Village People South Norfolk Winter 2011 by Village People Magazines Ltd

Winter 2011

WIN

A Family Ticket to the Panto! The independent magazine for South Norfolk village people

This edition features

Village Wanderings Mulbarton & Swardeston

Car Review

Volvo V60

Gifts for everyone p46-47

Film Review

Puss in Boots

Plus

• Choose the Perfect Christmas Tree • Recipe: Christmas Roast Duck • She - 35 Years On • Book & Film Reviews • Are You Tweeting Yet? • Foods to Eat During A Cold

Editor’s Letter

elcome to your Winter issue of Village People!

I don’t know about you but I’m not going to pretend that I’m ready for Christmas just yet (I’ve only just got back into the swing of the school-run!) but I’m not worried in the slightest. We are incredibly lucky to live in East Anglia, with all the things we need for Christmas grown on our doorstep! Whether it’s the perfect Christmas tree from The Garden Enclosure in Banham, or a free-range Bronze Turkey from Windyridge Farm, our local businesses have all the local fresh produce you could ever want for a wonderful festive celebration. I am even going to take advantage of Norfolk Veg Box’s Christmas Offer (p4) to get all my fruit and vegetables for Christmas delivered direct to my door, eliminating the usual rush to the supermarket on Christmas Eve in a panic that we might not have enough sprouts! It seems like only yesterday that I was writing this letter for our Early Spring issue, and what a year it has been for Village People; seeing our expansion into the villages on the Norfolk/Suffolk border, a second magazine AND doubling our circulation to 28,500 copies! This is our last issue of 2011 so I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our advertisers, contributors and readers for your continued support and positive feedback; long may it continue! Village People has taken the giant leap into cyber space over the last couple of months, so you can now find our fan page on Facebook and our business page on Twitter. ‘Like’ or ‘Follow’ us to stay up to date with booking deadlines, delivery dates, offers from local businesses and events: www.facebook.com/VillagePeopleMagazinesLtd www.twitter.com/VPMagazine And if you’re not quite up to date with social media, why not take a look at the article on p69 which takes you through the basics of using Twitter! Finally, there is not much more to say than I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and remember to hold on to your copy of Village People until we’re back again in 2012!

In this issue... Home & Garden 5 Garden Jottings from Ken 17 Recipe: Christmas Roast Gressingham Duck 23 Astrology 25 Refreshing Waters

Out & About 28 30 31 32/33 35 36 37 41 43

Want to Act? Boudicca Way Local Walk in Mulbarton & Swardeston Mums the Word – Bury St. Edmunds Ladies who Lunch: Rudy’s Pizzeria and Takeaway WIN Family Panto Tickets Sleeping Beauty Christmas Posting Dates Film Review: Puss in Boots

Shopping 46/47 49 51 53 54/55

Chapelfield: Christmas Gifts Five Minute Interview: Robin Loxton Perfect WINES for the Festive Period She – the Last Independent Fashion Retailer in Attleborough Book Reviews: a Journey of Local Books

Health & Beauty 60 61 64 65

Foods to Eat During a Cold Natural Remedies That Can Help to Alleviate a Hangover Village Noticeboard House of Colour

Finance 69 71

Are You Tweeting Yet? Could You Be Getting More From Your Pension?

Services 73 79

Car Review: Volvo V60 T6 AWD R-Design The Importance of Choosing the Right Password

Happy reading!

Lily Goulder editor@village-people.info 0330 660 0325

And lots more inside...

Home & Garden

D.R.S.

GARDEN MAINTENANCE • Regular grass cutting service • Garden clearance • No job too small Fully insured

25 Years

local experience, completely reliable

Telephone Derek on

01953 455048

or call 07881478513

R Local produce direct to your door

CHRISTMAS FRUIT & VEG BOX ONLY £20

E ea xc de lu r siv O e ff er

DELIVERED 23rd/24th DECEMBER

Local fresh produce Delivered to your door No heavy bags or queues Excellent early Christmas present For More Details Or To Book Call

01953 457393

Order by 16th December to secure your slot

      

Brickweave driveways Patios Paths All types of fencing Tree work Hard & soft landscaping 10 year guarantee FREE no obligation quotations and advice

01508 558999 & 01603 360548 www.lakeslandscaping.co.uk Spring Meadow, Welbeck, Brooke, Norwich NR15 1AT

Garden Jottings from Ken It’s that time of year again when shops are manic, parking impossible, post-delivery officers (post men and women to you and me) have achy shoulders and turkeys look worried…

hether you like it or not, Christmas is coming and it’s what you make of it that counts; cosy and quiet, or a big bustling affair, but whichever way you celebrate there are a few elements that I think make it, well . . . Christmas! A nice warm room, preferably heated by a blazing fire, the company of family and friends, delicious food and treats, colourfully wrapped gifts and a decorated real tree sparkling in the corner. Add to this snow, church bells, carol singers, a glass (or two) of spicy mulled wine and I think it sounds perfect. Now I might not be expert at providing all of the above, but fresh Christmas trees I’m good at!

The next important aspect is its size and shape, but trees are sold by height and are never perfectly even in growth, so always choose early for the best. Bring the family along to help (or hinder), compare several trees of your selected size and view them from all sides before making your choice, then have it netted for easy transport home. Thirdly, once in your care look after your tree, slice about an inch off the bottom of the trunk (your retailer should do this for you if required), remove its net stocking and leave it in a bucket of water in a cool spot until you’re ready to bring it indoors.

As with most things, tastes change and the traditional Norway Spruce which Finally, fit your tree into a waterFor ease and a unfortunately sheds its sharp retaining stand or a container more even look, the needles in our modern centrally filled with moist compost or professionals snake their heated homes, has been sand, position away from drying lights up and down the radiators and that welcoming relegated to cooler rooms and conservatories, or to outdoor fire, then add twinkling lights tree, not around it. display. Its popular successor is and decorate to your heart’s the beautifully tiered Nordmann content. Fir, an impressive ‘non-drop’ type Simple really, now there’s just the rest of the mayhem with soft-to-the-touch glossy green needles and a clean to deal with but until then relax and raise a glass subtle fragrance. to your perfect Christmas tree! So what makes a special tree? Firstly, fresh is best, after Merry Christmas! all you wouldn’t bring stale food into your kitchen Cheers, Ken would you? Once felled, trees start to deteriorate, so buy one that’s been grown locally if possible, ours are grown The Garden here in East Anglia (as are more than 95% of our plants). You’ve all heard of food miles and the same rules apply; Enclosure, not only with regard to freshness (trees grown abroad Banham – are cut many weeks before you see them), but also in the natural choice terms of environmental and transportation costs. for trees!

Ample p arking & Stress-fr e Shoppin e g!

Home & Garden

Bathrooms by design Thinking of upgrading your bathroom? Want a company to guide you through the planning and design, expertly install it AND clear up after themselves? Whatever your needs, with free home visits, friendly service and years of experience Bathrooms by Design can help you...

hanging your bathroom can be a particularly stressful and messy affair, but Bathrooms by Design, owned by Gareth Pendleton, has a team of experts ready to manage the project for you! They will take care of everything from the floor to the ceiling, and all the things in between. As well as the plumbing, you needn’t worry about the tiling, painting or the clearing up either! Gareth, who started out as an apprentice bathroom fitter 15 years ago, is incredibly passionate about what he does; “We offer excellent customer service and great aftercare and as far as I am aware we are the only local company that offers a three-year labour guarantee on all our bathrooms.” Bathrooms by Design pride themselves on offering you an individual service tailored to your requirements. Their expert fitting teams are employed by the company and take pride in their work. Senior fitter Joe says “I fit every bathroom as if it was my own”. All team members are polite, friendly, and very courteous. They also ensure that after every day (to which they always turn up on time) they take up the dust sheets and have a good tidy up. So whether you want a sparkly new bathroom, the latest wet-room or a new bathroom especially adapted to mobility issues, Bathrooms by Design can help; offering everything from a traditional suite sympathetically suited to a period home, to something super-modern for those wanting a contemporary look. They stock all brands of bathroom suite, so as an independent retailer they are not tied to promoting limited suppliers giving you plenty of choice.

Potential customers can benefit from free home visits to discuss their requirements, complete with free of charge, no obligation quotations. There is no hard sell and there are no pushy salesmen either; the choice is entirely yours! What’s more, if you want to visualise how your new bathroom will look, 3D plans can also be created to show you. Having gained a reputation over the last fifteen years for installing some of the best looking, professionally fitted bathrooms available in Norfolk, Bathrooms by Design have had many happy customers. If you would like to read what they have to say log on to the testimonial section of their website www.bathroomsbydesign.biz

It looks like a luxury hotel bathroom!* (*Genuine Unedited Testimonial)

We asked Gareth why previous customers have bought from Bathrooms by Design and this is what he said: • We offer a friendly & professional service, taking care of every aspect of the bathroom • We have 15 years’ experience in designing & installing bathrooms • We offer a free home visit, free quotation and free 3D cad plan So whether it’s a new dream bathroom, a new en-suite, or a new shower you’re after contact Gareth for a friendly chat on 01603 705080. You are very welcome to visit the shop and browse too at Bathrooms by Design, 65 Spinney Road, Thorpe St Andrew, Norwich, NR7 0PJ. Open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturdays from 9am to 3pm.

We are also the only company in Norfolk that offers a 3 year guarantee on its bathrooms. This is because unlike most companies, we employ our own fitters (and have our own fleet of vans)

TOO MUCH

TO DO

TOO LITTLE

TIME

LET US HELP YOU LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD...

We are a successful cleaning agency with lots of local ladies available for immediate start. All of our ladies are vetted and insured and work to the highest standards. At just ÂŁ10 per hour our service is designed for YOU!

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT YOU COULD GIVE YOURSELF

0845 504 9133 www.home-maid.info

Home & Garden

B U Y T O D AY & TA K E A W AY. . . F ro m

£ 4q.. m9t9r s s

OF E C I HO ROLL C BIG THE FREE DELIVERY FREE ESTIMATES FREE FITTING

Home & Garden

The Holly & The Ivy... by Joan Garnham, Waveney Tree Specialists

Holly

Ivy

Holly trees are either male or female; the berries found on the female are the bright red berries most commonly associated with the tree. Beware of the cultivars Golden King and Silver Queen – it is Golden King that is female and has berries. Interestingly, in the 19C and early 20C, the leaves and berries of the Holly tree were used to cure chilblains.

On the positive side, Ivy supports a great variety of wildlife. It’s getting the balance that’s crucial. Ivy is also used at Christmas for decoration; it typifies the everlasting life since it remains continuously green. Victorians saw Ivy as an emblem of the ever faithful love of the wife for her husband. Ivy is dedicated to Bacchus from the notion that it can prevent drunkenness. In the 17C an infusion was thought to prevent whooping cough. The berries are poisonous and therefore care needs to be taken when decorating tables.

(Ilex aquifolium) is one of Britain’s few native evergreen trees. Its leaves are thick and waxy to resist water loss which is why Holly does not wither when hung at Christmas. The custom of hanging Holly is thought to date back to Roman times during the festival of the Saturnalia; seven days of feasting in honour of Saturn starting December 19th. Holly trees were believed to protect against witches and other evil which is why they were planted near houses and churches. Some still consider it unlucky to cut down Holly.

(Hedera helix). Whilst Ivy does not draw nutrients from the tree it climbs, it does block the lenticels, preventing access to air. It also smothers the formation of new wood and leaf buds, reducing the canopy from which trees get their energy. It may also harbour pathogens and pests which harm the tree and can cause rot. In high winds, the extra weight of the ivy has been known to bring the tree down.

Home & Garden

AA Utilities Limited 01379 650671 07766770553 a.aldous@tiscali.co.uk Got a water leak? Old lead piping need replacing? We carry out all work to the highest standards causing minimal impact to your driveway or garden using thrust boring methods

• Leaks Repaired • New services installed: adding water services to outbuildings, old services renewed, especially old galvanised piping or lead • Thrust boring • Burst mains & more! All work guaranteed and fully insured Working throughout Norfolk, Suﬀolk, Essex & Cambridgeshire

Home & Garden

andrew p r love cherry tree farm



architecture . design . planning

wymondham road

advice on planning & building regulations submissions  architectural design consultation  alteration works, extensions & conversions 



bunwell

   



norfolk



nr16 1nb

specialist in listed buildings & conservation work site supervision & management excellent local knowledge and contacts domestic & commercial projects

for innovative and ecologically aware architecture please contact us on t: 01953 789911

m: 07771 855225

e: a.love@btconnect.com

For a Local, Reliable Electrician

ABC Electricity

FREE Quotations

What we do... Solar pv New builds Extensions Rewires Extra sockets & lights CCTV & intruder alarms

Call us now on 01953 878640 07979 508408 Email: info@ABC-Electricity.com

Home & Garden

TURRELL CLEANING SERVICES

Fresh Bronze Free Range Turkeys

Established 1989 ✔ Carpet & Upholstery cleaning ✔ Office cleaning ✔ Fully insured ✔ Stain removal ✔ Fire & Flood Damage

Presented oven ready for collection on 22, 23 or 24 December From Windyridge Farm, Watton Rd, Barford or Simply Gorgeous Hair & Beauty Salon in Tacolneston

ORDER NOW FOR CHRISTMAS

Tel: (01379) 687751 FREE Estimates Mob: 07801 398247 Email: paulaturrell@aol.com

Windyridge Game & Poultry Tel 01603 757947 Mob 07875 672514

S.P. LONG    

New Furniture made to order Antiques Restoration Joinery Furniture Repairs Rowancroft Workshops, Kenninghall Road, Banham, Norwich, Norfolk NR16 2HE

Tel: 01953 888488 Mobile: 07946 748570 16

Christmas Roast Gressingham Duck with Honey and Rosemary Jus and Roast Potatoes Christmas isn’t Christmas without a classic roast dinner, and whether it’s Turkey, Goose or Duck getting the roast right is one of the most important parts of the day. Follow this simple yet effective recipe to create a perfect Christmas Duck and delicious roast potatoes.

