The Village Directory Villages North
Aug/Sept 2020 Edition • Edition 133 • Royal Mail
‘A great place to grow’ for boys and girls age 2 to 11 years
Open Morning · Saturday 10 October 2020 Call 01233 812337 to register
www.springgroveschool.co.uk · Harville Road, Wye
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EST. 1999 We confirm we have complied with the governments guidance on managing the risk of COVID-19.
We have carried out a COVID risk assessment and shared the results with the people who work here.
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Welcome Hi everyone, welcome back, I hope that you and your family are well. As you know, we are going through unprecedented times, a new awareness of social distance is required by us all and our local businesses are doing their very best to find a new way of working that enables you to feel safe enough to take up their services again. I’m too young to have experienced the war, but I believe we’ve experienced something very similar to that wartime spirit that my mum used to tell me about, ordinary people pulling together for the common good. As we lived through lockdown my heart was warmed by the sheer number of people doing remarkable good for others, from physical help with tasks like shopping to emotional help, keeping our spirits up. Who knew that the digital world would offer so much for the common good, connecting everyone from 9 to 90 and creating internet stars! I consider myself fairly proficient when it comes to technology, but lockdown introduced me to the likes of Zoom and TicTok and there’s an app that will teach me how to do the splits (I didn’t get very far with that one – painful!). And then there’s our wonderful NHS and Carers, it goes without saying, I already know they were superstars. I am in awe of them all, they have something very special that I know I don’t have, I believe I’d crumble in their position – I’m a wimp! My hope is that this wonderful unity and drive for the common good will now reach out to our local trades that are struggling to get back on their feet. Not all of my advertisers are back up and running, it will take a little longer for some, but we do have some excellent trades that are ready and willing to be at your service, just pick up that phone and let’s begin on the path back to “normality”. My message is stark “Use Them or Lose Them!” Thank you, stay safe.
Debbie
T: 01233 720488 e: info@thevillagedirectory.co.uk e: events@thevillagedirectory.co.uk w: www.thevillagedirectory.co.uk
Oct/Nov Edition Deadline 10th Sept
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
Oshens HairBoutique
For An Appointment Please Call
01233 811981 Closed Wednesday 100 Bridge Street, Wye
KILBYS CHIMNEY SWEEP
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Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower Hans Christian Andersen
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- Reaching all of our rural villages plus the towns of Ashford, New Romney, Tenterden and Rye -
out of the top window one day, he sat precariously on the roof, feet wedged in the gutter, and drew the scene illustrated here; the subsequent watercolour won first prize (£100) in an exhibition, Historic Events in Kent, in 1965. By 1520 the people of Charing were well used to hosting the monarch as both Henry and his father had visited on several occasions. Henry brought cooks and kitchen staff with him and there would have been Charing Palace staff in attendance, too. Much of the food eaten that day was procured locally; they ate poultry - hens, duck and other birds - and, probably, fish from the coast or from the Archbishop’s ponds, situated either on what is now Clewards Meadow or the lake in the grounds of the Moat House. Henry and the knights drank wine, the rest beer from the Archbishop’s buttery and local hostelries, one of which might have been in the High Street on the site of what is now Elizabethan Court, formerly The Swan. Henry’s total bill for his overnight stay in Charing amounted to the equivalent of £29,500.
Henry Vlll Visits Charing
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Henry revisited the Archbishop’s Palace later on in his reign, finally ‘persuading’ Archbishop Cranmer to give it to him in 1545. The Palace subsequently remained royal property through the reigns of Elizabeth l and James l, until the royal connection was finally severed in 1635 by Charles l, who sold it to Sir Robert Honywood of Pett Place for a working farm, as it has continued to be until this day.
Henry Vlll visited Charing 500 years ago on May 23rd 1520 on his way to the Field of Cloth of Gold, 8 miles south of Calais in English-held territory, to meet Francis l for two weeks of feasting, jousting and good fellowship which took place between the 9th and 24th of June. His route took him from his palace at Greenwich, via Otford and Maidstone, to Charing where he stayed overnight at the Archbishop’s Palace. He brought with him an entourage of some 5000. Henry himself stayed in the Palace, his knights in other lodgings in the Palace grounds, in the High Street and elsewhere in Charing; the rest pitched their tents, of which there were some 2800, in local fields.
