Village People South Norfolk edition – April / May 2021 (Late Spring) by Village People Magazines Ltd

DELIVERED TO 62,000 HOMES IN NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK

AWARD WINNING

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Recipe for salted peanut butter chocolate cake SIX GREAT WAYS TO ENJOY ASPARAGUS

National Shakespeare Day

Successful seedlings Vegan recipe & Virtual Vegan Luncheon Club Forward planning – minimise Inheritance Tax

South Norfolk Edition - April / May 2021

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Contents

APRIL / MAY 2021

Out & About 8

Good news from our region

12 Gospel from The Saints 14 Norfolk Wildlife Trust -

spotting newts in Norfolk

41 Short story by one of our

67 Fashion - perfect pastels for

46 Recycling - SMART ways to

68 Health - facing up to skincare

readers, John Arnett make an impact

49 National Shakespeare Day

Jobs, Money & Business

57 Walking for health around

71 WIN £100 M&S voucher

Shopping, Health & Beauty

75 Poetry Corner - Siobhan

Blofield and Braydeston

Home & Garden 19 Garden jottings from The Garden Enclosure

issues

53 Bungay Bitesize – the history of Easter bonnets

spring

73 Smart Money Secrets -

inheritance tax planning Guthrie from Wymondham

63 Skincare with Geraldine

76 Find a local business or

64 Refreshing Waters talks

78 Exercise your brain cells with

Walters

positive futures through song

service in our directory our crossword

20 On your plot - nature and nurture

22 Vegan recipe for mince and wild mushroom pie

25 Recipe for salted peanut butter chocolate cake

27 Gardening - success with your seedlings

29 Canine communication with Julia Collins

33 Memories of Needham 37 Six great ways to cook asparagus

39 Virtual Vegan Luncheon Club

Are you looking for a particular product or service?

Check out our Local Business Directory on pages 76 & 77 5

Welcome

What’s

VILLAGE N on this month OTICE BOA RD

MUSIC

6TH St. Bartholome APR Orford, Suffo w’s Church, lk IP12 2NZ

It’s the beginning of March as I write this, with dates and hopes ahead of us. Like everyone else, I’ve got everything crossed that by the start of April we’ll be on track for the opening of the local shops, pubs, restaurants... and our whole world back.

RD GIFT CA

WIN

£100 M&S VOUCHER ADVERTISE WITH US!

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

THEATRE

JOANNA EDEN TRUTH TREE SATURDAY

If you like the music of Joni Mitchell, Carole King, James Taylor and Kate Bush we can guarantee you evening with a wonderful great music the magnificen in Bartholome t acoustic of St. w’s Church. Doors and bar open at 7pm. There will be a few tables availa well as unres ble as erved seatin the bar will g be open durin and performan ces so do book g the for this specia now l event.

NATURE OPEN GARD EN

SUNDAY 7TH DAFFODIL DAY APR 10AM The Old Coach Street, Brock House, The dish IP21 4JY

WYMOND HAM PRESENT “LIFE PLAYERS

AFTER BETH WED 10TH ” - SAT 13TH APR Wymondham Central Hall, Wymondham An Alan Ayckb ourn play showing from Wed 10th to 13th April, Sat including Sat matinee at 2pm. It’s Christmas, and Beth is mourning the her husband. recent death of Her sister in and son have law come to stay their good but intent lived. The Vicar ions are short Beth with comfotries to provide rt but his have unfor eseen conse efforts quences. www.wymo ndhamplaye rs.org.uk

more unusu al flowers than normally seen those in supermarke Very exper ts. ienced societ y members will be cultural advice on hand to offer based on their decades of growing, repot disease preve ting, ntion and gener care of orchid al s. The societ on the 3rd Friday of each y meets month in Hellesdon Parish Hall Low Road, Helles don NR6 5AT.

CLASS

FREE EARL Y PREGNAN CY CLASS

THURSDAY 25TH

APR 7:30P M

FAYRE

ATTLEBOR OUGH SPRIN G FAYRE

SAT 13TH APR 10AM-2PM Town Hall, Attleboroug h Lots of lovely stalls, Tomb face painting, ola, teas and cake. Entry. Free

SALE PLANT SALE

SUNDAY 14TH APR 10 - 3PM. Redgrave & Lopha Common Road, m Fen, Low Diss IP22 2HX South Lopham, Annual event with over 20 award-winn ing and specia nurseries. list Plus, tools & donat second hand ed plants. £1.50 adults, childr en free. Hot refreshmen & cold ts available. Dogs on leads welco me.

Rowan House Health & Wellbeing Centre, Quee ns Road, Hethersett NR9 3DB About Birth & Babies offers free early pregn a ancy class aims to give which you the chanc to celebrate e your pregn ancy, find out what to expect while you’re expec ting, explore common pregn some ask questions, ancy concerns, marvel at how your amaz ing baby is developing and look ahead , the birth. Booki to preparing for ng essential.

SALE

I’ve already pencilled in at least two pages to feature local events in the next edition, so do please remember that we are here to Our popula r Village No tice Board promote and support anything and pages everything that’s going on in the local area for FREE on our Village Notice Board pages. We just can’t wait to have them up and running again. If you can’t remember how to do it, just hop onto our website and follow the links to the WHAT’S ON section and enter the details of the event you’d like us to promote. Over 2 acres of Woodland and gardens leading to the banks of the River Wave ney. In Aid of EAAA, Prostate Cancer, St Elizab and local Charit eth Hospice, ies. Teas and Refreshme nts, cakes, stalls, tombola and Raffle. Adults children free £3 with an adult. Dogs welco me on leads.

SHOW

ORCHID SOCI ETY ANGLIA SPRIN OF EAST G SHOW SUND

AY 14TH APRIL Jubilee Hall on Back Lane Hethersett in

In addition to the fabulo us flowers on show sales of orchid there will be plants, some with

PRELOVED SALE AT TIBENHAM CAFE

SATURDAY 27TH APR 11AM Tibenham Community Hall, Pristow Green Lane, Tiben Proceeds to ham Myelo The Big C. Prelov ma UK and clothes, shoes ed sale of alongside the and accessories, usual mont cafe servin g light lunch hly es and refreshmen ts-free entry.

We have another £100 M&S voucher to give away, and all you need to do to be in with a chance of winning is read your magazine from cover to cover to spot our pet ‘Bella the Beagle’. She’s very small and hiding in one of the adverts. We are often asked who won in the last issue and where Bella was, and we answer both those on Instagram, where we feature a picture of the WINNER on either one of our posts, or a story. So make sure you follow us now and keep up to date @vpmagazine. We are so looking forward to all getting together again, so roll on the good weather and lunches in our gardens. Stay safe and look after each other.

Lily

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 DELIVERED TO 62,000 HOMES

AWARD WINNING

IN NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK

National Shakespeare Day

Salted Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake

Bungay, Harleston & Long Stratton

IN NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

June / July (Early Summer issue)

DELIVERED TO 62,000 HOMES

AWARD WINNING

National Shakespeare Day

Successful seedlings Vegan recipe & Virtual Vegan Luncheon Club Forward planning – minimise Inheritance Tax

South Norfolk Edition - April / May

2021

Norfolk/Suffolk Border Edition -

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

SIX GREAT WAYS TO ENJOY ASPARAGUS

Successful seedlings Vegan recipe & Virtual Vegan Luncheon Club Forward planning – minimise Inheritance Tax

WINNER of five National Publishing Awards

Edition - April / May 2021

IN NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK

RECIPE FOR

NATIONAL SHAKESPEARE DAY

Successful seedlings Vegan recipe & Virtual Vegan Luncheon Club Forward planning – minimise Inheritance Tax

AWARD WINNING

Salted Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake

Six great ways to enjoy asparagus

National Shakespeare Day

DELIVERED TO 62,000 HOMES

IN NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Recipe for salted peanut butter chocolate cake

SIX GREAT WAYS TO ENJOY ASPARAGUS

RECIPE FOR

Successful seedlings Vegan recipe & Virtual Vegan Luncheon Club Forward planning – minimise Inheritance Tax

DELIVERED TO 62,000 HOMES

Recipe for salted peanut butter chocolate cake

SIX GREAT WAYS TO ENJOY ASPARAGUS

21 April 2021

Lily Goulder editor@village-people.info 01284 788623

AWARD WINNING

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

NEXT DEADLINE

April / May 2021

South Norwich Edition - April /

May 2021

Good News from our region EAST CARLETON STEPS UP FOR NHS When Hilary Springett, from East Carleton, heard from a neighbour that staff morale at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital was low, she and her friend Jenny Cannon decided to do something to cheer them up. “One email went out to the residents of East Carleton asking for donations of either personal care products or treats,” says Hilary. “These could be hand cream, body wash or shampoo, as nearly all the staff have a

shower before going home from the hospital. The treats could be anything — as long as it was individually wrapped. “Obviously, during these very difficult times, all this had to be done adhering to covid regulations. The response we had was amazing. A specific time and day was arranged to collect from doorsteps. My husband and I laughed and said we should take the wheelbarrow! Little did we realise how generous people

were going to be. We staggered home with bags full of goodies and pockets full of envelopes containing cash. “I had the job of shopping, this was made a lot easier by an online delivery and a click and collect. Everything was brought together on Jenny’s dining room table ready to be taken to the Norfolk and Norwich by the hospital fundraising coordinator.” www.eastcarletonvillage.co.uk

