GOODWINS
KITCHENS, BEDROOMS & BATHROOMS
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM GOODWINS
DESIGN, SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF KITCHENS, BEDROOMS AND BATHROOMS
BASED IN WIRKSWORTH, GOODWINS ARE A TEAM OF KITCHEN, BEDROOM AND BATHROOM CONTRACTORS THAT MANAGE YOUR PROJECT FROM START TO FINISH. GET IN TOUCH TODAY. OUR VALUES
• WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN WHAT WE OFFER AT GOODWINS, AS WE’RE ABLE TO HELP YOU CUSTOMISE YOUR HOME EXACTLY HOW YOU WANT IT.
• WE’LL ALWAYS TAKE THE NECESSARY TIME TO TRULY UNDERSTAND YOUR VISION TO ENSURE THAT WE’RE OFFERING YOU EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE AT ALL TIMES.
• USING THE LATEST 3D DESIGN SOFTWARE, WE’RE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH BESPOKE PLANS THAT GIVE AN ACCURATE IMPRESSION OF HOW YOUR ROOM WILL LOOK.
• MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE’LL ALSO PUT FORWARD MULTIPLE OPTIONS AND IDEAS TO HELP YOU DECIDE ON A FINAL LOOK.
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SATURDAY : 09:00 - 16:00
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JAN ‘26 EDITION - 5TH DEC ‘25 FEB ‘26 EDITION - 9TH JAN ‘26
From the Editor
Merry Christmas Readers!
I’ve had my thinking cap on as to what was 2025… and I have struggled! I mean, we all know what 2020 was….and 2021….and a bit of 2022 to be fair. That was all about people coming together and pan banging. 2023 and 2024 was the big economic rebuild after the aforementioned years (well, that was the intention!). But 2025? I also asked the team how they would describe 2025 and much wasn’t writeable! However, after much discussion, I think 2025 was the year of TITLES! Whether it was titles being removed, titles being long coveted and then finally being awarded, some titles being denied despite their best efforts to influence the awarding committee and some titles being revealed through the most strange circumstances…..like the people on the Coldplay jumbotron #awkward, and Alan Carr being the ultimate Traitor – who knew??!! (except that Joe Marler is the true winner of Traitors, obviously, we all know it!!).
Anyway, some things never change and true to form, as yet, I have zero gifts purchased and ergo; wrapped. In fact, not even a teeny tiny thought of what I might consider purchasing for gifts for people. No discussions have been held about the day itself either BUT I don’t want you to think that I’m totally disorganised. I did pop on the local auction several Fridays ago, after a bottle of wine one evening and purchased a Christmas Tree. Yep, we are the proud owners of ‘Terry – the Treerannosaurus Rex’ … yep, you read that right. I haven’t dressed him yet but isn’t he glorious!!!
In other news, our Christmas giveaway was such a success last year, that we decided to do it all again, and
yet again we’re giving away the Ultimate Christmas Hamper from Chatsworth! We have also had some lovely donations from our sister company, Artliff Design and Print and some of our fabulous advertisers; S42 Café, DM Furnishings, Greenstripe Innovations, Rock Fall and Goodwins – thankyou for your generosity! Yet again readers, you have to be in it to win it!! We published our winners in the Feb edition last year, so you can see that real people did actually win the prizes and much to our family’s annoyance, not one of our family members won even a golden coin!!!
Thankyou for all your love and support this year. We have had fantastic feedback all year round for the magazines and in particular, we had fabulous feedback from our November edition. It is always lovely to hear and we do get our fair share of people who ring in or email with the negatives (isn’t that always the way!), so it was lovely to have some positive affirmations both for us and our advertisers… so thankyou to those of you who do sing our praises, you are truly appreciated.
See you all in 2026
MUSEUM
NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY
‘We have to go to pay our taxes Mary, it’s the law,’ Joe told her.
‘And how are we supposed to get there, answer me that? If you think I’m walking in my condition you’ve got to be joking.’
Joe sat quietly. When Mary was like this he knew there was no point interrupting her. His mind drifted to the cupboard he had just completed. Ben was a good customer, if he was pleased it could mean more work, and with a young mouth to feed they would need the extra money. Convinced the baby would be a boy he let his imagination fly free, visualising a new sign above the workshop, Joseph and Son.
Are you listening to me?’ Mary barked.
‘Of course I am,’ he lied.
‘So, what’s the answer? How are we going to get there? And don’t you dare say that rusty tandem because I am not pedalling that rickety old thing.’
