village directory
The 95
May 2017 Delivered FREE to 4,000 homes in TN27 by Royal Mail
for the Charing Area
“Dr Shah clearly enjoys and takes pride in his profession, and makes dentistry seem like an art-form. It puts into context how our teeth are to be treasured, and saved before its too late.� Mrs L H
est. 1996
Wye Dental Surgery
01233 812 281 info@wyedental.co.uk or search Wye Dental Surgery online
QUALITY KITCHEN FACELIFTS
The simple way to a new kitchen EST.
Before
1999
• From a simple door swap to a complete kitchen refit • Huge choice of doors, worktops, appliances, sinks & taps • Installed by local skilled tradesman • Free planning & design service
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Auctioneers
C&T
Valuers
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Free Valuations Every Thursday 11:00 - 3:00 Unit 4, High House Business Park, Kenardington, Ashford, Kent TN26 2LF
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www.candtauctions.co.uk
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Welcome Hi everyone welcome to the May edition, and what a great time of year it is! We have long weekends in abundance, and a good sprinkling of fine weather to match. Hopefully you all enjoyed the Easter break, although not quite as warm as I’d hoped. This month we have two more opportunities to chill out over a long weekend, if you’re lucky enough to have the time off that is. With Spring in the air I find myself torn between what to do first, the garden or the Spring cleaning. Neither are much fun but they are a welcome change to sitting at a computer for hours on end. As wonderful as it may be out in the fresh air, I can’t ignore the fact that I need to do some decorating. I’ve tried leaving it to December, when I have time off, but the low light has led to some pretty dodgy looking walls in my house. Maybe I’ll do a little of both and then chill out with a nice glass of wine as a reward - they don’t call me the Merlot Kid for nothing! Cleaning the barbeque and helping my husband with the garden should hopefully lead to more alfresco dining opportunities this summer, so there is a big incentive. If you’re looking for something to break up your Spring chores we’ve had lots of local events sent in this month. We attempt to promote all of them in all of the magazines but this month it was not always possible. So if you’re interested in venturing further afield do check out the other magazines, they are all available on our website www.thevillagedirectory.co.uk Until next time, whatever you’re up to have a great month.
Debbie T: 01233 720488 e: info@thevillagedirectory.co.uk e: events@thevillagedirectory.co.uk w: www.thevillagedirectory.co.uk June Issue Deadline 10th May 2017
N & E Window Cleaning Services Water-fed Pole / Traditional Window Cleaning Fascia / Gutter / Patio Cleaning / Solar Panels Please contact Nathan Turner for a free quote
07764 193492 n_eturnercleaning@yahoo.com
Bens Dog Walking Ser vices
Professional Pet Service in Ashford Dog Walking, Pet Sitting & Vet Trips FULLY Insured & Police Checked Call 07794 744 612 www.bensdogwalkingservices.webs.com bensdogwalking@outlook.com
Oshens HairBoutique 100 Bridge Street, Wye
For An Appointment Please Call
01233 811981 Closed Wednesday
Make positive life changes Yvonne Fernando Certified NLP Master Practitioner & Life Coach T : 01233 878474 M: 07968 785714 www.yvonnefernandonlp.co.uk
Man & Van
Collection & Deliveries / Rubbish Cleared Garden / Garage & House Clearance Reliable Service - Waste Carrier Licensed T: 01303 256142 / Mob:07872 904151 T: 01233 428096 M: 07941 830035 “We never make a mountain out of a molehill”
Mice • Rats • Squirrels • Moles • Rabbits • Wildlife Control Foxes • Bees • Wasps • Magpies • Pigeons • Domestic Insects Free Estimates & Advice www.countrywayspestcontrol.co.uk
HIGHCLERE CONSTRUCTION
All Types of Building & Extensions M: 07740 150 274 T: 01233 624093
KILBYS PEST CONTROL • All Rodents and Insects • WASP NEST SPECIALIST • SAME DAY SERVICE
• 7 days a week • Fully Insured • Est 1983
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3
Slug Survival by Pippa Greenwood
Slugs may be small, but as we all know, they have the potential to drive you crazy! Whether you have a massive garden, a tiny plot or even if your gardening is restricted to a few planters in a back yard or on a balcony, the chances are that slugs will cause you grief. There are about thirty species of slug in the UK and most feed throughout the year, especially after dark and when the soil is wet or moist…and that seems to mean most evenings in my garden! Now that spring is here and the weather has really warmed up, they’re out in force, using their tongue-like ‘radula’ (armed with approximately 27,000 toothlike spikes) to rasp away at our precious plants. But before launching an attack, there is something you should bear in mind – most slugs actually do little damage to living plants, instead preferring to feast on dead and dying material including flopped foliage and organic mulches. On the whole, the larger slugs tend to do the least damage to plants as they eat almost exclusively decaying and dead material. It is their smaller cousins like the greyish-black keeled slug and the pinkish-beige-grey field slug
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which are more likely to wreak havoc in your vegetable plot or flower border - they may be small but they are far from innocent. With estimates of about 200 slugs per average cubic metre of average garden soil, the situation can soon get out of hand. Keeled slugs in particular love to feast below ground, as well as on plants above the soil surface. This means serious trouble, especially at this time of year when many of us are planting out young plants and seeds are starting to germinate. In no time at all slugs can eat through the base of a young stem, killing the plant in the process. As seeds germinate in the soil, these little horrors often eat the seedling even before it has had a chance to emerge above the soil surface! Later in the year, as potato tubers swell beneath the soil and carrots start to fatten they will begin to tunnel into these too. To make matters worse, they breed quickly and very efficiently – each slug has both male and female organs and in extreme situations can even fertilise itself. Take a look on the soil surface, beneath drooping foliage and in amongst moist organic matter, and you’re likely to spot the clumps of eggs. Each egg is
about 1-2mm in diameter and a clear, milky or off-white coloured sphere. So what can you do with these squidgy little menaces? • Go on an evening slug hunt. In particular, slugs are out in vast numbers after it has rained or you have done some watering, so you can collect up as many as you can. • Choosing resistant varieties of vegetable is worthwhile too. Check seed catalogues and websites for varieties which are marked up as having useful resistance to slugs. With potatoes, main crop varieties usually suffer most, so try to grow mainly earlies. Some varieties are slug disaster zones e.g. Cara, Maris Peer, Kondor and Pentland Crown, but if you choose Charlotte, Kestrel, Sante or Wilja you are in with a much better chance. • Try to encourage natural slug predators such as hedgehogs, frogs, toads, slow worms and ground beetles. If you keep hens consider letting them clear the ground for you – but obviously only before you start planting and sowing! • Use the Nemaslug nematode control – just dilute as
The Garden described on the pack and water on to moist soil which is at 5˚C or above. It is a treatment I really like because it is harmless to everything except slugs, so pets, wildlife or humans will be safe from any adverse effects. It works swiftly and silently too you’ll soon see fewer holes appearing in foliage and, if you’re a potato grower and you drench the soil around the potato plants about six weeks before anticipated harvest, the nematodes soon get to work and your potatoes should be virtually slug-damage free. It is also a brilliant way to clear a slug-infested raised bed or planter; once applied, place self-adhesive copper tape around the rim of the container to keep the contents slug free. The copper tape is really long-lasting, working for years in my experience. You can find out more about Nemaslug and copper tape on my website at
www.pippagreenwood.com/ products/protect-your-crops. • Barriers such as crushed shells, wool pellets, soot, pine needles or copper-impregnated fabric can also work well, but some of these may need replacing regularly and results seem to vary from garden to garden and gardener to gardener. • Traps filled with beer can also be a fantastic way to reduce slug numbers in your garden dramatically and, apart from the somewhat messy (and grim) business of emptying them out, they are simple too. You can buy ready-made traps or make your own using inexpensive plastic beakers plunged into the soil, the rim protruding 1-2cm above the soil surface and filled with a well-flavoured beer. I did a mini ‘trial’ on Gardeners’ Question Time once and found that Guinness worked best - and interestingly alcohol free lager
proved least effective! Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com to buy gorgeous UK grown vegetable plants accompanied by weekly advice emails from Pippa, or to peruse the really useful selection of Pippa’s favourite gardening items including SpeedHoes, SpeedWeeders, raised bed kits, Nemaslug and copper tape, pull-out EasyTunnels, signed books and lots more besides.
