Village People Norfolk/Suffolk Border Winter 2011 by Village People Magazines Ltd

Winter 2011

WIN

A Family Ticket to the Panto! The independent magazine for Norfolk/Suffolk border village people

This edition features The Little Ouse Headwaters Project

Car Review

Volvo V60

Gifts for everyone p34-35

Film Review

Puss in Boots

Plus

• Choose the Perfect Christmas Tree • Recipe: Christmas Roast Duck • Focus on Wingfield Barns • A Vet’s Voice

NEW

• 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 schoolrun!) 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 Norfolk Turkey, our local businesses have all the local fresh produce you could ever want for a wonderful festive celebration! 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 p49 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! Happy reading!

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

In this issue... Home & Garden 5 11 17 19 21 23

Garden Jottings from Ken Can’t Sell But Need to Move? Recipe: Christmas Roast Duck A Vet’s Voice 9 Star Ki Astrology Refreshing Waters

Out & About 24/25 27 29 30 31 32 33

Mums the Word – Bury St. Edmunds Ladies who Lunch: Rudy’s Pizzeria and Takeaway Film Review: Puss in Boots Working for Wildlife in the Little Ouse Valley Boudicca Way WIN! Family Panto Tickets Christmas Posting Dates

Shopping 34/35 37 39

Chapelfield: Christmas Gifts She – the Last Independent Fashion Retailer in Attleborough Five Minute Interview: Robin Loxton

Health & Beauty 44 45

Foods to Eat During a Cold Natural Remedies That Can Help to Alleviate a Hangover

Services 49 51 53 55 57

Are You Tweeting Yet? Could You Be Getting More From Your Pension? Car Review: Volvo V60 T6 AWD R-Design Are You Worried About Paying Care Fees in the Future? The Importance of Choosing the Right Password

And lots more inside...

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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)

Home & Garden

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Home & Garden

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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

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Partial or Complete Service Extensions & Alterations Conversions & New Build Work on Listed Buildings Eco-Friendly Design Outdoor Design

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Can’t sell

but need to move? Are you one of the many homeowners wanting or needing to move on to your next home but are reluctant to sell while the housing market is depressed?

f so, for some there may be a solution, for whilst property sales are floundering, the rental market is booming with a shortage of properties and a high demand from those who can’t afford to buy.

governed by strict regulations. There may also be times when there is a gap between one tenant leaving and another moving in during which time the mortgage will still need to be paid.

The solution for those with sufficient equity in their own property can be found in the increasingly popular “Let to Buy” market. This works by homeowners remortgaging their existing home to raise a deposit to buy their next house. They then rent their existing house and use the rental income to repay the “Let to Buy” mortgage. The benefits in doing this are three-fold in that it enables the home owner to buy the next property at a time when prices are low, retain their existing property until the market improves and receive an income from the rent which will more than cover the “Let to Buy” mortgage payments.

For further information on becoming a landlord contact either Julie or Steve Palmer at Palmers Country Homes on 01379 870687.

By Steve Palmer of Palmer’s Country Homes

There are an increasing number of mortgage lenders offering “Let to Buy” mortgages and consequently rates are becoming more competitive. It is nevertheless not a solution available to all as lending criteria is tight with lenders typically lending up to 75% of the current value of the property and requiring rental income of 120% of the mortgage repayments to be achieved. An alternative short term solution for those with insufficient equity in their home is to convert the existing mortgage to a “Buy to Let” so that they can let their property whilst renting themselves elsewhere. Letting is not of course for everybody and you should bear in mind when doing so that landlords have responsibilities to their tenants and are

Home & Garden

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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

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Top Tips for using

a chainsaw this Winter

ountry people know all too well about the rising price of oil in the last three years and the subsequent renewal of interest in log burning for domestic heating purposes. As a result garden machinery dealers have been busy selling chainsaws, often to novices, as people have been making their own logs from dead and fallen branches. Ian Shilling of Tripp Batt, Stanton shares his advice if you are considering buying a chainsaw this winter. Chainsaws are extremely useful, time-saving machines. Whilst it is possible to purchase a chainsaw online, or by mail order, the health and safety aspects make buying from a recognised dealer a far more sensible option. Husqvarna and Stihl are the two leading brands in the UK (their machines account for over 60% of UK sales) and as a matter of policy, these companies only allow their machines to be sold through their network of dealers, who have the knowledge and experience to guide buyers to the right saw for the job. With over 100 options in terms of bar length and engine power, it is of course important that the machine does the best job possible, however the biggest advantage of buying from a dealer is that health and safety advice is freely given and demonstrated, which can mean safer operation by the end user.

