Active Magazine // Stamford & Rutland // December 2024
ISSUE 140 | DECEMBER 2024
Finding a bargain at sales and auctions is a big part of Iris and Mabel ‘s business
Keep calm; Christmas stress can be combatted Walking types; Will identifies some common characters found in walking groups. Do you recognise yourself?
Mango and the Moon, a treasure trove of gifts Stamford’s new toy emporium FREE! Embrace
Editor and Publisher Mary Bremner mary@theactivemag.com
Deputy editor Kate Maxim kate@theactivemag.com
Art editor Matt Tarrant
Contributors
Will Hetherington, Jeremy Smithson-Beswick,
Advertisement Sales Director Lisa Chauhan lisa@theactivemag.com
Advertisement Sales Emily Stillman Helen Chapman
Production assistant Gary Curtis
Accounts accounts@theactivemag.com
Active magazine, Eventus Business Centre, Sunderland Road, Northfield Industrial Estate, Market Deeping, PE6 8FD
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Active magazine is published monthly 10 times per year.
ISSN 2059-8513
Published by Triangle Publishing Ltd www.theactivemag.com
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EDITOR’S LETTER
‘I have yet to succumb to a mince pie or mulled wine but can assure you it won’t be long before I do.’
And here we are again, Christmas. It feels that this year has been a bit of a blink and you’ve missed it 12 months despite all that has been going on locally, nationally and globally. And the weather hasn’t really helped but, despite all that, the year has flown by and I m in a bit of a ‘how did that happen’ moment. Working a month ahead producing the magazine does mean time flies by that uicker for us too.
But despite that (or because of it) we are now embracing Christmas and the festive season. I have yet to succumb to a mince pie or mulled wine but can assure you it won’t be long before I do. Probably at one of the Christmas Fairs we’ve been attending selling our fourth Will’s Walk book, 15 refreshing rambles around Stamford and Rutland. We’ve loved meeting so many of you and are delighted that you are enjoying these walk books so much, thank you. You can buy them locally or online at www.theactivemag.com.
And, of course, we’ve been out and about interviewing local business owners and catching up with news in our area. I loved meeting Lucy who owns Iris and Mabel; she’s running just the sort of business I would love to have (next time around maybe) but I’d struggle to sell all of the lovely things she has as I’d want to keep everything…
When Kate told me about the book ‘How to Winter’ this summer I told her the thought of it ‘made my soul shrivel’ as I was embracing the long, warm days (in France) and the thought of winter was just that, soul shrivelling. But now that we are her, the Norwegian term ‘frilufstliv’ makes sense. It means open-air life, and encourages us to get outside and make the most of the winter months, to embrace them as such, which is common sense really. And I’m a great believer in that; wrap up warm and get outside whatever the weather. You can always end up in the pub afterwards; Will is recommending quite a few in his book!
Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year to you all.
Mary - Editor
Monday to Friday 10am - 4:30pm
Saturday - Sunday 10:30am - 4:00pm
ActiveLife
Cosy country cottages; now is the perfect time of year to go and enjoy one p20
Meet Lucy Alcorn, owner of Iris and Mabel; a brand offering a sustainable and affordable way to decorate your home
Stamford’s new toy emporium
Gifts galore in Mango & The Moon in Oakham
Recognise any of these walkers? Enjoy Will’s tongue in cheek take on different types of walker
The Therapy Hut, Stamford
Meet arah, a ualified psychotherapist offering personalised one to one counselling sessions both online and in person. ith a uni ue blend of professional insight and personal e perience, arah is dedicated to helping clients navigate life s challenges, whether they re ust beginning their ourney to wellness or are already e ploring more profound aspects of self care.
arah s path to becoming a therapist wasn t straightforward she spent over years in a high pressure sales industry, an environment that often disconnects people from their inner selves. he understands the struggle first hand, having faced the feeling of being lost and out of place. Inspired by her own ourney, arah pursued a career study in therapeutic counselling, earning a evel iploma and becoming an accredited member of the C . his blend of industry e perience and formal training allows her to truly empathise with those feeling overwhelmed, uncertainty, an iety or stress, providing grounded support and guidance. Contact arah for a free minute consultation call to see if this could be the right fit for you. www.thetherapyhutstamford.co.uk
Peaks and Points
Acupuncture
indsay began her acupuncture and integrative health ourney in , studying raditional Chinese Medicine CM in the nited tates. he graduated from irginia niversity of Integrative Medicine with a Master s of cience in Acupuncture and in March became licensed in the state of Maryland. he is also a iplomate of Acupuncture iplAc after ualifying with the ational Certification Commission for Acupuncture and riental Medicine CCA M in the nited tates.
rior to her acupuncture career, indsay was a wildlife biologist for ashington, .C. he obtained her achelor s of cience in nvironmental cience and olicy from the niversity of Maryland in and her Master s of cience in iology in from astern entucky niversity. Maintaining her passion for animals, in , she pursued training and became a iplomate in Animal Acupuncture, a ellow of the American oard of Animal Acupuncture, and certified by the state of Maryland in Animal Acupuncture.
In une indsay and her husband moved to the . ince then she has become a part of the Acupuncture egulatory Authority A A through membership with the Association of Acupuncture Clinicians AAC . he had volunteered with orld Medicine treating refugees in ondon and is a member of Acupuncturists ithout orders, an organisation which treats those in areas that have been impacted by trauma or disaster.
As an avid rock climber, horse rider and overall outdoor enthusiast, indsay has a special interest in treating those with sports related in uries and pain, as well as issues around addiction, mild an iety and depression, trauma and .
he is trained and certified in the ational Acupuncture eto ification Association A A as well as Advanced attlefield Acupuncture protocols. he is also a trained and certified cosmetic and facial acupuncturist and Acu ift micro needling practitioner through Michelle ellis, A , .Ac., M.Ac., iplAc, founder of Acu ift. ther modalities she performs during acupuncture when necessary include mo ibustion, cupping, gua sha, and ui a Chinese medical massage . he also offers classes in acupressure for stress reduction, facial massage and routines, and more.
indsay understands how being able to do the things we love keeps us happy and healthy. he wants to help people keep progressing at those passions and achieve his or her peaks, be it emotionally or physically, through both acupuncture and other integrative health modalities.
To make an appointment at her clinic in Warmington visit www.peaksandpointsacup.com
Be Inspired
Nene Park Trust and Grasmere Farm butchers collaborate
For a second year, Nene Park Trust is joining forces with the award winning rasmere Farm to produce a retail range of locally sourced lamb, reared on the Trust’s Rural Estate in Castor and Ailsworth. Nene Park lamb is available for customers to buy directly from the Ferry Meadows Visitor Centre and Grasmere’s retail outlets in Stamford, Bourne, Market Deeping and Vine House Farm.
Nene Park lamb is produced through the share farming partnership between Nene Park rust and first generation farmers, brothers Craig and Ryan Baxter. The partnership places the utmost importance on the welfare of its animals, ensuring they live happy, healthy lives, grazing outside all year round through a farming system that is entirely forage based. he result is grass fed lamb with delicious flavour and tender, succulent cuts, which are very popular with customers.
Working with Grasmere Farm guarantees the continuation of the local journey, with produce expertly prepared by their team of experienced butchers, and ensures complete traceability as the product makes its way from park to plate.
Carefully selected by the experts at Grasmere Farm, the product range will include traditional style lamb shanks, legs and chops alongside delicately flavoured burgers, kebabs and pinwheels. Nene Park lamb boxes are also available to purchase from the Grasmere Farm website with delivery direct to the customer’s door.
To find out more about Nene Park lamb and the share farming partnership please visit www.nenepark.org.uk/park-to-plate www.grasmere-farm.co.uk
Bronze award
Peterborough Food Partnership’s work to bring people together to promote healthy, sustainable and local food has been recognised with a prestigious Sustainable Food Places Bronze award. The accolade applauds work carried out to find solutions for some of the city’s greatest challenges; from food poverty and diet related ill health, to the loss of independent food producers.
Aiming to influence long term change, Peterborough Food Partnership wants to develop a more sustainable, healthier and inclusive food culture for the city that values local produce and independent businesses.
Peterborough Food Partnership comprises a comprehensive network of representatives from over 100 organisations across the city, including the local farming community, food businesses, the public sector, Peterborough City Council, Peterborough Youth Council, NGOs, academic institutions, community food groups, environmental organisations, community gardens and local growers. The group’s vision is to work across the public, private and third sector to develop a sustainable, regenerative and fair food system for Peterborough. All members agreed that the strategy should be informed by a combination of research and lived experience. To enable this to happen, Peterborough Food Partnership has run a series of focus groups with more than 300
A new song for Grace
Grace Arnold, a singer songwriter from Rutland, has just released a new song ‘Lovey Dovey’
We featured Grace in a previous issue about grassroots music. Now she has released a new song in time for Christmas and it’s a really catchy tune with a light hearted video.
residents across the unitary area, followed by an online Citizens Survey.
Plans are currently underway for the first eterborough ood ummit, which will take place later this year. The event will bring together multiple stakeholders and citizens, share the report from the research carried out to date, and provide an opportunity to collaboratively discuss next steps for the formation of the city’s first ood trategy.
You can get involved by emailing: flourishpeterborough@gmail.com
‘Being a creative like my dad, I wanted to produce something that embraced the warm elements of Christmas,’ says Grace. ‘Our minds spun thinking up ideas, scratching our heads while we coddled mugs of coffee. Eventually through the year, between working alongside my mum at Good Hair Days hair salon, we’d gathered enough ideas to start filming.
