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This month, we’re taking you all into the blocky world of Minecraft. With the film release and the fact that this is one of the most successful games of all time, we couldn’t ignore the theme for this month but in our true style, we’ve built our own characters and brought the Easter feels to it as well, it is “a world where anything
So, we’ve made this month into an Easter Eggstravaganza and we’ve got some lovely giveaways from some fabulous local companies! We’ve got S42 Café giving away a grazing board and a glass of fizz for 2, family tickets for a visit to Heights of Abraham, Midland Railway & Crich Tramway Museum and £20 off camping/events at Golden Valley Caravan Park! We are also giving away a Cadbury Ultimate Easter Egg Chocolate Basket for one lucky winner too! As I said at Christmas, you’ve got to be in it to win it, so check out our centre
Myself and Mr Emily are actually low level gamers, we love everything from platformers and kart racers to RPG’s and everything in-between, we have played since our Uni days but we’ve never partaken in Minecraft, it was always SIMS back in our day! The Nieces and Nephews are partial to these types of games though and I’m definitely not adverse to playing, given enough time. I love the idea that it is completely down to your imagination and I think we
It’s been quite a busy month in our house, I feel like we’ve barely been home! Anyway, based on some of the activities I have undertaken, here are some burning questions… if you want to send us some answers over, always
If heat pads work so well, why has nobody invested in a full heat suit?
If Bingo is supposed to be relaxing, why don’t they shout the numbers
As mini-golf and golf are essentially the same, why isn’t Tiger Woods (insert pro golfer name) a World Champion of Mini Golf with an unbeaten
If Tomatoes are fruit, who classified it as such and why don’t we have it
So, scientists discovered that we evolved through genetic changes to our DNA, then why have I evolved so that Coriander tastes like washing
As always, I really hope you have a fabulous Easter, whatever your plans.
Minecraft: A Grand Adventure in Blocks
When the team asked me to write about Minecraft for this month’s edition, I confessed I was more than a little worried. I’d heard of it – but genuinely had absolutely NO idea what it was. Unlike my other half, I am no “gamer” – well, apart from Wordle and a gloriously infuriating “bottle filling” game on my phone!
So, I did what I always do: I turned to “Mr Google” …and was directed to the official Minecraft website.
This is how the game is described: Minecraft is a game made up of blocks, creatures, and community. You can survive the night or build a work of art – the choice is all yours. Still no clue? Me neither!
So I read on and discovered that Minecraft can be played however you like – that is, there are no set goals, no set in stone missions to complete. This is why it’s sometimes called a “sandbox game” – there are lots of things for you to do and lots of ways that you can play. If you like being creative, you can use the blocks to build things from your imagination. If you feel brave, you can explore the world and face challenges. Blocks can be broken, created, and placed to reshape the landscape, or used to build fantastical creations straight from your imagination. You can even share your creations with other players or play in community worlds.
OK…so what I am deducing is that Minecraft is akin to online Lego building, sprinkled with a vast amount of imagination and, dare I say it… ”world building”, and here’s where it gets really interesting. In a world where AI-generated games and hyper-realistic graphics are the norm, this simple, blocky game has somehow maintained a massive
audience across all age groups. Why? Because of its very simplicity. Minecraft gives the players’ minds a break from the overload of fast-paced, complex games and lets them build something entirely their own.
It’s creativity at its purest.
And let’s not forget Minecraft’s impact outside the game itself. It was one of the first games to become a YouTube sensation, with millions of people tuning in to watch others build their own worlds. This phenomenon then paved the way for a whole new genre of online content – people streaming themselves playing games, unboxing products, and sharing their hobbies. Minecraft was a pioneer, not just in gaming but in online entertainment.
Absolute respect to anyone who regularly plays and enjoys Minecraft. From what I’ve gathered, it’s certainly less aggressive and far more creative than many computer games, and that has to be a good thing.
Having been around since 2011, Minecraft obviously isn’t going anywhere. It’s a simple game with an extraordinary impact – and that’s something worth celebrating. So, play on all you fans, and enjoy your blocky worlds, and maybe, just maybe, one day I’ll have a go myself – or perhaps encourage my eldest grandson to give it a try!
