Issue 68/69 November/December 2017
Your award winning
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Strength in numbers We wish you a Merry Christmas
Best New Magazine 2012/13
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48 Win ! A One-Day DSLR Learning Digital Photography Masterclass worth £75
61 Win ! £50 to spend at Filigree Heart
62 Find the Robin and win a £25 voucher for The Manor House at Quorn
www.soarvalleylife.co.uk Copy deadline for January/February 2018 Tuesday 19th December
Ph So ot ar o Va pa Com lley ge p L 48 e ife o n
Delivered FREE to 33,000 homes
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The Waterside Inn, Mountsorrel Proud to be serving Sunday Roast Dinners Every Week.
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What’s On at The GCR Plumbing Boiler Swaps Central Heating Systems Bathroom Installations & Limited Mobility Adaptations Gas Installations & Repairs Landlord Certificates
Trains run every weekend of the year, bank holidays and selected weekdays during school holidays. Most are steam hauled re‐crea ng those glorious days of yesteryear. Christmas Dining trains run star ng in November. Booking essen al and book early, they get filled up well in advance.
No Job Too Big or Too Small No VAT • 24 Hr callout • Free Quotations
October:
01509 646689 or 07746 115381 www.hollydan.co.uk • www.plumber-in-loughborough.co.uk © SVL
info@hollydan.co.uk
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Halloween Steam & Scream Tues 31st ‐ Loughborough
November: Bonfire Night: Friday 3rd November ‐ Quorn. Trains available from Loughborough, Rothley and Leicester North.
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Last Hurrah of the Season 18th & 19th November 2017 6 LOCOS IN ACTION | INTENSIVE TIMETABLE | FREIGHTS & LOCALS | The last chance of the year to enjoy a GCR Gala before the Santa Season is upon us! An intensive metable is to be in use which includes Double Headers and Top & Tails. As well as our main passenger services, we will have a local passenger train and two goods trains both days. There will also be a diesel opera ng on each day.
December: Santa Specials take over the Railway See advert opposite for details. Christmas Dining Trains each weekend from Saturday 18th November and Murder Mystery trains on Wednesday 6th & 13th December For updates on all events and services as they are announced keep in touch at the Great Central Railway Website. The Great Central Railway Loughborough, Quorn, Rothley & Birstall www.gcrailway.co.uk 01509 632 323
“If God had intended us to fly, he'd have never given us railways.” Michael Flanders
Soar Valley Life Editors Steve & Mary Johns Adver sing Steve Johns Adver sing Rates See page 64 Business Directory Page 67 Telephone 01509 813125 Email enquiries Adver sing info@soarvalleylife.co.uk Editorial & Compe ons editor@soarvalleylife.co.uk www.soarvalleylife.co.uk
Pippa Greenwood’s
Gardening advice Get Real This Christmas Pages 14 & 15
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Facebook & Website ‐ Samantha Kearn www.facebook.com/ SoarValleyLife Address 1 Burton Road Sileby LE12 7RU Copyright © 2017 Fantas c State Limited trading as Soar Valley Life. The Publisher reserves and controls all rights to the work presented in this magazine. Any applica on for any use of any of the work, features, adver sements, quota ons, photographs, images or other work within this publica on must be made directly to the publisher. No part of this publica on may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmi ed, in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Disclaimer: Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material in this publica on the publisher can accept no responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributors in either editorial or adver sing content, or take responsibility for services provided by the adver ser. It is the responsibility of the adver ser to ensure their advert is correct and up to date at the me of publica on.
The next lucky winner of our Find the Robin Compe on will win a £25 voucher to spend at The Manor House at Quorn. See all prizewinners on page 66 and more compe ons on pages 48, 61 and 62. PSSST! The robins on this page are not the ones you need to find!
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Sponsored by Walking In Ba lefields
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Find the Robin compe on
Page 62 Astronomy A Picture of you From 898.000,000 miles away
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Contents What’s On at the GCR 4 Struggling for inspira on for Christmas gi s? 9 TAX RETURN DEADLINE! 13 Get real this Christmas by Pippa Greenwood 14 Quick Crossword 17 Nicky Morgan MP 18 Salmon and Monkfish Filo Wreath 20 What will happen to our home if we separate? 25 Quiz – Christmas Food and Drink 27 Eat, Drink and Get Fit? 33 South Africa’s Wine Lands and How to Visit 36 Keeping our loved one safe in Winter 39 Mercedes – Just what do all those le ers mean? 40 More than just adver sing... 43 Lifestyle and Eyes 44 A bit of what you fancy does you good! 45 Walking – Looking Glass Pond 46 Cold Feet 47 Soar Valley Life Photo Comp 48 And Another Thing... 50 Take extra care of your pets this Christmas 52 Tape up your Webcam! 53 Spot the Difference 54 Henry Hedgehog’s Puzzle Page 55 Astronomy 56 “I’m just no good at Maths, Mum.” 57 Easy & Hard Sudoku 58 Win £50 to spend at Filigree Heart 61 Find the Robin Compe on 62 Introducing Samantha Kearn 63 Tracing your Family History 65 Solu ons to Puzzles 66 Compe on Winners 66
Travel pages South Africa’s Wine Lands
Page 36
Recipe Salmon & Monkfish Filo Wreath Page 20 Sponsored by
Soar Valley Life
Photo Compe on page 48
WIN! A £50 Gi Voucher with Filigree Heart page 61
Page 6 Find us on Facebook for regular updates, offers, news and views from around the region www.facebook/soarvalleylife.co.uk
Soar Valley Life Conflict of Interest?
33,000 EVERY TWO MONTHS We deliver to private residences, shops offices and businesses in the villages and communi es shown on the map. Distribu on is split 50/50 between North and South and delivered 1 month apart, meaning 16,500 magazines get delivered every month making a total of 33,000 different addresses every two months. Visit our website to download our detailed distribu on list with maps. www.soarvalleylife.co.uk Places in italics get par al delivery and have pick up points.
LONG WHATTON SUTTON BONINGTON NORMANTON ON SOAR
North Deliveries in January, March, May, July, September, & November
REMPSTONE & WYMESWOLD
A6
SHEPSHED
A6
HATHERN
BURTON & WALTON ON THE WOLDS
0
HOTON, COTES STANFORD & PRESTWOLD
LOUGHBOROUGH 10,000
MOUNTSORREL ROTHLEY SWITHLAND CROPSTON
BIRSTALL
BARROW UPON SOAR
RIVER SOAR
QUORN
SEAGRAVE
SILEBY
COSSINGTON South Deliveries in February, April, June, August, October & December
SOUTHERN DISTRIBUTION AREA
WOODHOUSE & WOODHOUSE EAVES
NORTHERN DISTRIBUTION AREA
KEGWORTH EAST LEAKE
We mean this in a benign way, more of an inevitable irony perhaps... A li le over three years ago we made the big leap and chose to manage our own distribu on. Ini ally we had used Royal Mail, but within a few months that became impossible because as we grew ‐ in numbers delivered and a bigger/heavier magazine ‐ they became too expensive and inflexible. Next we chose a Leicestershire based door to door delivery company but, within a year or so, they too went the same way as Royal Mail. So, slowly and surely we began to put a team together. First it was family and friends, and then, a er we had put an advert in our magazine (Yes, adver sing in Soar Valley Life really does work!) we a racted the ideal applicants and off we went. As we moved into Loughborough we recruited a li le team who had just started GCSE studies and we called them “The A Team” Mary and I accompanied them at first to show them the ropes and remind them of our rules: “Make sure you push the magazine right through the le er box so none of it s cks out” ‐ “If there’s a dog in the garden don’t go in” ‐ “If it says ‘No Junk Mail’ don’t deliver ‐ respect peoples choices…” ‐ “Don’t crash your trolley down the kerb” ‐ “Don’t deliver a er dark, or walk across peoples lawns” and so on. As well as “The A Team” we have recruited some brilliant people: young, youngish, fit, fi sh and seniors, too. It has been a wonderful experience seeing these enterprising and industrious individuals grow and prosper. We’d see them every month or two with their next delivery, have a li le chat and note any changes since the last me. With the youngsters we’d see how tall they were growing and how their confidence as individuals had increased. But, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end ‐ and at least there’s a bit of no ce. The A Team all took their exams and did well. At the beginning of summer we were asked to write a reference for a number of them. Of course, we praised them for their hard work, reliability, and consistency over the last few years and said that we would recommend them for any role they chose. Most of them now have new jobs, or in one or two cases full me appren ceships and Mary and I really do wish them well in their lives. In the mean me, please look at our advert on page 65! :‐)
Steve & Mary Johns Email steve@soarvalleylife.co.uk for details of current vacancies for distribu ng Soar Valley Life Magazine in your area.