Hilary Springett (left) and Jenny Cannon

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Good News

Paul Muncila

30 YEARS IN THE BAKING! The Tudor Bakehouse, with outlets in Diss, Eye and Harleston, is celebrating 30 years of serving customers in South Norfolk and North Suffolk. The popular bakery was established in 1991 by Paul Muncila, who decided to start his own business after seven years’ working as a baker in Norwich. The first branch on the Market Place in Harleston

is still thriving today, along with other bakeries in both Eye and Diss — all long-standing features of their respective towns. The Tudor Bakehouse also has a second bakery and coffee shop in Harleston. Paul Muncila said: “Throughout our three decades, our motto has always been ‘baked fresh every day’, with the emphasis on quality products and as many

local ingredients as possible. So many bakeries don’t bake fresh, so it’s essential that our customers know we do, and they are always guaranteed the freshest bread and baked goods when they visit us.” To celebrate its 30th anniversary, The Tudor Bakehouse is both looking back and forwards. Throughout March, they will have a featured ‘bake’ each day for a special price of just £1.50. This will include many of their customers’ favourite cakes, savouries and bread products. During the month, there will also be some new recipes that they hope will become new favourites in the years to come. Paul added: “The last year has been tough for everyone, but it’s great to have something to celebrate and we want to thank our loyal customers for supporting us, either part or all of the way through the last 30 years. We are also determined to continue serving you with freshly baked quality products long into the future.”

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Good News

LUCAS IS SUPER-MAN FOR COMIC RELIEF

Lucas Cooke, a six-year-old from Wymondham, has taken on a month-long charity dressing up challenge for Comic Relief and has raised £400 so far (as of 1 March). Caroline, Lucas’ mother, said: “The last time Comic Relief was taking place, Lucas was five and didn’t fully understand what it was all about. This year, he is taking more interest in helping others and wanted to do something to raise money, but didn’t know who for. “He has seen adverts on TV about charities in Africa providing safe drinking water and decided he wanted to do something to help. I knew Comic Relief was

coming up, and that they do amazing work both in the UK and Africa, so I suggested he might like to raise some money for them. “He liked this idea, so we got our thinking caps on and came up with the dressing up challenge. Initially, we thought maybe doing it just on Red Nose Day (19th March). Then, we thought about doing it the week leading up to Red Nose Day, but that wouldn’t be enough of a challenge, so we settled for a whole month — 19th Feb to 19th March. “We are aiming for a different costume each day and walking around Wymondham (observing

social distancing) to help raise awareness, and a smile, which is so important at the moment during the pandemic. Lucas has dressed as Mr Bean, Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter, Kylo Ren from Star Wars, a Storm Trooper and Spider-Man. We have raised £400 so far and the kind words and generosity we have received has been so overwhelming. I’d like to say a very big thank you to the local community for getting behind Lucas and supporting him. Our daily updates and new photos can be found on our just giving page.” www.justgiving. com/fundraising/carolinecrednoseday21

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Good News

VILLAGE PEOPLE IS GROWING STRONG At Village People, we are very excited to announce that we have added another 1,000 copies to our print run for every issue, increasing our coverage to a staggering new high of 62,000 homes across Norfolk and Suffolk! During this tough year, small local businesses need us to buy their products and services more than ever. They make a positive impact on the local economy, as well as supporting local communities and providing local jobs. At a time when many regional publications have cut their print run, and the ‘pick up’ method from various locations has not been possible due to lockdown closures, Village People has bucked

the trend and increased its reach further than ever before. How have we done this? Because as more homes are built we add them to our database, and ensure they receive a copy of the magazine. And of course we Royal Mail deliver Village People direct to every single one of those 62,000 homes, and print more copies of our magazines than all the other regional titles put together. Take a look at our handy chart to see for yourself. So if you are a local business looking for new enquiries, Village People really is the best place to feature your business…an established, trusted magazine that’s growing with you.

Your advert will be seen for twice as long as a monthly magazine and eight times as long as a weekly newspaper! If you are looking to advertise, make sure you talk to us first about how we can help to grow your business this spring.

Village People - 62,000 (Royal Mail delivered) Suffolk Norfolk Life - 15,000 (bought) EDP Norfolk - 12,650 (bought) Let’s Talk - 8,775 (bought) Places & Faces - 8,000 (pick up only) Suffolk Magazine - 8,000 (bought) Vanilla Norwich - 5,000 (pick up only) Norwich Resident - no longer published Feast Norfolk - no longer published

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

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Village Life

Gospel from THE SAINTS

By Julia Collins, who lives in Saint Nicholas

iving in covid dominated times, our freedom has been curbed in so many ways. Not only have important aspects of social interaction been severely trimmed, but even what we are actually able to do for ourselves has been affected. I wonder if this feeds into our shopping habits. How many of you have cupboards that are not only chubby with your usual staples, but also stoutly packed with items which seem to represent ammunition against difficulty? Sardines, dried pasta, long life milk and frozen vegetables; foodstuffs less evident perhaps in more ‘normal’ times, but that now reside as valued occupants, serried in regular, neat rows. For me, being able to organise a well stocked store cupboard was surprisingly reassuring as evidence that I could still look after myself. I now possess packets and tins, hitherto strangers to my kitchen, that sooth my basic instincts each time I open the larder door. Likewise, the way in which we have given the house and garden greater attention is a creative and absorbing way of nurturing ourselves, enhancing our home to bring pleasure and comfort. With time to regard our surroundings and possessions through ‘fresh eyes’, we can appreciate and recognise possibilities which may have previously gone unnoticed. It seems fundamental to always be able to take action – to have choice and control over as many aspects of our lives as possible. Like a snorkel connecting us to ‘the real world’, we can still inhale at will…choose for ourselves. This feels strengthening and liberating within the slightly suffocating restrictions we have been obliged to learn to accept. Actually having the time to prepare meals in a more leisurely and imaginative fashion, with perhaps an occasional opportunity to experiment

with new recipes, opens out the experience. Finding choice within the limitations has reduced the sense of confinement, expanding our personalities and intellects, confirming, in a different way, that we can still flex at will. We can carry forward this awareness and subtlety as we emerge, metaphorically rubbing our eyes, to reclaim our lives and the myriad pleasures we have missed. ‘Absence makes the heart grow fonder’, ‘you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone’, ’count your blessings’, ‘appreciate the small things’ – like so much bunting, we could string up these words above the doors and gates we will soon be skipping through on our way back to greater normality.

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Nature

HERE BE Dragons!

By Helen Baczkowska, Conservation Officer at Norfolk Wildlife Trust

fter the February snows, spring in the Claylands is suddenly everywhere, from the white blackthorn flowers and primroses, to a chorus of birdsong every morning. Inspired by the season, I have been venturing out on mild evenings to visit local ponds – in the shallows at their edges lurk miniature dragons! From spring until early summer, great crested newts make their way to these ponds to breed, but identifying them can be tricky. For a start, only the males have crests and only in the breeding season; although it looks impressive when they are in water, out on land the crest is barely visible. Confusingly, male common newts also have a crest, but theirs runs in an unbroken line from the back of the head to the tip of the tail. In contrast, the crest of a great crested newt has a noticeable gap at the top of the tail and the tail itself has a wide silver-blue stripe on the side.

field margins or hedgerows. This might be why the Claylands of Norfolk and Suffolk are one of the best places in the UK for great cresteds, although the species has declined in recent years in the face of disease, development and a lack of pond management. The good news is that academic research has shown how well the newts bounce back when ponds are well cared for, and these ponds also act as important stepping stones across the landscape for many other creatures.

