Village People South Norwich edition – February & March 2021 (Early Spring) by Village People Magazines Ltd

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LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

BEGINNER'S GUIDE

to kombucha

Local walk around Hethersett & Great Melton

RECIPE FOR APRICOT & ALMOND CAKE

Memories of Stuston & Thrandeston The genius of worms, for great compost Vegan lime cheesecake recipe

South Norwich Edition - February / March 2021

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Contents

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2021

Out & About 8

Good news from our region

12 Beginner’s guide to kombucha 14 Walking for health around Hethersett & Great Melton

17 Poetry Corner - Ryta Lyndley from Hockering

39 Recycling - cultivating compost

41 Gospel from The Saints 43 Art - new life and the hope of spring

47 The next 1,000 years for St Peter’s church in Forncett St Peter

49 Craft - crochet is the new cool!

51 Falcon Meadow launches their 2021 art competition

53 Bungay Bitesize - Saint Valentine’s Day

12 Home & Garden 20 On your plot - growing

Shopping, Health & Beauty 63 Health - how to put a spring in your step!

64 Refreshing Waters talks with the founder of Samara’s Aid Appeal

67 Eco swaps - a clean start with a Scrubby

Jobs, Money & Business 69 WIN £100 M&S voucher 71 Fostering - make a difference to a young life

73 Smart Money Secrets responsible investment post covid

75 How to avoid neighbour disputes

76 Find a local business or service in our directory

78 Exercise your brain cells with d our crossword

strong this spring

23 Garden jottings from The Garden Enclosure

25 Vegan recipe for lime cheesecake

26 Norfolk Wildlife Trust - help hedgehogs this spring

29 Memories of Stuston & Thrandeston

33 Recipe for apricot & almond cake

35 Fashion - think pink! 37 Canine communication with Julia Collins

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Welcome I’d like to start by giving a BIG welcome to local financial expert w Michael Duale, who has taken over M he reins of our financial editorial. th We’ll meet again - the VP team in 2019 He H kicks off by giving us some great advice about how the investment community can maximise the environmental positives that have come out of Covid.

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It’s been great to see how local businesses have adapted recently; from coffee shops now selling and delivering fruit and vegetables, to Pilates lessons being given online, and contactless delivery for many local items. What an amazing local community we live in!

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We’ve included a great mix of editorial in this issue, including two delicious recipes and a beginner’s guide to the new drink trend, kombucha. I’ve made some myself and it’s very easy, although the ‘scoby’ certainly is a strange looking object!

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Reliably delivered by Royal Mail, reaching 62,000 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

With the spring weather around the corner, it’s time to put on a pair of sturdy boots and take in some air on our circular walk around Hethersett and Great Melton. And for you green fingered folk, we have our usual top tips for garden jobs at this time of year. Make a cup of tea, put your feet up and enjoy some brilliant poetry from one of our readers. If you have written some poetry yourself, and fancy being in a future issue, please do send us some of your work, we always love receiving anything creative. “Spring, the weather usually turns warmer, trees begin to grow their leaves, plants start to flower and young animals such as chicks and lambs are born.” There is a poet in all of us! Let’s look forward to renewal, change and growth for us all. Stay safe and look after each other.

Lily

DELIVERED TO 62,000 HOMES

RECIPE FOR APRICOT & ALMOND CAKE

Local walk around Hethersett & Great Melton BEGINNER'S GUIDE

to kombucha

Crochet is the new cool!

IN NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

24 February

Lily Goulder editor@village-people.info 01284 788623

Visit our website to find out more www.village-people.info

AWARD WINNING

NEXT DEADLINE

DELIVERED TO 62,000 HOMES

AWARD WINNING

BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO KOMBUCHA

Memories of Stuston & Thrandeston

DELIVERED TO 62,000 HOMES

IN NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK

AWARD WINNING

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Local walk around Hethersett & Great Melton Recipe for Apricot & Almond Cake

April / May (Late Spring issue)

Local walk around Hethersett & Great Melton BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO KOMBUCHA

Recipe for Apricot & Almond Cake

DELIVERED TO 62,000 HOMES

IN NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

AWARD WINNING

IN NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

BEGINNER'S GUIDE

to kombucha

Local walk around Hethersett & Great Melton

RECIPE FOR APRICOT & ALMOND CAKE

Memories of Stuston & Thrandeston

WINNER of five National Publishing Awards

Good News from our region WOOD WONDER MOVES TO WEYBREAD One of the region’s best-known antique furniture restorers and cabinet makers, Philip Hodge, has moved his workshop to a new site in Weybread, where he can offer a better service to customers and a wider range of furniture-based courses. Philip Hodge Antiques offers a furniture restoration service, principally for Suffolk and Norfolk, as well as running short courses on a variety of subjects including furniture restoration, cabinet

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making, wood finishing, tool sharpening, gilding, and veneering inlay and marquetry. Philip says: “I am thrilled with my new workshop and have spent many busy weeks refurbishing it. The site was historically used as a wheelwrights and it feels right to use it again for wood-based skills. I have been a restorer for over 30 years and moving here will enable me to continue the work I love, and also pass on my skills to others who want to learn. There is

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a bit of a waiting list for furniture restoration because I have been busy bringing the new site up to spec, but if anyone needs any work please do contact me and I will fit you in as soon as I can.” Full details of all courses can be found at www.philiphodge. co.uk. To receive updates on course dates and other news, sign up to the newsletter on the homepage. The courses run with 4-6 people and operate within social distancing guidelines.

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Good News

MORE HOMES FOR LIFE Emmaus Norfolk & Waveney, a charity which supports formerly homeless people in Norfolk, can now offer a home to even more people, thanks to the creation of ten new bedrooms at its community in Ditchingham. The charity, based at the old All Hallows Community Convent, provides people who have been homeless a place to live for as long as is needed and the opportunity to gain new skills through its social enterprise businesses, which include charity shops in Norwich, Ditchingham and Bungay, and the Old Orchard Café.

The new build includes a female-friendly area with private toilet facilities, designed to help women who are homeless or insecurely housed in Norfolk. Many women facing homelessness have experienced physical or sexual abuse, so this is an essential resource. Beccles kitchen company, Creative Interiors by Design, has also very kindly donated two kitchens for the new accommodation. Cecile Roberts, Director of Emmaus Norfolk & Waveney, says: “The creation of ten new bedrooms means we can offer a way out of homelessness

to even more people here in Norfolk. Along with giving people a home for as long as they need it, these rooms also mean we can provide more people with the opportunity to work and learn new skills through our social enterprise businesses. “We’ve been providing homes and work to homeless people for nine years, and our experience has shown us that there is a real need for female only facilities, giving homeless women somewhere to live where they feel completely safe.”

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Good News

1,000 THANK YOUS Thetford Garden Centre has launched ‘The Big Thank You Cream Tea’, pledging 1,000 cream teas to NHS workers in 2021 as a show of appreciation for all their hard work. Managing Director, Lucy Nixon, says: “We’ve all had such an unpredictable and turbulent time, so we just wanted to do something positive and hopefully bring a smile to some deserving people who have worked on the frontline during the pandemic. This crisis has

taught us many lessons, and as a business we want to reinforce our already strong links to the local community. “Each year we embark on a handful of community projects and we want to grow this further in 2021. We have a great team here at Thetford Garden Centre and they are always willing to help – from creating vegetable plots in a local school, to cooking meals for the homeless in

lockdown and providing free school meals during October half-term. My suggestion of baking an extra 1,000-plus scones was met with genuine enthusiasm from our restaurant team, who also want to give something back.” Cream Tea vouchers are available to collect from the store on presentation of a valid NHS ID card and can be exchanged for a homemade scone with clotted cream and jam and a tea or coffee in the garden centre’s restaurant, Lime Kiln Kitchen, Mondays to Saturdays, until November 2021. Lucy adds: “We have 1,000 vouchers available to give away, but will pledge more if members of the public would like to get involved. For just £5 they can buy additional vouchers and attach a personal message to the recipient, which we will pass on to them.”

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Good News

A RECIPE FOR PEACE OF MIND The Orangery Tea Room, based in the grounds of Ketteringham Hall, has created a fantastic recipe book to raise much-needed funds for Norfolk and Waveney Mind, featuring ideas from the first lockdown in 2020. A member The Orangery team says: “In April last year, we asked our customers, friends, family and local chefs to submit recipes for the things they’d been baking through the first lockdown, so we could put together a book to raise money for Norfolk and Waveney Mind. As everyone became isolated, many turned to baking as a way to provide physical and mental stimulation and comfort, and the outpouring of

support was incredible. “The result is ‘Recipes in Mind: Baking through lockdown’ — a beautiful hardback book with 50 recipes (many gluten-free and vegan), personal quotes and a foreword written by none other than Bake Off royalty Prue Leith. All proceeds will go directly to Norfolk and Waveney Mind to support the fantastic work they do in our region. “The book is a perfect gift for any avid baker, and in years to come we hope it will be a reminder of one of the ways we all got through an incredibly challenging time. Our talented staff members lovingly baked and photographed each recipe that was submitted, and with the help of our friends at Production Bureau Ltd we could not

be more proud of the finished product.” The book is £19.95 and can be purchased at www. orangerytearoom.co.uk — under the ‘Shop’ tab — or from the tearoom.

