YLM November 2015 | #65

YOUR LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

LOUISE PRIEST

“

MY

BROADCASTING JOURNEY

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+ PEN SIO N SCH EM E UPD ATE SHOW YOUR SKIN SOME LOVE ?

AN DA L : WH AT NO W TH E EM IS SI ON S SC

WELCOMING IN THE

WINTER DAYS ISSUE

#65

N O V E M B E R 2015

loving life in Norfolk & Suffolk

F IND U S ON f Panache Home and Accessories

decor

gif ts

clothing

painting clas se s

J an 01379 3 8 8 691 info @ p anachehome andacce s sorie s.co.uk

Unit rear of Ches tnut House

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Wilby Road

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Stradbroke

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I told you that I loved you, time and time again, but you got me crying, baby, and my tears are flowing just like rain.

Well, I’m all alone and blue as can be, and I’m walking, walking, walking up a one way street.

”

Willie Tee ‘Walking up a one way street’ (Northern Soul Classsic from the

YOUR LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE for NORFOLK & SUFFOLK

New Orleans born artist)

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ENQUIRIES

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T 01379 669 299 E info@ylm.co.uk

BY POST YLM PO Box 370 Eye IP22 9BP

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THE YLM FAMILY

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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 SUBSCRIPTIONS Enquiries to info@ylm.co.uk using the word ‘Subscribe’

WELCOME 7

GRAPE IMPRESSION

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ON AIR

14

SEASON OF MISTS

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

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AUTUMN DAYS

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Gabriel's Garden keeps on giving as nature takes over

BRIGHT UP YOUR LIFE

Louise Priest reflects on the path to becoming a broadcast journalist

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

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Display objects with a natural feel around your home

“Each year we trim back the growth, and tie down a fresh pair of stems to the fruiting wire. This allows new growth to come from those branches.”

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THE WINTER HOME

"I have heard good reports of hanging bags of human hair around susceptible plants and trees to prevent deer stripping the bark!"

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Inject colour and light into your living space with soft furnishings, lighting and fun objects

REJUVENATE YOUR SKIN

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Scultura Clinic can boost your self - esteem

CONTENTS

FALLEN OFF THE JOB LADDER?

27

James Hopgood from Steeles Law advises on how to cushion the fall

SUPER SERVICE

28

What experience are your customers getting?

PENSION SCHEMES

31

Keeping up to date with the new compulsory pension plan

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34

18

SMOKY EYES

(E)MISSION TOO FAR?

"Simply by choosing three eye shadow shades: a light, a midtone and a dark we can create the look for both day and night."

How clean is your car?

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SHOW YOUR SKIN SOME LOVE

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A PASSION & A PLACE

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elcome to the November issue.

I have just been for a beautiful walk down to Hoxne river, the ground was covered in leaves of all colours. I had a warm coat and a woolly hat on, a little different to the walks I was on just a few days ago in New Orleans, Louisiana!

I had a life changing opportunity to go to New Orleans in October and stay at Eddie Esposito’s home with a few close friends of mine who are also business owners. Eddie is an international expert in referral marketing and has great communication skills. We spent three days in the class room with Eddie and I found the things I learnt to be life changing.

I enjoyed a stroll every morning to the Levee, which was only five minutes from where I was staying. It was 30°F so only summer clothes required, certainly no autumn leaves on the ground! Seeing the pelican’s every morning while walking was amazing and a little further on there was a sign warning of alligators in the area!...

I didn’t see any!

I also got to go on a steam boat on the Mississippi, and spent time in jazz bars which was incredible.

I also ate oysters for the first time and drank the local cocktail called a hurricane. My friend James thought it would be funny to get

WELCOME

me the hurricane cocktail, I won’t be having one of those again in a hurry! You can go on our YLM Facebook page to see some of my photos from New Orleans adventure. We would love some more facebook followers, so please like our page.

I hope you enjoy the story in this issue of YLM, it’s about John Stares and his dream to have a vineyard at his home. We went along and helped John and his family pick the grapes in his vineyard. It was a fantastic day and I thought you guys would enjoy hearing all about it.

If you know of any inspiring stories in Suffolk or Norfolk that you think would be a good fit for YLM, please get in touch with me by letter, email or phone. I am so passionate about sharing great tales about our beautiful area or local people with a story to tell.

Keep warm and happy, I look forward to catching up you in the December issue. ●

Norfolk & Suffolk landscapes

by Paul Macro

MOD CLOTH

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We indulge in mod culture revival

BOOK CLUB

44

WHAT’S ON

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DIRECTORY

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THE BEST YOU

38

The latest Dream On makeover ladies

COVER

‘Woodcutter leaving for home’ Wendy Aiken Photography

YOUR LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE for NORFOLK & SUFFOLK

Excuses to pamper someone from Geraldine Walters

NOVEMBER 2015

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STORIES

“The atmosphere on the vineyard was great, everyone working together to get the grapes harvested.

It is back aching stuff, but really satisfying.”

GRAPE IMPRESSION Reporting on a sucessful harvest at 12 Vines Vineyard

Words by Wendy Aiken

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n October I was invited, along with my husband Ben and daughter Willow, to help our friends John and Jo bring in the harvest on their vineyard. The plot is at their home in East Ruston (famous for the Old Vicarage gardens), where have lived here for 12 years this Christmas. Jo and John have been married for 26 years and they have five children: Joseph (22), Jocelyn (20), Joshua (16) and twins Jamie and Jacob (nearly 15!).

When I mention that all the names start with a ‘J’, John tells me that’s a story for another day! John was born in Nottinghamshire, however, his Dad’s family is from Norwich, and they moved back to Norfolk when he was two. John considers himself a Norfolk boy. He loves Norfolk because he thinks it’s the

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friendliest county, with a great variation in scenery, from the broads to the beaches, to the farming heart of Norfolk and the fantastic market towns.

When we arrived at Jo and John’s home, John greeted us with his usual cheerful manner and we were shown how to harvest the grapes. Tools at the ready, (a pair of secetares and a knee pad each) we were introduced to their other friends and family members who had come along to help also. The atmosphere on the vineyard was great, everyone working together to get the grapes harvested. It is back aching stuff, but really satisfying as you fill container upon container full of grapes, making sure no leaves or bad grapes go in. Jamie and Jacob (the twins) ran up and down the rows of vines collecting the containers full of the fruit and giving us empty baskets to fill.

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They also made sure we all had refreshments, while Willow decided it was more fun to chase and whip the boys with a willow branch she had found!

At lunchtime everyone stopped and went and sat round the very large farmhouse table, at which we got to sample the wine produced from last year's crop (yummy). It was so lovely to sit round the table, eat beautiful local produce and enjoy the company with plenty of laughter, what a great sense of community.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves and it didn’t take long after we had been fed and watered to get back out into the vineyard and get the rest of the crop picked.

Seeing all the grapes loaded ready to go be made into wine, filled me with a real sense of achievement. I would like to thank John, Jo and their family for allowing us to be a part of something very special. We had a fantastic day and funnily

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enough, we all slept very well that night!

Once fully recovered, I caught up again with John and he was able to tell me some more about his story...

You have your own very successful building business, can you tell me about other jobs you’ve had and how you got started?

I left school in 1980 and wanted to join the RAF. I ended up going to college, studying Mechanical and Design Engineering to (the old now) HND level 3, before joining. During my time a school and college I worked for a local builder who specialized in barn conversions to earn some extra cash. I was fascinated by the transformation from wreck to a beautiful house. This stuck with me so much that, when I left the RAF, I set up my first building/ maintenance company with a partner: Robin, who still runs that business

today. I then went back into employment for a few years before setting up JS Building Services in 2002.

Do you remember where and when you first thought about having own vineyard?

No idea when I first thought about it, but I do know it came about after a chance meeting.

I met a man called David who had a vineyard just outside North Walsham that he had gained when he bought the house. He had a chap (Chris Hatto) who helped him maintain the vineyard and offered me an introduction. I had explained that we had a three acre, south-facing field which I fancied planting a vineyard on. And so it began... Chris organised a soil test so we could check what we were able to grow, then we spent six months to a year working out what three verities would blend together to give us a simple dry white wine. The reason we

picked three was so if any one failed at harvest, we would still be able to get enough to produce a reasonable quantity.

We select Baucus (the Roman god of wine), an old verity but good solid if a little too dry, then Schomberger because it added a little subtlety and also Reichenstiener, for volume and flavour…. we hoped they would make a good blend, especially as we could not find anyone doing the same.

How many Vines did you plant and how long after planting did you get your first crop?

Once the order went in, it was eight months and spring 2006 when we were able to plant 800 vines over one acre.

We had a huge amount of help from several families in the village over three days. We then left them (apart from some early watering) to their own devices for 12 months, with just a vine protector and a cane for support. The next year we

STORIES

“The name came about because after planting there was 12 of us sat around a fire-pit drinking wine and nursing our aching backs!”

installed the trellising you see now and started to train the vines along the fruiting wire.

Each year we trim back the growth, and tie down a fresh pair of stems to the fruiting wire (cane replacement). This allows new growth to come from those branches. It was four years before we took our first harvest, this gave the vines time to establish.

Why call it 12 Vines Vineyard?

The name came about because after planting there was 12 of us sat around a fire-pit drinking wine and nursing our aching backs! Help these days comes occasionally from the children with mowing etc, but the day-to-day care comes from Jo and myself. When it comes to harvest, each year we get lots of fantastic volunteers to help, so that we can harvest and press the grapes all in one day!

Can you tell me about where the grapes go after they are picked?

We have always taken our grapes to Shawsgate Vineyard in Framlingham where Ron Capp, the resident winemaker, turns the grapes into our own wine. We may go down a couple of times during the fermentation process and suggest on flavour adjustments or sweetness levels etc. Generally we harvest towards the end of October and look to collect the finished bottled wine in May or June. Because we keep our wine simple; with no added chemicals or preservatives, it just needs a couple of weeks before it’s ready to drink.

Was it a good crop this year and what do you do with all your wine as it’s not available to buy?

With your help this year we had a record crop of 1.5 tonnes of grapes, which should give us 1200 litres of wine. An average years’ production is 1000 bottles. These we label at home

with our branding designed

by Jack Jones from Jones & Co (who also happens to be my brother in law!). We don’t sell any, just share it with one or two customers and those friends who help out. There is never much left by the time the next batch arrives!

for good English wine in the supermarket! It tends to be more expensive that our European rivals because the quality is higher and the production volumes are smaller, but well worth hunting out. Waitrose sell a Richenstiener sparkling wine that would rival any good Champagne. ●

Do you visit other vineyards and what would your top-tips be to anyone thinking about doing it themselves?

I love visiting other vineyards and can’t help but admiring the hard work that clearly goes into most we have seen. There are now well over 100 English vineyards listed in the vineyard directory of which we are one.

To anybody thinking about planting one three pieces of advice... One, make sure you have a strong back and plenty of time (two days per week in the summer months). Two, take expert advice on planting, particularly the trellising.

