Roundabout East Dorset Villages - January 2023

Dear Residents,

A Very Happy New Year to you! 2023 here we are. We cannot say that the last three years have been uneventful, that is for sure. Here at Modern Magazines with your local Roundabout, we sincerely intend this year to be successful for all of us, despite anything the news may try and tell us. I hope you have made some good New Years’ resolutions and that you feel you can create and have some fun. Our local trades and businesses inside really want you to call them. Please use their services for the help you need in the home, for the car, your business or even for yourself. Do tell them that you have seen them here, as this makes all the difference. I just love to hear you found their details in “Roundabout”. The index at the back is a quick guide to find who you are looking for. There are local groups and societies that also wish to hear from you, so please give them a call too and join in with their activities. There is nothing better than getting together with like-minded people. It is very uplifting and may be the ‘therapy’ we all need to watch less TV. If you know of a club that needs more support, let them know of us. We can help spread the word.

In a number of recent editions we have carried a column that was associated with Martin Lewis. We have since found out that they were in fact not written by Martin Lewis himself. For the most up to date guidance and personal finance information, visit MoneySavingExpert.com.

Stephen, myself (Debbie), Mel, Julie, Steph, Tracey, Pippa, Beth and Jaidan, our new graphic designer, all wish you a fantastic 2023! May you expand in all areas of your life and laugh a lot. Best wishes, Debbie, Stephen & the Gang!

Wimborne Horticultural Society Needs Your Support

The Wimborne Horticultural Society needs your support. An urgent appeal is being made to all those interested in Horticulture and Gardening. The Wimborne Horticultural Society has been running in one form or another since the 1850’s and for many years now has run both a successful Spring and Summer/ Autumn Show. Monthly Meetings are held with interesting Speakers and Outings have been arranged to places of interest.

At the recent Annual General Meeting of the Society the Chairman reported on the success of the two Shows held this year but he also reported on a dwindling Membership so an urgent appeal is being made for new members in order for the

Society to continue into 2023 and beyond. With an increase in new housing all around the Town and with at least half a dozen allotment areas there must be people interested in all things Horticulture.

The Annual Shows have always incorporated Arts, Crafts and Flower Arranging as well as Horticulture, Flowers and Vegetables, Cookery and even Photography. Other categories could be included such as exhibitions of Arts and Crafts made by local people.

So please give this matter your urgent consideration so that we can be ready to put on Shows in 2023. The next meeting taking place in the Allendale Centre, Hanham Road, Wimborne Minster at 7.30.pm will be on Monday 9th January. Why not come along and ind out what it is all about.

Further details on the Society can be obtained from the Show Manager, Tony Beard on:

Wimborne & Ferndown

Lions Club: 300,000 pairs of specs!

As we grow older, many things can happen to our bodies. There is one thing that changes for nearly everyone though and that is their eyesight. If that happens to you, unless you go in for contact lenses, it means a new pair of specs. So what happens to the old ones? They are expensive so you keep them as a spare. The next change and you have two spares and so on. Moreover the first spare is now way off the prescription you need and is never used.

Don’t throw them away! The Lions organisation has developed a recycling scheme to reuse the old glasses and ship them to third world countries where eye care is often unavailable and lens manufacture non existent.

The scheme involves collection, sorting, checking for scratches and cracks, washing and grading and finally distribution.

In our case the spectacles go to Chichester Lions club for initial processing and then on to Medico France for final grading before being sent to eye camps in poorer communities in places such as

Africa, India and Eastern Europe. There are many such eye camps run by organisations such as Sightsavers where local people are tested and given the recycled glasses as appropriate. Your Lions Club is part of the global Lions Federation and similar recycling happens worldwide. For example, glasses collected by New Zealand Lions go to those with poor eyesight in the Pacific Islands. There are about 100 clubs in the UK and between us about 300,000 pairs of glasses a year are sent via Chichester. Unwanted glasses can be deposited in bins at high street opticians or doctors surgeries. There are about 20 bin locations in Wimborne and Ferndown. A full list can be found on our website , wimborneandferndownlions.org.uk.

Lions accept prescription and reading glasses, sunglasses and plastic or metal frames. Children’s glasses are especially needed.

The photo above shows collected glasses in boxes of 100 ready to be sent for processing.

A family run company committed to providing good quality and genuine care for your loved ones.

2 small homes offering warm, comfortable and safe settings with a “home from home” feeling.

Fresh produce and home cooked varied foods prepared by caring chefs offering many choices.

Friendly and committed local staff assisting in your every need 24hrs a day.

Extensive social care and activities offered by our experienced co-ordinator.

Flexible Day Care Service available.

Denewood House Care Home, 12/14 Denewood Road, West Moors, BH22 0LX

Telephone: 01202 892008

Email: denewood@samilycare.co.uk

Manager: Becky Wall

Highgrove Care Home, Stapehill Road, Stapehill, Wimborne, BH21 7NF

Telephone: 01202 875614

Email: highgrove@samilycare.co.uk

Manager: Janet Sheridan

Pegg in Paradise

Not long ago, Simon Pegg was co-writing low-budget British comedy. Now he’s tasked with preserving the legacy of not one, not two, but three of cinema’s most beloved sci-fi franchises.

It’s a sizeable distance from the suburbs of North London to the final frontier of space, but Simon Pegg has made the journey without breaking sweat.

