Village People South Norwich edition – December / January 2022 (Winter) by Village People Magazines Ltd

Delivered to over 63,000 homes in Norfolk and Suﬀolk

TH E AWA RD WIN N IN G LOC A L L I F EST YL E M AG A Z I N E

December / January 2022

WIN!

A GOODY BAG FROM NORFOLK GIN

BE N’S RIC H F R UIT CAKE R E CI PE

TICK ET GI V E AWAY TO S EE S L ADE I N NORW ICH WA L K D OW N M E M O RY L A N E I N O CC O L D South Norwich Edition

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Contents

December/ January 2022

OUT & ABOUT

Walking for health around Ashwellthorpe & Fundenhall

Norfolk Wildlife Trust - a ghostly presence

Top Table – we visit OakVilla Restaurant & Gin Distillery in East Harling

Poetry Corner - Jenna Woodford from Norfolk

Memories of Occold

ECO SWA PS - dreaming of a ‘green’ Christmas

Canine communication with Julia Collins

Village Notice Board

Good news from our region

WIN £100 M&S voucher

WIN a delicious ‘Cooking for One’ hamper

Gospel from The Saints

WIN a goody bag from Norfolk Gin

WIN tickets to see Slade at the Waterfront in Norwich

Art - the art of geometry and architecture

Falcon Meadow Art Competition 2022

Wildlife - adopt an owl this Christmas

On Your Plot - winter wonders

HOME & GARDEN 21

Recipe for Ben’s Rich Fruit Cake

Garden Jottings from The Garden Enclosure

HEALTH, STYLE, FASHION & BEAUTY 61

Building sustainability into your everyday beauty routine

Beauty - we review the best natural, sustainable and ethical beauty products in Norfolk & Suﬀolk

Health - the power of positive thinking

Cool and cosy fashion this winter

Refreshing Waters - how RAISE charity is helping children

JOBS, MONEY & BUSINESS 77

Smart money secrets - how to improve your income prospects

History - stories from the 448th Bomber Group

Find a local business or service in our directory

Exercise your brain cells with our crossword

49 9 Loo oking for a particular product or service? Che eck out our Local Business Directory on pages 80 & 81 5

Advertise with us! Reliably delivered by Royal Mail, reaching 63,000 homes every two months. Four editions of Village People provide unrivalled coverage of Norfolk and Suffolk, reaching more homes than ANY other local magazine. For more information, call our friendly team on 01284 788623 or send an email to editor@village-people.info

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @vpmagazine Read all our magazines issuu.com/villagepeoplemag Visit our website to ﬁnd out more www.village-people.info

NEXT DEADLINE 5 JANUARY February/March (Early Spring issue) Delivered to over 63,000 homes in Norfolk and Suﬀolk

THE AWARD WINNING LO CAL L IF ESTYLE MAGAZINE

December / January 2022

WIN!

A GOODIE BAG FROM NORFOLK GIN

WELCOME TO TH HE WINTER ISSUE

ere’s a question n to get you thinkin ng (and reading)! What have e these things got in commo on: tickets to see the 70ss rock band Slade, a go oody bag from Norfolk Gin, a festive hamper and £100 M&S voucher? You guessed it, they are the wonderful prizes you can win when you enter our popular competitions and giveaways in this issue! So don’t miss out on the chance to bag some fabulous goodies, get online and enter now. As usual, we announce all our winners on our Instagram account, so do make sure that you are following us @vpmagazine. It’s been a struggle to ﬁt everything into this issue, and some of our usual local editorial will be online only, so check out our website for more great reads. It’s also the best place to ﬁnd out about local events, and of course you can submit details of an event yourself - and don't forget, all this is FREE for our wonderful readers! We’ve added another 1,000 homes to our door-to-door Royal Mail delivery, taking our circulation up to a massive 63,000, with plans for more

expansion in the pipeline. So if you run a local business and you’d like your phone to ring with local enquiries, do get in touch for a friendly chat. We know everything there is to know about helping local businesses to grow, so why not pick up the phone and we can talk about how to make 2022 the best ever year y for YOUR bu usiness?! So, as w we wave goodbye to 2021, with h hopes and dreams for a healthy and happy 2 2022, I’d like to wish everyone a wonderful C Christmas. Stay safe, loo ok after each otther and roll on a fresh New Year!

Lily

BEN ’S RIC H FR U IT CAKE R EC IP E

T IC K ET GIV EAWAY TO S EE SL A DE I N NORW IC H

WINNER of ﬁve National Publishing Awards WA L K D OW N M E M O RY L A N E I N O C C O L D

Lily Goulder editor@village-people.info 01284 788623

South Norwich Edition

GOOD NEWS FROM OUR REGION: Sunstone transforms lives in Diss

new flexible housing development in Diss will oﬀer owners the freedom to live their lives, as well as receiving the bespoke support they need. Sunstone Living is beginning preparation work for the building of Stationside in Nelson Road, Diss, featuring 77 one- and twobedroom apartments, together with communal facilities. All apartments will be selfcontained and are housed within a building featuring communal facilities that can be used as much

or as little as residents wish. This includes a bistro/restaurant serving three meals a day, an informal café and bar, residents’ lounge, function room, activities room, a buggy store and even a hair salon. Site clearance is underway with construction starting in January. Each apartment will have a private outdoor space and there will be six landscaped areas in the grounds outside to relax in and enjoy. Director of Sunstone Living, Bharat Raghu, said: “Stationside is aimed at the many people who need

only a limited amount of support to continue to live a full life. “We chose Diss as the location for Stationside not only because of the facilities and attractions available locally, but also for the great transport links allowing our residents to get out and about, or have family and friends to visit. We hope Stationside will be an exciting new addition to Diss.” For further information or to request a brochure, please visit www.sunstoneliving.co.uk or call TW Gaze on 01379 641341.

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GOOD NEWS

Norwich Theatre shapes creative future

n autumn 2021, lots of local people took part in a Creative Community Inquiry to help to shape the future of Norwich Theatre. The pioneering move is designed to cocreate creative experiences that best reflect the widest possible range of communities in Norfolk front and centre. Aiming to engage people outside its recognised visitors, Norwich Theatre held engagement events such

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as open mornings, market tours and ran an online survey to connect with people across the county to explore who might be the audiences and participants of the future if barriers such as travel, ﬁnances or perceived notions around stereotypes could be removed. Those who took part were also asked to share what stories they want to tell or hear in performances; what themes are relevant and important

CHRISTMAS TREES

to them; and how Norwich Theatre can help provide opportunities for a more inclusive, creative future. A broad range of groups were invited to directly participate including Norwich Age UK, St Martin's Housing, East Norfolk Sixth Form College and Norwich City of Sanctuary. Stephen Crocker, CEO and Creative Director of Norwich Theatre, said: “I truly believe that our Creative Community Inquiry is likely to be one of the most important pieces of work we have ever undertaken. The inquiry represents our passionate belief that we should do all we can to ensure that our reach is wider and our impact deeper in a postpandemic world. “Through conversations, creative activities and workshops we will be able to include the wide breadth of local knowledge, skills and lived experiences of the people in Norfolk within our plans for our future.” If you would like to share your thoughts and help shape the future of Norwich Theatre, please visit norwichtheatre.org

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GOOD NEWS

Snape Maltings shows stunning sparkle!

his Christmas, Snape Maltings Concert Hall is proud to present the magical and musical extravaganza of the Co-op Juniors Christmas Spectacular! which opens on 3 December for 12 performances. The UK’s largest youth musical theatre group is in sparkling form, returning to the stage after an enforced two year absence. The cast of 95 will raise the roof of the world-famous venue with their unique blend of high energy music and dance numbers, backed by a live orchestra.

