young People with Cancer.”

For tickets purchasing or information on sponsorship please contact info@bandanasforthebrave.co.uk

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08

AN EMOTIONAL DONATION

Family Donate Nine Defibrillators To Save Lives In Parks

NEWS

A Belfast family which lost a loved one to heart attack at a sporting event are trying to save others from a similar fate by donating £6,000 to place defibrillators in nine local parks.

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Members of the Murphy family today attended the unveiling of one of the defibrillators in their local south Belfast park, Cherryvale.

#32 SEP 17

Paula Murphy-Durkan said that it was only after Mark’s death that they became aware of research which showed survival chances for a heart attack victim is decreased by 10 per cent for each minute defibrillation is delayed.

“This grim statistic really highlighted the importance of having publicly accessed defibrillators (PADs) in parks and playing fields throughout Belfast.

Initially we decided to fundraise for a defibrillator for our local park Cherryvale, but thanks to the generosity of friends, family and others we are able to pay for a total of nine defibrillators.

“We have been overwhelmed by the response and thank everyone who helped raise funds including Phoenix Cycling Club and VC Iveagh. Their members cycled the equivalent of Everest which is a total of 8848 metres – at Stormont over a period of 23 hours to raise money.

“I also want to thank Belfast City

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This grim statistic really highlighted the importance of having publicly accessed defibrillators (PADs) in parks and playing fields throughout Belfast. Initially we decided to fundraise for a defibrillator for our local park Cherryvale, but thanks to the generosity of friends, family and others we are able to pay for a total of nine defibrillators.

Paula Murphy-Durkan

Council officers for their help and for the council taking over the maintenance and management of the defibrillators,” she added.

Defibrillators have now been installed in Cherryvale; Botanic

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PICTURED

L-R Kate Murphy; Alderman Sandford; Paula Murphy-Durkan; Deborah Murphy and Grace Murphy.

“

T

hey also presented a £6,000 cheque to Alderman Tommy Sandford, Chair of the People and Communities Committee to cover the cost of installing defibrillators in more parks across the city.

The Murphy family began fundraising following the death of Mark (48) – a husband, father and brother - in February last year.

Mark, a Scout Leader in Skerries, Co Dublin had grown up enjoying Cherryvale Park.

Alderman Sandford said: “This is a wonderful gesture by a family who have suffered and are trying to prevent others from suffering – it is a tribute to their brother that his death could help save other lives.

It is also a touching reflection on the strength of the family that in their pain they continued to look outwards to help others.

“It has allowed the council to extend its programme of providing defibrillators in local parks,” added the Alderman.

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10 NEWS

Homes involved in the Oil Buying Club Scheme across Northern Ireland have received 5 million litres of home heating oil, thanks to the Housing Executive.

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#32 SEP 17

LOOPMAG.NET A SLICK SCHEME

Oil Buying Club Scheme Delivers 5 Million Litres Across Northern Ireland

The Housing Executive funded scheme and managed by Bryson Energy aims to reduce fuel costs by encouraging bulk buying and lowering the carbon footprint through fewer oil tanker movements in the oil club areas.

T

he scheme is open to all housing tenures including owner-occupiers, Housing Executive and housing associations as well as private-rented tenants. To date, there are 27 Oil Buying Clubs located across Northern Ireland, with over 610 oil buys completed.

Over 12,000 oil orders have been processed, with over 4,600 members signed up to the scheme across Northern Ireland. Speaking following the announcement, Robert Clements, the Housing Executive’s Sustainable Development Manager said: “The award winning Oil Buying Club Scheme has been a great success and has reduced fuel costs for

customers across Northern Ireland.

“The premises is simple, the more people buy oil together, the more they can reduce the cost. The response to the oil buying clubs across Northern Ireland has been extremely encouraging. Our oil buying club scheme is a practical example of how the Housing Executive is making a real difference to transforming people’s lives and fostering vibrant communities.

“As the Home Energy Conservation Authority for Northern Ireland, contact the Housing Executive funded Bryson Energy Advice Line on 0800 1422 865 for free, local, impartial energy saving advice. Trained energy

PICTURED Laurence Arbuckle from Bryson Energy; Angie Porter & Tracey Patten, Strabane Community Project and the Housing Executive’s Suitable Development Manager Robert Clements

advisors will signpost you to your nearest oil buying club, advice on energy switching, latest information on available grants and general energy advice tips.”

Raymond Gormley from Bryson Energy added: “To record the 5 millionth litre of home oil delivered across Northern Ireland is another fantastic milestone for the Oil Buying Club Scheme initiative. Bryson Energy have been working closely with

the Housing Executive to deliver an important service which not only saves money on oil through bulk buying but reduces the carbon footprint regarding the number of oil tanker movements delivering oil to the 27 oil buying clubs across Northern Ireland.

“The Oil Buying Club Scheme continues to go from strength to strength and we look forward to further success in the future.”

Sustrans will be delighted to hear from any community organisations who would like to find out more or work with us. 9043 4569 sustrans.org.uk/NIcommunity

W

PICTURED

Lidl NI has committed to donate 250,000 meals to NI charities by 2020 in conjunction with FoodCloud ----------

Yvonne Connolly and Iseult Ward, CEO and Co-Founder of FoodCloud, pictured at the announcement of Lidl Northern Ireland’s commitment to donate 250,000 meals by 2020

“

Working with FoodCloud enables Lidl to connect with hundreds of charities across NI and support them in a meaning ful way

“

Teenagers from East Belfast have been answering the call of the wild this Summer, taking part in an adventurefilled Summer Camp in Altcar, Liverpool.

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LIDL STORES PARTNER WITH LOCAL CHARITIES

LIDL NI COMMIT TO REDUCE FOOD POVERTY Local groups such as Newtownabbey Methodist Mission and SOS NI, Rosemount House and Positive Futures in Belfast, are set to benefit from the initiative

OUTDOOR PURSUITS

ADVENTURE CALLS FOR EAST BELFAST TEENS While many schoolmates were catching up on their rest or marking time on social media, these energetic Army Cadets were making their mark with an activity programme packed with sport and outdoor pursuits.

C

olonel Keith Dowell, Commandant of 2nd (Northern Ireland) Army Cadet Force, said, “Teenagers often get a bad press with people dismissing them as couch potatoes. In our

experience – and as these great kids from East Belfast demonstrate - nothing could be further from the truth. Given the opportunity to get out and do something special, they are more

ith 1 in 8 people across the island of Ireland experiencing food poverty, this partnership will see all 38 Lidl stores in Northern Ireland, including a warehouse, partnered with local charities who will benefit from the store’s surplus food. FoodCloud and FoodCloud Hubs are social enterprises that connect retailers and suppliers to hundreds of local charities to redistribute surplus food via a software platform.

Started in 2012, FoodCloud’s vision is for a world where no good food goes to waste. Surplus food refers to food that is perfectly good to eat, but for one reason or another, cannot be sold and would otherwise go to waste. The redistribution of surplus food allows charities to relocate funding, that would otherwise have been spent on food, towards their core service and support their underlying mission. This redistribution allows Lidl Northern Ireland to contribute to local communities while also reducing the worldwide statistic that 30% of food produced is going to waste.

Deirdre Ryan, Head of CSR for Lidl Northern Ireland commented; “The rollout of a national food redistribution programme supports our objective to than up for the challenge … and annual camp is all about providing challenge. Annual camp has traditionally been a highlight of Cadet life and young people continue to be inspired and stretched by the varied experiences it offers to let off steam and enjoy themselves after a tough year in school.

Importantly, parents have the reassurance of knowing that their kids are tackling outdoor adventure in a safe and supportive setting, supervised

and encouraged by qualified staff. They also know we’ll help to bring out the best in their teenagers, helping them not only to gain practical skills but also to build confidence and experience to help them as they move into the world of work or compile their Personal Statement for college or university entrance. Parents are usually relieved to learn that all this comes with an astonishingly low price tag, in line with our policy to keep all Cadet activities affordable - we provide free uniforms!”

reduce food waste and positively contribute to the communities in which we operate. Working with FoodCloud enables Lidl to connect with hundreds of charities across Northern Ireland and support them in a meaningful way. The feedback we have received to date has been fantastic and our store teams are extremely engaged with the project.”

Iseult Ward, Co-Founder and CEO of FoodCloud, added: “We’re very proud to be working with Lidl Northern Ireland. They have become a fundamental component in our capacity to help more than 300 charities across Ireland and in helping us ensure no good food goes to waste.

Each Lidl store is making a big difference to local charities and the food supplied is having a positive impact both on the people who receive the food and the charities who can spend funds on other important elements to help people. Each food donation represents a financial saving to the charity and a positive boost to our environment by reducing waste. Lidl Northern Ireland will help us reach more communities and charities right across Northern Ireland and we look forward to working with their local stores across Northern Ireland.”

Christmas Bloomfield Auctions is thrilled to announce our exclusive Interiors sale on 10th October 2017

Telephone: 028 9045 6404 email: info@bloomfieldauctions.co.uk We are also available on Facebook and Twitter

• Antique, Vintage & Modern Furniture • Fine Art • Collectables • Ceramics & Porcelain (Moorcroft, Clarice Cliff, Royal Crown Derby Etc) • Fine Gold Jewellery & Jewels • Silver Ware (Tea Services, Candlesticks, Cigarette Cases Etc) • Bronze Items • Ivory Items • Clocks & Watches • Dinky, Hornby & Vintage Toys • Antique Religious Items • Trains & Railway Items • Old Enamel & Tin Advertising Signs

ANTIQUES • FINE ART • JEWELLERY & WATCHES • MILITARIA • GUNS, SWORDS & BAYONETS • POST CARDS & STAMPS • COINS • VINTAGE TOYS • SILVER • FURNITURE • PROBATE & HOUSE CLEARANCE SERVICE • CLASSIC CARS

LOOPMAG.NET

12

CONG R AT S TO A LL

Grosvenor Exam Results

NEWS

A group of children from Puddleducks Day Nursery visited the residents of BCM’s Kirk House, Residential Home as part of an intergenerational programme, ‘Engages All’.

Puddleducks Day Nursery made a special trip to see local residents as part of a new programme ----------

#32 SEP 17

PICTURED A number of Grosvenor Grammar School pupils, pictured alongside Principal Dr. Frances Vasey,

A NE W S CH E ME TO E NGAGE ALL

PLUS A local grammar school reveal some fantastic results from their GCSE and A Level pupils ----------

Nursery Children Visit Residential Home A group of children from Puddleducks Day Nursery visited the residents of BCM’s Kirk House, Residential Home as part of an intergenerational programme, ‘Engages All’.

T

he children taught the residents some of their favourite action songs, blew and caught bubbles, played with the balloons and parachute, and then drew pictures that the residents can keep in their room before they shared their sweeties!

The children and residents really enjoyed their time together and they hope to be able to organise such activities on a regular basis. ‘Engages All’ programme was created by the residents and staff at Kirk House

and launched on 22nd June 2017.

The programme will encompass a series of intergenerational events and workshops which will bring generations together to enable them to learn from each other, to experience things they would not otherwise experience. It was driven by the manager of Kirk House, Andrea Selby, who was responding to the desire of the residents and staff to engage in, and be engaged by, the local community.

For more information please visit belfastcentralmission.org

Vets4Pets Belfast Stormont

Having been fascinated by animals from a young age we both knew we were destined to become vets. You could find Lisa operating on her teddies as a child and Lauren would be educating her family and friends about animal welfare.

After graduating from vet school over ten years ago we are currently working towards

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further qualifications in specialist areas such as internal medicine.

We know how special your pet can be to your family, and we will work closely with you to provide the highest level of care to ensure your pets remain healthy and happy!

Lauren Horton BVet Med MRCVS Lisa Simpson MVB MRCVS Practice Owners and Veterinary Surgeons, Vets4Pets Belfast Stormont.

Book your appointment with us today Vets4Pets Belfast Stormont 697 Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3NT Call: 028 9048 3000 or visit: vets4pets.com/belfast-stormont

For more information please visit grosvenorgrammarschool.org.uk

Ollya’s Jewellery

Local Vets for Local Pets We’re Lauren and Lisa, the practice owners and veterinary surgeons at Vets4Pets Belfast Stormont.

G

rosvenor Grammar School pupils were celebrating today after achieving their GCSE results. A remarkable 50 pupils achieved 8 A*-A grades or better, with 22 pupils attaining at least 10 A*-A grades. Owen Hamilton, Rachel McConkey, Peter McCreery, Chloe McCully and Annie Patterson each received an outstanding 10 A* grades or better. These impressive results mean that once again Grosvenor pupils have achieved considerable success in their GCSE examinations. Dr Frances Vasey, Principal, was delighted: “These GCSE results are a reflection of the pupils’ hard work, the commitment of the staff and the support of their parents. I congratulate our pupils and wish them every success in the future.” In A Levels An extremely impressive total of 26 pupils achieved 3 A grades or better and Ethan Kee achieved an outstanding 4A* grades. 6 of our pupils achieved 3A* grades or better. Cameron Hamilton has secured his place at Trinity College Cambridge to study Engineering and Michael Culbert has secured his place to study Biological Sciences at St Hugh’s College, Oxford. At AS Level, 23 pupils were awarded 3 A grades or better, with 11 pupils gaining an impressive 4 A grades.

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THINK IT’S NOT ACCEPTABLE TO WEAR PYJAMAS IN PUBLIC? NORTHERN IRELAND CHEST HEART AND STROKE SAYS THINK AGAIN!

W

earing pyjamas in public often provokes debate but Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke is challenging people to do just that for a very special charity walk on Saturday 30th September. The charity is hosting a 5K walk which it hopes will act as inspiration for people province-wide to remain in their pyjamas to raise money for the fight against heart disease.

The Wake Up 5k Pyjama Walk, supported by MACE, is being held at Stormont Estate and starts at 9.30am. It is part of Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke’s ‘Wake Up!’ campaign which highlights the shocking fact that heart disease remains the biggest killer in Northern Ireland and indeed has been for the past 25 years.

As part of the event Stephen Clements and Cate Conway from Q Radio’s Breakfast Show will be on hand with the Q Radio bus playing some of the best songs to wake everyone up and increase energy levels for the walk ahead. There’ll be plenty of fun family entertainment in the form of facepainters and balloon modelling and a very special brunch for all participants post event. The route around Stormont is buggy and dog friendly, so all the family can take part. However, the route may not be slipper-friendly, so don’t forget to change into your

13

outdoor shoes!