The Orangery Tea Room has very kindly offered a copy of the book for us to give away to one lucky Village People reader. To apply, visit www.village-people.info and follow the links to the competition page. Closing date is 22 March 2021 and the usual Village People rules apply.

IF YOU HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS TO SHARE EMAIL US AT editor@village-people.info

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Health

The beginner’s guide

TO KOMBUCHA The facts about this popullar fermented drink

lay yers of flavour depending on which fresh natural ing gred dients have been added. It may be an acquired tasste,, but it’s certainly moreish and it gives one a gen ntle lift and a pleasant sense of well-being. This cou uld d be the result of a combination of the caffeine and d probiotic content…add to that the gratifying idea a that it’s tasty and good for you and you’re onto a wiinner. The e origins of kombucha are shrouded in mystery and d hearsay, but it’s safe to say that at least 2,000 yea ars ago a fermented tea drink was being used in China as an “elixir of health”. Its use gradually sp pread across Russia and into Europe, and by th he 1960s kombucha was being referred to as a beneficial probiotic by Swiss researchers. Now its popularity is exploding, along with an understanding of the integral connection that the gut has to so many different areas of health. In America and Australia, where the kombucha market is about 10 years ahead of the UK, it’s common to find kombucha on tap, as you would beer or cider in a British pub. Kombucha bars are already popping up around London, serving the growing demand for healthy alcohol free drinks.

ombucha has created quite a buzz in recent years, along with other fermented fo oods such as kefir, saue erkraut and kimchi. Kombucha can now be found on supermarket shelves, ass well as in local health food stores and delicatessens, but what exactly is it and why is it supposed to be so good for your health?

Put simply, kombucha is a fermented drink, whose main ingredients are tea, sugar and probiotic culture. What makes it so special is the SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast) which floats like an alien jellyfish on top of the tea and creates a wonderful fermented drink with a unique mixture of healthy bacterias, amino acids and enzymes. It may not be pretty at the brewing stage, but hopefully we’ve all evolved to a point now where we do not place value on looks alone! It has a taste unlike anything else, at first unexpectedly effervescent and tangy, but with

One of the great things about this wonder drink is that a mother SCOBY, if looked after correctly, will keep on producing ‘babies’ in the form of a new layer of matter on the top of the SCOBY. This layer can be peeled off and given to a friend to start their own home brew. The idea of this giving, abundant mother is charming and a reminder of the generosity prevalent in the natural world. Brewing your own kombucha at home takes patience and practice, but once mastered is also a simple and satisfying procedure. To purchase a starter kit, check out oichiferments.co.uk. If home brewing seems like too much of a commitment, then look out for some of the delicious local kombucha drinks that are becoming more readily available around Norfolk and Suffolk. With thanks to local kombucha experts Shifa and Thorayya from @oichi_kombucha

GIVE YOURSELF A BOOST!

Sometimes the small things in life make the biggest difference Our FREE Adult Learning online health and wellbeing courses offer a way to connect with others and learn something new. From cookery, healthy eating and Five Ways to Wellbeing to creative ‘try your hand’ courses in art and writing, we have the course for you. Find out more: www.norfolk.gov.uk/communitylearning 0344 800 8020 (option 5)

Can you help us?

                 

Support Us

We hold all sorts of events that are great fun to take part in and raise much needed funds for the hounds.

             

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Like us humans the dogs come in many shapes, sizes and personalities. There are lots of gorgeous greyhounds and lovely lurchers looking for a loving home.

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www.norfolkgreyhoundrescue.co.uk 13

Local walks

WALKING FOR Health

HETHERSETT & GREAT MELTON Reviewed by Dougie Dingwall, Volunteer Co-ordinator at Central Norfolk Walking for Health

Walk Information Starting Point

Directions Hethersett Recreation Ground, Park Drive, Hethersett NR9 3EN. Free parking.

Wheelchair/ Buggy Friendly

Grid Reference

OS Map 237: TG150047

Walk Length (Miles / Km)

3 miles / 4.8 km

Approx Time

1 hour 15 minutes

Footpath Type / Quality

Pavements and dirt / grass footpaths, 50% firm, 50% soft surface.

Gradients

Minor

Steps/Stiles

None

Toilet Facilities

None

Specific Hazards For This Walk

Waterproof walking boots advisable. Can be muddy across the fields.

Refreshments

Janeyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Village CafĂŠ, 32A Mill Road, Hethersett NR9 3DP, if open.

Turn right out of the recreation ground car park onto Park Drive. Turn right at the end onto Mill Road and then left at the T-junction onto Great Melton Road. After a while, and after passing the water tower, turn right onto a public footpath opposite New Road. Walk along the footpath at the edge of the field and go through the opening in the hedge at the end of the field, crossing a plank bridge. Ignore any other right hand openings prior to this. Turn left and follow the field edge footpath around this large field, keeping the wood on your left, but follow the footpath to cut diagonally across the bottom of the field. The access after passing the vehicle track to Great Melton is now permissive rather than public right of way. Walk under the electricity pylons, ignore all paths on the left through the wood and carry ry y on around the edge of the field. Walk under the pylons again, turn right onto a field edge path, keeping to the left of the hedge. Follow this track to the end.

Local walks Turn first left onto the public footpath along a green lane after going around a tree trunk across most of the path. Continue ahead as this becomes Grove Road (tarmac). Turn right at the end onto Henstead Road. Cross the road at the T-junction, turn

left, then first right into Cannâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lane. Take the first right into Ketts Close, and at the end on the tarmac pathway go through the metal barriers and follow the path into the recreation ground and back to the car park.

Group walks will depend on covid restrictions. Please check our Facebook page Central Norfolk Walking for Health to check whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s available and to book onto a walk. Walk Instructions: Ruth Burn/Dougie Dingwall Photography: Dougie Dingwall Mapping: Crown Copyright

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Poetry

Poetry Corner

Ryta Lyndley

These funny poems are by Ryta Lyndley, who is retired and lives in Hockering, Norfolk. Ryta is also a published author, and has written a series of children’s books about kindness, cooperation and recycling.

WA ITR OS E

p, not just something to do I went into Waitrose to sho locked in the loo ame Sadly, whilst in there, I bec called out to her and r doo t nex er I heard a custom don’t want to cause a stir? Can you alert someone, I s to help this stuck bimbo They came in great number o! icle door I had tried to limb Meanwhile under the cub fat too tummy was My legs stuck out, but my , I’ll have to stop that uits bisc and s cake y man Too

ld not be found The maintenance man cou tion, I’ll be bound solu the A screwdriver maybe under the door sed pas iver wdr A Phillips scre sure Will this help? I couldn’t be an to move I undid a screw, the lock beg s to prove goe ch whi w, scre Then another do my shop At last I was free to go and a call of nature caused e This all happened becaus me to stop!

A DOC TOR ’S LAM ENT

Just new to the area I went to see the doc

shock! Come in for a check-up, to see if you’re OK According to my age they didn’t think I’d last the day!

I said I don’t believe in taking medication I prefer to keep my ills at bay by doing medit ation. The check-up over, I didn’t leave in tears Because on the form it said come back in five years.

She checked me over slowly, then said I was too fat! She had a bigger bum than me, what do you think of that?

I suppose in five years they hope I will have died Also, I‘m not having a flu jab either, I cried

Not on any medication? That gave them a

At just over nine stone I didn’t think I weigh ed a lot She said you should take statins, so that was a bit of a shock

My body likes the feeling of being natural and toxic free

That’s why I’m still teaching yoga and mobil e at age 73!

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.

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Health

SAFETY in your own home Simon Symcox, founder of AHM Installations, looks at how to make your home work better for you

ur homes have become central to our lives during the pandemic, but for older or less abled people the suitability of their home is particularly important. Being able to get in and out of the house, move around safely, access the bathroom, cook and go to bed, all affect our dignity and wellbeing. If you’re starting to feel that you can’t do these things safely, it’s time to make some improvements. But where do you start, and what about the cost? There is financial help available for people with a qualifying condition; it’s called the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) – a means-tested grant to make changes in the home to help less able people lead more independent lives. The maximum payment is £30,000. Search ‘DFG gov uk’ online, or call your local council for more details.

(www.asksara.livingmadeeasy.org.uk), where you select what you have difficulty with and it gives you advice and solutions to make life easier. Of course, a reputable supplier could also do the same. When it comes to the all-important bathroom, you might only need grab rails by your toilet, for example, or a bath that’s easier to get out of. Sometimes people worry that they need a full wet room, but often a less expensive, low-level access shower is enough. There are all sorts of options to suit your budget. Find a supplier you trust who will help you understand what’s available. And it’s not only the big, recognised brands; in fact, they’re usually the most expensive. Smaller, specialist companies will take time to understand your needs and do what y can to help, p, whatever your budget. they

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Gardens

Growing strong!

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In the past year, many people have started growing their ow wn veg. But if you don’t have ag garden, planting vegetables in containers is a great way to prroduce edible crops where sp pace is limited. You can grow m most veg in this way, using pots, trroughs and grow-bags, but aim fo or containers with a depth and w width of at least 45cm (18in), o otherwise frequent watering a feeding will be needed. and Compost is important, too. John Innes No. 3 is especially easy to manage, but other composts, including peat-

free varieties, are also suitable. Homemade mixtures of two parts soil and one part well rotted organic matter fortified with extra fertiliser can be an economical substitute. So, what should you sow in February and March? There is a huge range, such as beetroot, broad beans, carrots, herbs like parsley, coriander and basil, mini lettuces including Little Gem and Tom Thumb, mange-tout, potatoes, salad leaves such as rocket, chicory and spinach, and salad onions.

