Loop Mag : East Belfast September 2018

ISSUE • #43 • September 2018

EAST BELFAST EDITION • LOOPMAG.NET

LOOP Magazine YOUR LOCAL MONTHLY COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER • 40,000 COPIES MONTHLY

LOCAL NEWS

All the very latest news and views from the East and beyond

THE ARTS

A record producer from Belfast launches a new storytelling bursary

Free

DELIVERED FREE TO BT4, BT5, BT6 & BT16 • PAPERS & FLYERS PREPACKED BY THE STUDENTS AT ORCHARDVILLE SOCIETY

COOKBOOK

Holly White has just launched her brand new book, Vegan-ish

HOME

We take a look at learning upholstery and some stylish storage solutions

THE BIG LUNCH

Photos from the big day this summer in Kings Park, East Belfast

THINKING OF MOVING? TALK TO US FIRST

• A family run business in East Belfast • A bespoke, tailored, personal service • All inclusive sales & lettings

STEWART & C O. I

47 Belmont Road, BT4 2AA | T: 02890 651149 | property@stewartbelfast.com

43 A UNIQUE PILOT PROJECT IS BEDDING IN FOR RESIDENTS IN EAST BELFAST, THANKS TO A SPECIAL SCHEME FROM INSPIRE BUSINESS CENTRE AND THE HOUSING EXECUTIVE.

“

We offer a garden maintenance service for tenants who cannot do the job themselves due to age or physical incapacity Dr Mark Brotherstone CEO Inspire Business Centre

Grants

Budding Social Enterprise is a Cut Above the Rest Inspiring Enterprising Garden Maintenance is a fledgling social enterprise which combines upskilling for local unemployed with delivery of an essential service for tenants who need help with their gardens.

LOCAL COMPANY SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

271 Newtownards Road • Belfast BT4 1AF

028 9073 2211

www.stewartbelfast.com

nspiring Enterprising Garden Maintenance is a fledgling social enterprise which combines upskilling for local unemployed with delivery of an essential service for tenants who need help with their gardens. At the end of the 6 month pilot, it is hoped the project demonstrates enough promise in terms of employment potential and addressing community need that it blossoms into a sustainable social enterprise.

“We offer a garden maintenance service for tenants who cannot do the job themselves due to age or physical incapacity,” said Dr Mark Brotherston, CEO of Inspire Business Centre, the enterprise development agency behind the project.

“The aim is to train unemployed local people in basic tasks like grass cutting and general garden maintenance and to offer this vital service in partnership with the Housing Executive to tenants who would otherwise find it difficult or impossible to maintain their gardens.

“We have been going for a couple of months now, cutting the grass for 12 households in Ballybeen once a month while equipping our budding

NO UP FRONT FEES

NO VAT

gardeners with the right skills to take them on a pathway to employment.”

Inspire Business Centre, which has been growing businesses and social enterprises at Dundonald since 1995, aims to build on the success of the pilot by setting up a bespoke Garden Maintenance Academy to facilitate upskilling opportunities.

Pamela Johnston from the Housing Executive said: “This is an inspirational project which we were very happy to support in Ballybeen through our Community Grants scheme.

“The pilot programme is delivering great benefit to the local community, particularly our elderly and vulnerable tenants, and we believe it has the potential to grow into a viable social enterprise.”

Pictured is Ballybeen tenant John Anderson (right) who can relax thanks to a new pilot garden maintenance service from Inspiring Enterprising Garden Maintenance and the Housing Executive. Pictured, from left, are horticulturalist Stewart Ferguson, Inspire CEO Mark Brotherston, gardening trainee David Dawson (19) and Pamela Johnston, NIHE.

Wooden Floors

Supplied & Fitted E.G 12x12 Room

E.G 12x12 Room

CLICK LAMINATE

SOLID OAK FLOOR Also including new skirting and beading, new door bars, underlay & fitting

Beech/oak/pine/cherry New skirting & beading, new door straps, underlay & fitting

£199

£399

Tel: 07976 906586

A sweet deal on insurance for young drivers.

Save up to £1750 per policy*

CE TO YOUR CHAN Y! WIN BIG LOLL a free Call AB&C for d you’ll an te uo Lollybox q to a prize be entered in 500 cash. draw to win £ No purchase

necessary.

d oa

dR

oo rlsw

Ea Café Nero Pizza Express

Upper Newtownard s Road

nue

Eastleigh Crescent

w Ave

Hillvie

Neill’s Hill

Pop in for a chat 394 Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3EY

Call us now on

028 9521 1555 Visit

abcni.co.uk/lollybox AB&C Insurance is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. As with all insurance policies, terms, limits and exclusions apply.* Average savings of £1750 achieved by 53% of consumers quoting with AB&C when comparing our Lollybox policy to our AB&C standard policy 1st January 2018 – 31st July 2018.

LOOP A LOCAL FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS

#43

INFO

DISTRIBUTION

PUBLISHER Stuart Collins stuart@loopmag.net

Welcome to the latest edition of Loop Magazine.

The biggest publication in East Belfast.

SALES • ACCOUNTS Juanita Collins juanita@loopmag.net TELEPHONE 02890 200988 WEB www.loopmag.net

PUBLISHED IN ASSOCIATION:

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.

Contents

Welcome to Loop A family owned business based In East Belfast

The Run Down

03

Welcome Sept 18

EAST BELFAST EDITION #43 • SEPT 2018 • DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO SHARE? GET IN TOUCH VIA EMAIL INFO@LOOPMAG.NET OR CALL US ON 028 9020 0988

WHAT’S INSIDE?

05 Go For It

04

18

Local News

Cookbook

News headlines and the latest information from in and around East

Your monthly local, with a difference

Holly White shares here recipes on how to become Vegan (ish!)

05

18

Go For It

History

Get help and advice to take your business ideas to the next level

WHERE WE GO TO BLOOMFIELD & BALLYHACKAMORE 4,930 BRANIEL, G’NAHIRK, TULLYCARNET 5,300 DUNDONALD 4,200 STRANDTOWN & BELMONT 5,300 LOWER CREGAGH 6,800 UPPER CREGAGH 6,300 BALLYMACARETT 3,000 LOWER N’ARDS ROAD & SYDENHAM 4,170

We Deliver The biggest publication in the area

A double header from Aidan Campbell this month including a new book!

10

24 Home

22

Big Lunch

Schools

East Belfast hosted a number of these amazing events over the summer

22 Schools

A look at the achievements of Cregagh Primary School

12

24

Story Time

Home

An amazing story telling bursary with roots in Tullycarnet Library

Become a fan of the cloth with upholstery classes plus storage ideas

14 18 History

26

The Arts

Health

Meet the local artist who is hosting his extraordinary work in Kenya

Mens MOT health checks plus eye and hair advice

ARMSTRONG ANDERSON ESTATE AGENTS

ARMSTRONG ANDERSON ESTATE AGENTS

028 9047 1401 www.armstronganderson.com

SOLD

028 9047 1401 www.armstronganderson.com

SOLD

Call us on 028 9047 1401

ESTATE AGENTS

028 9047 1401 www.armstronganderson.com

SOLD

HAVE YOU SEEN THE SIGNS?

Actively selling & letting in your area We invite you to a free valuation

ARMSTRONG ANDERSON

Our Office

We are proud to support

392 Upper Newtownards Road Ballyhackamore, Belfast BT4 3EY

info@armstronganderson.com

04

News Sept 18

#43 THE BELFAST HILLS PARTNERSHIP ARE LAUNCHING A BRAND NEW ENVIRONMENTAL SECTOR TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 18 – 24.

Headlines

Welcome to Loop A family owned business based In East Belfast

We Deliver 42,000 copies. The biggest publication in the area

Training

Signing Up For a Bright Future in the Belfast Hills This free traineeship requires no previous experience or qualifications, it only takes one day a week for 15 weeks to complete and will enable the participants to take part in a range of practical conservation tasks such as tree planting, wildflower meadow management, and wildlife surveys.

P

atricia Deeney, the Youth Development Officer at the Belfast Hills Partnership, said: “With the job market the way it is, increasingly employers are expecting applicants to have a certain amount of work experience under their belt before they are even considered for a job. But how do young people get that work experience in the first place? It is our hope that the Trainee Ranger scheme will fill this void. By completing

the programme of one day a week for 15 weeks, the young people will not only increase their practical experience in the workplace, but they will also receive nationally recognised awards and gain a lantra accreditation in the use of strimmers and brushcutters, something that will look great on their CV’s!”

This programme is part of the Our Bright Future project, which Big Lottery Funds, a forward-thinking social movement that’s about supporting young

PICTURED Carrying out a litter pick on Divis and the Black Mountain

people to lead progressive change in their communities and local environment.

They’re tackling environmental issues and the lack of opportunities for young

people by using one problem to help another. It’s about unleashing the potential of young people, so they can make a big, positive impact and become an unstoppable force for good. A report published by The Prince’s Trust in April this year, found that almost half of young people in Northern Ireland say they have experienced a mental health problem; with two-thirds of young people regularly feeling stressed and a third going as far to say that they often feel hopeless. The study also reported that half of young people here (51%) agree that having a job gives - or would give - them a sense of purpose. Yet figures from the Office of National Statistics also show that 11% of young people in Northern Ireland are not in employment, education or training.

[1] This is something that needs to be addressed, and it is the hope of the Belfast Hills Partnership that the Trainee Ranger scheme will fulfil a desperate need.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Monday 17th September, with the first day of the scheme starting on Friday 5th October 2018 for 15 weeks.

To find out more, or to apply, contact patricia.deeney@belfasthills.org or phone the Belfast Hills Partnership office on 028 9060 3466.

Drive A SUPER SLIMMER FROM BRANIEL SLIMMING WORLD HAS RECENTLY HIT TARGET FOLLOWING A WEIGHT LOSS OF 3 STONE PAULA WILKINSON JOINED THE BRANIEL SLIMMING WORLD GROUP IN NOVEMBER AND LOST 3ST IN 9 MONTHS.

“

Like most people, I’d tried to lose weight countless times, yet nothing ever really seemed to stick as she felt loosing weight was made more difficult by an underactive thyroid.

Slimming World was completely different because it was just so simple.

I could still enjoy hearty, home-cooked meals with my family while losing weight, which seemed like a miracle at the time!

Paula Wilkinson Lost 3 stone with Slimming World

Lollybox by AB&C Insurance Slim

Terrific Target Member Sheds 3 Stone

Sweet savings for young drivers Sweet dreams for their parents

Lollybox is the brand-new telematics policy from local insurance experts, AB&C. It’s a sweet deal for young, local drivers and just as importantly, for their parents

Paula decided to join Slimming World after she had tried so many different diets/eating plans and nothing ever worked. Paula began to feel unhappy in herself and really wanted to change. When joining slimming world paula wore a size 18 and is now comfortably wearing a size 12.

P

revious weight-loss attempts left me feeling hungry and irritable – nowadays I probably eat more than ever! Slimming World isn’t a diet, it’s a way of life and enjoyable at the same time.

With Slimming World the support that I needed was there right from day one, both from my Consultant Ashleigh who is a real inspiration, and the other members in the group makes me look forward to going every week. I picked up new ideas and recipes every week – I still do now, in fact – and I started to really believe that I could do it, I cant believe even now 10 months on how you can make any of your favourite meals slimming world friendly with just a few simple adjustment on how its cooked.

Paula began following Slimming World’s Food Optimising eating plan, which encourages slimmers to fill up on healthy, satisfying foods like fruit and veg, pasta, rice, potatoes, lean meat and fish so they lose weight without going hungry or feeling deprived. Paula says: “I’m really adventurous in the kitchen now and I’ve passed lots of healthy habits on to my family and friends too. I love all the delicious recipes that you can have on Slimming World and I never ever feel hungry, I can’t believe I have lost 3 stone by eating this much. It is so difficult to choose a favourite recipe as they are all so nice” Paula loves getting out in the fresh air for a good walk, she has recently taken part in Race for Life and also The 2018 bra walk.

Since reaching her target weight in July, Paula has continued to attend the Braniel Slimming World group and believes

without their unwavering support she would have struggled to keep the weight off. Slimming World members who achieve their target, which they set themselves, can continue to attend their local group every week for free as long as they stay within 3lbs either side of their target weight.

Paula says: “I’ve made so many friends that I can’t imagine not going to the group each week – it’s like my weekly night out they’re like family and I love hearing different tips and ideas from both Ashleigh and group members. Everyone inspired and supported me to achieve my target and now it’s my turn to do the same for other people, to show the same kindness, warmth and compassion that I was shown.

Coming to group keeps me on track too.”