The event is being supported by MACE which has just completed the first year of a three year partnership with Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke to raise money to support its services for people with chest, heart and stroke conditions. As part of the event MACE is providing a free healthy brunch for participants.

Cheryl Brown, Events & Marketing Coordinator at Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke said: “Taking part is an opportunity to do something for yourself that will also benefit the many people we deliver services to today. With the research that we fund, it could also benefit the future health of us all.”

The Wake Up Pyjama Walk starts at 9.30am on Saturday 30th September 2017. Everyone is encouraged to bring family and friends, their kids and even the dog, all wearing their favourite PJs to enjoy a 5km morning walk with entertainment, music and a tasty brunch at the finish! To sign up visit www.nichs.org.uk/wakeupwalk Entry is just £10 per adult (under 16’s go free) All proceeds go to Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke.

For more information on the Wake Up! www.nichs.org.uk

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28th November – 12th December

Alzheimer’s Society operates in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, registered charity no. 296645

14 NEWS

Belfast’s beautiful Botanic Gardens will be buzzing with free family fun on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September as the city’s seasonal favourite Autumn Fair returns.

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#32 SEP 17

LOOPMAG.NET T’IS THE SEASON

Autumn Fair Returns To Botanic Gardens For Fun-Filled Weekend This September

Y

The top event runs from 12.30pm to 6pm each day and young and old will be treated to lots of fun filled activities, live music and dance, yummy food and more.

ounger visitors are invited to embrace this beautiful season with activities certain to attract the family vote. Get arty in the park, have your face painted, challenge yourself on the climbing wall, go for a holein-one at the crazy-golf course, or why not laugh along with the captivating and must-see street performers? For adults, there’ll be a mix of contemporary and old-time favourites to get the toes tapping all weekend as well as the Grand Finale Band Concert, the pinnacle of the council’s summer Music in the Parks programme taking place on Sunday 17 September between 2pm-5pm. Inside the tented village,

visitors can marvel at spectacular award-winning floral exhibits, giant vegetables and other crops from local allotments, gardens and greenhouses, as well as from beehives and wine cellars.

Visit a variety of stalls around the park selling an array of local foods and home baked produce, handmade crafts, jewellery, plants and more. Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Nuala McAllister, encouraged all ages from near and far to come down and enjoy the Autumn Fair. It’s sad to see the end of Summer, but the Autumn Fair is a great way to look forward to the next season and enjoy one of our most fantastic parks. We get to

PICTURED Lord Mayor Councillor Nuala McAllister joins Aimee and Adam Webb to launch this year’s Autumn Fair – the top seasonal event takes place at Botanic Gardens on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September. Running from 12.30pm to 6pm each day, there’ll be lots of fun filled activities for young and old to enjoy, as well as live music and dance. For more information, visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/autumnfair

celebrate the best that nature has produced as well as all the fun of the fair in terms of entertainment, street performers and shows, live

music and activities to entertain young and old. Best of all – it’s entirely free and open for everyone to enjoy.”

More info: 028 9024 6609 or visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/autumnfair The new exclusive members’ club within Club Wembley at England’s National Stadium opened its doors for the first time in the FA Community Shield between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC. ---------portview.co.uk

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EAST BELFAST FIRM COMPLETE LUXURY SUITE AT WEMBLEY

Local fit-out firm Portview worked on ‘One Twenty’, a bespoke club designed by KSS and tailored for limited members’ delivering a new benchmark in football hospitality.

T

he One Twenty experience kicks-off in the arrival space where guests pass through a sculptural oversized angular East Belfast man, Robin Mercer, owner of Hillmount Garden Centre, has literally just returned from the starry skies after competing in one of the hot air ballooning calendar’s most prestigious events.

----------

canopy providing the perfect entry point for members to enjoy. Ascending an illuminated staircase past a double storey smoked

oak panelled wall, guests are greeted by a visually stimulating array of colours and features in the lounge. The unique spaces create intimate areas and group networking opportunities where guests can relax amongst contrasts of light and dark with a bold tapestry of furniture and a quirky use of materials. The panelled feature wall is the stunning central backdrop to the lounge area and includes a recessed ‘snug’ banquette, deep pile upholstery with recessed bookshelves where guests can browse the famous Wembley archives.

The lounge has been designed to be ‘evolutionary’, with smaller furniture clusters and chairs that swivel for guests to define their audience, privacy and sculpt their own experience. Dense tones of

mustard, purple and turquoise colours are used throughout the spaces in an exploration of the visual senses.

The bar area is the stand out feature for its scale and presence, with a spectacular brass chandelier that floats up to the exposed panelled petrol ceiling. The restaurant ceiling lattice break the traditional grid system, by re-defining a new patchwork pattern that adds originality to the environment. The energy of the game is injected with line work that rushes across the ceiling playing with the sense of movement on the football pitch.

Refurbished by Portview FitOut, One Twenty is the finest offering from Club Wembley delivering a unique concept unseen in sport providing the next era of luxury and subtle extravagance.

something really special. It’s a lovely way of seeing the world. It’s not like being in an airplane or helicopter. You are able to admire the view from 360 degrees. You don’t know where you’re going to go or where you’re going to land – it’s

something really special.”

His love for hot air ballooning began 20 years ago and has taken him beyond flying in NI and Italy to competitions and festivals in USA, Philippines, France and even on a flight across the Burj Al Arab in Dubai.

WHAT GOES UP...

UP UP AND AWAY WITH HILLMOUNT’S ROBIN MERCER For the 19th time, Robin was the only competitor from the island of Ireland to participate in the international Sagrantino Challenge Cup in Italy with over 50 competitors from across the globe and although he didn’t bring home the prize of 1,000 bottles of wine, he has won the competition in previous years.

H

e had the opportunity to choreograph a night time balloon light show for the 50 plus competitors and admits when he’s not

managing his family owned garden centre, there’s nowhere else he’d rather be than high above ground in his balloon.

Robin said: “Ballooning is

£75,000 investment for new Greenways announced Three local Councils to receive funding of £25,000 each from the Dept of Infrastructure to develop Greenway projects in their area.

The funding provided under Stage 3 of the Small Grants Programme for Greenways will allow the successful Councils to develop detailed designs and fully worked up project proposals ready for construction in the future.

The grants will be used to develop the following schemes: • Ards and North Down Borough Council - Comber to Newtownards Greenway; • Mid and East Antrim Borough Council - Greenisland Greenway; • Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council – Carryduff Greenway Andrew Grieve, Department for Infrastructure said: “Encouraging greater use of active travel is a Programme for Government aspiration and the development of greenways has an important role to play in achieving this. They are a key part of our infrastructure as they provide safe and easy access to fresh air and exercise by encouraging more people to walk or cycle on their everyday journeys on a traffic free route.

Last year the Department launched ‘Exercise – Explore – Enjoy: a Strategic Plan for Greenways’ which sets out an ambition for the creation of a 1,000km network across Northern Ireland. This funding will help provide support to the three Councils to develop greenway networks that align with that plan. We look forward to working with them to bring their projects to fruition.”

LOOPMAG.NET

15

What Type Of Pet Insurance Should I Have?

There are few things more important in our pets’ lives than being able to give them the care they deserve when they need it most. When illness or injury occurs, we want to know that our pet insurance will be there so that we will be able to treat our fur-baby properly without being worried about the cost.

Lifetime: These policies have a budget of money available to use when something goes wrong and every year at your renewal date, you have a fresh budget available for the next year. Cover for conditions is ongoing. These are almost always the type that people say they want once they understand

NOW, ONCE YOU ARE CLEAR ON THESE THREE TYPES, IT SHOULD BE FAIRLY EASY TO SEE WHICH TYPE OF POLICY IS BEING ADVERTISED TO YOU. WATCH OUT FOR THE FOLLOWING: 1. Check that the small print of the policy does not alter the advertised level of cover. Eg if the headline says “Four thousand pounds of cover per year” but then the small print says “cover is limited to £500 or £1000 per

condition per year”, well that might cover the xrays but it won’t cover fixing the fracture!! And it’s not giving you the cover you thought if you were to go by the advertised headline.

2. Check that the small print does not place low individual limits on specific conditions eg if the best treatment for your labrador’s knee injury is a £3000 operation, then if the small print of the policy has restricted liability on that specific issue to £1000 then you may end up having to choose a treatment option that wasn’t your preference or have a cost you weren’t expecting.

Currently, the policies which have these specific conditions listed and limited, generally place very low limits on some of the most common problems and this is how they advertise a cheap monthly price.

3. Look out for compulsory coinsurance, where you have to pay a percentage of the cost, this can be quite a sting in the tail in the event of acclaim of you aren’t expecting it and can mean that if something more medically involved occurs, your excess instead of being 80 or 90 pounds could be 4 or 5 hundred pounds.

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I cannot emphasise enough how important good pet insurance is for our clients, but it is so important to get the right policy from the start.

It’s not something we can leave till later as once our pet has a vomiting episode, or an injury or an irritated eye or an itchy ear, taking out a new policy after that can lead to exclusions on the policy (which is still better than not having one but not ideal). We should make the right choice from the very beginning with a new pet, as early in our pets’ lives as possible.

There’s nothing worse than a beloved pet not getting the best possible treatment options purely on cost grounds.

At Ashwood, most of our clients have good pet insurance, we discuss it in detail and answer questions on it when our puppies and kittens are very young. We also deal with almost all of the administration of claims for our clients when a policy needs to be used, so that you don’t have to try to deal with all the paperwork.

Sophie and I deal with all the insurance companies every single day and we quickly get to know which companies are good to work with and which are not!

There are some excellent policies out there and we can point you in the right direction. Bear in mind that there is arguably much more to consider than with house or car insurance and you are far more likely to claim on your pet insurance than on your house or car insurance.

Not all policies are equal and some companies’ headline descriptions of their policies are arguably misleading, but there are excellent policies available which we know from experience are easy to understand and which offer the type of cover most people want with no unexpected surprises.

I’m always happy to chat things through in more detail, so email me on Patrick@ ashwoodvets.com and I’ll be happy to make a time to chat with you at the clinic (free of charge of course) and talk around this subject some more.

Thanks for reading, Patrick.

Ashwood Vets 028 90 419374 hello@ashwoodvets.com 71 Comber Rd, DUNDONALD, BT16 2AE. TEL: 028 9041 9374

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how it works. It is certainly the type I recommend to my family.

Maximum benefit: These policies have a budget of money available per condition with no time limit on using it, but once it’s gone, it’s gone, whether that’s in 3 days, 3 months or 3 years.

12month policy: These policies generally have a budget of money per condition and also a 12month time limit on using it. These are very restrictive policies as you are uninsured once either the budget or the time limit run out. The time limit is often measured from the first time your pet has the problem, not even necessarily from the first time you claim.

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he truth is, if a good policy is not in place, the best treatments available are often simply unaffordable. There is now a vast array of new pet insurance policies flooding the market with some providers trying to undercut each other to gain market-share.

As you can imagine, if a company is pushing the headline price down, the detail of the policy will be increasingly restrictive and unless you’ve read and understood it in detail, it may not provide the cover you hoped. I want to help you understand what to look for in pet insurance and alert you to some of the pitfalls. Let’s make sussing it out a bit easier, because if you google policies you’ll get hundreds of options back, impossible to sift through.

By Patrick McKee BVetMed, BSc, MRCVS Ashwood Veterinary Clinic

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16

LEGAL INFO WILLS / #32 / SEPT 17

OCTOBER Is Wills Month In Hunt Solicitors

EXHIBITION

EXHIBITION

EXHIBITION

Andy Warhol, Banksy, Damien Hirst and more are presented in an exlcusive exhibition

Andy Warhol, Banksy, Damien Hirst and more are presented in an exlcusive exhibition

Andy Warhol, Banksy, Damien Hirst and more are presented in an exlcusive exhibition

Although many people understand the importance of having a valid Will in place there are still an alarming number of people who do not see the necessity.

According to the charity Will Aid as many as 53% of people have never made a Will. Ensuring that you have a valid and professionally drafted Will does not need to be a daunting or expensive task.

Q. I HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH MY PARTNER FOR MANY YEARS WILL THEY INHERIT MY PROPERTY?

Half Price Wills are only offered in October so contact our office now on 028 90 428 600 or glundy@huntsolicitors.com to arrange an appointment with Grace Lundy or Darren Rainey.

We are located at 77 High Street, Holywood, County Down, BT18 9AQ or you can find us at www.huntsolicitors.com we are also on Facebook and Twitter

H

Hunt Solicitors

A. Unfortunately there are very few laws which protect a cohabitee when their partner dies. Irrespective of the nature or length of the relationship if you die without a valid Will in place your partner will not automatically inherit any of your property.

There are legislative provisions which may allow them to claim an inheritance from your Estate however this can involve costly and protracted Litigation against your Estate. In fact married couples and Civil Partners do not automatically inherit your entire estate and could potentially end up having to share it with your children or other family.

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Open Saturdays 10am - 1pm Evening Appointments Available Free Initial Consultation. No Appointment Necessary.

call (028) 9042 8600 www.huntsolicitors.com

To get all readers thinking about their own Wills we have answered some of the questions we would get asked on a regular basis.

Q. I MADE A WILL MANY YEARS AGO SURELY IT’S OUT OF DATE? A. A Will does not have an expiration date so regardless of when you made it the terms remain valid unless you have married or entered into a Civil Partnership since writing it. Keeping your Will up to date is as important as writing your first Will. Most people’s family life and circumstances change over time so it is important to keep a regular review of the terms to ensure they still reflect your wishes.

Q. I DON’T HAVE ANYONE TO LEAVE MY MONEY TO SO WHY SHOULD I MAKE A WILL? A. Even if there is no one specific you would wish to benefit from your Estate having a valid Will in place

will make dealing with your Estate on death easier. Without a Will your estate still needs to go somewhere so after the payment of any debts the remaining funds will be given to your next of kin. If your next of kin aren’t easily located your Estate needs to pay to track them down.

Ultimately anything you do have could be distributed in a manner you wouldn’t want.

These are just a small sample of queries we are asked on a regular basis and we will discuss any specific queries that you may have during our consultations. All initial consultations are free and we can arrange to visit you at your home if you are unable to travel to our office.

Big Savings! £4.99

HALF PRICE WILLS MONTH

Throughout October Hunt Solicitors encourage everyone to take some time to consider making their first Will or reviewing the terms of their current Will. As a little incentive we are offering all clients half price Wills on all Wills made during the month of October.

