Soarvalley augsept14 issuu

Priceless

SOUTH EDITION

Issue 29 Aug/Sept 2014

Your award winning

26,000

magazines delivered every two months

by GPS tracked distribu on team Over 13,000 copies this month to: Sileby, Mountsorrel, Seagrave, Cossington, Quorn, Rothley, Cropston and Thurcaston Plus a further 13,000 next month to Soar Valley North: Loughborough, Nanpantan Woodhouse Eaves, Su on Bonington, Long Wha on, Woodhouse, The Wolds, Swithland, Zouch, Hoton, Cotes, Hathern, Prestwold, Normanton & Stanford.

Cook

Home Made Burgers Peach Melba Shortcakes

Walk

Pillings Lock

What’s On

In and around the Soar Valley

Win

£25 Cash Meal for Two with Wine Skegness Two Night Break for Two

THE

WATERSIDE INN

Great Food, Great Beer, Great Company

Just off the A6 between Sileby & Mountsorrel See page 25 for feature and details

www.soarvalleylife.co.uk

Copy deadline for September Tuesday 26th August

Win a 2 course meal for two including wine See page 55

Soar Valley Life Editors Steve & Mary Johns Adver sing Chris Easom

HOW to ADVERTISE: See page 5 & 6

Telephone 01509 813125 Email enquiries Adver sing info@soarvalleylife.co.uk Editorial editor@soarvalleylife.co.uk Web www.soarvalleylife.co.uk Facebook www.facebook.com/ SoarValleyLife Address 1 Burton Road, Sileby LE12 7RU Copyright © 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.

Front Cover Photo: © Skegness Town Council

Oh, what a lovely summer!

Sixty pages and coun ng ­ we just keep on growing! And this month Quorn joins us in the south of our region to even up the monthly distribu on areas because we now deliver to 5,000 new addresses in Loughborough in the north. If you’d like to see our exact distribu on areas, you can download a map from our website, go to www.soarvalleylife.co.uk. and click on ‘How to Adver se’.

So, what a glorious summer we’re having ­ we just hope we haven’t spoken too soon! All this hot weather got us thinking about the seaside, but then we found ourselves struggling for a front cover photo. We always try for something local, topical, seasonal and a li le bit special but between us we couldn’t find quite the right image. Then Steve had an idea about Skegness, saying everyone must be familiar with the Jolly Fisherman from our region’s most popular seaside resort. He remembered that a friend of ours had worked at a hotel there some years ago ­ the Savoy, right on the sea front. Anyway, one phone call led to another and here you see the result. We got permission from Skegness Town Council to use the Jolly Fisherman on our front page and the current managers of the Savoy kindly donated a two night stay for two people for a compe on. A li le bit of research and a few hundred words later we had it all sorted. The compe on is easy ­ it’s our Summer Wordsearch on page 38 ­ and the ar cle on Skegness is adjacent to the Savoy Hotel informa on and ‘how to enter’ on pages 30 & 31.

On top of all that there’s The Waterside Inn compe on to win a meal for two with wine and a £25 cash prize just for being one of our likers on Facebook; we have interes ng ar cles from brides to burials, our usual walk, recipes, crossword and spot the difference ­ not forge ng a column from our new Minister for Educa on, Nicky Morgan! What a lovely summer edi on! We hope you like it...

Steve & Mary Johns

Contents

Nicky Morgan column

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page 15

Recipes

Peach Melba Shorcakes

Page 20

Home Made Burgers

Page 22

“The Jolly Fisherman” From an original poster commissioned by the GNR 1908

7

8 9

Walking Pillings Lock

Page 42

Everything’s coming up roses Quiz ­ Robots Nicky Morgan MP Employment Allowance Quick Crossword Easy Sudoku The Shop of Dreams How do you choose?

Recipe – Peach Melba Shortcakes Recipe – Home Made Burgers Launch of New Transi ons Lens The Grand Old... Waterside Inn! Lonely Planet? It doesn’t have to be It’s a Shore Thing Ready, Skeggy, Go! Win Two Nights in Skegness Earth to Earth Business Networking Everything Under the Sun Summer Wordsearch Moss Solicitors Host Networking Art Event Walking – Pilling’s Lock It’s Show me!

Think Thin Posture Spot the Difference And Another Thing Win £25 Cash Win a Meal for Two with Wine Compe on Winners What’s On Light is Everything Answers to Puzzles Made in... Europe?

7 9 10 13 15 16 17 19 20 22 23 25 27 29 30 31 32 34 36 38 41 42 45 47 49 51 52 55 55 55 56 57 57 58

page 55

Win a 2 course meal for two at the Waterside Inn

WIN £25 Cash with us on Facebook Page 55

READY SKEGGIE GO!

WIN A 2 NIGHT BREAK page 31

Earth to Earth Natural Burial Feature page 32

Soar Valley Life is an independent community publica on. Please note that while the publisher takes care to be accurate, no liability will be accepted under any circumstances whatsoever, should any of the contents of the magazine be inaccurate or incorrect.

Page 3

Soar Valley Life Trades and Services Arts and Cra s The Gallery ­ Su on Bonington Su on Bonington Show Handmade for Li le Rascals

44 45 54

Builders and Builders Merchants Charnwood Oaks Roofing & Building BDI Design and Construct John A. Stephens Ltd

53 10 6

Child Care and Educa on Rothley Park Kindergarten

51

Courier Services MyParcelShop.Com

38

Funeral Services The Willows Natural Burial Grounds Ltd

33

Garden A 2 Z Cleaning Services Charnwood Tree Services Claire Jones Gardens George Walker Tree Care Harrison Landscaping

15 6 6 46 6

Hair and Beauty Mansi

16

Informa on is included in our What’s On sec on subject to space being available. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publica on is accurate, Soar Valley Life cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions and neither do we endorse companies or adver sers or their products and services appearing in this magazine.

Health Care Ac vity 4all Cambridge Weight Plan Charnwood Hearing Aid Centre Clare Satchell Reflexology Gareth Hudson – Foot Health Professional H S Foot Care Services Physfit Gyms Raw Vitality Nutri on Reed Wellbeing ­ Complementary Health TSL Holis c Centre Visual Answers Op cians / Optometrists Walk­in Physio Ltd Yoga with Moira

49 48 18 38 54 39 17 39 47 17 23 9 54

Holidays and Travel I Can You Can The Savoy Hotel Skegness

27 31

Home A 2 Z Cleaning Services Ablu ons Bathrooms Absolute Window Solu ons Ltd Acacia Curtains and Blinds Bunny Appliance Warehouse Carpets of Choice Custom Conservatories & Windows Dave Mi on Electrical DCI Kitchens Delta Aerials Digital.R.Us Ltd

15 14 35 29 21 8 10 19 48 11 19

Thinking of adver sing?

Sixth page square

Sixth Page from £31 per month

Quarter page Banner advert

Quarter Page from £49 per month

Quarter Page Portrait

Third Page

Banner advert

Third Page from £59 per month

All adver sers get free lis ng on Soar Valley Life business directory www.soarvalleylfe.co.uk

All prices subject to VAT and based on a six month booking (1 month booking is possible) Full details of all ra Page 4

All adver sers appear in our online business directory with a link to their own website – go to www.soarvalleylife.co.uk

Fab Plumbing Fine Finish Furniture KR Electrical LockXpert Ocean Designs Conservatory Furniture Richard Watson Painter and Decorator SJS Professional Carpet Cleaner Soar Valley Aerials The Oven Cleaning Company The Soot Buster UK Gas Services Ltd Wasp Nest Removal Whelband Windows

39 43 27 53 29 15 47 39 39 13 2 18 28

Home Care Services Absolute Care Agency Icare Community Meals

18 60

Motoring Cumberland Auto Care Loughborough Kia Tech 2 Car Body Repairs

Garre ­Long Solicitors Intelligent Financial Advice Ltd iPaq Repair & Parts Moss Solicitors Moving Made Cheaper The Loughborough Ladies Business Group

24 10 48 41 12 34

Pubs, Restaurants & Catering The Free Trade Inn The Waterside Inn The Wedding Cafe The White Horse Inn

26 25 16 49

Residen al Care The Abbeyfield

23

27 59 9

Pet Care Posh Dogs Woodside Animal Centre

Sports and Leisure Cyclops Cycles Great Central Railway Park Hill Golf Club Physfit Gyms Su on Bonington Show

11 50 40 17 45

11 11

Professional Services Baker & Co Accountants Bill Allsopp Photography CP Accountancy Ltd Cat Eley­Gaunt – Wealth Management Crea ve io

Timber Merchants Barrow Timber Sta on George Walker Ltd

54 46

24 57 13 13 16

Wedding Services Brides and Belles The Wedding Café

17 16

Wholesalers Costco Leicester

37

Adver sing Rates

Your award winning

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Portrait

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Half page Landscape

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Full Page from £139 per month

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ate op ons can be found at www.soarvalleylife.co.uk ­ Email editor@soarvalleylife.co.uk Call 01509 813125

Like us on facebook to further promote your business www.facebook.com/SoarValleyLife

Page 5

01509 414 169

BUILDERS MERCHANTS

Main Branch/Stockyard: Castle Meadow Road, Nottingham NG2 1AG Tel: 0115 941 2861 Satellite Branch: 45 ~ 55, Radcliffe Road, West Bridgford NG2 5FX Tel: 0115 981 4313

The widest range of hard landscaping products from the East Midlands leading independent builders’ merchant Choose from: Marshalls (the UK’s leading landscape product supplier) and Stonemarket (arguably the trendsetters for innovative hard landscape products) Next day delivery for most popular products – large fleet of 20+ vehicles for prompt delivery Professional design and layout guides free to download from our website

www.johnastephens.co.uk Page 6

All adver sers appear in our online business directory with a link to their own website – go to www.soarvalleylife.co.uk

Everything’s coming up roses To keep your garden looking good all summer it is essen al that you ‘dead head’ perennials, bedding plants and roses to prolong flowering; removing the faded blooms will encourage more flowers to be enjoyed for a longer period…

Even if your roses are not repeat flowerers it will keep the plant healthier and encourage new growth.

Excep ons to this, of course, are roses whose hips are desirable such as Rosa rugosa. Feeding is also essen al ­ for be er flowering performance use a high potash fer lizer such as tomato food and feed roses with a specific rose fer lizer for improved plant health. Don't forget to water well in dry spells too.

For one to one garden advice or to discuss your garden requirements please contact Claire on 01509 881119

Good choice of rugs always available in store

Quiz – Robots 1.

Derived from Greek words that roughly translate as “man of the species”, what word is used to describe a robot that has been designed to look and act like a human?

2. Which line of toys have been adver sed using the slogan “robots in disguise”?

3. Which rock group named themselves a er a robot in the comic The Dandy, but added the le er “h” a er the first le er and changed an occurrence of “ie” to “y”?