And lastly, go out and look

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00 : 00

I How does one get into broadcasting?

n some ways you could say November launched my career in television, with the help of a bear called Pudsey. At school, as I have already mentioned in this column, I was pretty average at everything (apart from the disaster with Latin and hockey).

I loved Home Economics (the theory behind food as well as the practical). So when the time came to choose a career I found a degree which combined both Home Economics with Public Media. I didn’t fancy being a Home Economics teacher of a demonstrator for the then, British Gas Board. So up to Leeds I went for three years. It was an odd degree which, apart from a small amount of practical, also included food science and ‘family, kinship and marriage’, taught by a Nun! One aspect of the degree was the chance to get out into the workplace for a month, on three attachments. I spent some time at the Loughborough Echo newspaper, also at Woman Magazine in the beauty department (don’t snigger) and then to the World Association of Christian Communication on the Kings Road in London. I can’t remember what I did there but I do remember a very kind American Lutheran

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COMMENT

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vicar. He even took me home to meet his family one day. I was amazed at the spam cooked in lime jelly, I kid you not. I have never tasted anything like it since. I also gained some valuable experience working at the local independent radio station in Leeds, Radio Aire.

Anyway I finished my degree and went on to the London College of Printing at the Elephant and Castle (now called the London College of Communication) It was a year’s radio journalism course. I was so nervous.

I remember every morning the tutor would chose one of us to speak to the class for a minute on a story we had read in the newspaper on the way in. At that time it wasn’t a post graduate course so we had a whole range of personalities including a man whose qualification up to that point was teaching people to ride. Also we had an actress, plus a few like myself, fresh from university. It really was a baptism of fire. We were sent out to report on local by elections including ones where say Harriet Harman and Simon Hughes become MPs. We also had to 'make' radio programmes with

timed deadlines. Fortunately for the twenty or so of us on the course, our tutor went on to head the BBC training unit so most of us gravitated to the BBC. I started out on the temporary reporter reserve, as it was known. I worked at Radio Guernsey, Radio Derby and WM in Birmingham. Then I got a job at BBC Radio Norfolk, starting as a reporter then becoming a news producer and a stand in presenter, which I loved.

Back to Pudsey. One year I was given the chance to do a small television report for BBC Look East and Children in Need.

I remember sitting on the top desk of a bus next to Pudsey in Felixstowe, whilst also reporting on a Children in Need fund raising abseil down the BT Tower in Martlesham. I ended up having to abseil too, as it would make good pictures! No training or working up to that one! Thank goodness for a hunky army guy giving me explicit instructions on how to haul myself down from the top!

After that, I gradually moved across the road (Surrey Street in Norwich) to become part of the

BBC Look East team, reporting and presenting. Going back to being pretty average at most things, I feel very lucky that I was in the right place at the right time with my career. I have interviewed some rich and famous people, been inside a prison and even donned a wet suit to try out a giant hamster wheel in the harbour at Ipswich, all for the camera. I was lucky enough to present the breakfast programme on BBC Radio Norfolk for six years after returning to the county after a brief spell as a mother with two small children in Essex. (Even there, I lived near a BBC Look East cameraman so on the odd occasion was hauled out of 'retirement' to do the odd report or two.)

My true love is radio; the spontaneity and fun which I continue to have when standing in for Nick Conrad on BBC Radio Norfolk. I also love the many aspects of my TV work, the presenting and also the editing of pictures which most journalists now do. So yes, I am lucky but a good friend of mine said to me years ago, “you make your own luck”.

Do you? ●

“I ended up having to abseil down the BT Tower in Martlesham as it would make good pictures!”

Words by Louise Priest “ I WA S L U C K Y E N O U G H T O P R E S E N T T H E B R E A K FA S T P R O G R A M M E O N BBC R A DIO NOR FOLK FOR SI X Y E A R S A FTER R ET U R N I NG TO TH E COU N T Y A F T E R A B R I E F S P E L L A S A M O T H E R W I T H T W O S M A L L C H I L D R E N I N E S S E X .”

Broadcast Journalist

BBC Look East

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keep yer heel down bor Wotcha!

Well, bors, (‘bors’ I said, not bores!) I reckon 2015 must be headin’ to be one of the wettest on record, cos oive lost count of how many times me rain gauge hev filled up to two inches. And I can’t really remember when me allotment were last dry – which is good in a way cos the soil is so light it turns to dust in a dry spell.

It’s then that I could do wiv some o’ that there Mars water that NASA hev just found. Wot you fink about that?

I were suffen buoyed by the news. I heard on the grapevine that Anglian Water wanted to ‘tap’ into it but NASA said ‘no’ because they weren’t on a mete(o)r. Now I hear that the International Space Agency want to send a manned spacecraft t’ the other side of the moon to see if they can find water there. We better watch out – at this rate aliens ‘ll be arriving to pinch some of ours! I jest looked up ‘Martian’ in the dictionary and it do list it as ‘an inhabitant of Mars.’

Collins must know suffen we don’t!

Well, me hearties, toime t’ take stock and hev a look at how the year ha’ been. Fer me it ha’ bin a pretty good-un. Even me beetroot did well this year (thank goodness fer that I hear you say – after all the moaning about golf ball sized beet I did last year!). In fact, Oive hed a glut o’ stuff this year and more than even I can eat – and anyone who knows me well will be suffen surprised at that! What pleased me most was a good crop o’ runner beans which oive bin strugglin’ wiv in previous years.

Dew yew keep on troshin’, and the last word on Mars water is that I hear Richard Branson tried to book a flight there but NASA said ‘no’ because he might bottle it! However, Branson told them it’s an idea that’s ballooning. You gotta laff!

Mark Aiken dayburst@diss.co.uk

HOMES & GARDENS

“ MOST PRU N I NG A N D SH A PI NG IS A LSO DON E W H I L E TH E S A P I S L O W, T H I S R E D U C E S ‘ B L E E D I N G ’ A N D H U RT S T H E T R E E L E S S .”

SEASON of MISTS

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hat a glorious autumn we have had, the best I remember for quite a long time. Calm warm days, lots of bright sunshine and crisp in the mornings (Champagne Days). The hedgerows are full of fruit and the autumn colours are a riot. This begs the question – what causes the colours in the leaves?

All plants, including trees, have chlorophyll in the leaves – chlorophyll is green. Variegated and coloured leaves (copper beech) have green chlorophyll but other pigments as well.

Chlorophyll may be thought of as the power house of the plant. It absorbs light energy from the sun which combines carbon dioxide molecules to produce glucose and oxygen. A mature tree can produce enough oxygen for ten people each year which is why trees are thought of as the ‘lungs of the world’. The glucose is transported around the tree in the sap and eventually is stored as cellulose which is used to form the cell walls of the new growth. (Think of the sweetness of maple syrup!)

As the temperature drops and daylight gets shorter, chlorophyll disappears and other pigments present become visible giving the autumn colours. Think of the scarlet of the Canadian maple or the gold of silver birch. Once the chlorophyll disappears, the leaves will die and drop and the tree will ‘go to sleep’ or hibernate (Latin hiberna – win-

ter quarters). The sap falls back down to the roots. If it stayed in the branches it may freeze and expand, splitting the bark and killing the tree. The buds of flowers and leaves “If the bark is damaged, water can get in and freeze, causing much greater damage.” are formed in late summer but lie dormant until spring to avoid frost damage. If the bark is damaged, water can get in and freeze, causing much greater damage. Frost damaged roots reduce the ability to send nutrients and water to the canopy. Heavy rain and flooding can wash away the soil; undermining the tree making it unstable or reducing the efficacy of the roots.

Conifers do not loose their leaves or needles in winter (except larch and the maiden hair tree), the needles are woody and covered in resin, guarding against frost damage; conifers still reduce the amount of sap to prevent risk of damage.

Other risks of damage in the winter are rabbits and deer stripping the bark; they are after the sweetness of the sap. Rabbit guards are relatively inexpensive but the deer need something more substantial. I have heard good reports of hanging bags of human hair around susceptible plants/trees. Speak with your hairdresser; I am sure they will let you have the floor sweepings.

The dropped leaves might seem a nuisance, all that clearing up! However they are full of essential miner-

als and fibre; all trees rely on these for next years growth. They are fairly easy to sweep into bags ready for spreading and digging in next spring. No problem at all if you are lucky enough to have a leaf blower.

After the leaves drop it is a good time to walk round your trees and inspect for damage or disease – much easier to spot when the leaves have gone. Look for cracks in the forks and bark showing the lighter coloured sap wood underneath and dead branches.

Most pruning and shaping is also done while the sap is low, this reduces ‘bleeding’ and hurts the tree less. Planting of new trees is also preferable in autumn or spring when there is no risk of frost. The sap is low and they stand a better chance of ‘taking’.

If you are in any doubt what to do – give us a call and we will give you our advice. ●

Words by Joan Garnham Waveney Tree Specialists

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the

WINTER HOME

Bringing the outside in

HOMES & GARDENS

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t’s that time year when the nights are becoming longer, days shorter, and we all seem to hibernate a little more in our homes and they become more of a haven than ever. However it is still a very busy time for most, cutting the lawn for the last time, putting away garden furniture, gathering the fallen leaves, making our homes feel more welcoming during the cold

and damp autumn days and preparing for the forthcoming Christmas season.

Unlike the spring and summer months when we are surrounded by nature and light, we find ourselves trying to find ways to bring the outside in during the autumn months.

Adding nature into our homes is a lot easier than you think!

It is a lovely time of year to wrap up warm and take a leisurely autumn stroll whilst

gazing around at nature just admiring the beautiful autumn colours. There is an abundance of golden yellows, oranges, deep reds, greens and even greys, which when combined and used in our interiors can create a stunning cosy feel. And remember there is no need to redecorate to make our homes full of autumn you can simply add different colours that blend with your existing décor by merely changing your cushions, throws or rugs to more autumn shades.

The most common way of bringing the outside in is with potted plants and flowers and we are lucky nowadays that we can also purchase some very realistic artificial specimens. You could even go one step further and bring a tree into your home, small obviously, but placed in a large planter in front of natural light can look stunning and remember real plants do actually improve the air quality of our homes too.

Even though we want our homes to feel cosy it is very important to bring as much light as possible into our homes during the day which creates a feeling of freshness and cheerfulness.

It is also particularly important if you want to decorate your home with plants. However, during the evening it is then lovely to cast a soft glow by turning off the overhead lights and with lots of candles at various heights to create an appealing flickering atmosphere turning your home into an autumn retreat.

“Use natural products such as stone or wood in part of your home’s interior décor.”

DIARY We have only a couple of places remaining on the painting workshop on 28th November 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

Another strategy is to use natural products such as stone or woods normally found outdoors in part of your home’s interior décor. This can be done in so many different ways in the form of flooring and furniture.

A strong trend at the moment are items made from casual driftwood, including tables, lamps or sculptures and they suit any type of interior as well as becoming much more readily available.

Accessories from nature are also very popular at the moment and come in all forms of products from soft reindeer or cowhide rugs to cable knitted cushions and foot stools, rope doorstops and rattan baskets.

The choice is huge and there is something to suit everyone’s taste of décor.

