in and around Abington

Abington October/November 2014

& Around

a community magazine & business directory for local residents

New website coming soon:

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www.northamptonmagazines.com For Local News, What’s On & Business Directory

4000 copies distributed around Abington & Weston Favell or view this magazine on our website This publication is also Smartphone friendly - just download the app to interact. See page 5

Welcome to the “Abington & Around” Magazine! Visit: www.northamptonmagazines.com te

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Abington & Around

October/November 2014 A selection of what’s in this issue of your community magazine . . . . . .

Shaping Up:

Finding out about the most effective form of exercise . . . .

5

Quiz Corner:

Can you humiliate our resident quizmeister? or can anyone?

6

Halloween: Dear Readers, It’s October already and we hope that you’ve managed to enjoy a break from work - just a change of scene does you good! For those of you aged over 50, you may not be aware that we produce the Northants 50 plus magazine which is full of useful information, activities and coach trips. You can receive this FREE by calling Sandra Frampton on 01604 718098 or see our website. With Christmas just around the corner, early festive shoppers may want to enter our FREE Competition on page 45.

Bev & Dez Abington & Around Magazine If you would like to advertise in this magazine or have an event to promote please contact us:

07747 632918

admin@northamptonmagazines.com

www.northamptonmagazines.com http://twitter.com/localmagazines www.facebook.com/northamptonmagazines

Some spooky tales and beliefs about October the 31st . . . .

9

Local History:

The remarkable story of the Northampton Castle!

14

Rugby Talk:

We caught up with a former Saints legend . . .

27

Bonfire Bash:

A peice of pyrotechnic safety with some history thrown in . . . . .

35

Xmas Competition: Your chance to win free tickets to a festive fayre at the NEC!

45

Local Sport:

The footy season is back! We follow the fortunes of three local clubs . . .

49

Recipe:

Slimming World take on the burger giants with this tasty snack!

50

What’s On:

Summer’s all but gone! But there’s still plenty to do . . . . .

60

This journal does not accept any responsibility for errors and omissions in this publication, or for the accuracy of claims made by advertisers. Views expressed by contributors are their own and are not necessarily shared by the publishers. This publication has no political bias. Front cover image: Green flag award celebration party.

3

please mention abington & around when responding to adverts

my top exercise for SQUATS are shaping up your derriere!

Gravity, hormones, age and what we eat are all reasons why our shape changes.

This is also why bottoms start to head south and lose their firmness. If you’d like a firmer butt, and let’s face it, who wouldn’t, you need to get squatting and wake up the muscles in your backside known as the glute’s. Squat’s are fantastic for shaping up your derrière and also work your hips, quads, hamstrings and the core. For beginners, try squats with no weight. Here are my tips for the perfect squat: 1. Place feet a little wider than shoulder-width apart.

2. Roll the shoulders back and down away from the ears. Avoid hunching letting your back round like a turtle’s shell this will cause unnecessary stress on the lower back.

3. Sit back sticking your bottom out sending your hips backward as the knees begin to bend, taking most of your body weight through your heels.

4. While the butt starts to stick out, make sure your chest and shoulders stay upright, and the back stays straight. Keep your head facing forward with eyes looking straight ahead.

When you have perfected your technique you can then start adding weight to challenge the glute’s even more. Here are the three types of weighted squats I often use with my client’s: Goblet Squat: These squats unfortunately do not include a goblet full of wine! Instead, hold a dumbbell, kettle bell or medicine ball into your chest while performing the squat.

Back Squats: The barbell rests on the back where it’s generally easier to squat a heavier load.

The hands should be facing forward, along the same plane as the shoulders; with elbows pointing down to the ground.

Front Squat: This is a much more advanced movement and requires placing a barbell across the collar bones. It also requires more flexibility than other versions, so it’s often best to master the bodyweight, goblet and back squats first. The elbows should point straight out while the fingertips reach back to grip under the bar, outside of the shoulders.

When using a heavy weight, it’s more difficult to squat deeper, but deep squats are much more effective than shallow ones. But please note if you have any knee problems make sure you get some expert advice on how low you should be squatting.

A common squat mistake is when the knees drift inward. To fix this, turn the toes out to help prevent knees from caving inward. Knees should track in line with both the ankles and the hips, to help avoid injury and get deep in the squat. Also, when knees come over the toes and the body leans too far forward. Fix by putting most of your weight in the heels when lowering into a squat. The weight distribution will help keep the torso upright and stop the knees from coming forward.

Becca Mclachlan Fitness Studios, Brampton Heath Golf Centre, Sandy Lane, Church Brampton, Northampton. NN6 8AX. www.becca-mclachlan.com becca@becca-mclachlan.com tele 07929196627

Why not use your Smart phone to bring our adverts to life? it’s so easy!

1. Download the free Layar app for iPhone or android I N & A R O U N D N N 3:

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ParklaNds, BootHvilLe & WESTOne a community magazine & business directory for local residents

June / July 2014

Visit our On-line

Business Directory & What’s On Guide

www.northamptonmagazines.com 4000 copies distributed around the Parklands, Boothville & Westone or view this magazine on our website This publication is also Smartphone friendly - just download the app. See page 5

2. Open the app and hold your phone above the selected page and tap to view.

3. Keep your phone above the page to reveal social media activities- all at the push of a button!

See magical floating buttons, websites and images - in no time!

5

coffee time Mindbogglers

COFFEE TIME CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

Across

1. A notice of the human death (4) 4. Pre-school meeting (8) 8. Securing an item under pressure (6) 9. A reliable comrade is . . . . .(6) 10. 7th century, English monk (4) 11. Set apart and declare as holy (8) 13. A saintly act. (13) 16. Apparently, it never forgets (8) 19.

Prolonged dull pain. (4) 20. Film, dramatising the life of a personage (6) 22. A place that uses flour and yeast (6) 23. Ex-Cobbler from Cumbria? (8) 24. A period of time (4)

Down

2. London theatre near Fleet Street (9) 3. Violent storm (7) 4. Deep hole (5) 5. Some verses

by Rushdie (7) 6. Etna, Sinai, Everest for example (5) 7. Drawn in a tie (3) 12. Recklessly bold or rash (9) 14. Male or female name (7) 15. Expressed gratitude (7) 17. Relating to the pope (5) 18. Put forward an offer? (5) 21. It’s tax free (3)

SPORTSWORD 1. Centre of attention at Leicester Tigers.

2. Ex- England defender, now at the Walkers Stadium.

3. Scottish sprint cyclist who took part in the Commonwealth.

4. Current manager at the Nou Camp.

5. Indian Paceman in the current touring team.

6. Legendry German Speedway king.

Answer questions 1-6, fill in the grid and use the initials to name a former Wimbledon champion

1 2 3 4 5 6

N P L

O E

H R Answers to all 3 puzzles are on the events page near the back of this magazine!

23 6

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happy halloween!

With Halloween just around the corner, it is true to say that nowadays, modern day celebrations only focus on fun frights like ‘trick or treating’!

