TN26 December 2019

The

Village Directory Dec/Jan 2020 Edition • Issue 142 • Royal Mail

TN26 Area

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Hi everyone, welcome to the season of goodwill, and boy do we need some of that this year! It’s been an unsettling year, to say the least.

2020 is on the horizon and for The Village Directory it represents big changes, the first since its inception in 2005. From February 2020 all of the magazines will be published every two months, so those of you involved with events and charity promotions will need to think ahead in order to avoid missing print deadlines. I’ve received some wonderful comments regarding the importance of the magazine for promoting fund raising events, I’m immensly proud of this and would hate anyone to miss out as a result of change. As Ashford and the surrounding areas continue to grow it’s inevitable that some change will occur.

In addition to the change in frequency the magazine boundaries will also be adjusted.

They will be based on locality rather than postcode boundaries, and as a result some names will change. This TN26 Area magazine will become The Villages West and extend to Biddenden and Smarden, a new area map can be found on the inside back cover for reference.

Wherever possible events will be published across all of the magazines, unless otherwise requested.

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Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you most sincerely for your continued support of this magazine, and of all the local businesses that advertise with us. I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year. I’m now off to put my feet up with a glass of wine (after all it is Sunday!) and write my letter to Santa!

Debbie T: 01233 720488 e: info@thevillagedirectory.co.uk e: events@thevillagedirectory.co.uk w: www.thevillagedirectory.co.uk Feb/Mar Edition Deadline 10th Jan 2020

Mrs Jane Cooper GGSM, ARCM & AGSM

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The Garden (so that the new growth produced from that bud grows outwards). Secateurs are good for removing dead and dying stems as well as for formative pruning (where you are helping to ensure the plant grows in the direction you want it to), and for pruning to encourage flowering. If you are pruning out dead and dying material, bin it or burn it in case it carries infection.

Pruning Perfection Winter is perfect for pruning and cutting back woody plants, so take advantage of the fact that deciduous trees, shrubs, hedges and climbers are now bare of leaves and get stuck in. It is only in really icy or frosty weather that you need to hold back.

Remember that for your pruning to really benefit the plant, you need the right tools.

For a relatively small expanse of hedge or a shrub that needs roughly reshaping, a good, sharp pair of well-oiled shears should do the job. When cutting along a hedge top, a guide line – such as a taut string – will help you get a neat, level surface. For larger hedges a powered hedge cutter or hedge trimmer is preferable, though make sure it is not too heavy and you can use it safely.

For removal of stems at various heights and of varying thicknesses it is worth using ‘loppers’. These are available with various handle lengths (some

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even have telescopic handles), so that you can reach up higher without having to use a ladder or platform. They are much better at cutting through relatively thick stems than shears or secateurs and yet also allow for accurate positioning of the cut. Wear goggles and ideally protective headgear if you have to cut back branches above your head.

Create sloping cuts whenever you can so that rain and moisture runs off Everybody with even just a single shrub in their garden needs a pair of secateurs for pruning of smaller woody stems, and the better their quality the better the job you can do. Provided they are good and sharp, you can make a perfectly clean, neat and accurate cut. Always cut to an outward-facing bud

A proper pruning saw is necessary for pruning out or tidying up larger branches on trees and shrubs. If you choose one with one (or better still two) parallel lines of teeth you can create a very accurate and clean cut with relatively little effort. This is the perfect tool if you have fruit trees to prune. Use a sawing action for best results and again, if cutting above your head, wear goggles to protect your eyes from falling sawdust and debris. Make the pruning cut a few millimetres or so away from the main stem from which the branch you are removing is joined. A cut like this will heal over much more quickly and the wound size will be smaller and so less prone to fungal rotting.

MORE PRUNING TIPS Before you get carried away, check the best pruning time for the plants you have in mind. Most hedges and many shrubs can be cut back now, but for a good display of flowers make sure that you prune at the correct time or else you may end up pruning

The Garden out the plant’s flowering potential.

Some trees, mainly those in the Prunus family – such as edible and ornamental cherries, plums, apricots, damsons, peaches and nectarines – are very prone to a potentially fatal fungal infection known as ‘silver leaf’. This is less likely to cause problems if these trees are pruned in the summer months, so don’t prune them now unless there is no alternative and you are prepared to take the risk!