Finally, making our homes cosy for those long autumn and winter evenings not only has to be visual but also involves your other senses like smell. Pumpkin pies, cinnamon, diffusers, your log fire burning away are all welcome ways to make your home feel full of autumn. ●

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

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What’s happening in Gabriel’s Garden?

Autumn Days

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he flowers in the garden are finished for the year and there is a temptation to tidy up, cut back and clean up the old flower heads and stalks from the beds and borders. The teasel stalks and artichoke heads create architectural structures; beautiful with an icy covering in the early morning frosts. The garden in winter becomes a safe haven for our native birds and a hiding

Words by Gabi Gabriel’s Garden

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place for all manner of beneficial hibernating insects and small creatures.

Ladybirds and lacewings will find shelter in dry corners of outbuildings and sheds, robust hollow stalks will become home to solitary bees and the hoverfly larvae, moths and butterflies create silken nests in rolled up leaves and leaf litter.

Our beautiful native garden birds become more visible when the leaves have fallen and the branches are bare. We buy bird food and seeds to encourage them into the garden and are delighted when we see the wide variety of birds that come and visit. A lot of the perennial flowering plants like echinacea, phlomis and sunflowers produce lots of seeds that are loved by all sorts of birds especially the finch families and if left where they’ve grown become a natural feeding place and are wonderful to watch throughout the winter. The colonies of sparrows that inhabit the

hedgerows and Ivy clad walls love to eat insects and the annual flower seeds from the salvias and nigella and all the wild and ornamental grasses. the blackbirds adore the fallen crab apples, cotoneaster and pyracantha berries. The garden in November becomes a fantastic “SUNFLOWERS ARE LOVED BY THE FINCHES’ ESPECIALLY.” natural habitat that supports and feeds a wonderfully diverse range of wildlife at the beginning of what could be a long cold winter. So leave what you can for the birds and wildlife and clean up in the spring, enjoy the garden in a different way, knowing that you’re doing your bit for the natural world as we close the curtains, light the fire and get cosy for the winter.

The RSPB provide great ideas on building and creating wildlife shelters, I’m making a simple one out of an old wooden box; I’ve filled it with short lengths of

but will carry on giving, way after the flowers have finished.

Look for the bee and butterfly symbols on plant labels and seed packets.

The tulip order has arrived, it’s always exciting, undoing the nets and unwrapping the packages of the shiny chestnut brown bulbs full of promise for the spring; early November is the perfect time to plant them.

I’m recycling my plastic buckets from the floristry studio and using them as large flower pots.

I’ve drilled holes in the bottom to ensure good drainage and

hollow stalks, rolled up paper, cardboard tubes and terracotta pots; the perfect place for all sorts of insects to crawl in and hideaway through the cold winter months. Consider growing plants next year that not only give you beautiful cut flowers

filled them with a mixture of compost and grit. I’m growing some beautiful new varieties, vibrant colour alongside the soft and subtle; la belle epoche a stylish double tulip in cappuccino and pink and for something more unusual flaming spring

The garden keeps on giving as nature takes over

HOMES & GARDENS

green; a unique white tulip with a red and green flame. Whether planting your tulips in pots or directly into the ground sit their bottoms on a layer of sand or grit to ensure good drainage and cover with at least a couple of inches of good compost or garden soil.

As the flower season comes to an end and it becomes too cold and wet to work in the garden and the daylight hours are at their shortest it’s time to think about bringing in a little

to adorn the home and to celebrate the festive season.

Great to make with family and friends the fabulous Gabriel’s Garden Christmas Wreath making Kit is available to buy again this year, full of all the materials you need to make your own bespoke Christmas wreath. The kit includes fresh moss, a 10” frame, wire and full instructions on how to make your wreath base, dried whole oranges and pine cones and an ingredients list of suitable foliage, berries and cones that you can gather from the garden or forage for. Why not experiment and try using aromatic rosemary and bay leaves with fiery red chillies to make an incredible, edible Christmas wreath this year. ●

DIARY Gissing village Christmas Fair Saturday December 5th 3pm – 7pm

colour and a little sparkle for Christmas; The simple pleasure of winter walks and the annual pilgrimage to the woods to gather glossy evergreen foliage, trails of ivy leaves and the scarlet holly berries. Over the next six weeks I’ll be running workshops; creating and making a variety of wreaths to hang on the front door and to place in memory of loved ones passed, garlands full of berries and beautiful arrangements

Bungay Christmas Street market Sunday December 6th 9.00am – 4pm WREATH MAKING WORKSHOPS

everything yOu need for your home thiS SeaSOn

Earsham Hall Bungay Sunday 29th November 2.00pm – 4.30pm £45.00 The Pennoyer Centre Pulham St. Mary Saturday 5th December 2.30pm – 5.00pm £37.50 The Bank, Eye Thursday 10th December 2.30pm – 5.00pm £37.50

Logs & Coal Horse feeds, bedding & supplements Pet feed & Accessories

Christmas wreath making kit. £19.95 Inc P+P.

Christmas Decorations

To book a workshop place or to order a bespoke Christmas wreath or wreath making kit, hello@gabrielsgarden.co.uk 01379 677793 Deliveries Available

Open 7 days a week Mon - Fri: 9.30am - 5pm Wed: 9.30am - 7pm Sun: 10am - 4pm

t 01449 711103 Bellflower Garden Centre • Stonham Barns • Stonham Aspal • IP14 6AT

HOMES & GARDENS

CHAMPAGNE ILARIA PENDANT £29 made.com

DAR ‘ATTICUS’ 5 LIGHT PENDANT £599 johndoediss.co.uk

VITA SILVIA MINI SHADE ì £48 cloudberryliving.co.uk COPPER PENDENT ì £29 made.com

Bright Up Your Life

CHALK SPRAY PAINT montana-cans.com

When the skies are grey and it’s cold outside...

METAL STENCILS from £7 re-foundobjects.com

BARBARELLA ORIGINAL POSTER £1000 orsonandwelles.co.uk

PANTRY CLOCK £30 newgateclocks.com

yellow

Colour of conflicted meaning

VINTAGE OIL CAN LAMP £120 with shade purpledoordiss.co.uk

To many of us the colour of cheer and optimism, In China, yellow is considered the most beautiful and prestigious colour. It is also symbolic of heroism, as opposed to the American association with cowardice.

It is also said that the author F. Scott Fitzgerald (The Great Gatsby) used the colour yellow to represent three things: moral decay, decadence and death!

ZIG ZAG £75 parriswakefieldadditions.com SMARTY CHAIR £999 multiyork.co.uk

RUUTU-UNIKK0 £35 marimekko.com HEN FEATHER PRINT £39.95 victoriacraven.co.uk

YLM | YOUR LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

22

TRENDS ...

V E LV E T

W

hatever the reason for your house move, if you are expecting it to be your last, it is always wise to consider “future-proofing” your home to ensure that it meets your needs for the years to come.

Given the rise in the cost of care, more and more people are understandably choosing to stay in the own homes for as long as possible.

Manning & Woods are experienced in recommending simple home improvement solutions which can easily be implemented long before they are needed, to ensure that this is a realistic option for those who may become less able as they get older.

Here are a few examples >

ADVERTORIAL

FUTURE PROOF YOUR HOME In the bathroom, the installation of a low level shower tray will enable anyone to use it, without the need to step up or into a bath.

—

When fitting windows, we will consider the way in which windows are hung and the nature of the handles, to ensure that they remain usable for those who lose some manual dexterity, or would struggle to pull a heavy window shut.

In the kitchen, we recommend that ovens are installed at eye level (rather than below a worktop) to prevent difficulty with heavy lifting and possible burns to the arms.

—

Internal and external doors can also have low thresholds, again to prevent possible trip hazards, or can be made wider to ensure access is easy and potentially disabledfriendly if required later on.

Conservatories

These are subtle changes which would not detract from the look of your home in any way, but can make all the difference to the future by taking away some of the simple issues which can make living in your own home a struggle as you get older.

We also offer a full design and installation service for disabled customers including installation of Doc M bathrooms, large walk in showers/ wet rooms, lower level kitchens, ramps and handrails, working alongside your occupational therapist if required.

UPVC Windows & Doors

Some of this work may be VAT exempted by the government, saving you 20% - please ask for details.

Bathrooms

Kitchens

Quotations are free and without obligation.

Have a look at our many customer testimonials at www.checkatrade.com, email us via our website, www.manningandwoods.co.uk, or call us on

01449 673315 We look forward to hearing from you

visit our website

manningandwoods.co.uk

NOVEMBER 2015

23

JOHN TAYLOR BUILDERS LTD

General Builders & Joiners PlumBers & decorators

Specialist Work to Listed Buildings & Properties of Character

01379 643138

5 shelfanger road / diss

Carpets Hardfloors Upholstery Telephone 0800 234 3412 • 01379 678806 • 07984 648296 Email crystalcleannorfolk@hotmail.co.uk visit our website carpetcleanernorfolk.co.uk

YLM

J

an is a lively, active seventy year old. She enjoys her life and when you meet her and look at her you’d be shocked that two years ago she felt quite differently.

Jan has always been interested in fashion and looking good. Her daughters always remembered as young children being fascinated by their mum, and how she always paid at-

her she looked good but mum just didn’t like how she looked.

At that time, Jan learnt about the Scultura Clinic. “I saw that the clinic claimed to help faces like mine, to tighten my jowls and help me look better”.

Jan came and met Dr Tanna and the team. At Jan’s age collagen is no longer being produced but she discovered that the Lipofirm Plus machine would structure the existing

“ G W Y N E T H PA LT R O W R E C E N T LY D E C L A R E D T H AT C O L L AG E N H E AT I N G T R E AT M E N T H A S TA K E N Y E A R S O F F H E R FAC E .”

tention to how she looked. “My mum was always glamorous, I remember even when collecting us from school she made an effort” said her daughter, Tracy.

As Jan aged, however, she began to notice that her jaw was starting to sag and she was getting jowls. “I started to feel very self conscious,” Said Jan. “I bought creams, had facials but kept noticing that despite my efforts, I wasn’t liking the effect of aging on my face.

As we age we start to produce less collagen. When we are in our 20’s our skin is 80% collagen. As we age it is estimated that it is lost at 1% per year. To start to recover some of this loss is difficult.

Gwyneth Paltrow recently declared that collagen heating treatment has taken years off her face. She used a combination of ultrasound and radio frequency to heat the skin to stimulate collagen production.

It’s astonishing to have a machine using the same technology in Mendlesham, Suffolk!

Jan started to investigate surgically invasive options but wasn’t keen to have any that involved needles or the use of a knife. Her daughters started to notice it was impacting on her confidence. “Mum would hide behind her hand, and wouldn’t have her picture taken. We told

collagen and therefore address the issues that concerned Jan. For Jan it was also important that this treatment was medically led and also safe.

Jan decided to have the treatments. “At £55 per treatment, it was safe, affordable and hopefully effective so I thought I’d give it a try. I was surprised at how quickly my skin’s texture started to improve." Her therapist Dionne explained what was happening and that the improved texture and elasticity was due to the collagen being stimulated. Dionne worked on Jan’s jawline, jowls, forehead and eyes. “People started to say how well I looked” said Jan, “My husband even noticed and that means I must be looking different!”

