The
Village Directory
Aldington Area
February 2019 Edition • Issue 146 • Royal Mail
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Welcome Hi everyone, Happy New Year! I do hope you had a wonderful Christmas, it came and went in a flash, didn’t it! I eased myself back into work on New Year’s Day, I thought I’d tackle my email and get one step ahead. I was pleasantly surprised, it was much easier than I’d thought it would be, but two days later I discovered why. There was a hidden email problem that had the effect of delivering all the junk but holding back the genuine business email. It was soon resolved, thanks to my clever husband, but I was then days behind and had to catch up fast. So much for my good intentions! Don’t forget it’s Valentine’s Day this month! Time to focus romantically on that very special someone in your life, or maybe even someone you hope will become a special part of your life! I have my plans in place but there’s a story attached... Just before Christmas I popped into Eastwell Manor to buy a couple of gift vouchers as Christmas gifts. As the transaction was coming to a close I was aware that another member of their staff had arrived at the desk and was waiting. She then went on to announce that I was the lucky winner of a Golden Gift Card worth £1,000 to spend at Eastwell Manor. An attractive box was placed in my hands and my photo taken, I was stunned! I’ve never won anything in my life, I returned to my husband, waiting outside, beaming from ear to ear. I couldn’t quite believe what had just happened, neither could my husband, it was wonderful. So Eastwell Manor will be seeing a lot of me for a while, thank you Eastwell Manor!
Debbie T: 01233 720488 e: info@thevillagedirectory.co.uk e: events@thevillagedirectory.co.uk w: www.thevillagedirectory.co.uk March Issue Deadline 10th February
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Make a Change; Become a Local Councillor! Parish Council Elections, Thursday 2 May 2019 The Parish Council is calling on residents of both Aldington and Bonnington who care about their community to stand in the local elections. To get involved or find out more, contact the Parish Clerk (details below) or visit National Association of Local Councils at www.nalc.gov.uk/elections.
Parish Council News
Village ‘Confines’
Call Chris for a FREE Quote or Advice
The Parish Council held a Consultation event at the village hall on 6 December to gain residents’ views on the proposed map of the Aldington confines drawn by Ashford Borough Council (ABC) planners. These confines will provide informal guidance for ABC 33 Multi-point Locks 33 Hinges in determining planning applications. The Parish Council has discussed the proposed confines, and a 33 Cylinders 33 Lock Changes 33 Window Keys 33 Security Upgrades full written response, including comments received from residents, will be submitted to ABC. 33 Handles 33 Forced Entries Aldington Meadows Play Area
07919 411 968
DO YOU HAVE...
All residents in the vicinity of the Aldington Meadows play area have received a brief survey form requesting their views on how the play area and its surroundings could be enhanced. The results of the survey and next steps will be considered at the 11 Feb. Parish Council meeting. Village Hall Car Park UK Power networks failed to respond to the Parish Council’s deadline for the installation of its power cable under the car park to be undertaken before 1 Dec. As a result, and in order to ensure that the car park can continue to be used safely, the Parish Council has made temporary repairs to the surface, prior to a permanent repair being carried out in better weather. Allotments Available to Rent
ESTIMATES ARE FREE AND NO CALL OUT CHARGE
CALL 07919 411 968
4
or 01303 873 533
The Parish Council has two allotments now available to rent on an annual basis. Please apply to the Parish Clerk for further information. Next meeting: Mon. 11 Feb., 7.30pm, at Aldington Eco Centre, Goldwell Lane. Full minutes of Parish Council meetings are available on the website www.ald-bonnpc.kentparishes.gov.uk Parish Council Contact: Peter Setterfield, Clerk, 01233 721757, clerk@ald-bonnpc.kentparishes.gov.uk
The Home
Great Chart
Aldington
Hythe
Six bedroom house set in the beautiful rural location of Great Chart, surrounded by views of farmland beyond.
Five bedroom house set in the beautiful rural location of Aldington, surrounded by stunning open countryside views.
Stunning modern two bedroom property, just “a stone’s throw” away from the beach. This property benefits from private gated parking to the rear.
Coming Soon - TO LET
Coming Soon - TO LET
Coming Soon - TO LET
Aldington
Brook
Charing
Stunning immaculately presented three bedroom property set in the village of Aldington. This property benefits from off road parking and open countryside views to the rear.
Immaculately presented three bedroom property set in the beautiful rural village of Brook. This property benefits from large rear garden and open views beyond.
Spacious two bedroom bungalow situated in the popular village of Smeeth. This property benefits from garage and driveway, private garden and open views of field to the rear.
Coming Soon - TO LET
£1200pcm LET
£1050pcm TO LET
Smeeth
Spacious two bedroom bungalow situated in the popular village of Smeeth. This property benefits from private garden and open views of field to the rear.
£1050pcm TO LET
Sellindge
Singleton
Two bed detached village bungalow, in generous plot backing onto a stunning view of open fields beyond.
Two bedroom modern first floor apartment in with Juliette balcony to living room. Allocated parking.