‘I wouldn’t expect you to.’ Joe smiled, ‘I have spoken to Simeon, from the big house, he says we can borrow his donkey.’ He waited, hoping she’d be pleased. She wasn’t. ‘A donkey? Unbelievable? You expect me, eight and a half months pregnant, to ride all that way on a donkey? Incredible.’ The door slammed behind her as she left.
Joe smiled uncertainly. ‘She’ll come round. It’ll be like a holiday, an adventure,’ he said out loud, more to convince himself than anything.
The journey was uneventful, though Mary moaned constantly about the daytime heat and the discomfort of sitting on the donkey. She complained about the star keeping her awake at night. In fact it was Joe, awoken by her snoring, who lay all night staring at the beautiful bright star guiding their way.
Eventually, an exhausted Mary, Joe and the sturdy little donkey arrived. Joe hadn’t thought to reserve a room. Who knew it would be so difficult? Everywhere was fully booked. By now Mary was almost crying with fatigue, she had stopped complaining hours ago. It was unlike her to be so quiet and Joe was uneasy, worried that something was wrong. ‘Are you alright, my love?’ he asked. She just snarled through gritted teeth.
He knocked on the door of the last inn, on the road out of town. If there was nothing here, they were done for.
‘We’ve no room if that’s what you’re after,’ the man told them, before Joe had time to speak. At that point Mary cried out and clutched her stomach.
‘Sir, my wife,’ pleaded Joe. ‘She is with child, please, she has to rest, a cellar, a corridor, there must be something you can offer us?’
The inn keeper scratched his flea-ridden head.
‘I suppose you could use the stable, it’s round the back. At least you’ll have shelter. I mucked it out this morning so there’s fresh straw. It’s not much but...’
‘Thank you sir.’ Joe shook the man’s hand before leading the donkey round to the stable. Mary moaned and flinched as her husband helped her down from the saddle. Joe gathered straw to create a makeshift bed. As soon as she lay down, Mary fell asleep. Joe tethered and fed the donkey, then he settled on the fresh straw next to his wife.
Tired as he was, he lay watching the bright star that had accompanied them throughout their journey. It seemed to be directly overhead and was even brighter now.
I wonder what tomorrow will bring? he thought. Then, he laughed at himself. What could happen to a poor carpenter and his wife? Nothing out of the ordinary that’s for sure.
Joyce Janes on behalf of Bakewell Old House Museum
BAKEWELL OLD HOUSE MUSEUM WILL BE CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE FROM 12TH NOVEMBER 2025 TO 25TH MARCH 2026
Written By Joyce Janes
The Joy of Giving at Christmas
There’s something wonderfully magical about giving at Christmas. It’s not just the twinkling fairy lights, the smell of mince pies, or the rustle of wrapping paper — it’s that heart-warming moment when someone’s face lights up because of a gift chosen just for them.
Of course, it’s easy to get caught up in the chaos: crowded high streets, endless online delivery updates, and mysteriously vanishing rolls of festive tape. But real Christmas giving isn’t about how much you spend — it’s about the thought behind it. Whether it’s a homemade treat, a heartfelt card, or even a novelty gift, gifts from the heart always mean the most.
Think back to the best present you ever received. Chances are, it wasn’t the priciest. Maybe it was a hand-knitted scarf that wasn’t quite even, a mug with a silly slogan that still makes you laugh every morning, or the inevitable socks from Aunt Maureen — always the socks! These are the gifts that remind us we’re loved — and that’s the real spirit of Christmas.
Giving can take many forms. It might be a surprise tin of chocolates for a neighbour, a donation to a local food bank, or simply making time for someone who’s feeling lonely. Sometimes, the greatest gift is
our presence — not presents! And let’s face it, no one minds a cup of tea and a mince pie shared with a friend or family member, especially when the kids are busy unwrapping mountains of toys.
And let’s not forget the festive quirks that make Christmas so memorable: the office Secret Santa disasters, children proudly presenting slightly wonky homemade decorations, or that one relative who insists on wrapping gifts in last week’s News Paper to “save the planet.” Or the chocolate that disappears mysteriously before Christmas Day — we all know who’s guilty!
So, this year, when you’re braving the postie queues, the Christmas markets, or yet another trip to the supermarket that feels like a winter endurance test, take a breath and remember why we give. It’s not to fill space under the tree — it’s to fill hearts with love, laughter, and togetherness. Because at the end of the day, the best gifts are the ones that can’t be wrapped.
Froggatt Edge Garage Merry Christma and Happy New year
Part of an independent group of family run garages, we offer a full range of services at highly competitive prices.
