Village People Norfolk / Suffolk border edition – August / September 2022 (Late Summer) by Village People Magazines Ltd

Delivered to over 64,000 homes in Norfolk and Suﬀolk

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Contents

August/September 2022

OUT & ABOUT 8

Good news from our region

Time and Tide arrives in Norwich

29 HOME & GARDEN 20

Art - colour and composition from James Mayhew

Garden Jottings from The Garden Enclosure

Greenﬁngers with Alan Titchmarsh

Nature - take up the tree challenge with Norfolk Wildlife Trust

Book reviews - ﬁction for summer

NEW: Five minutes with …. Ben Langley

Seasonal food - 6 delicious courgette recipes

HEALTH, STYLE, FASHION & BEAUTY

Recipe for Yotam Ottolenghi’s pappardelle with rose harissa, black olives and capers

Skincare with Geraldine Walters

Fashion - beachwear to be seen in this summer

Health - top tips to cope with stress and anxiety

JOBS, MONEY & BUSINESS

Fashion - the 80s revival

Local walk to Howe from Brooke

Money on my mind with Martin Lewis

Memories of Frenze & Thelveton

Finance - the wellbeing beneﬁts of smart retirement planning

40 Recipe for cherry raspberry almond cake

WIN £100 M&S voucher ﬁnding Bella the beagle

Find a local business or service in our directory

Exercise your brain cells with our crossword

Village Notice Board

Canine communications with Julia Collins

52 2 Looking for a particular product or service? Check out our Local Business Directory on pages 80 & 81 5

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Advertise with us! Reliably delivered by Royal Mail, reaching 64,000 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 24 AUGUST October/November (Autumn issue) Delivered to over 64,000 homes in Norfolk and Suﬀolk

THE AWARD WINNING LO CAL L I F ESTYLE MAGAZINE

August / September 2022

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WELCOME TO THE LATE SUMMER ISS SUE

’m writing this piece on the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, with the sun shining and everyone’s energy on the up! At the same time we’ve been working on a piece to promote the charity calendar 2023 created by our local history expert, Dennis Cross. Time certainly flies, doesn’t it?! The calendar features old postcards from many of the villages that we deliver to, so plenty of fascinating history for you to enjoy. Raising funds for the wonderful Norfolk charity Big C, and priced at only £10, I do hope many of you will be able to support this great cause and have a whole year’s worth of local history to look at. We LOVE everything local, as you all know! Get your baking pinny on and try the Pennoyer Centre’s Cherry Raspberry Almond Cake, which scored 100% with all their tasters. That’s one I’ll definitely be baking this summer, especially as it can easily be adapted to gluten free. We know that hundreds of our readers always bake our cake recipes, so could I invite you to post a photo of this creation on Instagram and tag us so we can share @vpmagazine? As well as our regular Find Bella the Beagle competition to win a £100 M&S voucher, we are also promoting Norfolk Gin’s local refill service by giving away 8 bottles of their delicious gin. Plus, we have 4 pairs of tickets to give away to see the hilarious Ben Langley Show in Bungay. See inside for all the details. We have over 30 amazing new local businesses offering you

their products and services for the ﬁrst time in this issue, so make sure you read the magazine from cover to cover and support everything local. And ﬁnally, just to let you know that our circulation has increased by another 1,000, taking us up to 64,000 country homes receiving the region’s largest circulating magazine directly to their door. Enjoy! Stay safe in the sun until next time.

Lily

Lily Goulder editor@village-people.info 01284 788623 7

GOOD NEWS FROM OUR REGION: Even more at home

ohn Doe Carpets & Furniture, in Diss, have recently launched their new in-store coffee house, serving freshly brewed awardwinning coffee, freshly prepared food using locally sourced ingredients, tasty homemade cakes and more. The project has seen pop pular local coffee destination Diss Coffee House move into John Doe on their brand new mezzanine first floor. John Doe Marketing Executive, Josh Morley, says: “We wanted to further enhance our customers’

shopping experience by creating a place to relax with a drink and snack or meal, because there is just so much to see in our superstore. Customers can explore the showroom at their own pace, take a break and stay for the afternoon or longer, without feeling the need to rush.” John Doe occup pies their own 45,000 ft2 superstore, and the family-run business, founded in 1983, caters for all home needs under one roof, including flooring, beds, sofas, furniture, curtains and more.

Alongside the new coffee house is a brand new lighting department, and a new soft furnishings department offering luxury towels and bedding, with brands like Sanderson and Joules, as well as an extensive range of curtains, blinds and shutters. Josh Morley adds: “We are confident that the recent exp pansion will put us firmly on the map as one of the UK’s leading home retail stores, as we have effectively doubled the size of our first floor.”

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GOOD NEWS

Gin genius! Spurgeon’s in Brooke, Frederick’s in Diss, Brancaster Village Stores, Reno in Wymondham, Taverham Nursery and Cannels in both Reedham and Chedgrave.

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Norfolk Gin is giving away one large and one mini bottle of gin to four lucky Village People readers. To enter, follow Village People on Instagram @vpmagazine, ﬁnd the competition post and follow the instructions.

orfolk Gin has come up with a novel idea to slash waste and allow fans of their wonderful tipple to refill their empty bottles at specific locations around the county – and save money too! Jonathan Redding, Norfolk Gin Director, says: “People have been asking us if they can refill our bottles, so we went about finding a solution. Reno Wines in Wymondham was the first place we worked with for refills, and it was so successful that we have added

several other places in Norfolk, plus others in London and Somerset. “So when your Norfolk Gin is gone, you can take your bottle to one of the nine refill stations around the county, where you can get your bottle refilled and save £5 as well. There is no need to wash the bottle out first, just refit the stopper and drop in. These stores also stock lots of other fine produce and will be pleased to see you.” Local locations are: Jarrolds and Harper Wells in Norwich,

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GOOD NEWS

Brutal, ferocious and tender

orfolk art gallery, The Corn Hall, welcomes the powerful and emotive world of Portuguese artist Paula Rego, in a rare regional exhibition. Paula Rego – ‘The Dog will have his Day’ is a survey of Rego’s etchings and lithographs,

and will be on from 24 September to 5 November. Arguably one of the most important ﬁgurative artists of her generation, Rego died this June. Her art explores themes of rebellion, sexuality, power and grief, often

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GOOD NEWS

taboo-busting messages, always allowing room for the unexpected. Rego frequently describes her work as “ferocious and tender,” innocent on ﬁrst look, but look closer and there is a brutal twist. The Tate gallery’s major retrospective of Paula Rego’s work last year conﬁrmed her position as one of the most important post-war European artists and emphasised the role of socio-political in art, including a selection of her

etchings and lithographs. The Corn Hall, in Diss, is delighted to expand on this important aspect of her work by exhibiting a survey of her etchings from her famous Nursery Rhymes, prints, the renowned Jane Eyre suite of lithographs and preparatory studies. Curator David Case commented: “I was very fortunate to work with Paula for many years while a director of Marlborough Fine Art in London, so it's very pleasing to see such an important exhibition at the Corn Hall.” On the opening day there

will be a screening of the much acclaimed and intimate ﬁlm, directed by her son, Nick Willing ‘Secrets and Stories’ – a vivid and frank account of Paula Rego’s personal life and career, from her childhood in Portugal to current international status.

The Corn Hall would like to thank Nick Willing and Cristea Roberts Gallery for making the exhibition possible. thecornhall.co.uk

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MONEY MATTERS

Your home holds the ﬁnancial key to upgrading your lifestyle By Russell Golledge, Director of DG Financial Services in Diss

re you over 55, own your home and want to release some extra cash to help you make the most of your life? This scenario applies to many of my clients. Mr Smith wanted a luxury conservatory, so he could spend more time at home during his early retirement looking out over his beautiful garden. A lifetime mortgage was one solution for him, and here at DG Financial Services we are experts at helping householders like Mr Smith through their ﬁnancial journey to make their dreams real.

The mortgage allows you to borrow a one-off cash sum, or an initial lump sum, and set up a cash reserve to draw from when you choose. You will remain the homeowner. You do need to bear in mind that a lifetime mortgage will reduce the inheritance you leave, and may affect your tax position and eligibility for welfare benefits. This means the mortgage is not suitable for everyone and depends on your personal circumstances.

