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Elevate your garden this summer with vibrant, low-maintenance container plants for every space.
If you weren’t able to plan in advance a regime of planting and sowing, or perhaps are dealing with a limited plot, or window box(!), all is not lost, because where container plants are concerned, you can quickly and easily adorn your outdoor spaces with uplifting colours, textures, scents and sprays.
Geraniums stand out as a classic choice for British gardeners. A plant that thrives in the warmth of summer, richly coloured flowers in hues of pink, red and white – coupled with their ease of care – make them a favourite.
Offering a cascade of vibrant colours ranging from pure white to deep purple, often with captivating patterns, Petunias bloom profusely throughout the summer, requiring only a sunny spot and occasional deadheading to remove spent flowers.
They’re ideal for hanging baskets or containers, where their lush foliage and blooms can spill over the edges, producing a stunning display.
Begonias, meanwhile, are renowned for their impressive blossoms and tolerance of shady conditions - something of a rarity among summer flowers.
With a variety of types – from the wax begonias with their glossy leaves to the frilly-edged camellia begonias – there’s
one to suit any container garden.
Another shadeloving plant are Fuchsias - you’ll recognise that unique, bell-shaped flower that dangles elegantly from the stem. Fuchsias are available in a myriad of colours, including pink, purple and white, and will flourish even in cooler parts of the garden.
Lavender will bring both colour and fragrance to your container garden. This hardy herb prefers full sun and, like so many on this list, requires welldrained soil, making it suited to container life. Its aromatic flowers and foliage can help deter pests, while its abiliy to attract bees and butterflies will add life and movement to your garden space.
Adding height and drama to containers with their tall spikes of brightly coloured flowers, Snapdragons thrive in cooler summer climates and can bloom well into autumn if deadheaded regularly.
Marigolds are a must-have for any summer garden, with their bright orange, yellow and red blooms. Not only do they add a burst of colour, but also have pest-repellent properties, protecting your garden naturally.
They also prosper in full sun, and past regular watering, are low maintenance.
Finally, don’t dismiss the idea of a hooray of herbs. The likes of basil, thyme and mint are excellent choices for container gardens, providing fresh flavours for summer cooking. Most herbs prefer full sun and good soil where the water percolates.
Patrol
The telltale signs that your beloved pet may be under the weather.
Animals are creatures of habit, which is perhaps why we find them so comforting in a chaotic world. For no matter what the state of the stock market, or the latest geo-political crisis, our trusty pet will wake you up at 6am for food, a walk, a snuggle like clockwork. By this logic then, devoted pet-owners are able to instinctively know when something might be up with Fido. However, it is still worth knowing the signs that something might be amiss.
One of the earliest indicators is a change in appetite. If your pet suddenly loses interest in their favourite meals or treats, it could be a sign of an underlying health issue. So if a usually-ravenous pet is suddenly disinterested in their meals, or stranger still, turning their furry nose up at treats, keep an eye on them.
Another telltale sign is lethargy or a decrease in energy levels. Most pets are usually quite active and playful, so if they are suddenly
sleeping more than usual or seem less enthusiastic about activities they once enjoyed, it’s time to take note. Of course, you may have on your hands a supremely lazy labrador or an unflappable feline, in which case, be on the lookout for excessive sleeping or signs that moving may actually be painful.
Behavioural changes can also signal that something is amiss. If your pet becomes unusually aggressive, anxious or withdrawn, this could be a response to physical discomfort. Just like when us humans are suffering from a headache, we tend to be grouchy and hate being fussed. Similarly, a usually friendly animal who suddenly snaps when petted may be feeling discomfort.
Additionally, keep an eye out for any changes in their grooming habits. Cats, in particular, are meticulous groomers, so a lack of grooming or excessive attention to it can indicate stress or illness.
On the more explicit end of the scale, physical symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, coughing, sneezing or noticeable weight loss should never be ignored. These often point to
more severe conditions that require immediate veterinary attention. Of course, it could just be a passing upset from an unwise pavement snack, but anything lasting more than 24 hours is worth investigating.
Lastly, pay attention to any unusual smells emanating from your pet’s mouth (beyond your common garden cat or dog breath), ears, or skin, as these could be signs of infections or other health problems. Regular check-ups with your veterinarian are essential to ensure your pet’s well-being and to catch any potential issues early on.
