Late Spring 2013
HOMES • GARDENS • OUT & ABOUT • JOBS & MONEY • HEALTH • LOCAL SERVICES
Farewell Hare & Hen
Hello Village People!
Local History Travellers’ Tales
Forage for Food Fresh, local and free!
WIN
Blondie Concert Tickets
Local
WALK
around Pulham Market
Plus
q Restaurant review from our Ladies Who Lunch q Oriental astrology forecast q Financing your DIY this spring
q Latest book and film reviews q Cliff Richard comes to town q Get ready to rock at the Theatre Royal
TheindependentmagazineforSouthNorwichvillagepeople
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ALSO VISIT OUR WELL STOCKED ACCESSORY SHOP
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Official Stockist
Official Stockist
4’6 Orthopaedic Divan with 2 Drawers WAS £279
available in full range of sizes & options
NOW
£229 4’6 Memory 800 Pocket with 2 Drawers RRP £549
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Why should you come to SOUND SLEEP BED WAREHOUSE?
Local Family Business Mattress Specialists for over 20 years Friendly Sales Team Over 100 beds on display in store Fast Free Delivery by our own staff Own Brand Mattresses No High Pressure Sales Ample Free Parking at the door Feel Free to come and Browse No Obligation to buy Brand named products Silentnight Official Stockist Stock available to take away Credit & Debit Cards Accepted
MILE ROAD - WINFARTHING - IP22 2EZ Telephone 01953 861177 Mon - Fri 9:00 - 5:00 Sat 10:00 - 4:00 Sun 10:00 - 1:00 The Bright family look re forward to seeing you in sto
4
Find us on the main B1077 between Diss & Attleborough Look out for the yellow signs!
HOMES & GARDENS 20 23 25 26 31 35 39
Garden Jottings from Ken Meet the experts: Wayne Noble Foraging for local food Two delicious seasonal recipes Eye welcomes Practically Perfect Interiors Latest film reviews Village shepherd reaches a world-wide audience 41 Local History: travellers’tales 43 Three of the best cookbooks
SHOPPING land 45 Craft page – make a shabby chic garland 46 Local book reviews 48 Ancient oriental astrology
WIN
Blondie Concert Tickets
HEALTH & BEAUTY
51 In good health 53 Norfolk diabetes prevention study
JOBS, MONEY & BUSINESS 55 Maximising income opportunities 57 The cheapest way to finance DIY projects
SERVICES
61 Car review: BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe 62 Find a local business or service
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15
Editor’s Letter
After 6 years of producing the hugely popular Hare & Hen magazine, editor Sue has made the tough decision to hand over the reigns to us here at Village People HQ in order to focus her time on her successful cake baking business. We’re delighted to welcome onboard this new South Norwich edition of the magazine which takes Village People’s total circulation up to a massive 45,000 magazines reaching over 190 villages in South Norfolk. You will continue to receive your copy delivered every two months directly though your letter box by Royal Mail. And if you live in a village in NR15 1, I’d like to say a very big warm welcome to this, your first issue of Village People! We’re delighted to be able to add another 4,000 village homes to the distribution of this particular edition. Packed full of fantastic local editorial, stories and
Contents
Good News from our region Local walk at Pulham Market Mums the Word visit Kesgrave Hall Ladies Who Lunch visit The Queen’s Head in Eye Time to rock at the Theatre Royal Village Notice Board WIN tickets to see Blondie
Late Spring 2013
OUT & ABOUT 6 9 11 13 15 16 19
61 features, as well as full details of the best local businesses and services in your area, don’t miss out on the many exclusive offers just for you! Anyone fancy winning tickets to see Blondie at Thetford Forest? Make sure you enter our competition and how excited are we that Cliff Richard is coming to Norfolk! Keep your copy of Village People handy until we’re back in two months time and as usual we’re always happy to hear from you, our readers, so get in touch and let me know if there’s anything particular that you’d like us to feature in YOUR local village magazine. Happy reading!
Lily Goulder 0330 660 0325 www.village-people.info editor@village-people.info
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Good news Easton’s – celebrating 60 years of coach travel
Village People competition winner becomes app designer! In the winter issue of Village People magazine, Redwood asked the good people of Norfolk and Suffolk to throw their best app ideas our way with the lure of a shiny new iPad 4 as a prize for the best entry. We received some cracking original ideas but in the end it was lucky Ricky Braddon’s “Sports Mate” idea that won the battle for the iPad. His app idea allows people with similar sports interests to hook up and play sports in their local area. We loved this idea and we’re currently in talks with Ricky to develop it into a fullyfledged app! If you would like to get in touch or you think you have a better idea than this, then why not submit it on Redwood’s website? We reward incredible ideas with incredible rewards.
www.redwoodapps.com 6
Easton’s Coaches are a familiar sight on our region’s roads and this year, they will be 60 years in business. It all began in 1953 when Alfred Easton bought the first coach. During the seventies, following the purchase of two other local coach firms, Easton’s really began to venture into their tour and excursion programme – some of you may remember their first holiday office in Cromer. Derek and Robert Easton joined the business at the age of 21 and following the death of Alfred in 1987 became joint directors of the family business. At this point the firm was run from the family home in Brandiston, but as the business began to flourish, bigger and better premises were needed. So in 1992, Easton’s moved to their current depot at Stratton Strawless. Their motto has always been: “not to be the biggest, but to try and be the best at what we do”. This seems like a recipe for success! www.eastonsholidays.co.uk
Authentic Greek food comes to Norfolk
No need to get on the plane to feel like you’re on holiday with Greek Nights at the Italian Job in Diss. You can enjoy a vast selection of superb Greek food, cooked as it should be in an original taverna atmosphere. Have an unforgettable evening with traditional belly dancing, plate breaking and music ‘til late.
Greek Night is every last Friday of the month so for a great night out, book your table by calling 01953 884141 www.italianjobs.co.uk
from our region Art treasures return to their Norfolk home Britain’s first Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole amassed a collection of some of the world’s most famous paintings and treasures, which were displayed in the magnificent surroundings of Houghton Hall over 200 years ago. Now they are set to return to the historic Norfolk building to give a new generation a once-ina-lifetime chance to see the glorious works of art by the likes of Rubens, Sir Anthony Van Dyck, Velazquez and Rembrandt in their original setting as chosen and placed by the former PM. Houghton Revisted will be open between May 17 and September 29, so don’t miss the opportunity to see paintings like this one by Rubens!
Local Furniture Shop celebrates 30th Anniversary John Doe of Diss started out selling carpets from a small shop in the town centre in 1983. Since then, this successful family business has gone from strength to strength and now operates a home furnishings superstore based in Sawmills Road. John Doe stocks everything you need to furnish your home, from carpets to sofas, beds to wardrobes - there’s something to suit every taste and budget. John Doe prides itself on retaining the same high level of personal service and competitive prices it has always had. Now, to celebrate 30 years in business, John Doe of Diss are offering genuine 30% discounts on selected stock items over the Easter period.
Discover the new Angles Way walks
www.houghtonhall.com/houghtonrevisted
Leap Taster Courses Prove Popular in Suffolk Earlier this year, Leap successfully hosted a variety of free of charge ‘Have A Go’ activities at selected Leap Centres across the county, offering taster courses in everything from cake decorating, photography and jewellery making to sign language, building your own website, creative writing and computer skills. Leap was formed in 2007 to provide access to learning and skills to those living in rural areas. region, Leap provides access to a range of advice and support; formal and leisure qualifications and training that could help you to achieve your goals!
As soon as spring is in the air most of us can’t wait to take advantage of the longer days and milder weather. And what better way to enjoy the great outdoors this Easter than taking in some of the stunning East Anglian scenery on the Angles Way walking trail, newly refurbished for 2013.
www.norfolk.gov.uk/trails
www.leap.ac.uk
7
Out & About The Forestry Commission by arrangement with X-Ray present
WYMONDHAM MUSIC FESTIVAL Wymondham
Saturday 15 June
2013
THETFORD FOREST
GREAT PLACE GREAT MUSIC GREAT VALUE
Music Festival Reg Charity no 1081375
Megson award-winning folk duo at The Regal Sat 29 June www.megsonmusic.co.uk ‘Simply Brilliant’ The Sunday Express
NR BRANDON, SUFFOLK
Tickets: 03000 680400 Buy online/info: www.forestry.gov.uk/music Info: www.blondie.net
FESTIVAL FORTNIGHT SAT 22 JUNE TO SUN 7 JULY PROGRAMMES AND TICKETS AVAILABLE SAT 11 MAY
FESTIVAL OFFICE 01953 601939 WWW.WYMFESTIVAL.ORG.UK
R es tau R ant The Perfect Location for
Superb Food • Events • Small Weddings • Conference & Meetings • Accommodation
Using seasonal locally sourced fresh produce every time Norwich Road, Attleborough, Norfolk NR17 2JX e: stay@sherbourne-house.co.uk www.sherbourne-house.co.uk
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t. 01953 454363
T
Local Walk at Pulham Market
his walk offers you the chance to stretch your legs on country lanes, before returning through the fields, with lots of wildlife to look out for. Around Pulham Market Green you will find pretty white washed cottages and the medieval church of St Mary Magdalene, which is worth a visit.
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Start on The Green with The Crown public house on your right, turn left and walk between Pulham Memorial Hall and The Falcon public house on the narrow alleyway between the houses through two sets of white railings.
2
Turn right onto Barnes’ Road and follow the road, pass Street Farm on the left and continue for one mile to a T-junction at the top of the hill. Turn left at this T-junction onto Duck’s Foot Road. Keep left at the next junction and continue down the hill on the road.
3
At the bottom of the hill, turn left onto a field edge public footpath. Ignore the footbridge on the right and keeping the poplar trees on your right continue back towards Pulham Market following Boudica’s Way waymarkers as follows; walk anticlockwise around this large field still keeping the trees on your right. Just before the far corner turn right into the wood at the waymarker post and walk under a tunnel of trees crossing a footbridge at the end.
