Iceni Magazine issue 12

ICENI Lifestyle Magazine For Norwich And Norfolk

ISSUE 12

LIVE FROM NORWICH The Grand Charity Event In Aid Of EACH

THOROUGHLY BRITISH Showcasing The Best Of British Design

REDWINGS HORSE SHOW A Great Day Out For Everyone

PICK ME UP TAKE ME HOME

I’M FREE

Welcome To Iceni Magazine,

CONTACT DETAILS All Sales Enquiries

Issue 12 is here and what a fantastic twelve months we have had here at Iceni Magazine.

We have met lots of new people and have had a massive amount of support from all our readers, contributors and followers - May we take this opportunity to thank you all for your help and support over the last year!

Here’s to the next twelve months!

March has come and gone and April is looking to be an eventful month.

Our very own columnist Keri Beavis has a book launch event for her new novel ‘Dead Write’ the sequel to ‘Dead letter day’. Check out the review in this edition. The event will take place in Norwich on Thursday 17th April from 7pm at the Surrey Tavern. If you are in the area drop in and say “Hi” to Keri and the Iceni team.

A great day out for all the family is The East Anglian Game & Country Fair at the Norfolk Showground, 26th & 27th April – If you were not lucky enough to win tickets in last month’s Iceni Magazine, all ticket details are at www.ukgamefair.co.uk.

Have a great Easter and we hope you enjoy Issue 12.

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CONTRIBUTORS

Alex Wiseman, April Clayton, Ciara Jack, Edward Couzens-Lake, Dave Lincoln, Eric Snaith, Josh Mann,Keri Beevis, Mark King, Nicole Saxton, Paul Kirk, Patrick Arundell, Sharon Piggin, Tim Barnes-Clay.

Front Cover Image

Stephen Mole Photography www.stephenmolephotos.com

photos@stephenmolephotos.com Page 3 Image Benjamen Terry - www.definedetail.com

Thought Of The Month Online Shopping a relationship saver When I was younger I would go food shopping with my Mum and Step Dad and it was like running a marathon in and out like a flash. I always said that it would never happen to me when I go food shopping, I like to look and relax. Recently my finanée and I have started food shopping together (sign of a serious relationship) and it’s every bit a nightmare, we go into the supermarket and it’s like being on supermarket sweep!

Only trouble is we usually sweep without getting most of what we actually wanted, so the answer to the problem is online shopping.

Having said that, you should always take a positive out of a negative... and that’s if they ever make a new series of Supermarket Sweep we will be at the front of the queue with all our practice, my mother & step dad just behind!

By Alex Wiseman

Disclaimer Copyright © Iceni Magazine Limited.

All rights reserved. No articles, adverts, content or design in this magazine may be used or reproduced either in whole or part, online or in print. The views and advice from contributors are not necessarily those of Iceni Magazine Limited.

Every effort is made to ensure the contents are accurate, however Iceni Magazine Limited can not assume responsibility for errors, omissions or incorrect information. Iceni Magazine Limited accepts no liability for loss, damage or difficulties resulting from contracts between The Client and their customer.Inclusion within the magazine does not imply a recommendation.

Contents 48

pages

Full of absolute dynamic

creative content!

“You Reap What You Sow”

43

LIVE FROM NORWICH

911 A BODYSHAKIN NIGHT TO REMEMBER

The Grand Charity In Aid Of EACH

Gig Review By Alex Wiseman

09

38

MOTORING REVIEW

By Tim Barnes-Clay

MONTHLY RECIPE

By Eric Snaith

34

WYMONDHAM LIONS Easter Draw

20

07

Swagger & Jacks Daily Beard Grooming

22

Iceni Columists Keri Beevis & Mark King

34

Motoring Review Audi RS 7 Sportback

09

Wymondham Lions Easter Draw

23

Monthly Blog

By Nicole Saxton

36

Iceni Interviews Arthur Brown

11

Sainsbury’s Attleborough Local Animal Sanctuary Tour

25

Fosters Solicitors Technology Is Helping

38

Live From Norwich: The Grand Charity Auction

13

VW Whitenoise New Rural Venue

27

Intergrating Social Networks Into Your Website

40

Big Skies, Big Beach Popular North Norfolk Coast

14

Its On The Ball #Have You Checked Yours?

28

Ask Dave Wordpress Pros And Cons

42

Killlawatt Signs To Derelicht

15

Iceni Fitness Healthy Living On The Go

29

Iceni Book Review Dead Write

43

911 A Bodyshakin Night To Remember

16

Tiny Tinkerbell Waves Her Wand To Become...

Liz Earle Launches Limited Edition

44

Friends Of Friends New Up And Coming Band

17

The Redwings Horse Show A Great Day Out

30 31

Artichoke Launching New Spring Range

The Answer Gig Review

20

Monthly Recipe

By Eric Snaith

32

Thoroughly British Fashion Website Launched

45 46

Iceni Horoscopes What Do Your Stars Hold

Join Us Every Monday, Wednesday & Friday From 8.30pm For #norfolkhour On Twitter Connect With Other Norfolk Based Businesses

SWAGGER & JACKS

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Issue 12 2014

Swagger & Jacks Gentlemen’s Grooming

Swagger & Jacks is a Gentlemen’s Grooming Barbershop situated at 16 Bridewell Alley For more information visit: www.swaggerandjacks.com or call 01603 611 000.

Daily Beard Grooming Routine

Towel dry the beard, and whilst still damp, apply your Swagger & Jacks Ultimate Beard Oil, whilst the cuticle layer of the whiskers remain open, massage the oil into the bristles.

The Beard Oil will soften the coarse natural texture of the whiskers, to eliminate itching and fragrance the beard.

Ensure to massage the oil into the skin at the base of the beard to maintain a healthy moisture balance, as this is an area cream based facial mosisturisers will no longer reach.

Using a Swagger & Jacks Beard Brush, designed for use on the face, groom your beard into position brushing towards the chin and from

under the neck. The Beard brush is created with dense rows of soft natural bristles to provide the correct degree of tension to the whiskers, to smooth and straighten the beard and evenly distribute the beard oil.

Allow the Beard to naturally air dry, or using a hairdryer on a low heat setting direct the flow of air down the length of the whiskers and style using the Beard Brush. Finish using the cool air setting on your hairdryer to achieve optimum hold and shape to the beard.

Swagger & Jacks Ultimate Beard Set Consisting of a Swagger & Jacks Argan Oil Beard Shampoo, Swagger & Jacks Ultimate Beard Oil and Swagger & Jacks Beard Brush for only £39.95

Photography: Ricky-Joe Burrage | Make-up: Madeleine White

Cleanse and treat your whiskers using Swagger & Jacks Argan Oil Beard Shampoo formulated to tame and soften the coarse dry texture of beard bristles, and moisturise the skin. Use daily to prevent the drying effects of facial cleansers, soaps and hair shampoo, which are not formulated for the coarser beard bristles on the face.

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Join us for the book launch event of Dead Write that will be held at The Surrey Tavern, 44-46 Surrey Street, Norwich, on Thursday 17th April from 7:00pm

www.icenimagazine.co.uk

ICENI - NEWS Issue 12 2014

Wymondham Lions Easter Draw In Conjunction With Norfolk Chocolates Wymondham Lions have gone to Bale near Fakenham this year to source the prizes for their annual Easter Draw.

Angela Nubbert of Norfolk Chocolates (www.norfolkchocolates.co.uk) was delighted to come into partnership with the Lions knowing that all proceeds would go to good causes with no administration fees taken by the Lions.

Angela has presented the Lions with 8 superb prizes, each containing a home produced Easter Egg along with her own recipe Champagne Truffles and a voucher for 2 to go on a chocolate workshop. The vouchers alone retail at £120.

Wymondham Lions are extremely grateful to Angela of Norfolk Chocolates and the retail outlets that are selling draw tickets.

Further information on Lions activities may be had by e-mailing wymondhamlions@gmail.com or telephoning 0845 833 5749.

Lion President John Wilde, pictured with Angela, took delivery of these magnificent gifts and, after a small taste, said how wonderful the chocolate tasted. His wife, Margaret, is so impressed she wants to win one of the workshop vouchers!

Draw tickets cost £1 each and are available in the following Wymondham locations:Jarrolds, Wymondham Garden Centre, Puffs Toy Shop, Ward-Robes, No5 Hairdressers, The Railway Tavern, The Feathers PH and Disney’s Deli.

The draw will be made on or around Easter Monday (April 21st).

Chris’s Big C Skydive On the 18th May 2014 I’ll be jumping out of a plane at 13’000ft. I have been inspired to skydive to help the Big C Centre since my mother Anne Reeve passed away of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma ( a rare type of cancer) in 2007.

Big C Centre, the Norfolk based cancer charity worked tirelessly to help Anne throughout her treatment and our family. I am now on a continuous mission to raise as much money as I can so that more and more men and woman survive the disease.

Please, if you can, donate. No matter the size of the donation it will all help - to see how, please visit the Big C Centre website: www.big-c.co.uk - also if you can, please help spread the word of my fundraising everywhere online!