Pre-heat the oven to 220⁰C/Gas 7

Preparation 1. Pierce the skin of the duck all over with a fork and season inside and out with salt and pepper. Place the duck on a trivet in a baking tray big enough to allow you to fit the potatoes around the duck. Add the Gressingham Duck fat and place into the oven. Cook in middle of oven for 20 mins per 500g, plus 20 mins extra. After the first 30 mins, reduce the temperature to 170°C.

Cooking 2. After 45 mins place the potatoes in the tray, cover with duck fat and throw in the rosemary and

You will need: 1 whole Gressingham Duck 4 tbsp Gressingham Duck fat 1kg roasting potatoes, peeled and cut ready for roasting 2 bulbs garlic 4 fresh sprigs rosemary 1 onion, roughly chopped 400ml chicken stock/water 250ml white wine 3 tbsp honey 50g butter

garlic. Season with a generous sprinkling of salt. Place them back in the oven. Every half hour turn and baste with the duck fat. When the duck is ready remove it from the oven and keep it warm. 3. Remove the potatoes, baste with more of the duck fat and place back in the oven. Pour off any remaining fat from the baking tray (save it for another time). You should be left with just the juices, garlic, rosemary and onion. 4. Add the white wine to the juices, bring to the boil and scrape all the bits off the bottom of the tray. Strain into another pan along with the chicken stock and reduce by half or until it starts to thicken. Stir in the butter and honey.

Serving 5. Check for seasoning and sweetness and adjust accordingly. You are now ready to serve.

You’ll find more inspiring recipes and video tutorials on the Gressingham website www.gressinghamfoods.co.uk You can also buy many of our delicious products on-line.

Home & Garden

More than just a Garden Centre! Cherry Lane Garden Centres are famous for their choice, quality and great value. Come and visit one of our branches today!...

PLANTS • TREES • SHRUBS • TOOLS • GARDEN CARE • FURNITURE • PET SECTION • GARDEN MACHINERY • WILDBIRD SECTION • BBQs • SHEDS • GREENHOUSES • GARDENING CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR GIFTWARE • CANDLES • BOOKS • KITCHENWARE • HOUSEWARE DIY TOOLS & ACCESSORIES • CONFECTIONERY

Where Great Value Grows

Plus much, much more!

at Long Melford

Open all day, everyday for hot & cold food & drinks.

* Visit our shopping village

Opening Times: Mon-Sat: 9am-5.30pm SUNDAY TIMES: Fritton, Stisted & Tickhill: 10.30am - 4.30pm (Customer browsing from 10am - 10.30am). Long Melford 10.30am - 4.30pm. Pulham Market: 10am - 4pm (Customer browsing from 9.30am - 10am).

www.cherry-lane.co.uk

AD 1/12/11

at Fritton, Pulham Market, Stisted and Tickhill

Long Melford High St, Long Melford, Suffolk CO10 9DH T: 01787 311889 Fritton Beccles Road, Fritton, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NR31 9EU T: 01493 488212 Pulham Market Ipswich Road, Pulham Market, Norfolk IP21 4XP T: 01379 676418 * Stisted nr Braintree A120/Coggeshall Road, Stisted, Essex CM77 8AE T: 01376 349007 * Tickhill Bawtry Road, Tickhill, Doncaster, DN11 9EX T: 01302 742134

Home & Garden

r ou Y For or h t n en F o s M Kitch ! i h T er -Look tmas d r O ew hris C N

E L SA

W O N

Home & Garden

The local specialists for containers and mobile space solutions CONTAINER HIRE

SELF STORAGE

Can store the contents of an average 3 bedroomed house from as little as

Long and short term hire from only £5 per week

20ft and 40ft containers available Delivery throughout East Anglia

Secure on-site storage Free transport available for long term storage

on your premises

£10 per week

at our premises

OFFICE CONTAINERS

NEW

Office cabins, Sanitary cabins, Storage & Shipping containers Service Containers for hire in various sizes, Direct Delivery and assembly Multiple uses including site offices, sales offices, storage rooms, health and medical centres, classrooms, canteens, media centres, military camps, first aid rooms, nurseries, laboratories, antivandal units, toilets and washrooms, marketing suites, show rooms, changing facilities, drying rooms, community centres, clubhouses, refrigerated containers and many more

SHRINK WRAPPING

NEW Service

Suitable for small products

Delivery throughout East Anglia Find us just off the A11, only 20 minutes from Norwich www.squaredealstorage.co.uk

Hereward Way Business Park, Roudham Road, East Harling, Norwich, Norfolk NR16 2SR

Tel: 01842 762143 • Mobile: 07801 837227 20

Home & Garden

Orchid House Interiors Inspirational Design for Modern Living  Beautiful hand made curtains  Blinds  Pelmets  Bed covers  Cushions  Soft furnishing accessories  Poles & tracks  Fitting service available

Free friendly advice and measuring without obligation in your home at a time to suit you

Contact Sharon

T: 01953 454866 M: 07704 714906 E: sharon@orchidhouseinteriors.co.uk

Ladies Who Decorate Your Home “A perfect finish every time” Decorating And    



Wallpapering



Design Advice

the little things: Attention to detail Moving Furniture Hanging Curtains No mess & no fuss

For fantastic quality at affordable prices and total customer satisfaction contact Sandra at Colourworks

01953 788656



07967 631174

colourworks@gmx.com 21

Home & Garden

Domestic Cleaners Required Fit work around your other commitments

Flexible daytime work in private houses in the local area Regular weekly work & hours to suit you (from 2 hours to full time) You must be honest, motivated and reliable Contact us for a î&#x2C6;&#x2021;iendly chat...

01284 788 799

Ancient Oriental Astrology for a Modern Life

Hello again! Here is your 9 Star Ki forecast for December and January and the last one for the current 7 Metal Year which ends at the beginning of February. Next issue will cover your 2012 year forecasts, so be sure not to miss it. To find out your star please visit www.freeflow-fengshui.com/resources/ki/ki_calculator.php

then return here to discover what the next two months have in store for you.

9 Fire Star You’ll be first in line to make the most of celebrations this month, but insideyou may feel reflective of the past. It’s from a deep sense of internal peace, that allows us to truly express joy. Keep active in January and prepare yourself mentally and physically for a rewarding February. 8 Earth Star You may feel very productive and well supported, confident and sure sighted during December. It is with true clarity of mind and focus that great feats are achieved. Use this potential wisely and make those decisions. It is important to stay flexible during this time, perhaps yoga? 7 Metal Star Potentially a very intense time with great ups and down. Stay grounded, feet firmly planted to the floor and allow things to gravitate to you rather

than grabbing out. Everything will seem much clearer in January as you process the changes you’ve brought about.

6 Metal Star Trust your intuition at this time and don’t feel out of your depth if you find yourself feeling unusually sensitive. There may be a lot going on right now, but remember the thinner you spread yourself the less energy you put into any one thing. Take time out for some needed R&R. 5 Earth Star You can’t get

better than this. Two months of growth and movement. A fantastic time to get any plans or projects launched and into production. If you’ve been feeling uninspired of late, shake the cobwebs off, get creative and embrace fully any opportunities that head your way.

4 Wood Star

It’s only when we have time to sit still and BE, that we often see things for what they really are. You have been very patient and sure enough, come January a huge shift in your energy propels you forward into an exciting 2012. Make sure your stepping stones are set

firmly as you’ll soon be running.

3 Wood Star It’s important to keep warm, active and healthy at this time, getting quickly on top of any winter colds. A quieter time for you, one for inner spiritual development. It’s only by changing your internal attitude and improving the dialogue to your truth that enables our desired reality to take shape. 2 Earth Star You’ll be feeling bright and shiny like the star on top of the Christmas tree in December, illuminating the way for others and possibly receiving recognition for your recent endeavours. January in contrast may find you pensive and deep in thought. Be adventurous and take your mind on a journey. 1 Water Star Through your hard work, determination and perseverance you will be aptly rewarded. Don’t hesitate any longer; the mountain you’ve built this year, will surely be foundation enough to stand atop and spread your arms in proud announcement. Is your CV up to date?

For more information about 9 Star Ki Astrology please visit: www.freeflow-fengshui.com • David Walters DIP. CHIRO

Home & Garden

House Coal Smokeless Coal

WOODLAND CONTRACTOR 24

REFRESHING WATERS Divine encounters, miracle healings, enormous courage and heart-felt sacrifice

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: www.refreshingwaters.co.uk

Miracle turnaround for grieving mother Seven times Hannah Bassi’s hopes of providing a younger sibling for daughter Sophie were dashed after three miscarriages and the loss of four babies who were still-born or died just hours after birth. The losses have been part of life’s harrowing challenges but Hannah has found a new lease of life from engaging with mums and their babies. “When I first felt prompted to become a volunteer at our Norwich church outreach community group for new mums and their babies soon after I lost baby Rebecca, I thought it was madness. But after being a volunteer I was soon running the biggest group on my own - enjoying buying equipment, planning the regular weekly event and providing support and care for pregnant and new mums along with their toddlers and babies, providing an active mission for six years. During that time, I carried and lost a further three babies. Those experiences broke the barriers of silence and embarrassment; I could openly share my faith as well as receive the compassion of the mums who I was supporting. When I have not had babies of my own to give my love to I have been blessed and privileged to hold other babies in my arms - that has been part of my healing. I came to learn that far from stripping me of these things, God turned it to his economy of fruitfulness and restoration. It has come with his supernatural ability to be a listening ear and to

relate to mums, sharing their worries, concerns and even their personal losses of infant death and miscarriage as he called me to walk on the waters of faith with him.” After burying Rebecca, her third offspring, Hannah’s grief surfaced. “I had been able to get on with my life with few tears but then I cried for two weeks before visiting the doctor.” She was prescribed anti-depressants but tore up the prescription after learning of the side effects. Instead she clung to God’s faithfulness in hours of prayer and never cried or felt despair again. It also marked a turning point of faith for Vince. “He said my face was glowing and alight, convincing him of the presence and reality of God.” Hannah’s life began changing 12 years ago when she visited the Family Life Centre in Norwich. “During the singing there was a calm and peace, my legs shook and my hands were clammy.” The minister asked if people wanted to receive Jesus into their heart. “I was almost running to the front and knelt before the altar - I wanted more of this Jesus and was flooded with his love. Until then my knowledge of God came during a strict, Catholic school education in the Far East, which was run by laws and not love,” says Hannah who is an inspiring women’s speaker.

Home & Garden

Chris Bell-Tye Plastering Services

For all aspects of plastering

Competitive rates • No job too small Internal & external plastering Plaster Boarding/dot & dab Re-skimming/skimming Artex Gypsum one coat plaster • Floor screeding For a friendly reliable service, call Chris on

01953 717244 - 07810 887591 email: chrisjack231@hotmail.co.uk www.plasterersnorfolk.co.uk

Larkins Fuel Merchants

Buy with confidence from your local independent supplier

Area distributors of

LOW MOISTUR E CONTENT Certainly Wood’s kiln dried logs are recommended by the UK’s major stove manufacturers and distributors

Consistent high quality every time THE UK’S FIRST HETAS APPROVED FIREWOOD SUPPLIER

Tel 01953 861145 www.coalandlogsnorfolk.co.uk

The Coal Yard, Old Buckenham, Norfolk NR17 1PE

1.2m3 & 1.6m3 bulk bags, small bags also available

FREE

KINDLING & FIRELIGHTER PACK with every bulk bag order

Want to Act

but tired of travelling to the city?

o longer will budding actors in South Norfolk have to travel all the way to Norwich to enjoy the art of theatre and the thrill of the stage, as Slow Theatre Company opens its doors to thespians young and old at Wymondham High School.

Their highly trained and experienced directors are members of the National Association of Youth Theatres and Safer Norfolk, regulated by Norfolk County Council. Weekly classes are open for children, youths and adults of all ages and levels as well as workshops and a holiday club during the school holidays from 2012. The Youth Performance Group (ages 13 – 18) will be performing in the prestigious National Festival by The National Theatre and spaces are now available for this group. This opportunity not only helps young actors to advance their acting skills but will also give them the chance to play in London! So, if you or your children like acting and investigating different characters, or if you would like to gain confidence whilst having lots of fun then do get in touch with Slow Theatre and find out more about their classes. With competitive rates and reductions for families on low incomes, there really is no reason not to! Waiting lists are now in place for the children’s & adult classes, visit the website to book now! www.slowtheatrecompany.co.uk

Aspire Higher Tuition Social Science Personal Tuition & Mentoring for University Students

Phone, PC-based or face-to-face tuition • Proof reading, essay techniques, transition from A-Level to University, university applications, study skills, preparing for exams, mentoring, understanding your grades, dissertations, ICT use & more. • Qualification in HE teaching practice, 9 years of university experience, ex-undergraduate and PhD tutor. Specialising in Sociology, Human Geography and qualitative methods. Other subject areas considered.

