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WHITLEY BAY EDITION | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2021
PUZZLES INSIDE
Could learning a language benefit you in 2021? Meeting scheduled to approve town master plan
Say Hello to a brighter future with Concept Eye Clinic
COVID-19 SECURE This magazine has been delivered in compliance with the UK Govenment’s Covid-19 risk management guidance
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WELCOME TO ABC MAGAZINE
Welcome to the Whitley Bay edition of ABC, your bi-monthly independent local magazine. ABC is distributed free of charge to thousands of homes in Whitley Bay, Whitley Lodge and Monkseaton or you can view it online via www.yourabc.co.uk
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LO C A L N E W S
Cabinet meeting scheduled to approve final North Shields master plan The Ambition for North Shields master plan, aimed at transforming the town centre and riverside into an environment where people choose to live, work and spend their leisure time, went out to consultation in draft form during the summer and autumn of last year. It outlines eight separate projects for the town centre and Fish Quay. These include enhancing the appearance of key areas, creating a new transport hub and interchange and town square to host events, markets and performances, improved walking and cycling routes in the town centre, a new cultural quarter based around a traffic calmed Howard Street and riverside walkway linking the town centre to the Fish Quay. There are also proposals for high-quality housing at key locations and moving the North Shields ferry landing to Western Quay. The plans, which have been developed following a £200,000 grant from the North of Tyne Combined Authority, build on the council’s recent achievements in North Shields. These include the housing developments at Northumberland Square, the acquisition and proposed redevelopment of Unicorn House, the restoration of the Wooden Dolly statue, the successful High Street Heritage Action Zone funding bid from Historic England to breathe new life into Howard Street and Northumberland Square, and the ongoing work with the Port of Tyne and Fish Quay Development Company to ensure the long-term economic future of the Fish Quay. The overall aim is to create a smaller, more vibrant and connected town centre which combines living, working and retail and is a destination in its own right, while connected to an increasingly vibrant Fish Quay. These objectives will be underpinned by better transport flows, new infrastructure and a higher quality built environment. As a listening council, residents, businesses, partners and other interested parties were asked their views on the proposals through a variety of platforms to take into consideration when producing the final version of the plan. Households and businesses in the master plan area were sent a brochure about the plans, a digital engagement tool was created, businesses were regularly updated and consulted with, and comments were received via social media. A report to Cabinet shows that overall feedback from the consultation was broadly positive and supportive of the proposals with a general agreement that North Shields needs some revitalisation to make the area a better place to live, work and visit. 6
Image: North Tyneside Council
CABINET MEMBERS ARE MEETING AT THE END OF JANUARY TO GIVE THE FINAL GO AHEAD TO TRANSFORM NORTH SHIELDS AND THE FISH QUAY.
Proposals to improve access between the Fish Quay and town centre, plans to create a transport hub, proposed new housing on the Unicorn House site and improved town centre gateways were all particularly welcomed and are intended to ensure the town is wellplaced to attract visitors and compliment private sector investment. The majority of businesses in the town were happy to support the plans, the report adds. The final master plan has now been refined and no longer includes a proposal to demolish a small number of buildings in Railway Terrace to make way for a new town square. Instead, Co-op have announced their intention to close their store later this year. The council is aiming to purchase and demolish the Co-op store on Bedford Street and two smaller retail units facing Railway Terrace, which have recently been placed for sale by the company. This revised approach will enable the delivery of the transport interchange and a new town square and means the Railway Terrace shops would remain as they are while the same outcomes would be delivered quicker and cheaper. All other proposals included in the master plan remain unchanged but as individual projects are refined and finalised there may be some minor changes. Cllr Bruce Pickard, Deputy Mayor and cabinet member for Economic Development, said: “We’re an ambitious council and we intend to transform North Shields into somewhere people want to live, work and visit. This is a really exciting time for the whole of North Tyneside and we have already achieved a great deal in recent times in North Shields and the Fish Quay and the next step is to press ahead with the bold proposals contained within the master plan. We have fully engaged and consulted with residents, businesses and other interested parties to help shape our thinking as have refined our plans to produce a final master plan which sets out a bright future for the town while providing value for money.”
Chartered Surveyors, Estate Agents, Valuers
The team at RA Jackson & Son are still here to help our tenants, landlords and homeowners during this uncertain time and we would be happy to discuss any property questions you have. Stay home and stay safe, we are really looking forward to welcoming you all back.
James Barlow and Richard Fenwick Partners at RA Jackson & Son LLP
We can be contacted on 0191 257 1253 or sales@rajackson.co.uk We are... • Residential Estate Agents covering North Tyneside •
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EDUCATION
WORLD BOOK DAY
Thursday 4th March is WORLD BOOK DAY and this year the focus is on libraries. By Sarah Davey
E
very Saturday morning, after we’d endured the weekly shop, my mother took me and my brother to the library. We’d flop down in the children’s section and skim the titles, our heads tilted at ninety degrees. Our card limit was three books each and it never seemed enough. My mother was an avid reader and instilled in both of us the love of a good story. It’s why I’m delighted that World Book Day is here again, and that it's working even more closely with libraries. For the first time in our lives libraries are seriously under threat. Yet libraries level the playing field for families who can't afford to buy books. They are gateways to a world of information and imagination. World Book Day is the annual event supporting books and reading in the UK. Schools, libraries and bookshops will be holding book related events, activities and parties. It’s a great opportunity for everyone to get involved. The aim of World Book Day is to encourage children to explore the pleasure of reading. Your child will be given a book token which can be exchanged for one of ten specially published World Book Day books. The theme this year is story-sharing. Research has proven that keen readers: ·· Read, write and concentrate better ·· Process new information more easily ·· Have many interests and do well in a wide variety of subjects 8
·· ·· ··
Are more flexible thinkers and are more open to new ideas Deal with personal problems better without their schoolwork being affected. They are also well equipped to deal with the explosion of constantly changing information available through the internet and social media.