All Seasons Garden Services
Over 20 years experience All aspects of garden care undertaken Fully insured
T: 01233 665322 M: 07941 205 374 Email: rob@ashford-gardening.co.uk
Top quality materials. Top quality service. Supply + Install. FREE QUOTATIONS. T : 01233 877 521 | M : 07710 179 600 enquiries@woodchurchfencing.co.uk www.woodchurchfencing.co.uk
Open To the Public
T: 07776 453886
Lawn Care Turfing Garden Maintenance Hedges/ Borders
allengardensolutions@btinternet.com We are open: Mon to Fri 8:00 to 5:30 Sat 8:00 to 12:30
Looking for a New Lawnmower, Strimmer, Hedge Cutter or Chainsaw this Spring? Then come to Haynes Agricultural and see our range of Husqvarna machines, from Rechargeable hand helds to Petrol Powered ride-ons, and everything in between. Our Range includes: • Petrol Walk behind mowers • Ride Ons • Strimmer's, Hedge Cutters, Chainsaws and Blowers • Full Range of Rechargable products Call or Drop in, We are in Old Surrenden Manor Road, Great Chart TN26 1JJ
5
PLUCKLEY ROAD BETHERSDEN KENT
www.stonegreennurseries.co.uk
Future Open Weekends 2nd, 3rd, 4th June
Wholesale Nursery Open to the Public
More Dates to Follow.
12th, 13th, 14th May We grow our vast range of plants with passion and pride for garden designers, landscapers, local nurseries, farm shops and other horticulture outlets. We have a truly exquisite range to offer you from the tried and tested to the more unusual. You will be making your selection direct from our growing beds! You can’t buy fresher. Fantastic range and fair prices. Should you need help with your selection we also have knowledgeable staff to help answer your questions.
*Shrubs* Trees* Herbaceous Perennials * Climbers * Large Plants for Instant Impact* Pluckley Road Bethersden TN26 3ET
6
Open Weekend Dates for 2017
Truly a Gardeners Paradise! Please remember we are only open on these dates. We accept most major credit cards
For detailed directions please see our website Follow day-glow signs from A20 at Charing and A28 at Bethersden
The Garden Tree Surgery & Freelance Climbing www.mr-hills-trees.co.uk
All Tree & Hedge Work Hard & Soft Landscaping All Aspects of Gardening Experienced, NPTC qualified & insured Reliable, local, affordable & efficient Quality service & friendly advice
The Complete Landscape Service Professional Garden & Grounds Maintenance Country Estate Maintenance Paddock Maintenance: Mowing, Hedge Cutting, Spraying Wildflower Meadows Planting Plans & Garden Design Hard & Soft Landscaping Pond Renovation, Clearance & Maintenance
Book your free, no obligation quote today!
T: 01233 840267 M: 07812 197655
Piers Quinn
Professionally trained & qualified 20+ Years of industry experience Call for a free quote today
Fencing and Clearance Contractor
Vernon Harris Bsc Hort M: 07563 580 775 O: 01233 770668 E: vern@bghorticulture.co.uk www.bghorticulture.co.uk
T: 07850 227050 E: piersquinn@icloud.com
chartfencing.co.uk
Order online via our secure website
01233 626 188
Call today for a free brochure
All your Fencing Needs and More..
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Chart Fencing is your one-stop shop for all things fencing. We’ve got the lot, including a massive range of fixings & ironmongery.
Stock Fencing
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Ashford Showroom Open Mon to Fri 7.30 - 5.00pm. Sat 8.30 - 12.00pm. Chart House, Dencora Way. Ashford TN23 4FH
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STANFORD Conservatory & Building COMPANY
07/12/2009 07/12/2009
11:42 11:42
Page Page 11
www.stanfordconservatories.co.uk All Work Fully Insured Start & Completion Times Guaranteed
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Conservatories - Advice, design & CAD Paths, patios, driveways, block or paving Decking and Car Ports General building & renovations General Maintenance & Repairs
e: stanfordconservatories@gmail.com
01303 812889 • 07710 077711
In In South South East East Kent Kent there there is is only only one one company company to to turn turn to to for for your your double double glazing glazing and and conservatory conservatory requirements requirements “ ” • • Windows A Rated Windows • Windows • • Conservatories Conservatories Conservatories • ••Doors Doors Doors & Facia • ••Soffits Soffi & Soffits ts & Facias Facias • •Door Canopies WEATHERMAN HOME WEATHERMANWINDOWS HOME IMPROVEMENTS IMPROVEMENTS WEATHERMAN LIMITED
15 Bank Street, Ashford, Kent TN23 1DE 15 & Bank Street, Ashford, Kent Kent TN23TN23 1DE 1DE 13 15 Bank Street, Ashford,
Established 1985
TEL: TEL:01233 01233643242 643242 www.weathermanhome.co.uk www.weathermanwindows.co.uk www.weathermanhome.co.uk 8
Pets
CONSERVATORY REPAIRS RESOLVING LEAKS, REPAIRS, CLEANING & MAINTAINING
M & C Conservatory Maintenance
01233 349 012 07496542362 www.mcconservatories.co.uk
‘Restoring Perfection to Your Conservatory’
• Cleaning • Maintenance & Repairs • Leadwork & Guttering • New Roofs • Misted/Broken Down Glass Units • Painting & Varnishing • Fully Insured
For a Free Quote Please Call
012 3 3 50 0719 / 07 8 3 0 0 6 9 9 91 Patios Footpaths • Artificial Grass • Patios Driveways • Footpaths Driveway Repairs • Driveways • Driveway Repairs • Block Paving Block Paving Driveway Extensions • Driveway Extensions • Car Parks Car Parks Concrete Pads • Sports Courts • Concrete Pads Sports Courts Groundwork • Groundwork • Fencing Patios Fencing Footpaths t: 01233 349 012 m: 07496 542362 Artificial Grass Driveways Driveway Repairs www.kentsurfacingcontractors.co.uk Block Paving Driveway Extensions KILBYS CHIMNEY SWEEP www.kentsurfacingcontractors.co Car Parks Concrete Pads • Pots/Cowls/Birdguards Fitted Brush and Vac
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• Certificates Issued • Fully Insured Sports Courts Groundwork • ICS Registered • Family Run, Est 1983 Fencing 01233 840948 07756007428 www.cosystovesandfireplaces.co.uk Artificial Grass
Free yy Wood Burner Installations Surveys yy Chimney Sweeps yy Servicing T: 07387 576483
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Main Road, Sellindge, Ashford, TN25 6EQ
HOMEFRESH CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING Spring 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
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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
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CURTAINS Full Length £84 £42 Half Length £52 £26 NO HIDDEN EXTRAS - All prices inclusive of VAT 9
Home & Interiors A Home With Character
By Katherine Sorrell
digging a little deeper and considering some more architectural alterations – though they don’t necessarily have to cost a fortune. Here are a few suggestions.
