DNfourteen Magazine Issue No.153 December 2022

Welcome to our December 2022 edition of the DNfourteen magazine - I don’t know where 2022 has gone! It has flown by.

On behalf of myself and the team here at the magazine

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all our readers and advertisers a very Happy Christmas and a Healthy and Prosperous 2023.

We have some interesting articles and features in this months edition ranging from how to give your bathroom that wow factor in the House & Home section. We have a super recipe for a slow cooker Chicken Curry - which I intend to cook over the Christmas break. We have a great selection of new books to read. We also have great advice on what you should be doing in your gardens this month. We have tickets for Slade in Leeds and the 60’s Christmas Show in Hull to give away too. As usual we finish off with Fiona Dwyer’s column.

If you have not advertised in the magazine before and are considering it - please give me a call as we have some great new offers for 2023. The magazine is full of local advertisers covering everything from Decorators to Window Cleaners - So please use them and keep our local economy strong.

Until next month please stay safe.

Jane Editor

Please note that whilst we take care to be accurate, no liability will be accepted under any circumstances should any of the content of this magazine be incorrect. The views expressed in the articles are not necessarily those of the publisher. All rights reserved.

Published by DNfourteen Magazine. Printed by DaltonSpire Ltd.

ADD THE WOW FACTOR TO YOUR BATHROOM

Bathrooms don’t have to be bland, white, clinical spaces. All too often the room we inherit from builders or previous owners is full of hard shiny surfaces and uninspiring tiles. But there’s no reason why a bathroom shouldn’t feel as warm and welcoming as every other room in the house. Even if you are not planning on a complete refurb yet, there are lot’s of ways you can add the wow factor to the bathroom and turn it into a space you are happy to be in. And one that even makes you smile every time you open the door.

Wallpaper and Accent Colours

Wallpaper can be used in the bathroom. And it’s probably the quickest and easiest way to add colour and pattern. As long as the room is well ventilated and the paper has been hung well, there should be no cause for concern. You can always use a couple of coats of varnish if you are worried. This will seal

the edges but – word of caution – it may change the colours of the wallpaper slightly. A more sensible solution would be to hang the wallpaper well away from any areas that may get splashed, such as the opposite wall to the bath, or on the top half of the wall with wooden panelling or tiles on the bottom half.

A punchy accent colour is also a good option for bathrooms that are lacking colour. It’s also a good solution for using up halfused or leftover tins of paint.

Get Creative With Tiles

I love a white metro tile, but they definitely have their place. Usually in a bathroom that already has features in abundance. But if you have a contemporary space that is just crying out for some personality, why not get creative with tiles? There are lots of different

shapes available in the shops and some quite bold colours too. If everything else is plain, they will add much needed colour and interest. I particularly like the way the tiles above are left at the top to mimic waves. Very apt.

Continued on page 6

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These days most homeowners suffer from a lack of storage space. So many precious items that need to be kept but where to store it all? That’s where Yorkshire Loft Ladders come in.

The company, based locally, offers homeowners the opportunity to maximise their storage space with a loft ladder, 50 sq ft of boarding and a light all fully fitted in less than a day from just £277 + VAT. But it’s not just the affordability of the package the company offers that makes Yorkshire Loft Ladders stand out as manager Warren Ingleson explains:

‘Our watchwords are Quality,

Integrity and Value. Quality in the materials that we use for all our installations and the fact that all our loft packages are fitted by time served tradesmen so our customers are assured of the best job. Integrity in that we will turn up at the time we say and make sure the house is spotless when we leave, and Value in that we offer our services at a price people can afford. Our business relies on referrals and we got a huge amount of our calls from people who have been referred to us by our existing customers that simply wouldn’t happen if we didn’t adhere to our overriding principles.

At the end of the day the old adage that happy customers

lead to more happy customers is true and we work hard to make that happen for every installation we carry out!’

So, if you want to make use of your loft space, however big or

small, call Warren on 0800 612 8359 and he’ll be happy to pop round and give you a no obligation quote so you too can make use of your loft!

Add Luxurious Details

Decorative details will also make the difference between meh and fab! Treat the bathroom to some luxury with a decorative chandelier, a plush rug, plants, candles and things that just make you smile.

Go Down the Traditional Route

If your tastes run more to the traditional style of bathroom, you can’t go wrong with wooden panelling in place of shiny tiles. It’s a look that will never go out of style and will always look classy. As do twin sinks. Probably something to put on the back-burner until you go down the whole refurbishment route, but definitly bathroom-goals for most of us. Don’t forget to add matching mirrors, wall lights and a patterned rug for a homely touch.

Try a Paint Effect

A waterfall-effect ombré wall in a cascading ocean palette is the perfect way to create a feature wall in the bathroom. Start painting from the bottom with

your lightest colour of chalk paint first. Apply the middle shade above your first colour, then use a clean brush to lightly feather the paint while it’s still wet, blending each colour into the next. Finish with your darkest colour at the top of the wall and repeat the blending process. Then seal the entire wall with wax.