TV and computer games take up so much of our children’s leisure time that the simple pleasure of reading can be overlooked. Yet reading is the only entertainment medium which is also a life skill and it’s one of the best gifts you can give to your child. So let’s all support World Book Day and... celebrate the power of a story. ■ Visit www.worldbookday.com
Share a few of your childhood favourites with your own children. If your memory needs a jog, here are a few to start you off… Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis. Grandpa’s Great Escape by David Walliams How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell The Gruffalo By Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
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FITNESS
HULA FITNESS! The perfect lockdown exercise By Tracey Anderson
During the first lockdown I rather enjoyed the enforced laziness. I am a gym member, but I don’t really love it. After a while though I noticed that, while I didn’t miss weights and running on the treadmill, I did miss the classes, and the rush of endorphins that followed. Then one day while idly flicking through YouTube videos I came across a ‘hulafitness’ workout. It looked fun. I grabbed one of my daughter’s neon hula hoops and had a go. Much harder than it looked but I enjoyed it. The next afternoon I had another go and my teenage daughter joined in. We laughed a lot (which was a bonus as anyone who has a teenage daughter will acknowledge) and afterwards we investigated hula-fitness a bit more. Hula hooping is inexpensive, and you can do it practically anywhere, which is kind of the point in lockdown. All you need to get started is a hoop and room to move. Standard hula hoops are cheap as chips but after a few sessions we invested in weighted ones. Even they didn’t break the bank. Ours cost about £15 each but even the more expensive ones were only £40. It is important to find the rightsized hoop. Larger hoops are a little easier as a beginner because you spin more slowly. If using a weighted hoop, begin with a lighter one (around 0.5-1Kg) and increase the weight as you get more proficient. Correct form is more important than weight, and I did have a little accident where I pulled a muscle in my back 10
for a few days because in my enthusiasm the first hoop I bought was too heavy. There are a few online tutorials that talk you through how to hula hoop with proper form. To my delight I found our gym offered a beginner’s online hula fitness class, so we signed up for that. With hula hooping, you teach your body how to move the right way with the hoop while working your cardiovascular system. Shorter workouts are better at the start. We started with two ten-minute sessions a day and worked up from there.
Hold each side of the hoop around your waist, resting against your back. With the hoop against your back, start spinning the hoop in whichever direction you find easiest. As the hoop starts to spin, move your waist in a circular motion to keep the hoop moving. Push your hips slightly forward as the hoop moves across your stomach and push back when the hoop moves across your back. KEEP THE CORE MUSCLES ENGAGED – TUMMY TIGHT. If the hoop drops, just pick it up and get going again.
BASIC FORM AND POSTURE
FINALLY
Feet should be a little more than shoulder-width apart, with one foot slightly in front of the other. Your back should be straight, and your core engaged to protect your back.
If you have a back injury or chronic back pain, check with your doctor or physical therapist before trying hula hooping to make sure it’s safe for you.
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FITNESS
German Language Learning for 2021 SUSANNE WARDLE, DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER OF THE GERMAN TEACHER, EXPLAINS WHY LEARNING A LANGUAGE COULD BENEFIT YOU IN 2021
Could German language learning be your New Year’s resolution for 2021? Finally, the year 2020 has gone and, despite the ongoing challenges due to Covid-19, it is time to think about the fulfilment of plans, dreams and the achievement of goals for 2021. However, while 60% of people make New Year’s resolutions, most give up by the 12th of January and 43% in under a month. As a matter of fact, only 8-12% of all resolutions see their fulfilment by the end of the year. Let it be German Whether you have always wanted to learn a new language or refresh your language from school, German is a great choice for any English speaker. Undeniably German is similar to English, as you say the letters you see and it is very structured. Whether you decide to learn German or any other language, here are the top tips: Firstly, pick a language which is relevant to you. So, it might be your holiday destination, or you might have friends who are native speakers or speak the language well. Do you need the language for work or will it further your career? Did you enjoy the language at school and wished you kept it up? Do you enjoy German films, books, music or composers? Whatever your reason, if the language is relevant to you, you will put the work in to learn it! Secondly, you could learn a language with a partner, friend, group or your children? It is fun to learn together and apart from practising, you can correct and challenge each other. Expect challenges on the way and have realistic expectations. It is unlikely that you will achieve fluency within a few months unless you have some prior knowledge. Your life will get busy at times and your language learning might not be your priority. Be clear in your goal settings and convey this to your language teacher! What do you want to get out
“A different language is a different version of life” - Frederico Fellini – film director 12
of your language learning? Any professional language teacher will have that conversation with you and tailor the lesson to your needs. Make a commitment to learning! 10 minutes of vocabulary learning a day is better than 1 hour in 7 days. Complete the set homework! Have fun with the language: Listen to songs, label your house with post-its, write your shopping list in German, try your German out on friends and on holiday and watch German language films with subtitles. Benefits of learning a language • It opens your world to another way of thinking while gaining a deeper understanding of your own culture. • Languages let you connect you with different people and a different culture and limit barriers between people. • Foreign languages improve your analytical and problem-solving skills. • A foreign language opens the door to art, music, dance, fashion, cuisine, film, philosophy, science. • It undoubtedly has health benefits, as it sharpens your memory and helps to prevent the onset of dementia. • Learning a language is fun and gives you a sense of achievement. In brief, whatever your New Year’s Resolutions for 2021, make language learning one of them. There is no age limit and you might surprise yourself. Absolutely consider German as an option. It has a lot to offer and is easier than you think! ■ www.germanteacher.uk