There’s more to interior style than eye-catching accessories. Consider introducing an appealing sense of charm and character with these interesting ideas. Is your home lacking in an indefinable something? Has it lost its period features? Would it benefit from a dash of gravitas, some appealing detailing or maybe a larger intervention that restores authenticity or aids functionality? While wallpaper, paint, furniture and window treatments can go a long way towards creating a beautiful interior, they can’t solve every problem. Sometimes it is worth
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Improve your floors If you have original timber boards beneath your floor coverings, you are very lucky. And if they are in good condition, luckier still. Sanding them back, then staining and/or oiling them, is a relatively straightforward procedure for a competent DIYer who is willing to hire the right equipment (don’t forget lots of sandpaper and a face mask) and spend the time – or you can employ a professional. If the boards are in poor condition, renovation is possible to an extent, or you might consider replacing them with reclaimed boards that match the style of your home. Homes built between the late 19th century and the middle of the 20th often feature colourful, patterned geometric or encaustic tiles, generally along the hallway and garden path. Even if they are
discoloured or damaged, chances are the tiles are repairable. Find the right specialist to sort them out, and the results will be dramatic. Think about mouldings From skirting to ceiling roses, door surrounds to dados, mouldings are the building blocks of a home, contributing enormously to its overall look. Getting them right is not always straightforward; it is worth researching carefully, as they should correspond in scale and design to the age and style of your architecture. Modern replicas are often available, but sometimes it is necessary to go to a specialist, and this is not cheap. How easy they are to alter will depend very much on your individual circumstances – but this is definitely a project to bear in mind if you are considering renovation work. What about woodwork? In many a living room that lacks storage, the answer is easy: build across the recesses either side of the fireplace, with cupboards below and display shelving above. Functional and good looking – and the same goes for alcove shelving elsewhere, window seats, wardrobes and other forms of built-in joinery (even kitchen and bathroom units). As with mouldings, however, do take the time to consider how these additions work with your home overall, so that they complement it in terms of both scale and detailing. And, naturally enough, if you are
The Home the proud owner of completely inappropriate built-in storage or seating, you might want to plan for removing and replacing them when possible. Another element of a home that can easily be overlooked is your doors. You might never think about them from one year to the next but, in fact, replacing poor quality or badly designed interior doors with beautiful ones is a major enhancement. In a period home you might seek out reclaimed examples or find wellmade reproductions; you could also decide whether it would be a good idea to paint them or, conversely, strip them (the same goes for wooden shutters, if you possess them). While on the subject of woodwork, might panelling of some form enhance a room or hallway? It comes in a wide variety of styles, from Jacobean
to contemporary, and is relatively easy to fit – especially if your walls are straight, smooth and dry. Get the lighting right There are two reasons for improving your built-in lighting – either the illumination within the rooms is inadequate or imbalanced, or the look of the fittings themselves could be improved. You might decide to be discreet and opt for minimal downlighters in the ceiling, choose simple wall lights or versatile LED strips, or go for full-on drama with huge, eyecatching chandeliers; either way, plan this well and you will love your new look. All in the details Cupboard knobs, door and window furniture, light switches, plug sockets, even the humble pull cord – such small details build up into a big picture of your
home which make an enormous difference to your perception of it. If you have cheap plastic light switches, for example, you can have them swapped quite easily (and at relatively little expense) for swish, upmarket ones which are not only lovely to look at but also pleasant to touch every time you use them. The same goes for door and window furniture: think, for example, how different your front door would look with a gorgeous, matching set of letterbox, bell and numbers.
Main Image: You can buy panelling off the peg or, as here, made bespoke to suit your room. Price varies, Titchmarsh & Goodwin: 01473 252158; www. titchmarsh-goodwin.co.uk.
CALL US NOW ON: 01233 770850 www.banbury-group.co.uk
CCTV & ALARMS We install alarms to British Standards using a range of electors employing infra-red beam, vibration, acoustic and seismic technologies is available for use with control units suitable for the requirements of your building.
FLEXIBLE APPPOINTMENTS ARE ARRANGED WITH YOU FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE This along with our competitive prices has kept our customers returning time and time again. 11
Quality, Made to Measure Blinds at Affordable Prices FREE HOME DESIGN SERVICE
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Call: 01233 226570
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E: info@jlsblinds.co.uk W: www.jlsblinds.co.uk
Units 3 & 4 Kingfisher Business Centre Henwood Industrial Estate Ashford, Kent. TN24 8DH
Tel: 01233 647699 Call in NOW for some amazing appliance bargains Live in luxury with a new kitchen from Stelline Interiors. With virtually unlimited styles and finishes to choose from, there’s sure to be something to suit your taste and budget.