‘Bella Manchester, Alex Thorpe, Ian Jefferys and Teddy, the dog, were in the video, and to me, it meant a great deal. Peter Arnold was the camera man, and Issac Jefferys on drone.
‘Recording at Parlour Studios was great fun as always. We had two days with the lovely Neil Haynes, who has previously recorded my music, and Sue Ball on saxophone. We also recorded my up and coming song Bluebird which will be released in the New Year.
ou ll find race s music ps oses, ill orever ies and ovely ovey on all streaming platforms including Spotify and YouTube.
Also offering cosmetic/facial acupuncture rejuvenation. 35 CHURCH ST., WARMINGTON PE8 6TE
Thursday, 5th December 10am - 11am
We invite you to join us at Castor Lodge for a special Festive Community Coffee Morning on Thursday, 5th December. Come and celebrate the season with candle painting, while enjoying complimentary cakes, tea, and coffee. Feel free to wear your festive jumpers for added cheer!
To book your FREE space, please call 01733 731 455 Splash Lane, Peterborough, PE5 7BD
Uppingham in Bloom spring planting
Uppingham in Bloom are consecutive gold medal winners in the East Midlands in Bloom competition and have also won the Britain in Bloom Small Town Gold Medal. They have been going since 1983 and a lot of hard work has gone into helping make Uppingham the beautiful town it is ever since.
With fantastic sponsorship relationships with many businesses in Uppingham and backed by wonderful support from the people of Uppingham, the current committee of 14 individuals are able to get on with their tasks of planting, weeding, watering, fundraising and visiting schools and voluntary organisations. There’s a lot to do.
And if, at the moment, all you can see is bare earth in the empty beds and tubs, don’t fret, it won’t be for long. ‘Where there was colour and brightness the town now seems greyerand darker,’ says committee secretary Debra Martin. ‘Normally everywhere you turn in Uppingham during the spring and summer months splashes of colour greet you, brightening up even the darkest of days. Entering one of the historic passageways or turning the corner into the High Street brings a smile to my face every time as there’s an abundance of tulips in the spring and vibrant geraniums and petunias in the summer!’
So thankfully, it’s time for the spring planting. In go the bulbs, violas and pansies banishing the greyness and bringing the anticipation of spring and vibrant colour in a few months’ time. If you would like more information or to find out more about becoming a volunteer please email uppinghaminbloom@gmail. com or follow them on Facebook. They weed every second Sunday, meeting at 10am on Baines Corner and afterwards they go for a coffee at the Falcon Hotel.
First shop for Tori Murphy and 10% discount for Active readers
ritish te tile brand ori Murphy has unveiled its first standalone showroom, set within the historic Belvoir Castle’s Retail Village at the Engine Yard in Leicestershire. The 900 sq ft space, nestled in one of England’s most picturesque settings, serves as the perfect backdrop for a brand renowned for its refined te tiles and commitment to British craftsmanship.
Known for blending heritage with contemporary elegance, Tori Murphy’s collections include exquisite fabrics, home accessories, design consultation and their award-winning made-to-measure curtains and blinds, offered with an impressive 14 working day delivery guarantee. Tori is offering readers of Active a 10% discount if you use the code Active 10.
The new showroom invites visitors to explore the full range of the brand’s English fabrics, available by the metre, making it an ideal destination for interior designers and enthusiasts seeking distinctive British charm. It also provides bespoke design and installation services tailored for trade professionals aiming to create unique, modern interiors with a timeless touch.
More than just a retail space, the showroom will double as an interactive design studio, hosting workshops in its beautiful, custom-built kitchen.
www.torimurphy.com
The Engine Yard, Belvoir Castle, NG32 1PA
What’s On!
Café Ventoux are busy hosting Christmas lunches and parties. With 2-3 festive courses and drinks packages available, don’t delay in booking your spot at www.cafe-ventoux.cc/christmas
Actor Guy Henry (Holby City, Harry Potter and much more) will star alongside the Harborough Singers in their annual Celebrity Christmas Concert which takes place on December 21 at St Dionysius church in Market Harborough starting at 7.30pm. Tickets are £8 and selling fast www.harboroughsingers.com
Stamford Pantomime Players presents Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Corn Exchange from December 21 to January 1 2025. Tickets are available now from www.stamfordcornexchange.com
Stamford Choral Christmas Concert is on Tuesday December 17 at Stamford School Hall starting at 7.30pm. Enjoy a double festive treat of Haydn’s beautiful St Nicholas Mass and Benjamin Britten’s operatic ‘St Nicolas.’ With tenor soloist Matthew Spillet and the Chameleon Arts Orchestra under the expert direction of Jeremy Jepson and Guy Turner. For tickets www.stamfordchoral.co.uk
SCTAMFORD
29 London are delighted to announce the return of the EAGA Gospel Choir for an unforgettable evening of Gospel Christmas Carols on December 7 at St Martin’s Church, Stamford, starting at 7pm. All proceeds will go to the Stamford and Oundle Trussell Trust Food Bank. It promises to be an evening of joyous Christmas fun. www.29LDN.eventbrite.co.uk
Stamford’s popular community choir, Woven Chords, led by musical director Graham Dale, will be back on stage on Thursday 19 December in the Stamford Arts Centre ballroom. Specialising in a cappella (unaccompanied) songs, and often singing in the original languages, they aim to take the audience around the world with songs from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. Enjoy glorious harmonies, be uplifted and filled with seasonal cheer. he concert starts at 8pm and tickets are £10 via the Stamford Arts Centre.
St. Nicolas Benjamin Britten Missa Sancti Nicolai Joseph Haydn
Matthew Spillet - Tenor
Jeremy Jepson - Conductor
Guy Turner - Conductor
Chameleon Arts Orchestra
7.30pm, Tues 17th Dec 2024
www.stamfordartscentre.com 01780 763203 or on the door.
WOVEN CHORDS WINTER CONCERT
There’s lots going on at Rutland Farm Park this festive season. There are wreath making workshops on November 30 and December 1 or make an advent ring with your child on November 30. Festive craft mornings for the under 5s with an adult on December 12 and 19. And you can have breakfast or afternoon tea with Santa on Saturday 14 and 21 December. Booking is required for all of these activities.
www.rutlandfarmpark.co.uk
Join our popular Stamford-based choir in a celebration of glorious harmony, singing songs from across the globe.
Thursday 19th Dec 8.00 pm
The Ballroom, Stamford Ar ts Centre
£10
Contact: www stamfordartscentre com
Image: Holly Cook
Welland Vale, your one-stop-shop for fresh cut and potted Christmas trees, decorations, lights and gifts
cut and potted Christmas Trees from
Uppingham’s Local Independent Garden Centre & Café 01572 822729
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Great range of Hellebores to choose from
Orchard Cafe Afternoon Tea Gift Vouchers
Fresh
£24.99
Festive Poinsettias ideal for gifts
Sally Pinnegar
RECIPE
Eggnog
Eggnog is an absolute classic Christmas memory (known as Avocaat) for anyone brought up in the 1970s. I always thought it looked and sounded absolutely revolting; but maybe I was wrong. And now we are all talking about Rivals and the 1980s which was renowned for its cocktails - including the Avocaat based snowball - maybe it’s time to revisit the eggnog and embrace the retro
Ingredients
• 1 vanilla pod (scrape the seeds out)
• 4 eggs separated
• 100ml sugar syrup
• 100ml double cream
• 500ml full fat milk
• 150ml brandy
• Ice
Method
• Add the vanilla seeds to a large bowl which contains egg yolks and sugar syrup and beat with an electric whisk until the mixture is pale (for 2-3 minutes).
• Add the cream, milk and brandy and beat until just combined. Strain into a punch bowl or equivalent.
• Clean the whisk and then whisk the egg whites to soft peaks.
• Fold the egg whites into the mixture in the bowl until the eggnog is fluffy and smooth (half at a time).
• Chill until ready to serve. It will last, if covered, in the fridge for 24 hours.
• Just before serving, add plenty of ice and give it a gentle stir.
• Welcome to the 1970s!
Explore our tracks, our new woodland area, visit our tearoom; Daphne's, meet and feed our wonderful and friendly animals, big and small, this winter.
Visit our happy little emporium of delight, jam-packed with beautiful and unique homeware, art and gifts for all. Lovingly created by small, local businesses. Follow us on @mangoandthemoonliving www.mangoandthemoon.co.uk
... And the Ivy
Holly is maybe the more obvious Christmas plant but ivy needs a mention too. Rowan Griffiths delves deeper
There are two main species of ivy that grow in the UK. Common ivy (hedera helix) and Atlantic ivy (hedera hibernica). The latter, as suggested by the name, grows more commonly in the west of Britain and in Ireland. Common ivy is more widespread throughout the other lowland and upland areas of these islands. It is a woody climbing plant that when mature can reach up to 30m from the ground using its strong stem hairs to cling on to whatever surface it chooses to scale.
Ivy is an evergreen with pale veined but otherwise dark green, glossy leaves which are lighter on the underside. On common ivy the juvenile leaf has 3-5 lobes and 5-7 on the Atlantic variety. In its mature form the leaf has no lobes at all but is heart or oval shaped instead.
Ivy does not flower until it matures and then produces small clusters of yellowish green blooms known as umbels in the autumn. These become fruiting berrylike bodies that also grow in little clusters. Common ivy fruits are blue whereas the Atlantic’s are black.
As a climber the ivy utilises walls, trees and fences for support but it is not parasitic. It has its own root system and gains its nutrients from the soil. The commonly held belief that ivy will strangle or damage a tree is incorrect.
