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Lasting Power of Attorney
A LPA allows someone you trust to act for you if you ever lose mental capacity to make your own decisions. Without one in place you could face lengthy court procedures, which may mean your loved ones do not have the authority to make important decisions on your care and treatment, or access funds needed to pay bills on your behalf. You can appoint one or more people you trust‘attorneys’ who can make decisions on your health and welfare, or finances and property matters. Our experts are on hand to guide you through and make the process easy and stress free. Call us today.
Dear All,
Our National Health Service is under huge pressure as we all know, and we hear a lot of negative press reports about GP services, hospital admissions, elderly and emergency care.
It is certainly not ideal. The system is broken but the health professionals working day-in day-out to look after us are, in most cases, totally devoted to their patients and work exceptionally hard to save lives.
So how can we help? Did you know that if you are aged between 40 to 74 and have no pre-existing medical conditions you are eligible for a free NHS health check?
The Prevention Assessment Team are currently carrying out health check clinics across West Sussex. To discuss eligibility and book an appointment please call 0330 222 6 999.
For more information on NHS health checks, visit the NHS website on: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/ Have a Happy and healthy Easter, Best wishes, Kate
Copies of Villages in Focus are available to collect from Barleys Hardware store in the centre of Middleton village.
office@infocusmagazines.co.uk Tel: 07729682245 www.infocusmagazines.co.uk
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FOOLED YOU! BY LISA JOHNSON
If ever you’ve watched the news on 1st April trying to spot the fake story we have a few fun reminders of some classic pranks from years gone by:
• The most famous is probably the BBC’s 1957 Panorama report on the bumper spaghetti crop. Huge numbers of viewers were duped by the footage of Swiss peasants gathering long strands of pasta from the trees.
• In 1962, Swedish television viewers were fooled into thinking that they could transform their black-and-white sets into colour by stretching a nylon stocking over the screen.
• Back in 1972, newspapers around the world reported that the body of the Loch Ness Monster had been found floating in the water. It turned out to be a bull elephant seal that had been placed there by a zoo worker as a practical joke.
• In 2008, we were stunned to see a BBC film of Adélie penguins flying across the Antarctic on their way to spend the winter in the rainforests of South America. This became one of the most viewed videos on the internet.
• In 2023 the Telegraph reported that some of Britain’s tallest buildings, including the BT Tower, were to be converted into wind turbines to help Britain reach net zero under radical climate plans secretly approved by the government. “The Treasury is understood to be ‘hugely supportive’ of the scheme as it will help bring down the cost of electricity in London.
Who knows what the ‘fake news’ stories will be this year, though frankly you might be forgiven for struggling to work out what’s real and what’s not at the moment. Such are the crazy times in which we live that every day feels like April Fools Day!
COME AND SING IN THE AFTERNOON!
Do you love to sing? Then the West Sussex Good Afternoon Community Choir may be just what you are looking for.
Bath music man Grenville Jones started his first Good Afternoon Choir back in 2009 in his home City of Bath. Now there are over 30 Good Afternoon Choirs across England and Wales with over 1,500 enthusiastic singers belonging to these mixed-voice community groups. The Good Afternoon Choirs across the UK support local organisations and charities with their concerts and fundraising and over £50,000 has been raised in recent years.
West Sussex Good Afternoon Choir is one of the newest of this choir family and we’d love you to join us. The choir focus is on fun and friendship. There are no auditions and previous experience of choir singing is not essential. Come alone or with a friend, either way you can be sure of a warm welcome!
“Our singers come from all walks of life, and we differ from other community choirs as we sing in the afternoon!” says Grenville.
The West Sussex Good Afternoon Choir choir is lead by the multi-talented Sam Chara who has performed all over Europe as a singer/ songwriter, cabaret artist and actress who has now settled in Bognor Regis.
Sam says: “Singing in the afternoon is brilliant, there is no hassle about driving in the dark and for further information on our choirs please visit our website www.goodafternoonchoir.org. Come along and meet us.”
Sam Chara – West Sussex Good Afternoon Choir Leader.
EGGS-QUISITE!
BY KATE McCARTHY
THE STORY BEHIND FABERGÉ EGGS
The tradition of giving decorated eggs at Easter dates back centuries and is rooted in Christian symbolism, representing resurrection and new life. The Russian imperial family however, took the tradition to another level.