Contact me and I will help you through the process. Russell Golledge is a director with the family run business DG Financial Services Ltd from Diss, a company started by his father, now successfully managing £50 million for their clients. Telephone: 01379 454508. Email: info@dgfs.biz Website: www.dgfs.biz Address: DG Financial Services Ltd, Diss Business Hub (DBH 29), Hopper Way, Diss, Norfolk, IP22 4GT. This case study is illustrative, for client conﬁdentiality.

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Sunday 7th August 12pm – 4pm A traditional village fete with fun for all the family. Donkey rides, face painting, BBQ and cream teas, Punch and Judy, stalls, games, dog show, bar and much more. Free entry – raising funds for St Andrews church

Exhibitions July 30th to September 4th h Wed – Sun 11am to 4pm Our Summer exhibitions: International Mini Prints and ‘Saltmarsh’ by Rachel Spender

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Norwich Theatre – Time and Tide On tour from 29 September – 23 October

orwich Theatre is breaking down geographical barriers to theatre by taking its newest production – of local playwright James McDermott’s Cromer-set play Time and Tide – on tour around East Anglia, from 29 September until 23 October. Time And Tide is an LGBT comic drama about a Norfolk community struggling with change. May runs a crumbling caﬀ on the end of Cromer Pier. Her delivery man, Ken, is running out of customers, thanks to Costa. Nemo is desperate to tread the boards in London, and his unrequited love, Daz, is burying his head in the sand over his best mate leaving. The show will open and close

at Norwich Theatre’s Stage Two in Norwich, situated behind the Theatre Royal. It will then go on tour around the region, calling at theatres in Colchester, Bury St Edmunds, Lowestoft, Sheringham, Wells, Diss, Great Yarmouth, and Thetford. Norwich Theatre believes it’s really important to shine a light on and amplify local stories and voices. The tour is in partnership

with Relish Theatre, from Norfolk, to showcase the work of regional talent. “So moving, funny, truthful and compelling,” said Stephen Fry. The full list of venues with dates and booking information is on the Norwich Theatre website – view What’s On and click on Time and Tide. norwichtheatre.org

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ART

A master of colour and composition

Award-winning Suﬀolk author, illustrator and artist, James Mayhew, investigates inspiring art in the region

James Mayhew

hey say you should never meet your heroes, in case they disappoint! But when it comes to Dom Theobald, I needn’t have worried. It would be hard to find a more affable, warm and approachable person. I’d been aware of Dom’s work for some time, commanding attention wherever I’d seen it, so it was an enormous pleasure to visit him at his studio, hidden away like a forgotten chapter of The Secret Garden behind the magnificent Ditchingham House. Dom lived in an apartment in the house until recently, but maintains his barn-like studio there. Abstract paintings are hung from the rafters, glowing luminously on the walls and spilling their colour out into the landscape; walls and tables are crammed full of equipment. Printmaking tools, paints, brushes, and an enormous printing press stands in the midst of this cacophony of creativity. Dom’s paintings are often huge and the textures are as important as the images themselves. There’s a joy in the physical process and the physicality of the materials he uses. His old etching plates are objects of beauty, full of texture,

form and interest. Among many etchings, a cat motif reappears. There’s an angular dog too, which Dom laughingly refers to as a kind of self-portrait. Born in Surrey and brought up in London, Dom describes himself as, “Not good at school, not academic…but always drawing.” He left school unsure what to do with himself, and initially got a job, keeping his interests in art alive with evening classes. But in his mid-twenties he was ﬁnally persuaded to apply to Camberwell School of Art for a foundation course, and then on to Norwich School of Art, where artist and tutor Derrick Greaves’ poetic and carefully considered image-making proved to be an important influence. This was followed by two years at the Slade, where he studied printmaking. Ever since then, painting (in oils and acrylic), and printmaking

(etching) have been joint passions. I was especially interested to talk to Dom about the journey from observational, representational drawing, to abstraction. Dom’s paintings are extraordinary in their balance, the space between things as important as the components of the images. There is clarity, yet ambiguity. It is considered, thoughtful work. Where does it begin? “I tend to see drawing as a finding of shapes, a finding of forms, a way of discovering the world,” explains Dom. “Inevitably, as an artist, you have a kind of ‘filtration system’. For me, abstraction became a process of filtering out a whole lot of stuff I didn’t want, and simplifying the pictorial space.” While Dom tries to avoid obvious symbolism, he recognises that viewers inevitably project their own thoughts and interpretations onto his work.

ART

Dom ﬁnds forms and inspiration in all kinds of places. One painting is made up of sequences of random iconography seen on a trip to Coney Island, New York, which explains the giddy, almost cartoonish colours and shapes. A trip to Florence also made a huge impression, the clarity and organised space of early Italian painting, and the dominating boldness of icons, taught him much. Music is also a huge inspiration – colours matching sounds like a kind of synaesthesia. Dom cites Miles Davis as a favourite, and throughout his work there is a sense of harmony, or discord, in the juxtaposition of colours. Recently, he has sensed his work is changing, a result of many years in the bucolic countryside of the Waveney Valley. Outside his studio, in the sunshine, are some work-

in-progress landscapes. The audacious colours and powerful forms make them instantly recognisable as Dom’s work. Yet they are also representational; horizons, skies in fantastical colours, organic forms like a split willow on a river bank, wrought in decoration and pattern. They dazzle and surprise, humming with colour and life. “There’s a battle going on,” says Dom cheerfully. “Forms are trying to surface.” Some paintings happen quickly, others take time and build up in layers. Sometimes he will return to a painting years after an initial phase. His current landscapes are already two years old, and I’m impatient to see how they end up. I suspect they will be very special indeed, but I’ll have to wait. As Dom says: “I think, for me, the best paintings are not entirely planned.”

Dom Theobald

Web: domtheobald.com Web: jamesmayhew.co.uk Insta & Twitter: @mrjamesmayhew

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GARDENS

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or a bit of gardening inspiration, there’s nothing better than taking a look at a display of show gardens, such as those seen at the Chelsea Flower Show, Britain’s pinnacle of horticultural excellence, or at Hampton Court, Tatton Park, some fantastic county events such as Sandringham, and the regional agricultural shows. Whether you attend and experience the atmosphere for yourself or just watch on TV (where I’m sure you see more of the show gardens) you can’t help but wish that your garden looked that good all year round – so why doesn’t it? Firstly, most display gardens are a bit of an illusion, they are a snapshot of one moment in time when everything is brought together at its peak (that’s not to say they are impractical or unreal). Secondly, budgets need to be generous as instant is expensive,

and thirdly, the attention to detail is very time consuming, requiring a skilled team to install and maintain the design. However, putting aside these minor details, there’s no reason why much of what you see cannot be created in some way in your own garden. Show gardens express the importance of structure, the balance between hard surfaces (patios, pathways, steps, features, etc) and the softer elements of the plants, creating an inviting and harmonious space. The majority of flower colour is produced by herbaceous plants, such as the beautiful sun-loving bearded iris, wonderful large-flowered oriental poppies, fragrant dianthus and carnations, centaurea (Knapweed), foxgloves and many other ‘cottage garden’ favourites. Green in all textures, shades and forms naturally creates the backdrop for these blooms

– lush hostas, soft conifers, bold fatsias, neat hornbeam hedges and sharply clipped box balls, interspersed with drifts of blousy lavenders or light and airy grasses moving gently in the slightest breeze. These borders look fantastic now, but for your own plot try to extend the season with planting that will reward you with successional interest throughout the year. If the opportunity arises, go and have a look at some local Open Garden events, where residents bravely open their side gates for a good cause, and allow the public a sneaky peek into their private space. These are genuine gardens maintained on an average budget in the owners’ spare time, giving you a realistic snapshot of what you can achieve in yours. At The Garden Enclosure, we stock all kinds of plants and have access to thousands more from our dedicated local nurserymen, so call in and turn your wish into reality, create a space that’s special, you don’t have to do it all at once, take one step at a time and your dream garden will no longer be an illusion!

Cheers Ken,

The Garden Enclosure, Banham bringing you a splash of inspiration whatever the weather!