Fully guaranteed servicing, repairs and diagnostics on all vehicle makes and models by professional, continuously trained and friendly mechanics.
MOT testing - all cars, Class 7 vans and campervans
Main dealer level support which does not affect a vehicles warranty – all at local garage prices
Free advice on all aspects of motoring Tyres supplied and fitted
To book a service or MOT call us on 01433 630291 or you can book online at www.taverngaragegroup.co.uk
Make sure your Sleigh is ready for Christmas call in and have your free tyre check
Froggatt Edge Garage, Grindleford Road, Calver Sough, Hope Valley, S32 3XH
BAKEWELL CARPETS
London House, Matlock Street, Bakewell. 01629 814 122
Your Local, family business you can rely on
SALE • SALE • SALE • SALE
Heart of the community for over 50 years
Well known for personal & honest service
Large selection of carpets & other floor coverings
Measuring service & professional fitting available
Call in at the shop or phone us for a free home selection service
FREE FITTING • FREE DELIVERY
FREE ESTIMATES • HOME SELECTION SERVICE
FREE FITTING BUT MINIMUM CHARGE MAY APPLY FOR SMALL AREAS AND STAIRS
Leaking Roofs & Gutters
Tiling, Slating & Chimney Repairs
Interior & Exterior Painting
All Aspects of Property Maintenance Undertaken
Roof Cleaning Flat Roofing
Lies, traitors, fake news, corruption and spies. Some things never change. Except that SJ Parris’s Traitor’s Legacy is not set in 2025, but Queen Elizabeth’s Tudor Britain.
It’s historical fiction of the highest quality – the author blends fact and real characters from the period, including William Shakespeare and the Queen’s spymaster, Robert Cecil, alongside atmospheric descriptions of the freezing winter of 1598 in the murky back streets of a violent city.
The story centres around the murder of a young girl of 13, due to be married against her will into a rich and high born family. There are powerful religious and political forces at work which pull in Sophia de Wolfe, a woman of a complex and dubious background who finds herself at the heart of the killing and with desperate personal reasons to find out who is responsible and why. As we know from a different group of traitors – trust no-one.
It’s cleverly plotted, tense and an intelligent and very immersing read. SJ Parris - also known as journalist Stephanie Merritt and also the writer of the much admired Giordano Bruno novels -seems to be embarking on a new series with Sophia de Wolfe and if this book is anything to go by, we’re in for a regular treat.
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Barking Mad are seeking volunteer ‘dog cuddlers’ this Christmas to help tackle rising loneliness, especially with more people now working from home. Age UK predicts that by 2025/26, two million over50s will experience loneliness — a big increase from 1.4 million in 2016/17.
Barking Mad says short-term dog care can ease isolation, as dogs reduce stress, anxiety and depression, and offer companionship. “People can reconnect through their love of dogs this Christmas,” says David Ward of Barking Mad.
Hosts enjoy all the benefits of canine company without the responsibility of full-time ownership and become part of a friendly local dog-loving community.
To get involved, call 07903 313005 or email david.ward@barkingmad.uk.com or visit www.barkingmad.uk.com.
Guess the words and Fill in the crossword !
Pitcherwits®
Pitcherwits® are crossword puzzles where some of the clues are in pictures.
Sound easy? It’s not called “Pit-your-wits” for nothing! The mixture of cryptic and picture clues, combined with Professor Rebus’ unique sense of humour, will keep you entertained for hours.
Across
7 Freezing the baker’s bonus? (5)
8 Metal said to ban rubbish? (5)
14 Snow home logo with an eye, say, for detail (5)
15 Include second person, say, in farewell? (5)
Down
2 Tunis is not ideal for singles (5)
3 Fool of the Beaker People? (3)
5 Biscuit is not cooked to old length (5)
12 Rice made from peanut oil with an ‘off’ tone (5)
13 A libido, at first used as an excuse (5)
15 Melody herd, say, in dairy farm? (3)
Hair, portrayed as a bit of a landing spot (7)
:
Humble birth, 5 Conduct, 9 Ooze, 10 Axle, 11 Steam, 12 Tuna, 13 Puma, 14 Eloping, 16 Take a tumble.
