Charing Feb 2019

The

Village Directory

Charing Area

February 2019 Edition • Issue 113 • 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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Clubs & Societies For friendship, fun and food, join the Egerton Over 60’s Club,you will be most welcome. We meet in the Millennium Hall at 2pm on the 2nd Monday of each month. We have interesting speakers, the minimum business, and one of the best afternoon teas of any senior’s club !! In 2019, outings includes a trip to Alton on the Watercress Line, a visit to Pashley Manor Gardens, a visit to Hastings, Mystery outing to include fish and chip lunch.Stimulating speakers include:Ashford Camcorder Club, Brian Laverick-Smith on 30 years of Bover on the Hover, Eve Muggeridge on Stained glass with Demonstration, Mark Walsh with Ukele Entertainment, Guy Bartlett on The Dambusters [archive footage], Delia Taylor on The Story of Ensa’ Every night something awful’. Meetings are open to non-members just come along.Membership annual fee is £5 and £3 per meeting.Phone Gerry on 01233 712 282, or Jacqui on 07469 230 946 Bethersden Art Group Are you looking for a new hobby? Would you like to develop your artistic skills, or try a different medium? Then why not come along and join a cheerful and friendly group who enjoy the art challenges set by a visiting tutor.

We meet on Thursday evenings in Bethersden Village Hall, 7.30-9.30pm, for ten weeks each term.

For further info contact Sue - 01233 820585.

Charing & District Local History Society: meetings held at Parish Hall, TN27 0JA, on second Thursday of the month September-April. Doors open at 7.30pm, free tea/coffee available. Talk begins at 8pm until approx 9.15pm. Annual subscription £9, visitors welcome at £3 per meeting. For further information contact Secretary Valerie Yeeles, 01233 713749 secretary@charinghistory.co.uk: www.charinghistory.co.uk Egerton Decorative & Fine Arts Society aims to inform, educate and entertain people with enquiring minds about all manner of topics around the arts. It does so principally through its programme of meetings where world class speakers give illustrated lectures about art, architecture, theatre, sculpture and literature.

Special interest days, visits and tours are also arranged. Full information is on www.egertondfas. org.uk. Why not come along and find out what we have to offer? We meet on the second Wednesday of the month at Egerton Millenium Hall at 2.30pm and we look forward to welcoming you 4

Yoga at Smarden Charter Hall. Every Tues 7.00 – 8.30pm.Contact Caelia on 07933030071 for details.

Afternoon Club, Smarden Charter Hall: we are a friendly club open to anyone aged 50 and over.

We meet on the first Friday of the month at 2:00 p.m. Each month we have a speaker or other entertainment followed by tea and chat. We sometimes go on outings. Membership is just £10 per year but you can come along as a guest first time to see how you like us before deciding whether to join. Contact 770854 for further details.

The Gardening Group At Charing Surgery. Get fresh air, exercise, meet other people, have fun and enjoy being part of the community. Open to all patients, age 16+. Green Fingers not essential. Tuesdays 9am-12pm. Call Joanne Munro 01233 713582.

Biddenden Junior Football Club - Always looking for new players 7 -18, for fun and enjoyable football.

Contact Steve on 07958 447948.

Biddenden Squash Club 01580 291130 Gordon Jones Playing Field, Biddenden. Friendly club with 2 courts and a bar. email: info@biddendensquash. co.uk www.biddendensquash.co.uk Biddenden Horticultural Society Annual membership £5.

New members welcome.

Contact Irene Orsborne on 01580 291777 or Lesley Lidgett on 01580 291931. W: www. biddendenhorticulturalsociety.co.uk Egerton Over 60’s For friendship, fun & food, join the Egerton over 60’s Club, you will be most welcome. We meet in the Millennium Hall at 2pm on the 2nd Monday of each month. We have interesting speakers, the minimum business, and one of the best afternoon teas of any senior’s Club!! IMeetings are open to non-members, just come along. Membership annual fee is £5 and £2 per meeting. Phone Gerry on 01233 712 282 or Jenny on 01233 756 452.

Headcorn Modern Sequence Dance Club, meet every Monday 7.30 pm to 10.00 pm in the Andred Hall in Headcorn Village Hall. If you enjoy Ballroom dancing, bring your partner or friend along and learn more. We are a friendly little club, nice music, social evening, tea and biscuits, all for £3.00 per person. Call Rita on 01580 852289.

Kennington Badminton Club, play at the Norton Knatchbull School on a Wed evening from 7.30 p.m.-10.00 p.m. Contact Mark Feeney on 01233

663030 or Shirley Mountford on 01233 610134.