In 1999, Pegg first made his way into the British public’s consciousness as slacker Tim Bisley in Spaced, the sitcom he both starred in and cowrote. The show not only set a precedent for much of Pegg’s early career, it also helped him catch the eye of Hollywood’s elite movers and shakers. In 2006, just five short years after wrapping up the low-budget British hit, and at a time when the writer feared he may have to pen a third series, Pegg was approached by one of Los Angeles’ leading directors, J.J. Abrams.

With Abrams in the director’s chair, Mission: Impossible III saw Pegg appear alongside cinema royalty in the form of Tom Cruise as the nerdy Benjamin ‘Benji’ Dunn.

“When J.J. Abrams asks you to be in one of his movies, you don’t think, ‘Will this pigeonhole my range’ – you say, ‘When do you need me?’” the 52-yearold laughs.

Pegg and Abrams teamed up again as part of Star Trek, the cinematic re-boot of the much-loved sci-fi story. Add in his cameo as Unkar Plutt in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and this largely unassuming creative comedian has strolled almost effortlessly into the A-list franchise elite.

“Being handed the keys to these universes has been such a privilege and an honour. They are daunting prospects and I’ve always appreciated the importance of doing them justice.

“You have to tread a fine line between the two different types of

people who watch franchise movies – on one hand you have the super fan, and on the other, the newbie who knows nothing about this world,” he explains. “You want to appeal to someone who says, ‘what’s this Mission: Impossible business?’, and then goes back and discovers 20 years’ worth.”

“Yet at the same time you don’t want to alienate old fans and move too far away from the core model,” he continues.

With two new Mission: Impossible movies in motion –Dead Reckoning Pts 1&2, for release in 2023 and 2024, the size of the task doesn’t get any smaller.

“I feel like I’ve had a really nice run of smaller films before all this – with Hector, Man Up, Absolutely Anything and others. I’ve had a run of blockbusters, then balanced back into movies such as Lost Translations, Inheritance and others. It’s a nice mix. It’s keeping me away from having to write another series of Spaced!”

Volunteer recruitment at Dorset Wildlife

Trust’s coastal centres

Dorset Wildlife Trust is appealing for local people, aged 18 and over, to help with its wildlife conservation work in the Isle of Purbeck, Weymouth, and Portland areas. New recruits are needed to join a keen group of volunteers at both the Fine Foundation Wild Seas Centre, Kimmeridge, and the Fine Foundation Wild Chesil Centre, Portland.

With the current climate and ecological crises and increasing pressures from human activities, wildlife on the land and in the sea is under threat, so our conservation work has never been more important. Local people who would like to do something valuable for nature and have time to offer on a regular basis, are invited to take part.

No expertise is required as all volunteers will be provided with free training to equip them with the basic knowledge and skills necessary. Our aim is to enable those visiting our centres to leave feeling empowered to make simple changes in their everyday lives that benefit the planet and help tackle the environmental issues of our day.

This is part of Dorset Wildlife Trust’s strategy to inspire and empower 1 in 4 people to take action for nature by 2030.

Julie Hatcher, Wild Seas Centre Officer, said:

“We have an amazing team of volunteers at Kimmeridge with a wide range of backgrounds and ages. What they all have in common is a passion for wildlife and a desire to help ensure its well-being. The Wild Seas Centre sits in a stunning location and offers a great opportunity to do something both enjoyable and worthwhile.”

Wild Chesil Centre Officer Sarah Hodgson said:

“By joining our volunteer team at Chesil, you have the opportunity to learn valuable new skills, help local wildlife and share your enthusiasm for the natural world with visitors to this special site”.

Open sessions at both the Wild Seas Centre and the Wild Chesil Centre will be held in January, when you can meet the staff and volunteers and find out more about what we do. A limited number of vacancies are available at both visitor centres, so if you think you’re suited to join our hardworking teams, please contact the relevant centre to register your interest. To find out more about the volunteering opportunities at the coastal visitor centres, visit dorsetwildlifetrust.org. uk/volunteering-opportunities

Photo: Dorset Wildlife Trust

VERWOOD UNIVERSITY OF THE 3RD AGE

Welcomes retired and semi retired people to take part in our groups and classes of social and educational interest.

Contact: David Allen on 01202 823541

COLEHILL EVENING WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month (excluding August at Colehill Memorial Hall, Cannon Hill Road 7.30p.m. Contact the Secretary on 01202 883810

DORSET STITCHERS

Meets every other Thursday 7- 9pm at the restaurant, Morrisons supermarket in Verwood. £2 per evening includes refreshments. Contact Wendy Robinson 01202 825805.

WIMBORNE BOWLS CLUB

All abilities accepted, coaching can be provided for the novice or to improve your game. We have good facilities & a great social calendar. Contact Elaine Campbell 01202 840545

FERNDOWN UKELELE GROUP for mature people (i.e. pensioners) wishing to learn the ukelele. Held at the Beacon Centre, St Mary's Church, Ferndown on Thursdays 2 - 3pm. Contact Pam Roberts 01202 896224 pamroberts203@btinternet.com

RINGWOOD COMMUNITY CHOIR, “SING FOR JOY”

Mixed choir, singing harmony songs from around the world-African, gospel, Taize, folk etc. No auditions, beginners as well as experienced singers age 10 upwards. Meet at Greyfriars Wednesdays, 7:30 – 9:30. Pay as you go. Contact Kirsteen McCormick 01725 517807

EAST DORSET & RINGWOOD NHS RETIREMENT

FELLOWSHIP meet 2nd Tuesday of the month at 10am - 12 noon at Braeside Hall Braeside Road St. Leonards BH24 2PH for friendship, talks & outings and would very much welcome new members . Contact Jenny Betterton 01202 876560, Rosemary White 01425 479556.

