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Upcoming submission deadline for advertisers & contributors: OCT ‘26 EDITION - 10TH SEPT ‘26 | NOV ‘26 EDITION - 8TH OCT ‘26
From the Editor
Hello Readers, to another. my head up yet? from one disaster ch lur Is it okay to pop e w re he w about if e loop t want to debate got stuck in a tim n’ e do w I e w lik el No fe s. I isi es Sometim by the climate cr r too often. Also… heatwaves, caused and it’s this hot fa t ho is th t no t The latest is the bu e it hot I know is that I lik t of water?! it’s real or not. All lf the time run ou ha s in ra it crises. The re he w nd endless stream of e th of how does an Isla t ou ell w s as be doing very st of our problem billiona ires seem to but that’s the lea , FC l oo with rp ge Meanwhile all the ve er Li m unk of they can ezos buying a ch ing! Probably so be r pe su I A latest was Jeff B xt e ne trying to create th at!! they all seem to be t to think about th no st be , gh rity/cost uu Eu y! wa edit crunch/auste cr s es dl it in some creepy en an in ive being told we’re tting more expens of things we keep erything keeps ge ev t bu nk s ba les y On the other end bit m a end leaving , we all try and sp l chunks of money al sm y an m at ! th of living crisis. So pe . I have rn Trent Water pi onthly subscription t a leak like a Seve go s it’ and/or is on a m e lik el fe to auction th I’m starting le of items from an up co a account each mon ng si ha rc e fa iling), I was pu e didn’t have tim being frugal (and g bit). Anyway, w ilin fa e th ive ’s dr at e On the theme of (th th o int n load got back I drove rned into small va tball. And when I ne website and it tu y the bargain pla by to t ed ou nd d to head ce surrou ha on I at re e fo m be co d ck ha pa to un oney we tmases e out how much m ng like all his Chris ur ki fig loo to ily ied Em tr r he M to find happy face as ean, who doesn’t y penny to see his in the long run, I m f of y pa ll It’ haul… worth ever ! ey mon ding far too much had saved by spen !! ? e poly tunnel? crises and no mor need a 3ft x 3ft 2026. No more to d en iet qu ce ere hope… a ni be grand!! So, here’s my sinc a little, that would n w do w slo uld if it co heatwaves….and rry On! Keep Cool and Ca Emily Happy Reading,
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PROFESSIONAL
DO YOU HAVE RESTING SQUINT FACE? If you’ve recently found yourself holding your phone further away, noticing a restaurant menu looks blurry, or you find yourself squinting to get things into focus, you’re not alone. Presbyopia explained Presbyopia is one of the most common causes of blurry close-up vision as we get older. It’s when your eyes find it harder to focus on things up close. It usually becomes noticeable in your 40s, although it can develop earlier or later. While it can make everyday tasks frustrating, it is a completely normal part of your eyes ageing. The good news is that there are simply ways to treat it. Michael Hinder, store director at Specsavers Sutton-inAshfield, which is locally owned and run, explains what causes presbyopia, the symptoms to look out for and the solutions available. What causes presbyopia? Presbyopia happens naturally as you age. Over time, the lens in your eye becomes less flexible, meaning it can’t change shape as easily to focus on near objects. As a result, everyday activities such as reading a message on your phone or enjoying a book can become more difficult. It’s a bit like your lens losing its zoom. It still works, just not as quickly or as sharply as it used to. This gradual change affects almost everyone at some point and isn’t a sign of poor eye health. What are the symptoms?
Common symptoms include blurred close-up vision, needing brighter light when reading, headaches after reading or screen use, taking longer to switch focus between near and distant objects or eye strain or tired eyes at the end of the day. These symptoms are all common and can be corrected with the right lenses. Does this sound familiar? Many people first notice presbyopia when they start holding reading material further away to see it clearly. You might assume your glasses need cleaning or that you’re simply tired, but these subtle changes can often be the first signs that your near vision is changing. If you’ve experienced any of these symptoms, we recommend booking an eye examination with one of our experienced optometrists who will determine whether presbyopia is affecting your vision, what kind of vision support you need for you and your lifestyle and what sort of glasses, contact lenses or other options might suit you best. Solutions available There are several ways to correct presbyopia, depending on your individual visual needs. Options include reading glasses, varifocal lenses and multifocal contact lenses. If you already wear glasses, you may simply need an updated prescription.