Go Wild With Colour

Who says a bathroom has to be white? As you would when decorating any other room in the house, start with a moodboard of ideas. You will be amazed how effective

and satisfying combining colours and surfaces can be. Be adventurous with patterns, colours and even porcelain shades. If the rest of your home is a riot of colour, why shouldn’t the bathroom be the same?

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Recipe

Slow Cooker Chicken Curry

This is an easy chicken curry recipe that you can adjust to your own heat preference. Frying the onion and spices initially helps create a deeper flavour.

Hands-on time 15min. Cooking time about 8hr 15min. Serves 4

Ingredients

l 1tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil

l 1 onion, finely chopped l 3 garlic cloves, crushed l 1tsp ground cumin l 1tsp ground coriander l 11/2tbsp garam masala l 1-3tsp hot paprika, to taste l 2tbsp tomato purée

l 3cm piece fresh root ginger, peeled and finely grated l 400g tin chopped tomatoes l 200ml coconut milk

l 1tsp caster sugar l 650g chicken thigh fillets

l Large handful coriander, roughly chopped

Method

1 Heat the oil in a medium pan over low-medium heat and cook the onion for 8-10min, until softened. Stir in the garlic, ground cumin and coriander, the garam masala and 1tsp paprika and cook for 1min, until aromatic.

2 Add the tomato purée and cook for 1min, then stir in the ginger, tomatoes, coconut milk, sugar and some seasoning. Transfer to a slow cooker.

3 Trim and discard excess fat and sinew from the chicken. Cut into roughly 5cm pieces. Add to slow cooker; stir to coat. Cover with lid; cook on low for 6-8hr, until chicken is cooked through.

4 Check seasoning, adding more paprika to taste. Stir in 1/2 the coriander; divide between 4 bowls. Garnish with remaining coriander and serve with rice and mango chutney, if you like.

NO SLOW COOKER? NO PROBLEM!

Add the prepared chicken to the pan at the end of step 2. Simmer on the hob for 15-20min, or until the chicken is cooked through. Complete the recipe.

PER SERVING: 418cals, 31g protein, 27g fat (12g saturates), 11g carbs (9g total sugars), 2g fibre

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10

New for December

Whether you’re looking for ways to pass the time at home or you find yourself in need of a new read for your holiday, there are plenty of recent and forthcoming autobiographies to get stuck into. From emotionally charged memoirs to tell-all diaries, make some space on your bedside table for these top releases.....

A Visible Man by Edward Enninful

A Visible Man traces an astonishing journey into one of the world’s most exclusive industries. Edward Enninful candidly shares how as a Black, gay, working-class refugee, he found in fashion not only a home, but the freedom to share with people the world as he saw it. When Enninful became first Black editor-inchief of British Vogue, few at the heights of the elitist world of fashion wanted to confront how it failed to represent the world we live in. But Enninful, a champion of inclusion throughout his life, rapidly changed that. Now, whether it’s putting first responders, octogenarians or civil rights activists on the cover of Vogue, or championing designers and photographers of colour, Enninful has cemented his status as one of the world’s most important change-makers. This is the story of a visionary who changed not only an industry, but how we understand beauty.

I Fear My Pain Interests You by Stephanie LaCava

Margot is the child of renowned musicians and the product of a particularly punky upbringing. Burnt out from the burden of expectation and the bad end of her worst relationship yet, she leaves New York and heads to the Pacific Northwest. She’s seeking to escape both the eyes of the world and the echoing voice of that last bad man. But a chance encounter with a

dubious doctor in a graveyard, and the discovery of a dozen old film reels, opens the door to a study of both the peculiarities of her body and the absurdities of her famous family. American author Stephanie LaCava’s new novel is a sexy and moving exploration of culture and connections, bodies and breakdowns – and a must for anyone who loves film.

My Policeman by Bethan Roberts

A tragic tale of thwarted love set in 1950s Brighton, the story centres on Marion, who meets policeman Tom. Over a summer, he teaches her to swim in the shadow of the pier and Marion is smitten – determined her love will be enough for them both. A few years later at the Brighton Museum, Patrick meets Tom. Patrick is besotted with this new man, who opens his eyes to a glamorous, sophisticated new world. Tom belongs to both Marion and Patrick, but in this age, it is safer for him to marry Marion. The two lovers agree to share him – until one of them breaks and all three lives are destroyed.