Andrew Clarke from the East Anglian Daily Times hailed the 15th anniversary production in 2019 as: “A Christmas dance-variety show which is as inventive and impeccably presented as anything you would see on the West End stage…as slick, polished and professional as any show I've seen at Snape Maltings.” Directors Lucy Allen and Oliver Brett say: “We want to give everyone a warm festive glow, ready to celebrate Christmas! The show’s packed with surprises, a huge variety of diﬀerent music

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and dance numbers, together with favourites like our 80 toy soldiers, a snow-covered ﬁnale and a stunning nativity scene.” With a specially designed new stage set and over 800 costumes, audiences are in for a treat with this traditional family show. 12 performances from 3-12 December. Tickets: coopjuniors. co.uk/spectacular or call 01728 687110. Seats from £15, £22 & £29. Special offer on 3 & 10 Dec for groups of 10+, seniors and under 16: all seats £15. Group bookings discount on all performances: call 01728 687110

GOOD NEWS

Jarrold Store Folk

ndependent and established business, Jarrold, are seeking to champion the individual and the inspiring, the artisan and the eclectic from across Norfolk with their new online venture, Jarrold Store Folk. Featuring a number of artisan producers, Jarrold Store Folk promises to be a wide-ranging shopping destination with products from home and lifestyle, fashion and beauty and food and beverage, all in one place as a dedicated area on the Jarrold website. Gift buying will no longer be a diﬃcult task

with the wide range of bespoke items on oﬀer; suiting a variety of styles and budgets. Store Folk products include beautifully styled candles, which are vegan-friendly and plastic-free, a range of eco-friendly plates handcrafted in rural Norfolk, and award-winning luxury beauty products dedicated to artistry, wellbeing and sustainability. The community of like-minded small producers are all proud of their county, which is what makes Store Folk extra special, because it’s all about being home-grown.

Jarrold will also be welcoming producers in-store with a pop-up Jarrold Store Folk market on the Ground Floor of their London Street store. Brands will be part of the great shopping experience Jarrold prides itself on providing, with a programme of various businesses coming into store over the coming months. Keep an eye on Jarrold social media to ﬁnd out who will be popping up. Don’t want to miss out? Find Jarrold Store Folk online now: Jarrold.co.uk/store-folk

GIVEAWAY

Make Christmas more delicious!

Village People has a ‘Cooking for One’ Hamper to give away to one lucky reader

f you’re looking for a fantastic present for a friend or loved one this Christmas, enter our competition to win this superb hamper, which is packed with great ingredients and helpful kitchen utensils — plus the Cooking for One book. Cooking for One is a new book that has been launched to provide valuable support for those who have lost a loved one, along with practical advice on how to navigate one of the most diﬃcult times of the day – mealtimes. The book features a host of recipes and stories supplied by those starting a new chapter in their life, telling the sttory off theiir loved d one and d choosing a recipe that’s important to them. The book is the idea of Simon Beckett-Allen, co-owner of Rosedale Funeral Home which has bases in Norfolk and Suﬀolk. He was inspired to create it in memory of his late sister, who was a chef.

Here is one of the great recipe’s from the book: Leek and Potato Soup 1 medium-sized potato l 1 small onion l 1 small leek (100g approx.) l 25g butter l 1/2 vegetable stock cube l 100ml boiling water l 100ml semi-skimmed milk or cream l Pepper to season Method 1. Peel the potato and chop into small cubes. Peel and ﬁnely chop the onion. Wash and trim the leek and ﬁnely slice. 2. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan, add the leek, onion and d pottatto and d sttir so thatt everything is coated in butter.

Sweat down for 10 mins on a low heat, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, dissolve the stock cube in the boiling water. 3. Add stock and milk to pan, cover and simmer on a low heat for 15 mins until the vegetables are tender. For a smooth soup, carefully blend the mixture in the saucepan using a stick blender. For a chunky soup, pour into a bowl when ready and enjoy. Cooking for One is available in hardback for £20 from any branch of Rosedale Funeral Home, or online at rosedalefuneralhome.co.uk/cookingforone. The website allso has a listt off book ksh hops and d parttners who are kindly selling the book

To be in with a chance of winning, visit www.village-people.info and follow the links to the competition page. Closing date is 30 January 2022 and the usual Village People rules apply.

Christmas Giveaway

PInoCcHIo o A faamily Christmas show for agess 4+

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GIVEAWAY

Raise A Festive Glass Or Two With Norfolk Gin! O

ne of Norfolk’s best-loved brands, Norfolk Gin, wants to help you celebrate the festive season in style, and is generously oﬀering Village People readers a chance to win a goody bag containing these 5 fantastic prizes.: • A 70cl limited edition Blue Sky bottle of Norfolk Gin • Norfolk Gin Tea Towel featuring Norwich artist Simon Pritchard • Norfolk Gin Cocktail metal sign printed on recycled metal • A little sack of Norfolk Gin botanical – a gin potpourri room fragrance • Norfolk Gin postcards and drink mats bundle.

So what are you waiting for, hop online now? To be in with a chance of winning, simply visit www.village-people.info and follow the links to the competition page. Closing date is 15 December 2021 and the usual Village People rules apply.

Christmas Giveaway

Norfolk Gin is a small-batch, botanical gin, with each bottle ﬁlled and sealed by hand. Buy online or in person from a range of retailers throughout Norfolk, including Jarrold’s Food Hall, Bakers and Larners of Holt, The Norfolk Deli in Hunstanton and Thetford Garden Centre. www.norfolkgin.co.uk

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Sat 11 Dec - Sun 9 Jan 01603 630 000 | norwichtheatre.org 15

TICKETS 01603 593199 FREE ENTRY sainsburycentre.ac.uk

in Britain since 1951 16

Fritton, Mary Webb, 1971 Sainsbury Centre © Mary Webb

constructivist art

2 OCTOBER – 30 JANUARY 2022

geometry

rhythm &

ART

The art of geometry and architecture Exhibitions at Sainsbury Centre, University of East Anglia, Norwich

Fritton, Mary Webb, 1971 © Mary Webb and the Sainsbury Centre

Rhythm and Geometry: Constructivist art in Britain since 1951 Ends 30 January 2022 Drawn from the Sainsbury Centre collection, this exhibition celebrates the abstract and constructed art made and exhibited in Britain since 1951. The free exhibition includes work from the beginning of the 1950s to the present day, comprising around 120 objects across sculpture, reliefs, mobiles, painting, drawing and printmaking. The exhibition examines the rise of this dramatic strand in

post-war British art, led by the example of Victor Pasmore, who famously converted to abstract art in the late 1940s. But it was 1951 that would prove to be a vital year for the arts in Britain. The Festival of Britain was staged across the country to celebrate the arts, sciences, technology and industrial design, and the first exhibition devoted to abstract art since before the war was presented by the Artists’ International Association; Victor Pasmore and Mary Martin made their first relief sculptures, and Kenneth Martin his first mobile. Book tickets online. Goodwood Steps by Anthony Caro, Sainsbury Centre Sculpture Park Goodwood Steps (1996) by Anthony Caro is monumental, spanning over 35 metres in length and reaching over 3 metres in height. Occupying the space between art and architecture, the work is fabricated in steel and consists of seven stepped ziggurat

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sections, joined by floor plates that form sweeping arcs. The surface of the sculpture has oxidised to a rich, earthy iron colour, a ﬁnish familiar to many other works by Caro.

Goodwood Steps (1996) by Anthony Caro

Lauded as the greatest British sculptor of his generation, Anthony Caro (1924-2013) is internationally recognised as one of the masters of modern sculpture, and is best known for his large-scale metal assemblages made from found industrial objects. Entry free, no ticket required. Visit sainsburycentre.ac.uk or call 01603 593199. The Sainsbury Centre is closed on Mondays, open 10 – 6 Tuesday to Friday and open 10 – 5 on Saturdays and Sundays. Free parking on a ﬁrst come ﬁrst served basis. Parking permits available free at main gallery reception.

