A DELIGHTFULLY QUIRKY AFFAIR

PACK UP A HAMPER, IT’S NATIONAL PICNIC MONTH!

BY KATE McCARTHY

The British picnic! That delightful tradition combining outdoor dining with unpredictable weather, and an assortment of eccentricities. The main ingredients for a truly traditional British picnic are, a dash of optimism, a splash of stoicism, a sprinkling of humour and a tiny pinch of disappointment.

First and foremost, there is the weather dance. No discussion about picnics in our green and pleasant land would be complete without someone looking upwards dubiously, sucking their cheeks in, and saying, ‘Looks like rain.’ As a nation we have mastered the art of packing for all four seasons in a single picnic basket. From sweltering sun to sudden showers, we have evolved into experts at adaptive picnic planning. If there was an ‘official British Picnic checklist’ it would include sunscreen, insect repellent, a thick sweater an umbrella and a pac-a-mac!

Every Brit is born knowing exactly what a picnic should look like: a wicker hamper, a checked picnic blanket, and an array of finger foods including dainty cucumber sandwiches, iced buns and freshly baked scones with clotted cream and jam, all washed down with ginger beer. This is because Enid Blyton and her Famous Five have somehow entered our collective subconscious, but we have been cruelly lied to. In reality it’s usually slightly curled ham and cheese sandwiches dispensed from a Tupperware tub along with a packet of crisps, some soggy custard creams, and lukewarm orange squash or (equally lukewarm) wine for the grown-ups. Finding the perfect picnic spot is a grand adventure in itself which involves scouting out picturesque meadows, secret gardens, or a sandy beach. With Google maps on our phones, and determined expressions, we brave stinging nettles, cow pats, aggressive swans, persistent wasps, bickering kids and the occasional sheep all hell bent on thwarting us in our quest.

Games are compulsory at a British picnic. People whose idea of exercise for the rest of the year is getting up from the sofa to answer the front door, suddenly get all competitive and suggest a game of rounders, or croquet, or French cricket! This quickly descends into arguments about who is on which team, who gets (or shouldn’t get) Grandma, and whether there should be second chances at hitting a ball. But it’s all about the friendly competition and the odd black eye is just part of the fun.

But us Brits know that all the shenanigans are just a warm-up for the main event. As the afternoon rolls on, the time nears for the one British tradition everyone looks forward to, Pimms o’clock. This refreshing cocktail, filled with fruits, herbs, and a splash of gin, is the quintessential picnic libation. As the glasses clink and laughter fills the air, the true spirit of the British picnic finally comes alive. It’s a time to relax, enjoy the company of friends and loved ones, and revel in the joy of this whimsical outdoor affair.

Watering By Rachel Leverton Balancing Need With Conservation

Keeping our gardens healthy and hydrated can be a challenging task, especially during hot summers or when we’re away from home. The days when gardeners used hosepipes liberally are long gone. An automatic watering system can offer an efficient solution to keeping the garden looking great while not destroying the environment.

Watering systems provide a hands-free approach to watering the garden. They consist of pipes, valves, and sprinklers or drippers strategically placed throughout your garden. They can be connected to a timer and a water source, such as a tap. The timer allows you to set specific watering schedules, ensuring your plants receive water even when you’re not around. This is particularly handy for busy individuals or holiday periods.

Installation requires some basic plumbing skills, but it is quite manageable for most gardeners. The system needs to be connected to a water source, and the pipes, valves, and sprinklers or drippers need to be positioned accordingly. Personally, I prefer drippers to sprinklers as they are less wasteful. Proper planning and layout are crucial to ensure efficient water distribution. There are lots of helpful videos on YouTube offering great advice.

Watering systems can also be used with stored rainwater from a water butt. This makes them even more eco-friendly. If you’re going to do this make sure to use appropriate filtration and pump system to ensure the rainwater is suitable for distribution through the watering system.: Even if you have to use tap water, automatic systems are designed for efficient use. By targeting specific areas and delivering water directly to the plants’ roots, they minimize wastage. Additionally, the use of timers allows for precise scheduling, preventing overwatering, thus further conserving water. Compared to using a hosepipe, which can lead to water runoff and inefficient coverage, automatic systems provide better control use far less water.

Mulching further conserves water by preventing the underlying soil from drying out in warm weather. It creates a protective layer on the soil surface, acting as a barrier to reduce evaporation.

Organic mulch materials include straw, wood chips, bark, leaves, grass clippings, and compost. These materials break down over time, enriching the soil with nutrients while simultaneously retaining moisture. Organic mulch also improves soil structure, promotes beneficial microbial activity, and helps prevent weed growth. It needs to be reapplied as it breaks down.

Inorganic mulch materials such as gravel, stones do not break down and can be very decorative. Its more expensive so better suited to small spaces.

Apply a layer of mulch that is 2-4 inches thick around plants, leaving a gap around the stem or trunk to prevent rotting. Ensure the mulch extends to the drip line of trees and shrubs to cover the entire root zone. When used alongside an automatic drip watering system, mulching goes a long way towards reducing water usage in the garden.