The 2020 Charing Village Summer Fête was to have had a Tudor theme but, because of Covid-19, has had to be cancelled. It is, however, hoped that a celebration of Henry Vlll’s historic visit to the village will be held at some future date.
The moment of Henry’s arrival in the Market Place in Charing was reimagined in the 1960s by a local artist, David Embry, who, at the time, was lodging at the very top of a house at 45 High Street. From his room he had a good view of the Market Place down to the church and the Archbishop’s Palace. Climbing
enquiries@charinghistory.co.uk or direct from Celia Jennings: Landline: 01233 712480 Mobile: 07860 483292 email: celia.jennings1@btinternet.com
Celia Jennings from the Charing & District Local History Society has produced a superb booklet about the Field of Cloth of Gold, starting with Henry’s journey through Kent to Calais from his palace at Greenwich via Otford, Maidstone, Charing, Canterbury and Dover. It is fully illustrated in colour, 28 pages in length and costs £5 plus £1.64 postage. It is available from:
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Stephen Jepson Joinery & French Polishing Period Window Repairs Sash Replacement Oak Doors, Cupboards, Shelves French Polishing Service
Heirloom Restoration Furniture Repairs Kitchen Door Refurbishment Modern spray or traditional finishes
Traditionally Made, Quality Goods Unit 2 Old Willow Farm, Norwood Lane, Newchurch, New Romney Kent
Tel: 07710 903600 01233 612873
Dial a Plumber Plumbing & Heating Services
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N O J OB TOO SMALL Call Noel 07711 66 66 56 / 01233 642233 5
A pond is a great long-term addition to a garden but it’s worth doing a bit of planning before you grab a shovel and start digging! Where to put a pond? Avoid anywhere close to or beneath deciduous trees, as their leaves will clog up a pond and cause methane gas to be released as they rot, which can be lethal to fish and pond wildlife if the surface freezes over in the winter. You should, however, avoid an extremely sunny, hot spot as too much sun will increase the likelihood of problems with pond algae. Try to avoid sloping sites as the water will always need to sit on the level, which could mean a lot of hard work shifting garden soil to create it. How to choose a liner There are three main types of pond liner: a pre-formed rigid liner (generally mid-price – the disadvantage is that you can’t choose exactly the shape you want); plastic that you buy by the metre (generally the cheapest option, but it may only last three or four years); and butyl (the most costly option but it lasts around 30 years, and you can create exactly the size and shape you require). What shape? Rather than making an intricate design for your pond, with lots of changes in level and a complex outline, create a simple shape as this will use less butyl liner and less underlay (the most
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expensive part of creating a pond) and will be easier to install properly. Even the better quality butyl liners and good quality rigid liners should have an ‘underlay’ between them and the soil, as this dramatically reduces the risk of the liner being damaged and the pond leaking. You can buy suitable material for flexible liners or use old carpet underlay, while plenty of sand works well for rigid types of liner. What size? A larger pond is generally easier to maintain as smaller volumes of water are more likely to develop problems such as turning bright green with algae in the summer. The pond should be at least 45cm (18in) deep to minimise algae and to maximise the range of plants you can grow. Adjust the pond levels at the edges before laying edging material – this is especially important if you’re using a rigid liner. Edges must fit snugly in the hole as gaps increase the chances of damage – pack dry sand or garden soil down into any gaps. Large, rounded stones at the edge of the pond help animals to climb out and help to hide the uppermost and outermost edges of the liner, plus reduce the amount of soil entering the pond by mistake. Whatever the shape of the pond, remember to have a gently sloping beach at one edge to
The Garden allow hedgehogs, birds and other non-aquatic creatures to drink and bathe, and get out easily if they fall in.
expected to do the right thing. If you think they might be too small to understand, why not wait a year or more before you create your pond?
Don’t just make the vertical sides of the pond totally flat and smooth – build in some ‘shelves’, each wide enough to hold pots or pond baskets so that you can plant aquatics and marginals (bog-loving plants) that need shallower water.