Always make sure that pruning

tools are really sharp. If they are in the slightest bit blunt then the job will not only take more effort, but you may end up with the plant being damaged as the cut made will be jagged or stems may be crushed.

Create sloping cuts whenever you can so that rain and moisture runs off and does not accumulate (wetness encourages wood rotting), and cut close to but not on top of a bud to allow new growth without dieback. When you are using shears or large scale trimmers you cannot do this,

but always do so with secateurs, loppers and saws.

Stand back from time to time when you are pruning to check the overall appearance of the plant and to help decide where you should prune next – if you are close up it is harder to see how you are affecting the overall shape of the plant.

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glowing display.

Candles, candles everywhere Nothing says Christmas like warm, flickering candlelight – even better when the candles are scented. Stay safe and keep them away from decorations, though, and always remember to extinguish them before going to bed or leaving the house.

Better still, use battery-operated candles, LED for low energy usage and very little heat, in the form of tea lights, pillars or bridge decorations.

Traditional Christmas style Our top tips for festive decorating to create a warm and welcoming look.

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A wreath on the front door A decorative essential for the Christmas season, a front-door wreath provides a wonderful festive welcome for visitors. There is an enormous variety of ready-made wreaths to choose from: classic or contemporary, heart-shaped or circular, small or large, utterly simple or lavish and complex… or why not make your own, using leaves, flowers and seed heads from the garden?

trim away any low-down or interior branches that you don’t need, and position your tree away from sunny windows and radiators. Wind with an even distribution of lights and garlands (use a stepladder if necessary, and stand back regularly to assess), then add baubles and other ornaments, making sure to hang some in the centre of branches as well as at the tips, to create a sense of depth and interest.

An impressive tree Britain’s most popular Christmas tree is the Nordmann fir, which will stay fresh for ages provided it gets enough water. The Norway spruce is less expensive, but tends to drop needles unless watered frequently. When buying a cut tree, ask the seller to saw half an inch off the bottom of the trunk to help it absorb water. Before decorating,

Mantelpieces, balustrades and pictures Drape generous armfuls of fir, ivy, holly and lush green foliage along mantelpieces and wind among balustrades – you could even add them along the tops of pictures.

Where appropriate, add pine cones, baubles, strings of tiny LED lights and maybe some small, batteryoperated candles for a gorgeous,

Piles of presents Presents under the tree look so much better when colourcoordinated and criss-crossed with ribbons and bows.

Inexpensive paper – even brown paper or newsprint – looks lovely if adorned with a home-made label, and avoiding metallic papers, which can’t be recycled, is good for the planet, too. You could even consider wrapping in fabric or employing a reusable box. For a finishing touch, add a tiny pine cone, small bauble or home-made iced biscuit.

Setting the table Laying the table can be a pleasing ritual that results in an eye-catching display. Start by setting out a special runner and your best crockery, perhaps with plates that layer in colour or that include edgings of gold.

Carefully position glassware and cutlery, and finish with greenery, pine cones, candles, baubles and other small-scale decorations, plus hand-written place settings.

Hang up some stockings Children especially love to hang a stocking for Santa, but there’s no reason why adults can’t get in on the act, too – the effect is so charming, after all. If you don’t have a handy mantelpiece, try a

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peg rail, branch, coat hooks, along the banisters or specially bought stocking hooks.

bauble or pine cone) or perhaps from rows of string using mini wooden pegs.

Arrangements of cards Don’t Christmas cards seem to arrive earlier each year?

Despite the emergence of digital alternatives, they are still a lovely way both to keep in touch with friends and family and to decorate your home. Give some thought as to how best to display them, whether it be neat rows on a shelf or mantelpiece (tall at the back, small at the front), tucked into mirrors and picture frames, stapled to ribbons and hung alongside the staircase (weight the end of the ribbon with a

Decorative displays As the festive season gets under way, additional decorative flourishes will start to signal the countdown to Christmas. Go to town with illuminated ornaments or keep it simple with a few poinsettias in pots, some bowls of clove-studded oranges and a few baubles or fairy lights bundled into a glass bowl or vase for a pretty, sparkly effect.

By Katherine Sorrell

Image left: These metallic Christmas stockings feature a Moroccan-inspired design in gold foil. They are available in white or grey and can be personalised. Gold metallic Moroccan-print Christmas stockings, £59 each, Penelope Hope: 01481 721 410; www.penelopehope.com.