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LOCAL NEWS
Coping with Isolation During Lockdown During our third national lockdown, many of us will be feeling isolated and alone. It's been months since we've been able to spend any real time with our family and friends, and the Zoom quizzes that kept us occupied during the first lockdown have slowly dried up. It's so easy to become inactive when living in lockdown, particularly those of use who are living by ourselves. But we need to ensure that we don't let our mental and physical health deteriorate. To help combat this isolation Age UK North Tyneside have launched their latest programme of virtual events for over 50s. Winter Warmers & Workouts is a mix of social and
physical activities designed to keep your body and mind active this winter. The programme features several guest speakers including volunteers from the National Trust, a local police officer and staff from Washington Wetland Centre. Events like these are a great way to get active and make the most of the lockdown. By taking part, you'll improve your health, pick up new skills, and maybe even make some friends along the way!
To find out more, get in touch with Age UK North Tyneside’s Community Development team on 0191 287 7027 or email Community.Development@ageuknorthtyneside.org.uk.
SIGNWORD Picture to oneself
Elliptical
Cut with teeth
Geographical plan
Impair
Closest
Essential nutrient
In this crossword the clues are printed in what would normally be the ‘black’ squares. Follow the signs from each clue to find where the word should fit.
Think highly of Conserve
Vegetable
Cover pipes All existing things
Jewel
Unused
Animal doctor
Border
Understand
Solution
16
Encountered
B M I N A T E P E A R R S E I E S M E T
Watery
O M V I T A J A M R L A G G G U N I V E E N E M W E T
Rivals
ageuk.org.uk/northtyneside 0191 280 8484
Claim your FREE Healthy Hearts & Minds Resource Pack call 0191 287 7027 or email Community.Development@ageuknorthtyneside.org.uk Staying healthy and feeling your best is important at any age. We know it’s not just about living longer, it’s about living healthily and happily for longer. But coping with change is difficult, regardless of age, especially given the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions around lockdowns. Healthy ageing means continually reinventing yourself as you pass through landmark ages such as 60, 70, 80 and beyond. It means finding new things you enjoy, learning to adapt to change, staying physically and socially active, and feeling connected to others. To help you live life to the full during the restrictions, we have created a Healthy Hearts & Minds activity resource pack for you. The pack is full of articles that can help you maintain your physical and emotional health, whatever your age or circumstances and help you cope with change and live life to the fullest whilst we stay at home. To get your FREE copy of the pack, call us on 0191 287 7027 or email Community.Development@ageuknorthtyneside.org.uk
Yvonne Probert Head of Charity Services Registered charity number 1049527. Company number 1763579.
ADVERTISING FEATURE
SAY HELLO TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE After a year full of social challenges and extraordinary human endeavour to stay well and connected with loved ones, we can all look forward to brighter prospects. Throughout the pandemic, Concept Eye Clinic has been at the fore in providing a vital eye health service for the local community. Our people are at the helm of what we do here. It’s not just an eye examination on offer, but a service where you can feel safe and nurtured. Many of us have used computer and tablet screens more than ever before during lockdown, and protecting our vision has never been more critical. Sam, our clinic lead at Tynemouth has seen the impact of this with patients: “We’ve helped people experiencing vision deterioration, difficulty in reading, and who have noticed a progressive change in their vision through eye strain, headaches and dry eyes. The good news is that throughout restrictions, people are entitled to medical appointments and at Concept, we’ve remained open to provide a key health service for our community”. It’s never too late to trust your instincts and book an appointment. Ask Ross Dempster, our resident optician: “We’re privileged to have the latest Zeiss technology at hand which means that even with a routine eye examination we can detect often ‘symptomless’ vision threatening conditions. Remember, an eye examination is not just to help optimise how well you can see, it’s essentially about your well being, quality of life and the health of your eyes. I’m passionate about preventative care”. So once you’ve booked your 18
eye MOT ready for a spring in your step for a positive new year, how about a new pair of glasses? Bespoke spectacle styling is what sets Concept apart as a boutique practice. In these challenging times, investment in our well being has never been more important. The frame collection here reflects our lifestyle and aspirations. With Concept’s affordable care plans starting from £5.99p/m, looking stylish does not have to break the bank. Spectacles have come a long way in their evolution from medical frames! Our Tynemouth practice offers a rare, fresh perspective for younger and older audience groups. From the quiet confidence of Lindberg, to the glamour of Tom Ford and the free spirit of Oliver Peoples, you can reflect who you want to be. With clever craftsmanship and design detail, there’s something special here for everyone because individual style and personality is respected as part of our unique ethos and frame-work of client care. Your spectacles are more than a vision aid. They are also a lifestyle statement and more than ever, they’re an important emotional investment. At Concept we recognise this. Ask our creative stylist Sarah: “I love beautiful design and take pride in guiding my client to choose the right shape to suit their face. Our lives are busy enough, but it’s important to take time to understand
ROSS
SAM
SARAH
what someone truly needs. The look of delight when they collect their new frames is what makes it magical”.
