TN Uncovered December 2015 Issue

DECEMBER 2015 - ISSUE 40 Delivered to 23,000 homes & businesses in the TN19, TN20, TN21 & TN22 postcodes

See page 7 for more details of this years Christmas events at

WWW.TNUNCOVERED.CO.UK

The London Temple

Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year to all of our customers at The Foresters Arms, Fairwarp We look forward to spending Christmas with you.

01825 712 808

The Brickmakers Arms, Ridgewood, Uckfield

01825 769 335

°Prices & offers apply to retail sales of qualifying models ordered & delivered 01/07-30/09/15 & include VAT, delivery to dealer & number plates, Government Registration Fee & 12 months’ graduated vehicle excise duty. Black/metallic/pearlescent paint optional at extra cost. Elect 4 Personal Lease rentals shown apply to C1 VTi 68 manual 3-door Touch - C1 Airscape VTi 68 ETG 5-door Flair, C3 PureTech 68 manual VT - C3 BlueHDi 100 S&S manual Exclusive & New C4 Cactus PureTech 82 manual Feel - New C4 Cactus BlueHDi 100 manual Flair respectively. Models shown Citroën C1 Airscape Flair VTi 68 S&S manual 5-door incl. Sunrise Red fabric roof and Gallium Grey metallic paint from £149 per month. One signi cant advance rental will be required, which varies by model, followed by 34 monthly rentals at the rates shown & a signi cant optional nal rental. Excess mileage charges may apply if the agreed annual mileage is exceeded. Payment of the optional nal rental extends the rental term (this does not transfer title of the vehicle) & requires an annual rental equivalent to one months’ rental. Finance subject to status. Finance provided by and written quotations available on request from PSA Finance UK Limited (company registration number 01024322) t/a Citroën Financial Services, Quadrant House, Princess Way, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 1QA, UK. Citroën Financial Services is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Over 18s only. A guarantee may be required. Jarretts Motors Ltd is acting as a credit broker and is not a lender. To nance your purchase/lease we may introduce you to a limited number of lenders.

Offers & special cation correct at time of going to press from participating Dealers. Terms & conditions apply. Please ask us for details. Subject to stock availability.

Official Government fuel consumption gures (Range): Urban cycle, Extra urban, Combined (litres per 100km/mpg) & CO2 emissions (g/km); Highest: New Citroën C4 Cactus PureTech 110 S&S manual 5.8/48.7, 4.0/70.6, 4.7/60.1, 107. Lowest: Citroën C3BlueHDi 100 manual 3.8/74.3, 3.2/88.3, 3.4/83.1, 87. MPG gures are achieved under of cial EU test conditions, intended as a guide for comparative purposes only, and may not re ect actual on-the-road driving conditions.

EXPERT SERVICE WITHOUT THE PRICE TAG ANY MAKE OR MODEL

FIXED PRICE SERVICE & MOT

£149 only available on vehicles aged 3 years and older

01825 829310

WILMOTHS UCKFIELD

84-90 HIGH STREET, UCKFIELD, EAST SUSSEX TN22 5AD

Welcome to our December issue And so another year draws almost to a close, but before it does we’ve got the wonderful festive season to prepare for!

Shopping to do, places to go, people to meet – we do hope you’ll have time to put your feet up with a cuppa (and perhaps a sneaky mince pie!) for a good read through our pages this month!

We’ve covered as many of the Christmas community events that we could find, or have been told about.

COMMUNITY 5

Community News

14 Community Groups 15 Whats On MOTORING 16 Taxing changes FOOD AND DRINK 18 Ginger Christmas Puddings HEALTH 20 Living Independently for longer HOMES 22 A Christmas Wreath

We hope this year has been good to you, all that remains is to thank you all for your continued support and to wish you the compliments of the season and a very happy New Year!

We’ll be back in January to kick off 2016!

PUBLISHED BY Mantra Magazines Ltd CONTACT Unit 32, Rowfant Business Centre Wallage Lane, Rowfant, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 4NQ WEBSITE www.rhuncovered.co.uk

4

/TNUncovered

ADVERTISING SALES Nikki Relffe-Arnold nikki@mantramagazines.co.uk Heather Porter, Paula Wadey, Nadine Lindsay,

info@mantramagazines.co.uk RH10 Uncovered RH19,18,7 Uncovered RH6 Uncovered RH16,17 Uncovered TN Uncovered RH2 Uncovered

GARDENS 26 Time to get Fruity CHILDREN AND EDUCATION 28 4 Tips for keeping your child safe online

ART & PRODUCTION

David Arnold, Christine Seymour production@mantramagazines.co.uk

COMMUNITY PROJECTS MANAGER Emma Stevenson, emma@mantramagazines.co.uk COMMUNITY EDITORIAL Shelley Baker, shelley@mantramagazines.co.uk ACCOUNTS

Mandy Notridge credit@mantramagazines.co.uk

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Matthew Arnold

01342 718348

W

Season’s Givings

ith Christmas now just a few weeks away, we can get caught up in the festive chaos of Christmas gift buying, food shopping and seasonal parties and forget about supporting local organisations, charities and those in need.

This year, why not take five minutes and make someone else’s Christmas, it’s easier than you think!

Buy Charity Christmas Cards From national charities such as Oxfam, Make a Wish and Help for Heroes to our local charities including St Peter and St James’ Hospice, Demelza Hospice Care and Kit Wilson Trust, many have Christmas cards for sale in stores and online.

A percentage of each sale goes directly to your chosen charity to continue their vital work, making this a very easy way to show your support, whilst also purchasing something to share the festive spirit with your nearest and dearest.

Give Unwanted Food to Foodbanks While most of us may be thinking about feasting on luxurious festive treats, the sad reality is that there will be people, within our community, facing a Christmas without food. Our local foodbanks are always in need of tinned food items and long-life items to support those living below the poverty line. Last year, foodbanks fed over 900,000 people throughout the UK – with 330,000 of these being children. Our nearest foodbanks are Uckfield Foodbank (The Kings Centre, Grange Road, Uckfield, phone number: 01825 745489) and Crowborough Foodbank (United Church, Croft Road, Crowborough, phone number: 07936515798)

Charity Christmas card pop-up-shops, Cards for Good Causes will also be selling an array of cards, locally too, now in 170 High Street, Uckfield.

Donate your time Time is something we all have to give – it costs us absolutely nothing, but can make a huge difference to our communities. Whether you’re able to volunteer at a fundraising festive fayre, or can help out at a homeless shelter, or can visit an elderly neighbour, who may be spending Christmas alone; all of these small acts, could really make someone’s Christmas extra special. It may just take a little bit of time planning!

Have a Pre-Christmas Clear Out Haven’t worn that coat in over a year?

The kids outgrown clothes or toys?

Then, why not donate them to someone who would appreciate them? Homeless shelters and charities are always in need of warm clothing and kind donations, especially at Christmas.

Tis the season for giving, after all…

Present-buying from Charity Shops Whether you need to buy a work colleague a Secret Santa present or are on the hunt for stocking fillers; don’t dismiss our local charity shops! Many have an array of handmade and brand new (especially created for Christmas) products to buy, including diaries, calendars and purses! Not only would you be buying a lovely gift, but also benefitting a charity too.

@TNUNCOVERED

www.T NUNCOVERED.co.uk

5

Late Night Shopping R

unning for more than twenty years, Uckfield’s Late Night Shopping event will be back, taking over the High Street from 5:30pm on Friday 4th December AND for the first time ever, Saturday 5th December too!

The annual event, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, is not only the perfect place to finish (or start!) festive gift buying, but also experience a true sense of the community at Christmas, with so many local groups and organisations getting involved.