Always ensure that you create the pond so that it is easy to get out of should someone or something fall in – avoid steep, straight sides and have a graduated exit.
A pond should be filled with rain water, but if mains water is all that is available in sufficient quantity, then you will need to allow it to stand for a week or so before adding plants or fish. This allows additives from the mains water to be reduced. What to plant? Always buy pond and marginal plants from a good supplier, choose those that look really healthy, and make sure that the plants you go for are hardy and so able to withstand the low temperatures of winter without special protection. The label should also tell you the depth of water they require and just how big they’ll grow. Make it safe Make sure that you explain the potential dangers to children – if they don’t know they cannot be
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Consider fitting a strong galvanised metal mesh over the entire surface. Specialist pond suppliers or builder’s merchants should have something suitable. It needs to be strong enough to bear a child’s weight, and have a small enough mesh size for there to be no chance of a small foot going through it. Plastic netting is not enough. A small fence around the pond complete with lockable gate need not look too unattractive if clothed with climbers or painted an attractive colour, and can easily be removed once children are older. Visit Pippa’s website (pippagreenwood.com) to book Pippa for a gardening talk at your gardening club or as an after-dinner speaker.
G & H Garden Maintenance Experienced & Friendly Service Providing All-Year-Round Garden Care
T: 07400 406510
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KILBYS PEST CONTROL • All Rodents and Insects • WASP NEST SPECIALIST • SAME DAY SERVICE
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01233 840948
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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 Professionally trained & qualified 20+ Years of industry experience Call for a free quote today
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EPICS LANDSCAPING All Aspects of Garden Work & Hard Landscaping, Private & Commercial
Call Steve
Old Willow Farm Building, Norwood Lane, Newchurch, New Romney, Kent, TN29 0DY
01233 713330 07714076016
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E: spicesteve@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: 01233 367038 07500 193703
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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
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At £2.00 per square meter, carpet cleaning doesn’t have to be expensive!
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% sold 40ady lan! re -p al off
Abbie Fields Lees Road, Brabourne Lees, Ashford, Kent TN25 6QB
Would you love to wake up every day with fantastic views like this? See the landscape change through the seasons at this exclusive development of FIVE RARELY AVAILABLE 3 BED DETACHED BUNGALOWS NEARING COMPLETION AUTUMN 2020
Images are computer generated
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Highclere Construction The Ashford Building Contractors All Types of Building, Restoration & Maintenance Work Undertaken
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GREASE 2020
The Madcap Mini Movie A THANK YOU FUNDRAISER FOR THE NHS AND CAREGIVERS BY THE ROCKITS of TENTERDEN, HAWKHURST & ASHFORD. The ROCKITS are very excited to announce their OPEN-AIR SCREENINGS of GREASE 2020 THE MADCAP MINI MOVIE on August 15th between 10am and 7pm. at TENTERDEN RECREATION GROUND The ROCKITS have put together their own arrangements of all your favourite Grease songs and filmed themselves while in isolation. What has emerged is a hilarious mini movie, which they are sure all the family will love. The movie will be shown on a giant LED screen in the park and the film will run continually throughout the day, enabling viewers to wander through and watch the fun, while remaining safe and socially distanced. This is their way of thanking the NHS and our care workers. There will be various ways the public can make a donation if they so wish. They also hope this will support the local businesses who have struggled through the lockdown. There will be absolutely no stalls or other attractions on the recreation ground during the screenings, but they do hope it will encourage people to use the great local shops!
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Tenterden Town Council are supporting the ROCKITS with this event and it has the full permission and cooperation of Ashford Borough Council . Due to Covid -19 and the ongoing situation, they recommend that you check their website nearer the date for accurate and up to date information. www.rockitchoir.co.uk
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PHILLIP S WITTS Cabinet Maker & Joiner Est 1980 www.phillipswitts.co.uk Bespoke Kitchens at competitive prices Design to Completion including site survey Solid Wood Carcasses - painted or natural using Oak, Ash and many other woods. Worksurfaces - using Granite, Corian, Quartz, Hi-Macs and more.