■ Concept Eye Clinic 25 Front Street, Tynemouth, NE30 4DX. Tel: 0191 285 1603 concepteyeclinic.com
FRAME OF THE SEASON The Takumi 1 is exquisit el y, det ai l ed. I t ’s c l ass i c pant o l ens s h ape is dedicated to th e Oliver Peoples Takumi collection and f eat ures a uni que, v i nt age i ns pi r ed patter n A su n g las s clip co mes in 4 differen t c ol ours. Per f ec t l y st y l i s h sungl as s es to welco me Spr in g !
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T &C ’ S A PPLY
LOCAL ADVERTISING FE ATURE
A Success Story for Morpeth Maximize Education is a private educational facility providing supportive and alternative education for students funded both privately and via local government. The business was founded in Morpeth by Christine Jamieson, who built up its reputation for delivering bespoke individual tuition for students of all ages, across a full range of academic subjects. She recognised the need to professionalise the private tutorial industry to ensure tutors provided tuition reflecting the national curriculum and examination board specifications while observing the necessary requirements of safeguarding. The intention was always to ensure that parents and students were given access to highly qualified professional educators, across as many subjects as required, in the most cost-effective way. The standards were set high with a determination ensure services continued to be one to one. The development of locally based tuition centres began in 2019, first in Gosforth then Morpeth when a suitable property became available. The onset of the pandemic brought about new challenges, however, Maximize Education adapted and evolved to meet the challenge and invested heavily in the Morpeth Tuition Centre to ensure a Covid safe
environment for students and staff, welcoming new and old students back into the learning environment. On the 7th September 2020 Maximize Education’s Online Tuition Services went National. The uptake has ensured that this locally developed business is not only surviving the pandemic, but marching forward, creating ongoing employment opportunities for a growing team in their Morpeth based Head Office. ■ www.maximizeeducation.com
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Meet the Vet Team at North Tyneside
Ju ra j
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Ow ne r/ Direc to r
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FOOD
FAT TUESDAY! 16th February is Shrove Tuesday By Sarah Davey
I grew up near Olney, in Buckinghamshire. It’s a pretty little town with lots of lovely independent shops and a strange claim to fame; it is the home of the pancake race. On Shrove Tuesday, in a 500-year-old tradition, many of the Olney women (and the odd bloke in a dress), don aprons and head coverings, and race through the streets to the church tossing a hot pancake in a frying pan! It’s an entertaining afternoon, but how did it all come about? Legend has it that in 1455 a woman cooking pancakes heard the shriving bell summoning her to confession. In her Christian haste she ran to the church, wearing her apron and still clutching her frying pan, complete with hot pancake, and so the tradition was born. The reason this 15th Century woman was cooking pancakes in the first place was due to a Christian dictate; that through the 40 days of Lent no person should eat milk, eggs, or butter. This was a pre-fridge era, which meant that if a housewife had stocks of these foods they would go off before the fast ended on Easter Sunday, so she had to use them up. The solution was to make pancakes and they became a symbol of self-indulgence before the fast. Indeed Mardi Gras, as the ritual is called in France and the USA, literally translates as ‘Fat Tuesday.’ Over the years I’ve tried my pancakes with fruit, maple syrup, and a variety of savoury fillings but I keep coming back to fresh 22
lemon juice and a sprinkling of sugar...irresistible. Here is my own recipe for perfect pancakes. Ingredients 115g (4oz) plain flour Pinch salt 1 large egg 285ml (half a pint of milk) 115g (4oz) butter, melted Juice from 2 lemons, strained Caster or Demerara sugar to taste. To make the batter: 1. Sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl and make a well in the centre. Beat in the egg and a little of the milk until smooth. Gradually beat in the remaining milk and add 4 tablespoons of the melted butter. Cover the bowl and leave to stand for
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5.
6.
one hour. In a small non-stick frying pan heat some of the butter until sizzling, but taking care not to let it burn. Pour enough batter into the pan to coat the base evenly. Cook over a moderate heat until the pancake is light golden-brown underneath and looks dry on top. Flip over (try to do this with style!) and cook the other side until golden. Continue until all the batter is used. The recipe should make 1012 pancakes. You can keep the pancakes warm in the oven (Gas mark 1 / 140C) until they are all cooked, but in our house they’re barely out the frying pan before they’re scoffed. Serve with the lemon juice and sugar...Enjoy!
