Village People South Norfolk edition – February / March 22 (Early Spring) by Village People Magazines Ltd

Delivered to over 63,000 homes in Norfolk and Suﬀolk

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February / March 2022

W ELC OME JAM ES MAY HEW, OU R NEW ART WRITER RE C IP E FO R S P IC E D M EX IC AN C HO CO LATE C AK E

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South Norfolk Edition

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Contents

February/ March 2022

OUT & ABOUT 8

Good news from our region

Poetry Corner - Glenn Sealey from Surlingham

Walking for health around Swardeston & Gowthorpe Manor

Animal Farm arrives at Theatre Royal Norwich

57 HOME & GARDEN 20

Fancy a furniture makeover?

Recipe for Tom Kerridge’s Chicken & Coconut Curry

Norfolk Family History Society

Canine communication with Julia Collins

Recipe for spiced Mexican chocolate cake

Spring interior design tips from Lucy Gleeson

Garden Jottings from The Garden Enclosure

NEW: Greenﬁngers with Alan Titchmarsh

Book reviews, new releases

NEW: Art with James Mayhew

Memories of Thorpe Abbotts

Nature - restoring habitats in South Norfolk

Seasonal food - celeriac

WIN £100 M&S voucher

WIN a Home Farm Gin selection pack

Review: the best milk frothers on the market

Fashion - dreamy and ethereal style for spring

HEALTH, STYLE, FASHION & BEAUTY 65

Beneﬁts of vitamin supplement sprays

Eye health with Cecil Amey opticians

Review: a range of handwashes

Sustainable beauty with Madeleine White

JOBS, MONEY & BUSINESS 73

Money - avoiding pension poverty

Falcon Meadow Art Competition 2022

Bungay Bitesize

Refreshing Waters: mission for Africa

Find a local business or service in our directory

Exercise your brain cells with our crossword

40 Looking for a particular product or service? Check out our Local Business Directory on pages 80 & 81 5

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

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

NEXT DEADLINE 23 FEBRUARY April/May (Late Spring issue) Delivered to over 63,000 homes in Norfolk and Suﬀolk

THE AWARD WINNING LO CAL L IF ESTYLE MAGAZINE

WIN!

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February / March 2022

W E LC OM E JAM E S M AY H E W, OU R NE W A R T W R I T E R R E CI P E F OR S P IC E D M EX IC A N C H O CO LATE CA KE

NEW

G AR D EN I N G W I TH AL A N T I TCHM ARSH

WINNER of ﬁve National Publishing Awards

our local Village People magazine has two aims; to promote local businesses and services in your area, and to provide you, our reader, with a vast variety of useful, interesting and local editorial content. We want to contiunally improve, and we think we’ve done rather well, because we are super proud to welcome the green ﬁngered God, Alan Titchmarsh, as our new gardening writer! Plus, Michelin-starred chef, Tom Kerridge, is on board to share his favourite curry recipe with you. If that isn’t exciting enough, we also welcome a brand-new art writer, James Mayhew, the award-winning Suﬀolk author, illustrator and artist. He will be introducing you to more of the incredible creative powerhouses that live and work in this area; and Village People loves to

champion these innovators. We have an amazing 40 new local businesses offering you their products and services for the first time in this issue. And check out our great special offers and giveaways – I’ll be in the queue at Old Buckenham Country Park to claim a free slice of cake when they open their gates on 1 March! We announce all competition winners on our Instagram account, so follow us @vpmagazine. Our print circulation is growing all the time, so if you are a local business and you want to reach more people than ANY other local magazine, give us a call. Roll on the lovely spring weather and stay safe.

Lily

Lily Goulder editor@village-people.info 01284 788623

South Norfolk Edition

GOOD NEWS FROM OUR REGION: Loss and grief brought to life

orwich Theatre tackles the challenging subjects of loss and grief in their new Creative Matters season, which runs across all three Norwich Theatre venues: Norwich Theatre Royal, Norwich Theatre Playhouse and Norwich Theatre Stage Two.

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Presented in association with Rosedale Funeral Home, Creative Matters – Loss and Grief will feature a mix of performances, ﬁlm and workshops to stimulate discussion and make connections through creativity. Sam Patel, Head of Creative Engagement at Norwich Theatre, said: "Grief and loss have been woven through the last few years, meeting some of us head-on with the loss of loved ones due to the pandemic. While this may not have touched all of us in the same way, bereavement is something we will all have to face. This is why this Creative Matters season seeks to provide a safe and inclusive space to explore our own personal responses to loss and grief." Performances include: Who the Who, Who, by MOCO Theatre Company, on 8 March at Norwich Theatre Stage Two. This is a

one-woman show exploring what happens when you are no longer a daughter. Who are you? And will the pieces of the 'life-jigsaw' ever ﬁt in the same way again? This is a safe, immersive performance where the lines between performer and audience, and performance and life, are blurred. All of Me is a show about depression and death, written and performed by Olivier Award nominee Caroline Horton. It’s an intimate and often absurd exploration of wanting to live, wanting to die and what can happen if we sit together in the dark. All of Me is a grudgingly hopeful, occasionally funny, unapologetically dark show about dark things. The show takes place on 10 March at Norwich Theatre Playhouse.

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GOOD NEWS

For more details and the full listings of events, contact Norwich Theatre Box Office on 01603 630000 or visit norwichtheatre.org

You can make a diﬀerence

he local branch of the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) is looking for volunteers in Norfolk to join a small, friendly team to help them support families aﬀected by the disease. The organisation needs a secretary, to suit any time that an interested person is able to give, and Association Visitors (AVs), who maintain contact with people living with MND, their families and carers. Training, induction and mentoring will be provided; travel/direct cost expenses are reimbursable. AV Judy Burns-Thomson, said: Both images are scenes from COLD, showing on 15 March at Norwich Theatre Stage Two

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GOOD NEWS

Top expert comes to Norwich

he Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts has appointed Jago Cooper as Director of the Centre, and Professor of Art and Archaeology at the University of East Anglia (UEA). Professor Cooper has spent more than 20 years working on a

diverse range of cultural projects around the world, always centred on the study and communication of visual and material culture. After 10 years as Head of the Americas Section at the British Museum and Director of the Santo Domingo Centre of Excellence for Latin American Research, these collaborations have led to a series of innovative exhibitions, artistic commissions and international exchange programmes that challenge traditional museum practice. With a particular interest in using digital technologies to reach new audiences and cut across multiple academic

disciplines, his work spans the subjects of art, museology and archaeology. In addition to his books and exhibitions, he has also written and presented a series of BBC documentaries based on his research and international collaborations. Professor Cooper said: “S Since its inspired creation in the 1970s, the Sainsbury Centre has always been a place that breaks the rules in how Art and Culture should be seen and experienced. I am absolutely delighted to be joining such an inspirational institution

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GOOD NEWS

that brings powerful stories to a global audience through its outstanding collections. I can’t wait to start working with the team to develop further the exciting programme of upcoming exhibitions, acquisitions and collaborative projects inspired by the Sainsbury collection, and in many ways also by the worldleading research carried out at UEA.”

Are you in ﬁne voice?

orwich-based choir, the Anglian Singers, is looking for new members to join the group; across all four voice parts, but particularly bass and tenor. This friendly, mixed choir of just over 30 voices sings both a cappella and accompanied works, ranging from the 16th century to the present day – something that everyone can enjoy, such as motets and madrigals, modern musical theatre, traditional baroque, classical choral works and folk. Everything from the highly serious to the seriously humorous!

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POETRY

Poetry Corner These superb poems are by Glenn Sealey, from Surlingham, who grew up in both Cairo and Indonesia. He loves photography, travel, and motorbike touring and has published poetry and children's books. 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.