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng

From the number-one bestselling author of Little Fires Everywhere, this is a deep, heart-wrenching novel about the unbreakable love between a mother and child in a society consumed by fear. Twelve-year-old Bird Gardner lives a quiet existence with his loving but broken father, a talented linguist now relegated to shelving books in a library. For a decade, their lives have been governed by laws written to preserve ‘American culture’ in the wake of years of economic instability and violence. To keep the peace and restore prosperity, the authorities are now allowed to relocate children of dissidents, especially those of Asian origin, and libraries have been forced to remove books seen as unpatriotic – including the work of Bird’s mother, a Chinese-American poet who left the family when he was nine. Bird has grown up disavowing his mother and her poems; he doesn’t know her work or what happened to her, and he knows he shouldn’t

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wonder. But when he receives a mysterious letter containing only a cryptic drawing, he is drawn into a quest to find her.

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell

Maggie O’Farrell brings the world of Renaissance Italy to life in her newest book. It’s Florence in the 1560s. Third daughter Lucrezia is free to wander her palazzo at will, wondering at its treasures. But when her older sister dies on the eve of marriage to Alfonso d’Este, heir to the Duke of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio, Lucrezia is thrust into the limelight. Alfonso is quick to request her hand in marriage, and her father to accept on her behalf. Having barely left girlhood, Lucrezia must now make her way in a troubled court where her arrival is not universally welcomed. Perhaps most mystifying of all is her husband himself. Is he the playful sophisticate he appears before their wedding or the ruthless politician even his formidable sisters seem to fear? As Lucrezia sits in uncomfortable finery for the painting to preserve her image for centuries to come, one thing becomes worryingly clear. In the court’s eyes, she has one duty: to provide the heir who will shore up the future of the Ferrarese dynasty. For all her rank and nobility, her future hangs in the balance.

The Story of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel

How many women artists do you know? Who makes art history? Did women even work as artists before the 20th century? And what is the Baroque? In this fascinating book by the creator of @ TheGreatWomenArtists, Sofonisba Anguissola of the Renaissance, the radical work of Harriet Powers in the 19thcentury US and the artist who really invented the Readymade are given the spotlight. The book explores the Dutch Golden Age, the astonishing work of post-war artists in Latin America and the women defining art in the 2020s. From the Cornish coast to Manhattan, Nigeria to Japan, this is the story of art for our times – one with women at its heart, brought together for the first time.

To contact

01964 552

Jobs to do in December

As we approach the shortest day of the year in December you will need work to keep you warm outside, such as digging and tree pruning. Check your winter protection and if you have a greenhouse make sure the heater is working. Hopefully there are not too many jobs left to do this year so you will have time for some fireside garden planning.

Sowing and planting

Alpines can be sown from seed this month. They need a period of cold to break the seed dormancy. A sheet of glass can be positioned over the sown area to protect it from excessive wet. Alternatively, the seeds can be stratified in the fridge, for sowing next spring.

Cutting back, pruning and dividing

Continue to cut back faded herbaceous perennials and add them to the compost heap or alternatively leave these until spring so that they can be used as winter homes for insects. In mild areas, and during dry spells, you can still lift and divide herbaceous perennials. This will increase stocks, and revive tired or poorly flowering clumps.

Propagation

Root cuttings can be taken from now. Papaver (perennial poppies), Verbascum (mullein) and Phlox are suitable examples.

General maintenance

Helleborus niger (Christmas rose) blooms can look unsightly when splashed with muddy raindrops. Bark chip mulch will reduce this splashing effect, and cloches can always be used where practical.

Clear up weedy beds ready for spring mulching. Order bulky organic matter (e.g. well-rotted farmyard manure or mushroom compost) for use as a soil improver or mulch.

Protect for the winter

Check on tender plants outdoors to ensure winter protection is still in place, especially after storms. Raise patio containers onto feet or bricks to avoid them sitting in the winter wet.

Large tubs that are at risk of cracking in the frost should be covered with bubble wrap, hessian or fleece, to insulate them over the winter.

Tender plants and pots can be brought into the greenhouse or conservatory if not done so already. Even in mild areas, the winter usually gets much harder after December.

Apply a mulch to protect plants that are borderline hardy.

Planning ahead

Improve the drainage of heavy clay soils by working in plenty of bulky organic matter, such as composted bark.

Order seed catalogues, if you have not done so already, to select next year’s bedding and perennial choices. You will have more chance of finding all your choices in stock if you order well before the spring.

The main jobs in your garden to do in December:

1. Check your winter protection structures are still securely in place

2. Check that greenhouse heaters are working

3. Insulate outdoor taps and prevent ponds from freezing

4. Prune open-grown apples and pears (but not those trained against walls)

Tidying up

Finish the autumn tidy-up of leaves from beds and borders if you have not already done so. It is especially important to clear leaves and debris from alpines, as they will die off if covered in damp for any length of time. Bare patches can be covered with gritty compost to encourage the re-growth of surrounding clumps into that area.

Keep tubs and containers tidy too, cutting back and removing debris regularly. They can be mulched with compost.