The first Fabergé egg was created in 1885 when Tsar Alexander III commissioned the renowned Russian jeweller, Peter Carl Fabergé, to craft a special Easter gift for his wife, Empress Maria Feodorovna. Inspired by the traditional practice of giving decorative eggs during Easter celebrations, Fabergé designed an opulent egg with a golden shell that opened to reveal a golden yolk, which in turn contained a miniature golden hen and a tiny diamond crown inside. The Empress was so delighted that the Tsar ordered Fabergé to create a new egg each Easter. This tradition was continued by his son, Nicholas II, until the fall of the Russian Empire.
The eggs were not only luxurious gifts but also symbolic gestures of love and imperial power. They reflected the artistic and technical mastery of the Russian craftsmen and served as a representation of the Romanov dynasty’s grandeur. Each year, the eggs grew more elaborate, often incorporating miniature surprises, such as intricate mechanical devices or tiny replicas of significant landmarks.
Although Peter Carl Fabergé was the mastermind behind the eggs, he did not work alone. His workshop employed highly skilled craftsmen, goldsmiths, enamellers, and gemstone cutters who executed his vision with precision. The workshop became famous for its use of guilloché enamel, intricate engravings, and innovative designs. The artisans worked for months, sometimes years, on each egg, ensuring that every detail was perfect.
Fabergé’s reputation for excellence attracted other wealthy patrons beyond the Russian imperial family, leading to the creation of non-imperial eggs for private collectors and aristocrats across Europe.
Historically, they represent the height of Imperial Russia’s wealth and artistic excellence, as well as the downfall of the Romanov dynasty. Following the Russian Revolution in 1917, many Fabergé eggs were seized by the Bolsheviks and sold to finance the Soviet government, dispersing them across the world.
Of the 50 imperial Fabergé eggs made for the Romanov family, 43 are known to have survived, while seven remain missing. In addition to the imperial eggs, Fabergé also created approximately 15 other eggs for private collectors. Over the years, some lost eggs have resurfaced in unexpected places, including flea markets and private collections. Today, Fabergé eggs can be found in museums and private collections worldwide, with notable pieces housed in the Kremlin Armory, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and the Fabergé Museum in Saint Petersburg.
As symbols of a lost empire, Fabergé eggs continue to fascinate collectors and historians alike. Their exquisite beauty and rich history ensure that they remain among the most coveted and valuable artifacts of the art world. I suspect the closest I’m going to get to a golden Easter egg this year is the foil wrapping on my chocolate one. But a girl can dream. Happy Easter.
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LOCAL HISTORY
BY SYLVIA ENDACOTT
What does Easter mean to you? Eggs? Shopping? Time off work? For many people it is a time of religious significance. However what about the tradition of the Easter greetings card? Many people think this is a new innovation, along with all the other types of cards increasingly flooding the market.
However you would be wrong. The postcard style of cards became available at the end of the 1900’s, the market being flooded from the Continent, but mainly from Germany, as they began to excel in the embossing processes utilised for many of these cards.
It is difficult for us at the start of the 21st century to realise that at the start of the 20th century the collecting of postcards was a universal craze and was reported as ‘raging like a forest fire’ by the start of the first World War. In the late 1970s William Duval (Author of Collecting Postcards 1894-1914) likened homes, at the turn of the century, without a postcard album to view as being as incomplete as those without a television set.
It was a regular occurrence for families and children to send a large number of cards each Easter, with a variety of messages, one such was sent in 1941 and remarked, “just a postcard to wish you a happy Easter. We broke up at school on Wednesday for the Easter holidays. Well I must go to bed now.” A number of the cards shown here were sent in a period from 1914 to 1918, and like millions of others were collected in an album to be cherished for years to come.
ARUN & CHICHESTER (AIR) ENTHUSIASTS SOCIETY
AirACES www.airaces.org.uk
Patrons – Sqn Ldr Richard (Dick) Kharegat RAF (Retd) – ex Vulcan, Victor, B52 Pilot
Sqn Ldr Rod Dean RAF (Ret’d) – ex Hawker Hunter Pilot and Display Pilot
Monday 24 April – 1845 for 1930 hrs
‘An Introduction to the Pipistrel Velis Electro Aircraft and its Role in the Decarbonisation of Pilot Training’ Presented by Kerry Wilmot
Kerry Wilmot will be explaining about a new concept in Aviation. Electric aviation is on many aviators’ minds at present, as something that will probably become the norm over the next decade.
