Ashdown Forest Living, January Issue

January 2019

Text by A . A . Milne copyright © Trustees of the Pooh Properties. Line illustrations copyright © E . H . Shepard.

Colouring of the illustrations copyright © 1970 and 1973 E. H. Shepard and Egmont UK Limited

LOCAL BUSINESS DIRECTORY & COMMUNITY NEWS Call 01342 300152 to advertise • Support your local businesses

CROWBOROUGH

Optical and Hearing Centre

Our services include: • The latest in hearing aid technology - we supply and service all makes of hearing aids • Tinnitus management • Micro-suction (safe and easy removal of ear wax) • Ear protection We also supply moulded swimming plugs and various noise protection products.

Hearing loss can affect every aspect of your life, particularly the things most important to you such as relationships with family, friends or work colleagues.

Owen Hearing are independent hearing specialists, dedicated to providing clients with excellent customer service and advice.

A family run independent Opticians with more than 50 years between Optometrists Matthew and Maria Smee.

Maintaining healthy vision with an extensive range of eye care services.

EYE TESTS using the latest technology, including ADVANCED RETINAL SCREENING (OCT).

• Revolutionary blepharitis treatment • Home Visits We have a wide range of frames to choose from and also provide contact lenses and low vision assessments.

Please call us or come in to book an appointment.

01892 458901

Hazelwood House. Croft Road Crowborough.

E n q uTN6 i r i e s : 0lDL 1342 300152

2 Please mention us when responding to adverts www.owenhearing.com • www.crowboroughopticians.co.uk

S U P P O R T I N G LO C A L B U S I N E S S

We are a professional family business with 40 years experience. Our services are cost-effective with references.

Our Services

• Roof tiling works, renew/repair • Flat roofing works, renew/repair • Sheet roofing, renew/repair • Chimney repair/remove/rebuild • Guttering replacement/Fascias • GRP and rubber roofing, • Wooden/UPVC weatherboards • Wooden/UPVC windows and doors • Rendering works and repointing • Gutter cleaning/Roof cleaning

For a free quotation call the hotline:

07772 761752 01342 311800 3 www.adnroofing.co.uk Visit: w w w.ashdownforestliving.co.uk Please mention us when responding to adverts

“ADN Roofing is a family company that we can recommend highly.

Our cottage needed a complete new roof. It was a difficult project involving complex angles, valleys, gables and flat areas. The price quoted was the price we paid. A special thanks to Mark who was flexible, resourceful and a brilliant craftsman, also very pleasant to have around our house.” FH

Why Walking?

Walking is a normal everyday activity and how easy it can be to forget that it is actually exercise at all. It’s good for us, helps us stay healthy and watch our weight.

Walking releases certain chemicals into the body, called endorphins, which can make us feel good and help us cope with things like depression, stress and anxiety and generally trigger a positive feeling. People who stay active are less likely to develop diabetes, heart disease and even certain types of cancer.

Walking is enjoyed by more than nine million people in the UK and not only does it help to keep you fit but is good for the environment as a substitute for short car journeys and helps tourism in rural economies with walkers spending ÂŁ6 million a year supporting nearly a quarter of a million full time jobs. What could be more rewarding than to walk in and admire the lovely countryside of the Weald at any time of the year?

Ramblers, the walking charity, has a wealth of information on its website (www. ramblers.org.uk), incorporating a choice of 2000 walking routes, including some in this area, but many people find that walking with a group is a good way to start, making new friends and discovering new walks in and around their home.

High Weald Walkers is a friendly Crowborough-based

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walking group (affiliated to the Ramblers) which has been going strong for nearly thirty years. Apart from the enjoyment of walking, members have been active in helping to keep local footpaths open by clearing them, placing way-markers and, at one time, the construction of stiles and bridges. They meet for member-led walks on Sundays, Tuesdays and some Thursdays with walks to suit most tastes. Why not join them? Full details of the group and current programme can be found on www.highwealdwalkers. org.uk.

Enquiries: 01342 300152 Please mention us when responding to adverts

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Dear Residents,

Whats inside this month

Happy New Year! Welcome to the January issue.

Now that the holiday season is over, if you’d like some assistance with your New Years Resolutions than look no further than our helpful tips.

A local photographer has won a prestigious award for an incredibly moving project about

Riding For The Disabled

New Year’s Resolutions?

New Year, New Nymans Garden

In the Bleak Midwinter

War Veterans - see page 24 to see some of the marvellous shots.

The Forest Row Repair Cafe is going from strength to strength... why not add a new years resolution to visit it (or the Chailey one) in the next couple of months to get a repair done and cut down on waste this year.

Please get in touch with us if you are a local charity or community group and need some extra promotion or if you there is a story that local people should know about.

Thank you so much for supporting our local businesses.

All the best for the new year.

Tally & Chris

Burns Night

Otter spotted!