Here are the top six safety tips for chainsaw users 1. Always ensure that both your feet are on stable ground (not on top of logs which may roll). 2. Always ensure that the material you are cutting is stable, and think what will happen to the piece being cut. 3. Wear a helmet, visor, ear defenders and saw protection trousers at least. 4. Assess where the stress is on horizontal branches before deciding to cut upwards or downwards. 5. Regularly check that the chain is properly tensioned (a slack chain can come off the bar when in use). 6. Avoid cutting at the top of the tip, where â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;kick-backâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; can occur. If you are thinking of buying a chainsaw, now is a good time. Leading manufacturers offer some great promotions during this, their busiest, time of year.

Home & Garden

Pressed to go Established family-run ironing & dry cleaning business Local Delivery

Tel Karen: 01379 652767 or 07984512275 www.pressedtogo.co.uk

SEWING MACHINE Servicing & Repairs to most makes

KVM Sewing Machines Phone Keith Mitchell

01379 783521 Collection & Return Service Sales of New Machines

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Christmas Roast 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 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 garlic. Season with a generous sprinkling of salt.

You will need: 1 whole duck 4 tbsp 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

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.

Home & Garden

A Vet’s Voice W

ould you visit the dentist if you had bad breath, a yellowing smile, sore gums or loose teeth? Most people brush at least twice a day and take regular dental checkups to keep a healthy smile, so why shouldn’t the same happen for your pet? Dental care for dogs and cats is not merely cosmetic but can have a profound impact on your pet’s general health. Not only the teeth and gums can be affected by poor dental hygiene but infection can cause problems in all the vital organs.

Your pet is asking for a dental check-up when they show… Smelly breath Drooling/salivating Difficulty eating Pawing at the mouth Sore/inflamed/bleeding gums Tartar/plaque Loose teeth

Dental chews - and toys, designed to encourage chewing or with unique shapes and textures, can help prevent tartar build up. Water supplements - work in a similar way to human mouthwashes. These may be added to fresh water each day.

Treatment Sometimes, pets need a little more help when dental problems become more severe than stained teeth. Sore, infected gums may require antibiotic treatment as a minimum. Eventually, tartar build-up and infection will result in the need for a general anesthetic for teeth extractions. Taking regular care of your pet’s teeth may prevent this, however once a heavy build-up of tartar is evident, they may need to be anaesthetised to be de-scaled and polished.

Ensuring young pets become used to regular teeth checking as part of their daily routine will enable many of these potential problems to be noticed and attended to before great discomfort and costly treatment become necessary.

Prevention Statistics show that in the UK 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have oral problems by the age of just three. With help and advice from a local vet and a little daily effort, your pets can enjoy a better smile for longer! Daily brushing - with specially formulated paste. All pets are individual and have different tolerance levels. Your vet will help you find a way to suit your pet. Diet - a good quality complete dry food will help. There are also specially formulated feeds available which can be more effective at keeping tartar to a minimum.

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

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 inside you 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

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.

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 minutes 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!

Classic Vehicle Hire Classic Vehicle Hire provides unique and distinctive chauffeur driven vehicles for hire, whatever the occasion. Our vehicles are genuine restored originals that are beautifully presented, professionally maintained and will add a touch of class to your special day. Whether it be a wedding, prom, anniversary, theatre night, race day, corporate event or any kind of special occasion, travel in style, make a memorable first impression and your special day one to remember.

www.classicvehiclehire.co.uk Tel: 01359 252232 Email: info@classicvehiclehire.co.uk Please contact us to discuss your vehicle requirements and to arrange a viewing of our vehicles at The Workshop, Maltings Farm, The Street, Hepworth, Diss, IP22 2PX

Out & About ‘Solving your child care needs one piece at a time’

High quality screened nannies & special needs nannies available for interview now JCSP is a not for profit company

Lucy Patterson, Suffolk/Norfolk office lucypatterson@jcsp.org.uk 07837 822615 www.jcsp.org.uk

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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

Focus on...