Jan had six treatments initially and now comes for monthly top-ups. She says it’s like a monthly facial, relaxing and enjoyable.

Jan is confident and enjoying life. Recently she modeled at a fashion show where the Scultura team had an act – ‘Seeing is Believing’ “I’d never have done that two years ago”, said Jan.

TIGHTEN & REJUVENATE YOUR SKIN

“At £55 per treatment, it was safe, affordable and hopefully effective so I thought I’d give it a try.”

What a great result! ●

Before

After

Words by Fiona Sutherland

To book your free consultation YLM | YOUR LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

ADVERTORIAL

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

NOVEMBER 2015

25

YLM

Protect Yourself Online The recent hacking incident at Talk Talk and the introduction of malware into some high profile apps in the Chinese Apple Store in September, has got many of us thinking about how secure we are online.

Often you will hear people say, “It’s ok I’m on an Apple device... they can’t get hacked” or “my bank say it’s ok” or “I don’t use an antivirus, there is no need” or “I use this free one, and I have never got a virus”...

We have all become blasé about logging into our bank accounts to check balances’ etc from PCs, Laptops and more worryingly mobile devices. The sad fact is that, the more we rely on this technology for everyday tasks and the more popular Apple products become, the more these areas will be targeted by criminals.

Here are 6 tips to stay safe when you're online.

1 Always buy a decent Internet security software package, not just an Antivirus. Webroot or Panda are a good way to go at the moment.

2 Only log on to a network that you know and trust, at home is best.

Public networks are very risky, how do you know it is the network you think it is? You don’t, so be careful!

3 Check your banking site is secure. The padlock symbol, https at the beginning of the address and the green address bar is are good indicators.

4 Check the website address is correct and even type it in the address bar (not Google) at the top of the page yourself 5 Keep your passwords safe and make sure you are the only one who knows it 6 Only use trusted apps (do your research). Once installed, some apps will request access to facilities on your device such as the camera or location information.

VENTURE

FALLEN off the LADDER? The ups & downs of redundancy

How statutory redundancy pay is calculated

?

—

Q. My employer is in financial difficulties and has informed me that my job is at risk. I am hoping to avoid redundancy but if this does happen, what must my employer do and what are my rights?

A. Redundancies occur when employees are dismissed because their job no longer exists, or because their employer requires fewer people to do the work. Even when this is the case, your employer should still follow a fair procedure; otherwise you may have a claim for unfair dismissal.

Before any decision is taken on whether to make you redundant, your employer should consult with you about ways of avoiding redundancies, and who should be selected. If your employer is considering making 20 or more redundancies within 90 days, it may also have a duty to carry out a “collective consultation”. Such consultations are subject to particularly

tight regulation.

When choosing who to make redundant, your employer must make a selection from a ‘pool’ of employees by applying objective, fair and consistent criteria.

They should also ensure, so far as possible, that the criteria do not discriminate on grounds of certain protected characteristics (such as sex or disability).

If you are selected for redundancy, you must be given the appropriate notice. There are statutory rules on the minimum amount of notice you must receive, but you may be entitled to more notice than this under your contract of employment.

You will also have the right to a statutory redundancy payment if you have worked for your employer for a continuous period of at least two years. The exact amount payable will depend on your age, length of service and weekly pay, up to a statutory maximum (cur-

Statutory redundancy pay (SRP) is calculated on the basis of an employee’s age and length of service at the “relevant date” (usually the date employment terminates).

To work out an employee’s entitlement to SRP, it is necessary to calculate the period of continuous employment and the number of complete years of service during that period.

A week’s pay (up to the statutory maximum) is then multiplied by a factor, depending on the employee’s age: 1.5 weeks’ pay for each year of employment in which the employee was aged 41 or over —

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

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

1 week’s pay for each year of employment in which the employee was aged between 22 and 40

rently £475 per week). Some contracts of employment make provision for enhanced redundancy payments. Your employer should tell you in writing how your redundancy payment has been calculated.

If your employer is insolvent, you may have to claim a statutory redundancy payment and notice pay from the National Insurance Fund via the Insolvency Service.

Where you are unable to recover all the money which is owed to you, you may also have to register as a creditor of the business, but you will not usually receive all the money that you claim. Further advice, in this situation, can be found on the Government website at: https:// www.gov.uk/your-rights-if-youremployer-is-insolvent/claimingmoney-owed-to-you, or by calling the Redundancy payments enquiry line on 0330 331 0020. ● For further advice on this, or any other legal issue, please contact the employment team at Steeles Law on 01379 652141 or employment@steeleslaw.co.uk.

—

Half a week’s pay for each year of employment up to the age of 21 The minimum number of years’ continuous employment that can be taken into account is 2; the maximum is 20.

The statutory maximum week’s pay for these purposes (from 6 April 2015) is £475. The maximum total SRP is £14,250.

Words by James Hopgood Solicitor Employment Team

Steeles Law

27

YLM

VENTURE

SCILLY RSERVICE SUP E

W

e went on holiday last week to the Isles of Scilly just off the Cornwall coast. It’s a beautiful place. Whilst I was there, I was chatting with a friend of ours, Will Wagstaff about service. Will is an Ornithologist on the islands and for him, his reputation is won or lost on the service he provides. We think he is great.

Anyway, we were chatting, (You’ll know I do this frequently) about service, we talked about how important it is in all we do. How, when done in a whole-hearted way then it makes a huge difference to what we buy, where we go and how we feel. When done badly it’s just not good.

At the place we stayed, we were having breakfast. Two of the team were pleasant: helpful and smiley. The other two appeared not to be enjoying their jobs. It wasn’t a good experi-

Words by Bridget McIntyre The Blossom Charity

28

Exceeding expectations in

customer care

ence if they served us.

I have to admit, I’m obsessed by service. At Dream On we know how important it is that the team buy into the aims of Dream On and show kindness to people who come to us.

If you read about many companies, they talk about the importance of good service. We are asked to take part in questionnaires frequently about how we’ve been served. I’m sad to say that I see too many cases where it is just words and not in the way we are treated.

I don’t know if you are the same but with some companies, I have to take a deep breath before I phone them. I know I will be handed around to three people and have to press a number of buttons before I am even allowed to speak to someone.

There is a huge amount of research done on customer service. The bank First Direct has a mission to provide “pioneering amazing service.” For them this isn’t an empty promise.

Market research shows that, in terms of customer satisfaction First Direct is the UK’s number one bank for quality customer service.

When asked about their amazing service they said that it was about respect; not just to the company but also to each

other. I think that’s a great way of looking at it. I myself am a customer of theirs and am extremely satisfied.

“Service is about respect; not just to the company but also to each other.

That’s a great way of looking at it.”

The moment of truth in service often comes along when things go wrong. The ability to admit this and go beyond a customer’s expectations to resolve it is important.

I was talking to Amanda recently. A customer had bought a top and the stitching on the beaded collar had been damaged. The customer rang to complain. Amanda took the call and she said the customer was quite annoyed. Amanda’s reaction was that she was sorry, and could the lady bring the blouse in and we will sort it. “The lady was quite surprised that I’d reacted in that way,” said Amanda. Initially she had probably expected us to try and either blame her or someone else for the problem. When she came in, she decided she wanted to keep the blouse, so we gave her a voucher to spend at Dream On and we repaired her blouse”.

On the back of this, the customer has brought many friends to Dream On. Personally I am obsessed by this type of service. I do think it matters and makes a whole lot of difference in our relationship with customers’. The team also enjoy their roles a whole lot more. They not only receive thank-you’s at the time but we have a whole pile of lovely letters that customers have taken the time to write.

How good is that? ●

NOVEMBER 2015

Christmas Party Nights from FRI 4th DEC

Bring your guests to us for fun, live music and dancing Enjoy a glass of bubbly on arrival, 3 course dinner then dance the night away to party classics from our live band and resident DJ

£32

pp

NEW YEARS EVE

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

pp

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

£30

pp

WOMEN in BUSINESS

Josie Allen Suffolk Surplus Nestled in the Suffolk countryside, near Stonham Aspal, Suffolk Surplus sells anything and everything from kitchenalia and collectables, to antiques, shabby chic furniture , items for the garden and even a super 1976 Volkswagen bay window camper van!

Come along and have a browse!

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.

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.

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 Corrina’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 Andi’s Facebook page to see examples of her work: Facebook. com/FlyingPoodleStudio

For more information, 01379 678483 www.dream-on.co.uk

Corrinan Giles The Little Upholsterer

YLM

“It’s evident that the rules are here to stay and the regulator has demonstrated it will use its powers if needed. It’s also clear that small businesses need all the support they can get if automatic enrolment is to be implemented successfully.”

“A S I G N I F I C A N T M I N O R I T Y O F M I C R O E M P L O Y E R S (18 %) B E L I E V E T H AT T H E Y D O N O T N E E D T O D O A N Y T H I N G T O C O M P LY.” 3

Over the same period, a total of 198 firms were issued with a £400 fixed-penalty notice, compared to 166 in the last quarter of 2014 – an increase of almost 20%. 2 I expect the trend to continue, with over a million small and micro employers affected over the next three years, I envisage more penalty notices to be served purely because more businesses will need to comply with automatic enrolment rules.

It’s evident that the rules are here to stay and the regulator has demonstrated it will use its powers if needed. It’s also clear that small businesses need all the support they can get if automatic enrolment is to be implemented successfully.

Stage is set Research3 shows that, while awareness of automatic enrolment remains high among smaller employers (86%), one in five of those set to ‘stage’ between June and November this year have not yet drawn up plans to meet their obligations. Also worrying is the significant minority of micro employers (18%) who believe that they do not need to do anything to comply with automatic enrolment.

Automatic enrolment rules state that every business with at least one member of staff must enrol eligible employees into a qualifying workplace pension scheme and make contributions towards it.

Every employer is given a start date

Micro processing In most cases, large and medium-sized employers have already staged successfully, but processing the wave of small and micro employers will be very different. A resulting surge in demand for advice and help with workplace pension schemes is to be expected.

Smaller employers are likely to be concentrating on the day-to-day running of their business and are more likely to want to park automatic enrolment with an expert.

Employers should therefore engage with a professional as early as possible if they’re at all unsure about what their new duties are, and ensure they leave themselves plenty of time for the correct arrangements to be put in place. ●

Words by Samuel Duncan

1 Pensions Regulator, Automatic enrolment, April 2015 2 Pensions Regulator, Automatic enrolment, January 2015 3 ‘Employers’ awareness, understanding and activity relating to automatic enrolment and evaluation of communications campaign’, The Pensions Regulator, March 2015

PENSION SCHEMES AUTO ENROLMENT

set in law – their staging date – and the regulator recommends that employers should start preparing for automatic enrolment 12 months ahead of that date.

Employers whose staging date is coming up should have already received a letter from the regulator, but a staging date can also be found by entering the company’s PAYE reference into the online tool at www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk.

