YLM December 2015 | #66 by Circuit Media (P&L) Ltd

YOUR lIFESTYlE MAGAZINE

IL PANTO ITALIANO

loving life in Norfolk & Suffolk

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“One One can never have enough socks. Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn’t get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books.”

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PUBLISHER Wendy Aiken wendy@ylm.co.uk CREATIVE & EDITORAL Ben Aiken ben@ylm.co.uk ACCOUNTS Janet Fairweather janet@ylm.co.uk DISTRIBUTION Dayburst Couriers 07810 852 089 dayburst@diss.co.uk Contributors Bridget McIntyre Amanda Church Joan Garnham Gabi Reid Geraldine Walters Louise Priest Mark Aiken Phil Burton Jan Major Sue Johnson SUBSCRIPTIONS Enquiries to info@ylm.co.uk using the word ‘Subscribe’

Welcome 7

FESTIVE ON THE FARM

You can’t fight the Christmas spirit... or can you?

Il Panto Italiano

Memories of Christmas magic

Disclaimer: The views expressed by the contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Every effort is taken to ensure that the contents of the magazine are accurate but the publisher can not assume responsibility for errors or omissions. Whilst reasonable care is taken when accepting advertisements the publisher will not accept any resulting unsatisfactory transactions. They will, however, immediately investigate any written complaints. © Circuit Media (P&L) Ltd, 2015

YLM | your lifestyle magazine

HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

Interior decor inspiration from the far north

What Christmas means to me

deck the halls

Gabriel’s Garden provides plenty of festive cheer

Actor-manager John Rich created the mischievous magician Arlecchino, Harlequin, the star of what he called ‘pantomimes’ (meaning ‘all kinds of mime’)

YLM is Published by Circuit Media (P&L) Ltd.

WINTER WONDERLAND

Getting your home ready for the festive season

ROSEDALE REMEMBERS

At a time when loss can be most heartfelt

BORN & BRED

Chris from C.J. Barker Butchers is keeping it local

ULTRA EXPANSION

Scultura Clinic is growing

Contents

Who is the Fairest of them All?

Why being pale and interesting is the best choice for winter skin

A LITTLE SPARKLE

Glitz and glamour makeup for the festive season

HELPING HANDS

The in’s and out’s of Lasting Power of Attorney

HOORAH!

You don’t have to wait for the new year to change your life

WELCOME

THE GIFT OF lIFE

AWAY IN A dANGER

As Britons’ plan to spend £868 on christmas in 2015, will we remember what matters the most?

RETURN TO THE ClASSICS

The girl stood to her feet and as the pianist hammered out the introduction she turned her attention to the rest of the room and began...

We’re coming over all nostalgic with our gifts this year

BooK clUB

All WRAPPEd UP

WHAT’S oN

DIRecToRY

Which winter coat is for you?

THE CHRISTMAS (BlACk)lIST

Which cars did not make it onto the wish list COVER

‘Contributors Christmas’ Wendy Aiken Photography

elcome to the December issue. oh my goodness, how is it December already? I am completely unorganised and unprepared for christmas. I’m guessing I need to make a plan, which to me means a list (I love a list!). The Ylm family of contributors had such a giggle having their photo taken for the front cover of this issue. Sadly not everyone could make it but those who could enjoyed a glass of bubbly and some yummy treats in front of a beautiful long burner and a stunning christmas tree. many thanks to Joan and Alan Garnham for inviting us into their home and Joan’s hard work decorating the tree and making her living room the perfect place for the shoot. We have got really into the christmas spirit here at Ylm, and so hopefully you will feel inspired and find some great ideas to make your christmas even more special. I was so spoilt by Rachel and Dionne of Defining Radiance this month for their awesome make up blog. When they asked if they could use me as their model I was so excited! The answer was yes, yes, yes!. The only problem being that I couldn’t see how was I going to take the photos when I was the wrong side of the camera! We managed to get around this problem, by me setting up the studio and camera and Rachel taking the shots. I think she did a fantastic job and it was so much fun.

I love being with Dionne and Rachel and having my makeup done by professional makeup artists. I felt like a million dollars. Ben has even used one of the images for my profile picture this month. I recently went to see the christmas show at Potters Resort and it was awesome! my lovely friend emma came with me and we enjoyed a fabulous evening of lush food, a few glasses of wine and then we sat down and watched the show. We loved it and then danced the night away before spending the night in a beautiful five-star hotel room, in the most comfortable bed ever. If you fancy getting into the christmas spirit I can highly recommend it. our accountant Janet is off to stay there soon and calls it her second home! Go on, treat yourself!. All of us at Ylm wish you a very merry christmas. We know it is such a special time of the year but also that for many people it can be a tough time. Please don’t suffer alone, reach out and let’s give a little more love, kindness and be good to each other. ● God bless you all, best wishes,

YoUR lIFeSTYle mAGAZINe for NoRFolK & SUFFolK

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Fighting the Christmas Spirit

o what do we have to look forward to this month? Ah yes, the shortest day of the year. The older I get, the more aware I am of the different seasons. They all have their good points in my opinion. Spring- the blossom, the smells of lilac and the days beginning to stretch out. Summer – the sun, very long days (well, sun if we are lucky, I do love being outside and in the sun). Then there’s Autumn- salads are replaced by roasts and casseroles and hearty puddings (in our house anyway) and defiantly keeping the heating off, even in those cooler evening moments. Winter-log fires, winter woollies, long walks and a generally cosy feeling. Yes, I am determined to remain positive during those cold, short days. I will have to re-read this column on the days when I am yearning for sun and warmth. What else in December? Advent of course and oh yes, Christmas. There, I have said it! The most irritating thing in my mind is how quickly the shops begin to show their Christmas wares. Almost as soon as father’s day is done, card shops have to, it seems focus on the next big event. I go through phases of loving Christmas, accepting Christmas and trying to fight it too. Each year I lose! When I was growing up each year we all went to my Uncle John’s farm in Warwickshire.

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It was great as there were six cousins at the farm, three boys and three girls. I was the third youngest of all over the Christmas period and treated as such! There was a routine each year, opening stocking,(well a golf sock of my father’s) which had magically appeared during the night, then breakfast, church, a big lunch, the Queen’s speech and finally at around 3.30pm, the real present opening time. I didn’t know any different, so accepted the eternal wait until I could open my presents. With so many of us, being handed one present at a time, the ritual seemed to go on for ever. Back to lunch, a grand affair with an enormous turkey, around thirty pounds if I remember rightly. By the time my Uncle had served everyone, I was ready for seconds before he even had a chance to sit down!

had outdoor kennels and were disciplined to an inch of their lives!) Anyway back to Salome, her basket was kept next to the freezer. One year my Aunt came down to put the turkey in the oven to find it had moved from its position on top of the freezer to Salome’s basket! The only damage : a missing parson’s nose! So did we all have bangers and mash instead that

it hook, line and sinker! (If you don’t know this game, google it!) I know Christmas is all about the children. They give it a magical quality although I did instil in my two the true story of what Christmas is all about (not just presents). I love cooking so I don’t find cooking the Christmas lunch daunting. However over the years I have, I am sure, given my children far too many presents and spent far too much on them (whatever happened to the stocking with just a satsuma, pair of socks, bath salts and chocolate money?) I often wonder what it would be like to run away for Christmas, bypassing it altogether. However with elderly parents now living nearby, I love spoiling them and my two, twenty something children still like the whole Christmas thing. In fact, despite not getting on too well,

“I go through phases of loving Christmas, accepting Christmas and trying to fight it too. Each year I lose!”

“F IONNDEI YT EHAARDMMYOAVUE ND TF RCOAMM EI TDSOPWONS ITTOI OPNU OT NT HT OE PT OU FR KTEHYE IFNR TE EHZEEORVTEON TTHOE D O G B A S K E T! ” One year the turkey was sitting on top of my Aunt’s freezer ahead of the 5am time when it had to be cajoled into the aga. My Uncle always had lots of dogs, mostly chocolate Labradors. One particular favourite was Salome, a lovely dog who bred many lovely puppies over the years. As she was my Uncle’s favourite she was allowed to sleep inside (the rest

year? Of course not. The turkey was given a good rinse before being cooked and it was only after lunch that we were all let in on the drama.Happy days! I am, after all, still alive to tell that doggy tale! My great Aunt and Uncle used to visit the farm too on Christmas day. So many games were played. My favourite was 'kiss the blarney stone', I fell for

the one night they always chose to share a room when they were growing up, was Christmas Eve. So how do I rate Christmas? Well I will never be able to escape it,so I suppose I grudgingly accept it. There is, afer all, the carol singing to look forward to!!

Words by louise Priest Broadcast Journalist

Happy Christmas reader!

BBc look east ●

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STORIES

“It’s that nostalgic familiarity that keeps theatres going for the rest of the year. We just love the great British tradition of panto, Except...”

IL PANTO ITALIANO The great British tradition... or is it?

Words by Geir madland

ack and the Beanstalk, Aladdin, Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Calamity Jane: all wonderful familiar tales being trotted out on theatre and village hall stages in our area this winter. Well, alright, Calamity Jane might not be quite such traditional fare as the others but there’s always room for newcomers. Whatever the title, we know what to expect: the dame (a man), the principal boy (a girl), a horse (actually two people), clowning about, rotten jokes, hearty renditions of pop hits and audience participation. It’s that nostalgic familiarity that has us coming back for more and keeps theatres going for the rest of the year. We just love the great British tradition of panto. Except it isn’t. British, that is. It’s Italian. Oh sì lo è!

Pantomime began as Commedia dell’arte, travelling Italian street theatre, which first came to Britain in the 16th century. Dance, music, tumbling, acrobatics and buffoonery were performed in fairgrounds and market places. Stock characters included the old man (Pantalone), naughty servants including Arlecchino, a lover, his lady and her servant girl (Columbine) who was in love with Arlecchino. There was also a clown or Pierrot character. Commedia became hugely successful in London’s Lincoln’s Inn Fields and Drury Lane, where actor-manager John Rich made the mischievous magician Arlecchino, Harlequin, the star of what he called ‘pantomimes’ (meaning ‘all kinds of mime’). For the next 150 years Harlequin remained the star and pantomime was dominated by the Harlequinade, a comic



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chase scene with mime, music, slapstick and tomfoolery. The Slapstick was a wooden bat with which Harlequin would hit the hinged scenery panels to make the scenes change. In Victorian times the Harlequinade died out and the pantomime stories we know now began to dominate, many rewritten by HJ.Byron and JR.Planché, who introduced puns and word plays. Pantomime became so popular that it would last all evening, sometimes as long as five hours. The shows were hugely elaborate spectacles with ornate scene changes, beautiful costumes and huge casts of up to 600. Pantomime also became associated with Christmas, especially Boxing Day, due to another origin in the mummers’ play, morality tales of good triumphing over evil. Dan Leno

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“ COMMEDIA BECAME

HUGELY SUCCESSFUL IN LONDON’S LINCOLN’S INN FIELDS AND DRURY LANE, WHERE ACTOR-MANAGER JOHN RICH MADE THE MISCHIEVOUS MAGICIAN ARLECCHINO, HARLEQUIN, THE STAR OF WHAT HE CALLED ‘PANTOMIMES’ (MEANING ‘ALL KINDS OF MIME’)”

STORIES

“In 1820 the clown Joseph Grimaldi played the Baron’s wife in an early version of Cinderella, introducing the bawdy and outrageously costumed panto dame. Other actors, like Johnny Fuller and Charles Lauri, specialised as panto animals: ‘skin parts’”

Charles Lauri as The French Poodle

The ancient midwinter celebrations of Twelfth Night and the Roman Saturnalia, when the natural order of things was turned upside down for the duration of the festivities, may also have contributed to the traditional cross-dressing and gender role reversals of pantomime. Famous music hall actors like Marie Lloyd and Dan Leno were the stars in Victorian times but the cast often included children, mostly from working class backgrounds, earning a useful wage for their long hours of performing, and children also began to make up much of the audience. In 1820 the clown Joseph Grimaldi played the Baron’s wife in an early version of Cinderella, introducing the bawdy and outrageously costumed panto dame. Other actors, like Johnny Fuller and Charles Lauri, specialised as panto animals:

‘skin parts’. A unique Norfolk connection to panto is the popular story Babes in the Wood, apparently the true story of young Thomas de Grey, sent away after his father’s death to visit his stepmother Temperance Carewe, whereupon he died and his uncle Robert claimed the lands and monies of Griston Hall. The ballad The Children

Joseph Grimaldi as ‘Clown’

in the Wood: or, the Norfolk Gentleman’s Last Will and Testament was first recorded in 1595. It tells of a wealthy widower from Watton in Norfolk, who left his two children in the care of his brother. The children’s uncle then plotted their deaths, employing two ne’erdo-wells to take the children into nearby Wayland Wood, which today stands alongside the A1075 East Dereham to Thetford road:

time eating wild berries, but eventually died and a robin redbreast covered their bodies with leaves. This act refers to an ancient superstition that robins never suffer a dead body to remain unburied.