If you’d like to get in touch you can email me: chrisreevo@yahoo.co.uk or tweet me: @ChrisReevo

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SAINSBURYS Issue 12 2014

Supermarket Scheme Puts Waste To A Positive Use. Attleborough Sainsbury’s Colleagues were given a tour of local animal sanctuary PACT based at Woodrising, Hingham by members of its dedicated staff.

The Attleborough store has been donating its waste fruit, vegetables and bread to the charity since Christmas 2012. Its all part of the company’s commitment to putting as much waste as possible to a positive use. The waste donation partnership goes alongside other company policies such as no waste to landfill and being the largest retailer to use anaerobic digestion.

The Attleborough Store colleagues were introduced to some of the many animals at the sanctuary who benefit from the waste produce and bread which is either just out of date or too damaged to sell. Also the recipients of the customer pet food donation bin which is located at checkouts.

The sanctuary has over 600 animals of all domestic varieties, a veterinary centre and facilities for helping wildlife such as an influx of hedgehogs that have recently been brought in underweight and unlikely to survive on their own.

PACT has been a registered charity since 1995 and is one of the largest in Norfolk.

It operates a strict ‘no kill’ policy.

To find out more about the charities work go to www.pactsanctuary.org or telephone 01362 820775. The website includes information on adopting, donating, volunteering or sponsoring an animal such as the sanctuaries resident Chihuahua Tabitha, pictured being held by Sainsbury’s colleague Charley along with Maria, Tom and Sanctuary Assistant Administrator Su.

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VW WHITENOISE

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Issue 12 2014

New Rural Venue for 12th VW Whitenoise East Anglia’s original and largest VW Festival Whitenoise has secured a beautiful new rural venue for 2014 at Euston Park, near Thetford on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. ‘Home’ had been the Norfolk Showground but the organisers had to find a new venue due to the unavailability of an August date for 2014.

Over 10,000 VW enthusiasts descended on VW Whitenoise in 2013 and the organisers can’t wait to welcome them back to a stunning, more rural setting, from 1-3 August 2014, that’s pretty much an equal distance of 30 miles from Cambridge, Ipswich and Norwich and just 85 miles from London.

The earlybird ‘Slammed’ price tickets launched at the end of January and sold out in just three and a half hours. This is a new record for the popular event.

Quirky extras like the FREE Super Funk roller disco, FREE cardboard campervan

making workshops plus ‘glamping’ options from Magical Camping appeal to the VW Whitenoise family audience.

Norwich-based band Killamonjambo, also playing BOOMTOWN, are confirmed for the Whitenoise live stage as are top UK Kasabian tribute act, Cambridge dance music favourite Goldstar and Tom Dibb, who performs from his campervan. ‘Soul in the Fine City’ DJs are also back after an overwhelming response to their 32 hours of ‘feel good’ tunes in 2013.

Neil Haughey, VW Whitenoise event organiser, added: “The setting and location of Euston Park make it a first class venue for VW Whitenoise, a return to our ‘Fritton Lake’ feel. We’ll be recreating the grand ring we had at the Showground to accommodate the 300+ show vehicles that fought it out in 2013 and our popular Custom and Retro Bicycle competition.

We’re also adding a new theatrical performance and art installation around a ‘Fantastical Contraption’ theme which we’re really excited about.”

‘Lowered’ prices are available online.

Weekend Family tickets are £69.50 and adult tickets start from £27.50. Day tickets are available on the gate and cost £10 per adult and £3.50 per child.

For more details, to book a trade pitch, sponsor the event or buy tickets visit www.vwwhitenoise.com.

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ICENI - FITNESS

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Issue 12 2014

Healthy Living On The Go

Many of us (me included) have such busy work schedules and find ourselves travelling around here, there and everywhere. While it is gruelling for most, it is still very possible to maintain a healthy lifestyle and When it comes to food, always plan ahead. Shop for food once a week so you can make sure that you even improve it - you just need to focus! always have healthy foods on hand. Then, pre-prepare When it comes to fitness, there is so much you can a number of nutritious meals and snacks in advance do to help yourself stay on track whilst balancing - saving you lots of time and money in the long term, your hectic lifestyle: and keeps up the healthy routine.

• Get out the exercise DVDs and get moving in the comfort of your own home; • Download a fitness app for your mobile phone or tablet - those with exercise videos and tutorials are perfect for creating your own home workouts; • If the weather permits, get outside, and find local biking, jogging or hiking routes. Get out and sightsee on foot to help you burn calories; or

When at work, make sure you have pre-prepared snacks by your side - fruit, dry-roasted or raw nuts, hard-boiled eggs, cheese sticks, or healthy protein bars are all good choices. This is going to stop you reaching for those biscuits stashed in your work colleague’s draw. If you find yourself working away, moving from hotel to hotel, a mini fridge would be a great investment. This allows you to store preprepared snacks and meals, and keeps you away from the very expensive hotel vending machine and the fast food restaurants down the street.

• If you are a frequent traveller for work and always in and out of hotels, make use of hotel gyms (where you can) or find a local gym, and enquire about a free day pass.

You know that saying: Failing to plan is planning to fail? It’s true. Think ahead, be consistent and set yourself up for success.

With online coaching just £20 per month, contact Josh to make sure you are not wasting your time in the gym, and get the results you crave.

Website: www.joshmannfitness.co.uk Twitter: @joshmannfitness Mobile: 07879770723 PAGE

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ICENI - OUT & ABOUT

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Issue 12 2014

Tiny Tinkerbell Waves Her Wand To Become Adoption Star A tiny new star has joined the Redwings Adoption Club.

Adorable Miniature Shetland pony Tinkerbell measures just 78cm. She is the daughter of Elsie, who was rescued from the horrors of Spindle Farm, Amersham in 2008. Both Elsie and tiny Tinkerbell, who demands tummy tickles by lying down in front of her carers, are hoping to meet would-be adopters at the charity’s Essex visitor centre.

Six-year-old Tinkerbell is the daughter of Elsie, who was rescued from the ‘hell farm’ Spindle Farm in Amersham in 2008; it was a story which at the time dominated international media. 7.3hh (78cm) Miniature Shetland Tinkerbell is tiny, but has a largerthan-life endearing character.When she was first born,

Tinkerbell had several health problems, which led to her spending time in the charity’s horse hospital.

During that that time she learnt that if she laid down for her examinations she was sure to get a belly tickle, something that she still loves to this day; she will regularly lie down at her carer’s feet demanding that her belly gets fussed!

“We all love dinky Tinkerbell, with her tiny frame and huge personality,” explains fundraising manager Gemma Walpole.

“As she is such a ‘people pony’ we wanted to add her to the scheme so our supporters were able to be-friend her through adoption and visits. People coming to her paddock and giving her lots of fuss is this little pony’s idea of bliss!”

Tinkerbell lives at the Redwings Ada Cole Visitor Centre near Nazeing in Essex, which is open Friday to Monday 10am-4pm until 22 March, when it opens seven days a week. Entry is free. The Redwings Adoption Club offers a year’s adoption of a Redwings horse, pony, donkey or mule at £12.50, which goes directly towards daily care. Adopters receive updates on their new friend’s horsey life including a birthday party invitation.

Redwings provides direct care to over 1300 horses, ponies, donkeys and mules with a further 500 in Guardian ownership. Adoptions can be arranged online or in person at visitor centres. Please visit www.redwings.org.uk or call 01508 481000.

Redwings Ada Cole Visitor Centre is off the B181 in Broadley Common, near Nazeing in Essex. EN9 2DH

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ICENI - OUT & ABOUT Issue 12 2014

The Redwings Horse Show, A Great Day Out For Everyone Redwings Horse Sanctuary’s annual show is set to be held on Sunday 18th May at Topthorn Equestrian Centre in Suffolk.

Despite a hugely successful show last year, this year’s looks to be even bigger and better still, with fantastic prizes to be won.

Last year’s show saw a record number of entrants with horseboxes queuing to get in and ponies of all shapes and sizes filling the classes. This year’s show will include; extended parking facilities and a large grass arena for the working hunters as well as brand new qualifiers. For the first time the show will host Equifest qualifiers, as well as the usual TARRA and Donkey Breed Society affiliated classes, classes for veterans, as well as novice and fun classes for those who just want a fun day out with their horse, pony or donkey.

The Supreme Championship has been kindly sponsored by Sundown Products Ltd, who are offering a fantastic prize - 50 bales of shavings will be delivered to the lucky winner. Meanwhile the Ring Championships have been sponsored by Eastelms Equestrian Services and each winner will receive 2 x rug washes – a welcome prize after a long winter. They also offer the In-hand Champion 1 x horsebox hire. SPILLERS will also be in attendance with their weighbridge so competitors can get the weight of their ponies checked, they will be offering helpful nutritional advice and have also donated £150 worth of money off vouchers and a variety of treats to be won throughout the day.

Redwings Sanctuary Farms Manager and show organiser Emma Lacey says, “We have all our usual novice, rescue and fun classes but have added some different qualifiers this year as well as improved parking facilities, and a fantastic set of prizes, so we hope the show will live up to its successful reputation.