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COMMUNITY East Belfast’s Cregagh Green is the first project in the UK to be awarded funding by the London Marathon Charitable Trust (LMCT) as part of The Active Spaces Forever programme, delivered in partnership with Fields in Trust to protect and activate outdoor recreation spaces.

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#32 SEP 17

“

As well as knitting and chatting there is great fellowship and, of course, a ‘cuppa’

“

News and events in brief ----------

Cregagh Green First To Benefit From London Marathon Charitable Trust Funding Cregagh Green will now be protected in perpetuity through a legal Deed of Dedication between Belfast City Council and Fields in Trust.

A

nd a grant of £5,000 will help to promote physical activity and community participation in the space where George Best, dubbed by the Irish Football Association as the “greatest player to ever pull on the green shirt of Northern Ireland”, first kicked a football as a young boy.

Councillor Adam Newton of Belfast City Council’s People and Communities Committee said: “We’ve committed in our Belfast Agenda to making sure that everyone in Belfast experiences good health and wellbeing and that everyone in Belfast will be able to enjoy its parks and public spaces, so we’re delighted to have secured this investment.

“It means that this valuable green space which has a unique association

LOOPMAG.NET PICTURED Cllr Adam Newton of Belfast City Council’s People and Communities Committee) with Terry Housden (Development Manager for Fields in Trust South East England & NI).

ASK THE ADVISER FREE SCHOOL MEALS

PICTURED Children from the Cregagh area enjoying a fun day on Saturday, 12 August

with one of our most famous sons, George Best, will be safeguarded, and that we can encourage more local people to follow in his footsteps and get active in Cregagh Green.

Getting active in green spaces can have such a positive impact on our physical and mental wellbeing. What’s even better is that it’s free to get out and explore your local park or green space.”

Sarah Ridley, Chief Grants Officer for The London Marathon Charitable Trust, said: “Since 1981, The London Marathon Charitable Trust has funded a huge range of projects which have inspired millions of people to get active. Delivered in partnership with Fields in Trust, Active Spaces is our first nationwide funding initiative. It’s

great to see Cregagh Green become the first in the long list of inspiring projects which will be permanently protected through funding from The Trust enabling local people to enjoy the benefits of physical activity into the future.”

Chief Executive of Fields in Trust, Helen Griffiths said: “We believe the best way to protect our green spaces is for communities to get out and use them; this programme is encouraging new groups of users to enjoy their local green space. We will identify sites which are well loved by their communities and protect these spaces forever. The associated activity on site can help catalyse a local community to use their recreational space and get active.”

For more about Cregagh Green and Belfast’s parks and open spaces, go to belfastcity.gov.uk/parks

DUNDONALD METHODIST CHURCH ‘KNIT & CHAT’

D

‘KNIT & CHAT’ Group from Dundonald Methodist Church have been meeting fortnightly for almost three years. uring this time approximately 400/500 hats have been knit for premature babies in The Ulster Hospital and Antrim Hospital.

Cardigans have also been knit as well as shawls for stillborn babies. The shawls, after a few days, are given to the parents, along with other items, for a memory box. Memory boxes bring so much comfort to the parents at a time of great sadness. Also, in the group, vests, teddy bears, ribbed hats, blankets, etc. are knit. These items

are sent to Africa to benefit those who have very little and they are greatly appreciated.

As well as knitting and chatting there is great fellowship and, of course, a ‘cuppa’. The group started with 4 members and has increased significantly, but, there is always room for more members. If you would like to be part of the group, whether you can knit or chat, or both, come along on Wednesday, 13th September, 2017.

The time is 2.00-4.00pm and you can

come and go as you please. The group is OPEN TO ALL so why not avail of the opportunity to meet with others and also knit for very worthy causes. Don’t worry if you can’t knit as there is plenty of help available and wool and needles are provided.

REMEMBER - DUNDONALD METHODIST CHURCH, RANK ROAD - 13TH SEPTEMBER, 2017; 2.00PM4.00PM. Do give it a try and, no doubt, you will want to come back again and again.

East Belfast Community Capacity and Leadership Programme

by developing their leadership, community relations and community development skills, knowledge and ability.

If you would like more information on the programme contact Michael Briggs, Executive Director at michael@ebcda.org; Jonny Currie, Community Development Director at jonny@ebcda.org; or call 028 9045 1512.

volunteer in East Belfast.

Please wear clothing easy to move in.

Bring a blanket, your own mat if you have one and a donation to pay for the class.

A two year programme to support the development of the community sector in East Belfast EBCDA is managing this programme entitled East Belfast Community Capacity & Leadership Programme.

The programme is funded through The Executive Office (TEO) under the East Belfast Social Investment Fund (SIF) and will be delivered by the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) with other partners carrying out specific functions. The purpose of the programme is to build the core capacity of organisations and individuals in East Belfast,

Donation Yoga Donation Yoga Classes recommence in September at East Belfast Network Centre YOGA class will recommence on Tuesday 5 September 2017 after the summer break and run until the end of December. The class is from 6.00pm to 7.00pm in the East Belfast Network Centre. These classes are open to people who live, work or

Get Creative EBCDA will be holding monthly creative sessions in the Health Hub at East Belfast Network Centre CRAFTY DROP IN: Come along and find out about the ‘Take 5 Steps to Wellbeing’ and get creative too! Each Month we will be making a different craft for you to try out and take home with you. The Third Thursday of the month from 3.00pm to 4.00pm ADULT COLOURING IN: Come along and find out about the ‘Take 5 Steps to Wellbeing’ and colour in too! Bring your own colouring in materials or they can be supplied. The first Monday of the month from 3.00pm to 4.00pm

CARLIE MARTIN, BETTER OFF FAMILIES ADVISER AT EAST BELFAST INDEPENDENT ADVICE CENTRE PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT COMMON ADVICE QUERIES. I am married with three children aged 5,7 and 10.

My husband and I are both employed and earn around £15,000 per year between us.

Other parents at my kids school have told me they qualify for free school meals for their children and I was wondering would we qualify To qualify for free school meals your income must be below £16,190 per annum. Please contact me for a benefit check to be completed as every year a substantial amount of benefits and tax credits go unclaimed that could make life a bit easier for people. It is always worth contacting us to have a full benefit and tax credit calculation carried out which can then qualify you for further entitlements like free school meals, uniform grants etc.

East Belfast Independent Advice Centre offers advice on Welfare benefits, Tax Credits, Housing, Employment and Debt. The advice is free, independent and confidential. You can phone us or come into the centre to talk to an adviser.

Drop in Advice Clinics Mon, Tues, Wed, 9.30-11.30 Thurs 2.00-3.30 Outreach Clinics Thursday 9.30-1pm Short Strand Community Centre, Friday 9.30-12.30 Tullycarnet Primary School.

(Appointments required for Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment and Attendance Allowance forms)

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The Cookery School at Donnybrook Fair Dublin’s highest profile cookery school, The Cookery School at Donnybrook Fair, has released its first and long-awaited cookbook of the same name.

Simple Food | Really Well Done AVAILABLE NOW PUBLISHED BY MERCIER PRESS

The book remains true to the ethos of the cookery school: simple food, really well done. The Cookery School, Donnybrook Fair reflects chef and author Niall Murphy’s personal journey with food and the cuisines he has explored throughout his many travels. It explains and demonstrates the skills Niall believes are critical to creating great food, showing the reader how these skills translate to the home kitchen to save time and take the pressure and hassle out of cooking to perfection.

BEETROOT & ORANGE CAPPUCCINO I use the term ‘cappuccino’ here to refer to the presentation of this starter. I serve these in glass cups so that you can see the amazing deep ruby purple of the beetroot against the stark white of the froth.

SERVES 4 450g small beetroots Olive oil 1 onion, finely diced 450ml chicken stock

Zest and juice of 1 orange Salt and freshly ground pepper 50ml full-fat milk

bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

Remove from the heat, add half the orange zest and the orange juice Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/ and blend with a hand blender. Pass gas mark 6. through a fine sieve and return to Brush the beetroots lightly with a little the pot. Season with salt and freshly oil, then wrap them in tinfoil. Place ground pepper to taste and keep them on a baking tray and roast for warm on a very low heat.

30–40 minutes until cooked through.

Place a small pan on a low heat, add Remove from the oven, allow to cool the milk and whisk constantly. As the slightly, then peel and roughly chop. milk warms up a beautiful froth will Place a pan on a medium heat, add form on the top.

2 tablespoons of oil and when the oil Divide the soup between four serving is heated add the onion and sweat glasses, spoon the froth on top to gently until soft and translucent. create the cappuccino effect and Add the beetroot and the stock and sprinkle with the reserved orange zest.

ASIAN FILLET OF PORK I find that many people rarely cook pork as they have awful memories of dry meat. The secret to beautifully moist pork is to make sure that it’s cooked to perfection.

SERVES 6-8 1kg pork fillet, trimmed of all fat and silver tissue (approximately 2 large pork fillets) Olive oil 1 bag of mixed baby leaf salad

STARTER

Beetroot & Orange Cappuccino Plum sauce, to serve For the marinade: 2 garlic cloves, grated 1 x 5cm piece of fresh ginger, peeled and grated 2 tbsp tamari or soy sauce 2 tbsp hoisin sauce 2 tbsp treacle 1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for brushing 1 tbsp sesame oil 1 tsp Chinese five spice Place all the marinade ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Pour into a large ziplock plastic bag. Add the pork fillet to the bag and shake well. Seal the bag and place it in the fridge for 6–8 hours, or overnight if possible, as it improves the flavour.

Turn the bag over every couple of hours.

Remove the pork fillet from the marinade and pat dry with kitchen paper, then brush lightly with some olive oil. Allow to rest at room temperature for 1 hour.

Heat a barbecue to a medium heat, then cook the pork for 20–30 minutes, turning regularly, until the thickest part of the fillet has reached a temperature of 75°C on an instantread food thermometer. If you don’t have a food thermometer, insert a skewer into the meat and make sure the juices run clear.

Alternatively, preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas mark 6. Place an ovenproof frying pan on a high heat. When the pan is smoking hot, sear the pork quickly on all sides.

MAIN COURSE Asian Fillet Of Pork

Transfer the pan to the oven and roast for 20–30 minutes, until the thickest part of the fillet has reached a temperature of 75°C on an instantread food thermometer. If you don’t have a food thermometer, insert a skewer into the meat and make sure the juices run clear.

Arrange the salad leaves on a platter, slice the pork and arrange it on top of or beside the salad leaves. Warm the plum sauce and pour it over the pork, then serve straight away.

DESSERT

Limoncello Lemon Tart & Blueberry Compote

225ml freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 3 lemons) 25ml limoncello liqueur 150ml double cream 1 tsp vanilla extract For the blueberry compote: 2 punnets of blueberries 2 tbsp caster sugar 1 tbsp limoncello liqueur 1 tbsp water

the pastry), then line with baking parchment and baking beans and bake for 15–20 minutes. Remove the tin from the oven and remove the beans and parchment. Brush the pastry lightly with beaten egg and return to the oven for 25 minutes or until it is a light goldenbrown. Remove from the oven and allow it to cool.

When cool, trim off the edges neatly.

For the filling beat the eggs, Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/ sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice and gas mark 6. limoncello in a bowl until well mixed.

Place the flour and butter in a Add the cream and vanilla extract food processor and blitz to fine and mix well. Pour the mix into a breadcrumbs. Add the icing sugar measuring jug. and pulse to combine.

Reduce the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/ Add the egg yolks and pulse until it gas mark 4. Place the pastry case in comes together. Do not overwork it as its tin onto a baking tray and then this makes the pastry tough. place on the oven shelf. Carefully Add a little ice-cold water if the pastry pour the filling into the pastry case I first discovered limoncello on a trip won’t come together – just enough so until it comes to just below the top of to the Amalfi coast in Italy. Since then, that it will form a ball if you press it the pastry shell.

I always find an excuse to add a drop together.

Bake for about 25 minutes until set. to any lemon dessert at the cookery Turn the mix onto a work surface.

The filling should have a slight wobble school, as it really intensifies the Form a ball with the mix, flatten it into in the middle. Remove and allow lemon flavour. a disc shape and wrap it in cling film. to cool completely before carefully Chill for 60 minutes. removing from the tin.

SERVES 8 Brush a 24cm loose-bottomed tin with To make the compote, place one punnet melted butter and dust lightly with of blueberries in a small pot with the 250g plain flour, plus extra for flour, knocking off any excess flour. sugar, limoncello and water. Place on a dusting Remove the pastry from the high heat and bring to the boil.

110g butter, chilled and cut into fridge and allow it to reach room Once boiling point is reached, reduce small cubes, plus extra for greasing temperature. Roll out the pastry and the heat to medium and allow the 75g icing sugar line the tin with it, pressing gently into blueberries to gently cook until they 3 free-range egg yolks the corners. Leave a slight overhang. begin to burst.

1 free-range egg, lightly beaten Cover the tin loosely with cling film Remove the pot from the heat, stir in For the filling: and chill for 30 minutes. the second punnet of blueberries and 5 free-range eggs Remove the tin from the fridge, set aside to cool.

160g caster sugar prick the pastry base lightly with a Slice the tart and serve with the 2 tbsp finely grated lemon zest fork (make sure you do not pierce compote.

LIMONCELLO LEMON TART WITH BLUEBERRY COMPOTE

22

SUSTRANS COMMUTE / #32 / SEPT 17

MEET NICOLA

COMMUTE

DESTINATION

She has the joy of cycling to work every day using one of our amazing greenways

She winds her way down the magical Marshwiggle Way all the way through CS Lewis Square

Before arriving at her destination at the Titanic Quarter. Here she tell’s us her story.

Cycling Through Narnia On The Way To Work MAGICAL COMMUTE Nicola McCausland has a magical commute…starting on the Marshwiggle Way and going through CS Lewis Square past Aslan and the Beavers before arriving for work at the Belfast Met, in Titanic Quarter.

N

icola said: “I live really close to the Connswater Community Greenway, which links to my daughter’s school and my workplace, so I can cycle safely with her to school and then on to work.”

Nicola met Pamela and Martha, two Active Travel Officers working for Sustrans in East Belfast, at an event in the Belfast Met and thought that Nicola was a brilliant ambassador for cycling to work.