Dr Rebecca Ellis BA (Hons) 1st, PhD, PGCHEP, FHEA.

Tel: 01953 246123

E-mail: rellis@aspirehighertuition.co.uk www.aspirehighertuition.co.uk

FREE initial 10 minute phone consultation

ART TUITION www.johnshave.co.uk

Founded on an ethos of co-operation and team building, Slow Theatre combines laughter and fun with concentration and group work to help actors develop expert performance skills, confidence and self-esteem. Slow Theatre teaches the techniques of stage craft and inspires the exploration of the theatre world rather than focusing on celebrity status and fast-track fame.

Fun, relaxed atmosphere with experienced, professional artists and tutors. John Shave FRSASA Sue Williams BA Hons Regular classes starting soon in oil, watercolour, pastel, pen and wash and acrylic inks.

Available for demonstrations and workshops. John 07811 717414 Sue 07773 668504

Out & About

Redundant Phone Box

becomes innovative information point in picturesque Norfolk village

long distance footpath running through our beautiful South Norfolk countryside has an innovative new information point in one of the most picturesque villages to be found along its route. The Boudicca Way project has worked in partnership with Saxlingham Nethergate’s Parish Council to refurbish a redundant red phone box and create an information point for visitors to the area. Local resident Nikki TerBerg came up with the inspired idea and comments, “Saxlingham phone boxes were adopted by the Parish Council on behalf of the village and I thought it would be good to use the one on the green as an information point for the Boudicca Way because it is a starting point for many walkers. The box on the green is a bit of an icon because it features in a picture by Michael Andrews, a well-known 20th century British artist, and so I thought it would be nice to provide a bit of background information about Michael Andrews who lived on the green until 1992.”

The route and surrounding area The Boudicca Way runs for approximately 36 miles, stretching from Norwich through rural landscapes down to the Diss in the Waveney Valley on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. Its scenic, rural beauty, with miles of meadows, clean air, big Norfolk skies and abundant wildlife is inspirational.

Nikki adds, “The Boudicca Way project has been extremely helpful. I knew about the route and subsequently saw some local press coverage, which made me think about contacting them. Steve Falvey (who heads up the project) was very positive from the start and I am very pleased to be able to promote the route from the box.” Steve Falvey says, “This is another excellent example of how we are doing our bit to work with and help people from local communities who are taking an active role in improving the areas they live in.

We helped Nikki to develop maps and information about the Boudicca Way route which is displayed within the phone box. The information incorporates QR codes so people with smart phones can access additional information and leaflets about the route are also available from the box.” The new information box fits well with one of the Boudicca Way project’s key objectives to provide a range of information on the area - useful to both local people and visitors alike. The benefits the project’s work will bring to local communities along the route has continued to attract local business partners who have signed up in support. To find out more about visiting the Boudicca Way and surrounding area, visit www.boudiccaway.co.uk

Lots of significant history The route incorporates a strong historical theme. Named after the legendary warrior queen of the Iceni, it passes through the countryside of South Norfolk where the Celtic tribe once lived. It uses public rights of way and quiet roads and runs roughly parallel to the old ‘Pye’ Road (now the A140). There’s plenty to keep visitors interested, including Venta Icenorum Roman town at Caistor St Edmund, a hill fort, Roman villa site, WWII American airforce museum and many historically important buildings, such as Saxon and Norman round tower churches.

Mum’s the word In this month’s edition, I am heading on over to one of my favourite towns to visit, Bury St. Edmunds. Steeped in history, the town’s beauty and elegance is more breath-taking and marvellous with each visit made. If there were any other place that I would live it would be here. I love the rich architecture, the Victorian townhouses, and the stylish Georgian hotel, The Angel. There is something very cosy and heart-warming about this little town that keeps my family and I visiting very regularly. The Abbey Gardens are a favourite of my children, with magnificent flower beds and pathways, and the impressive Abbey ruins themselves. The gardens are

The One Bull – Angel Hill, Bury St. Edmunds www.theonebull.co.uk 01284 848220 This relaxed and modern gastro pub is just a few minutes’ walk from the town itself. The pub has two well defined areas, drinking and eating. The restaurant could be enjoyed as a laid back Sunday lunch or alternatively something more intimate and special. The menu is simple, with the emphasis on good quality, locally sourced produce. Children have a lovely little menu to choose from (and no chicken nuggets in sight thank goodness!) and also the added choice of half portions of most adult meals! The children were welcomed and offered crayons and paper to draw on, however, the restaurant does not allow children to dine in the evenings after 8pm. With tempting starters like Grilled Sardines with Tomato Salsa £5.50 to even more inviting main courses like local Venison Meatballs with Pappardelle & English Tomato Sauce. If you fancy just grazing, a cheese board platter of 6 cheeses with crackers and onion marmalade for £13 or for those with a sweet tooth, a small taster of all the puddings on offer for £13. Our family visited on a Sunday lunchtime. Booking was made easy for me through their website which operated via Open Table. Our table was well laid out and not too close to the other diners, which was actually a spot of luck as both my children decided to sing ‘Two Little Boys’ at the table to their doting Grandparents (which did end in a round of applause from the other diners & waiting staff ).

also host to many fantastic evening events such as a Classical Proms Night, 80’s nights, and many tribute acts. I also love to shop in Bury, as the mix of high street and independent businesses is just good enough to ensure that even the fussiest of shopper can find something within the many choices of boutiques and shops. Whilst Bury pays homage to many restaurant chains, there are many hidden gems. Many of these I am yet to find, but will have fun in my quest to discover them! All three restaurants I am recommending are pubs. Two are in the town itself and one just on the outskirts. With various awards such as the ‘Pub Wine List of the Year 2010’, and rave reviews from the Telegraph, we feel it will be somewhere we look forward to going to again soon!

The Cadogan – Ingham, Bury St. Edmunds www.thecadogan.co.uk 01284 728443 This pub is one of the sister pubs to The One Bull. We visited this restaurant approximately two weeks before the Bull and loved them both so much I had to include them both in my recommendations. The Cadogan has the same relaxed informal atmosphere as the One Bull; however children are welcome in here all day and ALL night if they were allowed! The menu is very similar to the Bull however the emphasis on children is much clearer in this establishment. The relaxed sofas, spaced well to enable even the smallest of tot to walk around and not disturb other diners, were very impressive. There is a huge basket of toys and colouring implements for the children to use. The children’s menu is £4.50 which includes a small fizzy drink, milk or squash. Half portions are also available from the adult menu. Their friendly staff were so proud to tell me that they made their own sausages and also hand cut their chips, which of course I had to try! The burger that came with the chips was the best burger that I have ever had in the UK and I would highly recommend it! The menu is simple yet unique and makes it very hard to choose.

...Bury St. Edmunds local restaurants It saddens me to say that I could not fit a pudding in after such a huge burger, but the choices were just so tempting with offerings such as Coconut Pannacotta and Chocolate Brownies…but I am sure to go back again for dessert or next time try the sharing platter of sample desserts.

The Fox Inn – Eastgate Street, Bury St. Edmunds www.thefoxinnbury.co.uk 01284 705562 The Fox Inn is nestled beside Abbey Gardens and a few minute stroll from the centre itself. It is a very welcoming, independent family run pub offering gastro food at very reasonable prices. The Inn retains the charm of an old English pub with oak beams and stone walls but is fused with an understated modern feel which creates a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere.

As with all my recommendations so far, the ingredients are all locally sourced, organic where possible, fair trade and I just love their ethos of trying to have as little impact on the environment as possible. This pub has got it right in so many ways. Booking our table was easy and straightforward (which we did over the phone on the way back from a family day out at the Huntingdon races) and we were greeted by very friendly and polite staff. The children were issued with paper and crayons to play with as soon as they sat down which kept them entertained whilst we perused the menu. The Fox offers a good selection of starters, mains and desserts and we were told about the specials on offer. My children were both thrilled when they were handed a ‘grown up’ menu, and offered half portions of 80% of the main courses of offer. The pub boasts the Suffolk Food & Drink award 2011 ‘Best Food Pub’ finalist and also hosts many live music evenings including many Jazz & Blues nights on Sunday evenings. I loved everything about this pub, including the newly renovated courtyard barn offering luxury boutique rooms. I may now just have to hint to my husband about a spa weekend in Bury St Edmunds!

Out & About

DISS RFC FIXTURES 2011/2012 3rd december diss rfc vs braintree rfc (SPONSORED BY LOVEWELL BLAKE)

9TH DECEMBER CHRISTMAS DINNER DANCE 7PM £30

CONTACT EmmA WEBSTER ON 01379 898607 or emmal.webster@btinternet.com 7TH JANUARY DISS RFC VS COLCHESTER RFC (SPONSORED BY ALMARY GREEN & M&a) 21ST JANUARY DISS RFC VS THURROCK RFC 4TH FEBRUARy DISS RFC VS CHINgfORD RFC (SPONSORED BY GRAINSEED) mackenders, BELLROPE LANE, ROYDON ip22 5rg

Tel: 01379 642891

kick-off from 2:30pm

Ladies who lunch Rudy’s Pizzeria and Takeaway

4 Griffin Court, Town Centre, Wymondham NR18 0GU Tel: 01953 606930

taly this time! However, not Naples or Rome, but the very centre of Wymondham. I had walked past Rudy’s several times and noticed the exceedingly jolly seats outside; twin seats painted bright red, with heart shaped backs to them, so I thought I would try it. My companion this time was a delightful Japanese lady translator; unfortunately her Japanese to Italian via English gave rise to some hilarity when I tried to explain the literal meaning of pasta putanesca*: in the end she chose pizza. The restaurant was very welcoming and had a happy atmosphere; our table was ready and so was the young waiter who was only on his second day there. Whilst we struggled with the menu, I asked if we could have some bread, and ‘Rudy’ (as we named him) brought two neat plates of cubed bread together with a dish of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Delightful! Eventually I chose Penne Primavera which my schoolgirl french (?) told me meant ‘spring’ and my companion chose the Pizza Gamberi E Rucola which is pizza with prawns and rocket. While we waited we both had a glass of Pinot Grigio which was beautifully chilled, and before long the main course was brought. Having experienced the meagre splat of parmesan granted in a prestigious Italian restaurant elsewhere, I was impressed as ‘Rudy’ patiently grated parmesan over our dishes to a chorus of ‘more, more!’

Bottom line

My Penne Primavera was delicious and fresh with aubergines, tomatoes, mushrooms and a lovely creamy sauce and there was more than enough of it. My companion’s pizza was simply the biggest I have ever

seen and would ordinarily be used to feed a family of six. Even so, I did feel that the £11.50 was a little costly for this dish considering that my penne was only £8.50 – much better value. Needless to say we managed to eat the lot and begged for the dessert menu. One of the features of this restaurant is that they serve a wide selection of gelati both inside and to take away: rows of pretty ice-cream cones stand on the counter defying any small child to walk past without a murmur. My companion – by this time stuffed with her sixperson pizza – chose the melon gelato and I chose the tiramisu. Now tiramisu can be sickly sometimes, and on top of all that creamy pasta might have been a mistake, but this was a very light-hearted version, made using fragments of light sponge cake mixed with the cream and coffee and Marsala and chocolate. Bliss on a spoon. The gelato was pronounced just right and was, in fact, more like a sorbet than the usual ice-cream. We each had a delicious cup of Italian Americano coffee to finish with. The loo was clearly undergoing refurbishment and some rebuilding, so I will be interested to see the result. Fresh flowers were on each table giving the room a bright clean appearance. Would I go again? Well, I already have: just for coffee on a hot day when I sat outside on the bright red twinseat and ate a delicious portion of baked raspberry cheesecake from a selection of tempting desserts. But that’s another story. *No, I am not going to tell you!

£11.50 Pizza £8.50 Penne Primavera £2.70 Gelato £4.90 Tiramisu £5.70 two glasses of wine £3.40 two coffees The bread was free. Total £36.70

Out & About

WIN

It’s that time of year again, and nothing says Christmas like a family outing to the Pantomime!

To be in with a chance of winning, just answer this question correctly: The dame in a pantomime is traditionally played by... A. A man? B. A woman?

C. A child?

Email your answer plus your name, address and daytime telephone number to...

We have teamed up with Norwich Theatre Royal to give away a Family Ticket (2 adults and 2 children) to see Sleeping Beauty for the performance on Monday 19th December.

competition@village-people.info Closing date for entries is 12th December. The winner will be chosen at random and will be notified by telephone by 13th December. In addition to usual Village People rules, prize tickets cannot be exchanged for a cash alternative or tickets for another show.

Recommended Place To Stay.. .

The King’s Head Ashwellthorpe Pre-Christmas lunches available from 7th Dec Sunday Roast from £5.25

01508 489419 www.kingsheadashwellthorpe.co.uk 36

Popular actress, singer and Dancing On Ice winner Hayley Tamaddon is taking on the lead role in this year’s Norwich Theatre Royal pantomime Sleeping Beauty.

nown as one of Britain’s most versatile performers, she is looking forward to bringing the magic of the classic story to life as part of an all-star cast which includes Hollyoaks heart-throb Kevin Sacre, Helen Fraser who is best known as Body Bag from TV’s Bad Girls, and Andre Vincent, the comedy partner of Marcus Brigstocke in cult comedy Early Edition.