Ashdown Forest Living To advertise call 01342 300152 info@ashdownforestliving.co.uk www.ashdownforestliving.co.uk FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

Keep this directory handy for when you need it

Although this publication does not vet advertisers, a number of complaints will mean that businesses will be barred from further advertising.

Don’t get your Back Up about Backup

Monthly Recipe

Ashdown Forest Living Notice: Ashdown Forest Living prints various articles, features, and advertisements. Although these appear in Ashdown Forest Living, any opinions expressed are the opinion of the author, these are not necessarily the opinion of the publisher. © Copyright Ashdown Forest Living 2019. The contents of this publication are written specifically for our readers, no part may be reproduced elsewhere without express and prior permission.

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5

T IM E S G O N E B Y

CROWBOROUGH HIGH STREET - 1905

F O R E S T R O W V I L L A G E - L AT E 1 950’ S

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FRENCH

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Interesting coach excursions departing from Uckfield and other local points.

TUITION

Highly experienced native speaker All levels welcome Call for details

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JG Theatre Club

GREAT DAYS OUT BY COACH

Call Jane on 01892 655383 or 07426 432124

JANUARY Tues 29th

The Chocolate Lady Demonstration

FEBRUARY Fri 1st Thurs 7th

A team of 15 friendly and enthusiastic professionals specialising in owner managed and family run businesses.

Thurs 10th

Making Tax Digital for VAT is applicable from April 2019. We can help advise you to ensure your business is compliant. Please visit our website and contact us.

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Richmond Poppy Factory Guided Tour Rough Crossing at Theatre Royal, Windsor Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra

Sat 12th

The Witch Hazel Nursery Tour

Weds 20th

Swan Lake, Moscow City Ballet, at the Orchard Theatre Dartford

MARCH Sun 3rd Tues 5th

Bathing a problem? – we can help

Weds 13th

Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra Beaulieu, all day with full access ticket The Lady Vanishes at Richmond Theatre

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Van Gogh and Britain exhibition at Tate Britain

Pick-ups in Maresfield, Nutley, Forest Row, East Grinstead and Felbridge For more information and details of all our other pick up points please see our website or contact us at:

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Showroom, Unit 11, Newnham Court Shopping Village, Bearsted Road, Weavering, Maidstone, Kent ME14 5LH

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Please mention us when responding to adverts East Grin AHM 63 x 94.indd 2

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14/12/2018 11:36

HELP! New Year’s Resolutions?

We desperately want our resolutions to stick but what’s the difference between winning and losing the game? Here are a few pointers…

Start small. Rather than overhaul your life unrealistically to a point where you can’t maintain the changes, and just give up, start gradually and build in the changes… consolidating along the way. For instance, if you want healthier eating habits, without cutting anything out initially, ensure you have a decent portion of vegetables with every single meal, then move on to replacing the deserts with something healthy like a naked bar, etc, etc.

Change One Behaviour at a Time Unhealthy behaviours develop over the course of time and become an almost automatic habit… in order to ‘retrain’ yourself it takes repetition and being mindful. Thus, replacing unhealthy behaviours with healthy ones requires time, repetition and patience until it becomes the norm.

Don’t get overwhelmed and take on too many of these changes

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all at once. However, if you really genuinely feel you can make the big leap all at once and succeed, then go for it.

Ask for Encouragement & Support Share your experiences with family and friends. Consider joining a support group to reach your goals, such as a workout class at your gym or a group of co-workers quitting smoking. Having someone to share your struggles and successes with makes your journey easier and enjoyable.

Don’t Beat Yourself Up Perfection is unattainable!

Remember that minor mis-steps does not mean all is lost. Everyone has ups and downs; resolve to recover from your mistakes and get back on track and gradually build it up again if necessary.

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9

16:06

New Year, New Nymans Garden

This Spring, Nymans will be teaming up with Alzheimer’s Society on a new project to create a garden, taking health and wellbeing as its focus; the garden team will work alongside several community groups and organisations.

The new garden will be created within the ruined Great Hall which was lost in a catastrophic fire in 1947. The space left behind provides an exciting opportunity to design a new garden within its enclosed walls. Gardeners at the famous Sussex garden have creatively reimagined the space and aim to fill it with enormous pots and containers, troughs and supports. They hope to do this with the partnership of community groups.

Ryan Tyler, Alzheimer’s Society Services Manager for Sussex said: “Many people with dementia are not able to take part in activities they enjoyed before they developed the condition,

they want to engage with society but need support.

And that’s why it’s fantastic news that Nymans are working with people affected by dementia to help make the garden more dementia friendly.”

If you wish to find out more about the garden in the ruins project visit the website or you can support it by buying a raffle ticket online.

Nymans is busy fundraising to open the garden later this year and have already raised just over £40,000 in this year’s raffle for repairs to the fabric of the ruin.

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One day, they might need the same care their Nanny did.