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The Home Designer kitchens without the designer price tags! Email: info@aloninteriors.co.uk Website: www.aloninteriors.co.uk
Now offering interest free credit* Terms and conditions apply*
Head Office & Showroom: Alon Interiors 785 London Road Larkfield ME20 6DE Tel:01732 843900
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Marooned! One of the things conveyancers have to consider when advising clients on the sale and purchase of properties is whether there is a gap between what the seller owns and the publicly maintained highway. Highway authorities keep precise records of the extent of publicly maintained highways (including footpaths and verges) and for a fee will provide a definitive map. Comparing this with the plan of the seller’s title will disclose whether or not there is a gap. If there is a gap, the question arises as to what right the owner has to pass from his property to the highway and from the highway to his property. Frequently, the title information does not provide the answer to that question and it is not always possible to establish who owns the intervening land. However, the owner and any previous owners may well have been exercising a right of way over the gap for a long period without the permission of any other person and, in those circumstances, the usual solution is for the owner to make a Statutory Declaration as to the exercise of the means of access, supported by anFlooring Indemnity Policy. The Specialists
0 d 9.9 out of 1 Proudly rate
• Family
• Charities
• Residential Conveyancing
• Civil Liberties
• Wills
• Complete Legal Care
• Probate
• Debt Recover y
• Trusts
• Employment
• Commercial Propert y
• Personal Injur y
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• Licensing
• Business Ser vices
• Mediation
Call: 01580 762248 Email: info@pengelly-rylands.co.uk www.pengelly-rylands.co.uk Visit: 39/41 High Street, Tenterden, Kent, TN30 6BJ
In practice, therefore, this is not usually a problem to resolve but what is a problem is the time and expense involved. Call: 01580 762248 Email: info@pengelly-rylands.co.uk www.pengelly-rylands.co.uk 39/41 High Street, Tenterden, Kent TN30 6BJ
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m by our custo
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at the top of Charing Hill, TN27 0NL 01233 714999 charingcarpets.co.uk
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Pride & Groom
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All Breeds of Dogs Groomed sue@loveithere.co.uk
Includes:
Solid Style
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Conservation Work • Doors & Windows • Mouldings & Repair Sections • Replacement Sashes & Casements • Garage Doors • Equestrian Joinery T: 01233 731183 • Free Estimates E: solidjoinery@aol.com
Groomer with 24 yrs Experience Call Carol:
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Call Tony: 07979 220224 / 01233 610402 e: info@thornbys.co.uk www.thornbys.co.uk 15
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES PROBATE FEES AND INHERITANCE TAX
The Governments plans to raise Probate Fees from a flat fee of £215 to a graduated scale from £300 to £20,000 will mean that relatives will have to go cap in hand to the banks to borrow money for the Probate Fees as well as funeral costs. Probate (or Letters of Administration where there is no will) has to be obtained before the Executor or Administrator can release the deceaseds assets to pay expenses and the legacies as per the will or intestacy laws. He or she is usually a relative who may not have the wherewithal to pay the new level of Probate Fees. Estate Value
Fees
Estate Value
Up to £50,000 £50,001 to £300,000 £300,001 to £500,000 £500,001 to £1m
£0 £300 £1,000 £4,000
£1,001m to £1.6m £1.6m to £2m Above £2m
Fees £8,000 £12,000 £20,000
This will inevitably lead to the banks insisting on carrying out the Probate work and charging their own Probate Fees for carrying out the work. Their charges for doing this work are around 3% of the value of the estate and even 4% in some cases. For an estate of say £510,000 (house £350,000 other assets £160,000) a Probate fee of £4,000 will be payable to the Government. If the bank lends this fee and grabs the probate work a further £26,000 will be payable to the bank. This cost compares to that of a specialist Probate accountants of about £3,000! Another unintended consequence arises in the case of co-inhabiting partners (a common law wife or husband an old fashioned parlence) who fails to make a will. When he or she dies their partner has no automatic right to anything unless the deceased has made provision in his or her will. The laws of intestacy do not recognise an unmarried partner unlike general civil law. However, if there is a surviving child from their union the surviving partner can claim the whole estate of the deceased on behalf of the child. The estate will then be held in Trust for the child until he or she is 18. The surviving partner can be a Trustee alongside another and provision can be made for the childs maintenance and education, holidays etc. Another unintended consequence is in respect of the payment of Estate Duty (Inheritance Tax). It is payable on the last day of month following six months from date of death e.g Date of Death 3rd January 2017. IHT payable 31st July 2017. Therefore if Probate is not obtained in the six month period there will probably not be sufficient funds available to pay Inheritance Tax so the Executors would have to borrow money to pay the tax. One way of avoiding this situation is to ensure that you put your bank and savings accounts into joint names with your spouse or partner so that the survivor can continue drawing on the account. Also, the account will pass automatically to them without the need for Probate. The best way of avoiding unintended consequences is to draw up a Will to ensure that your wishes are clearly set out. It is not expensive and will give peace of mind to the whole family. Any Probate Specialist or Solicitor can help you draw up a properly constructed Will. For immediate help telephone 01233 712112
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COUNTY PROBATE SERVICES Easing the Financial Stress
The loss of a loved one can be an emotional and overwhelming experience. The extra burden of obtaining Probate can often prove daunting. Probate Probate has to be obtained in order to release the deceased person’s assets so that any Inheiritance Tax can be paid and the remainder of the estate distributed to beneficiaries, as directed by the deceased’s Will. If there is no Will then the estate will be distributed according to rules laid down by the Act of Parliament. Cost Beware of banks and solicitors who charge a fixed percentage of the value of the deceased’s estate; typically 3% or 4%. This can amount to £12,000 + VAT on a relatively modest estate of £300,000. We at County Probate Services would charge according to the time expended. In the example above the charge would be around £1,000 + VAT. CONTACT
01233 712112 - info@countyprobateservices.com 65 High Street, Charing, TN27 0LS
County Probate Services Limited is authorised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales to carry out the reserved legal activity of non-contentious probate in England & Wales
A Fresh Approach to Business and Personal Legal Issues. Your Peace of Mind Starts Today… I am Ian Morris, Your Go to Lawyer. I believe there is a better way to make the best legal advice available to every person who wants or needs it. My aim is to ensure that you, my client, can speak to me regarding any legal matter and I will offer you the best solution to suit your circumstances. Just think of me as your "legal GP" to whom you can turn for advice and help with any legal problem. With over 30 years of experience in the law, as Your Go To Lawyer I can help you with any legal issue and together with my hand picked team of experts will deliver a better quality service at half of the cost of other options you may be considering.
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As Your Go To Lawyer I will: • be open and transparent about fees and the time your case ought to take • involve experts at the earliest opportunity • make the process as stress-free as possible for you For more information or to make an enquiry, visit www.gotolawyer247.co.uk (where you can also read my latest article) or contact me now on 01233 808999 for a no-obligation discussion.
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Cake and Bake Rhubarb and Almond Tart A delicious tart with a layer of tangy roasted rhubarb topped with a sweet almond frangipane. Serve warm or cold with crème fraiche or vanilla ice cream.
Ingredients:
1. Preheat the oven to 200C/Fan 180C/Gas Mark 6. Lightly dust a
work surface with flour and roll out the pastry to about 3mm thickness. Use to line a 23cm loose-based fluted flan tin. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
• Flour, for dusting • 300g ready-made shortcrust pastry
2. Meanwhile, place the rhubarb, 25g of the caster sugar and the
orange juice in a shallow roasting tin. Roast in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes until just tender, turning once. Leave to cool.
• 250g rhubarb, trimmed and chopped • 175g caster sugar
3. Trim off the excess pastry from around the edge of the chilled
pastry case and prick the base all over with a fork. Line the case with baking paper and baking beans and bake blind for 10 minutes. Remove the beans and lining and bake for a further 5 minutes until pale golden.
• 3 tbsp orange juice • 150g unsalted butter, melted • 125g ground almonds
4. Strain the rhubarb from the roasting juices and spoon into the
pastry case. Beat together the melted butter, remaining caster sugar, ground almonds, vanilla extract and eggs in a bowl until smooth and creamy. Gently spread over the rhubarb.
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract • 2 medium eggs, beaten • Icing sugar, for dusting
Serves 8 Ready in 1 hour 30 minutes, plus chilling time 18
5. Bake the tart for 30-35 minutes until the topping is golden and just set. Serve warm or cold dusted with icing sugar. See tip for serving suggestion.
TIP
For a stylish way to serve the tart, pipe swirls of fruit puree or sieved jam onto individual serving plates before gently placing the slices on top. Decorate with tiny fresh mint or basil sprigs.
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Camembert & Red Pepper Tarts Makes 4
Ready in 45 minutes
A really quick and easy snack, starter or light supper dish made with just five ingredients.
Ingredients: • 2 large red peppers, deseeded and cut into strips • 1 tbsp olive oil • 250g puff pastry • 150g Camembert cheese, thinly sliced • 150g bag rocket and watercress salad
TIP
Add extra flavour by spreading a thin layer of pesto sauce or tomato chutney in the pastry square before topping with the pepper and cheese.