4
Turn left onto another field edge path, this time keeping the trees and ditch on your left. Continue in the same direction across the field at the waymarker post in the corner.
Wildlife Watch
The open arable fields provide a good chance of a glimpse of a brown hare or to listen to skylarks.
Starting point: The Green, Pulham Market (parking at the Falcon Public House) Parking: Car park, Falcon Road (opposite The Falcon public house) Distance: 3.3 miles Terrain: Country lanes and fields
7
Again, turn left at the next corner into the final field and walk towards Pulham Market, crossing a final footbridge before walking along a narrow path which becomes a gravel track after passing the Pulham Market Bowls Club. Cross the road to the alleyway opposite, turn right at the end and return to the start point.
Discover more walks at www.norfolk.gov.uk/trails With thanks to Norfolk County Council
5
Cross a second much wider footbridge and walk on another field edge footpath around the left hand side of this second field.
6
Walk over a third footbridge into the wood, turn left at the end to walk around the edge of the third field. Continue around the edge of the field, passing another wood on the left. Bear left into a fourth field at the corner.
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Out & About O To rder da y
D Yo irec ur t t Do o or
An independent co-educational day & boarding school
Junior 5-11 Senior 11-16 Sixth Form 16-18
More than just a school
An ideal learning environment, which offers so much more To view our Outstanding Inspection Report visit our website below OPEN DAY - Saturday 11th May 10.30am - 2.00pm
We use the finest locally produced ingredients to offer a very unique selection of fun and delicious vegetable & fruit flavours. See our online menu or request a copy.
The New Eccles School, Quidenham, Nr. Norwich, Norfolk NR16 2NZ T: 01953 887217 E: admin@neweccleshall.com
www.neweccleshall.com
Wedding Cakes
Anytime Cakes & Slices
Celebration Cakes
Chandler Road, Stoke Holy Cross, Norwich, NR14 8RQ
Wymondham 07884 187967 ◆ Lovely & warm 31 degrees ◆ Fully private half hour slots ◆ Up to 8 people ◆ Available every day from 6am until 10pm (15 mins changing time before & after each session in allocated changing rooms)
t: 01508 494161 e: swim@anchorage-pool.co.uk w: www.anchorage-pool.co.uk
Mangreen Time Share Pool Beautiful country setting close to Norwich. Enjoy having the 30°C pool to yourselves. Great for families. Disabled access.
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Kaleidoscope is an out of school club for children aged 4-11 years
Friendly, qualified & CRB checked staff Open from 8.00am-6.00pm
Huge range of activities,
Full & half day sessions
toys and days out!
kaleidoscope-osc@hotmail.com
JOHN COOPER DRIVING TUITION DSA Approved Instructor PASS PLUS REGISTERED
For a free trial swim call 01508 570444 or email trust@mangreen.co.uk
Call John on 07833 110938
Mangreen, nr Swardeston, Norwich (just off A140 nr Dunston Hall) Registered educational charity No 297985
Quote Village People for special discounts
Mums The Word Kesgrave Hall
Kesgrave, Ipswich • http://www.milsomhotels.com/kesgravehall • 01473 333741 Carrie Barrett lives in Blo Norton, near Diss, right on the Suffolk/Norfolk border, with her husband and two children Maisie (9) and Olly (5). She has been dining out and about in our area for many years, seeking out restaurants that offer great value, quality and above all else are child friendly. If you would like Carrie to visit a particular pub or restaurant just get in touch with us at village people and we’ll ask her to visit.
W
e have been patrons of Milsoms Hotels and Restaurants for a few years now. Their restaurant Milsoms and Le Talbooth at Dedham was a bit of a trek for us but a great place to stop off on trips home from London.
When I heard that another restaurant in this very successful chain was opening up in Ipswich, I got very excited. Immediately turning off from the main Woodbridge Road into Hall Road you get the feeling of seclusion and intimacy. On approaching the white hall, you could very well be mistaken for somewhere you could NOT bring children! The building looks very grand, set in acres of woodland, with a beautiful terrace to enjoy dinner al fresco in the summer, whilst taking in the surrounding wildlife. When walking through the door it is evident that this place is much more relaxed and contemporary than the building and grounds would have you believe, whilst at the same time giving you a feeling of complete luxury and indulgence. The waiting staff are smartly presented, very helpful and attentive. Nothing is too much trouble. We love the little touches i.e. small writing pads and pencils on each table so you can write down what everyone is ordering!
.
smoked salmon. The main courses vary from £5.25 for pasta carbonara up to £5.95 for haddock fishcake. Whilst this is not a cheap place to take children, it’s a great treat on a special birthday or family lunch. The food is locally sourced and is of a very high quality. Children are also offered ‘etch-a-sketches’ to keep them entertained until the food arrives. Highchairs and baby changing facilities are also available. Adults have a wonderful menu to choose from with lots of choice. Starters start from £5.75 and sandwiches are served all lunctimes except for Sundays. Main courses start at a very reasonable £10.95. In our house, it’s always a must that we save room for desserts! It’s the best part of the meal. The puddings here are truly part of the sumptuous dining experience and certainly not just an afterthought. The extensive wine list offers a range that would satisfy even the most discerning of wine lovers. If you are looking for somewhere to host a special event, I would challenge anyone to find a better venue. The hotel offers 23 ensuite rooms so guests of the party can stay and enjoy the surroundings.
I cannot wait to go back here again and only wish they would open another restaurant even closer to us!
The company motto is ‘Open All Day So No Rush’. I love this attitude and it’s very refreshing in this busy modern world when everyone seems in such a rush. Children and families are ‘positively encouraged’ at this restaurant and I find the children’s menu one of the best around. The menu is laid out like the adults’ menu, which includes the children in the whole experience. The starters range from soup to
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Out & About
a ll th e biggest h its froM a rock ‘ N’ roll suPerstar
suPPorted bY M i litarY WiVes cho irs
M idsu M Mer N ights Still Reelin’ and a-Rockin’ HAREWOOD lEEDs, Saturday 1 June 2013 OlD TRAffORD CRiCkET GROunD MAnCHEsTER, Sunday 2 June 2013 BliCklinG EsTATE nORWiCH, Thursday 6 June 2013 WARWiCk CAsTlE WARWiCksHiRE, Saturday 8 June 2013 HATfiElD HOusE HERTfORDsHiRE, Sunday 9 June 2013 THE COunTy GROunD, HOvE sussEX, Saturday 15 June 2013 POWDERHAM CAsTlE EXETER, Sunday 16 June 2013 Tickets available at selected venues. Tickets subject to a booking fee and promoter terms and conditions (details on request)
sPECiAlly CREATED All sEATER AREnAs
Book at seetickets.com or phone 0871 220 0260 For Hospitality packages please call 0208 144 5783 Book at ticketmaster.co.uk or phone 0844 844 0444
www.cliffrichard.org
www.cliffrichardtour.co.uk
Logistik Ltd & internationaL entertainment Corporation
12
“Still Ro kin’ with thce best of them“ Sydney M o rning He rald
Ladies Who Lunch
THE QUEEN’S HEAD, EYE bitterly cold day saw me once again hurtling down the A140 into Suffolk; but not too far over the border.
My companion was driving whilst I was privately wondering if I would be able to get out of her lovely purple sports car without a steam hoist – me being a bulky OAP wearing two coats. We had an unscheduled trip around Eye (which incidentally looked like a really pretty small town full of cottages painted in sugared-almond colours) before locating the Queen’s Head (Boadicea). We were both glad to spot the log fire in the bar and our reserved table which had a clear view of the street outside. I was surprised when I inspected the menu as one whole page was given over to 17 different tapas options, inspired by the chef’s time spent on the Spanish island of Tenerife. An interesting change from traditional Suffolk pub food. There was also a selection of what I call PGDs (proper gravy dinners) on the menu; lasagne, four-cheese and red onion
tart, chicken breast - and a ploughman’s lunch. Homemade pizzas were also available. In the end we decided to ‘do a Princess Diana’ and have a starter and a pud. My starter was an extravagance of fish, with smoked mackerel, Gravlax (cured raw salmon, thinly sliced, in a dill and mustard sauce), and a terrine of crabmeat: also a couple of hunks of wholemeal bread and a pot of butter. My companion’s choice was chicken liver pate with toasted bread and salad garnish dressed with balsamic vinegar and served on a stylish slate rectangle. The pudding selection included caramelised banana with raisins, rum sauce and ice cream; this was my companion’s choice. Mine was tiramisu which came with a very generous helping of ice-cream.
Two Starters Two puds One Wine One tonic One cafetière
£11.45 £10.45 £4.95 £1.30 £3.60
TOTAL
£31.75
Please note that the restaurant is closed all day Monday.
BOTTOM LINE
A
7 Cross Street, Eye, Suffolk, IP23 7AB • 01379 870 153 • info@queensheadeye.co.uk
We both enjoyed what we had, and it was good value for money. The place was very attractive with its scrubbed pine, beams and log fire. I can imagine a crowd of tapas lovers in the evening transforming the place into a warm and lively location, full of fun. The Queen’s Head has been awarded the prestigious
cask marque in recognition of their outstanding quality ales, so be sure to try a pint or two. The Queen’s Head is a medieval pub, which was lovingly restored and reopened in 2011. The narrow doors add to the quaint, old-fashioned charm of the place but might make things tricky for wheelchair users. If you are looking for something a bit more adventurous than your standard PGDs, then The Queen’s Head is well worth a visit.