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27/11/2018 12:49

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Winter Warming Steamed Caramel & Apple Pudding

By Andrew Wilson, Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club

Serves 8

Ingredients: • • • • • • • •

170g unsalted butter 250g caster sugar 170g self-raising flour 2 whole eggs 1 egg yolk ½ teaspoon ground mixed spice 3 bramley apples 100ml of water

Method 1. Peel, core and chop the apples into evenly sized pieces and place to one side.

2. Place 80g of the caster sugar in a heavy bottomed pan and place on a medium heat – do not stir, just let the sugar turn to a golden caramel colour.

3. Add your apples followed by the water to the caramel and cook out until all the apples have softened. Once cooled slightly, break the apples up with a fork, to create a coarse puree, and set to one side.

8. Then place a small saucer at the bottom of a deep pan with the pudding basin on top. Fill the pan with warm water ¾ of the way up the basin, put a tight-fitting lid on then bring the water up to a simmer and cook for 2 ½ hours, checking every 30 minutes that the water is still at a good level, topping up if necessary.

To check it’s cooked, place a knife through the middle of the basin and it should come out clean, just like a sponge cake.

4. Take a pudding basin around 6 inch diameter, grease with butter then dust with a covering of flour.

5. Pour the apple mix into the bottom of the basin.

6. Cream together the remaining 170g caster sugar with the butter until light and fluffy, then add one egg at a time and mix together. Carefully fold in the flour and mixed spice – you may also need a touch of milk just to loosen the mix.

9. When cooked, turn upside down onto a plate, leave for 3-4 minutes then give it a shake and it will pop out. Serve with custard.

Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club Wych Cross, RH18 5JR

7. Pour the cake batter on top of the apple mix, cover with greaseproof paper and tie up the top of the pudding basin with string to keep the steam in and the water out.

HOTEL AND COUNTRY CLUB

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Telephone: 01342 824988 www.ashdownpark.com Enquiries: 01342 300152

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Good News for Local Rivers:

Otter spotted!

Fran said, “This is extremely exciting, as it was only two years ago – almost to the day - that a live otter was first caught on camera in Sussex, marking the return of this species to our county after an absence of almost five decades. Thanks to this latest sighting, we now know for certain that otters have made a comeback in two separate Sussex river catchments.

“This is fantastic news.

Following decades of hard work by a range of government bodies, charities and others, it shows that our rivers are now recovering from the pollution that killed them off. The otter is a

©Stephen BraySussex Wildlife Trust

An eagle-eyed member of the public recently caught sight of a suspected otter in central Sussex, in an area where they have not been seen for over 50 years. Having captured it on camera, he kindly sent it to Sussex Wildlife Trust, where Living Landscape advisor, Fran Southgate confirmed that he had indeed seen an otter.

flagship wetland species and its presence indicates that the whole aquatic ecosystem is healthy – from the plants and bugs to the molluscs, dragonflies and fish, all the way up through the food chain to the otter.”

Shy and normally nocturnal, otters thrive in clean, unpolluted water with a plentiful food supply and quiet, undisturbed places to rest and breed. Their diet includes snails, frogs, shellfish and eels as well as fish, and a single otter’s territory can encompass a

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vast 40 km stretch of river.

The otter is a native species but was driven to extinction across much of England by the 1970s, mainly due to persecution and the pollution of our rivers and wetlands.

Fran continues “Having waited for the otter’s return for so long, we are thrilled with this latest evidence that they are slowly but surely recolonising Sussex. Their natural recovery marks a positive breakthrough in the restoration of healthy river systems across the county.”

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“In the Bleak Midwinter” LOCAL HISTORY NOTES

by Dorothy Hatswell of the East Grinstead Museum

Imberhorne Lane 1st and so on. This means that for them, Winter commences on December 1st, although the Winter Solstice, the day on which the sun is furthest from the equator, is December 21st or 22nd. Because of the tilt of the earth this means it is the coldest time of the year in the northern hemisphere and, conversely the hottest in the southern. The day in our calendar that marks the first day of winter (21st) refers to the astronomical seasons which are a result of the Earth's axis and orbit around the sun taking into account equinoxes and solstices.

However, the Met Office uses a meteorological seasons definition which is instead based on annual temperature cycles measuring the meteorological (atmospherical) state and coinciding with the Gregorian calendar to determine a clear transition and equal length seasons! As already stated, these always start

This opening line in a poem by Christina Rossetti, which was set to music by Harold Darke and is now a well-known hymn, sums up the severe weather which was felt in the C19th and earlier. Shakespeare also emphasised the severity of the winter weather in “Love’s Labours Lost”: When icicles hang by the wall, And Dick the shepherd blows his nail.

He goes on to detail the hardships endured by our forefathers in this season. Due to global warming our winters do not seem to be as harsh, although modern methods of heating do soften the impact of cold weather for us.

However, once we enter the season of winter, we can expect the colder weather to start. The meteorologists make things tidy by starting all our seasons on the first day of the month in which the season really starts. For example, spring begins on March 1st, summer on June

Continues over the page.

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“IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER” CONTINUED

on the 1st. So two starts to the season and alot to get your head around!