“This year we will have a varied programme, including the Uckfield FM stage, in the High Street, with local schools performing on the Friday evening and local groups and societies performing during the day on the Saturday,” Mark Arno from the Chamber of Commerce, said.

“Uckfield Lions will have their Santa sleigh in Olives Yard, we’ll also have street entertainers, the Fire Brigade, the Kings Church, the Baptist Church and a farmers market.”

“They’ll also be competitions in the shops for children and adults to win a great selection of

prizes, a hog roast on both days, a London taxi photo booth, fancy dress characters in the High Street, charity haircuts and of course, most of the shops in what is probably the most vibrant High Street in Wealden will be open!” Mark continues.

“We are also delighted that the beautiful Christmas Tree Festival will be on at Holy Cross during the same weekend and would urge anyone attending our event to make the time to visit Holy Cross Church.”

Get the date in your diary for stress-free, fun Christmas shopping!

Christmas Tree Festival

Join Uckfield’s Church of the Holy Cross’ Festival of Christmas Tree Festival between 4th – 6th December.

This is the church’s eighth Christmas Tree Festival (which sees sponsored trees, decorated by local residents, businesses and organisations, on show, for all to see!) and last year even saw five thousand people visit!

A service at 4:30pm on Sunday 6th December will close the Festival in Christmassy style!

Our Villages Get Festive!

I

t’s not just Uckfield town centre that will be getting festive with Christmas events, as both Burwash and Mayfield will both be holding shopping events this month too!

Burwash’s Festive Evening, will take place on Wednesday 2nd December 2015, from 4:30pm till 8pm at The Bear Inn and will see Father Christmas in his grotto, reindeer and local arts, crafts and food stalls, get guests feeling festive.

6

/TNUNCOVERED

While in Mayfield, there will also be a Late Night Shopping event on Friday 4th December.

Where, along with carols, music and the traditional welcome of shopkeepers for their customers, the village’s Christmas lights will be turned on (funded by community events, such as the Mayfair and Mayfield Family Disco).

01342 718348

Christmas Events at the London Temple * 6 December 7 December 11 December 12 December 13 December 14 December 20 December 21 December

6:00pm 6:00pm 7:30pm 2:00pm & 6:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 6:00pm 7:30pm

Nabrotzky Family Christmas Singers First Presidency Christmas Devotional David Bridgstock Family Christmas Celebration “Here we Come a Caroling”

by Enchanting – A Capella Group Manna Road Gospel Choir The Spirit of Christmas – Readings and Music “A Christmas Evening with Savannah Stevenson” A Christmas Cantata – Original Composition by Carlene Hughes

*In addition to the events listed, we will show Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas DVD’s Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. Please call the Centre for scheduled titles.

Find us on the web at: www.lds.org/PlacesToVisit Follow the London Temple Visitors’ Centre on Facebook

Santa’s Sleigh Arrives Early in Uckfield F

or children and big kids alike, Christmas will come early with Santa and his trusty sleigh, popping up in Uckfield and our surrounding villages, in preparation for the big day.

Over the next few weeks, Father Christmas, will be visiting streets in Uckfield, Buxted, Maresfield, Framfield and many more villages, during most evenings – thanks to the town’s Lions group, who organises the feel good festivities.

From 2nd December, right up until 23rd, Santa and his very special sleigh helpers will be out in force, spreading Christmas spirit and raising money for good causes.

Last year, the Santa Sleigh fundraiser raised an astonishing £4,600, alone, which helped to replace the Lions’ community minibus.

This year, the hardworking community focused group are hoping to raise even more money, through kind donations, to support local charities, organisations and deserving residents.

“The Lions Santa Sleigh, playing festive music will be touring most areas of Uckfield and the surrounding villages during December,” Graham Russell, from Uckfield and Distrit Lions, says. “Children can come out to talk to Santa and every child who does so will receive a present!”

“On Late Night Shopping (4th December), Santa will be on his sleigh in Olives Yard, just off Uckfield High Street, from 5.30 to about 9.30pm. Children can visit Santa up on his sleigh, tell him what they would like for Christmas and receive a gift.”

The Lions have worked hard, year, upon year to ensure that this family favourite event goes ahead – albeit if certain routes are subject to winter weather conditions.

So, what do they enjoy most about braving the elements?

“Getting cold and wet!” Graham laughs.

“It is great to see the children so excited to speak to Santa. The list of toys requested becomes more precise and technical each year. Some children tell Santa that he can get it online from Argos!

Santa is already reading all the catalogues to ensure that he knows all the model numbers, computer information and mail order companies!”

Want to see Santa?

Here’s where he’ll be visiting over the next few weeks: Wednesday 2nd - 6pm Church Coombe

Thursday 3rd – 6pm New Barn Lane, 7pm Pipers Field Friday 4th – 5.30pm Late Night Shopping, Olives Yard Sunday 6th – 5pm Rocks Park Monday 7th - 6pm Buxted - Gordon Road, Britts Farm, Littlewood Lane Tuesday 8th –

6pm Newick- Oldaker Road, Newick Drive, Allington

Thursday 10th – 6pm Harcourt, Vernon, Selby Road, 7.00pm Keld Drive/Ave, Alexandra Road Sunday 13th – 4.45pm Castle Rise, Fernley Park, Wares and New Roads Tuesday 15th – 6pm Five Ash Down – Ashdown Place, 7pm Maresfield – Parklands, The Paddock Wednesday 16th- 6pm Olives Meadow, Hempstead Gardens Linden Chase, 7pm Knights Meadow, Roman Way Thursday 17th – 6pm West Park, 7.15pm Hunters Way Sunday 20th - 5pm Harlands Farm Monday 21st – 6pm Forge Rise, Bridge Farm Road, 7.15pm Framfield – Beckets Way Tuesday 22nd - 6pm Manor Park South Wednesday 23rd- 6pm Manor Park North

Shelley’s Roundup ’ve really loved chatting to so many inspiring residents over the last year, who are going out of their way to make our communities better places.

I

So many of you have also been in touch to tell me about your Community Heroes or just to let me know how much you enjoy reading these articles, especially. From fabulous fundraisers to those that just go the extra mile and bring a smile to so many faces; 2015 really has been a great year for our community and I’m already looking forward to meeting and hearing all about more great local residents in 2016. If you would like to nominate a well-deserving community member, just drop me a line:

10

/TNUNCOVERED

Shelley@mantramagazines.co.uk or write to: Community Hero Nominations, Mantra Magazines, Unit 32 Rowfant Business Centre, Rowfant, West Sussex. RH10 4NQ. I’d love to hear from you!

01342 718348

Local Pilot Launches Children’s Books:

Meet Pilot Ollie and Pilot Polly!

F

or many of us (especially in our younger years), the idea of being a pilot is very exciting indeed – can you imagine flying a plane and jetting off on a far flung adventure?

The Pilot Ollie and Pilot Polly series, are all based on the illustrated character’s “amazing adventures” around the world and aim to not only educate, but also inspire children to travel.

One local pilot, Rob Johnson, who grew up in Crawley Down and now lives in Piltdown, Uckfield, has just self-published his very own children’s books; all inspired by the questions his own children have asked him, about his trips.

“My aim with the books is to take the children on a journey, share the experiences I have been lucky enough to have had, inspire them to fly and travel and subtly educate them about pilots, weather, flags, foods and famous places,” Rob, who is also a governor at Fletching Primary School, where his two children are pupils, says.