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“But the real interes ng stuff is in the cellar and the a c.” Sherman Alexie
Here’s what one sa sfied customer said:
Struggling for inspira on for Christmas gi s? How about deligh ng your friends or family with a gi voucher for Claire Jones Gardens? Vouchers can be purchased for consulta ons, gardening lessons or design services. Whether the brief is a complete garden transforma on, a simple border re-vamp or guidance and advice on how to get the best from your exis ng plot Claire Jones Gardens will ensure your needs are met. To find out more please contact Claire Jones on 01509 881119
Claire is fantas c! I cannot recommend her enough. We moved into our house about 10 years ago, and we have never been sa sfied with how our garden looked. Claire came round and listened to our likes and dislikes, gardening ability and me available to look a er the garden and devised a user friendly plan, which has transformed our back garden from a boring plot of fences and concrete bases to one that sparks interest. The wildlife has also returned! Our new log wall has been the talk of the village and has even had people knocking on our door to say how lovely it is. Full credit goes to Claire. Thanks again, I have been recommending you to everyone! Charlie Morris Cotgrave
Garden Saunas Affordable to fit any garden - 2, 4 or 6 person sizes available Choice of two stoves – Wood burning (requiring no electrical feed) or mains electric Sauna prices from £2995 - contact us for delivery and assembly options Demonstration Sauna available in Barrow upon Soar (But bring your shorts as we aren’t in Europe anymore!)
See our website for full details or call us on 0771 786 2534 www.gardensaunas.co.uk
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Please call for a no obligation quote:
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Mobile: 0780 3135382 www.hassallandsonltd.co.uk 17 The Pingle, Quorn Leicestershire
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“The crea on of a thousand forests is in one acorn.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Felling, pruning, hedge cutting, planting, stump grinding to BS3998 Tree hazard surveys, mortgage reports and BS5837 surveys undertaken
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“A garden to walk in and immensity to dream in‐‐what more could he ask? A few flowers at his feet and above him the stars.” Victor Hugo, Les Misérables
© SVL © SVL
TAX RETURN DEADLINE! Have you submi ed your 2016/17 tax return yet? Be quick, the deadline is 31 January 2018! This is the first year dividend tax is hi ng director/shareholders of their own limited company and if you have u lised your free‐pay allowance and also taken more than £5,000 in dividend payments from your company you will have tax to pay on 31 January 2018! Another s ng in the tail is that if your liability is more than £1,000 HM Revenue & Customs request that you also make payments on account towards the following year’s liability. For example, if your liability for 2016/17 amounts to £2,000, assuming you have made no payments on account during 2017, you will have to pay this amount in full plus a further £1,000 towards the 2107/18 year. A second payment on account of £1,000 will also be payable on 31 July 2018. These payments on account are deducted from any liability calculated in respect of 2017/18 but it can be quite a shock to the tax payer the first year it happens. If you require any assistance with your tax return please give us a call on 01162 303 973. Caroline Dinsmore
“If you drop a book into the bath, you can fish it out, dry it off and read that book. But if you drop your Kindle in the toilet, you’re pre y well done.” Stephen King
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Seasoned Hardwood Logs supplied in bags or by the tipper load
Christmas Trees from 2 feet to 10 feet Norway spruce in tubs with roots or The Nordmann Fir (Abies Nordmanniana) non drop trees
Established 1976
Silver medal award winners at 2012 Chelsea flower show
Get Real This Christmas With Christmas just around the corner your thoughts may be on gi s, meals, crackers and cards, but don’t forget the tree. And I mean a REAL Christmas tree, complete with needles and, if you choose the really tradi onal route, that wonderful aroma. For those concerned about the impact on the planet, Bri sh‐grown trees are most definitely not an ecological disaster zone ‐ think of them as a crop plant rather like a field of cabbages, except that typically Christmas trees will use less fer liser and fewer chemicals than many classic crop plants. To make sure you get what suits you best, there are a few things to think about before buying your tree. The Norway spruce (Picea abies) is the tradi onal tree, with gorgeous, short dark green pointed needles and that unmistakable Christmassy aroma, but it is the most likely to drop its needles; however, if well treated it won’t perform badly and it is the lowest‐priced of the real trees. The Serbian Spruce (Picea omorica) is quite similar to the Norway spruce and is the favourite fes ve tree in central Europe, with a dis nct blueish nt to the underside of the needles. Typically slender, it is a good choice for smaller si ng rooms and has decent needle reten on ‐ but no smell. The Nordmann fir (Abies nordmanniana) is now the biggest‐selling Christmas tree in the UK. Its shiny
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green broad needles are quite so and almost impossible to shi , so it’s ideal for those who hate mess! The Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) is less widely available, but its combina on of good looks and needle‐ holding ability makes it worth considering. It has a narrower base than the Norway spruce so is also useful in smaller houses. So, how do you choose the best tree of the type you’ve decided on and keep it looking good? Don’t buy a real tree too early. Opt for a tree produced by a member of the Bri sh Christmas Tree Growers Associa on ‐ look for the BCTGA logo.
“The earth laughs in flowers.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Trees and Wreaths
Best Selec on of Holly Wreaths
available from 1st December
Made Fresh Daily
Derry’s Nurseries, well worth a Choose a tree with a good, full shape, not lopsided and with minimal gaps. Check the needles ‐ they should be glossy (for those varie es where this is a characteris c) and the correct colour. They must be free from pests and diseases ‐ avoid anything yellowed or inclined to shed, or with white fluffy bits. Never buy an already ne ed tree since you can’t see what you’re ge ng! If you buy one quite early then the most important thing is to keep it outside ‐ recut the end of the trunk and put the tree in a bucket of water in a sheltered spot outside. Remove any net as it is important to get air circula ng around the needles. When you bring a tree inside, avoid pu ng it anywhere too warm or close to a heat source, and
Derry’s Nurseries Main Street, Cossington LE7 4UU Tel (01509) 812815
Open 7 days a week
make sure that you use a stand with a water reservoir that is kept topped up. When Christmas is over, make sure you recycle your tree ‐ many councils and garden centres now offer this service. By Pippa Greenwood www.pippagreenwood.com
Local, reliable, competitively-priced, professional service. • Full range of Tree, Hedge & Stump services • Tree Preservation Order & Conservation Area Work • Qualified specialists that take pride in quality tree care • Fully Insured • All work carried out to BS 3998 • No job too large or too small Call now for a free no obligation quotation.
Tel: 01509 261990 Email: info@jsbtreesurgery.co.uk © SVL
“If my Valen ne you won't be, I'll hang myself on your Christmas tree.” Ernest Hemingway, 88 Poems
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Who are Robert Charles Interiors? We are a family owned business who are passionate about creating your dream kitchen or bedroom at price you can afford. We use state-of-the-art computerised technology and machinery; we proudly manufacture quality kitchens and bedrooms in house. We Offer: ✔ LIFETIME GUARANTEE ✔ The utmost professionalism from consultation to installation ✔ Leading manufacturers including BOSCH, NEFF and CDA ✔ Latest designer kitchens at affordable prices ✔ Competitive pricing with NO HIDDEN EXTRAS ✔ All units manufactured in house at Wigston Visit our showroom 11 Chartwell Drive, Wigston, Leicester LE18 2FL
Call now 0116 288 4377 To book your free, no obligation home visit. www.robertcharlesinteriors.co.uk inspiration@robertcharlesinteriors.co.uk
“Thank you for your excellent service. We are very pleased with your work; you and your staff have really taken care of us…” Jo, Mum & Family – Leicester
“Thank you so much for our wonderful new kitchen. We absolutely love it and it’s better than we could ever have imagined it to be…” Hollie & Joe – East Leake
We can’t say thank you enough to you all for everything you have done to give us the kitchen of our dreams…” Mr & Mrs. Carr – Loughborough
Wishing all our customers, old and new, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
© SVL
Quick Crossword 1
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Light wind (6)
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Horrendous (6)
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Add up (6)
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Refute (4)
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Not pre y (4)
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Childhood illness (7)
10 Take away (8)
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Inves gate (5)
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Barely (8)
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Coerced (6)
13 Deprived (5)
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15 Two mes (5) 17 Remaining (7)
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Down
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11 Tenth month (7)
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Across
20 Booklet (8)
12 Engaged (8) 14 Stopping place (7)
21 Assists (4)
16 Gun or knife (6)
22 Floats (6)
18 Bowed (6)
23 Unlocked (6)
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21 Pinnacle (4) Answers on page 66
Hate Net Curtains? Hiding behind closed Blinds or Curtains for privacy from neighbours & passers by? We can install a neutral and natural look window film to your windows that allows you to see out, yet prevents those outside from seeing in! The modern alternative to dated net curtains, our films look nothing like the silver mirror film you see on offices and look like standard glass, inside and out. As well as privacy & visual security, our films also reduce excessive Heat and Glare and 99% of damaging Ultraviolet that causes fading.