The pollen, nectar and berries of an ivy are important sources of food for a variety of insects, birds and small mammals as well as offering them shelter.
In ancient times both the Greeks and Romans believed that wearing a wreath of ivy around the head would prevent intoxication (not to be tried at home) and it was once thought to deter witches if you allowed it to grow across the walls of your house as it would stop them getting in! Handy.
GARDENING
From exotic origins
Chutney has an interesting history but fundamentally it is a preservative. It originated in India (note the Hindi word chanti) but took root, along with pickles, in Europe in the 16th century. It had travelled back from India with the arrival of preserved fruits such as mangoes and tamarinds brought back by the Anglo Indians and became a staple in the UK in the 18th century. And it is the perfect way to use up and preserve spare produce from the garden to eat over the winter. Unripe tomatoes are a perfect example.
The three main ingredients of chutney are fruit, sugar and vinegar cooked together until they reduce with added ingredients such as dried fruit, seasoning, onion and garlic. These jars (like jam) would then be kept to be used over the winter to add flavourings to more basic food. And they are delicious.
The Pickled Shop in Bulwick is renowned
for their delicious chutneys, pickles and jams. We asked owner Camille what makes a good Christmas chutney because it really is one of the staples on most people’s tables during the festive period.
‘Well, it’s one of the easiest ways to ‘get pickled’ over the Festive season,’ she told us. ‘Our Christmas chutneys are full of fruit and Christmassy spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and allspice (not to mention a hit of chilli). And, of course, some are ‘pickled’ with brandy or whisky for a bit of extra warmth!
‘Christmas chutneys are delicious with cheese and leftovers from Christmas Day and are wonderful mixed with soft cheese in wee tarts to serve as canapés over the holiday period. Left over turkey or chicken served with warm crusty bread and Christmas chutneys is always a winner. Or with Boxing Day cold meat, bubble and squeak and Christmas chutney; perfect!’
www.thepickledshop.com
WCosy, country cottages
A country cottage break is not just for the summer; Mary tells us why the winter months can be delightful
e usually think about a cottage by the seaside, in the Peak District or Yorkshire Dales as a summer break. We can take our buckets and spades or enjoy long country walks through the Peaks and then sit in the sunshine in a pub garden taking in the fabulous views; sounds good doesn’t it?
But don’t dismiss doing this during the winter months. It’s a bit of a family tradition with us that we pack the car, grab the dogs and head for a remote cottage in the countryside. Then we hole up, get out the games and cards, light the fire, open the wine and hunker down to enjoy a few days of complete solitude. We always have a long walk every day and enjoy some good food; and there’s nothing better. It all sounds a bit like the film he oliday but why not It s that time of year with Christmas around the corner and a few days away, before or after, is the perfect way to recharge the batteries so you’re ready for what is to come or to recover from what has been.
There are always a couple of provisos: make sure you book a cottage with an open
'The Yorkshire Dales offer so much including fabulous scenery and great walking, or wherever you fancy.'
fire or woodburner if that is what you want . opefully the central heating is effective too, and there s a nearby dog friendly pub with the obligatory open fire and good grub. And because you have the car you can throw in as many big coats and pairs of ellies that you need don t forget them.
ut where to go ell, the really is your oyster at this time of year. he cottages that are available all year round and that is most of them can be found on various rental websites and, of course, are much cheaper as they are out of season.
istorically, we have often visited a andmark rust property as you get to en oy and appreciate the beauty of a restored, ancient building which is inevitably in a
stunning setting. r coastal orfolk is another strong contender as a bracing walk on the beach is a winter favourite ust make sure you wrap up warm. he orkshire ales offer so much including fabulous scenery and great walking, or pretty market towns to visit. here is so much to choose from.
A slow morning, a hearty breakfast and then a long walk to blow away the cobwebs and satisfy the dogs is the order of the day. And after that there is nothing better than returning to your cottage, lighting the fire and settling down. And you may even get ude aw knocking on the door
www.landmarktrust.org.uk www.sykescottages.com
Going, going, gone
Delving through ‘junk shops’ and attending auctions and antique fairs looking for a bargain is one of Mary’s favourite things to do. And Lucy Alcorn has turned this into a business; Mary meets her
Iwas really looking forward to meeting Lucy, owner of Iris and Mabel as she is literally living my perfect life; so how has she done it?
Lucy is a creative brought up near Market Harborough who did a textile design degree and then started working in London for interior designers and furnishing and fabric companies. Her career was mainly marketing and sales based which was going to stand her in good stead for what was to come.
Before embarking to London she had spent many years attending auctions and sales with her mother who ‘dabbled’ in buying and selling antiques so you could say it’s in her blood. And, as is the case with
many children, she absorbed her mother’s knowledge and enthusiasm learning by osmosis you could say.
Three daughters and a move back to rural Northamptonshire just outside Oundle later, Lucy went back to her roots and started ‘dabbling’ like her mother. But unlike her mother this ‘dabbling’ quickly grew into something else entirely.
‘I’d seen people on Instagram putting a photo up of something and saying it was for sale,’ says Lucy. ‘It got me thinking so I decided to have a go at it. I was following quite a lot of interior accounts and people doing similar so I photographed a few things that I’d acquired over the years, put them online and quickly sold a painting. And that, you could say was it.’
Obviously it’s nowhere near as simple as that, but there is an element of it. Lucy, with her creative background and sales experience brings a lot to her business. She is a very good photographer and you will notice this straight away when you look at her Instagram account and website. Her photos draw you in and are selling a lifestyle as well as the product. Items are
perfectly staged, usually taken around her house, and inspire you with great ideas about how to display and use them. I looked at her website and wanted virtually everything.
But back to 2021 when she set the business up. She quickly opened an Etsy account as well so was able to drive business from Instagram to it, and that was the beginning of Iris and Mabel. She had lots of knowledge about prices as ‘I’d done a lot of research and had been a regular visitor to auctions for years. I wanted to make sure that my prices were fair. What to sell comes down to personal taste. I tend to buy what I would want for my own home and thankfully many people seem to like the same sort of things as me.’
Lucy’s style is very much predominantly the English country traditional look. She loves colours and patterns and decorative china. If you’re looking for neutrals you won t find them here, nor really the rench style. She is renowned for her china, furniture, textiles and rugs as well as art. Much of what she sells has a practical use but is also decorative with a history, and
often uirky. verything is either vintage or anti ue reflecting her mindset and attitude to sustainability. ‘I like to see things reused. Recycling and upcycling are so much better than buying new. We are keeping things out of landfill and, importantly, passing on something which still has plenty of life in it and will sit beautifully in someone else’s home. I think people really appreciate this ethos now with regards to homeware as well as clothing.’
Once Iris and Mabel became more established (within a year) Lucy designed a logo and website and has quietly been growing the business ever since. he wanted to build the brand as well as a business which is exactly what she has done. She uite rightly was vague about where she sources all her lovely items but it is mainly from auction houses. Or sometimes people approach her directly with unwanted items. ‘I’m always on the look out,’ she says. he principle of her business is very simple - buy at one price and sell at a higher one – the same for all retail businesses really. It sounds very easy, but as most of you know, it isn’t. It’s knowing what to buy, who will buy it and what price to charge. And this all comes down to experience and knowledge and good marketing skills, all of which Lucy has. So, the principle might be very simple but the e ecution is much more difficult. And of course, much of what she buys needs cleaning and mending and then beautifully photographing so that all has to be considered too.
ucy now has private clients who ask her to find them something specific and has started doing pop ups around the country as well as certain events including urghley Horse Trials this year. She is doing a couple of Christmas fairs in the Cotswolds and London as well as locally at Witham Hall winter fair. This way Lucy gets to meet many of her customers who are based all over the country as well as ust down the road. You can buy from her website and she will either post or courier your purchase to you anywhere in the . he is now finding she has many repeat customers which is ust what any business wants.
Lucy sells larger items of furniture such as chest of drawers, armchairs and cabinets and has lots of mirrors. Something she is well known for and which are very popular
are old fashioned trunks. These are great for storage and can be used as a side table as well. She has lots of really good quality rugs and, again reflecting her love and knowledge of textiles, buys remnants of fabrics and has them made into some lovely scatter cushions.
‘I get a real kick out of buying the items. The shopping is the fun bit as well as researching an artist and to find provenance of something I am selling. I go with my instinct and buy what I like and what I think my customers will like. And, of course, I have to be disciplined as so much of what I buy I would like to keep, but that’s not what it’s all about!’
www.iris-and-mabel.com
@_irisandmabel_
'Lucy’s style is very much predominantly the English country traditional look. She loves colours and patterns and decorative china.'
Happiness for the home
Kate meets Ruth Page, owner of Mango & The Moon, a shop packed full of unique homeware, colourful gifts, toys and clothing
If you haven’t yet discovered Mango & The Moon nestled on Oakham’s Mill Street, you are missing a treat. Having been run as a successful collaboration of small, independent local businesses for almost two years, the shop is a treasure trove of colourful, fun and original products which pack a punch as soon as you step through the doors.
Ruth’s own business Mango & The Moon focuses on soft furnishings, with the other small brands coming under the shop umbrella, forming the consortium known as Friends of Mango & The Moon.
‘There is a huge choice here,’ Ruth told me. e are filling a gap locally with a fabulous selection of gifts, particularly for those hard to buy for teens. The best selling Frank Green water bottles and Sundae body foam make great stocking fillers.