Image above: This beautiful door wreath weaves red berries with foliage in greens and silver-grey to welcome Christmas guests over the threshold. Foliage and berry wreath, £85, The Real Flower Company: 01730 818 300; www.realflowers.co.uk.

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The Gift of Reading

Whether you’re buying for someone else, looking for ideas for yourself, or plan to buy a book, read it and then wrap it up (we won’t tell), there’s plenty to choose from this month.

Banksy You Are an Acceptable Level of Threat – Gary Shove & Patrick Potter This is so much more than just a coffee-table-worthy photography collection. For a start, it’s snort-out-loud funny.

It’s been updated for 2019 and now spans Banky’s career, from the early 90s to 2018.

There are anecdotes, irreverent biographical references and a few hundred photos to pore over.

The Testaments – Margaret Atwood The Testaments picks up a few years after The Handmaid’s Tale ended. It weaves together the stories of three women – Daisy, born in Gilead but raised in Canada; Agnes Jemima, who’s desperate to escape the life set out for her by her step-parents; and the infamous Aunt Lydia.

We won’t spoil it by giving away too much of the storyline, but it’s fair to say that it’s everything you hoped for and more. Perfect for fans of The Handmaid’s Tale (book or TV series).

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The Corset – Laura Purcell Ruth Butterham is on trial for

murdering her mistress. She confessed to the crime, but is she guilty or delusional?

The more that wealthy prison visitor Dorothea Truelove hears of the beaten and broken Ruth’s tale, the less sure she is of who the real villain is in the story. Is Ruth the killer, is there another murderer at large or, as Ruth seems to believe, is the real culprit something far more unlikely? Gripping historical crime fiction sure to appeal to fans of Sarah Waters.

Burn After Writing (Teen Edition) – Rhiannon Shove A journal with a difference, Burn after Writing invites teens to answer a series of questions to paint a picture of who they are, from ‘The song that makes me want to dance’ to ‘If I had a brainwashing machine, I would use it to’ and ‘Something I do that makes me feel proud of myself’. Perfect for 11 to 14 year olds. (The adult’s version is worth a look too.)

Little Robin Red Vest – Jan Fearnley This classic picture book is now 20 years old. It tells the story of

how the robin got his red vest.

(Spoiler: Father Christmas gave it to him as a reward for the robin giving away his own woolly vests.) A great story, beautiful illustrations and a feel-good message to top it all off. What more could a young child want from a book on Christmas morning?

Veg – Jamie Oliver Buying for a vegetarian? Or just someone who enjoys healthy food that tastes great and doesn’t take hours to prepare?

This book is for them. There are twists on new classics, such as Veggie Moussaka and Vegan Lasagne, and plenty of more inspired dishes that could soon become old favourites, like Masala Stuffed Peppers, Pulled Mushroom Sandwich and Crispy Cauliflower Katsu. Some take a few minutes to make from scratch, while others are more suitable for chilled-out Sunday brunches or dinners with friends.

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What’s On

L i v e Ja z z 2019 / 2020

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 7 3 8 8 1 2 7 2 2 9 All gigs start at 8pm ~ All gigs £12 admission Seat Bookings: 01303 277175 Email: folkestonejazz@gmail.com Website: www.towertheatrefolkestone.co.uk December 5th

Alex & Willie Garnett Quintet

December 10th The Jazz Christmas Party January 2nd

Derek Nash with PICANTE’

January 9th

Robert Fowler / Mark Nightingale Quintet .

January 16th

The Liane Carroll Trio

January 23rd

Matt Skelton Quintet

January 30th HEXAGONAL February 6th

Nat Steele Quintet

February 13th

Mick Foster / Karen Sharp Quintet

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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December

December 2nd Woodchurch Local History Society meets on the first Monday of the month at 7:30pm in the village Memorial Hall. December’s meeting is labelled ‘Members Evening’ and on this occasion a member will give a short presentation to be followed by wine and Christmas fare. New society members are welcome as are visitors paying £3 at the door. Geoff Turner, 01233 860393.