But he has also turned his hand to a range of other projects including the UK stage tour of Calendar Girls opposite popular actress – and fellow Norwich Theatre Royal panto performer – Helen Fraser.

Hayley cannot wait to start rehearsing. She said: “I am very excited about playing Sleeping Beauty. It is a new part for me but panto itself is not new to me. There is something for everybody and it’s filled with fun and entertainment and audiences can enjoy a great musical based around a story that everyone will know.”

Sleeping Beauty will also see a number of favourites return to the city stage. Richard Gauntlett will once again don an array of elaborate and spectacular dresses as he takes on the role of Dame - the 11th pantomime in the city that he has been a part of. His popular comedy side-kick Andre Vincent also returns to the festive spectacular bringing his usual brand of high-energy comedy to the show for the third year running.

Hayley first shot to fame playing the role of feisty Northern lass Delilah Dingle on ITV’s soap Emmerdale where her character was involved in a host of love, comedy and tragedy storylines.This then led to her enthralling weekly audiences of over 10 million people on Dancing On Ice eventually winning the hit TV show with over 80 per cent of the viewers’ votes – and also starring in the touring spin-off which saw her perform in front of large audiences in arenas across the country. But these two TV shows were just a small part of her versatile career as she has appeared in a number of other small screen roles in a wide range of programmes including Waterloo Road, Shameless, The Royal and Where The Heart Is. Starring opposite her will be Kevin Sacre, who is best known for playing Jake Dean in Channel Four’s hit soap Hollyoaks. His character was at the centre of some major storylines including a tug-of-love over his son and a very powerful performance as his character suffered a mental breakdown.

The production will match the successful formula of previous years by reuniting its highly experienced creative team; Richard Gauntlett writing and directing with accomplished choreographer Dee Jago at his side. Jane Walsh, executive-producer of the production said: “We are so excited to welcome Hayley Tamaddon to the city to play Sleeping Beauty for the very first time. Expect all the traditional panto magic, lots of family fun, a spectacular set from Scenic Projects…and plenty of surprises.”

Box Office 01603 630000

For more info or to BOOK ONLINE www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

December 14th 2011 to January 15th 2012 Tickets £5-£19

Out & About

Mile Road Carleton Rode Norwich NR16 1NE

Tel: 01953 788788 Mob: 07540 453093

www.millcottagecattery.com Monday - Friday 9.00am - 11.00am 4.30pm - 6.30pm

Saturday 8.00am - 10.00am

Sunday 9.00am - 10.00am

Southfork Luxury BOARDING CATTERY

Somewhere special for someone special we are a well established cattery, situated in a quiet position only a short distance from the A11. Cats are housed in individual heated chalets each with its own run.

www.southforkcattery.co.uk Gallows Lane, Eccles, Norwich NR16 2JJ

OPEN FOR BOARDING ALL YEAR ROUND Time for collection, delivery and inspections are as follows: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 9am-1pm & 5pm-7pm Wednesday: 5-7pm, Saturday: 9am-1pm, Sunday: 5pm-7pm

Tel. 01953 887 517

ChristmasPosting Dates

Make sure your Christmas mail gets to its destination on time by taking a look at the table for suggested last posting dates..

UK Wednesday 14th December Saturday 17th December Tuesday 20th December Wednesday 21st December Thursday 22nd December

Standard Parcels Second Class & Recorded Signed For First Class & Recorded Signed For Parcelforce express48 Parcelforce express24 & Special Delivery

International Airmail Monday 5th December Friday 9th December Monday 12th December

South & Central America, Caribbean, Africa, Middle East, Asia, Far East (incl. Japan), Australia & New Zealand Eastern Europe, USA & Canada Western Europe

Out & About

For all your feline & canine needs

Cattery • Boarding Kennels Hydrotherapy • Labrador puppies Hingham Road, Hackford, Wymondham 01953 850907 • www.limeliegh.co.uk Village People would like to apologise for a mis-print in the Autumn issue. The Q-Pod Fun Buggy reviewed is no longer imported by Noel Edmonds. Cunninghams, based 9 miles south of Norwich, are currently the sole importer and distributor for Secma in the UK.

www.CunninghamsAuto.com

Film review

Puss in Boots: the Story of an Ogre Killer (3D)

Director: Chris Miller Starring: Antonio Banderas, Billy Bob Thornton, Amy Sedaris, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, Guillermo del Toro.

nown fondly by adults and children alike as the cute little ginger cat in Shrek, Puss in Boots is back in all the glory of DreamWorks 3D and this time he’s the star of the show (quite right too, if you ask me)! The film, which will be released on 9th December, is a prequel to the Shrek series and takes place before Puss meets Shrek and Donkey in Shrek 2. Originally, the release of Puss in Boots was planned for 2012, but as Shrek 5 (excessive?) was cancelled, the release date was pushed forward, providing a great excuse to hit the cinema for a fun-filled family day out this winter. Voiced by Antonio Banderas, Puss is the same swordfighting hero from the Shrek films; protecting the innocent and hunting down villains, putting a new spin on the tales of Zorro, which Banderas was previously famous for. As we are guided through Puss’ hilarious and courageous early adventures we are given an insight into the character we did not thoroughly get to know in Shrek, and learn how he acquires his seductive skill, and best defence, as a kitten in an orphanage. The plot then follows Puss as he and sidekick Humpty Dumpty (Galifianakis) learn that Jack and Jill (Thornton &

Sedaris) have discovered an ancient power that can destroy the world, legendry magic beans which can take the bearer to the Goose that lays the Golden Eggs, letting him enjoy the finest of riches. These two are a far cry from the naïve children we know from the nursery rhyme, but instead in true Shrek-like style, are two murderous pistol-wielding outlaws, out to get what they can. In his hunt for the villainous pair Puss meets a mysterious black cat named Kitty Softpaws (Hayek) who joins him on his quest and becomes the inevitable love-interest. For true lovers of the Shrek franchise this film has it all; the parody of common nursery rhymes and fairy tales layered beneath the usual stereotypes of a swashbuckling hero saving the day and getting the girl, provides the right mix of humour and intrigue for both adults and children, making this film perfect for all the family, even if there really is no sign of Shrek or Donkey, no matter how much you want it to happen! Little known fact: the film was hinted at the end of Shrek Forever After when Shrek returned the book back to the bookcase; it was put back next to the Puss in Boots book!

DIVANS • SOFA BEDS METAL BEDS BEDROOM FURNITURE WOODEN BEDS POCKET SPRING MATTRESSES MEMORY FOAM MATTRESSES

Bedsteads Wardrobes • Chests Tables • Chairs • Sideboards TV Units • Glazed units Desks • Mirrors • Bookcases and much more!

OCCASIONAL

BEDROOM

OFFICE

DINING

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

01379 640070 Sawmills Road, Diss

Monday to Friday 9am - 6pm Saturday 9am - 4pm Sunday 10am - 4pm

Kings Stores in New Buckenham With 16 years’ experience running the butcher’s shop in King Street, Simon and Sue Cattermole have recently announced the opening of a new village store; ‘Kings Stores’.

The shop, previously trading as a general store several years ago, caught the eye of Sue who saw the premises as an opportunity to bring back a shop of this kind for the benefit of the village.

So far the Cattermoles have had a great response from the local people and they very much hope to continue to provide the village with general goods as well as a fine butcher’s shop for the next 16 years.

New Buckenham has undergone a few changes in recent times; with two pubs closing and one re-opening and with the addition of a general store and butchers, Sue is confident that the villagers will support them in their new venture.

Kings Stores is open everyday from 7am to 7pm and stocks a good variety of food items and newspapers and they are just waiting for the approval of a licence in order to sell alcohol too. We’d like to wish Sue and Simon the very best of luck in their new venture.

Daria medium hobo bag, Mulberry at House of Fraser, £575

Paul Smith wallet, House of Fraser, £120

Gifts for her

Gifts for him

Pentax Q camera - Jessops, £599.95

Electronics & gadgets

Pied a Terre cup & saucer, £7.00, dinner plate £9.50, both House of Fraser

Gifts for home

All items featured subject to availability, prices correct at time of going to press but may va

14ct gold necklaces from £2600 and gold charms from £75 from ‘Moments’ Collection, Pandora

Gifts for children

Jewellery & watches lfield

I’m

Chape

me E Take FRE

ary.

Tag Heuer ceramic diamond set watch, Beaverbrooks, £1895 Curly teddy, £13.50, Build-A-Bear Workshop

Santa’s little helpe r...

Pick up your FREE Gift Guide at Chapelfield NOW!

Pasticceria Finissima butter biscuit assortment, Carluccio’s, £10.95 ENJOY OVER 200 GIFT IDEAS INSIDE!

WIN A

£500

Chapelfield Gift Card!

at chapelfield.co.uk

Gift Guide

Have a festive field ARTWO

day

RK.indd 1

17/10/2

011

15:31

Chapelfield

Santa’s little helper...

With over 90 fantastic shops, cafés and restaurants open until 8pm throughout December* (10pm on Thursdays) you’re sure to find something for that someone special this Christmas with a little help from Chapelfield Norwich. www.chapelfield.co.uk

Foodie gifts

*Except Sundays 11am - 5pm

Shopping

Fantastic Products for Clubs, Churches and All The Family….. Ch Spe ristma s cial Off e r

TV Wall Mounts

Power Tools

iPad Accessories TV & Tablet Cleaning Products

Limited Time Only! Just £149.99 For All Of This….

Microphones

• Jaxville electric guitar • Available in ‘Hades’, ‘The Demon’ & ‘Zeus’ body designs • 10W Rockburn amp with overdrive, EQ and headphone socket • Adjustable black webbing strap • 10ft Black guitar lead • Black gig-bag • Set of nickel, flatwound strings • Rockburn plecs • Tutorial DVD with interactive tuning feature

iPhone Accessories

Headphones

PA Equipment

Visit our online shops for a wider range of products www.elexaukonline.co.uk www.stores.ebay.co.uk/Accessories-Kingdom

www.loctek.co.uk

www.stores.ebay.co.uk/Dgital Essentials For Life

www.stores.ebay.co.uk/Acc-sees-Ltd Or contact us directly to place orders and to purchase the above special offer Guitar Pack.

Call 01379 871820

email rloxton@acc-sees.co.uk

Last order date for Christmas Delivery is 19 th December 2011 Acc-Sees Ltd, Unit 4 Progress Way, Mid Suffolk Business Park, Eye, Suffolk, IP23 7HU

5 minute interview Q&A Robin Loxton Robin Loxton is the owner and Managing Director of Elexa UK Ltd as well as Acc-Sees Ltd. Robin has over 35 years’ experience in the music, hi-fi and electrical industries. Using all his experience as well as listening to his customers, he is pleased to be able to offer the very best products and service that his companies are known for.

What’s your idea of perfect happiness in South Norfolk? The rolling landscape, the animals, the beauty and the peace after a busy day.

If you weren’t talking to us now, what would you be doing? Facing a computer screen, arranging my next business trip, deciding on new products or speaking with customers.

What do you miss most when you leave Suffolk? I miss the peace and tranquillity. I originally come from the town and I can now say I will never go back to a town. Living in a rural setting is perfect.

What’s the best thing about living in a village? The community is very friendly and helpful and there is always a lot to do.

In moments of weakness... I will eat a bar of chocolate!

Red or white? Red, always.

Age you feel on the inside?

Tell us more about the Elexa UK. . . Elexa UK is a major distribution company specialising in TV wall mounts, hi-fi equipment, cleaning products etc. We source products from around the world as well as local UK sources. We have been trading now for over three years and have been very fortunate to have many loyal customers. This year we are aiming to develop a new side to our business by supplying our products to the local area.

What is the high point of your week? Watching people achieve what they thought was impossible.

How many hours do you work each week? I am in the office 12 hours each day, but as I run the business I am always working or thinking of things when I am at home, so I would say approx 70-80 hours per week.

What could you talk for hours about? The products that we design and sell. Also, the current economic situation that we find ourselves in. The main problem is that we have no vision as a country. You cannot solve a problem with the same thinking that was used to get us into this situation.

Where would you most like to be right now? Here. I love my job, I love the village that I live in and I love my family.

21.

If you’re a local business person and would like to feature in Village People’s 5 minute interview, contact Lily on 0330 660 0325 or email editor@village-people.info

Shopping

A ChristmAs present from us... d

ai Fo rr ea de Ju rs o ad st fV v sh i to erti ow llag qu sem th e P eo al e is ify nt pl e

cur

and

50% OFF

All VerticAl Blind tain

orders during december

Call or scan now for details. offer ends December 24th.

not to be used in conjunction with any other voucher

01603 615945 8 St. Benedicts Street, norwich nR2 4AG

01953 455415

www.sunblinds.co.uk

Haverscroft Ind Est, Attleborough, norfolk nR17 1YE

WYMONDHAM’S LOCAL FURNISHING Jarrolds can offer expert advice on all aspects of home furnishing and are very proud to have been part of the historic town of Wymondham since 1988

LINENS • HOUSEWARES • FURNITURE • CARPETS • RUGS • CURTAINS • COOKSHOP UPHOLSTERY • SOFT FURNISHINGS • BEDS • MATTRESSES • LIFT & RISE ELECTRIC CHAIRS

7 Middleton Street Wymondham

01953 603251 www.jarrold.co.uk

Wines for Christmas As we get to the festive time of year, thoughts turn to over-indulgence. But which wines are best with your Christmas food?