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WILDLIFE

S.O.S. – adopt an owl this Christmas Here’s a great idea for a wonderful and meaningful Christmas present that’s a little out of the ordinary

s Christmas approaches, and birthdays come around, finding meaningful gifts for family and friends is always a struggle. We all want to give them something special and unique that will make a real difference. So why not adopt one of the beautiful owls at Suffolk Owl Sanctuary (S.O.S.) as a gift? It will give so much pleasure to anyone interested in wildlife, while at the same time supporting a local charity in ways that benefit East Anglia’s wildlife community. Adopters receive a personalised adoption certificate, a photograph of the bird adopted, a copy of our ‘Saving Britain’s

Twiglet, the Long Eared Owl at Suffolk Owl Sanctuary

Owls’ booklet, a ceramic S.O.S. pin badge and annual updates on the adopted bird. S.O.S. is proactive in promoting the need for the care and conservation of the region’s owls and other birds of prey. It also provides respite, medical attention and rehabilitation for the injured wild birds brought into their raptor hospital, coupled with a dedicated helpline and website which advises

on what to do if an injured wild bird of prey is found. S.O.S. is also preparing to regenerate the wild owl nest box scheme it has run in association with the Thornham Owl Project for many years; providing, repairing, cleaning and monitoring a network of man-made roosting sites from the Waveney Valley down into mid-Suffolk. The adoption of an owl at S.O.S. will make a vital contribution towards the running costs of the charity. And it’s a wonderful gift with a difference…one that will make a difference to our world too! Visit www.owl-help.org.uk for more information.

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CAKE RECIPE

Ben’s Rich Fruit Cake This delicious fruit cake is a crowd-pleaser all year round, because the cake isn’t too dark. You can change the mix of fruits, but stick to the overall total and don’t drop below 500g of vine fruits. For a festive twist, use dates and cranberries, decorate as shown, or with marzipan and icing. But it’s perfect plain, too. Serves at least 20 474kcal 83g carbs per slice

INGREDIENTS Cake: 900g mixed vine fruits 100g dried apricots, chopped 75g mixed peel 400g glacé cherries, whole

Tip:

6 tbsp orange liqueur Juice and zest of a large clementine (or orange) 250g butter, softened (or dairy-free spread) 250g soft brown sugar 5 eggs 250g plain ﬂour (or GF ﬂour) 3 tsp mixed spice 1 tbsp treacle 100g almonds, chopped Decoration (as shown): Marmalade/apricot jam 6-8 pecans 30 mixed glacé cherries 30 blanched almonds, halved

METHOD 1. Put the fruit, apricots, mixed peel and cherries in a bowl and add the liqueur, orange juice and zest. Soak for at least 12 hours, or up to one week, stirring occasionally. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 130ºC. Grease and double line a

23cm x 7.5cm deep cake tin. Wrap the outside of the tin, to prevent the sides from overbaking (see tip). 2. In a very large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well in between. Fold in the flour and mixed spice, then the treacle and almonds. Finally, fold in the soaked fruit, drained, if any liquid remains. 3. Spoon into the tin, and level oﬀ. Bake in the oven for about 3 hours, until a skewer comes out clean. If the top is becoming too dark, cover loosely with foil. Leave to cool in the tin, then wrap in greaseproof and foil until needed (up to 3 months). 4. To decorate as shown, heat 3 tablespoons of jam until bubbling,

We line the outside with those brown paper strips used to package online deliveries – perfect!

then sieve. Paint onto the cake, then add the fruit and nuts in rings, starting at the centre. Finally, lightly brush more jam over the almonds and pecans. The cake will keep for weeks in a tin – serve in small wedges or slices, as a little goes a long way!

The Pennoyer Centre’s volunteer BakeForce make delicious cakes for sale in the café, which won the EDP Norfolk Food & Drink “Best Baking” Award. The café is open Mon-Sat from 10am to 3pm. www.pennoyers.org.uk 01379 676660 The Pennoyer Centre, Station Road, Pulham St Mary, Norfolk, IP21 4QT

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ne of the pivotal parts of a family Christmas is the tree (second only to Santa, of course!) and for a rapidly growing band of customers, preparations wouldn’t be complete without a visit to us in Banham to purchase a fresh Christmas tree. So why come to us, what makes our trees so special, and how should you look after yours? Before you set out to select a tree, make sure you know where you’re going to put it. Ideally it needs to be positioned away from radiators or open ﬁres as, unlike us, trees prefer to be cool. Size is vitally important, measure the space that’s available, noting the maximum height and width, and bring these details with you as it’s easy to misjudge size in diﬀerent surroundings! Always choose early to avoid disappointment, even if you’re not ready to take your tree indoors it’s worth selecting the

best shape and size for your home while there’s still plenty of choice. There are two main types of Christmas tree available. Norway Spruce is the old favourite, giving a strong pine fragrance, but prone to needle-loss in warm rooms, so best suited to cool conservatories or outdoor displays. The modern replacement is the Nordmann Fir, a glossy soft to touch needlefast type, perfect for all family areas. Whichever type you choose, it needs to be fresh, our cut Nordmanns are grown right here in Norfolk, unlike many retailers who supply trees felled weeks before you see them from forests across Europe and beyond. Choosing your tree should be fun so take your time, natural trees don’t grow perfectly evenly so get someone, or us, to hold diﬀerent trees out for you and give them a spin to ﬁnd their best side. Once chosen, we’ll net your tree

for easy transport home, we can put it in your car for you, place it to one side for collection later, or arrange delivery if it’s a monster! At home, saw a slice off the bottom of the trunk (or we can do this for you before you leave) and fit into a water-retaining stand, make sure the tree is upright and lift off the net, turn it to show the front side and then decorate to your heart’s delight. Don’t forget to check the water level regularly and keep it topped up. Christmas trees need not be just for Christmas, why not choose from our lovely range of pot-grown varieties for either indoor or outdoor display this year, then plant it into your garden where you can enjoy its splendour for years to come? Last of all, remember to welcome guests to your home with a stylish fresh wreath on your door, we have all you need to create your own, or you can cheat and buy one of ours which is locally hand-made and ready for display! Merry Christmas!

Cheers Ken,

The Garden Enclosure, Banham great trees, great prices, great service! We close on Christmas Eve at 1pm, and reopen at 10am on Thurs 20th Jan 2022

INDEPENDENT GARDEN CENTRE & GIFT SHOP 01953 888043 www.gardenenclosure.co.uk Fresh local Christmas trees & wreaths, seasonal plants, fabulous gifts & gorgeous goodies, ﬂoristry sundries, garden bird & pet supplies, gift vouchers … & more!

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Easy Enough Even For The Beginner

by Erasmia Kyriakou from the vegan cafe, Hungry Cat Cafe, is the new vegan cookbook filled with 60 mouth-watering recipes to suit every occasion. The book is available now on Amazon or in the cafe. 25 The Thoroughfare, Harleston, IP20 9AS See all the dishes on Instagram @dill_iciously_vegan Easy Recipe from the book, Enjoy

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LOCAL WALKS

Walking for Health Ashwellthorpe & Fundenhall REVIEWED BY DOUGIE DINGWALL VOLUNTEER CO-ORDINATOR AT CENTRAL NORFOLK WALKING FOR HEALTH Route by Ruth Burn/Sarah Liddington Route checked and photography by Dougie Dingwall

02. At the next junction, turn left (white arrow points right). The path wanders around before you turn right where it divides and exits the wood. Exit with marker post on field side of ditch is steep, with a very muddy ditch, shortly afterwards is easier. Turn right to follow the field edge, keeping the wood on your right. At the hedge, cross the plank bridge and turn right, again keeping the wood on your right. 03. Cross the next plank bridge and turn left, following the field edge and keeping the hedge on your left. Exit onto the pavement (The Street), turn left and walk along the narrow pavement past the church and village sign. When the road bends left, turn right up the gravel drive and cross the road to a path marked by a wooden finger post. Keep straight ahead, with the deep ditch to your right – in spring the primroses here are spectacular! 04. At the junction of the paths, with a marker post on the right, turn left up the wide path, which can be muddy. Turn left at the road (Church Lane), and soon turn right into the churchyard of St. Nicholas Church. The church is worth a visit for the local history display. On leaving the church, walk to the left through the churchyard, using the shingle path. At the road, turn left into Church Lane.