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Out & About
APRIL/MAY
BOX OFFICE: (01603) 63 00 00 Sun 31 March – Tues 2 April DORA THE EXPLORER Everyone’s favourite explorer with educational fun £5.50 - £16 Wed 3 April THE SOLDIERS Real life heroes and music stars £5.50 - £22.50
Sunday 5 May ENCHANTMENT UNDER A TREE Heather Millan School of Dance & Performing Arts £5.50 - £15.50 Tues 7 – Sat 11 May NEW JERSEY NIGHTS Celebration of the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons £6.50 - £27.50
Thur 4 April THE CHUCKLE BROTHERS Paul and Barry with family fun Sun 12 – Sat 18 May £5.50 - £14 NORFOLK & NORWICH FESTIVAL Fri 5 April SHAOLIN WARRIORS Breathtaking kung fu masters £5.50 - £24
Mon 20 – Sat 25 May NOISES OFF Michael Frayn’s hilarious backstage comedy £5.50 - £23.50 Sun 26 May ELO EXPERIENCE Tribute to the Electric Light Orchestra £5.50 - £20 Tues 28 May – Sat 1 June SLEEPING BEAUTY ON ICE Imperial Ice Stars in classic fairytale set to Tchaikovsky’s glorious music £6.50 - £29.50
Sat 6 April THAT’LL BE THE DAY Rock ‘n’ roll variety show £5.50 - £23
Northern Ballet: The Great Gatsby
Tues 9 – Sat 20 April STARLIGHT EXPRESS Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s dynamic musical £6.50 - £39 Sun 28 April SOLID SILVER 60S SHOW Mike Pender, Dave Berry, Wayne Fontana & New Amen Corner £5.50 - £24 Tues 30 April – Sat 4 May THE GREAT GATSBY Northern Ballet with new dance drama £6.50 - £36.50
Book online: www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk THEATRE STREET, NORWICH NR2 1RL
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It’s time to rock at the Theatre Royal! He is the man who brings classic songs to life in high-energy musical shows worldwide. We caught up with theatrical impresario David King who is bringing two great new shows to the Norwich Theatre Royal.
W
hen it comes to ensuring audiences leave a theatre uplifted and with a smile on their face, David King definitely has the Midas touch.
His productions which celebrate the music of the globe’s best known writers and performers have proved to be box office winners all over the world. And, as he prepares to bring two of his newest shows to Norwich Theatre Royal plus a revamped old favourite, it is clear he is every bit as passionate about live performance as he was when he first started producing shows. His latest major project is New Jersey Nights, which will take to the stage from 7-11 May and will celebrate the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. David said: “I have always been a massive fan of them. I have always loved the Jersey Boys too. I saw it on Broadway when it first opened and I thought it was wonderful. I saw it again in London and I thought I would like to make a show celebrating the music.” Set in the Sixties, it aims to capture the essence of the decade through the sets, costumes and look of the performers. David said: “We wanted to place it in the correct setting and it is also stylish and classy. There are also various settings including a recording studio and a club.” The laid-back style of the Sixties is then replaced with the outrageous glam and glitz of the Seventies when David brings Bohemian Rhapsody to Norwich Theatre Royal on June 24-26 which celebrates, as you might expect, the music of Queen. David said: “Jersey Nights is gentle and lovely and wonderful. Bohemian Rhapsody is much more in-yourface and just crazy. You get to see all of the big musical favourites from the band like Killer Queen and We Are The Champions.” David is best known for Spirit Of The Dance and cannot believe the high-energy celebration of the best Irish dancing is still going strong 16 years after it began. “When I first decided to stage it all those years ago, I thought it might last about three months. Now we are still working on it 16 years later,” he said.
David also took the brave decision to appear in Channel Four’s show The Secret Millionaire and was catapulted right into the centre of a troubled part of Leeds – an experience which he admits changed him as a person. David recalled: “Being on that programme definitely took me out of my entertainment bubble. It was not what I thought it would be when I agreed to do it but I got so much out of it.” As well as continuing with charity work, David also has a very busy touring schedule in Europe plus tours and theatres to operate in America too. In the meantime, it is clear that a range of iconic musical styles are getting the lavish stage treatment courtesy of David and his team on the Norwich Theatre Royal stage in the weeks and months ahead.
Tickets are available from the Box Office
on 01603 630 000 or www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk 15
Village Notice Board
Talk: Impr oving hild birt h
Strad br oke & Distr ict Branch Pres ents
Pregnancy and C
‘Last Night o f the Pro ENGLAND an ms’ to Celebrate d Saturday 20th ST GEORGE A pril 2013 Stradbroke H igh School A , 7pm dmission £5 Ipswich Hospi ta l Ba nd Musical Direc tor: Peter Gra y Compere: Pete r Celebration dr Holloway ink included Tickets availa ble with a SA E from: Bernard Mills, 21 The Orchar ds, Laxfield, Suffolk. IP13 8EE Tel: 0198 6 798414
shments talk with refre Free informal er Th apy and how Bowen introducing lp. he n Hypnosis ca and ge Hall 10.30 lla Vi on rt ba ul M .30 ril 10 l Ap al H th Sat 27 Village April Wacton 05 or 60 53 8 also Tues 30th 50 en Taylor 01 82 Contact: Kar r 01379 6744 Lynn Baxte
Valuat ion Day at
Saint Peter’ s Church Sw ainsthorp Sat April 20th 10am to 2pm e 1 Item = £2,
Also Avail Horham Post able at: And Stradbro Office Stores ke Spar Store s ‘Prize for th e most patri otically dressed tick et-holder’
Coffee, Teas , an Swainsthor pe
3 Items =£
d refreshmen 5 ts available
Charity Trus
t No 287784
Farmers’ Mar ket
RICKINGHALL V
Ant ique Fair
ILLAGE HALL
l
ll Village Hal
at Rickingha
May Monday 6th Bank Holiday 4 pm from 10am – £1 Admission refreshments & lls of sta Large variety 9 251804 0135
Second Saturday of every month, 9.00am until 12 .30pm Stalls usually includ e fresh and smoked fish, beef, pork, lamb, venison , chicken, local vege tables and fruit in season, cake s and bread, freshly ground coffee, chocolate, ho ney, jams & preser ve s, home-made curries , chilli products, chee ses, apples and apple jui ces, sweet treats, flo ur from Pakenham Mill & ev en locally grown pla nts. Free admission: enquiries to Monty 07747 84 6605
List your local event for FREE on our Village Notice Board Email details to Lily at editor@village-people.info
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95t h B omb Gusruouemp Hospital M ORHAM )
TION 119 H ( A.A.F. STA unday of each month
4 pm Open last S ber 10 am to May to Octo open m on Tea roo Free admissi 5EU 1 2 Denham IP Shingle Hill
vening Ladies on ly PamperLEL, NR15 2UH
LAGE HA WACTON VIL :00pm :00pm to 10 7 IL R P A 2 1 Friday N at 6:30pm DOORS OPE night. or £6 on the £5 pre-paid 5 mins S: £10 per 1 TREATMENT the night 023 cash only on : 01508 536 Contact Vera
F l ower Fest ival at
“Gardeners Bunwell Church Glory” June 14th 2p m to
5pm June 15th 11 am to 5pm June 16th 11 am to 4.30pm Finish with a Songs of Prai Refreshments se and Ploughm an’s lunches
P lant Sale
2 2HX pham, IP2 n, South Lo Fe am h p & Lo m – 4pm Redgrave April 10a rseries: Sunday 14 ecialist nu sp d an g in n in es, herbs, -w sh d u ar rns, fruit b fe Over 20 aw s, la u seeds, an lbs, camp rubs, trees, alpines, bu ennials, sh cond er p se , s es lu ss P . l gra and more en d ornamenta ar g . g mulch the cuttin plants and plants for , donated ee fr n re hand tools d il .50, ch Adults £1 available freshments .org re ld co d ildlifetrust w Hot an lk o ff u .s w w w 688333 Tel: 01379
C all ing all C lassic Vehicle Ent husiasts
Bungay Area Lio ns Club is hold ing a Classic Vehicle Rally & Country Fayre in the grounds Earsham Hall, Bu of ngay, NR35 2A N on Sunday 5t h May 2013 Exhibits on disp lay will be class ic cars, motor cycles, tractors and both comm ercial and military vehicle s. Other attract ions on the day will include food and craft stalls, licensed bar, trade stalls, auto jumble, childre n’s games, entertainers an d workshops. Funds raised fro m the event will go to the Bl adder Scanner Appeal for the Bungay Medica l Practice and lo cal Lions causes . Gates will open from 10am until with a celebrity 5pm, opening the ev ent at 11am. Entry to the pu blic will be £3 fo r adults and children ov er 16. If you have a ve hicle to show yo u can obtain a registration fo rm for free entry from George Eagle, Tel. 0198 6 892902 or email george reagle@live.co .uk
’s Grouplp eased to The Disilds reFrn’ies nd Hospices are ity
ar ia’s Ch aid of the Ch for East Angl ion Show in sh Fa a at on th otel Diss announce at the Park H pm is being held 7pm for 7.30 en pril Doors op A of th s 25 as gl ay a clude Thursd £12.50 to in raffle Ticket price • Pay bar and s le bb ni d an e in s w et g ck in ti kl and spar information 38 For further 09 65 01379 call Pauline ailable from so Tickets al av arleston s in Diss & H Tatters shop
FR
It’s
to list EE evenytour ! 17
Home & Garden
18
Win tickets to see Blondie!
Blondie has confirmed a very special tour of the nation’s woodlands this summer as part of the Forestry Commission’s annual concert series Forest Live.
Blondie emerged from New York’s celebrated new wave scene producing innovative music with their rock/disco, reggae and hiphop influenced songs. Fronted by pop icon Deborah Harry, their ground-breaking material brought them a stash of hit singles and few acts can match their 20 year span of No 1’s from ‘Heart Of Glass’, ‘Sunday Girl’, ‘Atomic’, ‘Call Me’, ‘The Tide Is High’ to ‘Maria’. Special guest each evening will be The Lightning Seeds performing an acoustic set of their perfect pop songs like ‘Pure’, ‘Lucky You’ and ‘Change’.
Forest Live is an independent programme organised by the Forestry Commission bringing music to new audiences without commercial branding or sponsorship. Income generated from ticket sales is spent on improving the local forests for both people and wildlife. With everything you need for a great night out, including full catering and bar facilities, the gigs are renowned for their relaxed atmosphere.
You can experience all this on Saturday 15 June in Thetford Forest, near Brandon, Suffolk. To win tickets to this fabulous concert just answer this simple question: What colour hair does Debbie Harry have? a. Brown b. Blonde c. Red Send your answer, along with your name, address and daytime phone number to competition@village-people.info
before Friday 17th May.