CABLE AND VINES When chalk board moves are waning When computers hum no sound When business cards are numbers Then instinct is found

A mystery now is the mind A complexity of dense For no matter how it 'should' be happy It’s not as simple as sense

And though we like our bicycles Our cogs, our screens, our nouns There is no stronger meaning When the wolves our flesh have found

No social structure standing No ticking every box Can guarantee the clouds won't cover Or open all the locks

To every perfect beauty With eyes across the way This glance can climax meeting That smile can make a day

We are a complex creature We are though not alone And everyone is diﬀerent A comfort to be known

WHAT ARE THE GLOWS WE SEE Bring back all the memories Swing on in with me Wrap them in a ball of twine And never let them leave

I pass you on this twine of mine First encase some tales of ours Throw it to the skies above Let it dance upon our stars

Tear up all the photographs I shall tell you how it went Take a chair and pour a brew I’ll show you what they meant

Then pick out any glow you wish Unravel every nook But replace each strand thereafter For another one to look

Touch and squeeze my weathered face Stroke these labyrinthed, wrinkled paths Share then what is whispered And I’ll answer what you ask

We were the lost gatekeepers We were each other’s tales We are involved in many We are these endless scales

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Directions

Walking for Health Swardeston and Gowthorpe Manor REVIEWED BY DOUGIE DINGWALL VOLUNTEER CO-ORDINATOR AT CENTRAL NORFOLK WALKING FOR HEALTH Route by Michael Lambert Route checked and photography by Dougie Dingwall

01. Leave car park, turn left, pass duck pond, turn right into Short Lane to bottom of hill. Turn right onto path alongside cricket pitch, turn right behind Village Hall. Keeping Village Hall to your right, turn left onto road. Walk 50m, turn right at track, then immediately left onto a stone covered path. 02. When the path forks, keep right at the house. Go left through churchyard to left of church, exit through gate and go straight ahead, turn left at war memorial into lane. At crossroads, cross main road into Wood Lane, turn right at the bottom and then onto permissive path on left (opposite No.1). 03. Walk along wide grass edge to the field, keeping the hedge on the left. Turn left at the road, and turn right onto a bridleway after a few metres (sign). Woods to the side. At the end of the wood (beautiful bluebells in spring) turn left at T-junction of tracks. Continue on, then bear left. 04. After abut 200m go under power lines, turn left at marker in hedge (opposite local power line) and follow track, round first pylon, then under second to reach corner of the field, keeping the hedge to your left. Leave the field by gap in hedge

at corner by pylon (can be nettles here). Previously two stiles here, one at each end of ﬁeld. 05 Walk straight on, keeping hedge to your left until you reach a large barn. Footpath goes to right of the barn, with a new hedge between path and barn. Turn right at road. Path is particularly muddy just before you reach the barn.

Starting Point: Swardeston Village Hall, High Common, Swardeston Common, Norwich, NR14 8DL Grid Reference: Map 237: TG200026 Walk Length (Miles / Km): 3.3 / 5

06. Continue on to crossroads with B road, cross over to Short Lane and follow lane around to the left. At the crossroads signposted The Common turn right, then immediately left up a stony track. This becomes a grassy path which can be muddy in wet weather. Follow this path to reach Swardeston common. Take the second path to the left, after a large tree, to reach the road. Cross the road and walk ahead, with the duck pond on your right, to the village hall. 17

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THEATRE

Bold, daring and dynamic A

new adaptation of Animal Farm, the world-famous fable of revolution and its aftermath, is heading to Norwich Theatre Royal from 9 – 12 March. Reimagined by an awardwinning creative team, this George Orwell classic has been brought into the modern day for a dynamic and daring take on this timeless story. More Trump than Russian revolution, this is a twist on the classic tale, making it a must-see for audiences of all ages. Children’s Theatre Partnership, the group behind the production, creates bold and imaginative theatre for young people, engaging new audiences and aiming to inspire a life-long love of theatre. Suitable for ages

11 and up, this hard-hitting story is adapted to not only engage, but identify with even the youngest of audience members. Animal Farm is directed by Robert Icke, whose version of 1984 co-adapted and directed with Duncan Macmillan was a smash-hit in the West End and on Broadway. It also features puppetry designed by Toby Olié, whose credits include War Horse, and set design by four-time Olivier award winner Bunny Christie. Animal Farm 9 – 12 March For more information, call the Norwich Theatre Box Office on 01603 630000 or visit norwichtheatre.org

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FURNITURE

Fancy a furniture makeover? H

ilary & Alice, a furniture up-cycling and restoration business in Diss, have worked on hundreds of pieces of furniture since they opened in 2016. Their ethos is to reduce landfill of old furniture by giving it a makeover, creating one-off statement pieces and bringing tired, old family inheritance items back to life. Village People asks owners Pam and Amanda about their business. What are your favourite pieces to work on? We love working on old pieces of furniture which have been inherited or passed down through families. The story those pieces tell – surviving wars, performing different roles in homes over the years, reminding people of their childhoods – make them so special. The piece may no longer fit in today’s style of home, but we can turn it into a show-stopping feature piece in a room. Is there any furniture you can’t up-cycle? Not really! If wood has been wet and swollen it can be difficult to

repair, and old pieces often have woodworm, which can be treated and filled/repaired, or once the worm has been killed the holes can add amazing character. If you think you might have inherited a priceless antique, it’s worth getting a professional opinion on its value before we paint it! What is the hardest part of the job? Old furniture is handmade and solid and can be quirky in its construction! Bits only fit in certain places, old hinges don’t like being messed with and utility furniture (wartime) is varnished in a lacquer that bleeds a brown sludge colour through most paint. Over time, doors can drop, drawers swell and hinges break – all of these things can be really tricky and time consuming to fix! How are you helping the environment? For every item of furniture we paint, it’s one less sent to landfill or burnt. We’ve painted hundreds, possibly thousands, of pieces! It also reduces the need for manufacturing, albeit in a small way; if people aren’t buying

new, they are reducing their carbon footprint. It’s about doing our bit to reduce waste. Can I do it myself? Absolutely! We stock all the preparation equipment, paint and decorating sundries for people to start painting their own furniture. We’re also on hand to oﬀer help and advice and will be running more workshops to get hands-on experience in 2022.

If you’ve got a piece of furniture you’d like the H&A team to paint, send them a picture via email hello@hilaryandalice.co.uk or Facebook for a quote. Hilary & Alice is open Monday – Saturday in Mere Street, Diss and online (including online shopping) at www.hilaryandalice.co.uk. 20

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RECIPE

Tom Kerridge’s Chicken & Coconut Curry Award-winning British Michelin-starred chef, Tom Kerridge, shares one of his favourite curry recipes with Village People. Serves 4

INGREDIENTS 2 onions, ﬁnely chopped 8 garlic cloves, grated 4cm piece fresh root ginger, peeled and grated 2 tsp sea salt ﬂakes 1 tsp each ground ginger, turmeric, cumin and cinnamon 1 tsp chilli powder 400ml can coconut milk

“I’ve always been effusive about curries. For me, the hotter, the better! Not only is that a taste preference for me, but it’s scientifically proven that when we eat spicy chillies our brains are tricked by the heat into releasing endorphins, which results in a natural high. So you get a huge food sensation on multiple levels. “My curry dishes make use of homemade sauces stuffed full of my favourite spices – curry

METHOD 1. Pour a little oil into a large saucepan. Add the onions and cook over a low heat for 10–15 minutes, or until they start to colour. 2. Add the garlic and cook, stirring for 4–5 minutes, or until the onions are golden. Add the

leaves, turmeric, paprika and my secret ingredient, vinegar. I’ve always found the acidity of the vinegar complements the spice fantastically, and I recommend you try it. “The curry scene is really part of British food heritage now, so I hope you enjoy this delicious recipe, with its unique combination of flavour, heartiness and sensory overload.”

ginger, salt and all the dry spices, stir and cook for 2–3 minutes, or until fragrant. 3. Add the chicken and wait until cooked through. Now pour in the coconut milk and chopped tomatoes and stir. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10–15 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.

200g chopped tomatoes 50g desiccated coconut 2 hot green chillies, thinly sliced 1 lemon, juice only 6 skinless and boneless chicken thighs 6 tbsp roughly chopped coriander 4 tbsp roughly chopped pickled green chillies Salt and pepper

4. Dry-fry the desiccated coconut in a frying pan until golden. Add it to the curry with the fresh chillies and cook for 3–4 minutes, or until thickened. 5. Season with lemon juice, salt and pepper. Stir in the coriander and pickled chillies and serve in warmed bowls.

