Wye Apr 2014

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April 2014

NICOLA LORD DESIGN interiors | furniture | design

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Welcome

May Issue Deadline 1st April

Hi everyone, The sun is shining, the birds are singing and at last, as I write, it seems that spring has finally arrived. And what a tonic for the soul it can be, after the long wet winter we’ve had!

It’s strange isn’t it, the year often only starts to kick off as we enter the month of April, but it is also at this time of year when we are inundated with bank holidays. First Easter, then May Day and then Spring Bank Holiday. I’m certainly not complaining, I love the silence of a long weekend, when the phone stops ringing and I can do my own thing, but I do wish they were a little more spread out.

Easter provides an opportunity for many of us, eager to get out in the garden, to tidy up and make preparations for the summer months. It will be a challenge this year, considering how

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damp, and in some cases water logged, the ground is currently. But if your garden remains a no-go area, there are plenty of other things to do during the Easter break, why not eat, drink and be merry at this year’s Beer Festival at The George in Bethersden.

I’ve sure theirs has to be the first promise of a BBQ this season!

Next month the magazine will arrive on your door mat one week later than usual. I have just renewed my Royal Mail contract for the year and unfortunately the usual delivery slot is not available for the May Issue, instead it will be with you during the first week of May. Until then have a great Easter break.

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The

the garden

Garden Shed

Bringing Up Babies

by Pippa Greenwood

and I suggest you choose an odd number, perhaps three, or five for a much larger garden, as this invariably makes a better display than if even numbers of plants are used. It may be tempting to plant too close and although this will provide a better looking display initially, over-crowded plants are less likely to become well established, will have to be moved in the near future and in the meantime will be more prone to numerous diseases.

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A visit to any nursery or garden centre at this time of year will reveal a brilliant array of herbaceous perennials. Right now they might be small and not look particularly enticing but just take a look at the illustration on the label and you will see that these small plants have great potential. They’re also great value, usually somewhere around the £1.50-£2.50 mark.

It’s essential that newly planted perennials are given that little bit of extra tender loving care.

Small plants such as these are more likely to be prone to any weather extremes and even plants in larger pots should be well established. When you ease the plants out of their pots, if you see a really plentiful supply of roots that usually means you have purchased a good plant.

Check the plant labels to see the ultimate spread of the plant. For the best effect you generally want to grow several individuals of the same species

It’s also essential to plant at the correct depth. With herbaceous perennials you need to make sure that you place the plant in the ground to the same depth that it was in the container and although you may decide to mulch the soil afterwards, do remember not to mulch right up to or over the crown of the plant, as this is likely to lead to poor growth and maybe even dieback.

Weed control is essential and you can either hoe regularly between the plants to prevent the weeds causing competition or you can use a deep mulch or perhaps even place squares of landscape fabric or black polythene around each plant. Do remember however, if you use polythene, rain will not be able to penetrate through it and so the plants are more likely to suffer from drought. With landscape fabric this is not a problem. I’m a great fan of copper-impregnated and coated fabrics as these help to keep weeds and slugs and snails at bay. Once you have dug over the whole bed, then it’s well worthwhile adding a general fertilizer. If you notice that the soil is on the heavy

side, I suggest incorporating plenty of bulky organic matter and grit. Similarly, if the soil is excessively dry, then you could try to improve its texture by incorporating large quantities of any good bulky organic matter.

Once the plants are in position, firm the soil thoroughly and do take care not to compact it if it’s on the heavy side. Regular watering is essential and if the ground is not already quite moist, you should water the plants in well. Check them regularly for signs of any pests or diseases as it will be much easier to stop something in its tracks if you start to take action early on in the season.

Pippa loves growing gorgeous veg and wants to persuade you to as well; visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com for the ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ veg growing system where she will send you garden ready plants and weekly advice and tips emails, making veg growing easy, productive and fun.

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Mowgli Hello

Everyone, Mowgli here! Ebony

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and I have some sad news to share this monthDennis the goat had to be put to sleep. Even though us cats are still firmly of the opinion that all goats are stupid we had grown quite attached to him over the years and we were all very sad. Still, he was very very old and had a life packed with goat adventure. Clive and Jane first got Dennis when they moved into a house with a garden full of very tall stinging nettles.

They thought a nice friendly goat would eat the nettles and be friendly to have around. Dennis the goat was duly collected from Brighton- he had been part of a touring farm that went to inner city schools so children could meet animals. We all thought this sounded marvellous- any goat taken into schools must surely be sweet and friendly. Dennis travelled silently to our house in the back of a van and Ebony and I watched from the window as he came meekly out and went into the gold-plated goat house that Clive had bought for him. He was tucked in and the goat house shut for the night. We then all went to bed too and I think we all went to sleep pleased we had such a lovely goat. Ebony and I woke up with a start at about 3am to the most amazing banging noises.