£925pcm TO LET
£695pcm TO LET
LEES ROAD • BRABOURNE LEES • Nr ASHFORD • KENT TN25 6QB
SALES: 01303 812515 • LETTINGS:01303 812541 www.stevenjmooreestateagents.co.uk
5
Clubs & Societies
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Aldington Ladies Gentle Exercise Club Wednesday afternoon 2-4.30pm at Aldington Village Hall. Fee £4 per session . Wear comfy clothes and non-slip socks if possible. Contact Anne Warrener 01303 812703. looking forward to seeing you! Aldington & Bonnington Gardening Society We meet on the 2nd Thursday of the month in the Aldington Village Hall at 7.45 pm for 8.00. We have a varied programme of talks, shows and social events. Visitors and new members always welcome. For further details please contact Jean Evans on 01233 720618 or colin. e123@btinternet.com Aldington Corner Quilters is a long established group of friendly ladies meeting on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at Aldington Village Hall, 7.00pm - 9.00pm. We have a mix of beginners and experienced ladies who share their latest projects and ideas. We always welcome new members so if you are interested come along one evening and meet us. For more details contact Julie Coney - quirkyjules@gmail.com or 01303 813944 (eve). Aldington Tennis Club We are a social / family Tennis Club encouraging all ages and abilities to play. Flood lights and coaching enable us to play all year with our members from around the local villages. All the information is listed on our web site www.aldingtontennisclub.co.uk Aldington WI on 3rd Mon every month. All ladies welcome, 7 for 7.30 at The Walnut Tree, Aldington. Ashford Radio Aeromodellers, we have a field at Sellindge for flying seven days a week, and fly indoors in Ashford Market on various Thursday evenings during the Autumn, Winter, & Spring, please visit www.araclub. co.uk for more details, or phone Iain on 07956501510, or myself (Roger) 01233 627694. Arts Society Ashford (part of NADFAS). A great way to expand your knowledge of the arts, with inspiring monthly lectures given by some of the countries top experts, together with days of special interest and arts visits. All lectures are in Aldington Village Hall, usually on the third Tuesday of each month, from September to June. Membership open to all. www.ashforddfas.org.uk The Brabourne and Smeeth Branch of the Royal British Legion meet every first Tuesday in the month at the Brabourne Baptist Church at 7.30 pm. New Members area always welcome, please contact George Taylor 01303 812165 or Ron Cooper 01303 813330 Brabourne & Smeeth Gardeners’ Society We meet on the last Friday of the month at Brabourne & Smeeth Village Hall, 7.15 for 7.30pm. (No meeting in December) New members and visitors will be made very welcome. For further info call Wendy Sanders 01303 813451 brabournewendy@gmail.com. East Kent Morris Men Do you like dancing, beer, socialising, music, having fun? Why not try Morris Dancing? We are recruiting for new members. Weekly Wednesday dance practices at Mersham Village Hall, 8pm to 10pm; afterwards we practise drinking in the pub opposite! No experience required. Why not give it
a try? Details from www.ekmm.org.uk or 01795 536 262 Quilting Group held in the Oak Room, Smeeth TN25 6SA. If you are interested in quilting or patchwork why not come along and learn new skills and share your expertise with like minded people. Beginners and advanced levels are welcome. Bi-monthly meetings, for further information contact Marion on 01233 750319 Sellindge Gardening Association With effect from January 2019 meetings will take place on the 3rd Friday of each month. The change will begin on Friday 18th January 2019 1.45 for 2 pm in The Durling Room at Sellindge Village Hall. Our programme includes speakers, a Summer Show, Social Events, Day Trips and an Annual Summer Holiday. For further details please contact Chris on 01303 813875. Sellindge Table Top Sale the 1st Saturday of each month in the village hall Sellindge. Tables booked in advance are £5. 00 Each and on the day (If available) £8. 00. Telephone for more information 01303 813475. Refreshments are available and home made cakes. Smeeth W.I. We meet on the second Monday of the Month at 7.30 pm in the Brabourne & Smeeth village hall for further information do contact Joy Taylor 01303 813932 or Margaret Garret 01303 813932. Lympne Short Mat Bowling Club meets every Mon & Thurs 7 00 pm to 9 30 pm September to May in Lympne Village Hall. It is a small, friendly, sociable club. Do come along and try your hand at an enjoyable, skilful game. Do come along you will be made most welcome. For further details call Joyce Groom - Match Secretary on 01303 230983/0750 652 5971 trevor_groom@sky.com The Get Together Club meet second Wednesday of the month in the Durling Hall, Sellindge from 2pm to 4pm. new members welcome. Stanford & Postling WI meet in the committee room at the rear of Lympne Village Hall on the 3rd monday of every month. we are a small but friendly group who would love to wlecome new members. For any further information please contact Elaine on 01303 863096 or Iona on 01303 238390. Sellindge Linedancing Club We are your local line dance club. We meet every Tuesday & Thursday. Are you interested in joining us? You don’t need a partner to line dance! 6.00pm until 7.00pm Entry fee is only £2.50. If you need to know more or to reserve your place, please ring Maureen for further details. 07989 210449 Ashford Model Railway Club - We meet on Wednesday evenings at the barn café at Willesborough Windmill. between 7.00pm and 9.00pm, and the club would welcome new members. Club members are currently building a model of Rye in 00 gauge in the SR period. Contact John White on 01233 733416 for more details. Pop in Centre, for the over 60s, open every Weds. 1.45. pm & Table Top Sale 1st Sunday every month. Lower Road, Woodchurch.
The Home
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Home & Interiors Small Space? No Problem!
By Katherine Sorrell the ceiling, adding some vital extra storage space? You just need to remember to plan for somewhere to store a ladder or step stool, too. 5. Get clever with colour. While pale colours appear to recede, and thus increase the sense of space, darker colours absorb light and therefore appear more enclosing. So, for a bright, airy, open look, opt for a unified, pale colour scheme. Paint built-in storage and radiators the same colour as the walls to make them disappear.
Mahlzeit stone grey melamine units combined with walnut repro vertical panels, £5,000, Rational: 0800 160 1845; rational.de/en
Small may be beautiful, but living in a small space is not always easy. Our tips will help you make the most of every room, no matter what its size. 1. Are you making the most of every centimetre of your space? The best way to tell is by drawing a scale plan and checking for areas that could be improved. Ask yourself whether relatively simple changes such as repositioning a radiator, re-hanging a door or simply moving the furniture could make a big difference.
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2. Storage is vital. In fact, it is often the case that losing a little floor area to create built-in storage will actually make the room seem more streamlined and therefore larger. Think bookshelves and cupboards in the living room, wall-to-wall wardrobes in the
bedroom, floor-to-ceiling shelving in the study and a tall coat cupboard in the hall. Add storage into any ‘dead’ space you can, whether it’s in chimney alcoves, around a bed head or above a doorway. Wall racks and hooks on the backs of doors are invaluable. 3. Whatever storage you buy or build, don’t forget to design their interiors to make them incredibly functional. Adding internal drawers, shelves, baskets, hooks and so on will enable every bit of space to be put to good use. 4. Aim high. In a child’s bedroom, for example, a high-sleeper bed can include a desk, sofa or play area beneath. Why stop at the normal height when bookcases, kitchen cupboards and wardrobes can all be built right up to
6. Use mirror and glass to open up a room. Think about light sources – whether sunlight through windows or light fittings – and place mirrors so that they bounce the light around. And choose glass or acrylic when possible for furnishings or accessories so as to create that barely-there look. 7. While it is not always necessary to opt for smallscale pieces, select furniture carefully, avoiding deep, squishy upholstery, fussy details and bulky outlines. Simple, lightweight styles have the least impact in a small space, and anything raised on slender legs will make the room seem larger (because there is more visible floor area). When appropriate, look out for compact, folding, wheeled, extending, dualpurpose or wall-mounted furniture, each of which can
The Home provide great solutions for different space problems. The only condition is that it must be comfortable, fulfil its function and suit your overall style.
CLEAR YOUR CLUTTER AND CREATE SOME SPACE
8. Decide on one design style and make sure it is cohesive throughout. Employing complementary (pale) colours, interesting natural textures and subtle patterns will generate a sense of harmony and understated visual appeal.