For more information visit our website or contact us on 01509 416 267 www.alternativetonetcurtains.co.uk
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“There seem to be two main types of people in the world, Crossword‐ers & Sudoku‐ers.” Page 17 Rebecca McKinsey, Sydney West
Nicky Morgan MP Congratula ons are due to everyone who was part of the Loughborough in Bloom and Quorn in Bloom entries this year. Both Loughborough and Quorn collected Gold awards. It is almost me for the annual Christchurch Gilbert & Sullivan produc on. This year the talented team have chosen to put on The Sorcerer. Performances run from Tuesday 7 November to Saturday 11 November at Iveshead School Theatre (formerly Hind Leys College). Evening performances are 7.30pm and there is a Saturday ma nee at 2.30pm. To book ckets please call 01509 504376. On Friday 24 November I will be holding another ‘Budget Breakfast’ in Loughborough. The Chancellor will announce the Government’s autumn Budget on 22 November. I hope our breakfast will provide an opportunity for me to hear the views of local businesses about the Budget and for us to hear some advice on any par cularly complex and me‐ cri cal changes to Government policy. We will soon be heading towards the end of 2017 and that means Christmas is on the horizon! I have a travelling Christmas tree which will be popping up at many different local Christmas tree fes vals – in Loughborough, Barrow upon Soar and Hathern. At the same me there will be many different events to mark the switching on of the Christmas lights in towns and villages everywhere. Loughborough’s big ‘switch‐on’ is on Sunday 26 November and Barrow’s well‐loved celebra ons are held on Saturday 2 December.
Richard Watson Professional Painter and Decorator All aspects of decorating work carried out from internal to external Thirty years experience in the trade - Sileby based
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Men in Sheds is a scheme run by Age UK. Based on an Australian idea it provides a welcoming space for older men who may be dealing with ill health, the death of a partner, re rement or loneliness. The par cipants engage in many different ac vi es, including woodwork. But the real aim is for everyone to get out of the house and enjoy some company in a relaxed and mutually suppor ve atmosphere. I was delighted to a end the recent opening of their revamped outside space and it was a great pleasure to see everyone again. More details at: www.ageuk.org.uk/leics/our_services/ men-in-sheds/
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“Silver surfers ... nah, that's old hat. Re re a gold surfer with Cosmic Ordering.” Stephen Richards, Cosmic Ordering: You can be successful
Recipe This month’s recipe sponsored by
Appliance City
Salmon & Monkfish Filo Wreath
Serves 6
This fes ve wreath makes a great alterna ve to tradi onal roast turkey and can be prepared in advance the night before.
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Use the sunflower oil to grease a 1.2 litre capacity ring mould, then line the mould with cling film. Brush the sheets of pastry one by one with melted bu er and use nearly all of them to line the ring mould. Overlap the pastry sheets slightly as you go and repeat the layers 3‐4 mes. Leave the excess pastry to drape over the side of the mould.
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Mix the salmon, monkfish and prawns in a large bowl and s r in the lemon juice and chopped dill. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
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Spoon the fish mixture into the pastrylined mould, pressing down gently. Fold the excess pastry in over the filling and top with more bu ered sheets of pastry, cu ng them to fit and completely cover the filling. Stamp small star shapes out of any remaining sheets of bu ered pastry and place on a plate.
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Ready in 1 hour 30 minutes, plus chilling me
Cover the ring mould and the plate with cling film and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour (or overnight). Carefully invert the ring mould onto a large baking sheet and then remove the mould and the cling film. Re‐melt any remaining bu er and brush all over the pastry. Bake in a preheated oven at 190C/fan 170C/Gas Mark 5 for 40‐45 minutes un l the pastry is crisp and golden. Bake the pastry stars on a separate baking sheet for 5 minutes un l golden. Allow the wreath to stand for 5 minutes then transfer to a serving pla er and decorate with the pastry stars. Garnish with lemon wedges and dill sprigs.
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Ingredients: • • • • • • • • • •
Sunflower oil, for greasing 100g bu er, melted 270g pack filo pastry, thawed if frozen 450g salmon fillet, skinned and diced 450g monkfish fillet, skinned and diced 225g cooked peeled ger prawns 2 tbsp lemon juice 3 tbsp chopped fresh dill Salt and freshly ground black pepper Lemon wedges and dill sprigs, to garnish
Tip
Recipe sponsored by Appliance City See their full range of fabulous cooking appliances at www.appliancecity.co.uk
Filo pastry sheets can vary in size so simply cut to fit. Don’t worry if they tear, just place another piece of bu ered pastry on top to cover the tear.
KEITH URRY & SON High Class Painting & Decorating Since 1995
Telephone:
01509 673898 • 07964 955303 © SVL
Cound Probate Services Ltd Cound Probate Services Ltd, an associated business of Cound & Co LLP Chartered Accountants, was set up to provide reasonably priced assistance on Probate and Estate matters. We offer a flexible service – from just providing guidance and/or checking documentation, right the way through to dealing with income tax for the period to the date of death, completing inheritance tax returns, preparing the oath, obtaining probate/administration, distributing assets in accordance with the will/intestacy rules and preparing estate accounts (together with other services that may be required).
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• Likely to be cheaper than solicitors • As Chartered Accountants, we are experienced in inheritance tax and other related taxes, which means you can be sure of getting the best tax advice
To find out more, please contact Kevin Penhallurick, our Probate & Estates director, on 01509 214163. Cound Probate Services Ltd Cound & Co LLP Chartered Accountants 1 Princes Court, Royal Way, Loughborough, Leics, LE11 5XR Tel: 01509 214163 Email: office@coundandco.com Page 22
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“A doctor can bury his mistakes, but an architect can only advise his clients to plant vines.� Frank Lloyd Wright
What will happen to our home if we separate? Married Couples and Civil Partners (CPs) Both will have a right to remain in the home whether it is in joint names or the sole name of one party un l a court has ordered otherwise during the separa on or in a financial se lement within divorce/dissolu on proceedings. If the home is in joint names, neither joint owner can sell without the consent of the other. If the home is in the sole name of one party, the non‐owning party should register a home rights no ce at the Land Registry to protect their interest aler ng any poten al purchaser. A home rights no ce can be registered even if the non‐ owning party has le the home. Unmarried Couples Both partners have the same right to remain in the home if they are joint owners. If the home is in the sole name of one partner, that partner has a right to stay in the home. The other partner may be able to claim a beneficial interest in the property. This could be as a result of contribu ons that they have made to the property or the result of an agreement, regarding respec ve shares on a future sale. If the partners have children the non‐owner may be able to apply to the court to transfer the property into their name for the benefit of the children, un l the youngest child is 18 years old.
Rented property Whether married or unmarried, you need to look at the terms of the tenancy. If it is in joint names, both tenants will have the same rights to remain in the property. If one party is named as a tenant and the other as an occupant, the occupant will not have the same rights as the tenant. The tenant will be liable for payment of the rent whether living in the property or not. Any varia on of the tenancy agreement needs the consent of the Landlord. Applica ons can be made within divorce or dissolu on proceedings for a transfer of a tenancy. Occupants who are married or CPs will have home rights in respect of the rented property which give the spouse/CP the right to pay the rent and live in the property as if they were the tenant. Unmarried occupants do not have home rights. To remain in or return to a rented home, they may be able to apply for an Order from the court. Contact us for further informa on or advice: Rita Rathod r.rathod@moss-solicitors.co.uk Ann Ellio a.ellio @moss-solicitors.co.uk or telephone 01509 217770.
Expert in your field? Have your own column. Contact editor@soarvalleylife.co.uk
Page 25
Quiz - Christmas Food and Drink 1.
What name is given to the part of a tradi onal Christmas dinner that consists of small sausages wrapped in bacon? 2. With the first part of its name meaning "star" in La n, which lager was originally launched as a fes ve beer in 1926? 3. Not wan ng to offend any of those who invited her, Geraldine Granger eats four Christmas lunches in a 1996 Christmas special of which TV show? 4. According to tradi on, ea ng at least one what on each of the 12 days of Christmas is thought to bring good luck for the coming year? 5. Which liqueur is mixed with lemonade to make a cocktail called the Snowball? 6. Commonly eaten at Christmas in the USA and Canada, which dessert is men oned in the lyrics of the songs Sleigh Ride and Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree? 7. Consumed by many people around Christmas me, what is known as Glogg in some parts of Europe? 8. In a famous nursery rhyme, who was "ea ng a Christmas pie"? 9. Which alcoholic spirit is tradi onally added to bu er and served with Christmas Pudding? 10. In 2008, three episodes of Deal Or No Deal that were aired shortly a er Christmas featured what food item in place of the 1p booby prize? Answers on page 66
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“It is a pleasant world we live in, sir, a very pleasant world. There are bad people in it, Mr. Richard, Page 27 but if there were no bad people, there would be no good lawyers.” Charles Dickens, The Old Curiosity Shop
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Business Feature Page Wonderment of Wards End A year ago, Leicestershire couple, Donna & William Middleton and their business partner Mark Palumbo, opened the doors to a brand new Bistro in the heart of Loughborough. Following a 13 week renova on with a hand-picked and personally scouted team of na onwide designers, builders & ar sts, Wards End Bistro is now a spectacularly elegant and stylish eatery. Using Mark’s extensive 25 year experience in the design industry, Wards End has been tastefully tailored to suit.