Because presbyopia develops gradually, the signs can be easy to miss at first.
To find out more or to book an appointment visit www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/suttoninashfield or call 01623 552456.
4
THE STORE IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 8:30am-6pm, Thursday 9:30-6pm Saturday 8:30am-5:30pm Sunday 10am-4pm
eye £10 test voucher
Book online at specsavers.co.uk Sutton in Ashfield Idlewells Shopping Centre Tel 01623 552 456 Cannot be exchanged for cash or used with any other voucher . Excludes OCT scan (which incurs an additional charge) and customers already entitled to a free NHS-funded eye test. Valid for one eye test on or before 31 October 2026. Voucher must be presented at time of eye test. One per person at named Specsavers store only. SKU 8495.
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Things to do
People to see
2 for 1 varifocal glasses from £110 Book an eye test at specsavers.co.uk Sutton in Ashfield Idlewells Shopping Centre Tel 01623 552 456 £110 stated price is based on frames at £70 and Standard varifocal lenses at £40. Cannot be used with any other offers. Second pair from the same frame price range or below. Both pairs include the same varifocal lenses; pay for lenses in first pair only (in addition to cost of first pair of frames) except for SuperDigital, SuperDrive varifocals, SuperReaders 1-2-3 occupational lenses and SuperBoost, where you pay full lens price for the first pair and £40 for the second pair. Both pairs must be purchased in one transaction. 2 for 1 on safety eyewear is excluded for customers with a corporate eyecare voucher provided by their employer. Additional charge for extra lens options and/or higher-priced frames.
To advertise please call 01773 549 035
5
PET SERVICES
THE FIRST DAY OF THE NEXT BIG ADVENTURE Maps, Timetables and a Touch of Panic: The First Day of Big School
Of all the milestones in childhood, the first day at senior or secondary school is one of the biggest. One moment you are the oldest in primary school, confidently showing younger pupils where the playground is, and the next you are standing outside a much larger building wondering if you will ever find the right classroom. For many children, the day begins earlier than usual. The new uniform is laid out the night before, shoes are polished, and a bag is packed with far more items than are probably needed. Parents hover with cameras, offering last-minute advice such as “Remember your timetable” and “Don’t forget your lunch.” The child, meanwhile, is trying to appear calm while feeling a mixture of excitement, nerves and curiosity. The journey to school often feels different too. Whether travelling by car, bus or on foot, there is a sense that something important is happening. As the school gates come into view, the size of the place suddenly becomes very real. There are hundreds of pupils, unfamiliar faces everywhere, and conversations buzzing in every direction. The first challenge is usually finding where to go. New students clutch maps and timetables as if they are treasure charts. Teachers and older pupils are on hand to help, but there is still a moment of panic when someone says, “Your tutor room is in B Block,” and you have no idea where B Block is. Once everyone is gathered, the welcome assembly begins. The headteacher talks about opportunities, hard work and making the most of the years ahead. Some pupils listen carefully; others are too busy wondering whether they will remember the route to science later.
Break time is another memorable moment. New friendships start to form as pupils compare timetables, discuss which teachers seem strict and admit that they were worried about getting lost. It quickly becomes clear that almost everyone feels the same way. By lunchtime, confidence begins to grow. The dining hall may be noisy and crowded, but it is also the place where the day starts to feel more normal. The feared first day turns out not to be quite as frightening as imagined. The final lesson arrives surprisingly quickly. Pupils who walked in that morning feeling anxious now leave with stories to tell: the teacher who made everyone laugh, the maze-like corridor they accidentally walked down, or the new friend they sat next to in maths. For parents waiting at home, the return can be entertaining. Questions such as “How was it?” often receive the classic one-word answer: “Fine.” Yet a few minutes later the details begin to emerge, and it becomes obvious that a great deal has happened. The first day at senior school is rarely perfect. Someone will forget a pencil, take a wrong turn or open the wrong classroom door. But that is part of the experience. What begins with nerves and uncertainty usually ends with a growing sense of independence. It is the start of a new chapter filled with new subjects, new friends and new opportunities – and for most pupils, the day they discover that they are more capable than they thought.