Hermitage Lane

This solstice has played an important part in the history of many civilisations. Around the date of December 21st, the Babylonians celebrated the birthday of the Queen of Heaven. In ancient Arabic mythology it was alleged that the moon was born on the 24th, and the Romans celebrated the great feast of Saturnalia on the 21st, as it was the birthday of the sun.

Small wonder then, as the conversion from paganism to Christianity began, that December 25th was chosen as the birth of Christ. People were used to celebrating at this time of the year and so the focus of the time could easily shift to a Christian emphasis.

Customs could also be slanted in new directions. In this country Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s consort, is usually credited with the introduction of the Christmas tree, but trees, particularly evergreens, together with plants such as holly and ivy, were a major part of most of the celebrations of whatever kind at this time of year. They symbolised the resilience of life and renewal, as they still do today.

Many other rituals are associated with this time of year. Wassailing predates the Norman Conquest; the word

comes from the Saxon for “Good health”. Traditionally it took place on Twelfth Night, the evening of January 5th.

Purists, however, celebrate on January 16th - the day on which Twelfth Night would have fallen before the reformation of the calendar

by Pope Gregory in 1752.

The calendar had gradually become out of step with astronomical time and so, in 1752, the date jumped from September 2nd to September

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13th (as fully covered in an earlier article… in some places people rioted crying “Give us back our eleven days!” erroneously thinking that their lives had been shortened by this move).

Today, wassailing is more often associated with the Christmas and New Year period.

It can take two forms. In Continues over the page.

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Quote Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.

Benjamin Franklin

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a

QUIZ ANSWERS 1. Dr. Who

7. Madagascar

2. Venus

8. Minerva

3. Nirvana

9. Mahatma Gandhi

4. Help!

10. Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Bashful, Sneezy and Dopey

5. Whale 6. Gone with the Wind

19

“IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER” CONTINUED

one, leading up to Christmas, groups of the poorer people in the community would go from house to house asking for food and occasionally, money:

plum and cherry to bear a good crop that season. The trees were awakened from their winter sleep and any evil spirits were driven out by singing and banging on pots and pans, as the wassailers walked round and round the tree. The actual songs varied from village to village, but the basic request was the same:

We are not daily beggars that beg from door to door But we are friendly neighbours whom you have seen before.

Old apple tree, old apple tree We've come to wassail thee.

To bear and to bow apples enow Hats full, caps full, three-bushel bags full Barnfloors full- and a little heap under the stairs.

They were usually well received by their hosts and given treats such as figgy pudding and other sweet items. The wassail bowl was passed round. It would have contained the local cider or spiced ale with apples. Spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and ginger were available in the Middle Ages. Imported from the East they were expensive but used on special occasions. In some places toast was floated on the top. By the end of the evening the wassailers would have been quite merry!

The villagers would process from orchard to orchard led by the Wassail King and Queen.

The custom has not entirely died out. Some communities in the cider growing areas of the west country still wassail their trees today.

However, we’ve just celebrated the new year, we are all glad that it is the period when we start to see the days begin to lengthen and the promise of spring and the renewal of life is upon us.

In other places, early in the New Year around this time, the emphasis was on encouraging the fruit trees, mainly apple, but also pear,

QUICK CROSSWORD Anwsers 0n page 38 QUICK CROSSWORD 1

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Across 1 Tangled in a mass 4 Happen again 7 Tart fruit 8 Tightly drawn 9 Fictional story 11 Glowing with health 13 Any of three children from one pregnancy 15 Rigorously strict 17 Prayer ending 18 One of several shops under same management (5,5) 20 Rain mingled with snow 21 Nonconformists

1 Tangled in a mass CLUES ACROSS: 4 Happen again 7 Tart fruit 8 Tightly 20 drawn 9 Fictional story 11 Glowing with

QUICK C

1 Down M A T 1 Bricklayer’s adhesive O 2 Pony’s moderate gait 7 R G 3 Remote 8 4 Small bird T A U 5 Motor vehicle A N 11 6 Kingly R A D 7 Retriever or pointer (3,3) 10 Radio sound control O 15 I G R treason 12 One who commits 14 Ball game A 18 19 15 Running contests C H A 16 Sugary fried cake X 17 Breed of horseE 20 19 Chopper S L E

T E R OO T

2

I A I 16D O I N U E T

ANSWERS ACRO 7 Gooseberry 8 Ta 13 Triplet 15 Rigi

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SAVING ITEMS FROM THE LANDFILL REPAIR CAFÉ HAS A BUMPER YEAR Held monthly in the Forest Row Community Centre, the project had an extremely successful year in 2018, saving over 265 objects from landfill in its first twelve months alone - their success rate is an exciting 71%!

Over twenty volunteers regularly provide their skills and expertise, ranging from bike repairs, sewing, darning and carpentry, to electronic repairs, clocks and even book repairs. These services are provided free of charge, but the idea is that the expert repairers pass on their skills to those visiting and encourage them to have a go at fixing things themselves.