Tickets (£36) are available from the Forestry Commission box office on 03000 680400 or online at www.forestry.gov.uk/music
Electrical Services
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19
T
Garden Jottings from Ken
he garden season is well underway by now and people of all abilities are venturing outside to tend their plots, from small courtyards to majestic acres. Each garden regardless of its size is unique and individual, reflecting the whims and skills of the owner. It is, however, plants that make a garden and one of the best groups to grow are the herbaceous perennials, wonderful plants which simply burst from the ground each year bringing magnificent life and colour to borders within just a few weeks or months of their appearance.
‘Perennials’ comprise a vast range of long-lived plants, and ‘herbaceous perennials’ describes the huge number which mainly die back to the ground for a winter rest, offering great choices for any garden style and any position within a garden, from full sun to deep shade. Providing they are positioned correctly herbaceous perennials will perform for years, building up into substantial clumps with only general care required such
as feeding, dead-heading and tidying, then splitting up occasionally to maintain vigour. A mixture of lupins, delphiniums, foxgloves and hardy geraniums in an array of colours conjures up the classic ‘cottage garden’ look. Alternatively, for a sunny freedraining position try Salvia argentea with its large soft woolly leaves, or Sedum ‘Frosty Morn’, an ice-plant with cream margins to the foliage and a real magnet for bees and butterflies when in flower. If you wish to add to the nectar bar intersperse your plants with monarda (commonly known as Bee Balm), Echinacea, and hardy verbenas such as the ever-fashionable Verbena bonariensis with its dark purple flower-heads on tall and unusually square stems which sway gently in the slightest breeze.
Perennials are star performers in a garden, giving great value over many years if chosen and positioned carefully. If your border is bright but heavy and wet some really bold plants are at your disposal. The mighty Gunnera manicata with leaves the size of fence panels on tall prickly stems definitely makes a statement (although it’s just a bit tender), but for something a little more modest try Lobelia cardinalis ‘Queen Victoria’ with its stunning bright red flowers over shiny maroon leaves, or Zantedeschia aethiopica, a pure white arum lily. Other choices for damp soils include ligularias, rheums (ornamental rhubarb) and rodgersias, all of which have impressive leaves, plus astilbes which offer great plumes of colour in early summer. The range of herbaceous perennials available is enormous, from the stately daisy flowers of asters, rudbeckias and Japanese anemones, to the relaxed and lower-growing euphorbias, campanulas and bistorts, and with our prices starting at just £1.99 each, or three choices for £5, having a colourful garden couldn’t be simpler!
Cheers, Ken
from The Garden Enclosure at Banham
for perennial inspiration!
Have yo u discover ed us yet ? 20
INDEPENDENT PLANT CENTRE & GARDEN SHOP
01953 888043 www.gardenenclosure.co.uk
Inspiring plant selections, plant sourcing and garden advice, gardening and floristry sundries, pet supplies, gifts… and more!
Find us at Banham Zoo, NR16 2HE - outside Zoo ticket kiosks Open Thursday to Monday 9.30am to 5pm (10.00am to 4pm Nov to Feb)
Home & Garden
your LOCAL veg box scheme that supports NORFOLK producers! local fresh produce delivered to your door for free no heavy bags or queues choose what’s in your box for details or to order call
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21
Home & Garden
NORWICH
SWAINSTHORPE
Les Balls
FENCING SERVICES Manufacturer and supplier of all types of fencing
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Yard Sales: Greenacres, Brick Kiln Lane, Swainsthorpe 22
Meet The Experts
Based in East Anglia, Noble Paving East Anglia Limited is run by Wayne Noble, who has over twenty years experience in hard landscaping, garden design and general ground works. How do you make sure each customer gets a personal service?
Noble Paving East Anglia Limited has a small highly skilled team of professionals all with their own individual skill set. As a standard part of the service Wayne Noble personally manages each project and each stage of the job is carried out in close consultation with the client. This means that we can offer a personal, professional service to each customer. How do I know that the work will last? As most of the projects we secure
are through recommendations we pride ourselves on customer satisfaction and therefore all our work is fully insured and comes with an amazing 10 year written guarantee included on completion What services do you offer? We are specialists in all kinds of garden design and hard landscaping, from turfing and planting to driveways and patios. Don’t worry about contacting lots of different contractors – our skilled team will take care of everything including fencing, tree surgery and even ponds.
I want to transform my garden for summer. What do you suggest? Why not try a new brick weave pathway? Or how about some low maintenance raised beds in railways sleepers? Whatever size your garden is, a water feature can be a great addition. Noble Paving provides a garden design service, so make the most of all of our experience and call for a free quote. Call 01953 887346 or visit www.noblelandscapers.co.uk to see pictures of our work. Get your garden sorted for summer!
paving east anglia ltd
Landscaping & Garden Design Block Paved, Tarmac & Shingle Driveways Patios & All Types of Fencing & Gates Turfing, Plants & Planting We also offer a garden design service with a full scaled drawing or sketch All hard landscaping comes with a 10 year guarantee
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info@noblelandscapers.co.uk 23
Home & Garden
GROWERS OF QUALITY PLANTS AT COMPETITIVE PRICES
NEW CENTRE NOW OPEN www.foundryplantcentre.co.uk
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Garden Design and Landscaping Service Contact: Amanda Thomas Mobile: 07732 783 572 Email: info@eyedesigngardens.co.uk
n . Pla t l u s on
C
24
ld , Bui
Foraging for
Local Food
Try growing your own, foraging and eating locally this season. You’ll be surprised at how much the East Anglian countryside has to offer, writes David Seddon.
In the Garden
Leafy Greens
The weather is improving, so now is the time to get out into your gardens and allotments! Spring is a time of renewal, with preparation of the ground, sowing of vegetables and herbs in the greenhouse and then, after the last frosts, in the garden. We can still harvest our brassicas – notably Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower; while leeks and parsnips should continue to provide variety. Spring is a good time to plant permanent crops, such as globe artichokes and asparagus. It is also the time, when the frosts are over, to plant out radishes, Jerusalem artichokes, purple sprouting broccoli, potatoes, onions, carrots, peas and broad beans with the possibility of early crops of the young ‘baby’ vegetables to look forward to. Rhubarb (initially forced) can provide the first fresh fruit of the year and also makes delicious rhubarb crumble or rhubarb and ginger jam.
As for leafy ‘greens’, common sorrel is one of the first green plants to appear in the spring. It can be cooked on its own, like spinach, although it has a very different taste. Wood sorrel is widespread in woods and shady places. It was used as a salad as early as the 14th century and was being cultivated by the 15th - John Evelyn recommended it as suitable for a kitchen garden. Next time you are walking in the countryside, look out for chick-weed, a prolific garden weed, which is surprisingly good when sautéed in butter, with spring onions, and finished off with a squeeze of lemon juice and freshly ground black pepper or nutmeg. Even ground-elder, that gardeners’ curse, has an agreeable tangy flavour if cooked like spinach. Nettle leaves can also be picked in spring and boiled to make a puree or a soup. Not only are nettles easy to find; they are rich in iron, sulphur, sodium and Vitamin C. If you like rocket in your salads, then keep an eye out! It can be foraged in the spring. Beech leaves make a fine salad vegetable, as sweet as a mild cabbage though softer in texture.
Fungi Wild food is harder to find in spring than in any other season. Have a look for the Oyster mushroom on the trunks, branches or stumps of beech and ash. The Oyster tends to be tough, and needs to be cooked long enough to get a good texture. It’s delicious sliced, sprinkled with lemon juice, turned in seasoned flour, beaten egg and breadcrumbs and then deep fried until golden. One of the earliest of the fungi usually to appear is Pholiota mutabilis, which like the two varieties mentioned above is also to be found on tree stumps. It has an agreeable flavour and is a good flavouring for stews and soups, giving a rich brown colour.
Sauces The leaves of the hawthorn, when young, have a nutty taste and the buds can be picked earlier. ‘Jackby-the-hedge’ (known in Norfolk as ‘penny hedge’) is also good for its leaves, finely chopped for salads or as a sauce for lamb. For a new take on mint sauce, chop the leaves of penny hedge with hawthorn buds and a little mint, mix well with vinegar and sugar, and serve with lamb. Wild root vegetables like horseradish and wild parsnip can also be made into strongly tasting sauces or relishes. Start foraging this spring and you will be rewarded with a host of new flavours and textures, all fresh, local and free!
25
Seasonal Recipes
for Spring
We’ve got two seasonal recipes for you this edition! One recipe is in eager readiness for the season of outside eating, and one because the seasonal freshness of watercress available now should be indulged and enjoyed.
Both recipes, as ever, are deliciously easy and easily delicious.
Watercress Soup INGREDIENTS
Lemon Roasted Chicken Wings with cracked black pepper
2 bags of watercress (approx 170g) 1 onion, peeled and finely chopped 250g potatoes, peeled and chopped into small chunks 1 pint of chicken or vegetable stock A splash of cream, or milk if you prefer Salt and pepper 1. Melt the butter in a large pan and cook the onions until nicely translucent. 2. Add the stock and potato chunks, and cook on a high simmer until the potatoes are soft (about 1520 minutes depending on the size of your chunks – keep a check) 3. When the potatoes are almost cooked add the watercress for just 3-4 minutes. Liquidize the soup, and add the cream or milk until you have the desired thickness. Season to taste, and serve hot. So simple, and good for you too!
Pre-heat the oven to 200˚C/ Gas mark 6 1. Put the wings in a large roasting tin or dish; squeeze the lemon juice all over. For extra lemony flavour, chop up the squeezed lemon halves and add to the dish, along with the bay leaves. 2. Crush the pepper corns in a morter until they are nicely cracked but not too ground and fine. Mix with the olive oil and toss with the wings, then sprinkle the salt over.
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Roast for 40-45 mins, turning once, but avoiding any other unnecessary turning! They are best left to almost become stuck to the tin.