‘We have handmade jewellery at great prices. We’re the only shop in Oakham that
sells children’s clothes and shoes. We are well known for our brilliant selection of children’s toys, and we offer unique, lu urious homeware you won t find anywhere else. We are constantly refreshing and updating our offer, in anticipation of what our customers may want or need.’
Many of the brands have a strong Indian influence and that is because uth and her husband Chris have had a longstanding relationship with the country whilst working in the fashion industry. Ruth has migrated to homeware in recent years.
‘It’s a long story,’ she says. ‘I did a Fashion Management degree in Nottingham, which focused on the management of the entire chain with an emphasis on fashion products. We learnt pattern cutting, dressmaking and tailoring skills, alongside manufacturing processes, product development, sourcing and buying. The marketing and promotion side were my
favourite subjects. Most of us on the course went on to work in fashion and that’s when I met Chris.’
Ruth has worked for many different independent clothing brands over the years including Burberry but when they moved from London to Leicestershire twenty years ago they decided to branch out on their own. They started a Buying Agency, Raised on Denim, with the strap line Manufacturing with Design, which includes men’s, women’s and kids' clothing. They work with most High Street retailers and brands including cult London store Goodhood. With their Indian partner they now have two factories in Bangalore, and have successfully combined Indian manufacturing expertise with an in-depth knowledge of the UK fashion industry.
‘I’ve done lots of travelling to the Far East, and very much appreciate the time, skill and artistry involved in producing textiles. There are so many unusual fabrics in the markets in India that you can’t get anywhere else. And they sparked such an interest in me because I was always so passionate about fabric and colour and anything that sparkled or was beautiful. So I set up a homeware brand, running it from my summer house in the garden, concentrating on cushions and tableware. I played with lots of different names for the business before deciding on Mango & The Moon. I was searching for a name that had a strong connection with India. Mango is the national fruit of India and represents prosperity, abundance and wealth and, in indu mythology, the moon personifies the
'Ruth’s
own business Mango & The Moon focuses on soft furnishings, with the other small brands coming under the shop umbrella, forming the consortium known as Friends of Mango & The Moon.'
affordable prices, with many products being hand made here in Rutland. They also offer ‘made to order’ and ‘personalised’ services ranging from personalised artwork, leather accessories and Liberty print products along with original artwork, and hand knitted jumpers and cardigans for kids.
‘The price point is very good,’ Ruth told me. ‘It ranges from a few pounds which is accessible for anyone’s pocket to more expensive items like a one of a kind piece of artwork.
god Chandra, who is associated with beauty, creativity and fertility.’
Ruth’s retail journey started with a pop-up shop in Church Street in Oakham, where she invited other small businesses to join her selling their products. ‘I’m an ideas person. I see opportunities and say let’s just have a go. People loved it and wanted us to carry on. It was a journey we were on together and it was exciting. Most of the makers approached me but when I opened here in Mill Street I wanted a bit more control. Now I approach brands who I know will sit cohesively with the other brands, that are not available elsewhere in the county and that I know our customers will love; I sometimes give them a month’s trial to see how it goes. You have to have a lot of skills and wear a lot of hats to be both creative and commercial.’
She is always on the hunt for the next big thing, and finds a diverse selection of unique brands locally and country-wide that ties in with her ethos. Most of the brands in the shop are local. The emphasis is on great design and great quality at
‘One of my favourite aspects of running the shop,’ she says, ‘is the friendships I have made and the discussions we have with so many of our customers. We have built up a lovely community, with many of the in-house brands helping to run the shop, which enables us to connect with and understand our customers’ needs, and adapt the products and services we can provide to fulfil them. e try and bring the community together by hosting creative workshops and fun shopping events like our popular Fizz on Friday and Christmas shopping evenings, offering discounts and prizes as a way of saying thank you and giving a little something back.’
I’m sure more is to come from Ruth and the team next year, but one thing is for certain, there’s a vast amount of creative skill and flair in ust one small shop. ut it s not surprising as Ruth knew from a young age, when she used to make clothes for her Cindy doll and never missed an edition of Vogue, that the fashion and textiles business was her calling.
@mangoandthemoonliving www.mangoandthemoon.co.uk
Stamford’s new toy emporium
Stork of Stamford now has a first floor room that is all about toys.
Mary popped in to preview the new toy emporium
Many of you will have been into Stork of Stamford on St Mary’s Street. And many more of you will be regular customers. Marianne Rawlins opened the shop just over a year ago and has established herself as yet another successful Stamford independent retailer, and thankfully there are many of them in our lovely town.
The idea of Stork of Stamford is simple and very well executed; everything you need from after conception through to when your child starts school (or thereabouts). So, you will find maternity clothes, baby essentials and equipment, clothes for newborns upwards, prams, pushchairs and cots and, of course, toys. As well as lots and lots of great advice from Marianne who has two little ones herself.
And now, if you go upstairs in the shop
there is a new major toy emporium to delight you, filling the large bright, first floor room. This newly opened section of the shop is making full use of the space and is stuffed to the rafters with toys for all ages. You can bring your little one to have a browse (and maybe a little play) and there are presents ranging from those that can be purchased with pocket money up to a doll’s house. There are many brands including Tonie’s Toys which are very popular; Little Dutch and many more, ranging from something for a baby up to a five year old, or a bit older too for the larger outdoor toys. And on the way up the stairs you and your little one will love the balloon display inviting you in.
Many of the toys and clothes on sale can be personalised. And this is done on the premises using an embroidery machine and takes about 30 minutes. This costs a very
affordable £10 per item so it can make your purchase that little bit more special. As well as the toy emporium upstairs there is also the pushchair and pram room. In this room are prams as well as car seats and other necessary baby paraphernalia too. Cots and other bits of furniture can be ordered as well. If you are looking for a pram for your newborn and really don’t have much idea of what you want – or even if you do – I strongly suggest you go to Stork of Stamford and see Marianne. She lets you try the prams out, which makes so much sense. She even has a three month old ‘baby’ for you to have a go with. You can take the pram around town to see if you can get in your favourite shop or pub (not always possible in Stamford) and can even fold it up and put it in the back of your car. This is vital as having a pram that doesn t fit could be a disaster. he will ask
'If
you are looking for a pram for your newborn and really don’t have much idea of what you want – or even if you do –I strongly suggest you go to Stork of Stamford and see Marianne.'
you if you want to be able to fold it up one handed, where you want to take it and much more. (I wish I’d had someone like Marianne to help me when I was looking at prams all those years ago). This is such a good service and so helpful. Stork is the only Independent in Stamford that you can buy any larger baby equipment from, and to have someone offering such great advice is a huge bonus.
Another bonus is that if you make a ‘big ticket purchase’ you will automatically qualify for a 10% credit on any purchase that is made by you, or for you, up until the birth. This can add up to hundreds of pounds which you can then use once your baby is born.
There is so much more on offer at Stork of Stamford including a personalised maternity
wear ‘pull rail.’ Let Marianne know you are coming and what sort of clothing and colours you like and she will pull together a range of clothing for you to pick from.
It’s lovely to see such a shop in Stamford as every new parent or grandparent probably needs advice starting with the panicked father sent out to buy bottles or whatever before his baby comes home to the grandparent who has rather lost touch with which toys are available and can be pointed in the right direction.
And now that the new toy emporium is open there is so much to look at and choose from, and the timing is just perfect with Christmas around the corner.
www.storkofstamford.com
Walking types
Will Hetherington identifies some common characters found in walking groups.
THE BOY SCOUT
In this country in the winter we could have a bitter north east wind, which can be icier than one of Maggie Thatcher’s disapproving glares. Or it could be 14 degrees and barely worth putting the heating on. But your boy scout has got it covered either way, with layers of technical clothing on the torso topped off with a Gore-tex waterproof, breathable jacket, plus hand warmers and gloves just in case. Not forgetting the hood and reserve hat of course.
On the bottom half it’s zip-off trousers, which can become shorts in one flamboyant swish, merino wool socks and worn in walking boots, freshly waxed the night before. Throw in a compass, OS App (and map ust in case and guidance and there s no danger of getting lost. Two litres of water in the Camelbak, a rescue whistle, the ubiquitous sandwich, emergency Kendal mint cake and fruit will help if there is any trouble. Which is rather unlikely on a footpath half a mile from a road in south incolnshire. hat distress flare could come in handy though because you know what they say? Always be prepared.
> Advice: let them help somehow. They will enjoy it.
THE HANGOVER
They turn up for a 17-mile walk in trainers, jeans and a t shirt all looking suspiciously like last night s outfit and in possession only of one small bottle of water, a monumental hangover and some paracetamol. They are full of chirpy conversation for the first couple of miles and then the tell-tale question delivered half in confidence and half in dread ow far did you say it is ollowed by Is there a village any time soon
Will most likely be found hiding round the corner in the first pub, drinking cider like pop, ploughing through salt and vinegar crisps and asking the barman for taxi numbers.
And then, against all expectations, will get a second wind and finish the walk along with everybody else saying ell, I don t know what all the fuss is about. Whilst the Boy Scout quietly tuts into his shandy.
> Advice: offer them water occasionally and ask where they are going that night. Sounds like fun.
THE TORTOISE
I have done plenty of walking, but the Camino de Santiago across northern Spain in 2018 was by far my longest journey. I started in the Pyrenean foothills in France and walked 500 miles in just over a month, with a few rest days along the way. In that time I got to observe a lot of different attitudes.