Starting Point: Lower Wood Car Park, The Street, Ashwellthorpe, Norwich NR16 1HB Grid Reference: TM139977 Walk Length (Miles / Km): 3.5 / 5.6 Please be careful crossing and walking along country lanes. The pavement is very narrow in Ashwellthorpe. Watch out for trip hazards and overhanging branches on footpaths and through the woods.

Directions 01. From the small car park, go through the gate on the right. Follow the path into the wood and then turn left (white arrow). Keep right where the path splits (white arrow) and continue straight ahead to a crossroads of paths (observation chair here). Turn right, then straight ahead at the next crossroads of paths.

05. Where the road bends to the left, keep straight ahead on the footpath which can be muddy, and continue ahead until the path divides. Keep ahead, then turn immediately right through the hole in the hedge and follow a well worn path left and then diagonally across a ﬁeld. Bear left with the ditch on your right, then follow the ditch around to the right. At a junction of paths, turn left and continue with the hedge on your right. 06. On reaching a stile, walk around to the left and continue ahead. Turn right after some bushes onto a narrow path between two ﬁelds. Continue ahead at a yellow marker and a pond on your left, then turn right and then quickly left onto a wider path (it can be very muddy here). Continue past the yellow marker on the left to the road (The Street). Cross the road and turn left onto the narrow pavement, and return to the car park. 27

NATURE

A Ghostly Presence By Helen Baczkowska, Acting Conservation Manager at Norfolk Wildlife Trust

ometimes it is just a glimpse, a flicker in the dark, as pale as a possible ghost. Other times I am luckier and get a proper view of a barn owl, quartering a common on a damp morning, or following the line of a hedge between a farmyard and meadows at dusk. From a distance, the birds look pure white, especially from below, and the scientiﬁc name, Tyto alba, literally means ‘white owl’. Close up, the tops of the wings are pale gold, flecked with grey, and the longer wing feathers have brown bars. The face is heart-shaped, with large dark eyes and a curious, cat-like expression. My favourite view of a barn owl is when it sits on a branch or fence post and turns those liquid eyes towards me, so that, for just a moment, I can enjoy the beauty of the bird as it rests. Once or twice in my life, I have handled rescued barn owls and their size is surprising – flying in the half-light of morning or evening they look like a big bird, with long wings and a dumpy body. In fact, although they stand around a foot high,

Barn owl in ﬂight, credit Julian Thomas

they weigh almost nothing and seem to be made entirely of feathers. That lightness and the feathers, which silence the sound of their flight, make the birds stealthy killers of voles, mice and the other small mammals that make up their diet. In spring and early summer, this prey will be carried back to a barn, a church or even a hole in a tree and fed to a handful of young. As they grow, the chicks, like a lot of owls, can be heard making wheezing and hissing

noises – some people say they sound like old men, but it reminds me of children, hiding in the hedge, saying “psst” in a stage-loud whisper. Once they are adults, the owls’ call is not a hoot, but an almost unearthly shriek; in some areas they are actually known as ‘screech owls’. That eerie call, the quiet flight and ghostly paleness led to a belief in the past that a barn owl was a portent of doom – a “prophet of woe and mischance,” wrote

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Barn owl resting and hunting, credit Elizabeth Dack

Barn owl sitting on a fence post, credit Elizabeth Dack

Chaucer. Nothing, of course, is further from the truth and even today, farmers welcome barn owls as a good method for controlling rodents in their yards. Like many wild species found

in the Claylands, barn owls have lived alongside humans for millennia. Hedgehogs, bats, great crested newts and more thrive in the old, farmed landscape of the Claylands and

connections between existing habitats are vital. With this in mind, Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s ‘Wilder Connections’ project is supporting landowners and community groups to improve the links across the landscape by restoring and re-creating ponds, hedgerows, meadows and more. This, and other conservation eﬀorts in the area, mean that species like barn owls will hopefully soon be seen not as prophets of woe, but as a symbol of a thriving and re-connected countryside. The Wilder Connections project is funded by the government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund. The fund is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency. www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk

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FOOD

T O P TA B L E

OakVilla Restaurant & Gin Distillery – East Harling O

wned by South African couple Shaun and Lindi Hancke, OakVilla is based in a beautiful, light and stylish open plan building just off the A11. Our evening began with a very warm welcome and the ‘Enjoy Gin’ experience, where Shaun took us through the fascinating history of gin, how the various types are made, plus plenty of tasting — including their two award-winning gins Vryheid and Heart of Oak. OakVilla offers several other ‘experiences’, including gin blending and distilling. This was a very enjoyable and unusual start to the evening, and a wonderful preamble to our meal. The style of the restaurant is very much casual fine dining, and the dishes are both traditional and South African inspired. I started with OakVilla Gin Cured Salmon, with confit beetroot, pickled cucumber ribbons and a lime, coriander and garlic creme fraiche. Such a pretty dish, with just a hint of gin in the salmon to add fragrance. The earthy beetroot and tangy pickled cucumber were perfect partners, and the creme fraiche brought it all together. My partner chose Chutney Chicken Thighs, a generous skewer of lightly charred succulent meat, baked with OakVilla apricot chutney and served on a bed of peppery rocket and lambs’ leaf. This was a meal in itself, full of flavour, tender and delicious.

Mains were equally impressive. For me, a Mushroom and Butternut Open Lasagne, served with a parmesan crisp, and lambs’ lettuce dressed with truffle oil. An inspired twist on the traditional dish, with a tower of layers of pasta, mushroom duxelle and butternut puree. It was substantial, yet light, with lots of earthy flavours, plus it was beautiful to look at, too. My fellow diner chose something typically South African, as our host informed us, and very unusual to our palate; Twilight Bobotie and Rice, which was a slightly sweet baked mild beef curry set in a savoury egg custard, served with fragrant yellow rice, braai bread and rajitha. My partner loved this very different curry, with its great mix of flavours that all worked together, and lovely fluffy naanstye bread. We shared a very good side dish of pan-fried long stem broccoli and courgettes. For dessert, I chose Passion Fruit Creme Brûlée, served with coconut ice cream — sweet, creamy and smooth with a great ‘snappy’ sugar crust. For my partner, Lindi’s Malva Pudding, a melt in the mouth warm sponge, plus vanilla ice cream. Very decadent indeed, moreish and yummy! What a great evening we had at OakVilla! Shaun and Lindi have created a wonderful, warm and interesting experience, with superb food, friendly and knowledgeable staff and the chance to learn about, taste,

create and enjoy gin. This is the perfect venue with a diﬀerence; ideal for parties, corporate Christmas events or just a great evening out for two. Cheers!

Three-course dinner for two, including drinks - £75.85. Enjoy Gin experience - £25 p/p. OakVilla Restaurant & Distillery, St. George's Distillery, Harling Road, Roudham NR16 2QW. Open Mon 12pm-4.30pm, Tues to Sun 9.30am-4.30pm, Thurs to Sat 6.30pm-11pm. Te l: 01953 665065. W: oakvilladistillery.com oakvillagin 31

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POETRY

Poetry Corner Keen amateur poet Jenna Woodford, from Norfolk, loves writing about wildlife and especially enjoys the challenge of writing haiku; distilling an idea into just one breath. COMMON GARDEN SNAIL Common garden snail Ruining cabbages again. Leaving moondust trails Sparkling after rain.