4. Since the summer of 2013, a robot called Brian has regularly featured on TV adverts for which price comparison website?

5. Who acquires a robo c dog called K­9 in a 1977 episode of a famous TV series?

6. According to Isaac Asimov’s “three laws of robo cs”, which of the following rules must a robot obey without excep on?... a) it must obey all orders given to it by a human being; b) it must always protect its own existence; or c) it must not injure a human being or allow a human being to come to harm?

7. A robot called Cubestormer 3 has broken the world record for doing what in the fastest ever me, a me that was recorded at 3.253 seconds?

8. A robot called Mr Chips is the mascot on which TV gameshow?

9. Coined in 1960, what word is used to refer to a being that has biological and robo c parts, such as the Six Million Dollar Man, the Terminator or RoboCop? 10. Which well known TV presenter was Philippa Forrester’s co­host on Robot Wars when it was first shown on TV? Answers on page 57

For appointments call or text: Physiotherapy & Acupuncture

07884493809

www.walk-inphysio.co.uk • info@walk-inphysio.co.uk

Tech2 Body Repairs Classic vehicle restoration Sports and performance car specialists Fleet and commercial vehicles Please call in for your free no obligation quotation

www.tech2bodyrepair.co.uk

have moved to

44 Sparrow Hill, Loughborough

T: 01509 769043 M: 07976 477152 E: paul@tech2bodyrepair.co.uk

Adver se in Soar Valley Life from £31 per month plus VAT – See page 5

© SVL

Page 9

Nicky Morgan MP It is always a great pleasure when, as a Minister, I am able to champion an excellent local organisa on or cause...

Recently I announced an £80m Local Growth Deal for Leicester and Leicestershire which will par cularly be spent on boos ng skills, delivering homes and building transport links.

And one of those transport links is the Great Central Railway’s Bridging the Gap project. I was delighted to confirm an addi onal £1m towards this important project which will deliver tourism, appren ceship and economic benefits as well as enabling the GCR to offer more train tes ng facili es.

I was also very pleased that the Ministry of Defence has now set out the next steps in establishing the Defence Na onal Rehabilita on Centre at Stanford Hall, near Loughborough. It will be a huge privilege to host the na onal rehabilita on centre for our injured armed services personnel in Leicestershire.

Recent weeks have seen the closure of the A6 through Loughborough as work con nues to enable a trial of full pedestrianisa on to take place. It is good to watch the new Inner Relief Road being used in increasing numbers. Please be assured that Loughborough’s shops and our excellent market remain open for business.

Finally, I was honoured and delighted to be asked by the Prime Minister in July to become Secretary of State for Educa on. This is a very exci ng job and a great me to be taking over. Michael Gove has been a hugely influen al and reforming Secretary of State – working to raise standards, focus on discipline and set teachers free from Whitehall interference. My task is to con nue these reforms and to ensure they are delivered well and our teachers are supported. As I said on the day of my appointment, educa on can be life transforming and I think parents want to know that their children are going to get a great educa on regardless of which school they a end or their background and that they will be given the skills and confidence to play their part in securing a be er future for Britain.

In the mean me if you need assistance please e­ mail me nicky.morgan.mp@parliament.uk or call 01509 262723 or you can write to me at or visit my office at 3/3a No ngham Road, Loughborough LE11 1ER.

Page 10

CONSTRUCTION NEW BUILD EXTENSIONS RENOVATIONS LOFT CONVERSIONS

DESIGN DESIGN DEVELOPMENT CAD PLANS DRAWN PLANNING APPROVAL BUILDING REGULATIONS

From your ideas, through the planning and regulations stage to building and completion, we work with you all the way.

Sileby Based - initial consultation is free of charge and without obligation in the Soar Valley area CONTACT MATTHEW: 07877 523669 E-MAIL: bdi-design-construct@outlook.com © SVL

MORTGAGES

FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION

• Mortgages • Life assurance • Commercial loans & insurance • Buildings and contents insurance • Accident, sickness & unemployment insurance Telephone Charles Barrett

01509 231335 or 07752 312145

Westgate House, Royland Road, Loughborough, LE11 2EH

Email:c.barrett@ifalimited.co.uk

Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate some aspects of commercial mortgages and some aspects of commercial finance.

There will be a fee of £550 for mortgage advice payable on completion; we will offset © SVL this fee against any commission we receive from the lender where available.

Anything of interest you’d like to see in the next issue?

Call 01509 813 125 or email editor@soarvalleylife.co.uk

ADOPT AN ANIMAL

1120 Melton Road, Syston

0116 260 8500

ROAD,SPORT,HYBRID &MOUNTAINBIKESFROM MERIDA&DAWES

Woodside Animal Centre 190 Scudamore Road, Leicester LE3 1UQ

0116 233 6677

info@rspcaleicester.org.uk www.rspcaleicester.org.uk

Canine Grooming and Spa

PRICESSTARTINGFROM£299.99

• Safe, clean and friendly environment • Teacup to large breeds catered for • Fully qualified and experienced

A range of POLARIS Childrens clothing NOW IN STOCK

Mon - Fri 9.00am to 5.00pm • Sat 9.30am to 5.00pm

41 Swan Street, Sileby LE12 7NN

Call 01509 767420 / 07592 594000 bethklg@hotmail.co.uk

© SVL

10% DEPOSIT SECURES A BIKE UNTIL REQUIRED

Cyclescheme Tax Free Bikes Member

SPARES & REPAIRS

www.poshdogsgrooming.com

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

Feature your business in Soar Valley Life – contact steve@soarvalleylife.co.uk

Page 11

Employment Allowance If you are an employer, are you aware of the Employment Allowance that may be available to you? Maybe you are considering taking on an employee, in which case the Employment Allowance would reduce the cost to your business...

The Employment Allowance came into effect on 6th April 2014. It allows businesses to reduce their employer class 1 na onal insurance contribu ons liability by up to £2,000 per year.

The allowance is claimed through your normal payroll process under RTI each month un l you have u lised the full £2,000 available.

CP Accountancy Ltd End of year accounts, Bookkeeping, VAT, PAYE, CIS, and Tax Returns for Sole-traders, Partnerships and small Limited Companies Office 9 Lazarus Court, Woodgate Rothley, Leicestershire LE7 7NR

Some employers are excluded from claiming the Employment Allowance. For example, those who employ someone for personal, household or domes c work, are a public authority, or whose main or sole func ons are of a public nature.

Tel: 01162 303 973 Mobile: 07749 650129 Email: info@cpaccountancyltd.co.uk

If you have any queries or require further informa on on the Employment Allowance please do not hesitate to contact us.

Caroline Dinsmore is licensed and regulated by the AAT under license number 5865

Caroline Dinsmore Tel: 01162303 973

THESOOTBUSTER

Chimney Sweeping Services

Cat Eley­Gaunt

Independent Financial Advisor

MORTGAGES INSURANCE RETIREMENT PLANNING SAVINGS AND INVESTMENTS 84 Willow Road Barrow upon Soar LE12 8GQ

07975 593464 / 01509 416162 email: cat.eley­gaunt@2plan.com

www.cateley­gaunt.2plan.com YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE.

• Member of the Guild of Master Sweeps •

Registered Stove Installer

• Fully insured

Call Dave Morris on

All work undertaken within

7

days!

Tel: 01455 828967 m: 07821 774273 e: sootbuster1@gmail.com www.thesootbuster.co.uk Dave is also a registered Mole Catcher

Adver se in Soar Valley Life from £31 per month plus VAT – See page 5

Page 13

It’s not big... (but it is clever!)

It’s a designer bathroom* - and it’s in a space less than 6 feet square.

It’s easy to use, it’s easy on the eye, it’s easy to clean and it’s easy on the pocket!

It’s another award winning idea from Ablutions.

Find out the true potential for your bathroom - call 01530 215034 to arrange a free design consultation.

*You can see this bathroom in our showroom along with many other unique design solutions including our easy access baths and showers, bespoke shower enclosures and Glazztech our new and exclusive one piece glass shower walls.

Unit 7 Stephenson Court, Brindley Road, Stephenson Industrial Estate, Coalville LE67 3HG Open 10am to 5pm. Saturdays 10am to 3pm. Closed Sundays

www.ablutions.net

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1 Deprive of food (6)

1 Private (6)

4 Scribble (6)

2 Allow to enter (5)

9 Complicated (7)

3 Krakatoa (7)

10 Meal of raw vegetables (5)

5 Beginning (5)

11 Addi onal (5)

6 Sea mammal (7)

12 Exactly alike (7)

7 Not youngest (6)

13 Mee ng (11)

8 Test (11)

18 Down­payment (7)

14 Young dogs (7)

20 End of day (5)

15 Hideous beast (7)

22 Type of oil (5)

16 Fools (6)

23 Result (7)

17 Speaks (6)

24 Process (6)

19 Kind of turnip (5)

25 Holds firmly (6)

21 Increases in size (5) Answers on page 57

Richard Watson Professional Painter and Decorator from internal to external

Thirty years experience in the trade - Sileby based

Better value by far! • Free Estimates • No VAT For a full personal service call

T: 01509 815753 M: 07880 754011

A2Z CLEANING SERVICES • •

Professional, friendly, fully trained & above all great value for money.

• • •

Carpet Cleaning Gutter and UPVC Cleaning Window Cleaning Patios & Driveways Cleaned Home Cleaning

Pressure Washing A2Z can clean any hard surface with the latest in Pressure Washing equipment the results are spectacular. We can clean Car Parks, Car Dealerships, Forecourts, Driveways, Patios, remove Graffiti and much more.

2 Abbey Business Park, Friday Street, Leicester LE1 3BW

T: 0116 2629596 • E: sales@leicestercleaners.com • www.leicestercleaners.com

Adver se in Soar Valley Life from £31 per month plus VAT – See page 5

Page 15

We cater

• Workshops in sewing, sugarcraft, for events & have a decoupage and floristry vintage tea • Evening events B.Y.O.B tent!

• Party Packages from £9 per person • Mini Afternoon Tea just £6 Call or see our facebook page for details.

We provide: • • • • • •

Wedding Consultation Venue Dressing Party Packages Sweetie Cart Buffet Hire Prop & Accessory Hire Pop Up Tea Tent Hire

8a High Street, Syston, LE7 1GP

theweddingcafeuk

MA S I

Easy Sudoku

Beauty and Bridal

and Pedicure

• Massage • Ear piercing • Hair and makeup

10% off on first treatment when you mention this advert To make an appointment call

07870 651698

1 Highgate Road, Sileby, LE12 7PN

Page 16

Answers on page 57

For how to play go to h p://www.sudoku.name/rules/en

All adver sers appear in our online business directory with a link to their own website – go to www.soarvalleylife.co.uk

The Shop of Dreams When I met Gina Spender of Brides & Belles, Wigston, I wondered if our part of the Soar Valley might be a bit too far away...