CRANBORNE & DISTRICT COMMUNITY CHOIR

A fun and relaxed Community Choir. Meets in St. James’, Alderholt on Mondays at 7.15pm. Leader: Sarah Collins. For more info see cranbornechoir.wordpress.com

THE DORSET WOODTURNERS ASSOCIATION

Want to try woodturning? Come and join us at St Leonards & St Ives Village Hall Braeside Road St Leonards Ringwood BH24 2PH 1st Wednesday each month 7.15pm-9.30pm. for more details Contact: Alex Wells Secretary on 07759663151 or just come along

PLANT HERITAGE

EAST DORSET GROUP

- working to save plant varieties. Meets in Colehill Memorial Hall monthly Sept to June to hear well-known speakers.. Visitors welcome. Details from Pam on 01202 883352.

EAST DORSET BUDDHIST GROUP

The Group meets for meditation & discussion at St Michael's Church Centre, Colehill on 2nd & 4th Thursdays each month 10.30 am to 12.30 pm. Contact the organiser via the Parish Clerk on 01202 900821

CRANBORNE LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

Meets in Cranborne Village Hall on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm. Visitors & new members welcome Contact Chris Bright 01725 517584 or e-mail clhs@mypostoffice.co.uk

EAST DORSET ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY (EDAS)

Monthly talks Sept to May at St. Catherine’s Church Hall,Wimborne plus walks & field archaeology opportunities during summer months. Contact Ian Richardson 01202 252397, www.dorset-archaeology.org.uk

EAST DORSET NATIONAL TRUST ASSOC’N

Talks, functions, outings and special events held throughout the year in Verwood, West Moors and Ferndown.

Contact Membership Secretary: Janet Matthews 01202 855001

THREE LEGGED CROSS LINE DANCING

Improver line dance club on Mondays at Three Legged Cross village hall. 7.30 til 9.30pm Contact Geoff 07732 311 128

STAPEHILL OVER 60’S CLUB

Meetings are held once a month on the first Thursday of each month at 2.30pm atColehill Methodist Church, Lonnen Road,Colehill Contactthe organiser via the ParishClerk on01202 900821

WIMBORNE ART CLUB

Local artists who meet twice a month in St Catherine's Church Hall, Wimborne. Meetings startat 7.30pmprompt. Non -members welcome for£3 permeeting. New Members warmly welcomed.If interested contact Marilyn07980580331, www.wimborneartclub.org.uk

THE ARTS SOCIETY WIMBORNE & BLANDFORD

For dates and information please visit: www.theartssocietywandb.org.uk

VERWOOD TRAD JAZZ CLUB

Ringwood Conservative Club, 22 Christchurch Road, Ringwood. BH24 1DNon 3rd Thursday of the month. Good Food & Bar.Music from 7.30- 10pm. (Doorsopen from 6.30pm).No membership required. ContactGeoff 07798 721405 or01202 822038

FERNDOWN BOWLS CLUB

Friendly club for all ages, coaching available any ability. Come along to ‘TRYBOWLS’ Friday2.00 – 4.00, from 26th April till the end of July. ContactMike Hopper01202 877437

COLEHILL MUSICAL & DRAMA CLUB

Co.MaD meet to rehearse most weeks on Tuesday evenings at 8.30 in the Memorial Hall Contact 01202887659

COLEHILL FLOWER ARRANGEMENT CLUB

This Club meets on the 3rd Monday of the Month at Colehill Memorial Hall, at 7.30pm. Contactthe Chair, Anne Clark, on01202 575951

HOLT SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB Meet at Holt Village Hall, Tuesdays 2.00-4.30 and 7.00-10.00 also Wednesdays 2.00- 4.30 beginners verywelcome Please checkout website for more information,

CRANBORNE BOWLING CLUB

The friendly ‘friendlies’ club. Experienced and novice players most welcome. You’ll always get a game. Contact Pauline Williams for more details 01202 822479

EDMONDSHAM CIRCLE DANCERS

Traditional and contemporary folk dances from around the world. No partners needed. Meeting on 1st, 3rd and 5th Fridays of each month from 7:30 – 9:45 in Edmondsham Village Hall. Pay as you go Contact Kirsteen McCormick on 01725 517807

ADVENTURE IN THE WOODS

Forest School club for children 4-8 years of age at Edmondsham Forest School, between Verwood and Cranborne. Woodland walks, camp fires, nature crafts etc. Contact Kirsteen McCormick 01725 517807

WIMBORNE CAMERA CLUB

We meet on Monday evenings - 7.30-9.30 pm from September to April, at St Michael's Church Centre,Colehill. We also run workshops, competitions and illustrated talks. Contact Carol Wiles on 01202 510844

WIMBORNE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Meet every 2nd Monday of the month at The Allendale Centre, Wimborne (Jan-Mar 2:00pm, Apr-Dec 7:30pm). See full details of talks, shows & occasional shared suppers on www.wimbornehorticulturalsociety@btck.co.uk or 01202 887006. NON-MEMBERS WELCOME.