Down: 1 Hold on tight, 2 Mac, 3 Rot, 4 Horse manure, 6 One’s all, 7 Dries up, 8 Crampon, 14 Elk, 15 Gab. Across 1 Greet in t’ North, making cake for a pud? Yum! (2,2,2,4)
9 US male, say, to sort palette out (4,1,6) 11 Ants’ suppers are a mystery drug (11) 16 Dairy product unlocked in tumbler kit (10)
Using pittas as bait is rather over the hill (1,3,4,2)
Nerds all in a tizzy about meals (7)
Terrified to float away in raft, sucker? (10)
Peak Villages | Bakewell | Ends of the Earth
Sunday 21st December, 10:30am - Carols
Lady Manners 6th Form, Shutts Lane, DE45 1JA
We are a growing rural church for the people of Bakewell and the towns, villages, farms and hamlets that make up and surround the Peak District National Park. Whoever you are (and we really do love to welcome people on holiday), you should experience the warmest of welcomes to any of our regular 10:30am Sunday services. We gather each Sunday at Lady Manners School in Bakewell.
Curtis Shoe Repair
• Shoe Repairs • Key Cutting
• Engraving
• Hip Flasks • Tankards
• Pet Discs
We also sell: Watches
• Watch Batteries • Watch Straps
• Bags • Belts • Wallets
T: 01629 815 511
Matlock St, Bakewell DE45 1EE
THIS CHRISTMAS WARMTH & BEAUTY
www.timberwindows.com
V I SI T T H E S T U NNIN G Ripl e y & We
The Old Church, 31 Nottingham Road, Ripley, Derbyshire, DE5 3AS Tel: 01773 747 456
Opening T imes: Monday - Saturday 9:30am - 4:30pm
The Old Bank, 1 Radcliffe Road, West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, NG2 5FF Tel: 0115 9818 777
Opening T imes: Thursday - Saturday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Email: info@derwentwindows.co.uk www.timberwindows.com
*15% discount is only applicable on www.timberwindows.com products.
ti m b e r wi n d o ws & doo rs
Natural, sustainable, and ethical, our beautiful timber windows and doors are the logical choice. Constructed from engineered timber slow grown in cold climates, their strength, stability and beauty are guaranteed. Whether your home is a country cottage, a Victorian semi, a modern town-house or a converted barn, enjoy a15 % discount off all timber windows and doors in our Winter Sale until the end of January 2026.* Please visit us to explore our range of beautifully crafted engineered timber doors and windows, and get expert advice on enhancing the value and beauty of your home.
Windows, doors, conservatories & orangeries. Replacement heritage timber windows to
All Around the Shire
HERE’S ONE I MADE EARLIER
As we are about to begin our All Around the Shire “Traditions of Christmas” presentations, my mind travels back through the decades to when I was a young girl. At school, small children would be tasked with licking and sticking or pasting endless paperchains to festoon classrooms.
Paper snowflakes adorned the high classroom windows. Gummed paper lanterns dangled from the ceiling.
Growing up in a pub, decorations were everywhere: fairy lights, tinsel, foil hangings, trees groaning with baubles.
Years later, my parents donated to me these pub decorations in my first home. They had absorbed years of smoke and smelled so strongly that they couldn’t be used.
I grew up during the glory days of Blue Peter when John Noakes, Valerie Singleton and Peter Purves presented the children’s programme. I had a go at making an Advent Crown using coat hangers, tinsel, candles and baubles. Needless to say, it was not a success.
Whether your decorations are home-made, shop-bought or second hand, I wish you all a peaceful Christmas filled with happy memories.
Janet and Paul Barrass are All Around the Shire. Find us on or email: oldfield512@btinternet.com for more information.
Janet
At AHM Installations, we specialise in creating safe, stylish, and practical bathrooms tailored to your needs.
Whether you are considering a shower, walk in bath, or a wet room, our friendly team will guide you through the best options. We provide free home surveys, quotations, and design visuals to help you choose the right solution for your comfort and budget.
Call our customer care team on 01629 888 221 to request a brochure or find out more.
and friendly team can create a
for
9 Specialists in accessible bathing. 9 FREE home visit and quotation.
9 Full design and installation service.
9 VAT FREE for those with a long-term illness or disability.
9 Tailored solutions for arthritis, mobility issues and chronic pain.
9 ‘Bath out, shower in’ service in as little as two days. 9 Walk-in baths, wetrooms, bidets and toilet lifters also available.
“The finished bathroom is wonderful,” Mrs Childs, Trustpilot, September 2025
• Professional clean & maintenance of chimney & fireplaces
• Bird nest removal
• Installation of chimney bird guards
• Complete installation of log burners, stoves and fires
Septic Tank Emptying & Repairs
High Pressure Drain Jetting
CCTV Drain Inspection
Drain Repairs
Gully Emptying Road Sweeping
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ESTABLISHED OVER 25 YEARS GROUNDWORKS INC. EXCAVATION, TRENCHING & FOUNDATIONS!