INDEPENDENT GARDEN CENTRE & GIFT SHOP 01953 888043 www.gardenenclosure.co.uk Inspiring plant selections, plant sourcing & garden advice, gardening & ﬂoristry sundries, timber products, stones & gravels, wild bird & pet supplies, gifts & greetings cards, preserves… & more!

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GARDENS

GREENFINGERS… with Alan Titchmarsh

Horticultural inspiration, accomplished gardener, talented novelist and much-loved presenter, Alan Titchmarsh, talks about the most common mistakes we make in our gardens.

always say, as a golden rule, prevention is better than cure, so with that in mind here are my top seven gardening mistakes… and how to avoid them! Firstly, you can have too much of a good thing! Less is more when it comes to good gardening, and if you cram too much together it’ll look a mess, or worse still, die! Another big error is over- and under-watering. Be regimented about your watering routine and adjust it depending on rainfall to ensure your garden is nicely hydrated at all times. Next, always ensure what you’re pulling up are weeds and not slow-developing flowers. We can sometimes ﬁnd ourselves being particularly ruthless with what grows in our gardens, so remember, everything grows at a diﬀerent rate and sometimes the most mundane of plants will flourish to become the most beautiful… but only if they’re left in the ground! Another big thing is failing to prepare your soil. Give your plants a chance by ensuring the soil they’re in is in good condition. A simple testing kit will let you know if you

need to re-compost, add fertiliser, or simply switch to a diﬀerent soil type. You should also steer clear of what I call ‘the bullies’! Japanese knotweed and Russian vine are particularly unruly and will literally undermine not just your flowers, but nearby buildings too! And the same goes for our animal friends. Sure, we may like to see a hedgehog, bird life, even the odd fox, but the best gardens are those that manage to protect the food supply present! My ﬁnal piece of advice is to try to spread the love around your garden. Few of us have an endless budget with which to run riot in our green spaces, and it’s better to do a little at a time across the board than blow it all in one part of the garden, leaving the rest of it looking forlorn and bereft.

Remember, no two gardens are the same, in much the same way that no two gardeners are the same, and you’re never going to get it right all the time. The most important thing is to be organised and put the eﬀort in – if you do that, the rewards will very often follow close behind.

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FURNITURE

Refresh your furniture... without buying new! old furniture, as it gets rid of any smelly nasties, or a simple sugar soap solution will do if things aren’t too grotty. Remember to rinse with clean water and allow to dry completely before starting to paint.

FINISHED

f your furniture is looking a bit tired, it could be the perfect candidate for a makeover! Whether you fancy having a go yourself, or commissioning Hilary & Alice to create a masterpiece for you, here are 5 simple steps to follow:

BEFORE

Cleaning No matter how good your paint is, if there’s dirt underneath then it won’t stand the test of time, so thoroughly clean the piece inside and out. Autentico Omniclean is great for stubborn dirt or really

Preparation Give your piece a thorough ‘key’, which means scuffing the surface with fine sandpaper to break the shiny surface and give the paint something to stick to. We use the Autentico Versante range, which is a high quality paint designed for furniture – but it can also be used on walls if you want to create a feature wall to match your furniture. Next, fix/repair any issues – glue joints, fill holes, replace runners etc. Also tape up any areas you don’t want paint to get into, such as drawer edges and glass. Paint Apply thin coats of paint for a smooth finish, and make sure your brush strokes are all in the same direction. For a more rustic finish, apply the paint in all directions. It’s always better to apply an extra coat thinly than slap on too much paint in one go. Leave 4 hours between coats if your paint has a wax/sealer in it, to allow it to cure.

DURING

Detail Once you’ve finished painting, decide on the detail to make your piece extra special. We stock a wide range of decoupage papers, transfers, metallic paints and leaf, wallpapers, paint inlays and more to make your piece ‘pop’! Simply changing the door knobs can make a huge difference to the end result...we stock lots of these too! Wax or varnish Some furniture paints require a finishing product to seal it. Do this right at the end as once you’ve waxed your masterpiece it’s difficult to make any changes afterwards.

If you've got a piece of furniture you'd like the H&A team to paint, email a picture to hello@ hilaryandalice.co.uk for a quote. They also host a range of workshops where you can learn the techniques for yourself. Full details at hilaryandalice.co.uk/ workshops/. The shop is open Mon-Sat in Mere Street, Diss.

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RECIPE

Yotam Ottolenghi’s Pappardelle with Rose Harissa, Black Olives and Capers

INGREDIENTS 2 tbsp of olive oil 1 large onion, thinly sliced (220g) 3 tbsp Rose Harissa 400g cherry tomatoes, halved

Serves 4 I ﬁnd there is no better dish to eat in the summer evenings than pasta. Al fresco, with the late sunshine and a glass of red or white wine, I struggle to think of a better combination with which to while away those elongated evenings.

‘Pappare’ means ‘to gobble up’, in Italian, which is the destiny of this dish. I like it spicy, but the quantity of harissa can easily be reduced. Make the sauce three days ahead if you like and keep in the fridge until needed.

55g pitted Kalamata olives, torn in half 20g baby capers 500g dried pappardelle pasta (or another wide, ﬂat pasta) 15g parsley, roughly chopped 120g Greek-style yoghurt salt

METHOD 1. Put the oil into a large sauté pan, for which you have a lid, and place on a medium high heat. Once hot, add the onion and fry for 8 minutes, stirring every once in a while, until soft and caramelised. 2. Add the Rose Harissa, tomatoes, olives, capers and 1/2 teaspoon of salt and continue to fry for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until the tomatoes

start to break down. Add 200ml of water and stir through. 3. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium low, cover the pan and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the lid and continue to cook for 4–5 minutes until the sauce is thick and rich. Stir in 10g of the parsley and set aside. 4. Meanwhile, ﬁll a large pot with plenty of salted water and

place on a high heat. Once boiling, add the pappardelle and cook according to the packet instructions until al dente. Drain well. 5. Return the pasta to the pot along with the harissa sauce and 1/8 teaspoon of salt. Mix together well, then divide between four shallow bowls. Serve hot, with a spoonful of yoghurt and a ﬁnal sprinkle of parsley. 29

MADE TO MEASURE BLINDS

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FASHION

The 80s

FASHION REVIVAL

he era that provoked a fashion and music revolution is being celebrated right now, and it’s not too late to jump on the fashion trend of the year – 80s revival! All that glitters is not gold In fact it can be silver, blue, pink, vermillion, turquoise, or any colour as long as the overall look is dropdead fabulous. Think feathers, sequins and of course, Lamé. With such ostentation, however, keep makeup natural and go easy on the accessories. Give winter the cold shoulder Reviving the classic 80s asymmetric look, and

proving that those were simpler times, one perfectly exposed clavicle would always do. Keep it current by choosing muted colours and going for a structural statement rather than anything flouncy or frilly. The power pose Women may have been able to vote for 100 years, but the power suit only became a thing in the 80s. Not just for important board meetings; worn right the perfect suit will take you from the oﬃce to the dance floor, and look good in almost every colour. While the structure of the power suit hasn’t changed – broad shoulders, slender waist, big impact – the overall feel is more feminine, with a silky blouse or underlayer and killer heels. Revisit your prom queen Why not roll back the years with the latest incarnations of the tulle skirt, albeit with perhaps a touch sultrier sophistication than would have been played out in the era of Pepsi and Shirlie? Keep it short

and punky, or long and elegant, just don’t over accessorise. Padding it out Shoulder pads are back in fashion, with the classic 80s accentuation possibly having shown to reach its peak with this bold, horizontal look. The look actually served as a really smart, artificial boost to women with small frames who just wanted to show a bit more of themselves to the world. And thanks to the 80s revival, they can again! Bodysuits The versatility of the bodysuit means it’s a piece for any occasion, either in accentuating a slight frame or being used as a bottom layer for a larger jacket or puffy top. Bodysuits look best when worn with wide-leg trousers or even a flowy skirt – the tightness of the top half and the carefree movement of the lower half works in perfect complement, for a classic 80s look. Love a glove Gloves seemed to define a coolness of the 80s. From Michael Jackson to acid house, th he glove was a music moniker that permeated th hrough to th he high street, and they’re back again in th he summer, proving faashion over fu unction truly exxists!