“The book idea is based on the stories I used to tell my two children when I came back from a trip,” the British Airways Airbus A320 Captain, explained. “They always wanted to know where I’d been, what I’d seen and what I’d had for dinner. I wrote a few of the stories down but never thought of publishing them.”

“One evening over a glass of wine or two, I was talking to my neighbour about the stories.

He loved the idea and persuaded me to publish them. The conventional route of using agents and publishing houses was too expensive so we decided to self-publish. We started the company Plane Characters Limited and the rest is history.”

12

/TNUNCOVERED

“Having done numerous school visits I love watching their faces light up when I talk with them about flying and travel.”

The beautifully illustrated books are focused on those aged eight years and below, with hidden objects to find and use of high frequency words that reception through to year two children will be able to read and that those in year three and year four, will be able to read, unaided.

Rob currently has three books; Pilot Ollie and Pilot Polly Come Fly With Us, Pilot Polly’s Amazing Adventures Madrid and Pilot Ollie’s Amazing Adventures Rome, all on sale on Amazon,

01342 718348

as well as in Uckfield’s Sussex Stationers, The Bookshop in East Grinstead and The Mint House Shop in Hurstpierpoint.

He has just finished Pilot Polly’s Amazing Adventures New York too, with plenty more stories in the pipeline. The company are also creating personalised story books incorporating your choice of child’s name into the story – a great Christmas gift idea!

Of course, one question we just had to pose to the experienced pilot was: which does he find scarier; flying a plane or hearing no holds barred feedback from young readers?

Guess which one he opted for?

“This Friday I am doing a talk in a school,” Rob told us, when we spoke to him back in October.

“Over a couple of hours I will have an audience of 240 kids. This scares me way more than anything to do with flying. In fact there is nothing about flying that scares me. I even enjoy a bit of turbulence!”

To find out more about Pilot Ollie and Pilot Polly and for free colouring in downloads, visit: www.planecharacters.com.

@TNUNCOVERED

www.T NUNCOVERED.co.uk

13

COMMUNITY MONDAY Mayfield Bridge Club - meets in the afternoon in Mayfield Scout Hut. For further information contact Bob Ely 01892 852659 Uckfield Community Choir - Every Monday at 7.30pm in the Belmont Centre next door to the Holy Cross Church. Open to over 16s and all abilities welcome For more information please go to our website www.uckfieldsingers.co.uk Extend Exercise Classes (gentle movement to music) at the State Hall, Station Rd, Heathfield, courtesy of the Kings Church, between 11.15am and 12.00 noon each week.

These classes are run by Alison Salters, a qualified instructor (01825 766 293).

The cost is £4 per person & inc. refreshments.

Heathfield Hard of Hearing Group - Why not go along to meet others with hearing difficulties in an easy-to-communicate atmosphere? The group meets at the Red Cross Hall in Streatfield Road between 2.00pm and 3.30pm on the second Monday in the month.

Different speakers are there each month to talk on a variety of subjects and equipment of help to hard-of-hearing people is demonstrated. You will learn how to communicate with deaf and hardof-hearing people so your friends and family might want to come too. For further information, ring the East Sussex Hearing Resource Centre on 01323 722505.

Heathfield Small Business Network - established to help small non-high street based companies and the self employed in Heathfield establish working links meet at the Blackboys Inn on the Lewses Rd in Blackboys from 12.00- 1.45 on the first Monday of the month, Call Barbara Hibbart on 01435 865135 or barbara@barbarahibbartcoaching.co.uk Community Coffee Morning - For those who enjoy meeting others from the community.

Share memories, jigsaws, top tips etc over a hot drink & cake. £2 donation. The Grove, Blackboys.

Burwash Short Mat Bowls Club - 6.30pm Monday evenings in Burwash Village Hall .

Come and give it a try, new members welcome. Call Joan Howard on 01435 882434 or Stephen Trew on 01435 866252 WI FOURWAYS - Meet 1st Monday each month (except Bank Hols)7.30 pm Luxford Centre, UckfieldContact: 01825 370324 - Secretary Heathfield & District Horticultural society - We meet on the third Monday of the month at 7.30pm at St Richard's Church Hall, Park Road, Heathfield. We have various speakers throughout the year plus our Annual Shows in the Spring and Summer. New members welcome. Phone 01435 830725 for details. www.heathfieldhorticultural.org.uk Burwash Monday Painters - Meet on Mondays at 1pm to share our love of painting.

We do not have classes but paint subjects devised by the members. We are a very friendly group and welcome anyone who would like to join us. Contact Grace 01435 860848 or Anne 01435 883247. Our website is burwash-monday-painters.com British Sugarcraft Guild , Tunbridge Wells Branch - Meets every 3rd Monday (except Aug and Dec) at 7.45pm @ St James Infant School, Sandrock Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 3PR. Demonstrations or workshops at most meetings, visitors always welcome £5 entry fee.

Programme on www.region8bsg.co.uk/diary pages. Secretary Janet Creek 01825 723010 Badminton Club - play at Uckfield Leisure Centre from 8.30pm to 10.30pm weekly.

No teaching facilities. For details contact Maureen 01825 765091 or Lynn 01435 865920 Ladies Who Lunch - Ladies Who Lunch' meet monthly in Uckfield from 12.30 pm.

Very friendly club with lunch and an after dinner speaker. Maureen 01825 765091.

Luxford Ladies - Meet in the Luxford Centre at 7.30 pm on the 3rd Monday of every month.

Please contactYvonne Linthwaite on 01825 767167 for more details.

Colemans Hatch Bowling Club - As the new season starts,you are warmly invited to join our friendly outdoor lawn bowling club in the picturesque Ashdown Forest. Learn to play bowls and make new friends. Whatever your age, whether you are new to the game or have played before, come along for a free taster session on Monday afternoons at 2.30pm.

Please contact the club secretary for more details and to arrange your first visit.

Email carolbeamond@hotmail.com or telephone 01342 823674.

Sussex Family History Group - Meetings held 2nd Monday of each month at Luxford Day Centre, Library Way, Uckfield. Refreshements available. 7.15 for 7.30pm start. See you there.

TUESDAY Uckfield Art Group - “Painting for Pleasure” We meet every Tuesday evening 7 - 9pm at the Luxford Centre, Library Way, Uckfield Heathfield Market - A regular weekly Market on Tuesdays / Saturdays throughout the year. Tuesdays there is a General Auction at 1100 view from 0830. Free car Park provided near by for Tuesdays. Heathfield Market, Burwash Road, Heathfield. TN21 8RA Day Care - The Holdenhurst Centre in Mill Road, Heathfield is open for Day Care between 10.00am and 3.30pm under the supervision of Age UK East Sussex. Door to door transport can be arranged by Age Concern Heathfield.

For details, ring Mary Parker of Age UK East Sussex on 01273 476 704.

Framfield Duplicate Bridge Club - meet every Tuesday morning Framfield Church Hall - 9.15 to 12.30 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Learn a Craft - or practise with friends: knitting, crochet, decoupage, quilting etc., at Richard's Church Hall, Park Road, Heathfield, 1.30 to 3.30pm. Every other Tuesday. Call Loraine - 01435 865789.

Senior Citizens Lunch - at the Union Church Hall, Station Road, Heathfield, commencing at 12.30 pm, £3.50 for 2 courses, tea or coffee. You will get a birthday card and flowers on your birthday, and there's always lots of "friendly chat". There are new volunteers who are keen to cook for and serve more people. Please call Jean Plummer on 01435 883 483.

Minibus transport from and to your door is only available EVERY OTHER Tuesday Please ring Clarrie Pont on 01435 813 284 to check.