This initiative, which is supported by the Parish Council, also has social benefits to the community.

“The atmosphere is always buzzing and brings together all ages. Some of our volunteer experts are retired with incredible skills and knowledge that are not otherwise being utilised,

so seeing them share this is incredibly encouraging” said Sara Smart, Community Development Officer at Forest Row Parish Council, CoFounder. “It’s been amazing to see the support of the local community and to know we are making a difference environmentally.”

This environmental aspect is especially important; when we throw things away they go to a landfill or to be incinerated, and we simply cannot continue to dispose of things at the rate we are! The Repair Café provides a great solution to our throw-away society. This new year please consider visiting the café to get your repairs carried out, you can then either keep the

22

item or pass it on to another, or maybe even to volunteer your time to help with repairs.

Let’s all cut down on our waste in 2019!

Repairs undertaken at each work station: Electrical, Sewing, Bike Repairs, Computers, Others, Clocks, Woodwork, Sharpening. Third Saturday of every month (excluding December), between 10am– 1pm. For more info call Sara Smart on 01342 778061.

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PORTRAITS of HEROES

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Catherine Beltramini, a local Crowborough photographer, has won a place in the prestigious British Institute of Professional Photography after issuing a set of portraits of local war veterans, living in this area. With the help of branches of the Royal British Legion in Tunbridge Wells and Crowborough and through word-ofmouth, she found 10 war veterans who agreed to be photographed.

Catherine meet up with each veteran to hear their stories first. Among the veterans was a man who had been a medic on the beaches at Dunkirk, an RAF pilot and a man who had landed on Juno beach as part of the D-Day landings.

As you can see here, her portraits are highly poignant and most deserving of the accolade received.

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In this New Year, Don’t get your Back Up about Backup There is a wonderfully dour trade-saying about computers: “there are two sorts of users: those who have lost their data and those that will”. Your backup is your final protection when things go wrong. Here is an introduction to protecting your data from the range of digital knocks and jars.

Backup defends your data against many common issues such as storage failure, fire and flood, and the ever-evolving range of security threats.

Many people make an occasional backup to an external drive using tools supplied with their computer. Sadly “occasional” can mean some time long ago in the mists of the past. Also, this backup is not itself protected: theft, physical destruction and malware can steal away your backup and your computer together.

need it. There are numerous threats such as ransomware which is an increasingly common attack that encrypts your data in minutes, often making it impossible to recover.

Acronis and Backblaze are currently popular for simple backups systems. Both allow you to encrypt your data before it is sent to the store – just make sure you keep the encryption password somewhere very, very safe.

To meet these threats, I recommend also using a cloud backup. This stores backups in a number of secure professional vaults away from your premises. This system takes advantage of good internet connections to update your backup as you work, ensuring that it is current at all times.

Whichever backup system you choose, make sure that it works with regular testing so that you are confident if the heat of ‘computer failure’ is on. Good luck!

Surprisingly inexpensive, it’s popular with home users but it is businesses that definitely

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Now winter downs the dying of the year, And night is all a settlement of snow; From the soft street the rooms of houses show A gathered light, a shapen atmosphere, Like frozen-over lakes whose ice is thin And still allows some stirring down within.

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These sudden ends of time must give us pause.

We fray into the future, rarely wrought Save in the tapestries of afterthought.

More time, more time. Barrages of applause Come muffled from a buried radio.

The New-year bells are wrangling with the snow.

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YOUR P O

G Fr

R I D I N G F O R T H E D I S AB L E D

KEEPS SUMMER SUN IN FOCUS The winter is a quiet time for the RDA in the Sussex area but local groups continue to provide their regular riding lessons each week and carriage driving only takes a break when it gets too wet. Many of the participants have their eyes on the summer regional events where they can compete in a number of disciplines to qualify for the RDA National Championships in July.

They will be trying to improve on the success they enjoyed in 2018 which was kicked off in May at the Felbridge Qualifier when five young riders from Newchapel’s East Park RDA Group succeeded in qualifying to compete in the Countryside Challenge.

This event follows a simulated course where the riders put their skills to the test

by tackling obstacles and tasks they might find in the country. These include going through a gate, crossing a ‘road’, entering a farmyard, picking an apple from a tree and posting a letter. Although great fun, this also tests the young riders’ steering, balance and confidence.

The event was sponsored for the thirteenth year by local architects’ practice, Cowan Architects from East Grinstead.

Julia Hockin, a healthcare architect there, presented the prizes and said “It’s always such a treat and an honour to participate in these inspiring events and meet such enthusiastic young people.

The weather held for us and there were smiles all round”.

The East Park team all managed to finish in the top six in their classes at the RDA

National Championships which were held in Gloucestershire. Orla Wynne came 3rd, Evie-Mae Dobbe, 4th, Jasmine Musgrove, 5th and Darcy Brown and Zoe Beer both 6th amid stiff opposition from other riders who had qualified to compete from across the whole of the country.