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Gardens

DIY IS F.A.B! Many of us have spent a lot more time outdoors in the past year; we have reconnected with nature and found gardening more fun and productive than ever before. Self sufficiency, making your own and recycling are also very high on the agenda, so here are a couple of ways you can take this even further: Upcycle clutter into a planter — Old garden boots, a basket that’s just been collecting dust, a dented colander, glass jars or even tin cans, these all make creative and totally free

planters. Poke around in your cabinets or closets for things that can hold soil, drill some drain holes, then use them to plant early spring flower seeds such as pansies and violas. Make your own compost — Also known as ‘black gold’, you can make your own from all that kitchen and yard waste you’ve been throwing out? Fruit and vegetable peelings, coffee grounds, kitchen scraps, grass clippings and weeds can be composted instead of tossed. A compost pile doesn’t need anything but yard space!

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GREENING UP

Ever thought about building a green roof? This is a brilliant way to grow grass or greenery on a shed roof, creating extra growing space plus texture and colour for your garden, as well as a safe haven for wildlife. It can also help to insulate your shed and tackle the effects of climate change. Make sure your existing shed roof is strong enough to take extra weight. A basic lightweight green roof will weigh 60-150kg per square metre, which will increase if it’s saturated with rain. Ensure there’s no rotten wood and that it’s waterproof. The roof can be flat, but a pitch of 9-10 degrees is best. Over 20 degrees will need a frame to stop the green roof slipping. You can go all-out with a water irrigation system if you want a variety of plants, but if you’re looking for less maintenance think about growing drought tolerant and hardy plants.

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Gardens

The Garden Enclosure Jottings

hank goodness for a garden, whatever its size, from a flowerpot to a mighty plot. Getting busy outside helps us switch off from the chaos that surrounds us and directs our minds, however briefly, to a calm and pleasant pastime. Needless to say, 2020 was a challenging year for all and many things have changed in ways we could not have imagined at its start, but it was a great year for getting out into your garden to discover the simple pleasure of growing things. As spring approaches it’s time to carry on from where you left off, so get in touch with us now, we have all you need for the new season, from tools, composts and fertilisers, to ‘grow your own’ seeds and sets, plus of course locallygrown plants from reliable nurserymen. Whether you are an accomplished gardener or a new enthusiast, your passion for the great outdoors is intrinsically linked with our other obsession, the weather, which brought such terrible flooding to our region at Christmas. So what lies ahead for 2021? You can’t predict the weather, but we’re British and won’t be kept cooped up for long, so keep calm and put those wellies on! It’s a new gardening year, and whilst we may not be keen on lots of rain, plants love it, even those that are supposed to like it hot and dry will put up with a fair amount as long as any excess water can drain away. So if your soil is heavy and you’re aiming to grow sun-loving plants, play safe and add

horticultural grit into planting holes, or plant into pots raised up from the ground on pot-feet. Lush, dense planting will soak up lots of water and slow down surface run-off, which should help alleviate localised flooding around your property, so think about creating new flower beds in areas where large puddles tend to lay. Realistically, it may be that nearby drainage channels are blocked or that the ground is compacted, if it’s the latter dig the area over deeply prior to planting. Depending on the size of your plot there’s a range of suitable plant choices for boggy situations; from large trees such as willow, alder, eucalyptus and river birch (which are all regularly planted on managed floodplains) to beautiful flowering perennials including primulas, arums, trollius, astilbes, ligularia and eupatorium, to name just a few. For bold, dramatic foliage try a mass of hostas, rheum, rodgersia and even enormous gunnera, mix these with bright sedges and a few stunning large grasses such as arundo donax and it should look amazing. I urge you to have a go at creating a moisture-loving border, as once you’ve gone to all that effort the sun will just shine, shine, shine!

Cheers Ken,

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VEGAN LIME CHEESECAKE

This delicious zesty dessert is a sumptuous and refreshing end to any meal... or just as good whenever you fancy something sweet!

INGREDIENTS 80g vegan biscuits of your choice 1 dessert spoon of coconut oil 160g Coconut Collaborative 70g vegan cream cheese 30g plain Alpro yoghurt 2 heaped tsp icing sugar 2 limes, grated zest 1 lime, juiced

Time to prepare: 10 minutes Time to cook: 2 minutes Makes: 4 individual cheesecakes Equipment needed: 4 x 3in/7cm diameter chef’s rings, ramekins or shallow pots.

METHOD 1. Place the biscuits in a sealed bag and hammer with a rolling pin until crushed into crumbs. Melt the coconut oil in a saucepan for two minutes, then remove from the heat and mix the crumbs into the oil. 2. Divide the crumb mixture equally between the four pots and press it down well using the back of a spoon. Combine all the remaining ingredients together and mix well. You can now either spoon your mixture

onto the biscuit bases or pipe it in, either way works. 3. Sprinkle a little zest on top if you want. Place the cheesecakes into the fridge to chill until you are ready to eat them. If using a chef’s ring, carefully remove the ring before serving for perfect presentation. Top tip: Most bourbon biscuits are vegan, but if you prefer something plain you could use rich tea.

Thank you to Jane Tate for this lovely recipe, which was taken from her book Janie’s Vegan Cook Book. From Newton Flotman, Jane changed to a vegan diet 5 years ago, and decided to write the book to show how easy it is for anyone to make delicious and healthy vegan food. She gives 10% of the profits from the sales of her book to local animal charities. To buy her book, or to find out more, go to janiesvegancookbook.co.uk

Nature

HELP HEDGEHOGS this spring By Helen Baczkowska, Conservation Officer at Norfolk Wildlife Trust

edgehogs are Britain’s most easily identified mammal: the only one with a thick coat of spines. In early spring they might still sleep through colder weather, but will wake up on warm nights to bumble across a lawn or field edge, snuffling for insects or earthworms to eat. This is a good time for us to emerge from winter, too, and consider how we can help hedgehogs. The Claylands of Norfolk and Suffolk are a great place to spot these prickly creatures, which thrive in a landscape of thick hedgerows, scattered woods and grassy commons, as well as the many back gardens of our villages and market towns. However, hedgehog numbers are sadly in rapid decline across Britain and there are many actions we can all take to help, what a friend of mine, calls ‘prickle pigs’. If you have a garden or farm, or if you can influence the management of a local churchyard or playing field, the principles are roughly the same: hedgehogs need food, water, shelter and easy routes between the places where they forage.

or having bonfires. Hedgehogs will get up and often move nests in warm winter spells, so having more than one place to shelter is essential. Studies of hedgehog diets show they relish beetles, caterpillars, earthworms, earwigs and millipedes even more than slugs, so habitats for creepy-crawlies are vital. Wildflower meadows, native shrubs, pond edges and grassy field margins are all key habitats you could create. And please avoid slug pellets that are toxic to hedgehogs! Hedgehogs hunt for insects over wider areas connected by gardens and wildlife. In the future, Norfolk Wildlife Trust hopes to have more information available on helping hedgehogs

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Water is the easiest of these. A shallow bowl in the garden, especially in dry weather, will always be welcome and if you have a pond of any size, then a gently sloping bank for access is essential. Shelter for hibernation, daytime snoozing and nesting can be anything from the thick base of a hedge, to a pile of leaves or a hedgehog house. Piles of sticks, compost bins and even pampas grass are popular places to sleep, so be careful when clearing these

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Nature

in Norfolk but, for now, the Hedgehog Street website www.hedgehogstreet.org/ has fabulous ideas on what to do in your own garden and how neighbours can work together to make sure gardens are accessible to hedgehogs. If we work together, whole streets or villages can provide everything hedgehogs need to survive. Maintaining habitats and corridors for hedgehogs across farms is crucial, and there is guidance on maintaining field margins and hedges, plus the importance of low scrub, modifying ploughing in key areas and how to use farm environment schemes to help hedgehogs.

A. Sillett

Have a wildlife-friendly garden pond, photo by Tom Marshall

The more I find out about hedgehogs the more fascinating I find them â&#x20AC;&#x201D; there can be over 5,000 prickles on their back, which not only give them protection, but cushion the impact if they fall. They hunt largely by smell and, as I found out one evening last summer, have a very noisy courtship ritual! I hope that this year, as spring turns to summer, you too can enjoy these wonderful creatures and help ensure their survival. www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk

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LOCAL HISTORIAN

MEMORIES OF STUSTON & THRANDESTON

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 Stuston & Thrandeston.

Thrandeston Public Elementary School was built in 1850 for 60 children, with support from the Rev William Denison and local landowners. It closed in 1957 and was converted into a private house. Mary Johnson was headmistress at the time of this 1920 postcard.

This 1912 postcard shows Thrandeston Village Stores and Post Office, which was on the edge of the village green, and owned by Alfred Johnson. The building is now a private house.

This 1920 postcard shows local farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cows grazing on the village green, near the Post Office. ffi

Thrandeston Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Head, in 1912, where Charles Eastow was landlord. Now a private house. The village population at this time was 300.

Stuston Green is in the centre of the village. This 1912 postcard shows felled trees awaiting transport to the wood mill. The building on the left is The Swan pub, now a private house.