Sparkling Red Sparkling Wines

Red Wines

Many people like to ensure there is a ready flow of Champagne at Christmas time, and it’s true that a sparkling wine does make any occasion feel that bit more special, but you don’t need to spend a fortune. While Champagne can only be produced within that region in France, the restrictions on production mean the prices soar. But your sparkling wine doesn’t have to come from France to add some pzazz to the occasion. Why not try the San Giuseppe Prosecco, at £12 a bottle. Add some peach juice and you’ve got a traditional Bellini – what a great start to proceedings!

Although turkey is a delicately flavoured meat, all the trimmings we add to it at Christmas make for a much more robust dish, and so it calls for a fairly robust wine. For turkey on its own, a Pinot Noir can be delicious, but often this gets lost alongside the stronger flavours of the stuffing, the sausage meat and the gravy etc. Bearing all this in mind, why not try a red Corbieres such as the Chateau Haute Fontaine Grande Reserve, £9.75 per bottle but also available in magnums (which look great on your Christmas table).

White

White Wines

As with any wine that you’re going to drink with food, it’s worth considering what you’ll be eating before making any definite decision. For the purposes of this, let’s assume that at Christmas most people will have some smoked salmon or some cold turkey at some point, and so look at whites that will best complement those foods. For both, a soft dry white wine, rather than a very acidic or a sweet one, will complement best. I suggest an Alsace Pinot Blanc, such as the Caves de Hunawihr Pinot Blanc at £9.25 per bottle.

Dessert

Dessert Wines

With over-eating the name of the game, it only seems right to consider dessert wines. There are many good ones out there, and most are white, but why not have a red dessert wine. The plus side to this is that it is more versatile – it is delicious with puddings, but doubles up as a less alcoholic (and therefore less headacheinducing) alternative to Port to have with your stilton. Northern Italy offers some wonderful red dessert wines, as do parts of Southern France around the Banyuls region. Our recommendation is Toffoli Marzemino dei Colli Trevigiani Passito DOC, £13.25 per bottle.

All of the featured wines are available from www.theperfectwine.co.uk, but equivalents can be found in all good wine shops. www.theperfectwine.co.uk • Tel.01508 486000 emily@theperfectwine.co.uk

Shopping

SHE The last

independent fashion retailer in Attleborough

years after Liz Monaghan founded She, the ladies clothes store in Attleborough, we take a look back at the success of the last independent fashion retailer in the town. Founded originally in September 1976 as a women’s clothes shop, She was one of six other retailers, bringing in local customers from the town and the surrounding villages. Nine years after she started trading Liz opened Instep, stocking shoes to compliment the fashion on offer from She. After two years Liz amalgamated She with Instep to offer her customers everything under one roof. “It was a good move,” says Liz and the shop has been very successful over the last 24 years, offering a great selection of wide fitting shoes for ladies with problem feet as well as their fashion ranges. As the other fashion shops have closed She have prospered, taking on a much wider range of merchandise. Step into She today and you can find anything from shoelaces to vests and bed jackets, purses to pop socks, ball gowns to bedroom slippers! In the last 35 years Liz has seen most fashions go full circle but says that garments made today have the benefit of Lycra and far better fabrics. We asked Liz what the secret to her success has been and she said the huge amount of repeat customers, although they are no longer local people. In fact, most of Liz’s customers travel to She from far and wide, whilst local women tend to travel farther afield to the city.

annual Carnival Show whilst others take place in village halls. Some have been so small that there has hardly been enough room for the models to show off the outfits! Through doing these fashion shows Liz has helped raise funds for many organisations. Not to mention the many friends that Liz has made along the way over her amazing career. In a final trip down memory lane we asked Liz to share with us the memories of what Attleborough was like in 1976…

So what makes her customers come back time after time? Liz believes it is because they know that they will get the same friendly, caring service and they always have the same dilemma; how to choose from the amazing, tempting clothes and shoes on offer from such an Aladdin’s Cave!

“Before the by-pass all traffic had to come through the town which meant there was a constant stream of it! Many of the shops that are there now were different; for example Break used to be International Store, Thing-Me-Bobs was a Co-op and Creations was an electrical store! A market was held on the waste-land that is now home to M & Co. and the Town Hall was a very popular restaurant, The Doric. Where She is now used to be a hardware store, and paint was mixed where I display my shoes! Alice had her vegetables and flowers where RSPCA is and The Bear public house was in Queens Road with a bowling green behind. Prefabricated buildings with shops and a hairdresser sat on Lidl’s car park.

She Ladies Clothes and Shoes run on average six fashion shows a year, travelling all over South Norfolk. Some of the shows are on a very big scale like the

There were no Indian restaurants or Sainsbury’s and there were three more butchers, making five in all!” WOW!

Book reviews This volume of railway posters from The National Railway Museum of York is a mixture of documentary reference, geographical study, historical perspective and artist’s review. We can see a range of poster images issued by the Pre-Grouping companies, through the era of the “Big Four”, then the British Railways period and finally into the age of Intercity and GNER. We take a journey from North Lincolnshire to the outskirts of London, ending at the seaside in Southend-on-Sea, an essay on the role they played in the area’s development.

Poster to Poster Vol. 4 Richard Furness JDF & Assoc. Ltd. Hardback 9780956209238 £25 (£10 off )

Once again Mike Page covers every type of landscape and a wide variety of interesting features, from ancient buildings to recent urban developments, from distinctive churches to grand stately homes. As before, these superb photographs are described by Pauline Young, bringing each to life. Such different perspectives reveal to us hidden delights and surprises, allowing us to monitor the changes that have taken place, as well as the unchanged.

Norfolk from the Air Mike Page & Pauline Young

Halsgrove Hardback 9780857041081 £14.99

Discovering Old Norfolk Susan Wright

Halsgrove Hardback 9780857041104 £19.99

Tom Nokes (1869-1943) travelled around South Norfolk villages photographing events, harvest scenes, rural industries, sports teams, schools, weddings and First World War soldiers. These images were produced as postcards and today are highly sought after by local historians and postcard collectors. Over 300 photos provide a unique portrait of Norfolk when it was truly a rural gem. Also included is a carefully researched biography of Nokes and information from his notebook which really brings to life details about his work.

Roy Futter from Jarrold Book Department takes us on a journey of books focusing on the history and landscapes of our region

Recorded here are a host of forgotten cases and a cornucopia of crimes as diverse as highway robbery, housebreaking, riot, arson and livestock theft. Ranging from the earliest recorded in the thirteenth century, then down to Kett and many of his rebels in 1549 to the last execution in 1951. Crime historian Neil Storey has researched the stories behind Norfolk executions for over 20 years and brings them together in this volume for the first time.

Hanged At Norwich Neil R Storey

History Press Paperback 9780752458656 £14.99

This is an eclectic mix of historic tales of places and personalities plus a wealth of facts and figures about the fifth largest county in England. There are tales of smugglers, pirates, duels and strange prophecies: stories of explorers, treasure, giants and dwarves. Some things are peculiar to Norfolk, such as Jack Valentine, biffins (me neither), Cosseyware, whifflers and the Norwich Shawl. What were the famous Pulham Pigs and where did the Sex Pistols once play in Norfolk? Find out all this and more.

Norwich Murders & Misdemeanours Frank Meeres

Amberley Paperback 9781848684577 £6.49 (half-price)

Norfolk Miscellany Pamela Brooks

Breedon Books Hardback 9781859836927 £6.99 (was £12.99)

Norwich has its dark past, from the mysterious death of “Saint William” to notorious Victorian crimes such as the “dismembered body” case, the Hospital Child Murders and the famous “The Murderers” public house crime. This book sets these cases into their historical and social background, discussing causes of crime from passion to poverty. It throws new light on the city’s criminal justice system by examining related themes such as the role of women as criminals and victims and the problems soldiers faced on their return from foreign wars.

Shopping Gangan’s Gifts, Botesdale From flying dragons to dragonflies, Wooden crafts and more besides. Plaques for walls, honey from bees, Handmade deco’s for Christmas trees. Soaps with apple, fennel or lime, Great as gifts - great any time. Candles in glasses, floating or dinner, You’re sure to be on to a winner! So many scents to tickle your nose, To pamper & soothe from head to toes. Jewels for necks, ears, belly and skin, Jams, pickles & sweets to fill within. The list could go on the range so vast, Worth driving to, not driving past. For gifts from a pound to under fifty, A generous person can also be thrifty. Open Tues to Sat 10am - 4pm

The Street, Botesdale

ADULLAM’S CAVE Second-hand Emporium

For Furniture, Clothes, Haberdashery, Jewellery, Kitchenalia & more! Next to the Railway Station, Stowmarket

01449 770082 Open Tues to Sat 10am - 5pm

The One Stop Shop for all your designer paint & wallpaper requirements. Now stocking Holkham Linseed paint

Long lasting & cost effective. www.paint-paper.co.uk

Tel. 01603 400777

Shopping N O K TI C A O C ST LO W W E E N N D N A Beautiful unique ranges of gifts and interiors for all tastes Great range of Christmas gifts and decorations

10% off all items on production of this advert Open Wed to Fri inclusive 10:00 to 15:00 & Sat 10:00 to 16:00 Appointments available outside these times please call Dianne on 01953 860967 NEW LOCATION Carleton Wood, Ash Lane, Carleton Rode, Norwich NR16 1NN lots of parking available! www.lamaisongifts.com Exclusive shopping events available to book for groups and charities

Health & Beauty

Transformational therapies Create a positive outlook on life & ease physical symptoms

Hypnotherapy • Esoteric Crystal Therapy • Massage

Coldstream Therapy 01379 677681 • 07519 298218 monique@coldstreamtherapy.co.uk www.coldstreamtherapy.co.uk

absolute hair design GREAT LENGTHS HAIR EXTENSION SPECIALIST From lengthening to volume & thickness hair extensions beyond expectation. Latest cutting and colouring techniques. Goldwell Tigi Great Lengths

Call Bonnie on 01953 789566 Orchard View, Long Stratton Road, Forncett St Peter NR16 1HT

Fitness for busy lifestyles One to one workouts

Contact Matt on

07785 105381

matt@atphealthandfitness.co.uk www.atphealthandfitness.co.uk

Exercise Now

Reap the benefits in later life New research has found that exercise can reduce the risk of dementia, and will keep your bones stronger for longer.

bone mass is reached during your 20s. Once you have reached this age, it is important to continue feeding and working your bones to maintain their strength well into the future.

So what exactly does that mean? The researchers broadly defined ‘exercise’ as enough aerobic physical activity to raise the heart rate and increase the body’s need for oxygen. Examples include walking, gym workouts and activities at home such as mowing the lawn or raking leaves.

The earlier you start looking after your bones the better, but it can be a hard task with a busy lifestyle. However there are a few easy steps you can take to give your bones the best chance. Start by including more weight-bearing exercise in your workout routines to strengthen, then follow a diet of calcium-rich foods to give yourself the best chance of having healthy bones throughout your life. Make sure you include magnesium, vitamin D, zinc, pumpkin seeds, oily fish, oysters and yes, dark chocolate, in your diet.

ny exercise that gets the heart pumping may reduce the risk of dementia and slow the condition’s progression once it starts, a clinical study published this autumn has found. Researchers examined the role of aerobic exercise in preserving cognitive abilities and concluded that it should not be overlooked as an important therapy in preventing dementia.

Not only can exercise prevent conditions such as dementia in later life, but it can go a long way to keeping your bones stronger and in good working order. Looking after ones bones is something everyone should be doing, even from a young age, as peak

If you would like more information on Exercise Classes, Diet, Personal Training or Gym Membership contact Mick Glynn at MG Fitness Studio on 07879 455966 or visit www.mgfitnessstudio.co.uk or www.mickglynn.co.uk

Foods to eat during a cold

The common cold and its associated misery is something that most of us are very familiar with. The highly contagious nature of this virus means that it is almost impossible to avoid unless we hibernate for the months of winter and avoid all human contact. The normal symptoms of coughing, sneezing, sore throat, congested airways, runny nose and fever can sometimes seem to hang around forever leaving us feeling weak and rather sorry for ourselves. Eating may not always be the first thing on our minds but certain foods will help to soothe, alleviate and accelerate our healing and our body’s ability to fight off the infection.

Keeping hydrated Perhaps even more important than what we eat will be what we drink. We are more prone to dehydration when we have a high temperature and replacing lost fluids is essential to give our body a greater chance to fight off the virus. Additionally, drinking hot liquids will help to dilute the mucous secretions which are responsible for congestion in the chest, throat and nasal passage.

The best drinks are: Water – try and avoid cold water which may exacerbate the mucous condition. Green tea – contains many health boosting properties including the presence of flavanoids which act as natural anti-inflammatories. Fruit/herbal teas and fruit juice – pick juices high in vitamin C which will help to enhance the immune system. Many herbal teas have properties which will both ease the passage of your cold and help to accelerate recovery. Broth based soups – it would appear that the old fashioned healing claims for chicken noodle soup during a cold may have some basis although exactly how this works isn’t clear. The warm liquid will help to de-congest blocked airways and chicken contains an essential amino acid which has antiviral properties.