“He bargained with two ruffians strong, Who were of furious mood, That they should take these children young And slaye them in a wood”

Ill fortune then dogged the children’s uncle, with the death of his own sons, the loss of his farm and animals, and finally his own death in jail. The remaining murderer was condemned to death after his arrest for highway robbery and his confession to his part in the children’s deaths. Griston Hall’s stone carvings tell the sorry tale. 

One of the ruffians took pity on the babes, and instead murdered his companion before making off, on the pretence he was going to search for food. The children survived for a

“In one another’s arms they died Awanting due relief: No burial this pretty pair Of any man receives, Till Robin redbreast piously Did cover them with leaves”

DECEMBER 2015

STORIES

Il Panto Italiano from page 19

Roy Hudd

This year, the Forum in Norwich has a free exhibition exploring the history of pantomime in Norfolk through the eyes of theatre-goers and performers from the county’s many annual productions: “Step into The Gallery to see a display of panto costumes, props and memorabilia. There are also films specially made at different theatres across Norfolk. If you fancy it, you can dress up in lavish costumes and have photos taken with other panto characters. You can even star in your own short panto sketch and film it to share with family and friends. We might even add it to our panto show reel!” The exhibition runs until January 9, 2016. The first pantomime performed at Norwich’s Theatre Royal was in 1774. In 1874 Tom Thumb and the Norfolk Giant premiered, probably based on the meeting of Robert Hales, a Great Yarmouth man who was 7ft 8ins tall, and Charles Stratton, who, at around 40 inches tall, was known as ‘General Tom Thumb’ and who appeared with him on an American tour.

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Roy Hudd, star of panto, Shakespeare, variety and Coronation Street, and resident of Stowmarket, has donated his vast archive of music hall memorabilia to Suffolk New College. Hudd has appeared in and written more than 30 pantos and received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of East Anglia in 2007. Last year he appeared on BBC’s Celebrity Mastermind, answering questions on Dan Leno in aid of Samaritans. Suffolk’s Dove Players came together in 2007 to enable local amateurs from Eye and the surrounding area to take part in drama productions. Part of their aim was to bring pantomime back to Eye and in January 2008 they put on their first production “The Three Musketeers’. This year Dove Players will be performing Calamity Jane: The Panto in Eye Community Centre on December 11th and 12th. Tickets are available from Mary Mills (01379 870455) and at the Eye Christmas Lights SwitchOn on 5th December... Oh yes they are! ●

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WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME

hyvää joulua

Geir Madland Writer christmas means two things to me: God and family. As in ‘oh God, we’ll have to invite the family!’ Not that I don’t love them dearly, of course, but I generally find an email and the occasional phone call prove perfectly adequate as far as maintaining relations with relations. But at christmas you have to invite them all, at once, and try to think of how to feed and entertain them, with their many peculiarities. Not to mention presents. I’m sure the best thing all round would be to buy a goat or something equally ethical, though then there’d be nothing to unwrap, and at least that procedure provides a brief pass-the-parcel distraction from the post-prandial pregnant pause of christmas Day pm. And it’ll probably rain. my eldest was given a sled two years ago and he’s still not had the chance to try it out. And my youngest will want to play carols on the piano. Don’t get me wrong, she’s improving each year, I just wish I could say the same about the singing. Hold on - it turns out my family aren’t coming after all but the in-laws definitely are. That’s alright then, they’re fine. Happy christmas!

WHAt

means to me... “full of love and happiness.”

WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME

_ Rachel Defining Radiance (pictured left) I remember as a child christmas being the most wonderful and special of times. It felt like forever for it to finally come around! I would go with my mum and Dad to the christmas eve service, with carols, candles and the story of Jesus it would be the time I felt christmas was finally here. The next morning at church all the children were allowed to take their most treasured gift, I remember mine being a small silvercross pram! Dinner would follow with my Grandparents and Auntie. one year when I was five she got into my wendy house that was a treat! It was a time full of love and happiness. Having now two children of my own I have seen the wonder and excitement through their eyes. From the decorating of the tree (which I have frequently tweaked!) to watching their faces open christmas gifts. It is magical. our favourite part of christmas is having our family and friends and being able to share quality time together.

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STORIES

joyeux

WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME

Noël

Willow Aiken Mischief Maker

WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME

_ Louise Priest Broadcast Journalist WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME

When I was growing up each year we all went to my Uncle John’s farm in Warwickshire. It was great as there were six cousins at the farm, three boys and three girls. I was the third youngest of all over the Christmas period and treated as such! There was a routine each year, opening stocking,(well a golf sock of my father’s) which had magically appeared during the night, then breakfast, church, a big lunch, the Queen’s speech and finally at around 3.30pm, the real present opening time. I didn’t know any different, so accepted the eternal wait until I could open my presents. With so many of us, being handed one present at a time, the ritual seemed to go on for ever.

What I love about Christmas is when Santa rings the bell and gives me a big sack of presents!

_ Katrina Burton Refferal Institute My Christmas will start with the same conversation for the past twenty years. Phil will say, ”Are we going to bother with a real Christmas tree this year?” My reply, “Of course we’re having a real tree!” I always thoroughly enjoy the trip to the nursery. Selection time! This isn’t always an easy process. My tree has to be the right height, not too spindly, a good conical shape and just the right amount at the top for the fairy! Next the Christmas box of carefully wrapped treasures come down from the loft. First, the lights are untangled, tested and draped around the tree. White and sparkling. Aaah! Then, the first decoration from the treasure box, my beautiful fairy. This was my Grandmother’s “Welly” (So called as she started most sentences with the word “Well”.) The fairy is gently put in her rightful place, although fragile, still the perfect topping. Next baubles are unwrapped, looking for a shiny red ball. One year my father in law, Norman, commandeered our sons’ BB gun and decided he would use the baubles as targets. You can imagine the following drama especially when Welly’s fairy was being lined up. However, one red bauble ended up with a pellet hole in it. Sadly we lost Norman the following February. This is always placed at the front of the tree in a prominent positon. Many of the baubles are inherited or gifts and placed on the tree with fond memories. I love the twinkle of the lamenta silver strands. The finishing touch is to start placing those specially chosen gifts for those nearest and dearest around the base. The sight, the smell, the memories of past Christmas’ shared. Now I’m in the spirit of Christmas. May your Christmas, however you chose to celebrate it, be a happy and peaceful one.

“The tree!”

WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME

_ Wendy Aiken For me it’s that chance to be just mum and wife for a couple of weeks with no thoughts about work. I enjoy putting the decorations up around the house and making list upon list of things I must get done! christmas has changed a lot in the last two years and we did this to help us cope over christmas without my Dad. He passed away three years ago in January and has left a huge gap in our lives. By making christmas a little different to how it was, it helps us to be able to enjoy the day although Dad is never far from our thoughts. one of my favourite things about christmas in Hoxne is hearing a bell ringing and father christmas pulling up outside our house on his sleigh with his elves. Willow gets so excited and races out to see them. We are so blessed to live in such a wonderful village with such wonderful people. For me christmas is all about celebrating the birth of Jesus and spending time with my friends and family. our children grow up so fast, our parents get older, we get older and I believe we need to make wonderful memories to cherish forever.

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WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME

_ Adrian Smith Man About Town I am very lucky to have enjoyed so many happy times at christmas, at so many different places. I think we should all, from time to time, remember the true meaning of christmas and as long as we do, it makes us appreciate the festivities even more. Having two young children, obviously means that we are reminded everyday from the end of November, that “It’s nearly christmas” and with all the advertisments on the television and the early shop window displays, there is no getting away from it and to be honest, I don’t want to! To me it means appreciating good health and happiness throughout the year and remembering those less fortunate than ourselves. of course I also love decorating the house and the tree, giving presents to family and friends, a token of appreciation for all they do for me throughout the year, spending time with them, seeing the children unwrap their presents and of course cooking the lunch, complete with wine and listening to classic fm carols in the background! Whatever christmas means to you, enjoy every moment and from all of us at man About Town, merry christmas.

WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME

_ Bridget McIntyre Dream On

WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME

_ Alice Cater “What christmas means to me is my mum’s delicious christmas dinner, Grandma falling asleep on the sofa after one too many sherries, Grandad watching all of the christmas classics on the telly with my sister and I, my dog laying dangerously close infront of the fire, and my cater family and I taking Santa around the Redgrave area in his slay so he could give sweets to all the children. Nine years ago, the christmas magic disappeared but after everything that has happen in the last year, it’s safe to say that magic has returned and I have turned into an excited little girl all over again! I hope Wendy, Ben, Willow, charlie and all of the Ylm team have an magical christmas and thank you so much for still to believing in me after all these years.

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As someone who loves sparkle, glitter and all things twinkling, christmas is a magical time. I remember the excitement as a young child, being in the nativity at our church. Why was I a carol singer or an angel and not mary? I remember the lack of sleep on christmas eve and going downstairs to find my dream Wendy House in our lounge. I still get excited now. I love buying gifts, seeing the wonder in the eyes of our grandchildren. For me it all starts with the christmas service, then our friends’ party before then the family gathering... It’s always over too quickly

WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME

_ Amanda Church Dream On

As I get older I realise that traditions are very important to me and Christmas is so full of them. When my two boys were very young, in fact not old enough to understand, their Nana made them each a beautiful embroidered advent calendar. Each had 24 small pockets which required me to add my own little gifts. This was idyllic, however, 19 years on and they both still insist I fill these 48 little pockets of joy! I am definitely encouraging that tradition with their children! One particular family memory from my childhood was the fact that my Mum was always the one to wake first on Christmas morning, desperate for us children to rise and open our gifts. You would think that it is something I would want to recreate for my own children but there is no need!... My parents, now in their seventies, love spending the whole of Christmas with us and guess what? Mum is still up in her dressing gown at the crack of dawn!

“Why couldn’t I be Mary?”

Frohe Weihnachten

STORIES

WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME

_ “All I wanted for Christmas was the stylishly yellow ‘Barbie Star traveller!”

joyeux

Noël

Emma Alferi Steeles Law my most memorable christmas present was christmas 1983 when all I wanted for christmas was the stylishly yellow ‘Barbie Star traveller’. A cross between a bus and a camper van which as I recall was the ‘must have’ present for all girls that particular year. So, on christmas day I remember hastily running downstairs to see if Father christmas had delivered the eagerly awaited traveller and I remember being disappointed that the size of the presents indicated the traveller was not there. Finally, after opening all of my presents, the traveller was no-where in sight and I remember trying to hide my feelings of disappointment from my parents. A few hours later my mother asked me to go upstairs to close a window. When I got to the window, below stood what, at the time, seemed like a huge shiny present with my name on. It was of course, the traveller – I was so pleased! As I remember, the Barbie traveller went everywhere with us after that. I never have forgiven my parents for the wait!

WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME

_ Joan Garnham Waveney Tree Specialists WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME

_ Alan Garnham Waveney Tree Specialists my mum and dad always made christmas special for me, my sister Julie and my brother Ian even though money was limited. There were always lots of fruit, nuts and chocolate on the side board but these were not to be touched until after christmas! The two best presents as a child that stick in my mind were, a Scalextric set and a working steam engine from my granddad. The steam engine was fuelled by methylated spirits; can you imagine what Health and Safety would say about that now? my worst christmas was when I was in cyprus with The east Anglian Regiment, I spent the day doing my washing but the officers did bring us a tot of rum. my best christmas present ever was when Joan said ‘Yes’ when I proposed on christmas morning ten years ago!

For my first christmas I was given a cloth doll (in the north we call them clootie dolls) brought from Africa by my Great Uncle John. She had a Perspex face which was quickly chewed off and replaced with an embroidered one. She is called Baba and went everywhere with me. I used to cry when she went through the mangle on washing days because her head swelled right up! I still have her and a few years ago she did the teddy bear ride of terror at the church fair, a zip ride from the top of the church tower! christmases always meant to me the time that we could eat what we wanted and when – sweets before breakfast! And loads of fruit in a bowl to help ourselves (this was just at the end of rationing). By mid morning we always felt slightly queasy. my best christmas present ever was 10 years ago. A red rose, an engagement ring and a proposal, and, yes I still have him as well thank goodness. Aren’t I lucky!

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HOMES & GARDENS

“ T H E Y U L E L O G W O U L D BBE UDRRNAGF OGRE DT HH EO MWEHAOML EI D1 2C DE RAYE MS OONF ICEHSRAINS TDMTAHSE. N keep yer heel ” down bor

CHRISTMAS TREE, WHY CHRISTMAS TREE?

t is usually thought that Prince Albert brought the Christmas Tree to Britain in 1841 but the tradition goes back a very long time

indeed. The evergreen fir tree has been used to celebrate winter festivals (pagan and Christian) for thousands of years. Pagans used the branches to decorate their homes during the winter solstice and the Romans decorated their temples at the festival of Saturnalia. Christians use it as a sign of everlasting life with God. In medieval Germany Miracle plays were acted out in front of the church on Christmas Eve (Adam and Eve’s day); there would be a fir tree which represented the Garden of Eden. The first documented Christmas Tree was in 1510 in Riga, latvia. After the ceremony the tree was burnt (see the later comments

Words by Joan Garnham Waveney Tree Specialists

about Yule logs). Possibly the first person to bring the Christmas tree into the house as we know it today was the 16th centuary German preacher “The first trees were decorated with edible things, nuts and fruit and paper ﬂowers.” Martin luther – the stars shining through the branches reminded him of Jesus leaving the stars in heaven and coming down to earth at Christmas. The first trees were decorated with edible things, nuts and fruit and paper flowers. At first baby Jesus was placed on top of the tree, eventually becoming an angel who told about his birth or the Star of Bethlehem, which guided the Three Wise Men. The first Christmas Trees as we know them came to Britain in the 1830s and made popular in 1841 by Prince Albert and Queen Victoria. At first the trees were decorated with candles to represent stars but in 1895 an American telephonist Ralph Morris made the first electric lights to reduce the risk of fire. The first artificial trees were pyramids of wood –Paradise Trees which were burnt at the end of the celebrations – see Yule logs. Now they are so hard to tell from the real thing. We must be the only tree surgeons in the country who have an artificial tree – I am allergic to pine resin, so if I don’t want to look like a red blob for Christ-

mas it’s a plastic one! Another big tradition is the Yule log. In early times a Viking festival called Yule was combined with Christmas and the winter solstice. Traditionally this log would be sourced on their own land (never bought) and would be dragged home amid ceremonies. This log would have to burn for the whole 12 days of Christmas. At the end of that time a small piece of the log would be kept to guard the house against fire and lightning and would be used to light the next Yule log. Trees in Christmas decorations Apart from holly, ivy and mistletoe try using the following to add interest and colour. Beech and hornbeam keep their brown leaves; dip these in one part glycerine and three parts water to preserve, it takes about three days. Box wood and ivy are easily preserved by dipping in liquid floor wax. Collect cones, beech nuts, seed pods and acorns. Open cones by plunging in warm water. Spraying with gloss paint can make a stunning difference but be sure to let one side dry before turning over. Alternatively, dip twigs in emulsion paint and hang with string on the washing line to dry. We have the top of a silver birch tree (about 5ft) which I sprayed with silver (it took two cans). This lives outside in a stand on our patio for Christmas – we have had it for three years, it looks amazing in both daylight and lamp light. ●

Wotcha! oive just come back from the 'Three Peak challenge.' Not in 24hrs I hasten to add. more loike 24yrs! We left the 'baby' one till last. Baby? Well, Scafell Pike is the smallest at 3,209ft, but I wouldn't call it a baby exactly. most people say it's the hardest one to climb, and mawther (gal) and me wouldn't argue wiv that. Anyway, we conkered it (deliberate spelling)! Took us 6hrs, and tell you what, it were suffen windy on top! Winter on our market garden at Blo Norton were allus a slack toime. Apart from venturing out at night wiv a torch and pin to catch gastropods attacking the 30,000 lettuce plants and replacing any that were worse fer wear, there wasn't much to do. In December, though, I had probably my top favourite job, bunching sage and thyme. I don't suppose many people buy fresh herbs nowadays, but they were quite a good little earner for us. like most of our other produce they were sold at covent Garden market and transported by Bartrums. The coldest part of the job was cutting the herbs, but after that the bunching was done in a nice warm greenhouse. Heavenly! And with the radio blasting out 60s music what more could I ask for – except more Brenda lee records! Dew yew keep on troshin and remember, if you're having lots of family and friends round for christmas make sure 'yule' 'log' on early to a 'mass' some 'cracking' presents afore the 'angelic host' (you hope they're 'angelic' anyway!) is 'nigh!' Hyvaa Joulua!

mark Aiken dayburst@diss.co.uk

DeCeMBer 2015

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DECK the HALLS

Your Home at Christmas

HOMES & GARDENS

his time of year has a magic all of its own and I am one of those people who deeply embraces Christmas even to the extent that my presents are normally wrapped in November and the Christmas Day table is laid a few days before serving the turkey - sad as it may seem but I get a bit excited and like to be prepared even if is a little too early. I enjoy the planning of Christmas as much as the event itself and having the home decorated and welcoming at this time of the year for my family and guests makes me feel happy and I love seeing all the decorations, fire blazing and preparing for the big day. We all know that traditionally reds and greens are the colours used for Christmas but today we can experiment with whatever colours we want as there is so much choice in the shops which is great because we can match the colours to our existing decor or go with a complete contrast. Neutral decorations in metal, wood and glass add a stylish festive feel to our homes whilst a mixture of soft golds, silvers, sequins and sprinklings of glitter or artificial snow will create a winter wonderland. Reds, oranges and rustic items including animal decorations will make a welcoming warm cosy atmosphere whilst reds again, combined with whites will create a fresh Scandinavian feel. Christmas can be a very expensive time of the year

however an inexpensive way to decorate our home is by using natural items from the garden like holly, pine cones, twigs, dried fruits and greenery. These items not only provide a nice aroma but also look good either displayed on the mantlepiece, made into a garland on the front door, draped along a bannister or turned into colourful festive display on the centre of the dining table. Christmas is not only a time for feasting and making our tables look rich and full of food but it is a time when most of us pay particularly more attention to the way our tables are laid than any other time of

the year. Firstly set the mood in your dining room paying particular attention to your lighting using plenty of candle sticks, lanterns and even fairy lights. Depending on your theme, you can then really go to town with your table if you wish and create the perfect setting using your decorations, linens, glasses, napkins folded in festive napkin rings, candles, crackers and perhaps placing a miniature gift, wrapped and positioned by each setting for your guests to open during the meal. You could even decorate your dining chairs too by adding a bauble tied with ribbon around the back. Finally, looking to the new year I would just like to mention that whilst writing this month’s article I am actually sitting on an aeroplane on my way to Thailand, which is very exciting because firstly, I have never been before, secondly, I am going to visit a good friend who

“Holy, pine

cones, twigs, & dried fruits not only provide a nice aroma but also look good either displayed on the mantlepiece, made into a garland on the front door, draped along a bannister or turned into colourful festive display on the centre of the dining table.” lives in Chiang Mai for several months of the year and who has worked with me on building projects in the past, and finally because he has been doing some research for me and I am going to hopefully be sourcing lots of lovely items that I can bring back to the UK and make available for sale after the festive season has finished. ●

DIARY We have only a couple of places remaining on the painting workshop on 28th DecemBeR so why not treat yourself to a great day or as a gift for someone special? You will learn about Grand Illusions chalk paint, its nature, its palette and how to use it to get the best long lasting results on your home projects. You will learn about the preparation, ageing techniques and finishing using either varnish or wax. on completion of the course, our aim is that you will then have the confidence to tackle a project at home yourself. You will soon be hooked, we are! 2016 DATeS 10th January one Day only Sale on all Products 13th January – 26th January closed for Refurbishment & Restocking 27th January Shop re-opens just in the time to purchase some lovely personalised Valentine Gifts for that special person! Booking and Gift vouchers now available for the following painting workshops 27th February 26th March 30th April

Words by Jan major Panache Home and Accessories

What’s happening in Gabriel’s Garden?

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utside in the garden the first frosts have laid the garden bare, but for the first beautiful Helleborus x hybridus; the Lenten rose. This wonderful old favourite is a star in my heavy clay soil at this time of year. The architectural evergreen foliage has clumped up nicely over a couple of seasons and with flowers in a gorgeous array of colours create an elegant display from dusky pink, lime green to plum purple; they are tough, adaptable and invaluable for brightening up shady areas. With Christmas just around the corner I thought I would come up with some great plant

Words by Gabi Gabriel’s Garden

ideas for the ‘gardeners’ and ‘gardeners to be’ amongst us or just simply some inspiration and aspiration for the year ahead. Treat yourself or someone special to a brilliant new winter flowering shrub or small tree to plant in the garden and enjoy through the season. Here are some of the plants that have been and some still are on my wish list! All of them will give you fabulous fragrance, delicate flowers and/or brilliant berries and are great for using in floral and festive arrangements. The wonderful Viburnum is a great place to start. Viburnam x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ a tall upright hardy shrub has blooms that start to appear as the leaves fall in autumn, the rose red buds open to highly scented white flowers that are gathered in clusters along the bare branches throughout the winter. Due to their hardy nature and quick growth the

place to enjoy the strong lily like fragrance. I’d love to grow the more erect Daphne bholua with its pink and white tubular flowers that are so highly scented or there’s the striking gold margined leaves of Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’ a handsome and impressive plant. Sweet Box or Sarcococca confusa is a very useful floristry plant, it works well planted under taller shrubs and trees and the dark green, glossy foliage looks great all year round. Very sweetly scented, the pure white flowers will fill the air with fragrance from December through to March. Or if you

evergreen Viburnum tinus can often be found in municipal planting schemes, not all varieties are scented but most will produce a perfusion of flowers right through the season fol-

“If you are thinking beautiful berries, look no further than skimmia japonica; a neat compact plant with glossy oval leaves and bold bright clusters of festive red berries that last well even in the frost.”

lowed with impressive metallic coloured berries that are loved by the wild birds. Staying with fabulous scent the Daphne family are a must. I grow Daphne odora which is planted in a sheltered spot by my back door; the perfect

are thinking beautiful berries, look no further than Skimmia Japonica; a neat compact plant with glossy oval leaves and bold bright clusters of festive red berries that last well even in the frost and Skimmia x Kew Green, what it lacks in berries is