THE RESTING SEASON Burnt-out orange leaves Oak branches bare. Gentle green Pines scent winter air. A PLANT IN HAIKU Petal Eccentric leaf, draws The sun for beauty’s sake. A flag, for some, a gift.

Dull brown shell Not meant to be seen. Though its elegant swirl Is striped with gold and green. Hiding in the dark Cloaked in fright. Curiosity draws eyes To investigate the light.

Leaf Batteries, coiled Inside a solar panel. Bonding sky to earth.

Are you a poet from Norfolk or Suffolk? If so, we’d love to hear from you! Email a selection of poems and a bit about you to editor@village-people. info for the chance to be featured in a future issue.

Stem In storms I dance, but In rain I grow, to the sun I twist as sap flows.

GARDEN SNAIL – A HAIKU Hiding in the cloak Of dull shell. Patience draws eyes To the light, curious.

Roots Worm-like, grasping hope To ﬁnd the fuels of growth. And Anchor me to home.

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LOCAL HISTORY

Memories of Occold Local historian, Dennis Cross from Diss, shares with us his fascinating collection of old postcards, focusing on a diﬀerent village in every issue. This time, we take a walk down memory lane in Occold. This view of Occold in 1910 shows cottages that were

homes for many of the families who worked in the area.

The Churchh off St Michhaell, shhown here in 1905, is central to Occold and was originally a Norman building. The rector at this time was the Reverend Herbert Marshall. The tower was built in 1426 and housed ﬁve bells. In 1854, the church was repaired and reroofed.

 Occold Smock Mill in 1911. The miller was

Charles Mills. In 1923-24 the sails were removed for safety reasons, and the mill was powered by a diesel engine, operating until the end of WW2.

Occcold Store, in 1910, was run by Herbert Last. The shop was

a draper and also sold china, boots, glass, paint and medicines. Herbert was also a local farmer.

LOCAL HISTORY

The Baptist Chapel, seen her in the 1920s, was built in 1832 and could seat 300 people. The population at this time was 460.

Mill Road, seen here in 1920, got its name from the Occold windmill, which has been in the village since the 1830s. Many new houses have since been built on this road.

This postcard was posted at Occold Post Office in 1921 to a Miss B Hawes, in Southwold. The postmaster was John Edgar. The view shows cottages near the church, featuring thatched, tile and slate roofs and clay lump bricks. The Norfolk Postcard Club meets regularly in Trowse in Norwich and new members are very welcome. Meetings have currently been suspended. Dennis is also the author of several local history books that can be purchased by contacting him direct.

If readers have any local postcards of Diss or the surrounding villages, please get in touch with Dennis after 7pm on 01379 651897

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ECO SWAPS – dreaming of a ‘green’ Christmas!

n the clamour to buy Christmas presents, it’s easy to overlook the toll the festive season can take on the environment. We need to think about where so many of the Christmas products we buy actually come from. Some 80% are made in and come from China. And how do they get here…through Amazon and Ebay?! As consumers, we should seek out ethically sourced, durable and useful gifts from UK tax paying businesses and be sure these goods are sustainable and planet friendly. All the Natural Spa Supplies products we have introduced you to in Village People magazine oﬀer great value, and have been selected to put the planet ﬁrst. But that’s

not all, our products are not just sustainable, they are also useful and life changing for the lucky recipients. So by choosing from our range of eco products for your loved ones this Christmas, you can avoid impulse buys, plastic gifts and single use items. Choose from our colourful Scrubby scouring pads; our antimicrobial multipurpose Hemp Oil Soap – so useful as the pandemic continues; our huge selection of Sea Sponges, and our totally natural Face Care Kit. Or visit our online Christmas category for selected gift-wrapped items for Him, for Her or as Stocking Fillers. We can send products to you, or gift wrapped with a hand-written Christmas

card (using our purple fountain pen) direct to your family and friends. Together, we can all celebrate a ‘green’ Christmas and enjoy eco gifts throughout the year! Order from our secure online shop, or order by phone. www.naturalspasupplies.co.uk/ shop or www.naturalspasupplies. co.uk/Christmas. Tel freephone 0800 023 5008 or landline 01508 486715.

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CANINE BEHAVIOUR

Parlez Vous POOCH?! Blogger and qualiﬁed ‘Dog Listener’ Julia Collins helps us to consider the needs of our canine chums this festive season

his Christmas, before you go up to bed (awaiting Santa’s visit), do make sure that in addition to your stockings being securely attached to the mantelpiece, the following are safely and entirely out of canine reach; grapes, dried fruit, nuts, mince pies and chocolates. These festive items rank highly amongst toxic canine foodstuﬀs.* Don’t just think toddler height, factor in the altitude attainability of a potential pet pyramid plus accessories, chairs, tables, piles of presents and so on. Holiday time veterinary attention does not come cheap and imagine the shadow a sickly pet would caste over your celebrations! On a far lighter no ote, many dogs enjoy the festive season mightily, and it’s well worth giving a little thoughtt to how our sensitive and loyal com mpanions might comprehend Christmas. A general increase in hustle and bustle accompanies the arrivval

of interesting packages, with plenty to investigate and carefully log in the canine mind. Days are much shorter and frequently cold and wet but, no matter how busy you are, don’t stint on your dog walks. If it’s really inclement, one heroic outing could suﬃce with some indoor play and attention to replace the afternoon outing. (See October/November ‘ParlezVous Pooch’). Walks and meals mean everything to your dog. We set a lot of store by Christmas and expect our dogs to behave well, even faced with a range of visitors and activities. The least we can do is lovingly preserve their routine with plenty of exercise and down time, if the house is noisy with boisterous visitors. Don’t let good habits be sabotaged by supposedly wellmeaning guests feeding your dog from the table, encouraging them to sit on furniture (if this is something you don’t allow) and letting visiting children whip them into a frenzy. In fact, if your dog is used to an adult household, better not to leave them alone with children, no matter how gentle and placid they are (the dog I mean!).

Not too many leftovers — a few by all means, but cut back on the kibble. Preserve his sleeping area as a sanctuary. Meet up with unfamiliar canine visitors outside ﬁrst, their coming straight into the house is a mistake. Give plenty of thought to a ‘strange’ dog actually staying over. Don’t be all over your dog during the day and then go out, leaving them alone in a silent house. Make sure they’re well exercised, fed as appropriate, have fresh water and a chance to nip into the garden before you go. Leave a radio, lights and the heating on. * Look up ‘foods toxic for dogs’, some of the items will surprise you.

Parlez Vous POOCH?! articles are also availaable on the Oracle, an audio info ormation magazine for visually im mpaired listeners, which is partt of Wymondham and Attleborough h Talking Newspapers. To access all the Talking Newspaper re ecordings, go to ww www ww.watn.or w rg.uk

Julia Collinss @walkso oﬂifessuffolk www.walkso oﬂife.co.uk 41

WHAT'S ON THIS MONTH

Village Notice Board ART Friday 3 December to Sunday 5 December, from 10.30am Art Fair East St Andrews Hall, St Andrews Plain, Norwich NR3 1AU

Artists, galleries and art dealers attend one of the biggest contemporary art fairs outside London. Around 1,000 artworks on display including painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, video art, installation, performance and original limited-edition prints. Works for sale. Will Teather: 07792 419898, www.artfaireast.com

FAIR Saturday 4 December, midday to 3pm Christmas Fair Hoxne Village Hall Lots of festive stalls and Father Christmas will make an appearance. Light lunches available. Deborah Harding: zebrainbexhill@yahoo.co.uk, 01379 668190.

FAIR Sunday 5 December, 10am Christmas Arts and Craft Fayre Wortwell CORE, Tunbeck Road, Wortwell IP20 0HS

CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL Friday 10 to Sunday 19 December, 4pm-7pm Christmas Tree Festival of Light St Peter & St Pauls Church, East Harling The church will be open for everyone to enjoy this wonderful event in the church. Entry is free, but donations will be gratefully received towards the church roof fund. Susan Wilson: susanmwils@gmail.com, 07890 102392.