A record number of disabled horse riders and carriage drivers from the South East Region qualified for the Championships in 2018.

There were 27 competitors representing 12 different groups from across Surrey, Sussex and Kent who took on more than 500 other competitors from around the Continues over the page.

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29

RIDING FOR THE DISABLED CONTINUED

The year culminated in the Autumn with the Regional Conference which is held locally at the Haven Centre and this year brought two of the world’s elite dressage riders to honour the achievements of volunteers and participants. A record-breaking turnout from across four counties were treated to presentations from Paralympic Gold Medallist, Sophie Christiansen and International Grand Prix rider and world class coach, Sarah Sjoholm Patience.

There was also a new award from regional sponsors, Cowan Architects, in recognition of the Young Volunteer of the Year, The Cowan Challenge Trophy was presented by Chairman, David Cowan, to Georgia Budden from Quest RDA in Chobham.

UK – and nearly all (20) were placed in the top 10 of their class!

All these activities come at a cost, so in order to support this RDA event the Trefoil Guild (Guiding for Adults) made the Countryside Challenge their official fundraiser of the year, at their 75th Anniversary celebrations.

Plumpton’s Hope in the Valley RDA Group gave a marvellous display at the fundraiser to more than 160 people. Nationally, the guild hopes to raise more than £30,000 towards the running of the competition for the next few years.

It’s anyone’s guess what 2019 will bring to our local RDA riders and drivers but roll on summer!

If you would like to support the RDA or find out more about their important work visit, www.rda.org.uk.

Later in the Summer, East Park RDA Group enjoyed more welcome attention when it received the invaluable gift of a new saddle and bridle from the Royal Warrant Holders’ Association Charity Fund, courtesy of local businessman and double Royal Warrant Holder, Kevin Giddings of Millborrow Chimney Sweeps.

Kevin’s wife, Katie Giddings, is an instructor at the group, having been involved in the RDA at East Park for nearly 20 years, starting as a side walker and following the RDA’s coaching pathway to become an instructor.

The annual Summer Carriage Driving Show at Felbridge came with back-to-back sunshine and made horses, harness, carriages and drivers look especially shiny in the warm rays, but John Tierney from East Park caught the judge’s eye to start the day by winning the Condition and Turnout with Slatyford Spartan.

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Denise fisk lives in Crowborough and has studied BA Textiles at West Surrey College of Art and Design. She has worked as a freelance designer for 5 years and has always painted. Fisk has exhibited in multiple local exhibitions over the last 3 years, hoping to bring the beauty of the Ashdown Forest to the people of the surrounding areas.

She says, "I have walked on the Ashdown Forest for many years and have a strong emotional relationship with its unique quality.

As an artist, I want to capture the immersive nature of the forest. The many pathways lead me into all the subtle hues, textures and open

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13/06/2018 17:32

BURNS NIGHT him in Scotland. At just 27, Burns had already become famous across the country.

An encounter with a 16 year old Walter Scott made a lasting impression on the young man who described him later with great admiration: ‘His person was strong and robust; his manners rustic, not clownish, a sort of dignified plainness and simplicity which received part of its effect perhaps from knowledge of his extraordinary talents.

His features are presented in Mr Nasmyth's picture but to me it conveys the idea that they are diminished, as if seen in perspective. I think his countenance was more massive than it looks in any of the portraits ... there was a strong expression of shrewdness in all his lineaments; the eye alone, I think, indicated the poetical character and temperament.

It was large, and of a dark cast, and literally glowed when he spoke with feeling or interest. I never saw such another eye in a human head, though I have seen the most distinguished men of my time’.

January is a rather bleak month, but for the 25th which is celebrated as Burns Night.

An important night for Scots but also now celebrated by others across the world. We take a brief look at the life of the man himself: Robert Burns was born on 25th January 1759 in the village of Alloway, two miles south of Ayr. His parents were tenant farmers but even still he received a relatively good education. As a boy he became an avid reader enjoying the works of Alexander Pope among others. Burn’s natural poetic intuition and relationships with the opposite sex provided his initial inspiration; Handsome Nell, for Nellie Kilpatrick, was his first song.

Burns died aged only 37. He is regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic movement and is celebrated across the world on Burns Night, this month. A good excuse to raise a toast on a cold January night!

Hard physical labour on the family farm was not to the taste of the young Burns, who increasingly turned his attentions towards the passions of poetry, nature, drink and women which would characterise the rest of his life.

He fathered twins with eventual wife Jean Armour, but a rift in their relationship nearly led to Burns emigrating to the West Indies with lover Mary Campbell (his Highland Mary).

Mary's death and the profound success of his first published collection of verse kept

The Burns Cottage in Alloway, Ayrshire

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Quotes

QUICK QUIZ

“Character is the ability to carry out a good resolution long after the excitement of the moment has passed.”

Cavett Robert

Anwsers 0n page 19 • Which TV character was first portrayed by William Hartnell in 1963 and most recently by Peter Capaldi?