Little Chart Bridge Club Friendly duplicate bridge every Tuesday afternoon at Little Chart Village Hall. For more information please contact Carmen Gunther on 01233 840 395.

Smarden Heritage Centre Smarden Charter Hall, Smarden. Open every Friday morning from 9.30 – 11.30. visit: www.smardenheritagecentre. synthasite.com Smarden Short Mat Bowls Club We welcome new novice or experienced bowlers of all ages.

We meet every Thurs. morning at 9.45am and occasionally on a weekday evening, in the Charter Hall Smarden. Contact Malcolm 01233 770572.

The Roots Project Conservation Volunteers What we do: Regular practical conservation tasks and woodland craft workshops based in Longbeech Wood, Charing. Contact: Carrie Eeles (Activities Officer) Tel: 07920404546 Email: info@therootsproject.co.uk www. therootsprojectconservationvolunteers.org.uk Weald of Kent Computer Club meets in the New Biddenden Village Hall. Annual membership costs £10 and covers free admission to all 10 meetings.

Non members are £2 per visit.New members welcome. Enquiries to, secretarywkcc@yahoo. co.uk. Visit: www.wealdofkentcomputerclub. co.uk East Kent Morris Men and Women: Do you like dancing, drinking, socialising, music, having fun?

We are recruiting now for new members. This is a mixed side of women and men dancing together.

Weekly Wednesday practices at Mountbatten Hall, Mersham from 8pm to 10pm; afterwards we practise drinking in the pub opposite, the Farrier’s Arms! We dance Cotswold style Morris; this is the handkerchief waving and stick clashing variety. No experience required. Why not give it a try? Find us on Facebook or call John on 01233 625 362 Weald U3A is a society for the dynamic over 50s with a thirst for knowledge, social activities and new experiences. We have a large number of interest groups including Bridge, Films, Italian, jazz, Stargazers, Lunches and Theatre Visits. Please see our website www.u3asites.org.uk/weald or contact Richard Sargent, tel: 01580764239, email: r.sargent@btinternet.com Tai Chi for Health & Harmony, Smarden Charter Hall, welcomes newcomers, all ages & fitness

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Why It’s Important to Groom Your Pet This Spring Grooming is an important part of your pet care regime throughout the year, but when spring arrives you can be sure your furry friend will want to shed their coat in the warmer weather as much as we do.

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Brush them at least once a day Longhaired cats and dogs should be brushed at least once a day at this time of year. It not only makes them feel more comfortable, but also prevents knots and tangles developing. If the weather is particularly warm it may also be worthwhile having your dog trimmed – this makes them easier to groom, and also reduces the time you have to spend vacuuming.

Watch out for fleas and ticks Grooming your pet regularly means you’re more likely to spot fleas or ticks that have taken up residence in their fur. Encouraged out into the environment by the warmer weather, they can be difficult to spot unless you’re close to your pet. Dealing effectively with fleas and ticks is an important consideration, however, as ticks in particular can cause serious illness.

Avoiding hairballs When your pet grooms itself, loose hairs are ingested and can cause a blockage in their digestive tract. Cats in particular are fastidious about grooming themselves, which makes hairballs a common issue, especially for longhaired breeds. Regular grooming with a brush helps to avoid this problem by reducing the amount of fur entering their system.

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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.

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.

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

CLEAR YOUR CLUTTER AND CREATE SOME SPACE

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walls with glass to allow light to flow from room to room, or even – if height allows – adding a mezzanine floor level.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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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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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of costs with no hidden fees Professional Services Pengelly & Rylands is recognised by the law society’s conveyancing quality scheme

Are You Prepared www.pengelly-rylands.co.uk Call: 01580 762248 for the Future? advice@pengelly-rylands.co.uk

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0057-ConveyancingAdvertSeries.indd 3 Being prepared for any major life event can provide you with peace of mind and reassurance that all of your affairs have been taken care of.

Drafting a Will is a practical way of ensuring that your assets are distributed in accordance with your wishes.

It allows you to choose who will be responsible for distributing your assets (sometimes referred to as your Executors or personal representatives) and who will benefit from your Will either by

Pengelly & Rylands are a well-established, friendly, proactive law firm, and with over 170 years of experience, we’re here to listen and work with you in your time of need.

receiving a gift or legacy or by receiving the bulk 03/04/2018 11:40 of your assets. It also gives you an opportunity to think about creating a Trust if this is appropriate.