WINTER WONDERLAND

HOMES & GARDENS

made up with conical clusters of fragrant creamy flowers. I’ve been looking at a couple of winter flowering trees for small gardens and these two offer plenty of winter interest; Rosebud cherry ‘Autumnalis Rosea (Prunus x subhirtella); has the most delicate, semi double, pale pink blossom that is liberally sprinkled through the light framework of dark branches throughout the winter or a recent discovery; Cornus Mas, the Cornelian Cherry, is part of the Dogwood family and produces masses of small yellow flowers in late winter. It has droplet like red fruit at the end of summer and then stunning red to purple leaf colour in the autumn. All of these fabulous winter plants are utterly beautiful, will introduce some exciting new structure and form to the garden, with their glossy evergreen foliage and beautifully scented winter flowers. Cut a few stems or twiggy branches to bring into the house to lift the spirits and remind us that spring is just

around the corner. It’s been a fantastic autumn with an incredible bounty of berries in the hedgerows and trees, and fabulous colour through the autumn leaves, some people say it’s a sign of a hard winter to come but I’m never sure whether to believe it or not. It is time though to protect tender plants like the pelargonium’s (geraniums) by moving them into a frost free conservatory or greenhouse for the winter and have some fleece handy to cover larger plants like the delicate Pittisporums if the temperature drops to far for too long. I’ll be creating naturally inspired Christmas wreaths, festive garlands and beautiful table centres to decorate the home and adorn the dining table; come and find me at the St.Nicholas Christmas Experience in Norfolk Yard, Diss, Sunday 13th December 10am -3pm. Call to order and arrange to collect floral arrangements and Christmas wreaths from Wyken Vineyard Farmers market every Saturday in December 9am -1pm or from the garden in Gissing. I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy, peaceful and prosperous new year. ●

Christmas wreath making kit. £19.95 Inc P+P. To book a workshop place or to order a bespoke Christmas wreath or wreath making kit, hello@gabrielsgarden.co.uk 01379 677793

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HOMES & GARDENS

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DeCeMBer 2015

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omeone to talk to and support you during one of the most difficult times in your life is how the funeral directors at Rosedale Funeral Home see themselves. Created by experienced funeral directors who wanted to offer a caring and personal as well as a very professional service, Rosedale Funeral Home has established itself as a thoughtful company for families to honour and remember loved ones who have died. Christmas can be a very difficult time for the recently bereaved who cannot avoid the reminders that “tis the season to be jolly” but you miss the person who has died and you don’t want to be encouraged to go on as if nothing has happened. For anyone facing their first Christmas without a loved one, Rosedale have available a small booklet entitled “A not so jolly Christmas” offering practical advice on reducing pressure, re-evaluating traditions, re-defining expectations and re-living the memories. There is even a special section for helping children with their loss at Christmas. The booklet is available to all free of charge. Every December, Rosedale has traditionally placed a me-

“ We are offering families the opportunity to take home a special candle that you may wish to light on Christmas Day in memory of your loved one.”

YLM | Your LifestYLe Magazine

morial Christmas tree in each of their funerals homes and they are delighted that again this year local libraries and churches have also agreed to host a memorial tree. These are a focal point for bereaved families at a time when their loss may be most acute. Rosedale provides attractive cards for families and friends to write messages for their loved ones, no matter how long ago, or where they died. Each card is carefully hung on one of their Christmas trees, a simple but thoughtful gesture. If you would like to receive a complimentary card, please telephone the funeral home nearest to you, listed below. This year, Rosedale is hosting special Services of Remembrance in December to remember those we love at Christmas. The services will be held on Sunday 6th December at the Public Hall, Beccles, Sunday 13th December at St Mary’s Church, Diss and Saturday 19th December at Wymondham Abbey. All the services will start at 2.30pm and at each there will be a Book of Remembrance and a Memorial Tree on which you may place

“Memorial

Christmas trees are a focal point for bereaved families at a time when their loss may be most acute.”

LIVING

at Christmas

a card or personal message. We are also offering families the opportunity to take home a special candle that you may wish to light on Christmas Day in memory of your loved one. These candles will be available at the Service of Remembrance, or if you are unable to attend the service, you may collect one from Rosedale. Rosedale funeral home have a range of sympathy cards which are available to the public in a bid to improve the limited choice that is currently available but there is not a ‘with sympathy’ in sight. The cards on offer encourage the sender to write a memory or story from a special time

with lines like, ‘let me tell you something about your lovely mum’, ‘my favourite memory of them’ and did I ever tell you about the time’ are designed by British company ‘Inspired Goodbyes’. Specially designed Christmas cards have been added to the range with comforting lines such as “Christmas won’t be the same without them, we miss them too”. Two national charities are being supported by the sale of the cards, both of which are close to Rosedale’s heart. The Dying Matters coalition aims to raise public awareness of the importance of talking more openly about death, dying and bereavement and making

your wishes known and the Child Funeral Charity exists to provide financial support to parents and family members who have lost a child. Grief is the price we pay for loving and for some finding their new ‘normal’ after a loss of a significant loved one can be conflicting and emotional. Rosedale has new bereavement support groups commencing in the New Year. These complimentary courses are open to all, no matter how long ago you were bereaved or which funeral director you used. In these groups you will find people who care and understand what you are going through. ●

If you would like further information on our services and resources and to see a full list of our memorial tree venues, please contact your nearest Rosedale Funeral home or visit www.rosedalefuneralhome.co.uk ATTlEBOROUGH 01953 452538 | BUNGAY 01986 892790 | BECClES 01502 714445 | dISS 01379 640810 HAlESWORTH 01986 875588 | WYMONdHAM 01953 601103

DeCeMBer 2015

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FOOD & DRINK

hris Barker is a Norfolk Boy through and through, growing up on the Family Farm in east Harling where both his grandfather and father farmed. He has very fond memories of that time on the farm where he lived until he was 15 years old. We managed to catch up with chris at what is a very busy time of year at cJ Barker, and he told us about his story and particularly how he came to butchery... I went to school at Thetford Grammar and studied through until A’ levels when I then decided to go and complete a National Diploma/ Degree in forestry at De montfort University in lincolnshire. After this time I decided that I wanted to go back and farm and I began working for Richard Johnston, a local businessman, who not only mentored me and showed me how a business could be run but whom inspired me and became a huge influence in my life. After 12 years working with Richard, I moved on and worked at Suggit Farm Services and for Pearn Wyatt & Son. However after a few years, I began to realize that my love of farming was beginning to wain and decided I was at a point in my life where I would have to make a change. I took a look around at different jobs and then when walking down Diss High Street one day took notice of the various Butcher Shops and decided that I would like to be a butcher. Kevin Burrows of c&K Group gave me the opportunity I needed and employed me at his business in eye. After working at the Abattoir I realised that the retail side of butchery was where my main interest lay and went to work in c&K meats Butchers Shop in Diss until 2014. I gained great experience in the shop and learnt not only butchery skills but customer skills also! In march 2014 I was given the opportunity to purchase the butchers from c&K meats. This was a chance not to be missed and I grabbed it with both hands. It was

a risk but I believe that you only get one chance in life and this was mine! With the help of Nick Baker my Butchery manager who has 30 years of experience in the trade, the business has gone from strength to strength. Along with my other co-workers; leon Fisher, Richard emsden and Phillip edge, we have between us over 100 years experience in butchery and running successful shops. The shop has a great feel about it inside and has a viewing window into the fridge where the customers can see the produce hanging in an air-drying chilled atmosphere where it matures.

The beef is hung on the bone for 21 - 28 days to give it a better flavour and eating quality. All our meat is sourced locally with pork produced by my brother matt Barker, from The Heywood near Winfarthing, who has won many prizes with his pedigree herd of Blond D’Aquitaine cows. He also provides me with beef when he has an animal ready otherwise it comes from Gaze’s in Roydon.

“ The beef is hung on the bone for 21 - 28 days to give it a better ﬂavour and eating quality.”

BORN & BRED

Chris from C.J. Barker Butchers feels right at home our chickens are from Diaper Poultry in Weatherden near Stowmarket or crescent Poultry in Brockdish. The lambs I use are from producers in both Norfolk and Suffolk. other produce includes free range eggs from Hoxne, local honey, pickles, chutneys and a great selection of coffee from our friends at

Thistledown cottage coffee in Brome near eye which is roasted and blended on the premises. I love selling local produce as I have a passion for Norfolk and it’s people and feel it’s a county that produces such a high standard of products, often not receiving the recognition it deserves. I enjoy being in the shop and advising people on cuts of meat and where it has come from. I like to see their faces when we tell them that the majority of the meat in the shop is reared and slaughtered within a 10 mile radius of the shop door. The environment is something I feel strongly about and keeping food miles down to a minimum is a must. Shooting is a great passion of mine and whenever I can get a spare moment I can be found out

shooting pigeons or on local shoots shooting partridge and pheasant’s. I find the time on my own in the Norfolk countryside a great place to reflect on business and personal life with an uncluttered mind. my family are the biggest drive to me succeeding in my business and without the support of my mother, father, brother and wife I would not have been able to take on the challenges that being a business owner have presented. I am married to leni and have two sons: Huckleberry ,age seven and Beau, age two. These three people are the most important things in my life and push me onto be more successful at what I do. christmas time can be an especially hectic time of year but with planning and preparation and a good team beside me can also be great fun! It is the butchers harvest time and it needs to be right. customers are encouraged to order in good time as there has to be a cut off period for ordering turkeys and beef. our turkeys are all free range bronze which have a large meaty breast but more flavour than the ordinary white turkey. These birds are sourced from Godwick Hall near Kings lynn and have won many great taste awards. local ducks and geese are also available. our sausages are all handmade in the shop using 85% lean pork; our bacon is dry cured on the premises and then thick sliced. come in and give us a try you will not be disappointed. many thanks to our loyal customers and welcome to our new ones.

merry christmas one and all.

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he Scultura Clinic is expanding. A purpose built facility at the Mendlesham Health Centre is nearing completion. I went to have a look and catch up with Dr Raj Tanna, the medical director, to hear about his future plans... Remind me about the Scultura Clinic and what it does. I think you have a machine called the Lipofirm Plus. What does it do?

We set up the Scultura Clinic over a year ago. We bought a machine and spent three months training our therapists. Our aim is to help people reduce the visual impacts of ageing and also to sculpt the body to remove those stubborn areas of fat that neither exercising or diet remove.

HEALTH

What do you mean?

In London a single treatment would be £195-250. We would recommend 6-8 treatments. In Mendlesham our treatments are £55.

As Scultura Clinic grows, Fiona Sutherland caught up with Dr. Tanna to find out why they are having so much success...

“ W I T H S C U LT U R A , T H E

R A DIO FR EQU ENCY W O R K S AT T H E D E E P E S T L AY E R O F T H E S K I N , T H E D E R M A L L AY E R W H I C H I S H E AT E D T O A T E M P E R AT U R E T H AT S T I M U L AT E S N AT U R A L P R O D U C T I O N O F C O L L AG E N . T H I S I S T H E H O LY G R A I L O F YOU TH F U L SK I N, BEI NG A B L E T O N AT U R A L LY I N CR E A SE THE A MOU NT OF C O L L AG E N .

”

Tell me more, as I’m not sure our readers will remember how it works.

Of course. I don’t want to get too technical. This is a medically certified treatment, I hope this can assure people. I provide full oversight of it and ensure consultations are full and thorough, whilst most people can have the treatment; there are some conditions, which would mean we couldn’t go ahead. I’ve personally researched and used my medical knowledge to make sure we make the most of this fantastic technology. The treatment is completely safe and non-invasive. It is a natural treatment that uses radio frequency to stimulate collagen, smooth lines, reduce cellulite and generally tighten the skin. Ultrasonic cavitation uses Ultrasound to remove fat, loose inches and sculpt the body. I’m always reading claims that all this can be done in many different ways. Why is this one the one you’ve decided to be involved in?

So what do people come for?

I guess it is the medical scientist in me. I would only be involved in something that I know is medically sound and works. There are lots of temporary non-invasive treatments available and they aren’t scientifically strong. An example would be expensive creams where the ingredients would never be absorbed through the top layer of the skin to have any effect. WIth Scultura, The radio frequency works at the deepest layer of the skin, The dermal layer which is heated to a temperature that stimulates natural production of collagen. This is the holy grail of youthful skin, being able to naturally increase the amount of collagen. There are invasive treatments for example botox or liposuction. We know many people are not comfortable with this and so we offer an alternative that works, and of course the

To book your free consultation YLM | Your LifestYLe Magazine

Scultura treatment is a less expensive alternative. So it looks like you are expanding if you are opening a new facility?