WESSEX GUILD OF BOOKBINDERS:

Based just outside Wimborne: amateur group meeting Tuesday & Thursday: courses available. Full bindery facilities: contact Phil on pmw111@hotmail.co.uk web site www.wessexguildofbookbinders.co.uk

WIMBORNE ROTARY CLUB

Meetings are weekly at venues local to Wimborne and are either lunchtime or evening. Email: contact@wimbornerotary.org or call David Meaden on 01258 452083.

MUSIC FOR THE MIND

At St Michaels Church, Church Hill, Verwood BH31 6DZ. 4th Monday of the Month at 11.00am - 12.30 excluding August. Singing meeting for people with m emoryproblems. Aim is to give carer & cared forquality time together. FREE. Formore i nfo call Gwen on 01202827800 .

CAMEO LADIES LUNCHEON CLUB

We m eet on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at the Horns Inn, W est Parley.Come and join us to make new friendsand enjoy a chatover lunch. Contact: Thelma Blyth 01202 881986, Blyth.wims@uwclub.net or Pauline Riggs01202 575047, priggs44@gmail.com

WIMBORNE COMMUNITY THEATRE

Creates original si te-specific performances, set in unusual outdoor venues or non-theatre buildings - based on local stories and research. www.wimbornecommunitytheatre.co.uk/about-us/ to get involved.

RINGWOOD MUSICAL

1st

WIMBORNE

& DRAMATIC SOCIETY

& CHOIR. A friendly theatre group of all ages staging Musicals, Plays & Choir concerts. If you’d like to join us either on stage, behind the scenes or singing in the Choir, email our secretary jane.howell059@gmail.com. ForourChoir contact Anita Rosser on01425 473454.

GIRLS’ BRIGADE

Girls aged 4-18 years meet at The Lantern, M erley ev ery M onday during term time, from 6:00pm. Newmembers alwayswelcome. http://wimborne.gb.net Contact: Jazz Adams on 07977246912

HOLT SKITTLES

Holt Village Hall 7.30pm Mondays September - March. Teams of six welcome or individuals to join existing teams. C Contact Susan 01202 883084.

COLEHILL BRIDGE CLUB

Meets on a Friday afternoon to play rubber bridge in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. ContactHugh on 01202 883580 for details

ST MICHAEL'S CHURCH CHOIR

We meet at St Michael's Church, Colehill Lane, Colehill on Fridays at 7.00 pm to 8.00 pm ContactJenny Wright on 01425 473963.

A Design for Life… e Kevin McCloud Column

Designer, writer and television presenter, Kevin McCloud leapt into our consciousness with his vastly successful Grand Designs show on Channel 4. This month, the affable architectural business owner returns to the subject of sustainability, both in terms of what we make our homes with, and what we place inside them.

To me, the relationship between making things and sustainability is essential, and I fear, as Western society, we’ve lost touch with the value of made things… with the value of raw materials, of the energy required. I don’t just mean fossil fuel energy, but also the human energy that goes into the process.

I’m very struck by seeing people producing lighting out of bits of recycled industrial stuff, or those who can put together and sell furniture they’ve handcrafted in small workshops all over the country.

A fabulous trend in the past couple of decades has been the

encouraging of home production creation –

everything from picture frames to jewellery – and how the internet has given these people a platform that is truly global.

When you meet someone who has made something in their workshop, you get the opportunity to sample their passion, influences, their own inspiration for doing what they do.

People talk a lot about sustainability using words like carbon and energy consumption – all that technical stuff – yet sustainability also comes in the form of the value of the objects we place inside our homes too.

After all, we are five times less likely to

throw away something we have made compared to something we have bought.

It’s also true that the longer we have something the less likely we are to bin itthere are records from the Seventies that I’ve still got; there’s a belt I’ve had all my life. We’ve all got stuff we love that we don’t want to let go of!

Sure enough, when we see our friends we talk about these things, we share the stories. I can bore people into infinity talking about my belt, or my old leather chair, and that’s the exciting thing: stuff as it gets older, gets better; it attracts more stories.

What I’m saying is we need to continue to keep creating homes that are rich in their fabric, but that are filed with things of value as well, so that we can share those stories with people, make friends, and embed ourselves into a community. That to me is actually a big part of what sustainability is about.

Understanding Investments: Business Owner’s Retirement Planning

As a business owner (self-employed or limited company) you have a greater degree of flexibility over how you are remunerated but also greater responsibilities for your staff, customers and the future success of the business. What can often be missed is the responsibility to focus on your own retirement planning.

The big picture: The first stage is to quantify what level of income you will need in retirement, and what other capital events you need to account for during your retirement (eg dream holidays, house renovations, financial support for children for house deposits & weddings etc). Once established, it’s possible to work backwards and identify how much you need to have saved to meet your retirement aspirations. We utilize marketleading cash-flow software to quantify this, taking into account inflation assumptions and projected investment returns.

It’s possible to model different scenarios; for example we can run one scenario to include a business sale, and another to assume the business continues under management to continue to generate revenue for the owner.

The role of pensions: Whilst we would all hope that the business thrives and provides the capital needed to retire, sadly this isn’t always the case. Like all things in life, it’s sensible to diversify your options and saving into a pension can be a very effective way to provide further flexible capital for retirement with many advantages.

1. Tax Efficient: Pension contributions are treated as a business expense so save corporation tax for limited companies. They are a very effective way to draw excess profits from the business without the need to pay corporation tax on those profits or income tax/dividend tax if drawn personally. The self-employed qualify for tax-relief so in effect pay no tax on contributions. There are annual allowances of £40,000 to consider but it’s possible to go back up to 3 years if full contributions haven’t been made and use “carryforward” to make higher contributions in the

current tax year.