She will be introducing us to the fully electric Pipistrel Velis Electro aircraft, the world’s first aircraft with UK CAA type certification which is powered entirely by electric propulsion.
Kerry will explain how NeboAir has a mission to advance the Decarbonisation of Pilot Training and Experience Flights whilst supporting Sustainable Aviation in the UK with the introduction of the Velis Electro to Flying Schools and Clubs.
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.
VENUE – Boxgrove Village Hall, The Street, Boxgrove, PO18 0EE
6.45pm for 7.30pm start. Members £5, Non-members £10 and under 16s FREE. Doors open at 6.45pm no pre-booking, no reserved seating. For further information about AirACES, please see www.airaces.org.uk, or call David Batcock on 07502 400657.
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GROW YOUR OWN HERB GARDEN
BY RACHEL LEVERTON
Growing a herb garden is a rewarding and practical way to add fresh flavours to your cooking while enhancing an outdoor or indoor space with greenery and fragrance. It’s easy to create a beautiful and productive herb garden in almost any space, indoor or outdoor.
Herbs are pretty forgiving and can be grown in a variety of pots, planters, and raised beds, depending on your available space and aesthetic preferences.
Clay or Terracotta Pots provide excellent drainage and a rustic look but dry out quickly, so frequent watering is required.
Wooden Planters are a good option for a natural aesthetic, but they need to be constructed from untreated or food-safe wood to avoid chemical leaching.
Window Boxes are perfect for growing kitchen herbs close to where you cook, ensuring easy access to fresh ingredients.
Hanging Baskets are ideal for small spaces, they also allow trailing herbs like thyme and oregano to cascade beautifully.
Recycled Containers such as tin cans, mason jars, grocers’ wooden crates and old sinks all make excellent and free containers to create a quirky, unique herb garden.
Whatever container you choose, ensure it has drainage holes to prevent root rot.
For a functional and attractive herb garden, select a combination of herbs that thrive well together and are useful in the kitchen. Obviously think about the herbs you use a lot, and plant these, but also consider unusual variations on your favourites such as lemon mint, lemon thyme and purple sage.
Ideas for group plantings:
Mediterranean Herbs – Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, and Sage – these herbs prefer drier soil and full sun, making them perfect companions in the same container.
Soft-Leafed Herbs – Basil, Parsley, and Coriander – these require more moisture and partial sun, making them a great trio in a different planter.
Aromatics – Mint, Lemon Balm, and Chives – these herbs are fast-growing and versatile. Mint in particular should be planted separately to prevent it from smothering all the other plants.
Tea Garden Herbs – Chamomile, Lavender, and Lemon Verbena – these are great for herbal tealovers like me and grow well together.
Once planted, most herbs thrive on a bare minimum of attention. Mediterranean herbs thrive best in full sun and require less water. Others are happy in partial sun and their soil should be moist but not soggy.
If you use the herbs regularly in cooking, the constant trimming naturally encourages bushier growth and prevent them from flowering too early.
If you have a bit of a glut I recommend freezing sprigs or bunches of leaves in water, packed in ice cube trays. You can throw a few cubes into a casserole or soup or teapot whenever you like. Happy gardening.
DAFFODIL DELIGHT
BY KATE HARRISON, WEST SUSSEX NATIONAL GARDEN SCHEME PUBLICITY OFFICER
Nine beautiful West Sussex National Garden Scheme (NGS) gardens will open their gates for charity this April filled with bright yellow daffodils and a whole host of other joyful spring bulbs and plants bringing hope for brighter days ahead. Last year the NGS donated a landmark £3,501,227 to different charities and good causes from the 2024 garden opening season, so please do come and help us do it all over again! We look forward to seeing you all.
Peelers Retreat, Arundel, Saturday 5th, Tuesday 15th, Saturday 19th, Tuesday 29th April 2pm-5pm
This inspirational space is a delight with permanent gazebos and comfortable seating to sit and relax, enjoying delicious teas. When cold we light the fire for our guests. Interlocking beds packed with year-round colour and scent, shaded by specimen trees, inventive water features and a range of quirky woodland sculptures.