Heathfield Folk Dance Group - Tuesday 7.30pm - 10.00pm, St Richard's Church Hall Park Road, Heathfield - £2.00 per session (includes tea/coffee) no partner is needed For more info: 01435 873551 Luncheon Club, Union Church, High Street, Heathfield - Join every fortnight for a 2 course meal with tea and coffee £3.50 - Call Jean Plummer on 01435 883483 Buxted Park (Duplicate) Bridge Club - Meets weekly at the Sports Pavilion - 2.00-5.15 pm. £2 per session. Please call 01444 482114 if you’d like to come along.

Short Mat Bowls - Nutley - Every Tuesday afternoon between 2 and 4pm there is a small, friendly group of 55+ who enjoy a socialable afternoon playing SHORT MAT BOWLS in the Memorial Hall, Nutley.

Liz 01825 714609.

Heathfield Olde Tyme & Modern Sequence Dance Club Every Tuesday evening at Christchurch Hall, Horam from 7.30pm to 10.00pm. £3 per session inc. refreshments and a raffle ticket. Further details from Mrs.D French - 01435 864827 or Mrs.P Wakehurst - 01435 863151 PJ's Dance Club. Rock & Roll and Swing Jive. Tuesdays 8pm -10pm £5 per session including tea/coffee and cake. No partner required Nutley War Memorial Hall Nutley Contact Peter 07770 348354 Uckfield Art Group - If you fancy yourself as a budding artist you would be very welcome to join the friendly members of Uckfield Art Group on a Tuesday evening. They meet at the Luxford Centre between 7pm and 9pm with a refreshment break half way through. For more information on becoming a member ring Annie on 01825 765021 or look on the website www.uckfieldartgroup.co.uk Royal British Legion - Uckfield Branch - meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 7.00pm in the Uckfield Club, Bell Lane, Uckfield. Contact Norman Mayers:01825 765878.

Bellringing - at Holy Cross Church in Uckfield. Weekly from 7.30 pm. Learners and previous ringers welcome. Contact Chris 01825 765091 Sussex Oakleaf - A weekly drop in 10am - 12pm every Tuesday at Heathfield fire station for people that are experiencing mental health issues. Call Matthew 01323 849524 WEDNESDAY Broad Oak Table Tennis Club - Held in Broad Oak Village Hall. Wednesday 7.30pm, September - May Contact: 01435 862275 Cross In Hand WI - meet in Cross in Hand Village Hall every 4th Wednesday of the month, 2.00 - 4.00 pm. Contact: Pat on 01435 862161 Heathfield Drama Club - The Club meets on Wednesdays (7.00pm - 8.30pm) at the Community Centre, Sheepsetting Lane, Heathfield. Mrs Mary Pearson on 07885 563073 Website: www.tunbridgewellsdramaclub.co.uk Uckfield Writers - meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays each month at 7.30pm in the Luxford Centre, Library Way, Uckfield. Call Jane on 01825 760236.

A Country Lunch - is now offered every other Wednesday at Punnetts Town Village Hall replacing the Friday Lunch in Heathfield at the cricket club. The minibus can still pick you up to get you there for a 12.00pm start and take you home at 2.30pm. To book please contact Mrs. A Kenward on 01435 862618.

Rest Christian Centre - Volunteers from the Rest Christian Centre in Punnetts Town welcome visitors to a cooked lunch, every third Wednesday of the month - £4 for 2 courses including tea or coffee. For the lunch please call Barbara Lovett 01435 882241. A minibus may be provided if sufficient people are interested.

Performing Arts Classes - Award-winning not for profit company, Intrepid Theatre, offer high quality performing arts classes for 4-7s & 7-11s at Broad Oak Village Hall, Broad Oak on Wednesdays 5.15pm - 6.45pm. For details and to try out please contact, Allie West on 01273 476 226 or 07934 362 312 or email office@intrepidinspires.co.uk The Uckfield and District Lions Club- meet at The Alma Arms, Framfield Road, Uckfield on the second Wednesday of each month, 7.30 for 8pm, and the contact is Bob Eaves on 01825 764638 Lunch & Chat - at Oaklands Court, Horam - Every first Wednesday of the month from 12pm. £5 for a 3 course meal. To book please telephone 01435 813030 or email admin@chanctonbury-care.com ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Cross in Hand Duplicate Bridge Club - meet every Wednesday at Punnetts Town Village Hall at 6.45pm Isfield Dancing Club - We meet every other Wednesday at Isfield Village Hall 8.00 till 10pm where we do Sequence and Ball room dancing, we have been going for over 40 years and are a small friendly club so If you would like to join us, please Contact Ron: 01825 750404 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

14

/TNUNCOVERED

01342 718348

COMMUNITY Uckfield Community Orchestra - We’re a group of enthusiastic amateur musicians, who meet once a week. We’re open to anyone aged eight and over. We play a wide range of ‘real’ orchestral music, arranged for players up to Grade 4/5 standard. We aim to give a couple of concerts a year within Uckfield. We rehearse on Wednesdays (term-time only) from 6.108.00 pm at the Foresters Hall, Harcourt Road, Uckfield TN22 5DT. Call Linda on 01825 761124 or email info@uckfield-community-orchestra.co.uk Holy Cross Priory Chicago Bridge club - every Wednesday at 2pm. Tea and cake provided.

Call Eithne Hodgens 01435 867430. Holy Cross Priory is situated on the B2102 at Cross in Hand between Beacon Down and Blackboys.

The Uckfield & District Preservation Society (UDPS).

Which opens a 16c Windmill to the Public. Nutley Windmill, Crowborough Road, Nutley 11.00 – 3.00pm, admission is free but donations welcome, parking is at Friends Clump, with a pleasant ten minute walk from rear down Forest To the Mill. 01435 873367 Marie Curie Fundraising Group in Uckfield - our group meet on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at The Highlands Inn, Ridgewood @ 7.30pm; all welcome.

Friends of Nutley Windmill - Wednesdays 11.00 – 3.00pm. Nutley Windmill, Crowborough Road Nutley, admission is free but donations welcome, parking at Friends Clump, with a pleasant ten minute walk from rear down Forest to the mill 01435 873367.

TN22 Club - alternate weeks in Hadlow Down, 11 - 2. Friendly club with opportunity to meet new people, freshly cooked 2-course lunch, entertainment, activities - £6. Plus monthly film afternoon, summer outings on separate days. Volunteer transport can be arranged. Contact Suzanne on 07864 533884.

THURSDAY Free CV Review - Bring your CV to the Uckfield Volunteer Centre. Any Thursday from 1pm to 4pm for a free review, 79 High Street, Uckfield, TN22 1AS Uckfield Amateur Photographic Society - we meet on first and third Thursdays of month at the United Reformed Church Hall, New Town, Uckfield. TN22 5AE. 7.45pm for 8pm start. New members of any standard always welcome.

The Wine Circle - Meet the third Thursday of every month 7.45pm -10.30pm at Luxford Day Centre, Library Way, Uckfield, TN22 1AR For information - Mrs. I. Wright, 01825 508323 Tots and Toys - Term time, 10.00-11.45am & 1.00-2.45pm. For fun, crafts, stories & songs. £1.00 for a drink & healthy snack. Kings Church, Station Rd, Heathfield Horam & Heathfield Flower Club - Meets on the 2nd Thursday of the month at the Community Centre, Sheepsetting Lane, Heathfield at 7.30pm - 01435 864633 Horam WI - We meet on the first Thursday every month at the Christchurch Centre, Horebeech Lane, Horam , 2pm to 4pm. Contact Kim on 01435 813942 Heathfield and District History Society - meet on the 3rd Thursday of every month at the Heathfield Community Centre, Sheepsetting Lane, in the Ian Price Room, 7.15 for 7.30.

