Villages in Focus February 2023

Zone Face Lift

This brilliant new facial therapy that benefits body and soul is now available at Coastal Holistics in Littlehampton:

 Non-surgical, non-chemical face lift

 Facial reflexology boosts physical wellbeing

 Specialised Japanese massage techniques with jade gua sha promote collagen and elastin production, erasing fine lines

GIFT VOUCHERS make the perfect gift for Valentine’s and Mother’s Day!

Book now at 0754 6482155 email janet@coastalholistics.org www.coastalholistics.org

Dear All,

I hope your 2023 has got off to a good start and you are all keeping well. I’m very glad that February is here and we can start to see lighter, warmer days. I don’t know about you, but I struggle with the short, dark days after Christmas especially if they are compounded by torrential rain!

In February the snowdrops will emerge, love is in the air and you may even see a barn owl or a wintering short-eared owl (see RSPB article on page 6) – so there is lots to look forward to. Helping others is also a great moodbooster so do have a look at our charities featured in this month’s magazine and see if you might like to give them some support – I can totally recommend it!

Thank you all for your generosity last year helping our local community. The Bognor Hotham Rotary Club have asked me to thank all their volunteers and those of you who gave so generously to their collections in 2022 helping them raise £10,700. And many of you contributed to the St Wilfrid’s Hospice Double the Difference campaign which raised over £305,000 for hospice care.

Please don’t forget to mention Villages in Focus if you respond to one of our adverts – our advertisers are always keen to find out how you heard about them. Have a happy February, best wishes, Kate.

Copies of Villages in Focus are available to collect from Barleys hardware store in the centre of Middleton village.

Please mention VILLAGES IN FOCUS when responding to adverts

WINTER’S GHOSTS

BY ROB YARHAM (Volunteer Coordinator and Guide)

There’s something special about owls. Perhaps it’s because these beautiful birds of prey are usually fairly hard to see – many, but not all, owls are nocturnal, of course. But the short days and cold temperatures in winter can make it easier to see the ghostly, pale forms of a barn owl or a wintering short-eared owl.

Short-eared owls hunt during the day but they don’t breed in Sussex so we don’t get many chances to see this wonderful bird. They spend the spring and summer on the moorlands and rough grasslands of northern Britain, Scandinavia and Russia and migrate south for the winter. However, in especially cold winters, more short-eared owls head further south, and it’s at these times that they become easier to see here.

The short-eared owl is mottled, dirty-brown above and pale below and flies low over the ground, flapping its long, stiff wings as it hunts for voles and other small mammals. Occasionally, the owls will perch on fence posts and stare back at you, as if in surprise, with their large, round yellow eyes surrounded by heavy black ‘make-up’. You might be able to spot the two small, feathery tufts on top of its head which give the species its name but these aren’t the bird’s ears. All owls (and harriers) have twin ‘facial discs’, which give them their large, round faces, and these discs channel any sound into their ear cavities, which are positioned just to the sides of their eyes, so they can hear the faint rustle of prey moving in the grass below.

The shorter, colder days of winter also mean that the local barn owls, which usually hunt at night, are forced to hunt in the daylight hours. Mid-to late afternoons are a good time to look for them on cold days as they hunt over farmland and grassland. They’re about the same size as the short-eared owl but they appear whiter, with honey-brown above, and they have shorter, broader and more rounded wings.

But while barn owls will stay into the spring, the short-eared owls will soon be heading back north again to their breeding grounds in northern Britain and Europe. So this month is the perfect time to head to one of our RSPB reserves to see if you can spot one of these beautiful, ghostly birds while you still can.

Join us on one of our guided walks this month to see if we can find some owls and other winter visitors, including birds of prey, waders and wildfowl, before they leave in the spring: https://events.rspb.org.uk/paghamharbour or call 01243 641508.

Ben Andrew

The short-eared owl is a winter visitor to grasslands and marshes in Sussex, from the coast and river valleys to the South Downs, and cold weather can result in the sight of several birds quartering the ground for small mammals at the same time.

A HEALTHY HEART FOR VALENTINE’S DAY

BY JAMIE MAXFIELD

It’s that time of year when we think about who sets our heart a flutter, or who we will give our heart to. There are heart-covered cards in the shops, and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates. The heart is centre stage on February 14th. But to misquote a popular saying, ‘a heart is for life, not just for Valentine’s Day!’

Your heart works hard. It’s essential to pump nutrient and oxygen-rich blood to your whole body, as well as carry metabolic waste products away.

Most people think heart disease only affects older people but this isn’t true. The way you live while you’re young impacts your heart health in later life. Plaque can begin accumulating in your arteries in your teens and twenties. It comprises of fatty deposits, made up of waste products produced by the body’s cells. If plaque goes unchecked it can thicken the blood vessel walls, clog arteries and take a toll on your heart.

It’s commonly thought that heart disease is primarily a problem which affects men, but it’s also the second leading cause of death for women (after Alzheimer’s) in the UK, and about two in ten of the deaths caused by coronary artery disease occur in adults, whether male and female, who are under 65 years old.

This means that whatever sex you are, making heart-healthy choices when you’re young will reduce your risk of heart disease as you age.