Ashleigh Shaw, who runs the Braniel group which Paula attends, says: “I’m so proud of Paula and the inspirational way in which she has maintained her weight loss. It’s always great for new members to meet Paula and see just what’s possible at Slimming World – after we’ve explained why someone so slim is in the group in the first place, that is! I hope she inspires other people in Braniel and Gilnahirk area too and proves to them that with Slimming World you really can get slim for good.”a For further information please contact Ashleigh Shaw on 07731 420 680. You can also follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with offers, success stories and much more, our Facebook page is Slimming World - Gilnahirk & Braniel

A

s you would expect, having an on-board dashboard tracker monitoring speed, driving habits and a few other bits and bobs will bring down the cost of insurance during a young driver’s first few years on the road. But crucially it will also give their family peace of mind.

In fact, Lollybox could save up to £1,750 compared to a standard insurance policy. But it’s not all about monitoring and checking up. Lollybox is designed to give new drivers maximum freedom when they really need it. Getting out and about with friends, heading to the beach at the weekend or hitting out-of-town shops at sale time is what driving is all about. Lollybox is also now the proud local sponsor of New Driver NI, Northern Ireland’s guide for learners and recently qualified drivers.

As a local company with over 45 years’ experience covering drivers of all ages throughout Northern

Ireland, AB&C know exactly what’s what. And that’s what makes them the perfect choice for this type of insurance. It’s also why they are proud to sponsor ‘New Driver NI’, a really useful publication for, yes you guessed it, newly qualified drivers in NI. If you’re in that category, AB&C will find the perfect cover at the best price and have you on the road in no time at all! In fact, because Lollybox policies are created specifically for each individual, they aren’t available online. To ensure you get the best value for the right cover, we prefer to chat it through and explain how it all works. So, call into the AB&C Insurance Ballyhackamore branch for a quote or pick up the phone to chat to one of their Lollybox experts.

Lollybox sponsorship of New Driver NI for 2018 gives new drivers lots of helpful tips for buying a car, car insurance, safe driving, and maintenance.

Visit www.newdriverni.com for more info.

Glider

Volunteer Now Get on Board with Glider

PICTURED Lindsay Armstrong of Volunteer Now explains a the operation of a ticket vending machine to Graeme Smyth

Translink has teamed up with Volunteer Now to help customers during the introduction of Glider services from the East to the West of the city and into Titanic Quarter. Around 100 trained volunteers will assist Translink staff at halts throughout the first few weeks of operation to support customers as they get familiar with the exciting new service and ticketing system.

Help & Advice

Inspired Go For It FANCY WORKING OUT ON A BOOTCAMP IN SUNNY SPAIN?

“

I served in the army for 13 years, and have also been a qualified Personal Trainer for nine. I wanted to bring both of these experiences together to create a unique fitness programme in Northern Ireland, so I set up my local outdoor bootcamps to create an affordable, effective option for healthconscious folks.

Jason Gillard Owner Mercury Fitness NI

Go For It Goes the Extra Mile for Bootcamp Business, Mercury Fitness NI Dundonald-based Jason Gillard runs Northern Ireland’s first militarystyle residential bootcamp and PT business, Mercury Fitness NI, which is now offering a new nutrition service, Mercury Meals, and residential bootcamps in the sun, thanks to support from the Go For It Programme, in association with Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council.

T

he Go For It Programme is part funded by Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund under the Investment for Growth & Jobs Northern Ireland (2014-2020) Programme.

Fitness specialist and former army man, Jason Gillard, has been running outdoor bootcamps across Belfast, Lisburn, Castlereagh and North Down for several years. Specialising in

Pictured with Jason Gillard, owner of Mercury Fitness NI, is Jennifer Bailie, Shannon Woulahan and Louise Davidson, all Go For It Business Advisors at Inspire Business Centre on behalf of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council who provided Jason with expert advice and help with developing a business plan in order to help turn his business idea into a reality.

enjoyable, military-style activity, he had already built up a steady customer base when he noticed a gap in the market for an all-inclusive, immersive residential bootcamp which took local clients overseas to train.

Jason explained: “I served in the army for 13 years, and have also been a qualified Personal Trainer for nine. I wanted to bring both of these experiences together to create a unique fitness programme in Northern Ireland,

Want to work for yourself?

First step, let’s work on your business plan.

To arrange a FREE meeting to develop your business plan with your local council

call 0800 027 0639 visit goforitni.com

This project is part funded by Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund under the Investment for Growth & Jobs Northern Ireland (2014-2020) Programme.

so I set up my local outdoor bootcamps to create an affordable, effective option for health-conscious folks.

“I realised that no one here was running a military-style residential bootcamp, which would offer participants the opportunity to focus exclusively on their fitness during a week in the sunshine.”

Whilst researching how to develop his business idea, Jason came across the Go For It Programme. He uploaded

05

News Sept 18

his information to the website and connected with Louise Davidson at Inspire Business Park in Dundonald, through Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council.

Jason said: “I knew exactly what type of business I wanted, but I needed help with the financial and marketing side of things. I worked closely with Louise and found her advice and the whole Go For It business plan programme fantastic in establishing and promoting my business.”

Louise Davidson, Go For It Business Advisor at Inspire Business Centre on behalf of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, said: “It was clear that Jason was passionate about his business idea.

I was impressed by his initial results, his point of difference and his future plans. He is extremely enthusiastic about fitness and is genuinely interested in helping people lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Jason implemented all of our advice and I have no doubt he will work extremely hard to make this business a success.”

To see more about Mercury Fitness NI, visit www.mercuryfitnessni.com.

If you have a business idea you’d like to develop or if you are thinking about starting a business visit www.goforitni.com; call 0800 027 0639; or visit your local enterprise agency for a free, independent chat.

06

News Sept 18

#43 WHETHER YOU USE THEM TO GO FOR A RUN, WALK THE DOG, PUSH THE BUGGY OR CYCLE, GREENWAYS ARE SHARED PATHS FOR ALL.

“

However you use the path come along and enjoy the events and help us all celebrate this fantastic greenway.”

Rachael LudlowWilliams SUSTRANS

Headlines

Welcome to Loop A family owned business based In East Belfast

We Deliver 42,000 copies. The biggest publication in the area

Sustrans

One Path To A Magical Greenway For All As part of the Living the Greenways weekend in east Belfast, Sustrans is hosting a One Path Festival along the Comber Greenway to celebrate this wonderful community asset. The Festival is in two parts – Friday 14 Sept night-time and Sunday 16 Sept from 1-4pm.

T

he seven-mile stretch of shared path from C.S Lewis Square to Comber playing fields will be animated with a range of family fun activities from arts and crafts, busking, nature trails and led walks and cycles.

There will be a range of information stalls, music and refreshments organised

by Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council in the Billy Neill playing fields but there will be activities right along the Comber Greenway. The Festival is the culmination of the One Path Initiative’s summer of engagement activities promoting the ‘Share, Respect, Enjoy’ principles to reduce conflict between different path users.

The One Path Initiative was developed

by Sustrans in partnership with the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), which owns the Comber Greenway, and the three Councils it traverses: Ards and North Down; Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council; and Belfast City Council. The Festival is funded through the Initiative with additional funding from the Public Health Agency.

Rachael Ludlow-Williams from Sustrans said: “As greenways grow in popularity there is inevitably tension between different users. Through the One Path Initiative we have engaged with the public to raise awareness and promote respect for all users so that we can all enjoy the path.

We’ve been able to do this through talking

PICTURED Carrying out a litter pick on Divis and the Black Mountain

and listening to people on the path and fun activities such as the One Path Festival which will be the highlight of the year. So however you use the path come along and enjoy the events and help us all celebrate this fantastic greenway.”

Events include: Friday 14 Sept: Led walk and history tour of Comber Greenway Sun 16 Sept: Billy Neill Playing Fields: Family festival including music, dog

agility, NI Orienteering, ice-cream & refreshments North Road Bridge: Graffiti art & music Barnett’s Road: Fruit bush planting by Conservation Volunteers Tullycarnet: mobility bikes; refreshments Comber Road: Chestnut tree planting Ballybeen: Bling your bike, football, refreshments And lots more activities along the route so come on your bikes, scoot or walk.

For more information on the One Path Festival go to https://www.sustrans.org.uk/onepath • Follow us on Twitter at #OnePath and SustransNI on Facebook.

LOOP CAUGHT UP WITH SOME OF THE SPONSORS OF THE THIRD ANNUAL EASTSIDE AWARDS AHEAD OF THE LAUNCH TO FIND OUT WHY THEY THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT THESE UNIQUE AWARDS WHICH CELEBRATE THE BEST OF EAST BELFAST.

“

Having been involved in supporting the awards from the beginning, it’s great to see that the awards have gone from strength to strength over the last three years.

The success of the awards is testament to the talent of the local community and the contributions made through business, voluntary and community work.

Geri Wright Phoenix Natural Gas

Awards

Eastside Awards Celebrating the Best of East Belfast The endeavours of local people, businesses and community organisations to be celebrated again in 2019.

F

or the third year, George Best Belfast City Airport has been named as principal sponsor of the awards and Michelle Hatfield, Director of Corporate Services at George Best Belfast City Airport, said: “East Belfast is a hotbed of cultural, sporting and economic success made possible by the amazing people that call this great place home, or come to work or play in its surrounds. For that reason Belfast City Airport is once again privileged to be the principal partner of the Eastside Awards, which look to recognise individuals and organisations that make East Belfast proud. Our continued association with the Eastside Awards is one small element of a significant community strategy at Belfast City Airport, which places our community, its education, environment and young people at the core of our business.”

Michelle added: “I would encourage East Belfast to support the Eastside Awards so we can together celebrate our local success.”

Jonathan McAlpin is chair of the awards committee and Chief Executive of East Belfast Enterprise which has been sponsoring the awards since the beginning. Jonathan said: “Eastside Awards has quickly become synonymous with recognising everything that is great about East Belfast and the first two awards ceremonies were a magnificent success so we are confident that we

are progressing to another awesome celebration ceremony. As sponsor of the business start up category, East Belfast Enterprise is proud to be supporting those who are contributing to the economic impact of the area. These awards are such a positive celebration of our little corner of the city.”

Phoenix Natural Gas has been sponsoring the awards since the beginning as well and Communications Manager, Geri Wright, said: “Phoenix Natural Gas is delighted to continue to support the Eastside Awards to recognise and reward talent within the East Belfast Community in which we are based.

Having been involved in supporting the awards from the beginning, it’s great to see that the awards have gone from strength to strength over the last three years. The success of the awards is testament to the talent of the local community and the contributions made through business, voluntary and community work. Phoenix Natural Gas is proud to be part of such a positive initiative that showcases the best of the East as a hub for creativity, culture and innovation and we look forward to another fantastic year for the awards in 2019.”

Ulster Bank sponsors the small business category and Keith Thompson, Business Development Manager, said: “Over the past few years East Belfast has seen significant development, contributing to the

You can register your interest for the 2019 awards at www.eastsideawards.org or by emailing info@eastsideawards.org. www.facebook.com/eastsideawards, www.twitter.com/east_awards

PICTURED The Eastside Awards winners in January 2018 which took place at the Stormont Hotel, bringing together a wide range of people from East Belfast and beyond to celebrate some remarkable achievements in what was a fantastic night for the city.

You can register your interest for the Eastside Awards 2019 at www. eastsideawards.org or by emailing info@ eastsideawards.org.

thriving economy in Northern Ireland with tourism, retail, food and drink as well as sport. At Ulster Bank we continue to serve local communities with a diverse range of ways to bank – face-to-face, over the phone, or online and through our digital app. We’re also supporting local enterprise through our Business Banking offering and our Ulster Bank Boost programme of events. We see the Eastside Awards as a perfect opportunity to further support local SMEs and celebrate all that is great about East Belfast.

Stephen Kane, Managing Director of Solv Group is a proud East Belfast native having lived and worked in East Belfast all his life. He got involved with Eastside Awards after being invited to the Aisling Awards in West Belfast. Stephen said: “I was very impressed by the professionalism of the event and when I was asked to assist in setting up the Eastside Awards I was honoured. It has been a delight to showcase East Belfast and

its residents at their finest moments and the most interesting part of this journey has been learning about the many, many good things that are happening on your doorstep, what seems, every day that until now I was totally unaware off.”

Stephen added: “To all in East Belfast, keep up the good work and keep telling your stories!!”

Damian Campbell, Head of Corporate Sales at Fleet Financial, said that they are delighted to be involved with the Eastside Awards and their celebration of the best in East Belfast again.

Damian said; “It’s truly inspiring to see how business, sport, education and other community groups come together to help build and develop a thriving, vibrant community which gives everyone the opportunity to participate in its success. The Eastside Awards provides the opportunity for people and organisations to highlight their endeavours and more importantly celebrate together”.

Welcome to Loop A family owned business based In East Belfast

Legal Advice

We Deliver 42,000 copies. The biggest publication in the area

“

Dying without a Will takes away your control to decide who inherits from your Estate and also who controls the process. It is possible that someone who you wouldn’t want to inherit could take all or part of your Estate. It can also make the administration process more costly and take more time to be finalised.