Both male and female great cresteds can grow up to 17cm long and, when underwater, both can look greyish, much like the smaller common newt. On land, great cresteds are black, with white pimples that give them their other name – ‘warty newt’. Underneath, they have bright yellow or orange bellies striped with black and, just like our fingerprints or the stripes of a tiger, each newt has a its own unique pattern of markings. Like other pond wildlife, such as frogs and dragonflies, newts thrive where there is a network of ponds connected by rough grass, arable

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Credit Kevin Caster

Careful management follows the same guidelines for farm, village and garden ponds of any size – keep the pond open and sunny on the south side if possible, have gently sloping banks and carry out work in autumn, when it will have less impact on wildlife. A few logs nearby are useful for hibernation, and pond plants such as water forget-me-not or water mint are useful, as female newts lay eggs on the underside of a leaf, then fold it over with their back legs, tucking the egg in where predators can’t reach it. I never open them

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up, for fear of harming the egg, but often the best sign of newts in a pond is a series of neatly folded over leaves. I first encountered great crested newts in my teens and soon after obtained the licence I needed to survey them. Every spring since, these miniature dragons have been a great source of joy to me – even when I find them in the woodshed or hiding under pots in the garden. www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk

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fter months of staying at home, people are placing more importance on their living space and how to improve it. Lighting is one of the most important aspects of your home, and it can set the right ambience and give your rooms a unique look. But have you given any thought to the shades on your lamps? They can make just as much difference to the appearance of a room. The choice offered by many high street retailers is limited, but this is no longer a problem, thanks to Dannells’ Professional Lampshade Making Kits. Dannells are experts in the lampshade making industry, with over 40 years’ experience supplying materials and components to manufacturers around the world. More recently, the company has started designing products for homemakers, creative crafters who sell handmade and homemade crafts online, and DIY enthusiasts. This means that anyone can make professional, stylish and bespoke lampshades for their home or business using their coverings of choice. Ideal for complete beginners with no previous craft experience, or for crafters with a passion for trying something new, Dannells’ Professional Lampshade Making Kits are easy to use and come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, ranging from traditional drum, to modern square and hexagon shades. Suitable for either pendant lights or table lamps, each kit includes all the high quality materials you need, including easy-to-follow photo instructions with plenty of tips and tricks for simple assembly. And the opportunities with Dannells’ Professional Lampshade Making Kits don’t stop there! If you have a creative streak and want to generate some extra income, why not consider becoming a Professional Lampshade Maker? Many of our customers, who started by making just one lampshade, have gone on to create sustainable and profitable businesses selling lampshades by adding their own unique creative twist. A case in point is Anita, based in North Yorkshire. After a career break to raise her three children, she wanted to return to work doing something she really enjoyed. “After completing a Lampshade Making

Anita has set up her own Lampshade Making Business from home - HEARTS & GLITTER

Workshop, I started making lampshades for myself, friends and family and I now have a successful lampshade making business – Hearts & Glitter – and host my own workshops.” So, whether you want to make just one lampshade, or you’re a competent crafter looking for a new business venture, all you need is a pair of fabric scissors, a pencil and a flat surface. No extra specialist equipment is required, so you can get to work straight away to ‘brighten’ up your space! There are a bunch of tools and online platforms to support your new venture. Dannells has a Facebook group with over 2,000 friendly shade makers always ready to answer any questions and share insider tips; over 40 video tutorials on YouTube; live virtual workshops; blog and social media profiles; plenty of instructions and advice on the website; and a friendly team at Dannells who are just a phone call away. www.dannells.com 01992 700311 USE CODE VIP for 20% off your first order.

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Gardens

The Garden Enclosure Jottings

alling all basket cases – it’s time once again for a suspended masterpiece, a summer stunner, a blooming marvel, a hanging basket to beat all others – come on, rise to the challenge, make the best for your home in 2021! Hanging baskets can look wonderfully impressive, yet they’re very easy to create. Start by choosing your basket type, big is better as it’ll give your display greater impact and the contents won’t dry out so quickly. If it’s a wrought iron or wire basket you’ll need a liner to fit inside, such as a pre-formed coir liner, then line inside this with polythene. Generally, woven or rattan baskets have the polythene pre-fitted. Punch small holes through the plastic all around the sides about an inch (3cm) up from the bottom to create a small water reservoir at the base. Fill your basket to three-quarters full with a good quality multi-purpose compost, incorporating water-retaining crystals and a slow-release plant food as you go. Now to the exciting bit, the plants! Pack in as many as you can, lots of choices, select for either sun or shade, lots of colours, lots of textures. It’s up to you whether you follow a set colour scheme or go for a random mix, there are no rules. Use upright plants in the centre and trailing varieties around the sides to create a full and flowing display as the plants fill out. Handle your plants with care, start at one edge and work across the container, lightly feeding in more

compost to cover the roots as you go. Once planted, gently firm the contents down and water well, the soil should be flat or slightly sunken towards the middle to aid watering. Basket plants are very susceptible to cold and a late frost will severely set them back, so keep them protected, especially at night, until all fear of frost has passed and the plants are established. Ongoing care is straightforward and watering is key. Baskets can lose water very quickly, especially if they’re in particularly sunny or windy positions, but they must never be allowed to dry out, so check them every day, without fail! Always water thoroughly, any excess will drain away through the punched holes, you can add a weekly liquid feed after about 6 to 8 weeks. Dead-head faded flowers regularly to encourage more blooms to develop for a long-lasting show. It’s simple really, the possibilities are huge, you don’t even have to stick to flowers, you could try herbs, tumbling tomatoes, strawberries, or even salad leaves, or just go for colourful foliage. Once you’ve got the aerial display sorted you can start moving downwards, filling window boxes, troughs, pots, containers, and finally your borders. So call in soon, we’ll have all you need to create a living artwork to decorate your home this summer!

Cheers Ken,

The Garden Enclosure, Banham - blooming marvellous!

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In the past year, we have all been a lot more aware of our natural surroundings and the wonderful wildlife on our doorstep. Late spring is a busy time for birds, insects and mammals, so here are a few tips to help the creatures that live in your garden. Check hedges before trimming to avoid disturbing nesting birds, and use hand tools instead of power tools until the end of the breeding season. Leave out live or dried mealworms for blackbirds and robins, but make sure hedgehogs

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can’t get to them, as they are extremely harmful to their health. Create mini piles of stones or twigs in borders, or dead wood habitats such as log piles, to provide shelter for small invertebrates, amphibians and mammals. They will shelter here by day and devour slugs and other garden pests at night. You can attract pollinators by planting nectar- and pollen-rich herbs such as borage, chives, lavender, rosemary and oregano in a sunny spot. Leave a few weeds such as dandelions to provide food for wildlife.

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Gardens

10 MINUTES TO SPARE? If you feel like you’re getting behind in the garden, or you just don’t have that much time, try these 10-minute gardening jobs that will bring you the biggest return. Tidy climbing plants They can easily run amok, so spend a few minutes tying-in new shoots to their supports. This will make the plant look better and you’ll avoid snapped stems caused by heavy winds or the plant’s own weight. Keep on top of weeds Put in a bit of effort now to get rid of them before they get too established and you’ll save bags of time in the

long run, as well as giving your plants the space and nutrients they need to thrive. Look after your lawn If your lawn is looking a bit worse for wear, a highnitrogen fertiliser will give it a real boost and encourage new growth. To combat weeds and/or moss, apply a combined feed, weed and mosskiller. Sit back and enjoy Don’t forget to revel in the sensory experience of being outdoors, linger in the garden and just enjoy the flowers, sounds and scents. It makes all the hard work feel even more worthwhile.

WATER WISE Last year was one of the hottest on record, and for gardeners that posed a challenge. So what are the best ways to use this precious resource wisely and effectively? Decide which plants are most important to you, and water just them. Don’t waste water on the lawn or mature trees and shrubs. Water the soil, allowing moisture to penetrate deeply. Seeds and young plants benefit from a drip irrigation system, which uses minimal but constant water to keep soil moist. Water in the cool of the evening or very early morning, never in the heat of the day. When you have watered, put a mulch down on the wet soil to conserve moisture. Save every drop you use from washing veg and salads, even from washing your hands — for your garden. Use ‘grey water’ from baths and washing up, make sure you don’t use too much soap/shampoo and use it straight away, as stored grey water can harbour legionnaires disease. When rain comes, have a water butt, buckets or containers lined up to collect as much as possible.

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Recipe

VEGAN MINCE & WILD MUSHROOM PIE Easy to make, delicious, filling, with vegan mince that’s low in saturated fat and high in protein – this recipe has it all! Try serving it with roasted vegetables. Serves: 4 – 6 Time to prepare: 20 minutes Time to cook: 30 minutes Equipment needed: 22cm x 30cm pie dish

INGREDIENTS 320g vegan puff pastry 1 large red onion 100g wild mushrooms 100g open mushrooms 450g vegan mince 750ml thick vegan gravy 1 tbsp oil for frying

Tip

1 tbsp vegan milk for brushing

: If you don’t it all, eat pop lefto in th vers e fre ezer

METHOD 1. Pre-heat the oven to 200°C. Lightly brush the pie dish with oil. Peel, slice and fry the onion in the remaining oil until tender. 2. Chop the mushrooms and add them to the onions. Add the mince and gravy and stir well. Pour into the pie dish. 3. Roll out the pastry to the size required and place it on top of the mix. Brush the pastry with milk and cook in the oven for 20-25 minutes.