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LOCAL WALKS

Walking for Health Howe from Brooke REVIEWED BY DOUGIE DINGWALL VOLUNTEER CO-ORDINATOR AT CENTRAL NORFOLK WELLBEING WALKS Route by Angela Tregear and Ruth Burn Route checked and photography by Dougie Dingwall

Directions 01. Turn left out of the village hall car park and walk along the pavement to cross the B road using the island. Continue past the garage, then turn right at the crossroads into High Green. Using the pavement when available, continue through the village, taking care at the bend by the derestricted sign. 02. Turn right at the track (Howards Lane) with a fingerpost after Wood Farm House. Continue straight ahead where a track goes to the right, and walk through the woods. This is deeply rutted and parts can be very muddy (wood anemones March/April, bluebells May). Turn right, then left at the end of the wood (marker post); continue past a concrete/earth bridge to the right, then follow the path to the left and turn right after a single tree to the right. 03. Turn left at a marker post and walk across the field towards another marker post (Howe church can be seen in this direction when leaves are not on the trees). Pass through a hedge and walk along a path, initially between the hedge and a fence, and then over grass to reach the road. (Howe Green). Turn left to walk past Howe church on your right, then continue through the village to pass a telephone box on your left. Turn right onto a path with fingerpost immediately before Backwood Lane on your left. 04. Continue along the fieldside path, through a rambler’s gate and then cross a plank bridge with care to reach Dove Lane. Turn right beside a marker post and walk along Dove Lane, crossing Howe Lane to continue on the track. Keep right at a junction of paths and then turn right into Sewell’s Lane after passing a house with metal gates to your left. Continue along this narrow road, past The Rosary and the Natatorium, and cross Howe Lane to continue on a track.

Starting Point: Brooke Village Hall rear car park, Norwich Road Brooke NR15 1AB Grid Reference: OS Map 237 285992 Walk Length 4.4 Miles / 7 KM

05. Turn left at the single tree, then follow the track round to the right. Very soon, at a concrete/earth bridge on your left, cross to walk straight across a ﬁeld; leaving through a hedge to walk on a ﬁeldside path with a hedge to your left. Continue along the path, now between hedges, to reach the B road. Cross the road using the island to the right and turn right to walk to the village hall. 33

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LOCAL HISTORY

Memories of Frenze & Thelveton 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 Frenze and Thelveton.

 The Staﬀordshire Yeomanry was stationed at

Frenze during WW1, where they trained before shipping oﬀ to France. Here they can be seen in early 1914 with their horses, in a picture taken by oﬃcial war photographer Ernest Abraham.

 Seen here in 1911, St Andrews Church, Frenze, is

situated in beautiful surroundings and excellent for brass rubbings.

 Early 1914 – soldiers from the Staﬀordshire

Yeomanry butchering meat for the troops in Frenze.

 Frenze Hall is situated opposite the church,

and was owned at the time of this 1912 postcard by farmer Arthur Gaze. The population was 49.

The Eli Elizabethan b th mansion i Th Thelveton l t Hall, H ll in i  Th 1914, was owned by Sir Edward Mann Bart JP. Many Agatha Christie TV programmes have been ﬁlmed here. 35

LOCAL HISTORY

 Pictured in 1911, this splendid house, called The

Grange, was owned by Horace Willam Lascelles. Below right: Taken in the late 1920s, this photograph shows the school house, which was built by Mr T Mann for 48 pupils. The school is now a private house.

 Thelveton School, around 1927/28. Dennis Cross went to school with many of the children of these pupils!

Back row l-r: Margaret Kent, Peter Potter, Will Kent, John Moore, Charlie Ruddock, Miss Meadows. 2nd row l-r: Mrs Smith (headmistress)), Joan Sneesby, Sybil Lawrence, Bert Saunders, Frank Coulson, Freda Kerry, Violet Lawrence, Kath Emptage, Brenda Lawrence, Miss Cook (infant teacher), Marjorie Lawrence. Seated l-r: Dorothy Potter, Edna Lipson, Marjorie Race, Winnie Leeder, Vera Ruddock, Lily Saunders, Joan Smith, Miss Meadows, Ivy Coulson. On ground l-r: Sanford Race, Gerald Ruddock, Herbert Kent, Kenny Ruddock.

The Norfolk Postcard Club has been disbanded, and a donation of £430 has been sent to each of four charities; East Anglian Air Ambulance, Big C, Marie Curie Care, and Marie Curie Support.

A moment in time

ur postcard expert Dennis Cross is unveiling his fourth calendar to raise money for Norfolk cancer charity Big C. The popullar ar calendars, calendars which feature fascinating historriical postcards of local villages, have raised £6,340 so far for the charity, and Dennis is conﬁdent that this latest one will be just as well received. “This is a calendar with a diﬀerence,” he says. “It goes from January 2023 to January 2024 and features four postcards per page. We have sought out the most unusual and interesting ones from Diss and surrounding villages, many of which are unique and never seen before. But some readers will recognise the scenes and places, and that’s what makes the calendars so

popular; people love to see villages they know or grew up in captured in a moment in time. “We We have found a wonderful postcard of a local ice cream selllerr who had a bus converted und all the villages selling so he could go arrou both ﬁsh and cchiips and ice cream. No-one has sseeen this postcard before. There is another of a porter at Diss Station standing between two horses. I think b he contrast between life back th theen, and now, makes us all veery nostalgic for simpler times.”

Th he calendars cost £10, and yo ou can buy them from Ph hotto Elite or Leslie Ward Gifftss, in Diss, or direct from De ennis. Call after 7pm on 79 651897. 0137

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CAKE RECIPE

Cherry Raspberry Almond Cake

This simple cake is simply divine! Of all the recipes we’ve created for the café, only this one scored 100% with all our tasters. You could use just one fruit, but we think the sharp combination of cherry and raspberry contrasts wonderfully with the sweet almond sponge. You can use gluten-free self-raising flour if you want; most amaretti are gluten-free. Serves 10-12 457 cals/46g carbs

Tip: Don’t bother to defrost the fruit, they work ﬁne from frozen!

INGREDIENTS Cake: 225g butter, softened 225g caster sugar 4 eggs 175g self-raising ﬂour 125g ground almonds 3-4 drops almond extract 175g amaretti biscuits 125g frozen raspberries 125g frozen pitted cherries A good handful (about 75g) ﬂaked almonds To serve: Clotted cream or crème fraiche Fresh raspberries or pitted cherries

METHOD 1. Grease and line a 23cm springform tin. Preheat the oven to 140ºC (fan)/160ºC (regular). Put the butter, sugar, eggs, flour, ground almonds and almond extract in a large bowl and beat with an electric whisk until everything is combined. 2. Spread half the mixture across the base of the lined tin, then crumble half the amaretti biscuits over the top. Dot with half the 40

frozen fruit, ensuring raspberries and cherries are mixed. 3. Top with the remaining batter, dolloping on spoonfuls. Spread as evenly as possible. Add the remaining crumbled biscuits and fruit, then scatter thickly with flaked almonds. 4. Bake in the oven for about 75 minutes – the exact time will depend on how frozen your fruit is. You may need to cover the top loosely with foil/parchment if it’s getting too brown. A skewer should come out clean when it’s cooked.

5. Cool in the tin, then decant and serve as it is, or with fruit and cream, for a delicious dessert. The cake will keep for up to four days in an airtight container. 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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Eggbert goes to

picnics, poetry & puppets at Black Barn Join Eggbert & friends at Black Barn vintage féte for picnics, poetry and puppets on Saturday the 6th August from 12 to 4pm It’s sure to be a super day, with live performances, entertainment, vintage games, stalls and much much more!

Admission is free. All donations made on the day go towards Nelson’s Journey - a Norfolk based charity.

Bring your own picnic, relax and enjoy stepping backwards and forwards in time throughout the day and discover the history of the picnic.