Ways to reduce the risk of heart disease include:

• Eating a healthy diet

• Regular exercise

• Maintaining a healthy weight

• Avoiding smoking (or giving up)

• Avoiding excess alcohol

• Managing stress levels.

It’s also important to keep up with regular wellness examinations including monitoring blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Most pharmacists can carry out these checks.

One myth about heart disease is that all fat is bad for you, but while certain types of fats like saturated and trans fats are linked to heart disease, other types of fats can actually lower your risk of problems.

Hence you should include some unsaturated fats in your diet, as they are beneficial in lowering cholesterol levels. Unsaturated fats are found in fresh nuts, olive oil, and low-fat dairy products, as fish rich in omega-3 fatty acid-rich, such as salmon.

Genes also play a role when it comes to heart health. It’s true that some people will always be more at risk of heart disease because of genes they’ve inherited from their parents. But just because you have a genetic predisposition to heart disease does not mean that its inevitable you will succumb. However, if you engage in harmful behaviours, such as smoking, excessive drinking avoiding exercise, and eating an unhealthy diet, you will definitely put yourself more at risk. Poor lifestyle choices can increase your cholesterol levels, cause high blood pressure, and even result in type 2 diabetes. All of these have the potential to increase your risk for contracting heart disease, so if you know you have genetic risk factors, it’s even more important to maintain a healthy weight, keep your blood pressure under control, and stay active.

This Valentine’s Day, ask yourself if, whoever you choose to give your heart to, will be getting a healthy one!

S K I N N E E D L I N G Facial Treatment

The Skin Needling Facial has launched at Emma Jade Beauty. Skin Needling is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that’s used to treat skin concerns by stimulating collagen production. This treatment creates micropunctures in the skin using miniature, sterilised needles.

BENEFITS:

REDUCING THE APPEARANCE OF SCARS, INCLUDING ACNE SCARS

REDUCING THE APPEARANCE OF FINE LINES AND WRINKLES

REDUCING ENLARGED PORES

REDUCING THE APPEARANCE OF HYPERPIGMENTATION, OR DARK SPOTS

SMOOTHING UNEVEN SKIN TONE

IMPROVING SKIN ELASTICITY

REDUCING THE APPEARANCE OF STRETCH MARKS

REDUCING THE APPEARANCE OF SCARS

SAVVY SALE SHOPPING

BY FELPHAM FASHION GURU VICKY BOOKER

Most of us love a bargain, and the sales can be a great time to bag one! There are, however, many pitfalls to sale shopping, so, here’s my guide to being a savvy sale shopper:

Audit your wardrobe before you go

Think about what you already have, and where the gaps are to give you a game plan for hitting the shops. It can help to have an idea of your budget before you go - those sale bargains can add up if you get carried away!

Remember to stick to the three style principles

Is it a good colour for me? Does it fit me well? Does it suit my personality and lifestyle?

One out of three? Put it back on the rail, no matter how much it’s reduced, it’s going to sit unloved in your wardrobe, or worn once or twice at best before you realise you’ve made a big mistake!

Two out of three? It’s a maybe. If the colour’s not great, could you make it work by combining it with another shade, or adding a scarf, or piece of jewellery? If it doesn’t fit 100%, could you get it tailored or adjusted? Having something amended to fit you perfectly can really make a sale purchase worth it. NOTE – things that are a bit too roomy work best than items that are too tight to start.

Not your usual style? A sale can make us do funny things when it comes to making clothing decisions! A jewel-encrusted leopard print faux fur coat we might not normally pick up becomes a draw when it was £200 reduced to £50! But you really aren’t saving money, if it’s something you aren’t going to wear. Leave it for someone else who’ll love it!

Consider the cost-per-wear

You’ve probably heard me talk about the ‘cost per wear’ of an item before. A simple formula (who knew maths could come in handy for fashion!) where you divide the price of an item by the number of times you have, or are likely to wear it. A sale ‘bargain’ dress that you had to have because it was reduced to £30, worn once before you realise it was a mistake has cost you £30 to wear. A £300 investment coat you’ve had for three years, and worn at least 100 times, becomes just £3 per wear. Thinking this way can help to make more conscious, wise purchases. Enjoy it!

As ever, fashion and style should also be fun, so enjoy your bargain hunting – you might find some fabulous things that normally might be out of your price range. And if you do make a faux pas purchase, you can always sell it on or donate it to charity! Just don’t be tempted to leave it languishing in the wardrobe because you feel guilty it’s still got the tags!

For a great alteration service locally – I recommend Louise MacIver who is based in Felpham Way – her contact number is 07762 941588

I can help with auditing your wardrobe and shopping with you to make sure you’re buying wisely. If you’d like some help with staying stylishly cosy this winter, do get in touch to see how I can help – I offer a Personal Shopping service as well as styling.

www.vickybooker.com and email: vicky@vickybooker.com

HISTORICAL PETWORTH TOWN

AND DEER PARK WALK BY

SIMON BAKER IRONS

February could be perceived as a month of romance with both Valentine’s Day and the appearance of snowdrops, signifying that spring is not far away. This month’s feature is a gentle winter walk through the historic market town of Petworth to the Deer Park at Petworth House. The walk will enjoy the heritage of the town that is a haven for antique lovers and art collectors, then culminate with some fantastic views across the South Downs.