The stylish décor, which Mark scouted & designed from some of the UK’s leading designers, has been lovingly restored and now encompasses a 1920s art deco and charming vintage design. The walls are adorned with enchan ng stencilled florals and pain ngs, the chairs me culously upholstered and the monochrome flooring is vibrantly chic. The care and a en on Donna, Mark and the team have poured into the design of the restaurant is truly astonishing, breathing life back into a previously neglected building. Wards End Bistro is a beau ful & deligh ul treat for the good folk of Loughborough as well as any out‐of‐ towners on the hunt for a relaxed lunch or an elegant evening meal. The food and service are equally impressive at Wards End, with a variety of locally sourced produce on the menu which was designed by their Head Chef, Jason Cummings. Jason was head hunted a er his extensive career in Manchester, where his crea ve pale e and eye for design was recognised and sought out by Mark, Donna & Will. Offering both lunch and evening menus at great, affordable prices, you will certainly enjoy a delicious,
wholesome and well prepared meal. During the day the environment is light, bright and airy; an ideal spot for a bite to eat – and a gentle hum of ambient music in the background adds to the chilled atmosphere. Come the evening, the twinkle of lights provide a stunning view from the incredible glass frontage and if you’re lucky, you’ll be treated to some live music courtesy to the restaurants ever lively event nights. In addi on to the elegant dining experience, there is a lovely cocktail bar alongside the downstairs sea ng area, serving an array of delicately designed mixes, to tantalise all taste buds, whatever me of day or evening. Wards End also offers a very unique Garden Room in the upstairs of their Bistro, seamlessly transi oning into a private func on area for celebra ons and par es ‐ the added benefit of a late licence means it’s a perfect venue for weddings and birthdays. One of the most unique quali es of Wards End, is their endless willingness to go to any length necessary to ensure that each & every diner receives the very best service. Whether it’s a relaxed family meal, a roman c dinner for two or a fun evening enjoying canapes with a group of friends, the Wards End team are happy to oblige and are on hand to take care of your every need. Kelly Wilson Address: Wards End Bistro, 60A Wards End, Loughborough, LE11 3HB Telephone: 01509 210550 Email: info@wardsendbistro.co.uk Website: www.wardsendbistro.co.uk/
“Give me books, French wine, fruit, fine weather and a li le music played out of doors by somebody I do not know.” John Keats
Page 33
CONTACT INFORMATION Telephone: 01509 210550 | Email: info@wardsendbistro.co.uk Address: 60A Wards End, Loughborough, LE11 3BH Website: www.wardsendbistro.co.uk
Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner Pre‐Theatre Dining Live Music • Private Func ons A ernoon Cream Tea Christmas • New Years Eve Tuesday to Saturday 12pm un l Late
South Africa’s Wine Lands and How to Visit Wine has been a long standing feature of South African life. The first vines were planted in Constan a in 1652 and the first wines produced in 1659. Ever since then wine has been a part of South Africa. Constan a is now really part of greater Cape Town but you can s ll find patches of grapes being grown. The area is no longer considered part of the wine lands although demand for wine from this par cular region has resulted in 11 new wine farms being established in the last few years. The Winelands The area between Franshoek, Stellenbosch and Paarl is less than 1 hour away from Cape Town. One op on is to take a bus tour from Cape Town for the day to experience the many facets of wine produc on in the area. We offer two op ons: the larger bus which visits some good wineries of the more popular wines you have come to associate with South Africa; the other, a more personal trip with a driver guide visi ng the smaller more cra wineries; more expensive and more suited to a real wine buff. Many however want to stay in the area and there are 3 towns that all offer accommoda on and a somewhat different experience in each. Stellenbosch the home of South Africa’s oldest university and the second oldest wine growing area the first vines being planted in 1679. The town itself has some good restaurants but at mes can be a li le busy. We would suggest a property just out of the main area which would be quieter at night. Evergreen Manor is one we use regularly.
There are some excellent wineries in this area and also some really good places to eat at very affordable prices. Hotel cost tend to be lower and several of our partners have excellent wine tour operators based on site with access to the off the beaten track but great wineries. Distances are small, less than 20 miles from one end to the other. It is easily possible to visit all the areas in a day and all our wine tour partners will travel throughout the whole area. Given the great climate in South Africa other areas also make good wines; for instance, the Chenin Blanc’s of the Roberson Valley en route to Montague are a real gem. The area around Hermanus is an up and coming area for white wine produc on, with the slightly cooler condi ons influenced by the sea, which aid in producing high quality white wines. South Africa produces some great sparkling wines ‘champagne’ like in style.
Franschhoek at the other end of the valley, has a reputa on as the ‘foodie ‘capital of South Africa. There are some very fine restaurants in the area but they are also quite expensive and quite hard to get reserva ons unless you book well in advance. Many proper es now insist on a 2 night minimum stay.
If you are travelling to Outshoorn along highway 62 then you will pass through Calitzdorp, the centre of the Cape Port region. South Africa makes some really nice port and the brandy is really good as well! South Africa’s unique wine is Pinotage. A heavy red wine, perhaps a bit rough around the edges at mes but the good ones are fantas c!
Paarl the old working town of the Winelands and as such perhaps retains that real working town feel.
Start planning your very own trip today and experience these stunning wines and loca ons.
The Independent Traveller, Devonshire House, Devonshire Lane, Loughborough. LE11 3DF t: 01509 618 800 | e: holidays@uni-travel.co.uk www.i ssouthafrica.co.uk | www.i scanada.co.uk
Page 36 “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that ma ers, in the end.” Ursula K. Le Guin, The Le Hand of Darkness
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Keeping our Loved One Safe in Winter: As the nights draw in and Autumn moves to Winter many elderly people become vulnerable. Those in later life may start to struggle to control and regulate body temperature especially those with condi ons of chronic illness and on mul ple medica ons. There is some mes a tendency to heat the home less to save hea ng costs – o en the case when living alone. If you know of an elderly person that lives near you, make sure you support them where you can; simple things like ensuring they drink and eat well (pop in for a cup of tea and cake). When our elderly community suffer with poor nutri on and become dehydrated they increase their risk of becoming vulnerable to the cold. For those with family members living further away where it is not always possible to drop in daily, Home Instead have a team of specialised Care Givers to make sure your loved one is looking a er themselves and supported in every way needed. Home Instead support and encourage people to safely stay in their own homes for longer – caring for them as they would their own family.
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“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to con nue that counts.” Page 39 Winston S. Churchill
Mercedes: Just What Do All Those Le ers Mean? I have heard tell that the way Mercedes names its products is a German state secret, known only to a chosen few and passed down to a successor in a ceremony conducted, behind closed doors, in a castle somewhere in Bavaria. But now, having met my shadowy contact in a deserted underground car park, I think I understand just what those le ers, stuck on the rear of their vehicles, mean. Take the two‐seater SLK. Those le ers stand for “Sportlich, Leicht, Kurz”. In English that’s “Sporty, Light, Short”. Seems pre y straigh orward to me.
So is the S Class a sporty car then? No ‐ the S Class is a “Sonderklasse”, or special model. K for Kurz (Short) is also used on their “Kompakt” models (some of which aren’t short) and models that have turbo‐charged engines, as that’s what a “Kompressor” is in Deutsch. I’ll try another le er. E should be easy (no pun). E is for Execu ve. You see lots of big Mercedes E Class cars. However, E also stands for “Einspritzing”. Not an iced fizzy wine drink, but fuel injec on. How about the le er G? In the 1970s, both dictators and film
stars the world over were chauffeured around in the 600 Grosser Mercedes limousine. So G must mean “big, grosser limo”? Right! But only if you are planning to drive your celeb off‐road: G, also stands for “Geländewagen”, which is an all‐terrain vehicle. We come now to a truck Mercedes make called the UniMog…no, I’m not going to go there. I’m already confused. S ll none the wiser, perhaps I’d be er try sneaking into that ceremony in the Bavarian castle…
By Iain Betson
Page 40
“Money may not buy happiness, but I'd rather cry in a Jaguar than on a bus” Françoise Sagan
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www.chipsaway.co.uk Birstall Interchange, 4 Meer End, Birstall, Leicester. LE4 3EH. “Accidents are not accidents but precise arrivals at the wrong right me.” Dejan Stojanovic
Page 41
Page 42
There’s an advert for everyone; the butcher, the baker, the plumber, the builder, the candles ck maker and you!