Black Barn, The Street, Tibenham, Norwich, Norfolk NR16 1QA

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WHAT'S ON THIS MONTH

Village Notice Board EVENT Sat 23 and Sun 24 July, 11am-5pm Open Gardens & Art Exhibition Weybread IP21 5TR mike@mikenottantiques.com 07890 032292

MUSIC Tue 9 Aug, 9.30am-3.45pm & Wed 10 Aug, 1.30pm-8.15pm Journeys' Ends: Thetford Voices Open Singing Workshops Thetford Grammar School, Bridge Street IP24 3AF A two-day course for 6-18-yearolds. Sing, rehearse and perform, with a closing concert for guests, families and friends. John Weeks, thetfordvoices@gmail.com, 01842 820060.

MUSIC Sat 13 Aug, 6pm Fine Knack for Ladies Rickinghall Inferior Church A celebration of women and fashion in words and music, old and new, performed by The Shakespeare Singers and Hexachordia. Free admission. Contact: Sarah Doig, info@hexachordia.com

MUSIC Mon 15 Aug – Sat 20 Aug Senior Summer Musical The Workshop Studios, Unit E, Havers Road, Norwich NR3 2DU An intensive week with an awardwinning creative team to design, write, choreograph and direct a brand new musical, and perform to friends and family. Open to all young people aged 13-20. info@theworkshopstudios.co.uk, 07385 543892.

TALK Wed 17 Aug, 1.45pm Poor Law & Settlement, Diss Family History Group, Diss Bowls Club, Fair Green IP22 4BE Talk by Simon Pawley. Members £3, visitors £6. Refreshments included. Free parking. bettymorley@ btinternet.com, 01379 586434.

COMEDY

TALK Wed 21 Sept, 1.45pm Twangs to Bangs, Diss Family History Group. Diss Bowls Club, Fair Green IP22 4BE Talk by Mike Wabe. Members £3, visitors £6. Refreshments included. Free parking. bettymorley@btinternet. com, 01379 586434.

Fri 26 Aug, 7.30pm The Ben Langley Show Fisher Theatre, Bungay NR35 1EE Norwich panto legend and BGT Misheard Lyrics funnyman brings his one-man variety show to the Fisher Theatre for one night only!! This hilarious family experience continues to wow audiences up and down the country and is an absolute must see! “Ben Langley, you are a very funny man!” Simon Cowell. To book: ﬁsher theatre.org

FESTIVAL Sat 27 Aug – Mon 29 Aug Flordon Flower Festival: ‘70 Years of Change’ Flordon Church & Community Centre NR15 1RP Refreshments Saturday and Sunday only. Tea, coﬀee and homemade cakes 11am-4pm. Ploughman’s Lunches 12pm-2pm. Admission, suggested donation £3. janet. negal@outlook.com

ART Sat 24 September – Sun 9 Oct Norfolk Open Studios Across Norfolk. Over a hundred artists and makers across Norfolk welcome the public into their studios to see how and where they work. openstudios@nnfestival.org.uk or nnfestival.org.uk

HISTORY Sun 4 Sept, 10am-4pm Bringing Local History Alive Rickinghall Village Hall IP22 1HD Memories of life in our villages to listen to and read. Bring your own memories too! Illustrated talks, local history books for sale. Refreshments. quatrefoil.org.uk

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

For more information on all events including ticket purchase please see www.village-people.info/whats-on 43

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CANINE BEHAVIOUR

Parlez Vous POOCH?! Blogger and qualiﬁed ‘Dog Listener’ Julia Collins discusses the wisdom and practicalities of clothing for dogs.

ncreasingly it seems to be à la mode to put clothes on our dogs. I am certainly guilty. It began with a zip-up fleece for chilly walks, progressing to a duvet-style ‘turn-out’ rug for seriously wintry weather. Before spring arrived we were sporting a onesie! In fact, of the latter, we possess two. Following messy, cold morning walks we can peel out of one, have a quick paw wash and slide eﬀortlessly into onesie number two, ready for a day’s

gardening. Snug, windproof, and ideal for sitting on damp grass, especially as I either add the fleece underneath or the duvet on top! I have long wondered about the wisdom, or kindness, of taking a dog from a centrally heated home out into the cold weather. Especially when we humans get all togged up in coat, hat, scarf, gloves, etc. I fully comprehend how kennelled dogs of old would have stupendous coats and thermostats to match, enabling them to cope, but when you’ve been sno oozing in your fleecy bed one minute and expected to face bleak open ﬁelds the next, to me a coat of some sort maakes perfect sense. An nother reason is the dreaded clean-up. Not possessing a sluicedown area, for us this has to take place on the paving outside the front door. We all know the horrible feeliing of a breeze on wet skin. Well, imagine that am mpliﬁed on a cold day when n you have four legs to wash, pluss bits of tummy! You see where the onesie is coming from. Now wadays my pooch watches th hrough the French doors from m the comfort of the hall, whille the onesie receives the clean up that was formerly

his fate. In addition, less warm water and towels are needed. That has got to be a plus. It can be draughty around the Barn. I bought him a sweater, and this mustard yellow number proved terriﬁcally dashing, so much so that a navy polo followed closely on its heels. Handy too, when rain makes the temperature plummet and nights aren’t so balmy. Just like horses’ rugs, the variety of coats for dogs seems as limitless as the occasions we can dream up for their use. I tell myself that practicality is the watchword. We dress for purpose here – not appearances, although those bandanas can look very cool – perhaps if we received one as a present?! 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 45

FOR ALL YOUR REMOVAL & STORAGE REQUIREMENTS

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NATURE

Take up the tree challenge By Ben Newton, Habitat Connectivity Oﬃcer at Norfolk Wildlife Trust

orfolk Wildlife Trust’s Claylands Wilder Connections project is working with communities and landowners in South Norfolk to connect people with nature and to improve physical connections for wildlife within the landscape. Planting trees in hedges or woodlands is a fantastic legacy for the future. Trees store carbon and act as valuable ‘highways’ to help wildlife move through the landscape. Whatever the scale of your planting, from a tree in your garden to a wood on a farm, NWT recommend: • Find out what you have already. Look for existing wildlife features such as meadows, ponds and fens. Information on existing habitats is available from Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service. It’s all about the right tree in the right place. • Consider the site’s existing wildlife features and build in new ones. Mature woodlands tend to have a varied structure – rides and glades, ponds and ditches, old trees, young trees plus standing and fallen dead trees. Each of these provides a home for wildlife. • Select a range of species suited to your soils and drainage – look at which trees grow well nearby. With a changing climate in mind, add in a few species that likes warm, dry conditions, such as hornbeam or small-leaved lime. Fruit trees, like crab apple or wild pear, will thrive on the woodland edges and provide food for birds and pollinating insects. Shrubs

like hawthorn and spindle can increase diversity. • Vary the spacing, with some trees closely planted and others that are more open. • Create micro-habitats such as log piles as shelter for invertebrates, along with bird, bat and bee boxes. It will be a long while before the young trees can support these species, so give them a chance from the start. • Plan for future management. In a few years, woods may need thinning if the trees are crowded and coppicing of species like hazel and willow will provide low cover for small birds. Coppicing means cutting down a tree to the ground and allowing it to regrow.

• Be patient. The process of turning land into woodland is slow, but the wildlife you see along the way is worth it!

A volunteer tree planting session at Old Hall Farm in Woodton. (Picture credit Richard Osbourne).

Claylands Tree Pack Giveaway NWT has teamed up with the Woodland Trust to offer free trees to people within the Claylands area. Anyone can apply for 50 or 100 native trees – communities could split packs between several locations. For more information: www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/freetrees 49

Is your garden overrun with moles? Do you have a wasp nest? Are your paddocks overrun with rabbits? For ALL your domestic or commercial Pest Control. Woodworm treatment available. No obligation – free survey/quotes. Pest infestation can damage your health and your home. Recent surveys show that numbers of mice/rats and bed bugs found in UK homes are on the rise. As Local Authorities are cutting back on free pest control services. We are here to oﬀer you a service at the right price.

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At SET Beccles, our focus is on delivering highly engaging lessons and providing students with the care and guidance that allows them to succeed. Our students tell us that they value the way lessons are delivered and the strong relationships that exist in school between students and staff. This is only possible because of our small size and our belief and confidence in every student as an individual. For more information or to book a tour of the school, please email: beccles@seckfordeducation.org.uk or contact our school office by calling 01502 718850 Inspiring, enabling and celebrating each and every young person's personal best

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BOOKS

Riveting READS We all love a good book. Village People recommends some fantastic ﬁction to ease you through the summer sun. The Final Gambit By Jennifer Lynn Barnes (30 Aug) To inherit billions, all Avery Kylie Grambs has to do is survive a few more weeks living in Hawthorne House. The paparazzi are dogging her every step. Financial pressures are building. Danger is a fact of life. Yet as the clock ticks down to the moment when Avery will become the richest teenager on the planet, trouble arrives in the form of a visitor who needs her help.