Yes, we wanted to maintain our presence in Mendlesham at the Health Centre but there wasn’t enough room there to meet the demand for the treatments. Our reputation is strengthening and we now have a new building which enables us to open six days per week to hopefully help more men and women in the area. I am surprised you are based in Mendlesham...

Isn’t it great? We have the ability to offer something that you would have to travel far to have. In London there are a few clinics that offer this but prices are much higher.

Well so many things …excuse the terminology. We treat fine lines and wrinkles, tummies, legs, armpits, manboobs, beer bellies, cellulite removal, back fat, hips, sagging jawline and crows feet. That sounds like a lot of things. If I didn’t want to book an appointment but wanted to find out more, what do I do?

You should ring or email the team at Scultura. They would book you a free consultation so you could find out what it could do for you. We will be having open evenings entitled ‘Seeing is believing’ where you can meet people who have experienced the treatments first hand. Contact us and we can put you on the invite list. You are looking well Dr Tanna, Is it working for you too?

A knowing smile appears on Dr Tannas face! Words by Fiona Sutherland

01379 678696 / 07707 301291 info@thesculturaclinic.co.uk www.thesculturaclinic.co.uk

DeCeMBer 2015

HEALTH

ne of the questions I get asked a lot is, “What’s the best thing I can do for my skin in winter?” Summer skincare is fairly obvious, with sun block use, hydration and deep cleansing at the top of the list. So what should we be doing in winter? If you’re looking to revitalise dull, tired or ageing skin winter is the best time to hit the refresh button for your complexion. In winter we tend to spend a lot more time indoors and out of the sun, making it the perfect time to heal and rejuvenate skin. Summer is a brutal time of year on your skin, ageing with dehydration and sun damage. What might have looked like cute ‘Anne (or Andy) of Green Gables’ freckles have turned in middle-age ‘liver spots’ and blotches. Thread veins appear and lines are more obvious.

“a ‘photo-facial’

is perfect for removing freckles and sun spots quickly and painlessly.”

Words by Geraldine Walters Btec HND/Cert Ed.

www.geraldinewalters.co.uk

Nature, as always, knows best and winter is the ideal time for rejuvenation. Paler skin suits modern treatments and in the cold months it’s easy to cover up and keep out of sunlight afterwards. You’ll reap the rewards in spring – and even sooner in some cases. Chemical peels are one of the best ways to refresh your skin when it’s feeling dull and rough. They are concentrated acidic solutions that exfoliate the outer layer of your skin, ex-

venation. And that’s for very good reasons: IPL works best on pale, untanned skin. (Yes, there are perks to having a milk white complexion, ask Nicole Kidman) and you need to limit sun exposure before and after a treatment. Although IPL is best known as a face treatment, you can treat any part of your body that’s got sun damage, acne and pigmentation problems.

MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL

WHo iS tHe FA ir eS t o F tHeM ALL?

Why being pale & interesting is the best choice for winter skin... posing the softer and smoother skin underneath. Depending on the kind of chemical peel you get, they can help fade dark marks, reduce acne breakouts, improve fine lines, and treat sun damage while improving overall skin tone. Another plus is that they are a quick procedure so fit in with a busy lifestyle. Results are based on the strength and ingredients of the peel, how many times you get the peel done, and how you take care of your skin post-peel. Sun protection is as important mid-December as it is on the long summer solstice. Even indoor light can affect pigmentation, especially if you use the contraceptive pill or some antibiotics. Usually more than one peel is necessary so don’t expect miracles. However, with proper use, peels can keep your skin looking smooth and fresh and they are relatively inexpensive, often comparable to a luxury facial price tag. Alternatively opt for IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) skin reju-

You can even have IPL on your hands, arms, legs, chest or back. A ‘photo-facial’ is perfect for removing freckles and sun spots quickly and painlessly. IPL delivers heat/light energy to the sun damaged areas and zaps the lower dermis at the same time, causing new collagen to develop. The results are reduced blemishes and a peachy, smooth complexion. You need to be gentle with your skin after a treatment and while there’s no actual downtime after an IPL session, you do need to be careful and as with peels, a series of treatments is needed for best results - the improvements after each treatment session are gentle but IPL is totally noninvasive and now has a faithful following all over the world. Again, it’s fast, unfussy, and very popular. The technology of IPL doesn’t make it cheap – especially for larger areas but it’s a great investment and can be repeated quite safely within the right time frames.

So if you really want to treat your winter skin, embrace your inner Goth, celebrate the fair and fabulous beauties of the fifties, be pale and interesting and (with apologies to Shakespeare) look forward to a complexion that is smooth as monumental alabaster. ●

* YLM * Sunscreen_ It’s not just for summer! —

How to wear sunscreen properly to get the maximum protection if you have chemical peels or IPL —

Norfolk’s Experts in

If you don’t wear sunscreen correctly, you reduce its ability to guard you against the sun’s harmful UV rays. To keep your skin healthy, particularly after cosmetic procedures, make sure you are doing all of these things: 1 Wear sunscreen every day, even on rainy days or on days you stay indoors, because UV rays still penetrate through clouds and windows. UV rays are present regardless of whether you see the sun or not. 2 Wear sunscreen every day, especially if you use exfoliating products and/or if you’re taking antibiotics. All of these products can cause photosensitivity. 3 Virtually all UV filters are oil soluble, which means they are not removed by water. To remove sunscreen use an oil-based cleanser (cream type cleansers or cleansing oils that can remove waterproof actives. 4 Wear sunscreen on your neck and hands. These are two places that show signs of aging the fastest. Don’t forget bare body parts that will be exposed to the sun, such as your ears, lips, hairline, top of the head if bald, order is important: Sunscreen goes on after moisturiser and other skin treatments but before makeup. If you don’t wear any makeup, sunscreen should be the last thing you put on your skin. Sunscreen is one of the best preventative measures you have in your skin care toolbox. But to make sure that sunscreen does its job the best it can, you have to do your job and wear it the right way.

Still looking for the perfect party dress?

01603 487447

see our feature

DReSS To KIll

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HEALTH

hi everyone

Welcome to December’s Beauty Blog

Sparkly Eyes

why not try a sparkly top coat over your favourite shade?

✕ Many makeup companies have glitter eye shadow pots, which give instant glamour to the eyes. Apply on top of your eye shadow or use on its own. It’s quick and easy and looks amazing for any party!

✕ Choose your festive colour from iridescent, metallic, uber-sparkly or pure rich deep colours. Adds instant glamour to the nails. Also why not try a sparkly top coat over your favourite shade?

Glamour Nails

✕ There is a red for everyone this party season. From ruby to classic pillar box red, plums & berries. These colours give a rich, velvet luscious look to the lip

With every red lip colour choo se a lip liner to compliment and to give long-wear finish

Words by Dionne & Rachel Defining Radiance Words by Dionne & Rachel definingradiancemakeup.co.uk Defining Radiance

For more information 01379 678117 | 07511 383953 www.definingradiancemakeup.co.uk

Luscious Lips

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Glitz & glamour makeup for the festive season... *

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* #VENTURE

WHAt iS yoUr ViSioN For 2016? A new year is just around the corner. Possibly there are thoughts about what the future has in store for your business. We are allowed to dream and think in our ideal world what we would like our business to look like. If Wendy is writing a featured article about you in Ylm, how would you like her to be describing your business? What is your image? consider your staffing and your premises. In turn, how this will make a difference to your lives and those around you. None of us can do it on own. We all need help along the way. How can we achieve this? Right People – Right Business Perhaps this is a time of year when we think about our nearest and dearest, our best relationships. It‘s no different in business. Having the right business relationships around you is so important. These right people will be good referral sources for your business. consider this, occasionally things may not line up the way we anticipated, outside influences which are out of our control may affect what is happening. If you are in a good business relationship, this is not a drama, it’s a situation which can be resolved with greater ease. However, if it is a transactional relationship, “they buy – you sell” if something goes wrong there is usually quite an amount of drama surrounding you. That’s why it is so important for any business to develop and maintain a strong network of professionals who can help spread the word about its products or services, and refer new customers to the business. Be assured when you are taking good care of your referral sources, building the right business relationship around you, you are saving yourself money and time by not having to chase new work. This is working “Smarter not Harder!” Give yourself a gift this christmas. create a vision for you and your future. Reflect on those relationships in your business which have worked well for you, those who have supported you and have been good referral sources, bringing you good business. If a business doesn’t have a vision, how can goals be set to achieve the desired outcome. make it your resolution as you go into 2016 to ensure those quality relationships last for many years to come. Wishing you a merry christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year." Words by Phil Burton

VENTURE

HELPING HANDS Access to your money when you need it most

? Q. My husband and I hold all our assets in joint names, to make things easier when one of us dies, but I have now been told that can cause problems if one of us becomes mentally incapable – what should we do? A. Joint assets usually pass automatically to the survivor when one joint-owner dies, without needing a Grant of Probate, so it does simplify things for the survivor. However, if one of you becomes mentally incapable of dealing with your financial affairs, the other one may be prevented from using any joint accounts you hold together – because once a person loses mental capacity, their consent for joint bank accounts to be operated by either of the account holders ceases to have effect. This means that if your husband became mentally incapable of dealing with his financial affairs, and your bank was aware of that,

the bank would be entitled to freeze your joint accounts. It is often a good idea for couples to each have an account with a small amount of money in their sole name, even if their finances are run jointly, so that if a joint account is suddenly frozen they still have access to some money, while their partner’s finances are being sorted out. more importantly, however, you and your husband should each make a lasting Power of Attorney (lPA), by which you can appoint people (Attorneys) to deal with your financial affairs during your lifetime if you become incapable of dealing with your own finances – not only through loss of mental capacity, but also because of accident or sudden illness. You can appoint each other, but it is a good idea to appoint more than one Attorney, so that if one of you dies or becomes incapable, the other still has an Attorney to deal with his or her affairs if required.

Do you know your rights when things go wrong at work?

Lasting power of Attorney (LpA) —

There are two types of LPA, and you can choose whether to make one or both types: PRoPeRTY & AFFAIRS lPA —

This allows your Attorney to make decisions about your property and financial affairs. This may include paying your bills and potentially, selling your house. You can put restrictions and conditions on your Attorney’s powers in the lPA if you wish. PeRSoNAl WelFARe lPA —

This allows your Attorney to make decisions about your personal welfare, which may include giving or refusing consent to medical treatment. Decisions under a Personal Welfare lPA can only be made on your behalf when you lack the capacity to make them yourself.

take several months to process. In addition there are many court fees to consider, including an application fee, a fee on appointment of the Deputy, and an annual administration fee. There are additional fees for further directions e.g. sale of property. By making an lPA whilst you are mentally alert you have the knowledge that, should you become ill and cannot deal with your own affairs, your Attorney will be able to step in and look after everything for you until you recover. We would recommend that you have your lPA drawn up by a professional legal practitioner. Just like a Will there are certain stipulations which need to be met to make an lPA valid. Should you wish to consider making an lPA, please contact Steeles law and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have. ●

For further advice on this, or any other legal issue, please contact the employment team at Steeles Law on 01379 652141 or probate@steeleslaw.co.uk

Steeles Law offers fixed fee Employment Legal Advice Consultations in our Diss office on the last Wednesday of each month.