Lessons on the first day are often less about serious work and more about settling in. Teachers introduce themselves, explain classroom rules and try to learn a sea of new names. Students discover that secondary school means moving from room to room, carrying books around and keeping track of a timetable that suddenly seems much more complicated than primary school ever did.
6
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Draycotts (Sutton-in-Ashfield)
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Contact or visit us at: Premier Community Mobility Shop King’s Mill Hospital, Mansfield Road, Sutton-In-Ashfield, NG17 4JL
01623 810 100
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DERBYSHIRE’S LARGEST SELECTION OF WORKWEAR, SAFETY FOOTWEAR & HIKING BOOTS With a wide range of outdoor boots and shoes available in both men’s and women’s sizes!
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We also have a great range of casual boots in stock!
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PROFESSIONAL
Sutton Heritage Society
BENTINCK COLLIERY IN THE 1960S
inck en I started at Bent I was eighteen wh It 60s for training. Colliery in the 19 e alth and safety. W mainly covered he , ol ho sc of llery, a sort used a training ga on the pit top. Dark Underground Mine Shaft
Because I was eighteen, I didn’t have to do all the schooling. I was there three months before being let down the pit ganging, this was taking supplies down the roads (underground roadways) with a pony and tub. I remember one pony being called Tim. I had to go to the stables to pick up the pony, then harness him up. Next, I would take him to the gate I was working at. In his tub, he would have rings (steel supports used in underground roadways), chock nogs (wooden supports used underground), split bars (large logs split in two lengthwise), etc. I had to unload them near the face and take back the empty tub. Afterwards, I’d take the pony’s gear off and feed and water him. I worked at Summit Pit for 2–3 years, also as a ganger, then, when it closed, I went back to Bentinck. I went to Moorgreen for six months to do face training, and, after that, more face training at Bentinck. The training was practically the same at
both pits. Yet it was different because I had to get used to both environments. When I started training on the face, I had someone supervising me. The first job I had there was chocking. Chocking is when you advance the face by moving the chocks (hydraulic roof supports) forward. When the machine went forward, you had to push the pans (chain conveyor) over, then lower the chocks, afterwards putting the chocks in place and pumping them up again. I had to go to different faces because, when you were working on the faces, you didn’t get a regular job until someone on one of the faces left the job. The people on that face would then ask for whoever they wanted to work with them. I did chocking for about four years, then I had to go on machining (operating the machine that cut the coal) I trained to drive the machine because the machine driver at the time needed a replacement so he could be a deputy (an underground supervisor responsible for the safety of the men and working area). An owd miner
POP OVER TO OUR WEBSITE PAGE TO SEE MORE ABOUT THE SUTTON HERITAGE SOCIETY ON WWW.SUTTONHERITAGE.ORG.UK
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N001278_Ken Gregory Mag Ad_66x95.pdf
1
17/09/2025
15:23
PROFESSIONAL
Ken Gregory & Sons A DIGNITY FUNERAL DIRECTOR
For generations, we've been a trusted service for local families. We're proud to set the standards for the best in funeral care.
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PROFESSIONAL
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HEALTH & BEAUTY
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Robert Cauldwell MAFHP MCFHP Est. 2011
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For appointments, call Anna on:
0779 862 3109
JOIN ILKESTON LADIES HOCKEY CLUB WANT TO GET FIT? NOT PLAYED SINCE SCHOOL? FED UP OF YOUR CURRENT CLUB? Whether you’re returning to the game or picking up a stick for the first time, there’s a place for you. It’s all about fitness, fun, and feeling great. Get active, make friends, and enjoy every session.