For details of talks ring Brian Hall on 01435 830725 Royal British Legion - Buxted Branch - meet on the first Thursday of each month at 8.00pm in the Buxted Cricket Pavilion. Contact Richard Stanton: 01825 731899 Waldron Country Market - Held every 2nd Thursday of the month at Holy Cross Priory, Cross in Hand, between 11amand 1pm.

The Priory is situated on the B2102 at Cross in Hand between Beacon Down and Blackboys.

All produce is homemade and includes, jams, marmalade, chutney, knitted goods, cards, crafts, vegetables and much more. There is easy parking and coffee and refreshments available. Contact Roy Wilkinson on 01435 8l293l.

Rushlake Green WI - We meet on the fourth Thursday of each month in the Dunn Village Hall, Rushlake Green from 7.30 - 9.45pm. New members very welcome.

Secretary: Sharon Coleman Tel: 01435 812388 Uckfield Scrabble Club - A friendly, social Scrabble club, meets every third Thursday at 7.30pm at the Luxford Centre, Uckfield. New members of any ability always welcome.

Contact Ann on 01825 712052.

The Phoenix Club Uckfield - for ladies meet in the Civic Centre every 4th Thursday in the month from 2 to 4 p.m. We have speakers, outings, lunches & holidays. Very friendly.

Annual subscription £15. Please ring for further information on 01825 749 796.

FRIDAY Community Coffee Morning - every Friday10.30am-12.30pm at Punnetts Town Village Hall.

For coffee, cakes, plants, books and lots of friendly facesPunnetts Town Village Hall, Battle Road, Punnetts Town. For more information: Punnetts Town Village Hall Committee Maggie Lambert-Gorwyn - Telephone number: 01435 830645 Go Getters Woman's Club- Uckfield - Meetings held in Luxford Centre, Library Way. Every Friday evening from 7.45-10pm. We have speakers, outings, theatre trips, etc.

Cost £2.50 per evening which includes tea and biscuits. Contact Shirley 01825 763117.

Art and Craft Coffee Mornings - Kings Church, Station Rd, Heathfield 10am 12 noon.

Enjoy art, knitting, quilting, etc. or just a chat with friends. For info contact 01435 863786.

Welcome Art Group - every Friday 10am-noon at Welcome Baptist Church, Heathfield.

Contact Lee Smith 01435 862 110 to discuss details about this friendly, informal group. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Uckfield Pub Group 40+ - A friendly group for the over 40’s meets monthly on a Friday evening at various Uckfield Pubs. There is a voluntary £1 charge to cover admin. For more details see www.meetup.com/Uckfield-pub-group-40 or call Bren on 07799 664696 SATURDAY Heathfield Market - A regular weekly Market on Saturdays weekly.

See details inthe Tuesday listing.

Buxted Symphony Orchestra - Meets Sat. 9.30-11.30 at St. Mary's Church hall, Buxted. www.buxtedsymphonyorchestra.org.uk - or Frances @peri.co.uk phone 01797 525263 SUNDAY Broad Oak Short Mat Bowls Club - Meet at Broad Oak Village Hall - Sunday 1.45pm 4.15pm. A friendly club which plays in a local league. Contact: Mrs Voinquel 01435 866383 Kings Church - Heathfield - We meet every Sunday morning @ State Hall, Station Rd, Heathfield. 10.30am to 12 noon. Contact: 01435863786, office@kcheathfield.org.uk, www.kcheathfield.org.uk Kings Church - Uckfield - meet every Sunday at 10am in Uckfield Civic Centre.

Children’s groups from 0-16 years. www.kingschurchuckfield.org.uk St Thomas à Becket, Framfield - Please join us on any or every Sunday for our 10 o'clock service, a really warm welcome awaits you. See our website for all services www.framfieldchurch.org.uk ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

WHAT’S ON

                                

02nd December 2015, Wednesday, 10am-3 pm, Friends of Sussex Hospices Christmas Gift Fair At Norfolk Pavilion, South of England Show Ground, Ardingly, RH17 6TL. Cosy café, Ample parking, Two floors of stalls. Entry £4. For more information contact Kate Minch on 01825 722144. www.friendsofsussexhospices.org.uk                                         

03rd December 2015, Thursday, 12pm, Wadhurst & District Flower Club Lunch and Demonstration at the Wadhurst Commemoration Hall.

Demonstration Entitled "Christmas Cheer" by Catherine Gledhill.

Doors open at 12 noon. Lunch and demo £17 for members and visitors £22.

ENTRANCE BY PRIOR BOOKING ONLY. For more details contact 01580 201443                                  

05th & 6th December 2015, Sat. 10am-5pm & Sun. 10am-8pm Ashdown Arts' Winter Art Exhibition - The Small Village Hall, The Square, Forest Row. Affordable Artwork, Crafts and Mulled Wine.                                        

06th December 2015, Sunday, 10am-3pm - Indoor Food & Craft Market At the Boship (Lions) Hotel, Nr. Hellingly. BN27 4AT. Christmas shopping made easy! Free parking. Free entry. Easy access. Indoor Market offering wide range of local produce & unique handmade items - great Christmas gifts!

Helping raise funds for local charities. Contact: thecraftyno.3@gmail.com                                 

6th December 2015, Sunday, 2pm - Warbleton Brass Band Christimas Concert At The Dunn Village Hall, Rushlake Green. Raffle and Refreshments. FREE ENTRY (retiring collection). Come along and listen to a wide variety of music including some of yourfavourite festive tunes and carols. www.warbletonbrassband.org"                                        

12th December 2015, Saturday, 11am-4pm - Mansion Market At Kidbrooke Park, Priory Rd, Forest Row. An exciting and unusual Christmas market held in an atmospheric 18th century mansion where you can solve all your gift problems. Clothing for all, toys, locally produced organic fruit, vegetables ,bakery, chocolates and cakes, interesting crafts from many parts of the world, hand-made dolls and so much more. Delicious food served all day in the café, puppet shows and taster therapy sessions. Free admission and parking                                    

12th December 2015, Saturday, 7.30pm Buxted Orchestra joint concert with the Heathfield Choral Society At the State Hall, Station Road, Heathfield. Works to include Fantasia on Christmas Carols by Vaughan Williams Masques et Bergamasques by Faure Horn Concerto No 3 byMozart, soloist Sarah Johnson, choruses from the Messiah and audience carols.Tickets £12 in advance £15 at the door on the evening.                                        

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

@TNUNCOVERED

www.T NUNCOVERED.co.uk

15

Taxing Changes I

t’s been over a year now since the way that we tax our cars was changed, yet it seems many people are still struggling to get to grips with the new system.

For 93 years, us motorists were quite happy to hand over our money at the post office (perhaps happy is not the right word) and in exchange be given a little round circle of paper with some numbers on it letting us know that our car was now taxed for another six months, maybe even a year if we were feeling flush. It even came with added challenges for no extra cost.

The first was to see if you could remove the circle from the rectangular piece of paper in one go, or without accidentally ripping it. The second would be to get it in to the tax disc holder in front of the other tax discs. Failing that, getting the tax disc holder to stick back on the windscreen for more than two days at a time.

Not only did the DVLA rob us of these little challenges, they also stole a tried and tested system of reminding us to tax our cars. A quick glance in the corner of the windscreen would quickly settle any doubts as to whether or not the car will need taxing at the end of the month.

If it did, often a quick check to see if the MOT was still in date would also follow. Assuming all was in order, a trip to the post office would ensue and everything would be hunky-dory for another six months at least.