The Old Vicarage, Washington, every Thursday in April 10am-4pm pre-booking essential. Monday 21st April 10am-4pm Gardens of 3½ acres set around 1832 Regency house (not open). The front is formally laid out with topiary, wide lawn, mixed border and contemporary water sculpture. The rear features new and mature trees from C19, herbaceous borders, water garden and stunning uninterrupted views of the North Downs. The Japanese garden with waterfall and pond leads to a large copse, stream, treehouse and stumpery.
Rymans, Apuldram, Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th April 2pm-5pm
Walled and other gardens surrounding C15 stone house (not open). Featuring bulbs, flowering shrubs, roses, ponds, and potager, and many unusual and rare trees and shrubs. In late spring the wisterias are spectacular. Hybrid musk roses fill the walled garden in June and in late summer the garden is filled with dahlias, sedums, late roses, sages and Japanese anemones.
Sandhill Farm House, Rogate, Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th April 1pm-4pm
Front and rear gardens broken up into garden rooms inc small kitchen garden. Front garden with small woodland area, planted with early spring flowering shrubs, ferns and bulbs. White and green garden, large leaf border and terraced area. Rear garden has rose borders, small decorative vegetable garden, red border and grasses border.
Newtimber Place, Newtimber, Sunday 13th April 2pm-5.30pm
Beautiful C17 moated house (not open). Gardens and woods full of bulbs and wild flowers in spring. Herbaceous border and lawns. Moat flanked by water plants. Mature trees, wild garden, ducks, and fish.
Judy’s Cottage Garden, Worthing, Friday 18th April 10.30am-3.30pm
A beautiful medium sized cottage garden with something of interest all year-round. The garden has several mature trees creating a feeling of seclusion. The informal beds contain a mixture of shrubs, perennials, cottage garden plants and spring bulbs. There are little hidden areas to enjoy, a small fish pond and other water features. There is also a pretty log cabin overlooking the garden.
Fittleworth House, Wednesday 23rd and 30th April 2pm-5pm
Three acre tranquil, romantic, country garden with walled kitchen garden growing a wide range of fruit, vegetables and flowers inc a large collection of dahlias. Large glasshouse and old potting shed, mixed flower borders, roses, rhododendrons and lawns. Magnificent 115ft tall cedar overlooks wisteria covered Grade II listed Georgian house (not open). Wild garden, long grass areas and stream.
Photo by Leigh Clapp .
GET READY FOR GOODWOOF
BY DAWN SHARPE
Goodwoof will be back for the fourth time over the weekend Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 May and this year, there are even more reasons to snap up a spot in the Goodwoof pack.
Goodwoof is a wonderfully quirky celebration of all things dog. Set in the paddocks around the members’ clubhouse, The Kennels, Goodwoof offers something for every dog – and human – whatever shape or size. This year the celebrated breed is the dachshund and we can’t wait to see hundreds of these feisty fidos proudly parading each morning to open the event.
Goodwoof will see all the ever-popular favourites return - the Fastest Dog competition presented by DHL, Fido’s Lido (see right), the Action Sports arena, Ministry of Hound dancefloor sessions led by Love Island finalist, Curtis Pritchard and his brother, professional dancer, AJ with music curated by DJ Fat Tony and friends, the serenity of the woodland walk featuring fortune tellers, tarot readers and tattoo artists, The Randox Health Studio with classes in doga, reiki and sound bathing, the glorious Fortnum & Mason picnic spot overlooking the closely fought gun and sheepdog trials and undulating Cani-cross course, the shopping, the music, the Taittinger champagne bar, Barkitecture and a brand new Arts Café.
This year there is even more to see; a whole new area, The Green, offering a wide selection of shopping and dining opportunities and also new are delightful Tea and Tours at Goodwood House. Also new is a grooming parlour expertly presented by Chelsea’s Love My Human Townhouse which will pamper or transform your pooch, and a bustling village, complete with Kindness Café and pop-up florist, curated by our charity partner for 2025, Wild At Heart Foundation.
This year in Literary Corner visitors can get the very rare chance to see the incredible author, Sir Michael Morpurgo, as he reads extracts from his latest story, ‘Cobweb’, comedian Russell Kane will perform a hilarious run through his new children’s book, ‘Pet Selector!’ and fellow comedians, Jack Dee and Seann Walsh will bring their brilliant podcast ‘Oh My Dog!’ to the MARS Wellness Stage.