INGREDIENTS
A dozen chicken wings 1 large lemon 1-2 tablespoons of black peppercorns (for an Asian hint to this recipe try using Szechuan peppercorns) 2 teaspoon of sea salt 4 or 5 bay Leaves 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
Serves 2
Home & Garden
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Home & Garden
RESIDENTIAL ESTATE AGENTS
Offering a full service 7 days a week including free valuations and viewing appointments. Independent and owner run with a friendly and experienced team for over 15 years. Operating 2 week rolling contracts only - Please call us for further advice.
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Norwich NR1 1LG
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www.gilsonbailey.co.uk 28
an Estate Agent There are hundreds of estate agents out there and to find one just visit the National Association of Estate Agents web site www.naea.co.uk and there they all are, including House Revolution of course! If you’re looking for one to sell your home then what do you need to ask? What is most important? “House sales” you say. Good answer, it is your desired outcome after all and most estate agents market themselves as sales experts so it makes sense. But back up a minute. Let’s think about this. Surely selling my house is a ‘given’? I mean, if estate agents didn’t sell houses then how would they get paid and continue to trade in such numbers? Consider also the notion that estate agents actually don’t sell houses anymore. Rightmove, Zoopla, Property Finder and the likes do that. Not heard many estate agents who would market themselves under the heading “Go on, give us a go, you never know we might get lucky”.
It’s easy to see why we call ourselves ‘a new breed of estate agents’. New pricing, new values and new methods!
Choosing an estate agent shouldn’t necessarily be driven by the one question ‘will you sell my house’. So what you should also be asking as well is:
Chris Sa rgisson (Founde r)
How to Choose
1. How much do you think my house is worth? Show me why (e.g. don’t guess). 2. How much will you charge me, what’s this going to cost? 3. Are you good people to work with, what do your customers say about you? If you’re selling a property, remember, House Revolution provides a free and detailed valuation service. We cost you considerably less than the high street and importantly we deliver a service that is so good that 9 out of 10 customers surveyed said they would recommend us to friends and family. Call us on 01603 679070 or visit www.houserevolution.com
Tel. 0845 0176060 www.houserevolution.com
Replacement of Locks, Hinges, Handles, Letterboxes, Patio Wheels, Double Glazed Units including Velux Windows & Door Adjustments, Cat Flaps and Fly Screens
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29
Home & Garden
C.L.Fielder
Sustainable British Firewood Logs are cut to approximately 10" lengths and split, ready to go on your open fire, wood burner or multi-fuel stove.
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WOODLAND CONTRACTOR 30
Welcome to Practically Perfect Interiors.. . If you are tired of characterless contemporary furniture, and want something a little bit different, then a visit to Eye’s brand new shop should be top of your ‘to do’ list! Local interior designer Georgina West has opened her first ‘vintage inspired’ shop on Castle Street where you will find a wide collection of bespoke furniture and shabby chic accessories on offer as well as unique gifts that are perfect for all occasions including treating yourself!
Georgina also makes beautiful bespoke handmade curtains and cushions and can offer a complete interior design service whether you have a small room to makeover or an entire house. Her upholstery skills also come very highly recommended so if you have a tired old piece of furniture in your home and are a fan of the rustic, vintage look then make sure you pop down to Castle Street and have a chat with Georgina; she’s full of amazing inspirational ideas! This exciting new shop is open Tuesday to Friday from 10am until 4.30pm and Saturdays 10.30am until 4pm. The shop is closed on Sundays and Monday when Georgina is available for consultations and deliveries.
1 Castle Street, Eye, IP23 7AN
07875 263047 georgina@practicallyperfectinteriors.com www.practicallyperfectinteriors.com 31
Home & Garden
Your local, family owned, independent Fuel supplier
Competitive Heating Oil prices
Interest free budget payment scheme
Rix Oil Alert (Automatic Tank Monitoring)
Contact the team today! 01953 457057
www.rix.co.uk
eastanglia@rix.co.uk
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Caring for Customers!
A&R Construction All Groundwork & Building Services
Rupert Baker: 07585 552600 / 01986 895194 Adrian Gowing: 07432 103803 / 01953 798436
arconstruction.services@hotmail.co.uk www.ar-construction.co.uk Property Renovations | Extensions Drainage | Road Construction Patios | Driveways | Block Paving Landscaping | Fencing
32
We’re best known for our Boat Covers & Canopies, but we also make covers for all sorts of other uses:
Log Stores • Garden Furniture Custom Awnings • General Canvas Weather Screens • Winter Covers Repairs & Alterations Military & Truck Canvas
If you need anything covered - call us!
01603 507554 25 Ashwellthorpe Industrial Estate
www.classiccovers.co.uk
Relight Your Fire
A fireplace has always been seen as the heart of the home and now fireplaces can be a striking focal point in contemporary modern homes as well as traditional period properties. There is so much scope in style and finish for fireplaces today and one of the best places to see what is on offer is the new showroom of The Fireplace & Plaster Centre at Thetford. A successful local business since the early 1990s, they can offer the consumer over 20 years of professional experience and a wide choice of fireplaces, fires, multi-fuel and wood-burning stoves for their home.
Which style would suit your home?
Whether you prefer wood, marble, limestone or cast iron, experts can help you select the best fireplace to suit the style of your home. They will even carry out a site survey to ensure that your choice is suitable. In the showroom, you will find everything from period and traditional fireplaces, to more modern, contemporary styles.
Multi-Fuel and Wood-Burning Stoves
For a stylish alternative to a fireplace, wood burners are very popular and can potentially provide a cleaner, greener source of heat for your home. The main difference is that you can only burn smokeless coal and wood, rather than other fuels, so make sure you find a reliable, local fuel supplier.
Electric and Gas Fires
If a traditional fire seems like too much hassle, there are lots of natural looking coal effect gas fires to choose from. There is a great choice of electric fires too, including the amazing “Opti-Myst” which is so realistic, you would think it was a real fire.
Installation
It is important that the installer of your fireplace is HETAS and Gas Safe registered, so they to comply with all the current building regulations. The Fireplace & Plaster Centre offers a fully registered and professional in-house installation service and flue lining, so it couldn’t be easier to transform your room.
FIREPLACES & STOVES efficient domestic appliance repairs 01508 494639 / 07968 074759 / 01603 740319
norfolkappliances@hotmail.co.uk
A warm welcome awaits you... ...at our superb showroom. Extensive range of Fireplaces in a choice of Stone, Marble, Timber & Cast Iron Wide range of Gas Fires, Electric Fires & Multi-Fuel Stoves all on display
Full professional installation service available by HETAS and GAS SAFE Engineers
FIREPLACE & PLASTER CENTRE Unit 15 Saint Helens Way, Fison Way Industrial Estate, Thetford, IP24 1HG
TEL: 01842 766999
Open Mon - Fri 9am-5pm Sat 9am - 4pm www.fireplaceandplastercentre.co.uk
33
Home & Garden
Your local manufactures & installers of PVCu windows, doors & conservatories Purchase direct and save £££’s No Deposit Required 10 Year Guarantee
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TEL: 01603 811772 FAX: 01603 810000
ADDRESS: Unit 2, Ketteringham Industrial Estate, Station Lane, Hethersett, Norwich NR9 3AZ
Film reviews
This issue we bring you all the glitz and glamour of the twenties, our new favourite comic book hero and the latest intergalactic adventure!
Iron Man 3
I know, a comic book movie. But following the worldwide success of Marvel’s The Avengers last summer (which was the third highest grossing film of all time after Titanic and Avatar), Iron Man’s profile has only got bigger and better. The success of the film character is down to many things - easy to say the splendid action and special effects, but it’s really the character’s humour and humanity and Robert Downey Jr’s wit and charm. If you only follow one comic book series, it should be Iron Man. This one is written and directed by Shane Black, creator of the Lethal Weapon films, and much admired by film geeks. So the signs are good.
Release: 26 April See it if you liked: Iron Man (2008), Iron Man 2 (2010), The Avengers (2012)
Star Trek Into Darkness
After JJ Abrams masterful reboot of the Star Trek franchise in 2009 a lot of previously sceptical people found themselves enjoying the Star Trek universe. Trekkies felt due honour had been done to the franchise’s history and ethos. So hopes are high for the second film (well, Star Trek 12 if you are counting, though that would be like calling Skyfall “Dr No 23”). It looks magnificent, shot in genuine 3D (rather than one of those horrible retro-fitted jobs), and, as we know, the strength of the characters will give plenty of opportunity for drama and humour. Release: 17 May See it if you liked: Star Trek (2009), Tron Legacy (2010), John Carter (2012)
The Great Gatsby Baz Luhrmann’s brave remake of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic story. Why brave? Well the first film was written by Francis Ford Coppola at the height of his seventies powers. And as the reunited lovers it starred Robert Redford at his peak and a luminescent Mia Farrow. Stepping in this time are Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan. Will they carry us with them, or will Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge style swamp them and the story? Is this a remake too far? Well, as Gatsby himself says: “You can’t repeat the past? Why, of course you can!” Release: 17 May See it if you liked: The Great Gatsby (1974), Moulin Rouge (2001), Bright Young Things (2003)
35
Home & Garden
Wet Rooms • Free Survey • Adaptions • Fully Insured • Extensions • Local Authority approved • Alterations for disability grants For further details contact us today
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Private & Commercial Work
OSBORN & KENT CONSTRUCTION LTD CONSTRUCTING THE FUTURE
New Builds Extensions Walls/Garages/ Porches Repairs
BRICKLAYING CONTRACTORS/ BUILDING SERVICES WWW.OSBORNKENTCONSTRUCTION.CO.UK 9 Pightle Close, Mulbarton, Norwich, Norfolk, NR14 8GJ tel/fax 01508 571051 email: osbornkent@btinternet.com
36
Home & Garden
Visit our Wymondham Showroom
New
Showroom Now Open 17 Victoria Road Diss (next to Merelander Garage)
at Unit 25, Penfold Drive (behind the Police HQ)
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37
Home & Garden
Visit Norfolk’s Finest Bathroom & Kitchen Centre Call in now for your free home design service on all kitchens and bathrooms
Open Times: Mon - Fri 9.00 - 5.00 Sat: 9.30 - 1.00 T: 01953 600660
Bathrooms & Kitchens
10 Chestnut Dr. Wymondham Business Park (Nr. Fire Stn off London Rd) Wymondham, Norfolk NR18 9SB
www.supremebathroomcentre.co.uk
Imagine having a remote control that controls your whole home…
… the possibilities are endless
andrew p r love architecture . design . planning wymondham road cherry tree farm bunwell norfolk nr16 1nb
we install
whole home automation • home cinemas multi room audio / av • lighting control
and much much more
planning applications & building regulations submissions alteration works, extensions & conversions architectural design consultation & drawings specialist in listed buildings & conservation work site supervision & management excellent local knowledge and contacts domestic & commercial projects
South Norfolk Design Award winner 2011 for innovative and ecologically aware architecture please contact us on
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38
t: 01953 789911 m: 07771 855225 e: a.love@btconnect.com
REFRESHING WATERS
Village Shepherd Reaches a World-Wide Audience 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
R
ev Janice Scott, a retired minister and one of the first Anglican women priests in the country, is a prolific writer. Through various websites, novels and a host of children’s stories and sermons, her work is available in book form and on the internet, as the ‘Village Shepherd.’ It goes a long way to putting the gospel into the hands of thousands worldwide and her fiction is proving a gentle, absorbing way to share her faith message with many. Yet all this would have seemed unlikely a few decades ago when the mother of three, who had sat in the pews since she was a small girl, had a crisis of faith. “I remember being asked to write down what God meant to me during a Lent course and I suddenly drew a blank.” The former physiotherapist, who had helped at the London Mission, and moved to Fakenham to setup a health business with her husband, walked away from church as her faith was lost in an instant.