Clive and Jane had also woken up and we all rushed downstairs to the window- Dennis had broken down the door of the goat house, made several holes in the wall and was now busy head-butting the door of the cottage! Clive went out to calm him down and got chased around the garden with Dennis rearing up to butt him at frequent intervals. None of us got much sleep that night and Dennis spent most of it tied to a tree with a bit of old rope. As soon as the shops were open an emergency electric fence was purchased and the poor old shed was reinforced. It was never the same again.

Dennis then settled happily in. We got used to the incessant banging noises caused by him butting anything and everything, and he got used to the fact that no matter how bad his behaviour he always got at least two square meals a day and (as long as Clive kept fixing the shed) a dry place to sleep. Over the years he managed to draw blood several times from Jane, gore a hole in Chris the vet’s knee, fall in love with a squirrel, knock over a keeper who went into his paddock, and chase countless people round

and round. The only person he never attacked was Clive. By the time Merlin came along to join him Dennis was already ageing and less ferocious than he once was. Merlin was shy and terrified and didn’t seem to realise he was a goat. It was Dennis who showed him how to eat hay, how to rear up and play and how to destroy goat shed. They became inseparable. For the last couple of years since we all moved house Dennis had become very arthritic, which put an end to the majority of his bad behaviour. Ebony and I have not had to do quite so much goat watch and life has been much calmer.

So a sad month in our house. Saddest of course for Merlin who stopped eating, stopped coming into the shed and wouldn’t leave a little platform in the middle of the paddock. He couldn’t be left like that of course and so after several days of intensive goat watch it was decided that we couldn’t wait any longer- Merlin needed a new friend. Jane rang a local sanctuary and they said yes, they did have a goat looking for a home. The only thing was, noone seemed to want the goat and he had been there a long time. He was very bad tempered, attacked people and liked butting people. Clive rolled his eyes of course but there was nothing he

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The Better Life His and Herbs

by Derek Thompson absolutely love it when it’s in flower. Our cat is a fan as well, if that’s any recommendation.

I favour other perennials chives, tarragon, thyme and sage (although I’ve never found a regular use for it), because they seem to grow without the need for encouragement. Hand on heart, I haven’t much of a clue when it comes to herbs and cooking. To my jaded sinuses, everything pretty much goes with anything - which might explain why I prefer the garden to the kitchen.

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From time to time, a chat about plants or local history will develop into a neighbourly cuppa. Over the years, I’ve grown accustomed to that bewildered look when I reply, “Peppermint tea for me, please.”

Especially when I follow it up by producing - magician style - a little bag of dried leaves. I used to buy it in bulk, but it’s so easy to grow that there’s really no need for most of the year.

I’ve become a bit of a devotee, preferring a 50 / 50 blend of peppermint and Moroccan mint, and have been known to wax lyrical about the history, benefits and uses of mentha piperita and its horticultural cousins. It’s the point at which my wife will often look at her watch and drink up.

Another easy herb to grow - because it too has all the enthusiasm of a weed on overtime - is marjoram. An old wooden vegetable box, lined and filled with soil, makes a great portable container. And, like so many herbs, the bees

Curly leafed parsley seems to do well in pots, so long as it’s not over-watered; likewise for lavender (very nice in shortbread, but make sure it doesn’t become too woody by trimming it back at the end of the year) and rosemary, which is great for roast potatoes (see, I can be taught).

quest to elevate peppermint beyond the humble humbug, I’ve learned it is caffeine free, has a calming effect on the stomach and digestion, and can be used for soothing headaches. I also read - in the library, no less - that steam from peppermint tea is good for the sinuses, which is not to be sniffed at. (Not until you’ve inhaled the minty steam, anyway.) There’s more: peppermint has antiseptic properties and is a remedy for travel sickness (when you don’t have ginger to hand). It’s also great for cooling skin irritations or inflammations. Do try it on a small area of skin first to check there’s no adverse reaction.

I draw the line at chamomile tea, though. Is it just me or does it taste like straw?

We did try growing coriander a few times, but it never really worked out, so we transferred our allegiance to Vietnamese coriander. The plant needs a lot of water and I find it has an absolutely gorgeous aroma with a hint of lime.

The other herb that, frankly, has let us down many times is basil. It doesn’t seem to matter what we do, whether it’s more watering or less watering, indoors or outdoors, feeding the soil or leaving it undisturbed.

The basil always seems to check out early. However, the fact that it’s another ‘plant of interest’ to the cat may be a factor.