More than just adver sing… Star ng a new business can be daun ng and one of the hardest choices involved can be deciding where and how to market it. Having worked as a sports massage therapist for sixteen years, I trained in advanced electrolysis to treat benign skin blemishes and started to promote the new treatments as a separate business. It was easy to set up a website and prepare business cards but these, and leafle ng, had resulted in limited success. Then I met Mary Johns at a local networking group and subsequently she and husband/co‐editor Steve came to see what my treatments entailed. They were suppor ve and enthusias c from the outset and helped me to prepare a third of a page adver sement for Soar Valley Life as well as a kind introduc on and editorial. I was really pleased with the clean colour adver sement and the circula on fi ed exactly with the area I was hoping to cover. Within a few months it was clear that most of my new business was coming from the regular Soar Valley Life adver sements. What really surprised me was that, five years down the line, the regular adver sements were s ll the source of most of my new clients. Obviously I was ge ng a lot of repeat business and word of mouth recommenda ons but new clientele were s ll primarily from Soar Valley Life. Although the magazines go through many of the same doors, there are always enough new people who
Pennie Blatchford in her new clinic in Harby
pick up the phone to make it worthwhile con nuing the adver sement. I have recently moved to Harby with my husband and am effec vely restar ng my prac ce at the new loca on. Although I now live in the Vale of Belvoir, I plan to con nue my regular adver sements with Soar Valley Life because I am confident that many of the clients who have seen my adverts previously will be willing to travel that bit further to get the treatments they are looking for. I also know that I will con nue to receive support and friendship from the wonderful team at Soar Valley Life. Pennie Blatchford
Pennie Blatchford - Advanced Cosmetic Procedures Effective removal of benign skin blemishes for men and women
Pennie Blatchford B.Sc.(Hons), IBSD, BABTAC
Skin tags, blood spots, warts, seborrhoeic keratosis, age spots, thread veins, spider naevi, milia, and other benign skin defects and blemishes can be removed using advanced electrolysis. This is an inexpensive, quick and safe procedure. Free initial consultation by fully qualified, insured and licenced practitioner. Please see website:
www.pennieblatchford.co.uk Email: pennieblatchford@hotmail.co.uk or phone on:
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Seborrhoeic Keratosis before and after treatment
01949 869699 or 07887 865419 Green Lane, Harby, Melton Mowbray, LE14 4BQ
Epidermoid cyst before and after treatment
Expert your field? Have your own editor@soarvalleylife.co.uk Havein your business Anything featured of interest in thecolumn. you’d next issue likeContact to– see contact in thesteve@soarvalleylife.co.uk next issue? Call 01509 813 125 or email editor@soarvalleylife.co.uk
Page 43
Lifestyle and Eyes Your eyes are affected by your lifestyle and health condi ons elsewhere in your body. I will highlight the effect your lifestyle and health can have on your eyes. Smoking There is good evidence that smoking causes sight loss. Tobacco smoke has up to 4,000 ac ve compounds. Most of these are toxic and poten ally damaging to the eyes. Smokers are up to four mes more likely to develop age‐related macular degenera on (AMD) than non‐smokers.
Obesity Maintaining a healthy weight is not only good for your general health, but it is also good for your eyes. People who are overweight are more likely to develop diabetes, which in turn may affect your eyes. Obesity can also increase your chances of having high blood pressure which can also affect your eyes. Diabetes
AMD is the leading cause of sight loss in the UK. Smokers are also more likely to develop cataracts.
People who have diabetes are more likely to develop cataracts than people who do not, and people who have diabetes may develop diabe c re nopathy. They are also more likely to develop glaucoma.
Nutri on
High blood pressure and high cholesterol
Although there is no strong evidence about the effect of diet on AMD, ea ng a wide variety of fruit and vegetables, including dark green leaves, is good for your general health and may support good eye health. Dietary supplements may be helpful for some people who have exis ng AMD. At Inter Eyecare Op cians, the optometrist can discuss with you the most suitable product.
This will increase your risk of having a blood vessel at the back of your eye bleed or become blocked resul ng in affec ng your vision and in some cases lead to total sight loss in one eye. Having high blood pressure also increases your risk of developing glaucoma. Vinesh Patel – Inter Eye Care, Rothley
Rothley House Prac ce Quality Vision Care – taking the me to treat you properly ‐ Established for over 20 years we provide the very highest quality eye care in a welcoming house prac ce. Designer Frames – we stock a wide selec on of spectacles for men, women and children, including fashionable designer brands. Relaxing Environment – we give you the me and exper se in the privacy of our house prac ce. Our bespoke eye care service and
frame/lens fi ng exper se tailoring perfectly with your individual requirements. Contact Lenses – stylish alterna ve to spectacles. Consulta ons from simple prescrip ons to complicated as gma c varifocal designs. Laser Eye Consulta ons – completely independent and impar al advice following a thorough, no obliga on examina on to discuss with you all the op ons.
Inter Eyecare Op cians 95 Swithland Lane, Rothley, Leicester LE7 7SH Freephone: 0800 093 3486 Telephone: 0116 319 2800 Email: info@intereyecareop cians.co.uk © SVL www.intereyecareop cians.co.uk
Vinesh and Tanni Patel Principals of Inter Eyecare
A bit of what you fancy does you good Dark chocolate, specifically at 70% or higher cocoa solids, contains many stress bus ng, inflamma on reducing and cogni ve boos ng proper es. For example: • A bite of dark chocolate alongside a healthy diet may help to improve your cogni ve func on due to its flavonol (an oxidant) content • Flavonols accumulate in the brain regions involved in learning and memory, especially the hippocampus • The bacteria in our gut ferments the polyphenols and fibre in cocoa • Chocolate s mulates the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut – such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus spp. • Dark chocolate can have a posi ve impact on cor sol levels, one of the hormones released in response to stress. Elevated cor sol levels can lead to disrupted sleep, weight gain, raised blood sugar levels, food cravings and suppressed immunity • A study comparing individuals who did not consume chocolate for one year, with individuals who regularly consumed dark chocolate, showed a significant associa on (i.e. reduc on) between moderate levels of cocoa inges on and inflamma on So you see, a bit of what you fancy does do you good!
Charnwood Hearing Aid Centre Ltd Lynne Leeming, MSc RHAD MSHAA
Your local hearing specialist 5 Stadon Road, Anstey Leicester, LE7 7AY Existing hearing aid users welcome Hearing protection for both children and adults Friendly and professional service
Telephone: 0116 236 6633 Email: charnwoodhearing@btconnect.com www.charnwoodhearing.co.uk
For people who care about their hearing Mon, Tue, Thu & Fri 9.30am - 4.30pm Wed & Sat 9.30am - 12.30pm
Level 2 Introduction to Counselling • • • • •
Ready to embark on something new? Considering counselling as a career? Wanting to enhance your communication skills? Wanting to enhance your career prospects? Wanting to enhance your self-development? Due to popular demand, we are offering this ABC course in a new location:
ABC Level 2 Award in Counselling Concepts @The Good Shepherd Church, Loughborough, LE11 2HJ Sat 24th Feb 2018 – Sat 24th Mar 2018 (5 x Saturdays 9.30am-4.30pm) Places: 15 Course fee: £350 To find out more, please contact Admissions on 0115 844 7904 or admissions@spti.net or visit www.spti.net © SVL
“Our wounds are o en the into the and beau ful Anything of openings interest you’d likebest to see in most the next issue?part of us.” Call 01509 813 125 or email editor@soarvalleylife.co.uk David Richo
Page 45
Walking - Looking Glass Pond
This page sponsored by
This walk starts at the picturesque Country Park at Market Bosworth
Walk instruc ons 31/4 Miles - 13/4 Hours Post Code: CV13 0LP Use the car park at Market Bosworth Country Park, toilets but no other facili es. Pay on exit.
1 Go out of the car park on the path le of the toilets and follow as it curves towards the trees around Bow Pool. As the trees start where the hardcore path swings further right, bear le on the grassy path to the metal kissing gate. 2. Go through and keep straight on to the yellow top marker post, carry on through this wooden kissing gate along the path between trees, over a hardcore path and through a metal kissing gate in the hedge. Keep straight on up the field edge, with the hedge to the le , right of the trees and le of the barn, hedge s ll le . 3. Con nue through the kissing gate at the rear of the barn, downslope, through the next kissing gate and over the footbridge. Bear le upslope, passing right of Brick Kiln Farm, with the ponds down to the right. Keep straight on up the driveway to the gate and the yellow top post on the right. 4. Go through and bear slight le across a field, which may be under cul va on although a track should be well marked within any crop, to the hedge corner. Carry on up the field edge with the hedge to the le , around the buildings that jut out. Bear right over the field (a track should be visible) to the yellow top post in the dip. 5. Turn right, slightly downslope on the field edge with the hedge to the right, bearing le to the second signpost. Take the field edge right with the hedge to the le , le of the pond to the far le corner. Turn le and immediate right, upslope with the trees to the right; through the gate at the top and con nue direc on on the path through the trees. 6. The path passes right of Looking Glass Pond. Con nue ahead through a gate, past marker posts on a path bearing right, around the end of Bow Pool. Keep direc on over the grass to the parking area and your vehicle. © Clive Brown All our walks are compiled by Clive Brown You can order any of his walking close to guides from www.walkingcloseto.com See his new book from Bradwell Books Walking for all Ages in Leicestershire & Rutland www.bradwellbooks.co.uk/walks‐for‐all‐ages‐leicestershire‐‐rutland‐581‐p.asp
Soar Valley Walk sponsor this month is
Absolute Care Agency of Barrow upon Soar see page 42
Cold Feet? There are numerous causes, most common being poor circula on of the blood. Peripheral Vascular insufficiency is most prevalent in people suffering from diabetes. Many symptoms accompanying cold feet include: Cramps • Burning sensa on • Tenderness Numbness • Tingling • Red or blue discolora on These o en worsen during the night. Feet can also be affected by condi ons such as frostbite and chilblains. These typically develop when exposed to cold temperatures for a long me. Some common medica ons can cause cold feet: Beta blockers (for high blood pressure) including: Bisoprolol • Metoprolol • Atenolol Other causes include Raynaud’s Disease, heart condi ons or mineral insufficiency. Self help? • Exercise • Diet • Wearing natural fibre socks, e.g. wool, even at night. • Shoes made of leather (insula ng proper es) • Use a warming cream containing Arnica (e.g. Laufwunder Warming) Visi ng a Chiropodist or Podiatrist who can perform neurological and vascular tests is recommended.