Wingfield Barns W

ingfield Barns event venue and art galleries is centered around a 16th Century timber-framed barn and hosts a wide range of exciting events including art exhibitions, music concerts, drama, cinema, workshops and much more. A community interest company with a commitment to deliver a wide and diverse range of events to the communities in East Anglia, it has been financially independent and self-supporting since April this year. Business so far is achieving the predicted targets and the future is looking very promising. Lesley Jackson, general manager of Wingfield Barns is absolute in her conviction that Wingfield Barns will not just survive, but will thrive and develop into one of the region’s most important community venues. Lesley explains; “Targets are being met and exceeded, audience numbers are steadily growing and the press are taking a keener interest in our calendar of events. That’s no surprise though, considering the calibre of performers that we have been able to host. From classical ensembles through to international soloists, swing, jazz and blues, we keep the programme as varied as possible. In December we have a tribute evening to George Michael, complete with dancing girls, wine and Christmas goodies. A real treat. Obviously our events have to pay back but high quality performers do not come cheap and it is important that the variety remains consistent in its quality. Our biggest

For more information on volunteering, weddings, conferences or events at Wingfield Barns please visit www.wingfieldbarns.com or call Lesley Jackson on 01379 384505

growth area is of course weddings and conferences. Once you have visited, and only once you have visited, Wingfield Barns, can you fully appreciate its appeal as a wedding venue. The individual barns, the galleries and the gardens really do offer a unique and beautiful location for a wedding. Not just for the big white weddings though. We open the doors here and welcome all couples, however alternative and whatever size the wedding and whatever religion.” A key factor to the success story to date has been the volunteering effort at Wingfield Barns with over a dozen volunteers signed up from the nearby villages. Opportunities for volunteers are vast, whether in programming, event management, design and publicity, marketing, administration fundraising, gallery curation or running the tea shop. Lesley continues; “The volunteering effort is critical and the volunteers themselves are the lifeblood of the business. Volunteering too pays back, perhaps not financially but with providing valuable work experience, confidence-building, socialising and of course provides a sense of ownership and pride. And who wouldn’t be proud to be part of something so exciting.”

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!

Working for Wildlife in the Little Ouse Valley The upper Little Ouse valley, on the Norfolk/ Suffolk border, is surprisingly rich in wildlife, though it is perhaps less well known than the adjacent Redgrave and Lopham Fen in the Waveney valley. The Little Ouse Headwaters Project (LOHP) has been working for nearly ten years now to help protect valuable wildlife habitats and make them more accessible to everyone. The project is a registered charity, set up and run by local residents, and its activities now extend across 11 sites in 6 parishes, with around 45 hectares of land being managed.

s well as managing its sites (which include fens, wet woodland, meadows and sandy heath) for the benefit of wildlife, the LOHP is committed to increasing public access and enjoyment of the project area. It is creating new footpaths, and two new footbridges over the river have been installed in recent years to increase the options for walks around the area. The LOHP also provides occasional guided walks, and actively encourages people of all ages to become involved in practical conservation work as volunteers.

In 2010 the project was awarded a grant of £370,400 by the Heritage Lottery Fund to support the extension of the LOHP’s work over a three year period. With this award, and other funds raised from a range of charitable trusts, the LOHP was been able to acquire three new sites, which are in the process of being restored for wildlife and opened for public access. The HLF funding is also being used for a wide range of events and activities in the local area. These include guided walks, an art workshop, and a local history day. Volunteers are recording oral histories with local residents, and the project is working with the School of History at UEA to uncover more information about the valley’s past. There is also a partnership with Garboldisham Primary School, where pupils are learning about their local environment and how people used to make use of the fens and commons. The project’s sites are open to everyone to enjoy at any time. A map of the sites and footpaths around them is available on the website, as is more information about the project and forthcoming events. The LOHP remains very much a community-based organisation, with no paid staff, so volunteers are key to the success of the project. Practical work parties are held on the second Sunday each month and on most Wednesday mornings. There are also opportunities to volunteer in other ways, if the great outdoors isn’t your cup of tea. Further information about the project and all forthcoming events, can be found at www.lohp.org.uk, or email enquiries@lohp.org.uk.