You can also state your funeral wishes in your Will, and provide guidance to your Executors about how you wish them to carry out your instructions. We always recommend that if you do put your funeral wishes into your Will, you make sure that a close relative or friend is aware of them because sometimes the Will is not read until after the funeral!

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Employment

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Professional Services If you already have a Will in place it is important to review it regularly, particularly if there has been a change in your family circumstances such as the birth of a child, divorce, marriage or the death of someone close to you. It is easy to think that you have done it and do not need to review it but this could mean that someone is left out unintentionally, or it could mean that your Will is void, for example, if it was made before your marriage or remarriage.

At Pengelly & Rylands we take pride in providing a bespoke Will service which will take into account all of your wishes. We conduct a thorough information gathering exercise with you so that we have a clear understanding of your circumstances and intentions. This enables us to give you sound inheritance tax planning advice.

We avoid legal jargon wherever possible and explain the important details in a straightforward manner.

Making plans to create a Will can be a daunting subject but the sympathetic and understanding team at Pengelly & Rylands can help you with this. Whether you would like to create a new Will or update an existing Will, we are here to help.

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Professional Services

Helping people make successful building insurance claims

Making a claim on your home insurance policy can be a time consuming and daunting task for some. Imagine juggling family life, a job, personal stresses, all whilst having to sort out your home or business having had a leak from the bathroom, a fire in the kitchen, or other damage to the property, following bad weather.

What if you could just hand it all over to one person to take care of the claim on your behalf?

Laide Turvey can do just that. Her business Aspray (Folkestone) covers Ashford and many of the surrounding areas. She can assist you in making a successful buildings insurance claim for property damage. Give Aspray a call and she will assess the damage and determine whether you have a valid claim. She will then send a report to your insurer on your behalf and negotiate the settlement and repairs with them directly – all at no charge to you provided you allow Laide to instruct and oversee her appointed vetted contractors to do the repairs or reinstatement works. Any excess you are due to pay, will of course still apply*.

Laide will work in your best interests and aim to put your property back to its pre-loss condition as swiftly as possible so that you can get on with your life.

Ms Taylor, from Capel-Le-Ferne, says. “We had damage to our property as a result of a slow leaking pipe. The bathroom had to be ripped out to get to the source of the problem and the kitchen ceiling needed to be taken down.

“I hadn’t bothered to speak to our insurance company as I thought it would be complicated and time consuming. Laide took care of it all.

Aside from choosing some tiles and the colour of the paint, she took care of the rest.”

If you have a Property Damage Insurance Claim, get in touch with Laide at Aspray Folkestone today by calling 0800 077 6705 or visit https://aspray.com/aspray/folkestone/ CALL US TODAY TO RECEIVE A £100 VOUCHER*

*Aspray (Folkestone) will give you £100 towards your insurance excess when you instruct us to manage your claim and all reinstatement works have been completed. Terms and conditions apply. Aspray are paid directly by the insurance company. Any excess due will still apply. Aspray (Folkestone) is a franchise owned and operated under licence by Turvey Property Services and is an appointed representative of Aspray Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under reference 466101 for claims handling only. Registered in England: 11127014

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fruiting raspberries, and if you choose a variety like ‘Fallgold’ you can even have yellow fruits.

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 18

bulky organic matter such as garden compost, well-rotted manure, composted bark and composted bracken will all help.

Autumn fruiting raspberries will crop until the first frosts There are two main types of 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 autumn-

If your soil is really rather heavy 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.

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

The Garden 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 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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The Garden

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Over 20 years experience All aspects of garden care undertaken Fully insured

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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

TODS PRESENT

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) 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

Revelation, St Marys Church Ashford, Kent TN23 1QG

Friday 8th February 7:45pm

revelationashford.co.uk | 01233 663201 Early Bird: £10 / £8 (U16). Door: £12 / £10 (U16)

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 Jo and Dave welcome you to their traditional village pub in the heart of Bethersden, with well kept real ales, local ciders, fine wine and a warm atmosphere.

Monday Evening

Buy one Meal and Get One Free (selected menu)

FREE HOUSE

Tues - Fri Lunch Senior Citizens Meals

Bethersden Tel: 01233 820235

Two courses for £7.50 per person.

Tuesday & Thursday Steak Nights

Two steaks with chips, peas & salad with a bottle of wine. - £22.00 per couple.

Open from 12pm - 11pm Every Day Food served Monday Night to Sunday Lunch 12noon - 2pm & 6pm - 9pm

Wednesday Night Carvery

Two roast meats plus all the trimmings - £8.95 pp

Friday Fish & Chips Special Eat In or Takeaway - £6.95

Sunday Roast Lunch

Served from 12 noon - 5pm - £8.95

Now Serving Food All Day on Saturdays 12 noon -9pm

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

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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.