Nicola (45) began cycling to work in March 2017, when her role at Belfast Metropolitan College was relocated to the Belfast Titanic Quarter campus. To save money on car parking and to keep fit she decided that cycling to work would be a good option for her.

Working full-time, with a daughter who is going into her last year at primary school life is busy for Nicola.

Weather permitting, Nicola aims to cycle to work five days a week.

“Cycling to and from work means I don’t have to find time to fit in exercise in the evenings,” Nicola said. Nicola also enjoys going for a 30 minute lunchtime walk with her work colleagues around the Titanic Quarter. Cycling and health is one of the great motivating factors,” says Pamela Grove-White, Active Travel Officer, from Sustrans. “As research shows it works: a University of Glasgow article published in April 2017 found cycling to work may cut your risk of premature death by 40%” Beginning her cycle to work at Knock Dual Carriageway, Nicola joins the Connswater Greenway at Marsh Wiggle Way. She is happy that her route takes her on cycle lanes she feels safe on. Her journey takes her to Orangefield Park crossing Grand Parade, on to the Hollow and then past Avoniel Leisure Centre to Connswater and CS Lewis Square, where she meets

the Comber Greenway.

On Dee Street she follows the road up to the roundabout at Airport Road and along the cycle path to the Belfast Met Titanic Quarter campus. The roundabout at Airport road is her least favourite part of the route, where she dismounts and pushes the bike across the road.

“The journey to work is all downhill; coming home the hills are a bit steeper but a good workout for the legs!” said Nicola.

“It takes me 30 minutes to get to work,’ says Nicola, ‘which is the same amount of time I would spend sitting in rush hour traffic every day and I arrive at work stress free.

Parking charges at Titanic Quarter are expensive, I save around £70 a month on parking fees alone by cycling to work. Accessing the Greenway means I don’t have to cycle on any of the main roads which to me is an added bonus.”

Nicola is well organised for her

“

Accessing the Greenway means I don’t have to cycle on any of the main roads which to me is an added bonus.

cycling packing her backpack the evening before with work clothes and lunch. She wears leggings, T-shirt, high-vis vest and trainers to cycle in and then changes when she gets to work.

There are bike racks outside her work building which she uses to park her bike. One weekend before her first cycle to work Nicola had a few practice runs on a borrowed bike, although feeling a bit wobbly the practice runs helped Nicola to familiarise herself with the route so that she felt more confident about the journey. After a few weeks when she knew she enjoyed cycling, she bought her own bike.

Nicola would highly recommend cycling to work to others as a lovely way to travel. “I wouldn’t have claimed to be a confident cyclist but my confidence has grown,” she said. “I don’t wobble as much and my speed has picked up. Give it a go, you

will be surprised at how good you will feel!”

Pamela’s colleague Martha Robb, from Sustrans agreed: “It’s a great idea to get some practice on the bike and your route before you start. We’re running some sessions on cycle skills and cycle training for quiet roads in October and November, as well as bike maintenance and route planning, so anyone interested can contact us.”

Nicola has found cycling to work quite sociable. She has met people who also cycle to work regularly who have offered advice and given cycling tips. This has inspired Sustrans to organise a ‘bike bus’ for Cycle to Work Day which takes place this year on Wednesday 13 September. It is aimed at cycle commuters coming from the Comber direction into Belfast who want a little company on their cycle to work.

There are limited spaces on the bike bus, if you’re thinking of cycling to work that day and would like to join contact for more details or to book a ticket. 028 9043 4569 or check out www.sustrans.org.uk/chips For more information about Cycle to Work Day look up the site and pledge some cycle miles for the chance to win a prize – cycletoworkday.org

260mm wide x 170mm high_Layout 1 14/09/2016 16:17 Page 1

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ALZHEIMERS HELP AT HAND / #32 / SEPT 17

WALK ON

Its the Alzheimers Society’s Belfast Memory Walk this month at Stormont

NUMBERS

EVENT

An incredible event last year attracted 3,000 participants to Stormont Park

The Society held an inspired and creative showcase at the RADAR centre in East Belfast.

DEMENTIA AWARENESS AT THE FORE IN EAST BELFAST AHEAD OF STORMONT MEMORY WALK GET INVOLVED The people of East Belfast are being called on to unite against dementia by signing up for Alzheimer’s Society’s Belfast Memory Walk to be held at Stormont on Saturday, 16 September 2017, with the charity hoping to make this the biggest yet.

A

round 3,000 people walked to defeat dementia at the 2016 Memory Walk, and Joy Ballance, whose granny Ethel Dorman died from Lewy Body Dementia in July, is urging people to register for the event to help the charity raise money for research and services.

Joy will be joined at the walk by her mum Sally and six month old son Harry. Harry shared a special bond with Ethel, who died in July, less than two years after being diagnosed with dementia with Lewy Bodies, a form of dementia that shares symptoms with both Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Unable to speak or communicate since Christmas, Ethel was able to say his name ‘Harry’ when she met him in her nursing home a few days after

PICTURED ABOVE: Joy, Harry and Sally. RIGHT: The Memory Walk in full flow at Stormont Park.

Visit memorywalk.org.uk for all this years information

he was born. Harry would snuggle with his great granny in bed, often on a blanket she crocheted before the Lewy Body dementia took away the use of her hands.

Bernadine McCrory, Alzheimer’s Society Northern Ireland Director, said: “Dementia is set to be the 21st century’s biggest killer.

“We are calling on family, friends – and furry four-legged supporters – to unite against dementia this autumn. Dementia devastates lives. Walk with us at Memory Walk and dementia won’t win. Every pound raised will help Alzheimer’s Society provide information and support, improve care, fund research and create lasting change for people affected by dementia. Alzheimer’s Society is urgently calling on people to register now at memorywalk.org.uk and unite against dementia.”

“

You can register now at memorywalk.org.uk

Dementia Friendly Communities Comes to Life in RADAR Centre MAKING A DIFFERENCE Alzheimer’s Society held an inspired and creative showcase at the RADAR centre in East Belfast, where dementia friendly communities came to life through a full size community set.

G

uests were provided with an innovative and interactive dementia friendly communities programme to inspire them to promote and drive forward these

principles in their communities and organisations. There were 11 sets depicting different scenarios which would have an impact on a person with dementia within their daily life and ways

PICTURED

Every pound raised will help Alzheimer’s Society provide information and support, improve care, fund research and create lasting change for people affected by dementia.

Harry and Ethel

to make these more dementia friendly.

This included a home setting, a shop, bus, fire room and a park.

“It is vital that we continue to inform and educate people of the importance of creating dementia friendly communities in Northern Ireland in order to challenge stigma and support people with dementia to continue living independently in their community for as long as possible,” Dubheasa McGrinder, from Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Friendly Communities team, said.

“The RADAR centre is an excellent venue for this as it represents an interactive community setting and has enabled us to bring

dementia friendly communities to life.”

Alzheimer’s Society’s Northern Ireland Dementia Friendly Awards are on the lookout for people who are improving the lives of those affected by dementia.

“Last year Dementia Friendly East Belfast was a winner, and we know there are many fantastic projects and events in East Belfast – we’d love to see entries in all categories,” Dubheasa said.

Nominations close Friday, 15 September. To apply or nominate someone go to: www.alzheimers.org.uk/ info/20049/conferences_and_events/53/ dementia_friendly_awards

September 26 is World Alzheimer’s Day, but Alzheimer’s Society is here for anyone affected by dementia in East Belfast and everywhere else in NI all year round. For more information on dementia or to find local services and support, go to www.alzheimers.org.uk or telephone the National Dementia Helpline on 0300 222 1122.

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Ards and North Down

out now!

Where the seaside meets the countryside AND IT’S RIGHT ON BELFAST’S DOORSTEP For events and what to see and do this Autumn/Winter, go to visitardsandnorthdown.com or call into any Visitor Information Centre For local expert advice: Bangor Visitor Information Centre 34 Quay Street, 028 9127 0069 Ards Visitor Information Centre 31 Regent Street, 028 9182 6846

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EXPERIENCES AND EVENTS AUTUMN / WIN TER

2017

Down

ON BELFAST’S DOORSTEP

26

HEALTH

ALL ABOUT YOU / #32 / SEPT 17

FITNESS

HEALTH

Stefanie is back with some weight lifting tips plus a guide to your gym bag essentials

Schools are back so Medicare are on hand with some myth busting on head lice

EYE CARE

5 Reasons Why You Should Start Lifting Weights Today:

Top 6 Gym Essentials

Stefanie McCluskey: Personal trainer, fitness coach, model & blogger.

Don’t leave home without them

1. Your clothes will fit better and you will feel more confident - Your overall weight may not change, but you will gain muscle and lose fat (don’t forget that muscle weighs more than fat!) Over time you should notice a decrease in waist measurements and a decrease in bodyfat measurements. A better body promotes a better mind.

going to put in all that hard work at the gym and then sabotage it by eating a rubbish diet. Aim for nutritious wellbalanced meals, give your body what it needs to repair and improve itself.

4. Strength gains - Strength training has been shown to improve bone density, joint function, muscle, tendon and ligament strength, flexibility and posture. By working in the bodies 2. You’ll burn more calories - A different energy systems you will great side effect of resistance training improve your heart and lung fitness will be your increased muscle-to-fat and have enhanced performance of ratio. As you gain muscle, your body will burn more kilojoules/calories when everyday tasks such as lifting, carrying, or even just walking up stairs with at rest. The result will be a fired up metabolism which means you will burn greater ease. more calories throughout the day!

5. Improve your state of mind - By making more time for yourself your 3. Your diet will improve - As you body will thank you. You will sleep start putting more efforts into your better, look better and be able to training you will also start to put more handle stress better! It’s a win - win. efforts into your eating. You’re not

MORE INFO >>> Instagram: Steffie_loves Facebook: Stefanie McCluskey Personal Trainer

Head Lice ADVICE FROM MEDICARE A subject that even reading about will make you scratch your head imagining creatures crawling through your scalp! As outbreaks of head lice tend to occur at the start of the school year now is a good time to refresh and update your knowledge on this common problem.

KEY FACTS ABOUT HEAD LICE – TRUE OR FALSE? Head lice commonly affects children?

True. Head lice can affect anyone but are more common in children aged between 4-11 years, particularly girls.

You can have head lice without having an itchy scalp?

True. Only 1 in 3 people will have itching.

Others may only notice they have head lice when the louse or eggs (‘nits’) are seen. The louse is grey/brown in colour and about 1-3mm long. The eggs are yellow/white and the size of a pin head. While the live louse can be found anywhere on the scalp, the eggs are often found behind the ears and at the back of the neck. The eggs are firmly glued to the hair and cannot be easily shaken off.

Lice can jump from head to head?

False. Lice cannot jump or fly. They are only transmitted by head to head contact.

Head lice are only associated with dirty hair?

False. They are associated with all hair types, including clean hair.

My child’s friend has head lice so I must treat my children just in case?

False. Only use head lice treatments if you have seen live lice in the hair. Using treatments when your child does not have head lice may make treatment less effective if your child later suffers from them.

Head lice are easy to treat?

True. For children and adults over the age of 6 months there are a number of treatment options available, either to buy or provided free of charge under the Health Service funded Minor Ailments scheme. The Bug Buster Kit® is available to comb through hair to detect and remove lice, while other lotions are available to be applied directly to scalp (Hedrin®, Derbac M®, Lyclear®).

Most products need to be used again seven days later to ensure all lice have been killed.

Once all lice have been eradicated, Hedrin® Protect and Go spray can be used to stop lice taking hold.

I can send my child to school with head lice?

True. There is no reason to keep your child from class. For children with long hair it is recommended to tie their hair back to reduce the chance of spread from pupil to pupil.

When treatment has worked my child will stop scratching immediately?

False. Even after successfully treating it may take 2-3weeks for the itch to go fully.

Please remember that we at MediCare Pharmacy regularly provide support and treatments for head lice so there is no need to be embarrassed asking for our advice.

MediCare, Caring For Your Health.

1. Earphones - There’s nothing worse than hitting the gym after a long day then realising you have forgotten your headphones. I personally feel that music gives you that extra push to train hard! My favourite earphones at the moment are skull candy jibs and priced at £9.99 from Argos they definitely won’t break the bank.

2. Dry shampoo/hair bobble When your working hard and getting sweaty its best to tie or pin that hair back, to keep it out of your face, and to keep it semi-clean! If you have no time to wash it after your workout give your head a quick spray with some dry shampoo! Lidl have a great one at the moment - Cien dry shampoo for £1.29.

3. Water - To stay hydrated. If your working hard you should be sweating hard. Replace the lost fluids with some fresh water. If you hate the taste of plain water why not try a water infuser to flavour it with your favourite fruit.

This will pack lots of flavour without any extra calories. My favourite is the BeMo® Motivational Fruit Infuser Water Bottle £9.99 from amazon.

Your local optician is back with some info on reading glasses and why they’re important

4. Hand sanitiser - A strange one, until you think of all the hands that have touched the gym equipment. My top tip would be to never touch your face whilst training and always sanitise you hands straight after a workout! Pick up multipacks from your local pound shop.

5. Face wipes - Skin can be very sensitive and sweat can clog up your pores. I recommend always giving your face a good scrub after any exercise.

I use Simple cleansing face wipes as I find they leave my skin feeling clean, fresh and hydrated, plus they’re only £1.50 from Tesco!

6. Protein snack - Don’t let hunger ruin your diet. Keep a protein snack in your bag, as you never no when when it’s going to strike! Consistency and preparation are the two biggest tools in fat loss, and in keeping the weight off long term. My go-to protein snack is a Fulfil white chocolate and cookie dough protein bar. They’re not cheap, at £2 from your local Spar, but it packs an amazing 21g protein and contains 9 essential vitamins, as well as being low in sugar and high in fibre!

Do reading glasses make your eyes worse?

ADVICE FROM ROSEMARY MCWATTERS Often people tell me how they try to do without their glasses and that they don’t want to wear them too much. There are many reasons why people do not always wear their spectacles as they were instructed to. It may be because they do not like how they look, or do not find them comfortable, or they feel freer without them.

But let’s be honest – for many people it is not comfort or aesthetics but a fear that wearing glasses too often will weaken their eye sight and they will end up relying on the glasses more and more. They think that if they want to avoid depending on their glasses they need to try to do without them.

So does wearing glasses make your eyes worse?

In a word – No. Despite what many people think there is no evidence that your eyes get weaker as a consequence of wearing glasses.