T: 01233 740265 / 07702 119321 e: phillip@phillipswitts.co.uk Lords, Canterbury Road, Challock, Ashford TN25 4BB
Quality, Made to Measure Blinds at Affordable Prices FREE HOME DESIGN SERVICE
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their experience is utilised to teach each student who attends The Learning Academy.
The Learning Academy Tutoring is an Ofsted registered centre which was founded in 2002. As a well-established tutoring centre they have had a positive impact on numerous students in east Kent. The TLA is managed and led by Surinder and Parm who have a combined total of over 50 years of teaching experience. In addition, they have held senior positions in both primary and secondary schools and are specialists in education. They have very high expectations of the children they teach. Each decision that they make ensures that the welfare and progression of every child is always of paramount importance. Surinder and Parm have have developed a system which enables the parents and children to work together during their 11 Plus journey. They have written thousands of 11 Plus questions and created a unique online resource for 11 Plus preparation called the ‘TLA Cloud’. Working alongside Surinder and Parm are only qualified, experienced and passionate classroom teachers who are DBS approved. All of their teachers have up to date experience of delivering the primary and secondary National Curriculum and
The TLA teachers have an innate ability to build an effective rapport with each and every student which is key to securing dynamic progress. Their mantra of ‘seeing the genius in every child’ is at the core of their teaching. Each student is treated as an individual and they don’t use a ‘one model fits all approach’. They use their expertise to further stretch the most able and also support the children who may need that additional assistance. Surinder and Parm communicate clearly with parents and provide incisive feedback at the end of every lesson to enable parents to be well informed and be an integral part in their child’s learning. The teachers ensure that each child achieves their potential with careful nurturing, teaching and above all compassion. The pupils feel comfortable in their learning as the family-styled environment achieves positive outcomes. Good mental health is important whilst students are learning and the teachers at the TLA always promote a positive mindset as they work with each student.
As an Ofsted registered centre they follow strict Safeguarding and Health & Safety practices therefore comply with the relevant child welfare legislation. Being Ofsted registered enables parents to pay for lessons using Childcare Vouchers. It also means that parents can take advantage of the government run Tax-Free Childcare scheme. The Learning Academy is passionate about making tutoring more accessible for everyone. Feel free to contact Surinder or Parm to see how The Learning Academy can make a difference to your child’s educational journey.
Exceptional value when you use the government run Tax-Free Childcare Scheme or Childcare vouchers!
11+ (Kent Test) Tutoring & 11+ Mock Tests TLA Cloud (online 11+ resources) Literacy & Numeracy Skills GCSEs Post 16 Exams & A Levels Independent School Entrance Exams Confidence Building Homework Support All Our Tutors are Experienced Teachers with a PGCE qualification & Enhanced DBS checked Each child who attends TLA will receive one to one teaching from a qualified teacher
T: 07828 587304 W: tlakent.com
Special Offer First 2 Lessons FREE!
Puzzle Page Wordwheel 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.
TargeT:
V S E
excellent: 3O or more words good: 24 words Fair: 19 words
TV Show Pictograms Pictograms
A
R T
R E
Sudoku
3 words EXISTENCE JOHNNY ANDREW 4 words SEXYORK
3 words
levy
Quiz - Hundreds and Thousands 1. The Hundred Acre Wood features in stories centred around which fictional character? 2. Which country in Europe is known as the “land of the thousand lakes”? 3. Name any year from when the series of conflicts known as the Hundred Years’ War started to when it ended. 4. Which character from Greek mythology is Christopher Marlowe referring to in the line “was this the face that launch’d a thousand ships” from his play Doctor Faustus? 5. In which musical do two American tourists discover a mysterious Scottish village that appears
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for only one day every one hundred years? 6. What is Anne’s surname in the 1969 film Anne Of The Thousand Days? 7. What name is given to the number that is represented by the digit one followed by one hundred zeros? 8. Which creature has a name that is derived from Greek terms meaning “thousand” and “foot”? 9. Due to start in England and Wales in 2020, but postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, The Hundred is a tournament in which sport? 10. Thousand Island dressing is said to have been named after a group of islands called the Thousand Islands that straddle the border between Canada and the USA in which river?