However, years ago things weren’t seen in quite the same light!

Take the holiday’s ancestor, the Celtic festival of the dead, which was no laughing matter. Apparently, families left “treats” for departed loved ones to discourage nasty “tricks” from beyond the grave. In the 18th-century Scottish villagers drove sheep through hoops of rowan branches to protect them from ghostly mischief, including sickness. This ritual may have arisen from observations of sheep,who nibbled rowanberries being healthier than other ‘woolly pigs’. The berries contain sorbic acid, which has anti-fungal properties, which might explain things.

Another old Celtic custom was to light great bonfires on Halloween, and after they had burned out, a circle of the ashes was made from each fire. Within this circle, and near the circumference, each member of the various families that had helped make the fire would place a pebble. If, on the next day, any stone was out of place, or had been damaged, it was said to be an indication that the owner of the stone would die within a year.

Back home in England, rumour had it that if you heard footsteps behind you on Halloween, you didn’t look back. It was claimed the dead were following you, so turning back could mean that you would soon join them! Similarly, if you did not want to be haunting a graveyard at any stage, you’d be sure not to look at your shadow in the moonlight. Doing so on All Hallows Eve would also guarantee your imminent demise! (nice!!).

So, what advice is at hand for those who actually think they may see a presence over Halloween? Try tying a knot into a handkerchief. Apparently it wards off evil, although it didn’t work for Jacob Lazarus and his friends! In desperation, he then tried tying a knot in his underpants, before frantically waving them at his tormentor. It is said that the ploy worked, but it made his friends disappear too! On a more healthier note, it has been suggested that carrying a lump of bread in a pocket when walking in the dark, will serve as an offering to any ghost, but rest assured it is also claimed that if they’re not hungry, simply walking around them nine times, makes them disappear anyway.

If you’re like me and have previously sensed both good and bad presences, here are a few other Halloween superstitions that may serve you well. I never slam doors, as this might hurt the ghostie, who may then haunt you for the rest of your life. Never point at a grave or your finger may rot off – I found this out the hard way! I avoid unknown black cats on Halloween as meeting one could mean seven years bad luck - I phone rent-a-dog beforehand! Holding your breath whilst you drive by a cemetery is said to prevent evil spirits entering your body. Hold it for too long though and your funeral could be sooner than you think!

E Finally, if you were born on Halloween, it has been said that you can see and talk to spirits, so if it’s true, please get in touch with me and share your experiences!! Please use conventional methods as I don’t have a ouji board and my telepathic powers are down at present!

9

Two sides to the coin!

3

000 years ago a Chinese emperor created a park and called it the garden of intelligence.

This extensive park had many live animals. Back then such a park must have been a rarity.

Today however, zoo’s are accessible to millions of people worldwide in a world where natural areas are shrinking and populations are increasingly urbanised. For many people, a zoo has become the most accessible place to get in touch with wildlife.

Zoo’s offer visitors the opportunity to see some of the world’s most attractive and impressive animals in a reasonably natural setting. You may see brilliant butterflies fluttering in a tropical garden or penguins getting a shower of ice in an enclosure that mimics the frozen wastes of the Antarctic. You may walk through a miniature Equatorial Forest and spot some of the animals and birds that live in that habitat. Or you might enter a darkened chamber to observe animals that are active at night. In some zoo’s you can even see exhibits of birds of prey in flight or watch dolphins performing their own aerial aerobatics. The cages that used to house dangerous animals have gradually made way for open air enclosures with moats that separate the wild creatures from the public.

Some animal rights activists question whether species should be taken from the wild and confined in unnatural environments. These activists argue that zoo’s restrict the animals movements and disrupt their instinctive behaviour.

In reply to this criticism, zookeeper’s say that they carry out a vital role in conservation and education. Their intention is to engender respect for the animals and to create a desire from visitors to help conserve the animals habitats, without which they will not survive. Some surveys indicate that effective zoo exhibits do indeed increase public awareness of the need to protect endangered species.

Some rare species, such as the giant panda, seem to have developed a small place in the public’s affection. They remain to this day, a major attraction. Unlike the pandas, many animals do breed freely in zoo’s, thanks to improved conditions and good veterinary attention.

Successful breeding programs have helped answer critics who argued that zoo’s should not be involved in the trade of endangered species. Apart from maintaining a pool of animals for exhibition, many zoo’s also try to breed endangered animals in the hope that they can eventually be reintroduced into the wild.

A principle cause of extinctions in the wild is the loss of habitat. Thus, zoo’s have become actively involved in funding conservation programs.

Since most children have a natural fascination with animals, a trip to a zoo by the whole family offers parents the opportunity to teach their children about some of the animals on our amazing planet and together they can gaze at the face of nature, enhancing their respect and awareness of the wonderful creatures that inhabit our fragile planet.

So, who is right? The zoo’s or the activists? Perhaps the answer should come from the special being that created us and everything, whoever they may be!

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See our Duston, Kingsthorpe & Parklands magazines at www.northamptonmagazines.com

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The Castle

I

n our last issue, an article about the Great Fire of Northampton provoked a high degree of interest and we had many interesting emails, including information on the Castle itself. With this in mind and very kind assistance from the ‘Friends of Northampton Castle’ we take a look back at a key element of the towns history . . .

Soon after the Romans left Britain in 410, Northampton was establishing itself as a local seat of power with Saxon defences near the site of the Castle and St Peter’s Church. There were Saxon buildings in the area around Sol Central and St. Peter’s Church, and by the early 11th century, Northampton had numerous connections to powerful people of the time. lt is also known the towns original name was ‘Hamtun’ and this County town held the balance of power amongst the other Saxon kingdoms.

The Castle falls within the parish of St Peter’s and a few Roman pieces were found on the site probably as the road from the Roman site at Duston may have crossed the river Nene at this point. Significant pieces of Saxon (Danish) material have been found locally as well. In fact, King Cnut (Canute), who ruled Norway and Denmark, and England between 1016-35, married a Northampton lady named Aelfgifu, who ruled half of his kingdom for some years, and survived him.

One extremely powerful figure was Waltheof, Earl of Northampton under Edward the Confessor (1042-66). Waltheof’s daughter Matilda was related to William the Conqueror and married Simon de St. Liz I, who succeeded him and became the first Norman Earl of Northampton. St. Liz was instrumental in the building of the Castle as well as the Priory at St. Andrews and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Sheep Street among other Norman constructions. It is thought that some sort of Saxon or maybe Danish fortification already existed on the site, but it was St. Liz who directed the construction of the new Castle.

Like me, some of you may be trying to picture just exactly where the Castle was situated.

The present Castle site can be considered as being in two parts; the larger part to the West of St Andrew’s Road and a smaller part to the East. In the 19th century the river was moved to the west and the high ground on which the ruins of the castle stood was lowered and a terrace created that became St Andrew’s Road.