GOODWINS
KITCHENS, BEDROOMS & BATHROOMS
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One of the warm memories I have is having family tea on a Sunday afternoon. Sandwiches were always involved. Probably spread with meat or fish paste and always white, sliced bread. Mother’s pride had been a staple since before the war.
We would also have tinned fruit, usually fruit cocktail in heavy syrup, with evaporated milk. On special occasions we might have Nestle tinned cream instead.
If we had family for tea, we might have a little ham salad with lettuce, tomato, and a dish of cucumber and onion in vinegar. Do you remember Heinz tinned vegetable salad? “Bought cake” by Mr Kipling became available in the 1960s. Cherry Bakewell and jam tarts didn’t last long in our house.
Children might have vividly coloured pop which had been delivered by Corona “the pop man”. Dandelion and Burdock and Cream Soda were my favourites.
Every family had their own Sunday traditions. What were yours?
Janet
Janet and Paul Barrass are All Around the Shire. Find us on or email: oldfield512@btinternet.com for more information.
Great service at a very affordable cost. We needed to replace our lounge carpet but were daunted by the prospect of having to move the suite, sideboard, bookcase and tv as they are too heavy for us and we have nowhere to move them to while the old carpet was removed and the new one fitted. Then I remembered seeing an advert in one of our local free magazines which said that T Nutt offered a service of removing the old carpet, moving furniture as necessary and fitting the new carpet before returning the furniture to its correct place - this seemed perfect for us so we paid them a visit. From our first visit to paying the bill on completion it was a real pleasure dealing with them. They have a good range of carpets, provide valuable advice based on their years of experience and arranged the supply and fitting on the date we requested. Their quote (a very competitive one) was a single price for everything with a promise of no added extras - they delivered to it. We were completely satisfied and would have no hesitation in recommending them.
Slimming World Recipe
Spanish-style chicken and rice
1. Spray a large, deep, non-stick frying pan with low-calorie cooking spray and put it over a medium-high heat (use a pan you can cover with some sort of lid). Add the chicken and brown all over for 5-6 minutes, then set aside on a plate.
2. Tip the onion into the pan along with 3 tbsp stock, then cover and reduce the heat to medium. Cook for 5 minutes, or until the onion is soft. Remove the lid and add the garlic, paprika and chilli and cook for 1 minute, stirring often. Stir in the tomatoes, turmeric, the remaining stock and a little salt, then bring to the boil.
One pan dishes are always a win and this paella style recipe combines loads of flavour with satisfying simplicity.
3. Sprinkle the rice evenly around the pan and add the chicken, then simmer vigorously over a medium heat for 6 minutes. Scatter the red peppers on top of the rice and shake the pan to mix them in slightly, then reduce the heat to low. Simmer gently for 12 minutes, or until all the stock has been absorbed.
4. Cover the pan, turn off the heat and leave for 10 minutes before serving (this will help unstick any rice on the bottom of the pan). Top with the chopped parsley and sprigs, then serve with the lemon wedges for squeezing over.
• Low-calorie cooking spray
• 600g skinless and boneless chicken thighs, visible fat removed, cut into large chunks
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 750ml boiling chicken stock
• 6 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• Large pinch dried chilli flakes
• 400g can chopped tomatoes
• ½ tsp ground turmeric
• 300g dried paella rice
• 300g roasted red peppers in brine from a jar, cut into thin strips
• Chopped fresh parsley, plus sprigs to serve
• Lemon wedges, to serve
Dale Road South, Darley Dale, Matlock
Heritage of Bakewell
APRIL 2025
A NEW SEASON AND MUCH STITCHING
Spring is upon us, and it feels as if summer is within touching distance.
During winter, volunteers at Bakewell Old House haven’t been idle. Few visitors realise the amount of work that goes on during the months we are closed. Lots of activity happens behind the scenes, much more in fact than when we are open. There are always essential tasks that need to be carried out along with the preparation required to open the museum for a new season.