Most herbs have also been traditional remedies. In my

Derek Thompson is a writer and humourist based in the West Country. His writing blog can be found at www.alongthewritelines. blogspot.com and he is also a regular at www.strictlywriting. blogspot.com

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Cake and Bake Banana, Walnut & Chocolate Cake

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Bananas ripen so quickly that it’s easy to find yourself with several left over needing to be used up. Many people don’t like the taste or smell of ripe bananas though so they often go to waste. However, when baked in a cake they lose their slightly sour smell and give a subtle taste, which is particularly delicious when combined with chocolate and walnuts.

Ingredients:

1.

• 100g butter at room temperature

Preheat the oven to 180C, 160C for fan oven or gas mark 4.

2.

Grease a 900g loaf tin and line with greaseproof paper

3.

Cream the sugar and butter together until fluffy

4.

Add the eggs and the vanilla essence and then the bananas and mix in well

5.

Carefully mix in the flour and bicarb, baking powder and cinnamon so there are no lumps, then fold through the dark chocolate and most of the walnuts.

6.

Pour the batter into the loaf tin and bake for 45-55 minutes until a skewer through the centre comes out clean.

• ½ tsp cinnamon

7.

• 100g Walnuts (Chopped or whole)

Leave on a rack until cool before serving to allow time for the chocolate to set.

8.

Sprinkle with icing sugar and a few more chopped walnuts.

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In Season: Fruit Apples Pears Rhubarb

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Onions Potatoes Squash Swede Salsify Turnips Winter Greens

Salad Endive Lettuce Sorrel

Fish Cockles Cod Crab Halibut John Dory Salmon Sea Bass Sea Trout

Meat & Game Beef Guinea fowl Hare Lamb Mutton Pork Rabbit Veal Venison Wood Pigeon

Why not visit your local Farmers Market this month and see what they have to offer?

For at start, a much more relaxed kind of shopping experience where you can talk to the producers,and meet up with friends to have a chat and a cup of tea.

One of the real joys of seasonal local shopping is that ingredients come and go with the changing year and we can all enjoy knowing we are eating food at its finest whilst giving vital support to local producers who are working flat out to cope with the challenges the British weather keeps throwing at them.

We are lucky at Challock Farmers market to have fresh local fish available and we also have a library of cookery books which you may borrow free of charge .

It is hard to believe that this year we are celebrating Challock Farmers Markets 5th Birthday! Where did that time go!

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Chocolate and Eggs: Easter Food Superheroes or Arch-villains?

It’s Easter, the season of eggs and chocolate. But what’s the latest advice about these foods? Do they harm or heal?

EGGS Research and improved understanding means eggs are no longer a nutritional Big Bad Wolf.

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Packed with goodness A medium egg is very low in carbohydrates and supplies over 10% of our daily protein needs.

Containing just 66 kcals and 4.6g of fat (only one third saturates), it’s a great source of nutrients often scarce in UK diets; around 20% of us are Vitamin D deficient.

Eggs provide a third of daily Vitamin D requirements, around half our required Vitamin B12 and selenium, and Vitamin A, Vitamin B2, folate, biotin, iodine and phosphorous.

What about cholesterol? And salmonella?

Research shows that cholesterol found in eggs and other foods has a negligible effect on our cholesterol levels. Our body makes cholesterol and levels are raised by many factors. Saturated fat was the main suspect until recently, when a fresh look at the evidence cast some doubts.

Regarding salmonella, the Food Standards Agency recommends, for now, that vulnerable groups should only eat hard-boiled eggs.

However, a massive increase in chicken vaccination has more

than halved infection cases. All eggs with the Lion Mark come from vaccinated chickens and all 150,000 tested during the last two years were salmonella free.

Chocolate Chocolate has been accused of causing acne, obesity, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and diabetes, among others. But it’s not necessarily guilty, and may have beneficial effects.

• Acne. There’s no scientific proof that chocolate causes acne; research suggests foods with a high glycaemic load may be guilty.

• Obesity & diabetes. Due to high sugar and fat, over-indulgence may show on the scales.

However, recent studies show chocolate can lower your insulin resistance (potentially reducing diabetes risk). A study of 1,500 teens showed that those eating 1.5oz of chocolate daily had less body fat and more energy than those eating 0.16oz daily, so some scientists say 1.5 ounces a day may be beneficial (that’s just a square and a half ). Experts say diabetics can eat chocolate, but should monitor their total carbohydrate intake.

• Cardiovascular health, cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Many studies suggest that cocoa has beneficial effects on cardiovascular health, improving blood pressure, vascular function and blood flow and reducing clot risk. It may

•

•

•

•

•

lower cholesterol slightly, but only as part of a low fat diet.

Stroke. A study involving 44,489 people concluded that chocolate eaters were 22% less likely to suffer a stroke and 46% less likely to die from one.

Brain function. Chocolate can help preserve the brain’s blood flow and prevent memory decline in older people, and could be important in diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Mood. Chemicals in chocolate can raise our serotonin levels and affect other receptors in the brain that trigger feelings of well-being.