However, since the tax disc has been abolished, a growing number of motorists are having their cars clamped or towed because of confusion over the system that has now been in place for over a year.

Statistics show that the number of vehicles being clamped or impounded has rocketed from around 5,500 a month under the good old paper-circle-in-the-screen system, to more than 8,000 a month now.

With July seeing over 10,500. A big part of the confusion has been put down to the procedure that now exists when a car is sold.

No longer can you sell a car as ‘taxed and tested’, instead the tax now has to be cancelled when you sell the vehicle and re-taxed by the new keeper. So if you sell a car in the middle of the month, you’ll still be charged the tax until the end of the month. The new keeper also has to tax the car from the beginning of the month in which you sold the car. You can do the math as to who is doing best out of that little arrangement.

Of course the DVLA urges people to check the status of their tax and MOT online, which is as simple as typing in your registration number and vehicle’s make. The link, should you want to check your own vehicle is https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax.

The knock on effect that MOT testing stations are seeing is that some motorists are speeding past their MOT due-date and not realising it. We’ve seen cars that are five months out of date purely because the owner is used to getting the MOT done at around the same time as they taxed the car. Fortunately many garages offer a free MOT-reminder service that will send you a reminder to your phone around a month before it’s due. VOSA will also do this, but charge you for the pleasure. As far as taxing the vehicle is concerned, perhaps a note on a calendar or a well-placed sticker in the car will help you avoid any nasty fines.

All of us at Morley Auto Services would like to wish the readers of RH Uncovered magazine a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

MOTORING

JUST MOTS THE INDEPENDANT MOT TEST CENTRE FOR PETROL, DIESEL & LIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLES FREE RETEST Mon-Fri 8.00am - 5.30pm Sat 8.00am - 12.30pm

01825 768 078 www.justmots.co.uk

@TNUNCOVERED

www.T NUNCOVERED.co.uk

17

s g n i d d u P s a m t s i r h Ginger C

uch stem ginger are m ith w d re ou av fl do and n’t i puds These fruity min itional rich Christmas pudding lighter than a tradweeks in advance. need to be made 30 minutes

in: 1 hours Makes: 6 - Ready

r greasing ned, plus extra fo 175g butter, softe our 175g self-raising fl er ½ tsp baking powd vado sugar 175g light musco mixed spice and ground ginger nd ou 1 tsp each gr 3 large eggs fruit 100g dried mixeds, chopped rie er ch ce 50g gla nely chopped 50g stem ginger, fir syrup ge gin tter, to serve 4 tbsp stem eam or brandy bu pudding Softly whipped cr 5. Butter six small /375F/Gas Mark e the bases with circles 0C 19 to en ov e and lin 1. Preheat th t 200ml capacity) basins (each abouent. d eggs in a large of baking parchm er, sugar, spices anr for 1-2 minutes wd po g kin ba r, ixe r, flou 2. Place the butte d beat together with an electric mit and two-thirds of mixing bowl an my. Fold in the dried mixed fru until pale and crea stem ginger. ing basins then the cherries and e prepared pudd king parchment th n ee tw be ly en ba ted ure ev 3. Divide the mixt with a circle of greased and pleaeated foil. cover each basin ing. Cover each basin with pl r to come and secure with str ough boiling wate tin and pour in en0 minutes, or until risen, g tin as ro a in s 4. Stand the basin sides of the basins. Bake for 45-5 dding comes out clean. halfway up the and a skewer inserted into a pu to serving plates. firm to the touch then turn out on rup and spoon es ut in m 10 r fo sy m ginger ings to stand 5. Leave the pudd ing cherries and ginger with the ste tter. bu ain dy m an re br e th or ix m M Serve with crea . gs in dd pu with 1-2 tbsp e th over stem ginger syrupserving. e th at he ly nt ge before flavour, Tip: For a boozy then pour over the hot puds just of rum or brandy

Have you liked our facebook page yet?

Like We post regular community updates throughout the month www.facebook.com/TNUncovered

18

/TNUNCOVERED

01342 718348

FOOD AND DRINK

Rose & Crown Mayfield Live Music in December

Saturday 5th - Sure Thing!

Saturday 12th - Danny Kyle & Pete Shaw Saturday 19th - Owen Donovan

Christmas Eve

Jamie Johnson

Acclaimed singer & BBC’s The Voice finalist, bringing you a host of soulful party music Sunday 27th - The Doves New Years Eve - The Mighty Emily Duo

01435 872200

www.roseandcrownmayfield.co.uk www.facebook.com/roseandcrownmayfieldmusic Rose & Crown, Fletching Street, Mayfield, East Sussex, TN20 6TE Photograph courtesy of Tommy Reynolds.

@TNUNCOVERED

www.T NUNCOVERED.co.uk

19

Living Independently for Longer H

ow many times have you taken your parents or grandparents to one of the local tea rooms? Do you know where any of them are? Tea rooms I mean.

We get caught up in the big issues in providing for our older relatives and sometimes forget that a simple cup of tea or getting out and about and feeling a part of the community will make them feel good.

What else is out there to help with a ‘get up and get out’ attitude?

Many charitable organisations such as Age UK or Age Concern have activities going on most days of the week. When I looked recently on the local Crawley Age Concern group’s website their activities included Cinema Club, Tai Chi, Painting, Yoga, Dance Fit (similar to Zumba Gold) and even a foodies group.

They even offer advice on finding help at home, finance, debt, housing needs, health advice and much more. Some even offer hairdressing facilities.

I was starting to wonder how old I had to be to join. I’m going grey does that count?

And it got me wondering what else is out there to help ease us into our later years and living independently for longer?

Domiciliary care (or caring at home) is a great resource. Often due to no fault of their own, our elderly relatives struggle with certain tasks around the home. Having that extra pair of hands allows them to keep their independence. Citizens Advice, Local GP’s and even the charities can put you in touch with these organisations.

20

/TNUNCOVERED

If your elderly friends or relatives cannot get out easily, check out the local mobility shops. They have equipment they can hire out and, like Age UK and Age Concern, are great resources of other information.

If after all that walking and socialising they need to put their feet up, look into mobile podiatrists or chiropodists. Just think how many miles those feet have walked over all those decades.

There are so many social groups, clubs and activities for those at retirement age. Many of my older friends tell me they’re busier than when they were working. I usually have to make an appointment with them to catch up.

As Mark Twain was quoted as saying: “Age is an issue of mind over matter.

If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter” Becky Wells, www.beckywells.com Personal Development Hypnotherapist www.payitforwarduk.net

01342 718348

HEALTH

£10 OFF appointments booked by 31/12/2015

We strongly advise you ensure anyone offering these types of services are regulated and always ask to see proof of membership

Wills Written

Lady Practitioners Free home visit

We also specialise in:

▪ Living Wills ▪ Lasting Power of Attorney ▪ Advice on protecting your estate should your spouse / partner marry or remarry after your death ▪ Advice on Community Care ▪ Probate Advice & Assistance ▪ Pre-paid Funeral Plans ▪ Trusts

Good Wills

Members of The Society of Will Writers

01342 314082 01293 978979 07845 599520

WWW.GOOD-WILLS.CO.UK

GOODWILLS@GOOD-WILLS.CO.UK

@TNUNCOVERED

www.T NUNCOVERED.co.uk

21

A Christmas wreath

You know that Christmas is coming when you hang a festive wreath on your front door. And they are more than just an attractive decoration, says Katherine Sorrell. hristmas is undoubtedly a time of traditions: perhaps midnight mass, roast turkey and the Queen’s Speech, followed by a snooze in front of the TV and a few board games. But some traditions are older – much older, in fact – than others.