A1 Garage Doors is a trading name of Apex Improvements Limited ŠApex Improvements Limited 2015
23
A D V E RT I S I N G F E AT U R E
Handmade Art-Jewellery
Whitley Bay’s Emine Thompson constructs unmistakable pieces with a contemporary twist
S
ituated in Ouseburn, the artistic engine-room of Newcastle, Silverkupe offers unique handmade jewellery for discerning clients. After more than 20 years of teaching landscape architecture and 3D modelling, Emine started her jewellery journey in 2017 and never looked back. Originally from Istanbul, she lives in Whitley Bay and creates her contemporary jewellery from the BBox Studios in Newcastle. Since the beginning of her creative journey Emine has always been fascinated by colour, texture and form. She uses a combination of techniques in her creations, such as traditional silversmithing, metalclay, and sculptural and enamelling techniques. She seeks to bring together the individual characteristics of different materials and techniques to construct unmistakable pieces. Colour plays an important role in her designs also. Emine achieves deep blacks by selective oxidisation, intense blues and reds by vitreous enamels, and adds indulgence to her designs with 24k gold-accents. Her pieces get hallmarked at the Edinburgh Assay Office. Emine’s expressive jewellery offers a contemporary twist on more traditional ideas. Due to handmade process, every single piece is one-of-a- kind. Currently she has four collections within her portfolio, Colour Seeds, Dotty, Simplicity and Half & Half that reflects her unique design. You can find her art-jewellery
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Emine’s modern silver art-jewellery, with its pop of colour and gold, might be just the thing you are looking for.
in fourteen galleries and gift shops across the UK and on her website. Up until recently, she also exhibited her designs in many UK locations such as London, York, Newcastle, Durham, Saltaire, Glasgow and, of course, Whitley Bay. Speaking about life as a designer-maker and her business values, Emine said: ‘Jewellery and precious metals play an important role in traditional Turkish culture. Just have a look at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul! This culture is embedded in me. I am also fascinated by how silver, and indeed gold, can be endlessly recycled, and how every bit of discarded metal can eventually be turned into a beautiful piece. I use eco-friendly jewellery presentation boxes and my postage material is all recycled’. Emine has been living in the UK since 1999 and the name ‘Silverkupe’ encapsulates her background and her future. ‘Küpe’ means an earring in Turkish. As a child and a teenager, Emine always liked silver jewellery
and especially earrings. So she combined two words from the two different cultures to which she belongs to create her brand name. Emine loves teaching and enjoys seeing people developing and finding out what they are cable of doing. She gives jewellery-making workshops at her studio. These are currently one-to-one only. Workshops from her range are proving to be popular gifts. You can select from six different workshops, ranging from introductory silverclay to more advanced silversmithing techniques. She is planning further options for her workshop portfolio to spread the joy of making even more! Emine’s modern silver artjewellery, with its pop of colour and gold, might be just the thing you are looking for. You can select a statement piece or everyday jewellery to accompany your individual style. Emine also accepts bespoke commissions and designs the pieces according to her client’s needs, desires and
visions. And if you cannot decide what to choose for a loved one, she offers personalized gift cards as well. ■ Silverkupe Jewellery & Workshops, BBox Studios, Studio 30, Stoddart Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 1AN www.silverkupe.com contact@silverkupe.com 25
Valentine Jammy Dodgers A HOME MADE TREAT WITH ADDED LOVE
INGREDIENTS
175g plain flour Pinch of salt 75g icing sugar 125g unsalted butter, diced 1 egg yolk 1 tsp vanilla extract 75g raspberry jam 75g apricot jam
METHOD 1. 2.
3.
✁
4.
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n time: Preparatio s 30 minute e: m ti g in Cook utes 15-20 min Makes: 6-8
5. 6.
7.
Sift the flour, salt and icing sugar into a large mixing bowl. Add the butter and rub it lightly into the flour mix, using your fingertips, until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolk and vanilla extract lightly together. Make a well in the centre of the flour mix. Add the egg and vanilla and work together to form a soft, smooth dough. (You can use a food processor if you have one). Place the dough in a polythene bag and place in the fridge to rest for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 170C / gas mark 3. Divide the chilled dough into two equal portions. Place one portion between two pieces of lightly floured greaseproof paper and roll the dough to approximately a 4mm thickness. Repeat with the second piece of dough. Remove the top sheet of paper. With a large biscuit cutter, cut the dough into an even number of discs. Using a small heart cutter, cut out and remove the centre of half the biscuit discs. Place all the discs on the baking sheets. Bake for 15–20 minutes until just firm and barely coloured. Don’t fully bake yet. Remove from the oven and place a teaspoonful of jam in the centre of each whole biscuit round. Spread to 1.5cm from the edge. Place the heart cut-out rounds on top. Return to the oven and cook for a further 5–6 minutes by which time the biscuits will be evenly cooked and the jam sufficiently hot to stick the two halves of the biscuits together. Leave the biscuits to cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack.
A GOOD MORNING DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR
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CROSSWORD Across 7 Rubbery, flexible (7) 9 Application, employment (5) 10 Well known (5) 11 Compress, contract (7) 12 Large flightless bird (3) 13 Slowly get rid off (8) 16 Moaners (8) 17 Vat, bucket (3) 19 _______ Banderas, actor (7) 21 Gone ____, circulated rapidly on the internet (5) 22 Most important person (5) 23 Sir Ranulph _______, Polar explorer (7)
WORD LADDER A word ladder is a sequence of words formed by changing just one letter each time eg CAT - COT - DOT - DOG. Can you find the missing words? Use the clues if you get stuck.