CONCERT Saturday 11 December, 7.30pm Christmas Concert Pulham Market Memorial Hall An evening of fun and festive spirit, with a Christmas singalong. Julie Jillings: jumarji59@hotmail. com, 07753 689843.

CONCERT Saturday 18 December, 7.30pm Harleston Choral Society Christmas Concert St John’s Church, Harleston

Choral Classics, a selection of choruses from Handel's Messiah, Christmas Carols for choir and audience participation. Stella Brownsea: heidihouse@btinternet.com, harlestonchoralsoc.org.uk

CONCERT Sunday 19 December, 7pm South Norfolk Youth Symphonic Band Christmas Concert New Buckenham Village Hall NR16 2AU

An evening of festive music and cheer. Mince pies, mulled wine and raﬀle. Jan McLintock: j.mclintock451@btinternet.com, snysb.org.uk

EVENT Wednesday 22 December, 2pm-5pm Christmas Experience Buckingham Lodge Care Home, Norwich Road, Carbrooke IP25 6WL Older people in the community are invited to a mini Christmas roast, with mulled wine and mince pies, entertainment and music. Please call Anita at the home to let her know you are coming — 01953 828094.

WA NT TO ADVERTISE YOUR LOCAL EVENT? List your event for FREE by submitting details directly to our website www.village-people.info

For more information on all events including ticket purchase please see www.village-people.info/whats-on 42

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GIVEAWAY

Can you ﬁnd Bella the Beagle? Win a £100 M&S voucher!

To be in with a chance of winning a £100 M&S voucher, simply read this magazine from cover to cover and ﬁnd Bella the Beagle. She looks exactly like the picture of her, but much smaller! How to enter the competition Visit www.village-people.info and follow the links to the competition page. Closing date is 30 January 2022 and the usual Village People rules apply.

Where Bella was hiding in our previous issue: Norwich Puppet Theatre – page 17

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VILLAGE LIFE

Gospel from The Saints By Julia Collins, who lives in Saint Nicholas

inding ourselves nearing the end of another year, are we are all dreaming of not so much a White Christmas, but just a Christmas?! At the time of writing, the signs are good, but we all know by now how quickly things can change. The much-loved festive season is just around the corner, so let’s just hope it’s a smooth curve, lacking a difficult camber, and requiring minimal braking or gear changes! With curves and wheels brought to mind, perhaps an approach based upon concentric circles could be effective, conjuring a view that might offer a little extra space for appreciation and thought. At the centre would be love and kindness – don’t they lie at the heart of everything? Let’s encircle this ‘bulls eye’ with family and friends, those with whom we extend and exchange feelings of closeness and connection. Probably, if we are realistic, several concentric circles exist as we move from our nearest and dearest through the layers of friendship towards acquaintances. Again, though, celebration, fun and goodwill permeate to different levels in different ways. With these ingredients established as our core, we could then expand outwards to the festive embellishments. So, after getting together with friends and family, what comes next; a Christmas tree, decorations, fairy lights, cards, presents, carols, festive food and drink? 46

If we are unlucky and socialising becomes difficult for a while, we are all now fairly adept at virtual meet ups and outside gatherings. Not always ideal, but definitely better than nothing. Last year our wings were clipped at the last moment and many of us had made considerable arrangements, only for them to be dismantled piece by piece with accelerating velocity. It doesn’t feel as though a repeat is on the horizon, but let’s keep our feet (in their Christmassy slippers) firmly on the ground and work from the inside out. To borrow from a radio comedy I heard the other day: “The greatest problem we face is running out of panic before the

main panic season!” Patchy shop shelves and ‘dry’ petrol stations eﬀectively stoked our feelings of anxiety – already somewhat raw after the trials and worries the last 18 months have brought. Sure, we all have to weather these situations, deal with the impact as best we can, but by remembering what is truly valuable it’s a tiny bit easier to maintain a sense of proportion…and gratitude. Looking forward to the New Year, we have our wealth of experience to draw upon, and with optimism for the very best of outcomes, let’s hug our reinforced sense of resilience and versatility and keep the treasure of what really matters closest to our hearts.

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GIVEAWAY

It’s Christmaaaas! Slade – Waterfront Norwich – Sunday 11 December 2021

hristmas wouldn’t be Christmas without Slade’s classic party hit, so we are thrilled to announce that Village People have 4 pairs of tickets to give away to see this iconic band when they play at the Waterfront in Norwich on Sunday 11 December. Slade are, without doubt, one of the most exciting British bands of the past 50 years. With their unique blend of perfect pop rock ’n’ roll, outrageous flamboyance and pure fun, and no less than 23 Top-20 singles – of which six were No.1 smash hits – plus six smash albums, Slade have become a ﬁrm favourite in the hearts of pop fans all over the world. The band is now led by founder member Dave Hill on Lead Guitar,

with John Berry who joined in 2003 on Lead Vocals, Bass, Acoustic Guitar and Violin. John has also played Bass with Mud, The Sweet, Screaming Lord Sutch, The Tremeloes, Bay City Rollers and The Rubettes. Joining John on Lead Vocals and Keyss is Russell Keefe. Having played in many original bands in his early years, he has also recorded

albums for Polygram and United Artists and toured with The Pretty Things and Les McKeown’s Bay City Rollers. Alex Bines now joins on Drums; he has toured with Wilko Johnson, The Rubettes and is also a drum teacher. Slade today is still one of the most exciting bands on the road, and their stage performance is a dynamic, powerful and exhilarating rolller-coaster ride of pure unadulterated rock ’n’ roll.

To be in with a chance of winning, visit www.village-people.info and follow the links to the competition page. Closing date is 5 Dec 2021 and the usual Village People rules apply.

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FALCON MEADOW

Falcon Meadow ART COMPETITION 2022 Be inspired by the meadow, make some art and win a prize!

Just some of the amazing artwork from last year’s competition

e ran our ﬁrst ever Falcon Meadow Art Competition last year and it was a huge success; generating an explosion of creativity and showcasing the talent of local artists. So we’re running it again and hope you’ll get involved! We are inviting all Village People readers, your families and friends to take part in the Falcon Meadow Art Competition 2022. It’s a chance to enjoy nature, awaken your inner artist and celebrate Falcon Meadow, our stunning community asset. And for those who’ve been asking… this year we have included photography to get even more talented people involved! Here is what we’d like you to do: 1. Create a piece of art under the theme of ‘My Falcon Meadow’. You could paint, draw, ice a cake, make a

sculpture, take a photo, weave a tapestry, knit a jumper or whittle a stick. As long as it’s creative and you enjoy it, anything goes! 2. When you have completed your masterpiece, take a photo / scan it and email it to info@ falconmeadow.org.uk with a covering email to tell us your name, age and contact number. 3. The deadline for entries is 28 February 2022. 4. Entries will be judged in the following age categories: Very Little – 0-5 Quite Little – 6-11 Tweens and Teens – 12 – 17 Young Adults – 18 – 50 (you liked this category last time) Stately and Digniﬁed Adults – 50+ (you liked this category last time too!)

5. There will be a prize of £10 for the winner in each category, and all entries will be exhibited both on the Falcon Meadow website and in future issues of Village People – an amazing showcase for your work. We know from the Duck Race that Bungay (and beyond) is brimming with people who are quirky, creative and fun, so we hope this competition appeals to you. Thank you and good luck – we can’t wait to see what you create! If you’d like to support our work, please visit www.falconmeadow.org.uk 51

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GARDENS

ON YOUR PLOT Winter wonders JOBS FOR DECEMBER & JANUARY n

Ensure outdoor taps and ponds don’t freeze up

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has a genttle fragrance like lily off the valley. Winter-fllowering honeysuckle is ideal for growing by the back door and produces delicate creamy-wh hite flowers on bare branches with a pungent perfume. ‘D Deben’, is another plant to consider – with long-lastin ng, pinkishwhite blosssoms that are sweetlyy scented. Plant them m near the doorway an nd you'll be rewarded every time you brave the cold!