Stay Awake By Megan Goldin (9 Aug) Liv Reese wakes up in the back of a taxi with no idea where she is or how she got there. When she’s dropped oﬀ at her door, a stranger answers – a stranger who now lives in her apartment and forces her out in the cold. She reaches for her phone to call for help, only to discover it’s missing, and in its place is a bloodstained knife. That’s when she sees that her hands are covered in black pen, scribbled messages like graﬃti on her skin: STAY AWAKE.

Love on the Brain By Ali Hazelwood (23 Aug) From the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis comes a new STEMinist rom-com in which a scientist is forced to work on a project with her nemesis— with explosive results. Sure, Levi is attractive in a tall, dark, and piercing-eyes kind of way. But Levi made his feelings toward Bee very clear in grad school—archenemies work best employed in their own galaxies far, far away.

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All you need to brighten up your home and garden It’s that time of the year to think about decorating and at CTS we have everything you need to get the job done, inside or out! We have a great selection of paint in stock as well as our Dulux, Cuprinol Garden Shades and Armstead mixing service. If you are looking for a specific shade we can scan fabrics, colour cards or even an object to find the best match. Plus we have all the decorating tools you need, including paint brushes, rollers, sandpaper, masking tape, sponges, fillers, cleaners and white spirit. For the outside we stock exterior wood and metal paint and woodstain which are perfect to brighten up your gate, shed, fence or decking area. Please visit our website or give us a call for up to date prices. We offer a free local delivery service on orders over £20 within a 10 mile radius or come along and visit us at Mill Lane. CTS DIY & Building Supplies in Mill Lane, Pulham Market is open to the public and trade from 7.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday and between 8.00am and 12 noon on Saturdays.

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PEOPLE

Five minutes with…

BEN LANGLEY We get up close and personal with Norfolk’s favourite comedian, actor, writer, producer, panto star and Britain's Got Talent sensation. What is your favourite joke? It’s actually a poem, by Spike Milligan. I've never felt ﬁner Said the King of China Sitting down to dine And then he died He died, he did It was only half past nine Who, or what, are your comedy inspirations? I have quite an eclectic pull when it comes to comedy. Spike Milligan and The Goons, Eddie Izzard, Buster Keaton. Norman Wisdom was a ﬁrm favourite growing up, I loved his physicality and his cute character. I did meet him at the encore awards in London in the early 2000s, but sadly he was very distant at that point. Joe Pasquale is a great inspiration and I was lucky enough not only to support him on his summer tour, but we played Holmes and Watson in my play ‘Ha Ha Holmes!’ for 68 one-nighters.

What is your favourite film and why? Cinema Paradiso – the director’s cut. A wonderful film about hope. It’s beautiful and very moving. Hope is what fuels our journey, don’t you think? Without hope we have no purpose and with no purpose we have nothing. I think a lot of people felt this way during lockdown – so here’s to hope! Where are your favourite places in Norfolk and Suffolk? It’s all about family time for me, so let’s to the beach! Sea Palling is so family friendly with its golden sands, and we always have a winner of a day. My children also love Ringwood river by the Swan Pub; great for paddling, rope swings and watching fish. We recently went to The Playground outside Bury St Edmunds where there is an assault course for the whole family.

Who would play you in a ﬁlm? My son, Loxley, is nearly nine and he has these funny bones! A natural feel of an energy in a room which he has a knack of tapping into and creating a laugh. He’d play the young me and what about Taron Egerton for the rest? Which 3 words best describe you? My friend Paul Zerdin (winner of America’s Got Talent 2014) once described me as “funny, diﬀerent, quite mad" – ok, that's four words! I would say: loving, erratic, honest. What is your perfect weekend? A stay in a country club/hotel overlooking the sea. Lunch would include family and friends and lots of Shiraz. Children playing, walks on the beach, festoon lights, summer flavours.

Village People has 4 pairs of tickets to give away to see The Ben Langley Show at the Fisher Theatre, Bungay, on Friday 26 August. To be in with a chance of winning, visit www.village-people.info and follow the links to the competition page. Closing date is Friday 19 August and the usual VP rules apply. 55

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We offer a simple low cost solution to your storage needs. Our new steel containers with thick plywood ﬂoors and high quality door seals ensure that your goods come out in the same condition they went in. We are conveniently situated on the A143 in Wortham just minutes from Diss.

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SEASONAL FOOD

Courgettes Squash Captain I

f you have ever grown your own courgettes, you will know that it’s easy to run out of ideas for how to cook the abundant crop! But fear not, here are 6 delicious recipes to use up this versatile veg. Souped up For a gorgeous courgette and mint soup, sweat down onion and garlic, then add diced courgettes and cook until soft. Season to taste, add vegetable stock and whizz with a blender until smooth. Stir in some creme fraiche and a small bunch of chopped mint. Stripped for action Cut courgettes lengthways into strips, toss in a bowl with olive oil and lots of your favourite seasonings, then cook on the barbecue, or griddle, for 4-5 minutes, turning once to get those great grill marks. Superb as a healthy side dish or added to pasta and salads.

Flower power Make a light batter with plain flour and sparkling water, plus seasoning. Dip courgette flowers into the batter, deep fry for 1-2 minutes until crisp, then drain on kitchen paper. A stylish and quick starter for a summer dinner party. Show me the lolly Top and tail baby courgettes and cut into 3 equal ‘lollipop' pieces. Make a sauce with lemon zest and juice, oregano, chilli, honey, oil, black pepper and salt. Pour half over the courgettes and marinate for at least 3 hours. Barbecue the lollipops on skewers until grid ddle marks appear, and a serve with h the remainin ng sauce for dippin ng.

Ciao courgetti If you are cutting down on carbs, courgette spaghetti, or ‘courgetti’, is a super-healthy and tasty alternative. Use a julienne peeler or spiralizer to achieve the strands, and add to stir fries in the last two minutes of cooking time, or steam to serve with pasta sauce. Raw energy Courgettes are so sweet and juicy there is often no need to cook them at all – especially if you pick them young. Sliced, grated, chopped, spiralized, or cut into ribbons, they add a sweet crunch to any dish.

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◆ Specialists in quartz and granite ◆

Skilled Stonemason with 30+ years experience CLOSE 14th-21Ds August t

Join our school for an excellent education and a range of Apply by cultural pursuits in sports, 31st crafts and the creative arts. October

Granite & Quartz Worktops ALL MADE TO ORDER AT OUR WORKSHOP

Let us help you transform your home with beautifully designed items made to your exact sizes and requirements. We also manufacture bespoke hearths, slips and vanity tops Social distancing complied with and all customer safety measures taken at all times Units 1&2 Oakwood Ind. Est.,Harling Road,Snetterton NR16 2JU

01953 887722 / 07826 844847

www.thethetfordacademy.org

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TOOL HIRE

WE NOW OFFER A RANGE OF SMALL TOOLS FOR HIRE

10% DISCOUNT

Orders received during August & September

Quote VPM10

Local delivery and collection service available Turf Cutters Rotavators l Stump Grinders l 4” Chippers l Petrol Post Hole Borers l Compaction Plates l Concrete Poker Units l Cement Mixers l Block Splitters l Block Carts l

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P OU

SKINCARE THERAPIST

“Our vision is healthy skin for everyone” Stratum Synergy is an all-in-one skin hydrofacial See our website for further details

FOOT CARE Friendly and professional service

Home Visits

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Deep cleans and clarifies l Creates a hydrated, bright and clear complexion l Reduces fine lines and wrinkles l Increases firmness l Evens tone, texture, and brown spots l Reduces enlarged pores and acne breakouts

• Dry Skin • Nail Cutting • Ingrowing Nails • Corns & Calluses • Verrucae • Fungal Infections • Cracked Heels

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Massage Therapist and Beauty Services

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Amanda PILATES

Shape up, move well and feel good Pilates classes and Privvate Reformer or mat sessio ons in Diss and local area

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E V E LI LIN N O

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HEALTH

What’s in the pot?