“Not at all,” she replied, “distance isn’t the first considera on when it comes to buying that special dress.

We’ve had brides from many parts of the UK and only recently a girl from Weston Super Mare and it’s our reputa on that brings them to us.

Every new client has an in­depth one and a half hour consulta on. We have dozens of different styles in stock and can alter most of them in house. All fi ngs are private with the

shop made available for the dura on of the appointment. We can provide everything for the bride and bridesmaids, including an extensive range of accessories, shoes, veils, bridal lingerie and flowers. We also work with a partner to dress the groom and his party as well.”

I asked how much a bridal gown might cost these days.

“The range we have in stock starts at around £600 and goes up to about £1600. We offer interest free credit too. And for perfect peace of mind, we can also come to the bride on the wedding morning to provide a personal dressing service and a end to any last minute altera ons.”

Gina Spender with her range of Bridal gowns

When I asked Gina to tell me the best thing about her business she was in no doubt: “Seeing the happiness shining through when they see themselves in their finished and fi ed gown; that’s when they realise that they’re well on the way to fulfilling their dreams.”

And that’s what Brides & Belles is all about, isn’t it? Helping dreams to come true...

Opening times:

Monday: 9.00 - 3.00 • Friday: 10.00 - 3.00 Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday: 10.00 - 5.00 • Tuesday & Sunday: Closed

NEW RANGES IN STOCK FROM SEPTEMBER – See website for end of season

SALE!

Please contact us before you visit as pre booked appointments are given priority Appointments available outside our normal opening hours by prior arrangement

We look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful boutique in Wigston Leicester very soon

88 Leicester Road, Wigston, Leicestershire LE18 1DR info@bridesandbelleswigston.co.uk

© SVL

Fully inclusive membership

Bringing harmony to mind, body and soul

£23.00 per month for unlimited use

Best equipped gym in the Soar Valley ®

7 - 11 Brook Street, Sileby LE12 7RF

0773 338 5187

Free parking on Station/Tesco car park

9 til 9 Mon to Thurs, 9 - 7 Fri, 10 - 1 Sun physfitgyms@hotmail.com www.physfitgyms.co.uk

Massage Treatments • Holistic Therapies Beauty Treatments • Tarot & Spiritual Readings © SVL

75 Woodgate, Loughborough LE11 2TZ

01509 239600

www.tslholistic.co.uk

Feature your business in Soar Valley Life – contact steve@soarvalleylife.co.uk

Page 17

Charnwood Hearing Aid Centre Ltd Lynne Leeming, MSc RHAD MSHAA

FREE,

no obligation homecare needs assessment in your own home

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

Find out how our local, family run Home Care Agency can help you

WASP NEST REMOVAL

Call Dave Morris on

T 01455 828967 M 07821 774273 Page 18

Feature your business in Soar Valley Life – contact steve@soarvalleylife.co.uk

How do you choose?

Of all the tradesmen out there how do you differen ate one from another ­ especially when the wrong choice could affect the safety of you and your home...

Fortunately, in our society, many trades and professions have their own accredited associa ons who ac vely and con nually assess members upon their ability to offer the services they do.

In the electrical trade the most respected accredita on is The Na onal Inspec on Council for Electrical Installa on Contrac ng ­ just look for the red and black logo. There are two main categories of assessment, one for domes c installa on work and the other for industrial and commercial contrac ng. On his advert you’ll see that Dave Mi on has both and underneath the one on the right is the NICEIC logo together with a pastel blue heart shape and MCS ini als. This means that Dave is also an approved installer of Micro genera on equipment ­ Solar Panels to you and me.

On the le below the NICEIC logo is the Renewable Energy Assurance logo, the accredita on arm of the associa on that promotes the renewables industry and protects consumers.

So far so good. Then what? Someone trusted recommends them perhaps?

One of the most trusted guardians of consumer rights is the Consumers Associa on whose brand name is WHICH. They have their own trusted trader scheme to which Dave Mi on also belongs.

And if all that lot doesn’t make up your mind, then you’d be er phone a friend...

Your local electrical experts

ALL JOBS BIG AND SMALL Call our friendly team today

01509 889096 24 Barrow road, Burton on the Wolds, LE12 5TB. Company number 6180527 © SVL

www.davemittonelectrical.co.uk

There is no such thing as a digital aerial!

DIGITAL.R.US Ltd

Aerials & Satellites

Experts in all sound and vision for the home Digital.R.Us getmedigital.com

25 Years Experience in Aerial Installations • Sky Room to Room & Sky Links • Aerials for Freeview & Digital • Plasma & LCD TV Fitting & TV Wall Mounting • After Hours Service Available • 10 Years Guarantee • Cable Fitted Discreetly • We are recommend by freeview as a trusted Freeview HD starts this year • installer within 60 miles of Leicester

Company Reg: 06777705

© SVL

HDTV specialist

Bespoke and Surround Sound

Web: www.uktvwallmounts.com www.digitalswitchoverleicester.com Email: digital.r.us@btinternet.com

All engineers security checked & NVQ trained

‘Digital.R.us’

Registered Installer IDENTIFICATION: 18267313

Tel: 0116 2760647 Mob: 07790 415 259 100 Woodland Road, Leicester

All adver sers appear in our online business directory with a link to their own website – go to www.soarvalleylife.co.uk

Page 19

Recipe This month’s recipe sponsored by

Bunny Appliance Warehouse

Peach Melba Shortcakes These shortcakes are perfect for a speedy summer dessert. They take just minutes to make and bake and can be filled with whatever seasonal fruit you have to hand. Here they are filled with a rich and sweet mascarpone cream with juicy peaches and fresh raspberries but a simple dollop of extra thick cream and some sliced strawberries will be just as impressive.

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6

Tip

Serves 8 Ready in 35 minutes, plus cooling

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4.

Lightly grease a large baking sheet.

Si the flour and baking powder into a large bowl. Add the diced bu er and rub into the flour with your finger ps un l the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. S r in the sugar then add the beaten egg and milk and mix to a so dough.

Knead the dough lightly on a floured surface and roll out to a 1cm thickness. Using an 8cm round cookie cu er stamp out 8 rounds, gently re­rolling the trimmings as necessary.

Place on the prepared baking sheet, prick the top of each round lightly with a fork then sprinkle with a li le caster sugar.

Bake in the preheated oven for 12­15 minutes, or un l risen and pale golden.

Carefully transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool completely.

To make the filling, beat the mascarpone cheese with the icing sugar and cream un l smooth. Push half the raspberries through a fine­holed sieve to make a puree.

Slice each shortcake in half horizontally and top the bo om halves with the cream mixture, peach slices and remaining raspberries. Drizzle over the raspberry puree and top with remaining shortcake halves.

The shortcakes can be made a day in advance and stored in an air ght container.

Fill with the cream and fruit 1­2 hours before serving.

Page 20

Ingredients: • • • • • •

175g self­raising flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 75g bu er, chilled and diced 55g caster sugar, plus extra for sprinkling 1 large egg, beaten 1 tbsp milk

Filling • • • • •

125g mascarpone cheese 2 tbsp icing sugar 6 tbsp single cream 175g fresh raspberries 2 ripe peaches, stoned and sliced

Recipe sponsored by Bunny Appliance Warehouse See their full range of fabulous cooking appliances at www.appliancecity.co.uk

Seasonal Recipe

Home­Made Burgers Always choose good quality premium minced steak for the best flavour but pick one that has some fat in it – don’t buy extra lean mince as the burgers will dry out too much during cooking. Try asking your local butcher to mince some rump or chuck steak with about 20% fat content. For four quarter pounder burgers you’ll need 500g mince.

All You Need To Know!

It’s the barbecue season and nothing tastes be er than delicious home­made char­grilled burgers.

Follow these top ps for the best burgers around…

Mince is fairly bland so you’ll need to add plenty of flavouring. Grated or very finely chopped onion and minced garlic form the basic flavouring but you add whatever dried or fresh herb, spice or seasoning you like. You’ll need to add 5­ 10ml (1­ 2tsp) salt and lots of freshly ground black pepper too.

A handful of fresh breadcrumbs and a li le beaten egg will also help to bind the mince together and prevent the burgers from breaking up during cooking. Whizz all the ingredients in a food processor un l the mixture starts holding together or use clean hands to mix as thoroughly as possible.

Shape the burgers into round flat discs with we ed hands. To get perfectly round shapes press the mixture into a metal pastry cu er. Don’t over handle the burgers or they will be tough and dry when cooked.

If you want a change from the classic sesame seed bun why not serve the cooked burgers on top of wedges of toasted ciaba a bread spread with a li le mustard mayo or pack into warmed and split pi a breads with salad or coleslaw.

Ensure that burgers are cooked all the way through and there is no pinkness in the middle. To check this press the burger down with a fish slice – if there are pink juices oozing out then cook for a few more minutes.

Try a fresh tomato relish instead of ketchup – just peel and finely dice a couple of ripe plum tomatoes and mix with a li le olive oil, fresh chopped basil, a pinch of sugar and salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Page 22

All adver sers appear in our online business directory with a link to their own website – go to www.soarvalleylife.co.uk

Visual Answers Launch New Transi ons Lens Award ­ winning Loughborough optometrists Visual Answers are one of the first op cians in the UK to have promoted the new high performance adap ve lens from Essilor known as Crizal Transi ons Signature...

The latest Crizal adap ve lenses from Transi ons react from clear to a classic graphite­green in sunlight. Their patented Chromea 7 Technology not only blocks dangerous UV light to your eyes but also provides more natural vision and enhanced colour percep on.

“The response has been amazing,” said Principal Optometrist Mohammed Bhojani, “the lenses react more appropriately to indirect sunlight and become darker than any previous Transi ons lenses on ho er days.

Providing 25 mes more UV protec on than the naked eye, they also offer protec on against reflec ons, scratches, smudges, dust and water marks and come with a 2 year scratch resistant guarantee.”

Feedback thus far has been so posi ve that these ‘smart technology lenses’ also come with a Visual Answers guarantee too: If you’re not 100% delighted with them Visual Answers will replace them with an equivalent clear lens within 1 full month of your collec on, without fuss or quibble. New Transi ons Signature lenses are available in grey, brown and iconic graphite green.

More informa on about these smart technology lenses is available from Visual Answers optometry prac ces near Loughborough: Telephone Quorn ­ 01509 414151 or Barrow upon Soar ­ 01509 416800

Loughborough

Specialist Dementia care home The Abbeyfield Society offers a range of care and support solutions which reflect the changing expectations of older people; that we all deserve to enjoy our later years and get the most out of life - whatever our individual circumstances.