Stora loft bed frame, £239, Ikea: 020 3645 0000; ikea.com/gb
9. If you are working on a renovation, then larger-scale alterations may be achievable, even if you cannot enlarge your square footage. Consider replacing bulky radiators with underfloor heating, going open plan, enlarging windows, replacing doors or
walls with glass to allow light to flow from room to room, or even – if height allows – adding a mezzanine floor level.
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In a small home there is simply no room for excess clutter. It can be really hard to get rid of stuff, but if you don’t use it regularly, you’ll have to be ruthless. Sort it into boxes or bags marked for rubbish, recycling, giving away, mending or storing elsewhere. Aim to do one room per week, or a few minutes a day – then get into the habit of keeping on top of it so it doesn’t build up again.
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Expert Plumbing and Drainage Services to Winter-Proof your Home Winter weather can cause all sorts of problems in the home, with plummeting temperatures putting extra stress on water and drainage systems.
Our services include: •
Plumbing (from water in to water out)
•
Drainage
You can’t control the weather, but you can make sure your home is prepared for the coldest months of the year. This is especially important if you’re escaping to some winter sun and leaving your home empty for several days. Making sure that vulnerable pipes are insulated and having any small repairs done by a professional plumber to ensure the system is working properly will help to keep your home in working order.
•
Flood recovery
•
Cleaning fascias, soffits, cladding and guttering
•
Patios, decking and driveways – professional pressure cleaning and minor repairs.
Cold weather preparations don’t stop inside your house though. Over the winter, many households tend to use more fats and oils when cooking. Low temperatures make these more likely to harden inside drains, causing clogs and blockages, so having clean drains is a must! And, if you haven’t already, it’s a good time to think about having your gutters cleared and fascias cleaned to prevent blockages and build-up of leaves and debris.
Planning ahead for Spring?
Trust GLC Services to keep your plumbing and drainage problem-free this winter. GLC Services was founded in 2011, and our reputation for high standards, reliability and 24/7 rapid response makes us the trusted partner for many domestic customers as well as commercial companies. We provide a comprehensive range of planned preventative maintenance and emergency repair services, helping our customers to keep their property well-maintained. 12
For a full list of services please visit our website: www.glcservices.co.uk Our expert external cleaning services for your drive, patios or paving will remove winter grime and get them looking like new again. GLC Services has over 25 years’ experience, and our expert technicians are trained to City and Guilds level. We are committed to high standards of health and safety and are Safe Contractor accredited, CIPHE registered, DBS checked and fully insured for public and employer liability. We believe in getting the job done right the first time, every time. This means fewer stressful and expensive call-outs for you, and a happy customer for us. Let us help you keep your home plumbing and drainage trouble free this winter. For a no obligation quote contact us now: Telephone
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The Home
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13
Mowgli by Montgomery Vets
H
ello everyone, Mowgli here. I hope you are all well. Ebony and I were very happy with our Christmas gift of Deli- Dreamies! Several years ago we had to start a petition to get better gifts, and it seems to have worked! We had been trying to put up with what Clive and Jane bought us for quite a while but we eventually gave up and started the petition. The last straw was when they bought us each a ‘feeder ball’ that they could put our cat biscuits in, we were then meant to chase the silly things around the house so that the biscuits came out as we chased them….. Our silly humans were delighted by this idea and spent several weeks putting a lot of our food in one of these balls and Ebony and I eventually dreaded the sight of these balls. We have been brought up properly and we like our food in nice clean china dishes, not sprayed across the floor. We both decided to have a protest in the end and we just looked at the balls and refused to play with them. The humans took a long time to realise it was a protest- humans are so stupid sometimes- but in the end it worked and we have had better gifts ever since. Feeder balls are rubbish!
H
ow many of you other cats out there love computers? I just adore them although Ebony is not so keen. As usual though my enthusiasm is mis-interpreted and is interpreted as mischief. I get Jane to help me type up this column every month and for every edition I sit on the desk and help type. I like just stepping on one key and typing the letter over and over. I also have a better knowledge of the keyboard than Jane and know a lot of clever combinations of keys to press at once. I can do many things- lock the keypad, cause a restart, lock the touch pad, resize the screen- and sometimes the humans are not as clever as me and have to call a computer helpline to reverse the changes I have made. I out-smart my owners all the time! I am also good at emails and have helped Clive and Jane send quite a few, often when they were not finished and I have also
14
managed to put a facebook update all by myself. Anyway, even though all this usually gets me into trouble I am always praised for sitting and purring on the desk- apparently this helps them work. I love the desk- it has lots of cubbyholes for papers and pens and I can usually find something to play with while they work. Although Ebony doesn’t much like computers she does like the game console Clive has. He doesn’t get to play it very much but whenever he does she sits on a stool next to him and pays great attention. I can hear him talking her through the game and asking for advice when he keeps getting things wrong. Who says cats don’t like technology?!
Mowgli
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The Home
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The Garden and wet, and if it is alkaline or chalky, you may find that summer raspberries struggle. If this is the case, do as I do on my heavily alkaline, sticky clay soil and grow autumn fruiters, as they seem to put up with adverse conditions like this really well.