An A-Z introduction to cosmetic ingredients – C is for vitamin C – (ascorbic acid)

We all love vitamins; they’re good for us and vitamin C is one of the heavy hitters that we can’t get enough of. Keeping it simple, a vitamin is an organic molecule that’s an essential nutrient your body needs in small amounts for the proper functioning of its metabolism. It’s a substance you must have for your body to work properly, and you have to get them from what you eat because we don’t make them ourselves. Vitamin C is also an acid, but not all acids will peel your skin and leave you looking like a pomodoro tomato. Vitamin C has a range of superpowers and comes in several forms, which it adapts. There are a number of diﬀerent types of vitamin C used in skincare products. For avid label readers these include: L-ascorbic acid, ascorbyl palmitate and retinyl ascorbate. The ﬁrst is deemed 'the queen' of vitamin C. Regular use boosts collagen production and fends

oﬀ ageing caused by ultra violet light, or sun damage. In its form of ascorbyl palmitate, vitamin C can inhibit the production of melanin, reducing pigmentation and brightening skin. It's best to buy products that come in air-tight packaging with pumps, so they haven’t been damaged by oxygen in the air. Some clinical level skincare will often use pure ascorbic acid in a powder form that is only activated when mixed with a liquid solution. This ensures your treatment comes with knock-out results. Pregnancy, breastfeeding and illness cause a hike in the amount of vitamin C your body needs. If you smoke, this also reduces absorption, so eating more foods high in vitamin C and using a good topical product, can lead to a fresher, brighter

complexion. Look for it on the label high up on the list. If it’s near the bottom with fragrance and preservatives, it’s probably better to just go home and eat an orange!

Follow Geraldine at skinprof_norfolk @geraldinewaltersadvancedskincare info@geraldinewalters.co.uk

RUTH WALTERS

MCFHP, MAFHP

Medical and Cosmetic Foot Health Practitioner

• Nail reconstruction • Diabetic foot care •Ingrown toenails • Hard skin removal • Nail thickening•Corn removal • Fungal nail/skin infections Find us on Facebook • Verruca treatment 01379452412 or 07595177910 www.ruthwalters.co.uk

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A Step In The Right Direction

8 Cobbs Yard, Diss IP22 4LB

Everything for your home and much more

The LARGEST Home Department Stores in East Anglia

• Furniture & Beds • Carpets, Flooring & Rugs • Designer Curtains & Blinds • Bedding & Cushions • Towels & Bathroom • Lighting & Pictures • Kitchenware & Electricals • Interior Design service • Free onsite parking • The Place to Eat Restaurant • Finance options available • Price Match Promise

Glasswells, Helping to Make Homes Beautiful Since 1946 From starting life supplying second-hand furniture 75 years ago, to becoming the biggest home department store in East Anglia, Glasswells is now one of the region’s best-loved independent home furnishers. Whether you are looking to update one room in your home, renovating, or planning a new build, you’ll find an unrivalled choice of quality furniture and beds, flooring, curtains and homewares at Glasswells. Our huge showrooms in Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich offer a truly special shopping experience, with carefully designed roomsets to inspire you and expert advice, including a professional Interior Design service. Make Glasswells the number one choice for your next shopping trip and discover everything you need for your home – we make shopping easy. Enjoy free onsite parking and a delicious lunch at the Place to Eat restaurant. Treat the house you love to a new look for less at Glasswells!

Newmarket Road Bury St Edmunds IP33 3TU Ranelagh Road Ipswich IP2 0AQ | glasswells.co.uk

FASHION HION

Beach tote Accessorize, £30

Butterﬂy bikini River Island, £39

ON TREND

Rectangle sunglasses M&S, £15

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Feather pattern swimsuit TK MAXX, £29.99

Green wave sarong Tu Clothing, £10

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Your local care homes

Our highly trained care home teams are specialists in residential, nursing, dementia and respite care. With some of the highest care ratings in the UK, we’re trusted to help you and your family at every step of your journey. If you’re considering care for yourself or a loved one, call 0370 218 6030 to arrange a tour or one-to-one chat, or visit careuk.com

Trusted to care. Cedrus House, Stowmarket Cleves Place, Haverhill Davers Court, Bury St Edmunds Glastonbury Court, Bury St Edmunds Prince George House, Ipswich Hartismere Place, Eye Mildenhall Lodge, Mildenhall

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Discover the best care in Suffolk At Care UK, we deliver award-winning care and we put your quality of life at the heart of everything we do. Our teams learn all they can about your personality, preferences and wishes so that they can create a care and lifestyle plan tailored to your unique needs. You can live life in the way you choose, and always with the best care. Our Lifestyle teams are dedicated to making each day fulﬁlling and fun, whether you like to help with light tasks around the home, enjoy getting out and about on outings, or love to experience live entertainment. We organise a variety of daily group and one-to-one activities too.

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Everything you need under one roof Our Suffolk homes are all purpose-built where every luxury has been thought of. There are cafés, hair salons, cinemas, bars and lovely landscaped gardens all waiting for you! Is there a wish or goal you’d like to achieve? Hang your wish on our wishing tree and we’ll do our best to make it happen! Residents enjoy doing something different every day. Recently residents in the Suffolk homes have been enjoying the summer season, venturing out in their minibuses to local parks and to the seaside. Other residents have enjoyed relaxing outside in the garden with cool summer refreshments. Here for you At Care UK, we have more ‘Outstanding’rated homes than any other provider, and in the last three years have won more awards than any other provider. Discover why over 8,000 families trust us to care. To ﬁnd out more about our care homes in Suffolk, please call 0333 331 5412 or visit careuk.com/suffolk 69

c ec i la m ey. c o . u k

take a look beneath the surface with an oct eye scan An OCT scan in combination with your normal eye test looks beneath the surface of the eye to help detect potentially serious conditions that can affect your eyesight, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetes and glaucoma.

C ECI L A MEY

Looking Good! 70

Home Visits Available Qualiﬁed and Insured

The Oaks Foot Clinic Your feet never take a day off, so take care of them

• Corns • Hard Skin (Callus) • Verrucas/Warts • Fungal Nail • Thickened Nails • Ingrowing Toenails • Diabetic Foot Care • Routine Maintenance

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Specialist Live-in Care You can stay in your own home with independence and comfort with the support of one of Purely Care’s live-in care workers.

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Chiropractic l Massage Hypnotherapy l Pilates l Reﬂexology l Chiropody l Homoeopathy l Herbal Medicine l Nutrition l Acupuncture l Physiotherapy l Cranio-sacral ...and much more!

Professional Homeopathic Online Training

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Susan Whymark Funeral Service Provisions of all professional services, an obituary notice via social media, handling of all charitable donations, limousine, motorised hearse and bearers, 3ft coffin spray, includes all fees and choice of coffin. The Simplistic Funeral

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24 Hour Family Caring Personal Service Covering Norfolk & Suffolk

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See our customer reviews at

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HEALTH

Stressed and anxious? L

Find work-life balance Make quality time for yourself outside working hours. Fill your weekend with things that you enjoy – whether it’s climbing a mountain or sitting with a good book and a cup of tea!

ast year over 600,000 UK workers reported that they experienced work-related stress, anxiety, or depression. This is a huge problem and one we shouldn't deal with alone. So, if your workload is getting on top of you, here are some top tips to help you cope. Take regular breaks If we’re working from home we don't always remember to take breaks, but it’s important to step away from work to give our mind and body a rest and enable us to process information. Plus it helps us return to our work feeling more productive and creative. Taking a break also helps us to establish good, healthy, and stress-beating habits – such as taking a walk or doing a yoga session. Both are great for circulation, concentration, mood, and joints. Instead of drinking caﬀeinerich tea and coﬀee – which in excess can contribute to anxiety and stress – sip a cup of calming

chamomile, lemon balm or lemon verbena tea, or one containing lavender. Talk about it Discuss your workload with colleagues – perhaps you can distribute your workload more evenly to relieve stress. Talk about it with your family and friends, too – it’s a good way to let go of some of your stresses, and they may oﬀer some helpful advice.