As a not for profit organisation we welcome the support of volunteers especially in the following areas: Gardening, Befriending, Craft workshops/demonstrations, Baking, Flower arranging, Christmas Decorations, Fundraising, manning our Christmas Market stall

The Abbeyfield Loughborough Society, 44 Westfield Drive, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3QL 01509 266605 www.abbeyfieldloughborough.co.uk

KATHRYN DOWDING AT Full range of legal services provided including: • • • •

Wills and Probate Lasting Power of Attorney Divorce and Separation Buying and Selling Property

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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

Page 24

Accountancy headaches??

For a personal and jargon free service: SELF-ASSESSMENT TAX RETURNS ACCOUNTS FOR SOLE PROPRIETOR, PARTNERSHIPS, LIMITED COMPANIES, LLP'S. RENTAL INCOME ACCOUNTS, MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTS etc VAT PREPARATION AND FILING VAT AND TAX ENQUIRIES PAYROLL BUREAU AND CIS PERSONAL AND CORPORATE TAXATION

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The Grand Old... Waterside Inn Un l the pub was purchased by Everards Brewery in 1965, the Waterside Inn in Mountsorrel was known as The Duke of York...

It was only in the last half of the 18th century, in the days of great engineers such as Thomas Telford and James Brindley, when canals were cut and locks were built to bypass weirs, that the River Soar was made navigable. The Soar was then joined to the Grand Union Canal and, in many ways, this put Leicester and Loughborough on the map.

The inn was built by the water in 1795 and in those early days had stabling for 12 horses, an orchard and a piggery; the beer they served was most likely brewed on the premises. Provisions were brought by horse drawn canal barge un l the railways and then motor vehicles took over ­ pu ng the canal bargemen out of business.

But Everards revived the old tradi on temporarily when they took over the pub, bringing beer and provisions by barge from Leicester.

A newspaper ar cle from 1965 gives a li le of the detail: “An unusual aspect of the opening was the arrival of beer by air and water. Jack Monk captained the narrow boat bringing the beer from Leicester and Capt. Anthony Everard, chairman of the brewery, brought a quan ty of beer by helicopter which he piloted himself and landed in a field near the inn. He was accompanied by his 78 year old mother, Lady Ione Everard.”

The ar cle also states that an extensive refurbishment of the premises, including conver ng the stables into a restaurant, cost in excess of £10,000.

The pub’s latest refurbishment today, a joint venture between Everards and the new landlords Lionel and Sue Roberts, has cost a good deal more than that.

“Mul ply that 1965 figure by 25 and you’d be close,” says Sue. “This is the most exci ng pub venture we’ve had, and we just know it will be our best. As head chef, Lionel leads the team from within, working most days in the kitchen, I do front of house with my son Lyam and Danny is our restaurant manager. We are trying very hard to co­ ordinate with local demand by

extending our opening hours in the summer holidays. It really is a lovely pub, right on the river with the ea ng area by the lock. On sunny days the atmosphere in the garden is breathtaking and it really is a pub for everyone. We are very dog friendly ­ so many people round here have some fabulous dogs and obviously love them to bits! We’ve retained the in macy of the original snug, keeping a local feel, and yet the mixing of tradi onal with contemporary décor in the main pub makes you feel you are somewhere very special. We’ve also brought some memorabilia from our last place. Lou Boileau, a friend of ours who photographs the stars, was a regular at the pub we ran for many years next to the theatre in Northampton.”

Sue showed me a variety of bowler and top hats on a coat stand by the door leading to the pa o area and then pointed out various framed photographs of famous actors on the walls. John Thaw and Jeremy Bre , be er known perhaps, as Morse and Sherlock Holmes, grand old detec ves of the fic onal world gave us a clue for our next compe on ­ see page 55.

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01509 814494 www.thefreetradeinn.co.uk

Lonely Planet? It doesn’t have to be!

There might be a me when life deals us a different hand and we have no one to help us get out and about or venture that bit further afield…

If this rings any bells for you then John Perkins might be the guy to get in touch with. He has spent his working life in the high flying corporate arena, travelling the world, but a er a life changing event last year he made up his mind to offer his experience gained in travel to those who may otherwise miss out.

This caring a tude, wan ng to help others less able, which is apparent in John, is nothing new. He has given a week of his me every year for the last thirty years as a volunteer at Lourdes; he says the idea of assisted travel has probably been there for a long me, but it’s only now he finds himself able to offer his support as a going concern.

“I realised first hand last year how tough it is for some people to travel alone, with only the help of a travel operator to fall back on.

Want to travel, but not on your own?

My Mum had moved back to her homeland in Eire a er my Dad died; but then she had a stroke and needed to return to the UK where we could look a er her. Bringing her back, I realised just what was involved and how invaluable it is to have someone do all the organising, me keeping, being in the right place at the right me, keeping calm when there’s a change of plan and so on.

There’s a thousand and one things to think about when going on a trip and if you have to face all that alone it would put most people off, other than those fit and young of course. For the older ones it can certainly be daun ng, but it doesn’t stop the dream does it? Well now you can have your dream fulfilled. Get in touch, tell me what you’d like to achieve and we’ll take it from there.

We have access to specialists in all fields ­ travel, nursing and caring support, plus companionship for the dura on of your travels of course. The world can be your oyster once more.”

‘Let Yourself Go with assisted travel’

From a show in town or London town to an accompanied flight or a cruise to far away.

We support you so that you can continue to enjoy trips away without the fear of having to go it alone.

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Page 27

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It’s a Shore Thing

Coastal is on trend this season for so furnishings, crea ng a light and airy feel to your interiors. So sandy beiges work well with cooler tones of cream and pale grey, while darker charcoal, greys and off white complement navy and red. Try bringing in accessories in tones of coral, mustard and teal, for a striking contrast...

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So many lovely pa erned fabrics reflect these colours: nau cal toned yachts and lighthouses or beach huts in cheerful pastels and washed out naturals featuring shells and starfish. A mul tude of stripy fabrics are s ll around in varying textures; combined with white painted furniture and vintage accessories, these add a finishing touch to your home.

All these fabrics and more can be shown to you in the comfort of your own home. For a no obliga on quota on, please call Acacia Curtains, Blinds and Shu ers on 01509 650832 Top Tip: Upcycle an old deckchair as a bathroom chair, reupholstered with a coastal fabric and contras ng cushion.

Contact Judy Andrews Telephone 01509 650832 Mobile 0788 1681556

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Page 29

Ready, Skeggie, Go! The Jolly Fisherman was designed 106 years ago and the familiar old salt con nues to this day as the mascot of Lincolnshire’s premier resort...

John Hassall was commissioned

by The Great Northern Railway Company in 1908 to produce a poster to promote holiday travel from Kings Cross to Skegness. It was displayed from Easter of that year to coincide with the introduc on of a special three shilling excursion. The last of these trips ran on August Bank Holiday 1913.

The original now occupies a place of honour in Skegness Town Hall a er it was given to the town by Bri sh Railways in 1966 along with the copyright. It was a long forgo en railway employee who coined the phrase ‘Skegness is so bracing’ which is as accurate today as it was in the days before ‘climate change’ owing to the prevailing breeze from the North Sea. I wonder if there’s anyone who grew up in the East Midlands who has never been to Skegness? Famous for its sandy beach, which at low de stretches for miles it seems, holiday camps, funfairs, caravan sites, fish & chips, ice cream, s cks of rock, kiss­me­quick hats and all the English seaside paraphernalia a kid could wish for.

It was the Vikings who se led here in the 9th century a er landing on a promontory of land.

The name itself is derived from those first Danish explorers who pronounced it ‘Skeggie’s ness’ ­ ness being their name for a headland. It became a haven with a harbour, flourishing as a

Page 30

fishing town un l a violent storm washed it all away in the 16th century. The original site of the town is now a mile out to sea.

The town’s fortunes didn’t really return un l the railway arrived in 1873. The land was then owned by the Earl of Scarborough who foresaw the poten al for Skegness and invested in the rebuilding and enlarging of the town. It is he we should thank for the wide tree­lined streets, the promenade, pier, gardens, clock tower and many of the buildings.

Then just a er the end of WW1 the Earl sold his interest in the whole sea shore to Skegness District Council for a princely sum and no doubt a handsome profit.

For the rest of the 20th century Skegness prospered as a working class holiday resort, mainly due to the first proper holiday camp opened at Ingoldmells in 1936 by Billy Butlin, who declared, ‘Our true intent is all for your delight’.

Then followed caravan and camping sites and ‘The August men in thousands took the road to watch the sea and find the sun…’

Skegness has had its ups and downs over the last few decades, suffering like many places through recessions, property boom and busts and the variable English weather. But every me I’ve ever visited, in good mes or bad, on Bank holidays, weekends or weekdays, it has always bustled with life and is somehow always constant. For me ­ and the majority of East Midlands folk too I suspect ­ I always feel I get what I expect from Skegness.

No one has ever oversold the place, except perhaps Mr Butlin and a certain Yorkshire Earl, but

The original 1908 poster which featured the Jolly Fisherman for the first me.

it does what it says ­ in buckets and spades, I reckon.

It’s also a bit quicker to get to these days with the improvement of the A46, being now a dual carriageway all the way from Leicester to Lincoln.

The sat­nav tells me it takes under two hours. If I wanted to travel by train from Loughborough, it would set me back a bit more than the three bob they were charging in 1908.

Two hundred mes more to be precise. But all things considered £30 for a return cket seems fair enough these days...

Oh, and this month’s compe on gives you the chance to win a two night stay at one of the town’s premier hotels on the North Parade ­ The Savoy, no less. The Earl of Scarborough’s grand promenade awaits two lucky people. So, what are you wai ng for? Turn to page 38, complete our Summer Wordsearch and send us your answer.

Ready, Skeggie, Go!

All adver sers appear in our online business directory with a link to their own website – go to www.soarvalleylife.co.uk

WIN

a two night break for two adults including full English Breakfast at the Savoy Hotel, Skegness

The Resort’s Premier Seafront Hotel. Offering 48 stylish bedrooms, all furnished to a very high standard and fully equipped with modern facilities, one of the largest hotels in Skegness

How to Enter

Solve our Summer Wordsearch Puzzle on page 38 and send your answer, which is a related seven word 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 after the closing date of Tuesday 30th September will win. Prize must be taken by the end of May 2015 excluding Bank Holiday weekends and subject to availability. Editor’s decision is final. Terms and conditions apply

Telephone 01754 763371 North Parade, Skegness, Lincolnshire www.savoy-skegness.co.uk

Earth to Earth Alluded to in the Books of Genesis and Job and clearly stated in the book of Common Prayer, for reci ng at the graveside of a Chris an funeral, is this most sombre of all phrases...

But, in a ma er­of­fact organic sense, this is what happens and has happened since the very first life on earth. All living cells die; they return to the elements and compounds they consist of and are used again by new life to build upon and thrive.

This too passes on and on, again and again, endlessly recycled ad infinitum. Perhaps this is the message from faiths which pronounce a herea er? It’s just a metaphor for life a er death ­ and isn’t that exactly what it is?