Being such an ‘Old House’, the museum needs a lot of maintenance. Any repairs must be completed in winter, tasks like those would be impossible if visitors were around. There is an endless amount of cleaning to do, every nook and crevice has to be dusted and cleaned. Each and every one of our wonderful objects must be carefully cleaned, and the cabinets thoroughly polished, before items can be put back. Exhibits have to be inspected for wear or damage. Preservation is important for every museum as objects are often fragile.
Costumes are extremely vulnerable and have to be examined for ‘unwanted guests.’
Carpet beetles and other nasties are the scourge of museums far and wide, they must be eliminated. Traps are placed around the museum to ensure that no destructive creatures survive. New displays are sought and arranged to their best advantage and behind the scenes, as always, work continues to ensure storage is as it should be.
Some time ago a suggestion was made that a sewing group might be useful. Word spread amongst friends of
the museum and a group was formed. They immediately set to work and produced an amazing selection of authentic Tudor costumes. These colourful creations hang on a rail in the parlour for visitors to try on, and wear, as they walk round the museum.
The sewing group meet each Monday. At present most are occupied knitting or crocheting poppies for the proposed British Legion Poppy trail in Bakewell. An imaginative installation of poppies is also planned for the museum later in the year. If you sew, or knit, enjoy a chat and a cuppa and would like to join the group contact Mark at the museum, who would be pleased to pass on your details.
At present there is a wonderful exhibition, designed and stitched by the local U3A craft group, on display upstairs in Bakewell Visitor Centre. ‘A Short History of Bakewell’ leads us through the centuries showing the development of our town from its origins to the present day. It’s well worth popping in if you get the chance.
Throughout last year a number of sewing workshops were held on behalf of the museum. More are promised. When All Saints had their festival of Christmas trees in the church, the Old House tree was decorated with baubles like those made at one of the workshops. An Easter tree is intended to grace the museum with eggs decorated in a similar way.
Following on in a stitching theme our fascinating 2025 exhibition in the museum has been provided by Chesterfield Embroiderers. They have been creating items in response to the museum collections and stories, some will be available for purchase over the course of the season.
Bakewell Old House Museum will be open for the new season from March 25th. Open every day from 11am to 4pm there will be plenty of opportunity to come along and enjoy our lovely displays.
EasterGiveaway
MINEVERSE EASTER WORDSEARCH
THE TEAM HERE AT VOICE MAGAZINES ARE GIVING AWAY
A CADBURY ULTIMATE EASTER EGG CHOCOLATE BASKET
Simply complete the wordsearch to find which of the items is missing from the grid. Then follow the instructions below to enter.
To celebrate Easter we have continued our fun Minecraft theme to bring you this eggstra special 4-page Easter giveaway! So, get puzzling and send in you answers to be in with a chance of winning one of our fabulous prizes! Easter April Chocolate Egg Chicks Spring Basket Bunny Grass Sunday Egg Hunt Lily Holiday
To enter, email the missing item, which is NOT in the wordsearch to community@voicemagazines. co.uk Please ensure you give your full name, address and telephone number so all winners can be notified. Closing date – 21st April 2025. Prizes are to be collected from Voice Magazines Ltd offices at 81 High Street, South Normanton, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 2BP.
The Voice Magazines Team have been transported into the Mineverse for this puzzle. We’re having a great time hanging out with our cube shaped pals but can you spot the 10 differences between the two pictures?
We have some fabulous prizes to give away from some of our very generous local businesses which can be seen on the next page! If you want to enter the prize draw to be in with a chance of winning one of these prizes simply follow the instructions below:
FAMILY DAY OUT SPOT THE DIFFERENCE ON OUR TEAM DAY OUT SPOT 10 DIFFERENCES
To enter the FAMILY DAY OUT PRIZE DRAW, email A PHOTO OF PICTURE No: 2, INDICATING WHERE YOU THINK THERE IS A DIFFERENCE, to community@voicemagazines.co.uk. Please ensure you give your full name, address and telephone number so all winners can be notified. Closing date – 21st April 2025. Prizes are to be collected from Voice Magazines Ltd offices at 81 High Street, South Normanton, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 2BP. 1
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BETWEEN THE TWO PICTURES
2
FLAKES EGGVENTURES IN THE MINEVERSE
EGG DYEING & CRAFTING
Gather supplies for dyeing eggs, try natural dyes or paint the eggs with intricate designs for a personal touch. You can also make Easter crafts, like bunny masks or wreaths, to entertain guests or kids.