Stuston, on the banks of the Riverr Waveney and on the Norfolk-Suffolk k n border, has 146 acres of common land. In 1903, Diss Golf Club wass formed and used part of thiss e land for a 9-hole golf course. The e cottages in this 1911 postcard are now the golf clubhouse. 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.

Stuston Post Office stood opposite the village green, and Frederick Elsey was postmaster at the time of this 1910 postcard. He also ran a coach building business next door.

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

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Recipe

APRICOT & ALMOND CAKE As the weather gets warmer, many of us are trying to cut back a little. At the Pennoyer Café, we’re always inventing new recipes, so we thought we’d try to reduce both sugar and fat in a cake and see what happened. The result is this delicious, moist cake, which has lower sugar, no dairy, no gluten and no fat. A perfect treat with a strong black coffee.

Tip:

Serve with as a pud G drizz reek yo ding ghur led w t it and dust h honey cinna ed with mon .

Serves 12 201 kcal, 26g carbs per slice INGREDIENTS 275g ready-to-eat apricots 6 green cardamoms 1 cinnamon stick – 5-6cm long 120g caster sugar Juice & zest of an orange 6 eggs, separated 55g soft brown sugar 150ml water 130g ground almonds ¼ tsp almond extract Almond flakes (optional) Icing sugar to dust (optional) METHOD 1. Preheat the oven to 160ºC. Oil and base-line a 23cm springform tin. Put 225g of the apricots into a saucepan with the cinnamon, cardamoms and the juice and zest of the orange. Simmer for about 25 minutes until the apricots are soft and the liquid has been absorbed. 2. Allow to cool, then remove the spices and whizz to a puree. Chop the remaining 50g of apricots into little

pieces. Whisk the egg whites into stiff peaks and set aside. Add the sugars to the egg yolks and whisk until they are soft and creamy. Add the apricot puree, chopped fruit, ground almonds and the almond extract, mixing until thoroughly combined. 3. Using a large metal spoon, add a spoonful of egg white to the apricot/almond mix and stir it through to loosen the mix. Add the remaining egg white, folding in gently to retain as much air as possible. 4. Spoon the mixture into the tin, level off and sprinkle with almond flakes, if using. Bake

in the middle of the oven for about 45-55 minutes until risen and golden, and a skewer comes out clean. Run a knife around the edge and allow to cool in the tin. Dust with icing sugar, if using, and enjoy. Keeps in an airtight tin for three days. The Pennoyer Centre’s volunteer BakeForce make delicious cakes for sale in the café, which won the EDP Norfolk Food & Drink “Best Baking” Award. www.pennoyers.org.uk 01379 676660 The Pennoyer Centre, Station Road, Pulham St Mary, IP21 4QT

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Canine Behaviour

Parlez Vous POOCH?! Blogger and qualified ‘Dog Listener’ Julia Collins shows how ‘keep calm and carry on’ is the best way to communicate with your four-legged chum.

ow about turning everything on its head… upside down, inside out, back to front… in any event, a complete change? Are you finding it difficult to really get through to your furry (grrr-y) friend? Well, perhaps it’s time to give up on changing him or her and change yourself instead! Letting go of all expectation, apprehension,, even dread, can be amazin ngly powerful when it comess to interacting with your dog.. If, despite your best efforts, things are stressful and you feel very conscious of doing the e diagnosis right thing, the could be that you are being ‘yourselff’ too much. To the human mind, one of the many fascinating talents dogs possess is knowing what we are going to do at the very same momentt that we, ourselves decide upon something. This is because our breathing body language and scents spell out clearly to the canine mind where we are headed. Therefore, to a great extent, remaining our usual selves but trying different behaviours can often yield a disappointing outcome. “I will remain calm, I will remain calm, I will, I will,” can signal “I’m furious, steaming – but I won’t show it.” Bad luck, busted – to your dog you reek of crossness! Tense and tight of jaw, you are someone liable to explode or, at the very least, be in a peculiar mood and therefore to be approached cautiously, or even avoided. Oddly enough, channelling “I am unaffected by what you do,” and remaining calmly solid in the middle of your own energy, can give amazing results. Better still, simply behave as if the dog doesn’t exist.

When you prepare to go for a walk, take your time. We’ve already covered the best way to proceed, in previous articles, but, slow right down and breath (really do it). It’s your walk and correspondingly your pace, choice of direction and timing. Sending out too much energy towarrds our dogs burdens them with complication. They need to be them, you u need to be you. This is yet another area where we morph into treating our dogs deas, and not according to human id stepping a lon ng way back to honour their ‘dogginess’. This dogginess is calm, ed and simply uncomplicate in the ‘now’. Consider this — who would you ratther go for a walk with; the person who has rehearsed every possible eventuality (mostly ne egative) before hold, or the you even cross the thresh sunny, happy-go-lucky friend who remains cool whatever, possesses an ortion and a admirable sense of propo generous sense of humour? It’s clear who makes the more appealing exercising chum. Most of us are no strangers to the power of visualisation. There is nothing like thinking “here we go again,” to pretty well insure that you do go there again…and again and again! So, harness your intention, be the best version of yourself, bolt on characteristics from people whose energy you admire, and enjoy the transformation.

To find out more, or contact Julia, go to www.walksoflife.co.uk or Instagram walksoflifessuffolk.

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Recycling

WORMERY WONDERS!

Caroline Topping reveals how the genius of worms can convert food scraps into great compost.

ver the last year I have tried really hard with my recycling, upcycling, make do and mend, ecobricks and Terracycle. When I look in the bin that goes to incineration now, the majority of the waste I seem to have is food, and I have tried to reduce the amount I cook, and the amount I buy in the first place. The worst culprits are ‘buy one get one free’, but I never get to use the free one before it has passed its best.

Despite these efforts I still have some food waste, and this was bothering me until I remembered a friend of mine got a wormery for Christmas last year. It really didn’t appeal to me at the time, but it is rather fascinating, because these worms are actually converting food waste into some great compost for the garden. So here is a little bit about worms. Composting worms live differently to your usual garden worm, because they live near the surface eating decaying vegetation from gardens and forests. These interesting little creatures can be found in manure heaps, compost bins and sometimes under bricks, stones and logs.

the waste on that level. All the while leaving behind vermicompost (worm poo!) which is great for your garden. By the time the hungry little worms reach the top tray in your wormery, the bottom level should be completely composted and ready to use – and that tray then moves up to become your top tray. There are lots of foods that your worms would love to convert for you, including vegetable and fruit peelings, coffee/tea bags, bread, rice, pasta, flowers, cereal, crushed egg shells, cakes, biscuits, cheese, cardboard, paper, pet and human hair, vacuum cleaner contents, leaves and meat. These worms will not eat bones, garlic, spicy food, dairy, salt, grass or weeds. There is loads of information about how to set up your own wormery online, so check it out. My family had been asking what I wanted for Christmas, and I couldn’t think of anything I needed, but I might ask for a wormery this year! I’ll let you know how I get on.

Wormeries contain a series of composting trays, each with small holes in the base. To start, you have one tray that contains the worms and your kitchen waste. When this is full, you add the next tray on top and fill that with your waste and so on. The worms will eat your kitchen waste in the bottom level and, because they live on the surface, once they have eaten that they will move up through the holes into the new tray above and start consuming

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Village Life

Gospel from THE SAINTS By Julia Collins, who lives in Saint Nicholas

t would be possible to apply the term ‘sleepy’ to our little hamlets and villages in The Saints…but it would be a mistake! Behind pretty hedgerows, well tended borders, up bumpy drives and nestling between copses, virtually each and every charming home in the area nurtures a hive of activity – wonderfully creative talent that we are used to enjoying at local markets and craft fairs. With browsing and purchasing extended by on-line presence, fortunately there is no such thing as a ‘closed’ sign on these little shop fronts, no matter the time or day. Creativity is a vein that runs deep in all of us. Humans seem driven to express themselves through art and enjoy surroundings enhanced by decorative artefacts. As an adjunct to this, mending, repairing or modifying things can be deeply satisfying; an activity that soothes once we actually get around to doing it. Rendering something useful again offers many riches. Firstly, there is the recognition of the potential within the chosen object. This leads directly to considering whether we are capable of ‘making good’. Imagination comes next, as we picture restoration, and our mind probes possibilities and ways around the apparent difficulties. In turn, we might consult a book, the internet (most likely!) or a handy friend and a successful outcome feels entirely achievable. More often than not, frustration hits fairly early on, but giving up can grate unpleasantly now, as perseverance beckons. A little more research and advice-seeking builds confidence and competence. After all, having started, who wants to experience failure?! So, with appropriate materials and knowledge we empower ourselves and, once started, innate y draws us in. Radio on and kettle to hand, creativity

it’s easy to get lost in the relaxation. Stitching, baking, painting, joining, being busy with our hands seems conducive to calmer, deeper contemplation. Fresh ideas occur as we engage in the process – a few sales to friends, perhaps a market stall? It’s a wonderful experience when others appreciate your efforts, and selling what you have created feels magical. No matter that your hourly input outweighs any profit, the satisfaction is huge and any recognition feels enormous! Little by little, before you know it, a business takes shape. So when you stroll through Suffolk’s beautiful lanes, relishing their peace and beauty, admire the houses, cottages and barn conversions in a slightly different way – many are mini powerhouses g with creativity y and imag gination. bursting

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Art

HOPE Springs! Art writer Kristy Campbell looks at how we can all appreciate the new life and beauty of spring â&#x20AC;&#x201D; both indoors and outdoors

t this time of year, we are drawn to a natural spring pallet encompassing yellows, greens, pinks, blues, and purples. As we rise from the dark haze of winter into a time of new beginnings, spring undresses our misty surroundings and spotlights the crisp, dewy sun-kissed mornings. Spring is commonly associated with new life, and as a consequence floral pieces come to the fore. When it comes to capturing your own taste of spring and bringing it indoors to treasure, out come the vases and in comes the greenery and blooming flowers. Dressing the home with colour is a great way to breathe life back into a space. Adding bright or pastel hues to your living spaces will lighten little pockets of the room naturally, helping to rebalance, refresh and restore.