When it comes to Easter feasts, you can always look to Italy for a sublime celebration of food, family and faith. This recipe for Gennaro Contaldo’s Easter leg of lamb is the per fect dish to ser ve to your extended brood over the long weekend.
(ser ves 4)
• 1.2kg leg of lamb
• Salt & pepper
• Sprig of rosemar y
• A little extra virgin olive oil
• 150ml white wine
• 300g baby onions or shallots
• 100g black olives, pitted
• 8 x anchovy fillets, roughly chopped
• 2 x garlic cloves, left whole, crushed
• 320g fresh or frozen peas
• If using fresh peas be sure to weigh them after they have been shelled and cleaned.
• Keep an eye on your lamb while it is in the oven to ensure it doesn’t dr y out. Resting is also essential to maintaining the tenderness and moistness of your meat
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C / gas mark 6. Slash the lamb with a sharp knife and rub all over with salt, pepper and a little extra virgin olive oil. Push half the olives and four anchovies into the slashes. Place in a roasting dish together with wine, garlic, shallots, rosemar y and remaining anchovies
2. Reduce the oven temperature to 150°C /gas mark 2 and roast the lamb for 1 hour 30 minutes. If necessar y, cover with tin foil halfway through cooking. Baste
throughout and if necessar y, add a glass of hot water
3. About 10 minutes before the end of cooking time, add the peas.
4. Remove from the oven, leave to rest for 5 minutes, place on a board, car ve and ser ve with the vegetables and juices
Have a pukka Easter with...
1. Add the milk and 50ml water to a small pan and place over a low heat for a few minutes
2. Add the butter to a separate pan and place over a low heat for a few minutes, or until melted, then set aside.
3. Transfer the warmed milk mixture to a medium bowl and stir in the yeast
4. Sift the flour into a large bowl, then add 1 teaspoon of sea salt, the spices, a few good scrapings of nutmeg and the sugar. Finely chop the stem ginger and stir it into the mix
5. Make a well in the centre and pour in the melted butter, followed by the yeast mixture. In a separate bowl, beat the egg and add it to the bowl.
6. Using a fork, mix well until you have a rough dough, then transfer to a clean flour dusted work sur face and knead for around 10 minutes, or until soft and springy
7. Return the dough to a flour-dusted bowl, cover with a damp tea towel and leave to prove in a warm place for at leas an hour, or until doubled in size.
8. Transfer the dough to a clean flour dusted work sur face. Knock the air out by bashing it with your fist, then sprinkle over the dried fruit and mixed peel and knead into the dough.
9. Preheat the oven to 190°C, then grease and line a large baking tray
10. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces and roll each into a ball, evenly spacing them out on the tray as you go Cover with the tea towel and leave in a warm place for a fur ther 30 minutes, or until doubled in size.
11. Place the plain flour and 2 tablespoons of water into a small bowl and mix to a thick paste. Pat down the risen buns then use the batter to trace a cross over the top with a piping bag or spoon.
Ser ves 12
• 200ml semi-skimmed milk
• 55g unsalted butter
• 14g dried yeast our,fl bread strong 455g
• plus extra for dusting
• 1 teaspoon mixed spice
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 whole nutmeg, for grating
• 55g caster sugar
• 2 balls of stem ginger
• 1 large free-range egg
• 2 tablespoons plain flour
• 55g sultanas or raisins
• 30g dried cranberries
• 2 tablespoons mixed peel
• Runny honey
12. Place the buns into the preheated oven for 15-20mins, or until golden brown. Transfer to a wire cooling rack, brush over a little honey to glaze, then leave to cool.
If you don’t have biscuit cutters in the shapers you require, simply draw or print the ones you need and cut out the dough around them.
Introduction
Back in 2020, Queen Elizabeth’s royal pastry chefs released the family’s sacred ‘Spiced Easter Biscuits’ recipe. What better way to honour her late Majesty, than by baking these delightful and delicious Easter treats?
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 170°C/340°F/gas mark 3 then mix together the flour, bicarbonate of soda and spices in a bowl. Add the diced butter and mix until it reaches a crumb-like texture.