Q. What happens if I die and don’t have a Will?

Advice

Wills Month is Back This October!

By Hunt Solicitors

A. If you die without a Will the law decides how your property is divided. This is known as dying ‘Intestate’. Dying without a Will takes away your control to decide who inherits from your Estate and also who controls the process. It is possible that someone who you wouldn’t want to inherit could take all or part of your Estate. It can also make the administration process more costly and take more time to be finalised. Leaving a valid Will is the only way to make your wishes on death known.

Q. Do I need to inform my Executor that I have appointed them in my Will?

A. Although it is not necessary for you to inform your Executor

CA

RY EE IVE FRL DEL

LO

ol We d be can d - a rec sk ycl fo e y r d ou et r ai ls

Keeping your Will up to date is a vital part of keeping your affairs in order.

Whether you need to make your first Will or it’s time to change an existing Will here are some answers to frequently asked questions we would get from clients.

T N E V E D E B G I B SINGLE BEDS FROM £139 DOUBLE BEDS FROM £199 KING-SIZE BEDS FROM £269

MATTRESSES FROM

£69

3/4 BEDS FROM

£199

12 Cregagh Road, Belfast, BT6 9EP Tel: 02890 466 436 Over 30 Years Experience In The Bedding Market

07

News Sept 18

H

of your decision to appoint them it is advisable to discuss it with them in advance. This will allow them to perhaps investigate the duties that would be involved in the administration process and takes away any surprise in the event they only discover their appointment on your death. An Executor cannot be forced to act in the role so it is always advisable to appoint a person or persons who you are confident are able and willing to accept the role.

Q. Where should I keep my Will?

A. Most Solicitors offer to store Wills at little or no charge to their clients. These are held in safekeeping by your Solicitor under strict conditions and are held by them for various legal reasons.

If you wish to store your Will personally you must ensure it is kept safe and nothing is attached to it and it cannot be damaged. Wills

that are marked or damaged in some way could call into question their validity and make it more difficult to administer your Estate.

Allowing your Solicitor to hold it on your behalf in safekeeping and only storing a copy of it with your personal possessions reduces the risks of it becoming damaged or even worse lost.

These are just a small number of queries we are asked on a regular basis and we would always advise that having a professionally drafted Will is the best course of action.

Contact us today to arrange an initial consultation. We can discuss your personal circumstances and draft a Will that suits your needs.

Hunt Solicitors can be contacted on 028 90 428 600 and are located at 77 High Street, Holywood, BT18 9AQ Or you can find us at www. huntsolicitors.com we are also on Facebook and Twitter.

Hunt Solicitors

77 High Street, Holywood,

w w w. h un t s ol ic i tors . c o m

BT18 9AQ, t. (028) 9042 8600 info@huntsolicitors.com

HALF PRICE WILLS MONTH OCTOBER ONLY

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

call (028) 9042 8600 www.huntsolicitors.com

On Tour

08

News Sept 18

Welcome to Loop A family owned business based In East Belfast

We Deliver 42,000 copies. The biggest publication in the area

Adventure

Explore Ards & North Down

30

mins

Ards and North Down is packed full of history, nature and stunning scenery and is waiting to be explored by you. Tranquil lapping loughs, picture perfect villages and atmospheric Abbeys and only a 30min drive from Belfast, you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

1.

Take A Tour Of Stunning Seaside Towns

Start your journey with brunch in Holywood, renowned for its many boutique shops and thriving café scene.

From here it’s a short drive to explore Bangor Castle Walled Garden and the local Marina. Or head to the end of the Ards peninsula to Portaferry - a gorgeous fishing town situated by the Narrows, where the wild tidal torrent sweeps in and out between the Irish Sea and Strangford Lough.

2.

Get Up Close To Wildlife

Wildlife thrives along the grassy banks of Strangford Lough, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and

area of Special Scientific Interest, while 2,000 marine species teem in its clear waters. Don’t miss Castle Espie Wetland Centre, home to Ireland’s largest collection of waders and migrant birds, including a noisy colony of Brent geese, or get a diver’s view of the marine life at Portaferry’s Exploris Aquarium.

3.

Steep Yourself In History

The history of this area stretches back as far as the Bronze Age, via the Vikings and the early Ulster Scots planters, to our World War: you can take in ruined castles, holy wells, Abbeys on Military forts.Enjoy the Visitor Centre and herb garden at Grey Abbey, which was ruined during the invasion of Robert the Bruce, or learn about Ireland’s involvement in the Great War at the Somme Museum.

4.

Sample The Tastes Of The Countryside

Savour the region’s award-winning restaurants. Local chefs have been inspired by the bountiful larder of this lush countryside to put together some wonderful flavours. Top of the menu is a daily catch of seafood and the worldfamous Comber potatoes. Wash it all down with a locally produced ale, gin or whiskey.

There is so much to explore so why not do it with our team of experienced guides and join one of the unique Walks and Tours.

KEENAN SOLICITORS

2 South Parade • Ormeau Road • Belfast • BT7 2GR

HEARING LOSS COMPENSATION

We have recovered compensation for employees from lots of workplaces including

Fisher Body/European Components | Hughes Tools Harland & Wolff | Shorts Allied Bakeries | Belfast Ropeworks & many others

Call now to book your free hearing test and see if you are entitled to compensation T: 028 90 493349 • E: enquiries@keenanlaw.co.uk www.keenanlaw.co.uk

visitardsandnorthdown.com 028 9127 0069 | 028 9182 6846

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

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

Christmas at the

Stormont Hotel

A fabulous hotel for overnight stays, festive dining & cocktails, or the perfect Christmas gift voucher!

Call 028 9065 1066 or visit hastingshotels.com

10

Features #43 • Sep 2018

Community Party Time

Big Lunch The Big Lunch is the UK’s biggest annual get together for neighbours and East Belfast got on board

Lunch

Generations Connect and Share Community Spirit at the Kings Park Big Lunch Patricia Kearney from Kings Park, East Belfast had heard about other Big Lunches in Northern Ireland for the past couple of years, including the Martinez Avenue one nearby. She wondered if it would be possible to organize a Big Lunch on her street to get the kids playing together, and had mentioned it in passing to a few neighbours, who thought it would probably be too much to organize, so the idea fizzled out...

S

he knew several of the mums from the street just from saying hello while going to and from the car and this had recently progressed to a few mums’ nights out. However the kids still did not play or know each other as they all go to different schools and none of the children really play out in the street. The younger families have all moved to the area within the past ten years or so, but many elderly people also live in the area, though the two groups never mixed. Patricia said “The older people all knew each other, and the mums sort of knew each other but their kids didn’t and nobody mixed - we were like separate communities. So I thought we should have a Big Lunch to bring all those groups together to feel like one community.”

The Big Lunch is an idea from the Eden

Project made possible by the National Lottery, to build up community spirit and encourage people to stop everything once a year to sit down and connect with their neighbours over a shared lunch. It can have a profound effect, especially on those who feel loneliness and disconnection.

Patricia said: “I knew several of the older people in our street lived alone as widows or widowers. One elderly neighbour was recently widowed and this really gave me the spur on to make it happen this year.

So I met up with the mums I know from the street and said: I’ll find out how to go about organising it from The Big Lunch people if someone will help with the actual day. And that was all it needed.

Eight people stepped up and got stuck in and it was a real team effort.”

The group met up several times to plan, each member taking a turn to host the

meeting in their own house. They decided to invite a number of connected streets in the area and then they all went around the houses to personally invite the neighbours.

Initially the older people were hesitant about it, some assuming the organising team were cold-callers. By the time the team spoke with them about it for the second time, they had all talked to each other and the idea had settled in. They were really excited about it then, and were already planning what food they would bring.

“The kids heard all the plans and they were just buzzing with excitement. One mum came home the night before the party and was alarmed to find clumps hair in the bathroom. Her young son, Zach was so excited that he cut his own hair because he wanted to look nice for the street party! We were in fits of laughter at the result.”

Get Togethers In 2017, 9.3 million people took to their streets and neighbourhoods to join in for a few hours of community, friendship and fun.

“At about 2pm on our Big Lunch day, we all came out and started setting up for our 3pm start. We wanted it to be a little later in the day so it was more like a 50’s tea party feel, so familiar for the older people.

That set-up hour was amazing. Everyone came out to help set up. We had borrowed tables, chairs and a couple of gazebos from friends and family. The kids helped too, and then they started playing with each other really naturally. It was all amazingly easy. We made sure it was really informal so nobody was in charge and everyone got involved together.”

“We set the kids activities at one end, apart from the food and beverages, in case the noise of the kids might annoy the older neighbours. However the older people absolutely loved the kids and everyone naturally mingled together, the older people even allowed the kids to paint their faces! We invited neighbours from a local residential home to join the street party.

They said they hadn’t really felt like part of the community which I thought was really sad. One of the older ladies from the residential home had her 93rd birthday on the day, and we all sang Happy Birthday to her. She said “This is the best birthday party I’ve ever been to. Which I thought that was very sweet.”

Another older gentleman from the residential home said “We feel really isolated up there, and he was so grateful that they were included. I told him they didn’t need to be grateful, of course. We got chatting and he told me his story. He had been living on the streets for seven years due to alcoholism, but this incredible residential home had helped him with his recovery and he now had his own flat and was making up for lost time. He was a really interesting and lovely gentleman to

loopmag.net

chat to.”

Patricia said she learned a few things from her Big Lunch: “You definitely need the road closure for this to work best,” she said. “It meant that everyone felt it was something special. I also learned that fear of failure held some people back from getting involved - many were worried about numbers but for me, I thought as long as the organizers turn up, that’s a success. As it was, we had a brilliant crowd so that has encouraged more people to get involved for next year - or earlier! We want to keep this community spirit momentum going with another get-together soon. This Big Lunch needed a push to get started, but now I feel like it would continue every year as everyone loved being involved.”

“Now, as we settle down after our Big Lunch, I am so proud of our street. I live somewhere that is full of lovely interesting people where all age groups get along really well and look out for one another. That is a wonderful feeling.”

Niamh Scullion from Eden Project Communities, the people behind the Big Lunch, visited the Kings Park Big Lunch on the day and said: “The one thing that stood out for me at Kings Park Big Lunch was the buzz of conversation.

All of the neighbours were on their feet, sharing their stories, sharing their food, so excited they couldn’t sit down. The atmosphere was warm and so lively.

As Patricia mentioned, it was totally Northern Ireland - everyone turned out to know several people in common! I wish everyone across Northern Ireland could have this experience with their neighbours and I hope more people take the initiative to get the Big Lunch ball rolling in their community. We could all do with a positivity boost.”

Natural, affordable elegance Natural, elegance Natural,affordable affordable elegance Natural, affordable elegance

Sale Now On A Wide Range of Italian Tiles for both internal and external projects An CLEARANCE extensive range of -bathroom and sanitaryware STOCK MUST furniture END 29TH SEPTEMBER Assured quality products.

Sale Now On

Sale Now On Sale Now On

A Wide Range of Italian Tiles for both internal and external projects An extensive of bathroom furniture Service and sanitaryware Fullrange Design and Installation Assured quality products.

A Wide Range of0% Italian Tilesavailable for both and external projects Finance -internal T&C’s Apply.

A Wide Range of Italian Tiles for both internal and external projects

extensive range ofand bathroom furniture and sanitaryware An extensiveAnrange of bathroom furniture and sanitaryware Full Design Installation Service Assured quality products.

Terra Firma prides itself on being a family run business with over 30 years quality -products.

0%Assured Finance available T&C’s Apply.

Full Design and Installation Service experience offering ‘Natural, Affordable Elegance’ and expert advice.

0% Finance available - T&C’s Apply.

Terra Firma prides itself on being family run business with over 30 years Full Design anda Installation Service Terra Firma prides itself on being a family run business with over years advice. experience offering ‘Natural,available Affordable- Elegance’ and30 expert 0% Finance T&C’s experience offering ‘Natural, Affordable Elegance’ andApply. expert advice.

Terra Firma prides itself on being a family run business with over 30 years experience offering ‘Natural, Affordable Elegance’ and expert advice.

Terra Firma Tile & Bath 74 Grand Grand Parade, Belfast, BT5 5HH Terra Firma02890 Tile & Bath Ltd,Ltd,74 Parade, Belfast, BT5 5HH 403000 | info@terrafirmani.co.uk | www.terrafirmani.co.uk Terra Firma Tile & Bath Ltd, 74 Grand Parade, Belfast, BT5 5HH 02890 403000 | info@terrafirmani.co.uk | www.terrafirmani.co.uk 02890 403000 | info@terrafirmani.co.uk | www.terrafirmani.co.uk

12

Features #43 • Sep 2018

The Arts Tell All

Bursary An amazing opportunity being provided by a former record producer aimed at encouraging story tellers

Local Angle This wonderful story in itself has its roots at Tullycarnet Library where a story telling group was formed

Story

The Tale of the Record Producer and the Storyteller

N

loopmag.net

PICTURED Roger Armstrong (right), along with ace storytellers Liz Weir and Pat Ryan, is launching the Armstrong Storytelling Bursary in honour of his late parents.