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

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Recipe

SALTED PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CAKE Ben from Pennoyer’s Café team dreamed up the idea for this decadent cake: salted peanut butter frosting on a dark chocolate cake, with a surprise caramel filling. It makes a perfect Easter treat, or indeed at any time…and a little goes a long way! Serves 12 684kcal, 69 carbs per slice INGREDIENTS Cake: 250g salted butter, softened 250g caster sugar 190g self-raising flour 60g good cocoa powder (we use Green & Black’s) 2 teaspoons baking powder, sifted 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 4 large eggs 100ml milk

tin. Put all the cake ingredients in a food processor and whizz until smooth. If you don’t have a processor, use the creaming method from any Victoria Sandwich recipe. Turn the mixture into the tin, smooth over and bake for 50 minutes or until risen and a skewer comes out clean. Cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then turn onto a rack. 2. For the frosting, beat together the butter and peanut butter until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and salt, then beat in the icing sugar with the milk for 3 minutes or so. 3. For the caramel shards, sprinkle the sugar in a single layer on an A4-sized sheet of good kitchen foil on a baking tray. Grill until it melts and goes deep brown – but don’t let it burn. Allow to cool. As you peel

back the foil, the shards will form. 4. Split the cake in two. Pipe two rounds of frosting around the perimeter of the base cake to form a ‘wall’, then spoon the caramel into the middle. Top with the other half cake and pipe on the remaining frosting. Decorate with shards just before serving. The Pennoyer Centre’s volunteer BakeForce make delicious cakes for sale in the café, which won the EDP Norfolk Food & Drink “Best Baking” Award. Check the café’s Facebook page for up to date opening details. www.pennoyers.org.uk 01379 676660 The Pennoyer Centre, Station Road, Pulham St Mary, Norfolk, IP21 4QT

Frosting: 200g unsalted butter, softened 200g smooth peanut butter 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste 300g icing sugar 15ml milk Filling: 4 tablespoons tinned caramel (we use Carnation) Caramel shards (optional) 60g granulated sugar METHOD 1. Preheat the oven to 190ºC (170ºC fan). Grease and baseline a 20cm loose-based deep

Tip:

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Gardens

The Germination game Not confident about growing plants from seed? Don’t panic… these top tips will help you achieve success with your seedlings Don’t over water This can be so tempting when you first grow from seed. Make sure the soil is damp, but not soaking wet, because leaving seedlings drenched in water will not help them thrive and could kill them off. Water every 3-5 days, depending on where you live, the temperature and the time of year. It’s often better to water seedlings from the bottom by placing them in a tray of water, but don’t leave them to sit in it. Lots of light Your seedlings need plenty of light, especially those grown early in the season such as sweet peas and cosmos. Without enough light they will turn ‘leggy’, which means they grow really quickly towards the light because they’re not getting enough. This will create slightly less healthy plants than those which get enough light. Pinching This is not a universal rule, but some plants do well from being ‘pinched’. This is where you pinch off the top leaves just above a set of leaves to prevent the plant growing taller, instead creating branching for bushier plants with more flowers. Use your fingertips or a clean, small pair of sharp scissors or pruners to snip off the top of the seedling stem, just above the point where a leaf or set of leaves connect to it. Don’t pinch right at the point where the leaves connect, or you may remove the bud that will become a new branch. Pinching will activate little buds which will create new stems. The auxin hormones

will redirect to these new stems, bringing on new growth. Seedlings that thrive from pinching include cosmos, sweet peas and dahlias. Air circulation If you’re new to gardening, you might think that sowing as many seeds as possible is a good idea, just in case some don’t grow. But it’s best to sow seeds thinly, giving them plenty of space to grow, enough nutrients, light, and air circulation. A lack of airflow creates several problems such as wet or damp foliage, spores settling on leaves and unnaturally stiff stems on seedlings. If you’re keeping your seedlings in a greenhouse, open the doors during the day occasionally to allow plenty of air to circulate, particularly on hot days. Thin them out Plants don’t like to be crowded, and it’s the same with seedlings, which need all the sun and nutrients that they can get. It’s often better to have fewer stronger plants than a lot of weaker, less healthy ones. Handle with care If you need to move your seedlings, be very careful with the roots. Never pull the seedlings up from trays by the stem, always use a leaf. This will prevent the stem from snapping.

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Canine Behaviour

Parlez Vous POOCH?!

Blogger and qualified ‘Dog Listener’ Julia Collins looks at the best times and places to teach your canine companion valuable new skills

e spend so much time and effort on our dogs – enjoying a relaxing walk, playing, practising old skills, or even working on new ones. Equally important is when to put in the effort and, while we are thinking about this, why comes a close second. You may as well gain maximum effect from the energy expended, so a little bit of thought will pay dividends. We need to arouse our furry friends’ interest. My little chap is always very attentive when we return from a walk. He decided years ago that, upon returning home, numerous treats should be administered. Changing his view has proven absolutely fruitless, but I have capitalised on this time, when those deep brown eyes are focussed alternatively upon my own and my treats pocket, to teach him several new skills. Food does tend to be at the forefront of most learning activities, although some dogs prefer a play with their favourite toy. Prior to a walk often proves an effective time for bringing your dog’s focus onto you, especially if he’s so tense that you feel obliged to ‘just get going’. Five minutes playing fetch or other simple game can only be positive, as will running through skills both established and new. Your dog’s anticipation places you firmly at the centre of proceedings – an excellent start; brief, fun and, after all, it is exercise too! Changing direction on the walk encourages your dog to keep an eye on you, rather than assuming you’ll be plodding along, acting as countryside chaperone, bearer of treats and poo bags. Likewise, calling

your dog back for a bit of fuss or small food reward, pausing for a few minutes of fetch or other exercise, really enhances the walk, only takes minutes and catches your dog when he is relaxed and happy. These mini ‘workouts’ are often more successful than serious ‘training sessions’. Trundling into the garden, only to meet that: ‘Am I bovvered?’ expression can sap your confidence and make minutes feel like hours. Indoor ‘work’ goes down well too. The novelty of being asked to walk at heel, sit and wait in the house usually proves surprisingly entertaining for your dog. Familiar exercises in different surroundings feel like an extra achievement – nice and positive. Lastly, if your dog tends to ignore you, running off after canine pals, or worse, putting him through his paces, sticking to stuff he is good at, reestablishes your leadership (and composure) in a firm but positive manner. To find out more, or contact Julia, go to www.walksoflife.co.uk or Instagram walksoflifessuffolk. Parlez-Vous Pooch articles are also available on the Oracle, an audio information magazine for visually impaired listeners, which is part of Wymondham and Attleborough Talking Newspapers. To access all the Talking Newspaper recordings, go to www.watn.org.uk

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LOCAL HISTORIAN

MEMORIES OF NEEDHAM 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 Needham.

This 1943 postcard shows Needham, looking towards Harleston. The population at this time was 276.

At the time of this 1904 postcard, there were many thatched houses in Needham, and horse and cart was the transport of the day. New houses have now been built each side of the road, and the village was bypassed over 30 years ago, returning Needham to a peaceful setting.

Looking toward Brockdish, villagers pose for the camera in this 1910 postcard. The Red Lion pub can be seen on the far left.

Needham church alongside the school, which was built in 1873 and enlarged in 1898. Mrs Knights was the headmistress at the time of this 1910 postcard. The school closed in 1959 and converted into a village hall. St Peter’s church has a round tower in the Norman style and contains three bells.

A 1915 rural scene around Needham, taken by local photographer Mr Cann.

This 1920 postcard shows Needham Mill, which – in the early years – was called ‘Sparrow’s Mill’. The mill was used until 1934, and the machinery removed in 1940 for the war effort.

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.

Needham Street in 1912 shows the Red Lion pub on the right, where the landlord was Charles Colton, and the Fishmonger’s Arms pub on the left. The Red Lion is still open.

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

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Asparagus

THE Best Spears OF YOUR LIFE!

ho doesn’t love the irresistible, snappy texture and delicate flavour of asparagus? This delicious spring veg makes a perfect starter, light snack, or side dish. But how do you cook it for the best results? Here are 6 ideas to get your mouth watering!

RICE FUSION Lightly steam some asparagus for a few minutes, chop roughly, then add to a risotto for the last 5 minutes of cooking. Throw in some prawns, a little chilli, a squeeze of lemon juice and you have the perfect supper dish. ROAST WITH THE MOST Add whole, raw asparagus to a tray bake of chopped veg, such as red onions, peppers and courgettes. Add a splash of olive oil and seasoning and roast at 180C for 20-30 minutes. Superb with your Sunday roast.

SALAD DAZE As the weather gets warmer, it’s time to break out the salads. Griddle some asparagus to get that lovely charred flavour, but leave al dente, chop roughly and add to a whole host of salads to add a vibrant green and deliciously warm dimension.