2. Secure: Pension schemes are protected to varying degrees, with some insured schemes offering 100% protection in the event of provider default. In addition, money held in a pension is secure and separate from your business. In the event of the failure of your business, pension savings are secure.

Howard Goodship

3. Lower Charges: Since workplace pensions were introduced, competition has increased and charges have reduced. This is great for the consumer but sadly many existing pension schemes still charge the same as they always did. It is possible to consolidate and switch pension providers to save money after full analysis to ensure valuable benefits aren’t being lost.

4. Inheritance Tax exempt: Under current legislation, pension savings are not included in the value of your estate for IHT purposes. The pension fund can also be passed down to nominated beneficiaries on death in a tax efficient manner (tax-free pre age 75 and taxable at the nominated beneficiaries own income tax rate post age 75).

To summarise, with sensible planning it’s possible to pay less tax and keep more of your hard earned money to fund your financial future. Hopefully this means you may either retire sooner, or enjoy an improved lifestyle during retirement. If you’d like to learn more or discuss your personal situation, we would be delighted to meet for a free, no obligation initial chat.

Howard Goodship is an Independent Financial Adviser with Lonsdale Wealth Management, 5 Fridays Court, Ringwood. Tel: 01425 208490 www.lonsdaleservices.co.uk

The value of an investment and the income from it could go down as well as up. The return at the end of the investment period is not guaranteed and you may get back less than you originally invested. The contents of this article are for information purposes only and do not constitute individual advice.

The Adventures of Daichi

The Modern Magazines Camper Van

London! Daichi has never been to London. Many years ago I was at university there, so this was a real adventure for me. A trip down memory lane. The easiest and cheapest way to get there was to park Daichi in the car park at Richmond. A mere £8.50 for the day. The Richmond train station is just a ten minutes’ walk away and we were on our way into the Capital! It was 25th November and Hayden’s 19th Birthday so what a great excuse to book a show for the evening and wander around our wonderful city for the day. Hayden has never seen Buckingham Palace so that was a must. St James’s Park is one I remember well. Having spent three years at Goldsmiths College and regularly taking the train to Charing Cross then walking from there, it was a place I recall with fondness. We stopped in the park for a coffee and sandwich, looking at the ducks on the water and enjoying the sunshine – Yes, in November! The palace was surrounded by people taking photos. I heard one European sounding accent say, “Oh that is where he comes out on the balcony!” I smiled. Isn’t it incredible how well our late Queen passed over her duties so smoothly, after all that time on the throne, and how well we are recognised for the good work we do as a nation.

I really enjoyed being there. The King was there too – the flag was up! I would have gone in to say ‘Hello’… but we were a little short on time.

Next was a trip to Camden Market. You see, owning a Waffle place, it is good to get ideas and we set off there all determined to see what we could do, to lift “Wafflicious” in Weymouth even further. Lindsey, a friend, came with us as she is a chef and is full of great ideas of her own. Camden Market is not a place I frequented much at all when I was living there. It is an amazing place. We immediately saw lots of street food vendors and lo and behold there were two very colourful and popular I have to say, waffle sellers! Wow. They looked amazing. Of course, we all had to try one. They tasted as good as they looked. So… if you are ever in Weymouth this coming spring or summer you can come and see our own version of the delights that we relished. Let’s see how we do! After dessert, we had lunch (obviously) outside, under the canopy, of a bar overlooking the Lock. Fabulous! Smoked salmon salad this time, so healthier, but not nearly as much fun. A barge even floated by for us to watch.

Hayden has joined a ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ group recently. This is a fantasy tabletop

First stop... Buckingham Palace!

role-playing game where you create your own character and can enact it while you play. How exciting! We found a wonderful leather book at a bargain price, with a dragon on the front. All ready for him to take notes and plan his manoeuvres. This world famous and iconic market really does live up to its reputation. We spent a few well–spent hours there, looking at clothes, games, toiletries, food stalls galore, paintings, decorations, in fact anything you could think of to buy. Daichi would have loved it, if he wasn’t too expensive to drive into London itself!

Then it was time to make our way to the well anticipated West End Show! We had tickets to see the renowned musical, “Back to the Future”. Seats in the upper circle, second row from the front, and we were ready. It is such a long time since I have taken in the full atmosphere of a truly professional setting like this. It was glorious. The whole show was spectacular. The special effects of lighting and scenery were remarkable. The singing and dancing were outstanding. Ben Joyce who played Marty McFly was brilliant and he only graduated in summer 2021. His list of

Night lights of London across the Thames

already acclaimed credits was much shorter than Cory English who played ‘Doc Brown’. What a fantastic start to his career. All of the performers were perfectly cast, and I have to say that Oliver Nicholas who played the father, George Mc Fly, as his debut West End performance, was excellent. To be able to dance ‘wrongly and awkwardly’ deliberately is a skill in itself! Bravo I say. The finale was totally unexpected and incredible to watch. Having a seat in the circle I do believe was a bonus as we had all the full effects of the lighting, sound and visuals. I will not spoil it for you as you must see it for yourself! All in all, a day trip to London was a real hit. We walked to the Thames before leaving. I looked at the Charing Cross Bridge I used to cross all those years ago and remembered times when I was much younger. Fortunately, I was not sad. I feel I have been leading a full life and those days set me on my path. The lights of all the towering buildings that night seemed particularly bright and were shimmering Thames water. Then there were the opulent boats carrying well dressed passengers for a luxury 4 course meal. Not quite the street food we had been drooling over earlier. London of course is full of diversity and that is why we love it… or maybe you don’t. I love to visit but am happy where we live. I think a day trip to London will be on the cards again soon. It was a great success and Daichi was as happy as Larry to take us home and Hayden was all smiles after his Birthday treat. Where will Daichi take us next I wonder…

By Debbie Corney

The Property Protection Trust Will package is based around how you hold the ownership of your home. All good estate planning nowadays considers the difference between owning your home as joint tenants or as tenants in common.