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HEALTH & BEAUTY
Are you thinking about replacing your current dentures? Lets work together to make the dentures you want! New affordable dentures Denture repairs Denture relines to improve the fit of a loose fitting denture Addition of teeth to existing dentures
£40 OFF WITH THIS ADVERT OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE DENTAL PROFESSION 5 Elm Tree Street, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire NG182HD T: 01623 628152 E: elmtreedentureclinic@hotmail.com GDC No 156807
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17
FOOD & RETAIL
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54 Main Street, Kimberley | NG16 2LY
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FOOD & RETAIL
SUDOKU #74!
Fill in all the numbers
! ! "
# $ % & ! ' ( ) ( ! $ ( " % % ) # ' " & % # ) ' ( $ % $ ) ( #
This is a sudoku 1 square grid 81 cells 9 3x3 blocks 1 simple rule: Use all the numbers 1-9, with no duplicates allowed, in any row, column, or block. These puzzles are devised by the brilliant Professor Rebus. For more of his puzzles visit www.pitcherwits.co.uk
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MOBILE BOOKING OFFICE LOCATIONS
1st Friday of each month 3rd Thursday of each month 9.30am - 1pm | Shirebrook market 9am - 1pm | Alfreton Severn Square Car Park (Outside 2nd Tuesday of each month Poundstretcher) 9am - 1pm | South Normanton Market Place 3rd Friday of each month 9am - 1pm | Sutton-in-Ashfield, 2nd Friday of each month Portland Square 9am - 1pm | Ripley Market Place
19
FOOD & RETAIL
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HUTHWAITE
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SLIMMING WORLD
NAME Cajun-spiced chicken pizza SERVES: 1
SWIPS: 8 per serving
READY IN: 20 minutes Enjoy all the flavours of a pizza with a lighter twist. A crispy tortilla wrap topped with smoky Cajun chicken, colourful vegetables and creamy quark makes this a quick, satisfying meal that’s perfect for any day of the week.
Method:
2 tbsp tomato purée
4 tbsp plain quark
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
¼ small red onion, thinly sliced into rings
2. In a small bowl, mix the tomato purée, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, ½ tsp of the Cajun seasoning and the sugar to make a quick tomato sauce. Put the wrap on a non-stick baking sheet and spread over the tomato sauce, leaving a 1cm border around the edges.
Ingredients:
1 tsp white wine vinegar ½ level tbsp Cajun seasoning Pinch of sugar 1 Slimming World white tortilla wrap (if you’re using wholemeal wraps and counting the Swips, deduct ½ Swip per serving) 1 small cooked skinless and boneless chicken breast (about 100g), shredded
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2 heaped tbsp canned sweetcorn, drained 4 small sweet red peppers from a jar, drained and thinly sliced 1 cal cooking spray Small handful fresh rocket leaves
1.
Heat your oven to 220°C/fan 200°C/gas 7.
Cajun seasoning and coat it well, then scatter evenly it over the wrap. Spoon the quark on top and scatter with the onion, sweetcorn and peppers. 4. Spray lightly with 1 cal cooking spray and bake for 6-8 minutes until the edges of the wrap are crisp and golden. Scatter over the rocket leaves to serve.
3. Put the cooked chicken in a bowl with the rest of the
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FOOD & RETAIL
We understand that saying goodbye is one of life’s hardest moments We are here to help you honour your loved ones with traditional, modern or bespoke floral tributes We deliver to any funeral director in Nottinghamshire View our brochure at:
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BLINDS & CURTAINS
Venetian Blinds Curtain Poles/Tracks Perfect Fit Vertical Blinds 30 YEARS E X PERIENC Roman Blinds E
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Made to Measure Curtains
email:premiersales@hotmail.co.uk | www.premierblindscurtains.com
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Plantation Shutters Roller Blinds
21
FOOD & RETAIL
A dogs Day out
I won’t lie, we chose this walk this month for purely practical reasons! Reading this now it may seem a distant memory, but in the middle of August, just after heatwave number six and with wildfires raging across the land, we had a cooler weekend, so made good use of it to get Flakey out for a nice walk. We chose this walk as it isn’t too taxing. It’s short and sweet and fairly even. But there are some lovely sections further into the walk, particularly if you get to meet the donkeys!