The Home Boiler Installations, Repairs & Servicing Central Heating Maintenance Bathroom Renovation Gas Appliance Installation Gas Safe Registered
Call Robert Lawrence
07921 717 241
e: obsplumbing@hotmail.com w: obsplumbing.co.uk
Your Local Electrician - For all your Electrical Needs ØØ Fully Qualified Electricians to 18th Edition ØØ Part P Registered through NICEIC. ØØ FREE, no obligation quotations.
ØØ All electrical work undertaken, no job too big or small. ØØ Covering Ashford and all surrounding areas.
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Taking That Next Step Can Be Stress-Free and Fun Think you may need a little bit of a helping hand but nervous about taking that next step? At Seniors Helping Seniors, we pride ourselves on giving you time to ask questions and talk through your worries if either you or a loved one could do with a bit of extra support in and around the home. We understand that coming to terms with the fact that perhaps you can’t manage to do all you used to do safely and with little effort can be very difficult to accept. We know how frustrating and tiring it can be that by the time you’ve done the necessities, there is little time or energy left for the fun things in life. At Seniors Helping Seniors, we match a companion carer to a client who has similar interests and life experiences so that you look forward to their visit as an enriching experience that feels like you are getting a little bit of help from a friend. We can assist with routine housework, laundry, pet care, meal preparation including companionship over a meal or a chat over a coffee, driving to appointments, shopping or taking you out to restart an old hobby or to enjoy something new, the list is endless. At Seniors Helping Seniors, our “helpers” do not arrive in uniforms or sign written cars, so there are no twitching curtains from the neighbours. 20
We agree a schedule of visits on a time and day that suits you and there is no contract to sign or cancelled visit fees. If you have any questions, would like further information or wish to make an appointment, then please give us a call on 01233 746000 and we would be only too delighted to try and help.
Non-Medical Services for Seniors by Seniors Companionship, Transportation and Dependable Services
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yy Wood Burner Installations yy Chimney Sweeps T: 01303 311048 yy Servicing Showroom: Main Road, Sellindge, Ashford TN25 6EQ Our aim is to make your Homecare experience not just good but great! Bluebird Care strive to do more than meeting your physical needs and keeping you safe. We want to provide you a service that enriches your life and gives you the fulfilment that you deserve.
Our aim is to make your Homecare experience not just good but great!
HOUSEKEEPING ●MOBILITY HELP● COMPANIONSHIP● PERSONAL CARE
BluebirdRESPITE CARE● LIVE-IN CARE● SHOPPING ASSISTANCE Care strive to do more than meeting your physical needs and keeping you safe. We want to provide you a service that CONTACT US TODAY enriches your life and gives you the fulfilment that you deserve.
Jakeman & Jakeman Homecare 10+ Steve Jakeman
Painter & Decorator Interior & Exterior Decoration and Maintenance
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ashford@bluebirdcare.co.uk CONTACT US TODAY Bluebird Care (Ashford) 01233 501222 • ashford@bluebirdcare.co.uk
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Food & Domestic Services
Serves 8 Ready in 1 hour 40 mins, plus chilling and cooling Ingredients for the pastry case and filling • 500g ready-made shortcrust pastry, thawed if frozen • Flour, for dusting • 1kg eating apples, peeled, cored and diced • 100g caster sugar • 2 tsp ground cinnamon • 1 tbsp lemon juice • 1 egg, beaten Ingredients for the crispy topping • 40g unsalted butter • 40g light soft brown sugar • 50g toasted flaked almonds TIP Replace the apples with diced pears if liked, or try a mix of both.