GOING DIPPY! Roll whole, raw asparagus spears in flour, then beaten egg, then a mixture of Panko/bread crumbs and Parmesan, and bake in the oven at 220C for 10-12 minutes until crisp and golden. Great to dip into mayo, salsa or just on their own. LUNCH CRUNCH Tired of the same old lunchtime sandwich? Mash some avocado with chilli and lemon juice, pile onto a slice of toasted sourdough bread, and top with some grilled asparagus spears. Add a drizzle of olive oil and a grind of black pepper and you’re good to go.

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Zoom IN FOR VEGAN LUNCH Charity organisation, Vegetarian for Life, has launched a free monthly Zoom event for food lovers called the Virtual Vegan Luncheon Club. Open to vegans, vegetarians, and meat reducers aged 65 and over, the club offers attendees the chance to learn new dishes, get tips from an experienced vegan chef, and meet like-minded people across the UK. The club takes places on the fourth Tuesday of every month, and each event has a different theme. Recipes are provided in advance, so there is plenty of time to assemble the ingredients, cook that morning, and then join Vegetarian for Life Chef Justina, along with other attendees, at 1pm. Justina is a Culinary Arts

Management graduate who brings knowledge and passion for sustainable, plant-based eating. She has managed a variety of groups of chefs and created her own menus, working in both Italian and theatre restaurants. Justina says: “The virtual lunch club is not only a place for food lovers, but also for like-minded people to share their stories and laugh. It cannot be easier to meet friendly faces than in the comfort of your own home with a plate of warm food in front of you.”

The next club events are: 27 April, enjoy an afternoon tea; 25 May, delicious veggie curries and accompaniments; 22 June, it’s picnic time! To find out more and book your place, email ellie@vegetarianforlife.org.uk, or call the VfL office on 0161 257 0887. vegetarianforlife.org

Short story

MIRROR, SIGNAL

A short story by John Arnett

or several summers in succession, we used to rent a large detached house in Suffolk for a week or more. It was set back from a tiny, winding lane, away from any village, and surrounded by fields as far as you could see in any direction. It wasn’t too far from the coast – the lane was sandy at the edges – and that was part of its appeal. Any form of traffic was a rare occurrence. The house belonged to the headmaster of a nearby primary school, who used to go away to France for the whole of the summer holidays with his family. It was an ancient, rambling place with tall, ornate chimneys, flagstone floors and a huge, homely kitchen about the size of the entire London flat we lived in at the time. There was a beautiful music room downstairs – we called it the music room because it had a slightly out of tune walnut-cased piano and a zither with rusty strings. The acoustics were fabulous. We used to take various guitars, whistles, things to shake and blow. It was always full of sunlight and sound. There was also a little out of the way room we called “the den” which just had a TV, a big box full of games and piles of cushions. You could be pretty sure that was where the kids would be,

if you couldn’t find them. There was plenty to keep you happy, even if the weather wasn’t so good. The thing is, though, it invariably was. My recollection – and I have albums of photographs to prove it – is of a parade of glorious warm summer days, stretching from morning till late in the evening. The doors were always open. The house was surrounded on all sides by gardens, a profusion of wild flowers, brambles and fruit trees. There was a pond with an overhanging willow, a well-stocked vegetable garden and an orchard. Looking out of the kitchen window you would see a pleasingly ramshackle patio, and beyond it a large lawn which was in more or less constant use as a cricket and football pitch. We had some wonderful times there. Two of the holidays we had were with another family, close neighbours and friends of ours from London, who had two boys of exactly the same age as ours. The four boys had known each other all their lives, grown up together, been to the same schools, had similar interests – playing music most of all – and moved in similar circles. They were the best of friends. Another summer, we had invited some other close friends, a couple,

Short story but this time it hadn’t been such an unqualified success. In actual fact, they left before the end of the week, greatly to our surprise. Everything had seemed to be fine up until their sudden announcement that they were leaving. All they said at the time was that something had come up in London, which meant they would need to leave a couple of days earlier than they had originally planned.

the kitchen window and the open door. Soon everything was set out ready, but there was still no sign of the boys – not that there was anything unusual about that. It had been a late night, but still, we did have plans for the day. I went up to their room and knocked gently on the door. No reply. I pushed the door open – all still fast asleep, a picture of contentment.

Quite some time afterwards, at a rather well lubricated dinner party, they let slip that in truth they had begun to feel that there was something a little unsettling, sinister even, about the house. They had both felt it. The house had two staircases; the main one, and a secondary one, which connected one of the bedrooms – the one in which they were sleeping – with the kitchen. It was this staircase that was the focus of their anxieties, so much so that they wouldn’t use it, even in daylight. At night they would hear noises. There was an unnatural light that came from that direction.

And then something else caught my eye. The four beds were arranged around the four walls, leaving a space in the centre, where I was expecting to see bare floorboards, perhaps some trainers or T-shirts, a paperback or two. Instead, placed with the utmost precision and filling the available space was a perfectly formed, shimmering six pointed star. It was made of broken pieces of mirror. Broken is perhaps the wrong word – there was nothing haphazard or ungainly about this. It radiated outwards in an astonishing geometric gesture, each piece perfectly spaced and shaped to create the whole. It had been made. I couldn’t speak.

None of this we were aware of at the time of the occurrence that is the real subject of this story. One night towards the end of what would be our last holiday in the house, the four boys decided that they would all like to sleep in the same room together. It would be fun, a memorable ending to what had been an altogether idyllic week. The younger boys would have been about ten, the older two about fourteen. We had to move an extra single bed into the room, but there was plenty of space for it. It was the room near the second staircase that our other friends had been in before.

After a while I went downstairs to tell the other adults. We woke the boys up and tried to find out what they knew about it. A mirror falling off a wall would make a great deal of noise – had they heard anything? No. Neither had we. Had they woken in the night at any point? No. It was completely evident that they knew nothing about it. They were as dumbfounded as we were. How could you sleep through that? How did it get there? We were each lost in our own thoughts. We knew that we couldn’t leave it there, because of the danger from the broken glass. There was nothing for it but to sweep up the pieces and put them in the bin.

When it came to bedtime, there was a good deal of hilarity and high spirits. No-one was in a hurry to go to sleep. It was all perfectly good humoured, so we let them get on with it. We were busy, in any case, talking and working our way through a bottle or two of wine downstairs. Eventually the noise from upstairs subsided. It was late when we went to bed ourselves, but before we did we checked their room – all sleeping peacefully in the moonlight, nothing amiss.

When the owner came back from France we would telephone him and explain what had happened, and of course offer to pay for the damage. A few weeks later, and still no wiser, this is exactly what we did. After I had explained and apologised, he asked me in which room we had found the broken mirror. I described it to him. There was a lengthy silence at the other end of the line. “There was no mirror in that room. There never has been.”

The next morning, some time after nine, we were up and about making the usual leisurely preparations for breakfast, sun streaming through

johnarnett@btinternet.com

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Recycling

THE ECO AGENDA Caroline Topping looks at some of the ‘SMART’ ways we can mitigate our impact on the climate

he climate is changing, so anything we can do to reduce our impact on it has got to be a good thing. But it’s hard to set ourselves goals and achieve them if we take on too many at once – and if the people we live with don’t embrace what we are trying to accomplish. But those goals are a lot more achievable if we think ‘SMART’, and make each one Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timed. Each little pledge you make collectively will make a positive difference, you will be able to see what you are achieving, and over time you can hopefully bring the rest of your household along with you. I started my eco journey by creating ecobricks; items of packaging the local council doesn’t recycle, cut into pieces and trapped inside the ‘brick’. Then I decided to TerraCycle hard to recycle packaging. I now make a conscious effort to buy in independent shops, taking my bags for life and pre-used stretchy plastic bread bags. Saying ‘No to Fast Fashion’ wasn’t so bad. I had a wardrobe full of clothes, some actually dating back to the 80s, that I still wore, but I didn’t need any more clothes. Mixing them up with different scarves, necklaces, cardigans make them feel like different outfits. I now put all my coat hangers facing one direction and then once I have worn an item, rehang it, and turn the coat hanger the other way to see what I am and am not wearing. A decision can then be made to restyle, sell or recycle. Also, trust in the ‘sniff test’. Every time you wash your clothes they shed microfibres which pollute our oceans. Small stains can be removed by

hand and jeans don’t need washing after every wear. Wool is naturally odour resistant and won’t need washing that often. If you wear something and it smells OK, instead of washing it hang it up to air. When you do wash smelly or dirty items, check the weather forecast for a dry day so you can hang it outside. Tumble dryers use a huge amount of electricity. Lots of people try different things during the year like ‘Dry January’, or ‘Movember’. I’m going vegetarian for a month, not leaping straight into vegan, as I won’t be able to do it. The idea is to help the planet, not set yourself up to fail and be miserable. I will plan ahead, pick a month, and commit to some meat-free menus. If we slip up, we have to forgive ourselves and try again. Just cutting down on meat consumption helps our carbon footprint. I love a glass of flavoured gin and lemonade, but went ‘Dry for January’. I am still dry at the middle of February, so meat free for a month should be a doddle, shouldn’t it?