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HISTORY

Ever wondered about your family history?

ver the past two years of uncertainty and lockdown, many people have found time to start researching their family history. The search for information about where we come from and what happened to our ancestors can be a fascinating one and is not as daunting as it might seem at ﬁrst. You do need to be prepared for unexpected outcomes though! Norfolk Family History Society is a charity, run entirely by volunteers, that aims to help people research their family history and record what is found. Although the library on St Giles, Norwich, concentrates on Norfolk material, we can support and guide worldwide research through the use of online sites on our seven computers, which give free access to Ancestry, Findmypast and The Genealogist. Although membership starts at only £10 a year, our library at Kirby Hall is open to everyone free of charge. However, members get additional beneﬁts including home access to our

database (NORS) with over four and a half million records and four magazines a year. Our membership of just under 4,000 is spread over 19 countries! Just under 2,000 Family Trees from our collection have been scanned and are available to members on the website. There are monthly Zoom talks for members on a variety of historical topics, and the calendar for future talks is on our website. Past topics have included ‘Escaping Hitler’, ‘Droughts, Deluges and Dust Devils’ and the very popular ‘Murder, Sex and Mayhem in English Churches’! One of the biggest assets of the Society is the small army of volunteers who give up their time to staﬀ the library and help people with their research. Our own car park makes visiting the library easier for those travelling from afar. We are always in need of new volunteers to help run the Society, especially the library. Contact our librarian for more information or just pop into Kirby Hall and leave

your details if you are interested in volunteering. From the basic beginner to the seasoned researcher, all are welcome in the Society and at Kirby Hall. The website is open 24/7 and the library is open from 10-4 every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. librarian@nfhs.co.uk www.norfolkfhs.org.uk

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CANINE BEHAVIOUR

Parlez Vous POOCH?! Blogger and qualiﬁed ‘Dog Listener’ Julia Collins reveals how touch can help us to bond and communicate better with our furry pals

f the five senses we possess, touch is probably the one we are most able to share closely with our dogs. Few of us have failed to appreciate the soothing, heart-warming effect of ruffling or stroking the coat of a friendly dog. It has been proven many a time just how therapeutic this contact is for us. I wonder if tapping into the clear, uncomplicated energy of an animal, powerfully (if sometimes temporarily due to our temperaments and priorities) feeds us something we lack in our human, driven way of life? As well as appreciating this beautiful source of comfort, we

can also use the art of touch to communicate with our dogs in many other ways. Reassurance While it’s unwise to ‘sympathise’ with a frightened dog, endorsing and joining with their fear with ‘there, there, baby’ cuddling – it is hugely helpful to demonstrate calm, dependable leadership. A confident, reassuring touch and attitude invites a nervous dog to join your stronger, unaffected approach. Instruction Dogs very easily become fixated on things. I have often found it very effective to flick my dog on the shoulder or chestt with the back of my hand to o bring their attention back to me and away from the distraction – be it someth hing running on the ho orizon, the postman n or bin men’s arrival, or obsessiion with a toy. This action can snap your furry friend out of an ob bsessive ‘I want it, I waant it’ mode by interrup pting with ‘Hey! Pay attention!’ Praise Nearly alll our dogs enjoy an nd appreciate an edible trreat when th hey have su uccessfully co ompleted a taask. Don’t

we nearly always accompany this with a stroke or pat? We want to convey our pride, admiration, aﬀection and pleasure and do so instinctively! If we bump into our dog or accidentally step on a paw or tail, we automatically say sorry and caress the dog, stroking the head, gently cradling the oﬀended area? I’m sure most dog owners recognise the comfort a dog can give, leaning against us when we’re relaxing, or even upset. To convey the deep love we feel for our dogs, we smile at and touch them many times a day. In fact, I bet you do so as frequently as you interact with the humans sharing your home! Every time we look into our pet’s eyes and stroke their soft, warm coat, aren’t we so, so lucky to experience the trust and love they beam back at us?! 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

Julia Collins @walksoﬂifessuffolk www.walksoﬂife.co.uk 27

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CAKE RECIPE

Spiced Mexican Chocolate Cake This simple but delicious chocolate cake is a cinnamon and chilli flavoured winner. Chipotle chilli flakes give it a smoky medium heat, and Ancho a touch of fruitiness. Whichever you use, increase the chilli as you prefer, but aim for a gentle warmth, not a ﬁery heat! Serves 10 340kcal 39g carbs per slice

INGREDIENTS Cake: 150g dark chocolate (at least 55% cocoa solids) 1 teaspoon Chipotle or Ancho chilli ﬂakes (see tip) 150ml milk 120g soft brown sugar 130ml vegetable oil 2 eggs

Tip:

1 teaspoon baking powder 1 heaped teaspoon ground cinnamon Pinch of salt 240g plain ﬂour Good quality cocoa powder for dusting (we use Green & Black’s) Fresh chillies for decoration (if desired)

METHOD 1. Break the chocolate into pieces in a large bowl set over simmering water. Sprinkle with the chilli flakes. Once melted, keep over the heat and stir in about 3 tablespoons of the milk until you have a smooth paste. Set aside to cool slightly. 2. Preheat the oven to 170ºC. Grease and line a 20cm deep cake

Do not use powdered chilli – this often contains oregano, paprika and other unwelcome ﬂavours

tin. Add the remaining milk to the slightly cooled chocolate and whisk in. Add the sugar with the oil and beat until combined.

4. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

3. Break in the eggs and whisk for 2-3 minutes until frothy. Sprinkle on the baking powder, cinnamon and salt then sift in the flour. Fold in gently until completely combined. Pour the batter into the tin and bake for about 30 to 35 minutes until a skewer comes out clean. The top may crack, but don’t panic – this is a rustic cake, and the cocoa powder will disguise most cracks!

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

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HOME

Spring tips for the home Award-winning local interior designer, Lucy Gleeson, looks at how we can invite spring into our homes

ow the days are feeling much lighter and longer, it’s the perfect time to give your home a refresh, especially as spring is the season of new beginnings. There are lots of ways you can do this, and it never fails to surprise me what a difference you can make to a space simply by making a few little changes. Do you feel you’d like to try out a new room colour? Well, how about creating a few mood boards, adding samples of your favourite hues and seeing if they work with furniture that you already have? If you’re drawn to a colour combination, put it up in the room and see if you still love it in a week or so. If you really like the paint colour, try it on different walls, because the light will affect how it looks at different times of the

day. Spring is an excellent time to do this. We tend to follow nature when it comes to the psychology of interiors and naturally opt for pastel shades this season. But that might not be right for you, so how about some bright accents to represent the bold and beautiful flowers around us? If you’re tentative about painting the whole room a new colour, you could try a feature wall. Just adding a few new cushions to go with your scheme will quickly add a nice new pop of colour. If your home is quite neutral, you can really have some fun with patterns. Think about using raw materials, including wood, as they are very symbolic of a brand new start and give a nice organic feel. Naturally, you will find yourself layering rooms with much lighter fabrics, such as linen and cotton, for warmer weather. Decluttering is great for the mind. If you are not ready to let go of something, you can always repurpose with a bit of DIY, such as turning some old curtains into cushions for another room – or napkins! The other option is to take a photo of the item if you like it but don’t love it, then you can remember it and pass it on to a charity. Another fantastic way to invite spring into your home is by creating some interesting vignettes; such as pairing tulips, daffodils or freesias with trinkets, seasonal books or a candle. Ideal for an Easter centrepiece or a coffee table. It’s much easier than moving furniture around, although you could do that as well.