If you do not make an lPA and you become mentally incapable of managing your financial affairs, somebody (usually a close relative) must apply to the court of Protection for a ‘Deputy’ to be appointed to manage your financial affairs. The application is lengthy and can

Words by Karen Bacon Head of wills, probate & tax team

Steeles law

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received a fantastic email from a lady called Victoria, entitled ‘hoorah!’. Obviously she was very happy and had something very special to celebrate! Victoria is a single mum with two lovely children. When we first met her, some of us might have wondered why she felt the need to apply for the Dream On programme. We saw someone who presented herself well, and who was able to explain in a very articulate way why she wanted to work with the Dream On team. Victoria applied and was accepted to be on the EU funded programme: ‘Being the best you.’ The programme was aimed to help women who were unemployed or working limited hours. To gain a place Victoria had to complete an application form and to be interviewed. It became clear that Victoria would benefit from joining the programme, “I read about Dream On in YLM, I was a single parent with two wonderful girls but had become “Just mum”. I had lost any sense of personal direction. My career felt like a distant memory and I didn’t know which direction to take.” I remember the first workshop, which was held at Thorndon Village Hall; a group of women who had never met were pulled together for the first time. Almost immediately they created a sense of community. At the end we asked each person to describe how they felt

Words by Bridget mcIntyre The Blossom charity

they had moved from scared to excited from lost to “I can now start to reclaim my life.” The programme Victoria was on consisted of group workshops And 1-1 coaching. The workshops covered such topics as individual strengths, dealing with stress, communication and me as an individual. Each person was given a book by Tom Rath called Strengthsfinder. As Victoria said, “It enabled me to identify what my natural talents

things at the same time and still managing to smile at the end of the day. In her own words, “I often heard people say, “There just aren’t enough hours in the day.” or “I just need an extra pair of hands.” Therefore I came up with the idea of helping others who are too busy. I have launched a company called Easy Life. It is a lifestyle management company that

HOORAH! M y li fe ha s ch ange d!

were and we were encouraged to pursue a future that utilised these.” The mix of women on the workshops is always very broad. Victoria described the time she spent with these women as one of the highlights of the course, “I can honestly say getting to know everyone, supporting each other was one of the highlights. I have made long lasting friends. We support, encourage and help each other long after the course finished.” I asked Victoria how she would describe her coach Louise “She can only be described as the world’s best coach. She was such an inspirational, kind and generous woman. She walked by my side through the entire process and believed in me when I had doubts.” So why did Victoria say ‘hoorah’? Well, this is the great bit. She says that having rediscovered who she is and her strengths it was apparent that her natural ability lay in organisation, relating to others, getting things done and taking great pride in her work. She enjoyed a challenge and got enormous satisfaction from solving problems. As a single mum she was very used to juggling many

aims to make people’s lives simpler. It offers a flexible solution to individuals’ lack of time and the frequent demand of needing to be in two places at once. She continued, “We work for businesses or individuals and can offer a

“now Victoria’s life works by

using her talents to successfully run her own business. she is gaining both the income and fulﬁlment she needs to support her family.

”

wide range of services, administration, PA services, tenancy checks, research projects, travel arrangements, sourcing cleaners, arranging MOT’s, waiting in for tradesmen or other deliveries, managing holiday homes, I even do some clients Christmas shopping!”

Victoria’s life now works by using her talents to successfully run her own business. She is gaining both the income and fulfilment she needs to support her family. For more information on Easy Life please visit www.easylifelm.com How does she feel about the experience now?, “Simply put, Dream On changes lives. I could have never afforded to pay to attend a course like this but I was able to attend this due to the grants and awards that Dream On give. I cannot thank the team enough for what they have done for me. If you are considering going on a course, it’ll be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make.”

All I can say is ‘hoorah!’ ●

A new programme starts in the new year. If you would like to find out more please contact the team at Dream On via, esther@dream-on.co.uk or 01379 678 483

DeCeMBer 2015

Burns Night

Mon 25th JAN

A celebration of the life and poetry of Robert Burns. The head - chef will prepare a five course feast with haggis and whiskey The evening will conclude with live music from a Ceilidh band A wonderful evening for all to banish the winter blues!

NEW YEARS EVE

£25

BoxiNg DAY

Gala Dinner Dance

Buffet Lunch

Enjoy Champagne on arrival, table top magician, 4 course dinner then dance the night away to all the party classics from our live Claire Barker Band & resident DJ until we count down to welcome in 2016!

Our table top magician will entertain you whilst you indulge in our festive 3 course Carvery Buffet Lunch. With tables of sumptuous food and a choice of 3 succulent meats to tempt the taste buds, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

7.30 pm

12 noon - 3 pm

Booking essential

£65

29 Denmark Street, Diss T 01379 642244 www.parkhotel-diss.co.uk

£30

WOMEN in BUSINESS

Charlotte Nicolls The camargue cafe A warm welcome awaits you at The camargue cafe where charlotte and Sherry will serve you delicious homemade meals, snacks and refreshments. Situated within the award winning Valley Farm equestrian leisure facility, The camargue cafe also offers workshops for adults and children throughout the year, give them a call for more details.

Beth Mills | Psychotherapist

BA Hons in Person Centred Counselling Post Qualifying Diploma in Counselling Children and Young People BACP (Accredited Member)

A qualified and registered psychotherapist covering issues such as: Identity, confidence, Anxiety, Bereavement, Depression, Divorce, Panic, Relationships, School Issues, Self Harm and Stress. counselling gives time and space for you to explore difficulties, without judgement. Beth believes this can lead to you making positive steps towards fulfilling your potential.

Corrina Giles The little Upholsterer

The Blossom Charity supports women in business through coaching and workshops in, for example, marketing yourself and your business, business budgeting and how to lead teams. They have supported the businesses on this page and would love you to do so too. For more information, 01379 678483 www.dream-on.co.uk

The little Upholsterer offers traditional upholstery services from the beautiful village of Peasenhall in east Suffolk. corrina provides a range of services from small restoration work to larger projects using traditional techniques and materials. She has an open workshop and welcomes visitors to pop in and find out more about her work. Visit corrinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Facebook page to see her latest projects at The little Upholsterer.

Andi Jefroy Flying Poodle Flying Poodle is a design studio specialising in hand-drawn designs. Andi creates hand-drawn or hand-let tered designs for bespoke wedding stationer y, party invitations and one-off specialoccasion cards as well as calligraphy, portraits and illustration. Visit Andiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Facebook page to see examples of her work: Facebook. com/FlyingPoodleStudio

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H E A LT H I NS U R A NC E PRO T E C T ION I S T H E U N DE RPI N OF MO S T G O OD F I N A NC I A L PL A NN I NG . . . I F T H E WOR S T S HO U L D H A PPE N , T H E R IG H T A MO U N T OF MON E Y W I L L R E AC H T H E R IG H T H A N D S AT T H E R IGH T TIM E .”

ones this season, we already have the greatest gift of all. What better way to spend the time together in the knowledge that you have cared for the important people in your life? Life and health insurance protection is the underpin of most good financial planning. These types of insurance can ensure that, if the worst should happen, the right amount of money will reach the right hands at the right time. In 2012 the Association of British Insurers was able to put a value on what it estimates to be the shortfall in cover: £2.6 trillion in the UK, a dramatic increase over the last decade. After all, nobody ever expects it to happen to them, do they?

“Insurers are constantly looking at new ways to meet people’s needs, such as through life insurance that includes critical illness and/or income protection insurance, which may be cheaper.”

Words by Samuel Duncan

THE GIFT OF LIFE

“L I F E &

Life insurance puts money in the hands of those who need it when a person dies. There are many reasons why this money might be needed, including paying off a mortgage (or other loan), paying inheritance tax (IHT) or simply to ensure that the ones left behind can continue to live a comfortable life. Income protection – sometimes called permanent health insurance – pays a weekly or monthly income if you cannot work because of illness or disability. You may think you don’t need to worry about this kind of cover, but the state benefits you would receive would be relatively low and unlikely to provide sufficient income to meet your needs, especially if you have rent or mortgage payments to make. Virtually everyone who is working needs some kind of health insurance to provide financial protection if their earnings are affected by serious illness or disability. Even if you have no financial dependants, there’s a very strong chance that you will need health insurance. Critical illness insurance pays a lump sum if you are diagnosed as suffering from a specified illness. The advantage of critical illness insurance is the benefit is paid shortly after diagnosis of the illness, without any significant delay. It’s also in the form of a lump sum that can allow you to make rapid adjustments to your lifestyle and pay off loans. Insurers are constantly looking at new ways to meet people’s needs, such as through life insurance that includes critical illness and/or income protection insurance, which may be cheaper. It’s important to look at your options and seek the assistance of a trusted advisor. ●

As Britons' plan to spend £868 on Christmas in 2015, will we remember what matters the most?

ritons are each expected to spend an estimated £868 this festive season. The average spending on food, drink and decorations looks set to increase compared with the previous year, but at the same time people plan to spend less on presents. For those of us who will be surrounded by family and loved

VENTURE

To receive a complimentary guide covering Wealth Management, Retirement Planning or Inheritance Tax Planning, contact Samuel Duncan of 6 St. Nicholas Street, Diss on 01379 641211 or email samuel.duncan@sjpp.co.uk

YLM | Your LifestYLe Magazine

DeCeMBer 2015

TOY SOldIER ebay.co.uk

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Party Nights and November Specials

SlIPPERS loaf.com

Festive Afternoon Tea Christmas Day Lunch

Boxing Day Charity Disco New Years Eve Extravaganza

Request a brochure via events@bromegrangehotel.co.uk

Editors Pick

Christmas & New Year Breaks

lAdYBIRd BOOkS FOR GROWN - UPS penguin.co.uk

Call us now to discuss your event

01379 870456

www.bromegrangehotel.co.uk

TEd BAkER TOUCHSCREEN PEN annabeljames.co.uk A two-in-one design from Ted Baker’s Autumn/Winter 2015 collection, with pen at one end and touchscreen stylus at the other

RETURN to the _ CLASSICS We’re coming over all nostalgic with our gifts this year

#GIFTS

GIFTS

Crackers

Dried Fruit

Resin Ornaments

Candles

Ribbons

Animal Ornaments

Wicker Ware

Wreaths & Garlands

 FISHER PRICE ClASSICS RECORd PlAYER amazon.co.uk 1

HJ HAll lUXURY COTTON SOCkS coes.co.uk

SUBBUTEO subbuteoworld.co.uk

SlOE GIN kIT www.firebox.com

ARTISAN kITCHEN AId jarrold.co.uk

SHAVING SET swaggerandjacks.com

L YO U R FO R A L ERY S AT IO N S A M T C H R IS

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TRULY UNIQUE? Why not sponsor a horse or donkey from Redwings Horse Sanctuary for your family and friends? It’s a fantastic way to make a new furry friend and makes a brilliant present for anyone who loves horses but might not be able to keep one of their own. A year’s sponsorship of a Redwings rescue horse or donkey costs just £12.50 and your loved one will receive a certificate, twice-yearly updates straight from the horse’s (or donkey’s) mouth and beautiful photographs of their new best friend. Best of all, every penny goes directly towards the care of your chosen horse or donkey and their friends at the Sanctuary, so they too can have a very happy Christmas. You can choose from 22 of Redwings’ special Adoption Stars to sponsor for your family and friends, all of whom are based at the charity’s visitor centres (two of the centres are based in Norfolk) so can be visited free of charge and as often as you like. To adopt a horse or donkey from Redwings Horse Sanctuary this Christmas, call 01508 481000 or visit www.redwings.org.uk/adopting /

FASHION

4 2

Choose your Winter Coat

Y 5

All Wrapped Up

our winter coat could be something you have in your wardrobe from one year to the next or perhaps you are like me and have one for every occasion – a dog walking coat, a ‘going out to dinner’ coat, a fur coat and then there’s the ‘just in case I cant find anything else’ coat (if I’m honest, there are lots more but I spread them around the house so not everyone needs to know the extent of my coat collection!) It will probably be one of the more expensive items you buy but we feel that applying the fashion maths formula will help... if you buy a coat for £95, wear it 25 weeks a year, four times a week that would equate to 95p cost per wear compared to a special christmas top that cost you £60 and you wore it twice a week over the christmas season, of say six weeks, then your cost per wear would be considerably more at £5 per wear. It may be a purchase you do at the beginning of the season or you may wait until the weather turns chilly, but whenever you choose there is plenty out there and here are a few of this seasons trends to get you in the mood…. Fabulous Fur 1 Fur seems to be a favourite trend every winter but there are always new variations to tempt us. This season Darling have a faux fur fabric coat which can be paired with jeans and boots for a casual daytime look but dress it with heels and it will keep you warm for all your winter social events this season.