5. Prune acers, birches and vines before Christmas to avoid bleeding

6. Harvest leeks, parsnips, winter cabbage, sprouts and remaining root crops

7. Deciduous trees and shrubs can still be planted and transplanted

8. Take hardwood cuttings

9. Keep mice away from stored produce

10. Reduce watering of houseplants

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Fiona Dwyer, broadcast journalist, PR & media consultant, slave to 2 children and a husband.

HO! HO! HO!……

I don’t know about you but this year I am not organised at all!!! Where has the year gone? All of a sudden, Christmas is looming, so it’s probably time to panic! But you know what? Once the day is here, everything will fall into place, so I think I’ll just take a deep breath, chill out and enjoy the preparations. I do love getting the house ready, putting the tree up and being festive. This year I’m determined to get on top of my Christmas baking. I’m not a fan of Christmas pudding, but a Yule Log is definitely on the agenda. Yum! And I always make a Christmas trifle! I’ve also found an amazing recipe for shortbread which means my biscuits finally taste like the nice ones you get at the shop, so I’ll be making several batch loads of those!! What else can I make?!!! Here’s hoping that we will all be able to relax and enjoy the festivities.

ONLINE LIBRARY….

You may already be aware of this, but if you’re a member of the Hull and/or East Riding Library Service, you can download an app called Borrowbox and borrow e-books and e-audiobooks. I only came

across it fairly recently and I think it’s great, especially when it’s out-ofhours and you just want something new to read. I do think there’s something special, though, about reading actual books, with real pages, so while I will definitely use it, I will still enjoy browsing the bookshelves at my local library! Libraries and bookshops (especially when there’s a cafe handy!) have always been some of my favourite places. But if you’re looking for something over Christmas, it’s definitely worth checking out!

A CHRISTMAS POEM –Let Every Day Be Christmas Christmas is forever, not for just one day, for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf. The good you do for others is good you do yourself.

– Norman Wesley Brooks

And finally……..Thank you so much for reading my column and for all the lovely comments you send in to me. Here’s wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Have fun – and stay safe!

Fiona x

Twitter: @fionadwyer • Facebook: Fiona Dwyer PR

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experience 01405 837100

JUST SEW

Thursday 7-9pm at Newport Village Hall. Cath 01430 410403 pue@live.co.uk

MARSHLAND LOCAL HISTORY GROUP

Meet last Tuesday in month 7.15p.m. in Swinefleet Village Hall. For information about the details of meetings and events see website http://www.marshlandlocalhistorygroup.co.uk/ or contact 01405 704512.

LINE DANCING

Airmyn Village Hall, Monday 7pm-9pm price £4.50 01405 760722

NORTON OWNERS CLUB - EAST YORKS

3rd Thurs 7.30pm at Kings Arms, Newport see our website: www.eastyorks.nortonownersclub.org

Anna Jeanette Dixon 01430 430831

RADIO & ELECTRONICS SOCIETY Wed 7.30 ring for details of venues Ken 01757 638539

RAWCLIFFE HARMONICS CHOIR

Tuesday 7-9pm Rawcliffe Gospel Hall Diane Edwards 01405 839804

READS WARBLERS POP CHOIR Tuesdays 7.30- 8.30pm at Central Methodist Church, Goole Jenny Read 07731307669 www.readswarblers.com

RSPB

Blacktoft Sands 01405 704665 blacktoft.sands@rspb.org.uk

SING FOR YOUR LIFE

22nd December

Tues at the Courtyard 10-12noon. Older people singing with children 01405 768468

SIR WILLIAM PENNYMAN’S REGIMENT OF THE ENGLISH CIVIL WAR SOCIETY Re-enactment group based in Howden www.1643.net

ST PAUL’S PLAYERS Thursday 7pm at the Briarcroft Hotel, Clifton Gardens John 01405 763024

SLADE are without doubt one of the most exciting bands to come out of Great Britain in the past 50 years. With their unique blend of perfect pop rock’n’roll, outrageous flamboyance and pure fun, and no less than 23 Top-20 singles of which 6 were No-1 smash hits...plus 6 smash albums.

Tickets are available from: https://www.ticketweb.uk/ and https://www.seetickets.com/

NEW BLOOD DONORS ARE NEEDED across the Hull area. Please contact 0300 123 23 23 to register as a donor and make an appointment today. Or visit www.blood.co.uk

SNAITH & COWICK DRAMA GROUP (SCDG)

Thursday 6.45 pm - 9pm at The Snaith School. All ages wel come from 11yrs+. Contact: Alexandra Fenn on 07855 276254 or just turn up.

GOOLE DISTRICT LIONS CLUB Meets 1st & 3rd Wednesday monthly, 8pm at The Briarcroft Hotel, Clifton Gardens, Goole. michael.colmer@talktalk.net