“I realised I did not have any evidence of a personal understanding of God’s love but for the first time I felt marvellous and was able to be myself”
It took soul searching and communication, through a new spiritual realisation, before her belief was restored. It came when she recognised her huge, unlocked potential could be given to God, the one that lived within her, for it to be outworked. “That realisation brought into focus all sorts of richness,” she recalls. It included a call to the priesthood that she initially tried to ignore. But in 1985 Janice began studying theology and her writing began in earnest. “I had always loved to write; together with sport it was the only thing I could do at school and some ten years before I had won a writing competition.” The essays for her training easily flowed. As a curate in Fakenham and later Eaton, near Norwich, her sermons continued to outpour. Her writing gained momentum when she took over a rural benefice in South Norfolk for ten years. Children’s stories, with a simple gospel truth, were unleashed. Her first volume, which will also strike a chord with adults, has since hit the bookstalls and two subsequent ones are due for release. “They are an ideal resource for school assemblies,” says Janice. With a hotchpotch of characters and talking animals they also help address the problems that children
face today including bullying,” she explains. Having retired Janice has put the pen to work again, writing about the ups-and-downs of parish life. Her latest fiction, including Heaven Spent and Babes and Suckling, is set in a rural Norfolk benefice. Janice reflects on her real-life adventures as a minister in a country benefice. “I learnt so much from the people there and the collaborative work of encouraging their talents that included joining six churches within two small benefices together for increased unity and strength.” www. janice-scott.com
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Travellers’ Tales
In the first of a series of five articles, Sarah Doig follows in the footsteps of William Camden, the first “travel writer” of the modern age to visit East Anglia.
W
illiam Camden wrote the first known geographical and historical survey of Great Britain and Ireland which was published in 1586 under the title “Britannia”. He lived in a great age of exploration and adventure: Sir Walter Rayleigh and Sir Francis Drake both found favour with Queen Elizabeth I for their discoveries on foreign shores. And the first accurate maps of the world were being drawn up. Camden, however, was not an adventurer, but an academic who confined himself to touring the British Isles. He visited East Anglia in 1578; the same year that the Queen herself made an eleven-week summer progress from London to Norwich and back. Of course, Queen Elizabeth didn’t write her own account of the tour. She had other chroniclers such as Thomas Churchyard to do that. His account highlights the age-old rivalry between two counties:
“Before her Highness passed to Norfolk, there was in Suffolk such sumptuous feasting and banquets, as seldom in any part of the world hath been seen before... The Norfolk gentlemen hearing how dutifully their neighbours had received the Prince, prepared in like sort to show themselves dutiful. And so in most gallantest manner assembled and set forward with five and twenty hundred horsemen...” Turning to William Camden’s “Britannia”, this provides us with a fascinating insight into the counties, towns and villages through the eyes of an Elizabethan gentleman.
Elizabeth I
This is how Suffolk is described: “A large country it is, and full of havens, of a fat and fertile soile (unlesse it be Eastward), being compounded (as it is)
of clay and marle: by meanes whereof there are in every place most rich and goodly corne fields, with pastures as battable [useful] for grazing and feeding of cattell. And great store of cheeses are there made, which to the great commodity of the inhabitants are vented William Camden into all parts of England, nay in to Germanie, France, and Spain also...” I find it interesting that, in this account written over 400 years ago, the agricultural Suffolk of the 21st century is recognisable. However some of the great country estates such as Sir Nicholas Bacon’s Redgrave Park and Brome Hall, then the seat of the Cornwallis family, have disappeared. Nevertheless, Suffolk is still endowed with many fine country houses as well as plenty of deer and pheasants. The picture of Norfolk which William Camden paints is also very familiar: “It is a region large and spatious, and in maner all throughout a plaine champion [flatland], unlesse it be where there rise gently some prety hils, passing rich, exceeding full of sheepe and stored with conies [rabbits], replenished likewise with a great number of populous villages. For beside XXVII mercate [market] townes, it is able to shew villages and country townes 625. Watered with divers [many] rivers and brooks, and not altogether destitute of woods. The soile, according to the variety of places, is of a divers nature: somewhere fat, ranke, and full of moisture...; otherwise, but Westward especially, leane, light, and sandy; elsewhere standing upon clay and chalke.” Camden was not the only traveller over the centuries to remark on the numerous towns and villages in the county: something we take for granted but to an outsider must seem curious if you stop and compare Norfolk with other large counties in England.
Sarah Doig offers a family, house & local history research service (www.ancestral-heritage.co.uk). In the next issue, Sarah looks at the account written by Celia Fiennes of her travels around Britain on horseback in the 1690s.
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3 Of The Best...Cookbooks
In her first book review column for Village People, Hannah Goring explores the culinary collections on offer from three talented female foodies.
Gizzi’s Kitchen Magic
by Gizzi Erskine With Gizzi’s Kitchen Magic, the fabulously fashionable Gizzi Erskine has written a cookery book ideal for beginners or for those of us wanting to brush up on our basic cooking techniques. Apart from all the scrumptious sounding recipes such as Sticky Thai Chicken and Mango Salad and White Chocolate and Honeycomb Cheesecake, the book is divided up into useful sections, each tackling a particular group of foods. All chapters begin with a ‘Tips and Tricks’ page, with cooking techniques and advice such as how to perfectly poach an egg or how to line a tart tin with pastry.
Monica’s Kitchen
by Monica Galetti Fresh from the kitchens of La Gavroche and MasterChef: The Professionals, Monica Galetti treats us to a collection of delicious recipes that show us how to create great food at home without being a professional chef. The book delights us with top quality meals that are quick and easy to cook when you get home from work, meals that are ideal to make at the weekend and simple meals that look like they are from a restaurant kitchen for when you are entertaining dinner guests. There are also exotic recipes inspired by Monica’s Samoan roots. I for one will be trying out the Spatchcocked Poussin with
Too busy?
Honey and Pimento Glaze followed by Roasted Peaches with Brioche Croutons and Pistachios. Yum!
From Season to Season:
A Year in Recipes by Sophie Dahl A beautiful book full of rustic charm and stunning photography peppered throughout with Sophie’s anecdotes and illustrations. As the title suggests, we are taken through the year with recipes for breakfast, lunch and supper using seasonal ingredients. Sophie doesn’t claim to be a skilled cook, just a lover of good, honest food and so the recipes are achievable and delicious.
FORMALLY DENNIS EAGLEN
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Make Your Own Shabby Chic Gingham Garland What to do… 3. Cut your chosen material into strips of 2cm by 10cm.You will need approximately 300 strips per metre of garland/twine. Cut up half your material to start, just in case you need less than you think. I have chosen a red gingham to coincide with the ‘St. George’s Day’ celebrations.
1. Loop one end of your twine and tie into a knot. 4. Now proceed to tie your strips onto the twine as shown. 5. Once you have a few strips tied onto your twine, push them together towards the end, leaving enough twine on show for your desired look. 6. Continue with steps four and five until your garland is complete. Enjoy your homemade, shabby chic garland.
2. Repeat at the other end so you have loops to hang your garland from. You will need… Garden twine (enough for your chosen project) Scissors Material (approx. 1 metre of fabric per metre of garland)
Caroline Fraser runs the Crafty Ladies of Wymondham. Find them on Facebook and Twitter if you would like to meet fellow crafters! With thanks to www.myhillspetandgarden.co.uk and www.needlecraftwymondham.co.uk
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The army of servants for a grand estate such as Holkham Hall was essential, but all too often overlooked and undervalued. Who were they? Where did they come from? What did they earn, eat and wear? From a wonderful series of household accounts these questions and more are answered. In doing so she paints a Frith-like picture of the Coke family from 1697 to1842. In this book the servants, from the steward to the scullery maid, take centre stage.
Wealthy Masters “provident and kind” Mary-Anne Garry Larks Press Paperback 9781904006640 £17.50
This is a fascinating and deeply moving account of Pat’s work in India over the past two decades. She tells of her experiences inside some of India’s very worst slums and of the difference she and her supporters have been able to make to the lives of the Dalits or “untouchables”. This is one of those rare books that might just change the way we view these people who can become an amorphous group, rather than individuals with hopes and fears like all of us.