For instance I met David from Dublin, who really was from Dublin – in that he had walked all the way, from Dublin. Obviously not over the wet bits, but he had taken a ferry to Cherbourg in northern France and walked down through that giant country before crossing the Pyrenees. So he had already walked at least 500 miles before I even met him. David was 77, tall and friendly. And he walked incredibly slowly.
Most people on this ancient pilgrimage walk between 4-5km an hour (bear in mind the weight of the backpack), but David did well to average 3km an hour, with his one walking pole. It meant that during a typical day maybe 100 other pilgrims would pass him and chat for five minutes or maybe longer, then walk on to the ne t village or town with hostels and lodgings. There they might do some laundry, write some notes, say some prayers, and then enjoy a cold beer. Then, a few hours later, at some point in the late afternoon or early evening, avid would amble into town without a care in the world, find a bed for his weary head and prepare for the ne t day on the road. e knew he would get there and he had faith it would all turn out well in the end. Incredible really.
> Advice: slow down and chat. You never know what you may learn.
THE HARE
Everybody knows Aesop’s famous fable about the slow but determined tortoise (David from Dublin) and the impetuous hare, so it won’t come as a surprise how the hare ends in this story either. On the same pilgrimage I met a German lady just after the halfway point of the 500-mile walk. The route is broken down into manageable daily sections by a number of e cellent guidebooks. But there are also legitimate detours, which are longer but might be more scenic or just help to avoid a stretch by the side of a busy road.
I took one of these detours one day, via an appealing sounding place called Cal adilla de los ermanillos, which led to me walking 32km in isolation along a dusty track with barely a contour or landmark to liven the journey. And that appealing sounding place turned out to be a dreary if not downright sinister backwater. You know - the sort where you can hear banjos playing before you see the first rickety house or hear the first swinging gate?
It was tough on the mind and body, but I did meet said German lady who told me she had attempted the pilgrimage the year before, but had succumbed to injury not far from the end so was back to do the job properly this time. She then told me she liked to walk 45km a day. Now, anything over 30km is rare and not desirable, anything over km is getting close to e ceptional, but to try and walk km a day for km is e tremely unusual to say the least.
As fate would have it I ended up in the same dormitory as the Teutonic marcher that night in a hostel in a Spaghetti Western type village called Reliegos. There was no ollywood movie night of laughter and music.
And then, in the gloom of the morning back on the road, she stormed angrily past me shouting something about snoring and I never saw her again. I often wonder if she found what she was looking for.
> Advice: do not try and keep up. Oh and detours are for sociopaths.
PERFECT COMPANY
It’s a walk and it’s nice to chat. Also there’s time to do it properly out there in the fresh air. So you can ask questions, listen to the answer and respond accordingly. In the flow of the conversation both parties will learn a lot about each other and enjoy the experience. Maybe this all sounds rather obvious, but the point is it’s the time out there away from other distractions which allows it to happen. There’s also quite a lot of truth in the theory that people open up more easily when walking side by side (or sitting in a car) than when facing each other.
In reality most people fall into this category, even if you don’t know it until you have met and started talking. The perfect company equation should always end in the pub, with a roaring fire and a brief conversation something like this: ‘I’m going to the bar, what would you like to drink?’
‘Don’t be silly, let me get you one.’
‘How about I buy these and you get the next two?’
‘Perfect.’
> Advice: you have two ears and one mouth.
WALTER MITTY
ow most people do fit the perfect company category, but for some even the tranquillity of the countryside cannot dent the need to stamp all over every conversation with a display of impertinent peacockery.
ou say I like this walk because five miles is a nice distance long enough to know about it but not so long that it takes up half the day or exhausts me.’ They say: ‘I usually walk 10 miles every day so this won’t be enough for me.’
You say: ‘I’m perfectly happy walking in this old coat because it does the job.’ They say: ‘I remember having one of those in the s. ardly fit for purpose now though is it I buy a new jacket every year. Can’t see why anybody wouldn’t…’
You say: ‘It’s nice to have a well behaved dog. It means no problem with farmers, other dog walkers or cyclists.’
They say: ‘Call that a well-trained dog? I won Crufts and One Man and His Dog. And when I used to work for the government, not that I can talk about that really…’
> Advice: walk away. They won’t notice.
THE MOUNTAIN GOAT
You reach the top of what you consider to be a monumental peak (anything over 200m for us Lincolnshire lot). Breathing heavily and sweating profusely you manage to get the following words out: ‘Wow, that was a pretty serious climb... Shall we have a little breather, like now?’
Only to be met with: ‘Was it? Oh yes now you mention it the view is rather pleasant isn’t it. And yes we can stop if you need.’
hese are the infuriating words of the naturally fit, or those who take a lot more care of their bodies than the rest of us. Normally wonderful company, they glide serenely over the flat ground and seem to float up hills unhindered by aching quad muscles, hamstrings and calves. Genes can be cruel to the rest of us.
And in my experience these walkers don’t necessarily turn up in all the latest high-tech gear. Quite often jeans, wellies, woolly jumper and a coat seem to be the uniform of the mountain goat. The good news is they will always be fresh enough to make sensible decisions when the way has become temporarily unclear or some unforeseen problem occurs. hey will usually get to the bar first too.
> Advice: You don’t have to keep up but it will help your fitness.
WE ARE ALL PILGRIMS
David from Dublin (remember him from above) taught me a valuable lesson on the pilgrimage to Camino de Santiago, which I will never forget. On the outskirts of the beautiful Spanish city of Leon three of us were walking together and the conversation turned to people who chose to take a public bus for a day rather than walk. I may have questioned whether this was really in the spirit of the Camino.
To which 77-year-old David, who had walked for more than 1,000 miles from Cherbourg in northern France, softly said: ‘Now, now Will, we are all pilgrims here.’
As of course we all are, so please don’t take this article too seriously. But I hope you recognise yourself somewhere amid these characters and you continue to enjoy your walking, whatever form it takes.
WILL’S WALK
Deeping St James and the Welland
The river Welland in its pomp dominates this walk, which also features an unusual overnight lock-up. By Will Hetherington.
Images: Will Hetherington
The initial stages of the walk feature fine views of the church spire in the distance.
Difficulty rating
The route
Start near the Bell Tavern on the main road in Deeping St James. Head east for 50 yards and turn right on to the pedestrian bridge over the river. There’s a good view of the stone road bridge from here. Turn left on the other side on to Riverside and follow it round, past some old cottages initially, until it joins Peakirk Road. Turn left here and then branch off left immediately on to the footpath. You will now have the river on your left for approximately a mile and it’s a splendid companion. On the far bank there’s a seemingly endless procession of houses with lawns sweeping down to the water’s edge and weeping willows, canoes, rowing boats and jetties galore. Many of these gardens have rather superb looking decks and seating areas down by the riverside and it’s not hard to imagine a serene party atmosphere down here on a balmy summer’s evening.
However, that’s all on the far bank. On the south side there are no houses, just wonderful views of all the above and the church spire initially. Keep going as the river curves round to the southeast and after approximately one mile of the dreamy Tales from the Riverbank scene look out for the little weir on the left. Walk across the weir and you are now briefly on cout Island before crossing the slightly longer second weir.
Follow the path and you will come to Eastgate opposite Stowgate Road. Turn left here and stay on the pavement back through Deeping St James, passing a mixture of old stone houses and more modern structures. You will pass Deeping St James Cross along the way, where miscreants were housed overnight before being brought before the magistrate the next morning, and it’s worth a detour here into the ample grounds of the impressive Priory Church.
After that you may choose to pop into the Waterton Arms for some refreshment. If you don t fancy the urban route back you can ust turn round and walk back by the river, but beware the growing envy of those lovely gardens on the far bank.
The stone bridge connecting Deeping St James to Deeping Gate.
TUESDAYS from the 5TH NOVEMBER – 17TH DECEMBER – Handmade Christmas workshops including glass decorations, wreath making and linocut Christmas cards.
SATURDAY 30TH NOVEMBER AND SUNDAY 1ST DECEMBER AND SATURDAY 7TH and SUNDAY 8TH DECEMBER – Christmas Market including over 100 stalls selling gifts, food and decorations, mulled wine, a festive choir, a photobooth, entertainment and facepainting.
SATURDAY 30TH NOVEMBER AND SUNDAY 1ST DECEMBER AND SATURDAY 7TH AND SUNDAY 8TH DECEMBER – Father Christmas in the Tudor House. Includes a personalised, wrapped gift, crafts, a nice certificate, a sweet treat, a meet and greet with Father Christmas by a roaring fire and refreshments for adults.
THURSDAYS-SUNDAYS FROM THE 28TH NOVEMBER TO THE 22ND DECEMBER – Christmas Shop and Café. Explore our special Christmas gift shop selling decorations, gifts and stocking fillers and our café stocked with festive specials including hot drinks, sweet treats and festive toasties.
Wreaths, Christmas Decorations, Poinsettias, Indoor and Outdoor Christmas Lights, Lots of Gift ideas and Gift Vouchers.
ACTIVE INFO
Deeping St James Cross was converted into a lock-up in 1819 to house up to three people overnight, before being taken to the magistrate the next morning. The oak door on the north side reveals, through the bars, the stone seats with chains.
Essential information
WHERE TO PARK
Where you can in Deeping St James.
DISTANCE
Two and a quarter miles.
HIGHLIGHTS
The splendid river Welland, glorious gardens by the riverbank and the Deeping St James Cross (aka the lock-up).
LOWLIGHTS
If you are not keen on pavement walking you can just walk back by the river but there’s added nosiness value of walking back through town.
REFRESHMENTS
The Waterton Arms.
DIFFICULTY RATING
One paw. It’s flat and half of it is on pavement.