December 6th Biddenden Neighbourhood Watch monthly surgery at the Tiny Teapot. NHW can be contacted on 01580291931, speak to Adrian Lidgett, who is also one of your Parish Councillors December 6th-7th Bethersden WI Pantomime Group Presents Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Bethersden Village Hall on Friday 6th December 7.30 pm and Saturday 7th December 3pm and 8pm. Tickets £4.00 each available from the Bethersden post office or by calling 01233 820650 December 7th Warm Up for Christmas St Mary Magdalene Parish Church, Ruckinge from 11.30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hot homemade soup, bread and butter pudding, coffees, teas, cakes and a gift stall. Everyone welcome December 7th Spiritualist Meetings held every Saturday evening at Highbury Hall, Highbury Lane, Tenterden, TN30 6LE. Doors open at 6pm, for 6.30pm start, refreshments afterwards. December 7th - Sue Hawkins. Evening of Clairvoyance. 14th candle light service with Paul Broadway. 21st & 28th closed.

Reopen in January 18th 2020 with John King, Evening of Clairvoyance. £4. All are welcomed, we also have a page on Facebook - Tenterden Spiritualist Centre December 11th The Arts Society, Egerton meets on the second Wednesday of the month at Egerton’s Millennium Hall at 2:30pm. The talk today is ‘The Story of Wine’ by David Wright. Wine has been part of our global society for over 7,000 years. Drawings, paintings, engravings, buildings, pottery and wine labels all contribute to the story. David Wright has been a wine retailer, importer and distributor for 30 years and talks to the trade and to private audiences.

New society members are always welcome as are visitors paying £5 at the door. Geoff Turner, 01233 860393.

December 19th Ashford Concert Band Christmas Concert Join Ashford’s community band in our end of season Christmas concert for an evening of festive musical entertainment, show tunes and sing-a-longs.

Doors open 6.30pm for a 7pm start at Revelation St Mary’s, The Churchyard, Ashford. Visit www. ashfordconcertband.co.uk for more information and ticket details.

What’s On

ce Remembran services with carols

Saturday 7 December Ashford Canterbury Thanet outdoor services at Pilgrims Hospices Saturday 1 December All Souls Church, Cheriton Barham

Friday 13 December Charing Crematoriums

Saturday 14 December Assembly Rooms, New Romney Dover St Peter and St Paul Church

Sponsored by

Join Pilgrims Hospices this December to remember family and friends by dedicating a dove on our Trees of Love and come together for a remembrance service with carols.

www.pilgrimshospices.org/treesoflove | 01227 782062 21

What’s On December 21st Lees Court Singers will be returning to Smeeth Church for an Evening of Christmas music with carols starting at 7.30pm. Tickets are £10 on the door, to include seasonal refreshments. A lovely way to celebrate the Christmas season.

January 8th The Arts Society, Egerton meets on the second Wednesday of the month at Egerton’s Millennium Hall at 2:30pm. This session will hear a talk by Colin Davies entitled ‘Zaha Hadid Architectural Superstar’. This lecture tells the story of Dame Zaha Hadid, one of the most important architects of the early 21st century. Colin Davies is a Professor of Architectural Theory, a former editor of Architects Journal and an author. New society members are very welcome as are visitors who pay £5 at the door. Geoff Turner, 01233 860393.

January 15th The Weald of Kent Computer Club meets at 7.30pm in the New Village Hall Biddenden. At the time of going to print we were still awaiting confirmation from our speaker.

Please check the website for details - http://www. wealdofkentcomputerclub.co.uk Membership is £10 per year for 10 meetings but visitors are most welcome (£2 per meeting) Enquiries to secretarywkcc@yahoo.co.uk or contact Adrian Lidgett 01580 291931

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January 18th-19th Woodchurch Players present their 2020 Pantomime ‘Sherlock Holmes the Panto’ a traditional pantomime featuring the famous sleuth.

Booking now open on line www.woodchurchplayers. com – Performances Saturday 18th January (matinee & evening), Sunday 19th (matinee) Friday 24th and Saturday 25th (matinee and evening).

January 25th the Evington Village Hall, Hastingleigh will be holding their annual Jumble Sale from 2pm.

Entry 20p. All proceeds will go to the Hall funds.

TN25 5HR. January 31st Brabourne & Smeeth Gardeners’ Society’s meeting will be in the village hall commencing 7.15 for 7.30pm when there will be a presentation entitled “The Story of Cheese” by George Ward, retail manager for Cheesemakers of Canterbury.