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.

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.

The Crossways Inn Scole Showing All Norwich City Matches!

Christmas Menu Three Courses £15.95 or Range of Buffets from £4.75 p.p

Open all day everyday to residents & non residents

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Dinner dances, Weddings, Birthdays/Anniversaries All parties catered for

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Food served all day every day Sunday Carvery served 12.00-3.00pm Regular live music & themed nights

Tel. 01379 642244

www.parkhotel-diss.co.uk • info@parkhotel-diss.co.uk

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

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

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

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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

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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!

Shopping

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

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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

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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!

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.

Red, always.

Where would you most like to be right now?

Age you feel on the inside?

Here. I love my job, I love the village that I live in and I love my family.

Red or white?

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

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

Shopping Gangan’s Gifts, Botesdale

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

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BEDROOM

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

OFFICE

DINING

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

01379 640070 Sawmills Road, Diss

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

New online shopping experience. . .

Cakes, Cards & Crafty Stuff created and decorated by hand - specialising in made-to-order and upcycling

Inkahoots www.inkahoots.co.uk 41

Health & Beauty

The

Cutting Cottage Hair Salon

A great spot for peace and quiet while you relax and get your hair and nails done Sarah opened The Cutting Cottage in 2009 and Tracey Dean has just joined and between them they have 38 years’ experience in all hairdressing techniques. The salon also oﬀers a range of beauty treatments with Lesley Tigi & kms products (also available to purchase) 3 Redbrick Cottage, Palgrave IP22 1AZ Open Tue-Sat (late night available) Ample Parking

01379 783003

Graphic Design Vacancy Village People are looking for a creative and skilled graphic designer to join the growing business on a exible part-time basis, working approximately three weeks in every eight-week magazine cycle and based in our oﬃce between Diss and Bury St. Edmunds. Working on our thriving publications you will have an excellent knowledge of InDesign and be proocient in either Adobe Photoshop or Paint.Net Please email your CV and a covering letter, together with your salary expectations to editor@village-people.info

This is 1 of 28,500 copies Want your business noticed?

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Health & Beauty

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 43

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

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The Doctors Laser Clinic, Upstairs at The Swan Lane Surgery, Long Stratton NR15 2UY • 0800 907 8578

Are you looking for a

Care Home? Realising that you or a family member is in need of short or long-term care at a care home can be a difficult time. Choosing the right home is imperative to the health and happiness of you or your loved one.

he brand new Baylham Care Centre officially opened on the 1st June, situated in a stunning special landscape area with panoramic views across the Gipping Valley. There are 55 rooms for long term nursing care, rehabilitation with physiotherapy, specialist dementia care, and end of life care for people with terminal illnesses. The centre also offers day care and respite care, catering for every need.

Their service is for all adults from the age of 18 upwards who can access the centre which is on the 87/88 bus route between Ipswich and Stowmarket. They will also be extending their homecare provision to more rural parts of Mid Suffolk.

Cardinal Healthcare is an established provider of nursing care at Barham Care Centre (formerly The Old Rectory Nursing Home) and home care through Primary Homecare. Their focus has been on providing care in a friendly and homely environment and their reputation for doing so is well known. Their vision is to provide a seamless service for all age groups and illnesses, for example, if a person needed caring for during a bad chest infection, other illnesses or post surgery and needed intensive nursing care with rehabilitation to resume normal activity at home, they would provide this at either of their care homes and arrange a temporary care package through Primary Homecare for when the person needs to go home.

Providing high quality care for over 25 years To find out more about the care they provide or any of their care homes contact Cardinal Healthcare.

Baylham Care Centre Tel: 01473 830267

Email: baylham@cardinal-healthcare.co.uk

Primary Homecare Tel: 01473 833533

Email: primary@cardinal-healthcare.co.uk

Barham Care Centre Tel: 01473 830247

Email: barham@cardinal-healthcare.co.uk

BAYLHAM CARE CENTRE NOW OPE • 55 Rooms N • Long-Term Care • Rehabilitation • Physiotherapy, Chiropodist, Hairdresser & Nail Care • Specialist Dementia Care • End of Life Care • Day Care from just £20!