Gardening Remarkable Raspberries Succulent, tangy, sweet, flavoursome and a lot better than any you can buy in the shops! I adore home-grown raspberries and if you are going to grow soft fruit then I would recommend them above everything else for value and reliability. Despite what you may imagine they are not a difficult crop to grow, and when you consider the price of a miniature (and often rather mushy) punnet of them in the shops, they’re really good value for money too. The rather unexciting looking canes, best bought bare root, are available now, so here are my top tips for planting and growing great raspberries. Raspberries like plenty of moisture, but hate being actually soggy around the roots. If your soil is very light and sandy , improve its texture and moisture-retaining ability before you plant the canes – digging in plenty of bulky organic matter such as garden compost, well-rotted manure, composted bark and 16
composted bracken will all help. There are two main types of
Autumn fruiting raspberries will crop until the first frosts raspberry you can grow at home: the summer-fruiting ones that crop heavily in midsummer and the autumn fruiters that start cropping towards the end of summer and often produce plenty of gorgeous fruits right through until the first frosts. If you can spare the space, have a few of each – that way you can enjoy the longest possible period of raspberry-eating! There are several different varieties of both summer and autumnfruiting raspberries, and if you choose a variety like ‘Fallgold’ you can even have yellow fruits. If your soil is really rather heavy
Choose a sunny, sheltered spot and make sure that you weed the area thoroughly before you get started, as the raspberry canes will do much better without weeds competing for moisture and nutrients. If your garden is very hot and sunny in the summer then the raspberries will enjoy a little light shade from a nearby tree; otherwise, they like sunshine. Summer-fruiting raspberries need a support system – sturdy posts at a spacing of about 1.8m (6ft) and galvanized wires at a spacing of about 30cm (12in) will do the trick, as you need to loosely tie the canes in to this support system. Autumnfruiting raspberries do not need this sort of support, but you can tie them in if you wish, or – as the canes are inclined to flop downwards when full-sized – simply supply a few wires to keep them away from the soil. The canes are available now from mail order suppliers and from many garden centres too. They may look like a rather unimpressive bundle of sticks, but in this ‘dormant’ state they respond well to planting right now. The canes need to be spaced 40-45cm (15-17in) apart, and if you want more than one
The Garden row allow about 2m (6ft 6in) between them. Dig in plenty of well-rotted manure for extra soil fertility and then plant each cane at a depth of 5-8cm (2-3in), making sure that you spread the roots out well so they establish better. Once you have firmed the canes in, cut each one back to about 25cm (10in) above ground level and, if the ground is at all dry, water in well to re-settle the soil. Once the weather warms up in the spring you will start to see growth on the canes as the buds come to life, but until then they’ll remain looking worryingly like a row of seemingly dead sticks! Summer-fruiting raspberries fruit on the previous year’s growth, so plant now for only the tiniest crop in 2019 and a far bigger one from 2020 onwards. Autumn fruiters produce their crop on the growth produced that same year, so you should get a decent crop this autumn and an even heavier one from 2020. To keep your raspberries in top condition, mulch each spring with well-rotted manure. As soon as the summer-fruiting varieties have finished cropping, cut the canes that bore the fruit back to ground level and the newly formed canes can then be tied in to the wires ready for next year. With autumn-fruiting raspberries, just cut back the old canes at the end of winter and the new canes will appear in spring. By Pippa Greenwood Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com and join ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ for great vegetable plants and weekly advice from Pippa, stylish cloches, the fantastic SpeedHoe, gardening tools, Grower Frames and signed books! Or book Pippa for a gardening talk at your gardening club.
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Strong Finish to 2018 Shows Ashford Bucks National Retail Trend While the UK retail picture looks bleak, the latest footfall and vacancy rate figures for the town centre show Ashford is bucking the national trend and traders are positive about the New Year ahead. • Footfall for 2018 year to date up 5.8% on the previous year • December 2018 footfall up 27% compared to December 2017 • Impressive festive footfall figures show 80,500 visitors the week before Christmas • Footfall up an impressive 52% Christmas week • 2018 trend shows vacancy rate reducing as national benchmark sees increase • County Square’s annual footfall figures show a 3.1% increase compared to 2017 • Almost 6.2 million people visited the shopping centre last year • Made in Ashford in Park Mall trading figures for 2018 up 30% on December 2017 • The independent retailers’ 2018 trading figures up 17% on 2017 figures Graham Galpin portfolio holder for the town centre, is pleased to see Ashford high street is more than holding its own in challenging times. “All town centres are facing challenging times, and we are not alone, but as part of our changing offer, we are seeing new faces and continued investment in the town, and now we have further good news which shows footfall is on the up and our vacancy rates bucking the national trend. “The positive investment in the town is having a knock on effect, with the Ashford College bringing in students into the town, the Commercial Quarter bringing in office workers plus we have the Elwick Place cinema and new Brewery adding to our leisure and night time offer.
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“Nationally we are seeing the impact of online shopping on our high streets. To make our town centre an appropriate community place for shopping and much more we need to offer something beyond just a shopping experience. “There is a long way to go but we know we are doing something right here in Ashford, as the high street’s minister Jake Berry has highlighted our approach as one to follow and many other local authorities are looking at what we are doing and are looking to replicate it in their towns.” Melissa Dawkins, Curator & Manager of Made in Ashford in Park Mall, has noticed the impact with positive trading figures: “Made in Ashford saw our best Christmas ever, with trading up 30% on December last year. We finished our year up 17% on our previous year which we are very pleased with. The shop has grown from strength to strength, with us peaking at 50 different creative, local businesses trading from our store at one time this year. “The footfall in the town has increased dramatically and there is a real positive feeling after many of this years’ events, such as Splashes of Summer and the Snowdog art trail which has been a direct driver to our successes. “The local community continue to be very positive about independent retail on our High Street and are keen to support us which is another major factor in it being a fantastic year for us. We have started 2019 by doing a refit (by ourselves) to make our shop even better and we are very confident and excited about our future in our town.” County Square has also announced positive figures, with their annual footfall figures for the whole of 2018 seeing an increase of 3.1% compared to 2017.