If you have a garden room or an orangery then look no further, but generally speaking introducing greenery to interiors is a great way to bring the outdoors in and connect with nature, particularly when plants are able to crawl around furniture and become part of the natural dĂŠcor. While keeping the indoors full of life is key this season, you might want to begin taking some of your furniture outdoors too, so you can truly and comfortably immerse yourself in the ever-evolving state of your home environment. If, like me, filling the room full of flowers isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t realistic, consider rearranging your seating areas so that you make the most of the natural light pouring in, or dressing your furniture with a lighter toned throw or cushion. These items retain all their function by keeping all the cosy winter

Art qualities we secretly want from our homes, while presenting as clean and unspoiled features. Once you’re satisfied with the indoors, it’s time to venture outward…covid guidelines permitting. East Anglia grants a wealth of treasures to explore at this time of year. If it’s gorgeous seascapes you’re after, why not venture out to Holkham beach? The sandy beach spans for what feels like miles, and reaching the shore from the car park seems like a lifetime away. But the tall dark trees surrounding the sands hold you in their grasp and you feel immersed in the silky dunes. Only a train ride away is Ely, a small cathedral town, filled with museums, manors and markets. Just thinking about the cool spring light slicing through the stained glass of the cathedral, and resting on the surface of the River Ouse, tempts me to book a ticket! Next door is Cambridge, home to a rich academic history. Surrounding the grounds of the university is a host of natural spots to pitch the perfect spring picnic. Why not try out The Cambridge Botanic Gardens for a feast for

the eyes, or the popular Jesus Green park, which offers things to do for all ages? A personal favourite of mine to explore is Blickling Estate, in Norfolk. I particularly love taking a stroll across the acres of land toward The Temple, and winding through the paths and secret spots. I’m sure you could add plenty more sparkling spring sites of your own to my list! Whether you’re heading out with a camera or a paintbrush, with wide eyes or an inquiring mind, be sure to seize a slice of spring this year! Last year, we all committed to ‘the great indoors’, with the interest of the nation’s health in mind. As we enter this new season, ever vigilant, we are hopeful that we can safely begin to rediscover the beauty that was well worth waiting for. Here’s to fresh starts!

Writer: Kristy Campbell kristycamp@me.com @kristycamp

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Forncett St Peter

ST PETER’S RENAISSANCE – the next 1,000 years

Plans were immediately put in place to raise sufficient funds to apply for help from the National Heritage Lottery Fund (NHLF). Fundraising included delicious Sunday lunches in the Village Hall each month, and the newly formed ‘Friends of St. Peter’s’ (FoSP) were hopeful a dementia cafe could be included in the final restoration. Then came Covid. Unfortunately, pretty much all the exciting planned events were cancelled and the church had to close. But time and tide, and decaying crumbling plaster, wait for no man. So, undaunted, the FoSP looked for alternative ways to raise funds. With the help of intrepid cyclists, a kind maker of masks, monthly markets selling mouth-watering fare, and Christmas cards designed and painted by the vibrant village art group, the funds to help restore the church have reached £8,000. A small grant has also boosted this to £11,500.

Credit: M McDade

hen the residents of Forncett St Peter heard that their ancient Anglo-Saxon church – described in Village People magazine as having “the best round tower in the country” – had become so seriously compromised by time and the elements that it could be lost, the reaction was, “not on our watch.”

Credit: A Moskvina

Allyson Rae looks at how the people of Forncett are working together to safeguard the future of their ancient church

Astonishing, you might think! Yet the Friends in this small village need to raise an eye-watering £50,000 to apply for a NHLF Grant. We need more help to save our beautiful church so, if you can, please donate at: http://www.justgiving.com/campaign/savestpeters We have also set up a Facebook page – @FriendsofStPetersForncett – and we want you to get involved and follow our story. Village People magazine is all about community, so please do visit, like and share. You will find a steady stream of interesting posts, such as wildlife, Wordsworth, (who stayed in Forncett with his uncle and sister), a mysterious door which leads apparently nowhere, the views of Phillip Larkin after he visited, the art of woodcarvers, and the construction of the tower – which included Roman bricks – plus other exciting nuggets of history.

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Crafts

CROCHET IS THE NEW cool! One woman’s mission to bring a well-loved craft into the 21st century

orwich-based Sue Maton is a textile designer and teacher who is seeking to reinvent crochet for crafters with curious minds. She owns and runs The Mercerie (themercerie.co.uk), a website offering crochet patterns and masterclasses, as well as an active Instagram account with around 7,000 followers (@ themercerie).

Crochet is traditionally associated with an older demographic, but Sue believes that these days the crafting community is more centred around ethics than age. “These new crafters think carefully about the materials they use, the products they make and the reasons why they make them,” says Sue. “This new demographic will ensure a healthy and exciting future for these valuable crafting traditions.” For example, the Japanese craft of amigurumi focuses on crocheting cute little creatures; a

long way from the awkward 1970s fashion garments and dowdy tabletop doilies often associated with crochet. Sue’s approach blends the Sue Maton traditional and the modern, focusing on the principles of colour harmony, surface pattern and the traditions of painting. “I believe crochet can – and should – act as a vehicle to draw its students into other disciplines such as colour theory, design/aesthetics, confidence-building, occupational therapy and mindfulness,” adds Sue. “The onset of lockdown made me think creatively about how I could continue to share my expertise and passion, without being able to meet people physically.” So, back in March 2020, Sue launched a free online project called ‘Crojoretro’ (‘crojo’ being short for ‘crochet mojo’), where people could sign up to her newsletter and then receive crochet patterns for an ever-evolving, improvisational ‘mystery blanket’. The project is still ongoing and has attracted crochet enthusiasts from all over the world. Sue has even been interviewed by a Japanese TV channel to talk about it! You can find out more about the project, and sign up to receive the patterns, at themercerie.co.uk/newsletter

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Falcon Meadow

FALCON MEADOW Art Competition 2021 Be inspired by the meadow, make some art and win a prize!

hat are the best things to come out of lockdown for you? I know we all want it to be over, but for a lot of people time stuck at home has led to new and exciting levels of creativity. Perhaps you have discovered a love of baking, gardening, DIY, or art. If so, why not enter the Falcon Meadow Art Competition 2021? To kick off 2021, we are working with Musker McIntyre Estate Agents to launch our first Falcon Meadow Art Competition. We have been thinking

of a way to celebrate the creativity of local people and the beauty of Falcon Meadow, and this is a wonderful way to do it. Here is how to enter: 1. We are inviting everyone, of any age or artistic ability, to create a piece of art under the theme ‘My Falcon Meadow’. You could paint, draw, ice a cake, make a sculpture, weave a tapestry, knit a jumper or whittle a stick. As long as it’s creative and you enjoy it, anything goes…but no photographs please! 2. When you have completed your masterpiece, take a photo or scan it and email it to info@falconmeadow.org.uk with a covering email to tell us your name, age and contact number. The deadline for entries is 31 March 2021. 3. Entries will be judged in the following categories: • Very Little – 0-5 • Quite Little – 6-11 • Tweens and Teens – 12-17 • Young Adults – 18-50

(we thought you’d like this category!)

• Stately and Dignified Adults – 50+

(we thought you’d like this category too!)

4. There will be a prize of £10 – sponsored by Musker McIntyre Estate Agents – for the winner in each category. All entries will be displayed on the Falcon Meadow website and on the Musker McIntyre Estate Agents’ website. We know from the Duck Race that Bungay (and beyond) is brimming with people who are quirky, creative and fun – so we hope this appeals to you and we can’t wait to see your entries. Thank you and good luck! Sample artwork of Hunched Heron, by T Myatt, aged 4½

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SAINT VALENTINE’S D DAY Local Historian Christopher Reeve steps back in time to explo ore Bungay’s history

hen we were children in the 1950s, February 14th – Saint Valentine’s Day – was almost as special as the other festive events of the year. Throughout the day we eagerly anticipated darkness to fall, when at about 6.30pm a sudden thunderous knock on the kitchen door heralded his mysterious arrival. Few of our school friends seemed to share the tradition, and I don’t know whether it happens anywhere in our region today. It was organised by our mother, who must have enjoyed it during her childhood and, like us, had brothers and a sister to share it with. The thrill of the event was that when we rushed to answer the knocking – there was nobody there! But a parcel lay on the doorstep. Then, almost immediately, the front doorbell rang. We raced through the house to fling the door open and, again, no visitor, but another surprise parcel. To us, it seemed amazing that Saint Valentine moved so swiftly from one place to the other, before we’d even had time to look at the present. The experience was also rather frightening, the knocks so loud, and nobody to be seen. This explains why we never ventured out into the dark night to see if we could catch a glimpse of a fleeting figure.