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Make the most of the abundance of home-grown apples at this time of year with this delicious deep-dish apple pie. Serve with cream, custard or ice cream. Method 1. For the pastry case, roll out two-thirds of the pastry on a lightly floured surface and use to line a greased 23cm round spring-form cake tin (the pastry needs to come right up the sides of the tin). Chill in the fridge. Preheat the oven to 190C, 170C fan, gas mark 5. Place a baking sheet in the oven to heat up. 2. For the filling, place the diced apples in a bowl and stir in the caster sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice. Spoon the mixture into the pastry case. Brush the rim of the pastry case with beaten egg. Roll out the rest of the pastry to a circle large enough to cover the filling, and drape over the filling. Pinch the edges together to seal then trim off any excess pastry. Brush the top with beaten egg. 3. Bake the pie on the preheated baking sheet for 40-45 minutes until the pastry is pale golden. 4. For the crispy topping, heat all the ingredients in a medium pan and let bubble for 2-3 minutes. Remove the pie from the oven and gently spread the hot mixture over the top of the pie. Return the pie to the oven for a further 10-15 minutes until the topping is crunchy. Serve warm or cold.
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The Importance of Posture By Catherine Rose
Posture can be defined as the way we carry and position our body throughout our daily physical activities. Poor posture can lead to a variety of muscular-skeletal issues including chronic pain and joint degeneration. It is therefore important that you are aware of best posture and aim for it, particularly if you spend a lot of the day in one position, such as sitting at a desk for example. If you have had bad posture for a long time (and most of us do) it will feel very strange and alien at first when you try to correct it, as the body wants to keep doing what it is used to. However, if you persevere, coupling this with regular exercise to strengthen muscle tone, eventually muscle memory will kick in and you will find that your posture has improved without you having to constantly think about it. For a good seated posture your knees should be slightly lower than your hips, so you need to position your chair height accordingly. If you work at a computer, ensure that the screen is at a comfortable eye level and you are not having to hunch forward or bend your neck. Sit with your feet flat on the floor facing forwards, a hip width apart, and straighten your back so that your tailbone ‘sticks out’ rather than your back being rounded. Your spine should form a gentle ‘S’ curve. Finally, make a conscious effort to lower your shoulders, slightly pushing your shoulder blades back and down at the same time. You may need to do this more than once as
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we all tend to naturally carry our shoulders in a raised, rounded position, which over time can lead to muscle tightness, tension headaches and back or neck pain. Are you a fan of stilettos? If so, you may want to limit their wear as high heels push the spine forward, over-arching the back. They also put pressure on your knees and the balls of your feet, which can cause joint problems later. Save the shoes for special occasions rather than wearing them every day. Exercise and core stability are important when maintaining good posture. Over time, without regular movement and exercise, muscles weaken and muscle fibres shorten, leading to potential joint and ligament issues. Stretching exercises two or three times a week will help relieve tension, increase circulation and maintain muscle condition. Yoga and Pilates are two forms of exercise that are excellent for improving tone, flexibility and posture. There are classes available for all levels, and online tutorials.
Health & Lifestyle Ergonomic furniture and aids can also help with best posture, for example by using a lumbar support cushion in your office chair or in the car. Always ensure that your furniture supports you adequately. A squashy chair that is too low and difficult to get out of may not be ideal. Likewise, your mattress should also support your back properly when you sleep. To check this, notice if your spine is straight when you lie on your side. If not, it may be time to change your mattress. Your pillow should also cradle your neck so that it is in alignment with the spine. Bad posture not only physically impacts on our body: it has also been proven to have a detrimental psychological effect, even leading to an increased risk of depression. Charles Darwin first scientifically proved the link between movement and emotion in his studies of humans and animals.
and note how you are carrying yourself. If you are feeling stressed, tired, or sad, it is likely that this will be reflected in your posture: for example, your head may be drooping, your shoulders hunched, your weight unevenly distributed and your back rounded. Now close your eyes and evenly distribute your weight, straighten your legs (keeping knees soft) and then gently lengthen your spine and neck as much as you are able, vertebra by vertebra, tucking in the pelvis. Push your shoulders back and down then slightly lower your chin. If you can, smile. Now open your eyes. Not only will you be standing taller and straighter but you will almost certainly look and feel better too. If you have concerns about your posture and suffer from chronic pain, visit your GP who can refer you to the appropriate health professional, such as an osteopath, physiotherapist or chiropractor.