The land to the East was largely left undisturbed. During the demolition, antiquarians and surveyors recorded much that was uncovered and a large quantity of finds were saved and can be seen in Northampton Museum. In 1961-65 archaeological excavations were carried out on part of the surviving east side.

There is potentially more information to be found on the station side, particularly the earlier wooded castle and the Saxon defensive ditch, both of which would yield valuable information as to the ecology of the area in the past and lead to possible information on earlier human activities. The investigations in the 1960′s only investigated a portion of the existing area to the East of the St Andrew’s Road retaining wall. There are more features to be uncovered and the walls and wells exposed by the excavations are still largely buried and intact beneath the present grass.

14

e

Twenty years ago there was an upstanding section of a garderobe (a closet, or sometimes a toilet) wall by part of the bank which has been gradually taken away. The information plaques have also been vandalised by those who are totally ignorant of our heritage. The garderobe itself probably still survives under the eroded material at the base of the bank.

The only area listed at present is a small piece of land to the north-west corner of the St Andrew’s Road and Black Lion Hill junction. It seems that the only reason that this part was listed is because it was thought to be the only part of the original land surface on that side of the road. The unfortunate situation of the railway station thwarts any opportunity to discover more of the nature and extent of the Saxon defences and in both cases, the defence ditch and the river bed could yield valuable environmental information from the silts of these periods. It is felt by the Friends of Northampton Castle that more protection of what remains to the east of St Andrew’s Road is required and at least the opportunity to investigate specific areas and the preservation, even if re-sited, of the Postern gate and associated stonework.

The Postern Gate (pictured right) is the only structural part of the Castle that is visible today and was recovered from the Castle when it was demolished and quarried during the 1860’s. This gate was dismantled and rebuilt along with the wall in the 19th century and is now considered part of the boundary wall of the railway station just along from the new entrance.. The wall is also built of re-used Castle stone, but it is my view that this historic feature is fast becoming lost within the necessary modernisations that are currently in progress in that vicinity.

Additionally, Castle Hill Meeting House is also built from Castle stone.

Phillip Doddridge (1702-51) was the first minister and the building is still in use to this day.

The demise of the Castle has been largely blamed by the Black Death epidemic that swept through the County between 1349 and 1350. There followed a steady period of decline due to the upheavals caused by the enormous loss of population. By then, its strategic importance as the first major castle a day’s ride north of London had become less obvious. The last parliament was held in the Castle in 1380, although it did continue as a County Gaol.

By the reign of Elizabeth, between 1558 and 1603, the site was being described as ‘ruinous’ and the decline continued when, in 1662, Charles II ordered the partial demolition of the Castle as retribution for supporting the parliamentarian ‘Roundheads’ rather than Charles I’s ‘Cavaliers’ in the Civil War. Though the town walls suffered, only ‘part of the Castle walls’ were destroyed. The site was sold to Robert Haselrig (later Hazelrigg), whose family retained it until 1861, when it was sold to Samuel Walker who dug it for treasure. Finally the site passed to the L&NW Railway Co. who leveled the site to build a station.

It would be nice to think that sometime in the near future this vital piece of Northampton’s history will have its own on-site, illustrated heritage centre, where visitors could experience a real sense of what once stood beneath their feet, as well as the chance to view actual artifacts currently housed elsewhere.

To, at least, lend your support to the preservation of the site, please sign the petition at www.northamptoncastle.com

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Girl Potato and Boy Potato had eyes for each other, and finally they got married, and had a little sweet potato, which they called ‘Yam’.

Of course, they wanted the best for Yam so when it was time, they told her about the facts of life and the importance of marrying a guy with more than a nice jacket! They warned her about going out and getting half-baked, so she wouldn’t get accidentally mashed, and get a bad name for herself like ‘Hot Potato’. Yam said not to worry, no Spud would get her into the sack and make a rotten potato out of her! But on the other hand she wouldn’t stay home and become a Couch Potato either.

Before going to University, she decided to go off to Europe and then America. Mr. & Mrs. Potato told Yam to watch out for those hard-boiled guys from Ireland and the greasy guys from Paris, called the French Fries. Then when she got to the States, she was told to watch out for the Indians so she wouldn’t get scalloped and to beware of that other mob, the hash browns!

Yam studied Computer Science at King Edward College, Oxford, so that if she graduated she’d really be “in the Chips”. She also joined the G.M.P.U. (the Garlic Mash Potato Union).

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21

DISCOVER

T

he Northamptonshire Family History Society, a registered charity, was founded in 1976 and is a member of the Federation of Family History Societies.

It has a membership of around 875 members, from the UK and overseas. If you have an interest in tracing your family beginnings, or need advice on internet research, then pay us a visit. We will give help and assistance.

Meetings are held at the Weston Favell Parish Hall, on the third Monday in the month at 7:30 pm. apart from August. Most of the meetings will feature a guest speaker and other monthly meetings are held at Kettering, Rushden and Oundle all with a schedule of speakers. Members can attend meetings at all branches. See the NFHS website http://www.northants-fhs.org/.

A monthly surgery is held at the Northamptonshire Record Office at Wootton Hall Park, Mereway on the first Saturday of the Month. NFHS Members will be available to help with queries, help with finding records and all other aspects of family history. A help desk is also available on the third Saturday of the month at Wellingborough Museum in the Family History library where records and reference books can be viewed..

The Society maintains a list of Members Surname Interests that are published on the website, this enables members who are researching the same name to be able to make contact.Memorial Inscriptions from churches in the county are transcribed by two working Groups, from the North and South of the county and are published as booklets. Members also transcribe Birth, Marriage and Death records from the Parish records around the county. These are entered into the Society’s Personal Names Database.

Society membership brings with it a quarterly magazine “Footprints” along with a monthly Newsletter that is sent out by email. Footprints carries latest news, articles and reports on meetings whereas the newsletter complements this by adding the very latest news and notification of other meetings and events of interest to members. Yearly trips are run by the Society to the National Archives (TNA) to enable members to access their records.

A full day Conference is held every couple of years by the Society at a suitable location in the county with a range of speakers. This is an excellent chance to meet and question well known faces from the world of Family History and Genealogy who are normally only seen on the covers of books or on television.

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W

e recently caught up with ex-Saints legend, Bruce Reihana and fired a few questions at him. Here’s what he had to say . . . .

Where have you been playing your rugby since you left the Saints?

I’ve been playing my rugby in France (in the Top 14) with Bordeaux Begles for the last three years. They have a true mix of players from around the world that have come together to earn the right to represent the club and are a great bunch of boys, all fighting for each other to achieve higher standards.

Do you miss playing in the atmosphere of Franklins Gardens?

My time at Saints was special, and that was because of the people I played with, and more so because of the support I got from the fans. To hear fans chant my name made me want to give more and more for them. It’s an awesome atmosphere!!

What are your most vivid memories of your time at Saints?

Running out onto the gardens was always awesome and my name being echoed around the stadium on the P.A. gave me the drive to try and be the best every time I had the ball.

Who, in your opinion, is the most talented Saints player that you played alongside?