Available for all adults aged 18+ Situated on the 87/88 bus route between Ipswich and Stowmarket

Tel: 01473 830267

Email: baylham@cardinal-healthcare.co.uk

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.

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.

Services

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

This is 1 of 28,500 copies Want your business noticed?

Prices start from £19 + VAT per month *

*For an eighth page advert in one magazine for 12 months

Small Loads Supplied:  Sand  Gravel  Ballast  Type 1  Topsoil Contact

01953 860960 54

Are you worried about having to pay care fees in the future? Payment of care fees has received a lot of attention in the press over recent months. Not unsurprisingly, considering it is such a controversial subject!

According to statistics: • 40,000 homes are sold every year to pay for the costs of care • The average cost of care in a residential home is around £25,000 per year • The cost of care in a nursing home is likely to be around £32,000 per year • 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men will require some form of long-term care • The average stay of a person in a care home is 4 years

urrently, if you become unable to look after yourself and require care either at home or in a residential home, your Local Authority will assess your care needs and financial needs. The Local Authority can only fund people who have been assessed as needing care in a care home. If, having carried out a care assessment, you are declared as needing care then the Local Authority will carry out a financial assessment to decide how much you need to contribute towards the costs of your care. This assessment takes account of both income and capital. If you own capital of over £23,250 (including the value of your home) you will not receive any financial help whatsoever from the Local Authority and you can see from the statistics above that a 4 year stay in a care home could eat into your estate to the tune of £100,000! If you own your home then it will usually be counted as capital twelve weeks after you move permanently

into a care home. The value of your home will not be counted as capital if certain close relatives still live there but the whole of its value will be counted if you own the house in your sole name. Once the Local Authority have carried out their financial assessment they will tell you how much they usually pay for a care home that will meet your needs. Your Local Authority can then arrange a care home for you or you can choose one yourself. If you choose your own care home then it must charge the same sort of price that the one selected by the Local Authority charges. If you choose a more expensive care home then you may need to find a way to pay the difference. It is worth noting that, depending on your health, you may be eligible to receive NHS continuing care which is funded by the NHS. This is available to people who need specialist medical treatment on an ongoing basis. Various options have been put forward for reforming the current system of paying for care fees but we will have to wait and see what reforms are brought in. In the meantime it is best to be prepared for the possibility of needing care in the future rather than reacting to this if it happens, by which time it may be too late! It is possible for couples to preserve up to a half share in their home for the benefit of future generations by making a simple alteration to their Wills and title deeds.

If you would like to discuss care fees planning, Lasting Powers of Attorney or Wills in more detail then please telephone Lindsey Sharples at Steeles Law on 01379 652141 or email probate@steeleslaw.co.uk.

2 Mount Street, Diss, Norfolk IP22 4QE

Services

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

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

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

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£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 61

Local Directory: Getting Your Business Noticed Accountant / Book-keeping TaxAssist Aggregates Aggregates Animal & Veterinary Services Swallow Aquatics Linden House Veterinary Centre Whistlers Architect Andrew P R Love Keith Day Nick Clarke Arts & Crafts Susan’s Work-Basket Artful Pots Audio-Visual Services Golden Memories Bathrooms Bathrooms by Design Buildings Norfolk Steel Buildings Care Home The Beeches Baylham Care Centre Carpentry Bavlowe Carpets, Flooring & Rugs County Carpets Direct Eye Flooring Car Sales Diss Car Centre M.R. King & Sons Childcare Services Jigsaw Care Services Cleaning Turrell Cleaning Services Maid 2 Clean Clocks & Barometers Olde Time Computer, Internet, Web & Design Services Quintex Software Philippa Green Web Design Oak View Web Design Bailiwick IT Creative Chimp Curtains, Blinds & Awnings Norwich Sunblinds Cooks Blinds Ltd Dentists Netherton Dental Practice