THE POOCH PERSPECTIVE
No livestock when I did the walk and some good places to get in the river.
For your own safety and navigation make sure you have an OS map with you when you go out walking. You won’t regret it.
The north bank of the Welland is bestowed with glorious gardens leading down to the water’s edge.
Active Kids
Maths whizz kids
Leicester High School for Girls is thrilled to announce that an impressive 81% of students who took part in the prestigious senior mathematical challenge, organised by the UK Mathematics rust, were awarded gold, silver and bron e certificates. his achievement highlights the exceptional talent and mathematical skills of the students.
This year, students earnedone gold, four silver and 10 bronze certificates. A special congratulations go to ahaar who achieved est in year 12 with a silver, and a huge well done to Pranavi who earned est in chool with a gold, a remarkable accomplishment that places her amongst the top mathematical talent nationwide.
Maths is a popular subject at Leicester High, with many students continuing their studies in STEM subjects at university, further building on the strongfoundation they gain at school. heschool are incredibly proud of all the students who participated, and their outstanding results reflect their hard work and dedication to mathematics.
‘This year, students earned one gold, four silver and 10 bronze certificates.’
Register your interest: admissions@witham hall.com 01778 590222 Preparatory School Boys and Girls | Age 4-13 | Day and Boarding WithamHall.com
Howie’s Amazing History Wall Art
An Oakham School student has transformed a teaching space with his striking wall art design, to inspire pupils studying history.
Year 13 All-Rounder Scholar Howie had already demonstrated his passion for art and an ability to transform school spaces last year when he produced an incredible mural within his House common room. Teacher of history, and Howie’s tutor, Ben Edwards
wanted to give him the opportunity to show more of his talent and asked him to create the iconic image of Martin Luther King Jr within a history classroom.
Howie and his father Matt followed a five stage process to reproduce the image on the classroom wall. First, they projected the image onto the wall and traced it onto paper.
Oakham School Welcomes Members of Local Community to Harvest Party
Oakham School welcomed over 100 guests to its annual Harvest Party, one of its best-loved Voluntary Action community events. The party, which is a highlight of the year, is hosted by pupils and staff in the school’s Barraclough dining hall.
In preparation for the party, pupils spent the morning baking cakes and making party bags for their guests, as well as decorating the venue. Oakham School provided complimentary local transport for those attending and on arrival the pupils greeted their guests and escorted them to their seats. The guests were then treated to afternoon tea served by the pupils and a programme of entertainment. This included a competitive game of bingo, with headmaster Henry Price announcing the numbers, a quiz, and musical recitals from some of
They then cut out the stencil and attached it to the wall. Following this they sprayed the image and finally peeled off the stencil to reveal the wall art below.
he finished design is a magnificent and inspiring piece of artwork that Ben hopes will inspire Oakham’s young historians and artists alike.
the school’s talented musicians. There were also plenty of prizes to be won. The event was rounded off with a cheerful singalong to some popular songs, accompanied by Oakham’s Director of Music, John Mountford.
Local resident Anne Kent, who attended the party, said: ‘The pupils were a credit to the school with their kindness and ability to make everyone feel that nothing was too much trouble. The musicians were so talented too. Please convey my thanks to all involved.’
Oakham School’s head of Voluntary Action, Monica Fernandez, said: ‘It has been wonderful to see our community spirit in action. This is a special moment to practice the act of giving, sharing and serving others.’
The Harvest Party is one of many charity and community initiatives that Oakham School is proud to support. On the same afternoon as the party, a team of sixth form pupils entertained members of Oakham’s Phab Club with a movie afternoon. Sixth Formers also recently hosted a lunch alongside Voluntary Action Rutland (VAR) at Lands’ End for 50 members of the local community with the aim of bringing people together to combat rural loneliness and isolation. VAR is one of two main charities that Oakham School has chosen to fundraise for through different activities.
ActiveBody
EDITED BY KATE MAXIM
Keep calm
Christmas stress can come to a head after a long and arduous build up to the day. Helen Melville suggests ways to combat it
In August, my hairdresser told me clients were starting to book Christmas appointments. In September, mince pies began appearing on supermarket shelves and I got emails to book my Christmas food delivery slot. Is it any wonder Christmas can feel so overwhelming when the build-up starts four months in advance?
For me personally, the festive time of year is a particularly busy one. My ‘12 days of Christmas’ start on the 24 December and includes the birthdays of both my children and my husband. It can therefore often be a time of stress and anxiety, of ploughing through each day rather than enjoying every moment, ticking off the to-do lists, constantly
having my eyes fi ed on the ne t thing.
For you, Christmas may be your favourite time of year or, one you really struggle with. It can be a time of pure joy and it can be a time of great sadness. It can be a time of celebration and parties or it can be a time of isolation and loneliness. It can be a time when we feel we ‘have to’ do a, b, or c and we ‘have to’ feel x, y, or z… But it doesn’t have to be any of these.
However you feel about Christmas, here are some top tips which may help:
• Focus on what you can do something about - and let go of what you can’t.
• Ask yourself, what is the one thing I can do right now?
• Remember there is no such thing as perfect, every snowflake is beautifully unique.
• Be kind, to yourself and to those around you. here can be lots of emotions flying around.
• Baby steps. What are the smaller, achievable things you can do to start moving towards whatever the end goal may be?
• Event + response = outcome. We have a choice as to how we respond to what happens.
• Embrace you doing you.
And remember we often put ourselves under unnecessary pressure. Embrace the beauty of the imperfect and stay in the moment so you can enjoy whatever Christmas brings, be that a mad, large family get together or a peaceful, quiet walk with the dog. However you choose to spend the day, I wish you a very Happy Christmas.
www.hannahmelvillecoaching.co.uk
How to Winter
Health psychologist Kari Leibowitz explains how Norwegian ‘Frilufstliv’
can help us stay active this winter
Many people struggle to stay active in winter - the cold, wet weather and early darkness can discourage us from our usual routines of walking, running, biking or hiking. We may have grown up hearing that you can catch a cold by spending too much time outside in winter (not true), or we might just feel unmotivated and lethargic when the sun sets earlier. But by taking a cue from the Norwegian practice of frilufstliv, or ‘open-air life,’ we can find more ways to get outside during the darkest days of the year.
Friluftsliv, directly translated, means open-air life’ in Norwegian. It’s a cultural conceptpractically a national identity - that encourages residents of this northern country to spend time outdoors in all weather. Children practice friluftsliv by playing outsideoften dressed in reflective safety gear - even in darkness, rain and snow: jumping in puddles, sledging down hills and burning off their energy. Adults practice friluftsliv by walking or skiing to work. Or at the weekend, by hiking Norway’s scenic mountains, and by gathering around bonfires to drink coffee and grill hotdogs, even on very cold days. Friluftsliv is taught in schools and can even be studied at university, so, in Norway, growing up with an appreciation for the outdoors, and an understanding of how to navigate winter weather safely, is standard. And, of course, in parts of Norway the sun does not rise at all during mid winter so they really do need to embrace friluftsliv.
that facilitates friluftsliv: ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing,’ so dressing appropriately for the weather - in warm layers, waterproof ackets and boots, reflective clothing for safety in darkness, or adding shoe spikes to help you walk on icy paths - can help you move outside more confidently and comfortably. ou can make the practice of friluftsliv your own by tailoring it to what you like to do and what’s available to you, whether that’s keeping up your running routine by layering up and taking an evening run in darkness, when the shadows keep you company and you don’t overheat as easily, or committing to a neighborhood walk in the crisp morning air to help you wake up on grey days. We often see winter as a limiting time of year, when we can’t enjoy ourselves outside; we view ‘bad’ winter weather - cold, grey darkness - as a reason to stay indoors. ut when we find the inspiration to get outside, something magical happens we find that it s not as bad as it looked from indoors. The rain is often lighter or more intermittent, the darkness is more peaceful and friendlier than it seemed, and, once we get moving, the cold transforms from numbing to refreshing. Research suggests that people often underestimate the mood-boost time spent in nature will provide, so any time outdoors in winter - feeling the elements, looking at clouds or sun or stars - can provide a burst of energy and happiness to bring us through the rest of our day. By getting outdoors and staying active this winter, you, too, can embrace an open-air life.
I spent a year living in Tromsø, Norway, over 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, where the winters are long, cold and dark. But - contrary to my upbringing on the Jersey Shore - there I learned how to bundle up, get outside and enjoy myself on even frigid, snowy days. Living in a place with such an extreme winter, where people are forced to find ways to stay active throughout the season, showed me the value of prioritising time outdoors whatever the weather. I experienced firsthand how movement, fresh air and connection to nature are natural antidepressants: the perfect antidotes to the gloom and tiredness people often struggle with in winter.
I also learned that you don’t need Viking blood to practice friluftsliv wherever you are. Taking inspiration from Norway, you can embrace an open-air life this winter by committing to time outdoors every day. Scandinavians have a saying
Kari Leibowitz, PhD, is a Stanford-trained health psychologist, speaker, and writer. Her book, ow to inter arness our Mindset to hrive on Cold, ark, or ifficult ays is available now.
www.karileibowitz.com.
‘Taking inspiration from Norway, you can embrace an open-air life this winter by committing to time outdoors every day.’
Maybe you have decided that your relationship with alcohol is no longer healthy, Sober Dave might just be able to help
Dave Wilson, known as Sober Dave, is an inspirational figure helping people reframe their relationship with alcohol. is own ourney from addiction to sobriety has become the foundation for his coaching practice and online community, where he supports individuals seeking to break free from alcohol dependence. hrough his story, ave demonstrates that recovery is possible, and his mission is to empower others to achieve lasting sobriety.