We have aimed to cater for both those looking for qualifiers as well as those who just want to have some fun with their lovely ponies. We are expecting even more competitors this year so be sure to get your entry in early and we hope to see you there.”

There will be a second-hand tack stall, and a café serving hot and cold refreshments. Andy Merz Photography will also be in attendance to help capture memories of your day.

The schedule is now available to download at www.redwings.org.uk Redwings provides direct care to over 1300 horses, ponies, donkeys and mules with a further 500 in Guardian ownership.

For further information on Redwings’ work, please visit: www.redwings.org.uk.

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THE GREEN DRAGON Issue 12 2014

We would like to thank all our customers and suppliers for their support over the past few years; we would also like to thank our incredibly hard working staff. As those who have been to visit will know we are extremely limited for space, this includes space for staff! Huge thanks to everyone. This has been a fabulous year, winning the Community Pub of the Year award has enabled us to work with local Charities to hold an event with South Norfolk Councils support on 9th August. We will be holding a street party; the street will be closed off, with the emphasis on good, old fashioned family fun. We will have extra beers on, and the barn will be open, we also hope to attract as many different stallholders, crafts and charities as possible.

As people will understand this has been a difficult financial climate, so we would like to use this day as a day to raise awareness of what goes on in Wymondham and surrounding local areas. Please contact us by e-mail if you would like to book a stall, table, or be involved in any way, info@greedragonnorfolk.co.uk. Booking forms will also be on our website, should you prefer to download one, fill it in, and e-mail it to us.

We have recently invested in some work on the garden, in particular the grass area! To celebrate this, we are holding a Garden Party May 3rd & 4th (bank holiday weekend), we are inviting all customers to dress accordingly, hats for the ladies welcomed! There will be fruity PIMMS, a BBQ and Live Music.

May 23rd - 26th sees the return of our Annual Beer Festival, with Live Music from Friday 23rd at 5pm throughout the weekend. There will be 30 plus Ales & Ciders and a BBQ Sunday & Monday. The next beer festival is August Bank Holiday weekend 22nd - 25th August.

Regular events: Thursday nights are Mickey the Demon’s fun Quiz starting at 8.30pm - all welcome.

Monday evenings we have Invidia Voices, a Rock & Soul Choir, you don’t need to sing, just want to enjoy yourself? Come along, first 2 x sessions are free!

Ukele Club is back - check out our website for dates.

1st Sunday of the month we have a New Talent Open Mic night, for anyone who would like to show what they can do. We have already had a taste of the incredible talent Wymondham has to offer, whilst hosting the start of the ‘Wymondhams got Talent™’ auditions, so please pop along, sing or play your heart out and show what you can do. Next dates Sunday 6th April, 4th May starting at 7.30pm.

3rd Sunday of the month sees the continuing and always popular Geoffs Open Mic Jam Night, this has proved popular with an eclectic mix of musicians, and guest musicians. Next dates Sunday 20th April and 18th May starting at 7.30pm.

Finally to avoid disappointment, please remember to book a table. Thank you!

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MONTHLY RECIPE

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Issue 12 2014

Partridge breast, Turnip, baked Apple

Serves 4

Partridge breasts are a great alternative to Chicken, you can get your butcher to take them off the bone for you and simply pan fry them, or cook the whole bird and remove them once cooked.

Eric Snaith Head Chef at Titchwell Manor

Images By: Jamie Maxwell (www.Jamiemaxwellphotography.co.uk)

The baked Apple works really well and would of course be great with Pork too. Pick out some nice small Apples like Cox so you can serve one each, it’s basically the same technique as sweet baked Apples with a few changes so it works for a savoury dish.

For the Partridge: 4 Partridges oven ready 100g unsalted Butter Sprig Thyme Sprig Rosemary Pre heat an oven to 210c.

Pre heat a pan, then heat a little Rapeseed oil and colour the Partridge all over on a medium heat. Transfer to a roasting tin (but keep the frying pan) and put a knob of Butter and a little Thyme and Rosemary in the cavity of each bird. Roast for 15 minutes.

Return the birds to the frying pan and on a medium heat add the remaining Butter and herbs and baste as the Butter browns, remove the birds just as the butter stops foaming.

Allow to rest for 10 minutes. Season with salt when ready to serve.

For the Turnip purée: 1 large white Turnip 50g unsalted Butter 150ml Milk Peel and cut the Turnip as thinly as possible.

Melt the Butter in a pan, add the Turnip and enough Milk to just cover the Turnip. Cook on a medium heat - you want the Milk to reduce so when the Turnip is cooked the pan is quite dry. Purée in a food processor and season with table Salt.

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For the baby Turnips: 1 bunch of baby Turnips, with nice green leaves Remove the leaves, wash and dry in a salad spinner, wash and clean the Turnips, then quarter. Serve raw.

For the baked Apple: 4 Cox Apples or similar, washed and cored 1 tbsp Sultanas 1 tbsp Raisins 120g unsalted Butter (soft) 1tbsp Madeira 1 pinch of mixed Spice 1 tsp sherry vinegar Maldon Salt 1 tsp Demerera Sugar Put the apples in a deep baking tray.

Mix all the ingredients (apart from Salt) together and stuff the Apples with it. Rub the remaining mixture over the top of them and season with a little Maldon Salt.

Bake at 180c until soft.

ICENI - COLUMNISTS

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Issue 12 2014

The Diary of a Norfolk Family.

I won’t lie to you; there are times when I get totally distracted from writing. Some days I am caught in the zone and can churn out thirty pages, but there are other days where stuff just gets in the way. These are four things that distract me.

Above: Keri Beevis 1/ Cat bums. Usually Ellie and Lola can be found snuggled up against my feet, far too exhausted to move after their busy day of eating, watching moths, eating, sleeping, eating, walking round in circles meowing, trying to break into the fridge and plucking the sofa, but you can guarantee the second I start typing (including right now) there is one swaggering about in front of me, tail ramrod straight, purring and kneading at the computer keys - I blame them for all my typos - going ‘look at my lovely bum’.

2/ Rightmove. Well, okay, Facebook, Twitter and Sporcle can also be quite distracting, but Rightmove offers us the chance to see inside other people’s houses and rate how bad their taste in home décor is on a scale of one to ten. It doesn’t matter that I’m not in the market for a new house; the temptation to snoop is too great.

3/ Phone calls from my mum. It’s a universal fact that mums like to chat and I swear my mum has a magic telephone in her house that recognises when I am mid-sentence working on a blog or book that automatically dials my number. Now I love talking to my mum, having a gossip about stuff, venting our frustration about how the price of toilet rolls have gone up by a whole 12 pence and listening to how she walked round the golf course and was so tired, she could barely put one foot in front of the other, but it is not conducive to my writing.

4/ My OCD need to know pointless stuff. I blame my dad for this one as he was the king of useless trivia and I appear to have inherited from him the need to know everything. Now, as you can imagine, ‘everything’ is a lot to take in, but I can’t stop myself. So far my compulsion has led me to have to know every single country in the world, what the capital city is of every country in the world, the national flag for every country in the world and the entire periodic table, among other things.

Why do I have to know this stuff? And to make it worse, as I get older my memory gets worse, so I have to keep testing myself to make sure I don’t forget. Yes, I am a full on geek.

The book launch event for my new novel, Dead Write, will be held at the Surrey Tavern in Norwich on Thursday 17th April from 7:00pm.

If you’re in the area, please do drop in and say hello.

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By Mark King Birthdays come but once a year, but if you have a family they seem to come every month, and this is the case for me. Last month it was my mother’s big day, and this month it was my daughter’s.

Next month it’s my son’s soon to be followed by my father’s and then the wife’s. It seems an never ending stream, and long gone are the days, especially for the children; when a bucket full of water with bobbing apples would do for entertainment, or sweets rapped in various layers of old newspapers for a game of pass the parcel.

The simple pleasures of cheese sandwiches, and crisps, followed by jelly and Ice cream no longer fulfil the stomachs of the modern expectant child.

And then there are the party bags! I don’t know when these first appeared, but in the seventies you would be sent home after a party with nothing more than a slice of home baked birthday cake rapped in a paper napkin.

Above: Mark King

The party bag has become an after party gift that can end up more expensive to produce than the present that was given in the first place. Children wait excitedly for the big moment when they can delve into the treasures hidden within the smart looking bag; cakes, various assortment of sweets, fancy items of stationery, little toys etc. etc.

So it was on Sunday morning that two cars dutifully chauffeured my daughter, and her friends, from door to door to the Vue Cinema in Castle Meadow to see the film Mr Peabody and Sherman. Plenty of popcorn, sweets and drinks were purchased, and a jolly good time they all had. Afterwards there was a visit for a birthday meal at McDonalds in the city centre with all the trimmings, and then eventually all the little darlings were dropped off at their respective addresses with their party bags.

The adults were worn out, but at least we have another four weeks before it all starts again!

www.always-hanging-around.blogspot.com Follow on twitter: @author-king

ICENI - MONTHLY BLOG

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Monthly Blog Routine!