Ben Cohen had all the attributes of a world class player and that’s what he was. Ben had everything; work rate, strength, speed, power and all round catching and kicking skills.

Have you any plans or aspirations to coach rugby at a professional level?

Yes, I have always wanted to coach, so we will have to see what the future brings.

Having just retired from playing, what are you now doing with life after rugby?

I have joined my wife Laura in our network marketing business, distributing sports nutritional and health and wellbeing products. It’s brilliant and gives us time with the family and freedom to work from home or abroad, as well as the opportunity to travel the world. Forever Living has given us the opportunity to build a successful business and teach others to do the same such as ex-Saints teammate Luke Myring and his fiancé, Rachael who are also part of the Forever team.

With your experiences of the game in both New Zealand and England in mind, please tell us why the Kiwi’s seem to regularly dominate the world game? What is their secret?

The difference is, in New Zealand they concentrate loads on doing the basics WELL! Everyone works hard on their skill sets. Whether you’re a fullback or a prop, they ALL work on their skills.

Working hard to be a complete player!

Why do you use Forever Living Aloe Vera products?

I began to have stomach problems and wanted to try something natural. That was when Laura was introduced to Forever Living Products. Since then, I’ve never gone back. I feel amazing now and wish I had found them earlier in my career. During pre-season of 2013 I was achieving personal bests at the age of 37 and head coach, Raphael Ibanez asked what was different. I told him about the sports range from Forever Living and the team started using the Argi+ sports recovery drink and other products. It’s an awesome anti-dope tested product which has aided recovery after games and training sessions. It has stopped cramping and gives me increased energy levels. To find out more about the Forever Living Products or to apply to join the Forever Living team visit: www.liveyourforever.flp.com or contact Luke at: rachandluke@flp.com

A brief chat with

Bruce

27

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The Next Generation

Bridgewater Residents Association

F

ollowing a chance discussion down the field between Residents Association Chairman Lin Reeve and a group of youngsters, ideas were put forward by the young teenagers to hold a late summer fun event.

Encouraged by our recent progress on the green park land that borders Milverton Crescent, the group showed great enthusiasm towards raising funds for the further enhancement of our recreation facilities. The whole event - which took place on Saturday 13th September – returned a profit of over £400 through a range of family activities.

County Councillor Steven Legg supported the event by supplying much appreciated equipment – tables, chairs, covered accommodation and sound system. Councillors Norman Duncan, Penny Flavell, Mary Markham and Leader of the Council David McIntosh all attended and admired the enthusiasm of The Next Generation of the Bridgewater Residents Association, namely: Imogen and Eleanor Rayson, Taya and Kira Alakija, Emily Clark and Natalie Jones who organised the stalls.

Finally a big thank you to all the parents and members of the community who supported the event by providing prizes, cakes, sales items and trophies to ensure a super afternoon was enjoyed by all.

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29

A

lthough we’ve had some warmer days over September, the autumn is now upon us and it feels decidedly colder. It’s a beautiful time of year, with the trees changing colour. Sometimes it may seem pointless raking, when the wind blows even more leaves onto the lawn, but just think of all the lovely leafmould you can make! It’s also time to start preparing for early frosts.

Here is a brief list of some jobs that may need doing in most gardens around this time of year: 1. Clear up fallen autumn leaves regularly 2. Cut back perennials that have died down 3. Divide herbaceous perennials and rhubarb crowns 4. Move tender plants, including aquatic ones, into the greenhouse 5. Plant out spring cabbages 6. Harvest apples, pears, grapes and nuts 7. Prune climbing roses 8. Order seeds for next year Gardening Tips . . .

9. Last chance to mow lawns and trim hedges in mild areas 10. Renovate old lawns or create new grass areas by laying turf General Flower Maintenance If you’re like me and appreciate a garden with plenty of flowers, you might want to take note of a few of the following points as it may save you money in the long term: Raising patio containers onto bricks or purpose-made pot feet helps avoid the containers sitting in water during the winter.

Picking over alpines regularly, removing any autumn debris and covering died-back patches with extra grit will encourage their re-growth, thus avoiding a new purchase next year. Also, the moving of alpine troughs to a covered porch or lean-to will protect them from the rain.

As herbaceous plants die down for the winter, it’s best to remove stakes and other supports.

Make sure you bring all tender plants into the heated greenhouse or conservatory for the winter as most of them will be susceptible to low temperatures and frosts. If the sheltering area gets very cold, it’s sometimes worth having some old newspaper or plastic sheeting to hand to act as emergency cover.

If you’re unearthing bulbs with the intention of replanting them next year, storing in a dry dark place is recommended. Periodic checks for signs of top growth and healthy root system are needed and if evident you should bring them into a cool, light room to induce flowering.

Sowing and Planting You can plant wallflowers, forget-menot, Bellis, Primula, Viola (including winter pansies) and other spring bedding plants in prepared ground or pots.

In milder areas, it may still be possible to sow hardy annuals outside, to overwinter for a display next year.

When the autumn chill sets in . . .

30

October is also a good time to continue to plant springflowering bulbs and new herbaceous perennials, as the soil is still warm, but moister than it was during the summer. If you’re partial to Lillies, October is also a good time to plant bulbs into pots.

Other Maintenance Just after the first frosts hit dahlias and cannas is the ideal time to lift their tubers or rhizomes. They may overwinter in the ground in warmer regions if covered with a protective layer of straw or bracken, but be aware that flowering may be late and/or poor next year.

If you live in a cold area, it may be prudent to lift tender bulbs; Galtonia and Tigridia bulbs, for example, need lifting and storing over the winter.

Any remaining summer bedding plants struggling on in milder areas are best cleared and replaced, for a fresher display next time around.

Also, don’t neglect your hanging basket maintenance! A little deadheading, watering and feeding can sometimes keep them going until mid-autumn. Once they are past their best, re-plant with spring-flowering bulbs, winter heathers, trailing ivy and even spring bedding plants.

Hopefully, if you follow some of these tips, you will be able to maintain a degree of colour in your garden right through the winter. There’s nothing quite like a splash of colour!!

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25/07/2011 09:30

Firework SAFETY! With November the 5th coming soon, most of us realise the importance of maintaining a safe and secure environment at our Bonfire celebrations.

However, to be sure, it’s still well worth reviewing the safety code further down the page. If you’ve ever wondered about the origins of fireworks, I suppose it’s topically relevant to divulge a few things that some of you might find as enlightening as the fireworks themselves. If not, then just skip the next two paragraphs and read the safety code!

Apparently, the first fireworks were probably made in China, over 2,000 years ago, so it’s ironic that nowadays virtually everything we use is made in China except fireworks . . . . or are they? In the Far East, fireworks have been used at religious ceremonies for centuries and the Japanese still boast about setting off the world’s largest single firework at a festival in 1988.

The shell weighed over half a tonne and the burst was over a kilometre across - the Japanese word for firework is ‘hanabi’, and means ‘fire-flower’! Still in the Orient, a firecracker display in Malaysia, in 1988, used over 3 million crackers, measuring almost 6 kilometres and burned for over 9 hours - the longest display on record.