Happy gardening.

by Mark Riley, Founder & Managing Partner, MJR Solicitors

What types of Wills are there? There are many types of Wills and knowing which is best for you can seem confusing and complicated. Our specialist Will writing Solicitors at MJR Solicitors can give you the help and support you need. The process involved can seem like a daunting and scary task and where do you even start? Well, first things first. Give us a call. We can help you make the process seem effortless and simple, that’s our job.

A Will can be quick and easy when you receive the right guidance and especially when you have a specialist to help you complete each step from start to finish. There are several types of Wills :

• Single Wills

• Mirror Wills

• Life Interest and Asset Protection Wills

• Discretionary Trust Wills

• Charity Wills

• Free Wills Network

All prices quoted on our website include all face to face meetings and the time you spend with our specialist advisors. You are not limited to a set time; this is a set fee and it does not change.

Single Wills This is a Will containing the instructions of one person. Even if you have a partner you may still wish to make a Single Will.

A Single Will allows you to:

• Name the people or charities you want to benefit from your estate

• Decide how you want to share your posessions

• Nominate who you want to be guardians of any children you have who are under 18

• Nominate who you want to protect your inheritance

Mirror Wills These Wills are particularly popular with couples where their wishes reflect each other. They are usually written with the entirety of the Estate passing to the surviving partner. When the second person passes, the Estate is left to the agreed nominated beneficiaries i.e. joint children.

When should you get your Will written? Now! For too many reasons to mention. Everyone over the age of 18 years should have a Will in place, regardless of whether they are in a relationship or not. If you wish to leave your Estate to each other and if you are not married then this becomes even more important.

Why make a Mirror Will? Your significant other takes the entire Estate. The Wills you create are almost identical, appointing same Executors and same Beneficiaries. By completing a Mirrored Will you are protecting your partner and ensuring the Estate is passed to them without complication.

Provide for your Children If you both pass away you have left clear instructions as to how your children inherit, lifetime gifts can be taken into account and if they are under the age of 18 years, you have nominated the particular person you want to look after them if the need arose.

How many Executors? You only need one! People are often surprised by this, but, you can administer each other’s Estate. You would usually appoint each other as the Sole Executor and Beneficiary on first death and then on second death if your children are old enough, they can be the Executors.

Book your free 30-minute consultation with us today to discuss the best Will options for you. More details of our fees and services can be found on our website.

Trusted, knowledgeable, by your side

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Summer Special Offer for

Everyone over the age of 18 should have a Will in place, regardless of how much money or assets you have. Our specialist Will writers can give you the support, advice and peace of mind you need throughout, as Will planning can seem complicated. For InFocus Readers on presentation of this advert, we are giving a £10 M&S Voucher for every Single Will written, and a £15 M&S Voucher for every Mirror Will written. Must be full-paying Wills and commenced by 31st August 2023.

Bowled Over By Tom Hancock

The Story Of The Cricket Ball

The smack of leather on willow is the quintessential sound of a British summer. The bright red cricket ball is almost iconic, but its design and construction have undergone significant changes over the course of history.

The earliest cricket balls were made of leather, stuffed with rags. They were heavy, hard to hit, and needed to be replaced after a few overs. In the 18th century, the cork cores were introduced. These were wound tightly with string before they were covered in leather. This went a long way towards improving durability and bounce.

Until the mid-19th century, there was a lot of variation in ball size. It was decided to standardise the balls and the size was fixed at 9 inches (22.86cm) in circumference, with a weight of 5.5 ounces (156g). The ball was also required to be round, smooth, and covered with leather.

In the early 20th century, the introduction of machine stitching improved the quality and consistency of cricket balls. The stitching created a more uniform seam, which made the ball easier to grip and allowed bowlers to impart more spin. The use of machine stitching also made the ball more durable, which reduced the need for frequent replacements. Bowlers began to use the seams on cricket balls to achieve different types of movement in the air and when bounced off the pitch, leading to the development of seam and spin bowling.

During the 1960s, the introduction of synthetic materials such as PVC and polyurethane led to the development of the plastic cricket ball. These balls were lighter and more durable than traditional leather balls, but they were mostly rejected by the cricketing community, and their use was eventually banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2000 for having a negative impact on the game.

Today, cricket balls come in a variety of type for different formats of the game. For example, red balls are used in test cricket, while white balls are used in one-day international (ODI) matches and pink balls are used in day-night test matches.

The evolution of the cricket ball has been driven by a desire to improve the game, and its design and construction continue to be refined to meet the needs of modern cricket.

Seam Bowling – When a bowler holds the ball with the seam facing towards them, it is known as seam bowling This technique is used to achieve lateral movement in the air or off the pitch. By angling the seam towards the batsman, the bowler can make the ball swing towards the batsman or away from them. This movement can make it difficult for the batsman to judge the ball’s trajectory and can lead to wickets being taken.

Finger Spin and Wrist Spin Bowling – In finger spin, the bowler holds the ball with their fingers, with the seam running perpendicular to their fingers. By rotating the ball with their fingers, the bowler can create spin that causes the ball to turn in the air or off the pitch. Wrist spin is a similar technique, but the bowler releases the ball with a flick of the wrist, which adds extra spin to the ball.

If you would like to play cricket this summer please contact Middleton Cricket Club at Middleton Sports Club, 3 Sea Lane, Middleton-on-Sea, PO22 7RH. Email: info@middletonsportsclub.co.uk or Tel: 01243 583157.