_ dARlING COAT

£99

Vintage Twist 2 The vintage trend remains a classic style this season. Here at Dream on we stock a new clothing range called Alice’s Pig. The designs are inspired by vintage styling with an Alice in Wonderland twist. We are loving their beautiful vintage coat with its bright and playful checkered print together with its beautiful full skirt.

_ AlICE PIG REd COAT

Words by Amanda church Dream on

£127

Blame it on the 80’s! 3 Anyone who wasn’t around in the eighties will love this ‘new trend’. Bright, colourful and very loud makes this a style for those who like to make a statement. Power dressing was born in the eighties so shoulder pads and oversizing with big broad shoulders are in. Belts were also the name of the game, waist leather belts over slouchy tops provided a popular look for the catwalk.

_ SIlVANIA HEACH COAT

The Modern Classic If you think you’ve bought every version of the classic winter coat then think again. This season sees the new offerings which include gorgeous fabrics, classic lines and beautiful silhouettes. If you still feel you would like to add a little sparkle to your statement coat then brooches are back! No longer are they seen as a piece of jewellery only our grandmothers wore, now they are hitting the catwalks with a vengeance.

White As Snow 4 Although this may seem a little impractical for the winter, white coats have staked their claim this season. The palette is delicate and this ultra feminine look is popular.

_ POMOdORO WHITE COAT

£112.50

Red 5 And finally, with christmas on the horizon the colour of the season, perhaps not surprisingly, is red… anything from pillar box red to claret red but if you don’t feel like dressing in this seasonal colour then accessories could be the answer.

_ REd SCARF £18 & REd BAG £45

A little treat… Any customer who brings in a November copy of Ylm to the Dream on studio will receive a 10% discount on any AW15 winter coat, so why not pop in for a look? ● ...

BRIGHT, CoLoURFUL AND VERY LoUD MAKES THIS A STYLE FoR THoSE WHo LIKE To MAKE A STATEMENT ...

£165

FREYA dRESS £85 Darling

2 1 WHISTlES BIkER JACkET £295 House of Fraser 2 Bronze Octopus Necklace £15 ThedressTree via Etsy.com 3 ZIG ZAG BOdYCON dRESS £14.99 New look 4 MINI SkUll STUd EARRINGS £75 links of london 5 JASPER CONRAN REd PATENT ClUTCH BAG £39.00 debenhams 6 GOld HEEl MARY JANES £18 Very 6 ANNORA dRESS £180 Reiss 7 ARNOld VElVET JACkET £245 Topshop 8 BRONZE BROGUES £264 Sessun

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Ourck Pi

HOBBS FOYlE lACE dRESS £149 House of Fraser



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hristmas has almost arrived, and as ever it has caught me out. I’ve always made a conscious eﬀort to avoid thinking about the festive season until the 1st of December which I put down to mental conditioning as a youngster. From a very early age I can recall talk of Christmas getting earlier every year, and those doing the talking were most disapproving of the shift. So, getting all Christmassy early in the season was bad, and I guess that has stuck. If that sounds as though I’ve adopted my ‘grumpy old man’ persona, only too willing to cry ‘bah humbug’ at anyone showing the slightest Christmas cheer, you’d be wrong. Actually, I really look forward to the Christmas festivities – it’s just that I like them in December only, short and sweet if you like. Trouble is, if you think like that, you have to be uber organised, and that means lists. Ask any normal person about what might be on their Christmas list and you’ll get anything from the latest iBox/ xPad techie things, to earrings or perfume, or maybe peace in the world, or for the really desperate, that old standby of socks. Ask me what’s on my list and I’ll probably say finish installing the shower, painting the kitchen and fitting assorted new curtain poles, not to mention dealing with the drains. I suppose you would really call it a pre-Christmas list and that’s where I always seem to get a little unstuck. Perhaps I should explain at this point that we have been living in part-house, part-building site for the last couple of years and Mrs Ball is very keen that things should be finished off. Very, very keen that is. For most amateurs engaged in the house renovation business, Christmas is one of those immovable dates, the line

“A coupe is supposed to be the ultimate definition of dynamic sporting style in the automotive world - take a look at the Avantime and make your own mind up!”

MOTORING

tHe cHriStMAS LiSt BL AC K

More of a wish they never happened kind of list! in the sand where it has been decreed that certain things must be done, or else… I seem to recall that in the heady days of last summer, such a list may have been drawn up and presented to me. Now, if like me, you’re afflicted with a set of mental processes that imagines Christmas as a distant pimple on the horizon, you’re going to be in big trouble. But this column is supposed to be an irreverent look at the world cars and all things motoring and, fear not, all that time spent with sandpaper and paintbrush in hand has not been wasted. The luxury of such tasks is that they can be performed at an almost subconscious level. Conveniently this leaves the conscious brain free to roam more fertile plains in an effort to relieve the boredom. You do have to be a bit careful though, or you could end up painting the cat. Recent roaming’s for me could be grouped under the heading of ‘What possessed them to do that?’ ‘Them’ in this case is referring to all the designers, engineers and accountants that are responsible for our motoring pleasure. First on the list is the minor misdemeanour of unserviceability – by that I’m talking

about minor servicing work that is made awkward or downright impossible due to the layout of the car. We see a huge amount this type of thing in the workshop these days, most commonly headlamp bulbs that require removal of the bumper or some such other large chunk of machinery to complete the job. My favourite though is the Renault Espace V6 – of the 6 spark plugs fitted, three are easily changed, but the other three can only be accessed if the engine is removed first! I suspect that some of the more questionable decisions made by senior company executives may have been made after a particularly good lunch which may have included plenty of liquid refreshment.

Perhaps this was how the Porsche Cayenne was conceived. Why this maker of superlative supercars with arguably the most enviable competition record of all time should decide to hot up VW’s Tiguan 4x4 and slap their own badge on it I don’t know. Maybe an accountant suggested they could make a mint or something, but

at what cost to the credibility of the brand? It would be like Land Rover aspiring to make a supercar and contacting Ferrari with a view to remodelling the 458 and calling it the Superlander or something equally daft. But in order to differentiate it as a Land Rover product it would have to be offered with some of the usual options i.e. a winch, extra knobbly tyres, snorkel and maybe a diesel engine. Barking. But perhaps the greatest prize in this particular competition should go to Renault when they decided to make a coupe out of a people carrier. I am of course talking about the ill-fated Avantime. At the time, Renault were in the ascendency with some genuinely progressive designs and plenty of industry awards. But it seems as though those very awards may have gone to their heads, and after an especially fine lunch accompanied by plenty of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, some bright spark suggested this particular automotive disaster. A coupe is supposed to be the ultimate definition of dynamic sporting style in the automotive world - take a look at the Avantime and make your own mind up. The dynamics were no better either; the high centre of gravity of Espace upon which the Avantime was based gifted it with excessive roll and sloppy handling. Ultimately the buying public made their mind up and just 8557 were made before Renault saw sense and killed it off. ●

Words by leighten Ball Gm Autotech

YLM | Your LifestYLe Magazine

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CAPTURE

beautif ul images tha t insp ire

Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home! Charles Dickens â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Pickwick Papersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

STORIES

H I S T R E M B L I N G , B O N Y H A N D S S O M E H O W FA S H I O N E D T H E “ PA P E R I N T O A S L I G H T LY S C R U N C H E D U P C I G A R E T T E A N D , H AV I N G P O K E D O N E E N D O F I T B E T W E E N H I S T H I N , S L I G H T LY B L U E L I P S , H E R E AC H I N G S L O W LY F O R H I S L I G H T E R .

”

An eyebrow catching performance

Words by Sue Johnson

little over 45 years ago, a young girl went to visit an Old People’s home with her parents and their friends to sing Christmas Carols and tell again the wonderful story of the baby in the manger. They had visited many times before, but this visit was to create a memory that she would carry for the rest of her life... On the front row sat Jack and to this little girl, Jack appeared ancient. His tired eyes were sad and downcast, his skin like crumpled greaseproof paper, his shirtsleeves were rolled above his knobbly elbows revealing skinny forearms. Over-sized hands that once were strong and hard working, now lay twisted and stiff in his lap, which was peppered with ash from his home rolled cigarettes. His swollen feet erupted from his carpet slippers and although the singing was lively, there was no tapping left in these weary feet. As the festive service progressed, Jack fumbled in his waistcoat pocket and pulled out a battered leather pouch of tobacco along with a flimsy square of paper. He eventually balanced a dented metal lighter on the arm of his chair and then set about making himself another cigarette. The little girl had seen her grandfather perform this ritual and knew how it was supposed to go but it soon became obvious that Jack’s fingers didn’t have the same flexibility as her Grandad’s. Suddenly, she was jolted from her fascinated gazing as

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her father’s voice announced that she was going to sing what was (and still is) her favourite carol - Away in a Manger. The girl stood to her feet and as the pianist hammered out the introduction she turned her attention to the rest of the room and began ... ”Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head. The stars in the bright sky look down where he lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.” Many of the Grannies and Grandads closed their eyes and nodded in time to the music, their own memories of singing this ageless melody mingling with the rise and fall of the little girl’s voice. But then, just as “the cattle were lowing,” she spotted Jack and his cigarette. He had managed to tease a pinch of tobacco from the pouch and had placed it at one end of the paper. Now he was ‘rolling’ it, not without considerable difficulty, and she marvelled that even his tongue seemed shrivelled up as he lifted the paper to moisten the edge. His trembling, bony hands somehow fashioned the paper into a slightly scrunched up cigarette and having poked one end of it between his thin, slightly blue lips, he reaching slowly for his lighter. “I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky ...” Do you know what I mean when I say that sometimes life turns into slow motion? Well, that’s what happened next for the girl as she watched and

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sang, presumably on autopilot for although the gathering clapped enthusiastically at the end of the song, she had no recollection of actually singing it. She had noticed with horror that Jack had put the tobacco filled end of the cigarette into his mouth and as he brought the lighter closer and closer to the other end, it dawned on her what was to happen next. Finally, Jack’s hand-eye co-ordination came together and the lighter flame connected with the paper just a couple of inches from the end of his pointy nose. The paper ignited and the flame began travelling towards his face. The only movement from Jack was his widening eyes, as they gradually crossed while following the progress of the flame, until, just before she was sure it would set him on fire, the flame was halted as it finally reached the tobacco; Jack puffed furiously sending up clouds of smoke. He closed his eyes, momentarily looking more satisfied than terrified, and then he took the last inch (the bit with most of the tobacco in it) from his mouth and stubbed it out. Oh the relief! Jack had survived, and would, presumably, in time, repeat the whole hair-raising-eyebrowsingeing performance! “Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask You to stay Close by me forever and love me I pray; Bless all the dear children in Your tender care, And take us to heaven to live with You there.” Happy Christmas!

THE CHRISTMAS EVE TREE by delia Huddy & Emily Sutton £12.99 A small crooked fir tree is the only tree left in the shop late on Christmas Eve and it thinks that it will be left all alone... but then a boy comes in who doesn’t seem to care that the little fir tree isn’t very big or impressive and together the boy and the tree manage to bring some Christmas magic to the city! A beautifully illustrated heart warming story. TOkYO CUlT RECIPES by Maori Murota £20 Tokyo Cult Recipes brings together 100 authentic recipes which for Maori Murota define classic Tokyo cuisine. These recipes are simple and easy to make, whilst providing a wide variety of unique incredible flavours from stuffed omelette to ramen plus some mouth watering sweet snacks like rice balls in syrup, proving that there is far more to Japanese food than just sushi. MORE lETTERS OF NOTE compiled by Shaun Usher £30 A follow- up to ‘letters of Note’, ‘More letters of Note’ collects more correspondence from celebreties, historical figures and also some fictional characters including Jane Austen, Alan Turing and Marge Simpson. These letters are in turns inspiring, moving and also comic and this fantastic book also contains the original copies along with photographs and illustrations. This correspondence definitely deserves to be preserved and enjoyed. THE CHRISTMAS STORIES by Charles dickens £14.99 This beautiful volume brings together master storyteller Charles dickens’ Christmas stories, from the well loved classic, ‘A Christmas Carol’ to some of his lesser known works such as ‘The Chimes’ and ‘The Cricket on the Hearth’. Charles dickens was a tireless campaigner for social justice and that shines through in his stories which perfectly capture the Christmas spirit. A book to treasure.