HEALER

Learn coping techniques • Yoga, deep breathing, meditation and any form of exercise can all help to restore calm. • Keep a tidy and organised desk and method of working to prevent your workload spiralling out of control. • Use a diﬀuser to alleviate stress and anxiety – particularly scents like lavender, chamomile and rose. • Passiflora Complex Tablets are great for supporting the nervous system in times of stress. For more information and helpful advice, call 01603 613228, go to shopnaturally.com or pop into the Natural Food Store, 4 Exchange Street, Norwich

“Rosedale really do make an emotional time more bearable and your care and concern shines through all you do.” – from a family we have cared for at Rosedale

Helping restore health and wellbeing by rebalancing and realigning subtle energies in your body, mind and spirit.

Booking & details: jamesbarley.co.uk email: james@jamesbarley.co.uk Appointments available at The Space, Burston, Nr Diss IP22 5TJ

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MONEY

MONEY ON MY MIND… with Martin Lewis H

e’s the UK’s leading money saving expert – a journalist and presenter who has kept millions of pounds in people’s pockets, as well as lifting the lid on the threats and dangers we need to be aware of as consumers. In this article, Martin looks at how we can repair our credit score. Let’s be honest, the last couple of years haven’t been kind to our ﬁnances. The good news is the ability to rescue and repair that credit rating is within our own hands, and with a concerted plan we can get back to where we want to be. And that’s important – having a good credit rating means gaining access to

preferential interest rates; it could be the difference between being able to buy a house, or rent a flat, or not; and it also gives us peace of mind that if an emergency crops up we can lean on financial support. When it comes to improving our credit score, first check your current rating – with the likes of Experian or Equifax – and know what you’re dealing with. When you’ve done that, see about disassociating yourself from others who may be pulling you down with their own chequered credit history – their activity may be negatively impacting yours. Next, get yourself signed up on the electoral roll. It’s a great way for credit agencies to be able

to verify who you are and adds a layer of authenticity to any application. Spring cleaning your finances is another really sensible option. Many of us have old credit cards or bank accounts that we don’t use. They may seem harmless on the face of it, but they all represent risk as far as your credit score is concerned. Next, start investing in your credit future. Using a credit card may seem a peculiar way of improving your credit, but done sensibly it will. And by sensibly, I mean use it for everyday purchases on the specific understanding you’ll clear the balance at the end of each month. Doing this will boost your credit rating and prove to any lender that you can be trusted. Finally, if you can’t afford to clear your full balance at the end of the month, at least pay off more than the minimum payment. Mending your credit score won’t be achieved overnight, but your future self will thank you for your efforts today! 75

Mugford & Co Wills (Diss) Ltd

Specialist in Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney Home visits or by phone or Zoom Qualiﬁed 1991 Solicitor Competitive prices

Best Reclamation Yard Around

We have it all from tools, hardware, motors, commercial catering equipment, ex army clothes, ammo boxes, boots, ruck sacks, war memorabilia.

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t: 01379 674 127 richardmugfords@gmail.com www.mugfordwillsdiss.co.uk Self Assessment always a headache? Don’t worry, give it to us and get on with running your business. We speciﬁcally support the smaller business in all accountancy and tax matters. For a free, no obligation initial meeting call us today

Contact Graham Cormack

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K J ACCOUNTANCY A friendly and efficient service for the self-employed & small to medium business  Bookkeeping ~ Accounts ~ VAT Payroll ~ CIS ~ Tax Returns Tel: 01379 890502/01284 763687 Mob: 07788 408916/07718 257517

Job Opportunity

Are you a great carer? Looking for a change?

Full & Part time opportunities to join this friendly, dynamic and independently owned The Daily team based in Horham Suffolk. Above average rates of pay with Care Agency enhanced rates for evenings and weekends, mileage and travel allowance paid. Your own transport is essential.

Not a carer? Full training, support and mentoring available.

Further information or to apply contact Nikki Wyartt 01379 388438/07977 075301 or e-mail nikkiw@thedailycareagency.co.uk 76

For Family Mediation Contact: 01379 773082 Or email admin@mediateddisputesolutions.uk Professional mediation helps to reduce conflict and to find an easy and diginified way through separation or divorce. If your family is changing, or you are worried about your children, or how to cope financially. Mediation can help you make the arrangements. Family mediation is available both privately and to those eligible for legal aid.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

The wellbeing beneﬁts of smart retirement planning W

hen you think about retirement, you possibly have some sort of emotional reaction. It might be fear and anxiety, or perhaps excitement and optimism, depending on your distance from this milestone and how prepared you feel. Taking a positive approach when you plan for retirement can make a huge difference to your wellbeing, both before and after it happens. Prepare for peace of mind A large part of financial wellbeing is about building confidence, according to Tony Clark, Senior Propositions Manager at St. James's Place. “You don’t need to have lots of financial knowledge, you just need to know you’re doing something and making good decisions. “That in itself creates the sense of confidence that you’re building something.” The increased control we have over retirement these days can be a double-edged sword; it puts pressure on us to make the right choices, with the risk of poor outcomes where professional advice hasn’t been sought. But it also gives us more options, such as having more control over when we retire. One step at a time A lot of people put off long-term saving because they’re unsure about what they can and can’t do, how products work and whether they’re good value. A good positive step is to get into a regular savings habit. “Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen lots of hardship, but also people taking the opportunity

to clear debts, overpay their mortgages, increase their savings and generally build their financial resilience,” notes Tony. Those regular savings may contribute to meeting your short, medium and long-term goals, and the products you use will fit into those different goals. For longerterm objectives such as saving for retirement, pensions are the obvious place to start, not least due to their tax efficiency. If you’ve taken out a workplace pension, it’s likely that your employer is paying into it too, while the tax relief available on pension contributions is a generous government incentive to save as much as you can. You can also build up your ISA investments over that time, while property may also play a part. Heart and head The decisions made around retirement plans can be heavily influenced by how we feel about it, potentially resulting in behavioural biases and poor outcomes. But by speaking to us and getting professional advice you can prevent your emotions

from derailing your retirement plans. “An adviser can help you identify your objectives, see what you’re trying to achieve and put a plan together to get you there. This will give you conﬁdence that you’re doing more to address your own needs.” The value of an investment with St. James's Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than the amount invested. The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time and are generally dependent on individual circumstances.

For more information about wealth management and retirement planning, contact Robert Drake at Anglian Wealth Management on 01603 752500 / 07581 347559, or email robert.drake@sjpp.co.uk

The Partner Practice is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The ‘St. James's Place Partnership’ and the titles ‘Partner’ and ‘Partner Practice’ are marketing terms used to describe St. James's Place representatives.

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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. OR a quicker way to enter is to hop onto our Instagram feed @vpmagazine, follow us and like our post. Closing date 19 September 2022 and the usual Village People rules apply.

Where Bella was hiding in our previous issue: Wyken – Page 13

andrew p r love architecture . design . planning cherry tree farm wymondham road bunwell norfolk nr16 1nb 



Newman & Co Chartered Accountants & Registered Auditors have been serving local businesses and individuals in East Anglia for over 20 years. We oﬀer a range of services to suit our clients’ individual needs that include: * Tax returns advice and planning * Preparation of annual accounts * Bookkeeping services and management accounts preparation * Business start-up advice * Payroll services including real-time processing

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Village People Norfolk / Suffolk border edition – August / September 2022 (Late Summer)

Articles inside

Exercise your brain cells with our crossword

Finance - the wellbeing benefits of smart retirement planning

Money on my mind with Martin Lewis

Health - top tips to cope with stress and anxiety

Fashion - beachwear to be seen in this summer

Nature - take up the tree challenge with Norfolk Wildlife Trust

NEW: Five minutes with …. Ben Langley

Seasonal food - 6 delicious courgette recipes

Skincare with Geraldine Walters

Village Notice Board

Fashion - the 80s revival

Garden Jottings from The Garden Enclosure

Memories of Frenze Thelveton

Greenfingers with Alan Titchmarsh

Recipe for cherry raspberry almond cake

Local walk to Howe from Brooke

Time and Tide arrives in Norwich

Recipe for Yotam Ottolenghi’s pappardelle with rose harissa, black olives and capers