Migraine. While chocolate contains chemicals believed to be migraine triggers, recent data shows that some cocoa compounds may be beneficial in migraine treatment.

Osteoporosis. The bad news: chocolate may contribute to osteoporosis. One study of women aged 70-85 found that daily chocolate consumers had lower bone density and strength.

Proper comparisons haven’t been done between white, milk and dark chocolate, but most beneficial effects come from cocoa content. So choose high cocoa content varieties low in sugar and fat, and eat chocolate in moderation as part of a healthy diet.

By Alison Runham

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Local Markets Challock Challock Memorial Hall, Blind Lane.

1st & 3rd Friday of each month 1pm to 4pm Contact Pauline Hickson 01233 740979 The Barn Shop Traditional Market Challock - 2nd & 4th Saturday of each month 10am – 2pm Contact 01233 740237 Charing Farmer’s Market Charing Church Barn 9 -11.30 every Thurs morning Contact 01233 740176 Egerton Every Friday 2 - 4.30pm Millennium Hall Rolvenden - 01580 240763 Every Thursday 10am -12 noon St Mary’s Church and the Village Hall

www.ovenwizards.com

Rye Farmers Market Every Wednesday at Strand Quay 10am - 1 pm (12pm Oct - April) Rye Market Every Thursday at the Cattle Market Car Park. Early till around 3pm (depending on the weather)

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Rye Country Market Formerly WI Market Rye Community Centre, Conduit Hill.

Every Friday 10am -11.30am Tenterden Country Market Every Friday 9.30am -11.30am St Mildred’s Church Hall, Church road.

Wittersham Market Every Tuesday Village Hall 9am. - 11am Tel: 01797 270757 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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L i v e Ja z z Ap r i l T h e Fo l k e s t o n e J a z z C l u b A t T h e To w e r To B o o k C a l l : 0 1 3 0 3 2 7 7 1 7 5 A l l g i g s s t a r t a t 8 3 0 p m , Ad m £ 1 0 Tues April 1st TWO TOP TENOR PLAYERS & A GREAT RHYTHM SECTION MIKE AUSTIN / LIANE BASHFORD ( Asstnt MD KYJO ) ( The Sax Sensation from NYJO KYJO ) TED BEAMENT Piano. This former Humph man is a firm favourite at The FJC ALEX KEEN Double Bass - Top man & swings like crazzzy VINCE CLARKE The Driving World of Drums April 10th THE NIGHT OF THE LEGENDS OF BRITISH MODERN JAZZ BOBBY WELLINS & DON WELLER ( Yes I know folks --ts unbelievable ) Plus Plus Plus The Only Rhythm Section For These Legends JOHN DONALDSON Piano - Phenomenal !!! ANDREW CLEYNDERT Double Bass -Amazing Top Quality SPIKE WELLS Drums - The Original - The Legend April 17th THE MARC PARNELL TRIO ( Son of Jack ) MARC PARNELL Sensational Drummer NEIL ANGILLEY The Breathtaking Virtuoso of The Piano

CHRIS DODDS Pulsating Double Bass Ace. Plus the Special Guest The UKs No1 Jazz Trumpeter STEVE WATERMAN April 24th Catching Him Between World Tours

The Amazing Alto Sax man TONY KOFI & THE ORGANISATION PETE WHITTAKER Swinging organist SIMON FERNSBY Great Jazz Guitarist PETE CATER Drums - The UKs Buddy Rich -The Driving Force Tues April 29th SPECIAL EVENT TUESDAY

These are Headlining Norwich Jazz Pty - Scotts & Pizza Ex Soho The Kings of The Clarinet from both sides of the pond From The USA, the man who is often compared to Benny Goodman KEN PEPLOWSKI ( Clrnt & Tnr sax ) & From The UK, the man that Sir JD said The Best in Britain for a decade JULIAN MARC STRINGLE ( Clrnt & Tnr sax ) Plus The UKs own Oscar Peterson on Piano THE CRAIG MILVERTON TRIO AL SWAINGER Double Bass NICK MILLWARD Drums

What’s On...

April Thursday 27th March Stargazing Event - 7.30pm Kent Wildlife Trust, Marsh Comunity Garden - FREE event. Donations welcome. Wear warm clothes and sensible footwear. Bring binoculars or telescope if you have them. Contact Catherine Farr, Project Officer. Mob:07714 560422. Email: catherine.farr@ kentwildlifetrust.org.uk

Friday 28th March Brabourne & Smeeth Gardeners’ Society’s meeti at 7.15 for 7.30pm in the village hall when there will be the spring show and a quiz. Why not come along to see the entries and meet fellow gardeners? For further info contact Wendy Sanders on 01303 813451 or email brabournewendy@ gmail.com.