www.bradwellbooks.co.uk
“My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She's ninety‐seven now, and we don't know where the heck she is.” Ellen DeGeneres
Page 47
Soar Valley Life Photographic Compe on Christmas/New Year 2017/18 Have you got a talent for photography? We want to showcase the beauty of Charnwood, its borders and the Soar Valley. Help us to capture the true spirit and diversity of the local community. Send us your photos of towns, villages, landmarks and special places for a chance to win a Masterclass with DSLR Learning! Every entrant also has the chance to have their photograph displayed in our magazine (even as our front cover photo!) and on our Facebook Page as well as becoming a part of our brand new website. Your photos will be judged, not only by us at Soar Valley Life, but also by two professional Photographers, Alistair Langham of The Studio 17 in Coalville and James Brown of DSLR Learning in Stamford. The Brief - The subject for the Compe on is ‘Scenes Around The Soar Valley’. The theme is open to interpreta on but should display recognisable places or capture the spirit of the Soar Valley and surrounding areas. Photographs could include images that capture the energy of local a rac ons, landmarks, agriculture, flora and fauna, waterways, views or architecture. All informa on detailing how to enter this compe on forms part of these terms and condi ons. It is a condi on of entry that all rules are accepted as final and that the entrant agrees to abide by these rules. The decision of the judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Submission of an entry will be taken to mean acceptance of these terms and condi ons. Photographs can have been taken at any date or me. Entrants may submit up to three entries. Late, joint submissions, incomplete, defaced or corrupt entries will not be accepted. No responsibility can be accepted for lost entries and proof of transmission will not be accepted as proof of receipt. Entries must not be sent through agencies or third par es. Entries must be submi ed in an electronic version. Images must be submi ed as a JPEG file, of at least 1Mb (maximum file size 5Mb).
Page 48
Photographic images must not be subject to over manipula on and the judges reserve the right to exclude any image they believe may have been excessively treated so as to alter its authen city. The compe on is open to anyone who lives in or has visited the area. Judges, the suppliers of prizes and their employees or immediate families are not eligible to enter. Each entry should be marked with name, age (if under 18), address, where and when the photo was taken and in no more than 100 words what the photograph says about the local area. To enter in the first instance email for applica on details to info@soarvalleylife.co.uk and the subject line must say ‘Photography Compe on’ and state the entrant’s name. The closing date for entries is Wednesday 31st January at midnight. Good luck and Happy Snapping!
“A good snapshot keeps a moment from running away.” Eudora Welty
And Another Thing... by Tom Hughes
Follow Tom on Twi er @groomsdaybook
Christmas – a me for giving, a me for family, and a me for lists. Endless, interminable lists. The first set of wri en instruc ons was handed to me in November. Thankfully that gave me plenty of me to ignore it and wait for a similar, more urgent one to land around the feast of St Nicholas (Dec 6th). It is usually by the feast of our Lady of Guadalupe (12th) that things start to get serious. By the eve of the Winter Sols ce (20th), Christmas panic had risen to DEFCON 1. “Tom? Have you ordered the turkey from Birchalls?” Sarah, My Dearly Beloved, was cranking up the Yule de pressure. “Err…it’s on my list of things to do.” “Well can you get it off your list please? And presents ‐ have you ordered Uncle Barry and Aun e Anne’s throw?” “Err…” “Look, you only have to sit in front of a computer, it couldn’t be easier. You want a nice day don’t you? Well it doesn’t happen by magic.” “But I thought it was the most magical me of the year?” “Don’t be smart. Anyway, I can’t stop, I’m going out.” “Where?” “To sort out this li le lot.” Sarah, waving a piece of paper with dozens of scribbles on, duly exited the marital home. I examined my list.
TV news. Then I realised ‐ I had ignored the most important present of all ‐ Sarah’s! I leapt into the Mondeo Ghia and, with the front axle spinning on the icy tarmac to gain purchase, I sped off towards the nearest girly emporium. Squeezing in through the packed doors and immediately mel ng in my greatcoat and Peaky Blinders flat cap, I approached the exo cally named counters, each adorned with posters of chiselled men and alluring women with sultry pouts and flyaway hair. I paused in front of one concession ‐ a black shiny obelisk decked with rows and rows of pots, pencils and powders. I looked up at the name. In large le ers was the word ‘Philosophy’. A pre y young woman with perfect unblemished skin approached. “Can I help sir?”
Imagining the hordes of shoppers screaming at each other over parking bays in retail parks whilst piped Christmas muzak wa ed over the ether, I snuggled down on the sofa to engage in the marvellous task of online Christmas shopping. Uncle Barry’s sofa throw, click. Nigel and Veronica’s Le Creuset pan, click. Evan’s Vans (whatever they were) click.
“Yes. Could you tell me ‐ in a world full of evil, is it possible to live a truly good life?”
A er a credit card mel ng two hours my Christmas shopping was complete.
Shopping over for another year, I returned home to await the tradi onal family get‐together ‐ where my cunning ruse for a pain‐free Christmas was spectacularly undone.
And so, with The Big Day almost upon us, I sneered at the usual last‐minute panic shopping story on the
Page 50
The woman blinked slowly. “Today, we have an offer on our highlighter. It’s very popular as part of this gi set, and it’s brilliant for strobing. Todays’ price is just £89.99.” None the wiser, I handed over my card.
“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” Charles Dickens
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The extended table, the excited cha er. Uncle Barry playing the spoons, Sarah secretly at the sherry. All the Christmas norms revisited. A er HM the Queen but before the charades, we re red to the lounge to swap presents.
were on me. Uncle Barry, my son Evan and everyone
My hoard was plonked down in front of me. Socks, smellies and a book by Alain de Bo on. Smiling wryly to myself, I handed over Sarah’s gi . “Oh now, that’s lovely ‐ and this par cular product suits my skin tone ‐ how did you know?”
Barry read his out. “‘Sorry we missed you ‐ your
“Err, the good news is, you’ll all only need one form
A er basking in this unexpected bullseye, all eyes
of ID.” Merry Christmas all!
Get your phone ringing!
else sat expectantly, wai ng for me to distribute Christmas cheer. Through gri ed teeth I handed out my red cards.
parcel will be ready for collec on by 27/12/2017.’ Tom, what’s this?”
adver se here next month!
Page 51
Pets By Ann Haldo Take Extra Care of Your Pets this Christmas All the trimmings and paraphernalia of Christmas are wonderful for us, but they can represent a danger to your pet. So with this in mind, what in par cular do you need to watch out for at this me of year? Christmas decora ons If your pet has a tendency to chew, be wary of your Christmas tree lights as they may cause electrocu on. Glass baubles also break very easily and it’s difficult to spot the smaller shards of glass, which can easily lodge in a pet’s paws or mouth – a par cular problem if your cat is prone to climbing the tree. Chocolate Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine, which is poisonous to dogs and cats.
Dark chocolate has the highest amount, although milk chocolate also causes poten ally life‐threatening symptoms if consumed. It’s a serious issue at any me of the year, but at Christmas the fact that you’re likely to have more chocolate in the house increases the risk. Rich foods Turkey meat is too rich for many dogs – they struggle to digest this fa y food which can cause nausea, vomi ng and diarrhoea. High fat foods in general tend to irritate your pet’s stomach and intes nes, so it’s a good idea to s ck to their usual diet as much as possible during the fes ve season. Whether your pet is mid or bold, providing a safe place where they can retreat from the noise and chaos of Christmas helps them to cope un l their normal rou ne resumes. www.thehealthypetclub.co.uk/ top‐ ps‐pets‐christmas/ www. meforpaws.co.uk/blog/ top‐10‐hazards‐for‐pets‐atchristmas‐ me/
Page 52 “Dogs are the leaders of the planet. If you see two life forms, one of them's making a poop, the other one's carrying it for him, who would you assume is in charge.” Jerry Seinfeld
Canine Grooming and Spa • Safe, clean and friendly environment • Hydro bathing • Teacup to large breeds catered for • City and Guilds Certificate Qualified Mon - Fri 9.00am to 5.00pm • Sat 9.30am to 5.00pm
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Call 01509 767420 / 07592 594000 bethklg@hotmail.co.uk © SVL
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Get your phone ringing!
adver se here next month!
Page 53
Spot Ten Differences
Answers on page 66
Open: 8am - 6pm Mon - Fri 51 Weeks of the year Now in our 15th year, Rothley Park Kindergarten is one of the most modern children's nurseries in Leicestershire perfectly equipped to provide your child with the best care and development in Leicestershire. And that’s not just us saying that. We were inspected on 23rd January 2017 by Ofsted and were judged outstanding in all categories. Nursery manager Narinder Kaur and her team of professional nursery practitioners deliver a second-to-none childcare service tailored to your child’s individual requirements. Limited Government funding is available for 3 and 4 year-olds. We also offer full or part-time sessions as required, depending on availability, for all children under the age of 5 years throughout the year and during school holidays. A warm welcome awaits you – no appointments are necessary as all new and prospective parents are invited to visit us at their own convenience.