But it’s our consciousness, our awareness, that struggles with the concept of death; because of course that must end when we are disassembled back into the dust from which we came. And if you think about it, how can we ra onalise an end to our awareness using our awareness as our only model of experience? But enough of that before my brain short circuits and crashes!

The great US statesman Benjamin Franklin warned, “...in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” So, certain it is then, and at mes in our lives we have to consider some sombre op ons, not for ourselves in our younger years but for our loved ones. I, for one, don’t like discussing or contempla ng this inevitability much at all, but there have been mes when I’ve had to, although I’d never considered this op on ­ Natural Burial.

I first heard of The Willows Natural Burial Ground on Radio Leicester’s Ben Jackson Show, and I have to admit I was a li le bit intrigued. This eventually led to a mee ng with the owners, Chris and his wife Jenny at their home in Thurlaston, where the first ques on from me was," How on earth did you get into this business?”

Jenny answered, “It was always Chris’s dream to own and manage a woodland. A farmer friend with land

Page 32

at South Croxton (pronounced Crowston, as I now know) started the process to convert a six acre plot of his land into a natural burial ground.

A er many agreeable mee ngs with Charnwood Borough Council and higher authori es he became aware of the long term implica ons and responsibili es and decided to sell it on. Chris and I got to hear about it, nego ated a deal, raised the money, bought the land with planning permission and got started. There was an awful lot to sort out: licences, ground works, a car park, brochures, website, natural material for bio­ degradable non­toxic coffins and ashes caskets, then contractors for ground maintenance and, not forge ng the most vital resource, grave digging.

Having no experience of all this we joined the Associa on of Natural Burial Grounds who really have been a tremendous help.”

Chris con nued, “Our vision to create a woodland of remembrance that will far outlive us all, as a place of peace and reflec on for the families of the loved ones interred here, seemed such a wonderful thing. And, contrary to what many might believe, there are happy mes at the Willows. We have regular open days and remembrance days when we erect gazebos and invite families along, providing tea, coffee, so drinks and cakes from our caravan and organising games for the children. Don’t forget, it’s a beau ful spot with rolling hills, trees and views into far distance; wildlife abounds with sheep and geese in the adjacent fields and it’s not at all a sad place as a normal cemetery tends to be. The funerals too, are different in many ways. We always offer cover from the elements at the graveside, erec ng gazebos where required, and providing tables and chairs for a erwards. Being all faith and no faith, we’re not bound to the strict rules of a church and can provide celebrants who manage the events of the day for you. These days it doesn’t have to be morbid or morose; one lady recently pre­ booked her plot and ordered a case of Prosecco for those a ending.”

A er leaving Jenny and Chris I went to visit The Willows; I drove through Queniborough and took the South Croxton road. I’ve driven that way many mes yet never seen the li le cemetery on the other side of the village ­ funny isn’t it, how we no ce things we are focussed upon? A er a couple of miles a sign poin ng to the right indicated the Natural Burial Ground ­ another thing Jenny and Chris had to organise no doubt. Just up the hill on the right through big, open, five bar gates, a sign on a no ce board directed me to the main entrance into the burial ground. Chris had told me there were 70 “residents” at the moment with another 70 booked in advance.

My first reac on was ­ what a lovely, peaceful place! Young trees marked most of the inhabited plots, with an oak post and a Welsh slate plaque bearing a name, date and a word or two of comfort. One caught my thoughts abruptly ­ Born Sleeping …

Okay, I know it’s subjec ve and our emo ons create a mood when we allow ourselves the chance, but it didn’t feel like any graveyard I’d ever visited before. It’s a beau ful place which, ironically, makes you feel alive. As I walked along each of the wide swards of grass, I thought a poet could come here on a sunny day and write a masterpiece.

Circumnaviga ng and radia ng out from the centre, the grassy walks were do ed with oak benches. I sat awhile on one of them, looking away from the a ernoon sun, over a patchwork of yellow cornfields, green hedges and trees which rolled away into the far distance past a sleepy li le village. A mul tude of peaceful thoughts later, it was me to leave.

Passing the li le cemetery at Queniborough, I pulled in at the gate to pause for a moment. Looking over the neat rows of gravestones and close clipped grass, a thought sprang to mind ­ I know where I’d rather be...

Back at my desk, wri ng this li le piece for you lovely people!

All adver sers appear in our online business directory with a link to their own website – go to www.soarvalleylife.co.uk

A beautiful final resting place in the Leicestershire countryside

Natural burials are an increasingly popular and affordable choice

The Willows natural burial ground

Award Winning

"As in the eye of nature, they have lived, so in the eye of nature let them die"

e Willows Th

Natural Burial Ground

www.willowsnbg.co.uk tel: 01455 888699 mob: 07857 105900

William Wordsworth 1888

This family run site is an area of natural beauty which will develop into a fitting natural final resting place... a place where people can come to reflect and remember their loved ones Barsby Road, South Croxton, Leics LE7 3RZ

Business Networking ­ Part 2

A few more good ps to help you on your way Following on from last month’s networking feature and a er Mary a ended the first Loughborough Ladies Business Group lunch, I am pleased to provide a few more worthwhile ps to those of you out there who would like to try a bit of business networking.

Firstly ­ how did Mary get on? Well, neither of us knew just how many people might a end, but we had an educated guess at roughly thirty to forty. This was important, she needed to take enough magazines and media leaflets to go round.

I had recently bought a very handy, so style, brief case with an adjustable shoulder strap and three compartments all accessible from the top. Mags in one, notebook pens and media info in the middle and business cards and personal stuff in the third.

When Mary arrived there were several ladies already there with others arriving over the next half hour.

She was quite nervous at first but soon got stuck in when she found how relaxed it was. When I met her a erwards she was full of it ­ talking and ac ng like a real networker and had no magazines or media leaflets le in her bag.

A month a er the main networking event there was a drop­in coffee morning with more new people a ending although most of those there had been at the previous lunch. Mary took the opportunity to sign up as a member and book in for the next lunch a month later.

Here are the next five ps I’ll share with you and if you missed the first five you’ll find them on the new business to business page on our website: www.soarvalleylife.co.uk 6. Follow up on all leads About a third of the people who say they’re interested are just saying it because they think it’s what you want to hear. Another third will say they’re interested because actually they want to sell you something. Out of the remaining third of people, who may really be interested, only about 3% will

Page 34

ever call you and pursue a purchase. The best way to turn this to your advantage is by ac vely following up with any poten al leads. Call anyone you think is a poten al client and ask them to meet or to talk, or to do whatever step is next in your sales cycle.

7. Follow up again, with the same leads Unless you have a lot more luck than I do, you'll probably get a lot of answering machines on your first round of follow up calls. You can increase your conversion rate even more by using a second round of follow up calls or emails. I wouldn’t go past two rounds of follow up though, because then you’ll become that annoying hard­sell guy.

8. Your card: right pocket. Their cards: le pocket This is a stupidly useful li le trick I learned that eliminates the need to fumble around looking for your business card. What if you don’t have pockets?

Just find some way to keep the two piles separated ­ perhaps put your cards on top, their cards on the bo om.

9. Prepare your pitch.

You’re going to be asked ‘what do you do?’ This is your elevator pitch. You need something dis nc ve and memorable, rather than just giving your job tle.

10. Do the small talk.

Small talk is big business. Small talk oils the wheels of conversa on. And trust is o en built up more in the non­business conversa on. Ge ng good at small talk gives you a real edge in making a networking impact.

Watch this space for more next me...

All adver sers appear in our online business directory with a link to their own website – go to www.soarvalleylife.co.uk

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Sun Rise

Sun Set

Hours of Daylight

11­Aug­14

05:39

20:31

14h 51m 30s

18­Aug­14

05:50

20:17

14h 26m 38s

25­Aug­14

06:02

20:02

14h 00h 47s

01­Sept­14

06:13

19:47

13h 34m 18s

08­Sept­14

06:24

19:31

13h 07m 24s

15­Sept­14

06:38

19:20

12h 41m 44s

22­Sept­14

06:50

19:03

12h 13m 14s

29­ Sept­14

07:02

18:47

11h 44m 42s

06­Oct­14

07:14

18:30

11h 16m 14s

13­Oct­14

07:26

18:14

10h 47m 58s

Date

Moonrise

Moonset

10­Aug­14

20:00

05:17

Full moon @19:10

17­Aug­14

23:40

14:15

Third Quarter @13:26

Phase

25­Aug­14

05:59

19:37

New Moon @ 15:13

02­Sept­14

13:30

22:48

First Quarter @ 12:11

09­Sept­14

06:52

19:29

Full Moon @ 02:38

16­Sept­14

23:53

16:03

Last Quarter @ 03:05

24­Sept­14

07:04

18:54

New Moon @ 07:14

01­Oct­14

14:28

23:24

First quarter @ 20:33

08­Oct­14

07:09

18:27

Full Moon @ 11:50

The Planets ­ looking South at 11 pm mid month (take an hour off at the beginning and add an hour on at the end) August: Mars starts lower down se ng by 11pm and as the days go by tracks towards yellowish Saturn passing underneath by the 26th and both have the same brightness. Jupiter and Venus make a spectacular sight from 4am on 18th as they pass close at 1/4 of a degree apart. On 10th August look out for the Super full moon, full at its closest approach to Earth making it 14% bigger and 30% brighter than when it is furthest away.

September: This month the nights become longer than the days a er the 21st favouring longer observa on.

Mars and Saturn begin the month se ng at 9 pm so are quite faint in the twilight. Jupiter rises about 3 am and is in the constella on of Cancer. Venus is

© SVL

brilliant, rising only an hour or so before dawn and slipping downwards towards dawn’s twilight glow. Mercury is lost in the Sun’s glare. The moon grazes Uranus on 11th at 02:20 am, Jupiter on 20th, Saturn on 27th and Mars on 29th. View Mars through binoculars on 29th next to red giant star Antares whose name means ‘rival of Mars’.

October: Saturn slips from view into the SW dusk by 5/6th, but Mars puts on a braver show. The red planet will be visible around 7pm in the SW. Jupiter shines brighter than any star rising in the east around 1 am. Early October, Venus rises with the dawn but its light soon dissolves as the Sun comes up.

The Milky Way

The centre of our galaxy from the Dorset Coast 200 to 400 billion stars...

We get an inside view of our spiral shaped galaxy as we sit about half way out on one of the arms. The instruments now available to professional astronomers have allowed us to reveal stars and gas clouds whirling around at incredible speeds of up to 11.2 million miles per hour in the grip of something with incredibly strong gravity. This is cast­iron evidence for a super massive black hole weighing as much as 4 million of our Suns.

Black Holes Simply put, a black hole is a region of space that is so incredibly dense that not even light can escape from the surface. We can however, see the effect of the gravity of a black hole immediately beyond the object’s event horizon ­ the beginning of the black bit. The diagram shows what we can see together with the ou low of energy from what appears to be the centre.