Start the walk from the Petworth Main Town Car Park and cut through to Rosemary Lane, following the wall lined path to the library. Here you can cut through to the Petworth Cottage Museum. The museum is an estate worker’s cottage that has been restored and furnished as it might have been in the early 1900s.

Head along the High Street passing many historical listed buildings to the Market Square. Petworth has had a market square since at least 1541. Leconfield Hall, which is now a cinema was built in 1794 and stands on the site of a former covered market. A street fair dating back to 1189 in Petworth is still held annually in November.

From the square, walk up Lombard Street to St Mary’s Church. This cobbled road was once the main shopping street for Petworth with haberdashers, bakers, grocers and butchers. Turn right and pass the obelisk gas lamp, that was gifted to Lord Leconfield as a token of thanks for providing the town with gas lighting. Follow the wall to the cow yard of Petworth House. Then head under the cattle tunnel which emerges into the glorious Deer Park. Look ahead and you’ll see the Upper Pond, follow the path towards the Pond and once reached take the path that forks right to the Boathouse. Enter via the archway of this architectural stone feature for great views of the lake towards the South Downs.

From the Boathouse, follow the path that goes around the edge of the woodland. To your right you’ll see a clump of trees on top of a hill, walk to this point for beautiful views across the 700 acres of park. This is also a great vantage point to try and see the many fallow deer that reside here.

Head back to the main track and continue around the pond, from this far side of the lake, you can admire the view across the Upper Pond towards Petworth House; this was one of the vistas of Petworth that artist J.M.W. Turner painted.

Continue following the path around the pond until you get to the Dog of Alcibiades statue, protruding from the water, this is a copy made for the 3rd Earl of Egremont in memory of his favourite canine companion.

Take the path back towards Petworth House where you can visit the pleasure gardens and see many tiny snowdrops beneath the woodland canopy, a charge applies to access the house and Gardens (Members Free). To complete this walk head back through the tunnel to town and enjoy a well-deserved rest and drink in one of the many cafes.

To see more photos and walks please follow me on Instagram at piertopiertrekking

Ashton Domiciliary Care

OUR FAMILY CARING FOR YOURS!

Reliable help with indoor and outdoor tasks, a caring ear, a friendly familiar face and making a cup of tea so you can put your feet up - that’s what we do. Our dedicated team are trained to support mental wellbeing and to help you access support groups in your community.

Our

Showering, Bathing, Toileting Needs, Oral Mouth Care, Hair Care, Foot Care, Incontinence Care. Shopping Trips, Transport & Attending to Classes, Attending Appointments, Accompanying to Lunch and Dinners. Food Preparation, Cooking, Shopping, Monitoring, Food Rotation, Companionship: Social Calls, Help and Hobbies, Stimulating Mental Health Activities, Pet Care.

• Domestic: Cleaning, Washing Up, Laundry, Bed Change, Taking the Bins Out.

• Everything Else: Dementia Care, End of Life Care, Medication Management, Arranging Appointments, Collecting Prescriptions, Short Term Respite Care.

www.ashtondomiciliarycare.com

Email: domiciliarycare@ashtoncare.co.uk

Home carers who care: call 01243 860074 for Free Advice!

BOGNOR’S BEST KEPT SECRET …

MINDFULNESS-BASED SESSIONS TO KEEP YOU CALM, WHILST YOU CARRY ON

I’m Tor and I have come full circle from mental breakdown to Master of Science. From working as a professional dancer on TV and on-board cruise ships to teaching silent, peaceful, mindfulness-based movement to help people cope with stress.

After a stress related breakdown, following overwhelm back in 2006, I found mindfulness-based stress reduction. Let’s face it, we are all in some way affected by the constant stresses of life, be that political, global, cultural, financial and /or personal. How are we supposed to cope with constant change and all that is going on at this time?

Firstly, it’s important to realise, there is much we cannot change. But, this is the most important point, “we can learn to live alongside life’s stresses”. It’s not cliché or spiritual psychobabble it is fact, backed by research. With mindfulness training (and I’m talking the ‘right mindfulness training’), this can be achieved. You can sleep more peacefully; you can feel joy and happiness again.

What people say: “I absolutely love it.” “I have never been able to meditate, but there is something about this class that pulls me to attend, it’s an hour of calm in a world of chaos.”

If you would like to give it a try please get in touch: mindfulmomentsuk@yahoo.com or to find out more visit my website www.mindfulmomentsuk.co.uk or call me on 07966 567291.

SHAKSHUKA

Shakshuka is a North African and Middle Eastern dish. It makes a wonderful spicy brunch or supper for a cold winter’s day.