Saturday 29th March 4-5pm, Children’s Flower Arranging - Bekesbourne Village Hall. Chalkpit Farm, Bekesbourne. Booking required contact: 01227 830 666

Saturday 6th April Charity Run My name is Debbie Southern, on April 6th 2014 I will be running the Brighton Marathon. I will be raising money for Demelza Children’s Hospice. Demelza is a charity very close to my heart, as my daughter Mollie who suffers from Cerebral Palsy, Hydrocephalus & Epilepsy, has respite care there. I grew up in Smeeth & Mollie’s Grandparents Maureen & Terry Leadbetter still live in the village.

If you would like to sponsor my Marathon effort, you can donate directly via my website at www. virginmoneygiving.com/debbiesouthern or phone her on 01233 640623.

Thursday 10th April 7:45pm for 8:00pm - at Aldington Village Hall Aldington & Bonnington Gardening Society Talk by Mr Fred Hams “Old Gardening Implements & Keeping Chickens”. Visitors and new members are always welcome. For full details of our programme contact Jean Evans 01233 720618.

Saturday 12th April Charing Companion Dog Show Charing Playing Fields (TN27 0JH) Fun and Companion Club Dog Show Pedigree/Non-Pedigree/ Companion Club/Fun Classes Entries in by 11:30am, classes start at 12pm. charingdogshow.webs.com Tel: 01233 879 655

Friday 18th April - Tenterden and District Museum - The Museum opens on Good Friday 18th April, this season’s exhibition is on the First World War with particular emphasis on the involvement of Tenterden and all the surrounding villages and the personal stories of many local people who took part.

Further information at: www.tenterdenmuseum.co.uk.

what’s on Telephone: 01580 764310. tenterdenmuseum.co.uk.

Email: enquiries@

Saturday 19th April St. Mary’s Church is holding a Craft Fair 10am - 1pm at Sellindge Village Hall. We are looking for local crafty people and community groups to have a stall. Tables are £5 plus donation of a raffle prize.This is a great opportunity for Guides, Scouts, Youth Groups, Schools etc to raise some money for their organisation. Money raised from the fair will help support St. Mary’s Church in Sellindge. For more information or to book a table please email sellindgefair@gmail.com

SALE ‘Half a Sixpence’ Evegate Craft & Business Centre, Station Road, Smeeth TN25 6SX

Saturday 19th April Easter Fair - Sellindge Village Hall, 10am until 1pm. In support of St Mary’s Church, Sellindge. Lots of lovely stalls, including jewellery, wooden gifts and many other crafts, cakes, raffle and refreshments. Entrance by donation.

Friday, 25 April, 7.30pm - Concert In aid of the Stroke Association, including Mozart’s Requiem by the Chamber Choir Caritas accompanied by the Caritas Ensemble at St Gregory & St Martin Church, Wye TN25 5ES, Tickets £10.00, to include glass of wine, from Val Paterson (Inner Wheel Club of Ashford) 01233 812740, or Wye Newsagents or on the door.

For Unusual Gifts, Presents & Toys

April Stock Reduction Sale Ends 30th April 2014 - Don’t Miss It!

Tel: 01303 814221 info@half-a-sixpence.co.uk

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PILGRIMS HOSPICES EVENTS Saturday 12th April Spring Coffee Morning Time 10am-12pm Location: Day Centre PilgrimsHospice Hythe Road, Ashford TN24 0NE Forthcoming Events: Now collecting for ‘Gift it Again!

Pyjama Walk Saturday 28th June Summer Fair Saturday 2nd August Christmas Fair Saturday 15th November See www.pilgrimshospices.org for more details

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health & fitness

Beauty Fight Premature Ageing

By Helen Taylor

beach, but you might not realise that you need to use it every day. That’s because skin-damaging UV rays are present even when the sun isn’t shining.

If you can’t live without an all-year-round tan, then you’ll need to find an alternative to regular visits to the sunbed. Sunbeds are equally - if not more - damaging than the sun and they’ll leave your skin looking coarse, leathery and wrinkled.

And sun-lovers really must be aware of the damage to their skin, because it doesn’t end there.

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Squinting in the sun can, over time, cause crow’s-feet, so always wear sunglasses and ensure that they offer proper protection for your eyes or you may become more prone to cataracts in later life.

ability to heal and make it look sallow, dull and lifeless, because smoking inhibits the blood supply that keeps skin looking healthy.

Wrinkles prematurely begin to form and you start to age quickly compared to your non-smoking friends.

Even if you don’t smoke you are still at risk of these effects if you spend time in smoky atmospheres, so it’s best to steer clear of second-hand smoke altogether.

DON’T PULL YOUR FACE Your mum probably told you that if you pull your face that way it’ll stick that way… well she was right. Repetitive movements like frowning and raising your eyebrows can encourage lines to form earlier than they should.