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www.homewoodpropertycare.com This meant that almost 6.2 million people visited the centre last year. The last week of December’s figures were up by 9.7% year on year and the first week of January 2019 showed an 8.5% increase on January 2018. Frances Burt, Centre Manager said ‘We’re delighted that County Square has been bucking the trend on visitor numbers, with most shopping centres being well down on footfall. “Not only does this apply to us but by working alongside other Ashford retailing groups such as the Town Centre Business forum as well as Ashford Borough Council’s Town Centre Regeneration team, we all work hard to try and improve the shopping experience for our local community and of people visiting Ashford to shop or just meet up with family and friends”. The Government’s investigation into the decline of the high street resulted in the formation of a Town Centres Expert Panel. The panel spent six months examining the many challenges facing the high street to present a plan of action which has now been published. The report calls for a community-focused approach
to tackling the challenges facing high streets and town centres and puts community involvement and local leadership at the centre of a plan to create the town centres of the future. “A lot of the recommendations in the report reflect what is already happening in Ashford. We are delighted to be leading from the front. Place changing is recognised as important as place making, and that there is going to be a fund to pay for significant infrastructure, as well as recognition that there needs to be a town centre champion. It’s a vital part of the report that you need strong leadership to take the plan forward,” Graham said. “Town centres will need to be reinvented for life in the 21st century and if we don’t repurpose and change the offer then we won’t have a high street to worry about. I have always said I want Ashford town centre to be a fun place to visit. “An important part of what we offer is that fun element, otherwise we just end up with a town that is very lacklustre, and we have all seen a number of these up and down the country. Every town needs to keep working hard to improve,” he added. For more information about Ashford town centre visit www.loveashford.com
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What’s On
L i v e Ja z z 2019
T h e Fo l k e s t o n e J a z z C l u b At T h e To we r To B o o k C a l l : 0 1 3 0 3 2 7 7 1 7 5 All gigs start at 8pm ~ All gigs £12 admission Seat Bookings: 01303 277175 Email: twinklewood49@gmail.com Website: www.towertheatrefolkestone.co.uk Feb 7th Alan Barnes Quartet Feb 14th Julian Marc Stringle / Steve Waterman Sextet .. Feb 21st Rob Barron Quintet.. Feb 28th Peggy, Duke & Benny with Pete Long & Georgina Jackson March 7th Craig Milverton Quintet March12th Theo Travis Quartet March 21st Sara Dowling Quartet March 28th Jazz ‘n Jolson April 4th The Clark Tracey Sextet April 11th HEXAGONAL April 18th The Derek Nash Band April 25th Gordon Campbell, Chris Dean Quintet April 30th Roger Beaujolais Quartet May 7th Jim Mullen Trio & Dave Lewis May 16th Mick Foster ( Mulligan ) Sextet T h e Fo l k e s t o n e J a z z C l u b i s a n o n p r o f i t m a k i n g j a z z c l u b. R u n b y & fo r p e o p l e w i t h a l i k e m i n d e d i n t e re s t i n OUR KIND OF MUSIC D e r i c k Wo o d l a n d 0 1 3 0 3 2 6 0 3 3 0
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Fe b r u a r y February 4th Biddenden Neighbourhood Watch is to hold a surgery in The Post Office Biddenden from 10am Monday for approximately 1hr. The purpose is to make contact with residents who may have concerns about crime in the village or surrounding area. If you have any issues which you wish to discuss please come along and speak to Adrian Lidgett, who is also one of our Parish Councillors, you can also sign up to receive email notifications about crime trends in the area and precautions that can be taken. The more members we have the better we will be able to help each other in the community to prevent and discourage crime. Please come along and support this initiative or just to say hello and introduce yourself. NHW can be contacted on 01580291931 February 4th Woodchurch Local History Society meets on the first Monday of the month at the Memorial Hall, Woodchurch at 7:30pm. On Monday 4th February the society meets for its AGM which will be followed by a short talk by Val Smith who will tell us about the Woodchurch Players (our local amateur dramatic society). Membership of the society costs £10 per year and visitors are welcome, paying £2 at the door. For information ring Geoff at 01233 860393. February 6th Shadoxhurst Flower Club will be holding a demonstration at Shadoxhurst Village Hall at 7.30pm by Billy Esler “A spring in our step”. Competition is first days of Spring. Flowers will be raffled at the end of the evening. Contact Mrs. Simm on 01233 732212 February 13th the Arts Society, Egerton meets on the second Wednesday of the month at the Millennium Hall, Egerton at 2pm for 2:30pm. We run a programme of monthly lectures and on February 13th we will hear a talk entitled ‘Anthony Gormley - a Body of Work’ by Rosalind Whyte BA, MA. Anthony Gormley is, of course, Britain’s foremost sculptor and Rosalind Whyte is a guide at the Tate Modern, Tate Britain and Greenwich. Visitors pay £5 at the door and new members are always welcome. For information ring Geoff Turner, 01233 860393. February 16th Green Hearts Day, Victory Hall, Hamstreet 10.30am - 2pm. Concerned about climate change and plastic? How can you help? Come and discover practical information and ideas about reducing and recycling locally. Non-plastic alternatives for sale, lots of ideas. Crafts for children all morning to create banners and costumes to use in a Parade around the Green at 1.15pm - prizes for different ages. Soup lunches available or bring your own. Organised by Orlestone WI Contact 01233 732720.
What’s On
February 17th Woodchurch Scouts will be holding a Quiz Night at The Bonny Cravat, Front Road, Woodchurch, Tn26 3QQ. Teams of 2-6 people, £2.50 per head. Grab some friends and turn up on the night, or just come along and we’ll aim to put you with a team. Monthly raffle (prize donations are always welcome)
TODS PRESENT
February 20th The Weald of Kent Computer Club meets at 7.30pm in the New Village Hall Biddenden. The subject will be ‘Discovering new features in Windows 10 with special focus on the Photos App’. Membership is £10 per year for 10 meetings but visitors are most welcome (£2 per meeting). Enquiries to secretary wkcc@yahoo. co.uk or visit the website or contact Adrian Lidgett (01580) 291931 February 21st New Romney Amateur Dramatics presenting Dick Whittington and His Cat at 7.30pm. Extra dates are as follows: 7.30pm on Friday 22nd February, 3pm on Saturday 23rd February and 7.30pm on Saturday 23rd February. February 27th The Biddenden Horticultural Society meets in the New Village Hall. Chris. O’Donoghue, author and garden designer, is going to start our year with a talk entitled “Garden Design - Painting with Plants”. If you would like our events calendar for 2019 contact Lesley Lidgett on 01580 291931 or visit the website www. biddendenhorticulturalsociety.co.uk. Our usual fees for Village Hall meetings are Members £2, Non Members £3. Annual membership £5. New members always welcome
MUSIC & LYRICS STEPHEN SONDHEIM BOOK JAMES GOLDMAN Directed by Louisa Nelson Chambers
THE SINDEN THEATRE HOMEWOOD SCHOOL
Thurs 21 Fri 22 Sat 23 February 2019 at 7:30 pm Matinée Sat 23 February 2019 at 2:30 pm Tickets £14 (No Booking Fee)
On line from www.tods.me.uk or Sinden Theatre on 01580 763826 The Fairings, East Cross, Tenterden (Cash or Cheques)
Also from
TODS is an Affiliate of the National Operatic and Dramatic Society This Amateur Production is by arrangement with MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL (Europe)
Emma Murton presents for NorthSEE Theatre
Ma r c h March 4th Woodchurch Local History Society meets on the first Monday of the month at the Memorial Hall, Woodchurch at 7:30pm. On Monday 4th March we will hear a talk by Martin Lloyd entitled ‘Passports, Assassins, Traitors and Spies’. Martin is a very experienced and entertaining speaker who often addresses NADFAS and Arts Society meetings. New members pay £10 per year whilst visitors, who are very welcome, pay £2 at the door. For more information ring Geoff at 01233 860393. March 4th Biddenden Neighbourhood Watch advance notice of surgery in The Post Office Biddenden from 10am for approximately 1hr. Please come along and speak to Adrian Lidgett, who is also one of our Parish Councillors. NHW can be contacted on 01580291931
An immersive and hilarious wedding experience
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Friday 8th February 7:45pm
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Booking fees apply.