2. Add the sugar, then once combined add the egg and golden syrup. Mix until a dough is formed.
3. Roll the dough to a thickness of 5mm then use biscuit cutters to cut into desired shape such as Easter eggs, chicks or bunnies.
Place the biscuits on a non-stick mat or baking paper and bake on the middle shelf for 12-15 minutes until they are golden in colour Leave biscuits to cool completely before decorating.
4. Add 1 egg white to 600g of icing sugar and beat until smooth. Spoon mixture into a piping bag - the icing should pipe smoothly and be able to hold when piped as a line – and pipe around the edge of the biscuits. To cover all the biscuits with icing
Biscuit base:
• 350g plain flour
• 5g bicarbonate of soda
• 10g ground ginger
• 5g cinnamon
• 125g unsalted butter
• 175g light soft brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 60g golden syrup
Icing:
• 2 egg whites
• 600g icing sugar
• Food colouring of your choice
add extra egg white to thin the mixture. Decorate and enjoy!
MONDAY
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FRIDAY
SATURDAY
16:15 - 17:00 Primary Modern & Acro
17:15 - 18:00 Prep Ballet & Tap
18:15 - 19:00 Musical Theatre Jazz 19:15 - 20:00 ADVANCED ACRO 20:15 - 21:00 13yrs & Over Lyrical
16:15 - 17:00 Little Street
17:15 - 18:00 Teen Street
18:15 - 19:00 Teen modern & Acro 19:15 - 19:45 Pointe
16:15 - 17:15 Grade 1 Ballet & Tap
17:30 - 18:15 Jnr Modern & Acro
18:30 - 19:30 Grade 3 Ballet & Tap
19:30 - 20:15 Inter Ballet
20:15 -20:45 Grade 5 Tap
16:15 - 17:00 Jnr Street
17:15 - 18:00 Pre-Teen Street
18:15 - 19:15 G2/G3 Ballet & Tap 19:30 - 20:15 Pre-Teen Modern & Acro
10:00 - 10:45 Baby Ballet & Tap
11:00 - 11:45 Primary Ballet & Tap
12:00 - 12:45 Glee Cub 1
13:00 - 13:45 Glee Club 2 14:00 - 15:00 Grade 4 Ballet & Tap
School’s Out, Sport’s In’, or SOSI, offers activity programmes encouraging children to live an active and healthy lifestyle, and has already proved to be a huge success, reaching over 900 children in its first year. We provide children with positive experiences, allowing them to create fond memories and forging forever lasting relationships with sport and physical activity for the young people in the local area.
Our team of physical education, sports and dance performing arts coaches share the same vision: to increase participation and improve attitudes towards physical activity and sport. SOSI services include: school holiday sports programmes and Saturday clubs, SHINE Dance and Performing Arts Projects and SOSI Tots physical development programmes for pre-school children.
We also work with local schools, supporting and supplementing their daily physical, PE and Sport offer through our Active from 8 breakfast club, NE1 Active lunchtime and afterschool clubs.
We are very proud of our impact in the area which we live, work and love. Working in partnership with the local authority and funded by the Department for Education, we provide free holiday activities and meals during Easter, Summer and Christmas school holidays.
We offer fun activities, sport and making new friends in a positive and safe place, our holiday clubs offer affordable activities and an excellent alternative to expensive childcare.
Enjoy the ultimate kid’s party in Nerf wars and laser tag, shooting through obstacles and inflatable courses. Our party hosts will lead them through some special birthday party games to get their adrenaline going after which they get their own party room with some extra goodies.
All guns, ammunition, inflatable obstacles and protective glasses are provided. Party host and cupcakes included. Just £175 for up to 16 children!
Our bubble ball sessions have been a huge hit with older children and adults. Challenge your team to a day you’ll never forget. Designed to engage, motivate and boost morale, it’s the perfect team building activity.
The rules for sudoku are simple. The 9×9 square must be filled in with numbers from 1-9 with no repeated numbers in each line, horizontally or vertically. To challenge you more, there are 3×3 squares marked out in the grid, and each of these squares can’t have any repeat numbers either.
Please see page 20 for the answers.
Once you find all the words. Copy the unused letters starting in the top left corner into the blanks to reveal the hidden message. Write
Adolescence a British psychological crime drama series which centres on a 13-year-old schoolboy who is arrested after the murder of a girl in his school. Each of its four episodes was shot in one continuous take.