Food & Domestic Services

Local Markets

Repairs to...

Washing Machines Cookers (Electric) Tumble Driers Dyson Vacuum Specialist Call Garry on 07958 640152 01233 632329 Getting The Job Done No Matter How Big or Small www.kingspmkent.co.uk • • • • • •

Handyman Services Kitchens Bathrooms Tiling Painting Plastering

• • • • •

Patios Decking/Pergolas Fencing Turfing Jet Washing

Ashford Farmer’s Market First Sunday of every month from 10am to 2pm in the lower High Street.

Charing Farmer’s Market Charing Church Barn 9 -11.30 every Thursday 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

Rye Farmers Market Every Wednesday at Strand Quay 10am - 1 pm (From Midday Oct - April) FREE QUOTES

Rye Market Tel: 01233 500676 e: kingspm54@gmail.com Every Thursday at the Cattle Market Car 07563 666322 / 07949 955919 Park. Early till around 3pm (depending on the weather)

In Season:

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

Every Friday 10am -11.30am

February Fruit Apples Pears

Vegetables Artichoke Beetroot Broccoli Brussels sprouts Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Chard Chicory Greens Kale Leeks Marrow Onions

Parsnips Potatoes Shallots Swede Turnips

Salad Endive Lettuce

Fish Clams Haddock Hake Halibut John Dory Lemon Sole Mussels Oysters Turbot

Meat & Game Beef Guinea Fowl Hare Mutton Pork Rabbit Teal & Mallard Veal Venison Wood Pigeon

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

Jakeman & Jakeman Homecare Steve Jakeman

Industrial • • • • • •

Commercial

General electrical repairs New installations Electric showers EV Car charging Electric underfloor heating Central Vacuum systems

Tel: 01233 665107

Email: info@tbelectrical.org.uk 130a Godinton Road, Ashford, TN23 1LJ

• • • • •

Domestic

Full & part rewires Periodic electrical testing PAT testing Garden electrics Ventilation solutions (including MVHR)

FREE Quotations!

Handyman Painter & Decorator Interior & Exterior Decoration and Maintenance

01233 625442 07910591393

219 Canterbury Road, Kennington, Ashford, Kent TN24 9QH

Jakeman-homecare@ntlworld.com

JMP Electrical are a friendly and reliable family run business offering All Domestic & Commercial Electrical Works Whether you need a light replacing or a complete rewire, we are here to help.

All work undertaken.

Please call James for a FREE quotation

T: 01233 626081 M: 07976 616756 E: james@jmpelectrical.com W: www.jmpelectrical.com

HOMEFRESH CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING Special Offer 50% DISCOUNT

Also available SPECIALIST FABRIC TREATMENT STAINSHIELD - Protects against dirt and spills DEODORISING TREATMENT - leaves fabric smelling fresh ANTI ALLERGY TREATMENT - for asthma & allergy sufferers CONDITIONER - re-texturises your fabric

FREEPHONE 0800 6942024

Office Hours: 9am - 7pm (Saturday 10am - 1pm)

CARPETS (Average) Normal Rate SPECIAL RATE Single Room (12’ x 12’) £52 £26 Through Room (12’ x 18’) £66 £33 Hall, Stairs & Landing £66 £33 UPHOLSTERY 3 Piece Suite Leather 3 Piece Suite

£94 £156

£47 £78

CURTAINS Full Length £84 £42 Half Length £52 £26 NO HIDDEN EXTRAS - All prices inclusive of VAT

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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

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

SUDOKU

Puzzle Page

CONSERVATORY REPAIRS RESOLVING LEAKS, REPAIRS CLEANING & MAINTAINING

M & C Conservatory Maintenance ‘Restoring Perfection to your Conservatory’ • New Roofs • Maintenance & Repairs • Leadwork & Guttering • Cleaning • Misted/Broken Down Glass Units • Painting & Varnishing • Fully Insured

For a Free Quote Please Call

01233 500719 / 07830 069991 www.mcconservatories.co.uk Across 1. Chewing (6) 4. Acquiesced (6) 9. Garbage (7) 10. Religious images (5) 11. Points on a saw (5) 12. Rising (7) 13. Impersonations (11) 18. Evolve, mature (7) 20. First-rate (5) 22. Arm joint (5) 23. To carry out, to perform (7) 24. Robin red-_____ (6) 25. Modifies for purpose (6) Down 1. Explodes, pops (6) 2. Item of furniture (5) 3. Not that or this (7) 5. Sorrow, sadness (5) 6. Wearing away (7) 7. Blueprint (6) 8. Deep thinker (11) 14. Mobile, transportable (7)

CROSSWORD

15. Alternatively (7) 19. Grassy gardens (5) 16. Word describing an action (6) 21. Rotund (5) 17. Crawls, inches (6)

31

Kid’s Corner

32

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 high street chemist 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. Its discovery dates back to 1820, when a German medical officer first identified Botulinum (which gives its name to BOTOX®) as a lethal toxin.