If you own your home as Joint Tenants; when one of you dies the ownership of the home passes by the Law of Survivorship and not by your Will. Therefore, the surviving partner will automatically own 100% of the property. This sounds right to most people. BUT should the surviving partner need care in the future, the Local Authority can take everything they own (including their home) to pay for the care fees, leaving just £14,250 to be inherited by children and grandchildren.

There is an alternative.

Nowadays many couples choose to own their home as Tenants in Common where each partner will own 50% of the family home. This provides for many benefits. Firstly, it allows you to legally leave your share of the property in your Will to whoever you wish. A properly written Will can ensure that your half of your house will eventually pass to your children even if your widow re-marries.

Unmarried cohabiting couples or relatives living together can also use this means of ownership as a way of minimising their Inheritance Tax exposure.

It can also help with long-term care costs. If one of you is still living in your home the Local Authority can’t include its value in the means test if one of you has to go in to long-term care. This also applies if the husband or wife still living at home dies while the other is in care as their share will go into the trust.

Dorset and Wight are your local experts in Property Protection Trust Wills.

Increasing numbers of homeowners are choosing to hold their properties as tenants in common to reduce inheritance tax and help protect their share from care fees

Green ngers… the Alan Titchmarsh column

He’s a brilliant presenter, accomplished gardener, talented novelist, and allround horticultural inspiration. This month, Alan Titchmarsh discusses his move to incorporate horticulture into the National Curriculum, and a sidestep into novels.

I’ve written three autobiographies and people have expressed surprise that I do sometimes, even now, lack confidence in my work. I always wonder if it stems from my childhood and my parents who were very much realists. I wouldn’t swap them for the world, but in their very blunt Yorkshire way they would say ‘he’s not that bright,’ and I wasn’t then. I suppose it has been a bit of a curse and given my success I probably should have more confidence, but then

again it has made me who I am. When you’re not that good when you’re young, there is the fear that you won’t get better, and it came as a kind of revelation when I did.

Even in the 11 novels I’ve penned, I’ve never had faith in my prose; in secondary school I remember doing ‘when composition becomes essays’. I don’t think my English teacher was particularly convinced about my capabilities; I’ve still got my essay book and it’s got some very harsh comments at the bottom in red ink.

Yet my English teacher, bless her, I was in touch with her a few years ago and she said she felt she hadn’t been a particularly good teacher,

and I wrote back saying ‘well whatever it is you did, I’ve ended up doing the job I do now, writing pretty much for a living, so you can’t have got it all wrong’. I thought it was terribly generously spirited of her to admit that she was wrong.

I think my point here is that I was no more a gardener at school than I was a novelist, and I became both; but I did that through exposure and opportunity, and this is what we need to give our children.

And in my mind, there is no greater exposure to the world than you will find in the garden on a frosty Sunday morning, so get your kids and grandkids out there, and let’s really inspire the next generation!

Nurturing a garden can give you a real sense of achievement, and connection to the earth; I always say it is an escape to reality, or a different reality… and for our young people, that’s where real inspiration can emerge.

STAR GAZING

WRITTEN BY KATE EARL kateearlastro@gmail.com

Welcome to the January Stargazing Page. Highlights this month include an opportunity to see four planets in our evening skies, and some close planetary encounters with the Moon.

International Space Station

The ISS can be spotted early in the morning until the 6th. Viewing then switches to our evening skies from the 17th, with sightings between 5pm – 8pm. To establish exact timings please refer to www.heavens-above.com or a similar webpage for up-to-date information, remembering to set the location to your observing area.

Events

The annual Quadrantid meteor shower peaks on the night of 3/4th January. The constellation that the meteors are named for, Quadrans Muralis, is now obsolete, but was located where the constellation Boötes is today. The dust that causes these meteors may come from an old comet that is now classified as asteroid 2003 EH1. Unfortunately, a bright moon spoils the show, but it is still worth having a look towards the north to see if any can be spotted.

On January 4th the Earth is at its closest point to the Sun, known as perihelion.

Mercury

In the latter half of the month the innermost planet is visible low in the southeast just before sunrise, but is incredibly difficult to locate.

Venus

Venus, the brightest celestial object in the night sky after the Sun and the Moon, is visible just after sunset, and by month end is setting around 7pm. Saturn forms a pretty pairing with Venus on the 22nd and 23rd (see figure).

Mars

Mars can be seen all night, and although fading every day, is still a bright object located near the Pleiades star cluster (see figure).

Jupiter & Saturn

As the Sun sets both gas giants are visible in the south - southwest. This is your last opportunity to see Saturn in our evening skies until later this year, as come the end of the month it has set by 6.30pm. Bright Jupiter is visible in the sky until around 10.30pm.