Andy: 07831 310731
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email: admin@jaroadsweeping.co.uk office: 01629 815222
Ashford in the Water, Bakewell, DE45 1PY
Colour in the garden during these cold months can be a great antidote to the winter glooms.
Luckily there are a selection of container plants which will brighten things up even if you haven’t managed to get any bulbs in. So we’re talking about the likes of winter pansies and violas, cyclamen (the small ones, not the showy indoor variety), winter heather and ivy and polyanthus. If you’re creating a few pots it’s worth clumping them together in a sheltered part of the garden even though all these plants should be frost resistant.
If you have room to plant in the ground, winter honeysuckle gives you a very pretty creamy flower and a beautiful scent. Hellebores can be pretty vibrant and will usually flower in early spring but in sheltered spots even as early as Christmas. And the beautiful mahonia bush with its spikes of bright yellow flowers is wonderful. The advantage of these three is that they are also great for winter-active bees.
You can prune apple and pear trees before Christmas – along with acers and laburnum. There’s less chance of sap bleed if you do it now.
TOP TIP
Most herbs lose their leaves in winter, but you can still grow your own by buying a pot of your favourites in the supermarket then dividing and re-potting into smaller pots for a window sill. Most supermarket pots have loads of seeds crammed into a pot, so can be easily split and thus very economical.
THE PECULIAR ‘YELLOW BRAIN FUNGUS’
Although most fungal fruit-bodies (i.e., mushrooms) appear in the autumn months, some like brackets on trees are year-round, and others such as the hallucinogenic (aka poisonous) ones like the classic red-and-white pixie toadstool, the Fly Agaric, persist well into the winter period. These fungi do include the most remarkable and frequently under-appreciated ‘biodiversity’, their ecology being vital to planetary ecosystems including our own survival. The mushrooms and toadstools with their mostly transient fruitbodies are often all that is seen, whereas the hardworking fungal mycelia are largely hidden from view. Nevertheless, some fungi like the ‘Yellow Brain’ (pictured) are remarkable and grab the attention when you spot them. Yellow Brain has the scientific name of Tremella mesenterica which means trembling and ‘mesentery’ or folded tissue usually attached to intestines or gut. Its peculiar appearance has led to evocative and descriptive common names such as ‘Yellow Brain’, ‘Golden Jelly’, ‘Yellow Trembler’, and finally ‘Witches’ Butter’. Its habitat is to be found on dead wood, with a fruiting season (i.e., when this yellow fruit-body appears) all year-round. However, this is a species that is especially seen during winter. Interestingly too, Yellow Brain is not itself a wood-rotter, but a parasite which feasts on the mycelium of what are known as Crust or Corticoid Fungi which do breakdown dead wood like fallen branches and litter. Yellow Brain lives by parasitising the wood-decomposers, with a common victim being the Rosy Crust Fungus (Peniophora incarnate), often totally enveloped by its parasite.
The common names reflect this peculiar fungus’s appearance. Essentially it lacks the obvious structures of most other woodland fungi, and looks like an orange, quivering, gelatinous blob. The smooth fruit-body has characteristically irregular shape, with soft jelly-like texture. The yellow lobes are actually quite tough, greasy, and slimy when wet. They are hard when dry. Colour ranges from pale yellow to bright orange, changing to
rusty orange if dried out. Because of its weird appearance, Yellow Brain has gained mythological, superstitious connections. Across Europe, if the Yellow Brain (‘Witches’ Butter’) appeared on your door or house-gate, the local witch had cast their spell on your family. However, this problem seems easily solved since the spell was removed by repeatedly piercing the fungus with straight pins, until departed. Related to this superstition, in Sweden for example, the dried fungus was burnt to ward off evil spirits. Described as ‘inedible’, flavourless with little substance, in China it provides texture in soups. Like many fungi, it may have medicinal properties with anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic uses. Of course, hallucinogenic fungi and mushrooms such as the Fly Agaric are frequently associated with the Christmas season and celebrations.
Professor Ian D. Rotherham, researcher, writer, broadcaster on wildlife and environmental issues is contactable on ianonthewildside@ukeconet.org. Follow his website www.ukeconet.org, blog www.ianswalkonthewildside.wordpress.com/ & Twitter @IanThewildside Bluesky @ianthewildside.bsky.social
YELLOW BRAIN FUNGUS
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