If you are tempted to bring lots of plants into your home, this is deﬁnitely a great nurturing hobby. They are very oxygenating and good for us, and green is known to be very balancing. Plus, plants add lots of character and complete a room scheme. So spring is an excellent time to start looking at this option, but maybe try a low maintenance plant at ﬁrst. For more information about Lucy Gleeson Interiors, go to www.lucylovesya.com. Email lucy@lucylovesya.com for a free consultation on a home or business project. 31

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GARDENS

The Garden Enclosure Jottings

If you go down to the woods today, you’re in for a big surprise It’s lovely down in the woods today, and they’re starting to come alive!

k, so it’s still a bit early for a picnic, but spring is one of the best times of year to visit some woodland, and with the mild start to winter things are getting going early. Already the ﬁrst snowdrops and aconites are in bloom, and the bluebells and wood-anemones are pushing up through the leaf litter. On the edges and in open glades golden celandine and the pale yellow flowers of primroses and cowslips are being sought out by early foraging bees, flying past the mounded rosettes of foxgloves, soon to rise up with stately columns of speckled floral trumpets in shades of purple and white. If you wander

quietly and look between the tree trunks you may see the odd deer or wild rabbit, plus numerous birds flitting about amongst the undergrowth. Look upwards and spot the squirrel drays precariously perched high up in the canopy, and the disused nests of some of our favourite birds, which are now looking for new sites to raise this year’s young. Listen too and you may hear the drumming of woodpeckers echoing from somewhere above you. Most of the trees are beginning to bud ready to burst out into fresh leaf growth, but amongst the deciduous varieties clumps of evergreens can be seen; coniferous pines and English yew,

spiny holly and the glossy-leaved rhododendron ponticum, its rich purple blooms soon to appear. In the denser areas, scattered ferns are putting out fresh fronds surrounded by moss-covered logs and rich leaf mould.The flowers of most woodland trees are fairly inconspicuous, but at this time of year the long male catkins of hazel drip from bare branches, ensuring a good crop of nuts for later on, and pussy willow bursts from the salix stems. Over the ground, dead-nettle and brambles scramble, joined by ivy and honeysuckle, part trailing, part climbing. All of these look so wonderful making the most of their natural woodland setting you’ll just want to own a piece of it. Now you probably haven’t got space for a wood, but all of the plants mentioned have one thing in common; they don’t mind a bit of shade and you’ve almost certainly got that, perhaps somewhere along a side path, behind a fence, or in the shadow of the house. These few plants are just a taster, add to them the many other varieties and hundreds of cultivars that are available and you’re in for a feast for your eyes, if not your belly!

Cheers Ken,

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GARDENS

GREENFINGERS… with Alan Titchmarsh Horticultural inspiration, accomplished gardener, talented novelist and much-loved presenter, Alan Titchmarsh, talks to Village People about his favourite things in the garden.

ardens are evolving, emerging, changing entities in almost every week of the year, so when it comes to choosing my favourite plants, flowers and sights, it’s a diﬃcult thing to judge and very much dependent upon the season. I think if a cross-section of people are asked to name the thing in a garden that gives them joy and a feeling of admiration beyond anything else, a good number will choose the rose.

Think about it, is there anything else that oﬀers such a breadth of colour, such a contradiction of beauty and danger (in the sense of a seductive flower and the prickly thorns that linger just a few inches down), or that oﬀers a bouquet that has melted the hearts of a thousand romantics?! Okay, so yes, a rose sometimes can seem so-so, perhaps because we embrace them so fully in our lives, and I accept there is something perhaps even a little cliched about the simple rose

these days. However, I will be so bold as to say this – a garden without a fragrant rose isn't much of a garden at all! For other times of the year, I will pick out certain things that give me incredible satisfaction. I look forward to these coming around, and their emergence is always very special. The first snowdrop in January; the first daffodil in February. These are the types of flowers that mark a change in or a progression of the season, and that always fills me with hope and expectation. You know these beautiful elements will always arrive, but still, it’s a relief when they do! As for others that feel special, I regularly point people towards penstemons. I think there’s always an expectation that in a professional gardener’s back yard you will have the highest grade of plants and the most difficult to bring to flower, but we all like to

GARDENS

make life easier for ourselves, and the penstemon certainly fulfils that brief. It’s hardy, flowers for months, is slug-resistant, and offers a fantastic spray of colour as a border perennial. I have also really taken a shine to the aubrieta in recent years. We all know what it looks like, it’s that beautiful tumbling purple spray of miniature coloured flowers that will cascade off rocks, boulders and other inhospitable lumps in a way that bring them life and beauty. The flowers themselves almost resemble little four-leaf clovers, and perhaps it’s that expression of happiness and love that makes the aubrieta such a winner in every way. Finally, I would look to the sweet pea. There’s even one named after me, and while I’m not so self-absorbed to pretend

that’s the reason why I like it so much, if there was any variety to be named after me this would be the one. Sweet peas are just so versatile – sow individually in root trainers or in pots ﬁlled with seed compost, choose pretty much any colour across the spectrum, they are perfect in borders, and you can even get the seeds in the ground in any range from November through to June. For me, they are the ultimate, and a great pleasure. Of course, tending to a garden is all about personal taste. These are some of my favourites, but I know reading this you may well feel I have it completely wrong. That’s the beauty of gardening – it’s a landscape that’s entirely yours to do entirely what you will with, and we will all agree that’s wonderful.

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BOOKS

Riveting READS We all love a good book. Here’s Village People's recommended selection of some of the best new releases to keep you engrossed!

MYSTERY The Perfect Escape By Leah Konen When her husband Harry walks out after just six months, Sam has never been in more need of a getaway. So when her friends suggest a girls' weekend away, Sam can't accept soon enough… but then things start to go wrong. A gripping thriller. Published by Michael Joseph

FICTION The Maid By Nita Prose Molly the Maid is thrown into the spotlight when she discovers an infamous guest, Mr Black, very dead in his bed. She becomes embroiled in a hunt for the truth, learning who to trust, as she navigates the secret underbelly of the Regency Grand Hotel. Published by Harper Collins

PRACTICAL You Coach You By Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis The UK’s leading career experts Sarah Ellis and Helen Tupper will give you the knowledge and tools to coach yourself, helping you to rediscover a love of work, build boundaries and productive relationships, cultivate resilience, while identifying and achieving career goals. Published by Penguin Books

CHILDREN’S I Broke the Internet By Andy McNab and Phil Earle Bestselling author Andy McNab joins forces with award-winning author Phil Earle for this laughout-loud follow-up to Get Me Out of Here!, with fun illustrations by Robin Boyden. Published by Scholastic HISTORY

How Civil Wars Start By Barbara F. alter Civil wars are the biggest dange er to world peace today, and this n, book shows us why they happen and how to avoid them. Acclaim med expert Barbara F. Walter has advised on political violence everywhere from the CIA to the e US Senate and the United Nations. Published by Penguin Books 37

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ART

From the dark into the light Village People is delighted to welcome a brand new art writer – award-winning Suﬀolk author, illustrator and artist, James Mayhew

Jacqueline Croft in her studio

he festivities of Christmas are now just a memory, and we are all impatient for spring. Perhaps this year, more than ever, the early signs of new life, as we emerge, hopefully, from the pandemic, seem more precious than ever. You may just catch the last of the snowdrops at Ickworth House or Sheringham Park, or see glowing aconites huddled around burgeoning trees, with swollen buds. The days grow longer, the skies brighter. The turning seasons, and the ever changing elements of nature have proven to be especially significant for Norfolk-based artist Jacqueline Croft. Hers is an uplifting, hopeful story that many of us can be inspired by, especially after these last two difficult years. There are many elements to Jacqueline’s work. She enjoys playing with materials, and when I visited her bright, light-filled studio, she had me joining in. 40