CHASE
Clues:
Down 1 Release from captivity (7) 2 Speak ill of (8) 3 Lothario (4) 4 Clumsy incompetents (8) 5 Agreement (4) 6 Switches baby to solid food (5) 8 Style of bread (11) 13 Folding ranger tool (8) 14 Proclaiming (8) 15 Dispose of (7) 18 Cheekily sexy (5) 20 Slim (4) 21 Outlook, scene (4)
Discontinued
Lead Percolate Fruit Roost Sear Mend
WORD LADDER CHASE, CEASE, LEASE, LEASH, LEACH, PEACH, PERCH, PARCH, PATCH, CATCH
28
MNDBENDERS 1. Last, not least 2. Blood is thicker than water 3. Rub up the wrong way
SOLUTIONS
CATCH
MINDBENDERS Can you find the hidden phrases?
least
blood H20 R U B
Charter
29
HEALTH
Brain Benefits
BRAIN HEALTH IS AS IMPORTANT AS PHYSICAL HEALTH By Louise Addison
O
ver the past few decades neuroscientists have discovered that the grey blancmangelike structure between our ears is capable of adapting, healing, rewiring and even renewing itself. What’s more, we can make changes which positively impact the health of our brain, and science has given us some interesting ways to do this. Juggling Various studies found that volunteers who participated in a juggling exercise improved connections in areas of their brains involved in visual and motor activity. Furthermore, the changes were still present several weeks after they stopped. The researchers chose juggling becasue it's a complex skill, but other complex activities would also work, for example: salsa dancing, life-drawing or learning a musical instrument. The key is that the new skill you choose to learn should be unrelated to what you normally do. It should take you out of your comfort zone. Tasks which involve genuine concentration, such as studying a musical instrument, playing chess, juggling, and dancing, are associated with a lower risk for dementia. Dancing, it turns out is particularly good as it is both physically and mentally challenging. Learning a new language is also good for a brain workout, causing an increase in grey matter in the areas related to the use of language. Sleep For those of us who love our beds it's good news; sleep is necessary for brain health. It's not such good news for people who struggle with insomnia and disrupted sleep though. Poor sleep is linked to rapid reductions in brain volume, so your brain actually shrinks. Areas of the brain dealing with language, balance, maths and decision-making were the most affected. Poor sleep causes protein build-up in the brain, which negatively impacts brain cells. Sleep repairs and restores brain function, so improving sleep habits is important for brain health. Experts suggest between 7–8 hours per night as optimal. If you feel you aren't sleeping well it's important to talk to your doctor as underlying issues such as snoring, or high levels of anxiety, may need to be addressed.
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Exercise It's not only good for your body but it helps memory, motor skills, and learning ability. It doesn't need to be anything fancy; simply running on a treadmill or pedalling a stationary bike for 30 minutes has benefits. Exercise increases heart rate, so more oxygen is pumped to the brain, and it releases beneficial hormones too, improving mood and sleep, while reducing stress levels and anxiety. See why dancing is so brain-friendly? It ticks ALL the boxes. Mindfulness It’s not just a fad. Science says meditation is beneficial for mental health. Our brains often function on auto-pilot. Being in the moment while going about your day and noticing any tension or preoccupations without judging is effective in combating stress. Meditation rewires your brain, leading to: raised happiness levels, stress reduction, increased concentration, improved working memory, decreased emotional outbursts, and better problem-solving. By taking care of your brain you can increase white and grey matter, improve mental health, and slow down cognitive decline. It's time to be brainy!
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NewSpace Loft Storage We create space so everything has a place
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OUR FAMILY RUN BUSINESS, WITH OVER 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, CAN HELP YOU FURNISH A BEAUTIFUL HOME
VISIT US TO VIEW OUR WIDE RANGE OF: READY-MADE CURTAINS s VOILES s NETS TIEBACKS s CURTAIN POLES s CUSHION COVERS Our bespoke curtain making service offers a wide range of designs including chenilles, damasks and printed designs to finish your windows beautifully.
42 High St West, Wallsend, NE28 8HX Tel: 0191 263 8424 Find us on Amazon, Ebay & Facebook • www.mapletextiles.co.uk 35
NOW R C EATING YOUR E P RFECT BEDROOM
KITCHEN • BATHROOM • TILE
Brilliantly Simple...Simply Brilliant Signature Kitchens, Bathrooms & Tiles have been providing customers with quality kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, flooring and tiles for over ten years.
Offering a unique combination of superb products, expertise and unmatched customer service, we bring you the home of your dreams, whilst making the transformation a painless process. For every project, we have an experienced team and a generation of experience; this successful formula shows in the results. ● FAMILY RUN BUSINESS ● FREE 3D PLANNING & DESIGN ● TILING, ELECTRICS & PLASTERING ● SUPPLY OR INSTALLATION ● FULL PROJECT MANAGEMENT OF YOUR DREAM KITCHEN OR BATHROOM
1a Burnside Road, Whitley Bay, NE25 8PW Tel: 0191 253 5111 www.signaturekitchensbathroomsandtiles.co.uk 36
SHOWROOM OPEN: Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm & Saturday 10am - 4pm
SUDOKU
SPORTY ANAGRAMS
Can you work out the kinds of sport from the following anagrams? Word lengths are shown in brackets. Solutions below.