What are the best foods to eat when you have a cold? Food and drinks that are high in vitamin C can be beneficial during a cold. The body uses vitamin C to bolster the immune system. Vitamin C can be found in many fruits and is particularly high in papaya, strawberries, oranges, grapefruit and melon. Vegetables such as kale and cauliflower also offer high vitamin C content. Rose hip fruit tea is another high vitamin C option. Bioflavanoid or flavanoid is a substance found in certain plants, most commonly in high coloured fruit and vegetables. It is a natural anti-inflammatory so will help to ease cold symptoms and it also aids the body in absorbing vitamin C. Apples, cranberries, cherries, oranges and grapes all contain such flavanoids. Grapefruit is said to aid in liver detoxification and cleansing. As the liver plays an important role in the body’s immunity processes then eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice may help to shorten the cold’s duration. Some people claim that mushrooms of the oriental variety such as Shiitake are powerful immune system boosters Chicken, soy beans, kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas and parmesan cheese all contain lysine, one of the essential amino acids which has antiviral properties. Essential amino acids mean those that the body cannot manufacture internally but need to be part of the diet. Honey is one of nature’s health foods and can be of great comfort during a cold for easing a sore throat and reducing coughing fits which add to the throat inflammation. Many people swear by hot and spicy foods during a cold which contain curry powder, chilli, hot mustard or cayenne, claiming that it helps to unblock congestion and clear sinuses. In many cases it is as much about avoiding certain foods as it is about eating the right ones during a cold. It is sensible to avoid heavy foods containing dense protein (red meats), complex carbohydrates (pasta, potatoes, bread) and fats which use up a great deal of the body’s resources in order to digest them. Although escaping catching a cold may be difficult, eating or avoiding certain foods will certainly help to ease the passage of a cold and may help to shorten its viral presence in the body.

Deneice Arthurton, Freelance Writer for Hire: Content, Articles and Website Creative Marketing • Email: nieceyandchris_surfvan@hotmail.com

Q&A health Q

With the festive season upon us - aside from not drinking altogether, are there any natural remedies that can help to alleviate a hangover?

Trish Stephenson from the Natural Food Store, Exchange Street, Norwich says:

This time of the year alcohol intake is increased dramatically for many of us. A hangover is often the price to pay for overindulging on our favourite tipple. Prevention is the best way to avoid that hangover but alternative remedies can help. Make sure you drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids! One of the main reasons we are left with a pounding headache is because alcohol dehydrates the body. Drinking water before going to bed and first thing on waking will help to re-hydrate you. A hangover can also leave you feeling weak and light-headed. This is because the sugar in alcohol is used by the body extremely quickly causing existing supplies to fall too low. Orange juice and fruits rich in vitamin C are a good source of sugar and will help to lift blood glucose levels and replace those sugar stores that have been depleted. The wonderful herb Milk Thistle has been used for centuries for its cleansing and protecting effect on the liver and will help counter a hangover. Medical use of Milk Thistle can be traced back more than 2000 years and Culpepper, the well-known eighteenth century

Natural solutions for your health problems herbalist, cited its success in treating spleen, kidney and liver damage. Research shows that it can inhibit toxins from entering the blood and promote the regeneration of damaged liver cells. One particularly effective remedy is Milk Thistle Complex with Dandelion and Artichoke made by the great company Bioforce. Dandelion and artichoke have been scientifically proven to stimulate the production of bile, a substance that breaks down and eliminates fatty foods and alcohol from the body. Taken before a night out, when you get in and again the following morning, this combination of herbs helps to limit the horror of a hangover and protect your liver from the potentially damaging effects of alcohol.

Consult your Homeopath for support or ring the Complementary Health Care Clinic 01603 665173 for an appointment, or for further advice contact the Natural Food Store on 01603 613228.

Health & Beauty

Ability 2 Care Contact Sarah for a friendly chat to find out more

01953 452068 07747 071956 Professional & qualified CARER Care & Support on a Daily, Weekly or Long Term Basis Careful & experienced DRIVER Daily trips out with transport provided Individually or up to 4 people Experience within the NHS & Social Services Qualified, fully insured & CRB checked local lady available

Harford (Norwich) Community Centre Peterkin Road 10am, 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel: Julia 01508 578916 NEW TIMES Harleston Archbishop Sancroft High School Wilderness Lane, 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel: Diane 01379 642949

TUESDAY

Hingham Lincoln Hall, 10am Tel: Debbie 01603 813316 East Harling Youth Centre Church Road, 7.30pm Tel: Lydia 01842 760354

MONDAY

Rickinghall Village Hall Hinderclay Road, 7.30pm Tel: Wendy 01379 640313 Cringleford Pavilion Recreation Ground Oakfields Road, 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel: Lauren 01953 600854

NEW TIMES Diss (Fitzwalter) Infants School Fitzwalter Road, 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel: Jane 01379 650671 NEW VENUE Hethersett Methodist Church Gt Melton Road, 7.30pm Tel: Penny 01508 579041

WEDNESDAY

NEW VENUE Pulham Market Methodist Church Hall Bank Street, 7.30pm Tel: Jo 07900 430856 Wymondham Methodist Church Hall Town Green 9.30am, 11.30am, 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel: Debbie 01603 813316

THURSDAY

NEW TIMES Taverham (Norwich) Hinks Meadow Hall Kingswood Avenue Thorpe Marriott, 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel: Hannah 07792 960048

Diss St Mary’s Church Hall Mount Street 9.30am & 11.30am Tel: Karen 01379 677119 Attleborough Snooker Centre London Road, 5.30pm Tel: Rita 01508 489434 Mulbarton Bracon Ash Village Hall Norwich Road, 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel: Julia 01508 578916 Eye Hartismere High School Castleton Way 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel: Jane 01379 650671 Long Stratton St Mary’s Middle School Swan Lane, 7.30pm Tel: Wendy 01379 640313 Watton Junior School Brandon Road, 5.30pm & 7.30pm

Want to know more about any of the groups? Call Karen on 01379 677119 62

How intense

should my workout be?

’m sure you have all seen those people who seemingly just sit around on the equipment for most of the time at the gym but still appear to be in good shape. Then there are others who have finished their workouts by the time you’ve got your trainers on, but also seem to be relatively fit. This is because they are working out at different intensities and aiming for different body shapes and muscle goals. So which workout suits your aims best? For those of you that are wishing to trim your figure down, create some muscular shape but without gaining comparative bulk then a short sharp blast will do the trick for you. This comes with a catch I’m afraid, and that is high intensity, coupled with short rest periods. You need to come in fighting and blast your way through 20-60 minutes of hard-core cardiovascular work alongside weights and core conditioning. Rest should be kept down to 2-3 minutes maximum in between sets and your heart rate should be around your 80-85% maximum (there are guidelines on good machines that work with pulse sensors according to your age). You will feel a burn, but it will be brief and worth it!

Katie Harrison Fit Club, Wymondham Sports Conditioning, Rehabilitation and Massage (BSc Hons)

Those who are looking to gain muscle mass are at the opposite end of the scale. Rest periods are high and volume is moderate to low, working around 3-12 reps and 3-5 sets. Don’t be fooled that exercise is easier doing this than the other variation! The weights of these repetitions will be between your 80-95% maximum. Cardiovascular exercise is still recommended but in lower intensities, working around 65-75% of your maximum heart rate. Of course there is a happy medium for those of you who are just looking to stay in shape. Mix the intensities of your cardio and your workout with weights. It can alter every time you work out so you don’t ever become stale of one routine. You know your body best of all, but don’t be afraid to push boundaries to see just how hard you can work. This is the best way to achieve your goals without reaching a plateau state and keeping your interest, and can mean you can have finished a successful workout in just 40 minutes so there can be no excuses!

Village Notice Board THE MILL CAFÉ 5th December 2011 10am to 2pm Hempnall Mill Centre, Mill Road, Hempnall. NR15 2LP www.hempnalltrust.org.uk Registered Charity No. 1074433 01508 499061

SAXOPHONE FOR SALE JUPITER Eb ALTO SAXOPHONE

Beautiful second-hand Eb Alto Saxophone including mouthpiece, neck-strap, cleaning cloth and cork grease. Comes in a faux-fur lined fitted hard carrying case complete with metal music stand and a selection of beginner’s music books.

IDEAL AS A STARTER SAXOPHONE!

£250.00 ono CALL Chloe on 07717 234472

CARD GAMES SEEK MORE PLAYERS CRIBBAGE: Every Friday Except 1st in Month 7.30pm

WHIST: Every Wednesday 7.30pm Attleborough Fire Station, Thieves Lane Contact: Mrs D. Fuller 01953 452012

ictorian Magical Vas Fair Christm ommunity Banham C tre Cen December th 0 1 m 10am - 4p Free Entryc, Food, s, Musi Gifts, Craft & Games Fun otto Santa’s Gr the best Prizes for outfit! ss e fancy dr

List your local event for FREE on our Village Notice Board Email details to Lily at editor@village-people.info 64

It’s

FREE to

list evenytour !

House of Colour with Gill Bushnell

elcome to my first letter to you all in Village People. As many of you will already know, I recently took over from Carolyn, and have already met quite a few of you at her last open day. I am really looking forward to keeping in touch with you all and also to meeting and helping new clients. With the Christmas season almost upon us, we can become totally immersed in the rush and panic of it all. “Did I remember to send all the cards?”, “how many are we for Christmas lunch?”, “did I order the turkey?”, and on it goes. During all of this seasonal chaos have you remembered to allow any time for yourself? Do you suddenly remember your office party and think “what on earth will I wear?”, or even “do I actually have anything suitable?” How often have you been invited out and immediately thought “I’ll need to go out and buy a new outfit!”

You will know exactly what shapes and styles work for your body shape and just as importantly, work with your personality. If your loved ones have asked what you’d like for Christmas or if you are wondering what to give the person who has everything, wonder no more! What could be nicer than a gift that will last a lifetime?

For more information about the classes and what I can do for you, give me a call on 07805 876619 or email gill.bushnell@houseofcolour.co.uk

Well the good news is that once you have had a Colour Analysis and a Personal Style Analysis, you will always have something in your wardrobe that will work for you. First of all, every colour in your wardrobe will suit you, and it will work with everything else you have. Secondly, you will understand your body shape and which shapes and styles work for you, and even if you have had it in your wardrobe for a while you will know how to bring it up to date by making the trends work for you. We all want to look and feel great, both ladies and men alike, so take a moment to imagine how wonderful it would be to have a wardrobe that works for you and your lifestyle. I can help you to create that wardrobe, and I can promise you that you will be able to reduce the amount in it, have more to wear and most importantly, during this period of financial uncertainty it will save you money. You won’t make those costly mistakes again, there will be no strangers in the wardrobe tucked away in the back with the label still attached, unworn and unloved! My Colour Classes are just £99, and include refreshments. You will leave with a beautiful leather wallet with swatches of your colours, and a workbook to help you to get started. Personal Style classes are £130, and include lunch and afternoon tea.

Health & Beauty

Welcome to a New Era in Dentistry Netherton Dental Practice is pleased to welcome Dr Rasha Zahi to the team in Long Stratton. She joins Dr Auriel Gibson and Dr Adam Stacey, adding to the existing wealth of knowledge and experience on offer to patients at the practice.

Practice Philosophy • Many patients come to us because we are known to be a gentle practice. • Our personal service ensures that a close professional & caring relationship is developed with a dedicated dental practitioner. • Our preventative team, comprising hygienists & an oral health educator, guarantees that oral health is given top priority. • We actively listen to you & place great emphasis on thorough investigation sending you a written report & treatment planning options for complex dentistry. • Children are treated from an early age & advice is given to parents & children on plaque control & preventative dietary habits.

Our Services Complete dental care for all ages & advanced cosmetic dentistry: Professionally Placed Restorations - Implants Tooth Whitening - Telescopic Overdentures Sports Mouthguards - Fissure Sealants - Facial Aesthetics & Veneers - Diagnosis & Treatment of Periodontal Disease - Orthodontic Treatment including Invisalign & Inman Aligners Treatment of Termperomandibular Signs & Symptoms

Netherton Dental Practice The Plain, Long Stratton NR15 2XG

01508 532226 info@nethertondental.co.uk

Dr Auriel Gibson BDS. MSc. FDSRCS (Eng), MGDS, FFGDP. Auriel’s focus is on complex restorative treatments & dental implants. She teaches advanced dentistry at the Royal College of Surgeons and is a national postgraduate examiner. Auriel is a past president of the British Society for General Dental Surgery and actively engages in postgraduate study.

Dr Adam Stacey BDS (Lond), DPDS (Brist). Adam has 17 years of experience in general practice including an advanced diploma plus a forsensics qualification. He is now working through an M.Sc in restorative and cosmetic dentistry.

Dr Rasha Zahi BDS, MSc. Rasha graduated from Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’s Dental Institute in London in 2004, having spent her childhood and schooldays in Harrogate. She has recently completed her M.Sc at UCL and a lengthy ‘Smile’ course. Rasha has a particular interest in teeth straightening and cosmetic dentistry. She loves to perfect beautiful smiles for her patients as well as enjoying routine dentistry for children and adults alike.