Prepared boards were waiting for me, with gesso primer and imprinted textures. “Leaves, paper, bits and bobs,” says Jacquie. “Flat is quite dull. Texture you can sand back, it’s more organic.” This process of serendipitous exploration seems to suit her especially well. Things are not planned, and old canvasses are often reworked into something new, layer upon layer, then rubbed back and painted again. There is clingﬁlm to lay upon watercolour washes, and paints galore, squirrelled away in wooden drawers. Jacquie has me using brave colour combinations, and using a non-dominant hand to draw a dried seed head. Experiment. Play. These are words that crop up time and again in our conversation, as we talk about how Jacquie emerged from her personal dark, into a gradual light. “My breakdown was the catalyst for discovering art,” says Jacquie. “I think it is for many

people – when you have a sudden change in your life you have the potential to do different things. If you are a busy person, to stop suddenly is really difficult.” Having abandoned art at school, Jacquie went into teaching, and ended up a head teacher at a school in Suffolk. “I’d always been capable, the one who did everything,” she says. “But after being a successful career person, there I was, suddenly unable to even talk or leave the house.” Jacquie’s husband Nick, also a retired teacher, became her full-time carer during this very difficult year. In time, Jacquie realised he needed a break from looking after her, and on a walk through Bungay she stopped outside the Art Trading Company (Bungay’s excellent art shop) and saw a painting course advertised. Although the thought of being alone with people she didn’t know was daunting, she said to Nick, “I think I could do that.” It proved

ART

to be an incredibly important decision for them both. For Jacquie, something clicked. She’d found a safe space where she could simply play with art materials and colours, where she could learn, nurture new skills, and quietly heal. The course, run by artist Michele Holland (now proprietor of a shop called Mouse, in Bungay) proved ideal. “It was very difficult initially – being left,” admits Jacquie. But gradually her confidence grew and she began to look forward to these art sessions, and grew to enjoy the company of others. “Michele was very encouraging and positive – a big surprise. It just gradually took off from there.” Other courses followed, and a body of work was created, largely unseen by anyone outside Jacquie’s small, trusted circle of family and friends. Then, an artist due to exhibit at the Fisher Theatre in Bungay pulled out, and they needed someone to fill the slot. Jacquie was persuaded, and found herself embarking on a solo exhibition – and to her surprise sold a substantial number of paintings. “It was exhausting; I couldn’t paint for a time afterwards,” says Jacquie. But gradually the urge returned. A triumphant second exhibition at the Fisher Theatre followed. Throughout this time Jacquie continued to explore and experiment, joining other courses and constantly exploring possibilities. In particular, a course with Martin Kinnear, of the Norfolk Painting School, inspired her to learn more about colour theory, and reinforced her love of oil painting. As Jacquie shares sketchbooks, half finished canvasses, and stacks of old work, I venture that the thing that really binds her work together is nature. A love of

the natural world, of landscape, of place. She agrees, and talks about her daily dog walks on Outney Common, that vast open space that once hosted Bungay horse races, memorably captured by Suﬀolk-born artist Alfred Munnings. “The common is just an inspiration. It’s unpredictable, it’s seasonal…” It is indeed a glorious myriad of fragmented streams and brooks that forms this part of the Waveney Valley. The monumental skies, the water meadows and wildlife, bird song and the coming and going of the seasons, all seem to be reflected in her work somehow. A recent canvas explores all four seasons in one painting, focussing on the solid things that remain – the tree shapes that are there all year round – and the transitory things like foliage that come, change, go, and return in the spring. Other paintings capture a hint of light on water, like the streams that are all but hidden by reeds, and the shifting patterns of light through trees and branches and leaves. These are paintings one can wander into, and be lost in. Jacquie continues to

explore and discover new ways of being creative. Nowadays, she enjoys making art with her grandchildren, too. Up in her studio they explore and play together, using exciting and unusual materials. Jacquie frames their art, making it extra special. Despite the two hugely successful exhibitions, Jacquie eschews the modern trappings of social media and websites, sensing that an overly commercial agenda would inhibit her joy in the playing and experimenting. Instead, she quietly allows her paintings to be hung here and there. If you visit the beautiful market town of Bungay, you might be lucky enough to see some of Jacquie’s paintings at the Cork Brick Gallery or perhaps Bigod’s Kitchen, next to the castle. If you happen upon her work, take a moment to lose yourself, and be transported into her rhapsodic landscapes – these glorious celebrations of nature. Web: jamesmayhew.co.uk Insta & Twitter: @mrjamesmayhew Cork Brick Gallery: corkbrickgallery.co.uk 41

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LAMPSHADE MAKING

The New Year often brings with it a fresh look at your living space and how you might improve it for the year ahead. Maybe a new cushion or two, or a throw here and there, but have you thought about your lampshades? Lighting is one of the most important aspects of home decorating, in setting the right ambience and your choice of lampshades have a huge part to play in reflecting your personal style. Dannells are experts in the lampshade making industry with over 40 years’ experience of supplying lampshade materials to high street retailers. More recently the company has turned its attention to their creative Needcraft Lampshade Making Kits, allowing anyone to make a professional, stylish and bespoke lampshade for their home. Ideal for complete beginners with no previous craft experience or for crafters with a passion for trying something new. Dannells’ Lampshade Making Kits are easy to make and come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, ranging from traditional drum lampshades to modern square and hexagon shades. Suitable as either a pendant light or a table lamp, each kit includes all the high-quality materials needed to make your own shade, including easy-to-follow photo instructions with plenty of tips and tricks for easy assembly. By simply adding your own choice of fabric you can emphasise your interior colour scheme or room style.

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FO L LOW U S @ n e e d c ra f t _ www. d a n n e l l s b l o g .co m We have dozens of video tutorials available and a Lampshade Makers Facebook Group with over 2000 friendly members to support you whether you want to make just one lampshade or are a competent crafter looking for a new business venture.

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LOCAL HISTORY

Memories of Thorpe Abbotts 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 Thorpe Abbotts.

 The Lion, in 1912, was the only pub in the village at that time. The landlord was William Baliant, who was also a bricklayer. The pub is now closed.

 This 1925 postcard shows Thorpe Abbotts School, at

the entrance to School Lane, which was built in 1862 for 60 children. The headmistress at this time was a Miss FM Powell. The building is now private houses.

 Thorpe Abbotts Place, in 1916, was a dellighhtffull mansion owned by the two Kay sisters, who were also the principal landowners in the village. This photograph was taken by Ernest Abraham, who was the oﬃcial local war photographer during the 1914-18 war and travelled with troops while they were training in the area.

 The Street, in 1907, looked very diﬀerent to how it is today. The population at this time was just over 200.

LOCAL HISTORY

 These old houses, seen here in n 1930, were lived in by people wh ho worked on local farms. New ho ouses have now been built on otther side of the street.

 Dated around 1930, this postcard shows

 Harvest time in the summer of 1945, shows (l-r) Reggie Venton, Vera Ruddock and Joe Forman in a ﬁeld adjacent to the airﬁeld.

the village Post Oﬃce, which was run by Mrs Louise Debenham. She also ran the local blacksmiths, which her husband’s family had owned for generations.

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

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NATURE

Restoring the fabric of the countryside in South Norfolk By Helen Baczkowska, Acting Conservation Manager at Norfolk Wildlife Trust

n The History of the British Countryside, Oliver Rackham calls the South Norfolk Claylands ‘ramshackle’. He uses the word to describe the layers of history in the area: Saxon churches with their round flint towers, timber-framed farmhouses and traces of Bronze Age fields. Ramshackle also seems a good word for the twisting lanes, the scattered villages and the open commons. These features are products of a history that started with the melting of glaciers millennia ago. The ‘boulder clay’ formed from ground-up rocks from central England was dumped as the ice sheets retreated, leaving a low plateau that runs from Essex through Suffolk and into central North Norfolk. Over time, rivers have worn valleys into the clay, sometimes as deep as the chalk bedrock beneath. During the medieval period, South Norfolk, like much of England, was farmed by an ‘open field’ system of strips

divided among villagers, but this was heavy land to plough, especially with oxen and wooden implements. The worst soils were often left as common land, important for grazing and gathering fuel as timber or turf. Rackham also calls the Claylands ‘unplanned’. The ‘planned’ countryside of North Norfolk is largely the result of open ﬁelds being enclosed from the mid-1700s, often by large estates. The unplanned Claylands are a product of older and more piecemeal enclosure, sometimes the result of declines in rural populations when, for ease, farmers gathered their strips into smallholdings. In Tudor times, a 'woodpasture' economy developed and cattle were grazed beneath trees that were pollarded (repeatedly cut at about head height) to produce small timber beyond the reach of cows. Hedges from these early enclosures usually followed the irregular edges of earlier farmed strips, preserving the meandering lanes. The

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Common Carder Bee on Sulphur Clover, credit Henry Walker

Great crested newt, credit Rob Peacock

commons themselves may have survived for the simple reason that pasture was valuable to the villagers.