For more information go to www.armstory.org.uk on Facebook.com/Armstrong-Storytelling-Bursary.

Ace A successful record producer from Belfast is launching a new storytelling bursary to support people hoping to train in this ancient tradition and to increase opportunities for people young and old to hear stories right across Northern Ireland.

Roger Armstrong helped found Ace Records in London in the 1970s, which has released more than 5,000 records.

ow he is launching the Armstrong Storytelling Bursary in honour of his parents Peg and Jim Armstrong. The story all began in the 1980’s when Roger’s mum and dad met Liz Weir, who was running a Yarnspinners storytelling group, prompting them to form their own group at Tullycarnet Library.

In honour of his late parents, Roger set up the initial storytelling residency with Libraries NI. After two years of programming with Libraries NI he feels it’s time to expand its scope and having invested his own money he hopes to involve interested members of the business community.

Storytelling has huge benefits: it can improve children’s literacy and communication, engage with people with dementia and help companies improve their management skills.

Roger hopes that other business leaders will join him now and he has set up a community interest company (CIC) that will fund the development of new storytellers and reach thousands of people in Northern Ireland.

He said: “We have the personnel and project in place but need further finance to roll it out on a bigger scale.

“

Storytelling is a vivid and immediate way to entertain, engage and inform people but it’s much more than that. It teaches core life skills, communication, confidence, critical thinking and empathy. It can actually be life-changing. We have seen young people who were desperately shy, end up telling new stories to their peers and develop confidence to speak out. We’ve worked with elderly people with dementia who were almost non-communicative and these stories brought out memories and their own stories

Roger Armstrong Founder, Ace Records

“Storytelling is a vivid and immediate way to entertain, engage and inform people but it’s much more than that. It teaches core life skills, communication, confidence, critical thinking and empathy. It can actually be lifechanging. We have seen young people who were desperately shy, end up telling new stories to their peers and develop confidence to speak out. We’ve worked with elderly people with dementia who were almost non-communicative and these stories brought out memories and their own stories” The bursary is cross community and is also dedicated to bringing stories from around the world to Northern Ireland, introducing people from different cultures and experiences to entertain the public. In the pilot project run over the last two and a half years, the funding provided by Roger meant that 15,251 people listened to stories told by 32 different people and a further 437 people received storytelling training.

Liz Weir, Northern Ireland’s leading storyteller, has a long and colourful career in which she’s told stories to literally thousands of people of all ages, trained up and coming storytellers and even worked with leading stage actors and a raft of big businesses to improve their communications skills.

She said: “In this digital age where

everyone is staring at screens all day, it’s important to keep alive the tradition of speaking and telling your story. Everyone has a story to tell, it’s just a question of providing the skills and opportunity to tell it.”

Fellow storyteller Pat Ryan, an educator originally from the US, has been teaching storytelling to everyone from schoolchildren to premiership footballers and coaches. He believes it is essential for this tradition to continue.

“Teachers had been required to teach half an hour of storytelling. This is something that is no longer on the curriculum but we are helping to bridge that gap. We go into schools and tell stories but we also teach the young people to tell their own stories.

Many of them have never spoken before a group and this can be the first step in developing an essential life skill,” Pat said.

Roger is convinced of the benefits of storytelling and wants to use his bursary to spread the word: “There is a rich supply of local talent in Northern Ireland. We have some people who have gone from being unemployed to being full time professional storytellers, going to schools, nursing homes spreading the traditional art for which Northern Ireland is famous. So we don’t just help educate, we also help create employment and produce students that are fit and ready for the workplace.”

East Belfast’s Largest and Independently Owned Taxi Firm

Support Your Local Business

028 9073 2211

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

• Military & Police Medals

• Vintage Dinky & Tin Plate Toys

• Antique & De-Activated Weapons,

• Bronzes & Art Deco Collectables

Bayonets, Swords & Edged Weapons

• Collectable Porcelain & Ceramics

• Military, RUC, RIC & DMP Uniforms,

• Sporting Memorabalia

Helmets, Handcuffs, Batons & more....

• Enamel & Tin Plate Advertising Signs

• Gold Jewellery

• Classic Car & Automobalia

• Silver Ware

• Model Trains, Railwayanna

• Irish & European Art

& Steam Engines

• Antique & Mid Century Furniture

• Oil Lamps & Good Tools

• Masonic & Orange Order Items

And more.....

Full House Clearance Service Available!

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

14

Features #43 • Sep 2018

#43 LIFE, AND OTHER STORIES, BRINGS TOGETHER WORK

BY TWO ARTISTS, JOHN KIMANI AND CLINTON KIRKPATRICK. WE FEATURED CLINTON’S WORK BEFORE AND HE USED TO HAVE A STUDIO HERE IN EAST BELFAST

The Arts

International You might remember Clinton Kirkpatrick from a previous feature we did on his remarkable work

On the Scene

On Show Life, And Other Stories, brings together work

by Clinton and John Kimani in an explosion of rich colours

loopmag.net

Artist

Life, And Other Fictions John Kimani with Clinton Kirkpatrick.

Creativity Gallery, Nairobi Museum, National Museums of Kenya.

J

ohn Kimani is a Kenyan artist and Clinton Kirkpatrick is an Irish/ British artist. They met in 2012 when John was a mentor to Clinton and taught him woodcut printmaking. Since that time, they remained in touch as Clinton returned to Kenya in 2014 for an exhibition at the Nairobi Museum, which was made up from paintings and print-works that explored aspects of the artists previous visits to Kenya. In 2016 Clinton organised and facilitated an exhibition in Seacourt Print Workshop, in Northern Ireland, that showcased their work together for the first time in Clinton’s home place. Two years later they are exhibiting together at the Nairobi Museum, in John’s home place. At first glance the work on display reads very differently. Both artists have a very different approach to making art and both are striking in an individual way. John Kimani’s work is full of characters and objects that, perhaps, read as one story.

There is an unchanging, familiar feel to the work that invites you in with its colour and beauty, yet disrupts and confuses you when inside the space. His work relates to that

of Surrealism and we find characters, like the elephants with spindly legs, that could be lifted straight from a painting by Dali.

John’s work is alluring and inviting. Their appearance is striking and sumptuous with colours of green, turquoise, and blue often finishing the works which helps them to read as one.

Clinton Kirkpatrick’s work is also full of characters and colour, albeit in a very different way. At first glance, the work on display has a strong, graphic, colourful and playful feel to it. The work is made from a combination of monotype and woodcut printmaking. The artist created a painterly, loose, bright base of colour, with the monotype, and then finished the work with a one-cut woodcut that introduced a strong, solid structure to the artworks.

In 2016 Clinton returned to Kenya and collected 88 stories from Kenyan people.

There are 64 works on display and these collected stories were made up from personal, ancestral or fictional stories.

Clinton set no conditions, when collecting the stories, that then welcomed whatever stories that people wanted to give to the

instagram.com/clinton_kirkpatrick_artist • clintonkirkpatrick.com Purchase : clintonkirkpatrickartist.bigcartel.com artist. He collected an amazing variety of oral stories that were recorded on video.

Clinton’s work in this exhibition reads as though it is one story. The way the work is presented allows the viewer to jump in an out of artworks quickly and with ease; perhaps the artist wants you to create your own stories from what you see.

Two very different artists, and two very different approaches to life and making art, yet, in ways, the work fully compliments and supports each other. Life, And Other Stories, is full of exciting, visual storytelling, one that is both familiar and unfamiliar, to us, at exactly the same.

LE

FREE MEASURING FREE FITTING

ll

City for business

L AB I A AV AILS W NO DE Tply S R p N TIO US FOitions A P O CE TACT& Cond N A N s FIN CO Term

Be informed.

Be inspired.

FREE MEASUR FREE MEASURING an entrepreneur.

FREEBe MEASURING

FREE FITTIN

FREE FITTING FREE FITTING

Start your journey of becoming your own boss by learning Recommended now to arrange your Call now toCall arrange your first-hand from people who’ve actually done it. now to arrange your Retailer for Santa FREE quotation FREE quotation Discover the dos and don’ts of growing a successful business from the city’s FREE quotation Fe Shutters best and brightest businesses at our ‘Enterprise Promotion in Communities’ RECOMMENDED RETAILERS FOR (EPiC) sessions: SANTA FE SHUTTERS • Highfield Community Centre - Wednesday 12 September, 11am-1pm

Call now to arran FREE quotat

F R E E M E A S U R F R E E F I T T I N

C a l l

n o w

t o a r r a n q u o t a t

F R E E

T e l : B e l f a s t 0 2 8 9 0 8 1 P o r t a d o w n 0 2 8 3 8 3 C L A S S I C B L I N D S N I .

FREE home consultation

• Ardoyne Community Centre - Thursday 13 September, 11am-1pm

• Short Strand Community Centre - Wednesday 19 September, 11am-1pm CallFREE NOWMEASURING to arrange a free survey FREE FITTING • Sandy Row Community Centre - Thursday 20 September, 11am-1pm CALL NOW TO ARRANGE Tel: Belfast 02890814197 814197 & Portadown Tel: 02838 33232302890 814197 Tel: Belfast 02890 Belfast &02890 For more information814197 and to register: Tel: Belfast & YOUR FREE QUOTATION 744 Upper Newtownards Road, Dundonald, BT16 1RT www.belfastcity.gov.uk/businessevents Portadown 02838 332323 Portadown 02838 332323 Portadown 02838 332323 FIND US ON FACEBOOK WWW.CLASSICBLINDSBELFAST.CO.UK Tel: Belfast 02890 814197 Portadown 02838 332323 CLASSICBLINDSNI.CO.UK CLASSICBLINDSNI.CO.UK CLASSICBLINDSNI.CO.UK

Explore Ards and North Down

WALKS AND TOURS Woodland and Whiskey Coach Tour Saturday 22 September | 2.00pm-6.30pm Tickets: ÂŁ20 (includes light refreshments).

Booking essential.

Encompassing the trails in Mount Stewart with a fascinating visit to Echlinville Distillery.

For info and to book: visitardsandnorthdown.com 028 9127 0069 | 028 9182 6846

e Mor rs Tou ov N Oct/

16

Features #43 • Sep 2018

Cookbook

Wellbeing Irish broadcaster and journalist Holly White has a tremendous career in print and television

Vegan - Ish

Plating Up Her food training stems from her time in LA and now she shares some of her new book Vegan-ish with you

loopmag.net

Plant

Vegan-ish

A Gentle Introduction to a Plant-Based Diet

Holly White has been working as a broadcaster and journalist for over a decade. A familiar face on Irish screens, she appeared on the IFTA-nominated TV show Dan & Becs and presented fashion on TV3’s Xposé. She is passionate about style, natural beauty and vegan food. She was first exposed to the vegan way of life while living in LA and gradually transitioned to a plant-based diet. Her food training includes Raw Food Mastery with the Life Change Health Institute, PLANTLAB Raw Desserts, Plant-Based Chef and Wellbeing Leadership with the Wild Food Cafe in London and a certificate in Plant-based Nutrition from Cornell University. Holly regularly hosts demonstrations showcasing an introduction to vegan cuisine. For more visit Holly.ie

“ Preheat the oven to 140°C. Line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper.

First put the chia seeds and water in a small bowl and set aside for about 10 minutes to allow the seeds to gel.

“These are a real crowd pleaser. I Blend all the meatball ingredients, wasn’t entirely sure what to expect including the soaked chia seeds, in a food processor until a thick, chunky the first time I made these, but I had a good feeling that they would dough is formed. Roll into balls about the size of a ping pong ball. Put on the work out and now this is one of my lined baking tray and bake in the oven staple dinners.” for 15 minutes.

Vegan Meat Balls

For the meatballs: 1 tablespoon chia seeds 1 tablespoon filtered water 2 shallots, chopped 100g walnuts 30g uncooked sweet potato 25g oyster mushrooms 15g nutritional yeast To serve: 1 batch of tomato sauce Courgetti or spaghetti a handful of pine nuts a handful of chopped fresh flatleaf parsley a drizzle of truffle oil or goodquality extra virgin olive oil

Meanwhile, heat the tomato sauce in a large frying pan set over a medium heat. Add the baked meatballs and simmer gently for a few minutes to bring it all together.

Serve in warmed shallow bowls over courgetti or spaghetti. Top with pine nuts, fresh parsley and a drizzle of truffle oil or your best extra virgin olive oil.