C

Hanging mistletoe, for example, comes from druidic times, when the plant was believed to ward off evil spirits and promote good health. Boughs of holly were employed as decorations in Roman temples during the midwinter festival of Saturnalia.

As Christianity spread through Europe, the pagan evergreen wreath was reinterpreted accordingly.

Its circular shape, it was taught, stood for God’s eternity, the immortality of the soul and the everlasting life found in Christ. Evergreens, as before, symbolised eternal life, while holly represented the crown of thorns.

It is possible that using a wreath to count down the four weeks of advent became a Christian custom in 16th century Germany, and it is likely that the modern advent wreath was invented by a German pastor called Johann Hinrich Wichern.

Having been asked every day by the children at The custom of making wreaths goes all the way his mission school how long it was until Christmas, back to ancient Greece. It was here that wearing a laurel wreath came to represent status, achievement Wichern took an old cartwheel and stuck 19 small candles into it as well as four large candles, and victory. For the Romans, it was the supreme then lit one small candle each weekday and one ruler who wore a wreath – embellished with gold large candle every Sunday until Christmas arrived. and jewels, it eventually became what we now Local churches copied his idea, and gradually call a crown. the use of an advent wreath, generally with just four or five candles, became a custom both in Meanwhile, in Celtic Germany and Scandinavia, churches and our homes. wreaths were employed for a different purpose: sun worship. In the long, dark days of winter While not all Christmas wreaths these days have people prayed for the onset of spring, with its religious significance, they are still a powerful life-giving warmth and sunlight, and to give extra symbol of celebration. For some families, power to their prayers they used a wreath, hung Christmas starts with the making of a natural from the roof or placed on an altar or a table. wreath using leaves, flowers and seed heads The wreath was woven with evergreens, a symbol from the garden; for others, tinsel, glitter or of everlasting life, and decorated with candles, ribbon provide a chance to experiment. which represented the light of the sun.

22

/TNUNCOVERED

01342 718348

However Christmas wreaths don’t have to be home-made: there are endless varieties of readymade styles, from traditional to modern, large or tiny, simple or extravagant. The making or choosing of them is just the start: hang them from front doors or garden gates, in the window or on a wall; prop them on a mantelpiece or lay them flat on a table.

Whatever their style and wherever you display them, wreaths add festive colour and impact – a decorative essential for the Christmas season.

How to make your own Christmas wreath

the same direction. Keep going until the base is completely covered

If you don’t want to buy a ready-made base, you can easily make your own. Either shape a wire coat hanger into a circle (keeping the hook for hanging) or use bundles of twiggy growth from your garden (willow or honeysuckle vine work well) bound firmly with garden string, raffia, florist wire or climber stems.

Finish as you like, choosing from a variety of interesting decorations, such as fresh, dried or artificial flowers, ribbons, berries, raffia, moss, fir cones, seed heads, nuts, dried fruit, poppy heads, tinsel, glitter, baubles, sweets, feathers, buttons and beads.

Attach evergreen sprigs such as conifer, holly, laurel or ivy. Bind them at the bottom, then overlap the next sprig or group of sprigs in

Attach a strong loop of wire or string and hang where you wish, or simply prop your wreath on a shelf or mantelpiece.

BAILEYBRIDGE Design : Refurbishment : Construction

Call 01825 714 922 www.baileybridge.co.uk enquiries@baileybridge.co.uk

Design & Drawings - New builds, Extensions & Loft Conversions Planning & Building Regulations - Refurbishments-Bespoke Kitchens & Bathrooms

@TNUNCOVERED

www.T NUNCOVERED.co.uk

23

HOMES

Florence Landais many years experience

• Curtains • Blinds • Cushions• Tracks & Poles • Soft Furnishings Can work with your own fabric Offering a free local measuring service

Baths restored to

NEW

without removal.

One day service.

Any colour.

Carpenter Painter & all round building maintenance man!

Free Estimates No Vat

REG MARDLIN M: 07930 183007 T: 01825 891380

STORAGE HEATERS FROM Heating Services

Renu Your Bath

Building and Maintenance

Bathroom Restoration

01435 864002 - flo.landais@icloud.com

STOR A HEAT

THE STORAGE HEATING SPECIALISTS WE FIT New & replacement storage heaters at competitive prices WE OFFER A free, no obligation survey from ex seeboard, e.d.f. advisors, all with a minimum of 15 years experience WE CAN Carry out EPC's - Energy Performance Certificates SO DON’T PAY Electricity board prices - ring for a FREE survey

01342 714972 ▪ 07827 815900 ▪ www.storaheat.co.uk

DOMESTIC HEATING OIL 365 DAY SERVICE GEOFF BOORMAN FUELS

YOUR PERSONAL OIL COMPANY WHERE SERVICE MATTERS CAREFUL POLITE DELIVERIES SMALL TANKERS WITH EXTRALONG HOSES AVAILABLE

Edenbridge 01732 863834 Tunbridge Wells 01892 522322 East Grinstead 01342 349427

24

/TNUNCOVERED

01342 718348

HOMES

Boiler Service & Repair Specialists

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Save £££s on your domestic heating oil via our Village Heating Oil Syndicate.

Call today for details or visit our website.

Service, Breakdown & Repair Specialists in Oil Fired Boilers & AGAs

T: 01825 731900 www.villageheatingcompany.co.uk @TNUNCOVERED

www.T NUNCOVERED.co.uk

25

Time to get Fruity T

he garden may be quieter than usual at this time of year, and certainly not likely to be yielding vast quantities of crops, but this near dormant time is perfect for planting fruit.

You can grow fruit trees in surprisingly small spaces, training them to espaliers (so that they have several sets of horizontal arms), cordons (as single main stems grown at an angle), fans (with their branches trained in to a fan shape) or as step-overs, (trained so that they make a neat edging for a bed or border about 45cm or so above ground level). or espalier on a poor soil, for arches and for bush trees try the semi-dwarfing MM106.

You will need to choose the varieties you grow so that they can pollinate each other (if there is no suitable pollinator in the vicinity you will not get fruit) and on the basis of the taste and texture of the fruit and how well it stores and so forth. If you have space, it is good to grow apples for cooking as well as eating, or look out for those described as ‘dual purpose’, meaning they make very passable cookers as well as dessert apples.

As well as tree fruits such as apples, pears and maybe even a medlar or a plum or gorgeous gage, you could You could also use a fruit tree to create a decorative also consider some delicious bush fruits. The great and later a wonderfully productive arch. At this time of year fruit trees are great value because they are sold thing about these is that they take up even less space ‘bare root’, lifted from a field and not container grown. and again can often be trained into wacky shapes such I find these establish particularly well and because you as fan-trained or standard bushes, making them all the more ornamental and easier to fit into the smaller usually obtain them from a specialist supplier or garden. Then there are raspberries - on my rather heavy nursery, the range of varieties available is second to and very alkaline soil I tend to stick to the autumn none. You can either buy one year old ‘maidens’ and fruiting varieties such as Autumn Bliss and Joan J, but train these yourself, or if you want to save time, on freer draining and acidic soils you can try some of you can often buy trained or part trained forms. the more numerous summer fruiters too.