4 MILE CIRCULAR WALK FROM CLAY CROSS A short and gentle walk for you and your dog. This fairly even walk should take around 1½ hours to complete. There is a range of terrain, with some muddy and uneven sections and a few sections of road, so take plenty of care, make sure you wear appropriate footwear and as always, follow the Countryside Code.
START: The Cemetery, Cemetery Road, Danesmoor, Clay Cross, Derbyshire, S45 9RL. 1.
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Standing with your back to the cemetery turn left and continue along Cemetery Road for some distance. Continue until the road bends sharp to the left. Continue around to the left and then after a short distance take the first right into Beech Way.
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FOOD & RETAIL 2.
After a short distance take the first right again into Lime Tree Grove. Follow this road around to the left and then to the very end where the road turns into a lane. Continue straight along the lane for a short distance and then when the lane bends to the left, turn right along a footpath into some trees.
3.
Continue, passing a stile on your left, and eventually reaching a stile directly in front of you. Climb over the stile and continue straight ahead along a lane. After some distance the lane bends sharp right. Ignoring the stile ahead of you follow the lane around to the right and eventually pass some farm buildings on your right.
4.
Continue straight ahead and gently uphill until reaching a main road. Turn right along the road and cross safely, making use of the central reservation. Continue past the garage and the bus stop until reaching a road on your left (Highstairs Lane).
5.
Turn left along this road going gently uphill and then more steeply downhill. At the bottom of the hill and shortly after passing Woodside House on your right, turn right along a lane and signposted footpath.
6.
Continue along the lane until it ends and then continue straight ahead into some trees and over a stile. Now continue with a fence on your left and a hedge on your right. After passing a house on your left continue with a fence on your right and a hedge on your left. After a short distance the path turns into a lane.
7.
Continue to pass by some lovely donkeys in the fields and follow the lane for some distance until reaching a road.
8.
Turn right along the road for a short distance and pass a large round brick ventilation shaft. Then immediately after the end of the new housing estate and upon reaching an open green area on your left, turn left along a footpath into some trees.
9.
When you emerge from the trees continue straight to cross an open field. Upon reaching a hedgerow continue straight keeping the hedge on your left. At the far side of the field and upon reaching a brick-built wall turn right heading uphill with the wall on your left.
10. Continue straight ahead uphill until reaching a main road. Turn right along the road and then continue straight ahead until reaching some traffic lights at a major crossroads. 11.
Turn left at the traffic lights onto Thanet Street. Continue along Thanet Street and then take the second right into Flaxpiece Road. Upon reaching the end of this road bear right and continue straight ahead until the road bends sharp left. Follow the road around to the left and back to the start.
This walk is for illustrative purposes only. Voice Magazines Ltd takes no responsibility for anyone who chooses to follow this route and encourages all walkers to obey all byelaws and signs and to respect the area they are walking in, ensuring they pick up all dog mess and obey the countryside code at all times.
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23
PET SERVICES
With over 30 years experience, qualifications in canine behaviour and as an approved trainer for the IMDT, I offer science based positive reinforcement training, from basic puppy lessons to dealing with more complex behaviour issues. If you’re struggling with your dog then contact me for a one to one assessment, tailored to your requirements.
Qualified Trainer
Call Scott on 07929 208507
scott@ssw.training @sswpets
24
www.ssw.training
sit_stay_walkies
PetSsw
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HOME IMPROVEMENTS
Bathroom and Kitchen Warehouse One of the largest showrooms in Nottinghamshire established over 30 years MODERN DESIGNS & FULLY FITTED
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From supply only to full installation we offer the full package. Our experienced and knowledgeable design teams are here for you, offering a full, free of charge planning and design service. If you’re after a bathroom or kitchen we are serious about creating the best design possible to suit your budget.