A WET FEW RAN IT RIGHT (5,5,7) GET WIN IF LIGHT (13) RING WELTS (9) LOB ALOFT (8) LITHE CATS (9) ROMAN HAT (8) MINOR GO CART (5,6) Solution
WIN FUN GRIDS (11) BALK TABLES (10) SOLUTION: White Water Rafting, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Football, Athletics, Marathon, Motor Racing, Windsurfing, Basketball
Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the numbers 1 through to 9 with no repetition.
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ADVERTISING FEATURE
PROBATE: How much do you charge? BY JACQUELINE EMMERSON, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF EMMERSONS SOLICITORS
W
hen I am drafting wills on behalf of clients we discuss the issue of Executors. An Executor is the person who handles all of the paperwork and administration when someone dies. They are expected to apply for a Grant of Probate and thereafter gather in the assets of the estate, pay all creditors and distribute the remainder to the beneficiaries. If you want to appoint someone who knows what they are doing, who can work quickly and who takes away the stress from your family then it would be a good idea to appoint a solicitor. Hence the question, how much do you charge? Well that depends very much upon you. Are you organised? A three bedroomed property which is neat and tidy and with most paperwork in one room will take about four to six hours for three of our staff to search for jewellery, paperwork, share certificates, coin collections, musical instruments etc. We have to search everywhere. If you were very organised you would have all paperwork in one draw or cabinet with a list of your old accounts/investments indicating that those accounts had been closed down. This will immediately cut down on costs as we won’t have to spend time locating paperwork. There is a world of difference between us going through fifteen years of old bills or being presented with a neat orderly collection of up to date paperwork. If you have asked a family member to be your executor this is what you are asking them to attend to unless they then appoint a solicitor upon your death. What state a property is in will hugely affect how much we charge. You are probably not aware of just how much a skip can cost. We have just received a quote for over £12,000 for a company to clear out a house. It’s in such bad condition that builders cannot tell what the structure of the building is like. I know that once it’s cleaned up and the garden tidied that we can make tens of thousands more on this property. It’s in a beautiful location with a mature 50 foot private garden. A person’s mental health can deteriorate quite quickly once other family members pass away. We once went to a small house that was so packed with rubbish that we couldn’t tell if there was a bathroom 38
JACQUELINE EMMERSON
or not. The family had taken one look at the place and instructed us to act. It took six staff from our Clear and Clean team four days to clear out that house. But they also cleaned it from top to bottom, thus it was immediately ready for sale and sold within days of being placed upon the market. According to the neighbour the place had been as neat as a pin when the lady of the house was alive. She predeceased her husband by three years and things had declined that much in such a short space of time. I think the correct question to ask is how much added value can we as solicitors bring to the estate. A few months ago we sorted out a house that had not been modernised since the 1950’s. No modern kitchen or bathroom, no central heating. But we organised everything very quickly and using sealed bids we obtained £65,000 over the asking price within three days of the property going on the market for sale. I know that everyone does not live their lives in order to save probate legal fees but at the moment, as we are all stuck in the house, is it not a good idea to organise your paperwork. Whilst you are at it you might decide to rearrange some of your contracts. If you are preparing a list of utility companies with account numbers what about negotiating yourself a better deal. If you have gold sovereigns are they hidden all over the house, will I have to look down the back of drawers to find them or could you store them with your jewellery. Do you have an old watch? In days gone by as soon as a man qualified from his apprenticeship he would buy himself a decent watch. Those watches are often left lying in cupboards but they can be worth a fortune. Gold is also quite valuable at the moment and it’s worth taking it down to the gold dealers in town to sell it. Why not cash in your money now and, when Covid is over take yourself off for a few days holiday. That way I won’t be charging your estate for the time taken to go and sell your gold, sovereigns or jewellery. A win win situation. ■ If you require any help then please don’t hesitate to contact me on 0191 2846989 or je@emmersons-solicitors.co.uk
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Why not let us help you reach agreement, avoid court and move on with your life. Contact us now on 0191 284 6989 to see how we can help you. 7/12/15 08:39:13
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New, Vintage & Antique Jewellery Bought & Sold Sale On Commission Service Available Valuations For Insurance & Probate Antique and Collectable China, Glass, Silverware & Furniture Valuations For Coins, Medals And Stamps
171 Park View, Whitley Bay, NE26 3RE Telephone: 0191 2518444 www.whitleyjewelleryandantiques.co.uk 39
Love your home, inside and out, the Stormshield Way! · GENUINE FAMILY BUSINESS · NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED · PRICES OVER PHONE IF REQUIRED
We are very proud of the reputation that we have built over the last 29 years. As a genuine family run business, we have always provided a first class personal service with top quality products. When you choose Stormshield, you can relax in knowing you are working with a trusted family firm, who really cares. We’ll take care of everything - Fully project managed from start to finish and all building works undertaken.