When you are choosing fruit trees it’s essential to get Bare root fruit trees, bushes and canes are generally them on the right rootstock as this determines the available from about November through until early ultimate size and vigour of the tree. Apples are March, depending on the weather, so don’t delay, particularly complicated, but as a rule, for step-overs, start ordering or better still, planting, today. cordons, dwarf bushes and trees in containers try the extremely dwarfing but somewhat tricky M27 - but Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com for a beware weak varieties or any tree grown on this great range of gardening-related Christmas gifts including rootstock in a poor soil as it may well fail. For bush, stylish handmade pottery herb planters, signed books cordon, espaliers and half-standard try the easier to and lots of seriously useful garden items for your look after dwarfing rootstock M26 and for a cordon friends and family, or yourself.

Sussex Fruit Trees

Grown in the heart of East Sussex

Services:Planting, Pruning, Orchard Design

Espaliers, Fans, Cordons, Stepovers

Apple, Pear, Cherry, Plum, Quince & More...

Ideal for gardens great and small

Visit our website www.sussexfruittrees.co.uk or call Mark 07745 379 526

26

/TNUNCOVERED

01342 718348

GARDENS Reclaimed Building & Landscaping Materials Architectural Salvage & Antiques

Grass Cutting Hedge Cutting Tree Maintenance Fencing & Gates Turfing Pressure Washing.

Garden Maintenance Contractor Tel: 08445 004669 / 07784 770159

www.mowandgo.co.uk

@TNUNCOVERED

We stock everything from Sleepers to Statues & Floorboards to Fireplaces.

Why not pop in for a coffee and a wander.

OPENING HOURS: Mon - Fri 7.30am - 5pm Sat 9am - 1pm

Tel: 01435 862 381

www.bestdemolition.co.uk sales@bestdemolition.co.uk

Harcourt Lodge Buildings, Burwash Road, Heathfield, East Sussex TN21 8RA

www.T NUNCOVERED.co.uk

27

4 Tips for Keeping Your Child Safe Online T

his year it’s estimated that three quarters of children have asked for a tech-based Christmas present, with smart phones, tablets and laptops named as the festive must-haves.

If you’re understandably wary about buying your child a gift with easy-internet access, don’t despair. We spoke to Laura Jennings from Childnet International, an organisation that works with schools, parents and children to make the internet a great and safe place for our kids, to hear their top tips regarding internet safety: “The internet is an amazing resource which enables children to connect, communicate and be creative in a number of different ways, on a range of devices,” Laura explains. “With such a diverse range of services and devices, it can be a challenge to keep up to date with how children are using technology. Although children may seem literate and confident in their use of technology, parents have the experience and life skills and so, have a key role to play in ensuring young people are safe online.”

“Last academic year we spoke to 29,000 primary and secondary aged children, hearing about what they like to do online and giving them practical advice about how to stay safe,” Laura continues.

“Children have told us that their parents or carers are their number one person to turn to for support online, so it is important for parents to know how to respond and also to be comfortable in setting boundaries for their children.”

So, just how can we do this?

Talk about it “The best way to keep your family safe online is to engage with your child’s digital life and regularly talk to them about staying safe online,” the Childnet spokesperson said. “To support parents in having these conversations we have conversation starters and a family agreement template on our website at www. childnet.com/parents-and-carers/have-a-conversation.

28

/TNUNCOVERED

“The template provides advice and a framework that will help families set clear expectations for positive and safe internet use.”

For those with younger children parents can download Childnet’s free leaflet; Keeping Young Children Safe Online which contains helpful advice and top tips.

Be there “Make sure your child knows they can turn to you if anything upsets or worries them online. Our Supporting Young People Online leaflet has tips on how to reinforce the ‘Tell someone’ message, a message that can help children to feel confident to ask an adult for help if something or someone upsets them online.”

Know the tools “There are ways in which parents and carers can help reduce the chances of children seeing inappropriate content online,” Laura explains. “The UK Safer Internet Centre’s Parents’ Guide to Technology has more information about how to set up parental controls on devices and can be found at www.saferinternet.org.uk.”

Share safely “Many children love to use social networking sites so teach them about protecting their personal information by thinking about what they are sharing and who they are sharing it with. Our leaflet Young People and Social Networking Sites offers a guide for parents and carers about the safe and responsible use of social networking sites.”

For all the information you need to keep your child safe online visit: www.childnet.com/parents-and-carers

01342 718348

INDEX

EARN ÂŁ1000 PER WEEK WITH A RENUBATH FRANCHISE

Animal Healing, Lynne Statham Equine Healing, 31 Bathroom Restoration, Renubath, 24 Boiler Servicing & Repairs, Village Heating Company, 25 Building & Maintenance, Reg Mardlin, 24 Car Dealer, Wilmoths Citroen, 2 Car Dealership / Servicing , SLM Toyota, 17 Care Home, Chanctonbury Healthcare, 21 Charity, Chestnut Tree House, 29

Renubath have Franchises available in Turnbridge Wells, Haywards Heath, Horley and Brighton.

Computers & Laptops, The Computer Studio, 10

The Franchise is ideal for anyone with spraying experience who is willing to invest in their career. Full training will be provided.

Driveways, New Look Driveways Ltd, 27

Call 01342 324 577 for more information info@renubath.co.uk.

Curtains and Soft Furnishings, Florence Landais, 24 Domestic Fuels, Geoff Boorman Fuels, 24

Driveways, Penfold Driveways Specialists Ltd, 11 Farm Shop, Heaven Farm Shop, 18 Franchise Opportunity, Renubath (Franchise), 31 Fruit Tree Specialist, Sussex Fruit Trees, 26 Garage Refurbishment, VSF Ltd, 3 Garden Services, Mow & Go, 27 Heating Services, Storaheat, 24 Mobility & Care Centre, Bathe in Safety, 21 MOT Centre, JUST MOTs, 17 Pre-School, Broad Oak Pre-school, 30

LYNNE STATHAM equine behaviour and animal healing

01825 765 329 07752 144 553

ls@lynnestatham.co.uk www.lynnestatham.co.uk

Property Refurbishment & Construction, Baileybridge Property Refurbishment & Construction, 23 Public House and Restaurant, Cross In Hand, 32 Public House and Restaurant, Rose & Crown, 19 Public House and Restaurant, The Brickmakers Arms, 1 Reclamation Yard, BDL Holdings Ltd, 27 religious group, London Temple Visitor Centre, 7 Retirement Home, Holy Cross Priory, 19 Roof & Gutter Cleaning, Tilley & Co, 24 Will Writing Service, Good Wills, 21

@TNUNCOVERED

www.T NUNCOVERED.co.uk

31

Happy Christmas & New Year From Danny, Jan, Tony & Sue at the Cross

In Hand

Chefs Winter Menu

Apart from our all day menu we have a special chefs selection for the Christmas period available Wed-Fri 12-8pm, Saturday 12-6pm and Roast with turkey/beef/gammon every Sunday afternoon from 12-6pm.

Chefs Special Christmas Dinner

From December 2nd we have tables available for small groups 12-8pm or the function room for 40+ parties 12-5pm and 5-11pm daily. Call us now and reserve your special 2 or 3 course Christmas meals from £16.99 pp.

Opening Times Mon-Thu 12-11pm Fri-Sat 12-12pm Sun 12-10.30pm Christmas Eve 12-1am Christmas Day 12-4pm New Years Eve 12-3am

Food Available Function Room Hire

Mon-Fri 12-8pm Sat 12-9pm Sun 12-6pm

• Weekday Club Nights • Birthday / Christening / Parties • Cater for 50+ people with direct access to garden (BBQ) and pub bar • Whole pub hire options for wakes, wedding receptions & special events • Chef, Buffet and waitress services • Disco DJ & Karaoke available

Cross In Hand

01435 865 449 Cross In Hand Road, Heathfield, TN21 0SN

Free Hire

Book Now for 2016