Fortunately, despite such scary credentials, the cosmetic use of BOTOX® is considered completely

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safe provided it is properly administered.

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 part of a normal beauty routine. Caris Newson, Head of 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.

So should these treatments now

be considered ‘normal’? And does their increased availability step up the pressure on women and men who are concerned about signs of aging to routinely undergo invasive procedures?

On the website silversurfers. com opinions are divided. While silver surfer ‘KarenF’ is happy to endorse the feel-good effects of non-surgical treatments (“I have had both BOTOX® and fillers and at 55 I feel it has totally freshened my face … People should not be condemned for wanting to feel confident”), ‘JEMH’ comments: “My wife’s not interested, so she won’t get that ‘rabbit in the headlights’ startled look that some of our friends have got after too much BOTOX®.”

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.

Jane Ainsworth, posting on the gransnet.com website, is concerned about the effect Superdrug’s offer might have on the young: “What I don’t like is the way that women in their twenties and thirties are persuaded that they should have BOTOX®/fillers as a preventative measure, to stop wrinkles developing. That does cross a line for me. Using cosmetic procedures in a preventative way does seem to be exploiting women’s insecurities about their appearance.”

Health & Lifestyle 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 an 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 initiative has appeared 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. Of those in favour of BOTOX®, forty-five-

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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 explains: “It’s unfortunate that we live in such a panicked, dysmorphic society where women don’t even give themselves a chance to see what they’ll look like as older persons.

I want to have some idea of what I’ll look like before I start cleaning the slates. I want my kids to know when I’m happy and when I’m confounded. 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

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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

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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:

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Doctors Surgery The Charing Surgery Headcorn Surgery Veterinary Surgeons Barrow Hill Vets Pierson Stewart & Partners Cinque Ports Vets Milbourne Equine Vets Parish Councils: Biddenden: Charing: Egerton: Headcorn: Pluckley: Smarden: Ashford Borough Council www.ashford.gov.uk Ashford Gateway info:ashfordgateway.co.uk www.ashfordgateway.co.uk Citizens Advice Bureau CPRE Kent Charing Business Association www.charingkent.co.uk Volunteer Centre Age UK Ashford www.ageuk.org/ashford ageukashford.org@gmail.com

0800 111 999 Details on tank

01233 714 490 01622 890294 01233 624687 01580 713381 01233 885145 01233 885145 01580 890750 01233 713599 01622 853558 01622 892496 01233 770739 07752 395412 01233 331111 0845 8 247 247 01233 626185

Ashford Counselling Service 01233 610083 info@ashfordcounselling.org.uk www.kentcounselling.co.uk CARM E: office@carmromneymarsh.org.uk www.carmromneymarsh.org.uk Macmillan Cancer Support www.forget-me-nots.co.uk Parkinson’s UK, Ashford Branch Contact Mike Wharrad 01233 623520 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 Royal Mail Residential Customer Services

08457 740740 Travel www.arrivabus.co.uk www.stagecoachbus.com www.nationalrail.co.uk Wealden Wheels: 01233 840000 Village Halls: Biddenden Charing Charing Heath Egerton - Millenium Hall Headcorn Little Chart or Pluckley Smarden Charter Hall

01580 291320 01233 713599 01622 858296 01233 756630 01622 890708 07753 802814 01233 840395 01233 840280 01233 771947

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High Pressure Jetting Service & Repair to Sewage treatment plants Soakaway Testing

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PROTECTING THE FINANCIAL FUTURE OF YOUR FAMILY

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It’s about getting good advice, considering everything that could affect your wishes and being aware of all your options so that you can make your own informed choice.

Young or old, for most of us, making plans to ensure that our loved ones are taken care of once we have gone and making sure that they get the maximum benefit from the assets we have managed to acquire through hard work, is one of the most important things we will ever do.

We are here to help you make sure that everything you have worked so hard for does go to the right people, your loved ones.

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