Dave’s personal journey to sobriety
ike many struggling with addiction, ave s relationship with alcohol started at the age of when his mother left the family home. is drinking escalated in his late s when he started to go to a local pub and was uickly given the name lugs because of the speed he downed his pints. ver time, what started as a habit evolved into dependency, affecting his health, relationships and mental well being. ave went from drinking a few beers to downing a litre bottle of vodka most nights. After several rock bottoms and attempts to stop drinking ave eventually realised that alcohol wasn t helping it was holding him back.
inally, after receiving a te t message in early anuary from a friend offering support, ave finally made the decision to stop drinking. he road wasn t easy, marked by moments of self doubt and struggle. ut with perseverance, support and a desire to live a better life, he found sobriety. his e perience sparked a realisation he wasn t alone in this struggle, and there were countless others who needed guidance and support to overcome their addiction. his became the foundation of his mission to help others.
The birth of Sober Dave and his mission
After reaching sobriety, ave began sharing his story on social media, hoping to connect with others facing similar challenges. is candid reflections on his struggles and successes resonated with people, and what began as a few posts soon grew into a thriving community. ave s open and honest approach, combined with his willingness to share the raw realities of addiction, helped him build a dedicated following.
ober ave s message is simple yet profound sobriety is achievable, and no one
has to walk the path alone. is mission is to provide resources, support and encouragement to those seeking to transform their lives, ust as he did. hrough his online presence and coaching, ave has helped thousands of people re e amine their relationship with alcohol and take steps toward a healthier future.
Coaching for lasting change
As demand for his guidance grew, ave retrained and began offering one on one coaching to those looking for more personalised support. is coaching practice is built on the understanding that every person s ourney to sobriety is uni ue. here is no one si e fits all solution, and ave s coaching reflects this belief. ave helps his clients e plore the root causes of their drinking habits, going beyond the surface to address emotional and psychological factors. e believes that understanding these underlying triggers is key to achieving lasting sobriety. is coaching sessions offer more than ust advice, they provide a space for clients to reflect on their patterns, confront their challenges, and
develop the tools needed to move forward. A crucial aspect of ave s coaching is accountability. e offers consistent support and encouragement, helping clients stay focused on their goals, even when the ourney becomes difficult. is approach is both compassionate and practical, designed to empower individuals to make positive, long term changes in their lives.
A purpose-driven mission
ober ave s mission is rooted in his own e perience and the belief that anyone can change their relationship with alcohol. hrough his coaching, online community and personal story, ave has helped countless individuals take control of their lives and embrace a future free from alcohol. is impact is felt far and wide as he continues to guide people toward emotional well being, personal growth and lasting sobriety.
or ave, sobriety isn t ust about uitting alcohol it s about gaining a healthier, happier life. hether through his one on one coaching, online communities or inspiring story, ave offers the support and guidance that individuals need to transform their lives and embark on a ourney of healing and empowerment.
@soberdave www.soberdave.co.uk
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All together now
Chartered Physiotherapist Sarah Babbs extols the virtues of exercising together
As you’ll know I’m a great advocate of exercise, for all the reasons: strength, fitness, stress reduction and physical and mental wellbeing. The list is a very long one. In physiotherapy we come across many people all of whom have different ways of e ercising. ome en oy e ercising alone, find the discipline to do it and enjoy the challenge. thers struggle and can benefit enormously from being in a group.
There are numerous ways to exercise as a group. Yoga and Pilates will offer different things to CrossFit and HITT classes. Even the same sport can be varied. Parkrun being the same, but different, to a club running night. Football, netball and other team sports will vary from coaching sessions and match days.
Group exercise can be in person in the gym as part of gym membership, or like my two best classes that I’m lucky to attend, one online, the other held in a local hall. My favourite of all is Parkrun. This is worldwide and has perhaps the largest attendance at any one time, with 299,000 people running or walking last weekend at 9am on Saturday and 19,000 at the junior Parkrun on Sunday. arious studies have looked at the benefits
of group exercising and have found far greater positive effects on mental, emotional and physical well-being as well as stress reduction in comparison to exercising in a similar way, but alone. Looking at measures such as the stress hormones and self reported stress levels, it would appear that cortisol levels can increase in group exercise.
Endorphins are high after exercise but higher still after group working, the sharing of goals and gains being part of that as well as the encouragement of classmates saying, ‘come on, you can do it!’
For some, having someone else to plan your exercise can be very helpful. Although sometimes I have to admit to wanting to turn round at the door when I see what my instructor has in store! This is often the same for the whole group so we can push on together and achieve more than we think we are capable of, then enjoy a huge endorphin rush at the end of the class.
We are generally social animals and so it may be that working in groups taps into that. Knowing that you are working with others as a team brings discipline and accountability so can make it easier to get out of bed for that early morning class. Being motivated by the
group makes it less likely that you will drop out along the way and it’s a huge factor in continuation and progression in exercise.
There can be downsides though. Sometimes you might become too competitive with those in the class or feel obliged to exercise when unwell. But choosing a well led class with a good instructor who keeps an eye on you is a good way to manage this. Having someone in charge who can help those at different levels of fitness is very important.
Recently there has been a change to class rehabilitation after joint replacement surgery. This can be wonderful for morale if one is doing well after surgery but has to be handled well. I’ve a couple of people who have come away dispirited feeling they are not quite where they need to be. So, group exercise has to be well led. Getting recommendations and joining friends in a class they trust will help this.
Overall group exercise is a wonderful way to work out with the added benefits of making new friends. Members of both of my groups often meet for coffee afterwards at weekends and one now has a walking group as well as a few members playing poker together. Recently it was reported that those in their mid 30s, the Millennials, are more likely to meet in a gym for exercise than for drinks in the pub; what’s not to like?
To contact Sarah ring 07780 900201 or 01780 480889.
Walking back to happiness – the write way
Poet Hugh Venables explores how walking in nature and writing in tranquillity combine to form a powerful prescription for good health
Indulge me. Try this. Most people don’t read poetry, let alone write it. So, here’s the challenge. ecite the first line of a poem, possibly the only poem you know. For the jokers amongst you, ‘the boy stood on the burning deck’ may come hurtling to mind, although I suspect few can recite beyond the second line of the original version or know what the poem is called. But I’d
wager that most of you probably recalled I wandered lonely as a cloud . And even though you don’t ‘do’ poetry, you know it was William Wordsworth who wrote it, and that he goes on a bit about daffodils. ight
But what has all that got to do with mental health and well being now ell, long before Scottish GPs started prescribing nature walks instead of anti depressants for those
suffering from mild depression or an iety, ordsworth and his friends were doing two things that increasingly therapists and clinicians are acknowledging are good for us – walking in nature, and writing.
here is a lesson in that for all of us, if we choose to embrace it. And Wordsworth has more to teach us about the best techniques to deliver optimum therapeutic benefits.
There is some incredible recent research evidence about the benefits of walking in nature. here are the obvious physical ones. egular e ercise in fresh air helps lower blood pressure and improve heart health. posure to nature has been found to increase the number of natural killers in the body which work to fight off infection and disease.
But, according to Oundle based clinical and forensic psychologist r aomi Murphy, there is so much more.
‘In a society where research shows global rates of an iety and depression grew by in the first year of the pandemic, and where so many young people are feeling the stresses of modern living, it is the mental health benefits of walking that become so significant. hen we walk for its own sake we go for a walk rather than walk to the shops or to work – we release calming hormones like endorphins which enhance our mood. his reduces an iety and stress. Research shows we also become more creative in our thinking when we are at one with nature, and the rhythm of walking plays its part in that too.’
Few people would argue that a good country walk is not beneficial. ut where does the writing come in?
Let’s go back to that Wordsworth opening line. As he sets off he is lonely. It is when he is greeted by the daffodils, a host of them, waving in the bree e, that he no longer feels alone. He could not be anything but happy, he tells us, ‘in such jocund company.’ And it is later, when he is on his own, no longer lonely but in blissful solitude, that he repeatedly en oys the pleasure of the
‘As a poet, I know that some of my most uplifting writing is born out of time spent in nature.’
experience through memory. And to help relive that memory, he writes it down, as poetry.
Poetry, he tells us, is ‘the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings. ut while it takes its origin from emotion, it arrives when
that emotion is recollected in tran uillity. Writing it down processes it, in a special way. And it is that combination the oy of being out walking in nature coupled with the e perience of recalling and recording that experience in writing – that provides the e tra benefit, a long lasting and deep sense of well being.
As a poet, I know that some of my most uplifting writing is born out of time spent in nature. And the oy of going back to it and reliving it, finding through the words that the intensity of the e perience is re e perienced to the full, is reward indeed for the effort.
As a walking poet on a mission, I am not suggesting you all write poetry, (although really you should give it a try). A simple ournal documenting the mechanics of the walk and the emotions you experienced in doing it, through all of the senses, works ust as well - recollected, reread and reexperienced in tranquillity.
Find some of Hugh Venables’ nature poems at https://hughvenablespoetry.com/ To read more about walking, writing and therapy, visit www.octopuspsychology.com
Row, row, row the boat
In September, the Secondoary Fun lads headed to the home of the fastest and loudest motorsport, Santa Pod Raceway, to challenge over ten thousand visitors to the quickest 100m row.