All activities, talks and classes are included in the ticket price. Children aged 12 and under and dogs go free. The Early Bird window is open until 30 April. Visit goodwood.com/goodwoof to book and to plan your day.
WIN A FAMILY TICKET TO GOODWOOF!
Michael Morpurgo.
Simply answer the following question and be in with a chance to come to Goodwoof on Saturday 17 or Sunday 18 May absolutely free.
Q: What is this year’s celebrated breed at Goodwoof?
Send your answer to goodwoof@goodwood.com by Friday 18 April and please put Goodwoof In Focus competition in the title of your email to enter. Terms and conditions apply. Good luck!
Sir
EASTER EGGS
BY ALICE MCDOUGALL
April is a great time of year to think about eggs as many of our birds at Pagham and Medmerry will be laying their first clutch this month.
You might ask whether there is anything more perfectly designed than a bird’s egg? They are made from a tough yet permeable shell: Strong enough to protect the growing embryo, yet covered in hundreds of tiny pores allowing it to breathe. The yolk is a nutrient rich food source which supplies the embryo with the minerals and vitamins it needs for growth. The egg white – the albumen – protects the yolk and provides protein and water, while the shell provides calcium for the embryo’s growing skeleton. Voila - the most impeccable piece of packaging for a developing chick.
But it’s not just this incredible structure that demands our attention; birds’ eggs are often beautiful, vivid colours, something that ornithologists have been fascinated with for hundreds of years. Their colours come from two pigments: a reddish brown and bluey green, and it may surprise you to know that these are the same pigments found in dinosaur eggs.
So what colour eggs do our local birds produce? We can broadly say that our ground dwelling birds will lay dark, brown speckled eggs which allows them to blend into their surroundings, making them difficult for predators to see. For birds which dwell in the nooks of trees like blue tits, their eggs are generally white or pale blue. This allows their parents to easily see them and avoid accidentally crushing them. Birds that nest in hedgerows and shrubs such as the blackbird or dunnock usually have blue / green eggs which may be bright and mottled.
But the colour of eggs is not as simple as just the need for camouflage and protection – there are many other theories on the colours and patterns of eggs. For example, the pigment is also believed to be integral to the absorption of heat. Globally, birds with darker eggs tend to be more prevalent in colder regions, whilst the brightest eggs were found in warmer areas. The pigmentation of the egg acts to thermo regulate the internal temperature. The colour of eggs may also be related to the immune system of the parent, as well as a defence against brood parasitism (such as the cuckoo who lays her egg in the nest of another bird). What we do know is that research into bird egg colour shows birds have exceptional precision in adapting to their surroundings.
At Pagham Harbour, there are many ground nesting birds that will be laying their eggs around this time – lapwings, oystercatchers, redshanks, skylarks and ringed plovers among others. This is why it is so important that visitors refrain from walking over ground-nesting areas and keep dogs on leads. If you do want to see nesting birds close up, our nest cameras will be on so you can observe a range of birds including the kestrel and blue tits.
If you want to learn more about the birds that will be leaving Pagham for breeding grounds in the north, and those which will be staying – why not come along to our early spring walk: https://events.rspb.org.uk/paghamharbour
Ian Francis (rspb-images.com)
Lapwing on nest.
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Down
2. Ellipses (5)
3. Play, production (5)
4. Admire, value (7)
5. Muscle spasm (5)
6. Genre of painting (5,4)
7. Curtail, dwindle (6)
CROSSWORD
Across
1. Useful kitchen gadget (4,9)
8. Panama, Suez, Caledonian _____ (6)
9. Friendly, united (6)
11. Large American wild cat (4)
12. Breakout, flee (6)
14. Communal, mutual (6)
15. Surface, side (5)
17. Series of linked metal rings (5)
10. Chuckle, guffaw (5)
13. Rch in underground seams of fuel (9)
16. Throw out, dislodge (5)
17. Starchy tuberous root (7)
18. Agency, office (6)
19. Prejudiced, wrongful (6)
21. Glum (6)
24. Automobiles (4)
25. Flip. overturn (6)
26. Offer recommendation (6)
27. Tolerant, empathetic (13)
20. Grinds, rubs (5)
22. Extremely angry (5)
23. Builder (5)
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ANCIENT WALK AROUND CISSBURY RING
BY SIMON BAKER IRONS
Situated just north of Worthing above the Findon Valley is Cissbury Ring. Covering an area of 60 acres it is the largest hill fort in Sussex, the second largest in England and one of the largest in Europe overall. It was constructed over 5,000 years ago during the Neolithic period and was later fortified during the Iron Age. The site has a fascinating history, having been used for many purposes, including a defensive stronghold and a site for flint mining.