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41
GARDENING
The Winter Garden By Rachael Leverton
If I say ‘winter garden’ what do you imagine? A stately home? Evergreen shrubs? Topiary maybe? It dawned on me a few years ago when I was out walking the dog on a frosty morning that winter gardens are really all about the light. From late autumn through the winter there is a pink-gold low slanting light in the morning and afternoon which makes frost and raindrops sparkle, casts interesting shadows and makes everything look magical. Watch your garden throughout the day from the rooms you where you see it best. Watch where and when the sunlight falls and plan accordingly. Grasses look beautiful when they are covered in frost and backlit. The red or yellow winter stems of Cornus (or dogwood) however seem to glow when winter sunshine illuminates them directly. Most suburban houses have smaller gardens, easily visible from the house so it’s important to choose plants which look good in more than one season. As well as shrubs with good
stem colour, look for smaller trees with pretty bark. There are plenty of small Japanese Maples which can be grown in tubs. If you have a little more space a silver birch can look stunning, or even my favourite, the paper-bark maple, Acer griseum, which is a slow-growing small tree, pretty all year round with crimson leaves in the autumn then a characteristic chestnut bark which peels naturally to reveal bright orange red bark underneath.
Look for plants with architectural shapes such as one of the sculptural eryngiums (sea holly), salvias or sedums. All look beautiful in the summer and autumn but gain a second lease of life when covered with frosted cobwebs. Plants like these will make you want to get out in your garden even in winter, so add a little scent with a winter jasmine or a sarcococca confusa (Christmas box) which has tiny white highly scented flowers. These late flowering plants provide a source of nectar for early pollinators. I no longer tidy my flower beds. I leave piles of fallen leaves and debris in beds to provide shelter for wildlife. The leaves to rot down in the end which is good for the soil too. But I do spend time neatening the edge of the lawn and sharpening the edges of my borders. It’s amazing how much smarter my garden looks with minimal effort. ACER GRISEUM AND SEA HOLLY WILL KEEP YOUR GARDEN LOOKING GOOD ALL YEAR ROUND Happy Gardening!
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UNFORTUNATELY DUE TO THESE UNPRECEDENTED CIRCUMSTANCES WE ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED
Please keep an eye on our facebook page for up to date details as to when the shop will re-open. Thanks to all our customers for supporting us and we look forward to seeing you again soon. Stay safe.
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BOOK S
A GOOD READ By Willow Coby
THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY by Rachel Joyce
Retirement is meant to be relaxing, isn’t it? You do what you love doing and enjoy yourself. But what if you suddenly receive a letter out of the blue? A woman who worked in your office many years ago has cancer and is dying. She just wants you to know. This touches you for reasons you can’t quite explain, so you write her a note to say that you are sorry to hear that. Putting on your coat and your yacht shoes you leave with the note. Your destination? The post box. Just as far as the end of the road. And so, starts Harold Fry’s extraordinary journey: 627 miles in 87 days. With no plan, other than to reach Queenie, he sets off on a journey of faith. Scribbling on the note he tells her to wait for him. This debut novel from radio and TV writer, Rachel Joyce, will take you on a gentle journey with Harold and the various people he meets along the way. Totally unprepared for what he will encounter, his faith in positive thinking keeps him going as he learns more about his life and relationships with his wife and son.
THE MAZE RUNNER by James Dashner
Post-apocalyptic and dystopian literature is perennially popular with teens and adults alike, and the events of 2020 only served to increase its attraction. The Maze Runner was initially published in 2009 but came to prominence with the release of the film adaptation in 2014. Thomas is a teenager who awakes to find himself in a box in a place called the Glade. He has no memory of who he is or how he came to be here, but he is thrown into this new community, and as a reader so are you. Before long you become familiar with the terminology used by the boys and you feel as if you are a Glader along with them. As Thomas adjusts to his new environment, he learns 46
about the Maze which surrounds the Glade. Each day the walls open and a select group of runners spend daylight hours exploring and mapping it. It is a race against the clock because at sunset the Grievers – giant robotic creatures – enter the Maze and they are deadly. The walls close to protect the community and overnight the structure of the Maze changers, leaving the runners to start again in the morning. The big mystery is why. Why are Thomas and the other boys there and why do the Grievers come out to get them? Why do the walls in the Maze change and will the runners ever solve it? However, more importantly why has a girl been sent to the Glade and why has all communication with the outside world suddenly stopped? This is the first book in an engaging series which develop the story and characters beyond the original theme.
WHEN THE CURTAIN FALLS by Carrie Hope Fletcher
Somewhere in every town or city is a special place. A place where real life is suspended, and you can forget about your problems. A place that shows us life in all its details. The ups and downs, love, death, joy, and sadness. It shows us life as we wish it was and life as we hope it will never be. That place is of course, the theatre. This novel catapults you into that world and provides a fascinating glimpse of life backstage where the audience usually never get to venture. Part romance and part ghost story When the Curtain Falls switches between the present day and 1952, where two young lovers try to steal moments together backstage as life begins to echo the drama being played out on stage. Tragedy strikes and one of them is destined to remain forever haunting the dressing rooms and fly floor high above the stage. Nearly 60 years later and their fateful play is revived at the same theatre. Among the cast are Olive and Oscar, also stealing moments together to keep their budding romance secret. But strange things start to happen as a previous occupant is reawakened. Sometimes (especially right now) you need a light, easy-to-read, novel for a bit of escapism. When the Curtain Falls fills that brief. It won’t win any literary awards, and sometimes the character development feels rushed, but it has a certain level of charm. Fletcher herself has grown up in the theatre and anyone who knows her cannot help but picture her when Olive is described. But that only adds to the fun.
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