Rothley Park Kindergarten, Loughborough Road, Rothley, Leicestershire LE7 7NL T: 0116 230 3888 M: 07813 021410 info@rothleyparkkindergarten.co.uk www.rothleyparkkindergarten.co.uk
© SVL
Page 54
“If you thought your first day at kindergarten was tough, I got some bad news for you about the rest of life.” Jus n Halpern
Answers on page 66
Go Everywhere under the Sun with Kia Here’s a picture of you from 898 million miles away...
In this rare image taken on July 19, 2013, the wide‐angle camera on NASA's Cassini spacecra has captured Saturn's rings and our planet Earth with our moon in the same frame. The resolu on in this print in Soar Valley Life Magazine shows them as a single point of white/blue light ‐ one pixel (dot) in size. The images were obtained from the Cassini spacecra at a distance of approximately 753,000 miles from the surface of Saturn; about 3 mes the distance of our moon from us. This is only the third me ever that Earth has been imaged from the outer solar system. The acquisi on of this image of Earth and the moon marked the first me that inhabitants of Earth knew in advance that their planet was being imaged. That opportunity allowed people around the world to join together in social events to celebrate the occasion, and collec vely give Saturn a wave! The illuminated areas of neither Earth nor the Moon are resolved here. This view looks toward the unilluminated side of the rings from about 20 degrees below the ring plane. Apparent brightness of some objects in the magnitude system
Special Events Calendar for November 2017: All month: Stately Saturn sets around 6pm and is spectacular through a small telescope. 5/6 November Moon occults Aldebaran around 2.30 am. 17/18 November Leonid Meteor shower maximum ‐ good this year no moonlight! 23rd Mercury shines at ‐ 0.2 at its greatest eastern elonga on just below Saturn. Mars rises at 3.30 am and on 30th November passes the star Spica, the 16th brightest star in the sky, in the constella on of Virgo. Brilliant Venus rises in the south‐east at around 6 am at mag ‐ 3.8 on 2nd & 3rd November. The star to its lower right is Spica. Calendar for December 2017 13/14 December ‐ The Geminid meteor shower should be spectacular this year, with the Moon well out of the way. Get yourself in a dark sky spot and you could see up to 2 meteors per minute. Best seen a er midnight as we are face on to the meteor stream. See the year out with another occulta on of Hyades and Aldebaran. 30th December ‐ as dusk falls the Moon is in front of the Hyades cluster, look at the dark limb of the moon through your binoculars and see the individual stars pop out one by one. Around 1 am on 31st December see the Moon occult Aldebaran and an hour later see it pop out the other side!
Sunrise & Sunset Times in GMT Date
Sunrise
Sunset
Hours of Daylight
6 Nov 2017 13 Nov 2017 20 Nov 2017 27 Nov 2017 4 Dec 2017 11 Dec2017 18 Dec 2017 25 Dec 2017 1 Jan 2018
07:03 07:15 07:27 07:38 07:48 07:56 08:02 08:05 08:06
16:24 16:13 16:04 15:57 15:53 15:51 15:52 15:56 16:02
9h 21m 8h 58m 8h 38m 8h 20m 8h 05m 7h 55m 7h 50m 7h 50m 7h 56m
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13th Nov
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18th Nov
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Sponsored by Loughborough Kia See back cover
“I’m just no good at maths, Mum” Do you hear this from your children? Maths leads to more homework headaches and exam meltdowns than any other academic subject. Common symptoms include homework handed in late (or not at all), poor marks, tears of frustra on and the parental stress that comes from wan ng to help your son or daughter but not having the skills yourself to be able to do this effec vely. Schools do their best to provide extra help, but there are only so many teachers and hours in the day. What if someone would take the trouble to come and talk to you, recommend a course of home‐based one‐to‐one tui on, then send a handpicked personal tutor to work with your child every week? Someone local with a real passion for maths and the skill to rebuild your child's confidence and enthusiasm for this vital subject. We are here to help children at Key Stage 2 and 3, GCSE, AS and A level to be the best they can be at maths (and all other subjects) ‐ call us on 01509 767007 to arrange a free consulta on.
“Any fool can know. The point is to understand.” Albert Einstein
Page 57
Baker & Co Accountants & Bookkeepers 6 Brookbridge Court Syston Leicestershire LE7 2JT
Telephone 0116 2640889 (also fax) 0116 2695236 Email bakerandcoaccountants@btconnect.com Free initial consultation, and Home/workplace visits if desired Over 65 year experience within the practice Established in Syston for over 27 years
Easy Sudoku
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Hard Sudoku
Answers on page 66
Each row, column and 3 x 3 box must contain the numbers 1 to 9 just once. This can be done by applying logic – you don’t have to guess!
Page 58
Get your phone ringing!
adver se here next month!
The White Horse Inn, 6 Church Street, Seagrave, Leicestershire, LE12 7LT
01509 814715
£6.95 lunches! Weds – Sat 12pm to 1.45pm
What’s On At The White Horse? Tuesdays, 6pm-8.45pm – £6.95 Menu Choose from a range of fantastic £6.95 specials!
Christmas Menu
New Year’s Eve
Available from 21st November to 24th December
Scottish Menu
Please Note: Tapas Night will be replaced by our £6.95 Menu during December
1 course £11.95 2 courses £15.95 3 courses £19.95
Come and celebrate Hogmanay with a range of Scottish-inspired dishes!
Thursdays, 6pm-8.45pm – Steak Night
Pre-order essential for parties of 4 or more, at least 3 days in advance.
Available from 6pm-8pm for tables of 2 or more. 3 courses for £24.95 (Pre-order only)
Call us now on 01509 814715 or visit our website below.
Call us now on 01509 814715 or visit our website below.
The Stables Function Room Available to hire for parties of up to 60 people (standing) or 30 (seated). Catering and bar also available. Ideal for parties, meetings and more!
Wednesdays, 6pm-8.45pm – Tapas Night Enjoy a range of authentic Spanish ‘little dishes’! Two rump steaks or specials with a bottle of house wine for just £29.95! Individual deal for just £15!
Fridays, 6pm-8.45pm – Normal Menu Choose from a wide range of delicious home-cooked meals and daily specials.
Saturdays, 6pm-8.45pm – Specials Night Buy any two specials and a bottle of house wine for just £29.95!
Sundays, 12pm-2.15pm – Sunday Lunch Enjoy a free bottle of house wine with your Sunday lunch for any table of 4 adults or more!
Visit www.whitehorseseagrave.co.uk for more details.
© SVL
Kathryn Dowding at
Dowding Solicitors Full range of legal services provided including: • • • •
Wills and Probate Lasting Power of Attorney Divorce and Separation Buying and Selling Property
Home visits available
Call
01509 410388
Email: kathryn@dowdingsolicitors.co.uk © SVL
35-37 High Street, Barrow-upon-Soar, Leicestershire LE12 8PY
Answers on page 69
“Whoever drinks beer, he is quick to sleep; whoever sleeps long, does not sin; whoever does not sin, enters Heaven! Thus, let us drink beer!” Mar n Luther
Page 59
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Page 60
Moorcroft
Royal Doulton
NOW OPEN in LOUGHBOROUGH 7 Church Gate Mews, Loughborough LE11 1TZ Open Weds – Sat 10 ‘til 4.30
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07597 814260
Jump on our Brand Wagon for £38 + vat per month
WIN!
A £50 voucher to spend at Filigree Heart
Stylish and unique gi s, home accessories and furniture 135 Sibson Road, Birstall LE4 4ND www.filigreeheart.co.uk HOW TO ENTER Find the words associated with Christmas in our Wordsearch below and send your answer, which is a six word related phrase, together with your name, address and telephone number, to editor@soarvalleylife.co.uk or by post to Soar Valley Life, 1 Burton Road, Sileby, Leicestershire LE12 7RU The first correct answer out of the hat a er the closing date of 19th December will win. Editor’s decision is final. Terms and condi ons apply.
“The early bird gets Adver se the worm, from but£38 theper second month mouse + vat gets the cheese.” Willie Nelson
Page 61
Charnwood Builders The Complete Building Service
New Build • Extensions Renovations and Plastering Family Business with over twenty years experience T: 01509 215445 M: 07940 296020 Newstead Way, Loughborough, LE11 2UA © SVL
www.charnwoodbuilders.co.uk
Plumbing or Heating Problem? A local professional service for all your gas, plumbing and heating requirements Boiler breakdown and upgrade specialists Full range of work undertaken (free quotes) Installations • Breakdowns • Repairs • Service Fully insured • Qualified Engineers Part L • Part P • WRAS • City & Guilds Vented and Unvented heating systems Safety certificates/checks • Power flushing
24 HOUR EMERGENCY CALL OUT Contact Darryl now for obligation free assistance
info@fabplumbing.co.uk
www.fabplumbing.co.uk
0333 456 7080 07708 917 400
01509 768831 • • • •
In business since 1983 5 year warranty We’ll beat any like for like quote High Quality Digital TV, DAB & FM Aerials • LCD/Plasma Wall Mounts • OAP Discounts • Tune-in & System set ups 133 Highgate Road, Sileby LE12 7PW www.deltaaerials.co.uk
Find the Robin and win a £25 voucher to spend at The Manor House at Quorn See page 28
Some where in the magazine we’ve hidden a little robin – he may not be as big as this one though. If you can find him, let us know where he is and the first correct answer out of the hat after the closing date of 19th December will win. Send your answer, together with your name, address and telephone number to editor@soarvalleylife.co.uk or by post to Soar Valley Life, 1 Burton Road, Sileby, Leicestershire LE12 7RU See page 66 for our latest winners! Psst – it’s not any of those on page 6!