Keeping up with the new compulsory pension plan

T

he first escalating fines have been issued to companies failing to enrol their employees into new pension schemes.

The Pensions Regulator has issued its first escalating penalties – fines of between £50 and £10,000 a day depending on the severity of the breach – to four companies flouting automatic enrolment rules during the first quarter of 2015.1

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

NOVEMBER 2015

31

RECRUITING NOW!

5

4

3

2

1

Community Care Workers for top end care in the local community Can YOU make a difference?

Are YOU looking for a career change, new experiences? ✔ Flexible hours - early mornings, evenings & weekends ✔ Competitive rates of pay, mileage, 28 days paid holiday (pro rata) ✔ FREE training which will be working towards an NVQ/ QCF in

Health & Social Care Experience

Transport is desirable but not essential

Email a CV to amanda.gilgil@mearsgroup.co.uk or call 01449 676440 / 03332 004075

LAUNCH!

I

have a great idea! Nobody is doing anything like it.

Would it make a great business?

Many of us started out just like this, perhaps around a kitchen table or talking these ideas over with friends, who all said you should start a business.

At this point you may be working full time. In your spare time, taking part in your hobby or micro business, wanting to get to the point where it becomes your main income.

We understand our idea could be what we are best at. It may be offering advice, solution based, a unique product or service, and we’re good at it. Enthusiastic, focused, we have enough money put by why wouldn’t I do it?

This all sounds just perfect, there may be only one thing missing from the pot. Experience in business. Your friends and family are more likely to say what you would like to hear.

In our business we are honest and upfront.

Taking a photograph does not make us a professional photographer. Building a wall does not make us a bricklayer. Servicing our car does not make us a motor engineer. So why do we think we can become a business person without any advice or assistance?

We cannot do it alone As Christmas comes and the New Year approaches some of you reading this will be looking at change. New businesses start and sadly, many close. Some may close due to retirement. However, many close, not because the product

was not good, the service was not great or they did not have enough customers. No, they close because cash flow was an issue! That sounds simple but without a structure in place, it must be the number one reason why businesses fail. The owners might say, it was just the wrong time, market conditions are difficult at the moment, there is no money about. Please do not rush into contracts that will bind you without advice and having talked through your business plan. Ah yes! Do you have a business plan? A business without a plan is a business planning to fail! That sounds harsh. It is meant to. It is not too late to sort a business plan.

Too many people have lost their homes on the back of a good idea, started without a plan.

This is really important.

As with all of our articles we welcome feedback and questions, you can email us philburton@referralinstitutenr.co.uk or katrina@ referralinstitutenr.co.uk If 2016 is your time to start a business we wish you every success, if you have been in business for many years and every week is the same. It is never too late to make a plan. ●

Words by Phil & Katrina Burton

YLM

HEALTH

hi everyone

Everyday Smoky Look

Welcome to November’s Beauty Blog

E

veryone asks for a smoky eye make up look. It is one of the most versatile styles that can be worn softly for everyday or is perfect for that glamorous, dramatic evening apperance. Many ladies think that ‘smoky’ has to be black but the term really refers to the effect that is given. Simply by choosing three eye shadow shades: a light, a mid-tone and a dark we can create the look for both day and night.

- STEP 1 Use an eye shadow primer all over the lid to keep the shades in place and prevent any creasing. Press a light shadow all over the eyelid and up to the brow

Evening Smoky Look

- STEP 2 Apply your eye shadow look first and then your other makeup products. Working backwards will allow you to clean up any shadow that may have fallen under the eye

Next choose your mid-tone shade. Work the colour from the lash line upwards over the eyelid and three quarters of the way up. Also run a little of the colour under the lower eyelashes. If you have a medium size fluffy eye shadow brush this will help sweep and blend the colour easily - STEP 3 With your same eye shadow brush place a small amount of darker contour colour and layer over the mid tone, working into the crease and down towards the eye lashes on the outer half of the eyelid.

Run a little again under the lower lash line if you want to.

Apply your favourite mascara to the top and bottom lashes.

and... Voila!

l

As before apply your primer and then light eye shadow colour. With your medium tone layer the colour to the depth that you desire. With your darkest shade build it up in the crease, continue to apply the shadow until you create that dramatic effect.

Remember to run the colour under the lower eyelashes.

Choose an eye liner to apply close to the eyelashes working your way towards the inner corner of the eyelid. Do the same underneath. Don’t worry if it is not a perfect line as it can now be smudged with the darkest eye shadow shade, this will create the smoky look.

Keep your eyeliner nice and sharp using a cosmetic sharpener. When you have a point to the liner it will apply more easily

l You can always curl the eyelashes to make the eye more open. Use them before mascara or after if using a heated lash curler

l Buy some cosmetic Q-tips for removing any little mistakes!

A must in our kit!

Words by Dionne & Rachel Defining Radiance Words

by Dionne & Rachel definingradiancemakeup.co.uk Defining Radiance

For more information 07511 383953 www.definingradiancemakeup.co.uk

YLM | YOUR LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2015

33

YLM

GERALDINE WALTERS ADVANCED SKINCARE SPECIALIST Electrolysis & IPL

SHOW your skin SOME LOVE

Blemish Removal Acne Treatments Tattoo Removal Permanent Make Up Chemical Peels

WHAT CLIENTS SAY

Skin Rejuvenation

“I recently moved to Suffolk and was looking for someone to continue my microdermabrasion sessions. After a little research, I came across Geraldine. I found her to be extremely knowledgeable and helpful which made me feel very at ease. I’ve now had 3 sessions and every time have noticed an improvement in my skin.

I am relieved that I have found someone ‘good’ and with whom I feel extremely comfortable.

ENQUIRIES T 01379 658 982 E info@geraldinewalters.co.uk Visit our website geraldinewalters.co.uk

f The Little Skin Studio

t @skinprof FIND US

23 St Nicholas Street Diss Norfolk IP22 4LB OPENING HOURS By appointment only Book online via, ovatu.co/s/6310

—

AW, Suffolk

We continue with our focus on Geraldine Walters

This month: the signature facial Can you tell us, What made you specialise in skincare?

I’ve been fascinated by the human body since I was a child. Perhaps I was influenced by my very downto-earth mum, who was an orthopaedic nurse and to whom nothing was too yukky.

My career allows me to be curious. I spend most of my working week peering through a magnifying lamp – but it’s all to the benefit of clients.

YLM | YOUR LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

34

Why would we have a facial?

The skin is the largest organ in the body. It doesn’t simply hold the insides, well, inside.

Skin regulates temperature, produces oil, provides our sense of touch and protects.

This hard work is reflected in the damage that accumulates over time, or due to stress, hormones and harm through smoking and so on. The face itself is always on show, always exposed to the ele-

ments. And internal ageing is something none of us can avoid. You’d go to a chiropodist for your feet, so why not a facialist for your face? My target facials are for blemishes, redness, pigmentation and ageing.

What are the benefits?

A professional facial treatment should analyse your skin and assess its needs and the best way to address them.

HEALTH

“ I N 9 0 M I N U T E S I C A N G I V E Y O U A M A RV E L L O U S P I C K-M E - U P F O R T H AT S P E C I A L O C C A S I O N , W I T H R E S U LT S T H AT W I L L B E O B V I O U S F O R W E E K S .”

At Advanced Skincare, I’ve got the experience and necessary products and equipment to treat a range of skin problems.

Younger clients are often concerned with acne and congestion, whereas more mature clients are looking for a way to look refreshed and younger – without resorting to surgery or injectables. Some people think a facial can only be pampering.

But proper skin-care is about protecting and correcting and making sure skin is as healthy as it can be in a world where our environment is increasingly polluted and stressful.

luxury treatments but it’s great for corrective treatments too.

THE SIGNATURE FACIAL Who’s it for?

This is a showcase facial for anyone who wants a glowing, radiant complexion and an hour and a half of total ‘me time’. If you are looking for a gift that will really please, this is it.

The Signature Facial is a treatment using a combination of technologies to produce a facial that’s far more than pampering but is still luxurious.

Every part of this facial is available as a separate treatment.

Gentle microdermabrasion removes dull, dead cells by blasting tiny crystals over the skin. It reduces fine lines and refines pores, allowing products to penetrate and work more deeply. Men love this for its nononsense approach.

There’s a great offer this month for readers to try either the Vitage® Power Skin Polish or the Age Defence Mini Lift.

Vitage® Age Defence Mini Lift - the perfect introduction to the age defence lifting treatment. Plant enzymes firm, tighten and hydrate to deliver visible results instantly.

Would I have to commit to a course or could I just come occasionally?

Some treatments do need to be repeated to get the results you might want. But I love doing fabulous pre-party, mother-ofthe-bride, or even groom-to-be facials. In 90 minutes I can give you a marvellous pick-me-up for that special occasion, with results that will be obvious for weeks. The picture story shows a deluxe treatment. And all facials are suitable for men too – with a little adaptation. It’s relaxing – but certainly not just a beauty treatment.

Why are your facials different?

First, there’s twenty years’ experience and learning to offer.

Second, I understand the concerns of my clients as I’ve seen my own skin change over the years. Although it’s great to have beautiful nails, time takes its toll and people want to see positive results. I currently use two skincare ranges. Medik8 is a top grade clinical brand which provides peels and serums for problems from acne and rosacea to pigmentation. Vitage is packed full of Vitamin C and is a great all-rounder with vitamin-fuelled ingredients to diminish fine lines, wrinkles and other undesired skin conditions. I love it for

Reader Offer

Microcurrent (known as nonsurgical face lift) is applied to the eyes, forehead and cheeks to lift and revitalise.

Vitage® Power Skin Polish smoothes, firms and hydrates. Boost your complexion with a combination of Micro Skin Polish and potent Vitamin C therapy.

Only £30.00*

The 90 – minute treatment starts with a back and shoulder massage infusing a blend of aromatherapy oils into the skin to relax.

Next, a double cleanse is done under steam to draw out impurities, soften skin and open pores.

(£35.00/£40.00 rrp) *T&C’s: Offer valid till December 20th. Only one treatment per person. No substitutes.

Offer limited to 30 treatments. Appointments Tues - Fri only.

Finally, Radio Frequency gently warms the deep layers of the skin to firm and build collagen.

Smoothes the neck, fills the cheeks.

Hydrating serum and Vitamin C recharge the skin and deliver moisture and antioxidants. SPF 30 protects and shields. You go home glowing and refreshed. ● Words by Geraldine Walters Btec HND/Cert Ed. The Signature Facial £85 Book online via, ovatu.co/s/6310

www.geraldinewalters.co.uk

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THE SOUL 45S CLUB PATCH £4.99 the45sclub.bigcartel.com

W

á TED BAKER CAMROON PAISLEY PANEL CHELSEA BOOTS

INTER

W

A

ä TINA’S TURTLE- BLUE £77 alicespig.com

RMER

æ GEORGE COX TASSEL LOAFER £145 A-LINE DRESS

fredperry.com

£29.99 The tasselled loafer has a long history HIGH NECK SWEATER £17.99

with subcultural dressing, from the preppy early Mods to the 2-tone ska revival.