PLAN EASTER EGG HUNTS EARLY
Organise a scavenger hunt or Easter egg hunt for kids. Choose a location, prepare the eggs (plastic or real), and hide them strategically. For extra fun, use clues or riddles to guide the search.
CATCH FLAKE!
Flake has run away again and made it through the maze....! Which route, A, B or C, takes one of our Voice team to Flake through the maze!
GOOD LUCK!
To enter the draw for the and glass of fizz for 2 to community@voicemagazines.co.uk ensure you give your full name, address and telephone number so all winners can be notified. Closing date – 21st April 2025. Prizes are to be collected from Voice Magazines Ltd offices at 81 High Street, South Normanton, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 2BP. You must be aged 18 or over to enter.
FLAKE
SAYS STAY SAFE WITH CHOCOLATE
I can’t eat chocolate, please don’t leave it lying around, it is poisonous to me.
Prepare Easter baskets filled with chocolates, candies, small toys, and personal items. You can personalise them with the recipient’s favourite treats or themes.
DECORATE WITH SPRING THEMES EASTERCREATEBASKETS
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Use pastel colors for Easter decorations, such as table settings, floral arrangements, and even painted eggs. You can also make bunny ears, spring flowers, and chicks part of your décor.
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ORBITAL, BY SAMANTHA HARVEY...
IS OUT OF THIS WORLD – LITERALLY.
Living on an international space station 250 miles above the earth is not something most of us give much thought to. The odd bits we might have already learnt are that you can somersault through the air, free of gravity; that you might get to walk in space outside the craft, attached only by tethers which stop you floating away into the universe and that you have to swallow your toothpaste – you can’t spit it out because like everything else inside this metal can, it will float.
The author of this Booker Prize winning novella gives us that kind of information but so, so much more in her deep dive into 24 hours of life and thoughts of six astronauts as they experience sixteen orbits of the earth, sixteen sunsets, sixteen sunrises.
It is a story. These are not real people. But a superb level of NASA level research means we follow a faithfully true daily existence on board, the experiments, the observation, the collection of data, testing the limits of the human body and mind. Even joyfully watching the mice learning to fly around their cages.
A lot of it is about the mind – not just the mundane difficulty of living through a human day and night on the space station when you have days and nights flashing past you continually outside. Or watching a super typhoon build on earth which you know will bring death and destruction to those it hits. But also they fret over their earthly lives, whilst at the same time seeing the extraordinary beauty of the planet and getting a sense of the fragility of human life and even of the solar system.
This is a stunningly beautiful book, a travelogue of another kind of life, intriguing and astonishing, one that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page.
Do u ble g la zing re pair s inc lud ing mi s te d u p g la s s u ni t s.
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Guess the words and Fill in the crossword !
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.
5 Come across motor in Monte Carlo (3)
6 Jewels, bedecking woolly one (3)
10 The lady’s a bit crushed (3)
11 No saints could be in such states (7)
12 Add up then drink, right? (3)
16 Meadow owned by Local Education Authority? (3)
17 A bit ignorant (and not the answer!) (3)
2 Ended in poverty (4)
3 Protocol accepted generally for having a drink (4)
8 Dialogue log-off becomes final farewell (5)
14 How the rain can whip you? (4)
15 Prayer for some simple action (4)
1 Bringing fourth, say, not fifth (9) 7 Escaped form a war, any old how (3,4)
13 Enlarge point in order to upsell (5,2) 18 Actively resist an attempt at retaliation (5,4)
1 Just being there will do instead of gifts, say (8) 4 For thinking about a retreat to the gym! (4,6) 5 Takes from list all the kisses backstage (7,3)
Newt to bask in style on Jordan’s l.h.s. (8)
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LANTERN ROOFS
SPRING BUTTERFLIES EMERGE FROM THEIR WINTER SLUMBERS
With a few weeks of warmer, sunnier weather the early butterflies are out and about. Some of the earliest species to emerge are the pretty Small Tortoiseshell, and the splendid Peacock, and these can be seen on warm days in late February and early March. However, another quite stunning butterfly is the appropriately named Brimstone, the male being a bright sulphur yellow. This species, the Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) is a brilliantly-coloured butterfly seen in local gardens, along woodland edges, on old country lanes, and in or around parklands. This large, quite stunning species tends to be spotted on warm, early spring days when they emerge from their winter hibernation. Regarded as one of the heralds of springtime, this species appears to be increasing, perhaps with climate warming. This rather spectacular butterfly, which is actually a member of the ‘White’ butterflies, is also an early species, already out and about in February and March this year. The Brimstone has two broods with the first being early emergent adults that overwintered, and then a second in summer through until around September.