Across Europe, Italy and France are rumoured to be the first European countries to have used fireworks, back in the 1300’s. The first recorded use of fireworks in Britain was at the wedding of Henry VII in 1486. Fireworks of a different kind occured a few years later after Henry VIII became king. The first fireworks recorded in America were set off by an Englishman, Captain John Smith, famous in the story of Pocahontas.

A Firework Safety Code – some tips that may assist on the big night!

MWear earplugs when lighting fireworks. Without them, you can be left feeling dizzy, deaf and disorientated.

MWhen buying fireworks, make sure they comply with BS 7114 and are clearly marked for their intended use “Indoor, Garden or Display.”

MKeep fireworks in a sealed box or tin. Use them one at a time, replacing the lid immediately.

MNever put fireworks in your pocket.

MRead the instructions carefully, using a torch or hand lamp. Never use a naked flame.

MLight fireworks at arms length using a taper or a firework lighter.

MStand well back and never return to a firework after it has been lit - it could explode in your face!

MEnsure that all children with fireworks are well supervised.

MNever throw fireworks. It is a criminal offence to throw a firework in the street or a public place!

MKeep all pets and animals indoors.

MTake care of sparklers, wear gloves to hold them and dispose of sparklers in a bucket of water as soon as they are finished. Apparently, three sparklers burning together generate the same heat as a blow-torch! So if you’re in charge, please be watchful and aware of the dangers associated with firework displays.

35

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37

L

ike him or loathe him, a question has to be asked whether Marshal Mathers is entitled to be regarded as one of the worlds most gifted performers of all time. As a poet, his talent is unquestionable, but musically, his forthright and often abusive lyrics spoil his persona. In fact, some believe that his worldwide appeal would be considerably larger if his ‘all too often’ direct and abusive approach had been toned down in the early years of his musical life, where he used his initials to create his iconic stage name, Eminem.

So, is anyone to blame for influencing his vulgar offerings? Or is he simply a victim to an October birth date he shares with blond-haired strip club magnate Peter Stringfellow, who also seems to take great pleasure in upsetting the establishments. Fugees rapper Wyclef Jean, Ziggy Marley and the late motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel are other infamous, rebel-type names who share the same birth date of October 13th.

Looking back, it’s easy to find excuses. As a nine-year-old, Eminem was beaten so badly by a school bully that he spent over a week in a coma. His music has since been credited with helping to bring more than one fan out of similar states, including a twelve-year-old girl who was hit by a car in Northumberland. Despite his tearaway image and numerous brushes with the law, Marshall didn’t clock his first arrest until aged twenty, when he was apprehended for shooting at a cop car with a paintball gun. There was no word on whether the aftermath resembled a scene from Shady’s all-time favourite movie, classic gangster flick ‘Scarface’, but in light of his life history, we suspect, probably not!!

Marshall began rapping at the early age of 4, spending most of his childhood moving back and forth between Saint Joseph and suburban Detroit, Michigan, finally settling on the Eastside of Detroit when he was 12. He started pursuing his rap career seriously at the age of 14. That was the time when he began performing rap in the basement of his high school friend’s home. After failing at the 9th grade for the third time, he finally dropped out, saying that he wasn’t stupid, he just wasn’t interested in school because all he wanted to do was rap. At 17, he eventually made a name for himself, Eminem, which was taken from his initials M(arshall) M(athers).

Initially the Hip-Hop community, who were used to black rappers, refused to accept the white Eminem, who in the end found the easiest way to win over the underground hip-hop society was by becoming a battle rapper performing in several clubs and forcing himself on radio shows.

He wasn’t immediately accepted by the public, but as time rolled on he proved

38

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38

Will the real slim shady . .

himself as a qualified rapper. It was a rapper named Proof who then asked Eminem to start a new group, named D12, with 4 of their friends. Unfortunately, ended up focusing more on their solo careers rather than their collaboration.

It was the birth of Em’s first child, Hailie Jade Scott on December 25, 1995 with longtime girlfriend Kim Scott, that encouraged him to work harder for the money his family needed. Life was difficult for him, as he had nothing except the “sucks” life experiences he used as the topic of his rap lyrics. One year later , in 1996, Eminem recorded his first album “Infinite”, but he received few reviews.

Learning from this failure, he soon introduced Slim Shady, an alter ego that wasn’t afraid to say whatever he felt. Working on the song with all his heart and strength, Em poured his heart out and reflected his feelings toward his mother who was accused of physically and mentally abusing his younger brother.

In 1997, a marriage break up led him to depression and the release of the brutal “The Slim Shady EP”, which he actually filled with some of the compositions he had written a long time before. Due to his distinctly-exaggerated, nasal-voiced rapping style and his skin color, many people named him music’s next “great white hope.” He finally signed a contract with Interscope and in early 1999, over the next year, the album went triple platinum, leaving the pros and cons over the album’s lyrics far behind. His success continued with “The Marshall Mathers LP” released in the summer of 2000. It sold 1.76 million copies in its first week of release in the U.S., a record for a solo artist, successfully won 3 Grammies and became the first rap album ever to be nominated Abum of the Year.

In 2001, he re-formed D-12 and in that summer they released an album and hit the road. This was followed by an acting debut in “8 Mile”, a film loosely based on his life. He won the 2003 Academy Award for the soundtrack titled “Lose Yourself”. Then came “The Eminem Show” album, which despite its popular second single “Cleanin’ My Closet” provoked many critics.

Regardless, it was a huge success commercially. Another well-received album “Encore”, with his old buddies in D12, soon followed in 2004. It was nominated for three Grammys and made digital history back then for becoming the first album to sell 10,000 digital copies in one week. He then took a break, saying he was “in limbo”. The future was uncertain.

In May 2009, his fans rejoiced as a comeback album “Relapse” was rolled out and topped the Hot 200, becoming the best-selling rap CD by the end of December. New music kept coming as he dropped another album “Recovery” which produced smash hits like “Not Afraid” and “Love the Way .....You Lie” and he collected more Grammy Awards. He even scored his bestselling single to date with 10.25 million sold worldwide for the Rihanna-assisted track.

Fans’ demand for new music after two years of absence was answered in 2013 with “The Marshall Mathers LP 2” with “Berzerk” as a lead single. Lauded by critics, it was named one of the most anticipated albums of 2013.

In August 2014, Eminem’s ‘Monster Tour’ with Rihanna received rave reviews, taking the States by storm with every venue sold out.

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39

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01604 716768 The shop offers a variety of wools from Sirdar, Debbie Bliss and Noro, as well as Pony knitting pins and crochet hooks and a range of haberdashery essentials Workshops . Drop in Sessions Knitting classes . Project days Knit & Natter Knitting & Crochet Techniques Needles & Natter Group - 2nd Thursday of the month 7-9 pm www.kingsleyknitting.co.uk 70 Kingsley Park Terrace, Northampton NN2 7HH please mention abington & around when responding to adverts

Northamptonshire Camra Pub of the Season Autumn 2013 for real ale

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FOAP greenflag

These last few weeks have been momentous for Abington Park. We worked frantically alongside the Council, Park Ranger, Community Payback team and others to prepare for the Green Flag inspection.