Tips If you have an extra 5 minutes, lightly fry the meatballs in some olive oil before adding them to the sauce to give them a slight crunch and a little more bite.

It’s also nice to toast the pine nuts.

Put them in a dry frying pan set over a medium heat and cook for a few minutes, until lightly toasted.

If you have an extra 5 minutes, lightly fry the meatballs in some olive oil before adding them to the sauce to give them a slight crunch and a little more bite.

Vegan Meat Balls

17

The Best Roast Potatoes With Roasted Garlic Sauce

Roast Potatoes

Feature #43 • Sep 2018

“

I’ve been working as a broadcaster & journalist for over a decade in Dublin. I am passionate about style, natural beauty and vegan food.

“There are whole books written on roast potatoes and countless theories, methods and ideas on what makes the perfect roast potato. Perfection is a hard thing to strive for, but I think these come very close. I remember one of my friends referring to ‘the polite potato’, aka a lone spud that everyone wants but is being too polite to take. That won’t happen with these! But enough talk. Here’s how to make them.”

Holly White Mixed Berry Crumble

Serves 6 1kg Maris Piper potatoes 1 garlic clove, peeled 1 tablespoon olive oil For The Garlic Sauce: 100g cashews 1 head of garlic 2 teaspoons olive oil 125ml filtered water 1 dessertspoon nutritional yeast 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1 Put the cashews in a bowl, cover with filtered water and soak for at least 8 hours or ideally overnight. Drain and rinse, then pat them dry thoroughly with a clean tea towel or kitchen paper.

(See the note on page 30 on soaking nuts.)

2 Personally I like the skins left on – plus it makes for a much faster preparation time – but do whatever you like best, peeled or unpeeled.

Chop the potatoes into a semiuniform size to ensure they cook evenly – about the size of a golf ball is a good guide. Put in a pot with the whole garlic clove, cover with plenty of cold water and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and cook or 20 minutes, until tender. Drain them in a colander and allow them to sit for at least 2 minutes. The more moisture that’s removed, the crispier they’ll get.

3 Preheat the oven to 200°C. 4 Put the drained potatoes in a large roasting tin. Pour over the tablespoon of olive oil and shake the potatoes in the tin to bash them up a bit and coat them with oil. This creates lots of little crispy clusters.

5 Remove the papery outer layer of skin from the head of garlic, leaving the head itself intact with all the cloves still connected. Trim about 5mm off the top of the head of garlic to expose the tops of the cloves. Put the garlic on a large piece of foil, then drizzle the 2 teaspoons of olive oil over the top and tightly seal up the foil.

6 Put the foil parcel in the corner of the roasting tin, then cook in the oven

for 40 minutes. Halfway through the cooking time, take the tin out of the oven, give it a shake and turn the potatoes, ensuring they get crisp on all sides. Return to the oven for about 15 minutes more, until they look crisp.

7 Carefully open up the foil parcel of garlic, being careful of any escaping steam. Squeeze the garlic out of its skins into a small bowl.

8 Blend the soaked and drained cashews in a high-powered blender until they are silky smooth. Add all the other ingredients, including the roasted garlic, and blend well. Serve the garlic sauce on the side or pour it over your roasted potatoes.

Mixed berry and apple crumble with vanilla coconut cream It’s easy to vary the fruit in a crumble depending on what you have or what’s in season or on special offer in your supermarket. I love the simplicity of berries and apples, but you could also try peaches or rhubarb.

Serves 4 4 apples, peeled, cored and chopped 200g fresh or frozen mixed berries 100g coconut sugar 100ml apple or orange juice juice of 1 lemon 1 tablespoon cornflour 1 heaped teaspoon ground cinnamon maple syrup to sweeten (optional) For the crumble topping: 100g rolled oats 100g coconut sugar 50g ground almonds 50g flaked almonds 4 tablespoons melted coconut oil To serve: vanilla coconut cream Preheat the oven to 160°C. 1. Put the apples, berries, coconut sugar, apple or orange juice, lemon juice, cornflour and cinnamon in a large bowl and mix together, making sure the apples and berries are all coated with the juice and cornflour.

Drizzle in a little maple syrup if you think the fruit is too tart.

2. Transfer to a baking dish.

3. Put all the crumble ingredients in a medium-sized bowl and mix together, then pat it on top of the apple and berry mix.

4. Bake in the oven for 50 minutes.

Finish it under the grill for the last few minutes to crisp it up. It will be piping hot, so I let it stand for 10 minutes before serving.

5. When the coconut cream hits

the heat of the crumble it will melt straight away, so keep it chilled in the fridge and allow people to help themselves to keep it cool until the last minute.

Vegan-ish by Holly White is published by Gill books, priced £19.99 and available from all good bookshops and online. www.gillbooks.ie

18

Features #43 • Sep 2018

History Aidan Campbell

By Aidan Campbell Our incredibly popular monthly feature compiled by the fantastic local historian continues its revelations

New Book What Aidan doesn’t know about East Belfast, simply isn’t worth knowing. Next month he launches a brand new book!

loopmag.net

Aidan Campbell

1. BIRDS EYE VIEW

Courtesy of Alan Rintoul

13 Aidan has previously published 13 East Belfast local history books entitled: Beaconsfield, Knock, Cherryvalley, Gilnahirk, Castlereagh, Cregagh, Stormont, Sydenham, Belmont, East Belfast Revisited Volumes 1 & 2, Ballymacarrett and Castlereagh Updated. Also on South Belfast, Newtownbreda and on Greater Belfast, Belfast Through Time. He regularly gives illustrated talks to local groups and societies. The books are available at Hillmount Garden Centre, Marie Curie Hospice, Hamilton News Cregagh and EastSide Visitor Centre, Connswater with profits donated to local charity. There are more books in the pipeline including East Belfast Big Houses – The Families who lived in Them’ and ‘Ravenhill – from Lagan Village to Rosetta! Book sales online at eastbelfasthistory. com

Home

East Belfast Big Houses

2. LISMACHAN BELMONT ROAD

Courtesy of Rina (Greeves) Brien

A brief preview of some content from my forthcoming book ‘East Belfast Big Houses’.

1. BIRDS EYE VIEW Jacob Connup’s ‘Bird’s eye view of Sydenham, Belmont and Glenmachan’ was published as a lithograph in 1864.

Some accompanying notes remarked that ‘Belfast town centre had become largely commercial with fewer residents and the population began to move towards the suburbs. The increased transport system increased this trend and east side of Belfast became a very obvious place for those seeking a country mansion. Gently sloping with fine views across Belfast Lough the area was developed by Sir Thomas McClure who made new roads and planted trees’. There weren’t that many houses in the area in those days and it would soon change.

2. LISMACHAN BELMONT ROAD ‘Lismachan’ is located at 378 Belmont Road and was built in 1870 becoming the home of John Greeves. The architect was Thomas Jackson (who lived nearby). Two of his daughters Elizabeth and Georgiana would later marry the Greeves brothers John and Thomas Malcolmson whilst his son Anthony would marry a Greeves sister who was also named Elizabeth. Above is a south facing view of Lismachan which ensured sunshine on the front of the house in the afternoon with great views over Belfast and the gently undulating, well-wooded hills making for a great setting.

3. BEECHGROVE HOLYWOOD ROAD ‘Beechgrove’ was located on the corner of Sydenham Avenue opposite St Mark’s church. It was purchased by Edward Gullery in February 1920 on his marriage to Rosella Corr. He died in 1954 but the house remained in family ownership until Rosella died in 1983, a total of 63 years.

The house was then acquired by property

developers and demolished and the site was re-developed with modern housing and re-named ‘Sycamore Grove’. Built in the 1850s and first called ‘Aspen Villa’ (or Aspenville), it was originally the home of architect James Entwistle who is credited with providing the area with the name of ‘Sydenham’.

4. LORETTO COTTAGE ON CASTLEREAGH ROAD Road-going transport was in the throes of major change after the First World War when home-delivery service businesses such as coal, bread, mail and milk were making the transition from horse-power to mechanization. T. G. Emerson acquired his first mechanized vehicle after the move to ‘Loretto Cottage’ on Castlereagh Road on the corner of Ravensdale Street. The truck was locally manufactured by Chambers & Co at their East Belfast factory located not far away at 15-23 Cuba Street, Ballymacarrett and the registration number is OI 7876.

5. KINGSDEN PARK HOUSE KNOCK The Governor of Northern Ireland, Earl Granville and the Countess Granville (a sister of the Queen Mother) visit Camlin’s Nursery at Knock in 1951 to inspect carnations named in their honour. Ernest Camlin, right, with sons Davvie, centre and Ernie at the rear greeted their guests. The Countess was described in press reports as an ‘enthusiastic and indefatigable gardener’ and her carnation was grown from the ‘Michael Shane Camlin Carnation’. It was described in the press by the Camlins as ‘the finest flower they had hitherto produced’. Nursery owner Ernest Camlin lived at ‘Kingsden Park House’, Knock.

3. BEECHGROVE HOLYWOOD ROAD Courtesy of Eileen Gullery

4. LORETTO COTTAGE ON CASTLEREAGH ROAD Courtesy of George Emerson

5. KINGSDEN PARK HOUSE KNOCK Courtesy of Betty Jackson

6. BEACONSFIELD KNOCK In 1893 a big house named ‘Beaconsfield’ was owned by wealthy tea merchant Fred Thomas Hurley (right). His eldest son was Fred Arthur Hurley (right, in 1887). Young Fred was given a birthday present in 1895 of the very latest photographic technology, a tripod-mounted half-plate camera and we have him to thank for photographs of Beaconsfield at Knock plus a few others of the surrounding area. Amateur photography was in its infancy back then and not widely available – unlike 2018 where it seems that everybody is taking photos of their lives and posting them on the internet.

6. BEACONSFIELD Courtesy of Tony Merrick

Call us today on 028 9034 7731 to find out how we can help you

Just out of hospital, and need some help around the house while you get back on your feet?

Are you struggling to cope with the constant demands of work, life and family and need some time for yourself?

Perhaps you are elderly or alone and need assistance around the house, but don’t know who to ask?

Bryson One2One offers a range of support at home to help you live independently. Our dedicated carers can support with a range of daily tasks at home including laundry, preparing meals and light housework. Carers have access to their own cars whether it’s to bring you to appointments or help with messages.

Ellie from Bangor said “One2One removes lots of stress and pressure 10/10” Mark from Ravenhill said “I couldn’t keep mum independent without One2One” Our highly-trained, friendly Support Workers are always willing to lend an ear and be flexible to your needs. Our person centred service also provides invaluable peace of mind to family members in knowing that their loved ones and their needs are being taken care of.

Bryson One2One – Supporting you with Care Call us on 028 9034 7731

20

Features #43 • Sep 2018

History

By Aidan Campbell Our incredibly popular monthly feature compiled by the fantastic local historian continues its revelations

Aidan Campbell

Looking Back What Aidan doesn’t know about East Belfast, simply isn’t worth knowing. Check out these gems from his encyclopedic mind

loopmag.net

Aidan Campbell

13 Aidan has previously published 13 East Belfast local history books entitled: Beaconsfield, Knock, Cherryvalley, Gilnahirk, Castlereagh, Cregagh, Stormont, Sydenham, Belmont, East Belfast Revisited Volumes 1 & 2, Ballymacarrett and Castlereagh Updated. Also on South Belfast, Newtownbreda and on Greater Belfast, Belfast Through Time. He regularly gives illustrated talks to local groups and societies. The books are available at Hillmount Garden Centre, Marie Curie Hospice, Hamilton News Cregagh and EastSide Visitor Centre, Connswater with profits donated to local charity. There are more books in the pipeline including East Belfast Big Houses – The Families who lived in Them’ and ‘Ravenhill – from Lagan Village to Rosetta! Book sales online at eastbelfasthistory. com

• Architects see new Ulster Hospital’ in July 1959

• The ‘Beeches’ farm at Dundonald (pictured) was purchased by the Northern Ireland Hospitals Authority and Lady McDermott cut the 1st sod on 3rd August 1956. On 25th October 1957 the ceremony for the laying of the foundation stone was completed by the Duchess of Gloucester.

• The Duchess of Gloucester was married to Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, an uncle of Queen Elizabeth II, and the daughter of the 7th Duke of Buccleuch, Scotland’s largest landowner. She was a staunch supporter of the Ulster Hospital since visiting Templemore Avenue shortly after the Blitz in 1941.

Part Two

The Wee Hospital

• The Duchess of Gloucester (Patron of the Ulster Hospital) and Lady Louise McDermott enjoy a well-earned cup of tea at the official opening ceremony on 16th November 1962. Lady McDermott was Chairperson of the Management Committee 1937-1972 and gave 58 years of tireless service to the hospital.

• By 1959 construction of the new Ulster Hospital buildings was underway and things were beginning to take shape.