Issue 12 2014

by Nicole Saxton - Beccles

At the heart of every routine is a mother trying to sleep. We all strive to have the most effective routine resulting in a consistent good night sleep. When I had my first child sleep deprivation hurt. I was exhausted all the time so I researched routines: I bought books on the subject and discussed routines with other mothers. My first baby is the only baby I did this with, mainly because I found the outcome was the same no matter what I did, my babies were never consistent. I would experiment and scrabble around in the dark noting down times and lengths of feeds. I would find a routine that worked really well one day, but the next it wouldn’t.

I breastfed on demand which made it harder to follow a routine. If my baby was especially hungry one day they were probably having a growth spurt so I felt it was unfair to limit their intake. Similarly if it was a particularly hot day, they may want to feed more because they are thirsty. I found a routine was much easier to establish when breastfeeding had ceased.

All my children were breastfed for different lengths of time, I gave up when they were ready with the exception of my first. I turned to solids at just five months and had completely given up breastfeeding her at six and a half months. I was a first time, young mother I was eager to get to the next stage. The longest one of my children breast fed for was 14 months, I didn’t establish a firm routine during that time. My older children were attending school and nursery so they had a day to day routine for meals and bed time, my youngest loosely followed it. I would breast feed him when he wanted it but I offered him solids (mainly finger food) at meal times after he turned six months.

My youngest was not an easy weaner he refused to put any form of food in his mouth until he was one year, and would not drink out of a bottle or a beaker until he was eleven months.

When bedtime came along I would bath everyone at the same time every night, I would try to give him his final feed when I had put the other three to bed. Occasionally this didn’t work, there were

times when the older ones were playing up and my youngest was desperate for his milk: so he was fed while I read stories to the others. If he didn’t go to sleep immediately I wouldn’t stress about it. I always enjoyed a loving tired cuddle. I have always been conscious of how quickly time passes with children, how soon they are at school and the one on one time has passed. So I enjoyed every cuddle available.

When he eventually fell asleep (in my arms) I would put him in his cot. Before midnight every baby of mine would always wake in their cot and cry out for a cuddle along with a sleepy feed. I would go and get them, feed in my bed and co-sleep for the rest of the night. I tried controlled crying but I wasn’t consistent enough, if I was tired having to walk twenty times up the stairs was my Kryptonite. The tears they shed would break my heart and I would end up hot and sweaty - feeling anxious. If I were to feed in the night and settle them back in their cot I found I would be up between four and six times in one night. I would then be exhausted and unable to play the next day, however I found when I coslept they only woke once.

No matter which routine you follow I think they each have their own draw backs. For example I imagine a strict routine means you have to be organised - a spontaneous late night could cause a disaster. My lack of routine means that I have difficulty persuading my children when it is time for them to spend all night in their own bed. Most mornings my husband and I wake to find there are five of us in the bed.

I didn’t write this to tell mothers to follow my own non routine, or to persuade you that my way is the right way. I merely wrote it to say whether you have a strict routine, a looser routine or no routine at all - if it works for you and means you get to have those precious hours of good sleep (we all know how important they have become) keep doing it, and good for you for finding something that works. Mothers shouldn’t feel there is only one way to parent, otherwise our children would all be the same and that would make for very boring marriages and friendships.

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FOSTERS SOLICITORS Issue 12 2014

Technology Is Helping ...modern lawyers deliver a service far beyond that which could have been envisaged even 10 years ago.

Aside from the huge advantages email, internet and computers brings to all elements of our working lives, there have been huge leaps in recent years in developing technology for lawyers which directly enhances the service we can provide at Fosters.

Whereas property lawyers used to have to wait for replies from Searches (which often took 4 weeks), Fosters can now communicate with personal search providers and receive almost instant results for environmental, water and drainage searches and other searches. A vast number of land registry and land charges searches and applications with the Land Registry are dealt with in real time. Since 17th March this year, title registration for registered land can be dealt with electronically and are often completed within 24 hours rather than a matter of weeks. Changes to an already registered title can also be actioned in real time allowing the process of buying or selling property to be speeded up hugely. Case management systems across the firm help lawyers be alert to resolving matters. Many of our lawyers are able to access all the information remotely, assisting our clients in either the civil, family or criminal courts, or by helping them draft documents from the comfort of their own home. We are now able to communicate and send significant data over secure connections with a variety of agencies we come into contact with from the courts to financial institutions.

At Fosters we are excited to be at the forefront of adapting technology to help our clients. But progress is rapid, so having one eye on the future now helps. From Smartphone apps to client ‘portals’ (where a client can view and work on their whole file securely online), there is no reason to suspect the pace of change to let up!

To discuss the ways in which technology can help with your legal needs contact Fosters at www.fosters-solicitors.co.uk or on 01603 620508 PAGE

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COMPUTERS & INTERNET

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Issue 12 2014

Why Integrating Social Networks Into Your Website Is More Important Than Ever You’ve almost certainly got a website and you’re probably active on one or more social networks but have you taken full advantage of those platforms and why should you bother?

The answer is simple - gone are the days of your website and social media networks being separate entities. While ‘Content is King’ it could be said that being vocal on social is the Queen. Search engines, particularly Google are increasingly using your social presence as an indicator of your authority, relevance in search terms and perceived reputation with your audience. They’re then using this, in conjunction with your website content and other factors, to determine where you will appear in search results. If your website doesn’t integrate social networks in some way then you’re seriously missing out and potentially your website is being ranked lower because of it.

So how can you rectify this situation? All social networks offer a variety of ways to integrate social media on your website, some are more useful than others. Here’s a quick rundown of the most popular.

1. Direct Links Normally these are just buttons with the social networks logo on which then link directly to your social network page. These are helpful but not necessarily beneficial to improving search rankings.

The most they do is tell your visitors that you have social media accounts - the fact they then navigate your visitors away from your website to your social networks is an obvious negative.

2. Recommend buttons Examples of these are Facebook’s Like’ and Google +1’s ‘Recommend’. These just require a simple click and perhaps a quick comment. The benefit of these is, that in addition to showing new visitors the popularity of your page, post, product or service they don’t take your visitors away from your website. You should use recommendation buttons sparingly though and only add them to key pages.

3. Share buttons These allow the visitor to comment on your web page, product or service and then share it with friends on their own social network accounts.

Share buttons are the most useful in terms of SEO (search engine optimisation) as their sharing will be picked up by search engines both as a form of a ‘backlink’ to your website and as an honest and authoritative opinion.

Its advisable not to place share buttons on every page of your website as this generally doesn’t work - instead use these within news articles, blog posts or specific product/service pages. You can either use share buttons directly from the individual social networks or use a third party service/plugin like http://www.addthis.com to allow you to track shares and get more analytical statistics as to the success of your social media integration.

4. Feeds This option is available from certain social networks, in particular Facebook and Twitter. With a little technical know-how you can directly embed a ‘feed’ panel on a page of your website that allows visitors to see your last few tweets or posts and will automatically update themselves.

Don’t forget...

In addition to the four social media integrations I’ve mentioned above it’s important to remember that you can use your social networks to promote your news, products and/or services hosted on your website. Adding a shortened URL to your tweet or post encourages people to go to your website and read what you’ve written. Then, if after reading it, they share it with their followers your audience gets bigger and you potentially begin to get more credibility with the search engines.

Using all or even just some of these methods is a great way to improve your website’s profile with the search engines and increases your chances of gaining a respected and trusted reputation with your followers and theirs.

If you need any help with your social media or your website don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at http://paulkirkdesign.co.uk PAGE

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ASK DAVE

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Issue 12 2014

Every issue - Dave Lincoln of Horatio Creative (www.horatiocreative.com) will be answering any Web or Design questions you may have.

If you would like to contact him, you can do so on Twitter: @HoratioCreative Since I have started writing this column the subject of Wordpress keeps coming up, so I thought it would be helpful to people to look at this in more detail and give you some Pros and Cons of this tool.

WordPress is one of the most popular (if not THE most popular) blogging platform on the planet. It is very powerful and highly customisable which is why there are many users who choose to use this on their websites.

Pro - WordPress is Open Source.

WordPress is freely available as Open Source code - this means you can change the code and re-distribute it without paying license fees.

Pro - There is a massive WordPress community.

Of all the blogging platforms, WordPress has the largest online community. At the time of writing this there are 30,094 plugins (https://wordpress.org/plugins/) and 2,402 themes (http://wordpress.org/themes/), and this is just counting the freely available ones!

Another huge benefit of having such a large online support community is if you get stuck whilst using WordPress you can pretty much guarantee that with a quick search on Google, you will find another user who has experienced the same issue and will give instruction on how to resolve this. The most useful online forums I have found are at http://wordpress.stackexchange.com/ and https://wordpress.org/support/.

If you do get really stuck and need a hand from a professional (Hello!) there are many experienced WordPress developers around and they could carry out this work from anywhere in the world.