A Valentine’s Day present: Little Grey Rabbit’s Painting Book, 1955

The knocking and ringing continued about six times, but not always alternately, sometimes after a knock we’d start to run to the front door, all five of us, but instead there was a second

A badly coloured illustration by Jasmine!

loud knock on the kitchen door, or two long peals on the bell. And each time a present appeared. Mum made sure they were shared out equally between us when, at last, silence fell, and we knew the kindly but scary and elusive Saint Valentine had disappeared for another year. The parcels contained inexpensive gifts, sweets, packets of crisps, colouring or magic painting books and little toys. Do children still have magic painting books, in which you just paint water onto an illustration, and the colours instantly appear? We loved them. While we were busily unwrapping, Dad arrived, very surprised to hear about our visitor, and said he had just been to the shop to pick up the Evening News. Something he rarely did, as the newspaper was regularly delivered to the house! Jasmine was the youngest of we five children, and felt at a distinct disadvantage. There is about three years age difference between us, so Robin and Terry were teenagers and getting too old for Saint Valentine’s tricks, while Jasmine, aged five, was starting to really enjoy them. So when the visits stopped, she’d had fewer years to enjoy them than the rest of us. “It’s NOT FAIR,” she wailed. “And jus’ cos I’m the littlest!”

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Health

Good skin and a healthy gut ‘

ou are what you eat’ has never been so true as it is today. The relationship between gut health and good skin has been established as fact, and is being further explored to see how improving our diet can improve our appearance. Essentially, gut health is part of your immune system. d off diverse bactteriium The adult intestine hosts a myriad that live mostly in the lower gut, where they quietly maintain a happy symbiotic relatio onship with their human habitat. But when the gut’ss microbiome (a community of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses) is out of sync, it can result in, or exacerbate, diseases of the skin su uch as psoriasis, acne and dermatitis. This skin performs its functions be est – protection, temperature regulation, water rettention, excretion – when it’s in balance. This balance (homeostatis) can be disturbed, although we’re not quitte sure how, when the microbiomes in the intestines hav ve been disrupted and microbes from the gut gain accesss to the bloodstream and accumulate in the skin. If your gut is not in a healthy condition, you might find that your skin is dry, flaky and ofte en inflamed. Acne, the eighth most common medicall disorder worldwide, is particularly prevalent in western n countries. This is a phenomenon thought to be re elated to the large amount of carbohydrates an nd refined sugars (measured by the glycaemic index x) in the typical ty y western diet. The high GI load pro omotes an increase in insulin-like growth factors, and through a complex

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chain reaction leads to the development of acne. Dairy products have a similar result. Depression and anxiety can also affect gut micro flora. In the past few decades, there has also been a dramatic increase in allergies including asthma, hay fever and eczema. Some theories put this down to over-use of disiinffecttantts to creatte super-saniitised d enviironmentts. These make our bodies respond inappropriately to harmless antigens, and new research on the microbiome/diet theory ry y again seems to point to western eating habits (low fibre, high-fat content) fundamentally changing the flora in the gut and reducing tolerance in our immune systems. It’s a good idea to ditch, or reduce, dairy ry y products. Add some fermented foods, such as kefir made from coconut or soy. Choose whole grains, try ry y a sugar free week every ry y month and pile on the fruit and veg. You could soon feel, and see, the difference.

Follow Geraldine at IG skinprof_norfolk www.facebook.com/geraldinewaltersadvancedskincare/ info@geraldinewalters.co.uk

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10 Facts about a Live-in Care Package from Able Community Care 1.

Able Community Care has been providing Live-in Care Support for 40 years.

The service is available throughout mainland UK and The Channel Islands

We have enabled thousands of older and disabled people to remain living in their home of choice, their own.

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Able Community Care writes for all references and telephone checks the validity of each reference received.

All Carers working through Able Community Care have an in-date DBS.

Live-in Carers update their training on an annual basis.

We also offer Home from Hospital Support, Holiday Care Companions and Respite Care. (Brochures are available)

Live-Care Packages from Able Community Care are reliable, praised and financially prudent.

10. Able Community Care is a family firm. T: 01603 764567, E: info@ablecommunitycare.com or visit www.ablecommunitycare.com This is our office on the outskirts of Norwich.

Make Kingsley Healthcare your first choice for nursing, dementia, residential and respite care

Brooke House, Brooke Gardens, Brooke, Norwich NR15 1JH. Oaklands, Norwich Road, Scole, Diss, IP21 4EE. The Depperhaugh, Chickering Road, Hoxne, Nr Eye, Suffolk, IP21 5BX. Thorp House, Church Road, Griston, Norfolk IP25 6QA. Yaxley House care home, Church Lane, Yaxley, Eye, Suffolk, IP23 8BU.

Safely welcoming new care home residents

Stay two weeks FREE in one of our care homes. Our care homes are here to support you through these difficult times. Book a six-week respite stay, subject to availability, and you will only pay for four weeks. Our Kingsley SafeStay measures mean our homes can be your reassuring haven during the pandemic. Enjoy the best care, finest food and fun activities in a comfortable and safe environment.

To discuss the care needs of your loved one call 01502 322 277 or visit www.kingsleyhealthcare.co.uk. 58

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STAY HOME You can only leave your home for limited reasons e.g work, education, exercise or essential shopping Always stay local. Avoid travelling outside of your village, town or the part of a city where you live Protect Ourselves. PROTECT OTHERS. Protect Norfolk. 59

Postponed Eye Appointment? OcuPlan can help and is now available in your area www.ocuplan.co.uk In the UK, 4 million people suffer from a long-term eye disease, such as glaucoma, ocular hypertension, diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration. Regular monitoring is essential for detecting sight threatening changes.

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Health

GOOD NEWS in sight!

f you are one of the two million eye patients struggling to get an NHS appointment, you’ll be pleased to hear that OcuPlan is now available in the East of England, providing treatment plans for long-term stable eye diseases. These include glaucoma, ocular hypertension, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease. Vicki Maskell, Chief Operating Officer of OcuPlan, says: “We have seen a massive increase in the number of patients signing up following a difficult period for the NHS during Covid. The NHS was really struggling to see these long-term eye patients even before the pandemic, but now the capacity problems are even more severe. “We very much see ourselves as a major part of the solution, because in helping patients to access their care privately, we help both them and the NHS. For every patient we sign up, it’s one less for an overburdened NHS. We have seen massive growth in OcuPlan, and by the end of last year we created the capacity to do over 250,000 scans at our partner optometrists’ practices.” OcuPlan is working flat out to double that capacity in 2021. “Patients at OcuPlan feel like they’re back in control,” adds Vicki. “They choose the optometrist to perform their scans, as well as their preferred consultant, and when to see them at their private rooms. In this way, OcuPlan transfers

the power back from providers directly to patients. Patients also really appreciate seeing the same consultant every visit, with tests done locally at their optometrist — and all for less than the cost of a daily newspaper.” OcuPlan started two years ago in the midlands, where it has been very successful. It occupies the middle ground between insured private care and the NHS. “We’re now very proud to be the country’s leading provider of treatment plans for long-term eye conditions, and with up to a 50% discount,” says Vicki. “We are very pleased that our plans are available in this beautiful part of our country.”

Are you living with pain that is ruining your enjoyment of life? ✔ Have you ever been told that your pains are just part of getting older? ✔ Are you tired of being told to just “...rest and take pain killers”? ✔ Do you worry about your long term health and activity? If you’ve answered ‘YES’ to any of these questions you’re not alone. We specialise in helping people ages 50+ enjoy a pain free life again.

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Health

PUT A Spring IN YOUR STEP!

ovid and winter bugs can leave you feeling exhausted, both physically and mentally, and definitely in need of a good boost, so here are a few ways to get yourself feeling back to normal.

A great tonic We associate Switzerland with mountain air and great health, and in the last 55 years the Swiss natural tonic, Strath, has undergone numerous trials to show its excellent restorative properties. Strath Elixir is a liquid that provides over 60 vital nutrients to revitalise the body, invigorate the immune system, and improve energy levels. It’s suitable for all ages, (there is one for your pets too!) and can be taken during pregnancy. You can take it at any time of the year to balance and restore the body and, importantly, help you bounce back to normal post viral infections. Love good bacteria If you have needed to take antibiotics recently, it’s so important to replenish the good bacteria, so make sure you take a good quality probiotic. Good bacteria produces vitamins B and K and supports the immune system, vital for our overall health. To help you through the next few months without further problems, continue taking immune supporting supplements like echinacea, zinc, vitamin C and of course the ‘sunshine vitamin’… vitamin D. Bring me sunshine! Vitamin D has been the buzzword since the onset of covid, and is usually manufactured by our bodies

when our skin is exposed to sunlight. Current NHS guidelines recommend that children under five take a daily supplement – unless they are fed with an enriched formula – and that children over five and adults take a daily supplement from September to April, and may consider doing so during the summer months as well. It’s probably the easiest vitamin to get fussy kids to take, because there are drops or totally taste-free oral sprays available, even for babies. You are what you eat…and drink! Most importantly at this time of year…spring clean your diet! Get rid of sugar, processed foods, fizzy drinks and anything you know has little or no nutritional value. Let’s hope that spring will be a healthier season for all of us. Contact the Natural Food Store Exchange Street Norwich Tel: 01603 613228 www.shopnaturally.com for lots more helpful information