The Wee Hospital at Templemore Avenue was destroyed in the Blitz of 1941. Haypark residential school on Ormeau Road was used as a temporary base (described at the time as ‘a hospital in lodgings’) and a new site was under consideration at Schomberg House on Belmont Road. However this was considered to be too close to the flight path of Sydenham (now Belfast City) Airport and in 1956 work began on the new Ulster Hospital at Dundonald. Margaret Smith (nee Jackson) continues with her affectionate memories of the opening of ‘The Ulster’.

M

argaret Smith recalls that: “The years passed and eventually the long awaited announcement appeared in the newspapers telling us of the plans for the new hospital to be situated in Dundonald. As teenagers we passed the site regularly watching the construction with anticipation and thinking ‘Is it ever going to happen?’ But building work did commence and it was soon announced that there would soon be ‘the opening of the Ulster Hospital for Children and Women’.

(Sorry Gentlemen, but you had to wait a little longer for your department!). Then I remember a big delay – the floors had to be relayed – stiletto heals had damaged the surface. They tried handing out socks that

could be worn over the stilettos but that didn’t seem to work either.

As mum had been listed among the Life Governors an invitation arrived for her to attend the opening (1962). By now I was married and had left home. Mum’s age had caught up with her and she was very apprehensive about going to the opening on her own. It was obviously going to be a very big occasion being opened by the Duchess of Gloucester. So I phoned and explained the situation – no problem, they said. An invitation was to be posted off to me to allow me to accompany Mum at the official opening. So I brought my wee camera with me that day and took a few photos. One of them was of the new Matron (1960-1971), Miss Olivia L. Primrose (pictured above right).

“

The years passed and eventually the long awaited announcement appeared in the newspapers telling us of the plans for the new hospital to be situated in Dundonald.

I remember being shown around the wards and recognising one of the older patients. Mum asked her how she was keeping and she replied ‘very well indeed’.

The staff had asked the patient if she would mind staying and pose for some photos to fill the ward beds for the day’ If I remember correctly there were no children in their wards but a few days later my sister’s baby took ill and had to be admitted.

He was one of the first occupants of the baby unit. We are indebted to the Ulster Hospital as a family now for over the years we have needed it on numerous occasions. All our children were born there in the Maternity Unit known as ‘Duchess of Gloucester House’.

When our daughter Susan grew up she decided to make nursing her career. We were delighted when Susan gained a place

• The official opening. “So I brought my wee camera with me that day and took a few photos. One of them was of the new Matron (1960-1971), Miss Olivia L. Primrose”

in the School of Nursing at the Ulster Hospital. Strangely one of her tutors nursed in the Maternity Unit when her older brother was born there some 20 years earlier. We were honoured to be at her graduation when she qualified as a children’s nurse. After working for 14 years in the Children’s and Special Baby Unit she moved out into the community as a school nurse and continues to work with children’s services.During my occasional visits I take personal pride in the fact that I helped to build the Ulster Hospital.

I’m delighted to put pen to paper to tell my story and submit my photos for posterity. In 2018 the new Ulster Hospital is well underway for the benefit of all and I’m so pleased that God has enabled me to see it too.”

Advice

Patrick McKee BVetMed, BSc, MRCVS

“ Every member of our staff at Ashwood is an animal lover with their own pets and we know the importance of working with a vet and vet practice you trust. We treat our patients as our own and we will listen carefully to you. We will give you clear advice.

We know we are treating a much loved member of your family.

21

Advice #43 • Sep 2018

Does Your Pet Snore?

The French bulldog, bulldog, pug, boxer and other dogs with short muzzles are all amazing canines, but they can share one health problem - a condition known as Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) which can cause respiratory problems, due to their skull shape.

H

ave you heard of Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome? Brachycephalic means ‘short snout’ and this refers to any flat-faced breed. BOAS can affect any brachycephalic animal, but we mainly see this in dogs.

So what happens? Flat-faced breeds have an especially long soft palate, and with BOAS, this long soft palate is sucked into the airway every time the dog breathes in and blocks it causing noisy breathing that often sounds like snoring. Their nostrils are also often too small making it difficult to get air into the airways in the first place. If left untreated, the

sbnoring and snorting can in time lead to an even more serious collapse of the whole airway in the throat and can be fatal.

Have you noticed noisy breathing and snoring with your dog? If so, make an appointment to see us! Together, we can work out what the most appropriate treatment is for your dog. If surgery is required, we can do that here at Ashwood. The difference to the dog (or cat) in getting prompt treatment is amazing!

We do a lot of BOAS treatment and surgery at Ashwood vets by our soft tissue surgeons, so give us a call today.

With warm regards, Patrick.

PICTURED

A selection of the breeds who share one health problem - a condition known as Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)

“

Have you noticed noisy breathing and snoring with your dog? If so, make an appointment to see us! Together, we can work out what the most appropriate treatment is for your dog.

Ashwood Veterinary Clinic, 71 Comber Road, Dundonald, BT16 2AE, Telephone: 028 9041 9374

www.ashwoodvets.com

Big Savings! only

£7.99

£1.49

Hydro Silk Razor + Free Blades

FREE

£1.99

save £1.70

Right Guard TD5 Antiperspirant 250ml RRP £3.19

99p 2 for

save £2.59

Colgate Max Whitening Toothpaste 50ml RRP £1.79 each

save £3

Elvive Shampoo & Conditioner 400ml RRP £4.99

Offers available 10th September – 6th October.

exceptional savings, every day. www.gordonsdirect.com

22

Features #43 • Sep 2018

Schools

Local School Cregagh Primary School has had a lot to talk about from its achievements in 2018 of which there are many

A Class Act

Looking Ahead We get a run down on what the pupils have been up to and what makes the school special in the community

Anthem

2019 2018 was a big year for Cregagh Primary School and next year looks to get even bigger.

Cregagh Primary School: A School with Heart Down Mount Merrion Avenue’s A very special place, There’s a school with lots of children With a smile upon their face, At Cregagh Primary School.

S

o starts Cregagh Primary’s school anthem and it has never been more true than this past year. 2018 has been a stellar year for the school, during which time it has seen its numbers continue to grow, its pupils experience academic success, its work within the surrounding community expand and as if that wasn’t enough, it celebrated winning four major awards: Eco-Schools Green Flag Award, the Sustrans school mark for excellence in promoting sustainable travel award, the Ulster-Scots Flagship Award and being granted STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Ambassador status! Later this year, Cregagh expect to receive further recognition of our school’s hard work within the areas of Special Needs education and welcoming Newcomer families, when they are awarded the IQM Quality Mark for Inclusion. But while awards and

statistics are important, they do not define this school. Cregagh Primary School is all about its children and its community and that is very clear from the moment you approach the school’s entrance and are met by a large sign welcoming you to the school and bearing the inscription, “A Family of Learning at the Heart of Our Community”. However, this is no mere tag-line. Upon entering the modern state-of-the-art building, you immediately start to experience what this means and feels like: a warm, welcoming school full of happy staff and smiling boys and girls. Visitors are numerous and the wall displays and the noticeboards are full of evidence that this school is immersed in its community: parents, local churches, local businesses and educational partners such as Barnardos, NSPCC and Women’s Aid all feature. This is a working school and a school that works!

PICTURED “Enthusiasm and motivation for life and for learning; taking pride in their successes and achievements.” All factors sin action here at Cregagh Primary School.

Touring the bright, spacious school you can’t help but be impressed by the politeness of the children who all wear their navy blue uniforms with obvious pride. Their school badge that depicts the school within its East Belfast location, proudly names the core values on which the school is built: “Learning, Family and Community”. Each classroom is colourful and airy and equipped with the latest technology to support children’s learning.

The recently refurbished and re-stocked school library, made possible by the school’s generous Parent-Teach Staff Association, is obviously well-used and cared for. Outside, the two playgrounds, one for Key Stage One children the other for Key Stage Two

loopmag.net

children, are full of children running, playing and laughing; while some of the older boys and girls enjoy and game of football on the 3G pitch. Surrounded by trees and shrubs, and with the Castlereagh Hills in the background, you could be forgiven for forgetting you’re in the city for a moment.

When asked about what makes Cregagh Primary special, Principal David Heggarty points out the school’s motto displayed in the school’s reception area that says: Together, we make a difference. He goes on explain, “Working together is what’s makes Cregagh different. We work closely with our pupils’ families, we work with statutory and non-statutory groups in the children’s best interests, and we work as a school staff as one dynamic team.

And we do all this work, make all these partnerships, with one goal in mind: we want our pupils to develop enthusiasm and motivation for life and for learning; taking pride in their successes and achievements.

We want only the very best for our pupils.

We dream big for them and encourage them to dream big about their futures too!”

The final verse of the school’s anthem can have the last few words, as it would be hard to phrase it better:

Everyone at Cregagh Primary’s Sure to all agree, There is no better Primary School And here’s the place to be, At Cregagh Primary School!

Saturday 6th October – Carnival themed open morning for Preschool-aged children (due to start P1 in September 2019), 10-12 noon • Wednesday 21 st November 6-8pm Cregagh Primary Open Night • Saturday 15th December - Breakfast with Santa - open morning for Preschool-aged children (due to start P1 in September 2019), 9:30am-11am

Could YOU foster?

“We’re looking for a home where we can stay together” We need more foster carers in the

Rite Price

CARPET & FLOORING SPECIALISTS

YOU BRING US YOUR BEST PRICE AND WE’LL BEAT IT!

East Belfast Area GET YOUR FULL

VINYL

HOUSE CARPETED

FLOOR

ONLY

and beyond who could care for sibling groups.

£399

£4.99

BASED ON 100 SQUARE YARDS • T&C’S APPLY

LIVING ROOM

STRIPED

LAMINATE FLOOR

CARPET

ONLY

Call 028 9504 0057

www.adoptionandfostering.hscni.net

PER SQUARE YARD

£98

BASED ON 17 SQUARE YARDS • T&C’S APPLY

£3.99 PER SQUARE YARD

FREE MEASURING & FREE ESTIMATES 220-258 York Street, Belfast BT15 1GZ Tel: 028 9075 2777 208 - 210 Castlereagh Road, Belfast BT5 Tel 028 9045 2790 www.riteprice.co.uk

Saturday 6th October

10am12 Noon

PRIMARY

SCHOOL CREGAGH

CARNIVAL • FOR PRE SCHOOLERS • { for those starting P1 September 2019 }

Kiddies Safari Train & Swinging Chair Ride Bouncy Castles • Face Painting Belfast Circus School Performers Photo booth fun • And much more!

Come along and enjoy all the FREE fun of the fair at Cregagh Primary School. Meet the staff, tour the school & see why the awardwinning Cregagh Primary is the right school for your child!

FREE

EVENT

www.cregaghprimary.org.uk

24

Features #43 • Sep 2018

Home

Covered Learn the art of upholstery and you can bring formerly lifeless pieces of furniture back to the land of the living

Inside Out

Declutter IKEA have some fantastic choices when it comes to dealing with your clutter, check out the top 4 below

loopmag.net

Fabric

Jill Refound showroom is a unique interiors emporium that offers a range of upcycled, redesigned and vintage homeware and gifts.

We turn the ordinary into the extra-ordinary!

OnTheSquare Emporium (OTS for short), is a treasure trove for lovers of antiques, collectables, industrial furniture and salvage

Fan of the Cloth Use an upholsterer and you can get a piece covered, learn upholstery and you can cover things for the rest of your life!

A

utumn is around the corner and we will be spending more time indoors. So it’s time to freshen up some of your covered furniture.

Instead of buying something new, recover it with new fabric. The Spinning Wheel and Mad about Fabrics both in Belfast, have great selections of fabrics, you will be astonished at the variety of patterns and textures.

Once you have your material (ask advice on how much you need, the bigger the pattern the more waste) you can either pay an upholsterer or for the same money (or probably less) you can learn to do it yourself. On the Square emporium, Refound and Nicola Parkes Upholstery have teamed up and kitted out a training workshop where you can learn how to cover a small chair or stool in half a day or take longer 6 session course for larger items. You will get so much more pleasure from a lovely piece knowing it is your handy work.

Courses start at £35 for 4 hour course to £180 for a 6 session course. www.onthesquareemporium.com | www.refoundonline.com | Unit A3, 17 Heron Road, BT3 9LE off Airport Road

Declutter

Storage with style at home

Tips

Adele Marshall Interior Design Manager at IKEA Belfast explains it’s more about being smart about utilising what space you have and working out what to have on display.

Here, Adele gives us some top tips on displaying our ‘things’ and turning your ‘stuff’ into interior décor.

IKEA Thanks to the beautiful Victorian and mid-century styles of homes in Northern Ireland, it can feel as if space for storage was an afterthought, but a necessary one at that as we’re now experiencing with our ‘stuff’ filled lives

“Understandably storage in most homes is thought of as a functional product to hide away clutter, rather than using it as an eyecatching piece of décor. Whether it’s storage to tidy away toys or organise scarves and hats in a bedroom, these loved possessions can take pride of place in the home.”