The evening will include tasting of local cheeses, followed by tea and coffee. For any enquiries please contact Wendy Sanders on 01303 813 451, email brabournewendy@gmail.com. Or visit our website at www.basgs.com FREE Tai Chi Taster call 07587 167756. New Beginners Tai Chi Class starts Friday 10th January 930 Lympne Village Hall FREE, then £6 thereafter. Call 07587 167756.

What’s On

THE

GEORGE B E TH E R S D E N

   Christmas   FAYRE 2017  ®   

h you s i w staff ll the stmas! i r h C y a happ Superstar Soprano to perform at Saxon Shore Early MusicKenardington Elin Manahan Thomas is one of the most exceptional sopranos of her generation, performing recently at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. She is joined by Elizabeth Kenny, one of Europe’s leading lute players in a programme to warm your hearts during Advent. With a programme of delicious music from all around Europe, from Handel’s merry arias to Bach’s more contemplative hymns, what better way than to start the festive season with an evening of musical magic.

Saturday 14th December 7pm Saxon Shore Early MusicKenardington St Mary’s Church, Kenardington, TN26 2NQ Book online at www.ssemk.org Tickets on the door if still available from 6.15pm Box Office & General Enquiries: 01233 721242 Tickets: £21.00 / £18.50 / £16.00

Christmas Menu

Served from 1st - 24th December

~ Starter ~

Homemade French Onion Soup with cheddar croutons, crusty bread and butter Homemade Tempura Battered King Prawns with a sweet chilli dip and salad garnish

Homemade Mixed Game Pate wrapped in bacon with homemade red onion jam, pickles, salad garnish and toast

Garlic Button Mushrooms in a white wine, cream and parsley sauce served on toast with a salad garnish

~ Main Course ~

Roasted Breast of Turkey with pigs in blankets, roast potatoes, stuffing, honey roasted carrots, parsnips with brussel sprouts & gravy Beef Bourguignon with rosemary dumplings, braised red cabbage, honeyed carrots, crispy sage and new potatoes

Christmas menu served between 1st-- 24th December.

Pan Fried Seabass For reservations ring 01233 820 235. with crushed herb potatoes a lemon, caper and parsley butter with sauteed greens

Cranberry, brie and sprout tartlet with creamed leeks, mixed vegetables & new potatoes

~ Dessert ~

Christmas Pudding with brandy sauce Banoffee Pie Sundae with fresh banana, toffee, chocolate sauce, biscuit pieces and chantilly cream Homemade Caramelised Apple Tart Tartin with golden puff pastry and honeycomb ice cream Cheeseboard with brie, stilton and cheddar, onion chutney, grapes, celery and biscuits (£4 surcharge) Coffee or Tea with Mince Pies

2 courses £16.95 3 courses £21.95 For reservations call

01233 820235

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What’s On

Christmas Fair and Santas.pdf 1 19/09/2019 16:08:01

Christmas comes early in our festive family fun run in a town near you.

SANTAS ON THE RUN! TRI-SERIES 3k

Join your local fun run or challenge yourself to do all 3 and join our tri-series!

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Santas on the Bay! Sunday 1 December Herne Bay, CT6 5JN

Santas on the Harbour!

Sunday 8 December Folkestone, CT20 1QQ

Santas on the Seashore!

Sunday 15 December Margate, CT9 1HX

Santa suit included for everyone who registers in advance!

Sign up now at www.pilgrimshospices.org/santa or 01227 812609 Proudly supported by

www.pilgrimshospices.org fundraising@pilgrimshospices.org Pilgrims Hospices in east Kent is a company limited by guarantee Registered office 56 London Road, Canterbury CT2 8JA. Registered charity no 293968 and as a company in England no 2000560

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The Home

Elysian Centre - Rye

Valen�ne’s Dinner Dance Saturday 15th February 2020 6.30pm—Midnight

Sunday 1st December, Yoga Self-Care with Carole Riggs, 10 – 12.30 at The Elysian Centre, 18 Cinque Ports Street, Rye TN31 7AD (07379 061294) Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th December, Sound Healing Course with Sarah Stephenson at The Elysian Centre, 18 Cinque Ports Street, Rye TN31 7AD (07581 716233) Saturday 14th December, Yoga Bliss with Carole Riggs, 4.30 – 6.00pm at The Elysian Centre, 18 Cinque Ports Street, Rye TN31 7AD. (07379 061294) Friday 20th December, Drop-In Homeopathy Clinic at The Elysian Centre, 10am – 1pm, 18 Cinque Ports Street, Rye TN31 7AD All welcome. Information on www.elysiancentre.co.uk or call Maxine Witham 01797 22485 Please call facilitator to check if event is running and to book.