Business & Finance

Sales Vacancy Can you hit a target? Village People are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced sales person to join the growing business on a exible part-time or full-time basis. Working on our thriving publications you will have the skills to sell over the phone and face-to-face and will have an excellent command of the written word. Please email your CV and a covering letter, together with your salary expectations to editor@village-people.info

Is your business

tweeting yet? O

ne of the first things to remember as social media continues to explode into our lives, is that it should no longer be considered a time invader, but as a productive and integrated part of our business day. Five years ago, Coca Cola’s social media spend was 3% of their total media budget. Now it’s 20% and still growing. We all know that statistics can tell us whatever the marketers wish them to tell us, but this particular example shows how big businesses are viewing the importance of tools such as Twitter to raise their profile and brand awareness. Whether your business is large or small, social media and Twitter in particular, is a powerful and effective way to promote your business. Twitter, formed in 2006, now has 200 million users across the world. Each message is known as a ‘tweet’ and gives the user (tweeter) 140 characters to provide a message which can include text, a link to photos, websites and other forms of social media. It’s short, punchy and to the point. There is no doubt that it can also be rather consuming, so one must remember to be disciplined. Some people suggest setting an alarm, giving themselves 15 minutes in the morning and in the evening! Talking to people is the greatest way to promote yourself and your business, so whilst face-to-face networking groups have also taken off in a big way, Twitter can be used as a natural extension of this. A page can be set up in minutes and customised to mirror your website, displaying your company logo alongside your photo to make it personal. One can create a profile giving a brief biography of who you are and what you do. The whole page is a real-time view of your tweets and those of the people you ‘follow’. A national company recently gave their entire sales team new Blackberry smartphones, on the proviso that they each tweeted about their business a minimum of 6 times each working day. This means that the sales team then have the ability to reach their clients or potential clients at all times, without even leaving their chair or car, for example.

This can be easily recognised and quickly loses the personal feel of a message clearly written by a human being. Some people are simply not using these media at all, feeling it’s not for them or their business, that they don’t have an offer or a message. You do! In every day conversation what would you say? How would you promote yourself? How would you raise your profile and people’s awareness of you? Use Twitter to do the same. It is as simple as that. Of course it can be difficult to gain tangible metrics, but many people will mention that they were told of a particular business on Twitter, that your service or event was recommended by somebody they followed and by ‘tweeting’ certain types of message you can gauge its success.

For example: ‘Does anybody know of a good accountant?’ ‘Please re-tweet (RT) our Networking Brunch next Tuesday at XYZ in MyTown’ ‘A huge thank you to ABC Inc for their support of our recent fundraiser for YourCharity’. Social media management experts are able to give advice and tips on the best ways to be effective, who to follow etc. Whilst one can begin to see the benefits of getting involved, time is of course still an extremely valuable commodity. Why not use an expert to set up your pages and let them run Twitter on your behalf? For more information contact: Graham Pentelow, Director of Penters PR on 07969 923210, email him at graham@penterspr.co.uk and follow him @PentersPR.

Many people feel that they don’t have the time to tweet, and are using automated systems which generate a generic message.

Business & Finance

Diss Branch 01379 642276 Norwich Branch 01603 620473 Thetford Branch 01842 761398 Lowestoft Branch 01502 582000

Branches throughout East Anglia

Opportunities you’ll fall for At Hales you won’t just fall into any old job. We do all we can to find you a role which you’ll truly fall for. Please contact your local branch for details of the best vacancies with local employers.

•

PERMANENT & TEMPORARY ADMINISTRATION CUSTOMER SERVICE DRIVING ENGINEERING EXECUTIVE SEARCH FINANCE HUMAN RESOURCES I.T. SOLUTIONS INDUSTRIAL INSURANCE MANAGEMENT SALES SECRETARIAL SUPPLY CHAIN TECHNICAL

• •

•

• •

•

We provide a full legal service to large and small businesses and individuals from all walks of life. We specialise in Disputes, Wills, Trusts & Probate, Professional Negligence, Personal Injury, Property, Family Mediation, Commercial, Employment and Crime.

SOLICITORSS INCE 1761-2011 1761 – 2011ANNIVERSA RY YEAR SOLICITORS SINCE ANNIVERSARY

Telephone

01953 607724 Becket House, 1 Middleton Street, Wymondham, Norfolk NR18 0AB www.fosters-solicitors.co.uk

Could you be getting more from

your Pension?

etirement is an enticing idea, isn’t it? Being able to do exactly what you like every day and never having to go to work; it’s like being on a 20 or 30 year holiday! Of course, there’s one snag. You should be thinking about starting to save for that ‘holiday’ now.

Many companies are already closing their final salary schemes to existing employees as well as new ones. And, according to the director-general of Saga, Dr. Roz Altman, these pensions will eventually die out completely (Source: Saga Magazine, 6/12/2010).

It’s recently been estimated that one in six of us will live until we’re 100 (Source: Daily Telegraph, December 2010), which means you run a serious risk of outliving your savings. So, if you haven’t already found a secure way to provide for your future, you really need to take action. The earlier you make a start, the easier it is to create the lifestyle you want when you finally give up work.

It’s also been reported that the 200 largest pension schemes in the UK could hit a combined deficit of around £140 billion within the next 12 months (Source: Telegraph, Personal Finance 1/7/2010). With this in mind, it’s only logical to assume that companies are going to look to reduce their liabilities in every possible way.

How much do you need to fund your retirement? The simplest way to find out what you’ll need to fund your retirement years is to work out your ‘magic’ number. Estimate what monthly income you’d need if you were to retire at the age of 65; taking into account your estimated living costs and allowing for inflation. Then, multiply this figure by 25 to get your magic number: the retirement fund you’ll need based on current annuity rates. Bear in mind that changes that were introduced on 6 April this year will limit the amount that can be paid into a pension to 100% of your salary or £50,000, whichever is the smaller amount. However, you’ll no longer need to purchase an annuity at age 75, which increases the flexibility around how you take your benefit.

Can you rely on your existing pension? Some of you may be relying on a final salary scheme, traditionally regarded as the best type of pension a full-time worker can get. These schemes promise to pay a retirement income, based on a percentage of your salary, every year for the rest of your life. Unfortunately, this type of pension is on the way out. Private final salary schemes have become too costly to administer, not just because of the recent economic downturn but also because of longer life expectancy, lower inflation, falling stock markets and an increased regulatory burden.

With all these factors in mind, it’s absolutely vital that you take action now to safeguard your future. We’re living to a greater age, retirement is going to last longer and it’s essential to save more. And the longer you leave it to start saving, the more expensive it will be for you to catch up.

Pensions made simple! Sounds complicated doesn’t it? If you haven’t already got a pension, where do you start? If you do have one, how can you be sure it’s right for you? And what if you’ve got more than one? Can you consolidate them? Well, that’s where we can help. Whatever your stage of life, it’s important to get professional advice on your pension needs. A specialist retirement planning adviser will help you plan for your retirement and give you a better understanding of all the available options. We’ll work with you to ensure you’re getting the best from your existing pension and that your future is secure.

No-obligation FREE pension review For a limited time only we’re offering free of charge pension reviews. So, if you’d like to make sure you’re getting the most from your existing pension or you’d like to discuss what other options are available to you... Contact - Ian Farrant Anglian Wealth Management on 01603 752500 or email Ian@anglianwealthmanagement.co.uk

Anglian Wealth Management Suite 3, Station Court, Hethersett, Norwich, NR9 3AX

www.anglianwm.co.uk

Services

CAR REVIEW

Volvo V60 T6 AWD R-Design By Tim Barnes-Clay, Motoring Editor • www.carwriteups.co.uk • Twitter: @carwriteups

THE NEW Volvo V60 feels every bit as taut as its design thanks to a chassis that has been tuned to match the expectations of enthusiast drivers. It is a stylish estate, and no one can deny it’s an impressive car. Unlike some Volvos, the V60 isn’t supposed to be a ‘wardrobe-on-wheels’– that’s why the Swedish car maker markets it as a Sports Wagon. Basically all it means is that the boot isn’t as big as you might expect, but the latest Volvo is still a very functional motor. It has an extremely comfortable ride and the cabin is classy. There is a liberal amount of equipment as standard and a general feeling of quality throughout. Six engines are available – two diesels and four petrols. The top spec T6 all-wheel-drive (AWD) R-Design model, on test here, generates 301bhp and 325lb/ft of torque (pulling power) from its 3.0 petrol powerplant. That makes it very fast, but also muscular enough to tow up to 1800kg, which is ideal for caravan and horse trailer owners. The R-Design badged V60 model is basically sportier than all the other Volvos with stiffer, lowered suspension and a more menacing appearance. On the outside, the R-Design adds a re-shaped bumper and a modified grille at the front, with a diffuser and fat, twin chromed exhaust tailpipes at the rear. Five-spoke 18-inch alloys, custom-made for the R-Design, complete the look. Inside, sports seats, blue instrumentation, a three-spoke steering wheel, and branded floor mats are added. Equipment on all Volvo V60 models also includes electronic climate control, cruise control, 5 inch colour screen, information centre, steering wheel remote audio controls and a six-speaker audio system. The V60 certainly feels like a premium product in every way.

Behind the wheel, the 300+ horses provide rapid acceleration and the car combines good body control with a decent ride. My T6 test car had the Polestar software upgrade, available from Volvo for just over £600. It lets loose an extra 24bhp of concealed power without compromising CO2 emissions, fuel economy or your warranty. It’s a genuinely exciting car to drive and all that speed and power is guaranteed to put a smile on any driver’s face. Of course, Volvo is also renowned for its safety and the V60 is no exception, with an abundance of hi-tech safety gadgetry fitted in and around the cabin. All in all, Volvo’s new offering is an attractive and affordable alternative to German executive estate rivals. The car offers more kit than the average BMW or Audi – so anyone considering a change from their usual ‘prestige’ motor could do a lot worse than visiting a Volvo dealership and going for the very accomplished V60.

PROS ‘N’ CONS Power √ Handling √ Equipment √ Safety √ Comfort √ Boot isn’t the largest X FAST FACTS Max speed: 155 mph 0-60 mph: 5.9 secs Combined mpg: 28.5 Engine layout: 2953cc, 6 cylinders, petrol Max. power (bhp): 301 at 5600 rpm Max. torque (lb.ft): 325 at 2100-4200 rpm Max. towing weight (braked) 1800 kg CO2: 237 g/km Price: £36,285 On the road

Services

DJ MOTOR ENGINEER 30 point safety winter check only £25 Won’t be beaten on price for Servicing, repairS & MOT preparaTiOn to anY make & model of vehicle.

Call for your FREE quotation

01508 531902 • 07717 767079 email: prince-09@hotmail.co.uk

Services

Highfield Garage Swardeston

(Behind P&V Quality Cars)

SPECIAL OFFER

FOR DECEMBER & JANUARY

Book an MOT & SERVICE together FOR ONLY £110* FREE COURTESY CAR or PICK UP/DELIVERY AVAILABLE Phone Mark our workshop manager on 01508 570342 or visit our web site www.qualitycarsales.org.uk for more details

ALSO VISIT OUR WELL STOCKED ACCESSORY SHOP FOR ALL YOUR WINTER NEEDS

ANTI-FREEZE, DE-ICERS, COAL, WOOD KINDLING PLUS LOTS MORE * Conditions may apply

Services

S&J Developments Ltd. Period Renovation & Barn Conversion Specialists

New Builds & Extensions Cart lodges & Garages Carpentry & Brickwork Contractors Pump Floor Screeds Plant Hire

Contact: Steve on 07702 348548 Jake on 07825 870583 Or email jake.becker@live.co.uk 76

Moving home is

Services

a serious business Moving home, we are told, can be one of the most stressful times of our lives. The move is often forced upon us by the fact that our family has outgrown the property or perhaps a change of jobs. Either way the decision is not taken lightly. So, having decided that you need to move, you want to find an estate agent that will take your home move as seriously as you do. Only by engaging the right professional will you ensure that your current property is sold and that you get the keys to your new home as quickly as possible and with the least amount of hassle. At House Revolution, every member of our team will work hard to get you into your new home. From the free valuation of your current home, effective marketing including our regular emailing to our mailing list of waiting buyers, through to checking and managing the sales chain, we will ensure that everything happens as smoothly and seamlessly as is possible.

To find out why our customers think we’re so great, please give our customer service team a call today.

Chris Sargisson (Founder)

Our systems and people are there to ensure that you are never left wondering what’s going on, which can be the source of much of the stress in the process of moving. We are contactable via phone, email or you’re always welcome to pop in and see us in our Thorpe Road offices. For us, revolutionising the property market is not just about charging more realistic fees it’s also about providing market leading levels of customer service. We are very proud of all the positive feedback and the consistently high levels of referrals we receive from our happy customers, which suggests that we have the formula right. If you would like to find out more about the service we offer or would just like a free valuation of your current property, please call our team today on 0845 017 6060 or visit us at www.houserevolution.com.

Tel. 0845 0176060 www.houserevolution.com

Services JOHN BEAR PLUMBING & HEATING GAS & OIL INSTALLATION GAS SAFE & OFTEC REGISTERED.

Complete Bathroom Fitting General Repairs No Job Too Large or Small TEL. 01953 860523 M. 07881922470

JBBEAR1@BTINTERNET.COM

Wensum Softeners Life Needn’t Be Hard

Water Softener Sales, Service & Repair Purchase or Lease Drinking Filters Salt Delivered Blocks, Tablets, Granular Tel. 01953 860523 M. 07881922470 www.wensumsofteners.co.uk

Computer Phobic? Bought a new computer and don’t know where to start or already have one and would like to improve your skills?