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Preheat the oven to 220C, 200C Fan, Gas Mark 7. Place the pepper strips in a shallow roasting tin. Drizzle over the olive oil and roast for 15 minutes until just tender. Leave to cool. Roll the pastry out on a lightly floured surface to a rough square shape the thickness of a pound coin. Trim with a sharp knife to make a 26cm square. Cut into 4 x 13cm squares. Place the squares of pastry on a baking sheet lined with baking paper. With the tip of the knife, score a border in each pastry square about 1cm in from the outer edge. Top each pastry square with some of the roasted pepper strips and cheese slices. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until the pastry is risen and golden and the cheese has melted. Serve warm with the salad leaves.
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Repairs to... Washing Machines Cookers (Electric) Tumble Driers Dyson Vacuum Specialist Call Garry on 07958 640152 01233 632329
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) Rye Market Every Thursday at the Cattle Market Car Park. Early till around 3pm (depending on the weather)
Rye Country Market Formerly WI Market Rye Community Centre, Conduit Hill. Every Friday 10am -11.30am
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Unique professional intensive valet process Range & AGA specialist All ovens, hobs, extractor fans & microwaves Environmentally friendly, no toxic chemicals, no fumes Contact Richard at Ovenu Ashford 01233 380023 or 0800 1409800 See www.ovenu.co.uk for a video and more info Have you been cooking? Treat yourself to a clean oven!
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: 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 2017
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 twinklewood@btinternet.com Info on website www.towertheatrefolkestone. co.uk THE BEST OF BRITISH JAZZ May 2nd / £12 Big Band in The Jazz Club THE CHRISTCHURCH UNIVERSITY BIG BAND Directed by Steve Waterman May 11th / £12 THE CLARK TRACEY QUINTET
The Brit Jazz Award Winning drummer with his amazing Young Guns May 16th / £12 THE XENOPOULOS / PRICE
QUARTET International Jazz at it’s Best
May 25th / £12 THE MICK FOSTER SEXTET
( Play the authentic Gerry Mulligan ) June 1st / £12 JEFF HOOPER Quartet
The UK’s Number One big band singer June 8th / £12 ALAN BARNES - BRUCE ADAMS
ALL STAR SEXTET Play the music of Ellington & Hodges
June 15th / £12 LOUISE MARSHALL with THE
DEREK NASH BAND From The Jools Holland Rhythm & Blues Orchestra
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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W h a t’s O n Boldshaves Gardens, Woodchurch - open for the 2017 season every weekday Monday - Friday, 2-6pm, until Friday 13th October. See www.boldshaves.co.uk for further information.’ Afternoon Cream Tea and Cakes in aid of ‘Make a Wish’ , a charity which organises special experiences for children with life threatening illnesses. Saturday 6th May at Hamstreet Village Hall, from 2-4pm. Stalls including homemade cakes, toys and books, plants, tombola and bric a brac. “Now is The Month Of Maying”, a seasonal selection, sacred and secular, including Magnificat, Madrigals, and Spirituals sung by The Grove Singers Of London, directed by Tim RhysMorgan, Organist John Witchell. Charing Parish Church Saturday 13th May at 7.30 pm. Tickets £8 in advance, £5 for students and £10 at the door. Contact either 01233 712942 or 01233 713364 for tickets. Proceeds are for Charing Parish Church. Ashford Flower Club is hosting a floral art demonstration Tuesday 16th May by National demonstrator Tricia Bashford entitled ‘Floral Fantasia’ at Furley Hall, Maidstone Road, Ashford TN24 8TX. Demonstration starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are £5.00, and can be purchased in advance by contacting 01233 628278 or 01303 269422. The Weald of Kent Computer Club will meet on Wednesday 17th May 2017 in Biddenden New Village Hall at 7.30 pm. This evening there will be a talk on “Preparing a PowerPoint type presentation”. Annual membership is £10.00. Nonmembers are welcome at £2 a visit. Full details: http://www.wealdofkentcomputerclub.co.uk/ Enquiries: secretarywkcc@yahoo.co.uk The Biddenden Horticultural Society meets on Wednesday 24th May for a visit to ‘Timbers’ in East Farleigh. Cost is £7.50 to include tea and cake. We will meet in the Post Office car park at 5:50pm for our usual car share and to arrive in East Farleigh for 6:30pm. If you would like to join us for the evening please contact us to make your booking as we have to inform our hosts of expected numbers prior to the 24th. Contact Irene on 01580 291777 or Lesley on 01580 291931. Biddenden Flower Festival “Books in Bloom” Saturday 27th May - Monday 29th May 10am-
5pm at All Saints Church Biddenden. Free Admission. Stunning floral displays, Refreshments, music. “Songs of Praise service 6pm Sun. Contact 01580291463 Woodchurch Art Society will be holding their popular annual Art Exhibition at the Woodchurch Memorial Hall Friday 26th May 7 - 9pm, Saturday 27th May 10am -4pm and Sunday 28th 10am - 4pm. Over 200 paintings on display, artist in residence. Have a go Joe’ for the children, raffle, cards and tombola. Delicious home made cakes and refreshments. Everyone welcome, FREE ENTRY John Harvey Art Exhibition at Challock Church Thursday 27th, Friday 28th, & Saturday 29th May, Spring Bank Holiday 10 – 5pm. Free entrance, Teas & Refreshments available. In aid of Challock Church. Enjoy the gentle art of John Harvey’s traditional Kent landscapes. Original watercolours, many never been seen before. www. john harveyartist.com 01233 740555.
St Margaret’s Church Bethersden Boot Fair at Bethersden Cricket Field will be held on Saturday 3rd June 11am-4pm. Cars £7, vans £10. No caterers. Refreshment available. Contact no 01233 820728 Would you like to rekindle an old interest in painting?
Send Your Events to events@thevillagedirectory.co.uk
Is there a budding artist in you? Or just want to try something new?
Then why not join us at the
Bethersden Art Group in the Village Hall, Bethersden Thursday evenings 7.30 – 9.30pm For ten weeks cost circa £25 Autumn term starts September 22nd
JOIN ATANY TIME DURING YEAR
Beginners & Experienced All are welcome Visiting Artist – Helga Picknell For further details, contact:
Jennifer - 01233 820 247
SELLINGE BOOT FAIR
Every second Saturday in the month May - September 12 noon start Sellindge Sports and Social Club 69, Swan Lane, Sellindge
WOODCHURCH BOOT FAIR Every first Sunday in the month from 9am until 12 noon at Woodchurch Scout & Guide Community Centre, Lower Road Woodchurch.