Unbeknown to us they had organised a pre-visit two days in advance of the formally organised day. At that point they met our volunteers and hard working team preparing the Boules area – timed to be ready for their visit. They were extremely impressed that this had been organised and paid for by the Friends and we like to think that this also contributed the excellent news that we have been awarded Green Flag status.

The Boules has been our other main focus this year. It has proved incredibly complex and costly but thanks to many donations, company generosity in sponsoring the project and volunteer helpers we are well underway. As we go to press we await the installation of the fencing and the delivery of the final top layer of surface chippings.

The memorial rose garden, again funded by the Friends, is thriving and adds to the overall design and presentation of the memorial Gardens as well as being a centrepiece for the Northampton Britain in Bloom entry.

All in all Friends are making a contribution to the community life in Abington – so integral to the original ambitions of Lady Wantage when The she gifted the land to the people of the town.

We will be planning a major event to formally open the Boules area, so keep an eye out and do come and join us! You can also help by joining, or encouraging others to join the Complementary Therapies Friends – we need to continually keep up the For Mind, Body & Soul high standards in the park to maintain our Green Flag status. .

Hard work in the park pays off!

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Gift Vouchers Available Lime Avenue, Abington, Northampton NN3 2HA

Anne Stevens, Secretary Friends of Abington Park, Chair, Abington Park Management Committee To find out more about the Friends contact: friendsofabingtonpark@gmail.com or visit our website: www.abingtonpark.org.uk or Tel: 01604 631890

43

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Win Two Free Tickets To the FESTIVE GIFT FAIR at the NEC on 20-23 November 2014

YES, THERE ARE 20 PAIRS OF TICKETS UP FOR GRABS! TO BE ENTERED INTO THE DRAW, SIMPLY SEND AN EMAIL AS INSTRUCTED BELOW - WINNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY POST ONLY

Bring your Christmas List and go home with bags full of gifts!

Join in the fun as the fabulous FESTIVE GIFT FAIR, the most wonderful shopping Fair of the Year, returns to the NEC for four days from 20 – 23 November 2014.

Christmas is all in the preparation! It takes lots of planning!

Start with a trip to THE FESTIVE GIFT FAIR and you will see how easy it is to find everything you need for the perfect Christmas, all under one roof.

From the moment you walk into the Fair, you will be caught up in the excitement of the day, exploring over 325 stalls full of clever new gift ideas and decorations that don’t cost the earth. The variety is huge, with something for ALL the family – from babies to teenagers, from parents to grandparents!

And when your bags are full, drop them off at the Present Crèche and continue to shop, stop for a bite to eat and enjoy the atmosphere created by bands, choirs and entertainers. Whether you win or not, it’s a cracking day out!!

You can find full show information, list of exhibitors, travel details and even book extra tickets for your friends by visiting: www.festivegiftfair.co.uk

TO ENTER THIS FREE DRAW: Send your entries by email to: elaine@the-consultancy.com The subject box of your email should say:

“Festive Gift Fair free ticket offer - Abington & Around Magazine” Also state your full name and postal address 45

A

round this time last year, an Austrian court ordered a bank robber be given back £51,000 that he stole 19 years ago.

Our villian is ex-bank clerk-cum-robber, Otto Neuman, who stole £150,000 in cash as well as gold bars and gold coins from his own branch in 1993.

After getting into financial difficulties, he recruited two accomplices to stage a fake robbery at the Erste Bank in Vienna’s Doebling district. By the time police caught up with them, only £51,000 and the gold could be recovered. The rest of the money had gone.

The gold went to the insurance company which had already paid the bank for its loss, but the cash had been sitting at the Austrian Justice Ministry ever since. Totally out of the blue, Neuman’s lawyer, Herbert Eichenseder, was contacted by court officials and asked to help return the stolen money to his client as the bank felt it had no claim on the money because it had been compensated in full by its insurance company.

In turn, the insurers said they didn’t want it as they had not lost out either. The stolen gold had increased in value so much that it covered all of the money paid to the bank. Eichenseder couldn’t believe what the court were telling him but checked it out and found it was correct. He then ventured into his archives in a cellar to find the details of the case as it was 19 years old - and managed to track down his client’s details and contacted him to tell him the news.

Not surprisingly, the transaction went through straight away! Not surprisingly, to this day, Otto Neuman’s whereabouts are unknown.

STRANGE BUT TRUE!

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THE POPPIES AT THE TOWER

Wednesday 29 & Thursday 30 October Your chance to see the Poppies at the Tower of London.

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Coming for 2015 – Rhubarb Festival Weekend in February!

If you need to use a service, please try to support our advertisers where you can!

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See this magazine and more online at www.northamptonmagazines.com

Quinton House School Independent, co-educational 2 – 18 years

Considering options for your child’s future education?

Our doors are always open – come and visit us. Our dedicated team can offer support and guidance to help you make an informed decision.

We offer: • Nurturing, supportive school with a family atmosphere • Traditional values and academic challenge for every child • Excellent Sport, Drama and Art facilities, as well as fully equipped Science laboratories, sports hall and Food Technology suite • Wrap around care from 8am to 6pm included in the fees • Transport to school and home at end of school day and after clubs

For further information, help or advice, please contact us on 01604 684828 or visit our website www.quintonhouseschool.co.uk please mention abington & around when responding to adverts

B1496 QH 89x124L 3.indd 1

12/09/2014 10:37

Local Football Update

T

he United Counties Football League is classed as semiprofessional and includes three clubs that are situated

by Andy Goldsmith in the town. This column will keep you up to date with the teams’ fortunes throughout the 2014/2015 season.

Northampton Sileby Rangers – Premier Division (based at Fernie Fields near Parklands).

After a season of struggle last time out, Sileby have a number of new players on board as they prepare for their second UCL Premier campaign. Manager, Daren Young has returned to his former club Stewarts & Lloyds to snap up goalkeeper David Allan and midfielder Adam Saunders, while the side’s goal power has been given a boost by the arrival of last season’s top scorer in the Northants Combination, Brian Farrell who bagged 38 goals for Stanion. Other new signings are Leatherhead defender Steve Dasse, Northampton Spencer midfielder Zondi Chunga, Beckenham forward Anton Campbell and the returning Jimi Emefuna.

Rangers started their league campaign with three defeats. A 3-0 opening day loss at Yaxley was followed by defeats at AFC Kempston Rovers and Harrowby. In the opening round of the FA Cup, Sileby hosted Spartan South Midlands League outfit, Hillingdon Borough and won comfortably 3-0 to earn the rights to face AFC Kempston Rovers, but the Bedfordshire side claimed their second Northampton scalp, winning 4-0. On September 13 the team were held 1-1 at Buckby.