The walk up to Cissbury Ring begins with a gentle ascent from either of the two car parks that are situated just a short way from the A24. As you ascend the hill, the path winds through fields and patches of woodland, eventually unfolding to some amazing views across the South Downs and Sussex coast.
• Enter Cissbury Ring by the Southern Gate and keep to the grassy path, which goes diagonally to the right across the hillfort. The first part of this path passes through the remains of Neolithic flint mines dating back to 4300BC. Over 270 pits have been found here, with the shafts as deep as 12 metres.
• Continue walking uphill until you reach the triangulation point, at 184m above sea level Cissbury Ring is the highest point in the borough of Worthing. You will be following the route of an ancient trackway that once went from Broadwater to Steyning. Continue on this path descending slightly until you reach the ramparts of the fort.
• Walk around the perimeter of Cissbury Ring atop the ramparts and pass through its diverse habitats of chalk grassland and patches of ancient woodland. Ensure that you stop regularly to admire the fantastic views.
• On a clear day looking southwards you’ll see 78 miles of coastline, to the west you’ll see Selsey, Chichester Cathedral, the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth and as far as the Isle of Wight. To the east, you’ll see Brighton, the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head. If you look northwards, you will see a hill with a clump of trees on, this is Chanctonbury Ring, another much smaller hillfort.
• The area is rich in wildlife, with many birds, butterflies, and small mammals making their home here. In the spring and summer keep an eye out for skylarks soaring above and even an adder basking in the sun on the warm slopes. Also look out for the small herd of New Forest ponies that were introduced onto Cissbury Ring in 2016 to help return it to its true form as chalk grassland, one of the rarest habitats in the UK.
• As you complete your walk around the fort, take a moment to admire the beauty and tranquillity of the surroundings along with the panoramic views before descending back to the car park.
Please note that on this walk there are no facilities.
To see more photos and walks please follow me on Instagram @piertopiertrekking
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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APRIL HOROSCOPES
BY LOCAL ASTROLOGER LETICIA PARMER
You start the month with Mercury retrograde, so thinking may be a bit woolly. Best not to make major decisions nor sign contracts for the first week, as Mercury comes out of retrograde (goes forward again) on April 7th. Venus comes out of retrograde mid-month, so you should find your creature comforts more accessible too from that date.
ARIES
This April the planets provide the perfect excuse for you to focus on your OWN stuff, and go for what YOU truly want.
TAURUS
A very sociable and perhaps also romantic month, when dreams really can come true, especially after the 13th.
GEMINI
Career matters are considerably helped by your social life now, so grab every opportunity to be seen and to promote yourself.
CANCER
A battle between your desire to get away and travel, and your drive to push your career forward. Perhaps you can combine both.
LEO
Lots of investigation into mysteries this month, perhaps to do with another country or culture. A murder mystery vacation maybe?
VIRGO
You may be feeling unusually passionate and romantic this April. Your partner will be delighted with this less practical you.
LIBRA
Though you are keen to get the job done, this April you will not want to go it alone, but will be happier working with a team mate.
SCORPIO
Children and creative projects may demand a lot of effort from you this month, but your devotion brings great rewards.
SAGITTARIUS
Home and family seem to be the main focus for you this April. You'll thoroughly enjoy nurturing and caring for the young and old.
CAPRICORN
This is a great month for both lighthearted banter and deep and meaningful conversations especially if they are with a wise female relative.
AQUARIUS
You will be talking about money, security and possessions a lot this April. Time to get these things in writing, but after the 7th.
PISCES
With so many planets in Pisces you will find late April quite personally productive, especially when it comes to finances.
Find the relevance of your Moon Sign and your Ascendant Sign from Leticia
call: 07956 155105 or email: leticiaparmer@yahoo.com
CLYMPING DOG SANCTUARY
Clymping Dog Sanctuary provides a safe refuge for vulnerable dogs. Sadly some owners cannot care for their dogs and surrender them. Other times these dogs are found as strays. We look after them all, until they can find their rightful place in a loving forever home. If we cannot find them the right home, they will always have one with us, we will love them, no healthy dog is put to sleep.