HAMSTREET BOOT FAIR First Sunday in the month April - December 9am - 12 noon Victory Hall/Field Food, Bargains, Toilets
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Clubs & Societies Considered Yoga for 2017 but thought you are not flexible enough? Good news! You are exactly who our classes are aimed at! Every Tuesday 6.30-8pm at Charter Hall, Smarden, Yoga & Relaxation Classes. Seated options are given for all poses, we use blocks & straps to ensure all poses are adapted to your own ability! Physically, we work on strength & flexibility. Mentally, we will work on stress & anxiety reduction using breathing techniques & meditation. £10 drop in or 6 weeks blocks at £8 per class. Feel free to come along or contact 07933 030071 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 Jo’anne Munro on 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. Egerton Over 60’s meet on the 2nd Monday of each month, we enjoy stimulating speakers, delicious teas in a relaxing atmosphere and meet new friends. Come and try us--just turn up at the Egerton Millennium Hall by 2pm, we’d love to see you.Bring your Zimmer frame, scooter or crutches you’ll receive help. Want to know more? Call 01233 712 282 or 756 294. 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 24
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 or visit:- www. wealdofkentcomputerclub.co.uk East Kent Morris Men and Women: Do you like dancing, drinking, socialising, music, having fun? Then why not try Morris Dancing? We are recruiting now for new members. This is a mixed side of women and men dancing together. Weekly Wednesday dance practices start again on September 21st 2016 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 Tenterden Camera Club - A chance for members and guests to meet socially and discuss photography, exchange ideas, tips and problems. We have an informal “Snap Chat” meeting at 7.30pm in the William Caxton on Tenterden High St on the first Monday of each month to discuss photographic issues. There is no charge and all are welcome - just buy yourself a drink... We also meet fortnightly (2nd Thursday & 4th Wednesday each month) in the upstairs meeting room at the Zion Baptist Church, Bridewell Lane in Tenterden. Every month we have a fun project or theme
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for members to capture, complimented by the occasional local outings. Most months we have a speaker and at the end of the month (Fourth Wednesday) we have a social club evening. New members and guests very welcome. Full details on our web site: www.TenterdenCameraClub.co.uk
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25
Hobbies A Micro-Brew Hobby With Macro Potential By Kate McLelland Late last year a study carried out by a London estate agent showed that microbreweries now outperform the socalled ‘Cappucino Index’ (which measures how many new coffee shops have opened) as an indicator that a neighbourhood is “on the up”. The popularity of microbreweries – small factories set up to produce craft beers, ciders and lagers – is undeniable, but they are simply doing what home brewers have done for years, on a larger scale. Their products capitalise on our love of handcrafted brews, created for their unique flavour and complex notes, as opposed to the generic and often quite bland styles of the famous brands. SIBA, the Society of Independent Brewers, started in 1980 with 20 members but it now boasts 850 members in the UK, many of whom started out as home brewers. Rob Witt, who runs a multi award-winning Nottingham microbrewery, acknowledges that brewing at home is the best way to learn. He says: “I have a lot of people coming to the brewery asking about
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setting up themselves, but they have never even home brewed. It takes time to understand the finer points of the process and how the many ingredients taste and can work together.” Home brew is not just easy on the taste buds: it’s also easy on the wallet. Wherever you travel in the UK, you are likely to pay over £3 for a pint of beer, and in London this rises to almost £4 per pint. Compare this with well under £1 a pint for home brew and you’ll start to realise why this hobby has become so popular. Starting out The simplest way to try your hand at home brewing is to buy a kit. You’ll also need a fermenting bin, some water and a warm place to leave your brew. You can buy kits to match virtually any style of beer, cider or lager. They generally consist of a sachet of dried yeast and one or two cans of concentrated malt extract. The amount of malt extract not only determines the flavour and body of the finished beer, it also provides the fermentable sugars that produce the alcohol, therefore
the more malt you add, the stronger the brew. The ‘fermenting bin’ is a big bucket large enough to contain all the water required in the recipe. A standard 25ltr/40 pint fermenter should easily cope with all your brewing needs, as most beer, cider and lager kits make 36-40 pints. Beer is mostly made of water and different regional styles are the direct result of the water available in the areas in which they are brewed. For example, the soft water found in the Alps is perfect for brewing lagers, while the limescale-rich waters found in Dublin and south-east England are most suitable for porters and stouts. When you are making your own beer, you can either experiment with your local water supply or buy in bottled water (low cost, own-brand supermarket water is fine). Once the beer kit contents have been combined with water, the mixture is known as ‘wort’. Yeast is the seemingly magical ingredient that transforms the ingredients in your kit into the final product, but it
can be temperamental. Many home brewing experiments fail because the temperature is allowed to rise above or fall below the level required. The ‘wort’ blend should reach a temperature of between 18 and 24ºC before the yeast is added and while this probably won’t be hard to achieve during the summer, you may need to wrap your fermentation bin in an insulated jacket or use a thermostatic heater to maintain the right temperature in winter. The fermentation process can take between 4-8 days, depending on the temperature achieved, and is complete when the yeast has converted as much of the sugar as it can to alcohol. Some people choose to ferment under an
airlock until the correct ‘gravity’ is reached, while others ferment in a closed container with a loose fitting lid, using a hydrometer to measure the specific gravity of the brew. This is known as the ‘primary stage’ of brewing and there is a further process to come, in which the beer in transferred into bottles, barrels or a secondary container and allowed to settle for a few days, so the sediment can drop, producing a clearer beer. More sugar (known as ‘priming sugar’) is added to the beer at the bottling stage to improve the brew’s foam, aroma and taste. The priming process – which ultimately produces the carbonated beer drink we’re all familiar with – typically takes around two weeks and at this stage you’ll need all your
reserves of patience to wait until your home brew is ready to drink! If you have any concerns about the way your brew is progressing, there is a wealth of information on the internet, so just go online to take advantage of seasoned brewers’ advice. When the moment to drink your freshly brewed beer, lager or cider arrives, you’ll have a real sense of achievement. You may not feel ready to run a microbrewery just yet, but you’ll certainly be more popular with your friends and neighbours!
Live music May Day Bank Holiday, Sunday 28th May from 7pm Monday Evening
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Buy one Meal and Get One Free (selected menu)
Tues - Fri Lunch Senior Citizens Meals 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.
Wednesday Night Carvery
Two roast meats plus all the trimmings £7.95 pp
Friday Fish & Chips Special Eat In or Takeaway £6.95
Sunday Lunch Carvery
A selection of two roast meats with trimmings £7.95 pp 27
Kid’s Corner
28
Parenting Safety First by Kate Duggan
As a parent, your main priority is keeping your child safe. Children, however, often have other ideas. From launching themselves off the back of the sofa to chewing on gravel, they seem to have an innate ability to endanger themselves. Thankfully, it’s never been easier for parents to learn basic first aid. LEARN FIRST AID AT HOME, FOR FREE While nothing beats hands on training, a video course can help prepare you for an emergency. ChannelMum.com has teamed up with St John Ambulance to produce a series of short first aid videos aimed at parents. They cover everything from seizures and choking to allergic reactions and burns. Available to watch for free on www.channelmum.com/ firstaidcourse, the videos offer practical advice that’s simple to follow and easy to remember. Most are just a few minutes long, so you could plan to watch one a day in your lunch break. www.futurelearn.com also runs regular free online first aid courses. They’re mainly video based, with some articles, group discussions and quizzes.