Charles Dickens was a tireless campaigner for social justice and that shines through in his stories which perfectly capture the Christmas spirit. A NOW IS THE TIME by Melvyn Bragg £18.99

Great historical fiction for the Christmas break. In 1381 king Richard II is on the throne, he is only fourteen years old but already certain of his divine right to rule with the help of his powerful mother, Princess Joan. However there is unrest in the kingdom and a vast force of ordinary people led by a former soldier, Walter Tyler, and radical preacher John Ball look set to invade london. They are determined to rescue the king from his corrupt ministers and they demand freedom from servitude, equality and the complete uprooting of church and state and it looks as though the old order may be overthrown... Melvyn Bragg brings this troubled time in British history vividly to life, a gripping story.

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A SElECTION OF FORTHCOMING EVENTS IN OUR REGION

WHAt’S oN in December

UNTIl 24TH FEBRUARY ICE SKATING AT SToNHAM BARNS Stonham Barns will feature an Ice Rink this year, with skating available between 11th-24th december. The rink will be open daily, 10am-8pm. Whilst the Christmas festivities at Stonham Barns will be in full swing there will be fun fair rides for all the family, hot chestnuts, sweet stalls and the ice skating rink available for all ages! SToNHAm BARNS £6 | £3 www.stonhambarns.co.uk UNTIl SAT 30TH JAN THE SWoRD IN THE SToNE Written by Peter Rowe, and performed in the New Wolsey’s traditional actormusician style, this brand new take on the legendary tale of king Arthur mixes music and magic, swordplay and slapstick into a wicked festive brew with a classic rock’n’roll kick. It’s the end of the war and the Barbarians have been beaten back! But now the time has come to unite the seven kingdoms together by crowning the bravest knight of all as the rightful king of all the Britons. Join Merlin, Guinevere, kay and the stunning dame Bernadette Broadbottom to discover just who pulled the sword from that stone! With favourite tunes including: I’m Going To Rain On Your Parade, You Got The love, Come On Baby light My Fire and Backstreet’s Back… NEW WOlSEY THEATRE, IPSWICH

01473 295900 www.wolseytheatre.co.uk

UNTIl 20TH MARCH ALpHoNSE MUCHA: IN QUEST oF BEAUTY Czech-born Alphonse Mucha (1860 – 1939) is one of the most celebrated artists of the fin-de-siècle. Rising to international fame with his elegant designs for decorative panels, and stunning advertising posters, ‘le style Mucha’ became synonymous with the Art Nouveau movement. Alphonse Mucha: In Quest of Beauty explores the work of the artist, around the theme of beauty – the core principle underlying his artistic philosophy. The show will include over 60 works drawn primarily from the collection of the Mucha Trust, focusing on drawings, paintings, photographs and iconic posters, such as Gismonda, Mucha’s first poster designed for the actress Sarah Bernhardt. SAINSBURY ceNTRe FoR VISUAl ARTS £7 / £6 www.scva.ac.uk

THE lITTlE MATCH GIRl Thurday 17th december EYE TOWN HAll

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SUN 13TH ST NICHoLAS CHRISTMAS EXpERIENCE Shopkeepers, cafes and stallholders will be open holding a very special Christmas Experience right in the heart of diss - St. Nicholas Street, Norfolk House & Cobbs Yards. Peruse the shops and stalls selling gifts, food, drinks, confectionery, chocolates, fashion, crafts and lots more. Music, mulled wine and Mincepies add to the ambience.

DISS ToWN ceNTRe 10am to 3pm | Free 01379 652986

SUN 13TH & SUN 20TH MY CHRISTMAS WISH Tis the season for Christmas trees, family traditions and Bing Crosby crooning White Christmas… but it’s also the season for last minute shopping, awkward family get togethers, and sugar crazed kids. It’s Christmas time… This year’s services will be a mixture of Christmas carols, wish granting and a Christmas message… Through all the Christmas chaos, if you could have one Christmas wish, what would it be? We’ve all got that one thing we’re hoping will be under the tree when we tiptoe down on Christmas morning. From a chocolate penny to a new Ferrari, the perfect marriage or peace on earth; we all have a gift that we’d love to receive. If you’d like to submit a wish for us to make a reality at these services click here to find out some more details. This year the Christmas service will be at both our locations, at Thurston New Green Centre on dec 13th and debenham leisure Centre on december 20th DeBeNHAm & THURSToN www.forgechurch.com THURS 17TH RICHARD DURRANT - CANDLELIT CHRISTMAS CoNCERT Richard durrant is not only a world class, virtuoso guitarist, he is a creative force and his Christmas shows are amongst his most beautiful creations. Amy kakoura, a singer with Greek Irish roots and an almost indescribably stunning voice, joins Richard for their third consecutive Christmas tour. With the evocative and wintry sound of early music from Christian, pagan and folk traditions as well as many wonderfully distinctive durrant originals, these concerts have become a much loved part of Christmas for audiences throughout the Uk. Richard and Amy make a welcome return after their sell-out show last year. Whether they are performing the oldest songs in the Oxford Book of Carols or duetting on Fairytale of New York, this is a show of surprises and midwinter charm. THe cUT, HAleSWoRTH 7:30pm | £12.00 / £5.00 01986 873285 www.newcut.org THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL It is Christmas Eve, snow litters the ground and the little girl wanders the streets alone. She is desperate to get warm so she lights the matches that she has been selling. With each match she is transported by its warmth into the scenes behind the glass. She becomes a part of the festivities, meeting Father Christmas, playing in the snow and eating the most delicious feast but with the light of each match they fade and are just beyond reach. Using their unique combination of visual storytelling, live music and object work, Moon On A Stick transform the stage into a stunning snowy spectacle.

FRI 18 dEC - SAT 02 JAN THE LIoN, THE WITCH & THE WARDRoBE The Maddermarket has a wonderful reputation for offering high quality original family entertainment and this Christmas, we are proud to be presenting The lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Peter, Susan, Edmund and lucy embark on a magical mystery tour to the land of Narnia through the wardrobe. There they encounter the wicked White Witch, representing the forces of evil, and the king of the Beasts, Aslan the lion, representing all that is good and right. The White Witch is destroyed, allowing good to triumph over evil in the time-honoured way. mADDeRmARKeT THeATRe £10 / £15 / £19 / £38 01603 620917 maddermarket.co.uk MON 21ST & TUES 22Nd THE MIXED VoICE CHRISTMAS SHoW @ opEN, NoRWICH mixed Voice to bring a new kind of christmas magic to Norwich! With a professional band and over 50 of the best singers and dancers in the region, mixed Voice will be presenting a brand new christmas spectacle at oPeN, Norwich for the whole family. Inspired by the classic christmas family movie, ‘Home Alone’, mixed Voice will take you on a musical journey through the christmas songbook. You will follow Joshua, a 10 year old boy, who discovers a magical winter wonderland in the depths of his dusty old attic - but this is only the beginning of an evening full of wonder and surprise. 7.30pm | £18 01603 628319 www.mixedvoice.co.uk MON 21ST GINGERBREAD HoUSE WoRKSHop Come and get festive at The Mix this Christmas with our Gingerbread House workshop. Suitable for children or young people aged 11 to 19 with additional needs. Come make and decorate festive gingerbread houses this december! All the ingredients will be supplied but if you would like anything special to decorate your house please bring these along with you. Booking is essential for this workshop. THe mIX 10:00am - 1:00pm | £8 01449 745130 www.themixstowmarket.com

22Nd & 23Rd, 26TH - 3Rd JAN CRAFTS FoR CHILDREN AT ICKWoRTH HoUSE Our popular children’s crafts are back to fill in the festive gap. This is a chance to get out and give the children something to do either to calm them down or after fill some time in the after Christmas week. Our restaurant will be open if you fancy a postChristmas treat. There is no charge for this event, although normal admission prices apply. 11am to 3.00pm 01263 820800 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ickworth WEd 23Rd AN ALBIoN CHRISTMAS described in the Guardian as “The perfect antidote to the corporate Christmas.”, the show features the combined talents of Simon Nicol (Fairport Convention), kellie While (Albion Band) Simon Care (Edward II) and the Guvnor himself, Ashley Hutchings, this show takes you on a guided tour through the Christmas customs of Britain. THe APeX, BURY ST eDmUNDS 8pm | £18 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk FRI 25TH CHRISTMAS DAY CHARITY SWIM The swim will take place on Christmas day morning on Southwold Beach near to Gun Hill. Spectators are welcome if you don’t fancy a dip. Fancy dress is encouraged. We ask all swimmers to raise some sponsorship money for their swim in aid of our chosen Charities. GUN HIll BeAcH, SoUTHWolD 10:30 - 11:30 southwoldrotary.co.uk MON 28TH CHRISTMAS WALK Guided walk from Ness Point along the North Sea Wall and return via Sparrows Nest. (Facilities and Café at Sparrows Nest. leader Howard Bayliss) NeSS PoINT, loWeSToFT 10am - 12.30pm | Free 01502 539030 www.rspb.org.uk

CoMING SooN FRI 8TH JAN SoN YAMBU Son Yambu play authentic ‘Son Cubano’ or Cuban son - the essential Afro-Cuban music that originated in the streets of eastern Cuba at the turn of the last century and gave rise to salsa. The band features a new generation of Cuban musicians who are all passionate about maintaining the traditions of the genre, continuing the Buena Vista legacy that put Cuban music back on the map in 1997. Since their debut album ‘la Maravilla’ was released to rave reviews at the end of 2012, Son Yambu have gone from strength to strength and are currently in the studio recording their second album. last year saw the band playing all over the Uk as part of a hugely suc-

cessful Arts Council Tour, there was another live session for Sean Rafferty on BBC Radio 3’s ‘In Tune’, as well as lots of amazing festival appearances including Glastonbury, The Manchester Jazz Festival and the Rainforest World Music Festival in Borneo - to name but a few! ‘ The UK’s very own Buena Vista band.... absolutely tremendous... if you don’t start to move to this there is no hope for you! Extraordinary music.’ —Sean Rafferty, BBC Radio 3. September 13, 2012

SAINSBURY CENTRE FOR VISUAl ARTS

This beautiful, playful production is suitable for ages 3+ providing a perfect Christmas show for a younger audience. eYe ToWN HAll 6.30pm £3 | £10 07713 196251 moononastickproductions.com f moononasticktheatre

AlPHONSE MUCHA ‘In Questof Beauty’ Until March 2016

EVENTS

THe APeX, BURY ST eDmUNDS 8pm | £18 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

THURS 14TH JAN KATHERINE RYAN – KATHBUM Star of live At The Apollo, QI and The Jonathan Ross Show, the razor sharp and hilariously funny Canadian returns with a highly anticipated new show. “Thoughtful, funny and just twisted enough.” — The Times THe APeX 8pm | £18.50 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

FRI 22Nd JAN DISS CoRN HALL oN ToUR pRESENTS LUKE WRIGHT - WHAT I LEARNED FRoM JoHNNY BEVAN A story of shattered friendship, class ceilings, and the hollow reality of the New labour dream. At university the whip-smart, mercurial Johnny Bevan saves Nick, smashing his comfortable, middle class bubble and firing him up about politics, music and literature. Twenty years later, as their youthful dreams disintegrate with the social justice they hoped for, can Nick save Johnny from himself? luke Wright delivers a multi awardwinning hurricane of a performance infused with humour, humanity and wit. He strikes at the heart of British politics, questioning the middle class value system that saw the rise of New labour, david Cameron and the abandonment of the working class. ‘Pulsating piece of poetic storytelling’ — Lyn Gardner, Guardian ‘Blistering … a story of our times … a strikingly assured performance of a compelling piece of writing.’— Scotsman THe Scole INN 8pm | £10 / £8.50 www.disscornhall.co.uk

Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to make this listing as accurate as possible, we recommend that you verify times and dates etc. prior to attending any events. Entries for February 2016 by 10th January via info@ylm.co.uk

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