BOOKS
Touched By Untouchables Pat Atkinson
Connaught Books Paperback 9780955745423 £8.50
This book spans the years from a record lamb sale in 1899, when 19,430 sheep were sold, until the outbreak of the Second World War. David draws on more than 400 photographs, colour images from pupil’s autograph books and school certificates from the First World War, to name just a few items from local people, as well as their memories.
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Harling Memories David O’Neale
Taverner Publications Large Paperback 9781901470208 £16.50
Maritime Norfolk
Robert Malster Poppyland Publishing Large Paperback 9780946148974 £19.95
V
iew your region from a different
perspective with this fascinating selection of local titles from Roy Futter of Jarrolds Book Department.
Winifred Challis (1896-1990) worked for the Public Assistance Committee and kept a diary for the social research organisation Mass Observation. For several months in 1942-43 she wrote at length about the wartime scene – rationing, the often bleak texture of everyday life, the sometimes disconcerting presence of outsiders in Bury St Edmunds. Her diaries provide an unusual insight into the social and political attitudes of herself and others and a fascinating record of a critical period in Suffolk’s history.
In the first part of a two volume publication, life is recalled on the Norfolk coastline from the Wash in the west to Caister in the east, with a second volume needed for Great Yarmouth. From journeys on Lynn shrimpers and North Sea drifters, from friendships with longshore fishermen and stalwarts of the lifeboat service, Robert has recorded many aspects of East Anglia’s maritime heritage. Also included is a section on the Broadland waterways, linking maritime activity to the trade inland.
The Cultural Heritage of Coastal Suffolk Peter Willsher
Courtyard Publications Paperback 9780954099138 £17.99
An intriguing account of what has attracted musicians, artist and writers and people of the theatre to the delights of coastal Suffolk over the last 200 years. Inspiration has been drawn from the constantly changing North Sea, the generously proportioned skies, vast areas of serene marshes and abundant wildlife. Benjamin Britten, Yehudi Menuhin, EM Forster, WH Auden – all found inspiration here, whilst Jill Freud’s summer theatre continues to thrive.
Wartime in West Suffolk The Diary of Winifred Challis
Edited by Robert Malcolmson & Peter Searby Boydell Press Hardback 9781843837022 £9.99
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Ancient Oriental Astrology
FOR A MODERN LIFE Hello again! I hope you found my last article informative. Below is your 9 Star Ki forecast for April and May.
9 Fire Star Like a snake shedding its skin, April is a time of rebirth and reinvention. Breaking old unwanted habits can be hard, but by staying grounded and allowing changes one can fully develop into something new. May consolidates those changes giving you focus to carry out and put in to action. 8 Earth Star You
may feel unusually sensitive at this time, and your normally stable energy can become unsettled and spread out. Take a moment to recap on your goals, breathe deeply and continue on your path. May could hold many opportunities; it’s best to stay still and let things come to you, at this time.
7 Metal Star There’s no stopping you now, and if there is - ignore it! This is a perfect time to start a new job or give birth to a project! As energetic and full throttle as you may feel, take into account those that aren’t, as they could find your impetuous and impulsive nature hard to deal with. Keep it real. 6 Metal Star Although you are keen to make a head
start on things, April is about readiness and giving yourself a clean slate. It’s a great time to give family issues that have been bothering you some deserved attention. Don’t be frustrated if things are not progressing; leave those impulses for May, when things really get going.
5 Earth Star You may feel a little isolated and left out in April, as you enter a metaphorical mid-winter. Use this time to delve inwards, to develop your spiritual interests and to learn to love yourself. Like a seed waiting for spring, plan and prepare for the path you want to take. Make adjustments and stay warm! 4 Wood Star
April puts the spotlight on you, as you get more attention from others than normal, a great time to put in for a pay-rise or promotion or for that romantic meal for two. You will have a clear head and infectious nature at this time, whereas May brings a more spiritual and slower chi, ideal for self-development.
3 Wood Star With great effort and passion come great rewards. Don’t hide away and turn your back on change, embrace it with open arms and you may just find that in doing so, the mountain that faces you dwindles into the size of a small
hill. Climb it and see with a whole new perspective.
2 Earth Star With all the recent pressures and demands, you can now enjoy a time of relaxation and reflection. This can be a productive time too, but you may be more tempted to spend than earn, watch those purse strings. May brings a chi for studying and inner development.
1 Water Star
This is a great time to make important and necessary decisions, as you’re feeling stronger and more stable than in previous months. Others will look upon your renewed strength and authority for guidance and reassurance. Be fair and just, not judgemental and over opinionated.
To discover your Ki Star and for more information about Ki Astrology please visit www.freeflow-fengshui.com David Walters DIP. CHIRO Follow me on:
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Q: A:
Health Q&A
Ever since I can remember I have always suffered from hay fever. Are there any natural remedies you would suggest? “You’re not alone! For nearly 15% of the population, spring and summer are not just about warmer weather, but also the unpleasant symptoms of hay fever. Hay fever is usually an allergy to pollen released by grasses, flowers and trees in spring and summer. Taking a Homeopathic Mixed Pollen daily will greatly increase your resistance to these pollens. As with all homeopathic remedies these are completely safe for the very young to the very mature and are easy to take – just allow the remedy to dissolve in the mouth – children love taking homeopathic remedies! As far as diet is concerned, try to avoid all dairy foods and reduce the amount of wheat that you consume as these two foods act to increase the amount of mucus congestion in the body. Luffa Complex from Bioforce is a combination of seven tropical plants. Together these plants work to reduce irritation and inflammation of the eyes, nose, throat and airways”.
Do less and achieve more! Kevin Ivins has been a member at Fit Club Wymondham since September 2009 where he has continually pursued a leaner, fitter body. In the last 8 weeks he has achieved more fat loss than he had done in the entire previous 3 years and 3 months. So what has changed? He has started instructor led sessions, which are dedicated to short, intense, burst training principles. Now, he has halved the time he spends in the gym and has achieved the most he ever has done.
In good
HEALTH
Thanks to Trish Stephenson at the Natural Food Store in Exchange Street Norwich. www.shop-naturally.com
Fire Up Your Metabolism Have you ever wondered how some people are able to munch down a large bag of crisps and don’t seem to put an ounce on, while others only need to look at a packet and seem to pile on the weight? Mick Glynn from MG Fitness Studio says, “There is still a lot we can do to help improve our calorie burning efficiency”. With each passing decade, your metabolism slows down by about 5%. Hormones are partly to blame, but so is the typical drop-off in physical activity. As a result you lose
All the science points at high intensity training to achieve a leaner, healthier, fitter body and Kevin is a real life example of this. Get on board with the Group Training membership at Fit Club Wymondham. www.fitclubwymondham.co.uk
muscle mass, a major calorie burner. Based on this figure by the time you reach 35, you’ll burn about 75 fewer calories per day than you did when you were 25 and by the time your 65 you’ll burn around 500 fewer. To maintain or build bigger muscle no matter what age swap long hours of cardio for shorter and more intense workouts. Circuit training, using weighted exercise or Tabata with short rest periods between exercises are great methods of speeding up your metabolism. If you would like more information on personal training, exercise classes or gym membership, visit www.mgfitnessstudio.co.uk
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Health & Beauty
NORFOLK DIABETES
NORFOLK DIABETES PREVENTION STUDY (NDPS) ARE YOU AT RISK OF TYPE 2 DIABETES? ARE YOU MORE THAN 40 YEARS OLD WITH ONE OF THE FOLLOWING • • •
Type 2 Diabetes in a close family member Overweight with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or over (you can check your BMI at our website www.norfolkdiabetespreventionstudy.nhs.uk ) Your GP has told you that your blood sugar is higher than it should be
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE CHECKED FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES RISK We are currently screening for this study at the following sites • University of East Anglia, Norwich • Cromer District Hospital, Cromer • James Paget University Hospital, Great Yarmouth • Rosedale Surgery, Lowestoft • Healthy Living Centre, Thetford • St James Clinic, Kings Lynn
IF YOU ARE AT INCREASED RISK, YOU MAY BE SUITABLE TO JOIN THE NORFOLK DIABETES PREVENTION STUDY If you are interested, you can get more information and book a screening appointment by calling us on 01603 597300 or through our website
www.norfolkdiabetespreventionstudy.nhs.uk
Find out more at www.norfolkdiabetespreventionstudy.nhs.uk Chief Investigator – Professor Mike Sampson Programme Manager & Senior Researcher – Dr Melanie Dunk Sponsor – Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Funders – National Institute for Health Research
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5000 Volunteers Help to Prevent Diabetes
The Norfolk Diabetes Prevention Study (NDPS) aims to screen 10,000 volunteers over two years. Those found to be at risk of developing the disease may then be invited to take part in a three-year intervention programme involving increased activity levels, diet, weight loss and a personal mentor programme.
Mrs Harriet Redmayne, from Barney near Fakenham, volunteered to be screened after receiving a letter via her GP. “My blood results turned out to be fine but it did make me
think about whether I could be at risk,” she commented. “I agreed to join the NDPS participant advisory board to give feedback on the programme – if my experience can help others then I’m happy to help in any way I can.”
Programme manager Dr Melanie Dunk said: “We are looking forward to welcoming our 5,000th volunteer and we are grateful to everyone who has helped us to reach this milestone. However, we have some way to go to meet our target of 10,000 and we hope people will come forward if they meet the criteria. “Many of those we screen are found to have completely normal blood sugar levels but for numerous people at higher risk, this programme could be extremely valuable.
your career opportunity to gain a professional qualification via convenient weekend study
“We are enlisting the help of Norfolk and Suffolk GPs and pharmacists to identify patients who may be at risk so we can write to them and invite them for screening. We have screening sites throughout Norfolk and Suffolk.” If you are interested in participating in the programme you can register online at www.norfolkdiabetes preventionstudy.nhs.uk or call 01603 597300 for an initial assessment.
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Maximising income opportunities
I
FROM YOUR INVESTMENTS
ncome is important, even more so in today’s difficult economic climate. The difficulty is, that in an uncertain world, investment income is hard to find right now.