Try this experiment. Stand in front of a full-length mirror
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GP Electrical & Plastering versus Pet Power On a hot slate roof, slathered in enough suncream to bathe an elephant, is not where I was expecting to draft out our first GP Electrical and Plastering editorial! But then I doubt an elephant would ever expect to be bathed in suncream. You see the thing is we live in the country and when you live in the country things go wrong. . . frequently! Hence why Gareth and I currently find ourselves sporting almost matching outfits drilling a new gulley and trying to avoid standing on the higgledy piggledy shards of slate. When the family first moved here the house was half the size and wooden. Since then little bits and pieces keep being added on and old problems caused by the original shoddy workmanship have to be fixed. Only a few months ago I was happily showering, enjoying the warmth and cleanliness when BOOM! The ceiling caved in and I was covered in a cold gush of dirty, smelly water. Aside from the amusingly cow shaped hole the collapse left, it also left Gareth and I (as overseer) with a week long booking from home sweet home to fix the roof. Several bickers between Gareth, his father and I later, we eventually realised we were all making pretty much the same suggestion. Gareth put up some scaffold, collected his tools and materials so here we are now, going browner than a tea-cake and enjoying the view for the next week. What better way could one spend a day? Unfortunately fixing problems isn’t always this fun, but being both a perfectionist and a qualified electrician / plasterer, Gareth is always the one to do them as mummy Davidson & daddy Davidson know that he is cheaper and a lot more stringent than the majority of tradesmen. His years of experience and study always come in handy when his parents kennels need new heaters, his accident prone girlfriend (that’s me) sprays water too close to the lizards plug sockets or 1 of the 5 (yes 5) Labradors fancies a nibble on something a bit more exotic and decides to dine on a bit of wall. Or should I say an entire wall. 3 times. In the same month. I’m not sure if at the time in question B&Q had released a new flavour of plaster or simply if Colin was going through a doggy mid life crisis, but for reasons unbeknownst to anyone but himself, one evening about 3 years ago a small adolescent black dog stuck his small
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adolescent pink tongue out and took a massive lick of the wall behind his bed. And so it began. A lick turned to a nibble, which turned to a gnaw which turned to a bite. An unmemorable (because nobody was actually inside at the time) later first a nose, then some whiskers, then a full fluffy black Colin head poked itself through the now considerably large hole and took a rather limited sniff round the lounge. Gareth came swiftly to the rescue however, or as swiftly as he could considering he wasn’t home for another 2 hours. Cutting a neat square round the damage, attaching some new plasterboard and plastering it over he surveyed his work and marvelled that no-one would be able to tell anything had ever happened. A few days later upon discovering that his new peep hole had been rudely removed, Colin set about making another one. However; Gareth patiently repeated his previous work, smoothing the final layer of plaster to a silkiness that would leave even the smoothest of babys bottoms in awe. Colin was not one to be beaten though and after a tactical week and a half of biding his time, armed with a lust for powdery flakes in his mouth he set about ruining Gareths work yet again. Gareth Davidson has never been one to give up no matter how frustrating a job may be. True to form, seeing it almost as a challenge he yet again mended the wall, this time taking almost half the wall out and rebuilding, plastering and painting. Upon his suggestion, a cabinet was put against the wall so the dogs beds weren’t right up against it. The family waited with baited breath and lo and behold no more holes appeared. The moral of the story? A patient, high performing and intelligent electrician / plasterer will always win against a hungry Labrador.
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27
Kid’s Corner
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By Kate Duggan Many children are going back to school in September, some for the first time in months, and it’s natural for them to feel a bit anxious about starting a new school year. Prepare your child If your child hasn’t gone back to school yet, find out what will be different compared to before the pandemic. Explain to your child what to expect. Younger children may benefit from acting out some things at home, such as keeping their distance when queueing. Clinical psychologist Dr Emma Millar recommends asking if the school can “take pictures or videos of the changes so your child knows what to expect, as that will aid the transition process.” Talk to your child It’s important children know they can talk to you about their concerns. Some like to have your full attention while others prefer it when they don’t need to make eye contact, such as when you’re driving or cooking. Recognise that you can’t ‘solve’ their concerns, but you can discuss coping strategies.