We are run solely by volunteers, all money raised must be through fundraising and donations. It costs £25 per dog per day to keep them warm, fed, cared for and cover basic veterinary needs, it can take just one dog with a health need to dramatically push that cost up to thousands.
This year alone we have rehomed over 25 dogs into a home, and we want to do more.
Can you help?
Attend our Dog Show - Sun 6th July 10-4pm Barnham Community Hall. There are 60 stalls: Food & drink, craft stalls & pet goods. A flyball demonstration and a dog show to enter your dogs into.
Volunteer – Walk one of our dogs or run a stall at one of our events.
Fundraise – Run a marathon, have a bake sale or do a sponsored walk for our dogs, you suggest the event we will support you.
Donation – Make a regular monthly donation to support the monthly expenses we have, a one off donation or leave our dogs a legacy in your will.
Reach out today: rescue@clympingdogsanctuary.co.uk www.clympingdogsanctuary.co.uk
A GOOD READ
BY NATASHA DONOVAN
DEAR GIRLS
by Ali
Wong
Ali Wong’s Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice for Living Your Best Life is a candid, hilarious, and heartfelt collection of essays written as a letter to her two daughters. In the book, Wong weaves her trademark raunchy humour with deep personal reflections on love, career, motherhood, and identity. The essays explore her journey from a struggling comedian to a celebrated star, with insights into her Vietnamese-Chinese heritage, her unconventional marriage, and the challenges of being a working mother in comedy.
Wong’s voice is unapologetically bold and refreshingly honest, providing a raw look into topics that are often taboo, such as bodily functions, sexual escapades, and the gritty realities of childbirth. The book balances laughout-loud anecdotes - like tales of wild nights in her youth - with touching reflections on her immigrant parents’ sacrifices and the legacy she hopes to leave for her daughters. Wong’s ability to blend humour with heartfelt wisdom is a testament to her skill as a storyteller.
While Dear Girls is riotously funny, it is also a love letter to her daughters and a guide for navigating life’s complexities. The book’s strength lies in its authenticity; Wong never sugarcoats her struggles or triumphs. The explicit content and unabashed humour may not appeal to more demure readers…you have been warned, but I laughed so hard I gave myself rib-cramps! Enjoy.
CHICHESTER ART TRAIL SNAP-SHOT
15-27 APRIL BY JAZMINE SAUNDERS
Art lovers, collectors and all the creatively curious are invited to explore a ‘Snap-Shot’ Exhibition showcasing a selection of artists’ work featuring in the Chichester Open Studios Art Trail in May. The Chichester Open Studios Art Trail full event will be returning on May 17th–18th and May 24th–25th (with some venues also open on Bank Holiday Monday 26th May)
This much-anticipated annual event this year showcases 147 talented artists across 112 venues in West Sussex, offering a rare opportunity to step inside their working studios, gain insight into their creative processes and purchase original works directly from the makers.
From painting and printmaking to ceramics, sculpture, textiles, metalwork and beyond, the Art Trail celebrates a diverse range of artistic disciplines. Whether you’re drawn to contemporary abstraction, traditional landscapes or cutting-edge mixed media, you will find something to spark your imagination. Everyone is worth a visit but here are a few of our local artists that you might like to put top of your list and below are some examples of their work.:
Studio 48 Vidya Thirunarayan, Westergate.
Studio 55 Gill Hunter Nudds, Yapton
Studio 60 Nicola Stephens & William Stephens, South Mundham
Studio 56 Susie Olford, Flansham
Studio 45 Jake west, East Dean
Studio 39 Andrew Bailey, West Dean
Studio 27 Debs Moran & Don Grant, East Lavant
Studio 49 Heather Stevens, Pam Miskelly & Pim Gleadle, Eastergate
A free printed Art Trail Guide is available to help visitors navigate the trail, and clear signage will be in place to direct you to each studio. Plan your route, meet the artists and experience the vibrant art scene of Chichester and its surrounding areas.
For full details, an interactive map and artist previews, visit chichesteropenstudios.org. Don’t miss this chance to engage with art in its most authentic setting – where creativity happen
56 Susie Olford
55 Gill Hunter Nudds
49 Heather Stevens
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PUZZLE SOLUTIONS
Solution to Mindbenders
1. Four eyes. 2. I'll be back.
2. Pull yourself together.