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What’s On March 6th Shadoxhurst Flower Club will be holding a demonstration at Shadoxhurst Village Hall at 7.30pm by Patricia Ellis “Out of the Box”. Competition will be Box of Delights. Flowers will be raffled at the end of the evening. Contact Mrs. Simm on 01233 732212. March 11th Hamstreet Bowling Club presents Travelling Trends Fashion Show in Aldington Village Hall, 7.00 for 7.30 start. Tickets £5.00 (includes refreshments) from Gwen 01303 872603. An evening of fashion and fun. See, try on and buy this seasons fashion at greatly reduced prices. March 13th the Arts Society, Egerton meets on the second Wednesday of the month at the Millennium Hall, Egerton at 2pm for 2:30pm. We run a programme of monthly lectures and on March 13th we will hear a presentation entitled ‘The Very Model of an English Entertainer - Gilbert and Sullivan and their Savoy Opera by Roger Askew. Whilst the topic is self-explanatory the speaker was a choral scholar at Magdalen College, Oxford and has combined a teaching career with professional singing. Visitors pay £5 at the door and new members are always welcome. For information ring Geoff Turner, 01233 860393. March 21st Rich Rhythms African drumming (djembe) workshops from 2pm till 3pm, at Playden WI hall - TN31 7PL. Booking essential 07960 989246 or richrhythms@hotmail.com March 23rd Ashford Invicta Singers will be presenting a concert at 7.30pm for CARM which supports older people in rural areas including the Romney Marsh. It will be held in St Mildred’s Church, Tenterden. Tickets £10 from 01233 758122 or on the door. April 19th Art Exhibition Ashford Airport Lydd. 19th 12 - 5pm, 20th & 21st 10 - 5pm, 22nd 10 - 4pm. Paintings framed and unframed, wood carvings, ceramics, cards and sundry items on sale created by local Artists. Free entry and car parking. Commission on all sales will be donated to the Air Ambulance. Contact A Warden 01797 367734
MAGIC EVENING WITH ETIENNE PRADIER Another opportunity to see famous magician Etienne Pradier of The Magic Circle who will entertain us to an evening of tricks and surprises!
Tuesday 12 March 7pm AND 9pm at Wye Village Hall 10% off food at The Ticked Trout, on the night, for ticketholders
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CASH BAR TICKETS £12 FROM TICKETYBOO or Tel: 01233 813762
What’s On BRABOURNE BAPTIST CHURCH
Plain Road, Brabourne Lees, Kent TN25 6QN
Calling all photographers to
exhibit in Art in Bridge Photographic Exhibition Bridge Village Hall
30th & 31st March 2019 Anyone living, working or studying in within 5 miles of Bridge, in a rural parish, is invited to submit up to three framed photographs. Children and young persons are especially encouraged to exhibit. Entry Form available from www.artinbridge.org.uk and from our sponsors:The Bourne Gallery, Bekesbourne – preferential rates for exhibitors and Colebrook Sturrock & Co, Estate Agents, High Street, Bridge Further information on the web site and from John Corfield, tel: 01227 830976
Sunday Services: There is a regular service at 10.30am every week. Morning Worship is followed by free refreshments in the side hall. Messy Church: January's Messy Church was on the theme of Lost Things and, with the help of the puppets, the children enjoyed two stories Jesus told about a lost sheep and a lost coin. Our singing was as usual, pretty lively and the children enjoyed the many and varied crafts, including making sheep, a poster and hunting for coins. Everyone enjoyed the Lego table too. The next Messy Church is on Saturday 2nd February from 3 - 5pm and will continue with the stories Jesus told. All are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Entrance free; donations welcome. For further information please contact Kathleen MacPhee on 01303 812536. Art Club Our next meeting is on Tuesday February 12from 10am – 12noon. Further details from Mike on 01303 812484. New members will be made very welcome! Meeting Point; Please phone Cathy 814132 for details of next meeting New Prayer Time; We have started to meet for prayer at the church from 9-9:30am from Monday to Friday (inclusive) All are welcome to join us. Please contact; Julie 01303 813502, Corinne 01303 812603 or Keeley 01227 709839 for any further information Café Wednesday The Café is open every Wednesday from 10- 11.30am. Drop in for coffee, biscuits, company and a good natter. Choice of books available. Everybody welcome First Wednesday of the month: A free clinic is held on behalf of Hi-Kent, to service and provide batteries for hearing aids. MP’S Surgery: Our MP Damian Collins, will be holding his monthly surgery from 3.45pm to 4.30pm on Friday February 15. If you have any questions, complaints or comments, please book an appointment by e-mailing your name, post code, subject and message to: shepwayconservatives@ btconnect.com or telephone 01303 253 524 Food Bank; We collect non-perishable food for the Ashford Food Bank. If anybody would like to contribute, please leave goods at the church during any Sunday service or event/meeting; ie The Ark, Meeting Point, Cafe Wednesday, Art Club, MPs Surgery or contact a member of the church. Church Bookings If you wish to book the church hall for a meeting or function, please phone Geoff Thorpe 01303 813152
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Food & Domestic Services
Lemon Pot Puddings
These delicious individual hot lemon puddings are the perfect sweet treat after a hearty winter supper or Sunday lunch.
Ready in: 40 minutes | Makes 6
Ingredients 100g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing 175g golden caster sugar Zest and juice of 2 large lemons (you will need about 120ml lemon juice) 4 medium eggs, separated 75g plain flour 130ml milk 2 tbsp flaked almonds
T IP
Icing sugar, for dusting
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Preheat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas mark 4. Grease six 175ml ovenproof ramekin dishes with butter. Beat the butter and sugar together in a large bowl until pale and creamy. Beat in the lemon zest then beat in the egg yolks, one at a time. Sift over half the plain flour and fold in, then fold in the lemon juice and milk. Sift over the rest of the flour and fold in. Divide the mixture evenly between the prepared ramekin dishes and sprinkle over the flaked almonds. Place the dishes in a large roasting tin and pour in enough hot water to come halfway up the sides of the dishes. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden on top. Serve immediately, dusted with icing sugar.
These puddings will form a lovely layer of thick lemon custard under the sponge topping so take care not to overcook them. They will still have a slight wobble in the centre.
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Rye Farmers Market Every Wednesday at Strand Quay 10am - 1 pm (From Midday Oct - April) Rye Market Every Thursday at the Cattle Market Car Park. Early till around 3pm (depending on the weather)
Rye Country Market Formerly WI Market Rye Community Centre, Conduit Hill. Every Friday 10am -11.30am Tenterden Country Market Every Friday 9.30am -11.00am St Mildred’s Church Hall, Church road. Tenterden High Street Market Friday’s – 0830 – 1400 Wittersham Market Every Tuesday Village Hall 9am. - 11am Tel: 01580 753062 Wye First and third Saturday of every month on the Village Green in Wye. Tel: 07804 652156 www.wyefarmersmarket.co.uk
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Food & Domestic Services
Tandoori Lamb with Naan A pot of yogurt and a few spices can transform lamb steaks into a delicious spicy supper. If you prefer, serve with pilau rice or on a bed of spiced couscous.