It is harder to profit from investments Investors looking for income have faced great challenges since the beginnings of the financial downturn in 2008. Dividends came under pressure, bond markets were unnerved and commercial property fell from grace. In short, there are currently few places for income-seekers to turn. Shares are a safer bet History shows that investing in equities, or shares, has provided investors with a better chance of outpacing inflation over the long term versus other asset classes, particularly if the companies are able to increase the dividend payments year after year. The latest data from Capita Registrars Dividend Monitor, July 2011, shows that a total of 247 companies paid a dividend in the second quarter of 2011, compared to 221 in the same period of 2010. Of these, 210 companies increased, reinstated or started paying dividends. The increases and reinstatements outnumber the cuts and cancellations by 6.5:1. With dividend payouts on the turn, the outlook for equity income funds could also be on the up. Equity income funds have a strong track record for delivering attractive, sustainable income and steady returns over the long term. Many equity income funds were heavily exposed to the big banks, but the banks’ obligations to rebuild their balance sheets meant their dividend distributions were reduced. Payouts are still lower than they used to be; UK listed banks account for just 10% of all dividends paid by FTSE100 companies in 2010 compared to 30% in 2007. Choose what sort of income you need There has been a new increase in the demand for overseas equity income funds, following improvements in the dividend yield of companies across Continental Europe and Asia-Pacific, as they have moved to accommodate the demands of a global shareholder base. Corporate bond funds, income producers by nature,
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remain popular, particularly with cautious investors. However, choosing which bond fund to invest in is less clear-cut. Investment grade corporate bonds suffer at times of inflation (as the fixed interest rate means that the real value of the income is eroded over time), while noninvestment-grade bonds, which pay a higher yield, tend to struggle during a recession (as more companies default). Commercial property is also beginning to regain attention after it felt the full effects of the credit crunch - the fall in property values left investors nursing significant losses. History suggests, however, that commercial property will keep its place in a portfolio for income investors. Its long-term track record is strong and it offers important diversification from shares. Exercise Caution Commercial property, like other investments, is not without its risks. Property prices rose by 14.5% over 2010, but most of those gains were made in the first half of the year. If the UK economy does fall back into recession, the property sector could come under pressure again. Those investing for income need to remember that no one asset class is the panacea. With interest rates likely to remain low for some time to come, a well diversified, well-managed portfolio which blends different forms of investment remains the most suitable strategy for investors taking a longer-term view of their income needs.
No-obligation, FREE Investments and Pensions Review For a limited time only we’re offering free of charge an Investment and Pension Review. So, if you’d like to make sure you’re getting the most from your existing investments or you’d like to discuss what other options are available to you, contact Ian Farrant of Anglian Wealth Management on
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Smart Money Secrets Want to know the cheapest ways to finance your 2013 DIY projects?
W
Andrew Hagger Money expert from www.moneycomms.co.uk
ith the worst of the winter weather behind us, it’s that time of year when many of us start thinking of those home improvement plans and DIY projects for the coming year.
Not everyone’s lucky enough to have cash in the bank to pay for that kitchen makeover, revamp of the bathroom or new extension, so picking the right finance is important if you’re looking to keep the costs under control. It’s important to do your homework before signing on the dotted line for a loan or credit card as making the wrong choice can end up costing you a lot more than it ought to. There are plenty of options when it comes to borrowing the money you need, but don’t fall into the trap of assuming that taking a loan from your own high street bank is the best way to go. If you’re looking to borrow £7,500 or more then yes, the banks are keen for your business and are offering some very low rates at the moment, including Tesco Bank at 5.2% APR, one of the cheapest rates seen for over five years. However if you only need two or three thousand pounds towards the cost of your home improvements, this is where the banks are much more expensive.
If you wanted to borrow £3,000, the average personal loan rate is a whopping 16% APR with some banks such as Halifax charging as much as 29.9% APR, so you can see that it makes sense to shop around to avoid being ripped off. If you’re comfortable that you can afford to repay what you need to borrow within 12 months or just over, it’s worth considering a credit card offering a promotional interest free deal on purchases. The best buy latest credit cards from Tesco Bank and M&S Bank are worth a look, giving you 16 months and 15 months respectively to repay your borrowing without charging you a single penny in interest. If you’re not sure you can manage to repay within that sort of timescale but still want a very affordable option, another smart choice is the Rate for Life credit card from MBNA. This credit card charges a low rate of interest fixed at just 5.9% APR for as long as it takes you to repay your borrowing. There is a one off money transfer fee to pay of 1.5% of the amount borrowed, but unlike the vast majority of credit cards, this plastic enables you to transfer money into your bank account, so gives you much more flexibility. Just as you spend hours thumbing through brochures and checking
out websites to ensure you get that perfect new look for your home, it’s equally as important to compare what’s on offer when it comes to sorting out the money stuff. So while you’re on the lookout for those new kitchen cupboards or getting a quote to have the garden landscaped, don’t forget to check out the specialist personal finance websites too. Sites such as www.moneynet.co.uk or www.money.co.uk will point you in the right direction for the latest low cost credit card and personal loan options.
Taking an expensive loan from your bank may well be something you later regret, so, don’t leave your choice of finance to chance.
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Services
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CAR REVIEWS New BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe
By Tim Barnes-Clay, Motoring Journalist Twitter@carwriteups - www.carwriteups.co.uk
F
ollowing the convertible and the Coupe in the BMW 6 Series, the Gran Coupe is the true embodiment of aesthetics, sportiness, comfort and luxury.
.
The lean elegance of this vehicle, the very first four-door Coupe in the history of BMW, is an exceptional phenomenon. The low and graceful lines are impressive, but especially so when looking at the car’s side profile. The recessed passenger compartment appears low and smoothly stretched because the window silhouette extends deep into the C pillar. The frameless door windows are also a design element indicative of a muscular Coupe. Inside, the distinctive character of BMW is unmistakable. The cabin is sophisticated and wellappointed with leather upholstery and electrically operated seats. Roominess for rear passenger contentment is remarkable and folding rear seatbacks, as well as an auxiliary third seat, are among the design features that contribute to the car’s versatility. Driving dynamics, effortless performance and efficiency are the hallmarks of the TwinPower Turbo engines available for the big BMW. The 650i I drove is the
first model offered with a new and more efficient V8 engine that delivers impressive shove: 0 to 62 mph comes in just 4.6 seconds. This lump, just like the six-cylinder power units in the 640i Gran Coupe and the 640d Gran Coupe, is offered in conjunction with a creamy smooth eight-speed Sport automatic transmission and proven BMW EfficientDynamics technology. Safety features include front airbags, side airbags integrated into the seatbacks, head airbags for front and rear seats, three-point automatic seatbelts for all seats, belt force limiters and seatbelt tensioners at the front, as well as ISOFIX child seat fasteners at the rear. What’s more, intelligent lightweight construction reduces the vehicle weight, and the doors and bonnet are made of aluminium. The front side walls consist of thermoplastic material, while the boot lid is made of fibreglass composites. The wide range of optional equipment available is also impressive: adaptive LED headlights
and a Bang & Olufsen High-End Surround Sound System are just a couple of examples of what you can add to the car. And then, of course, there is always the legendary M Sports package. Optional extras on a BMW look and feel great, but there’s always a downside – they tend to make the total price of the car eye-wateringly high. But, if you’re a BMW fan, and you have the cash to splash, then this won’t put you off the 6 Series Gran Coupe – it’s one of the best four door coupes on the market today. PROS ‘N’ CONS Good looking √ Luxurious √ Fast √ Safe √ Spacious √ On the pricey side X FAST FACTS Max speed: 155 mph 0-62 mph: 4.6 secs Combined mpg: 31.7 Engine: 4395 cc V8 32 valve petrol Max. power (bhp): 450 at 5500-6000 rpm Max. torque (lb/ft): 479 at 2000-4500 rpm CO2: 206 g/km Price: £70,650 on the road
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Local Directory:
Getting Your Business Noticed Architecture N J Myhill Architecture 32 Andrew P R Love Architecture 38 Bathrooms Clark Build 36 Supreme Bathrooms and Kitchens 38 Boat Covers Classic Covers 32 Building and Roofing A & R Construction 32 Clark Build 36 Osborn and Kent Construction Ltd 36 Kevin George Building Services 40 PAC Roofing 40 Peter Cole General Builder 42 Ivan Hurren 43 F & A Builders Ltd 60 Cooks Building Services Ltd 60 Care and Mobility Prestige Nursing 58 Mobility Superstore Ltd 59 Hales Group Health and Social Care 59 Carpenters Gary’s Carpentry and Joinery 40 Ivan Hurren 43 Computers and Web Design Philippa Green Web Design 56 Bailiwick IT 56 Teknik Computers 56 Cleaning Home-maid 3 Ovenclean 43 Craft The Sewing Box 44 Finely Finished 50 Days Out Forestry Commission Live 8 Wymondham Music Festival 8 Cliff Richard Concert 12 5 Star Taxis 58 Dentists Mulbarton Denture Clinic 50 Driving Teachers John Cooper Driving Tuition 10 Electricians Red Hill Electrial Services 19
ICD Commercial and Domestic Electrics 19
Harrold Electrical Ashley’s Electrical Services Estate Agents and Property Gilson Bailey & Partners House Revolution Financial Services Anglian Wealth Management
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ASP Wills Food Veggie Berry Bakery Norfolk Veg Box Riverford Organic Farms Church Farm Shop Fuel C L Fielder Logs Rix Funerals R B Copping Funeral Service Garages and Motor Repairs Highfield Garage C J’s Garden Machinery
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Money and Mortgage Solutions 56
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Norfolk Diabetes Prevention Study 52
Jobs Domestic Cleaning Vacancies 54 Key Education Services 56 Kitchens Supreme Bathrooms and Kitchens 38 Dream Doors 64 Painters and Decorators Decorumm 32 Chris Bell-Tye Plastering Services 40 Get Plastered 40 Steve Crowland 42 Ivan Hurren 43
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