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ﬁre, and toasting marshmallows is great fun for all the family, and cuts down on screen time! From sleek and bowl-shaped, to intricately decorative, there are so many to choose from. A chiminea is another lovely way to keep your garden warm, while keeping flames more contained.

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BEAUTY

uch as I love skincare and makeup products, to really look and feel our best we have to take care of what’s on the inside ﬁrst. Good nutrition is vital to healthy, glowing skin and luscious hair, but the cold winter months are full of temptations when it comes to late party nights, stodgy food and excess alcohol. So here below are a few of my favourite plant-based foods and health hacks that are as delicious as they are nutritious.

Drink the wine!

Antioxidants play a key role in protecting our skin, helping to prevent or slow damage to cells caused by free radicals. The great news is that red wine is abundant in antioxidants, so enjoying a glass every so often can essentially replace going to the gym! I like to look for natural, organic and vegan friendly wines as they’re kinder to the environment, helping to reduce d greenhouse h gas emissions and increase biodiversity.

Look Good Feel Good Do Good

Madeleine White, ex-model, make-up artist and founder of award-winning local ethical beauty brand, Juni Cosmetics, shows how we can build sustainability into our beauty routine. This time she looks at ‘Beauty from the inside out’ junicosmetics.co.uk

Healthy fats

To keep ke skin soft an nd supple itt’ss iimportaant to get enough healthy alth fats in our diets. From chia seeds and nuts, to avocado and olive oil, upping your healthy fat intake is ultra satisfying in more ways than one. Not only will you be providing your body with essential nutrients, but you’ll feel fuller for longer too.

Veganise your roast

We all love a festive roast, and nut roasts are a fantastic alternative to meat when it comes to the big celebration dinner. They can be customised and adjusted to suit your taste and are full of hearty, nutritiously-dense ingredients like nuts, lentils, dried fruit and vegetables. They taste great, are very cheap to make and last well for leftovers.

Don’t get too hungry

Happ py guts

Our gutt is the epicentre of our overall health. A happy tummy t full of beneﬁcial bacteria is essential for overall wellbeing and clear skin. I like to eat plen nty of fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, coconu ut keﬁr, apple cider vinegar and miso, and I take a good quality pre and probiotic religiously to keep p everything in check.

Eating too little and not often enough can wreak havoc on your hormone health, resulting in fatigue, outbreaks and potentially more serious health concerns. I try to prioritise eating healthy, protein-rich meals and snacks to keep my hormones balanced. One of my favourite quick snacks is apple slices topped with almond butter. junicosmetics.co.uk 61

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BEAUTY

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tarted in 2020, Infused with Kindness was born out of “a passion for creating beautiful, fragrant, ethically sourced and environmentally friendly products” — and this is very clear from the look, the aluminium packaging and the love that has gone into every detail. The delicious-smelling Lavender Pillow Spray, designed to promote better relaxation and sleep, had me drifting oﬀ in a pleasant cloud of my favourite fragrance.

The beautiful vegan salt soap delivered gentle exfoliation and a wonderful lemony smell. I loved the cute little slide tin of organic Peppermint Lip Balm, which soothed and moisturised my lips without irritating them. A lovely thoughtful and eﬀective range that does exactly what is says on the recyclable tin! Tip: A great Christmas present for eco-friendly friends! infusedwithkindness.co.uk

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More reviews of the best natural, sustainable and ethical beauty products in Norfolk and Suﬀolk…the ones that really do work! GOOD BOTANICS Hand Sanitiser, Skin Balm, Facial Oil

Products reviewed by Village People Sub Editor Lucy Ohsten. A huge thank you to all the fantastic ethical beauty brands in Norfolk and Suffolk who have allowed me to review their products. If you have any thoughts or ideas about local beauty, please email me at lucy@village-people.info

Environmentally and socially conscious plant-based products to nourish and support the body. 100% natural, recyclable packaging

OOD products are inspired by age-old herbal remedies and feature refreshingly no-nonsense recyclable glass packaging. I wouldn’t normally class Hand Sanitiser as a beauty product, but this vegan product is diﬀerent, using marshmallow root for hydration, rather than glycerine from animal fat. It felt very nice on my skin, leaving no sticky residue, and it smelled great too. The Skin Balm was a very eﬀective all-round remedy, working quickly to heal

and soothe cuts, rough skin, insect bites and blisters. A little of the vegan Facial Oil on my skin every day left it feeling nourished and looking great, smooth and healthy. Lovely scent too. This range really is as ‘GOOD’ as it claims! Tip: Look out for GOOD’s new Liquid Soap made with their own olive oil.

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HEALTH

Think positive – winter will be fun!

ositive thinking is all about adopting a hopeful attitude towards stressful or challenging situations and focusing on the good things that can arise, rather than negatives. But does positive thinking really work? One study has shown that when participants suffering from generalised anxiety disorder visualised positive images in response to their worries, they reported greater happiness and decreased anxiety. It was found people are happier when they adopt a positive, optimistic outlook, and feel more confident and energetic. Another study, in 2019, proved positive thinking could help us live longer – the most optimistic of participants had an 11-15% longer lifespan and were significantly more likely to reach the age of 85. Positive thinking makes it easier to control emotions, providing some essential protection from stress.

Let's look at a few tips that could help you put more of the positive into your life. • Before you tackle a challenge, list the good and bad possible outcomes. Focus on the good and believe that this will be the outcome. Considering any negatives gives a bit of preparation too • Avoid thinking in black and white – sometimes the outcome is neither excellent nor terrible, but somewhere in between. This is ok too • Focus on the good in situations and put negatives behind you.

When/if something troubling occurs, let go of it and move on • Keep a journal – record positive things at the end of the week. Include tasks as simple as baking a cake or ﬁnishing a good book • Smile to get through challenging tasks and smile more in general. Pass on a grin to the people you meet • Tick oﬀ your to-do list to see how much you have accomplished, rather than getting annoyed about what you haven't managed to do. Remember, natural remedies can help! Vogel’s Stress Relief Daytime contains Valerian and Hops to gently calm the nervous system and help your day pass more positively. Ring or email the Natural Food Store, Exchange Street, Norwich for friendly help and excellent advice. Call 01603 613228, or order online at www.shopnaturally.com

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11th April 2019

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Corton House is a not for proﬁt care home with a Christian ethos, providing excellent, loving care and support. We offer a Covid Secure environment and assured CQC in all 8 areas of a recent Infection Prevention and Control Audit. Enjoy newly refurbished communal spaces as well as secure gardens and spacious en suite rooms.