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Why not see if we can save you the VAT on your brand new Wet Room / Walk in bathroom PHONE: 01909 500 130
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Suitable for Both New Build and Refurbished Projects
Suitable for Both New Build and Refurbished Projects
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BlueFlame has you covered! Take out one of our fantastic service plans for complete peace of mind, including all parts and labour.
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and Guess the words rd! ! o w s s o r c Fill in the
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Down 3 Song on disc for a train? (5) 4 Variety show overdue, but please, do not change it (5) 12 Perch for baby jumper on the street (5) 13 A change of heart, Mother, perhaps? (5)
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Lizard, but not what it ‘says on the tin’! (6,4)
2
In a way, the West could have a homeless victory (4,3)
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Colemans Est 1982
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Colemans have been manufacturing bespoke kitchen and bedroom furniture for over 40 years. We are a family run business with a belief in great quality products and service at sensible prices. All our products are built specifically for you and your needs, we can manufacture in any colour and style your heart desires. With Colemans the possibilities are endless.
Visit our showroom 178 Victoria Road, Kirkby in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, NG17 8AT Tel: 01623 751239 ǁ Web: colemanskitchensandbedrooms.co.uk *see in store for details
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A Decade of Excellence Ten years ago, I made the decision to leave life behind a desk and build something of my own. What started as a single GutterPRO franchise territory covering Mansfield and Sutton/Kirkby has since grown to serve multiple areas across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Throughout my career, I’ve worked in sales, security systems, training, and therapy, but I always wanted to create a business that could grow, provide jobs, and deliver exceptional customer service. Today, GutterPRO is trusted by thousands of homeowners and has earned more than 32,000 five-star reviews across leading review platforms. My focus has always been on professionalism, transparency, and doing the right thing. We provide clear pricing, booking updates, arrival tracking, and before-and-after camera surveys on every job. If gutters don’t need cleaning, we don’t charge. Over the years, we’ve expanded our services and invested in the latest equipment to maintain the highest standards. As we celebrate our tenth anniversary, I’m proud of what we’ve achieved and excited for what comes next.
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A MIND OF MY OWN - KATHY BURKE Kathy Burke is different things to different people. To one generation she will always be teenage Perry in the Harry Enfield and Chums sketch show. She appeared in Ab Fab. She was Linda in Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! Then she won best actress at the Cannes film awards for her very serious part in Nil by Mouth. She’s a theatre director. She’s had a podcast. She is astonishingly honest and unfiltered, and funny, and rude. With her memoir A Mind of My Own, you get all of that. From her semi-feral childhood, through years of being overlooked because she was “ugly” to her crazy years on the punk scene, fame, being an unlikely luvvie, menopause, and being “opinionated and sweary”, as she once described herself. It’s her famous ability to say it like it is, which once led to a feud with Helen Bonham Carter, who complained about not being taken seriously because it was so difficult when you were pretty and middle class. (It’s on the internet – or in the book - if you want to know, but it’s very funny, she did use one very rude swear word, and suggest that maybe it was not necessarily the worst thing that could befall someone). What does emerge is that she’s a great example of what happens when you decide that you’re not going to be told what to do any more. It’s a life lived to the full and her book is well worth a read.
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TARMAC BLOCK PAVING RESIN INDIAN SANDSTONE PORCELAIN SLABS FENCING & DECKING GROUNDWORKS PLEASE CONTACT DANNY ON 0800 1455 223 OR 07863 210 348 FOR A NO OBLIGATION FREE QUOTE To advertise please call 01773 549 035
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Cake! I have loved cake for as long as I can remember—my waistline would agree. Baking is now something I often enjoy with our granddaughter, though I don’t recall my mum ever baking. After losing her own mother and spending part of her childhood in a children’s home, she had little chance to learn. Even so, she encouraged me to make all kinds of cakes in school cookery lessons. I knew Mr Kipling and his “exceedingly good” cakes, pies and tarts very well. When the brand launched in 1967, it confidently introduced 20 products at once, including French Fancies, Mini Battenbergs, Cherry Bakewells, Viennese Whirls, Almond Slices and Apple Pies. The trouble was that I thought cake was meant to taste that way, so discovering homemade baking later in life was a revelation: pure joy and delicious pleasure. I especially enjoy old-fashioned bakes: lemon drizzle, coffee and
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walnut, cherry cake and pineapple upside-down cake. They need no embellishment; they are perfect as they are. One of baking’s greatest pleasures will always be licking the bowl, as my granddaughter would agree.