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DIY Godfrey DIY Electrician ABC Electricity Estate Agent / Property Palmer’s Country Homes Financial Services Anglian Wealth Management Fuel Merchants Larkins Fuel Merchants Funeral Services Rosedale Funeral Home Furniture Simply Bespoke Diss Bed Centre Garden Services, Landscaping & Supplies Tripp Batt Country Store The Garden Enclosure Waveney Tree Surgery Noble Landscapers East Anglia Ltd Land Army Designs All Aspects Tree Surgery P.D. Garden Services Clive Lewis Garden Services Nick Bobby Tree Services Nigel Payne Fruit Tree Pruning Chequer Tree Country Services Gates & Railings The Smithy Health, Beauty & Hypnotherapy The Cutting Cottage The Clinic on the Green Doctor’s Laser Clinic Slimming World Ruth Watson Hypnotherapy Rosemary Conley Homecare & Personal Assistance Able Community Car Interior Design Supplies Paint & Paper Ironing Services Pressed-to-Go Jewellery Calmawear Kitchens Dream Doors Chris Rush Granite Transformations Opticians A. Stodel Optometrists

64 10 11 51 8 59 41 41 15 5 13 22 8 14 4 4 4 4 8 16 42 45 46 43 46 42 58 8 16 36 18 16 20

Pest Control Safe & Sound Pest Control 60 Plumbing, Heating, Tank & Boiler Services Pat the Plumber 16 Barnards Heating Solutions 8 John Bear Plumbing & Heating 14 Wensum Water Softeners 14 AA Utilities Limited 10 Broadland Tank Services 14 Drain Doctor 59 Recruitment / Job Vacancies Hales Group 50 Key Education Services Ltd 26 Sales Vacancy 59 Graphic Design Vacancy 42 Restaurants, Pubs & Hotels The Park Hotel 32 The Crossways Inn 32 Sewing Machine Repairs KVM Sewing Machine Repairs 16 Scrap Metal Compass Metal Recycling 56 Shopping She Ladies Clothes & Shoes 36 Jarrold 40 Chapelfield 34/35 Madgetts Cycles 36 Elexa UK 38 Gangan’s Gifts 41 Adullam’s Cave 41 Inkahoots 41 Solicitors Steeles Law 55 Sport, Fitness & Recreation Diss Rugby Football Club 26 Alexandra Howarth Personal Trainer 42 Stone Masonry Cutstone Ltd 14 Storage Square Deal Storage 61 Stoves & Fires Raven Stoves 9 Tiling Snetterton Ceramic Tiles Ltd 9 Vehicle Hire Classic Vehicle Hire 25 Windows & Conservatories Gr8 Glass 12 SNWC 50

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

Seasonal

Halogen Heater 1200 Watt

Big s Discounot ut throughore the St

Savings at Godfrey

• 3 heat settings 400, 800 and 1200w • Oscillating act ion • Safety cut oﬀ feature • 32(w) x 56(h) x 27(d)cm

Save

ORdeR Onlin

£2

3900-2830

normally £19.9 9

only

£12.99

d Chapelwoo g in in D Bird Station and Feeders RRP £26.99

now only

£19.99

2O5ﬀ R%RP ORdeR Onlin

4327-7220

Black & Decker Hammer Drill PS122K

e Corona Dining Suit • 150 x 80cm Table • 4 Chairs

now only

60O% ﬀ 60O% ﬀ

RRP £79.99

£39.99 50ﬀ R% P O R Christmas Trees and Decorations

normally £299.99 up to

£239.99

Pair of additional chairs £69.99

• 12V Auto select hammer drill • Complete with carry case • 1.5AH Battery

1.8m Cedar Fir Christmas Tree normally £29.99

now only

£11.99 ORdeR Online

2404-4150

ORdeR Online

1300-4080

now only

100 Supabright LED Lights

Light Up Stack of Presents

• Available in multi-coloured, White, Red or Blue

• Available in Blue & Silver or Black & Gold

normally £19.99

now only

£9.99

50O% ﬀ ORdeR Online

0000-0337

ORdeR Online

3206-0310

l Specia Buy

only

£12.99

Victoria Road, DISS, IP22 4GA 01379 640111 Also at Norwich & Stowmarket Or buy online at: www.godfrey-diy.co.uk Open 7 Days a Week – Please chack online or with individual stores for opening times and late nights Some items may be self-assembly. Prices and availability correct at time of going to print. *For Terms and Conditions - see in store

ORdeR Online

0000-0331