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CARLETON HOUSE FAMILY OWNED AND MANAGED RESIDENTIAL CARE FOR OLDER PEOPLE WE OFFER:

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REAL LIVES

Opening the Christmas Box Story Norfolk journalist, Sandie Shirley, spotlights the inspiring stories of men and women from the region and beyond that have seen them reach for victory. For more stories visit Facebook: Refreshing Waters Christian Media.

s the festive season approaches, the heartbeat of Christmas will come to life across the region again, as Andy Jones unfolds the nativity story from a box of delights for children in churches and schools. Andy, who heads up the charity RAISE, helps youngsters capture the wonder of the Christmas story through smell, touch and sound. The teaching is engaging, visual and hands-on. “It means children can think about the story and what it means to them and wonder in the moment,” says Andy, who cut the cords as a church children’s worker and took a gigantic leap of faith to launch RAISE. He has ridden the surf of adventure and challenge and in 2018 RAISE became a charity. Its hallmark is creativity, fun and ingenuity as it portrays Old and New Testament stories in surprising ways. It has won the support and favour of sponsors, parents, pupils, teachers and churches and has taken Andy to unexpected places, as he opens the Bible and has shared “God’s love letter” with thousands of children over the years. But he knows his life would have taken a diﬀerent course if not for the faithful prayers of his late mother, who died suddenly during the pandemic last summer. “When I was born, she made a pledge to give my life to God for his use. Her faith shone through with her trust

in Jesus. She championed me and anyone in her family. I would not have pushed through that dark time of losing my mum without my faith, but I knew God was always there and he is still good and faithful.” Andy has been the fruit of her prayers and love, and he continues to share the messages of hope that were faithfully conveyed to him as a child. Last year, the father of two ran a marathon raising £4,000 to create and fund an ‘escape room’ for youngsters. The portable inflatable pod will be transformed into a biblical setting with questions to answer and puzzles to solve, to help explore diﬀerent gospel themes. The idea is ready for trial in the New Year with the Bible story of Joseph and his coat of many colours. When schools closed during the pandemic, Andy did online assemblies, reaching hundreds of pupils at once. He also trained with ‘Christians Against Poverty’ to run

two short sessions to help children with ﬁnancial management and giving RAISE another dimension. “The course looks at how people earn money, as well as family spending, creating a budget and saving and giving,” says Andy. He reflects on his mission: “It’s helping kids to understand that faith is not something that binds us, but frees us to be ourselves and who God has called us to be. I want them to know that the Bible says they are chosen, loved and God’s masterpiece; there is no mistake in what he creates.” To support RAISE or ﬁnd out more – use the links below: www.raisekidswork.org.uk www.facebook.com/ raisekidswork 75

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FREE PROBATE ADVICE Find out about the legal side of things when someone dies. There can be a lot to think about when someone dies, at what is almost certainly a very emotional time. For that reason, we offer a Free Initial Probate Advice service to anyone who has lost a loved one, or is in charge of dealing with an estate, to help you understand what needs to be done and when. Usually it is the Executors appointed under a will who are responsible for dealing with things. If there isn’t a will in place it falls to the ultimate beneficiaries of the estate (who take on the role as Administrators). It may be that the estate is relatively straightforward and you just need to be pointed in the right direction, perhaps with some reassurance that you have got everything covered. We are happy to have a chat if that is you. If the estate administration is more complicated, you may want some assistance completing the tax paperwork and applying for a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration (the legal document which allows you to handle the deceased’s assets). You might even want someone to take the legal side of things completely out of your hands. If you do want some help, Not for Profit Law offer a bespoke service in which we can assist with as much or as li le of the estate administra�on as you would like. Unlike some solicitors, we do not charge a percentage of the value of an estate, our hourly rates are low and we can offer fixed fee arrangements in certain circumstances. If you are an Executor or an Administrator who needs a helping hand then please do get in touch. Laura van Ree and Trina Worden are two local solicitors who set up Not For Profit Law in order to ‘do law differently’. They advise on Wills, Tax Planning, Trusts, Probate, Powers of A orney and the Court of Protec on. Their fees are lower than tradi onal law firms and they feed their profits back into the local community via Norfolk Community Founda on.

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Wish your income prospects would improve? W

hether you are a saver or a spender, planning your retirement, or enjoying your silver years, we all want to get our money working harder. But in the current financial climate, it’s difficult to know how. It’s 12 years since the onset of the financial crisis and the effects were still being felt as covid arrived, meaning that savers must also weather the storm of another global recession. Higher taxation, wage stagnation and rising living costs are some of the consequences. Cash savers in bank and building society deposits have been the real losers in recent years, and the outlook appears bleak. Retirement can now last 30 years or more, so it’s vital that your investments last. Any income generated also needs to maintain its spending power to combat the threat of inflation. History shows that through a combination of capital growth and dividend income, investing in equities, or shares, has provided investors with a better chance of outpacing inflation over the long term, compared with other asset classes. The economic crisis created by the pandemic has forced many companies to suspend or reduce their dividend payments. However, it is expected that companies will reinstate their dividend policies as soon as it’s prudent to do so. The long-term track record of shares delivering a rising income remains intact and investing in companies remains

a core component of an income strategy. Investors should have basic principles in place that they can stick to over the long term. For most investors, the best way to harness the dividend potential of equities is through investment funds, which spread your money across the shares of many worldwide companies. Equity funds seek to achieve an attractive total return through a combination of dividend income and capital growth. A diversified fixed-interest strategy will help position your portfolio to help benefit from growth and steady levels of income. Commercial property has a strong, long-term track record for generating a reliable stream

of rental income, as well as the scope for capital appreciation. Importantly, its returns are largely independent of other asset classes. Investors should, however, note that investing in real asset classes (equities, corporate bonds and commercial property) does not provide the security of capital which is characteristic of a deposit account with a bank or building society. To receive a complimentary guide covering wealth management, retirement planning or Inheritance Tax planning, contact MD Wealth Management on 01379 415511 or email michael.duale@sjpp.co.uk.

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HISTORY

Finding Russell Stutzman Here is a fascinating tale of history and discovery from a small group which uncovers stories of the people connected to Station 146 and the 448th Bomber Group stationed at Seething, in Norfolk. One of the lead researchers, Ann-Margaret Barber, has been trying to ﬁnd out more about a ring found in the grounds of Seething Control Tower.

Just some of the memorabilia of the 448th bomber group at Seething

hen researching something, you need to do it for a reason! In this case, I came across a photograph of a ring, taken about 12 years ago, in our personal collection. The photograph was accompanied by a request for information, and this intrigued me. The name of the person who found the ring was given, the inscription on it was ‘Russel Stutzman’, together with a number and where it was found. So where did I start? The number was perhaps a service number, given that it was found on a disused USAAF WW2 airﬁeld, and the airﬁeld bomb store had not been too far away. Could it be that someone with a military occupation came here,

lost his ring, and over time it was lost in the soil of ploughed fields? I decided to assume that the number was a USAAF service number, and hoped I could match it with a name to confirm the identity of the man. This paid off; it matched to Russell Stutzman, an American Serviceman born in 1919 in Black Creek, Wisconsin, USA. The time between completing his draft card and his enlistment was 15 months. He enlisted at Ft Sheriden, Illinois, and there he was given his service number, which was found on his ring. As with all the people I research, I looked back into his family history; who were his mother and father, did he

have any brothers or sisters, did they enter the services? I traced the family back to 1910 using their census returns, and this made very interesting reading. It’s possible through this to understand the origins of some of the American Servicemen’s surnames and make a guess as to their ancestors' roots. This was just the start of my journey to ‘ﬁnd’ Russell Stutzman, a member of the USAAF who perhaps served at Station 146, Seething, Norfolk, or did he? To follow this story, with its many twists and turns, join our Facebook page, Stories of the 448th or look us up at www.storiesofthe448th.com 79

Village People South Norwich edition – December / January 2022 (Winter)

Articles inside

Falcon Meadow Art Competition 2022

History-storiesfrom the 448thBomberGroup

Smart moneysecrets -how to improveyourincome prospects

WINtickets to seeSlade atthe Waterfrontin Norwich

Buildingsustainabilityinto your everyday beautyroutine

Caninecommunication with Julia Collins

Health -the powerofpositive thinking

MemoriesofOccold

Walking forhealth around Ashwellthorpe& Fundenhall

Recipe forBen’sRich Fruit Cake

Poetry Corner -Jenna WoodfordfromNorfolk

Wildlife-adoptan owlthis Christmas

TopTable –wevisitOakVilla Restaurant &Gin Distilleryin EastHarling

Art -the artof geometryand architecture

WIN agoodybagfrom Norfolk Gin

NorfolkWildlifeTrust -a ghostlypresence