Moon

January’s full moon occurs on the 6th.

To advertise in this magazine, call 01202

Star of the month

Capella, the sixth brightest star in the sky, and the alpha star in the constellation of Auriga the Charioteer, is visible high in the southern sky at 9pm during January. It has a similar surface temperature to our Sun, but is much larger. The Capella star system is actually made up of four stars, but only the brightest can be seen. Capella was the brightest star in the sky 200, 000 years ago, but has gradually moved further away from us, and therefore appears less bright than before. To find it, locate Orion the Hunter. Capella is the bright yellow-tinted star much higher up, directly over Orion’s head. Be careful not to confuse it with orange-red Mars which is lower in the sky.

Saturn

Venus

Aldebaran

Taurus the Bull

Mars

star cluster

Eco-Co ee

How to ensure your morning beverage isn’t brewing up an environmental storm.

When, in the mid-Nineties, the likes of Costa Coffee and Starbucks began opening on our high streets, so too did there begin a coffee bean revolution that has transformed our drinking habits.

However, such pleasure has come at a cost. With 95 million cups of coffee slurped down in the UK every single day the resulting waste and environmental impact has also increased significantly. A colossal 2.5 billion coffee cups are dumped every year (with only 0.25% currently recycled), while 30,000 coffee pods end up in landfill every single month. And that’s before you even consider the global resource and human costs of what has become the most traded commodity after crude oil.

Fortunately, there is much you can do to ensure your caffeine kick is not compromising the planet. As with most products, knowing the origin

of what you’re consuming is vital, and many supermarkets are keenly aware of their responsibility to offer ethically sourced coffee. Check for sustainability certifications that ensure things are being done to help make production better for both the environment and the farmers involved. Associations like Fairtrade and the Rainforest Alliance are great examples of this, so look out for beans that feature their logos.

Even fans of pod machines can also lower their coffee carbon footprint. Many appliances are now compatible with foil pods which can be recycled using a very simple and nifty pod recycling device that separates the used coffee grounds from their foil casing. The grounds go on your compost heap, while the accumulated foils

head for the recycling bin. You can also source pods that are compostable in their entirety.

When it comes to drinking ‘on the go’, the obvious solution to limiting waste is to switch to a reusable coffee cup, and many cafes will offer a discount on your beverage when you proffer your own vessel. You can also upgrade to beans that are organic; and if your focus is on the imprint being made on the dairy industry, cow’s milk alternatives such as soy, almond, rice or oat have never felt closer to the real thing.

In other words, you don’t have to let your coffee consumption become a burden on your conscience.

With an abundance of options available in an industry that is positively booming, it’s actually very easy to make the right choices. It means if you still give in to the temptation of the odd instant coffee – and why should you not? – the assault will be only on your tastebuds, not the planet!

Going Green...

So much is being said about the need to protect the planet and use more eco-friendly material, but it is the small steps that each of us can do that will really make the difference.

Take the EcoEgg Laundry Egg... the innovative laundry solution. It replaces laundry detergent and fabric conditioner, reducing both harmful chemicals used and also single-use plastic packaging.

Dermatest has rated it excellent for use on sensitive skin, giving a kinder wash on both your skin and your pocket.

The mineral pellets in the egg, which are refillable (saving even more money!), work together in the water to effectively draw dirt from your clothes and softens them by changing the pH. Therefore leaving your laundry clean and fresh.

EcoEggs are available in Fresh Linen, Spring Blossom and Fragrance Free.

Recently, they have also released the EcoEgg Dryer Egg, which can be used when tumble drying. They reduce the drying time by up to 28%, saving you both time and money.

“I’ve been using mine for over a month now and I absolutely love it. It saves money, there’s no mess from washing powders and liquids. Also easy to use, and is better for the environment. Helps cut down on single use plastic and doesn’t use harmful chemicals.” KD

If you would like to know more about these products and many more, please feel free to visit my website at debbiegoesgreen.uk or email me at hello@debbiegoesgreen.uk as I would love to hear from you. Let’s look after ourselves and our environment!

Debbie Corney

USEFUL LOCAL PHONE NUMBERS

Colehill Parish Council 01202 88 00 49

Environment Agency 0800 80 70 60

Information

Citizens Advice Bureau - Ferndown 01202 89 38 38

Floodline(warnings & Advice) 0345 988 11 88 - Wimborne 01202 88 47 38

Hospitals

Bournemouth A&E 01202 70 41 69

Visitor Information—Wimborne 01202 88 61 16

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Bournemouth Airport 01202 36 40 00

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Poole Hospital 01202 66 55 11

Traveline (Bus, Coach, Ferry & Rail) 0871 200 22 33

Salisbury Hospital 01722 33 62 62 AA (Automobile Association) 0800 88 77 66

Southampton Hospital 023 8077 72 22

RAC (Royal Automobile Club) 0333 2000 999

Wimborne Hospital 01202 85 64 10 Wilts & Dorset Bus Enquiries 01202 33 84 20

Helplines

Samaritans 01202 551 999 Childline 0800 11 11

Drinkline 0300 123 1110 NSPCC 0808 800 50 00

National Debtline 0808 808 40 00 Age Uk 01202 530 530

RSPCA -Ashley Heath 0300 123 07 49 Seniorline 0808 800 65 65 Al-anon (10am-10pm) year round 0207 403 0888 Alcoholics Anonymous, 24 hours: 0845 769 75 55