Preparation time: 10 mins Cooking time: to 30-40 mins Serves: 4 with bread

INGREDIENTS

• 4 tbsp olive oil

• 1 onion, finely sliced

• 1 red pepper, diced

• 1 green pepper, diced

• 6 garlic cloves, crushed

• 2 tsp sweet paprika

METHOD

• ½ tsp cumin seeds

• ½-1 tsp cayenne pepper

• 800g tinned tomatoes (use the best quality you can find)

• 2 tsp soft brown sugar

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 4-8 eggs, depending on hunger

• Small bunch of fresh coriander, roughly chopped

• Heat the oil in a large frying pan (with a lid) and add the onion. Fry gently until golden, then add the peppers and cook until they are soft. Stir in the garlic and spices and cook for another minute or two.

• Pour in the tomatoes and mash roughly. Stir in the sugar and lemon juice. Bring to the boil, then turn down the heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes. Taste and season. Add a little more cayenne if you like your dishes spicier.

• Make 4-8 hollows in the sauce and break an eggs gently into each one. Season lightly, and turn the heat down as low as possible, cover the pan with the lid and cook for about 10 minutes until the eggs are just set. Sprinkle with coriander and serve with crusty bread.

VOICES OF SUSSEX

VOICES OF SUSSEX IS A COMMUNITY CHOIR BASED IN BERSTED, BOGNOR REGIS

Created in 2014, with just eleven members, the choir was formed to help bring together people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities from the local area, with the aim of being accessible and inclusive to all.

Over the last nine years, the choir has grown to over 40 strong and has performed in many concerts and competitions, not just here in Sussex but in mainland Europe too! The choir doesn’t just offer people a platform to sing, it’s become an opportunity for so many of our members to socialise and make new friends too.

We strive to encourage and broaden our members’ horizons through the environments we perform in and the music we choose, which includes anything from pop, rock and R&B, to classical, musical theatre and anything in between – we like a challenge!

The choir meets every Tuesday from 7.00pm - 8.30pm at the Bersted Park Community Centre, Lakeland Avenue, North Bersted, PO21 5FF. The first two sessions are free of charge to all new members, with no pressure to join. After that, it’s just £6 a session!

If you’re looking to take up a new hobby this year, and you’re interested in finding out more, or wish to join, then visit www.berstedarts.com/vos, or email connect@berstedarts.com.

We look forward to welcoming you!

LOCAL HISTORY BY

SYLVIA ENDACOTT

Good to be back again, I hope you had a good Christmas and New Year. We had some poor weather over the period, and because of this I spent some time looking through old newspapers to see what sort of interesting events took place. One article caught my eye from 50 years ago.

There was a question asked in the Bognor Regis Observer on the 5 of May 1972, yes 50 years ago, “What will it be like in the year 2000?” This was to be a magical year, the millennium which promised so much for the future. So let us have a look at what happened or what we missed. One of the major focal points is ‘what will occur,’ with changing holiday trends, maybe the town will be aimed more at the shorter holiday for families? One comment made me smile, that of the problems of taking children abroad was seen to be so difficult with, ‘unfamiliar food, so staying in Bognor in familiar surroundings would be better.’ Remember this is 1972. Also with the new Channel Tunnel this could increase the need for a local holiday resort, with large halls for dancing like the one contained in the demolished Rex building on the prom. The subject of the ownership of the pier was discussed, but this is a repeated theme before and after 1972. The headline paragraph of this article talks of the future with a hovertrain from London or even a monorail from an out of town terminal. I wonder how 2023 will be reviewed in the future?

ARUN & CHICHESTER (AIR) ENTHUSIASTS SOCIETY

AirACES www.airaces.org.uk

Patrons – Sqn Ldr Richard (Dick) Kharegat RAF (Retd) – ex Vulcan, Victor, B52 Pilot Wg Cdr Robert (Bob) Prothero MRAeS, MIMgt, RAF (Retd) – ex Victor Pilot

Monday 27th February 2023 - 1900 for 1930 hrs

‘Formation Display Pilot’

presented by Mr Andy Evans, Team Leader, The Blades Aerobatic Team

Andy Evans will offer Air Aces members an exceptional insight into the life of a formation display pilot and the requirements and demands of the profession. As one of the most experienced display pilots in the world, with almost 2,700 hours in the Extra 300 alone, he has accumulated almost 8,500 flying hours. With all of this experience, Andy is also a Qualified Flying Instructor so well positioned to be mentoring and commanding the team when he took over as Team Leader in 2018, as well as managing the team’s flying itinerary.

Andy began his flying career in 1984 when he was awarded an RAF flying scholarship. He joined the RAF in 1985 as a member of Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron and following completion of officer training at Cranwell, Andy was selected to conduct his flying training in Texas, being awarded his wings in 1989. A former front-line Jaguar pilot, Andy flew on operations over the Balkans and spent three years as the Air Show Advisor to the Royal Saudi Air Force National Aerobatic Team. Andy is also a former Red Arrows pilot, flying with the Team between 1997 and 2000 and after his third year, he was the first Red Arrows pilot to stay on and become Team Manager, flying as Red 10.

AirACES is an aviation talk society, providing its members with regular talks, given by experts in many different fields related to the world of aviation. The talks are held at the Chichester Park Hotel, Westhampnett Road, Chichester 7pm for 7.30 start. Members £5, visitors £7 and under 16s FREE. Doors open at 6.45 no pre-booking, no reserved seating For further information about AirACES, please see www.airaces.org.uk, or call David Batcock on 01243 823007.