Will 2021 be the year you change your life? Hypnotherapy makes use of the mind’s ability to change patterns of behaviour and break free of emotional burdens. It’s fast, effective and natural. Hypnotherapy can help with:

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Real lives

MUM’S Explosive LOVE MISSION 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

fledgling desire to help warweary Syrians has propelled stay-athome mum Samara Levy on a life-changing journey amid danger and poverty. Seven years ago, she founded a charity, Samara’s Aid Appeal, to open the floodgates of provision for hundreds of thousands of people. Samara recently shared her epic sacrificial story at a Norwich Full Gospel Businessmen’s Zoom meeting. She told how a small gesture of love snowballed into a £2.3m mission, which continues expanding. It is believed more than 11.7 million people in Syria require humanitarian help; the UN has described it as “the worst humanitarian crisis of our time.” Samara’s Aid Appeal helps those internally displaced, bereaved, traumatised, impoverished, and homeless. She has raised a motivational voice, broadcasting their life-threatening plight, and with her team makes numerous pleas for funding and clothes. This has resulted in 110 containers and lorries being sent to the Middle East, as well as providing 11 ambulances to Syria and funding for numerous growing initiatives, including medical care. Norfolk aid includes help from Hope Community Church, in Wymondham. “Two thirds of the hospitals in Syria have been destroyed, damaged or are largely dysfunctional, but our charity aims at rebuilding the light of God,” says Samara, who has witnessed shocking large-scale devastation and horrific atrocities to humanity. The charity provides vital funding for medical and farming projects, support for orphans and disadvantaged children and empowers and equips widows to establish livelihoods. Her heart was first moved after seeing graphic newsreels and reports of a rejected people on the margins of society who had fled from ISIS. They lived under canvas amid freezing temperatures and gunfire and children wore flip flops in the

snow. Soon afterwards she saw a picture of a baby who had been killed by ISIS. Tearful, sleepless, and aching she got down on her knees praying to know how she could help. “Jesus’ words are very simple, and are black and white, asking us to share what we have and to feed the hungry, clothe Syrian ruins the naked and care for the sick,” says Samara, who has been moved to radical love. “I wondered what I could do as a stay-at-home mum with young children with little to give, but I mounted a collection, asking mums in my son’s class for clothes, blankets and shoes. “We can do nothing by ourselves,” says Samara, who stretched her faith prayers to fill one of the largest 90 cubic metre lorries available, costing £6,500, to transport to the Middle East. Within the next fortnight there was church support and a school minibus arrived with stacks of boxes to meet the gaping shortfall. Those small beginnings rallied the nation with an explosive mission that brings relief to hundreds of thousands. Her autobiography, Rebuilding the Ruins: Following God’s Call to Serve Syria, unveils the story of miraculous protection and provision and features the lives of those she has met during numerous visits. ‘Rebuilding the Ruins’ (Hodder and Stoughton) is available from major book retailers including Waterstones, WH Smith, Eden and Amazon, as well as www.samarasaidappeal.org/rebuildingthe-ruins www.samarasaidappeal.org

A 24 hour tailor-made live-in Care Service At Able Care we believe that people are happiest in the familiar surroundings of their own home. We can support you in maintaining your independence by providing a valuable alternative to residential care, whilst easing the reliance upon family, friends and neighbours.

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Come and visit us and speak to our care manager to make an informed decision about your care.

At Carleton House, we are able to offer long-term residential care for older people including low-needs dementia care in a safe and welcoming environment.We are a trusted family run care home provider with over 30 year’s experience.

For all enquiries please call our care manager Julie Allsopp on 01508 570451, email carletonhouse@minton.care or visit our website www.mintoncare.co.uk. Carleton House Care House, Recotory Road, East Carleton. Norwich NR14 8HT

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A D V E R T O R I A L

ECO SWAPS – make a clean start with a Scrubby!

s consumers, the power to switch to sustainable and planet friendly products is entirely in our hands. I’d like to make that easier for you and suggest one simple eco swap over the next two months — to the biodegradable Scrubby. The idea came to me one dark and rainy January morning. I needed to grab something to wipe the rain off my car windows and mirror and, not wanting to traipse through the house with wet shoes, I headed for the cupboard under the sink in my utility room. I grappled in the dark, feeling for a cloth and was surprised when I pulled out a synthetic yellow and green sponge scourer. I hadn’t sorted out the cupboard in years, and it reminded me about the great decision I had made to stop using these synthetic scourers, and the Scrubby I had eco swapped them for. We are all familiar with the yellow and green kitchen sponge and have probably used hundreds in our lives. The yellow part is made of polyurethane foam (PU), and the green part a blend of nylon and polyester. Together, they take 20-200 years to break down and then only into harmful microplastics. In addition, these foam pads ‘off gas’ and contain an array of chemicals such as dyes, antibacterial agents and chemical glues which are linked to asthma, skin and eye damage, not to mention the danger to aquatic life. Manufacturers recommend that you start a new sponge every week and that you sterilise or bleach them every day, so the harm can really add up. A Scrubby is the perfect eco swap alternative; a no-nonsense cotton cleaning pad made from offcuts from towel manufacturing. The textile of the Scrubby is treated to stiffen the loops, giving them astonishing scrubbing power and durability. I use my own Scrubby every day to make my washing up speedier, to clean the hob and kitchen surfaces and to help with all sorts of household cleaning – windows, the bath, shower screen, pet bowls, floors, sinks and outdoors on garden furniture and in the potting shed. Afterwards, the Scrubby goes into the washing machine at 50°C.

You will find that a Scrubby lasts for months, or longer, but the best thing is their bright colours and inventive designs – just picking up a Scrubby fills me with joy and makes me feel enthusiastic about even the most dreaded cleaning tasks. Eventually, the Scrubby will become threadbare. At that point, I cut mine into pieces and bury it in the garden, donating it to the worms and soil microbes. If you want to make one simple eco step, may I invite you to try the Scrubby for yourself and even get some as gifts for friends and family? There are two sizes to choose from, normal and large, and discounts for buying several at once. You can help to make a small but significant change to the planet.

Sally Mittuch founded Natural Spa Supplies, an awarding winning eco business, in 2007. The company sources and supplies natural products for the hair, skin, teeth and home. Natural Spa Supplies Ltd www.naturalspasupplies.co.uk Freephone 0800 023 5008

why not Use yoUr spare room for extra income? host families wanted for international stUdents Joining and working with Guardians International is completely free:  Best UK rates paid  out of pocket expenses covered  all information and hosting manuals provided  hosting & child safeguarding support provided

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Competition

Can you find Bella the Beagle? WIN A £100 M&S VOUCHER! To be in with 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 fo ollow the lin nks to the competition page. Closing date is 21 March 2021 and the usual Village People rules apply. Where Bella was hiding g in n our previious issuee: Ovenclean: page 32

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Fostering

Make a difference WITH A CAREER IN FOSTERING

here is a rising need for children and young people across Norfolk and Suffolk who need foster care, where a safe home and nurturing family environment is offered. Nexus Fostering, a local, friendly and professional fostering agency, are recruiting local Foster Carers to support vulnerable children and young people. Being a Foster Carer means that you’ll be able to have a fulfilling career as a highly trained carer, and make a real difference to the lives of children and young people. Almost anyone from all walks of life can foster, whether you practice a religion, have or haven’t got children, are married, single or in a same-sex relationship. It doesn’t even matter if you have pets at home or think you’re too old… you’re needed! All we ask is that you have a spare bedroom. Nexus Fostering offer full and ongoing training, and you’ll be supported right from the start. You’ll receive a competitive fostering allowance, which covers the professional fee to you as a Foster Carer, as well as the cost of caring for the child. Foster Carer, Frankie, says: “As a foster parent, the biggest benefit and reward I have ever gained is in the positive difference I can and have made to the life of the child or young person. “

If you are interested in becoming a Nexus Foster Carer, then call our fostering team on 01603 951405, or go to our website at www.nexusfostering.co.uk

GET A FRESH LOOK FOR YOUR DRIVEWAY IN 2021

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Could you become an Able Care Carer and be part of our friendly team? Able care has run a successful live-in care agency since 1980, we believe that the elderly are happiest in the familiar surroundings of their own home. ✔ Professional experience is not always essential maybe you have personal experience? ✔ Applicants should be prepared to travel to either Norfolk, Suffolk or Cambridgeshire. ✔ No upper age limit.

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Money

RESPONSIBLE Investment BEYOND THE CORONAVIRUS Michael Duale, Principal of MD Wealth Management, looks at how the investment community can help advance the environmental gains that have come out of COVID-19

he consequences of the coronavirus pandemic will clearly be profound, wide-ranging and long-lasting. So, it’s no surprise that any sources of optimism to be found as the crisis unfolds are quickly seized upon. Perhaps the most significant so far has come in the form of the immediate effects on the environment. Greenhouse gas emissions have fallen, while data from NASA suggests that air quality has improved dramatically as countries around the world have taken steps to restrict activity and travel. Indeed, this could be an opportunity for organisations to rethink how they do business – and question whether they need to return to a form of normality in which, for example, employees are flown to meetings that could otherwise be held using video conferencing facilities.