Classy Kitchen storage If counter top space for food prep is an issue or there isn’t enough drawer space for cooking utensils, consider bringing a multi-functional VADHOLMA island into the kitchen to add shelving, cabinet storage, space for additional seating and even a rack to hook utensils onto for easy, out of the way access.

1.

2.

3.

4.

Sammanhang Wall Shelf £9 Sammanhang Display Box £14 Sammanhang Glass Storage Cabinet £40 Vadholma Kitchen Island £410

Show off your stuff Bring personal touches to every room by keeping treasured items in view on shelves, bookcases and communal spaces.

The brand new SAMMANHANG range offers storage solutions that showcase objects in glass globes, display cabinets and transparent boxes to proudly exhibit a few of your favourite things.

Hide and sleek storage Living Room storage for magazines and piles of papers doesn’t have to be boring; Magazine covers have become collectors’ items in themselves, so display them in a coffee table like SAMMANHANG that shows storage - a glass top with integrated drawers. This can even be used as a talking point of your Living Room, a work of art that can be changed to fit the seasons.

Grab and Go The beauty of perfect storage, is that it helps life run much smoother. Knowing where everything is, is half the battle and when you need quick and easy access to everyday basics such as keys, documents and electronic devices, they can be kept within easy reach by a simple SAMMANHANG wall shelf that is passed every day on the way out the door.

To view all storage options from IKEA and available at IKEA Belfast, visit www.ikea.com

Enjoy

L 4a East Point Entertainment Village, Old Dundonald Rd, Dundonald, Belfast BT16 1XT E. info@wolfesburgerdiner.com w. wolfesburgerdiner.com

! t o h be with

Slimming World Gilnahirk Baptist Church Middle Braniel Road Every Wednesday 17:30 & 19:30

Braniel Church (Corner Woodview Drive) Lower Braniel Road Every Thursday 17:30 & 19:30

For bookings call

028 9048 0377

PRETTY In Ink MAKE UP & TREATMENTS BY ALEXIS JAMES

PDO THREADING

REVOLUTIONARY NEW PROCEDURE! • Alternative to Botox • Lunchtime treatment • Natural & subtle face lift results

• Lifts loose sagging skin • Rejuvenates • For men & women 25-75

Contact Ashleigh 07731 420680 slimmingworld.co.uk

0344 897 8000

From BEFORE AFTER £100 SEMI PERMANANET LASHES £25 CAN LAST UP TO 6 WEEKS! (Infills after 2-3 weeks £10)

MICROBLADING

Alexis James MGBT is a fully qualified and insured semi permament make up artist with over 10 years experience 7,000+ procedures achieved.

All sheds are heavy duty • Delivered & erected FREE • We also refit old sheds & garages

Bloomfield Sheds

7 Lovatt Street, Belfast BT5 5DA • 02890 659488 • 07729 123366

www.bloomfieldsheds.uk

EYEBROWS / LIP LINER / LIP LINER & BLUSH ALL £90 PER TREATMENT incl top ups

DERMAL FILLERS

For those pouting lips you’ve been dreaming of

255 Woodstock Road BT6 8PQ T: 028 9045 5022 M: 07597 505070 E: alexisjames1@mail.com Registered with Belfast City Council. A member of the Complementary Therapists Association and the Guild of Beauty Therapists.

£60 per 0.5ml

Belfast’s Number 1 SPMU Salon & Training School

26

Features #43 • Sep 2018

Health All About You

Check Up Action Cancer have set up MOT health checks for men to raise awareness and funds for the charity’s services

Resident Advisors Our experts Rosemary McWatters and Sabrina Robinson are back with their advice to share with you

loopmag.net

Check Up Tips

CHAPS Leading, local cancer charity, Action Cancer is encouraging men throughout Northern Ireland to pay more attention to their health and book a free MOT health check.

Action Cancer Offers Men Free MOT Health Checks Charles Hurst Toyota and Action Cancer recently announced a yearlong partnership aimed at raising awareness and funds for the charity’s range of cancer prevention, early detection and support services.

T

he charity’s Big Bus is contributing to Charles Hurst health and wellbeing programme by providing free health checks and breast screenings for staff and customers. So in effect, Action Cancer have been MOTing the MOT guys! Action Cancer is encouraging men to treat their body like a good car; service it regularly and it will be less likely to break down!

Technician Charles Hurst Toyota Technician, Matthew Morgan, who recently availed of a health check said, “My health check only took 20 minutes and it gave me a snap shot of my current health as well as advice on where I can make improvements and reduce my cancer risk. I learned about the signs and symptoms of male specific cancers, such as testicular and prostate cancers.

It also has given me a starting point and the motivation to improve my diet and

exercise routine and skip some of my old habits.”

Anne Thompson, Action Cancer’s Health Promotion Officer said, “Every year in Northern Ireland there are approximately 4,607 men diagnosed with cancer1 - that’s 12 men every day.

Poor lifestyle choices, such as smoking, eating an unhealthy diet and not getting enough exercise, could be contributing to this cancer incidence. Although men are 14% more likely than women to develop cancer, they are 37% more likely to die from the disease2. A reluctance to discuss personal health matters and not monitoring their health could mean men are at higher chance of not detecting cancer or other serious conditions at an early and, hopefully, more treatable stage.

It is estimated over half of all cancers could be prevented with the right lifestyle choices, such as not smoking, being safe

PICTURED Action Cancer’s Health Promotion Officer, Anne Thompson, performs a blood pressure check on Matthew Morgan, Technician at Charles Hurst Toyota.

in the sun, drinking alcohol responsibly, eating a healthy diet and taking regular exercise. Our MOT health checks can empower guys to make more positive lifestyle choices in the future.”

The free MOT health checks incorporate a number of assessments including blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose and body composition analysis, as well as giving lifestyle advice and information on testicular, prostate, lung and bowel cancers. These checks do not diagnose cancer but aim to increase

awareness of current health, highlight ways to help prevent cancer and the importance of early detection.

Any male aged 16+ can book a free health check either at Action Cancer House in Belfast or on board the charity’s Big Bus (supported by SuperValu and its independent retailers) which travels to 225 locations throughout Northern Ireland every year.

Book online at www.actioncancer.org or by calling 028 9080 3344.

Advice Eyes

All too often people tell me they have sore, irritated eyes and they have tried “washing them out” but it hasn’t worked.

Rosemary McWatters

41 Comber Rd Dundonald BT16 2AA Telephone 028 9048 6222

Washing Out Your Eyes Don’t Do it

Some try keeping their eyes open in the shower, but frequently they use that well known, brand-name product, as they have been led to believe that it must be good and would help them...

A

n eye wash or eye bath is not intended for regular use. It can be suitable very occasionally but more typically for people like builders, plasterers or even gardeners.

If they are not wearing safety glasses, they may find something accidentally goes into their eye and an eyebath helps to rinse it out. For an eye wash to be effective it does not need to be a branded product, the liquid just needs to be sterile, so boiled water cooled down is perfectly suitable, in this case, for rinsing the eyes.

Outside of that situation, washing your eyes out is probably the worst thing that you can do. The eyes are trying hard to produce the right mixture of oil, mucus and water to keep them lubricated and comfortable.

Washing them strips off that natural protection layer which does not result in improved eye comfort.

While you may hope that washing will refresh your eyes and give them a zing, sore eyes will benefit much more from being soothed. This means moisturing drops or gel which act to supplement

your natural oils and improve the quality of your tears are usually a much wiser treatment. A warm cloth held over closed eyes can also be comforting.

Warnings: · Don’t fall prey to the marketing slogans as bottles containing the same ingredients can be labelled as soothing for itchy eyes as well as refreshing for tired eyes. (which sounds impossible to me) · Don’t pay more than you should, an unbranded product with the same ingredients is often cheaper. · Don’t keep buying different drops if they are not working. Visit your optometrist to find out what is causing the problem and the recommended treatment.

With the many products now available for dry eyes, itchy eyes or watery eyes it can be hard to know what is right for you. Speak your optometrist or ask your pharmacist for advice, to ensure you are always doing what is best for your eyes.

BACK TO SCHOOL

OPTO MA NOW P AVAI LABL E

DON’T FORGET TO BOOK A

SIGHT TEST FREE TESTING FOR KIDS

BACK TO SCHOOL DON’T FORGET TO BOOK A

SIGHT TEST FREE TESTING FOR KIDS

FREE BACK TO SCHOOL GIFT

FOR EVERY CHILD HAVING AN NHS EYE EXAMINATION IN AUGUST FREE BACK TO SCHOOL GIFT AND SEPTEMBER. FOR EVERY CHILD HAVING AN NHS EYE EXAMINATION IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER.

Hair

By Sabrina

27

Features #43 • Sep 2018

Trend

“IM TOO CREATIVE FOR A NINE TO FIVE” SRHairdressing are currently looking for a Hair Stylist to join the team

The ideal candidate for this role should possess the following: *Run a column on a day to day basis *Cutting men, women and children’s hair *Applying colour with confidence *Advising clients on before & aftercare & retail products *Keeping up to date with the latest trends *Learning new hair styling techniques and a willingness to attend training *Great customer service *NVQ level 2 or above (stylist)

Red Heads Are BACK With a Bang, People!

The summer is ending the heatwave has gone and autumn is officially on its way. It’s time to warm things up and I mean hair!

We are also looking for a Trainee Hairdresser Have you just started hairdressing?

Duties include shampooing, welcoming clients etc.

Contact Sabrina through PM or telephone the salon

26 Sandown Road | Ballyhackamore | BT5 6GY Tel 028 9065 8579

As Autumn is near it bring you lots of copper, auburn and mulled wine tones. This rich warm hair colour is taking a stand, as people are so tired from being over bleached from summer sun , they are looking to add rich and deeper hues into their look. Some of my faves celebs rocking that autumnal vibe looks are Florence Welch and Bella Thorne, Julianne Moore ,Isla Fisher and Christina Hendricks already rock this colour yearround, and we might just be joining them very soon.

When it comes to high-impact hair colours, nothing beats red. Whether entirely subtle and soft or totally bold and vibrant, red hair tones are attention-grabbing and awesome. If you’ve ever thought about going red, now is the time. Autumn is all about different red hues on hair. The colour is hotter than ever and completely on-trend. The good news is that anyone can become a redhead and look great. All it takes is finding the right shade for your complexion and style.

WHICH REDHEAD ARE YOU ?

Insurance

Brokers

Provincewide Member

Ginger Red /Ginger Hair Colour Ginger red hair is perfect for clients who prefer a natural-looking red hue that’s just a touch bold.

Slightly hotter than your typical ginger, the colour is a medium red-brown tone with a hint of spice.

The warm shade is ideal for those with fair skin and green or brown eyes.

Ginger shade is a warmer and spicier shade of red. It also tends to be quite light and natural in appearance with a slight touch of warm brown.

While many natural redheads boast this tone, the colour also looks amazing on anyone with a fair complexion and cool undertones.

Copper Hair Copper is a fiery red tone filled with plenty of warmth. The hue is perfect for ladies with fair or golden skin and green, brown or hazel eyes. If you’re not quite ready to go completely copper, you can consider trying copper highlights instead.

Red Wine Hair Red wine hair colour has long been a popular trend for a good reason. Rocking a dark and rich shade of red with soft hues of purple creates a dramatic look that goes perfectly with a little black dress.

Ruby Red Hair Ruby red hair boasts an intense and radiant shade of red. The dramatic hue appears particularly striking when paired with pale and porcelain complexions with light blue or green eyes.

Red Copper Hair Red copper is a rich and intense blend of red and orange/brown. The colour suits fair and medium complexions with peachy or golden undertones and blue, green or hazel eyes Mahogany Hair A dark, rich, red-brown hue, mahogany is a great choice for fair or medium complexions and cool undertones. The striking colour is equally bold and elegant and is ideal for creating a luxurious look.

Crimson black Hair Crimson black is a rich and dark colour that blends blue/black with a deep cherry red.

The hue appears especially lovely on darker skin tones and ladies with cool brown eyes.

Burgundy Hair An intense and eye-catching hair colour, Burgundy is a dark shade of red with a hint of purple. The gorgeous hue is perfect for those with medium or dark complexions, including olive skin tones, and brown or icy blue eyes.

Golden Copper Hair Golden copper is warm and spicy and blends dark, golden blonde with a light and bright red. It is ideal for complexions that are porcelain, peach, golden or neutral with blue, green, hazel or warm brown eyes.

BEST LIPPYS FOR REDS Cool or pink skin tones – plum, wine or blue reds will suit you best; Warm yellow skin tones – it’s red-oranges, corals or redbrowns; ... The biggest no -no when wearing

red lipstick when you have red hair is matching the two. You need to find a shade which is richer and more intense to make your hair colour really!