We can help in the comfort of your own home. £20 per hour + 20p/mile

Phone (01953) 607786 Mobile (07785) 736229 John Andrews BA MBCS CITP Quintex Software, 41 Rothbury Road, Wymondham NR18 0PD

Pass the WORD around ********

part from being a vast source of information, the Internet undoubtedly is a convenient place for browsing information, shopping and even banking. In many cases where you have to enter your personal details, you may be asked to set up a password associated with your email address, and/or home address, so that when you revisit the website, you can ‘log in’ to your own area and bring up your details, so that you don’t have to re-enter them again. However, a password is all that stands between a fraudster and your account details, so it is important to get this right but now comes the dilemma: which password do you use? Now, do you usually use one password for everything, or use just a few passwords and randomly choose one, or do you make a paper list of passwords that you keep in the drawer in your computer desk, or stuck on the side of the filing cabinet next to your computer?

document and name the file something obscure, completely unrelated to passwords, and then protect it with a single password, so that only you can access it. How? In Word 2010, select FILE, INFO and PERMISSIONS and then choose the ‘Encrypt with password’ option. There is a similar facility in previous Word versions. Another way is to use special software to manage passwords for you such as Keepass (www.keepass. info) or Roboform (www.roboform.com). These tools are installed on your computer and they only ask for a single password every time you type a new password in, and they automatically keep the passwords safe as you type them.

Alan Carpenter - IT Adviser

I have come across all of these on my travels, and in each case I have to ask – “what if your house was burgled?” or “what if a hacker found one password and tried it on another site – like your Internet bank, for example?” And what of the password itself? If you have one of these as a password for example – ‘123456’, ‘qwerty’, ‘letmein’, or just simply ‘password’, you should know that these are the first guesses a hacker will make. Another example is that many broadband routers are configured with a user name and password provided by your Internet Provider, but the router itself also has an access password, and this is often overlooked and left unchanged. Usually it is just ‘password’ or worse still, just blank, so it is easy for someone to get into. A strong password is a random mix of numbers and letters in lower and upper case and will look something like this: Gth6K93EwJr. But of course this is far from easy to remember, and it could be just one of many passwords you will have to keep safe. So how can you manage passwords and yet be more secure? One suggestion is to type all your passwords into a Word

Services

A Unique Care Home in a Unique Setting Offering Long Term Residence, Convalescence and Respite Care for Elderly Residents with Dementia. The Beeches is an elegant country house set in two acres of wooded and meadow style gardens which provides peaceful surroundings and yet is close to all local amenities. The majority of our bedrooms are on the ground ﬂoor and have the beneﬁt of en-suite facilities.

Please call or email for further details or to request a brochure.

“We are here to help” West Harling Road, East Harling NR16 2NP Tel: 01953 717584 Email: thebeecheseastharling@btconnect.com Website: www.beechesresidential.co.uk

Services

Call now for a quote!

Electricians & PV Solar Panel Installers

Domestic & industrial electrical contractors

PV solar systems designed, installed, commissioned & certificated Part P Approved | New Installations & Rewires Mains Upgrades | Alarms | Showers

01953 860876 07768 373747 pmbco@btinternet.com www.pmbco.com

The Joules, Crown Road, Old Buckenham, Attleborough NR17 1SD

Services Is your garden over run with Moles ? Do you have a wasp nest ?

Are your paddocks over-run with rabbits ? All typical Pests controlled.

For ALL your Domestic / Commercial Pest Control. Garden Maintenance undertaken.

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.

Please call for a chat on

01379 788865 • 07809 226109 • 07518 731106 www.safeandsoundhygieneandpestcontrol.co.uk 83

Services

Small Loads Supplied:

Tonkin

 Sand  Gravel

BUILDING SERVICES

 Ballast

Conversions • Restorations Extensions • New builds Maintenance • Landscaping Groundworks • Drainage

 Type 1  Topsoil Contact

01953 860960 For ﬁrst class work & local prices contact

Tel. 01953 860883 07770 775277 www.tonkinplant.co.uk

DT DYE TIMBER & LANDSCAPING SUPPLIES

Domestic & Commercial CESS PIT COLLECTION & DISPOSAL SEPTIC WASTE COLLECTION April 2010 government legislation stated cess pit waste is collected and disposed of legally. Don’t get caught out with a fine!! CALL FOR A FREE QUOTATION

Tel 01842 820920

TOOLS FOR HIRE

OUR TANK OPER ER A REGU TES A IN YO RLY U AREA R

Mobile 07795 170720 Email garyaddison@envirowaste-ltd.com Waste Carriers Licence No CB/GN5873JQ

SLEEPERS IN OAK & SOFTWOOD DECKING - KILN DRIED installation available LOG CABINS & SUMMERHOUSES installation available CLOSEBOARD PANELS - HEAVY DUTY made to order SEASONED HARDWOOD LOGS large stocks OAK BEAMS, JOISTS & POSTS cut to order MICRO & MINI DIGGERS (1 to 3 ton) DUMPERS/SKIPLOADERS (1 to 3 tons) POSTHOLE BORER (digger mounted) CONCRETE BREAKERS (digger mounted)

All machines can be supplied on Selfdrive or with operator

MINI CONCRETE CRUSHER (c/w operator)

01508 498169 - 07778 547601 email: dtdyetimber@tiscali.co.uk

Local Directory: Getting Your Business Noticed Accommodation Brickyard Farm Holidays 34 South Norfolk Guest House 36 Accountant / Book-keeping Affordable Accounting Solutions 68 TaxAssist Accountants 68 Animal Services Whistlers 42 Thornwood Farm Boarding Kennels 40 Mill Cottage Cattery 40 Lime Liegh 42 Swallow Aquatics 88 Southfork Boarding Cattery 40 Aloe for People & Pets 42 Architect Andrew P R Love 15 Keith Day 15 Nick Clarke 15 Arts & Crafts Susan’s Work-Basket 52 Artful Pots 29 Town Hall Crafters 52 John Shave Art Tuition 28 Bathrooms Supreme Bathrooms 56 Bathrooms by Design 6 Boat Covers & Canvas Work Classic Covers 52 Builder, Painter & Decorator, Handyman W P Fulcher 12 Tonkin Building Services 85 S P Blades 84 Glenn Wilson 14 Day 2 Day Building Services 14 Peter Cole 84 S&J Developments Ltd 76 Colourworks 21 Care Home The Beeches 81 Carpentry, Joinery & Cabinet Maker Adrian Bird 4 Oakcraft 56 A1 Carpentry 15 Carpets, Flooring & Rugs Carpet Call 10 Car Servicing, MOTs, Repairs & Sales Stratton Auto Services 74 Attleborough Service Centre 76 Caroline’s Cars 84 Mill House Garage 76 Mark’s Vehicle Services 74 DJ Motor Engineer 74 M.R. King & Sons 72 Highfield Garage 75 Cess Pit Disposal Envirowaste Ltd. 85 Children / Babies & Childcare Socatots 34 Jigsaw Care Services 29 Chimney Sweep A Breckland Sweep 22 Cleaning Home-Maid 8 Turrell Cleaning Services 16 Computer, Internet, Web & Design Services Quintex Software 78 Philippa Green Web Design 68 IT Adviser 79 Bailiwick IT 78 Creative Chimp 68 Curtains, Blinds & Awnings Norwich Sunblinds 50 Cooks Blinds Ltd 10 Dentists Netherton Dental Practice 66

Education Aspire Higher Tuition 28 Electrician PMB Co. Ltd. Electricians 82 Auber Electrical 74 ABC Electricity 15 Estate Agent / Property House Revolution 9 Financial Services money & mortgage solutions 68 Anglian Wealth Management 71 Food Norfolk Veg Box 4 Gressingham Foods 17 Windyridge Game & Poultry 16 Bunwell Wood Game 18 Simon Cattermole Butchers 45 Fuel Merchants Larkins Fuel Merchants 26 C L Fielder 24 Funeral Services Rosedale Funeral Home 81 Furniture & Antique Restoration Simply Bespoke 44 Rod Larwood Antique Restoration 26 S. P. Long 16 Diss Bed Centre 44 Garden Services & Landscaping Georgina Read Garden Design 11 The Garden Enclosure 5 The Green Man 4 Waveney Tree Surgery 13 Noble Landscapers East Anglia Ltd 11 Eclipse Home & Garden Services 4 All Aspects Tree Surgery 22 Lakes Landscaping 4 Cherry Lane Garden Centre 18 D.R.S. Garden Maintenance 4 D T Dye 85 A & E Gardens by Design 16 Gates & Railings The Smithy 84 Groundworks, Drainage & Asphalt T Taylor Construction 12 Chris Harmer 14 Paul Howe Breckland Contractors 74 Moore Asphalt 82 Aggregates 85 Health, Beauty & Hypnotherapy House of Colour Image Consultancy 65 The Clinic on the Green 61 Ian Haveron Harper-Steele 78 Doctor’s Laser Clinic 67 Absolute Hair Design 58 Simply Gorgeous 58 Slimming World 62 Cold Stream Therapy 58 Ruth Watson Hypnotherapy 57 Rosemary Conley 62 No. 5 Hair Studio 27 Homecare & Personal Assistance Able Community Care 80 Ability 2 Care 62 Interior Design & Supplies Orchid House Interiors 21 Paint & Paper 56 Jewellery Calmawear 52 Kitchens Chris Rush 16 Granite Transformations 19 Launderette Attleborough Launderette 16 Locksmith Kingfisher Locksmiths 74

Opticians A. Stodel Optometrists 67 Pest Control Safe & Sound Pest Control 83 Plasterer Chris Bell-Tye 26 Trevor Clarke 84 Plumbing, Heating, Tank & Boiler Services T I Dowse 12 P&K Plumbing & Heating 14 Barnards Heating Solutions 22 John Rushforth 14 C J Plumbing 22 Broadland Tank Services 81 Chris Clarke Oil Boiler Services 26 John Bear Plumbing & Heating 78 Wensum Water Softeners 78 AA Utilities Limited 14 Drain Doctor 82 Pubs, Restaurants & Takeaways Chopstick House 34 The Green Dragon 29 The Kings Head 36 Station Bistro 44 Recruitment / Job Vacancies Hales Group 70/80 Key Education Services Ltd 29 Domestic Cleaning Vacancies 22 Sales Vacancy 68 Roofing Contractor Glenn Wilson 14 Scrap Metal Compass Metal Recycling 78 Shopping She Ladies Clothes & Shoes 52 Jarrold 50 Chapelfield 46/47 A Good Book 56 Elexa UK 48 Gangan’s Gifts 56 Adullam’s Cave 56 La Maison 57 Love Couture 57 Solicitors Fosters 70 Sport, Fitness & Recreation Anne Staffiere Pilates 58 MG Fitness Studio 59 Fit Club Wymondham 63 Executive Leisure 58 Diss Rugby Football Club 34 Slow Theatre Company 28 Norfolk Snowsports Club 39 ATP Health & Fitness 58 Dinosaur Adventure 2 Stone Masonry Cutstone Ltd 12 Storage Square Deal Storage 20 Stoves & Fires Raven Stoves 24 Taxi, Minibus & Vehicle Hire First Class Taxis 34 Adderley Travel Ltd 36 Classic Vehicle Hire 33 Tiling Snetterton Ceramic Tiles Ltd 9 Window Cleaner G M Sparkes 85 Windows, Doors & Conservatories SNWC Ltd 8 Gr8 Glass 12 C & M Glass 10 Wine Merchants The Perfect Wine 51

Village People is a trading name of Village People Magazines Ltd.

Village People accepts no liability for loss, damage, or difficulties resulting from contracts made through the magazine, nor from errors, omissions or claims made by advertisers. Publication of any entry does not imply a recommendation. Readers must make their own enquiries to establish the credentials of each entry. Magazine, adverts, design, layout and content Copyright © Village People Magazines Ltd. 2008-2011

New Year, New Budget,

New Customers

Village People

Advertising Rates Eighth Page from

t may be difficult at this time of year to look past the hustle and bustle of Christmas and into the New Year, but for business owners, large and small, January is a time for planning. Follow these 5 top tips for making sure your advertising budget, however limited, goes far.

Choose the right area. If your business is based in a small local area, don’t waste money on large national magazines and papers! Advertise to local people and you will get local enquires; saving you money in travel and time.

Choose the right publication. You may have several newspapers and magazines to choose from, each with different circulations and target areas. Choose the one that reaches the largest number of potential customers, and don’t go in two publications that deliver to the same group of people!

3 Deliver the right message. What makes you stand out from your competitors? A poor advert will waste time and money, think about what your customers want from you. 4

Test the water. If you really can’t decide, test each publication with a small ad. Most likely one insertion for a week or month will yield no response, so try it for four to six months to be sure.

Encourage word of mouth. When you get customers from your advertising campaign, do the best job possible and ask them to recommend you. There is no better advertising than a good testimonial! Why not take a quick look at what our customers have to say about us here at Village People www.village-people.info/testimonials

From design to delivery Village People’s friendly team are here to help your business grow. Contact us on 0330 660 0325 or email advertising@village-people.info and find out how easy it is to get your details in front of 28,500 local family homes.

£19 per month

Sixth Page from

£22 per month

Quarter Page from

£40 per month

Banner from

£45 per month

Half Page from

£59 per month

Full Page from

£99 per month All prices are subject to VAT & based on a 12 month booking