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GARDEN SERVICES
Heritage of Kirkby & Annesley ENGLAND’S LOCAL LADY CRICKETER. ENID BAKEWELL.
dly Mr Ernie Bend kin lent this picture, ell showing Mrs Bakew fundraising at Annesley. Mother Mrs Bend, Ernie’s is on the picture.
Looking through Newspaper cuttings in Kirkby Library, some time ago, I came across two reports for Mrs Enid Bakewell, being on the England Ladies Cricket Team. Not being sporty, I didn’t know anything of her career and hard work. Along with the cuttings and much more recent news, attending a talk Enid gave in the meeting room at Kirkby Library displaying many cherished items, I have taken in so much more. The Nottingham Evening Post dated 22nd April 1969 covered the return from a tour of Australia and New Zealand with the England Team. A civic reception at Nottingham County Council described her as ‘the best all-round woman Cricketer in the World.’ As Enid was a Newstead Girl, there was also to be a celebration evening by the Parish Council. The article mentions, the ladies had to find their own funds for the tour, so Enid and her father, Mr Turton, would sell Fruit and Veg from his garden. Coffee Mornings with neighbours’ were held and men’s cricket clubs held matches, £400 had to be raised, not a small sum in 1968! During the tour, Three of the Batsmen scored over 1,000 runs, a visit to play some local teams was squeezed into a very busy schedule. When in Adelaide at Christmas, it was the coldest weather for 50 years.
The High Standard of the play, was well received by the fans and helped to take forward the view that Ladies Cricket was well worth attending. By August 1975, another piece in the Free Press, Enid was again interviewed as the Australian Ladies were coming to the UK. Having been the Captain of the England side for a time, Enid, was one of 19 Squad members to train through the Winter. This tour was to commemorate the 50th Birthday of the Women’s Cricket Association. Some dates mentioned where Enid had played were 1963 against Australia, 1968/ 1969 Tour, 1973 World Cup Final, being Captain in 1974. Rachel Heyhoe-Flint came back as Captain after having a child. Enid has ‘ three growing children of her own’. Ashfield Comprehensive School had a Ladies team that Enid coached, and also taught at Annesley Woodhouse Primary School, part time. This was just a little from Enid’s early days, I hope to follow with a part two….
BEING INTERESTED IN LOCAL AND FAMILY HISTORY, I HAVE A FACEBOOK PAGE “ANNESLEY OC HERITAGE EXTRA”, WITH MANY EXCITING FACTS ABOUT THE AREA WITH PICTURES AND COMMENTS. WHY NOT TAKE A LOOK? EMAIL: SPOOKYSUE2014@OUTLOOK.COM OR CALL: 01623 721 905
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GARDEN SERVICES
Four Winds Landscaping
07968 719 306 | 07966 497 848 enquiries@heanor-fencing.co.uk website: heanor-fencing.co.uk
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MALE BLACKBIRD
PANTING
NATURE NOTES FROM THE PEAK DISTRICT
GARDEN SERVICES
KEEPING COOL IN THE SUMMERTIME HEATWAVES Increasingly hot summer weather causes stress for nature, including birds and other wildlife, and keeping cool becomes increasingly challenging. Plants like trees and herbaceous flowers clearly suffer during droughts and especially when temperatures are soaring. Responses and reactions include wilting through lack of moisture or else drooping temporarily to reduce water-loss. For some trees for example, they react as if autumn has come early simply shedding leaves to enter wintertime dormancy. In some cases, however, the plants simply die. Animals like mammals may have sweat glands and pant in order to keep cool, but not all types of fauna are so adapted. In the case of our birds for instance, they can’t sweat. Their body covered in thick layers of insulating feathers is great for flying and keeping warm, but problematic in hot weather! So, to counter this difficulty birds resort to other actions and behaviours. Over-heating, bird adopt physical actions like panting, seeking sheltered, shady places, and bathing; all activities observed as temperatures soar. However, the problems get worse and more extreme for birds with dark or black plumage which absorbs sunlight energy which is converted to heat. (White plumage tends to reflect sunlight and promote cooling). So, members of say, the Crow family, often species with predominantly blackish plumage, get