Astronomical Distances:

• Light minute is the distance travelled by a single unit of light energy ­ a photon ­ in 1 minute = 1.16 million miles • Light year is as above but the distance light travels in 1 year • Distance to Sun = 8.17 light minutes • Distance to our nearest star, Proxima Centuri = 4.2 light years • Distance to centre of our galaxy = 30,000 light years • Distance to our nearest galaxy, Andromeda = 2.2 million light years

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Find the names related to summer in the grid and the remaining letters will spell out a related phrase

Page 38

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Page 39

PARK HILL GOLF CLUB

LEICESTERSHIRE NUMBER ONE GOLF FACILITY

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Moss Solicitors Host Networking Art Event Moss Solicitors LLP, who have offices in Loughborough and Coalville, hosted a networking event with a difference in June, with proceeds from a raffle being donated to Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People...

Their ‘Summer Art Spectacular’ brought together local businesses to enjoy a solo exhibi on ‘A Sense of Place’ by seascape and landscape ar st John Connolly, in the Sock Gallery at Loughborough Town Hall.

John had generously donated a pain ng with a retail value of £550 as a raffle prize. Guests were entertained by Leicestershire Jazz in a relaxed atmosphere as they sampled the Town Hall’s catering, and overall £730 was raised for the East Midlands charity, Rainbows.

Feedback from the assembled guests was so posi ve that Moss Solicitors have decided to hold another Summer Art Spectacular next year which will be free for invited guests; if you would like to a end contact Laura Anderson of Moss Solicitors.

“It was a different, and in my mind more enjoyable, way of networking” ­ Geoff Milnes of Andrew Granger & Co. “It was an enjoyable and successful evening” ­ Simon Grant, of Handelsbanken.

As well as being an event in aid of such a worthwhile cause, the evening was an opportunity to launch Moss Solicitors’ Free Business Review and Advisory Service, which aims to help businesses iden fy and fill gaps in

their opera ons from a legal perspec ve. Moss also offer an Employment Law Helpline. If you have a business you think could benefit from a free legal health check, or their Employment Law service, contact Nick Gay or Laura Anderson to find out more.

Contact: 01509 217770 Nick Gay n.gay@moss­solicitors.co.uk Laura Anderson l.anderson@moss­solicitors.co.uk

MOSS SOLICITORS LLP Twice awarded winner of Leicestershire Law Society’s County Law Firm of the Year 80-81 Woodgate, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 2XE

01509 217770 and Unit 11a Whitwick Business Centre, Stenson Road, Coalville, Leicestershire LE67 4JP

01530 815747

www.moss-solicitors.co.uk Anything of interest you’d like to see in the next issue?

Call 01509 813 125 or email editor@soarvalleylife.co.uk

Page 41

Walking ­ Pilling’s Lock Walk instruc ons 4 Miles

1 3/4 Hours

Find a parking space in Barrow­upon­ Soar, no toilets, all other facili es in the town. Start from the roundabout at the bo om of High Street.

1 Walk away down Bridge Street over the bridge across the River Soar and con nue along the raised causeway on the le of the road. Cross at the road markings just before the roundabout and turn le passing right of the roundabout to Flesh Hovel Lane.

2 Turn right, up this narrow road to the yellow topped marker post, on the le , just the other side of the sewage works. Cross the field to the marker post on the opposite (right hand) fence, a track is normally well marked in the grass. Carry on over the footbridge along the path through the trees.

3 Bear le , s ll on this path and keep ahead on the le hand field edge with the trees to the le , to a footbridge and the mul ­direc onal marker post.

4 Cross this wide farm track and keep direc on over the field ahead, which may be under cul va on although a path should be visible within any crop. The track leads straight on to Miller’s Bridge, cross and go down to the towpath on the other side.

5 Take the path away from the bridge with the canal to the right, past Woodthorpe Bridge and Top Bridge to the footbridge at Pilling’s Lock.

6 Go over the bridge and con nue direc on with the canal now le to the bridge in Barrow and turn le over the bridge and back to the roundabout star ng point. © Clive Brown ­ All our walks are compiled by Clive Brown who holds the copyright. You can order any of his 74 walking guides at: www.walkingcloseto.com. Or email Clive directly at walkingcloseto@yahoo.co.uk

Page 42

Email page? this Life Interested per month plus VAT – See page 5 £28steve@soarvalleylife.co.uk from in Soar Valley Adver insesponsoring

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© SVL

It’s Show me!

If you only go to one summer show this year, make it this one...

ON

B ONIN

28

TV Chef Rachel Green will be giving cooking demonstra ons at Su on Bonington Show

promo ng their work to local people.

Among this year’s a rac ons will be J. C. Balls Digger Dance and celebrity TV chef Rachel Green who will be serving up some very tasty advice...

G

N TO

SUT T

My earliest memories of summer date back to the late 1950s ­ memories reinforced by old black and white photos, one in par cular of me holding the FA cup at our village sports and gala day. Dr McLaren, our local doctor, was also doctor to No s Forest Football club and the year they won the cup in 1959 you could have your picture taken with it to raise money for charity.

Every year we looked forward to the summer show when most of the village popula on would swarm to the local playing field and its massive marquee.

There was the marching band of the Bri sh Legion and the parade of scouts, cubs, guides and brownies followed by floats pulled by tractors. There was the flower show, sports and fancy dress compe ons, the tombola stall, ice cream and hot dogs. Local football and cricket heroes would sign autographs and a great me was had by all.

Our culture seemed to change in the seven es and eigh es, many of us lost our local summer shows and, I believe,

to a degree our sense of community spirit and togetherness along with them.

But today, that spirit is returning, with shows, galas, open garden events and all manner of fes vals and street par es.

This is borne out, not least, by our ongoing What’s On pages in the mag and on our website.

That some of the good things from yesteryear are preserved and allowed to flourish again are, no doubt, due to the vision, enthusiasm, and tenacity of those few among us who have the gump on to get things going in the first place.

Two such men, Roger Dyson and Bernard Corbe of Su on Bonington, reinvented the Su on Bonington Show back in 1987 a er it sank into oblivion through lack of community cohesion and spirit. Last year around 4,500 people a ended the show on Su on Bonington playing field and since 1987 more than £100,000 has been raised for local chari es and good causes. A great achievement ­ notwithstanding the tens of thousands who have enjoyed amazing days out and all the local cra s and trades that have benefi ed by

Years

SH O W

★ J. C. Balls Digger Dance ★

★ Leicestershire Dexter Cattle Society Show ★ Kingstonvale Gymnastic Team ★ ★ Birds of Prey Flying Demonstration ★ Celebrity Chef Rachel Green ★ Country Activities ★

SUTTON BONINGTON COUNTRY SHOW Horticultural Show & Craft Fair

Sunday 7th September 2014 Sutton Bonington Playing Field 10.00 a.m. onwards

© SVL

ADMISSION - Adults £5.50 - OAP's and Children (5-16yrs) £4.00 • FREE CAR PARKING

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Think Thin To lose weight and keep it off you need to change the way you think and behave around food; o en we eat because we THINK we should eat, not because our bodies tell us we NEED to eat...

For many of us, food has become a coping strategy which we turn to when we are stressed, anxious, angry, sad, procras na ng, etc. Here are just a few ps which, if prac ced daily, will help break this habit and change the way you think and behave around food: • Always eat your meals at the table without distrac ons • Eat slowly and chew every mouthful at least 30 mes • Use smaller plates to help with por on control • Listen to your body, eat only when you are hungry and stop when you are full • Don’t be afraid to waste food if you are full or it will end up on your waist!

• Don’t use food to help you to deal with problems; find other ways such as going for a walk, telephoning a friend, listening to music, medita ng, etc.

If you need help to change the way you think try therapies such as NLP, EFT or Hypnosis all of which have been shown to be effec ve.

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© SVL

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Page 47

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Page 48

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All adver sers appear in our online business directory with a link to their own website – go to www.soarvalleylife.co.uk

Posture Everyone has posture, some good, some bad, some altered by illness or injury; but improving it is a sure way to reduce pain and risk of damage...

Posture is the way we hold ourselves and some from the old school will remember "standing tall with a book on one's head.” Good posture protects the spine and reduces aches and pains in the neck, shoulders, back and knees.

Holding yourself in alignment with your chin tucked in, shoulders back and down, pelvis or tail bone tucked under with knees so , is the perfect way to ac vate all your muscles in the right way. Your si ng posture should again be tall in the body with shoulders back and down and tucked in chin.

Unfortunately most of us slouch with our shoulders forward which makes us poke up our chins pu ng a strain on our necks and shoulders. So sit up or stand up straight, pull those shoulders back and down every me you remember, and you'll reduce the load on your spine and the strain in your muscles.

Claire Lidstone The White Horse Inn, 6 Church Street, Seagrave, Leicestershire, LE12 7LT

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TAPAS NIGHTS BACK ON WEDNESDAYS BY POPULAR DEMAND – BOOKING ADVISABLE

The White Horse is a great pub to visit all year round, whether you choose to enjoy the delightful views in our garden in the summer or relax by the fire with a newspaper during the winter.

What’s On At The White Horse?

Tuesdays, 6pm-8.45pm – £5 Menu

Choose from a range of fantastic £5 specials!

Wednesdays, 6pm-8.45pm – TAPAS night Choice of 15 items + 5 specials.

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Whenever you come to visit, you will always find friendly staff, excellent food and drink and a great atmosphere.

Two rump steaks or specials with a bottle of house wine for just £25! Individual deal for just £13!

The Stables Shop

Choose from a wide range of delicious home-cooked meals and daily specials.

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The Stables Shop and Function Room at The White Horse are now open!

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© SVL

Page 49

• See at 11, 12, 1, 2, & 3 • See at 11.30, 12.30, 1.30, 2.30 & 3.30 • Photo opportunities with - don't forget your camera • Children's entertainer with magic and games • Face painting • Funfair at Rothley • Hop on and off at any of our 4 stations • Enjoy a 16 mile round trip behind a big steam engine Family Admission Ticket: £35 (2 adults & up to 3 children) £25 (1 adult & up to 3 children) NB: Prices include unlimited rail travel and all entertainment except the funfair rides and face painting.

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01509 632323

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Spot Ten Differences

Answers on page 57

Open: Open: 8am 8am - 6pm Mon - Fri 51 Weeks of the year Rothely Park Rothley Park Kindergarten is a well established private day care nursery Kindergarten is a very well established celebrating 11 years of success.

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From the beginning Narinder Kaur, the nursery manager togetherfor with or part-time sessions as required, depending on availability, allher children professional nursery practitioners continue to deliver a quality childcare service, under the age of 5 years throughout the year and during school holidays. tailoring to your child’s individual requirements.