Image: Courtesy of Next

Ageing is unfortunately an inevitable process for us all, but if you take steps to protect your skin now, you’ll benefit in the future.

Environmental factors play an enormous role in how well - or not - you age, so it’s really important to look at how your current lifestyle might affect your skin in the future.

Those bad health and beauty habits you have now could be exposing you to long-term skin damage and accelerating the ageing process.

But don’t worry, if you take notice of our tips, you’ll stay looking youthful for longer.

KEEP YOUR SKIN SAFE IN THE SUN

Apply sunscreen liberally to every part of your body that’s exposed to the sun. Don’t rely on SPFenhanced make-up alone for your face, it’s likely that you don’t apply enough of the product to fully protect your skin.

And remember the dangers of UV rays go far beyond wrinkled skin, over exposure puts you at risk of developing skin cancer.

TIME TO QUIT

The sun is one of the biggest factors in premature ageing, so you need to ensure that you properly protect against it.

Another lifestyle factor that you need to address for the sake of your skin - and your health - is smoking.

It’s hard to quit, but if you want to curb or prevent the signs of premature aging then it’s a must.

You’ll be well aware of the need for sunscreen when you’re lying on the

The free radicals in cigarette smoke break down collagen, slow the skin’s

It’s good to express yourself, but if you find yourself frequently pulling the same expression make a change now, or expect wrinkles in the future.

GET INTO A ROUTINE Start a skincare routine today.

There’s no better time to start dedicating time in your day to your skin. Invest in a variety of skincare products to help you in your quest to stay looking youthful.

Eye creams, moisturisers and exfoliators are essential.

And don’t forget the value of living a healthy lifestyle. Eating a diet that’s rich in vitamins A, C and E (found in brightly coloured fruit and vegetables) and omega-3 fatty acids (from fish, nuts and seeds) will boost skin from the inside out.

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Hobbies Home Brewing Revival

by Ted Bruning

popular hobbies in the country.

26 Maybe it’s the rubbish they put on the telly these days.

Maybe it’s the fact that computer games are, at bottom, all the same. Maybe it’s because it’s expensive to go out. Who knows? One thing’s for sure, though: crafts and hobbies are making a big comeback.

And not unnaturally, if you’re going to spend all your evenings and weekends bent on the obsessive pursuit of artisanal perfection, you want the end result to be something that you can be proud of and that your friends can enjoy. Marquetry, macramé, sure they’re fine. But nothing beats beer, really; and that’s why home brewing is emerging as one of the most

In days of yore, the main reason why people brewed their own beer was that they were either skint or miserly. Students were the worst offenders, producing vile brews in grimy cupboards that even they could only just force themselves to choke down. Hobbyists who brewed their own would inevitably and gloatingly tell you how much their beer had cost them to brew and would compare it triumphantly to the price of a pint in the pub. “You’d have to be mad to pay that when it costs less than half as much to brew your own!” they would cry, before forcing you to drink some of the stuff.

And as soon as you’d managed to escape, guess where you’d head...

That’s not it any more, though.

These days it’s more to do with lifestyle, and home brewing guru Nigel Sadler puts it down to what he calls the Hugh FearnleyWhittingstall effect. Chelmsfordbased Nigel runs a training company called Learn2brew and says he’s seen interest in home brewing skyrocket in recent years.

“Crafts in general have a much wider appeal now than they used to,” he says. “Home brewing, home winemaking, and home cidermaking have really taken off. Partly it’s because there are now so many microbrewers that people have the chance

to try many different beers and are getting generally more interested in the whole subject.

Partly it’s because TV chefs and lifestyle presenters like Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Heston Blumenthal are encouraging a have-a-go attitude.”

To that potent combination has to be added the miracle ingredient of the modern age: the internet. Twenty years ago, when interest in home brewing was at a low point, Boots – the only national retailer of home brew supplies – reluctantly decided to pull out of the market, leaving it to not much more than a handful of specialist shops and mailorder firms. Many established home brewers suddenly found it hard to get the equipment and ingredients they relied on, and in many places it was all but impossible for a novice to get started. Then the mail-order firms, quickly followed by the independent shops, discovered internet trading. The whole craft took off again; and now Wilkinson, the 400-strong high street discount chain, has taken up where Boots left off.

So now it’s easy to get started.

And at entry level, it’s an easy craft to pursue: you don’t need anything more than a brewing bucket with a tight-fitting lid, a kettle, and a brewing kit comprising a packet of readyhopped malt extract and a sachet of yeast. You don’t need any particular skill, either, and if you just follow the instructions you’re pretty much bound to get a more than passable beer for your efforts.