“But”, I hear you say – “since I started wearing reading glasses my eyes have definitely got worse” If by that you mean you need to use the glasses more and the optician has had to make them stronger every couple of years then maybe you need to stop and think what has happened.

If you will admit it, the fact is that you are not as young as you used to be. Our eyes change with age as the lens in the eye stiffens and cannot focus closer in.

The difference between clear vision with glasses and blurred vision without glasses becomes steadily more noticeable as your own eyes lose their elasticity. When you try to manage for a while without the glasses you generally do get a bit better at interpreting blur but your eyesight has not improved.

The advice is therefore to wear your spectacles as you have been recommended. You will know when they are most helpful, especially for concentrated tasks to avoid headaches or eye strain.

So whether or not you choose to wear your reading glasses will make no difference to your eyesight in the long run as you cannot stop the clock. But if you should happen to find the elixir of youth do let me know.

ROSEMARY MCWATTERS 41 Comber Road BT16 2AA. 028 9048 6222 mcwattersopticians.co.uk

HAIR

ALL ABOUT YOU / #32 / SEPT 17

27

How To Keep Your Hair Protected During Winter Just like our skin, winter takes its toll on our hair and the effects that dry and cold winter air conditions can have on the hair, does your hair become fly-away, frizzy and lack moisture, and your scalp get dry and flaky in winter months. In the winter especially, hair needs plenty of TLC but there are plenty of things you can do to keep it looking tip top.

By Sabrina Robinson SR HAIRDRESSING Moisturise (hair and scalp) This is the most important tip I cant stress this enough.

Especially in the colder months, the central heating tends to take a lot of moisture out and dry the hair out, sometimes also leaving a dry flaky scalp.

Using leave-in conditioners ,hair oils and deep moisturizing masks (for example, coconut oil ,argan oil and jojoba oil) once a week will replenish your hair with the moisture that it needs and prevent from breakage, leaving your hair soft and shiny.

Fly-away hair To avoid a static party on your head, you can blast cool air on your hair for a few minutes also a simple trick is to keep a regular anti-static laundry dryer sheet with you. Lightly swipe it over the fly-aways and enjoy your static-free hairdo.

Simple but effective!

Don’t over wash your hair Washing your hair too much

Beauty

will strip it of its natural oils, which you need more in the colder months. Try to extend the period between your washes as much as possible, and use good dry shampoo in between to keep your hair looking fresh.

And of course, remember to use conditioner each time!

order to revitalise the hair and add shine.

Use conditioning masks.

Avoid using extra heat on your hair, and invest in a professional moisturising shampoo and conditioner but it’s not just about the product, what you do with it matters too.

Cover Up In general, it is a great idea to protect your hair from the weather by tucking it underneath your scarf and hat. The less exposure to weather elements, the better. Don’t want hat hair?

A easy way to avoid this is to wrap your hair in a silk scarf before putting on your cozy, wool beanie. This helps to protect your hair from damage caused by the hat rubbing against your hair and it also cuts down on the static.

Massaging your scalp while conditioning has an profound effect on the hair. It will help to relieve tension and also increase the blood flow for thicker, healthier hair.

Dull Hair With the dry and cold conditions, your locks can start looking a little dull.

One tip is to use products for colour treated hair in Bobbi Brown”s Matte scarlet lipstick

“On a bad hair day there is always lipstick “ Audrey Hepburn

41 Comber Road Dundonald 028 9048 6222 WWW.MCWATTERSOPTICIANS.CO.UK

Best Winter Hair Product Treat your hair to L’Oreal Professional’s Mythic Oil Original Oil, a best seller in my salon it is a nourishing hair oil that provides weightless hydration and ultimate frizz protection.

Infused with vitamin-rich avocado oil and antioxidant grape seed oil, the mythic oil is suitable for all hair types and expertly tames frizz whilst delivering lightweight nourishment and mirror-like shine. Hair feels conditioned and pampered.

L’Oreal Professional’s Mythic Oil

Never underestimate the power of a good lipstick , especially on a bad hair day or even if your having a bad week a great lipstick can just be the best pick me up !! One of my favourites at the moment is Bobbi Brown”s creamy Matte scarlet lipstick its a perfect lip colour for autumn /winter Application is a breeze as it is creamy enough to glide across your lip comfortably like a normal lipstick and feels as light-as-air and has great staying power.

26 SANDOWN RD • BELFAST • 9065 8579 • SRHAIRDRESSING@HOTMAIL.COM

28

HOME

INSIDE OUT / #32 / SEPT 17

RESIDENTS

REFOUND

COLOUR & CLOTH

Our resident experts are back with some inspiration for your home projects

Jill has a cocktail on ice as she guides you through the coolest cocktail hosting furniture

Christine has some time off in mind and plans to hit the road but intends to keep insired

The Cocktail Corner

“

“

September not only marks the start of the school year – but also the beginnings of the party season!

Antique cabinet £295

Cocktail box!

A vintage blood bank transport container £95

Y

Transform a mid century piece into a ‘Mad Men’ style cocktail bar. A retro cabinet or radiogram can convert nicely.

es Christmas comes earlier and earlier… who’s has star ted on their Christmas shopping lists already?

So why not be ready for a spot of enter taining by getting your cock tails in order. Either that or the odd tipple or two at home will actually get you through silly season!

Whatever your take, have a look at some fun ways to house your booze buddies and wow your guests with a little creativity.

Making your mini bar doesn’t have to cost the ear th or take up room; a simple cabinet, side table or unused nook will do just the trick.

A favourite of mine: One customer recently purchased this 1900’s safe and converted it to their drinks cabinet!

Bar stool £65

Victorian Glass cabinet £250

view www.onthesquareemporium.com | www.refoundonline.com | visit us at Unit A3, 17 Heron Road, BT3 9LE – Past B&Q, off Airport Road.

“

My ebay purchase of a beautiful 1920 Singer Hand Cranked sewing machine accompanied me.

ON THE ROAD

“

This month I will be mostly on holiday! Yay!

I am taking a well deserved break before the full season of sewing classes starts back on September 11th. We have sold out all 8 classes for September (thats 40 new students) so I can relax for a few weeks. I will be taking my sewing machine with me and sewing at all manner of locations, hoping to conquer 32 Awesome Adventures. My ebay purchase of a beautiful 1920 Singer Hand Cranked sewing machine (no electricity required) will be accompanying me.

I have been compiling a ‘pinboard’ for a few months, and thinking about doing this roadtrip

for over 2 years, and the time has come! I’ve been saving scraps of all shades of green for years, off cuts from dresses, coats, so I can make myself a tailored coat patchworked like fields.

The images in this months post show the story so far, from the ‘big bag of scraps’, to cutting out and connstruction. To make this dream come true I have put up images of past road trips, and fairy coats (I hope to meet many faeries along the way!) and also a great big dreamcatcher from Australia.

Although this is a difficult coat to make, it really just means that with a bit of planning you can make

it happen. 70% of this coat will be sewn by hand, with just a needle and thread.

And the fabrics, they hardly cost anything, just scraps, patched together. You can follow Colour and Cloth on the road. I will be using the hashtags #colourandcloth #thetravellingseamstress #32shadesofepicemerald.

If you see my coat out and about

Sewn wit h lov

colourandcloth.com

e

PICTURED Christine Boyle

COLOUR & CLOTH is based in a quirky home studio in East Belfast offering sewing classes workshops and events from beginners to beyond. We love getting creative, re-inventing clothing, translating the trends and doing it all on a budget! Focusing on re-design and re-purposing clothing and bringing awareness to fast fashion and what we can do to slow it down. In our new column we aim to inspire you to Make It Yourself.

Saving you money and learning new skills!

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If you’re moving on … moving up …or simply changing rooms we’ll also buy your pre-owned furniture , fittings and decor.

Don’t just take our word for it – come in and check us out. See our range for yourself or talk to us to find out how you can turn unwanted furniture into cash today!

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30

The Arts ON THE SCENE / #32 / SEPT 17

NEW APP

EXHIBITION

LAUNCH

Creative minds are now sharing their work with us through an amazing new app

Six new artists will exhibit their work at the Artisann Emerging Artists season

Local artist Dawn Crothers met another local legend at the opening of a children’s ward

SEARCH FOR film fans TO JOIN ‘cineseekers’ and ‘cinefocus’ juries AT bELFAST’S CINEMAGIC FESTIVAL this OCTOBER

TRAILS

CERAMIC ARTIST

ENCOURAGES PUBLIC ON ‘CREATIVE TRAIL’

Do you enjoy watching films?

Would you like to be the first to see new films from around the world? Ever thought of being a film critic?

Creative minds from Ards and North Down, including ceramic artist Andrew Cooke, have been grasping the opportunity to share their work with the public through a pioneering new smartphone app.

T

he app, part of a project called Creative Momentum, features two trails - one for County Armagh and one for County Down – each taking users on a tour of arts spaces and craft producers. Throughout the journey, users will discover a wealth of talent, from jewellery designers, wool spinners and glass artists, to blacksmiths, galleries and leather makers - each with their own unique skills and stories to share.

One such talent is ceramic artist Andrew Cooke of Cooke Ceramics, whose studio lies nestled in the Ards Peninsula.

Andrew embarked on his own creative adventure at the age of 40 when he ended his career in car body repairs due to health reasons. From there, Andrew decided to merge his experience

with his passion and, having achieved a Degree in Fine and Applied Art and Ceramics from Ulster University in 2012, has since built a successful career through his unique sculptures.

“My studio is on the site of an old stockcar track my Father ran in the 1970s, so cars and bikes are in my blood and steer my artistic direction,” Andrew explains.

“I have a wide range of work, from ceramic helmet sculpture to instruments such as the single stringed Diddley Bow, I am also the only commercial creator of Tiki mugs in all of Ireland. I transform used materials into new objects, giving them a new life. In a way, that resonates with me because my life has changed so much in recent years,” Andrew said.

The Creative Trails app is bringing

PICTURED Andrew Cooke with councillor Colin McCusker, Vice Chair of the Economic Development & Regeneration Committee of Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council.

artists like Andrew a new wave of public interest: “The Creative Trails app is not only introducing a new audience to businesses on their doorstep, it is also creating a sense of community within the arts sector in Northern Ireland and shining a light on the breadth of talented people we have here.

“I would encourage people to download the app and discover the region from a new perspective.

It can only help support our local arts sector and maybe even inspire others to follow their own creative passion,” said Andrew.

All creative businesses within

County Down and County Armagh with a gallery, studio, workshop or craft shop can be considered for inclusion in the Creative Trails app. Businesses interested in getting involved should contact Niall Drew at Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council via Niall.Drew@ ArmaghBanbridgeCraigavon.gov.uk The EU Northern Periphery and Arctic Regions Programme (NPA) and SEED fund Creative Momentum, a €2m transnational project supporting the development of the creative industries sector across Europe’s Northern Edge.

FOR MORE INFO ON COOKE CERAMICS VISIT WWW.ANDREWCOOKEARTIST.COM OR SEARCH #KOOKIETIKI ON SOCIAL MEDIA. EXHIB ITION

ARTISANN:

Emerging Artists

Six new artists will be showcasing their work in September.

LAUNCH 70 BLOOMFIELD AVE | MAIL@ARTISANN.ORG | ARTISANN.ORG

T

he group exhibition showcases the work of six people who are either recent graduates or who are still at Art College. On show throughout September, the work displays the impressive range of skill and talent inherit in the up-and-coming artists of Northern Ireland. Ken Bartley, co-owner of ArtisAnn, says: ‘The ArtisAnn Gallery believes in offering encouragement to young and emerging artists and is confident that these six are stars of the future. The artwork produced by these newcomers is remarkable both for its technical ability and

breadth of new ideas. Five of the six will be displayed in our first floor exhibition space but look out for Jordain’s amazing window display!’ Exhibiting artists include Charlie Scott, Cara Gribbon, Matthew Smyth, Jordain Gillen, Taylor McKinney and Santa Leimane. The exhibition runs at the ArtisAnn Gallery in Belfast from Thursday 7th September to Saturday 30th September 2017. Admission is free. All art is available to buy, and may be collected/delivered after the exhibition ends.

DAWN CROTHERS

LAUNCH OF RVH WARDS Local artist Dawn Crothers was at the recent opening of two new isolation units at The Childrens RVH Haematology Ward.

“I was so pleased to be invited to the opening of two newly purpose built isolation units at the Children’s Haematology Ward at the Royal Victoria Hospital. I donated a number of pieces to the ward last year and it was great to see them again

at the official opening! I bumped into Carl Frampton who officially opened the new units. Carl and I are from the same part of Belfast and was great to get chatting to him and have a photo opportunity with him admiring one of my snails!!

If so, this year’s Cinemagic Belfast ‘CineFocus’ and ‘CineSeekers’ film jury’ is just for you! Cinemagic is recruiting jury panels made up of 5-11 year olds, 12- 14 year olds, 15+ year olds and 18+ year olds to watch and judge a series of international films during the Cinemagic Belfast 2017 Festival programme this October.

The initiative aims to inspire young cinema-going audiences and provides a platform for debate and discussion.

Cinemagic film jury members will have the opportunity to meet other film fans, learn about the role of the film critic and play an important role in the Festival choosing its winners! To register for the Cinemagic Belfast 2017 Festival Jury: Please download a CineFocus or CineSeekers Jury Registration Form at www. cinemagic.org.uk and return by post to Cinemagic, Festival Jury, 49 Botanic Avenue, Belfast, BT7 1JL, or email claire@cinemagic. org.uk by 20th September.

The dates for each age category are as follows and participants must be available for all dates in their group: CineSeekers 5-7 year olds: October 21st, 22nd 8-9 year olds: October 14th,15th 10-11 year olds: October 7th, 8th Also includes October 6th: Opening Night 6.00pm-8.30pm Note each day runs in Odyssey Cinemas Belfast from 10.30am3.30pm unless otherwise stated (end time subject to change) CineFocus CineFocus 12+ (Sat 7 & Sun 8 Oct, 1.00pm – 6.00pm, Queen’s Film Theatre) CineFocus 15+ (Sat 14 & Sun 15 Oct, 1.00pm – 6.00pm, Queen’s Film Theatre) CineFocus 18+ (Sat 21 & Sun 22 Oct, 1.00pm – 6.00pm, Queen’s Film Theatre) CineFocus Animation 15+ (Fri 13, Sat 14, Sun 15 & Mon 16 Oct, 6.00pm – 9.00pm, Queen’s Film Theatre) CineFocus Documentary 15+ (Tues 24 & Wed 25 Oct, 6.00pm – 10.00pm, Crescent Arts Centre)

www.cinemagic.org.uk

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32

Look Back LOCAL HISTORY / #32 / SEPT 17

CASTLEREAGH

Updated

I

EXHIBITION By our incredible resident historian Aidan Campbell. What he doesn’t know about East Belfast isn’t worth knowing.