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

SYDENHAM CLEARANCE SERVICES 72 a Connsbrook Avenue, BT4 1JW • Phone 028 9065 5115

WE DUMP YOUR JUNK FROM £10 BEFORE

Full house clearances Garages & lofts cleared Single or multiple items cleared

Fast, Friendly, Reliable Service Small Removals

PHONE 028 9065 5115 6 DAYS A WEEK

AFTER

x

x

Why waste ££££... Phone us instead Find us on Facebook

MCD Painting & Decorating

£££

Professional Painter & Decorator • Free Estimates All Work Guaranteed • All Interior & Exterior Work Special Rates for OAP’s

TEL 028 9048 5569 or 077 3041 2472 YOUR LOCAL ROOFING EXPERTS

Es Fr tim ee at es

Belfast Roofing Services • • • •

All types of Roofing & Chimney Work Flat Roof Specialists Leadwork Specialists Storm Damage & Insurance Work

TEL: 028 9084 4368 | MOB: 07739 138577

NO JOB TOO SMALL £££

A I R S PAC E

ROOFING

FOR ALL YOUR ROOFING NEEDS

• ALL FLAT ROOFING • PVC GUTTERING • POINTING RIDGE TILES & EAVES • CHIMNEY REPAIRS/MAINTENANCE • TILE & SLATE REPAIRS • ALL NEW REBUILD SLATE/TILE ROOFS • VELUX WINDOWS • LOFT CONVERSIONS • ALL LEAD WORK FREE ESTIMATES • ALL WORK GUARANTEED

DARRAN LINDSAY

SWEEPS AWAY CHIMNEY SWEEP •Chimney Sweeping •Smoke Tests •Cowls, Pots & Caps •Pressure Washing •Supplied & Fitted •Guttering Cleaned

A FACE LIFT

ONSLOW BUILDING & ROOFING SERVICES

1st Class

Painting & Decorating

NIACS trained, approved & insured

Call 07873 974762 www.airspaceroofing.co.uk

GIVE YOUR ROOMS

Find us on Google & yell.com

Give soot the boot!

Call Darran 07772 474575

Houston Developments Ltd All types of property maintenance carried out: Fencing / Decking / Gates / Plastering etc UPV windows and doors supplied and fitted

Telephone: 07707 407208

• exterior & interior • wallpaper & stripping • FREE ESTIMATES • OAP DISCOUNT • we do it better than anyone else!

ALL TYPES OF FLAT ROOFING • CHIMNEYS REBUILT OR REPAIRS. ALL LEAD FLASHING NEW ROOFS SLATES OR TILES • REPAIRS ROOF OR PVC GUTTERS • POINTING WORK • REG TILES OR EVES. STORM DAMAGE & INSURANCE WORK

FREE ESTIMATES

PHONE 07858 601495

Call Gary 07916 018064 or 02890 452764 Find us on Google & yell.com

TELL 42,000 HOMES IN EAST BELFAST ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS FROM ONLY £40+vat PER MONTH Call 02890 200988 info@loopmag.net

WINDOWS 4 U Windows, Doors, Conservatories, UPVC, Fascia, Soffit Guttering Supplied and Fitted at Factory Prices!

MAINTENANCE & REPAIR SERVICE FOR PVC-U, ALUMINIUM, VELUX & TIMBER PRODUCTS Certified ‘A’ Rated

Windows

High Quality Workmanship

GUARANTEED

Fully Insured

NO CALL OUT CHARGE

Upgrade to Triple Glazing Ask about our Special Promotion

Telephone: 028 9036 4784 Mobile: 07934 034739

TMW ELECTRICAL Electrician available • Reasonable rates • No job to small

PHONE : 07462 005257

PVC WINDOWS & DOORS CLEANED

• FASCIA & SOFFITS • GUTTERING • DOWN PIPES • CONSERVATORY • Power Washing • drive way • decking & fencing • patios & PAVING

FREE ESTIMATES & OAP DISCOUNTS

PHONE 07864 339333

Painting & Decorating By experienced tradesmen All types of work undertaken Guttering also cleaned out Over 30 years experience Free Estimates

CALL 028 9064 9801 or 07811 908759

p.g.brady@btinternet.com

30

Features #43 • Sep 2018

What’s Happening?

Mums & Tots

Classes & Events

MONDAY

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 Rd Toys/snacks/craft/music. £1.50 p/family. 10-12 term time 0-4 years. 028 9045 4466.

SYDENHAM PARENT & TODDLER Mon 10-11.30 £1 per family. Inverary CC, 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 p/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 CFC Teen MOPS Fortnightly in term time.10-11.30am. Breakfast and crèche. £1 per Mum. 10 Belmont Rd @teenmopsbelfast on FB 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 LITTLE LAMBS TOTS GROUP 10-11.30am term time. Willowfield Church Hall, 290-296 Woodstock Rd.

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

loopmag.net

Plan Ahead

ESL TODDLERS FOR PARENTS FROM ETHNIC MINORITIES 10-11.30. The Micah Centre. Willowfield Parish Church 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. 028 9050 9239

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 month) 7pm. Knit & Natter 2-4pm. Bedtime Stories 7pm. Make with Mum – Do with Dad for pre-school children (0-4 year old) accompanied by an adult. Simple craft for parent and child. All materials provided. Page-turners Book Group for 9-11 year olds every third Monday September-June. Booking essential. 9:15-12 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 07809 205579. 102-104 Cregagh Rd DUNDONALD WOMEN’S INSTITUTE First Monday of month (excl Bank Holidays) Moat Park Pavilion, Dundonald, 7:30 pm. New members welcome.

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.

MENS BOWLS Cregagh Methodist. 1.30pm-4pm. Learners or just sit and chat. All welcome tea & coffee provided 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 (9-11yrs) 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) 6.157.15pm explorers (5-7) 6.15-7.30pm juniors (8-10) 7.00-9.00pm 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 8pm-10pm.

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) NI FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 4th Tuesday of the month. Sept-Jun. 7.30pm at Holywood Arches Library. www.nifhs.org 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.

WILLOWFIELD CHURCH HALLS Open House 10.00am – 1.00pm Free tea, coffee with sweet treats & chat for anyone and everyone. Also free gym open, internet access and monthly craft activities. Debt help, Job Club & food store.

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’. 3rd Wednesday of the month.

2.30pm. Tel Barbara 07752134435. second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, 2 pm-3.30pm. Tea and Talk Together: All age dementia friendly get-together with games, music and refreshments. Contact Ruth 07753 709108. 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 Wednesday 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. 3yrs-P4 6.15pm.P5+ 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. 154 Comber Rd 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

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

BALLYMACARRETT BOWLING CLUB If interested in bowling, your local club is looking for new members. If you have played before or want to try come along to Ravenhill road green on a Thursday night From 6:30 onwards, you will be made welcome. Contact John Armstrong 02890 294 249. First few fixtures are : 21/04/18 Donaghadee b v 1st Ballymacarrett (away) 28/04/18 1st Ballymacarrett v 58th old boys (Home) 05/ 05/18 Lagan Valley v 1st Ballymacarrett (Away) BELMONT TOWER Art classes 10am-1pm. Baby Sensory Classes 10am-1pm.

Yoga 6-9pm.

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

6.30pm. Vicki 028 9045 8208. Rainbow Guides. 6pm. Rebecca. Email 93rdbelfastrainbows@gmail.com EAST BELFAST HISTORICAL SOCIETY Second Thursday of the month at the Oxford Room, Park Avenue Hotel, 158 Holywood Road, Belfast, BT4 1PB. September to May EAST BELFAST MISSION SKAINOS.ORG

Over’s Luncheon Club 12.30-2pm. Homework club (P4-P6) 3.30–5.30pm. Bible Studies, women 6.30-7.30 fortnightly.

MIXED BOWLS Cregagh Methodist. 7-10pm. Learners or just sit and chat. All welcome tea & coffee provided 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 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. Board Games - Come along and bring a friend for Chess, Scrabble, Draughts ….you decide.

BELMONT TOWER Art Classes 10-1pm.

CREGAGH PRESBYTERIAN Church open for quiet reflection 10.30-12 noon 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 11am1pm. 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 ENGLISH CLASSES 10.30am to 12.15pm at Strand Church, 161 Connsbrook Avenue, Belfast. Free. All are welcome, including beginners.

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 & 7pm CREGAGH PRESBYTERIAN Worship 11 am and 7 pm second and third Sundays 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

-

Make home Professional Upholstery and feel likeCarpet, home...

Commercial cleaning - Professional Carpet, Upholstery and

- Professional Carpet, Upholstery and Commercial cleaning - Highest quality results guaranteed

Make home Very competitive prices feel like- home...

- Highest quality results guaranteed - Highest quality results guaranteed Make home - Quick drying times - Most powerful cleaning solutions in - Female operatives feel like home... the UKpowerful cleaning - Most solutions in

-

Commercial cleaning

Indian Cuisine

- Professional Carpet, Upholstery and Commercial cleaning

Make the UK home feel like home...

Very competitive prices - Very competitive prices - Quick drying times - Female operatives

- Highest quality results guaranteed

- Professional Carpet, Upholstery and Call now for a free quote - Most powerful cleaning solutions in Commercial cleaning the UK 29 Elmwood Drive,

Bangor BT20 3LJ

- Most powerful cleaning solutions in - Quick drying times the UK - Female operatives - Very competitive prices

- Female operatives

29 Elmwood Drive, Bangor BT20 3LJ

29 Elmwood Drive, Bangor BT20 3LJ softertouchNI@outlook.com Before

Before

After

After

0751 781 9784 softertouchNI@outlook.com

Call now for a free quote - Very competitive prices

0751 781 9784 softertouchNI@outlook.com

Call now for a free quote After

- Highest quality results guaranteed Call now for a free quote0751 781 9784

0751 781 9784 - -Female operatives softertouchNI@outlook.com Most powerful cleaning solutions in

the UK

Before

After

- Highest quality results guaranteed Bangor BT20 3LJ - Very competitive prices

now for aCarpet, free quote - Call Professional Upholstery and Quick drying times Bef- ore 29 Elmwoodcleaning Drive, Commercial

- Quick drying times

FRESH FOOD • FEEL GOOD We cook our food from fresh ingredients

- Most powerful cleaning solutions in the UK

- Quick drying times

29 Elmwood Drive, - Female operatives Bangor BT20 3LJ

Call now for a free quote

All Work Guaranteed • 20+ Years After Before • Eye for Detail • FREE Experience Estimates • Paint & Materials Supplied

Before 0751 781 9784 29 Elmwood Drive, Bangor BT20 3LJ softertouchNI@outlook.com

After

Serves best Indian Curries, Delicious Kebab, Pizzas & Burgers.

We open 7 days a week and do delivery to your door from 4.30pm to 11.30 pm.

To see our full menu please visit www.indiancuisinebt4.co.uk

0751 781 9784 softertouchNI@outlook.com

OR contact (028) 9065 3135 301, Holywood Road, Belfast BT4 2EX

Let’s Decorate BELFAST

*We do not add artifical colour to our foods *If you have a food allergy or a special requirement please inform us.

T: 07800 553581 E: info@letsdecoratebelfast.co.uk W: www.letsdecoratebelfast.co.uk

PM JOINERY

All types of joinery & maintenance work carried out Also small building work No Job too small.

Phone paul 07814 965285 or 028 9045 7308

1A Plumbing • All types of plumbing & heating work • Emergency repairs carried out • Based locally in East Belfast

Tel: 028 9045 0853 Mob: 07885 300238 T. HAMILTON MEMORIALS

BLACK POLISHED GRANITE HEADSTONE, ALL LETTERING, FLOWER CONTAINERS

Passed from Father to Son for 5 Generations

COMPLETE STOCK OF ALL MEMORIALS TO SUIT EVERY CEMETERY

Inscriptions, Bibles, Hearts, Flower Vases, Surrounds & Restorations

Looking for a Primary School?

With a 60% growth in four years, more and more parents are choosing Leadhill as their first choice primary school.

Leadhill provides solutions for families, providing child-centred, high quality education alongside affordable Wrap-Around Care, operating from 8am to 6pm each school day.

Our Pre-School Playgroup welcomes children from 2 years and 10 months. Enrolment forms and further details available on our school website.

313 Woodstock Road BT6 8PT 028 9045 5663

‘Children are offered a range of opportunities to shine, which highlights

461 Donegal Road BT12 6FS 028 9032 1926

Come along and find out for yourself.

We would love to welcome you to our school!

165 Shankill Road BT13 1EG 028 9032 2009

all children’s gifts. Leadhill is a great family school.’ (Parent comment)

Casaeldona Park, Belfast, BT6 9RD Tel: 028 90401101 www.leadhillps.com