The five utlanders headed to the ellingborough racetrack for the IA uropean rag acing final weekend. he team got the opportunity to talk to visitors and e plain the sheer scale of their plans to row the Atlantic in . uests were invited to then compete head to head for the uickest m row title. ith nearly a hundred participants, the boys spent the weekend cheering on their newest team members, who competed for a range of pri es. his challenge showed the competitors what the team would face when they completed the same distance four million times over during he orld s oughest ow in .
he row of over , miles from a omera to Antigua will raise over , for the three chosen charities Mind, ementia Adventure and he irch ree Caf . And will secure the boys the title of the world s youngest team of five to complete this arduous challenge aptly named, he orld s oughest ow. he team were able to show off their endurance and meet some more local people at the event and were able to reach , people who were both in attendance and across livestreaming platforms, acebook and ou ube.
Attendees were greeted by the athletes at their stand before being given the
opportunity to take part in the m competition. r they could submit a design for the econdoary un annoch owing oat which is due to be collected very soon. he audiences also got to learn more about the route, the e tremes that the boys will endure, and a little more about the charities they can support by following the boys ourney.
he training, currently taking place on a rowing erg machine in a kitchen in utney, ondon, is being intensified as the team prepares to take on some gruelling training in eterborough. ed by former oyal Marine Commando, h candidate and author areth immins, the five athletes are about to tackle an e treme year long transformation. hey will have to navigate intense physical training, continuous safety courses, competitive campaign e ecution and charity fundraising, it s going to be tough. he boys will be significantly testing their mental resilience and will be documenting all the highs and lows across their social media pages where you can follow them and be a part of the story. @secondoaryfun www.secondoaryfun.com/ or reach out directly to secondoaryfun@gmail.com.
‘The row of over 3,000 miles from La Gomera to Antigua will raise over £60,000 for the three chosen charities: Mind, Dementia Adventure and The Birch Tree Café.’
bird
All
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From being an international for Brazil to playing for Harborough Town; yes this is true. Jeremy Smithson-Beswick tells us more and rounds up local sport
No lead story this month is possible other than Harborough Town FC’s, and with more than one outstanding ustification as we shall see. In our last edition we covered their progress to the A Cup first round proper for the first time in their history and the subse uent tough draw that came out of the hat against onbridge away, a tier above them in the hierarchy and yet to be beaten in any competition on home soil this season. ntil then ees boss Mitch Austin had predicted we are there to ruin their day and ruin it they did, causing a veritable waterfall of tears from the home fans by going 4-0 up before a late consolation goal for the home side. It is a feeling of pure delight, he said afterwards, apparently a little emotional.
ho can blame him
o, back into the hat they went for round two and more joy was to follow as the players and their families gathered in the clubhouse to hear their fate in that famous draw live on the C. he cheers rang out loud and long and multiple seats were duly spontaneously leapt out of as they landed an away tie against a side who were in the remiership as recently as , eading. he game will be played at he oyals magnificent stadium, built at a whopping cost of m, with covered seating for no less than , supporters the ees owden ark, by the way, boasts a whole of those - just saying.)
Between the time I write this and you read it, the match will have been played so I can
‘Yes, Sandro – christened ‘The Beast’ by Spurs fans - really does now play for Harborough Town.’
offer you no insight into how they performed. I can, however, guarantee that the presence of one new recruit will have made a difference. orgive me if you ve heard already it s a fre uent frustration of a monthly columnist to be first to a big story and then see it run elsewhere as you limp into print weeks later but even if you do know you ll have to admit it s not that shoddy an addition to the side really. Just suppose you were a fictional ees
irector reading C s from hopeful players and came across one that included International Caps , ra il followed by revious teammates onaldinho, eymar, ilva and Clubs played for Internacional, ottenham otspur . I think you d be given pause to think, and then probably decide to interview said applicant. As it s the ees the applicant might have added perienced in playing in a yellow shirt but that would have been a tad superfluous for one andro aniere uimar es Cordeiro. es, andro christened he east by Spurs fans - really does now play for arborough own. At this stage I can almost read the first three thoughts that come to your mind. April should be disposed of uickly enough, but you might ponder a little longer the tales you ve heard of ournalists drinking too much true as they are . owever, I ll move on to the third. ow on earth did this possibly happen
There’s no one better to tell the tale than a somewhat da ed and starstruck Austin who bumped into his new signing in the hospitality area at a purs game. It was completely random. e had a brief conversation about what he was doing now and I asked him if he d like to play for us and he said yes. I thought no, no, no he’s just being nice but then he didn t go away and I thought ooh he s still here. o I asked what do I need to do now, speak to your agent e ust said, take my number . And from there, he has arrived here . As for andro, he e plained I missed football. I ll take this opportunity and en oy it .to feel like a player again, to be in that changing room again . e is still aged only .
‘Matt Hampson turned 40 on November 29 and it will be twenty years since his life changing injury come next March.’
There are good reasons to feel cynical about the modern version of our beautiful game. Money buying success, entitled spoilt players and endless dramatic simulation of fouls to name but three. But the FA Cup sometimes offers us an antidote. If your faith needs reaffirmation, search for the video showing Sandro (who has refused to take either a salary or e penses fulfilling the Harborough dressing room tradition by meeting his new team-mates by singing. He chose a love song Ai Se Eu Pego, the last line of which translates as ‘Oh, if I catch you, oh my God if I catch you’. Well, they caught you, and the feeling’s mutual meu amigo.
On another day our headline might have gone to Stamford rugby club, who continue to blaze a trail in the league. Six consecutive victories have earned them a five point cushion at the top, the best of those wins coming against fellow contenders Vipers. Tries from Harley Riches, Ed Cox, Jack Jones, Ali Shaw and James Wilson saw them home to a handsome 38-18 win. The women are doing well too with recent defeats of Coalville and away to Cambridge - the latter by an emphatic 69-10. They may have rather relaxed in the second period, having reached half time 52-0 up. Just the right sort of late birthday present for manager Darren Dolby. Speaking of birthdays, Matt Hampson turned 40 on November 29 and it will be
twenty years since his life changing injury come next March. In what his Foundation are calling a ‘massive year’ it will also see a campaign to raise funds for an extension to the Get Busy Living centre. Matt said: ‘Extending the Centre is our biggest project since it opened and will re uire significant financial investment, but I know we ll get there. We’re very proud of the Foundation and our beneficiaries, but there is always more we can do and more people to help. Our plans for 2025 will allow us to reach more young people and show them they can live e citing and fulfilling lives after serious injury’. Search ‘Matt’s big 40’ at JustGiving for details.
This
On your bike!
month, Gary Waterfall offers his thoughts on winter riding on a road bike as bad weather is just around the corner
From my now distant military days we were always told that there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad kit. So, I thought I’d offer some thoughts about cycling through the winter and what it can mean for us.
The Environment
To enjoy winter riding I use the BBC weather app. Of course, it cannot be right all the time, but it gives me some idea. I will head out if the temperature is above 3 degrees, the wind is forecast to stay at 20mph or below, there is no mist or fog and there’s a 50% or lower chance of rain – soft, all the hardy riders will say, but it works for me. I don’t ride in the snow or fog though!
You
Lots of layers is key here, with perhaps a top layer that is lightweight enough to remove and store in a back pocket. Despite the cold weather, you will still get warm. But your extremities will feel the effect of cold weather regardless of how warm you manage to get. Over boots, good gloves, a snood to cover ears, and a hat under your helmet are all wise investments. Bright clothing will help you be seen by motorists and many jackets now come with reflective strips. Consider making one of your top layers a windproof layer, gilet or lightweight coat. Lastly, I always ride with a light rain jacket stuffed into a large water bottle in one of the bike’s drink cages. Getting soaked unexpectedly is no fun.
The Bike
Lighting is essential throughout the year, but even more so during the winter. See and be seen. My firm recommendation is the Garmin Varia rearview radar and tail light – yes that’s right, a radar! It alerts you to traffic behind you and changes the light from steady to pulse to alert drivers. And all without getting any interference from following co-speed riders. Front lights are
important too, but the rear is vital.
Mudguards or a clip on ‘bum saver’ helps reduce spray on your back and trousers. Also, full fitted mudguards for the winter make it a little more sociable to the rest of the group.
Tyres. I ride with Continental 4 seasons throughout the year. I find they offer a little more grip and are also remarkably puncture resistant. In the winter I let about 10psi out of the tyres to lower the pressure and increase the surface area in touch with the road. This doesn’t seem to compromise performance.
Cleanliness. The bike will get dirty. But, keep it as clean as possible and look after the chain and brake areas in particular.
The road
Be very careful riding in the winter, there’s lots to catch you out. Even following my three degrees limit, parts of the road in shadow may still be icy. Watch out for white
lines, manhole covers, drains, and leaves; all will be slippery long after the road surface is dry and full of grip. Channel your inner child and make sure you avoid all puddles, even if not at the side of the road. Unless you wish to emulate the funniest moment from Vicar of Dibley, keep clear; many murky muddy puddles will be hiding a nasty pothole – and we know that there are an awful lot of them.
Brakes will not work as well on wet, greasy roads so – as with road driving – allow a greater stopping distance and exercise the brakes more than usual.
Motorists. The recent change in the Highway Code was welcomed by many of us. However, riders need to continue to ride showing respect for other motorists. The conditions will inevitably result in riding further into the road than in summer due to leaves, puddles and potholes. Therefore, please ensure a collapse to single file once you are aware a car is approaching (another great sales point for the radar light). And motorists, please continue to give a wide berth.
And remember, a hot drink and well earnt slice of cake will taste so much better in the winter. Happy and safe riding!