Trust

by Mark Riley, Founder & Managing Partner, MJR Solicitors

It’s essential to write a Will and preserve your wealth for your family’s future after your death. You should ensure your home is handled according to your wishes after you die, after all, it’s likely to be your biggest asset. As the homeowner, there may be a need for professional healthcare in the future, which could seriously affect how much your beneficiaries could inherit. With married couples & civil partnerships, it’s a common scenario that your Wills state that when one dies before the other, everything is passed directly to the surviving spouse. When the surviving spouse dies in the coming years, everything then passes to their adult child. It’s not wrong – but it can complicate matters.

Let’s look at an example:

An older, married couple, Mr & Mrs Taylor, are both in their 70s, live in England, and have one adult child. The house they live in is owned by them outright and is worth £150,000, and between them, they have life savings of £50,000, so total assets of £200,000.

Their standard Wills both say that when one of them dies before the other, everything is passed directly to the surviving spouse. When the surviving spouse dies in the coming years, everything then passes to their adult child. One day, Mr Taylor dies. In accordance with his Will, his entire estate (money, possessions, and property) passes directly to Mrs Taylor. She then has all the assets transferred into her name, including the family home, which means she now has total assets amounting to £200,000 in her name. Several years later, Mrs

Taylor becomes frail, with health issues that mean she shouldn’t live alone anymore. One day, she falls, which leaves her unable to look after herself or her home properly. With no full-time care available from the adult child, it means Mrs Taylor has to find residential care accommodation.

Normal procedures mean that Mrs Taylor has her needs and finances assessed by her local council to determine whether she can pay for her residential care. Because she has more than £23,250 in her name, her care costs do need to be paid by her. The cost of the care home is £30,000 per year, and she stays there for 5 years, meaning her total care fees come to £150,000. With her total assets of £200,000 now reduced to £50,000, it means the adult child would now inherit that £50,000 only.

To see how a Property Trust Will could change this scenario for the better, visit the Blog page of our website to finish the story.

Contact us today for your FREE initial consulation and our team of experienced legal specialists can help set up your Will in the best way possible for you.

Trusted, knowledgeable, by your side

Tel: 01243 945054

info@mjrsolicitors.co.uk

www.mjrsolicitors.co.uk

Recent Client Feedback:

“

Our personal circumstances are very complex, however, the knowledge and expertise of MJR has made the process easy and clear. We are very impressed.”

Property

Wills - How your future care home needs could impact your beneficiaries

Having any Will in place is important, but if you’re a homeowner, it’s imperative that you protect the value of your home by ensuring your Will is set up correctly. This can be complicated for the uninitiated but MJR’s team of legal specialists will act on your behalf, meaning a much easier process for you, giving you advice and answers to your questions, so you have all the jargon-free facts you need to make the right decisions for your beneficiaries.

GARDEN VIEW

A PASSION FOR PEACHES

BY RACHEL LEVERTON

When we rented a house in the South of France one summer, there was a peach tree in the garden and the owner invited us to help ourselves. We have never eaten so many sweet, ripe peaches. Nothing in the supermarkets here has ever compared to those fat globes of nectar.

A few years ago, I discovered that it was possible to grow peaches in this country too, with a few caveats. In the far South it’s possible to grow them against a south, or south-west-facing wall. Further up the country we need the help of a conservatory or a large greenhouse. The reasons for this are threefold: peach trees tend to flower very early, around February, when the UK can still suffer sharp frosts in the mornings; they also develop fungal diseases if the weather is too cold and damp and finally, our short summers generally don’t give enough time for the fruits to ripen. But if you have that south-facing wall or conservatory and would like to have a go at growing peaches (and who wouldn’t?) read on.

‘Peregrine’ is a white-fleshed peach quite well-suited to the English climate (the above warnings notwithstanding) though generally best grown under cover. ‘Rochester’ is a very reliable yellow variety that gives good harvests of large fruits in August. It also has the advantage of being a late bloomer, making it less susceptible to frost damage. If space is limited, which it often is in a conservatory, choose a plant grafted onto dwarf rootstock. Peaches are best grown as a fan. Fasten horizontal wires to the wall at 30cm intervals to allow the stems to be tied in and spaced out evenly. The plant should be positioned about 25cm from the wall with branches sloped towards it, and if planted directly into the soil, this should be enriched with well-rotted manure or compost. If planted into a pot, make it as large and deep as the space will allow. When the flowers appear, cover the plant with a light fleece at night to protect the blossom. Because of the lack of natural pollinators early in the year you can help things a long by using a long, dry paintbrush to dust pollen from one flower to another. Then water the plant regularly and feed with tomato food through the summer to keep it healthy. Prune any branches that grow out away from the wall, and also remove any that overcrowd the framework. Cut some old and fruited lateral shoots out each year to allow new ones to take their place.

It might take a couple of years but with a little care and attention and a smidge of luck you will be able to reap the reward of harvesting your own peaches. There are few activities quite as delightful!

Happy gardening.