EXHIBITION Check out his extraordinary volumes of work in his back catalogue of books. All the details are set out below.

01

Courtesy of Michael McMullan

AI DAN C A MPB E L L L AUN CH ES H IS L AT ES T B O OK TH IS OC TOB ER

t follows on from the publication of 12 local histories covering areas of East Belfast, 1 on South Belfast and 1 on Greater Belfast.

On this occasion the subject is Castlereagh Updated which is an update of an earlier book with newly discovered photographic records of how life has developed on the Castlereagh Road over the past century. The name of Castlereagh is described in A Dictionary of Ulster Place-Names

by Patrick McKay as ‘Irish, An Caislean Riabhach ‘the grey castle’. Castlereagh is named from a stone house or castle which was the stronghold of the Clandeboye O’Neills in the 16th century.’ Where does the Castlereagh Updated story begin and end in terms of this book? It involves a journey, including old photographs and reminiscences, which begins at Castlereagh Street, crosses the Beersbridge Road into Castlereagh Road and then travels to Ballygowan Road and Castlereagh Village.

There are diversions to Loopland, Orangefield, Montgomery Road, Church Road, Manse Road and Lisnabreeny. There are views of big houses, small houses, businesses, factories, schooldays, community groups, social occasions, wartime, public transport including trams and trolleybuses and suburbia. Many of these scenes are remarkably unchanged and whilst some of the semi-rural character remains, many locations have been swept away and are unrecognizable following recent developments.

1. At the junction with Albertbridge Road and Castlereagh Street this is a view of Mountpottinger Road in 1953 and the absence of road traffic (apart from the cyclists) is noticeable.

The tram is not very far from the Belfast City Tramways Mountpottinger Depot next to 102 Mountpottinger Road and just beyond the Picturedrome cinema now the location of Newmount Credit Union.

The RUC constable following the tram (and riding the pursuit vehicle) is headed in the direction of the RUC

02

Courtesy of MSO Cleland Ltd

Barracks at 64 Mountpottinger Road.

Looks like Melville & Co, Undertakers have opened for business on the corner of Cluan Place and a Union Jack flag flies at the licensed premises to the right.

2. The old Loopbridge Mill next to the Loop River was taken over by printers McCaw, Stevenson & Orr in 1894. It was renamed ‘Linenhall Works’ in 1896 after the original address of the business at Linenhall Street, Belfast. In those days this portion of Castlereagh Road was on the very outskirts of Belfast and considered to be ‘in the country’. This is how it looked in 1923 in water colour but all these buildings were recently demolished for the construction of a new Tesco supermarket. Interesting that the artist has omitted any signs of the electric tramway system which reached this part of the world in 1913 with a terminus in the vicinity of the present Houston Park. The trams were replaced by trolleybuses in 1941 and the end-of-lines was alongside the Clonduff Estate next to the Hillfoot Road.

3. To mark the centenary of the Great Exhibition of 1851 it was decided that Britain, suffering the after-effects of the Second World War should celebrate the British way of life. The Festival of Britain was to be ‘a tonic to the nation’.

Although the main venue for the Festival was to be a site on the South Bank of the River Thames in London, there were to be a number of regional exhibition centres including the Ulster Farm and Factory Exhibition staged at Montgomery Road, Belfast.

The Belfast Exhibition at the Castlereagh site was opened to the public on 1st June 1951 and closed on 31st August 1951 with an attendance of 156,760 paying visitors - twice as many as originally estimated. The aim of the exhibition was to demonstrate the craftsmanship and productive skills of Northern Ireland’s factories and farms.The Festival buildings located on the corner of Alanbrooke Road at 38 Montgomery Road were later occupied by Shorts Missiles and

03

Courtesy of Kathleen Howard

04

Courtesy of Belfast Telegraph

05

Courtesy of May Nicolls

06

Courtesy of Campbell Kell

currently Lisclare nursing equipment.

4. There was a proposal for the construction of a flyover at the Castlereagh roundabout in 1988.

However a committee of local residents was formed to successfully resist the plans. Although there are only ten people protesting a note on the back of this photograph honestly records that ‘due to the heavy build-up of traffic the main protesters, nearly 600, had dispersed and gone home so this is not a true picture of the protest’.

5. There was a blacksmith whose business was not far away from

Castlereagh Gospel Hall on the corner of Church Road and he was called James Corry. Here he is at work shoeing a horse. You can see his wee terrier dog ‘Toby’ and Austin Nicolls is the young lad with his back to the camera looking on in this 1950 scene. Corry’s also had a shop which sold oil for lamps, sweets, lemonade, cakes and bread. By 1960 the Belfast Street Directory describes James Corry as a ‘confectioner and tobacconist’ so presumably the blacksmith business had closed.

6. It is 12th July 1904 and John

Forsythe is pictured at Castlereagh House on Manse Road sitting six from the left in the second row. The Lodge is LOL744 Forsythe’s True Blues Temperance which was named after him. A much simpler building originally, Castlereagh House (now demolished) was renovated and turned into a grand family home

by John Forsythe with castle-style battlements, bay windows and a flag pole on the roof. It was situated in large private gardens and on ground now occupied by the SONI electricity office complex at 12 Manse Road which is known as ‘Castlereagh House Control Centre’.

Aidan Campbell has previously published 12 East Belfast local history books entitled: Beaconsfield, Knock, Cherryvalley, Gilnahirk, Castlereagh, Cregagh, Stormont, Sydenham, Belmont, East Belfast Revisited Volumes 1 & 2 and Ballymacarrett. Also Belfast Through Time and Newtownbreda. He regularly gives illustrated talks to local groups and societies. The books are available at Hillmount Garden Centre, Marie Curie Hospice and Hamilton News Cregagh with profits donated to local charity. BOOK SALES ONLINE : EASTBELFASTHISTORY.COM

Swing into Summer

Experience a summer of great golf with our fantastic 9 hole and 18 hole rates.

9 Holes Twilight Rate Only time to play 9 holes?

Take advantage of our great value 9 hole rate!

Monday – Friday Saturday & Sunday

£12 £15

18 Holes

Great value twilight rates!

Play as many holes as you can 21/2 hours before dusk!

Available 7 days a week.

See website for times.

Only £11per person

Enjoy a great round of golf across the magnificent Castlereagh Hills!

Monday – Friday Saturday & Sunday

£20 £25

Society Rates

Our society rates offer excellent value for money for groups with 12 + golfers.

Simply create your own tailor made package!

18 holes Monday – Friday 18 holes Saturday & Sunday

£16 £20

Great Golfers Menu available

New restaurant open to the public!

Castlereagh Hills Golf Course, 73 Upper Braniel Road, Castlereagh, BT5 7TX. To book a session, please call 028 9044 8477 or email chgc@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk castlereaghhills www.castlereaghhills.com

34

SPORT

RESULT / #32 / SEPT 17

CRICKET

FOOTBALL

FOOTBALL

A former CSNI star has returned to the country and to his former club as a result

Local femal players had a game changing experience at the under 19s championships

The Orangefield Crocks unveiled their new kit sponsor; Alan McVeigh Motors

QUEEN’S BATON RELAY COMES TO LISBURN & CASTLEREAGH

CRICKET

MARC ELLISON RETURNS TO CSNI

M

A showcase of sporting talent has welcomed the iconic Queen’s Baton Relay to Lisburn & Castlereagh as the baton finished the last leg of its tour in Northern Ireland ahead of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia in April 2018.

Former Club professional Marc Ellison has rejoined CSNICC following his return to Northern Ireland.

arc averaged 46.5 runs during his previous spell at the club in 2011 when the Club finished fourth in the league and lost out in the Challenge Cup Final to Waringstown.

Talking about his return Marc said: “I have very fond memories of my time at CSNI and Peter McMorran did a wonderful job in ensuring our young family felt very welcome.

It’s fantastic being back at the club. One of the best things is that, even after being away for six years, so many players and personalities remain. That’s unique in my experience. I’m really excited about the challenge we’re currently

facing and to continue the good work done over the last four to five weeks and solidify our place in the Premier League.

Watching on from afar, it seems as though we’re pretty close to getting it right. I’m looking forward to being a part of this great group of guys and experiencing more successes.”

Marc’s first match back was in the recent match against CIYMS and his return will further strengthen the 1st XI team.

Club Chairman, Ivan McMinn, said: “Marc’s return is welcomed by everyone involved at the Club. He

PICTURED Marc Ellison in action. © CricketEurope

was a popular character both on and off the field when he was here in 2011 and to have him return to CSNI will bolster the team and provides a huge moral boost to the Club.”

Graeme McCarter, Club Captain,

said: “It’s great to have Marc back as we need to strengthen the top order and from what I’ve seen so far he is exactly what we need!

Also, his enthusiasm around the club has been brilliant which will help everyone else.”

Keep up to date with Club news online at www.csnicc.com or on Facebook or Twitter.

FOOTBALL

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GAME CHANGING EXPERIENCE FOR FEMALE PLAYERS

A unique experience at National Football Stadium at Windsor Park.

ocal young female footballers from Crusaders F.C., Linfield F.C. and Rosario YFC Football Club had a Game Changing experience playing during the halftime of the UEFA Women’s Under 19 Championship finals at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park. The young teams had this once in a lifetime experience after they won the Electric Ireland Game Changers

PICTURED ABOVE: the game changing U11 girls from Crusaders F.C. and Linfield F.C. RIGHT: U15 girls from Rosario Youth Football Club ready to perform at half-time of the UEFA Women’s Under 19 Championship finals alongside their competing team, Carnmoney Ladies FC.

FOOTBALL

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CROCK’S NEW KIT

Alan McVeigh Motors sponsor new kit for Orangefield Team

ohnny Halliday presenting members of the Orangefield ‘crocks’ their new kit on behalf of Alan McVeigh Motors, Alanbrooke Park Industrial Estate. We are made up of over 35 ex-Orangefield players who play charity matches every 6 weeks against other overage teams. Our first match was in October 2015, and have played the likes of Glentoran Legends, NI

masters, NI veterans, Bloomfield, Inst, Danske bank, Clonduff, Whitehead Eagles, Aquinas, NI Fire Service, and even Veteranos De Ceuti from Murcia, Spain. The team are hopeful of a return leg in Spain next April/May. Any overage teams looking a game, to raise money for a worthy cause, and a bit of craic can contact us at the Orangefield OB fc Facebook page.

competition. Electric Ireland is the proud sponsor of women’s football across Northern Ireland helping to support and celebrate Northern Ireland’s Game Changing female footballing talent. Electric Ireland’s Game Changers campaign aims to break down the perceptions that exist around women’s football, help boost participation rates and drive women’s football forward at every level in Northern Ireland.

Commonwealth hopefuls demonstrated their sporting prowess at Lagan Valley LeisurePlex to a team of delegates from the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council, including their Patron and Commonwealth Gold Medallist, Dame Mary Peters.

Demonstrations included the sports of taekwondo, wrestling and fencing, with a number of the athletes taking part hoping to be selected for the Games in 2018.

The Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Councillor Tim Morrow was delighted to welcome the Queen’s Baton Relay: “The Council is pleased to receive the Queen’s Baton Relay as it ends the Northern Ireland relay leg, following its launch earlier in the year by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace.

“While the baton relay represents an important call for Commonwealth athletes to join the competition, the Council welcomes the opportunity to work in partnership with the Commonwealth Games Council and the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council to celebrate sport and culture in our local communities.

“I would like to wish all our local athletes who have been selected or who hope to be selected in the near future every success for the Games.”

The Chairman of the Council’s Leisure & Community Development Committee, Alderman James Tinsley added, “Lisburn & Castlereagh has a proud history of sporting success with many athletes representing their sport on an international stage, including Northern Ireland’s most successful athlete, Dame Mary Peters. Achievements in sport are sustained by a strong sports club network as well as continuous support from family members.

During the tour, the baton will visit 70 nations, travelling 230,000km by land, sea and air before finishing its final journey at the Opening Ceremony at the Gold Coast on 4th April 2018. The baton, which was designed by the host nation has a distinctive loop design using a combination of macadamia wood and reclaimed plastic.

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36

EVENT GUIDE SAVE THE DATE / #32 / SEPT 17

STRAND ARTS CENTRE 152-156 HOLYWOOD ROAD, BELFAST BT4 1NY BOX OFFICE (028) 9065 5830 BOOK ONLINE AT STRANDARTSCENTRE.COM

MOVIE PICKS

CINEMA

THE ARTS

AND MORE

We have a run down on what’s coming up on the big screen this month at the Strand Arts Centre

There are also a number of arts events happening at the Strand Arts Centre too

Plus, further afield we have Culture Night in our signts, one of the biggies of the year

potential to plunge what’s left of society into chaos. His discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former blade runner who’s been missing for 30 years.

Sci-Fi, Thriller

STRAND SATURDAYS FREE SATURDAY MINORS CLUB

EVERY WEEK DURING TERM TIME AT 12 Free screenings of family movies for ages 5 and above.

It

From 8th September

Based on Stephen King’s 1986 novel.

When children begin to disappear in the town of Derry, Maine, neighborhood kids band together to square off against Pennywise, an evil clown whose history of murder and violence dates back for centuries.

Drama, Horror

9th Sept – Bedknobs And Broomsticks (1971) [U] 16th Sept – Cinderella (2015) [U] 23rd Sept – Chicken Run (2000) [U] 30th Sept – Hugo (2011) [U] 7yrs+ 7th Oct – Despicable Me (2010) [U] 14th Oct – The Adventures of Tintin(2011) [PG] 7yrs+

WEEKLY WORKSHOPS

(AFTER THE 12PM MINORS CLUB FILM) 1.30 – 2.30PM

Different arts workshops every Saturday.

From circus to music, craft to drama, your little ones can get ‘More Than Just The Pictures’ when you choose the Strand!

SILVER SCREENINGS & THURSDAY CLASSICS Victoria & Abdul

From 15th September

Directed by Stephen Frears (Florence Foster Jenkins, The Queen, Philomena).