If you are interested in looking at your personal environmental footprint, try this calculator at www.footprint.wwf.org.uk

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Art

MY Kingdom FOR A BARD!

Art writer Kristy Campbell celebrates National Shakespeare Day and looks at his influence on language and art

nnouncement of the third lockdown in the UK from the New Year has spurred many of us on to source new hobbies, arrange indoor family activities, and to celebrate national holidays and observances that we might not have taken the time to do before.

site, where flowers are laid annually during the celebrations. It is here in this medieval market town that pageants and processions take place to commemorate his work. Music and dancing bring the town to life, with actors in themed attire retelling his tales.

Already, 2021 has gifted us the Orthodox New Year, Burns Night, Chinese New Year, Shrove Tuesday, Valentine’s Day, Purim, and Maha Shivaratri. So why stop there? Each year on the 23 April, National Shakespeare Day is observed globally, to commemorate one of the world’s most distinguished poets and playwrights.

Along with the remarks ‘Love is blind’ (The Merchant of Venice), ‘Vanish in to thin air’ (Othello), and ‘Break the ice’ (The Taming of the Shrew), Shakespeare also left behind the very place where many of these terms were first projected, The Globe Theatre in London. Originally built in 1599 by the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, an acting company Shakespeare wrote for, the theatre was later destroyed by fire and replaced by a contemporary structure in 1997 in Southwark, London.

Shakespeare’s contribution to the English Language has left a monumental mark to this day, gifting us an exceptional list of plays, sonnets and verses, composed of elaborate speeches, dramatic metaphors, rhyming couplets, and vivid representations of comedy and tragedy. Throughout the UK, students often have the pleasure (and the challenge) of studying his works in English and Drama studies, while many individuals join production companies to indulge in and master the complex style and expressions. Some of Shakespeare’s treasures include - Richard III, Henry VI, The Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth. Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace, is also home to his burial

Art

‘Shakespeare’s Globe’ is now home to not just a theatre, but a production company for artists, an educative site, and a gallery of Shakespearean archive. While Shakespeare’s works remain a source of inspiration and technical brilliance in literature, we may also spy depictions of his scenes in the works of Sir John Everett Millais, who produced the stunning representation of Ophelia (1851), a study from Hamlet; John William Waterhouse’s portrait of Miranda – The Tempest (1916); and Edward Austin Abbey’s oil painting of King Lear, Act I Scene I (18971898), to note a mere few. If you haven’t yet had the chance to immerse yourself in the romantic and radical tonguetwisting writings of Shakespeare, why not consider taking part in some fun activities such as playing with some of the language used in his works, incorporating thee and thou, or perhaps taking a look at the clothing of the time and designing a facepiece for a masquerade ball? You might want to try your hand at writing a sonnet, which requires 14 lines of text, divided into three sets of four lines, and one of two lines. Celebrating alternative observances can be educational and help foster new lines of interest. So, if you can, take the time to make this last cycle of the lockdown calendar an insightful and enjoyable last stretch into summer. Stay safe.

Kristy Campbell www.axisweb.org/p/kristycamp @kristycamp Kristycamp17@gmail.com

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Bungay Bitesize

EASTER BONNETS Local Historian Christopher Reeve steps back in time to explore Bungay’s history

n the Georgian and Victorian periods, it was fashionable for women to have a new hat or bonnet to wear for church on Easter Sunday. Before that time, the frowsty kill-joy Puritans frowned on any flamboyant or colourful apparel, but following the reign of Good Queen Anne women’s gowns became more decorative, partly due to the imports of brightly patterned fashions and fabrics via the East India shipping trade. Then, later in the 18th century, British manufacturers in the north began producing gaily printed cotton and muslin fabrics, and stylish flowery bonnets became desirable to enhance the ‘New Look’.

The two important occasions for wearing a smart hat were weddings and Sunday morning church. ‘Hat-spotting’ was a popular diversion during the long services of the period, when most women’s eyes were eagerly peering around to see who was wearing what, to be discussed later over Sunday lunch! “Well, dear, you should have seen what that young Mrs Shirley had on her head this morning! Folks were trying not to titter, ‘cos her face is sallow as a lemon, and you could see the vicar gettin’ right tetchy, cos no-one wuz attendin’ to his sermon!” Even women in the poorest families contrived to have a new hat for Easter Sunday. Pigot’s Trade Directory of 1839 records no fewer than 19 shops making and selling hats in Bungay, so there was something to suit everybody’s purse. They could be made of a wide variety of fabrics, with straw hats popular in spring and summer, and of course decorating them was an art in itself. You will know from looking through your old Victorian family photo albums how elaborate the hats and bonnets could be, some like two-tier wedding cakes or Harvest Festival baskets. The more elaborate, the more expensive. But women often economised (prompted by their husbands) by taking an ‘old’ hat – worn on only one previous occasion – to their favoured milliner and having the ribbons, feathers and silk flowers replaced with stylish new ones in fashionable colours.

A Reeve family wedding in Bungay, in 1882

So ‘Hat-spotting’ in church often drew caustic comments such as: “Well, I know for a fact that’s the third time she’s had that pertickler hat trimmed, ‘cos I recognise thet blue stitchin’ round the brim!” In the 20th century, following WWII, the wearing of hats became A lady in fashionable bonnet less popular. My and gown, circa 1800 mother was born in 1908, so belonged to the generation of women who would never enter a church unless their heads were covered. She continued to wear a hat long after younger ones had discarded them. She, and others of her age, regularly attended Sunday morning service in Holy Trinity Church, sitting near each other in the south aisle. They were dubbed ‘The Hat Brigade’ – a title they were rather proud of. And you can bet that on Easter Sunday their headgear was particularly colourful and flowery!

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Local walks

Local Walks

WALKING FOR Health

BLOFIELD – BRAYDESTON Reviewed by Dougie Dingwall, Volunteer Co-ordinator at Central Norfolk Walking for Health Walk Information Starting Point

Directions Roadside In front of St, Andrew and St. Peter Church, Church Street, Blofield, N13 4NA – if no service

Wheelchair/ Buggy Friendly

Grid Reference

Map OL 40 TG33520924

Walk Length (Miles / Km)

2.2 miles / 3.5 KM

Approx Time

50 Minutes

Footpath Type / Quality

Pavements, country lanes and uneven grass / dirt field footpaths, 50% firm / 50% soft. Very muddy after rain across the fields.

Gradients

Moderate

Steps/Stiles

No / YES, 4

Toilet Facilities

Norwich Camping & Leisure Centre, 58 Yarmouth Road, Blofield, Norwich NR13 4LQ, or Blofield Church Café, open Wednesday mornings during non Covid times.

Specific Hazards For This Walk

Traffic along country roads.

Equipment Required

Walking boots advisable.

This is a shorter walk, ideal if lockdown restrictions apply. From the front of the church, walk west along the wall until you get to a gate signposted ‘Footpath and Braydeston Church’. Go through the gate into the churchyard. Follow the church path, going over the first stile and continue along the path. There are some boardwalks, so take care as they can be slippery. Walk straight ahead, going up a gradient across two fields, and go over a second stile. Turn left and go through a kissing gate (main gate might be open), St Michaels & All Angels Church Braydeston is on your right. Turn right and go over the third stile next to the church and walk diagonally across the field. Look for a stile half way along the hedge. Go over the fourth stile and continue walking over two more fields and head for the farm buildings. Turn left at the yellow arrowed way marker post and walk away from the farm to the road. Turn left and follow the road for some distance along this lane, as it runs seamlessly through to Braydeston Hall Lane. When you reach the residential area, turn right into Shillito Road, passing several retirement bungalows. Turn left at the top and walk along the pavement until you reach a left turning to Danesbower Lane. Follow it to the end, and at the bottom turn right back to St. Andrew and St. Peter Church.

Local Walks

Local walks

Group walks will depend on covid restrictions. Please check our Facebook page Central Norfolk Walking for Health to check what’s available and to book onto a walk. Walk Instructions: Dougie Dingwall Photography: Dougie Dingwall Mapping: Crown Copyright

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Health

Itch and Irritation

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lactic or glycolic acid that acts as a chemical exfoliant, and this is less irritating than scrubs. If you don’t indulge in hair removal, you can still get ingrown hairs. We all shed hairs on a regular basis and, when the hair grows back, the hair follicle can be covered with dead skin, which stops the hair from coming out of the skin, but it continues to grow under the epidermis. This is more likely to happen to people with curly hair, or in areas of the body with coarser hair, such as the pubis and beard. Ingrown hairs can be painful and unsightly, but are usually only a risk to your health if they become infected and left untreated. In this case, they may worsen and leave scarring from post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. If you suffer regularly from ingrown hairs, you might find treating them with electrolysis, or laser for larger areas, gives great relief.