QUICK HOME FIXES Around 60 children die in household accidents every year. So it’s well worth taking some time to look for any potential hazards. Try to see things from your child’s point of view – get on your hands and knees if needs be. What sharp corners could they bump into? What furniture could tip over if they tried to climb it? What might they be tempted to chew or taste? Simple fixes include: • Securing heavy items, such as TVs and bookcases, so they can’t topple over if your child pulls at them, or uses them as a climbing frame. • Locking away any toxic substances, including household cleaning products. Dishwasher tablets are often brightly coloured and very appealing to a young child, but they can be deadly if swallowed. • Tying up any blind cords and other strings that a child could get caught up on. • Cutting up grapes, cherry tomatoes and other fruit lengthwise, before giving them to your child, to minimise the risk of choking. NEW CAR SEAT REGULATIONS You may have heard that new car seat rules have been introduced,
banning backless booster seats for young children. All the rules actually mean is that manufacturers can’t introduce new models of backless booster seats for children shorter than 125cm or weighing less than 22kg. So if you already use a booster seat, you don’t have to change it. That being said, high back booster seats have been found to offer much greater protection to young children than backless ones. So it might be time for an upgrade. If you are planning to buy a new seat, look for one that offers some side impact protection, such as those by Diono. The Diono MXT, £85, is a good choice. Unlike some seats, both height and back width can be adjusted very easily, so it can be used for children between 97 and 160cm tall. There’s a choice of four colours and the covers are removable and washable. Our testers (aged five and seven) found the MXT very comfortable. It also kept them in an upright position when they slept, rather than allowing them to slump over. And they loved the snack trays (mainly for storing seashells and crayons) - see www. uk.diono.com.
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Health
By Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk
These Boots (and Bodies) Are Made for Walking OTHER BENEFITS OF WALKING Accessibility: Walking can be done anytime, anywhere; as part of an everyday journey to school, work or activities, or a special trip. You’re not obviously ‘exercising’, which may reduce any selfconsciousness.
May is National Walking Month. Yes; sadly, simple old walking needs promoting. Many of us walk far less than previous generations did, yet walking is great for our health and brings other benefits, too. THE HEALTH BENEFITS Walking as exercise shouldn’t be underrated. Regular walking is proven to reduce the risk of stroke, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma, obesity and some cancers, and helps maintain musculoskeletal health. On average, walking 10,000 steps burns 400kcal a day. Walking can also lift your mood and reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Countryside walks also offer nature, tranquillity and fresh air. While our skin and eyes do need protection from unhealthy UV exposure, some UV light is essential for good health. The UV light we absorb while walking can alleviate depression, help to regulate our body clock and stimulate Vitamin D production. Vitamin D boosts immunity, aids blood cell formation and helps us absorb calcium and phosphorous, necessary for healthy bones and teeth. The World Health Organisation says 5 to 15 minutes of casual sun exposure of hands, face and arms 2 to 3 times a week during summer is enough to keep vitamin D levels high.
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Social: You can walk with a family member or friend, allowing you quality time together. You may meet other people while walking or choose to join a walking group or health walk (see links below). Environmental: Every time we walk to work, school, shops or activities instead of using transport, we reduce pollution and congestion, helping the environment and improving everyone’s health and safety both now and in the future. Financial: Simple, level walks require no special clothes or equipment. It’s free exercise that can reduce travel costs, too. WALKING DOS AND DON’TS DO wear comfortable, weatherappropriate clothes and footwear. Any comfy footwear and your usual clothes are fine for walking around streets or parks, but you’ll need proper walking boots if walking in rural or hilly areas and waterproofs for bad weather. In warmer weather, remember a sun hat and sunglasses (your eyes can be damaged by the sun’s UV rays just as your skin can). Apply sun cream before and during your walk. DO be prepared and safe. Ensure you take a drink and a snack, especially on hot days and long or more rural walks. Know where you’re going and how long it will take (and consider telling
someone). Know what weather to expect and don’t play music too loudly - be aware of what’s happening around you. DON’T ignore pain from footwear. Head back. Blisters can quickly become agonising. DON’T ignore weather warnings or advice from walking guides, whether written or human, and leave long or challenging hikes until you’re fitter and more experienced. WALKING ROUTES AND GROUPS
www.livingstreets.org.uk – a charity site with a wealth of useful links and information. www.walkinginengland.co.uk thousands of free downloadable walks. www.walk4life.info - find routes, organised walks and walking groups. www.walkingforhealth.org.uk a popular scheme offering 1,800+ free, short walks every week. Search for those near you. www.nationaltrail.co.uk helping you find great walks in England and Wales, whether you want a day out, a good icecream, a short walk or a 630-mile adventure. www.ramblers.org.uk - a charity protecting footpaths, promoting walking and organising walking groups.
Health & Beauty
For more information please visit
www.ultrashape3d.com or call 01233 224987 e: ultrashape3d@gmail.com
Evegate Business Park, Park Grange, Smeeth, Ashford TN25 6SX Ample FREE Parking
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Beauty Here Comes The Sun by Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk
A coconut hair treatment, homemade body scrub and the perfect day-tonight palette…meet your new summer beauty kit. Lighter evenings are a great excuse for after-work drinks. Bobbi Brown’s new Sultry Nude Eye and Cheek Palette, £48, is perfect for popping in your handbag ready for cocktail hour. The four eyeshadows have a slight metallic shimmer and the blush suits most skin tones. Easy to apply, with great staying power, the powders are housed in a very lust-worthy gold case. The only downside is the lack of brushes. See www. bobbibrown.co.uk. If your lips are feeling a bit dry and flaky, Clarins’ Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil, £19, could be the answer. It’s packed with nourishing oils, including hazelnut and jojoba, so helps to soothe and moisturise lips. Less sticky than lipgloss, it hides dry patches and adds a touch
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of colour. The Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil is available in four shades, including a lip plumping Mint. My favourite is Honey Glam, which gives you a shimmery golden pout. See www.clarins. co.uk. A sugar scrub is ideal for exfoliating legs that have been hidden away for months on end. And it’s surprisingly quick and easy to make one at home. Just add around two tablespoons of olive oil to four tablespoons of sugar. You’re aiming for a mixture that’s easy to massage into your skin, but not so liquid that it’ll drip all over your bath mat. The sugar acts as a natural exfoliator, and the olive oil is very moisturising, so it’ll leave your skin feeling much smoother. You can also add extra ingredients to the basic scrub. Honey helps your skin to repair itself and retain water, so try adding a tablespoon to the mix. If you’re not keen on the smell of olive oil, fragrance the scrub with a couple
Health & Beauty of drops of essential oil.
essential oils of organic rosemary, cedarwood, and lavender. You only need a small amount, less than a teaspoon. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature, but dissolves into a liquid when heated, so just warm it between your hands, then massage it through your hair. You can leave it on for 30 minutes, but I like to use it as an overnight treatment. (As an added bonus, the lavender scent helps me to sleep.) It leaves hair feeling soft, sleek and much more manageable. £6.50 from www.nealsyardremedies.com.
There are four core products in Primavera’s new Harmonising Rose and Osmanthus body care range – a body cream, bath oil, body wash and body oil. Designed to nourish skin and provide a real treat for the senses, the products are organic and full of natural ingredients. The bath oil (£22.50) is perfect for a pampering soak after a long day. It smells amazing, and leaves skin feeling soft and smooth. See www. pravera.co.uk. For hair in need of some TLC, try Neal’s Yard Remedies’ Rosemary & Cedarwood Hair Treatment. Organic coconut oil is blended with
Refexology Plus At
Tina Winterbottom MAR VISION Hair & Beauty ~ Charing
Every Friday
t: 01233 714030
VISION
Open
Monday to Friday 9-30 to 5-30pm Saturday 9-00 to 5-00pm
HAIR & BEAUTY
Late Night Appointments Available
01233 714030 www.visionhairkent.co.uk
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Your First Visit Unit 2, Brenchley Mews, School Road, Charing TN27 0JW
Beauty Treatments: Facials Massage Manicure - Pedicure Waxing / Tinting Spray Tanning Indian Head Massage Reflexology
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Puzzle Time
Word Ladder
Sudoku 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!