Page 62
Get your phone ringing!
adver se here next month!
Introducing Samantha Kearn Welcome on board Sam Kearn who is helping us in all things rela ng to the internet. You will be hearing a lot more from Sam over the coming months… Marke ng Ma ers: I have worked in marke ng for over 20 years and know that there is never one, single, magic
formula to make a business work – the very opposite in fact! Marke ng a business has to be approached in a mul ‐faceted way. But, it is essen al in this age of the internet that all businesses can be found online. I have been working with Steve and Mary and liaising with Joey and Inzar of Insight Consultancy on a new website for Soar Valley Life, as well as crea ng a more no ceable presence on social media – Facebook etc. We know that smaller businesses o en struggle to communicate
effec vely with their poten al customers as they lack the human resources, knowledge and me when it comes to developing an online presence. The new Soar Valley Life website will include a dynamic Business Directory. All adver sers will have a lis ng in the directory as well as an op onal, fully featured webpage dedicated to their business, indexed and op mised for local web searches. If this is something that appeals to you then do get in touch on info@soarvalleylife.co.uk
“Google can bring you back 100,000 answers. A librarian can bring you back the right one.” Neil Gaiman
Page 63
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Adver sing Prices Per Month – 2018 VAT to be added to all prices • Minimum booking is two months Soar Valley Life is delivered to 33,000 different homes & businesses every two months throughout Charnwood and bordering villages. Distribu on is divided North/South with 16,500 magazines hand delivered each month. (see map on page 7)
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You are reading this because someone delivered it to your door. Would you like to get fit, by doing a great service and earn a good wage for a few hours in the fresh air? Email mary@soarvalleylife.co.uk for details.
Walk, Get Fit Get Paid...
Tracing Your Family History If you’ve tackled all the tasks outlined so far, you’ll probably have questions needing answers and are wondering how to find them. With the vast amount of information on the internet, one place to start, without having a computer of your own, is at your local library. Libraries provide computer access and usually have family history software which staff can explain how to use. An alternative is to visit the county record office where staff can also show you how to use their archives for research. Such places are used to helping beginners develop research skills. Further options are to find a course on family history, such as at a library or college, or come to our meetings for friendly help and access to LRFHS CDs. The Loughborough group of the Leicestershire & Rutland Family History Society (LRFHS) meet on the third Tuesday of the month at All Saints Church, Thorpe Acre Rd, Loughborough, LE11 4LF, open at 6.45pm with refreshments for 7.30pm start.
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Page 65
Solu ons to Puzzles Spot the Difference Answers 1. Colour of the bo om line on the board 2. Pen in the op cian's pocket 3. Top le er on the board (A & E) 4. Fourth line on the board, second le er in (D & F) 5. Girl's eye Sudoku Solu ons
6. Op cian's beard 7. Op cian's e 8. Glasses on the right hand side of the bo om shelf 9. Colour of the glasses on the right hand side of the top shelf 10. Latch on the handbag
Easy
Christmas Food And Drink Quiz Answers 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Pigs in blankets Stella Artois The Vicar Of Dibley Mince pie Advocaat Pumpkin Pie Mulled wine Li le Jack Horner Brandy A turkey sandwich
Henry Hedgehog Solu on A. 7 Mince Pies The word ‘elf’ appears 9 mes in the grid.
Quick Crossword Solu on
Hard
The Studio 17 Family Photoshoot Winner
Find the Robin Winner
Congratula ons to Jenny Mar n of Birstall whose entry in our Photography Wordsearch was the first correct answer to be drawn a er the closing date. The phrase, a ributed to Berenice Abbo , was,“Photography helps people to see.” Jenny wins a one hour si ng for her and her family worth £40 at The Studio 17 in Coalville LE67 3FL See pages 48, 61 and 62 for more compe ons!
Congratula ons to Lucy Turton of Barrow-Upon-Soar who spo ed our li le robin on page 29 in the advert for Filigree Heart. Lucy wins a £25 voucher to use at The Manor House at Quorn.
Page 66
See details on page 28 and pages 48, 61 and 62 for more compe ons!
“Winning isn't everything‐‐but wan ng to win is.” Vince Lombardi Jr.
Soar Valley Life Local Business Directory
DSLR Learning Photography Workshops....................... 49 LCC Adult Learning Courses.......................................... 57 Rothley Park Kindergarten............................................ 54 The Sherwood Psycotherapy Training Ins tute ............ 45 Tutor Doctor ‐ Trusted In‐Home Tutoring ..................... 57
Keith Urry & Son ‐ High Class Decorators ..................... 22 Lined So Furnishings .................................................. 53 More Than Lo Ladders ................................................. 8 Oven Care ‐ Oven & Washer Repairs ............................ 51 Richard Watson Painter and Decorator ........................ 18 Robert Charles Interiors ............................................... 16 Simon Hewi Joinery.................................................... 18 SJS The Professional Carpet Cleaner............................. 52 Smashgard Window Films ............................................ 17 Soar Valley Aerials ........................................................ 18 Whelband Windows ....................................................... 3
Food, Drink and Venues
Home Carers
Charnwood Brewery..................................................... 26 Special Occasions (Midlands) Ltd ................................. 24 The Manor House at Quorn.......................................... 28 The Waterside Inn .......................................................... 2 The White Horse Inn..................................................... 59 Wards End Bistro .......................................................... 34
Absolute Care Agency................................................... 42 Home Instead Senior Care............................................ 39
Garden
ChipsAway Small/Medium Car Repairs......................... 41 Double A Automo ves Ltd............................................ 41 Sileby Car Vale ng Indoor Car Wash ............................ 39 Smashgard Car Window Tin ng ................................... 40 Loughborough Kia ........................................................ 68
Building and Roofing Charnwood Builders ..................................................... 62 Hassall & Son Ltd .......................................................... 10 Jonathan Reeves Architecture ...................................... 24 RSJ Roofing ................................................................... 65
Child Care and Educa on
Birstall Garden & Leisure .............................................. 19 Canopy Tree Services.................................................... 12 Charnwood Tree Services ............................................. 10 Claire Jones Gardens ...................................................... 9 Derry's Nurseries .......................................................... 14 Garden Saunas................................................................ 9 Green Thumb Lawn Treatment Service ........................ 11 Harrison Landscaping ................................................... 12 JSB Tree Surgery ........................................................... 15
Health and Wellbeing Charnwood Hearing Aid Centre.................................... 45 Gareth Hudson – Foot Health Professional .................. 47 HS Foot Care Services ................................................... 47 Inter Eyecare Op cians Ltd ........................................... 44 Pennie Blatchford ‐ Advanced Electrolysis.................... 43 Reed Wellbeing ‐ Complementary Health .................... 45
Home Absolute Window Solu ons Ltd ................................... 38 Ancient & Modern Furniture Restora on..................... 53 Brite Oven ‐ Oven Cleaning .......................................... 51 Carpets of Choice ......................................................... 30 Charnwood Windows ..................................................... 9 Custom Conservatories & Windows ............................. 62 Delta Aerials ................................................................. 62 Dream Doors Leicestershire ......................................... 23 Fab Plumbing ................................................................ 62 Gas‐Servwell (Charnwood) Ltd ......................................24 Hart Property Services.................................................. 32 Hassall Aerials............................................................... 39 Hollydan Plumbing & Hea ng ........................................ 4 Inter i‐care Gas & Electrical Services ............................ 60 JDG Joinery & Carpentry................................................. 4 JS Plastering.................................................................... 4
Merchants NS Plumbing & Hea ng Supplies Ltd ............................ 32
Motoring
Pet Care Posh Dogs Canine Grooming ........................................ 53 Progdog Dog Training ................................................... 53
Prin ng Automedia.................................................................... 13
Professional Services Baker & Co Accountants ............................................... 58 Cound & Co LLP ............................................................ 22 CP Accountancy Ltd ...................................................... 13 Dowding Solicitors ........................................................ 59 Elvin Moore & Partners ................................................ 27 Moss Solicitors.............................................................. 25 Thomas & Cooper Legal Services Ltd............................ 51 Westminster Law ‐ Estate Planning ................................ 8
Shopping & Retail Appliance City ‐ Appliance Exper se ............................ 21 Filigree Heart Limited ................................................... 60 Majac Gallery................................................................ 60
Technical Services Anstey Computers ........................................................ 62 Insight Website Consultancy ........................................ 63
Travel and Leisure Great Central Railway ..................................................... 5 LU Arts .......................................................................... 22 Park and Ride at Christmas........................................... 42 Peter Le Marchant ‐ Santa's Sleighboat........................ 31 The Independent Traveller ........................................... 37
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