NATURE

Despite the many changes in the Claylands landscape in the past 500 years, elements of this ancient, unplanned countryside are still evident. Turn oﬀ the main road or follow one of the longdistance footpaths and you can ﬁnd yourself among tall hedges with pollards of hornbeam or oak, ponds formed from clay pits for building materials, ancient woodlands and, of course, the open commons. All of these are wonderful for wildlife and evidence of how, for thousands of years, the human and natural histories of this landscape have been closely linked. The landscape is home to some of the last refuges for declining meadow wildflowers and butterflies and supports a number of species of bats, as well as a healthy population of barn owls and important populations of great crested newt. Historically, large areas of wildlife-rich habitat found in the South Norfolk Claylands were connected, providing vital routes for a variety of species through the landscape, and space to roam. However, encroaching development for housing and a move towards larger-scale farming has resulted in smaller, more isolated, ‘islands’. Which is why Norfolk Wildlife Trust is embarking on an ambitious new

An owl ﬂying out in the early evening light, Norfolk, credit Elizabeth Dack

project to restore the fabric of the countryside in South Norfolk – and the call to play a part is now underway! Our Claylands Wilder Connections project is bringing together conservation experts, local communities and landowners to develop muchneeded new areas for wildlife in the Claylands. As well as raising awareness of the importance of creating and connecting wildlife habitats in the area, we’ll be using state-of-the-art wildlife habitat ‘heat mapping’ to help communities work together to support wildlife in priority locations.

There will be a variety of opportunities for communities to get involved, from learning about nature recovery networks, helping with wildlife surveys and mapping key species, to carrying out habitat management. If you live locally, you can play a role in gathering vital information about important places for wildlife in their area, help to identify opportunities to join existing wildlife hotspots together and plan new spaces for wildlife in the best locations.

To ﬁnd out more and to get involved, visit: www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/wilderconnections

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SEASONAL FOOD

Celeriac An Unsung Hero I

t may not be the most beautiful of veg, but underneath its knobbly exterior is a world of potential and delicious dishes featuring that delicate celery flavour. An excellent low-cal, low-carb alternative to potatoes, it’s packed full of vital nutrients too. Raw or cooked, here are 6 ways celeriac can spice up your diet. The whole hog Scrub clean and trim a whole celeriac. Rub all over with olive oil, and place on a large sheet of baking foil, root side down. Scatter over whole garlic cloves, herbs and seasoning to taste, then wrap the foil tightly around the celeriac, place on a tray and roast in the bottom of an oven for 2 hours at 180C. When cooked, unwrap, cut oﬀ the top and dig in. Chip off the old block Pre-heat your oven to 230C. Peel a celeriac and cut into fat chips. Blanch in boiling water for 1-2 minutes, drain and throw the chips back into the saucepan with 4tbsp veg oil, sea salt and

other seasoning to taste. Toss, then spread the chips over a large heavy baking sheet and cook in the oven for about 30-35 minutes. Grate expectations! This celeriac and carrot remoulade side dish (a bit like coleslaw) is full of flavour and ready in a flash. Grate a celeriac and one large carrot and put them in a large bowl with a small bunch of chopped dill, 6tbsp light mayo, the juice of half a lemon and salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly and enjoy the refreshing crunch! Perfect puree Peel and cut a whole celeriac into 2cm dice, and cook gently for 20 minutes in a pan with a little butter, olive oil and seasoning until very soft. In another pan, bring 150ml double cream to the boil. Tip the cooked celeriac into a food processor and, adding the double cream gradually, whizz until smooth. Push through a ﬁne sieve.

Super salads With spring upon us, we’ll be eating lighter and enjoying more salads. Try making ribbons from raw celeriac and mixing it with some tasty ingredients to really pack a healthy punch – such as capers, gherkins, mustard, yoghurt, anchovies, herbs and spices or sherry vinegar. You can create a host of salads that the whole family can enjoy. Choose your partners Celeriac’s delicious aroma and flavour goes with so many other ingredients, but it pairs particularly well with apples, pears, raspberries, melon, watermelon, butternut squash, quinoa, rum, skate wings and elderflower.

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GIVEAWA WAY

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

To be in with a chance of winning a £100 M&S voucher, simply read this magazine from cover to cover and ﬁnd Bella the Beagle. She looks exactly like the picture of her, but much smaller! How to enter the competition Visit www.village-people.info and follow the links to the competition page. Closing date is 18 March 2022 and the usual Village People rules apply.

Where Bella was hiding in our previous issue: OakVilla – Page 83

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GIVEAWAY

Enjoy the taste of Home Farm Gin – on us!

ome Farm Gin is a fantastic local producer of small batch flavoured gin, and Village People is oﬀering four lucky readers the chance to taste it for themselves and win a Home Farm Gin ‘miniatures’ Gift Selection Pack. This pure and natural artisan flavoured gin, made and bottled at Home Farm, Hethersett, is the brainchild of Nev Leverett and Paul Dunnett, who set up the business in 2019. “We had a simple shared goal – to earn a living doing something we are passionate about and enjoy, so going to work doesn’t feel like work,” says Nev. “Home Farm Gin is crafted

and bottled with love, by hand, with help from Matilda our copper gin still, in small batches using only natural ingredients and pure Norfolk water from our private water supply on the farm.” The Home Farm Gin Gift Selection comprises three 5cl bottles of Strawberry & Mint Gin, Raspberry Gin and London Dry Gin. They come in a lovely presentation pack,

making an ideal gift for any occasion… or for yourself.

Competition Giveaway

To be in with a chance of winning, simply visit www.village-people.info and follow the links to the competition page. Closing date is 18 March 2022 and the usual Village People rules apply. For more information from creators of premium, handcrafted, artisan gin, visit homefarmgin.co.uk

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HOME

TOP OF THE FROTHS! We look at ﬁve of the best milk frothers on the market

FOR BUDGET Lavazza A Modo Mio

hen you consider that we consume an estimated 120 million cups of coﬀee every single day in the UK, there is a clear need for magically marvellous milk preparers. We’ve come a long way from the novelty of a 90s cappuccino, so here are a handful of dynamic devices that can raise your mid-morning mood enhancer to spectacular new heights.

Around £40

FOR LUXURY Hotel Chocolat: The Velvetiser around £100 Considered by many to be the number one product on the market, this solid, sturdy milk frothing contraption has the reassuringly heavy feeling of quality, and mixes with a gentle whirr that speaks of luxury and love. Ready-equipped to receive the luxury chocolate brand’s many powdered drink combinations, a rubberised horizontal handle keeps heat away from the hand. And wrapped up in a bounty of style and convenience, it even has a self-cleaning function that removes milk residue from the inside, ready for your next perfect cuppa.

FOR STYLE Nespresso Aeroccino 4

Around £75

AA versatile machine now in iits fourth generation, the Nespresso Aeroccino excels in N itts multifunctional approach. It caan produce two diﬀerent types off hot foam, hot milk and cold oam – each perfectly prepared fo nd ready to be used in coﬀee an or other milk-based creations and recipes.

A respected brand whose product stands up to scrutiny and still looks good. The chic black pot can produce hot or cold milk, speedily frothed at the press of a button, and while it boasts a compact size and ability to ﬁt into any kitchen space, it can still process up to 180ml of milk in each load.

FOR MANUAL ProCook If you’re more traditiional and prefer to froth milk the maanual way, while getting a wrist work kout at the same time, th he ProCook is a great choice. In stainless steel itt looks great, is well priced d, dishwasher proof, and Around can process a masssive £20 800ml of the whiite stuﬀ in one go.

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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.