at Ashford Interna�onal Hotel TN24 8UX

Tickets:

Drinks on arrival Silent Auc�on Three Course Meal with wine Magician Cash Bar Dancing

£60 per person or £55 if purchased before Christmas For �ckets, enquiries and menu choices contact: Mar�n Lees 07834 810373 or mar�nlees14@gmail.com Proceeds to go to the Janus Fund at St Mary’s Church, Great Chart Registered Charity no. 1171191

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range of ten-minute workouts and exercises, or www.nhs.uk/ conditions/nhs-fitness-studio for online exercise videos. The range covers yoga, Pilates, strength exercises, aerobic workouts and more, so there’s something for everyone.

Six Tips for a Healthy Winter The shorter, darker, colder, wetter days of winter can leave even the fittest and chirpiest of us feeling mentally and physically run-down. To keep you feeling better through the winter: 1: Reduce your infection risk Colds and flu are rife at this time of year, and while being cold cannot give you a cold (only a virus can do that) it can stress your body and lower your immunity. Take extra care with hygiene and take antibacterial hand gel with you when you go out. Sadly, not everyone who touches shop door handles and uses public transport practises good hygiene.

If you’re eligible for a free flu vaccine, or are in an at-risk group for whom the vaccine’s recommended, make sure you get it early, before flu season gets underway. Ignore those who claim the vaccine gives you flu; it can’t, as it contains no live viruses. People who get flu after the vaccine may have a rarer flu strain not covered by the vaccine or may have already

26

had a flu virus before their vaccination became fully active (10-14 days after vaccination).

2: Keep exercising Exercise can boost your immune

Being too cold puts stress on your body system, release endorphins that make you feel better and warm you up, too. If you’re normally an outdoor exerciser, cold, wet weather might put you off. If it doesn’t, bundle up and stay safe by avoiding exercising when its icy and wearing bright, reflective clothes if you’re out in the dark.

If the winter weather does put you off, consider indoor alternatives: swimming, indoor climbing, exercise classes, shortterm passes for a local gym, a new exercise DVD or even some home gym equipment like an exercise bike or weights.

The NHS has some great free exercise routines. Check out www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise and click on ‘fitness guides’ for a

3: Get enough daylight, fresh air and vitamin D supplements!

Tempting as it might be, hibernating indoors isn’t great for your health. Your body uses sunlight to regulate your body clock and create vitamin D, an essential vitamin for building strong teeth, muscle and bone.

However, while daylight helps, between October and early March in the UK there’s not enough of it for you to make sufficient vitamin D, even if you regularly spend time outdoors; nor can you make up the deficit by eating vitamin D-rich foods like oily fish (e.g. salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel), red meat, liver, egg yolks and fortified foods like fat spreads and breakfast cereals. So while getting some winter sun and eating vitamin D-rich foods can help, the NHS recommends that everyone should top-up with a daily 10mcg vitamin D supplement during the autumn and winter.

4: Stay warm Being too cold puts stress on your body. When the temperature drops below 8°C, some people are at increased risk of mental or physical illness, especially if they’re over 65, disabled, pregnant, have young children (under school age), have a mental health condition or have a

fab feet Professional Foot Healthcare long-term health condition. Low temperatures increase vulnerability to heart attacks, stroke, flu, pneumonia, hypothermia, falls and injuries, and can worsen mental health conditions like depression and dementia.

It also increases the symptoms of Raynaud’s Disease, a relatively common condition that interrupts blood supply to the extremities, causing symptoms such as pain, numbness, stiffness and pins and needles. It most commonly affects the fingers, and you may email:michelle@fabfeethealthcare.co.uk notice them go white or even blue and then turn red as blood flow returns.

Keep your home heated to at least 18°C and use hot water bottles, heat packs or electric blankets if you need them. Try a hot bath rather than a shower, have hot drinks and eat for warmth (hot cereals, soups and stews are good options). Pre-warm clothes on a radiator or in your airing cupboard, and once you’re outdoors try to breathe through your nose, as this warms air before it reaches your lungs.