Northampton Spencer - Division One (based in Studland Road, Kingsthorpe).

Spencer start as one of the pre-season favourites after a strong finish secured fourth spot last season. The club will have a familiar look about them as the new campaign swings into action with the squad showing few changes. Manager, Ben Stone has Midfielder, Ashley Simpson returning to the fold after taking a break last term while new signings are Milton defender, Lee Haines and striker, Sam Dengel who scored 56 goals for Daventry Drayton Grange in the Northants Combination last term.

Spencer kicked of their league campaign with two wins, a draw and a defeat. On the opening day, they were held 1-1 at home by Potton United. This was followed by a high scoring 4-3 away win at Buckingham, a victory which was soured by defender, Dean Hall’s broken leg. A two goal home defeat by Thrapston and a impressive 4-1 home win over Blackstones followed.

In the FA Cup, Spencer hosted Premier side, AFC Kempston and in a game of wasted chances by both teams, the visitors won 2-0, going through to play Sileby. Since then Olney, Whitworths, Bugbrooke and Burton have all tasted defeat as Spencer march up the table.

Northampton ON Chenecks - Division One (based in Billing Road, Abington).

After an excellent season in 2013-14 Chenecks show few personnel changes ahead of the new season. Defensive recruits are Sam Watkins from Sileby and former Spencer and Cogenhoe man Bobby Leah and midfield arrivals are ex-Coventry Copsewood man, Adam Spalding and Liam Butcher from Harpole. Chenecks start to the season is made difficult by having to play a series of consecutive away games because of ground-share cricket facilities.

Graham Cottle’s team started with three wins and two defeats. On the opening day they recorded a 2-1 win at Rothwell Corinthians, but were brought back down to earth the following Tuesday by Aidy Mann’s Rushden & Higham United as they were impressively beaten 5-2 at Hayden Road. This was followed by good wins at Potton and S&L Corby. Then came disappointments at Peterborough Sports (1-2) and Blackstones (0-1). A recent 2-3 home reverse against leaders, Lutterworth was followed by an excellent 3-1 win at Whitworths.

49

Bacon burger with relish recipe Serves 4 Prep time 30 minutes. Total time: Over 60 Minutes Syns per serving: FREE4Add 6 Syns if not using Wholemeal roll as a Healthy Extra on Original, Green and Extra Easy. Add 6 Syns if not using Extra lean minced beef (cooked weight) as a Healthy Extra on Green.

Ingredients 1 bunch spring onions 400g lean beef mince (5% fat or less) 2 tsp freshly chopped parsley 4 rashers of bacon, lean Salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 tbsp freshly chopped chives Green salad leaves 4 x 60g wholemeal rolls.

Relish: Low calorie cooking spray 1 onion, peeled and roughly chopped 1 tsp mild chilli powder 225g passata 3 tbsp sweetener 4 tbsp balsamic vinegar 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce ½ tsp mustard powder Salt and freshly ground black pepper Method Finely slice the spring onions, place in a bowl with the beef, parsley and seasoning. Combine with your hands and shape into 4 burgers about 10cm in diameter. Cover and chill for 30 minutes. Place the burgers under a medium/hot grill for 6-7 minutes on each side until cooked through. Add the bacon for the last 5 minutes of cooking. Layer the salad leaves, bacon, burger and relish in the rolls and serve immediately.

Relish: Spray a pan with the low calorie cooking spray and sauté the onion and chilli powder over a high heat for 5 minutes until softened. Stir in the remaining ingredients, bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes until thickened. Check seasoning before serving hot or cold.

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Cna yuo rade tihs?

What’s your earliest memory of reading? Did you read by torchlight after your parents put you to bed? Which author makes you think of your childhood? These are the memories every child deserves but unfortunately one in three homes in the UK does not even have a book in, meaning that many children lose out on the love and passion for reading and books. Beanstalk is a charity that operates across Northamptonshire and aims to develop the love and enjoyment of books in children who are behind or struggling with their reading.

Why are we needed? Research has shown that poor literacy leads to low employment prospects, disengagement and is closely linked with poverty, educational under-achievement, crime and long term unemployment. Around 1,300 children left primary school in Northamptonshire last year behind where they should be for their age.

What does the Beanstalk reading helper do? As a reading helper you will work with 3 children and spend 30 minutes with each child twice a week, you will chat, read and play games. We provide training to our reading helpers before they start and ensure they have resources for all their sessions.

To share a quote from one of our existing reading helpers, he commented that: ‘The children give me immense joy and pride, in seeing children develop during the course of the school year is amazing. I enjoy their smiles, the fun, the stories and their humour’.

What to do now if you may be able to help?

Contact the Northampton office on 01604 720969 or email northamptonshire@ beanstalkcharity.org.uk or apply online straight away http://www.beanstalkcharity.org.uk/ reading-helpers/how-to-apply.

Goff Smith

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• Garden clearance including hardcore, spoil, wood, etc.

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To advertise call Bev on 07747 632918 or email: admin@northamptonmagazines.com

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One off cleans available POA

View our other publications at www.northamptonmagazines.com

Mark Elliott Funeral Services Northamptonshire

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For a free estimate please call Mick on

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m.prigmore@sky.com No job too small!! please mention abington & around when responding to adverts

The night sky

A

t this time of year the nights get much shorter and we spend less time in the garden.

Although the long summer evenings are long gone, an astronomer enjoys the return of dark long nights, ideal for observing the night sky in all its glory. Look high up towards the south, to see three stars fairly wide apart. These mark what we call the summer triangle, although it is visible right into late autumn. This is marked by the three bright stars, - Deneb in Cygnus - The Swan, Vega in Lyra – The Lyra and Altair in Aquila – The Eagle. If you can get out of town to a really dark sky, you should be able to see the hazy band of our Milky Way Galaxy running right through this area of sky. If you are an early riser, get up at 5am on the 18th of October. The crescent moon will be close to a very bright “star”. This is the planet Jupiter (pictured below).

Use binoculars on Jupiter and you will see some of its many moons around it.

At 6pm on the 28th of October at around 5:30pm look low towards the southwest. You will be able to see a nice crescent moon shining down. Can you see the dark side lit up by the light reflecting off the clouds of the Earth? Look below the moon a short way and you should be able to see a bright reddish star. This is the planet Mars, long a source of speculation about aliens. We now know the planet has very little atmosphere so cannot support complex life.

On the 19th of November we are treated to a meteor shower. Unfortunately the flashes of light, (expect to see at least 20 per hour), will only be visible in the early hours of the morning. So set your alarm and get out and enjoy the free firework show. By Dave Eagle, Northampton Natural History Society

in October and November

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55

The Saint...

O

ven Saints is now coming to the end of of its first year of trading and thankfully it has been a successful year - far better than I could have hoped for. After being in my job for 23 years i was made redundant, although I had the offer of another job, it still meant getting up at 4am and working 45 or more hours per week.