They are most common in the south and in areas with limestone vegetation such as the Dales. Their restricted distribution is related to the occurrence of their favoured food-plants for egg-laying which are purging buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) and alder buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula). These are both quite uncommon except in woods and hedges on
limestone areas and also in urban planting schemes such as around shopping centres. Especially in early spring, they are flying in woodlands, wetlands, and gardens, across suitable areas of habitat and they are easy to spot. As I said earlier, the males are bright sulphur-yellow (hence the ‘Brimstone’ name), and the females, also distinctive and pretty, are pale green. Small amounts of alder buckthorn, one of the food-plants, were grown in some coppice woods associated with the manufacture of highquality charcoal.
The Brimstone is pretty much unmistakeable with perhaps one exception for the beginner. There is one other ‘White’ butterfly that sports some yellow, and this can look quite bright in sunlight. This is the ubiquitous Large White or Cabbage White. This has very yellow rear underwings and a patch on the underside forewings. Again, this is a large species, but the wing shape is very different from Brimstone which has distinctive points in the wing-tips. Once you have seen a Brimstone, then you really won’t mistake any other species for them.
Planting buckthorn in gardens and other greenspaces may help this stunning insect spread. You can help their conservation by planting buckthorn in your garden but don’t eat the berries. It is well-named ‘purging buckthorn’ because of its strongly laxative properties formerly employed in herbal medicine!
Professor Ian D. Rotherham, researcher, writer, broadcaster on wildlife and environmental issues in the Peak District and elsewhere, is contactable on ianonthewildside@ukeconet.org. Follow his website www.ukeconet.org, blog www.ianswalkonthewildside.wordpress.com/ & Twitter
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SCAN ME
GARDENERS CALENDAR
We’re still keeping tender plants indoors. Garden centres are full of lovely looking plug plants around Easter but there’s too much of a risk of frost yet to put them straight into the soil or containers. Grow on indoors or in a warm greenhouse.
But April is a great time for sowing hardy annuals such as nigella, indestructible nasturtiums, Ammi majus which gives you lovely white lace heads and is really attractive to bees, and sunflowers, (though you seriously need to protect the latter from slugs)
It’s also a good time to think about wildflower areas, which you can sow direct into prepared soil. If the soil is compacted fork it over and rake and if you’re adding new soil to a patch, tread it down lightly. Water lightly before sowing to give the seed a head start. You can broadcast seed easily with a sweeping motion – mix the seed with some sand then you can see where you’re spreading. Then rake over and water again. If you have a lot of birds visiting your garden it may be an idea to peg some horticultural fleece over the area to stop the birds getting first dibs. As the seedlings grow don’t be tempted to let the plants become overcrowded, it’s more likely to hinder growth, so pull out the weakest looking seedlings. Keep watering as they become established.
Prune lavender but don’t cut into the woody part of the plant. Deadhead winter pansies and they’ll keep flowering into the summer. Prune back Cornus hard, to within a couple of buds of the base and they’ll give good colour next year.
TOP TIP
As you grow on bedding plants nip out the growing tips to provide bushier plants and more flowers later and avoid leggy plants as the season moves on.