Wear layers, warm gloves and a hat. If you have Raynaud’s Disease, use hand dryers for a warmth top-up while you’re out, wear an extra pair of gloves and socks, and avoid heavy carrier bags that restrict blood flow to your fingers.

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5: Eat healthy comfort food Comfort food doesn’t have to be unhealthy.

Stews and soups are great winter foods, but watch your fat and salt intake and include plenty of vegetables. Homemade soups are easily made with a cheap, simple blender, and cooked fruit with low-fat custard makes a great winter pudding. The NHS website has some healthy, warming recipes for dishes like fish pie, lemon chicken and vegetable soup. Just visit www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well and click on recipes.

6: Finally… look after your mental health Stay active, warm and sociable: exercise, time spent outdoors and the company of others can all help stave off winter blues. However, if you think you may have full-blown SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), see your GP for help. Don’t suffer in silence.

By Alison RUnham www.alison.runham.co.uk

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Food & Domestic Services

Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup

This soup is packed with flavour and makes a great winter-warming lunch served with crusty bread.

Ready in: 1 hour 15 minutes | Serves 4

Ingredients 750g large ripe tomatoes 4 red peppers 4 shallots, peeled and halved 2 garlic cloves 2 tbsp virgin olive oil 1 tbsp dried Italian herbs Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 tbsp sun-dried tomato puree 400ml vegetable stock 1 tsp sugar

TIP

Crème fraiche, roasted pumpkin seeds and shredded fresh basil leaves, to serve

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Preheat the oven to 200C, 180C fan, gas mark 6. Score a cross in the top and base of each tomato and place in the roasting tin with the peppers, shallots, garlic cloves, olive oil and Italian herbs. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and roast for 25-30 minutes until the tomatoes are soft with charred, peeling skins and the peppers have blistered and blackened skins.

Carefully place the hot peppers in a large freezer bag and leave until cool enough to handle (this will help to make peeling them easier).

Leave the tomatoes and shallots to cool in the roasting tin.

Peel the peppers, discarding the seeds and pith, and remove the skins and any tough core from the tomatoes. Place both in a food processor or blender with the shallots and any juices from the roasting tin. Process until very smooth – you may need to do this in two batches.

Transfer the pepper and tomato mixture to a large pan and stir in the sun-dried tomato puree, vegetable stock and sugar. Slowly bring to the boil then simmer for 5 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning, to taste.

Ladle the soup into warmed bowls, top with a swirl of crème fraiche and some pumpkin seeds and basil.

To make crunchy roast pumpkin seeds, spread them on a baking sheet and roast in the oven with the tomatoes and peppers for 7-8 minutes.

Food & Domestic Services

5+

Local Markets 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

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Washing Machines Cookers (Electric) Tumble Driers Dyson Vacuum Specialist Call Garry on 07958 640152 01233 632329

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 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, is on the Green by the Post Office in Wye. Tel: 07718 647065 www.wyefarmersmarket.co.uk

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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.

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36

The Home

Your Festive Gadget Survival Guide Make sure your technology is happy this Christmas.

For many households, Christmas means lots of new gadgets under the tree – and if you’re not prepared, that could mean a distinct lack of Christmas cheer if people can’t play with their new toys on Christmas morning.

It’s still wise to have batteries of all sizes (ideally rechargeable ones) in common sizes such as AA, AAA and CR2032 for things like talking toys, games console controllers, radio car controllers and so on, but it might be wise to consider a few other things too.

First of all, make sure you have a multi-tool or small toolkit to hand. Many toys now come either in hard-to-open transparent plastic, or with lots of cable ties and screws to stop people stealing them from their packaging. Some sharp scissors and a small cross-head screwdriver will be a big help here.

Think about chargers, too. Not all gadgets such as phones and tablets arrive charged, and the ones that do are going to need charging after a morning of intensive use. Check the devices that Santa’s bringing either come with charging cables or that you have the appropriate ones already.

We’ve also found portable chargers (power banks) to be really useful for long trips to visit the family; if your car has a power/cigar lighter socket, investing in a USB adapter and a very long phone charging cable could be worthwhile.