I liked the idea of being my own boss and had considered an oven cleaning franchise but I felt that as an independent trader, Oven Saints could provide a service that was as reliable, trustworthy and better value for money because I wouldn’t have the overheads of a big franchise.

I wanted the name to be “local” and memorable, I kept coming back to a Saints theme, and after input from various friends “Oven Saints” was born. I undertook the relevant training, obtained my full public liability insurance and had my diary ready waiting for the calls!

I spent the first few weeks delivering my leaflets to get my name around. Calls started coming in which led to more “word of mouth” bookings and gradually my diary was becoming busy.

We started to advertise in this magazine which has been a fantastic platform for my business.

So far this year Oven Saints have been able to offer several “free” oven cleans as prizes to local charities. I have managed to build up a potentially good client base, with a number of repeat customers already. I have worked with Lettings Agents, Care Homes, Maintenance Companies and Schools. I am hoping that the Oven Saints name will continue to thrive.

MY SUCCESS IS BUILT ON MY CUSTOMERS SATISFACTION.

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Oven Saints Qualified In Heating Since 1989

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Haynes Carpentry & Security Services • Local Dependable Tradesman • Over 10 Years Experience & City & Guilds NVQ L3 Qualified • All Your Carpentry Needs Carried Out Including:

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What’s on in October & November 1-18 Oct Cat on a Hot tin Roof at Royal Theatre 3 Oct Comedy all Stars at Lings Forum Tel: 837300 4 Oct O.N’s 1st XV v Mansfield at Billing Rd (3pm) 4 Oct Antiques Fayre at Abington Church rooms, Park Ave North 10-4pm Plenty of browsing & refreshments 5 Oct Michael Palin at Derngate 6 Oct Sir Roger Moore at Derngate 6-12 Oct Friends of Northampton Castle presents “Beckett” by Jean Anoulth at the Guildhall Daily till 9 Oct A Shoemaker goes to War exhibition at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery 8 Oct Johnny Cash Tribute at Derngate 9 Oct 10CC at Derngate 11 Oct Cobblers v Burton Alb at Sixfields 11 Oct Saints v Sale Sharks (GP) at Franklins Gardens 16 Oct Coffee Morning -Ab History 10.30 at Abtn Library 17 Oct Northampton Male Voice Concert at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. In aid of Spencer Contact. Tickets: 587589 18 Oct O.N’s 1st XV v Newark at Billing Rd (3pm) 21-25 Oct This is my Family at Royal Theatre 21 Oct Cobblers v Oxford Utd at Sixfields 24 Oct 60’s Gold at Derngate 25 Oct Ladies Pamper day at Cynthia Spencer Hosp 678088 25 Oct Saints v Ospreys (HC) at Franklins Gardens 25 Oct O.N’s 1st XV v Syston at Billing Rd (3pm) 31 Oct Saints v Newcastle Falcs (GP) at Franklins Grds 28 Oct – 1 Nov South Pacific at Derngate 29 Oct Microscience day at Abington Library 10-4pm 30 Oct Hal Cruttenden at Royal Theatre 31 Oct Saints v Newcastle Falcs (GP) at Franklins Grds

QUIZ ANSWERS from page 6 CROSSWORD: ACROSS 1. Obit 4. Assembly 8. Firmly 9. Trusty 10. Bede 11. Sanctify 13. Beautification 16.

Elephant 19. Ache 20. Biopic 22.B akery 23.

Carlisle 24. Days DOWN 2. Bridewell 3. Tempest 4. Abyss 5.

Satanic 6. Mount 7.Lot 12. foolhardy 14. Francis 16. Thanked 17. Papal 18. Table 21. ISA SPORTSWORD: 1. Anthony Allen 2. Matthew Upson 3. Ellie Richardson 4. Luis Enrique 5. Ishant Sharma 6. Egon Muller, The ex- Wimbledon champion is Amelie Mauresmo

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1 Nov Cobblers v Wimbledon at Sixfields 1 Nov Friends of Abington Library AGM 2pm 1 Nov Antiques Fayre at Abington Church rooms, Park Ave North 10-4pm Plenty of browsing & refreshments 3 Nov Squeeze at Derngate 6 Nov Comedy all Stars at Duston Sports Centre T:837600 6 Nov Jools Holland at Derngate 6 Nov Pete Firman at Royal Theatre 7 Nov Marty Wilde at Derngate 8 Nov Lest we Forget at Derngate 8 Nov Bonfire / Firework Night at Parklands C. Centre 8 Nov Eric & Little Ern at Royal Theatre 9 Nov Rememberance Day at All Saints Church (Town) 9 Nov Wedding Fair at Brampton Golf Club 10-15 Nov Full Monty at Derngate 15 Nov Saints v Exeter Chiefs (GP) at Franklins Grds 15 Nov O.N’s 1st XV v Spalding at Billing Rd (3pm) 15-18 Nov Northampton Charter Festival in Town Ctre 18-19 Nov Lee Mack at Derngate 20 Nov Christmas Lights switch on in Town Centre TBC 20 Nov Coffee Morning-Nat History 10.30 at Abtn Libry 22 Nov Cobblers v Stevenage at Sixfields 22 Nov Strictly Northampton at Derngate 25 Nov Jimmy Carr at Derngate 26 Nov La Traviata at Derngate 26 Nov – 4 Jan Merlin at Royal Theatre 28 Nov Alan Davies at Derngate 29 Nov That’ll be the Day at Derngate 5 Dec – 4 Jan Peter Pan Panto at Derngate Saturdays - Ab library ‘Storytime’ for under 5’s 11.30-12

27 Mar A Performance of Oliver Twist by James Hornsby at Abington Booking advised

BAR & KITCHEN

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To ADVERTISE in ABINGTON & AROUND magazine call BEV on 07747 632918 or EMAIL: abington@localmags.info Deadline for our DECEMBER issue is 10th of NOVEMBER

School Term Dates Term 1 (2014/15)

Thursday 4 September to Friday 24 October 2014

Term 2 (2014/15)

Monday 4 November to Friday 19 December 2014

Term 3 (2014/15)

Monday 5 January to Friday 13 February 2015

Term 4 (2014/15)

Monday 23 February 2015 to Friday 27 March 2015 (dates taken from N.C.C. website & may vary)

USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made not to infringe copyright or image ownerships where applicable.

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Abington Medical Centre 01604 723420 Abington Park Surgery 01604 630396 Al-Anon Family Groups 0207 403 0888 Citizens Advice Bureau 0870 1202433 Electricity (power loss) 0800 056 8090 Gas (emergency) 0800 111 999 King Edward Medical Centre (Ardington Road) 01604 611600 Neighbour Watch 08453 700700 ext.7536 National Assoc Blind 01604 719193 Northampton General Hospital Main 01604 634700 A & E 01604 545601 Outpatients 01604 545485 Police Emergency 101 New Landcross Post Office 01604 621377 Samaritans 08457 909090 Water (emergency) 08457 145 145

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