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HEALTH

Next Generation Health The benefits of intra-oral vitamin supplement sprays

oday, we understand that traditional tablet and capsule supplementation relies on a digestive process that has evolved exclusively for food intake. Absorption of nutrients cannot be universally guaranteed, especially with the dramatic increase in digestive malabsorption issues such as IBS, Crohn’s and Coeliac disease, so a new and effective alternative delivery mechanism has become essential. Traditional tablets and capsules don’t suit everyone. Some of us, particularly children and the elderly, can find them difficult to swallow. But an intra-oral spray delivers an active ingredient directly into the bloodstream, rather than relying on primary processing by the digestive system. It produces

a spray of perfectly balanced micro-sized droplets, which are delivered into the mouth and absorbed quickly, providing fast nutrient uptake. This really is the next generation of vitamin supplementation. BetterYou Air Defence® Oral Spray is a scientiﬁcally formulated blend of vitamin D, vitamin B12 and selenium. Designed to support the immune system and protect cells from oxidative stress, it helps to minimise the damaging eﬀects of free radicals found in air pollution. It supports a healthy immune system, is great-tasting (natural peach and pomegranate flavour), and the company will plant a tree for every Air Defence Oral Spray sold! Given the current problems with the pandemic and the allergic reactions to inhaling

irritant pollen particles during the spring, our need for nutritional support increases. Intra-oral vitamin sprays represent the ultimate in convenience – they do not need to be taken with food or water and can be used on the go. These no-pill formulations are clinically proven for optimal absorption, contain no artificial sweeteners, flavouring or colours, offer tooth-kind formulations and are made in Britain. Young and old alike will find them easy to use, and they will give us essential support during difficult times. Ring or email the Natural Food Store, Exchange Street, Norwich for friendly help and excellent advice. Call 01603 613228, or order online at www.shopnaturally.com 65

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Looking Good! 66

HEALTH

Be clear on eye tests! Cecil Amey Opticians & Hearing Care are the largest independent Opticians and Hearing Care provider in East Anglia, with 10 practices across Norfolk, Suffolk & North Norfolk. Here, they explain about the benefits of having an eye test and what to expect during your appointment. What is an eye test? An eye test is a vital health check for your eyes. Every adult needs one every two years, and some people may be advised to have a test more often; for example people aged 40 or over with a family history of glaucoma, people aged 70 or over and people with diabetes. What happens during an eye test? Your optometrist will ask about your medical history, medication and whether anyone in your family has eye problems. You should tell your optometrist about any difficulties you have with focusing, headaches or other problems. Your eye test will also look at the following:

can be improved for distant and near objects. How your eyes work together – the optometrist will ask you to look at a letter or object and will then cover one eye at a time to see how well your eyes work together. The pressure inside your eyes – the front of your eye is ﬁlled with fluid, and if the pressure of this fluid rises it can cause sight loss. The optometrist will check the pressure of your eyes at every test once you reach the age of 40. This can be done with a machine that blows a little puﬀ of air on the eye.

Your eye health – the optometrist might shine a bright light close to your eyes to check the inside and outside of the eyes for signs of disease. Alternatively, they look through a special lens which helps give a clear, magniﬁed view of the back of the eye, called the retina.

Your ﬁeld of vision – the optometrist will check how well you can see in the centre and at the edge of your ﬁeld of vision using a test that flashes faint spots of light.

Your vision – the optometrist will ask you to read letters on a chart and use diﬀerent lenses to see how much your vision

Optical Coherence Tomography - OCT Scan There is an additional charge for an OCT scan, but the beneﬁts

really are invaluable as it gives an on-going record of the health and condition of your eyes. This clever technology, which is quick and completely painless, allows us to see, in incredible detail, the back of the eye's distinctive layers. This helps our optometrists detect any early signs of glaucoma or other eye-related conditions such as diabetes and macular degeneration. We have OCTs in 8 of our 10 practices across Norfolk and Suﬀolk, so please ask about this when booking your next eye test. Do I have to get my glasses from the same optician who carried out the eye test? ABDO, the Association of British Dispensing Opticians, recommends that you do, to ensure your prescription and spectacle dispense are interpreted and made up correctly. It also ensures that any problems can be handled more easily. cecilameyopticians.co.uk 67

Quality care across Norfolk Our care homes offer the highest standards of care where dignity is respected, where talents and interests are encouraged, and where life is lived to its fullest potential. With a range of residential, nursing and dementia care Healthcare Homes is the ideal choice. Our experienced homecare team offers personal care, support with medication, preparing meals and help around the home as well as 24hr live-in care.

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BEAUTY

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FOR LUXURY AESOP REVERENCE AROMATIQUE 500ml, £27 The Aesop range, from Australia, oﬀers you the chance to luxuriate with a golden, shimmering formula, enriching the skin while oﬀering an aroma that begins with milled pumice, before moving on to smoky woods and uplifting herbs.

FOR TRIED & TESTED MOLTON BROWN MESMERING OUDH ACCORD & GOLD 300ml, £22 Molton Brown are the top dogs in the handwashing world – each bottle oﬀering fragrance that spans top notes of cinnamon and spice, down to bas ase layers of rich essential oils. Mollton’s extensive range includes Blue Maarquis and Heavenly Gingerfly.

FOR CONTINENTAL QUALIT TY LE PETIT MARSEILLAIS M ORGANIC CHERRY BLOSSOM 300ml, £10 The Petit Marseillais handwashes are as fairly priced as their body lotions and shampoos, but there is a backdrop to all their aromas that brings about notions of travel, Gallic flair and breathless abandon.

THE VEGAN CHOICE DR BRONNER’S 4-IN-1 ORGANIC SUGAR SOAP (PEPPERMINT) 355ml, £10 Dr Bronner combines moisturising strength with 100 per cent organic ingredients and a fair trade slant to produce a peppermint soap that carries along with it hints of grape and shikakai. Just as good for body and hair as hands and available in Lemongrass Lime, Lavender and Tea Tree.

ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND FAITH IN NATURE GRAPEFRUIT & ORANGE 400ml, £3 The Faith in Nature brand comes equipped with a strong badge of sustainability and recyclability, with a rang nge of fragrances inclu ncluding Lavenderr & Geranium, Coc oconut and Dragon Fruit.

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BEAUTY

pring is upon us, with its brighter longer days, so now is the perfect opportunity to declutter and update your beauty routine. Every so often it’s a good idea to sort through your beauty products and re-evaluate what your skin needs – it makes getting ready in the morning that much easier and keeps everything feeling fresh!

Check use-by dates Every beauty product should have a symbol of some sort on the packaging to indicate its shelf life. The ‘open jar’ symbol with a number inside tells you how many months you have to use the product after it’s ﬁrst opened, while the ‘egg-timer’ symbol or the words ‘best used before’ give a speciﬁc use-by date. Using a slightly out-ofdate product probably won’t cause serious harm, but it’ss always a good idea to follow the manufacturer's guidelines to avoid bacteria overgrowth and other hygiene problems.

Look Good Feel Good Do Good

Madeleine White, ex-model, make-up artist and founder of awardwinning local ethical beauty brand, Juni Cosmetics, shows how we can build sustainability into our beauty routine. Here, she looks at how to ‘spring clean your beauty routine’ junicosmetics.co.uk

Refresh your routine Our skin is ever changing and the seasons can make a big diﬀerence to what it needs. As the weather turns to spring and starts to warm up, you mayy ﬁnd that your winter moisturiser is feeling too heavy and oily, or perhaps you’re spending more time outside and need a higher SPF. Whatever you need, now’s a good time to make the change.

Recycle and donate Most beauty products are extremely difficult to recycle because of the multiple materials used in the packaging and the way they’re assembled. With over 142 billion units of beauty packaging being produced worldwide every year, it’s no secret that something radical needs to be done! TerraCycle is the global leader in hard-to-recycle materials, with drop-off locations in places like John Lewis and The Body Shop, so work through your stash and recycle what you can. But don’t feel too optimistic about these methods – choosing plastic-free, such as glass or aluminium, and refillable products in the first place is usually a far better option than relying on recycling plastic (which isn’t as eco-friendly as it sounds). If you have any unopened or lightly-used products, consider donating them to non-profit Give and Makeup, who will distribute them to women and children in need.