“All of us every single year, we're a different person. I don't think we're the same person all our lives.”

Steven Spielberg

• Who is the Roman goddess of love?

• Kurt Cobain was the lead vocalist with which US rock band?

“Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, 'It will be happier.’”

Alfred Lord Tennyson

• Which Beatles song contains the line: "When I was younger, so much younger than today"?

• What are the closest living relatives to the Hippopotamus? a) Giant Pig, b) Rhinoceros c) Whale?

Alfie the Ashdown Forest Aardvark

• Vivien Leigh won the 1939 Best Actress award for her role in which historical romance?

• Lemurs are native to which island?

• What is the first name of Professor McGonagall in

The name of the game is to locate the 4 Alfie’s hidden on 4 pages in the magazine.

Ages 4 -13. Let us know the page numbers, enter online: www.ashdownforestliving.co.uk or email: info@ashdownforestliving.co.uk. Closing date: 19/01/19

the Harry Potter books?

• Who is attributed with the famous quote “Be the change that you wish to see in the world”?

QUICK CROSSWORD

QUICK CRO

• Name all of Disney’s ‘Seven Dwarfs’.

1

2

3

7

4

5

6

8

9

10

11

12

13 14

15

16

18

17 19

20 21

23

22

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CLUES ACROSS: 1 Short post to prevent through-traffic 5 Elephant’s protruding tooth 7 Head movement to denote yes

Win £10

BO L L QUICK CROSSWORD

A R Anwsers on page 38 U L A 7Paris 8 23 London or Across NOD A C 24 Perfumed 1 Short post to prevent Y R Down G through-traffic 9house 1 One-storey 5 Elephant’s protruding tooth A L BUM 2 Spotted beetle 7 Head movement to denote yes S 3 Warnings ofLdanger I 8 Correct 14 15 4 Ten years 9 Blank book for photographs O A R S 16B 5 Songbird 10 Component of the spine W 18D E E R 6 Building plot 13 Meal of chopped meat and 20 11 Waterfall vegetables S N O 12 Man who tends sheep 21 14 Rowing blades E T RO B E 15 Soldier on guard 18 Antlered animal 16 Sweeping brushes 19 Vagrant M R M 17 Sculpted figure 23 21 Red pickling plant C I T Y 24S 20 Half 22 One in cards 1

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2

3

ANSWERS ACROSS 7 Nod 8 Accurate 9 A 13 Hash 14 Oars 18 D

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S U P P O R T I N G LO C A L B U S I N E S S

Absolutely

Kitchens

Bedrooms

Bathrooms

Kitchens - Fitted or Supply Only - All Budgets & Styles Worktops - Laminate, Wood, Solid Surfaces or Granite Doors - for Kitchens & Bedrooms, any size, Vinyl or Wood Appliances - Integrated & Free Standing Bedrooms - Fitted • or Supply only - Traditional or Modern Bathrooms - Shower Rooms - Ensuites - Cloakrooms Walk-in Baths & Showers - Bath removed & Walk-in Showers fitted at sensible prices Large or Small jobs undertaken with the same enthusiasm No High Pressure Sales - No Minimum Order Charge FREE Evening or Day Time Plan & Design Service Any of the above can be supplied and/or fitted within 3-5 weeks if required.

Tel: 01342 - 713400 • 01444 - 411172 www.absolutelykitchens.co.uk • Ask@AbsolutelyKitchens.co.uk

V COTTINGHAM

V COTTINGHAM GARDEN MAINTENANCE

General Building. Landscaping Property Maintenance Established 1996

We provide a complete service to care for all of your gardens needs • Regular maintenance • One off visits • Hedge cutting • Pruning • Mowing • Lawn care • Garden Clearance • Experienced & reliable

PROPERTY SOLUTIONS PROFESSIONAL SERVICE Contact Vince on

07702 723493

GARDEN SOLUTIONS PROFESSIONAL SERVICE Contact Vince on

Please visit our website for more information www.vcottingham.co.uk

E-mail: vince@vcottingham.co.uk

E-mail: vince@vcottingham.co.uk

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What’s On in January

If you would like your event on these pages email info@ashdownforestliving.co.uk for information.

THURSDAY 10TH JANUARY

SATURDAY 19TH JANUARY

Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera: The Golden Age of Mexican Painting. Both artists have recently featured in major exhibitions and in this lecture for Arts Society Ashdown Forest, Chloe Sayer surveys their work, their turbulent marriage and Mexico’s history after the 1910 Revolution. A colourful afternoon awaits.

Refreshments afterwards. Members free, Guests £6. At 2pm, Crowborough Community Centre, Pine Grove, Crowborough, TN6 1FE.

J S Bach: Mass in B Minor Choral Workshop.

Join the EG Choral Society as we develop our understanding of Bach’s Mass in B Minor.