Pro - Easy to install WordPress is well known for its ‘famous 5 minute installation’. And, to be fair they have got this spot PAGE 28 on - no other self-hosted web app can compare to

how easy this is. You only need to know a few details (which you can easily get from your web host) and you are away.

After the core installation, you can then easily add Themes and Plugins to your package from within the admin section of your site with a couple of clicks of the mouse.

Con - User permissions It may be useful to allow different groups of users access to edit aspects of your site. WordPress does not allow this by default, but there are some third-party plugins you can use. From a personal standpoint, I would not want something as fundamental as security being looked after in this way.

Con - Security flaws WordPress has a bit of a reputation for being susceptible to security attacks - especially if you are installing a lot of Plugins. It is true that the platform is now a lot more secure than it has been previously, and their team does now regularly release updates which patch up flaws that are discovered, but the fact is that because of the widely available (and free) nature of the software, people who are wanting to find security flaws have a lot more chance of doing so.

Con - Ecommerce limitations There are many ecommerce plugins available for WordPress, but quite often you don’t get the functionality from this that you would expect from a platform such as Magento or Open Cart. Of course this depends on your needs, it may make a great starting point for your business, but you should be aware of its limitations.

Thanks for taking the time to read this - what have you found the Pros and Cons of using WordPress to be? Why not get in touch at @ HoratioCreative and let me know.

ICENI - BOOK REVIEW

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Issue 12 2014

Norwich Author Releases Eagerly Awaited Sequel Eighteen months ago, Keri Beevis won a publishing contract after a friend persuaded her to enter the Rethink Press New Novels Competition. Dead Letter Day was a hit with both the public and the local press, gaining her fans Above: Keri Beevis from around the globe and Rethink Press has just released Keri’s second book in the series.

Keri Beevis grew up in Norfolk and after leaving school, aged just fifteen, drifted through a variety of jobs, working in a video store, an entertainment agency, as a caricaturist and for a travel firm. She was even, briefly, the world’s worst hairdresser and was so bad she made Edward Scissorhands look like Vidal Sassoon. The one constant throughout all these jobs was a love and a need to write.

It was while on holiday, reading Misery by Stephen King, that she decided she wanted to be an author. She returned home and penned her first manuscript, and so began the journey to becoming published. Over the next twenty years there were four more novels, several rejection letters, a brush with an unscrupulous publisher, which made Keri famous for a week - but not in the way she wanted, another apparent break with a top agent and an ‘almost deal’ with a major publisher. Then a friend talked her into entering the Rethink Press New Novels Competition and her dreams of becoming a published author finally came true.

Her US based serial killer thriller, Dead Letter Day, quickly gained fans, many of them eager to see the story continue. It also received positive reviews in the local media, with the Eastern Daily Press calling the book ‘exciting, gripping and tantalizing’, while Iceni Magazine declared it ‘brilliant from start to finish’.

Dead Write picks up the story six years later, where central character, Rebecca Angell, is now a police detective and investigating a new serial killer who is re-enacting murders from a series of crime novels.

Keri says: “Dead Letter Day was more successful than I could have hoped and I have tried to create another fast-paced storyline with likeable characters, a twisty plot, plenty of chills and a few moments of well-placed humour.”

A book launch event for Dead Write will be held at The Surrey Tavern, 44-46 Surrey Street, Norwich, on Thursday 17th April from 7:00pm.

Dead Write is available on Amazon at £11.99 (paperback) and £2.15 (Kindle) http://rethinkpress.com/books/dead-write/

Dead Write by Keri Beevis Dead Write is another brilliant murder mystery by the author Keri Beevis, this story keeps you gripped from start to finish with its great characters and a plot which keeps you the reader hooked to the end, couldn’t put the book down had to know how it ended.

Another highly recommended read from a very promising author, cannot wait for her next book.

Sharon Piggin - Norwich

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ICENI - FASHION Issue 12 2014

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ICENI - FASHION Issue 12 2014

Martha’s Vineyard ...is a new range that well established UK designers Pomodoro are launching this Spring.

Well known for their co-ordinated collections of striking prints, contempory statement colours and outstanding tailoring, Pomodoro have produced a slightly more casual range for this spring & summer that is perfect for country living.

“We are very excited about The Martha’s Vineyard range” says Sarah Simonds of Artichoke “It fits perfectly in our collection of every day wear for women who have a casual lifestyle but want stylish as well as practical clothes. The striped spring jacket is a perfect example - beautifully cut and with great detail it is however made of a brushed jersey so is practical to wear and has the comfort of a sweatshirt.”

Priced at £65 it is available at Artichoke, Hackford or by calling 01953 851458.

Visit: www.artichokecollection.co.uk

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Antithesis

ICENI - FASHION

Katie Darlington

Issue 12 2014

Confirmed inclusion on the Thoroughly British website includes

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Etrala London

Stella + Alf

Myia Bonner Yull

z-mode

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ICENI - FASHION Issue 12 2014

Fashion website, Thoroughly British, launched on 10th February 2014 The website, showcasing the best of British design, features brands such as Antithesis, Etrala and Evocha Thoroughly British, a website dedicated to celebrating British design and craftsmanship, has launched this month. The website, created by Linn craftsmanship, has launched this month. The website, created by Linn Gustavsson, encompasses quality, heritage, provenance and unique pieces from British designers. The website clearly shows the origin of each product and helps to create a more social, economic and environmentally sustainable industry. Thoroughly British is dedicated to carefully selecting its designers based on look, fit, feel and provenance of the products, meaning customers can feel safe in the knowledge that all products on the site are truly ‘made in Britain’.

By showcasing the best that Britain has to offer, Founding Director, Linn Gustavsson, hopes that the public will support Britain’s fashion heritage and manufacturing industry.

Linn explains, “I have been working in the manufacturing industry for the last few years, in particular, with manufacturing outsourcing.

As a result, I’ve spent a lot of time in the Far East making sure quality standards are met and seeing this type of manufacturing from the other side. I’ve seen the effects that our fast, cheap, throwaway fashion has on the people, working conditions and general environment and I’d like to change that.”

Linn is keen to showcase the talent and originality of home grown talent in a bid to encourage the growth of the ‘Made In Britain’ tag. Linn explains; “I’ve spent months looking for outlets for designers that manufacture in the UK, but it is surprisingly difficult. I hope that Thoroughly British serves as an outlet for this.” A number of British designers, including; Katie Darlington, Evocha, Mairi MacDonald, Yull, Charlotte Lucy, Z-Mode and Stella + Alf, have already signed up to showcase their offering.

As well as appealing to the British public, by offering a sales platform for British designers, where designers can manage their own store, Thoroughly British hope to encourage and support the growth of home grown talent.

Linn finishes by saying “We want to make sure that we are the go-to online store for British made fashion, and by showcasing such unique and beautiful designs, we believe we can do that. It’s not just the people of Britain that are keen to push the ‘Made In Britain’ tag. There’s an international market out there, including Chinese, Japanese and Korean markets that are particularly encouraging about the growth.”

Visit: www.thoroughlybritish.co.uk and follow on Twitter: @thoroughbritish PAGE

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ICENI - MOTORING Issue 12 2014

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Audi RS 7 Sportback Why did it seduce me? Well, the car is simply a God on four wheels

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ICENI - MOTORING

www.icenimagazine.co.uk

Issue 12 2014

Audi RS 7 Sportback

BY TIM BARNES-CLAY, MOTORING JOURNALIST FOLLOW TIM ON TWITTER: @CARWRITEUPS OR VISIT: WWW.CARWRITEUPS.CO.UK

One of the benefits of being a motoring journalist is that most press cars come with a tank of fuel. This is necessary for the job you understand. The thought of actually filling up a test vehicle and paying for it with your own wallet sends most hacks recoiling in horror. But very occasionally a car captivates you so much that you really don’t mind throwing fistfuls of cash at it when the free juice runs out. The Audi RS 7 Sportback is one such motor.

Why did it seduce me? Well, the car is simply a God on four wheels. It looks amazing; it delivers more thrills than the fastest rollercoaster you’ve ever been on; it sits four adults in total comfort and it’s made exquisitely. So let’s drill down a bit further into the very essence of this stunning car and look at the root of its monstrous muscle. With the help of its two turbochargers, the 4.0-litre TFSI petrol engine delivers its formidable peak power of 553bhp between 5,700 and 6,700 rpm, and top torque of 516lb/ft between 1,750 and 5,500 rpm. The turbochargers boost pressure, helping to generate incredible accelerative force.

This gives the German goliath a phenomenal 0-62mph acceleration time of just 3.9 seconds and a governed 155mph top speed.

If you have Autobahn aspirations, then you can increase the maximum speed to 174mph by specifying the optional Dynamic package, and enhance it even further with the Dynamic plus package, which calls a halt to acceleration at 189mph. Despite performance of this magnitude, the RS 7 Sportback nevertheless manages to keep a firm grip on reality where economy is concerned. Thanks partly to an engine startstop system it can cover up to 28.8mpg on an average run. In the RS 7, the Quattro permanent all-wheel drive system enables you to tackle long journeys in all weather without fear of losing control. The car is also pinned securely to the road by an electrically extending rear spoiler providing additional downforce. And when it comes to scrubbing off speed there’ll never be a problem, because behind the huge 20-inch

seven twin-spoke alloy wheels are four massive brakes which provide reassuring stopping power.