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Real lives

FACING Death, BUT KNOWING LIFE

Real lives

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.

att McChlery is a remarkable man with a rich heritage as a songwriter, who has looked death in the face to overcome and understand more about the essence of a living faith. His story of hope for life over death will be sung with personal conviction in his new composition: ‘Hallelujah, Christ is Risen’, due for release this Easter. It recalls the compelling love of a man who lived 2,000 years ago to beat the fear of the dark, showing a pathway of light and belief when nailed on a rustic wooden cross. Matt has walked the waters of trust and faith to combat cancer and turn challenges into opportunities. The award-winning musician and former primary school teacher is also a member of the Association of Christian Writers’ ‘Brecks and Pens’ group near Downham Market. And his great, great, great grandfather wrote the Victorian hymn: ‘Onward Christian Soldiers.’ Matt, an author and pastor from Wisbech, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma nearly six years ago. He was just 36 with a wife and young family when he heard the bleak hospital report. That dark time spurred him on to write a blog detailing his journey from diagnosis to remission two years later. His chronicles have inspired nations, while he achieved a ‘finalist’ position for a national blog award. Matt was born in Zimbabwe and at 41 is something of a veteran songwriter, after penning his first composition at just 15. He has also taught himself the guitar and plays hand drums. Sustained and encouraged by his faith, his songs have always

Photo Credit: Summmer Love Photography

reflected a gospel signpost for others. They have been heard and sung in churches, communities and aired on worldwide radio stations, as well as a few seasonal TV programmes. Matt also plays renditions of other worship songs, but his influential talent takes on a different spin when he’s invited to perform at coffee shops or festivals — singing recognisable cover songs from the radio such as Coldplay and Adele. “The lyrics still carry something that will point people towards God,” says Matt, who is also a live performer, worship leader, speaker, and tutor. He also uses social media, YouTube and his website to further extend his message. In the throes of death, he says: “I learnt God was with me. He was carrying me and fighting for me. I am weak, I am not strong, but I knew I was safe in Jesus’ hands whatever happened, and he has been my strength.” mattmcchlery.com

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Health

FACING UP TO A ‘normal’ issue!

ace masks may be the new ‘normal’, but they are far from normal for our delicate facial skin! Dryness, roughness and irritation are rapidly becoming a common problem. But recovery and prevention begin on the inside, as well as choosing wisely when it comes to what we put on our face.

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Wonderful water Our very first need is moisture – try to graze on fluid and sip water throughout the day. Although it’s difficult if you’re wearing a mask, try to make it a habit. More water equals reduced dryness.

…and breathe! When you are safely able to do so, remove your mask and inhale lots of fresh air! Try ‘Box Breathing’ – breathe in to a count of 4, hold for 4, breathe out for 4 and rest for 4 – and repeat for as long as possible. This simple deeper breathing increases oxygen in your system, which improves the quality of your blood, stimulates circulation and is super calming on the nervous system… all the while encouraging healing nutrients to reach the skin.

Skin food Next, think about eating more natural oils – introduce avocado pears into your diet, they are packed with vital essential fatty acids and great for the skin. And ditch the junk food snacks, instead munch on nuts and seeds, fresh fruit and salads. Gently does it! Seek out organic, gentle cosmetics to soothe and refresh the skin, choosing those that are free from harsh chemicals and additives. One great range is Lavera, which is full of organically sourced nutrients. Spot the problem If your skin is breaking out in spots underneath your mask, try Salcura’s Antiac range, which is full of moisturising oils such as Sea Buckthorn, Tea Tree and many others. These products will help to manage breakouts without drying out your skin further.

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INHERENTLY Unfair

Money

Michael Duale, Principal of MD Wealth Management, looks at how forward planning can minimise the effects of Inheritance Tax

nheritance Tax (IHT) is widely viewed as unfair, and even the experts agree it’s complex. But with effective and early planning you can minimise its impact on your estate. Currently, if your net estate is worth more than the standard nil-rate band of £325,000, 40p in tax is charged for every pound that exceeds the threshold; except that, broadly, if you leave your main residence to a lineal descendant, £175,000 is added to that nil-rate band. Unused elements of both allowances are transferrable on death to a surviving spouse or civil partner. This system has also been criticised for discriminating against those who do not own their own home, do not have children, are not married, or not in a civil partnership. Even if there is potential to simplify IHT exemptions, it’s probably too much to hope that the tax will be scrapped. After all, a cash-strapped Exchequer seems increasingly reliant on taxing people’s estates posthumously. In 2023/24, the UK’s Exchequer is expected to raise £6.3 billion from IHT (Office for Budget Responsibility, April 2019) In your gift Gifts are normally included in the net estate for IHT purposes, if they were made less than seven years before death. However, these gifts are ignored if they total less than £3,000 in any one tax year. This means that you can make gifts of up to £3,000 in total in any tax year without incurring IHT. The £3,000 can be given to one person, or it can be split between several people. If the exemption is not used in one tax year, it can be carried forward to the next year, potentially enabling a couple to remove £12,000 from their joint estate in just one tax year. That money could be used to help with the financial challenges faced by younger family members; for example, topping up a child’s pension or Junior ISA could go a long way towards providing them with an invaluable head start in life. For 2020/21, the Junior ISA allowance is £9,000, up from £4,368. Those with sufficient surplus income may also want to take account of the ‘normal gifts out of income’ rule – which states that if you make regular gifts out of income, and in doing so don’t

affect your standard of living, the gifts are exempt from IHT. However, to reduce the possibility of a disagreement with HMRC, it is wise to seek professional help from a financial adviser or accountant. Take advice IHT often falls on the ill-prepared and unadvised. That’s why it’s important to seek financial advice, so that all your assets are properly protected. Shockingly, fewer than a fifth of over55s have taken action to reduce their potential IHT bill.

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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Poetry

Poetry Corner These beautiful and evocative poems are by Siobhan Guthrie, from Wymondham. A recent English Literature graduate from UEA, Siobhan is very inspired by the Norfolk landscape, and when she isn’t writing or reading she enjoys baking, gardening and spending time with her friends – albeit virtually! Siobhan Guthrie

JOURNEY OF A T FIELD NORFOLK WHEA m lands,

nt, productive far Over resplende rs wide. spreads its finge n hand, summer’s glory waves its golde r each golden ea . es tid Stems dance as cascading row billows like where row upon s wa ever llow than yellow red. Wheat more ye days are numbe eir th ow kn ey Th ll!’ we re ‘Fa e ys us sa n’s heat beca e to feel the su der. Soon they’ll ceas d roar and thun an ap blades re d se es the red, rotating pr m co s be shall into mound Each cut strand st. re to d lai e loving labours ar when August’s ths cylindrical. oli on m e es th They’ll guard: ntical. ler’s image. Ide Made in the Ba – one and all. ed ck sta e they ar Until, in barns, t sun shall fall the broad, brigh As if in mourning fine rain ing br ll . But spring wi behind a cloud . ain ag e ris all sh saplings and pea-green , ys da y laz , zy ha in the We’ll welcome warmer rays. sk and bathe in where we will ba

Some see equity release, we see financial freedom. By releasing some of the equity tied up in your home you could have a tax free lump sum to use as you please. From paying off an existing mortgage or giving your grandchildren the head start they deserve, to supplementing your income in retirement, equity release could give you the freedom to experience things you never thought possible.

WHEN THE MIS TS

REW IN ‘Twas a solemn day when the m ists drew in, and all around was anxious to begin. Not quite Dece mber and not qu ite January, but dewy crysta ls sparkled inten tly . Mists shrouded , soup-thick, ov er every field: when trees, gras s, flowers and all to winter yields Frost, like icing . sugar, wrapped oa k branches. Webs, like froze n doilies, hung from beams an Yet grey, grey! All d arches. was grey: seam less from field Even the sun wa to sky. s cheerless and I began to wond ‘Why does no ph er, why? easant squawk and no robin sin nor any living cre g, ature flap its da inty wings?’ Then I realised, patience must I learn within and once again wait for the new year to begin. 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.

Contact Alice Gardner - your local Equity Release Specialist, now to book your FREE initial consultation.

07714 680015 alice.gardner@equityreleasesupermarket.com and visit us at www.equityreleasesupermarket.com

It’s not what you release, it’s what you realise.