Get back into a routine Most children prefer some level of routine. Your child may have been going to bed later recently, not showering as often and having more screen time. Help them adjust to a more structured routine over a couple of weeks. Make sure they get enough sleep Work towards returning children to an earlier bedtime, including at weekends. Children need more sleep than adults – six to thirteen year olds can need up to eleven hours of sleep a night. Mindfulness and meditation Mindfulness and meditation can help children and adults to feel calmer and more in control. Older children might benefit from Headspace’s guided meditations. For younger children, try the ‘Sitting Still Like a Frog’ book and CD by Eline Snel. More information ‘Helping your Child with Fears and Worries’ by Cathy Creswell and Lucy Willetts is worth reading. The book is packed with practical advice on helping children to deal with fears, worries and anxiety, and isn’t written like a medical textbook! The following websites have useful resources and information:
If your child doesn’t want to talk, try reading together and talking about how the character feels in different situations.
www.camhs-resources.co.uk www.youngminds.org.uk/blog/supporting-a-childreturning-to-school-after-lockdown
Encourage excitement Don’t forget to talk about the positives of returning to school, such as seeing friends and playtime.
Extra support All children feel anxious and worried sometimes. However, up to 15% of children experience anxiety disorders, which can stop them enjoying day-today life and lead to more long-term issues. So don’t be afraid to ask for help: your child’s school may be able to offer advice, or your GP may be able to refer them for extra support.
Dr Emma Millar says, “Discuss what they’re excited about. Children pick up on how we’re feeling, so if you remain calm and positive about them returning back to school, then that will really help them to feel reassured.”
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Important Information Emergency 999 Police Neighbhd Team Ashford & Tenterden
Crimestoppers
101 0800 555 111
Out of Hours Doctor William Harvey Hospital
0845 4349655 01233 633331
Samaritans
116 123
www.samaritans.org
Electricity: Contact UK Power Networks 24 hrs a day on 0800 3163 105 / 0333 3232 105 or go online to ukpowernetworks.co.uk Natural Gas:
0800 111 999
Doctors Surgery The Charing Surgery 01233 714490 Willesborough 01233 621626 Wye 01233 884585 Veterinary Surgeons Barrow Hill Vets 01233 624687 Montgomery Vets 01303 813756 Cinque Ports Vets 01233 813003 Milbourne Equine Vets 01233 500505 Parish Councils: Brabourne & Smeeth 01233 623902 Boughton Aluph & Eastwell 01233 720392 Brook 01233 750415 Challock 07895 494851 Charing 01233 713599 Egerton 01622 853558 Hastingleigh 01233 750415 Pluckley 01233 770739 Wye & Hinxhill 01233 812459 Westwell 01233 623902 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 Volunteer Centre 01233 665 535 Age UK Ashford 01233 668 765 www.ageuk.org/ashford ageukashford.org@gmail.com
Ashford Counselling Service 01233 610083 info@ashfordcounselling.org.uk www.ashfordcounselling.co.uk CARM E: office@carmromneymarsh.org.uk www.carmromneymarsh.org.uk Macmillan Cancer Support www.forget-me-nots.co.uk Parkinson’s UK, Ashford Branch Contact Mike Wharrad 01233 623520 Royal British Legion 01233 620 167 St. John Ambulance Brigade 01233 611 414 East Kent Strokes 01233 840448 www.eastkentstrokes.org SE Kent Multiple Sclerosis Soc. 07767326138 email: mssoutheast@gmail.com NSPCC: Tenterden & District Mrs J Coombs 01580 763733 Pregnancy Sickness Support Kent and Sussex www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/ Contact: Denise Clifford deniseclifford@btinternet.com Royal Mail Residential Customer Services 08457 740740 Transport www.arrivabus.co.uk www.stagecoachbus.com www.nationalrail.co.uk Wealden Wheels: 01233 840000 Village Halls: Boughton Lees Brook Challock Charing Charing Heath Egerton Little Chart or Pluckley Westwell Wye
07986 252558 01233 812803 01233 740504 01233 713599 01622 858296 01233 756630 07753 802814 01233 840396 01233 840280 01233 712107 07504 839 858
High Pressure Jetting Service & Repair to Sewage treatment plants Soakaway Testing Cesspool Emptying Service
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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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