Led by the choir’s musical director, Richard Jenkinson who’ll be joined by acclaimed soprano and highly-experienced singing teacher, Lesley-Jane Rogers. Whether you’re new to the work or familiar with it, don’t miss this opportunity to explore this magnificent masterpiece. Visitors £20. Further information and booking form on www.egcs.co.uk. At 9:30am, Sackville School, RH19 3TY.

FRIDAY 11TH JANUARY FILM The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society at Pine Grove Pictures.

Tickets £8 with reductions for members.

Doors open 7pm, film starts at 8pm, Crowborough Community Centre.

SATURDAY 19TH JANUARY Bowie Experience is a spectacular concert featuring all of David Bowie’s hits - celebrating the music of the world’s greatest pop icon. An unforgettable journey of sound and vision. At 7:30pm - 10pm. Assembly Hall Theatre, TN1 2LU. Tel: 01892 554165.

THURSDAY 17TH JANUARY Groombridge Horticultural Society Evening. Colin Moat will be speaking to us on ‘50 Greys of Shade’. Tea, coffee and biscuits provided. All welcome. Free for members or £3 for non-members. At 8pm, Groombridge Village Hall - New Hall.

TUESDAY 29TH JANUARY

THURSDAY 17TH JANUARY

Neanderthals in the Weald. Danehill Parish Historical Society talk by Dr Matt Pope, Research Associate at University College, London. 8pm, Danehill Village Hall, RH17 7HS. 18

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4 R E 5C U A O B E R R I 9 N O 10V E O I P L E U 17 A M E O R E A E B E L

14 T E N N I S 6 R O Y A L

for more information or visit www.ashdownforestliving.co.uk

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01342 300152

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Contact us on:

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ANSWERS ACROSS: 1 Matted 4 Recur 7 Gooseberry 8 Taut 9 Novel 11 Radiant 13 Triplet 15 Rigid 17 Amen 18 Chain store 20 Sleet 21 Rebels ANSWERS DOWN: 1 Mortar 2 Trot 3 Distant 4 Robin 5 Car 6 Royal 7 Gun dog 10 Volume 12 Traitor 14 Tennis 15 Races 16 Donut 17 Arab 19 Axe

ADVERTISE WITH THE ASHDOWN FOREST LIVING

1 TangledANSWERS in a mass ACROSS: 1 Bollard 5 Tusk : 8 Accurate 9 Album 10 Disc 7 Tart fruit 7 8Nod Tightly 13 Hash 14 Oars 18 Deer 19 Tramp l story 11 Glowing with Beetroot three children21from one 22 Ace 23 City 24 Scented orously strict ANSWERS 17 Prayer DOWN: 1 Bungalow 2 Ladybird several shops under same 3 Alarms 4 Decade 5 Thrush 6 Site with 11 Cataract 12 Shepherd 20 Rain mingled 15 Sentry 16 Brooms 17 Statue 20 Semi ormists 1 Bricklayer’s adhesive gait 3 Remote 4 Small cle 6 Kingly 7 Retriever 10 Radio sound control its treason 14 Ball game sts 16 Sugary fried cake 19 Chopper

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Mid Sussex Association National Trust: Talk: ‘Sir John Gage & Firle Place’ by Helen Poole. At 2:30pm, Clair Hall, Haywards Heath, RH16 3DN.

QUICK CROSSWORD QUICK CROSSWORD ROSSWORD

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Enquiries: 01342 300152 Please mention us when responding to adverts

Improving quality of life...

S U P P O R T I N G LO C A L B U S I N E S S

SHC provides quality nursing and residential support for people with: • Physical and/or learning disabilities • Neurological conditions • Acquired brain injury (ABI) • Autism • Dementia • Nursing and/or residential needs Our homes based mainly in Sussex provide a safe, comfortable, homely environment and offer the people we support somewhere that they can make their home, as well as respite and short stays.

The people supported are encouraged to maximise their physical, intellectual, emotional and social capacity, be better connected to their communities and to take part in as many everyday activities as they can, ensuring that they continue their lifestyle with personal privacy and dignity.

Across our services we can offer:

SKILLED NURSING CARE 24 HOURS A DAY RESPITE AND SHORT BREAKS PALLIATIVE CARE LOCAL GP INPUT FULL PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES SUPPORT TO ACCESS A RANGE OF THERAPIES TO SUIT INDIVIDUAL NEED SPECIALIST GYMNASIUM IT/GAMES ROOM MULTI-SENSORY ROOMS INTERACTIVE TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS HYDROTHERAPY POOLS SALT CAVE SWIMMING POOL

Your Life, Your Way To find out more about our homes and the services we can offer, please contact: referrals@sussexhealthcare.co.uk

01403 217338

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www.sussexhealthcare.co.uk

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• Bespoke soft furnishings and blinds • Huge choice of designer fabrics • Tracks, poles and fitting

By permission of Harlequin

Curtaincraft Ltd . Freshfield Lane . Danehill . RH17 7HE

01825 790766 . www.curtaincraft.co.uk Visit our website or call us and mention this advert for a free estimate