Welcome

01243 585059

gary@arundelclocks.com

I have been restoring, repairing, servicing and selling clocks for the last 25 years. Arundel Clocks is based in the heart of Elmer Sands, West Sussex serving surrounding areas

We are happy to undertake any work from a service to a major strip down and re‐build or restoration

I always give a guaranteed price (with no hidden costs) and an estimated time for completion of the work undertaken, all repairs are backed up with a back to base twelve month guarantee.

10% Discount for OAPs

Please mention Villages in Focus when responding to adverts

Please mention VILLAGES IN FOCUS when responding to adverts

CROSSWORD

Across

1. Inexpensive (5)

6. Attached to a mast (5)

9. Ill-fated ship (7)

10. Subside, wane (5)

11. Merriment (5)

12. Luke warm (5)

13. Anxieties (7)

15. Weaken, drain (3)

17. Reed instrument (4)

18. Coax, wheedle (6)

19. Earlier (5) Down

2. Oaty chocolate biscuit (6)

3. Clothes, garments (6)

4. Could be pork, apple or steak! (3)

5. Loathes (5)

6. Alike (7)

7. Could be citric, hydrochloric or sulphuric! (4)

8. Deadly (6)

12. _____ Wogan, radio presenter (5)

13. Adult female (5)

14. Journey, itinerary (5)

15. Hedgehog, hero of a video game (5)

16. Destructive insects or small animals (5)

18. Mask, disguise (5)

19. Ploy, ruse (7)

21. Far away (6)

20. Blood vessel (6)

22. Thin fog (4)

24. Formerly known as (3)

25. Infers (7)

26. Volatile, liquid (5)

27. Style of car (5)

28. Pontoons (5)

29. Display (7)

30. French hat (5)

31. Liquifies (5)

22. Change, alter (6)

23. Group of seven things (6)

25. Beelzebub (5)

26. Blunt-ended sword used for fencing (4)

28. Outer edge (3)

REASON FOR A CHANGE?

Are you wanting to make a positive change to your mood, home life and improve your home storage cabinets?

If so, investing in a statement cabinet or wardrobe is a fantastic way to give your lounge or bedroom the contemporary makeover you’re looking for and provide you with the extra storage space you need.

Did you know that on average every 5 years people change not only their household cabinets. But it often comes at a cost often higher than the average current living challenges So what is the solution to store our cherished items keeping in line with the latest trends?

You can visit national or local manufacturers home furniture companies. One such reputable local specialist company is Eastergate based business A.B.C. Affordable Bespoke Cabinets from Carpenter goodwithwood.me who will using the latest computer technology consult, design and construct your dream home cabinet at an affordable investment which not only beautifies your home but if you are looking to sell your property enhances while potentially increasing the value.

So, to upgrade your home at affordable rates contact goodwithwood directly quoting ‘infocus’ For your complimentary consultation and 10% discount, email: info@goodwithwood.me or call Ian on 07538 690 465.

2022 – WHAT A YEAR FOR BOGNOR REGIS CONCERT BAND

Bognor Regis Concert Band is celebrating 2022 as a very successful year. In March 2022 we entered The Chichester Festival of Music, Dance and Speech, and were thrilled to be the winners of one of the Wind Band classes.

Pictured is the Chairman of Chichester Festival for Music, Dance and Speech, Alan Rodger, presenting the Southdowns Concert Band Cup to our very proud Musical Director, Robert Horner. We are entering again in 2023 and hope that our performance will result in us retaining the cup.

There were performances at the Seafront Bandstand for the 10K race in May, The Wilkes Head, Eastergate in July, Hotham Park Bandstand for Proms in the Park in September, followed by Proms at Sea, our annual Proms Concert, in the Alexandra Theatre.

It was a privilege to play at a Festive Charity Concert on 3 December at St Mary Magdalene Church in South Bersted. Raising money for Bognor Regis Food Bank and Christians Against Poverty.

We were back at St Mary’s Centre, Felpham on 17 December for our 2022 Christmas Concert. It was a very entertaining and successful evening. What a year it has been!

Entertaining you all again in 2023, we are performing our Coronation Celebration concert in the Alexandra Theatre on Sunday 2 April and Proms in the Park on 10 June 2023.

If you would like to book us for your next event, please contact us at brconcertband@gmail.com or via Facebook and Twitter, call or text 07864 543802 for further information.

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STREAMING AHEAD

BY BARRY FOX

In my opinion, there are now far too many movie and music streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney, Paramount, Sky’s Now and Mubi for movies, with Spotify, Deezer, Tidal, Apple and Amazon for music.

With spare money getting tighter, market competition is hotting up. Most of the services are now offering assorted free or near-free trials, and special offers like a month’s free viewing on Paramount with a packet of Walkers crisps. You can currently get 3 months or Mubi for just £1. Tesco clubcard vouchers can be used to ‘buy’ three months of Disney.

The offers vary but all have one thing in common. You will need to enter full details of a valid credit card and sign to accept that after the trial period expires, and unless you actively cancel, full charges will automatically kick in. The charges are high, more than a tenner a month for Mubi, so you will need to carefully diary a safe date for cancellation.