Relate-Dorset & South Wilts 01302 380 900 National Drugs Helpline 0800 77 66 00

Community Legal Advice Direct 0345 345 43 45

Post Offices

VERWOOD 01202 829712

11 Manor Road, Verwood, BH31 6DS. Mon - Sat 9am - 5.30pm

WIMBORNE 0845 722 3344

7 High St, Wimborne Dorset, BH21 1HR Mon – Fri 9am – 5.30pm. Sat 9am – 12.30pm

COLEHILL 01202 889727

1, Smugglers Lane, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 2RX Mon – Fri 9am – 5.30pm. Sat 9am – 12.30pm

CRANBORNE 01725 517210 Cranborne Stores,

1, The Square, Cranborne, Dorset, BH21 5PR. Mon - Fri 6am – 6pm. Sat 6am – 5pm. Sun 8.30am - 1pm

FURZEHILL 01202 883022

1 Smugglers Lane, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 4HB Mon – Fri 9am – 5.30pm. Sat 9am – 12.30pm

THREE LEGGED CROSS 01202 822002

Verwood Road, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 6RJ Mon – Fri 9am – 5.30pm. Sat 9am – 12.30pm

WIMBORNE ST GILES 01725 517228

Wimborne St Giles, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 5LX Mon – Fri 9am – 1pm

HAYES 01202 884991

103, Wimborne Rd West, Stapehill, Wimborne, BH21 2DH. Mon – Sat 6.30am – 10pm. Sun 7am – 10pm. Xmas Day closed.

Wimborne Library

WIMBORNE 01202 882770

wimbornelibrary@dorsetcc.gov.uk

Crown Mead, rear of 55-57 High Street, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1HH

Opening times: Mon10am – 6.30pm. Thur 9.30am – 6pm. Tues 9.30am – 1pm Fri 9.30am – 5pm. Wed Closed. Sat 9.30am - 4pm

Chemists

Lloyds Pharmacy, VERWOOD 01202 822364 23 Station Road, Verwood. Mon - Fri: 9-6:30, Sat: 9-1, Sun: Closed Boots, FERNDOWN 01202 871841 Tricketts Cross, Ferndown Mon - Fri: 9-7, Sat: 8:30-1, 2-5:30, Sun 10-4 Boots, WIMBORNE 01202 848226 Rodways Corner, Wimborne, BH21 1AP Mon – Fri 8am – 7pm, Sat 8am – 5.30pm Morrisons (in Store),VERWOOD 01202 826555 Chiltern Drive, Verwood

Mon - Fri: 9-1, 2-8, Sat: 9-1, 2-6, Sun: 10-1 Verwood Pharmacy, VERWOOD 01202 828499 Lake Road Surgery, Lake Road, Verwood, BH31 6EH Mon: 7am-11pm, Tue-Fri: 6.30am-11.30pm, Sat: 7am-11pm. www.pharmland.co.uk Colehill Pharmacy, COLEHILL 01202 888001 42 Middlehill Rd, Wimborne BH21 2SE Mon – Fri 9am – 6pm. Sat 9am – 1pm Walford Mill Pharmacy WIMBORNE 01202 840048 Knobcrook Rd, Wimborne BH21 1NL Mon – Fri 9am – 6.30pm (Closed 1pm – 2pm)

Lorraine Pascale’s Soda Bread

Bread, on its own, is always enough! There is a warmth and simplicity that no other type of food can rival.

Sure, add some butter, some oil, and maybe a dusting of salt, and jam of course; but bread, no matter how you dress it up, comes equipped with such perfection that I don’t feel it will ever let me down!

This recipe is probably the easiest route for baking bread. It’s also quick – and the bread won’t keep for long, so you get the pleasure of scoffing it all on day one!

Ingredients

(serves 4)

• 370g/13oz plain flour, plus extra for dusting

• 130g/4½oz wholemeal flour

• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

• 1 tsp salt

• 40g/1½oz butter, melted

• 1 tbsp black treacle

• 300–340ml/11–12fl oz buttermilk (or alternatively use warm milk plus 1 tbsp lemon juice)

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas mark 6 and ensure the top shelf in the oven is in position. Now place the flours, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a large bowl and stir together. Make a large hole in the centre of the flour mixture and pour in the melted butter and treacle, plus enough of the buttermilk to make a loose sticky dough.

2. Tip the dough onto a lightly dusted work surface. The dough will be quite sticky. Knead the dough for one minute, then shape it into a large ball with a taut, smooth top. Place the dough on a baking tray and flatten it a bitI find the easiest way to do this is with a rolling pin.

3. Take a wooden spoon, put some flour over the whole handle, then hold it horizontally over the bread. Put the wooden spoon handle on top of the bread then push it down until you feel the baking tray at the bottom. This mark is the first half of the trademark soda bread cross. Repeat with a line at right angles to this.

4. Dust with some flour then bake in the oven for 30–40 minutes, or until the bread is brown, has risen nicely and the dough inside where the cross was made is not damp.

5. Serve fresh from the oven with butter and jam. Enjoy!

Top Tips

- This recipe calls for buttermilk, which is available from bigger supermarkets. However a homemade version can be made by putting lemon juice in regular milk and letting it sit for a few minutes.

- Also, the best way to remove treacle from the tin is to run a tablespoon under a really hot tap for 10 seconds before dipping it into the treacle. This ensures the treacle runs easily off the spoon.