Queen Victoria strikes up an unlikely friendship with a young Indian clerk named Abdul Karim.

Biography, Drama, History

Silver Screenings weekly movie classics for seniors on Thursdays at 2.00pm. Supported

by Specsavers Connswater and Arts & Business NI. Tickets £3.00 including tea/ coffee.

Also screening as our Thursday Classic at 8pm. Tickets £4.00 SEPTEMBER 7th & 14th PAPER MOON (1973) [PG] Comedy-drama about con artists played by Ryan and Tatum O’Neal 21st & 28th MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939) [U] Frank Capra classic starring James Stewart

Kingsman: The Golden Circle From 20th September

Action comedy spy sequel. When their headquarters are destroyed and the world is held hostage, the Kingsmans’ journey leads them to the discovery of an allied spy organisation in the US. Together they must defeat a common enemy.

Action, Adventure, Comedy

Blade Runner 2049 From 6th October

Officer K (Ryan Gosling), a new blade runner for the Los Angeles Police Department, unearths a long-buried secret that has the

OCTOBER 5th & 12th SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (1952) [U] MGM’s Technicolor musical treasure starring Gene Kelly 19th & 26th SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950) [PG] Billy Wilder film noir starring William Holden and Gloria Swanson

STRAND HERITAGE TOUR

LIVE MUSIC & EVENTS POLISH CULTURAL WEEK – THREE COLOURS TRILOGY MON 25TH SEPT 6:30PM THREE COLOURS: BLUE French/Romanian/Polish with English Subtitles TUES 26TH SEPT, 6:30PM THREE COLOURS: WHITE French/Polish/English/Russian with English Subtitles WED 27TH SEPT, 6:30PM THREE COLOURS: RED French with English Subtitles Krzysztof Kieslowski’s multi award-winning trilogy is a landmark of world cinema.

French/Polish/Swiss co-productions, Three Colours: Blue, White and Red explore the French Revolutionary ideals of freedom, equality and brotherhood and their relevance to the contemporary world, featuring immaculate performances from Juliette Binoche, Irène Jacob and Jean-Louis Trintingnant among others.

Drama, Mystery, Romance

EUROPEAN HERITAGE OPEN DAYS

SAT 9TH & SUN 10TH SEPT With nautical design touches including porthole windows and light fixtures inspired by its proximity to the shipyard, the Strand Heritage Tour gives you a chance to get behind the scenes of this art deco gem.

CATHEDRAL QUARTER, DONEGALL STREET AND VARIOUS SURROUNDING VENUES INSIDE AND OUT

The biggest evening in Belfast’s cultural calendar returns to transform the spaces and places of the city centre and beyond on Friday 22 September with a packed programme of events including tasters, tours, talks, trails, demonstrations, activities and gigs. All Culture Night events are free. Most events will take place between 1pm - 10pm, but many venues will be opening earlier and closing later.

For more information, visit www.culturenightbelfast.com

DIRTY DUSTING

GRAND OPERA HOUSE, GREAT VICTORIA ST 19 Sep 2017 - 23 Sep 2017

When three cleaners, Olive, Gladys and Elsie, are threatened with redundancy they feel that their lives are coming to an end until a chance wrong number gives them a new business start-up idea - why not run THE JOHNNY BROOKS SHOW a telephone sex line? They’ve got motive, THUR 14TH SEP, 8.00PM opportunity and a lifetime of experience TCB Productions presents Ireland’s No.1 Garth Brooks Tribute Act comes to the Strand some more than others, mind you.

Provided Elsie can teach the other two a Arts Centre for one night only. few new tricks there’s no reason why they TICKETS £13 can’t get rich quick providing they can keep their operation a secret from their bosses…

CULTURE NIGHT - HOLYWOOD and their husbands…and their children…and FRI 22ND SEPT their grandchildren. A searing indictment of Fire Station, Holywood ageism in the 21st century heavily disguised Join our party at the fire station with magic as a hysterical, laugh-out-loud, hearttricks, balloon animals, green screen, live warming comedy. music, short films and free popcorn!

To book your ticket, please visit www.goh.co.uk FAMILY CLASSICS Screening as part of the Cinemagic Festival and Belfast City Council’s Positive Ageing Month BOTANIC GARDENS, COLLEGE PARK

16 Sep 2017 - 17 Sep 2017 Annie SUN 1ST OCT, 2PM TICKETS £5.00/£4.00 1982, 122 mins, Cert: U

Pinocchio SUN 29TH OCT, 2PM TICKETS £5.00/£4.00 1940, 88 mins, Cert: U

AUTUMN FAIR

SAT 23RD SEP, 21ST OCT & 18TH NOV, 12,30pm, £4.00

BELFAST COMEDY FESTIVAL

Monthly Heritage tour with expert projectionist and Film enthusiast Alan McClurg.

LAUREL AND HARDY NIGHT

Come hear about The Strand’s history, its unique Art Deco architecture and traditional movie theatres. Get behind the scenes to see the workings of both our original 35mm film projector and the new digital projectors.

Watch selected footage from the Northern Ireland Screen Digital Archive.

CULTURE NIGHT

2ND – 8TH OCTOBER

TUES 3RD OCT As part of the Belfast Comedy Festival we will celebrate the kings of comedy Laurel and Hardy. Enjoy the classic ‘Way Out West’ with the short ‘Big Business’.

BILL HICKS: RELENTLESS

FRI 6TH OCT In this classic special from 1992, comedian Bill Hicks tells us how he feels about nonsmokers, religion, war, peace, drugs and music.

Come along to the annual Autumn Fair and enjoy a fun-filled weekend of food, flowers and family entertainment.

Enter the tented village and be amazed at the colourful prize blooms on display, including spectacular prize-winning exhibits of enormous vegetables and other wonders from local gardens, allotments, greenhouses, wine cellars and beehives.

Take a leisurely stroll through one of the most beautiful gardens in the city, listen to live music or visit a variety of stalls selling foods, plants, crafts and jewellery.

37

Healthy & Happier Local Slimming World member, Christine Nichol, has lost over four stone in just under a year and she now feels so much healthier and happier, thanks to Slimming World!

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hristine joined her local Slimming World group after becoming increasingly unhappy with her size. She says “I’ve always struggled with my weight and would describe myself as ‘curvy’ but it was only after having my two boys I really started to struggle with my weight. The pounds kept creeping on and I was in denial about my weight and how I looked. Often on family days, or out with friends, I was the one who always took the pictures as I didn’t feel comfortable being in front of the camera! A wake up call for me was when one of my work colleagues showed me a photograph of myself and this is when it hit home ‘what have I done to myself’, I thought, and this was a turning point for me and was the motivation I needed to make changes.

I had been putting off joining Slimming World for years but I knew that’s what I needed as I had heard so many other members’ success stories. It took so much courage to walk into my local group in Gilnahirk, but when I did, I got a really warm welcome from my consultant, Ashleigh, and all

the other members in group - the atmosphere was buzzing and I felt comfortable. I knew I had made the right decision. I was introduced to Slimming World’s Food Optimising plan in a very understandable and simple way.

It’s a healthy and generous eating plan where I could still enjoy delicious family meals including all my favourites such as pasta dishes, curries and Sunday roasts!

I must admit it did sound too good to be true!

I left group that evening feeling very excited and ready for the week ahead, I couldn’t wait to get stuck in and try out lots of new recipes! I followed the plan 100% and returned the following week with 5lbs off. I was over the moon as I never once felt hungry, guilty or deprived. I couldn’t believe that I was able to eat and enjoy all this delicious food and still lose weight. One year later and I am now at my personal target weight with a total weight loss of 4st 1.5lb. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my group.

The support meant everything to me! Each week in group and throughout the week people share all their amazing ideas and

recipes. I always left group each week with a few new recipes to try.

They were all simple, quick and easy to make which was perfect for me as I am busy at work and always running around after my two boys! The whole family have benefitted from the healthy meals.

I love takeaways and I love the fact that I can now make my own ‘takeaway’ meals including burger in a bowl and chicken fried rice these are my favourites!

Prior to joining Slimming World, I never felt confident about exercising. I used to hate running, but now I really love it! After losing my first 2 stone I added in some

body magic. I downloaded the couch to 5k app on my phone and this really kept me motivated! After a busy day at work, it’s great to pop the headphones on, get out and about in the fresh air and clear the head and not only that but it has helped me lose the last 2 stone to reach my target weight!

Joining Slimming World has changed my life. I’m living happier at my own chosen target weight!

I am so much healthier and I feel so much fitter! I even feel much more confident and have a lot more energy too and I love nothing more than running around playing with my two boys!

My advice to anyone who is thinking about joining Slimming World, I would highly recommend it. Find a group that you are comfortable with and give yourself that time each week to get the help, support and encouragement that you deserve!

You won’t regret it!”

You can join Ashleigh at one of her groups : Wednesday @Gilnahirk Baptist 17:30 & 19:30 And Thursdays @ Braniel Church (Woodview drive) 17:30 & 19:30 everyone welcome slimmingworld.co.uk.

KEENAN SOLICITORS

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HEARING LOSS COMPENSATION

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Solicitors

PSV DRIVERS URGENTLY REQUIRED FOR ALL SHIFTS GET IN TOUCH FOR DETAILS 271 Newtownards Road • Belfast BT4 1AF

028 9073 2211

38 GROUPS & CLASSES

Toddler’s Groups Kids Clubs

Local Classes & Groups

CONTACT stuart@ loopmag.net

PLANNER / #32 / SEPT 17

MUMS & TOTS MONDAY

CALVARY MUMS & TODDLERS. 10.30-12.00am. £1 per family.100 Dee St, BT4 028 9073 2331 EAST END BAPTIST TINY TOTS (Westbourne street). Each Monday during term time 10:30-12noon. £1 donation. Tel: 07786 962220.

LITTLE STARS The Salvation Army 110 Cregagh Road Toys/snacks/craft/music. £1.50 per family. 10am-12 term time for 0-4 years. 028 9045 4466.

SYDENHAM PARENT & TODDLER Mon 10-11.30 £1 per family. Inverary CC, BT4 1RN 028 9047 1456 ST FINNIANS 10-11.30. Cregagh Park, 028 9079 2793.

WANDSWORTH MUMS & CHUMS 10-11.30am. Wandsworth CC. £1 26a Belmont Church Rd. 07903 674698

TUESDAY ALBERTBRIDGE CONGREGATIONAL 10.30-12.15. Woodstock Link. Donation £1 CFC MOPS & TOTS 9.30-11am (term time - alternate Tuesdays) £1 for one child, £1.50 total for more. Tea/coffee/juice/snacks.

CFC MOPS 9.30-11am (term time - alternate Tues) £3.50 per mum.

Breakfast & creche. 10 Belmont Rd. 028 9067 1838 GARNERVILLE PRESBYTERIAN 10.15-11.45. Child’s Play - Tea, coffee, juice, snack. £1 per family.

MERSEY STREET PRESBYTERIAN. 10-11.45am term time. £1. 028 9065 7025 MCQUISTON TODDLERS 10-11.30am. Toast, juice, tea, coffee & biscuits.

McQuiston Memorial, 83 Castlereagh Road.

MOUNT MERRION PARISH CHURCH 10am Toddler Group. Tel 07905 144070. Mount Merrion Ave, BT6.

ST DONARDS CHURCH 10am-12 Bloomfield Avenue Tel: 028 9065 2321 £1 for adults. Tea/coffee/juice STRANDTOWN BAPTIST TOTS 10.00- 11.30am (term time) Strandtown Baptist Church, 1 Clonallon Court BT4 2AB Tel: 028 9080 8380 £1 per adult TOTS & CO 10.15- 11.45am (term time). Cregagh Methodist Church. £1.50 per family (juice/snack & tea) 28-30 Cregagh Rd. 028 9045 7564

WEDNESDAY BLOOMFIELD PRESBYTERIAN 10-11.30am Phone 028 9047 1103. 447 Beersbridge Rd BUSY BEES 10 -11:30am Knock Methodist Church, Knock Rd MOUNTPOTTINGER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 10.30am Toddlers SMALLTALK @ ORANGEFIELD 10-11.45am O’field Church & Community, 464 Castlereagh Road. 02890 799391 orangefield.org.uk ST COLMCILLE’S PARENT & TODDLER 10am term time St Colmcille’s Parish Hall (opposite Tesco’s) in Ballyhackamore. Men looking after young children welcome. 191a Upper Newtownards Rd WILLOWFIELD MOTHER & TODDLER 10-12pm W’stock Rd, 028 9045 7654

THURSDAY 123 TOTS 10-11.45am Exchange Church, Albertbridge Road (opposite Keens in the old YMCA building) BLOOMFIELD METHODIST CHURCH 10-11.30am £1 per family Grand Parade 028 9065 8946.

CREGAGH PRESBYTERIAN 10am mothers & toddlers. Tel Josephine 028 9065 4181.

102-104 Cregagh Road CREGAGH MUMS & TOTS 10-12pm Cregagh CC. Mount Merrion Avenue. Tel: 028 9040 1444 GILNAHIRK PRESBYTERIAN Thursdays 10-11.30am. £1 per family. 161 Gilnahirk Rd. Tel: Laura 07708 000025 GLENMACHAN TOTS & TODDLERS 10-12 term time. Church of God, Glenmachan Road. Tel 028 9076 1676 glenmachan.org KIRKPATRICK MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN Parents & Toddlers. 10-11.30am. Upper Newtownards Rd £1 donation KNOCK PARENT & TODDLER 10-11.45am Knock Presbyterian. 53 Kings Road, Gillian 07803 117619.

STRAND PRESBYTERIAN MUMS & TOTS 10-11.30am term time Strand Presbyterian, Connsbrook Avenue. £1 per family. Tel Lila 02890 768890.

FRIDAY ESL TODDLERS FOR PARENTS FROM ETHNIC MINORITIES 10-11.30. The Micah Centre. Willowfield Parish Church (My Lady’s Rd) ST COLUMBA’S MUMS & TOTS 9.45-11.45 (term time). 29 Kings Road WOODSTOCK LIBRARY RHYTHM & RHYME 10-10.30am. 0-4 years. 358 Woodstock Road.

Tel 028 9050 9239

CLASSES & EVENTS MONDAY BADMINTON CLUB ST Moluas C.O.I , 645 Upp Newtownards Rd ,BT4 3LR. 8pm10pm. New members welcome. 07882 058198.