In an English town, armed police raid a family home and arrest a 13-year-old boy, on suspicion of the murder of his classmate, Katie Leonard. Jamie is processed and held at a police station for questioning and then remanded in custody at a secure training centre. Investigations at Jamie’s school and interviews by a forensic psychologist uncover Jamie’s views towards women associated with the manosphere and bullying he has received on social media. At home, Jamie’s family deals with the community’s backlash against them as they work together to cope with Jamie’s arrest and subsequent detention.
Megan Pierce lives a peaceful life with her three kids and her soon-tobe husband, Dave Shaw. He is the kids’ father and has been living with Megan for 17 years, one day, as Megan returns from hen night, she finds a blank greeting card on the doorstep with Megan’s former name, Cassie, written on the envelope.
Seventeen years ago, Stewart Green, obsessed with Cassie, used to assault her physically. On a dreadful Carnival night, Cassie found Stewart’s dead body in the woods and decided to run away. She buried her past, changed her identity, and decided never to look back. However, at the present time, Lorraine (former colleague) reveals to Megan that Stewart is very much alive and is looking for her. In a panic, Megan searches for Stewart to protect her new identity.
This fantasy series sees fussy angel Aziraphale and loose-living demon Crowley team up to form an unlikely duo.
The two have become overly fond of life on Earth, and they are forced into forming an alliance in an attempt to stop the approaching Armageddon. To do that, they have to find the missing Antichrist, an 11-year-old boy who is unaware that he is meant to bring the end of days upon humanity. Michael Sheen, David Tennant and Jon Hamm star in the series, which is based on the book of the same name by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.
A damaged ex-special forces soldier navigating London’s criminal underworld seizes an opportunity to assume another man’s identity.
Nothing can prepare a man for the horrors of war and as Joey Smith, a damaged Special Forces deserter and now a homeless drug addict, wanders London’s bustling streets in complete anonymity--an unexpected discovery will soon help him get back on his feet. Little by little, as Smith struggles to rebuild his shattered life in a stolen identity as an unstoppable Chinese Mafia enforcer, the brutal death of a dear friend will, inevitably, force him to avenge her murder, dragging him deeper and deeper into a dark world of pain, guilt, and suffering. In the end, do God’s plans for redemption include “Crazy” Joey, too?
Follows Hezekiah and Alec, two best friends from Jamaica who find themselves thrust into the vibrant and violent melting pot of post-industrial revolution London’s East End.
Drawn into the criminal underbelly of the thriving boxing scene, Hezekiah meets Mary Carr, leader of The Forty Elephants the notorious all-female London gang as they battle for survival on the streets. As Hezekiah sharpens his new skills, he comes up against Sugar Goodson, a seasoned and dangerous boxer, and the two are soon locked into an intense rivalry that spills out way beyond the ring. Starring Stepen Graham and Erin Doherty.
When the body of a young man is discovered in a derelict building, Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Cassie Stuart is called in to investigate with her partner, Detective Sergeant (DS) Sunil “Sunny” Khan. Jimmy Sullivan was a homeless runaway, murdered in 1976 when the building was a hostel.
His diary implicates four suspects: a clergyman, an eminent entrepreneur, a community worker, and a disabled house-bound husband caring for his wife. Each has a secret to hide. As their lies unravel, the people they love most begin to wonder what else they might be capable of.
Nothing in this case is black and white. Can you ever really know the people closest to you? What secrets have they buried? Starring Nicola Walker and Sanjeev Bhaskar.
club There’s nothing like getting lost in a good book.
Jack Winchester was a notorious hitman until a job went wrong, and he wound up serving time.
Four years later, Jack is free and he wants out of the game, but his boss won’t let him go. Forced to take on one last job to make amends for what landed him in prison, he travels to the small town of Rockland Cove, Maine.
There, he not only discovers that the target and money have disappeared; he finds himself falling for his target, and befriending an unruly son left behind.
Under mounting pressure from his boss and local police--as well as the ghosts of his past--he must unravel the mystery and decide where his loyalties lie...before it’s too late.
A detective must discover who’s murdering glamorous young women - before his eldest daughter is targeted.