The interior of the RS 7 Sportback conveys the sporting theme with subtlety, but leaves you in no doubt you’re travelling in a very special Audi flagship. RS logos appear in the dials with their white faces and red needles, on the flatbottomed three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, in the illuminated entry sills, in the rev counter and in the displays.

RS logos are also punched into the front RS super sports seats with their pronounced bolsters, integrated head rests and honeycombquilted Valcona leather upholstery. The two-seat rear bench, which is standard for UK models, also has well-defined contours for optimum grip.

And, as befits the ultimate incarnation of the A7 Sportback, the RS 7 features a list of standard equipment, and it is possible to upgrade the inventory even further with a portfolio of driver assistance, driver entertainment and driver information systems, including adaptive cruise control, night vision, a Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System with 15 speakers and 1,200 watts of total power. Awesome? I think so.

PROS • Looks • Performance • Traction • Seats four CONS • Cost FAST FACTS • Max speed: 155 mph • 0-62 mph: 3.9 secs • Combined mpg: 28.8 • Engine: 3993cc V8 24 valve twin turbo petrol • Max. power (bhp): 553 at 3600 rpm • Max. torque (lb/ft): 516 at 1750 rpm • CO2: 229 g/km • Price: £83,495

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ICENI INTERVIEWS Issue 12 2014

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Iceni Interviews Arthur Brown Rock icon and God of Hellfire Interview by April Clayton Your 2014 tour starts the beginning of April called Zim Zam Zim which is also the name of your new album- where did this name come from and what does it mean?

I wrote the album with two younger musicians and we decided that we wanted to go back to my original roots but also bring the music up to date. One morning I texted my co-writer, and flooded him with all these thoughts; which one thought was to do with the ‘shazam’ character and I had always wanted to build the album around some sort of character - but because I couldn’t use the word ‘shazam’ I came up with the work ‘Zim Zam Zim’ which sounded very similar and had the same effect.

You’re well known for your flamboyant and theatrical style, what can your audiences expect from your latest tour?

I feel like I have expanded the tour theatrically. In the old days, it was mainly myself. In the new band that I am in now we are including more theatrical interaction between the band and audience. The dancing is better, the costume is bigger. There will also be more spontaneous interaction and more surprises, as for specifics, your Iceni readers will have to come and see for themselves.

In the 80s you took a break from music, was it all getting too much for you?

It wasn’t the music that I wanted to concentrate on at that particular time, my first marriage had gone wrong mainly because I was away on tour which led to my marriage to suffer and I realised when I met my PAGE

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second wife I didn’t want to be on tour so I came away from it. I moved to America, where I met my second wife, and in particular in the US at that time, there was a real religious and spiritual interest which formed the backbone of a lot of US bands.

When I was performing in New York, after the show I would get a lot of people coming to my dressing room asking me questions about the meaning of life and I would answer as if I was some sort of guru but actually I didn’t know anything about these things so I took some time out to do a bit of travelling and indulge in my meditating and had a chance to study the world.

It was good timing because my style of music wasn’t so popular in the UK at the time so decided to stay in the US with my wife.

So you decided to get a master’s degree in counselling, become a painter and took up carpentry, what made you do this?

For the first time in my life I decided to take up a trade, I became a carpenter. In those days it was quite common for record companies to fall apart which is what happened. So I decided to take up a trade in order to support my family. For me it was an adventure to take up a trade, it was a challenge to say the least. I also took up a degree in counselling which helped me further spiritually. 

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But in the meantime I carried on writing songs and eventually I missed it, especially the performing side of things as that’s what I love to do, It was nice to get back to having the energy to perform, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love to perform and to see the joy on the crowds faces.

Your signature move is to set fire to your hair, what made you attempt this in the first place?

(He laughs at this question firstly) I find fire such a fascinating thing. I love to watch the flames moving, it’s so mesmerising but there were a few things to how it all started. I started my career in Paris at a very wild club which was full of what we called back then ‘ladies of the night’. One night I went back to my hotel room during the middle of a performance to take a break, which is when someone found a crown of candles and put it on my head. I didn’t think anything of it and wore it when I went back down to the club and some friends then lit the candles and all the tricks went from there. Everyone that night loved it which is why we developed it, though all the tricks were very spontaneous and we used whatever we could find on the night when one of us thought of something, they were never planned back in the day.

When I then went back to the UK I met an artist who helped me to start writing a new album. We wanted to write about all the things that I had come across on my journey so far; At the time lyrics were of really strong topics in which we decided to do a journey of a person going into themselves. To do this we thought we should make characters and visually represent them when performing as audiences wouldn’t know what we were talking about. We started talking about the crown of candles, we didn’t think it was enough; we wanted more something bigger and better. So we then decided that fire was more of a potent symbol.

In the old days I would wear a plate covered in petrol and others would throw things at it until it caught fire on my head.

Can the audience expect any spontaneous fire tricks on your latest tour?

Well nowadays its more about health and safety, if we have a big concert we may occasionally do it but we have other ways of representing it too so you will all have to come and see what that is.

You started out as a musician in the 1960s when the internet wasn’t as big as it is today; do you think the internet has become a good thing for musicians?

Well the internet has made every musician’s music available to everyone, though I feel it’s a bit wrong that some bands do well and others don’t when the internet makes all music available. I think the effect of the internet has initially allowed bands

ICENI INTERVIEWS Issue 12 2014

and musicians to make it big on their own without the backing or help of a record company and produce what they want. Though a down side of the internet is that record companies are more at risk of not making enough money, destroying their backbone. But at the same time TV shows such as the Xfactor which govern a lot of people’s musical choices and are also a replacement for big record companies in terms of the control.

How do you think things have changed since the 60’s, do you think it was easier back then or now for musicians?

I think it’s more difficult for musicians to make a living out of what we do, in a lot of cases, people are doing it because they like to not to become superstars or to become rice because its much harder to do so these days. Back in the old days musicians in England who were doing the job as a semi pro earnt more than the bigger bands because they also had a job which gave them a steady wage instead of holding out for gigs. Essentially I don’t think it’s changed that much but I think the illusion of it has, we think it’s a lot more glamorous than it is but in fact it’s a lot of hard work.

Music is clearly your passion, what makes you love it so much?

Oh that’s a hard one, there are so many things. Music is a language all on its own. Music brings people a feeling, a feeling that everyone understands, you don’t need to be able to understand the lyrics to understand the music. I am a performer; the energy flow that you get from the crowd is incredible. Music is a mystery to many people, we try to make music into a commodity but it needs to stay mysterious, it’s our feelings and thoughts all into which need to remain a mystery. It allows you to re-enter a place in your life where you feel or felt your most happiest. Plus it just makes you feel good, it makes you want to move and express yourself and dancing is just wonderful.

For More Information on Arthur Brown visit: www.arthur-brown.com

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LIVE FROM NORWICH Issue 12 2014

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Live From Norwich: The Grand Charity Auction In Aid Of EACH To Be Broadcast Around The World A Grand Charity Auction and Black Tie dinner in aid of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) whose patron is HRH The Duchess of Cambridge is to be held at EPIC TV studios, Norwich, Saturday 28 June 2014.

The silent online auction opens Saturday 14th June and the public are invited to bid for itemised lots at http://galabid.com/auction/each.

Successful bidders will be announced at the grand event on Saturday 28th June.

The live auction, comprising of 10 lots will take place on the night and can be viewed in real-time online at: http://www.epicstudiosnorwich.com/ events/each-grand-charity-auction/.

Amongst the fantastic lots donated by businesses and individuals for the 2014 Each auction are an original work executed on the night by internationally renowned artist Philip Gray whose work is collected by Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. An artwork, titled ‘Tess on Leather Couch’ by Los Angeles based artist Fabian Perez ,who was the 2012 Olympic official artist. A VIP day for four with The Blades, the world’s only licensed aerobatic airline. Sporting memorabilia; Including signed shirts from PAGE

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Norwich City FC and a ‘Class A’ mascot day for next season. A seven day stay at a beach villa, Kololi, Gambia, worth £1,000.

A weekend glamping at Dunwich, Suffolk.

A 2014 RBS Six Nations shirt, signed by all Six Nations Captains. A beautiful handmade child’s rocking horse. A Stephen Fry personally signed tie. An evening at EPIC; 10 tickets for any gig plus pre-gig drinks and backstage access. A two person champagne Virgin Balloon flight and many other fantastic lots. Organiser Lord Baker, fully expects more great donations prior to the event.

Tickets to the Black Tie Dinner and Auction which will be hosted by Aaron James, top comedian and impressionist are £75 each or £1,200 for an eight person sponsored table. Sponsored tables will allow companies to market their brand globally whilst the auction is streamed live and on television. Aaron will provide entertainment during the dinner with his fast paced repertoire of stand-up comedy and sports impressionism. He will also host the live auction. www.impressionistaaronjames.co.uk The five course dinner is being provided

by Florentina, run by chef proprietor, Jake Weatherill who has worked with many Michelin Star chefs including, Daniel Clifford. www.florentina-events.com.