BALLYHACKAMORE LIBRARY 1-3 Eastleigh Drive 028 9050 9204. Ballyhack Book Pack Adult reading group (1st Mon of the month) 7pm. Knit & Natter 2-4pm. Bedtime Stories 7pm. Womens Book Club (Last Mon of the month) 7pm. Creative Writers (3rd Mon of the month) 6.45pm. Ballyhackamore Crime Reading Group (2nd Mon of the month) 7pm.

BEAN BLESSED Bloomfield Ave Congregational Church Tea/ coffee, scones, pastries. 10.30-12 BELMONT TOWER The Programme 6.30-8.30pm. 028 9076 1172 CREGAGH CRICKET CLUB Gibson Park Avenue 028 9045 9440 6.30pm Under 9 & Under 11 cricket training.

CREGAGH PRESBYTERIAN Cub Scouts. 6.30pm. Tel John 07809 205579. 102-104 Cregagh Road HARDING MEMORIAL Rainbows 4-7yrs Mon 6pm Brownies 7-10yrs Monday 7pm Guides 10-14yrs Mondays 7pm. Clare 07905 556825.

EAST BELFAST MISSION SKAINOS.ORG EBM Homework Club (P4-P6) 3.30–5.30pm. Contact Hannah Ferguson 028 9045 8560.

JUNIOR BOYS CLUB (FREE) 6pm-7pm @ St. Judes Parish, Ravenhill Rd P1-P6; Football, craft & games.

ORANGEFIELD BAPTIST Ladies Coffee Morning 1st Mon of month 10.30am 37 North Rd EAST STRAND ARTS CENTRE & NI STARS Holywood Rd, BT4 .nistars.com. Singing & dancing 7-8pm TULLYCARNET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH GB Teenies & Explorers (3-8yrs) 6.30-7.30pm, Juniors (911yrs) 6.30-8pm, Seniors & Brigaders (12-18 yrs) 6.30-8.30 Contact Carol 07813 117453. Presbyterian Women’s Group (2nd & 4th Monday of month) 8pm TEL JEAN 02890 486492 WANDSWORTH COMMUNITY 028 9065 1668. Climbing Tree Breakfast club for school children 7.30 - 9am & After School Club each day 2 - 6pm.

Children & Teens carnival drumming 6.30pm-7.30pm. Aerobics 7-8pm. Combat 8.15-9.30pm WOODSTOCK LIBRARY Mindful Colouring for adults. 10.30-11.30am 358 Woodstock Road. Tel 028 9050 9239

TUESDAY 15TH NI GIRLS BRIGADE Cregagh Methodist 23-30 Cregagh Road Tinies (3-4) 6.15-7.15pm explorers (5-7) 6.15-7.30pm juniors (8-10) 7.009.00pm company (11-19) 7.30-9.30pm tel 07783 408609 ARDENLEE LADIES BOWLING CLUB Warm and friendly Club welcoming new members.

Experience not necessary, bowls supplied. Ravenhill Green, Ormeau Park, opposite Ravenhill Avenue. 028 9058 6446.

Also meet on Thursdays.

BALLYHACKAMORE LIBRARY 1-3 Eastleigh Drive 028 9050 9204. ART CLASSES - Book your place in Ballyhackamore Library’s monthly art class (Adult).

10-12. Classic Reading Group - share your love of the classics, pick up this months read. Last Tues of the month 11-12.

BELMONT TOWER Childrens dance classes 4-7pm. Pregnancy Yoga 8pm10pm. Belfast Wine Makers 8pm-10pm. Samantha Meditation 7pm-9pm.

EAST BELFAST MISSION SKAINOS.ORG EBM Women’s Group 7pm-9pm. EBM Homework Club (P4 – P6) 3.30–5.30pm. EBM Choir practice (age 17+) 5.45 – 6.45pm. Time Out 12.30-12.50. Mens Bible studies 10.3012pm. Rang Comhra 7-9pm.

GILNAHIRK LADIES GROUP Stye Brae Centre @ Gilnahirk Presbyterian Church 10.30-12 MOUNT MERRION PARISH CHURCH Junior puppet club. 3.30pm. P1-P3. Senior puppet club.

4.30pm. P4-P7. Tel 07443 334690. Learn to dance. 7.30pm, Ballroom, sequence & Latin. Tel 07547 801383.

MOUNTPOTTINGER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 10.30am Open Door. 2.30pm Senior Citizens (1st&3rd Tues of month). 6.30-7.45pm GB Explorers. 6.30-8pm GB Juniors.

7.30-9.30pm GB Seniors & Brigaders. 8.15pm -PW (2nd & 4th Tues)

ORANGEFIELD BAPTIST 3.00pm to 4.00pm “Friendship meeting” Come and enjoy cup of tea/coffee and a chat and some fellowship. Everyone warmly welcomed.

TULLYCARNET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Mixed Bowling Club – 7.30 / Cell Group - 7.30 WANDSWORTH COMMUNITY 028 9065 1668. Climbing Tree Breakfast club for school children 7.30 - 9am & After School Club each day 2 - 6pm Yoga 10.30--11.30, Irish dancing for kids 5--6, Aerobics 7--8 and Boxing Fitness 8.15-9.30.

WOODSTOCK LIBRARY Adult reading group (general). First Tuesday of the month.

Adult reading group (crime). Last Tuesday of the month.

6.45-7.45pm. 358 Woodstock Road. Tel 028 9050 9239

WEDNESDAY 29TH NI GIRLS BRIGADE Cregagh Congregational. Explorers (3-7) 6:45-8:15pm. Company Section (8-18) 6:45-10pm. Helen 07938 521823.

AVONIEL COMMUNITY GARDEN Beside Avoniel Leisure Centre. Open to public 1pm - 3pm.

T: 028 9046 7925 BELMONT TOWER Baby massage 10am-1pm. PlayBall NI 9am-1pm. 39th Old Boys Flute Ensemble 7-9pm. Belfast Soroptimists 7.30pm-9.

NI Orchid Society 6pm-8pm. Mindfullness 6.30pm-8.30 CREGAGH CRICKET CLUB Gibson Park Avenue, 028 9045 9440 6.30pm Under 13 & Under 15 cricket training.

CREGAGH PRESBYTERIAN For seniors - “Evergreens’. 2.30pm. Tel Barbara 028 9045 3829. Beavers. 6.30pm. Tel Carolyn 07816 658507. Squirrels.

6.30pm. Tel Laura 07597 684104 102-104 Cregagh Rd EAST BELFAST MISSION SKAINOS.ORG Kidz GAP - Young children with their Parents/Guardians 10am-12pm. Ladies Senior Friendship Club 2pm-3.30pm.

Street Soccer five-a-side Avoniel Leisure Centre 1-3pm. Bible Studies general group 7.30-8.30pm.

GILNAHIRK HORTICULTURAL & CIVIC SOCIETY 1st Wed of the month (Sep-May) 8-9.30pm Gilnahirk Presbyterian.

GILNAHIRK MENS GROUP 10.30am – cuppa,chat, visiting speaker. Jack Britton Hall, Gilnahirk Presbyterian Church (October-April) GIRLS BRIGADE Bloomfield Ave Congregational. 3 yrs - P4 6.15pm.P5 upwards 7.30pm KNIT & CHAT Dundonald Methodist Church (Rank Road) on alternate Wednesdays, 2-4 pm. Very friendly group who will make you very welcome. Come along and enjoy the fellowship.

Enquiries 02890 486247.

LUNCHEON CLUB For senior citizens. 12 noon. £1.50. Cregagh Methodist. Pre book on 028 9045 7564.

MOUNT MERRION PARISH CHURCH Homework club. 3pm. P1-P3. Homework club. 4pm. P4-P7.

Tel 07443 334690. Ladies craft club. T: 028 9058 9149.

MOUNTPOTTINGER PRESBYTERIAN 7.45pm Midweek Prayer.

ORMEAU TABLE TENNIS CLUB Kids beginners table tennis 6.30-7.30. Adults beginners table tennis 7.30-9. 113 The Mount.

OVER 60’S LUNCH CLUB Bloomfield Methodist Church. 12.30pm. 3 courses for £3.

Grand Parade. Tel: 028 9065 2314 to book.

STRAND ARTS CENTRE “Wacky Wednesdays” All shows £3.50 TULLYCARNET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Cell Group – 7.30 / House Group – 8pm, Held in 154 Comber Road. Contact - Stephen 02895084930 / 07904498502 WANDSWORTH COMMUNITY Climbing Tree Breakfast club for school children 7.30 - 9am & After School Club each day 2 - 6pm. Sewing 10am-12.

Flower Arranging 1.30-3.30pm. Yoga 7-8.30pm YOUTH DROP IN (FREE) 4-30-6pm @ St.Judes Parish Church Ormeau Rd. Secondary school youths. Pizza, snacks, chat.

WOODSTOCK LIBRARY One to one beginners computer lessons. Booking required.

358 Woodstock Road. Tel 028 9050 9239

THURSDAY 1ST BALLYMACARRETT OUTDOOR BOWLING April - Sept . 6.30 onwards. Friendly Cub welcoming new members. Experience not necessary, bowls supplied , Ravenhill Green. Ormeau Park, opposite Ravenhill Avenue .

028 9029 4249.

ARDENLEE LADIES BOWLING CLUB Warm and friendly Club welcoming new members.

Experience not necessary, bowls supplied. Ravenhill Green, Ormeau Park, opposite Ravenhill Avenue. 90 586446.

BALLYHACKAMORE LIBRARY 1-3 Eastleigh Drive 028 9050 9204. Rhythm & Rhyme (1st & 3rd Thurs of the month) 11.15am. Booking essential.

BELMONT TOWER Art classes 10am-1pm. Baby Sensory Classes 10am-1pm.

Yoga 6-9pm. East Belfast Historical Society (Every 2nd Thurs-

day Sep-May) 7.30pm.

CREGAGH PRESBYTERIAN Girl Guides. 6.30pm. Gillian 028 9187 4687 Brownies.

6.30pm. Vicki 028 9045 8208. Rainbow Guides. 6pm. Rebecca 07856 488594 EAST BELFAST MISSION SKAINOS.ORG Over’s Luncheon Club 12.30-2pm. EBM homework club (P4P6) 3.30 – 5.30pm. Bible Studies womens group 6.30-7.30 every fortnight.

MOUNT MERRION PARISH CHURCH Diamontes Dance Group. Tel 07880 880829.

MOUNTPOTTINGER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 10.30-Midday Open Door. 6.30-7.30pm BB Anchor Boys.6.308pm BB Junior Section. 7.30-10pm BB Company Section SENIOR CITIZENS LUNCHEON CLUB Midday @ Ballymac Centre.

STRAND ARTS CENTRE Weekly screening of classic film TULLYCARNET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Parent and Toddler Group – 10.30-12 noon Contact – Stephen –02895084930 / 07904498502 BB - 6.30 Contact – Irene Mornin - 02890 486475 WANDSWORTH COMMUNITY 028 9065 1668. Boot Camp 7-8 and Core Combat 8.15-9.30.

Climbing Tree Breakfast club for school children 7.30 - 9am & After School Club each day 2 - 6pm

FRIDAY AIKIDO MARTIAL ARTS CLUB Belfast Aikido practice on Friday evenings 6:30-9pm and Saturday mornings 9-11am then 11-1pm in the Dojo at unit 9, 45 Ravenhill Road. Contact 07976 758908.

ALBERTBRIDGE CONGREGATIONAL 6 Woodstock Link. Friday Friendship. 10.30-12.30pm.

BALLYHACKAMORE LIBRARY 1-3 Eastleigh Drive 028 9050 9204. Chill Out Family Story.

3.30pm. Tea & Newspapers 9 am-12pm. Mindful Colouring, adult colouring 9am-12.

BELMONT TOWER Art Classes 10-1pm.

EAST END BAPTIST CHILDRENS MEETING 7-8pm. Quizzes, choruses, Bible lessons & lots of fun.

MOUNT MERRION PARISH CHURCH 3rd Fri of the month - Messy Church. Tel 07880 880829 MOUNTPOTTINGER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 11am-2pm Mens Lunch Club. 7.30pm Mixed Fellowship bowls SHILOH HALL 6 The Mount, Coffee Morning. 10:30-12.

STRAND ARTS CENTRE Teenage Kicks Film Club 4.15 WANDSWORTH COMMUNITY Climbing Tree Breakfast club for school children 7.30 - 9am & After School Club daily 2 - 6pm Painting for Pleasure 11am-1pm. Kids Ju Jitsu 6-8pm. Boxing Fitness 8.15pm WOODSTOCK LIBRARY Knit and Natter 2.00-3.00pm.358 Woodstock Road.

Tel 028 9050 9239

SATURDAY AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER Intervention for pre-school children with difficulty in communication and play skills. Parent & child intervention sessions. shootingstars@europe.com 07471 169685 AVONIEL COMMUNITY GARDEN 1-3pm. T: 028 9046 7925 MOUNT MERRION PARISH CHURCH SunshineFit Kids - keep fit.

SKAINOS BUILDING SKAINOS.ORG Walking Group on selected Saturdays at 10am. Contact Gary Allen on 028 9045 8560.

STRAND ARTS CENTRE & NISTARS Stage school. 10-1pm WOODSTOCK LIBRARY Storytime (4-8 years) 10.00-10.30am 358 Woodstock Road. Tel 028 9050 9239

SUNDAY CONNSBROOK AVENUE CONGREGATIONAL 11am and 7pm EAST BELFAST MISSION SKAINOS.ORG Worship 11am. Tea & Coffe @ 10.30am. Creche. Sunday school available for primary school kids.

KINGDOM HARVEST CHURCH, BELFAST Sunday Worship 11am. "Superchurch" for Children 6-12yrs @ Ballyoran Community Centre, Rosneath Ct, Dundonald MOUNTPOTTINGER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 11.30am Morning service. 6.30pm Evening service.

MOUNT MERRION PARISH CHURCH KIC (Birth upwards). 10.30am. Youth Club. P4-P7. 6pm. Youth Club. Yr 8 upwards. 7pm.

STRAND ARTS CENTRE & NI STARS Singing & dancing 1.30-3.30. Sat Minors Film Club @ 12 THE SALVATION ARMY - BELFAST TEMPLE Family Worship 10.30am with band and choir and children’s activities from 11am. 110 Cregagh Rd. All Welcome!

TULLYCARNET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Sunday Worship 10.45am & 6.30pm Junior Church 11.10am

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