Detective Michael Bennett and the NYPD are aboard a police boat in the Hudson River searching for a murder victim - a young college student. When they find her tossed in the dark waves, dressed for a night out, the gruesome sight fills Bennett with dread only a father could fathom.
As the obsessive killer extends his spree, a pattern emerges. One that Bennett’s eldest daughter fits to a harrowing degree.
Now NYPD’s top detective must lure the murderer into the light of day before the next deadly strike lands closer to home than Bennett could ever bear - as a parent and a protector.
Keyes
Anna has just lost her taste for the Big Apple. She has a life to envy - an apartment in New York, a well-meaning (too wellmeaning?) partner, and a highflying job in beauty PR. Who wouldn’t want all that? Anna, it turns out.
She quits, heads back to Ireland, and takes a PR job at a luxury coastal retreat. But the locals hate it - there have even been threats and violence.
Anna’s worked in beauty PR. There’s no ugliness she hasn’t seen. No wrinkle she can’t smooth over. She’s got this. Until she realises leaving New York doesn’t mean escaping her past.
Once, she had a best friend. Once, she loved a man. Now she has neither - and now she has to face them. We all make mistakes. But when do we stop making the same one?
A gripping psychological thriller following Emma, a successful CEO who becomes entangled in a web of suspense after meeting a widower. When Emma meets Matthew, a kind, handsome widower, he seems perfect for her. But as their relationship moves fast, Emma’s friends worry she might be exploitedshe’s a rich woman, after all.
Emma doesn’t care about his lack of money, but the memory of his perfect first wife looms large. Emma wonders if she’s second best. Can she ever fill the dead woman’s shoes? As jealousy and suspicion grow, events take a darker turn, and Emma begins to question who she can trust - her friends, her husband, or even herself.
With every twist, the line between love and obsession begins to blur, leading Emma down a dangerous path of uncertainty and mistrust.
Midnight Jones is an analyst trained to understand the human mind. But everything changes when, in the course of her work, she discovers Profile K’s file – because K stands for killer, and she knows that someone more dangerous than she could have ever imagined walks among them.
Midnight knows what Profile K is capable of before he even commits his first crime. But as the news rolls with the brutal murder of a local woman, no one believes what she tells them: that he is capable of so much worse.
Profile K will kill again – and, terrifyingly, Midnight realises that the moment she found his file was the moment she became his next target. Because Profile K is coming for Midnight – and the only way to escape with her life is to find him before he finds her!
The geriatric gang are back in the fifth page-turning instalment of Osman’s bestselling phenomenon, as a wedding guest in desperate trouble sets in motion an investigation involving cryptic codes and ruthless villains.
It’s been a quiet year for the Thursday Murder Club. Joyce is busy with table plans and first dances. Elizabeth is grieving. Ron is dealing with family troubles, and Ibrahim is still providing therapy to his favourite criminal.
But when Elizabeth meets a wedding guest who’s in trouble, kidnap and death are hot on their heels once more. A villain wants access to an uncrackable code and will stop at nothing to get it. Can the gang solve the puzzle and a murder in time?
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Break Answers from page 14
Hidden Message Wordsearch Solution
Wordsearch + Hidden Message Soduko
“Rainbows
Here’s why and how to join the strong and lean Pilates crew.
Pilates is its emphasis on the core. This powerhouse of the body includes the muscles of the abdomen, lower back, hips and pelvis, leading to improved stability, posture and overall strength.
Exercises
The hundred
A classic Pilates exercise that warms up the body and activates the core muscles
• Lie on your back with your legs in a tabletop position (knees bent at 90 degrees)
• Lift head, neck and shoulders off the mat
• Extend arms alongside your body, palms facing down
• Pump arms up and down while
• Repeat for a total of 100 counts
Roll-up
Designed to increase spinal flexibility and strengthen the abdominal muscles
• with your arms extended overhead and legs straight
• Inhale to prepare, then exhale as you slowly roll up, reaching for toes
• Inhale at the top, then exhale as you roll back down, one ver tebra at a time
• Repeat 6-8 times
The Swan
Ideal for strengthening the back muscles and improving spinal extension
• Lie face down with arms bent and hands placed under shoulders
• Engage core and press through hands to lift chest off the mat
• Keep head in line with spine and avoid overextending the neck
• Lower back down with control and repeat 5-8 times