LIVE FROM NORWICH

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Issue 12 2014

The Blades

Lord Baker said “EACH rely upon voluntary donations for the majority of their income.

They receive some Government funding but the majority comes from the community.”

Lord Baker added, “It is important for local communities and businesses to pull together to help ensure the valued support local charities provide are able to continue”.

‘Tess on Leather Couch’ by Los Angeles based artist Fabian Perez

To book a table and for further information about the EACH grand auction and black tie dinner please contact EPIC Box Office 01603 727727. www.epic-tv.com/events/box-office.html

Lord Baker

The Embrace II PAGE

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BIG SKIES, BIG BEACH

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Issue 12 2014

BIG SKIES, BIG BEACH The twin villages of Brancaster and Brancaster Staithe, two of the many sparkling gems that adorn the ever more popular North Norfolk coast mix an intriguing blend of ancient history with contemporary living.

By Edward Couzens-Lake The seemingly effortless, almost accidental combination of the old and the new has, over recent years, made the villages ever more popular places to visit, whether it be for a week, the traditional long weekend or a day visit. With it, of course, has come the proliferation of new homes as occasional visitors decide to make their stay a more permanent one, the yearly invasion of ‘outsiders’ now as familiar a feature to the born and bred residents of the villages as the invading Roman hoards were to their ancestors nearly two thousand years ago.

The coastal duo have remained a popular destination to both the casual and committed visitor ever since.

But what is their endearing appeal?

Brancaster, sited around seven miles along the coast from the more traditional seaside resort of Hunstanton is well known for being the site of a Roman fort, established slightly to the east of the existing village.

The site of that particular settlement has never been a particularly enticing one-all that remains is gentle pasture that is usually inhabited by visiting sheep.

However, its reputation was enough to attract a crew from Channel 4’s popular Time Team programme last year, their consequent examination of the site led to the deduction that Brancaster, or Branodunum as it was then known, was one of the most important sites along the coast at the time, the subsequent archaeology that took place yielding some remarkable finds, discoveries that resulted in one comment from a member from the team that he didn’t have “...enough superlatives to describe this.”

Praise indeed when you consider the scope and extent of the programmes success in bringing all of Britain’s past to life.

But then Brancaster is full of surprises.

Not that its famous beach is one of them. Sea, sand and skies combine to create a vast canvas one that can be striking in its desolate beauty on an icy winters PAGE

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morning yet beguiling enough to entice Summer visitors in their thousands, the sites simple charms-no amusement arcades, bingo halls and endless racks of tacky ephemera on display here-and the chance to just sit and watch the tide come and go enough for many to justify whiling away a day on the sands.

Popular stretches of sand, and dangerous ones as well.

For, when the tide has retreated beyond the horizon at Brancaster, the romantic vision of a shipwreck is there for all to see and many to feel compelled to visit, treading over what will ultimately become treacherous waters to get there.

The wreck is of the coaster the SS Vina, commissioned and built at Leith in 1894, a busy ship that would have spent its active years working the crossings between the east coast of England and the near-by Baltic states that laid over the North Sea. As she neared the end of her active seagoing life in 1940, she was requisitioned by the MOS as a naval blockship, one that would, in the event of enemy invasion, been sunk at the harbour mouth at Great Yarmouth, thus inhibiting the progress of enemy shipping.

As the threat of invasion passed, she was towed to Brancaster to be used as a target for cannon shell trials by the RAF, this time in preparation for another invasion-that of the SS Vina allied forces into Normandy in 1944.

Unsurprisingly, the RAF crews had no problem in targeting and sinking the Vina and she remains insitu today, a lasting memory of a time when the whole of Britain’s east coast was under threat

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BIG SKIES, BIG BEACH Issue 12 2014

Much of the harbour and land around it is owned and administrated by the National Trust whose presence at the site includes a large residential site which is particularly popular with school parties who flock there to enjoy and sample the wet and muddy delights of an education in the sights and sounds of the North Norfolk coast.

Brancaster Staithe Harbour of invasion by a somewhat more beligerant force than those it had previously welcomed with open arms.

Laid out alongside the beach and running adjacent to it is the course of the Royal West Norfolk Golf Club, a masterful test of links play on a course that was designed and founded in 1892 and which has, in many ways, changed little since those early days. It is a traditional links course, rich in golfing history and characterised by vast, sleeper faced bunkers, slick greens and verdant fairways of lush grass. One that is more than worthy of holding a major championship, something which, sadly (or perhaps not?) its remote site and lack of facilities and room for visitors will never happen.

At the heart of the village is the imposing yet unobtrusive tower of St Mary’s Church, parts of which date to the early thirteenth century. Resourceful early builders made full use of the, even then, ancient roman fort that laid a mile or so east of the Church, using stones from what remained of the fort as building material for the Church for works that were carried out in both its west and eastern ends. A keen eye and vivid imagination can mark out these stones, bright and weather beaten with the ages, even today.

If Brancaster is known for its beach and golf church then its close neighbour, Brancaster Staithe is famous for its harbour and the assorted sailing craft that have used it over the centuries.

The Harbour (‘Staithe’ translates as a site that was used for the loading and unloading of cargo boats) still has a resident small fleet of fishing vessels, mainly dealing with sought after delicacies such as mussels, cockles and crabs. Brancaster mussels are a joy to behold as well as consume and if you are a fan of shellfish you may find them being referred to as such at fish markets and other stalls and places of sale all over the countryI’ve even seen ‘Brancaster Mussels’ for sale in leafy Kingston Upon Thames in Surrey!

The traditional charms of the two villages are complemented by a wide range of places where you can go to sample some excellent meals as well as some of the local ales on offer, dark and fruity brews that will appeal to any devotee of what an increasing number of people refer to as ‘proper’ beer.

Brancaster’s sole pub, the surviving member of what was once a trio of watering holes, ‘The Ship’ is a contemporary establishment within a building that is reputed to be haunted by the ghost of Lord Nelson’s Nanny. Whether recent renovations to the building have driven the lady away from her long time residence is open to question, as is the reliability of that particular legend, what is, however, most definitely not legend is the one that tells of her young charge, a small, delicate child known then as plain Horatio Nelson, learning the rudiments of sailing in the harbour and surrounding creeks of Brancaster Staithe.

What ended in glorious victory at Trafalgar may well have had its origins within those same muddy channels that are frequented, now, as then, by flocks of his modern day contemporaries, all taking their first steps on the water in a canoe under the watchful eye of the National Trust.

Perhaps Brancaster is, even now, helping raise another naval hero?

Brancaster Beach

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ICENI - MUSIC Issue 12 2014

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KILLAWATT SIGNS TO AUDIO / VISUAL CROSSOVER AGENCY DERELICHT.

DERELICHT IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE NOW FORMALLY REPRESENTING PLEX & DET SYNC RESIDENT, MATTHEW WATT UNDER HIS TECHNO DRIVEN ALIAS ‘KILLAWATT’ After getting under the skin of ‘Killawatt’, you’ll find there is definitely more than meets the eye with Matthew Watts’ organic techno driven alias. How many 23 year olds do you know that have published works to their name on the psychological & physiological effects of high intensity low frequencies on the human body? Alongside his academic and experimental interests in the low-end theorem, he currently holds down residencies with London based event Plex, playing venues such as Fabric; and Det Sync at The Astoria in his home town of Portsmouth. Having just signed to audio/ visual crossover agency Derelicht, this forward momentum looks set to continue.

Matt first rose through the ranks in a flourishing and competitive dubstep scene during his time in university at Guildford, and quickly became known for his unparalleled work ethic and underground techno/dubstep crossover approach which was heavily supported by the likes of Youngsta, Kryptic Minds, Icicle & V.I.V.E.K. Having played iconic events FWD and Subdub, and appeared at major venues such as Fabric, Cable & Corsica Studios, Killawatt put down some seriously solid foundations that allowed him to secure numerous international gigs, including multiple appearances at Outlook Festival, Le Zoo (Geneva) and a run of dates in the USA (Detroit, Washington, New York).

Recently a transition has been made to a slower, textural and more abstract techno aesthetic, which has seen Killawatts material snapped up by the likes of Osiris Music UK, Mord, RunOutRun and Derelicht. His music has gained recognition for it’s raw, sub-heavy sound, alongside the use of unconventional structures and abstract samples, gaining an ever increasing roster of support from the likes of Ben Sims, Modeselektor, Tommy Four Seven & Laurent Garnier.

Killawatt’s debut album is due out on Osiris Music UK later this year, with further music due on outlets such as Mord, RunOutRun and Derelicht.