But be warned! Once you’ve started it’s hard to stop. It’s perfectly possible to bump along at this most basic level for ever and be perfectly satisfied: many people do. But brewing is a seductive business, especially if you’re the type who enjoys browsing the market and sampling different beers. From brewing with kits you venture into trying your own recipes – something stronger and darker for winter, maybe, and paler and more refreshing for summer.

Then before you know it you’ll have graduated from using malt extract into buying whole grains (or full mash, as home brewing buffs say), and from there it’s all too easy to get hooked.

Because once you’ve mastered the basic techniques the beer world really is your oyster.

Fancy a Belgian lambic-style beer, sour and quenching? Or a volcanic barley wine made to a recipe nearly 200 years old?

Or just an inexhaustible supply of everyday quaffing beer? You can have it. And you can have all the shiny equipment your heart desires, too – an insulated thermostatically controlled mash tun; a refrigerated stainless-steel conical fermenting vessel with floating lid; even a paraflow! Or, of course, you can just stick with your bucket... That’s the beauty of home brewing: it can be as simple or as advanced as you like.

the home

sessions and competitions.

There’s a UK Craft Brewing Association as well, which holds its own competition; so one day you might well find yourself being crowned national champion... and toasting your triumph in your own beer!

Is there an independent home brew shop near you? To find out, visit www.jimsbeerkit.co.uk or www.homebrewshops.co.uk

It can be a sociable hobby, too. The local home brew shop (where there is one) tends to turn into a bit of a social centre, as specialist shops so often do; and in most areas there’s a home brewing club that holds troubleshooting

27

%5(1=(77 086(80 5201(< 0$56+ Brenzett Museum is a unique que collection of wartime equipment, pment, ircraftt remains recovered from aircraft lia crash sites and memorabilia he collected and donated to the n Museum since its formation n in 1972. The Museum is an ed independent Trust dedicated ing and d to the memory of those living erved dead, friend or foe, who served ime. their country during wartime.

OPEN 11am - 5.30pm m

Weekends and Bank Holida Holidays ays yss Easter to end of October

Adults £4 / OAPs £3 FR REE Accomp. Children under 16 FREE ,9<&+85&+ 52$' BRENZETT 5201(< 0$56+ TN29 0EE

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Sudoku

Hidato Starting at 1 and finishing at 49, track your way from one square to another, either horizontally, vertically or diagonally, placing consecutive numbers into the empty squares as you go. Some numbers are already given.

36

49

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41 28

19

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26 3

1

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24

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Puzzle Time

Quick Crossword Across 1 5 8 9 10 12 13 15 17 19 20 22 23

Denied (7) Not ours (5) Amazing (9) Spot (3) Nap (5) Replies (7) Nearly (13) Mum’s mother (7) Healed (5) Lodging house (3) Ethereal (9) Dizzy (5) Convent (7)

1

2

3

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10

13 ©puzzlepress.co.uk

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3 x 3 box contains the digits 1 through 9, with no repetition! That’s all there is to it, you solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic - there’s no maths involved and no adding up. It’s fun. It’s challenging. It’s addictive!

7

9

11

12

13

14

15

16

19

20

17

18

Down 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 11 13

Disagreements (5) Supporter (3) Used for cleaning (7) Insistence (13) Sailboat (5) Vests, boxers (9) Fulfil (7) 14 Made clear (9) 16 Fishing (7)

22

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Sale by bidding (7) Covered with fine powder (5)

18 21

Hold up (5) Employ (3)

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Photo shows Councillor David Burbage, Leader, Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead (centre), presenting the award to (l-r) Carole Humphries Street Scene & Open Spaces Officer at Ashford Borough Council, Councillor Marion Ring, Cabinet Member for the Environment at Maidstone Borough Council; Jennifer Shepherd, Maidstone council’s Waste and Street Scene Manager, and Julie Rogers Environmental and Customer Services Manager for Ashford Borough Council.

National Award for M id Kent Waste Par tnership A partnership of four Kent local authorities has received a prestigious award after delivering impressive financial savings alongside significant service improvements.

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Abdool Kara, Chief Executive of Swale Borough Council, said: “The long-term £86million contract delivers significant savings, both in terms of waste collection and disposal, something which is truly innovative.”

Councillor David Simmons, Cabinet Member for Environmental and Rural Affairs at Kent County Council, added: “Recycling and becoming more waste efficient is something that we are all responsible for. By taking these measures we have been able to become a more greener borough and also save money, money that can now be used for other projects and services within the Borough.”

Ashford, Maidstone and Swale Borough Councils and Kent County Council joined forces with Biffa Municipal Ltd in 2013 to deliver waste and recycling The partnership is focussed on delivering further services, boosting recycling rates to 50% whilst innovation and continuous improvement over the next 10 years. saving £1.7 million per year.