Ready in: 30 mins, plus marinating time | Serves 4 INGREDIENTS 4 large lamb steaks 6 tbsp natural yoghurt, plus extra to serve 2cm piece root ginger, peeled and grated 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed 2 tsp each garam masala and ground cumin 1 tsp each ground coriander and chilli powder 1 tbsp lemon juice 4 garlic and coriander naan breads
T IP
Rocket leaves and sliced tomatoes, onion and cucumber, to serve
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Place the lamb steaks in a shallow dish. Mix together the yoghurt, ginger, garlic, spices and lemon juice and add 1/2 tsp salt and some freshly ground black pepper. Spread over the steaks. Cover and leave to marinate in the fridge for 2-3 hours (or overnight). Grill the marinated steaks under a preheated medium grill for 6-8 minutes on each side until just cooked and lightly charred in places. Cover the cooked steaks and leave to rest for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, sprinkle the naan breads lightly with water and heat under the grill for 2-3 minutes. Top with rocket leaves and sliced tomatoes, onion and cucumber. Slice the steaks and pile on top of the salad. Serve with the extra yogurt on the side and mango chutney, if liked.
To make tandoori fish, replace the lamb steaks with 4 salmon fillets. Spread the marinade over the fillets and leave to marinate for 1-2 hours. Bake the fish in a preheated oven at 200C/fan 180C/gas mark 6 for 20-25 minutes until just cooked.
Food & Domestic Services
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Kid’s Corner
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PARENTING Ditching the 9-5: Flexible Working by Kate Duggan information for people who want to change their working hours. See www.citizensadvice.org.uk.
Achieving a decent work-life balance can seem like the Holy Grail of parenting. But it doesn’t have to be… DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT This may seem obvious (MORE TIME!), but it’s a good idea to set out exactly what it is you want to achieve, and what you’re prepared to do to get there. Do you want to pick the kids up from school more often, or have more time with your toddler during the day? Do you need more time off during the school holidays? Or do you just want to attend sports days, school plays and other activities without using your holiday allowance? How much of your salary can you afford to sacrifice? MAKING YOUR CURRENT JOB WORK FOR YOU If you’re happy in your current job, could you reduce your hours? When you factor in childcare costs you might not be as out of pocket as you might expect. Or perhaps you could
work at home more often (saving time on the dreaded commute) or change the hours you work? Starting work just 15 minutes earlier each day and cutting your lunch by 15 minutes might mean you could leave the office 2.5 hours earlier every Friday. If you want an extra day off, perhaps you could work longer hours but fewer days? YOUR RIGHTS Most employees have the statutory right to make an application for flexible working and employers need a good reason to turn down such a request. ‘Flexible working’ covers everything from changing your hours to sharing your job with a colleague. Parents are also entitled to take up to 18 weeks off work (up to four weeks a year) unpaid to look after their child, as long as they’ve been in the same job for at least one year. The Citizens Advice has a lot of
LOOKING FOR A NEW JOB More and more employers are starting to wake up to the fact that happier employees usually leads to a better standard of work. You’ll find that a lot of job adverts now mention flexible working. According to the Office of National Statistics, more than 7 million people in the UK have some kind of flexible working arrangement with their employer. If you’re struggling to find a suitable job and know someone in a similar position, could you apply for a job share together? While it’s still not common place, job sharing is becoming more accepted by employers. The Civil Service, for example, states that it ‘positively promotes all forms of flexible working, including job sharing’ and offers guidance to managers on how to make it work. There are several job search agencies and websites specialising in roles that allow flexible working, including job shares. Try www.capabilityjane. com, www.workingmums.co.uk and www.flexibleworks.co.uk. COMING UP NEXT MONTH: Next month we’ll be looking at going self-employed: the highs and lows, and how to make it work for you and your family.
Health & Lifestyle Are Ageing Lines a Good Thing? By Kate McClelland
Walk into certain Superdrug stores nowadays and you might come away with more than toothpaste, deodorant and bubble bath. Once you’ve filled your basket with all the usual health and beauty products, you can slip into a private room for a BOTOX® injection. BOTOX® has been around as a cosmetic treatment since the early Nineties, when it was hailed as a miracle anti-aging procedure. The procedure eases out ‘dynamic’ facial wrinkles (created by muscle contractions) by paralysing the muscle underlying the wrinkle, resulting in a smooth and more youthful appearance that can last up to four months. BY PUBLIC DEMAND? Superdrug’s new ‘Skin Renew’ initiative, which brings anti-aging treatments to the high street, is part of a wider beauty marketing trend designed to persuade us that non-surgical cosmetic treatments such as BOTOX®, dermal fillers and chemical peels should be considered as part of a normal beauty routine. Caris Newson, Head of
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Superdrug’s Health and Wellbeing Services, insists that the firm is only “listening to what people are telling us they would like” following feedback from 10,000 customers, but the initiative has been criticised by the British Association of Aesthetic and Plastic Surgeons, who say that customers could suffer from skin infections or even permanent muscle paralysis if treatments are not administered correctly. PREVENTATIVE MEASURES Controversially, Superdrug’s ‘Skin Renew’ service is available to customers over twenty-five, and this has led to accusations that the company is encouraging younger people to seek unnecessary treatment. Cost may be another factor that encourages consumers, old and young alike, to experiment with anti-aging treatments. Customers who would previously have expected to pay around £300 for BOTOX® injections at a beauty clinic can now book a Superdrug appointment from just £99. While this may make non-surgical cosmetic treatments available to all (rather than just the rich and famous), it seems ironic that this high street roll-out has come at a time when many celebrities are resisting the pressure to stay young-looking for as long as possible.