Here are some tips, hard-learned from my own mistakes. I once clicked Yes to the offer of a ‘percentage off’ on future online purchases. Stupidly I missed the small print rider that after a grace period I would be automatically charged a monthly fee for the percentage offs. It took a lot of hard graft to get out of that trap.

With most streaming services you can create an online account, with user name, email and password, before starting a subscription and entering credit card details. You can then experiment with free trailers. And expect to receive an enticing stream of special one-time, act-now offers.

Once you have signed, it makes sense to try a dummy run on how-to-cancel well ahead for the due date.

It also pays to check before paying or starting a trial period that your viewing device, which may be a TV, set top box, or plug-in dongle, can actually receive the service you want. Not all devices work with all streaming services.

The quality of Help and Support offered by different streaming services varies widely. Lazy staff may just parrot irrelevant ‘fixes’.

Recently it took around fifteen emails before Paramount Support admitted that the widely sold Sky Now dongle ‘’powered by Roku’’ (i.e. made for Sky by dongle-maker Roku) cannot use the Paramount App.

A quick check now suggests that the Now dongle also cannot get Mubi.

Previously I gave up trying to tell Sky Now Support (and Sky’s management) that some of its Entertainment programmes failed to start or stopped half way through. Currently some of the adverts which come before Now programmes have sound but no picture. As this is a nice bonus rather than a problem, I enjoy not trying to explain it to Sky Now Support.

Moral: don’t commit to a yearly subscription, rather than monthly, until you are sure everything works. And as general guidance, probably the best and cheapest dongle to buy is the most basic Amazon Fire Stick at around £30 – or often less with special offers.

To contact Barry Fox visit www.tekkiepix.com

SUDOKU

How to Play Sudoku

It’s simple! 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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Dr Davina Mahoney Dr John Harker Dr Mauricio Carrillo Dr Sharad Patel

If you have moved to this area, or are looking for a new dentist, we would love for you to come and join our friendly Bognor Regis practice. We pride ourselves on a partnership built on trust and mutual respect to improve your dental health. We aim to work with you to provide optimum dental care with the latest and advanced dental treatments, transparent costs and a friendly experience every time you visit us.

• Free initial consultation

• Latest implant technology including on-site 3D CBCT scanner

• No more gaps or dentures

• Eat, chew and smile with complete confidence

• We accept referrals from other dental practices for complex single and multiple dental implants

Felpham Dental Implant Clinic

At Felpham Dental we offer a full range of cost-effective treatments for both general and cosmetic dentistry. These include whitening, veneers, crowns, white fillings, dental implants, root canal treatments and facial aesthetics including intradermal wrinkle treatments.

We accept referrals for complex root canal treatments with Dr John Harker, and oral surgery referrals including facial pain and migraine, with Dr Mauricio Carrillo.

Invisalign Teeth Straightening

• Free initial consultation

• Almost invisible teeth straightening

• Faster straightening of teeth

Direct Hygienist Access

You can directly access our full team of dental hygienists: Elizabeth Goodchild, Jane Gander and Helen Carter even if you are not a registered patient.

Emergency Dental Care

Please call 01243 864663 and speak with Chrissie or Tracey.

Contact us:

Felpham Dental

83 Felpham Road

Bognor Regis.PO22 7PF

(Opposite Milestones Garage)

Tel: 01243 864663

felphamdental@aol.com

www.felphamdental.com

A GOOD READ

BY NATASHA DONOVAN

The Midwife of Auschwitz by Anna Stuart

Ana Kaminski is a midwife who is taken to Auschwitz with her young friend Ester Pasternak. As they pass through the iron gates and reach the front of the processing line, Ana steps forward and quietly declares her profession, saying Ester is her assistant. Their arms are tattooed, and they’re ordered to the maternity hut. There Ana vows to do everything she can to save the lives of mothers and their infants.

But she soon learns that the SS snatch the blond-haired babies from their mothers to place with German families. In spite of her horror Ana realises that for these children there is at least the hope of survival. With rumours of the war ending Ana and Ester begin to secretly tattoo the newborns with their mother’s numbers, praying one day that they might be reunited.

The novel is fiction, but it’s based on a true story and many of the characters are based on real people at Birkenau (the largest camp in the Auschwitz complex). Ana is a Catholic, Ester is Jewish and Ana was the midwife who delivered her. Ana’s family was part of the Resistance helping Jewish people escape the Nazi enforced Ghetto until Ana was arrested along with two of her sons. Her husband and other son were not home at the time, so Ana does not know what happened to them at the time she arrives in Auschwitz. She and Ester cling to their friendship and each other through the horror and evil around them. When Liberation comes will they find a way to get home together? And what awaits them there?

The voice of women is often absent from history, even quite recent history. Anna Stuart’s sensitive, beautiful novel showcases one woman’s incredible story which is a tribute to those who suffered at the hands of the Nazis.

The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Isabella Riosse (Isa) is a teen trapped on the island of Joya, a land full of myths; forbidden to travel further than the forest that flanks her village by the Governor, and all the while dreaming of the faraway lands her cartographer father once mapped.

When a string of unsettling events and the disappearance of her closest friend Lupa make it necessary to journey beyond the forest in search of answers, Isa joins a team of explorers on an adventure that will test her map-making skills and her courage.