Update your make-up look As with your skincare routine or wardrobe, making a few subtle changes to your make-up look will help you feel eﬀortlessly on-trend. In the spring months, I tend to reach for a lighter base like a tinted moisturiser, and opt for slightly brighter lipstick shades. One of my favourite tricks is to use a pinky-coral lipstick on both lips and cheeks for a fresh look. junicosmetics.co.uk 71

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FALCON MEADOW, BUNGAY

Falcon Meadow Can we inspire you? The deadline for the Falcon Meadow Art Competition 2022 is 28 February – so there is still time to enter! If you’re a photographer or artist, and you need a bit of inspiration, these suggestions may help you get started. Dawn to dusk Choose your favourite view of the meadow and over the course of a day visit that spot three times to capture how the meadow looks at dawn, noon and dusk, using photographs or sketches. Think about the changing light, the people who use the meadow, the animals, or the way the river looks at diﬀerent times of day. From here you can develop your favourite, or create a timeline of three. The world in a grain of sand The meadow oﬀers wonderful inspiration, from sweeping landscapes to the tiniest creatures. For this activity, try to ‘zoom in’ on minute detail, such as the veins on a leaf, or frost on a branch. Capture a feeling Drawing or taking photos to capture a concept, rather than a thing, can be a great way to experiment with perception.

Try to draw or photograph the meadow to suggest emotions such as hope, loneliness, solace, community, youth, age, resilience. Use collage Choose a photo of the meadow that you love and then recreate it in collage. Maybe match the colours with snippets from old magazines, or combine material and paint for a mixed media eﬀect. Create a junk sculpture A great one for all the family. Raid your recycling bin for boxes, bottles and shiny things and create a sculpture to represent the meadow; perhaps the nailbiting tension of the duck race, or the tranquillity of an early morning g walk.

Just one of the amazing artworks from last year’s competition

Have fun! Art helps us see the world diﬀerently, and we want to give everyone, of all ages and abilities, a chance to enjoy making things that share how you see our beautiful meadow. All entries will be displayed in a ‘virtual gallery’ on our website, and winners will receive a £10 art voucher.

For more details, visit our website www.falconmeadow.org.uk – or send your entries to info@falconmeadow.org.uk with a covering email to tell us your name, age and contact number. The deadline for entries is 28 February 2022. We can’t wait to see what you create!

Picture credit to Andrew Atterwill.

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BUNGAY BITESIIZE

BUNGAY BITESIZE

Spring, the Sweet S Spring p Local Historian Christopher Reeve steps back in time to explore explor Bungay’s histtorryy

now is becoming less frequent nowadays, so when it falls our trusty Town Recorder, Andy Atterwill, is out early in the morning with his camera before it disappears. Within my own lifetime, snow usually started in November, and then increased from January through March. In past centuries, snow was much more severe. In the early mediaeval period, even Bungay’s most prominent resident, Hugh Bigod, suffered the effects of a harsh winter in the Castle, with its stone walls, lofty ceilings, draughty staircases, and icy winds whistling through the narrow slit windows. Only one fireplace to heat the Great Hall, and imagine squatting in the garderobe, over the shaft leading down into the cess pit on a frosty morning! But maybe his servants provided a warmed chamber-p pot by the hearth. The Tudor period suffered from the effects of a ‘little Ice Age’ for several decades, to the extent that

the Thames in London froze so thickly that stalls, booths, and entertainments were organised on it, attracting thousands of visitors. Even in the 19th century the Bungay diarist, John Barber Scott, records on 4 Feb 1814: “We walked across the Thames on ice! There was a Fair upon it!” Severe winters also meant a shortage of food for many, and then, from Ash Wednesday, all good Christians fasted until Easter. So it’s hardly surprising that Easter Sunday was anticipated with greater delight even than Christmas, with warmer weather, longer days, and the fruits of the earth beginning to multiply again. In rural communities, agricultural labour was renewed, so there was extra income for the poor families who had suﬀered severely, often relying on charity to survive at all. Valentine’ss Day was the welcome herald of spring, birds beginning their courting and building nests, buds shooting, and primroses scenting the air from the meadow verges.

Credit, Frances Crickmore

Spring the sweet spring, is the year’s pleasant king. Then blooms each thing, the maids dance in a ring. Cold doth not sting, the pretty birds do sing: Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo! (Thomas Nashe, 16th century)

Bungay Castle in the snow, February 2021. Credit Andy Atterwill

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REAL LIVES

Heart Mission for Africa 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.

n empowering mission for a struggling Zimbabwe community struck an immediate chord with Carolyn Skittrall, who helps support several South Norfolk churches to bring change and growth through practical initiative and insight. Carolyn’s homeland is Zimbabwe; she knew the depths of poverty and the heights of prosperity and yearned to be involved with a mission to ease suffering and injustice – but no doors opened until she moved to England 28 years ago. When she joined the Upper Tas Valley Benefice in her neighbourhood, she learnt of its strong historic links with a church mission in Africa and became an effective liaison between the Norfolk and African churches to help raise awareness and rally support. The mission, instigated by Reverend James Hay Upcher almost 125 years ago, was named ‘All Saints Wreningham’, because his father was Rector of Wreningham and Ashwellthorpe. Church warden and treasurer, Christine Minns, was born next door to Wreningham Church and has been a member of its Parochial Church Council for 45 years. “I have seen a resurgent heart for the African Anglican mission, sparked 30 years ago when James Hay Upcher’s great niece from Sheringham approached the church, making it aware of the continuing Zimbabwe mission and its needs,” explains Christine.

The benefice has since helped finance a new primary school and church and supports a community that includes orphans and subsistent farmers. It hopes to enhance living standards, education and health where the mortality rate is high; disease, including AIDS, covid and malnutrition is evident, and essential needs are often unmet. Its quest is also to bring self-empowerment where there is unimaginable soaring inflation and a failing health service. The mission is bolstered through ongoing communication and reciprocal visits. Carolyn visited four years ago and met Archdeacon Tapiwa Chatikobo, along with his wife Obvious and family, after their growing communication. Over the years, she has helped forge benefice links with various new and changing priests, one even named his daughter after her. Friendships have developed by exchanging letters, parcels, telephone calls and WhatsApp messages – emails are unavailable. Her visit highlighted the grim realities, as political situations continue to hamper welfare and reform for the poor and marginalised. Many parents, some teachers, cannot afford school fees or uniforms, so children are denied an education, perpetuating the poverty cycle. School resources are meagre and outdated; books are torn, faded and fragile. Transport is non-existent.

Carolyn (right) with Archdeacon Tapiwa Chatikobo, wife Obvious and son, in Zimbabwe

Children walk miles in the dust and heat to attend lessons, while the new school curriculum is impossible to implement without expensive modern technology. Desperate need continues, with big hopes for solar panels, running water, electricity, repairs, and school resources, including a vegetable garden, so the children can eat the produce and learn about gardening. “But with God’s resources we can ﬁnd a way to make a diﬀerence and work with them to see their potential and achieve their goals to rise above their circumstances,” says Carolyn, who is planning a future visit. For more information, email Carolyn: cjskittrall@gmail.com. She is also available as a speaker (www.masvingo.anglican.org)

Village People South Norfolk edition – February / March 22 (Early Spring)

Articles inside

Exercise your braincellswith ourcrossword

Falcon Meadow Art Competition 2022

Sustainable beautywith Madeleine White

Money-avoidingpension poverty

Eyehealthwith CecilAmey opticians

Benefitsofvitamin supplementsprays

Seasonal food -celeriac

Review:the bestmilkfrothers on themarket

WIN aHomeFarmGin selection pack

MemoriesofThorpe Abbotts

Bookreviews, newreleases

NEW: ArtwithJamesMayhew

NEW: Greenfingerswith Alan Titchmarsh

Springinteriordesigntips from Lucy Gleeson

NorfolkFamilyHistorySociety

Recipe forspiced Mexican chocolatecake

Animal Farmarrivesat TheatreRoyal Norwich

Poetry Corner -GlennSealey from Surlingham

Caninecommunication withJulia Collins

Recipe forTom Kerridge’s Chicken &CoconutCurry

Walking forhealtharound Swardeston &Gowthorpe Manor

Fancyafurnituremakeover?