A warmGovernment welcome awaits you no appointments necessary as all new Limited Funding is–available for 3 and 4are Year olds. We also offer fulland and prospective parents are invited to visit us at their own part time sessions as required depending on availability forconvenience. all children under the age

www.rothleyparkkindergarten.co.uk | tel: 0116 230 3888 info@rothleyparkkindergarten.co.uk | mob: 07813 021410 Rothley Park Kindergarten, Loughborough Road, Rothley, Leicestershire LE7 7NL © SVL

All adver sers appear in our online business directory with a link to their own website – go to www.soarvalleylife.co.uk

Page 51

Short Story

And Another Thing

by Tom Hughes

I am ge ng married. This year.

To a woman. Things are being set in mo on, heads of steam are building, snowballs are rolling, rabbits are running. You get the picture. Sarah and I (or is it me and Sarah? I never know) met when we were old enough to know be er, and fell in love anyway.

But what started as a “bit of a do” has morphed into something much, much bigger. Where to start? Shoes, let’s start with the shoes. What is it about shoes and women? I have a pair of black shiny loafers for work. In fact I have three pairs. I also have a pair of brown slip­ons that I step into to go for the milk and the paper. The back of them are squashed down because some mes I can’t be bothered pu ng them on properly if I’m say, just pu ng the bins out. The trainers I wear to go the gym are so ta y I think even the tramp in the precinct would turn his nose up at them. What I’m saying is that the look I strive for daily is shabby chic. Ok, just shabby then.

But as I recently discovered, shoes for women are a completely different ke le of ba ered cod altogether.

If weddings send women funny, then wedding shoes send them to planet Giggly Girly. Because I wanted Sarah’s day to be special, I needed to make sure that everything was perfect from the ground up.

Page 52

So we toddle off into Manchester. Ok, so how difficult can it be? You can’t bloomin’ move for shoe shops. We wouldn’t be long surely? Sarah had a spring in her step as we marched determinedly past Clarks, Footlocker and all the other shoe wear emporiums that I have never seen the inside of.

Then we stopped outside a posh looking outlet called Selfridges.

A er dodging the scary looking perfume sprayers prowling the make­up department, we arrived at the shoe concession, where we were suddenly surrounded by gorgeousness.

Casually, I turned over one of the s le oes. Oh, I thought to myself, that must be a European size….495. I put my glasses on – 495 quid!? The room started to spin. I looked up to see Sarah deep in conversa on with a handsome young man who was holding up a pair of sparkly shoes so delicate and strappy that they were almost invisible to the naked eye. Usually, if I see Sarah giggling and smiling with a good looking guy I get jealous. But when he stood up and did a li le twirl of delight, I began to relax.

I sat down next to a misty eyed Sarah who held up a shiny pink box and said, “Darling, these are the ones.”

Do you remember the scene at the end of Pulp Fic on when Tim Roth opens the briefcase and a golden light shines out? A similar thing happened in Selfridges. The lid fell away and there they were, laying together like two perfect sparkly poodles.

“Hello Tom, we are the Choo twins. My name is Jimmy and this is my brother ­ he’s called Jimmy Choo!”

Sarah tried them on. She walked up and down, they did look amazing on her.

“Can I have them, please?”

“If it’s what you want darling, you can have them.”

Sarah hugged me ght. She broke away, I saw tears in her eyes. The handsome guy who sold them to her looked like he was about to sob with joy. They were wrapped and taken to the ll where I handed over my card.

And then, as the pre y girl keyed in the price, I started crying too.

Ok, that was that. The pain was

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RAPID RESPONSE

just about bearable. I had survived. Or had I? Imagine a boxer against the ropes, his gum shield is out and the towel is on the canvas. Do the punches stop landing? Not a bit of it.

“Tom darling, this is the bag that goes with the shoes, isn’t it lovely?”

“Where? Where is this bag?”

“Here, here in my hand.”

“Where in your hand?”

“Over here, next to my thumb.”

“Oh that? And how –“ “Three hundred quid.”

“A bargain, I’ll take two.”

“Don’t be funny.”

My squashed down slip ons didn’t come with a matching flat cap. There isn’t a matching

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menswear department could just see me in a slim fi ng Hugo Boss. He picked out my suit, stood me in front of a full length mirror, turned to Sarah and went ‘ooh’.

Sarah joined in, “Ooh Tom, that looks absolutely lovely on you, don’t you think?”

“Do you know something Sarah?

I think I could get used to this twirling business….”

Tom Hughes is a writer from the North of England.

Befuddled and bemused by the modern world, Tom, when he has nothing be er to do (which is most of the me) likes to commit his musings to paper.

Follow Tom and Sarah’s wedding at groomsdaybook.com

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pair of gloves to go with my corduroy trousers. But maybe it’s just because I don’t do coordina on. Not really what your bride wants to hear when she is planning a wedding, is it?

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Anything of interest you’d like to see in the next issue?

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Page 53

Yoga Classes

Well established classes run by qualified tutor.

All levels of experience catered for.

New members of all abilities welcome!

Even if you have never experienced Yoga before please come and join us – Yoga is fun!

Learn a new skill. Improve your posture. Be energised. Experience relaxation techniques. Work on good basic breathing.

Acquire a tool to manage the everyday stresses of life.

Mountsorrel

Tuesdays from 7 to 9pm restarting 16th September 2014 at the Memorial Hall on Leicester Road.

Handmade For Little Rascals Beautiful handmade clothes Girls & Boys clothes made and knitted to order.

Perfect for newborn gift or a treat for your little rascal.

Stock available on our online store including our upcycled range.

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Woodhouse Eaves

We are organising sewing classes soon.

Wednesdays from 7 to 9pm restarting 17th September 2014 at St. Paul’s School on Meadow Road.

Want to find out more?

My name is Moira – call me on 0116 230 2402 Mobile 07802 728 871 Email: mhardysmith@o2.co.uk

Gareth Ga a Hudson MCFHP MAFHP

Foot Fo oo Health Professional Visiting Practice For all your foot care needs in the comfort of your own home: + Nails + Corns + Calluses + Ingrown toenails + Fungal infections + Diabetic foot care Registered Member Of The British Association Of Foot Health Professionals

Tel: 01509 844461 Mobile: 07896 945156 Email: garethhudson82@live.co.uk Page 54

Keep an eye on website & our facebook page for details.

handmade4rascals.wordpress.com Facebook - Handmade For Little Rascals Contact Helen & Gaynor - 07751 739780

B T S

BARROW TIMBER STATION

Timber Decking 4.2m £6.50 ea Heavy Duty Feather Edge Fence Panels 6ft X 4ft £23.00 ea 6ft X 5ft £24.00 ea 6ft X 6ft £25.00 ea 3"x 2" Treated Green 3.6m long £4.80 4"x 2" Treated Green 3.6m long £5.80 Old Sleepers £17.50 ea New Sleepers £17.50 ea Exterior Plywood 8ft x 4ft 18mm thick £20 ea

The prices you see are the prices you pay!

Please contact Mick Campbell

Tel:

07840 037 464

Yard 1, Hayhill Industrial Estate Sileby Road, Barrow-upon-Soar Leicestershire LE12 8LD

All adver sers appear in our online business directory with a link to their own website – go to www.soarvalleylife.co.uk

£25 Cash Winner Congratula ons to Olga Hutchinson of Sileby who wins £25 just for ‘liking’ our Soar Valley Life facebook page.

Olga was the ‘liker’ picked at random on 29th July 2014 from all ‘likers’ on our page.

Go to Soar Valley Life/facebook for your chance to win!

Congratula ons to Jeremy Byrne of Barrow upon Soar whose entry in the above compe on was the first correct answer to be drawn out of the hat a er the closing date. The nine word phrase was, ‘The worst club in my bag is my brain.’

Jeremy wins a Sunday Carvery meal for two people in The View Restaurant at Park Hill Golf Club ­ see page 40.

Sunday Carvery for Two Winner

Win a Meal for Two with Wine

For your chance to win a two course meal for two people with a bo le of wine at the Waterside Inn, just name the two actors who played two famous detec ves and whose framed photographs are on the wall of the Waterside Inn in Mountsorrel ­ see page 25.

Send your answers 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 Tuesday 26th August 2014 will win. Editor’s decision is final. Terms and condi ons apply.

THE

WATERSIDE INN

Great Food, Great Beer, Great Company

WIN £25

CASH JUST FOR “LIKING” US ON...

Teddy Bears’ Picnic Winners Congratula ons to Charlo e Connor of Loughborough and Brian Rollinson of Hathern whose entries were the first two to be drawn out of the hat with the correct names of the two mischievous bears who ride on the Teddy Bear Trains ­ Billy and Beatrice.

Charlo e and Brian each win an all day travel family cket for 2 adults and up to 3 children on the Great Central Railway Teddy Bears’ Picnic Steam Train.

Every month we’ll pick one of our “Likers” on our Facebook page and they will receive a £25 cash prize.

Go to www.facebook.com/SoarValleyLife Click the thumbs­up “Like” bu on near the top and you’re in!

All adver sers appear in our online business directory with a link to their own website – go to www.soarvalleylife.co.uk

Page 55

What’s On in and around The Soar Valley: Compiled by Claire Stevens – Soar Valley Life events and news reporter

National Forest Wood Fair The perfect day out for all the family; featuring events such as live demonstrations of woodcrafts and chainsaw sculpturing, children’s activities, storytelling, birds of prey, a climbing wall, eco­art, and the lumberjack show.

Delicious local food and drink will also be available, plus a charity auction, all held in the picturesque Beacon Hill Country Park.

Book online; adults £9 and concessions £6. Open from 9.00am until 6.00pm.

Dates: Monday 25th August 2014 Beacon Hill Country Park, Beacon Road, Woodhouse Eaves, Leicestershire, LE12 8SP Telephone: 01283 551 211 Website: www.nationalforestwoodfair.co.uk Shepshed Lions 5th Annual Charity Carnival Held on the Bank Holiday Monday, this annual charity carnival is the perfect family afternoon. The carnival features excellent arena acts, side shows, and over 50 stalls selling a variety of items, as well as great food and drink. All profits go to local causes. Entry is £1 per adult, 50p for children, and family tickets are £3. Open from 12.00pm until 4.00pm.

Dates: Monday 25th August 2014 Glenmore Park, Britannia Street, Shepshed, Leicestershire, LE12 9AW Telephone: 01509 508265 Leicester City Festival 2014 The Leicester City Festival is back for its second year, but this time it will be even bigger and better. The festival takes over the heart of the city for ten days, incorporating well­known events such as Sports Fest and Leicester Belgrave Mela alongside last year’s hits such as End of the Pier Delights and Old Town Festival. New events for this year include Nights of Festivals, celebrating freedom and independence through innovative art and artistic inspiration, as well as City Music, City Streets and City Nights at BBC Radio Leicester and the Cosmopolitan Carnival at indoor and outdoor venues. The City Festival has an array of free activities for all ages, including sport, culture, and music.