As she follows her map, her heart and an ancient myth, Isa discovers the true purpose of her quest: to save the island itself.

The story is a fantasy set in a parallel magical world. The author draws on mythology and folklore and blends these with themes of friendship, adventure and courage. As a bonus the text is enhanced with beautiful illustrations and maps.

The Girl of Ink and Stars is officially a children’s novel but I suspect there are many adults who will also enjoy this richly drawn world and its characters.

Friday 3rd February – 7.30pm.

60 Minutes of Classical Music (in studio 1)

Tickets - £6.50 / Under 25s £3.50

Monday 6th & Tuesday 7th January – 7.00pm.

Dance House

Tickets - £12 / Under 16’s £6

The Dance House family is pleased to be back in the Alexandra Theatre in 2023, with friendly faces, excited dancers & supportive schools.

Tuesday 7th February – 2pm.

The 2 O’clock Club ‘Karen Etherington - sing along’. (in studio 1)

Tickets - £12 / Under 16’s £6

Karen Etherington will sing a variety of songs, on a trip down memory lane, These songs will include a selection from Rock’N’Roll, Soul, Motown, Country, Singalong Musical Theatre, Jazz & Swing.

WHAT’S ON

Wednesday 15th – Friday 17th February – 7.00pm

Family Fun Week

Three days of free family fun. Check with the Alexander Theatre web-site for details.

Thursday 16th February – 2.00pm

Journey to The Stars

Tickets - £8.50

It is a marvellous blend of puppetry, storytelling, live music and comedy, sprinkled with astounding science and astronomy facts, and all contained within an accessible, funny and unique family show.

Friday 24th February – 7.00pm

‘The Alex Comedy Club’ - age guidance – suitable for ages 16+

Tickets - £10.50 / NUS £5.50.

We welcome in the New Year with a return of our extremely popular and immensely funny comedy club!

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

Solution to Mind Benders

1. Swim under water.

2. Back in five minutes.

3. Leave no stone unturned.

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

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ALL THINGS SNOWDROP!

This year The Sussex Snowdrop Trust charity will be marking 30 years of care for local children who have a life threatening or terminal illness with two events in February we would love you to come along too.

Saturday 18th February – 2.30pm - 4.30pm. Denmans Gardens, BN18 0SU. FREE event ‘Spot the Snowdrop’ – A chance to spot snowdrops in the garden and attend a photography exhibition to understand the significance of the snowdrop as a symbol of hope. To enter the competition and to see full details, visit www. thesussexsnowdroptrust.com. Donations welcome. Midpines café will be open until 3.45pm for tea/coffee & cake.

Monday 20th February – 2.00pm - 4.00pm – Garden visit & Talk, Denmans Gardens, BN18 0SU –‘Promise of Snowdrop’ - A talk on winter interest for garden lovers by Gwendolyn van Paasschen, owner of Denmans Garden in aid of the children’s charity, The Sussex Snowdrop Trust. Limited places – Booking essential. www.thesussexsnowdroptrust.com £15 includes garden entry from 11am - 4pm with the talk at 2pm. Midpines café will be open until 3.30pm to purchase food and refreshments.

Thank you so much for your ongoing support – we would love to see you.

BE RESOLUTE ABOUT RECYCLING!

Many of us are trying to keep to our New Year’s Resolutions, so what better time to reaffirm a commitment to recycling our everyday items and do our bit for the environment.

West Sussex charity, 4Sight Vision Support, has a long-established recycling scheme which helps to raise funds to support blind and sight impaired residents across the county. Additional items have recently been added to the scheme, many of which would otherwise go to landfill. Items include stamps from everyday post or stamp collections; old or foreign coins and notes; jewellery, watches, games consoles, cameras, tablets and mobile phones (any condition or age) and ink cartridges (except laser toner cartridges). You can recycle cracker, biscuit and cake wrappers, Pringles tubes, mini cheese nets, and cheese packets – but please wash them first! They would even love to have your old car, as they have the resources to turn old cars into cash via auction or scrap!

In addition, if you received a gift that wasn’t quite ‘you’ this Christmas and don’t want it to go to waste, 4Sight Vision Support would love your new and unopened items to use as raffle and auction prizes in future.

Items for recycling can be dropped off at their Head Office in Victoria Drive, Bognor Regis, and unwanted Christmas gifts can be dropped at Head Office or the charity’s Shoreham Centre in Pond Road, all during normal office hours. For further details, or if your business/club/society/ café would like to become a public recycling point, please call the Fundraising Team on 01243 828555 or email fundraising@4sight.org.uk

Michelle Russell at a donation point.

Award winning networking social events for local business. Do you want local independent businesses to thrive? We do too!

Since September 2021 we have brought local businesses together to showcase & share what a thriving community of businesses we have here in our district. In Nov 22 we won the ABP Business Awards ‘Special Award’ for services to the Business Community.

All businesses & public are welcome to come along to our events and network. Each event will have a showcase theme such as ‘Food & Drink businesses’ or ‘Fitness & Wellbeing’. It’s all about making valuable connections, and having a bit of a relaxed social along the way!

Follow us on social media for updates on the next networking event in the Spring.