too hot rather easily. In order to stay cool during very hot weather they pant, hold out their wings to expose more body surface-area to the cooling air, and when possible, take a waterbath. Of course, birds will also drink more during hot weather and providing suitable water-baths for bathing and drinking is a good way to help them through this difficult time. Along with the Crows, other birds with dark feathers like male Blackbirds in particular, face similar problems and take suitable actions. If the weather becomes too hot for comfort, then a first line of action is to fly to a shady spot such as tree branches in the high canopy. This is especially during the peak temperatures of mid- to late-afternoon. Keeping out of direct sunlight may help prevent overheating, but sometimes feeding necessitates being out in the open. This can make other actions to counter the high temperatures imperative. In these circumstances, Crows for instance, may open their beaks and breathe fast (panting) so water in their throat
and mouth evaporates to cool the blood rather like an air-conditioning unit. This can be modified to include a gular flutter whereby they vibrate muscles and skin in the throat to help speed evaporation and cooling but without too much energy usage. They also wingdroop by holding out their wings away from the body to allow air under the feathers to dissipate trapped heat. For Crows, Blackbirds, and often Dunnocks, this can involve fully splayed-out wings and tail feathers with the body flat to the ground. Bathing in water can incorporate splashing around in puddles, bird-baths, ponds, and streams as wet feathers cool very efficiently as the wetness dries. Like many animals, birds seem to lack energy and become torpid during hot weather. Both Jackdaws and Carrion Crows will stand around gaping and with feathers on the nape and head raised to allow cooling. Usefully though, sunbathing helps control feather parasites!
CARRION CROW
JACKDAW
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 To advertise please call 01773 549 035 @IanThewildside Bluesky @ianthewildside.bsky.social
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GARDEN SERVICES
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September normally shouts spring bulbs, dividing perennials, planting bare-root wallflowers, winter pansies and winter salad. But given the drought most of us have been experiencing, a little caution may be in order.
It hasn’t just been the heat and the lack of rain, there has also been quite a lot of hot dry wind which has stressed plants even more. So, unless we have been fortunate enough to have some really sustained rain in the last couple of weeks it may be worth slowing those jobs down until it’s a bit cooler and the rain has had a chance to really moisten the soil.
Anything you were thinking of introducing to the garden is unlikely to do well in baked soil. Part of the problem is that very dry soil can actually become aquaphobic. Decomposed plant oils form a waxy coating round soil particles which means water just runs through without delivering moisture and it takes a long time for the soil to become really porous again and able to properly sustain plants. There are a few ideas for how to fight this. If you’ve got things in pots or containers, put them to soak in a half full bucket or trug of water for several hours and the roots will eventually start to bring water up the plants. Add fresh compost or soil, particularly if you’re planting the likes of daffs, crocuses or alliums. Don’t mulch perennials yet. This conserves moisture but if there is no moisture to conserve in the soil it creates a semi permeable membrane which makes things worse. Keep on top of weeding – weeds are particularly good at finding any moisture. In garden beds water down into the roots as much as possible. It’s also suggested that a couple of drops of washing up liquid in your watering can will help break through the waxy compound coating the soil. Don’t divide perennials yet. They will recover, but they may be weakened by being uprooted at this stage. Spike lawns with forks so any moisture can get into the hard trodden surface.
As soon as conditions improve and it has been consistently TOP a bit cooler and wetter – all the usual planting, pruning and TIP nurturing can be pursued as vigorously as ever.
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