Dates: Saturday 16th August to Bank Holiday Monday 25th August 2014 Hosted at various venues throughout the city centre, including Jubilee Square and Leicester Cathedral. Telephone: 0116 454 3600 Sileby Local History Exhibition This local history exhibition brings together information, ephemera, maps, and old photographs on many topics relating to the village of Sileby. This year the exhibition will showcase unseen photographs and a few unusual objects, plus refreshments, biscuits, and cake!

If you’re interested to see how Sileby looked in the past, have family connections or just a general interest in

Page 56

history, then this exhibition is the perfect event for you. Hosted at the Sileby Community Centre from 10.00am until 5.00pm. A small admission fee will be charged to cover the costs of the exhibition.

Dates: Saturday 30th August 2014 Sileby Community Centre, 41 High Street, Sileby, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE12 7RX Telephone: 01509 813 075 Hog Roast Family Fun Day The town of Shepshed is hosting a hog roast in order to raise funds for the charity Delete Blood Cancer UK at the Glenmore Community Centre, Thorpe Road. As well as the hog roast, there will also be lots of stalls, live music, bouncy castles, an auction, and plenty more for the whole family to enjoy. Starts at 11.00am.

Dates: Saturday 30th August 2014 Whitwick Party in the Park The annual event returns on the first Saturday of September. There will be local businesses and community stalls, as well as lots of entertainment suitable for all the family, with Star Wars, Vikings, and a gospel choir as last year’s attractions.

Refreshments will be provided by the Whitwick Community Coffee Shop. Free entry, starts at 11.00am.

Dates: Saturday 6th September 2014 Whitwick Park, North Street, Whitwick, Leicestershire, LE67 5HA Telephone: 01530 519 696 Thrussington Village Fete The annual Thrussington village fete will be hosted in the Thrussington Village Hall, and will have lots of stalls selling a variety of items from books to bric­a­ brac, plus teas and homemade cakes. The event also features the vegetable competition, raffle, and tombola.

Proceeds go to the church and PTFA. Starts at 11.00am.

Dates: Saturday 13th September 2014 Thrussington Village Hall, Hoby Road, Thrussington, Leicestershire, LE7 4TH Telephone: 01664 424 540 Eyres Monsell Horticultural Show The annual horticultural and craft show returns, where anyone can enter their produce or homemade items. Amateur growers and first time exhibitors are welcome, but there will also be experts on hand to give you guidance. There is usually a local gardening expert/radio personality along to present the trophies and conduct the auction of produce after the show. Refreshments are also provided. Staging open from 9.00am until 11.00am, and judging will commence at 11.15am. Show is open to the public at 1.30pm and entry to the show is 30p.

Dates: Saturday 13th September 2014 Eyres Monsell Community Centre, Hillsborough Road, Glen Parva, Leicester, LE2 9PQ Telephone: 07732813256

Hoton Harvest Show Hoton Harvest Show is the chance to enter into the competition for best jam, most delicious cake, or the best, biggest and most unusual vegetable! But if you don’t fancy that, then you can enjoy everything else on offer at the Hoton Harvest Show, including tombola, bric­a­ brac stalls, books stalls, cakes, and plant stalls, plus lots of tea and coffee. Starts at 12.00pm.

Dates: Sunday 14th September 2014 Woodland and Veteran Trees at Bradgate Park Woodlands and Veteran Trees gives you the chance to explore historic woodlands, where you can see the ancient oak and sweet chestnut trees of Bradgate Park, some which are over 500 years old. The walk is approximately 2 and half miles long, over rough terrain and grass tracks.

Dogs on leads are allowed, starts at 2.30pm and finishes at 4.30pm. Walks can be booked in advance, £3 per adult and £1.50 per child.

Dates: Saturday 20th September Park entrance at Hallgates car park, Cropston, Leicestershire, LE7 7HQ Telephone: 0116 234 1850 Loughborough Harvest Festival Charnwood Borough Council has teamed up with Pace and New Springs Churches to bring a celebration of the harvest to Loughborough. Enjoy a festival of fresh produce and homemade goods, as live music and dance all take over the Loughborough Market. From 10.00am to 4.00pm a marquee will be set up in the town centre for budding bakers, jam makers, or pie professors to place their items for the judging. The Mayor of Charnwood, Councillor Paul Day, will be joined by a number of esteemed judges at 4pm to judge the quality of the items on offer. Entry is 50p for under 16s and £1 for those ages 17 and above.

Dates: Friday 26th September 2014 Loughborough Market Place, 3 Market Place, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3EA Telephone: 01509 634624 Old John Tower Tour at Bradgate Park This unique tour provides a rare opportunity to see the inside of the Old John Tower, where you can enjoy the breath­taking views of Leicestershire.

Learn about the history of the tower, about the windmill that used to stand on the hill, and the legends associated with the park. The walk is approximately 3 miles over grass and rock, should be booked in advance. £5 per adult and £1.50 per child, starts at 2.30pm and finishes at 4.30pm.

Dates: Saturday 27th September 2014 Hunts Hill (Old John) car park, Newtown Linford, Leicestershire, LE6 0AH Telephone: 0116 234 1850

Interested in sponsoring this page? Email steve@soarvalleylife.co.uk

Light is Everything There is a saying in photography that amateurs worry about gear, professionals worry about money but ar sts worry about light…

There is some truth in this, an amateur photographer may well have less equipment of a lower quality simply because, as a hobby, he or she cannot afford or jus fy anything more. Be er equipment can some mes mean more versa lity in what can be photographed and how, but it is also true that for many amateurs it is a lack of a ability which holds back results more than the lack of equipment.

A professional is most unlikely to worry about gear; reputa on and livelihood depend on being able to produce good results. Having spent many thousands of pounds on gear the pro’ will have spare camera bodies, a range of lenses, ligh ng equipment and all the rest of it, but will need income to support their family and also get a return on investment.

But without good light ­ be it natural or ar ficial ­ no photograph will be as good as it could and should be. All photographers worry about light, and it is light that is the key…

Landscape photographer available for commissions.

Beautiful pictures of Britain to decorate your home or as gifts.

As Leonard Misonne said, over 100 years ago, “Light glorifies everything. It transforms and ennobles the most commonplace and ordinary subjects. The object is nothing; light is everything.”

Solu ons

Robot Quiz Answers 1. Android 2. Transformers 3. Thin Lizzy ­ named a er Tin Lizzie 4. Confused.com 5. The Doctor ­ from Doctor Who 6. "c" ("a" can be ignored if the orders conflict with rule "c" and "b" can be ignored if it conflicts with "a" or "c") 7. Solving a Rubik's cube 8. Catchphrase 9. Cyborg 10. Jeremy Clarkson Spot the Difference Answers 1. hat 2. starfish 3. bucket 4. flake 5. pa ern on shorts

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

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Down: 1 Secret, 2 Admit, 3 Volcano, 5 Onset, 6 Dolphin, 7 Eldest, 8 Examina on, 14 Puppies, 15 Monster, 16 Idiots, 17 U ers, 19 Swede, 21 Grows.

Adver se in Soar Valley Life from £31 per month plus VAT – See page 5

Page 57

Made in... Europe?

We are very pleased to introduce to Soar Valley Life readers our first main car dealer: Albar Autos, be er known for the last decade as Loughborough Kia. Over the coming months we’ll feature test drives of new cars from Kia with relevant informa on and sta s cs to compare and assess the range...

Our region’s main Kia dealer has grown out of a ght­knit family business and has a family­like care at the heart of its ethos. In 1965 Barry Johnson, the founder, rented a lock up garage in Highfields, Leicester, having recently le the RAF as a motor vehicle mechanic. Cliff Johnson joined his brother as they expanded the business with plans to include a Skoda dealership as well as a recovery business working for the Police, RAC and AA ­ they were one of the first garages in the UK to work with the RAC and AA in opera ng long distance get­you­home recovery services. Moving to Harrison Road Leicester in 1969 they made space in the corner of the new workshop, now Albar Autos, to display posters and brochures of new Skoda cars. In 1972 they borrowed £600 from a customer to buy a demonstra on Skoda and so began the first Skoda dealership in Leicestershire.

Albar Autos bought a derelict petrol sta on on Leicester Road Mountsorrel in 1977 giving space for a 5 car showroom as the car sales business began to flourish.

At the beginning of the new millennium Skoda’s corporate plan changed from independent dealers to self owned showrooms, which meant Albar Autos lost much of the control of their own business; so they decided in 2003 to move over to the fast rising Kia brand. Of course they con nue to look a er their Skoda customers for servicing and spares and hold the status of main service agents. But the partnership with Kia has allowed the company to grow as an independent main dealer together with all the advantages of being under the corporate umbrella of a mul ­na onal brand. Two years ago, the company needed more space yet again and purchased the old Rock Cinema building on the opposite side of the road, which in recent years had been converted into a print works; this now gives storage and extra servicing facili es.

Kia’s history, although rather more dynamic being on the global stage of the biggest manufacturing industry of the last seventy years, follows the trend of Albar’s growth through customer service and care. Obviously, the poli cal landscape of South East Asia, and South Korea in par cular, has played its part in Kia’s history, but it is absolutely clear that the company is now a truly interna onal brand.

I o en wonder how names are coined, and what their meaning might be. Albar, for instance, comes from joining the first parts of the names of Barry and his father Albert.

The name Kia comes from the Sino­Korean word of Ki ­

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Then & Now...

Albar Autos in 1977 and now Loughborough’s main Kia Dealer meaning to come out of, or rising from, and A for Asia.

So I asked Luke Colle , Sales Manager of Kia Loughborough, where the very unique car name Cee’d derives from ­ Cee’d being the recently introduced family range of Kia cars. I suspected a contrived marke ng abbrevia on with a quirky random apostrophe for good measure.

“Europe, actually," Luke replied, “the Cee’d is the first Kia range en rely designed, developed and manufactured in Europe.”

(A er a li le bit of research later that day, I find it is the correct abbrevia on of the Community of Economic Europe ­ European Designed with the last E being replaced by an apostrophe. In English we re­order the words to European Economic Community ­ EEC).

“But a car is much more than a name of course and so is a brand,” Luke con nued," If you look behind the name and the brand you’ll find excep onally advanced design and engineering backed up with an industry leading seven year warranty. Link this with Kia Loughborough’s family values and a er sales care and you really can see why this company has survived and prospered where others have been swallowed up by the corporate giants.”

As I was taking notes, the Loughborough Kia family dog made an appearance, checking me out by sniffing around my shoes. I think he approved of me because he lay down at my feet quite happily.

“Oh yes,” said Luke, “that’s Stanley, he’s like that with every one...”

All adver sers appear in our online business directory with a link to their own website – go to www.soarvalleylife.co.uk

Community Meals

community meals

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