CELEBRITIES SPEAK OUT Last year Marie Claire magazine asked a number of high-profile stars for their opinion about cosmetic treatments, and the results were surprising. Out of those in favour of BOTOX®, forty-five-year-old Broadchurch actor Olivia Colman admitted “I LOVED it” after having a course of injections, while plain-speaking film star Scarlett Johansson bluntly declared: “I don’t want to be an old hag!” But a greater number of celebrities seemed to be against anti-aging treatments. Julia Roberts (star of movies such as ‘Pretty Woman’ and ‘Notting Hill’) has been a vocal opponent of cosmetic surgery in recent years. She says: “Your face tells a story… and it shouldn’t be a story about your drive to the doctor’s office.” Whether you love the fact that BOTOX®, chemical peels and fillers are becoming more affordable and easier to obtain, or you support Julia Roberts’ views on aging naturally, as our population steadily ages (we’ll see 8.6 million extra people aged 65 years and over in 50 years’ time) it’s likely that we’ll see more and more of our high street outlets promising to iron out our wrinkles and restore the glow of youth for less than £100. By Kate McLelland
Health & Lifestyle
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S E
G X
A F A
R I
TARGET Excellent 35 or more words Good: 30 words Fair: 26 words 34
R PD G O E You have two minutes to find all the words of three or more letters that can be made from the letters above. Plurals are allowed, proper nouns are not. The 6 letter word will always be just a normal everyday word. 3 letters: 15 4 letters: 11 5 letters: 4 6 letters: 1
ROPE 5 Letters GORED GROPE PORED ROPED 6 Letters GROPED
Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have ten minutes to find as many words as possible, none of which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns. Each word must be of three letters or more, all must contain the central letter and letters can only be used once in every word. There is at least one word that uses all of the letters in the wheel.
DOPE DROP ERGO GORE OGRE PORE PROD REDO ROED
WORD WHEEL
TWO MINUTE TRIAL
PER POD PRO RED REP ROD ROE 4 Letters DOER
D O C K
Change one letter at a time (but not the position of any letter) to make a new word - and move from the word at the top of the ladder to the word at the bottom, using the exact number of rungs provided.
3 Letters DOE DOG EGO ERG GOD ODE ORE PEG
WORD LADDER
B O A T
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15. Alternatively (7) 19. Grassy gardens (5) 16. Word describing an action (6) 21. Rotund (5) 17. Crawls, inches (6)
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Books to get you talking The Silence of the Girls – Pat Barker The Silence of the Girls is a vivid retelling of Homer’s Iliad. However, this time the focus is on the minor characters, namely the women taken as ‘spoils of war’. Queen Briseis is taken as a sex slave by Achilles when he destroys her city. Through Briseis we hear of the other female slaves in the encampment – women who are forced to serve the men that killed their husbands, fathers, brothers and sons. Roar – Cecelia Ahern Ahern’s latest book is a collection of satirical short stories. Each focuses on an unnamed female protagonist and is amost are a literal interpretation of a stereotype or saying. The trophy wife’s partner builds her a shelf to sit on, where she can be admired by his friends and family. The woman who feels invisible to society starts to slowly disappear. There are plenty of themes to digest and discuss and a lot of enjoyment to be had in each tale.
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Sunny Side Up – Susan Calman Comedian and Strictly star Susan Calman is on a mission to encourage ‘joy, kindness and community’ with her latest book. There are anecdotes from her own life and examples of random acts of kindness that have been shared by her fans. Sunny Side Up is full of warmth, positivity and (of- course) plenty of humour.
Books that are perfect for discussing at your book club, dissecting over dinner and chatting about on social media. This is Going to Hurt – Adam Kay From 100 hour weeks to moral conundrums and emergency operations, the life of a junior doctor is far from easy. Adam Kay reveals all through six years of diary entries. Surprisingly, This is Going to Hurt is an incredibly funny book, particularly the numerous footnotes explaining hospital lingo. However, Kay also gives us an insight into
the stark reality of life on the frontline of the NHS. Once Upon a River – Diane Setterfield A man stumbles into The Swan inn carrying the body of what appears to be a dead girl in his arms. A few hours later, the little girl stirs. But who is she? Part adult fairy tale, part folk tale, Once Upon a River celebrates the art of storytelling and weaves numerous stories into one rich tapestry. Thoroughly enjoyable. Codename Villanelle – Luke Jennings If you loved the BBC’s Killing Eve, don’t miss the book it was based on. Villanelle is a coldblooded assassin, who you just can’t help but root for. Eve is the woman tasked with stopping her. The storyline is quite different from that of the TV series and has less dark humour, but there’s still plenty of suspense to keep you reading.
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Important Information Emergency 999 Police Neighbhd Team Ashford & Tenterden
Crimestoppers
101 0800 555 111
Out of Hours Doctor William Harvey Hospital
0845 4349655 01233 633331
Samaritans
116 123
www.samaritans.org
Electricity: Call 105 to report or get information about power cuts in your local area. 105 is a free service visit www.powercut105.com Gas:
Natural LPG
Doctors Surgery Hamstreet Surgery Sellindge Surgery Veterinary Surgeons Montgomery Vets
0800 111 999 Details on tank
01233 730190 01303 812180 01303 813756
Parish Councils: Aldington & Bonnington 01233 721757 E: clerk@ald-bonnpc.kentparishes.gov.uk www.ald-bonnpc.kentparishes.gov.uk Brabourne & Smeeth 01233 623902 Mersham & Sevington 01233 750415 Sellindge 01303 813 271 Ashford Borough Council 01233 331111 W: www.ashford.gov.uk Ashford Gateway 0845 8 247 247 Citizens Advice Bureau 01233 626185 Brabourne and Smeeth Community Warden: Graham Kingston 07813 712805 Ashford Volunteer Centre 01233 665 535 Age UK Ashford 01233 668 765 www.ageuk.org/ashford ageukashford.org@gmail.com Ashford Counselling Service 01233 610083 info@ashfordcounselling.org.uk www.kentcounselling.co.uk CARM E: office@carmromneymarsh.org.uk W: www.carmromneymarsh.org.uk
Macmillan Cancer Support W: www.forget-me-nots.co.uk Parkinson’s UK, Ashford Branch Contact Mike Wharrad 01233 623520 St. John Ambulance Brigade 01233 611414 East Kent Strokes 01233 840448 www.eastkentstrokes.org SE Kent Multiple Sclerosis Soc. 07767326138 email: mssoutheast@gmail.com Royal British Legion CPRE Kent
01233 620 167 01233 714540
Royal Mail Residential Customer Services 08457 740740 Travel www.arrivabus.co.uk www.stagecoachbus.com www.nationalrail.co.uk Village Halls Aldington 01233 720213 Brabourne & Smeeth 01303 813746 David Smith e: keen.smith@btinternet.com Bilsington 01233 720818 Hamstreet 01233 732568 Mersham 01233 503192 Smeeth 01303 814977 Stowting 01303 862819 Sellindge 01303 813250 Sellindge Spts & Soc. Club 01303 812437
High Pressure Jetting Service & Repair to Sewage treatment plants Soakaway Testing Cesspool Emptying Service
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