HIGH WAIST LEGGINGS £29.99 zara.com/uk

ä PAISLEY SCARF £35 prettygreen.com ä THE ALBYN LONG SLEEVE SHIRT £65 farah.co.uk à FELTED WOOL DRESS £295 orlakiely.com

Dig out the parka & the paisley...

S

£150 houseoffraser.co.uk

MARKS & SPENCER AW15

MOD CLOTH

Editors Pick

FASHION

Add a bit of sparkle to your gift list

MARKS & SPENCER AW15

WHAT’S THE STORY? Like all great subcultures,

C

the Mods were born out of both necessity and

hristmas gifts for those special people in our lives can be the most difficult to buy…we want to get something that will be used or become a lovely memory for them in the future or at the very least something that will make them smile. According to statistics the average british household will spend an estimated £604 on gifts for the festive season It is also reported that approximately 31% of goods purchased online during this period will be returned in the following days so making sure we get it right is important.

In todays world it is difficult to find the appropriate gift for the right person. Vouchers have been available for many years and voucher experiences have become even more popular recently. The range of experiences include Afternoon Tea for Two, Drive a Ferrari around Brands Hatch, a Balloon Ride and for the more adventurous Aerobatic Stunt Flying to name but a few. Here at Dream On we have listened very carefully to our customers to try to understand what they would want from a full day experience with us. We believe that we have now come up with a range of options that would suit the important person in your life.

They are…

alienation - the need to have a voice in a changing Britain that by the early LILIES

‘60s was still clinging onto the idea of colonialism.

For angry, young men with a sense of adventure and a bit of money in their pocket, that simply wasn’t enough. They wanted to emulate something but certainly not their forefathers and they wanted to do it with a certain amount of style.

— prettygreen.com

PAN AM ORIGINALS INNOVATOR BAG £75 panam.com

vespa.com/uk

2015 VESPA PX TOURING

ä ALPHA INDUSTRIES FISHTAIL PARKA £145 bennevisclothing.com

Makeover Day Voucher This voucher will entitle your loved one to a very special day… they will arrive in the morning to a warm welcome and a cup of tea. We will take before and after photos which will be sent to them as a momento of the day. They will spend time with one of our fabulous hairdressers who will help them decide on a style that works for them, makeup is also part of the day and here they will learn about colours and routines that create the look they want. Gelvarnish nails are also included and adds a little glamour… especially if they would like a bit of sparkle. The stylists will then encourage them to try on different looks and find the outfits they love. A delicioius lunch and 10% off any purchases will complete the day.

Diamond Voucher Offers all of the above but to make the day even more special your loved one has £75 to spend on something that has caught their eye. This has been a real favourite gift for daughters trying to combine a gift with others for their Mum. It is a fabulous way to spoil someone who loves to spoil others.

_ Cost £165 Platinum Voucher Something new for 2016. With the success of our Makeover Days, we asked our customers who wanted to include more into their day what extra we could offer. The Platinum Day will include all the benefits of the Makeover Day but we will also add hairstyling with a cut and colour, eyebrow shaping, colour and body shape anaylsis and a manicure with the gelvarnish nails.

_ Cost £250

Christmas shopping at Dream On offers so much more, we have gorgeous jewellery, pretty scarves and handbags that you will not find in other high street shops. We can gift wrap your present and if you are not able to pop into the shop then we are happy to post to you.

And finally, if you are looking for a present for yourself and like me you love a list then we may have the perfect idea for you. We would be happy to create a little Santa’s Wish List just for you so your loved one can call us or pop in and choose an item from the list knowing the gift will be the perfect fit, the perfect choice and best of all, it will make you both smile! ●

Words by Amanda Church Dream On

_ Cost £110

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The best you Susie & Sarah < “ T RY I N G O N C L O T H E S I W O U L D N ’ T N O R M A L LY C O N S I D E R P R O D U C E D S O M E A M A Z I N G C O M B I N AT I O N S .”

After

a little trepidaSarah was feeling ver Day, it was keo Ma r tious about he co her mfort zone. taking her out of to loose the length nt wa n’t Sarah did to showed her how m in her hair so Sa it. g rlin cu look by create a dif ferent ver y natural look Dionne gave her a she but Sarah decided with her makeup l ge r he h d bold wit would go bright an increds wa g lin sty he varnish nails. “T I trying on clothes ible, the novelty of r produced de nsi co ally rm wouldn’t no s not mbinations . I wa some amazing co er aft d an e the befor looking for ward to and I fun it de ma dy photos but Wen . “I the transformation could not believe ning into a tur ing ckl du ly ug felt like an beautiful swan.”

SARAH

We continue with our makeover stories

Susie was bought her Makeover Day as a gift from a friend. She loved clothes and this seemed like the perfect gift. Susie said: “I foun d the location very relaxing and the small group made it easy to connect with people. The team were so professional... Dionne’s makeup tips were superb and I was able to take away techniques which I used at home. Laur yn styled my hair in a way I have never really tried before but I certainly have since .

I was shown clothing that suited my traditional style and others that brought out a different side to me.

I would definitely book another Makeover Day when the next seasons collections comes in.”

SUSIE

“ I W O U L D D E F I N I T E LY B O O K A N O T H E R M A K E OV E R D AY.” >

Dream On was set up to help women be the best they can be.

One of the services we offer is fashion and styling.

If you would like to find out more about makeover days then please don’t hesitate to get in touch via the following methods, visit our website www.dream-on.co.uk Telephone 01379 678483 Email info@dream-on.co.uk

We would love to hear from you.

After

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NOVEMBER 2015

Party Nights and November Specials Festive Afternoon Tea Christmas Day Lunch Boxing Day Charity Disco New Years Eve Extravaganza Christmas & New Year Breaks

Request a brochure via events@bromegrangehotel.co.uk

Call us now to discuss your event

01379 870456

www.bromegrangehotel.co.uk

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olkswagen Audi Group might just have accidently kick started a seismic change in automotive engineering and the cars we drive. I am of course referring to the emissions scandal that has been creating headline news recently. It’s pretty serious stuff too – health experts in the USA have calculated that every extra 1300 tons of NOX gas released into the atmosphere could result in an extra death. Approximately 500,000 VAG vehicles are affected in The States, and with the data set currently available, scientists are predicting between 25 and 100 extra deaths as a result of the emissions cheating software. Small wonder then that lawyers are talking about corporate manslaughter.

This then is VAG’s ‘Emissiongate’, and it has been likened to BP’s Deep Water Horizon oil spill – it has the potential to break the company.

So what makes a manufacturer go to such lengths to deceive its customers?

That’s a simple question with a complex answer, but I think there are two fundamental reasons: firstly politicians

Words by Leighten Ball GM Autotech

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“The dash for CO2 reduction was at the expense of ignoring particulate, NOX and sulphur emissions, and this is where things get a bit complicated...”

have perhaps pushed the manufacturers in the wrong direction, and secondly because it is so easy to cheat the test. Re-wind to the late nineties and we were primarily concerned with CO2 emissions, and quite rightly so given the implications of climate change on the world.

Our politicians seized upon the diesel engine as a potential saviour and the resultant changes in vehicle taxation laws have boosted diesel car sales. But the dash for CO2 reduction was at the expense of ignoring particulate, NOX and sulphur emissions, and this is where things get a bit complicated. To achieve a reduction in those three, the engineers actually have to make the engines less efficient, and that means an INCREASE in fuel consumption AND CO2 emissions. You can see where this is going – if Mr Manufacturer can sell more cars on the back of better fuel efficiency and lower tax, he’s probably going to have a go at getting round the emissions test.

That brings me to my second point – the emissions test is outdated and unrepresentative of real world driving conditions. Not only that, manufacturers can skew the test by submitting cars that have been ‘optimised’ for economy and emissions output – they are not the same as the cars that you and I buy at the show room - and in the case of VAG they’ve gone just that little bit further with the cheat. Any car these days has enough technology on board to sense whether it’s actually being driven on the road or just in a simulator in

“The en-

gineering required to bring diesel-engined cars emissions to acceptable levels is close to what is technically feasible.”

MOTORING

(E)MISSION TOO FAR?

The Emissions scandal: what now?

the lab. Teach the software to recognise the lab conditions and hey presto you can alter the way the engine runs to produce any emissions data you want.

So what happens next?

Well, for those of you with VAG vehicles you may have already received recall notices and it’s just a matter of waiting for your local main agent to get you booked in, and that could be up to a year if estimates are correct. What will the work entail? As far as I’m aware, for some engines it may just be a software update, but others will need new fuel injectors and other parts.

It will be interesting to see what these changes make to how the car drives – this is a difficult one for VAG because if they can’t make the engines perform as promised in the original sales literature then I can see customers asking for compensation. BP’s oil spill is starting to look like a drop in the ocean.

What about the MOT emissions test? No problem, the MOT emissions test for diesel cars only records the smoke density at the tailpipe and nothing else – NOX, Sulphur dioxides, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and un-burnt fuel are all ignored. And this test is rapidly becoming out-dated anyway because it was conceived in the early 90’s when diesels actually smoked –some cars are so clean now that the testing machinery struggles to even record a figure.

I think we are witnessing the beginning of the end for diesel-engined cars.

The engineering required to bring emissions to acceptable levels is close to what is technically feasible, and the costs are starting to make the manufacturer’s

accountants wince. Diesels are now seen as the reason for poor air quality in cities – Paris appears to have taken the lead here and will be the first to ban diesel engines en mass. NOX emissions have also just recently been cited as a potential factor in the decline of the bee population. On the other hand we are seeing huge advancements in petrol engine and electric vehicle technology. If the scientists and engineers can crack the range and fast re-charging issues surrounding electric vehicles - and I don’t think they are far off – then we can look forward to a much cleaner environment. But what about the fossil fuels we burn to generate the electricity to power our electric cars? ●

NOVEMBER 2015

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beautiful images that inspire

A PASSION& A PLACE Norfolk & Suffolk landscapes by Paul Macro

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CAPTURE

P

aul Macro is a wonderful landscape photographer, with a passion and love for North Norfolk.

Paul’s love of Norfolk dates back to the age of five when some family friends invited his family to join them for the day at their holiday cottage.

Upon arriving with his parents and sister in an little idyllic village called Burnham Overy Staithe his love for the North Norfolk Coast began, even though he probably didn’t realise it at the time.

That visit turned into regular outings and eventually his parents purchased a six berth static caravan in Burnham Overy Staithe. Years of weekend breaks and extended summer holidays followed. Paul’s earliest recolection of the beach is from my time spent at Burnham. He has such vivid memories of those days.

When Paul and his sister reached teenage years they were asked by there parents if they wished to keep the caravan as it was becoming a big financial tie, that they could not really afford. Being teenagers they both said no (as by then they probably thought they were too cool to be spending time with the parents).

Today this is a decision Paul regrets deeply and he plans to put this right.

One day I really believe that Paul’s vision and dream of having a caravan on the same site in Burnham Overy

Staithe will become a reality. Paul and partner, Sarah, their girls, Mum, Dad and Paul’s sister and her family, will get to make new memories and enjoy family time together.