These are lifetime mortgages and home reversion plans. To understand their features and risks, ask for a personalised illustration. There will be a fee for mortgage advice. This will depend upon your circumstances, but we estimate that it will be £995. Equity Release Supermarket Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FCA registered no. 584063

STOP PRESS very limited space left in the

LOCAL DIRECTORY ACCOUNTANTS Accounting Solutions 72 De’ath Downton Accountancy Ltd 38 M+A Partners 70 Tax Assist Accountants 72 ANIMAL SERVICES CatJoy Pet Services 15 Thornwood Kennels 28 Uplands Way Vets Ltd 28 APPLIANCE REPAIRS Appliance Plus 35 ARCHITECTURE & PLANNING Andrew P R Love 56 Keith Day Architects 72 ARTS & CRAFTS Dannells Ltd 17 Susan’s Work Basket 69 BATHROOMS AHM Installations 59 Coopers Bathrooms and Wet Rooms 21 Creative Bathrooms 38 PC Bathrooms & Kitchen Ltd 31 Supreme Bathrooms & Kitchens 23 BUILDERS, HANDYMEN & SUPPLIERS DJA Handyman Services 55 NSH Developments Ltd 51 CARE & MOBILITY Aspire Homecare 60 Carleton House 61 Depperhaugh Care Home 65 Home Instead Senior Care 80 Prestige Nursing Limited 68 Purely Care 69 The Classic Angels Care Group 10 CARPENTERS & JOINERS Adrian Bird Carpentry 26 Hunter Solutions EA Ltd 11 CARPORTS, GLASS VERANDAS & AWNINGS My Space Outdoors

CARS, CARAVANS & GARAGES Attleborough Service Centre Norfolk Ltd 38 Mill House Garage 45

Highfield Garage 3 M N Engineering 46 Wicklewood Auto Centre 51 CLEANING Conservaclean 48 Crystal Clean 26 Home Maid Domestic Cleaning 16 JPB Cleaning 55 Norfolk Driveway & Patio Cleaning Service 51 Stuart’s Carpet and Car Care 38 COMPUTER, WEB & GRAPHIC DESIGN SERVICES Bailiwick IT Ltd 26 ELK Marketing 26 JM IT Services 72 Philippa Green Web Design 8 CURTAINS, BLINDS & SHUTTERS Garnet House Drapes 63 DAYS & NIGHTS OUT, TRAVEL, HOLIDAYS IC Travel 13 Mannington Estate 13 DRIVEWAYS Ace Driveways 20 ELECTRICIANS Ashleys’s Electrical Services 47 Dave Ramstead Electrician 35 Harling Electrical 47 Ian Myhill Electrical 47 FINANCIAL, INSURANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL SERVICES Alice Gardner - Equity Release Supermarket 75 Clapham & Collinge Solicitors 70 MD Wealth Management 73 Priory Insurance 70 Spire Solicitors 74 FOOD & DRINK Brown and May 38 FUEL MERCHANTS Flogas Britain Limited 4 Reeder Timber 35 S G Rout Ltd 15

FUNERALS Andy Free Funeral Director 69 Rosedale Funeral Home 55 FURNITURE & RESTORATION Bespoke Handcrafted Furniture 35 GARAGE DOORS, GATES, SHUTTERS & AWNINGS Cooks Blinds & Shutters Ltd 43 The Doors Group Limited 30 GARDEN SERVICES All Seasons Drive And Landscapes 18 Andrew Sillett Tree Surgeon 47 Black Dog Tree Services 48 Broadland Tree Services 18 C J’s Garden Machinery 35 Cabinville 23 & 66 CG Tree Care 18 Eclipse Gardens & Grounds 18 Jack Grice Garden Services 46 JIM Landscapes 58 Lake and Pond Aquatics 18 M & M Surfacing 31 PDC Landscaping Ltd 37 Resin-Pave 52 The Garden Enclosure 19 Tree Fellas 26 Tree Feller 56 GROUNDWORKS, DRAINAGE & SEPTIC TANKS CJB Contracting Services 9 Rory J Holbrook Ltd 38 HEALTH & BEAUTY Footsure 69 HEALTHCARE Strategy and Governance Department 54 JOBS Home Cleaning Vacancies 71 Priory Group 6 KITCHENS Dream Doors (Norwich) 40 Richards & Co 56 Voyager Kitchens 24 PC Bathrooms & Kitchen Ltd 31 Supreme Bathrooms & Kitchens 23

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 LOCKSMITHS Kingfisher Locksmiths 35 LOFTS The Loftman Company 23 OPTICIANS & EYE SPECIALISTS Cecil Amey Ltd 62 Ocuplan Ltd 60 PAINTERS, DECORATORS & STOCKISTS Just Paint & Decorate 14 PEST CONTROL Bracken Pest Control 18 PLASTERERS Cringleford Plastering 9 PLUMBING, HEATING, BOILERS & DRAINAGE Barnards Heating Solutions Ltd 32 C J Plumbing 32 Else Heating & Plumbing 32 Gasworks South East 47 Industrial Domestic Boiler Services Ltd 11 John Rushforth 32 P & D Tank Services Ltd 47 P & K Plumbing & Heating 32 Stuart Bunn Plumbing and Heating32 T W Services 47

PROOFREADING Templarproof 14 PROPERTY MAINTENANCE M M Installations 28 RACING SYNDICATES BDR Syndicates 26 REMOVALS John Ryder Removals 48 Van and a Man 47 ROOFING Breckland Roofing Ltd 60 EFL 55 PAC Roofing 37 R G Leverett Ltd 52 SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, EDUCATION & CHILDREN Homeopathic College 69 Hummingbird Preschool 63 Norfolk County Council Community Learning Services 59 Norwich High School for Girls 44 SHOPPING, BUYING & SELLING Cherry Lane Garden Services 16 Cosy Carpets and Comfy Beds 39 John Doe Carpets & Furniture Ltd 2 Natural Spa Supplies 61 Peter Beales Garden Centre 66

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Crossword

Exercise your brain cells

CLUES ACROSS

CLUES DOWN

7 8 9 10 11 13 16 17 18

1 2 3 4 5 6 12 14 15 19 21 22

Self-inflicted lie one begins to believe (8) What one takes when good advice is proffered (4) Could well be a specially daft chop (5) Acidly act upon a vulnerable metal (7) Drink one in preference to a pint (5) Through which you might spy to see what’s going on (7) Any lien turned to good account though due in a silly way (7) Flop and abandon good deportment (5) Opaque pigments ground in water, thickened with gum and honey (7) 20 That which comes when what goes before is past (5) 23 Taken by nuns though never swallowed (4) 24 Principal route through town (4, 4)

There are hems around this net (4) Quick practise movement with the baby’s comforter (5, 3) It’s this or lose completely even if you don’t compete (3) Where coloured balls go into the nets in order (7) Tea time for the cleaning lady (4) Marks time with a swinging movement (8) Give across with manual dexterity (4, 4) Wait till the moment is exactly right (4, 4) Said to turn base metal into gold (7) Form a partnership of co-operation (4) Taken to ascertain proficiency by a short interrogation (4) The most awful, loud noise imaginable (3)

LAST ISSUE’S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1) Paper, 4) Stand up, 8) Illegal, 9) Ulcer, 10) Earl, 11) Overhaul, 13) Ramp, 14) Tube, 16) Improper, 17) Memo, 20) Treat, 21) Collier, 22) Resolve, 23) Gleam DOWN: 1) Prime Minister, 2) Polar, 3) Rage, 4) Saliva, 5) Aquarium, 6) Declare, 7) Parallelogram, 12) Immortal, 13) Repress, 15) Rescue, 18) Exile, 19) Flag

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At Home Instead we believe in a more

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HContinuing o u r tol live y at C are L ive in care home as you age can be a If regular visits aren’t enough and your loved great comfort. your Continuing to liveHowever, at homeasasyou youorage canloved be a one ages, simple daily tasks canor beyour become great comfort. However, as you loved Dedicated home services from onedemanding. ages, simple daily tasks cancare be become Home Instead Senior Care will allow you or a demanding. Dedicated home care services from loved one to stay at home, the place where you Home Instead Senior Care will allow you or a feel happiest and most comfortable. loved one to stay at home, the place where you feel happiest and most comfortable.

require more support, we and offeryour live in Ifones regular visits aren’t enough loved care options Caregivers forlive in ones requiretoo. more support,will westay offer an extended of time to will deliver care optionsperiod too. Caregivers stayour for outstanding care services. an extended period of time to deliver our outstanding care services.

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Village People South Norfolk edition – April / May 2021 (Late Spring)

Articles inside

Walking for health around Blofield and Braydeston

Exercise your brain cells with our crossword

Refreshing Waters talks positive futures through song

Skincare with Geraldine Walters

Short story by one of our readers, John Arnett

Smart Money Secrets - inheritance tax planning

Virtual Vegan Luncheon Club

Garden jottings from The Garden Enclosure

Six great ways to cook asparagus

Canine communication with Julia Collins

Memories of Needham

Recipe for salted peanut butter chocolate cake

Vegan recipe for mince and wild mushroom pie

Gospel from The Saints

Good news from our region