One of the biggest Christmas technology traumas is when games controllers are involved. Now that most games require an internet connection, consoles need to be running the most up-to-date system software before use, and downloading and installing that software can take hours. It’ll

take longer still on Christmas morning if half of your street or block is doing that or streaming Christmas films on Netflix, so if at all possible try to connect the console and download the updates before Santa gets in his sleigh.

Last but definitely not least, expect the unexpected. Make sure your home insurance covers the additional technology items that you’ve got in your home – some insurers, but not all, automatically increase your contents cover over the festive period – and make sure you keep receipts for any expensive items such as computers or smartphones. If any gadgets are easily broken or smashed – tablets are particularly prone to accidental injuries – then it’s a very good idea to invest in a protective case and/or screen protector.

Dedicated gadget insurance is worth considering It’s also worth considering a dedicated gadget insurance policy if your home is now full of expensive and easily broken devices. Such policies tend to have reasonably low excesses – for example, having to pay £50 to replace the screen on an Apple Watch sounds like a lot, but Apple charges nearly £300 – and cover loss and theft as well as damage.

Images: top left clockwise - Energizer 1-hour battery charger, Generic and really useful PC/gadget toolkit, Anker USB in-car power adapter, PlayStation 4 with online game.

37

Important Information Emergency 999 Police Neighbhd Team Ashford & Tenterden

Crimestoppers

101 0800 555 111

Out of Hours Doctor William Harvey Hospital

0845 4349655 01233 633331

Samaritans

116 123

www.samaritans.org

Electricity: Contact UK Power Networks 24 hours a day on 0800 3163 105 / 0333 3232 105 or go online to ukpowernetworks.co.uk Gas:

Natural LPG

0800 111 999 Details on tank

Doctors Surgery Hamstreet Surgery 01233 730190 Veterinary Surgeons Montgomery Vets 01303 813756 Ashford Volunteer Centre 01233 665 535 Parish Councils: Appledore: 07932 813684 Bethersden: (01303) 892621 High Halden: 07939 633 232 Hothfield: (01233) 733994 Orlestone: (01233) 628481 Ruckinge: (01233) 758298 Shadoxhurst: 07729 734149 Warehorne: (01233) 758298 Woodchurch: (01233) 733994 Ashford Borough Council 01233 331111 www.ashford.gov.uk Ashford Gateway 0845 8 247 247 info@ashfordgateway.co.uk www.ashfordgateway.co.uk Tenterden Gateway 01580 762558 Citizens Advice Bureau 01233 626185 Public Notary - Trevor Chapman 01233 860216 Age UK Ashford 01233 668 765 www.ageuk.org/ashford ageukashford.org@gmail.com Ashford Counselling Service 01233 610083 info@ashfordcounselling.org.uk www.kentcounselling.co.uk CARM www.carmromneymarsh.org.uk E:office@carmromneymarsh.org.uk Macmillan Cancer Support W: www.forget-me-nots.co.uk

Royal British Legion Parkinson’s UK, Ashford Branch Contact Mike Wharrad St. John Ambulance Brigade East Kent Strokes www.eastkentstrokes.org SE Kent Multiple Sclerosis Soc e: mssoutheast@gmail.com South East Kent Polio Branch e: flamingo@btinternet.com.

NSPCC: Tenterden & District CPRE Kent

01233 620 167 01233 623520 01233 611 414 01233 840448 07767 326138

01293 651840 01233 714540

Royal Mail Residential Customer Services

08457 740740 Transport www.arrivabus.co.uk www.stagecoachbus.com www.nationalrail.co.uk Wealden Wheels: 01233 840000 Village Halls Appledore Bethersden Bilsington Bromley Green Road

Hamstreet Hamstreet Pavilion Graham Woodcock High Halden Hothfield Kenardington Ruckinge Shadoxhurst

St. Michaels Stubbs Cross Warehorne Woodchurch Woodchurch Scout & Guide Community Centre

01233 758586 01233 820630 01233 720818 01233 733613 01233 732568 01233 732457 01233 733556 07707 094796 01233 625942 01233 758243 01233 421149 07729 734149 01580 763396 01233 623139 01233 733718 01233 860555 01233 861236

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

5+

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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Cranberry Sauce Roast Potatoes Stuffing Christmas Pudding Brussel Sprouts Turkey Extra word - ‘Turnip’.

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8 baubles.

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