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For bookings contact gavin@derelicht.com

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ICENI - MUSIC Issue 12 2014

911

A Bodyshakin Night To Remember Review By Alex Wiseman A little over a year ago now if someone said the words ‘Big Reunion’ you would automatically think of a works do or family get together, but now it has a third meaning - 90’s band reforming much to the delight of their millions of fans like myself. I loved the show for what it was, which was honesty and truth, forgiveness, moving on and having fun. One of my favourites of the show was the loveable trio 911 made up of Lee, Jimmy & Spike. Rewind 14 years ago and they were one of the hottest boy bands out there, notching up 10 UK Top Ten singles, selling 10 million singles and 6 million albums worldwide and luckily for me they were playing on my doorstop at Lowestoft Marina Theatre.

Once at our seats our thoughts turned to how we felt about 90’s music and what it meant to us. Joy and happiness (even though most of the songs are about being a teenager and falling in and out of love), but I guess the biggest feeling was nostalgia.

I wonder how many people in that room use to practice dancing like Jimmy and Spike breaking mirrors, lights etc and how many people stood in front of the mirror with a hairbrush pretending to be Lee (also breaking mirrors)!! We were greeted by so many of their classic and signature tunes, which the charming and loveable crowd cheered and made their love for the band

be known. My favourite tune of the night was ‘A Little Bit More’, (911’s biggest and only No1 to date) which really showed off Lee’s singing ability and then we had ‘Bodyshakin’ which was a highlight due to Jimmy and Spikes dancing - which is still electric 14 years on!!

The style of show was fun and for the fans. It was 911’s chance to thank and appreciate the fans, and it was the fans chance to reminisce about the old classics and hear the next generation of music from 911. The show was faultless if you are like me, someone who loves 90’s music. It was a fun and enjoyable night, a real pick up and if I were you then I would try and grab tickets somewhere for their tour or see them on tour with the Big Reunion: Boy Band Tour 2014.

My final thoughts of an amazing evening is that if the Big Reunion has taught us one thing, that if we are at war with family, friends or band mates, there is always a reunion and make up to be had. And much to the delight to us 911 have. I for one will forget the 26th February 2000 (the date the band originally split up), as though it never happened.

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ICENI - MUSIC Issue 12 2014

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Friend of Friends ...is a new up and coming band hoping to try and make an impact on the UK’s music scene.

Originating from King’s Lynn, West Norfolk, the band’s line up consists of Adam (lead vocalist and guitarist), Ed (drums), Pete (bass), Dan (lead guitarist) and Wedge (synths).

The band members are 5 long-time companions who, having each had previous experience playing in different projects, decided to pool their talents to try and create a distinct and exciting new sound. Their debut E.P., Common Youth, is set to be released on 28th April, and will be available on all online music retailers and physically. The E.P. consists of five tracks which each demonstrate the band’s diversity combining elements of electronic synth, 90’s grunge, contemporary indie and alternate rock & pop. The result is a unique style that fuses rock with pop melodies, synth hooks and catchy chant-along choruses.

The over-riding theme of the E.P, as the name suggests, is youth and the experiences we all share throughout our younger years. Songs, such as the title-track, touch upon ideas of teenage lust and alcoholism, whilst synth driven ‘At Your Feet’ deals with how a young relative of leadsinger Adam lost his way and turned to drug addiction.

Alongside having an E.P on its way, Friend of Friends also have some other exciting things lined up. The band have recently joined forces with Cultivate (http://www.teamcultivate.co.uk), a new up and coming locally based clothing line whose main mantra is the promotion of a ‘positive image of youth’. Additionally, the band is embarking on a nationwide tour of the UK this April and May, stopping off in London, Salford, Liverpool, Essex, Doncaster and Norwich.

Friend of Friends pride themselves on an energetic live show and attempt to create a wall of sound, which will have your fist in the air and mouth open.

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Full details of all of the band’s upcoming live dates can be found on their Facebook page (facebook.com/friendoffriendsband.

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ICENI - MUSIC Issue 12 2014

The Answer The Waterfront Norwich Review by Ciara Jack

It seems trite to compare a rock and roll band to the 70s legends of AC/DC and Led Zeppelin, but when a band’s long-haired singer comes out and yells “Are we ready for some rock and roll guys?” - It’s hard not to draw comparisons.

The Answer originally hails from County Down, Northern Ireland. Lead singer Cormac Neeson has a stage presence that is full of charisma, and a soaring vocal range that even Robert Plant would be proud of.

Their influences are clear; they create a classic rock and roll sound that they manage to pull off through and incredibly tight performance. It’s not surprising they spend a two year stint as the main support for AC/DC on tour. They’ve kept the classic elements of clashing symbols and powerful guitar solos but their sound has clearly been crafted with dedication to their influences over the years.

The band has been together for around 14 years and during that time has attained a fan base of a mixture of ages. At what is largely a student venue, it was easy to assume that the audience would have been full of students in Metallica t-shirts, but the venue was noticeably full of people in the thirty to fifty age bracket. It says something about a band’s authenticity when they are attracting the first generation of rock and roll.

With no gratuitous guitar solos and a sound that is tight in authenticity and quality The Answer are technically impressive. Their live show is enjoyable, with a front man and band that are capable of whipping their audience into a frenzy, regardless of their age. Even at a modest venue such as the Waterfront they created a stadium-worthy performance.

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ICENI - MUSIC Issue 12 2014

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Horoscopes Aries 21 March - 20 April

Libra 24 September - 23 October

With two Eclipses and a very dynamic set of aspects featuring, this month may bring the potential for change to your door, almost on a celestial plate. There could be little choice of an opt-out should you not want to take up the challenge. Yet, if you do, perhaps all you’ll lose is a lot of baggage that you’ve been meaning to discard anyway.

This month’s Lunar Eclipse, could set you on the next step of your evolutionary path, encouraging you to let go of what’s not working and leave space for what does. Key aspects of your life could be affected by a powerful planetary aspect pattern, changing your game plan from somewhat to radically. Relish the feeling of being the master or mistress of your personal destiny.

Taurus 21 April - 21 May

Scorpio 24 October - 22 November

Transformative energies working from within your psyche, could spark key events of a surprising nature. Yet, perhaps you’ve secretly been hoping for such developments all along. A Solar Eclipse in your sign on April 28th, suggests putting the past behind you and forging ahead with a new and inspired focus. Get ready to shine Taurus.

Venus’s move into Pisces on March 4th, ushers in options for romance and creative growth and self expression. However, with current planetary alignments bringing swift changes, you may be hard pressed to find time for recreation. So, fasten your seat-belt, as the Uranus Pluto connection removes old layers, leaving space for fresh growth and dynamic new adventures.

Gemini 22 May - 21 June

Sagittarius 23 November - 21 December

Mercury’s move into Aries on April 7th, highlights the quick thinking required to take this month in your stride.

Change may be inevitable, plus a Lunar Eclipse could skew feelings regarding romance or creative drives. Yet, once the scales adjust, a renewed excitement at what’s possible, could strengthen your determination and uplift your spirits.

Creative brilliance or romantic passion may be the catalyst for novel opportunities. Triggered by a Lunar Eclipse, life could become exciting, in the extreme. Yet, you could also swing between feeling emboldened or worrying about the consequences. In this instance, a nudge in the right direction from a friend or mentor, could actually hasten success.

Cancer 22 June - 23 July

Capricorn 22 December - 20 January

All aboard - destination unknown! This could be the call to adventure that confronts you this month. Two Eclipses can pave the way for a deeper transformation of key aspects of your life.

Energies associated with meaningful goals and future potentials could shift, giving you an inspirational slant to your life purpose and direction.

Though you might feel like hanging onto the last vestiges of security, it may not be possible under this month’s blend of energies. An issue that has been a cause of concern, could show signs of morphing into something refreshingly different.

Yet, your perspective might need to radically alter to make the best of what’s on offer.

Leo 24 July - 23 August

Aquarius 21 January - 19 February

A Lunar Eclipse may trigger events, opening doors and expanding horizons. However, in the process, you might need to reconsider your priorities. Should you continue with your current lifestyle, or embrace change wholeheartedly? Perhaps the answer is to approach the possibilities cautiously, and yet also enthusiastically.

Unexpected communications, important news and impactful conversations, could contribute to a dynamic transformation over this month. Opportunities you’ve been mulling over, but not acted upon, could begin to seem very appealing. Additionally, a Solar Eclipse in your home sector can pave the way for fresh developments with earning potential.

Virgo 24 August - 23 September

Pisces 20 February - 20 March

Your mind may be racing with excitement, yet keenly aware of opportunities that could make a major difference to your life. Over this month, key situations could transform very rapidly. Letting go of the old and embracing the new, though perhaps scary, might make the difference between bumbling along, or finally enjoying the successes you truly deserve.

Finances may be the trigger that encourages you to reconsider your lifestyle, spending, and other matters. Money may come in, yet also go out too. However, the Lunar Eclipse in Libra, can act as a catalyst to help you find a more peaceful balance. Also, you can be heartened by the prospects that new ideas and possibilities can bring you this month.

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Astrologer Patrick Arundell provides a unique take on Horoscopes and Astrology. Join him daily for your Daily Horoscope and his penetrating insight into this fascinating subject. Also FREE Horoscope Videos.