North Norfolk is Paul’s heart and soul and it always will be, through his landscape photography, capturing the essence of North Norfolk.

Paul Macro landscapes are available in nine different designs of calenders that you can purchase. They make the perfect gift with Christmas coming up. £1 from every calender sold is donated to local charities.

You can also purchase prints of North Norfolk from the varied range that Paul has taken via his website.

paulmacrolandscapes.com

NOVEMBER 2015

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THE VIRTUOUS TART

by Susan Jane White £21.99 This cookbook is packed with recipes to create fabulous treats that taste amazing and give an added nutritional kick that can give your brain a boost and make you look and feel great.

The fun commentary with each recipe gives the book plenty of personality and added health tips.

Now you can feed your sweet tooth with a Superhero Tiffin or a Rawvolutionary Carrot Cake with no regrets!

THE INVENTION OF NATURE: THE ADVENTURES OF ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT THE LOST HERO OF SCIENCE

by Andrea Wulf £25

THE FATAL GATES OF NORWICH

by Peter Kent £12.99 This book explores the fascinating history of Norwich’s medieval walls by revealing a personal history behind each of its gates and towers all of which involve clergyman (apart from the one exception of a melancholic nun) and a fatal accident. Every story is brought to life by a detailed coloured illustration and for Diss Publishing Bookshop editions of the book, Peter Kent has kindly added a unique fun drawing. He will be visiting the shop for a book signing on November 21st from 11 – 1pm.

Alexander Von Humboldt has more things named after him than anyone else, including towns, a giant squid and even the Mare Humboldtianum on the moon, and yet his achievements have almost been forgotten. Andrea Wulf reveals his extraordinary exploits as he travelled from tropical rainforests to the summits of the world’s highest volcanoes, adventures which inspired many such as Darwin who set sail on the Beagle because of Humboldt and even Napoleon was envious of him.

Humboldt was fearless in his pursuit of knowledge and a visionary ahead of his time, predicting human shaped climate change as early as 1800. ‘The Invention of Nature’ traces how his ideas shaped science and are still relevant today.

He travelled from tropical rainforests to the summits of the world’s highest volcanoes, adven-

HOW YOU SEE ME

by S. E. Craythorne £8.99 Daniel Laird returns to Norfolk to look after his famous artist father, ailing after a stroke. Uneasy to be home, Daniel writes a series of letters to his sister, his boss and his love, Alice, and slowly the truth about why he once left begins to emerge... A beautifully paced and worded book that verges into the chilling.

The author used to work at Diss Publishing Bookshop and we are very proud and excited to welcome them back for an evening event at the shop with Sarah Perry, author of ‘After Me Comes the Flood’ which was the Winner of the East Anglian Book of the Year Award 2014.

The event is on November 12th from 7pm with the talk beginning at 7.30pm. Tickets are £5 and redeemable against a book on the night.

ROBIN’S WINTER SONG

by Suzanne Barton £10.99

Reviews by Diss Publishing 01379 644612 www.disspublishing.co.uk

One day in autumn Robin notices that everything is starting to change.

The leaves are falling from the trees and Robin’s friends are all busy, the finches are flying south, the squirrels are scurrying and even Bear is hiding away. They keep talking about someone coming called Winter, Robin has never met Winter before but they don’t sound very nice.

Robin’s scared to meet Winter, but when he wakes up and sees the snow, Winter doesn’t seem so bad after all! A heartwarming story with beautiful artwork.

NOVEMBER 2015

?

Did you know?

I’m now available in tourist destinations across Bury St Edmunds!

YOUR LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE for NORFOLK & SUFFOLK

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your LIFE your STYLE your MAGAZINE

YOUR LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE for NORFOLK & SUFFOLK

YLM | YOUR LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

COMPETITION TIME

W IN BE PART OF IT from

£47*per month *EXCLUDES VAT

Testimony

Jack & The Beanstalk is a traditional family pantomime full of fun, laughter, music and a large sprinkling of magic for good measure.

Get ready to sing and dance, boo and hiss and laugh and cry as this year’s pantomime has all the ingredients for a perfect festive treat.

To win 2 tickets on Sunday 13th December, 6pm at the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, simply answer this question...

SCULTURA We launched Scultura as a new business based in Suffolk . We knew it was something different and we worked out a plan of the number of customers we needed and where they would come from.

We decided YLM was going to be the right place to advertise. We developed a distinctive advert and within 3 months of starting to advertise, we have built up enough customers that we are having to train an additional therapist and extend our opening hours.

Q Who lives at the top of the beanstalk?

A) Jack B) The Giant C) Cinderella

2 TICKETS FOR JACK & THE BEANSTALK

Email your answer to: press.assistant@theatreroyal.org using the phrase: JACKWIN * Or post to: JACKWIN Theatre Royal Westgate Street Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP33 1QR

— CLOSES FRIDAY 27TH NOVEMBER

—

Ans.

Name

Email

Tel

Village / Town / City

*RULES OF ENTRY

As unique as you are

Use the phrase ‘JACKWIN-N’ if you don’t wish to receive updates and offers from Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds (Details will automatically be added to the mailing list unless stated otherwise). Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds will contact the winner by phone or email by no later than Monday 30th November. Further T&Cs apply.** Please tick the box if you wish to opt out of any future offers from Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds

get connected

t @ylmuk f @ylmuk **T&C’s You must include your name, location and telephone number. Entries after the closing date will be accepted but not entered into the prize draw. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Prizes are non-exchangeable. The winner will be picked at random out of a hat, the judge’s decision will be final. The vendor reserves the right to suspend, cancel or modify the terms of the competition at any time without notice.

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A SELECTION OF FORTHCOMING EVENTS IN OUR REGION

ON NOW - 30TH NOVEMBER EXHIBITIONS Two new exhibitions at the Barns. The International Mini Print Exhibition will be in Gallery 2 and Studio 4 and Doug Kemp’s Paintings and Prints - A Very Small Retrospective’ will be in Gallery 1 Wingfield Barns | Wed - Sun, 11am - 4pm (Please Note: Exhibitions closed on Saturdays the 8th and 22nd NOVEMBER) | 01379 384505 / www.wingfieldbarns.com

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SAT 14TH DOUGLAS FARTHING: A RESPONSE TO AFGHANISTAN Works by the war artist Douglas Farthing, a retired paratrooper and reservist with the Royal Anglian Regiment, together with Mike Fay, an Official US Marine war artist and Jules George who was sponsored by the MoD to visit Afghanistan.

Norwich Cathedral | 9:30am – 6:30pm daily | 01603 630000 / www.cathedral. org.uk

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WHAT’S ON in November

ME AND MY CAT? Join Detective K on a fast paced, madcap action-packed journey as she tries to solve a mysterious case. A Thousand Cranes adapt the work of multi award winning Japanese writer and illustrator Satoshi Kitamura for ages 6+ and their families.

Norwich Arts Centre, 51 St Benedicts St | £8 (£6) | 2pm | 01603 660352 / norwichartscentre.co.uk

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70S/80S DISCO NIGHT Get those loons and platforms down from the loft for a fun disco night! Boogie on down to Pennoyer’s for the best selection of 70s and 80s disco music, retro snacks, prizes and more. Why not get a group together for a pre-Christmas celebration? Fancy dress optional. Booking advisable.

Pennoyer Centre, Pulham St. Mary | From 7.30pm Bar from 7pm | £4.50 in advance/£5.00 on the door | 01379 676660 / www.pennoyers.org.uk / admin@pennoyers.org.uk

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THURS 19TH CHRISTMAS SWITCH ON Wrap up warm and come out for some music, entertainment, fireworks and a sparkling light show. The event is organised by Norwich City Council who, this year, have lined up some great acts and performances on the streets and outside City Hall and The Forum.

Father Christmas will be travelling around on his sleigh followed by a parade of twinkling lanterns. There will be gospel singers, acrobats, a buxom pair of traditional pantomime dames and dancers and singers from the Garage.

Outside The Forum there will be hot food and entertainment, with craft markets inside open until late. Also, don’t miss a new show in The Forum’s Gallery, The History of Panto Norwich City Centre | 6pm - 8pm | www.norwich.gov.uk

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THE CHARLATANS Friday 11th December Uea, Norwich

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THURS 19TH - SAT 28TH UNCLE VANYA The arrival from the city of an elderly professor and his beautiful young wife to live on his family’s rural estate provokes disharmony. Desire, jealousy, unrequited

love and thwarted ambition are revealed in Chekhov’s classic story of country life.

7.30pm | £10 & £8.50 | Thursday 19th – Eye Town Hall 01379 652241 | Friday 20th – Wingfield Barns 01379 384505 | Saturday 21st - The Cut, Halesworth 0845 673 2123 | Saturday 28th - Fisher Theatre, Bungay 01986 897130

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FRI 20TH CHARITY AUTUMN CONCERT Local music charity CHYMe are present their Autumn concert. Featuring two young and talented local musicians, Pianist Jack Breeze-Lamb and Flautist Delcine Dunsmore who will be accompanied by Jenny Eason. All proceeds will go towards helping young musicians in the local area.

St Mary’s Church, Diss | 7.30pm | £ 5.00 adults, £3.00 <18’s NEWTON FAULKNER Dreadlocked, laidback surfer dude troubadour doing tricksy stuff with acoustic guitars.

Open, 20 Bank Plain, Norwich | 7pm – 11pm| £20 | 01603 763111 / www.opennorwich.org.uk

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SUN 22ND COUNTRY & WESTERN DANCE Live music in a fantastic venue with an excellent atmosphere. Fully licensed bar, hot meals and raffle available.

Apollo Social Club, Harleston | £6 cmc members/£7 non | 7.30pm - 10.45pm | 01379 854205 / www.apollo-club.co.uk

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TUES 24TH - SUN 6TH DEC WHAT THE LADYBIRD HEARD Based on the award-winning picture book by Julia Donaldson & Lydia Monks.

Two crafty robbers, one tiny ladybird, and a whole farmyard of fun! Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len have a cunning plan to steal the farmer’s fine prize cow. But they reckon without the tiniest, quietest creature of all: The Ladybird has a plan of her own!

Join the woolly sheep, the hairy hog, the fat red hen and the dainty dog in this brand new stage adaptation of Julia Donaldson & Lydia Monks’ colourful farmyard adventure.

With live music, puppetry, plenty of audience participation and lots of laughs!

Suitable for age 3+ Norwich Playhouse, 42 - 58 St. George’s Street | 8pm & 9.30pm | £11.50 full, £9 groups of 10+, £8.50 schools | 01603 598598 / info@norwichplayhouse.co.uk

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WED 25TH - THURS 26TH ED BYRNE: OUTSIDE, LOOKING IN One of the UK’s leading comedians is back on the road this autumn with a brand new show!

You know - that bloke. The Irish guy.

No, not the bald one - the other one.

You know him. The one Carol from work really likes. Wait, that might be Jason Byrne. Anyway… Funny chap… Has a new show!

As an observational stand up, Ed Byrne is unrivalled. Wherever he performs, be it the Edinburgh Festival, on the International Circuit or a UK tour, it is always to capacity audiences. He is consistently at the top of his game and produces time and time again fabulously funny shows and highly critically acclaimed shows!