The Gold Award for Transformation in Waste and Environment was awarded to the Partnership by the Improvement and Efficiency Social Enterprise (iESE), and recognises the work carried out to ensure the new services work seamlessly across Mid Kent and provide value for money to local taxpayers.

ASHFORD FLOWER CLUB presents

a Floral Art Demonstration by

CAROL CAMPBELL

Cllr Jessamy Blanford, Portfolio Holder for the Environment at Ashford Borough Council, said: “The partnership approach to this project has been key to our success and it is pleasing this has been recognised by winning this prestigious award.

“By working together with neighbouring districts, the county council and Biffa we have achieved a remarkable performance improvement across the three boroughs for all our residents. This is particularly pleasing for Ashford, as our residents have really embraced the new service and we are all now reaping the rewards.”

Tuesday, 15th April 2014 at 7.30pm Furley Hall, Maidstone Road, Ashford

Maidstone council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Marion Ring, said:

Visitors welcome – tickets £3.00 Enquiries - 01233 628278

“We’re very proud to be part of this partnership, which has allowed us to offer fantastic new doorstep recycling services to our residents, including glass, textiles and small electricals, while saving Maidstone taxpayers over £1 million per year.”

2014 Charity – CRY:

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Puzzle Solutions March Issue Sudoku

At last, a company with a team of electricians you can rely on to provide a great service.

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useful information Emergency Police Neighbhd Team Ashford & Tenterden Crimestoppers

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Out of Hours Doctor William Harvey Hospital

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Veterinary Surgeons Barrow Hill Vets 01233 624687 Montgomery Vets 01303 813756 Parish Councils: Brabourne & Smeeth 01233 623902 Boughton Aluph & Eastwell 01233 720392 Brook 01233 750415 Challock 01233 740351 Hastingleigh 01233 750415 Wye & Hinxhill 01233 812459 Westwell 01233 623902 Ashford Borough Council 01233 637311 www.ashford.gov.uk Ashford Gateway 0845 8 247 247 info:ashfordgateway.co.uk www.ashfordgateway.co.uk Citizens Advice Bureau 01233 626185 CPRE Kent 01233 714540 Volunteer Centre 01233 665 535 Age Concern 01233 620 635 www.ageconcern.org.uk CARM E: Carmromneymarsh@supanet.com www.carmromneymarsh.org.uk

Macmillan Cancer Support www.forget-me-nots.co.uk Parkinsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s UK, Ashford Branch Contact Robert Gurney 01233 666577 Royal British Legion 01233 620 167 St. John Ambulance Brigade 01233 611 414 East Kent Strokes 01233 840448 www.eastkentstrokes.org

SE Kent Multiple Sclerosis Soc. 07767326138 email: mssoutheast@gmail.com NSPCC: Tenterden & District Mrs J Coombs 01580 763733 Pregnancy Sickness Support Kent and Sussex www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/ Contact: Denise Clifford deniseclifford@btinternet.com

Bus Enquiries Arriva Bus Enquiries 0844 800 44 11 Stage Coach East Kent: 0871 200 22 33 (Timetable) or 08456 00 22 99 (Customer Services) National Train Enquiries: www.nationalrail.co.uk Wealden Wheels: 01233 840000 Village Halls: Boughton Lees Brook Challock Westwell Wye

01233 623639 01233 812803 01233 740504 01233 712107 07504 839 858

Sucklifts Cesspool Emptying Service ~ Est 1986 ~ Accredited Engineer British Water

High Pressure Jetting Service and Repair to Sewage Treatment Plants

01233 840624

Disclaimer: Every care is taken to ensure this directory is as accurate as possible but the publishers do not accept responsibility for any loss or damage resulting from errors or omissions.

Health and

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Charing Area: Charing, Pluckley, Biddenden, Smarden & Egerton.

Wye Area: Wye, Brook, Bodsham, Brabourne,Westwell, Hastingleigh, Boughton Lees, Eastwell.

Aldington Area: Aldington, Mersham, Bilsington, Bonnington, Brabourne Lees, Smeeth, Sellindge, Stanford & Stowting.

TN26 Area: Appledore, Hamstreet, High Halden, Bethersden, Hothfield, Shadoxhurst,Woodchurch, Warehorne.

Tenterden & Rye: Tenterden, St Michaels, Wittersham, Rye, Pladen.

see wlcashford .co.uk for details

Join the Ashford Community Spring Weight Loss Challenge For details, please visit:

The Marsh: Romney Marsh from Dymchurch to Dunguness.

Stour Valley: Chilham, Chartham, Godmersham, Petham, Bekesbourne Patrixbourne, Bridge, Molash.

www.wlcashford.co.uk Please note this is a summary of the towns and villages covered, we reach EVERY home and business within each postcode area.

Call 01233 720488 01233 739113 The Stables, Worten Lower Yard, Worten Lane, Great Chart, Kent, TN23 3BU

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