A more realistic rate of change Unfortunately, these environmental positives are likely to be temporary, and there is now a risk of efforts to address climate change becoming a lesser priority, as governments focus on dealing with the economic implications of the crisis. This is why the investment industry has an important role to play in maintaining the momentum that has gathered in recent weeks and months. The biggest crisis now is clearly COVID-19, but the biggest crisis of the 2020s is still climate change, and we need to ensure that once we’re on the other side of the coronavirus pandemic, governments keep focusing on that.

We can invest for change Responsible investing isn’t just about the environment, of course. The crisis has also shone the spotlight on corporate behaviours – both good and bad – and helped illustrate why businesses cannot simply be about making profits. If they are going to be successful, they need to think about their wider stakeholders. Companies that have put measures in place for employees will come out of this with higher employee satisfaction and community spirit – and that contributes to their long-term success. The importance of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) factors in investment decisions has only become clearer as the crisis has unfolded. Investors increasingly seek information about sustainability and responsible investing, with growing awareness of the broader long-term aspects of successful and effective investing. Anyone who wants to explore their responsible investing options should speak with a financial adviser.

But the environmental gains from the pandemic have clearly been made alongside painful social, economic and health consequences. In other words, the current rate of improvement is unsustainable. If we’re taking climate change seriously, we would rather see a smooth transition at a rate less dramatic than we’re seeing at the moment. We don’t want to be in a position of having to bring a halt to everything, as we are now, in order to have that environmental impact.

To receive a complimentary guide covering wealth management, retirement planning or Inheritance Tax planning, contact Michael Duale, principal of MD Wealth Management on 01379 415511, or go to www.md-wealthmanagement.co.uk

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Legal

KEEPING THE Peace Siân Carrel, Partner at Spire Solicitors LLP, looks at how to avoid neighbour disputes

ith everyone spending more time at home as a result of Covid-19, it’s likely you will be seeing and hearing your neighbours more than you are used to. In some cases, this has led to an increase in neighbour complaints. To maintain a good relationship with your neighbours, it’s important to consider the following: Noise Noise is normally thought of as unwanted sound. It could be too loud, just happen at the wrong time, or without warning. This can include: playing loud music, DIY projects, alarm systems and incessant dog barking. If you are concerned about noise coming from a neighbour’s home, it’s important to try and approach them as soon as possible before the problem gets out of control. Many issues can be dealt with in a friendly way, without the need for further action. But if talking doesn’t work, you will need to make a complaint to your local authority. Under the provisions of the Noise Act 1996, and other associated legislation, your local authority has a mandatory obligation to deal with any noise deemed to be nuisance. Bonfires If your neighbours’ bonfire creates issues with smoke drifting, try and speak with them to see if they can position it away from the boundary, or move it to the end of their garden. If they disregard your complaints, have a look at your title deeds to see whether there are any restrictions. If you are still unable to resolve the problem amicably, you may need to raise the issue with your local environmental health officer at the council. They will be able to investigate complaints about smoke from residential premises that cause a statutory nuisance. Fences If you live in a built up area, it is highly likely that the boundaries of your garden are shared with one of more of your neighbours. Unless they are dealt with carefully, small problems relating to hedges, fences and walls can cause a breakdown in

relations between neighbours. Knowing your rights and responsibilities can help to prevent a problem from turning into a disruptive and expensive legal issue. If you are looking to paint or repair a fence, it’s best to speak with your neighbour first to check they are happy with any alterations. If you are in any doubt, check the deeds of your house first for any clarification of boundary lines, as this may help you with any negotiations. Hedges, plants and boundary lines Generally, a hedge that separates two gardens will grow along the boundary of both properties, so it’s the responsibility of both neighbours to keep it trimmed. But if a hedge belongs to one neighbour and is growing into next door’s garden, the next door neighbour is entitled to invite them to give it a trim. The neighbour is also entitled to trim the hedge themselves, but must return any trimmings to the owner, unless otherwise agreed. This is also the same for overhanging trees or branches. If a neighbour refuses to allow access to their garden, you can apply for access under the Access to Neighbouring Land Act 1992 and gain a court order.

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ACCOUNTANTS De’ath Downton Accountancy Ltd 11 AERIAL SERVICES Warnes Aerials 55 ANIMAL SERVICES Karen Curtis Dog Grooming 36 Norfolk Greyhound Rescue 13 Woof Wellbeing 36 ARCHITECTURE & PLANNING Andrew P R Love 32 ARTS & CRAFTS Cherry Tree Pottery 47 BATHROOMS AHM Installations 19 Coopers Bathrooms and Wet Rooms 31 Creative Bathrooms 40 Supreme Bathrooms & Kitchens 60 BUILDERS, HANDYMEN & SUPPLIERS Cooks Building Services Ltd 26 Kevin George 48 RL Group 28 Surface Repair Solutions 22 CARE & MOBILITY Able Care Agency 65 Able Community Care Ltd 57 Kingsley Healthcare 58 Carleton House 65 Prestige Nursing Limited 9 Purely Care 62 CARPENTERS & JOINERS Hunter Solutions EA Ltd 40 CARPORTS, GLASS VERANDAS & AWNINGS My Space Outdoors 6 CARS, CARAVANS & GARAGES Highfield Garage 3 CLEANING Conservaclean 36 Crystal Clean 40 Guttertech Norfolk 52 Home Maid Domestic Cleaning 24 Oven Clean 32 Peter Jones External Cleaning 31 COMPUTER, WEB & GRAPHIC DESIGN SERVICES Bailiwick IT Ltd 48

JM IT Services Philippa Green Web Design DAYS & NIGHTS OUT, TRAVEL, HOLIDAYS IC Travel DRAIN SERVICES Norfolk Drain Services DRIVEWAYS ABS Roadways M&M Surfacing Ace Driveways ELECTRICIANS Anglia Safety Electrical and Testing Ashleys’s Electrical Services Harling Electrical Ian Myhill Electrical ICD Electrics Wilson Electrical & Plumbing FINANCIAL, INSURANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL SERVICES Clapham & Collinge Solicitors MD Wealth Management Priory Insurance Spire Solicitors FOSTERING CARE Nexus Fostering FRAMING SERVICE Sarah Hamment Framers FUNERALS East of England Co-op Rosedale Funeral Home FURNITURE & RESTORATION Bespoke Handcrafted Furniture Dovetail GARAGE DOORS, GATES, SHUTTERS & AWNINGS Cooks Blinds & Shutters Ltd HST Garage Doors The Doors Group Limited TWF Roller Garage Doors GARDEN SERVICES All Seasons Drive And Landscapes Andrew Sillett Tree Surgeon Arkscape C J’s Garden Machinery Easton Countryside Services Jack Grice Garden Services

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Justin Cogman Landscaping Ltd 22 Lake and Pond Aquatics 20 Lifestyle Garden and Leisure Ltd 45 M Wild Tree Services 20 PDC Landscaping Ltd 38 Plantscape Tree Service 22 The Garden Enclosure 23 HEALTH & BEAUTY Footsure 62 Recover Physiotherapy 61 HEALTHCARE HM Government 59 HOST FAMILIES WANTED FOR INT. STUDENTS Guardians International 68 HYPNOTHERAPY Katina Chapman 63 JEWELLERS Sonkai Retail & Bespoke Jewellers 52 JOBS Able Care Agency 72 69 Home Cleaning Vacancies Supreme Bathrooms & Kitchens 60 LOCKSMITHS Kingfisher Locksmiths 27 OPTICIANS & EYE SPECIALISTS Cecil Amey Ltd 66 60 Ocuplan Ltd PAINTERS, DECORATORS & STOCKISTS John Dennis Painter & Decorator 49 Paint and Paper 24 Peter Jones 40 Steve Crowland Decorating 49 PERSONAL TRAINER Colin Browning Personal Trainer 68 PEST CONTROL Bracken Pest Control 22 PIANO TUITION Veronica Wilson 32 PLASTERERS Cringleford Plastering 40 S T Plastering 38 PLUMBING, HEATING, BOILERS & DRAINAGE Gasworks South East 28 J J Services Ltd 54

Village People is a trading name of Village People Magazines Ltd. Village People accepts no liability for loss, damage, or difficulties resulting from contracts made through the magazine, nor from errors, omissions or claims made by advertisers. Publication of any entry does not imply a recommendation. Readers must make their own enquiries to establish the credentials of each entry. Magazine, adverts, design, layout and content Copyright © Village People Magazines Ltd. 2008-2021

next issue to feature local businesses J R Mechanical Ltd Mendozas Plumbing P & D Tank Services Ltd PROOFREADING Templarproof REMOVALS Van and a Man ROOFING EFL PAC Roofing R G Leverett Ltd S L Bartram Roofing and Scaffolding SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, EDUCATION & CHILDREN Homeopathic College Hummingbird Preschool Norfolk County Council Community Learning Services Norwich High School for Girls

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CLUES ACROSS 1 Black and white and read all over - after news (5) 4 Get to your feet and be counted (5, 2) 8 Not permitted according to decree (7) 9 Digestive problem possibly related to stress (5) 10 A real change for this aristocrat (4) 11 Service thoroughly to ensure continued service (8) 13 Mobile stairs for aircraft mounting (4) 14 Train underground about London (4) 16 Not at all approved by those who set the rules (8) 17 Short for a rather longer memory jogger (4) 20 Special gift or outing arranged as a reward (5) 21 Miner of the black stuff (7) 22 Vote for the resolution and reduce into by mental analysis (7) 23 That spark in someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eye it might mean trouble (5)

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