Norwich Playhouse, 42 - 58 St. George’s

Street | 8pm & 9.30pm | Age 14+ | £19 | 01603 598598 / info@norwichplayhouse. co.uk

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THURS 26TH - SUN 29TH BURY ST EDMUNDS ANNUAL CHRISTMAS FAYRE FAIRS AND FESTIVAL From a fairy lit trail in the award winning Abbey Gardens, to traditional European stalls on the historic Angel Hill, a fascinating museum, and a rich array of independent traders balanced against a 21st century shopping centre – Bury St Edmunds is the fayre that has everything.

More than 300 stall holders will be trading from across nine town centre locations, while children can enjoy a traditional funfair alongside other games and rides. Meet real life reindeer in the idyllic Abbey Gardens, enjoy carols and other musical entertainment from two stages and join in our traditional carol services in the beautiful setting of St Edmundsbury Cathedral.The fayre begins from 4pm on Thursday with a local children’s parade and fireworks finale.

Market Square, Cornhill, Bury Saint Edmunds | www.burystedmundschristmasfayre.co.uk

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FRI 27TH - SUN 29TH PENNOYER’S FIFTH ANNUAL BEER FESTIVAL A great weekend promised with best local micro breweries plus guest beers, cider and wine. Café open serving tea/ coffee and hot food.

Pennoyer Centre, Pulham St. Mary | 27th 6pm – 11pm, 28th - 11am – 11pm, 29th - 12 noon – 3pm | Free | 01379 676660 / www.pennoyers.org.uk / admin@pennoyers.org.uk

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SAT 28TH DISS CHRISTMAS LIGHT SWITCH-ON & CHRISTMAS FAYRE From 11am to 6pm: traders, shopkeepers and cafes will hold a special Christmas Fayre right in the heart of Diss - in the Market Place, St Nicholas Street, Cobbs Yard and Norfolk House Yard.

Find gifts from a wide range of local and artisan suppliers and special offers from the many shops and stall holders.

There’ll be arts and crafts including: handmade jewellery, ceramics, apothecary, skin care and craft beers plus hot chestnuts, confectionery, crepes, mince pies, mulled wine as well as all the wonderful independent shops in the yards which are packed with great Christmas present ideas.

Then join us for more fun, music and entertainment in Diss Market Place from 3pm with the Switch-On at 6pm by VIP guest Ben Langley, from the Norwich Theatre Royal pantomime.

From the Performance Stage - hosted

by Park Radio - there’ll be live music featuring: Diss Junior School Choir, The Mallie Band, Twisted Piglet, Felix Simpson & Mode With a hog roast, doughnuts, mulled wine and winter warmers, candyfloss, glow sticks and Castro’s coffee plus fairground rides at the Mere’s Mouth, street entertainers, face painting, Dinsdale, and of course Santa, it’ll be a day to remember!

South Norfolk Council has confirmed that the car parks will be free all day.

Diss Town Centre | 11.00am - 7.00pm

SAT 28TH & SUN 29TH CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR AT STONHAM BARNS The Craft Fair will be one of the many things going on at Stonham Barns during this period, there will also be reindeer, Santa’s grotto, small fun fair rides for children, hot chestnuts, the Suffolk owl Sanctuary and much more! A great day out for all the family shopping for early gifts, stopping in at Santa’s grotto, Christmas carollers and entertainment!

Stonham Barns, Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspal, Suffolk IP14 6AT | 10am - 4pm | www.stonhambarns.co.uk

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MON 30TH THE JUNGLE BOOK Mad Red Theatre School presents ‘The Jungle Book’ Adapted for the stage

by Stuart Paterson ‘This is the hour of pride and power, talon and tooth and claw!’ Rudyard Kipling’s classic story of Mowgli, the boy raised in the jungle by a family of wolves. When the vengeful tiger, Shere Khan, swears to kill the…

Maddermarket Theatre, St Johns Alley, Norwich | 7.30pm | £5–£6 | 01603 620917 / www.maddermarket.co.uk

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COMING SOON TUES 1ST - SAT 5TH AN INSPECTOR CALLS Multi award-winning West End production of J.B. Priestley’s classic thriller, An Inspector Calls.

Hailed as the theatrical event of our generation, winning more awards than any other play in history, this landmark production from the National Theatre has thrilled audiences in the West End, on Broadway and throughout the world with its epic and wildly imaginative staging, raw emotion, evocative score, lashing rain and chilling suspense.

When Inspector Goole arrives unexpectedly at the prosperous Birling family home, their peaceful dinner party is shattered by his investigations into the death of a young woman. His startling revelations shake the very foundations of their lives and challenge us all to examine our consciences.

Theatre Royal, Norwich | £7- £24 | Performances at 7.30pm with matinees at 2.30pm every day apart from Tuesday 1st | 01603 63 00 00 / www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk / boxoffice@theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

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WED 2ND DEC - WED 6TH JAN 16 HOLY MACKEREL! IPSWICH Eyes down for another wacky and wonderfully alternative Christmas show.

In the sleepy Cornish port of Newlyn, there’s something troubling afoot (but the chiropodist can’t help!) In Victorian times East Anglian seafarers descended on the town with their fancy pants ways.

The result... only a flipping fish riot!

Only one man can save the day. Holy Mackerel, it’s Norman in his nightshirt blundering through calamity after disaster in this hysterical history... with music, songs and fishty-cuffs a plenty!

Sir John Mills Theatre, Ipswich | Box Office 01473 211498 (10am - 2pm) / www. easternangles.co.uk SAT 5TH DEC LAVENHAM CHRISTMAS MARKET AND LANTERN WALK Christmas Market with 80 stalls will

EVENTS

be spread around the Market Place and Guildhall, selling food, drink, gifts and clothes.

Father Christmas will be in his Grotto Big Wheel, a mini fairground and musical entertainment.

Honey-tasting at the Lavenham Tourist Information Centre with the producer on hand to answer your questions.

At 4.00pm the Christmas Lantern Walk will take place, leaving from the Lavenham Tourist Information Centre.

Lavenham Tourist Information Centre Lady Street, Lavenham | 10.30am – 5.30pm | 01787 248207 / www.discoverlavenham.co.uk

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SAT 6TH DEC MISTLETOE MARKET A variety of stalls with good quality items for sale at reasonable prices. The money raised will be divided equally between the Goodwill Children’s Villages in India and Action for Children the Methodist Charity. Lunches will be on offer consisting of homemade soup, bread and butter and homemade desserts, tea or coffee to finish. Morning tea/coffee and mince pie will also be available.

Diss Methodist Church | 10am THURS 10TH DEC - FRI 1ST JAN 16 THE TALE OF MR TOD Featuring a cast of thousands, including: Peter Rabbit, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, Jemima-Puddle Duck, Jeremy Fisher, Samuel Whiskers, Tabitha Twitchett and many more...

Fed up with writing “goody goody books about nice people” Beatrix Potter turned her hand to creating two of the most dastardly villains of all time: Mr Tod and his nemesis Tommy Brock!

Join us for a Christmas adventure of mystery, suspense and slap stick.

The Avenue Theatre, Gippeswyk Hall, Ipswich | Family & Couples packages available | 01473 603388 | www.redrosechain. com

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FRI 11TH DEC THE CHARLATANS The band released their twelfth studio album Modern Nature in January to stunning reviews, some citing it as their best ever. Their singles, So Oh, Come Home Baby, Let The Good Times were rapturously received at radio and all A listed at 6 Music. Following their sold out UK tour in March, the band were booked to appear on Later in April.

This will be the The Charlatans last UK tour before the band head off to tour Europe, America and Australia.

UEA, Norwich | £27.50 | www. thecharlatans.com | www.uea.ac.uk/events

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MONTHLY EVERY MONDAY ODD BALLS KNITTING CLUB Just bring along your needles and ‘knit & natter’.

Pennoyer Centre, Pulham St. Mary | 1pm – 3pm | Free | 01379 676660 / www.pennoyers.org.uk admin@pennoyers.org.uk

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FIRST & THIRD TUESDAY DISS & DISTRICT CAMERA CLUB Grasmere Club, Denmark Street, Diss | 7:30pm-9:45pm | www.disscamera.org.uk

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FIRST TUESDAY WAVENEY BEREAVEMENT GROUP Number 7 - Prayer & Counselling Centre, 7-8 Mere Street, Diss | 2pm | 01379 658956

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EVERY WEDNESDAY TERESA MARSH SCHOOL OF DANCE Learn how to do Ballroom, Salsa and Latin dancing at this fun a relaxing class.

Beginners and singles welcome.

Licensed bar.

Pennoyer Centre, Pulham St. Mary | £7 | Bar 7pm - 9pm | Teresa 07709565875

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FIRST THURSDAY DISS COMPUTER CLUB The Residents’ Meeting Room, Taylor Road | 7.00pm - 10.00pm | Bob Morgan 01379 650977 / disscomputerclub@gmail.com

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FIRST FRIDAY & THIRD SUNDAY AFRICAN DJEMBE DRUMMING LESSONS ‘Backspace’, Angel Cafe, Fair Green, Diss | Friday: 10 - 12pm & Sunday: 3 - 5pm | £12 per session | Jane 01379 641233

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EVERY SATURDAY STRICTLY SATURDAYS Dump the shopping and come dancing at The Apex in the upstairs bar! Ballroom, Latin and Rock & Roll.

The Apex, Bury St. Edmunds | 2.30pm4.30pm | Free | 01284 758000 / enquiries@theapex.co.uk

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THE WYKEN VINEYARD FARMERS MARKET The Wyken Farmers’ Market is about farmers, producers, bakers, makers, friends and family.

Wyken Road, Stanton, Bury St Edmunds | 9am - Noon | 01359 250262

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FIRST SATURDAY INDOOR FLEA MARKET Vintage, antique, collectables, etc.

Swan Hotel, Harleston | 9.00 - 1.00pm | Stalls £10 | 01379 855486

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EVERY SUNDAY STONHAM BARNS CAR BOOT SALE Stonham Barns, Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspal | 8am for Sellers / 9am for Buyers | Simon Tilley 07817 539168

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BINGO FOR CASH PRIZES £6 for 6 games. All monies paid in is paid out in cash prizes!

Apollo Social Club, Harleston | £6 for 6 games | 8.00pm | 01379 854205 / www.apollo-club.co.uk

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SECOND & FOURTH SUNDAY COME DANCING If you love to dance this is a great night!

Professional DJ, fantastic dance floor & fully licensed bar.

Apollo Rooms, Harleston | 7pm-10pm | £5 | 01379 854205 / www.apollo-club.co.uk

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ROSEDALE FUNERAL HOME BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUPS This complimentary course welcomes everyone no matter how long ago you were bereaved, or which funeral director you used.

Attleborough, Beccles, Diss, Halesworth & Wymondham | www.rosedalefuneralhome.co.uk

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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 December by 15th November via info@ylm.co.uk. Entries for January 2016 by 1st December via info@ylm.co.uk NOVEMBER 2015

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