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.
R A I N
©Puzzlepress.co.uk
F I N E
Crossword Across 7. Scratch (6) 8. Lower spine (6) 9. Settee (4) 10. Very young frogs (8) 11. Normally (7) 13. Closes (5) 15. Not heavy (5) 17. Moves up (7) 20. Keeps you dry (8) 21. Coffee shop (4) 23. Aggravates (6) 24. End (6) Down 1. Repeat (4) 2. Yellow fruit (6) 3. E.g. snake (7) 4. Scottish river (5) 5. Level (6) 6. Skilled (8) 12. Dieting (8) 14. Mortified (7) 34
16. Terror (6) 18. Getaway (6)
19. Dental care (5) 22. Blaze (4)
The Home
Saxon Shore Early Music Kenardington Concert
recently undergone an extensive restoration and with improved parking facilities, now offers a unique medieval setting for the music of this genre. As a local resident, we hope you will be Saxon Shore Early Music Kenardington, able to support this new venture for its future (SSEMK), opened its doors in November 2015 success. and since its inception has presented concerts of the highest quality, which in turn have Tickets are available online at www.ssemk.org, received unanimous praise both from artists from the Box Office on 01233 721242, or on the for the wonderful facilities and acoustics door of Church of St. Mary from 7pm on Saturday and their audience for the approachable 20th May, the day of the concert. programmes presented. Early Musick should hopefully not deter one from experiencing the wealth of accessible music from medieval times to the mid 19th century. SSEMK presents programmes that are not only enjoyable, but offers a platform for the younger generation of musicians BEST MIX - Ready Mix Concrete/Screed as well as those who are almost household Mixed on site: names, thanks to the likes of Radio 3 and Pay only for what you need from 0.5metres Classic FM. Supply to Domestic / Building Contractors
Lancaster Builders (Kent) Ltd
The final concert of the second season welcomes one of the greats in the Early Music World. Fortepianist and harpsichordist Richard Egarr, Principal Conductor of The Academy of Ancient Music, will be joined by mezzo-soprano Daniela Lehner, (“a voice to knock you sideways”, The Daily Telegraph), in a programme of Songs by Mozart, Haydn and Dussek, with Egarr, playing a copy of a late Viennese fortepiano by Anton Brodmann, in the Fantasia and Fugue by Jan Ladislav Dussek. Their programme ends with Haydn’s tour de force, the Cantata Arianna a Naxos. The Church of St. Mary at Kenardington has
No Waste - No Danger to Environment Barrow Service Available Available 7 days a week
0785 011 5218 / 0756 842 9497
01233 720889 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 35
Plumbing & Heating Services
J.A.G.E.R
Electrical Contractors Unit 1, Mill Farm Business Untis, Bethersden TN26 3DB Professional, reliable service you can trust!
All Electrical Works Undertaken
• Domestic • Commercial • Industrial
Design & Installation / Housing New Builds Residential Rewiring / Test & Inspection Data & Communication Cabling CCTV Cable Installation / Lighting Alarm Systems / Intercom Systems Electric Gate Systems
www.jagerelectricalltd.co.uk
Office: 01233 820400 James: 07912 030 574 Elliott: 07891 175 422
info@jagerelectricalltd.co.uk
All plumbing work undertaken no job too small! Burst pipes, Blockages, Taps, Pumps, Radiators & Drainage work. Bathroom & Shower Installation
Call: Michael on 01233 733779 or 07515 651 717 No Call Out Charge. 24hr Service
• • • • •
Industrial • Commercial • Domestic New Installations • General Electrical Repairs Showers / Extractor Fans • Energy Saving Advice Emergency Lighting • Solar Panels Garden Electrics • Inspection & PAT Testing Full and Part Rewires • Central Vacuum System • Under Floor Heating
Call: 01233 665107
E: laureng@tbelectrical.org.uk
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PLUMBING & HEATING SERVICES BATHROOM SUITES BLOCKAGES & BURST PIPES TAPS BALL VALVES HOT & COLD TANKS INSTALLATIONS
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NO JOB TOO SMALL Call Noel @ Dial-a-Plumber 36
01233 642233
Oil Heating & Oil Cookers R-OAK Services M. Oakley & O.Stanley - Oil-fired Specialists Breakdowns & Servicing • Boiler Installation • Power Flushing AGA, Rayburn, Alpha, Stanley, Worcester, Tel: 01233 770138 www.ohoc.co.uk Grant, Boulter, Potterton, Trianco and more...
Derek Hales MASTER TILER SPECIALIST IN ALL FORMS OF WALL AND FLOOR TILING CLEAN, FRIENDLY AND RELIABLE
For your free quotation
Call Derek on 07905 700 142
We can design, supply and install the perfect solution for you
Walk-in showers • Walk-in baths • Wetrooms
Zero VAT on Disabled bathrooms
01233 210808 www.batheinsafety.co.uk
To find out how we can help you Call :
• British Healthcare & Trading Standards Approved • 37
Useful Information Emergency Police Neighbhd Team
999
Ashford & Tenterden Crimestoppers
101 0800 555 111
Out of Hours Doctor William Harvey Hospital
0845 4349655 01233 633331
Samaritans
116123
www.samaritans.org Electricity: Southern Electric EDF Energy Gas: Natural LPG
0845 770 8090 0800 783 8866 0800 111 999 Details on tank
Doctors Surgery The Charing Surgery 01233 714 490 Headcorn Surgery 01622 890294 Parish Councils: Biddenden: 01580 890750 Charing: 01233 713599 Egerton: 01622 853558 Headcorn: 01622 892496 Pluckley: 01233 770739 Smarden: 07752 395412 Ashford Borough Council 01233 331111 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 Veterinary Surgeons Barrow Hill Vets 01233 624687 Pierson Stewart & Partners 01580 713381 Charing Business Association www.charingkent.co.uk Volunteer Centre 01233 665 535 Age UK Ashford 01233 668 765 www.ageuk.org/ashford ageukashford.org@gmail.com CARM E: Carmromneymarsh@supanet.com 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 Bus Enquiries Arriva Bus Enquiries 0871 200 22 33 (Timetable) 08456 00 22 99 (Customer Services) National Train Enquiries: 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 01233 713317 01233 840479 01622 890708 07753 802814 01233 840395 01233 840280 01233 771947
High Pressure Jetting Service & Repair to Sewage treatment plants Soakaway Testing Cesspool Emptying Service
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.
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Sudoku: Word Ladder: RAIN lain laid land lane line FINE
Crossword:
Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance Book a talk about our life-saving work
The Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance is inviting local groups, clubs, societies and other organisations to book a talk (free of charge) to find out more about the work of the charity. By inviting one of our volunteer speakers to your group, you will be helping to raise awareness of our work and therefore ensuring we can be there for those who need us, now and in the future.
For more information or to book a talk, please contact us on:
01622 833 833 talks@kssairambulance.org.uk Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance Trust Registered Charity No. 1021367 ¡ A Company Limited by Guarantee ¡ Registered in England & Wales No. 2803242
01622 833 833 kssairambulance.org.uk info@kssairambulance.org.uk